Rock Point School Annual Report 2022-2023

Table of Contents

Rock Point School is an intentionally small, independent, coed boarding high school in Burlington, Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain. We are proud to have been founded in 1928 with a mission to serve young people that remains strong to this day.

Rock Point School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Letter from the Head of School

Dear Friends of Rock Point School,

As I reflect on the past year at Rock Point School, I am delighted to notice a parallel between our community and my new favorite baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles won me over with their commitment of seeing people for who they are: identifying the strengths in their players and creating an atmosphere where the players can shine. Similarly, the magic that happens at RPS begins when students are seen. Then, when the students feel safe, they shine.

In Camden Yards, the Orioles pitch with precision, hit home runs, steal bases, and lay out to dive for hard-hit balls. At RPS, in all areas of our programs, we strive to see students for who they really are and give them the chance to grow in manageable increments. Our students are not hitting, throwing, and catching; they are demonstrating their shine in their own ways. In our Congress of Change, students were invited to speak in the voice of a changemaker; some students who rarely participate orally in class felt safe speaking in their assumed roles. In our Cabaret, some students wrote plays and others acted them out, while yet other students took part by helping from behind the scenes. In a spring Reflections meeting, a few seniors shared their poetry. Other students, inspired by their courage, ran to get their journals to share their own poems or others’ poems that were meaningful to them. Throughout the year, students bravely allowed themselves to be seen, grew in their sense of safety, and let their own light shine.

As our new graduates made their way into the world, students from the past made their way back to RPS for our reunion. It was wonderful to see alumni and families from the class of 1974 all the way up to the class of 2022, and staff members too. As I recognized each face from the near or distant past, I noticed their stories and appreciations shared a similar theme: Thank you, all of you at Rock Point, for providing an experience that allowed me to be seen and share my voice. It still impacts me today.

I am proud and grateful to be a part of this community where we see and value our young people. In the environment of safety they find here, I am gratified to see them blossom. Thank you for doing your part to support RPS, allowing us to provide life-changing experiences for our students by helping them to be brave, to take risks, and to become the best version of themselves they can be.

Be well. Stay in touch.

Yours in health and community,

to be

grew in their sense of safety, and let their own light shine. ”

C.J. Spirito

“

…students bravely allowed themselves

seen,

RPS Board of Trustees

Officers Trustees

Bishop Shannon McVean-Brown Ex Officio

Burlington, Vermont

Ron Chesbrough President Cazenovia, New York

Harry Frank Secretary

Huntington, Vermont

Scott Sheavly Treasurer

Trumansburg, New York

Trustee Spotlight

Andrew Beyer Swissvale, PA

Robin Lloyd-Miller Burlington, VT

Hannah Mariotti North Hampton, NH

Lee McLendon Waterbury Center, VT

Barton Merle-Smith North Ferrisburgh, VT

Rock Point School became part of our lives in 2008 when we were searching for an alternative educational setting for our son. During the four years our son attended Rock Point and the many years since, we have admired the dedication of the staff and the mission of the school helping young adults grow into their best selves – I know that we learned as much as our son through their insight, skill, and the way in which they modeled everything that they taught. I joined the Board of Trustees five years ago and continue to be amazed by the supportive and committed staff and the positive growth of students who have found a safe home in a complicated world. The world needs schools like Rock Point and Marcia and I continue to be dedicated to supporting the school.”

–Scott Sheavly

Federic Reamer Pawtucket, RI

Mo Reilly Westford, VT

Andrew Rome Essex Junction, VT

Pamela Schuller New York, NY

Jean Marie Severance Richmond, VT

Letter from the Chair

Dear Rock Point School Community:

What a delight it has been to serve as Chair of the Rock Point School Board of Trustees this past year. There is a full circle quality to my longtime engagement with Rock Point that is very fulfilling.

I was fortunate to have one of my first professional jobs out of college be at Rock Point School. In 1980 my wife Marcia and I joined the staff of Rock Point as what were termed ‘dorm parents’ back in the day. We brought infant Sara with us, now forty-three with her own young family.

Along the way we added two more daughters. All three spent their early childhoods in the warmth and love of the Rock Point School community. Fast forward four decades. Sara and I attended the recent reunion in June and found the same warmth, love, and strength that has defined Rock Point School over the years.

