June 2005

Beijing Interns Return with High Praise [top]

Three rising seniors recently returned from a two-week internship at National Cash Register’s (NCR) manufacturing facility in Beijing. Liz Heller, Charles Hendren, and Joelle Portzer kept detailed journals about their experience designing a public information board about NCR’s highest profile project in Beijing.

They received high praise from Jack Mannion, Director of Manufacturing & Facilities at the Beijing plant, who wrote that, “My staff and I are impressed by the level of keenness, effort, interest and indeed the quality of the finished product… I wish to thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet these great people. They are a credit to your school, their families, but most of all themselves. They will indeed go far.”

U-18 Baseball Team of CA Players Named Western USSSA State Champions [top]

An Under-18 summer league baseball team fielded by Cary Academy’s varsity coach and composed mostly of current and future Cary Academy students recently won the title of Western USSSA State Champions in a USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) tournament in Statesville. They also received an invitation to the USSSA national championships to be held in Florida this August.

With Coach Ray Pope, the Cary Chargers are composed of Cary Academy students Adam Kramer (‘06), Barrett Roberts (‘06), Ian Wilson (‘08), Patrick Britt (‘07), Mark Easley (‘08) and future Cary Academy students Preston Bull and Anthony Vogh, as well as students from the general area.

Public School Teachers Learn Tech Skills at CA Camp [top]

Public schools teachers from across the state spent June 13-17 learning new technology skills or sharpening existing ones at the Summer Technology Institute. Taught by Cary Academy faculty and staff, the course instructed teachers in skills such as writing HTML code; using HTML editing software; using digital cameras and scanners; constructing web sites and much more.

SummerQuest ’05 Draws Over 600 Campers [top]

Throughout the summer, students of all ages are attending innovative camps in cooking, athletics, academics, technology, crafts, and much more at Cary Academy. For more information, click on the SummerQuest ’05 link.

ESL Bootcamp Underway This Week [top]

More than 30 Cary Academy students are on campus this week mentoring and tutoring English as a Second Language (ESL) students and helping them become more comfortable with the English language and American culture. The ESL Summer Bootcamp is student-devised and student-run and pairs Cary Academy students with non-native English speakers who otherwise might not get the chance to practice their English skills over the summer.
The Cary Academy students, led by co-chairs Lauren Kahn (‘07) and Kelly Hughes (‘07), work one-on-one with public school students from grades 3-8 to improve and encourage English skills through reading, computers, board games, fitness games and other immersion activities. 
 

Eighth Grade Celebrates Transition to Upper School [top]

Wearing white dresses and sport coats, the eighth grade bid farewell to their Middle School years and prepared for their journey to the Upper School next year. Their celebration June 3 in the Fine Arts Building included class speakers, musical performances, and a warm welcome into the Upper School.



   

Student Team Wins Vinny™ Award [top]

The team of Charles Hendren, Ankit Agarwal, and Will Hussey, with coach David Boynton, took third place in the Vinny™ Awards with their video on biodiesel.
Named after Leonardo da Vinci, the Vinny™ Awards is a contest to produce a one-minute video that explains how science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics is being used or can be used to help solve a global problem.
The Vinny™ award is sponsored by the NASA Langley Center for Distance Learning, Christopher Newport University, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Funding is provided in part by the IEEE Foundation.

May 2005

CA Wins Battle of the Bookfairs [top]

Cary Academy has won the Barnes & Noble “Battle of the Bookfairs”! Thanks to the community support, the PTAA will receive $961 as well as a $1,000 prize package. The package includes a $500 gift card for the PTAA, a $300 gift card for the library, and a $200 Starbucks-catered event for faculty and staff to be held at Cary Academy in the new academic year.

Students Participate in All-State Honors Band [top]
Joelle Portzer (trumpet) and Rob Smithson (clarinet) recently participated in the 2005 NC All-State Honors Band in Greensboro. Colonel Lowell Graham, former conductor and commanding officer of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, DC, said that this NC All-State Band was the best All-State Band he has ever conducted. 

Rob Smithson writes of the experience: All-State Honors Band is a weekend clinic for some of the most advanced musicians in the state. Students who make one of the top chairs on their instrument in the top band at the All-District clinic are eligible to audition for the All-State Honors Band. Musicians from our district compete against musicians from five other districts in North Carolina to be a part of this elite group. Though there is only one weekend to prepare for the concert, and the musicians do not receive their music until a week before the event, the band comes together in time to give an excellent performance. All-State band is not only fun, it offers the opportunity to perform with talented musicians from around the state. This opportunity leaves one inspired to improve musically in anticipation of next year's tryouts.

Commencement Speaker Reminds Students that Graduation is a Beginning  [top]

Cary Academy’s Class of 2005 enjoyed a graduation ceremony filled with laughter and reflection during the school’s sixth commencement event on May 21.

The second class to have attended Cary Academy from sixth through 12^th grade, the Class of 2005 looked back with fond memories on their years at Cary Academy.

Steven Wilson recalled joining hands with his classmates and circling around the oak tree when it was planted in the quad during their sixth grade year. Although the tree is gone, he said that the circle they created physically is one that remains emotionally. “I feel like we all have a circle of family and friends at Cary Academy, and I think that’s what we’re all going to miss,” he said.

Cartoonist and novelist Doug Marlette was the keynote speaker, and he reminded students that high school is only a beginning. “High school is not the final word on you – it is a long and winding road,” he said. “You have just begun.”

Economics Team Places 4th at Nationals

The Cary Academy Economics Team placed fourth at the 2005 National Economics Challenge Championship in New York over the weekend. The Cary Academy team of Nikhil Gupta (‘05), Ryan Jamiolkowski (‘05), Travis May (‘05), Steven Wilson (‘05) and Coach R.J. Pellicciotta capped a win at the state level with a second win at the regional level against 12 other teams.

 
US Literary Magazine Published on Web

The Upper School literary magazine can be viewed at http://web1.caryacademy.org/facultywebs/palmer_seeley through the “Literary Magazine” link. Hard copies are available in the library.

Seniors Prepare for Graduation [top]

The seniors took another step toward graduation Thursday morning with a breakfast in their honor.

Pops on the Quad Available Online [top]

2005-2006 PTAA Executive Board [top]

Congratulations to the new 2005-2006 PTAA Executive Board: President Tricia Tumminello, Vice-President Michael Curran, Treasurer Sarah A. Rajala, Secretary Curlee-lyn Petty, Middle School Activities Leaders Liz Eubanks and Charlotte Laverick and Upper School Activities Leaders Nikki Dunn and Lisa Graybeal.

Thank you to all parents and staff who voted on our first E-Ballot.  It was a success! The on-line Survey is still available until May 20.

Scholars’ Golf Tournament [top]

This year’s Scholars’ Golf Classic raised more than $70,000 to benefit the school’s scholarship fund. More than 240 players participated in the tournament, held at Prestonwood Country Club on May 9.

For the sixth consecutive year, R.N. Rouse & Co., Inc. served as Grand Sponsor, contributing more than $10,000 to need-based scholarships.

The generosity of all the golfers will help Cary Academy continue to offer need-based financial aid to a higher percentage of its students than most of its peers in the Southern Association of Independent Schools.

Varsity boys tennis earns spot in NCISAA championship [top]

The Varsity Boys Tennis team completed the regular season with a record of 15 – 2 (9 – 1 in the TISAC) and a share of the TISAC championship. Their hard work earned them a spot in the NCISAA state championship playoffs. They will host Charlotte Latin School May 10 at 2:30 p.m.

April 2005

Students win regional Econ championship [top]

Congratulations to Nick Gupta, Ryan Jamiolkowski, Travis May and Steven Wilson, who recently won the regional Economics Challenge championship in Baltimore. This competition gathered the top economics students in the mid-Atlantic. In May, the Cary Academy team will compete in the national championships to be held in New York. A Charger Cheer goes out to the team and their coach RJ Pelliccotta. Each of the students has been awarded a $1,000 savings bond.

