The Grinch: An Academy Tradition - Harrisburg Academy
- The Grinch: An Academy Tradition:
It was my first year at this school and the last period before winter break. The entire Academy community gathered for a holiday assembly - a great tradition. According to Mr. Stewart, we have all gathered together before winter break for over thirty years. I remember several parts of the 2001 assembly, which included Mr. Gonzales, Mr. Stewart, and Greg Stewart '02 playing holiday tunes on saxophones as we walked into Louis Lehrman Gymnasium and a sing-along led by Mr. Gutwein and Lower School students. There were also performances from Middle and Upper school ensembles. But the highlight of that assembly (and every year's assembly, since it began in the late 80s) was the senior- class-performance of the Dr. Seuss classic, "The Grinch". It's an Academy tradition that I hope continues ad infinitum.
When "The Grinch" is performed each year, many things remain the same. The Lower School students listen closely, gathering near the action of the story that many already know from the book or TV special. The Middle School students think about the first time they watched the seniors perform, and the Upper School students are thinking about how to cast the parts in their own senior productions. The faculty enjoy finally finding out which seniors are playing each role. We also enjoy remembering and reflecting on past performances. That's what makes any tradition valuable, we are able to link the past to today.
Mr. Bowie, who has been at the Academy for 29 years, and seen equally as many "The Grinch" performances, said, "Of course, some senior classes take this event more seriously than others, but the results are always the same…Holiday belly laughs and a wonderful way to start our winter break!" The most memorable moments from the performances that I've seen: Max Woolfe '08 as the Grinch, countless boys already named Max as Max, the dog, and of course, Ben Smith '03 as Cindy Lou Who.
Like previous years, I can't wait to hear the seniors singing, "Fahoo fores dahoo dores" while dressed in pajamas and holding hands at this year's assembly. I hope you feel the same joy this holiday season.
For more information, please visit our website [http://harrisburgacademy.com/the-grinch-an-academy-tradition/].
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The Maker Faire: Marshmallow Shooters and Other Shenanigans - Harrisburg Academy
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- The Maker Faire: Marshmallow Shooters and Other Shenanigans:
I love it when an event lives up to the hype. This was definitely the case at the International Maker Faire this past weekend in Queens, New York. I was so pleased to be among a group of 46 Academy students and parents who attended the Faire, which did not disappoint.
One of the things that impressed me most was the variety - and I'm not even referring to the amazing food vendors! Our Lower School participants experienced hands-on exhibits that showed the basic elements of woodworking, lock picking (as a sport…not a criminal activity), and soldering. Middle and Upper School students could feed their established loves of science, art, engineering, design, and building through hundreds of vendors, exhibits, and live demonstrations.
The one activity that, to me, summed up the spirit of the Maker Faire was the marshmallow shooters. I've been to local fairs where marshmallow shooters are sold preassembled, but at the Maker Faire, they are purchased unassembled with a set of simple instructions. In addition, individual parts are sold to encourage kids to improve on the original design and put their own stamp on their shooter. Each student took those raw materials and put part of themselves into the project to make it their own.
There were so many activities to choose from, and everyone had a favorite part of the Maker Faire:
"I thought the Diet Coke and Mentos was too cool to be true. I also thought the mouse trap was cool. And I can't wait to shoot my new marshmallow shooter!"
"We were inspired to create anything! As we left, my son announced that he had to add to what he wants to be when he grows up: author, doctor, and now inventor and scientist!"
"I can't believe how much stuff there was! It was the coolest thing I have ever done."
"I enjoyed the time with my daughter and the chance to see what truly interests her. It was an educational experience that would be difficult to replicate."
And during our bus ride home, I kept hearing "we've got to go back next year!" I hope that we can continue to encourage the builder/inventor/creator/tinkerer/scientist in all of our students. Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip a success!
For more information, please visit our website [http://harrisburgacademy.com/the-maker-faire-marshmallow-shooters-and-other-shenanigans/].
