What’s new in Vail Valley schools?

EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado – With most of the valley’s private schools back in session, students and parents may be wondering what the school year will bring.

Read on to see what’s new at the local private schools this year.

Vail Christian High School, Edwards: The school is expanding its “advanced placement for all” program. Students in any grade who sign up for social science or history courses will be required to take the AP version. Previously, students had a choice between an AP or regular classes.

In the sports realm, the new boys’ golf team has been competing with other schools on the Western Slope.

Also new this year, the school hopes to go international. School leaders plan to visit Beijing, China, in hopes of recruiting Chinese students who are interested in a Western education. If all goes well, international students from China could start attending classes at Vail Christian as soon as the second semester of this school year. School officials hope to enroll a number of international students for the 2011-12 school year. If enough international students sign up for the program, the Chinese state department might supply a bilingual teacher for Vail Christian High School. The teacher could offer a Mandarin Chinese course.

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Vail Mountain School, Vail: The school is piloting a new program with sophomores called “Intraterm.” The weeklong program should take place in late November or early December. Students can choose a specific subject of study to enrich the curriculum and spark the student’s curiosity. The teachers will offer a variety of courses including academic, experiential, ethical and emotional components. In addition, Vail Mountain School has hired eight new staff members including: Sharon Schmidt, director of development; fifth-grade teacher Jaime Kellogg, math teachers Hilary Frenette and Tanya Tanner; science teacher Gabrielle Scherzer; science and math teacher Kelly Boswell and college counselor Marisa Ferrara. Liana Sideli will develop skiing and outdoor programs.

The Vail Academy, Avon: The Vail Church has taken over the school’s pre-kindergarten program. The church added a daycare for toddlers and infants. Also, The Vail Academy has enrolled about 10 students from Summit County. They had previously attended a small Christian elementary school in Summit County that closed.

This year’s theme for the Outdoor Odyssey program is “living waters.” Students in grades five through eight will participate in a two-day kayak and stand-up paddling class this fall through Alpine Quest Sports in Edwards.

St. Clare of Assisi, Edwards: The school has a new assistant principal, Anne Verratti. Most recently Verratti taught advanced placement English for the Eagle County School District and college writing for the Colorado Mountain College.

Along with a new administrator, the school has a new math program for all grades called Progress in Mathematics. Also, seventh- and eighth-grade students will be using a new Prezi 3D interactive bulletin board to help prepare them for advanced placement courses in high school.

Finally, the school will be expanding its “Girl Genius” program for seventh- and eighth-grade girls. The school will hold two retreats at the school this year instead of one. The program highlights examples of great thinking women. It emphasizes that girls can be smart and disputes images in the media that suggest a woman’s value is based solely on her looks.