SEPTEMBER 2011 Dear Montgomery Academy Parents, As the 2011-2012 academic school year is underway, I pose the question: I’ve got spirit, how about you!? The common cheerleader chant is meant to illicit a response from the fans to SUPPORT our team onto victory! The team members of the Parents of the Academy number 552 families strong. In my mind, that kind of team in numbers can do great things when brought together toward common goals. The purpose of the POA as outlined in the operating guidelines are as follows: To promote voluntary participation of all Montgomery Academy parents striving toward higher standards for their children. To encourage Montgomery Academy parents to give freely of their time, talents, education, and knowledge to programs, projects and financial assistance in a way which will constitute better relations between students, faculty, parents, and community; and To promote the image of The Montgomery Academy through the encouragement of scholastic excellence and development of good citizenship. I encourage all parents to suit up and join the POA TEAM. The volunteer opportunities are numerous
throughout the year to give back to a school and student population that is grateful for all that their parent organization contributes. The opportunity for the students to see parents give of their time and talents will certainly set a precedent for their future contributions through volunteerism. Visit the school web site to submit a volunteer form online or contact Pam Snider at prsnider@knology.net Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your POA President this year. In the near future, I will share the new Parent Enrichment Program, supported by the POA. Upcoming POA events will be posted on the web site or through E-bulletin. I look forward to working along side the team members of the POA this year and helping The Montgomery Academy onto VICTORY in the Pursuit of Excellence. Tonya Lee 2011-2012 POA President
Connect With Kids MA embraces evidence-based programs that inspire students, involve parents, and impact achievement The POA is partnering with the school to create PARENTS PLUS, an enrichment series of events, programs, and resources for our Academy parents. We will launch the fall series Stacey DeWitt with an evening featuring Stacey DeWitt, an attorney and former child advocate with the juvenile system and television journalist, who created Connect with Kids 10 years ago to support her passion for helping children and families. Today, Connect with Kids produces news, Emmy-award winning television programs and parenting DVDs to give parents a glimpse into the lives of children and learn more about what parents can do to help their kids make good decisions. The October 4th 7:00 p.m. Connect With Kids presentation “Empowered Parenting” in Wilson Theater is designed for parents of students of all ages and promises important research based information and strategies for the perplexing problems of parenting. All Academy parents are encouraged to join parenting expert Stacey DeWhitt as she shares her valuable insights and responds to parent questions. Stacey DeWitt spoke to MA faculty in August to explore relevant topics and to introduce the student and teacher resources available through Connect With Kids. The faculty responded positively to the real life stories, the strategies for growing character development and life skills, and the ideas for conflict resolution and prevention of bullying behavior. Materials from the Connect With Kids Educational Network are already being used in our Middle and Upper School advisory programs. Guidance Counselors Brandalyn Wright and Alexis Wakefield
have planned lessons and trained advisors to facilitate student discussions that inspire positive social and emotional development. In addition to the beneficial materials for students and faculty, MA’s partnership with Connect With Kids offers valuable resources for parents on a wide variety of topics. Click here for Connect With Kids WebSource parent materials (username: MONTAL2011 password: MONTAL2011). The parenting materials fall under three categories (Character, Health & Wellness, and News You Can Use) and offer videos with family viewing guides that include pertinent facts about each topic, advice from experts, and conversation starters for discussions with your children. The information is broken down into small high interest segments. As a parent, you can preview the resources to see if and how they might be beneficial to your family. The Connect With Kids WebSource is just part of the support MA has in store for our Academy parents this year. The school extends its pursuit of excellence to supporting parents with the creation of PARENTS PLUS enrichment programs. Heather McConnell will serve in the new POA position, Parent Enrichment Coordinator, to partner with the school as we grow this important phase of the MA experience. Each semester programs will target different high interest topics and engage parents of all ages of students. The parent offerings will relate to areas of character development, intellectual development, and wellness issues for students. The Academy embraces the opportunity to explore these topics with parents as they gather information, learn strategies, and create a community of support as we help our students successfully navigate the physical, emotional, and social issues of life. We hope parents will join us for many events and take time to explore the additional resources on our website. Vivian Barfoot Associate Head of School
New Faculty and Staff Introductions Eleven new faculty and staff members join The Montgomery Academy family this year. Allow us to introduce them to you and please join us in welcoming them! Amy Berry
Amy Ashley
Tadd Bevan
Susan Cooper
Shawshank Redemption. A fun fact about Tadd? He’s an identical triplet.
