SEPTEMBER 2010

BERWICK A C A D E M Y

1791 L e t t e r
THREE CUPS OF TEA - TENTH DAY ASSEMBLY

1791 Letter ~ September 2010 1


The week of faculty meetings
before Labor Day is inevitably filled
with mixed emotions. While teachers
may wake up during the night in late
August dreaming of a class for which
they have not prepared, Heads of School
sometimes wake up with nightmares
about construction projects not
being finished or a projector breaking
down for that first faculty meeting
presentation. On the one hand, energy
is higher than ever on those first days
as people are recharged by the summer,
and we all feel a burning need to be
near the students once again. There
is always an unspoken bit of sadness,
however, as the first leaves turn in late
August, and we all realize that those
lazy summer evenings of reflection will
soon be replaced by wind chill, ski hats,
and bursting handbags of papers to
grade. In the midst of this transitional
dynamic, I am often most proud of our
faculty and staff as we launch into some
serious conversations about pedagogy,
learning, and our chosen profession. It
is a moment when we collectively hang
on the precipice of the year ahead and
consider what makes the educational
life so enriching.
Many of you have heard that
we continue to make great progress
on our K-12 curriculum mapping
project. At this point we estimate
that approximately 75 percent of the
curriculum has been documented in
one form or another, with much of
that work coming from our teachers
outside of school hours. During our
week together, each department
took part in the first step towards
analyzing gaps and repetitions within
our K-12 disciplines. Being a former
2 1791 Letter ~ September 2010
MESSAGE F R O M
Greg Schneider
Head of School
English teacher, I gravitated towards
this group and participated in a
“gallery exercise” where we all viewed
distilled big picture concepts from our
program K-12. It allowed us to think
about our sequencing holistically. I
learned that themes we introduce in
literacy for Kindergarteners, such as
“letters contain meaning” evolve into
sophisticated amplifications of these
same ideas in the junior year, where we
deeply discuss the way form creates
meaning in fictional prose. I also came
to appreciate some of the transitions
in our English program, in that it may
be that our students take a bigger
intellectual leap between ninth and
tenth grade rather than the eighth to
ninth jump that I had always assumed.
All of this fostered conversation about
the experience of our students, and the
thoughtfulness and care was inspiring.
It was a moment for the Head of
School to feel proud of our academic
program – but I was far more proud of
the people doing the work.
We also invited a renowned
education psychologist, Rob Evans,
to speak to us about change and
communication. Among other things,
Rob is the author of The Human Side
of School Change. Given how much
change we have implemented in
recent years at Berwick, I thought
the timing would be perfect – even if
the conversations might be difficult.
Rob reminded us how human beings
always need to understand the “why,
what, and the how” when it comes
to change. Institutions are notorious
for doing well with the “what” and
the “how” without offering a deep
explanation of “why”. In Berwick’s case,
I am proud to note that our employees
have shown incredible resiliency and
work ethic as a response to our efforts
to offer transparency into the “why”
of our changes. Sitting in the room
watching our community grapple with
what makes change challenging, I was
reminded that transparency is not only
about data but it is also about emotion.
Anytime our lives change, whether in
the workplace, our family, or with our
health – change is inextricably linked
with emotion.
We engaged in a deep
conversation about communication
as well, reminding ourselves that we
should be unafraid of any conversation
that puts the best interest of students
at the center. Educators are notoriously
conflict avoidant - and for good reason.
Of course we want nurturing, caring,
positive people working with our
children rather than those who seek
tactless or heartless communication
styles. However, to continue improving
as a school for our students, we also
have to continue to be willing to have
hard conversations with each other. I
certainly felt more courage to do this
after our opening week. During this
same week, we officially launched our
first round of meetings for our NEASC
accreditation process, which also holds
school improvement at the very center
of what we do. As we begin to assess
ourselves against the ambitious goals
of our mission and core values, I was
once again so impressed hearing our
teachers and employees talking about
how much they cherish this place and
its students.
And so, after a week of
conversations that left me inspired
about the adults in this community,
 BERWICK A C A D E M Y
the students finally arrived. Suddenly
the Hilltop was alive once again.
And as much our students and
families are dazzled by the incredible
improvements to campus this summer,
it was the greetings with old friends
that moved me: the laughter and smiles
associated with friendship. And then it
was teachers connecting with students,
asking questions not just about their
readiness for their course but about
their family, their summer, and their
happiness. I had a chance to duck in on
a game of Lower School four-square,
an outdoor physics experiment, and a
soccer jamboree all in the same week.
Just this past Friday, we celebrated
Convocation in the Upper School,
our formal “calling together” of this
community to kick off the 2010-2011
school year. In my comments, I chose
to speak about the ways in which our
seniors symbolized hope to me. Their
first week of school elicits hope for a
stellar year, but these emerging leaders
are also quite literally the hope of
the global community – not just for
Berwick Academy. Darcy Coffta, the
elected convocation speaker, chose to
speak about kindness and compassion,
reminding us that offering kindness
is never a zero-sum game in that the
benefactor is often impacted more
deeply than the recipient of kindness.
Who knew that a high school librarian
would also be such a source of wisdom
and compassion?
renewed to my core in our work with
children. For a fleeting moment I was
physically leading the community into
this new year, with the faculty marching
just behind me. And as much as I know
they feel honored to walk with their
cherished students in their wake, so am
I humbled to lead such a talented group
of adults into another year at Berwick
Academy. It is within that magical
energy of school relationships that we
all find our direction for another year.
We are blessed to be guided by such
clarity of purpose.
Assistant Head of School
As many of you may know,
this will be Ruth Rioux’s final year as
Assistant Head of School. Although I
remain in denial about her departure
and look forward to honoring her
work in the coming months, I am
pleased to announce her replacement.
Cindy Briggs will step into this role
next year, and I could not be happier.
Cindy’s combination of counseling
skills, knowledge of our community
members, sound judgment, loyalty,
and work ethic are second to none.
If you have a moment, please join me
in saying congratulations to her. This
will create an opening for a counselor
in the Middle and Upper Schools next
year, as new Lower School Academic
Support Coordinator Marguerite
Genest will take on the Lower School
counselor role as well this year.
1791 Letter
me to rest easy at night. With Pat’s
departure along with Dick Wilson’s
passing, we are currently reviewing our
needs in the business office before we
move forward with hiring in this area.
Community Circles
Some of you may have
noticed that we decided to move
our Community Circles celebration
away from September 11 this year.
For a number of years, there has been
growing concern about the connection
between this moving ceremony and
that particular date. This dynamic has
been particularly challenging for our
Lower School teachers. This year, we
began our tenth day morning with
our community circles, but the entire
day included exciting elements. We
spent the afternoon in K-12 reading
groups discussing summer reading and
concluded with a unique tenth day
assembly that was very powerful.

