The O’Neal Quarterly •
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Major David Curlin speaks to the Upper School students and Major John Samples speaks to the Middle School students at their respective morning meetings abou the history and significance of Veteran’s Day.
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The Parents’ Association and Booster Club host Boosterthon Fun Runs and a Color Run to raise funds for the pool renovation project.
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Sixth grade students have become a part of a worldwide network of student scientists who will help other scientists from around the world learn more about the weather and environment and collect REAL data by participating in the Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment program, better known as The GLOBE Program (www. GLOBE.gov).
The Booster Club hosts the JV/Varsity Fall Sports Recognition Ceremony celebrating 93 student-athletes for the fall season. Physics students, Tucker Fessenden, Chris Dymond and Robert Kroeger, break the record of 310 ft with a new 484 ft toss at the School’s annual Pumpkin Chunkin on Halloween.
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Middle and Upper School students enjoy getting to know one another within their grade during their class trips to a variety of locations ranging from Charleston, SC to Washington, D.C.
O’Neal junior Riley Meese gives a presentation on her trip to Columbia as a study abroad opportunity over the summer.
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Illustrator Leah Tinari visits O’Neal Lower School students to talk about her latest project, The Magical Fantastical Fridge.
Lower School students watch the stages of a butterfly in a tent pavilion in Miles Atrium and eventually participate in releasing them.
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O’Neal families welcome eight Spanish students in their homes for a 10-day homestay/study abroad.
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Freshmen and seniors contribute a morning of community service projects at the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills and the Sandhills Children’s Center.
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FALL 2016 •
The Parents’ Association hosts another wonderful picnic with some alumni and former staff returning.
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O’Neal celebrates Founders Day and 45 years.
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O’Neal becomes a CrossFit Kids affiliate and offers “FalconFit” for some PE classes.
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Middle and Upper School students held Honor Code Assemblies. They recited the Honor Code Pledge and gave their signatures.
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Head of School Achievement Awards were given to Upper School students with the highest GPA entering the 2016-2017 school year. They were: Maia Kantorowski, Augusta Smith, and Blair Spencer (3-way tie for 9th grade), Sophia Renner for 10th grade and Jack Hendricks for 11th grade.
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O’Neal Art Teachers contribute hand-painted rocking chairs to “Reading Rocks” event for the Moore County Literacy Council.
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O’Neal opened its doors to 430 students on August 16th.
My Governor’s School Experience by Mackenzie Melton ‘17
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learned about North Carolina Governor’s School through a few different friends and it peaked my interest. O’Neal, however, has only one nomination for the core subjects since the number of nominees is based on the size of the student body. I approached Mrs. Hancock about my interest at the start of my junior year, and she informed me later that fall that I had been selected by the faculty to be the School’s nominee. I was able to choose what program I wanted to apply for and I selected Social Science. I applied in November and waited until the Friday before spring break to learn that I had been accepted to Governor’s School East at Meredith College in Raleigh. There are two campuses, East and West, that occur over the same five and a half week time period at different colleges (Meredith and Salem College). Each campus has up to 325 students of rising high school seniors, with some exceptions for juniors: the arts programs. While both campuses are a part of Governor’s School, with the same goals and ideals, they are separate and run independently. The disciplines on each campus have different curriculums and focuses, and the students have incredibly different experiences. North Carolina’s Governor’s School is the oldest statewide summer residential program for high schoolers in the country and focuses on exploring the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, or “Area I”. There are a total of 11 different Area I’s, including English, Math, French, Spanish, Natural and Social Science, Art, Choral and Instrumental Music, Theater, and Dance.
Within my Area I of Social Science, we examined a variety of contemporary concepts from both a domestic and international view point. We researched topics that we found interesting and meaningful, and my partner and I studied the modern validity of the My friends and I on the last day of the session, Electoral College process versus saying a lot of tearful goodbyes. the popular vote. the relationships and experiences I had While Area I is what you were nominated outside the classroom taught me just as for, every student also attends Area II and much. Not only was everyone at GoverIII classes. Area II explores contemporary nor’s School engaged in the world around ways of thinking and culture and has the them, they were also incredibly talented appearance of a philosophy class. Area III and I was able to witness that firsthand. examines students’ personal beliefs and There were weekly poetry readings where forces you to analyze what you believe is I heard wonderful and thoughtful poetry what you do. from my peers. Listening to emotionally raw and socially aware poetry was someThe faculty of Governor’s School is made thing I had never witnessed before. There up of teachers from across the country, were also weekly open mic nights, where most of whom live on campus, along I heard renditions of “Hallelujah”, spoken with the teaching assistants/counselors, or word poetry, and original raps that moved TACs. The teachers and TACs truly work me to tears. Governor’s School provided to push us students to engage with the me with so many “firsts” that made me world around us, to analyze our own be- want to experience them over and over liefs, and to leave a positive impact. again. These firsts also showed me that there is so much more out there that I have Governor’s School was an incredible ex- yet to encounter. It was truly the most perience. It brings together people who meaningful and enriching time of my life, truly want to spend their summer learning even though it only lasted for such a short and fosters an environment where you’re period of time. The fact that I learned so not learning to pass a test, but for the much and developed such strong relationpure enjoyment of expanding your mind ships in that amount of time amazes me and knowledge. While my time spent in and highlights how intimate a connection the classroom was incredibly enriching, everyone forms.
