The Village Green - Winter 2010

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News & Notes

The

Winter 2010

1 Winter 2010

Contents

Departments

3 . . . . . . . Headmaster 4 . . . . . News & Notes 10 . . . . . . . . . Athletics 14 . . . Stdent spotlight 15 . . . . The Last Word

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The 2010 Blue Blazer Ball & Auction Saturday, April 24, 2010

Dear Readers, Happy New Year! 2010 is off to a great start at Avon Old Farms School, and in that spirit, I am proud to bring you the second issue of The Village Green.

The holiday season was as festive as ever this year, and I hope you’ll enjoy the peek at all of the celebratory events that occurred in December, such as the Boar’s Head Festival, Christmas Vespers, and the holiday concerts. Warden Matt Coz ’10 spearheaded the annual Toys for Tots drive, and the School’s collective dedication to community service touched many lives on Christmas morning.

Exams have come and gone, the second semester is about to begin, and now the class of 2010 is eagerly looking forward to May, which is when The Avonian will be back, as well! Until then, stay warm.

Aspirando et perseverando, Morgan Find past issues of The Avonian online at: www.avonoldfarms.com/avonian Headmaster Kenneth H. LaRocque Provost John T. Gardner Director of Development Peter M. Evans Editor Morgan C. Cugell Communications Director Timothy B. Stay ’97 Designer Inna Lovkin “Lovkin Design” Photographers Peter Deckers ’90, Thomas Honan, Jonathan Lester ’63, Spencer Sloan, Timothy

Stay ’97

Contributors Thank you to everyone who contributed to this magazine. Special thanks to Ann Beloin, Ken LaRocque, Judy O’Brien -Jones, Matt Peer, Andy Riemer, Dan Seiden ’00, Tim Stay ’97, and Brendon Welker ’91.

Cover: Ordway Gallery. Photo by Spencer Sloan.

Alumni Notes: We enjoy hearing from you! Please feel free share your latest news & notes with us: email: abramsonl@avonoldfarms.com • phone (800) 336-8195 • fax (860) 675-7135

The Avon Old Farms School Parents Association is comprised of parents of current AOF students. Each month, the Parents Association gathers in the Board Room to catch up on school happenings, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow AOF parents, plan fundraising activities to support enrichment programs, and even learn the origins of some of the oldest AOF traditions. The largest fundraising effort is the annual Parent Dinner and Auction.

The proceeds each year are contributed to the Student Enrichment Fund, which enables the Parents Association to continue to support various enhancements to academic programs, sports, and extracurricular activities. This year’s event is set for Saturday, April 24, 2010.

If you would like to contribute to the auction, please visit www.avonoldfarms.com/ auction to complete the donor form. If you would like to attend the dinner, please contact Ann Beloin at beloina@avonoldfarms.com or (860) 404-4121 to be added to the 2010 invitation list.

© 2010 Avon Old Farms School. The Village Green is published for the alumni, parents, and friends of Avon Old Farms School. All rights reserved. Produced by the Communications Office, Avon Old Farms School, 500 Old Farms Road, Avon, Connecticut 06001. www.avonoldfarms.com/avonian Avon Old Farms School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disabilities, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

From the

Headmaster

Greetings, This is our second edition of The Village Green, our electronic supplement to The Avonian. We hope that you enjoy receiving information about Avon Old Farms on a more timely basis, and that our electronic format is effective and easy to navigate.

The two weeks between Thanksgiving and our holiday break are jammed with activities that usher in the spirit of the season. During this time, our community commits to supporting needy families in the city of Hartford by raising money to purchase clothes and toys that we deliver to Hands On Hartford. Our version of Toys for Tots has been a part of the Avon landscape for over 25 years, and we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars which have provided thousands of Hartford families with a merry Christmas. Our fundraising initiatives include a fast, a dress-down day, an Italian dinner with student waiters, a student-faculty basketball game, and a raffle in which local businesses and Avon faculty donate prizes.

The raffle takes place at the last morning meeting prior to holiday break and is one of the highlights of the school year. The image of our auditorium stage completely filled with a wide assortment of toys and clothes on the morning of the raffle is one that Avonians remember for a lifetime.

