The mission of Project STJASPIRE is to increase and expand the resources and support St. Johnsbury Academy provides to our students and by reaching out to parents as part of the Academy’s “Center for Academic Improvement and Enrichment.” Project ASPIRE will take the Academy to this next level.

It is recognized that the educational success of children is dependent on both the 6 hours of formal schooling each day and also, and critically so, the 18 hours of schooling which takes place at home. Communities and schools can do a better job ensuring the success of children and it is the vision of The Program Academic Improvement and Enrichment to be a key player in providing the support to achieve this.

Believing that parents are the first and best teachers of their children, and that during the high-school years they become increasingly distant from their children’s education, the Academy is committed to do a better job in helping parents negotiate this new stage in their relationships with their children’s education. The Academy will provide increased information, services, and resources so that our efforts during the school day are in turn supported at home after school hours.

Ultimately the goal of this proposal is to change our students and their parents’ attitude of ‘good enough’ when it comes to academics and their child’s potential to one of ‘can do.’

“ASPIRE seeks to provide more tools and support to parents who have the momentous task of educating their children for the 18 hours a day their student is not at school,” said Richard Boisseau, Director of the Center for Academic Improvement. In the early stages of Aspire, the project was awarded funding from the Rowland Foundation. The infusion of these funds propelled the Academy forward in both the intent and mission of ASPIRE.

Recently ASPIRE began offering “The Biggest Job,” a nationally recognized program that addresses character issues of students, parents, and families. Additionally, a “Parent Conference Tip Sheet” from the Harvard Family Research Project was distributed to all teachers and parents. The tip sheet has received positive feedback.

Another example of outreach involves Capstone—Academy seniors are required to complete a Capstone project. To inform the seniors’ parents of Capstone requirements, a Capstone informational evening was offered at the beginning of both the Fall and Spring semesters in 2010-2011. The evening was attended by 75 percent of those invited. One parent responded, “First of all I would like to thank you for the great informational meeting about Capstone. It definitely helped us better understand what (our son) has been working on.”

In the coming months, ASPIRE will expand its scope to include a web presence, improved teacher and parent communication, and programs aimed at involving parents during their students’ transition from middle school into high school.