'60 Minutes' Visits Cary Academy [top of page]

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.

On Monday students found their classrooms, met their teachers and geared up for a new school year. During Opening Day Ceremonies Head of School Don Berger welcomed new students, faculty and staff as well as those returning. He gave an update on the Sports and Education Annex. The building will include five classrooms, a new student lounge and a gym double the size of the current one. Berger reminded students “it only takes one person and one small act to make a tremendous difference” at Cary Academy as well as in life. Students lined up around the gym to shake the hands of faculty, staff and the Class of '03 for over an hour. The tradition was a welcome back gesture, Berger said, but also a symbolic bonding of the Cary Academy Community.

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. 

 
Friday Endowment Recipients Have Productive Summer Vacations [top of page]    

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. 

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."

Who teaches your child Math? Why won't there be school on Nov. 8? Name a topic in Mitch McGuigan's or Marti Jenkins' August letter to parents.

About 150 new parents scoured the Cary Academy Intranet for these and other answers Thursday, Aug. 29. It was all part of an electronic scavenger hunt at New Parent Technology Orientation. The exercise helped parents to skillfully navigate the school's Intranet. Guiding them along the way were Jim Aanstoos, Don Berger, Chuck Burdick, Jason Franklin, Marita Gonsalves, Marti Jenkins, Dima Manakhov, Eric Moore,  Debby Reichel, Kevin Rokuskie, Mike Roy and Kris Wetterling. Following the technology session, parents enjoyed dinner in the Dining Hall, met the school Leadership Team, heard about the PTAA and learned about Home for the Holidays and the Annual Fund.

US Parents Return to School [top of page]

It was back to school for parents on Upper School "Meet the Teacher Night" on Thursday. More than 450 parents descended on campus to meet their sons' and daughters' teachers and get a taste of their class work. Parents had the chance to ask questions before zipping off to the next class.

"We go every year. We get a lot of insight and learn the ways material is connected to other classes. We gain a great appreciation of what kids have to do," said Linda Stanton (Craig '04), Jeffrey ('06) and Scott ('08). "Their days are full."

Upper School Faculty were treated to a dinner before "classes" began for parents at 7 p.m.

Assembly Commemorates 9/11, Celebrates Hope [top of page]

Students, Faculty and Staff filed into the gym to the strains of Mussorgsky's Promenade. They walked beneath colorful flags representing the many countries of  the 9/11 victims. After Julia Zhang led the Pledge of Allegiance, Head of School Don Berger told the audience that last year's tragic events shook the United States to its core. Individual responses differed from sadness to anger to hopelessness.  But the tragedy brought communities together. "Our big world was pulled closer together by these events," he said. Berger challenged the Cary Academy community to continually learn about the world and the events affecting other countries.

Members of the Cary Academy Dance Company performed a work choreographed by Betsy Hutchinson especially for the 9/11 Assembly. The dancers depicted grace, dignity and hope. Students Reed Malin and Kat Miller summoned candle bearers from the audience. As the Honors Orchestra played Amazing Grace, candle bearers lighted the wicks of the ones beside them in the spirit of strength and hope.

Family Fun Fest has a Great Gathering  [top of page]

More than 900 turned out for the 6th Family Fun Fest. The younger set bounced around in the Moon Walk while the more adventuresome bounced much higher on the bungee trampoline. There were thrills, chills and some spills on the Titanic Slide and the Iron Man. Students and younger siblings alike reached for greater heights on the climbing wall. The lines were long for an opportunity to dunk a teacher or administrator. Head of Middle School Marti Jenkins, Head of Upper School Mitch McGuigan (attired in full hockey regalia) and Middle School Assistant Head Delia DeCourcy endured repeated soakings.

So did Bill Velto, David McAllister, Tami Kaiser-Polge, Kim Cherre, Katie Blalock, Josh Hartman (resplendent in  an academic gown, no less), Zack Fisher,  Andrew Chiaraviglio, Kevin Rokuskie, Dawn Gatlehner, Sam Morris, Jon Powell and Carol Akers.