In addition to our Toys for Tots campaign, we host holiday concerts, our traditional Christmas vespers, the Christmas Classic Hockey Tournament, and our Boar’s Head festival during this pre-holiday period.

The Boar’s Head festival, a long standing tradition at school, is presented in the Riddle Refectory by the senior class for the rest of our school community on the evening prior to vacation. Mr. Custer, who directs the presentation, delights our community at morning meeting with his animated and creative explanation

of the original Boar’s Head festival. That evening, our seniors, dressed in renaissance costumes, re-enact the story of Christmas, and present a mummers play that includes an always interesting battle between King George and a ferocious dragon. This all takes place in between the singing of holiday carols and serving a wonderful meal highlighted by filet mignon steaks provided by our Parent’s Association. Each year, one senior is appointed to be “the jester” who is the evening’s master-of-ceremonies and who adds spirit and fun to the program through his antics. We end the night with everyone circling the Refectory with arms locked and singing “Auld Lang Syne.” For over fifty years, the Boar’s Head festival has provided Avonians with a memorable send-off on their holiday vacation. It is a rich tradition that helps to forge the bonds of brotherhood so special to our community.

At the dawn of a new decade, I wish you and yours my very warmest wishes and I encourage you to visit campus soon!

Kenneth H. LaRocque Headmaster

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News & Notes AOF Dedicates Solar Array in Honor of Michael Stradley

Avon Old Farms School celebrated the newly installed 205kW solar array, the largest of any private school in Connecticut and all of New England, with its student body, faculty, staff, and its Board of Directors on October 16th.

On October 16th, Avon Old Farms School hosted a dedication ceremony for its newly installed solar electric array.

Senator Chris Dodd joined Norma Glover of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund at the dedication, along with several other dignitaries from the region.

Avon Old Farms School was the ninth school in Connecticut to join the Green Schools Alliance last spring; there are now 12 member schools across the state.

The Green Schools Alliance is a worldwide organization of schools committed to reducing carbon emissions on campuses by creating a comprehensive sustainability plan, focusing attention on energy conservation and waste reduction.

There are currently 1,700 schools nationally who participate in this program.

Avon Old Farms School celebrated the newly installed 205kW solar array, the largest of any private school in Connecticut and all of New England, with its student body, faculty, staff, and its Board of Directors. The array was dedicated in honor of the life and legacy of past faculty member Michael Stradley, 4

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who was instrumental in the project’s implementation. Stradley assumed the role of Sustainability Coordinator at the school in 2008-09, leading the school in its sustainability initiatives. Over several previous years, Stradley logged many hours researching solar energy systems and working with students to gather information and data to perform calculations and analyze whether it could be a viable energy source for the school.

Stradley’s efforts and his visions of a completely sustainable campus made the solar array a reality; sadly, Stradley passed away on August 8.

Located on the roof of the Jennings Fairchild Rink, the 692 solar panels will power a significant portion of the core campus buildings, reducing the school’s CO2 emissions by 6.3 million pounds over the 25-year life of the system. This CO2 reduction is equivalent to planting 30,000 trees or eliminating 6.9 million driving miles. The electricity generated by the solar energy system will cost the school about 30% less than electricity from the utility.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) made possible by EOS Ventures of Massachusetts, financed a portion of the project. Through third-party ownership, PPAs allow non-profits like Avon Old Farms to benefit from a solar energy system without the usual large initial capital investment. Additional financial support from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) was secured for the project.

News & Notes Avon Walks for Pancreatic Cancer On Sunday, November 8, the Avon Old Farms School community participated in a group walk to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research.

Faculty member Andy Riemer, along with Director of Community Service Heather Callaghan and students Ben LaRocque ’10, Patrick Miller ’10, and Ollie Rothmann ’11, were instrumental in organizing the walk.

An estimated 200 people took part in the walk around campus, which kicked-off with a remembrance of former faculty member Michael Stradley, who passed away from pancreatic cancer last summer, as well as a moment of silence in honor of relatives of members of the Avon community who also lost their battle with the disease, including Andy Riemer’s father. Faculty member Peter Rice played live music to add to the enthusiasm.

The walk, and its fundraising efforts, were well-publicized by students and faculty members throughout the course of the fall.

