September 1791 Letter

September 2009

Tenth Day Assembly

1791 Letter ~ September 2009

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I have discovered new empathy for parents on the first day of school.

As educators, first days of school have always signified energy, life, enthusiasm, and meaning. We have chosen a life of working with students because we love the exquisite wackiness of kids of all ages. Our students keep us challenged; they keep us inspired. They keep us young. This is the first year when my own child, Kenna, headed off to her first school experience. It is a program for two-year-olds for three half days, but it is the first time in our family that she has been away from home in a regular, structured way. Thus far she has been raised in the Hayes House, enveloped by the enriching umbrella of Berwick Academy, but her world has suddenly grown exponentially. In the few weeks heading up to her first day, I found myself wondering about all of the things I have experienced with her in the past two years: What will she do in school? Will she be scared? Lonely?

Will she act out when we are not there?

Have I been doing enough as a parent to prepare her?

It has felt ironic acknowledging these feelings, since for years as a Director of Admission and Head of School, I have encouraged people not to worry, that their kids are resilient, and that everything will be just fine. Of course, I know intellectually that all of that is true, but now I appreciate the layer of emotion that is inextricably woven between the professional educator and the well meaning but, in my case, slightly anxious parent. I get it now. In the end, here is what ultimately gave me the most confidence in my own child’s situation on her first day of school: her teachers are exceptional.

They are professionals, and they have 2

dealt with thousands of children the age of my daughter. I have come to embrace the fact that they definitely know more about children Kenna’s age than I do. This is a good thing. While I may know a bit more about running a school, coaching a football team, or playing the saxophone, I am fairly safe in admitting that I may not be a great toddler teacher at this moment.

Their expertise gives me a great sense of confidence, anticipation, and joy for my child’s experience at her new school.

As our first week of school rolls on at Berwick, I share this little confession with you to remind you that Berwick teachers are extraordinary people. Not only do they love your children in their own ways, but they have wisdom about children that represents an incredible resource in raising your own boy or girl into the wonderful man or woman that they will ultimately become. As parents, we can’t do it alone, and I am grateful to have a new resource to add to our family as we work to raise the happiest children we possibly can. Know that as a Berwick parent, you draw upon the strength of an entire community of these exceptional educators who can help you along a thirteen year journey of preparing your child for a happy and rewarding life.

While my sense of empathy has clearly grown, my zeal for first days of school remains unchanged. Bring on the giggling, the creativity, and the joy: the kids are back.

I have mercifully spared you a longer entry this month, as I wanted to include a message from the family of a 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

great mentor and wise friend. As many of you know, Hap Ridgway suffered a significant fall from a horse at his ranch this summer, which led to some substantial injuries. I have learned a great deal from my predecessor during my first two years at Berwick, but no lessons have been more influential than his model of integrity and his various examples of courage. Hap and Susan graciously wanted to offer the following words of thanks to the Berwick Community for all of the collective support during the past few months: The caring of the Berwick community had always been a thing of pride and wonder for the Ridgway family. Time after time after time, we saw the community rise to the occasion of a person or family’s loss or challenge. As we retired to Wyoming, we worried we were also leaving behind that strong sense of community with its tradition of support. The summer of 2009 has taught us a remarkable lesson about the reach and power of the Berwick Community.

Late in June, Hap was working with a young horse when it reared up and went over on him. Fractured pelvis and fractured jaw, emergency room and life flight, surgery and ICU were the reality of the next few days.

Family and friends “circled the wagons,” but our numbers were small and the circumstances were daunting.Then a remarkable thing happened. It started at first with a few cards and grew into a deluge of cards and letters and gifts and calls from members of the Berwick community. What we had known objectively about the caring of Berwick we now learned personally. All of the expressions of concern and support, and even the quips about the idea of “staying on the horse,” were and continue to be a powerful balm.

The horse clearly won this round, but Hap is recovering gradually. He has stashed

the crutches and is starting to get back into the fields to work. His jaw, despite the good doctor’s handiwork, is more problematic, but his family still appreciates the enforced silence of his wired jaw. He has had many good lessons in humility such as figuring out the crutches while Susan kept a death grip on his belt and learning how to drink without too much dribbling or slurping.

Committee from the past two years, as we work towards refining our Fire Drills (evacuation), Safe in Place (lockdown), and Reverse Evacuation (getting students into the buildings quickly) procedures. Given the complexity of our campus, this tool truly helps make our campus a safer place for children.

When this story is finally written, the Berwick tradition of caring and its reach across the country and back in time will have the place of honor. The Ridgway family is incredibly grateful for the support and all that it meant during the travails of Hap’s recovery. In ways hard to express, being Berwickians has never meant more.

Blue and White Meets Alumni Weekend We have combined our Alumni Weekend gathering with Blue and White weekend this fall. The festivities will start with our annual Bulldog Golf Tournament at The Ledges on September 24, and events will fill up the entire weekend. By moving these alumni events to the fall, we hope to drive better attendance (and hopefully better weather). I hope that the entire community will come out on the weekend of September 26, filling the weekend with many generations of Bulldog passion and spirit.

BAPA Projects Add New Life to Campus I am so thrilled to thank our Parents organization for the incredible power of their gifts to the school last year. In addition to funding a budget filled with enriching activities for our students, funding from the Auction helped us fully repair the Commons roof, which will certainly make me sleep more easily this winter. In addition, Auction beneficiary funds have funded incredible new furniture in the Upper School, literacy and playground materials in the Lower School, and wonderful new landscaping for Clement Middle School. We are so lucky to have such an incredibly supportive group of parents partnering with us at Berwick.

New Communication System I am pleased to announce that we were able to install a campus-wide communication system this summer, which represents a monumental step in increasing our campus safety in the event of an emergency. All classrooms and common spaces are now equipped with a speaker system that will allow for emergency communication as needed. This allows us to continue the exceptional work of our Safety

H1N1 Update As flu season will be upon us shortly, please know that the CDC is recommending that all school-aged children receive seasonal flu vaccines.

The first generation of H1N1 vaccine should be available in mid October, but may require multiple visits. Please check our new webpage regarding H1N1 preventative measures at Berwick at www.berwickacademy. org, under Community. Information regarding local vaccination locations has also been included on this site.

