Portsmouth Abbey School - Monthly Musings Current

Siemens Award to Jina Kim '09: Portsmouth's Jina Kim has been selected a 2007-8 winner of the prestigious Siemens Award for Advanced Placement for the State of Rhode Island. Kim, a Fifth Form boarding student, is the daughter of Sung Won Cho and Hak Sung Kim of Seoul, Korea. As a state winner, Jina will receive a $2,000 college scholarship from the Siemens Foundation.

The Siemens Award nationally recognizes one male and one female student from each of the 50 states who have earned the greatest number of scores of "5" on exams in the following Advanced Placement (AP) courses: Biology; Calculus BC; Chemistry; Computer Science AB; Environmental Science; Statistics; Physics C Mechanics; and Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. In order to qualify for the Award, a student must be enrolled in high school and attain a score of "5" on at least two of the exams considered for the Award. Selection for the Award is based on data from the College Board's Advanced Placement Report to the Nation which recognizes those high schools that are leading the country in AP participation and performance in science, math and technology. The College Board selects the winners based upon their AP scores.

Portsmouth Abbey Mathematics Department Head Mr. John Platt said of her achievement: "Jina has distinguished herself as one of the more gifted and hardworking mathematics students the School has seen in the past few years. Last year as a Fourth Former, Jina was honored as the School winner and top Rhode Island student on the American Mathematics Competition (AMC 10) in 2007. She qualified for the prestigious American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME) in 2007 and she qualified again for the AIME in 2008. In addition, Jina's performance on the New England Mathematics League competition has earned her the top student in the School for 2008. Given her passion and commitment to excellence in the classroom, Jina had the wonderful opportunity to work with Dr. De Vecchi this past year and study Topology and other interesting advanced mathematical material. I have every reason to believe she will continue to shine in and out of the classroom." Congratulations, Jina!

Summer Program Highlights New Courses, Enrichment Activities: At an information session held in the School Auditorium on February 28, the 2008 Summer Program was unveiled, highlighting new courses, unique enrichment activities and lots of extracurricular fun for students who attend this year's session, which will take place from June 29 through July 26.

"Each summer we are delighted to welcome present students, children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends of Portsmouth Abbey Alumni and students to the Summer Program," said Summer Program Director Mr. Peter O'Connor. "It is always interesting to learn of their connection to the Abbey while watching them discover their own unique experience of the place."

Program Details
Dates: June 29-July 26, 2008
Applicants should be rising 7th-10th graders
Tuition, Room, Board, and Books: Boarders -- $5,100; Day Students -- $2,900

For more information, contact Peter O'Connor at summer@portsmouthabbey.org; (401) 643-1225 (Summer Program office); or (401) 643-1253 (home office), or visit the School Web site at www.portsmouthabbey.org/page/1994. Summer Program registration is now available online; click here!

All-School Retreat: Rev. Bernard Murphy, CFR '73 was one of three leaders at this year's all-School Lenten retreat, held on February 7. Father Bernard, the worldwide superior of the Capuchin Friars of the Renewal (CFR), was back on the campus for the first time in many years and addressed the school community. His talk centered on his years after Portsmouth when he went to work with the poor in Appalachia and first felt a yearning to know Jesus as truly as did some of the impoverished mountaineers with whom he worked. He went on to describe his order and its work in the inner city, its impressive growth in the last decade to over 100 friars, and its continuing geographic expansion. He also spoke movingly of his work with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity, and the tremendous epiphany he experienced while working for Mother Teresa in one of her hospitals for the indigent and dying. His remarks left a profound impression on all who heard them, and we hope to have Father Bernard return to Portsmouth soon again.

R.I. Poet Laureate, "Poetry Out Loud" Come to Portsmouth: Portsmouth Abbey will participate in this year's "Poetry Out Loud," a national recitation contest sponsored by The Poetry Foundation and The National Endowment for the Arts.

