Around the Academy March 2012

MARCH 2012

Art Counts – A New York City Travel Experience This year’s logo for the AP Art History trip to New York Lee, Rosalind O’Connor, Sophie Odom, Ann Kathryn City seemed to say it all. The Class of 12 viewed over Parrish, Hannah Trachy, and Sara Walker. They were led by AP Art History instructor Connie Deal and 11 thousand works of art, took 10 subway rides, chaperoned by Registrar Connie Johnson. patronized over 9 shops, enjoyed 8 Students had the opportunity to restaurants, visited 7 museums visit 7 museums including: the over the course of 6 days and 5 Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), nights, while seeing Broadway the Guggenheim, the Frick productions at 4 theaters, and Collection, the Neue Gallerie, the Brooklyn Museum, the Cloisters, studying 3 major buildings, after 2 and the Metropolitan Museum of flights to 1 fabulous city. Weeks Art. The Metropolitan’s collection before the February 15 departure alone boast over 11,000 works, date students began a countdown so while students breezed through for the much-anticipated trip to each museum, they recognized New York. They studied works of works that they had studied in their art and prepared journals that were textbook and made connections to filled with information about the artists and time periods in art. venues that the class would visit However, it wasn’t just the art that while on the trip. During their added to the experience; The travel schedule, the students would evenings included 4 Broadway present their reports to their peers, sharing information about “can’t plays: Anything Goes, War Horse, miss” opportunities and things to Seminar, and BlueMan Group, and see. The 15 AP Art History students included: Catherine who could forget the group’s favorite restaurant, Ellen’s Adams, Meredith Bear, Brittany Briddell, Katie Stardust Diner where students sang along and bounced Coleman, Cille Harris, Dawson Haynes, Jean their way through dinner in the 50’s retro diner.

Catherine Hubbard, Bentley Hudson, Erin Katz, Gibbs Additionally, while we’re counting, according to the

group’s tour guide we logged over 54 miles of walking during the

6-day period. That may possibly be a trip record, but the only real way to see the city is to walk it, and this year’s phenomenal weather made the walk well worth it.

Counting artwork and fabulous plays wasn’t the only exciting aspect of the trip. This group experienced more “star power” than any previous group. They kept count of famous faces they saw being thrilled by appearances of Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Saarsgard, Emma Stone, Miss Bermuda, Sutton Foster, Lily Rabe, and even got autographs from Jerry O’Connell and Alan Rickman after seeing their production on Broadway.

Finally, perhaps an aspect of the trip that truly counted, was the thrill that two seniors experienced as they received their college acceptances while in New York. Brittany Briddell and Rosalind O’Connor both found out that they were accepted into New York University and New York University Tisch School of the Arts on the day we arrived to the city. How exhilarating to find out that you will attend a great school in a fabulous city while actually being there. Their classmates were excited for them, and it set the tone for a dynamic trip that will be counted as one of their most rewarding high school experiences.

Connie Deal Upper School Art Photos from top to bottom: Rosalind O’Connor and Brittany Briddell both found out that they were accepted into NYU while on the streets of New York. The group enjoyed ice skating in Central Park. Soaking in the details of pieces of art at the Cloisters. After the Broadway play "Seminar" Cille Harris who shares a birthday with actor Jerry O'Connell spent her 18th birthday seeing him on Broadway and then getting a quick pic. The group gathers for a quick photo op while at the Empire State Building.

FROM THE HEAD of SCHOOL I left my Heart in San Francisco I traveled to San Francisco in February to visit Montgomery Academy alumni and to meet with the director of admissions at Stanford University. Over the years, several of our alumni have attended Stanford, loved their experience and so decided to stay in the Bay area. It’s hard not to fall in love with Stanford. It’s even harder to get in!

Stanford anticipates accepting just 6.5% of applicants for the 2012-2013 school year. That’s a ridiculously low acceptance rate but indicative of a national trend in college admissions. Applicant pools for most selective colleges have increased dramatically over the past ten years while enrollment numbers have remained stable. College admissions offices support and encourage this trend; it means they can deny more students and tout their selectivity.

Another noteworthy national trend is the rise in popularity of state colleges and universities. As the economy continues to struggle along, many families are taking a fresh look at these programs. Frankly, this consideration is not new for MA families given the outstanding options we have in Alabama. For the past ten years, approximately half of our students have matriculated to state schools (primarily Auburn University and the University of Alabama) and the other half have spread across the country.

