Most students and faculty were home due to a snow day, but Governor Caperton still had the opportunity to receive a tour of the campus from Head of School Don Berger and learn more about educational initiatives taking place at Cary Academy.

Governor Caperton’s visit was due in part to the positive things he had heard from his niece, Diana Harris, who has a son, Joe (’08), who attends Cary Academy.

Berger showed Governor Caperton the Cary Academy intranet, explaining to him how the intranet helps Cary Academy communicate effectively with all its constituents.

He also explained to Governor Caperton the ways in which the use of technology helps the school meet its goals of individualizing education and allowing students different modes of expressing the things they have learned.

In a tour of the campus, Governor Caperton saw the library media center and was given a quick overview of the grounds.

In a communication with Berger following the visit, Governor Caperton said he was “deeply impressed” by what he saw at Cary Academy.

Following his visit to Cary Academy, Governor Caperton visited SAS, where he met with James Goodnight and John Boling, director of SAS inSchool to talk about ways the College Board and SAS might collaborate for educational purposes. Berger made the same offer of collaboration between the College Board and Cary Academy.

String Students Excel in All-State Competition [top]

Six Upper School string students competed in the All-State competition on Saturday, Jan. 18. Every one of the six won a chair in the competition.

This is an improvement over the four students that won chairs last year.

About 200 violin, 100 viola, 80 cello, and 38 bass players participated in the competition. Aparna Chatterjee (’06) won first violin of the symphony orchestra; Abraham Chen (’06) and Anna Smith (’03) won second violin from the symphony orchestra; Bobby Schlatzer (’04) won viola chair from the string orchestra; Alex Wilson (’04) won cello chair from the string orchestra and Zack Hobbs (’04) won the bass chair from the symphony orchestra.

The victories are particularly impressive as the competition included a new, challenging component: sight-reading, said string director Yiying Qiao. Each student had to read 16 measures of music within 60 seconds and play it immediately.

Qiao said that this year was very difficult, and that the help of private teachers was greatly appreciated.

Upper School Observes Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday with Special Ceremony [top]

The words of Martin Luther King Jr. rang through the Fine Arts Theater on Jan. 21 as Upper School students marked the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with readings, speeches and a performance by the Cary Academy step team.

The assembly, "Heroes of Conscience," featured images and voice recordings of Martin Luther King Jr.

The Upper School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Larry Speakman, performed “I Dream of a World,” a musical selection talking about freedom for all people, regardless of race and other differences.

Students also shared information about people with similar goals and dreams to those of Martin Luther King Jr. who have worked for freedom in other parts of the world. Students learned about Aung San Suu Kyi, who currently leads a pro-democracy movement in Myanmar, and about Steve Biko, who died in police custody in 1977 in South Africa after leading anti-apartheid movements there.

National Honor Society Kicks Off Inaugural Lecture Series [top]

Dr. Akram Khater, associate professor of History at N.C. State University, visited Cary Academy on Jan. 13 as the first in a series of four lecturers that are part of the National Honor Society’s lecture series, “Global Citizenship in the Midst of Conflict.”

This year’s lecture series is the first in what the National Honor Society hopes will become an annual event.

“We felt that there was a need at the school for discussion outside of the classroom on current issues and topics that do not always get addressed in the regular academic curriculum,” said Peter Cvelich, president of the NHS.

Khater gave students a look at the Middle Eastern perspective on United States foreign policy. He is well known throughout the Triangle and North Carolina as an excellent speaker and an authority on the Middle East.

The people there, Khater said, see discrepancies in United States foreign policy. Not all countries, or even all people within a country are treated the same, from their view, Khater said. People see “double standards.”

Other speakers in this year’s series are: Dr. Rania Masri, “War Against Iraq: Who Suffers? And Why?” on Feb. 11. Alan Canfora will talk on “Student Activism Past, Present, and Future” on Feb. 28. Carol Squillace will talk about “AmeriCorp” on a date that is still to be determined.

Cary Academy Cheerleaders Place First at Regional Competition [top]

CA Cheerleaders pose after winning 1st at a Rogional Cheer Competition Cary Academy cheerleaders showed that cheering at school sporting events is just one of their priorities when they placed first at the Canadian American Cheer Regionals competition on Jan. 11 in Hickory.