As a member of the board, I am happy to share this report with you. You will find much to be happy about in the report. Enrollment is strong, fund raising is robust, leadership and staffing at the school has never been stronger, and most importantly students who attend Rock Point still receive the same love, support, and guidance for a lifetime that is the school’s hallmark.

I have spent over forty years as an educator. In that time, I have never found a more nurturing, caring, and supportive environment than that provided by the leadership, faculty and staff of Rock Point School. There is a certain magic that happens here. Many of you have seen it first-hand. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I thank you for your ongoing interest in and support of Rock Point. We need you; our students need you.

And to the amazing leadership and staff of the school I say thank you for your passion to create and foster lives well lived. This world needs you and your passion. Our students and their families are so fortunate to have you in their lives.

Sincerely,

Ron Chesbrough

…and most importantly students who attend Rock Point still receive the same love, support, and guidance for a lifetime that is the school’s hallmark.

Class of 2023

Charlie

Frances Gustavson

Will Kozicki

Cameron Laliberte

Jerry Langehough

Orion Linnert

Eden Milczanowski

Satyr Quigley

Olivia Weiss

Lily Wyatt

“

Rock Point School changed my life in so many ways. I would not be the person I am today, I would not be speaking on a graduation stage, if it wasn’t for Rock Point. I am a totally different person than I was when I came here. I am eternally grateful to the people who have helped shape me into the person I am today. The staff here have been abundantly supportive of me and they have always been there to catch me when I fall … I found so much love here. I learned how to love school and how to love myself. This is a very special place and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to come to Rock Point.

–Frances

In my two years at Rock Point School, I found a place where everything felt like I belonged, and being a typically silent person in group settings, that says a lot. That’s what it was for me, the amount of love in this community. Some are more vocal about it than others, but you can feel it. I hadn’t been to a place before where you could really feel how much people want you to succeed. Where people listen to what you have to say, even if it isn’t rational. I’m so grateful for the Rock Point staff and the students who came before me and shaped this school into what it is. And if I’m being honest, I am most grateful for my class, the seniors. I have never in my life felt more safe among my peers in a class. The amount of love I have in my heart for them all is astronomical.

We are incredibly thankful to have found Rock Point School for our son, Charlie. For several years, Charlie struggled with depression, anxiety, being bullied, and not feeling as though he could live authentically at schools back home. The staff and community wrapped their loving arms around him and created a safe space for Charlie to grow and continue his amazing journey. Rock Point School gave Charlie the love, support and encouragement for him to be his authentic self, explore, learn, practice skills, and have fun. Charlie learned so much about himself and grew in ways that were once unimaginable. He developed impressive leadership skills and grew more and more confident each day. We are beyond excited that he will be continuing his journey at Bennington College this fall! We are forever grateful to Rock Point School for all they do with such thoughtfulness, grace, creativity, peace and extraordinary skill each and every day.

–Satyr ” 5

Being Seen & Feeling Safe

By Abbey Baker, Academic Coordinator

“When I came to Rock Point School, I had a lot of social anxiety that I was pretty good at masking. I was really self-conscious, but I tried to act more confident. When we had our break during morning classes and other students would head to the kitchen for a snack or hang out in the lounge, I would head to the history classroom and read until our class started. Gus, our history teacher, was usually working there and didn’t say much, which was a relief to me. One day, I sat down and took out my book, and without looking up from his work, Gus said, ‘I see you.’ And I knew he did. It made me feel good to know that I didn’t have to talk about it but that he saw me and knew what I needed. I felt that way many times at Rock Point, and I carried that feeling into my work with young people and my parenting. Truly seeing other people is such a gift, and the fact that the adults at Rock Point made an effort to see me for who I was while I was there helped me to grow and feel safe. ”

– Sarah Carpenter, ’09

When Sarah shared this story at our reunion this June, I was struck by how clearly she remembered such a small moment in her time at Rock Point School and how much it affected her. In further talking with her, I realized that the moment stuck with her because, as soon as Gus said that to her, she began to notice how other staff members “saw” her. It became a natural touchpoint for a feeling of safety and security in her time at the school. As we talked, I began to think about how “seeing” students is central to what we do as a school.

