Q1 Report Card Mailing – Letter from Head of School
November 06, 2020
November 6, 2020
Dear Thetford Academy Parents and Guardians,
This letter and the enclosed report card for 1st quarter are important reminders that we have arrived at the half-way mark of this unusual fall semester.
Behind each letter grade are nine weeks of experiences, assignments, honed skills and new knowledge. Please take time with your student to talk about the report card. Use it as an opportunity to reflect together on the first couple months of the school year: What did your student enjoy the most, what was their biggest challenge, which teachers did they find a new connection with, what work is your student most proud of, are there classes where they need more support, what goals do they have for 2nd quarter?
The questions we ask can help us learn more about each course, the grade, and the teacher’s comments; they also give our student the opportunity to share their perspective on the quarter. We know teenagers tend to dread these questions, but sometimes they are just putting on a show. The questions we ask and the time we take to listen are ways we show we care – and they know that.
Thank you for helping make this semester go smoothly thus far and for your efforts in customizing the experience to match the needs of your family and your student. We know this has required extra planning and work on your end. Adapting our program during COVID has been an enormous undertaking for staff as well, and I am grateful for their care and commitment. Students have played a key role too, of course. I am deeply aware that many of them are missing the routines, opportunities, and traditions of a normal school year and applaud them for their resilience, patience, and ability to adapt.
There are a few COVID silver linings that I want to highlight too. The fall weather has been a welcome ally in our goal to spend time outdoors as much as possible, and we have rediscovered the treasure that is the TA campus. At the heart of our pod structure is TA’s strength in creating community to support learning. Teachers and students alike are gaining skills and strategies with technology at an unprecedented pace, catapulting all of us to a new level of digital learning and collaboration.
Please reach out with questions or suggestions you have as we move together into Quarter 2.
Sincerely,
Carrie Brennan, Head of School