To kick off this exciting program, the Abbey was fortunate to have the Poet Laureate of Rhode Island, Mrs. Lisa Starr, visit the School on January 28 and recite poems at morning assembly. Mrs. Starr was joined by Mr. Brian Platt, a representative of the Rhode Island affiliate of "Poetry Out Loud." Together, they visited classrooms and coached students on their recitations. During conference period that day, students and faculty were invited to join Mrs. Starr and Mr. Platt in the Auditorium, where students were able to recite a poem that was then critiqued by Mrs. Starr and Mr. Platt. Caroline Mason '08, Ed Kielb '11 and Naseemah Mohamed '08 all received the benefit of Mrs. Starr's and Mr. Platt's expertise as they took to the stage with their interpretations of poems and soliloquies by Wallace Stevens, Shakespeare and James Joyce's "Ulysses."

Read the full story and view photos of the January 28 Poetry Session.

School Poetry Winners Advance to State Competition: On Wednesday night, February 27, 18 Abbey students competed for the opportunity to represent the School at the state level of "Poetry Out Loud." The boys and girls recited from memory poems ranging from the eras of Elizabeth I and Rudyard Kipling to Mary Oliver and Carl Dennis.

After much deliberation, the judges have named the top four: First Place - Caroline Mason '08 for her delivery of "Fever 103" by Sylvia Plath; Second Place - Courtney Rutledge '09 with "On Monsieur's Departure," attributed to Queen Elizabeth I; Third Place - Kerry Klemmer '09 with Plath's "Fever 103"; and Honorable Mention - Ugomma Eze '11, reciting "Forgetfullness" by Billy Collins. Courtney Rutledge will now represent the School in the state competition to be held in March 2008.

Congratulations to all of our student participants for a job well done. Read the entire story of the School "Poetry Out Loud" competition.

College Counseling Head Ms. Mary McDonald to Represent R.I. at National Conference: Ms. Mary McDonald, Portsmouth's director of college counseling, has been asked by the New England Association for College Admission Counseling to join their Governmental Relations Committee and to represent Rhode Island at the National Association for College Admission Counseling's National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., March 9-12. Delegates will receive training on advocacy skills, Federal policies and regulations that affect the college counseling profession, and financial aid issues. Each delegate will meet with his or her U.S. Senator and home district's Congressman. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), founded in 1937, is an organization of more than 10,000 professionals from around the world dedicated to serving students as they make choices about pursuing post-secondary education.

Jonathan Hughes '08 Named National Merit Finalist: Jonathan Hughes '08 has been awarded a Certificate of Merit from the National Merit Scholarship Program and has advanced to finalist standing in the Merit Scholarship competition for 2008. The Sixth Form student, from Medfield, Mass., has met the program requirements by "demonstrating through distinguished performance high potential for future academic accomplishment." He is one of just 15,000 students nationwide to receive this distinction. Jonathan is now in the running to receive one of 8,200 Merit Scholarships that will be given out later this spring. Congratulations and good luck to Jonathan!

Dom Paschal Assists with New Version of New Catholic Encyclopedia: Fr. Paschal Scotti will have a hand in the new digital version of the second edition of the New Catholic Encyclopedia, considered the single most comprehensive reference resource on Catholicism. Fr. Paschal has revised and updated the entry he did ("Rhode Island, Catholic Church in") in an earlier edition of the Encyclopedia. He also revised and updated the entry, "Boston, Archdiocese of," which was written by another for the print edition of the 15-volume encyclopedia.

School Remembers Martin Luther King Jr. at Special Assembly: The School community remembered the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 21, with a special assembly in the School Auditorium, presented by students representing Cultural Awareness at Portsmouth (CAAP).

The assembly opened with the song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," regarded as the Black National Anthem, beautifully sung by Jaimie Crawl '08 and Liz Dennis '08 in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and slain U.S. civil rights leader. It was followed by a series of moving recitations by students who read excerpts from King's famed "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," a manifesto of the Negro movement that reflected Dr. King's determined, yet nonviolent, efforts to bring about equality for all races.

