December 1791 Letter

December 2009

MS Musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!”

1791 Letter ~ December 2009

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Recently I spoke to the Upper School students about my somewhat neurotic obsession with stereotypes and assumptions. I admitted that this remains a topic that has consumed me as a student and as an educator in many ways. The ways in which human beings cyclically attempt to organize and group people has always amazed and haunted me. Certainly, I am far from innocent when considering this fundamentally human trait, and I have often wrestled with the undeniable truth that stereotypes often can originate from some particularly painful grain of truth.

I spoke about my college experience while at an undergraduate college that I continue to admire and respect in so many ways. As someone who worked hard to cross boundaries between the realms of academics, athletics, and music, some were quick to label me with euphemistic phrases such as “renaissance man;” or, perhaps my high school teachers could claim that I was the product of an effective “whole child” educational approach.

I like to think that was all true to some extent, but I know that I was also a guilty chameleon at times. I learned how to slide in an out of the groups to which I belonged: football player, jazz musician, creative writer, and economist, not to mention New England prep school alumni. At 6’ 5”and 255 pounds at the time, I found that assumptions were made about me with shocking ease and regularity, even though, as an upper middle class white male, I was technically as far from being a “minority” as I could possibly be. Assumptions were omnipresent about my intelligence, my political beliefs, and my career aspirations.

Many seemed to assume that I was 2

predestined to pursue a career path laced with abundant financial gains, as was the case for many of my peers. The assumptions felt so omnipresent that there were many times when I began to question myself on these issues.

Berwick Academy is no utopia, and we have no panacea for the cliques, assumptions, and groups that may permeate this campus or any other. But, I believe that our students and adults exist on this Hilltop in a world that is decidedly less vulnerable to these typical teenage traps. Our community is founded on relationships, and we do know each other. We seem to know each other’s hopes, dreams, and latest passion or interest.

We know that our most exceptional athletes are passionate about physics.

We know that our most talented dancers are obsessed with novels. We know that our teachers are also artists, musicians, mothers, daughters, sons, and friends outside of school. The intimacy that permeates the Berwick experience allows people to carve their identity through a constant process of stretching, reflecting, and evolving.

Our students seemingly understand and respect their pasts while pushing towards their yet, unwritten futures.

Having been here three years, I feel more certain than ever that our students do not have to fit into a box to be happy, successful, and validated as members of this community. I think that teachers choose to enter our classrooms, at least in part, because they fundamentally believe that young people can change and grow. We meet them where they are, with the knowledge that kids evolve through phases and inevitably 1791 Letter ~December 2009

redefine themselves. Perhaps this has been no more evident for me than it is during the weeks leading up to our graduation ceremonies, where a number of dinners, trivia gatherings, and ceremonies reveal the breadth and complexity of the personalities that make up a “typical” senior class. While I would never suggest that every senior here is the best of friends, I would suggest that there is a special mutual appreciation and respect that evolves at Berwick Academy for the differences that emerge among peers. While our graduates are often bombarded with far more difference when they enter college communities, I also think they are sometimes perplexed by why the infusion of difference creates as much conflict and tension as seems to be the case in many of those environments.

Perhaps this centers on the challenge of larger communities to know their own in such an appreciative way.

What I love about the particular K-12 viewpoint of my own position is that I teach eighth graders, where the social groups feel more tightly wound. I know that these groups begin to emerge in the later Lower School years for sure. But, I also have the pleasure of seeing how our students come to appreciate that our differences make us stronger. Perhaps more importantly, they come to realize that the assumptions they have held about particular teachers, students, or groups are often turned upside down by the time they graduate.

I closed my speech to the Upper School by urging our current students and soon-to-be graduates to continue seeking out and breaking down the boundaries that they face

every day. I want them to work hard at making it difficult for others to define them. Furthermore, I believe one should never allow someone else to define him/her passively. Our students are in charge of their own identities, and I want them to use the supportive environment we have in place at this school to explore that sense of voice, purpose, and self before they launch into their particular college choice. It is this evolving journey that we provide our students that I believe, affords them with a moral compass, allowing them to navigate the inherent murkiness that awaits them in their twenties. Although they will continue to grow and evolve during that exciting phase as well, I want them to leave with an informed sense of what it will ultimately mean to be true to themselves.

H1N1 Clinic Success I wanted to thank our staff, parents, and teachers for all the help with our recent successful H1N1 clinic where over 200 Berwick students received vaccinations. Linda Gill, Cindy Briggs, and Ruth Rioux deserve particular thanks for the organizational efforts, and our parent volunteers were phenomenal as well.

Winter Concerts We have just completed an incredible triumvirate of winter concerts in the Middle and Upper Schools. A number of new staff members participated in these shows, making it a very exciting concert season. We offered a new symphonic band and an a cappella group in our Upper School, and we continue to build these programs for the future.

Winter Calendar and Exams: Winter vacation will begin for the Lower and Middle Schools at 3:00 on Wednesday, December 16. However, Upper School exams will go at least through December 17, and families

are reminded that December 18 will be a critical snow date for rescheduling exams if needed. Please plan to be present for these days as needed.

Warm Thanks to BAPA The campus looks festive with the generous gift of wreaths and poinsettias donated by our own parent association. Many thanks to all the “elves” who took time to make all the deliveries to staff and faculty and to our maintenance crew for hanging the lovely wreaths.

Parent Forum Reschedule Just an early heads-up that it will be necessary to switch the dates of our Upper and Lower School Forums in February for a number of reasons. The Lower School Parent Forum will now take place on February 16 at 7:00 p.m., and the Upper School Parent Forum will take place on Tuesday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m.

BA Hockey Night at the Whit January 7: We are excited to offer our first “BA Hockey Night at the Whit,” when both of our varsity hockey teams will play at the UNH Whittemore Center. We look forward to some great Berwick spirit and support at UNH that night.

BERWICK ACADEMY CAMPUS STORE

SHOP ONLINE! Start your holiday shopping early!

Offering a selection of products from the school store including sweatshirts, hats, mugs, and more.

Visit www.berwickacademy.org and click on the Berwick Store link.

Happy Holidays Perhaps most importantly, I want to wish our entire Berwick community a wonderful holiday break and holiday season with friends and family. We all have so much to be thankful for, and I hope that you are able to slow the pace down for a few days and take stock of how lucky we all are to be a part of this community.

Have a great break!

1791 Letter ~ December 2009

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Peter Saliba

My family and I have had the chance to live in some very different parts of the country, and our experiences have been very positive. Much of this success has to do with the axiom, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

And that certainly has been our motto living here in Maine. For example, we gave up our convertible from Southern California for a full-size pickup truck.

