June 2012
BERWICK A C A D E M Y
1791 L e t t e r
Class of 2012 Commencement - June 9, 2012
1791 Letter ~ June 2012
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MESSAGE F R O M
A Changing View As the whirlwind of this year begins to draw to a close, one might assume that my thoughts are consumed by graduation speeches or summer vacation plans. Perhaps you would assume that the only thing on my mind is the pending arrival of daughter number three. I wish that was, in fact, the case. Many of our readers may be aware of the story of Ryan Walters, student body president and graduate from the class of 2011, who endured a tragic fall this past spring during his freshman year in college. For a period of time, we thought he might be lost to our community, but I am happy to report that Ryan is finally back in his childhood home in Rye, beginning the long road to recovery. I had the good fortune to visit Ryan at his home earlier this week, and it feels almost cliché to say that it was a life-altering experience. And yet this was the case on so many different levels, and there are a number of insights to be shared. First is the sense of the fragility of life and how it can all change in an instant. Second is the power of family and community during times of crisis. And third would have to be the resiliency and courage of the human spirit. Even while confined to a wheelchair and a body cast, having lost his ability to hear, Ryan’s affect and ability to communicate were extraordinary. It is so clear that he views himself as lucky to be with us, and he is optimistic about the progress he has made. It was equally 2
Greg Schneider
Head of School
obvious that Berwick has been a huge part of his support system to date. A card from the entire Upper School adorns his wall, and we also sent him a YouTube video of the entire student body cheering on his recovery. I wrote a letter to his family early on in the recovery that his Mom said allowed her to show the doctors in Houston what kind of person he was. We talked Ryan into coming back to campus for our beloved tradition of Woofstock. He was proudly paraded around the quad by a group of his classmates from 2011, and again his matter-of-fact smile shook me deeply. At this point, he still travels with a whiteboard, as he is still working to restore his hearing through additional procedures. It is unsettling to be in the presence of a young person who exhibits such strength and courage. One can’t help but reflect upon all the messages that our young people receive on this essence of bravery, or in this case, what it means to be a man. I was equally proud to feel the sense of the Berwick community buoying his recovery, which we all know will be a long road for both him and his entire family. At our spring athletic awards ceremony, we celebrated the astounding run by our boys baseball team to 1791 Letter ~June 2012
a NEPSAC title this year. Ryan was a member of this squad last spring, so I asked him if I could take a picture of him with the cup when I went to his home. He agreed, as we mutually decided that it would be Berwick’s version of the travelling Stanley Cup. We showed this picture, included in my letter this month, at the Athletic Awards and the entire community erupted into applause. I mentioned that there were times when athletic teams could capture the hearts and imagination of an entire community. Such has been the case this spring. As a parent, I can’t help but view Ryan’s journey as one that we all fear. There is nothing a parent cherishes more deeply than the health and safety of our children. As the Head of School at Berwick Academy, I can’t help but see Ryan’s situation as inspirational. It
BERWICK A C A D E M Y speaks to his unshakable strength and the bond that we all share by calling ourselves Berwickians. As I hope to welcome a new member to the Schneider family any day now, I hope that the summer break offers us all the needed space to center ourselves on what matters and why we collectively devote so much time and energy to this endeavor we call Berwick Academy. Our bond is a string of stories that now spans over 220 years, and we are all joined through this institutional strand. Perhaps most importantly, Ryan’s story has shown me that once we choose to become a member of this community, we are all connected through our successes and challenges. Most of all, we should take heart in knowing that we can rely on this community for far more than a quality education. We rely on its soul for the strength and support that we all seek in our times of need. You have changed my view, Ryan, and it is hard to figure out how I might appropriately say thank you. Keep up the great work and that amazing smile. Safety Drill I want to thank our families for their patience and support during our campus evacuation drill on May 30. In general, we thought it was a major success in that the process was completed in an hour, and the busses left on time. However, we also learned a great deal about how we might streamline this process in the future. While I know it was an inconvenience for everyone, I hope that you can all see why we need to practice such a procedure. I hope that we never have to use it in a real situation, but we will be ready.
1791 Letter
Medical Forms Remember to care for medical forms promptly over the summer, as they will be due on August 1. Should you have any questions, please feel free to call Sondra Farrell at 207-384-2200. Summer Programs I want to remind the community that there is still room in a number of our summer programs. I have included a list and relevant contact information below. Dance Camp with Sasha Malone June 25-29; K-3 $100/4-12 $200 Study Skills with John Downey August 6-17; $400 Jumpstart the School Year with Mary Anker August 22-24; $200 Registration, health, and emergency permission forms can be downloaded at www. berwicksummercamps.org. For general school or camp information, contact Lindsay Hanson at lhanson@ berwickacademy.org or 207-384-2164.
