Tuesday News - February 7, 2012

Click here for Tuesday News Archives

Click here to view our Google Calendar of Events.   

All submissions for the Tuesday News should be sent by Friday, 3:00 pm. to publicrelations@merriconeag.org

Please note: School is closed this Friday, February 10 for a Faculty Professional Development Day.

Upcoming Events

The Prep School Negro

Thursday, March 1, 6:00 p.m.

UNE's Ludcke Auditorium

719 Stevens Avenue, Portland

Free and Open to the public

The film is followed by an

outreach workshop

with Director Andre Robert Lee.

     Andre Robert Lee and his sister grew up in the ghettos of Philadelphia. Their mother struggled to support them by putting strings in the waistbands of track pants and swimsuits in a local factory. When Andre was 14 years old, he received what his family believed to be a golden ticket - a full scholarship to attend one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country. Elite education was Andre's way up and out, but at what price? Yes, the exorbitant tuition was covered, but this new world cost him and his family much more than anyone could have anticipated.

     In The Prep School Negro, Andre takes a journey back in time to revisit the events of his adolescence while also spending time with current day prep school students of color and their classmates to see how much as really changed inside the ivory tower. What he discovers along the way is the poignant and unapologetic truth about who really pays the consequences for yesterday's accelerated desegregation and today's racial naivete.

     This film is sponsored by the Friends School of Portland with the following co-sponsors: Merriconeag Waldorf High School, Cheverus High School, City of Portland, McAuley High School, NAACP Portland Branch, North Yarmouth Academy, UNE Multicultural Affairs, and Waynflete School.

Simplicity Parenting

Using the Extraordinary

Power of Less

to Raise Calmer, Happier

and More Secure Kids

A Public Talk by

Kim John Payne

Tuesday, March 6

7:00 p.m.

$10 at the door

     We are pleased to welcome back Kim John Payne. He is a wonderfully warm and engaging speaker and you definitely don't want to miss what he has to say about this important topic.

     Because this talk is in lieu of a previously scheduled Early Childhood Parent Evening, we will waive the $10 fee for EC parents but they should feel free to make a donation at the door.

     Since Kim Payne's last visit to Merriconeag, he has published the book, Simplicity Parenting, which has been featured in Time and Parenting magazines and on NPR and BBC, as well as ABC, NBC, and CBS television.

To learn more about Kim and his work, click here

or visit simplicityparenting.com

From the Finance Office

Reminders: 

• Signed re-enrollment contracts (along with checks) are due by this Friday, February 10th.
  

• Financial Aid (Tiered Tuition):  Please submit all requested documentation directly to TADS by February 17th. Those who are able to submit data sooner, please do so as it takes TADS twelve business days to process an application.
• Aftercare Forms: The forms are now available to download from the website or you may pick up hard copies in the offices. These are also due by February 10.

If you have questions, please contact Shannon Combar, (businessmanager@merriconeag.org, 865-3900 ext. 101)

From the Development Office

2011-12 Annual Appeal Update:

      Did you see the spellbinding game last weekend? (I’m referring to the faculty/student basketball game). Did you see the amazing production of Metamorphoses by the 9th and 10th grade? Cheer on our talented middle and high school skiers in a Nordic race? Listen, transfixed, as your child recited a verse or poem they learned at school that day? Watch them draw their letters, or manipulate modeling wax, with such simple grace and joy? Is your child’s beautiful artwork displayed in your house? Do you use the wooden spoons, potholders or other handmade items they learned to make in handwork or woodworking class? Are you happy that singing and musical instruction are part of their daily schedule, and that they’re learning foreign languages from a very early age? If you answered yes to any of these, you should know that the Annual Appeal helps cover all of these operating costs. Please help us get to 100% participation by making a gift today! Remember, gifts of ANY size count!

     If a high quality education isn’t incentive enough, the first class to reach 100% participation will get to enjoy a decadent chocolate dessert by Lynne Espy.

     Class participation rates (as of today) : nearly every classes’ participation rate increased from last week!
ECC Classes – still below 40% participation. Remember, gifts of any size count!
Grade 1 – 62%
Grade 2 – 57%
Grade 3 – 50%
Grade 4 – 45%
Grade 5 – 35%
Grade 6 – 53%
Grade 7 – 41%
Grade 8 – 35%
Grade 9 – 62%
Grade 10 – 80%
Grade 11 – 54%
Grade 12 – 36 %

     PLEASE help us get the participation rates up by making a gift today using PayPal (see button above), check, credit card, or cash. Not sure if you’ve made a gift yet? Contact me.

