October 2009 1791 Letter - Berwick Academy

October 2009
Arts Boosters Variety Show
1791 Letter ~ October 2009

These electric days of autumn
on the seacoast continue to move
my soul. The number of recent days
infused by azure skies and vibrant
foliage have been truly amazing. I have
had the pleasure of spending two of
these dazzling afternoons at one of my
favorite places: walking the fairways of
The Ledges Golf Club in York. Golf
represents many things in my life; joy,
perseverance, and escape might be the
top three. My first trip to The Ledges
was inspired by our incredible Athletics
Boosters golf tourney, where many
Berwick friends enjoyed a perfect day
filled with great laughs and perhaps just
a few words that will not be repeated
in this missive. We certainly left a few
wayward shots in the woods. All of this
went towards supporting our students in
athletics, and I was so impressed by the
efforts of the community as well as our
amazing volunteers. One of the joys of
working at a day school is the chance
to partner with our parents, and events
like the Bulldog Classic remind me just
how lucky we are in this regard.
My second trip to The Ledges
was to get my annual fix. Every fall, I
make sure to head over to see at least one
of our varsity golf matches. I go mostly
out of a genuine desire to support our
boys, but I must confess that I go partly
out of sheer and unbridled envy. Let’s
just say that the quality of golf was a
bit more impressive on my second trip
to The Ledges this fall. We happen to
have an exceptional golf team this year,
and my jaw dropped as I watched the
youthfully coiled shoulder turns and
Tiger-esque short games unfold before
me. I quickly realized that fatherhood
and becoming a Head of School have
certainly accelerated my decline in
muscular flexibility.
One of the greatest things
about golf is that it is truly a game of
integrity. Each time one decides to play,
there are literally a limitless number of
opportunities to take shortcuts without
observable repercussions. As someone
who loves the game, I often find myself
embroiled in internal soliloquies
about adjusting lies or whacking a
quick mulligan for whatever reason or
rationale. It is also hard to express to
non-golfers the sense of sheer agony
and frustration that the game can bring
when things are not going well. Even
the very best golfers seemingly lose
their games for stretches of time for no
apparent reason. When one competes
on the Berwick Golf Team, one has to
both play well, and manage emotion,
frustration, and disappointment with
dignity and grace.
At the match I happened to
watch a few weeks ago, I could sense
the determination emanating from our
squad- they believed this was a match
they should win. Although I bounced
around amidst the three foursomes,
I quickly settled on watching our top
two golfers in competition. One of
our team leaders found himself in
a surprising battle midway through
his match. The score was even as we
walked up to the sixth hole; one that I
happen to think is among the hardest
on the course. While his opponent
striped a perfect tee shot, our Berwick
golfer watched as his ball hopped into
a vicious hazard – a spot on the course
that I know all too well. I slunk into
the umbrella of technicolor trees to see
what kind of drama would unfold from
a distance.
After a longish search, our
player miraculously found his ball in
the hazard; I was surprised that he was
actually going to hit it. The ball was
seemingly nestled between a bit of
fescue and an outcrop of rocks. As he
took a step towards the rocks, our player
stumbled, and his club went into some
neighboring weeds to brace a potential
fall. An animated disagreement ensued,
as the opponent argued that our player
had grounded his club in the hazard
and needed to take a penalty stroke.
To be honest, I have no idea what the
rules of golf suggest in this case, but it
was obvious to me that our player fell
inadvertently down this rocky path. At
a minimum, this was an excruciatingly
frustrating situation. I knew that the
coaches were available to settle just
this kind of rule dispute, which is what
I assumed would have to happen given
the intensity of the match and the
emerging controversy. But I watched as
our player literally bit his lip and made
the internal decision to accept his
fate and move forward. He absorbed
the penalty stroke in question, even
though I could tell it was eating him
up below the surface. He proceeded
to hack his ball further into the hazard
but hit a miracle third shot onto the
green. He ended up losing the hole by
the one penalty stroke and walked off
the green down one with only three
holes remaining.
As many of you may know, we
spent our K-12 Tenth Day Assembly
this fall exploring what a commitment
to integrity means at Berwick Academy.
We discussed what it means to be a
person of character, and what it meants
to do the right thing when no one is
looking. Our young Berwickian did
not know that I was so engrossed with
what was unfolding in this case, and I
was amazed by what I had seen. What
1791 Letter ~ October 2009

I witnessed was someone who found
a way to move past what he thought
was right, or just, or even fair. In fact,
he was able to moderate his emotional
response to a degree that he did not even
seek an adult to resolve his frustration;
I took this to be a compelling example
of resiliency: resolving his problem on
his own. As I mentioned earlier, I still
had no idea what the rules would have
suggested; I only knew that I couldn’t
help but smile as I walked towards the
next tee.
Of course I had to stay for the
final three holes, even though dinner
with the Schneider girls was simmering
on the stove at the Hayes House. I
actually made eye contact with our
player as he headed for the next tee,
and I simply said “hang in there.” A
fantastic birdie, a gritty bogey, and a
rock solid closing par emerged under
my watch. Our leader had won the
match by a full two strokes, rendering
the rule dispute moot in the end. As
the two competitors shook hands on
that ninth green underneath a setting
seacoast sun, I simply turned towards
my car and headed home in silence. As
parents, children can often challenge
us and frustrate us. As teachers, they
puzzle and confuse us. Children also
remind us why we work so hard at
being parents and teachers. Berwick
Academy assures me that students can
exceed even the highest of standards,
including the ones that only they
themselves can measure and judge.
Safe in Place
I am happy to report that
we completed our first ever Safe in
Place lockdown drill for the entire
campus K-12 with the help of our
new communication system. This is
the result of multiple years of working
on safety planning, and we learned a
great deal from the experience. I have
appreciated all of the support of our
parents as we have worked through
important challenges with safety in
age- appropriate ways.
Admissions Open House
We enjoyed a wonderful
Lower School nature activity afternoon
on Sunday, October 18, and now we
are turning our focus to the extremely
important Admissions Open House on
Wednesday, November 11. I would
encourage all Berwick families to
consider reaching out to a friend or
neighbor who might be interested in
having a first glance at our community
on this day. There is no better way that
our families can further the mission of
our School than by spreading the word
about what the Berwick experience has
meant to their children.
Book Fair
Our annual Lower School Book
Fair and Bake Sale will take place during
the first week of November. Please come
and enjoy incredible baked goods, and
browse through the wide assortment of
books brought to us through the efforts
of the many volunteers that make this
event possible.
Seacoast United Soccer Tournament
A hearty thank you to Rob
Quinn, the Athletic Department, and
our Athletics Boosters for hosting
an expansive Seacoast United
Soccer Tournament on our campus
during Columbus Day weekend.
Congratulations to all who were
involved in preparing for this wonderful
event that brought families to campus
from throughout New England.
Burleigh-Davidson Reunion
On the Saturday of Columbus
Day weekend, we also hosted the
Burleigh and Davidson families as they
celebrated their first family reunion.
Family members clearly enjoyed the
opportunity to view the Burleigh-
1791 Letter ~ October 2009
Davidson Building throughout and
thanks to the efforts of Patricia
McManus and Rachel Saliba, were
able to have their many questions
answered. Thanks also to Seth Hurd
for his extra efforts in making visitors
feel welcome.
Berwick Academy
Campus Store
SHOP
Online!
Offering a selection of products
from the school store including
sweatshirts, hats, mugs, and more.
Log on to www.berwickacademy.
org and click on Community to find
the Berwick Store