In addition to winning first place, the team won a bid to compete in the CANAM National Cheer Competition on March 21-23, 2003, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. In order to qualify for the national competition, each team must have a composite score of 225. Cary Academy earned a score of 251. The scores are determined by three judges and reflect the following categories: Voice, Formation, Showmanship/Spirit, Motion Tech, Jumps, Tumbling, Dance Ability, Perfection of Routine, and Overall Appeal. The victory marks Cary Academy’s first large competition in four years.

CANAM is an annual competition hosted by Cheer, Ltd, a cheer organization that holds camps, training for coaches, certifications and competitions. Cheer Ltd. also markets Cheer Wear and is aligned with American Cheerleader Magazine and Team Cheer Apparel.

PTAA Auction, Sentimental Journey, set for Feb. 8 [top]

The PTAA invites everyone on a Sentimental Journey when the sixth PTAA Auction takes place on Feb. 8.

Sentimental Journey is this year’s theme for the auction, which begins at 6 p.m. in the dining hall and fitness center. Tickets to the auction are $25 per person, half the price of previous years.

There will be live Big Band music and even be room to dance, according to PTAA president Cheryl Cotter.

“Come As They Were” vintage clothing is encouraged, with prizes for “Most Authentic Attire” and other categories.

The auction is the PTAA's only fundraiser. All funds go directly back to programs, scholarships, grants and gifts to the school.

This year’s goal of $75,000 will be dedicated to a two-year project in the fine arts area – possibly completing the existing orchestra pit and/or fixtures and lighting to display the work of Cary Academy’s talented students.

A few changes have been made for this year’s event. The event will be on campus instead of off campus. Also, instead of a full meal, heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Auction items include Middle School art projects, restaurant gift certificates, a Biltmore Estate lodging and tour package, a beach house getaway package, sports events tickets, theater tickets, a pen and ink drawing of your home, art classes offered by Middle School teacher Margo Smith and a pair of painted rocking chairs by Head of School Mitch McGuigan and his wife Mary.

Those purchasing a raffle ticket have the opportunity to win a half-year of paid tuition. Only 250 tickets are being sold.

The first closing for the silent auction takes place at 7 p.m., with the live auction from 8:30-9:30 p.m.

Information of the auction was mailed home to all families. Seats can be reserved by filling out the form on the back of the mailing or by contacting Chris Gilmore in the Advancement Office at 677-1946 ext. 6912.

Members of Class of 2003 first in CA history to be accepted to Columbia, Indiana, others [top]

The Class of ’03 has already added some “firsts” to the list of colleges and universities to which Cary Academy students have applied and been accepted.

Those schools include: Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, the University of Chicago, Indiana University, Peace College, Cornell College of Iowa, Eckerd College, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Most seniors will not hear from colleges and universities until late March or early April, but a few applied under early action or early decision plans and received acceptance letters from a range of wonderful colleges in addition to those ‘firsts’ noted above. These include: Furman University, Georgia Tech, Hamden-Sydney, Harvard University, Purdue University, N.C. State, University of Notre Dame, Wake Forest University and Stanford University. Other students took advantage of rolling admissions applications, and have heard early, positive responses from Clemson, the College of Charleston, Elon University, most of the UNC system universities (UNC-Chapel Hill will not mail their first decision letters until late January), and the University of Kentucky.

The College Advising Office will post a comprehensive list of college acceptances in May, once all seniors have heard final news and made their choices.

Susan Staggers, Director of College Advising, said, “The senior class has done a terrific job with the college application process thus far. We’re pleased for those who’ve already heard some good news, and we know that the entire class will have news to celebrate in the next few months.”

Cary Academy has graduated three senior classes to date, with the172 students in those classes gaining admission to nearly 200 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad.

Ciompi Quartet visits Cary Academy, works with string students [top]

The Ciompi Quartet visited the Cary Academy campus on Friday, Jan. 10 to work with students and give a performance.

Ciompi Quartet Performs for Cary Academy Students The Ciompi Quartet is a well-known quartet based at Duke University.