Regardless of where our students matriculate, the results of their Academy preparation are clear; over 75% have been offered $25 million in merit scholarships in the last five years. They earn far higher GPAs on average than their non-MA peers and they fully participate in community life on their new campuses. Pursuing Stanford or Samford, the University of Alabama or the University of Virginia, is a family decision; preparing students to thrive on any college campus is an Academy promise.

Dave Farace Head of School

French Students Awarded French students recently took home four awards at the AAFC French Convention in Tuscaloosa. French 1A students including Margaret Ann Allen, Issey Behr, Amber Carter, Maclou Dillon, Emma Franklin, Alice McGowin, and Caroline Sellers competed in the Group Oral performance, creating a tableauvivant comic based on Calvin and Hobbes. They were awarded a "Très Bien" and "Best Theme-Related Material.” Talya Whyte received a "Très Bien" in Extemporaneous Reading, while Anne Louise Pass received the highest, "Supèrieur," in both of her competitions: Solo Song and Extemporaneous Reading.

OUAIS MA!!!

Art Students Receive High Honors Every spring, Middle School art teacher Amanda Townsend is invited to submit ten pieces to the District II Visual Arts Achievement Program held in the Malone Gallery at Troy University. This year, works submitted by Shelby Walcott, Sidney Mims, Ellie Herron, and Haley Terry were selected as winning pieces.

In another competition, congratulations go to the following Upper School students whose works received gold, silver, and honorable mention keys in the 2011 Scholastics Art and Writing Awards!

Gold Keys: Garrett Barnes, Danielle Berlin, McEachern Foy, Everett Fuller, Addison Tambling, Gibbs Lee, Sophie Odom, Nini Rabsatt-Smith, Hannah Trachy, and Rosalind O'Connor.

Silver Keys: Sophie Odom, Hayden Walcott, Rosalind O'Connor, and Caroline Lester Honorable Mention keys : Ryan Zienert, April Shambo, Addison Tambling, Hayden Walcott, Rosalind O'Connor, Elizabeth McGowin, Caroline Lester, Christine Hong, and Mazie Chambers.

Students Qualify for Prestigious National Speech & Debate Tournament MA students Sawyer Knowles and Bo Starke recently qualified to participate at the prestigious 2012 LFG/NFL National Speech & Debate Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana June 10-15.

These students participated in the Deep South Congressional District Tournament held at The Montgomery Academy, which was the last step to secure a place at the National Tournament.

More than 3,200 students will participate in the 2012 NFL National Tournament, billed as the largest academic competition in the world. The event draws visitors from all 50 states and as far away as China. Top performers take home more than $200,000 in college scholarships.

PRINGLE’S PAGES We have had a busy time around the Lower School this past month. The Fourth Grade Play held on the Friday before Presidents’ Day was outstanding. The play was a wonderful way to celebrate our American history. The students looked sensational in their authentic costumes and seemed to enjoy acting out our heritage in song and prose.

I have to admit I really miss the “Down Under.” It is raining as I write this giving me the feeling that I have left a beautiful summer in Australia and returned abruptly to a dreary Alabama winter. The enrichment teachers did an excellent job planning and implementing our Australian study and it was an entertaining and educational experience for all of us. We owe a big debt of gratitude to all of the parents who helped us. Thank you so very much for volunteering your time and talents.

This year the Lower School teachers have been busy reviewing our Language Arts program. This is such an important discipline for us because it includes our reading, writing, and spelling programs. All the classroom and resource teachers have spent many hours since August evaluating our Language Arts curriculum and looking at materials for future use. The privilege of evaluating and making curriculum decisions is a real advantage we have as members of an independent school faculty. At the Lower School we take this responsibility very seriously. It has been fun for me to see the enthusiasm the teachers have had as they have reviewed what they are teaching and considered new ideas for the future. In addition, our kindergarten teachers returned February 17 from Atlanta after attending a five-day intensive training session in a multi-sensory Language Arts program called Orton Gillingham. They are so excited about what they learned and are looking forward to applying the information gained in their teaching. I am very thankful that we can send our teachers to training opportunities such as this.

March ushers in an exciting time of year for all of us.

