TheGAMGAM: a social meeting of whaleships…with all the

sympathies of sailors [and] all the peculiar congenialities arising from a common pursuit.

Volume XXVI, Number ii November-December 2011

In this issue: Keno at FACS…3 Hodge ‘13 works for ABC…7 Calendars…8-9 Annual Fund launch…10 Admissions Events…11 Parents advise Parents…12 Faculty Grants update…13 Alumni Events Calendar…14 Alumni News…16

A Brief History of FA National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes FA seniors

Five Falmouth Academy seniors have been recognized by the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program, one as a semifinalist and four as commended scholars.

David Pickart of Falmouth, is one of only seven semifinalists on Cape Cod and the islands.

FA’s four National Merit com-mended students are: Thomas Aviles, East Sandwich; Kyle Benton, Mashpee; Daniel Eder, Falmouth; and Ayla Fu-dala, Mashpee.

These students earned National Merit recognition as a result of their high scores on the October 2010 Pre-liminary SAT/National Merit Scholar-

The 2011-2012 year marks the 35th anniversary of Falmouth Academy. Thanks to the generous support of our friends and families, the school’s present facilities are spectacularly different from the basement of the retirement home where we spent our first years. However, our commitment to broad intellectual challenge in heterogeneous classes hasn’t changed. If anything, it is stronger than ever because we have seen it successfully engage a wide variety of learners for 35 years. Our remarkable teachers contin-ue to lead classes that are small enough to allow teachers and students to know and trust each other.

Of course, we are grateful for our handsome campus, our fields and buildings, our labs and library, but from the beginning FA has put a premium on the people inside the buildings. Our size–about 200 students–and our culture allow us to focus on a core academic curriculum. By studying science, mathematics, English, history and foreign languages together and in depth, students develop a common core of knowledge that leads to lively conversation among students, teachers and alumni in all grades.

This year we also celebrate the six founding faculty who helped establish this culture and continue to encour-

(continued on page 5) (continued on page 2)

From the Headmaster

FA celebrates

35years!

1977-2012

[left to right] Seniors Daniel Eder, Ayla Fudala, David Pickart, Kyle Benton, and Thomas Aviles.

The GAMPublished nine times a year for the community of Falmouth Academy

Integrating science, humanities, athletics & arts for grades 7 through 12

David C. Faus, HeadmasterMichael J. Earley, Director of Admissions

and Assistant HeadmasterSarah Pring, Director of DevelopmentBarbara Campbell, Alumni Director

Tucker M. Clark, Assistant to the HeadElenita Muñiz, Publications Director

In its admissions and financial aid programs, hiring process, and in all school programs,

Falmouth Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender,

national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or physical handicap.

7 Highfield Drive t Falmouth, MA 02540508.457.9696

thegam@falmouthacademy.org2

ship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) taken last fall by more than 1.5 million high school juniors in about 22,000 high schools around the country. As a semifinalist, David can continue in the competition for a National Merit schol-arship which will be offered next spring.

National Merit semifinalists repre-sent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. Commended students

scored among the top five percent of U.S. high school seniors. Ω

unite our three exchange sons, who had never met, and to reconnect

Michael and Jonas, who had played in Chamber Orches-tra together.

“Brunch with Mica and Todd gave us a fascinat-ing American per-spective on Croatia and economic development in the region, Mica’s

focus. Mica has also joined the Board of the American International School in Zagreb, which is at the same stage of development as FA was when she was a student here. How

lucky they are to have someone with her experience and wisdom on their board!

“And how lucky we are to be able to visit our young FA friends as we travel.” Ω

(continued from page 1)

Bradleys connect with FA alumni in Europe

National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes FA seniors

The “bookends” of Deborah and Albert Bradley’s two-week vacation on the island of Losinj in Croatia this summer were visits with five FA alumni.