Emily Pederson '08 Wins Photography Award: Photographs of the street children in Cusco, Peru, taken by Emily Pederson '08 during her Haney Fellowship last summer have earned her a Silver Key Award in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2008. The national contest offers early recognition of creative teenagers and scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors. Administered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Rhode Island affiliate for the Awards Program is the R.I. Art Education Association, Rhode Island College and The Bannister Gallery at Rhode Island College.

Pederson's entry was selected by area professional artists, graphic designers and retired art educators from a large field of Rhode Island entries. The Silver Key distinction is awarded for "Artwork demonstrating achievement worthy of recognition on the regional level."

2008 Fifth Form College Seminar: More than 100 parents of current Fifth Formers attended this year's Fifth Form College Seminar Weekend, held on February 8-9 and organized by the Office of College Counseling. This year's guest speaker was Ms. Deborah Shaver, Director of Admission at Smith College, who spoke to the audience about the selection process at highly competitive colleges.

Library News: School Librarian Mrs. Roberta Stevens reports that the library has just finished adding 140 new art books, primarily architecture titles, to the School's collection. They are the donation of the Richard Giegengack '59, recently deceased. The former upstairs microfilm room has been converted into our School's second art book reading room. Mrs. Stevens said, "I am grateful to the maintenance crews for removing the old counters, painting, moving all the equipment and installing the book shelves."

Warner Premiere Films "The Clique" on Campus: Many thanks to Jon Kuyper '85, vice president for physical production at Warner Premiere, who made it possible for Portsmouth Abbey to host a real Hollywood film crew on campus in February. Jon brought his production crew to Portsmouth to make use of Abbey scenery and structures for a direct-to-DVD movie based on the popular book series called The Clique, about four teenagers in seventh grade at a private day school in Westchester County, New York.

The convoy of wardrobe, dressing room and prop trucks arrived on February 20 and began filming early the next morning. Students were given the opportunity to volunteer as "extras" that day for the Dining Hall scene that was shot on our yearly Headmaster's Holiday. Although the day proved long, it was an exciting time for students and provided some insight into the hard work and massive manpower that goes into film and video production. Students were also given the opportunity to meet Jon and ask questions about life in the entertainment industry as he appeared at morning assembly and then chatted in the Student Center during Friday's conference period.

The crew coped with the vagaries of New England weather and finished up on the 26^thwith several scenes taking place in and around the School bus, affectionately called "The Raven." The experience proved to be rewarding for all, and Portsmouth Abbey School is grateful to Jon Kuyper for providing this wonderful winter break for our students and an interesting behind-the-scenes look into the business of making movies.

For an insider's look at the filming of The Clique at Portsmouth, click (no pun intended...) here.

Annual Fund Reminder: Less than four months remain to make your 2007-8 Annual Fund donation! Your participation is vital to our success in meeting our 2007-8 Annual Fund goal of $1,300,000. If you have not already made your donation, please click here to make your online gift today. Thank you to everyone who has already made a gift to the 2007-8 Annual Fund; we are 63% of the way there! Your support and generosity are greatly appreciated.

Students Display Culinary Prowess at First "Iron Chef" Competition: The School's first "Iron Chef" Competition was held on Sunday, February 17, to rave reviews and promises of a return engagement next year.

Eight teams, representing each House, gathered in the Stillman Dining Hall on Sunday afternoon, donned their chef's attire (chef's coats, hats and colored team scarves), and were given their assignment by Chef Patrick: create an appetizer, entr�e and dessert in 90 minutes, using a secret ingredient - revealed to be ramen noodles - in each dish.

The teams had the full reign of the kitchen and set off in a flurry of activity. According to Mr.Bob Cicerone, director of dining services, "Every team seemed to have a 'plan of attack' in place, as they got a 'lay of the land,' staked out their territory in the kitchen, and selected the ingredients they would need from a vast array of fresh vegetables, fruits, chicken, shrimp, beef and fresh herbs that Chef Stephanie had laid out for them. Since they were working against the clock, the competition was intense, and the passion for cooking was obvious."

