BFA Experience Event
It was an amazingly successful night at the BFA Experience on December 5th! Many Franklin County 8th-grade students & their families explored and learned about available classes, clubs, and extracurricular activities. Thank you to all who attended and experienced BFA!
District Music Festival Auditions
BFA is part of Vermont Music Educators Association (VMEA) District #1 along with BFA Fairfax, Milton HS, Richford HS, EFHS, MVU, and MMU. Students from all participating schools met on Wednesday to play and sing for professional adjudicators to be placed in performing ensembles and to be considered for scholarship awards.
As usual, BFA was well represented both instrumentally and vocally in these ensembles. An extra honor this year was bestowed upon Freshman Madeleine Messier who won a performance scholarship award for her performance on violin of Beethoven’s Romance, a duet she did with BFA staff piano accompanist Mr. Christopher Leduc. Senior clarinetist Penelope Noza was recognized with a non-performance scholarship for her work with Mr. Leduc on the Hindemith Clarinet Sonata.
These students have been placed in ensembles with students from throughout the district and will rehearse together here at BFA on February 1st and 2nd. The final concerts will be on the evening of Friday, February 2nd in the BFA PAC.
Back Row: Madeleine Messier, Makayla Bowen, Audrey Van Leuven, Chloe Weinstein,
Front Row: Ava Forbes, Hardy Toof
Natalie Cronin, Kovu Hughes, Jon Coloumbe, Owen Pelkey, Lilah Powers
Missing: Aurora Gilmond
Ceilina Beauregard, Penelope Noza, Isaac Ditch
Wyatt Trombley, Brody Chamberlain, Aubrey Benedict, Lily Duffy, Finn Madding
Devin Dale, Eli Hazen, Isaac Peyrat, Jude Sato, Finn Lund, Mania Tibbitts
2023 Festival of Trees
On Sunday, December 3rd the BFA St. Albans and Missisquoi Valley Union High School Jazz Bands performed a joint concert at the Annual “Festival of Trees” held at the St. Albans City Hall.
Arleigh Young, the event organizer, reached out to BFA director Eric Bushey and MVU director Aron Garceau in the early Fall to start organizing this event. Although December is a very busy time of year for school music both Bushey and Garceau felt strongly about supporting this event due to the great opportunity for community involvement for their students and the fact that this year’s beneficiary of the Festival of Trees was the Josh Pallotta Foundation, an organization that supports Veterans.
The groups closed out this year’s Festival of Trees with performances that featured the strengths of each ensemble. The BFA Jazz band featured a number of strong saxophone soloists including Freshman Devin Dale, Junior Wyatt Trombley, and Senior Isaac Ditch. They performed funk and rock charts as well as the seasonal favorite “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.
The MVU Jazz Band put together a program entirely comprised of holiday/seasonal favorites including a Calypso version of Deck the Halls, Hot Chocolate (from the “Polar Express”), and a lovely version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” that featured tenor saxophonist Asher Nester and trumpeter Amelia Partlow.
When asked about putting a group together for this event Bushey said “It is wonderful to showcase our talented students in a venue outside of school. When we do events like the Festival of Trees the wider community gets a sense of what is going on in the arts at BFA. It also gives the students a chance to have an additional performance and add their talents to something that benefits the greater good like this year’s beneficiary, the Josh Pallotta Foundation.”
Garceau said: “In these post-Covid times especially it’s important to get both kids and adults out into their community and engaging the public in positive ways. Coming together to perform music for people other than their own parents will create lasting memories not only for these young musicians but also for an audience excited to welcome in the holiday season.”
The BFA Jazz Band’s next performance will be at the 3rd Annual Academy Fine Arts Night on Tuesday, December 19th. The MVU Jazz Band will be featured at their High School and Alumni Concert at 6:30PM, also on Tuesday the 19th of December.
Arleigh Young, the event organizer, reached out to BFA director Eric Bushey and MVU director Aron Garceau in the early Fall to start organizing this event. Although December is a very busy time of year for school music both Bushey and Garceau felt strongly about supporting this event due to the great opportunity for community involvement for their students and the fact that this year’s beneficiary of the Festival of Trees was the Josh Pallotta Foundation, an organization that supports Veterans.
