MSA - Mill Springs Academy

MILL SPRINGS ACADEMY
Matters
WINTER LEARNING 2011
Mill Springs’ Winter Learning Program always makes for great fun but most of
all great learning. The Winter Learning Program (WLP) is a hands-on, experiential
learning program where PreUpper, Communication Arts and Upper School
students take a variety of interest-generated courses. The program lasts for two
weeks in January and allows students to attend workshops, internships, and
week-long seminars in order to participate in “mobile classrooms” on various
topics. Here are just a few highlights featuring the diversity of the program.
While on safari, the students
enjoyed watching an elephant
taking care of an itch while
getting a bite to eat in Masai
Mara Game Reserve.
A leopard watched the tourists
from a high branch in Masai
Mara Game Reserve.
PreUpper 8th grader and world
traveler Andrew Walker enjoyed
spending time with the Kenyan
students at Longonot Primary
School.
PreUpper Goes to Kenya
D
uring this year’s Winter Learning Program, 10 PreUpper students were given the opportunity of a
lifetime…a trip to Kenya in East Africa. After traveling for almost 24 hours straight and finding out
that their luggage had not made the journey with them, the group eventually accepted their situation and began their planned adventures with a visit to the Giraffe Conservatory Center in Nairobi. At the
Conservatory, students and teachers had the opportunity to feed the giraffes and get an authentic giraffe kiss.
“It was the perfect way to change the mood and get things off on a better foot,” said teacher, Michael
Adams. “Luckily though, our luggage did catch up with us later in the trip.”
On their second day in Kenya, the group visited the Longonot Primary School where they delivered a
donation of school materials and soccer balls for the students to use. The students at the Longonot School
were very happy to see the MSA crew—welcoming them with open arms. The Kenyan school children were
especially interested in hearing the MSA students talk which led to PreUpper student, Alex Silverman,
giving a small speech about the legend of King Arthur, which he had studied the previous semester in Errol
WINTER 201 1
IN THIS ISSUE
Winter Learning
Highlights . . . . . . . . . .1–4
STAR Student/Teacher . . .5
GISA All-Select Band . . . .5
GISA Literary & Music
Competition . . . . . . . . . . .5
Learning & the Brain . . . .5
Alumni News . . . . . . . . . .6
MSA Teacher Earns
Citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . .6
CA Students Make
“Healthy” Choices . . . . . . .6
Canned Food Drive . . . . .7
Lower School Makes
Reading Fun . . . . . . . . . . .7
Class of 2011 College
Acceptances . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Practical and Tactical . . . .8
Eagle Scout Project
Benefits Fine Arts . . . . . . .8
Leadership North Fulton . .8
World History & Diversity
Classes Field Trip . . . . . . .8
Annual Fund Update . .9–10
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
CA Values Class . . . . . . .11
MSA Science Teacher
Goes to NASA . . . . . . . .12
Tea Anyone? . . . . . . . . . .12
National Geography Bee . .12
MSA Campus Used as
Outdoor Classroom . . . . .13
MSA Recommended for
Re-accreditation . . . . . . .13
Future City Contest . . . .14
CA Africa Festival . . . . .14
Fall Honor Roll . . . . . . .14
CA Field Trip to Chattahoochee
Nature Center . . . . . . . .15
Wildlife Wonders Zoo
Visits CA . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Success in SCHOOL…
Success in LIFE
WINTER LEARNING 2011
Sander’s literature class! After departing from
the school, the group took a boat ride on
Lake Naivasha where they encountered many
different bird species in addition to hippos,
green mambas, zebras, wildebeests and water
buck. The group ended their second day’s
journey at the Elsamere Conservation Center
which is the former home of the late Joy
Adams, who together with her husband
George, became world famous for their
pioneering conservation work and relationship with the lioness Elsa, as told in her bestselling book and subsequent film: Born Free.
And as if things weren’t exciting enough,
the MSA crew also went on safaris at both the
Maasai Mara Game Reserve and Lake
Nakuru National Park. Maasai Mara Game
Reserve is Kenya's most spectacular of all
Kenyan parks and reserves and is touted as
the best spot to experience the “Big Five”—
lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant.
Lake Nakuru National Park is world famous
for having over 400 bird species in addition
to flamingos that carpet the lake. While on
both safaris, the PreUpper students and staff
Zachary Goodelman has the once-in-a-lifetime experience of participating in a Masai
warrior tribal dance.
school children seemed even though many
had very little material possessions in addition
to several being orphaned. “The first two days
were spent with all of us sharing very little
shampoo, sunscreen and clothing until our
luggage made it to Kenya,” commented
Karen Bradley. “This made a lot of the
students feel terribly inconvenienced but by
the time we left, every student felt blessed to
have so many opportunities available to them
in life. I really felt like they understood that
happiness is a state of mind.”
The group climbs aboard an old stagecoach in
Oatman, Arizona on Route 66 while visiting
the nearby tin mines. Top row from the left:
Johnny Ray, Jan Giles, Kay Morrison, Alex
Masson, Zach Harmon, and Mason Taylor.
Inside from the left: Meredith Langford,
Rebecca Ascher, and Paul Jarvis.
Communication Arts
School Gets Back in
the Saddle
Young students from the Longonot Primary
School wearing MSA gear.
were able to get within a couple feet of many
different types of animals such as lions,
zebras, baboons, a cheetah, elephants, water
buffalo, hippos, and white and black rhinos.
“One of the highlights of the safari was when
we got to see a leopard up close and
personal,” said PreUpper teacher, Karen
Bradley. “We were about to watch the leopard
jump up to the top of a tree when one of our
guides said that we were very lucky to see this
because most people never get this close and
instead, only get to see the leopard once it is
already hidden in the tree.”
The group finished their trip by going to
a school/orphanage in Thika where they gave
out MSA shirts, school supplies and silly
bands to orphans as well as some of the day
students at the school. All of the MSA
students commented on how happy the
2 Mill Springs Academy Matters
S
eventeen Communication Arts
students once again took their trip out
West to Arizona and Utah where they
immersed themselves in the lives of early
settlers and Native American culture. While
Students examine a Native American dwelling
at Grand Canyon West.
Communication Arts Students and teachers
group together for a stunning photo on the
famous glass bridge and Grand Canyon West.
there, students made a visit to Monument
Valley in Utah where they took in the breathtaking scenery and learned about the Ancient
Ones, the Anasazi Indians, who first populated Monument Valley by viewing their cliff
dwellings and ancient drawings. The group
was led by guides who discussed the current
lives of the Navajos; showed them both
female and male “hogans” and houses; and
taught them about the Navajo Code Talkers
and their importance in both World Wars.
“This immersion in Native American culture
is an important feature of this trip out West,”
said teacher Matthew McConnell. “And what
better way to study it than being where the
millsprings.org
history happened.” As part of their study of
Native American culture, they also visited
Grand Canyon Hualapai West, part of the
Hualapai tribal nation which is where the
famous Glass Bridge is located. The Glass
Bridge is a spectacular cantilever shaped glass
walkway that suspends more than 4,000 feet
above the canyon’s floor and extends 70 feet
from the canyon’s rim. “Totally cool, and
totally terrifying,” exclaimed student Carly
Reynolds, of her experience on the bridge.
