Bulletin February 4, 2017 Volume 36, #21
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| From the Desk of Dr. Bloomfield
February is Black History Month. President Gerald Ford recognized this event in 1976 and by doing so, asked all Americans to pause and take special notice of the extraordinary contributions of Black and African American people to our culture and to our society. As a school, The Academy is proud to integrate this recognition into our lives.
This year we have chosen to use words. Rhetoric and gifted rhetoricians have the power to reach through time and culture and to teach, to inspire, to incite, to calm, and to focus our thinking. Our imagination can be stirred by rhetoric, and we can be made to feel pride or shame.
Rather than having myself or others speak about the influence Black Americans have had throughout time, this month we take time during each Morning Meeting to share the words of Black and African Americans, in their own voices. Some voices reach out from the past to remind us of where we were; some, from the present to remind us where we are. Some elevate us while others challenge us. Some praise while others castigate.
In a school dedicated to helping students to find their own voices, I can think of no better way to honor the spirit of Black History Month than by presenting authentic voices for our students to consider. Some readings come from staff, others from students. Daily readings will be posted on our Facebook page. As with all lessons, the event of a reading has little power compared to a conversation about that reading. Words, indeed, have the power to create meaning and movement, but we, in turn, must do something. Please take the time to talk with your child about the readings they hear, discuss their relevance or importance in 2017, and decide what, if any, stake you have in the ongoing quest for justice and equality amongst all people.
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| February 23: Student & Faculty Basketball Games & More
To celebrate the end of our winter sports season, we will be having a basketball competition at The Cowell Gym. Students are encouraged to gather a team of five members of the Academy community that includes at least 2 boys, 2 girls, 1 middle school student, 1 high school student, and 1 adult (faculty or parent). Between games, there will be some other exciting activities in which spectators can participate for prizes. Please join us at The Cowell (51 Maple Street in Shelburne Falls) on February 23 at 3:00 PM.
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| Our Town on Stage at The Academy:Four Performances in March
Please join us for The Academy's 2016-2017 winter play, Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Premiering in 1938, Our Town has never fallen out of fashion and is still produced countless times across the United States year in and year out. It is a play about love, life, and death, and is appropriate for audiences of all ages.
Evening performances on March 3, 10 and 11 begin at 7:00 PM. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, and $6 for students and seniors. A free matinee performance will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 4. Tickets can be reserved and purchased here.
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| Intermission Help Needed for Upcoming Performances of Our Town The Academy Parents Council (APC) will host a refreshment table during each of the play performances. Please contact Diane Bigelow if you would be willing to set up, man, and clean up the table at any of the performances (March 3 at 7 PM, March 4 at 2 PM, March 10 at 7 PM, March 11 at 7 PM). Cookies and water will be served.
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| ACADEMY CLASSROOM CLOSE UPS
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Students of French 4 and 5 marked "La Chandeleur," on February 2, with the traditional making (and eating) of delicious crêpes! The French proverb corresponds to our Ground Hog Day tradition: "A la Chandleur, l'hiver meurt ou prend vigeur." (On February 2, winter either dies or starts anew.)
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|  | As Spanish 5 students read Crónica de una muerte anunciada, the polyphonic, non-linear novel by Gabriel García Márquez, they pause to challenge themselves to try to mark events along a timeline. | | | |
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Seventh grade students in Mr. Forbes' Climate Connections class use centimeter cubes to learn how mechanical and chemical weathering work together to break down rocks.
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After reading stories set in Galicia, Spain and studying the region, students in Spanish 4 gathered to prepare and enjoy "pulpo a la gallega" (Galician-style octopus). Students had varying degrees of interest, but Grayson Rizzi was the superstar, washing the octopus before morning meeting and dipping it to "asustarlo" (frighten it), as tradition dictates. What fun!
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Sports Recap - Week of February 10
In the only competition during a snow-day shortened week, junior Kyle Nitzsche finished 37th in a giant slalom race at Berkshire East on Wednesday. The next ski race will take place February 22 at Eaglebrook. Next Thursday, February 16, the girls basketball team will face Twin Valley Middle School in a home game at the Cowell Gym in Shelburne Falls at 4 PM, their final game of the season.
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| FROM THE ACADEMY PARENTS COUNCIL
Winter is almost over and the APC is starting to think about chances to get together in the spring! Do you have an idea for a hike or museum outing or brunch?
The last two APC meetings of the year will take place in the evening on Tuesday, March 28 and on the day of the Parent Council Work Bee -- Saturday, May 27, 2017 in the morning. Please plan to join us and bring your good ideas about how to create opportunities to connect with other families (and any other agenda items you may want to address)! Interested in helping coordinate the work bee? Email Phoebe Walker.
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| ANDREW ROW '14 VISITS THE ACADEMY
Andrew Row '14 met with 7th, 8th and 9th grade students to talk about what it meant to him to camp alongside 10,000 others in December, protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Drawing on his past experience of time spent with the Cree Nation in Canada, and understanding that struggles over land and its use is all too familiar to native peoples, Andrew joined a van load of others who wanted to show their support for the Standing Rock Sioux.
Eighth grade student Saraphina Forman asked whether it is better to go to the site to protest or to donate the money one might spend on traveling. Andrew shared his belief that both types of support are needed, and pointed out that it's important to either send money through a trusted organization or know what specific supplies are needed if one wishes to send items.
Andrew showed this video, produced by the Standing Rock Sioux, and encouraged our students to be aware that these injustices continue to happen and that by supporting native peoples any way we can, we're helping to build a new legacy.
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| BACKPACK SUPPLIES DRIVE - THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION!The Community Service Council is grateful for the continued generous participation of our students, staff and families in our drive. We still need 9 pencil boxes or cases and 5 packages of two erasers to complete stage one. Stage two is well underway with the focus on 1" binders, sets of 8 dividers, and two-pocket folders. Please consult this list for more information.
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| CHANGE OF DATE: Grandparents and Special Persons Day
Grandparents and Special Persons Day has been rescheduled from Friday, April 14 to Friday, April 28. Invitations will be sent in March. Should you have address updates or wish to invite another adult family member or close family friend, please contact Carol Foote with name and address information. We look forward to welcoming grandparents and friends to campus.
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