In Zürich, they hosted a dinner party for exchange sons Ronan Chartois ’90 from France, and Michael ’95 and Theodor Borsche ’01 from Germany, plus Jonas Pizer ’96. After two relaxing weeks visiting Michael and Theo’s parents, Tilman and Anne Borsche, at their vacation home in the village of Sveti Jakov, the Bradleys ended their trip with brunch at the home of Mica Schweitzer-Blum and her husband, Todd, who are cur-rently working at the American Embas-sy in Zagreb. Dr. Bradley reported:

“Ronan works in Zürich in com-plex computer programming; Michael is a research meteorolgist at the Max Planck Institute in Hamburg, and The-odor is beginning a doctoral program in energy distribution at the Technical University in Zürich. It was a joy to

[front] Ronan Chartois, Dr. Bradley and Jonas Pizer; [rear] Theo and Michael Borsche

Dr. Bradley and Mica Schweitzer-Bluhm

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When Leigh Keno and his twin brother Leslie were just 13, they knew exactly what they wanted to do when they grew up. They wanted to find treasure–not the pirate booty of little boy dreams, but the type of item you find at a yard sale that reveals its story and has value to someone.

The Kenos have gone from collect-ing and reselling antique hinges and ceramic urns to hosting a very popular TV show and uncover-ing furniture, artwork and jewelry that have reached prices in the millions of dollars.

Speaking at the Falmouth Academy Community Series in August, Leigh Keno delighted the standing-room-only crowd by sharing stories from his Emmy-nominated PBS antiques appraisal show.

He talked about his favorite find from the television show, which has 11 million viewers per week. A woman had seen a table that she liked at a yard sale. The owner was asking $35 for it, but the woman only had $25. As it was the end of the day, the owner took the of-fer, but the woman needed to warn her husband that she was bringing home another piece of furniture and left the table overnight by the roadside. The table turned out to be one of fewer than ten pieces in the world signed by Boston-based John Seymour and Son Cabinet Maker.

Mr. Keno said, “The woman brought the table to us on the show and I calmly made my inspection. I excused myself and went behind the scenes and practically jumped up and down in my enthusiasm. Then I calmly returned and appraised it for $150,000 to $200,000. Fifteen years ago I ar-

ranged for it to be auctioned. The bidding went up to $540,000, a world record for a piece of Federal furniture at the time.”

Another casual find changed a fam-ily’s life, Mr. Keno said.

Receiving a call from a man in Wellington, Texas, Keno learned that the man had purchased, for $25, a painting hanging outside an isolated, run-down house. The painting was

a beautifully framed golden sunset. The new owner made out part of the signature and did some research, discovering that the work was by Martin Johnson Heade and might have some value. So he contacted several dealers and told them the first who wanted it and could come up with some cash could have it.

“It was a treasure hunt in the truest sense of the word!” said Mr. Keno.

He flew to Burns Flat, Oklahoma and then drove to Wellington where he met the family at the local Dairy Queen. After verifying the provenance and value of the painting, Keno made an offer and directed his bank to wire the funds to the owner’s bank account. They had to wait until the next day for the transaction. The owner sat in his chair all night, guarding that painting with a shotgun.

When Mr. Keno sold the painting at auction, it fetched $2 million.

Mr. Keno gets especially excited when he’s introduced to a piece he hasn’t seen before. Thanks to the generosity of Falmouth’s Museums on the Green, he was offered three items to discuss for his talk at

Trash to Treasure can yield millions:TV host appraiser visits FA

You, too, can learn about antiques and folk art, among many other subjects, from the new Hollander collection of art books in the Bruce and Patrice Buxton Library.

(continued from page 3)

4

Falmouth Academy.He analyzed a turret top, one-

drawer gaming table. “It looks like a 1740-50 table. Maybe from England, but classic Boston. If it’s made of oak it’s from England, but if it’s pine then America. “

Looking at the audience, he re-vealed that the difference could mean tens of thousands of dol-lars because there weren’t very many fine furniture makers in America at that time.

The table was made of mahogany and had un-disturbed Queen Anne brasses. The knee returns were original. Keno noted that it would have been owned by a wealthy Bos-tonian.

“I’d say conservatively that this table is worth $30,000 to $50,000, but could bring more at auction. There would be added value if it were signed, or if it was bigger, had carved knees, bigger feet and a history.”

Mr. Keno also looked at a folk art painted box and a pastel portrait of a young man in blue. Incidentally, he told the audience, “Young men in blue sell for more than older men in black.”

The hour-long talk ended much too quickly, but Keno told the audience they could see him and his brother on their new show, “Buried Treasure,” on the FOX Network.

Ω

The annual appeal letter you receive each fall will look a little different this year.

“I talked to many parents, alumni, grandparents and friends of the school during the past year and it was clear that we needed to work harder to explain the role of the Annual Fund, especially to our FA families,” said Sarah Pring, FA’s Director of Development.