In gratitude, Lynne Espy 865-3900 Ext. 116, developmentcoordinator@merriconeag.org

School Community Updates

Books, Books, and More Books: Merriconeag Waldorf High School proudly announces that their first-ever library is accepting books to fill it’s soon to be installed shelves!! To that end, we are asking all families and friends to search their homes for any and all types of books that could stimulate and/or entertain a teen-age mind. We are hoping for a wide variety of fiction, non-fiction, and resource with perhaps an encyclopedia set or two to grace our shelves.

    Please leave your bagged or boxed donations with either Susan at the high school office or with Lisa at the main campus. If you leave your name with the books, we would love to acknowledge your gift with a sticker that says “Lovingly donated by the _____ Family.”  Karen Hastings

Accreditation Team to visit Merriconeag: There will be some unfamiliar people on our campus on Monday, March 12 and Tuesday, March 13. An eight member accreditation team will be here to assess the school’s programs from early childhood up to twelfth grade and determine whether we are in fact meeting their 15 very specific standards. The team will consist of four Waldorf teachers as follows:
Mara White (team chair), administrator from Waldorf High School of Massachusetts Bay;
Sarah Walsh (assistant chair), administrator from Waldorf School of Atlanta, GA;
Marleen De Grande, grade 6 & 7 teacher from Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, Newton, CT; and
Charlotte Landgraf, early childhood teacher from Waldorf School of Baltimore, MD.

    In addition, there will be four team members from non-waldorf schools:
Scott Burgess, science department chair from John Bapst High School, Bangor, ME;
Dan Garvey, math teacher and dorm head from Tilton School, NH;
Timothy Harrington, English department chair from Wilbraham & Monson Academy, MA; and
Edward Kloman, English department chair from Pingree School, South Hamilton, MA.

    Please introduce yourselves to them if you see them on the path or join us on Tuesday morning for an informal reception to discuss the school and its accreditation process. Barbara Guffin, Accreditation Coordinator

Our 7th Graders were treated to a Portland Ovations workshop with three performers from the Australian contemporary circus troup C!RCA last week. Darcy, Louie and Valerie were talented and friendly teachers, sharing their expertise in acrobatics, juggling, partner work and tips on how to imitate an Australian accent! C!RCA will return to New England with shows in Boston at the end of the month. FMI: C!RCA tickets in Boston.

Miss Representation: On Monday, January 30, Merriconeag's High School, in collaboration with the Tolerance And Respect Project (TARP) of Freeport Community Services, participated in a screening and discussion of Miss Representation. Over 400 people came to the Freeport Performing Arts Center to see this award-winning documentary about the media's objectification of girls and women. MWHS students, Skyler Samuelson and Cyrus Fenderson, sat on the panel with two students from Freeport High School as well as representatives of Hardy Girls, Healthy Women and Boys to Men. Many thanks to Skyler and Cyrus for the excellent job they did representing Merriconeag.
      TARP's mission is to create a healthy, safe and respectful culture for all students, families and other citizens in Durham, Freeport and Pownal. The next TARP meeting will take place at the Freeport Community Library on Thursday, February 16th at 4:00 pm. All are welcome. FMI: Trace Salter, tel 207/756.9212.

Craft Afternoons with Sandy Pearson: Wednesdays 3:30- 5:00 p.m. in the new Handcraft Building.
These afternoons are for parents, friends of the school, and 4th graders and up. Please sign up with Lisa in the Grade School office. Watch for more classes after February Break. Please note: If childcare is an obstacle, please contact Lisa in the grades school office (officemanager@merriconeag.org). There are plenty of sitters available!

Wednesday, Feb 8 - Knitted Rugs (final class)

Wednesday, Feb 15 – Open Craft Afternoon
Anyone welcome! Bring a project and enjoy working in the Handwork Room. Free.

New: Wednesday, Feb 28 & Mar 7, 14, 21

Crochet Hats

Enjoy chocheting a hat in new spring colors. Beginners welcome. Yarn and pattern supplied. Bring a size "J" crochet hook. Limit: 12 participants. $25.

Athletic News - Sports Updates

Giants Win Super Bowl! Merriconeag Students Win Super Ball!

