Schoolhouse students are active participants in their educational journey. We encourage them to be curious and independent, to find their own voices, and to trust themselves and each other. Practicing advocacy for themselves and their community primes our students for a life of joyfully engaging with the future, inspiring positive change, and promoting social justice and caring.
Our mission
The Schoolhouse Learning Center is a dynamic, diverse educational community that promotes curiosity and independence of mind. The Schoolhouse values each student’s voice, nurtures respectful relationships, and empowers students to have a positive impact on their communities.
Planning for the Future
We have a new strategic plan. With board leadership, broad community participation, and the support of our team at Noonmark Services, we developed our new long-term strategic plan and identified five key priorities: Improve our Facility, strengthen our Enrollment and Retention, deepen our students' Educational and Emotional Support, invest in our Teachers and Human Resources support, and study the Feasibility of Expanding our programs. We're grateful to everyone who has participated in the process and look forward to refining the plan further in the coming year.
Facilities
Create a new master plan for our building and grounds needs. Address planned maintenance costs.
Enrollment and Retention
Expand strategies to attract families. Support them before, during and after enrollment.
Educational/Emotional Support
Deepen support of students' social, emotional and behavioral needs. Establish consistent practices, with a DEI lense.
Teachers
Focus on teachers' professional experiences. Strengthen career paths for continuity to create a stable, trusting learning environment.
Future Expansion
Determine growth potential for current programs, and possibilities for new programming.
We’ve added critical stewardship. The Schoolhouse added enrollment, development, and communications positions to the leadership team. Focused stewardship over enrolling and retaining students, our outreach efforts, and our year-long fundraising, ensures consistent funding for student programming, staff benefits, and maintenance of our facility.
2023 - 2024 Year in Review
FFF: Farms, Field Trips, Forests, Food, and Fun! Our nature- and place-based educational programming continued to evolve this past year. Preschoolers gardened, explored wetlands and forests, and went on weekly field trips throughout the year. We broadened the impact of FFF programming in K-8 by integrating it with our annual cultural and scientific themes.
Robust literacy learning continued in K-8. This was our third year partnering with the Stern Center and Lux Language to ensure that our K-8 teachers have a firm understanding of the science of reading and the foundational teaching practices in the Orton-Gillingham literacy methodology.
Multi-age social and emotional connections remained strong. Family celebrations began and ended the year, complete with an ice cream truck. Students marched together in a neighborhood Halloween parade, and preschoolers practiced trick-or-treating door-to-door in the school. Our biggest ever Pride celebration included activities for all ages: face painting, games, flag and bracelet making, bubble blowing, music and dancing, and Pride dress up.
We celebrated our 40th Kwanzaa and 12th annual Season of Lights. For Kwanzaa, artists from the Clemmons Family Farm helped K-8 students prepare for the celebration through dance, music, poetry, and art. They also shared their personal perspectives on life as African American artists in Vermont. Story Time's Season of Lights ceremony began around a campfire. Children made paper lanterns and gifts for their families, and sang songs.
Together we raised $250,000 for a new playground. The renovation project called for our largest fundraising effort since renovating the Ramsey barn and moving to the wetlands. We couldn’t have done it without you; thank you!
By the Numbers
127 field trips across all programs. We went off-campus and into the world around us.
29 artists, guest presenters, and Short Course volunteers. They brought the world to our doorstep.
25 new friends at Wake Robin retirement center. Together with our preschoolers, residents made crafts, read books, and played games throughout the year.
19 rescued animals loved and cared for. Students nurtured and cared for rescued farm animals at Merrymac Farm Sanctuary.
23 continued connections: 11 alumni worked or volunteered as board members, staff, teachers, and contractors. 9 children of alumni or current staff and teachers were enrolled.
3 alumni teachers returned to support us: Fran Huntoon, Joni AvRutick, and Näri Penson.
40 years of Kwanzaa. What began in 1984 is enriched by our partnership with the Clemmons Family Farm.
A Healthy Budget
We're doing great. With strong student enrollment and successful fundraising, we balanced the needs of our students and teachers with our commitment to accessible tuition.
Jennifer Albers, Communications Director & Admissions Coordinator
Annie Mollo, Development Director & Special Projects Coordinator
2023-24
Board of Directors
Alyx Lyons, Chair
Will Mitchell, Vice Chair
Christina Colletti, Secretary
Kate Palopoli, Treasure
Lorraine Carter-Lovejoy, Staff Liaison
Wesley Davis
Liz Doran
Katie Mather
Rhonda Pagnucco
Liz Shayne (non-voting member)
I don’t know what to do if I’m not being playful; it’s a big part of how I communicate.