Senior class rewarded for highest Annual Fund participation [top]

The senior class was rewarded April19 for clinching the highest parent participation rate in the Fantastic Voyage Annual Fund campaign with a delicious Mexican luncheon. Senior parents boast a remarkable 84% participation.

“I’m always encouraged by the high level of commitment demonstrated by Cary Academy parents” said Development Coordinator Tanya Lucas. “We certainly want to thank senior parents Eric and Lori Mason (Jarad), Jon and Cecilia Kolkin (Laira) and Kenneth and Glynis Chandler (Sharice) who volunteered their time and provided excellent leadership in garnering participation.” 

It’s not too late to show your support for the Fantastic Voyage Annual Fund campaign which ends on June 15. Click here for more information. Give your gift today!

MS writers publish spring issue of literary magazine [top]

The Spring 2005 issue of The Oracle, the Middle School’s Literary Magazine, is now published and you can access it by clicking here.  A special thanks to Nick Makansi for posting the issue on the web and to Bonnie Dodwell for laying out the hard copy magazine.

Also, please join the students and teachers for MS Writers Night on Wednesday, May 11, 7-8 p.m. at the Cary Barnes and Noble. Middle School students and faculty will read original and favorite writing.

Quiz Bowl Team set for live TV [top]

Cary Academy’s Quiz Bowl Team will compete on live TV in the 2005 Public Library Quiz Bowl State Championship April 23 at 1 p.m. on UNC TV. The station also interviewed the team April 11 at the school.

The Quiz Bowl members are Swapanthi Nagulpally (‘07), Eric Smith (‘05), Grif Friedman (‘05), Amelia Niemi (‘05), Mark Hallen (‘06) and John Nelson (‘08). Robert Coven is head coach and Teresa Cook, Upper School biology, is the assistant coach.

The Cary Academy team will compete against eight other teams and is sponsored by the Wake County Public Libraries.

Students tapped for National Honor Society [top]

The following Cary Academy students have been invited to join the National Honor Society: Caitlin Daniels, Christine Ernst, Caitlin Farren, Sam Fuchs, Clay Hane, Sarah Helfer, Liz Heller, Sarah Ashley King, Brendan Kiu, Shannon Mentock, Kelsey Nix, Alex Rosen, Kelly Shipkowski, Zoe Vulgaropulos, Abby Weathers and Emily Winslett.

An official Induction Ceremony will be held April 25 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre.

College Acceptances for the Class of 2005 [top]

The Class of 2005 has enjoyed remarkable success in the college search process this year.

The 93 seniors have received acceptances from 124 different colleges and universities all over the United States and abroad. Students have been admitted to colleges in 28 states, plus Washington, D.C., England, Scotland, Canada and even Australia. 

Colleges in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania were among the most popular with the seniors, with students receiving offers of admission from 19 different colleges in North Carolina, 11 in Pennsylvania, and 10 in Massachusetts.

The range of colleges to which seniors applied and have been admitted include liberal arts colleges such as Swarthmore, Mt. Holyoke, Kenyon, Spelman, Lafayette, Guilford, Bryn Mawr, Vassar, Amherst, Davidson; to midsize universities including Duke, Stanford, Tulane, Yale, Furman, Wake Forest, University of San Francisco, Emory, George Washington University, Dartmouth, Harvard; to larger state universities such as UNC, NCCU, UNC-Wilmington, NCSU, University of Illinois, UVA, Georgia, Virginia Tech; to arts colleges such as Parsons and Rhode Island School of Design; technical universities including Cal Tech, RIT, and Georgia Tech; and music conservatories, such as Berklee College of Music and Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. Overseas, universities in Scotland, England and Canada were most popular, with several students very seriously considering offers of admission from Edinburgh, London School of Economics, and Queens University of Canada.

Students have until May 1 to notify colleges in the United States of their final choice.

In addition to the impressive offers of admission, many seniors were also offered merit scholarships. For more information about these, please click here.

CA students place high at Economics Challenge [top]

For the second year in a row Cary Academy teams placed both first and second in the North Carolina Council on Economic Education's Economics Challenge. The team of Ryan Jamiolkowski, Travis May, Andrew Bryson, and Charles Noneman placed first, edging out the team of Nick Gupta, Steven Wilson, Jarad Mason, and Matt Ham in the final round quiz bowl to determine the champion. 

Cary Academy also had the individual state champion for the second consecutive year, as Nick Gupta placed first with a near perfect score. Also participating for Cary Academy were Michael Cvelich, Val Chen, Kevin Kline, and Sam Behrend. Cary Academy now advances to the Regional Economics Challenge in Baltimore to compete to win a trip to New York City to compete for the National Championship.

Cary Academy wins its first Grand Champion Award [top]

Cary Academy earned a total of 10 awards, including the Grand Champion Award by the Upper School Jazz Band, at the Music Festival held in Williamsburg, Va.

Band Director Eric Grush said it was the most successful day in the history of the school’s band program.

The Middle School Band placed first in class with a rating of Superior. The percussion section, which consists of Cameron Bridges (‘09), Ryan Dunn (‘09), Andrew Kennedy (‘10), Kenny Thomson (‘09), and Brandon Wilson (‘10), received the Outstanding Section Award.

The Upper School Band placed first in class with a rating of Excellent. Joelle Portzer (‘06) received the Outstanding Soloist award for trumpet.

The Upper School Jazz Band placed first in class with a rating of Superior. The rhythm section, which consists of Tenny Crawford (‘07), Aaron Feierstein (‘07), Peter White (‘08), Josh Nardin (‘06), Katie Hayes (‘05), James Curtiss (‘05), and Chris Wehner (‘07) received the Outstanding Section Award. Josh Nardin received the Outstanding Musician Award while Peter White and Saurabh Aneja (‘05) received Outstanding Soloist Awards.

The Grand Champion Award is given to the highest-scoring band of the day.

Priest victimized in anti-apartheid struggle to tell story [top] 

On April 11 during their lunch period, sophomores will hear from a priest whose involvement in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa nearly cost him his life. In 1990, Father Michael Lapsley received a parcel just three months after the release of Nelson Mandela. When he opened it, an explosion brought down ceilings in the house, blew a hole in the floor and shattered windows. It blew off both of the priest's hands, destroyed one eye and burned him severely. 

Today, Father Lapsley focuses on the need for making the transition from victim to survivor and eventually to victor. He will speak from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Orchestra prepares for Fall Concert April 12 [top] 

The Cary Academy Orchestra will present its Fall Concert at 7 p.m. April 12 at the school. This is the last concert before the orchestra heads to the National Invitational Band/Orchestra Festival of Gold in Boston Symphony Hall later in April.  

The concert will begin with the Boston Combined Orchestra playing their festival songs including: Vivaldi 4 violin concerto in B minor (Abraham Chen, Aparna Chatterjee, Rodrigo Haragutchi and Nathaniel Ting); Chaminade flute concertino (Murphy Chang); and Brandenburg Concerto No.3 by Johann Sebastian Bach. 

The Middle School Orchestra will perform the songs they played for the State Convention as well as newly-prepared songs such as “Cello Rondo,” “Vivo Viola,” and “One Bow Concerto.”  

The Upper School and soloist Abraham Chen will perform the most popular and best known Chinese violin concerto “Butterfly Lovers.” 

The orchestra will play Tchaikovsky’s “March Slav” to end the concert.

Geography Bee [top] 

Bryan Abadie (‘09’) represented Cary Academy Middle School and tied for 5^th place in the 2005 North Carolina National Geographic Bee State Finals. The finals, hosted at the Exploris Museum in Raleigh April 1, featured the top 100 students as measured by a written exam administered to all school level bee winners in the state. 

