Winter Sports Teams Smell Victory: A healthy mix of promising new students and veteran leadership will help lead Abbey sports teams this winter.  The girls hockey team has depth this year with several talented newcomers, a solid core and two captains who will be strong leaders.  The team opened up with three impressive wins at the Pingree Holiday Tournament on Dec.12-13th led by three consecutive hat-tricks by Kelley McShane ‘05.  Another tough schedule awaits the boys hockey team, as they play traditional hockey powers, Pingree, Brunswick, and St. George’s, but the Ravens are optimistic about the season.  On December 19, the team will compete in the highly competitive Brooks-Pingree Holiday Tournament.  Coach Derek Gittus is hopeful that many talented newcomers will complement the solid returning nucleus of quick, disciplined, and enthusiastic players.  The squash program is excited about the prospect of the new 8-court facility and fitness center later in the spring of 2004, which will make on and off court training easier.  The team returns a strong base from last year, including 4-year starter and captain, Jason Bazarsky ‘04.  The coaching staff adds Pat Cosquer, former Bates College captain and Northwestern University coach to its already strong coaching lineup of Brian Clifford and squash professional and champion, Mike Riley.  The swim team’s motto is, “swim fast” and have over 20 swimmers participating this winter, a more than 50% increase from last year.  Four-year swimmers, Lindsay O’Hara ’04 and Eamon McGlynn ’04 will look to improve on their individual times and lead the team to a better team record. The girls basketball squad will have four solid newcomers to complement the five senior leaders, including captains Whitney Connell ’04 and Kim Taylor ‘04. The team opens against perennial rival, Moses Brown.   The boys basketball team’s fast-paced offense and pressure defense will give opponents fits this winter.  The combination of depth and experience will help the team battle tough opponents such as St. Andrew’s and St. George’s.  On the weekend of December 12-13th, the Runnin’ Ravens defeated Middlesex, Kents Hill School, and St. Sebastian’s in dramatic fashion to win the Huckins Tournament in Concord, MA.  The Ravens look to finish one of the top teams in the SENE this winter!  Stay tuned to the new website for continually updated scores and highlights.

Summer School Summer 2004 will mark the 61st Summer School at Portsmouth Abbey.  Students entering grades 8 through 11 will find exciting enrichment and advancement classes in our five-week program as well as opportunities to make friends with students from around the world and opportunities for fun in the afternoons and on weekends.  For afternoon fun students can play soccer or basketball among other things and then go to the beach for a refreshing end to the afternoon.  There are also optional activities in the afternoon like sailing, equestrian, and squash. On the weekends, students go to the movies on Saturday nights and take an excursion on Sunday afternoons to such places as Plymouth Plantations, Six Flags, Boston, and Martha’s Vineyard.  In addition to the traditionally rigorous courses, Study Skills and Public Speaking, new classes such as Intensive Drama Workshop, Geology, and Digital Photography have been added for this upcoming summer.  Ask us about our discount for children of alumni.  For more information, please visit the Portsmouth Abbey Summer School page on our website, or contact the Director of the Summer School, Robert Sahms, at summer@portsmouthabbey.org.    


Robert George delivers lecture on “Science and Ethics in the Embryo Debate:  ” On Thursday, November 13th, Princeton University McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions and member of the President’s Council on Bioethics Robert P. George, J.D, D. Phil. addressed an attentive and opinionated student body and faculty with his views on stem cell research and the ethical treatment of embryos.  Students and Professor George exchanged healthy debate and expressed differences of opinion throughout the 20-minute question and answer session.  As one faculty member commented, “It is great to see a true master of the Socratic method at work.”  George has been an important figure in American politics, ethics, and higher education since the 1970s.  A devout Catholic, Professor George is widely regarded as one of the foremost proponents of social conservatism in higher education.  From 1993-98, Professor George served as a presidential appointee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.  He is also a former Judicial Fellow at the Supreme Court of the United States, where he received the 1990 Justice Tom C. Clark Award.  He is the recipient of a Silver Gavel Award of the American Bar Association, the Paul Bator Award of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, and several honorary doctorates.  The School has Peter Flanigan ’41 to thank for the Robert George lecture.  To read more about the lecture please visit Portsmouth Abbey News on our website.

