October 24, 2017
Aryan Nair (’22) competed in the Let Explore Africa (LEA) Geography Quiz Bowl at NC State University on October 21, 2017.
Nair won the Geo Quiz Bowl on Africa in the division among 8th-12th graders from different schools across the region by a huge margin. He had 77 points after the final round, and the second place winner had 32 points.
Nair will now compete in the NC State championship at Duke University in November.
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October 23, 2017
Friday, Oct 20, our Novice-High World Language students attended the International Festival of Raleigh. They witnessed a Naturalization Ceremony (127 candidates from 49 different countries) with Congressman David Price, explored various cultural booths, and collected stamps from over 30 countries for their "passports." Lunch included time at the world bazaar and an international café (27+ cuisines). Students interacted with people from all around the world, completed a Young Diplomats Questionnaire, and joined a Scavenger Hunt. Many students had the opportunity to practice language skills by asking questions to native speakers.
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They’re big, they’re blue, and they’re cropping up all over the school!
This may sound like the trailer for a low-budget horror movie, but the reality is something far less dramatic. Those large blue “strangers” appearing in our classrooms and our hallways are simply poster versions of one of Cary Academy’s cornerstone documents: the Portrait of a Graduate.
It’s likely that many of you have never heard of the Portrait of a Graduate, even though it’s been around for quite some time. The Portrait was originally developed by faculty as part of the school’s 2010 strategic plan, which challenged us to examine our learning goals for students in the context of the mission priorities of the school. Our focusing question: What fundamental abilities and traits do we want all Cary Academy students to have by the time they graduate in order to succeed in a rapidly changing world?
In an effort to answer this question, we asked each academic department to explore what it meant for a student to be committed to discovery, innovation, collaboration, and excellence in its particular discipline. Emerging from those conversations were some clear commonalities in the skills and attitudes valued across all content areas–commonalities that became the basis for the Portrait of a Graduate.
Over the years, the Portrait of a Graduate has served quietly in the background as a reflection tool for teachers in a variety of professional development contexts, from our annual training program for new faculty to our current curriculum renewal process. It has also long had a home in the “About Us” section of the school website to help clarify the mission and culture of our school. One thing we haven’t really done, however, is actively share the Portrait of a Graduate with students—until now!
Take a stroll around campus today, and you will find poster-size versions of the Portrait of the Graduate in all Upper School classrooms, as well as in Upper and Middle School hallways and other key locations around the school. These posters were created to introduce the Portrait to our learners in a highly visual format and to provide a point of reference as we begin to talk more intentionally with students about the broad and enduring skills we want them to develop while at CA.
The eight overarching qualities laid out in the Portrait of a Graduate are not only a focus of the academic curriculum, but are also part of the teaching and learning that occurs in advisory, athletics, clubs, community service and other school activities. By introducing our students to the Portrait and engaging them in purposeful reflection around the specific ways they demonstrate the Portrait characteristics both in and outside of the classroom, we hope to help students better understand our goals for them and the progress they are making in their individual learning journeys. We further hope that as students develop fluency in using the Portrait as a guide for reflection and self-assessment, they will be able to present a more complete and compelling picture of their learning and growth to others.
It is important to recognize that the Portrait of the Graduate was from the beginning designed to be a living document that would be revisited periodically as our students’ needs evolved. Likewise, the new poster versions of the Portrait are first-iteration visual representations that will undoubtedly be reviewed and refined — ideally in collaboration with our students. We certainly look forward to hearing their thoughts and questions over the coming months as they encounter and contemplate the Portrait for the first time, and we welcome thoughts and questions from parents and other members of the community, as well.
While our conversations with students around the Portrait of the Graduate will take place primarily in the Upper School in 2017-18, we also plan to find ways to bring Middle School students into the discussion at a level appropriate for that age group. Ultimately, we want those mysterious blue placards on our walls to lose their “alien aura” and become familiar friends to all of our students in the journey toward a Cary Academy diploma.
Written by Martina Greene, Dean of Faculty
October 17, 2017
Congratulations to the 18 students named to the NCAIS Honor Band. The large concert band is comprised of the most talented 6th-12th grade concert band musicians from the NC Association of Independent Schools. Students are nominated by their band director and selected by a committee of participating directors.
The 2017 NCAIS Honor Bands include over 170 students from 24 independent schools, conducted by Dr. Evan Feldman and Dr. Arris Golden from UNC-CH.
