June 1791 Letter

JUNE 2010

BERWICK A C A D E M Y

1791 L e t t e r

Class of 2010 Graduation

1791 Letter ~ June 2010

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MESSAGE F R O M

Greg Schneider

Head of School THINKING ABOUT DIFFERENCE Just twenty-four hours after completing a drizzly but inspirational commencement celebration on Fogg Field, I found myself picking strawberries with my two daughters on a misty day in Hampton Falls. By the end of an hour or so, Kenna had figured out a way to detect, describe, and pluck the “perfect” strawberry. Avery, who is just now on the threshold of walking, suddenly wanted down from Daddy’s shoulders at all costs so that she could stumble along the rows of shiny berries with her sister. As I looked around this incredible setting, with families picking berries as live acoustic music wafted over an open field, I was so keenly aware of the benefits of living in the Seacoast with my family. Certainly this experience was not readily available in my former locale of New York City.

With each passing year, I am even more appreciative of how lucky the Schneiders are to live in such a beautiful place laced with such opportunity.

For all of its incredible strengths, one could argue that a limitation of the Seacoast is its relative lack of racial and ethnic diversity. Whenever we graduate a class of seniors, as we did this weekend, I have absolutely no doubt that we have prepared them for the rigors of college academics.

Sometimes I wonder, however, if they are in for a bit of a shock when they land in a college setting that will be truly enriched with cultures and families from around the globe. While their Seacoast roots become an essential piece of that collegiate tapestry they have joined,

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it can still be an overwhelming initial jolt for a student who is exposed to this explosion of diversity for the first time.

In recent weeks, I have also been having some important personal conversations with Berwick parents about issues surrounding diversity within our own community. Finally, in reading our spring culture and climate surveys of parents, students, and faculty, it was clear to the Administrative team that there is great potential for Berwick to take a step forward with this conversation in the coming years. Thus I thought a few words about difference in this concluding installment for the 2009-2010 academic year might be appropriate.

On the one hand, there is no question that Berwick’s diversity conversation is limited by the geography of a day school existing in the Seacoast, but I would argue that this cannot be a rationale for ignoring a difficult but critical educational topic for our students and families. If Berwick’s mission is truly about “useful knowledge,” then I think anyone would be hard pressed to argue that having an ability to work with people of varied backgrounds will be even more essential for these graduates than it is in the economy today. In a global marketplace facilitated by technology, cultures collaborate and conversations evolve in all sorts of new and important venues. Berwick Academy is actually, in many cases, more diverse than local public school options. I would love for the richness of this Berwick culture to become yet another tangible reason for families to join this community if they are seeking the very best education for their children in the coming years.

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Berwick is far more diverse than I believe people, particularly people who are not members of the community, ever realize. Admittedly, some of this has to do with how one chooses to define this evolving and nebulous word: diversity. In fact, our tag line of Where excellence has many faces speaks to Berwick’s value proposition in this regard. Certainly we know that a strength of this school is that one does not have to fit into a box of athlete, artist, liberal, conservative, male, or female to have an exceptional experience here. This essential element of Berwick’s DNA is one key reason I chose to lead this community. I also believe that our internal community values not only the deep socioeconomic diversity that is present at Berwick, but the sense that groups usually mix and mingle in very comfortable ways whether students come from families with substantial means, whether they receive significant financial aid, or whether they are the children of Berwick employees. I, for one, truly value this depth of socioeconomic difference at Berwick and often feel frustrated when I sense that the outside marketplace may not consider an education at Berwick because they wonder whether or not their children – or perhaps more importantly they as parents – would not “fit in” in this community.

We also know that we are far from perfect and are no utopia; there are areas where our diversity tests us.

Issues such as fashion, the holidays, politics, and the relative insularity of our school are all major challenges in this regard. One of the key takeaways from our recent smattering

BERWICK A C A D E M Y of community surveys was that there are some members of this community who do not always feel completely at ease based on their particular kind of difference. Students and parents express these themes in different ways, ranging from the subtle to the overt.

Faculty generally appear to have an impression that Berwick is equally welcoming to all, which is certainly what I would like to believe as well. At our upcoming Administrative retreat, we plan to spend some valuable time thinking about how we might create some useful forums for our students to talk about difference in various ways. Certainly the recent addition of our Upper School SWAT (Student Wellness Advisory Team) group will be well positioned to play a lead role in some of these conversations. Improving orientation programs for parents and trying to be sure that all new members of this community feel equally welcome are critical to our success in this area as well.

We all know that these are tough topics to discuss in any environment. Any discussion about class, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation - virtually any kind of difference - can lead to moments of conflict in an intellectual community.

Being new to this Academy three years ago, there have been plenty of other issues that have demanded priority on my desk thus far. However, as I ponder how we might continue increasing the value of a Berwick education as a place where excellence truly has many faces, and as we continue on our quest to offer students a 21st century version of “useful knowledge,” I know that this conversation about difference should be lively and valued here, just as it is at any great independent school.

students and families will be able to embrace such a journey with me is that the underlying foundation of community that binds Berwick together is so extraordinarily strong. We share an unwavering value of education, a collective investment in a day school family partnership, a balanced approach to child development, an equal passion for rigor and nurture, an appreciation for hard work and fun, and even the very quality of life and family values that the Seacoast represents join us all together in ways that are far more powerful than the ways in which we are different. A famous Kenyan proverb states “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable,” and I believe that the Berwick community is remarkably tight – to the tune of 219 years. I look forward, with your help, to finding new ways to make this bond even stronger through an acknowledgment and recognition that diversity and difference do not only dwell out there in the world for which we are preparing our students, but it exists in exquisitely challenging ways on this Hilltop as well. As always, I relish this challenge.