Students then traveled back to Stagecoach
Trails Guest Ranch in Yucca, Arizona, for
some “cowboy culture,” which included
horseback riding in the beautiful Mohave
Desert. In between rides, students took
“nature hikes” to study the ecology of the
desert and also experienced several coyote
sightings. At night, it was time for Cowboy
Poetry and singing old cowboy songs such as
“Happy Trails to You.”
No trip out West would be complete
without a visit to Oatman, Arizona on Route
66 where the group rode an actual stagecoach
to the old mines from the 1800’s. “The entire
experience on this trip is designed to remove
kids from technology for a few weeks and put
them in touch with nature and other students
in way they rarely experience at home,” said
teacher Carol Adams. “To put it simply, it’s
an incredible way for students to learn,” she
added.
pros; experiencing new kinds of cuisine (they
LOVED Tapas!); and packed in 6 Broadway
shows! As an extra treat the group was also led
on a quick but awesome shopping excursion
on the famous Canal Street! “The best part of
the trip for me was watching them soak up
the information in the classes and workshops,” said Drama teacher Lynn Stallings.
“It was amazing to see their growth as they
put their skills to the test and hear them
speak so artistically and intellectually about
the workshops and the shows.”
PreUpper student, Nicole Thomas (third
from the left), sang in the chorus with other
students for a crowd of over 2,400 people!
Junior Theater
Festival
D
Mill Springs students enhance their theater/
drama skills in New York. Pictured: Chris
Torres, Hanna Bowler, Lauren Hays, Claire
Sims, Loren Whitfield, Madison Orr and
Abby Miles.
MSA Goes to
Broadway!
E
ight MSA students along with teachers
Lynn Stallings and Lexi Klupchak,
spent an intense, creative and
absolutely amazing week immersed in
acting/audition workshops with Broadway
WINTER 2011
uring this year’s Winter Learning
Program, twelve students attended
Disney and Music Theater
International’s (MTI) Junior Theatre Festival
at the Cobb Galleria and Fox Theatre where
they took workshops, attended shows, and
met Disney producers, directors, composers,
choreographers, and performers. Students
also saw world premieres of several of
Disney’s new musicals, which included
“Disney’s Winnie the Pooh Kids”, which was
musically directed by MSA Chorus Teacher,
Kate McElliott.
Medical Mysteries
P
reUpper Science teachers Martha Muir
and Judy Martin led a group of students
through the Winter Learning Program
called “Medical Mysteries.” “MedMyst” is the
name of a series of computer programs
designed at Rice University that exposes 7th
and 8th grade students to the fundamental
concepts of epidemiology.
Our MedMyst program began with a
field trip to the Global Health Museum at
the Centers for Disease Control which is
located near Emory University. Each day,
MedMyst participants took on a new component of the MedMyst computer programs.
Students had to master key vocabulary and
concepts to advance through the programs’
games. Students investigated the 2007 case of
alleged TB carrier Andrew Speaker and
compared it to the early 1900’s case involving
Mary Mallon, commonly known as Typhoid
Mary. Students watched PBS videos on
Typhoid Mary, the 1906 Influenza epidemic,
and Ebola.
A highlight of the week was a conversation with KK. One of the diseases with an
impactful display at the CDC dealt with
polio. Once nearly an epidemic in this
country, the CDC is but a few countries away
from a completed campaign to eradicate this
virus from the whole world. President
Franklin Roosevelt is only one of the many
people who felt fine one day and was stricken
the next. KK talked to the MedMyst students
about her mother’s experiences with polio.
Despite the challenges of living with this
disease, KK’s mother married and successfully
raised a family of 7 children. Students sat
with rapt attention as KK spoke and
addressed their questions. Her conversation
with the students really made the impact of
the diseases we had been studying and the
work of the people at the CDC more real and
vital. Thanks KK.
Fitness
I
n an effort to give students a first-hand
experience of the benefits and fun of
regular exercise, Upper School teachers,
Jaime Gutierrez and Carolina Ayerbe, along
with a group of 11 Upper School students,
enjoyed a whole week of fitness, rock
climbing, swimming and racquetball at
Lifetime Fitness in Woodstock. Students were
also able to participate in group fitness classes
such as Hip Hop, Kickboxing, Cycling, and
Boot Camp. “As teens get older and stop
participating in organized sports through
school, the likelihood of taking up a sedentary lifestyle increases,” said Carolina Ayerbe.
“The unique opportunity gave them a chance
to experience many different forms of physMill Springs Academy Matters 3
WINTER LEARNING 2011
ical exercise. Hopefully this will help motivate
them to keep moving as they grow into adults.”
Winter Biking
A
group of 8 students led by teacher, Jay
Hudson participated in road and
mountain biking on the Silver Comet
Trail as well as biking in Lithonia, Alpharetta
and Roswell. “We are trying to get a group of
riders together for next year’s program so that
we can do the whole Silver Comet Trail in
one week,” said Jay.
PreUpper Student, Jonathan Strothmann
straps on a guitar for the Winter Learning
Program, “Rock Star.”
Senior Andrew Katz climbs the wall at
Lifetime Fitness’ rock climbing facility.
Career Exploration
D
uring this year’s Winter Learning
Program six students participated in
Career Explorations led by MSA
Counselors, Anne Holland and Susan Day.
On the first day of the program each student
completed a personality assessment to
identify his/her personality type and career
options that would best fit their personality.
Afterwards the students researched several
websites to learn more about the occupations
that matched their personalities and
completed a career information packet.
Students then spent three days visiting the
following sites that represented their potential
career options: University Career Services at
Georgia State University, Kids R Kids,
Crabapple Animal Hospital, and Savannah
College of Art and Design Atlanta Campus.
Special thanks to MSA parents, Fred Mays
and Mark Jackson who helped set up site
visits and discuss with the students how
things work in the business world.
Mallory Oberholtzer, Brooke Woolf and Holly
Thillet proudly display their ‘Casablanca’
group artwork. The work will be used to
decorate the Family Dinner as well as Prom,
as it has the same theme!
MSA Artists
Undeterred by Snow
W
inter Learning in the art studio
during week 2 was supposed to be
filled with activity. Artists were
“supposed” to be creating large, fantastic artwork
for this year’s 1940’s Classic Hollywood
themed Family Dinner. Then came the snow
and NO days to create in the studio. However,
since the students really wanted to carry
through with their ideas, art teachers Janet
Ford and Brian Buxton decided to follow
through with their Winter Learning plans later
in January. The result was an amazing display
of artwork centered around many of the
movies and Hollywood stars of the ’40s.
Rock Band
R
Winter biking participants stop for a photo
while riding the Arabia Mountain Trail near
Lithonia. Pictured L-R: Mary Retchko, Neil
Jensen, Mitch Norris, Brent Shephard, Jay
Hudson, and Francis Abernethy.
4 Mill Springs Academy Matters
ock Band, hosted by Fine Arts teachers
Elizabeth Plastiak and Jamie Fambrough,
was one of the best (arguably) and
loudest (definitely) of MSA's first week of
Winter Learning. Students rocked out to songs
by artists such as Queen, Nirvana, and The
White Stripes while coming together to form
three bands and one awesome tech crew which
included students Robert Golden, Max Intner
and Doug Seaman.
