SJA News - October 15, 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER

We Include Everyone

If you take nothing else from this message today, please take these two facts:

1.   St. Johnsbury Academy accepts each and every publicly-tuitioned student who comes through our doors, unless they are a danger to themselves or others, asking nothing about their academic ability, existing or potential disability, or history.

2.   When students with disabilities choose to attend the Academy, we provide extraordinary Special Education (SPED) services, programs and supports that serve them powerfully and help them toward success.

There should be no doubt or confusion in our community that this is what we do. We do not discriminate, we do not pick and choose students—we do not exclude anyone.

Not only do we accept all comers, we welcome and take joy in every student’s potential and progress. We work hard to include students with significant disabilities in all aspects of Academy life, and to open our wide range of opportunities to all, regardless of what support they might need. 

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IN THE NEWS

CTE Students of the Quarter

Front Row (l:r): Molly Roberts '29 (Career Exploration), Taylor Powers '26 (Human Services 1), Everett Blake '26 (Entrepreneurship 1), Tillie Lange '27 (Elec. 1), Josie Royer '28 (Intro. to Electricity), Ayla Brown '27 (Entrepreneurship 2), Teagan Berquist '27 (Culinary Arts)

Middle Row: Peyton LaPete '27 (Intro. to Culinary), Simon Churchill '27 (Woodworking); Ezra Steele '27 (Intro. to Human Svcs), William Yarosh '29 (Career Exploration), Liam Bresnahan '28 (Intro. to Heating & Plumbing),

Ethan Knights '26 (Automotive Technology), Anasofia Perez '26 (Sales & Marketing)

Back Row: Bryce Gordon '26 (Heating & Plumbing 2), Lucas Kierstead '26 (Work-Based Learning), Owen Marcotte '26 (Electricity 2); Quinn Amidon '28 (Intro. to Auto Tech.), Levi Thompson (Heating & Plumbing 1), Parker Thompson '27 (Intro. to Construction), Matthew Gamble '28 (Intro. to Welding)

Missing from photo: Leilani Depina-Bailey '27 (Intro. to Business), Syklar Jones '28 (Intro. to Culinary), Drago Dozzi '27 (Intro. to Culinary), Hannah Wigger '27 (Finance)

Women Can Do

Twenty-six students attended, with six of them also presenting at the Women Can Do Conference last week at VTSU/Randolph. Every year, hundreds of students attend Women Can Do to meet local employers, learn to use a variety of tools and equipment, and expand their sense of what’s possible in education and career pathways. Demonstrating welding at the conference were Avery Miller '27, Molly Larrabee '27, Sydney Gilman '26, Mollie Gray '26, and Sarah Roy '26.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, October 15

Fireside Literary Series, Mayo Lounge, 3:15 PM

As part of St. Johnsbury Academy’s ongoing commitment to fostering a healthy community, filmmaker Bess O’Brien will present her latest documentary, Just Getting By. She will share insights into her creative process and the development of the film’s compelling narrative. The documentary provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of Vermont families as they navigate the challenges of poverty, shedding light on the complex and often flawed systems they encounter.

Thursday, October 16

PSAT/SAT Testing, 8:00 AM

Saturday, October 18

Homecoming Dance, Alumni Gym, 7:00 - 10:00 PM

Monday, October 20

Spirit Week Begins

Class schedules for Thursday and Friday are available here.



Class themes:

9th: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

10th: Sports Craze (Think Super Bowl, March Madness, the Olympics, and all things game day)

11th: Rio (the movie)

12th: Pirates

Theme days:

Monday: Perfect Match or Mismatch

Tuesday: Not Your Average Twin Day

Wednesday: Teachers Dress Like Students and Students Dress Like Teachers

Thursday: Class Theme Day

Friday: Green, White, and/or Academy Gear

Wednesday, October 29

School Photo Make-Up Day, Fuller Hall, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Wednesday, October 29

Fall Concert, Fuller Hall, 7:00 PM

Thursday, October 30

Fall Semester Student Progress Conference, 4:00 - 5:25 PM & 6:30 - 9:00 PM

Tuesday, November 4

Deadline for Senior Photos

Additional information is available here.

Thursday, November 6

Open House, Fuller Hall, 6:30 PM

For Students in Grades 8-11

• Meet our faculty, staff, and leadership team
• Learn about academic programs and supports
• Talk to students, coaches, and club advisors
• Enjoy snacks made by culinary students

Register here.

AROUND CAMPUS

Members of the Senior Class have been busy again, preparing food to sell at athletic events. Today (Oct 15), they'll be at the JV Girls' Soccer game at 4:00, and the Varsity game at 6:00 on Fairbanks Field. If you're hungry, tonight's offerings are carrot cake for $5 and hot apple cider for $2. Bring some extra money and support the Senior Class.

Students in Introduction to Engineering Design learn computer-assisted drawing (CAD) to communicate design details for a series of independent projects.

Mr. Roberts' Residential/Industrial Electricity I students worked in the rain to stack firewood last week.

Students in Mr. Deming's AutoTech II class are utilizing new diagnostic equipment to check tire alignment on a vehicle.

With the Fall musical only a month away, things are getting busy with preparation, including choreographing the dances.

Next door in the Stagecraft workshop, students are busy preparing scenery and new backdrops.

ATHLETICS

The Varsity and JV Field Hockey teams wore pink on Saturday to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Photos from the varsity game can be viewed here. JV action photos can be found here.

Varsity Soccer action and Senior Recognition photos can be viewed here.

Photos from Varsity Volleyball's match versus MMU can be found here. Prior to the game, both teams posed for a photo wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Senior Recognition photos from Friday night are here.