Sabre Now - February 19, 2016

Volu me I Is s u e 3

F e b r u a ry 19 2016

Eighth Graders Take the Next Step COL. Todd Giszack

So far this school year, the 8th grade

Given the demonstrated benefit of be-

class has been quietly accomplishing

ing able to focus on one academic sub-

great things. They have been attending ject at a time, the Academy AdministraEnglish, Social Studies, and Science

tion thought it wise to offer the same

classes, as well as taking Bible Basics,

benefit to the 8th graders during Term 4

Latin, Art, and Spanish. On Monday 15

and Term 5. Students will have the

February, a major change took place

chance of taking a combination of Alge-

when this cadre of Cadets transitioned

bra, Pre-Algebra, or Spanish to round

to the One Subject Plan schedule. This

out their 8th grade years. In prepara-

is the first year that the Academy has

tion for this transition, on Friday 12

offered this blended curriculum para-

February the 8th grade Cadets along

digm whereby 8th graders may earn

with their teachers gathered at the So-

high school credit in mathematics or

cial Center to get their schedules, meet

foreign language while studying on the

their new Upper School instructors, and

One Subject Plan prior to beginning

celebrate their accomplishments to

their 9th grade year. Typically, only Ca-

date. We look forward to great things

dets in grades 9-12 are able to take

from this group, and wish them well in

courses according to this schedule.

Terms 4 and 5.

8th grade cadet Daniel Samurin in Vaughn Hall, FUMA’s social center

JABA Valentine’s Day CSM Catherine Garcia

On Wednesday, February 10, 2016,

amongst old friends, a catered mid-

gaged in conversation with visitors

CSM Garcia’s 9th grade English class

day dinner, dancing, and trivia games as well as other volunteers, and with

and Interact Club members took a

for approximately 140 senior citizens moderate coercion, entertained the

short jaunt to Careysbrook, Virginia,

from Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene,

entire assembly with their feats of

to support a Senior Citizens Valen-

Louisa, and Nelson counties. FUMA

amazing balloon juggling and fancy

tine’s Day party. The Jefferson Area

Cadets provided assistance in the set footwork on the dance floor. All in

Board for the Aging (JABA), in con-

up and tear down of the event, deco-

all, the activity was a great exercise

junction with Fluvanna County Parks rating, greeting and escorting, as well in helping others and making their and Recreation, hosted the event,

as serving beverages and meals to

lives more enjoyable.

which consisted of conversation

the guests. In addition, cadets en-

Pictures from the event are on page 3

V ol um e I Is s ue 3

P a ge 2

Global Citizens’ Club celebrates Lunar New Year Cadet Xingjian “Jeff” Zhao

Lunar New Year is one of the most important festival in China, Korea, Vietnam, among other countries. Together they are called the Sinosphere countries. It usually takes almost one month to celebrate this event. There are several important dates during that time. The first one is “small” New Year’s Eve, which is on December 23 of the lunar calendar. On this day, people will have a practice New Year’s party to make sure everything goes well during the real thing.

streets on that date.

On January 29, members of Global Citizens’ Club had a party at Mrs. Giszack’s home to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The board members helped with setting up the dinner table, washing china, and helping prepare food. The party stated at 6 o’clock in the evening, with COL Todd Giszack saying a prayer before dinner.

We had tomato salad as a appetizer. The delicious entrees were

General Tso’s chicken, twice-cooked pork, fried and white rice,

The second date is the lunar New Year’s Eve, which is on the last

and dumplings. We also had egg drop, sour and hot soups. After

day of the lunar calendar. The dinner on that day is the most

dinner, members relaxed in Mrs. Giszack’s living room with tea,

important of the year. People will meet their family members

fruits, candies, and cupcakes. We listened to some traditional

and have fun on that day. The last important date is on January

and popular music alike and, traditionally, folded special paper

15 of the Lunar Calendar. Celebrants call it the Lantern Festival.

for the lunar New Year.

Participants will see different kinds of lanterns around the

Cuba to build first factory in half a century Cadet Chase Ray History was made this past week when the

While the U.S. maintains an embargo on

services directly to private entrepreneurs in

Obama administration approved the first

Cuba that restricts most trade and tourism-

Cuba, particularly those who work in private

U.S. factory to be built in Cuba in more than

related travel to the island, we have seen the

farming cooperatives.

50 years.

opening of new air routes across Cuba for

The factory will be built for Cleber, an Alabama-based company that builds tractors for

travelers who want to head to the Caribbean.