The state competition consisted of two rounds: preliminary and finals. In the preliminary round students were challenged with answering eight questions with the top 10 scorers advancing to the finals. Questions consisted of domestic and international geography knowledge with a focus on economic/cultural geography as well as current events. Bryan was one of only four students to answer all preliminary round questions correctly and as a result advanced to the final round. Bryan was proud to represent Cary Academy and would like to donate his 5^th place award (an Atlas) to the Middle School.

Two students selected for National Chemistry Olympiad [top] 

Jarad Mason (‘05) and Mark Hallen (‘06) will represent Cary Academy and North Carolina in the National Chemistry Olympiad Exam April 15 at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics. Only 15 students in the state are selected based on the results of the first-round exam, with a maximum of two from any one school.  

The top scorers on the national exam are selected to attend a summer camp at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. During that camp, the final team is selected to represent the United States in the international competition. The 2005 International Chemistry Olympiad competition will be held in Taiwan.

Accreditation Team Visits CA; Gives Glowing Feedback [top]

Congratulations Cary Academy!! Head of School Don Berger received a terrific oral report from the visiting team including Sandra Adams and Theo Coonrod, two current independent school heads with more than 50 years combined experience in independent schools recommending SACS and SAIS accreditation be again granted to CA. An extensive written report will follow. The group spent a full day reading through data compiled in the first ever on-line report submitted for evaluation. The team expressed how amazed and impressed they were with all the school had accomplished in just eight years. An elated Mr. Berger said, “My congratulations and sincere thanks to all for their roles in helping the school develop to where we are today.” A special thank you goes to Chuck Burdick and Eric Bondy for overseeing the accreditation process and chairing the committee. “They did outstanding work putting all the pieces together and making CA the first school ever to accomplish the reporting process on-line,” he added. 

Give Blood on April 19 [top]

Cary Academy is sponsoring an American Red Cross blood drive on April 19. Come to the SEA building between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. to donate. Cary Academy’s goal for the blood drive is 60 donors. Every donor that helps reach this goal receives a Red Cross t-shirt.

In order to give blood you must be 17 years of age, weigh 110 pounds and have not donated in the past eight weeks. 

Donors must bring an ID or proof that he or she is over the age of 17. Donors are encouraged to eat a good meal a few hours before giving blood and must be able to restrain from doing any strenuous activities for the rest of the day. 

For more information contact Cheryl Cotter at Cheryl_cotter@caryacademy.org and read the PDF file, ‘Who May Recycle Life’, as some eligibility requirements changed as of March 2005.

FAME Fest Set for April 29 [top]

FAME Fest, Cary Academy’s food, art, music and entertainment night will be held on April 29. This event features traditional art displays, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. New additions to FAME Fest this year include a student art market and guest artist, Jonathan Daniel displaying and selling his work. Daniel is an African wire artist who will be visiting Cary Academy the week of FAME Fest. This event offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy refreshments, live music by Tri-M Music Honor Society, and purchase original artwork. FAME Fest will be held in the Fine Arts Building from 3:10 to 5.

March 2005

Jamiolkowski Named School’s First Morehead Recipient [top]

Ryan Jamiolkowski (’05) is the first Cary Academy student to be named a recipient of the Morehead Award at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The John Motley Morehead Foundation named a total of 43 recipients this year.

Moreheads are selected based on excellence in four areas – capacity to lead and motivate fellow students, scholastic ability and extracurricular attainments, moral force of character, and physical vigor, according to the foundation.

The Morehead pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the costs of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. The scholarship value is approximately $80,000 for each in-state student.

The winners will have until April 15 to accept The Morehead.

Middle School Robotics Club Competes in FIRST Lego League Competition [top]

Instead of sleeping in their first day of Spring Break the Middle School Robotics Club traveled to NC A&T University to compete in a FIRST Lego League Robotics Competition.  FIRST is an acronym that stands for For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology.

“The students competed against 15 other skilled teams from around the state in four different categories:  robot performance, technical design, teamwork, and project presentation,” Middle School faculty member and club advisor, Eric Himburg said.

The Cary Academy team walked away with the “Judges Award” for excellence performance in all four categories. 

“It is a testament of our team’s ability to be given this award as the judges were Ph. D. engineers and this was our first time participating at a robotics competition,” said Himburg.

Over two trimesters, the students have taught themselves how to build and program LEGO Mindstorms, researched and listened to talks about devices to help people with disabilities, and built a robot that could perform simple tasks to assist a person with physical disabilities.

The Middle School Robotics Club members are:  Maggie Kneifel (’11), Robert Murphy (’09), William Moon (’09), Jason Wainwright (’10), Patrick Vander Bee (’09), John Peebles (’09), Brett Carlson (’10), Allison Parker (’11), and Lauren Phillips (’11).  The advisors for club are Eric Himburg and Dawn Gartlehner.

PTAA 2005 Merit Scholarship Program Opens to Juniors  [top]

The Cary Academy Parent Teacher Administration Alliance (PTAA) is currently accepting applications for the 2005 PTAA Merit Scholarship Awards from current juniors.

Each year, the PTAA recognizes one or more rising seniors who, through application, interview and letters of recommendation, have demonstrated the school's values of respect and responsibility in Upper School academic and extracurricular endeavors.

The number and cash value of the scholarship awards may vary from year to year, depending on the success of the PTAA major fundraiser – the PTAA Auction.

This year the PTAA is pleased to be able to offer up to two $2,000 Honor and three Honorable Mention awards. 

Seven Orchestra Members to Perform at National Event [top]

Seven Cary Academy Orchestra students have been selected to perform with the combined Honors Orchestra for the April 2005 National Invitational Band & Orchestra Festival of Gold.

More than 200 instrumentalists from 20 different bands and orchestras auditioned for this opportunity.

The seven Cary Academy students selected include: Bryce Poll (’05), first violin, 10^th chair; Nathaniel Ting (’09), first violin, 15th chair; Aparna Chatterjee (’06), second violin, 11th chair; Abraham Chen (’06), second violin, 13th chair; Rodrigo Haragutchi (’08), second violin, 15th chair; Jeffie Chang (’10), viola, seventh chair; and Murphy Chang (’07), flute, fifth chair.

The seven orchestra members will perform at the Encore Concert in Boston Symphony Hall on April 25 during the Festival of Gold event. The conductor will be Maestro Keith Lockhart, Music Director of the Utah Symphony and the Boston Pops Orchestra.

These Cary Academy students will attend the 2005 National Invitational Band & Orchestra Festival of Gold with 35 of their classmates. In total, 42 members of the Cary Academy orchestra will attend after receiving a Gold level performance award in the Heritage Festival in the fall, qualifying them to attend the Festival of Gold.

Senior Named Semi-Finalist for National Beta Club Scholarship [top]

Val Chen (’05) was recently named a semi-finalist in the National Beta Club Scholarship Program.

The National Beta Club Scholarship Program offers scholarships to outstanding Beta Club members in their senior year. Just over 200 scholarships are awarded each year. They range in value from $1,000 to $15,000.

Selection of National Beta Club Scholars is based on a number of factors with special emphasis placed upon academic excellence, demonstrated leadership, character and school/community service.

Finalists will be announced in April.

School Nurse, Faculty Member Conquer Half Marathon [top]

School nurse, Jennifer Massengill and Middle School Language Arts teacher, Briarly White recently completed the Dasani Half Marathon in Myrtle Beach on Feb. 19.

Massengill and White had spent most of the winter training for the event. White finished in 1:48 and Massengill finished in 2:00.

“We were very excited with our results,” Massengill said.

February 2005

Feb. 25 Nationality Night to Showcase Cultures from Around the World [top]

An evening filled with food, dance, musical entertainment and storytelling will highlight countries from around the world during the third annual Nationality Night on Feb. 25.

