January/February 2012

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012

PRINGLE’S PAGES

Greetings from Down Under!

The Lower School is immersed in its annual culture study and this year’s focus is on Australia. We began our multiweek adventure with a presentation by Frank Chambless who lived and studied in Australia. From there, our students will explore the Great Barrier Reef, experience the sounds and rhythms of the didgeridoos, and research Australian topics in the library. In addition to these activities, the students will study Down Under geography, food, and customs, hear an entertaining presentation by Australian story teller, Joseph Trimble, and enjoy a visit from the zoo of animals native to the country.

Our annual culture study encompasses all of the disciplines in our curriculum. In addition to the activities in the classrooms, the students will also participate in Australian learning activities in each of their enrichment classes as shown below.

The culmination of the culture study will be the Australian Festival February 7-9. During these days, the Lower School children will try their hands at Australian crafts and learn dance steps from Tonya Speed that will be set to Australian music. It is truly an exciting time to be a Lower School student, teacher, or parent.

• Creatures of the Great Barrier Reef • Australian animals in clay • Art of the Aboriginal people, including cave, dot and hand painting

I especially want to thank all of our parent volunteers for helping to make this study a success. Your work with the preparations and activities will enable our faculty to create lasting memories for the students.

G’day mates!

Jan Pringle

Science

Library

• Australia’s topography, climate, and plant and animal life

• Folktales, emphasizing nature themes, mythology and pourquoi tales • Research activities coordinated with Resource or classroom teachers

Art

Computer • Map study of continents and countries • Research activities coordinated with Science teacher • Australian vocabulary

Language • Spanish versions of the folktales; Spanish names of animals in “Waltzing Matilda” • Geographic relationship of Australia to major Spanishspeaking countries • Study of Spanish terms for weather/climate and landforms of Australia as well as native animals.

Proud To Be An Eagle Friday, January 13 was an important night for our varsity basketball teams. The gym was packed and the atmosphere was charged. Both teams were playing against our fierce rival, Trinity, and each needed big wins in their pursuit of playoff berths. By the end of the night, I was hoarse and we had won both games.

Sweet victories for sure, but the most important moment of the night occurred between the two games. For five years, the Academy has dedicated all gate proceeds from this special night to the fight against cancer. When our girls’ game finished, Athletic Director and Basketball Coach Anthony McCall addressed the packed house and introduced Mr. Kevin Sinclair who shared his story of triumph over cancer. The fans and players listened quietly with respect, and then offered Mr. Sinclair a rousing standing ovation. It made me proud to be an Eagle.

Our basketball coaches used our biggest game of the season as a platform to inspire empathy, service, and community.

They embodied the concept of transformational coaching.

According to Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL defensive lineman and current high school coach, there are two kinds of coaches: transactional coaches and transformational coaches. Transactional coaches use players “as tools to meet their personal needs for validation, status, and identity.” They care about wins more than people. Transformational coaches, on the other hand, base their philosophy on the “bold conviction that sports can help transform our young people,” that coaches have “the power, platform, and position to be linchpins in individual and social transformation—player by player, team by

team, teachable moment by teachable moment.”

Coach Ehrmann survived a difficult childhood, an NFL career and life of drugs and alcohol to become a preacher and youth coach. Parade Magazine named him “the most important coach in America” and he recently wrote the book InsideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives.

It is a powerful book and his most interesting examples of contrasting coaching philosophies are found in The Wizard of Oz. The Great Oz represents a transactional coach. He intimidated with fear and authority, hid behind his title and power and ultimately abandoned his charges.

Dorothy, the young girl in pigtails and a dress with an everpresent lap dog, represents a transformational coach.

Coaching is all about relationships and that is what made Dorothy such an effective coach. She took a group of insecure players, the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow, and “questioned their self-doubt, pointed out evidence to the contrary, and used a mix of empathy, firmness, and affirmation to convince them of their worth.” While Oz believed in demeaning and defaming, Coach Dorothy proved that building authentic relationships through affirmation, empathy and encouragement is the path to individual and team success.

As fans, let us continue to cheer for our teams, support them through their wins and losses and, most important, celebrate our coaches for transforming young lives through sports.

