April 2022| Volume 2 Issue 2 |
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Dear Alumni,
Greetings! Happy Spring!
I have so much I want to tell you—it’s been an amazing year.
We had an almost normal fall High School Musical Interim (and it was absolutely fabulous to see so many of you at the performances), we went mask-optional on March 9, and teachers have been harder at work than perhaps ever before at navigating our new high school schedule and building the connections, relationships, and learning that suffered such a toll with COVID.
The joy continues this spring as the Middle School Carnival and Circus Interim was a smash hit, the Middle School's bi-annual Food Justice project goes fully digital, high school Exhibition presentations made a valiant comeback and we introduced Capstone projects, the high school track team is 35 students strong, and our robotics team is on the way to “Worlds!”
Also this spring we are launching an Alumni Match Fund campaign to raise $10,000 by July 1. You know better than anyone how much learning and growth happens at TSA. You also may remember that tuition alone is not enough to finance this unique experience. In order to keep doing what we do and become a recognized model for what 21st-century schools need to be, we need to raise at least $275,000 every year. We hope this campaign will inspire you, our best advocates, to give back to TSA knowing that your gift will be matched by your parents and other supporters of the school.
Lastly, on Saturday, June 4, we will have our very first “Phoenix Phest” as another great example of how we have been re-envisioning so much of what happens at TSA. Instead of a traditional “gala,” which we’ve had to do virtually for the past two years, we’re going to bring as much of the TSA community together as we possibly can, including and especially you!
Please read more about this and all the other exciting news about our school and your fellow alumni below.
Affectionately,
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2021-22 Students and staff say hello |
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Gala makes way for "Phoenix Phest" |
This spring’s “Phoenix Phest” is another example of how we have been re-envisioning so much of what happens at TSA. Instead of a more traditional “gala,”
on Saturday, June 4, we will have our very first “Phoenix Phest”—an outdoor event featuring a corn-hole tournament, art exhibit, photo booth, face-painting, Whiffle ball, ultimate frisbee, wood-fired pizzas out of our very own pizza oven, a very cool fundraising project, and The Pillsbury Slowboys to provide live music! Please, please consider joining us. We would love to have a current student vs. alumni ultimate game and an Interim sing-off.
The point is to be together after two years of COVID-related isolation. Reconnect with familiar faces (Stephanie! Rob! Brian! Kate! ML!); meet some of the fabulous new faculty and staff, along with current students and their families; and feel the power of our community.
Up-to-date information will be posted on our website and the alumni Facebook page. In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to help plan the event, feel free to reach out to me.
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Alumni Ski Day 2022
The first day of TSA's Ski and Snowboard Program is traditionally also Alumni Ski Day. It is always a pleasure to see our former students and those who participate enjoy a deep discount on their lift tickets!
This year we were joined by Abby Gross '21, Jillian Sherwin '21, Rebekkah Lamb '18, and the three Gillespie sisters, Wednesday '19 Juniper '19, and Xia '21.
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Come Visit Us!
Masks are now optional at The Sharon Academy and visitors are again welcome. We miss you! Come by and say hello whenever you are in the area. We love seeing our alumni back in the buildings and hearing about their post-TSA lives.
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TSA offered its thirteenth Chain Reaction Day on Wednesday, February 2. Ms. Xusana Davis, Executive Director of the State of Vermont’s Office of Racial Equity, enthralled students and staff as the Keynote Presenter. Additionally, current and former staff and board and community members, led sessions on topics like Musical Theater and Social Justice, Classism 101, Cultural Appreciation vs. Appropriation, and Stereotypes in the Media. We were especially grateful to the Randolph Union High School students who facilitated a workshop about identifying and interrupting microaggressions.
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Executive Director Office of Racial Equity Xusana Davis |
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After a 3-year pandemic hiatus, the Middle School's annual Carnival and Circus returned to campus and a live audience.
On March 25 and 26, the students and Troy Wunderle presented "Fractured Fairytales", an original script with unique acts of daring, synchrony, and hilarity to audiences of hundreds.
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HS students prefer Deeper Learning paradigm |
In December 2021, TSA conducted a survey among students to assess their experiences to date with the new Deeper Learning paradigm. Overall, the data around the later 9 am start time, longer 90-minute class sessions, more frequent class meetings, and fewer courses at a time over a shorter rotation cycle have evoked a positive student response.
Another more in-depth survey is planned for the spring, to understand the effect of the deeper learning paradigm on educational outcomes.
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Please help TSA retain its NEASC accreditation |
Every 10 years, TSA completes a process of self-evaluation for the purposes of accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
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HS Exhibitions and Capstones |
Do you remember your Exhibition? High school students now have another option to engage in a culminating experience of deeper learning. Since 2019 students at TSA high school have had the opportunity to craft an even more personalized culminating project through the Capstone.
Capstones share aspects of the Exhibition, including a presentation to staff and peers and a reflection on the process followed and work accomplished. However, because they design their Capstone from the ground up, students exercise even more creative freedom and ownership of the process.
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Middle School launches the Food Justice website |
Middle School students have spent the last several months studying food and hunger on the local, national, and global levels as a part of the school's Integrated Curriculum. Each student researched specific issues relating to food and hunger that interested them individually and compiled what they learned into this newsletter.