Member of the community made a series of announcements at morning meeting to increase the school community’s awareness of pancreatic cancer, and a video featuring the story of Dr. Randy Pausch, a former professor at Carnegie Mellon University who died from pancreatic cancer in 2008, was also shown at morning meeting.

Students, faculty, and parents had the opportunity to make pledges for the walkers, in addition to purchasing purple wristbands, a paid dress-down day, and lump donations.

The AOF community raised over $4100, all of which was donated to the Lustgarten Foundation, currently the largest single private donor to pancreatic cancer research in the country.

Dennis Watlington Visits AOF Dennis Watlington has been a junkie, a thief, a motivational speaker, a janitor for the circus, an occupational therapist, a journalist, a soap opera actor, and, most recently, a screenwriter and documentary filmmaker.

Watlington, who was awarded an Emmy for The Untold Story of the Black West, addressed Avon students on November 10th in the Brown Auditorium. He spoke about the power of education, and the danger of temptation, recounting stories from his own troubled past, as well as his triumph over addiction.

Dennis grew up a poor African-American boy in New York City; however his intellectual keenness earned him scholarships to several prestigious prep school programs, including the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. But the streets lured him back; he became addicted to heroin at 13, he was in gangs at 15, and he was incarcerated at 17. He was later tempted by alcohol and crack cocaine. Dennis’s most recent book, Chasing America, tells the story of his childhood, adolescence, and his rise as a television and screenwriter through the lens of racism.

Beth Harpaz, author of Finding Annie Farrell, describes Chasing America as “an epic tale of the black experience in late 20th century America. Author Dennis Watlington has seen it all, and makes no excuses for his addictions, petty crimes and squandered opportunities, but the soul-crushing racism that surrounds him

speaks for itself as he makes his way from Harlem and the Deep South on into the larger, white-run world. The life he ends up creating – as a husband and father, as a playwright, actor and writer, and as a friend who never forgets the old neighborhood – is a tribute to his innate decency, his sheer talent and his inspiring capacity for self-renewal.”

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News & Notes

Fall Play: A Flea in Her Ear The Old Farms Theater Company, with the help of some very talented actresses from Miss Porter’s School, presented A Flea in Her Ear from November 13–15 to packed audiences in the Adams Theater.

This rendition was hailed by many as Avon’s best theater performance to date.

Directed by Gayle Robinson, with the aid of Assistant Director Emily Landau, the cast and crew performed a play of hilarious miscommunication to a packed house full of laughter. The actors worked with professors from the University of Connecticut and Wesleyan University to prepare for their challenging roles.

Georges Feydeau’s A Flea in her Ear debuted in Paris in 1907. It is considered to be an excellent example of farce, a comedy that depends on mistaken identities, improbably situations, and wordplay. Feydeau’s plays, this one in particular, are famous for their intense, tightly choreographed physical comedy.

The play’s title is a French idiom for an

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annoyance of unwelcome thought.

The play revolves around Raymonde and Victor Emmanuel Chandebise, a married couple whose love lifve has gone sour. Suspecting that her husband is unfaithful, Raymonde hatches a scheme to trick Victor Emmanuel into meeting a fictional admirer at the seedy Hotel Coq D’Or, where she will be lying in ambush. Naturally, things go horribly, hilariously wrong.

“This rendition was hailed by many as Avon’s best theater performance to date.”

News & Notes AOF Admissions Goes to Asia In November, Director of Admissions Brendon Welker traveled to Asia to meet and interview families interested in Avon Old Farms School. The trip brought Mr. Welker to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. In Taipei, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Lin P ’10 hosted a dinner for current Taiwanese families. In Bangkok, Mr. and Mrs. Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda P ’12 and Mr. and Mrs. Santi Pranich P ’12 held an admissions reception at the Four Seasons.

Taiwan Hong Kong Singapore &Thailand

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News & Notes Deck the Halls: The 2009 Holiday Season The Village of Old Farms was bustling this holiday season, and students spent the time between their Thanksgiving and Christmas vacations enjoying many traditional favorite festivities on and off campus. The annual Toys for Tots drive proved once again to be the driving

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force behind the fundraising efforts on campus this December. Friday, December 4, served as the unofficial kick-off to the drive, marked by the annual Italian Dinner hosted by the school’s Italian club, the Da Vinci Society. The dinner was followed by the

students-versus-faculty basketball game, where the faculty extended their win streak for one more year.

