Metalsmithing with Winter Term students

Name: Lauren Head

High School: Mt Greylock Regional High School, Williamstown, MA

College/Grad School: Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and a great education at Craft Institutions such as Haystack Mountain School of Craft and Penland Craft School

Climbing mountains with Bob in the Cascade Range.

What are your roles at Gould?
At Gould, I am a teacher who likes to have fun and make people smile, who likes to empower kids by having them learn hands-on skills that often involve fire. I do and live what I teach. Currently, I teach art, coach alpine ski racing, and tennis, and co-direct the Tenth Grade Four Point Program. I am an advisor, a parent of a ninth-grader named Alexander, and am married to a great guy named Bob.

Proudest Achievement: Hearing about/seeing the work of Alumni who have become really good at what they do: professional artists, professional skiers, parents, you name it.

Having fun with the plasma cutter in the blacksmithing shop.

Last book I read: I got absorbed in the book H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald. It is a very interesting and well-written book and I encourage others to read it as well.

My soundtrack is: Right now I am enjoying listening to upbeat music from musicians/bands that have a “k” in their name. Cake, Beck, Pink.

Movie I would recommend: The Sound Of Music is my all time favorite. It has it all: Stunning scenery, adventure, risk, love, evil, beauty, happiness, dancing, and catchy tunes.

Favorite food: Maple syrup is good.

One word that describes me: Playfulandcurious . There, that is one word.

Winter Termers exhibiting symptoms of cabin fever.

Best advice I ever received: Listen well and be open to advice. Surround yourself with good people.

Why Gould?
Strong connections to the community and the natural world (big outdoor playground), the food is pretty good, plus it often feels like family.

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
I think it was a nice stainless steel bucket. Something I really want to do right now is go skiing in the Northern Islands of Japan.

The top of Cadillac in Acadia is always hopping.

What are your interests/hobbies?
I have way too many to list. Basically; making stuff, doing just about anything outdoors, spending time with family and friends, connecting people with other people. I also must admit that sometimes I am interested in just sitting still and enjoying the moment.

What animal do you most identify with?
My old dog Tonka. He was curious, kind, independent, mischievous and a bit goofy.

Ready to set gates

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Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, David Barstow, will deliver Gould’s Commencement Address on June 2, 2018.

Bethel, Maine – Gould Academy is proud to announce that David Barstow, senior writer at the New York Times and three-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, will be the featured speaker during their Commencement exercises on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

“David is a wonderful example of someone who lives the Gould mission – a life of purpose, action, excellence, and compassion,” says Matt Ruby, Head of School. “His work has often focused on shining light in the shadows. In an age when the term ‘fake news’ has regrettably become part of the lexicon, and journalism itself is having to defend its credibility, Gould is proud to welcome one of the most decorated and respected journalists working today.”

A native of Concord, Massachusetts, Barstow attended Northwestern University and began his career with the Rochester Times-Union in New York and the Green Bay Press-Gazette in Wisconsin. While at the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, Barstow was the finalist for three Pulitzer Prizes. In 1999, he moved to the New York Times where he has become one of the country’s leading investigative journalists.

“Because of family connections to Bethel — and my decades of skiing at Wildcat Mountain —  I’ve had the opportunity over the years to meet some of Gould’s incredible students and faculty,” says Barstow. “So I’m both honored and excited by this invitation to speak at Gould’s commencement.”

In 2004, Barstow and Lowell Bergman won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for a series of articles that exposed employers whose violation of basic safety rules led to the injury or death of hundreds of American workers. Five years later, Barstow won his second Pulitzer for “Message Machine: Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand” which uncovered the Pentagon’s use of retired military personnel to influence news coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2013, Barstow again won, along with Alejandra Xanic von Bertrab, the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting for multiple reports on how Wal-Mart used bribery to fuel its rapid growth in Mexico.  

Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University (left), presents David Barstow with the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2009. © 2018 The Pulitzer Prizes

Barstow has also been the lead byline on several other major stories, including an article that profiled the last hours of those aboard the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig. That article was adapted for the screen and became the feature film “Deepwater Horizon.”

Barstow is also the recipient of three Polk Awards, the Peabody Award, the Goldsmith Prize, the Alfred I. duPont Silver Baton, the Bartlett and Steele Gold Medal, a Loeb Award, the Sidney Hillman Award, the Daniel Pearl Award for Investigative Reporting, two Sigma Delta Chi awards for distinguished service, the Mirror Award, an Overseas Press Club Citation, and two Society of American Business Editors and Writers awards.

In 2010, Northwestern University honored him with a Distinguished Alumni Award and he was inducted into the Hall of Achievement at the university’s Medill School of Journalism in 2015.

Gould Academy’s 2018 Commencement takes place on June 2 at 10:00 AM on Alumni Field.

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The Gould community has a lot to cheer for with four Gould Alumni (Troy Murphy ’10, Sasha Rearick ’95, Parker Gray ’97, Mike Lacroix ’16) headed to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Troy Murphy ’10

US SKI TEAM | FREESTYLE MOGULS

Troy Murphy came into this season and Olympic year ranked sixth in the world – and as the top American. In December, he earned his first World Cup podium taking third place. Going into the Olympics, he is ranked 12th in the world, following his 14th-place finish at Mont-Tremblant – the last  World Cup event before the Olympics.

Troy started skiing when he was young. In fact, he doesn’t remember not knowing how to ski. “We just always skied. I was nine when I entered the Gould weekend program. I tried freestyle that winter and was in love with it immediately.”

Murphy continued to progress as a skier and joined Gould in the eighth grade as part of the Winter Term program. “That was one of the best winters ever,” Murphy remembers. “Some of my best friends to this day I met during that program.” Murphy kept improving throughout his time at Gould training at Sunday River. He started racing at the FIS level in 2009 and went to the National Championships twice before graduation.

After his first year on the World Cup in 2014, where he earned two fifth-place finishes and was awarded FIS Rookie of the Year, Troy narrowly missed making team for the Olympic games in Sochi. In 2015, he earned the title of National Moguls Champion and secured his status among the world’s best mogul skiers. Throughout 2016, Troy battled injuries but still earned two top-ten finishes on the World Cup. In 2017, Troy rallied with six top-ten finishes and finished the season ranked sixth in the world.

Watch Troy compete in the Men’s moguls qualifying round on NBC Olympics next Thursday, February 8 at 9:45 PM EST. Coverage begins at 9 PM.

