I complained about the heat, having 11:30 lights-out, the
early mornings, the repetitive breakfast food, and having homework during the
summer. I miss my bed, home cooked food, and sleeping in.
But this was the best summer that I’ve ever experienced. What was I complaining
about? At ASP I’ve discovered what I want to do with my future, and totally
redirected what I want I want to major in at college. I’ve enhanced my college
application with a new set of college essay writing skills. I’ve made new
friends; friends that I spent time with from first thing in the morning until
the last thing at night. These are the people that we’ve learned, played, ate,
laughed and cried with. It’s been a short five weeks, probably the quickest of
my life. I’m sad to leave the ASP because I know that I can’t come back. Sure
there’s alumni day, but when will we walk to chapel from the hockey center in
the morning, sit in class, play a game of ultimate Frisbee and swim at the
docks all in one day again? I don’t want anything to change from what it is
right now because I’m going to miss almost every part of it. I’ll miss the
gorgeous buildings and grounds filled with squirrels, brick buildings and
construction. I’ll miss my loving dorm mates who are always smiling and
comforting. I’ll miss my house supervisor who gives me a big hug every time I
see her. I’ll miss the fantastic interns who have great advice and know how to
have a good time. I’ll miss swimming at the docks, sweating more than ever at the
dances, and chapel. I’m definitely going to miss the closeness of the mass
media family, and loving every moment of the ASP experience in its entirety.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
A Bittersweet Ending
BY HALLEY ROGERS
Four years ago, I sat in the very last row of the Memorial Hall watching Friday Night Live. I was so impressed by how many skits the Mass Media class had produced and by the overall flow of the movie. As an amateur film maker who had just picked up a camera a few months earlier, I had been experimenting with it. I would spend hours playing with Windows Movie Maker editing the footage I had collected. Seeing how hard it was to put a film together; from putting the script together to finding interesting angles and then putting it altogether to music and other audio, I respected the Mass Media students for all their work. I wanted my movies to be as well done as the Mass Media students'. Sitting there watching, I couldn't wait for the day that I would be one of the students sitting in the front row watching all of my work I had done for the past five weeks on the big screen.
When that day finally came, it was different than I had expected it would be. Sitting there in the front row with the screen towering over me, I was a little overwhelmed. As each skit would play, I noticed that I was focusing less on what was happening in front of me. Instead, seeing the bus finale brought me back to frantically trying to teach everyone the moves and trying to get the clips to match up with the audio. It was a whole new experience for me watching my own work instead of just being an observer. I was reminded of all the hard work my classmates and I had put into Friday Night Live. I found that watching Friday Night Live was bittersweet. I was so happy with all the work we had all done, but I was having a hard time grasping that ASP was coming to a close.
Four years ago, I couldn't have anticipated tearing up during the introductions. I didn't have any idea how much I was going to miss my classmates and the bonds we had formed. I would just like to thank all the Mass Media students, as well as JB and Meagan, for making this such a wonderful experience.
Four years ago, I sat in the very last row of the Memorial Hall watching Friday Night Live. I was so impressed by how many skits the Mass Media class had produced and by the overall flow of the movie. As an amateur film maker who had just picked up a camera a few months earlier, I had been experimenting with it. I would spend hours playing with Windows Movie Maker editing the footage I had collected. Seeing how hard it was to put a film together; from putting the script together to finding interesting angles and then putting it altogether to music and other audio, I respected the Mass Media students for all their work. I wanted my movies to be as well done as the Mass Media students'. Sitting there watching, I couldn't wait for the day that I would be one of the students sitting in the front row watching all of my work I had done for the past five weeks on the big screen.
When that day finally came, it was different than I had expected it would be. Sitting there in the front row with the screen towering over me, I was a little overwhelmed. As each skit would play, I noticed that I was focusing less on what was happening in front of me. Instead, seeing the bus finale brought me back to frantically trying to teach everyone the moves and trying to get the clips to match up with the audio. It was a whole new experience for me watching my own work instead of just being an observer. I was reminded of all the hard work my classmates and I had put into Friday Night Live. I found that watching Friday Night Live was bittersweet. I was so happy with all the work we had all done, but I was having a hard time grasping that ASP was coming to a close.
Four years ago, I couldn't have anticipated tearing up during the introductions. I didn't have any idea how much I was going to miss my classmates and the bonds we had formed. I would just like to thank all the Mass Media students, as well as JB and Meagan, for making this such a wonderful experience.