Dave Farace

The EAGLE GALA is fast approaching and the auction committee has been hard at work! Mark your calendars now for Saturday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bear Field House. Reservations will be available online early to mid-February. Making your plans early will put you in a drawing for a new iPad! Great trips, beautiful jewelry, artwork by local artists and exciting dining opportunities await your bidding.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Amy Williams and Josie Eskridge Eagle Gala Co-chairs

First Semester Honor Roll 7th Grade High Honors Margaret Ann Allen Amber Carter Sean Choi Emily Ernest Dora Eskridge Lindsey Ferraro Emma Franklin Darry Elizabeth Freeman Shelton James Jenny Jeon Justin Jones Anna Kate Lindsey Sellers McConnell Alice McGowin Kate Moore Sojung Park Griffin Payne Annie Ramsey Elizabeth Robertson Ann Vivian Spencer Talya Whyte Honor Roll Jade Brooks Laurel Buettner Anna Claire Bullard Ford Cleveland Kate Dockery John Forrest Robert Fox Caroline Gallahar Sam Hudson Joshua Kim John Koo Andy Lee Mason Little Ford Mozingo George Norrell Alex Pierce Caroline Sellers Mary Neill Starke MaryRen Stevenson Olivia White Dison Williams 8th Grade High Honors Taimoor Arshad Cari Budny Collin Darwish Mary Elmore DeMott Krista Grant Mary Braden Hendon Iris Hou

Victoria Hughes Rosie Jin Allen Millsap Anna Peeples Olivia Trehern Gracie Trulove Shelby Walcott Lindsey Warwick Honor Roll Jack Barganier Andrew Bell William Chandler Anne Morgan Cousins Evan Foy Holland Griffin Henry Hamlett Ellie Herron Rahat Islam Scotland Kemper Elsa Leonard Samantha Long William Moore Olivia Rush Pierce Russell Gigi Starling Wilkie Stevenson Ann Hunter Tankersley Bo Torbert Caroline Walker Natasha Yearwood

Nora Newcomb Ted Park Evan Price Joshua Thomas Jillian Tinglin Daniel Updegraff 10th Grade High Honors John Ahn Garrett Barnes Lilla Bea Granger William Haynes Ann Hester Elizabeth Kelly Rachel Lee Anne Louise Pass Cady Upchurch Hayden Walcott Rachel Warwick William West Layne Williams Rachael Yearwood Honor Roll Mazie Chambers Jake Chesnutt Justin Freeman Alan Jeon Hyunjung Kim Gaun Lee Caroline Lester Sarah Paige Massey Claire Rickard Lillian Roth George Sellers Julie Yoon

9th Grade High Honors Danielle Berlin Dawson Buettner Taylor Dockery Ivey Henderson Christine Hong Cody Jones Brenna Katz Miso Kim Sam LaPlatney Jacqueline Lee Emily Pierce Will Sahlie Scott Simmons Patrick Thackston

11th Grade High Honors Lee Ellen Bryan Caroline Elliott Elizabeth Franklin Won Jin Andrea Grey Jones Mary Elizabeth Massey Krisie Stakely Parker Turner

Honor Roll Jack Anderson Michael Choi McEachern Foy Abigail Hagood Elizabeth McGowin John Thomas Monroe

Honor Roll Hendrick Adams Sarah Ross Adams Sterling Anderson Erin Budny Laura Katherine Crum Emily Garcia

Morgan Heumann Lizzie Hobbs Emily Hou Marshall Lee Neill McCorvey Jackson Muller Paige Smith William Speaks Anna Strickland Corrie Tankersley Ryan Terry Aidan White 12th Grade High Honors Catherine Adams Brittany Briddell Layne Doctson Nichole Green Rachel Heavlin Erin Katz Rosalind O’Connor Rachel O’Meara Zach Pippin Anne Saunders Stephen Scott Arthur Sellers William Sellers Dana Smith Bo Starke Hannah Trachy Audrey Woika Ryan Zienert Honor Roll Miah Brooks Will Canary John Alex Fowler Julian Freeman Wylie Hayes Dawson Haynes Forrest Hook Fitz Hudson Bentley Hudson LaRonica Kelly Sawyer Knowles Gibbs Lee Kristoffer Monsen Jonathan Moore Sophie Odom Nini Rabsatt-Smith Justine Reighard Amanda Thompson Sam Walker Sara Walker

Geography Bee Winners

Each year thousands of schools in the United States participate in the National Geographic Bee using materials prepared by the National Geographic Society. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject, and increase public awareness about geography. Schools with students in grades four through eight are eligible for this entertaining and challenging test of geographic knowledge.

