Rock Point School Annual Report 2020-2021
A coed independent boarding high school Burlington, VT | www.rockpointschool.org
Table of Contents Letter from the Head of School
1
Board of Trustees
2-3
Class of 2021
4-5
How to be an Anti-Racist School
6-7
Alumni and Student Spotlights Financials at a Glance
8-10 11
Thank You to Our Donors
12-15
The Year That Was: In Photos
16-17
Rock Point School is an intentionally small, independent, co-ed boarding high school in Burlington, Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain. We are proud to have been founded in 1928 with a mission to serve young people that remains strong to this day. Rock Point School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Letter from the Head of School To the Rock Point Community Near and Far, As I write this note, I have just returned from a month-long journey across this amazing country to visit my son in northern Washington. Along the way I was able to contact and visit so many of our Rock Point School family; alumni and their families, former staff members, educational consultants, and long-time friends of the school. It was nothing short of amazing to see where people’s lives have taken them and to hear how Rock Point played a role in their journey. I wish everyone who works at Rock Point could have such an experience. It was enlightening and energizing, to say the least. In between visiting alumni across the country and students returning to school, we hosted our 23rd annual Wiffle Fest! It felt even more special this year because of having to cancel last year. On August 7th we laid fields out, the banners went up, and 32 teams, along with their friends and family laughed and played all day long. Eula Palmer, RPS Class of 2022, helped put up outfield fences, painted banners, worked the registration table, and most impressively spoke in front of 100 people about her experience at Rock Point School and how it has changed her life. Then she threw out the first pitch! Wiffle Fest is just one more illustration of the way our small school community comes together with the wider local community to support what Rock Point does for its students: helping them to become their best selves. After that, we are mere weeks away from students returning to campus. Last year, like everyone the world over, we were presented with challenges due to the pandemic. I am happy to report that we had a very successful year precisely because of the kind of community this is. Parents, students, and faculty and staff worked together closely to make our school as safe as it could be and we made it through without a Covid infection!
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...we made it through without a Covid infection!
As we approach this new school year in a world where Covid is still a huge player, I am sure that, once again, we will come together to provide our students with the support and in-person education that meets them where they are while providing a safe and comforting environment. I hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and well. I look forward to hearing from you and staying in touch! Yours in health and community, C.J. Spirito August 2021
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RPS Board of Trustees Officers
Trustees
Bishop Shannon McVean-Brown Ex Officio Burlington, Vermont
Ron Chesbrough Cazenovia, New York
Barton Merle-Smith North Ferrisburg, Vermont
Harry Frank Huntington, Vermont
Mo Reilly Thetford, Vermont
Kathy Hartman Randolph, Vermont
Scott Sheavly Trumansburg, New York
Robin Llyod-Miller Burlington, Vermont
Marley Skiff South Burlington, Vermont
Laurel Bongiorno President Grand Isle, Vermont Jean Harvey Vice President South Burlington, Vermont Garth Allen Treasurer Burlington, Vermont
Lee McLendon Waterbury Center, Vermont
L to R in photo: Lee McLendon, Mo Reilly, Jean Harvey (Vice President), Laurel Bongiorno (President), C.J. Spirito, Robin Lloyd-Miller, Scott Sheavly, Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown (Ex Officio). Not pictured: Garth Allen (Treasurer), Ron Chesbrough, Harry Frank, Kathy Hartman, Barton Merle-Smith, Marley Skiff
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Letter from the Chair Dear Rock Point School Community Members, I am pleased to provide this update on behalf of the members of the Board of Trustees. First, kudos to the faculty, staff, students, and parents for their outstanding efforts in the midst of a pandemic. Good communication was one of the keys to success. Head of School C.J. Spirito led that effort by maintaining close contact with the trustees, students, and families during this difficult time. We all certainly learned to communicate more effectively using technology, even to the point of video conferencing for some classes, parent conferences, and meetings. During the past year, we accomplished several key initiatives from a financial perspective including the receipt of both governmental and donated funds, which helped offset Covid-related costs. In addition, we focused on understanding gifts made to Rock Point School over many years and their relation to the Episcopal Diocese. We now have a clear description in place for each gift, along with an understanding of holdings and distributions. Thank you to all of our many donors who generously gave over $350,000 for the Tomorrow Fund! This fund is key to our ability to provide exceptional care, education, and guidance to our students. We welcomed alumni Robin Lloyd-Miller ‘10 and Mo Reilly to the Board of Trustees in November 2020 and said goodbye to Bob Stanton, longtime Trustee and Chair who stepped down after his last term. We will again see more trustees reach the end of their terms in November 2021 and look forward to the inclusion of additional Trustees at that time. Thank you to everyone who gives their time, dedication, and focus to this vital role. I want to thank the RPS community for the amazing work you do with students. I love graduations, and Rock Point always has a special ceremony. This year’s graduation ceremony was especially meaningful with its reminders of this moment in history - masks, social distancing, and an outdoor tent. It was a joy to celebrate together and everyone shared an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I feel privileged to serve as a Trustee at Rock Point School. Keep up the great efforts, everyone. Sincerely, Dr. Laurel Bongiorno
