We believe NAHA is an exceptional program because academics are central to our mission. We hold academics as a priority over athletics; but at the same time, our hockey program is one of the strongest and most unique programs in all of North America. It is a very personal program in which each student receives a great deal of one on one attention, both in the classroom and on the ice.

The North American Hockey Academy uses small teacher to student class ratios (often 1:1).  Our "traditional/seasonal" school year runs from mid-October to early March.  We also offer a Full-Year Option, where students are enrolled at NAHA for the entire year, board here, and graduate from here. For more information on this program: click Full-Year Option. Our school is fully recognized by the Vermont State Board of Education as a private high school. We are presently finishing the 2 year process for national accreditation.  Students either use the curricula sent from their home schools, or follow our NCAA-approved curriculum, whatever works best for their particular situation (full year students follow our own curriculum). We maintain regular communication with the teachers and advisors at the home schools and siwth parents, to ensure all school and NCAA requirements are met. A "B" average or higher must be maintained in a student's course work, as well as a positive attitude in the classroom and on the ice.

The North American Hockey Academy's program has the support of the leading coaches in the sport of women's hockey. We measure our success not by our team's won-lost record, but by our record of 100% admissions to colleges after completion of our program. Our experience, combined with our outstanding faculty and hockey staff combines the best resources to provide our students with an extraordinary athletic and academic experience.

If you would like to visit us, meet our staff, talk with players and experience the Academy setting, please give us a call to arrange a visit..

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PHILOSOPHY

The North American Hockey Academy provides an environment where young student-athletes are challenged to seek their personal best. The mission of this high performance program is to provide an experience that focuses on the mental, physical and emotional development of the athlete.

At the Academy, our athletes are challenged to learn, grow, and improve themselves in all aspects of their lives. Our faculty and staff understand the challenges our athletes encounter and provide unparalleled support in each athlete's growth and development. This philosophy of challenge and support is the underpinning of everything we do.

The objectives of the North American Hockey Academy are to provide an alternative route for elite female hockey players to receive an excellent education while participating in a high performance hockey program. The goal is to assist each student-athlete to excel academically and athletically, developing the best possible college candidates.

The North American Hockey Academy's "traditional/seasonal" program operates approximately five months, giving young athletes and their parents a viable option to full-year programs. In this way, students may live at home for approximately half the school year, attend their local school and compete on equal ground with prep school hockey players while maintaining a high standard of education. As described above, we also offer a full school-year program that runs from September to May.  The goal is for each student to have an outstanding and individualized experience in both their academic and athletic programs.

The North American Hockey Academy provides a small group setting for students and follows either the curriculum of the student's sending school. or our own curriculum. This setting allows for a much broader and deeper coverage of subject matter and all students are encouraged to take an active role in decisions about subject matter. To compliment the small classes, students are brought together for presentations, speaking assignments, foreign language development, problem solving and peer critiquing. It is the goal of the North American Hockey Academy that through this program students will have a better understanding of their subjects, will become more responsible in their education, have a good handle on time management and self-discipline, and will be improved students upon return to their sending school. We believe our students are well prepared for the independent learning situations they will face at college.

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ACADEMIC DIRECTOR

Scott Harrower is our Principal at NAHA. Scott can be reached at:

802-253-2627

scott@winter-hawks.org

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THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM

The environment at the NAHA encourages student-athletes to seek excellence in all facets of life.

We work with each student-athlete and the faculty and staff to insure that the quality of her education is excellent and coordinated with her home school. This allows her to re-enter her school at, or in some cases, ahead of her peers in the spring. Often a school that has not had previous experience with this type of program will have questions, which is natural and desirable. Once they understand our program, its flexibility and our desire to work with each school to make it efficient for their teachers while assisting one of their students to reach for her goals, we develop an excellent relationship. For the full-year students, we believe we do an outstanding job of replicating the college situation, and work with students to develop independence, time management, and study skills that they will need in their post-secondary studies.

While here, students experience a different style of learning. Students adjust to the small class sizes, then excel. Our teachers are experienced in working with students individually. The academic day is divided into six-45 minute periods. Core classes meet three times a week, and math and science often meet four times. If a student needs extra help, extra sessions are scheduled. This format works with all high school level courses including honors, and AP and IB courses.

One-on-one learning is a fantastic experience for a high school student. Often it makes learning fun! Marks improve in this environment, and students are challenged. It can excite a student about learning for life.

