Dear TA Families,
Fall Inservice Day
First, a thank you for our fall inservice on Friday. Building time into the school calendar for deeper professional learning and collaboration is essential for teachers and school staff to do our best work. We know it can be a challenge for families when school is not in session, so I like to remind everyone of the value of this time and share our gratitude for it. In addition to today’s fall inservice and the spring inservice on March 26, we also have six half-day Fridays built into the calendar for afternoon professional development sessions (upcoming ones: 11/6 and 12/11).
Cider Day Spotlight
Thank you to all of the students in the small-scale farming, ecological literacy, and cooking for health classes who created a wonderful schoolwide experience on Monday by harvesting a LOT of apples the week before and then hosting a cider pressing day for other students. A special shout out to the three teachers for their collaboration that made it all possible: Kate Reimanis, Scott Ellis, Jessica Williams. Read all about it in our own TA News and in the Valley News! (And check out the attached photos.)
Commons Project
We are looking forward to a big campus construction project and want to keep families updated as we get closer to groundbreaking. As many of you are aware, we have been planning an addition to the Anderson complex for over two years. The project goals: to provide TA with a much-needed and long-awaited new cafe and kitchen, and to create a campus hub for student life and a community gathering space.
The Commons will be a transformative addition to the Thetford Academy campus and a welcome expansion of our school resources. The project was originally planned to take place in 2010 when the gym and theater were built, but was postponed for a future ‘phase 2’. Well, 16 years have gone by, the same needs continue a generation later, and it’s high time we take care of that future second phase!
At our weekly assembly on Monday, I shared the first in a series of fall updates with students about the Commons. Check out the assembly slides which provide an overview of the project, including architect renderings. Our aim with the updates for the school community is to share and build enthusiasm about the future – and to keep everyone informed. We will continue to share details with students and families as we confirm the start date, finalize the plan for construction staging and its impact on daily life at school, and move through the first phases of the project.
Indigenous Peoples Day, Oct. 12
I hope you have an enjoyable long weekend as we take in the glory of the season, and also a reflective one as we honor the deep legacy and current contributions of the Indigenous people of the Upper Valley and beyond.
We’ll see everyone back on Thetford Hill on Tuesday morning!
Carrie Brennan, Head of School
