Intellectual honesty: for students, for parents

Walking to school today, my sons and I exhaled clouds of steam into the cool morning air. I love this time of year in schools, especially this year. We have begun the school year extraordinarily well, with outstanding student leadership and a generally positive energy. We’re through the hot weather of September and the great effort of beginning, and we are into the steadier rhythm of the middle of the year. This is a productive season in all schools, even more so at Milton. Full Story

Changing by the day
Warren Hall finds a new life
During the day, workers on top of Warren reattach the old slate shingles, and they climb in and around the new dormers and openings that will eventually connect with the student-faculty center. At dusk, bright lights from inside Warren highlight the wall studs and doorframes as a new interior takes shape. Full Story

From Atop Ware Hall
Success comes from effort
Lenna Dower, Associate Dean Classes V & VI

Over the weekend, a few of us were able to attend a concert at Jordan Hall. It was mesmerizing. One of the soloists was a parent, Lynn Chang, and he and the other musicians gifted us with wonderful interpretations of Beethoven. I was in awe. Afterwards, as we chatted about the concert, I thought of the old story of the gushing patron who enthused to a soloist about how fortunate he was to have the God-given talent just displayed on stage. The musician responded, "It doesn’t hurt to practice six to eight hours a day, either." Success comes from effort. Full Story

Questions about athletics?
Responding to questions parents have raised recently about athletics, the Parents’ Association and the communications office have developed a "frequently asked questions" section of the Milton Web site. To read about policies and practices, from tryouts and cuts, through injuries, please read Athletics, FAQ.

Resources for parents, in print and on the Web

The Milton Student Handbook – the editions for Classes I – IV, and for Classes V and VI are great resources for parents. They cover topics from academic regulations, standards, school rules, student advising and discipline committees to details about the sanctuary program. The Handbooks affirm last month’s Centre Connection article about students’ advisors; they are "connecting links between students, parents and the school." Check that article to learn what you can expect of your child’s advisor: The Handbooks, along with the Parents’ Guidebook, 2002-2003 that you received this summer includes who is responsible for what, at Milton, and how to get in touch with faculty members, administrators, coaches, department heads, etc. All these parent resources, as well as a School directory, are available in full on the Web site. We hope these resources help answer your question or help you determine who can, and how to reach him or her.

The Milton Academy Parents’ Association held its first meeting of the year on Thursday evening September 19 in Straus. Dr. Robertson spoke with parents at this successful meeting, and responded to their questions. The officers and committee heads of the Parents’ Association introduced themselves to the gathering and we enjoyed a delicious lasagna dinner prepared by the School’s food service.

This month we look forward to Parents’ Weekends – for Classes I-IV on October 18-19, and for Classes V and VI on October 25. Principal Hugh Silbaugh sent invitations to parents, and the schedules for both events are posted at the top of the opening page of the Web site’s "Parents" section. Full Story

Parents' Association Calendar 2002-2003

The Annual Fund kicks off the year!
On October 2, the Annual Fund offcially kicked off its new year. As the cornerstone for Milton Academy’s fundraising activities, the Annual Fund provides seven percent of the School’s operating budget. The success of the Fund helps make possible competitive faculty salaries, extensive extracurricular activities, scholarship support, 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.

Last year, 66 percent of all current parents made a gift to the Annual Fund, raising a grand total of over $665,000, up eight percent from 2000-2001. We hope to build on this success for the coming year by raising $700,000 from current parents.

The new Middle and Upper School class rep program
Volunteering for the Annual Fund is a great way to become an active member of the Milton community. Parent volunteers are important to the success of the Fund. As a class representative, parents make connections with 10-15 families through phone or email, or at a phonathon. The New Middle and Upper School Representative Program is a formalization of our volunteer network which has grown tremendously in recent years. If you would like to get involved with the Annual Fund, please contact Gina D'Allesantro in the development office at (617) 898-2378.

Join the phonathon program
Join fellow parents for a night of volunteer calling and fun on one of the following evenings:

November 4, 2002
Upper, Middle and Lower School

November 11, 2002
Class I ’03 Gift Phonathon

April 9, 2003
Upper, Middle and Lower School

April 21, 2003
Class I ’03 Gift Phonathon

Contact Kate Edwards, assistant director of parent giving, at (617) 898-2386 for more information or to rsvp. We hope to see you there!

Class I ’03 is underway
One important tradition in the Milton Academy community is the Class I ‘03 gift. Over the last 18 years, Class I parents have made a special "thank you" gift to the School to express their appreciation of their children’s experience. This year, the Class I ’03 Gift will provide support for the multi-functional student-faculty center that is currently being built. This facility will offer a single space that will be part of every single student and faculty member’s day-to-day life on campus. What’s perhaps most exciting is that when the Class I ‘03 Gift drive comes to a close this Spring, the new building will be just about complete!

If you are a Class I parent, please join the Class I ’03 Gift Committee! If you are a parent of a boarding student and live far from the School, please be aware that much of the work is done via phone or email. You can be a volunteer from anywhere! If you would like to learn more about this project or join the committee, please contact Gina D'Allesantro at (617) 898-2378.

Diane Gilbert-Diamond:
George C. Lee Family
Teaching Chair
Carol Smith Miller P ’03, ’05

Parents have probably noticed that the veteran teachers, their gray-haired contemporaries, have been joined in recent years by an increasing number of fresh young faces, many of whom are bringing outstanding academic backgrounds and rich professional experiences to teaching for the first time. As the holder of Milton Academy’s George C. Lee Family Teaching Chair, Diane Gilbert-Diamond of the science department has taken on the role of mentor and leader of the younger faculty members. Full Story

Milton-Nobles Day: tradition and rivalry

On Saturday, November 9, Milton's gridiron will host Noble & Greenough for the schools' 106th football matchup as each team vies for the Stokinger Bowl. Although the football rivalry began 106 years ago, it has expanded to include competition in soccer and field hockey. This year Milton and Nobles will celebrate a 28-year field hockey rivalry, 55-year boys' soccer rivalry and 24-year girls' soccer rivalry. Full Story

Life in the trailers:
Temporary classrooms are a hit

Modular classrooms, math complex, art box, interim spaces, trailers. Last year the mention of any one of these words brought on a roll of the eyes, or a heavy sigh. Today, students and faculty alike will tell you how thrilled they are with "life in the trailers." Full Story

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