Gould Varsity Boys Basketball VS. Bradford Christian Academy | WIN 90-84 

The Gould Huskies hosted the Bradford Christian Academy Sentinels on a Wednesday evening in the Farnsworth Field House for a NEPSAC AA varsity boys basketball contest. Gould started out strong on a six point run with a couple quick drives by Zack Mittelstadt ’18, but momentum shifted as the Sentinels put together a run of their own. George Papas hit a half court shot at the buzzer to put Gould up 46-40 at the half.

George Papas ’17 splits the defenders for 2 of his game-high 28 in the first half.

Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 scored 18 in the second half with 24 in the game and helped to secure a win for Gould as the game ended with a score of 90 to 84.

The Huskies will be on the road for the weekend as they play Worcester Academy and Wilbraham and Monson Academy in the SAS Holiday Classic in Barrington, RI.

High flyer Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 throws one down in the second half.

Key Players

Gould 

• George Papas ’17 – 28pts
• Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 – 24pts
• Skyler Nash ’17 – 10pts

Bradford Christian Academy

• Ronnie Silva ’18 – 22pts
• Carlos Acevedo ’17 – 20pts
• Joseph Okonoboh ’17 – 15pts

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Gould Varsity Boys Basketball VS. Holderness School | WIN 73-64 

Date of Game: November 30, 2016
Location: Holderness, NH      
Final Score: Gould 73  Holderness 64

The Gould Huskies kicked off their regular season at AA opponent Holderness School on Wednesday.  This was the first AA contest for Gould and proved to be a historic night for the academy.  The Bulls of Holderness did not make it an easy game for the relative newcomers. Keeping the game within reach to the very end.
Skyler Nash ’17 set the pace in the first half for Gould with a flurry of finishes at the rim with And 1 opportunities to maximize.  He finished with 15 of the 29 points scored for the Huskies in the first half.  Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 took advantage in transition and finished in the painted area with 8 points when Gould needed it early.
The Bulls were lead throughout with high percentage field goals from Phil Gebrehiwet ’18 who ended the night with 20 points.  The second half for Holderness was directed by Suke Mathon ’17 and his 19 points, 14 of which were scored late.  The dynamic duo tried to take the lead for the Bulls late but Gould outlasted them with a hot streak from George Papas ’17.  Papas dropped 17 points in the second half to end the night with 21 total.
Holderness heads to Lawrence Academy on Saturday 12/3/16 while Gould also hits the road Saturday at The Zero Gravity Prep Classic.

Gould Key Players:

• Skyler Nash ’17 (27 points)
• George Papas ’17 (21 points)
• Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 (14 points)

Holderness Key Players:

• Phil Gebrehiwet ’18 (20 points)
• Sukh Mathon ’17 (19 points)

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Gould Boys Varsity Basketball VS. Wilbraham and Monson | Win 68-66

Date of Game: December 17, 2016
Location: St. Andrew’s Holiday Classic
Final Score:  Gould 68 – Wilbraham and Monson 66

The Gould Huskies matched up with the Wilbraham and Monson Titans on Saturday in the second game of a back to back at the St. Andrew’s Holiday Classic in Barrington, Rhode Island.  The game went back and forth exchanging baskets and leads.  The game of runs started with the hot shooting of George Papas ’17 of Gould.  He continued to convert layups and field goals from deep to give the Huskies a lead early.  He finished the game with 26 points.

The Titans matched up with Gould well with tough guard play from Chris Childs ’18 and Miles Lester ’17.  Their 17 points and 12 points, respectively, helped to climb back into the game and eventually take a double digit lead late.  

With just over four minutes to go in the contest the Titans led the Huskies by 13 points.  After a timeout and defensive adjustment Gould looked to climb back into the game.  Defensive stops from Forward Brendan Hyde ’18 and Guard Skyler Nash ’17 (15 points) led to Husky points on the other end, tying the game in the last minute.

Wilbraham and Monson had the ball with the clock running down and just missed a field goal that could have won the game with 5 seconds to go.  Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 (18 points) cleaned up the defensive rebound for Gould and drove the ball the length of the court to complete the layup on the right side as the buzzer sounded.  Gould wins 68-66.  The Huskies take the win and momentum with them into the Winter Break with a 4-4 record in the NEPSAC AA League.

Gould Key Players:

• George Papas ’17 – 26 pts
• Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 – 18 pts
• Skyler Nash ’17 – 15 pts

Wilbraham and Monson’s Key Players:

• Chris Childs ’18 – 17 pts
• Miles Lester ’17  – 12 pts

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Power-Finesse is the name of a popular soccer shooting drill, but it also perfectly describes Cassie Lieblein’s ’18 game play. It is rare for any one player to possess both, let alone in equal (high) measure. For the 2016 season, Cassie was recognized as Gould MVP, All-MAISAD Conference player, and selected for the Boston Globe New England Prep School All-Star team. Cassie has also been selected as a Co-Captain for the 2017 season.

