Also in this issue - George Stevens Academy · 2009-02-05 · News for the Families and Friends of...

News for the Families and Friends of George Stevens Academy

MattersGSAJanuaryFebruary 2009

News for the Families and Friends of George Stevens Academy

MattersGSAJanuaryFebruary 2009

Also in this issueReport to Community pg 2

Scholastic Award Recipients pg 3

Office of Student Services pg 6

International News pg 7

Technology Team Award pg 8

Obama InaugurationA Studentrsquos Perspective pg 9

Student News pgs 10-11

Music News pg 12

Thanks Those Who Serve pg 13

Annual Fund pg 14

Alumni Give Back pg 15

Calendar of Events pg 16

Spotl ight on Social Studie S

pgs 4-5

2 MattersGSA

Board of TrusteesPresident - Rob Clapp rsquo73 Blue HillVice-President - Melissa Mattes SedgwickTreasurer - Mikey Bannister Blue HillClerks - Pat Gray rsquo54 Blue Hill Lucy Ledien rsquo43 Blue Hill

Emil Andy Blue HillMichael Astbury rsquo70 Blue HillStefan Brann rsquo83 OrlandLibby Elliott Blue HillJames Henry PenobscotEckley Herrick rsquo59 Blue HillSue Loomis CastineDeborah Ludlow rsquo79 BrooksvilleDan McGraw SurryJim Modisette PenobscotMarion Morris Brooklin Marjorie Olivari CastineFrank Wanning Blue Hill

AdministrationJohn Greene HeadmasterJill Cohen Assistant Head of SchoolBayard Brokaw Academic DeanLibby Rosemeier Dean of StudentsRada Starkey Director of DevelopmentLiffey Thorpe Director of CommunicationsAbigail Greene Director of Annual GivingSheryl Stearns International Program DirectorFred Heilner Business Manager

GSA Matters is a publication of the Communications Office

EditorLiffey ThorpeLayout amp DesignLynda Snelson

Please direct any comments or questions regarding GSA Matters toLiffey Thorpe Director of CommunicationsGeorge Stevens Academy23 Union StreetBlue Hill Maine 04614(207) 374-2800lthorpegeorgestevensorg

On the CoverThree students in David Stearnsrsquo AP US History class

Miss ion

George Stevens Academy is an independent high school located on the coast of Maine Grounded in its traditions and commitment to the arearsquos small towns the Academy is a caring educational community invested in meeting the needs of each student The Academy offers a challenging comprehensive program of studies that fosters intellectual inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge inspires creativity develops self-reliance and prepares its graduates for a purposeful life in an ever-changing world

from the head of School

George Stevens Academy Annual Report to the Community

George Stevens Academy is a comprehensive independent inclusive high school serving local publicly-funded students as well as international and domestic boarding students The schoolrsquos curriculum is flexible enough to meet the needs of this diverse population of students The Academy offers courses in all the usual subjects at various challenge levels but also offers an enrichment curriculum of elective courses and other program opportunities Students take Biology but also Marine Science Forensics and Maine Environment English but also Maine Writers Writing for TV amp Film and Journalism History but also The Holocaust and Human Geography Intro to Social Sciences but also Street Law Philosophy and US Elections Phys Ed but also Experiential Education amp Outdoor Leadership and Dance Algebra and Geometry but also AP Statistics and Business Math Shop but also Boat building and CAD Engineering Design Art and Band but also AP Drawing Painting Photography Jazz Combo Chamber Music and Steel Band

GSA juniors and seniors have the opportunity to design and undertake a two-week Independent Study each winter Each spring GSA students celebrate the arts during Arts Festival GSA students participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities junior varsity or varsity sports teams GSArsquos award-winning jazz band ldquothemerdquo clubs including Spanish Math Chess Model UN Environmental Action and International Cookingmdash and more

The Academyrsquos small student body and rich student-teacher ratio advisory system academic support programs and Office of Student Services mean that every GSA student receives personalized focused attention to his or her academic needs and sustained support in preparing for life after high school GSA graduates go on to some of the best colleges and universities in the country or enter directly into the workforce and thrive

Enrollment by Town Blue Hill 95 Brooklin 23 Brooksville 29 Castine 13 Stonington 1 Franklin 1 Hancock 1 Orland 15 Penobscot 30 Sedgwick 33 Surry 30 Hancock County Technical Center 4 International 30 AFS 3

FinancesThe State set the 2008-09 tuition rate at $855300 Our annual operating budget is $4200000 Total tuition revenue from all students (local and other) as well as endowment and additional restricted income nevertheless leaves the school with a shortfall of $520000 about 12 of operating costs Only thanks to the gifts from our many generous supporters mdashmore than 450 both within the community and beyondmdash can we hope to close this gap between tuition revenue and the real costs of educating a GSA student

John GreeneHeadmaster

JanuaryFebruary 2009

The Alliance for Young Artists amp Writers has named four GSA students recipients of 2009 Scholastic Art amp Writing Awards These Awards recognize student achievement in the visual arts and creative writing Founded in 1923 The Scholastic Art amp Writing Awards are the oldest longest-running most prestigious recognition program for creative teenagers in the United States

