Rock Point School Annual Report 2021-2022

Rock Point School Annual Report

A coed independent boarding high school

Burlington, VT | www.rockpointschool.org

2021-2022

Letter from the Head of School

Dear Friends of Rock Point School,

As I write to you this Labor Day weekend, I am riding Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express from Burlington to Penn Station. This train adventure allows me to talk with a variety of people, take in beautiful views of lush landscapes and sweet little towns, and have lots of time to think. As I sit on the train between one place and another, my thoughts linger on the past year at RPS and what this next year will bring.

Last year, our enrollment was solid, we increased fundraising, and we made exciting progress on capital projects. In all these areas, we either met or exceeded our expectations. But most importantly, our students grew and changed, moving forward with purpose and more confidence. Reflecting on what made their growth possible, I noticed one common, powerful factor: belonging.

How do we create and maintain belonging? Creating a sense of belonging is a wonderfully challenging, perennial opportunity we take on with gusto. At Rock Point, we strive to find our points of intersection and simultaneously celebrate our differences. Last year took work, as it does every year, to identify our strengths and points of growth, go towards the challenges to grow together, and affirm that we all belong right where we are. Here. At Rock Point School, together.

Belonging takes determination. There is no magic in helping people feel like they belong, although belonging can feel magical, especially to those who have not experienced belonging in an authentic way. A lot of focused effort from many people - students, staff, families, and trusteescontributed to a successful year of belonging. Trust, vulnerability, courage, energy to take risks, and commitment to do things together combined to create our sense of community.

“ There is no magic in helping people feel like they belong, although belonging can feel magical, especially to those who have not experienced belonging in an authentic way. ”

I am grateful for the belonging we create here at RPS. Particularly during these times of discord and separation that so many people feel right now, I wish for the experience of a sense of belonging for everyone, everywhere.

Thank you for doing your part to support RPS, allowing us to provide life-changing experiences for our students. Be well. Stay in touch.

Yours in health and community, C.J. Spirito

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RPS Board of Trustees

Officers Trustees

Bishop Shannon McVean-Brown Ex Officio Burlington, Vermont

Dr. Laurel Bongiorno President Oneonta, New York

Ron Chesbrough Vice President Cazenovia, New York

Scott Sheavly Treasurer Trumansburg, New York

Andrew Beyer Swissvale, PA

Harry Frank Huntington, VT

Robin Lloyd-Miller Burlington, VT Hannah Mariotti North Hampton, NH

Barton Merle-Smith North Ferrisburg, VT

Rick Reamer Pawtucket, RI

Mo Reilly Thetford, VT

Andrew Rome South Burlington, VT

Jean Marie Severance Richmond, VT

L to R in photo: Lee McLendon, Mo Reilly, Jean Harvey, Laurel Bongiorno (President), C.J. Spirito, Robin Lloyd-Miller, Scott Sheavly, Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown (Ex Officio).

Not pictured: Andrew Beyer, Harry Frank, Hannah Mariotti, Barton Merle-Smith, Rick Reamer, Andrew Rome, Jean Marie Severance

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Letter from the Chair

Dear Rock Point School Community Members,

What a privilege it has been to lead the Rock Point School Board of Trustees. I am very appreciative of the dedicated volunteers on the board who commit their time to supporting the mission of RPS.

My husband, Chuck, and I just moved from Vermont to Central New York, and were excited to be able to return for Wiffle Fest in August! It was a joy to see so many RPS Community members having fun together to support the school. It was also an excellent opportunity for me to see all of the physical upgrades that have been completed to make the school building itself a better place for all. Thank you to C.J. Spirito for guiding these critical efforts. And congratulations on a fundraising record at Wiffle Fest!

I am also so pleased about the number of students enrolled last year and for the upcoming academic year. We are getting the word out about this life-changing place called Rock Point. It is exciting that marketing and recruitment efforts are seeing results.

We received a very generous bequest of $253,787.32 from Ronald and Pamela Wyzga. We will be honoring Ron and Pam during our reunion, which is on June 10, 2023.

I’ll close with a thank you to the staff of Rock Point School. What you do every day matters so much, and you are acknowledged and appreciated. It has been my pleasure to be part of the Rock Point Community, and I wish you a great school year.

