Parents

Family Weekend

On Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11, Vermont Academy will welcome all members of our Wildcat community back to campus for a combined Family Weekend and Reunion!

We invite all families of current students, alumni, past and current faculty members, and trustees back to our hilltop for this exciting event! Fall is a beautiful time to visit campus, spend time with your child, learn more about their VA experience, meet their friends, and connect with other Vermont Academy families.

FAMILY-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Families may schedule in-person conferences to be held on Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11. Conferences are scheduled in 10-minute blocks. Parents and guardians may meet with teachers and advisors. Information about how to sign up for conferences will be shared via email in early October.

SCHEDULE

All activities, times, locations, etc., are subject to change. Students are expected to remain on campus until Saturday at 12:30 p.m. After this time, they may depart following their last commitment (athletics, club meetings, etc.). Classes resume on Tuesday, October 14.

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Friday, October 10

The school store will be open on the lower level of the Shepardson Dining Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Vermont Academy Parents Association's silent auction items will be on display in the Shepardson Dining Center's Aldrich Lounge until 1 p.m. on Saturday.

8 a.m.–1 p.m.	Check-in & Registration Shepardson Dining Center This should be your first stop to pick up your name badge and information about your student’s classes and conferences. Preview the VAPA Silent Auction items and make an early bid.
8:15–10:15 a.m.	Back to School: Join Your Wildcat in Class Various Locations Parents are invited to attend 45-minute classes to give them a taste of a day in the life of your Wildcat. (Four blocks: C, D, E, G)
10:30–11 a.m.	Welcome Remarks by Head of School Mike Peller Horowitz Performing Arts Hall, Nita Choukas Theater
11:15–11:45 a.m.	2026 Spring Break Trip Meetings
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.	Lunch Tent on Alumni Field
12:30–1 p.m.	Vermont Academy at Mount Snow Overview Meeting Join VAMS Director, Ben Gardner, to learn more about the sports on snow program.
1–4 p.m.	Family-Teacher-Student Conferences Various Locations Please review the listing in your registration packet to find the location and room numbers. Students should accompany their families to conferences.
3–3:50 p.m	College Counseling Meet & Greet Center for Learning, 2nd Floor, College Counseling Office Meet members of the College Counseling team and learn how they will guide your Wildcat through the college application process.
3:30–4:30 p.m.	Campus Tour Departs from Leavitt House
4–5:30 p.m.	VA Athletics & Afternoon Activities Showcase Various Locations Check out our fall athletic team practices and learn about various afternoon activities available to students. Spectators are encouraged to bring camp chairs and blankets.
5–6 p.m.	Check-in & Registration Shepardson Dining Center, Aldrich Lounge
5–5:45 p.m.	Families, Alumni, & Faculty Social Tent on Alumni Field Current parents, alumni, and past and present faculty, staff, and trustees, are invited to gather at the tent on Alumni Field for light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know fellow members of the Vermont Academy community before dinner.
5:30–6:45 p.m.	Welcome Barbecue Dinner Shepardson Center & Tent on Alumni Field
7 p.m.	Cabaret Horowitz Performing Arts Hall, Nita Choukas Theater A Vermont Academy tradition! Enjoy performances by VA students and VA’s Vocal, Chamber, and Jazz Ensembles
Post-Cabaret	Vermont Academy Observatory Trip Meet in the Horowitz Performing Arts Hall Weather permitting, guests are encouraged to explore Vermont Academy's observatory on a special outing led by science department faculty members. Estimated departure from Horowitz at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 11

7:30–9:30 a.m.	Breakfast Shepardson Dining Center Enjoy a delicious hot breakfast with your student.
8–11 a.m.	Check-In & Registration Shepardson Dining Center, Aldrich Lounge Check the status of your VAPA Auction bid.
8–8:50 a.m.	Morning Hike with VA’s Wilderness Team Depart from Shepardson Dining Center
8:15–11:30 a.m.	Family-Teacher-Student Conferences Various Locations
9–9:50 a.m.	Caffeine & Conversation with Head of School Mike Peller Leavitt House Stop by Leavitt House for a casual visit with Head of School Mike Peller over pastries and warm beverages.
10–10:50 a.m.	Women of Vermont Academy Panel Discussion Fuller Hall, 2nd Floor, Class of 2011 Great Room
11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	Alumni Awards Ceremony Horowitz Performing Arts Hall, Nita Choukas Theater The Vermont Academy Alumni Association will celebrate this year’s alumni award honorees: Florence R. Sabin Class of 1889 Distinguished Alumni Award Honoree: Keith Canning ’83 Outstanding Young Alumni Award: Jo-Hanna Rifai ’13
12:30–2 p.m.	Farm-to-Table Lunch Shepardson Dining Center & Alumni Field Feast on a lunch prepared with locally sourced ingredients!
12:30–1:15 p.m.	Jam with Steve Cady & VA Alumni Leavitt Memorial Patio Performing Arts Chair Steve Cady invites students, families, and alumni to jam with him on the Leavitt Memorial Patio!
1 p.m.	VAPA Auction Closes Shepardson Dining Center, Aldrich Lounge Congratulations, auction winners! Please pick up your items by 2 p.m.
1:15–1:50 p.m.	Campus Tour Departs from Leavitt House
1:30–2:15 p.m.	VA Robotics Program Fuller Hall, Lower Level, Robotics Lab Check out VA’s program with Joe Echanis ’79.
1:30–2:15 p.m.	Sustainability Christine Armiger Alumni Field Learn about Vermont Academy’s sustainability efforts with Director of Place-Based Learning and Environmental Studies Christine Armiger!
1:30 p.m.	Girls Varsity Soccer Game (tentative)

Family Weekend & Old Home DaysResources

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Silent Auction

The Vermont Academy Parents Association (VAPA) will host their annual silent auction this October. Alumni are invited to donate and bid on great prizes such as travel, ski passes, VA swag, and so much more!

The auction will open for bidding in early October and will close at 1 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Proceeds benefit VAPA and its activities, which include faculty appreciation and support for initiatives that positively impact student life.
Directions & Local Accommodations

Please visit our contact & directions page for directions, a campus map, and local accommodations.
Health and Safety
Our priority is the safety and well-being of our guests and the Vermont Academy community. Attendees are asked to keep these policies in mind:
- All visitors are expected to be free of symptoms of illness or to wear a mask.
- Vermont Academy is a smoke-free campus.
- Except for service animals, Vermont Academy requests that visitors refrain from bringing pets to campus.

Contact

Families of current students, contact Director of Annual Giving Jennifer Palmiotto ’21, ’24 at jpalmiotto@vermontacademy.org with your Family Weekend & Old Home Days questions.