Cassie Lieblein fires a shot from outside the 18 yard line.

Cassie’s fitness and strength propel her to fire shots on goal from way outside the 18, yet if she’s surrounded by defenders – as she usually is – a light touch or two can get her out of almost any jam. Her skill, tenacity, and knowledge of the game contributed to her 11 goals and 3 assists during MAISAD play, 2 additional goals during the NEPSAC tournament, and an assist on the only goal during the NEPSAC Class C/D Junior All-Stars game. But Cassie isn’t just talented on offense. As center midfielder, Cassie can often be found hunting down a ball threatening her team’s goal, or sprinting hard to catch an opposing player on a breakaway. All-around, Cassie is indispensable and a wonder to behold on the soccer pitch.

As if that success isn’t enough, Cassie epitomizes the ideal student-athlete. When she’s not on the soccer pitch or training and competing at FIS-level ski racing, she takes the most rigorous schedule available and has earned High Honors consistently during her time at Gould.

Cassie passes a long ball to the wing.

The post Cassie Lieblein ’18 Named to NEPSAC Soccer All Star Team by Boston Globe appeared first on Gould Academy.

Girls Varsity Basketball VS Telstar High School | Win 49 – 16

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Gould Girls Varsity Basketball VS. Greater Portland Christian School | WIN 42 – 21

The Gould girls had an excellent all-around game on Saturday at the Farnsworth Field House.   The Huskies started strong on the defensive end of the court, allowing 7 1st quarter points before shutting out GPCS in the second quarter while building a 32-7 halftime lead. Gould was paced by Kayley Cadet with 15 points, Priscilla Berdeja with 9 points and Amelia McMillian with 6 points and 7 rebounds.  The girls improved to 4-2 on the season.  The Gould Huskies look to continue their winning ways on Wednesday 1/11/17 at Berwick Academy 3:30pm.

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Gould Boys Varsity Basketball VS. Kimball Union Academy | Win 74-65

The Farnsworth Field House was packed in on a cold Saturday afternoon in January to take in the NEPSAC AA contest of Kimball Union Academy at Gould Academy.  There the Huskies provided some heat and excitement on their way to another AA win at home.  The win for Gould moves their season record to 6-4 while KUA falls to 6-5.
Gould was aggressive early getting out to double-digit lead with a flurry of field goals from Skyler Nash ’17 and Jahbril Price-Noel ’18.  Both finished at the rim and from deep to continually push the Huskies forward.  D’Andre Johnson ’17 added to the Gould win with finishes at the rim and timely free throws.  Nash led the team in scoring with 25 points, Price-Noel had 16 points and Johnson gave 12 points to the cause.
The KUA Wildcats were led in scoring by Spencer Cline with 20 points, Eze Dike had 15 points, and Duje Radja added 14 points.  They look to bounce back against Loomis-Chaffee on Wednesday while the Gould Huskies try to continue their winning ways against MacDuffie School on Sunday at the Ballas TV Invitational at 4:00pm.

Key Players
Gould

Skyler Nash ’17 – 25 points
Jahbril Price-Noel ’18 – 16 points
D’Andre Johnson ’17 – 12 points

Kimball Union Academy

Spencer Cline – 20 points
Eze Dike – 15 points
Duje Radja – 14 points

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Gould Boys Varsity Basketball VS. MacDuffie School | LOSS 73-65 | January 8, 2017

The Gould Huskies hit the road Sunday at UMass Boston for the Ballas TV Invitational to take on MacDuffie School.  The game was one of runs and back and forth play attacking the rim.  The halftime score favored MacDuffie 31-30.  In the second half the trading of baskets continued until MacDuffie pulled away late.  Final score favored MacDuffie 73-65.  Gould looks to get back on track Wednesday at home vs Tilton School at 6:00pm.

Key Players
Gould
Skyler Nash | 22 points
George Papas | 19 points

MacDuffie
Ismael Nassori | 26 points
Dana Tate| 22 points

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Hello all!

For those of you who don’t me my name is Mia Shifrin and I am a tenth grader. I have the opportunity to continue my blogging—I blogged last year for the Nordic Blog. I will be posting roughly every other week throughout the rest of the year. One of my biggest focuses in the winter is skiing, so I thought I would share a little bit about the Gould Nordic world for my first post.

Some of my earliest days skiing

Usually when I tell people my own age that I am a nordic skier they give me a funny look and then proceed to ask if that is the type of skiing which involves running on skis. I have never quite been able to see how running and nordic look the same, as  I have grown up nordic skiing. I went up through the local kids league, the local Middle School team from fifth to seventh grade, and then the Gould team in eighth grade.

