From the Upper School Principal

Some days, I have to bite my tongue to prevent myself from saying, "But that's horrible; you can't believe that!" You're the parent of at least one teenager, so I know you recognize the sensation. A fifteen-year-old trying out a new idea is going to say some things that make the adults around her uncomfortable.

My experience so far in teaching Ethics to Class III students has been challenging, stimulating and often humbling. Unlike the English classroom, which I navigate comfortably, the Ethics classroom is territory where the learning is messy and the teacher - or at least this teacher - is not necessarily the authority. Helping students talk about open-ended ethical questions is harder than helping them sort out the meaning and methods of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. Listening to them sort out whether they are more true to a buddy or to something as abstract as a rule is fascinating, often encouraging, and occasionally deeply upsetting. More

Taking Milton's temperature: The health and counseling center
by Allison F. Brown P’06

Back in our secondary school days, we parents had little reason or inclination to avail ourselves of what passed for health services. Even in the best boarding schools of yore, the extent of the care was often just a kindly nurse with Bactine, band-aids, aspirin, and a starchy cot. Times have changed. Today, Milton Academy’s Health and Counseling Center (HCC) offers comprehensive services and programs which respond directly to nearly every physiological and psychological need our children might present. The Center also provides first aid care to the larger community of faculty and staff. More

Sexuality course delivers information in comfortable, confidential setting

Human Sexuality and Relationships (HS&R) is an optional course offered at Milton Academy since 1978. Adult leaders facilitate frank group discussion on subjects that can be challenging for parents -and even peers-to broach.

"This course is one place," explains Ellie Griffin, director of counseling, "where adolescents can talk about the things that are most important in their lives right now: identity and relationships. They talk, as they will not, or can not, with their parents." More

Volunteers Wanted
CultureFest 2003 to Celebrate Sights, Sounds of Ethnic, Regional and Cultural Diversity

Wildest Dreams will play from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Fitzgibbons Convocation Center. In the spirit of CultureFest, band members hail from Europe, Japan, South Africa and the United States. According to the Boston Globe, "Wildest Dreams' music is an irresistible blend of driven African downbeats, rollicking calypso, roots reggae and R&B...They should definitely be seen and savored." Visit the band's web page

CultureFest 2003 is slated for Saturday, March 8, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., in the Athletic and Convocation Center on the Milton campus. The multicultural festival is an all-school (K-12) event.

"We think of 'multicultural' in a very broad sense. We celebrate international culture but also regional diversity," says Christine Savini, director of diversity planning and an event organizer. "All students and their families can make a rich contribution. We want to celebrate American geographic diversity, as well as ethnic and cultural diversity," she says.

"This is one of the School's most exciting events," says Joyce Atkins, assistant dean for community relations and event organizer. "It's a special opportunity for students, parents, faculty and staff to learn and have fun together." More

Culturefest Volunteer Form
Fair Instructions

Class II Parents' Weekend
We are looking forward to our Class II College Counseling Presentation on Saturday, February 8. This is our traditional “kick off” event, signaling the beginning of the college process for our Class II students. The February 8 program will include three sessions: an explanation of Milton’s college process by one of the counselors, a panel of current seniors who will share their experiences, and an “insider’s” perspective on admissions by a college admissions officer. In past years parents and students have found the three sessions very informative and helpful in getting started on this important journey.