For the rest of the story and photos of the event, click here.

The 2008 Carnegie Abbey Summer Youth Activities Program Available to Portsmouth Abbey Community: The 2008 Carnegie Abbey summer youth program is back, and it's better than ever! Opportunities to participate in a wide range of fun water sports (sailing, kayaking and more), high-performance camps (for committed tennis, squash and golf players), personalized mini-camps, and general youth camps, with activities including performing arts, swim lessons and archery, are open to all members (current and past) of the Portsmouth Abbey community. For additional information and a full schedule of camps and activities, contact Wayne Turner, Carnegie Abbey's director of youth activities, at (401) 682-6000, email: tennis@CarnegieAbbeyClub.com.

For a full listing of Portsmouth Abbey's summer camps, including squash, soccer, tennis, running camp and lacrosse, click here and go to the drop-down menu.

Portsmouth Abbey Upcoming Events:

March 4: Vero Beach; Hosts: Mr. & Mrs.James Mulholland '79 at their home
March 5: Palm Beach; Hosts: Mr. & Mrs. Barry Donahue '68 at their home
April 3: Philadelphia Dinner at The Palm ; Hosts: Mr. John M. Ryan '53, Mr. Ralph A. Mariani '66 and Mr. Tom Anderson '73
April 8: New Jersey; at Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, NJ; Hosts: Mr. & Mrs. John Hagerty '82 and Mr. & Mrs. David Lohuis P'10
April 9: Washington, DC, at the Metropolitan Club; Hosts: Mr. & Mrs. Adam Augustine Carter '83, Mr. & Mrs. Outerbridge Horsey '71 and Mr. & Mrs. Michael Bartlett '72
April 21: Los Angeles; James' Beach, Venice, CA
April 30: Chicago; The Racquet Club; Host: Mr. William FitzSimons '86
May 8: R.I. Reception
May 18: Alumni Lacrosse Game, Portsmouth Abbey
Please contact Mrs. Fran Cook at rsvp@portsmouthabbey.org if you would like to attend, or have any questions about, our events

December Question of Month: In what year was the Tuck Shop founded? While an older School yearbook states that the Tuck Shop was founded in 1942 by Butch Hurley '43, our resident School historian, Dom Damian '45, indicates otherwise: "I believe the Tuck Shop began very early in the School's history, certainly in the early 1930s -- it was very much in place in 1938 when my brother first came to the school. The name is an English term referring to this sort of shop; the Oxford Dictionary defines it as: 'school slang for eatables, delicacies, like candy, and things which you would sell in such a shop.' It may have been given this name by Dom Hugh, who had established a Tuck Shop at St. George's, as he did like things English. But the name and shop may also have started with Dr. Bateman from England, who relieved Dom Hugh as Headmaster in 1933, I believe. He introduced many English customs, and this may have been one.

"Tuck Shop was run by a woman who came in for that purpose and was located in the basement of what is now the Student Center (Dr. Michael Bonin's current office). There it remained until 1950 when it moved to the (old) gym which was completed in that year. From there it went to the Barn, where the present Art Center is, and then it returned to the place where it originated, only not in the basement but on the first floor. This building (the current Student Center) was transformed into an Art Center, then became the Student Center. Buildings and places have a way of returning to their origins!"

Dom Damian cites references to a Tuck Shop in the 1933 Raven: "From the profits of the Tuck Shop and the tennis court funds, a new tennis court was constructed named Court 5." In the Christmas 1934 issue of the Raven: "Prohibition has come to the Tuck Shop. The sale of Coca-Cola has been stopped." In whatever year the Tuck Shop was actually founded, it has become an indispensable part of student life at Portsmouth!

January/February Question of Month: Can you name the Portsmouth alum who has received a Rhodes Scholarship and the year in which that occurred? 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

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