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Dear parents,
Soon a most welcome winter break will conclude
an extraordinary fall, rich with activities and achievements
of all kinds. Once students come back we’d like to help
manage themselves and control their anxieties as they approach
one of the important times in the annual cycle of school events.
I’m speaking about exam week.
Many years ago, Milton abandoned the end-of-year
exam week, in the belief that exams would better serve students’
learning if they came mid-course, so that both students and
their teachers could use what they learn from students’
performance to improve the teaching and learning that happens
in the second semester. When we come back to school in January,
teachers and students will focus on preparing for mid-year
examinations.
[More]
Meet Faculty Member
Peter Kahn
by Lori Mahmud P'08
 Peter
Kahn’s Algebra II class is not a staid math lecture;
instead it is an animated conversation about math. Students
freely ask questions and Peter adeptly steers them into a
discussion about the particular problem. He asks the students
to reason as well as solve. When an answer is given, Peter
asks the student if he or she thinks the answer “makes
sense.” When a problem becomes frustrating, Peter puts
it on the “back burner” for a while. Not willing
to give up on the problem just yet, at least one student begs,
“Just tell us the answer!” Peter laughs and makes
it clear that they will have to solve the problem themselves.
Simply put, a lot of thinking goes on in Peter’s class.
[More]
The Scene at 8:00 a.m.
What Happens at Milton Assemblies?
Does live orchestral music start your Monday mornings? Walking
past the violin section on the way to your bleacher seats is
not unlikely at Milton, nor is an appearance of the jazz combo,
a presentation of an athletic award, a snatch of a play, or
an exhortation to join a community service project. On Monday
mornings, students sit by class in the Fitzgibbons Convocation
Center while Upper School Principal Hugh Silbaugh helps everyone
focus on the week ahead. Most times Hugh starts by thanking
the folks who made the weekend special: cross country runners
who hosted a tournament, guitarists and poets who performed
at the beatnik café, the cast of the Class IV play, or
students who helped with the Special Olympics, for instance.
Hugh then uses the other precious moments (the assembly is 15
minutes long) to address imminent, School-wide issues: Are exams
upon us? Should we feel thankful? What does Veteran’s
Day mean? What’s great about fall? We’re not all
Red Sox fans, but wasn’t that fun? Why is this attitude
or behavior harmful to the community? After centering the crowd
on the business of teaching and learning, and making sure to
reflect the life of the School as students and faculty feel
it, he sends us off to a busy Monday.
[More]
Information Sessions
About Off-campus Study Slated for January
The Academy invites Class III students and interested parents
to information sessions about off-campus programs for 2005-2006.
Each presentation will include a slide show and question-and-answer
period.
Wednesday, January 5:
The Mountain School Program of Milton Academy (9:15 a.m.)
(Required for Class III students)
Wigglesworth Hall
Monday, January 10:
CityTerm at the Masters School (6:45 p.m.)
Greeley Auditorium, in the lower level
of the Science Building
Tuesday, January 11:
The Maine Coast Semester of the Chewonki Foundation (6:45
p.m.)
Greeley Auditorium, in the lower level of the Science Building
[More]
Hopping Out of Cars on Centre Street.
Please Don’t.
To save a few minutes, probably at the behest of their children,
parents are stopping too frequently on Centre Street to unload
students, back packs, athletic bags and instruments. This practice
frustrates drivers behind the stopped car, and puts students
at risk. As roads become icy and snow banks mount on the edges
of the street, the safety risk only increases. Drivers’
vision isn’t always clear, and both the car and the foot
traffic (at crosswalks) is heavy. Please consider strategies
other than stopping in mid-traffic for students to make the
start of School.
[More]
News and Notes
We hope that the Thanksgiving holiday
was an enjoyable, restful one for you and your family. For
many, it was difficult to shovel our students (and ourselves!)
back out the door last week. Before we go our separate ways
again for the upcoming holiday break, we thought we’d
let you know about events coming up this winter planned by
the Parent’s Association.
Join in the Fun of Milton Mix-Up
2005
Want to meet fellow parents at Milton in a smaller, more intimate
setting? Then be sure to put the Milton Mix-Up social on your
calendar. This annual event, which brings parents together
at casual dinner parties throughout the greater Boston area,
will take place on Saturday evening February 5th.
The Mix-Up committee is currently soliciting parents who
would enjoy hosting one of the dinner parties in their home.
If you can accommodate a group of between eight and 20 guests
that evening, please contact Charlie Wagner (charliewagner@comcast.net),
preferably before the upcoming holiday break.
[More]
Summer Opportunities Fair Needs a
Few Volunteers
Dozens of summer camps, outdoor adventure, community service
and other enrichment programs visit Milton once each year
to allow Academy families and others to learn about summer
opportunities for students. We need your help to make the
day a success.
This year, the fair will be held on Sunday, January 9th in
a new, more spacious location – the Fitzgibbons Convocation
Center and we’re expecting even more camp representatives
than last year.
The Summer Opportunities Fair is an important fund-raiser
for the Parents’ Association. Vendors are charged for
their space at the fair and it is open to the public, free
of charge.
This year’s organizers are working hard to make the
fair a success and could use a few volunteers to help on the
day of the fair to get things set up and be sure that all
runs smoothly. If you can spare an hour or two to help on
that day, we'd appreciate hearing from you. You can either
e-mail the Parents’ Association at parentsassociation_us@milton.edu
or call one of the co-chairs, Jean Fechheimer or Christina
Keefe.
Even if you can’t help that day, plan to drop by with
your student and peruse the many valuable offerings at the
fair.
