The Vermont Academy Way
Meet our Student Leaders
Partnerships Powering Growth
Scenes from the Hilltop
Strategic Plan Progress
Alumni Returning to VA as Faculty
Vermont Academy At-a-Glance VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 ~ FALL 2023
Dear Vermont Academy Community, What a wonderful fall! Our students are back on campus and it is so gratifying to see them embrace their studies, rise to new challenges, and make new friends that we know, based on the experiences of our alumni, will become friends for a lifetime. During our convocation a few weeks ago I shared my hopes for our students and encouraged them to think of a touchstone image that they can carry with them to define their goals for the year. I shared a photo of a 101-year-old Schooner Ladona that won the 1923 Bermuda Cup’s Race, which for me, symbolizes our ability to fly like the wind, but also to navigate choppy waters when they arrive. Vermont Academy teaches students to be the masters of their own destiny, and I am sure the images that reflect their dreams for the future are equally inspiring. Our first weeks also saw us set the tone for our year by building our community - one of the four pillars of our strategic plan. We took full advantage of our Vermont landscape and used our extensive ropes course to help our students learn how to simultaneously support others while challenging themselves. Our cover photo captures the intense focus that is needed to accomplish something difficult while also demonstrating the helping hand that is never far away here at VA. This issue of the Vermont Academy Way helps us all share in the nearly universal excitement that “Back to School” brings. We will update you on progress being made on the Vermont Academy strategic plan, share the vision of our student government leaders, profile some alumni who have chosen to return to Vermont Academy to teach and serve the next generation of students, and offer a photo spread of those exhilarating first days - filled with a combination of discovery and tradition. I hope this helps you feel engaged with the lives of our current students, and gets you excited for the school year, as much as we are! Warmly,
Dr. Jennifer L. Zaccara, Head of School
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Meet the VASA Team The Vermont Academy Student Association (VASA) leadership team is composed of three student government representatives who work together on behalf of the student body and the Vermont Academy community at large. This year, the team includes; Co-Presidents Sydney Palmiotto ’24 and Bowen Xiao ’24, and Treasurer Cole Allen ’24. We asked the team to share what motivated them to join VASA, their plans for the year, and why the VA community is so special to them. Sydney shared that her drive to join the team began when she became a 9th grade representative. Now in her senior year, her message stays the same. “I would like to act as a voice for those around me and inspire positive change within the VA community.” For Cole, growth as a community was a large part of his joining the team. “I wanted to be a part of VASA because I think that student involvement in the projects and changes in the community is important.” Each VASA leader understands that for a group to be a successful community, individual viewpoints should be listened to. “Being a VASA member means you hear the requests that students have, while also having the power to present these issues directly to the VA Student Life Office and really make a positive difference,” said Cole. Bowen agreed, noting that they are the ones who can activate change on behalf of their peers. “The roles are so important because we are the ones who create a sense of community, making it a place where students feel respected and supported.” This VASA team knows the importance of putting their words and ideas into action. “This year, VASA hopes to accomplish a myriad of things, but something I want to focus on is including the underclassmen in VASA more,” Sydney said. Bowen also added that he looks forward to making new community members feel at home at VA. Above all, the team is united by their love for Vermont Academy, and it is this that drives them to be great leaders. Bowen and Sydney specifically noted VA’s interconnectedness. “The student body and faculty members here at VA are very supportive and tightly connected,” said Bowen. “Teachers take the time to get to know you and support you,” We wish the 2023-24 leadership team the best of luck as they work to achieve their goals this year!
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Scenes from the Hilltop
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Vermont Academy traditions abound as we welcomed our Wildcats back to the hilltop for this school year. Our annual Wildcat Games featuring lively inter-class competitions cultivated lots of Wildcat spirit and the class renditions of the Vermont Academy Evening Song being sung on the South Lawn where commencement is held in May tugged at our heartstrings. After a brief hiatus due to COVID restrictions, formal meal has returned bringing faculty and students together to share a family meal. Classes are in full swing inside and out and we’ve been thrilled to watch our Wildcats in early season competition. Our Long Walk is full again and we are excited for what will unfold the rest of this trimester.
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Grads Returning to the Hilltop to Teach It takes a special place to encourage a group of alumni, eleven to be exact, to want to return to their high school as faculty and staff members. So what is it about Vermont Academy that is so magnetic, that has made this group want to return? We asked! Find out here on the pages of VA Way and hear in their own words what they love about our school. John Peloso ’19 John rejoins the Vermont Academy community after graduating as a fouryear senior with the Class of 2019. He is an assistant to both Student Life and Facilities, and an assistant coach for Boys’ Varsity Hockey. When asked his favorite part about VA, his answer is: “The community. The faculty and staff at VA are second to none and truly care about the students. It is a welcoming environment that encourages stepping out of comfort zones with support.”