1791 Letter ~ June 2012
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Peter Saliba - Upper School Director
Upper School News To the Berwick Community: As is traditional, I have included an excerpt from the Commencement Address in this final issue of the 1791 Letter. I want to wish you all the best for the future and know that I have fond memories of the Academy! “……Finally, I have learned to embrace five words that have their origin with the British government during World War II. During the first half of the war, German forces laid siege to England which challenged the spirit of its citizens. To boost morale, the government launched a carefully orchestrated propaganda campaign. They came up with three slogans, and the first two were printed up on posters and distributed during the war. Although 2.5 million posters were printed up of the third slogan, it never was released to the public. It was held in reserve in case of a significant disaster, such as a German invasion. This third slogan was “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Along my journey I’ve had many chances to panic either through situations I’ve found myself in or through mistakes I’ve made. In the first category, I’ve been inside a house on fire, I’ve almost drowned, been in a bad car accident, been on a sinking ship, and lost friends, family and students to illness and tragedy. In the latter category, I have gotten fired from jobs, singlehandedly dismasted a thirty foot sailboat, made a mistake in calculating final grades for an entire school, and even said some unsavory things that were printed. 4
In some of these situations, most of which happened before my arrival at Berwick, I’ve panicked. When I’ve done that, things did not work out so well. I’ve learned again, not through a course in Panic Management, but from the people around me, that panicking really doesn’t help very much. It’s much better to keep your wits about you, ask for help from people you trust, and plan a way out of the mess that you find yourself in. I’ve also learned this from watching myself make mistakes in difficult situations. From those experiences, I’ve learned how to Keep Calm and Carry On. On the senior overnight a few weeks ago, I had the chance to spend some time talking with most of you about what you wanted hear from your commencement speaker. I hope I have stayed within the spirit of our conversations in sharing a little bit of what I have learned along the way. Of course, I hope that all of you will try to look a little bit sharper, be yourselves and and to keep your wits about you when the chips are down. Finally, I also hope that you will always recognize the relationships that you’ve formed here in your time at Berwick. That you always treasure each other and the moments that you have shared. Sometimes these moments were broad class experiences such as your wilderness trips, and sometimes they were as narrow as talking on the way to lunch with a friend. Right now some of those moments may not seem so important, but they will in your future as you begin to learn about the person that you’re becoming. 1791 Letter ~June 2012
Thank you very much for allowing me to share this day with you, and good luck and god speed to the Class of 2012!”
Rosemary Zurawel - Middle School Director
Middle School News The 19th century French writer, Anatole France once wrote, “An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don’t.” I would add to that by including the moral underpinnings and disposition to grapple with hard choices and to assume an open stance of “not knowing.” Granted, he was of an era when all that one could know could be found between the covers of a book. Even when he died in 1924, knowledge was considered to be so finite that textbooks and encyclopedias were held onto for decades. The disposition to be wrong about a notion is a hard one to develop. At times, I believe that all of us struggle in the face of controverting evidence. In American education today, the movement to quantify the knowledge and skills that students possess and to place the scores before taxpayers as evidence of their dollars well spent on schools places a critical value upon a confined percentile. Public schools use the student data not necessarily to determine the ways in which curricula can be altered or expanded or even made more creatively engaging, but to hammer harder at a finite understanding of basic knowledge in reading and mathematics. The development of ethics, of social responsibility, of aesthetics is too unwieldy to quantify, and therefore become less valued as educational outcomes.