The third graders will present their play “High Harmony” on March 22, the day we get out for spring

holidays. They have already begun practicing songs and learning narrative parts for this entertaining play.

Our spring sharing project will be held from March 12March 16 and once again will support the American Heart Association by collecting money for the Jump Rope for Heart Campaign. During gym classes, the gym teachers will emphasize the important role of exercise and diet in having a healthy heart. We want the children to learn about the heart and preventing heart disease, as well as helping those with heart problems through their contributions. The week will culminate with a special time for each grade in gym classes where children will celebrate “Healthy Heart Week” with relays and activities. Katie Bradshaw is our Lower School Activities chair and will be sending information soon about this special project.

Our next Parents+ activity will take place on March 12 with a Connect with Kids video on self-esteem followed by a panel where I will join others to discuss self-esteem in children. It should be very interesting and I urge you to try to attend.

Our next grading period ends March 2 and you will receive your child’s report card on March 9. Please discuss the report card with your child and use the discussion as an opportunity to praise and encourage the efforts that are evident on the progress report. Also, remember that the teachers, Mandy Poundstone, and I are all available to have a conference with you to discuss any issues you might have with your child’s behavior or progress.

I want to remind you once again to refer to your child’s portal page for dates of special events and assignments.

There are many special activities in the spring and you will want to be aware of these.

Take care, Jan

Indoor Track Team Wraps Up Successful Season The Montgomery Academy’s Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams recently competed in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 1A-4A State Championship in Birmingham with sophomore Taylor Gerard earning United States Second Team honors for her performance in the 1600M run and the 3200M run and junior Drake McGowin winning the state championship for pole vault.

Gerard took second place in four events: 800M run (2:23.95), 1600M run (5:16.56), 3200M (11:40.13) and the 4x800M relay. McGowin won the pole vault state championship with vault of 9-00.0. Also scoring for the Lady Eagles in pole vault was senior Audrey Woika who captured second place in the event clearing 9-00.0.

Freshman Emily Pierce, seventh grader Maggie Chambers, and junior Krisie Stakely joined Gerard in

winning second place in the 4X800M relay (10:19.60) and senior Bentley Hudson, senior Erin Katz and sophomore Mazie Chambers joined McGowin in earning third place in the 4x400M relay (4.31:99).

Points also were scored by Hudson, Katz, Woika and McGowin in the 4X200M relay, and Katz also scored points in the 400M dash.

The women’s team took third place competing against 17 1A-4A teams and missed the runner-up trophy by only two points.

For the boys team, sophomore Jesse Austin earned two third place finishes in the high jump (5-06.00) and in the pole vault (11-06.00). Junior Drew Patterson (Triple Jump) and Sophomore Justin Woolfolk (60M dash and 40M dash) also earned points for the Eagles.

The Lady Eagles 4x800M relay team set a school record while also taking second place. Accepting their second place medals are (l-r) junior Krisie Stakely, freshman Emily Pierce, sophomore Taylor Gerard and seventh grader Maggie Chambers.

The 4x400 relay team took third place in the AHSAA Class 1A-4A Indoor Track Championship in Birmingham with a time of 4:32.99. Accepting their bronze medals are: (l-r front row) senior Bentley Hudson and sophomore Mazie Chambers (l-r backrow) junior Drake McGowin and senior Erin Katz.

Sophomore Jesse Austin took third place in the AHSAA Class 1A-4A State of Alabama Indoor Track Championship for pole vault and high jump. Austin accepted his third place medal with a vault of 11-06.00.

MCWILLIAMS IN THE MIDDLE We are now in final preparations for two major class trips in the Middle School! On March 5, our 8th grade will depart for Washington D.C. and on March 6, our 7th grade will depart for a new class trip to Chattanooga!

Both of these trips will provide amazing experiences for our students. I have so many fond memories of my trip to Washington when I was an 8th grader here at MA, and I look forward to making repeat visits to many of the same sites that I visited.

It’s hard to believe that we are already “marching” into spring. Our basketball and indoor track teams finished with strong seasons in the winter, and now spring sports are well underway. I’m so excited that Lindsey Atchison has revived our softball program and we celebrated the team’s first home game on March 1. I wish Coach Atchison and her group of dedicated girls all of the best in the weeks and months ahead! I appreciate their hard work and their dedication to the pursuit of excellence.

