Q3 Report Card Mailing: Letter from Head of School
April 12, 2021
Dear Thetford Academy Parents and Guardians,
Enclosed with this letter is your student’s 3rd quarter report card, marking the half-way point of spring semester.
Third quarter was split into two parts: the three weeks in February when students started meeting in classes synchronously but still online, and the five weeks in March when students and teachers were able to convene together for class. As you review the report card with your student at home, and discuss and reflect together on their learning during this period, this might be an important topic. How did the February and March experiences differ, and what was their transition like between the two? My hope is that students and teachers are now hitting their stride with the current approach – a hope borne out by what I’m hearing and seeing around campus – and can now make the most of the final quarter.
As I announced to families in my weekly email last Friday, we will continue with the approach we’ve been using since March 1, with the combination of in-person classes, online learning, pod time, and remote classes on Wednesdays for the remainder of the year. By staying the course and not making another major change at this point in the year, we can focus intensely on maximizing the spring experience. This includes a variety of efforts: continuing to hone our hybrid teaching skills to engage all students (those on campus and those at home), incorporating back on campus students who have been remote, expanding our extracurricular offerings, and planning for events such as the spring musical and graduation.
Please keep an eye out for upcoming information on year-end events like graduation and TA’s summer program. We will share more details with students and families as plans are finalized. A reminder for all that spring break is next week, April 19-23.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone for their commitment to keeping our community safe through the pandemic and emphasize the need to continue this commitment to COVID safety protocols. The new strains of the virus are spreading through our community and youth case counts in Vermont (ages 10-20) are on the rise. On Friday, June 12 we will close the school year and celebrate graduation for the class of 2021. We are on the final leg of a long journey. Let’s take it at a steady pace – and do so together as a community.
Sincerely,
Carrie Brennan, Head of School