Me skiing last year at NEPSACs

Skiing at Gould has exposed me to a lot of different things in the Nordic world. I have attended races where I am starting behind a professional or college skier, but I have also been able to regularly ski in the Maine High School races. The thing that keeps me interested day in and day out about nordic is our practices.

Our weekly schedule goes something like this:

• Monday & Thursday: Technique
• Tuesday: Interval days or as DC says, quality training days.
• Wednesday: Over distance ski day and a way for us to get off campus
• Friday: Pre-race practice
• Saturday: Race Day!

Technique practice a few Thursdays ago

This weekend past weekend we attended the High School Opener at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, while another group headed over to Craftsbury for the Eastern Cup. Most of the team enjoyed being back into racing. Also, a quick shoutout to Izzy Chase who won the High School Opener!

Until next time,

Mia

Marcus, Ben, Steph, and Livy hanging out

Learn More About Nordic Skiing at Gould

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Faculty Spotlight:
Teaching Librarian Savannah Sessions

I am at Gould because I feel connected here.

Over the past five years, I have done a number of different jobs at Gould and not just in the typical boarding school sense. I’ve worked in College Counseling, I’ve covered maternity leave as a classroom teacher, and for the past two years I have had the honor of serving as Gould’s teaching librarian. In each of these roles I worked closely with a number of people – mentors, colleagues, students, advisees – who show me, time and time again, that Gould is one of the most supportive, welcoming, and loving communities in which anybody could hope to live and work. I am connected to this community.

Building connections in the classroom.

But my connection doesn’t start in the summer of 2012 when I first joined this community. You see, just before I started working here, my grandmother passed away. She was a huge part of my life and one of my heroes.

My dad, myself, and Meme at my graduation from Smith in 2008

My grandmother, Maxine, was orphaned at 9 years old when both of her parents died of tuberculosis. Meme survived TB, but had to live in a sanitorium for a while and had long lasting health problems as a result. She eventually went to live with her grandmother Sadie and uncle Clyde. Sadie was not a kind, loving grandmother like I tend to imagine. She was stern and old fashioned (she was born in 1877!). But uncle Clyde was the opposite. He took my grandmother fishing and hiking. They read books and talked. He built her up and gave her the love of a parent. I mention this story for two reasons – one, because it shows the grit of Maxine and provides an example of just some of the adversarial challenges she faced in her life. But I also share this story because uncle Clyde William Lapham was in the Gould Academy class of 1913. My first graduating class at Gould? 2013. 100 years of time had passed, yet learning this made my connection to Gould grow stronger.

I received this from my grandmother’s things a couple weeks after I started working here. I didn’t even know he went to Gould until that moment

My grandmother was inquisitive, thoughtful, and kind. She also constantly challenged the status quo, even if it was just to herself. She loved to think about philosophy and religion – and she would read books and visit various worship places or try a different practice to see what it was like. Once she had thoroughly researched all facets, she would put together her own doctrine comprised of the elements that spoke to her from each.

I know what you’re thinking – this sounds like a research project! And you’d be right. Maxine loved research. Maxine was a librarian too.

Maxine and one of her colleagues in the Oxford Hills High School Library somewhere around 1965

Trying to look librarian-y

It took a couple of years for me to come into this role as librarian, but each day, when I go to work, I get to feel connected to my grandmother and that is really special.

I am at Gould because I am connected through family, both given and chosen.

Savannah Sessions Q & A

High School: Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School

College/Grad School:
Smith College/University of Washington (MLIS in progress!)

Proudest Achievement:
I baked a baguette this summer and Martha Whittington told me it was pretty good!

Last book I read: Prisoners of Geography

My soundtrack is: Dawes. All Dawes-y, all the time right now.

Movie I would recommend: I’m not much of a movie buff. Probably the Princess Bride.

Favorite food:
I’ve been known to eat several dozen Jonah crabs in one sitting. Or basically anything I ate in China.

One word that describes me: Loquacious (see below).

Best advice I ever received:
My 11th/12th grade History teacher told me: Always be an amateur. In Latin, amateur means “to love”. If you’re an amateur, you do it for love, so in all things I hope to remain an amateur.

Why Gould? Why not?

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
I actually resist the idea of the bucket list. If I do or want to do something awesome, why would I want to cross it off and never do it again? I like to think of it more as building a life resume/CV. I build it up with experiences, and sometimes I repeat experiences that I really love. Lately I’ve been working on my Maine Resume especially. I can really get into fine tuning the Maine Resume as well – for example, last October I hiked Katahdin and it had snowed several inches the night before. So I’ve hiked a snowy Katahdin and saw Baxter in all her Snowliage (I’m pretty sure I made up that word) glory. Next time I hike Katahdin, it could be a sunrise hike, or a completely socked in and gray hike. Yes, I’ve hiked The Greatest Mountain, but that doesn’t mean I want to cross it off any list.