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Class of 2021
Burlington, VT
U of Denver Denver, CO
SUNY Cobleskill
after gap year at NYC ASPCA
Roanoke, VA
Gap Year
Champlain College Hollins University
Manchester, NH
Southern NH University
Portsmouth, NH
SUNY Cobleskill
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UNH
Cobleskill, NY
Valeria Sharam Ruby Minnelli Jeff Morley Chloe Tonneau Rebecca Santora Amaris Hudak Cecily Alexander Shelley Lorr
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In our society, success is a funny thing. People think of success as having money or power, but success for some of us are these quiet little victories within yourself. My kids have found that kind of success at Rock Point.
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- Gerard Santora, father of Rebecca (class of 2021) and Josh (class of 2019)
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It has been so special to come to a place where I have been accepted for who I am. I’ve always been me, that’s not changing, but for the first time in my life, it’s been celebrated. That has filled me with a joy I never thought I’d have. I always thought I’d be different and that being different was a bad thing. I always thought the price of sticking to my own path would be the loss of my happiness and living a fulfilling life. Rock Point showed me that it doesn’t have to be that way. I know now I can find people who love and appreciate me as I am. It really is something I will never forget. This has felt like a home. - Amaris, Class of 2021
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As she attended Rock Point School, our daughter became a young adult with her own opinion and a newfound energy for being who she truly is. She emerged from the difficulties she had faced before with a focus on not only her own life choices but also with a greater interest in the world around her. She benefited from the small class size, the challenges staff gave her, and the unique, supportive community that is RPS. Chloe evolved from being a student who could not speak in class, to a confident young adult who is able to take leadership roles and present her knowledge and ideas to the greater community. We are so grateful that we found Rock Point School for our daughter. It is a program that finds each student’s light, and helps it to shine! - Dawn Tonneau, mother of Chloe (class of 2021)
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How to be an Anti-Racist School For the past year, we have been working to bolster and make our school-wide efforts on anti-racism more explicit. While Rock Point School has long been a place of inclusivity, with an inherent focus on acceptance and diversity, we realized that there is room to become more directly engaged in confronting racism as it occurs in our school, community, and country. During the 2020-2021 school year, staff and students participated in the anti-racism program called “Look Deeper: Race,” which consisted of six weeks of staff training, a documentary, and a facilitated discussion with students. This film and curriculum focused on the lives of five teenagers, each of whom was examining their own race and the role it plays for them. The curriculum allowed for staffand school-wide conversations and served as a launching pad for ongoing discussion and programming throughout the school year. Another major focus of the 20202021 school year was on the school’s history and the racism displayed by one of our key Continued >
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Anti-racist: continued historical figures. In December of this year, several staff members and some students were involved in a discussion group run through the Episcopal Diocese, studying Bishop Hopkins’ “A Scriptural, Ecclesiastical, and Historical View of Slavery.” Hopkins, whose son founded Rock Point School in his honor, was a strong supporter of slavery; the book describes his opinions in great detail. The book study culminated in removing Hopkins’ portrait from the school’s front hall due to his pro-slavery views. Students helped the school to come to this decision and worked together on a statement about the portrait’s removal. An unexpected and welcome learning opportunity that arose from this process was an interview with the Vermont Digger, which four students took part in, resulting in an article about the school and the portrait’s removal. During the summer of 2021, the administration team has been planning for anti-racism as an ongoing topic for staff training and professional development. We have participated in several workshops through AISNE, designed to help
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While Rock Point School has long been a place of inclusivity, . . .there is room to become more directly engaged in confronting racism as it occurs in our school, community, and country.
schools go from words to actions in their anti-racist efforts. For the upcoming school year, the staff will read a chapter of Ibram X Kendi’s “How to Be an Anti-Racist” and discuss it during our beginning of year meetings. Throughout the year, staff members will each select another book, workshop, podcast, etc., and present what we are learning and how we will apply it to our programming.
