Fork Union Military Academy Middle School
November/December 2012
Inside this issue:
The President’s Message
I was fortunate to spend time with my family over Thanksgiving, and look forward to hosting all of them in Careby Hall over Christmas. This is a wonderful season of giving, and a terrific time to be young. While we enjoy the opportunity here at
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Fork Union Military Academy to educate, develop, and inspire young men of character…we also know that positive family relationships are a critical component of a young man’s growth. Posted on my wall is a small note with the words of Truett Cathy: “It’s bet-
row. We thank you for the trust you’ve placed in us, and we will continue to earn that trust as 2013 dawns before us. May you have a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with prosperity and joy. Go FUMA!
ter to build boys than mend men.” I think
President, Fork Union Military Academy
about that expression often, and know that your sons are here because you believe that time (and money) invested today will reap dividends tomor-
Community Service Projects Operation Christmas Child
Canned Food Drive
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Hurricane Sandy Donations CPT Keithley’s Resource Tip
Day of the Dead
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Classroom Spotlight: CPT Gottschalk
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Ask the B.C.
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Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired
A Day in the Life of Jenny Payne, NEW housemother
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www.forkunion.com
History of the FUMA Gate
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Ask the B.C.
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Basketball
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Swimming
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J. Scott Burhoe
Indoor Track Wrestling
Headmaster’s Message
Orienteering
By LTC Feathers
As we prepare for the hustle and bustle of the upcoming Christmas season, I encourage us all to take time out of our busy schedules to remember the true “Reason for the Season”. Jesus Christ, God’s perfect gift to
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us, is our reason to celebrate. During this season of gift giving and receiving, may we be truly thankful for the greatest gift of all. On behalf of the Middle School faculty and staff, I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Highlight: Serving to Protect
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Paint Ball Trip 6 Word Memoirs
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What I Learned from CPT Feathers and CPT Blanchetti
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Christmas Traditions
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The Bayonet
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Operation Christmas Child By Jeni Fick After viewing a film about the nationally run organization, Operation Christmas Child, the Middle School cadets collected money for this worthy cause. Volunteer Cadets Jerry Wu, Sam Pierce, Kayode Osunkoya, and Bryce Mitchell shopped at a local Dollar Tree in Charlottesville, and bought enough presents to fill two shoeboxes. One was for a boy, and the other was for a girl. This brought their two year total to 27 boxes. Each box can be packed with age appropriate items for either a boy or a girl ages 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. This year the cadets chose to shop for their age bracket.
Sam, Jerry
Operation Christmas Child is an organization headed by Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse and son of evangelist Billy Graham. Started years ago to share Gods’ love with children around the world, the organization has grown to enable millions of boxes to be shipped to third world countries and war-torn countries around the world each Christmas season. Cadet Cole Gallaudet organized his Boy Scout troop to collect and pack over 10 boxes. Other cadets, with their families or home church youth groups, shopped individually during Thanksgiving break to join in
Bryce, Kayode
this nationally acclaimed effort to reach the world’s hurting children. Last year, before becoming a cadet, Cadet CJ Taylor was in Trinidad with his choir and was able to participate in the handout of shoeboxes at an orphanage. He was able to see the fruits of the labor of love of many. Offering advice to participants, Franklin Graham said, ”Pack your shoebox with love, send it with prayer, and share the good news of Jesus Christ with a hurting child. That’s the power of a simple gift.”
CJ
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Canned Food Drive The Fluvanna Food Bank is a busy place. Between the downturn in the economy, the storms, and the rapidly approaching holiday season, the food bank’s shelves are nearly depleted. Many families in our area are in need of food, and turn to the food bank for assistance. FUMA cadets are answering the call to re-
stock by holding a canned food drive. Running from Oct. 20– Dec. 10, whichever company donates the most food will be rewarded with points toward our annual company competition. Cadets love a little friendly competition, but the real winners will be the families served from the food
our cadets have helped gather and provide. By working together for the good of the community, everyone benefits. Happy Holidays!!!
Donation Made by F.U.M.A.’s Middle School to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort A fundraising project was recently undertaken by the Middle School to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy. A total of $75 was collected and given to the Powhatan Community Church as a donation to the New York Dream Center. Our donation will go toward providing needed supplies to hard hit areas. The New York Dream Center is dedicated to helping residents of the city who are in
need of daily sustenance and spiritual renewal. Dream Center staff and volunteers have boots on the ground delivering supplies, helping with clean up, and caring for people whose lives have been disrupted. Information about the center can be found at http:// newyorkdreamcenter.org. Many of our cadets have been attending Powhatan Community Church this year with
LTC Feathers and his family, and they were eager to collect money for this effort after hearing about the Dream Center’s ministry at a recent church service.