“Even those very involved in the school were often confused about the Fund,” added Maribeth Wadman. “As a parent of two FA students and the Co-Chair of the Parents Association for three years, I knew the Annual Fund was important, but I had trouble explaining what it did.”

Mrs. Pring hopes this brochure will serve to debunk myths and explain how gifts to the Annual Fund go right to work to serve our students today. She encouraged FA friends and families to read the brochure and consider partici-pating in the annual fund with a gift or pledge before the end of December. “You’ll be able to take advantage of tax benefits while helping FA immediately,” she said. Ω

New Annual Fund Brochure!TV host appraiser visits FA(continued from page 3)

Coming next to the Falmouth Academy Community Series:Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks

speaking about her new novel, Caleb’s Crossing, about Cheeshahteaumauck, the first Native American to

graduate from Harvard College.Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Open to the public. Admission is free.

5

age these conversations in and out of school. Deborah Bradley, Olivann Hobbie, Janet Kearsley, Lalise Melillo, Julia Taylor and Nancy Twichell are master teachers who have been intel-ligent mentors and role models to their colleagues and students alike for more than 30 years. Their tenacity testifies to the deep satisfaction they have found working with each other and with eager students in small classes.

We will commemorate our 35 years in a variety of ways during the year, but in this column I offer a quick, chrono-logical history compiled by Tucker Clark.

-David C. Faus

A Brief History of fAFalmouth Academy was founded in

the spring of 1977 as a school com-mitted to “high academic and intel-lectual standards and the development of fundamental skills.” The founder, Richard Haugh, wanted to offer a rigorous core academic curriculum with high expectations for students and teachers.

From the beginning FA faculty, trustees, and administrators believed that children could enjoy learning if they met in a small, personal commu-nity of learning and respect.

The fledgling school had no trap-pings, but it did have an unusually well educated and talented faculty who believed in the benefits of a rich intellectual life and a core curriculum that encourages conversation among colleagues. Dr. Haugh had hired the late Worthington Campbell Jr. as FA’s first headmaster and Olivann Hobbie as his assistant.

In the fall of 1977, Falmouth Academy opened with 43 students in grades 7-11 and 16 part-time faculty in rented space in the basement of the Woodbriar residential home on Gifford Street in Falmouth. (Since the space wasn’t ready at the start of school, classes met for the first three

days at the old Falmouth Recreation Center, the Falmouth Public Library and in Lalise Melillo’s living room.)

FA’s first class of seven students graduated in 1979. Preferring teaching to administration, Mr. Campbell took a full-time position teaching English at a boarding school in another town. Dr. Haugh served as headmaster for the summer and then George Black-well, an experienced, retired head of school, was hired as interim headmas-ter.

Having looked unsuccessfully for two years for a permanent campus, the trustees moved the school to an abandoned elementary school rented from the Town of Bourne on the Otis Air National Guard Base. FA opened there in September 1979. Edward “Ted” Childs was headmaster from 1980-82. His wife, Katie, began to build the FA library.

In 1982, the trustees hired Bruce E. Buxton as the school’s fifth headmas-ter in five years. FA had 64 students. Patrice Buxton used her great interest in reading to shape the seventh grade curriculum and to make the FA library an inviting place. She established use of the FA plan book as a basic skill for all seventh graders.

1984 brought our first two foreign students, boys from Sweden and Italy. Since then we have welcomed more than 70 students from about two dozen countries to spend a year or more with us. Their

A Brief History of FA

(continued on page 6)

(continued from page 1)

This plaque in the foyer of the school commemorates the dedication of our permanent campus and new building, in 1989.

A Brief History of FA

6

home countries include Japan, Russia, Italy, Afghanistan, Korea, Slovakia, and Nepal.

In 1985, when FA had 128 stu-dents, Josiah K. Lilly III gave the school 34 prime acres in Falmouth near Beebe Woods. The FA trustees mounted their first successful capital campaign and hired the J.K. Scanlan Company to build a 16-classroom building which was completed in 1989. Because FA families, teachers, trustees, and friends came together to move books, records and what fur-niture we had from Otis to our own campus, the move cost less than $500. The school had 143 students in 1989: the trustees planned to build FA to about 200 students.

