May 2012_Spirit

Spirit
Excellence with Honor
A T H E N S
A C A D E M Y
May 1, 2012
Volume 21, Number 9
Campus
Notes
Artscape 2012
Through May 25
Exhibition of student artwork
Bertelsmann Gallery
15th Annual
Family Picnic
Friday, May 18
6:00 p.m.
Above Slaughter Field
Last Day of School
Friday, May 25
11:30 a.m. dismissal
(Extended Day until 5:45 p.m.)
Vespers
Saturday, May 26
6:00-9:00 p.m.
The Classic Center
Graduation
Sunday, May 27
8:00 p.m.
The Classic Center
Academic Team Takes State Honors
Congratulations to the Athens Academy Academic Team for winning the Single A State Championship title on March 24 at
Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Georgia! Athens Academy beat Paideia School and Whitefield Academy to face
The Walker School in the final round, defeating them with a final score of 350-170. Pictured, left to right: Elyse Paneral,
Edward Tie, Jason Fern, Claudia Evaristo, and Saad Bashir.
Marrow-thon a Huge Success!
At the end of February, Athens
Academy’s sixth grade class
was faced with a monumental
task: to find a bone marrow
donor match for classmate Kajal
Patel. Kajal suffers from a rare
autoimmune disorder, and her
only remaining option to restore
her health is a bone marrow
transplant. With the help of their
parents, teachers, and school
administrators, the students
approached this challenge with
enthusiasm, compassion, and
perseverance. With guidance
from Middle School Director
Brenda Klein, sixth grade class
reps Laura Pennington and Laura
Iyer led an amazing group of
volunteers that included key
organizers Ginny Browning, Cheri
Cherry, and Whitney Goodstone.
The sixth graders’ excitement
was contagious, and they were soon
inspiring the entire community in
their quest to beat the Guinness
Book world record of 2,400 bone
marrow swabs with a 24-Hour Bone
Marrow-thon. Parent volunteers
spent countless hours organizing
the event; local businesses donated
materials, food, space, and money;
community leaders lent their
support; the administration, faculty,
and students of the University of
Georgia came out in droves to help;
representatives from Be The Match
trained and advised volunteers;
and local news outlets, from print
to radio to television, shined a
spotlight on the efforts. In the
end, over 4,000 new registrants
have been added to the National
Bone Marrow Registry because of
this drive, and the sixth graders
achieved their goal of beating
the world record, with a 24-hour
collection total of 2,938 swabs
collected between 4:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, March 27 and 4:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, March 28.
But the most exciting news of
all came late in the evening on
Tuesday, April 3: multiple bone
marrow matches have been found
for Kajal! When she is ready, Kajal
will receive a transplant of healthy
new bone marrow cells. To stay up
to date on this process and other
Be a Hero for Kajal project news, be
sure to visit www.Facebook.com/
Beaheroforkajal.
It is a guarantee that the efforts
initiated by these 76 sixth graders
will save countless lives. We at
Athens Academy are grateful to
everyone who helped to Be a Hero
for Kajal!
ADVANCING
Development
The Spirit is published by the
The Spirit is published by the
Publications Division of the
Publications Division of the
Development Office,
Development Office,
Athens Academy.
Athens Academy.
J. Robert Chambers, Jr.
J. Robert Chambers, Jr.
Headmaster
Headmaster
George H. Huban, Jr.
George H. Huban, Jr.
Director of Development
Director of Development
Kelley Cuneo
DeDe P. Guest
Publications Editor
Annual Fund Coordinator
Toni S. Parr
Kelley Cuneo
Publications Assistant
Publications Editor
DeDe P. Guest
Toni S. Parr
Annual Fund Coordinator
Publications Assistant
Debbie A. Daniel
Debbie A. Daniel
PSO Liaison
Alumni & Advertising Coord.
Sue
Phone:
S. Williams
(706) 549-9225
PSO
FAX:Coordinator
(706) 354-3775
Email:
Phone: (706) 549-9225
Academy@athensacademy.
FAX: (706) 354-3775
org
Email:
Web:
[email protected]
www.athensacademy.org
Web: www.athensacademy.org
Mission Statement
Athens Academy seeks
excellence with
honor in the
Mission
Statement
educational and personal
Athens
Academy
seeks
experience
of each
student.
excellence
with
honor
in the
educational
and personal
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Notice of
Notice
of
NonDiscrimination
NonDiscrimination
Athens
Academy
admits qualified
qualified
Athens Academy admits
students of
of any
any race,
race, color,
color, national,
students
national,
ethnic
origin
to all
and
ethnicand
origin
to all
the rights,
the rights, programs,
privileges,and
programs,
privileges,
activities
and activities
generally
accorded
generally
accorded
or made
or made available
to at
students
at the
available
to students
the school.
It does
not discriminate
Itschool.
does not
discriminate
on the on
the basis
of race,
national,
basis
of race,
color,color,
national,
and
and ethnic
in administration
ethnic
originorigin
in administration
of
of
its
educational
policies,
its educational policies and other
admission
policies,
scholarship
school-administered programs.
and loan programs, and athletic
and other school-administered
programs.
2
May 2012
Dear Parents,
If you have already made your gift to the Annual Fund, thank you! If
not, we need your support. With everyone's participation, we will
make our Annual Fund Goal. Thank you!
Susan and Dick Ferguson
21st Century Campaign Co-Chairs
Parents of
Richard, Class of 2015
Lucy and John, Class of 2021
Denise and Jimbo LaBoon
21st Century Campaign Co-Chairs
Parents of
Caroline, Class of 2013
Emily, Class of 2018
ATHENS ACADEMY
21st Century
Campaign
STEP ONE
ANNUAL FUND
Parent Participation
STEP ONE
ANNUAL FUND
• Ensure excellence by
employing and retaining
outstanding teachers
• Provide teachers with
competitive salaries
• Supplement tuition
• Enhance academic
experience
2011-2012
Goal: $400K
March 31, 2012
100% Goal
June 2012
90%
80%
Grade
Participation
Leaders
70%
Raised: $341K
60%
STEP TWO
CAPITAL
CAMPAIGN
• Raise endowment for
faculty salaries and
student financial aid
50%
40%
ENDOWMENT
Goal: $1.5M
Raised: $1.1M
• Renovate and construct
COMPLETED
Lower School South
Arts and Preschool Center
Infrastructure
Sanitary Sewer
Lower School North
Arts and Preschool
Goal: $10.15M
Raised: $10.15M
30%
20%
10%
0
August 2011
SUPPORTING
Parent Service Organization
Officers
PSO
Chair- Hart Roberts
Co-chair- Tanya Adams
PSO Coordinator- Sue Williams
PS/LS Rep- Lisa Frierson
MS Rep- Kelly Jones
US Rep- Mary Sterrenberg
Athletic Advisory Rep- Page Ruhl
Fine Arts Rep- Didi Dunphy
Committee Chairs
Faculty & Staff Appreciation
Frieda Clarke (Coord.)