BERWICK ACADEMY CAMPUS STORE

SHOP ONLINE!

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

Log on to www.berwickacademy. org and click on Community to find the Berwick Store

Driving on Campus With a sudden surge of cars on campus, I wanted to remind the community to please use extra caution when driving on campus. Having so many small children on this campus, and being situated in a residential neighborhood, makes this such a critical issue for our parent and student drivers.

1791 Letter ~ September 2009

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Peter Saliba

Dear Parents; Getting off on the right foot at the beginning of the school year is one of the toughest tasks I face as the Upper School Director. Since we are an academic institution, I could probably get away with our Mission (promoting virtue and useful knowledge); our Core Values (balance, integrity, engagement, excellence); or even our Latin motto (Humility is the Beginning of Wisdom); however, knowing teenagers, I am convinced that should I take any of these options, their eyes would glaze over in a matter of seconds. Instead, I settled on a more practical approach. This year, we will work hard, play hard and have fun.

Berwick is not an easy place, especially if you are new to our school.

These challenges can be academic, social, athletic, and artistic. They may come in the form of learning the periodic table for chemistry, mastering derivatives in calculus, or understanding the nuances of the Constitutional Convention. No matter the challenge, we expect everyone to work hard and to meet challenges head-on. This is easier said than done, and it is the efforts of our students that enable them to ultimately succeed in their work and life. In a high school, everybody experiences frustrations and obstacles, and overcoming these challenges defines our success. Examples abound in our culture of people overcoming significant roadblocks, including the Beatles who could not get a gig in Liverpool. They had to travel to Hamburg, Germany, to get the opportunity to play. They eventually worked through their challenge in 4

Germany by playing 106 consecutive nights, for more than six hours a night.

Playing hard is just as important as working hard. Some may interpret this as fostering a competitive, driven spirit on the athletic field or stage. I interpret this as knowing how to play.

We should know when to be competitive, and when to relax and enjoy the moment. When I get on the rink with my team at practice, I go into the corners pretty hard, and move the puck with a snap of the stick. But I also know how to enjoy the game and the camaraderie of being on a team. Most successful people have mastered the art of playing not only because it is enjoyable, but because it keeps them balanced.

Finally, having fun is about experiencing unfiltered joy. Sometimes it comes with success, or humor, but often it is simply recognizing the beauty of the events unfolding around us. This can be a quiet moment in a practice room or art studio, a reaction to a friend’s comment, or a discovery that Latin can actually be entertaining (seriously, it is!) No matter the cause, we should let that fun out and share it.

Working with high school students requires a lot of work, but we also play and have fun. It’s my hope that all of us can experience these things together as we navigate through the year.

Warmly,

1791 Letter ~ September 2009

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This academic year closes the first decade of the twenty-first century, and everywhere I look in professional groups and their postings, there is discussion of the skills our students need in order to create meaningful lives and work in the next nine decades. We may take time to reflect upon our experiences, but quite honestly, just a few of the skills that were critical in our lives as students are needed in the future. The corpus of knowledge alone demands more skill than memorization; more judgment than ownership of ideas. Yes, the three R’s of our twentieth century education will be essential, but to them we must add new R’s such as resourcefulness, research, and resilience.

I come from a generation of folks who were told, “Children should be seen and not heard.” That adage worked at a time when extended families came together for Sunday dinners, for holidays, and for those rare occasions when a family member who “moved away” was returning for a rare visit. We had a “kids’ table” in each home’s dining room. We minded our table manners and asked permission to be excused from the table. Misbehaviors were quelled by a look from one of the adults, and each of us longed for the day when we could sit at the grown-ups’ table, even though we cousins shared much hilarity amongst ourselves. Today, we bring our children into the world of adult conversation and comportment from the earliest years, and we expect our children to engage in weighty topics of current events, social reforms, and politics. Better still, we educate our children to bring information they have acquired at school to the discussions. Today’s adolescents think

in grown-up ways that I only imagined when I was an early teen.

Another limit placed upon many of my generation was, “When I want you to have an opinion, I’ll give it to you.” As a child, as an adolescent, and later as a young adult, I chafed against this imposition of authority more than any other restriction. I held forth with passionate arguments in front of the bathroom mirror, or in the privacy of my room after I had read every bit of news I could locate in our public library. While my parents were from the “Greatest Generation,” my generation was unwilling to swear blind faith to policies and canons. Our children need to be better informed than we former campus radicals ever were. Here is where our jobs as educators will find the finest hours - in the guiding of minds that will critically evaluate the challenges facing our changing planet.

Perhaps the single most important skill our children will develop is that of critical thinking.

They will find ample opportunities this year to investigate, to weigh ideas, and to suspend judgment until they have finished their investigations. With access that far exceeds the physical walls of a library, today’s students may learn about global crises and the histories that connect them. They will bring a wealth of home values to their discussions, and will build informed opinions that may wend their way to the dinner table. We walk a delicate path with the students as we examine the differences between ideas and ideologies. As educators, we are committed to creating a neutral environment in the classroom, fully 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

aware that the world beyond our doors is marked by increasing polarity and propaganda. Immediate access to sources of information helps our students to distill ideas with increasing awareness of the spin the media use to distribute the news.

Our best efforts, then, are aimed to open the doors to the investigation of ideas. We will hold our students to high standards of logic, of informed decision making, and of documentation to support their theses.

We will probe, suggest alternatives, and praise. All this will be done with a dedication to provide them with access to trustworthy data.

These future thinkers, policy makers, and innovators will face the next several decades armed with experiences that will guide them in making choices and decisions about their global neighborhood. By then, I hope that each of us, educator and parent alike, will be proud of the ways in which our hands and minds and hearts created opportunities for critical thinking to rise to an apex in the halls of educational institutions like ours at Berwick Academy.

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Rather than sleeping in on my first Saturday morning of the new school year, I awoke early and drove to Spring Hill to watch the Pumpkinman Sprint Triathlon. With cool weather and rain holding off for the moment, the conditions supported the swim, bike and run stages of this annual South Berwick event. While not considered the optimal spectator sport for logistical reasons, I enjoy watching the challenge inherent in this sport (and I stress watching, as I have not yet reached my goal of participating in a triathlon.)