Starting the school year is Pat McManus

emotional for all of us in different ways.
Whether it is that heart-wrenching
kindergartener’s first day of school or
that senior who steps up on stage in a
blue graduation robe at Convocation,
we are all moved in unexpected ways.
As I marched out of that auditorium
from Convocation last Friday, into the
beautiful blue sky of early autumn, I was
It is with a heavy heart that
I must announce that this will be Pat
McManus’s last year on the Hilltop.
We have all benefited from her
incredible stewardship of this campus,
and her vision for facilities has always
put students at the very center. Beyond
being my next door neighbor, her
attention to details has always allowed

1791 Letter ~ September 2010 3


There is nothing better than
the first day of school. Although it
formally marks the significant shift
from summer life to school life, it is the
day that I look forward to the most. I
realize that most students don’t share
this perspective, but I also think that
deep in their hearts the chance to come
together is something that makes them
smile (even for a brief moment!)
I love the first day of school
for two reasons. First and foremost, it
is this day where the raw enthusiasm,
excitement and nervous energy
all combine together at once. The
end result is very magical, and to
fully appreciate it you have to be on
campus when everybody arrives for
morning assembly. All of us (faculty
and students) are renewing friendships,
meeting new people, and smiling
from ear to ear. This year, we all sat
in the theatre, anxiously awaiting our
School Life President, Owen Labrie,
to get things going. Then, the moment
happens when Owen calls us together
and a silence quickly descends. For that
split second, between the silence and
Owen’s first words, you can look around
and feel the magic. It is amazing.
The other reason for my love
of the first day lies in the fact that it is
the unique moment when you can set
the tone for the year. I think about this
moment for the better part of August,
and this year I prepared an elaborate
plan to share my vision. This year my
goal centers on the words of Mahatma
Ghandi: “Satisfaction lies in the effort,
not in the attainment, full effort is full
victory”.
4 1791 Letter ~ September 2010
Peter Saliba - Upper School Director
Upper School News
As I looked out to the audience,
I made the decision to scrap the whole
plan of attack. Somehow, starting off FAN, FOLLOW
with a quotation just didn’t seem right.
Instead, I asked everyone to think of CONNECT!
their most important goal for this year.
After about fifteen seconds, I asked
everyone to raise their hand if their
goal was a destination (a certain grade,
a spot on a varsity team, or a role in a Berwick Academy is on Facebook!
theatre production). Just about three- Become a fan to see daily updates,
quarters of the student body raised
photos, videos, and more.
their hand, and that is when I laid out
my vision for the year. www.facebook.com/
berwickacademy
All of us are here for different
reasons. For most, it probably centers
on academics, arts, athletics or some
other programmatic characteristic of
the school. Those are great reasons
Berwick Academy is using
to attend the Academy. However, it is
easy to overlook that Berwick’s magic
Twitter! Create a profile and
doesn’t lie with the attainment of a choose to “follow” Berwick
specific goal. Our magic lies in how Academy. Opt to receive updates
we get there. The many moments of via phone and you will receive a
joy and disappointment are ones that text message every time we post
make up our journey. They are also the something new!
ones that give us the mental faculties
and strength to face the world after www.twitter.com/
graduation. berwickacademy
When you speak with our
alumni body, you don’t hear about
the time they got the lead role in the
musical, or when they got into college.
You hear the stories of their own journey Connect, reconnect, and
which includes their relationships, engage with Berwick Academy
struggles and moments of joy. That alumni, parents, and friends.
is the magic of Berwick, and why for
this year, we need to constantly remind
ourselves that although it is good to
www.linkedin.com
have tangible, achievable goals, it’s also
important to recognize that it is the Search for Berwick Academy
journey together that makes the Upper under Groups
School such a special place.

One of our core values that we
at Berwick Academy have identified
is that of integrity. Can integrity be
taught? That question is a dilemma
that has had philosophers of education
wrestling for generations. Does a
person know it when they see it? Is it
the silent voice that nags at a person’s
conscience to make the right choice?
Is integrity, as some wise person once
noted, “How you behave when you
think no one is looking?” Perhaps it is
all of these and more.
One aspect of integrity is
found in monitoring one’s words. So
many times we have witnessed children
(as well as adults) whose feelings have
been hurt by a comment that was
not intended to injure. Thoughtless
remarks that are tossed off can take a
toll on young adolescents, and in my
experience with middle schoolers,
the intent does not make the hurt go
away. That is why, when an apology
is offered, I coach students to offer as
sincere an apology as they can muster,
but also coach the other child not to
reply with, “That’s okay.” In fact, the
action or words were not okay. Instead,
I encourage children to use, “I accept
your apology, but I need to tell you
that it really hurt me when you said/
did …”
Where we can help our
children is by making certain they
have grown equipped with reasonable
responses when others say cruel things.
A school value placed upon economic
diversity is part of our culture here
at Berwick. Living a more “green“
lifestyle is a responsibility we have to
Rosemary Zurawel - Middle School Director
Middle School News
our planet. Frugality, in the last two
years of stock market volatility, has
become a virtue. More virtuous, still,
is the careful guarding of one’s speech
from inadvertent cruelty.
When a student confides in a
teacher that another child has made fun
of a no-name brand of shoes, I cringe,
remembering my middle school years.
I have heard any number of times when
students refer to another person’s items
as “from the Dollar Store.” The words
are intended to insult, and it works. I
can empathize with the pain. As an
adult, I tend to worry that too much
empathy may be counter-productive
and actually reinforce the low value of
a no-name brand. What a dilemma!
We all need to examine the ways in
which to make our speech less hurtful.
One way that we can begin to
practice careful speech at home is to
identify the times when a brand name
is used instead of a common noun. For
example, using the word, “Rolex” in
place of “watch” is a way to distinguish
a status object. Students wearing a
“Timex” feel the difference. “Are those
new Uggs?” can be embarrassing,
whereas, “Are those new boots?” has
no value placed on the question, just
interest in another’s style or attire.
“My mom drives a black sedan” is less
boastful in front of others than, “She
has a black Mercedes.” While some
schools actually prohibit students from
talking about vacation destinations,
I think it is more important to help
students grow in terms of their respect
and empathy for others. Practicing
careful speech at home becomes our
responsibility as adults. It can be a
1791 Letter ~ September 2010
challenge, but I think the community
has both the need and the power to
embrace this effort. I hope we can all
make efforts to praise the qualities that
truly matter: a child’s creativity and
ideas, their honesty and generosity,
their kindness and their compassion.
There is no shame in having earned
beautiful possessions and using them.
The packaging, however, should
contain the beauty of a kind soul.
Our school’s commitment to
integrity follows:
“Being a member of the Berwick
community requires a deeply held
commitment to being a person of
character and continually refining
one’s ethical understanding of the
world. Our commitment to integrity
functions as the rudder that guides us
through all personal explorations and
risks by honoring:
- Character and responsibility
- Honesty and personal
accountability
- Caring and respect
- Kindness and selflessness
- Acceptance and tolerance
- Wholeness and wellness
- Self-awareness and reflection”
I hope you will join me in
practicing kindness throughout this
school year. It is a wonderful habit
to model and to foster in our school
community. We can start by “un-
branding” our speech. We can praise
qualities of character rather than
appearance. We can begin to name as
“disrespectful” the words and actions
of others that may (or may not) have
continued on pg. 14...
5