Denise LaBoon (US)
Lisa Irvin (MS)
Sarah Jordan (LS)
Michelle Sligh (PS)
Gift Wrap Sales
(Chair) Mandy Baxley
(Co-chair) Carrie Scruggs
Lunch Helpers
(Chair) Michelle Black
(Co-chair) Cheri Cherry
Parents' Day
(Chair) Jean Cleveland
(Co-chair) Laura Pennington
Rebecca Chisolm (MS)
Elaine Cook (US)
Spirit Items Sales
(Chair) Kim Maddox
(Co-chair) Rebecca Farmer
Grandparents Day
(Chair) Katherine Moseley
(Co-chair) Leslie Dorris
Golf Tournament
(Chair) Lisa & Gary Hudson
Holiday Decorating
(Chair) Kristi Donnan
(Co-chair) Jacqui Cowles
Spartan 5K & The Sprint
(Chair) Leigh Morris
(Co-chair) Courtney Meadows
Cookbook
(Chair) Amy Gregory
(Co-chair) Caroline Watson
Festival Day
(Chair) Amy Chandler
(Co-chair) Amy Byrnes
Required Reading Sales
(Chair) Pam Dillard
(Co-chair) Susan Ferguson
Cash Back Program
(Chair) Marty Kemp
(Co-chair) Greta Covington
Post Planning Luncheon
(Chair) Beth Mahoney
(Co-chair) Kim Pittard
LS Book Fair
(Co-chair) Cybele Lange
(Co-chair) Cathy Humphries
Art Project
(Chair) Holly Phelan
(Co-chair) Mary Anna Terrell
LS Library Helpers
(Chair) Missy Hill
(Co-chair) Lydia Menzies
Spartan Thank You
•
A BIG Spartan Thank You to Amy Chandler and Amy Byrnes for their work to make Festival
Day a fun day for all who attended. The enthusiasm and school spirit was inspiring!
•
Thank you to Pam Dillard and Susan Ferguson for their work in coordinating Required
Reading for our families. This is an easy way to purchase your required reading material
before school is out.
•
Thank you to Beth Mahoney and Kim Pittard for their work on the Faculty Post-Planning
Luncheon--a fun way for our faculty and staff to wrap up the year.
Final Farewell…
It is hard to believe that we are at the end of another school year. It seems like yesterday
that we were having the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Harrison Center. Thank you to each
and everyone one of you for your support of the PSO. The events and services the PSO provides
for the school could not happen without the support of our parents and families. I would like
to thank Sue Williams, who is an invaluable support to the PSO and our school. Sue makes
everything happen for the PSO. I could not have done this job without her. I would also like to
thank Tanya Adams for her help and support. She will have a wonderful year as PSO chair next
year. I have enjoyed serving as PSO chair. Thank you for allowing me to serve in this role.
I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!
Hart Roberts
PSO Chair
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PRE/LOWER SCHOOL
News
Primary
Points
K3 Performance
The Three Nanny Goats Gruff
Friday, May 4
8:45 a.m.
Harrison Center Performance Hall
Please use the shuttle from the
Spartan Center
Fourth Grade
Performance
Thwacked
Friday, May 18
8:45 a.m.
Harrison Center Performance Hall
Please use the shuttle from the
Spartan Center
PS Sundae Parties
Friday, May 25
10:30 a.m.
Preschool Classrooms
LS Field Day
Friday, May 25
9:00 a.m.
Football Stadium
Classes Dismiss
For Summer
Friday, May 25
11:30 a.m.
Extended Day until 5:45 p.m.
Have a Great Summer!
Applause! Applause! K3 to Perform The Three Nanny Goats Gruff
Watch out! There’s a troll under
there! Will the Nanny Goats make
it over the bridge to have more
grass to eat? K3 will perform this
classic children’s story in musical
form. Come and watch as the
children bring this story to life
through drama, music, art, and
language. It is sure to be a crowd
pleaser!
The students will take the
stage on May 4 for families and
friends. The performance is in the
Harrison Center Performance Hall
at 8:45 a.m. Parking is limited
so please plan to ride the shuttle
from the Spartan Center.
Libby Carson and Beth West
Fourth Grade Play
The fourth grade will be
presenting Thwacked for
friends and families on May
18 at 8:45 a.m. in the Harrison
Center Performance Hall. This
assortment of fractured fairy
tales will entertain both young
and old. The students are writing
their own lines with the help of
their teachers. The script is an
original! Characters from frogs
to coaches to princes wearing
colorful, creative costumes will
fill the stage with humor and
song. Come watch and enjoy
as the fourth grade brings their
writing, singing, and acting efforts
to life! Please park at the Spartan
Center and take the shuttle to the
Harrison Center for the play.
Sarah Currie,
Mary Ann Naclerio,
Amy O’Neill
Hats Off to Famous
Georgians
Did you know that Rosalynn
Smith Carter and former President
Jimmy Carter were neighbors
as children? Did you know that
Margaret Mitchell used many
real-life, personal experiences
as a basis for her famous book
Gone With the Wind? Did you
know that Hart County is the only
county in Georgia to be named
for a woman—Nancy Hart? Did
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you know that Bobby Jones won
his first golf tournament at the
young age of six? Did you know
that country music stars Trisha
Yearwood, Jennifer Nettles, Colt
Ford, Alan Jackson, and John
Berry call Georgia home? Athens
Academy second graders do!