The four students areRoz Brokaw rsquo09 GOLD and AMERICAN VISION for ldquoSelf Portraitrdquo and GOLD for ldquoBubbles in Bluerdquo

Di Wang rsquo09 GOLD for ldquoMan With Hatrdquo and complete portfolio and SILVER for ldquoMath My Wayrdquo

Kaylee Leach rsquo10 SILVER for ldquoSunset Above Brookrdquo and

Vita Poole rsquo11 HONORABLE MENTION for ldquoForest Collagerdquo

Roz and Di are students in AP Art Kaylee is in Painting and Vita is in Art II Honors All are students of Katie Greene

An awards ceremony and reception will be held on February 7 (click here for more information) The works that received medals will be exhibited February 4th through 20th at Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk

Four StudentS Win regional Schol aSt ic art amp Writ ing aWardS

ldquoMan With Hatrdquo by Di Wang

ldquoBubbles in Bluerdquo by Roz Brokaw

ldquoSunset Above Brookrdquo by Kaylee Leach

Social Studie S

Matter at gSa

When David Stearns teaches AP US Historymdasha challenging upper-level course in which students study the political social economic and cultural history of the United States from colonial America to the twentieth-centurymdashhis ambitions for his students reach beyond great scores on the AP exam he is cultivating an historianrsquos instincts in his students so they will think like historians frame questions the way historians frame questions and find relevance in studying the past both for the insights it offers about the present and for the possibilities it suggests for the future Thus for example the election of 1800mdashthe ldquoRevolution of 1800rdquomdash is not just an event long over Studying Jeffersonrsquos first election provides a framework for thinking about the election of 2008 or about any election in which candidates promise deep transformative changes Did Jeffersonrsquos anti-government republicanism in fact revolutionize the country or did the platform of ldquochangerdquo moderate once he

came to office In 2008 what changes were the two candidates talking about How ldquorevolutionaryrdquo are their visions of change This is surely the key for making history interesting to find patterns that extend beyond particular moments in the past to throw light on issues today For David history is a ldquotool that sharpens our opinions and understanding of the present world on the whetstone that is the pastrdquo

David Stearns came to George Stevens in 2002 A graduate of Middlebury College with a degree in political science David taught in New Hampshire New York Germany

Zambia and Thailand Here at GSA David is the department chair and also chairs the schoolrsquos Curriculum Committee He teaches not only AP [Advanced Placement] US History but courses in psychology and philosophy and he designed the

introductory required course in social studies ISOS (Introduction to Social Science) to introduce ninth-grade students to several of the chief fields of social science government politics economics history and demographic studies and geography Last year David introduced a new annual course AP Human Geography which studies ldquothe geographic patterns of human culture politics and economicsrdquo In all his classes David creates assignments requiring online as well as print research familiarizing his students with the range and kinds of resources available to the social scientist and developing the critical skills they need to judge and choose sources from the dizzying array of books scholarly journals scientific essays and popular writing

This year GSA welcomed William ldquoBillrdquo Case into the faculty Bill comes from upstate New York and has been teaching history and social studies since 1972 This past fall he offered a one-semester junior-senior elective US Elections The timing of course couldnrsquot have been more perfect On the first day of class just one student had enrolled but by the end of the week nineteen students were ready to learn what they could about the countryrsquos electoral processes with particular focus on presidential campaigns both recent and long past Bill found a variety of ways to engage studentsrsquo interest they collected political cartoons which they had to present and explain to classmates and campaign advertisements some reaching back to the early nineteenth-century The 2008 vice-presidential and three presidential debates were required viewing and sparked lively and impassioned debates back in the classroom Students were assigned specific issues to exploremdashfor example education taxes environmental protection and foreign policymdashand had to explain and evaluate different candidatesrsquo positions ldquoOftenrdquo says Bill ldquoevents drove the class The economic meltdown in OctobermdashI hadnrsquot planned on that happening But what an opportunity for students to use all their skills to try to understand a current eventrdquo In a final project pairs of students researched a past election and made an oral class presentation along with original visual aids Bill is also teaching four sections of US History this year as well as three other electives Street Law WWII to Vietnam and The Holocaust

A native of Belfast Maine a graduate of UMO and now in her second year at GSA Cassedy Burnsmdashformerly Groeningmdashis teaching classes all over the map two sections each of ISOS

MattersGSA

p Emily Walker rsquo11 of Mr Casersquos elections class

presents a timeline of events surrounding a presidential election and inauguration

GSArsquos Model United Nations club is gearing up to attend the Dartmouth College MUN conference from April 3rd to April 5th A dozen GSA students will meet with hundreds of other high school students to role-play the United Nations debating and solving the worldrsquos problems

GSA students have been assigned to represent the countries of Zimbabwe Austria and Finland additionally individuals from GSA will sit on the World Court and role-play a journalist for the Israeli newspaper Harsquoaretz and the Palestinian Health Minister