While the triathlon’s challenges are still unknown to me, I have run a number of marathons and half marathons and therefore appreciate the support one can receive from fans along the course as they greet the competition. And so it was that during the race, I lined up at strategic points to support my wife, friends, colleagues and many unknown participants as they pushed through the triathlon’s stages.

Early in the race, such as the transition from the swim to the bike, I found myself giving basic cheers, such as “come on, you can do it.” (Okay, you knew it was coming; please bear with me as I attempt to connect my spectator experience at the triathlon to the beginning of the school year.) In a sense, it reminded me of the month of September with our students—a time when I am just beginning to get to know or reconnect with them through introductory forms of encouragement.

As the school year moves into full form, I pick up the pace with the students— understanding them (and cheering them on) at a deeper level. As a faculty, 6

we appreciate our students’ strengths and weaknesses; what they do well and what they are working to improve upon. I essentially experienced that same connection during the successive stages of the triathlon, as I cheered on the participants at a more intimate and personal level as the race progressed and as their training and willpower sustained them through their final strides.

I occasionally joke that a school year feels like a marathon race or even a marathon in which we run at a sprinters’ pace. Regardless of distance or timing, I take on many roles as Lower School Director. One that I find both rewarding and intriguing is the support I give to our students—supporting them throughout their Lower School experience.

As we are currently in the opening stage of the new school year, the faculty and I are working actively to get to know our students. Whether it be the student-focus meetings we hold prior to the opening of school, the reading fluency monitor measures that we administer in the first few weeks of school or our new student introductions at our first morning assembly, we take this phase of the school year seriously.

At the time of publication for this September 1791 Letter, our first, second, and third graders will have completed their first field trip—one that brought them to Strawbery Banke to build fairy houses for the Portsmouth Fairy House Tour. In planning this trip with Lower School faculty and the Strawbery Banke staff, I felt it important to capture the moment inherent in participating in this creative event. The field trip involved 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

students collecting natural materials and then using their imaginations while working collaboratively to create houses made of materials such as wood, grass and leaves. Besides an enjoyable learning experience, we also saw this as an opportunity to be of service and support to this family-oriented venture.

While the first through third graders were hard at work at Strawbery Banke, we felt it important to leave our kindergarten students at school to continue their fine work in establishing their own learning community with Ms. Williams and Mrs. Lynch. What a great start to the school year our kindergarten class has enjoyed!

Finally, on the day that many of our Lower School students were off campus, the fourth graders remained at school to participate in their Leadership Day. They worked with the Sweetser staff and with our own faculty on various initiatives which would support their role as informal Lower School leaders throughout the year and more specifically as formal Lower School leaders in the Ambassadors Program (helping out at recess and other organized activities).

I trust that the events of the first few weeks of school—including those on September 17, have helped our students successfully begin the new year. I look forward to supporting them through this period and other phases in the months ahead!

Rob Quinn

SOCCER JAMBOREE The weather was not on our side on Saturday, September 12 during our annual Soccer Jamboree as it rained most of the day. Both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams competed against Lexington Christian Academy, Proctor Academy, and Hyde School in the preseason scrimmage. The event was well attended by parents, families and friends. Following the games, we were treated to an impressive barbeque sponsored by the Berwick Academy Athletic Boosters. A special thank you Kim and Tom Mills, Steve Grenier, Jim and Diane Wheeler, Paula and Sam Reid, Andy Lathrop, Marilena Canuto, and Holly Bennett (I apologize if I have failed to mention others). Your work and dedication made the event a success. I also want to thank SAGE Dining Services for providing the food and Facilities for the set-up and breakdown. A special thank you to Paul Calo of Buildings and Grounds for his assistance on Saturday.

SPORTS MEDICINE CONCUSSION PROGRAM We are continuing our Impact Testing Program which we have successfully used with our contact sport athletes.

This computer program is designed to address the seriousness and dangers of returning to play too quickly after a concussion. This year we will test all freshmen, new students and other students not previously tested. At the start of the season, athletes will complete a computerized baseline test of the brain. If an athlete receives a brain injury, he or she is retested to see how their brain function compares to the

stored baseline test. Test results allow a medical practitioner to determine if the brain is recovering from an injury and dictate if the student is ready to return to play. If you have questions please contact Holly Bennett, LATC or Rob Quinn.

EEE VIRUS Each year this mosquito born virus is a concern in the Seacoast area.

The woods surrounding the fields have been professionally sprayed using a safe “green” solution in order to minimize the mosquitoes. Teams will be supplied with a mosquito repellent and athletes are encouraged to use a repellent for practices and games.

AED AUTOMATIC EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS AED’s are located in the basement of Fogg, near the mailboxes in Burleigh Davidson, and in the back hallway of the athletic center. Holly Bennet, LATC also carries a unit at all games. All faculty coaches are currently certified in CPR and AED. ATHLETIC TRAINING INTERNS BA continues its relationship with UNH and UNE as a clinical athletic training site for undergraduate students.

You will see Jennifer and Becky alongside Certified Athletic Trainer Holly Bennett at games and practices this semester. Jennifer and Becky will assist in providing first-aid care and will oversee injury rehabilitation programs. Both have experience in covering collegiate and high school sports and are welcome additions to 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

the department.

OFF THE HILLTOP We received some exciting athletic achievement news from the summer we wanted to share with everyone. Our very own Chris Atwood, grade 12, a standout three-sport athlete for BA, where he plays golf, ice hockey and lacrosse for the Bulldogs. During the summers, Chris works at the Rochester Country Club helping with the daily operations of the golf course.

He is a junior member at the club and plays often between shifts at work.

Chris was also very active this summer playing in various golf tournaments working on his game. He thought he would try his luck in the Rochester Club Championship. The Tournament kicked off in late July with a 2-day stroke play qualifier. For the next three weeks Chris managed to knock off one veteran member after another until he was facing the #2 seed in the final championship match. His opponent had multiple club championships to his name and the cards were stacked against our guy. Chris went on to win the Club Championship on the 36th hole of the match; he had a stellar performance that included an eagle down the stretch. Chris became the youngest winner in Rochester Club Championship history. He was back at the club the next day cleaning golf carts and savoring the victory among the club members.