Sasha Rearick ’95

US SKI TEAM | MEN’S ALPINE HEAD COACH

Sasha Rearick ’95 is in his sixteenth year working with the U.S. Ski Team and in his tenth year as the Men’s Alpine Head Coach. Rearick is responsible for coaching the entire US Men’s Alpine Team, including Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Super G.

During his tenure on the U.S. Ski Team, Rearick has coached some of the top men’s alpine skiers in the world like Ted Ligety and Bode Miller. He has coached in three Winter Olympic Games, including two as head coach, where his teams have amassed seven Olympic medals, including three in Sochi, Russia.

Rearick joined the U.S. Ski Team coaching staff after the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, UT. He coached at the men’s World Cup and Europa Cup level, serving as Europa Cup head coach during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. He then served as the technical head coach for two seasons before assuming the men’s head coach role in the spring of 2008.

He began his coaching career at Monarch Ski Area while in college at Western State Colorado University and was an instructor at the renowned French Ski School in Tignes for a year. He also coached for three years at Green Mountain Valley School in Vermont.

While at Gould Academy, Rearick skied under former Head Alpine Coach Tim Lavalle and current Head Alpine Coach Kurt Simard. Rearick came to Gould as a junior, and it was only then, after spending most of his athletic career on the lacrosse and football fields, that he truly started to focus on ski racing. He quickly realized that becoming a World Cup skier wasn’t in the cards, but he fell in love with alpine ski racing at Gould. “The passion of skiing is the outdoors, the international travel, the in-depth sports science that’s associated with skiing from the physical side and mental side, the geology…it all attracted me as a sport that I was passionate about working, teaching, and coaching in,” says Rearick.

Keep up with the Men’s Alpine competitions on NBC Olympics here.

Parker Gray ’97

US SKI TEAM | MEN’S ALPINE TECHNICAL COACH

Parker Gray ’97 is the Men’s World Cup Technical Assistant Coach for the U.S. Ski Team. Before joining the coaching staff of the U.S. Ski Team he was a Men’s Alpine Coach for Gould for over 6 years. For athletes and coaches, it is more of a lifestyle than a job. “It is important to get your time on snow at the high school age, but it’s also important to be involved in other sports to develop well-rounded skills,” says Gray. “Skiing is really hard to train for because any given run is only about two minutes long, so you’ve got to train in additional ways to improve. Athletes can definitely find all of that at Gould.”

Gray began skiing with Gould as a member of the eighth grade Winter Term Program and by his ninth grade year was competing in all four events: Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super G, and Downhill. Gray had quick success and progressed to compete at the USSA level, FIS level, NorAm, the US Nationals, and Junior Olympics by the time he was in eleventh grade.

Keep up with the Men’s Alpine competitions on NBC Olympics here.

Mike Lacroix ’16

Mike Lacroix has been selected to be a forerunner for the Snowboard Cross Event during the Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Recently Mike has competed in two World Cup Events in Val Thorens, France, and Montafon Austria. At Val Thorens, he was 76th coming into the race and moved up to slots to place 74th. In Montafon, he was slated 76th but moved up almost 20 spots to 59th for the day. Lacroix will return to the North American Cup Series to train and compete as part of Park City Ski and Snowboard Team and look to dominate the NorAms and gain experience to make a run for the 2022 U.S. Olympic team.

Mike Lacroix ’16

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3D Design & Modeling class in the Marlon Family IDEAS Center

Name: William Ayotte

High School: Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School

College/Grad School: Central Maine Community College

What are your roles at Gould?
Maker-in-Residence, Teacher, Learn to Ride Instructor, Boy JV Soccer Coach

Ski & Ride at Sunday River

Proudest Achievement: Building my first CNC router. My motivation to do so was my prop building hobby. However, the decision led me to learn the principles of mechanical engineering and robotics. This was the pivotal moment for me as an engineer. When I started it no one thought I could successfully build the machine. Afterwards, it hit me that it didn’t matter what other people thought, but rather that I believed I could do it. This realization gave me the confidence to try things like building multirotor drones or learning fine woodworking. These are all things that people might have thought were beyond me at one point in time, now; they are things I’m considered an expert in. That is why I’m a teacher today. I want to enable the student no one else believes can do it but has a real interest.

Digital Fabrication class discussion

Last book I read: Exploring Arduino

My soundtrack is: Tricky question. Glitch Mob – We Can Make the World Stop or Outasight – Now or Never.

Movie I would recommend: Brazil the final cut.

Favorite food: New York-style Pizza

One word that describes me: Persistent

Best advice I ever received: A straight line from point A to B may be the fastest route, but it’s far from the only route.

Why Gould?
One word, opportunity. I changed careers for the opportunity to help students achieve their potential.

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
Seeing a sunrise from an alpine mountaintop in the winter.

Celebrating at the top of Katahdin with his fiance Caroline.

What are your interests/hobbies?
Road cycling, snowboarding, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, gaming, woodworking.

What animal do you most identify with? Raven

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In case you missed the news, US Ski Team member Troy Murphy ’10 made his Winter Olympic debut in PyeongChang last night, and his first run was nothing short of incredible. A fast but smooth run and huge air translated to a fourth-place finish in Qualification Round 1 and earned Troy a spot in the Men’s Moguls Finals on Monday morning at 7:00 AM EST. You can watch his qualifying run on the NBC Olympics website, and stream the Final Rounds here.

A focused Troy Murphy makes his Olympic debut in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Men’s Moguls Olympic Format

The Olympic format for moguls is a little different than FIS World Cup events—here’s how it goes down. First, there are two rounds of qualifying. The top ten from each of the two qualifying rounds move on to Final Round 1. Then the finals are broken up into three knock-out rounds. Final Round 1 will consist of one run for each of the top 20 from qualifiers. The skiers start in the reverse order that they qualified, so Troy will have a great spot at fourth from last in Round 1. The top 12 from that round will move on to Final Round 2. The top six from Final Round 2 go on to Final Round 3 or the “Super Final” that will determine medal winners. Still confused? Check out the full explanation of Olympic competition format and judging from NBC Olympics.

