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.

De Vecchis Return from Asia:  Welcome home to Dr. and Mrs. De Vecchi, who have just returned from a very rewarding, if whirlwind, three-week trip through Asia on behalf of the School.  We're giving Dr. De Vecchi some time to get his feet under him and will look forward to him sharing his thoughts and observations about his trip in December's Monthly Musings.

Abbey Players Delight with "You Can't Take It With You":  During the second week of November, The Abbey Players presented the 1930s madcap romantic comedy, You Can't Take It With You.  The Pulitzer Prize-winning play, which was a smash Broadway hit, is set in the living room of the Sycamore family, a good-natured but eccentric group of individuals who decide to give up working in order to have fun and enjoy life.  Each family member follows his or her passion by taking up ballet, playwriting, painting, playing the xylophone, snake hunting and making homemade fireworks.  They discover that by pursuing happiness, "Life is kind of beautiful if you let it come to you."  Things get exciting--and even funnier--when the uptight, conservative and wealthy Kirby family, whose son has fallen in love with the Sycamore's daughter, comes to visit.

The wild, wacky and wonderful play (see photos) delighted audiences, beginning mid-week with a performance to 200 students from St. Philomena School and The Pennfield School.  It was followed by three additional performances over the weekend to the Portsmouth Abbey School community and the general public.

Kudos go to Mr. Jay Bragan, head of Performing Arts, who masterfully directed the 22 talented students who made up the cast, and Brother Joseph Byron, who worked with eight students on the crew to create a beautiful and realistic set.  The play was favorably reviewed in the local newspaper and was broadcast on the local affiliate of Cox Cable during the month of November.  Next up for The Abbey Players:  the blockbuster musical, West Side Story, which will be presented on February 16, 17 and 18, 2007.  Stay tuned!

Dom Caedmon Holmes Addresses School Community on All Saints Day:  In commemoration of All Saints Day, Dom Caedmon Holmes addressed the School community at Mass on November 1.  His inspiring homily began:  "Today the Church celebrates the fulfillment of...its ...hope, in those men and women known and unknown, who, whenever and wherever they lived and whatever the circumstances of their lives, are now 'with God.'" (Butler's Lives of the Saints, new full edition, under November 1).  Read Dom Caedmon's homily in its entirety.

Top-Flight Squash Camps--Including Acclaimed Talbott Squash Academy--Announced for Summer 2007:  In Summer 2007, two separate and highly reputable squash camps will take place on campus, offering both boarding and day camp options for up-and-coming squash players.  Of particular note is that The Talbott Squash Academy (TSA) will be held for the first time at Portsmouth Abbey.  This nationally known boarding squash camp for boys and girls ages 12- to-15 will attract junior players from all over the country who wish to learn from the best and compete with other players at a high level.  The camp is run by squash legend Mark Talbott, the top-ranked professional squash player in the world for 12 years in the 1980s and 1990s.  TSA is the Official National Training Center of the U.S. Squash Racquets Association and is considered the top junior training center in the world.  The two sessions at Portsmouth Abbey will take place July 14-20 and July 21-27.  Choose one or both sessions. Click here for more information, or go to www.tsasquash.com.

The Portsmouth Abbey Squash Camp, in its third year, is for boys and girls 10-to-15 years of age who are seeking a fun day camp environment in which to build a solid foundation in squash skills.  The camp targets the development and promotion of youth squash in the greater Providence and East Bay (RI) area.  Michael Riley will again be heading up the 2007 camp.  Mike's relaxed attitude coupled with his extensive technical knowledge gives players an opportunity to learn from the best while being in a fun atmosphere.  Daniela Schumann and Joe Kneipp (WPSA player/coaches) from Amsterdam will once again join Mike to add more top expertise to this program.  The elite caliber of coach and low player-to-coach ratio could make this the best teaching camp for 2007.  The camp will be held July 9-13, 2007.  For more information, visit Summer Sports Programs.             

