March Madness in the Lower School!

In the Lower School, March Madness means reading, not basketball. Today, we kicked off the March Madness reading competition with a spirited read and sing-a-long in the auditorium. The students got a real kick when the male teachers sung in an extra low voice! All month, students and employees will be reading feverishly. I will report back in early April with some impressive totals, I am sure. Many thanks to our terrific librarian, Mrs. Tina Thomas, for organizing the assembly and the competition! Please enjoy some pictures below from the assembly.

10th Age Shadow Day in the Middle School

In an effort to make the transition from Lower to Middle School as smooth as possible for both students and parents, we have implemented a variety of programs over the past several years, including multiple parents' nights, summer laptop orientation, and four days of student orientation in the fall. In addition, the 10th Agers spend a day in the Middle School. Our first "shadow day" was today, and it was a big success. Two 10th Age homerooms saw a Middle School assembly, had lunch in the Atrium with the 5th graders, observed several classes, and enjoyed a fun activity in the gym. Science teacher Joel Ewen, after seeing the academic prowess of the 10th Agers first hand, exclaimed, "You learned enough today in science class to skip the rest of 10th Age!"

Lower School Valentine's Day Festivities

In the Lower School today, we had a pink and red dress down day in celebration of Valentine's Day. The children dressed down--or perhaps I should say "dressed up"--in style. Many homerooms also had a party, complete with activities and sweets. Smiles, cupcakes, and friendship abounded in the Lower School today! Please enjoy some pictures below and enjoy a safe and restful Presidents' Day weekend.

9th Agers Display a Fundamental with Style!

At Calvert, we are well-known for our emphasis on the fundamentals, which to many mean "reading, writing, and arithmetic." Those three subjects do not fully encompass, however, the Calvert fundamentals. When I speak of the fundamentals, I always include "public speaking" with the aforementioned "3Rs." From an early age, Calvert students have opportunities to speak and present in front of their classmates and teachers, give oral reports, and perform on stage. For generations, Calvert students have been taught, while in the Lower School Auditorium, to "speak to the eagle" in a strong, clear voice. Each time I step on stage as Head Master, I vividly recall moments from my childhood on the same stage, in the same Auditorium.

Today, the 9th Age girls and boys performed "The Baltimore Barnyard" and "The Sneetches," respectively. Both plays were excellent--funny, creative, and spirited! I heartily congratulate the students and teachers for their outstanding work. The students did a great job speaking (and singing) clearly and loudly to the packed audience. I stood in the back and heard every word. The boys and girls were obviously having a wonderful time on stage. I could feel their enthusiasm and happiness. I was definitely one proud Head Master this morning. Please enjoy a few pictures below.

Live from Internet Safety Night

Many thanks to the parents--close to 50--who attended tonight's Internet Safety Night. We had a nice blend of Lower and Middle School parents in attendance (and weighted, I think, toward Lower School). It has been a very worthwhile evening. As I write this post, we are just wrapping up the Q&A portion of the evening, and parents have asked excellent, insightful questions. We at Calvert (faculty, staff and administration) want to work in a collaborative effort with parents to ensure that we harness the power of technology in a safe, productive manner.

Winter soccer...bundle up!

Approximately 30 fifth graders have started braving the cold three days per week to participate in winter soccer, our intramural activity for this season. They look like they are having a great time already. Mrs. Williams and Ms. Strom are coaching...and playing!

Math Does Count!

Each year, a group of Middle School students competes in the Math Counts competition, which, as you might fathom from the name, tests students' mathematical abilities. I just received a wonderful e-mail from a parent of an eighth grader, and with the parent's permission, I share excerpts below.

"I just came home from an awesome event where I felt so proud of being part of Calvert School!In the Math Counts chapter competition today, Calvert School children performed so well that 5 out of the top 16 scorers were from Calvert! No other school in the Baltimore area had so many students in the top 16...This means that 5 of our students, and Calvert School as a team, move on to the state-level Math Counts competition in March, to be held at Hopkins.

I must also say that congratulations are in order for their coaches, Mr. Little and Ms. Yapsuga. They are the ones that every day teach these students, expect the most from them, and so the students rise to their expectations. Even today, their coaches were there for the whole event, finding calculators for the children who forgot them, bringing them bagels from Panera for breakfast, getting them pizza for lunch, cheering on, and making them all feel very lucky to be there.I really wanted you to know what a blast we all had!"

Congratulations to competitors and coaches and good luck in the state-level round!

Spring book club early announcement

I would like to give those Calvert parents reading my blog the inside scoop on my next book club. We will read the bestselling Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden for the book club to be held on April 9 from 7 to 9 P.M. at 2 Oak Place. For the first time, we will have a guest speaker. I am thrilled to announce that 1st Sergeant Matt Eversmann, U.S Army (retired), will join us. Matt, a former Army Ranger, is a decorated soldier and played a key role in the events in Somalia immortalized in both the book and movie versions of Black Hawk Down. Space is limited to 20 parents. RSVP to Gail Pietrowski at 410.243.6054 x 136.

Eighth Grade Art Display at Stone Mill Bakery

On Wednesday evening, February 4, Mrs. Larisa Kamp's eighth grade art students had the grand opening of their "Sweet Still Life" project at Stone Mill Bakery at Greenspring Station. Many students, parents, and teachers enjoyed the outstanding paintings, inspired by Wayne Thiebaud, and sampled tasty desserts. The paintings, whose subjects ranged from gumball machines to ice cream sundaes and cakes, looked edible as well! The paintings will be on display through February 18. I encourage you to stop by Stone Mill Bakery and have a look. Congratulation to Mrs. Kamp and her students for their great work!

Congratulations Squash Team!

My first blog post pertains to student success, in this case on the squash court. For the past few months, 34 Middle School students have been getting up early to practice at 7:00 A.M. three mornings a week. The team has been very successful all season, displaying an excellent work ethic, skillful play, and terrific sportsmanship. On January 31 and February 1, 12 Calvert players had the special opportunity to join 27 other schools and play in the United States Middle School Squash Championship at Yale University. The Calvert girls' team placed fifth, and the boys' team won the "B" division! Congratulations to the players, coaches, and parents!

February calendar reminders

Please note that there is no school for students on Friday, February 13, and Monday, February 16. We have a 12:15 P.M. dismissal on Tuesday, February 24, to allow for parent-teacher conferences. While not mandatory, the time on the 24th is a good opportunity to touch base with your child's teacher or advisor. If coming to school is not convenient, feel free, as always, to contact us via e-mail or phone.