Qualification Round 1 Top Ten:

1. Mikael Kingsbury (CAN), 86.07
2. Aleksandr Smyshliaev (OAR), 83.93
3. Dmitriy Reikherd (KAZ), 81.23
4. Troy Murphy (USA), 80.95
5. Ikuma Horishima (JPN), 80.35
6. Daichi Hara (JPN), 80.01
7. Pavel Kolmakov (KAZ), 79.98
8. Philippe Marquis (CAN), 77.77
9. Matt Graham (AUS), 77.28
10. Sacha Theocharis (FRA), 76.55

So buckle up for Monday morning, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

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Name: Martha Grover

High School: Telstar High School

College/Grad School: Bennington College – BA Architecture, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth – MFA Ceramics

What are your roles at Gould? Ceramics Teacher

Proudest Achievement: Being featured on the cover of Ceramics Monthly magazine

Last book I read: The Book of Lost Things by Steven Crossley

My soundtrack is: Audiobooks while working alone in my studio and 60s/70s oldies music in the Gould Ceramics Studio. I like to listen to “fluff” audio books while making pots — cozy murder mysteries and young adult books. Nothing so challenging that I will miss important details if I tune out to focus on what my hands are making.

Movie I would recommend: Roman Holiday or To Catch a Thief. I love old movies, especially those with costumes by Edith Head and all of her beautiful gowns.

Favorite food: All of them—My husband says that I wake up in the morning asking, “What’s for dinner?” I love to eat all kinds of food.

Timelapse from Martha’s wildly popular Instagram account.

One word that describes me: Dedicated

Best advice I ever received: One of my professors told me to always have enough pots at the ready so that I could fill a solo show tomorrow. Being that prepared has paid off on multiple occasions.

Why Gould?
My husband and I moved to Bethel two years ago to be closer to my aging parents and open a pottery studio here. Shortly after moving back, I received a call that Gould was looking for a ceramics teacher. I had never taught high school before, only college and adults, but it has proved to be a wonderful fit for me. Gould is such a special place to have so many different artistic opportunities for students. I really enjoy sharing my passion for clay and have been amazed at the talent and thoughtfulness of the students.

Emptying the wood kiln last spring with the Alternate Firing Methods class.

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list? Visiting Machu Picchu last year.

What are your interests/hobbies?
I love what I do and do what I love, so most of my time is taken up with making pots, talking pots, looking at pots, and teaching pottery; but on those rare occasions that I’m not in the studio, I love flowers and enjoy being in the garden on my parents’ farm. I also enjoy traveling. I’ve been to 46 states and will cross off Alaska this fall. I have also been to 23 countries outside the US including Japan, Singapore, Thailand, China, Peru, Sweden, Belize, and Italy to name a few.

What animal do you most identify with?
Hmm…I don’t know that I have an animal that I identify with most but when I was little my mom used to call me a “tame crow” because I liked shiny objects so much.

Martha and Maggie hanging out in her home studio.

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Coach Gandee giving instant feedback on jumps at our on-campus airbag.

Name: KC Gandee

High School: Lake Braddock, Burke, VA

College/Grad School: Eastern Mennonite University

What are your roles at Gould?
Gould Competition Snowboard Program Director, Boys JV Soccer Coach, Director of Awesome

Coaching on the hill at Sunday River

Proudest Achievement: American Association of Snowboard Instructors National Team 2004-2008

Last book I read: Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (at least once per year)

My soundtrack is: Currently Bad at Love – Halsey Google Radio

Movie I would recommend: King of Kong: Fistful of Quarters

Favorite food: Burritos

Coach KC at USASA Nationals in 2016

One word that describes me: Energy

Best advice I ever received: “Don’t be an idiot.” Changed my life.

Why Gould? The partnership with Sunday River is amazing and I love the community—so much more than just snowboarding for me!

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
Spent a week on Kezar Lake in an amazing place with great friends and my amazing wife Courtney

Coach Gandee and his wife Courtney on their boat

What are your interests/hobbies?
Lakes, boats, wake surfing, rock climbing, golden retrievers (we have 2), whitewater, friends

What animal do you most identify with? River Otter

Couldn’t make it to the mountain, got tied up on campus.

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Ashley & Boo proudly donning their Gould AOTM pullovers

Daniel “Boo” Buie ’19 and Ashley Humphries named Gould Athletes of the Month for January 2018

Ashley Humphreys ’18

Alpine Ski Racing

From Assistant U19 Girls’ Alpine Coach Anne Rockwell:
“Ashley Humphreys has been working hard this season and has had some great races these past two months. In January, Ashley took her first FIS GS podium, placing 2nd at the Clarkson University races at Whiteface. Ashley also competed well at the Devo FIS Sugarloaf Super G series earlier this month. She took a 6th and 9th place against tough competition from Canada and other US teams. Academically Ashley has been balancing her race schedule and classes well. No doubt she is very athletically and academically driven. I’m happy to nominate Ashley Humphreys for athlete of the month.”

Ashley competing at the Colby Carnival earlier this year.

Some of Ashley’s recent results:

• 1/31 – 1st @ Eastern Region USSA SG
• 1/28 – 2nd @ USCSA FIS UNI GS #2 @ Whiteface. 1st FIS podium for Ashley.
  (I don’t know when Gould last put a woman on a FIS podium. 1st place was current US Ski Team member Cecily Decker.)
• 1/27 – 15th @ USCSA FIS UNI GS #1 @ Whiteface
• 1/22 – 1st @ MARA SG #1 at Sunday River
  1/22 – 1st @ MARA SG #2 at Sunday River
• 1/21 – 36th @ Colby Carnival FIS UNI
  (This might be the best result of all considering the quality of the competition.)
• 1/14 – 6th @ MARA SL at Sunday River, 2nd for U19
• 1/11 – 4th U19 @ Eastern Cup FIS SL @ Stratton
• 1/10 – 5th U19 @ Eastern Cup FIS GS @ Stratton
• 1/6 – 7th @ Colby Winter Classic USSA SL, 1st for U19

Daniel ”Boo” Buie

Varsity Boys’ Basketball

From Boys’ Varsity Head Basketball Coach Cory McClure: “As an eleventh grader, he has helped guide the boys’ team to new levels of competition within the NEPSAC. With his growing leadership, a victory over Gould has become a tough task. He raises the play of his teammates and that bodes well for the short-term and long-term success of the boy’s program.”

Boo drives the lane against Bridgton.