The four musicians spent one hour working with string students - Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello - and then presented a concert to faculty, middle school string students and all upper school students.

Quartet members include, Eric Pritchard, violin, Hsiao-mei Ku, violin, Jonathan Bagg, viola, and Fred Raimi, cello.

The Ciompi Quartet has been praised by audiences and critics worldwide and has established itself as one of the Nation's leading String Quartets. The Quartet performs regularly in major cities across the U.S. and has traveled to Europe, Israel, South America, Australia, and China.

In April 2003, the Quartet will tour Italy.

Alumni, parents talk college with current students and parents [top]

Alumni Panel Six Cary Academy alumni and three parents of alumni returned to school on Jan. 8 to talk to current students and parents about the transition to college.

The panel included: Todd Metter (’00), Middlebury College, Vanessa Hamer (’01), Duke University, Evan Pike (’01), University of Miami, Emily Mangone (’02), Tufts University, Jonathan Schwarz (‘02), Yale University, and Uzma Rawn (’02), Ithaca College. Parents of alumni included: Paul Bitting Sr. (father of Paul Jr., ’00), Mina Levin (mother of Jonathan Schwarz), and Abid Rawn (father of Uzma).

During the evening, current students and parents had the opportunity to ask questions of the alumni – directing their questions to the whole panel or to a specific member.

Questions from parents and students ranged from “What would you have done more of while at Cary Academy?” to “How did you and your parents survive the application process?” to “How well did Cary Academy prepare you?”

The consensus from alumni and parents of alumni was that Cary Academy did prepare students well for the college experience.

“I personally think Cary Academy did a really good job of preparing me,” Uzma said.

As the old saying “hindsight is 20-20” goes, however, they said they would have done a few things differently.

Mangone said she sometimes wishes teachers had been a little less understanding at Cary Academy. She said she discovered that, when there are 300 students in a college class, she could not always go talk to her professor when there is a problem the way she could with her small classes at Cary Academy.

Alums did offer consensus on several points. They all agreed that it is important to look at more than just academics when choosing a college. They suggested finding a school that is a good fit socially as well. Students should think about the size of the campus and other social factors when choosing a college.

“There are a lot of non-academic points when you’re choosing a school,” said Metter.

And when arriving on campus, “get involved,” the alumni told students repeatedly.

UNC Band Director visits campus, works with US Wind Ensemble [top]

Dr. Michael Votta, Jr. was on campus on Dec. 16, working with the US Wind Ensemble all day. Votta is Music Director of the NC Wind Orchestra and is a member of the faculty of UNC-Chapel Hill where he serves as Director of University Wind Ensembles and teaches courses in conducting and orchestration.

Dr. Votta practicing with Cary Academy Band A day’s work culminated in the evening with a performance by the Wind Ensemble for the Cary Academy community.

“This performance was noteworthy because it was the first time ever that the US Wind Ensemble has given a full concert by itself,” said Eric Grush, band director. “Up until now, concerts have always been shared with at least one other group.”

The day gave students the opportunity to work with a professional conductor and “to focus on going beyond playing the right notes at the right time, so that we can really begin to make music,” Grush said.

Students also got an idea of what an All-District or All-State Band clinic is like, in that they spent a full day rehearsing and then performed that evening.

Their evening performance included Affirmations (1994), Mark Williams; Fugue on Yankee Doodle, John Philip Sousa; Flourish for Wind Band (1939), Ralph Vaughn Williams; October (2000), Eric Whitacre; Bravura (1918), C.E. Duble; Second Suite in F (1911), Gustav Holst; and Sleigh Ride (1948), Leroy Anderson.

Ensembles under Votta’s direction have received critical acclaim in the United States and Europe. Before his appointment at UNC, Votta held conducting positions at Duke University, Ithaca College, the University of South Florida, Miami University (Ohio) and Hope College.

Votta holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting degree from the Eastman School of Music where he served as Assistant Conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble and studied with Donald Hunsberger. A native of Michigan, Votta received his undergraduate training and Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan, where he studied with H. Robert Reynolds.