Amy Berry joins the Academy as our newest second grade teacher. Previously, she was teaching pre-school at Saint James United Methodist Church. Mrs. Berry has a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Development from Auburn University and a Masters in Elementary Education from Auburn University Montgomery. Her favorite books are the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella, and her favorite movie is Almost Famous. Amy is a certified scuba instructor, and ironically does not eat seafood.
Susan Cooper is our new middle school chorus teacher. Before joining The Montgomery Academy, Mrs. Cooper was the Director of Choral Music at Trinity Presbyterian School. She is also the current Youth Choir Director at First United Methodist Church. She has an undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance from Huntingdon College and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Alabama. Her favorite book is The Inner Voice: The Making of a Singer, and her favorite movie is A Christmas Story. Susan was a class 6A tennis state champion.
Amy Ashley is The Montgomery Academy’s newest fourth grade teacher. Prior to joining our faculty, she taught at Prattville Elementary School. Mrs. Ashley received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Mississippi State University. Her favorite book includes anything by James Patterson, and her favorite movies are Steel Magnolias, The Help, and Pollyanna. Amy always does a front handspring for her class on the first day of school!
Our new eighth grade history teacher, Dexter Hobbs, is a Montgomery Academy graduate and received his degree in American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before returning to Montgomery and his alma mater, he was a reference intern at the Smithsonian American History Museum as well as a legal assistant. His favorite book is Catcher in the Rye, and his favorite movie is Glory. Dexter enjoys the extreme sport of whitewater kayaking.
Our newest upper school history teacher, Tadd Bevan comes to The Montgomery Academy after two years of working in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. He taught history for six years prior to that at McCallie School in Chattanooga. Mr. Bevan has a Bachelor of Arts in History degree from Davidson College and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College. His favorite book is Les Miserables, and his favorite movie is The
Stephanie Hoskins is The Montgomery Academy’s new Advancement and Special Events Coordinator. Before coming to the Academy, Stephanie was the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the Montgomery Ballet. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a focus in Marketing from the Auburn University Montgomery where she is currently pursuing her Masters in Business
Administration. She loves cooking and enjoys anything involving the culinary arts.
Stephanie Hoskins
Amy Kemp
Amy Kemp joins The Montgomery Academy as our newest upper school math teacher. Previously, she taught at Baldwin Arts and Academic Magnet School. Ms. Kemp received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Teaching Degree in Secondary Education from High Point University. Amy’s favorite book is Little Women, and her favorite movie is Steel Magnolias. Something interesting about Amy? She was an aunt at the young age of two! Frazier Pilkerton is our newest first grade teacher. A Montgomery Academy graduate, she earned her Bachelor and Masters in Early Childhood Development degrees from Auburn University. Before coming to The Montgomery Academy, Mrs. Pilkerton taught third grade at Catoma Elementary and Garrett Elementary. Her favorite children’s book is The Polar Express. An interesting fact about Frazier is that she is an avid hunter. Jennie Rains, our new fifth grade science teacher, comes to us from New York City where she taught at Spence School. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College and a Masters in Education from Harvard University. Her favorite books are Middlemarch and The Autobiography of
Malcolm X As Told to Alex Haley. Ms. Rains’ favorite movie is Something’s Gotta Give. A fun fact about her? She’s ambidextrous! Previously the Assistante des Langues Etrangè res for the Académie de Caen in France, Katherine Taylor is the Academy’s new middle school French teacher. Ms. Taylor graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Arts in French. She then went on to study at the L’Institut Catholique de Paris, and also earned her Masters in Foreign Language Education from Auburn University. Her favorite book is L’élégance de Hérisson (The Elegance of the Hedgehog), and her favorite movie is Auntie Mame. Katherine is a multi-talented individual. Not only is she an expert in foreign language, she also knows how to drive a zamboni - the huge ice resurfacers used to clean ice rinks! Laura Woerner, the Academy’s new upper school biology teacher, received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Science degree from the University of Georgia and her Masters of Art in Teaching in Secondary Science Education from Agnes Scott College. Prior to teaching here, Ms. Woerner taught at the DeKalb School of the Arts in Atlanta. Her favorite book is The Poisonwood Bible, and her favorite movie is The Princess Bride. Ms. Woerner has spent time in Germany and speaks German fluently.