What ASP Means to Me
BY ERIN RAMIREZ
I stepped out of my
car, and walked straight to my assigned house. After eight months of waiting the moment had finally
come. I had only heard stories of
ASP so, based off of other peoples’ experiences, I wasn’t entirely sure what to
expect. As I looked at the large
brick building in front of me, little did I know that that place would change
my entire life. After five weeks,
the stories that I had heard before I started ASP had come true. I had been challenged beyond my limits
and the friendships that I made were irreplaceable. The students, faculty, and campus that surrounded me, were
like no other I had encountered before.
Those in my class, enthusiastic, funny, cheerful, and brilliant, helped
me strive for my potential in all aspects. We had pushed each other in class discussions, group
projects, and outside study hour sessions. We had become a family and I had learned to love those
people as my family. We all had
our differences, but yet we had one common similarity, the desire to
learn. We came up with numerous
nicknames and jokes that were unique to our class and will remain with us
forever. Although it was only five
weeks, I felt as if I had known these people from birth. ASP has given all of us something that
no other place could have, a unique community that we all cherish and will
remember forever.
Why You Should Go to ASP
BY DREW SWEDBERG
It’s hilarious how chance can make you appreciate everything
so much more. It was by chance
that I attended this program, but now looking back I cannot imagine what my
summer would have been like if I had not been here. It was by pure dumb luck that I was here in the first place,
but that luck, whether it was part of my destiny or not, brought me to this
beautiful place where I made more friends in five weeks than I have in my six
years of high school. What would
have happened if I hadn’t decided that the meeting was better than the class I
was sitting in on? What if I had
been in the middle of a test instead of listening to a lecture? What if I had lost the letter instead of
picking it up a week before the first part of the application was due? What if I had listened to my friends
instead of my heart? Quite simply,
I wouldn’t be where I am today; I wouldn’t be confident in the major I want to
go into, and I wouldn’t be leaving this place with no regrets and with so many
new and incredible friends.
Let’s
quickly discuss the reasons for going to a nerd camp. First off, I believe you may want to change your definition
of nerd if you are to call it this.
The nerds here are capable of running two miles in under twelve minutes,
dancing in a crowded and sweaty place, and singing to their heart’s content in
front of hundreds at a talent show.
The people here are not your stereotypical nerds; they are people just
like the rest of us that all have one thing in common: dedication. The students here aren’t here to have
fun, although time and time again they find themselves doing just that. They are here to get ahead using St.
Paul’s prestigious advanced studies program that takes the best and brightest
from New Hampshire. I guess it
just so happens that the best and brightest aren’t just nerds.
Opportunities
like this do not come up every day in a typical high school setting, and so I
must advise you to take advantage of the hard work you put in to be part of the
elite in your school, and attend this program. For those of us who have attended, there aren’t any regrets
being left behind. Perhaps you
left your friends behind to go away for five weeks, and perhaps it was even
against their ideas, but just realize that as you go home to the people who
miss you, you leave behind a great deal of friends who are missing you and the
place you left.
Mass Media's Unforgettable Impact
BY GRACE PUKSTA
Filled with an array of diverse students, one crazy blonde intern, and a teacher who’s always stylin’ in colored pants and Converse – ASP’s Mass Media class was ready to break new bounds with their intellect and thrive for creativity. With every project and class discussion the students exploded with enthusiasm and vivacity.
After every project the class gathered to watch and critique one another’s works. Everyone would laugh and make jokes, but come away with new knowledge and ideas for the next project. Some assignments had the whole class involved, (newspaper, Friday Night Live) and students were forced to work together as a large group. But this was not a problem for these Mass Media personnel. They took it as a challenge, and set off with late nights in the study room and early morning interviews. Each student did their part while the rest of the school watched in admiration.
Mass Media students were the talk of the school. With chapel announcements every other day about upcoming articles, podcasts, Twitter feeds… etc – the rest of the ASPers were well aware of the St. Paul’s news. The media kids were seen running around with cameras and voice recorders, coaxing other students to join in their madness and participate in videos, and dancing through public buildings in full custom. These are only a few of the adventures the class participated in.
Mass Media had a huge impact on every ASP students’ experience. They will be remembered as social, outgoing, active, adventurous, hard working, dedicated, creative, and the journalists of St. Paul’s. Mass Media kids won’t be forgotten, and their work will carry on as a template of excellence for the classes to come.
Filled with an array of diverse students, one crazy blonde intern, and a teacher who’s always stylin’ in colored pants and Converse – ASP’s Mass Media class was ready to break new bounds with their intellect and thrive for creativity. With every project and class discussion the students exploded with enthusiasm and vivacity.
