Update to Academy Families — October 25, 2021

Dear St. Johnsbury Academy Families,

I hope that many of you were able to be part of Spirit Week last week, even if from afar—it was something extraordinary. Seeing the students having genuine fun—cheering and working on floats and doing other projects together—and the community joining us along the parade route and at Fairbanks Field, was all-out joyful. I’m grateful to all who helped to make it possible.

Please note that as I announced this at Pep Chapel last Friday,

• NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 1st as it will be a Headmaster’s Holiday;

• Also, NO SCHOOL for students this Friday, October 28, as parents and teachers connect, but teachers will be assigning work for students to do during class hours. Meet the Teachers runs from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 28, and from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 29th. Please enjoy meeting with our terrific faculty—this is a great chance to get to know each other and strengthen that partnership that makes such a difference for students.

I’m feeling so proud of our students for how they uplifted one another last week with their unbridled enthusiasm. These next few weeks until Thanksgiving are always a little long and a little tough, so it was a high note we needed to stay energized, and that I hope we can sustain. Today I visited Ms. Laverty’s robotics class, where 9th graders were programming their robots to dance to music, which was a little like synchronized truck-driving. Then I sat in on Mr. Walker’s Acting I class—except they had me on my feet doing acting exercises and then watching some magical song and dance numbers. Major unbridled enthusiasm!

Because we are still in an area where COVID cases are stubbornly high, I’d like again to strongly encourage all of our families to vaccinate students as soon as possible. We are able to keep teachers and students in school when they are vaccinated, and we dearly wish to keep everyone on track and engaged this semester.

Take care, and as always, please feel free to be in touch with me with questions, thoughts, and ideas—I value them so much. Have a great week.

Dr. Sharon Howell

Headmaster