“How could I be wrong about
this?” is a question that I should like to imprint upon the minds of all of the students who leave the Middle School. In addition to the three “Rs” that I have often spoken about (resilience, resourcefulness and respect), the comfort with facing an error is an essential skill. While it is not on any futurist’s list of 21st century skills, it is my belief that without acquiring the willingness to be wrong or to fail that there is an essentially incomplete education to be found. While I am not a person who inserts herself into conversations with strangers, I am often an eager listener to others in waiting rooms, at the deli counter in the grocery store, or in coffee shops (I confess to a dependency upon caffeine). What often strikes me about conversations I overhear is the certitude with which pronouncements are made. “The Celtics are going to win this!” “The Congress is full of idiots.” “That stupid coach doesn’t care that she’s been playing soccer since she was four. She deserves to be on varsity. What did I spend all that money for?” It is the immutable conviction with which these statements are made that I find frightening. No persuasion or evidence to the contrary could change the minds of those who can so loudly and publicly make these declarations. I want to step up and ask these people what evidence they have used to form their beliefs, but I’m too cowardly and too sad about the impact of their education to be so bold. The Middle School years are the safest ones for students to make mistakes, to be wrong, and even to fail. 1791 Letter ~ June 2012
The courage to move forward is one of the dispositions I hope to instill in them. Rather than, “I can’t learn anything from teacher X,” as a reason for failure, I hope that students will appreciate the range of teaching methodologies that they may experience during these important years. Often, the most beloved teacher at the conclusion of a year is one who pushed students harder than they were comfortable in the fall. Moving into the Middle School means earning grades that are representative of achievement, and not of affection. Earning an excellent effort grade on a report card is the affirmation that the teacher observed and rewarded the ethic of hard work. The data collected over the four years in the Middle School can point towards future academic success, but more importantly, it offers a small window through which to observe the growing resilience of children as they grapple with “not knowing.” I often hear that a child’s “favorite teacher” was the same one whom parents criticized in autumn as being too demanding. The value of working hard to please oneself and not to please the teacher is another important lesson. All students long to hear adults say the words, “I’m proud of you.” These words, however, should be dispensed at times when pride is truly merited. For some students, those four words, when truly deserved, are the sweetest balm for their souls. I am not suggesting the parsimonious withholding of deserved praise, but the judicious use of the words. Students can detect a fraud sometimes better continued on pg 10... 5
Joel Hawes - Lower School Director
Lower School News I hope this final 1791 Letter entry finds you enjoying the summer season! It was just a short time ago that we concluded our 2011-2012 Lower School program with an exciting closing recognition assembly. The June 7 event was an experience befitting the recently completed school year, and I will highlight some of the assembly’s focus below. Early in the assembly, we honored three Lower School faculty members. Next school year, Alice Lynch will move from her Kindergarten role to leading the Teaching Institute and the Archives Department, while assisting in the Library. Alice has been an active member of the Lower School faculty, both within the classroom she shared with Kelly Williams and behind the scenes. She has been a thoughtful friend within our division. The final line in the B.A. Bell (written by the fourth graders) sums up our students’ perspective: “She makes kids feel good; she is welcoming; she is caring.” Best of luck to Alice Lynch in her new roles! Amy Criswell is moving with her family to the Boulder, CO area. A first and second grade teacher and a supporter of many other Division- and School-wide initiatives, we will miss Amy’s many talents. Always willing to lend a hand and help guide and support students and colleagues, Amy has left behind a strong foundation of Lower School efforts. Again, the final line of the B.A. Bell dedication supports her approach: “She is always happy; she is always caring; she is talented and nice.” Best wishes to Amy Criswell and her family! 6
Richard Norcross will also be moving on from Berwick. His spirit, however, will remain in many important ways. Richard is a creator, an innovator and a one-of-a-kind teacher. A past recipient of Berwick’s outstanding teacher award, words can barely begin to describe the positive effect Richard has had on the Lower School over the years—helping to shape the unique experience that each and every child received within our program. From the fourth graders’ reflections, the final line of the B.A. Bell dedication states: “He is caring; he is understanding; he makes me laugh; he is energetic; he is a great actor; he is creative.” Many thanks to Richard Norcross for all that he has given to the Lower School…and take care! I also highlighted our students with the following grade-level descriptions…. In September, we welcomed our new pre-Kindergarten class to the Lower School. I remember their wonderful butterfly parade and their excitement on the playground. They had tasty snacks in their classroom—snacks brought from home and snacks that they made in the classroom! They learned about so many things in the block area, the dramatic play area and when studying different Maine animals. They even traveled around campus to move in physical education class, to learn about books in the library and to sing in music class. We also welcomed our Kindergarten friends to the Lower School this fall! They learned how to play on our playground, how to get their own lunch in the cafeteria, how to build an alien and how to make 1791 Letter ~June 2012
many friends. They even organized a hat and mitten service project. They learned about so many things— from reading and writing to art and physical education – even to speaking French. Their excitement for learning was contagious—whether working together in the classroom or with their third grade reading buddies! Our first grade students have also had a spectacular year. They read and read and read in their literacy groups and they wrote wonderful stories as well. Early in the year, they began learning about how to solve tricky math problems and they also completed some interesting glyph problems--including a challenging whale tail assignment. They learned about musical instruments and they performed some interesting science experiments—including two with baking soda and vinegar that will be long remembered. I am sure that they will also never forget singing in the Winter Solstice Assembly and in the Lower School Production! The second grade students learned about predator-prey relationships and about their heritage and then taught us all that they learned when we visited their classroom museums. They performed computer activities and sang beautiful songs as members of our newly-established Lower School chorus. They were always busy with clever math activities in the classrooms—looking at beautiful and interesting relationships between numbers. Recently they jumped and jumped and jumped during our Jump Rope for Heart Fundraiser and continued on pg 10...
Rob Quinn - Athletic Director
Spring Sports NEPSAC Title for Baseball The Baseball team caught fire this spring racing out to a 10-0 start behind the dynamic pitching duo of Ricky Kramer and Conor McFarland. They earned their first EIL Tournament Championship and followed that up with a NEPSAC title last month. It was a wild ride for this team as we hosted two NEPSAC Tournament games drawing huge student crowds. Our Girls Varsity Lacrosse team had a phenomenal season going 11-3 and qualifying for the EIL “A” bracket for the first time in ten years. They played very well down the stretch and were exciting to watch. Summer and Preseason Sports Seacoast United Training Academy This summer, Berwick has again joined forces with 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 5p.m. and will include lunch 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 9-13 and July 16-20.