After every project the class gathered to watch and critique one another’s works. Everyone would laugh and make jokes, but come away with new knowledge and ideas for the next project. Some assignments had the whole class involved, (newspaper, Friday Night Live) and students were forced to work together as a large group. But this was not a problem for these Mass Media personnel. They took it as a challenge, and set off with late nights in the study room and early morning interviews. Each student did their part while the rest of the school watched in admiration.
Mass Media students were the talk of the school. With chapel announcements every other day about upcoming articles, podcasts, Twitter feeds… etc – the rest of the ASPers were well aware of the St. Paul’s news. The media kids were seen running around with cameras and voice recorders, coaxing other students to join in their madness and participate in videos, and dancing through public buildings in full custom. These are only a few of the adventures the class participated in.
Mass Media had a huge impact on every ASP students’ experience. They will be remembered as social, outgoing, active, adventurous, hard working, dedicated, creative, and the journalists of St. Paul’s. Mass Media kids won’t be forgotten, and their work will carry on as a template of excellence for the classes to come.
24 Hours
BY MADI CLEMENT
It’s funny to think that in just over 24 hours we will all be heading home. We will go our separate ways; our respective parts of New Hampshire will welcome us home. But a piece of us will always be left here. The summer of 2012 will always belong to our time at ASP. It’s been five weeks, five amazing weeks, five weeks I will never forget. I have met 22 amazing classmates, 24 amazing girls from my house, 1 house supervisor and 3 sassy interns. Aside from the in-class and in-dorm experience, I have met and made so many good friends.
I feel like I have known everybody here for so much longer than the five weeks we’ve been here. And everyone I have met here has helped me grow as a person. I will never forget the people here. The classes and the friendly faces have been exactly what I needed this summer. I have learned so much about, not only myself, but media, and even about specific people, and people as a whole. Honestly I will miss everything here so much.
And so I have decided to make a list of 24 things I have discovered at ASP.
1. First impressions are often wrong
2. People can change
3. Five weeks sounds like a long time, but it goes by so, so quickly
4. Friends will always be there when you need them
5. Being “cool” is overrated
6. The days go on forever, but the weeks fly by
7. Living in a house with 25 girls you will never be alone
8. It is okay to cry
9. The trek to Turkey Pond is so worth it
10. I am a huge over packer
11. Twitter is cool, not “cool”, but actually cool.
12. Going all out at the triangle of fun #bestthingever
13. The news is what people say it is
14. ASP is summer school on steroids
15. You don’t have to be a good singer to have fun singing
16. If you start singing Don’t Stop Believin’, people will join in
17. You can make instant friends
18. Sleeping on the third floor requires many fans
19. PlayFair is unexplainable
20. We will never own enough freeze pops
21. Being around people everyday
22. I will miss the Mac n’ cheese here
23. I will keep in touch with the people here
24. You’ll find us chasing the sun
So thank you ASP for making me a better person, and giving me the best summer of my life. As much as I will miss it, ASP will always have a special place in my heart. Goodbye ASP, I will never forget you.
The Memories Live on Forever
BY SAI SHYAMSUNDAR
I left my house around 3:00 pm and entered the St. Paul’s campus. I was amazed to see the many pine and oak trees that surrounded the campus. My dorm was large and my room was located on the first floor. The first night service began and Katie Solter, the Chaplain at the Advanced Studies Program, mentioned the word “courage”. As I did not understand it at first, I believe that I have come show this in a pomp manner.
Classes began the day after and I got introduced to John Bouton, our master teacher, and Meagan Shamberger, our intern in Mass Media. We received four books on the first day with lengthy materials. We were expected to read each book and understand it. The main focus of each book is how media has changed from the past to the 21st century. After a long course introduction, we followed it by icebreakers. We learned each others names and schools and I was in a room full of nice and smart people. Everyone was equal here and we all came here with a purpose. After few hours, we headed to Writing Workshop where my teacher, Gregory Lawless, told us the purpose of this workshop and how it sure to help us in the future. I was surprised to hear that a three page essay on a person who has impacted us was due the next class. I felt that it was going to be a tedious summer!
Several days after classes started, we began sports. My first session sport was Squash and it was truly amazing. Even though I’ve played Squash before it was an enjoyable experience that I loved. My second session was Tennis and it was the sport I never got a chance to play at home. After it started, I found it was harder than I thought. Match after match, I was no match for other players. However, by the end of the sport, I have improved. I was able to score points and was even win games called “Rip your face off” and “King of the Court.”
Chapel was a great way for me to get in touch with my spiritual life. By going to morning Chapel, I was able to stay calm with my mind and body and pray for the goodness of the people all around me. ASP is a spiritual place and has helped me understand how al the religions are intertwined.
