Vermont Teens Keep School Spirit Alive With Events From Home 

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• Courtesy Photo
• From left: Kaitlyn Little, Sydney Adreon and Jasmine Little on school spirit day

Just because school's closed doesn't mean you can't be there in spirit.

That's the thinking behind three Vergennes teens' plan to invite students around the state — and country — to participate in a modified spirit week from the comfort of their homes.

Sisters Kaitlyn and Jasmine Little and their friend Sydney Adreon created a Facebook group, #vtwegotthis, and encouraged followers to dress for a different daily theme beginning on Monday: school colors, favorite holiday, sports or hobby, throwback Thursday and formal Friday.

The trio came up with the idea last week, shortly after Gov. Phil Scott announced that schools wouldn't reopen for the remainder of the academic year.

"All we were talking about was the fact that we had no school. What's going to go on? It's going to be kind of chaotic," 16-year-old Kaitlyn said. "And then the next day, we thought about trying to come up with a fun idea, 'cause we're all stuck at home!"

The Littles go to Vergennes Union High School; Adreon, 15, goes to Rice Memorial High School. All three have been living together — with their parents — during the governor's stay-at-home order. 

While they're bummed that sports have been canceled for the spring season, they're grateful — for the most part — to be riding out the pandemic together.

"I love these girls, but sometimes, we need a break from each other," Adreon said with a laugh.

The page boasts more than 500 members, adults and children alike, who have been posting photos of themselves dressed up or doing something creative and fun. Each day, the girls put out calls for members to participate in a challenge, such as playing games with family or writing hopeful messages in chalk outside of their houses.

People are grateful for an outlet, the girls said.

"As we say, the page is a pulse on the positive," Jasmine, 15, said. "It's to accentuate things that make us happy and united."