“This community needs people that care and want to live ‘the VA way’ and I think it was an easy decision for me to come back and be on the other side.”
Maddie Paydos ’18 Maddie is currently in her second year in the role of assistant director of admissions and the head coach of Girls’ Varsity Hockey. She loves being part of the Vermont Academy community, which has always felt like home to her. “My time at VA carries some of my fondest lifetime memories. It truly makes me feel so lucky to be able to rejoin this community as an adult and see the students create their own memories,” Maddie shared.
Adrian Diaz ’14 Adrian returned to his alma mater as the director of international and residential programs, a Spanish faculty member, and head coach of Boys’ Varsity Soccer. When tasked with the question of why he returned, his answer was, “It is a way to give back to a place I call my home away from home. This community needs people that care and want to live ‘the VA way’ and I think it was an easy decision for me to come back and be on the other side.” Brian Allen ’14 Upon returning to Vermont Academy, Brian started out as a faculty member in the history department, and is now an assistant director of admissions and the head coach of Boys’ Varsity Hockey. When asked about how VA has evolved since his time as a student, he said, “VA is a wonderful place–still.” He also has a message for his fellow VA alumni recognizing the work that comes with teaching teenagers. “All of your teachers were underappreciated at the time, as they are now, so reach out and say thank you!” Brian Schilling ’11 As a son of VA staff member parents, Falko and Lorna Schilling, Brian practically grew up on campus before becoming a student himself. He began teaching English literature at VA in 2018 after learning the craft as an intern the year prior. He is now also the coach for Boys’ Junior Varsity Soccer and Girls’ Junior
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Varsity Hockey. “What I love most about my job is helping students believe in themselves and their abilities, and then watching them grow with newfound confidence,” he shared. Jonathan Barron ’96 Jonathan graduated from Vermont Academy with academic distinctions in Arts, Math, and Science. He was a member of the Varsity Soccer, Rec. Snowboarding, Ski Jumping, and Varsity Track teams. He was also heavily involved with theater, and is now the director of theater arts at VA. Caitlin (Consula) Holton ’96 During her time as a student, Vermont Academy supported Caitlin’s passion for all things equestrian. Now, she is the associate director of college counseling, the 11th grade class dean, and an Equestrian coach. According to Caitlin, “VA is a place where you can connect with students in ways you may not be able to in public school. Once they get to know you, they want to spend time with you and this in turn allows you to help them get as much as possible out of their VA experience.” David Hodgson ’89, Lisa Eckhardt McNealus ’79, Joe Echanis ’79, and Jim Frey ’66 also shared their thoughts. To continue reading their profiles, please scan the QR code or visit https:// bit.ly/alumnionhilltop. The VA community is fortunate to have such a significant group of VA grads who enjoyed their time at VA enough to return as faculty and staff.
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Moving Forward: Strategic Plan Implementation Since Vermont Academy adopted its new strategic plan a few years ago, implementation has been steady and sure. The four pillars of ingenuity, independence, community, and the land are the beacons that guide our curriculum and delivery of our mission. As the 2023-24 academic year begins, we celebrate some of the recent successes. •
An inventory of our curriculum enabled us to align each course with the pillar they supported. From this exercise, several new courses were created, including geology, contemporary issues and policies, entrepreneurship, and 9th and post-graduate seminars.
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Each grade is now aligned with a pillar. 9th is Community, 10th is The Land, 11th is Ingenuity and 12th (and post-graduate) is Independence. Students in each grade will have experiences that align with a pillar. For example, the 9th grade class journeyed to the newly acquired facilities of Vermont Academy at Mount Snow in West Dover, VT to spend a few days bonding as a cohort. 12th graders and post-graduates, for their part, can demonstrate their independence through capstone projects.
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90% of our teachers now include place-based educational experiences in their curriculum. This means we are using our campus for science labs and photography assignments, as well as exploring the Saxtons River and local museums.
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A new schedule was introduced that has longer periods to allow time for project-based learning and is easier for students to follow. Faculty received training on how to best use the longer time periods and feedback on the change has so far been positive from faculty and students alike.
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All students will now have a “portfolio” that will stay with them throughout their time at VA to demonstrate their accomplishments. MAPS® (My Action Plan for Success) figures prominently to support students and their academic goals. These plans are working documents developed by each student with feedback and support from their advisor, teachers, coaches, and parents. The MAPS program can be viewed as the bridge that carries students across a range of abilities, challenges, and interests.
