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Bulletin
January 13, 2017 
Volume 36, #18
Photo by Lilah Feitner ’18

Artspace Teen Exhibit

Opening January 27th, 5 – 7 pm

Several Academy students will have artwork featured in the upcoming Annual Franklin County Teen Show at Artspace Community Arts Center (15 Mill Street in Greenfield, MA). The Academy will be represented by the work of Izzy Brenizer, Emily Comeaux, Lilah Feitner, Lila Goleman, Yilin Luo, and Connor O'Brien.  The media include photography, drawing and painting. Art will be on display January 23 - February 17. We hope community members can join us at the opening on January 27, 5-7 PM. The gallery is also open Monday-Friday, 12-2:30 PM and 4-6 PM.  

Transportation Reminders

We ask that vehicles dropping students off in the morning do so in front of Grinnell Hall, entering via the easternmost side of the drive and exiting to the west. This helps ensure safety for those who are parking in and walking through the faculty and student lots.
We also ask that parents wishing to grant permission for students to leave campus via the FRTA bus or with a student driver with whom they do not typically ride during the 3:15-5:15 afterschool activity period do so directly to the Main Office, either by calling the school or emailing Jen Rizzi. Students must also sign out during this winter activity time if leaving before 5:15, Monday-Thursday.
Midyear Exam Bus Schedule - buses will run on an early (3:15) schedule for all of next week, and there will be no afterschool activities, so that students may put their full focus and energy into midyear exams.

Directory Update

We will be producing an updated school directory later this month. Please make sure that you have communicated any new contact information (addresses, phone numbers, emails) to Ms. Rizzi by January 20th. The new directory will be available by January 30th.

Academy Close-Ups

Mr. Gay's 9th grade humanities class (nicknamed the Hu-Manatees) read Plato's Symposium, a 4th century BCE dialogue in praise of love. Next, the students generated their question for a 9th grade symposium of their own. Their question they came up with? Is the study of the humanities necessary in the 21st century? 

Students wrote their responses to this question considering the following questions: 

  1. What is the origin or genealogy of the humanities? 
  2. What good qualities, other than virtues, can you ascribe to the humanities?   
  3. What practices contribute to the reputation of the humanities?
  4. What habits and ways of life are developed because of the humanities? 
  5. What achievements can be credited to the humanities?
Next, students held a symposium of their very own! Mr. Gay provided the wine (sparkling cider), and students provided the entertainment, by way of sharing their responses to the over-arching question. 

Sports Recap, Week of January 9

Tough conditions and strong competition made for a tough week for the Aardvark skiers and basketball team. Kyle Nitzsche and Reilly Osborne kicked off their racing season at Berkshire East on Wednesday, while the girls' basketball team fought with great spirit and determination in losses to Putney and PVCICS.

Alum Fun!

On Friday, January 6, 2017 about 20 alums were welcomed back to campus to visit with each other, current students, and faculty/staff. Lots of hugs and smiles were shared as friends connected in the Common Room. Classes represented were 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Also in attendance were former faculty members Ellen Zale and board chair Cornelia Reid.
Stories and good cheer were shared over plenty of snacks, including special holiday-themed Spanish and French treats hosted by Señora Valdez and Madame Mauri. Even a little basketball was thrown in!
We've been inspired to plan this again for next year!

COUNCIL UPDATES

With regular time to meet and plan their work, The Academy's six leadership councils have taken on a number of substantive tasks this year. 
The Honor Council is leading school wide conversations about the Honor Code in an effort to determine if and how it might be revised. The Social Justice Council held their highly successful drive for children's socks and underwear to send to Standing Rock last fall, and has been facilitating conversations about the various effects and manifestations of racism in contemporary American society. These conversations are meant as a precursor to a larger event being planned for the spring, in which the council hopes to have guest speakers, workshops, and invite participants from other schools and the general community. The Arts and Cultural Exchange Council has been encouraging weekly art submissions, offering lunchtime listening sessions when popular music from around the world is played, and the group is planning a Chinese New Year celebration. The Health and Wellness Council has dedicated itself to making our community healthier, and is encouraging healthy eating and exercise and offering stress management tips throughout the month of January. The Sustainability Council has created new light switch plates, installing them around campus to remind community members of the importance of minimizing electricity use, and recently screened the documentary film Before the Flood, drawing attention to the effects of climate change around the globe. The Community Service Council has held several successful community wide drives: the group collected change to support the relief efforts of Partners In Health in Haiti, after Hurricane Matthew. They also collected coats and other warm outerwear which were delivered to the Survival Center in Turners Falls, as well as several boxes of donated hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves for The Recorder's annual Warm the Children effort. Next semester the group will lead a backpack supplies drive (see below) and organize a full-school day of community service. Ask your children about all of these projects which provide opportunities for them to connect with one another and with our broader community.

ALL SCHOOL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT for SEMESTER TWO

In the coming months, the Community Service Council will be promoting and organizing a drive for school supplies to fill 20 backpacks for students in need.  These will be assembled and donated prior to the 2017-2018 school year. Half of the backpacks will be donated to the United Way of Franklin County's Women's Way "Blooming Backpacks" project, and the other half to students from newly-arrived refugee families from all over the world that are supported by Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts.
The Community Service Council will be collecting specific supplies during 7 two-week periods. Students are encouraged to talk among themselves and watch the tallies for each period so we can be sure to have the requested amount of each item. In order for families to plan and shop for items that may be on sale during the course of the semester, please consult this list.

Save the Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2017

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

AT THE ACADEMY

Chinese New Year, known as Spring Festival in China, is China's most important traditional festival. It is the most important celebration for families, and a weeklong official public holiday. It starts on January 28, 2017. The coming year will be the year of the rooster!
On Wednesday, February 1, we will observe the Chinese New Year with a special celebration at The Academy. Highlights include authentic decorations, fun facts about this important cultural holiday, a PowerPoint presentation on Chinese cinematography by our own Yilin, and a delicious meal prepared by Mr. Langston and the members of the Arts and Cultural Exchange Council.
Our two new students from China, Lexi and Sophie, will be there to support us in our venture.
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