Having this truck has been nothing short of awesome, especially since it has enabled me to plow the driveway.

After all, what self-respecting Mainer pays to have someone plow their driveway?

Well, after two winters, I finally figured out that just about everybody pays someone else to plow their driveway. This is because plowing loses its glow pretty quickly. First, it is actually work even if you get to sit in your truck listening to NPR; and, second, it is not easy maneuvering an eight foot blade on the front of your vehicle. You tend to hit stuff (rocks, roots, front steps) pretty hard, and it bends important things. And, after our recent snow, I was dozing in bed early on a Saturday morning, dreading having to plow.

After a while I got up, put on the flannel, and went downstairs to get my coffee. As I looked outside, it was absolutely beautiful. The moon was full and setting to the west, and the sun was rising in all of its glory from the east. It was one of those mornings when the quality of light is stunning, and it is supposed to lift your spirits.

Unfortunately, I had a case of Scrooge with a dash of plow attitude which made me not the most positive person in the house.

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My kids were already outside celebrating the first major snow of the year, and as I came out the door, they all waved and remarked how awesome it was to finally have snow. They were laughing and having fun, already drenched from their time outside. I thought they were nuts, and knew that when April came they would just be miserable with a measly 2-inch snowfall. But I told myself, “they’re just kids,” and even reflected that I was once that way. They won’t like this snow in a few months, I thought.

before the first words came from my mouth. He had launched it directly at me, striking me mid-thigh. I stood there completely stunned for at least three seconds not knowing what to do. And, I know that Elmer had no idea what he was going to do because while he initially thought it was a pretty good idea to throw one my way, he now realized that he was going to be cleaning the cat litter for the next month. This moment had the potential to be pretty ugly, but in the end, it ended up being just what I needed.

I went over to the truck, started it up and got it lined up with the plow.

I tried to get the brackets into place, but it’s tough to do this with only one person, so it took me a while. After that debacle I couldn’t get the locking pins set, so I had to manually lift the blade, support it with some wood, and then wiggle the pins in place. This last job required that I get on my stomach under the front end of the truck which meant that I was cold and dirty. Once I had things in place, I got up from the ground, brushed myself off, and walked back to the rear of the truck to make sure that I had enough weight in the bed.

After the silence had ended, no harsh words were exchanged, nor was the wrath of the litter imposed.

Instead, Elmer apologized and I had the next thirty minutes in my truck to think. While I was going up and down the driveway, I thought about my pathetic attitude, and how I was already too darn old. Basically, my eight year old taught me a lesson about being joyful. In this situation, I forgot to enjoy the moment.

As I made my way back, one of my son’s (I’ll call him Elmer to protect his identity) walked from behind the truck with a big fat snowball in his hand, and an even bigger smile on his face. I immediately opened my mouth to deliver the message of how I was busy, that he needed to get out of the driveway lest I run him over, and that if he even thought about hitting me with that snowball that I would be angry.

It turned out that his snowball had passed the point of no return even 1791 Letter ~December 2009

I have to admit that i enjoyed this first plow of the season. This time around, I didn’t hit any rocks, roots, or front steps, and I was pretty proud of how clear the driveway was after I was done. I decided that I really enjoy plowing my driveway, and furthermore, you can’t be a real Mainer unless you plow your own driveway. Most importantly, my son had also reminded me to enjoy the moment, which I will keep with me as the rest of this month unfolds and hopefully longer. And, even more significant than my attitude shift and smile on my face as I got out of the truck, my mind was working overtime on how I was going to get even for that snowball to the leg….

It comes as no surprise to adults that the holiday season comes with more than a few burdens, and most of them with constraints upon one’s time.

And so it is that our children begin to take part in some of the stresses, as well.

Given enough time, that response to the winter holidays can easily turn into a life-long habit.

cards to soldiers they do not even know in Iraq and receive a thank you note from the commanding officer, the sense of connection to those women and men is built. None of the events above have found their way onto our curriculum maps, but they may as time goes on. We cannot ignore the impact that a united community has.

Our job as role models is to manage stress well. In an academic setting at a college preparatory school, that dance is rather tricky to manage gracefully, but we try. Indeed, with our current professional focus upon curriculum mapping, we are able to take a more focused view of the whole curriculum.

Curriculum includes both the written, strictly academic goals for learners along with some unwritten, but nonetheless compelling, pieces of the school experience. It is this unwritten part of the curriculum that distinguishes a school like Berwick from others. We are governed by a belief system and by our core values.

When the last formula for calculating the surface area of a cone has faded, the memory of the teacher, the class, the cohort of learners, and the season remain.

The deliberate setting of the Middle School Musical in the fall has been designed to integrate students of all ages towards a final goal. The winter and spring concerts place students formally on stage before an audience, albeit an adoring one. The efforts of faculty with respect to these events is to deliberately teach the skills of being a respectful audience member. Running up and down aisles during a performance in a theatre on Broadway would signal an event of catastrophic proportions. It simply is not done. It is equally unacceptable behavior here at school, which is why all performers are required to be seated in the theatre to watch and to support their classmates during a concert.

Coming to a commonly held value for performers and audience members takes time, but my wager is that no adult in the community would consider it necessary.

We never record the history of winners of the annual Turkey Bowl, but memories persist among the participants long after they leave Berwick. Our Secret Snowflake in December was started in order to foster service on the parts of students, and few will forget those distribution days at the Salvation Army when families pick up the gifts for their children along with food items. When students have written

Another unwritten, yet essential part of the curriculum is concern for others, and this manifests itself with doors being held open, with thanks from students at the end of class, or with the many signatures on a Get Well card that I received after my recent accident. It is impossible to gauge just how broad or how deeply felt the concern for others is, and because it is so hard to objectively measure, one 1791 Letter ~ December 2009

might dismiss it as irrelevant. Certainly, schools held to making “Adequate Yearly Progress” under the NCLB can scarcely afford the time and energy to consider those immeasurable aspects of school experience. Thankfully, Berwick continues its efforts to uphold the values that have brought each of us into this community and have held us here for a long time.

On a more mundane, but still important level, it is our plan to mail report cards on Wednesday, 23 December.

For students applying to boarding schools, we will send out completed packets of all recommendations and transcripts during the first week of January. The Middle School offices will be closed from 24 December until 4 January.

As December unfolds, I hope that our students will hold onto memories of the community events along with various formulae, verb conjugations, parts of speech, and the parts of a cell. I hope that our families find the welcome winter break as a time for reflection and relaxation. On behalf of the faculty, I send our very best wishes for a healthy and happy 2010.