Some of the topics our ambassadors will be investigating include rising world food prices freshwater scarcity a simulated bioterrorism outbreak Iranian nuclear ambitions and climate change

The MUN club is advised by Mr Stearns and Mrs Burns The following students plan to attend the conference

Caroline Altman rsquo10Abby Bowden rsquo11

Katherine Doyen rsquo11Courtney Koos rsquo11

John Ludlow rsquo10 Ian McMillan rsquo10

Dustin Piskura rsquo10Max Reiter rsquo10

Michael Senter-Zapata rsquo10 Sotherd Steer rsquo12 Tasha Urban rsquo11Lucas Yoder rsquo10

gSarsquoS Model un to at tend dartMouth college conFerence

u For Mrs Burnsrsquo World History class Stephanie Jung rsquo11

shares her poster about Pakistan

Western Civilization (Honors) and World History In World History Cassedy departed from the textbook and created a unit on the Middle East for her students focusing on the three monotheistic religions that originated and predominate in that part of the world Judaism Islam and Christianity Towards the end of a unit on Islam students each chose a country to study in some depth and then presented an original poster whose photos and graphic materials ldquovisually arguedrdquo a thesis about its particular Muslim character For the same class Cassedy chose three civilizationsmdashChina Greece amp Rome and Indiamdashand students work back and forth between ancient roots and modern conditions Here too relevance and connections to contemporary events and issues is key to inspiring and developing student interest

GSA requires all students to complete three years of social studies courses in order to graduate The Social Studies department offers courses across a wide range of topics disciplines and skill levels including Introduction to Social Sciences (ISOS) World History Western Civilization US History Street Law Human Geography Psychology Philosophy Anthropology Classical Civilizations and Humanities More information about the Social Studies curriculum can be found on our Web site at wwwgeorgestevensacademyorgsocialstudies

This is the second in a series of articles focusing on GSArsquos academic curriculum and programs See the November issue for Science Matters at GSA

t Dustin Piskura rsquo10 and Pierre Dillon rsquo10 share their poster representation of important events during the Civil War


MattersGSA

Mid-Winter neWS

Admission Season Starts

January launches our recruitmentadmission season for interested 8th graders (Class of 2013) and other students We hosted our first open house on January 22nd and had over 50 families attend GSA families serve an important role in this process spreading the good news about what is happening at GSA On February 26th 8th graders will visit GSA for a morning of classes and we then start registering students in March Please encourage your friends to set up an appointment with us if they have any questions and thank you for your continued support

Independent Study and Internship Program

Starting February 23rd for two weeks 120 11th and 12th graders will be involved in GSArsquos Independent Study and Internship Programs locally and across further lands and seas ISIP provides our upperclassmen the chance to spend two weeks exploring an academic vocational or career interest in a way that would not be possible within the ordinary classroom setting Before students can participant in ISIP they must have a contract signed by parents advisors mentors and GSA We wish our students positive and safe experiences Final project notebooks are due on March 16

Class of 2009 College Update

One of the great treats this time of year is the excitement seniors express when they hear good news from colleges So far members of the Class of 2009 have been accepted to Babson Bard Middlebury Colorado College Kenyon Worcester Polytechnic Institute Simmons University of Vermont College of Wooster Kalamazoo Quinnipiac University of Colorado Smith Earlham Drew Hampshire Cazenovia U-Maine Farmington Eckerd Willamette Keene State Acadia University SUNY Stony Brook U-Maine Orono and the list keeps growing Congratulations

9th Grade Personal Learning Plans

We will be using part of the two weeks during ISIP to meet with 9th graders to introduce some of our Personal Learning Plan programming In particular we will be introducing them to our Choices Planner which is a Web-based site for exploring personal interests and Career Choices and Educational Options We will be mailing a letter to 9th grade parents in late February on the specifics of this program

from the oFFice of Student Serv iceS

p GSArsquos fine arts program displayed student work for

parents and prospective students who attended the

January 22 Open House

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Libby Rosemeier Dean of Students or Bayard Brokaw Academic Dean at 7-2120 We would be happy to talk with you or set up an appointment for a meeting to discuss your childrsquos needs

JanuaryFebruary 2009 7

English as a

Second

Language

A Summer Program for High School Students

ages through July - August

George StevensA c a de my

Blue Hill Maine

~ A World of Learning ~

wwwgeorgestevensacademyorg

p English as a Second Language course for high school students this summer Click on the brochure cover for more information

Four students from China joined GSA this January for second semester studies From left to right in the photo they are Ruijiao (ldquoJoyrdquo) Ma 11th grade Linglu Ma 10th grade Jiamin (ldquoRockyrdquo) Li 10th grade and Ziqun (ldquoEricrdquo) Guo 10th grade

Amy Grant of Peninsula Metamorphic Arts amp Learning conducted an orientation for these students on January 16 and 17 The orientation session helps familiarize the new students with the community the campus faculty and other students Student ambassadors and other international students were also present