Fall Athletic Assembly Honors Skill, Sportsmanship:  Athletes, coaches and the concepts of "team" and sportsmanship were all celebrated on November 29 at the 2006 Fall Athletic Assembly.  Dr. De Vecchi, calling School athletes "our greatest representatives to the outside world," paid tribute to the boys, girls and coaches who participated in fall Varsity and JV sports.  He lead off the Assembly by lauding the Girls' Varsity Soccer Team, which captured its first-ever SENE League Championships.  School Athletic Director Al Brown echoed Dr. De Vecchi's accolades, congratulating all athletes on the exemplary conduct they displayed throughout the season.  He pointed out that, for five of the past six years, Portsmouth Abbey School has been recognized by the SENE league as demonstrating the highest level of sportsmanship, an honor more important to the School mission than a team's win-loss record.  Still, Mr. Brown praised all teams for having the most successful fall athletic season in several years. 

Football's Most Improved Player, Yong Seok Kim (VI), spoke impressively of the most valuable lesson he has learned from playing sports at Portsmouth Abbey:  "I have learned what it means to be a 'team'...last year, I sat on the bench, but I still helped others get ready and still cheered from the sides, and I was still part of the 'team.'  I will not be able to play football any more when I return home to Korea, but I thank my teammates and coaches for giving me this opportunity.  I will never forget my great memories of my 'team' at Portsmouth Abbey."  Visit our Web site for a complete listing of Fall Athletic Awards and to see photos.  

First Faculty Seminar Highlights Early 19^th-Century Social Dynamics:  The first "Faculty Seminar" took place on Tuesday evening, October 24, in the Conference Room of the Administration Building.  Bowen Smith, Abbey history teacher, gave a short presentation on the subject, "Radical Sociability in Early 19^th-Century New York," which was followed by a Q&A session.  

Bowen's talk focused on his research into the social dynamic that Thomas Addis Emmet, William James Macneven and other exiled figures from the revolutionary United Irishmen encountered upon their arrival in New York City in 1805.  Met with hostility from the Federalists and brotherly affection from the Jeffersonian Republicans, these predominantly Protestant-Irish republicans assimilated into professions, parishes, Masonic lodges and even coffee houses segregated by ideology.  Of his research findings, Bowen said, "We have long known how politically divided early 19th-Century New York was, but the experience of these educated Irish immigrants reveals that the divisions extended deep into what we once assumed to be non-political spheres of everyday life."

The purpose of the Faculty Seminar is to give a faculty member the opportunity to discuss a research project, in progress or completed, to enrich interested faculty and to afford the presenter the opportunity to obtain feedback from colleagues.  The initial seminar was very well received, and while the seminars are currently open only to School faculty, consideration will be given next year to make them available to the extended School community. 

Parents' Committee Introduces The World of Portsmouth Abbey!  Mark your calendars!!  On Saturday, February 10, 2007, the PAS Parents' Committee will hold its inaugural Dinner and Auction to benefit on-campus student needs. Called The World of Portsmouth Abbey, the evening will take place in Stillman Dining Hall, which will be transformed into a colorful environment that reflects the international diversity of our School community.  The event will include a sumptuous dinner and both a silent and live auction.  Music will be provided by Jazz Candy, and various student performances will take place throughout the evening.  All proceeds from this year's event will support the rehabilitation of the Student Center.  The Parents' Committee, headed by Tish Behan (P '08) (mbehan333@aol.com) and Kristin Hughes (P '08) (tjhughes5@aol.com), is looking for auction donations, event sponsors and advertisers for the program.  Please contact the committee for an advertising or sponsorship package, or to donate an auction item.  If you'd like to purchase a raffle ticket for matching "His 'n Hers" Vespa scooters (black and red, of course!), visit our on-line Bookstore.  Look for your invitation to arrive in the mail in early January, and we'll hope to see you on February 10^th!!