The event will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

From 5:30-7 p.m., visitors can enjoy food from 14 different countries, such as Indian, Swedish, French, Spanish and American foods, and visit booths detailing cultural and historical information from countries around the world.

From 7-8:30 p.m., visitors will be treated to an international performance, again showcasing other cultures, which will include story tellers, musicians and dancers.

The cost to attend the event is $5 per person, with food available for an additional charge.

All proceeds will benefit the Reedy Creek buddies program – Cary Academy students’ tutor/mentor partnership with Reedy Creek Elementary School.

Cary Academy to Represent Wake County in District Quiz Bowl [top]

Cary Academy was the winner of the local Quiz Bowl competition on Feb. 5.  Quiz Bowl is an academic program for high school students throughout North Carolina.

Cary Academy will now go on to represent Wake County in the District Competition on March 19.  The District event take place in Vance County.

Five members of the Cary Academy Quiz Bowl Team competed in the event:  Grif Freidman (‘05), Swapanthi Nagulpally (‘07), John Nelson (‘08), Amelia Niemi (‘05), and Eric Smith (‘05).

 Ten other local high schools were represented in this year’s local Quiz Bowl including, Apex, Athens Drive, Broughton, Cardinal Gibbons, Enloe, Leesville Road, Millbrook, Raleigh Charter, St Mary’s, and Sanderson.

The Cary Academy Quiz Bowl Team consist of:  Grif Friedman (‘05), Lianne Gonsalves (‘06), Matt Horowitz (‘06), Megan Jacobson (‘06), Swapanthi Nagulpally (‘07), John Nelson (‘08), Amelia Niemi (‘05), and Eric Smith (‘05). 

The coaches are Robert Coven and Teresa Cook.

CA Places in 13 Science Olympiad Events at Regional Competition [top]

The 2005 Cary Academy Science Olympiad team returned victorious from the NC Gardner Regional Science Olympiad tournament on Saturday, Feb. 5.  Coach Rusty Parks and Co-Coach Teresa Cook led the 16 ninth-12th graders to compete against 16 high schools from Wake, Durham, and Johnston counties.

The team competed in 26 science-related events and received medals in 13 of the events.

Their fifth place finish earned them a spot in the April 16 State Tournament, to be held at N.C. State.

Middle School Students Celebrate Chinese New Year [top]

Students in Nancy Soo-Hoo’s Chinese classes gathered to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Feb. 8 with student presentations, food and excitement.

Students from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Chinese classes presented what they had learned about the holiday. Students researched everything from the history of fireworks to the good luck color – red.

Soo-Hoo followed Chinese tradition and gave students a small red package which holds a gift. Along with the little packages the students enjoyed good luck candy which was also cover in red.

Students were thrilled to receive their gifts but the best part about the experience was the understanding they had of an important Chinese tradition.

When asked what her favorite part of the celebration had been Jaclyn Udell (’10) said, “learning about the Chinese culture”.

Students Arielle Keesling (’10), Catherine Sheffield (’10) and Melissa Geiss (’10) said they enjoyed the different foods and sharing what they learned about the Chinese New Year with friends.

In the past classes individually celebrated the Chinese New Year. This was the first year that all the classes have combined, according to Soo-Hoo.

The official first day of the Chinese New Year for 2005 is Feb. 9.

Finalists for Park and Morehead Scholarships Named [top]

Two Cary Academy students were recently named finalists for two of the area’s most prestigious college scholarships.

Emily Gordon (’05) was recently named a finalist for the Park Scholarship at N.C. State University and Ryan Jamiolkowski (’05) was recently named a finalist for the Morehead Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Park Scholarship provides a four-year award (valued at $55,000 in-state) including a computer stipend for top-of-the-line technology specific to each major; coverage of tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, personal/miscellaneous expenses and transportation; opportunities for academic enrichment; and grants for research, artistic and service projects.

The Morehead pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the costs of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. The scholarship value is approximately $80,000 for each in-state student.

Forty-six Park Scholarships will be awarded this year, with 75 percent going to North Carolina residents. Scholarship awards will be announced the first week of March 2005.

Jamiolkowski and the other finalists will interview with the Morehead Central Selection Committee in March. Winners will be announced March 11.

PTAA Mardi Gras Auction Set for Feb. 26 [top]

Mark your calendars now for the Cary Academy campus social event of the year – the Mardis Gras auction.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m., the Cary Academy Parent Teacher Administration Alliance (PTAA) invites you to stroll down the streets of “N’awliuns” for a true Mardis Gras celebration.

Advance ticket sales are underway and seating is limited to 450. Go to the Mardi Gras Link for additional information.

Plan to join the Mardi Gras committee members for the soulful sounds of jazz and “N’awliuns” cuisine catered by Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant.

Mardi Gras Auction Co-Chairs, Celeste LeFort, Wendy Andrews and Charlotte Laverick, are pleased to announce that auctioneer, Larry Carter, will direct participants on their search for Lagniappe (A Louisiana French word used especially southern Louisiana to denote an extra or unexpected gift or benefit.).

Acquisition Committee Chair Nikki Dunn promises to fill the streets of “N’awliuns” with those “must have” Silent and Live auction items.

New this year, the committee has chosen to have an ‘all-electronic’ catalog of auction items. The catalog is available for viewing on www.caryacademyptaa.org.

A Tuition Raffle will again be offered.

The Cary Academy community is encouraged to use this fundraising event as a “friendraiser” by inviting family and friends to attend. This year’s goal for the PTAA’s only fundraiser is $80,000 Advanced ticket purchases are recommended and reserved table seating is available. 

Make your plans early, don your Mardi Gras attire and join the Mardis Gras committee members to experience New Orleans on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Upper School Presents Rhinoceros [top]

Upper School students will present Ionesco’s Rhinoceros this weekend, Feb. 11-13.

Tickets are on sale on the Cary Academy Intranet.

Drama teacher Michael Hayes says, “In the past, we’ve presented Broadway musicals, Shakespeare, contemporary comedy, serious contemporary drama, Greek tragedy, epic fantasy, and others.  We felt this would be a good time to explore the Theatre of the Absurd, and Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, as a classic of that genre, presents a real challenge for performers and audience alike.”

In the play, two characters, Berenger and Jean, meet to have Sunday breakfast at a sidewalk café. Suddenly a rhinoceros charges through the town. Local townspeople meet to discuss the meaning of the rhinoceros and Berenger and Jean find themselves in a heated argument that almost leads to blows. The characters later learn that people are turning into rhinos and Berenger must face the possibility of being the last man left.

Middle School Web Site Featured in Writing Magazine [top]

Echoes, a web site created by Cary Academy students in Middle School Language Arts teacher Delia DeCourcy’s class has been selected by, Writing Magazine to appear in their January publication.

Students in DeCourcy’s 2002-03 and 2003-04 classes have completed the web project in which each student creates a biography of a poet, sample poems with literary analysis, and student poetry inspired by the poet. The students work has been compiled and is displayed on their web site http://project1.caryacademy.org/echoes/main/echoesmain.htm.

The goal of this project is to continue to add to the list of poets and encourage other middle and high school classes to create their own pages to link with Echoes, according to DeCourcy. 

“In addition to it being featured in Writing, I have presented the project this year at NC State to a few education classes and to a group of North Carolina educators at Middle Educators Global Activities (MEGA),” she stated. 

This will be the second time Echoes is featured by a magazine. It appeared in MidLink Magazine, Volume 10: 2003-2004, March-May number 2 and can be found in the archives of the web site.