The post Savannah Sessions – One Hundred Years of Connection appeared first on Gould Academy.

Our featured athletes for the month of December both come out of the Competitive Alpine Racing Program. Discipline and hard work paying off. Congrats Acadia & Nate!

A little too chilly to model the Gould garb.

Acadia Johansongordet ’18
Alpine Racing

The post Athletes of the Month – December 2016 appeared first on Gould Academy.

Shannon Maguire ’16

Mike LaCroix ’16

Adalia Flores ’18

“The coaching staff at Gould Academy is beyond excited for Adalia,” says Snowboard Program Director KC Gandee “her work ethic is tremendous and she’s one of the most kind people anywhere!”

From left to right: Adalia Flores ’18, Shannon Maguire ’16, Mike LaCroix ’16

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Learn More About the Gould Snowboard Program

The post Gould Snowboarders to Represent USA in Snowboardcross at the 2017 FIS Junior World Championships appeared first on Gould Academy.

Skyler Nash ’17

It’s funny how in death great figures seem to lose their controversy. By the time Nelson Mandela died in 2013 he was revered by people of all colors. Be that as it may, this was not the case for much of his life which included being tried for treason and sabotage, and being imprisoned in a small cell forced to use a bucket for a toilet for 27 years, all over his fight for equal rights. When Muhammad Ali died this past year, you would have thought that no one had ever been so universally loved. However, for much of his life, until he slowly lost his ability to communicate, this was not the case. Lest you forget that Ali had his heavyweight title stripped from him, and was threatened with federal charges, jail time, and countless death threats for his refusal to enlist in the Army and participate in the Vietnam War. He consistently faced condemnation for his belief that the color of skin and his religious beliefs were entitled to the same civil rights and opportunities as all others. The same goes for the man that we honor tomorrow.

At this point in 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. is near sainthood, unanimously praised and exalted by all, regardless of race. What we must understand is that all too often this seemingly nationwide love affair with our fallen heroes is a form of emotional reparations for sins of past generations. Today on Martin Luther King day I dare you be conscious of this dichotomy. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an inspirational leader, a courageous organizer and a man of God, but he was also a radical. He had to be. While these days our politicians on both sides of the aisle feel empowered to use his name to accompany and justify their various partisan actions and beliefs, 50 years ago Martin Luther King was considered an enemy of the state and was vehemently opposed to our class system and the grossly unequal distribution of wealth that continues to plague our country almost 50 years after his death. Nevertheless, many of the proponents of the very things Dr. King was so opposed to in the American political and social structure find it fit to invoke his name with alarming regularity. Just look at their social feeds.

We are now so far removed from the reality of our country’s sordid past, and have so distorted the history of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that many have used his name to chastise and marginalize the very modern day civil rights movement modeled by his example, Black Lives Matter. Many of the issues Dr. King fought so hard against are the very same issues that gave birth to the Black Lives Matter movement and the events which we have seen dominate the news and popular culture these past few years. Some politicians have gone as far as to make blatantly nonfactual statements, as Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed did when he said, “Dr. King would never take a freeway.” As we know, and will see coming up in Ava Duvernay’s movie Selma, that is most certainly not the case. Not only would Dr King have “taken” a freeway in pursuit of civil rights, he did take one in a show of pure, unadulterated courage following the horrific and televised assault of Bloody Sunday in 1965. How about Mike Huckabee stating that Dr. King would be appalled by the Black Lives Matter movement, when in truth the facts of Dr. King’s life assures us that what he would actually be appalled by is Mike Huckabee himself. It is our duty to recognize that this practice of revisionist history regarding Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement, and the systemic oppression of people of color in this nation, is an effort to allow large parts of our country to remain comfortable keeping the modern day movement for civil rights at arms length and unmixed with their own lives. This effort is never more obvious than when we see peaceful protests devolve into riots such as they did in Baltimore and Milwaukee. Then we heard cries from both arcs of the political pendulum that due to his nonviolent approach, Dr. King, had he lived to see this day, would undoubtedly stand against this generation of protesters and activists. What they fail to remember however, or most accurately, choose to forget, is that Dr. King also said,

“I think that we’ve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay.”

We must admit that this “winter’s delay” remains true today.