Peter Saliba
The most important asset of
any educational institution is its people.
In my role, I get the chance to see each
one of our teachers in action, mostly
in their classrooms. Most of the time,
these are glimpses, but at other times it
is part of our formal evaluation system.
Everyday I’m reminded how lucky we
are to have our faculty, and the skills
they bring to our campus. I know all
of you appreciate the complexity of
human relationships, and while good
teaching navigates this fact with a
great deal of difficulty, our jobs are also
helped immensely by this reality. Yes,
teaching is a tough job, but it’s made
easier by the complexity of the task.
The volume of research on
good teaching is staggering. A student
of pedagogy could spend an entire
career simply reviewing all that has
been written. From my perspective,
there are three generally accepted truths
of exceptional teacher performance
in the classroom: Good teaching
is whenever students are learning;
excellent teachers reflect regularly on
their practice; and the best teachers are
acutely aware of how their students are
experiencing their learning. Although
these tenets of teaching sound simple,
their execution is complex. For
example, if you happen to be teaching
Western Civilization, how important is
it that your students know the location
of the Sea of Tranquility It’s probably
not that essential if you are focused
on how the Hebrew vision of God
provided the basis for monotheism, and
its role as an essential building block
for both Christianity and Islam. But,
students were learning in this exercise
of geography. Is that good teaching
Of course, the answer is “it depends.”
If a student happens to be a geography
nut or someone passionate about
exploration, you’ve hooked them
into your class, at least temporarily.
The permutations of “it depends” are
infinite, and highlights the fact that
one exercise or approach that might
work really well for one student many
not work for others in the classroom.
I’m sure some of us think that this
geography exercise in a Western Civ
class is useless or unfair. I’m not going
to try and tackle that issue here, but I
will use it as a foil to highlight why the
complexity of the situation helps us at
Berwick.
The complexity of teaching
means that no matter what you do,
some students will struggle with the
goals of a lesson. This is because we
often have multitudes of learning styles
in the classroom. This in turn makes
faculty think about adjustments because
ultimately, we have the students at
the center of our focus. Adjusting
approaches, trying new things, learning
from our experiences all describe a
faculty member’s experience on a daily
basis. We try to encompass everyone
in the class. This situation, although
difficult, also empowers the students
because they know that they are not
alone in grappling with challenges.
They see us, like their peers, wrestle
with our approaches and experiments,
and witness our successes and failures.
Empathy is a powerful tool
in the world of teaching, and the
recognition that all of us experience
joy and frustration in our complex
relationships makes our job as
educators easier. Of course there are
differences in how we (faculty and
students) express our highs and lows,
but the message is the same- we are all
in this together.
If teaching was simply about
retaining content, then the Internet
would have put schools out of business.
What keeps us going is the fact that
human beings need more care, support
and nurturing than the LCD screen
in a vacuum can provide. By making
this journey together, the bonds of the
complex relationship are strong and
meaningful, and define our school.
And, if you happen to know where the
Sea of Tranquility is, give yourself a
point of extra credit on your next test.
Warmly,
1791 Letter ~ October 2009

Several years ago, Hap
Ridgway remarked upon what he called
my “Mother Bear” responses when
students or teachers needed protection
of some sort. I am still unsure, given his
experiences with grizzlies in Wyoming,
if I was really quite that scary. I imagine
that each parent among us can recall
moments when we have felt that our
children have been unfairly treated
and we have raised ourselves up in high
dudgeon against those who posed the
threat.
Protecting our children from
danger is probably one of the hardwired
responses in our brains that has
continued to promote our successful
evolution as a species. And while the
world is a safer place in many respects
than it was 400,000 years ago, the
wiring remains the same. And so it
seems that we parents see threats to
safety even when there are none to the
physical well-being at all. We can focus
upon challenges, insults, exclusions,
gossip, and even grades.
Somehow, we read a threat
when our children might be better
served by having to struggle without
our hovering. For example, a low
performance on a test might be
expressed as a matter of, “Mom, the
teacher doesn’t like me.” While we may
know better on an intellectual level, it
can be all too easy to head down the
road of blame. That road is perilous
and frequently finds young adults who
blame their bosses, the faulty radar gun
of a police officer, or an unfair justice
system. Moreover, the blaming pattern
interrupts the development of honest
self-reflection and mature acceptance of
responsibility. I often tell students about
the fine I once deserved (and paid) for
driving 67 miles per hour on Route 95.
I was angry for having been caught by
a state police officer, but I paid the fine
because I had been driving above the
speed limit. The responsibility and not
the blame belonged on my shoulders,
and only mine.
Another threat that certainly
raised my hackles were mean, heartless,
cutting words; the social cruelty that
tends to diminish if not disappear in
the young adult years. How often
I was tempted to pick up the phone
and demand a apology and a promise
to “keep your distance.” Instead, I
permitted the struggle with the words
to happen. Asking, “Do you know
those words to be true” about a rumor
has been a reliable starting point.
Statements may be unfair, untrue, and
unkind. The world is all of those.
Developing resilience is perhaps our
best defense. Analyzing the other’s
motivations is also an exercise in
empathy.
Ultimately, the development
of good character is the job of one’s
entire community. At the micro level,
the early years at home are times when
the foundation is established and
set. School years are the times when
the foundation is tested. The adults
in one’s community model, foster,
and celebrate the integrity of the
individuals. More is gained through
those three behaviors than through
approbation. The community at large,
local or global, still presents threats.
Some of these are frighteningly real.
Others demand the protection of thick
skin and a clear-eyed view of making
right choices.
As we embark upon a year that
1791 Letter ~ October 2009
explores our core value of integrity, the
Middle School students and faculty
will be busy. We shall be self-reflective
and sometimes struggle with choices.
I recommend Leo Tolstoy’s story, “The
Three Questions,” as a place to start.
The story can be read by children or
adults, for its message is timeless. Here
are the three questions asked by a king
of a very old hermit: “How can I learn
to do the right thing at the right time
Who are the people I most need, and
to whom should I, therefore, pay more
attention than to the rest And, what
affairs are the most important, and
need my first attention” The hermit
permits the king to answer his own
questions, just as we each must, in
our time. I hope that our year allows
for some enlightenment and brings us
further away from taking the stance of
the mother grizzly bear. Governing
through size and fear is a hard way to
live, and there are no truly easy roads
to integrity.

