FEBRUARY- M AR C H 2015
The Park Parent in this issue: TECHNOLOGY USE // 2
Ninth-Grade Spanish Trip to Andalucía
FACULTY COLLABORATION // 3
by CAROLINE BICKS, Park Parent Editorial Board
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES // 5 SPRINGFEST // 7 AROUND THE LIBRARY // 8 WINTER SNAPSHOTS // 10 PARKING SPACE // 11
T
he March language trip is one of the highlights of Park’s Grade IX experience. For over 20 years, the Spanish students had been traveling to Salamanca to immerse themselves in the culture and language of that region. But last year, for the first time, the trip moved to the southern region of
Andalucía, where students spent seven days in Granada and a weekend in Sevilla. continued on page 4
Welcome, Mark Vialva b y ANNE HARVEY KILBURN, Park Parent Editorial Board
A
t Park we hear a lot about grit and resilience as key principles of being a successful student. The newest member
of the Park School music faculty, Mark Vialva, is a
example of these character traits.
vo l u me 47 nu mb e r 4 a pub lication of the park s c h o o l parent s’ assoc iation
Mark was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut. His family was musical, but his path to music was solely based on his ears: he didn’t see the point in learning how to read music. He admits he didn’t like school, but he absolutely loved everything about music. Based on support and encouragement from his family he made it through high school and in his senior year he enlisted in the Marine Corps with the hope
of auditioning for the Marine Corps Band. He signed a four-year contract and despite his enormous talent, he didn’t make the band was because he couldn’t read music. He had no choice but to put down his beloved trumpet and pick up a gun. He went through boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina continued on page 6