Continuing the Green movement with on-line forms: Given that we are no longer sending out massive paper mailings for the 1791 Letter, we have decided to email out all necessary registration forms for our families during the week of June 21st. In addition to emails that will be pushed directly to families, these forms with be available on the parent portal under “Important Forms.” For this transitional year, forms will need to be printed and delivered back to Sondra Farrell, but we are working towards a system that will allow for electronic completion of these forms in coming years as well.

The reason I know that our

1791 Letter

Farewell to Nurse Gill After twenty-four amazing years at Berwick Academy, I report with mixed emotions that Linda Gill will not be returning to Berwick next year. We truly want to wish her best of luck in all of her new endeavors. She has done so much to nurture and care for the children of Berwick during her tenure, and we will all miss her incredible warmth and good cheer in all areas of school life. We have launched a search for a new school nurse.

Congratulations Class of 2010 I wanted to express to the entire community what an incredible group of graduates we had this year.

The sixty-three members of the class of 2010 remind us all that we are living Berwick Academy’s mission in powerful ways.

Pre-Kindergarten for the fall of 2011 Although there are still plenty of details to be ironed out during the next year, I am pleased to report that the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to start a Pre-Kindergarten program for four-year-old children in the fall of 2011. We expect this program to include approximately eight students for a full week of half-days, and it will reside near our Kindergarten in the Kendall Lower School. Please help us spread the word about this exciting addition this summer, as we plan to market this new program aggressively in the coming weeks.

Summer Projects This summer should be incredibly busy on campus, as we are working to complete our turf field projects as well as the new entrance to the Commons/ Kendall area. In addition, we look forward to some great Berwick summer continued on pg. 10...

1791 Letter ~ June 2010

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Peter Saliba - Upper School Director

Upper School News As you read this issue of the 1791 Letter, I am somewhere in the back woods of Maine wrestling with one of my most difficult challenges. No, I’m not on a ropes course, nor summiting Katadhin, or running any Class V rapids. I am in a relatively serene place with some good friends, with no real schedule, no cell phone, and no Internet. What’s challenging me is something I wrestle with each year, and thankfully, it is getting easier each time I attempt to do it. What I’m trying to do is to relax.

All of us (kids, faculty, staff, parents) spend the year pretty cycled up about the innumerable challenges before us. It feels as if we are on a constant trampoline, bouncing from assembly, to class, to sports, to homework and then to bed. Even there, I’m not sure we find true peace as I’m sure many of us have some sleepless hours with thoughts of work, family, or friends on our minds. When the alarm clock goes off, we get up and do it again.

Now, we can have fun doing this. I am guilty of having fun on a regular basis, although I will admit that this crazy treadmill is not so much fun in February. The energy of school, the joy of working with teenagers, and the excitement of discovery can be intoxicating. But when school gets quiet and the pattern of life changes, I always struggle.

The art of relaxing has changed tremendously in the last ten years. This is a result, in part, of technology and our constant connectedness. It’s pretty 4

difficult to get away from it all. Lots of literature addresses this issue. Go ahead and search books on relaxing and you will find thousands of volumes. And, there are a number of medical studies exploring relaxing, including one in the Netherlands which has concluded that some people get physically sick from attempting to relax. Yes, you can vomit from trying to get away from it all. Well, I don’t have that problem, thankfully.

Much of the advice surrounding relaxing instructs you to rediscover your inner self. Having lived in Southern California, I saw that in action and I’m just fine relaxing without having to wheel him out of the back of my mind.

What works for me is to remember those things that gave me the greatest joy when I was growing up, and then do them. I like to sit on a cliff and look out at nothing. I like to spend the entire day at the beach in the water. I spend time with my childhood friends. I enjoy splitting wood. I like to speed around in a boat at full throttle and see how close I can get to channel markers. These are the things that allow me to relax, and they all came from when I was a teenager.

All of us have different ways of slowing down, but I think that most of them stem from those experiences we had as kids. I’m sure that all of the families at Berwick will be spending some time this summer changing things up a bit, and getting some down time.

You may try and architect some down time, but what you really may need to

1791 Letter ~June 2010

do is to follow the lead of your kids.

They may have the secret to relaxing, not only for themselves, but for all of us.

Rosemary Zurawel - Middle School Director

Middle School News Rituals and tradition mark the closing of each academic year. Berwick Academy is rich in both. As I write this closing letter, I am still slightly euphoric thinking about the Eighth Grade Baccalaureate. The ritual is centuries old, and in the Berwick tradition, it honored excellence through the demonstration of thoughtful and articulate memories by members of the exiting class of students. Their presentations were evidence of their academic journey. In voices sometimes deep and at other times melodic, the students spoke of what their middle school experiences meant to them, and of the memories that each held of classmates. While each had a goal to introduce a classmate, the audience was enchanted by the true voices that came through so clearly. Individuals, all part of a whole, but still distinctly unique.

We closed the academic year with an assembly to honor students for their community contributions and for academic excellence. The Cogswell Book prize is awarded each year to the highest ranking scholar in grades five through eight. The following students won the 2010 Cogswell Book prize: 5th Grade- Sam Noyes 6th Grade- Ellen Lynch 7th Grade- Clayton Jacques 8th Grade- Cora Ordway The Middle School Award is presented to one boy and one girl in each grade who has served his/her classmates and school community well and has maintained academic

excellence. The following students were honored this year: 5th GradePeter Scharer and Emma Sattler 6th GradePage Waldo and Eric Rawn 7th GradeMadison Cassidy and Ben Thut 8th GradeSuzanna Borg and Seth Wyskiel As the Highland piper led the faculty, trustees, and the graduating Class of 2010 onto Fogg Field for commencement, I was reminded again of the rich traditions that mark the final ritual of transition that closes each year. The students who attended our Middle School scarcely resemble the 10-year-olds who walked with such trepidation into our fifth grade. They are now the young men and women who may recount those years, but who rightly have their sights fixed upon the academic future of their college and university lives.