He is the author of numerous articles on wind literature and conducting. His arrangements and editions for winds have been published by Warner Bros. Music and Ludwig Music, Inc., and have been performed and recorded by university and professional wind ensembles in the US, Europe and Japan. Votta maintains an active schedule as guest conductor and clinician in the US, and has appeared in Europe and Israel. As a clarinetist, Votta has performed as a soloist throughout the US and Europe.

Homecoming week activities full of fun and spirit [top]

The week leading up to Homecoming was filled with fun, spirit, and even a pig.

Throughout the week, classes competed against each other. Students wore their favorite college colors one day, partnered with a friend to dress like twins on another, and came dressed in pajamas on still another day.

The Upper School competed in “Wacky Olympics” on Tuesday, Dec. 17. A student from the class of 2005 found himself the winner in a competition to see which class could successfully hang one class member from the bleachers using only duct tape.

Mr. Berger gets ready to Kiss a Pig! Students didn’t forget those in need, collecting approximately 6,150 pounds of food and other items to donate to the Food Bank of North Carolina.

Friday afternoon’s pep rally came with a special surprise. During the week, students had taken up a collection to have the faculty member of their choice kiss a pig during the pep rally. While Heather Theobald looked to be the front-runner, a last minute surge in collections put Mr. Berger out in front. He did indeed kiss a pig, much to the delight of students.

Returning alumni were greeted on Friday night with a pasta dinner prior to the basketball games.

The week culminated with Friday’s homecoming basketball games. Both the girls and boys teams were victorious against Faith Christian. The boys won, 57-32, while the girls won 49-21.

Boys and Girls Basketball Play Team from Australia [top]

The boys and girls varsity basketball teams had the opportunity to play opponents from Down Under as they took on Australia’s HSE Dingos on Dec. 30. Cary Academy was just one stop for the team, who was touring the U.S.

Both the Cary Academy girls and boys teams returned from a 10-day break from competition – each having posted a win against Rocky Mount Faith Christian during Homecoming on Dec. 20.

The boys had some foul trouble – 22 fouls – but pulled off a win, 53-40. Surry Wood and Chris Carlton were the high scorers of the night with 18 and 11 points respectively.

The Lady Chargers also had a strong win, 51-34. Coach Randy Bennett called offensive and defensive teamwork the keys to the game.

Adkin returns from trip to Ukraine and Lithuania [top]

Clare E. Adkin, Jr., Cary Academy History Department Chair and advanced placement Economics teacher, recently returned from a trip to Ukraine and Lithuania where he had the opportunity to study economics education in the two countries’ schools.

Adkin was one of 12 pre-university economics educators from throughout the United States to be selected by the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) to be part of a study tour on economic education to Ukraine and Lithuania.

In addition to learning about the developing economies and economics education taking place in the two countries, Adkin and the group had the opportunity to present to teachers and those who train teachers to teach economics.

He said their secondary role was to offer encouragement and suggestions to educators in those countries.

While there, he was also able to experience local culture, visit with families and enjoy ethnic food.

Adkin returns from his trip with new knowledge that he believes will bring a more worldly experience to his classes at Cary Academy.

He also plans to share his experience with other groups in the community and in the state. He will present at the North Carolina Council for the Social Studies conference in Greensboro in February, as well as work with the state of North Carolina on its plans for economics education.

“One Noble Journey” [top]

"One Noble Journey" by Mike Wiley All 11^th grade students attended Mike Wiley’s one-man play on American slavery, “One Noble Journey” on Monday, Dec. 2.

Wiley, the actor, writer, director and producer of the play, brought students into the lives of Henry “Box” Brown and Ellen Craft, whose real-life escapes from slavery were bold, ingenious, and fascinating.

Students were a part of the performance through audience participation, which Wiley uses frequently to bring more empathy to the audience.

The topic fits into the 11^th grade History curriculum. Students are currently studying antebellum America and slavery.

Wiley, a local actor, has toured the country performing and recently appeared on The Learning Channel in Real Stories of the Navy Seals.

Head of Upper School History Wins Stipend for Study Trip [top]

Clare E. Adkin, Jr., Cary Academy History Department Chair and Advanced Placement Economics teacher, was selected by the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) to be part of a Study Tour on Economic Education to Ukraine and Lithuania.

