Student Comments
KIMBERLEE TAVARES
It all started back four years ago when I was eighteen years of age. I was attending PVMHS in Peabody Massachusetts, when I made some very bad choices due to what was going on in my life.
I had made the choice to move out of my Dad's house due to a misunderstanding between us. That was my first mistake. Then as I was eighteen years of age and bouncing from friend's house to homeless shelters and back again. That was the lowest point in my life where I knew there was no hope. I felt abandoned by everyone. I was always in trouble no matter where I went. I was living with my boyfriend and his family when I knew this wasn't the life I really wanted. I wanted a change, I was craving it so badly. I decided to call my Mom and that's when my Aunt drove me to my Mom's house and the change I had been longing for was finally coming.
I was with my Mom for two weeks and found my first place. It was amazing, but still something was missing. I still felt empty inside.
That's when I met Virginia Ricker, my fiancé's sister and she told me about the NCCA program. The more she told me the more I craved to be part of the program. She took me there to meet everyone to see if it was the program for me. Everyone was very nice and very understanding towards my situation, that I knew it was the program for me.
I know if it wasn't for the NCCA being there for me, working with me, I would still have that empty feeling. This program has given me what I have been waiting for a long time.
NCCA is a very successful program, just look what they have accomplished in the past four years.
SAMUEL GONYER
At first I did not want to attend graduation, let alone present a speech. It was partially because it would mean that I had left one of the greatest schools I have ever attended, and the rest of it was because they were going to make me wear a dress. As you can see they won!!!
It's not so bad, I am happy I came. Seriously, this is one of the best and caring schools I've seen. It causes me great pangs of sorrow, to know that it could end at any minute. I was pleased to discover that they will be reopening next year, but what about the year after that, nobody knows. This place is the only reason I am standing before you today or am around at all. Before I came here, I was a train wreck.
The Charter Academy is the only thing around here for students who are not capable of completing school in a public setting and to earn a diploma and not a GED.
Though no one can predict the future, I sincerely hope that the Charter School stays open and active for many years to come. Who knows perhaps someday they will become the normal schools. One can only dream.
They successfully turned my academic career around. When I came here I didn't even think that I would graduate and now I am looking into colleges.
SETH FLINT
First of all I want to start out by thanking Jesus. I would still be lost if it wasn't for him. Next I want to thank two very special people to me Mr. Bisson and Mr. Forestall. Thank you very much both of you! I love you guys and I appreciate you very much! Keep on doing what you're doing even when it gets hard. That's how I know you care. The more I think about it the more I realize that you believed in me through all the hard times I gave you. So when students are talking negative about you just remember discipline pays off! You have helped one of the worst and I appreciate you for it. I thank god for you always! I also want to thank all the teachers that believed in me though the years. Thank you all.
Next I want to thank the charter school for the opportunity to finish high school. It is a great program and I am very thankful for it. I also want to thank my pastor.
Pastor Joey Roberts for mentoring me and helping me make the decision to go to this school. Thanks pastor for every thing.
Last but not least I want to thank my family! I thank you all and love you more than words can describe. Thank you so much for sticking with me through all the good and bad. Thank you for loving me even when I didn't want to be loved. And thank you for being there, even when I didn't want you. I love you all.
Congratulations to the class of 2008!
Letter from a parent
I am writing to you in regards to the North Country Charter Academy here in Littleton, N.H. My son is now a high school graduate thanks to that school and the staff at the Academy.
As a parent it was one of my dreams to watch my son graduate from high school. I often imagined how I would feel when he received his diploma, how proud I was of him. Unfortunately those dreams were shattered when he decided at the end of his junior year to drop out of high school for various reasons.
In the fall of that same year we decided to try home school correspondence courses in hopes of him still receiving his diploma. Although it worked better for him than being in a crowded classroom there were still issues to deal with. I worked full time and was not home to help him or encourage him to get his work done. In the evening when I was home there were always so many distractions or interruptions, like his friends would call or stop by when he was trying to complete his studies. Realizing how critical it was for his future that he graduate from high school, when the opportunity came for Corey to attend the North Country Charter Academy he jumped at the chance.
Reflecting on the last year I can honestly say it was probably the most exciting experience that we have ever had (or could of hoped for) in all the years that Corey attended school Not once did Corey ever come home complaining about school . He looked forward to going each and every day! I still can't believe all the positive changes that I saw in Corey after he started attending the Academy. In his old school his attendance was very poor and he was late for school more often than not. At the Academy he had nearly perfect attendance and was always on time. He seemed so much happier in general, always speaking very highly of everything and everyone at the Academy, but most of all the director, Lisa Lavoie and the Administrative Assistant Jennie Richardson. They believed in Corey and his self esteem soared! They motivated him in a way that no one else could, including myself and for that I will be forever grateful. You could not have picked a better staff to operate that school than Lisa Lavoie and Jennie Richardson. Those kids thrived under their guidance and leadership, as I know my son did. I have always believed that in order to succeed you have to be happy with where you are and what you are doing and I truly believe thanks to the encouragement, supportive staff and the environment at the Academy is what made it an enjoyable learning experience for all of the students.
I understand that the school is currently operating on a grant. I can only say that I hope that this school will be around for many years to come so that others will have the opportunity that we had to see their children graduate as well. Since the graduation so many people have approached my son, husband and me, commenting on "how great they thought the school was" and "how they wished there was a school like that when their children were in school".
In closing I want you to know how grateful I am to all involved who brought this school to our community and gave my son and all of the other students a chance to receive a quality education with a happy, supportive learning environment. I will continue to support (and I know many other will as well) the director, Lisa Lavoie, Jennie Richardson, the North Country Charter Academy and its students 100%. Thank you!