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The Pine Needle
Technology in the Classroom Teachers Attend Laptop Institute Conference By Nicholas Horsley
Mrs. Carey Pohanka. The sessions range from the general, such as how to use iPads, to the St. Christopher’s recent adoption very specific, such as teaching “To of the 1:1 model will soon be passé Kill Mockingbird.” as schools look to a future of 2:1 “The conference was an energetic or 3:1 with phones and iPads soon and highly informative look at how expected to be commonplace in the technolclassroom. “In short, the conference was ogy is That’s one of awesome.” -- Sherman Horner changing and intenumergrating with the educational landous tidbits packed into the annual scape,” said Mr. Horner. “The fact Lausanne Laptop Institute, a twothat we are entering a technological day summer conference in Memphis age in which our smart phones can attended by 11 St. Christopher’s pick up air tags that will immediatefaculty members. ly transfer information to our smart “[The conference] presented over phones is truly unbelievable.” 180 different breakout sessions on Mr. Horner’s favorite part about how to use laptops in classrooms and the conference was that he learned 21st century skills,” said Mr. Tune. “There are “The 1:1 laptop program may more about tons of new already be out of date, but it ways to ideas and programs will continue to grow and get improve his classfor use in room using better because of what we schools. In fact learn at these conferences.” technology, espethey overcially in -- Greg Tune load you collaboraso much tive methods in which students and that it’s just best to pick one or two teachers interact on a daily basis. things to take away.” While the conference only lasted At the conference, teachers pack into classrooms to learn how to effec- for two rigorous days, many notes and techniques are still buzzing tively use technology in the classaround the teachers heads, and as room from other teachers. “Somethey return to St. Christopher’s, times there are 40 to 50 people they hope to unleash this newfound packed into a classroom, standing room only, and other times there are know-how on their unsuspecting students this fall. only about seven or eight. You just never know what can happen,” said Senior Contributor
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September 2012
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RAPS & TAPS SECRET UNCOVERED
dent school Historian Alice Flowers, at once. “I’ll call you right back,” said Mrs. When the newest edition of the Flowers, who was on the phone and yearbook lands in our laps every slammed it down, practically jumpspring, it seems someone always ing from her seat to seize the book. asks, “Why is it called the ‘Raps and Amazingly, she had been looking for Taps’?” the meaning behind the name ever How could we have forgotsince she began work on the Sainten such an important part of our tennial commemorative book three school’s history? Who would know years prior. the answer to this question? “We called everywhere looking for Well, sometimes great things are the name, the oldest alums still alive discovered by accident (at least acthat we could think of,” Mrs. Flowcording to my mom). ers said. “I even called Yale looking With the usual lackadaisicalness for information on Mr. MacBryde, that comes after a full day of school, but they wouldn’t even tell me if he I often spend my time looking was still living. They all had guessthrough old yearbooks searching for es, but nobody knew.” ideas and laughing at failures. It just so happened that I came upon the first STC yearbook. Year 1926. Flipping through the pages, and laughing at the antiquity and quaintness of the hand-drawn dividers, I came upon an interesting factoid. It read: “The name ‘Raps & Taps’ was given by David C MacBryde, a member of the faculty. It came from Dr. Chamberlayne’s habit of rapping on the desk to gain quiet.” Student publications supervisor, Mrs. Kathleen Thomas, was ecstatic. She demanded I run and deliver the news to resiBy Nicholas Horsley Senior Contributor
Photo by Alec Ball
Ruffin ’14 Treks Through the Pacific Northwest By Joe Goode Sophomore Contributor
On the morning of his attempt at the summit of Mount St. Helen’s, Saunders Ruffin awoke at 2 a.m. The whistling wind battered his tent and the cold stung his face. He strapped on his crampons, threw his 60-pound backpack over his shoulder and started his moonlit trek to the top. This summer Ruffin took part in a four-week wilderness expedition in the Pacific Northwest. He and 10 other teenagers attempted to summit four mountains. As the trip continued, the mountains they climbed became progressively more physically and mentally demanding. In their 60-pound packs, climbers carried gloves, over-mitts, gaiters, a raincoat, down jacket, overcoat, socks and thick plastic boots. The group’s diet consisted of Nutella, bagels and peanut butter. All food was kept in large plastic barrels to prevent attracting bears. Through these experiences, Ruffin gained a new perspective. He said, “Being completely separated from everything I’m used to gave me a greater appreciation for the natural world.” The first mountain that the group attempted to summit was Mount St. Helen’s, which is 8,365 feet tall at its highest point. Unfortunately, the group did not get to the top due to extreme weather conditions. “While we were climbing the weather got progressively worse,” Ruffin said. “You could not see 10 feet in front of you.”
From there, the looming presence of the 12,277-foot tall Mt. Adams forced the group to learn several new climbing techniques involving ice axes and crampons, traction devices that are attached to the boots of a climber. For steeper parts, the climbers used a switchback technique to reduce the grade. When they reached the top, however, the strenuous climb paid off. “It was like a blanket of clouds across the horizon,” Ruffin said.
After several days of climbing, Ruffin and his group took a shortcut down Mt. Adams. They used a sliding technique called glissading to hurtle 2,500 feet down the mountain.“We were flying,” Ruffin said. For Ruffin, the most difficult climb was Mount Olympus. To get to the base of the mountain, the group had to hike 20 miles through Olympus National Park. “It was so grueling,” he said. While climbing, the group practiced self-arresting, where the ice axe is jammed into the ground to prevent a fall into a deadly crevasse. The last mountain was Mount Baker, “the last and best” according to Ruffin. Ruffin was not the only St. Christopher’s student who had an adventure in the wilderness this summer though. Richard Hamrick and Wilson Bedell, two sophomores, went on similar expeditions. Hamrick went white water rafting and backpacking for 17 days near Jackson Hole, Wyo. Both Bedell and Hamrick stressed that the experience helped them grow both physically and mentally. “I was kind of hesitant at first,” Ruffin said. However, through the challenges he overcame and the new friendships formed, Ruffin said, “It was the most amazing thing I have ever done.”