For us who teach, these passages are marked with tears and with smiles. These students justify our life’s work, for teaching is more than a job. Teaching in the middle school years is a profession that each of us has chosen with conviction that we are giving back to the world from our hearts and our minds. Our mission, as a school is to promote “virtue and useful knowledge to the rising generations.”

It is impossible to spend significant time on campus and not run into the focused efforts to that end. We plan our lessons, choose our materials, arrange special events, all to meet our mission.

1791 Letter ~ June 2010

Moreover, we commit ourselves each year to modeling what virtue means in our respectful engagement with ideas and with one another. That means, at times, that we take a risk in being honest, even if that includes taking a minority stance. That entails showing emotion when there is a shared loss. That demands that we identify and name a behavior that is in opposition to our culture.

For a time this summer, our students will be moving in a world that will be free of academic challenge.

They will make many choices that they have not had the freedom to make this year due to homework obligations, athletic team participation, and musical practice. For some, the freedom will allow them to explore new ideas and literature. For others, it will be a time for exploring the world of mountain hikes or ocean sailing. For all, I hope that there is time to stretch both minds and bodies.

We will be mailing home fourth quarter report cards and Terra Nova test results (for grades 6 and 8) in mid-June. If you have any questions or concerns over the summer, please do not hesitate to call me.

To you, our parents, I offer my most profound thanks for having shared your children with us. The faculty and I send you our very best wishes for a peaceful, safe, and joyful summer.

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Joel Hawes - Lower School Director

Lower School News Our June 9 Closing Recognition Assembly highlighted a year of growth within our division, especially with our exiting fourth graders. It was fitting that our fourth grade families also attended the assembly, as we have been blessed with a supportive and involved group of parents in this year’s fourth grade class.

Our Mini Blues led off the celebration by singing One Voice. It was wonderful to provide our talented third and fourth grade singing group one more opportunity to perform.

We then enjoyed hearing a supportive message from Greg Schneider. From greeting students in the morning to eating lunch with our fourth grade Ambassadors, Mr. Schneider has supported our division in so many important ways this year, including this special assembly moment.

We turned our attention to the Berwick Academy Parents Association and remembered back to the many events they supported this year. This year’s BAPA coordinators have been two helpful parents—Pamela Oberg and Beth Tykodi. We thanked them (and the Parents Association in general) for all of their support.

We then saluted our departing faculty. This spring, we have been aided by a wonderful young woman who has taken over for Mr. Waldo in the final months of school. Ms. Amy Gregg is a talented and versatile young teacher who quickly became an integral member of our division—from helping out with our field day to filling

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in with aftercare coverage to, of course, teaching creative science lessons. Ms. Gregg is a talented teacher who has a bright future ahead of her.

We often use the term support in the Lower School (and in 1791 entries!). In our division, we have been fortunate to have Mr. Ben Hillyard working with us in a formal support role as the Academic Support Coordinator.

Mr. Hillyard has helped faculty and students in so many different ways while working with us—from one-onone academic help to helping teachers plan ways to work with groups of students to leading the Ambassador Program. Mr. Hillyard has carried out many important support initiatives during his time with us.

It was important to acknowledge the wonderful work that Mr. John Reynolds has done with us as Lower School French teacher. Mr. Reynolds has led us in the joy and enthusiasm behind learning a second language.

From French songs to interactive dialogs to creative games, he has developed a number of creative ways to bring the French language to life in his classroom. He has also helped our students enjoy a number of other activities—from accompanying sing-alongs and Lower School productions to teaching private guitar lessons. We have greatly appreciated Mr. Reynolds’ Lower School versatility and enthusiasm.

Mrs. Chris Quinn-Thibodeau has been a wonderful friend to students and faculty in our division and across the Berwick campus.

With Mrs. Witherbee, she helped 1791 Letter ~June 2010

found our kindergarten program.

Eventually, she moved into her third grade teaching role. Over the years, she has brought a wonderful spirit of learning, discovery, and friendship to her classroom experiences. We have appreciated the many ways in which Mrs. Quinn-Thibodeau has enriched our school—from creative teaching lessons to friendly support for her teaching colleagues to enthusiastically discussing the teaching and learning process with Lower School parents.

The assembly focus then turned to our Lower School classes.

In September, we welcomed our new kindergarten friends to the Lower School. They learned about monarch butterflies; they learned how to play on our playground; they learned how to get their own lunch in the Commons; they went on some interesting field trips and they read books with their third grade big readers. They even organized a hat and mitten service project. They learned about so many things—from reading and writing to art and physical education to speaking French.

Our first grade students also had a spectacular year. They read in their literacy groups, and they wrote wonderful stories as well. Early in the year, they began learning about the continents and have enjoyed a wonderful world tour ever since! .They led a special assembly that taught us about Haiti and the troubles caused by the earthquake, and they contributed to the Heifer Project as well. They also learned about musical continued on pg 10...

Rob Quinn - Athletic Director

Athletics News pconnolly@berwickacademy.org Spring Sports Success on the Hilltop The Girls Varsity tennis team qualified for the EIL Tournament B bracket and won the championship.

Varsity baseball and Varsity Boys lacrosse both qualified for N.E. Tournament. Baseball advanced to the semi-final rounds, while the Boys lacrosse lost in the first round.

Girls lacrosse qualified for the EIL Tournament, winning the first round in B bracket – Varsity softball qualified for the EIL Tournament A bracket and had two very close games.