The DJ kept the afternoon hopping with music, dancing, a three-legged race and more. Some participants hung out at the bingo tables while others had their faces painted and their hair dyed. But almost everyone stopped by for barbecue, chicken, baked beans, potato salad and snow cones.

Family Fun Fest is sponsored by Alliance, the parent support organization of Cary Academy and was chaired this year by Connie Moreadith.

Click here for more Fun Fest 2002 Pcitures.

 
'Renaissance' Art Underfoot [top of page]

Cary Academy art students literally painted the town. Four Middle School and four Upper 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.   

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

Students Lend a Helping Hand [top of page]

Cary Academy Upper School students recently helped out with numerous community projects. Their community service was in conjunction with grade-level trips and also in commemoration of Sept. 11. Seniors gleaned 1,170 pounds of sweet potatoes near Fuquay Varina for the Society of St. Andrew Juniors helped with Habitat for Humanity, the SPCA, the Tammy Lynn Center, a Raleigh homeless shelter and the Ronald McDonald House. Some students also baked goodies for three Cary fire stations and the Cary Police Department. 

Freshmen worked at the Food Bank of North Carolina sorting potatoes and re-labeling cans. Students also spiffed up the grounds of Cary Academy.  

"Most of us went into this not wanting to have anything to do with digging, getting dirty or being involved with farming in any way," says Melih Onvural ('03), who gleaned sweet potatoes. "We were there for two hours. They gave us 25-pound bags to hold our potatoes. We got covered in dirt in the process but we had the justification of knowing our efforts helped someone who desperately needed a helping hand." 

"I think forging relationships in the community and participating in meaningful work for others was a commendable way to honor those that were lost in the tragic events of Sept 11," said Tami Kaiser-Polge, Service Learning Coordintor. "The community service agencies are grateful for the support and hard work of our students and teachers. It was a fun week and lots was accomplished."

Cary Academy is joining students across the state in putting together school supply kits for students and teachers in Afghanistan. The program is called Student to Student: North Carolina Reaches Out to Afghanistan. It was created after State School Superintendent Mike Ward visited the impoverished country. There are some 9.6 million school-age children in Afghanistan, many who lack desks, paper, pencils and other basic school supplies.

Cary Academy 7th and 10th grade students have collected scissors, markers, pencils, clipboards, paper, pens, chalk, tape, glue sticks and other supplies. Supplies are being collected through Friday October 4th and can be dropped off in the MS lobby or U125. Bill Velto is the contact for the US and Todd Shy is coordinating the MS efforts.

The North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church is supplying warehouse space and the international relief organization, Stop Hunger Now, is coordinating the delivery of the kits to Afghanistan.

New Director of Facilities Settling Into New Job [top of page]

Jess Garcia, the new Director of Facilities, is quickly adapting to his new environment. 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." He lives with his wife in Zebulon and has two grown daughters.

Cary Academy Students Hear Renowned Scientist of Genomics Revolution [top of page]

Thirteen Cary Academy students were part of the audience that gathered at Duke University recently to hear Dr. Craig Venter. Venter is president of the Center for the Advancement of Genomics. He was named Time magazine Scientist of the Year in 2000 after leading the private effort to sequence the human genome.  The speech was a part of the Boyarski Lecture series in Law, Medicine and Ethics. 

Cary Academy faculty members Abbey Thompson and Lauren Brown, as well as four parents, accompanied the students. This was a unique opportunity for students to hear such a unique and influential scientist.    

Venter founded Celera Genomics, a private corporation which is regarded as the first to sequence and analyze the human genome, or the genetic material of an organism. The human genome project begin in the late 1980s. Venter used what he called "whole genome shot gun" mapping to sequence the genome. Though many scientists were skeptical at the time, the method proved successful. Celera finished the sequence within three years.   

Students were impressed with the lecture.

"I thought that it was an awesome opportunity.  It was very interesting because Venter spoke to the public, not just the Bio experts," said Sarah Kenney ('03).  "I think the material of Venter’s lecture and that of biotechnology is incredibly relevant to our future." 

"I actually understood what was being said," quipped Rachel Jacobs ('03). "The notes that I took throughout the presentation will help me a lot in the paper I have to write about genetic screening and engineering."

