The transitions take place all around me—within a week, Class I students will have given final answers to colleges and will be starting on projects. Even now Class II leaders have begun to take their places. The evidence of growth should give us pause and pride. We—parents and school—are witnesses and, we hope, accessories, to some wonderful transformations. I see students who, a couple of short years ago, could barely keep track of their assignments, now able to run publications or organizations while engaging deeply in rigorous academic pursuits, students who had trouble negotiating the structure of residential life now ready to shepherd and help new students in their houses. As a house parent, I have sometimes looked at a group of Class IV students thinking that the whole house would collapse when they became the leaders, only to find those same students wonderfully responsible and caring when their time came to lead. From such experiences, profound hope is born, as is the conviction that what we do matters. We adults furnish standards to reach and the support that enable our children/students to grow. Here, towards the end of the school year, we take a fresh look and can see how far they have come.
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Producer, Filmmaker and Activist, Jehane Noujaim '92, to Address Graduating Class
Jehane Noujaim, Class of ‘92, comes back to campus on June 6 as the 2008 Milton Academy graduation speaker. Jehane is not only a provocative, successful, young documentary producer and filmmaker; she is an international activist who believes passionately in the power of film to help move people toward global acceptance of diversity.

Jehane started making movies at Harvard College, from which she graduated magna cum laude in 1996 with a degree in Visual Arts and Philosophy. Prior to graduating, Jehane earned a Gardiner Fellowship and used it to direct Mokattam, a film about the community of garbage collectors (Garbage Village) outside Cairo, for the Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies. After college, her professional life began in the MTV news documentary division, where she was a producer for the series Unfiltered. She has worked as cinematographer both in the Middle East and in the United States for the documentaries Born Rich, Only the Strong Survive and Down from the Mountain. She was both a producer and director for the award-winning documentary Startup.com. In 2003, she made the documentary film Control Room about Al Jazeera, the U.S. military’s Central Command and their contrasting ways of reporting the United States’ invasion of Iraq. About Control Room the New York Times said, "Through the deceptively simple practice of watching, listening and editing, Jehane Noujaim captures the complexity of reporting, and has a great deal to say about truth, democracy and the ambiguous status of the free press in the modern world."
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2008 Graduation Ceremony

This year’s graduation ceremony will be held on the lawn by Apthorp Chapel on Friday, June 6, at 10:00 a.m. In the event of heavy rain, the ceremony will be held in the Fitzgibbons Convocation Center. The Academy is also hosting a barbecue picnic for the graduating students and their parents on the evening of Thursday, June 5. A variety of performances will accompany this picnic, so that parents may have one last chance to witness some of the many talents in this class.

From Budapest to Belize: How Milton Students Spent Their Spring Break
While the March break is a good opportunity to relax and escape to warmer weather, many Milton students spent their time off visiting other countries while offering a helping hand and sharing their musical talents.
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Campus Safety Makes a Plea
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. 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.
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Why are students building a geodesic dome on the quad?

Click here for the answer.

A long awaited feeling of Spring is finally in the air, yet it is hard to believe that another academic year is quickly approaching its closing. The Parents’ Association would like to bid a fond farewell and to extend our congratulations to those senior parents who will be leaving Milton along with their successful graduates in the Class of 2008. It is surely an exciting time for parents to see their teens head off to college and beyond. But, we do hope they will stay in touch with the Milton community.

Upcoming Events

Class I Dinner
The Class I Dinner will take place on Saturday, May 31, at 7 p.m., in Wigglesworth Hall. Class I parents will enjoy a dinner together right after sending the kids off on the trolleys to the Prom. What a wonderful opportunity to see (and photograph!) the students adorned for Prom Night and then have fun with fellow parents at one of your final class dinners together as parents of the Class of 2008. An email has been sent to parents that provides further details about the event. In addition, we are looking for volunteers to help set up the Student Center for the students to enjoy after they arrive back from the Prom. It will not take long to set up—many hands make light work! If you would like to volunteer, please get in touch with Class I Parent Rep Claudie Jean-Baptiste at cjeanbaptiste@comcast.net

Closing Event with Head of School
On Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. in Straus Library, the Parents’ Association will host the Closing Event with Head of School Rick Hardy. Mr. Hardy will highlight aspects of the current and upcoming school years, and will engage in a question and answer time with parents. Don’t miss this interesting evening.

Middle School Parents Association Speaker
The Middle School Parents' Association invites Upper School parents to join them for an interesting speaker on Friday, April 25, as they offer two presentations by best-selling author, consultant and psychologist, Michael Thompson, Ph.D. "How to Raise Responsible Children" will be offered at 10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. in Greely Auditorium. In this presentation, Dr. Thompson mixes anecdotes and clinical experience with research on the outcomes of different parenting styles, and offers a warm-hearted recipe for providing children with an internal foundation for moral behavior. The second presentation is "The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life." This presentation and question and answer session will be held on Friday, April 25, from 7-9 p.m.in Greely Auditorium. The "Pressured Child" is truly a presentation for pressured parents, addressing those of us who can be gripped by worries about our child’s life in school and helping us to understand the psychological journey children experience during their school years.