WelcoMe Four neW StudentS

Join gSarsquoS internat ional prograM

t Joy rsquo10 and Ling Lu rsquo11 admire baby Corah (daughter of resident director Jamie Hanlon) during the Chinese New Year celebration dinner at Chopsticks in Bangor on February 1st

This semester 29

international students are

enrolled at GSA

t e c h n o l o g y t e a M

r e c o g n i z e d for p r o g r a M e x c e l l e n c e

On December 4th 2008 George Stevens Academy was notified that three of its teachersmdashAlden Colby Larry Gray and Tim Farrarmdashhave been named recipients of the 2009 ITEATEAM award for technology program excellence at the High School level

This competitive award the most distinquished honor bestowed on Maine technology teachers is given each year by the International Technology Education Association and the Teacher Excellence Award chair to a single outstanding technology education program in the state of Maine

Colby Gray and Farrar will be formally honored at TEAMrsquos spring conference at the University of Southern Maine on Friday March 20th at the 71st Annual Conference of the International Technology Education Association March 26-28 in Louisville Kentucky and at the New England Association of Technology Teachers Conference in Worcester Massachusetts in Fall 2009 Congratulations to all three

copy ahhyeah on Flickr

Alden Colby Industrial Arts Technology mdashGSA since 1991 Education BS University of Southern Maine at Gorham MS University of New York at OswegoTeaches Drafting Engine Technology Energy and Power Technology Manufacturing Technology

Tim Farrar Industrial Technology mdashGSA since 1986 Education BS University of Southern Maine MS Education University of WisconsinTeaches Earthworks Woodworking Residential Construction Boatbuilding

Larry Gray rsquo79 Technology amp Business Education mdashGSA since 1991Education BS University of Southern Maine (Business Administration) Teaching Certification Husson CollegeTeaches Computer Literacy Computer Applications Web publishing

MattersGSA


Barack oBaMarsquoS

inaugurat ion

A Studentrsquos PerspectiveBy Roz Brokaw rsquo09

Going to bed on the night of January 19th I felt the same sense of anticipation and excitement that I had as a child on Christmas Eve I kept envisioning the crowds the excitement the sound of Obamarsquos voice over the loudspeaker the people It wasnrsquot long before my 355 AM alarm sounded and I jumped off my rolled-out mat and started my day Upstairs the ten of us staying at our friendsrsquo house stuffed trail mix and cut up apples in our pockets put on layer after layer of clothing and finally made it out the door

We walked for about a mile shedding coats as we went until we arrived at the metro and joined other chipper early birds many clad in Obama paraphernalia It was then that the sense of camaraderie began People joked and talked to each other as though the normal standards of how to behave among strangers had dissolved Our first encounter with the crowd was at our metro stop Just getting onto the landing was a challenge due to the mass of people jammed together at a near standstill It was a relief to finally be ejected out of the metro station and into the cool street Of course that was only the beginning of the crowds Nearing five thirty it no longer felt early on the bustling street although the sky was still dark

We were lucky enough to get tickets and at eight orsquoclock the gate to the silver ticket area was opened Once passing through mild security it was a mad rush to stake out territory We were surrounded by parents dragging their children by the arms middle-aged couples briskly walking hand and hand and college kids hollering with joy as everyone hurried forward The morning passed in a time span that was in between fast and slow We played cards made friends with those around us shared gorp and watched the sun rise over the capital building and the frozen reflecting pool The crowd however was not entirely satisfied with complacency After a woman clad in a long white coat calmly jogged past the security guard it wasnrsquot long before others followed suit and the entire plastic-containing fence was flattened by the feet of Obama fans swarming forward I too made a similar pilgrimage and was able to secure an excellent position underneath the Ulysses S Grant statue with a direct view of the Capitol Building

With under an hour to go there was air of expectancy in the crowd Chants of ldquoObama Obama Obamardquo echoed The beginning of the music did not bring silence but only animated those around me And then the moment we had all been waiting for Barack Obama was announced as the 44th president of the United States This generated

an explosive cheer and the silence that remained during his speech was full of veneration joy pride and accomplishment

Being able to experience that moment among a most diverse group of people who shared something in common Barack Obama is what stands out clearest in my mind In that moment there was a sense of unity that was greater than any difference that separated the people who were present be it race religion ethnicity or age It is fair to say that I was not the only one who felt this and that it extended from the people sitting two seats behind Obama to those who could not even make it onto the national mall