Sincerely, Dr. Laurel Bongiorno

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Class of 2022

UNH Portsmouth, NH

Kenyon College Gambler, OH

Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Halifax, NSClark UniversityWorcester, MA SUNY Delhi Delhi, NYHofstra University Hempstead, NY Gap Year

David Bonnen Roxanne Glassenberg Asher Holt Eula Palmer Carson Roberts Rory Saunders Yukiko Shimamura

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Nate Teetz

I will forever be thankful for every staff member at Rock Point who not only recognized and worked with Eula’s strengths, which often hadn’t been celebrated at other schools, but the support they gave her in discovering those same strengths and so many more. She went from being ‘small’ at school and flying under the radar to being a student ambassador who represented the place she loved as well as being a part of other clubs and committees. In a million years I never imagined I would say Eula loved school. I like to imagine Rock Point not building the ladder for their students to get out of their holes but showing them that they had the tools all along to build the ladder.”

Rock Point was a wonderful home for our daughter for her last two years of high school. It was a place that allowed Roxanne to truly be herself. Rock Point was a safe place to fail and make mistakes, knowing that the community would be there to lift her back up and help her to learn about herself. She was challenged academically, took on wonderful creative projects, was offered a variety of leadership roles, and overall learned independent skills that are already serving her well as a freshman in college. We are so glad that Rock Point is part of her story, and ours.” !

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Words are not adequate to express our gratitude for all that Rock Point School did for our son David. He came to Rock Point with bruised confidence and challenges that had not been supported in an effective way. But, after almost two years, he left a more confident and independent young man with a more positive outlook on life and ready to tackle the academic rigor of college. The successes that RPS nurtured in its special way—through truly caring relationships, encouragement, challenges, patience, and a healthy dose of fun—will stay with him for a lifetime. The entire staff at Rock Point should be proud of the work they do every day. It is truly a unique and special school.”

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Eternally Grateful, Wendy Bonnen, mother of David (Class of 2022)

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Abby Glassenberg, mother of Roxanne (Class of 2021) ” 5

Mary McClements, mom of Eula class of 2022 “

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Inclusion & Belonging

By Abbey Baker, Academic Coordinator

During adolescence, many students struggle to see their worth and value and have had experiences where they did not feel they belonged in school. It is a crucial time, as students grow into their full selves, for all young people to feel accepted for who they are. At Rock Point School, in our residential program and classrooms, we provide opportunities for students to create the kind of community to which they want to belong. For many students, this is work they’ve always been a part of, regardless of where they go to school. For others, this is a new environment, and they are learning how to create an inclusive community for the first time. One of the primary goals of each school year at Rock Point is to create a place where students feel a sense of belonging and inclusion.

Our first step in creating inclusivity is helping students understand that a community is what you make it; if they want to feel a sense of belonging, they must offer the same to their peers. We do this

in many ways, including hosting a weekly Community Meeting, where student facilitators plan ways to bring the community together and brainstorm topics that all students can discuss. In addition to Community Meetings, students have weekly dorm floor meetings and activities, which explicitly foster a shared responsibility for the school culture. In our advising conversations, lunch table conversations, and in classrooms, we frequently talk with students about the way they are contributing to making a school that feels safe and welcoming to all.

We also work to create programming that fosters a sense of belonging for all students. An ongoing highlight is our Gender & Sexuality Alliance, which was ten students strong last year. Here, students not only create a safe space to discuss issues related to gender and sexuality, but they also discuss how to make the school as inclusive as possible. During one meeting this year, the group wrote letters to other

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Inclusion&Belonging:continued

Gender & Sexuality Alliance clubs in Florida after the “Don’t Say Gay” laws were passed. Students wanted to send support, acceptance, and love to others who might not live in an inclusive community. This year, we aim to keep this club going as a place for LGBTQ+ students to talk with and support each other.

Last year, we also hosted alumna Pamela Schuller ‘05 at school to talk with our community about diversity and inclusion, specifically around students with disabilities. As a diversity and inclusion advocate and speaker, Pamela has worked with organizations like Google and Disney, as well as schools and camps around the country. Pamela met with students, staff, and parents to discuss what we do at Rock Point, her own experiences as a student here, and how we can make Rock Point an even more inclusive place for everyone. We hope Pam will return to campus soon to work with our students on storytelling and improv as a way to express and celebrate who they are!