Mass Media covered a variety of things this summer like podcasts, newspapers, advertisments, music videos, radio shows, and even blog entries. But our final project was Friday Night Live. We were in charge of three skits and stressed teamwork in high pressure level situations. After a week of intense work filming and editing our work finally paid off. FNL was a huge success and I was so happy of the way it turned out. We received a standing ovation, and we were proud of ourselves.
ASP is an amazing experience that taught me a valuable experience. From the triangle of fun to classes, I will miss it all. As I am about to leave, I will always remember these fondest memories with life long friends that I will always cherish for life. ASP will always be a place I can call HOME!
I left my house around 3:00 pm and entered the St. Paul’s campus. I was amazed to see the many pine and oak trees that surrounded the campus. My dorm was large and my room was located on the first floor. The first night service began and Katie Solter, the Chaplain at the Advanced Studies Program, mentioned the word “courage”. As I did not understand it at first, I believe that I have come show this in a pomp manner.
Classes began the day after and I got introduced to John Bouton, our master teacher, and Meagan Shamberger, our intern in Mass Media. We received four books on the first day with lengthy materials. We were expected to read each book and understand it. The main focus of each book is how media has changed from the past to the 21st century. After a long course introduction, we followed it by icebreakers. We learned each others names and schools and I was in a room full of nice and smart people. Everyone was equal here and we all came here with a purpose. After few hours, we headed to Writing Workshop where my teacher, Gregory Lawless, told us the purpose of this workshop and how it sure to help us in the future. I was surprised to hear that a three page essay on a person who has impacted us was due the next class. I felt that it was going to be a tedious summer!
Several days after classes started, we began sports. My first session sport was Squash and it was truly amazing. Even though I’ve played Squash before it was an enjoyable experience that I loved. My second session was Tennis and it was the sport I never got a chance to play at home. After it started, I found it was harder than I thought. Match after match, I was no match for other players. However, by the end of the sport, I have improved. I was able to score points and was even win games called “Rip your face off” and “King of the Court.”
Chapel was a great way for me to get in touch with my spiritual life. By going to morning Chapel, I was able to stay calm with my mind and body and pray for the goodness of the people all around me. ASP is a spiritual place and has helped me understand how al the religions are intertwined.
Mass Media covered a variety of things this summer like podcasts, newspapers, advertisments, music videos, radio shows, and even blog entries. But our final project was Friday Night Live. We were in charge of three skits and stressed teamwork in high pressure level situations. After a week of intense work filming and editing our work finally paid off. FNL was a huge success and I was so happy of the way it turned out. We received a standing ovation, and we were proud of ourselves.
ASP is an amazing experience that taught me a valuable experience. From the triangle of fun to classes, I will miss it all. As I am about to leave, I will always remember these fondest memories with life long friends that I will always cherish for life. ASP will always be a place I can call HOME!
Not Completely Changed, Just Better
BY ELIZA CONRAD
If you have never been to ASP, you are probably wondering why I would choose to spend over a month of my summer vacation doing school work. At first, I couldn’t explain why. I mean, it would look good on my college application and I was really interested in the course that I got into. Right before ASP began; I started to get cold feet, wondering if I made the right choice.
Well, I would have to say that this has been the best summer of my life. I am not trying to be cliché, but ASP is literally magical. No matter how sleep deprived you are, you can still get your homework done before crashing. Somehow, the hockey center never runs out of cantaloupe ever. Even though there are four chapel services a week for five weeks, they never get boring. At ASP, everyone is here because we are driven students who care about our future. This lets us form unique bonds of friendship that will stand the test of time.
I can be myself at ASP and so can everyone else. We all support each other. There is always someone who will help you with homework, make you laugh, or wake you up if you are about to sleep through your sport. ASP has given me the opportunity to learn from the most amazing teachers, interns, and students. Each day, I take in all that those around me have to offer. I constantly ask my house supervisor and interns about college, try to participate in class discussion, and listen to my classmates because their experiences can be learning opportunities for me, too.
I never imagined that ASP would have such an impact on my life. I haven’t changed in a dramatic way. My friends back home will still recognize me and hear my hysterical commentary they are used to. I will feel different, though. I will have so much more knowledge about the media, writing skills, confidence, and family to miss. ASP is my home, Mass Media and the Ford House is my family. They will always hold a special place in my heart. I could never imagine what my summer, senior year, or future would look like without having the ASP experience.