In years to come I will remember the man in the tree with his hand over his heart I will remember the little boy on his grandfatherrsquos shoulders waving an American flag I will remember the police officer in the street taking pictures I will remember the woman who said that as a teenager her father said she couldnrsquot have the car keys until there was a black president She can now put the keys on his grave Barack Obamarsquos inauguration was a momentous occasion in many ways for many people The sound of his voice on that cold sunny day is something I as well as those who were there to experience it will hold onto long after the ice on the reflecting pool melts the trash is cleaned up and the stories are told

p GSA parent Kerry Brokaw and daughter Roz Brokaw rsquo09

student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11

Annie Ames rsquo10 represented George Stevens Academy in the All-State Jazz Festival at Bangor High School on Thursday Friday and Saturday January 8 9 and 10 Annie one of only 48 instrumentalists selected statewide played in the All-State Jazz Band on trumpet The festival culminated with a public performance at Bangor High Schoolrsquos Peakersquos Auditorium on Saturday January 10

cheSS teaM

The chess team improved its record to 3 wins 0 losses with a 95-05 defeat of Bucksport High school on January 8 in the GSA library First board TK Vu rsquo10 added two wins to his perfect record in league play this season The county individual championships will be held at GSA on February 12

philoSophy cluB

This semester the members of the Philosophy Club have made presentations and led discussions on the philosophy of language the philosophy of mind logic aesthetics political philosophy ethics and epistemology Dasha Polyakova rsquo09 will make a presentation on metaphysics the last topic at the beginning of the second semester

cheSS tournaMent

TK Vu rsquo10 scored a perfect 4-0 to win the K-12 division of the 10th Annual Martin Luther King Day tournament at the Stillwater Montessori school in Old Town TK plays first board on the GSA chess team Second board Bjorn Peterson rsquo11 finished in 4th place after a loss to TK

gSa StudentS Mentor young MuS ic ianS

The following three GSA students served as mentors for the young students of the Washington County Music Festival Middle School Jazz Band on Saturday January 17 at Jonesport-Beals High School Eric Burns rsquo10 tenor sax Tynan Byrne rsquo10 baritone sax and Bjorn Peterson rsquo11 bass guitar

Math teaM

The Math Team traveled to Bucksport High School for the second meet of the year GSA placed 1st among participating Hancock County schools (2nd for Hancock and Washington County) Twenty students participated and two had perfect scores on their individual tests Those students were Max Reiter rsquo10 and Long Nguyen rsquo09

The top scorers by grade were12th Grade Long Nguyen 24 points (perfect score) and Alex Kim 16 points

11th Grade Max Reiter 25 points (perfect score) Nicholas Kane 20 points and Dustin Piskura 20 points

10th Grade Stephanie Jung 21 points Katherine Doyen 16 points and Chris Salois 16 points

9th Grade Tess Lameyer 15 points Courtney Koos 10 points and Sotherd Steer 7 points

After the second math meet we have several students ranked in the top 5 in their grade level

12th grade Long Nguyen tied for 1st place Alex Kim tied for 4th place

11th Grade Dustin Piskura tied for 2nd place Max Reiter 4th place

10th grade Bjorn Peterson 1st place Stephanie Jung 2nd place

9th grade Tess Lameyer tied for 2nd place Courtney Koos tied for 4th place

tidbits

MattersGSA10

p On December 19 the National Honor Society held a bake sale for community service projects It was windy and a frigid 15 degrees in front of Trade Winds Marketplace but the kids braved the weather and raised $250 Pictured above left to right are seniors Ha Lai Grace Bell Katie Herklotz Jenny Powell Roz Brokaw Liz Salois and Emily Peake

student tidbits

p The Spanish Club celebrated Christmas Fiesta with a cake prior to the holiday break Photo L-R Max Reiter rsquo10 Michael Senter-Zapata rsquo10 Dasha Polyakova rsquo09 Sentildeora Buckingham Emily Pettigrew rsquo09 Lilian Thorpe rsquo09 and Oriol Grasa rsquo09

Each year every senior prepares opening arguments and a rebuttal either in favor of or opposing a resolve statement Following is a list of debate topics and participants for the debates that took place in January

Resolved The remaining laws against gay adoption should be overturned Aff Lexi Wessel Neg Leah Mattson Carli Davis Adam Strout

Resolved There should be a national data registry for HIVAIDS carriers Aff Cassidy Gray Neg Kelcey Snowdeal Sam Allen Ashley Higgins (research presented by Leah Mattson)

Resolved Random drug testing should be implemented in high schools Aff Ha Lai Neg Nikos Christ Sam West Ori Grasa Caleb Cousins Long Nguyen

Resolved More oil drilling in the US will contribute to our independence from foreign sources of energy and to our economic health Aff John (JD) Dionne Neg John Turner Nick Anderson Sarah OrsquoRourke

Resolved The US should spend more on domestic social needs than on the military Aff Tina Quirion Neg Nate Hines Adam Rafferty Peter Dickinson

Senior deBateS FocuS on i SSueS oF Social change

p Sam Allen delivers his rebuttal as

Kelcey Snowdeal and Leah Mattson look on

u Sarah Elliott rsquo11 finishes her scroll

project before the winter break


Faculty kudoSu Steve Orlofsky Director of Instrumental Music guest-conducted the Washington County Music Festival Middle School Jazz Band on Saturday January 17 at Jonesport-Beals High School