Captain Keithley’s Resource Tip: Take the extra “10 seconds” to: write homework down in your assignment book, put papers in their proper place (vs. stuffed in a book bag, book, or locker),
read the instructions. Ten seconds can make a BIG difference
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The Bayonet Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
By Bryce Mitchell
Students in Mrs. Brandon’s Spanish classes learned about the traditions of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Every year on the first and second of November, Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead. This celebration has its basis on the belief that at this time, the dead are allowed to rise from the dead and visit their friends and families on Earth to enjoy the pleasures of the living.
To someone who doesn’t live in Mexico, this might seem macabre, but to them, death is considered a part of life. Spirits are welcomed back to their homes with beautifully decorated altars created by their loved ones. Sugar skulls, marigolds, candle incense, and special foods adorn these altars. We made Calaveras de Azucar (sugar skulls) with egg
whites and sugar, and had a lot of fun decorating them when they were hardened. We also made paper mache masks that are commonly worn in the parades for this holiday. This is just part of what we are going to be learning all throughout the year with Mrs. Brandon, and I know there will be a lot more to come.
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Volume 18, Issue 2 Classroom Spotlight: CPT Gottschalk
What do you get when you have twelve interested cadets and twenty‐six different characteris‐ cs of Mendelian Gene cs? You get twelve unique baby dragons, created by traits ran‐ domly determined by given drops of Popsicle s cks! I offered this crea ve ac vity to reinforce what we had been learning in our seventh grade science class. The cadets were able to make the connec on between geno‐ type (allele codes for traits) and phenotype (physical or behavior‐ al trait) in a fiery display of crea‐ ve wit and probability.
Each parent randomly dropped his s ck on the desk and the side that was face up (dominant or recessive) represented the alleles passed on to the baby dragon. The alleles from the s cks were recorded on a data chart. If both parents dropped the recessive alleles then the trait would be recessive. How‐ ever, if either parent dropped a dominant allele then the trait would be dominant. A er the cadets completed twenty‐six drops, they had all the traits necessary to draw and color their baby dragon. I was impressed with both their crea‐
vity and comprehension of gene cs. They enjoyed applying what they had learned through previous lessons, while showing off their crea ve genius. The cadets’ enthusiasm and interest was overwhelming, and it was encouraging to sit back and watch them discover how fun genetics can be. I am looking forward to more labs and activities this year. You can check out a few photos of this activity on Smugmug. Enjoy!
The Bayonet
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Middle School Cadets Conduct Veterans Service at “The Laurels” By LTC Feathers On Wednesday evening, November 14, several of our Middle School cadets conducted a service honoring war veterans at “The Laurels”, a retirement facility in Charlottesville, VA. The cadets, most of whom comprise the Middle School’s marching drill team, the Dillard Guard, also included 2 Upper School buglers who played Echo Taps as the center’s flag
was retired for the night. The service was begun with a rifle-spinning demonstration by the Dillard Guard, followed by the flag-lowering, and then by time spent with the residents of the facility in the dining hall. Two of our cadets also entertained the ladies and gentlemen with their musical talents on the piano. The cadets enjoyed talking to the residents and especially enjoyed meeting
two of the residents, veterans of World War II. One was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, and the other was a Full-Bird Colonel in the Marines. Special thanks go to Mrs. Cathy Chiovaro, mother of cadets Brad and Ben Chiovaro, for helping to organize this worthwhile event.
Mrs. Chiovaro and Ben
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“A Day in the Life” of Ms. Payne, Our new Middle School Housemother Can you tell me about your connection to the FUMA Middle School and how you came to get this job? I’ve been back [in Fluvanna] for about 12 years; I was born and raised in this area. LTC Feathers was actually my high school guidance counselor! I heard about the job and I had a son at FUMA, and [LTC Feathers] knew that my daughter was going off to college, so he knew it would be just Nate and me at home. I thought it would be a good fit. It’s a great mission field, and I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the school.