Frazier Pilkerton
Jennie Rains
Dexter Hobbs
Katherine Taylor
Laura Woerner
FROM THE HEAD of SCHOOL Monthly Updates from Dave Farace As we begin the new school year, I’d like to summarize the strategic planning process our community engaged in this past spring and summer and share our school goals for the 2011-2012 school year. Overview of the Strategic Planning Process The process focused on the strategic priorities identified by The Montgomery Academy community. The school utilized a bottom-up approach where the key input was provided by the main constituent groups (Board, administrative team, faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, parents of alumni and grandparents). We hired John Littleford, Senior Partner of Littleford & Associates to conduct multiple focus groups during the week of April 11, 2011. Participants represented a cross-section of each major constituent group in order to ensure that input reflected a broad base of opinions. Following the focus group interviews, we conducted a four-hour strategic planning workshop for the Board of Directors and Administrative Team on April 14, 2011. At this point, the process intentionally became more focused. In several small breakout groups, the participants considered the 38 possible strategic issues that emerged from the focus group sessions. Through a series of votes, the groups arrived at a consensus: a final list of six prioritized strategic planning goals. The participants then broke into six sub-committees and spent the summer formulating action plans and developing key performance indicators for each goal. The Strategic Plan will be formally voted on at the next Board of Directors meeting. In summary, this was a very intensive process designed to complete a streamlined but working Strategic Plan within a concentrated time period. The Plan reflects the priorities of the Academy’s major constituent groups. I appreciate John Littleford’s leadership and wise counsel throughout the process. I’m also grateful to all participants for the enthusiasm and seriousness with which they approached this important task. The Final Strategic Goals Strategic Goal #1: Create a comprehensive program of community and civic engagement This program will allow the Academy to fulfill its role as a “private school with a public purpose” and will enhance our ability to develop ethical and adaptive leaders. The process of developing this program over the next five years will include evaluating the current ways through which the school engages the community and institutionalizing a framework for continued community engagement. Strategic Goal #2: Explore the International Baccalaureate (IB) Academic Program The Academy will research IB during the 2011-2012 school year to help determine whether or not to implement the program, thus becoming an IB World School. The IB is recognized worldwide for its intellectual depth. It is a nonprofit foundation that offers three challenging programs for students aged 3-19: • The Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 5 to 11 focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside. • The Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16 provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills through embracing and transcending traditional school subjects. • The Diploma Programme for students aged 16 to 19 is a demanding two-year curriculum that meets the needs of highly motivated students, and leads to a qualification that is recognized by leading universities around the world.
Strategic Goal #3: Recruit and Retain a faculty that embodies “The Pursuit of Excellence” In the minds of its students, parents, and alumni, The Montgomery Academy is defined by the quality, character and dedication of its faculty members. They are the heart of the school. They breathe life into their courses, and instill confidence and intellectual curiosity in their students. To ensure that The Montgomery Academy can continue to attract and retain teachers of defining caliber, the school must continue to increase faculty salaries and benefits, make Montgomery attractive to out of town candidates, and design a section of the Academy’s website specifically for recruiting faculty. Strategic Goal #4: Attract new students and retain current students through enhanced marketing efforts and expanded classroom opportunities For the current school year, the Academy received close to triple the number of applications to grades 1 through 12 than the previous year. We opened school with waiting lists in grades 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9. We will carefully manage our enrollment growth and sharpen our internal and external communications to: • Ensure a clear and consistent message about the value of an MA education • Attract the best and brightest students • Deliver the highest quality educational experience in the River Region • Ensure the long-term financial health of the Academy Strategic Goal #5: Develop new revenue sources and augment existing revenue Currently, the Academy’s two primary sources of revenue are tuition and philanthropy. In addition to modest tuition increases, full enrollment and focused fundraising, the Academy will explore new or enhanced revenue in summer programs and retail opportunities in our school store. Strategic Goal #6: Explore the establishment of a pre-school program The committee spent the summer researching the feasibility of establishing a pre-school program. Their final recommendation is to not proceed on this project at this time. The program would be costly and the committee believes the Academy should focus on providing the premier K-12 school experience in the region and strengthening its relationships with existing pre-school feeder programs. Goals for the 2011-2012 School Year In addition to executing the strategic plan above, the Academy will also focus on the following 2011-2012 school year goals. I will provide updates on these goals as we work through them this year. • Create a task force to research the potential benefits of a student iPad program • Develop a full day Kindergarten program for implementation in the 2012-2013 school year (click here for a program summary) • Establish an Academic Advisory Council to review, evaluate, and strengthen the quality of the Academy’s academic programs • Develop a Parent Enrichment Program that offers guest speakers and relevant, topical information on student character development, intellectual development, and wellness issues. • Create a Parent Ambassador Program to recruit and support prospective families Conclusion Execution of the plans above will help sustain Montgomery Academy as the premier K-12 independent school in the River Region. With our tradition of academic innovation and our culture of excellence we will continue to educate and inspire ethical and adaptive leaders for the 21st century. Dave Farace Head of School