MattersGSA12 GSA Matters

p Charlie Volkwein rsquo12 plays piano during the 2008 Holiday Concert

u GSArsquos A Capella Group under the direction of Janine Galeski performed

at the annual Holiday Concert for the first time

Congratulations to GSArsquos Musaic Combo for performing so well at the Berklee College of Music Jazz Festival on January 30 and 31 Although they did not place in the top four Musaic played a terrific set and placed 5 Grace Bell rsquo09 received the Judges Choice Award as the Most Valuable Musician

MuSaic pl aceS 5th at Berklee college oF MuS ic Jazz FeSt ival

u Members of Musaic pictured left to right are Annie Ames rsquo11 trumpet Adam DeLong rsquo10 soprano alto amp baritone sax Bjorn Peterson rsquo11 guitar and violin Sam Eley rsquo11 drums Grace Bell rsquo09 vibes and piano Emmett Scott rsquo11 vibes and piano Ellie Howell rsquo09 trombone and Grace Bugbee rsquo12 bass

annual holiday concert

On Tuesday December 16 George Stevens Academy hosted its annual holiday concert in the gymnasium GSArsquos band jazzband jazz combos the steel band the string ensemble the Holiday Angels and The GSA A Capella Group entertained the audience with musical selections such as Angels We Have Heard on High (full band) Seasons of Love from the musical Rent (Jazz Band) Charlie Brownrsquos Christmas Time is Here (jazz combo Musaic) Hot Chocolate (A Capella Group) and Johann Quantzrsquos Rigadoon (String Ensemble)

p Katherine Doyen rsquo11 Derek Gray rsquo11 and Benjamin Olivari rsquo12


introduct ion to technology

cl aSS MeMBerS

Joshua Allen rsquo12

Samuel Allen rsquo09

Savannah Desmond rsquo12

Brandon Gray rsquo11

Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09

Jonathan (JM) Hayes rsquo09

Christina Moon rsquo12

Evan Motycka rsquo12

Anne Pert rsquo11

Derrick Robbins rsquo12

Di Wang rsquo09

thankS tothoSe Who Serve

GSArsquos Introduction to Technology class taught by Alden Colby collected used childrenrsquos toys this past holiday season as part of a community service project they called ldquoSanta Through Technologyrdquo The students using skills they have learned in class repaired and refreshed the donated toys which were then given to the Tree of Life for distribution to local children for Christmas What follows is a letter from Tree of Life President Rusty Roberts to Mr Colby and his class

Dear Alden

The Board of Directors and all the volunteers who make the Tree of Life

possible want to thank you for the donation of so many beautifully

restored toys bicycles and other fun items for our clients Your

students should feel very special for the happiness they have given to so

many They are so welcomed by the people who receive them We greatly

appreciate your participation in the work that we do and hope that you

will continue to think of us we think you are santa

A record of 234 families came in for food two weeks before

Thanksgiving and we are currently giving groceries to 150-200

households each week (about 450-600 individuals) and expect this

number to grow as the seven towns we serve show more need for food We

maintain a computer list of nearly 800 families who come in for food on

occasion or on a weekly basis Unfortunately the winter ahead and the

economy make it look as if it will be more demanding on resources to

help those in need But we are prepared to do what we can and need to do

The TurnStyle is doing an excellent business A good thrift shop may

be the best business to be in with the change of our economy All of these

proceeds are used to purchase food for the pantry A ldquowin-winrdquo situation

for our Peninsula area

Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President

p JM Hayes rsquo09 works on restoring a bicycle to be donated to a local child for Christmas

1 MattersGSA

ldquoI give to GSA because itrsquos important for me to support the community that supports me and my efforts to educate the next generation of world citizens Without this kind of mutual support there is no communityrdquo

- Mark Messer ESL teacher

Happy New Year from the GSA Office of Development and Alumni Relations As we head into the second half of the 2008-2009 fiscal year we thank those alumni parents and friends who have already made a gift to the Annual Fund In this challenging economic period Annual Fund gifts are more crucial than ever as we remain committed to providing extraordinary educational opportunities for students and faculty alike

On this page you will find just a few individuals who in their own words wanted to share their reason for supporting the Annual Fund and inspire others to do the same

So whatrsquos your reason We hope you will share it with us and make your gift today Your generosity will directly support the people and programs that make George Stevens Academy a unique and remarkable place of learning

Thank you for your support

ldquoWe give because GSA is providing our son with a solid academic preparation for college under very difficult financial circumstances The faculty have shown skill and dedication providing a range of curricular and extracurricular programs for their students[our son] will be well prepared for life after high school when he graduatesrdquo

- Jim Fisher amp Donna Madonna current parents

2008-2009

annual Fund

WhatrsquoS your reaSon

Giving to GSA

opportunity

ldquoI give to GSA because I want other students to have the same opportunities to succeed that I had as a student at GSA and because an investment in the future of GSA is an investment in the future of Blue Hill mdasha place I will always call home regardless of where in the world I may berdquo

