Raptor News
Community, Scholarship, Connection
Lifelong Learners
Dear Raptor Families,
One of the key goals detailed in the Rivendell Mission Statement is for our students to become lifelong learners. On Friday, our Academy Faculty modeled this essential habit of mind during an in-service-day learning adventure.
I often remember how powerful it was, during those uncertain days of 2020, to deliver graduation gear to seniors when I was an assistant principal at Hillsboro-Deering High School in New Hampshire. Seeing the places our students called home truly deepened my connection to that community. With that same spirit in mind—and with the wonderful planning help of lead teachers Kirsten Surprenant and Jennifer Bottum—our faculty boarded a bus on Friday morning to experience Rivendell up close.
While I will let our teachers speak for themselves about their individual takeaways, I can say that the day was incredibly inspiring to me. We owe a debt of gratitude to many local hosts who generously shared their time, knowledge, and passion for our four small and mighty towns.
THANK YOU:
- Vershire: Andrea Harrington, Gary Goodrich, Nancy Hall, and Zac Hewitt
- West Fairlee: Jennifer Shatney
- Fairlee: Walter and Will Gladstone, Amy and Zofia Kosakowski
- Orford: Patricia Alonso, Bill McKee, [Name Name], and Gail Keefer
Gratefully,
Joy Clancy
At the Academy...
October
15: Lions Club Vision Screening; American Exchange Project Information Session 6-7 PM (Seniors)
16: Fall Fest (school day); Homecoming Bonfire 6:00-8:30 PM
17: Boys' Soccer Senior Recognition 10:30 AM; HS Homecoming Dance 7-10 PM
27: DREAM Mentors to Hulbert Outdoor Center
29: Right to Read Night 5-8 PM (Academy Library)
November
5: Conferences (afternoon, schedule with advisor)
5-6: A Midsummer Night's Dream - 6:30 p.m.
6: Early Release Day (conferences)
7: A Midsummer Night's Dream - Matinee 2:00 p.m.
11: Veterans Day NO SCHOOL
17: Rock Band concert 6:00 p.m.
19: Choral concert 6:00 p.m.
20: Harlem Wizards vs. Rivendell Staff 6:00 p.m.
25-27: Thanksgiving Break
Spirit Week, Bonfire, Senior Game for Boys, and a HS Dance
It's Homecoming Week at Rivendell Academy, and we invite the public to join us on Friday evening from 6:00-8:30 for the bonfire (MS students must have a parent chaperone), and for Saturday's home soccer game and celebration of the graduating seniors on the boys' team (starting at 10:30 a.m.).
American Exchange Project
INFORMATION SESSION:
Thursday, October 15, 6:00-7:00 PM in the Academy Library with autumn refreshments
Questions? Please reach out to Exchange Manager Joy Clancy or visit americanexchangeproject.org.
Wizards take on Raptor staff
The Harlem Wizards are coming back to compete against the Rivendell Staff on
November 20th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
This event is a fundraiser for our two elementary schools
Purchase your tickets now! Many tickets have already sold. We encourage you to purchase your tickets early as the last event sold out and we had to turn many families away.
We look forward to a great night full of basketball and belly laughs!
https://api.harlemwizardsinabox.com/game/event/orfordvt11-20-26-06-00pm/
Rivendell Academy Players present adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Get ready for Shakespeare with a twist, as our Academy cast and crew present Director Shoshana Lieberman's own adaptation of the classic, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 5-7, 2026, in the Rivendell Academy Gym.
A new Academy teacher reflects . . .
Now that the month of September is in the rearview mirror, I’ve been reflecting on my decision to come to Rivendell. As an outsider from elsewhere, I have a different perspective that others might not have. I’ve been teaching for a very long time and have worked in several different school districts in the area. Rivendell is an incredibly special place, one that I am excited to join.
For me personally, I feel like I’ve been invited into a family. The kindness, support, and professionalism that I’ve felt from my new colleagues is heartwarming. With so many new teachers in the building, I’m sure they’re very busy helping us all settle in, but no matter the question, they always try to help.
The students that I’ve worked with so far have also been very accepting. The vast majority are respectful and respond positively to staff direction. From their behavior, I infer that they truly feel that adults here care about them and want to help them succeed. During my first week, I asked my advisory students what was great about Rivendell. I was expecting a typical “middle school” apathy. Instead, they started listing the many things they love about their school.
The weekly student-led assemblies keep the student body connected, even though their classes are in different buildings. When we had the Club Assembly, I was shocked by the number of colleagues who stepped up to run clubs. I can tell that they volunteer because they really care about these kids and want to enrich their lives in extra ways. Trips to France? Taking students hiking on weekends? Exchange Programs? Field trips to Boston? Partnering with groups in the community? Amazing.
I realize that Rivendell is a small school, but I’m so impressed that it is still able to provide opportunities for the students that are typically only offered in larger schools: Riverbend, Hartford, community service outreach, and collaboration and coursework from Dartmouth are a few that I’ve learned about in my first month.
I think the kids have a fantastic variety of experiences available to them, from fresh vegetables and flowers in the gardens to edible flowers in the salad bar. From keeping and caring for chickens and collecting the eggs, to composting our food waste to feed the chickens. It all shows that small things can have a big impact.
The culture that you’ve developed from all of this hard work is what sets Rivendell apart from other schools, and I’m so happy to be here.
- Cheryl Marchetti, MS Math Educator
Varsity girls' soccer senior celebration includes big win!
Proud families and a proud Raptor community gathered on October 7th for a home game and celebration of seniors Sarah Champagne, Lily Murray, Autumn Powers, and Ava Welch, and the Lady Raptors were on fire with a 6-0 win over the White River Valley HS Wildcats.
More photos from the Senior Celebration are HERE
Read more in the Valley News article: "Murray provides a lot of everything in Rivendell girls soccer's win over WRV"
Raptor grandfather is surprised with DC trip and honors
Kirsten Surprenant’s 9th grade social studies students crafted letters to support the Honor Flight experience of Rivendell Academy grandfather.
U. S. Marine Vietnam Veteran, Bruce King, was accompanied by his daughter (Senior Evan Woodward’s mom), Theresa Woodward, to take part in a North Country Honor Flight trip to visit the Vietnam memorials on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
The Honor Flight experience for Mr. King began on Friday, October 2, as volunteer motorcycle escorts honored veterans coming in from Vermont and New Hampshire to prepare for the flight. The voyage itself began with a 7:00 a.m. send-off ceremony in Plattsburgh, NY.
For more information, you can check the North Country Honor Flight Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NYnorthcountryhonorflight
The latest news from the Academy Library Learning Commons
Please enjoy Librarian Jennifer Bottum's Library News HERE
Joy Clancy, Principal
Email: jclancy@rivendellschool.org
Website: https://ra.rivendellschool.org
Mailing & Physical Address: 2972 NH-25A, Orford, NH 03777
Phone: (603) 353-4321
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Rivendell-Academy-100064167392047/