Monthly Musings

This is part of an ongoing series of informal communications with Portsmouth Abbey School's constituents. Current parents, alumni, past parents and friends have all expressed an interest in hearing more about our school, more often. It is meant to be one element among a number of activities designed to keep you better informed about the School, the Monastery and our community.

Commencement Weekend 2005 
Of the many awards and prizes given at Prize Day, on Saturday, May 28, the highest honor was received by Alassandra DeSisto '05 who received the coveted William Griffin Kelley Memorial Trophy. This award was established in memory of the teacher of English and Greek and by vote of the faculty is given to the member of the sixth former who has made the most significant contribution to academic, athletic and extracurricular life of the School and demonstrates qualities of humaneness, humility and humor.

In addition, class of 2005 members; John Bay, Craig Bazarsky, Alassandra DeSisto, David Dufresne, Elena Fedyszyn, Susan Ferrara, Kacie Harrington and D. Tyler Harvey were inducted into the Cum Laude Society.

The coaching staff and athletic director selected Sixth Formers Bennet Albertson, John Bay, Albert Beaulieu, Alassandra DeSisto, D. Tyler Harvey and Amanda McDonnell for membership into the Portsmouth Abbey Athletic Association, for having exhibiting outstanding ability, sportsmanship, leadership, effort and dedication in each of the three athletic seasons.

Sunday's Commencement was a joyful mix of smiles and tears as 85 students received diplomas marking this great transition of their lives. The Very Reverend Don Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B., Prior Administrator, gave the Invocation followed by a hymn and remarks by Headmaster Dr. De Vecchi. Graduates Paul Willis '05 and Lahna Son-Cundy '05 presented the class gift which is the commission of a raven to be sculpted and bronze-cast by Brother Gregory Havill, O.S.B., in honor of Father Damian Kearney O.S.B. '45 who will be retiring from teaching this year.  Board of Regents Chairman David E. Moran '71 then greeted the community and Christopher McCarthy '05 delivered a valedictory address, full of humor and goodwill to his fellow classmates as he recapped his experiences of boarding school life.

Syndicated columnist and political commentator E.J. Dionne Jr.'69 gave an insightful Commencement Address. He remarked with optimism upon this generation's capable mix of 1960's idealism and 1980's pragmatism.  He alluded to the values highlighted in Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" applauding the continued relevance of living the ideals of the American dream today.  Graduates then received their diplomas and enjoyed a reception in the auditorium.

Ravens End the Spring Athletic Season with 6 Southeastern New England League Titles!
The spring sports season turned out to be one of the best we've had in Abbey history. This season, varsity teams won 75% of their games and brought home six SENE Championships. The Boys' Golf team emerged victorious in the SENE tournament with Garrett Thompson '05 as the leading individual scorer and Matthew Cox '06 finishing 1 stroke behind. The Varsity Softball team defeated Marianapolis Prep 12-3 in unfavorable weather conditions to bring home the SENE Championship title for the second year in a row. The Girls' Varsity Lacrosse team defeated the strong Moses Brown squad 15-4 to secure the SENE Championship as the entire team worked together to finalize the victory, remaining undefeated in the SENE. Boys' and Girls' Track dominated their SENE opponents the entire season and both clinched championship titles. Several SENE and School records were broken by our track athletes (please visit team page for details). Finally, the Boys' Varsity Lacrosse team defeated Hyde School 10-5 in an exciting, well-fought championship game. The team played hard and kept focus despite the large, vocal crowd of Hyde fans.

The Varsity Sailing team had an exciting trip to the west coast, where they finished in sixth place in the High School Sailing Fleet Nationals (the Mallory Trophy) held May 13-15 at the Port Angeles Yacht Club in Port Angeles, Washington. The Ravens were one of only twenty teams nationwide to qualify for the regatta. Accompanied by Head Coach Aroline Seibert, the eight students who participated were Fourth Formers Juan Maegli and Ian Parks; Fifth Formers John Gray Parker, Ann Power, Ben Quatromoni and Graham Sparks; and Sixth Formers Whitney Messinger and Josh Parks. 
 