Additional events included a formal holiday gathering in Riddle Refectory with students from Miss Porter’s School and the Ethel Walker School, and the traditional Boar’s Head Festival, staged by the senior class, held on December 15th.

In anticipation of the fine meal at dinner, the students fasted all day; the money saved from fasting was donated to the Toys for Tots fundraising drive.

Throughout the two weeks before holiday break, members of the student council, ably led by Warden Matt Coz ’10, sold raffle tickets to students and faculty members. Proceeds from ticket sales, as well as from admission costs to the various fundraising events, were all directed toward a shopping spree right before the holiday break to buy toys for a local charitable organization. On December 15th, at the final Morning Meeting of the year, the toys were all displayed in the Brown Auditorium, and a raffle, featuring prizes donated by faculty members and local businesses, took place.

Also on the calendar were the annual music concerts, which took place on Friday, December 4, and Sunday, December 6, as well as Christmas Vespers on Sunday, December 13, and the Christmas Hockey Classic, hosted by Avon Old Farms School December 17-19.

News & Notes

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Athletics Varsity Soccer Overall Record: 8-7-1 The varsity soccer team enjoyed another successful season, posting a record of 8-7-1. The team was led by tri-captains Connor Mooney ’10 (New England All Star Selection), Josh Dionne ’10 and Matt McGuire ’10. Also providing leadership were Max Weiner ’11 (WNEPSSA All Star Selection) and Johan Frankenberger ’10. Rounding out the senior roster were Mamadou Diouf ’10 (WNEPSSA All Star Selection and Connecticut State Team), Jorge Carabias ’10 (WNEPSSA All Star Team), and Javier Carabias ’10, with defenders Will Kampfman ’10 and Max Devers ’10. Controlling the midfield were seniors Andrew Cooper, Julio Velutini, Alex Ball, and Jon Rubinfeld. In addition, underclassmen contributing to the success of the program were Elliot Howe ’12, Bronson Kelly ’11, Pat MacIsaac ’11, Alex

Schindler ’11, Johan Venema ’13, and Tyler Wieland ’11.

The Winged Beavers started the season posting a record of 3-1-1 with wins against Trinity Pawling, Brunswick and Salisbury; its only loss during the initial stretch was a close match versus the 2008 New England Champs, Hotchkiss School, on the road. With the graduation of some talented players from last year’s squad and the influx of many new players, questions still remained unanswered. However, during the next five contests the team went 4-1 with a critical win over Deerfield. The team found a way to score goals, control the midfield, and play organized and disciplined defense. In goal was last year’s standout, Max Weiner ’11, who was equal to the task this year. More

importantly, the team came together with many new faces on the pitch. Things were looking good as Avon set their sights on its sixth consecutive post-season appearance.

Unfortunately, the goal post and crossbar seemed to become larger as the team found them quite frequently during the latter stages of the season, and an injury and some untimely illnesses did not help out the cause, either. The season concluded with a disappointing 1-4 stretch, rounding out the overall record at 8-7-1. Though the team failed to qualify for postseason play, they aspired and persevered on many fronts, especially coming together with so many new faces to this year’s squad. Perhaps most important, the team learned that commitment, working together, and self-discipline are what it takes to be successful.

Varsity Football Overall Record: 3-5

The 2009 varsity football squad finished the season with a disappointing record of three wins and five losses. The team was led by captains Patrick Creahan ’10, Patrick Miller ’10, and John Salamone ’10, who each led through fine example and steady, strong play.

The highlights of the season included a tremendous “under the lights” victory on

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Salisbury’s home turf, 26-24, in front of hundreds of Avon supporters who made the trip in the rain. Additionally, the team closed out the season with a strong 18-14 home win over Northfield Mount Hermon.

There were many outstanding performances throughout and some tough losses to some very strong opponents. The

team’s ability to succeed was hampered by injuries, sickness, and youthful inexperience. This, however, did not reflect upon the team’s hard work and positive attitudes towards preparing for each weekly encounter. The senior members of the team – Doug Mosby, Joe Lang, Jeff Hodgkinson, Max Stetson, Patrick Miller, Matt LaBarge, Demetrious Papadopoulos, Sam Marvin, Lincoln Young, Andrew Cummings, Greg Giamalis, Pat Wilson, Michael Lee, Patrick Creahan, Will Rosichan, Matthew Brown, Jeyvi Miavalululu, John Salamone, Jonas Nissley, Isaiah Farrow, Pat Hampton, and Charles Sumner – should be complemented for their devotion to Avon football and to their teammates as positive role models.