The Montgomery Academy is proud to announce our finalists and runner-ups for this year: fourth grade finalist: Mary Ellen Sellers and runner-up: Coleman Speir; fifth grade finalist: Vivian Herron and runner-up: Mary Elizabeth Bullard; sixth grade finalist: Wylie Edwards and runner-up: Margaret Leonard; seventh grade finalist: Alice McGowin and runner-up: Ford Cleveland; and eighth grade finalist: Bradley Turner and runner-up: Scotland Kemper.

From left to right, Winner: Scotland Kemper, Third Place: Mary Elizabeth Bullard, Second Place: Mary Ellen Sellers

After the grade-level competitions were completed, a final round involving the 10 finalists and runner-ups was held with Scotland Kemper emerging as the champion.

On January 13, The Montgomery Academy athletic department continued a five year tradition of supporting an inspiring cause, Coaches vs. Cancer. Coaches vs. Cancer is a night of benefit basketball where all proceeds go to support the American Cancer Society. The nationwide fundraiser started at the college level in 1993 and has since then made its way to the high school basketball court, with the Academy proudly being the first high school in the River Region to participate. The event started at MA in 2008 when Coach Anthony McCall received a letter from the American Cancer Society about the fundraiser and thought it was an excellent cause. In recent years, the game has been played against MA’s rival Trinity and proceeds have totaled over $18,000. “I think cancer strikes a chord with everybody because it affects a neighbor, a church member, a family member,” said McCall. “It affects everybody. It’s an opportunity for me to do something I love and a chance to try to do something with this disease.”

MCWILLIAMS IN THE MIDDLE

but I will be making an even more concerted effort in the new year to go where the action is. In fact, I now have a “post-it” note next to my computer that simply says “visit classes!” so that I will have a visual reminder each time I sit at my desk.

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone’s 2012 is off to a good start so far. At this time of the year, we tend to spend a good amount of time thinking about the future. The holidays are a distant memory, and now we are focused on new year’s resolutions that have inspired us to go for a jog more regularly, to eat more healthily or to spend more time with friends and family. Although not all of these resolutions will be fulfilled, they are important in defining the new year as a time of renewal and new beginnings.

• Secondly, I want to make sure that I don’t lose sight of the “big picture" even though it’s very easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of daily school life. I tend to be a fairly detail-oriented person. I take (and will continue to take) details seriously. But I also want to make sure that I’m focused on pursuing our larger strategic goals and working with our faculty to define our next set of goals for the years to come.

• Finally, I must admit that I also have made the Likewise, the semester break gives the MA family an obligatory resolution to exercise more and to eat healthier opportunity for a new start as well. While students need foods. We’ll see how that one goes. to be mindful of what transpired last semester, they also can begin this semester with a fresh start and a new I also have several major resolutions that I would like the outlook on the semester that awaits them. Hopefully, entire MA Middle School family to focus on in the weeks more productive study habits will be formed or test-taking and months ahead: skills will be refined. I encourage all Middle School students to make goals for the new semester that we’ve just • Firstly, I think that it is critical that we all do what we embarked upon. Hopefully, these “resolutions” will can to foster a culture of respect within our student body.

We all know that the Middle School years can be difficult become a reality in the weeks ahead. and those difficulties can often manifest themselves in Since I’ve been encouraging the students to make personal expressions of disrespect towards family, friends or faculty goals for the new year, I want to begin this semester by members. These expressions of disrespect can emerge in sharing a couple of my new year’s resolutions with you and various forms from rolled-eyes and rude comments to by pointing out some aspirations that I have for our bullying. Although I don’t think that this is a pervasive Middle School community as a whole. It has been a joy problem in our Middle School, I have been exposed to for me to work in the Middle School. I am very proud of enough examples of disrespect to raise this issue with you our faculty, our program and our students. I’ve enjoyed all. While I’m not naive enough to suggest that we are getting to know the culture of the Middle School as I’ve going to eliminate all forms of disrespect, I do believe that “learned the ropes” as a new administrator. I assure you we can continue to make strides in this area if we make it that I’m still learning every day. I feel good about much a constant goal. At school, faculty members are working of the work that I’ve been able to do in the Middle School, to create a positive culture of respect in the classroom.

