TA News

Thetford Academy’s campus sprang to life on Thursday, August 18, as faculty and staff returned to campus for back to school in-service. Returning staff warmly welcomed TA’s 14 new staff members before settling down to breakfast from the Panther Cafe. A slideshow of photos in the background highlighted the staff’s many summer adventures: hiking, camping, traveling, good food, and more.

Over three days, our dedicated faculty and staff dug in to prepare for the upcoming year. Large group sessions focused on school-wide topics, including TA’s advisory program, school culture, and the nuts and bolts planning for the start of school. Teachers and staff worked in grade-level teams to plan for class events and advisory activities, and academic departments spent time reviewing curriculum and collaborating on syllabi for their upcoming courses. Just as Thetford Academy values the student as a whole, so too did the in-service days balance preparation for academics with preparation for student life beyond the classroom.

One highlight of in-service this year was the series of “Strengthening my Practice” sessions led by teachers for teachers. Teachers shared and learned about a range of subjects, including mindfulness in the classroom, proficiency-based grading, project based learning, and facilitating respectful classroom discourse, among others.

While the days were filled with learning, collaborating, and preparation for the upcoming year, an essential element of in-service time is always connection with one another. Staff mingled over meals, participated in thoughtful and silly opening and closing activities, and connected with colleagues who they hadn’t seen in many weeks. 

The in-service days provided an opportunity for reflection and planning. Saying goodbye to the summer break, and ready for another year of learning and growth, teachers departed in the afternoon on Monday, August 23, eagerly awaiting the arrival of students the following morning, for the kick off of the 2022-2023 school year.