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In the art studio with Lilo ’19

Name: Kipp Greene

High School: Valley Central High School (Montgomery, New York)

College/Grad School: Purchase College and Virginia Commonwealth University

In the Owen Art Gallery

What are your roles at Gould? Visual Arts Department Chair, Owen Art Gallery Director, JV Baseball Coach, Gehring Dorm Parent

Proudest Achievement: Coupla kids

Last book I read: Judy Pfaff, Elvehjem Museum of Art

Guiding young artists in the Art Cottage.

My soundtrack is: Lovage

Movie I would recommend: Office Space

Favorite food: Really good pizza

One word that describes me: Daddy

Coupla kids & Kipp

Best advice I ever received: It’s not how you get somewhere, it’s what you do when you’re there.

Why Gould? It’s a nice place to be.

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
Catching a bluefin tuna

What are your interests/hobbies?
Art and Baseball

What animal do you most identify with?
Sea turtle

It’s no fish story, he really landed this bluefin!

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In a few days, we’ll have ninth graders all over the world in China, Ecuador, and Tanzania as they take part in their first Gould Four Point experience. 20 students will be in China learning about the country, staying with local families, visiting schools, and immersing themselves in the culture there. Students have been working on various topics related to their destinations in their History and English classes. They have also been preparing their journals, packing their bags, and thinking about all of the things they might learn on through this experience. Our older students who have already completed a Ninth Grade Four Point trip look back on their experience and say, “I learned more than I ever thought I would!”

We can’t wait to hear what this year’s students have to say about their experience.

Keep up to date with their trip by following this blog. Trip leaders will do their best to post updates regularly.

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In a few days, we’ll have ninth graders all over the world in China, Ecuador, and Tanzania as they take part in their first Gould Four Point experience. 16 students will be in Tanzania throughout the month learning about the country, staying with local families, visiting schools, and immersing themselves in the culture there. Students have been working on various topics related to their destinations in their History and English classes. They have also been preparing their journals, packing their bags, and thinking about all of the things they might learn on through this experience. Our older students who have already completed a Ninth Grade Four Point trip look back on their experience and say, “I learned more than I ever thought I would!”

We can’t wait to hear what this year’s students have to say about their experience.

Keep up to date with their trip by following this blog. Trip leaders will do their best to post updates regularly.

The post Ninth Grade Four Point: Tanzania! appeared first on Gould Academy.

In a few days, we’ll have ninth graders all over the world in China, Ecuador, and Tanzania as they take part in their first Gould Four Point experience. 10 students will be in Ecuador learning about the country, staying with local families, visiting schools, and immersing themselves in the culture there. Students have been working on various topics related to their destinations in their History and English classes. They have also been preparing their journals, packing their bags, and thinking about all of the things they might learn on through this experience. Our older students who have already completed a Ninth Grade Four Point trip look back on their experience and say, “I learned more than I ever thought I would!”

We can’t wait to hear what this year’s students have to say about their experience.

Keep up to date with their trip by following this blog. Trip leaders will do their best to post updates regularly.

The post Ninth Grade Four Point : Ecuador! appeared first on Gould Academy.

Name: Nancy Barstow

High School: Kearsarge Regional High School

College/Grad School: University of New Hampshire

What are your roles at Gould?
English Studies Teacher, Soccer coach, Advisor, Rugrats Director, Ninth Grade Four Point Leader

Hanging out at the equator on Ninth Grade Four Point earlier this week!

Proudest Achievement:
Maintaining relationships with students after they graduate

Last book I read:
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

My soundtrack is: 80’s music…or Willie Nelson.

Movie I would recommend: National Lampoon’s Vacation

Favorite food: Crepes!

The Rugrats program teaches skiing and snowboarding to local elementary school kids from Bethel.

One word that describes me: Real

Best advice I ever received: This too will pass

Why Gould?
Because it’s a career and family all wrapped up into one.

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
I’m not really a bucket list person, but we just decided to take our kids to Europe this summer!

What are your interests/hobbies?
Nordic skiing, cooking, movie watching, hanging out with friends and family

What animal do you most identify with? The Kingfisher

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Name: Dave Bean

High School: Jamesville-Dewitt

College/Grad School: University of Vermont/University of Utah

What are your roles at Gould? English Teacher and Skateboard Program Director

At Exposure Skate 2017 with Alec Beck, Januz Brodka, and Amelia Brodka ’08.

Proudest Achievement: I’m the father of Zoe ’17, Lilo ’19, and Utah ’21 and the husband of Brooke Libby.

Last book I read: The Autobiography of Gucci Mane

You never can tell what Mr. Bean will be spinning, but you know it’ll be vinyl.

My soundtrack is: Everything, surprising stuff from all genres and times.

Movie I would recommend: I don’t make recommendations. Think for yourself.

Favorite food: All things vegan and everything my wife cooks

Mr. Bean at the board while Coltrane looks on.

One word that describes me: …

Best advice I ever received: Listen

Why Gould?
The forests, mountains, and rivers of Western Maine are a sacred place. Our classroom is as big as all that.

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
Buddhism asks that you live in this moment.

One on one instruction at the Harkness table.

What are your interests/hobbies?
Writing, reading, hiking, skiing, biking, skateboarding, traveling, building, and helping others, most particularly directing the Bethel Food Pantry

What animal do you most identify with?
Mountain Lions run up to fifty miles a night and are shy.

Sharp dressed men, ready for assembly.

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What is Junior Four Point?

Every year in March, Gould Eleventh-Graders venture into the White Mountain National Forest for the eight-night winter camping excursion known as Junior Four Point. Leading up to the big day, lots of students are filled with anxiety about the trip. By design, there are a lot of unknowns. Who will be in their group? Who will their trip leaders be? Where will they go? How cold will it get?

Gearing Up Before Heading Out

(CLICK PHOTO FOR GALLERY)

They might not realize it at the time, but they leave campus extremely well prepared for their journey. Besides being accompanied by expert faculty trip leaders, they are also impressively geared up. Here’s a short list of just a few items they are outfitted with.

• snowshoes
• backpacks
• pack liners
• sleeping bags
• sleeping pads
• tarps
• shovels
• cooking pots
• water bottles
• waterproof pants
• a waterproof shell
• down jackets
• military grade “Mickey Mouse” boots and bunny boots

With all of that in tow, Four Point groups could probably stay in the woods until spring. Dining services also make sure that they are well fed. Hiking all day and setting up camp in deep snow is hard work, so students need to replace thousands of calories. You really can’t eat too much on Junior Point. There are legends of whole sticks of butter being added to hot chocolate after a long days hike.