Second graders have spent
this school year studying our
wonderful state of Georgia in
social studies. We have learned
about Georgia’s landforms,
geography, government,
important landmarks, and famous
people. As a culmination to our
study on famous Georgians, the
students are writing reports and
decorating hats for their Georgian.
Oral reports will be given (with
hats on, of course!) and a hat
parade will be held. Decorated
hats will be on display in the
Lower School Media Center.
Second graders are very proud to
be called Georgians and to live in
a wonderful state with such a rich
heritage and promising future!
Becky Padgett,
Sharon Reinking, Betsy Billmayer
Exploring DNA
For the third year in a year in a
row, Academy second graders had
some special teachers in science
lab –students from the Upper
School Evolutionary Genetics
class. Mrs. Chester’s juniors
prepared and executed a great
hands-on lesson about the basics
of DNA. Each second grader had
the opportunity to use a pipette
to transfer carefully measured
liquids in this unique color mixing
activity. They were also shown a
demonstration of extracting DNA
from a strawberry, and given a
take-home kit to complete the
same experiment for homework.
Students in both divisions learned
a great deal and enjoyed this
experience tremendously!
Mary Kline
A Strong Finish
As we enter the last month
of school, spirits are high as we
anticipate summer vacation. It
is important to remember the
benefits of routine. Students
should arrive on time each day
having had a good breakfast and
being well rested. You can never
underestimate the value of sleep
and nutrition in our growing
children.
Gift Giving
Children do not exchange gifts
at school for any occasion. Gifts
to teachers at the end of the year
are optional on an individual
student basis. If you would like
to donate books to the Pre/Lower
School Libraries honoring your
child or teacher, please contact
Elaine King. There should not be
any class collections for end-ofschool faculty gifts. Thank you for
your understanding.
Summer Camp (K4 –
Rising 5th Grade)
Athens Academy Summer
Camp is filling up quickly!
Please register online or contact
Margaret Wellborn to reserve
space at 549-9225 or mwellborn@
athensacademy.org.
Dates for Summer Camp:
Week 1 - June 11-15
Week 2 - June 18-22
Week 3 - June 25-29
Week 4 - July 9-13
Week 5 - July 16-20
Summer Vacation
The last day of school is Friday,
May 25. Bus riders and car riders
will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m.
Extended Day is available until
5:45 p.m. We wish you all an
adventure filled summer!
Melton Weekley
MIDDLE SCHOOL
News
Take
Note
ERB Testing
April 30-May 3
Talent for Life
Wednesday, May 2
7:00 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
String Fling
Thursday, May 10
7:00 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Relay for Life
Friday, May 11
YMCA track
Fall Sports Night
Parent Meeting
Wednesday, May 16
7:00 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Band Concert
Thursday, May 17
7:30 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Eighth Grade Exams
May 21-24
Medieval Banquet
Tuesday, May 22
Noon
Harrison Performance Hall
Writers Forums
Sixth Grade—May 22
Fifth Grade—May 23
Sixth Grade to
Dahlonega
Thursday, May 24
School Dismisses for
Summer
Friday, May 25
11:30 a.m.
Honor Roll Announced
Congratulations to the students
whose continued diligence has
placed them on the third quarter
honor roll.
Fifth Grade: Hatton Abernathy,
Alex Branch, Jack Bullock, Connor
Byers, Charles Clarke, Doug
Clements, Wesley Cline, Ian Digel
Drake, Tom Eskew, Reagan Hatch,
Barrett Jones, Lucy Kemp, John
Knight, Mary Elizabeth Lane, Holt
Leach, William McLanahan, Simon
Sikes, Jack Thomas, Abney Turner,
Evan Williams, Kate Williams.
Sixth Grade: Reed Barkley,
Rimsha Bashir, Taylor Boswell,
Victor Chatterjee, Ryan Cherry,
Glynn Chesser, James Chesser,
Joe Colley, Alex Deltchev, Emily
Elder, Lucy Frierson, Sydney
Goodstone, Liam Harvey, Connor
Hatch, Grace Hicks, Eva Houser,
Sara Irvine, Maggie Ivy, Ryan
Iyer, Maggie Jordan, Harper King,
Maddie McCleary, Mary Margaret
McConnell, Mimi Meadows,
Annie Miller, Mary Kate Morris,
Avi Patel, Reeya Patel, Sanam
Patel, Cardy Pennington, Carson
Pittard, Owen Roberts, Alyshia
Sykes, Margaret Timberlake, Nour
Trabelsi, Kush Vyas, John Ward,
Jack White.
Seventh Grade: Kristen Ah, Bo
Allen, Savannah Baugh, Cammie
Bennett, Raine Brooks, Severen
Brown, Harper Cline, Lucy
Devaney, Allison Doherty, Emily
Doherty, Mackenzie Ferguson,
Ali Garrett, Jarod Gilliam, Frances
Herrin, Lili Hollis, Wynn Ivy,
Parker Jones, Isabel Lane, Jack
McLanahan, Anna Ford Pittard,
Rolf Reynolds, Sandelin Sikes,
Emmaline Smith, Ben Trimpe,
Annabelle Woodard.
Eighth Grade: Adeline Archibald,
Joshua Ballard-Meyer, J.T. Camp,
Kayla Cherry, McKenzie Cook,
Ryan Cook, Will Corry, Kimberlyn
Daniel, Isabelle Hale, Megan
Hodgson, Amelia Johnson,
Elizabeth Malcom, Nicholas
Manfredi, Liza Maslak, Catherine
McCreary, Christina Minor,
Colin Murphy, Sean Murphy,
Tesh Parris, Alisha Patel, Riddhi
Patel, Chandler Reynolds, Jordan
On Friday, May 25, the Middle
School student body and faculty
will convene for Honors Day. At
this time we will celebrate the
achievements of all students and
honor the eighth graders at the
conclusion of their Middle School
years. We invite all parents of
eighth graders to join us for this
celebration. The program will
take place in the Bertelsmann
Presentation Hall at 10:00 a.m.
in Relay for Life. We recently
had our annual relay kick off
in chapel and students are
working to gain support for this
effort. On Thursday, May 3, the
annual Talent for Life show will
feature a variety of talents from
middle school. Donations will be
accepted for the Relay for Life.
The eighth grade class will help
to coordinate the event along
with Mrs. Townsend. Please
mark your calendars for this lively
presentation!