Ten pre-university economics educators from throughout the United States will participate in the study beginning in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 14 and ending on Nov. 26.

The study tour is lead by James Grunloh, Professor of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The group will observe and teach in both elementary and secondary classrooms the Ukraine and Lithuania and also meet with political and educational leaders. Upon returning home, participants will deliver presentations in their local regions to promote and enhance the teaching of economics.

Adkin said, “I believe this opportunity to develop my knowledge of the benefits of economic education in the transition economies of the dismantled Soviet Union will better prepare me to teach economics at Cary Academy and promote economic education throughout North Carolina.”

NCEE was founded in 1949 to instill an understanding of economic principles and to help students function successfully in a changing global economy.

Cary Academy Welcomes NCAIS Conference Speakers, Participants [top]

Cary Academy becomes a hub of activity Nov. 8 and 9 when more than 1,200 educators converge on the campus for the N.C. Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS) Active Learning and Technology Conference. The conference, hosted by Cary Academy, offers more than 250 presentations -- 49 by Cary Academy faculty and staff with about a dozen making more than one. Click to see complete list of presentations and workshops.

MS teacher Dawn Bates with Students Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, followed by Pre-Conference Workshops.

Dr. Dennis Denenberg, a retired professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at Millersville University, will make his keynote speech Friday at 1 p.m. He is the co-author of 50 American Heroes Every Kid Should Meet and has taken his heroes message to teachers and parents in 28 states. Dr. Denenberg will speak on how teachers can help children understand that real heroes are all around us, not on movie and TV screens.

Dr. Mel Levine, a Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning at UNC-CH, will speak at 2:45 on Friday about learning differences in children and the ways in which schools and families can adapt to these differences.

Dr. Barbara J. O'Keefe, Dean of Communications Studies at Northwestern University, will speak Saturday at 10 a.m. on the role of training and technology in improving the skills of communicators. The conference adjourns at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Cary Academy's Katie Blalock and Michael Gibson co-chaired the conference and were assisted by Russ Van Wyk along with the Information Services staff. Approximately 70 PTAA volunteers under the direction of Linda Stanton helped with registration, the reception and other tasks.

NCAIS is an organization of 67 independent schools, including 3,300 teachers and nearly 30,000 students. The annual conference brings faculty and administrators together for seminars and forums for professional development.

Seniors Receive Nominations for Prestigious Scholarships [top]

Cary Academy students have recently been nominated for significant scholarships.

Reed Malin and Trey Winslett received nominations by Cary Academy administrators for the UNC-CH Morehead Scholarship. The prestigious Morehead Scholarships are based not only on academics but on contributions and achievements in sports and extracurricular activities. The Morehead Scholarships are full scholarships, plus summer internship experience and international travel and study.

Trey Winslett and Erica Helfer are Cary Academy's nominations for the North Carolina State University Park Scholarships. These are also based on high academic standing as well as leadership and contributions to the school community. The Park Scholarships are full scholarships to North Carolina State University.

In addition, Steven Delphy and Darcy Wold have been tapped as National Merit Semi-Finalists based on their PSAT scores taken in the fall of their junior year. The following seniors also received National Merit Commended recognition: Sandy An, Lorraine Bailey, Peter Cvelich, Will Duke, Alex Gonski, Erica Helfer, Brittany Kielhurn, Charles Law, Reed Malin and Will Scott.

Author Sarah Dessen Visits Cary Academy [top]

Author Sarah Dessen conducted a fiction workshop at Cary Academy on Wednesday, November 6. Dessen met with Upper School students interested in creative writing and with the Middle School literary magazine staff. Both discussions involved numerous questions by students and a writing exercise. Dessen spoke about short story and novel writing, publishing, and dealing with criticism. Dessen’s advice to aspiring student writers is to “Just keep writing. The more you write, the easier it becomes and the better you get. Keep doing it no matter what your critics say,” she told students.

Dessen graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Highest Honors in Creative Writing. She has published five novels, including That Summer, which was a 1997 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. A feature film combining two of her works, tentatively titled How to Deal, will be released in April 2003, and will star Mandy Moore.

Photo by Liz Smith.