That culture is built on the expectation that students will but I also have some goals for the new year: be respectful in their interactions with the faculty and with • First of all, I want to visit classes more often. I have one another. We also want to support the lessons about found that it is very easy to get stuck behind the desk in respect that I know parents are teaching at home. my office or supervising lunch. I’m often working on tasks that I consider to be critical, but when it comes down to it, the most critical work that is happening occurs in the classrooms of the Academy each day. I need to spend more time enjoying and engaging in the outstanding work that goes on in our classrooms. Please don’t think that I haven’t been visiting classes at all. I have been to many classes,

• Secondly, I want us to take a good look at how we provide feedback to our students both at home and at school. While we always want to encourage our students by celebrating their successes and comforting their failures, we also need to be careful to avoid what some researchers are calling "empty praise." For many years, schools have often focused on building self-esteem with many honors,

recognitions, and constant praise. However, recent research suggests that some of these efforts may not be yielding positive results. We certainly want students to know that they are supported and cared for, but we should avoid creating situations in which students have an overinflated view of their abilities and accomplishments. A recent article in the Washington Post highlighted the ways in which teachers are starting to handle this issue: "Drawing on psychology and brain research, educators [are now aiming] to articulate a more precise and scientific vocabulary for praise that will push children to work through mistakes and take on more challenging assignments." Here at MA, we have already begun the process of evaluating the ways that we assess student progress, and I look forward to continuing this process in the months ahead. I encourage us all to recognize that our mission calls for us to focus on the pursuit of excellence. If we tell the students too often that they already "excellent," then they may miss the key part of our mission. • Finally, I want us all to make sure that we are encouraging our students to take full advantage of what this institution has to offer. I've been a little concerned with the recent trend of students looking to lighten their elective course loads. When I was teaching in the Upper School, I would often hear students (and parents) say that they were hoping for an "easy" senior year. Although I

understand the dangers of excessive stress and I realize that we need to be reasonable about our course load expectations, we need to make sure that MA students are seizing the amazing opportunities that our school has to offer. Rather than taking two free periods, students should take electives in the arts, science, history, technology or world languages. We offer so many electives that our course catalog rivals that of a small liberal arts college.

Many students enroll in these electives; however, some do not. While many of my comments here have focused on my experience in the Upper School, we all need to realize that attitudes about academic work are developed much earlier in these students' lives. Please encourage your Middle School students to challenge themselves throughout their MA experience. Encourage them to work hard in their core classes, to take electives that will enrich their experience and to engage in the wide array of after-school activities. A critical requirement of our "pursuit of excellence" is for all MA students to embrace the pursuit as fully as they can.

I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year! I look forward to continuing my work with all of you in the months ahead!

John McWilliams

Latin Club Students Give Back The Montgomery Academy prides itself in teaching its students the importance of giving back to the community through various programs and activities.

One way Academy students give back is by tutoring children at Dozier Elementary. Every month, Latin Club members visit Dozier and tutor students in math and reading. The Academy started this program in 2003 with Patterson Elementary School, and it shifted to Dozier Elementary when Patterson closed.

Latin club member Jake Chesnutt with two Dozier Elementary first graders

Brooks and Doctson score 1,000 points

Two seniors on the varsity girls basketball team were honored this year for a major accomplishment – Miah Brooks and Layne Doctson both reached the 1,000 point mark in their Academy basketball career. Layne surpassed this milestone in the final game of last year’s season and was honored at MA’s first home game this year.

Miah reached 1,000 points this year during a victory against St. Jude and was honored at a home game against Catholic on January 3rd. Miah is a power forward and Layne is a shooting guard and both moved up to the varsity team at the end of their eighth grade year. Miah and Layne have been named to multiple All-Tournament teams throughout their careers that include CCC AllTournament, Scholars 4 All-Tournament, Area All-Tournament, and Regional All-Tournament. Miah has

COMING SOON: Upper School Theater Presents

The Dining Room

been selected for first team All-Metro for the past two seasons and was also selected for second team AllState as a junior. Layne, who plans to play volleyball in college, has been selected second team All-Metro for the past two seasons.