What does it mean to feel seen? In the most basic sense, being seen is the opposite of being ignored. Many of our students come from larger schools where they may have been able to fade into the background, where people made assumptions about them based on their clothing choices or their diagnostic labels, or peer groups may have ostracized them. Dr. Kipling Williams at Perdue University has researched what happens when people are rejected or ignored, and, unsurprisingly, what he has found is that it can create psychological damage and even increase the risk that students will act in negative ways in order to stop being ignored.

At this level, it is clear why we all need to be seen. To be seen means you are known and acknowledged for who you are - both the good and the bad, the parts you are showing to the world, and the parts you may be trying to hide. Williams’s research shows that social attentiveness to those around you can create positive, prosocial behaviors. But a desire to “see” our students goes far beyond that. We want to know our students because we believe all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and, to do that, you must create an environment where people are known and their voices can be heard.

BeingSeen&FeelingSafe:continued

Our school year begins with a period of diagnostic teaching, which means much of the first quarter teachers spend getting to know students in person. Of course, before students arrive, we spend time learning about who they are and how we can support them, we read their grade reports, IEPs, and other testing, but often the student sitting in front of us isn’t fully reflected in those files, however detailed they may be. Students who may have a diagnosed reading disability may be passionate readers (if it’s a book in their favorite series), and students who have historically avoided math class may love making fractal patterns in Geometry. Our teachers work throughout the year to make these discoveries and tap into what each student needs to be successful.

This way of knowing students goes far beyond the classroom. It can be seen at lunch table conversations where students share hot takes on recent movies, or on the weekend when a student works with a Residential Educator to plan an activity they love and want to share with the community. It’s visible in Community Meetings where students share their ideas about how to improve a school policy or in Reflections Meetings when students make and share their vision boards for the school year. At each of these touchpoints, students and staff are making efforts to fully see one another and connect. As a result of these

connections, students feel safe and can grow. As Lily said at graduation:

“People around me at Rock Point recognize the actions that I take and the things that I do. There is no running away from your issues here. Now, as I move through the world, I attempt to live in a way that I’m proud of. I attempt to have the actions I take be a positive reflection on myself. I want people to fully see me instead of hiding and not wanting people to see anything negative about me. I am grateful to Rock Point for helping me to start on a path of seeing who I want to be and seeing what’s important to me.”

- Lily, ’23

It is crucial for young people, really all people, to be seen, heard, and accepted for who they are. We have witnessed firsthand the transformations possible for our students when we can nurture those hidden parts of themselves. The changes our students experience are not because they have become different people (although some of them might feel that way) but because they are allowing themselves to be seen, and therefore, they can embrace their strengths and challenges, becoming the best versions of themselves.

Alumni Spotlights

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from DePaul University in June with a BA in Communication and Media and a minor in Psychology. I’m living in Chicago with two of my friends and wrapping up my summer marketing internship in the city. I honestly have no idea what’s next, but hopefully not marketing!

Since I graduated from Rock Point in 1998, I started a family and have 2 amazing kiddos, Matt and Kayla, and I work as a medical assistant and EMT. We live in Barre with my 2 crazy dogs, and 3 cats. We are always on the go! Recently, at work, I delivered my 14th baby (not my child)! I am looking forward to continuing this rewarding line of work for years to come. RPS helped pave the way for this career by giving me all the building blocks for a successful professional and personal life.

Clare Brady RPS Class of 2018

Tara (Earley) Balon RPS class of 1998

Ewing Fox RPS class of 1998

Currently, I’m a Senior DevOps Engineer for Athenahealth, a Watertown, MA-based healthcare data informatics company. In short, I get paid to solve puzzles for a living! When I’m not working, I get to do my favorite job –raising my two incredible daughters (15 and 4) with my super awesome partner Theresa. Both girls are just like their Mama T - passionate, opinionated, unique, and creative. In short, they would fit in just right with the RPS family, and I’m grateful for it! Regardless of whether I’m hard at work or busy with my family, every day, I rely on the life lessons I learned at Rock Point –how to work with others, have confidence in my own ideas, and how to be resilient in the face of adversity. Thanks, Rock Point!