The Relay for Life takes place on
Friday, May 11, at the YMCA track.
Thanks to all for your support of
the students’ efforts in this worthy
project.
Thanks for a Great Year!
Fall Sports Team Night
Sennowitz, Wyatt Settles, Riya
Shah, Sarah Slocum, Gabriela
Tejeda, Joanne Timberlake, Grace
Trimpe, Hayley Whitmore, RaRa
Williams.
Honors Day
The faculty and students
appreciate the many, many ways
that parents have supported
our work this year! As we enter
the month of May with more
concerts, the talent show, the
Medieval Banquet, and the
Writers Forums, we wish to say
thanks for making the costumes,
baking the cookies, decorating the
sets, and providing the support
for each of us.
The recent Bone Marrow-thon
would not have been possible
without the leadership of grade
reps (Laura Iyer and Laura
Pennington), parents (Sherri
Goggin and Whitney Goodstone),
grandparent (Ginny Browning),
and countless other parent and
community volunteers. You are
champions who helped a group
of sixth graders reach a life-saving
goal. While seeking to find a
match for a friend, they have
registered over 4,000 people into
the national registry. Setting a
new Guinness World record was
exciting, but the real joy came
from knowing that we found a
match for Kajal Patel and for many
others on the waiting list!
Brenda Klein
Relay for Life
Attention rising 7th-12th athletes
and parents: students interested
in participating in cross country,
volleyball, or football next
fall are asked to join us in the
Presentation Hall on Wednesday,
May 16, at 7:00 p.m. for our
Fall Sports Team night. At this
meeting, coaches will discuss
team and practice guidelines,
hand out schedules, and discuss
summer opportunities. It is
important that parents, new
athletes, and veteran team
members attend this informative
meeting. We hope to see you
there!
Summer Camp and
Programs Registration
Registration for summer camp
and programs is up and running!
All registrations will take place
online this summer. In addition to
our popular day camp, there are
camps which offer Geo-Caching,
Nutrition and Cooking, Gardening,
Guitar Playing, Basketball,
Soccer, Volleyball, Robotics,
Football, and Programming. For
more information or to register,
please visit our website at www.
athensacademy.org/activities/
Summer_programs.
Geoffrey Walton
Middle School students are
excited about participating
5
UPPER SCHOOL
News
High
Lights
Senior Athletic
Recognition Assembly
Wednesday, May 2
10:10 a.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Cabaniss Lecture &
Cum Laude Induction
Wednesday, May 2
1:30 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Relay for Life
Friday, May 11
Athens YMCA
Honors Day
Friday, May 18
1:30 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Vespers
Saturday, May 26
6:00 p.m.
The Classic Center
Graduation
Sunday, May 27
Rehearsal
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Ceremony
8:00 p.m.
The Classic Center
May We All Finish Strong…
The last month of the
school year is upon us yet
there remains much to do.
There are still assignments to
complete, obligations to fulfill,
and responsibilities to meet. We
have already spent much time
and energy establishing strong
foundations and are now left to
complete the finishing touches.
We must continue working hard
and strive to complete the year in
the best way possible. We must
turn our sight towards the future
without losing our focus on the
present. As we strive to do this,
take time to appreciate all that
has been accomplished this year,
individually and collectively, with
perhaps the most notable being
that members of our community
saved numerous lives through the
herculean effort of the marrowthon and the three blood drives
which netted 87 units of blood. It
has been fun and being with each
of you has been enriching. The
environment within which we
have worked has facilitated our
performance and enabled us to
accomplish many good things. My
sincere thanks go out to everyone
who contributed to making this a
successful academic year.
Exams
Senior exams will begin May
21 and continue through May 23.
Exams for freshmen, sophomores,
and juniors will be administered
on Tuesday, May 22 and continue
through Friday, May 25. The
school reschedules exams only
in the event of illness or an
emergency. Parents are asked
to call the Upper School office
by 8:00 a.m. if a student is ill or
unable to attend an exam session.
2012-2013
Course of Study
The course of study process
is nearly complete. By this time
all course request forms should
have been turned into advisors
and conversations with teachers
and department heads should
6
have already taken place. Learning
Teams have met and discrepancies
between recommendations and
requests have been resolved.
Any further changes must be
completed by May 27, 2012. They
must be finalized so the process of
assigning teachers and classrooms
can begin. Student schedules,
complete with teachers and room
assignments, will be mailed in
July.
And the Award Goes
To….
Alex Pate was awarded a
$1000 scholarship by Rotary
District 6910. This is a tribute
to her four years of involvement
and leadership with the Athens
Academy Interact Club. She
exemplifies the Rotary motto of
“Service above Self.”
Ansley Richardson was
recently selected as the
Student of the Semester for the
Rotary Club of Oconee County.
She was recognized for her
accomplishments, along with her
selected teacher, Mrs. Sally Harris,
on April 24 at a breakfast honoring
the students of the five Oconee
County Schools.
The Athens Academy
Academic Team comprised of
Jason Fern, Elyse Paneral, Claudia
Evaristo, Edward Tie, and Saad
Bashir, recently dominated the
Single A State Academic Team
competition at Bleckley County
High School in Cochran, Georgia.
The team competed against The
Walker School for their final
match and took home the trophy
after a 350-170 final score. Our
team will now go on to compete
at the 2012 High School National
Championship in Atlanta during
the weekend of May 25. Wish
them luck as they go forward to
represent Athens Academy to the
nation.
Summer Reading
Summer reading assignments
for English classes and AP courses
along with lists of recommended
books will be distributed through
English classes near the end of
the school year and will also
be posted to the website. The
assigned reading will be part of
the coursework at the beginning
of school next fall.
Thank You,
Mr. Beaulieu
After seven years of good
work, physics teacher, coach, and
sound booth guru Thom Beaulieu
will end his tenure at Athens
Academy. He will be moving to
New Hampshire to take a position
at the New Hampton School. We
will miss Thom, appreciate his
contributions, and are happy he
has been a part of our school and
an influence on our students.
Grade Reports
End-of-year reports will be
mailed to parents during the week
of June 4.
Bob Sears
GUIDE
to Higher Education
College
Bound
Juniors –
Don’t forget to register for the
SAT/ACT.