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Pioneering Programs: Vermont Academy’s Initiatives in Progress There are many ways for schools to develop a 21st century education and Vermont Academy has chosen to do this through three quite different initiatives – all of which support students in being their best selves. Vermont Academy at Liceo Europeo (VALE) was VA’s first foray into a partnership. In 2019, VA saw the opportunity to pair with this prestigious Spanish school where the demand for a rigorous American curriculum was strong. Thanks to this partnership, students, led by VA teachers, follow the American methodology characterized by a personalized teaching and learning approach and small groups, VALE started with 30 students and now has 90, with plans to grow. A new dormitory is in progress, which, when completed, will allow VA students from the U.S. to travel to Liceo to study. La Liga Academy Vermont is another Spanish partnership but one that takes place on the VA campus. In 2022, Vermont Academy partnered with La Liga, the professional soccer league based in Madrid, to accept promising students to come to our campus to play soccer and receive a rigorous education. Students play for VA during the regular season, and then the rest of the academic year, they can play for LaLiga Grassroots and be coached by LaLiga coaches. This year, Vermont Academy welcomed nearly 30 students (boys and girls) from four different countries to participate in this program. Games can be viewed on our live stream link found on our website. The third and newest initiative is the recent acquisition of Mount Snow Academy (MSA). The Vermont Academy at Mount Snow program offers student-athletes the opportunity to pursue their passion for sports-on-snow while immersed in a comprehensive college preparatory academic program. With the location less than a mile from Mount Snow Resort, Vermont Academy’s alpine, free ski, and snowboard athletes will have the opportunity to live, study, and train at the campus in Dover, VT for a winter trimester immersion experience. In addition to serving VA students, the mountain campus continues to host legacy winter season programs, the three-day weekend Jumpstart program, and camps. In the future, this location will offer year-round outdoor adventure activities. If you know someone who might be interested in participating in any of these three programs, please email our admissions office at admissions@vermontacademy.org.
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Your Giving Supports a Vibrant VA Community There’s an unmistakable shift in energy on the Vermont Academy campus with the return to the academic schedule. Over the summer, Long Walk feels very still. It begins to stir with the return of our teaching faculty and their preparations for our students. Anticipation builds until registration day, when Long Walk fully awakens with student voices and laughter. Our community feels whole again as they embark on the academic year. This fall, VA had 212 students enroll, a healthy number for our school. Each class will focus on a pillar of our Strategic Plan (Ingenuity, Independence, Community, and the Land). The class of 2027 jumped right into the discovery of their pillar, Community, while spending a weekend at our new West Dover, VT campus (home of Vermont Academy at Mount Snow). Over the weekend, they forged friendships and began to share a sense of belonging. Your support sustains our efforts to cultivate a vibrant, active community. Your contribution to Vermont Academy annual giving, no matter the size, will go to work immediately for our students. Your generosity will help VA ensure that these students will have the support they need to come together as a community now and to pursue lives guided by our goal of helping them become their best selves. You can give a gift today by visiting www.vermontacademy.org/giving or mailing a check in the enclosed envelope. Thank you!
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STUDENT BODY
AT A GLANCE 212
73% BOARDING
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
27% DAY
19 HOME COUNTRIES Afghanistan, Bahamas, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, and the United States
67 Students in the Class of 2024 65 Students in the Class of 2025 53 Students in the Class of 2026 27 Students in the Class of 2027
FAVORITE MAPLE TREAT 33.3% Maple Creemee 12.5% Maple Bacon 10.4% Maple Cookies
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June 7 & 8, 2024 — REUNION
April 4, 2024: Peer Schools NYC Alumni Networking & Keynote
April 3, 2024: Peer Schools Boston Alumni Networking & Keynote
February 12, 2024: Alumni of Color Panel & Networking (Virtual)
February 10, 2024: Alumni Ski & Snowboard Day at Mount Snow with Après Ski at Vermont Academy at Mount Snow
January 7, 2024: Alumni Hockey Game
SAVE THESE DATES
(Alumni invited to participate) October 23, 2023 | 4 p.m. Info & Registration: https://bit.ly/pumpkinrun2023
VA 5k Pumpkin Run/Walk
October 21, 2023 | 2 - 7 p.m. Info & Registration: https://bit.ly/vaoldhome2023
Old Home Day & Fall Harvest Dinner
REGISTER TODAY P.O. Box 500 Saxtons River VT 05154
WHT RIV JCT VT PERMIT 86
PAID
PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL US POSTAGE