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April 2021
Dear TSA Community,
I have an admission to make: a year ago at this time I was secretly a little bit glad that my son couldn't have a big birthday party. He turned 7 exactly one week after our last day of in-person school, and because I was still reeling from what the shutdown would mean for TSA, I took advantage of the quarantine rules and basked in the small, intimate family celebration we had.
This year, it took every ounce of fortitude and patience to hold back on a bigger celebration, especially with the warming sun and melting snow. Vaccinations and spring are bringing a new energy to everything--- a real, palpable sense of hope that we are on our way out of this crisis.
In this second issue of The Phoenix, we will share with you our plans to bring all students back to campus this spring, as well as a really exciting new learning model to be launched in 2021-22.
But first things first: Our 25th Anniversary gala is coming right up on May 1! I know that many of you showed up last year to honor Michael. Because of how incredibly fun it was to see you all, we are doing something similar with alumni this year. While we hope it is the last time we celebrate TSA fully remotely, it won't be the last time we leverage the power of the internet to bring people who are far flung together with us here in Sharon, VT.
In that same spirit of trying to make the best of the Zoomiverse, we pivoted our traditional Chain Reaction Day to a series of remote Chain Reaction Workshops, which made it possible to broaden our workshop leaders to include an array of facilitators and voices from outside Vermont.
The last big thing that will "pivot" (that's got to be the new Word of the Year) are the two Interims: The Middle School Circus Interim was postponed to May; student skills will be streamed on video in a Zoom Extravaganza on Friday, May 14. We also postponed the High School Musical Interim. High School Musical (yes, it's confusing that the name of the show is what it is) will be filmed and available online on Saturday, June 12. Don't miss it!
Finally, I have to express my deepest gratitude to all our staff, families, and mostly to our students, for rolling with the punches that this pandemic threw us. I am so glad that we will be able to end this school year together, in person, to build the unique community that sets TSA apart.
As always,
 Mary Newman TSA Head of School
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We Can't Wait To See You!
With so many of us vaccinated, Vermont has relaxed its social gathering and travel protocols. For the moment, however, the campus remains closed to visitors during school hours.
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Stay in Touch!
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Alumni News
The 10/8/20 Randolph Herald featured a story about Nara Moore TSA'04. Read it here. At the time the article was written, Nara was working at South Royalton Elementary School supporting students outside the classroom and was coaching soccer in Strafford.
TSA alumni Chris Gish '16 and Alex Binzen '17 have UVM internships writing for the Randolph Herald. This week's edition has both authors' articles on the front page. Read an article Alex wrote describing the program.
Do you have news to share? Please let Dave know at deastman@sharonacademy.net. We'd love to post your updates in future issues of The Phoenix, on the alumni facebook page, in our newsletter, and on our website.
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  It's coming soon!
Join us for a pre-Gala
Alumni Virtual
Cocktail Hour
(mocktails if you're not of age)
Saturday, May 1, 5-- 6pm
Password: AlumniCocktail
We are very excited to invite you to a cocktail hour on TSA's first virtual event space on Wonder, a new online platform that allows individuals to quickly and simply create an avatar in a virtual room, see who's there, connect directly with a person in a "circle", or wander around the room to mingle and converse with individuals and groups, as you choose. It's very intuitive, but you can also sign up for a demo ahead of time so that you know exactly what to do when we all get together.
Head of School Mary Newman will be there to say a few words, and other TSA staff whom you may remember will be there as well.
********************************************************************* Join the 25th Anniversary Gala Saturday, May 1, 7pm Tentative Schedule:
7:00--- Join other members of TSA's community on Zoom for a fun-filled celebration of TSA talent
7:10--- Welcome from Head of School, Mary Newman 7:15--- The Past: Reflections from Judy Moore and Michael Livingston 7:25--- A film presentation from an alumna and current students 7:40--- The Present: a musical performance from a current TSA student. 7:45--- A toast by Mary Newman to a special TSA community member 7:50--- The Future: John Roe with a walk-through of TSA's new wing 8:10--- Supporting TSA and Live Auction 8:30--- TSA alumni musical performance
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Show your love and appreciation for
The Sharon Academy
Logo-wear
only through April 23
Send us a photo of you wearing/using your swag for a chance to win a free item of your choice from the TSA store!
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Bid early and often in
TSA's Annual Online Auction!
Choose from a selection of beautiful items and unique experiences. It's a win-win situation: you get to bid on items you want while supporting the school you love!
Bidding closes at midnight on May 8 for most items. A select few will close online on May 1 at 7pm and continue live at 8pm at the Virtual Gala.