All juniors must take one of these
tests this year!
SAT 2011 – 2012
Schedule
June 2 – Register by May 8
Go to www.collegeboard.com to
register.
ACT 2011 - 2012
Schedule
June 9 – Register by May 4
Go to www.act.org to register.
May Events
The end of the year is the busiest time of year. Good luck keeping up!
AP Testing Calendar:
Monday, May 7
Tuesday, May 8
Wednesday, May 9
Thursday, May 10 Friday, May 11
Monday, May 14
Tuesday, May 15 Wednesday, May 16 Thursday, May 17 AP Chemistry Exam – 8:10 am
AP Spanish Language Exam – 8:10 am
AP Calculus AB and BC Exams – 8:10 am
AP English Literature Exam – 8:10 am
AP Latin: Vergil Exam – 12:30 pm
AP US History – 8:10 am
AP European History – 12:30 pm
AP Biology Exam – 8:10 am
AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam –12:30 pm
AP French Language Exam – 12:30 am
AP English Language- 8:10 am
AP Macroeconomics Exam – 8:10 am
AP Microeconomics Exam – 12:30 pm
Senior Events:
(A more detailed listing was distributed at the Senior Exit Meeting in April)
Wednesday, May 2
Friday, May 4
Friday, May 18
Monday, May 21
Tuesday, May 22
Wednesday, May 23
Thursday, May 24
Saturday, May 26
Sunday, May 27
Senior Athletic Recognition Assembly– 10:10 am – Presentation Hall
Cabaniss Lecture and Cum Laude Induction –1:25 pm – Presentation Hall
Senior Class Meeting/College T-shirt Day and celebration-- 10:25 am
Honors Day – 1:30 pm – Presentation Hall – dress-up day
Senior Exams
Senior Exams
Senior Exams
Senior Brunch – 10:30-12:00 – Chambers’ Home
Vespers Ceremony – 6:00 pm – Classic Center
Graduation Rehearsal – 1:00-4:00 pm – Classic Center
Graduation – 8:00 pm (students should arrive by 7:00 pm)
Juniors:
It has been a pleasure talking to all of you in our junior college planning meetings. Please be aware that
the last administrations of the SAT and SAT Subject Tests this year will be on May 5 and June 2. The last
administration of the ACT is June 9. All juniors must take the SAT/ACT at least once this school year. Some
colleges require students to take SAT Subject tests. If this is the case, please plan to take these subject tests
this year, as well. Go online to www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org to register.
Athens Academy SAT Review Workshop
Athens Academy will again be offering a week-long SAT prep workshop this summer. This is a great
opportunity for Upper School students to review material and test strategies to improve scores on this
important test. The verbal workshop is taught by Pat Cuneo and the math workshop is taught by Mike
Fitzsimmons. Both instructors have years of experience helping students maximize their performance. For
more information, please visit www.camperregsecure.com/athensacademylogin or email Geoffrey Walton at
[email protected].
Hopefully by now all juniors have met with a counselor and have a confident plan in place. If not, please be
in touch with us as soon as possible!
Colleen Pruitt and Jeff Stachura
7
FINE ARTS
On Stage & in the Studio
Coming
Soon
Exhibits
Through May 25
Myers Gallery
Closing Time
Senior Portfolio Exit Show
Bertelsmann Gallery
Artscape 2012
Exhibition of student artwork
Senior Recognition
Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, May 1
7:30 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Snapshots
Wednesday, May 2
7:30 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
Talent for Life
MS Talent Show
Thursday, May 3
7:00 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
LS/MS Orchestra
String Fling
Grades 2-8
Thursday, May 10
7:00 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
MS Band Spring Concert
Grades 5-8
Thursday, May 17
7:30 p.m.
Bertelsmann Presentation Hall
8
Celebrate the Arts!
The month of May is just full
of exhibitions, concerts and
performances and you are all invited
to celebrate the arts!
Artscape 2012 is on exhibit in the
Bertelsmann Gallery through May 25.
For over 20 years exceptional pieces of
art have been carefully selected and
displayed in the Bertelsmann Gallery.
This colorful show includes work by
students in pre-first through 12th
grades and reflects a wide variety of
media and impressive quality. Please
make time to drop by the gallery and
enjoy the incredible art our students
have created.
The Senior Portfolio Exit Show
Closing Time will run through May
25 in the Myers Gallery. This exhibit
features the artwork of Ross Batzer,
Sara Beisswenger, Carie Cartwright,
Sarah Chuboff, Deeva Desai, Emmeline
Hale, Cori Hill, Abby Knight, Laney
Mallet, Elizabeth Naclerio, Martha
Peck, and Christina Shin.
Upper School art students created
an installation at ATHICA in Athens
designed by Jill Townsley from
England. This installation is exhibited
in the UP CYCLE show that opened
April 21. The Art Club sponsored
and supervised the production of an
Artboard for Kidsworks at OCAF in
Watkinsville during the Southworks
Festival. Leigh Ellis is the advisor for
the Art Club.
The Upper School Orchestra will
present the Senior Recognition
Concert in the Presentation Hall on
Tuesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. This
concert features our seniors Perry Ah,
Wrenica Archibald, Jamella Banks,
Robert Leverett, Maddy Marshall,
William Morris, Torie Owers, Sanjay
Rema, Elizabeth Sinyard, and Karishma
Sriram.
Mark your calendars for a
special evening of theater on
Wednesday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. in
the Bertelsmann Presentation Hall.
The Drama Department will present
Snapshots featuring Anna Candler
Kimsey, Andrew Youngerman, Chris
Marbut, Kelsie Smith, Ward Archibald,
and Rachel Bonet.
Lower School and Middle School
orchestra students will present their
annual String Fling in the Presentation
Hall on Thursday, May 10, at 7:00
p.m. Over 120 musicians in grades
two through eight will perform on this
concert.
Band students Will Loveless and
Charlie White performed solos at the
GMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival
on Saturday, April 28, and did an
outstanding job! Don’t miss the
Middle School Band Spring Concert on
Thursday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. in the
Presentation Hall.