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Slowing the pace within the Lower School in order to reflect on student progress and report cards is essential as we conclude the first semester. The narrative reports are written by the faculty in early- to mid-December and then submitted for my review. They are then mailed to families, with an anticipated mailing date of December 24—the same mailing date used by the other two divisions. Our approach gives faculty the opportunity to reflect on student observations and growth from September through December, and, of course, offers parents the opportunity to review their son’s or daughter’s first semester progress. The reports point to the collaborative work within the Lower School community and portray the progress that our students have made over the last four months.

Close communication between faculty and parents is an essential approach in our division. As faculty, we attempt to provide parents with a clear and complete picture of their child’s progress in academic and social/emotional areas. Clearly, every student is developing in his or her own unique manner, and it is our intention to articulate students’ strengths as well as to identify areas in which we need to provide greater emphasis and support in order for satisfactory progress to occur. Our ultimate goal is to develop confident and capable learners by way of our narrative comments and skills checklists. In the end, the reports represent one of the strongest examples of trust and care between school and home.

Lower School report cards 6

consist of both narrative and checklist sections. The homeroom report card format includes paragraphs that cover the various classroom subject areas.

The homeroom section also includes a social skills and work habits checklist involving four key areas:

both to the homeroom and unified arts curricular and/or newsletter attachment for information in this area. As a final note, the report cards also include the number of days that a student was absent or late to school for the first semester.

1) Treats others with respect 2) Exhibits attention 3) Follows classroom and school rules 4) Participates appropriately during classroom activities

I trust that these reports will provide a helpful analysis of student progress in the Lower School. I also hope that the upcoming winter vacation provides all of our Lower School families a time of togetherness and peace. Thank you for your support throughout the first semester and my best wishes as we approach the New Year!

The descriptors for the above social skills/work habits are as follows: 1) Achieving: Demonstrates consistent progress in performing this skill 2) Developing: Requires occasional support in performing this skill 3) Needs Improvement: Demonstrates insufficient progress in performing this skill Following the homeroom section, each unified arts teachers writes a paragraph description on student progress, while also rating the students on the final checklist item from above: Participates appropriately during classroom activities.

The report card does not contain a summary narrative of the curriculum for a given homeroom or unified arts subject area. Instead, that information can be found on the portal at your child’s grade level under the attachments section. Please refer 1791 Letter ~December 2009

Rob Quinn

A QUICK LOOK BACK AT THE FALL… Please join me in congratulating our golf team for their regular season and Tournament Championship. What a season they strung together—15-1 and finishing with a huge victory in the season-ending EIL Tournament. We also witnessed a girls’ cross-country third place finish in the New England Championship Race on our campus during grisly weather on Saturday, November 14. It was a spectacular moment watching our Middle School student Susannah Gray win the girls race. Congrats to those girls for putting together a memorable day. We also saw an impressive play-off run by our boys’ varsity soccer team. This resilient group gave our fans all they could handle on Kents Hill campus during an epic battle, ultimately winning in a shoot-out. They lost to the eventual champion Millbrook School in the semi finals and truly had a season to be remembered.

I would like to recognize a few groups of people for their hard work during the torrential rainy conditions of the weekend of our NESCAC crosscountry race. We had a tremendous turn out of volunteers.

Students, faculty, parents all came together and made the event successful.

I was truly amazed at how enthusiastic and welcoming our community was in extending themselves to over 20 schools that came to visit. I was honored to be associated with this group of people.

Thank you to all who participated.

The next group of hard working people I would like to thank is the Athletics Boosters. These amazing

people have stepped up and answered the call when asked to volunteer, time and time again. Starting with our soccer jamboree, then our golf tournament, and finally the Columbus Day weekend Seacoast United Girl’s Soccer Tournament. This group continues to work through the year as they plan upcoming events. We would be lost without their support.

on the following criteria, and selected players should demonstrate several of these characteristics.

• Game Performance • Integrity • Sportsmanship • Leadership • Dedication • Improvement • Hard Work

BA Hockey Night at the Whit We are excited to have our girls’ and boys’ varsity hockey teams play a double-header at the University of New Hampshire Whittemore Center on Thursday January 7. The girls’ game will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by the boys’ game at 7:30 p.m. The opponent will be the Tilton School for both games. We are striving for a great turnout for these games, hopefully creating a new tradition for winter.

Upper School Fall Sports Awards

“Top Dog” Athlete of the Week The Athlete of the Week recognition will begin for the winter 09-10 season. Coaches as well as teammates are encouraged to nominate a player that is deserving of the “Top Dog” recognition for their team. A female and male player will be chosen from the Upper School each week and will include varsity and junior varsity teams. Nominations should be turned in to Rob Quinn by Monday morning at 10 a.m. for the previous week’s games. Rob and the Athletic Department will determine the “Top Dogs” every week. The names of the selected players will be posted on the BA website athletics page by Thursday of the following week. Rob will announce the Upper School Athletes of the Week at the Thursday morning assembly. All nominations will be based 1791 Letter ~ December 2009

Varsity Girls Soccer MVP: Hannah Moran Coaches Award: Catie Wheeler J.V. #1 Girls Soccer MVP:Briana Bouchard Coaches Award: Halley Tower J.V. #2 Girls Soccer MVP: Carly Gill Coaches Award: Camden Carter Varsity Boys Soccer MVP: Jordan Sanford Coaches Award: Trestan Matel J.V. Boys Soccer MVP: Sam Hereford Coaches Award: Phil Hahn J.V. Field Hockey MVP: Shannon Farrell Coaches Award: Jamie Wilson Varsity Girls Cross Country MVP: Jenna Maddock Coaches Award: Katie MacFarlane Varsity Boys Cross Country MVP: Jim Maddock Coaches Award: Ben Muthig Varsity Golf MVP: Chris Atwood Coaches Award: Connor Haley

EIL All Stars: Boys Varsity Soccer: Ethan Hawes, Skyler Stern, Jordan Sanford: First team.

Tell White and Emerson Bilodeau: Honorable Mention Golf: Chris Atwood: First team.

Nick Saulnier and John Malloy: Honorable Mention Girls Varsity Soccer: Hannah Moran: First

continued on pg. 16...

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you gotta have Arts

DANCE Happy New Year! The Berwick Academy dancers will finish 2009 in style with many dancers in holiday performances throughout New England. Berwick’s own companies spread their holiday cheer with a wonderful performance at the retirement residence, Kittery Estates, performing choreography by Sasha Randall, Gina Hesse, and student choreographers Hayley Adams and Taryn Decker. The presentation was a success and we look forward to similar outreach events in the future. Individual classes held informal performances for friends and family to conclude the first semester, highlighting works in progress and compositional exercises.