It’s one of my favorite Hawes
family vacation stories, and I recently
shared it with the Lower School
students during our opening Friday
morning assembly. My daughter,
Rachel, faithfully kept a journal during
the summer following her kindergarten
year at Tenacre Country Day School
in Wellesley, Massachusetts. I enjoyed
highlighting that memorable late-June
through early-August stretch, as my
wife and I took extended vacation time
to make the endless summer of 2001 a
reality. As a family, we flew to Iceland
to visit graduate school friends, traveled
to Maine for family gatherings, and
car-camped our way across the country
with Montana’s Glacier National Park
as our final destination.
Rachel’s journal, to this day,
is an enjoyable family read, filled with
straightforward, rising first-grade prose
and colorful, youthful drawings. Page
after page of “Right now I’m in the
airplane going to Iceland”; “This is
me eating supper with Thor, Sigrun,
Brynhildur Thora, and Ragnheidur
Anna”; “This is me at Grammie’s
celebrating my Mom’s birthday”; and
“This is me and my family camping in
a lightning and thunderstorm and our
tent almost blew away….”
After reading sample journal
entries to the Lower School audience, I
concluded with a surprising finale. This
cherished journal was mistakenly left
behind at a lodge in Glacier National
Park (the casualty of a cluttered room)
as we packed up our clothing and
recreational gear and began the long
drive back to Wellesley.
6 1791 Letter ~ September 2010
Joel Hawes - Lower School Director
Lower School News
During day two or three of the return student helpers assisted me in handing
trek, we realized we could not locate out apples to all of the Lower School
the journal but mistakenly assumed faculty, staff, and interns as they
it must be contained within the piles introduced themselves to the student
of van clutter. Unfortunately, even body. The apples were a symbol of the
after some meticulous unpacking upon appreciation we hold for our Lower
arriving home, we still could not locate School faculty. As a related group
Rachel’s journal…. symbol, Lower School students will
soon be bringing home our community
Several weeks later, we compact for the children to read and
received a wonderful gift at our front sign with their parents—representing
door. By amazing chance, a family their understanding of our community
that happened to live in Wellesley had focus on kindness, safety, and honesty.
spent the week after us in the same The compacts will then be returned to
Montana lodge room and had done a the classroom teachers to sign. Finally,
much more thorough job of cleaning I will sign all of the student compacts,
on their check-out day. Surprisingly, acknowledging our concerted and
they found a journal behind a bureau meaningful work together. Our Lower
with the following name and address School community compact classroom
on the inside cover: Rachel Hawes, binders will then support the caring
82 Benvenue St., Wellesley, MA. This community spirit found within our
thoughtful family had just returned division.
Rachel’s journal. Thanks for your support, and
here’s to a great year ahead!
After reading “This is the man
giving me my journal”, I used the story
as the basis for a discussion surrounding
our Lower School themes. I asked the
students to explain situations or give
examples from the story that were kind,
safe, and honest. They responded
with great examples. Of course, we
have also experienced some positive
examples of kindness, safety, and
honesty during the opening of school,
including students demonstrating
kindness to new and old friends alike,
students learning how to safely use the
playground equipment, and students
honestly expressing their feelings in
a sensitive and appropriate manner
during class discussions.
During another phase of our
opening-week assemblies, fourth grade

Soccer Jamboree
The weather was on our side
Saturday, September 11 during our
annual Soccer Jamboree as the sun
shined and the temperatures was a
comfortable 70 degrees. Both the
boys and girls varsity teams competed
against Lexington Christian Academy,
Tilton School, and Hyde School in
the pre-season scrimmage. The event
was well attended by parents, families,
and friends. Following the games, we
were treated to an impressive barbeque
sponsored by the Berwick Academy
Athletic Boosters. A special thank
you to Paula and Sam Reid, Stephanie
Lawrence, John and Sue Downey,
Sheila Woolley, Chris Nichols, Andy
Diengott, Tom and Jodi Scanlon, Andy
Lathrop, Marilena Sanborn, and Holly
Bennett (I apologize if I have failed
to mention others). Your work and
dedication made the event a success. I
also want to thank Sage Dining Services
for providing the food and facilities for
the set up and break down. A special
thank you to Paul Calo Buildings
and Grounds and David Young from
custodial services for their assistance.
Sports Medicine Concussion Program
We are continuing our Impact
Testing Program which we have
successfully used with our contact
sport athletes. This computer program
is designed to address the seriousness
and dangers of returning to play too
quickly after a concussion. This year we
will test all freshmen, new students, and
other students not previously tested.
At the start of the season, athletes will
complete a computerized baseline test
of the brain. If an athlete receives a brain
Rob Quinn - Athletic Director
Athletics News
injury, he or she is retested to see how
their brain function compares to the
stored baseline test. Test results allow
a medical practitioner to determine if
the brain is recovering from an injury
and dictate if the student is ready to
return to play. If you have questions
please contact Holly Bennett, LATC or
Rob Quinn.
EEE Virus
Each year this mosquito born
virus is a concern in the seacoast area.
The woods surrounding the fields have
been professionally sprayed using a safe
“green” solution in order to minimize
the mosquitoes. Teams will be supplied
with a mosquito repellant and athletes
are encouraged to use a repellant for
practices and games.
AED (Automatic External Defibrillators)
AEDs are located in the
basement of Fogg, near the mailboxes
in Burleigh Davidson, and in the back
hallway of the athletic center. Holly
Bennett, LATC also carries a unit at all
games. All faculty coaches are currently
certified in CPR and AED.
Athletic Training Interns
Berwick Academy continues
its relations with UNH and UNE
as a clinical athletic training site for
undergraduate students. You will see
Caitlin and Rebecca alongside Certified
Athletic Trainer Holly Bennett at games
and practices this semester. Caitlin
and Rebecca will assist in providing
first aid care and will oversee injury
rehabilitation programs. Both have
experience in covering collegiate and
high school sports and are welcome
additions to the department. Caitlin
Colitti, a junior from UNH in the
1791 Letter ~ September 2010
athletic training program, is a 2008
graduate of Berwick Academy where
she was assistant captain of the ice
hockey team and also played softball
and soccer. Rebecca LeBlanc is a junior
from UNE’s athletic training program.
Please join us in welcoming them to
the Hilltop.
Seacoast United Junior Academy
Berwick Academy and Seacoast
United are pleased to announce our
second winter of the club’s highly
regarded Junior Academy Program
on our campus. The developmental
program for ages 7-8 and ages 9-10
year old boys and girls will begin in the
first week of November in the BA Field
House.
Tryout dates are Thursday,
October 7 and Wednesday, October
13, 5:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Registration
begins at 5 p.m. The start date for the
Junior Academy is Tuesday, November
2.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Team Pictures
N.E.A.T. is scheduled to
photograph fall teams October 19
at Berwick Academy. Team pictures
are $9.00 and will be charged on the
bookstore bill. Please have your son or
daughter notify the photographer, on
picture day, if you are not interested
in purchasing a team photo. The
photographs will be used for the
yearbook, website, and keepsake for
the players. If you do not want your
son or daughter to be included in the
picture please advise me.
continued on pg 14...
7