Volunteers Work the Phones for Annual Fund Campaign [top of page]

Sixteen volunteers manned the phones Wednesday night for the first Simply the Best Annual Fund Campaign. Chairs Luis and Sandra Gutierrez led their enthusiastic troops during a successful and productive evening. The campaign goal is 80 percent participation. Fundraising for Simply the Best will continue throughout the 2002-03 year. Pledge payments will be received through June 15, 2003.

Dr. Eugene Flood to Guest Host on CNBC’s Squawk Box [top of page]

Dr. Eugene Flood, Jr., Ph.D., father of Christi (‘03) and Scott (‘07), will be a guest host on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Tuesday, Oct. 8.  Dr. Flood will participate in the show’s mix of business news, viewer call-ins, and fast-paced banter.  The show, hosted by Mark Haines, with reporters David Faber, Joe Kernen, and Maria Bartiromo, airs from 7a.m. to 10 a.m.  

Dr. Flood is the President and CEO of Smith Breeden Associates, a financial service firm headquartered in Chapel Hill. Prior to joining Smith Breeden in January 2000, he was a Portfolio Manager in Morgan Stanley Asset Management.  Dr. Flood, who had been with Morgan Stanley since 1987, has traded a broad spectrum of instruments, including fixed income, equities, foreign exchange and commodities. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Dr. Flood was on the faculty of Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, where he taught finance.  Dr. Flood has lectured in a number of executive training programs including those at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. 

Dr. Flood currently serves on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Visiting Committee for the Economics Department and the Dean’s Advisory Committee for M.I.T’s Sloan School of Management.  He is also on the Board of Visitors for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Duke University Fuqua School of Business, and is on the Board of Directors of the Society of Quantitative Analysts.  Dr. Flood has a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. in economics from Harvard University.

Parents Meet the Board [top of page]

Cary Academy Board of Directors answered questions from parents at a forum Tuesday night in the Fine Arts Building. 'Meet the Board Night' followed the Board of Directors' scheduled fall meeting. 

Questions were submitted beforehand by parents and read by Board Member Richard Stevens, who moderated the Q&A forum. Questions covered a variety of issues, from the effect of the expansion of Cary Parkway to having a school for younger children. Approximately 50 parents listened as Board members talked about the role of the Board and how members are selected. Because an opening now exists, parents were encouraged to submit recommendations to Board member Hugh Little, who chairs the Nominations Committee.   

Because of the specificity of some of the questions, Stevens said that the Board of Directors was not involved in the daily operation of the school, but served as a policy board.

"We're watching the finances. Our role is to make sure Cary Academy is a quality school 50 or 75 years from now," Stevens said.  

Chairman of the Board Dr. James Goodnight said he thought of the Board as "looking down as if the school was a forest. We're making sure it is healthy." "I expect the staff to handle day-to-day issues. We want to make sure the students are graduating, going on to good colleges," he said.  

Another question addressed the greatest challenges of the school. Board member Dr. LeRoy T. Walker said Cary Academy must continue strong teacher and parent involvement to prepare students to cope with so many rapid changes in the world.

Stephens commented on the ongoing challenge of keeping high quality faculty.  

Afterward, Annual Fund Chairs Luis and Sandra Gutierrez reminded parents of the 80 percent goal of the Annual Fund, Simply the Best and announced that the first Phonathon resulted in $33,000 pledged by 22 percent of the Cary Academy community.  

After the Q&A forum Board members and parents chatted informally at a reception.

That's Me in the Spotlight [top of page]

Many in the Cary Academy community found themselves on stage, singing and playing during "Evening of Entertainment." The fundraiser earned approximately $4,000 for the Middle School Chorus' February trip to the National American Choral Directors Association meeting in New York.  

The program offered a variety of first-rate acts. Some hightlights include parents Susan Berger (Alex, '07 and Sarah '09), John Overton (Kiki '03 and Johnnetta '08) and "Chef" Paul Johnson (Seth, '09). Head of Upper School Mitch McGuigan and his wife Mary were hits with their rendition of Elton John's Your Song.  Parent Mark Easely (Mark '08) drew raves for his song, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, calling up Head of Middle School Marti Jenkins, Head of School Don Berger and others to handle the animal sound parts. DJ/Karaoke director Bill Smith of Magic of Music kept the evening rolling smoothly. Smith donated his services to the school.  

