Monthly Musings

This is part of an ongoing series of informal communications with Portsmouth Abbey School's constituents.  Current parents, alumni/ae, 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.

Summer School Deadline for Applications Fast Approaching: Summer School enrollment is proceeding at its fastest pace ever, and the deadline for applications is just around the corner. If you, or someone you know, has a child entering grades 8 through 11, this may be the perfect opportunity. Our Summer School is for academic enrichment, sport, field trips, and much, much more. Students can get a head start on the subjects they take during the school year, as well as accomplish new things - paint a self-portrait, eat a lobster, or produce a newspaper. And there is no better way to learn a new language than chatting at the beach with friends from all over the world. And the best news of all? The discount for children of alumni is still in effect...so visit the Summer School Website for further information, or contact Michael Bonin, the Director of Summer School.

Head Boy and Head Girl Elections: Joseph Chu '07 was one of 15 Fifth Formers to speak to the School community, just before the elections for next year's Head Boy and Head Girl. Joseph spoke from the heart, telling how he is "passionate about this place", and the School believed him. Over the course of the meeting, nine nominees for Head Boy spoke, followed by six for Head Girl. The platforms ranged from comical (Mike Reilly '07: "I can do more than be ridiculously good looking") to empassioned (Katie Coaty '07: "To please you, I will accommodate and exceed all of your expectations). The speeches finished with Lucy Wallace '07 stating "A good leader requires persistence; a great leader needs to know when to move from priority to priority." She concluded "it is a challenge I look forward to." When the votes were tallied, the School was delighted to learn that Lucy Wallace and Joseph Chu will be next year's student body leaders. For photos of these campaign speeches, please visit our Online Photo Galleries.

Students Chosen for Study Abroad Program: This summer 5 lucky Portsmouth Abbey students will participate in a study program abroad in Spain. Fifth Formers Chantra Pimolwatana, Jennifer Gerlach, Michael Gorman, Michael Reilly and Nashan Tiwari will spend the month of July in the beautiful city of Salamanca, where they will attend classes and receive up to 8 college credits. Students will participate daily in cultural activities and excursions to Segovia, Andalucia, and Portugal. For further information on this and other Summer Programs, please visit the new Summer Programs Website.

Prom 2006 Brings Joy and Fun on a Rainy Weekend: 210 students and 8 chaperones attended this year's prom at Glen Manor House on May 13th. Diners enjoyed the cooking and service of Blackstone Caterers, and then danced into the night to the music provided by DJ Mike Mancini. For pictures of this glamorous event, visit our Online Photo Galleries.

Portsmouth Abbey Student Wins Aquidneck World Affairs Essay Contest...Again: Zachary McCune '06 wrote the winning essay in the 2006 Aquidneck World Affairs Essay Contest & Symposium held May 11th at Salve Regina University's Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy. This year's topic was "What is the meaning and significance of globalization?" This is the fourth time in the contest's five-year existence that a Portsmouth Abbey student has won the contest. For the first time, all five secondary schools of Newport County took part, sending a total of sixteen papers to the final competition. In addition to Zack, Sun Kyoung Choi '09 submitted a paper that was also a finalist. Sun is the first Third Former and the first Portsmouth Abbey international student ever to take part in the competition. Congratulations go to all involved. Visit the News section of our Website for more, including the full version of Zack's winning essay.

Dedication of the Wind Turbine: Zack McCune '06 (see previous paragraph) reports the students' view of the dedication of the wind turbine. "On Friday May 11th, Portsmouth Abbey welcomed guests from around the state and the region for the dedication of the School's new wind turbine. The crowd of students, teachers and honored guests were greeted by James Costello '08 on the bagpipes dressed in full Highland regalia. Ominous rain clouds held off long enough for Dom Joseph Byron, O.S.B. to begin the ceremony with evident excitement. After prayers from Prior Administrator Dom Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B. and readings from Tom Harty '06 and Chris Nelson '06, the dedication began in earnest. Headmaster James DeVecchi recalled his initial shock that the School would ever consider installing such an imposing structure. Thankfully, he followed, the School decided to go forward with the project. Graphs around the tent near the base of the turbine detailed the construction and immediate success of the structure. One prominent graph demonstrated the enormous cut-back in outside energy consumption that the Abbey now enjoyed. Later, speakers from the EPA and a member of the Portsmouth Town Council, expressed their hope that the project would help stimulate the construction of similar structures throughout the area. Finishing before the rain even began, the official dedication of the School's wind turbine marked an important date in School and Monastery history." Visit our Online Photo Galleries for pictures of this historic event. Also keep checking our Wind Turbine Page for more news.

Walk for Cancer Raises Awareness and Funds: The sixth annual Walk for Cancer occurred on May 7th, following the Confirmation Mass. Close to 100 participants enjoyed the 2.5 mile tour of the outer campus, including a close up view of the new wind turbine. Walk organizers Patrick Bresnahan '06 and Steve Garner '07 report that the event has netted over $7,200 to be contributed to the American Cancer Society, eclipsing last year's mark by nearly $1,000. The Walk's creator, Keith Hoffmann '05, was able to attend again this year. The leading fund raiser was Jonathan Jaxtimer '08, with Julie Driscoll '06 also raising a substantial amount for the cause. St. Hugh's House raised the most money as a group, and will be enjoying a pizza party as the well-earned reward. For more news and events, check out our Website.