Also, the Obama administration has been

This is what allowed Cleber to wedge their foot in the door. Only weeks after news spread of Obama’s more lenient policies,

small farms. The Treasury Department noti-

they began selling their tractors to small

fied Co-founder Saul Berenthal this past

farmers in Cuba. It is now estimated that

Thursday that Cleber could open a facility in

their tractors account for about 70% of

Cuba. Berenthal immediately sent the com-

Cuba’s agricultural production.

pany’s attorney to Havana on Monday to

Many other American agricultural compa-

start the lengthy process of finalizing the

nies have been vying for business in Cuba

agreement with the Cuban government.

ever since. Most notable is Caterpillar, which

They hope to start production in early 2017.

recently announced that it reached a deal to

While this is great news for Cleber, the real

sell earth-moving equipment to the island

victory goes to the U.S. as a whole. This

through a Puerto-Rican distributor. The only

agreement means the beginning of warming

thing that sets Cleber apart now is that they

relationships with previous Cold War foes.

will now be able to build in Cuba, an ad-

This business venture is only possible be-

vantage that may be only temporary. The

cause of sweeping diplomatic changes set forth by the Obama administration towards Cuba since Dec. 17, 2014. Since then, embas-

magnitude of this operation stems from the An image of the tractor in question.

Text translated to mean “cultivating prosperity”

repercussions it could have in the future. We may soon see ourselves opening up more to

sies have re-opened in Havana and Washing- working to allow more U.S. exports and alton and diplomats and businessmen have lowing U.S. companies to sell products and

Cuba and, if the next administration contin-

flooded in and out of either country.

ing relations with Russia.

ues this trend, we could possibly see warm-

V ol um e I Is s ue 3

JABA members have a blast with cadets Fork Union Military Academy Phone: 434-848-3212 Address: 4744 James Madison Hwy Fork Union, VA 23055 Comments for Sabre Now: Sabre@fuma.org All back issues can be found here

Editor’s Note This is the third edition of Sabre Now, meaning the third note I’ve written. If you were to ask me, I would tell you that this post-Christmas stretch of

time has been a blur. For others, I am sure that time has been flowing like molasses. In any case, the common ground that all Fork Union cadets chare is undeniable. The Winter is

Spring Leave days away, schedule adjustments follow suit Cadet Micah Giszack

Robins and honeybees are both signs that

idly-approaching parade season and the uni-

almost over, with less than a month

Spring is fast approaching. Both have fluttered

form changes customary with Spring. Though

until Spring rolls around. Of course all

about campus in the past few days, but that

no official timeline has been discussed, years

of the cadets are excited for Spring,

surely did little to prevent the iced-over roads

past have seen the transition from Winter uni-

because it signifies the approaching

and sidewalks that cadets awoke to on Febru-

forms to Spring uniforms take place directly or

end of the schoolyear, but it also

ary 16th. A large weather system passed over

shortly after Spring leave. Regular parade prac-

marks an end, or a pause for some, of

our region on the 15th of the month, final ex-

tices will also begin shortly after cadets return

the 9 months of steady dedication and

am day. A few inches of powdery snow fell

from the 9-day vacation, and with those prac-

hard work that every FUMA cadet

during this short bout, but overnight tempera-

tices, corps-wide and rank-specific parade

exemplifies. The hillcrest is nearly at

tures rose, leaving sleet and freezing rain in

drills will replace the club & activity time cur-

its apex, and soon, we will be in the

lieu of any snow during overnight hours. The

rently plotted during drill time on Monday

schoolyear,

outlook looks promising for the coming weeks,

afternoons. Cadets are as always reminded that

practically racing to summer. We

however; daytime temperatures should stay in

the decisions they make over Spring leave or

aren’t finished yet, but those cadets

the fifties and may reach mid to upper sixties.

any other leave will have a lasting effect— pos-

who have made it this far represent

With the temperate air shall too come the rap-

itive or otherwise.

final

portion

of

the

every core value that Fork Union Integrity, Faith in God, Character in

Forewarned is Forearmed

daily life, and Discipline.

Upcoming Calendar of Major Events

Military Academy stands for: Respect,

February 19th: Leave weekend beginning at 1230 March 4th: Beginning of Spring Leave at 1200 March 19th: All cadets will return from Spring Leave no later than 1930 March 25th: Easter Leave begins ***Due to Spring Leave, the fifth publication of the Sabre Now is on track for March twentyfirst, rather than the fourteenth. It may also be assumed that any given date for Now publication is “soft”, and must be considered flexible to change.

A full 2015-2016 Academic Calendar may be found on our website. A PDF is available for all parents to download here.