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TSA Returns to Fully In-Person Learning
After a year of dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, TSA is finally looking forward to resuming our classes on campus, in person, and together on Monday, April 26. TSA personnel started getting vaccinated in March and the seasonal shift to warmer temperatures is allowing us to create the necessary additional space to maintain the 6' separation mandated by the state of Vermont.
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Tent set up at the high school
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Andrew Lane, TSA's COVID-19 Coordinator, and high school teacher Rob Stainton have worked out the spatial and logistical requirements to enable all students to return to campus with the new configuration of existing indoor spaces and temporary outdoor accommodations.
Community is the cornerstone of the TSA experience and the pandemic has interfered with the important work of community building. Thus, building and rebuilding community is the priority for TSA for the last two months of the school year and will continue to be a priority for the start of the 2021-22 school year. With the high school and middle school interims postponed to the spring, these core community-building experiences will be more important than ever.
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TSA Launches Video Clips to Better Explain What Makes TSA Special
 Director of Enrollment and Communications Amber Wylie is thrilled to have completed a portion of a project she has been envisioning for years: producing video clips of teachers talking about what makes The Sharon Academy such a special place to teach and learn. Our website now includes a page where our Middle School teachers share what they love about teaching at the middle school.
In addition, Amber has been talking with TSA graduates about their experiences at TSA and how they have influenced their post-TSA lives.
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Equity Committee Makes Progress
The Sharon Academy's commitment to work actively against white supremacy has deepened with rich, challenging, and fortifying conversations this year. As we said in our June, 2020 Statement of Solidarity, "our faculty, staff, and board agree that it is essential to make a public statement against economic, education, health, and justice systems anchored in systemic racism."
We have started with ourselves and the community we create first, with several internal mechanisms, including an all-staff training with Upper Valley Farmers Organizers & Landworks of Color Collective (UVFOLCC) and a grant from Regeneration Corps to support the creation of a food justice garden, as well as the Dixie Goswami BLTN Action Grant to bring in paid presenters for Chain Reaction.
The Equity Committee came together last summer, and comprises past and present TSA students, faculty, staff, and board members. It meets monthly, creating a stable independent support system for students, curriculum development, and community outreach.
For questions, feel free to contact Christa Wurm, TSA Equity and Wellness Coordinator at cwurm@sharonacademy.net.
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Middle School Circus Interim
Saturday, May 15, 6pm
online
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Middle School student learns a new trick for the 2020-21 Circus Interim
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While we will miss the community coming to campus this year for Carnival games, fun, and the unique Circus show, we are excited to be able to share with you videos of the skills the Middle School students have acquired this year. Students return to fully in-person classes on April 26 and are looking forward to the Middle School Circus Interim, which begins May 3, 2021. Visit the website after May 10 for more details.
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High School Musical Interim
Friday, June 11
Saturday, June 12
 In the spirit of COVID-19 adaptability, TSA is altering the timing and the format of its Interim production. Instead of a live performance, High School Musical will be presented as a movie!
Details on how to purchase tickets to the show online will become available the first week of June. Check our website then.
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TSA High School Shifts to
Deeper Learning Model in 2021-22
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With profound and heartfelt gratitude I thank the Board of Trustees for their resounding and generous support for the Deeper Learning initiative, as shown in their contributions to making the EE Ford match.
Board donations totaled $14,000, which, combined with a single donation of $15,000 by an anonymous friend of TSA, matched the $29,000 provided in the EE Ford Foundation grant.
The board's commitment to and belief in deeper learning is a testament to their dedication to our students and their future.
~Mary Newman |
Starting with the 2021-22 school year, the high school will be engaged in a new teaching and learning model known as Deeper Learning. Rooted in research, observations, and experience at many other schools, this approach will continue to strengthen our curriculum and culture. Read Mary Newman's 3/3/21 letter to parents.
A key component of implementing this new model is a schedule that lengthens the class time to enable deeper engagement in the classroom, while reducing the number of courses taken at a time to focus attention. Another significant shift is a later start time to the school day. Read Mary's 3/10/21 letter to parents.
This shift has been made possible through a grant from the EE Ford Foundation and the generosity of our Board and other donors. We are very excited to begin the important curricular changes to make the model a success for our students.
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Chain Reaction Day Pivots
This January would have been TSA's 12th Annual MLK day celebration, and you may remember that Chain Reaction has traditionally been a single day of student, teacher and community-member-led workshops focusing on celebrating, exploring and engaging in the spirit of the work of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This year's virtual format was adapted in response to the pandemic. It also provided an opportunity to expand our program and engage presenters from all over the country for a series of four 1-hour sessions in February and March. The event was so successful that future Chain Reaction Days may include the use of remote workshop leaders.