     In a fitting culmination to a season of improvement, Merriconeag’s

basketball team soundly defeated a valiant but overmatched faculty/staff squad last Friday night at the Pineland YMCA. The final score—34-15—was due in large part to a stifling student defensive effort. Fittingly, seniors Cyrus Fenderson and Tyler O’Brien led a balanced scoring attack, with ten and eight points respectively, supported by seniors Connor Beckett and Wyatt McCurdy, who each added four points. Sophomore Liam Little scored six points, all in the final quarter.
      Every member of the student team contributed to the victory: Joe Newlin directed the offense; Sophie Simmons scrapped for every loose ball; Sam Leavitt, Emma Dolan, Lincoln Samuelson, Tim Morse and Avery Murphy-Anderson all added to the students’ defensive intensity.
      The faculty, who couldn’t buy a basket in the first half, parlayed some much needed halftime eurythmy into a slightly-more-than-moribund-but-slightly-less-than-explosive offense in the second half. Led by intern Lucie “The French Firecracker” James’ seven points, baskets by “Jumpin’” John Saccone, Henry “Hey—Who Moved the Hoop” Heyburn, Oliver “Kangaroo” Kinzer, and a Nancy “Hot Rod” Roderick free throw, the faculty kept the game interesting.
      Many thanks to the faculty/staff players who contributed to the game’s high entertainment value—either through dazzling displays of dribbling, stalwart rebounding, or their general (lack of) fitness—Will Hight, Rose Mary Burwell, Lisa Mainella, Jeff O’Brien, Ingrid Merrill, David Whittlesey, David Barham and Shannon Combar.
      Thanks also to Coach Fenderson, who rallied his squad from a 12-0 halftime deficit, to John Newlin, Bob Thurrell and Steve Musica, for refereeing (and refusing several blatant attempts from both sides to “influence” the outcome with offers of free baked goods), and to Devon Murphy-Anderson, who organized the baked sale. The high school raised nearly $500, which will go toward supporting the Model UN trip this spring, the Siddhartha School in India, and the general athletic program. Coach Sloan

High School Nordic Skiing:

Come on out to Pineland for the Western Maine Conference Championship Skate Race tomorrow, February 8!

The girls start at 2:00 p.m. Due to conditions, this week's big race which was scheduled to be held at Libby Hill in Gray/New Gloucester has been moved to Oak Hill at Pineland. We hope to see you there!

Starks Hill Race Recap: Last Thursday's race at Stark's Hill in Fryeburg was a good one for the MWHS Team. The start format was a change of pace, FOUR per wave, making for fun racing and lots of good competition. On the boys side they continue to get stronger and finished THIRD, despite Jack missing his start (coach cheering in girls and did not get back to the start to help - Sorry Jack - LESSON...stay near start area). Graham led the boys with a strong 7th place finish - great job boys!  The girls continue to be among the state's strongest teams regardless of class. Samantha had a breakout race finishing 3rd and leading the girls to SECOND place.

     Next up are the WMC Championships this Wednesday and Saturday. I encourage all family and friends to try to see at least one of the races. Coach John Tarling

Remaining races are:
Western Maine Conference Championships
Wednesday, February 8 Pineland-Oak Hill Skate 2 PM
Saturday, February 11 Fryeburg Classic 10 AM

State Championships
Monday, February 20 Black Mountain Classic 1:30 PM Girls-3:00 PM Boys
Tuesday, February 21 Black Mountain Skate 3:00 PM Girls-4:00 PM Boys

Middle School Nordic Skiing:

      Between unpredictable weather conditions and cancelled meets, it has been a challenging season for Merriconeag’s Middle School Nordic racers. The team and their coaches, however, have persevered, and the skiers made excellent showings at the two races held to date at Pineland. In both meets, the boy and girls finished second to a very strong Yarmouth team. Scorers for the boys included Elias Henze (2nd and 3rd), Tucker Pierce (4th and 5th), Even Laukli (6th), Bennett Hight (8th), Ethan Humphries (11th), and Dylan Wu (17th). Scorers for girls were Lily Johnston (two 2nd places), Fiona Ahearn (4th and 7th), Sophia Laukli (9th and 17th), Sarah Norden (10th) and Eva Haag (23th). The remaining team members skied beautifully, with excellent placements and times. Most important, the team showed its usual enthusiasm and good sportsmanship. Thanks go to coaches Bjorn Laukli and Amy Ireland, and to their assistant coaches.

     The season concludes with a meet this Thursday at Pineland and the State Meet in Fryeburg on Saturday, February 18th. Merriconeag will be hosting this Thursday’ race, and parent volunteers are needed. Please contact Greta Parsons asap, if you can help out.

Read (Listen to or Watch) This

Electric Youth
Kids today are subjected to an avalanche of digital media — TVs, computers, tablets, smartphones — and the advertising that comes with it. As researchers try to figure out what that's doing to our children, Susan Linn and her tiny Boston nonprofit have become a child marketer's worst nightmare. Just ask Disney, Hasbro, Scholastic, and Kellogg.
By Catherine Elton, Boston Magazine, February 2012

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