Summer and Preseason Sports This summer, Berwick has again joined forces with the Seacoast United Soccer Club to offer a Training Academy for experienced travel and club players to be held at Berwick Academy. This camp will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and will include lunch and dinner in the Berwick Academy Commons dining hall. SUSC coaches, comprised of full time staff, international coaches, and current college players, will focus on individual skills and tactics building up to game play in the evenings. SUSC will mix top level skill development with fun and challenging games. There will be two sessions offered this summer; July 12-15 and July 19-22.

If you are interested in attending either session, there is more information and a sign-up form available at www.berwickacademy.org under Summer Programs.

Boys Soccer Coach

Patrick

Connolly

Summer: They will begin Tuesday night sessions on July 27 at 6:15 7:45 p.m. These will continue through August 17.

Preseason: Varsity candidates will leave for the Team Prep trip at noon time on Tuesday, August 24 and return on Saturday, August 28 at noon. Those who have not signed up must contact Coach Connolly as soon as possible. There is a cost to the trip. On-campus preseason will run from Monday, August 30 until Thursday, September 2, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

These sessions are for players looking to try out for the varsity team. Tryouts will continue during the first week of school.

Girls Soccer Head Coach Rich Weinrebe rweinrebe@seacoastunited.org Summer: The girls are invited to participate with the boys on Tuesday evenings. See details above.

Preseason: Rob Quinn, AD will take a group of soccer athletes to camp. The group will attend the “Team Prep” Soccer Camp from August 20 24. This preseason camp is optional and open to any interested soccer athlete. They will attend the camp as a team from Berwick Academy. The camp includes skills sessions, practices, and scrimmages against other soccer programs. While returning members of the team and current Berwick students have already signed up, the hope is to bring new excited and energetic players. This includes anyone who is 1791 Letter ~ June 2010

motivated and interested in having a little extra preseason time! We are very hopeful that some of our incoming students will be able to join us. We think it could be a fun and possibly less intimidating transition into the school and into preseason!

Field Hockey Head Coach Tracey Kelly tkelly@berwickacademy.org and Ass’t Coach Stacey Sevelowitz ssevelowitz@ berwickacademy.org Summer: A summer training program was emailed to all players and their parents, if you need another copy of this program please contact Tracey Kelly. We will host a field hockey clinic the week before pre-season on Tuesday, August 24 here at BA. It will be in the evening, from 4:30-7 p.m., with a pizza dinner at the end. This clinic is meant for anyone who is interested in playing field hockey, or anyone who would just like to try it before committing.

Bring your friends! We expect that if you played last year at BA, then you will be at the clinic to help us welcome new players. We will send out another email in August requesting an RSVP for the clinic so we know how many to expect.

Also, a reminder that Seacoast United is holding a 4-day camp here on campus August 2-5 from 1-4 p.m.

(Lacrosse is from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and field hockey from 1-4 p.m.) The following link has more detailed info: http://seacoastunited.org/Camps/ FHCamps/index_E.html For more information please contact Carolyn Connelly at cconnelly@seacoastunited. continued on pg 10...

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you gotta have Arts

Deloris White - Fine Arts Director

Arts News ARTS BOOSTERS Looking for Volunteers The Berwick Academy Arts Boosters is looking to increase volunteer involvement during the 2010-2011 school year. This group was established a few years ago to sponsor ďŹ ne arts events at Berwick along with creating events with the goal of generating funding to help support artists in residence and/or capital equipment items for the visual and performing arts. The two major events approved by the Development Committee are the Arts Boosters Variety Show in October and the Silent Art Auction in May. This year, these two events and proceeds from the Arts Boosters Snack Shack grossed approximately $1,800.

working on their music during the summer. Auditions will be in November.

Information regarding additional festivals will be available in the fall. Please remember that students must be enrolled in a music class in order to audition or participate in a music festival in the Upper School.

Off the Hilltop Congratulations go to Freddy Diengott for his participation in the Maine Allstate Chorus Festival on May 21 and 22. Please let us know about summer performance experiences or intensive visual or performing arts workshops in which Berwick students participate or attend so that we may recognize their commitment to the arts in August or September.

WOOFSTOCK X - JUNE 4, 2010 Organized by Briana Bouchard ‘10 and Chip Harding

Arts Boosters Variety Show This annual event will take place on Friday, October 15, at 7 p.m.

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on this one-of-a-kind evening.

We would love to perform to a full house with standing room only. Watch for more information in the August and September 1791 Letters and have a great summer.

MUSIC Festival Information Upper School students who are interested in auditioning for the Maine Allstate Music Festival next year who are enrolled in chorus or band courses at Berwick can go to this site to check the audition requirements for their instruments: http://allstateauditions.com/mmea/ auditions/InstrumentRequirements.pdf We recommend that students start 8

More photos can be found under Recent Photo Albums on the School Portal.

1791 Letter ~June 2010

BAPA Notes - from the BAPA Board Members

Parents Association News PRESIDENT’S NOTES It is hard to believe the summer is already here! BAPA had another great year and I was so honored to work with these wonderful committed women. I want to thank the parents, faculty, staff, and administration for supporting BAPA efforts throughout the year. We could not do what we do without you!

I look forward to another exciting year as Auction Coordinator. I hope everyone has a great summer. Any comments, suggestions, or ideas for next year are always welcome so please send us an email. See you in the fall.

Thank you to Board Members I want to thank Suzanne McFarland, Mary Towey, Lesli Friel, Andrea Bristol and Beth Tykodi for doing such an amazing job in their positions. These women were amazing to work with and we will miss them next year. The amount of time and energy these women dedicated to Berwick Academy is remarkable and we could not have had such a successful year without them. On the bright side Mary, Andrea, and Lesli are staying on the Board in different capacities. Lesli will take over as President. I know she will be a wonderful energetic and positive leader for the Board and I wish her the best of luck!