SENE Victories in Track: The Girls' Track team won the SENE Championship with an incredible team effort. Maggie McCarthy '08 won the high jump and the 800 meters. Jaimie Crawl '08 won the triple jump with the 3rd longest jump in School history. Jaimie Crawl, Sarah Taddei '09, Sade Solola '06, and Maggie McCarthy won the 1,600 meter relay and Sade Solola ran the second fastest time in School history in the 400 meters. The Boys' Track team also won the SENE Championship. Raoul Oloa '07 set a meet record in the 400 meters and ran the 4th fastest time in School history. Raoul also won the high jump and 200 meters. Zack McCune '06 won the long jump and the 110 meter hurdles. Grady McCune '07 won the javelin. Gus Gleason won the 300 meter hurdles and Chan Gyun Park '09, Gus Gleason, Raoul Oloa, and Zack McCune won the 1,600 meter relay. For more results and news, visit our Athletics Website.

Fifth Form College Seminar: On May 11^th, the College Counseling Office held the first Fifth Form College Seminar, hosting 6 College Admission professionals who led our Fifth Formers in a college application workshop, essentially letting our Fifth Formers review "mock" applications and feel like they are part of an admission committee. The College Admission professionals came from Colby College, Clark University, Connecticut College, Connecticut College, Hamilton College and Providence College. The class was split into 6 groups, each working as an admission committee deciding on 5 applicants to "Fitch College", a highly selective, small liberal arts college.  There were lively discussions and debates about the candidates and each committee arrived at different admission decisions. A representative from each group reported the decisions they had made, followed by a valuable question and answer session with the admission professionals. The students have reported that this was a good exercise, helping them to understand both the decision making process on the college side and what ingredients go into making a strong application. This was the first time we have held such an event at School, and hope this will be the first of many. For pictures of this day, please visit our Online Photo Galleries.  Also, keep checking the College Counseling Website for further updates and news from the Office. 

The Annual Fund Needs Your Gift Today! There are only 6 weeks left to make a gift to the 2005-2006 Annual Fund. Every dollar that is donated has an impact on the many lives that make up the School Community, from the classroom to the playing fields to weekend activities. The School needs your participation in order to reach its $1,100,000 goal.  Remember to keep a close eye on the new Annual Fund Progress Thermometer as June 30^th approaches.  If you have not already done so, please visit our Giving Page to make a gift today. Did you receive our Photo Slideshow E-mail? Tell us what you thought of it. You may contact Polly Carter at 401.643.1204 with questions regarding your Annual Fund donation.

Special Olympics: On Sunday, April 30th, the School welcomed North Kingstown Special Olympics onto its campus for an afternoon special track meet. 143 Portsmouth Abbey students kicked off the event by forming a human tunnel for the participants to run through. Students volunteered as buddies to the participants, and many athletes were seen with an entourage of students running the races with them or cheering them wholeheartedly from the infield of the track. Other students took more official roles in measuring the distance of the softball throw, turbojav, shot put, and running long jump. Still other students worked tirelessly under the registration tent to ensure that all races and events were announced and that the spectators always knew what was going on. This same group was responsible for organizing the many award certificates for each event, as well as announcing those award winners at the end of the day.This second annual event only lasted 3 hours, but it will live on in the hearts of the participants and volunteers forever. Although this was a Raven Cup event (based solely on participation), hosting the Special Olympics has become a great tradition which the students and faculty eagerly look forward to every year. St. Mary's House led the dorms in participation with 81% of the dorm in attendance and in doing so is now tied with Manor House and St. Hugh's for first place in the Raven Cup competition.

ENCARE Lecture Delivers Sobering Truth: In a lecture brought to the School by SADD and the ENCARE (Emergency Nurses Care Group) program, Linda Chaves, an E.R. nurse from Newport Hospital, spoke to the School community about the dangers of drinking and driving. She illustrated her point initially by sharing stories of drunk driving victims seen on the job as a nurse, but surprised the community with the subsequent revelation of her own son's death in nearby Middletown, its circumstances, and the devastating impact this has had on her entire family. Many in our community were deeply touched by Linda's words and left the auditorium somber, sad and thoughtful.

Answer to the April Question of the Month: "As the Spring tennis season gets underway, it is a good time for a tennis question. In what year did the first tennis coach begin at Portsmouth Abbey School? Bonus question: Who was it?"
I quote from the Portsmouth Raven 1935: "This year for the first time, the School had a tennis coach. Mr. Edward Kenny of Newport came out to the school several times a week to coach the tennis team and to give private lessons."

May Question of the Month:  What unusual species of tree lines the Monastery Walk and the Holy Lawn?
Please e-mail answers to communications@portsmouthabbey.org.

If you have questions, comments, or ideas, please contact the Communications Department at communications@portsmouthabbey.org.

Kathy Heydt Director of Communications

Nicky Piper Asst. Director of Communications

Tony Klemmer '73 Assistant Headmaster External Affairs

Jim De Vecchi Headmaster