The second semester is a full whirlwind of activity for the Berwick dancers. If selected by audition, dancers have the opportunity to perform on campus in the annual Winterfest for the Arts on January 22. Also, many dancers will perform during Blue and White week for the pep rally festivities on January 29.

Off-campus opportunities include a January 23 performance in South Portland, Maine, and the “Dance Premier Gala” at Plymouth State University on February 6.

Several of the Middle and Upper School dancers are actively involved in this year’s winter musical , The King and I. Rehearsals began in December and it is bound to be a fantastic performance of music, acting, and dance. Performances will be at 7:00 p.m. on February 26 and 27.

The second semester of the 8

year is always a big one for the dancers at Berwick because of the spring dance concert. This all-school performance occurs on April 30 and May 1. The theme this year is “Images and Words,” and several classes are already on their way with learning and executing choreography. All students enrolled in the dance program will take part in the performance, so please watch for detailed information about rehearsals and performances. As always, if you have any questions or would like any further information regarding the listed events, please contact Sasha Randall at srandall@berwickacademy.org MUSIC Maine District 1 Honors Music Festival The Maine District 1 Honors Music Festival will be held at Noble High School on January 22 and 23, 2010. The concert on Saturday afternoon will follow this schedule: Doors open at 2:30 3:00 - 4:00 Choral Concert Treble Choir Mixed Choir INTERMISSION 5:00 - 6:30 Instrumental Concert Orchestra Jazz Band Concert Band Skyler Stern, grade 12, will be concertmaster of the orchestra, and Justin Koppstein and Asher Siegel, grade 10, will also be in the ensemble.

Mary DePascale, grade 10, will be in the mixed choir.

York County Junior High Music Festival The following Middle School band students were selected to 1791 Letter ~December 2009

participate in the York County Junior High Music Festival, Honor Band: Noah Landis on trumpet and Chloe Schmir on flute. Also, Cora Ordway and Suzanna Borg will be participating in the York County Junior High Festival Orchestra. Finally, Sophia Urquhart, MacKenzie Levy and Eimile Bowden will participate in the chorus.

This year the festival will be held at the Kennebunk Middle School on February 5 and 6, 2010.

This festival is an “honors” festival and includes band, chorus, and orchestra. Participants come from all the junior high and middle schools in York County, Maine, and Bonny Eagle Middle School from Cumberland County. Each director is allowed to nominate 10% of his/her ensemble to participate in this festival.

Each school handles nominations a little differently. In nominating students to participate in the honor band, we look for those students who are solid players (not necessarily the best), committed to music and band, show interest in dayto-day rehearsals, have outstanding deportment, are willing to put in extra practice time and work on the music on their own, are dependable and indicate their interest in participating in the festival. Participants are selected from all the nominations at a meeting of the directors from the participating schools. Not all nominated students are selected to participate in the festival.

The York County Junior High Music Festival is a fun, educational and motivational experience. The continued on pg 16...

The Berwick Academy Upper School presents the

king

and

i

Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 27 at 7 p.m. ster ’s blockbu in te rs e m d nd Ham l be stage Rodgers a and I, wil g d in n K a e 6 h 2 musical, T aturday, February Arts dS Whipple in Friday an w ld a B histle Patricia my. “I W u,” e d a 27 in the c A k Berwic Know Yo Center at etting to “G ,” e Young n u T ” “Hello, l, u a Happy rf e d n g Wo d “Shall “Somethin ave Dreamed,” an H e musiLovers,” “I re but of few of th ic of e,” a ed class We Danc this belov ge. m o fr rs e cal sta cal numb can Musi ri e m A e th

The cast features Jo Fletcher a Leonowen sA s, F King, Crist rederick Diengott nna , as the ina Salvad or Tyler Mc Farland a as Lady Thiang, s the Kra Elizabeth lahome, Hopkins as Tu Haley as Lun Tha ptim, Connor , Henry as Princ e Young Fishbaugh Chululongkorn, Austin , as Louis Le Winters a s Sir Edw onowens, Nate ard Ramsa Merrow a y, Jane s Eliza, an dB as Captain reandàn Haley Orton.

Led by artistic director Liz-Anne Platt, music director Brenda LaForce, and assistant music director Seth Hurd ’90, more than 90 members of the BA community are at work on stage, behind the scenes, and in the orchestra to prepare this classic tale of East meets West. Faculty members Raegan Russell, Polly Davie, Sasha Randall and Brad Fletcher have assembled a large technical staff to meet the challenges of designing and constructing the elaborate scenery, lighting and costumes required for this production. Sasha Randall is also joined by her colleague Christine Bessette, as they choreograph the many dances, including the “Small House of Uncle Thomas Ballet,” inspired by the original Broadway staging, but with a unique and fresh BA interpretation.

Order your tickets today!

1791 Letter ~ December 2009

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The Berwick Academy Upper School presents

The King and I Friday February 26 and Saturday February 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Patricia Baldwin Whipple Arts Center

Ticket Order Form •

Reservations required – seats are assigned on a first-come basis.

•

Tickets must be pre-paid - please include cash or check payable to Berwick Academy.

•

Tickets are NOT mailed. Tickets will be held at the theatre and may be picked up one hour prior to the performance.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Name:______________________________

Number of student tickets at $4.00 each Number of adult tickets at $7.00 each Total number of tickets

_____ Cost ______ _____ Cost ______ _____ Total _____

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Name:_______________________________

Number of student tickets at $4.00 each Number of adult tickets at $7.00 each Total number of tickets

_____ Cost ______ _____ Cost ______ _____ Total _____

Please return to:

Louise Rouleau, Registrar Berwick Academy 31 Academy Street South Berwick, ME 03908

Please call Ms. Rouleau at 207-384-2164 ext. 2500 with any questions.

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1791 Letter ~December 2009

PRESIDENT’S NOTES I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. In November BAPA had a busy month with our Lower School Book Fair, the grade 5 trip to Lowell, a successful Open House, Middle School musical, and the grade 7 and 8 and Parent Socials. Whether you supported a fundraiser or found the time to volunteer, every contribution matters and helps BAPA build a sense of community. I want to thank everyone for their help over the last few months.

We could not do what we do without your support. I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday and a much deserved and relaxing winter break. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year. Get ready for an exciting 2010 on the Hilltop!