Classes, Friends, and Fun
BY CHERIDAN CHRISTNACHT
Would I learn anything? Would I make friends? Would I have fun? These were the questions I couldn't stop worrying about during the weeks leading up to ASP. Sitting here, five and a half weeks later, I can confidently say that the answer to all of those questions is yes.
Did I learn anything? Of course, I have learned so much this summer! It's hard not to when you sit in a classroom for four hours, six days a week, with students just as motivated to learn as you. I came into Mass Media not really knowing what to expect and hardly knowing anything about journalism. I am now leaving this class having created articles, blog entries, videos, a podcast, a music video, and a final Friday Night Live episode.
Did I make friends? Absolutely, I have made so many lifelong friends here that I am going to miss like crazy. I feel like I have made more friends here in the past five weeks than I have in the past five years. I love how open and accepting everyone is here which makes it so easy to form relationships. Leaving all of my new friends is going to be the hardest part about going home. I only hope that I am able to keep in contact with the people I have met here once I leave.
Did I have fun? I don't even know why I had a doubt about this to begin with. This has probably been one of the most fun summers I have ever had. Dorm bonding, serenades, feeds, the triangle of fun, study hours in the library, Frisbee, exploring, tennis, glow sticks, writing workshop, movie nights, radio shows, the docks, sauce, random filming, and glitter are just a few of the things that made this summer so unforgettable. Thank you ASP!
Would I learn anything? Would I make friends? Would I have fun? These were the questions I couldn't stop worrying about during the weeks leading up to ASP. Sitting here, five and a half weeks later, I can confidently say that the answer to all of those questions is yes.
Did I learn anything? Of course, I have learned so much this summer! It's hard not to when you sit in a classroom for four hours, six days a week, with students just as motivated to learn as you. I came into Mass Media not really knowing what to expect and hardly knowing anything about journalism. I am now leaving this class having created articles, blog entries, videos, a podcast, a music video, and a final Friday Night Live episode.
Did I make friends? Absolutely, I have made so many lifelong friends here that I am going to miss like crazy. I feel like I have made more friends here in the past five weeks than I have in the past five years. I love how open and accepting everyone is here which makes it so easy to form relationships. Leaving all of my new friends is going to be the hardest part about going home. I only hope that I am able to keep in contact with the people I have met here once I leave.
Did I have fun? I don't even know why I had a doubt about this to begin with. This has probably been one of the most fun summers I have ever had. Dorm bonding, serenades, feeds, the triangle of fun, study hours in the library, Frisbee, exploring, tennis, glow sticks, writing workshop, movie nights, radio shows, the docks, sauce, random filming, and glitter are just a few of the things that made this summer so unforgettable. Thank you ASP!
Who Wants to Spend Five Weeks of Summer in School
BY ALEX HEBERT
ASP was an awesome way to spend the summer. At first I was hesitant to come. Who wants to spend five weeks of the summer going to school? And with all the great things I was hearing about it, I thought there was no way it could possibly live up to the expectations. However, I was wrong; it exceeded them.
Mass Media was a ton of fun. I got to make puzzles for a newspaper, broadcast my voice over the airwaves on WSPS, and create some fun skits for Friday Night Live. I learned a ton of information about the new age of communications and took some awesome field trips to the Concord Monitor, NHPR, and WMUR. Even writing workshop was great; I learned how to write personally as opposed to academically and even got a headstart on my college essay.
This program provided me with invaluable resources throughout the summer. The college meeting was extremely helpful, as was the college fair. I got to play badminton and ultimate frisbee almost every day, something I do not get to do at home. Even Chapel was inclusive, funny, and entertaining. It was a great way to start the day with all my fellow ASPers.
It is amazing how the days can drag on forever here, yet the weeks fly by. After spending five weeks on the St. Paul’s campus, I am sad to leave. I can’t even imagine how normal school is going to be in the fall after the incredible experience I had here. All-in-all, it was the best summer of my life, a summer I am glad I did not miss because I wanted to sleep in.
ASP was an awesome way to spend the summer. At first I was hesitant to come. Who wants to spend five weeks of the summer going to school? And with all the great things I was hearing about it, I thought there was no way it could possibly live up to the expectations. However, I was wrong; it exceeded them.
Mass Media was a ton of fun. I got to make puzzles for a newspaper, broadcast my voice over the airwaves on WSPS, and create some fun skits for Friday Night Live. I learned a ton of information about the new age of communications and took some awesome field trips to the Concord Monitor, NHPR, and WMUR. Even writing workshop was great; I learned how to write personally as opposed to academically and even got a headstart on my college essay.