Participants began the week by naming
their bands and choosing songs. Groups
included “The Fantastic Five” (Alex Davis,
James Larro, Grant “The Little Drummer
Boy” Medlock, Matt Sedacca, and Jonathan
Strothmann), “Death Note” (Paul Bain,
Aaron Bradsher, Jon Mark Brasher, Roman
Hanna and Tim Hebert), and “Midnight”
(Logan Favata, Brandon McCormick, Sam
North, Dylan Porper and Trevor Tencza). The
groups then rehearsed for 3 solid days before
recording a CD and plastering the MSA
campus with concert promotion. The week
culminated in a concert of all three bands
performing covers and originals while the
tech crew provided ambiance with lighting
and fog. Needless to say, fun was had by all!
Joseph Campbell:
The Heroic Life in Cinema
P
reUpper Literature instructor Errol
Sanders led 12 students through a
critical study of the way movies have
depicted the figure of the heroic life, which,
according to philosopher Joseph Campbell, is
“living the individual adventure.” The group
studied Campbell’s discussion of the “hero’s
quest” and the elements of the journey. They
also watched, discussed and wrote critiques of
a wide range of films that depicted the hero
and the journey taken to realize this individual adventure. Some of the films studied
were High Noon, Joan of Arc, Spartacus, The
Lion King, Apollo 13, and Master and
Commander.
millsprings.org
MSA’s STAR Student/Teacher
C
ongratulations to Senior, Jesse Rhodes
who has been named Mill Springs
Academy’s STAR Student for the
2010–2011 school year. Jesse chose Carolina
Ayerbe as his STAR Teacher. The state
STAR program is coordinated by the
Professional Association of Georgia Educators
in association with the Georgia Chamber
of Commerce. The Student Teacher
Achievement Recognition (STAR) program
honors Georgia’s outstanding high school
seniors and the teachers who have been most
instrumental in their academic development.
To obtain the STAR nomination, high school
seniors must have the highest score on the
test date on the three-part SAT taken through
the November test date of their senior year
and be in the top 10 percent or top 10
students of their class based on GPA. Congratulations to both Jesse and Carolina!
GISA Middle School
All-Select Band
T
MSA’s Star student and teacher—Jesse Rhodes
and Carolina Ayerbe (center) are flanked by
Jesse’s parents, Philip Rhodes and Melissa
Adams.
wo of MSA’s talented PreUpper
students, Paul Bain and Noah
Rittenberg, both participated in the
4th Annual GISA Middle School All-Select
Band. The weekend long event was held this
year at the Brookstone School in Columbus,
Georgia where Paul and Noah joined the
finest 5th through 8th grade musicians in the
state. The group spent 7 hours in rehearsal on
Saturday, had a dress rehearsal Sunday
morning, and put on a fantastic concert for
friends, families and the independent school
community on Sunday afternoon. “As one
can imagine, putting together a complete
concert over the course of 2 days is extremely
difficult,” said Band Director, Elizabeth
Plastiak. “Everyone did an amazing job!”
Learning and
the Brain
M
iddle School Science Teacher,
Daniel Gracia, attended a
world-wide conference at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) in Boston on the topic, “Learning
and the Brain.” While there, he met with
many scholars and researchers to learn new
approaches to help LD students in the
areas of academic and social skills. Daniel
reports that the program was a remarkable
learning experience and has already begun
sharing his conference materials with all of
the MSA community.
Animal Handler, Tanya Williams (pictured left), assists Middle School students Thomas Chiu,
Emily Pearman, Mia Hummel-Levy, Bud Berger, PreUpper student Quint Foster, and Mitchell
McElliott with a 17-foot python.
Zoo to YOU!
T
he Middle and Lower School
welcomed a jungle of animals this past
December to the stage at MSA! Middle
drama/chorus students are currently
rehearsing to put on Disney’s musical “The
Jungle Book Kids” scheduled to debut in
March. To help them learn how to move as
animals, a wildlife refuge group called
“Wildlife Wonders/Zoo to You” from
Cleveland, Georgia, brought animals to Mill
Springs for the group to study!
WINTER 2011
Some of the animals the students were
able to study included a wolf, a 17 foot
python (yep, it was loose on stage in our
school!), a crocodile, and a gibbon! Students
were able to learn interesting facts about each
animal and study the way in which each
animal moves. Everyone particularly enjoyed
having the opportunity to pet and interact
with the animals. Mill Springs’ Lower School
students were also able to experience the
animals while they were on campus.
Seniors Place in GISA
Literary and Music
Competition
C
ongratulations to Seniors Alex
Fountain and Eleni Tsarouhas who did
a terrific job at the Georgia Independent
School Association (GISA) Literary and
Music competition. With categories ranging
from singing and essay to extemporaneous
and interpretive speaking, it's no surprise that
our creative Mill Springs students are formidable competitors. Eleni and Alex both
performed one classical and one musical
theatre piece each with Eleni earning 4th
place in girls' solo and Alex 2nd place in boys'
solo! Alex will go on to compete in the State
competition in Valdosta on March 15th.
Mill Springs Academy Matters 5
Alumni News
Eric Olney (2006) – Congratulations to Eric
Olney who graduated in the spring of 2010
from Georgia College and State University
with his BBA in Management. This past fall
Eric started work on his MBA (also at
GCSU) with a concentration in the field of
hospitality. In addition to participating in an
internship with Vail Resorts in Colorado,
Eric has also racked up on-the-job training
working for Reynolds Plantation on Lake
Oconee, The Ritz Carlton Lodge at Lake
Oconee, and Aubri Lanes—a small bistro in
downtown Milledgeville. Way to go Eric.
We’re all glad to know you are doing so well.
John Kintop (1998) – John Kintop is
currently living in San Diego and has spent
the last 11 years serving in the Marine Corps.
Thank you for your service, John!
Shannon Scalley (nee Frasier) (1987) –
Shannon Scalley and her husband Chris, who
is also a past MSA student, recently became
the proud parents of twins. Shannon and her
family reside in Roswell, GA where she has
had a 22-year career as a hairdresser.
Heather Laughran Feeney (1989) –
Heather recently wrote in to let us know that
she and fellow alumnus, Michael Blansett
(1989) will be getting married this year in
May. “A day doesn’t go by that we don’t
think of TNS (The New School) and our
memories of a place that started it all for us
and of a place we adored so much,” wrote
Heather. Congratulations to you both!
CORRECTION
Gregory McKenna (2009) – In the Fall
issue of our newsletter we reported incorrect
information on Gregory McKenna. Instead
of attending North Georgia College, Gregory
is in fact a second semester freshman at
Georgia Perimeter College.
MSA Teacher
Earns
Citizenship
C
Communication Arts students, Jasmine Steinway and Erin Horst, receive instruction from
Nutritionist Carol Ann Brannon on how to read food labels.
ongratulations to Upper School math
teacher, Maritza Gracia, who recently
became a United States citizen! “It is a
dream come true for me and my family,” said
Maritza. Maritza originally came to the
United States from Managua, Nicaragua in
Central America. “I came to the U.S.A. with
a student visa and studied in this country for
6 years—one of them teaching at a private
school in Fairhope, Alabama. I then married
a Colombian and settled in Colombia for 31
years working at the American School in
Bogota for the same length of time.” Maritza
and her husband came back to the United
States in 2005 when she started her citizenship paperwork which lasted 5 years.
CommArts Students Learn
to Make Healthy Choices
A
s part of their “Healthy Teens” Values
class, Communication Arts students
are learning how to read food labels.
The group had a visit from Nutritionist,
Carol Ann Brannon who taught students
how to look for hidden calories, especially in
the soft drinks they consume. They also
studied portion size, sodium content, and
vitamin, mineral, and fat content. Ms.