It’s That time Again
Spring is the time of year that rising
fifth grade students are invited to
sign up for Middle School band and
orchestra. Learning to play a musical
instrument is something that will
provide your child with a lifetime of
benefits. The impacts of learning to
play a musical instrument are physical,
emotional and psychological in nature.
There are no limits to how your child’s
life can be improved by learning to
play a musical instrument.
The following are five good reasons
why you should encourage your child
to learn to play a musical instrument.
1. Studies have found that learning
to play a musical instrument has
positive effects on the brain.
Children who listen to music or
play an instrument do better in
school including their reading
level, IQ, and brain development.
2. Learning to play a musical
instrument is very similar to
learning a second language - it is
challenging. This challenge can
help teach a person discipline.
It takes concerted effort over
a long period of time to learn
the language of music and its
application. In adult life, there
is no other character quality
that more defines success than
discipline.
3. Music is an excellent way to
reduce stress levels. Listening to
soft music can help a child to relax,
but playing a musical instrument
will do much more to help reduce
stress levels. Playing an instrument
not only relaxes the body but it
soothes the mind as well.
4. Learning to play a musical
instrument can be challenging
and frustrating at first. However,
once your child reaches a certain
level of accomplishment he or
she will experience a great sense
of satisfaction. This sense of
satisfaction has many benefits in
emotional and psychological wellbeing.
5. It takes a lot of hard work to
master a musical instrument.
Once a child has reached a certain
level of accomplishment there is a
large amount of pleasure and fun
in music. Students experience joy
sharing musical talents with family
and friends. Some students may
even have the ability to consider
playing professionally if they
have truly mastered their musical
instrument.
Please encourage your child to
explore the world of music. For band
information, please contact Jenny
Taylor at [email protected]
and for string orchestra information,
please contact Beth Shaw at bshaw@
athensacademy.org or Debbie Schab
at [email protected].
MS Orchestra Workshop
On Wednesday, April 4, Middle
School string orchestra students in
grades 5, 7, and 8 participated in a
workshop with musicians from Clarke
Middle School. The Clarke Middle
School orchestra under the direction
of Dr. Eunice Kang travelled to Athens
Academy and rehearsed with our
Academy musicians. This exchange of
music, ideas, and friendship was held
in the Harrison Center Performance
Hall. Following a pizza lunch, Karl
Schab, director of the Athens Youth
Symphony, listened to the combined
orchestras perform three selections
and gave comments and suggestions
for improvement. Seventh grade
violinist Claire Thompson said, “The
seventh graders really enjoyed how
much fun we had and how many new
friends we met!"
Debbie Schab
ACADEMIC
Affairs
21st Century Education: It Doesn’t Get Any More Authentic Than This
The last few weeks in Athens Academy’s Middle School haven’t
exactly been business as usual in terms of the curriculum or time
spent in the classroom. Seeking every opportunity they can to help
save the life of one of their classmates, sixth graders have spent time
away from the classroom making posters and giant swabs, filming
videos, participating in radio and television interviews, writing letters
to the editor, and encouraging college students and other adults to
get involved. With this frenzy of activity, it’s no surprise that Mr.
Brantley’s science classes didn’t spend quite as much time as they
ordinarily would have on the cartography unit planned for this time of
year. Under ordinary circumstances, students would have had a little
more study hall time, and Mrs. Mallet’s Skills for Adolescents class
would have met one more time than it did.
Whatever the sixth grade students have missed in terms of
traditional class time, however, pales in comparison to what they
have learned, and continue to learn, throughout this process.
The outpouring of support throughout the school and the local
community—for Kajal as well as for numerous others in need of a
bone marrow transplant whom the students may never know—has
been nothing short of remarkable. These students have not only
generated support and awareness among thousands of people about
this life-saving effort, but they have also set an impressive example of
what learning in the 21st century can and should be.
Anyone who reads an article or book or listens to a news
broadcast on a topic related to education is likely at some point to
come across the phrase “21st century learning” or “21st century
skills.” Now a dozen years into the new millennium, scholars, critics,
and political figures have yet to reach a clear consensus about
what that phrase really means. With a few subtle differences,
though, many of these sources agree at least upon a common set
of skills and traits that will enable students to be successful in the
future: creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication,
collaboration, media literacy, leadership, and social responsibility.
Despite the fact that each of these skills had been a vital element
of a good education in 1999 and long before that, the blinding pace
of technological innovation, immediate access to information, and
worldwide communication have cast this particular set of skills in a
whole new light.
As the Bone Marrow-thon kicked into high gear last week,
sixth graders, their teachers, their parents, and other supporters found
themselves involved in a series of real-life lessons as they developed
the skills needed to carry out such an ambitious effort.
•
Students and teachers demonstrated their creativity by
producing videos, writing songs, designing posters and t-shirts, and
more to spread the word about joining the national bone marrow
donor registry.
•
They worked together effectively as a group—not an easy
task for any group of 76—to spread the word, prepare for donor
drives, bake treats for sales, and make get well cards for their friend.
•
They harnessed the power of social media by sharing Kajal’s
story and documenting their efforts to find a match on Facebook and
YouTube, gaining national and international attention.
•
They spoke confidently and passionately in front of several
groups of 100 or more college students about their efforts.
•
They got involved, sacrificed sleep and comfort, and worked
tirelessly and passionately for a very real, meaningful cause.
•
Finally, as a group, they have become leaders at an early
age, setting an example for excellence in service not just for Athens
Academy’s younger students, but also for Upper School students,
alumni, and parents.
As weary but excited students, teachers, parents, and other
supporters gathered on the steps of Athens’ City Hall last Wednesday
to conclude the Bone Marrow-thon, a colleague and friend noted very
succinctly, “This is Athens Academy…and Athens…at its finest.” Here’s
to Kajal’s 6th grade classmates, and all of the parents, teachers, and
friends who supported them: they have all been true heroes for Kajal.
It’s an experience that they will never forget…and something definitely
worth sacrificing a few class periods to accomplish.