Writing Magazine is also featuring the work of former Cary Academy student Lindsey Hume. In 2002-03 Hume wrote the poem, Denver, Colorado which was inspired by Nikki Giovanni’s poem Knoxville, Tennessee. It is featured in the January edition of Writing Magazine. Hume is currently in the 10^th grade at Ridgefield High School in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

January 2005

Hamilton Receives Robert E. Bridges Scholarship [top]

Congratulations to Upper School English teacher Carole Hamilton, the first recipient of the Robert E. Bridges Scholarship at Cary Academy.

Hamilton received the award during the Jan. 11 Cary Academy Board of Directors meeting.

This award was established at Cary Academy in honor of former Board member Robert E. Bridges honoring all that he has done for students and teachers in North Carolina. In addition to being a former Board member, Bridges also served at superintendent of Wake County Public Schools. Bridges was on-hand on Jan. 11 to present Hamilton with the award.

Through this scholarship, Hamilton will have the opportunity to attend a seminar through the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT).

Part of the University of North Carolina Center for School Leadership Development, NCCAT offers a full complement of professional development activities for North Carolina teachers. NCCAT is located in Jackson County and offers more than 80 residential seminars each year.

New National Honor Society Members “Tapped” [top]

The National Honor Society held its traditional “Tapping” Ceremony on Jan. 25. In NHS tradition, the new members were tapped by current members as an invitation for membership and lead in to the Administration Building lobby where their parents were waiting. The National Honor Society “Tapping” Ceremony is an important part of the club tradition and has taken place at Cary Academy for the past three years.

The new members are Lila Battis (’06), Charles Hendren (’06), Tyler Graybeal (’06), Shannon Miller (’06), Glen Wright Colopy (’06), Rob Smithson (’06), Mark Hallen (’06), Emily Pace (’06), Kate Heighington (’06).

Holly Metter (’05), NHS President, led the new and current members in the reciting of the pledge and explained the club’s purpose and goals. At the conclusion of the ceremony the students and parents celebrated with refreshments and fellowship.

The new members will be formally inducted in April.

Band and Orchestra Students Receive State Honors [top]

Band and orchestra students are having much success this year at district and regional competitions.

Their accomplishments include:

• Seven Cary Academy students were recently selected for All-District Band.  Those selected to All-District Band include, Matt Makansi (‘10), clarinet, eighth chair, Concert Band; Vann Mitchell (‘08), clarinet, sixth chair, 9-10 Wind Ensemble; Rob Smithson (‘06), clarinet, sixth chair, 11-12 Wind Ensemble; Joelle Portzer (‘06), trumpet, first chair, 11-12 Wind Ensemble; Amelia Niemi (‘05), flute, sixth chair, 9 -12 Symphonic Band; Eric Smith (‘05), horn, fifth chair, 11 -12 Wind Ensemble; and Ben Vig (‘10), tenor saxophone, first chair-tie, 7-8 Symphonic Band.  Cary Academy placed more students in the 2005 All-District Band than any other independent school in Central North Carolina.  Cary Academy regains this title from Ravenscroft, who held this honor last year.

• Five Cary Academy students participated in auditions for the Second Annual Eastern Regional All-State Jazz Band this January. The Cary Academy students who auditioned include Josh Nardin (’06), Joelle Portzer (’06), Rob Smithson (’06), Scott Stanton (’08) and Iliya Zilberter (’05). Portzer was selected from Cary Academy as fourth chair, trumpet in Ensemble A for the Regional Jazz Band for the second time.

• On Jan. 15, Upper School orchestra students auditioned for the Eastern Regional All-State Orchestra. Ten were selected for the honor, including to the Symphony Orchestra, Aparna Chatterjee (’06), Violin I; Abraham Chen (’06), Violin II; Rodrigo Haragutchi (’08), Violin II; Charlotte Morgan (’08), Viola; Andrew Bryson (’06), Cello; Rob Smithson (’06), Clarinet II; Eric Smith (’05), French Horn III; Joelle Portzer (’06), Trumpet II; Michelle Cobley (’05), Harp; and to the String Orchestra, Jeffrey Stanton (’06), Viola.

Middle School Students Showcase Their Geography Knowledge [top]

Do you know the capital of Palau? Bryan Abadie (‘09) probably does. Abadie is the winner of the Middle School Geography Bee held Jan. 7. Ellyn Saunders Duncan (’09) was runner-up.

The Middle School Geography Bee begins at the classroom level. All students compete in the first round, and then ten finalists are selected from the highest performers. The finalists go on to compete in front of the assembled Middle School.

The 10 finalists were: Bill Wagner (‘09), Ben Williams (‘09), Ellyn Saunders Duncan (‘09), Christian Crevar (‘09), Bryan Adadie (‘09), Courtney Anderson (‘11), Alex Spancake (‘11), Ian Dohm(‘10), Christine Eubanks (‘10), and Jeff Goettel (‘11).

Each of the finalists received a gift certificate. The winner received a gift certificate along with a medal.

Congratulations to all the contestants. And for those of you who are still wondering about the capital of Palau the answer is Koror.

Head of School Discusses Positive Progress in State of the School Address [top]

Approximately 75 parents, faculty and staff attended Head of School Don Berger’s annual State of the School address during the PTAA meeting on Jan. 10.

Berger reported progress in many areas, including academics, finance, facilities and enrollment, among others.

Students continue to excel in academics, as shown through strong test scores, such as the SAT, through college acceptances and through acceptance to programs such as the Duke Talent Identification Program at the middle school level. This success is also evident in the classroom as students produce projects and make presentations that show a deep understanding of the materials they are taught. Just a few such examples Berger cited include the ninth grade Web Site Portfolios and many multimedia projects in the Middle and Upper School.

Outside the classroom, students are also successful in their extracurricular activities, he noted.

Students stood out in performances such as The Wizard of Oz, Monkey, Not Another Nutcracker, and band and orchestra concerts. He also took note of several visual arts displays including the Middle School ‘teapot’ exhibits at Barnes & Noble this past fall and student art work on display at several Triangle locations.

Athletics teams also had a strong showing as girls’ cross country took fourth in the state and boys took sixth in the state. The girls’ basketball team was named champion at Cary Academy’s own Charger Holiday Basketball Tournament and the girls’ tennis team became the first TISAC championship team in a girls sport at Cary Academy.

Berger noted that enrollment continues to stay strong, with enrollment topping 680 students this year.

Safety and Security were also covered. He noted many accomplishments in those areas, including the installation of Automated External Defibrillators; emergency crisis lockdown training for faculty and staff; and the development of severe weather policies for weekends, among other topics.

Students Pitch In for Tsunami Relief Efforts [top]

Middle and Upper School students are doing their part to help those nations devastated by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

Middle School students made an immediate $1,000 donation to the cause from their Middle School dance funds.

An additional donation collection is underway, with collection jars located throughout campus. Students have designated Unicef (www.unicef.org) as the recipient of the funds they raise. Donations may be made through school, with checks made out to “Unicef.” If parents wish to receive a tax donation letter, however, donations should be made directly on-line at www.unicef.org.

Collections on campus are taking place through Jan. 21.

In recognition of the need for clean water, students and their families are also being asked to fill a water bottle with change and donate that money to the relief effort.

In addition, the students heading up the efforts at the school took a vote and decided to forego their normal lunch menu one day and have a simple “light fare” lunch to recognize those that are going hungry in the wake of the tsunami disaster.

The collection efforts don’t stop there. Lila Battis (’06), one of the students leading the relief drive, said student will be doing a “Sacrifice Your Starbucks Day.” Rather than buy their morning coffee, students are being asked to donate that money to the cause.

Other students heading up the efforts include Vincent Agosta (’06), Kelly King (’05) and Vittoria Longiotti (’05).

“If someone has the attitude, ‘Well, I’m just one person, donating a dollar, so I don’t matter,’ they truly don’t understand the power of numbers,” Agosta said. “If every person in the Untied States gave simply one dollar the victims of the tsunami, we would have hundreds of millions of dollars in relief.