6 Mill Springs Academy Matters
Brannon brought rubber models of a pound
of fat to show how much weight a person
could gain just from drinking two soft drinks
a day. “Wow!” said 8th grade student Mason
Taylor, “I had no idea that soft drinks were
such sugar bombs.” They also discussed
healthy options for snacking. Students will
follow up their nutrition unit by bringing in
their own labels from home.
Maritza Gracia holds her certificate of
citizenship.
millsprings.org
Canned Food Drive
Big Success!
M
SA collected 11,033 Pounds of
canned food for the Atlanta
Community Food Bank (ACFB)!
This equals 8,487 meals to those in need.
Thank you Mill Springs Academy!!! Just goes
to prove what our Headmaster, Robert
Moore always says… “Small Schools Can
Do Big Things.”
Look at all of our Lower School “Characters”! Everyone on campus had a great time watching the
parade.
Lower School Makes Reading Fun!
Cole Felton, Alan McDonald, Brandon
McCormick help load cans on the ACFB
truck.
M
ill Springs’ Lower School students, teachers and principal participated in “Book
Character Dress Up Day”. Everyone dressed up as their favorite book character,
and then paraded the campus for all to see. The purpose of the special day was to
encourage students to get excited about reading and to realize that the entire world opens up
to them through books and written word.
CLASS OF 2011
Congratulations to the following seniors on their early college acceptances:
Becca Ascher – Young Harris College
Allison Ashlock – Armstrong Atlantic State University,
Georgia Tech
Aaron Bradsher – Oxford College at Emory
Alex Fountain – Young Harris College*, Reinhardt University,
Shorter University*, West Georgia State University
Morgan Friedman – Reinhardt University*
Brenna Gates – Armstrong Atlantic State University,
Reinhardt University, Libscomb University
Jenny Gold – Georgia College and State University
Roman Hanna – Valdosta State University, Reinhardt University,
Kennesaw State University
Justin Haynes – Western Carolina University,
Georgia Southern University
Lauren Hays – Agnes Scott College*
Andrew Katz – Chattahoochee Technical College
Jason Maza – Valdosta State University
Ian McNabb – Lynn University
Abby Miles – Brenau University
WINTER 2011
Pete Milord – North Carolina Wesleyan College*,
Young Harris College*
Mallory Oberholtzer – Reinhardt University
Will O’Neal – Andrew College*
Carly Reynolds – Unity College, Fairleigh Dickenson University,
Warren Wilson College
Jesse Rhodes – University of Alabama, University of Georgia
Jeff Roberts – Young Harris College, Reinhardt University
Rebekah Schultheis – Birmingham Southern, North Georgia
College and State University, Georgia College and State University,
Winthrop University*
Doug Seaman – Gordon College
Brent Shephard – Andrew College, Reinhardt College,
Young Harris College
Eleni Tsarouhas – Andrew College*
Hannah Twery – Georgia State University,
Savannah College of Art and Design*
Brook Woolf – Utah Valley University, Brigham Young University
* Denotes Scholarship Offer
Mill Springs Academy Matters 7
The Practical and
the Tactical
T
Senior Aaron Bradsher (left) along with Fine Arts teachers Janet Ford and Brian Buxton (back),
admire the new table and benches which are located behind the Tweet.
Eagle Scout Project Benefits Fine Arts
U
pper School Senior Aaron Bradsher of Troop #1717 recently completed his Eagle Scout
project for the MSA Art Studio! Aaron began his plans in the Fall of 2009 which
culminated in December of 2010 with the building of a paint palette-shaped table and
wooden benches. The table and benches will allow art classes to sit outside and work when the
weather is nice. Aaron, who has been a Scout for 7 years, plans to become an Adult Leader in
the future.
he 2011 College Board Regional
Forum - Solutions for Today’s
Education Professional – was held in
Atlanta on February 10-11. During the
Forum MSA’s Susan Day and Kathy Muma
presented a session titled “College for
Students with Learning Disabilities and/or
ADHD.” More students with learning disabilities and ADHD are going to college than
ever before. Susan and Kathy shared information on developing tools to support these
students in the classroom with academics and
testing. They also gave an understanding of
the characteristics of successful LD and
ADHD student. They showed them how to
determine what services are available at
different colleges, find the best college to fit
their needs and understand the basics of
obtaining services.
Leadership North
Fulton
Upper students pictured in front of the Al-Farooq Masjid mosque. Pictured L to R: Zachary
Skinner, Spencer Glenn, Jackson Deweese, Anthony DiSantis, Brett Jackson, Matt Sedacca,
Will Starr, Michael Matthews, John Wilson, Addison Reed, MaKinzi Wright, Josh Moore,
Annie Carter, Daniel Gillen, Esme Smith, Hannah Twery, Rachel Freeman, Carter Madison,
and Will Domenico.
World History and Diversity Classes
Field Trip Together
T
he Upper School World History and Diversity classes visited Al-Farooq Masjid, a Muslim
mosque located in downtown Atlanta. Students and teachers were guided by Y. Khalid
Siddiq, Director of Education and Outreach at the Mosque, who explained many of the
Islamic symbolisms and traditions and gave a detailed lecture about the religion and its history.
Mr. Siddiq then answered the students’ questions which ranged from “Why do women have to
cover themselves?” to “Why the misunderstanding between Islamic groups?”
8 Mill Springs Academy Matters
L
eadership North Fulton (LNF) held an
Education Day by hosting a panel of
distinguished guests representing the
Georgia Independent School Association
(GISA), Southern Association of Independent
Schools (SAIS), and the Georgia Association
of Private Schools for Exceptional Children
(GAPSEC). LNF members were able to
gather answers to the questions they had
about the education world from the professionals on the panel which included Mill
Springs own Headmaster, Robert Moore who
is also the President of GAPSEC. “The event
was a great way to present Mill Springs in the
local community,” said Mr. Moore.
millsprings.org
Annual Fund 2010–2011
The Annual Fund is the most important gift our
parents, board, and faculty/ staff are asked to make
to the school each year. This year’s goals are:
Annual Fund 2010–2011
n Raise $250,000
n Receive 100% participation from our entire
school family (parents, board, faculty/staff )
Please join the following list of families and
individuals who have already shown their support
to the school by making a gift or pledge.
REMEMBER…
participation means a gift of any size!