So while many will take this day to post pictures of their black boyfriend or girlfriend happily stating that “MLK died for this,” and some will post pictures with MLK quotes and remark about how “far we’ve come,” we must understand that such watered down platitudes are an injustice to the truth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s existence. It is our duty on this day of all days to not only recognize this simplification, the ignorance and the historical rebrand, but to call them out, learn more and demand better. In recognition of that duty I invite you to revisit Dr. King’s most famous speech. Many of you may even be able to recite Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous words,

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,”

However you must know that simple ideal was not what this speech was about. Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was about a check that was written out to all citizens through the constitution, promising them their unalienable rights.

“Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.’”

I implore us all to recognize, on this day of all days, that that check of which Dr. King spoke so many decades ago has still not been funded by this nation. Realize that the civil rights movements that surround us today are meant to challenge us and make us uncomfortable, because they are demanding that America’s check be wholly and fully funded so that it can finally be cashed by us all.

Fifty years later we are still being led to believe the bank of American justice that Dr. King spoke of that historic day has insufficient funds to accommodate the equal rights of people of color, the LGBTQ community, women, veterans, the disabled and the displaced. But just as Dr. King did, we the believers, the fighters, the supporters of civil rights, must refuse to believe that proverbial bank is bankrupt. That’s why it is on us to celebrate and honor the true life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by rejecting revisionist history, by embracing the modern civil rights movements that surround us, and by doing everything within our power to make sure that no longer will we exist in a country where everyone cannot fully cash their check of justice and freedom. For it will be on that day, and only on that day, that freedom will truly ring. That will be the day all Americans will finally be able to say and mean Dr. King’s hopeful words he uttered so long ago from his podium at the capital,

“Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, we are free at last!”

The post An MLK Day Message: Civil Rights Reality Checks in a Bankrupt Culture appeared first on Gould Academy.

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“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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It came out of the blue. I wasn’t expecting it, but I was humbled. I was at Bates College attending MLK Day speakers and workshops with Gould students.

Shortly after, late in the afternoon, I accompanied my friend, colleague, and World Languages Department Chair Adam Leff through the streets of Lewiston/Auburn to meet staff at several organizations including the Immigration and Refugee Services and the Trinity Jubilee Center.

A glimpse at two of the student service projects on MLK Day.

We drove away from the brick and ivy of Bates in Adam’s car into what Adam said was the neediest zip code in Northern New England. Adam was excited to introduce me to the staff and show me the organizations where Gould students had served that day.

As we toured the facility, I heard the appreciation in the Director of the Maine Immigration and Refugee Services Center’s words, as he described the help that Gould students gave to their clients that day.

I saw the respect in the way that Erin at the soup kitchen in the Trinity Jubilee Center talked to Adam. I heard the care, the concern, and the respect that Adam gave to all the people we encountered – rich or poor, black or white, immigrant or American.

During this time with Adam, I found myself traveling back in time in my life to a time when service to others was more important than the checklist at work, the homework to do, the time of the race, or the score of the game. A time when people were the most important thing. A time when giving and service was the heart of what mattered. Seeing the impact that Adam and our students had on the world made me feel less jaded, younger, more present, and more alive. That hour with Adam helped me reflect on how service to others is taking time for what truly matters and how the most important gift we have to give is ourselves.

My hope for my daughter and the other Gould students who took part in service at one of the organizations listed below on Martin Luther King Day is that they hold onto what it means to give and serve others. As we grow up, it is easy for time and life to temper our idealism, and to lose ourselves in the to do list, the homework, and the treadmill.

My hope is for their service to awaken a sense of the possibility in the world, a sense that one can and should change the world, and a realization that life’s most important question truly is, “What are you doing for others?”

A list of the service projects, and where the students volunteered:

• Good Shepherd Food Bank
• Bethel Food Pantry & District Exchange
• Partners for World Health
• New Beginnings (Teen Shelter)
• Trinity Jubilee Center (soup kitchen)
• 7th Day Adventist Mobile Food Pantry
• Bethel Historical Society
• Bethel Village Trails
• Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation
• CEBE in Norway
• Child Care for Faculty
• Community Basketball Clinic
• Maine Veterans’ Homes – Augusta, Scarborough, and South Paris
• Maine Immigration and Refugee Services

More photos from the day can be seen here.

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Faculty Spotlight: Sara Whalen Shifrin ’88

Sara Whalen Shifrin lives the mantra that the only thing constant is change. From her time as a student to her recent move into the position of Director of the Marlon Family IDEAS Center, and everything in between, Sara leads at Gould by living the growth mindset, sharing her creative confidence, and always focusing on the user.

Sara Shifrin coaching the prototyping process in the Marlon Family IDEAS Center.