“If everyone in the world gave one dollar,” he continued, “we would have close to seven billion dollars in funds. Think about that the next time you doubt whether every dollar counts or not, because each person does make a difference in the long run.”

Eighth Grade Student to Attend Presidential Inauguration [top]

Congratulations go out to Seth Johnson (‘09). He has been selected to participate in the Junior Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (JrPYIC) where he will attend the Inauguration of the President of the United States.

The conference will be held Jan.16-21, 2005.

Johnson was selected for his exemplary performance in the classroom and his interest in leadership, according to JrPYIC. He will unite with nearly 400 middle school students from around the country for this event.

JrPYIC provides students like Johnson the opportunity to participate in historic events that coincide with the Inauguration of the President. 

“Something that is really wonderful about so many young people gathering in Washington, D.C. for this event is that it will provide them a chance to become more familiar with and attuned to the president who will govern our country for the next four years,” said Mike Lidsay, executive director of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council.  The conference hopes to be an inspiration to future U. S. leaders.

Along with the inaugural happenings, Johnson and other participants will take part in activities that will introduce them to lobbying, creating a political platform, and the electoral college.

Student Artwork on Display [top]

Ten Cary Academy students are participating in the Independent School Art Exhibition at Ravenscroft School. The exhibition is located in the lobby of the school's Fine Arts Building through Jan. 28.

Students include: Alanna Daley ('07), Julianne Gonski ('05), Jason Harrow ('05), Meredith Lippincott ('06), Tricia Litchfield ('05), Ashley Lively ('05), Marina Makligh ('06), Kim Ray ('08), Molly Trask ('06) and Zoe Vulgaropulos ('06).

Cary Academy Families and Alumni Enjoy Homecoming [top]

Cary Academy’s fifth Homecoming Celebration was a big hit on Dec. 21.

The celebration was the culmination of Spirit Week activities in the Middle and Upper schools that included the Wacky Olympics, hall decorations and many other events.

Homecoming day featured a Pep Rally during the school day, highlighted by a faculty/staff versus alumni basketball game, in which the alumni were triumphant.

The girls’ and boys’ basketball teams took on Kerr Vance Academy and the evening also featured a spaghetti dinner for the school community.

The boys’ varsity basketball team played a hard-fought game, losing to Kerr Vance, 41-60. Meanwhile, the girls’ varsity team had a big win against Kerr Vance, 63-15.

Middle and Upper School Students Give Back [top]

This year’s Giving Tree program was a great success at Cary Academy.

Students in the Middle and Upper schools were able to pick a card off a tree. The cards contained a needy child’s request for Christmas gifts. Students and their families went out of their way to fill those children’s request, purchasing most of the gifts listed on the cards.

In addition, Dawn Bates’ Middle School advisory group decided to “adopt” two students from the giving tree. The group looked at the tags on the tree and thought it would be appropriate to choose one boy and one girl that were approximately their age.

Each student in the advisory group shopped on their own and then brought in their gifts to be wrapped.

“We had so much stuff that we chose one more boy from the tree and with all of their donations we were able to sponsor three children,” Bates said.

Career Connections Set for the Week of Jan. 24 [top]

What kind of careers do people who like math and science choose?   What about those who love the arts, or English, or design, or writing, or traveling, or people, or athletics? 

That’s what Career Connections will be about—exploring the wide range of careers available, and hearing about the paths that some people followed to end up where they are today. 

Through the PTAA-sponsored Career Connections, Upper School students will have a chance to hear about some of the exciting possibilities that exist.

The Career Connections week will kick off with a parent program, 8 Factors for Creating a Life Vision with your Teen on Monday, Jan. 24 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Lecture Hall. Don Azevedo, Ph.D. will be the speaker, and the program is open to all Middle and Upper school parents.

On Wednesday, Jan. 26, the Upper School program will open with a fourth period keynote address from Ellen Baker, Director of Career Services for NCSU’s MBA program.

Finally, on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 8-10 a.m., Upper School students will get to choose three seminars to attend on topics of interest.

The Career Connections committee is recruiting speakers from 27 different fields, based on a career interest survey students completed during advisory.  Seminar speakers include people working in careers including marketing, design, biomedical engineering, law, medicine, art, writing, business, music, international development, architecture and much more.

Look for more information in the coming weeks.

December 2004

AP Scholars Announced [top]

A total of 56 Cary Academy students have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. 

That represents 41 percent of the 137 students at Cary Academy who took AP Exams last spring. Approximately 17 percent of AP test takers world wide preformed at a sufficiently high level to merit AP Scholar recognition.

For the members of the Class of 2004 who have completed their eligibility for AP Scholar recognition, over half, or 51 percent of the class, received AP Scholar recognition. 

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student’s performance on AP exams:

Twenty Cary Academy students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher on a 5-point scale.  These students include current seniors Andrew Bryson, Valerie Chen, Travis Wright Colopy, Emily Gordon, John Hermann, Marissa Lee, Jarad Mason, Karla Misjan, and Haley Nix, as well as members of the Class of 2004: Brad Butler, Sudarshan Gupta, Alessandra Gutierrez, Richard Nguyen, Adam Pedersen, Kristen Pluchino, Rebecca Poole, Kelly Roth, Natanya Schessel, Asher Smith and Miranda Whiteside.

Ten students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. AP Scholars with Honor recipients include seniors Holly Metter, Charles Noneman, and Iliya Zilberter.  Class of 2004 AP Scholars with Honor include, Shanita Bigelow, David Catchings, Caroline Daughtry, Robert Parrott, Natalie Pritchett, Josh Setzer, and Elsha Wolf.

Finally, 26 students qualified for AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.  Seniors receiving this distinction include Katrina Hayes, Ryan Jamiolkowski, Travis May, and Steven Wilson.  There were 22 members of the Class of 2004 receiving this award: Kristin Aanstoos, Kristen Anderson, Megan Gray, Nadia Khan, Kaitlyn Large, Sawyer Lucy, David Markle, Carrie Miller, Meghan Morris, Keith Porcaro, Joe Reed, Jenna Rinaldi, Leslie Sall, Tracy San Filipo, Roger Shaw, Craig Stanton, Yuriko Tamura, Carolyn Usanis, Heather Wiles, Kelly Will, Alex Wilson, and Ed Winstead.

Of those AP Scholars with Distinction, four students also qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average of 4 or higher on a 5-point scale on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams: senior Ryan Jamiolkowski, and graduates Kristen Aanstoos, Meghan Morris and Ed Winstead.

These accomplishments speak to the tremendous strength and abilities of both the faculty and students at Cary Academy.

Dance Students Present Not Another Nutcracker [top]

This year’s performance by Cary Academy’s Dance Department, Not Another Nutcracker, delighted audiences on Dec. 10-11.

This modern version of the classic tale, The Nutcracker, contained many fresh twists on the story.

Dance students performed modern dance, updated music could be heard in many scenes, and the set took on a modern feel with a harlequin print theme. Updated looks to the costumes and masks – such as pierced ears on the Rat King – completed the modern feel.

Rose Cuomo (’09) starred as Marie (known as Clara in the classic tale), Kelly King (’05) was the Rat King and Seth Johnson (’09) starred at the Nutcracker Prince.

The Drama Department collaborated on the project, adding cast members to various scenes.

Holiday Shoppe A Huge Success [top]

This year’s Holiday Shoppe drew hundreds of shoppers and is being called a success by its organizers, shoppers and vendors alike!

Shoppers throughout the three-day event enjoyed a wide variety of offerings from more than 100 vendors from all over the Triangle – including Cary Academy staff and students.

The final numbers aren’t in, but the event is expected to surpass its goals.