Along with the softball team, I wish all of our teams the best during the spring seasons.

I want to take this opportunity to offer public thanks to four individuals with whom I work with closely on a daily basis to keep things running smoothly in the Middle School. Middle School parents may not always get the opportunity to recognize what these four individuals do for our students so I just thought that I would use my “McWilliams in the Middle” article this month to share what I’ve learned about these four MAzing women.

First of all, we are blessed to have Rolanda Woods as our administrative assistant in the Middle School. She manages our students’ comings and goings throughout the school day in such a kind and professional manner.

She handles the stresses of her job with such grace, compassion and fairness. Throughout the day, she also serves as a back-up nurse, and she comforts students when they are sick or upset. In the meantime, she does everything that she can do to support both Brandalyn Wright and me in our work in the Middle School. It has been a pleasure to work with Rolanda over the course of this year, and I look forward to the years ahead!

Secondly, I can’t imagine a person better suited for the difficult role of Middle School counselor than Brandalyn Wright. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to see how Brandalyn deeply cares for our Middle School students and responds to their joys and their trials. I know that I can always talk through a situation that emerges with Brandalyn, and I will leave that meeting with a clearer understanding of how we can best proceed to support our students. Our students feel extremely comfortable talking to Brandalyn about a whole host of issues, and Brandalyn handles each situation with her warm smile and a caring and supportive attitude. I hope that all parents will take advantage of the opportunity to connect with Brandalyn at our MS Brown Bag Lunch Series in April.

When I was a teacher in the Upper School, I already had a deep appreciation for the work that Connie Johnson does for the school each day. However, my appreciation has only grown now that I’m in an administrative position. Connie Johnson works tirelessly as the registrar for both the Middle and Upper Schools. While her office is located in the Upper School, Connie spends as much of her time dealing with Middle School issues as with the Upper School. She works closely with the faculty and with parents in understanding the intricacies of PowerSchool, and manages student and faculty personnel files. Connie is extremely precise, thorough, and helpful. While the students in the Middle School may not directly recognize the role that she plays, Connie Johnson is instrumental in the functioning of the school. I am very thankful for the support that she provides to the Middle School on a daily basis.

Finally, I want to offer a word of thanks to Vivian Barfoot. I am so happy that her office is next door to mine. She has served as a personal mentor to me, and, for that, I will be eternally grateful. I know that I wouldn’t have been able to make it through my novice year in this position without her constant help and guidance. Beyond her direct support for me, though, I hope that everyone can appreciate Vivian’s profound dedication to the school. She works tirelessly for the advancement of the school’s mission. Much of her work is “behind the scenes” so not everyone may recognize the continued on next page...

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work that she has done. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to work with this remarkable woman and gifted administrator!

On top of those individuals, I continue to be thankful for entire faculty and staff and to the Middle School students for the support that they have shown me over the course of the school year as I have ventured into this new position. I’m also appreciative of the POA Parent Panel and to all of the parents for your support. I think that we’ve had a great school year, and I look forward to the months and years ahead.

Best wishes for an enjoyable March!

John McWilliams

WORD masters Fifth graders recently participated in the second of three WordMaster challenge meets of the year. High scorer for the second meet was Elizabeth Waldo, who had a perfect score of 20. Closely following was Will Hamlett, Hannah Maddox and Logan Norris with scores of 19 of twenty, Vivian Herron and Hannah Soloff with 18 of twenty, and Bisola Adediji, Francie Hill, Trey Lindsey, Mead Robertson, Hunt Scott, Sarah Kennedy Smith and James Torbert, all with 17 of twenty. The fifth grade team score was 181 of 200.

The WordMaster Challenge is a national, analogy-based test of vocabulary and verbal thinking skills.

Chorus Travels to Louisiana

In February the Upper School Chorus traveled to Louisiana performing in Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The chorus began their tour in Lafayette, performing at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The students continued their tour performing at Lafayette High School along with Lafayette’s chorus. Lafayette currently has over 300 students in their choral program, yet they were extremely impressed with our choral program and accomplishments. Later, the chorus traveled to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge to visit with Dr. Fulton, Director of Choral Studies and to sit-in on his rehearsal with the LSU acappela chorus. The LSU ensemble is currently recognized as one of the finest ensembles in the country and our students had the opportunity to acquire

new concepts and techniques to bring back to the classroom. The concert tour ended on Tuesday with performances at St. Georges Episcopal School and Isidore Newman. Our students received high praise at both performances.

