Head of School Weekly Email: Learning in the Real World
May 27, 2023
Dear TA Families,
Culminating Experiences
This past week was a busy one with many classes taking their learning beyond the classroom walls – showcasing projects, performing for public audiences, and putting their skills and knowledge to the test in real world settings.
Drama students delighted audiences with a high-energy and colorful performance of Godspell. Students in a range of arts classes – ceramics, chorus, culinary, design tech, instrumental music, and more – exhibited creative work and hosted a wonderful concert. High schoolers in the environmental studies class had their overnight solo in the TA woods. Seventh graders culminated a months-long trout raising project with a field trip to the Ompompanoosuc River to release the fish. The creative writing class hosted a dramatic reading of original work. All of these culminating experiences required personal preparation, collaboration with classmates, the mentorship of teachers, and risk taking on the part of each student.
Check in with your student about what’s happening in their classes during the final, culminating weeks of the semester. How will they be demonstrating their learning? What projects, papers, tests, and performances are they preparing for? What deadlines do they have, and how is their progress coming along? What support do they need in this final stretch to get to the finish line feeling successful?
Field Day Re-Cap
The week ended on a light note with an afternoon of outdoor activities for Field Day. From chalk art, rock painting, flower planting, and four squre to kickball, bocce ball, spike ball, and volleyball, there was something for everyone. Ice cream, yearbooks, and a big bouncy house obstacle course were all part of the fun as well.
Sunday Car Wash
Support the future TA Class of 2029 and swing by Thetford Elementary School for the 6th grade car wash fundraiser tomorrow afternoon! Students are raising money to purchase their legacy gift for the school and would love your support.
Year-End Special Events & Schedules:
May 28 – 6th Grade Car Wash @ TES, 11am-2pm
May 29 – Memorial Day Holiday – No School
June 1 – Track & Field State Meet in Manchester, VT
June 1 – 8th Grade Field Trip to Camp Billings
June 2 – Sophomore Anthology Presentations, 8am-9:30am
June 4 – Baccalaureate, 7pmJune 5-9 – Schedule for Final Exams & Presentations Week
June 8 – Challenge Course Presentations (during school day)
June 9 – Graduation, 6:30pm
June 10 – Alumni Day & Banquet, 6pm
Featured photos this week: Field Day fun, 7th graders collecting data on the stream habitat as part of the trout release field trip, arts night delights. (Check out Dan Grossman’s photography website for photos of arts night, the spring musical, last weekend’s softball doubleheader, the honors celebration on May 10, and many other TA events.)
Wishing everyone time for reflection and recreation this Memorial Day weekend,
Carrie Brennan,
Head of School
Thetford Academy
Featured photos this week: Field Day fun, 7th graders collecting data on the stream habitat as part of the trout release field trip, arts night delights. (Check out Dan Grossman’s photography website for photos of arts night, the spring musical, last weekend’s softball doubleheader, the honors celebration on May 10, and many other TA events.)