Thank you to the following families
and individuals for your support:
Daniel and Christine
Abernethy
Rhonda Acarkan
Carol and Tarpley Adams
Michael and Kim Adams
Jason and Donna Adler
Carmen Allen
Ivan Allen IV
Margaret Allen
Mike and Courtney Antonucci
Mark and Phoebe Ardagna
Andrew Y. Asher
Hugh and Kim Asher
Tom and Spring Asher
Jayson and Jackie Attaway
Carolina Ayerbe and Damian
Farrier
Tim and Leigh Ann Ayres
David and Janet Bain
Joe and Cheryl Balog
Bruce and Michele Baloh
Paul and Mary Barkley
Jerry and Janet Barnett
Janice Barton
Laura Barton
Cliff and Beverly Bartow
Billy and Caroline Barwick
Brent and Tana Beasley
Donna Berkowitz
Mark and Cathy Berman
Gregory Bodeep
Russell and Jill Bonds
Will and Jackie Border
Bruce and Deena Bowers
Mike and Bette Rose Bowers
John and Barbara Bowler
Steve and Trish Boyer
WINTER 2011
Karen and Justin Bradley
Richard Brandt and
Carmen Neyra
Mark and Pam Brasher
John and Rita Breen
Lisa Brinkley
Margaret and Robert Brito
Debbie Brown
Jeff and Traci Brown
Lisa Brown
Scott and Michele Brown
Eric Brown
Bruce and Marie Brownlow
Doris Bryant
James and Coleen Bryant
Buckhead Uniforms
Ian Buda and Bari Calais
Bill and Lori Budwitz
Erin Buice
Don and Kim Bunker
Jeff and Pam Burdick
Brian and Lisa Buxton
Monte and Pam Cagle
Wayne Carey and Yvonne
Satterwhite
Warren and Stephanie
Carmon
Andrew and Jinny Carter
Dennis and Lisa Cassel
Jim and Lisa Cauthen
A.J. and Sherri Cervantes
Nicholas and Margaret Ceto
Don and Bev Chapman
Donna Chapman
Jan Chastain
Wayne and Beth Chiu
Michael and Jinjie Cicco
Bob and Ruth Ann Clanin
Mark and Heather Clark
Jon and Gail Clarke
Tom and Karen Claugus
Fran Cline
Raymond and Devonda Cobb
Elliott and Judith Cohen
Mark and Sheila Cohen
Darryl and Teri Coleman
Gilbert Coleman
Jim Coleman
Joyce Coleman
Lynda Coleman
Grant and Susan
Collingsworth
Frances Collins
Richard and Leslie Collins
Allison Comis
Joe and Judy Comis
Clarence and Anne Conkin
Chris and Trisha Conlin
Keith and Gina Connell
Mark and Jessica Connell
Greg and Frances Connor
Jamie and Lin Contino
Steven and Heidi Cook
Karla and Donald Coop
Virginia Corwell
Michael Cowan
John and Sylvia Cutchin
Tom and Martha Dalluge
Arthur and Kathy Darr
Larry and Laura Davenport
Jesse and Sharon Davis
Barbara Day
Susan Day
Peter and Lorrie DeSantis
Staff/Faculty
Board of Trustrees
Ellen Deweese
Josh and Paula Deweese
Jorge Diaz and Karen Hallock
Bruce and Sylvia Dick
Larry and Karen Domenico
Woody and Genie Driskill
Mark and Monique Droege
Donald and Barbara Durocher
Carolyn Early
Jae and Lee Ann Early
Jodi Easter-Smith and
Bruce Smith
Tom and Marcia Edwards
Victor and Josephine
Ekworomadu
Wayne and Jenny Ergle
Heiko and Sylke Esche
Bob and Mary Elizabeth
Etheridge
Troy and Angela Ewing
Jamie and Valerie Fambrough
Jeff and Robin Felton
Mark and Martina Fitz
Sheila and John FitzGerald
Bob and Gail Flamini
Hugh and Robyn Flax
Jeff and Claire Foltz
Janet and Scott Ford
Jim Foster
Hank Freeman
Tonya Freeman
Vincent and Monica Frese
Lance and Susan Friedland
Ken and Simone Frisard
Gerry and Sue Garrick
Dan and Nancy Garrison
Neil and Jacki Gass
Current
Current
Parents
Parents
New
Parents
Doug and LeAnna Gates
Steve and Kelly Glenn
Karen Gold
Penny Gold
Robert and Patty Golden
Jon and Nancy Goldman
Chip and Lora Gonzales
Hilda Goodelman
Leonard and Deborah
Goodelman
Pete and Leigh Goodwyn
Billy and Gail Gordon
Daniel and Maritza Gracia
Kristin Graffin
Fred and Lauren Green
Shirley Greer
Michael Griffeth
Anne Grossman
Rael and Vicki Grosswald
Jaime Gutierrez
Jamie and Lisa Guttman
Katie and Mike Hadaway
Deborah Haertel
John and Marlene Haigh
Randy and Sandra Hain
David and Paula Hallowell
Mark and Lindell Hanna
Fred and Lynn Hanna
Phil Hanson
Gary and Annette Harmon
Donald Harris
Ann Hartin
Cheri and Jim Harwood
Kris and Scott Farrell
Scott and Linda Hayman
Continued on page 10
Mill Springs Academy Matters 9
Continued from page 9
George and Linda Haynes
Ed and Carol Hays
Paul and Dawn Hazzard
Thomas and Lee Healey
Andrew and Karen Hebert
Wayne and Brenda
Herrington
Don and Jeanne Hodson
Anne and Jeff Holland
Michael and Vicky Holt
Darren and Stacy Horst
Arnold and Mollie Horwitz
Terry and Paige Howell
Jim Hudson
Jay and Vicki Hudson
Branigan and James Hughes
Rolf and Waldtraut Hummel
Sirka Hummel
Amy Hurst
Barry and Sylvia Hyman
Jim and Mindy Intner
Bryant and Kim Isaacs
Mark and Teresa Jackson
Ron and Stacy Jarvis
Steve and Wendy Jensen
David and Patricia Johnson
Stan and Cristy Johnson
Hank Jones and Saisai Zhang
Laurie and Will Jones
Taniah Jones
Victoria Jones and
Dave Fairley
Katy Kane and Keith Rateliff
Todd and Julie Karner
Barry and Barbara Katz
David and Karen Katz
Stanley and Rosalyn Kaye
Betty and Danny Kellenberger
Nita Kendrick
Ed and Teresa Kennedy
Mike and Cristina Kennedy
Martin and Bobbie Kite
Sheila Klein
Lexi Klupchak
Shannon and Patrick Koch
Jennifer and Lou Kramer
Paul and Gail Kreher
Warren and Stephanie
Lampert
Paul Landy
Steven and Krista Landy
Lori Lane
David and Leslie Langford
Jack and Margaret Langford
Mary Lanning
Andy and Helaine Lasky
10 Mill Springs Academy Matters
Rachel Lasky
Sally A. LeFevre
Jon and Bobbie Leigh
Diane Lewis
Arthur and Barbara Lisker
Ed and Laura Little
Dennis and Sandy Lockhart
Wilton and Martha Looney
Juan Lopez-Carrion
David and Leslie Lopp
Robin Lucas
Jason and Stephanie Mack
Neil and Leslie Manna
Lisa Marcotte
Hilbert and Betty Ann Margol
Phil and Carol Martens
Judy and Henry Martin
Michael and Ashley Martin
Rafael and Leyda Martinez
George and MaryAnn Masson
Larry and Susan Matsumoto
Charles and Kim Matthews
Bob and Dianne Matthews
Mike and Nancy Mattox
Paul and Robin Maza
Connie McCallum
Michael and Barbara
McCarthy
Matt McConnell
Jeff and Carrie McCormick
Hershel and Carolyn McCroan
Ross and Cindy McCullough
Alan and Roxanne McDonald
Kate and Don McElliott
Patrick and Tammy McHugh
Lanny and Janie McNabb
Doug and Melanie
McNaughton
Bill and Jane Mengel
Curtis and Elaine Miles
Carl and Robin Moore
Donna and Patrick Moore
Doug and Donna Moore
Robert Moore
Thomas and Sara Moore
Craig and Kelli Moraes
David Moraes
Karen Morris
Scott and Caroline Morris
Kay and Cliff Morrison
Martha A. Muir
Keith and Kathy Muma
Christopher and Christine
Murphy
Mark and Karen Murphy
Angel and Dan Murr
Bill and Neely Musgrave
Laura and Jeff Nagel
Jeff and Leah Nedblake
Eric and Cheryl Nelson
Rob and Winona Newman
A.E. and Georgia Nivison
Jackie Noonan
Pasi Noronen and Patrice
Villemure
Jim and Judy Norris
Ed and Sally North
Bill and Katherine North
Rochelle and Vic Northrup
Mark and Sharon Oberholtzer
John and Frances O'Brien
Tom and Amy Olney
Ennis and Margaret O'Neal
Adam and Amy Orkin
Catherine Palmer
Chris and Beverly Palmer
A.G. and Patricia Palmore
Alan and Lisa Palmore
John and Liz Parks
Jayesh and Seema Patel
Michael and Janine Pearman
Don and Jill Peck
Scott and Amy Peeples
Scott and Kathy Petty
Elizabeth and Ivan Plastiak
David and Luanne Porper
Heffy and Mary Provost
Publix Super Markets
Charities, Inc.