The evening began with a bountiful lasagna dinner.

Photos Taken by Trey Winslett (12).

Click here for more pictures

Noted Neuropharmacologist Visits Cary Academy Oct. 21, 22  [top of page]

Respected neuropharmacologist Dr. Wilkie Wilson will speak on "How Young Minds Develop and the Negative Influence of Drugs and Alcohol." at Cary Academy on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 21 and 22. Dr. Wilson is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University Medical Center. He is an authority on the ways in which alcohol and other drugs interact with the central nervous system. Dr. Wilson is the author of numerous scientific publications and books on this topic.  

Dr Wilson was a popular speaker at Cary Academy two years ago during the Community of Concern gathering. The organization is composed of independent schools and parents dedicated to substance abuse/abuse awareness in schools.  

Dr. Wilson's schedule: 

Monday, Oct. 21:
9:55 - 10:50 a.m.: Upper School students, grades 9.10 in the Theater
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.:  Administration members in A227
2:20 - 3:15 p.m. Middle School students, grades 7,8 in the Theater 

Tuesday, Oct. 22:
9:55 - 10:50 a.m. Upper School students, grades 11, 12 in the Theater
3:30 - 5 p.m. Faculty and Staff in FA004, required for Faculty
7 - 8:30 p.m. - PTAA and SAS Institute Personnel in the Theater 

Talent and Rhythm on the Quad  [top of page]

Jazz on the Quad attracted an enthusiastic crowd Thursday night. The Cary Academy Upper School Jazz Band, directed by Eric Grush, entertained concert-goers with So What by Miles Davis and Samba 120 by Les Sabina. Then Adam Pedersen, Chef Paul Johnson and Zack Hobbs did some stellar improvising while waiting for the North Carolina State University Band Jazz Band to get out of a traffic jam.  

The NCSU Jazz Band played Bandstand Boogie from 'American Bandstand' and Jumpim' with Symphony Sid . Adam, Zack and Roger Shaw played solos with the NCSU Jazz Band. 

The West Lake Middle School played Satin Doll by Duke Ellington and 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago.

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 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 SEA Construction Pictures
Click here for a building map

Young Artists Display Work at N.C. State Fair  [top of page]

Four Cary Academy art students are displaying their work at the North Carolina State Fair Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition is in the Scott Building on the fairgrounds. The fair runs through Oct. 27.  The students are Laura Fox, '03, Yuriko Tamura, '04, Tara Gilboa, '07 and Christina Wieand, '08. Cary Academy art teachers are Margo Smith, Meredith Steele and Beth Chappell.

Honest Talk about the Effects of Alcohol, Drugs on the Brain [top of page]

Some hands went up when Dr. Wilkie Wilson asked Cary Academy Middle Schoolers if they knew someone who used marijuana. More hands went up when he asked if they knew someone who used alcohol. The Middle Schoolers had come to the right place to get honest answers Monday about the ways in which alcohol and other drugs interact with the nervous system. Dr. Wilson is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University Medical Center and the author of several books.  

Dr. Wilson said he first became interested in writing a book, "Buzzed" and speaking to young people when his then college-aged daughter told him many students didn't realize the harm they were doing to themselves through drugs and alcohol. He said students learn a lot about taking care of their bodies in school but not enough about taking care of their minds. 

"Your brain is not fully 'wired' until you're around 21. Right now your brain is still developing. It's learning how to hold several thoughts at once and learning how to inhibit bad behaviors," he said. "Your brain at this age has a different chemistry than an adult's." Dr. Wilson said the pre-teen and teen years were excellent learning years, ripe for soaking up knowledge.

"You'll remember more at this time than any other, so make good memories," he said.  

However, drugs and alcohol can negatively affect the brain in various ways. Extreme use can inhibit the part of the brain that  triggers the breathing process. Drugs and alcohol can suppress one's natural fear of danger. Drugs and alcohol can be toxic, killing brain cells. And drugs and alcohol can make people want them more than anything else in the world. 

