Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Winter 2007 | Page 12

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Middle School—Vision to Reality
For the first time since 1848, Thornton Academy
welcomed 11- to 13-year old students back into classrooms as classes in grades 6, 7 and 8 began this September.
Plans for the middle school program began more
than four years ago in 2002 with discussions with the
towns of Dayton and Arundel to support their sixth,
seventh, and eight grade students. Arundel is currently
under a 10-year contract with Thornton to educate all of
the town’s middle grade students.
During a January 2006 Open House, Arundel students and the families checked out plans for the new
middle school facility. Students also were encouraged
to “Give us a Hand” by tracing their hands on a wall
inside a future classroom.
After many months of planning and preparations,
what emerged is a state-of-the-art middle school, complete with cutting edge technology, a rigorous academic
curriculum, and superior faculty and staff.
Prior to the first day of school, Academy administrators, trustees, faculty and staff, gathered to welcome
Thornton Academy’s middle school students and their
families at a family picnic in August. A formal ribbon
cutting ceremony was held later for dignitiaries and
friends to thank all who contributed to the successful
addition of the middle school facility and program.

From the cold snow of
January and
empty walls

(Above) Future students help unfurl the
Thornton Academy middle school banner
at the open house in January 2006.

To first days
of school

(Right) Liz Wrigley teachers her class
while using the interactive white board.

Photos by Shawn Patrick Ouellette ‘89
and Mitch Boutin ‘01.

12

POSTSCRIPTS * WINTER 2007

To celeb
and rib