We had more impressive news coming from senior Melissa Beckett, who has started a very successful show continued on pg. 14...

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you gotta have Arts

ARTS BOOSTERS Arts Boosters Variety Show Please mark your calendars for Friday, October 16, for the eighth annual Arts Boosters Variety Show.

The proceeds from this event will benefit the visual and performing arts at Berwick Academy. Faculty and staff members representing all three divisions will present their performance piece in the theater beginning at 7 p.m. Please come and enjoy a night filled with song, laughter, comedy and maybe a little magic in the fall air.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students or $25 for families. There are no reservations, and admission is on a first-come-first-served basis. We hope to see you there.

DANCE Let the Dance Begin The Berwick Academy dance program is starting the year off with a bang! Classes have started and the dancers are feeling the challenge and excitement of a new year. Steady growth in enrollment has allowed us to add a third level of ballet to the program, so we can better suit our increasingly more advanced dancers. We are pleased to welcome back returning members of the faculty: Christine Bessette, Tina Cassidy, Gina Hesse, Joy Turner and Sasha Randall. All faculty members are working professionals in their disciplines and we are honored to have such an esteemed group leading our young movers. Classes began September 14, and the dancers have a fantastic, enthusiastic energy. If you have not yet registered for classes and are interested in observing or experiencing a class on a trial basis, please feel free to come by 8

and see all of the wonderful classes that are offered.

The summer was an eventful one in the world of dance for BA Dance Director, Sasha Randall. In continuing her efforts to bring dance to New England communities in a manner that is both accessible and innovative, she found herself working with a number of powerhouses in government and the field of dance.

After completing two very enjoyable weeks of camp here on the Hilltop, Ms. Randall found herself immediately immersed in consultation and technical direction of Live and Dance Strong, a benefit concert in honor of, Richard Randall, past President of University of Maine, Augusta who died last year of esophageal cancer. The benefit raised an astounding $10,000 for the Harold Alfond Cancer Care Center in Augusta and the performance was a deeply moving success.

Ms. Randall’s efforts to expand the dance initiative throughout New England continued with discussions and planning conferences with the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Alliance for Arts Education.

Goals for integrating dance residencies into 300 public schools were discussed and timelines for implementation were confirmed, with 2010 as the start-up year for this ground-breaking program. Conversations continued throughout the summer, culminating with a luncheon meeting at Bearnstow on Parker Pond in Mt. Vernon, Maine.

Bearnstow is a 65-acre dance artist retreat directed by internationally acclaimed choreographer Bebe Miller.

Ms. Randall had the opportunity 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

during this time to work closely with many forces of nature in the dance field, including Bebe Miller, Laura Faure (Bates Dance Festival Founder and director) and Pilobolus Founder Alison Chase. If you are interested in learning more about the initiative to expand the dance map in New England, please contact Sasha Randall.

For more information on the dance program contact Sasha Randall at srandall@berwickacademy.org MUSIC After School Opportunity Band Director Stephanie Sanders is offering Musicianship as one way to fulfill the Upper School seasonal after-school requirement.

This activity is open to all Upper School students in grades 9 - 12 and meets three afternoons each week by the athletic season schedule.

Please remember that a music student must be a member of one of Berwick’s performing groups to audition for District I or All State music festivals. If they cannot fit a traditional music course into their course schedule during the school day, Musicianship would satisfy this festival requirement.

This opportunity in the performing arts is not for academic credit, however, membership in this activity will appear on each student’s individual activity sheet.

Stephanie Sanders will also continue to teach the Middle School Jazz Band after school on Tuesday afternoon.

Anyone interested in participating in any of these ensembles continued on pg 14...

PRESIDENT’S NOTES We want to welcome everyone back to the Hill and thank all the parents who were able to attend the parent coffee on the porch the first day of school. It was great to see so many new and familiar faces. I want to inform new parents that there are many ways to keep up with school and BAPA events and information. Remember to look in the division weeklies, the 1791 letter, the Berwick Academy portal, and your very important school calendar.

All BAPA events are on the calendar and will be updated on the portal. Also we want all new parents to feel free to ask any questions they may have. This is a busy time of year and we know navigating the first weeks of school can be tricky and we are here to help make this time easier.

Volunteering The many terrific events at Berwick require parents to help make them happen. Volunteering can be such a rewarding experience. Parents not only get the benefit of meeting other parents they may otherwise not get a chance to meet, they also know they have helped their children’s school. Feel free to talk to your division coordinators to find out where there are volunteering needs.

Class representatives are needed in all grades K-12, so please consider the position. A description of class rep duties is listed in the BAPA section on the portal. To find them, log on to the website and click on “Parent Portal” in the left hand column. Scroll down until you see BAPA Downloads. Click on the + and in the resulting list you will see a document entitled: BAPA

Class Representative Duties.” Click on that link and the document will open for you.

huge hit and helped kids and parents reconnect and get ready to start the new school year.

September 28 at 8:15 a.m. BAPA will hold a General Meeting in the Commons Lounge with class rep meetings to follow

It has been a great first week watching the Lower School students explore their new classrooms and eagerly meet up with teachers and friends. Looks like we are off to a great school year!

Please join us Monday morning on September 28 for our first BAPA meeting of the year. We will start off with refreshments and then Jedd Whitlock, our new Director of Advancement, will be on-hand to introduce himself and let us know what is going on in the Alumni and Development Office. We will also have updates from Board members and sign-ups for various volunteer positions. Following the meeting we will break into divisions for class rep meetings. This is a great opportunity to sit in on a meeting to see if being a class rep may interest you. During the meeting, please feel free to ask any questions regarding the position. We look forward to seeing you there.

Questions or Suggestions?

We are always looking for new ideas and suggestions, so please feel free to contact us. Talk to a BAPA Board member or class rep while on campus or send us an email. We would love feedback from our members.