YOU GOTTA HAVE ARTS
ARTS BOOSTERS
Arts Boosters Variety Show
Please mark your calendars for
Friday, October 15 for the ninth annual
Arts Boosters Variety Show. The
proceeds from this event will benefit the
visual and performing arts at Berwick
Academy. Faculty and staff members
representing all three divisions will
present their performance piece in the
theater beginning at 7:00 p.m. Please
come and enjoy a night filled with
song, laughter, comedy and maybe a
little magic in the fall air. Admission is
$10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students
or $25.00 for families. There are no
reservations, and admission is at the
door on a first come, first served basis.
We hope to see you there.
DANCE
Let the Dance Begin
The Berwick Academy dance
program has had another wonderful
start! Classes have started and the
dancers are feeling the challenge and
excitement of a new year. We are
pleased to welcome back returning
members of the faculty: Christine
Bessette, Tina Cassidy, Gina Hesse,
and Sasha Randall Malone. We are
excited to offer a new class for Middle
and Upper School students interested
in break dancing and increasing their
upper body strength. All faculty
members are working professionals in
their disciplines and we are honored
to have such an esteemed group
leading our young movers. Classes
began September 13 and the dancers
8 1791 Letter ~ September 2010
you gotta have Arts
Deloris White - Fine Arts Director
are enthusiastic about starting a new
year. If you have not yet registered for
classes and are interested in observing
or experiencing a class on a trial basis,
please feel free to come by and see all
of the wonderful classes that take place
in the athletic center studio.
Summer Dance
The summer was eventful
for Berwick Academy dance alumni:
Chelsea Johnson, Emily Lorei, Mollie
Stolzer, and Francesca Cone. The
Berwick graduates had the opportunity
to perform with faculty members Gina
Hesse and Sasha Randall Malone
for the second installation of Live
and Dance Strong, a benefit concert in
honor University of Maine, Augusta’s
president, Richard Randall. The benefit
concert raised an astounding $10,000
for the Harold Alfond Cancer Care
Center in Augusta, as well as the funds
needed for several full scholarships
given to Maine students to continue
their dance studies. The performance
was a deeply moving success and it
was a delight to see the alums working
together once again.
For more information on the
dance program, contact Sasha Randall
Malone at srandall@berwickacademy.
org
Music
After School Opportunities
Band Director Stephanie
Sanders is offering Musicianship as one
way to fulfill the Upper School after-
school requirement. This activity is
open to all Upper School students in
grades 9 - 12 and meets three afternoons
each week during each trimester.
Arts News
Middle School Jazz Band
Stephanie Sanders will also
continue to direct the Middle School
jazz band after school on Tuesday
afternoon. Anyone interested in
participating in any of these ensembles
or would like more information should
contact Ms. Sanders directly.
Music Festival Auditions
Many of Berwick’s music
students participate in several
auditions and/or festivals each year.
Middle School students in chorus,
band, or orchestra, selected through
a nomination process, perform in the
York Country Music Festival.
As stipulated in the Maine
Music Educators Association State
Handbook 2010 - 2011, Upper School
music students must be enrolled
members of organized school groups,
unless no such organization exists in
their school in order to audition for and
participate in the Maine District I High
School Honors Festival, Jazz Allstate or
Maine Allstate. If selected by audition,
they perform at prestigious music
festivals in large ensembles. Please
check the Berwick on-line calendar
or the Berwick website for dates and
information.
VISUAL ARTS
Summer Off the Hilltop
Summer provided time for
some of Berwick’s Upper School
artists to pursue intense programs of
study in their selected medium. Brian
Rawn studied architecture at Carnegie
continued on page 14...