Poinsettia and Wreath Decorations Thanks to money raised at the Auction last year, BAPA was once again able to provide poinsettias for the faculty and staff. It is a great BAPA tradition that is so well received. A big thank you to Andrea Bristol, Katie Clark, Mary Towey, Pamela Oberg, Heather Kodzis, Rachel Whelton, and Diane Walker who helped me distribute the plants on campus. And, a special thank you to Kathy Keefe for driving me all over campus with the flats of plants. We had a great time!

Book Fair and Bake Sale The Lower School Book Fair and Bake Sale were a success, earning over $4000 to benefit the Katz Lower School Library. Many thanks to the Co Chairs Pamela Oberg and Beth Tykodi who worked so hard to make it a success. I also want to thank the

huge pool of volunteers who worked tirelessly to ensure the book fair went off without a hitch. Thanks also to the many parents and students who supported it by buying books from the book sale as well as treats from the bake sale.

BAPA Holiday Social We had a wonderful turnout for our BAPA Holiday Social on December 1. I want to thank Greg Schneider who came to speak to us about Accreditation and Curriculum Mapping. Thanks also to the many BAPA Board members who provided delicious treats for the event and to the parents who attended.

BAPA General Meeting Reminder Don’t miss the next BAPA General Meeting on January 12 at 8:30 a.m. in the Commons. We will vote on this year’s auction beneficiary and provide updates on BAPA activities and upcoming events. The annual class representative meetings with the division directors will start at 9:45 a.m. and the Head of School Luncheon for class representatives will follow at 11:30 a.m. in the Commons Lounge.

Class reps should look for their invitations in the mail and RSVP to their division coordinators by Monday, January 4. This is a great opportunity for class representatives to meet with their division director and discuss a variety of issues relevant to their child’s particular division to be discussed at the Division Forums in February.

The BAPA Nominating Committee is asking BAPA membership to vote on a change to Section IV of the BAPA By-Laws at the January 12, 2010 meeting. The current wording reads “The vote for acceptance shall 1791 Letter ~ December 2009

be held in May of each year,” and, the proposed wording is: “The vote for acceptance shall be held in April of each year.”

This change is being proposed in order to give incoming board members time at the end of the current year to affect a transfer of knowledge from the outgoing board members and to begin planning end-of-summer and beginning-of-school events in May and June. Please come to the January 12 meeting to vote.

The by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the meeting.

BAPA Board Openings for 2009-2010 The BAPA Board is looking ahead to next year.

If you are interested in getting involved in the BAPA leadership and would like to be considered for a position, please submit your name along with the position or positions in which you are interested, via e-mail at jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint. net or mail to the Academy, Attention: BAPA, by February 8, 2010. The openings for next year are: Middle School Coordinator, Upper School Coordinator, and Auction Chair(s).

Best- Jean Jarvis, President Jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint.net TREASURER’S REPORT November 30, 2009 Income: $4794.54 Net LS Book Fair and Bake Sale for the month – more income and expenses have yet to be booked

continued...

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$2681.44 Net US Magazine Sale (Upper School Prom) – more income and expenses have yet to be booked BAPA Expenses: Lower School Gift card for speaker at the LS potluck $50 Total LS $50.00 Middle School Supplies and costumes for MS musical $365.74 Pizza and entertainment for grade 7 and 8 Fall Social $516.00 Total MS $881.74 Upper School Clubs/Extracurricular – 60’s Woodstock pizza party $107 Senior Activities Mugs for the 2008/2009 class advisors $72 Winter Semiformal – DJ $350 Enrichment – Comedian and Hypnotist $2,520 Total US $3,049.00 Total BAPA Expenses 11/1/09– 11/30/09 $3,980.74 Net BAPA Income 11/1/09 – 11/30/09 $3,495.24 Nancy Noyes nnoyes@comcast.net Schools Treasurer

MIDDLE SCHOOL The first snow has fallen and it finally seems like winter. As we get ready for the holidays and the beginning of our long winter break we’d like to say thank you for a few things: The Middle School production of “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown!” was a fantastic evening. Our children really outdid themselves and it was a night enjoyed by all. A big thank you to all the parents that brought in baked goods for the show. There was so much food that any remaining baked items were brought to Crossroads House in Portsmouth for the residents to enjoy.

We had a great turnout of those who attended the BAPA Holiday Coffee with Greg Schneider on December 1. It is always a pleasure when he is able to join us. We all 12

enjoyed muffins, cakes and coffee as well as meeting other parents. Thank you for all those new faces that joined us. We hope you continue to come to our monthly meetings. Being involved means being informed.

For those of you who attended the Middle School Book Fair at Barnes & Noble in Newington, NH, on Friday December 11 - thank you for your support! The proceeds will help build the Middle School library book collection.

Don’t forget that winter vacation starts at 3:00 p.m. on December 16. We hope you have a joyous and happy holiday.

Please contact Middle School coordinators Andrea Bristol at malted92@comcast.net or Joanne Meyer at jomeyer777@aol.com, with any questions, concerns or thoughts.

UPPER SCHOOL We hope that you are enjoying your holidays wherever you might be. BAPA activities for December: we supplied the comedian Michael Dneaster the week before exams; Mary Pat Dolan, Kyle Ridgway, and the sophomore class gave the freshmen and new sophomores exam tips and goodies for midterms and we provided students with healthy snacks during exam week.

We would like to thank all the Upper School parents for supporting their students with food during the fall sports season; but, a special round of thanks to the parents who organized the process in each sport: Paula Reid, Betsy Hawes, Kit McCormick, Terri Atwood, Lisa Devine, Anne Fetters, Jeannie Tsairis, Karen Gray, Nancy Brattan and Janice Murray.

Thanks again to the sophomore class parents for their generosity at the 1791 Letter ~December 2009

past coffeehouse, as it was extremely well attended.

Thank you to the Upper School parents who came to the class meeting on December 1; eleven people attended and we had a good discussion of US issues. All thoughts and ideas will be presented to Peter Saliba, including the ones we received via e-mail. At this point your student should have received their semiformal invitation; BAPA will be providing the DJ, chocolates, decorations and security. It is a wonderful time and very well attended. Please return your R.S.V.P. quickly.

At the beginning of January we will be sending out a survey once again for you to have the opportunity to be involved; Language Day on January 25, junior mock interviews, the blood drive, etc. Senior parents, the time will go quickly, so please contact Elsa Koallick if you want to be in on the many senior activities.

See you soon.

Suzanne McFarland and Mary Pat Dolan Suzannerye@comcast.net Marypat.dolan@comcast.net BAPA Upper School Coordinators NEW FAMILIES Thank You! Thank you to everyone who made the effort to come to the BAPA Holiday Coffee on December 1.