Portsmouth Abbey Attends Brown Model UN, November 2006: Debating, negotiating, sparring, compromising, and drafting formal resolutions with some 700 fellow students from as far away as Huntington Beach, California, fourteen Abbey students attended the Brown Model United Nations, November 10-12, in Providence, RI.  Most of the students represented the countries of Hungary and Afghanistan; however, Peter Tasca (IV) role-played Mohandas Gandhi in the special historical simulation on India (1947), and Max Almanzor (V) role-played a Zapatista revolutionary captain in the special historical simulation on Mexico.  Jonathan Samorajski (V) headed the delegation and served as Hungary's representative to NATO.  Also representing Hungary were Soo Ho Ahn (IV), Liz Childs (V), Libby Sacco (IV), and Lilli Donahue (IV).  Representing Afghanistan were Colleen Kennedy (V), Seung Yoon Yang (IV), Robert LeMeur (IV), Micaela Adams (V), Sun Young Lee (IV), Ji Hyun Kim (IV), and Sun Kyoung Choi (IV). Delegates addressed such timely issues as microcredit, inequality in income distribution, water resource management, and nuclear proliferation. Dr. Fred Zilian and Mr. Greg Kierstead served as advisors.

New Dorm Update:  In spite of some rather soggy weather in recent weeks, the new dorm is on budget and on schedule, according to School Facilities Director Paul Jestings.  During the past few weeks, great progress has been made, including the installation of new water, sprinkler and sewer mains; the foundation is nearly 90 percent complete; and a new underground tank, that supplies oil/heat for St. Benet's, St. Mary's, St. Bede's, both gyms, and now this new dorm, has been installed and is in operation.  In addition, new prototype touch-less, water-saving faucets have been installed in various places around campus to check their operation and functionality and to obtain feedback from users.  Check out recent construction photos.

Alumni/Development Events:  On November 6, the Alumni and Development Office held its ever-popular Boston Reception.  More than 75 parents, alumni and friends of Portsmouth Abbey School enjoyed a beautiful fall evening and wonderful fare at Abe and Louie's restaurant on Boylston Street. The reception was hosted by Ben '79 and Janet Howe and John and Mary Power (P '06, '08).  Highlighting the event was a presentation given by Dan McDonough, Associate Headmaster, and Patrick Burke '86, Assistant Headmaster for Development, who updated the crowd on current Portsmouth Abbey projects.  Plans were unveiled for the new Girls' Dormitory which drew much interest from the guests. The next Alumni/Development event will be The Abbot's Reception, on Tuesday, December 5, 2006, at the New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44^th Street, in New York City. The reception will be hosted by Mr. and Mrs. William M. Keogh '78, Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Dowd '84, and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Ruggieri '81.  If you would like to join us, please contact Fran Cook at fcook@portsmouthabbey.org or (401) 643-1281 in the Alumni Office.

Young Alumni College Seminar Pairs Recent Grads with Sixth Formers:  On Thursday, November 9, the School hosted its first Sixth Form, Young Alumni College Seminar. The one-hour speaking portion of the program provided this year's Sixth Formers with an unfiltered forum in which to ask questions of current college students who attended Portsmouth Abbey.  Each alumnus spoke of his or her main source of anxiety as he or she began their college journey and how they overcame that anxiety. Questions included what to expect should a student pursue athletic participation at the college level.

By all accounts the event was a success, with the Sixth Formers leaving armed with a great deal of first-hand knowledge about life on a college campus.  Perhaps as importantly, the young alumni returned to their respective colleges knowing that they had given back to their alma mater.  Special thanks go to Niamh Bohan '03 (Boston College), Brendan Hewett '03 (Saint Anselm College), Sam Quatromoni '03 (Holy Cross) and Rachel Wigton '05 (URI) for giving up their Thursday night to return to School and dedicate some time to helping this year's Sixth Form.   

