Teen of the Week: Ethan Goodman

Our own Ethan Goodman (right) was named "Teen of the Week" by the Annapolis Capital newspaper.  He is well-deserving, and you can find the link here: Goodman article.

25 Classes or Bust: Wood Sculpture





"Hunter" Smith sharpens his blade



Notice the leather thumb guard

While in some high schools, a classroom full of adolescent boys wielding knives might incite a level of fear, at Gunston we call it “art class”.  A talented artist himself, Mr. Dize is the Chair of our Art Department, and one of our most popular offerings is his Wood Sculpture course.  This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of wood sculpture including low relief, 3-D carving, waterfowl, and other wildlife sculpture. Basic concepts such as aesthetic value, historical and cultural influences, critique methods, as well as the use of tools and sharpening, are part of the course.

A miniature project taking shape

During my visit, some students were practicing technique (by making a cylinder), and others were completing sculpture projects of various shapes and sizes.  It was one of the quieter classes I've visited at Gunston--funny how the presence of a sharp blade promotes focus!

December/January Community Letter

Dear Gunston Community:

To read the December/January Community Letter, please click on this link: community letter

Regards,

John

The Race to Nowhere: Film Screening

Gunston Day School, in partnership with the Wye River Upper School, Saints Peter and Paul High School, and Chesapeake College, will host a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary, Race to Nowhere, on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 7:00 pm  at the Todd Performing Arts Center, Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD.


Part of a nationwide campaign to prompt change at the national, state, local and individual levels, this documentary is considered a “call to mobilize families, educators, and policy makers to challenge current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens”. Focusing on the increasing impact that the culture of achievement holds on our youth, the film examines the growing incidence of related cheating, stress-related illness, depression and burnout from which middle and high school aged children increasingly suffer.

While Gunston Day School fully recognizes the impact of this worrisome trend amidst our own students, it remains a growing challenge for the community at large. The four sponsoring institutions of learning are proud to be providing a platform for an increased community-wide awareness and discussion as we screen the film and host a post-film audience participation event.

Because we are committed to your engagement in this dialogue, the three partnering high schools will provide our respective school families with complimentary tickets to the screening. Normally, these tickets are available to the general public at a price of $10 per ticket in advance ($15 at the door). We encourage you and any appropriate member of your immediate family to be our guests for this event. It is necessary that you reserve your tickets in advance. Please click here to register and reserve your tickets. They will be held for you at the door.  Race to Nowhere is rated PG13.


I encourage you to visit www.racetonowhere.com to learn more about this thought provoking and timely film.  More importantly, I encourage you to join us, and members of the public and private school communities, as we gather together for this unique opportunity to impact the future of education for our young people in our homes, counties, state and country.

25 Classes or Bust: Honors Physics

Mass, Newtons, Force, Acceleration, Friction, Joules, Units of Work, Power, Kilograms, Time, Rest, Gravity, Normal Force, Distance, Miles per Second, Kilowatts, Kinetic Energy, Momentum.  Such is the vocabulary in a forty-five minute class with Dr. Wilson and his brainy Honors Physics students. 

A grainy picture of Dr. Wilson!

As an English major by training and temperament, I had the humbling experience of sitting in a classroom of highly engaged Gunston students who clearly understood what Dr. Wilson was talking about while I struggled mightily to keep up!

Happy 2011: Some Notable articles

Over the Winter Holiday, I had an opportunity to catch up on some reading.  Here are a few notable and recommended articles:

• Delivered to the plebe class at West Point last year, William Deresiewicz's article "Solitude and Leadership" has been republished in both The American Scholar and Independent School Magazine: http://www.theamericanscholar.org/solitude-and-leadership/

• An interesting article called "A's for Effort" talks about the importance of separating achievement and effort grades--something Gunston already does: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/weekinreview/28tyre.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 
• Here is a powerful and parent-centered New York Times article on the growing and difficult to manage trend of "cyberbullying": http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/us/05bully.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage
• Many colleges are cutting majors, especially in languages: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/education/05languages.html?src=me&ref=homepage 
• I just love Hans Rosling, whose claim to fame is creating visual representations of data: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo 
• I had a parent ask me about the cognitive impact of video games.  Here is an article called "Video Games Boost Brain Power, Multitasking Skills" that his son will probably like: http://www.npr.org/132077565 
• I heard this interesting "When To Guide, When To Let Go Of Teenagers?" story on NPR during one of my holiday drives: http://www.npr.org/132142172
• Finally, each year, the New York Times columnist David Brooks gives the "Sidney" award to the best magazine articles of the year.  The links are below to articles on topics ranging from demographics, income inequality, and Winston Churchill, to Greek bonds, the decline of the autopsy, and the inside-scoop on the grocery chain, Trader Joe's:
• Sidney Awards, Part I
• Sidney Awards, Part II

Happy 2011!!!