BAPA Gardens A huge thank you to Kristin Wiese-Adelman, who did such a great job with our BAPA garden outside of BD. Her dedication and green thumb have been greatly appreciated. Thanks you so much for you energy and time.

Community Benefit I want to thank everyone for their help, donations, and attendance at this year’s benefit. We were able to fund our school’s budget and raise almost $80,000 for the Fund-A-Need.

The new walkway to the school by the Commons will start this summer and I look forward to seeing it in the fall. Again we could not have done it without you!

Again have a great summer and I want to thank everyone who made my time as President so wonderful, especially Greg Schneider who always supported me and BAPA. Jean Jarvis jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint.net BAPA President LOWER SCHOOL Happy Summer!

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS It might be safe to say that Middle Schoolers look forward to going to Canobie Lake Park all year. It is such a nice way to cap off a year of hard work by spending the day with your friends playing games, going on rides and just having fun. This year was no exception and with the help of BAPA we were able to have our children experience another wonderful day at the Park.

A big thank you to all the parent volunteers who gave their time and effort all year long. It takes many hands and hearts to assist with our 1791 Letter ~ June 2010

children’s many activities surrounding school. We are again looking for parent volunteers for class reps. We are in need of incoming 5th grade and 7th grade parents who can help out during the year. We would like to establish this group before the beginning of the school year so we can hit the ground running. You can give as much or as little time as you can afford. We appreciate any help you may offer. You can contact Joanne Meyer at jomeyer777@aol.com or Francee Quinlan at quinlanteam@ comcast.net.

Congratulations to all of the Middle School students who performed in the Spring Swing concerts. It always amazes us how talented our children are. Great job!

Our first annual book swap occurred on Friday June 11. It was a huge success. What a way to save money, be environmentally conscious and get a head start on the books we need for next year. Thank you for participating. We hope it continues to grow each year and perhaps the other divisions will join in the event.

Have a safe, fun and relaxing summer. Enjoy your children while you can. They will be Upper Schoolers before you know it!

Joanne Meyer UPPER SCHOOL Congrats to all our Graduates and Happy Summer! continued...

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TREASURERS NOTES BAPA Income: $8 US Magazine Sale BAPA Expenses: $3600.84 LS Library Gift from Book Fair proceeds $2436.60 Proceeds from Magazine Sale for Prom $242.70 Proceeds from William Arthur Sale for Prom Lower School $1684.66 LS Author Program $539.91 Bingo Pizza Party $4838.78 LS Enrichment $1000 Family Fun Day $500 4th Grade Memory Book $764.90 LS Production $379.50 Plimouth Plantation trip $177.45 Potluck Dinner Total LS $9,885.20 Middle School $97.87 5th & 6th Grade Fall Social $1000 5th/6th/7th Grade Spring Social $700 7th Grade Team Building $100 MS Enrichment Total MS $1,897.87 Upper School $1000 9th Grade Drug Awareness week $1422.61 Clubs/Extracurricular $680 US Enrichment $1500 Junior-Senior Prom $88.90 Senior Activities $3000 Socials/Dances $150.75 Winter Semi-Formal Total US $7,842.26 Total BAPA Expenses 5/1/10 – 5/31/10 $25,905.47 Net BAPA Expenses 5/1/10 – 5/31/10 $25,897.47 Nancy Noyes nnoyes@comcast.net School Treasurer

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HEAD OF SCHOOL NEWS...cont. from pg 3

camps and to a full slate of Seacoast United camps.

To all Berwick Families I truly wish to express my deepest word of thanks for all of your support during this particular year. It is an honor and privilege to work with such amazing families. I hope that all of you enjoy a summer that is free from schedules and filled with wonder, excitement, and joy.

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS...cont. from pg 6

instruments and they performed some fascinating science experiments.

They will certainly never forget the creative Anansi skits that they recently performed to an appreciative family audience.

Our second grade students ended the year with a thoughtful service project—a lemonade stand fundraiser! In the fall, they visited the Charmingfare Farm. They also learned about predator-prey relationships and then taught us all that they had learned when we visited their classrooms.

They performed computer activities and sang beautiful songs. They were always busy with clever math workshop activities on Friday mornings. In the middle of the school year, they made the Lower School come alive by creating a museum about their ancestry—including delicious ethnic foods that they served to their hungry guests.

Our third grade students enjoyed checking out interesting library books, especially books about states that they had studied in social studies class. Their interest in social studies and the arts led them to some interesting library and classroom projects about the state of Maine and about artists and musicians. They also 1791 Letter ~June 2010

hiked through history with their new friends from the Central School. They helped with the morning sing-alongs and developed a powerful Haiti service project. They even learned to play the violin and completed some interesting computer math projects.

After third grade, we turned our attention to our fourth grade class.

Mrs. Witherbee and Mr. Summers honored each student in a creative and supportive manner as they read and presented their memory book pages to them. Congratulations fourth grade students and thank you for being such a spirited and supportive class.

We then recognized our faculty, staff and interns for their dedicated and caring approach to working with our students. Daily, they demonstrate their concern for the progress and success of each Lower School child. Additionally, we highlighted the behind-the-scenes tech support we regularly receive from Mrs. Randall and Mr. Harding and the Arts/Athletics leadership we receive from Mrs. White and Ms. Canuto.

It has become a tradition in the Lower School to finish our closing recognition assembly with a slide show, so once again, we enjoyed the show that Ms. Martin and the faculty graciously put together. The end of the slide show closed out the final day of school and brought forth Lower School best wishes for a wonderful summer vacation.

