This Wednesday, all upper school students had the chance to participate in the college fair.  The event, which we hosted in the MPR and the library, also included students from other schools.  More than 50 different colleges attended, including NYU, The University of Chicago, Denison, Earlham, Bates, Middlebury, and many others. Students used this amazing opportunity to develop interviewing skills to prepare for college applications. They also had the chance to hone their knowledge of various programs that colleges offer. The event was coordinated by college counselors Ms. Richardson and Ms. Latham, who also encouraged teachers to wear their college t-shirts to show their college pride! Throughout the school year, upper school students visit several college fairs, take college tours, and speak with representatives from admissions offices who visit our college counseling office each week. This helps our students make informed choices in planning for the future.

At the Fall Festival on Saturday, students, teachers, parents and administrators exulted in the warm weather to play sports, eat, and socialize. The event, planned and funded by the Parent Association, featured a heated parent-student kickball game, full of pop-fly balls and home runs. Students and their siblings also used the sports field to joust in a giant bounce house, complete obstacle courses, and play with supersized Jenga blocks and inflatable bowling pins. Parents worked hard to fill the concessions stands with tasty hot dogs, hamburgers, fruits and vegetables and homemade pies! A special thanks to all who volunteered to make Saturday a special day for our community full of playful memories.

Students in eighth grade history completed a voice thread research project on Colonial America this week. The projects are digital presentations, and for homework students will watch each other’s work and complete a scavenger hunt, so they will be collaborating to help each other learn the content. Also, this assignment allowed students who are still uncomfortable with public speaking to practice their speaking skills through the voice recordings. Students also used concept webs to prepare for their tests. These webs help students process information in multiple ways by linking language with pictures to clarify relationships. By working collaboratively, students in eighth grade history can both build on their individual knowledge and research skills, but also learn to present newly acquired information in an authentic way to help their peers learn.

Juniors Sean Lovett and Lucie Warga are taking a semester to study at the Conserve School in Wisconsin, following in the footsteps of seniors Theo Shoag, ZhenHua Pavetti, Sam Mader, and Alex Crute, who attended the Conserve program last semester. The school, in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin, includes environmental studies and outdoor activities mixed with college-preparatory academics.  Lovett and Warga were visited by their seventh grade science teacher Mr. Wells, and took him on a mountain bike tour of the campus. Mr. Wells is spending this year traveling, and was excited to touch base with his former students and learn about their new academic discoveries and hear about their preparation for 3 day solo journeys in the outdoors.

On Wednesday, October 12, several upper school students participated in an all-day offsite symposium with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies focused on building relationships between the community and law enforcement. The event was titled, “Building a Bridge of Trust” and was part of our school’s thematic focus on justice and law. Speakers included lawyers, civil rights leaders, police officers, community leaders, and FBI agents. Students also engaged in problem solving activities related to building connections between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Student participants included Ryann Mellion, Aliyah Lee, Emanuel Smith, Jacob Stocker, Madison Nowland, Lindsey Johnson, Antoine Wallace, Maya Woods-Arthur, Kellin Jeffries, Addison Johnson. Throughout the school year, students in various grades also take part in other justice-themed events including movies, marches, visits to the city council, interviews with veterans, and trips to the Superior Court.