Jean K. Jarvis BAPA President LOWER SCHOOL NEWS A warm welcome or welcome back to all Berwick families! Hopefully you had a wonderful, relaxing summer! Thank you to all of the families who hosted back-to-school socials; they were a 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

Please check out the BAPA bulletin board to the left of the stairway as you enter the Lower School. We will be keeping this bulletin board updated with contact information, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities.

We will also be posting a copy of the information on the bulletin board to the portal.

The first BAPA meeting is on Monday September 28th at 8:15 AM in the Commons. If you are interested in volunteering in some way, becoming a class representative, or learning about BAPA, please attend this meeting! We would love to see you there and can always use more helping hands!

September is a busy month! Here are some dates to keep in mind: Thursday, September 24, is the Lower School Back-to-School Night for grades 1-4. It starts at 7 p.m.

September 21-26 is Blue & White week.

This week celebrates school spirit. It begins on Monday with a dress-up day and Tenth Day Assembly; and ends on Saturday with the Lower School field day.

October and November are also very busy. Please keep these events in mind: continued...

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Tuesday, October 6 is the Lower School Curriculum Night, which will feature information about the LS Music Program, Health and Wellness Program, and the Math Program.

thank the Barbour’s for the grade 5, Deborah Walden for the grade 7 and Linda Fishbaugh for the grade 8 socials.

It was nice to see everyone and catch up after a three-month hiatus.

Friday, October 16 at 5:30 p.m. is the BAPA sponsored Lower School Potluck Dinner and Variety Show.

Grade 8 BBQ to benefit June Baccalaureate

Thursday, October 29 at 2 p.m. is the Lower School concert for grades K2 and the grade 3 and 4 Mini Blues concert.

Friday, October 30 at 2 p.m. is the Halloween parade.

Monday, November 2 through Friday November 6 is the BAPA sponsored Lower School Book Fair. We will be featuring books from Usborne, Borders and Scholastic. This event is a huge fundraiser for the Lower School, please come out and find some good reading materials!

BAPA has many volunteer opportunities! Helping with the Lower School Potluck, the Lower School Book Fair, or becoming a class representative are just a few ways to help out. We are also looking for a coordinator for the Box Top for Education Program and for the Lower School Book Club.

If you are interested, please contact the Lower School coordinators.

Pamela Oberg pamela@hike-nh.com Beth Tykodi bptykodi@comcast.net Lower School Coordinators MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS The summer seemed to fly by after a very wet beginning; but now we would like to welcome everyone back to school. Before we began our first day we had some back-to-school gatherings to kick off the beginning of the school year. We would like to 10

Where: Berwick Academy When: Blue & White Weekend...

Saturday, September 26, 11:30-2:00 What: A fabulous BBQ! Your choice of hamburger, hotdog, veggie burger, salads, drinks and desserts!! We’ll also be selling coffee and donuts in the morning!

Price: $6 per person, additional drinks are $1 and desserts are $1.

Please support our eighth Graders in their fundraising efforts!!

There are still several openings for class reps in the Middle School so if you would like to be involved and help with some volunteer opportunities please contact Andrea Bristol or Joanne Meyer at malted92@comcast.net or jomeyer777@aol.com.

UPPER SCHOOL NEWS As I sit to write this piece, the sun is shining brightly yet there is a chill to the air, which for me always signifies soccer season. It was great to see all the students walking across Fogg Field, filling the halls with chatter and laughter. The parents were not far behind in the noise category with a large turnout on the BD porch for the BAPA Coffee. As you read this, the Upper School will have already had play auditions, a Varsity Soccer Jamboree, school pictures, the sophomore class trip, Back-to-School Night, curriculum with the parents and a special trip out to the Shoals. The junior class will have started their magazine drive, their one fundraiser for their Prom in the spring.

The end of September brings the golf tournament and Blue and 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

White Week beginning Monday September 21, and coming to a close on Saturday September 27, with soccer games played at home and a barbeque sponsored by the eighth grade.

Berwick parent GOLFERS WANTED for the Bulldog Golf Classic, Thursday, Sept 24 at The Ledges in York, Maine.

This tournament is hosted by the BA Athletics Boosters and all proceeds benefit the BA student athletes and facilities. This year the Boosters have pledged funds for the start-up costs for the Girls Field Hockey Program and they would like to add more scoreboards on the playing fields for Softball and Baseball teams.

Golfer registration and Sponsor forms are on the school website, at www.berwickacademy.org/athletics The first US Coffeehouse will be hosted on Friday, September 25 from 7-10 p.m. This event is a fun time for our musically talented students and those who enjoy sitting around listening to good music and hanging out with friends. There are snacks and drinks provided by parents, each class sponsors one coffee house a year.

The event is always chaperoned by US faculty, some of whom share their musical talents with the crowd.

October brings Convocation, a variety show, a dance and the play.

Please remember to look at the school calendar and read the US Weekly with BAPA link. Updates from BAPA and student activities are listed on this link and many parents find it helpful.

Enjoy!

Suzanne McFarland, suzannerye@comcast.net Mary Pat Dolan Marypat.dolan@comcast.net Upper School Coordinators

NEW FAMILY NEWS

After a summer of emails, it was great to put faces to names during the new families coffee morning on the porch of the Burleigh Davidson building this first day of school. I know it’s still early days, but hopefully you are finding your BA groove and getting into a sustainable routine for the school year.

If you haven’t already, please take a good long look at your BA calendar (hopefully you have the printed version at home, but the online version is on the portal). The next month is packed with events all over campus.

Very little will miss your radar if you check the school calendar regularly.

Please feel free to email me with any specific questions you have about any event or if you need another calendar sent to you.

I’d like to draw your attention to the BAPA General Meeting on Monday, Sept 28, at 8.15 a.m., in the Commons lounge.

If you are interested in becoming involved this year with the parent’s association and volunteering in school activities, then please try to make this meeting. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of BAPA. It’s just a group of friendly parents who desperately need your help and welcome your ideas.

Sometimes there’s even coffee! And muffins! BAPA does so much, there is bound to be an opportunity that suits your interests and available time. Come check it out!