ATHLETICS NEWS...cont. from pg. 7 org or by calling 603-926-8444 x216.

We will be looking for at least two goalies! If you decide to attend a camp and are interested in being a goalie, let us know; we might be able to help you with equipment.

Preseason: Preseason is the week of

August 30 - Sept 3. We will practice from 4-6:30 on Fogg Memorial Field.

You will need to bring the following items to preseason: cleats, sneakers, water bottle, mouth guard, stick, shin guards. If you have your own goggles, bring them! If you don’t have a stick yet, we can let you use one from school.

Boys Cross Country Coach: Jon Davie jdavie@ berwickacademy.org Preseason: Practices begin on Monday, August 30 and run through Wednesday Sept 1 from 5-6:30 p.m Girls Cross Country Coach Reagan Russell rrussell@berwickacademy.org Preseason: Practices will be on Wednesday, August 31 and Thursday, September 1 from 5-6:30 p.m.

Golf Coach John Downey j d o w n e y @ b e r w i c k a c a d e m y. o r g Practices will begin the first day of classes. More information will be in the August 1791 Letter.

Boys Basketball Coach Rory Early rearly@ exeter.edu Summer: Boys Basketball team will hold an open gym for all Upper School members during June and July on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. This will start on June 21.

Girls Basketball Coach Brian Sanborn at bsanborn@berwickacademy.org Summer: Girls Basketball will attend a Basketball Camp at University of Maine Orono from June 25-27. Coach Sanborn will hold open gym on the following dates: June 15, June 22, and June 24, from 6-8 p.m.

Fall Sports Middle School and Junior

Varsity sports begin on the first day of school. Varsity sports begin on Monday, August 30, for most teams.

Athletes trying out for varsity teams should make every effort to attend these practices. This is an important conditioning and learning period.

Those athletes who cannot attend should contact the coach. Regular season practice for all teams will begin on the first day of classes.

Reminder about our Important change from last year for Emergency Permission form and Physicals: All health forms must be completed and filed with the school nurse no later than July 12 of the upcoming school year in order for a student to begin school. A student will not be allowed to participate in preseason sports or to attend orientation programs if the necessary medical forms are not completed and on file. Forms are mailed at the end of the preceding school year, are posted on the portal, and may be picked up in the front office of the Burleigh Davidson Building.

A complete physical examination, including vision and hearing testing, is required for all new students entering Berwick Academy; and thereafter, updated every other year. A physical exam is an assessment of your child’s health status. Berwick Academy recommends a more recent physical examination be submitted if there are changes in your child’s health. The Physical Examination Form must be completed and signed by the medical practitioner; and the section on immunizations must be reviewed and completed in order to comply with Maine state law.

changes throughout the year. Medical information pertinent to the student may be confidentially shared with the applicable teacher(s), staff, and/ or athletic coach. Parents are also encouraged to inform appropriate personnel about important medical information.

Fall Schedule The fall sports schedule will be posted on the Berwick Academy website in the coming weeks. The schedule is subject to change.

Bulldog Golf Classic The Athletics Boosters will host their Annual Bulldog Golf Classic at the Ledges Golf Club in York, Maine, on Thursday, September 23, 2010, it is a 8 a.m. shotgun start . Save the date, and plan to join in the fun with the many members of our Berwick community.

Annual proceeds from this tournament have benefited Berwick athletes and the Athletic Department, including improvements to our athletic fields, new scoreboards, construction of the girls softball field, fencing around the baseball field and dug outs, and netting on the soccer and lacrosse fields. We’ve even built a storage shed and purchased a portable defibrillator and an all-terrain Gator vehicle for the athletic trainers.

For more information go to www.berwickacademy.org or contact Rob Quinn at 207-384-2164 ext. 2800 or email rquinn@berwickacademy.org To view the Spring Sports Awards list, please continue to page 14.

The signed and completed Emergency Permission Form is used for students during school, sports and field trips when immediate medical attention is needed.. The school nurse needs to be updated on medical 1791 Letter ~ June 2010

11

Cindy Briggs - School Counselor

We l l n e s s N e w s SENIORITIS

that if not handled correctly, problems may arise for both the senior and their family.

On Friday, May 21, 2010, the class of 2010 completed their last day of classes at Berwick Academy.

This departure was marked by many traditions; two that I am particularly fond of are the standing ovation at the end of morning assembly as the seniors exit the theater for the last time; and, the seniors’ last walk from the Commons Dining Hall to Fogg Memorial as students from all three divisions line the walkway cheering. For a few of the seniors it was the end of only one year in the Upper School, for the majority of seniors it was the end of four years, and for nine seniors, it was the end of a “lifetime” – a twelve or thirteen-year journey through Berwick Academy’s Lower, Middle and Upper Schools.

It was incredible to see the level of emotion displayed during these two events. I saw tears in both the eyes (and on the cheeks) of the departing seniors and faculty as the seniors walked down the path from lunch for the last time.

These were bittersweet moments. I am sure for many members of the Berwick community there was both a sense of sadness and relief as the class of 2010 completed their last official day.

Senioritis…more than one million high school students fall victim to this rather common and (sometimes fatal) disease during their final year or semester of high school. Characteristics include (but are not limited to) a lack of enthusiasm, a drop in grades, fits of irresponsibility, risk-taking behavior, outbursts of irritability, mild depression, or moments of euphoria.

Does this sound like someone you know? Teachers and parents are often puzzled, hurt, and even panicked by these uncharacteristic behaviors.

Veteran teachers and parents who have weathered this “stormy life passage” remind us not to take it personally and to be vigilant. The last few weeks of school and the ten or so weeks of summer can lead to a pile of trouble.