At home in Falmouth, FA became a recycling center for the town and began building its reputation as an environmentally sensitive campus. We have earned local and state environ-mental awards for our work which includes composting about 2,000 lbs. of vegetable waste for our fields and gardens each year and recycling more than 70 percent of our waste paper, cardboard, metals, packing materials, food containers, and aluminum foil. We installed the town’s first 10 KW turbine in 2007 and last year a 333- panel, 77 KW photovoltaic system, which produces one-third of the school’s energy supply.

From an initial wide variety of mostly pick-up sports–including soccer among the trees at Woodbriar, which made our students choose black and blue as the school’s colors–FA grew its athletic program to focus on three team sports, one each season, and joined or created leagues for team play. Our competitive teams began to earn league championships and sportsmanship awards while remain-

ing inclusive. We still encour-age every student to play, and

about 60 percent of them accept that offer each year.

Early in 1997 FA built a two-bas-ketball-court gym with a center game court. It houses our teams as well as P.E., Taekwondo, our graduation ceremonies and our all-school Science Fair, which by then had spread from the performance space through the first floor halls and into classrooms.

Before Bruce Buxton retired in 2005, the trustees had mounted a $4.2 million campaign to build an energy-efficient 15,000 sq. ft. addition.

David C. Faus became FA’s sixth headmaster in 2005. He oversaw the successful completion of the campaign and the September 2006 opening of the new wing which houses four science classrooms/labs, three science prep rooms, two art rooms, offices, and the Bruce and Patrice Buxton Library. With careful oversight by the trustees, J.K. Scanlan completed the wing on time and under budget.

In 2008, we initiated two successful extra-curricular programs. Falmouth Academy Summer Programs brings more than 500 children and adults to the campus each summer for a wide variety of activities. The National Small Schools Conference welcomes small-school leaders from around the country and Canada for three days of workshops and conversation each June.

This year, we have enrolled 190 students. They will benefit from the people and traditions that make up this unusual school. Teachers con-tinue to challenge and to champion their students. Students continue to be successful in college and become responsible citizens. Falmouth Acad-emy knew from the beginning that a successful high school education must be personal. The school and the people in it have never waivered from that conviction. Ω

(continued from page 5)

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estimates at 99%, she has managed to collect 7500 diapers so far, in four drives, each at a different store. “I

ask for diapers and wipes, which is what ABC needs, and I hand out pamphlets about other ways to do-nate to ABC.”

The experience has changed An-gela. “Origi-

nally, I wanted to volunteer

for my college application, but now it makes me feel so good to do it,” she said. “There’s so much wrong with the world. If I can do something that makes a difference, it will ripple out.”

Mary Pat Piersons, Program Director at ABC, wrote headmaster David Faus to let him know about Angela’s work. “Angela’s dedication and her spirit are incredible,” she wrote. “She has really taken on this challenge with a vengeance. We can all learn a lesson from Angela; every-one has a chance to make a difference in the world.”

Angela plans to study interna-tional affairs and history when she reaches college. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” she said, “and I want to be an aid worker or a diplomat.” In true FA style, she has reached out to FA alumna Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm ’90, a career For-eign Service officer currently serving in Zagreb, for more information about her career.

Closer to home, the Human Rights elective is planning to support Angela’s work. Other school groups may join the effort, too. The rip-ples are already spreading. Ω

“If I can make a difference, it will ripple out.”

“I wanted to volunteer, to get in-volved – maybe with homeless shelters,” said Angela Hodge ’13, “and my mom suggested looking at A Baby Center (ABC) in Hyannis. But the director said she didn’t really need more volun-teers. What she needed was diapers.”

Despite the fact that others had tried, unsuccessfully, to conduct diaper drives at local grocery stories, Angela contacted the Falmouth Stop & Shop for permission, then began her marathon appeals. “Basically, I stand outside the store for four hours and talk very fast, non-stop,” An-gela said. She has a small table with a Strawberry Shortcake blanket on it and stuffed animals, and an official A Baby Center sign.

“I try to explain that diapers are not covered by welfare money or other funding,” Angela said, “and ask people if they will pick up a package of diapers to donate. You need to talk to every single person.” The responses she gets are varied, with many “I’m fine” or “No, thanks,” along with an occasional, “Why don’t these people use birth control?”

Undaunted, Angela replies, “What-ever mistakes the parents made, these babies are here and they need diapers.”