PRESIDENT’S NOTES
I would like to take this
opportunity to welcome you – or
welcome you back – to Berwick
Academy. I assume all of you are
settling in to the school routine and
are enjoying these first weeks of life
on campus. September is a busy month
at Berwick, and please know that you
can reach out to any of the members
of BAPA (Berwick Academy Parents
Association) with questions you may
have. We are happy to help and look
forward to meeting all of you.
As a parent of a Berwick student,
you are automatically considered a
member of BAPA. It is a wonderful
organization that enriches the Berwick
experience for each and every student,
through fundraising efforts and
volunteerism. We hope you will join us
for our meetings throughout the course
of the year. It is a great way for you to
gain insight into Berwick, and to find
out how you can get involved in a fun
and rewarding way. All non-school age
siblings are welcome, and coffee and
muffins will be available. So please join
us and learn a bit about BAPA and all of
the exciting opportunities available to
you as a parent volunteer.
We are also in the process of
scheduling a meeting for early October,
which is not currently on the school
calendar. This meeting will outline
some exciting opportunities for BAPA
as we look to the future. Please watch
for further information regarding this
meeting, and we hope you can join us.
Again, welcome and do
BAPA Notes - from the BAPA Board Members
Parents Association News
not hesitate to contact me with any
questions or thoughts you may have.
New Families
As September starts to come to
a close, I hope everyone is finding their
routines and getting familiar with the
portal. We have over 119 new students
who have joined us this year which is
very exciting! I want to say a special
thank you to all of our 3*4 Friends who
volunteered to contact new families
over the summer and continue to do
so during these first weeks of school. A
warm hello from existing parents goes
a long way to making a new family feel
welcome, and it immediately gives new
families a sense of what they can expect
in the upcoming year from our very
special Berwick Academy community.
It is also an extremely busy
time for new families as you can see
from the calendar. There are several
evening events at the start of the
school year. In particular, I would like
to draw your attention to the New
Parent Neighborhood Receptions that
will kick off in October. When you
receive your invitation, please RSVP
and put the date on your schedule. It
is a chance to meet other new parents
in your area, as well as meet several
trustees to educate yourself on the
process of annual giving, the school’s
endowment, and gain an understanding
of where your money goes. It is an
enjoyable, relaxed evening designed
to take the mystery out of the giving
process, and where you are encouraged
to ask questions.
Volunteer opportunities are plentiful
at this time of the year. If you are
interested in getting involved, consider
1791 Letter ~ September 2010
coming to a BAPA General Meeting.
Every parent is automatically a member
of BAPA, and we are always happy to
see new faces at the meetings. Please
join us for a coffee and hear what BAPA
is planning. I look forward to seeing
you there.
Katie Clark
BAPA New Family Coordinator
(207) 698-0080
Kclark_uk@hotmail.com
UPPER SCHOOL NEWS
We have a wonderful team
of volunteers this year working
to coordinate various events and
activities in the Upper School. I’d like
to introduce them all to you here. I’ve
also included a list of the events and
activities that the Class Reps will be
coordinating during the year, and the
date that the event occurs. Class Reps
will be looking for volunteers to assist
with these. Please feel free to contact
your class rep or the event coordinator
directly if you can assist them.
Based on overwhelming
feedback from our Upper School
parents last year, we will communicate
with you via email for all events and
volunteer opportunities. Please look
for updates on the portal, through the
school weekly, or from an email from
myself, Mary or your Class Rep. We
received a clear message from all of
our parents last year, that they would
like us to move away from paper based
sign ups and handle coordination and
communication electronically.
continued on pg 10...
9
 Please do not hesitate to
contact Mary Towey or me if you are
interested in getting involved or would
like to lend a hand. We will be sending
out an email each trimester outlining
any other activities on campus that can
use some extra hands.
We are still looking for a
volunteer to coordinate Woofstock
with Ted Smith in June and a volunteer
to assist Jen Onken with the Lassiter
program in the spring. Mary and I
would love to speak with you if you are
interested in helping out with one of
these great events.
Upper School Coordinators
Mary Pat Dolan & Mary Towey
CLASS OF 2011
Class Advisors
Ted Sherbahn & Brad Fletcher
Senior Class Reps
Karin Wittet & Leigh Ann MacFarlane
Senior Class Events
Coffeehouse (October 8)
Auction Gift Coordination with
Advisors (February) - Black Berwick
Chair with Gold Signatures
Seniors 100 Day Lunch (March 3)
Senior Mugs
Senior Banquet (June 10)
CLASS OF 2012
Class Advisors
Kyle Ridgway & Peter Lassey
Junior Class Rep
Kelley Corson
Junior Class Events
Junior Prom Fundraiser - Berwick Logo
- Portable Chairs
(September/ October)
Coffeehouse (Jan 14)
Class Auction Gift w/ Advisors (Feb) -
10
Adirondack Chair
Junior Mock Interviews (April 26)
CLASS OF 2013
Class Advisors
Zan Melhorn & Stacey Sevelowitz
Sophomore Class Rep
Mary Chase Connors
Sophomore Class Events
Freshman Survival Kits
(November - end of 1st Trimester)
Class Fundraiser (February)
Class Auction Gift w/ Advisors
(February) - Adirondack Chair
Coffeehouse (April 1st)
CLASS OF 2014
Class Advisors
Patrick Connolly & Lynn Wildnauer
Freshman Class Rep
Adriana Salomon
Freshman Class Events
Coffeehouses (November 19; May 20)
Auction Gift w/ Advisors (February) -
Adirondack Chair
US Arts Coordinator
Marie Winters
Fall Play
Winter Musical
Rehearsal Pot Luck, Back stage snacks
& Water, Intermission refreshments,
Cast Party
Assistance from: Robin Merrow,
Anne Caplin
Opportunities:
US Community Service/
Lassiter Coordinator
Woofstock Coordinator
1791 Letter ~ September 2010
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
As the summer drew to
a close, several Middle School
classes held their back-to-school
gatherings at the beach to kick off
the beginning of the school year. It
was not long before students were
back in the classrooms, meeting
their new teachers, getting pictures
taken for the new year and settling
back into academic life. On the first
day of school, the eighth grade was
already leaving on a class trip to
Merrowvista for a Leadership Retreat.
This was followed by the sixth
grade participating in a Community
Building trip to Saco, Maine a few
weeks later. On September 27, the
seventh grade went to the Browne
Center which is part of UNH for
service and stewardship work as well
as community building. We have
certainly hit the ground running. On
September 21, the Middle School
held its Back-To-School Night.
This night offered an opportunity
for parents to meet their childs’
homeroom and special subject
teachers, while also learning about
curriculum and program highlights
in all of their sons and/or daughters’
classes.
During the school year Dr.
Rosemary Zurawel holds several
Middle School coffees for parents
to come and chat about a variety of
subjects. These meetings are informal
gatherings. We hope you can attend
some or all of them throughout the
year. Check your Berwick calendar
or the portal for dates. The first one
kicks off on September 29. We hope
to see you there!
There are still several
openings for class representatives
in the Middle School so if you
would like to be involved and help
with some volunteer opportunities
please contact Francee Quinlan
quinlanteam@comcast.net or Joanne
Meyer at jomeyer777@aol.com
 BAPA COMMUNITY BENEFIT NEWS

Many thanks to all who have enthusiastically hopped on board the Community Benefit Committee! Although the
Community Benefit is months away, the planning has begun. We will once again host an Online Auction prior to the big
night, and will celebrate together at The Outlook in South Berwick on the evening of April 30 with exciting live auction
items, class gifts, the ever-popular “heads & tails game,” fantastic food, music, and dancing... a true celebration of our Berwick
community!

If you are interested in sharing your time, talent, or treasure to this great cause, please join the Community Benefit
Committee at our next meeting which will be held in the BAPA Office on October 7 at 8:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing
you!

Andrea Bristol Order Your Berwick Academy Chair Today!

Co-Chairs Community Benefit
malter92@comcast.net
Jean Jarvis
Co-Chairs Community Benefit
jean.jarvis1@myfairpoint.net
This year’s Junior Class is selling portable nylon chairs to raise
money for the Junior-Senior Prom. The Berwick Blue chairs are
constructed of sturdy nylon fabric that will hold up for years to
come. The bell tower logo will be printed on the back of the chair.
What makes this chair unique is that there is a zipper pocket in
the head rest area that allows for storing a cell phone, car keys,
player roster, newspaper etc. The chair is ideal for game viewing,
relaxing at the beach or a campfire. They make great holiday gifts
for students, grandparents or teacher/adviser appreciation gifts!
Thank you so much for your continued support and many thanks
to those of you who have already purchased chairs.

Order forms are available on the Parent Portal under Forms - All School Forms
and attached to the 1791 email. Fill out and return to the BAPA office to place your order!

See Berwick Academy in action!

Visit and subscribe to Berwick
Academy’s new YouTube channel!

