FOUNDERS' DAY 2011 

The 67th annual celebration of Founders' Day was held on February 4. The theme this year was Literature, and classes had fun depicting everything from fairy tales to science fiction. 

The day started in the gymnasium with the traditional candle lighting ceremony.

Mother Nature cooperated and provided the students with plenty of material with which to construct their snow sculptures on the quad. . .

and a gorgeous day for the outdoor games.                                                                           

 

REMEMBERING ROBERT BACON

February 12, 1921-November 8, 2010

Long time faculty member Robert Bacon graduated from Thetford Academy in 1939 and earned his BA at Syracuse University and a Masters of Education at the UVM. After serving for three years in the US Army Air Corps, he began his long career as a professional educator at TA.  During his forty years at TA, Mr. Bacon taught science, mathematics, and drivers' education, and for a time served as assistant principal.

Mr. Bacon retired in 1986, but his interest in TA remained strong.  He was a mainstay of the Thetford Academy Alumni Association (TAAA) and for many years was the archivist.

Rest in peace, Mr. Bacon.  You are missed.

The couple moved to Alaska with the US Army, and after a short stint in Arizona, spent 4 winters in Fairbanks,then moved to Anchorage in 1994 where they stayed until just last summer.  Gil left the army and began working for the Center for Disease Control in Anchorage. In 1996 Charlotte went back to school, looking to pursue a career in the health care field. She earned a BS in Nursing from the University of Alaska Anchorage and worked for the Anchorage Public Health Department as a public health nurse for 3 years. She specialized in tuberculosis control and the immunization program, and says "I loved the job and learned a lot from some great public health nurses."

Their first child, Gregory was born in 1999, followed by Jacob in 2003. Charlotte went back to work in 2005 as a school nurse for the Anchorage School District. She did some health teaching/health prevention as time allowed, and ran immunization clinics for H1N1 flu shots. It became very evident to her how vital school nurses are in today's health care troubles. As school nurses say, "Healthy children learn better."

Last May Gil was promoted to the IT advisor of the East Africa region for the CDC, so in early September of last year, they moved to Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to Kenya, Gil has been supporting Ethiopia, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, traveling each quarter to these countries. It was a welcome change for them, "We had often talked of living overseas and giving our kids the opportunity to see and experience other cultures." GIls says, "We enjoyed spending a "winter" (it is summer here since we are in the southern hemisphere) with sunny blue skies and temperatures in the upper 70s and 80s, though it was somewhat odd having no snow for Christmas." Gil is also currently finishing a Masters Degree from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.

Charlotte is unable to get a work permit or a Kenyan nursing license, so she spends her time substituting at the boys' school health office, and helping out with social causes. They are also taking advantage of their surroundings; they have been on two safaris and plan to take the boys to the Kenyan coast during their March break. 

Charlotte says, "I have returned to Thetford numerous times to visit family and friends but never made it back to TA other than driving by and admiring the outside of the school.  I hope to look inside the buildings this summer when I'll be back again!"

On March 8, 2011, the panther was returned to its home in the TA gym, thanks to the efforts of Peter Boyd '77 and Chip Odell '74.

When Anderson Hall was renovated, the floor was meticulously disassembled and the boards individually numbered.  Peter and others, in a true blue labor of love, then put the pieces back together; and Chip added the frame.

The panther arrived just in time for the first ever basketball playoff game on our own turf.  The #4 seeded boys were victorious over #13 Stowe in an action packed evening of basketball, and they advanced to the quarterfinals.  TA will host #5 Enosburg on Saturday, March 12.  Go Panthers!