She also has wonderful moments. “One mom said no and went into the store,” she remembered. “A moment later, her eight-year-old daughter came back out with $2 to contribute. An-other mom told her daughter, ‘Here – you’re going to give the lady the money.’ And one man stopped his car and handed me a $20 bill through the window.”

Despite a rejection rate that Angela

Angela Hodge ‘13 and the ABC bear she’s using in her fundraising efforts at FA.

Falmouth Academy Refrigerator Calendars

Friday & Saturday, November 3-4, 7:00 p.m.

The King Stag by Carlo Goldoni

A mad fairy tale inspired by the characters in commedia d’elle arte and filled with romance, magic and lots of comedy.Admission is free. We welcome your contribution of non-perishable food

items for the Falmouth Ser-vice Center.

Thursday, November 10:Fall Concertat 7:00 p.m.

Performances by Jazz I, Jazz II, Chorus, Chamber Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra, which will

perform Lully’s Chaconne.

Admission is free. We invite you to contribute of non-perishable food items for the Falmouth Ser-

vice Center.8

9

Falmouth Academy Refrigerator Calendars

Alumni!See your calendar on page 15.

Friday, December 9, 7:00 p.m.Radio versions of

Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Backoffered by the Drama II students

Admission is free. Non-perishable food items for the Falmouth Service Center are welcome.

ZUMBA to support housing on Cape Cod!

Join the Honor Society on Sunday, November 6th

from 1 to 3 p.m. Zumba with teachers Amy and Wendy

from 241 Fitness at the Falmouth Sports Center.Warm up, cool down,

snacks, drinks, conversation.

Donation: $10.00, for the Housing Assistance Corporation.

In the FA Galleries•Subtractive PlaSter SculPtureS

•advanced Painting Political PieceS

•eaSt/WeSt landScaPeS, rade 7•advanced draWing and introduc-tory draWing PieceS

in the claSS of 2009 gallery:WorkS by fa’S fine artS &

SculPture teacherS, lucy and brad nelSon

10

With the launch of the 2011 – 2012 Annual Fund, we are pleased to welcome a new parent initiative – the Parent Annual Fund Committee.

Maribeth Wadman, co-chair of the Parents Association, took a leadership role in forming the new committee and will represent the Parents Association at its meetings. “The FA Parents Associa-tion is thrilled to be working with the Development Office to spread the word about the importance of the Annual Fund,” she said. “The Fund has a direct impact on the quality of our children’s education and their daily activities at Falmouth Academy. The Parents As-sociation has pledged to use our many resources to help increase the number of parents participating in the fund.”

Beth Colt, mother of 8th grader Charlie Colt-Simonds, eagerly agreed to chair the committee, having been involved in a similar effort at her son’s last school in Studio City, California. “I am excited to connect with parents about our shared passion for FA,” said Beth. “Our goal is 100 percent parent participation in the Annual Fund, and

Every contribution matters!

I do hope that every family will con-tribute within their means. At FA, like all other private schools, tuition alone doesn’t cover the full cost of educating our students: we rely on gifts to the An-nual Fund to make up the difference.”

Each grade will be represented by a grade captain on the committee: 7th grade: Jim Remillard, 8th: Theresa Fitz-patrick, 9th: Debbie Drinkwater, 10th: Susan Guérin, 11th: Sheila Giancola, and 12th: Katie Hollander, who is also the Senior Parent Gift Fund chair.

Grade captains will be in touch with their fellow parents to encour-age early participation in the fund and answer questions. “Our mission is to get the message out parent-to-parent that participation is key, that every contribu-tion truly matters, and that giving early in the school year really helps too,” said Maribeth.

“Like all things at FA, this will be a wonderful team effort,” added Beth. “We’ll be working on something important to us all – supporting FA in providing an excellent education to our students.” Ω

A correction:

The 2011 edition of Resonance, Falmouth Academy’s literary maga-zine, did not list all of the staff mem-bers who worked through the year selecting stories, poems, and art to be included.

Those staff members were Sarah Antolick ‘11, Emelia Armstead ‘11, Kira Doutt ‘11, Sara Dorr ‘12, Ella Martin ‘12, Ally Friedman ‘13, Katherine Shachoy ‘13, and Summer Tompkins ‘13.