Athletics News
Integrity Hoops We are also entering our second summer with Integrity Hoops, which is a basketball training group with the philosophy, “Teach kids the game of basketball, make them better people, and have fun along the way.” They will use our blue gym in the athletic center and those dates are not yet finalized. Please contact Noah LaRoche noah@ integrityhoops.com for more details. Boys Soccer Head Coach Patrick Connolly pconnolly@berwickacademy.org Summer: Tuesday night soccer beginning on July 24 from 6:15-7:45 p.m. Team Prep Camp departing at noon from Gym on August 20 and returning on August 24 @ noon. Mandatory Preseason evening sessions (Varsity candidates only): Monday, August 27 5:30-7:15, Tuesday, August 28 scrimmage vs. Thornton @ BA 5:30, Wed 5:30-7:15, Thu 5:30-7:15. These sessions are for anyone looking to tryout for the Varsity team. Tryouts will continue during the first week of school. Note: During this week we will have a scrimmage vs. Thornton Academy in Saco at 6 p.m. on Tuesday August 28. There will be a select number of players chosen to attend this contest. That will be determined at the Monday, August 27 practice. Girls Soccer Head Coach Travis Derr emailderr@yahoo.com Summer: The girls will be playing on campus on Thursdays this summer from 6-8 p.m. from June 21 - July 26. Please email coach Derr if you are interested in attending so you are included on emails that will include more details 1791 Letter ~ June 2012
or cancellations if necessary. This is a great way to get together and allow new and returning students to connect before classes and to work on skills before the start of the season. We also will be attending a camp at the University of New England from Augusr 3-5 and attending a Jamboree at Noble High School on August 18. If you are interested in either of these events please email Coach Derr. Preseason: Varsity Candidates will be expected to attend Preseason from 8/27 through 8/31. Times will be from 4-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. on 8/31. Field Hockey Interim Head Coach Tammy Myers tmyers@berwickacademy.org Summer: Starting Monday, June 18 we will be teaming up with girls from St. Thomas to compete with others from Marshwood, York, and Dover in our summer league pick-up games. We will have games every Monday through July 30 with the exception of Monday July 23. We will compete at an assigned time at either 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. In addition to our Monday summer league pick up games, a reminder that a field hockey camp will be hosted at Berwick Academy, July 23 through July 27. The camp will go from 5-8 p.m. We will be looking for at least 2 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: Will be here on campus from August 27 - August 31 from 9-11 a.m. It will be a good opportunity to continued on pg 10... 7
Deloris White - Fine Arts Director
New Faces New Name Arts Boosters The Berwick Academy Arts Boosters joined forces with Parents for the Arts during the 2011-12 school year. Representing the parents and faculty going forward, Katie Clark, President of Parents for the Arts and Deloris White, Director of Visual and Performing Arts will be continuing this collaborative effort with the Parents for the Arts identity and name which is under the umbrella of the Berwick Parent Community. Both groups, Arts Boosters and Parents for the Arts, were established to raise awareness of and create support for the arts, and to sponsor fine arts events at Berwick along with creating events with the goal of generating funding to help support a resident artist program and to purchase capital equipment items for the visual and performing arts. Generating new ideas and enthusiasm, Berwick Parents for the Arts have come together in the spirit of supporting the visual and performing arts. The two major fundraising events have been the Performances for the Arts Variety Show and the Silent Art Auction. This year, with their vision, talent, and help, the Performances for the Arts and the online version of the Silent Art Auction generated approximately $3,000 for the arts. So, out with the old and in with the new, say goodbye to the Arts Boosters and embrace the Parents for the Arts. Please contact Katie Clark if you would like information about how to become a part of Berwick Parents for the Arts.