Students Travel to NYC to Learn About Korean Culture and History: On December 4, the Korea Culture Club at Portsmouth Abbey School sponsored a trip to New York City to learn about Korean culture and history.  The first stop was to the offices of the Korea Society in Manhattan, founded in 1957 by a group of prominent Americans under the leadership of General James A. Van Fleet, as the first nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to the promotion of friendly relations between the people of the United States and Korea.  The visit included a meeting with Korea Society President and former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Ambassador Donald Gress.  Ambassador Gress is also the father-in-law of alumnus Chris Buckeley ’70.  The group then moved to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to explore the Korea gallery as well as the other Asian galleries of the museum.  The students then traveled to Flushing, Queens, home of one of the largest Korean communities in the country.  They visited several Korean stores and markets in Flushing, to learn about various kinds of products common in Korea and available here in the United States.  The trip was complete with a "taste of Korea," visiting Kum Gang San restaurant, central to the Korean community in Flushing. 

The Korea Culture Club at Portsmouth Abbey was created by Jessica Lee ’04 this year. The club is supervised by Dr. Blake Billings' 77, who traveled to Korea on a Korea Society fellowship in the summer of 2000.  The Club inaugurated its activities this year with discussion of a film on North Korean refugees and the plight of children in North Korea.  Ms. Lee met with a number of North Korean refugees this past summer, providing them with counseling and assisting in their adjustment to South Korea. The Club has also sponsored a "Kimbap" night, assembling and eating a favorite Korean rice, seaweed, and vegetable treat.  Future events will include a contemporary Korean music evening, an evening of Korean games, and a study of traditional Korean costumes and traditional “pansori” singing.  The group is a mixture of Korean and American nationals, which fosters the sense of cultural exchange, and develops all the students’ awareness of the Korean community both on campus and in the world.

Website Introduces New Alumni Module: Portsmouth Abbey School is pleased to introduce a new interactive website for Alumni/ae. This site makes it quick and easy for you to stay in touch with friends, update your address and biographical information, add a class note and submit photos to the site, and keep current with Portsmouth Abbey alumni news. By entering your user name and password you will gain access to the secure Alumni only section of Portsmouth Abbey's website. Once logged in you may choose to customize your password. Only you will be authorized to update your personal information and designate which aspects of your profile the Portsmouth Alumni community may view. Your profile will never be accessed by anyone outside of the Alumni/ae and School community.  If you have not done so already, LOGIN NOW!   Please contact the Alumni & Development Office or email Polly Carter at pcarter@portsmouthabbey.org if you need assistance or have questions.  Comments and feedback are also appreciated.

Portsmouth Philanthropy: As the calendar year draws to a close numerous members of the Portsmouth Abbey community include support for the Monastery and School in their year-end charitable giving. Especially when donations of securities are the means of giving. Traditionally, many gifts honor the memory of family members or recall the effect of Portsmouth faculty members; nurture current programs that are impacting students; aid the advancement of capital projects like the new Squash & Fitness Center, and provide for the future by building Portsmouth’s endowment. If a special contribution fits your personal circumstance this year please contact Tony Klemmer '73 or Development Director Patrick Burke ’86 at 401-683-2000 to discuss the opportunities. Whether you support the Annual Fund, Capital Project or Endowment Fund, all gifts are important and deeply appreciated!

Intern Joins Development Office Team: The Office of Development & Alumni Affairs recently welcomed Portsmouth Abbey graduate Christian Baird '95 as an intern for the 2003-04 school year. Christian's efforts are focused on the Annual Fund, specifically participation by post 1990 graduates. Christian recently returned from a year of service in Sitka, Alaska with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.  Previously, he spent 3 years with Phillip Morris.  Christian is a 1999 graduate of Boston College with a degree in finance and accounting.  Christian can be contacted at cbaird@portsmouthabbey.org.   

Answer from November Musing’s did you know… The first team ever to skate on the PAS Hockey Rink in 1976 was the Providence Reds, the AHL affiliate of the Rangers.

Did you know... who was the earliest school graduate to become a monk at Portsmouth?

If you have questions, comments or ideas, please contact Tony Klemmer tklemmer@portsmouthabbey.org  or Jim De Vecchi  jdevecchi@portsmouthabbey.org.  We welcome the opportunity to communicate with you.

Tony Klemmer '73 Assistant Headmaster Institutional Stewardship

Jim De Vecchi Headmaster