Dr. Wilson warned students against inhalants, such as paint thinner, explaining that these poisonous drugs can stop one from breathing. Though marijuana is not as poisonous as other drugs, it can block the learning process, disturb brain development and "make you fat and lazy," Dr. Wilson said. He called ecstasy a "horrible," drug" causing severe repercussions. 

The students kept Dr. Wilson busy with their questions, such as what is the worst drug ("Alcohol," he said) and what harm can diet drinks do ("Not much.") Dr. Wilson did warn the students away from caffeine at their age, saying it can make them anxious and interfere with sleep. 

Cary Academy Students Help With Children’s Carnival [top of page]

Twenty-five Cary Academy Upper School students helped put on an innovative and fun carnival last weekend for some deserving children.  The carnival was a collaborative effort with Chesterbrook Academy, the site of the event. The carnival featured 15 game booths, including a fishing pond, duck pond, Grandmas’s Attic of Surprises, Spin and Win, Batter Up, pumpkin decorating, sand art spin art, a cupcake walk and more.

Those attending were children from the after-school program Loaves and Fishes and families from the Raleigh Rescue Mission and Salvation Army homeless shelters. The children were ages 2 to 8.

According to Tami Kaiser-Polge, Service Learning Coordinator and an organizer of the  carnival,  many of the Cary Academy students were from the Key Club. Students spent time Friday setting up booths and operated them on Saturday, as well as baking cupcakes and cleaning up.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day A Success [top of page]

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 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.

Gallery of Horrors [top of page]

Halloween is a day for channeling creativity into clever costumes. This year marked the Invasion of Dwarfs, Crocodile Man and a variety of interesting outfits among students.  

In the official Pumpkin Carving Contest Lauren Brown won first place for her Einstein carving.

For Individual Female, Claudia Griesing took first place honors for her chess piece attire, with Kim Jones runner-up as a US Navy drill sergeant\instructor. 

Barry Rochelle won second as Crocodile Man. Honorable Mention awards went to Chef Paul Johnson and Josh Hartman as Snow White. 

In the Group Category,  it was the Battle of the Dwarfs. First place was awarded to the Upper School Math Department for their Seven Dwarfs ensemble, with second place going to the 6^th Grade Team for Snow White and the little guys.

Click here for More Pictures.

Percentage Nights a Success  [top of page]

The Cary Academy Community turned out to support the Book Fair Nov. 1 and 2 at the Cary Barnes and Noble store. The event raised approximately  $1,700 for the PTAA through books, videos and other items purchased.  The Middle School  Strings Orchestra and the Upper School String Quartet, under the direction of Qiao Yiying, performed fin the story on Friday night.  

Mark your calendars now for the next Percentage Nights on May 1 and 2.

Seniors Receive Nominations for Prestigious Scholarships  [top of page]

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 of page]

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.

Cary Academy Students Participate in Honors Chorus [top of page]

Ten Middle School students sang in the North Carolina Middle School Honors Chorus in Winston-Salem this past weekend. The students were Diana Bloom ('07), Clayton Casper ('07), Julie Cooper ('08), Caitlin Daniels ('07), Flo Lumsden ('07), Sam Fuchs ('07), Meg Hewitt ('07), Nicole Huber ('07, Allison Yim ('07)and Danielle Curran ('08). 

The students endured a grueling round of practices on Saturday, with the concert presented Sunday afternoon.

The students are under the direction of Middle School Music and Vocal teacher Jacquie Holcombe.

Cary Academy Welcomes NCAIS Conference Speakers, Participants [top of page]

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.   

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.

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

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.

Upper School Student Excels in Dance [top of page]

Aparna Chatterjee (’06), a Cary Academy ninth grader, recently competed in the World Indian Classical Dance Competition hosted by the All Kannanda Kootas of America (AKKA) in Detroit and placed second against thirty competitors from around the world. Chatterjee has competed in a form of Indian Classical Dance called Bharatanatyam since the age of 10 years old. Bhara