Shawn and Tracey Rae
Angela and Corey Ragsdale
Alex and Connie Raji
Vaidehi and Murthy Rallapalli
Mary and Felipe Ramirez
Michael and Tami Ramsey
Timothy Ray
Erika Read
Jim and Beth Reaves
Lou Reaves
Calvin and Jean Reinking
Kenneth and Sherrie Reish
Martin and Relda Reish
Philip Rhodes and Melissa
Adams
Rob and Amy Richards
Lavone Rippeon
William Rittenberg
Tom and Kathy Roberts
Cliff and Stacy Robinson
Gene and Edna Robinson
Shelley Robinson
Sherry and Terry Robinson
Tom and Ellen Roper
Doug and Cindy Ross
Ruth and Irwin Rothchild
Carol and Rick Rothschild
James and JoAnn Sampson
Errol and Susan Sanders
Randy and Shawna Sarver
David and Derelle Schaefer
Rob and Kathie Scheinman
Tom and Nancy Schmidt
Mike and Ingrid Schneider
Dirk and Carol Schrader
Stephen Schuetz
Andy and Jeanette Schultheis
Mike and Carla Schultheis
Bruce and Alisa Sedacca
Jack and Susan Sell
Todd Sentell
Patrick and Patricia Shannon
Ronnie and Paulette Sherrill
Stuart and Cameron Sherrill
John and Lynn Shipes
Brian and Patty Short
Alan and Beth Shugart
David and Elisa Siegel
Wendy Silverman
Bill and Kathy Sims
Don and Beth Singleton
Tenessa Singleton-Gottlieb
and Geoff Gottlieb
David and Laurette Sirkin
Bob and Beryle Slayden
Dan and Rhonda Smith
David and Caroline Smith
Gil Smith and Judy Shurling
Joe and Jill Smith
Lee and JoEllen Smith
Leila and Rusty Smith
Paul and Pam Smith
DeShawn Snow
Gene and Virginia Sparlin
Jim and Gloria Spruell
Lynn and Don Stallings
John Starr and Maria Baxter
Merna and Allen Stein
Bill and Sherry Steinway
OB Stokes
Don and Barbara Stone
Rich and Kathryn Strand
Harold and Donna Supper
Kem and Lindy Swanson
John and Alison Sweeney
Kathleen Swift
Bill and Cheryl Syrett
Denise Taylor
Bill and Sylvia Taylor
Mark and Becky Thelen
Neil Thelen
John and Jean Thomas
Patrick and Renee Thomas
Cindy Thorne
Roberto Tijerina
Jim Torrance
Elizabeth A.Torres
Carissa and Kevin Townley
Candace Tracy
Cynthia Traylor and Daniel
Deleveaux
Tull Charitable Foundation,
Inc.
William Turner
Hector Turrado
Vincent and
Adrianne Turturro
Bernie and Rita Tuvlin
Scott Twery and Debbie
Theissen
Chris and Angela Veal
Brad Wahl
Evan Wahl
Brad and Debbie Waldstein
August and Shirley Walker
Colleen Walker
Tom Walker and
Suzanne Moon
Johnny Walker
Keith and Angela Walsh
Larry and Danyse Weinberg
Tim and Hiedi Weiss
Debbie Welch
Al and Charlotte Wheeler
Jerry and Charlene White
Mark Whitfield and Kim
Ireland
Miles and Hannah Whitlock
Adam and Shannon Wickley
Holly Wilkes
Casper and Helen Will
David and Beth Wilson
George and Carole Wilson
Larry and Betty Wilson
Skip and Dixie Wilson
Dale and Marianne Windsor
Jack and Peggy Withrow
Brad Wolff
Brad and Betsy Wolff
Valeria Wolff
Mark and Julie Woods
Fred and Melissa Woolf
Brian and Holly York
Paul and Jennifer Yurfest
Sandra Zelley
millsprings.org
MSA Sports
Girls’ Basketball
C
ongratulations to our Lady Mustangs on winning their 4th
championship and 2nd back-to-back championship title.
The team went undefeated this season in the Atlanta Athletic
Conference and won the championship game vs. Academe of the
Oaks 53 to 18. Brooke Woolf took home the MVP award for the
tournament and all 5 seniors (Allison Ashlock, Jenny Gold, Abby
Miles, Holly Thillet, and Brooke Woolf) represented MSA in the
All Star game on February 26, 2011. “We are very proud of all the
girls,” said Coach Taniah Jones. “Yes…and we really appreciate all
their hard work!” added Coach Jennifer Kramer.
Boys’ Basketball
M
SA’s boys’ basketball team came out of the chute with a
lackluster 3–13 start. Then the record snow fall that
sidelined the AAC for a week proved to be the trick in
turning things around. After the break the embattled Mustangs began
cleaning house by racking up six straight victories over the same
conference and non-conference foes that they faced earlier in the
season. The Mustangs continued their scalding pace as they bolted
their way through the first round of the AAC Conference Tournament
which unfortunately came to a close after a second round loss. The
Mustangs concluded their 2010–2011 Season winning seven of their
last nine games and posting an overall record of 10–13. “I was very
proud of this team and how they came off the deck during the second
half of the season,” said Coach Phil Hanson. “Although we did not
obtain our goal, this team was one of my favorite teams and
collectively they did a great job moving the program forward in the
right direction. They were a true gift from God. I truly look forward
to our productive off-season workout program.”
Swimming
A
lex Masson, Upper School, finished the season as the teams
most improved swimmer. PreUpper Cole Felton also had a
great season establishing personal records for all his primary
events, qualifying for the GISA Junior Varsity State Meet in the
50-yard freestyle and 50-yard breaststroke events. Jason Karner,
Lady Mustangs earn back-to-back championships. L to R top row:
Coach Jennifer Kramer, Jenny Gold, Brooke Woolf, Allison Ashlock,
Holly Thillet, Bekah Bowers, and Coach Taniah Jones. L to R bottom
row: Madison Orr, Erin Horst, Abby Miles, Sara Nedblake, Andrea
Carols, and Morgan Newman.
PreUpper, elected to participate on the Varsity team to enable him to
swim longer distance events. He qualified for the GISA State in his
primary events, 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke. Jason
also qualified for the 500 freestyle and placed 8th in the GISA state
meet against some much older completion. All three boys are looking
forward to returning next season. The MSA Swim Team would love
even more participation and welcomes all MSA students regardless of
ability. Watch for details next fall!
Archery Team Heads to State Meet!
