To speak about the local indigenous history around the Connecticut River and Bellows Falls is to engage in using boundaries and language that came about long after the Abenaki came to Kchi Pôntegok (Great Falls) to honor the dead, engage in shamanistic spiritual ceremonies, fish the waters, and have annual festivals in this region. After all, 11,000-12,000 years ago, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Canada did not exist!
As we celebrate and commemorate National Native American Heritage Month in November, we honor the history and on-going contributions of Native Americans.
Take a few minutes to watch this captivating interview with Jennifer Zaccara on Moments With Melinda, a program on CCTV Center for Media & Democracy. Learn a few life lessons from Jennifer and how she reinforces that students need to steer their own ship. During this interview, Jennifer elaborates on why Vermont Academy is such a special place.
All faculty and staff remain in the glow of our spring experience at Vermont Academy. We are still talking about so many of the special moments as well as the closing traditions here! VA traditions instill a marvelous consistency of experience that is one of our trademarks.
I am writing on a sunny but cold day after the wonderful Winter Performing Arts Concert. It was a coming together of our community this week when we all celebrated our talented performing artists, beginning with a one-hour performance by our acting classes and continuing to the spectacular event with Chamber, Jazz, and Vocal Ensembles and a performance by our Dance Team. As faculty member Maryann McArdle commented after the performance, “It was astonishing!”
These last two years have presented so many challenges to our school community and to our nation’s entire educational system. The faculty and staff at Vermont Academy remain committed to protecting our entire community, including our most vulnerable members who are at most risk from COVID-19 infection.