A “Restful” Winter Meeting is Planned
Dr. Kirk Byron Jones will speak at the Parents’ Association
winter meeting in February. In keeping with our theme this
year – creating balance in busy lives – Dr. Jones
will host a discussion entitled: “The Power of Rest:
Without the Rest There is No Music.”
A fellow Milton parent, Dr. Jones currently teaches ethics
and preaching at Andover Newton Theological School, and serves
as guest preacher and teacher at churches, schools and conferences
throughout the United States.
[More]
What Would You Like to See in
Future Issues of Centre Connection?
Use the feedback
form to tell us what you think.
 October
2004
August
2004
April
2004
January
2004
December
2003
October
2003
August
2003
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Seussical The
Musical
This November, Milton students staged a colorful blend of
Dr. Seuss classics in front of a packed King Theatre. From
the Grinch to the Cat in the Hat, Seussical the Musical
combined the works of Dr. Seuss into one creative story full
of fun and wit.
Click here to view a photo slideshow of the performance.
Take the Milton Academy
Quiz
It's
time to test your Milton Academy knowledge and see how much
you know about our School with this fun and interactive ten
question pop quiz.
[Click
here to begin the pop quiz]
Click
here after you finish the quiz to get all the fun facts
about Milton.
Traditions Add Sparkle
to Academy Celebrations
Boys carol at girls’ houses the night before winter break
begins, but that’s just one of the seasonal traditions at
Milton Academy, where many rituals date back to the School’s
early days.
The Winter Concert, an evening of instrumental
and choral music showcasing talented Milton Academy students,
will be held this year on December 12. Prior to the Winter
Concert, Robin Robertson will host a tea, an informal drop-in
event in her home. It is a great opportunity to greet Dr.
Robertson, faculty and other parents. An earlier seasonal
concert is scheduled for December 10, and Holiday Vespers
are December 15.
[More]
Fall 2004 Athletics
Roundup
Boys’ Football
The Milton football team rolled to a 7-1 record on the season
culminating in their fourth straight victory over archrival
Nobles 27-0. Head Coach Kevin MacDonald has established one
of the strongest prep programs in the nation, as the Mustang’s
record is now 20-3-1 over the last three seasons. Starting
quarterback Dan Zailskas (Class II), running back Lawrence
Duggan (Class I), Charlie Haydock (Class I), Andrew Tsanotelis
(Class II), Mike Greenberg (Class II), and defensive back
Spencer Platt (Class I) were voted ISL All-League selections.
Rising seniors Tsanotelis and Zailskas were voted captains
for next season.
[Read about Cross Country, Field Hockey and Soccer]
Let the Games Begin
The 2004–2005 winter athletic season has commenced and
Milton coaches are expecting great performances from our teams.
Use the links below to view up-to-date varsity game schedules
and results or click
here to learn more about all of Milton Academy’s winter
teams.
Varsity Game Schedules
Boys'
Basketball
Girls'
Basketball
 Boys'
Hockey
Girls'
Hockey
Skiing
Boys'
Squash
Girls' Squash
Boys'
Swimming
Girls'
Swimming
Volleyball
Wrestling
Milton Academy Parents’ Fund
The Parents’ Fund is off to a fantastic start thanks
to the support of Milton parents and volunteers. As of November
30, 2004, the Parents’ Fund has raised $269,435 (gifts
and pledges) from 118 donors (20 percent participation). The
first phonathon on November 10, 2004, was a success –
a very special thank you to those who made phone calls. With
9 parents in attendance, the evening raised more than $9,000
from 53 pledges and gifts! This success is a direct result
of the enthusiasm and dedication of the following parents:
Maria Sebastian P’06
Jean Fecheimer P’06
Jane Sadler P’06
Laura Jeppesen P ‘06
Sharon Russell-Mack P’07
Ned Pride ’76 P’08, ‘13
Anne Columbia P’06 ‘11
Jodi Feeney P’17
Lynne Taylor P’17
The next parent phonathon is Monday, December
13 at 7:00 p.m. (dinner at 6:30 p.m.) in the Caroline Saltonstall
Building, 2nd floor. Please RSVP to Hilary Wirtz at (617)
898-2386 or hilary_wirtz@milton.edu.
Do You Want to Get
Involved?
Become a Parents’ Fund volunteer. This is a great way
to get involved in the Milton community and meet fellow parents.
Come join the fun! Help represent the Milton Academy Annual
Fund by participating in phonathons and contacting fellow
parents throughout the year.
A component of the Annual Fund, the Parents’
Fund generates almost 25 percent of the total unrestricted
dollars raised and helps to make possible competitive faculty
salaries, extensive extracurricular activities, scholarship
support, and much more. In addition, since 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 get involved, please contact Hilary Wirtz,
associate director of parent giving, at hilary_wirtz@milton.edu
or (617) 898-2386.
The Class I 2005
Parent Gift
The focus of the Class I 2005 Parent Gift will be the re-creation
of the science building – a component of the School’s
long range master plan. We hope to have 100% parent participation
for this effort! All Class I 2005 parent gifts and pledges
must be received by June 30, 2005.
Committee Members
Rick Bendetson
Shel Buzney
Kee Il Choi
Jeff Garrity ’70
Steve Gifford ’70
Georgette Katuna
Jeff and Carol Miller
Sam Weisman and Constance McCashin
Roberta Williamson
If you have questions, or would like to make
your family’s contribution to the Class I 2005 Parent
Gift, please contact Hilary Wirtz at (617) 898-2386 or hilary_wirtz@milton.edu.
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