“Writing is like driving at night; you can only see as far as the headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” - E.L Doctorow While E.L Doctorow was talking here about the writing process, I use this passage often when I talk to students about post-high school planning. Rock Point students are bright, capable, creative, independent thinkers, who have needed some extra support and guidance to unlock their potential in the classroom and beyond.

As the days grow shorter and the first signs of fall begin to appear, the shift from summer to school year is palpable for students, families, and educators alike. While some students eagerly anticipate the return of friends, routines, and opportunities for growth, others may feel a rising sense of anxiety or uncertainty. At Rock Point School, we recognize that the transition back to school is both a practical and emotional process, and that it looks different for every student.

One of the unexpected changes over the past few years has been how the rise of video meetings allows greater participation. We’ll always value in-person connections at Rock Point School as the ideal, and at the same time, these virtual gatherings have opened up new avenues for parent engagement. During the pandemic, I initiated a monthly parent discussion via video meeting, which has become a vital part of how we stay connected as a school community.

As school winds down and the weather heats up, our students are already looking forward to summer. Some are planning to get jobs or go to camp, others are looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, and some are looking blissfully ahead to sleeping in every day. Other students (and their families) get a little nervous about three whole months without school and with less structure.If you want to have a healthy, balanced summer, here are some tips that could help.

"How can I help my teen build self-confidence—without tipping into overconfidence?" It's a question many parents ask, and it captures one of the complications of teen life. We want our young people to be confident in themselves, but we don't want them to be overconfident to the point of taking dangerous risks. Risk and confidence are both intricately tied to adolescent development, and it is so important that teens build their confidence and learn their limits through taking healthy risks. When teens develop these attributes, they are empowered to make informed decisions, embrace opportunities, and build resilience for the future.

In the small, beautiful, lakeside community of Burlington, there are both the advantages of a city — public transportation, rich cultural opportunities, vibrant dining and shopping — and the closeness of a small town. It's a perfect place for an intentionally small school.

Adolescence is a time of enormous growth and self-discovery. As teens navigate who they are, how they fit in, and what matters to them, they need guidance and support—especially from the adults in their lives. For parents, this journey can feel both rewarding and challenging. How do you help your teen build confidence in their identity, find belonging, and form meaningful relationships?

“But what do you do in the winter?” is a question that I hear frequently from people outside Vermont when they learn about our small boarding and day high school. It can be daunting to think about what to do when it’s cold outside for months at a time, especially with teenagers! While I don’t pretend to love every minute of every winter, I do think there is much to be celebrated in the coldest season. I find the Scandinavian concept of “hygge,” (pronounced hyoo·guh), or the feeling of cozy contentment we get from simple pleasures, to be very helpful during the long Vermont winters.

I had a plan going into our weekly school-wide Reflections meeting before vacation, but as often happens when working with teens, my plan changed. Reflections is a weekly tradition at Rock Point School—a time to explore big ideas like dignity, spirituality, and how we aspire to live in the world. But on this day, faces looked strained, postures were slouched, and the air felt heavy. I wondered what was going on. So, I asked. My students, as usual, surprised me with the depth and breadth of their answers.