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Arts News
Music Applied Music Chip Harding will be responsible for coordinating the applied music lessons for the 2012-2013 school year. Please note that all private music lesson inquiries and forms should be directed to him. Festival Information Upper School students who are interested in auditioning for the Maine All state 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 working on the music during the summer. Auditions will take place 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. Portland Symphony Orchestra During the spring trimester, first, second, and third graders studied orchestra instrument families. Accompanied by the May 6 Orchestra, on May 7, we attended a Portland Symphony Orchestra Youth Concert to see for ourselves how they all fit together into a collective sound and art form. The concert featured a trombone concerto, an organ concerto, and Vivaldi’s Spring among other works. The program was titled The Art of Listening and facets of the program included student work in dance, visual art and poetry. Grade 1791 Letter ~June 2012
three artist Henry Clark had his artwork projected above the orchestra. He created this art piece along with his class during an art lesson given by Mrs. White in which the children reflected on the music they were hearing. Back at BA, the students reflected on their experiences and sent their commentary back to the orchestra! Chamber Field Trip The Upper School spring trimester Chamber Music Class traveled to the United Methodist Church in Rochester, NH on May 15 for a special demonstration of the pipe organ by student Clayton Jacques and his teacher, Kevin Lindsay. Visual Art Summer Workshops We have several students going to study art at Pre-College Art programs this summer. Good luck to Amy Rawn who will be studying art at Skidmore College’s pre-college program, Jamie LaPointe who will be studying on a National Geographic photography trip to Peru, and Harriet Kauffman who will be studying film at New York Film Academy in NYC this summer. Local Art Exhibits Amy Rawn and Cam Carter’s art works were included in the Portsmouth Sustainability Fair 2012! Visiting Artist Tinka Pritchett was part of our Across the River exhibition in the Jackson Library Gallery during February and March. These five artists were a small continued on pg 15...
BPC Notes - from the BPC Board Members
Parent Community News
It’s hard to believe that summer is here, and as the school year comes to an end, so does my term as President of the Berwick Parent Community. The past two years have been tremendously exciting as we shifted the structure of BPC to align our organization more closely with the school. We have seen tremendous growth and increased our abilities to effectively support the students and the school. Without the amazing Board of BPC, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all that we did. I would personally like to thank Sarah Bedard, Francee Quinlan, and Mary Towey for all they did to support our mission over the last two years. We will truly miss working with all of you. I would like to welcome Jane Oldfield-Spearman, Heather Case, and Mary Beth Herbert to the Board, and it is my honor to announce Diane Walker as the next President of the Berwick Parent Community. Most of you know Diane and will agree that she is going to be wonderful in this new role and will provide unparalleled leadership for the group. Furthermore, I want to wish Darlene Saltz, Jennifer Johnson, Stan Meader, Nickie Gaudette, Pamela Oberg, and Andrea Bristol continued success on the Board. BPC Grant Proposal I would like to thank Diane Walker for acting as our new Grant Proposal Coordinator for this year. She has done an incredible job of getting all of the applications processed for grant fund distribution. Off of our auction proceeds, we are able to provide approximately $57,000 in grant money to support many school enrichment opportunities. Thank you to all the staff who applied for a portion of these funds. We are happy to be able to support the school in meaningful ways and we hope to see continued interest in this process in the coming years. Community Benefit I also want to thank everyone for all the hard work, support, donations, and attendance at our Community Benefit. It was a huge success, with $56,000 going towards the Athletic Center/Fund-a-Need. Additionally, an approximate $80,000 was raised to fund enrichment activities for the students, and the Grant Proposals. A big thank you to the Board of Trustees, Greg Schneider and all of the Administration who provided assistance and support of the Community Benefit, and throughout the past two years. It has been my pleasure working with each and every one of you. I wish all of you a wonderful and restful summer. See you on the Hill this fall! Lesli Friel BPC President
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1791 Letter ~ June 2012
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Middle School News...cont. from pg 5
Lower School News...cont. from pg 6
than adults. I use the baseball hitting average as an example for students whose performance is lower than they want. If a student earns a 70% on an assessment and wants to perform at a higher rate, I will remark that he or she had batted 700; connecting with far more than half of the pitches I put over the plate. In contrast, the 30% that each had missed is a small portion of knowledge to fill in. “No one, not even Babe Ruth or Ted Williams, ever got close to 700,” is my answer. However, the role of a batting coach (i.e., teacher) is so important to players that they spend hours daily perfecting their swings and stances at the plate. A small adjustment of a foot here or an elbow there is sometimes all it takes.
expertly rode their bikes in the blue gym with our bicycle safety program. Throughout the year, they were also such wonderful friends to each other, in part by participating in their social thinking classes!