A
rchery, one of Mill Springs most popular PM Programs, had
its third year of participation at the state level. Coached by
Vaidehi Rallapalli and Carolina Ayerbe, the students
represented Mill Springs Academy at the NASP State Shoot-Off on
February 11th in Perry, GA at the State Fairgrounds. Prior to the State
Shoot-Off the team worked on their competitive archery skills by
participating in virtual tournaments as well as organizing a mock
tournament at Mill Springs with local schools. The team as individuals
and as a group did a fabulous job representing MSA.
Communication Art Values Class
M
SA’s Communication Arts
department recently had the
pleasure of a visit from David
Langford, father of student Meredith
Langford, who works as a prosecutor for the
Attorney General’s office in the State of
Georgia. Mr. Langford discussed some of
our current laws and how they apply to
WINTER 2011
situations in everyday life. The students
learned about some of the legal terminology
that they all hear on television—terms
like Manslaughter, Assault, and Battery.
students also learned about the consequences of behaving in ways that are
harmful to society. It was an excellent
learning opportunity for our youngsters.
Mill Springs Academy Matters 11
MSA Science Teacher Going to NASA
M
iddle School Science Teacher, Dale
Windsor, is going to NASA for a
few days in April to mentor university students competing in NASA’s
University Student Launch Initiative, or
USLI.
USLI is a competition that challenges
university-level students to design, build and
launch a reusable rocket with a scientific or
engineering payload to one mile above
ground level, or AGL. The project engages
students in scientific research and real-world
engineering processes with NASA engineers.
USLI requires a NASA review of the
teams' preliminary and critical designs. The
project also requires flight readiness and
safety reviews before the rockets and
payloads are approved for launch. Teams
complete a Post-Launch Assessment Review
to include conclusions from their science or
engineering experiment and the overall flight
performance. The Preliminary Design
Review, Critical Design Review and Flight
Readiness Review are conducted by a panel
of scientists and engineers from NASA,
NASA contactors and external partners
(that’s Dale, an external partner and rep for
the National Association of Rocketry).
The top-placing teams in USLI are
invited to participate in USLI Level 2, which
requires teams to design and build a reusable
rocket and launch to an altitude of 10,000
feet AGL with water recovery at NASA's
Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
NASA Student Launch Projects are sponsored by ATK Aerospace Systems. The annual
launch event is hosted at Bragg Farms in
Toney, Ala., and launch services are provided
by the National Association of Rocketry.
Tea Anyone?
C
Matthew’s McConnell’s British Literature Class has a “proper” tea. Pictured from left: Alex
Masson, Jessica Lowenstein, Matthew McConnell, and Ace Webber.
ommunication Arts school British
Literature students enhanced their
studies recently by exploring a noteworthy aspect of
British culture: the
tea time. Everyone
in the class brought
in a different
English pastry
(scones, sweetcakes,
etc.) and accompanied it with a nice
spot of Earl Grey tea. Students used the
opportunity to discuss English table manners
and how they differ from our American style
of eating, and whether the concept of tea
time could be brought to our own country.
“Learning about tea time really helped put us
in the British frame of mind as we read short
stories by authors such as Roald Dahl and
Oscar Wilde,” said teacher Matthew
McConnell. “It was a fun and delicious way
to learn about the cultures.”
National Geography Bee
T
he National Geography Bee is a
nationwide contest with a first place
prize of a $25,000 college scholarship.
There were 50 Mill Springs Academy
students from sixth through eighth grades
who participated in this year’s competition.
The 2011 National Geographic Bee MSA
champion is eighth grader Noah Rittenberg!!
Noah will now take a qualifying test to see if
12 Mill Springs Academy Matters
he will advance to the state level bee. One
hundred of the highest scoring students will
go on to the state level competition held on
April 1st. This year’s second place finalist was
eighth grader Levi Smith and third place
went to seventh grader Miles Mitchell.
Congratulations to all the students who
participated in this year’s geography bee—
everyone did a great job.
PreUpper
student and
winner of
MSA’s National Geography Bee, Noah
Rittenberg, with PreUpper teacher and
sponsor, Karen Bradley.
millsprings.org
MSA Campus
Used as Outdoor
Ecology Classroom
S
pringtime has finally arrived and with
the warm weather comes a chance to
take advantage of the fantastic and
large learning environment that is the Mill
Springs Academy campus. From our streams
and wetlands to our forests and open spaces,
there are many things out there for the
students to learn about in a truly hands-on,
experiential way. The first frogs are already
out, and the small pond in the back field is
filled with thousands of egg sacks. The spring
onions are growing in profusion, and the
sourgrass and dandelions are breaking
through the old brown of winter. Students in
the Ecology class are currently exploring every
nook and cranny of the campus to learn
about the great ecological diversity contained
therein.
Ecology students learn the basics of agriculture by planting and raising a small garden of their
own. Pictured: Ivan Allen, Tyler Buice, Ryan Sarver, Robert Golden, Luke Hanrahan and
Courtney Sontag.
Mill Springs Academy
Recommended for Re-accreditation
O
n March 6–8, 2011, a visiting
committee representing SAIS
(Southern Association of
Independent Schools) and SACS (Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools)
conducted an on-site visit to review the selfstudy that the faculty, staff, board and parents
completed in order to receive dual re-accreditation. At the end of their visit, the committee
unanimously voted to recommend Mill
Springs for dual accreditation which should
be finalized some time before June, 2011.
The team representing SAIS/SACS was
comprised of members whose diverse independent school backgrounds provided an
impressive array of expertise. Chaired by
Tinnie Salzano, Upper School Principal
of Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC,
the committee also included Ms. Diane
Milner, Principal—The Key School, Carolina
Day School in Asheville, NC; Ms. Gail
Blackstone, Head of Lower School at
Springwood School in Lanett, AL; Ms.
Marcia Ramsey, Head of School, at the
Greengate School in Huntsville, AL and
Phil Zaubi, Director of Technology at Porter-
FALL 2010
Gaud School in Charleston, SC.
An SAIS/SACS accredited school is part
of an international network of accredited
schools which have demonstrated success in
all facets of running a school and educating
children. As such, SAIS/SACS accreditation is
recognized throughout the country as a
symbol of quality in educational institutions.
To earn accreditation, schools must meet
extensive quality standards, be validated by an
outside group of peer professionals and
implement a school plan focused on strategic
school improvement and student performance. Accreditation serves as a critical component of a school’s demonstrated effectiveness
and ability to provide a successful educational
program. A school that is able to achieve
accreditation demonstrates a commitment to
a process that requires the school to meet a set
of rigorous, research-based standards, to
engage in a program of continuous school
improvement, and to demonstrate quality
assurance to its stakeholders through selfevaluation and peer review.
The self-study and accreditation process is
an 18 month process that involves significant
2010–2011 Visiting Committee recommends
re-accreditation of dual SAIS/SACS accreditation. Pictured left to right: Robert W. Moore,
Headmaster, Tinnie Salzano, Visiting
Committee Chair, Diane Milner, Gail
Blackstone, Marcia Ramsey, Phil Zaubi and
Susan S. Sanders, Steering Committee Chair.
work and research by faculty, staff, board
members and parents overseen by a Steering
Committee. This 2010–2011 Steering
Committee was chaired by Susan Sanders,
PreUpper Principal and included Head of
School Robert Moore; Lavone Rippeon,
Administrator; Jennifer Kramer, PreUpper
Assistant Principal; Laurie Jones, Principal of
the Lower School; Margaret Brito, Principal
of the Middle School; Kay Morrison,
Communication Arts Principal; Bruce
Brownlow, Upper School Principal and
Cynthia Traylor, Assistant Principal of the
Upper School.