Greg Schneider explained Berwick Academy’s new computer curriculum mapping program. The mapping program is part of a credentials audit that schools undergo as part of a national accreditation process. This mapping program will help to ensure teaching continuity across grades, and will provide a powerful marketing tool to demonstrate “the Berwick Academy difference.”

Volunteering Opportunities The turnout at the coffee was the best we’ve had in some time.

To my delight, several of you have volunteered for BAPA activities as a direct result of attending. If you ask around, volunteering is fun! And, we desperately need volunteers! You don’t have to wait to be asked – we have plenty of ongoing projects that need your help, if only for an hour.

Currently, the auction committee is hard at work getting ready for our major fundraiser of the year. The big job at the moment involves inputting information for the auction catalog into the BAPA computer. Please help!

You don’t need computer experience because there is on-the-job training. If you are interested in helping with this, or any other volunteering opportunities, please e-mail me. I will happily make use of your time!

New Family Survey We are busy tabulating the results of the new family survey. I hope to make the results part of my 1791 submission next month. We really appreciate your comments. There is always room for improvement, and everything you have to tell us is important. If you have not already filled out the survey that was e-mailed

to you, please do so. The survey will close with the end of the school term.

(Please be aware that the survey was only e-mailed to new families. If you are a new family at the school and did not receive a survey, please e-mail me so I can send one to you.)

in January - full of information on how you can participate in the annual fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you there - April 24, 2010!

I know I speak on behalf of all of the BAPA Board when I say that we hope you have a fantastic winter break.

May it be festive, restful and filled with joy. We look forward to seeing you in 2010!

Warmest holiday wishes, Katie Clark BAPA New Family Coordinator Kclark_uk@hotmail.com (207) 698-0080 AUCTION NEWS We would like to thank all the auction volunteers who attended the last auction meeting on December 3.

Joe Shanley, our new auctioneer, was able to attend the meeting where we spent a great deal of time brainstorming logistics of the evening. He provided us with great insight, and we are certain his expertise and enthusiasm is going to help us create a wonderful auction. Be sure to look for your auction packets

PURCHASE HOLIDAY CARDS AND BENEFIT THE JUNIOR CLASS BAPA is excited to announce a new way that you can support our school AND send your holiday greetings. Order holiday photo cards, greeting cards, and other stationery products from William Arthur, a local business known for their exquisite quality.

For every order placed via the Berwick Academy website, 30% of the transaction will go to BAPA. Funds will support the junior class prom, field trips, and other events that enrich our children’s experience at Berwick Academy.

To ensure that your purchase benefits the junior class, you must click on the link from the Berwick Academy website. It can be found on the School, BAPA, and Parent Portals as well as the division e-news weeklies.

If you enter theWilliam Arthur website from another means your purchase will not be linked to our account.

Please be sure to visit through the BA website.

1791 Letter ~ December 2009

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SLEEPY ADOLESCENTS I don’t know about you, but I’ve been running into a lot of blearyeyed Upper School students lately.

The reported reason for this sleep deprivation is too much homework.

I’m not sure if this is entirely true, and have a tendency to believe that social networking (e.g. Facebook), as well as other distractible behaviors may also be playing a role. Whatever the reason(s), I know this same issue exists in my house. My son who is a junior this year averages about six hours of sleep a night during the week. By the end of a school week, this mild-mannered, easy going young man is a total wreck.

He looks awful, feels terrible, and isn’t very pleasant to be around. I am sure there are many other Upper and a few Middle School students and parents experiencing this same phenomenon.

The other issue this weekday sleep deprivation creates for my son is his desire to catch up on missed sleep on the weekend. It is not uncommon for him to sleep until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning and then start the whole cycle over again on Sunday night. This “catching up on sleep” on weekends has also proven to have its disadvantages.

According to researchers, students with a discrepancy of two or more hours of sleep on weekends are more likely to earn lower grades in school than students who keep their sleep patterns consistent (Bergin and Bergin 2009). Even without knowing much about the sleep, I can conclude that the sleep cycle that my son has adopted isn’t healthy.

The common belief has always been that an adolescent’s need 14

for sleep declines during puberty.

However, recent research indicates that adolescents require the same amount, if not more sleep than younger children.

According to sleep researcher, Mary Carskadon (1999), teenagers need nine hours and fifteen minutes of sleep a night to function well and remain alert during the day. A quick calculation tells me that by the end of a school week, my son is between 12 and 15 hours behind on sleep.

The second thing that has confused the adolescent sleep issue for years is the shift in the sleep-wake cycle. Like many parents, I noticed my son’s desire to stay up later and sleep in later as he entered his teenage years. This shift in the adolescent sleep cycle was once believed to result from the psychological and social needs of adolescents, such as increased homework load, sports, after-school jobs or extracurricular activities, and the adolescents’ desire to assert his/her autonomy. Scientific research now suggests that this shift in bedtime is not a result of these social forces, but instead internal biological changes in the adolescent brain.

Carskadon’s research (1999) investigated adolescent circadian rhythms, the biological clock that regulates certain physiological cycles such as the sleep-wake cycle, body temperature and hormonal secretion.

Melatonin is the hormone associated with sleep. Analysis of melatonin levels shows that it is sharply elevated during sleeping hours. Carskadon’s research on melatonin production observed a sharp spike in melatonin levels beginning at about 10:00 p.m. in adolescents, 1791 Letter ~December 2009

increasing from 2 picograms to nearly 20 picograms by midnight. Melatonin levels peak at about 35 picograms at 3:00 a.m. and remain high until about 7:00 a.m. Melatonin levels do not drop to there daytime levels until 8:00 a.m. in adolescents. It is no wonder that adolescents struggle to get out of bed in the morning for school. This struggle is only further exacerbated by sleep deprivation. Many high schools across the United States have tried to accommodate the needs of adolescent circadian rhythms by starting school later in the morning. Berwick’s start time of 8:15 a.m. would be seen as a more appropriate and helpful start time for the adolescent sleeper.

The struggle to get out of bed is one of the milder consequences of sleep deprivation. More serious consequences include absences from school, decreased motivation, inattention, and difficulty controlling emotions and behavior. It appears that the more sleep deprived the adolescent is, the greater the harm. Ronald Dahl, in his article entitled, “The Consequences of Insufficient Sleep for Adolescents: Links Between Sleep and Emotional Regulation,” discusses the major effects of acute sleep loss.