Jenna Bernstein ‘11 and Zoe Lippsett ‘11 were editors. Associate editors were Abby Hollander ‘12, Gwen Martin ‘12, and Caity Walsh ‘12. The secretary was Lexi Michaud ‘11.

Resonance ‘11 was distributed at Recognition Day on June 10.

zumba forHousing!

Sunday, November 6, 1-3 p.m. in the FA gym

To benefit the Housing Assistance Corporation

$10 per person

All are welcome!

Sponsored by the FAHonor Society

--a community event--

11

Admissions events in November & December

FA teachers, admissions

officers, and Headmaster David Faus will be on the road in November and December, as we host our annual series of admissions coffee hours.

These information sessions provide a chance for families in-terested in learning more about us to meet FA faculty as well as students and parents from their area. Are we coming to your neighborhood? Feel free to join us for any amount of time that is convenient for you. There is no need to RSVP.

Marion: Sunday, November 6th, 2:00-

4:00 p.m. At the home of Jamey and Laura Shachoy, 1 Water Street, Marion.

Duxbury: Sunday, November 20th,

2:00-4:00 p.m. At the home of Rob and An-gelique Kania, 69 Island Creek Road, Duxbury

SanDwich: Sunday, December 4th, 2:00-

4:00 p.m. At the Belfry Inne and Bistro, 8 Jarves Street, Sandwich.

For more information, please call Director of Admissions Mike Earley at 508-457-9696 x 224.

New counselor keeps very busy

Mrs. Stephanie Mastroianni’s office is very inviting, with warm celadon walls, a comfy sofa, and a glorious antique quilt over her desk to bring color to the small room. It’s also been very busy. As Falmouth Academy’s new school counselor, Mrs. Mastroianni has had lots of visits from students and several calls from parents.

“I have several students who come by regularly,” Mrs. Mastroianni said, “and many who drop in randomly. Some students we’ve referred to outside sources of help and others are coming to talk about social issues or other con-cerns.”

In addition to students, she is a resource for parents and recently sent out a survey to all parents. “It’s a needs assessment, to find out what issues they are dealing with and what areas they might like to learn more about,” she said. “That will be helpful as we plan parent forums for later in the year.”

She’s also been quite busy with the new Peer Ambassadors program which she directs with Mr. Ben Parsons, Dean of Students. “All of last year’s Peer Me-diators were invited to continue and we received many applications from others. We’ve ended with about 20 student ambassadors from grades 10-12.

“They’ll be hosting movie nights, supporting the school’s new Gay-Straight Alliance,and holding student forums for younger grades,” said Mrs. Mastroianni. “They’ll also be getting out into the community as part of the Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership in Falmouth.”

Clearly, Mrs. Mastroianni is a resource that both students and parents are happy to have at FA. Ω

Mrs. Mastroianni

Should I go to away games? What constitutes “jeans”? Why do you go to Marconi Beach? Is it really okay for our kids to call their teachers???

A parent panel, led by Maribeth Wadman P ‘13, ‘09 in early September, helped allay the mysteries of Falmouth Academy culture for new parents to the school. The best advice? Don’t worry so much!

Charlie Van Voorhis P ’10, ‘11, ‘16, ‘17 said, “Falmouth Academy is such a wonderful, nurturing and enriching school, there’s no need to worry. But do have your child show you his plan book!”

One new parent wondered whether the “Homework Honeymoon” would be over soon, and our experienced par-ents told the audience that FA teachers do a good job of balancing assignments. They added that it really is okay for the kids to call when they have questions. In fact, the teachers expect it and even assign making a phone call as part of 7th grade homework.

Nancy Tutko P ‘15, ‘17 said she really liked how FA strongly encourages all kids to participate in a sport, regard-less of skill level. “It was empowering, challenging and rewarding for my son. I saw his engagement as a big part of his growing process.”

Letting your kids feel their way is a part of growing up. Betty Jane Manos P ‘15 and ‘17, said, “My daughter is coming into herself. She was a different child by the end of her first year.”

“The connections my daughters have with faculty is off the charts,” said Tom DeMello P ‘15 and ‘17. “I see the full value of Falmouth Academy in those relationships.”

Students may not remember to tell their parents everything going on at FA!