Stagnation has never appealed to Sara. Her tenure at Gould began in the English Studies Program, and then to the English Department where she later became department chair. As department chair, she designed and implemented a 9th grade curriculum truly focused on how 9th grade students learn. Next, she moved to the library where she oversaw a redesign of the Sanborn Family Library. And she didn’t stop there. Having her finger on the pulse of education trends, she knew what she wanted to do next. She took the leap to lead the redesign and transformation of the lower level of Hanscom Hall from archaic classroom space into a hub of innovation.

Sara Shifrin introducing podcasting equipment to the Tanzania Education Corporation leadership team.

Already flourishing in its 2nd year, the IDEAS Center has been the springboard for programs like the Modern Storytelling in Tanzania course being offered this winter, and Field Guide, a four day, intensive design thinking experience aimed at educators.

I recently sat down to talk with Sara for the second edition of the Gould Idea Cast. Sara’s love for learning new technologies has lately manifested itself in audio production, digital storytelling, and podcasting like a pro. Here she is, in her own words.

Sara making opening remarks at the first ever Field Guide Conference in June of 2016.

Sara Whalen Shifrin Q&A

High School: Gould Academy

College/Grad School: St. Michael’s College B.A. | Middlebury College Bread Loaf School of English M.A

Proudest Achievement:
I say yes: yes to learning how to use a laser cutter, yes to teaching in Tanzania, yes to learning to drive a tractor, yes to serving on local boards, yes to producing Field Guide.

Last book I read: Reality Radio: Telling True Stories In Sound
My soundtrack is: Birds: anywhere any season

Movie I would recommend: Blues Brothers

Favorite food: garden pesto + backyard blueberries

One word that describes me: indefatigable

Best advice I ever received:
If you plan on making boarding school your career, buy a house away from campus and learn to be a member of a community that is not defined by your job.

Why Gould?
Gould works with my driving need to develop programs, push ideas, and innovate from the inside to the outside.

What’s the last thing you crossed off your bucket list?
Sleeping out on top of Tumbledown Mountain with my daughter, Mia; mountain biking to one of the huts on the Maine Huts and Trails system with my son, Eli; and biking the Bold Coast with my partner and co-pilot, Brett.

The post Sara Whalen Shifrin ’88 – Intrapreneur & Design Thinker appeared first on Gould Academy.

Boys Varsity Basketball VS. Cheshire Academy
WIN 93 – 89 | January 22, 2017

“Sunday’s win over Cheshire Academy was a culmination of challenges put in front of our students.  These challenges came from the coaching staff and the schedule.  Our young men responded with a victory versus a NEPSAC AA staple program at a great showcase event.  On the backend of some difficult losses against tough AAA programs.”

Cory McClure | Gould Boys’ Head Coach

The Gould Huskies traveled to Cushing Academy for the inaugural NEPSAC AA Showcase on Sunday.  The venue provided two gyms filled with fans and over 20 coaches from the college ranks.  The matchup was versus Cheshire Academy, a team that Gould lost to in December by a score of 91-72.  A tall task for the Huskies.

Gould started the game with multiple three’s from guard Skyler Nash and forward D’Andre Johnson followed with inside-outside work from combo wing Jahbril Price-Noel. Aggressive defensive performances from guard George Papas, Johnson and Price-Noel kept the Cats of Cheshire at bay. Gould led 49 – 39 at halftime.

In the second half the Huskies continued their hot shooting behind Nash’s performance.  He added another 19 points to his 21 points from the first half and finished the game with 40 points.  Price-Noel finished the game with 22 points and 10+ rebounds.  D’Andre Johnson added 14 points, 10+ rebounds and multiple blocks at the rim.  Papas finished the game with 12 points and a great defensive performance against top Cheshire guard Rich Kelly.  For more content on the game checkout the New England Recruiting Report.

After four games in five days the Gould Huskies will enjoy some time off before their next game, at home versus Thetford Academy on Wednesday 2/3 at 4:00pm.

Key Players

Gould
Skyler Nash | 40 points
Jahbril Price-Noel | 22 points
D’Andre Johnson | 14 points
George Papas | 12 points

Cheshire Academy 
Jairvis Stevens | 17 points
Rich Kelly | 16 points
Jeff Alun | 13 points

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Gould Academy is proud to announce that Pious Ali, Portland City Councilor, will be the featured speaker at our commencement exercises on Saturday, June 3, 2017.

Portland City Councilor Pious Ali will address the Class of 2017 at Gould’s 181st Commencement exercises in June.

“Pious is a wonderful example to the Class of 2017 of how they, and all of us, can impact our community by living lives of purpose, action, excellence, and compassion. His work with youth in Portland, the Maine immigrant and refugee community, and his work as a Portland City Councilor are inspiring. I look forward to welcoming him to campus and hearing his message to our students.”