A ROUND E ACH D IVISION From the Lower, Middle and Upper School Directors
PRINGLE’S PAGES September 2011 We are off to a great start for the new school year. Our opening Convocation proved to be a meaningful way to begin. I still get a warm feeling when I think about the Seniors and Kindergarten students processing in together. What a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. The Lower School Parents’ Night was well attended and I felt the excitement in the air! Our parents, teachers and staff are committed to working together to provide the best possible educational environment for our students. I am very proud to be part of that cooperative spirit. Another indicator of the partnership between our parents and the school was the tone at our first Lower School Parent Panel meeting. Each member of the Parent Panel had such an eager attitude. All seemed supportive and ready to get down to the business of making this a successful school year. Our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up seems to be flowing smoothly. Remember to pull down as far as you can in the mornings before stopping to let your child exit your vehicle. Please do not
get out of your car unless absolutely necessary. There will be someone on the porch each morning to provide assistance. If you must exit your car, wait until you pull down to the end of the porch. The afternoon carpool line is moving swiftly due to the fact that you have your child’s name visibly displayed. We truly appreciate you following our carpool guidelines thus creating a safe drop-off and departure from school. Our ultimate goal is, of course, safety. I hope all of you are regularly going to the Academics Manager on our website to check out what is posted. We are all really excited about this new more effective communication site. All the information you need for your child is readily available to you. The teachers have all reported a strong academic start to our school year. We have new Smart Boards in all the first and second grade classrooms and the teachers are enthusiastically discovering new methods of using them. The Smart Boards add a new dimension to class instruction. We have also added some new curriculum resources and are pleased with these choices. We have embraced new methods of
teaching without losing any of our traditional methods that have served us well. Several members of our faculty attended sessions this summer on “brain based” learning and have brought new teaching ideas utilizing technology to our Lower School. The Montgomery Academy Lower School is an exciting place to teach and to learn! Teachers will soon be contacting you to schedule parent conferences. These conferences provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss individual children and together maximize student potential. Our Parent Coffees for kindergarten through third grade are going to be held in our Lower School Commons Area this year. The fourth grade coffee will be held in the Wilson Theater on the Vaughn Road campus. The coffees will start at 8:30 in hopes that parents can attend before beginning their work day. Our goal for these coffees is to give LS parents an opportunity to socialize together in an informal way. Mark the following dates on your calendar and plan to attend: September 13 at 8:30 a.m. Kindergarten in the Lower School Commons September 20 at 8:30 a.m. First Grade in the Lower School Commons
September 27 at 8:30 a.m. Second Grade in the Lower School Commons October 4 at 8:30 a.m. Third Grade in the Lower School Commons October 20 at 9:00 a.m. Fourth Grade in the Wilson Theater on the Vaughn Road Campus Another important date for your fall
calendar is November 3rd. This is the date we have selected for our Kindergarten Open House. We are planning for the November event, and it promises to be an impressive evening. Please invite any families with upcoming kindergarteners to come spend the evening of November 3rd with us. Suggest that they call the Admissions office for details. Our magazine sale began today and will end September 20th. Please support MA by ordering your
MCWILLIAMS IN THE MIDDLE September 2011 I am so excited to be a part of the MA Middle School. I am thrilled with how everything seems to be going so far, and I want to thank you for your positive reception of me into the division. Although this is my 12th year back at the Academy, I do feel a little bit like the “new guy” this year, and I really appreciate everyone’s warm welcome and best wishes. The students seem to be settling into their classes at this point. Our seventh grade had an outstanding interdisciplinary project day to culminate a summer reading assignment. Fall athletic teams have been practicing, and their seasons are now underway. We are having our Middle School Student Council elections on September 2. There is a very positive energy running through the division at this point, and I continue to be so excited about the
upcoming year. There are two major themes that I have addressed and will continue to stress with students, teachers and parents this: motivation and school spirit. First of all, we are going to spend a good bit of time talking about what motivates students to do their best in the classrooms, on their homework, on the playing field, in the rehearsal hall, and in all facets of life at the Academy. Honestly, motivating students has become increasingly a challenge at the beginning of the 21st century for all schools. Our students live in an information-filled technological world that is both stimulating and overwhelming. Over the course of the year, I plan for us to examine some of the recent research that has been done on the nature of motivation so that we can continually find ways to motivate students and help them navigate the