This program provided me with invaluable resources throughout the summer. The college meeting was extremely helpful, as was the college fair. I got to play badminton and ultimate frisbee almost every day, something I do not get to do at home. Even Chapel was inclusive, funny, and entertaining. It was a great way to start the day with all my fellow ASPers.
It is amazing how the days can drag on forever here, yet the weeks fly by. After spending five weeks on the St. Paul’s campus, I am sad to leave. I can’t even imagine how normal school is going to be in the fall after the incredible experience I had here. All-in-all, it was the best summer of my life, a summer I am glad I did not miss because I wanted to sleep in.
Closing Thoughts #iwillmissthis
BY ANDREW KERNS
The media is the new way to communicate in the 21st century. No longer are we worried about what we post in the newspaper to be seen locally or nationally, but we now have the capability of sending a few small sentences all across the world for all eyes to see. The media is amazing to see at work. Survival of the fittest is seen every day as the weaker media, that can’t connect to as many viewers and isn’t personalized, dies off and the new, stronger, and faster media makes its way onto center stage out of all the media. We see this with newspapers slowly diminishing each day and sites like Facebook and Twitter rising. People want fast and personalized in this century and th at is what the Internet is happily giving them.
I'm sorry to say that this is my last blog entry at ASP. It was a fun run with the Mass Media class of 2012, Meagan Shamberger, and John Bouton. This class has inspired me to be more connected to others through the Internet and updated and open to all forms of opinions on all topics.
I have one last thing to say to the ASP community: Stay classy ASP...Goodnight and Goodluck.
One Last Thing
BY BECCA COSTA
As ASP comes to a close, I catch myself looking back at how
I began this entire experience. Like everyone else, it started with an
application. I never expected to get in, and after being accepted, argued with
parents, guidance counselors and ASP 2011 friends that I was NOT going.
Five
weeks later, I have to say goodbye. I hate saying goodbye, and this is the most
dreaded goodbye I have ever had to say. Goodbye little dorm room on the third
floor that served its purpose. Goodbye Lindsay, Memorial Hall, AFC, School
House, Hockey Rink, Ford, Ohrstrom, Chapel and Newspace. Goodbye to the best
Saturdays nights of my life. Goodbye dining hall food. Goodbye Turkey Pond.
Goodbye late night studying and lines to use the printer. Goodbye room 21.
Goodbye Momma Cotton. Goodbye JB and Meagan, and thank you for being the best
mentors I could ever ask for. And goodbye to the boys and girls from Mass
Media, for being the best classmates and friends I could ever ask for. The
summer would not be the same without any of you. Thank you all for making this
summer the best summer of my life.
Stay Tuned!
BY SAI SHYAMSUNDAR
The students at the ASP face a rigorous
five-and-half week program, testing their knowledge in a variety of fields. But
this program is also a time for some enjoyment. A few students have enjoyed
their time here by singing, dancing, and performing which brought out the ASP
spirit of “courage” extolled by Chaplain Katie Solter at the Opening Night
Service.
For
Brendan Jones, an ASP student enrolled in Studio Arts, music has always been a
part of his life even as a kid. He used to watch Disney movies while his mother
sang around the house. He said, “When I was 7 or 8, my brother, Drew, got into
music and started playing guitar. And then I started listening to music. I was
fascinated by the idea that you could create music and sounds. When I was 12, I
started playing the guitar and drums on and off, and when I got to high school,
I joined chorus and band where I developed my musical skills some more.” Jones
has already performed for ASP students at Chapel, talent show, and on a WSPS
radio show. He also hopes to play at the next talent show.
Many
vocalists have also risen from the shadows and trained their voices. Breanna
Mochida, an Astronomy student at the ASP, was originally part of the ASP
singing group, which disbanded. According to Mochida, this was due to date and
time issues along with major courses, writing workshop, and sports. The entire
group felt it was not fair having rehearsals, which cut into other people’s
busy schedules like Astronomy and Ecology. Instead she has moved on to giving
solo performances and duet performances at the talent show.
Dancing
has also been popular among many people here at ASP. Students worked together with
their entire dorm and rehearsed a combination of singing and dancing for a
serenade. Students took the responsibility of learning all the songs and dance
steps in order to give an outstanding performance. For example, Justin
Daignault said, “I took up the responsibility of choreographer because I was
one of the few people in our dorm that had previous dance experience. My
interest in dancing originates from the notion that movement can create
emotions. I took dance first session and I learned a variety of new skill sets
that I can use at my disposal.”
Electric Shutdown Causes Confusion
BY ANDREW KERNS
Many students at St. Paul’s School (SPS) were confused when
they were unable to go into specific buildings on Thursday, July 12th.