Travis Tucker

RPS class of 2000

Since high school, I’ve done a whole bunch of things! I’ve been a carnie traveling with the fair, I’ve been a busker performing on the street making balloon animals, I became a husband and father, I was a cook, and now I’m doing something that I would have NEVER thought that I would be doing. I’m currently the Facilities Manager at The Echo Leahy Center on the Burlington Waterfront. I finally found a place that recognizes my strengths, helps me learn, and encourages me to grow. And honestly, RPS prepared me for all of it. This is no joke. I do not know who I would be if I didn’t go to RPS. You all impacted my life in such amazing ways, and nobody at RPS EVER gave up on me!

Financials at a Glance

2022-2023 Operating Budget

2022-2023 Capital Budget

* Employee Retention Credit one-time event

Thank You to Our Donors

The generous support of our community makes possible everything we do! Contributions recognized below are from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

Anonymous (10)

Laura Abrams

Autumn Albrecht

Patricia and Christopher Allen

Leland Alper

R.A. Barry, Ph.D.

Pennie Beach

in honor of Hasket Morris

Thad Bennett and George Connell

Caroline Bergeron

Mary Beth and Thomas Barritt

Andrew Beyer

Elizabeth and Geoffrey Bird

Charlotte Blend and Luke Montague

Zafir Bludevich

Laurel and Chuck Bongiorno

Wendy and Mark Bonnen

David Borsykowsky and Sarah Klionsky

Jennifer and Lars Botzojorns

Deborah Boyd and Thomas Boyd, Jr.

Adam and Monica Brady-Myerov

Gib Brady

Prentice Brink in honor of the Class of 2023

Scotty Brink in honor of Will Kozicki

Anne Brown and The Rev. Lee Crawford

Bonnie and Robert Buchanan

Gus and Kara Buchanan

Linda and Kenneth Button

Miles Butts-Spirito

Raymond Butts

Joan Campbell-Rosbrook and Timothy Rosbrook in memory of Rose Ann Campbell

John Cannon

Wendy Chace and Randall Henson

The Rev. Benjamin and Bobbie Chase

Anne and Ron Chesbrough

Molly and Raymond Coffey

MargEva and Stephen Cole

Molly and Joseph Comeau

Hilary Cooke and Gregory Buzzard

Chuck and Lakshmi Courcy

Patricia Crawford

Liz Curry and Brian Pine

Mari Dalton and Greg Maino

Ursel Danielson

William Davidson

Karin Davis and Gerald Davis, M.D.