The future looks bright with the return of many talented and battle tested underclassmen and the election of Blaise Rosati ’11, John Galloway ’11, and Harry Lyons ’11 as next years Captains.

Athletics

Varsity Cross Country Overall Record: 7-3 The 2009 Avon Old Farms cross country team had a successful season this fall. The ranks of the team swelled to an impressive thirty-five runners this season, and consisted of a good mix of athletes from each class. Led by captains Ben LaRocque ’10, Bubba Sandstrom ’10, and Matt Coz ’10, the team earned a record of 7-3 in dual-scored meets and finished respectably in the Founders League and New England championship races. More importantly, the team developed a strong sense of cohesiveness and sportsmanship along with a healthy inter-squad competitive spirit that improved runners at all levels.

The season started in early September when returning runners and a few ambitious first-year runners participated in preseason training camp before the start of classes. Training camp featured a particularly challenging schedule of three-a-day workouts. These included track workouts, distance runs, hill workouts, and Coach Bourgault’s specialty: the 6am “Humbler” sessions, which consist of a grueling routine of pullups, pushups, and abdominal exercises. Other prominent workouts included running up Avon Mountain to the Hublein Tower, trail runs on Avon’s own extensive network of trails, and hill workouts on “Hell’s Gate.” The boys worked hard all week and had a lot of fun, as well, as they prepared their physical

and mental abilities for race season.

Pre-season concluded with the annual scrimmage at the Choate Invitational.

Almost all of the meets this fall were hosted at other schools, and the team spent a good deal of time on the road.

Avon competed against Salisbury and Trinity Pawling on Salisbury’s home course for the first race of the season.

On this autumn day, the Winged Beavers were victorious over both opponents. Max Rusch ’10 placed first for Avon with a time of 19:53. The next weekend, Avon trekked out past Salisbury to compete against Hotchkiss and Berkshire on Hotchkiss’ verdant home course. Hotchkiss and Berkshire both fielded strong teams and Avon placed third. This, however, did not deter the Winged Beavers, and after another week of training, they came back with an impressive showing on their own home course. Facing off against Suffield, Pomfret, Cantebury, and Millbrook, Avon finished in second place. Once again, Max Rusch ’10 and Ben LaRocque ’10 were Avon’s frontrunners. Avon then went on to beat Williston-Northampton on their home course on a gray, chilly afternoon, then finished the dual season by beating Westminster, again at home.

In the last few weeks of the season, Avon honed its racing skills and endurance in preparation for the Shaler Invitational and Founders League Championships, where they faced off against some very competitive programs and placed fifth and sixth, respectively. One week later, Avon traveled up to Northfield Mount Hermon to compete in the New England Championships. Braving conditions that may have canceled other sporting events – drenching downpours, cold temperatures, and a slippery, muddy course over rolling hills – Avon’s runners fought valiantly. Stepping gingerly through muddy tracks, sometimes slipping, and finally crossing the finish line drenched thoroughly, the Avonians gave their all against some talented runners and placed eighth.

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Athletics

The 2009 Winter Classic: Winged Beavers at Fenway Park On Monday morning, December 21st, members of the Avon Old Farms community poured into Fenway Park in Boston to witness the first hockey game ever held at this historic venue.

The sun glistened off the fresh sheet of ice and both players and fans alike felt the brisk rush and reminiscence of old-school pond hockey on center stage.

The nonconference, exhibition matchup,

between the Winged Beavers of Avon Old Farms School and the Rhinos of Taft School, was generously funded with support from parents from both teams.

Students, alumni, parents, and friends cheered from above, perched atop the State Street Pavilion Club, as Hall of Famer Cam Neely dropped the honorary puck. The teams competed in two, 45-minute halves, resulting in a Taft

victory by a score of 9-5. Game coverage was picked up by several local and national media outlets, including ESPN. Following the game, the Avon spirit funneled over to the nearby Harvard Club where more than 175 guests celebrated the special occasion. The incredible event was highlighted by the support, spirit, and passion of the entire Old Farms family.