Katie Clark BAPA New Family Coordinator (207) 384-0019 Kclark_uk@hotmail.com AUCTION NEWS With the first week of school complete, we are looking ahead to many exciting events that occur on the Berwick campus. One of these events is the

Berwick Academy Parents Association Benefit Auction. Preliminary plans are underway for this event, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2010, and we have a host of exciting ideas this year. As always, we welcome your support in planning this wonderful evening. Join us for our first meeting – a great way to connect with the BA community - scheduled for Thursday, September 17 at 8:30 a.m. in the Commons. At this meeting we will begin to share our vision for the evening, and look to find parents who are excited to join us as we plan this event. We are looking for help in all aspects of preparing for the Auction – marketing, solicitation, advertising, logistics, decorations and set-up, to name just a few. We hope to see you at our first meeting. Coffee and baked goods will be served! If you have any questions regarding how you can help, feel free to contact Jean, Mary or Lesli.

Jean Jarvis jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint.net Lesli Friel m.friel@comcast.net Mary Towey marytowey@comcast.net Auction Co-Chairs BAPA COMMUNICATIONS Thank you to Eliza Peter and Holly Grimes for all their help with the August 1791 letter. And a special thank you to new parents Richard Fay and Margaret Borkowski for their willingness and efforts to help!

The 1791 Letter will now be mailed via email each month. If you would like to receive a paper copy, please contact Sondra Farrell sfarrell@ berwickacademy.org.Please remember to keep checking the portal for the latest BAPA news and announcements!

Sarah Hebert hebertsh@comcast.net BAPA Communications Coordinator

2009-2010 BAPA BOARD DIRECTORY PRESIDENT Jean Jarvis (603) 332-0164 VICE PRESIDENT Diane Walker (603) 942-5667 SECRETARY Nickie Gaudette (207) 651-3083 GENERALTREASURER Tracy Howe (603) 692-4631 SCHOOL’S TREASURER Nancy Noyes (207) 439-8761 LOWER SCHOOL COORDINATORS Pamela Oberg (603) 742-6630 Beth Tykodi (603) 749-5050 MIDDLE SCHOOL COORDINATORS Andrea Bristol (207) 439-0880 Joanne Meyer (603) 964-1331 UPPER SCHOOL COORDINATORS Suzanne McFarland (603) 436-2994 Mary Pat Dolan (603) 964-1827 NEW FAMILY COORDINATOR Katie Clark (207) 384-0019 COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Sarah Hebert (207) 384-3366 AUCTION COORDINATORS Jean Jarvis (603) 332-0164 Lesli Friel (603) 379-2104 Mary Towey (603) 379-2658

1791 Letter ~ September 2009

jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint.net DianeWalker@metrocast.net flysolo@metrocast.net s-t-howe@comcast.net nnoyes@comcast.net pamela@hike-nh.com bptykodi@comcast.net malted92@comcast.net jomeyer777@aol.com suzannerye@comcast.net mpatdolan@comcast.net kclark_uk@hotmail.com hebertsh@comcast.net Jean.Jarvis1@myfairpoint.net m.friel@comcast.net marytowey@comcast.net

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STUDENT WELLNESS ADVISAORY TEAM S.W.A.T. I am excited to announce a new Upper School Leadership Program for the 2009-10 school year. This new program was developed by Alysa Morse and Kolbie McCabe, Class of 2009. Alysa and Kolbie approached me last spring and asked if I would be willing to supervise their senior project.

These two young women worked around the clock over the next two weeks, contacting other independent school prgorams, researching student leadership, and designing program materials. They ended up creating an awesome new leadership program for Berwick Academy. Ted Smith and I have the distinct honor of co-facilitating S.W.A.T. The Student Wellness Advisory Team (S.W.A.T.) is a group of ten students, consisting of six seniors and four juniors. It is gender balanced and was chosen by the freshman class advisors, Upper School administration, and a group of ten senior leaders from the Class of 2009. S.W.A.T.’s primary goal is to assist the new freshmen in adjusting to the Upper School culture.

Each S.W.A.T. mentor is assigned seven or eight freshmen. Simply stated, a S.W.A.T. mentor is to “be there” for the freshmen throughout their first year of Upper School. Their duties may include assisting a freshman by simply being kind and saying “hi”, to making sure they have someone to sit with at lunch, to helping them with the typical stress and anxiety during midterm exams. Nine of the ten S.W.A.T. mentors accompanied the freshmen class to Camp Winona the Wednesday 12

before school started. This trip was an absolute blast! We couldn’t have asked for better weather and the S.W.A.T. mentors “stepped up” in ways that we never thought possible. They, along with Sam Winters, the Student Body President, made this trip very special not only for the freshmen, but also the faculty. They made the faculty’s job so

much easier because they did almost all of the work! More importantly, they made the trip truly enjoyable for the freshmen because they got to interact with them (older peers) instead of us (the adults.) There were so many incredible moments on the trip, but one that I will always remember is when we realized that we were missing one of the S.W.A.T. groups during an evening activity in the Junior Wiggy. I was assigned to “search and rescue”, e.g find them. Fortunately, I didn’t have to look hard or go far. I just traveled downstairs and found them “holding court” with their eight freshmen. The group was laughing histerically when I opened the door to let them know that they were a half hour late for the large group activity.

One S.W.A.T. mentor kindly 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

volunteered to stay behind to assist Ms. Onken with the fourteen new upperclassmen who came to Berwick this fall.. He, along with other Upper School student leaders showed the new students around the campus before heading to York Beach for some fun in the sun!

Needless to say, this new leadership group has been very busy welcoming the newest members of the Berwick community.

But their job doesn’t stop here. S.W.A.T. has numerous responsibilities ahead of them this school year, including assisting with various Wellness activities. But, their primary responsiblility this year is simply to “be there” for the freshmen and new upper classmen.

I am pleased to introduce the 200910 Student Wellness Advisory Team (S.W.A.T.): Chris Atwood Molly Towey Eliza Jacobs Max Werman Derek Lavigne Maggie Southerland Connor Haley Dylan Martini Chelsea Vanderlinde Cristina Salvador Sincerely, Cindy Briggs

Rachel Saliba

In honor of the Lower School’s field trip to build fairy houses for the Tour of Fairy Houses in Portsmouth last week, I have reprinted a story about fairies written by Berwick Academy alumna, Elizabeth Lord Chase (Class of 1841). Her collection of poems, Gleanings: Girlhood and Womanhood, under her married name Elizabeth C. Hill, is considered to be the first published works by an alumna.