While these special events highlight belonging and inclusion, those ideas are also baked into our day-to-day programming. We love celebrating students for their positive contributions, big and small. Whether publicly thanking a student for doing a great job mopping the floor during work crew or giving them an award for academic growth on the Night of Recognition, we seek to find ways to acknowledge students for their progress and hard work in all areas of their lives.

As a result, students feel seen at Rock Point School. This sense of being seen and celebrated for who they are creates a sense of belonging, and each student can see the many ways they contribute to the community.

We are committed to ongoing work around Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as a school. Our school leadership attended a workshop by the Association of Independent Schools in New England on Building an Inclusive Hiring Process, which sparked many great ideas on reaching more candidates and improved our hiring process. Our efforts to incorporate anti-racism teachings into our curriculum and community are ongoing and crucial to the future of our school. This year we are working with consultant Keiba Bragg-Best, who is helping us identify action steps toward our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion goals, as well as helping us hold ourselves accountable to those goals.

While some work is “behind the scenes” with staff, we also look to our students for their advice and guidance. As C.J. said in a recent staff meeting, “Our students demand action and accountability from us, even when our instinct may be to go slowly and cautiously forward. They know we can and should move with urgency.” We look forward to another year of creating a school where all students feel they not only belong, but are celebrated.

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Alumni & Student Spotlights

I’m starting my 3rd and final year at university in Melbourne, Australia. I’m studying psychology at Victoria University, and it is going very well. Melbourne is such an amazingly diverse city, and I love it so much! I really enjoy going to special events in the city like the F1 Grand Prix and exploring local parks with friends.

Ruby Minnelli RPS class of 2021

I’m currently going into my sophomore year at Hollins University. It’s a great school, and I’ve found many friends and supportive professors. I’m studying Psychology with hopes of later going into social work, speech therapy, or occupational therapy.

Ian Chavis RPS Class of 2019

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I live in Vermont with my husband and 13-year-old son. I work as an Analyst for the Department of Homeland Security and sit on the Board and Fundraising Committee for my son’s hockey team. I am also working on a passion project, developing my land into a cut flower farm and small homestead.

Chad and I have been married for 33 years we own two businesses and an Airbnb. We are grandparents to five children and parents to three girls. We are snowbirds: we live part time in Vermont and part time in Florida.

Cynthia Pepin RPS student 1986-88 Ashley Spears

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RPS Class of 2006

Alumni&StudentSpotlights:continued

Holly-Michele E. Westermeyer

RPS student 1972-1973

After a year at Rock Point, I went on to finish high school and college. I got my degree in Architecture and I am now working as an Architect. I worked for the Navy in Bath, Maine, designing Destroyers and Cruisers for about 10 years before going on with developing. For the last few years, I have been in Chattanooga, TN, but I would like to eventually return to New England with my daughter and her family.

(Black and white photo of Holly-Michele taken by former Head of School John Rouleau in 1973)

RPS Class of 2019

Currently I’m in the process of starting a business, selling my super fun and colorful crochet and various art. So far it has been going well for me! I also look forward to living nomadically with a few friends next year and travelling to various volunteer sites throughout the east coast.

(You can find Alison’s art on Instagram @sugarhoundcreations)

Alison Zindle

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at a Glance

Operating Budget 2021-2022 Capital Budget Where the Dollars Came From Tuition & Fees 63.7% Annual Fund 15.6% 3.0% PPP Grant 8.8% Financial Aid 3.9% Other 5.0% Endowment Draw

the Dollars Went Salaries & Benefits 56.9% Building & Campus Operations 10.2% Financial Aid 4.5% General Admin 10.6% Program Expenses 17.8% Where the Dollars Went Windows Weatherization Project 46.1% Heating System Energy Efficiency Upgrades 53.9%Hunt Capital Fund 6.5% Building Efficiency Donation 37.4% Building Improvement Donation 56.1% Where the Dollars Came From 11

Financials

2021-2022

Where

Thank You to Our Donors

Leland Alper

Dawn Andrews

Anonymous (8) Sari Attia Abbey Baker and Megan Millett Mary Beth and Thomas Barritt Pennie Beach

Thad Bennett and George Connell Shoshanna Bernstein

Amy and Karen Bielawski-Branch Betsy and Geoffrey Bird Zafir Bludevich

Tiffany Bluemle and Elizabeth Shayne David Boggs and Cory Bragg Matthew Boisvert

Laurel and Charles Bongiorno Drs. Mark and Wendy Bonnen David Borsykowsky and Sarah Klionsky Deborah Boyd and Thomas Boyd, Jr. Gib Brady