Point your browser to www.youtube.com/berwickacademy. A new featured video will be highlighted each
month, and Playlists are available to search for videos in areas of interest including Athletics, Arts, and each
Division.

Watch our featured video about our 10th Day activities. View other videos from the Playlists, including Being
Green, A Day in the Life of Upper School, and Artist Spotlight - Derek, 3-D Art. In addition to our Media Gallery on
our website, new videos about community activities and events will be posted regularly on our BA YouTube
Channel. Subscribing to the Channel allows you to be notified by email when a new video is posted.

To subscribe to BA’s YouTube Channel: Simply click “Create Account” at youtube.com. After creating your
account, visit youtube.com/berwickacademy and click the yellow “Subscribe” button. You will then be notified
when new videos are posted.

1791 Letter ~ September 2010 11


HOMEWORK AND THE MEDIA
JUST DON’T MIX
Having just completed our
first week of school, I wonder if I’m
the only parent out there trying to
convince my son that homework and
the media (Facebook, YouTube, the
internet, iTunes and/or television) just
don’t mix. I wonder if I’m the only
parent flapping my arms, stomping my
feet and preaching, “Do you realize
how much more efficient you would be
if you just concentrated on one thing
at a time?” or “Do you realize how
much earlier you could get to bed if
you just get off Facebook?” I bet my
son is probably wishing for his mother
to just shut up and leave him alone so
he could get his homework done! I,
being the “good, neurotic parent,” just
can’t leave it alone and am bound and
determined to change this behavior. So
let me share some research about the
“ill effects” of multitasking and maybe
you can join me on my quest to prove
to our sweet, “know it all” kids that this
time, parents really do know what we
are talking about!
According to a 2009 report
from the Kaiser Family Foundation
nearly one in three (31%) 8-to-18 year-
olds say that “most” of the time they are
doing homework, they are also using
one medium or another –watching
T.V., texting, listening to music, and so
on. Parents of girls, I’m sorry to report,
have taken the lead over the opposite
sex in this trend too. Parents of boys
however are not completely off the
hook. Even though our sweet sons may
not be multitasking while studying,
12
Cindy Briggs - School Counselor
We l l n e s s N e w s
they are spending considerable time
(when they should be studying) playing
video or computer games.
Research also shows that media
does get in the way of school success,
particularly in the case of “heavy media
users”. Heavy users are defined as kids
who consume more than 16 hours of
media a day and light users are defined
as kids who consume less than 3 hours
a day. First of all, I must say that I’m
shocked at the definition of heavy
user. Basically this means that a kid is
sitting in front of a computer screen
or television every waking minute!
Secondly, knowing the amount of
homework Berwick students typically
get in the Upper and Middle School,
light users would also have trouble
keeping up with their homework if
they were playing three hours of video
games or on Facebook after school
everyday.
My guess is that we probably
do have a fair number of kids on our
campus that could be defined a “light
media users”... my son included! Even
though he’d probably flat out deny
it, I bet if I put an automatic timer on
his computer tallying up the minutes
he was flipping back and forth from
Facebook, YouTube, iTunes, and other
internet sites, he would be pretty
close to three hours. His inability to
acknowledge this fact is related to
“multitasking.” In fact, his generation
has been coined the “multitasking
generation.” He and his peers take
pride in being able to do two or more
things at once and believe that they are
being efficient. According to a 2007
article in the Washington Post, “The
1791 Letter ~ September 2010
current generation of teens is trying to
do a lot of multitasking because they
think it is cool and less boring.” One
teen, interviewed for the article who
boasts a 3.85 GPA stated, “I honestly
feel like I’m able to accomplish more
during in an hour if I multitask.”
Even though this generation
feels like they are being more efficient
by multitasking, it isn’t the case and in
fact this new trend may be affecting our
children’s cognitive development. Let’s
begin by just looking at the question
of efficiency. First, research has proven
that the human brain continues to
develop until 25 years of age. Secondly,
our brains are not physiologically
programmed to actively learn more
than one thing at a time. When faced
with two things simultaneously, the
brain basically “divides its horsepower”
and tries to focus on both, becoming
less efficient. The more similar the tasks
are the higher the level of inefficiency.
According to David Meyer, a
psychologist who directs the Brain,
Cognition, and Action Laboratory
at the University of Michigan, states
that kids don’t realize how much time
they are really losing by flipping back
and forth from their homework to the
media. The reason why is that they are
not just losing the minutes they spend
on Facebook, they are also losing
time getting reoriented after every
interruption. After a decade worth
of studies on multitasking, Myers and
his team concluded that homework
can take between 25 and 400 percent
longer depending on the complexity
and similarity of tasks. So much for
efficiency!
continued on pg 14...
 Rachel Saliba - School Archivist

Archives News

BERWICK ACADEMY 50 YEARS AGO

The Class of 1960 celebrated

their 50th reunion during Alumni
Weekend on September 25. Join me
in looking back at how much BA has
changed since they graduated:
The boarding students ate all of their meals in the housing for faculty members and their
basement of Burleigh-Davidson as the Commons was not families.
built until 1965. The Academy’s first gymnasium
wasn’t built until the spring of 1960.
Until then, the boys used part of the
Pit as a locker room and the girls and

Fogg Memorial Hall

Berwick Academy’s “Main

Building” Fogg Memorial Hall was the The Dean Varney Oakes House (where daycare
center of activity on campus. Notice is located today) served as faculty housing and a
the flag pole on the left that would dormitory as well.
eventually become a radio tower until
it was taken down in the 1980’s for
safety reasons.

The 1960 school year was the boys basketball teams hosted their
last year that BA was used as South home games at Central School.
Berwick’s public high school and 56 The first ice hockey rink was
boarding students had already started located on Fogg Field (notice BD and
to attend Berwick. The boarders lived Vaughan Eastman in the background).
Wentworth House
with faculty Ice hockey started in 1959 at BA.
members and Headmaster Kerr lived
their families in the Wentworth While the facilities at Berwick
in Burleigh House on Sewall Road Academy have changed dramatically
Davidson, in South Berwick. in the past 50 years, the importance
V a u g h a n The Hayes House was of “traditional New England virtues of
Eastman, and still privately owned. hard work and moral integrity in the
Dean Varney Three other homes classroom and on the athletic field”
Oakes House. located on Academy (1958 catalogue) has remained constant
Street, Vine Street throughout our history. Buildings,
Burliegh Davidson on Left and Vaughan Eastman on the and Union Street faculty and staff come and go, but our
right served as faculty housing and dormitories for the provided more alumni are the soul of the Academy.
boarding students.