Group Shots & Mountain Tops

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See More Junior Point Photos Here!

On the surface, this appears to be an exercise in wilderness survival. Students learn to navigate the woods, build and cook over a campfire, dig shelters, string up tarps, and most importantly, stay warm. But these hard skills are only part of the picture.

Why Go Into the Woods?

Director of Experiential Learning and Four Point Program Coordinator Chris Hayward gives a lot of thought to the underpinnings of Junior Four Point. He talks at length about the importance of the competencies gained on Four Point excursions. Problem-solving, effective communication, and caring for one another are just a few of the benefits he envisions. “These skills are essential in life and this is much more than a wilderness trip, it is a journey into each and every student’s person, and helps them figure out who they are and who they want to be,” explains Hayward. “Students learn that they can take on daunting tasks and that they can work as a team, be creative, and get through anything they put their minds to. They will need this confidence as they move forward.”

On the Move & Doing the Work

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Facilitating this type of empowerment can require a bit of a reset. Students at Gould lead busy lives. They have classes, athletics, clubs, service opportunities, instrument lessons, standardized tests to prepare for, college visits, and much more; all while being inundated with their digital lives and social media. Not a minute of a typical Gould day goes unaccounted for, and students are perpetually plugged in. That’s where the Junior Four Point program comes in. None of those distractions are allowed out in the woods. No smartphones, no studying, no texting, no video games, and definitely no snapchatting. Just their peers, their trip leaders, and the wilderness. It’s a chance to unplug, to reflect, and get to know their fellow students in a more intimate setting. “It was about focus. Setting up tents, starting a fire, making dinner,” says David Song ’19, a Gould Junior from Seongnam, Korea. “Those three simple goals brought us together. When we were focused there was synergy and chemistry within the group. We found a way to work together.”

I had a chance to think again about the opportunity that I have right now, and what I should do with this opportunity. It was precious time. I have this [new perspective] right now, and my goal is to hold on to it.”

– David Song ’19

Around the Campfire

(CLICK PHOTO FOR GALLERY)

Maybe even more importantly, it’s an opportunity to take some time to learn something new about themselves. Students learn where they fit into a group. Where they can flourish. Anna Clare Miller ’19 of Mercersburg, PA found that to be a leader, it doesn’t necessarily mean being vocal all of the time. “I learned about leadership and where, in a group, I work best, and how I can help other people. I learned that sometimes you have to take a step back and observe, and sometimes you can’t be passive. You need to get your opinion out there because it might be constructive.”

“I learned about leadership and where, in a group, I work best…sometimes you can’t be passive. You need to get your opinion out there because it might be constructive.”

– Anna Clare Miller ’19

Coming Out of the Woods

In the end, the physical part is manageable. Trip leaders pull back after the first few days and let the students take the lead. Groups figure out how to work together and thrive in the cold. Being in the woods becomes their reality. Walking without snowshoes feels unnatural, the taste of campfire in your water is commonplace, and calmness and serenity become the norm. The constant need for technology is gone, and students are present and engaged with their teams. Nancy Eaton, a Science teacher who has been leading Junior Four Point trips for fifteen years, noted that relationships and self-reflection are at the core of the program. “Junior Point is about making connections, with each other and within oneself,” says Eaton. “I hope my students emerge with a new perspective on their peers and with a few new friends. They discover that they are stronger and more capable than they ever imagined.”

Trip leader Nancy Eaton with Sophie Szurko ’19 showing off her strength and capacity to adapt

To quote Pete Hedden, past Gould faculty and long-time trip leader, students emerge from the woods on day nine feeling “ten feet tall and bulletproof.” That sentiment is echoed by Kat Dade ’19 of Gilmanton Iron Works, NH, who only a few days earlier thought there was no way she could survive eight nights on Junior Four Point. “We’ve become so independent in these nine days, think about how much more we can grow in life.” Kat further reinforced, “It’s not about hiking, it’s not about if you’re physically fit. It’s about what you can learn about yourself, your classmates, and it gives you the chance to reflect on how you fit into the world.”

“Nine days in the woods? No Way. NO WAY!”

– Kat Dade ’19 (prior to Junior Four Point)

When faced with the notion of whether or not they would do it again, some students are proud of what they have accomplished and have a new found appreciation for the simple things, but would never consider it. Many others, however, would do it in a heartbeat. Right after they take a hot shower and a long nap in a warm, comfortable bed.

Special thanks to all the trip leaders who took cameras out into the woods and came back with these fabulous shots!

See More Junior Four Point Photos Here!

The post Navigating Junior Four Point: Winter Camping With A Deeper Purpose appeared first on Gould Academy.

Lareina, Sophia, Mercer, and Keenan excited to be at the Camden Conference. Photo: Lauren Kennedy

What do Harvard Government professors, former translators for Nixon, and former Obama advisors on China have in common? They were all distinguished speakers at the 2018 Camden Conference on International Affairs.

Over the weekend of February 22-24, I accompanied six Gould students to the 2018 Camden Conference. Gould seniors Eva McMillan ’18, Sophia Bai ’18, Keenan Miller ’18, Lareina Zhang’18, Mercer Chen ’18, and Laura Brechtelsbauer ’18 all took away a valuable experience.

Gould seniors braving the cold to learn about and discuss global issues at the 2018 Camden Conference.

According to Mercer Chen, “What I loved the most about the conference was the quality of the speakers. They were all extremely [well] qualified and had very impressive experiences. One (Chas W. Freeman, Jr.) served as President Nixon’s primary interpreter during his 1972 visit to China. These are some very inspiring people who made me realize that the world has many challenges awaiting our young generation.”

The students gave two excellent presentations to two separate but equally authentic audiences. The first, New World Disorder in the News, was delivered to 75 of their peers from the eleven other Maine high schools in attendance. The second presentation focused on what they had taken away from the conference and was delivered at an all-school assembly back at Gould.

Sophia Bai ’18 presenting at assembly

Sophia Bai appreciated what she learned: “As a Chinese student studying in the U.S., I have always been curious about the relations between China and U.S. The Camden Conference speakers dispelled a lot of my confusion and gave me a close understanding of the history, current state, and future picture of U.S.-China relations.”