Has it given you a different perspective to have a son that went through the Middle School? My house was always full of [Nate’s] classmates who would come over on day pass, so I was very aware of what those young men went through living here. Now I have the opportunity to be on the other end. Instead of them coming to my home, I am coming to theirs.
Walk me through a typical evening in the barracks. The boys come over from Study Hall, wander into the barracks as they are released, and usually it is like a little powwow here; you’ll have a gathering of young men and you’ll hear the stories from the day, the plans for the leave weekends; you’ll hear some sad stories and you’ll minister to them, and then you hear the very happy stories and the things that are going on in their lives. Basically, you share stories and hear the ups and downs of their lives. After [they go to bed] I walk around for an hour or so and make sure they’re asleep. A lot of them will call me from their rooms and I will talk to them.
About what kinds of things? Homesickness, stomach ache, can’t sleep, those kinds of things. The occasional knock on the door in the middle of the night, not feeling well.
What are some of the harder things about the job? Giving up your home for three nights to sleep in the barracks. It’s definitely not quality sleep. You hear every sound, like boys getting up to go to the bathroom.
What are some of the good parts, your favorite parts? A couple of the young men call me “Mom”. Parent’s Weekend, one of the young men called his family over and said, “I want you to meet Mom.” Of course I can’t replace their mothers, but I at least want to fill the void while they are away, and be the day-to-day mom.
What do you see as some of the strengths of the FUMA system? The structure. For any Middle School student, it’s a hard time. Are you still a kid? Are you becoming an adult? It’s a time of many struggles. Here they have a brotherhood and the structure, and it helps a lot of them see what path to go – they are mentored by wonderful staff members who try to lead them in the right direction. It’s a time period when so many are tempted to stray and here we try to keep them on a straight path.
The Bayonet
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History of the FUMA Gate FUMA entrance circa 1920
The iconic black iron archway…. For most cadets, this is their first sight upon arriving at the Academy, and their last sight upon exiting.: Fork Union Military Academy – 1898 in white, arching between two stone pillars on either side of the road that leads into the heart of our school. In 1920 Charles Snead’s son-in-law donated $100 to spruce up the
Academy entrance, and the school built the original two stone posts, which were topped with cannon balls. In the mid1950s the 13-foot iron archway was added, and stood tall until 1987, when a truck delivering foot lockers misjudged its height and demolished the entranceway. The structure was soon rebuilt, and has welcomed cadets
ever since. In the mid-1990’s, the directors of the movie Major Payne contacted Fork Union, asking to use the campus in the movie. The Academy turned down the offer after it was discovered that part of the top of the archway would have to be removed during filming.
August 20, 1987 photo from Charlottesville Daily Progress
Volume 18, Issue 2
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Dear Battalion Commander, What advice do you have for cadets who hit Unsatisfactory Conduct? –Anonymous J.D. Buchholz Battalion Commander
Dear Anonymous, My advice would be to find out what your biggest problem is, whether it be talking, messing around, or just hanging out with the wrong crowd. Once you find your main area of problem, then focus on figuring out a way to fix it. Also, make sure to always look at the small things. –BC
Dear Battalion Commander, How do you continue to exhibit leadership day in and day out? – Cadet Ilori Dear Cadet Ilori, I do this by staying focused on the task at hand. It takes work and is tiring sometimes very tiring - but I realize it has to be done. Of course, I always slip up, but I learn from my mistakes and try not to let them ever happen again. –BC
Dear Battalion Commander, What is your favorite thing about FUMA? -Cadet Pierce Dear Cadet Pierce, My favorite thing about FUMA is the feeling of going on leave; leaves feel better when you come here. I believe it is because we spend so much time here. When you go to public school home is just the same thing that you come home to every day, but when you come here going home is like a real vacation. They say being away from home and family makes you appreciate it even more.