Kids who are typically “as good as gold” will sometimes deviate and do something stupid or even lifethreatening. It is clearly a time for parents to reiterate their family values and standards, and remind their senior that it is never too late for a college to rescind their acceptance.

Ending or transitioning from one stage of life to the next usually precipitates a number of emotional responses ~ anger, fear, sadness, elation, apathy…the list is endless.

Many faculty and parents dub a graduating senior’s whirling malady of emotions “senioritis.” I sometimes wonder if what we commonly call “senioritis” is actually a deeper emotional response called separation anxiety, and worry 12

What causes this bizarre shift in behavior that begins for some during the second semester and for most continues throughout the summer months? Is this dramatic change in attitude and behavior due to the realization that they’ve been accepted into college, or that they have enough credits to graduate, or that they just want to get on with their lives? According to mental health professionals, “senioritis”

1791 Letter ~June 2010

isn’t just a shift in attitude or behavior but instead related to a much deeper emotional response called “separation anxiety.” Separation anxiety is evoked when there is a threat of separation or loss. We commonly see this response in two-year-olds when they are separated from their primary caretaker. We see it again and again in varying degrees as children transition through childhood.

The inevitability of graduation forces the reality of separation and departure on the senior. Each senior responds uniquely, and sometimes similarly to the way that they have responded to previous life transitions. Child psychologist, Michael Thompson, believes that departure from home is the most traumatic separation of all the normal separations in our culture.

Transitions are hard work, and for many of our seniors, high school graduation may be their first “major life transition.” Not only have our seniors just completed a boatload of academic work, but they have also completed their last days at Berwick Academy. In short, our seniors are saying goodbye to their childhood and transitioning to the unknown world of adulthood. This life transition requires seniors to separate from the family and friends who have supported them for years. During this transition they also experience somewhat of a “time warp.” While their bodies are still in one place, their minds are racing forward wondering (and worrying) about what’s ahead, and their hearts are flip-flopping from past, present, and the future. No wonder seniors behave the way they do. They are probably scared to death but fear continued on pg 15...

Rachel Saliba - School Archivist

Archives News FORMER HEADMASTER TURNS 100

On July 8, 2010, retired Headmaster Stuart Chaplin will be joined by over 100 alumni, friends and family to celebrate his 100th birthday in the Commons Dining Hall at Berwick Academy.

Mr. Chaplin was a very popular and highly respected headmaster at Berwick from 1950 to 1956. Even today, Chaplin enjoys a large following of alumni admirers who were the last beneficiaries of the 100-year-old tuition agreement that ended in 1960 between BA and the town of South Berwick.

When Mr. Chaplin started as Headmaster in 1950, the Town of South Berwick paid the tuition for each high school age resident to attend the Academy. In 1956, this amounted to about $340 per student. In 2010 dollars, this is equivalent to approximately $2,713 in tuition per student – not a lot of money considering the town of South Berwick currently spends almost four times that amount ($8,700) per high school student each year.

Under such a tight budget, the Academy was a very different place than it is today. Eleven faculty members (including Mr. Chaplin) taught classes in three different tracks: college preparatory, general education, and commercial. The students were involved in various activities and clubs, including Drama, Science Club, Glee Club, Band, Yearbook (Quamphegan), and the Debating Society. Mr. Chaplin is credited for starting the school’s first Chapter of Future Homemakers of America and the Industrial Arts Club on campus.

The school was situated on 40 acres and the facilities included Fogg, the Burleigh Davidson House, the Vaughan Eastman House, and the Headmaster’s Home (the small white house across Academy Street from Fogg), where Mr. Chaplin lived with his wife Marion and their three children, Richard, Gene, and Kera.

The Burleigh Davidson House was used for home economics classes, the infirmary, the lunchroom (in the basement) and faculty residences (photo - 1950 Quamphegan).

The Vaughan Eastman House was used for “Manual Arts” classes including woodworking / machine shop and extra-curricular training in arts and crafts (Photo – 1957).

There was no gym on campus, but the teams, called the “Toppers” and “Topperettes,” played basketball indoors in the gym at current day Central School and the boys changed for their athletic contests in continued on pg 15...

1791 Letter ~ June 2010

13

SPRING SPORTS AWARDS 2010 UPPER SCHOOL Team Boys Varsity Lacrosse Girls Varsity Lacrosse Boys Varsity Baseball Varsity Softball Boys Varsity Tennis Girls Varsity Tennis Boys JV Lacrosse Girls JV Lacrosse Boys JV Baseball Boys JV Tennis Girls JV Tennis

MVP Chris Atwood Ashley Gray Alex Tobey Catie Wheeler Bill Leach Maggie Sutherland Connor Ablowich Kathryn Voss Ricky Kramer Ryan McGuigan Molly Towey

Coach’s Award

US Hilltop

Trestan Matel Rebecca Fetters Shaun Millerick Chelsea Vanderlinde Ben Siegel Olivia Zeff Aaron Kalter Lydia Waldo John Tackeff Jonah Goldblatt Cristina Salvador

Girls: Lee Tsairis

Bulldog Awards Chris Atwood Emerson Bilodeau Briana Bouchard Rebecca Fetters Ashley Gray Ethan Hawes

MIDDLE SCHOOL Boys Blue Lacrosse Girls Blue Larosse Boys White Lacrosse Girls White Lacrosse MS Softball Boys Blue Baseball Boys White Baseball Spirit MS MS Hilltop

Kevin Mills Stephanie Staples Maggie Sutherland Lee Tsairis Chelsea Vanderlinde Kristen van Dissel

ALL LEAGUE Sam Salvati Jordan Katz Jacob Ball Anna Seigel Suzanna Borg Seth Wyskiel Danny Philbrick Girls: Sabrina Tay Boys: Seth Wyskiel Girls: Susannah Gray Boys: Stephen Sherbahn

Baseball First Team Alex Tobey, Ethan Hawes, Kurtis McCabe Softball First Team Catie Wheeler, Chelsea Vanderlinde Girls Lacrosse First Team Shannon Farrell, Ashley Gray, Lee Tsairis Boys Lacrosse First Team Jordan Sanford, Pat Nichols, John Reinhardt Hon. Mention All-League: Kevin Airoldi

Boston Globe All Scholastic Chris Atwood - Boys Lacrosse All New England Chris Atwood - Boys Lacrosse Coaches of the Year Mike Hannon, Baseball Stacey Sevelowitz, Softball

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Boys: Chris Atwood

1791 Letter ~June 2010

WELLNESS NEWS...cont. from pg 12 letting anyone know, particularly their parents.