Walking on a beautiful rocky beach in Maine, one of the stones called to me –nose! I picked up the "nose" rock, along with some grasses, twigs, and wildflowers, and arranged them into a silly face. Just like that, it became a new tradition for me. Maybe the faces end up washed away in the surf or disturbed by the wind, but I always hope someone will discover them, chuckle, and want to play along.
In my greatest moments of self-doubt, I find myself thinking about my playfulness and my role here, or reflecting more broadly on my place in the world and what I ought to be doing to make it better. I worry that I’m not “serious enough,” or involved enough outside of Schoolhouse to push for positive change. Then I look around at our teachers, families and students, and I see that what we are doing together may be the most important work of all.
We are dedicated to raising the next generation of children to be a force for good in the world. If we have future leaders with empathetic hearts, who accept that we all make mistakes, who know we all think differently, and who feel safe enough to ask for what they need and make space for the needs of others… then we can hope to have a better future for us all. So I continue to work here each day, tending the hearts of the next generation with care, respect, and – perhaps most importantly with children – playfulness.
Liz Shayne Head of School
Your support makes the difference.
Over the course of 53 years, hundreds of children have come through our doors, eager to explore the world around them, discover themselves as learners, and feel safe in a cooperative and loving community. We could not continue to do this important work without you, our committed supporters.
Playground Fund Donors
Anonymous
Bonnie Acker & John Davis
Rebecca Burch & Sean Santry
Laura, Dan, & Paul Castrigano
Rose & Richard Colletti
The Comtois Family
Jane Conolly & Marc Sherman
Kalman Sherman
The Daniels Family
Mollie Israel & Jason Dincauze
The Fountain Fund
Christa & Mike Goglia
Elsie Goglia
Sabin Goglia
Elizabeth & Ivan Goldstein
Nick Hadsel-Mares & Chelsea
Mares
Jennifer & Eric Hall
The Leiser Janeway Family
Brunch Bag Sponsors
Robin Burdulis
Chira Orthodontics
Community Bank NA Foundation
Elizabeth Moore, Ridgeline Real Estate
Girlington Garage
Memorial and Commemorative Gifts
The following were honored by their family, friends, and other donors to The Schoolhouse.
L & G Albers
Joni AvRutick
Elijah & Woody Bergman
Jeb Brady
Victoria Casson
Thank you.
Pamela Kraynak & Jonah Kraynak
Harlan & Linnea Lachman
David Lansky
Bryan Lincoln
Edward Linto & Julia Snapp
Robin Lloyd
Suzie McCoy & Geo DeBrosse
The Stackpole-McGrath Family
Winona Meringolo
Will & Trish Mitchell
Karen Mitchell-Ruben & Peter Ruben
Kirk & Cara Montague
Mila Moore
Jamie Morris
Judith Nolin
Marie Norwood
The Pagnucco Family
Philip Perkins & Margaret Allen
Christian Pinillos
Lipson Living Trust
Northfield Savings Bank
Phoenix Books
PhysiAlign
PT360 Coop
Rock Point School
Silver Maple Construction
Christina Colletti
Pam Gale
Elsie & Sabin Goglia
Katie Goodwin
Sue Haman
Doris Heckerling
Estelle Knoff
Robin Lincoln
Sally Lincoln
Theo Lyons Judge
A Word to Our Volunteers
Jennifer Plane
Rachel & James Plouffe
Maureen Cannon & Robert Resnik
Kit Roberts & Susan McMillan
Andrea Rogers
The Rollins Family
Beth Sachs
Linda & Tim Santry
Lucy Kate Senick
The Shayne Family
Kalman Sherman
Julie & Scott Springer
Sylvia Stevens-Goodnight
Tracy Tripp
The Vitale Family
Liz Werthan & Bob Brand
Wiener & Slater Law Offices PLLC
Sweet Roots Farm
TCE, A Bowman Company
This is Urban Salon
Timberlane Dental Group
Twincraft Skincare
Vermont Mutual Insurance
Wiener & Slater Law Offices PLLC
Julie Mainzer
Näri Penson
Mark & Niko Pruesse-Adams
Betty Schuster
Lillian (Lily) Searby
James & Lucy Kate Senick
Liz Shayne
Jim & Sam Skrable
Jim & Janet Stackpole
The Schoolhouse Teachers
Schoolhouse wouldn’t be Schoolhouse without strong community spirit and the cando attitude of all of our volunteers throughout the year. You helped out on the playground and in the lunchroom. You tended and improved our gardens. You cleaned, organized, and painted. You cooked for and assembled Brunch Bags, and drove them door to door. You accompanied us on field trips near and far. You shared your skills and interests in Short Courses, and your heritage and world views for our cultural studies.
In short, you made everything better. We want you to know: we see you and we’re grateful. Thank you for all the ways you make The Schoolhouse a special place to learn and work and grow.
