Middle &Upper School Life
Watermelon Games
Student Council Update by Student Body President Grant Nair Before the end of this school year, Student Council continued some traditions and had the opportunity to create a few new ones as well. In April, we had the pleasure of recognizing the wonderful individuals that make up our faculty and staff. This tradition, many years in the making, has always been a fun, weeklong event that requires much planning and coordinating. Throughout the week, StuCo members distributed daily gifts following the theme of a tropical stay-cation. In the middle of the week, StuCo assisted in PTSO’s luncheon for the faculty and staff by setting up, serving the meal, and cleaning up. At the end of the week, we prepared our annual breakfast by cooking fresh waffles, bacon, sausage, fruit, and of course providing fresh hot coffee to ensure our teachers would be fueled to teach us. I had no doubts that through all of the hard work of our students, we would hold a successful Teacher Appreciation week. As we tend to have some extra time around the end of April we were interested in attempting a new event simply to bring the students together. During the last week of April, we held our new Game Week, a week-long event that consisted of group games during the week’s lunch periods and a Game Night at the end of the week to cap it all off. StuCo members hosted games such as dodge ball and water-balloon volleyball during lunch for the middle and upper schools. On Thursday, the last school day of the week due to May Day on Friday, Student Council held Game Night, a two-hour event from 4:00-6:00 p.m. after school, with the intent of bringing students together to play board games, card games, and even dancing games on the Wii. Considering it was our first time hosting this event, we had a great turnout, and students had a blast, whether they were dancing in the middle of the floor to
pop music, conquering the landscape in Settlers of Catan, or screaming in victory or defeat at the end of a round of Kemps. I hope this event becomes a tradition students will return to for years to come. For the first time, we held a Course Electives Showcase, a family meeting presentation in which incoming high school students were informed about the elective classes available next year. With the aid of a Keynote presentation, students and teachers promoted various classes such as debate, chorus, marine science, personal finance, and even powerlifting. It was a very informative session that better prepared the students in creating their schedules for the following year. Despite my uneasy feeling in giving up the “throne” of president, the time came to elect new Student Council officers for the 2014-2015 school year. After three weeks of campaigning, including posters, Q&A sessions, promotions, and confidently delivered speeches, students voted in the four officers that comprise the Student Council: President Luke Potter, Vice-President Kosuke Kume, Secretary Sarah Bellatti, and Treasurer Shen MacKenzie. I have absolute faith that these four students will lead the school with excellence, integrity, and compassion. The last four years in Student Council have been an exhilarating experience that has helped to prepare me for the life ahead. Although I may be far away in Ohio, I will always remember Parker School for the wonderful people who have helped me become who I am today, the one-ofa-kind experiences I have been a part of, and the encouraging atmosphere that will support students for years to come.
Calculus Students Create Their Own Calculator Programs Congratulations to the following calculus students who have designed their own calculus problem-solving programs on their calculators: Grant Nair and Lysha Matsunobu in AP Calculus BC; and Jaren Ashcraft in Pre-Calculus! Math Department Chair and calculus teacher Amanda Dewey said that on their own, these students came up with three different programs to help them solve advanced calculus problems, and these programs could possibly be published. Way to go, calc students, for showing such smarts and initiative! Na Mea Hou
Middle School Dance
State Science Fair
Middle School Unity Day Focus: health & wellness