TA News

Dear TA Families,

Quarter 1 Report Card
Report cards were sent via email on Friday afternoon (Nov. 7) through our student information system, Alma. They are distributed automatically to the parent/guardian email addresses we have on file. Additionally, the report card is now available in each student’s profile on Alma. Log in, click on your student, and look for the ‘report card’ tab. This is our second year with Alma and also our second year incorporating both a proficiency-based gradebook alongside a traditional gradebook. Here is a guide to reading the Alma report card that we created last fall that is still a handy resource, especially for families new to TA.

Robotics Meet Re-Cap
The Thetford Academy robotics program hosted the 2nd annual Haunted Harvest Robotics Meet on Nov. 1. Read all about the exciting final round, our multiple teams’ success, and the TA sweep of awards in our recent website news story. I also wanted to add my brief take on the event and reflect on the ways I see our school’s core values – Excellence, Commitment, Cooperation, Caring, and Diversity – reflected in the meet and the whole program. 

Whether I’m watching our robotics competitors working together during practices in their busy workshop (the portable on the quad) or competing in high stakes meets in big arenas like the one last Saturday, I see all of our school values in action. An environment that fosters risk-taking, experimentation and trial-and-error thinking, resulting in ever-improving performance and excellence. A culture that centers cooperation and care, leading to collaborative relationships and a diversity of participants, with older students supporting younger ones, experts helping novices, and competing teams helping one another. And, an unbelievable commitment to spending lots of time working, tinkering, and practicing in the ‘robot shack’ – including weekends, summers, and nights – on the part of students, coaches, and parent volunteers. Congratulations to our robotics competitors and all of the adults who support their values-rich endeavors!

Act 73-Related Updates & Advocacy
The Redistricting Task Force has two meetings remaining before their December 1 deadline to present up to three new district maps for the legislature’s consideration. The meetings are on Monday, Nov. 10 and Thursday, Nov. 20. With the deadline only weeks away, activity has been ramping up with various map proposals being shared, debated, revised, and circulated widely throughout the state. We encourage all interested stakeholders to review the map proposals, tune into the meetings if you can, participate in public comments, and reach out directly to your local legislators. Agenda and materials for the Nov. 10 meeting – as well as info shared at all prior meetings – can be found here: aoa.vermont.gov/school-district-redistricting-task-force.

Other updates: Most of our families reside in the Orange East or White River Valley supervisory unions. Here is the official communication the OESU Board submitted last month regarding the Act 73 redistricting process. The WRVSU Board also issued an official communication in October, published in the Valley News, that expressed general opposition to Act 73. Additionally, here are the results of a recent statewide survey, compiled in a quick-read slide deck. Approx 4000 Vermonters took the survey – thanks to those in our community who took the time to participate. 

Veterans Day
On behalf of all of us at Thetford Academy, I want to thank the veterans in our community for their service. We were hoping to host a Black Hawk helicopter from the VT National Guard on campus as a special Veterans Day activity on Monday; however, this plan had to be postponed due to the federal government shutdown. Please note that our school calendar this year was not able to include Veterans Day as a school holiday. Next week is a regular full week. Looking ahead — we will be closed Wednesday through Friday 11/26-28 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thank you,

Carrie Brennan, Head of School