The ability to go into such buildings as the library to study was unavailable,
forcing students to find other areas to do their work.
Students
either got the notice when they tried to enter the library or by the email from
faculty. They were warned that they needed to save any information on their
computers or electronic devices in case the power were to shut down in their
respective buildings. Many students didn’t need to flinch if they stayed in
their dormitories because the electricity provider only advised SPS to shut
down systems that use substantial electricity.
People were held out of these
buildings because there was a shut down in power for electricity and air
conditioning. St. Paul’s School participates in a
Demand Response Program run by the New England electric grid operator, ISO-New
England. They ask large commercial and industrial customers, who can, to voluntarily
shed some of their electric load for a few hours to do so to protect the grid
from automatically shutting down. St. Paul’s contributes to the program one or
two times a year.
Benjamin Jorgensen, Director of Facilities
Operations & Engineering at St. Paul’s, says, “We [preserve power]
at SPS two ways, either we switch most of our buildings over to standby
generators or we shut down non-critical large loads like central
air-conditioning… These events generally occur when temperatures in New England
are very high but can occasionally be triggered by a major power generating
plant going off line unexpectedly.” Air conditioning was lost in the
Lindsay Math and Science Center, Athletic and Fitness Center, Sheldon building,
and the library last Thursday.
Lindsay Houses First Set of Students
BY ALEX HEBERT
Opened in
November of 2011, the Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science houses ASP
classes this summer for the first time in history. Although a few classes are located in the Schoolhouse and
other buildings around campus, most courses for the summer are held in this
beautiful new facility.
Fortunately, it is one of the few buildings on campus with air
conditioning, so those in class there do not boil during school.
The Lindsay Center has 14 science labs, 21
classrooms, and 2 lounges/study rooms.
The building also features a large greenhouse, a solar observatory, and
a 70-pound Foucault pendulum suspended from a 60-foot wire. It was built to replace St. Paul’s
Payson Memorial Science Building, which had eight classrooms, three
laboratories, and one lecture room.
The Payson Building was torn down shortly after Lindsay’s construction
was complete.
According to the St. Paul’s School’s website
and the informational television found in the lobby, the Lindsay Center was
built with the environment in mind.
It uses 25% less energy than its conventional counterpart, the Forest
Stewardship Council certified all of the wood used in its construction as
sustainable, and over 90% of the debris created by its construction was
recycled. Even the floor is made
of composite materials.
With beautiful artifacts lining its hallways,
its “Science on a Sphere” room, and its incredible array of exit signs that
don’t lead to an exit, the Lindsay Center is a very intriguing building. However, one will notice that there is
nothing hanging from the walls in the Lindsay Center’s hallways. This is not simply because St. Paul’s
faculty believes students learn best when surrounded by white paint. According to Janene Hersey, a custodian
from Loudon who has been working at the Lindsay Center since it opened in
November, “It’s destructive to post things on the walls, which is why we have
designated the bulletin boards for it.
Tape is difficult to take off, and sometimes leaves pieces behind that
need to be taken off with a razor, which can scratch the surface of the wall or
glass.”
Students here at the ASP love having classes in
the Lindsay Center. Henry
Johnstone, a Psychology for Performance student from John Stark High School,
says, “The Lindsay building is great.
It has air conditioning and huge classrooms, which is very nice.” With all of its educational resources,
the Lindsay Center is one of the most state-of-the-art buildings located at any
preparatory school and an invaluable educational resource, especially for
classes like Artificial Intelligence, who are able to use the robotics lab,
Astronomy, who can access the observatory, and Ecology, who enjoy the
greenhouse.
What The Teacher Learned: The Joy of Doing Something with Friends
by JOHN BOUTON
Even though I had taught at ASP for
four summers, I was struck by the intensity of teaching the major course. The
hours are impressive: three to four hours a day in class, two hours a
night of homework, meeting six days a week. As Director Mike Ricard has
observed of ASP in Chapel, “The days seem interminable, but the
weeks fly by.” I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the time we
spent in class, by the amount of hands-on work that studying media
allowed us, and by the facility and fluency that our students
demonstrated across a variety of media. While there were some
challenges and areas that I would like to improve, overall this was
an outstanding experience for me as a teacher and learner.
This was a likeable cohort, one that
came together quickly. They proved responsive to shifting
expectations and responsible in task and project management. Because
they appeared to have fun throughout the summer, the work often felt
like play. Yes, we did some academic heavy lifting with our texts and
needed to become more effective contributors to discussions, Socratic
dialogues, and presentations, but overall the class gained knowledge
about media's roles and outlets, becoming citizens rather than
consumers, an historical continuum of media, and how freedom of
expression contributes to a good life.