Matthew Ruby, Gould Academy Head of School

Along with serving as a City Councilor, Mr. Ali is a Youth and Community Engagement Specialist at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service and has spent the better part of his life focused on community engagement. He has created meaningful and ongoing dialogue across cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, and faith-based barriers.

“I am honored to be part of this special day and celebrate the success of Gould Academy’s graduating class. As they enter a new phase of life, I believe they will carry the compassion and inclusive values they have learned at Gould. At a time when our world is divided by so many lines, I am hopeful for these exceptional students who are prepared to be successful and responsible citizens. They will be the game changers of our future.”

Pious Ali, Portland City Councilor

Prior to joining the Muskie School, Mr. Ali worked with the city of Portland’s refugee services and spent many summers working as a facilitator for Seeds of Peace, a summer program which builds relationships and leadership skills among youth from regions of conflict. He also worked as a site coordinator for the Peer Leader Program at what is now the Opportunity Alliance in Portland, Maine, and as an Education and Community Engagement Coordinator at the Portland branch of the NAACP.

Pious being sworn in as a City Councilor at Portland City Hall in December. Photo from Portland Press Herald Staff Photographer Ben McCanna.

Mr. Ali is the first African-born Muslim American to be elected to a public office in Maine, becoming a member of the city’s elected Board of Public Education in 2013. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the Maine Interfaith Youth Alliance and the current co-director and co-founder of the King Fellows, a Portland-based youth group dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for youth through leadership and civic engagement based on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. Ali is an alumnus of the Institute for Civic Leadership (now known as Lift360), and in 2015 he was named Lift360’s Most Distinguished Alumnus.

A native of Ghana, Mr. Ali migrated to the United States in 2000 and has called Portland his home for the past decade where he lives with his daughter. He is also a gifted photographer and has worked as a photojournalist for a range of print publications in Ghana.

Gould Academy’s 2017 Commencement takes place on June 3 at 10:00 AM on Alumni Field.

The post Pious Ali to Speak at 2017 Gould Commencement appeared first on Gould Academy.

Emmett Dorval-Hall ’17:

• High School Senior
• Freestyle Skier
• Lacrosse Athlete
• Golfer
• Davidson Dorm Head Proctor
• Brother
• Teammate
• Friend

Those are just a few ways Emmett can describe himself in his time at Gould.

He knows the heartbeat of the school very well. Having two older siblings who walked the same hallways, helps him to appreciate the recent history of Gould. Where it has been, where it’s going, and everything in the middle.

‪Today we will be following Emmett in order to experience #gouldlife and what potential students can experience when they are #goingtogould‬

A photo posted by Gould Academy (@gouldacademy) on Jan 26, 2017 at 6:56am PST

This Thursday was spent like many other Thursday’s at Gould in the Winter Term. Though routine for Emmett, a day like this can be rare for others outside of our community. This is a day in the life of Emmett.

Thursday January 26, 2017:

8:00AM – Head to the Mountain

A bus from campus gets him to the Kailey Competition Center at Sunday River Ski Resort before 8:30am. There Emmett can spend the morning training with his Freestyle teammates, exploring the trails and escaping the world for awhile.

Emmett uses this time as his escape from the pressures that come with being a teenager in the depths of his senior year, while still planning for the next step.

He can learn from failure here on the hill, pick himself up and continue on again. The mountains are his classroom.

“On the mountain I can get lost. Use the time to think or not think at all. It’s my release.” – Emmett #gouldlife #goingtogould

A photo posted by Gould Academy (@gouldacademy) on Jan 26, 2017 at 9:07am PST

“On the mountain I can get lost.  I can use the time to think.  Or not think at all.  It’s my release.”

12:00PM – Back to Campus

After the morning sessions at Sunday River the school shuttle takes Emmett back to campus to start the academic day. After a shower and quick change in the dorm it’s off to the dining hall for lunch with friends and swapping of Snap Chat stories before getting to the daily assembly.

‪Downtime spent in-between classes collaborating on class work and social life. #goingtogould #gouldlife ‬

A photo posted by Gould Academy (@gouldacademy) on Jan 26, 2017 at 11:16am PST

12:40PM – Assembly

Daily announcements are given and the school is treated to a presentation from the students in the Global Club. After learning about how China and Korea celebrate the New Year, Emmett is ready to get to the classroom and take care of business.

1:00 – 5:15PM – The Academic Day

In Precalculus the class is going over graphing rational functions with Ms. Lowe. Next up in Modern Storytelling Techniques, Emmett is taking advantage of a flexed course time where he can meet with Ms. Shifrin one-on-one in the Marlon Family IDEAS Center thanks to our blended curriculum. She helps him to form his interview questions, from “softball” to the more advanced.