The team finished fifth on the first day with Juan Maegli and John Gray Parker winning their first race. On Sunday, Ben Quatromoni and team co-captain Josh Parks won their race to finish sixth overall for the nation. Juan Maegli, John Gray Parker and Ian Parks sailed in the A Division and placed third while Josh Parks, Ann Power, Ben Quatromoni and Graham Sparks sailed in the B Division and placed seventh. Co-captain Whitney Messinger provided support.
 
Portsmouth Abbey was the top team from New England, beating St. George's, Tabor Academy, and Milton Academy.  The Abbey placed sixth overall behind Point Loma High School, CA; Newport Harbor High School, CA; Severn School of Annapolis, MD; Martin County School, FL, and Marin Catholic School, CA.

Please click here to visit the Athletic portion of the School website for additional results and highlights for all teams.  Congratulations to all coaches and athletes on a great season!

The Spring Concert 2005 
The Abbey Players presented a wonderful spring concert. Pro Deo musicians performing were Kunwoo Kim '08 and Ja Kyung Lee '08 on flute; Ja Eun Lee '06, Na Hyun Lee '07 and Victor Yoon '07 on violin; Isaac Holmstrom '08 and Jonathan Samorajski '08 on viola; Graham Skinner '08 on tenor saxophone and Courtney Mitchell '06 on harp.

Abbey Singers include: altos- Elizabeth Dennis '08, Julie Dufresne '06, Becky Findlay '06, Bryna Hautau '07, Beatrice Merz '06, Kaity Wilson '06; sopranos- Christina Horton '08, Caroline Mason, '08 Mary McDonough '07, Courtney Mitchell '06, Naseemah Mohamed '08; baritones- Andrew Brainerd '06, Anthony Crowley '06, Jesahel Cantarell-Cachoa '06 and Peter Werhahn '06; tenors- Traver Tishio '07, Joseph Miranda '06, and Seung Joon Lee '06.  Please visit the online photo galleries of photos from the event.
 
An Honor for Senor Guerenabarrena: 
Head of Modern Languages Roberto Guerenabarrena has been selected to be a reader of Advanced Placement Examinations for the Spanish AP test for which he will spend a week in June in San Antonio, TX. Qualifying for this position requires at least 5 years of teaching experience and an extensive application process. After this exciting opportunity, Roberto expects to be able to better prepare his future students for the exams.

Special Olympics Rhode Island: On Sunday, May 3rd Portsmouth Abbey School hosted a group of more than 50 athletes from Special Olympics Rhode Island. The Special Olympics group, which is based in North Kingstown and coordinated by Head Coach Lisa McKay, joined the Abbey students and faculty for a variety of Track & Field events including the long jump and softball toss. Athletes ranged in age from 10 to 18 and each was accompanied by an Abbey student, who assisted in the course of events.  Portsmouth Abbey students worked with the athletes not only to have fun and compete to the best of their abilities, but to uphold the mission of the Special Olympics: "...develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community." Portsmouth Abbey School Director of Recreational Athletics, Becky Swissler organized the event on campus and plans to collaborate with Special Olympics Rhode Island to host the event on campus again next year.  Please visit the online photo galleries of photos from the event.


Jessica Reilly, sister of Mike '07 was the lucky winner of two tickets to see U2 at the Fleet Center and dinner at Radius in Boston! The Parents' Committee wishes to thank all those who purchased tickets for the U2 Raffle, which raised over $8,000.  All of the money will go towards making improvements to the common rooms in each of the dorms before the students return to school in the fall.

A Mass celebrating the confirmation of 44 Abbey students took place on May 1, 2005.  Confirmandi included: Third Form:  Bryan Abraham, Max Almanzor, Ian Armstrong, Kathleen Behan, Michael Behan, Michelle Brereton, James Buckley, Elizabeth Childs, M. Katie Collins, Johanna Davenport, Katie Dempsey, Elizabeth Dennis, Marissa Edmonds, Taylor Hansen, E. Kendall Harty, Harry Holden, Evan Hourihan, Jonathan Hughes, Emily Hugo, Brittany Hunt, Max Hutchins, Jonathan Jaxtimer, Kunwoo Kim, Raymond Klemmer, Jean-Paul Lagace, Carl Lichtenfels, Claire McCarthy, Maggie McCarthy, Amelia O'Donnell, Elizabeth Papi, Brianne Rok, David Ruhfel, Kevin Walsh, Fourth Form: Katie Coaty, Caroline Johnson, Na Hyun Lee, Lucy Wallace  Fifth Form: Thomas Harty, Thomas Heister, Diego Najera, Elena Wright Sixth Form: D. Tyler Harvey, Patrick Tobin, and Adam Towler.  Please visit the online photo galleries of photos from the event.

