At VCS

 Students, parents, alumni, faculty, and staff often report that the best thing about Vermont Commons School is the sense of community at the school. Because it is important to so many people, the school works hard to encourage a safe, supportive, respectful environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute. Below are some examples of what keeps the community spirit going at Vermont Commons School.

Morning Meeting

Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, there is a school-wide meeting where information is shared, instruments are played, songs are sung, and friendly competitions are played out.

Core and Advisory Groups

For grades 7-12, in grade-level Core Groups, students are connected with a faculty Advisor who “travels” with their grade throughout their career at Vermont Commons School.  Each Core Group also has a class Advisor who is dedicated to that particular grade and remains at that Core Group grade level year after year.  Each year, our anchor 6th grade faculty team serves as joint Advisors for that first year in Vermont Commons students’ career.

Additionally, students belong to multi-age Advisory Groups. These groups meet weekly on Wednesday mornings before Common Hour to check in on how school life is going for each student.  Older classmates will often mentor younger ones during these conversations.  Advisory Groups are also take on a part of the school campus each afternoon for Community Cleaning and Care, our cooperative effort of all community members to clean up and take care of our whole learning space together.  And our Service Learning program is Advisory Group based, with each group finding and building a long-term relationship with a local community partner and undertake efforts towards global citizenship on the second Wednesday of each month.

These Advisor relationships provide constant guidance, support, and mentoring for all Vermont Commons Students.