The groups closed out this year’s Festival of Trees with performances that featured the strengths of each ensemble. The BFA Jazz band featured a number of strong saxophone soloists including Freshman Devin Dale, Junior Wyatt Trombley, and Senior Isaac Ditch. They performed funk and rock charts as well as the seasonal favorite “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.
The MVU Jazz Band put together a program entirely comprised of holiday/seasonal favorites including a Calypso version of Deck the Halls, Hot Chocolate (from the “Polar Express”), and a lovely version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” that featured tenor saxophonist Asher Nester and trumpeter Amelia Partlow.
When asked about putting a group together for this event Bushey said “It is wonderful to showcase our talented students in a venue outside of school. When we do events like the Festival of Trees the wider community gets a sense of what is going on in the arts at BFA. It also gives the students a chance to have an additional performance and add their talents to something that benefits the greater good like this year’s beneficiary, the Josh Pallotta Foundation.”
Garceau said: “In these post-Covid times especially it’s important to get both kids and adults out into their community and engaging the public in positive ways. Coming together to perform music for people other than their own parents will create lasting memories not only for these young musicians but also for an audience excited to welcome in the holiday season.”
The BFA Jazz Band’s next performance will be at the 3rd Annual Academy Fine Arts Night on Tuesday, December 19th. The MVU Jazz Band will be featured at their High School and Alumni Concert at 6:30PM, also on Tuesday the 19th of December.
MVU Jazz Ensemble (photo courtesy of Eric Bushey)
BFA Jazz Ensemble. (Photo courtesy of Heather Dunigan)
Congratulations
Alex Carter and Brady Cutting!!
Brady Cutting (#5): 1st-Team All-Metro Selection
Mona Garone Sportsmanship
Banner Presentation!
On November 30, 2023, BFA Varsity Bobwhite and Comet players and coaches were presented with the Mona Garone Sportsmanship Banner as a follow-up to last spring's award presentation. The banner was presented by Mike Boulerice and Glenn Sjoblom from the VT IAABO Basketball Officials Association which was an amazing start to the winter sports season!
13th Annual Running of the Bells
BFA Student Council represented The Academy at the 13th Annual Running of the Bells at Taylor Park on Thursday 12/7. Our Green and Gold elves danced with the Bobwhite under the holiday lights in Taylor Park, then walked or ran to the jingling of bells. This event raises money for The United Way of Northern Vermont and Franklin County Animal Rescue.
Bobwhites!
Career Connections
BFA and NCTC hosted a career connections presentation with Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation. During the presentation representatives from the company discussed job types in the organization, typical responsibilities of the different job types, and what makes a good job candidate/employee. They covered what kind of opportunities are available for high school students, recent graduates, as well as individuals who have experience in the field.
Guidance Department News
Hello 9th Grade Parents/Guardians,
This week during your students science class the school counseling office rolled out course registration for the 2024-25 school year. Each student has a red folder with the information necessary to make their course requests.
Course request forms can also be found on the Guidance website.
I
f your student was absent they should make an appointment with their counselor.
Elaine Archambault
- Your student has 2 weeks to make any changes to their requests in their powerschool account under class registration
Thank you for checking in with your student to ensure this process is complete and we are able to give your students their fall schedules before the end of this school year.
Thank you and be well,
Guidance Director
BFA St. Albans
802-527-6572
Health News
COVID Update
Quick guide: COVID-19 isolation guidance for most people in the school community:
- Isolate away from others as best as possible for 5 days.
- Day 0 is the day the first symptoms started (or the day of a positive test if no symptoms)
- On day 6 individuals should consider returning to school if:
- They have been fever-free for 24hrs
AND
- Other symptoms have improved or are improving
AND
- They feel well enough to participate
If those criteria are not met, individuals should consider isolating for a few more days until they are ready to return to school.
Below are links to the full guidance.
https://www.healthvermont.gov/
https://www.cdc.gov/
Jay Peak Info
Jay Peak discounted tickets and season passes for BFA Students and staff 2023-2024!
December Enrichment Menu
Save the Dates
Winter Dance Performance
December 14th, 6 pm
Fine Arts Night
December 19th, 4 - 8 pm
2nd Annual BFA Staff Makers Market
December 20th, 3 pm
