February 2010

Message from Headmaster

Scott R. Reisinger

Dear Bancroft Parents and Students:

February is often the time of the “winter doldrums.” Nothing could be farther from the truth this season here at Bancroft. There is so much effort to applaud, and so much that has been accomplished in the last month.
First, a word of congratulations to our seniors, over 70% of whom have already been accepted to college for next year through Early Action and Early Decision. Here's a partial list, with many more to come in the Spring:Bentley, Boston College, Boston University, Bryant, Carleton, Connecticut College, Emmanuel, Fordham, George Washington, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Middlebury, Mount Holyoke, Northeastern, Penn State, Radford, Syracuse, Trinity, University of Central Florida, University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, University of Massachusetts, University of Pennsylvania, University of Rhode Island, and University of Vermont.

Next, other kudos are in order: Read Scott's entire letter

Teachers of Others

Kindergarten and 9th grade teach Chinese brush painting

     When English teacher Elisa Lellios was searching for a way to end her freshman class unit on Chinese literature she was inspired by the youngest students on campus. Remembering from past years the Kindergarten Chinese New Year celebrations, she arranged with teachers Josephine Truesdell and Maureen Cabral to create a collaborative lesson—one in which the students would teach each other the ancient art of Chinese brush painting.
     Sharon Smith Viles from the Worcester Art Museum spent a morning in the Kindergarten showing the students how to carefully dip their brushes in the black paint, while teaching them to paint pandas, bamboo, and Chinese numbers. They then created a mural visualizing the story she shared about two baby pandas that were rescued last year.
     Viles also visited the ninth graders and explained how the traditional Chinese brush painting allows you to appreciate the world around you while learning to use brush, ink and paper. For Lellios, her class had been discussing the connection between literature and nature so the brush painting turned into what she says "is a really lovely way to get the students to stop and look at the simple lines of the bamboo and leaves. We also learned to paint a dragon, and that every picture of the dragon contains a pearl of wisdom that he is seeking. This has now become a nice lesson for us as well."
     The following week, armed with brush, paint and paper, the two grades met and shared their newly developed skills. Ninth graders taught their younger partners how to paint dragons, and the youngest students taught their high-school partners how to paint Chinese numbers.
     The collaboration allows the Kindergarten students to feel a connection with the older students. "They love the idea that they are studying the same subject together," says Truesdell, "One of my students just returned from gym and was so excited to tell me she saw the 9th grade boy who taught her how to draw a dragon."

Speech Team Winning Season

Fifteen performers qualify for National Tournament

     Competing in its seventh year, Bancroft’s Speech Team is once again making a name for itself in competitive speech tournaments. Most recently, fifteen students qualified to compete in the National Tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska over Memorial Day weekend—Bancroft’s largest number to date to qualify for the Nationals.
     Each year since its inception in 2003, the Speech Team has held its own against much larger schools, earning recognition through several notable victories. This season the team, comprised of a mix of seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, has brought home more trophies than ever before. Recently at the Newton South Tournament in January, Bancroft’s team placed third out of 26 teams, finishing only behind Milton Academy and Newton South. The Duo team of Russell O. ’10 and Solon K. ’11 earned first place with perfect scores from all six judges, and Sylvia P. ’10 earned a first place for Novice Reading.
     In December at the Hollyfest Tournament, 15 students brought home 20 trophies (the most from one tournament), with the team placing eighth out of 30 teams. The first-place Upperclassmen Multiple Reading group performed at the awards ceremony for an audience of 500 people, where Aly B. ’12 and Micaela P. ’10 earned first and second place respectively in programmed poetry, and three of the six finalists in the Duo category were from Bancroft.
     Not to be confused with competitive debate, the speech team’s focus is public speaking and competitive acting. The team competes in several categories, and the scores from each entry in each round are combined to earn the team's placement.
     Although the faces of the team change from year to year, the characteristics that keep the team winning remain constant—a combination of genuine enthusiasm, a commitment of each team member, no matter their experience, and a dedicated coach in Chris Sheldon. Photo: Solon K. ’11 and Russell O. ’10 perform their first-place Duo entry The Emperor's New Groove at a recent US assembly. Listing of National Qualifiers

What Can the Horseshoe Crab Do For Us?