Tom Delaney

Carrie and Daniel Dellaporta in memory of Marylen Grigas

Bradford and Mary Denny in memory of Steve Denny

David Denny and Carol Jennings

Dr. Frank and Mrs. Carol Derr

Mary Doris Devlin and Lawrence DiBernardo

Maureen and Robert Dion

Jordan Douglas

Michael and Miranda Dunn

Catherine and James Eastham

James and Marvene Eastham

Stan Eddy

Lonnie Edson

Nancy and Russell Ellis

Ann Ely and Thomas Ely

Julia Esteves

Bollo Family

Mae Feliciano and the Solomon Family

Jake and Martha Flanigan

Russ and Hermine Flanigan

Barb and Jim Flint

Donors: continued

Marsi Foster and Matthew Bourgault

Tim and Heather Fowler in honor of the Class of 2023

Steve Fox

Janet and Terry Francis

Victor Frank III

Stephanie Friedman

Nick and Marie Gaffney

The Rev. Dave Ganter and Frances Ganter

Beverly and George Gardner

Justin Gay

Lisa Gilbert

Kim and Eric Giler

Jonelle Glubke

in honor of the Class of 2023

Natalie and Wallace Good

Linda Goodell

Chari and Herb Goodman

Emily Goodman

Elizabeth Green

Jean Guenther and The Rev. Robert Stuhlmann

Ann and Frank Guillot

Mary Hamilton

Vanessa and Ivan Hantman

Kendra Harkham

in honor of the Class of 2023

Joan and Bradley Harris in memory of Bill Giegerich and Dolly Smith

Cate and Stephan Harty in honor of John Rouleau

Edith Hawksworth

Tracy and Matthew Healey in memory of Steven Denny

Laura and Andrew Hibbler

Stacey and Perrin Hirshman

Sarah and Steve Holzer

Ethna Hopper in memory of Jean Hague

Sarah and Mark Howe

Chris Howell

Mary and Stephen Hyde

Dr. Deborah Jerard and Mr. Robert Hirt

Eric Johnson

Linda Johnson

Cameron Julian

David Juliano

Yvette and Jon Kanter

Barbara Kelley

John and Denise Kelley

Patience Kellogg

Pris and Phillip Kerr

Lisa and Howard King

Barbie and John Koier

Scott Kozicki

in honor of the Class of 2023

Hillary Kramer and Dave Melnick

Katie Kubie and William Winkler

Paul Kurst

Will Lacroix

Maxine and Leo LaDouceur

Ann LaFiandra

Bob and Cricket Laidman in honor of Laidman & Holden family

Robert Laliberte

Robert Landau in honor of Frederic Reamer, Ph.D. on the occasion of his birthday and retirement

Nancy Lang and Richard McGuire

The Rev. Steven and Bridget Langehough in honor of the Class of 2023

Polly and James Larkin

Roxana Laughlin

Daphne Layton and James Madigan

Charles Lefrak

Asher Lehrer-Small

Catherine Leiser and Christopher Janeway

Christopher and Jennifer Leopold

Betty and Art Levy

Michael Linnert and Susanne Rust in honor of the Class of 2023

Susan and Tom Little

Robin Lloyd-Miller

Mame Lyttle

Ellen MacLellan in memory of Barbara Ward

The Rev. Shannon MacVean-Brown

The Rev. Dewitt Mallary, Jr.

Judith L. Mallory

Jennifer Mandel

Hans Manske

Hannah Mariotti

Caleb Marriott

Linda Marsh and Arthur Ziller

Peter Martin in memory of Barbara Ward

Ben Mason in honor of Jim Tenbrook

Jeffrey and Lucy Bird Masters

Barbara Masterson

Mary McClements in honor of Eula Palmer

Kate McKernan and Collin O’Leary

Mary McKernan

Mary McLaughlin

John A. McLendon

Lee W. McLendon

Kathleen McNabb

Suzanne McNeill

Deborah Melnick

Susan and Barton Merle-Smith

Robin Merrill and Joanna Maccario

Ron Miller

Thomas Morley

Leslie and Patrick Moulin

Kristin and Dave Movius in honor of the Class of 2023

Deborah Moya

Sally Nadeau

Brooke and Bernhardt Nadell

Erika and William Neuberg

Bartholomew G. Nyhan

Arden O’Donnell and Elizabeth Berges

Rev. Sherry Osborn

Rafael and Graciela Pagán in honor of Daniel A. Pagan

Mary Ellen Palmer

Cheryl Park Kupersmith and Michael Kupersmith

Jessica and Christopher Peckham

Amy Persin in honor of the Class of 2023

Heidi Petschauer

Matt Phillips

Jean Pieniadz

Lori Polep

Kate Pond

Jane Presler and The Rev. Titus Presler

Laurene Radaszewski

Mo Reilly in honor of C.J. Spirito

Cathy Resmer

Alban Richey

Diane Rippa and David Rome

Liza and Luke Rixon

Brett Roberts

Richard Robinson

Jennifer Root

Brian Rosales

Nicholas Rosbrook

Mary Rosholt and David Sichel

John Rouleau

Bradd Rubman

George Rutherford in honor of C.J. Spirito & all RPS Staff

Charlotte and Joshua Safran

Taj Schottland

Thomas Schroeder in memory of Mary Adelia McLeod

Pamela Schuller

Christine Sears

Rev. Sister Laurian Seeber

Donors: continued

Jean-Marie Severance

Debby Shapiro

Elizabeth Shayne and Tiffany Bluemle

Scott Sheavly and Marcia Eames-Sheavly

Joan P. Shepard

Kayoko and Tadaatsu Shimamura

Deborah Siegel-Reamer and Frederic Reamer in honor of Andrew Reamer, Emma Siegel-Reamer, and C.J. Spirito

Ed and Sue Skea

Marley Skiff and Dr. Robert Skiff, Sr.