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Alumni & Student Spotlights Bear Brunn
RPS Class of 2009 I am a lawyer and I currently clerk for the Senior Judges at the Superior Court in Washington, DC, where I live. I am recently engaged to my fiancée Danielle, who works as a lobbyist, and we are looking forward to our wedding in March.
Patience Kellogg RPS class of 1955
C.J. visited Patience in Sioux City, South Dakota. Patience stays in contact with the school by regularly writing letters, however, she was thrilled to get a visit this summer. She vividly remembers Christmas being special during her years at Rock Point. “We would get potato sacks full of gifts from people in the Diocese. I felt seen and loved.” Patience spoke about the individual attention she received at school and how that positively impacted her life then and still does to this day. After a hearty breakfast at The Frying Pan, C.J. and Patience toured Sioux City, with Patience showing C.J. all the sites, including where she spends many of her days at Senior Centers to socialize and volunteer.
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Madeline Luek RPS Class of 2009
After receiving my B.S. in Botany from Humboldt State University, I worked as a lab and field assistant for the UC Cooperative Extension, specializing in data collection related to forest pathology. I am now entering the School of Biological Sciences at Washington State University as a master’s degree student, where I will be researching the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi. Learning about Darwinian evolution in my senior year at Rock Point School helped me discover my love for biology when I otherwise had little interest in the sciences. In my spare time, I like to garden, mushroom hunt, and silkscreen (a hobby I was introduced to at Rock Point School). I live with my partner, dog, cat, and assorted house plants.
Benjamin Philipson RPS Class of 2011
After graduating Mitchell College in 2015 I immediately jumped into the sales industry and have been climbing up the ladder since then. From Macy’s to working in DC, I found my way into one of Maryland’s largest distribution companies selling everything from candy, to healthcare products, to drinks and medicine. Currently, I am working as a Marketing Coordinator for one of the largest black owned companies in the U.S. and learning so much more than I would’ve thought. However, the biggest news in my life is being engaged to Valerie, my biggest supporter and the mother of our two boys Baker and Ollie who keep us in line as we grow closer to our next chapter in our life. I must thank Rock Point for all that everyone has done to get me to this point in my life, as I continue to grow in my professional life.
Continued >
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Alumni & Student Spotlights: continued
Pamela Schuller RPS Class of 2005
I am the director of a teen mental health initiative called HereNow that promotes mental health, wellness, and resilience through creativity. While I live in New York City, I spend a lot of time traveling with my one-woman show that combines comedy and storytelling to talk about resilience and loving your differences. Through that show, I have been able to travel the world and work with Google, Disney, Dr. Mike, BuzzFeed, and hundreds of colleges and communities. Every day is filled with creativity, which Rock Point prepared me for!
