VAC’s KID’S QUEST Opens Its Doors!

The Vermont Achievement Center offers innovative and responsive programs in early education and child care, special education, family social services and intervention, as well as aqua therapy and water safety.  As VAC continues to serve children and families in a large array of areas, it is with great excitement and pleasure that we announce the opening of a new child care program, Kid’s Quest, located at PICO Ski Resort.  Kid’s Quest will provide the greater Killington community with a quality child care program (Monday through Friday 7:30-5:30 for ages 3 months to 3 years) and provide to ski resort families a quality child care experience (Thursday through Monday 8:30-3:45 ( for ages 3 months to 5 years) while vacationing.

VAC’s year round program for infants, toddlers, three to five year olds; and an expanded summer program for school age children 5 to 15 will bring together a mix of young children from the local community as well as resort children in an enriched developmentally appropriate learning environment.  Kid’s Quest will promote independence, self-esteem and growth in the areas of motor skills, language development, play skills and social competency through a wide range of hands on activities and experiences.

VAC is excited to be working with PICO Ski resort on ski programming for children under four.  In our introductory program, staff will familiarize children with ski equipment and the basic ski/snowboarding skills.  It’s a great head start until they can join the Mini Stars program offered by PICO.

For more information, or to make a contribution in support of the KID’S QUEST program, please call Kerri Rappaport or Christina Mattsson @ (802) 775-5100.

The Vermont Achievement Center is a non-profit organization located in Rutland.  VAC has been serving children and families throughout Vermont since 1937.  VAC programs have touched the lives of more than 7,000 children and families.  VAC - because when families thrive, communities succeed.

VAC STUDENTS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AS O AMBASSADORS

Innovative program encourages youth to become active global citizens

Rutland, Vermont, January 2008 – Students at Vermont Achievement Center’s Sheldon Academy and Fay Honey Knopp School are participating in the O Ambassadors program, a joint project of Oprah's Angel Network and Free The Children. These students are working towards the UN Millennium Development Goals, learning about global issues and making a tangible difference in the lives of their peers in the developing world.

They are part of a network of O Ambassadors clubs across North America that are working to find solutions to global challenges through active learning, idea-sharing and taking action. Through this program, youth in North America have the unique opportunity to develop leadership skills and become active and compassionate global citizens.

The students from VAC’s Sheldon Academy belong to a very small school setting, but are very excited about making a difference, not only within their local community, but in their global community.  Fay Honey Knopp School students are residential school students who are dedicating their time, effort and studies to learning about the world’s challenges and what impact they can have upon them as well.  “We are so excited to be a part of the O Ambassadors program and I really would like to see the students be able to see that there are many challenges in this world to overcome and that they can feel better about their own challenges, if they help others out in the broader world” said Beth Merrill, Director of Education at Vermont Achievement Center.  “There are so many issues in our world that need our attention and we’re ready to show that youth in Rutland care and want to make a difference in our world.  It doesn’t matter how small your school is, students can still help others and get so much more back in return as they continue to overcome their own challenges in life” continued Merrill.

Throughout the year, the Vermont Achievement Center O Ambassadors Club will raise awareness about the importance of a holistic approach to development by focusing on the Millennium Development Goals. Every two months the club will focus on a different theme (poverty, education, health and sustainable development) in their assigned country and organize fundraising and awareness-raising events for their school with the help of posters, how-to guides, regional guides and an Educator binder (with curricula).

The funds raised by students at Vermont Achievement Center will go towards holistic development projects in East Africa, West Africa, South Asia, East Asia and Latin America. Clubs have the opportunity to choose the world regions they would like to research and support. These projects provide local children and their families with the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty. All projects will be carried out in partnership with local communities.  VAC has chosen West Africa as their region of support.   At this time they have chosen a modest goal of raising $300.00 and are hoping to gain a great deal of awareness, develop West Africa’s hopes and dreams as well as their own.  If you would like to help us in any way feel free to contact us.

For more information, please visit www.oambassadors.org.

Beth Merrill, Director of Education, Vermont Achievement Center

802-775-2395 ext. 611 Cell: 802-345-4925, bmerrillvac@gmail.com

VAC Receives Life-Saving AED’s

The Vermont Achievement Center recently received 2 Cardiac Science Powerheart AED G3 Automatics and accessory items from the Vermont Store Fixture Corporation. The Automatic External Defibrillators, which deliver life-saving defibrillation therapy, have been strategically placed at VAC to help insure the safety of our staff, volunteers and the many children and adults that we serve daily.
 

“The importance of an AED in an organization like VAC that serves so many children and adults is paramount and can mean the difference of saving a life”, says Kathy Corey, Director of the Mitchell Therapy Pool. “We certainly appreciate the generosity and assistance of the Vermont Store Fixture Corporation for making this possible.”