News & Events

This year’s Drama Club performance happened during Parent Conferences on February 19th. Students began writing the plays during the Vermont Playwright Workshop with professional playwright, Seth Jarvis, and began rehearsals in January. The first play, “Listen to Me” by Gaby (11th grade), externalized a teenage girl’s thought process as she goes through a break-up. Next, “Ghost Play” by Sam (12th grade), explored Purgatory and the idea that maybe Hell is more fun than Heaven. Finally, “Breaking Strings” by Julia (12th grade) was set in Communist Russia during the Cold War. We are very proud of our student playwrights, actors, and stage crew! What an awesome performance!

This month’s Farm to School project is making sauerkraut! Students chopped, prepped, and started the fermentation process this week. Currently we have three different kinds of “kraut” brewing in the library closet (a nice warm spot for fermentation)! Through this process students discussed the science of fermentation, as well as the potential health benefits of fermented foods. We can’t wait to try the sauerkraut at our “Reuben Lunch” in a couple weeks! Check out the video about the proecess, created by history teacher Gus and several students

Staying active in the winter is much easier when you have the Green Mountains just down the road. This year, Rock Point is participating in several skiing and riding programs to encourage students to get out and enjoy the snow. Burton Chill, a learn to snowboard program, has been a partner with us for years and this year several lucky students are learning to ride with Burton. This includes free equipment, free lessons, and a weekly lift ticket to Bolton on Friday nights. Other students are participating in the Catamount Ski Cubs program at Bolton, learning how to Nordic ski on Saturday mornings. Nordic skiing is a great workout and a fabulous way to enjoy the quiet of the woods. Finally, our weekly trips to Smuggler’s Notch have been a huge hit this year, with half of the student body getting up early on Sunday to hit the slopes! Students who need lessons or rentals get to take advantage of a great discount, and those who already know how to ski or snowboard can set off on their own. We are so grateful to our partners CHILL, Bolton, and Smuggs for giving our students such awesome opportunities to get outside and be active!

Come join Rock Point School for our Maple Run and Brunch! Kick off the spring season by running a 5k and then enjoying some pancakes, waffles, granola, and other goodies made with Rock Point-made maple syrup. Tours of our sugaring operation are available as well! Don’t worry, you don’t have to run to qualify for brunch. All proceeds benefit the Rock Point School sugaring program.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

8:00 – 8:45 A.M. Maple 5k Registration

• Here is our Online Registration

9:00 A.M. Maple 5k

• The course is mostly flat with a couple of repetitive loops. Runners will pass by our school’s many sugarbushes and other picturesque sights the Rock Point property has to offer.
• Prizes to be awarded to runners through a random bib raffle!

9:00 – 10:00 A.M. RPS Sugarhouse Tour

• Come join one of our RPS students or staff on a tour of our Sugarhouse and see the process of collecting sap and boiling the sap on our property so we can put delicious syrup on your plate!

10:00 A.M. Brunch

• Brunch is an all-you-can-eat affair which consists of pancakes, waffles, bacon, sausage, fruit, and other maple-themed snacks/desserts.

Costs

• For the Maple 5k (If Pre-Registered)
  • $10 per person / Family discount available (+4 people)
•  For the Maple Brunch (If Pre-Registered)
  • $10 per person / Family discount available (+4 people)

Online Registration

Link to Satellite Map of Course (from 2014 – updated course coming soon!)

Questions?

Please contact Joe Ainsworth at jainsworth@rockpoint.org or call the school at 802-863-1104.

We are so proud of senior, Julia, for her acceptance to Cornell College! Julia’s mother attended Cornell College, so Julia grew up hearing stories about the small liberal arts school in Iowa. Julia was drawn to Cornell because of it’s “One Course at a Time” curriculum, which allows for students to immerse themselves in a single course for 3 1/2 week blocks. The school was also featured in Loren Pope’s book Colleges that Change Lives because of it’s challenging curriculum, excellent faculty, and focus on experiential learning. After visiting Cornell College this summer, Julia found the location appealing, with campus just a short bike ride from downtown Mount Vernon, dubbed one of “America’s Coolest Small Towns.” Most impressively, Julia was awarded two substantial scholarships from Cornell, a Presidential Scholarship and a Legacy Award! Julia is still waiting to hear from other colleges, but is thrilled to be accepted to one of her top choice schools! Congratulations, Julia!!