Sylvia Skoler Portnoy in honor of Emily Skoler

Emily Skoler and Nora Mitchell in memory of Marylen Grigas and Will Marquess

Saul Skoler

Laura and Chris Slesar

Marie and Timothy Slottow

Eric Small and Dina Lehrer

Stephanie and Michael Smerling

Gibson Smith

Jennifer Smith

Sophie Smyth and David Fagelson

Cindy Snyder and Chuck Fennimore

Bill Spirito and Lorena Baron

C.J. Spirito and Kathy Butts

Tanya Stenson in memory of Bill Stenson

Jill Stevens and John Lincoln

Kelly and Glenn Story

Gianna Stover

Maureen Sullivan

in honor of Kate, Collin, Flynn, and Mair

Iris Swimmer in honor of Hillary Kramer and in memory of Dr. Leonard Swimmer

Mike Syers

Danielle Taylan in honor of the Class of 2023

Don Tinney

Andrea Todd

Dawn and Ben Tonneau

Matthew Torrey

Frank and Margaret Trinity

Moshe Usadi

Rebecca Usadi in honor of Caleb

Dr. Kitty Verbeck-Lobban and Dr. Stephen Lobban in memory of Grace McKee Verbeck

Aidan Vogl

Jacqueline and Steve Vogl in memory of Ray Girard

Theodore von Schoppe

Jean Waltz

Amy and Duncan Wardwell

Brenda L. Waters, MD

Mitzi Wayne Weiss

Ryan Weiland and Bryan Aubin

Tara Weiss in honor of the Class of 2023

Robert Wertz

Melinda White-Bronson and Leman Bronson

Tim Wile

Topper Williams in honor of the Class of 2023

Valerie and Michael Wood-Lewis

Bryn and Thomas Wood

Kristin Wood and The Rev. Stewart Wood, Jr.

Kristina Wyatt in honor of the Class of 2023

Lily Wyatt

Dave Zona

We strive to ensure that these lists are accurate. If you see an error or omission, please let us know so that we can make corrections. Thank you!

Businesses

Acme Glass

Burlington Electric Department

Ciena Corporation

Element Nail Salon, LLC

Fox Plumbing & Heating

Marketing Partners, Inc.

Mountain Air

New England Floor Covering

Seventh Generation

South End Associates, LLC

Summit Fire and Security, LLC

Swish White River Ltd.

Yelp, Inc.

Parishes

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Colchester

St. Dunstans Episcopal Church, Waitsfield

St. Martins Episcopal Church, Fairlee

Women of Trinity Church, Rutland

Foundations

The Alternative Fund at Fidelity Charitable

The Amp Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable

The Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund

The Berges-O’Donnell Charitable Giving Fund

The Community Foundation of New Jersey

The Flat Rock Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation

The Ida Thorpe Trust

The King Family Fund of Fidelity Charitable

The McLendon Family Foundation

The Pay it Forward Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation

The Quinby Family Fund of Fidelity Charitable

The Radical Developers Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation

The Robert and Lillian Phillipson Foundation

Schwab Charitable

The Smith Family Charitable Fund at T. Rowe Charitable

The Turrell Fund

The Virginia Hunt Trust

It’s been over ten years since our son Chris attended Rock Point, and the wonderful memories of the camaraderie, creativity, spirit, and love we experienced there still fills our hearts. Even after all this time, we still keep in touch and visit. Chris still talks about his challenges and the support he received from the entire Rock Point team. We feel so blessed to have found this little gem tucked away in Burlington, Vermont. It became a home, a school, a playground, and a family to us. I’m so grateful we found the courage and trust as parents to send our son to Rock Point School and collaborate with the knowledgeable team to nurture, support, teach, and love Chris. I hope that Rock Point continues to touch the lives of other special and unique children for a very long time, giving our youth the confidence and competence to be the best they can be for themselves and others. I can attest that it truly does “take a village” to raise a child, which is why I continue supporting and donating to Rock Point!

- Heidi Petschauer, parent of Chris Fox, ’13

The Year That Was:

2022-2023