Eva & Laura between speakers at the Camden Conference | Photo: Lauren Kennedy

In his presentation to Gould students and faculty Chen sounded a note on the importance of civic engagement: “If you want to have real change in the real world, you will have to participate in politics. It could be as simple as going out to vote when you turn 18, campaigning for a candidate you like, or running for office as a state legislator in the future,” he said.

“If you want to have real change in the real world, you will have to participate in politics.”

– Mercer Chen ’18

The spring, AP Comparative Government students will be researching and submitting essays to the 2018 Camden Conference Essay Contest on this year’s theme of “New World Disorder.” Specific topics will include:

• nationalism/populism,
• social and economic globalization,
• climate change,
• population growth,
• and cyber insecurity.

Last year’s essay award winners included Gould’s Zoe Bean ’17 (1st place) and Sam McMillan ’17 (3rd place).

The post Thinking Globally at the 2018 Camden Conference appeared first on Gould Academy.

Ninth Grade Four Point trips provide an opportunity for first-year Gould students to travel the world while bonding with their classmates. Immersing themselves in an unfamiliar culture with purpose allows students to become experienced travelers, not just tourists. In addition to exploring a new culture, students are asked to keep a journal while they are abroad. These reflections will be used to write a TED Talk-style presentation that will be delivered to their peers during the Spring Trimester.

Kevin journaling in Beijing

Our partnerships with local schools allow students to discover more about the country’s history, dive into their contemporary culture, arrange homestays, and experience rich interactions that would otherwise be impossible. It also gives us the chance to play host and return the favor when our friends from the Chengdu Experimental Foreign Languages School (CEFLS) visit Gould the following year. Ninth Grade Four Point is the epitome of Experiential Learning. It breaks down the barriers of classroom walls and brings Human Geography, Freshman English, and World History to life.

We’ve been traveling to China and visiting CEFLS for over ten years now, and we’re extremely fortunate to be able to offer these connections to our students. Here are just a few highlights from this year’s trip to Beijing, Kunming, and Chengdu; excerpts pulled from the reports of trip leaders Kelly Hood, Colin Penley, Gabby Scheffler, and Tom Whittington.

Beijing: Day 1! The Great Wall

March 5, 2018

From Kelly Hood and Gabby Schreffler
Blue skies with a nice breeze allowed for great views and a sunny hike during the day as we headed from tower to tower of the ancient landmark. It was nice to get out and moving after sitting on the long plane ride, but we’re expecting some sore legs tomorrow. After hiking for a while, we stopped and had a nice picnic lunch on one of the platforms and got to try some Chinese snacks—cucumber potato chips, cheesecake pocky, and the infamous meat candies!

No walls between these three

After dinner, we ventured to the Night Market to eat different treats and desserts. Mr. Whittington lead a group straight to the first stand where he modeled his adventurous spirit by trying scorpion. Kalena followed in his path, raving about the spider she ate.

Adventurous eating in the Night Market

Beijing: Day 2, Time in the Forbidden City

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

From Gabby Schreffler, Kelly Hood, Colin Penley, and Tom Whittington
We headed out to explore the Forbidden City. On our way, we walked around the outside of Tian’anmen Square, the world’s largest public square. From there we could see the gates to the Forbidden City, where we were greeted by a large portrait of Chairman Mao. Once inside the walls, it was as if we had transported into a different era. This maze of temples was built for the emperor in Ancient China and has almost 10,000 rooms! We wandered around, making our way through some rooms, down the aisles, and through the temples.

The Forbidden City

Cassie, Bella, and Yusuke

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Beijing: Day 3, Heaven Sent

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

From Gabby Schreffler, Kelly Hood, Colin Penley, and Tom Whittington
Our last full day in Beijing did not disappoint. After breakfast at the hostel, we trekked to the Dirt Market—an outside market lined with stalls and little shops where local craftsmen and women sold their paintings, beads, figurines, and other tchotchkes. We got a lesson in how to barter in another language. Each salesperson is equipped with a calculator into which a customer types in their intended price for the item. The salesperson then shakes their head curiously and enters a usually outrageous number in return. Repeat steps one and two until a compromise is made.

Students haggle in the Dirt Market

After lunch, we headed to the beautiful Temple of Heaven, a place of Taoist worship built in Ancient China. Inside, the ceilings were covered with intricately designed patterns. Did you know the Temple of Heaven was built entirely out of wood, with not one nail?

The Temple of Heaven

Tomorrow we will wake up and head to the airport where the groups will split up, heading to warmer weather in Chengdu and Kunming. Everyone is anxious to meet their host families and continue the adventure.

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Chengdu: Day 1, Chengdu Experimental Foreign Languages School

March 8, 2018

From Kelly Hood
When we arrived on campus, the students were in awe of the new facilities. CEFLS actually moved to this campus just this week! We had the opportunity to see the new athletic facility and observe part of an exercise class. At 6:00 pm, each Gould student met the person who would be hosting them for the next several days. Our students were given a handmade sign and flowers as a welcome—kind gestures that helped calm their anxious thoughts. They left with their host families for the evening and will reunite with the whole group early tomorrow morning for another day full of adventure.

Students with their hosts

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Kunming: Day 2, School Visits

March 9, 2018

From Gabby Schreffler and Tom Whittington
After lunch, we climbed to the fourth floor for a Chinese painting class. We used special brushes and ink and worked on practicing different strokes to create realistic bamboo shoots. The group was split into two and were challenged to a friendly competition. Although the score wasn’t officially tallied, it was concluded that Aidan, Kevin, Mia, and Hunter took home the prize, however, Celeste showed some true artistic abilities in her drawings!

Work in Progress

Focused artists

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Chengdu: Day 2, The Giant Buddha

March 9, 2018

From Kelly Hood and Colin Penley
A majority of our day was spent traveling to and from Leshan to see the Giant Buddha, a world heritage site. On our way, we stopped at a local restaurant and ate a number of Leshan specialties like the radish soup and the spicy chicken. Once we completed our meal, we took a boat tour, which gave us the opportunity to see the Giant Buddha from below. We were all impressed by the vast structure and eagerly took a group photo in front of it.

After the boat returned to the dock, we had the opportunity to see the Giant Buddha more closely. As we climbed the stairs, we saw the smaller carvings along the walls. When we finally reached the top, we descended a steep staircase. It was incredible to see it from this perspective. Many people lit candles and said prayers while we stood in awe of the effect the Buddha had on everyone.