1791 Letter ~ September 2010 13

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS...cont. from pg 5
been intended to hurt or to diminish
another’s sense of worth. We are a
diverse community in the ways in
which we learn, in our talents, and in
our economic wealth. Where we must
grow together is through respecting
and honoring our differences.
ATHLETICS NEWS...cont. from pg 7
BOOSTER MESSAGE
FROM PAULA REID, PRESIDENT
The Athletic Boosters would
like to extend an invitation to all new
and returning parents to join us at our
Booster meetings (see portal calendar
for information). We are looking for
volunteers to help with the Courtside
Cafe as well as participate in some
exciting plans this spring. If you
cannot attend but would like to know
how you can become involved, please
contact Paula Reid at paula@reidnco.
com.
A word of thanks to everyone
who donated baked goods, helped
set up, cook and serve at the Soccer
Jamboree on September 11. It was
a beautiful day and we fed over 200
athletes and families that day. Special
thanks to Sheila Woolley, Sam Reid,
Andy Diengott, Tom and Jodi Scanlon,
Sue Downey, Stephanie Lawrence,
Chris Nichols, and Stacey Barlow.
ARTS NEWS...cont. from pg. 8
Mellon, George Horrocks studied
Printmaking and Ceramics at Phillips
Exeter Academy, and Ellie Penati
studied Drawing and Painting at the Art
Academy College of San Francisco.
THEATER
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank, by
Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett,
will be presented by the Berwick
14
Academy Upper School Drama information must be balanced by the
Department on Friday and Saturday positive effects media has had on this
October 29 and 30 in Fogg Memorial. generation. Our kids, the “multitasking
Curtain time is 7 p.m. both evenings. generation” tend to be extraordinarily
good at finding and utilizing media in
This powerful and remarkable creative ways. Just attend any Middle
story opens in 1942, during World School project evening this year
War II, in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. and you will be amazed at how our
Anne, her sister and parents, along children have integrated media into
with other Jews, have been forced into their school work. I think it is up to
hiding, in order to avoid arrest and us as their parents, to monitor and
deportation. For two years Anne keeps assist our children in balancing this
a diary of her life with her family and incredible tool. Be it flapping our arms,
four others who live in a secret annex stomping our feet, or just plain pulling
above Mr. Frank’s business. Tragically, the plug when we think “enough is
they were discovered by the Nazis and enough,” because in this case parents
deported to death camps. Only Otto are correct… homework and the media
Frank, Anne’s father, survived. After just don’t mix!
the war, he returned to Amsterdam
and was given Anne’s diary, which had Sincerely,
been kept by the Dutch friend who Cindy Briggs
had helped the Franks to hide.
Tickets for this production,
which marks the beginning of the
Berwick Academy performing arts
season, are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for
students and will be sold at the door on
a first come, first serve basis. For more
information about The Diary of Anne
Frank or Beauty and The Beast, the Upper
School winter musical, please be in
touch with Liz-Anne Platt, lplatt@
berwickacademy.org .
WELLNESS NEWS...cont. from pg 12
The more important issue now
being explored is how multitasking
affects cognitive development. There
are researchers out there who believe
that we are creating a generation
of “swallow thinkers.” Myer’s has
reported that habitual multitasking
may condition kids’ brains to an
overexcited state making it difficult to
focus when they want to. He states,
“People lose the skill and the will to
maintain concentration, and they get
mental antsyness.”
My one word of caution
regarding this topic is that this
1791 Letter ~ September 2010
 SEPTEMBER 2010 ADDENDUM
GRADE 2 GRADE 11
Oberg, Alexis 603-742-6630 GRADE 7 Groman, Saul 603-580-1654
Christopher and Pamela Oberg Jacques, Mason 603-866-2058 Todd and Janine Groman
1 Alex Court Somersworth, NH 03878 Christopher and Barbara Jacques 27 Wiggin Way Stratham, NH 03885
211 Oak Hill Road Barrington, NH 03825
Estes, Sophie 603-674-9412 (c) Martin, Gabby 978-462-3533
Carol Estes Milne, Indigo 603-664-7101 Katherine Martin
35 Loon Cove Barrington, NH 03825 William and Kathryn Milne 25 Shore Street Newburyport, MA 01950
35 Chrissy Circle Barrington, NH 03825
GRADE 3 Radkay, Remy 603-926-2633
Yassa, Theo 510-703-8484 (c) Munick, Margaux 978-363-8815 Randy Radkay and Debbie Crowley
Sami Yassa and Johanna Thomas Bruce and Cheryl Munick 72 North Shore Road Hampton, NH 03842
156 Haley Road Kittery, ME 03904 27 Rivercrest Drive West Newbury, MA 01985
Richards, Autumn 603-664-7906
GRADE 4 Sullivan, Kaitie 207-641-4101 Mark and Tracey Richards
Federico, Willem 603-664-6888 Dennis and Megan Sullivan 150 Ham Road Barrington, NH 03825
Daniel and Carollyn Federico 37 Elinor Lane Wells, ME 04090
56 Waterhouse Road Barrington, NH 03825 Sanborn, Kristin 207-850-1329
GRADE 8 Brian and Marilena Sanborn
Walker, Kelsey 603-942-5667 Burzynski, Natasia 603-379-2663 94 LaValley Road Sanford, ME 04073
Mark and Diane Walker Gregory and Cara Burzynski
392 Merry Hill Road Barrington, NH 03825 119 Central Road Rye, NH 03870 GRADE 12
Auty, Jennifer 603-778-7043
GRADE 5 Grewal, Kerin 603-964-4384 Amy Robinson
Logue, Brialee 603-929-4995 Gail Garrison 34 Drinkwater Road Exeter, NH 03833
Jude and Kim Logue PO Box 231 Rye Beach, NH 03871
4 Katie Lane Hampton, NH 03842 Collins, James 781-275-8674
Jacques, Clayton 603-866-2058 Matthew and Annamarie Collins
Noel, Emma 207-676-1118 Christopher and Barbara Jacques 26 Railroad Avenue Bedford, MA 01730
Robert and Lynne Noel 211 Oak Hill Road Barrington, NH 03825
74 Deerfield Road North Berwick, ME 03906 Decker, Taryn 603-767-5910 (c)
Terenzio, Stephen 603-664-6709 Christine Hounsell
GRADE 6 Jim and Sarah Terenzio 26 Hancock Street Rochester, NH 03867
Anderson, Stone 603-642-4682 23 Stone Farm Road Barrington, NH 03825
Charles Anderson and Jennifer Lee-Anderson Gallant, Chuck 603-772-6098
31 Farm Road Kingston, NH 03848 GRADE 9 (Host Family)
Evensen, Gabe 603-379-8007 (c) Matthew and Stephanie Lawrence
Barbour, Emily 603-664-3046 Adriana and Craig Salomon 14 Exeter Falls Drive Exeter, NH 03833
John and Valerie Barbour 100 Woodland Road
28 Stone Farm Road Barrington, NH 03825 North Hampton, NH 03862 Serge Gallant and Nathalie Boudreau
Richard & Robin Evensen 603-775-7105 9490 de Salzbourg
Blackwood, Alex 603-781-5298 15 Hemlock Court Newfields NH 03856 Quebec City, QC G2B 0B5 Canada
Cheryl Blackwood
PO Box 488 Rollinsford, NH 03869 Fitzpatrick, Abbi 207-324-2843 Gorman, Jay 207-363-6220
Frank and Austin Catalano Jonathan and Jacqueline Gorman
Dunbar, Jack 207-251-4344 53 Coughlin Hill Road Lyman, ME 04002 102 Woodbridge Road York, ME 03909
Daryl and Lisa Dunbar
182 Kimberly Circle Wells, ME 04090 Motson, Kiki 207-439-5322 Matel, Trestan 603-929-3614
Peter and Starr Motson Didier and Penny Matel
Hutchins, Olivia 207-646-6060 3 Payne Road Kittery Point, ME 03905 152 Kensington Road
Beth Hutchins Hampton Falls, NH 03844
37 Pennacook Circle Wells, ME 04090 Perreault, Dan 603-664-5628
Stephen and Gayle Perreault Tzizik, Leah 603-292-6491
Kaplan, Harrison 978-499-8585 69 Boulder Drive Barrington, NH 03825 Dan and Lettie Tzizik
Rob and Katharine Kaplan 20 Riverside Farm Drive Lee, NH 03861
4 Shandel Drive Newburyport, MA 01950 GRADE 10
Collins, Oliver 207-439-1563 FACULTY/STAFF
Muse, Derek 207-967-8378 John and Nancy Collins
Greg and Carolyn Muse 137 Frost Hill Road Eliot, ME 03903 Berry, Barbara 207-251-8703 (c)
21 Ward Road Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Connors, Catherine 207-439-3041 Cornwell, Gray 603-866-0464 (c)
Reznicek, Henry 603-964-6104 Russell and Mary Connors
Kate McCormick Reznicek 30 Cutts Island Lane Kittery Point, ME 03905 Duehmig, Heidi 603-343-2729
9 Bradley Lane North Hampton, NH 03862 82 Court Street
James Reznicek 603-601-6338 Riddle, Cam 207-781-5560 Dover, NH 03820
75 Hayden Circle Hampton, NH 03842 Jeff and Tracy Riddle
2 Valley Avenue Falmouth, ME 04105 Fitzgerald, Teaya
Sattler, Emma 603-664-7498 Ian Wauchope
Lonn Sattler and Jo-Anne Fuller Sattler Sattler, Hannah 603-664-7498 16 Phelps Street Kittery, ME 03904
5 Robinson Lane Barrington, NH 03825 Lonn Sattler and Jo-Anne Fuller Sattler
5 Robinson Lane Barrington, NH 03825 Webb, Hannah 207-646-6454
Sullivan, Tucker 207-641-4101 10 Green Road
Dennis and Megan Sullivan Wells, ME 04090
37 Elinor Lane Wells, ME 04090 College CounselingAssistant