- Alumna Sarah Clapp rsquo02

ldquoWe give to GSA because of its unique capability of augmenting educational values academics arts and athletics It draws the community it serves into a much wider world and we who live on this peninsula are richer for its presencerdquo

- Win amp Brad Pusey Brooklin residents

community

college preparation

curricular amp extracurricular programs


aluMni give Back

The Jazz Ensemble from the University of Maine at Orono which features the vocals of GSA alumna Mesa Schubeck rsquo04 performed at George Stevens Academy on Tuesday November 25 The UMaine Jazz Ensemble a twenty-piece big band performs several times throughout the semester both on campus and throughout the State of Maine Directed by Dr Jack Burt the Jazz Ensemble performs a range of jazz styles from swing band music to bebop and fusion and funk to contemporary concert jazz compositions The Jazz Ensemble performed Love for Sale by Buddy Rich Ahunk Ahunk by Thad and Mel and Deedlersquos Blues by Count Basie which featured the vocals of Mesa Schubeck rsquo04

MeSa SchuBeck rsquo04

Jenni Ahern rsquo06 returned to GSA in December and presented a slideshow on the Galaacutepagos Islands and San Cristoacutebal Island to Nancy Buckinghamrsquos Spanish IV class Jenni writes ldquoI studied abroad independently through Universidad San Francisco de Quito and the Galaacutepagos Academic Institute of Arts and Sciences on San Cristoacutebal Island I spent seven months abroad studying evolution conservation and marine biology with a focus on ecotourismrdquo Jenni returned to the Universidad later in December and will continue working and studying there through fall rsquo09 It was an interesting informative slideshow very well-received by the Spanish students

Jenni ahern rsquo06

p Jenni in Coca Ecuador just outside of the Amazon jungle with two baby monkeys

p Jenni next to a statue of Charles Darwin where he first landed at Tijerates on San Cristoacutebal Island


Giving to GSA

Calendar of events

February 6 Winter Semi-formal Dance 700-1030 PM - featuring DJ Terry FrankFebruary 14-22 Winter BreakFebruary 23- March 6 Independent StudyFebruary 26 8th Grade Class Visit MorningMarch 2 Academic NoticesMarch 5 Drama performance for the community ldquoA Mad Breakfastrdquo (at the Town Hall)March 13 Schedule change ndash Full day of schoolMarch 13-14 2009 State Jazz Festival South Portland High SchoolMarch 21 Outing Club ski trip to SugarloafMarch 27 End of third quarter

Do you have suggestions for a good story for a future issue of GSA Matters

tDonrsquot forget

to keep checking the

new amp improved Web s i te for

f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS

In upcoming issues of GSA Matters look for focus stories on this yearrsquos Independent Studies projects more news about the International Program feature articles on English Math and Art curriculums student and faculty achievements and more

diStr ict vi Jazz FeSt ival

at Mount deSert i S l and high School

Friday FeBruary 27( snow date

Saturday Februar y 28)

draMa regionalS

ldquoa Mad BreakFaStrdquoat caMden hill S high School

Friday amp Saturday March 6 amp 7

Send your ideas to Liffey Thorpe Director of Communicationslthorpegeorgestevensorg

2073742800

2 MattersGSA

Board of TrusteesPresident - Rob Clapp rsquo73 Blue HillVice-President - Melissa Mattes SedgwickTreasurer - Mikey Bannister Blue HillClerks - Pat Gray rsquo54 Blue Hill Lucy Ledien rsquo43 Blue Hill

Emil Andy Blue HillMichael Astbury rsquo70 Blue HillStefan Brann rsquo83 OrlandLibby Elliott Blue HillJames Henry PenobscotEckley Herrick rsquo59 Blue HillSue Loomis CastineDeborah Ludlow rsquo79 BrooksvilleDan McGraw SurryJim Modisette PenobscotMarion Morris Brooklin Marjorie Olivari CastineFrank Wanning Blue Hill

AdministrationJohn Greene HeadmasterJill Cohen Assistant Head of SchoolBayard Brokaw Academic DeanLibby Rosemeier Dean of StudentsRada Starkey Director of DevelopmentLiffey Thorpe Director of CommunicationsAbigail Greene Director of Annual GivingSheryl Stearns International Program DirectorFred Heilner Business Manager

GSA Matters is a publication of the Communications Office

EditorLiffey ThorpeLayout amp DesignLynda Snelson

Please direct any comments or questions regarding GSA Matters toLiffey Thorpe Director of CommunicationsGeorge Stevens Academy23 Union StreetBlue Hill Maine 04614(207) 374-2800lthorpegeorgestevensorg

