News and Events

This week, our classrooms launched their first project-based units of the school year in STEM. The hands-on, inquiry based units are as follows: Float your Boat! Density & Buoyancy (K/1), Astronomy (2/3), Evolution & Adaptation (3/4) and Kitchen Chemistry (5/6). Lots of exciting learning ahead…..be sure to check back for more updates on their projects!

On September 21st, students honored the United Nation’s International Day of Peace by “planting” pinwheels for peace and participating in a variety of peace-related activities and discussions.

We are excited to launch our first official sports team- middle school cross-country! Led by Coach Erin Capps, the team has been practicing on trails in the area and is looking forward to competing in several meets this fall. Go VT Day!

Our school garden thrived over the summer, thanks to lots of sun (and rain!) and to the Vermont Day School campers who helped to take care of it. This morning, our K/1 class harvested 17 cucumbers from the garden beds. Looks like they might have some pickling in their future!

Vermont Day School is thrilled to be kicking off its 3rd school year with an outstanding group of students, parents, faculty and staff! Here is our first day of school photo:

The countdown to the first day of school has begun and we are excited! Our teacher in-service week begins on August 23rd, with our faculty/staff hike up Mt. Philo- a tradition of the new year! Over the next few days, we will be planning and collaborating and getting ready for an inspirational year of learning and growing ahead. We look forward to meeting parents at beginning of the year conferences on August 28th and 29th, and of course, celebrating the new year with all families at the Back to School BBQ. Thank you to our Parent Committee for organizing this fun start of the school year event!

This summer, several of Vermont Day School’s teachers traveled to Ohio to attend the Buck Institute’s project-based learning (PBL) workshop. In addition to learning more about best practices in PBL, they had the opportunity to meet and network with other like-minded educators from around the country who are using PBL approach to personalize learning, engage students and promote 21st century competencies.  They are ready and inspired to put their learning into action with students this year!

 

 

 

This summer, Vermont Day School hosted 4 weeks of summer camp: Day Adventurers and Wilderness Explorers. During Day Adventurers, campers took field trips to Shelburne Beach, LaPlatte Nature Preserve and the Shelburne Museum; they also spent lots of time exploring in the outdoors, playing in sprinklers and socializing with old and new friends!

During the Wilderness Explorers camp, middle school participants learned outdoor skills for hiking, camping and back-packing. The week culminated in an overnight backpacking trip to Branbury State Park. Highlights included swimming in Lake Dunmore, and of course, cooking banana boat s’mores over the campfire!