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| | Lisa M. Brown, Keynote Speaker |
The event opened with keynote speaker Lisa M. Brown, a social psychology professor at Austin College in Sherman, TX.
Participatory sessions were offered virtually for one hour on Wednesdays, February 17 and March 3:
- Decolonize the Curriculum
- GI Bill
- How do You See Me and Why?
- Planet Money: Patent Racism
- CRD Objectives
- Yoga: Cultural Appreciation or Appropriation?
- What is Democracy
- Black Photography and Art
- Understanding Race & Whiteness as a Korean-American: What would I have to look like to look like I'm "from around here"?
- Microaggressions
- Running for Local Office
- Race: The Power of an Illusion
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| | Shirley Jefferson, Closing Speaker |
Two additional workshops spanned both days. In one, students watched and discussed a documentary based on Ta-Nehisi Coates' work, Between the World & Me. In the other, The Importance of Stories, students shared their personal stories of race, ethnicity, or difference, with empathy and openness.
The series wrapped with Shirley Jefferson, JD, Associate Professor of Law, VT Law School, on Wednesday, March 17, who shared her story and her wisdom with students and staff.
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In Fond Memory of Brad Atwood
Long-Serving TSA Board Member
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Brad Atwood and his daughter Abra TSA '10
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The Sharon Academy lost a wonderful friend and terrific advocate Monday, November 16, 2020. Former TSA Head of School Michael Livingston remembers Brad Atwood, who dedicated a decade of his life to promoting The Sharon Academy.
"I got to know Brad Atwood extremely well over the 10 years I worked with him but I also remember him as a loving parent and community servant who worked unselfishly as a select board member in Sharon, and on the boards of Stagecoach and The Gifford Medical Center. Bright, articulate, wickedly funny, and fun-loving with a disarming smile and a contagious laugh, Brad seemed to be ever-present; immersing himself in the very fabric of our community.
"Involved, concerned, action-oriented, proactive, feisty, and at times impatient for change, Brad was keenly passionate about making our community a safer, and more viable place for families and children.
"We lost a father, husband, dedicated community activist, and friend. Brad Atwood cannot be replaced but he can be emulated. As I find myself thinking about my time together with Brad, I ask--- what it is I can do to help fill the void."
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In Remembrance of Hugh Maurer
It is with a heavy heart that we share with you all that former TSA academic coach, Hugh Maurer, passed away in his home on April 5, 2021.
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Hugh Maurer
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Hugh was surrounded by the love of his family in his final days. For many of us who knew Hugh, it is easy to remember his beautiful smile and genuine chuckle. He was a thoughtful, kind, and talented educator who worked with many of our students and had a huge effect on their academic and emotional life.
Hugh had been a teacher for his entire life, from inner city schools (where he hustled students into class with bets placed on games of pool, which he always won), to one-room school houses in Appalachia, to more mainstream schools. He always spoke highly of TSA and deeply appreciated the students and staff who dedicated much time to collaborative learning and teaching.
As we find individual and collective ways to process Hugh's passing, we will also be thinking deeply about Hugh's daughter, Amber Wylie (TSA's Director of Enrollment) and her family. We will be in touch with our community as more information about ways to celebrate Hugh's life comes forward. Please visit his CaringBridge Site.
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TSA Students' Scientific Work Celebrated
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| | | Xia Gillespie | |
The New Hampshire Academy of Science (NHAS) sponsors the attendance of the region's secondary school students to present STEM research at The American Association for the Advancement for Science (AAAS) conference. This year's conference took place in February 2021.
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Anika Eastman
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Three TSA students of the Class of 2021, Amy Barnhart, Anika Eastman, and Xia Gillespie are among the 26 NHAS students from 12 schools who presented their original scientific research at this conference, the largest general science conference in the world. To qualify, the research conducted by these students passed through a scientific peer review conducted by scientists at Dartmouth College.
The students were also inducted into the American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS), our nation's premier honor society for secondary school students who perform STEM research.
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Amy Barnhart
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The students attended career development AJAS programming as well as AAAS seminars and programs, including a lecture by Dr. Anthony Fauci, US NIAID Director.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHAS conducted its summer programs largely remotely, loaning equipment out to students to use at their homes and mentoring research projects online.
The three joined 168 students from 20 other state academies and were recognized by leading scientists as they interact with the worldwide scientific community at this international meeting.
Read More
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