Burr and Burton Academy

Burr and Burton Academy (BBA) is an independent, coeducational secondary school located in Manchester, Vermont, founded in 1829. Burr and Burton serves as the high school of choice for students from Manchester and several surrounding communities in southern Vermont including Dorset, Danby, Londonderry, Landgrove, Mt. Tabor, Peru, Stratton, Sunderland, Weston and Winhall. Every year an average of 50 international students from around the world also attend.

Background

Established in 1829, the school is committed to educating students of diverse backgrounds and talents. The school strives to widen its cultural breadth by attracting students from various ethnic, racial, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds.

Tuition varies from local commuting students which are paid for by the sending town, up to $40,300 for a boarding international student requiring ESL support.^[1]

Activities

Outside activities include 16 varsity sports, musical and dramatic presentations, 22 clubs, leadership and service opportunities. Over 81 percent of students participate in after-school activities.

Athletics

Athletics, physical fitness, and sportsmanship are emphasized. In addition to physical education classes, students have the opportunity to participate in sixteen interscholastic sports programs. The school is a member of the Marble Valley League and competes statewide in Division I/II. Many of the coaches are also classroom teachers.

In the 2008-2009 school year, Burr and Burton Academy set the record for the most State Championships in Vermont in a single year, with 10 out of the 16 sports bringing home the win: Girls' Cross Country, Girls' Dance, Girls' Basketball, Boys' and Girls' Snowboarding, Boys' Alpine Skiing, Girls' Hockey, Boys' Golf, Girls' Tennis, and Boys' Lacrosse. The previous record was 7.

As part of their graduation requirements, all students must take two credits in the Physical Education and Health Department, including Physical Wellness. This is a comprehensive course taken in freshman year that gives students the information and skills to maintain lifetime wellness. In addition to physical activities such as the ropes course and physical fitness testing, these courses also cover stress management, social health, and drug and alcohol education. Students have the opportunity to take several electives in this department, including Introduction to Sports Medicine, Lifetime Sports, and First Aid.

Athletic facilities include the Pettibone Field, the Upper Field, the Ropes Course, and the E.H. Henry Physical Education Center. Athletic teams also have use of the facilities at the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park in Manchester, and tennis courts at Equinox, EOB, and Murray Hill. The ski team uses nearby Bromley Mountain Ski Area, the golf team practices at the Manchester Country Club, and the hockey teams uses Riley Rink at Hunter Park.

Academics

There are 155 academic courses along with 12 advanced placement courses.

Media Arts and Sciences

The Media Arts and Sciences Department, in the Jonathan Levin Center, presents television and radio technology to students. The television studio is one of very few in the country that operates without videotape. Print publications are designed and produced by the students.

The Communications program is unique in that it is staffed entirely by students. As the writers, producers, journalists, and designers, students produce programs and publications for the school and the community.

Independent film courses introduce students to filmmaking. Both short and feature-length films are produced each year.

A multi-camera television studio contains digital television equipment used by the students in the Television News classes to produce the weekly iNews Show, broadcast to the campus and surrounding towns. Five editing suites and a digital audio suite allow students to work on multiple programs at the same time.

The Research Lab courses offer students the opportunity to explore various areas of study in a fast-paced lab environment. Students have explored topics including hydroponics, solar energy, wind energy, and advanced studies in animation, programming, digital art, web publishing, computer and digital hardware, and networking.

Vermont Public Radio broadcasts from the Levin Center.

Arts

Students are required to take a full credit course in one of the art disciplines for graduation.

The Arts courses at Burr and Burton Academy are offered through three departments: the Media Arts and Sciences Department, the Performing Arts Department and the Visual/Practical Arts Department. Each program provides unique opportunities for cultural literacy in the major disciplines of Dance, Drama, Music, Technology, Graphic Design, Visual Art, Film, Drafting and more. The Performing Arts Department offers over a dozen major performance opportunities throughout the year in addition to a range of classes that emphasize the creative process.^[2]

Language

BBA offers Spanish, French, and German with each language containing at least 5 courses along with AP.

Notable alumni

Notable alumni of Burr and Burton include:

• Pierce Fulton, DJ, producer
• Mildred Ellen Orton, co-founder of Vermont Country Store
• Parker White, professional skier
• Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous

Footnotes

External links

• Burr and Burton Academy

Coordinates: 43°09′49″N 73°04′41″W / 43.1636875°N 73.0781602°W / 43.1636875; -73.0781602