NAHA is also proud to collaborate with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to be able to offer National Honor Society membership to our eligible students.  The Madeleine M. Kunin Chapter of NHS, named after the first female Governor of Vermont (now the US Ambassador to Switzerland), is a fully recognized chapter of NHS.  Students are determined academically eligible at the conclusion of their first semester, and those names are brought forth to the Faculty Council, who then rates candidates on their Character, Scholarship, Leadership and Service.  The induction ceremony is typically held in early February. 

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NAHA FACULTY

Vermont is an area rich with outstanding educators and fine educational institutions. In the New England tradition, private and public schools co-exist, providing great opportunities for those who teach and study here. To that end, each year NAHA secures an impressive collection of educators with a variety of teaching experiences in their rich backgrounds, to include former and present public and private school administrators and teachers, business owners, scientists, artists and recent college graduates. The core of the NAHA faculty returns each year, but because of the nature of our students' educational diversities and requirements, each year it is also necessary to secure educators that specialize in a particular subject that might be "one of a kind" for a student or students. These professionals ensure that every aspect of a student's education is addressed to ensure a smooth transition both from the sending school in October, and return to the sending school in March. NAHA teachers regularly correspond with their counterparts at the sending schools to ensure compatibility and coordination between the schools. Once back home, girls often comment on the high quality of the education they have received while at NAHA . Below is an alphabetical list of the present faculty, and their credentials, as well as links to their emails.

Ida Mae Anderson: English;

B.S.--University of Vermont; M.S.--St. Michael's College
Huntly Armbruster: Science/Health;

B.A.--Western State College of Colorado
Kimberley Beneduce: Sociology;

B.A.--Northeastern University

Roland Bergeron: French, Spanish; 

B.A.--Assumption College; M.A.T.--Assumption College
Valerie D. Bluhm: Mathematics;

B.A.--SUNY Oneonta; Professional Studies; M.S.--SUNY Albany
Melissa M. Cassidy: Science;

B.S.--University of Rhode Island
Daniel Cohen: English/Spanish;

B.A.--Columbia University; M.A.--University of Rochester
Marlene Davison: Social Studies;

B.S.--University of Vermont

Jesse Driscoll: Computer Science, Psychology;

B.A.--St. Anselm's College
William Driscoll: Physical Education;

B.A.--Colby College

Mary Fagan: Science; B.S.--University of Connecticut;

M.A.--University of Connecticut

Harvest Ficker: Spanish;

B.A.--Middlebury College

Morna Flaum: English;

B.F.A.--Emerson College    
Anthony Geraci: Music;

B.M.--Berklee College of Music

Jenny Grosvenor: English, Psychology

B.A.-- Smith College

M.F.A.--Teachers' College of Columbia University

Scott Harrower: Science/Math;

B.S.--University of Vermont; B.A.--Goddard College

David Helprin: English;

B.A.--Williams College; Certificat d'Etudes Francaises premier degre' Universite' de Grenoble; M.S.--Western Connecticut University

Rebecca Irvine:  Mathematics

B.S.--Colgate University

Andrea Jones: English;

B.A.--St. Michael's College

Kirk Jones: Math/Science;

B.S.--Bucknell University
Linda Kristin: Social Studies;

B.A.--William Smith College; M.A.--Boston University
Andrew Leader: Mathematics;

A.B.--Amherst College; M.A.--University of Vermont

Ted Kulik: English, Social Studies;

B.A. & B.Ed.--University of Prince Edward Island

Jamie Long:  Science;

B.A.--University of Colorado at Boulder

James Meade: Mathematics;

B.S.--Albright College

Joseph Milan: Physical Education,

B.A.--University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Jay Morris: Administration;

A.S.--Champlain College; B.S.--University of Vermont; M.Ed.--Trinity College; Ph.D.--Berne University
Lindsay Peet: Science, Social Studies;

B.S.--Trinity Collegee

Ray Ostrander: Social Studies;

B.S.--Towson College
Christopher J. Roncarati: Art;

B.F.A.--Johnson State College

Sarah Tayloe: Social Studies;

B.L.A.--Johnson State College
Pat Wieja: English;

B.S.--University of Dayton; M.A.--Oxford-Brookes University
Bruce Wilder: Mathematics;

B.S.--Bob Jones University; M.A.--St. Michael's College

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