The movement towards summer vacation is a time to look at the many accomplishments of the students. In meetings, the faculty members will be analyzing the year to identify practices and plans that engaged students in authentic learning. We will try to preserve those best moments. We will also identify areas in need of change. Our disposition to modify curricula in order to expand students’ learning is a way of our working through our own discomfort with being wrong about some things. We will engage in professional reading this summer, and we will talk together about ways to improve our practice as educators. The summer for these professionals is marked by courses to teach or to take, workshops to teach or to attend, books to read, and lessons to prepare. “Teachers get their whole summer off” is another notion I would love to correct when I hear that in dentist’s waiting room. Help me to correct that notion by telling the speaker that this profession we love is one that does not value those who remain stagnant. Have a wonderful summer. 10
The third grade students ended the year with a thoughtful service project—a lemonade fundraiser! 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 history led them to some interesting library and classroom projects. They also hiked through history with their new friends from the Central School in South Berwick. They even learned to play the violin and completed some interesting computer projects. And their enthusiasm for learning and being Lower School leaders grew and grew and grew—which is a good thing— because they will soon be next year’s fourth grade class. The second half of the assembly, as tradition holds, has our fourth grade teachers, Mr. Summers and Mrs. Witherbee, highlight each fourth grader. It is a tremendous “minute of recognition” for each student. While I could not begin to match those tender moments in this space, I would like to state my appreciation for the collective leadership shown by the fourth graders this year. From leading the Lower School Production to the Ambassadors Program to the B.A. Bell Ceremony, our fourth graders have worked together so well in many collaborative roles. Their sense of community has defined our greater Lower School sense of community. Best of luck to our fourth grade class as they move on to equally impressive fifth grade roles in the fall. A slide show of smiling Lower School faces in numerous learning activities rounded out the assembly. With laughter, tears, applause and 1791 Letter ~June 2012
appreciation…we concluded another meaningful Lower School year. Thank you to all for the role(s) you have played in making it just that! Athletics News...cont. from pg 7
get acquainted with your teammates, learn basic and intermediate skills, work on conditioning, and show a commitment to the team. Please let me know if you will be unable to attend pre-season. Boys Cross Country Coach: Jon Davie jdavie@berwickacademy.org Preseason: Practices begin on Monday, August 27 and run through Wednesday Aug 29 from 5-6:30 p.m. Girls Cross Country Coach Raegan Russell rrussell@berwickacademy.org Preseason: Practices begin on Monday, August 27 and run through Wednesday Aug 29 from 5-6:30 p.m Golf Coach John Downey jdowney@berwickacademy.org Golf tryouts will be the first and second days of school. Any student interested in a tryout opportunity, please contact Coach Downey before mid August. If you are serious about playing golf, you should be playing a lot this summer. Our home course is The Ledges in York and you may want to play there a few times to familiarize yourself with the course. The tryouts will be played on the front nine. If you have any questions or concerns contact John Downey at 207-478-3444. Boys Basketball Coach Rory Early allforhoop@aol.com Summer: Boys Basketball team will be holding an open gym for all Upper School members during June 24 and continued on pg 14...
8th Grade Baccalaureate 2012
1791 Letter ~ June 2012
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Cindy Briggs - School Counselor
It is All About Relationships I know I’m not saying anything new or profound when I say “life is all about relationships,” but this year more than any other at Berwick Academy I have found this to be true. Once again, I had the privilege of teaching both in the Upper and Middle Schools. In the Upper School I taught my second year of AP Psychology, and in the Middle School I taught grade eight Ethics along with Greg Schneider. Both AP Psychology and Ethics were a bit different this year because of my new responsibilities as Assistant Head of School. Fortunately I taught C, a non-rotating period of AP Psychology and taught only on Wednesdays in the Middle School. To say that I didn’t arrive to class dripping of stress at times would be an outright lie. In fact, there were many days that I literally ran from the second floor of BurleighDavidson (Head of School’s office) to the third floor of Jeppesen Science Center (Charlene Hoyt’s room). There were even days when one class member (who will remain anonymous) would call Ms. Farrell at the front desk to see if I was there. Without fail, I would race up the path, up three flights of steps and down the hall, only to be greeted by 18 smiling faces (Mrs. Hoyt was number 18). Believe it or not, by the end of each of my AP Psychology or Ethics classes, I was re- centered, recharged and ready to go about my day. You are probably saying this makes no sense, how does frantically rushing around and teaching both Upper and Middle School students create a sense of balance for an individual? 12
We l l n e s s N e w s
It is all about relationships. Having the opportunity to get to know, on a somewhat intimate level, 70 students was incredibly sustaining for me. It kept me going when I needed to keep going this year. It enabled me to shut out some of the craziness of my new position, and reminded me to keep the BA students at the center of everything I did in my new role. In honor of these students and the relationships that we created, I’d like to share a few cherished memories from their classes. Let me begin my memory walk with Ethics. As the grade eight parents know, the students were required to complete service-learning projects during the third trimester. All and all, Mr. Schneider and I were managing approximately 13 different projects between the two classes. They ranged from a service-learning project that focused on the elderly in Kittery, ME to one which focused on third world countries and their need for shoes. What will I remember about this trimester? I will remember taking the girls up to the West Kennebunk SPCA, washing the huge St. Bernard and the girls laughing while getting soaking wet. I will remember traveling up to Mt. Agamenticus with a group of boys wondering how I was going to maneuver the bus back down the mountain. I will remember going to Kittery Estates and watching two of our females teach a hip hop dance to the residents, and I will remember sitting in the mini-bus waiting for the North Berwick Elementary School Group to finish their service and chatting freely with two female students about their lives. With all of these interactions we created a connection that went far 1791 Letter ~June 2012
beyond the “in class” student-teacher relationship. I got to know the kids, and they got to know me in a very different way. Ultimately, we formed deeper and more meaningful relationships with each other, and I received my sustenance. Now onto my Upper School class. As previously mentioned, this is my second year of teaching AP Psychology. I never thought I’d have a group of students that I enjoyed as much as my first group, but these 17 juniors and seniors proved me wrong. They were a unique blend of students, some much more studious than others. But that said they were all willing to put their best effort forward and learn about the fascinating material that psychology offers us. So what will I remember about this class? I will remember when one student was willing to put on my bathing cap and goggles and allowed me to squirt him in the face with water “for science”. I will remember playing “What’s My Psychological Disorder” and watching a young woman come alive and be silly in a way that I had never seen before; I will remember watching one student attempt to distinguish between potatoes and apple slices with a plugged nose, and developing a look of horror on her face when she realized that she had chosen wrongly; I will remember the energy and excitement the entire class experienced when they dissected an orange (yes, a piece of fruit) and labeled it with candy to make a brain, and lastly, I will remember singing Elton John’s Tiny Dancer the last day of senior classes. continued on pg 14...