The Adopted of the Fairies

By Elizabeth Lord Chase Berwick Academy Class of 1841 One bright summer’s morn, a fair child about three years of age, strayed to the side of a bubbling fountain in one of the magnificent gardens of the East. And there she stood, her tiny foot half buried in a bed of blushing flowers, her bright blue eye upraised, watching the gorgeous yet varying tints of the sunbeams which played over the surface of the clear waters; and eve and anon laughing merrily at her vain attempts to catch the feathery spray which fell around like showers of pearls.

She threw her golden ringlets carelessly aside as they floated in the breeze, and her eyes sparkled with unwonted delight as a youthful fairy tripped lightly from the bosom of a rose, which she had chosen for her bower, and had there laid concealed to guard her little favorite from harm. She lifted the child from the earth and lightly throwing her gossamer wings around her, seated her in the corolla of a

snowy lily, whose waxen leaves seemed meet to be the abode of childhood’s purity. After resting awhile, ‘did the blossoms and leaves, she again enfolded her youthful protégé and bore her far away into the regions of fairyland.

The palace of the fairies, called “Beautiful,” was framed of the most delicate gems and shells which the depths of the sea could afford. The roofing, inlaid with purest gold and the finest spun glass inwoven with the colors of the rainbow, formed an exquisite drapery for these apartments. It was when she was admiring the palace that the child was reminded of some verses which she had heard an elder sister often recite, and she repeated them to the Queen. They run thus: “In bowers of odorous amber made, The sea sprites love to dwell; The floor with mother-of-pearl inlaid, And gleams of the bright pink shell: There the sea-fern waves above their heads, With many a gorgeous gem, And the glorious things ‘neath the ocean spread Are known to only them.

“In the mountain cave where diamonds burn, The fairies’ home is made; They bathe themselves in the flo’rets’ urn, In the still, lone forest shade; Wherever her spell hath Beauty wove, The fairy is sure to be; In the silent cave, in the palmy grove, In the deep, blue, boundless sea.”

The Queen was so pleased with the child that 1791 Letter ~ September 2009

she resolved to adopt her, and accordingly she gave her the appellation of “The Fairy of the Fountain,” because it was there she first had seen her.

It was “Rosalie,” the queen of fairies, who had thus captured the little maiden, and she cherished her with more than a mother’s love and care. From infancy she had secretly guarded her with the protection and bestowed those favors which a fairy only can command.

Need I say she was supremely happy; for everyone is so who is loving and beloved. She was taught many and varied accomplishments and often she would while away the hours by playing the harp and lute to “Rosalie.”

She would stitch violet leaves together, To make a fragrant gown; And wad her cloak to keep her warm, With flying thistle-down.

But the fairies loved their little prize so swell that they gave her not back again to Earth; for they deemed her too fragile to contend with life’s vicissitudes and to dwell with the cold-hearted ones here below, with no spirit congenial with her own. So they lived many years in the palace “Beautiful,” until a tribe of powerful genii sought to despoil them of their gardens and drive them from their homes; then in alarm, spreading their wings for flight, they melted away in to the dim regions of the clouds.

Reprinted from the student newspaper “The Berwick Scholar” October 1890, Volume IV. 13

ARTS NEWS...cont. from pg 8

or would like more information should contact Ms. Sanders directly.

Fall 2009 Music Festival Auditions Many of Berwick’s music students participate in several auditions and/or festivals each year.

Middle School students in chorus, band, or orchestra, selected through a nomination process, perform in the York County Music Festival. Dedicated Upper School music students may choose to audition for the Maine District I High School Honors Festival, Jazz All State or Maine All State.

If selected by audition, they would perform at prestigious music festivals in large ensembles. Please check the Berwick online calendar or the Berwick website for dates and information.

VISUAL ARTS Arts Center Gallery Over the past few years we have exhibited recent alumni art works in the Arts Center to welcome our community back to school and to show what some of our student-artists are creating in college and beyond.

We welcome any recent alumni who might have work from art classes, or work that they have done on their own to email Ms. Russell at Rrussell@ berwickacademy.org.

Work by Beth Gerreald ‘08, now a sophomore at RISD is currently on exhibit in the Arts Center Gallery.

Also on exhibit in the display cases are pieces by Rachael Powell ‘06, Dianna Batt ‘08, and Monique Gagne ’09.

Please stop by to view the works by these accomplished young artists.

THEATER The Upper School Drama Department will kick-off the performing arts season this fall with The Perfect Alibi, a detective mystery in three acts, by A.A. Milne, 14

which will be staged on Friday and Saturday, October 30-31, in Fogg Memorial. The cast features Henry Young, Jane Merrow, Nell Simon, James Davis, Jibran Malek, Breandán Haley, Cristina Salvador, Molly Mugford, Ian Wright, Tyler McFarland, and Nate Winters, with Hannah Sattler and George Henkel as understudies. The action of the play takes place in the drawing room of Arthur Ludgrove, Heron Place, Sussex, England.

The Perfect Alibi was written in 1928 and hails from the “golden era” of British murder mysteries. The play, also known in the U.K. as The Fourth Wall, was subsequently adapted from the stage into a movie of the same title.

Howard Haycraft, the well-known mystery scholar, calls The Perfect Alibi an “ingenious affair in which the audience watched both the commission of the crime and the steps leading up to its detection,” making it somewhat unusual as mystery plays go.

Many will recognize the author as the creator of the beloved children’s classic, “Winnie-the-Pooh.”

Long before his acclaim as a children’s writer, Milne achieved literary and artistic success as a playwright and humorist.

Milne wrote plays, several novels, and contributed numerous pieces to Punch, the British humor magazine. The Perfect Alibi will be staged in the third floor of Fogg. Curtain time is 7 p.m. for both performances, Friday and Saturday, October 30-31.