Sports and Education Annex 'On Target' [top]

The new Sports and Education Annex is on schedule and should be ready by July 2003, according to Cary Academy Facilities Director Jess Garcia. The 31,500 square-foot structure will include a gym with two regulation-size basketball courts. The space will allow for Middle and Upper School teams to practice sports at the same time. Approximately 90 percent of Cary Academy's 665 students participate in one or more sports.

The building will include five classrooms. Some will be used for physical education classes. Others will house the foreign language classes.

The Sports and Education Annex will contain a much needed new lounge for Upper School students. The building will Student Center and Classrooms of SEA Building also contain 180 lockers as well as a training room for treating injuries and for rehabilitation.

Garcia said the construction project had been 'trouble free' due in part to good weather. CP&L will be running power lines to the building during the end of October.

The concrete walls went up at a rapid rate with help from hydraulic scaffolding, a relatively new device, Garcia said. The general contractor of the project is RN Rouse and Co. of Goldsboro.

More Pictures of SEA Constuction

Grandparents and Special Friends Day A Success [top]

Granparents Day Grandparents - and great-aunts, cousins and family friends - arrived on the Cary Academy campus early Friday morning to accompany their favorite students to class. First off, a light breakfast and welcoming remarks from Head of School Don Berger, Reed Malin, President of the Upper School Student Council and Julia Zhang, Senior Class President.

One of the highlights of the program was a video of students partcipating in various programs and activities at Cary Academy. The video was produced by the Tech Video Class, under the direction of Bridget Harron. The guests were also treated to student performances in the fine Arts Center Auditorium by the Jazz Band under the direction of Eric Grush, the Upper School concert choir directed by Jacquie Holcomb, the Dance Company directed by Betsy Hutchinson, the Middle School String Duo Grandparents Day and the Upper School String Quartet conducted by Yiying Qiao and the Upper School Chamber Choir directed by Larry Speakman. Rounding out the performances were selections from the Broadway Revue.

Then it was back to class, to see what a Middle School German class was like, to find out what their student was learning in Science, Spanish and Music. This was the first visit to the campus for many Grandparents and Special Friends and they enjoyed seeing Cary Academy for themselves.

New Director of Facilities Settling Into New Job [top]

Jess Garcia, the new Director of Facilities, is quickly adapting to his new environment. Facilities Director Jess Garcia As the Director of Facilities, Garcia is responsible for developing and maintaining all Cary Academy buildings, grounds, and related equipment. This includes all construction activity, vehicle management, grounds upkeep, security and more. As Director of Facilities Garcia is also part of the school's Leadership Team. Garcia comes to Cary Academy from Rocky Mount, where he was an Assistant Site Manager for Advanced Technology Services, Inc.

Garcia brings extensive experience in project planning, maintenance, and cost and control management. Prior to his employment in Rocky Mount, Garcia was Facilities Manager for an Abilene, Texas power generations firm. Retired from the U.S. Air Force, Garcia previously served as Chief of Maintenance at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. At Osan Air Base in Korea he was Propulsion Maintenance Superintendent, supervising all areas of aircraft maintenance. Garcia was Engine Maintenance Manager at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California and Jet Engine Testing Facility Supervisor at Keflavik Naval Air Station in Iceland. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Garcia says he'd like to stay at Cary Academy "for the next 20 years."

'Renaissance' Art Underfoot [top]

Cary Academy art students literally painted the town. Four Middle School and four Upper Cary Academy Students at Street Art Festival School students recently participated in the 4th Annual Raleigh Street Painting Festival. This year the theme was the Renaissance and artists throughout the area weighed in with their own ideas. The two teams of Cary Academy students joined artists throughout the area, using colored chalk to design 6-by-8 foot spaces in City Market.

MS students included Murphy Chang, Nick Fair, Christina Wieand and Dallas Williams. Shanita Bigelow, Erika Chou, Laura Fox and Bryn Robbins represented the Upper School. MS Art Teacher Margot Smith and US Art Teacher Meredith Steele accompanied the students. Over the weekend more than 15,000 visitors viewed the street art. Cary Academy Students at Street Art Festival

Ann Goodnight, a member of Cary Academy's Board of Directors, sponsored the students' participation in the Raleigh Street Painting Festival.