Guest lecturer Dr. Aaron Bernstein highlights importance of biodiversity

     Bancroft's Upper School Environmental Club (EVC) has been spreading the word throughout campus about how the little things can make a difference in protecting our earth and resources. Turn Out the Lights signs and reminders with recycling tips are popping up around campus, all in an effort to extend the care for the environment message beyond Earth Day.
     As part of this effort the Club was excited when Dr. Aaron Bernstein agreed to come to campus to discuss how the correlation between human health and the natural world are interwoven. On February 3, Bernstein, co-author of Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity, gave an animated talk to the Upper School about how “human beings are an integral part of Nature and our health ultimately depends on the health of all species.”
     Bernstein discussed how certain organisms allow scientists the ability to study nature in ways that cannot be replicated in a lab, even giving scientists building blocks for drugs in ways we could never dream. For example, he explained how the horseshoe crab has survived on earth for 400 million years. Examining how the creature has been able to survive led scientists in the 1950’s to discover its unique blue blood. The crab’s copper-rich blood is the only substance known which can effectively detect impurities, making it a vital tool for scientists to create contaminant-free vaccines. According to Bernstein, the horseshoe crab tells us “our health depends on the health of other species and on the integrity and vitality of natural ecosystems.”
      Says the Club’s faculty advisor Brian Kondek, “The Club leaders were all very enthusiastic about Dr. Bernstein's message and judging from comments that I received from the community, I think we were all very satisfied with the results as well."

1000th Career Point Scored

Senior achieves basketball milestone

Bancroft senior Dave M. has been a strong force on the varsity basketball team for the last 3 years. Standing 6’ 5” and 235 lbs., he is easily noticed on and off the court. David recently exceeded a landmark goal of 1,000 career points in a home game against Lexington Christian. With a packed audience of fans, including family and local media, veteran varsity basketball coach Mark O’Brien quickly addressed the celebratory crowd to say a few words. “The thing that impresses me most about Dave is the humble and selfless approach he has had while approaching this milestone,” said O’Brien. “Dave didn't get here alone, he's had good teammates, friends, coaches, and a wonderfully supportive set of parents.”
David has been a double-digit scoring player since his sophomore year at Bancroft and was a starter on last year’s team that took the season all the way to the NEPSAC finals. This year he is averaging 15 points and 17 boards a game. The Bulldogs, with a respectable 11 – 6 season so far, are expected to qualify for the NEPSAC playoffs beginning in March.

Calling All Bancroft Performers...

5th Annual Celebration of the Performing Arts:
Playathon

Performing artists of all ages and levels, from beginner to maistro, including students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends, are invited to perform at the Playathon.

Friday, April 9
3:00 pm to 5:45 pm
Dancers, musicians, orators...
Please sign-up by February 28 in any 1 of 4 ways:

*Use: mysignup.com/playathon2010
*Sign-up sheet at the front desk of Admin & McDonough buildings
*Email Judy Pernice at playathon@bancroftschool.org
*Telephone Judy Pernice at 508.829.6349

Please include the details of the performance including piece, composer and length of time (limit 5 mins).

Upcoming Cultural Events:

February 16
Globetrotter,Moo Moo Evans

February 22
Whale Day

April 1
Shakespeare Now

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Student Artists Honored

Three students' works moving to national competition

Three Bancroft student artists were awarded the highest level of achievement at this year’s Boston Globe Scholastic Art Competition. Receiving the Gold Key award were junior Shaina L. for pastels, sophomore Susannah J. for graphic design, and freshman Melissa J. for ceramics. Their pieces now qualify to move on to the national Scholastic Art and Writing competition in New York this spring.
Additionally, junior Robin H. was awarded a Silver Key for photography, junior Katie P. an Honorable Mention for graphic design, and seventh grader Rachel W. an Honorable Mention for pastel. Visual arts teachers Bob Dec, Connie Moore, and Mary Edwards selected 34 works from 22 Bancroft artists, grades 7-12, to enter into the competition, which offers early recognition of creative teenagers, and scholarship opportunities for seniors. The works are judged by professional artists and educators who use three criteria: originality, technical skill, and emergence of a personal vision or voice. Read entire story

Dinner & A Show

March 5

Enjoy the
PFA K-12 Community Dinner
5:30 to 7:00 pm
$12 (Under 10: $5)

& then the
US Spring Musical
Thoroughly Modern Millie

Tickets $10
Shows: March 4, 5, 6
7:30 pm
Saturday Matinee: 1 pm

Tickets to both events call Vickie at ext. 205

BRAVO!
Two US students play in
the Central District Festival
Concert at Mechanics Hall

Congratulations to Kristina D. ’13 and Jaclyn D. ’11 who were chosen to play in the Orchestra after auditioning with several hundred area student musicians in November. The concert is organized annually by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association.