Adam and Monica Brady-Myerov Penny Brink

Emily Bruell and Christopher Ruigomez Lisa Bruzual

Bonnie and Robert Buchanan Gus and Kara Buchanan John F. Bunk

Nathan Bushweller

Linda and Kenneth Button

Dorothy Campbell Alison Cannon Wendy Chace and Randall Henson The Rev. Benjamin and Bobbie Chase Anne and Ron Chesbrough Margaret and Albert Cicchetti Eidelheide Cobcobo

Molly and Raymond Coffey MargEva Cole

Michael Coleman Catherine and Roger Cooke Hilary Cooke and Gregory Buzzard Roger and Anne Cooper

Liz Curry and Brian Pine Mari Dalton and Greg Maino Mrs. Raymond F. Darling Lisa Daudon and Jeffery Keeney William Davidson

John Davis

Karin Davis and Gerald Davis, M.D. Tom Delaney Mary and Bradford Denny Sara Denny

Dr. Frank and Mrs. Carol Derr Mary Doris Devlin and Lawrence DiBernardo Jason Dillon Maureen and Robert Dion Jason and Karen Dolan Tiffany Dove Michael and Miranda Dunn Catherine and James Eastham James and Marvene Eastham Stan Eddy Lonnie Edson Ann Ely and Thomas Ely Al Everts

Franci and Frank Farnsworth John Farnsworth Jake and Mollie Flanigan Russ and Hermine Flanigan Barb and Jim Flint Carolyn and Jim Fouts Steve Fox Janet and Terry Francis Victor Frank III

Tiffany Fuentevilla Dave and Frances Ganter Beverly and George Gardner

Lisa Gilbert

Marilynn Gilbert Kim and Eric Giler Abby and Charlie Glassenberg Jonelle Glubke

Natalie and Wallace Good Chari and Herb Goodman

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Emily Goodman

Rick Gordon

Elizabeth Green

Jean Guenther and The Rev. Robert Stuhlmann Frank and Ann Guillot

Renu Gupta

David Hamilton Mary Hamilton Vanessa and Ivan Hantman

Joan and Bradley Harris Cate and Stephen Harty Edith Hawksworth

Joy Hayes Matthew and Tracy Healey Jeff Hechenbleikner Laura and Andrew Hibbler Stacey and Perrin Hirshman

Ellen and Mark Hoffman Jonathon and Kim Holt Sarah and Steve Holzer Terence and Andrea Hook Ethna Hopper

Margie Hough and Don Spruit Chris and Christie Howell David and Lindsey Huddle Mary and Stephen Hyde Mark Isaacs

Nancy and Steven Jacobson Carol Jennings and David Denny Dana Jones

Yvette and Jon Kanter Brady Katzman-Rooks

Patience Kellogg

Pris and Phillip Kerr

Lisa and Howard King Barbie and John Koier Hillary Kramer and Dave Melnick Cheryl Park Kupersmith and Michael Kupersmith Jeanne and Charles “Chuck” LaClair

Bob and Cricket Laidman

Polly and James Larkin Roxana Laughlin

Daphne Layton and James Madigan Asher Lehrer-Small Catherine Leiser and Christopher Janeway

Christopher and Jennifer Leopold

Betty and Arthur Levy John Lincoln and Jill Stevens Michael Linnert and Susanne Rust

Thomas Little

Robin Lloyd-Miller Ellen MacLellan

Jeffrey Mandell Rowan Manker Hans Manske

Liza Joy Marcato

Jeffrey Martin and Robert Smith Jeffrey and Lucy Bird Masters Barb Masterson

Dave and Kristen Maxfield Marilyn May Mary McClements Thomas McGrath Kate McKernan and Collin O’Leary Mary McLaughlin John A. McLendon Lee W. McLendon Suzanne McNeill Deborah Melnick

Susan and Barton Merle-Smith Robin Merrill and Joanna Maccario Susan and Craig Meyerer Ronald Miller Robert Morrow Margaret Murray Sally Nadeau Arden O’Donnell and Elizabeth Berges Muriel O’Gorman

Rev. Sherry Osborn Jennifer Ozment and Timothy Carr Mary Ellen Palmer Matthew Parillo