Alexander poses for a photo with a monk from Gansu province

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Kunming: Day 4, Celebrating Yunnan’s Ethnic Diversity

March 11, 2018

From Gabby Schreffler and Tom Whittington
Our hosts joined us on a trip to the Yunnan Nationalities Village, about a half hour bus ride from the school. We even rented our own city bus! Once we arrived, we set off to explore the 25 Yunnan minority groups, all with their own little theme village throughout the park.

The first stop for many was the elephant by the gates. Cassie was first up, sitting on the elephant’s back while we all took pictures. Hunter stepped up the plate as well, opting for a ride on the elephant’s trunk; turns out they are very strong!

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Chengdu: Day 5, Panda-monium

March 12, 2018

From Kelly Hood and Colin Penley
We eagerly anticipated our destination because it involved seeing panda bears. In the park, we saw Red and Giant Pandas of varying sizes and ages. We took numerous photos, including a group selfie with one of the bears. Many of us admired the pandas’ lifestyle and joked that we too would love to eat and sleep all day. They appeared so satisfied and content with life. It was a great reminder that we should slow down and be present in everything that we do.

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Kunming: Day 6, The Shilin Stone Forest

March 13, 2018

From Gabby Schreffler and Tom Whittington

The Stone Forest

This morning we gathered at 8:30 am and boarded a van to travel to the Stone Forest. It was a quiet ride, as most of us were tired and looking forward to the opportunity for a sleepy van ride. Once we arrived, we were refreshed and ready to explore.

Stone Forest – Lotus Pond

The Stone Forest is a collection of amazingly jagged and tall rocks that look as if they were carved by man. The park was absolutely beautiful, and the warm sunny day made it even more enjoyable. We walked around together, taking time to wander off into crevices and take pictures atop rocks and by lakes.

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Chengdu: Day 6, Lots of New Friends

March 13, 2018

From Kelly Hood and Colin Penley
We spent the afternoon at the primary school that is affiliated with the Chengdu Experimental Foreign Languages School. We had our best afternoon yet. The experience is almost impossible to put into words. Picture hundreds of energetic eight to twelve year olds eagerly participating in class and then running rambunctiously through the school playground. We had the opportunity to attend four different classes. During the first period, we learned about the traditional blue and white pottery that China is well known for. We even got to make our own.

To conclude our long but rewarding day, we made our own dumplings at the primary school. A big thank you to their dining hall staff for providing us with the ingredients and for modeling how to fold the wrappers in unique ways. After eating the delicious meal we made, everyone congregated outside to take pictures and say goodbye.

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Kunming: Day 7, Goodbye Kunming

March 14, 2018

From Gabby Schreffler and Tom Whittington
Our final day in Kunming! We met at 8 am this morning and took off to The Kunming Economic Development #3 Middle School. When we arrived, we toured the spacious track and field area as well as the school’s “Happy Farm.” When the bell sounded, the students all filed onto the field and conducted their daily exercises. Once complete, a representative of the school introduced us and we watched two dragon dances and a modern dance performed by the students. After the assembly, we had a go at doing the dragon dance. The dragon is held up by nine poles, with a leader in front guiding the movements. It is a lot harder than it looks, but I think we made a few decent arrangements!

Team Dragon

Learning to lead

The Dragon chasing it’s tail

After the dragon dancing lesson, we attended a robotics class. This school placed first in all of Southwestern China in a highly competitive robotics competition. We watched and helped the students as they programmed their robots and test drove them on a course.

Programming lesson

On course

Afterward, it was off with the hosts for the last dinner before we all meet again at a hotel tonight. It’s an early morning tomorrow and we’ll be doing a bit of time travel, but we’re ready to bring back some great memories. See you all on the other side!

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Chengdu: Day 7, The Beginnings of Goodbye

March 14, 2018 (Pi day!)

(From Kelly Hood and Colin Penley)
We sat down for our last traditional style meal before our departure tomorrow. We enjoyed numerous dishes, but more importantly, we enjoyed the company of our new friends. After dinner, students returned to their host families for one final evening together before we all meet at the airport for a very early flight. We have had an incredible 12 days and cannot wait to bring all of our stories back to the Gould community!

Students and hosts enjoy one last meal as a group

New friends

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A lot happens on Ninth Grade Four Point. So much, that it’s impossible to encapsulate it here. Students travel great distances together, both literally and metaphorically. It’s a rich, life-changing journey that binds classmates together for life, one which is central to the Gould experience.

The post Ninth Grade Four Point – China in Review appeared first on Gould Academy.

The spring trimester has just begun, but our athletes finished their seasons strong while we were on break. The Athletes of the Month for February and March are Maia Garfield ’20, Stephanie Nicols ’18, Donovan McKee ’18, and Wildens Leveque ’19. Here’s more on these student-leaders from their coaches.

Maia Garfield ’20

Alpine

Maia took first place in both the GS and SL in the NEPSAC championships, leading the girls’ team to the championship. She followed that up with a 6th place finish in the SG and 11th in the SL and also qualified in the first seed for the Paneled SL at the U16 nationals in Mission Ridge, Washington. She consistently had some of the strongest performances of the Eastern Region skiers and has been a great teammate all year.

Stephanie Nicols ’18

Nordic

Stephanie won the New England Prep School Championship at Proctor Academy. With this performance, she helped lead the Gould girls’ team to a third-place finish overall. She qualified as one of the top skiers for the Maine Team and competed at the Eastern High School Championships against the best high school skiers from all over New England. She finished 10th in the freestyle sprint and 17th in New England overall. Steph is planning on attending St. Lawrence University and has been recruited to ski on their Division I Nordic team.

Donovan McKee

Alpine

Donovan qualified for US Alpine Championships and US National Junior Championships based on his results in February. Although he was unable to compete in the post season due to injuries, Donovan put together an impressive season of results. Here are just a few highlights from this past February.