Parent advice was to keep track of events – even class-specific 12

Parent-to-parent guide to Falmouth Academy

Katie Hollander, Ben Feldott, and Maribeth Wad-man listen as Charlie Van Voorhis describes to new FA parents his family’s experience with the school.

ones – on the calendar. The most up-to-date one is on the FA Web site. For example, one parent said, “I’m so glad I came to Declamation Day. It turned out to be one of the most important days of my son’s life.”

Thank you so much to the par-ents who participated in the panel – Sarah Rogalewski, Gina Camarra, Ben Feldott, Katie Hollander, Charlie Van Voorhis, Maribeth Wadman – and to all who attended! Ω

News of note:

Dr. Petra Ehren-brink was awarded a grant to decorate the Falmouth Public Library for National German Week. The grant came from the Deutsch an Schulen committee of the American Asso-ciation of Teachers of German. It is part of a program to support teachers in advocat-ing for and maintain-ing German language programs.[at right] Prof. Einstein welcomes students to German Week at the Bruce & Patrice Buxton Library at FA.

13

Marite Burns is one of seven FA faculty members who received a grant from the Senior Parents Gift Fund for Faculty Development, funded by the parents of the class of 2011. “I went to Latvia to study ceramics,” FA’s ceramics teacher said. “I am Latvian and inter-ested in pottery, and since I can speak the language, it was the perfect place for me to learn new techniques and styles.”

Ms. Burns went to southern Latvia, to the Latgale province. “They have a very distinctive style, with swirly, snake-like handles and fluted edges,” she explained. “The clay is dug about 30 minutes from the Rebeka Keramika, where I spent a week making pots alongside the workers in the factory. One man is responsible for mixing the clay (two parts white to one part red) in huge vats. While they have four potters wheels, it’s hard to make a living on thrown pottery because it takes so much time. So about half of what they make is made in molds: plates, bowls, platters.

“Many Latvians still worship the old gods and goddesses so you’ll find symbols of these deities on the pottery. Mara, for instance, the goddess of the hearth, is known by a snake symbol and also by the crossed logs of a fireplace. And they tend to use earth colors, browns and mossy greens, in many of their pieces.

“I plan to tell my students here about the Latvian style, different from what they may be used to seeing, and we’ll try making those distinctive handles and designs.”

Julie Swanbeck also received an SPGF grant. “I did three things with my grant,” she said. “One was a three-day workshop at Harvard on using tech-

nology to teach history. Another was a one-day workshop on primary sources. And I am training myself on Google SketchUp, a design program that I plan to use in my geometry classes.”

Mrs. Swanbeck said the technol-ogy workshop was eye-opening and jam-packed with information. “It was wonderful to see the ways other teach-ers are employing technology in their classrooms, some of which has great ap-plication for Falmouth Academy. The workshop was a whirlwind tour through a ton of software but I managed to latch on to several interesting programs.”

She said one of the most useful pro-grams is LiveBinders, which allows her to organize and store her own on-line research, complete with links. “Today, for instance, I may use a virtual James-town program in my class. The British Museum is starting to digitize books, like Lewis Carroll’s original Alice in Wonderland, with the original illustra-

tions, Elizabeth Black-well’s nature journals, and medieval illuminated texts. When you see the wealth of materials out there, I want to be able to use them! I also want my students to become familiar with on-line presentation tools.”

The workshops also gave Mrs. Swanbeck visions for the

future at FA. “Some aspects of Sketch-Up require a big, fully wired classroom, for instance if I wanted to challenge the students to design a building in three dimensions. That’s something for the future!” In the meantime, her students will benefit from all she learned through her grant from the Senior Parents Gift Fund.

[Watch for articles on other faculty grants in future issues of the GAM.]

Faculty learn through grants fromSenior Parents Gift Fund

Latvian candlestick

Alumni CAlendAr of events

• November 25 Alumni vs. Varsity Soccer Game

(Rain or Shine!), 1:00 p.m., Class of 2006 (Girls) Field• November 28 Alumni Council Development conference call, 7:30 p.m.• November 30 Alumni Council Outreach call, 7:30 p.m.• December 16 12 Days of Christmas at All-School

Meeting, 10:15 a.m.• January 6 * Alumni College & Career Net-

working Day, 9:00 a.m.* Alumni Panel: The Write Stuff – Good writing pays off, Pd. IV* Alumni/Varsity Basketball Games

(boys and girls), 4:30/5:30 p.m.• January 7 Alumni Council Meeting,

10:00 a.m.