Dear Parents
A busy January for the Parents' Associations began with a reception on January 10, for the Nesto Gallery exhibition by Michael Beatty. Remmi Lyons coordinated refreshments. Susan Gershenfeld chaired the Summer Opportunities Fair, a presentation of summer programs by camp and trip leaders, was held on Sunday, January 12. The Fair raises money for the Parents' Association speakers at School and our contribution to the Milton Food Pantry. By all accounts many students and families garnered exciting ideas for summer plans. On Friday, January 17, parents of students in Classes V and VI enjoyed dinner with Lenna Dower, associate dean for classes V and VI, who led a discussion based on the book Get Out of My Life, but First Take Me and Cheryl to the Mall. More

Parents' Association Calendar 2002-2003

The Parents' Fund Success for 2002
We have had a strong start to the 2002-2003 Parents' Fund (representing parent giving to the Annual Fund), thanks to the help of our volunteers and the success of the fall phonathon. To date, we have raised over $295,142 in gifts, with 39 percent participation from Milton parents, Kindergarten - Class II. In order to achieve our goal of $700,000 and 70 percent participation, volunteers from the Parents' Fund will work hard in the next five months to contact as many Milton parents as possible to ask them to make their gift to Milton.

Thank you to everyone who has already given to the Parents' Fund. If you have not made a gift, and would like to do so, call Gina D'Allesantro, associate director of parent giving, at (617) 898-2378, or email at gina_dallesantro@milton.edu. Gifts to the 2002-2003 Parents' Fund must be made by May 31, 2003.

Come to the Spring Parent Phonathon!
All Milton parents are invited to the spring parent phonathon, on April 9, 2003. The purpose of the phonathon is to make calls to parents who have not yet given to the Parents' Fund. The Parents' Fund is a subset of Milton's Annual Fund, a significant aspect of Milton's strength and success. As the cornerstone for the School's fund-raising activities, the Annual Fund provides seven percent of the school's operating budget. The Fund helps make possible competitive faculty salaries, extensive extracurricular activities, financial aid to families, and much more. In addition, as tuition does not cover the full cost of a Milton education, the Annual Fund provides a hidden scholarship to each and every student.

If you would like to attend the parent phonathon, please call Gina D'Allesantro, associate director of parent giving, at (617) 898-2378, or email at gina_dallesantro@milton.edu.

The Class I '03 Gift Surging Ahead
The Class I '03 Gift is an important tradition in the Milton Academy community - an 18-year record of special "thank you" gifts to the School from Class I parents to express appreciation for their children's experience at Milton. The focus of the Class I '03 Gift is the new Class I Commons in the student-faculty center, scheduled for completion in late t spring. As the new building receives its finishing touches, the Class I '03 Gift drive will come to a close as well!

To date, the Class I '03 Gift has received $279,025 in gifts and pledges, with 59 percent participation from Class I families. In order to achieve our goal of 100 percent participation, we need each and every Class I family to participate. If you have not done so, please consider making your gift today. You can contact Gina D'Allesantro, associate director of parent giving, at (617) 898-2378 or email at gina_dallesantro@milton.edu. Class I '03 gifts and pledges must be received by June 30, 2003.

Michael Lou: History Department

Michael, who teaches Asian History, Ancient Civilizations and U.S History in the Modern World, arrived at Milton eight years ago as in intern in the modern languages department. He had relinquished a budding career as a fund manager at Fidelity, and then earned a master’s degree at Harvard, before arriving on Centre Street. More

Valentines Day care packages!
Send your child a little love in the hardest, dreariest month of the year. Operation Smile is selling care packages to be delivered to your child on Valentines day. More

Milton Academy Food Council

The Milton Academy Food Council
If the old saying—you are what you at—holds true, students are lucky to have the Milton Academy Food Council on the case, helping students make healthy choices and advocating for student-tastes.

The Milton Academy Food Council, a group of students, faculty and staff interested in the Milton dining experience meets semi-weekly. The Council works hand in hand with Aramark, Milton’s dining contractor, to make the Milton Academy dining experience a pleasant one for the whole community. More

Students byte into technology

Alex Miller, Class I, has been a member of the Technology Council since its inception last spring. “The council has been a great experience,” says Alex. “We not only have a forum in which we can rationally discuss our complaints about the proxy and other technology policy we disagree with or don’t understand, and work constructively on those issues with the administration, but also we have a great new way to really affect how learning at Milton can and will be enhanced through the use of technology by both students and faculty. More

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