Recent Events Sponsored by the Parents Association

Speaker Night
At a fascinating K-12 event, we were treated to an entertaining and informative talk by Dr. Rob Evans. Dr. Evans is an educational psychologist with many years of experience teaching and consulting faculty, parents and students. As noted on his Web site, Dr. Evans speaks to parents in a straight, common-sense way that avoids the usual clichés, and, with wit and humor, helps parents recognize their strengths, rethink their responsibilities, and concentrate on strategies they can actually apply when difficulties arise in parenting children of all ages. Over 100 attendees heard about the concepts of nurturing, structure and latitude in parenting. Dr. Evans stressed that each person should make a list of his or her strengths as a parent and then focus on these strengths—and it was suggested that parents might even post the list on the refrigerator, leading to some interesting family dialogue.

PIN Award
Once again, the Milton Academy community service program has been selected for the Parents’ Independent School Network Community Service Award. The award will be presented at the PIN meeting in April. Congratulations to Andre Geyling and to all those students who participated in making a difference in the community.

Donut Day
The Parents' Association held a final donut day on tax day, April 15. The donuts were enjoyed by all. We would like to thank those kind students who carried in 60 dozen Dunkin Donut boxes, and helped three moms organize the tables at the last minute. Your assistance was greatly appreciated!

Arts Night
Another wonderful Arts Night was held on April 11. Students in arts courses such as speech, drama, visual arts and the Class III jazz groups showcased their talents, hard work and proficiency in these endeavors. The students performed for many parents, faculty and fellow students. After the performances, refreshments were provided by the Parents' Association and parent bakers including Amy Abrams, Regina and Mark Kaplan, Sue Termyn, Karen Kames and Rita Rooney. The brownie bake-off between the Kaplan and Gaffney families was a hit!

Dues Reminder
It’s not too late to pay dues for this year. As per the recent email reminder, you can now conveniently ask to be billed for your dues—instead of needing to write a separate check. Please take advantage of this feature. If you still prefer the original way, please send a check for $60 ($100 if more that one child) to our treasurer, Mark Kaplan, at 38 Winthrop Street, Milton, MA 02186.

“Graduating” Board Members
Finally, we extend a grateful thank you to the Parents' Association board members whose sons and daughters will graduate this year. Your contribution to the Parents’ Association will be missed. We are indebted to Lori Mahmud, President, Carol Flynn-Rice, Secretary, and Claudie Jean-Baptiste, Class I Representative. Your mentorship has been greatly appreciated by the others on the board. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

The Parents’ Association would like to extend a very warm thank you to Shannon Ollerhead, our liaison to the administration, for her invaluable and gracious assistance on so many details throughout the year that she always performs with a kind smile. Thank you so much!

More than Fun
Hope Rupley: Activities Director, Class II Dean, Varsity Tennis Coach
Hope Rupley affects every student’s Milton experience. "I just want to make students’ experiences here positive, to help them make connections that last, to serve the greatest number of people possible, in different ways."

Most students know that Hope is the agent behind the social activities of all kinds—large and small, spectacular and simple—that liven their lives outside of class. From her lookout, a glassed office perched in the center of the nonstop Schwarz Student Center, she can “know what’s really going on,” as she says.  “You can tell plenty by observing, and we’re so available to students right here. It’s easy for them to be in and out and for us to get to them,” she says.
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Spring Brings Music to King Theatre

The music department at Milton Academy presents the annual Spring Concerts this weekend in King Theatre. On Friday, April 25, Milton’s Chamber Singers, Glee Club and Gospel Choir take to the stage at 8 p.m. for the Spring Vocal Concert. On Sunday, April 27, students in the Chamber Orchestra and the Full Orchestra will perform at 4 p.m. in the Spring Instrumental Concert. For more details about either show, please contact music department chair, Don Dregalla, at don_dregalla@milton.edu

Students Celebrate Black History Month in a New Fashion

This February, in honor of Black History Month, the students of ONYX planned a month-long event series that they hope will become Milton tradition. ONYX is the Black cultural student group on campus, and with help from Tonysha Taylor in the diversity office, its members coordinated seven events that celebrated Black history from a variety of perspectives and in a variety of ways. Students packed the schedule with performances, visiting artists and celebrations, beginning February 1 with a Jazz Dessert kick-off and wrapping up on February 29 with a Calypso Explosion Caribbean party. Head of ONYX Lami Oladipo (I) shared her experience of the month’s festivities.
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Milton Presents Two Tales of the Ancients
Hecuba by Euripides
Milton’s traditional 1212 productions date back to the pre-Student Center days, pre-Warren Hall renovations, when Warren Hall, Room 1212 was home to the intimate productions that—without the allowance of much technical support—relied on the atmosphere of an informal setting and strong performance to stage a crowd-pleaser. These days the beloved 1212 plays are brought to life in Wigg Hall, and this spring’s 1212 production, Hecuba, promises an entertaining evening.
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Lute Song adapted by Will Irwin and Sidney Howard
Next month David Peck, chair of the performing arts department, will direct his final Milton production in what will be his twentieth year at the Academy. For his directorial finale, David chose the play Lute Song, adapted from the classical, centuries-old tale from Pi-Pa-Chi and adapted for Broadway in the 1940s. The story is about Tsai-Yong, a young Chinese student who leaves his wife, parents and provincial life to become part of the larger world. He becomes a famous magistrate and is forced into marriage, becoming husband to the daughter of a prince. The tale follows the relationships that play out while Tsai-Yong reconciles his new life with his old.
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Coaches' Corner