Mill Springs Academy Matters 13
Future City Contest
P
reUpper students Jay Karner, Alan McDonald, and Austin
Palmore, along with CommArts student Neil Jensen, all
members of PreUpper science teacher, Martha Muir’s ACE
class, represented Mill Springs Academy at the Future City
Competition held at Southern Polytechnic State University on
Saturday, January 22nd. The contest involved a research project, two
essays, a computer generated version of a city 150 years into the future
using the SimCity 4 game software, and the building of a scale model
to represent that city. The Mill Springs team named their city
“Susanopolis” to honor PreUpper Principal Susan Sanders.
After completing the research project and essay writing, the
students had the pleasure and privilege to meet Mr. Lovick Evans,
president of LCE Engineers, Inc. Mr. Evans served as the team’s engineer mentor and helped them design and build their model. “Reliable
water and power are the two key features citizens of any community
are looking for,” Mr. Evans told the students as they began to figure
out what their city should look like. With his help, they designed a
city with a river that separated the industrial side of the city from the
residential, government, and commercial districts. He showed the
team how to use a secured string tied to a pencil to draw the curved
roads for their city. The team ended up with a model that had two
scales: one for most of the city showing all of the districts and another
zoomed up version of the city hall complex that showed the town’s
clock tower. An important factor for the competition is the requirement that each model have a moving part. The team used a watch
with a moving second hand and put it in the clock tower.
The team then presented their model while telling a story that
included information about their model and city as well as their
research project which involved developing a nano-sized device to be
implanted in a brain to help control the dopamine levels in patients
with Tourette’s Syndrome and Parkinson’s Disease. Following the
presentation, the judges asked the team specific questions about how
their project was developed as well as the practicality of the design.
The Mill Springs team did a fantastic job taking home a fifth place
plaque out of a field of 56 teams from schools across Georgia.
Communication Arts Presents
Africa Festival
A
mid a sea of colorful African masks created by MSA
students, the Communication Arts School presented a
festival featuring several countries in Africa.
Each 7th and 8th grade student in O.B. Stokes’ social studies
class chose an important historical character to portray in costume,
and then created a poster and a short speech for their character.
They also cooked a dish native to Africa to share with visitors to
the festival. The countries featured were South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, and Kenya. Professional dancers performed traditional
African dances at the festival, and then taught attendees the dances.
Teacher O.B. Stokes stated, “We feel that students learn a culture best
when they study all aspects of it. The festival is an in-depth experience
to that end, and it’s so great to be able to share that experience with the
whole school.” Eighth-grade student, Morgan Taylor, had actually been
to Africa with her parents and commented on how well she thought
the festival captured the flavor of the area she visited.
MSA Honor Roll | Fall Semester 2010
GOLD MUSTANGS
(A’s in all subjects)
Upper:
Josh Moore
Hanna Bowler
Michael Palmer
Alex Fountain
Communication Arts:
Shayna Lopp
Garrett McCarthy
PreUpper:
Paul Bain
Alex Diaz
Madison Orr
Noah Rittenberg
Nicole Thomas
Loren Whitfield
Middle:
Alasdair Boney
Asher Madans
Paige Norris
Colin Wilson
Sam Wolff
14 Mill Springs Academy Matters
SILVER MUSTANGS
(All A’s and B’s,
one A must be in a
major subject)
Upper:
Allison Ashlock
Jenny Gold
Rebekah Schultheis
Zack Skinner
Lea Waldstein
Rebecca Hallowell
Doug Marcotte
Will Starr
Brooke Woolf
Lauren Hays
Matt Sedacca
Rebekah Bowers
Roman Hanna
Eleni Tsarouhas
Garrison Brown
Anthony DeSantis
Rachel Freeman
Adam Robinson
Austin Coleman
Michael Matthews
Hannah Twery
Mallory Oberholtzer
Anna Carter
Philip Early
Spencer Murphy
Jake Northrup
Aaron Bradsher
Carter Madison
Communication Arts:
Francis Abernethy
Rebecca Ascher
Jasmine Steinway
Ace Webber
Devin Hazzard
Daniel Raji
Mac Morris
Jeremy Katz
Ryan Sarver
Alex Calais
Erin Horst
Neil Jensen
Mary Short
Courtney Sontag
Mason Taylor
Justin Haynes
Meredith Langford
Max Martens
Morgan Taylor
Lindsey Flax
Paul Jarvis
Devin Orkin
Carly Reynolds
PreUpper:
Kaan Acarkan
Andrew Asher
Bryan Baloh
Jeremy Border
Jon Mark Brasher
Michael Cagle
Ken Carmon
Madison Ewing
Alexis Herrington
Ashley Hyman
Jay Karner
Danielle Lampert
Tyler Legg
Matt Manna
Alan McDonald
Grant Medlock
Thomas Moore
Austin Palmore
Michael Schuetz
Tim Schultheis
Matt Shaffer
Claire Sims
David Walker
Olivia Wolff
Middle:
Bud Berger
Cameron Feeley
Emma Harris
Mia Hummel-Levy
Emily Pearman
Alexa Shipes
Sam Smith
Noah Terpstra
millsprings.org
Communication
Arts Students
Go Wild
T
he 7th & 8th grade students of
Communication Arts got close to
nature during their trip to the
Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell,
Georgia. The Center focuses on environmental education and the rehabilitation of
animals native to Georgia. “My favorite part
was the corn snake,” said student Erin Horst.
“It was really cool how it constricts its prey.”
Students went on a forest hike and observed
Eastern box turtles, then toured aviaries
where they saw bald eagles, hawks, and a
variety of owls. After learning the importance
of watersheds to wildlife student Mason
Taylor said, “Now I really get how it’s all
inter-connected. That’s cool.”
Erin Horst, Neil Jensen, Mac Morris, and Ryan Sarver learn how a watershed works from this
water gravity demonstration.
“Snakes Alive” in
Communication Arts
M
PreUpper student, Meredith Langford, pets a crocodile.
FALL 2010
ustang may be the mascot for
MSA, but a variety of other
creatures vied for attention
when Wildlife Wonders Zoo visited the
Communication Arts School. Robert Golden
fell in love with the giant African Bullfrog:
“I want to take this guy home with me…he
looks like a Samurai warrior!” said Robert.
Students were able to pet all of the animals
except the timberwolf, but many opted out
when the Taiwanese Beauty Snake made the
rounds. A blue and gold macaw performed
tricks; an armadillo rolled up into a ball; and
a Cayman crocodile allowed kids to rub his
hard, scaly skin. While petting the animals,
the students learned about the animals’ habitats, lifestyles, and survival techniques. At the
end of the program, a shy timberwolf named
“Lotsie” was brought out to meet the students.
As an “Omega” member of the pack, the
students learned that Lotsie would not have
been allowed to bear pups. “Poor thing…
she walked in with her tail between her legs,”
exclaimed Hannah Seals. “I want to take her
home and build up her self-esteem!”
Mill Springs Academy Matters 15
MILL SPRINGS ACADEMY
Matters
13660 New Providence Road
Alpharetta, GA 30004-3413
(770) 360-1336
www.millsprings.org
MSA administers a non-discriminatory
policy of admissions.
Success in SCHOOL … Success in LIFE