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Basketball By Denzel Hunter-Shaw Basketball is one of the team sports available in the winter. We are expected to have a great season. During practice we run suicides and full court sprints, and practice our offense and defense. The team is made up of best friends, and we try to work together and encourage each other. Coach Keithley and Coach Butt are making us work hard and play as a team. Go FUMA!!!! Roster: Oshari Baldwin
JD Buchholz
Larry Elder
Geon Woo Han
Denzel Hunter-Shaw
Jonathan Ilori
Logan Justice
Chase Kaufman
Isaiah Shaw
Clyde Sinkler
Cameron Smith
Christiaan Williams
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Swimming By Hamilton Griffin Swimming is a sport that requires determination and perseverance. Most of the swimmers on this year’s team are new, but they are pretty fast and eager to learn. Coach Van Slooten is the head of the swimming program. Swimming isn’t all we do. We go on runs, use the weight room, and use the cardio room. This sport is for Upper and Middle School cadets; we work together and we respect each other, whether we’re fast or slow. This sport isn’t easy, but is fun. Roster: Peter Cagnina
Andrew Estes
Ben Gary
Hamilton Griffin
Kayode Osunkoya
Sam Pierce
Scott Robel
CJ Taylor
Johnny Walker
Jerry Wu
Indoor Track By Cole Gallaudet The Middle School indoor track team has made improvements this year. We have more runners, pole-vaulters and jumpers. There haven’t been any meets yet, but Coach Brown is pushing us to do our best. Many of the students from last year who are now in the Upper School continue to practice with us. With this line-up, I think that indoor track this year will have a successful season, both for the Middle School and Upper School.
Roster: Khari Coley-Trice
Anthony Desiderio
Alex Durr
Dalton Fowler
Cole Gallaudet
Micah Giszack
Landen Hawkins
Zach Miller
Nick Orsa
Alex Jenkins
Paul Pittman
Antonio Puaauli-Pelham
Be sure to check out our photos on Smugmug: ww.photos.forkunion.com. Swimming, track, and wresting pics coming soon!
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The Bayonet
Wrestling By Shane Maryk This year’s wrestling team is improving every single day. The team has plenty of athleticism, and once we learn some skill, we will have the potential to go anywhere or do anything. Everyone is putting in lots of effort, and it helps that we are allowed to work out and condition with the varsity team. Coach Boggs’ “ninja” training is seriously starting to kick in, and we grow stronger every single day. If we keep up our positive attitudes, we can accomplish a lot this year. I have lots of confidence in CPT Greenspon’s coaching skills, and can’t wait to prove myself on the mats.
Roster: Matthew Arnold
Zach Bender
Tripp Brewer
John Davis
Jack Greenspon
Jonathan Hegler
Jacob Holsapple
Shane Maryk
James McMurtrie
Scott Meadows
David Signoretti
Steele Smith
Steven Tidman
Diaz Tompkins
Johnny Vacca
Orienteering Orienteering is a year round sport. The roster is fluid so that athletes may choose to take part in other sports throughout the year as well. Orienteering is much like running cross country, except that participants must use a map and compass to navigate the course. For more information on orienteering, visit Orienteering USA at www.us.orienteering.org .
Roster: Ben Chiovaro Jared Giszack Danny Luu Bryce Mitchell Thomas Snow Julian Yescas
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Volume 18, Issue 2
Highlight: Serving to protect our freedom We continue our highlight of cadets with parents in the Armed Forces who have faithfully served our country. Scott Meadows is a 7th grade cadet in the Middle School, and his stepfather, Brandon Boyd, joined the Army in 2006 as a Communication Specialist. In 2008 he was deployed to Iraq, riding convoys all over the country. Late in 2008 an IED went off near Mr. Boyd, causing him to fall and break his back, along with some other injuries. “They said he would never walk again,” Scott says, “but he proved them wrong.” With prayer, family support, and therapy, Mr. Boyd was up walking with a cane in less than six months. “I always wanted to be in the military, even before I met [my stepdad],” Scott says, “ever since I was five. Getting to know him gave me even more respect for the military and our troops than I had before. I know he’s glad he served, and I’m proud of my dad, because he went out there and he served his country. Even through all that he is extremely happy.”
Paintball Trip By Kayode Osunkoya Cadets who had satisfactory conduct or above were allowed to go on a trip to play paintball. This was my first time going paintballing, but it was really fun. The course was huge and had a lot of hide-outs. I was running around trying to shoot people, hoping not to get shot. First we started on teams---8th grade vs. 6th/7th grade. We played “Capture the Flag”, then moved on to “Infection”. “Infection” is when someone’s a zombie, and if the zombie shoots you, you turn into one. To kill a zombie, you have to have a head shot on the mask. I would really recommend everyone go to play paintball. It’s really fun, and it shows if you are a boss or not.