magazines through the school. This is a major financial project for the POA and the profits benefit all of us. As I think about the POA, I must commend them on the recent Family Fun Night. The August 26th event was well attended, well organized, and tons of fun. Let’s work together to have a great year. We are off to a fabulous start! Jan Pringle Lower School Director
challenges and opportunities of the 21st century that they will inhabit. Intrinsically linked to motivation is the concept of school spirit. We are so blessed to be a part of such an amazing school environment. I have enjoyed being a part of the “MA family” since I entered the 8th grade in the fall of 1991. I think that our students really enjoy being a part of this community as well. However, sometimes, we take the MA community for granted. We need to find ways to celebrate being a part of the MA community. To aid in the development of school spirit and divisional unity, I’ve introduced the “Middle School Minute,” a weekly video broadcast that is shown to all students in grades 5-8. The “Minute” highlights many of the events that are going on in the Middle School. Soon, I hope that the Middle School Student Council will assist me in planning for and producing the videos. The response has been positive so far, and I look forward to exploring other ways to develop school spirit. On top of those major themes, I want you to know that, thanks to the hard work of our Middle School
Guidance Counselor Brandalyn Wright, we are also rolling out a new advising program with our Middle School students. Each month, the Middle School will be focusing on a special counseling topic. The August topic was “Adjusting to Change” and in September we will be focusing on “Study Skills.” Each grade level will have a different activity or discussion based on the topic of the month. You will also be receiving information in the month to come about the new parent enrichment program that the school is launching this year, and there will be specific programs offered this fall for Middle School parents.
To strengthen the partnership between school and parents, I am pleased to report that we have organized an outstanding Middle School Parent Panel this year. Led by POA Vice President Melanie McKenzie, the grade representatives are: Fifth grade - Cathryn Robertson Sixth grade - Genia Stallings Seventh grade - Christi Pierce Eighth grade - Sarah Chandler
September 2011
Other, more important routines are taking shape as well: kids are savoring the satisfaction of comprehending something new; of honing and burnishing skills; of forming and deepening relationships. These new understandings form gradually and spiral upward in sophistication as the
I look forward to working with the Middle School students over the course of this year. We’re off to a great start! John McWilliams Middle School Director
I will have monthly meetings with the panel to discuss everything that is going on in the Middle School. You will have an opportunity to communicate with these grade
FROM THE UPPER SCHOOL We’ve been at it for several weeks now, and some patterns are well established. We know the order of classes on each day of the rotation; the exact number of minutes required to get from Wrap It Up to class at the very end of break has been calculated; daily reminders from teachers help ensure awareness and more compliance than not when it comes to the rules.
representatives regarding any questions or concerns that you might have. Of course, you are always welcome to call or email me if there is anything that I can do to help you.
year progresses, and next year and the year after that they will continue to broaden and ascend. For now, let’s look at what’s happening on the ground, in the nitty-gritty zones where the habits and patterns are taking shape. Think about your child: what is his or her instinctive way of doing business, specifically school business? Does he need a nudge to be more aware of the big picture so that planning ahead can not only happen but become a habit of mind? If your student is struggling in a class does she seek help before things get dire or does she drift quietly, hoping the problem will evaporate? Part of our job over here in the upper school is to help kids become able to realize
that action needs to be taken and to figure out what the appropriate action would be. The more they do it, the better at it they get, but competence in that area takes time. Navigating the social maze known as high school requires skills that are also gradual in coming. We try to enforce, model and encourage some basic courtesies in the classrooms and hallways and on the playing fields and courts. But how exactly does your child interpret and respond to the casual cruelties that kids can inflict on each other? How does he or she balance individuality and belonging? What are the compromises involved? Last week I was watching a sophomore advisee group do a presentation for freshmen, advising them to plan ahead rather than procrastinate. The scenario being enacted was that of a 9th grader who had gone to the lake with a friend rather than staying home to study
for a test, and who then did poorly on the test. One of my thoughts was, “Where was this kid’s mom or dad? Why did they let her go to the lake in the first place?” It was the right question and it was the wrong one: though early in the year adults might need to monitor kids pretty closely, as the weeks go by we gradually cede responsibility to them. At some point the student has to become
farsighted enough to plan her own time wisely. Has your child reached the point at which he or she can and will use readily available information about due dates and schedules to be able to manage both work and play?
