Big Picture South Burlington

550 Dorset St. South Burlington, VT 05403    802-652-7000   contact us         

Big Picture South Burlington is an innovative school-within-a-school, serving students who are looking for more meaning in their high school education. Students work with faculty to design their own individualized curriculum based on their passions, skills, and goals. Students learn through internships, independent projects, workshops, travel, and group experiences. At Big Picture we believe that education is everyone’s business. Learning opportunities are everywhere, not just inside classrooms. Research tells us that we learn best when we’re personally motivated. When we have a passion for what we are doing, knowledge unfolds and evolves naturally.

Read more about us
Check out our informational Big Picture Brochure

Join the Big Picture South Burlington Team, VT as an Americorps VISTA

Do you want to help high school students realize their dreams?  Do you want to create a radically different model for school that is centered around students as unique individuals?

See more information HERE…

“Big Picture saved my passion for learning. Before coming here I had no drive for coming to school and sitting in a classroom every day. I didn’t think much of what I was being taught. But now I love learning in everything I do.”

Read the rest of her profile HERE!

This week is AmeriCorps week!… a nationally recognized week dedicated to sharing information and stories related to AmeriCorps service. My name is Hannah Valian and I’m the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) member serving at Big Picture South Burlington. I grew up in Colorado where I attended an Expeditionary High School which inspired my passion for non traditional education. I applied for the VISTA position at BPSB after graduating with an English-Film Studies degree from the University of Colorado at Denver. Although my lack of experience working with High School students made my position extremely challenging at first, I could not be happier to be a part of this community. I’ve come to recognize that the most challenging experiences in life are the ones you learn the most from. Here at Big Picture, I have grown both professionally and personally as I am consistently inspired by both the students and the staff. Being an AmeriCorps VISTA has helped me recognize the importance of service in my community and that passion for helping others is something I will carry with me after my service year is complete.

For more information about AmeriCorps… click HERE.

If you’d like to see what other Vermont AmeriCorps members are up to… visit the VYT Homepage or check out our Newsletter.

We now have more info. available regarding our Proficiency Based Graduation Requirements (PBGRs). “Simply put, a proficiency-based diploma is a graduation decision based on students demonstrating what they have learned. In practice, it means that every student must show—by writing a paper, delivering a presentation, or completing a challenging project, for example—that they have acquired a minimum level of proficiency and competence when it comes to mastering the essential knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college, work, and life.”
Visit our Graduating with PBGRs page for more info!
We have also added a page called Big Picture and College for information about post high school planning.

Dear educators and/or friends of educators,
Big Picture South Burlington is looking for interested educators to teach a one week long intensive course with our students. “Explore Week” is May 21-25. We are looking for a science expert, someone with artistic expertise, and would love any other suggestions. We are looking for a variety of subjects to offer students. We hope to offer 3 or 4 options which means they will be in groups of 5-7 students. We would love for students to get out of the building and doing hands on learning as part of this week. You would be responsible for the students the entire day (8:40am-3:20pm) all 5 days. Teachers will receive a small compensation and a great addition to their resume! Please email program coordinator Jason Cushner (jason(at)bigpicturesb.net) and VISTA member Hannah Valian (hannah(at)bigpicturesb.net) if you are interested. Thanks!

The deadline for submitting your application to Big Picture for the 2012-2013 year is February 13th! Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after this date. Please visit our upcoming admissions events to sign-up for a shadow day (Feb. 10 or March 14). Please also visit this page to let us know if you will be attending our Exhibition Evening Event on February 1st.

Six students will be accompanying advisor Jim Shields to Nicaragua for a 10 day service learning trip… they leave today! Follow their trip blog here….

Our January 2012 Big Picture Newsletter is out!
In this issue:

• A note from program coordinator Jason Cushner
• Service After Irene
• Orientation Term Revisited
• Meet the New BP Staff
• Student LTI Experiences
• Student Work: Brittany Manos “This I Believe”
• What’s Next at BP?