I enjoyed hosting the Lower
School Curriculum Night on Tuesday,
October 6. The presentation combined
aspects of a Lower School Coffee and
a Lower School Forum as we discussed
segments of our division’s curriculum
on the heels of our Back-to-School
Night. During the evening, I presented
and led a discussion on the math and
health/wellness programs; Maria Isaak
did the same for the music program.
Certainly, a division’s
curriculum is a regular and essential
school focus. In the Lower School and
across campus, it has taken on greater
importance this year with our efforts in
curriculum mapping and instructional
differentiation. As I mentioned
during the presentation, curriculum
mapping is a process by which the
faculty is reviewing the daily, weekly
and year-long curriculum by entering
critical information into an electronic
database. We are using templates that
display key curriculum components
including units of study, essential
questions, student skills proficiencies,
student knowledge proficiencies and
assessment. The curriculum mapping
approach uses real-time curricular data
about what is taught over the course
of the year in order to promote further
scope and sequence decision making.
We are using the Atlas curriculum
mapping program, which is supported
by Rubicon (educational services).
This Internet-based program will allow
for greater faculty review of curricular
goals at specific grade levels, within
divisions and across our kindergarten
through grade twelve spectrum.
I also defined and reviewed our
approach to differentiation which is
one of the primary Academic Affairs
Committee agenda topics this year, with
important implications at the division
level as well. In brief, differentiation
involves adapting teaching and
learning materials to account for
individual differences in learning style
amongst a given group of students. At
Berwick, as with any other school, it
is important to identify areas in which
we can successfully differentiate within
the instructional realm in a manner
that promotes greater levels of student
achievement.
In the remainder of this
column, I hope to give greater focus to
the math program by using Curriculum
Night talking points. As I work
with the faculty—and ultimately the
students—my overall Lower School
math goals are threefold: to develop
a meaningful network of skills and
subject knowledge; to develop number
sense and mathematical thinking and
to develop awareness that math makes
sense as a specific subject area, across
the curriculum and in “real life.”
We use the second edition
of the Investigations math program
as a foundation for our instruction.
Investigations is based on the national
math standards developed by the
National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics. Through a nine-unit
per grade level focus (seven units at
kindergarten), the skills and objectives
spiral coherently across and within
grade levels in relation to number sense,
algorithms and problem solving. It is
crucial to have a program that promotes
consistent language, activities, scope
and sequence and assessment, while
allowing for teacher flexibility in
tailoring lessons to specific classroom
needs.
During the evening, we looked
at Lower School examples of math
curricula and curriculum mapping
approaches. I am eager to help
facilitate the merger of these two areas
over the course of the year. As we
progress, we will also continue to make
natural integrations between the math
program and technology, science and
special projects across the curriculum.
As we look to the future of
math education in the Lower School,
I am working actively to ensure that
our grade-level schedules allow for
one hour of math instruction per day.
We are also increasing our assessment
focus by adding the Terra Nova test
at the third grade level, so that we
have standardized test scores across
the second, third and fourth grade
continuum. Another important goal
this year involves looking at ways
in which we can offer more depth
and possibilities to summer math
experiences. Finally, we are addressing
the manner in which we can connect
and integrate math skills and objectives
across the curriculum into other subject
areas.
Curriculum mapping,
instructional differentiation and the
math program have connected in
important ways at the beginning of
this academic year. I was pleased to
lead the math presentation during
our Curriculum Night, and I welcome
any related thoughts from the Lower
School community related to the math
program.
1791 Letter ~ October 2009

Rob Quinn
Letter to the Berwick Community
Dear Berwick Community,
Columbus Day weekend in October
always proves to be a very busy time in New
England with leaf peepers traveling north to get
a glimpse of the natural beauty of all the fall
foliage in our area. However this particular
weekend is also quite popular for soccer
tournaments being hosted in the local area,
which also draw large crowds of visitors. At
Berwick Academy this held true and Seacoast
United Soccer Club held its tournament for the
very first time at BA with 35 teams visiting our
beautiful campus over the long weekend.
A soccer tournament being held
at our campus gave the BA community an
opportunity to showcase our school, students,
parents and all the beautiful facilities we have.
Also, this was an opportunity for our Athletics
Boosters to use their time and talents to raise
funds in a concessions tent. With the help of
many, many parent and student volunteers,
the Athletics Boosters were successful in their
quest for fundraising. It is with great pleasure
that I recognize those BA student-athletes who
gave their time to BA on a very breezy, brisk
fall weekend to work on the Hilltop for the
greater good of all our BA athletes and athletic
programs.
Andrew Hawkins, Leigh Chilton,
Kyle Mullaney, Jim Sherbahn, Max Werman,
Ethan Hawes, Skyler Stern, Parker Woolley,
John Reinhardt, Blake Downey, Jamie Meader,
Katy Davis, Will Reis, Lydia Waldo, Alex
Devine, Win Hahn, Michael Keefe, Gabbie
Wiggin, Averill Daly, Kelsey Hayden, Alex
Wood, Rachel Ikegami, Patrick Nichols, Simon
Corson, Jamie Wilson, Chelsea Vanderlinde,
Elias Thayer, Abby Thayer, Jordan Katz, Lee
Tsairis, Alicia Springer, Julia Kokernak, Nate
Potter, Samantha Sullivan, Sarah Murray, Jess
Murray, Erica van Dissel, Abby Martinen,
Cora Ordway, Ellie Penati and Mike Henry.
Please forgive me if I’ve missed
recognizing any student. All of your efforts
are greatly appreciated by many. For all the
parents who drove our volunteer athletes to
campus and for those parents who gave of their
time to work in the concession tent; THANK
YOU!!
It is for these reasons that I am so
proud to serve as the President of BA Athletics
Boosters. Enjoy the remainder of our teams’
games, matches and meets and we look forward
to joining in the fun of Winter Sports.
Warm regards and many thanks,
Kim Mills and the BA Athletics Boosters
Bulldog Classic
The weather was spectacular
for the 19th Annual Bulldog Golf
Classic that featured the participation of
nearly 95 golfers, including 11 alumni;
everyone enjoyed the opportunity
to gather, golf, and meet new people
and/or reconnect with classmates. A
special thank you to so many people
who made this event successful. Golf
Committtee adviser Cider Berry;
Boosters members Terri Atwood, Lisa
Harris, Jim and Diane Wheeler, Steve
Grenier, Chris Nichols, Joyce O’Day,
Paula Reid, Stephanie Lawrence, Andy
Lathrop and Marilena Canuto. Your
work is truly the backbone that makes
this event a reality.
We would also like to recognize
the parents that participated in this
event by coming out to play golf and
support our athletic programs. Upper
School parents: James Dolan, John
MacFarlane, Kevin Reinhardt, Ron
1791 Letter ~ October 2009
Siegal, Jay McFarland, Neal Wittet,
John Zannos, Mike Claire, Jimmy
Wheeler, Steve Grenier and Middle
School parents: John MacFarlane,
Andrew Siegal, Jay McFarland, Mike
Claire, Chris Grassie and Richard
Salvati. Lower School parents: Vic
Sunshine, Brooke Storey, Thomas
Hourihan, Chip Gaudette, Nickie
Gaudette, Scott Knightly.
Special thanks to our student
athletes who came to the course
early in the morning before school to
welcome our guests and carry their
golf bags to the assigned carts. John
Reinhardt, Mike Grenier, Jamie Wilson
and Derek Lavigne- Job well done!
Finally, a tremendous thank you to
our sponsors and prize donors who we
would like to recognize below:
Tournament Sponsor
Head & Neck Specialty Group of
N.H.
Tournament Sponsor – UBS Wealth
Management
Cart Sponsor – Atlantic Sportswear
Putting Green Sponsor – The Benson
Family
Beverage Cart Sponsors – Atwood
Carpentry
Breakfast Sponsors – Sports Medicine
Atlantic Orthopaedics
Master’s Sponsor – Eastern Propane
and Oil
PGA Sponsor – Budel
PGA Sponsor – Emerson Technologies
Lunch Sponsor – Muddy River
Marketplace
U.S. Open Sponsors
George Blaisdell Insurance
Brock’s Building Materials
continued on pg. 15...