Spring sports are in full swing and Milton has experienced some triumphant moments as well as a few heart-breaking defeats. Click here to get the inside scoop from coaches about the 2008 season.

Parents’ Fund
Welcome to Spring! As we near the end of April, Milton Academy’s Parents’ Fund has made great strides as we work to achieve the goal of $1 million. As of March 31, 2008, the Parents’ Fund has raised gifts totaling $720,000 with 37% participation from Milton parents. Thank you to all of the parents who have already made a gift to the Parents’ Fund this year.

If you have not yet done so, please consider giving to Milton Academy’s Parents’ Fund. You may make a gift online at https://secure.milton.edu/gift.asp. Gifts must be received by June 30, 2008.

You can also make your gift in honor of your child, or a Milton teacher or coach. The individual will be notified that a gift was made in their honor and the gift will be listed in Milton Academy’s 2007–2008 Annual Report next fall.

We would also like to thank our Parents’ Fund volunteers, who have played an integral role in the success of the Parents’ Fund.

• Jackie Bechek – P ’06 ’07 ’10, Parents’ Fund Co-Chair
• Marty Cavanaugh - P’18 ’20, Parents’ Fund Co-Chair
• Ed Vilandrie – P’18 ’20, Parents’ Fund Co-Chair
• Mary Burke – P ’12 ’13
• Janet Cahill – P’12 ’14
• Betsy Cohen – P ’07 ’10
• Michael Connolly – P ’20
• Bob Cunha – P’15 ’19
• Jodi Feeney –P’17
• Heidi Gilmore – P ’14
• Nancy Harris – P’09 ’10 ’15
• Radha Kalathil – P’10
• Mark Kaplan – P’10
• Stephen Lebovitz – P’10
• Todd Peters – P’13 ’16 ’20
• Catherine Spahr – P’15’19

If you would like to become more involved with Milton Academy, please consider becoming a Parents’ Fund volunteer. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow Milton parents, while encouraging contributions to Milton’s Annual Fund.

We have our final Parent Giving Phonathon scheduled for 2008; please mark your calendars for Monday, May 12, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

Parent Giving Phonathons take place in Milton Academy’s Development Office, which is located in the Caroline Saltonstall Building.

Class I 2008 Parent Gift
The Class I 2008 Parent Gift will establish the Class I Endowed Fund for Faculty Support, which will help the Academy recruit, retain and recognize the expert faculty who teach at Milton. Currently, almost 60 percent of Class I parents have donated $815,000 to the Class I Parent Gift. Please consider making your gift or pledge to the Class I 2008 Parent Gift.

The Class I 2008 Parent Gift Committee has been reaching out to Class I parents who have not yet made a gift as we strive to reach our goal of 100 percent participation and $1 million.

We would like to thank the Class I 2008 Parent Gift Committee members for their continued efforts:

• Gail & Don McGovern, Class I 2008 Parent Gift Committee Co-Chairs
• Charlie & Steve Wagner, Class I 2008 Parent Gift Committee Co-Chairs
• Amy & David Abrams
• Candace & Virgil Aiello
• Mimi & George Bennett
• McKey & James Berkman
• Gayle & Stephen Bernstein
• Ruth Birnberg & Thomas Shapiro
• Deedie & Michael Bouscaren
• Diane & Pericles Caminis
• Peggy & Albert Chao
• Sara Read - Englis
• Anne & Alain Goldrach
• Ilene Greenberg & Michael Maynard
• Anne Harris
• Cela & Matthew Hobbs ’72
• Patricia Hopkins & Peter Friedensohn
• Lucinda & Richard Larson
• Frances & Clint McSherry
• Karen & Gary Miller
• Anne & Ned Pride ’76
• Carol Flynn-Rice & Peter Rice
• Dorothy Sanders & Charles Walker
• Nidia & Jorge Schuhmacher
• Pamela & George Thorpe
• Barbara & James Waterhouse
• Nancy Watters & Stephen Sayre
• Sandra & Chester Williams
• Anne-Marie & Thomas Woodhouse

Please contact Shannon Ollerhead at shannon_ollerhead@milton.edu or 617-898-2374 with any questions regarding the Class I 2008 Parent Gift. Gifts must be received by June 30, 2008.