COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Grade Point Parents:
12th: The Senior Parent Get Together is scheduled for next Friday, Nov. 17, 6:30-9:30 at the home of Paula and Steven Polakof.
11th: There will be a dinner for the Junior Parents from 6:00-7:00 preceding Junior College Night on Feb. 8.
10th: No report.
9th: The parents brought in treats for the boys this week.
Tree Sale: The annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale is scheduled for Dec. 2 and Dec. 9,10. Please support the sale, which is the largest fundraiser for the AfterProm.
International Dinner: The International Dinner is this coming Friday, Nov. 10, before this fall's U.S. play. Please call Clare Paquelet or Noelle Fazio for tickets or more information.
Valley Voice: the December issue will be mailed next Monday.
Strategic Plan: Initiated in July, the plan will be 90% complete by January or February. Town Hall meetings were held last month and a survey will be sent to the U.S. community after Thanksgiving. The survey will be emailed, it will take less than 10 minutes to complete, and you will have 8 days to complete it.
Annual Fund: The committee held very successful "phonathons" and thanked all of the wonderful volunteers.
Welcome Reception for Michael and Carolyn Obel-Omia will be held November 17, 5:30-7:30.
GUEST PRESENTATIONS: Student Exchange Possibilities
Margaret Mason
Steve Murray
U.S. is offering its students four wonderful ways to be exposed to new people and ideas, and in turn to return to school to share their experiences. Not only will these opportunities better prepare them for college, it will also make them more attractive college candidates.
1. Mountain School
U.S. has been associated with the Mountain School for over 20 years through Milton Academy. They have guaranteed to take 2 boys per semester. Only open to juniors, the school is on a working farm in Vermont. The goal is for the 45 students to form a close-knit community, forming a collaborative, not a competitive, environment. The students (co-ed) actually plant and harvest crops, milk cows, tend to chickens, etc. and have morning and evening chores. They all take classes that fit in nicely with our curriculum. The highlight of the experience is a 3-day solo trip in the woods, where the student is totally on their own.
2. Island School
The Island School in the Bahamas offers a semester for sophomores and juniors to conduct scientific research with actual scientists. About 60 students are accepted to collect data, study the climate, rainfall, atmosphere, etc. The students complete chores, take classes, then learn to scuba dive to study ecosystems. The experience includes a home stay with a local family and a 3-day solo trip in a kayak. The emphasis is on "what lives where and why."
3. School Year Abroad
An entire school year can be spent in China, France, Italy or Spain for a total of 40-50 students. This program centers around being immersed in another language and culture, and students live with carefully-chosen host families. SYA has campuses in each of the 4 countries where students take classes. The curriculum works well with ours.
4. City Term
This program is available for juniors and seniors through the Masters School in New York City. Students who are interested in culture, the arts, architecture, urban planning, would benefit. Students live in dorms and learn to navigate the city by becoming immersed in New York's cultural life.
Summer trips, social service trips during the school year and "gap" year trips are all being developed.
The Glee Club is planning a trip to New Orleans over spring break.
FOLLOW-UP FROM OCT. 12 MEETING:
Michael Obel-Omia
Two other great summer programs for boys to consider are:
1. Great Books Summer Program - through Amherst College and Stanford
2. St. Albans Leadership Institute Program in Washington, D.C.
The college office has been very busy with early decision applications -- around 50-60% of the seniors are applying early decision.
Fall sports have finished and winter sports have begun.
Parents will receive grades in the mail by next Monday.
New Parents meeting will take place next week, Nov. 14 at 7:00, for all freshman parents and other new parents.
Visitors from St. Christopher's school were here this week to look at our House system to be implemented at their school.
And, from last month's meeting, Mr. Obel-Omia reiterated that the expectations of our sons at school and off campus is to exhibit good behavior no matter where they are or who they are with. If one of our boys brings a guest to a school event, he or she is expected to exhibit the same behavior, to understand and respect our rules. Our boys are representatives of U.S. wherever they go.