you gotta have Arts
Art Society Inductions
A number of serious Upper
School visual artists and musicians
will be inducted into the National Art
Honor Society and the Tri-M Music
Honor Society during a reception in
the Commons Dining Hall at 5:30
p.m. on Thursday, November 5. Light
refreshments will be available for the
inductees and their guests during the
ceremony.
Dance
The dance program is pleased
to announce the captains for the 2009-
2010 academic year. From a unanimous
vote of the Upper School dance
company members, Chelsea Johnson
and Mollie Stolzer emerged as the
student leaders of the Berwick Academy
Dance Program. As captains, Mollie
and Chelsea will assist the faculty in
preparations for the dance performance
in May, as well as act as student liaisons,
promote the presence of dance in our
community, look for opportunities for
outreach, and contribute choreography
to the Company Blue repertory.
Congratulations, Chelsea and Mollie!
Director of Dance Sasha
Randall has continued her work with
the Maine Arts Commission and Maine
Alliance of Arts Education by working
closely with the groups at their recent
conference in Northport, Maine. The
Arts Connect conference brought
three hundred arts educators from
the state of Maine together to discuss
advocacy, adversity, opportunities,
connections and pedagogical tools.
During this conference, Sasha was
introduced to blogging and has
started a blog discussing the state
of dance throughout New England,
primarily focusing on dance education
in the private school sector. You can
contribute to the conversation at www.
nedance.wordpress.com
Drama
Fall Drama Production-- The
Upper School Drama Department will
kick off the performing arts season with
The Perfect Alibi, a detective mystery
in three acts, by A.A. Milne. This
production will be staged by the Upper
School Drama Department on Friday
and Saturday, October 30-31, in Fogg
Memorial. Admission is $5 Adults, $3
Students, at the door, no reservations
required.
Visual Arts
Five Artists Who Teach—
Melissa Hannon, Teaya Fitzgerald,
Raegan Russell, Deloris White and
Lynn Wildnauer are in the process of
hanging and presenting works that
represent them as visual artists. The
exhibit will be in the Jackson Library
Gallery through December.
These artist/teachers recently
attended the annual Maine Art
Educators Conference at Haystack
Mountain School of Crafts on Deer Isle.
This year’s emphasis was on art and the
environment and the keynote address
as well as the workshops reflected this
theme, utilizing recycled and natural
materials in the creation process.
Winterfest
Winterfest Auditions—January
7, 12, and 14, 2010-- It is not too early
to begin thinking about Winterfest
2010. The auditions will take place
the first two weeks after we return
from the winter holiday break. We
continue to look upon the auditions
as an educational experience. Last
year, seventy-six individual performers
or groups auditioned. The final
selection of twenty-two performers
was very difficult. Winterfest 2010
will represent our “One School”
philosophy. Therefore, Berwick
students in kindergarten through grade
twelve who excel in their performing
arts concentration must submit a
Recommendation for Audition Form,
signed by their performing arts
instructor in early December to sign
up for a five-minute audition time slot.
Students will be informed of their
assigned audition time the first week
in January. Auditioning before a jury
is a competitive process, therefore,
performing arts students are encouraged
to prepare early and thoroughly for the
Winterfest audition days in January.
Because of the numerous students
auditioning, each student may audition
only once, either as a solo performer
OR part of a group. If selected,
each student may perform ONLY
as accepted by audition. Everyone
must decide exactly what they will
be performing prior to the audition.
Please note that Winterfest 2010 will
take place on Friday, January 22, at
7:00 p.m., with a snow date planned for
Sunday, January 24, at 2:30 p.m. Any
student interested in signing up for an
audition should check with parents and
coaches to determine if they have any
conflict with the performance date or
the snow date. Please contact Deloris
White dewhite@berwickacademy.org
if you have any questions regarding
this process.
1791 Letter ~ October 2009

