PA News & Announcements

Public news and announcements from Peoples Academy.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Healthy & Happy Vacation

All of us at Peoples Academy would like to wish you a happy and healthy vacation and joyous new year. We look forward to seeing you in 2017 and thanks to all the students for helping us close out 2016 with a tremendously giving, kind, and thoughtful spirit.

Students made gifts, ornaments, decorations, and decorated cookies to share with our community. 

Pictured are some of the many students and staff who dressed up for community winter spirit this week. 

Surprise cookie sharing. 

Our XC skiers are off to a speedy start! 
Random surprise carolers 

Some of the many 'ugly sweaters' seen throughout the week. 

Not pictured but important: our students collected hundreds of gifts for local children, coats and winter clothing for those in need, food for Lamoille County Food Share, and made and sent post cards to folks in regional nursing and other care centers.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Road to Proficiency


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The previous ‘Road to Proficiency’ blog post highlighted the PLP (personalized learning plans). The PLP is an important component of the Proficiency Based Learning system (PBL) that we are moving toward at Peoples Academy and across the state. A PBL system has many benefits for students as outlined below.

Key Benefits of PBL:
  1. Students are responsible for their own learning and understand their growth in a deeper way.
  2. Students begin seeing the implications and applications of content and learning in their own lives.
  3. Students take greater responsibility for their education, are more thoughtful and goal-oriented about the educational choices they make, and use their time in school more purposefully.
  4. Teachers gain a stronger understanding of the interests, learning needs, and aspirations of their students and use that information to advise and support them more effectively.

The third benefit listed above connects to the Peoples Academy’s Scholarly Habits. We are beginning to use and assess these ‘habits of successful learners’ in classes and during Teacher Advisory (TA). This past fall students reviewed these habits with their advisers and teachers. Students chose one habit to focus on for growth. During the second semester, students will reflect on these habits and find evidence from their classroom activities and assignments to demonstrate focus and growth as learners. By focusing on these habits, we believe students will improve their classroom success. This is all part of our big vision which is create life-long self directed and passionate learners.

To learn more about the additional benefits on Personalized Learning Plans visit: The Road to Proficiency

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Teacher Congrtulations


We would like to congratulate two PA educators for their amazing achievements.


Catherine Toland


Catherine Toland, who teaches Social Studies and directs the Unbound Program completes her Doctoral Degree in Education from the University of Vermont this past fall. Lucky for us, her dissertation focused on Proficiency Based Learning (PBL) strategies in high schools. It is an immensely time consuming and thought provoking experience and we are thankful for her tremendous hard work.


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Sheila Jones
Long time PA registrar and PA alum, Sheila Jones, was recently nominated and accepted to VEOP (Vermont Education Opportunity Programs) board and will represent VERMONT at the Council for Opportunity Education (COE) seminar in Washington, DC next March. She was required to submit an essay (among other criteria) about the impact that Upward Bound has in her life as well as the impact to other students. She has worked with Upward Bound for more than 20 years and certainly deserves this honor. While in DC she will participate in the 33rd annual seminar with US Department of Education and The COE 37th Annual Policy Seminar. She is very excited to advocate and educate members of the 115th Congress, congressional staff and the Trump Administration officials about the success of TRIO. Sheila's dedication to the program has helped to fulfill the college dreams of hundreds of Vermont and local teens.


Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Community Service Opportunity

On Saturday, December 17th, an IS student will make her monthly trek to ENTERTAIN the folks at Forest Hill Care Home. She would like to invite more students to come SING Holiday Songs with her and the residents.  
You will meet in the PA parking lot at 12:30 PM to get organized for the short trip to the care home - just a bit beyond Tractor Supply.
See Michele to express your interest in spreading some Holiday Cheer.

Friday, December 9, 2016

The Road to Proficiency - PLP

Have you heard your student(s) talk about goal setting or Personalized Learning Plans and want to know more?

Personalized Learning Plans (PLP’s) are developed by students—typically in collaboration with teachers, counselors, and parents—as a way to help them achieve short and long term learning goals. Cognitive science supports that when students have ownership over their own learning we improve the learning environment and promote positive motivational, social and emotional habits and dispositions toward learning. Personalized learning means using a diverse variety of learning experiences, instructional approaches, and goal-oriented strategies that are intended to address the distinct learning needs of individual students. More information and research on PLP’s
PLP’s in our Schools: Personalized learning, which we know contributes to a higher level of student performance and deeper learning, has always been an integral part of our schools’ missions. Our process is guided by an emphasis on creating students who are Thinkers, Problem Solvers, Effective Communicators, and Personally and Socially Responsible Citizens. As we head down ‘the road to proficiency’, the implementation of Personalized Learning Plans is helping students identify goals, course selection, independent studies, and many other things to consider and work towards during their high school years at PA.  

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To read more about Personalized Learning Plans

grab a coffee and visit us

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Yearbooks

You may still purchase a 2017 Yearbook! Order yours today with Michele in the main office. You may reserve one with the entire $55 or you can make a down payment - just make sure you do it soon so you don't miss out! A little over 1/2 of the available 100 have been sold.


Senior Yearbook Pages

Seniors: ALL SENIOR PAGE MATERIAL IS DUE on
Friday, December 9th.

Paper copies to Michele or email katelyn.breault@lssuvt.org

Holiday Toy Drive

Holiday Gift Drive
Make a Difference this Holiday Season!

NHS is once again collecting new and unwrapped toys for the Lamoille County Family Center to help the families of Lamoille County celebrate this holiday season.
Please bring in a new, unwrapped toy or gift for a child (infant to teen) directly to your TA or Michele or Ms. Donovan anytime before or on December 13th     
If every TA contributes AT LEAST 3 toys the whole school will receive a treat!
Thank You for being such a generous community!!!!





Tuesday, December 6, 2016

USA GAP YEAR FAIR

USA GAP YEAR FAIR
South Burlington High School
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Event Time: 6-8:30 Presentation Time: 6-6:45pm

GIV Winter Weekends

GIV WINTER WEEKENDS
For 9-12th graders
Apply starting December 10, 2016

February 10-12, 2017
 Architecture Invention Social Entrepreneurship
 Animals & Law Vocal Performance Masterclass
 Bioinformatics

February 24-26, 2017
Youth Leadership Actors' Audition Masterclass
Intermediate Robotics Astrophotography
 Advanced Painting & Drawing