John Gardner Honored Twice Avon Old Farms School varsity hockey coach John Gardner will be honored twice this coming spring.

On behalf of the American Hockey Coaches Association Officers and Governors, Gardner was chosen as the recipient of this year’s John Mariucci Award for his work as a high school coach. The award will be presented

at the annual AHCA “Celebration of Men’s Hockey” Banquet in Naples, Florida on May 1st.

John Mariucci, the former coach of the University of Minnesota, was not only an outstanding college coach, but also a driving force behind the growth of hockey in the United States. In 1987, the AHCA created the John Mariucci Award to honor a secondary school association coach who best exemplifies the spirit, dedication, and enthusiasm of the “godfather of U.S. hockey,” John Mariucci.

The 2010 Alumni Hockey Game

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Gardner will also be one of the recipients of this year’s 69th annual Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance’s Gold Key Award.

The Gold Key Award is the highest sports honor in Connecticut with the Alliance recognizing those who have made significant contributions to athletics in the state.

Under Coach Gardner’s leadership, the Winged Beavers have won an unprecedented seven New England Prep School Division I titles. He currently boasts more than 600 wins in his 35 years of coaching.

Winter Highlights

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Student Spotlight Tae Wan Kwon ’10 The following is an excerpt from a personal essay from international student Tae Wan Kwon ’10. Originally from Seoul, Korea, Tae Wan experienced a major lifestyle change when he arrived at Avon four years ago; through hard work, he is now a model Avonian who excels in the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the community. A Dean’s List student, Tae Wan is a monitor in Elephant dormitory, a member of Avon Outreach, and the head of both the Model United Nations Club and the International Club. Tae Wan cites his 2007 and 2008 spring break service trips to help a developing community in Ecuador as some of his most defining Avon experiences.

“I want to be like the letter T!” This is what I told Mr. Welker during my interview.

With its horizontal and vertical extensions, the letter T represents a whole person. I came up with that idea because I wanted to become someone who is capable of many things without losing a focus on one.

Putting such a principle into practice was not an easy job. Of all, however, learning to lead others has been one of the things that helped me become a well-rounded person.

I have learned what it really takes to be a leader since I came to this country all alone.

My struggle began with the language barrier. Because the could not communicate with others the way I was used to, I lost my appetite for the things I once loved to do, isolated myself from others, and even refrained from going out because I was afraid of embarassment. My circumstances, however, helped me out at this time of

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frustration. Because I shared a room with my two other students, I had no choice but to join in. Living together, we became more like a family than a random group of three students – it was no surprise that my English improved accordingly. Afterwards, I was chosen as the monitor for the floor, a leadership role that required a round-the-clock commitment, I learned to set examples and exercise control over others.

I saw my leadership grow when I was put in charge of the soccer team as captain. Playing on a junior varsity team while at the same time exercising leadership over others was something that I had never done before. Training myself as a player in addition to making sure that others were doing the same required even more effort. There seemed to be so much at stake. Although the experience with the team was demanding, the level of pride it gave me was truly unparalled, and I am thankful for the great guidance of my coaches.

My teachers at Avon contributed a great deal to my intellectual development. I have always been a fan of all science subjects, but I liked biology more than physics (I was most likely intimidated by the number of mathematical formulas I needed to learn in order to understand the principles).

However, Mr. Ketcham’s class allowed me to realize that one could understand physics more intuitively than what the

“My four years at Avon have been as rewarding as they have been memorable.” formulas suggested. His constant efforts to make the materials easier to understand was a great motivation, and I could complete my course with an even better grade than what I had in biology. Also, Mrs. Leis, my Spanish teacher, opened up the Spanish world to us that was beyond just language itself, by learning its culture, history, and customs, I came out with a better understanding of the Spanish people themselves rather than just their language.

Especially memorable was our service trip to Ecuador and the help she lent me when I founded the Ecuador Pen Pal club.

Teachers like Mr. Ketcham and Mrs. Leis let my inner passion flower into real-world endeavors.