According to Dahl, motivation is directly linked to the level of adolescent tiredness. Simply stated, the more tired the adolescent is, the lower their motivation level, particularly with tasks that are less exciting or engaging.

Dahl states that the effects of tiredness are most pronounced when tasks require planning, strategy or complex sequences. Ironically, these are some continued on pg 17...

Rachel Saliba

WHAT

WAS

BERWICK ACADEMY LIKE BEGINNING?

IN

THE

Last month, I had the pleasure of working with third graders, Bryce Morales and Riley Saliba on their Maine Museum project about Berwick Academy. We quickly realized that there just isn’t a lot of information in the archives about the early years at Berwick. We don’t even have a list of the students who attended the first day of school, May 6, 1793. What follows is what we did learn about being a student at Berwick in the 1790’s and also what we don’t know.

What We Know: At the time that Berwick was founded, the majority of the children in the area only attended elementary school for 3-4 years. Many of the residents in the area were growing wealthy from the trade along the Piscataqua River and they wanted to have an academy to train their children and the youth from the area to become educated businessmen or to go to college to become lawyers or ministers. Both York and Wells had already established academies within their schools and there was a growing need for more secondary schools. Our 14 founders answered the call and on March 11, 1791, Berwick Academy’s charter was signed by Massachusetts Governor John Hancock.

After two years of lots of fundraising, Berwick Academy opened its doors on May 6, 1793. The first academic building, the 1791 House, was located on 10 acres of land where Fogg Memorial is today – overlooking the Piscataqua River. Most of the

trees between the school and the river had been cut down at that time and Academy Street was the only main road between the school and the river.

When the 1791 House was first built, it was only 38 feet long by 24 feet wide and 10 ½ feet high. It cost between 500 - 733 pounds of New England currency to build and was limited to hold 40 students at a time.

Like the local elementary school, the first Academy building had only one large schoolroom used for recitation.

Like other Academies of the time, the students had to be able to read English. Parents and townspeople “subscribed” to the academy in addition to paying the preceptor sixpence a week (almost 10 cents) in tuition.

The subscribers were also responsible for the upkeep of the academy and management of the preceptor. It is unclear how much oversight the subscribers had versus the Board of Trustees.

The First Preceptor (Head of School) was Samuel Moody. He was paid 90 pounds a year by the Board of Trustees and was allowed to keep the tuition paid by the students. Mr. Moody was the only teacher for all of the students and was described, according to historian and alumna Marie Donahue, as being “severe yet affectionate.”

Each school day was begun and ended with prayer led by Preceptor Moody. The students were taught to read, write and speak in Latin, do arithmetic and algebra and study geography. Students were expected to 1791 Letter ~ December 2009

bring their own books and usually the only book they owned was their family Bible. They learned their lessons by memorizing phrases from their books and then reciting them from memory in front of the entire class. Most of the work was done orally because paper was so expensive. Students also used slates and copy books to learn their lessons by practicing on a slate and then entering their lessons in a copy book. You can view copies of a few pages from a Berwick Academy student’s copy book from 1798 on the second floor of the Library.

The everyday life of a Berwick student was not easy. Candles and sunlight were the only sources of light in the classroom. The heat for the classroom came from the fireplace and students had to use the outhouse for a bathroom. The furniture of the 1791 House was sparse. It is assumed that the students did not have individual desks, but used benches and boxes lined up against the walls of the room – a pretty typical set up for rural schools during that time. The rules first outlined in 1806 by the Board of Trustees did not allow students to “mark or cut the benches or boxes of the Academy.”

Interestingly, there were only three other rules listed: 1) A 25 cent fine for lateness to class; 2) Expulsion for using profanity; 3) Attendance at Sunday Service was required.

According to the trustee records from 1794, the Berwick Academy students went to school year round except for a three-week vacation in May, a one-week vacation in September and three weeks in January. continued on pg. 17...

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ARTS NEWS...cont. from pg 8

participants will have the opportunity to play in large bands or orchestras with full instrumentation. If you have questions or would like more information please contact Ms. Sanders, Mrs. LaForce or Mrs. Wituszynski.

VISUAL ARTS Upper School Art is in a flurry getting our Scholastics entries off to regional competition. This year, eleven artists will submit 20 works in drawing, painting, photography, artist’s books, and sculpture to be entered in the regional jury at the Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk. Award winners from this jury process will be invited to exhibit at the college this winter in the annual Regional Scholastic Exhibition.

Watch for additional information about the results in the January newsletter.

Resident ceramic artist and Berwick alum, Tim Christensen,returned to campus for his third residency. He completed a one-week art residency, working with AP Art students, Studio Art Honors students, and students in the ceramics and metals courses. Tim inspired the students and the faculty during demonstrations and discussions while he taught sgrafitto (his own version of ceramic surface design), wheel techniques and welding. This week-long experience was funded by the Christopher Linney Memorial Fund.

This is a wonderful night that showcases performing arts students from all three divisions. Admission is free but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please mark your calendars for this annual event that takes place this year on Friday, January 22, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., with a scheduled snow date for Sunday, January 24, at 2:30 p.m.

The Becky Davie Grant for the Arts This opportunity is open to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 who are interested in pursuing a project in the visual or performing arts that will result in a presentation, performance, or exhibit at Berwick.

The final project or presentation should illustrate a sense of joy or enhance the school. The final product may be completed by one individual or more than one individual working as a team as described in the proposal.

Interested students must complete a written proposal that will be reviewed by the committee representing the visual and performing arts. Final candidates will then meet with the committee for an interview. One individual will be selected to pursue their project and will receive funding up to $200 - $300. However, in any given year, if the funds allow, the grant may provide funding for two people based on the estimated costs. This program is funded by Becky’s family as a living tribute to her life and love of the arts. Please contact Deloris White for an application dewhite@berwickacademy.org

WINTERFEST 2010 ATHLETICS NEWS...cont. from pg. 7

Numerous students have submitted Audition Request Forms for Winterfest 2010. The auditions will be held in January after we return from holiday break.

The adjudicators will be available for jury on Thursday, January 7; Tuesday, January 12; and, Thursday, January 14, from 1:30 – 3:00. Your child will be notified about their 5minute audition time slot during one of these times.

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team Lee Tsairis: Honorable Mention Girls Cross Country: Jenna Maddock: First team.

Middle School Fall Sports Coaches Awards Boys Blue Soccer Stephen Sherbahn Girls Blue Soccer Cora Ordway Boys White Soccer Colin Binnie

1791 Letter ~December 2009

Girls White Soccer Persephone Bennett Coed Cross Country Susannah Gray - Girls Charles Stine-Boys Coed Tennis MacKenzie Levy Field Hockey Anna Cronin

Winter Requests • The use of artificial noise makers is discouraged in the NEPSAC League and prohibited in some sports.