What social and academic patterns and habits do you see your child following? How can you--and we at school--help to ensure that those habits become guiding paths rather than confining ruts?
The habit of self-awareness is established bit by bit, adventure in the world after adventure, crisis by crisis and triumph by triumph.
Cheryl McKiearnan Upper School Director
MA Students and Teachers Form Tornado Relief Effort We all remember when the tornadoes ripped through Alabama and the Southeast in April, leaving a trail of destruction behind it. There were dozens of communities that were severely affected. One of those communities is the town of Hackleburg–a small town of just 1400 in Marion County that was ravaged by the powerful storm, where they suffered from a large amount of loss of life with 18 deaths. On May 2, the Red Cross declared the city 75% destroyed. Hackleburg Elementary and High School sustained large amounts of damage and had to move their classrooms to portable structures. While there was initially lots of attention and assistance for Hackleburg, after a few weeks, people seemed to forget what had happened, or turn their focus to other areas, forgetting the smaller towns affected. The Montgomery Academy has not forgotten. After the horrific storm that affected so many, the Academy formed a Tornado Relief Effort team made up of teachers and students to partner with a school in an area that was damaged by the tornados. After researching different possibilities this summer, Hackleburg Elementary and High School were selected. Led by Upper and Middle School Latin teacher, Teresa Pittman, and Upper School History teacher, Denise Wentworth, this group has solidified a partnership between the Academy and Hackleburg Elementary and High School. A group of students and Mrs. Pittman made their first
trip to Hackleburg on Wednesday, August 24 to deliver school supplies that had been collected from teachers at the Academy. The group included SGA President Carter Goodwyn, HEART President Cassie Price, Interpersonal Representative Amanda Thompson, Student Council Vice President Bo Starke, Junior Class President Laura Katherine Crum, and Junior Class Vice President Parker Turner. The students were blown away by the remains of the nearly leveled town. “The amount of damage done to the town was unbelievable,” said Laura Katherine Crum. “I hadn’t really seen much of the destruction and seeing it firsthand was incredibly impacting. They still haven’t been able to clean up the school, it just stands there in its damaged state.” And stand there it will, until the insurance claim is finalized - an unpleasant reminder for all the students, teachers, and families of that horrible day. The students and teachers of Hackleburg Elementary and High School are incredibly grateful to the Academy for their willingness to reach out to them. The first step was the initial visit bringing the school supplies and showing their support. Mrs. Pittman says there will be another visit in the near future to bring even more supplies. The plan is to partner with the school for the 2011-2012 school year, and then to reevaluate. Our students will be as involved as possible. There will be
three projects: one for the Upper, Middle, and Lower School.
If this had happened to us, we would need their help and these people need our help now.”
The Upper School project will be sponsoring Hackleburg’s prom in the spring. Students will be in charge of finding and renting a location, providing music, and paying for a photographer. They are also going to help make sure all the girls have a prom dress to wear by having students and their friends donate formal dresses from the past and then distribute them to the girls in Hackleburg.
The biggest obstacle in this partnership is the distance. A three and a half hour drive to Hackleburg from Montgomery makes it quite a little voyage to get there and back. But the students and faculty involved with the relief team are determined to make it work, and know that they are making a difference in the lives of these students and teachers.
The Middle School is planning to help Hackleburg High School rebuild its library collection. At the Middle School dance on September 10, every student will bring up to two books for their library. The Lower School’s Fall Sharing Project will be focused on relief efforts for Hackleburg Elementary.
Upon returning from the trip Mrs. Pittman said, “I left with the feeling that they need to be remembered, that they don’t want to be forgotten, that they need to know someone cares about them.” The Montgomery Academy family is going to make sure that the students and teachers in Hackleburg know that someone does indeed care.
The students are eager to get involved, and the ones that witnessed all the destruction on the trip to Hackleburg are encouraging fellow students to help out as much as possible with relief efforts. “What affected me so much was the idea that this could have just as easily been our school, our home,” said SGA President Carter Goodwyn. “It’s a small school and reminded me of the Academy. MA Students load up the bus with supplies for Hackleburg Elementary and High School. Click for more photos from their trip.