Since the ninth grade, I have been a part of the Model United Nations and the student council. These two organizations gave me the opportunity to experience what I am about to experience in the future as a professional, especially the Model UN trip to Washington D.C. My commitment to the organization allowed me to become its president, and as I did with my team, I led other students who shared the same interest to places and experiences that I am certain helped them realize what they were passionate about.

My four years at Avon have been as rewarding as they have been memorable.

I can say for certain that with the extent I have grown in high school as a person, I will be able to grow further into a mature, responsible, and committed adult, making my ideals a reality.

The Last Word A Man for Others

By Matthew Peer

The following chapel talk was delivered on January 7th, by Assistant Dean of Students and History faculty member Matthew Peer.

You probably have never seen or heard about the greatest man in the world, so I thought I would share his story with you today. He graduated from high school in 1968 then enrolled at St. Michael’s College, where he spent one year of his life before he was asked to start doing some academic work or not to return the following fall. He dropped out and found a job taking pictures for a newspaper back in Rochester, where he lived with his parents. Soon after, his father told him he had a choice: take the civil service exam to become a fire fighter, or move out of the house. So for the next 28 years of his life he was a city fireman.

He never made a ton of money, or drove a flashy car. When his kids asked him for toys, new hockey equipment, or money to waste on video games, he liked to quote the Rolling Stones: “you can’t always get what you want…you get what you need.” In his late 40’s, he managed to find time to finish his bachelor’s degree, so that he could retire from the fire department and pursue a career that he wanted to do. He wanted to work with kids, so he took a job working with students who had learning disabilities. Since then, he has moved on to a different type of school, which works with students who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives.

“Greatness is not measured by the college you go to, the wealth you accumulate, the women you date, or the things you do for yourself.

It is measure by how much you are loved by those around you.”

I am sure that some of you thought that in order to be considered the world’s greatest man you needed fame and fortune. Sure, those traits are nice, but they have nothing to do with greatness, and certainly nothing to do with being a man.

What makes my dad the greatest man in the world is what he did for the people around him. He would take his days off from the fire department and work on a moving truck so that his sons could get everything they asked for. Some days he would work from 4 PM to 6 AM putting out fires or giving CPR, and when he got home, no matter how tired he was, he would always be ready to take my brother and me to the bus stop or to hockey practice. With his crazy work schedule, he was not always there for little league, boy scouts, and peewee hockey. As I got older, I realized how hard he tried to be there for the big events and moments that happened while he was on duty. I’ll never forget the nights mom took us to midnight mass on Christmas Eve by herself; somehow, he managed to get out of work to be there with us so we could celebrate as a family. Or the times when he was scheduled to work when I had a hockey

game. I would go for a loose puck in the corner and see him smiling through the glass. But as soon as I got off the ice and looked for him in the crowd, all I saw was his back as he and his crew ran out the side door.

But showing up is not what makes a man great. It is more than that. It’s being there to talk to your son after he breaks up with his girlfriend, or after his first, second, or even third speeding ticket. It’s being there to talk to your son about the dangers of tobacco after mom accidentally found that tin of chewing tobacco in the bottom of your dresser drawer that was inside two pairs of old socks when she was putting your laundry away. Or being there to hold your hand while you stood and cried in front of the casket at the wake of your classmate who was killed by a drunk driver during your sophomore year in high school.

I did not realize all of this until June of 2006. I used to try and push my old man away, and pretend I didn’t need his help. I even pretended I was asleep when he came in late from work to say good night.

But all of that changed when my son Jackson was born five weeks premature, and I walked into the neonatal intensive care unit one night and saw the way my dad was looking at Jack.

I realized how much dads care about their children. He didn’t see the tubes, monitors, or club foot; he saw the greatest gift I could give him: another person for him to do all of the incredible things that he did with me all over again.

Greatness is not measured by the college you go to, the wealth you accumulate, the women you date, or the things you do for yourself. It is measure by how much you are loved by those around you. Don’t make the mistake I did and wait until you are in your late 20’s to realize how much your parents truly care about you. Call them and tell them from time to time how important they are and how much you love them. Be a man like my dad: a “man for others.”

Winter 2010

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Avon Old Farms School 500 Old Farms Road Avon, Connecticut 06001 www.avonoldfarms.com

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This December featured the debut of the Art Club’s Palette Tree, arranged by Visual Arts Chair, Gail Laferriere.