“The two are very good friends off the court. In my opinion, their chemistry off court has been a big reason for their success on the court,” said Coach Glenn Sylvest.

The Upper School Drama Department is proud to present The Dining Room

by A. R. Gurney February 23, 24, and 28. The cast is made up of 19 upper school students including seniors Meredith Bear, Sophie Odom, Rosalind O'Conner, Rachel O'Meara, Hannah Trachy, Sara Walker and Kristoffer Monsen.

The play is set in the dining room of a typical well-to-do household, where the family assembles daily for breakfast, dinner and special occasions. The action is a mosaic of interrelated scenes—some funny, some touching, some somber—which create an in-depth portrait of a vanishing species: the uppermiddle-class WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant). The actors change roles, personalities and ages as they portray a wide variety of characters, from little boys to stern grandfathers, and from giggling teenage girls to Irish housemaids.

preventing kids from being harmed and at the same time equipping them to manage challenging situations. For example, the college survival series is in part a warning: don’t do as so many others have done. It’s also a means of helping students find their own wisdom and strength, of aiding them in growing past the need for adult protection and intervention.

FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL Here we go: new year, new semester! Marking off one year and moving into another is an occasion for optimism; starting over is refreshing and exciting. The cyclical nature of the school year brings stability; offering a reboot at the beginning of a quarter or semester or year sets the stage for progress and change. There is a happy sense of possibility pervading the Upper School these days as kids and teachers settle into new schedules and classes.

Later in the spring I will be leading a discussion of Why Do They Act That Way? If you’re the parent of a teen you have probably asked that question many times; author David Walsh offers some answers based on studies of the changes that the brain undergoes during adolescence. He does a good job of addressing the disconnect between the nascent adult in your house and the tall person seemingly reverting to the terrible twos. He gives concrete advice on how to Along with new learning adventures, there are non- guide your child without smothering him and how to help academic offerings that look toward the future in your child practice independence without giving him a anticipation of still more change and growth. For juniors survival task he is not yet equipped to handle. there is the prospect of Career Day later in the spring; seniors will have a chance to anticipate some of the I heartily recommend Why Do They Act That Way? and challenges of college life during the “Survival In College” suggest that you read it if you have a chance. I have almost finished the book and definitely feel better equipped to series. manage teens and help them manage themselves. I hope to In all phases of school life teachers and coaches find see you at the discussion in April. themselves pursuing the same elusive balance as parents:

Cheryl McKiearnan

MA Student Artwork to Be Displayed at MMFA Congratulations to Lainey Williams, Roma Pirnie, Sarah Barnes, Corrie Tankersley, April Shambo, Joshua Thomas, Miah Brooks, Justine Reighard, Gibbs Lee, Savannah Bullard, Addison Tambling, and Kaylee Quinn. Their artwork was chosen to be on display at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts as part of the Fabulous Folk Art exhibit and will be displayed from January 22 through March 4, 2012.

Medieval Times

Sixth Graders Go Back to

On Friday, January 20 the sixth grade class traveled to Lawrenceville, Georgia to experience Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament.

The class got a unique insight into what it was like to live in the medieval time period. They enjoyed a seminar on medieval times, a medieval meal and the ever exciting tournament of knights!

Denise Tinney Named Coach of the Year The Montgomery Academy is proud to announce that Varsity Girls Tennis Coach and Seventh Grade Science teacher Denise Tinney has been named the 2011 Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations. Mrs. Tinney starts her eighth year of coaching varsity tennis at the Academy this year and coached junior varsity for two years prior to that. Under her leadership, the varsity girls tennis team has won State in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Upon being recognized for this award Mrs. Tinney said: “Of course, I am honored to receive this award, but I feel this is truly a team award for the girls’ outstanding accomplishments over the years. I have a great team with awesome parents, a fantastic assistant coach in Fairlie Herron, and wonderful support from the school particularly, Athletic Director Anthony McCall, and Middle School Director John McWilliams.”