Words About Cardigan (Summer, 1975)

Nonpro fi t

Organization U.S. POSTAGE PA I D Canaan, N.H .

Permit No. 1

SUMMER 1975 PRINTED MATTER

Cardigan Mountain School Canaan, New Hampshire 03741 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

The culmination of the Green and White competition was held on the final day of school after many of the parents had arrived. Called "The Great Race, " this traditional event involved all the students and a great part of the campus. It Starting with a sack race at the main gate, the relays progressed by bicycle, running, crawling, in three-legged combination, bouncing a tennis ball, dribbling a basketball, kicking a soccer ball, swimming and pushing a wheelbarrow from the starting point roundabout most of the campus.

1975 SUMMER SESSION FILLED Applications for Cardigan's 1975 Summer Session arrived in record quantity all during June, and as the June 25th opening day came near, it was finally necessary to close enrollment. When the rush of registration day ended and the session was underway, 135 boys and girls from twenty-one states (Maine to California, Michigan to Florida) and seven foreign countries were on campus. This was the largest Summer Session in Cardigan's history. As usual, the greatest number from one state were from New Hampshire with New York, Texas and Massachusetts following in that order.

As the session progressed, diversities in origin, cultural backgrounds and age were forgotten and boys and girls became residents of a particular dorm, members of the Green or White intramural teams and a fine group studying, learning and playing together. The Summer Session academic schedule was designed to crowd as much as possible into six and one-half weeks, so classes were held from 8 am till noon every day except Sunday, and there was study hall in the dormitories each evening except Saturday. Play is important also , and the recreation programs included a great variety of water and land sports and activities . Two or three times every week the Green and White intramural teams competed in a variety of activities which included: soccer, tetherball, waterpolo, gatorball, tennis, sailing, basketball, street hockey, a fishing derby and a hole-in-one contest.

"CREATURES OF IMPULSE" An annual highlight of the final day of the Summer Session is the production of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta under the direction of Mr. Harold Finkbeiner, head of Cardigan's music department. This year his musical company did "Creatures of Impulse" a little operetta written by Sir William Gilbert many years before his collaboration with Sir Arthur Sullivan. Nine boys and girls worked every afternoon through the summer learning words, music and action for their lead roles with nine chorus members not only learning their parts but also helping to build, paint and move sets. In the scene above, Peter, a village youth, played by Robbie Newhart, is trying to persuade The Mysterious Old Lady (Laura Feigenbaum) to leave the village .

She is evidently disinclined to do so. Mr. Finkbeiner's son, Andrew, who has often played a role in these summer productions, this year helped his father with the musical direction of the show. The front part of the Chapel was transformed into a little village in Flanders . Scenery used by Cardigan's Drama Club was painted and moved into place for the occasion, and special lighting was rigged for this production . The effort was well worthwhile, and "Creatures of Impulse" certainly ranked as one of the finest musicals ever produced in a summer session.

ANNUAL FUND EXCEEDS GOAL Cardigan's 1974-75 Annual Fund campaign ended June 30th with total contributions of $76,910 -comfortably over the goal of $70,000. Alumni were challenged by an anonymous donor who offered to match their gifts on the basis of two dollars for every one contributed. Spurred by this offer, the n umber of alumn i donors more than doubled from the previous year. The Annual Fund serves the School in two important ways. First, it helps to bridge the gap between the actual cost of a Cardigan education and tuition income.

Second, An n ual Fund dollars are used to buy some of those extra items which cannot be included in the regular operating budget because they are not necessities but which the School would really like to have. This year, for example, from gifts to the Annual Fund the choir loft and stairs in the Chapel were carpeted . This greatly increased the quietness during services . A new 16mm sound projector was purchased from gifts to the Annual Fund. This will be used in the auditorium for weekly movies as well as for special events and makes an older projector available for use in classrooms. In addition to these tangible items, the Annual Fund also supports scholarships making it possible for several deserving boys who could not otherwise afford it to be at Cardigan. Sincerest thanks are extended by Mr. John ·Tower, Annual Fund Chairman, to all those who contributed to the fund and to the members of his committee whose efforts helped put this year's fund over the top.

Students came to the Summer Session for a variety of reasons . The thirteen boys from foreign countries were here primarily to improve their facility with the Englis_h language. This was done in the classroom, on the athletic fields and in the dormitories; in addition, they were exposed to American food, customs, slang and a lot of beautiful New Hampshire scenery. Other students came to make up work in a particular subject or to strengthen skills in basic areas so they would be better prepared to enter their next grade in the Fall. Only math, English and reading are offered as basic curriculum in the Summer. Students may elect work in French and typing if their ach ievement in math and English will allow time for these classes in their schedule. Some boys and girls came to the Summer Session primarily to take these electives which they haven 't had time for in their regular school year. A large group of boys came for their first experience in boarding school. By the end of the Summer they were prepared for a smooth transition to full-time boarding school in the Fall - both academically and socially. Cardigan 's Winter School takes boys in grades six through nine, but in the summer there were students who had just finished fourth grade, as well as some who had finished ninth. The majority were in the age group that would be entering grades seven and eight in September making the average somewhat younger than in Cardigan's Winter term .

Only effort grades are given in the summer since most class time is spent reviewing earlier work rather than forging ahead into new areas. A total of 65 students were on the final Honor Roll, and 31 of these had earned al l A grades for effort by the end of the session.

THE TRIP PROGRAM

ACADEMICS IN THE SUMMER SESSION The main purpose of the Summer Session is academic.

Before classes began, all students were given Stanford Achievement Tests so that individual strengths and weaknesses could be identified . Assignments to classes were made on the basis of these tests as well as reports from their previous schools. At the end of the session, the Stanford tests were repeated so that there would be a good record showing how much progress was made and in what areas by each student. These complete reports are forwarded to the student's next school.

With a student-teacher ratio of five to one, classes in the Summer Session were small so that each student could benefit from a maximum of individual attention. Twentyseven full time experienced teachers made up the Summer Session faculty . Of these, fourteen teach at Cardigan's Winter Session; the remainder came from other schools, both public and private, and almost half of the teaching faculty hold masters degrees.

Since about 60% of this year's students live outside of New England , a real effort was made to organize off-campus trips on free afternoons so they would have an opportunity to visit interesting places in New Hampshire.

Students visited nearby Polar Caves in Plymouth and another group went up to Franconia to tour Lost River Reservation. Both of these are rock caves formed by ancient glaciers.

Off-campus trips were organized so that students of similar ages, sizes and interests would have an opportunity to be together. Small groups of fishermen went off with Mr. Hicks several times to wet a line in the Baker River. Others went for an afternoon to climb nearby mountains. There were weekend overnight camping trips and all-day hikes, and one afternoon two busloads traveled to Loon Mountain where they rode the gondolas to the top and enjoyed a spectacular view of the White Mountains. For those students who wanted more than afternoon and weekend outings, two week-long trips were planned right after the close of the session. Four boys went back-packing in the White Mountains and ten boys sailed with Headmaster Wakely on the 88 foot schooner "Bowdoin " for a week exploring the coast of Maine in the Penobscot Bay region .