President’s Notes
Thanks to the many volunteers
who helped make the busy first 6 weeks
of school a little easier for everyone.
BAPA has already supported many
events and activities: parent coffees,
Picture day, team building trips and
socials, Upper School wilderness trips,
fourth Grade Seacoast Science Center
trip, Upper School magazine sale, and
more. We want to thank everyone who
helped, whether it was by supporting
our fundraisers or by volunteering their
time; we can’t do what we do without
you. Everyone makes a difference
when they volunteer, so thank you
very much.
There are more events coming
up so please look at the NEW BAPA
portal for BAPA updates and news, and
also look in the weeklies for volunteer
opportunities and events in your
children’s divisions.
BAPA Social at the Redhook Brewery
We’re trying something totally
new for this year’s BAPA Parent’s Fall
Social and we are having a casual event
at Redhook Brewery. Join us for beer,
wine, and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres.
A one-hour brewery tour will be offered
if there is enough interest. The tour
will include tasting several beers and
a complimentary tasting glass to take
home.
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: Redhook Brewery, 35 Corporate
Drive, Portsmouth, NH (Pease
Tradeport) There is no charge to
attend this event. BAPA is sponsoring
the hors d’oeuvres and brewery tour.
There will be a cash bar. Watch your
email for your invitation!
Magazine Sale
Please remember to support the
magazine sale still going on to benefit
the Junior and Senior Prom. This is the
only fundraiser for the prom so please
help support it by buying or renewing
a magazine subscription. Thanks so
much for your support.
Lost and Found
Have you checked out the Lost
and Found lately By this time of the
year our precious children have usually
lost something. If you can not find a
raincoat or that favorite sweatshirt,
look in the Commons (bottom floor).
Please remember to label your children’s
clothes to help identify items.
BAPA Board Opening for 2009-2010
The BAPA Board is looking
ahead to next year. If you are
interested in becoming involved in the
BAPA leadership and would like to be
considered for a position, please submit
your name along with the position or
positions you are interested in, to my
attention, via e-mail or letter (Mail to
Berwick Academy, Attention BAPA.)
by February 2010.
BAPA Gardens
I want to thank Kristin Wiese
Adelman for taking care of the BAPA
gardens. They look great. We really
appreciate your time and energy.
Jean Jarvis
BAPA President
Jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint.net
1791 Letter ~ October 2009
Treasurer’s Report
September 30, 2009
Gr. 8 BBQ Income $2755.96
Expenses:
Middle School
Gr. 5 Team Building $300
Gr. 6 Team Building Workshop $1,200
Enrichment – River as a Classroom $560
Enrichment – Bale to Bolt $390
Enrichment – Midsummer Night’s Dream
at UNH Gr. 8 $504
Total MS $2,954
Upper School
Clubs/Extracurricular -
Lassiter Buddy Supplies $60.48
Junior Magazine Drive Lunch $51.90
Enrichment -Isles of Shoals trip $1,800
Freshman Orientation Pizza $467
Total US $2,379.38
Total BAPA Expenses 9/1/09 – 9/30/09
$5,333.38
Net BAPA support 9/1/09 – 9/30/09
$2,577.42
Nancy Noyes
nnoyes@comcast.net
Schools Treasurer
Lower School News
The school year has gotten off
to a wonderful start! The leaves are
falling, the weather is turning colder,
and that means that we are gearing
up for the annual Lower School Book
Fair and Bake Sale. The event will take
place November 2 through November
6 in the Commons Lounge. We will
feature books from both Scholastic and
Usborne aimed at a wide range of ages
continued...

and interests. Books for children of
preschool age through grade 8, as well
as adult best-sellers and cookbooks
(Think Rachel Ray!) will be available.
We will also feature autographed copies
(and possibly a live signing or two)
of books by local authors, including:
Michele Werwein Albion, Jeannie
Brett, Jane Cowen Fletcher, and Tracy
Kane.
Lower School classroom
teachers, unified arts teachers, and
the Middle School librarian will be
filling out wish lists. Please stop by the
Teacher Wish List Booth at the book
fair and purchase a book for your child’s
teacher. You and your child can fill out
a bookplate sticker indicating the book
is a gift from your child.Lower school
children will be going over to the Book
Fair with their teachers and filling out
wish lists of their own. Your child’s
wish list will be sent home the week of
the Book Fair and can be used to help
you shop.
BA is again participating in One
for Books, a charitable giving program
aimed at donating one million books
to schools in disadvantaged areas.
Drop your spare change in the box
or let your children do so. Look for
more details on the portal and in the
LS Weekly.
Please stop by and support the
Book Fair and Bake Sale! All proceeds
benefit the Lower School and the
Lower School Library.
In addition to the Book Fair
and Bake Sale, we have a few other
upcoming activities:
October 29, 2:00 p.m.: Lower School
concert for grades K-2 and grades 3-4
Mini Blues concert.
October 30, 2:00 p.m.: Halloween
parade.
November 10, 5:30-8:00 p.m.: BAPA
Parents’ Fall Social. Join us for beer,
wine, and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres.
A one-hour brewery tour will be
offered if there is enough interest. The
tour includes tasting several beers and
a complimentary tasting glass to take
home.
BAPA is looking for volunteers
to help with the Lower School Book
Fair and Bake Sale. We are also looking
for a coordinator for the Lower School
Book Club. If you are interested,
please contact the Lower School
coordinators.
Pamela Oberg
pamela@hike-nh.com
Beth Tykodi
bptykodi@comcast.net
Lower School Coordinators
Middle School News
The crisp and cool air of Fall has
hit New England once again. We have
jumped back into the school year with
many activities underway. The buzz
of learning and happenings is clearly
underway when you step beyond the
doors of the Middle School.
The Eighth Grade BBQ was
quite a success. Thank you to all the
parents and students who came out to
support our eighth graders during Blue
and White week.
Grade 5 students enjoyed
a class trip to Lowell on October 1.
They learned about the Merrimack
River and performed some interesting
experiments. Our fifth and sixth graders
had a wonderful first social of the year
at Skate Newington, zipping around in
their skates and roller blades.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the
following upcoming Parents Night
Out:
On October 22 the seventh grade will
have a Parent Night Out at Rudi’s in
Portsmouth.
On November 5 all fifth grade parents
can enjoy a night out at The Shipyard
Brew Pub in Eliot.
The grade 6 Parents Night Out has
been rescheduled. We will notify you
when a new date has been set.
We are still hoping to organize a Grade
8 Parents Night Out. Any volunteers
to assist in this would be greatly
appreciated.
Our next Middle School Coffee will
be on October 28 at 8:30 in the
Commons Lounge. This meeting will
be followed by a class rep meeting.
Come have some coffee and goodies
while we gain more knowledge about
all that is going on in the Middle
School.
On November 5, BAPA will sponsor the
eighth grade class to see a production
of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at UNH.
This will be a wonderful trip for the
students and an opportunity to tie into
their reading of this classic story.
Come join us on November 10 for
the Parents Fall Social that BAPA will
host at the Redhook Brewery (Pease
Tradeport) in Portsmouth from 5:30 to
8:00 p.m. It is a great way to catch up
with old friends and meet new ones.
This will be a casual get together at the
Brewery and there will be a cash bar, hot
and cold hors d’oeuvres and a tour of
the Brewery for all who are interested.
We hope that you can attend!
On November 20 and 21 the Middle
School will be performing the musical
“You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown!”
The play will be a fun night out and
a venue to see our children become
rising stars as actors and singers.
There are still volunteer
positions available whether you
want to help out with the auction,
the upcoming Middle School Play, a
Parents Night Out or in joining some
10 1791 Letter ~ October 2009