Patrick Cuneo
A View from the Stacks-- Last Words
I’ve always had a weakness for books of quotations. Bartlett’s
Familiar Quotations is the indispensible volume, of course, in print
for more than 150 years and now in its 18th edition. According to
Bartlett’s, the last words of Henry Ward Beecher, an orator, minister
and fearsome abolitionist (also brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe,
author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin) were, “Now comes the mystery.” The
last words of Robert E. Lee were, “Let the tent be struck.” Teddy
Roosevelt said, “Put out the light.” Beethoven said, “Friends applaud,
the comedy is over.” And the “gallant gentleman” Captain Lawrence
“Titus” Oates, a member of Robert Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova
expedition, delivered what is surely one of the noblest last lines in
history. Oates was suffering from malnutrition and frostbite, and
feared that he was slowing the party down and endangering his
comrades’ lives. One evening, Oates simply stepped outside the tent,
into driving snow and a temperature of forty degrees below zero,
saying of his sacrifice only this: “I am just going outside and may be
some time.”
Here at the end of another school year, I am thinking about last
words. Speeches are being prepared, for vespers and graduation,
and goodbyes will be said as you students leave us teachers behind.
(Again! It surprises and grieves me every year.) Parents of seniors
might very well feel as if this is their last chance for last words. We
have to tell you everything we know, and right now, as we send you on
your way! My family has a long-standing tradition, born no doubt of
the last-words impulse. Whenever a member of my extended family
goes off to college, we gather on the screened porch at my parents’
house for “the Charge,” that is, Polonius’ charge, his last words and
advice, to his son Laertes in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Even if you don’t
think you know Shakespeare, you know this part. Polonius advises his
son to listen more than he speaks, to be frugal, to dress modestly, to
“neither a borrower nor a lender be,” excellent advice in our current
economy… He also reminds Laertes of the value of friendship. “Those
(continued on page 11)
9
ATHLETICS
Commitment to Excellence
Collegiate
Class
Athletes
Notes
Baseball
Hunter Stiles
Mercer University
Basketball
Joey Miller
Rhodes College
Dynelle Todman
Rhodes College
Cross Country
Becca Schell
Scripps College
Equestrian
Katie Crump
University of Georgia
Football
Gabe Padgett
Shorter University
Jordan Richardson
Georgetown University
Evans Wellborn
Sewanee: The University
of the South
Golf
Colt Crymes
Presbyterian College
Soccer
Sam Preston
The University of Chicago
Tennis
John Bauerle
Mercer University
Margaret Boyette
Furman University
Scott Foster
Samford University
Greer Ransom
Presbyterian College
Track & Field
Esther Deaton
Westmont College
Ben Glauser
Harvard University
Volleyball
Kelly Foster
Birmingham Southern University
GHSA Class A Update
Recently, I touched on the potential changes to the GHSA Class A playoff format. I am now going to attempt to shed
some light on these changes, but there is not enough space to cover everything. If you are interested, please go to
www.ghsa.net and search "March 19, 2012 State Executive Committee minutes" for complete coverage.
Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Softball will use a “power ranking” format to determine the 16 teams that will
advance to their respective public/private state playoff bracket. The power rankings are determined by your team's
wins, your opponent’s wins, and, in football, by playing up in classification. The totals will change from week to week…
basically we want to win and we want the teams we play to also win when not playing Athens Academy. The only team
that automatically advances to the state playoff is the region champion. Example: If Athens Academy wins Region
8A we earn an automatic top seed in the Class A Private School Playoff. There could be many different combinations
of public/private schools winning a Class A region so the exact number of automatic qualifiers will not be known
until after the last play date. If a team does not win their region championship, they must have a high enough power
ranking to receive an “at large” bid to the playoffs.
Keep in mind this is only for the four sports mentioned earlier! The playoff bracket will be seeded with the
automatic qualifiers (region champions) receiving seeds 1 through total number of region champions. The remaining
seeds will be determined by the highest power ranking until the 16 teams are determined. Confused yet? Class A
schools will have a bye week the first round of the playoffs. Finally, seeds 1 v 16, 2 v 15, 3 v 14, etc will play against
each other in the first round, so we could conceivably play another region school in the first round or have to travel to
Savannah, Columbus, etc.
The following sports will NOT have separate championships for public and private schools due to the limited number
of schools competing: Volleyball (although Class A volleyball will have its own championship unlike past years where
Class A/AA were together) , Wrestling, Swimming & Diving, Soccer, Lacrosse, Riflery, and Gymnastics.
The following sports will have separate championships for public and private schools, but will be organized in an
“area” format rather than a region format. Each area will organize and finance its competitions: Cross Country, Track &
Field, Golf, Tennis, One Act Play, and Literary. Athens Academy’s area consists of the private schools within our region
and listed as Area 2. You must be confused now!
Another change which will be implemented beginning with the 2012-13 school year involves “Practice Policy and
Heat and Humidity.” Schools must follow the statewide policy for conducting practices and voluntary conditioning
workouts in all sports during times of extremely high heat and/or humidity that will be signed by each head coach
at the beginning of each season and distributed to all players and their parents or guardians. The policy shall follow
modified guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine in regard to:
1. The scheduling of practices at various heat/humidity levels
2. The ratio of workout time to time allotted for rest and hydration at various heat/humidity levels
3. The heat/humidity level that will result in practice being terminated
A scientifically approved instrument that measures Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reading must be utilized at
each practice to ensure that the written policy is being followed properly.
Below are the Football-specific changes:
Schools must follow the statewide policy for conducting practices and voluntary conditioning workouts in all sports
during times of extremely high heat and/or humidity that will be signed by each head coach at the beginning of each
season and distributed to all players and their parents or guardians. The policy shall follow modified guidelines of the
American College of Sports Medicine in regard to:
1. The scheduling of practices at various heat/humidity levels.
2. The ratio of workout time to time allotted for rest and hydration at various heat/humidity levels.
3. The heat/humidity level that will result in practice being terminated.
Football Preseason Practice Regulations:
1. Football practice may begin five consecutive weekdays prior to August 1 (Athens Academy’s five days will
begin July 25th). In the first five days of practice for any student, the practice shall not last longer than 2 hours, and
the student shall wear no protective gear except for helmet and mouthpiece. Note: The time for a session shall be
measured from the time the players report to the field until they leave the field.