Roxanne Glassenberg RPS Class of 2022
The main way I would describe Rock Point is that it is a safe place to stretch and push the edges of your comfort zone while still having a soft landing to fall back on. You can take the leap and know that someone will be there to catch you. During my first year at Rock Point, I tried snowboarding (didn’t like it) and skateboarding (loved it). I pushed myself academically and made new friends, while feeling safe, comfortable, and fully myself. When the people at Rock Point say “Become Your Best Self ”, they really mean it. It’s not just a motto-it’s a philosophy that guides the whole Rock Point community from the beginning of the year to the end. The staff want to see each student thrive and grow, and the students support each other along the way. I feel so privileged to have spent a year at Rock Point with another year to go. This school has made a huge positive impact on my life, and I have learned so much. Thank you, Rock Point, for supporting me and my friends and classmates every step of the way. 10
Financials at a Glance Expenses Program Expenses
47%
Salaries and Benefits
Salaries and Benefits
Program Expenses
53%
Other
1%
Revenue
Investment
16%
Tuition
Tuition
Grant
Donations
51%
14%
Trust Grant Investment Other
Trust
3%
Donations
15%
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Thank You to Our Donors Laura Abrams Marian and Thomas Akey Garth and Colby Allen Karen Amirault Dawn Andrews Anonymous Jay Aronson Mary Beth and Thomas Barritt Rae Anne Barry Pennie Beach Thad Bennett and George Connell Betsy and Geoffrey Bird Charlotte Blend and Luke Montague Zafir Bludevich Laurel and Charles Bongiorno John and Christina Borchers Peter and Gail Bourne Deborah Boyd and Thomas Boyd, Jr. Barb and Kenneth Brown Emily Bruell and Christopher Ruigomez Monica Brady-Myerov and Gib Brady Bonnie and Robert Buchanan Gus and Kara Buchanan Linda and Kenneth Button Raymond and Elizabeth Butts Alison Cannon Maureen Cannon Wendy Chace and Randall Henson Charlane Chapman Bobbie and The Rev. Benjamin Chase Anne and Ron Chesbrough Margaret Cicchetti and Albert Chicchetti Molly and Raymond Coffey Michael Coleman Hilary Cooke and Gregory Buzzard Catherine and Roger Cooke Roger and Anne Cooper
Beth Crane and Morgan Daybell Dorothy D. Darling Lisa Daudon and Jeffery Keeney John Davis Susanne and Kenneth Davis Karin Davis and Gerald Davis, M.D. Tom Delaney Mary Denny Carol and Frank Derr Mary Doris Devlin and Lawrence DiBernardo Jacqueline Dolan Jordan Douglas Sheila Dumont Christian Dymond Marcia Eames-Sheavly and Scott Sheavly Catherine and James Eastham Lonnie Edson Stan Eddy and Andrea Grimm Tom and Ann Ely Karla Everts Franci and Frank Farnsworth John Farnsworth ‘06 Martha Flanigan Barb and Jim Flint Janet and Terrence Francis Victor Frank III Tiffany Fuentevilla The Rev. Dave and Frances Ganter Beverly and George Gardner Lisa Gilbert Marilynn Gilbert Kim and Eric Giler Erika Gimbel Abby and Charlie Glassenberg Wallace Good Linda Goodell Chari and Herbert Goodman Continued >
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Emily Goodman ‘06 Laurie Graham Jean Guenther and The Rev. Robert Stuhlmann Ann and Frank Guillot David Hamilton Mary Hamilton Michael Hamilton Jean Hancock Lindsie Hantman Vanessa and Ivan Hantman Joan and Bradley Harris Kathy Hartman Cate and Stephen Harty Jean Harvey Edith Hawksworth Joy Hayes Matthew Healy Stephen Hoffman Andrea and Terence Hook Margie Hough and Don Spruit Chris and Christie Howell Lindsey and David Huddle Carol Irish and Peter Kassel Carol Jennings and David Denny Deborah Jerard, MD Timothy Johnson and Susan Weiss Patience Kellogg Barbara Kelley John and Denise Kelley Pris and Phillips Kerr Lisa and Howard King Paula Klausner and Jonathan Gordon Barbie and John Koier Hillary Kramer and Dave Melnick Jennie Kristel and Michael Watson Katie Kubie and William Winkler The Kuhn Family Jeanne and Charles LaClair Maxine and Leo LaDouceur Bob and Cricket Laidman Polly and James Larkin