of our Middle School reps. There is
something for everyone. Just let us know
your preference and we will point you
in the right direction. Please contact
Andrea Bristol at malted 92@comcast.
net or Joanne Meyer at jomeyer777@
aol.com.
Upper School News
First, I would like to thank
Kim Mills the past Upper School
Coordinator for leaving the books
in such good order so that when the
school year began we hit the ground
running. For those parents who are not
aware, the BAPA US parents support
quite a bit for the school. So far, we have
supported the Freshmen Wilderness
Trip (including the pizza and t-shirts
upon their return), and the ninth grade
parent gathering on the BD porch. We
helped support the Upper School trip
out to the Isles of Shoals and the senior
parents were in charge of all the food
at the first coffeehouse. Many thanks
to all who contributed as the kids were
impressed by your generosity. We
provided the juniors with a lunch while
they helped organize the magazine
drive and we will provide the DJ and
some fundraising for the US dance on
October 23. We contribute to the fall
play with lighting, costume or other
requested needs. Come see the play on
the third floor of Fogg on the evenings
of October 30 and 31. For November,
the sophomore parents will be in
charge of the food for the November
20 coffeehouse. Please save the date for
an informal, BAPA sponsored Parents
Fall Social at the Redhook Brewery in
Portsmouth on Tuesday, November 10
from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
So, please take the time to enjoy
the fall season because before we know
it we will be sending out semiformal
invitations, putting together the ninth
graders special exam packets and
picking up the Upper School’s exam
snacks!
Email either of us with any questions
or comments.
Suzanne McFarland
suzannerye@comcast.net
Mary Pat Dolan
Marypat.dolan@comcast.net
New Family News
So how’s it going Are you
overwhelmed or in the groove The
good news is you made it through to
Columbus Day weekend, the first major
milestone in the school year! If you are
in the MS or US, you know that the
first term has just ended and the first
grades of the year will be out soon. If
you are in LS, you are half way through
the first semester. Next stop, the winter
break! However, let’s not wish the time
away. There is so much to enjoy in the
next month…
For all Berwick Academy parents, there
are the following events:
Tuesday, Oct. 21 – Picture Retake
Day. If you would like your child’s
school picture retaken, please bring
in the photo packet you received to
school, and the pictures will be retaken
on that day. Please retain class photos
as they will not be returned.
Thursday, Oct. 23 – Susan G. Komen
Fundraiser for breast cancer awareness.
Each student wishing to participate in
this event is recommended to bring in
$1 and enjoy a dress down day.
Friday, Oct. 30 – Lower School
Halloween Parade at 2 p.m. For Lower
School parents, this is a must-see event.
The children all look so fantastic in
their costumes and the teachers go all
out to make it a great day. At 2 p.m.
the Lower School children will parade
through the quad. If you are on campus
that day, please steal a look. It’s too
cute!
Week of Nov. 2 – Lower School Book
1791 Letter ~ October 2009
Fair and Bake Sale. Even if you are not
in the Lower School, this is a great
opportunity to buy books and get a
jump on your Christmas shopping.
Books will be on sale for all reading
levels – even adults! You can donate
books in your child’s name to the
library, and there will be sweet treats
to keep you motivated as you shop.
Please don’t miss it. Proceeds go to buy
books for the Lower School library.
Tuesday, Nov. 10 – BAPA Social 5:30-
7:30 p.m. at the Redhook Brewery in
Portsmouth. As a parent at Berwick
Academy, you are automatically a
member of BAPA. This event is for you!
It is a great casual affair, and everyone
is invited. We hope you will stop by
and check it out. In addition to drinks
and food, there will be an opportunity
to take the Brewery tour!
Just a few other things going on at
school you should know about…
The Middle School will
present a musical production,
“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”
on November 20 and 21. If you would
like to help out and volunteer with this
theater production, your help would
be most appreciated. Your child need
not be in MS to help! Please contact
lwagner@berwickacademy.org or call
207-384-2164, ext. 2911.
BAPA Auction – BAPA is looking for
auction volunteers at all levels. Please
consider putting your hand up for any
spare time you have. It’s a great event,
and so important to making Berwick
Academy the great school it is. Please
contact Lesli Friel mfriel@comcast.net,
Jean Jarvis jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint.
net or Mary Towey marytowey@
comcast.net.
Integrity Theme – If you never
go to the Middle School, you really
should take a look. Don’t be scared.
You’re allowed. On the wall as you
continued on pg 14...
11

Understanding Friendships
Student friendships are usually
a primary focus of my work at the
beginning of each school year. Parents
of many new (and returning) students
are as concerned about this aspect of
their child’s school experience, as they
are about their academics. Division
directors, deans, advisors and teachers
are not only tracking their students’
academic progress at the beginning
of the school year, but they are also
keeping a watchful eye on the formation
of friendships.
Friendships or peer
relationships between children are more
than just fun; they are an important
part of a child’s social and emotional
development. In fact, the single best
predictor of adult adaptation is not
school grades, classroom behavior, or
popularity, but rather, the adequacy
with which a child gets along with other
children. Like adults, children need
positive friendships. These childhood
friendships lay the foundation for future
same-gender and opposite-gender
relationships. Research shows that
children with friends have a greater
sense of well-being, self-esteem and
fewer social problems as they move
through life and into adulthood.
The characteristics of
friendships, or how friends are described,
changes dramatically as a child moves
through childhood, early adolescence,
and finally late adolescence. There
are even differences seen with gender.
The way a male adolescent describes
a friend is very different than the
way a female adolescent describes
one. These differences do narrow as
adolescents become older and approach
adulthood, but even in adulthood some
gender differences are seen. Another
interesting finding is that parental
influence on friendships doesn’t stop at
the “play date” stage. It is important
for parents to provide encouragement,
support, direction and modeling for
their children’s friendships throughout
childhood, adolescence and into
adulthood. But before highlighting
more of these important findings, let
me break down “friendships through
the ages.”
According to Michael
Thompson, Psychologist and School
Consultant, a mother is usually a
child’s first friend. A baby who feels
securely attached to their primary
caregiver develops an “internal model
of relationship” which includes
intimacy, security, safety and the
pleasure of interacting with another
human being. This first friendship
becomes the child’s template for future
friendships. Thompson believes
that children develop friendships at
different rates. In his book, Best Friends,
Worst Enemies~Understanding the Social
Lives of Children, Thompson describes a
unique friendship between an eightmonth-old
boy and a ten-month-old
girl. Of course this friendship looks
dramatically different than one we
might see in preschool or in high
school, but the qualities of warm
interactions and smiles of pleasure are
common links.
During elementary school
years children generally choose friends
who are similar to themselves and
share their interests. The accounts of
first and second graders of the children
they like, reflect the concrete and the
here-and-now. A friend is a playmate,
or someone who is fun to do things
with; “nonfriends” are those who are
different or not fun to be around.
The most important factor in defining
a relationship at this point is how
satisfying the relationship is personally.
Friendships become increasingly group
oriented as a child grows older and
moves through elementary school. The
most well-liked children are those who
can manage social relations and think
of activities that are fun. It is during
the latter part of elementary school
that teachers and parents get their first
glimpse of some of the social problems
that exist in all relationships - inclusion/
exclusion, conformity, independence,
fear of rejection and popularity.
Starting around age ten or
eleven, more abstract notions begin to
emerge about friendships. An individual
is defined as a friend “because he sticks
up for me,” or “because we share values”
or “because we think the same things
are important.” Later still, on the verge
of adolescence, friendships include
elements of empathy. Some adolescents
begin to develop what is called “a best
friend” - an individual with whom he/
she enjoys a kind of relationship not
previously experienced, not even with
a parent. But like everything in life, we
must take the good with the bad. At
the same time these wonderful bonds
begin to emerge between adolescents,
cliques begin to form. Cliques can be
based on appearance, athletic ability,
academic achievement, talent, ability
to attract the opposite sex, or seeming
sophistication. Cliques peak in middle
continued on pg. 14...
12 1791 Letter ~ October 2009