An extra special thanks to Nancy Kenna and her committee – Wendy Andrews, Susan Berger, Cecilia Davis, Nikki Dunn, Jeff Eakes, Kim Fogleman, Lisa Graybeal, Diana Harris, Lori Johnson, Julie Mullin, Iris Pope, Bev Rackley, Pam Ray, Debby Reichel, Jan Richards, Rhonda Roberts Jeanette Sarnoff, Maureen Sawchak, Lynn Slate, Belinda Weinbrecht, Debra Zelov, and the Advancement Division.

The committee and 279 volunteers helped make the event a major success.

November 2004

Make Plans Now to Shop the Holiday Shoppe Dec. 2-4 [top]

The second annual Holiday Shoppe will kick off Thursday, Dec. 2 in the SEA building on the Cary Academy campus.

The event, featuring more than 90 vendors, will be open to the public. Admission is free and Shoppe hours are Thursday, Dec. 2 from noon-6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 3 from 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Vendors will be displaying such items as unique hand-crafted jewelry, ornaments, home accessories, gardening items, toys, books, hand bags, specialty foods and items for men and young men all at affordable prices.

Café Carolina and Bakery will serve lunch daily from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Other food vendors such as Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery and Starbucks Coffee will be present as well.

Cary Academy students and faculty will also have booths set up displaying items for sale which they have created. Student musical groups such as the band, orchestra and chorus will also perform during Shoppe hours.

Visit the Holiday Shoppe web site for more information!

Barnes & Noble Book Fair Earns Funds and Books for Cary Academy [top]

Recently, students, faculty, staff, and parents joined to raise funds for the PTAA by buying items at Barnes and Noble, which gave a percentage of the profits to Cary Academy.

The book fair held on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6 offered a chance to buy books, music, software, and magazines to fit all needs.  The event also allowed the Cary Academy community to buy books to donate to the library.

The PTAA earned $1384, and the library received direct book donations worth $838.75.

In addition, an artist’s reception featured Margo Smith’s Middle School Visual Arts students on Friday, Nov. 5.  Their ceramic nightlight houses were on display.

Special thanks to those who went out to support the book fair!

Cary Academy Community Enjoys Mayan Museum Day [top]

Displays showcasing ancient Mayan culture lined the sixth grade hall on Nov. 12 as the Cary Academy community enjoyed Sixth Grade Mayan Museum Day.

The culmination of independent research projects by Cary Academy sixth graders, Mayan Museum Day showcased every aspect of Mayan culture from housing to medicine to art to food.

Each student researched a specific topic area and made posters, models and other displays to present to the guests who toured the “museum.”

Flag Raised Signifying Cary Academy’s Blue Ribbon School Award [top]

Cary Academy can now proudly display its No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools honor in the form of a flag and a plaque.

Head of School Don Berger and Michael Hayes, head of the Fine Arts Department, traveled to Washington, D.C. over the weekend of Nov. 6. At a ceremony there, the U.S. Department of Education presented them with a plaque and a flag signifying the school’s status as a No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon School.

On Monday, Nov. 8, the flag was raised at Cary Academy during a school-wide ceremony outside at the flag pole. Both Berger and Hayes spoke at the ceremony, which also featured the singing of Cary Academy’s Alma Mater, led by student vocal musicians. Upper School Student Council President Andrea Milne (’05) and Middle School Student Government President Jackie Bennett (’09) helped raise the flag.

Cary Academy was named a No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools Program award winner by the U.S. Department of Education on Sept. 17. The program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

Students, Faculty and Parents Give the Gift of Life [top]

On Oct. 27, students, faculty, and parents participated in the ninth blood drive held on the Cary Academy campus. 

Red Cross workers served about 65 donors on campus. About 50 percent of this year’s donors were students and 50 percent were faculty and parents. Overall, 35 percent of the donors were first-time participants, according to Cheryl Cotter, Service Learning Coordinator. 

Each year, Cary Academy holds two blood drives, one in the fall and one in the spring.

The Service Learning Department organizes these blood drives by setting up appointments, advertising, coordinating with the Red Cross, and organizing volunteers.  In addition, the Junior BETA club and the BETA club partner with the Service Learning Department to provide students to register donors, hand out snacks, hang up posters, bring snacks, and clean-up.

“This year 31 students helped with the blood drive,” Cotter said.

Be on the look-out for the next blood drive that will be held on campus on April 12. 

In addition to the blood drive, the sophomores conducted Cary Academy’s first Holiday Greetings Drive to collect cards to send to the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.  These cards will be given to the Red Cross and sent over for the holiday season.

Week of Nov. 8 Marks Two Blue Ribbon Celebration Events at Cary Academy [top]

Two events celebrating Cary Academy’s being named a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School are scheduled for the week of Nov. 8.

On Monday, November 8, the entire school will assemble at the flag pole at 9:45 a.m. for a special ceremony. At that time a commemorative Blue Ribbon School flag will be raised. Head of School Don Berger will have received this flag the previous Friday in Washington, D.C at a gathering for the 255 Blue Ribbon School winners.

At the week’s end, on Friday, Nov. 12, the last day before trimester break, students and staff will be rewarded with a special luncheon and an early dismissal. School will close on Friday, Nov. 12, at 12:15 p.m.  Everyone is encouraged to dress in blue on the Nov. 12^th.

We will continue to find ways to celebrate this prestigious award throughout the year. If you have a creative idea, please feel free to contact Mr. Berger

October 2004

Barnes & Noble Fund-raiser Set for Nov. 5-6 [top]

Come support Cary Academy on Friday Nov. 5 and Saturday Nov. 6 by buying books, music, software, magazines, and gifts at the Barnes & Noble in Cary, located at 760 S.E. Maynard Road. The store will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. both days. Cary Academy will receive 20 percent of sales totaling $2,000-$10,000 and 25 percent of sales over $10,000. All profits will support Cary Academy’s Parent Teacher Administration Alliance.

An artist’s reception featuring the work of Margo Smith’s Middle School Visual Arts students will be held on Friday Nov. 5 from 7:30-8:30 p.m.

There will be a special Cary Academy wish list table set up between the customer service desk and Starbuck’s Coffee for those interested in purchasing a specific title for donation to the Cary Academy Library.

Discount vouchers will be available on-line by clicking here, from the Cary Academy Library web page and at each Barnes and Noble cash register.

Anyone with questions should please contact Kate Theobald, Cary Academy Head Librarian at 677-1946 Ext. 4501.

Blood Drive Set for Oct. 27 [top]

The Fifth Annual Cary Academy/Red Cross Blood Drive will be held in the SEA gym on Oct. 27 starting at 7:30 a.m. 

The Blood reserves have been seriously depleted, but helping save a life is easy.  Not sure if you’re eligible to give?  Just answer these simple questions.  Are you 17 years of age or older?  Do you weigh 110 pounds or more?  Are you generally in good health?  If you answered “Yes” to all three questions, than you can probably donate blood.  If you have donated blood recently, remember that you must wait 56 days before making another donation.  For more information about giving please visit: http://www.redcrossblood.org/give.htm.

To sign up to give blood at the Cary Academy/Red Cross Blood Drive simply click the following link: http://web1.caryacademy.org/servicelearning/blooddonors/signup.asp.

Please help Cary Academy give the gift of life! 

Combined Jazz on the Quad, Evening of Entertainment Draws Crowd [top]

A few stars were born on Oct. 18 at Cary Academy.

Students, faculty, parents and other members of the Cary Academy community put their talents on display at the Evening of Entertainment and Jazz on the Quad event.

The evening kicked off with Jazz on the Quad where guests enjoyed the sounds of Cary Academy’s talented musicians outside on the Quad.

Visitors also enjoyed a lasagna dinner catered by Daniel’s Pasta Café – some took their food outside to listen to the music, while others enjoyed dinner in the cafeteria.

The night concluded with the Evening of Entertainment, hosted by David Snively, Middle School History teacher. Singers, dancers, musicians and many others showcased their talents during the evening.