|
Chris |
Butulis |
8th |
MS |
Trumpet |
|
Will |
Capps |
7th |
MS |
Clarinet |
|
Ethan |
Chou |
8th |
MS |
Trombone |
|
JR |
Cobb |
8th |
MS |
Euphonium (BC) |
|
Aarav |
Gupta |
8th |
MS |
Trumpet |
|
Max |
Li |
7th |
MS |
Clarinet |
|
Abby |
Li |
8th |
MS |
Flute |
|
Rohin |
Patel |
8th |
MS |
French Horn |
|
Luke |
Ramee |
6th |
MS |
Trombone |
|
Charlie |
Zoetmulder |
7th |
MS |
Trombone |
|
Griffin |
Baird |
9th |
US |
Trombone |
|
Ryan |
Erickson |
10th |
US |
Euphonium (BC) |
|
Rishi |
Goswami |
10th |
US |
Clarinet |
|
Uri |
Joseph |
10th |
US |
Alto Saxophone |
|
Jay |
Sagrolikar |
9th |
US |
Alto Saxophone |
|
Will |
Snider |
12th |
US |
Percussion |
|
Harrison |
Truscott |
9th |
US |
Trumpet |
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Just a few short weeks back we welcomed 312 students to the middle school. Along with an excited faculty, the smell of freshly painted walls and waxed halls greeted the students. Cucumber soup was on the menu as was the annual community handshake ceremony and the ever-popular middle school faculty skit. It was a wonderful opening day and the enthusiasm of the students, faculty and parents set the tone for 17-18 school year.
Much has transpired since August 15th. Students have settled into the routine of their schedules and are adjusting to new grade-level expectations. Seventh and eighth graders are getting used to the new Tuesday/Thursday schedule and sixth graders have been receiving ongoing technology training. Students are meeting new friends and getting involved with various club activities. Our fall sports teams are in the thick of the season with some wins and losses and a lot of spirit.
To help with the back-to-school transition, each grade level participated in activities designed to provide students and advisors the opportunity to develop and strengthen their relationships (6th grade trip to Camp Hanes, 7th grade Bowling, and 8th grade E-lympics day). There also have been grade level conversations about the community values of respect, integrity and compassion. Recently, Jason Franklin and I enjoyed working with our seventh grade students on the ever important topic of Thoughtless and Hurtful Language.
Much of the programming these past weeks was designed to help middle school students feel comfortable and established in their new grade and/or new school. This support through intentional planning will continue throughout the year as our students grow intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically. A few future events follow below. In upcoming days we will run Charger Trails activities focused on the grade level themes of Community (6th), Collaboration (7th), and Compassion (8th). Parents will have an opportunity to learn more about the topics by working on activities with their children at home.
Scheduled in October is our annual Charger Cup Challenge where the collaborative, physical and logic skills of students are tested as they work in advisory groups to help their team (Blue or Gold) capture the coveted cup. This fun-filled afternoon would not be possible without the tremendous support of our parent volunteers.
October also marks the mid-point of the trimester and the time for parent/student/advisor conferences. The purpose of the conference is to allow for an exchange of impressions by the advisor, the parent, and the student on what has gone well and what has been a challenge thus far. The goal of the conference is for everyone to come away with a clear understanding of what the overall social and academic experience has been, and what areas, if any, need support. The role of the advisor is to look at and support the student in a broad context. If there are specific questions about a particular content area, it is important to follow up with that teacher directly. We look forward to seeing parents and students alike!
School is truly underway at CA. Just walk into the middle school and listen to the sounds that mark the daily routine of the academic day. Most of the time there is a quiet hum – a type of collective energy in the building when the students are deeply engaged in their classes. And then, there is the time between classes, when all that is heard is the muffled din of three hundred plus adolescent voices. While the fresh paint and wax smell has faded, the enthusiasm and energy has not!
Written by Marti Jenkins, Head of Middle School
July 19, 2017
Travis Kimball (’22), the youngest player at 12-years-old playing for his 18-and-under Junior Tennis Team (JTT), played a large part in the team’s recent state victory.
After winning its division, the team participated in states at Cary Tennis Park. The team went it ranked seventh of eight teams but took home the first-place blue ribbon medal.
Kimball won all of his tournament singles matches including the last one, 6-1, which sealed the deal for first place.
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May 12, 2017
Three Middle School teams have won their CAMSC championships.
On May 9, both the girls and boys Middle School track and field teams won the first CAMS Conference meet.
And on May 11, the boys tennis team repeated as CAMSC champs.
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May 9, 2017
Two CA Middle School orchestra students, Grace Chow (’21) and ThucUyen Dzu (’21), participated in the Junior Eastern Regional All State Orchestra on May 6 at White Oak High School in Jacksonville.
The Philharmonia Orchestra has 75 distinguished young musicians, and the conductor is Scott Laird, an orchestra director in NCSSM.
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April 10, 2017
The varsity robotics team is going to the FIRST Championships in Houston taking place April 19-22.
The team narrowly missed qualifying at the state tournament (by one spot) and ended ranked 15th out of 59 teams in NC. However, the team was able to secure an invitation due to openings that occur when teams are unable to attend.
CA will join 17 other NC teams competing at the FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) level. The championships include all four levels of FIRST Robotics: FRC, FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge – CA’s JV teams), FLL (FIRST Lego League – CA’s MS teams), and FLL Jr. (grades 2-5), and is a true STEM festival, attracting and hosting teams from all over the world.
The students attending are:
Liam Carriker (’17) is going to the championships with his non-CA team, the Tundrabots, that competes at the FTC (our JV) level.
The Cary Academy Fund and specific robotics fundraising helps support great opportunities like this for our students. If you’d like to contribute, please see the Advancement Department.
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