Roxana Laughlin Jean and John Lawe Daphne Layton and James Madigan Rita and The Rev. Robert Lee Catherine Leiser and Christopher Janeway Betty and Arthur Levy Susan and Tom Little Robin Lloyd-Miller ‘10 Suzanne Lourie and Steven Wisbaum Ellen MacLellan Marlene and Gadi Maier Vera Mallary and The Rev. Dewitt Mallary, Jr. Liza Marcato Peter Martin Lucy and Jeffrey Masters Barb Masterson Margaret Mathauer Suzanne McNeill Jeannette McKnight The Rev. Shannon Macvean-Brown Marilyn May John McLendon Lee W. McLendon Thomas McGrath Ann and David McKay Mary McLaughlin Deborah Melnick Robin Merrill and Joanna Maccario Susan and Barton Merle-Smith Ronald Miller Jennifer and Peter Minnelli Thomas Morley Katharine Morley Leslie Moulin Joan and Rick McGuire Sally and Andre Nadeau Erika and William Neuberg Lanette Noel Donna O’Dell and The Rev. Carlyle Meacham Jennifer S. Ogleby Muriel O’Gorman Continued > 13
Donors: continued The Rev. Sherry Osborn Heidi Outtrim and Robert Outtrim III Michael Padovano & Monika Dralle Mary Ellen Palmer Bonnie Parent and John Arceneaux Cathy Paris and David Barrington Cheryl Park-Kupersmith Sallie Patnode Tracy and Scott Perrapato Marilyn Peters Heidi Petschauer Jeannie Pieniadz Lori Polep Kate Pond and Frederick Stetson Sylvia Portnoy and Bradford Turner Jane and The Rev. Titus Presler Connie and The Rev. Congreve Quinby Laurene Radaszewski Deborah Radovsky Arienne Reilly Alban Richey Diane Rippa and David Rome Liza and Luke Rixon Richard Robinson Mary Rosholt and David Sichel Debra and James Rogler John Rouleau Janice Roy and Steven Young Amber Schiller Laura Slesar and Christopher Schlosser Tom and Thomas Schroeder Pamela Schuller ‘05 Jacquelyn Schultz Linda Scrivens Christine and James Sears Sherry and William Seaver Nancy and Shinichi Seino Steven Shapiro
Debby Shapiro and Stephen Minichiello Will Sheavly ‘12 Joan Shepard June and Philip Sherwin Kayoko and Tadaatsu Shimamura Christina Shin Allan Shufelt Deborah Siegel-Reamer and Frederic Reamer Linda Silber Lisa Simon and Peter Nobes Marley Skiff and Dr. Robert Skiff, Sr. Ed and Sue Skea Emily Skoler and Nora Mitchell Rebecca Skoler and Steven Stovitz Saul Skoler Martha Slocum Eric Small and Dina Lehrer Sonjie and Perry Solomon Candace and The Rev. Craig Smith Jennifer Smith Sophie Smyth and David Fagelson Mickey Sorrell Julia and Armando Soto C.J. Spirito and Kathleen Butts Tanya Stenson Jill Stevens and John Lincoln Kelly and Glenn Story The Rev. Rick Swanson and Tim Heath-Swanson Bob and Pam Stanton Nicole and James Stevens Barbara and Stephen Springer Iris and Leonard Swimmer Mike Syers Benoit and Dawn Tonneau Margaret and Frank Trinity Jeff Tuttle ‘98 Moshe Usadi Rebecca Usadi Continued >
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Justine Viets Aidan Vogl Jacqueline Vogl Carole and Edwin Wageman Cynthia and James Wallace Jeannie Waltz Bob Wertz Tim Wile Sandy and Robert Willey Tom and Bryn Wood Ben Ziller ‘02 Linda Marsh and Arthur Ziller
Foundations
Businesses
Christ Church St. Andrew’s Episcopal St. Martin’s Episcopal St. Paul’s Episcopal of White River Junction St. Thomas and Grace Episcopal Episcopal Diocese of Vermont Grace Episcopal
The Abigail P. and Charles S. Glassenberg Foundation The Bentz-Kuttner Foundation The Cleveland Foundation The Laura J. Graham Charitable Fund The Lillian Knell Philanthropic Fund The McClendon Family Foundation The Robert and Lillain Philipson Foundation The Sunshine Foundation The Vermont Community Foundation
Parishes
Inner Reflections New England Floor Covering Summit Fire and Security Sycamore Bay, LLC West Lane Flowers, LLC
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Rock Point School is one of few treasured places making a direct impact by setting students up with a solid future. The many life skills I learned, often glossed over in traditional schools, helped prepare me as an adult. Rock Point offers the balance of structure, emotional growth, and accountability, without compromising the space for kids to learn about themselves, and in my mind, is a model structure for education in the United States. The value of donating to Rock Point as an institution is in donating to a caring community, solid institution, and a constant and valuable investment in the future.
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- Robin Lloyd-Miller, Trustee & Alumnus
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The Year That Was:
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2020-2021
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A coed independent boarding high school Burlington, VT | www.rockpointschool.org