In addition, our chorus served as inspiration to the chorus members at Isidore Newman as they are trying to grow their program. Performing in venues like those listed above allows members of the Upper School Chorus to work with other choral ensembles and receives instruction from many of the foremost collegiate conductors in the country. These experiences also allow our students to become better at the craft of performing choral music.

FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL Our brochures and web site are impressive, but in listing and describing MA’s spring sports and activities they have omitted the co-curricular endeavor that actually dominates completely from February - May: juggling.

Yes, juggling. If your child is an athlete, singer, artist, thespian, volunteer or debater--or any combination thereof--in addition to being a scholar and member of a family, he or she has become quite proficient at keeping many differently weighted and differently shaped objects in the air. Attend one Academy event and you’ll see among the performers several students who are instrumental in the success of other teams or groups.

Recently one of my advisees participated in a track event on Saturday morning, and that afternoon took part in a debate tournament. Not only did she have to get from one place to another in a limited amount of time, but she also had to reorient her thinking and her focus. That day she channeled the skills that make her a successful jumper, and a few hours later the very different ones that enable her to plan and deliver coherent, cogent arguments. It must have been like juggling a toaster and a duvet.

The kids’ adroitness and versatility are remarkable and important. In education we place great emphasis on the development of high-order thinking. The ability to

analyze and assess, to approach information and situations creatively, to solve unpredictable problems-these are the varieties of excellence that much of our work in the classroom and in rehearsals and practices pursues. The kinds of complex understanding and interpretation that our students practice in every arena are necessary not only to win a game or execute a pratfall, but also to succeed in the real world. Applying them not only to one sort of endeavor but to many, and to the combination of those many activities, is what our kids do as they wear one hat and then another and sometimes a stack of hats all at once. It is what they will do all their lives.

Anyone can toss a single ball into the air and catch it over and over, but juggling, say, the skills and mindset of a singer and those of a football player, along with those of a nascent web designer (tossing a musical score, a pair of cleats and maybe an iMac in a circular pattern) is something else again.

As the logistical pressures of spring squeeze harder and harder, let’s all keep in mind that beneath all the competing deadlines and commitments a deep and lasting sort of learning is taking place. Fore!

Cheryl McKiearnan

Interpersonal Relations Class Serves at the Salvation Army On February 13, the Interpersonal Relations Class performed their quarterly service project at the Salvation Army where they prepared and served lunch for approximately 50 clients. The table service was a special treat for the clients, who usually stand in line to get their lunches. “Volunteering at the Salvation Army was a great experience and I really felt good about helping people that were in need. When people would come up to say ‘thank you,’ I felt like I made a huge difference,” said LaRonica Kelly. “I am really looking forward to going back there to volunteer soon.”

Eighth Graders Participate in Naturalization Ceremony On February 7, the eighth grade class visited the Federal Courthouse in downtown Montgomery to witness and participate in a Naturalization Ceremony. This was the perfect supplement for the class’ study in history on immigration last fall. Eighth grade history teacher, Dexter Hobbs, discussed the process of being naturalized with the students the day before the trip.

China, India, the Philippines, Nigeria and Mexico.

Candidates underwent an hour-long ceremony which included saying an oath of citizenship and the Pledge of Allegiance, which was led by four Montgomery Academy students: Class President Mary Braden Hendon, William Chandler, Annabel Roth and Nelson Whyte.

The Honorable Susan Russ Walker whose daughter, Lanier, is a MA graduate, was the presiding federal magistrate of the ceremony. Also participating in the ceremony were Clerk of Court Debbie Hackett, mother to MA graduates Daniel and Jenny, and Deputy Clerk Trey Granger, father of current MA student Lilla Bea Granger.

After the ceremony ended, Judge Walker called the students and the new citizens up to the front of the courtroom for a question and answer session where she opened up the floor for the students to ask questions.

Among the questions asked was: “Why did you come to America?� The new U.S. citizens gave heartfelt, emotional responses, including one woman who told the students she came to America for religious tolerance.

Another woman shared that she came to the U.S. simply because she wanted the right to vote.

The group of 25 candidates being naturalized was one of the largest groups the court had ever had. These individuals came from a variety of countries including

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