Unlike the solitary and
conference-based work that reflective writing entails, a lot of Mass
Media activities were hands-on and learned through trial-and-error.
While our work with print reporting taught us to prize clarity and
arranging others' ideas and words, much of the course involved
creative self-expression, often through visual images and spoken
scripts. Again, the group genuinely seemed to enjoy being together,
whether it was in room 21 editing sound or on the grounds filming a
hockey game in the rink from three angles. The zeitgeist of the
course seemed captured in “Last Friday Night,” a music video that
took the spirit of our field trips and brought everyone together to
sing and dance. Our intern Meagan proved indispensable in managing
the creative process and the technical side of production. There
would have been no final show without her; indeed, there would have
been no class without her! When I recall the entire show, in fact,
it is dance that stands out for me – music videos proved a
highlight, an apt reading of ASP culture this summer. Another master
teacher commented that she appreciated the relative sophistication of
the humor that our students displayed in their show. One of my
favorite parts about ASP is the public nature of the final
demonstrations of knowledge and skill, and the video certainly showed
our class' spirit and enduring understandings.
As I explained to the class during one
of our opening meetings, ASP was instituted in part to pursue
alternative ways of teaching and learning that may find later
expression in winter-school classrooms. While I have taught a long
time, this course took me far from my own comfort zone and reiterated
that the best teaching occurs when energy meets energy. For me the
students will always prove more important than the content. To me
their enduring understandings will come in the form of
self-knowledge, creative self-expression, the ability to work as part
of a team, finding their individual voices amidst the tumult of an
emerging objective, meeting deadlines, knowing when something is
“good enough,” and finding joy in work. The technology will
change, but the ability to learn from it and with it has emerged as a
twenty-first century skill. We all gained experience with print,
radio, broadcast, and digital media and the software and hardware
that underlie them; encountered inspiring practitioners making a
joyful living in the media; and worked together to create a portfolio
of projects that reflects our appreciation of the experience. Leaning
into discomfort, seeing conflict as a catalyst for change, letting
the game teach one, and embracing a diversity of voices and qualities
in production make the most of the technologies that surround us.
These values were reaffirmed for me this summer in Mass Media. I
loved our time together.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Preparing and Leading Up to London 2012
By SARAH EGNER
Preparation for the 2012 London Olympics Games has been extensive and tedious, but is quickly coming to a close this month, Several different cenues have been prepped and are ready to go for July 27th Londoners and Olympic attendees alike have lots to take into account for the duration for the games including some risk of terrorism hitting the games, as well as, the traffic that is sure to take over the London area. One aspect of the Games is already underway with the Torch Relay and is looking to start up the enthusiasm for later.
Preparation for the 2012 London Olympics Games has been extensive and tedious, but is quickly coming to a close this month, Several different cenues have been prepped and are ready to go for July 27th Londoners and Olympic attendees alike have lots to take into account for the duration for the games including some risk of terrorism hitting the games, as well as, the traffic that is sure to take over the London area. One aspect of the Games is already underway with the Torch Relay and is looking to start up the enthusiasm for later.
Yo Ho, Yo Ho: 'tis a Pirates Life for Me
By ALEX HEBERT
Recently, several bills have been circulating that would squelch online copyright infringement, but these come with severe threats to the privacy of the average internet user and harsh legal punishments for non-violent “criminals.”
Recently, several bills have been circulating that would squelch online copyright infringement, but these come with severe threats to the privacy of the average internet user and harsh legal punishments for non-violent “criminals.”
Student Loan Interest Rate Extension: a Temporary Solution to a Much Larger Problem
By HALLEY ROGERS
College students and graduates are signing in relief as the extension of the 3.4% interest rate on the Stafford Loans is signed into law; a long term solution to the issue is vital.
College students and graduates are signing in relief as the extension of the 3.4% interest rate on the Stafford Loans is signed into law; a long term solution to the issue is vital.
Argentine Kidnappings
By ERIN RAMIREZ
On Thursday July 5th, 2012, former dictator of Argentina, Jorge Rafael Videla, was sentenced to fifty years of prison for his involvement in illegal kidnappings. Ever since the Dirty War, Videla has been convicted unjustly for the many crimes he has committed in the seventies and eighties.
On Thursday July 5th, 2012, former dictator of Argentina, Jorge Rafael Videla, was sentenced to fifty years of prison for his involvement in illegal kidnappings. Ever since the Dirty War, Videla has been convicted unjustly for the many crimes he has committed in the seventies and eighties.
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