Rhode Island Reception: On May 19th over 120 Portsmouth Abbey School parents, alumni, and friends gathered in the Winter Garden for an evening filled with good news and optimism for the School.  One of the clear highlights of the evening was the performance of the Abbey Singers, who delighted audiences with three numbers, including the African song Siahamba.  Third form student Caroline Mason '08 graced the audience with a brilliantly performed Mozart aria as well.  Throughout the reception students Courtney Mitchell '06 and Kunwoo Kim '08 impressed guests with their abilities on the harp and flute respectively. 

Please join Portsmouth Abbey School as we come to your area in the near future.  We will be at the home of Kimberlee and John Phelan in Princeton, NJ on June 9th from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.  This reception is open to all in the Portsmouth Abbey community. 

For more information, or to RSVP, to any Portsmouth Abbey School event please contact Jenna Flynn at 401.683.2007 or rsvp@portsmouthabbey.org.  We hope to see you soon!

To see pictures from recent on and off campus Portsmouth Abbey School events please visit our online photo galleries.

ONLY 5 WEEKS LEFT!  Whether you have a pledge that you need to pay or have simply waited to make your gift, now is the time to make your 2004-2005 Portsmouth Abbey School Annual Fund donation.  Please visit www.portsmouthabbey.org/makeagift to make a secure online gift, send a check to Portsmouth Abbey School Annual Fund, or contact Polly Carter at 401.643.1204 or pcarter@portsmouthabbey.org.

Summer School registration deadline is quickly approaching!  Where else could your son or daughter learn to hoist a spinnaker, buy his or her own stocks, build a stage set and unearth a fossil all in one place?  Right here at Portsmouth Abbey, on our fun-filled Narragansett Bay campus!  Portsmouth Abbey Summer School also affords the opportunity for students to play sports, ride and care for horses, and meet students from many countries around the world. Outside of classes and sports, there is plenty of time for the beach, trips into Newport, Providence, Boston and Martha's Vineyard. Check out the Summer School web page and contact Robert Sahms, Summer School Director, at 401.643.1225 with any questions.

Answer to the April Musings Question:  "In which year was the windmill that is now at Prescott Farm moved there from its previous location on the Portsmouth Abbey School campus?"

1969. Kudos to faculty member David Pillsbury who found the answer at www.newportrestoration.com:
The WINDMILL is a smock style mill built originally in 1812. It has four vanes for sails and somewhat uniquely, two sets of stones. The mill was restored by Newport Restoration Foundation in 1971 with additional work done in the 1980s and a new shaft installed in 1998. The mill was built and used in Warren, RI in connection with a distillery. It was then moved to Fall River, MA and worked there for several years. In the late 1860s, early 70s, Robert Sherman acquired and moved the mill to Quaker Hill in Portsmouth (East Main Road). The mill was moved once more, this time to Lehigh Hill (West Main Road), again in Portsmouth. It became idle in the early 20th century and remained so, in ever deteriorating condition, until NRF, in 1969, acquired and moved the mill several miles south on West Main Road to Prescott Farm. The mill is known as the Sherman Mill.

The May Question of the Month:  When was the last time that Portsmouth Abbey School Athletics won six league titles in one season?  Please email answers to communications@portsmouthabbey.org.


We welcome you questions, comments, and suggestions!

Kathy Heydt Director of Communications

Melinda Laucks Communications Asistant

For all issues related to the School, please contact Tony Klemmer at tklemmer@portsmouthabbey.org or Jim De Vecchi at jdevecchi@portsmouthabbey.org at any time. We welcome the opportunity to hear from you.

Tony Klemmer '73 Assistant Headmaster Institutional Stewardship

Jim De Vecchi Headmaster

Visit our web site at: www.portsmouthabbey.org