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Head of School Weekly Email: Woods Trail Pride, International Visitors & Q1 Homestretch

Dear TA Families,

Here are a few of the latest highlights of life at TA …

Woods Trail Pride

The community spirit we are known for and celebrate was on full display when TA hosted the 32nd annual Woods Trail Run last Saturday. Over 1500 runners from middle schools and high schools throughout New England came to race on TA’s renowned course and enjoy a highlight of the season for cross-country runners. 

The buzz on campus started Friday afternoon, as meet organizers worked on the course. Schools that traveled the furthest distances arrived early, putting up team tents on the fields and practicing their runs; and volunteers with the TA Alumni Association organized their huge concession stand in front of Anderson Hall ahead of the rain. Early Saturday the crowd arrived, with school buses rolling in, runners warming up, spectators arriving, and volunteers from Thetford and the wider TA community turning out in droves. What an operation – and what an amazing event! The Woods Trail Run is a major athletic competition, and it is also much more: equal parts festive town fair, annual reunion, service learning opportunity for our students, and a heartfelt celebration of our school and community pride.

Congratulations to our runners and coaches, and thank you to our volunteers. Check out the Valley News coverage for meet results and photos. And be sure to visit Meet Founder Dan Grossman’s photography site to see an extensive collection of images of the 2023 Woods Trail Run: https://mapleleafphotos.smugmug.com/browse.

International Visitors

On Monday, we will welcome two students from Guatemala, who will be living with families in Thetford and attending Thetford Academy for two months. Later in the week, another student will arrive for a two-week stay from Belgium. We are looking forward to having these three students be a part of our school community this fall – and the cultural and language exchanges their presence will inspire. Bienvenue & bienvenidos to our international visitors!

Quarter 1 Homestretch

October 27 is the last day of the 1st quarter of the school year. This is an especially big milestone for high school students, for whom classes run intensively for the length of one semester only (fall semester dates are August 30-January 11). In a recent weekly mail (Sept. 30), I included suggestions and resources for connecting with your student about progress in their classes. We welcome your support on the homefront to encourage focus and follow-through in the homestretch.

Upcoming Events (visit TA Calendar page for complete list)

  • PSATs for Juniors – Oct. 18
  • Admissions Open House – Oct. 22
  • Half Day for Students – Oct. 27
  • VT XC State Meet @ TA – Oct. 28
  • Picture Retakes – Nov. 2

Happy Autumn,

Carrie Brennan, Head of School

Featured photo this week: Volunteers of all generations helping out at the 2023 Woods Trail Run (photo credit – Dan Grossman).



our VALUES

Excellence

We set high expectations. We challenge all members of the school community to reach their highest potential.

Commitment

We value initiative, courage and dedication. We take personal responsibility for the goals we set and work hard to achieve them.

Cooperation

We work and learn together. We see teachers as coaches, students as team members, families as partners, and learning as practice and action.

Caring

We provide individuals with personalized support and guidance. We care about each other and the larger community.

Diversity

We respect differences among people. We welcome the contribution of varied perspectives to a rich and flexible school culture.