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It was my first year at this school and the last period before winter break. The entire Academy community gathered for a holiday assembly - a great tradition. According to Mr. Stewart, we have all gathered together before winter break for over thirty years. I remember several parts of the 2001 assembly, which included Mr. Gonzales, Mr. Stewart, and Greg Stewart '02 playing holiday tunes on saxophones as we walked into Louis Lehrman Gymnasium and a sing-along led by Mr. Gutwein and Lower School students. There were also performances from Middle and Upper school ensembles. But the highlight of that assembly (and every year's assembly, since it began in the late 80s) was the senior- class-performance of the Dr. Seuss classic, "The Grinch". It's an Academy tradition that I hope continues ad infinitum.
When "The Grinch" is performed each year, many things remain the same. The Lower School students listen closely, gathering near the action of the story that many already know from the book or TV special. The Middle School students think about the first time they watched the seniors perform, and the Upper School students are thinking about how to cast the parts in their own senior productions. The faculty enjoy finally finding out which seniors are playing each role. We also enjoy remembering and reflecting on past performances. That's what makes any tradition valuable, we are able to link the past to today.
Mr. Bowie, who has been at the Academy for 29 years, and seen equally as many "The Grinch" performances, said, "Of course, some senior classes take this event more seriously than others, but the results are always the same…Holiday belly laughs and a wonderful way to start our winter break!" The most memorable moments from the performances that I've seen: Max Woolfe '08 as the Grinch, countless boys already named Max as Max, the dog, and of course, Ben Smith '03 as Cindy Lou Who.
Like previous years, I can't wait to hear the seniors singing, "Fahoo fores dahoo dores" while dressed in pajamas and holding hands at this year's assembly. I hope you feel the same joy this holiday season.
For more information, please visit our website [http://harrisburgacademy.com/the-grinch-an-academy-tradition/].
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The Maker Faire: Marshmallow Shooters and Other Shenanigans - Harrisburg Academy
===================================================================
- The Maker Faire: Marshmallow Shooters and Other Shenanigans:
I love it when an event lives up to the hype. This was definitely the case at the International Maker Faire this past weekend in Queens, New York. I was so pleased to be among a group of 46 Academy students and parents who attended the Faire, which did not disappoint.
One of the things that impressed me most was the variety - and I'm not even referring to the amazing food vendors! Our Lower School participants experienced hands-on exhibits that showed the basic elements of woodworking, lock picking (as a sport…not a criminal activity), and soldering. Middle and Upper School students could feed their established loves of science, art, engineering, design, and building through hundreds of vendors, exhibits, and live demonstrations.
The one activity that, to me, summed up the spirit of the Maker Faire was the marshmallow shooters. I've been to local fairs where marshmallow shooters are sold preassembled, but at the Maker Faire, they are purchased unassembled with a set of simple instructions. In addition, individual parts are sold to encourage kids to improve on the original design and put their own stamp on their shooter. Each student took those raw materials and put part of themselves into the project to make it their own.
There were so many activities to choose from, and everyone had a favorite part of the Maker Faire:
"I thought the Diet Coke and Mentos was too cool to be true. I also thought the mouse trap was cool. And I can't wait to shoot my new marshmallow shooter!"
"We were inspired to create anything! As we left, my son announced that he had to add to what he wants to be when he grows up: author, doctor, and now inventor and scientist!"
"I can't believe how much stuff there was! It was the coolest thing I have ever done."
"I enjoyed the time with my daughter and the chance to see what truly interests her. It was an educational experience that would be difficult to replicate."
And during our bus ride home, I kept hearing "we've got to go back next year!" I hope that we can continue to encourage the builder/inventor/creator/tinkerer/scientist in all of our students. Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip a success!
For more information, please visit our website [http://harrisburgacademy.com/the-maker-faire-marshmallow-shooters-and-other-shenanigans/].
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