Catherine Paris and David Barrington Jessica and Christopher Peckham Tracy and Scott Perrapato Amy Persin Heidi Petschauer Vikki and Richard Philipson Jean Pieniadz Sarah Pinto

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Donors: continued

Evan Plumleigh

Lori Polep

Kate Pond

Larry Pullen

Tom and Kathleen Quigley Laurene Radaszewski

Deborah Radovsky

Alban Richey Florence Rickard Jean L. Rickard

Diane Rippa and David Rome

Brett Roberts Richard Robinson

Mary Rosholt and David Sichel John Rouleau

Paula Routly and Tim Ashe

Janice Roy and Steven Young Charlotte and Joshua Safran

Thomas Schroeder

Pamela Schuller Jacquelyn Schultz

Christine Sears Rev. Sister Laurian Seeber Gohei Seino, Shinichi Seino, and Kaoru Nancy Seino Elizabeth Seyler

Debra Shapiro and Steve Minichiello Will Sheavly ‘12 Don Sheldon

Mrs. Edward M. Shepard June and Philip Sherwin Kayoko and Tadaatsu Shimamura Allan Shufelt

Deborah Siegel-Reamer and Frederic Reamer Ed and Sue Skea

Marley Skiff and Dr. Robert Skiff, Sr. Emily Skoler and Nora Mitchell

Saul Skoler

Laura and Chris Slesar

Martha Slocum

Tim and Marie Slottow Candace Smith and The Rev. Craig Smith Gibson Smith

Jennifer Smith

William Snider

Sonjie and Perry Solomon Marcy and Charles Southgate C.J. Spirito and Kathleen Butts Timothy and Sue Stanley Michael Steinharter Tanya Stenson Nicole Stevens Joseph T. Stone III Laurie Stone Kelly and Glenn Story Lanse Stover Kim Swartz Mike Syers Danielle Taylan Don Tinney

Benoit and Dawn Tonneau Frank and Margaret Trinity Moshe Usadi Rebecca Usadi

Katherine Verbeck and Stephen Lobban Jacqueline and Steve Vogl Theodore von Schoppe Brigadier General Donald Wagner and Mrs. Janet Wagner Jim and Cindy Wallace Jeannie Waltz Dr. Brenda Waters Herb and Elinor Weiland Ryan Weiland and Bryan Aubin Mitzi Wayne Weiss Hillary Wertz Robert Wertz

Melinda White-Bronson and Leman Bronson Tim Wile Dan and Cindy Wilford Kenneth and Donna Wine Michael and Valerie Wood-Lewis Bryn and Thomas Wood Kristin Wood and The Rev. Stewart Wood, Jr. Elizabeth Wyeth

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Businesses

Acme Glass Arms of Agape, Inc. Ciena Corporation

Hoang Auto Repair March McLennan Marketing Partners, Inc. McSoley McCoy & Company

Murray Electric New England Floor Covering Northeast Benefits Management

Noyes Auto and Tire People’s United Bank Summit Fire and Security, LLC Yelp, Inc.

Foundations

The BARRA-SMITH Family Giving Fund of Fidelity Charitable

The Flat Rock Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation

We finally found Rock Point School after searching for schools across the US for our daughter, who lost all confidence after a semester at a Canadian boarding school. Our forgotto-smile daughter with very little English found her place at Rock Point School [this school]. The commitment, persistence, and tireless efforts of exceptional teachers always encouraged our daughter to “become her best self.”

The Jack Miller Family Foundation

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland

The McLendon Family Foundation

The Parsons Judson Family Foundation

The Pay it Forward Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation

The Radical Developers Fund

The Robert and Lillian Phillipson Foundation

The Schwab Charitable Fund

The Vermont Community Foundation

The Whittington-McLendon Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation

Parishes

Episcopal Diocese of Vermont Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Colchester St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Hardwick St. Martins Episcopal Church, Fairlee St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Wells St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, St. Albans

Her five years at RPS were sometimes bumpy and not a smooth road; however, Yukiko has grown into a young adult who knows her own strengths and challenges, has developed life skills, and now dares to follow her chosen path without hesitation. We are so grateful that Rock Point School opened its doors to our daughter and are very proud of all her experiences at the school. As a token of our sincere appreciation, we donated to RPS, my daughter’s first alma mater in the US.

- Kayoko Shimamura, parent of Yukiko (class of 2022)

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The Year That Was:

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2021-2022