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Welcome Back From the Board Different people in different circumstances measure differently the same thing. For example, at The Montgomery Academy, the 2011-12 school year is the 52nd for the school as a whole, the first for 114 new MA students, and the last for the school's 57 seniors, who even now are looking beyond the next nine months to their departure to colleges and universities across the nation. The Board also begins this new school year looking forward. In the Board's case, we are looking forward to formal adoption of the Board's new five-year strategic plan, which will be on the agenda at the Board's September meeting. If the plan is adopted, it will be handed over to Head of School Dave Farace for implementation by his administrative and academic team, working closely with the Board. Look for more information on the new strategic plan next month. The Board also is looking forward in 2011-12 to implementation of the new Parent Ambassador program. Next month, consultant John Littleford will be at the school to assist with the program's launch. The Parent
Ambassadors program will enhance opportunities for parents of MA students to become spokespersons for the school, particularly in the area of recruiting new families to the MA community. In addition, this school year the Board is looking forward to working with three new Board members: Owen Aronov, Mike Jenkins IV, and Tonya Lee, who have replaced as board members Charlie Harris, Michelle Anthony and Myron Thompson. Many thanks to Charlie, Michelle, and Myron for their service on the Board, and welcome to Owen, Mike, and Tonya! For the 201-12 school year, board members and officers are Clark Sahlie, president, Dorman Walker, Vice-president, Ronnie Brown, Secretary-Treasurer, Samuel Adams, Carol L. Brewbaker, Prudence Brown, Lee Copeland ‘75, Lewis Gayden ‘87, Daniel Hughes Jr. ‘82, Mike Jenkins IV, Bradley Katz, Jim Leonard, Rick McBride ‘89, Gil McKenzie, Sarah Moore, Quentin Riggins, Lee Sellers ‘84, Ann Sikes, Stacey Stakely, George Taylor Sr. ‘80 and William Wilson.
Ninth Graders Start the Year with Team Building The Montgomery Academy ninth grade class started off the school year with something new and different: the Marshall Anderson Challenge Course in Wetumpka. This is a ropes course designed to be a team building experience and foster group bonding. The ninth graders, their advisors and Head of School Dave Farace all participated. Everyone had a great time despite the heat! Ninth grade students enjoy the ropes course before the first day of school. Click for more photos from their trip.
MA Teachers Enjoy Professional Development Programs Over the Summer This summer, several members of our faculty had the opportunity to participate in different enriching summer study programs supported with funds from Parents of the Academy. Becky Brooms, Upper School Spanish teacher, got to partake in such a program in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the Academics Buenos Aires. The two week course, specifically for teachers of Spanish as a foreign language, focused on the Spanish language itself and strategies used for teaching Spanish as a foreign language. When she wasn’t in class, Mrs. Brooms tried to visit two different sites each day, including museums, government and religious buildings, markets, tango shows and cafes. She completely immersed herself in both the language and culture of Argentina. In fact, she didn’t meet or speak to another American the entire time she was there. Mrs. Brooms looks forward to sharing her experiences in Argentina with her students and incorporating what she learned both inside and outside the classroom with them. Jay Rye, Upper School History teacher, had the opportunity to attend a summer study program at the University of Georgia. The week-long conference focused on AP Comparative Government, a class that he has taught since 1996. This was Mr. Rye’s first chance to experience such a program on this course and it was greatly beneficial. Not only had the College Board changed some of the countries that are studied for the course, there were also updates on what needed to be covered on both Iran and Nigeria. Through hands-on learning and presentations, Mr. Rye was able to develop a new syllabus for his spring AP Comparative Government class that was approved by the AP Course Audit Review Board. He is excited to bring his new knowledge and syllabus to his students in the spring. Upper School Science teacher Ashley Belcher attended a four day summer study program on forensics science this summer in Scotia, New York. The course emphasized lab set-ups and organization, as well as cost reduction options. It also offered fascinating lectures and hands on experiences designed to inspire and educate students in the principles of scientific inquiry, analysis and critical thinking. The workshop addressed different forensics science topics such as evidence collection, DNA fingerprinting, ballistics, hand writing analysis, bone analysis, and drug analysis. Mrs. Belcher is eager to bring what she learned in the program into the classroom this year.
Photos from some of the teachers professional development programs. Click to see more photos.