• At the end of games and during halftime, basketball courts should remain free of activity. This eliminates the possibility of water, snow, ice, salt, and gravel from getting on the floor and causing injury.

• Please refrain from bleacher stomping in the gyms and at the rinks, and pounding on the boards at the rinks.

• Park in designated areas.

Parking along the sides of the Athletic Center prevents bus and emergency vehicle access. The parking area to the side of the field house is for coaches and officials only. Thank you for your cooperation.

• Please be on time when picking up athletes at the Portsmouth Traffic Circle. Buses cannot wait; otherwise we will be inconveniencing parents waiting at Berwick and the athletes who are returning to Berwick to drive home.

• Use the directions to other schools from the Student Handbook.

These directions can be accessed on the web. There have been problems with the MapQuest directions.

Athletic Training If your child’s health suffers during games or practices, the coach and athletic trainer must be aware so that proper care can be administered or summoned. The coach, athletic trainer, and school nurse should be made aware of health conditions ahead of time that may affect a student-athlete’s health status. This includes any condition not previously indicated on the medical records form that is evaluated during the season. A note from the medical

practitioner will satisfy this and should state the sports participation status with any restrictions.

Additional information may be needed based on the condition.

WELLNESS NEWS...cont. from pg 14

of the primary tasks required of both Middle and Upper School students.

Inattention is another area of concern when examining adolescent sleep deprivation. It is well known that sleep loss is associated with brief mental lapses in attention during simple tasks.

Fortunately, these mental lapses can be offset by an adolescent’s increased effort and motivation while performing the task. This compensatory behavior does not hold true for complex tasks or tasks that require attention in two or more areas.

The potential link between inattention due to sleep deprivation and the diagnosis of ADD/ADHD has become an area of discussion over the past decade. Each diagnosis is associated with difficulty of self control behavior, attention and impulse, and both respond favorably to stimulant medication. The other interesting fact is that symptoms of ADHD are more frequent in children/adolescents with sleep disorders. The link between these two diagnoses is a complex puzzle, and will no doubt continue to be examined by researchers.

Adolescent mood or emotions has become another area of research in the field of sleep deprivation. The connection between acute sleep loss in adolescents and mood variability is well documented. I frequently see greater variability in my son’s mood by the end of the school week. He becomes frustrated and angry more easily or can appear overly silly in response to something humorous. A major concern of researchers in this area is the potential connect between sleep

deprivation and emotional disorders in adolescents. Research studies are continuing to examine the link between sleep deprivation and mood disorders in adolescents. It is already known that sleep complaints are very common in children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder.

So what can a parent do to assist their child/adolescent with sleep at night?

• Discourage caffeinated drinks after dinner.

• Encourage major studying in the early evening as opposed to later.

• Encourage consistent (early) bedtimes during the school week.

• Discourage sleeping longer than two hours later on weekends.

• Encourage time-limited social networking and other distractible behaviors on school nights.

• Discourage multi-tasking such as having multiple computer screens up while working.

• Discourage leaving a computer or T.V. on at night.

• Discourage bright lights in the evening.

• Encourage bright light in the a.m. to start the body’s wake cycle.

Good luck! I hope your adolescent has the opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep over winter break.

Happy Holidays!

ARCHIVES NEWS...cont. from pg 15

They observed three holidays – July Fourth, Fast Day, and Thanksgiving.

Most of the students walked to school and some arrived by horse or carriage.

If a student lived too far to walk or ride everyday, s/he boarded in a local home during the week and went home on the weekends. For those students who lived in other parts of New England, they also boarded in local homes, but only went home during the three 1791 Letter ~ December 2009

vacations in the year.

What we don’t know: 1.

Who were the first students to attend Berwick Academy and where did they live? Archive volunteer and genealogist, Beth Tykodi has been doing a lot of research at the Massachusetts Historic Society and the South Berwick Historic Society to help create a list of the first students at Berwick Academy.

2.

Who was Samuel Moody? We believe that he graduated from Dartmouth and became the first preceptor of Hallowell Academy, but we don’t know much more than that.

3.

Did the 1791 House have a flat roof when it was originally built? There are references to this in Marie Donahue’s research, but it is certainly not flat anymore.

4.

Where did the preceptor live?

Was it upstairs in the 1791 House? Did he cook his own meals? Preceptor Thompson’s salary was compensated by the Board of Trustees in 1814 by allowing him to graze his sheep on the Academy grounds.

5.

What was the daily schedule in the beginning? Did the students go home for lunch? Did they have recess?

6.

What was discipline like at the Academy? Did the preceptor use a dunce cap for punishment?

7.

Why did Berwick have so many preceptors in the beginning (six in 20 years)?

8.

Was the subscription the beginning of the current day annual fund?

9.

Did students attend school on Christmas?

Obviously, there are a lot of unanswered questions about the beginning of Berwick Academy and what life was like for the students who attended the school. It is hard to imagine the life they lived, even with the few details that we have in the archives. I welcome your questions, comments and even your research skills to help me to paint a better picture of the life of a student in 1793. You can reach me at rsaliba@berwickacademy. org, or at 207-384-2164, ext. 2700.

17

Dear Berwick Community, As of December 11, I am encouraged to report that participation in this year’s Annual Fund is up from this time last year.

To date, 35% of parents have made a gift (up from 26% on 12/11/2008). We are headed in the right direction, but we still need help to reach our participation goal of 65% by June 30, 2010. To monitor our progress, I encourage you to visit www.berwickacademy.org/annualfund.

As we approach the end of the calendar year, please consider making a tax deductible gift or pledge to the 2009 – 2010 Annual Fund. Please note that gifts must be received by December 31, 2009 to be included in your personal taxes for 2009. Online giving has become a very convenient and popular way to make an Annual Fund gift or pledge. We have received 50% more Annual Fund contributions online to date than all of last year combined.

I know December is a very busy month, and I am extremely grateful for all the support and generosity Berwick has received. It is a point of pride that so many in our community join together to support our School. If you have not yet made a gift to this year’s Annual Fund, I invite you to join me and the 250 parents, alumni, grandparents, past parents, faculty, staff, and friends by making a gift or pledge today. You may make a secure online gift at www.berwickacademy. org/giving.

Thank you for your consideration, support, and generosity! As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Best, Jedd Whitlock Director of Advancement jwhitlock@berwickacademy.org

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1791 Letter ~December 2009