You might remember this unit culminating in a hardcopy publication known as "Our Times;" this collection of projects is now fully online as the Food Justice website. This saves paper, enables more dynamic content, and can reach a wider community about the intricacies of this important topic from different perspectives.
Just as researching these projects has informed our students about food and hunger, and encouraged them to examine more deeply the choices they make about food, we hope this collection of articles will help you to do the same.
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Director of Advancement
Work closely with the Head of School and Director of the Middle School to think holistically about the advancement of the school, from its ability to attract and retain mission-appropriate students, to the growth and success of its fundraising efforts and the connectedness of its alumni network.
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Middle School Language Arts Teacher & Team Member
In addition to teaching an integrated, proficiency-based L.A. curriculum, this position includes being a student advisor and teaching an afternoon Specials class, especially Art classes, but other afternoon specials offerings as well.
Job # 3779544
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High School Spanish Teacher
In addition to teaching an integrated, proficiency-based, modular curriculum, this position includes being a student advisor and teaching 3 elective offerings per year.
Job # 3786871
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Long-Term Middle School Leave Replacement Science Teacher
Position for long-term substitute August-December 2022.
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Do you have news to share? We'd love to hear from you and let others know!
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Otto Pierce '09
"I have a wonderful partner named Sara Bachman and we recently brought a beautiful baby girl into the world named Màiri Rose Curran-Pierce!' Otto's family is building their new home in Stockbridge, VT, and they run Fat Dragon Farm, which is both a small veggie, herb, and flower farm as well as a wood-fired pizza business. Otto also runs The Sable Project, an off-grid artist residency in Stockbridge, and taught an elective on “The Creative Process” at TSA this year.
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Abigail Dutton '13
Abigail has returned to the Upper Valley to complete her graduate school research at Dartmouth. Always looking for an excuse to recruit TSA alumni to the sciences, she is hoping to generate interest in a research opportunity for anyone else hoping to apply to graduate or medical school.
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Eli Putnam '13
As an intern in 2016, Eli Putnam helped to organize Democracy Now!'s 100-city tour of North America as well as its 20th-anniversary celebration at Riverside Church. Eli rejoined Democracy Now!'s development team 2020. In the interim Eli completed a BA in Political Science from Fordham University, minoring in Latin American and Latino Studies.
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Former TSA student Jenna Sawin Rice
Musician Jenna Rice attended TSA for her sophomore year in 2012–13. She performed her original song, "In My Shoes" in Lebanon, NH, in November 2021, and has a new album that is available on streaming platforms.
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Grace Pfeil '17
Grace works at the Peace & Justice Center of Vermont as the Community Engagement Coordinator. Prior to joining, she organized with People for Police Accountability (PFPA) in Burlington, VT, to advocate for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, folks experiencing mental health issues, houselessness, addiction, and others who are affected by state violence. "I believe strongly in the power of connection and interdependence, and above all else, I seek to be of service to my community." She enjoys gardening, swimming in the Huntington River, and taking walks.
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Every year TSA says farewell to faculty and staff who have made a difference to the school and for students.
Here we want to acknowledge those who have devoted at least five years to TSA.
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After 23 years at The Sharon Academy, Marcy Innes will be retiring from teaching in June 2022. Marcy singlehandedly created TSA's art program for both middle and high school students when the school was just a couple of years old and located at the Old Schoolhouse and has continued to teach art and Language Arts at the middle school until now. In these earliest days of TSA, Marcy also taught high school science electives about astronomy and global climate change.
Aside from teaching, Marcy has been a TSA parent of Duncan Nelson TSA '09, a mentor of exhibitions, an advisor, and the keeper of the middle school bulletin boards. She also created the "window" murals that grace the outside of the middle school. One of these images features her beloved Henry, who served as the school's licensed therapy dog from 2008 to 2012.
Marcy's influence on our curriculum, culture, community, and so many individual learners is clear. To help celebrate an amazing human, a lifelong educator, and a dear friend, please take a moment to send an email recounting a favorite or significant memory of Marcy. We would love to present her with a collection of your words before she heads off on new adventures.
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Cynthia Masterman departs |
Cynthia Masterman, TSA High School's intrepid Administrative Assistant, will be leaving the school at the end of the school year to care for her aging father. Aside from greeting guests, providing sustenance for students, supporting faculty and staff, and filling in whenever help is needed, Cynthia is the "mother" of Phern, who brings love and joy to our school every day.
Cynthia is also the mother of TSA alumni Heidi Conner '05, Blaine Conner '08, and Olivia Conner '10.
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Marcy's retirement reminds us that Pam Ward also retired in 2018. At that time The Phoenix didn't exist. However, we thought many of you would appreciate seeing the flipbook the staff created to send her off.
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Remembering Jean Brockway |
Jean Brockway, was more than just TSA's founding board chair. It was Jean's support of Judy Moore's idea for TSA and her connections to the Sharon community that paved the way for the new school.
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You're out in the world making a difference and you are our best advocates. Please consider helping TSA nurture other intelligent, independent, and creative thinkers who will make a difference with their immense potential. Read this letter from two of our students, Phoebe Quackenbos and Maeve Miller, to alumni parents asking them to support the Alumni Match Campaign.
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How do you remember your days at TSA?
Enjoy these snippets of high school life today. Created by Maeve Miller '23 and Phoebe Quackenbos '23.
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