2. Beginning August 1, any student may practice in full pads and may practice two times in a single calendar day
under the following stipulations:
a. A student must have participated in five conditioning practices wearing no protective gear other than helmet
and mouthpiece before being allowed to practice in full pads.
b. If multiple workouts are held in a single day:
(1) No single session may last longer than 3 hours
(2) The total amount of time in the two practices shall not exceed 5 hours
(3) There must be at least a 3-hour time of rest between sessions
(4) There may not be consecutive days of two-a-day practices. All double-session days must be followed by a single-session day or a day off.
c. These procedures are derived from recommendations created by the Inter-Association Task Force for Preseason
Secondary School Athletics Participants in the research paper “Preseason Heat-Acclimatization Guidelines for
Secondary School Athletics.”
Please see the Athletics page on the website for important upcoming athletics dates.
10
Kevin Petroski
SPOTLIGHTS
Announcements & Details
Directory
Athens Academy
Summer Camp 2012
Updates
If you have changes or corrections
for the 2011-12 School Directory,
please contact Toni Parr in the
Development Office at 706-4332458 or tparr@athensacademy.
org. Updates will be printed in this
newsletter.
Mark your calendar!
Contact Margaret Wellborn for more
information at 706-433-2494 or
[email protected]
Week 1 • June 11-15
Week 2 • June 18-22
Week 3 • June 25-29
Week 4 • July 9-13
Week 5 • July 16-20
2012-2013 Key Dates
Monday, August 20
Monday, September 3
Monday, October 8
Tuesday, November 20
Monday, November 26
Friday, December 21
Monday, January 7
Monday, January 21
Monday, February 18
Friday, March 8
Monday, March 18
Thursday, April 18
Friday, April 19
Sunday, May 26
Monday, May 27
Friday, May 31
8:10 a.m.
3:20 p.m.
8:10 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
8:10 a.m.
3:20 p.m.
8:10 a.m.
8:00 p.m.
11:30 a.m.
First Day of Classes
Labor Day/School Holiday
Student Holiday/Faculty Dev. Day
Classes Dismiss for Holidays
Classes Resume
Classes Dismiss for Holidays
Classes Resume
Martin Luther King Day/School Holiday
Student Holiday/Faculty Dev. Day
Classes Dismiss for Holidays
Classes Resume
Student Holiday/Faculty Dev. Day
School Holiday
Graduation
School Holiday
Classes Dismiss for Summer Vacation
Remaining 2011-2012 Key Dates
Friday, May 25
Monday, May 27
Monday, May 28
11:30 a.m.
8:00 p.m. Classes Dismiss for Summer Vacation
Graduation
School Holiday
(continued from page 9)
friends, thou hast,” he says, “and their adoption tried, grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel.” This
advice I have had the good sense to follow; my longtime loyal friends are among the greatest blessings of my
life.
Polonius saves the best for last, telling his son, “This above all—to thine own self be true, and it must
follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” Seniors, attend, this is wisdom! If
you come to know yourself, which might be the primary task of life, and then you are unswervingly true to
that self, you cannot help but be happy and successful. Now comes the mystery indeed, right? I will borrow
Polonius’ last words for my own; they are unoriginal but heartfelt and could hardly be improved upon.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee!
Maura Mandyck
11
PERIODICALS
POSTAGE PAID
AT ATHENS, GA
Athens Academy
Post Office Box 6548
Athens, Georgia 30604-6548
ENDNOTES
From the Headmaster
The End of Another Exceptional Year
Throughout its 45
year history, Athens
Academy has been
a very special place
for children to live,
grow, experience,
and prepare for a
fulfilling life.
What an exciting and rewarding year it has been! From the celebration of the opening of the new
Harrison Center to the sixth grade-inspired Bone Marrow-thon for Kajal Patel, it has been a culmination
of 45 years of excellence with honor. The parent support for the Capital Campaign resulted in an
unprecedented attainment of their goal, and the Class of 2012 displayed their outstanding leadership in
many areas.
Offering many opportunities for growth and exploration, the Harrison Center’s performance hall,
vaulted ceilings, large picture windows, gallery spaces, discovery centers, learning resource areas,
preschool media center, and stimulating play area all create a backdrop to maximize learning and discovery
for young minds. During the year many in the Athens community, as well as the school community, have
been able to experience it for themselves while attending events in this state-of-the art 46,000-square-foot
building.
Community service and the spirit of cooperation were evident this year at the Academy. What began
as a dream of a group of sixth grade students to find a bone marrow match for their classmate, Kajal Patel,
became a reality as they approached the challenge with enthusiasm, compassion, and perseverance. The
result was a new world record for bone marrow registry in one 24-hour period – 2,938 – and ultimately the
addition of over 4,000 new registrants as a result of the tireless work of volunteers, community leaders,
and people from all over Athens and the surrounding areas. By early April, several matches had been found
for Kajal, and hopefully many more will be found for others who need bone marrow transplants.
Supported by the parents, the 21st Century Capital Campaign achieved its goal of raising $8.9 million
in cash and pledges for construction to obtain the $1.25 million foundation challenge match -- a significant
achievement! Led by Greta Covington ‘83, the alumni were active in all aspects of campus life as well,
from sponsoring the fall cookout and supporting the fund raising efforts to attending campus activities
throughout the year. Their increased involvement in all areas of the Academy bodes well for all alums – in
their personal and professional lives. Under the leadership of Hart Roberts as PSO chairman, many parent
volunteers participated in school coffees, Grandparents/Special Friends Day, the golf tournament, Spartan
5K, Evening at the Indigo, faculty appreciation lunches, and Festival Day.
Athens Academy students, in record numbers (958), have worked hard, accomplished much, and
enjoyed the experience. Members of the Class of 2012 have distinguished themselves in the four pillars
of academics, athletics, arts and service. The senior mentors became leaders of the freshmen in study
halls; the 12th Man Spirit Club supported all sports and fine arts school events; the senior class had the
highest participation since 9/11 in the blood drive; the Student Council organized a new fundraiser, the
Volleyball Tournament, donating the proceeds to Relay for Life; and the Academic Team won the single A
State Championship and will compete in the upcoming nationals. Congratulations to the Class of 2012, and
remember to join them in their upcoming art show and graduation ceremony.
Throughout its 45 year history, Athens Academy has been a very special place for children to live, grow,
experience, and prepare for a fulfilling life. To be a part of the interaction of all members of all ages of our
school community continues to inspire me. I hope it is true for you, too.