1791 Letter ~ September 2010 15


Dear Berwick Community,
Welcome back returning parents and
welcome to new families! I hope the
start of the year has been a smooth
one.
This year we welcome 119 new families
to the Hilltop. For new families, I am
sure that the start of the academic year
is exciting, but filled with questions
as you settle into the community.
With this in mind, I thought it would
be helpful to introduce families to
philanthropy at Berwick, specifically
the Annual Fund. For returning
parents, the information below may
also be a helpful reminder of the
important role the Annual Fund plays
in our community.
Every mid-October, Annual Fund
appeals are mailed to the parent
community. In the beginning of
November, new parents will receive
appeal letters and will be hearing from
fellow parents on the volunteer Annual
Fund team and the Development Office
about the Berwick Academy Annual
Fund. Some of the most frequently
asked questions by new parents are
the need and purpose of fundraising. I
hope that you find this brief summary
helpful.
What is the Annual Fund?
The Annual Fund is Berwick’s
yearly fundraising effort that raises
unrestricted dollars to be used to
support the operations of the School
immediately. The immediacy of its
impact makes the Annual Fund the
core of our institutional advancement
efforts.
16
Jedd Whitlock - Director of Advancement
Alumni and Development News
Doesn’t tuition cover costs?
Not entirely. The tuition at Berwick
only covers a portion of the cost to
educate each child. The three major
sources of income for the School are 1)
tuition, 2) income from investments (or
endowment), and 3) the Annual Fund.
Like all independent schools, Berwick
relies on charitable donations (which
are tax-deductible) to help support
operating expenditures including but
not limited to academic and athletic
programs, new technology, faculty
salaries, campus enhancements, and
financial aid that tuition alone cannot
cover. These unrestricted monies play
a critical factor ensuring that we have
a balanced budget every year and help
restrain the cost of tuition.
Ultimately, the Annual Fund can
be viewed in one of two ways.
Traditionally, it is seen as the source
of funds that covers the gap between
tuition and what it costs to educate
each Berwick child. It is equally valid
to consider the Berwick Annual Fund
as the tool that allows the educational
program to be truly extraordinary. If
the Annual Fund did not exist, the
experience of our students would be
compromised substantially. Simply put,
the Annual Fund directly supports our
most important resources – exceptional
teachers, talented students, and a
campus well-equipped for learning.
What are this year’s goal?
This year’s goal is to raise $585,000,
which is raised through many sources
including alumni, parents of alumni,
grandparents, faculty, staff, friends,
and current parents. Our participation
goal this year is for 70% of our current
parents to support the Annual Fund.
1791 Letter ~ September 2010
Each family at the Academy is asked to
make a voluntary gift to the Annual Fund.
We are encouraged that 67% of our parent
body supported last year’s Annual Fund. A
new record! It is a point of pride that so
many in our community join together to
support the School.
Who will be contacting me?
Berwick parent volunteers on the Annual
Fund team, trustees, or Jedd Whitlock,
Director of Advancement, will be
contacting you to invite you to join us in
supporting the Annual Fund when appeal
letters are mailed in early November to
new parent families.
We are indeed fortunate to have an
incredibly philanthropic community.
These philanthropic investments enable
Berwick to continue to open horizons for
the brightest students in the Seacoast in
transformative ways. Berwick is a premium
educational institution due to the annual
and loyal support from our community
since our School was founded in 1791.
If you have questions about the
importance of philanthropy at Berwick, I
encourage to visit www.berwickacademy.
com/annualfund or contact me with any
questions. Thank you again to all those in
the community who support the Annual
Fund, and thank you in advance to new
parents for learning more about it.
I hope that you and your family have a
happy, healthy, and successful year!
Best,
Jedd Whitlock, Director of Advancement
jwhitlock@berwickacademy.org
Direct: 207.384.6304