Rachel Saliba
Over 100 Burleigh-Davidson
family members visited campus for
their family reunion last weekend.
Their visit included tours of BD as well
as lunch in the Commons and a tour
of South Berwick. Pat McManus and
I were on hand to answer questions
about the Burleigh-Davidson Building,
but quickly realized that the family
knew a lot more than we did – even if
some of them asked us if we were still
a boarding school. The following is a
brief history of the Burleigh-Davidson
family and their splendid home.
John Holmes Burleigh 1822-1877
Captain John Holmes Burleigh
attended Berwick Academy, but left
in 1837 to work on a clipper ship at
the age of 16. He became a captain
by 21 and even took his bride, Matilda
Buffum Burleigh to sea with him for a
few years.
When the couple returned to
South Berwick, John purchased the
Newichawannock Woolen Mills (the
old mill on the river on Brattle Street)
and renamed it Burleigh Mills. Burleigh
Mills made woolen blankets for the
Union soldiers during the Civil War
and then became famous for producing
auto robes and blankets. Captain
Burleigh became one of the wealthiest
men in Maine and he had a home to
reflect his success. Below is a sketch
of the Burleigh Mansion located on the
site where BD currently sits
The First Burleigh Mansion –
built c. 1864 and destroyed by fire in 1892
Captain Burleigh, like three of
his descendants, was a member of the
Berwick Academy Board of Trustees.
He was also the President of the
National and Savings Banks, served four
terms in the state legislature and served
two terms as a U.S. Congressman until
his untimely death when his horse and
carriage bolted off the bridge between
South Berwick and Salmon Falls in
1878.
Captain Burleigh was survived
by his wife Matilda Buffum Burleigh
and their five children, all of whom
graduated from Berwick Academy.
After their mansion was destroyed in
1892, Matilda built the current Burleigh
Davidson building. The bannisters
went all the way to the third floor. One
could stand at the bottom and look all
the way up to a stained glass sky light.
Matilda’s youngest daughter,
Elizabeth Burleigh Davidson, and her
1791 Letter ~ October 2009
six children came to live with her after
Elizabeth was also widowed in 1901.
Eventually, all of Elizabeth’s children
graduated from Berwick Academy and
two served on the Academy’s Board
of Trustees. A portrait of Thomas
Davidson (Class of 1915) is hanging in
the BD Conference Room.
Berwick Academy purchased
the Burleigh-Davidson Estate in 1945
from the family to prevent it from
being turned into a turkey farm. The
estate included a tennis court, a pool
and a coach house. It has gone through
many transformations since then, but
that is another story.
As always, please contact me
at rsaliba@berwickacademy.org if you
have any questions or if I have made an
error. You can also visit the archives on
Mondays and Fridays from 8:30 – 2:30
each week.
Library Volunteer Opportunities
All Middle School students
are invited to volunteer in the library
and the archives after school on
Wednesdays from 2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Eighth grade students are also invited
to volunteer during their study hall on
Fridays. A volunteer sign-up sheet is
located at the front desk of the library.
If you are an adult, and you’d also like
to volunteer your time in the library
or archives, please contact Rachel
Saliba at rsaliba@berwickacademy.
org or Jennifer Brewer at jbrewer@
berwickacademy.org. We’d appreciate
your help.
13

BAPA News...cont. from pg 11 Wellness News...cont. from pg 12
walk in is a huge banner with the word,
“INTEGRITY”. The students have been
encouraged to write on the banner
their personal definition of the word
“integrity”. The writing is inspiring,
humbling and very interesting.
Make time to see it. You won’t be
disappointed. As always, if you need
help or have a question with anything
at all, please contact me. I’m happy to
help you.
Katie Clark Kclark_uk@hotmail.com
BAPA New Families Coordinator
(207) 698-0080
Auction News
WE’RE MOVING! The BAPA Benefit
Auction is moving to a new venue.
Join us April 24, 2010, at the Links at
Outlook (www.outlookweddings.com).
There are lots of ways to volunteer for
this exciting event. Please contact
Lesli or Mary if you would like to get
involved.
Lesli Friel m.friel@comcast.net.
Mary Towey marytowey@comcast.net
Auction Co Chairs
BAPA Communications
Check out BAPA on the Portal!
We have a new ‘BAPA Portal View’
where you can find all the latest BAPA
news, announcements, events and
volunteer opportunities. Thank you
to volunteers Linda Lyon, Paula Hoy
and Mary Towey for their help with
an admissions mailing in September.
More great volunteers helped stuff
packets in October. Thank you to new
parents Emily Urquhart and Kate Thut
and to Kim Levy and Diane Walker.
If you would like to join the fun and
volunteer an hour or two please contact
me.
school as peer relationships and acceptance augment family relationships and (the
good news) then decrease in high school. Cliques are a common phenomenon
during adolescence; many of us were part of one during our middle or early high
school years. It is important for a parent to remember that the best defense to
the rejection or aggression that sometimes negatively erupts from cliques is a
“good quality” friendship. Thompson reminds us in his book that when it comes to
friendship, quality is much more important than quantity.
The amount of time spent with friends is greatest during adolescence. High
school students spend more than twice as much time with their friends as they do
their parents. The bottom line is that teenagers want to be with other teenagers.
They depend on each other to lend a sympathetic ear and offer emotional support
when they are faced with dilemmas about relationships, school, siblings, parents,
or life in general. But contrary to psychoanalytic theory, adolescents do not have
to “turn against their family” as they move toward their friends. Contemporary,
nonpsychoanalytically- oriented thinking suggests that transition to adolescence is
nowhere near as problematic for parents or for adolescents. Even though teens may
see a lot less of their parents, they continue to rely on them, not only for guidance,
but also for support in friendships and activities. In fact, when real hardships arise;
most teens turn to their parents. In his book, Michael Thompson describes the
importance of connecting with your child’s friends particularly during adolescence.
This does not mean carrying on an hour conversation with them, but what it does
mean is that you acknowledge their presence and make them feel welcomed in
your home. Friendships in later adolescence are described as strong, stable and
intimate bonds that last over time. These friendships, along with healthy parental
relationships lead to social competence in adulthood.
From playing peek-a-boo with your infant to the planning of a surprise
eighteenth-birthday party, parents are a key component. Michael Thompson, as
well as other researchers suggests that a parent’s role in helping to develop and refine
their child’s friendship-making skills may be greater than we once thought. Not
only do children need a safe and secure environment, and loving and encouraging
parents to develop social competencies, they also need “friendship” role models.
Studies have shown that parents, who have good friends themselves, raise kids
who make good friends. There is ample reason to believe that the reactions of
parents with their own friends provide children and adolescents with models and
cues about the social skills involved in making friends. Children who see their
parents respecting each other, and valuing their own friends have an easier time
establishing friendships.
If you haven’t already, I would highly suggest that you read Michael
Thompson’s book Best Friends, Worst Enemies~Understanding the Social Lives of
Children.
Sincerely,
Cindy Briggs
Sarah Hebert hebertsh@comcast.net
BAPA Communications Coordinator
14 1791 Letter ~ October 2009