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The following are six word memoirs, created by 8th grade students in CPT Butt’s English class.The intent is to boil down their life, or a part of their life, into six words. Work hard now, good results later. – Shane Maryk Small. Got a problem with it? – Nick Orsa Stop talking? Have to stop breathing. – Landen Hawkins Big guy. Not a fighter . . . lover. – Oshari Baldwin Attention peers: softness is not weakness. – Oshari Baldwin I teach. Or am I taught? – CPT Butt Was put down, bounced back up. – Paul Pittman I need. Or is it want? – John Davis Weird shaped head. Weird shaped life. – Kayode Osunkoya Studied hard. Practiced hard. Ball boy. – Nathan LeVan Oldest sibling gets blamed for everything. – Kayode Osunkoya People expect a lot. What do I expect? –Clyde Sinkler Drawing brings me into my world. – Jacob Holsapple My decision to learn. Can I? – Khari Coley-Trice God speaks, but do I listen? – Khari Coley-Trice Am I good or bad? I’m torn. – Hamilton Griffin Good things, friends, family. So fortunate. – Micah Giszack Monday to Friday: Serious. Weekends: Release. – JD Buchholz Games to escape reality for happiness. – Bryce Mitchell Thy, or My will be done? – Dalton Fowler I like learning. Not often said. – Dalton Fowler
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Volume 18, Issue 2
What I Learned from LTC Blanchetti and LTC Feathers By Cameron Smith
One of the most valuable things that I learned from LTC “B” is that unsatisfactory conduct is not what you want to be on as a cadet. I reached unsatisfactory conduct in my early days. It’s not fun. They take away a lot of your privileges, such as two dollars for allowance, no Sabre Shop, etc. This year I think I learned my lesson, and have not fallen to this bad conduct level. Another thing that I learned from LTC”B” is that if you constantly lie to him, he and other faculty officers will stop believing you. I experienced this my previous year because some cadets think they can lie to get out of a situation. I learned that if you tell the truth that it will set you free. Sometimes cadets struggle with telling the truth in schools these days. I am afraid to tell a lie because Colonel “B” will not be the only one to get on my case; my parents will, also, because I was raised better than that. One thing that I learned from Colonel Feathers is that you should behave on the weekends. At FUMA if you don’t behave on the weekend, then this can cause you a major headache with demerits. As a FUMA cadet I can tell you this from experience; it is easy to get in trouble during the weekend. One thing can lead to another and you can get 15 demerits in one weekend. Now as a cadet, I try to separate myself from the cadets who misbehave during the weekend to not get demerits. Another thing that I have learned from Colonel Feathers is that you should be extra nice to female faculty officers. I agree with this because faculty officers shouldn’t have to put up with your horrendous behavior, and are authorized to stick you which can possibly be a double demerit stick. So for example when Ms. Fick or Ms. Grant is on duty you are to make sure that everything runs smoothly for them. I try to do my best and be extra good and nice to them. And also my parents taught me to behave and to always respect a female. The last thing that Colonel Feathers taught me is to use proper etiquette in the dining hall. I try to use proper and exceptional etiquette as much as I can, such as saying, ”Thank you,” after my meal, cleaning up the area around me, and properly eating, not just slurping your food down your throat. You should also wipe your mouth after you eat. Most importantly, take your tray everywhere you receive food or drink, because this can cause a cereal trail if you are not careful.
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Merry Christmas!!! What are your family’s Christmas traditions? My family doesn’t have a lot of strong Christmas traditions, but we do have a special star. It isn’t like an ordinary star. It is round at the bottom and shrinks to the top, where it makes a point. We bought it while we were living in Russia and we have put it on top of our Christmas trees ever since. Nathan LeVan After surviving the huge turkey of Thanksgiving, we are not ready to face another bird! Ham is too bland. Thus we also prepare a meal of Italian foods, highlighted by stuffed shells, sausage, cheeses, and of course cannoli for desert. LTC Grant My mom and I usually put up a Christmas tree at our house. We often go visit my grandparents and my aunt and celebrate Christmas there. It really hard to get there because there is a lot of traffic, but it is all worth it. Mical Ramos
We have a huge family gathering where we eat and exchange presents. Usually my cousins, aunt, and grandmother come and visit to celebrate. My brother and I would wake up early to guard the presents. The tree is always decorated and lit up all night long, and when we wake up, we usually have pancake breakfast. Bryce Mitchell On Christmas my family wakes up by the sound of pots and pans banging, and we run down the stairs to breakfast. Then we run to the living room to open presents. In the afternoon we all find another hidden present. Finally at night we try to find a Christmas special on television, and watch it with some popcorn. Scott Robel