Friday Endowment Recipients Have Productive Summer Vacations [top]

Two of the Friday Summer Fellowship winners left the country to pursue their career development this summer. A third settled into a Durham coffee shop for some intensive daily writing.

The new Friday Summer Fellowships provide financial assistance to faculty for professional development. Faculty can choose original research, reading, writing, technology, courses and seminars.

Lyn Fairchild, Upper School English Department Head, wrote a booklet to aid high school teachers in helping their students become better writers. She worked with a UNC-CH professor, adapting his respected teaching method into lesson plans, handouts and other materials for teachers.

Delia DeCourcy, Assistant Middle School Head and Language Arts teacher, attended the Bread Loaf School of English's Oxford University campus. She took a seminar at Lincoln College for credit toward her master's degree.

Matthew Ripley-Moffitt, who teaches Middle School History, used his endowment for a three-week trip to study East Asian culture in Japan and China. The trip is through the North Carolina Teaching Asia Network.

The Friday Summer Fellowships are established in honor of Dr.William C. Friday. Friday was president of the University of North Carolina from 1956 to 1986. He is a former member of the Cary Academy Board of Directors.

Look for an in-depth article about the Friday Fellowships in the winter issue of Discoveries.

Cary Academy Students Excel on Advanced Placement Exams [top]

The stats are in. Cary Academy students posted high scores on their Advanced Placement examinations. Of the 105 Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors who took 241 Advanced Placement examinations in May, 93 percent scored 3, 4, or 5 on a 5 point scale. These figures are up from the previous year when 88 students took 222 AP exams, with 82 percent scoring 3, 4, or 5.) Scores of 5 on AP exams are considered extremely well qualified extremely to obtain college credit. A 4 score is considered well qualified, 3 is qualified and 2 is possibly qualified. The work of students posting scores of 1 are not recommended for college credit.

The College Board administers the AP examinations.

"This reflects incredibly well on our school and the quality of teaching here," said Laura Sellers, College Advisor. "It also certainly reflects well on what students are doing in their advanced classes."

Mixed Chorus Selected to Perform in Big Apple [top]

The Cary Academy Middle School Mixed Chorus is headed to Manhattan in February! The choir is among a handful of outstanding choral groups in the U.S. chosen to perform at the American Choral Directors Association’s National Convention in New York. Only 41 of 277 applicants were selected, according to Choral Director Jacquie Holcombe.

The choral groups selected are not only schools. They include men’s and women’s choirs, college and high school choirs, boy choirs and children’s choir, professional, community and church choirs. Only two other junior high or middle school choirs were selected. The choirs hail from 19 states, Washington, D.C. and Canada.

Cary Academy students will have a busy schedule in New York. They will be performing at Avery Fisher Hall, Riverside Church and the Avenue of Americas Hilton Hotel. Each concert will last 30 minutes and the choir will perform approximately seven selections. According to ACDA officials more than 6,000 choral professionals will pre-register in addition to approximately 2,000 more registering upon arrival.

'60 Minutes' Visits Cary Academy [top]

Dawn Bates and her Middle School Math class had short notice. The email from the Advancement Office asked teachers to please open their classrooms briefly to a film crew - from "60 Minutes."

"The students needed to be working on their computers. It was only the third day of school but their homework had been computer-related," said Bates.

Morley Safer and his crew had interviewed Dr. Jim Goodnight earlier in the week for a segment on SAS, tentatively scheduled for October or November. A decision was made to also shoot some footage at Cary Academy Wednesday.

"I didn't tell the students it was '60 Minutes' beforehand. I just said we were having guests," Bates said.

When the crew arrived, the students were working diligently on their math autobiographies while Bates monitored their work. The camera crew remained in Bates' classroom for about 10 minutes. Afterward, she told her students who the film crew was.

"They were very excited," she said. Bates thinks the national exposure is an excellent opportunity for Cary Academy. But she's hoping her voice won't be heard on national TV.

"Maybe they'll do a voice-over," she said.

The crew also shot footage in Gray Rushin's US Chemistry class, Chrissy Ettefagh's MS Science class, and Josh Hartman's MS Language Arts class.