Rachel Saliba - School Archivist
Unsung Heroine of Berwick Academy In the spirit of celebrating the dedication and commitment of our students, faculty, staff and parents this time of year, I want to take a moment to honor an unsung heroine and volunteer of Berwick Academy. For the past four years, Robin Silva has been volunteering in the archives and library every Friday. As the Librarian for the Portsmouth Athenaeum, Robin addresses many of the same issues we do in the Berwick Archives with respect to conservation, preservation and research requests. Her expertise and guidance in these areas has led to many important discoveries in the archives that have been a huge benefit to the school and especially, me!
Archives News
and signed “John L Dwight from Rev. Emerson, 1 May 1867.” In addition to that great project, Robin has been key to helping us continue to develop a complete list of all of the students who have ever attended Berwick Academy from as far back as 1817 (sadly, we don’t have records of students prior to 1817). So far, she has added over 3,000 alumni to our alumni list and filled a 100-year gap in our alumni database. Robin has worked diligently to confirm each student’s attendance including any information about awards s/he may have received while at BA and any other historically significant details
Robin was instrumental in rediscovering, cataloging and preserving important books in our old Fogg Library Collection. Without her, we would not have known that we had thousands of dollars’ worth of valuable first edition, signed or rare books sitting on our shelves that needed special protection, preservation and attention. A few of the books she worked on are, Captain Cooks Journal, edited by Captain Wharton and donated by Sarah Orne Jewett Class of 1865; Louisa May Alcott: Her Life, Letters and Journals, edited by Ednah Cheney, signed by Louisa May Alcott and donated by Hiram H Fogg (benefactor and relative of William Fogg); and finally, a first edition of May-Day and Other Pieces, by Ralph Waldo Emerson
about them. Through her research, we have been able to decipher tangled and common family names such as Goodwin, Wentworth, Lord, etc. We have also been able to document details about alumni involvement in the Civil War, such as an alumnus who served with the Confederates, or one who was a Union deserter, or even another alumnus who survived the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. In effect, Robin’s work has guaranteed that each student’s legacy – no matter how long ago, is preserved and is accessible for future researchers and the Berwick community. I wish that I could convince Robin to come to Tilton School to help me to establish the archives there, but it is clear that her heart is here, where it should be, at Berwick Academy. Robin has promised that she will stay on and help Alice Lynch as she takes on the responsibility of Archivist starting July 1. Alice is a lucky woman.
Finally, in the spirit of Commencement, to the left is a copy of The Parting Song, by alumnus Dr. William Hale, printed on the back of the 1905 reunion program. The song was written for the 100th Anniversary of Berwick Academy in 1891 and also sung at the dedication of Fogg Memorial in 1894. Editor’s Note: In the spirit of “parting,” Rachel will be leaving BA on July 1 and moving to Tilton Academy where her husband Peter will take over as head of school.
1791 Letter ~ June 2012
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Wellness News...cont. from pg 12
These special moments in Ethics and AP Psychology allowed the students and me to develop a different level of connection. These connections grew into meaningful relationships that truly supported me through my first year as Assistant Head of School. I hope they offered a similar sense of solace for these students when they were experiencing the stresses and strains of the year. To the 53 rising freshmen, 3 seniors and the 14 graduates I simply want to say thank you for a wonderful year! Best, Cindy Briggs Athletics News...cont. from pg 10
on July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 and in August on the August 5, 12, 19 and 26. All these dates will be on Sunday’s from 6-8 p.m. Girls Basketball Coach Brian Sanborn bsanborn@berwickacademy.org Summer: Girls Basketball will be attending a summer camp from July 13 – 15 open gym on the following dates: June 22, July 5, 12 from 6-8 p.m. We will host our own team week at Berwick from July 29 - August 2, during the evenings 5:30-8:30 p.m. Contact Coach Sanborn for more information. Fall Sports Middle School and Junior Varsity sports begin on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 4. Varsity sports begin on Monday, August 27, 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. Emergency Permission form and Physicals All health forms must be completed and filed with the school nurse no later than August 1 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 is 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. 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 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 is now posted on the Berwick Academy Portal. The schedule is subject to change.
