Through the Doors
SPA’s production of The Yellow Wallpaper triumphs at State One-Act competition
Ami Berger
John Severson
Middle School celebrates Pi Day
Cam Murray ’13 (left) and Sophia Myers-Kelley ’13 in The Yellow Wallpaper.
The Middle School’s annual Pi Day celebration, held on March 14, featured a special assembly with a pi-digit memorization contest, in which students recited as many digits of pi as they could. This year’s winner was Emilia Hoppe ’18 (pictured above), who topped the competition by reciting 403 digits of pi. Rounding out the top five finishers were Shefali Bijwadia ’17 (332 digits); Amodhya Samarakoon ’17 (260 digits); Imran Umer ’19 (168 digits); and Isabelle Bukovsan ’17 (150 digits). Zach Pressman ’09 holds the school record for reciting 1,004 digits of pi in 2005.
After a stunning performance at the Minnesota State High School League One-Act Festival on Friday, February 8, SPA’s production of The Yellow Wallpaper received a “Starred Performance”—the highest honor a show can achieve. The production, one of only three to earn “Starred Performance” status at the Festival, was described by the judges as “mature, nuanced and evocative.” The cast and crew of The Yellow Wallpaper included seniors Claire Flom-Staab, Sophia Myers-Kelley, Cam Murray, Chinaza Nwaneri, Rachel Ketz, Ellie Fuelling, Ian Rolf and Clara Stahlmann Roeder; juniors Emily Ross and Charlotte Hughes; sophomore Maggie Clark, and 9th graders Maggie Vlietstra and Anna Biggs. The show was directed by Upper School English teacher Eric Severson. The show advanced to the state competition after winning two preliminary rounds, a unanimous first-place finish at the sub-sectional competition and another first-place finish at the Class 4A section competition. “From director on down, it’s plain that everyone has made an excellent commitment to this production,” noted one of the sectional judges.
Middle School Math Team takes first place in Southeast Metro Division
Modeled after the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League, the Junior High Mathematics League serves to encourage students to participate in math competitions, meet “mathletes” from other schools, and provide recognition for students excelling in mathematics. Most importantly, says coach and Middle School math teacher Jenny Borovsky, is that the students really enjoy competing. “The kids have a lot of fun preparing for and participating in the competitions,” says Borovsky, “especially the team event. They really enjoy each other and the work.”
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SPA | Spring | Summer 2013
Stacy Overgaard
SPA’s Middle School Math Team took first place in the Southeast Metro Division of the Junior High Mathematics League in January 2013. Team members included Ellie Brass ’17, Michael Hall ’18, Diane Huang ’17, Ben Konstan ’18, Michaela Polley ’19, Elliot Tong ’17, and Henry Zietlow ’18. In addition, team members took the first through fourth places in the individual awards for the division: Konstan (first place), Huang (second place), Polley (third place) and Tong (fourth place).
The first-place Middle School Math Team, left to right: Diane Huang, Ben Konstan, Elliot Tong, Michaela Polley, Ellie Brass, Henry Zietlow, and Michael Hall.