SAVE THESE DATES…• April 28FA Beer Tasting Fundraiser• June 8 Alumni Anniversary Celebration

❄ Kick off the Holiday Season at the Alumni

Soccer GameWork off your Thanksgiving din-ner with a soccer game on Friday, November 25 at 1:00 p.m., rain or shine. Play with your former teammates against current varsity players on the Class of 2006 (Girls) Field. There will also be a tailgate cookout.

Come to play or come to watch and visit with FA friends! Please register to play by contacting Alumni Director Barbara Campbell, alumni@falmouthacademy.org.

Alumni News

Alumni Day Panel Features Alumni Writers ✍

You are invited to attend and/or participate in the alumni panel pre-sentation at Falmouth Academy on Friday, January 6 at 10:45 a.m. (Pe-riod IV) in the performance space. The panel, part of Alumni College & Career Networking Day, is called “The Write Stuff: Writing Pays Off.” It will feature alumni discussing how they use writing in their jobs, from those who write for a living to others whose good writing skills have advanced them in careers from law to business to science.

If you are interested in partici-pating in this panel, or if you would simply like to come and listen, please register with Barbara Campbell, alumni@falmouthacademy.org. For the sound and action of this

year’s All-School Trip to Marconi Beach, see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya5ZEuzoTjU14

15

Alumni Newsing but rewarding week working with Lancaster Habitat for Humanity in F&M’s PIT program. We painted at the local Hispanic Center and helped build the roof supports for a low-income housing project about ten minutes from campus. I am happy to talk to FA students about Franklin and Marshall!”

Congratulations to the Raul-ersons! Ellie (Raulerson) Sayre ‘98 [above] gave birth to son Arthur and supervised two undergraduate re-search students at Wabash College last spring. She and her family moved to Manhattan, KS, where she started a tenure-track position in the University of Kansas Physics Department. “My daughter, Lea (5), is excited, the cats are apprehensive, and my husband, Matt, is optimistic,” said Ellie.

Meanwhile, Perry Raulerson ’01 and his wife Kristen welcomed Em-ily Anne on April 14. Perry [right] is a ci-vilian shift test nuclear engi-neer at Ports-mouth Naval Shipyard.

More news of Alumni Babies…

Joseph Isaiah Hiller, was born August 3, 2011 to Aaron and Nell

(Ament ’00) Hiller.Yuki Honjo ’90 and her husband

Jason Cullinane welcomed daughter Niamh Akemi Honjo Cullinane, on September 18, 2011.

Congratulations to all the new parents!

We also send best wishes to Tobi Szuts ‘97 and his new bride, Marie. They were married August 20, 2011 in Sonoma and then honeymooned in

Paris and Germany, where they saw brother Zoli ‘97 in Ham-burg. Marie is a software education consul-

tant and Tobi just received his Ph.D. in biophysics from Harvard.

Elijah Switzer ‘10 [at right below]plays for the University of Iowa club lacrosse team, which had a Big 10 tournament at University of Wisconsin in October. FA classmate and fellow lacrosse player Alex Desnoyers ‘10 [at left in photo], who attends Wisconsin, met Elijah at the game and watched. Afterward Dezi hosted Elijah for some Wisconsin fun. [Our thanks to Mr. Brian Switzer for the photo and news.]

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Sailing to Halfway Rock off the coast of Maine this summer were 1994 classmates Phill Arnold, Rob Meharg and Rusty Foster [left to right above]. Rob and Rusty are now neighbors in the Peaks Island, ME community. Rusty said, “Rob is learning to clap, which has left Phill nonplussed … and I am fully plussed.”

Sarah Meharg ’97 began an MSW program at the National Catholic

School of Social Service at Catho-lic University in Washington, DC, and is loving it! “I hope all is well at FA!”

Andy Kingman ’00 graduated cum laude from Suf-folk Law School, took the bar exam in July, and began working at the Boston office of Goodwin Procter,

alongside David Hobbie ’86. (Ben Baum ’99 also worked at Goodwin Procter before joining Tufts University as an admissions officer.) “I’m always happy to talk to any FA grads who are thinking about law school,” Andy said.

Nate Haycock ’11 wrote about his first experiences at Franklin and Marshall: “I just finished an exhaust-