Bulldog Golf Classic The Athletics Boosters are hosting their Annual Bulldog Golf Classic at the Ledges Golf Club in York, Maine, on Thursday, September 20, 2012; it is an 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, 2 new scoreboards, construction of the girls softball field, fencing around the baseball field and dugouts, and netting on the soccer and lacrosse fields and most recently our new custom trophy case in the athletic center. For more information go to www.berwickacademy.org or contact Rob Quinn at 207-384-2164 ext. 2800 or email rquinn@berwickacademy.org 14
1791 Letter ~June 2012
Upper School Spring Sports Awards Upper School
MVP
Coaches
BVL GVL BVBB GVSB BVT GVT BJVBL BJVWL GJVL BJVBB BJVT GJVT Girls Golf
John Reinhardt Shannon Farrell Ricky Kramer Kristin Sanborn Tristan Dardani Nicole Kleinmann Zach Flinkstrom Jake Horne Jessica Murray Justin Robertson Michael Clair Olivia Berger Stephanie Storey
Liam Darcy Cora Ordway Alex Hoyt Juliana Blais Ben Siegel Devon Wood Keegan McKabe Lucas Kaplan Alex Gassner Will Platt Joe Borg Emma Marsh Courtney Ricket t
"Most Improved"
"Most Improved"
US Hilltop Award Shannon Farrell John Reinhardt Bulldog Award Winners John Reinhardt Ben Siegel Nicole Kleinmann Grahm McGlinchey Alex Hoyt Joe Reid Middle School Coaches Award Sam Sweet, Boys Blue Lacrosse Kat Reid, Girls Blue Lacrosse Matt Grondahl, Boys White Lacrosse Sarah Bryn, Girls White Lacrosse Christina Grassie, MS Softball Ben Isaak, MS Boys Baseball MS Spirit Award Marguax Munick Grant Rusk MS Hilltop Award Blaine Farrell Lily Hedges
Arts News...cont. from pg 8
representation of local artists who work at the Rollinsford Mill across the river from South Berwick. The show brought the local community of artists to our students through exhibition and through artist workshops such as this.Tinka spent two days on the Hilltop working with Upper School artists in the studio. Students selected roving from a wide variety of colors and textures to create felted beads and felted pieces.
James Fenton. Finally, the yet-to-be discovered Upper School thespians will present the student directed oneacts on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.
Theater New for Next Year The US fall play Charley’s Aunt, is scheduled on November 9 and 10 is the classic British comic farce by Brandon Thomas. In the following week on November 16 and 17, the Middle School will present their Fall Musical: The Pirates of Penzance JR, based on the original Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. The winter season will be the backdrop for the Upper School winter musical, Les Misérables , one of the most successful musicals of all time, with music composed by ClaudeMichel Schönberg, libretto written by Alain Boublil, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and additional material by
1791 Letter ~ June 2012
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Jedd Whitlock - Director of Advancement
Alumni and Development News Dear Berwick Community, 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 class raised just over $92,000. The senior class voted to designate these funds to both the Annual Fund for Financial Aid and Faculty professional development. I remain appreciative and grateful for the efforts, wisdom and support of both the Annual Fund and Senior Gift Committees. They are: Annual Fund Chair Holly Malloy, Trustee LS Division Leader, Jenni Franco Callers: Tom Parrott Jennifer Hoover Shanlee Ginchereau Laura Smith Alexandra Jacuch MS Division Leader, Lisa Anderson Callers: Laura Smith Amy Criswell Susan Noerdlinger, Trustee Janet Stevens EJ Hetz Katherine Kaplan Bernadette Randle Dee Whall Darlene Saltz Jamie James
US Division Leader, Sue Downey Callers: Ann Reis Molly Samson Laurie Potter Elaine Hayden Deanna Grammenos Adriana Cunha-Solomon Mary Anne Siegel Nina Maurer Jennifer Wiggin Marcia Flinkstrom Deborah Walden Mary Clark Jim Lawson Linda Plaza Betsy Coughlan Senior Gift Committee Mark Tay, Trustee Sheila Woolley Paula Reid Mary Reinhardt
I look forward to a strong finish and reporting to you on the entire year shortly. Thank you again for all of your effort and support on behalf of Berwick Academy! Best, Jedd Whitlock Director of Advancement
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1791 Letter ~June 2012