The King and I, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s spectacular musical, based on the story, Anna and the King of Siam, by Margaret Landon, will be staged February 26-27 in the Patricia Baldwin Whipple Arts Center.

Auditions will take place in midNovember. For further details about these upcoming shows, please be in touch with Liz-Anne Platt, Director, lplatt@berwickacademy.org.

1791 Letter ~ September 2009

ATHLETICS NEWS...cont. from pg. 7

season with her new horse, 6-year old American Saddlebred, Revelation’s Brave Heart. The three categories she is concentrating on this show season are Saddlebred Country Hunter, Junior Exhibiter Hack Horse and Youth Activity Pleasure Horse. At the AHAME Spring Classic Horse Show in May, she finished first in the qualifying classes and the Championships. Her next successful endeavor was the Hi View Horse Show in Cumberland, Maine where she won the qualifiers for Youth Activity and Junior Exhibiter Hack along with the Championships and finishing second in the qualifier and Reserve Champion for Saddlebred Country Hunter. Her next show was the American Saddlebred Association of Maine show in July in Skowhegan, Maine. There she placed first in the qualifiers for Country Hunter and Junior Exhibitor Hack with a second in Youth Activity and winning the Championships in the first two qualifiers and Reserve Championship in Youth Activity. She looks forward to two more Maine shows and finishing the season in October at The Exposition Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Congratulations Melissa!

SEACOAST UNITED JUNIOR ACADEMY Berwick Academy and Seacoast United are pleased to announce our next step in the new partnership with the expansion of the Club’s highly regarded Junior Academy Program.

The developmental program for boys and girls ages 7 and 8 and 9 and10 will begin in the first week of November in the Berwick Academy Field House.

TRYOUT DATES: Thursday, October 8 and Wednesday, October 14, 5:307:15 p.m. (Registration begins at 5 p.m.) the start date for the Junior Academy is Tuesday, November 3

UPCOMING EVENTS 19th Annual Bulldog Classic The Athletics Boosters is again sponsoring this major fundraising event scheduled for Thursday, September 24 at The Ledges Golf Course with an 8:30 a.m. start. This popular event is an opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. Please refer to the registration forms included in this mailing.

Seacoast United Girls Soccer Tournament Seacoast United will host the all girls Columbus Day Invitational on our campus over the weekend of October 10-12. Berwick Academy will provide concessions for the teams and their families. Traditionally, this is a quiet weekend on the Hilltop, but we will have 30 teams competing on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. This is yet another step in our ongoing partnership with Seacoast United in addition to our summer camps and winter junior academy.

Team Pictures N.E.A.T. is scheduled to photograph fall teams on October 13 at Berwick. Team pictures are $8 and will be charged on the bookstore bill.

Please have your son or daughter notify the photographer on picture day if you are not interested in purchasing a team photo. The photographs will be used for the yearbook, website, and keepsake for the players; if you do not want your son or daughter to be included in the picture please advise me.

Upper School Field Trip There will be no Upper School practices or games scheduled for Tuesday, September 22 in the lieu of an exciting field trip planned for the Upper School as they travel to Smuttynose Island to explore the area of their summer reading “Cold Water Crossing.”

19TH ANNUAL BULLDOG GOLF CLASSIC

Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the Ledges Golf Club in York, Maine You are cordially invited to participate in the 19th Annual Bulldog Golf Classic!

The proceeds from our annual golf tournament continue to fund many improvements to Berwick Academy’s athletic facilities. In the past, proceeds have benefited the athletic fields with the addition of scoreboards and field netting, fencing around the baseball field, dug outs, and the construction of the girls’ softball field. In addition, our athletic training staff received an all-terrain gator vehicle to transport injured players from the playing fields and a storage shed was built for equipment storage.

With continued support from generous BA families and alumni, the Athletics Boosters will be assured funds to update and improve our athletic facilities.

Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009 Time: 8:30 a.m. Shotgun–Registration/Continental Breakfast opens at 7 a.m.

Place: The Ledges - York, Maine Format: Scramble Fee: $125.00 per person (includes greens fee, cart, tournament gift, continental breakfast, and luncheon to follow)

Highlights: Excellent day of golf Alumni class challenge Great raffle prizes!

Four players per team—singles are welcome and will be placed on a team.

For questions regarding the event, please email Rob Quinn at rquinn@ berwickacademy.org or call 207-384-2164 ext.2800.

We look forward to seeing you there!

1791 Letter ~ September 2009

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Dear Berwick Community, The return of students and faculty bring a welcome buzz and energy to campus, reinforcing the importance of our work here in the Development Office. As a new member to the community, the start of the school year has been particularly exciting for me. My family and I have enjoyed attending athletic contests such as the soccer jamboree and witnessing the first field hockey game here on the Hilltop in 57 years. I also continue to appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the community and history of BA through my interactions with parents, faculty, alumni and students. It has indeed been a great start to the school year.

On the development front, we are busy preparing for the launch of the 2009 - 2010 Annual Fund drive. As you know, the Annual Fund is Berwick’s yearly fundraising effort that raises unrestricted money for our operating budget. The three major sources of income for the school are 1) tuition, 2) income from investments, and 3) the Annual Fund, which provides 5% of our operating income. Like all independent schools, Berwick relies on charitable donations (which are tax-deductible) to help support operating expenditures including but not limited to academic and athletic programs, new technology and laptops, energy costs, and financial aid that tuition alone cannot cover. The Annual Fund directly supports our most important resources – exceptional teachers, talented students, and a campus well-equipped for learning.

The 2009-2010 Annual Fund appeal letters will be sent out in mid-October. In lieu of the Annual Fund, parents of the class of 2010 will be asked to support an endowed fund in honor of the graduating Class of 2010. Please remember that participation is paramount to the success of the Annual Fund. Last year, in spite of difficult economic times, 60% of our parents contributed to the Annual Fund. When we include our senior giving program, over 70% of families made a charitable gift to Berwick last year! This commitment of support continues to enable the Academy to provide our students with the quality education for which it has earned its excellent reputation. Thank you again for your support and generosity.

If you have any questions about the Annual Fund, please do not hesitate to contact me or stop by the 1791 House anytime you are on campus.

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

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1791 Letter ~ September 2009