Summer’s a Memory [top]

It’s back to school for Cary Academy students Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 8 a.m. This fall’s enrollment is 667. The traditional Opening Day Celebration kicked off at 1:30 in the gym, with remarks from Head of School Don Berger. Afterward all faculty and staff took part in the annual welcoming tradition of shaking hands with Cary Academy students.

New Faculty and Staff for 2002 - 2003 [top]

Twelve new faculty members arrive this fall, bringing a wealth and breadth of teaching experience from across the country and the world. Of the new faculty, one is a native of Spain and another is a native of Puerto Rico. Two come to Cary Academy with recent career experience in Japan and Egypt. Others hail from afar as California, Wisconsin and Texas and as close as Virginia and Maryland.

Bio Information on new Faculty

New Upper School Head Readies for School Opening [top]

Mitch W. McGuigan believes that excellent schools provide students with the skills to lead exceptional lives.

Mitch McGuigan The new Head of School comes to Cary Academy after 11 years in the position at St. John's-Ravenscourt School in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada.

McGuigan, who comes from a 183-year-old school, wants to expand school activities to engage even more students. "We need to make sure that all students are involved. We are a family. I want everyone to feel that they have a place at Cary Academy,” he said.
He comes from a school that is internationally acclaimed in public speaking. He hopes to build this emphasis at Cary Academy. Public speaking and debating teach students to listen, think and present solutions to problems, he said.

McGuigan also wants to make sure that Cary Academy's public perception is an accurate one.

"I want Cary Academy to be known as a school that fosters excellence in every area of school life, especially leadership, citizenship and school spirit. Cary Academy is a place where people have fun taking chances," he said.

Art Teacher’s Work Featured at Raleigh Municipal Building [top]

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a green and white striped awning, an old red barn, a Granny Smith apple. Meredith Steele’s signature is painting the mundane, then putting it all together in a colorful collage.

Meredith Steele The Upper School Visual Arts teacher’s work is currently on display in the Raleigh Municipal Building lobby gallery. The exhibit is sponsored by the Raleigh Arts Commission and runs through Sept. 5.

A Halloween jack-o-lantern, a bowl of cherries or a fast food logo may end up together on a canvas on one of Steele’s distinctive paintings.

“I was always interested in painting. I always seemed driven to create,” Steele said. She primarily works with oil and acrylic.

Steele thinks having a required art course at Cary Academy ultimately helps students.

“This way students have to get away a little from left brain thinking in the classroom. They can express themselves any way they want because there are no right or wrong answers.

Cary Academy Celebrates Commencement [top]

Attired in royal blue gowns and mortarboards, 72 seniors received their diplomas on June 8 from Head of School Donald Berger, Assistant Head of Upper School C. Eric Bondy and Dr. James H. Goodnight, Chairman of the Cary Academy Board of Directors.
They received some advice from Duke University President Dr. Nan Keohane, keynote speaker. Education is a lifelong adventure, she told the graduates. “Use the back room of your mind to make your words and your life more meaningful and more enduring,” Keohane said, quoting Michel de Montaigne, the 16^th century French essayist. Montaigne suggested using one's mind as a “back room” for reflection, examining ideas and becoming more interesting people.
Seniors Walter Frost and Teresa Smith thanked parents for their support and shared some lessons they learned at Cary Academy. Though Keohane’s words were enlightening and valuable, seniors selected by their peers offered much inspiration, reflection and wisdom at this year’s commencement.   Joe Greiner presented the opening reflections for his class and Sara Knowlton gave a special thank-you to parents for their encouragement as she and her classmates “venture into a new and totally unfamiliar part of their life.”
Park McArthur read Theodore Roethke's poem, "The Waking," and the Senior Chorus and the Concert Choir performed.

Graduation 2002

The words from the Cary Academy Alma Mater, written by the Class of 2000, were a fitting conclusion to the celebration.
“You’ve given us the knowledge of the thinkers of the past
And empowered us to form our dreams in a future vast.
You’ve opened our hearts and minds and enabled us to see
That there’s a place for each of us in the world’s immensity.
Through the lessons that we’ve shared, the friendships, joys, and sorrow.
You have given us the strength we need to boldly face tomorrow.”

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