Vermont Commons School
| Vermont Commons School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Address | |
|
75 Green Mountain Dr. South Burlington, Vermont USA | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | "Engaging students with the world" |
| Established | 1997 |
| Founders |
Dr. Robert A. Skiff Robert A. Skiff, Jr. Leah Mital-Skiff |
| Chairman | Brian Leffler |
| Headmaster | Dexter Mahaffey |
| Faculty | 23 |
| Grades | 7-12 |
| Number of students | 84 |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Color(s) | Green and gray |
| Mascot | Flying Turtles |
| Website | Vermont Commons School |
The Vermont Commons School is an independent college preparatory school located in South Burlington, Vermont, serving grades 7-12. Vermont Commons will be adding Grade 6 for the 2015-2016 school year, and has begun accepting applications for 6th Grade for the Fall 2015 semester.
History
The Vermont Commons School was founded in 1997. Its headmaster was former Champlain College President Robert A. Skiff.[1] During its first semester, 32 students were enrolled and the school grew steadily in size and offerings over the next ten years. In 2007, Dr. Skiff retired, at which point enrollment neared 100 students. Dr. Skiff was succeeded by Mr. Peter Ross, who served as Head of School through the fall of 2008. Upon Ross's departure, Science and Math teacher Hans Manske served as Acting Head while the Board of Trustees conducted a search for new leadership. In July 2009, the Board selected Mr. Peter Gilmore as their new Head of School. Mr. Gilmore had previously served as Principal of The Friends School of Baltimore, MD and Upper School Director at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, Maine. In the 2013-2014 year the school celebrated its 17th year. Mr. Gilmore left the school at the end of the 2013-14 school year, and was succeeded by Dexter Mahaffey. Mr. Mahaffey previously served as Director of Diversity and Global Studies at Kentucky Country Day School from 2007 to 2014, when he relocated to Vermont.[2]
Organization
Campus
Since its founding in 1997, the campus has been located at 75 Green Mountain Drive in South Burlington, Vermont behind Heritage Ford/Toyota. The school purchased the building and property in the fall of 2010. Vermont Commons School has undergone over $300,000 in recent renovations and hopes to further expand the campus and facilities in the near future.
Grade Structure
Classes are taught by grade, with larger grades broken into smaller sections. Maximum class size is 18 students, with an average class size of 12 students.
Curriculum
Courses include Language Arts, Mathematics, Sciences, Social Studies, and World Languages (Spanish and Chinese). The school offers advanced courses in Biology, Environmental Science, Spanish Language and Literature, and Calculus. The school considers its 'standard' rank classes to be on par with an Honors program in the public sector.[3]
The school has gained recognition for its Research and Service community service program.[4]
In 2012 VCS launched a unique program in partnership with the University of Vermont wherein the UVM Calculus 21 course is co-taught by both a university professor and a VCS Math teacher on the VCS campus as part of the Vermont state dual-enrollment program. Students earn four UVM credits for the course.
Accreditation
Vermont Commons School is accredited by the State of Vermont and is a member of the Vermont Independent Schools Association (VISA), the Independent Schools Association of Northern New England (ISANNE), and the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Vermont Commons School is also accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
References
External links
Coordinates: 44°25′52″N 73°12′24″W / 44.43121°N 73.20679°W