So how can you assist your senior with “senioritis” or separation anxiety? First and foremost, don’t take anything they say over the next two and one-half months personally.

Remember that their goal is to make you dislike them so they can muster up the energy to say goodbye and leave. It is a lot easier for them to leave you angry, as opposed to acknowledging their feelings of loss and sadness. Second, allow your senior the time and space to grieve. For many of them, graduation represents a threat to their individual and collective life experience thus far.

Third, be firm and clear about their newly acquired independence. You and your senior have just entered that strange world of “not yet an adult, but no longer an adolescent.” My advice is to be attentive and vigilant. Lastly, make the most of this final leg of the adolescent-parent journey.

August will be here before you know it, and when that day finally arrives and you are frantically stuffing every last item into you car, remember, a new journey is about to begin…the one into adulthood. Congratulations and good luck!

Sincerely, Cindy Briggs

ARCHIVES NEWS...cont. from pg 13

the basement of Fogg. Other athletic facilities included an outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, and football and baseball fields. Mr. Chaplin is noted for attending nearly every athletic contest played by the Hilltoppers.

Mr. Chaplin’s career at BA ended in 1956 after his summer job - working at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a systems analyst on the first commercial computer ever sold, the IBM 650 turned into a full-time job where he enjoyed great success until he retired at age 66.

Mr. Chaplin now lives in South Berwick with his daughter, Kera Ashline Class of 1959, and her family.

2010-2011 SCHOOL FORMS In an effort to continue the School’s green initiatives, this year’s registration forms will not be sent out as hard copies via regular mail. Instead, all forms will be sent via email in the next week and should be returned to Sondra Farrell by July 12.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Bus Sign-up Upper School Parking sign-up Lower School Aftercare sign-up Middle School Aftercare sign-up Dance Class registration form Applied Music lesson registration form You will receive instructions in a separate email for updating your children’s emergency telecommunication contact information (for snow days, etc.) within your profile on the website. We have changed systems this year and will not be using A.N.T.S. Also, you should have received the emergency permission form in the mail in mid-April. If you did not make any corrections to your contact information, we will use what we have on file in the 2010-2011 Directory.

Please contact Sondra Farrell with any questions about this information 207-384-2164 or sfarrell@berwickacademy.org 1791 Letter ~ June 2010

15

Jedd Whitlock - Director of Advancement

Alumni and Development News Dear Berwick Community, As of June 18, I am thrilled to report that we have five more gifts to go to reach our parent participation goal of 65%. I am hopeful for a strong finish as we push towards June 30. This year’s Annual Fund success is due to the collective efforts of our energetic and passionate Annual Fund volunteer team. In addition, I am pleased to report that this year’s Senior Fund raised over $50,000. The senior class voted to designate these funds to the Class of 2010 Endowment for Financial Aid. During my first year at Berwick, I have been so appreciative of the efforts, wisdom and support of both the Annual and Senior Fund teams.

They are: Annual Fund Chair Holly Malloy, Trustee Lower School Holly Grimes, LS Division Leader Grade 1 Beth Lowenstein, Grade Leader Michele Albion Michelle Hanson Grade 2 Michelle Soares, Grade Leader Tom Parrott Heather Kodzis Betsy Rawlings Grade 3 Kristin Morales, Grade Leader Vic Sunshine Grade 4 Costikyan Jarvis, Grade Leader Dee Whall Suzanne Richardson

Grade 6 Lisa Anderson, Grade Leader Amy Criswell Paula Reid Laura Smith Grade 7 Betsy Coughlan, Grade Leader Stephen Young Jane Hourihan Deborah Walden Kendall Montouri Grade 8 Holly Malloy, Grade Leader Nina Maurer Carol Welsh Tim Platt Adriana Cunha-Salomon Upper School Leigh Ann MacFarlane,US Division Leader

Middle School Margaret Talcott, Trustee, MS Division Leader

Grade 9 Eliza Peter, Grade Leader Mary Boswell Molly Samson Gloria Legere Sue Downey Mary Connors

Grade 5 Janet Stevens, Grader Leader John Barbour

Grade 10 Sheila Woolley, Grade Leader Jennifer Saulnier

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1791 Letter ~June 2010

Mary Reinhardt Carolyn Woodward Grade 11 Laurie Hair, Grade Leader Maria Moschetto Diane Mugford Susan Stedman Leadership Chair Debbie Bauder, Trustee Leadership Team Mark Tay, Chair, Board of Trustees Jamey French, Trustee Holly Malloy, Trustee Margaret Talcott, Trustee Lesli Friel I am looking forward to a strong finish, and I look forward to reporting on the entire year shortly. Thank you again for all your effort, support, and generosity on behalf of Berwick Academy!

Best, Jedd Jedd U. Whitlock Director of Advancement (w) 207.384.2164 x2304 (m) 617.821.5765 (f) 888.384.4859 jwhitlock@berwickacademy.org