re·brand
rēˈbrand/
verb
gerund or present participle: rebranding
change the corporate image of (a company or organization)
In order to become “Project Vine,” the Alternative Program here at MVRHS went through a process of rebranding. After an opening of the year discussion about what the perceptions of the program are and how students within the program see those perceptions played out, students wrote assignments in Fletch’s English class about different ways we as a small learning community could work to “rebrand.”
A New Name
Building on the success of things like Project Greenlight, Project Gutenberg and Dani Fletch’s former Alternative Program, Project ’79, many students wanted to include the idea of a “project,” defined as “an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim.” But they also wanted the name to reflect the community of Martha’s Vineyard itself.
The “Vine” of Project Vine represents the vines of Martha’s Vineyard. Symbolically, the members of the program are also like vines themselves: they need roots to grow; they climb higher when given the right supports; they might have thorns, but they are for protection, and if properly nurtured, they are productive, strong, connected and eventually have the power to define their landscape.
The Logo
Our new program logo began as a design, or series of designs by Walter Greene, ’18, but were eventually retooled and finalized by Alia Schumann, ’20. The logo itself is a product of collaboration, with many of the program’s participants writing and discussing their thoughts on the shape, font, color and images used.
The Entrance Hall
You might have noticed the boring white wall in the Project Vine hallway is now an eye-catching mural, student designed and painted, representing this program that works for us. The wall itself was cleaned and painted during the September work day by many different students in the program. Over the past two weeks, students worked together with staff to trace and sketch the new logo onto the wall. The finished product is more inviting than the previous white wall (sometimes not so white!) and makes a statement to our members and the entire school community about the pride we have in our space and program.
Gear
Another part of our re-branding was the clothing or “gear” we recently designed and ordered. Students in the F-Block Enrichment group used our student-designed logo on a website called CustomInk to order t-shirts for every student and staff member in a variety of colors and sizes. In the future, the program hopes that all students who enter the program will automatically get one free piece of “gear” per year, and that if they or anyone else wants the logo printed on other things like sweatshirts, hats, socks or water bottles, they can feel free to order those things for themselves after personalizing just the way they like it.
One Friday a month will be “Gear Day” and students and staff will rock their gear, whether the free t-shirts designed by the F-Block students, or their own unique creations.
Students, staff and family members who wish to design and order their own gear can use the image of the logo directly from this blog piece and can go to CustomInk.com to start designing!
The Rebranding Effort Continues!
Beyond the name, the space and the gear, Project Vine hopes to redefine how the school community, the larger community, and even the students themselves see alternative education. Students are involved with or in charge of many aspects of the program’s rebranding efforts such as this website, a short documentary that is being produced and screened for faculty and potential students in January, an F-Block unit on fundraising and a push for events that involve more of the Martha’s Vineyard community. Project Vine has the potential to be a model Alternative Learning Program—inspiring school districts everywhere to “hold a space” for small, close-knit learning communities serving the needs of those learners who need something closer to a family than a class.
Interested in learning more? Email one of our staff for more information!
Piece by Web Staff Members Walter Greene, '18, Jake Baird, '18, Jason Rivers, '20 and Teaching Staff member Dani Fletcher
rēˈbrand/
verb
gerund or present participle: rebranding
change the corporate image of (a company or organization)
In order to become “Project Vine,” the Alternative Program here at MVRHS went through a process of rebranding. After an opening of the year discussion about what the perceptions of the program are and how students within the program see those perceptions played out, students wrote assignments in Fletch’s English class about different ways we as a small learning community could work to “rebrand.”
A New Name
Building on the success of things like Project Greenlight, Project Gutenberg and Dani Fletch’s former Alternative Program, Project ’79, many students wanted to include the idea of a “project,” defined as “an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim.” But they also wanted the name to reflect the community of Martha’s Vineyard itself.
The “Vine” of Project Vine represents the vines of Martha’s Vineyard. Symbolically, the members of the program are also like vines themselves: they need roots to grow; they climb higher when given the right supports; they might have thorns, but they are for protection, and if properly nurtured, they are productive, strong, connected and eventually have the power to define their landscape.
The Logo
Our new program logo began as a design, or series of designs by Walter Greene, ’18, but were eventually retooled and finalized by Alia Schumann, ’20. The logo itself is a product of collaboration, with many of the program’s participants writing and discussing their thoughts on the shape, font, color and images used.
The Entrance Hall
You might have noticed the boring white wall in the Project Vine hallway is now an eye-catching mural, student designed and painted, representing this program that works for us. The wall itself was cleaned and painted during the September work day by many different students in the program. Over the past two weeks, students worked together with staff to trace and sketch the new logo onto the wall. The finished product is more inviting than the previous white wall (sometimes not so white!) and makes a statement to our members and the entire school community about the pride we have in our space and program.
Gear
Another part of our re-branding was the clothing or “gear” we recently designed and ordered. Students in the F-Block Enrichment group used our student-designed logo on a website called CustomInk to order t-shirts for every student and staff member in a variety of colors and sizes. In the future, the program hopes that all students who enter the program will automatically get one free piece of “gear” per year, and that if they or anyone else wants the logo printed on other things like sweatshirts, hats, socks or water bottles, they can feel free to order those things for themselves after personalizing just the way they like it.
One Friday a month will be “Gear Day” and students and staff will rock their gear, whether the free t-shirts designed by the F-Block students, or their own unique creations.
Students, staff and family members who wish to design and order their own gear can use the image of the logo directly from this blog piece and can go to CustomInk.com to start designing!
The Rebranding Effort Continues!
Beyond the name, the space and the gear, Project Vine hopes to redefine how the school community, the larger community, and even the students themselves see alternative education. Students are involved with or in charge of many aspects of the program’s rebranding efforts such as this website, a short documentary that is being produced and screened for faculty and potential students in January, an F-Block unit on fundraising and a push for events that involve more of the Martha’s Vineyard community. Project Vine has the potential to be a model Alternative Learning Program—inspiring school districts everywhere to “hold a space” for small, close-knit learning communities serving the needs of those learners who need something closer to a family than a class.
Interested in learning more? Email one of our staff for more information!
Piece by Web Staff Members Walter Greene, '18, Jake Baird, '18, Jason Rivers, '20 and Teaching Staff member Dani Fletcher