Before break, we held our annual holiday celebration. In our student lead service, students and presented on important holidays and traditions in their lives: Hanukkah, Christmas, and Solstice. The highlight of the celebration is our Secret Santa exchange! Students and staff clandestinely created some awesome hand-made presents, including mittens, hats, paintings, baked goods, and some silly gifts too. As usual, the celebration was a fabulous way to end 2014 at school.

We are still in the planning stages for our upcoming reunion, but we hope alumni and families will mark their calendars and can join us for a fun weekend!

What: Reunion for all former students, staff, and families!

When: June 12-14, 2015

• Friday, June 12, arrival and check-in starting at 4pm
• Friday evening, Alumni art show at school
• Saturday, June 13, Continental breakfast and tours at school
• Saturday afternoon BBQ and slideshow
• Saturday all day, photos and memorabilia around the building
• Saturday evening, Parent event (TBA)
• Sunday, June 14, Breakfast at school followed by a service and memorial lead by Russ Ellis

Why: Connect with old friends, see what is going on at Rock Point now, meet current staff and alumni of all ages!

If you are interested in coming to the reunion this year, please email Lonnie at ledson@rockpoint.org or call the school at (802)863-1104. We have first-come-first-serve rooms available at school, so contact us early if you want to stay in your old room! There are a few rooms available at the Conference Center on the Rock Point property. Contact Tony at bishopbooth@dioceseofvermont.org or (802)658-6233 if you would like to stay at the Conference Center. If you are interested in other accommodations, here are some links for local hotels. We suggest you make arrangements ASAP because it is a busy (and expensive) time of year for Burlington’s tourist industry!

Near to school, gorgeous location:

Downtown Hilton

Downtown Waterfront Courtyard Marriott

Hotel Vermont (boutique hotel, Vermont sourced food, materials, etc.)

Near to school B&B:

Sunset House

Slightly further from school:

Best Western on Williston Road

Quality Inn Colchester Vermont

 Motel 6 Colchester

On Sunday, students and staff headed to Boston for a whirlwind, one-day, tour! While they were there, they went to the Boston Aquarium, checking out exhibits such as the Giant Ocean tank and the Marine Mammal Center. Highlights included seeing all varieties of penguins, the shark and ray touch tank, and the luminous jellyfish! After exploring the aquarium, they attended an iMax movie “Great White Shark.” The group then headed to Faneuil Hall to see the historic area of Boston, do some shopping, and eat some dinner.

Our science teacher, Mari, took five students to the Vermont Youth Climate Summit today at UVM. The summit is, “A gathering of Vermont students to inspire action, share ideas, craft plans, & ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our schools and communities” lead by UVM undergraduates studying ecologcial economics. Over 150 high school students from 26 high schools all over the state are in attendance. Senator Bernie Sanders gave a keynote speech this morning and is partnering with the University to sponsor the event. The hope is that students will return to their high schools with ideas that can be implemented in each community. We are so excited to be part of this awesome event!

Last night was our annual Thanksgiving celebration! Each year, one week before the holiday, we celebrate Thanksgiving with our community. Parents, staff and their families, alumni, friends, and students gather together for a service followed by a feast! Students lead the service, playing music, reading poetry, and performing a thematic play. Students also contribute to the Thanksgiving meal by preparing food from our Farm to School program. This year, Gus Buchanan, history teacher, and his wife, Kara, guided the action in the kitchen and helped students prepare Creamy Succotash and Roasted Delicata Squash. We were also so glad to welcome back so many of our alumni, including three Champlain College students! We wish everyone a restful and happy vacation!