Athletics News...cont. from pg. 7
The Bunny Clark
Charter Oak Capital Management
Diverse Networks LLC
Ironman Fitness
Lago’s Ice Cream
Holly Malloy
Jay McFarland
The Millerick Family
The Mills Family
Reid & Company
Ronn Woolley
Somersworth Nissan
The Springer Family
Stage Neck Inn
Strogen’s HVAC, LLC
Summit Land Development
Dr. Richard Zeff, Cosmetic and Plastic
Surgery
Prize Donors
Abby Chic Florist
Bauer Hockey
Heidi & John Bement
Blackman Chiropractic
Bob’s Clam Hut
Celebrity Marketing
Chuck Clement IV
Cinnamon Rainbow
Cumberland Farms
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dover Wine
Dunkin Donuts
Eastern Propane & Oil
Eight Winds Hair Salon
Fischer Cats
Kathy Ford
Granite Steak & Grill
Great Bay Pottery
Steve Grenier
Gustafson’s Gallery
Hampton Airfield
Hillcrest 3 Par
Holy Rosary Credit Union
Honore LaFlamme
Kennebooks
Lego Systems, Inc.
Lindt Chocolates
Mac Ford Custom Building
Marriott Cambridge
Dr. McQueeney
The Music Hall
My Liege Salon
NE Creations
New England Skydive
North Hampton Recreation
The Old Salt
Dr. Amy Pruszemski
Ragged Mountain, Danbury, NH
Red Sox
Riptide Charters
Robert Ryder Bulk Hauling
Smuttynose Brewery
The Wheeler Family
Top Shelf Cigar, Dover
USS Dallas Gifts
Windjammers Seafood Restaurant
York Harbor Inn
The College Bound Athlete
Please join us on Tuesday,
October 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the
Patricia Baldwin Whipple Arts Center
for an information session regarding
the college-bound athlete. This
presentation will help our studentathletes
who are thinking about
playing college athletics navigate the
college search process. The program
will include evaluation opportunities,
contacting college coaches, citizenship
and the college visit process. All
athletes and parents are welcome.
Courtside Café
As we head into the winter
season we are looking for help from
parents who have students playing
basketball. We have an oustanding
concession area in the Athletic Center
that we use to raise money for our
athletic programs. The Courtside Café
is run by our Athletics Boosters group
and they are currently looking for
parents to donate their time and help
with concession sales. You can sign up
for a game or two during the season to
help support your teams. Please contact
Rob Quinn for more information.
Off the Hilltop
Berwick Academy Junior
Zac Lawrence competed in the 2009
USATF National Junior Olympic
Track & Field Championships held
in Greensboro, North Carolina.
1791 Letter ~ October 2009
The USATF Junior Olympic Track
& Field Championships is the most
visible youth athletic development
program in the world. Over 7,000
athletes competed in the event held
July 27 through August 2 at the Irwin
Belk Field at North Carolina A & T
University. Entry for this championship
is based on athlete performances at
preliminary, Association and Regional
levels of competition. Zac finished
an impressive 18th out of a field of 45
competitors.
Upcoming events
Thursday, November 5, Middle
School Fall Sports Awards at 1:30 p.m.
Reminder - 5:30 p.m. late bus schedule
begins Monday, November 16.
15

Dear Berwick Community,
October has been an energizing month! By now the Annual Fund has officially kicked off, and we are fortunate to have
so many dedicated Annual Fund volunteers raising awareness of the importance of participating in the Annual Fund. I
want to thank the over 50 parents and past parents who have volunteered to be a part of the 2009 - 2010 Annual Fund
team! They are:
Annual Fund Chair
Holly Malloy, Trustee
Annual Fund Team
Lower School
Holly Grimes,
LS Division Leader
Grade 1
Beth Lowenstein, Grade Leader
Michelle Albion
Michelle Hanson
Grade 2
Michelle Soares, Grade Leader
Tom Parrott
Heather Kodzis
Betsy Rawlings
Grade 3
Kristin Morales, Grade Leader
Vic Sunshine
Grade 4
Costikyan Jarvis, Grade Leader
Dee Whall
Suzanne Richardson
Middle School
Margaret Talcott, Trustee
MS Division Leader
Grade 5
Janet Stevens, Grade Leader
John Barbour
Grade 6
Lisa Anderson, Grade Leader
Amy Criswell
Paula Reid
Laura Smith
Grade 7
Betsy Coughlan, Grade Leader
Stephen Young
Jane Hourihan
Deborah Walden
Kendall Montouri
Grade 8
Holly Malloy, Grade Leader
Nina Maurer
Carol Welsh
Tim Platt
Adriana Cunha-Salomon
Upper School
Leigh Ann MacFarlane,
US Division Leader
Grade 9
Eliza Peter, Grade Leader
Mary Boswell
Molly Samson
Gloria Legere
Sue Downey
Mary Connors
Grade 10
Sheila Woolley, Grade Leader
Jennifer Saulnier
Mary Reinhardt
Carolyn Woodward
Grade 11
Laurie Hair, Grade Leader
Maria Moschetto
Diane Mugford
Susan Stedman
Leadership Chair
Debbie Bauder, Trustee
Leadership Team
Mark Tay, Chair, Board of Trustees
Jamey French, Trustee
Holly Malloy, Trustee
Margaret Talcott, Trustee
Lesli Friel
Meg Cavanaugh
Thomas Hourihan
Jedd Whitlock,
Director of Advancement
Kathryn Strand, Development Office
By now, you should have received your Annual Fund appeal letter. Annual Fund volunteers will be contacting parents from
October 19 through November 20, to ask them to participate in this year’s Annual Fund. As in past years, parents of the
Class of 2010 will be asked to support an endowed fund in honor of the graduating class. Parents new to Berwick this year
will be formally asked for their support in February of 2010.
The Annual Fund is Berwick’s number one fundraising priority. To learn more about the Annual Fund and how it directly
impacts our most important resources – exceptional teachers, talented students, and a campus well-equipped for learning,
please visit www.berwickacademy.org > Support BA > Annual Fund. Please note that secure online giving is available for
your convenience at www.berwickacademy.org/giving.
Thank you again to all our Annual Fund volunteers for your time and effort on behalf of Berwick Academy, and thank you in
advance to the entire Berwick community for considering participation in the 2009 – 2010 Annual Fund drive. If you have
any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or feel free to stop by the 1791 House when you are on campus.
Best,
Jedd Whitlock
Director of Advancement
jwhitlock@berwickacademy.org
16 1791 Letter ~ October 2009