Karaoke DJ Bill Smith also was on-hand and guests had the opportunity to Karaoke to a favorite song.

Middle School Charger Cup Fosters School Spirit, Friendship [top] 

Middle School students took to the playing fields on Oct. 15.

The annual Charger Cup Challenge field day event featured activities such as relays and ball tosses. Students broke up into their advisory groups and engaged in friendly competition against other advisory groups.
A special thanks to all the parents who help make this event a success. The event is such a big hit with students because of parents’ time and effort.

Festival of the Year 1000 Showcases Ancient Culture from Around the World [top]

This year’s Festival of the Year 1000 was both fun and educational for visitors, and raised money for a cause on Oct. 14.

The seventh grade class studied a unit on ancient civilizations and then took on the roles of members of those civilizations during the festival, most dressing in costume. They sold actual goods such as ‘gold coins’ (chocolate wrapped in gold foil), jewelry, and ‘swords’ (made from wood and spray painted in most cases). Visitors to the festival traded in real money for ‘huizis,’ which they used to purchase goods.

The modern-day cash was collected and will go to hurricane relief efforts for victims of this fall’s hurricanes. In total, more than $765 was raised for this cause.

Seniors Nominated for Prestigious Awards [top]

The Class of 2005 has a lot to be proud of this fall.

Seniors Ryan Jamiolkowski and Valerie Chen have been named the school’s nominees for the Morehead Scholarship at UNC-Chapel Hill. Emily Gordon was named the school’s nominee for the Park Scholarship at North Carolina State University.

The Morehead Foundation seeks candidates based on the criteria of leadership, scholarship, moral force of character, and physical vigor.

The Park Scholarships Selection Committee evaluates candidates based on four criteria set by the Park Foundation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

In addition, 28 percent of the Class of 2005 has been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program and the National Achievement Scholarship Program for their outstanding results on their junior year PSAT.

Eight students have been recognized as National Merit Semifinalists, placing them among the top 16,000 scorers on the PSAT. These students continue on in the competition to compete for some 8,000 Merit Scholarship awards worth $32 million. These scholarships will be awarded in the spring. Cary Academy’s semi-finalists are seniors Andrew Bryson, Valerie Chen, James Curtiss, Katie Hayes, Ryan Jamiolkowski, Travis May, Haley Nix, and Iliya Zilberter.

Cary Academy also has 13 students named Commended Students in the 2005 National Merit Scholarship Program. These students do not compete for the Merit Scholarship awards, but are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. These seniors include Lillian Behrend, Sam Behrend, Erin Crews, Emily Gordon, William Greczyn, Matt Hamm, Ian Hardie, John Herrman, Holly Metter, Amelia Niemi, Charles Noneman, Curtis Swallow, and Steven Wilson.

Another five Cary Academy seniors have been recognized by the National Achievement Scholarship Program. Two seniors have been named National Achievement Semifinalists, placing them among the top one percent of more than 120,000 Black Americans who took the PSAT last October. Those students are Brandon Byrd and Danni Simon. They will continue on in the competition for scholarship monies from colleges and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Finally, three seniors have been named National Achievement Participants, recognizing them for scoring among the top five percent on the PSAT.  These students are Melissa Boone, Jordan Lee, and James Quentin Reid. 

Congratulations to all these seniors on their accomplishments!

Large Group Enjoys Grandparents and Special Friends Day [top]

Roughly 200 grandparents and special friends visited Cary Academy on Friday, Oct. 8 for the annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

The group enjoyed breakfast in the morning with their student and were treated to special performances by some of Cary Academy’s arts groups. They viewed a video montage of this year’s class trips; heard from the Jazz Band; were treated to the songs of the Women’s and Men’s vocal ensembles; and listened to the Middle and Upper school strings groups.

The day ended with a trip to their students’ classroom, where they got a taste of student life at Cary Academy.

Four Named to Honors Orchestra [top]

Four Cary Academy Upper School students were recently selected as members of the 2004 North Carolina Honors Orchestra.

These students are: Aparna Chatterjee (’06), first violin; Abraham Chen (’06), first violin; Joelle Portzer (’06), trumpet; and Eric Smith (’05), horn.

These students will have the privilege of attending a clinic and giving a concert during the State Music Educators Convention in November.

Cary Academy Hosts Middle School Leadership Conference [top]

More than 200 Middle School students from all over the area visited Cary Academy on Sept. 24 for the 2004 Middle School Leadership Conference: Leadership Through Service to the Community.

The day kicked off with a key-note speech from former Cary Academy faculty member, Troy Weaver, who talked about Leading Through Action and Example.

The rest of the morning was spent in workshops and in team building sessions. Some of the workshop topics included dealing with homelessness, protecting the environment, caring for animals, and helping adults and children with developmental disabilities, among others.

The day closed with a panel discussion on The Characteristics of a Positive Leader.

Upper School Students Share Their Talents [top]

Upper School students had an opportunity to speak, sing, play and read for their classmates during the Highlights assembly on Sept. 28.

The entire Upper School gathered in the theater for short performances that included singing by both men’s and women’s choral groups; readings from Cary Academy’s literary magazine; a debate between two students; and a piano performance.

The event was intended to give students the opportunity to showcase talents that their classmates might not see on a daily basis.

Cary Academy Students Audition for North Carolina Honors Chorus [top]

Students from the Middle and Upper school vocal music programs recently represented Cary Academy at the eastern region auditions for the North Carolina Middle School and High School Honors Chorus.  Sixteen Middle School students and eight Upper School students auditioned. The students auditioning from the Middle School include Aimee Rosen (’11), Alaina Doyle (’11), Lauren Kalin (’11), Lauren Jamiolkowski (‘09), Jackie Bennett (’09), Nikki Randall (’10), Louis Vaught (’11), Liz Galbraith (’11), Marissa Meir (’09), Taylor Russell (’09), Joe Johnston (’09), Zach Gould (’10), C.K. Atkins (’10), Matt Owen (’10), Graham Anson (’09), and Charlie Stutesman (’09).  The Upper school students auditioning are:  Danni Simon (’05), Kaley Lunsford (’06), Allison Yim (’07), Lianne Gonsalves (’06), Danielle Curran (’08), Christine Ernst (’06), Katherine Ernst (’08), and Ian Anson (’06).

Novice Debate Tournament [top]

Recently, 20 Novice Debate students along with three Varsity Debaters to judge the event attended the All-Novice tournament at Providence High School in Charlotte on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Winning 9 trophies and performing really well, the team was happy with the results of the day. 

In the Extempers category, Amelia Niemi (’05) won 6^th, Anirudh Kota (’08) won 4^th, Elizabeth Atkins (’08) won 3^rd, John Nelson (’08) won 2^nd, and Hill Winstead (’08) won 1^st.

In the Lincoln-Douglas debate, Kevin Cotter (’07) won 6^th, Vinny Tumminello (’07) won 5^th, Bret Knight (’07) won 4^th, and Ruchie Singh (’07) won 3^rd.  Also, Sarah Helfer (’07) was the top speaker, and Nushmia Khan (’07) just missed a trophy as she ranked 7^th.

In addition to these events, CJ Jacobs (’07) spoke well enough in her second Student Congress session to be ranked among the top speakers in the chambers by two judges.

To complete the group, Varsity team members, Haley Nix (’05), Carolyn Gray (’05), and Joelle Portzer (’06), assisted the team as judges for the tournament. 

The Varsity students commented that, “Others did this for us when we came to the novice tournament, and now it is time to give back to the team.”

Other Varsity team members helped with the preparation for the competition by leading practice sessions, lectures, and finishing touches for the Novice team members the week prior to the tournament.

Working together to make this an exciting experience, the team reinforced their motto of “Good People, Speaking Well!”