News & Events

Each year our Head of School and his team of writers, including college counselor Emily Skoler and English Teacher Abbey Baker, compose a Valentine poem for the school. The tradition began twenty years ago with former Head of School, John Rouleau, writing a Valentine poem for the school with a rhyming couplet for each student. After John's retirement, C.J. kept the tradition alive. On Valentine's Day, C.J., Emily, Ryan, and Abbey performed the poem wearing appropriately silly Valentine garb. This tradition is a sweet way for us to share appreciations for our students and this year we followed it with sweet treats! You can read the introductory lines below or click here to read the full poem!

Thank you to everyone who came to the Open House! We had a great time meeting potential students and their families, chatting with trustees, catching up with former staff and alumni, and sharing all the Rock Point news with visiting professionals.

You're invited to the Rock Point School Open House on Thursday January 23rd, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Learn about our rich art program, dorm adventures, and our nurturing approach to academics. During this event you can: Tour our school Meet teachers, residential staff, and students Discover how you can fit in and stand out at Rock Point School Eat snacks! Activities will be available for younger kids

On our first day back from winter break, Victoria Pearson, the Statewide Youth Organizer from Outright Vermont, came to work with students about creating inclusive school communities. Victoria described ways in which LGBTQ+ students are vulnerable to struggling in schools, and helped us discuss ways we can all be more aware and more inclusive. We discussed our own experiences in the world, and times we had been affirmed or had struggled. We then discussed how we might be better allies for people in need of our support. We left feeling invigorated, and with our intentions set on being even more intentional and supportive in the new year.

The United State's Attorney for Vermont, Christina E. Nolan, is passionate about the opiate crisis. She has worked hard to create programs in our state that treat and prevent opiate addiction, as well as enforcing the laws. One of her goals is to get into the community and spread the message that recovery is possible and reduce the stigma that recovering addicts experience. Enter Justin Goulet.

Each year, we gather before everyone heads off for November vacation to celebrate, express gratitude, and enjoy a feast. The Thanksgiving service is designed by students with help from staff members. This year, students read poems they selected, shared traditions, and thanksgivings. One student brought in Christmas crackers, his own family tradition, which meant we ended the service with everyone wearing paper crowns!

On October 15, our whole student body went to the Rock Point Center for our fourth annual participation in Sundog Poetry Center's "Share Your Heart, Share the World" poetry day. We were joined by three other Vermont schools in a day of poetry workshops, writing time, a presentation by local poet and artist Tina Escaja, and a reading of student work.

On Tuesday, September 17, local artist Emily Anderson brought her “Fairies & Demons Workshop” to Rock Point School. All of our students took part in this drawing workshop, which encouraged them to draw their ‘demons’, or challenges they face, as well as their ‘fairies’, or positive energies that they want to call toward them. In addition to giving students a platform to discuss what’s hard in their lives and what helps them through, they got to practice Emily’s signature drawing style, which involved drawing with their non-dominant hand. The technique allowed them to let go of the pressure to make their work perfect, and simply see what comes out when given a channel.

What: Interactive Workshop When: October 17th 6:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Where: Rock Point School Library Join Rock Point School for an interactive workshop designed to help families and community members increase their fluency with LGBTQ+ inclusive concepts, terminology, and practices. The workshop will be hosted by Mara Iverson, the Director of Education at Outright Vermont. Participants will learn and practice approaches for making home and community environments LGBTQ+ affirming; and will identify specific opportunities for and challenges to inclusivity. We hope those who attend will leave with broader knowledge of LGBTQ+ youth topics, methods for recognizing gaps in inclusivity, and ideas for how to apply affirming practices to fill those gaps.