2006 Raven Cup Kicks Off with Headmaster's Run:  School pride was in full evidence on November 13 with the Headmaster's Run, an annual event that kicks off the Raven Cup competition.  Grey skies, misty weather, puddles and mud did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the 284 participants who shot off along the two-mile course.  Click here for a complete report and photos of the Headmaster's Run, along with top finishers and Raven Cup point breakdown.

Admissions Update:  The Admissions Office has been meeting with and interviewing many excellent students who will be applying for September 2007.  We have had families visiting from as far away as Germany, the Philippines, El Salvador, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Korea as well as from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey.   

On Sunday, November 12, several prospective families were hosted by current families from the Boston area at the home of Kristin and T.J. Hughes (P '08) in Wellesley, MA.  Dan McDonough, Geri and Fred Zilian, Nick Antol and Kate Spinella represented the School.  Current Portsmouth Abbey parents Mary and John Power (P '06, '08), Doris and Wolfgang Klietmann (P '07), Kasey McCarthy (P '08), Mary McComiskey (P '09), Margaret and Rich Holden (P '08), and Tim '84 and Kathleen Cunningham (P '08, '09) all attended to meet new and prospective families and answer any questions they might have about sending their children to Portsmouth Abbey.

Summer English Program Information Now Available On-Line:  Detailed course listings, application and registration forms for the 2007 Summer English Program are now available on-line. This exciting new program will draw upon the Benedictine tradition of devotion to the spoken and written word and reflects our School's heritage of teaching students to read, write and speak well.  Two, two-week sessions will be held during July 2007 for rising 7^th- through 10^th-grade students.  In addition to obtaining a thorough grounding in the use of the English language, students will have plenty of time for fun.  You may view a detailed catalog and download application and registration forms here, or email summer@portsmouthabbey.org.

Feedback:  We heard from Courtney Mitchell '06 regarding our October report of Nathaniel Philbrick's talk, "Writing about New England and the Sea."  Courtney, who has a long-held interest in King Phillip's War (to which Mr. Philbrick had referred in his October 2 lecture), pointed out that King Phillip's War broke out in Swansea, Mass., not on Aquidneck Island.  Ms. Mitchell writes:  "...a band of Pokanoket Indians (a subsidiary tribe of the Wampanoag) began to assault several homesteads in retaliation, I believe, for the murder of a Pokanoket in Swansea several days earlier. Very little, if any, of the war actually took place on Aquidneck Island, in fact, although an important early battle occurred in what is now Little Compton, and King Phillip was killed on Mount Hope (now Bristol)."  Thank you, Courtney, for your clarification.

Answer to October Question:  Question:  Pietro Belluschi, the late architect who designed many of the School's buildings, most notably St. Gregory the Great Church and Monastery, was considered a leader of the modernist architectural movement.  What internationally recognized buildings did he also design?  Answer:  Pietro Belluschi's many internationally recognized buildings include: the Equitable Life Assurance Building in Portland, OR (the first aluminum-clad, completely sealed building with double-glazed window panels); the Pan American World Airways Building (MetLife Building) in New York City; the Bank of America World Headquarters in San Francisco; the Julliard School of Music and Alice Tully Hall in New York City; the Portland (OR) Art Museum; and the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, among others.  During his prolific 50-year career, including a 14-year stint as Dean of MIT's School of Architecture and Planning, Belluschi designed more than 1,000 buildings.

November Question:  What "new invention" first arrived on the Portsmouth Abbey School campus in March 1949?  Please email your answers to communications@portsmouthabbey.org.

We Welcome Your Input:  If you have questions, comments or ideas for Monthly Musings, please send them to the School's Communications Department at communications@portsmouthabbey.org.

Kathy Heydt Director of Communications

Kathy Stark Asst. Director of Communications

Jim De Vecchi Headmaster

Annual Archive
2003-04 Musings
2004-05 Musings
2005-06 Musings