My dorm hall, String 4, competing at the Hall Olympics.
Ladies Golf Debuts / Soccer Makes NCISAA 2nd Round
The Falcons showed marked improvements in Fall Sports. Girls varsity volleyball improved by six wins this season and were competitive in every game. Senior Kate Liner, earned All EPIC Conference honors. Girls tennis competed with passion throughout an injury-plagued season to represent the School with immense pride and demonstrated a culture of resilience, narrowly missing out on a state championship bid. Girls tennis’ successful season saw the team earn two all conference recipients, Sophia Renner and Sarah McInnis. O’Neal varsity boys soccer enjoyed a remarkable season. The Falcons earned 13 wins and just three losses, only losing to St. David’s School all year. The boys reached the second round of the NCISAA State Championships, losing a heartbreaking game, to St. David’s, in double overtime. The boys received four nominations to the EPIC All Conference team, Nolan Meese, Andy Jenkins, Spencer Sullivan and Manny Banigo.
The Arts
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’Neal’s One-Act Players have much to celebrate, as they bring home honors from the 2016 NCTC High School Play Festival, held at Pinecrest High School on October 28th and 29th. Directed by Upper School English instructor Henry Hamilton, the group’s presentation of Moliere’s The Imaginary Cuckold, or Sganarelle at the Festival, made the School and community proud as the students are thrilled to bring home the following awards: an overall rating of Excellent, Excellence in Adaptation of a Script, and a Festival Spirit Award. Cast members are: Sydney Maynor, Ceci Bockoven, Maddie Gutschmit, Grace Stroud, Isabel Huesa, Grayson Rogers, Andrew Shoecraft-Martin, Jenna Burns, and Natalie Placa.
O’Neal’s cross country team also enjoyed strong success this fall, enjoying EPIC All Conference recognition in both boys and girls events. Senior Jack Casey came 7th in the boys Epic Championships and 8th grader Molly Kuzma won her second straight EPIC All Conference title. Kuzma followed up her All Conference success with a remarkable run at the State Championships to win All State recognition and set a new school record with a time of 20:21. And finally, O’Neal was represented by girls golf as a single gender sport for the first time in school history. O’Neal’s lady falcon golfers competed mainly up a division against some of the largest schools in the NCISAA and recorded a four and six record, beating all the teams in our own division, 2A. Freshman Nicole Adam recorded eight out of ten medalist victories during her season and capped off a very strong season by earning All-State recognition and 5th overall at the State Championships.
Upcoming Events
11/14 Military Appreciation Day 11/16-22 PA Scholastic Book Fair 11/22 Special Persons Day 1/6
Homecoming
The PlayMobile
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he Lower School had a guest vehicle parked by the playground recently, called The PlayMobile. It is home to many tools and objects that help facilitate creative and imaginative play and problem solving. Lower School students spent their time wisely with the PlayMobile and from it, used pool noodles, tubes, string, tape, slides, wood, paint, and much more in order to turn their creative ideas into reality! How do these activities benefit students in the classroom? Head of Lower School Angie Manning references one of her favorite educational books, The Global Achievement Gap, where Tony Wagner states that the following 21st century survival skills (as defined by business leaders) are: • Critical thinking and problem-solving • Collaboration and leadership • Agility and adaptability • Initiative and entrepreneuralism • Effective oral and written communication • Accessing and analyzing information • Curiosity and imagination Open-ended opportunities like those presented before Lower School students in using the PlayMobile contribute to learning such skills. The PlayMobile project is funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation and started in 2011 as part of the Active Play Alliance which has been active in 10 counties of central North Carolina (Moore, Richmond, Chatham, Lee, Hoke, Montgomery, Randolph, Harnett, Cumberland, and Scotland). To learn more about the PlayMobile go to www.beactive.org.
The O’Neal Quarterly P.O. Box 290 Southern Pines, NC 28388