• 8th Eastern Cup FIS SG @ Sugarloaf
• 6th Devo FIS GS at Berkshire East | 3rd for U19
• 6th Devo FIS GS at Berkshire East | 2nd for U19
• 17th National Performance Series FIS SL at Waterville Valley
  (This series brings all the top U21 and U19 athletes in the country together.)
• 10th National Performance Series FIS GS at Waterville Valley | 4th for 2000 YOB
• 13th National Performance Series FIS GS at Waterville Valley | 5th for 2000 YOB

Wildens Leveque

Boys’ Basketball

Wilden’s overall improvement played a major role in the Boys’ Prep Basketball program achieving a NEPSAC record of 4-1 in February and achieving a #6 Seed in the NEPSAC AA Boys’ Basketball Tournament.  His development and impact on Gould Basketball earned him All-NEPSAC AA honors, which is selected by opposing coaches around the league. He finished the season averaging 14 points per game, 13 rebounds per game, two blocks per game, and 50% Field Goal Percentage from the floor.

The post Athletes of the Month – February and March 2018 appeared first on Gould Academy.

Gould Academy recently announced the hiring of coach Parker Gray ’97 to lead a gap year alpine program for the Gould Academy Competition Program (GACP). Gray will also serve as Athlete Development Advisor for GACP. Gray comes to Gould from the United States Ski Team, where he served on the Men’s Alpine staff for three years, recently coaching in the 2018 Olympics. An alumnus of Gould and a Newry native, this is a return home for Gray.

Director of On-Snow Programs Kurt Simard welcomes Parker Gray back to Gould

“I am very pleased to have Coach Gray return and lead this new and exciting element of our alpine program,” says Kurt Simard, Director of On-Snow Programs for Gould Academy. “Parker brings excellence, expertise, and energy to our program. His contributions have already been felt.”

The Gap Year Alpine Program

The gap year alpine program is new to GACP for the 2018-19 season and is focused on college accepted high school graduates (male and female) with goals of earning spots on highly competitive college programs and/or the US Ski Team.

“I’m excited to come to Gould and bring the experience, knowledge, and perspective that I have gained in the past few years working with the best athletes in the world. Gould is an excellent school, the alpine program has great coaches to work with, and we have a tremendous partner in Sunday River.” – PARKER GRAY ’97

An active member of the on-snow community, Gray’s resume includes experience coaching all over the world. For the past four years, Gray has been a World Cup coach for the US Ski Team, working closely with some of the most successful athletes and at the highest level of the sport. In 2008, Gray was named Vermont Alpine Racing Association coach of the year, and he has extensive experience working with youth and high school age athletes. A 1997 graduate of Gould, Gray is a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, a two-time Junior Olympic Downhill Champion, and Overall Junior Olympic champion in Downhill and Super G.

“We’re thrilled to have Coach Gray return to the Gould Academy community, and are excited to see his influence on our athletes and the program,” added Gould Head of School Matt Ruby.

For more information on the Gap Year Alpine Program contact:

Kurt Simard
Director of On-Snow Programs
207-824-7948

The post Parker Gray ’97 to Lead New Gap Year Alpine Program at Gould appeared first on Gould Academy.

Of course, Earth Day is enormously important, but why celebrate one day a year when we should really adopt an “Every day is Earth Day” mentality?

Gould celebrates Earth Day to jumpstart an awareness in our students of their responsibility as lifelong stewards of the outdoors. The environmental issues facing our students can be overwhelming, but the Earth Day program at Gould attempts to demystify those obstacles and give each student the confidence necessary to enact real change now.

Twelfth graders tackle a carbon-neutral living space.

Earth Day program organizer Tracey Wilkerson explains, “Our goal was for students to work collaboratively to seek solutions to problems that are relevant to them. Can we improve our recycling practices on campus? How can we reduce our consumption of single-use plastic? Can we envision a carbon-neutral living space?”

With these questions in mind, Tracey, along with science teacher Peter Southam and Director of the Marlon Family IDEAS Center Sara Shifrin designed a day of workshops that asked students to find solutions to these complex questions.

Get an inside look at the day in the video above and hear from Lucas St. Clair ’96 and Auburn Putz-Burton ’21.

The Keynote

The day kicked off with a keynote address from Maine Congressional Candidate Lucas St. Clair ’96. Lucas drew upon his time at Gould and his experience advocating for the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument to deliver a hopeful and powerful message to the Gould community.

“Each of us has the power to make a difference. Through our individual actions and through collective actions. We can recycle and change our habits. We can push our leaders to get serious about climate change and support collective action like the Paris Accord. We can raise our voices for clean, renewable energy.”
– LUCAS ST. CLAIR ’96

The Workshops

After Lucas set the tone for a successful day, students broke off by class year to tackle tangible problems. Twelfth graders designed functional carbon-neutral living spaces. Eleventh graders created PSA films on the topic of single-use plastic. Tenth graders got their hands dirty digging through waste bins to gauge how well we recycle, and Ninth graders found alternative solutions to using paper cups and plastic lids in the dining hall.

Tenth graders sifting through campus waste from the dorms.

Breakout groups were given studio time to brainstorm and work through several iterations of the scenarios with guidance from faculty and special guests T.L. Tutor ’07 from ReVision Energy and Gould Earth Day pioneer Bonnie Pooley. Group leaders took turns pitching concepts to their classmates to fine-tune ideas and decide which solutions to present at the end of the day Town Hall meeting.

T.L. Tutor ’07 and Bonnie Pooley join the community for the day.

A Local Lunch for the Ages

Food Science and Systems students coordinated an amazing local lunch with dining services. Highlights included pork from Gould’s farm, local carrots, potatoes, greens, Maine Atlantic salmon and kelp, and Maine blueberry crisp with Gifford’s vanilla ice cream. Community members learned first-hand how satisfying a meal can be when it travels a short distance to your plate.

Enjoying a local lunch courtesy of the Food Science and Systems class.

Presentations and Wrap-up

The afternoon culminated with the community once again gathering in Bingham. The presentations revealed how productive and inventive the group sessions had been. Student leaders from each grade thoughtfully fielded feedback with well-informed responses.

Jay Riley brought the day full circle when he recalled a story from Lucas about a representative at Senator Susan Collins’ office conceding to him, “I think we’re going to have to stop ignoring you.” Mr. Riley challenged students, telling them that even though these ideas are great, it’s not enough. “You’re going to have to get used to meeting with resistance. You’re going to have to be patient, and you’re going to have to be passionate. You are going to have to find a way to elicit that response that says, ‘I think we’re going to have to stop ignoring you.’ Now let me hear your idea.”

Twelfth graders presenting on a carbon-neutral kitchen.

The post Does Earth Day Matter? [VIDEO] appeared first on Gould Academy.