By Suzanne Gorman, Head of Downtown Campus

Whew! It feels good to have made it through a full week of school! We’re in full swing, with groups meeting (the Encouragement Club, the Black Students Association), Quick Recall getting underway next week (all comers welcome!), the sports teams competing hard (more about that in the Athletics section), and even our Back-to-School Night on tap for next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. I hope all parents can join us to go through your child’s schedule and learn more about the upcoming year. New parents are invited to a reception prior, at 5:30 p.m.    

Last weekend, while I was having a terrific adventure whitewater rafting and ziplining with the seniors, the National Youth Arts Awards ceremony was being held in New York City. Junior Caroline Frederick had a win for her performance last spring in Little Shop of Horrors, and many of her castmates received nominations. As well, Michelle Salerno and Bob Bertke earned nominations for direction and musical direction. A full list of the winners (including a number of our Middle Schoolers, as well) can be found in this newsletter – huge kudos to all of the nominees!

Projects began this week, with our usual Playwriting and Jazz Ensemble “classes” and a host of other inventive offerings, including 3-D Design, “Hook and Harry” (crocheting while watching Harry Potter movies), Cookies, Making Games, Yearbook, “Bad Music” (the songs we love to hate and hate to love), Black History, The Staircase (documentary series), and ULS. These are intended to let students explore something they enjoy (or might enjoy) and provide another opportunity for community-building. Hard to say who has more fun with them, the students or the faculty!