On the CoverThree students in David Stearnsrsquo AP US History class

Miss ion

George Stevens Academy is an independent high school located on the coast of Maine Grounded in its traditions and commitment to the arearsquos small towns the Academy is a caring educational community invested in meeting the needs of each student The Academy offers a challenging comprehensive program of studies that fosters intellectual inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge inspires creativity develops self-reliance and prepares its graduates for a purposeful life in an ever-changing world

from the head of School

George Stevens Academy Annual Report to the Community

George Stevens Academy is a comprehensive independent inclusive high school serving local publicly-funded students as well as international and domestic boarding students The schoolrsquos curriculum is flexible enough to meet the needs of this diverse population of students The Academy offers courses in all the usual subjects at various challenge levels but also offers an enrichment curriculum of elective courses and other program opportunities Students take Biology but also Marine Science Forensics and Maine Environment English but also Maine Writers Writing for TV amp Film and Journalism History but also The Holocaust and Human Geography Intro to Social Sciences but also Street Law Philosophy and US Elections Phys Ed but also Experiential Education amp Outdoor Leadership and Dance Algebra and Geometry but also AP Statistics and Business Math Shop but also Boat building and CAD Engineering Design Art and Band but also AP Drawing Painting Photography Jazz Combo Chamber Music and Steel Band

GSA juniors and seniors have the opportunity to design and undertake a two-week Independent Study each winter Each spring GSA students celebrate the arts during Arts Festival GSA students participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities junior varsity or varsity sports teams GSArsquos award-winning jazz band ldquothemerdquo clubs including Spanish Math Chess Model UN Environmental Action and International Cookingmdash and more

The Academyrsquos small student body and rich student-teacher ratio advisory system academic support programs and Office of Student Services mean that every GSA student receives personalized focused attention to his or her academic needs and sustained support in preparing for life after high school GSA graduates go on to some of the best colleges and universities in the country or enter directly into the workforce and thrive

Enrollment by Town Blue Hill 95 Brooklin 23 Brooksville 29 Castine 13 Stonington 1 Franklin 1 Hancock 1 Orland 15 Penobscot 30 Sedgwick 33 Surry 30 Hancock County Technical Center 4 International 30 AFS 3

FinancesThe State set the 2008-09 tuition rate at $855300 Our annual operating budget is $4200000 Total tuition revenue from all students (local and other) as well as endowment and additional restricted income nevertheless leaves the school with a shortfall of $520000 about 12 of operating costs Only thanks to the gifts from our many generous supporters mdashmore than 450 both within the community and beyondmdash can we hope to close this gap between tuition revenue and the real costs of educating a GSA student

John GreeneHeadmaster













Social Studie S

Matter at gSa








MattersGSA




















MattersGSA

Mid-Winter neWS















English as a

Second

Language




Blue Hill Maine









This semester 29


enrolled at GSA










MattersGSA


Barack oBaMarsquoS

inaugurat ion










student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11


cheSS teaM


philoSophy cluB


cheSS tournaMent




Math teaM











tidbits

MattersGSA10


student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800













Social Studie S

Matter at gSa








MattersGSA




















MattersGSA

Mid-Winter neWS















English as a

Second

Language




Blue Hill Maine









This semester 29


enrolled at GSA










MattersGSA


Barack oBaMarsquoS

inaugurat ion










student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11


cheSS teaM


philoSophy cluB


cheSS tournaMent




Math teaM











tidbits

MattersGSA10


student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800


















MattersGSA

Mid-Winter neWS















English as a

Second

Language




Blue Hill Maine









This semester 29


enrolled at GSA










MattersGSA


Barack oBaMarsquoS

inaugurat ion










student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11


cheSS teaM


philoSophy cluB


cheSS tournaMent




Math teaM











tidbits

MattersGSA10


student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800


English as a

Second

Language




Blue Hill Maine









This semester 29


enrolled at GSA










MattersGSA


Barack oBaMarsquoS

inaugurat ion










student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11


cheSS teaM


philoSophy cluB


cheSS tournaMent




Math teaM











tidbits

MattersGSA10


student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800










MattersGSA


Barack oBaMarsquoS

inaugurat ion










student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11


cheSS teaM


philoSophy cluB


cheSS tournaMent




Math teaM











tidbits

MattersGSA10


student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800


Barack oBaMarsquoS

inaugurat ion










student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11


cheSS teaM


philoSophy cluB


cheSS tournaMent




Math teaM











tidbits

MattersGSA10


student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800

student tidbits

annie aMeS rsquo11


cheSS teaM


philoSophy cluB


cheSS tournaMent




Math teaM











tidbits

MattersGSA10


student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800

student tidbits



























cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800













cl aSS MeMBerS





Damon Gray rsquo12

Donald Hale rsquo09




Anne Pert rsquo11


Di Wang rsquo09



Dear Alden




















Sincerely

Rusty Roberts

President


1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800

1 MattersGSA









2008-2009

annual Fund


Giving to GSA

opportunity





community

college preparation



aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800


aluMni give Back




Jenni ahern rsquo06




Giving to GSA

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800

Calendar of events



tDonrsquot forget



f requent updates

upcoMing i SSueS






draMa regionalS




2073742800

Also in this issue - George Stevens Academy · 2009-02-05 · News for the Families and Friends of...

Documents

Transcript of Also in this issue - George Stevens Academy · 2009-02-05 · News for the Families and Friends of...