Flex courses like this in the IDEAS Center give Emmett the opportunity to work through projects with teachers, like Ms. Shifrin, in an individual setting. #goingtogould #gouldlife

A photo posted by Gould Academy (@gouldacademy) on Jan 26, 2017 at 11:44am PST

Afterwards we head to Law and Society where the class is preparing for a mock trial with Mr. Ruby, Gould’s Head of School. “This is your time to shine!” Mr. Ruby imparts to the class. Everyone is learning their roles in the process.

‪Mock Trial Preparation in Mr. Ruby’s Law & Society Class. “This is your time to shine!” – Mr. Ruby #goingtogould #gouldlife ‬

A photo posted by Gould Academy (@gouldacademy) on Jan 26, 2017 at 12:20pm PST

The last class of the day is Culture and Identity with Mr. Riley where Emmett is reading The Kite Runner and learning about betrayal and dealing with guilt.

5:45PM & Beyond – Dinner, Study Hall, and finally a chance to rest.

After the academic day, Emmett has dinner with friends back at the dining hall. After some down time in the dorm it’s time for study hall from 7:30-9pm to end the day.

To wrap up the day in the life, I asked Emmett what he likes best about Gould.

“What I like most about Gould is it allows me the opportunity to pursue skiing and lacrosse to the limits that I desire. With the academics that I need.”

Thanks Emmett, for letting me tag along.

The post A Day in the Life of a High School Senior – Winter Edition appeared first on Gould Academy.

Ski Selection

Okay, lame title, but important subject!

Like boot selection, the correct ski selection can have a profound effect on an athlete’s overall success and enjoyment each season. Now more than ever, skis come in broad range of lengths, widths, flex patterns, shapes, tip designs, tail design, vibration dampening, energy release systems, etc.

They’re made from wood, fiberglass, foam, Titanal, Graphene, Unobtanium, and utilize technology like Proptech, Aircoat, KERS, Doubledeck, even Flux Capacitors.

It’s a lot to keep track of, so let’s narrow it down a bit and discuss the skis we’ll be using in the Gould Alpine Program this winter during training and race days.

Europa Cup Downhill skis from Atomic featuring Double Deck technology.

How do they feel?

What really matters is the way a ski feels and responds to the inputs from the athlete who’s driving it. While it’s true that a great skier will ski well on anything, it’s also true that a great ski will give any athlete feedback, and can encourage good movements. The ski can be the teacher. So it’s worth putting some effort into making good choices, stiff enough to be stable, flexible enough to give feedback to the athlete. A developing athlete on the right equipment can make big improvements!

What do you need?

An athlete’s height, weight, strength and skill all play a role. The type of ski matters too. The best advice often comes from a coach or shop professional.

The next section will get you started.

Breakdown by Age:

6, 7 & 8 Year Olds

For our future stars one pair of good, all mountain skis is enough. Chin to nose height, a multi event, ski or “Race” ski that is not event specific will come short enough and provide good snow feel and edge engagement on hard surfaces for the grommets.

U10

This group of 9 year olds will need two pairs of skis, one pair should be a high quality Multi or “Race” ski and the other a pair of woods or beater skis.

U12

This is where it is really helpful to have a three pair quiver. In addition to your crappy skis, we’d really like to see each athlete have a designated pair of Slalom (SL) skis and Giant Slalom (GS) skis. Typically a slalom ski should be chin to nose height, no longer! GS skis should be at least forehead, no shorter!

U14

At this age you should have at least 3 pairs in the quiver; Crappers, Slalom, Giant Slalom and possibly Super-G? Same rules as U12 but go a bit longer on GS, at least a few inches over their head. In general, if you’re not sure about length, go shorter for Slalom Skis go longer for GS skis.

U16

It can be really beneficial to own a pair of Super-G skis, or borrow from time to time if you have access to a pair. Bringing GS skis to a Super G race is like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

U19

Length and model selection is pretty much determined by the type of racing you are doing. FIS races and USSA races have different ski requirements, outlined in this chart.

Brands

Everyone is making great race skis these days, but that doesn’t mean they’re all the same. Rossignol, Head, Atomic, Dynastar, Fisher, Volkl, Nordica, Blizzard, Elan and others, make great skis. Sidecuts and lengths may be similar but flex patterns and other subtle differences can really change how a ski feels. The key is understanding the differences and how they apply to your athlete. A conversation with your coach or favorite shop person is key to making a good call here. As athletes get older, on snow testing is an invaluable tool.

Rock skis, crappers, woods skis, beater boards, driveway sliders.

Everyone needs a pair, when the woods are skiable, we’ll be in there!

Bumps and park playtime can yield great benefits to developing athletes, plus it can be a blast! There are only few considerations about this part of your quiver. Size and shape does not matter too much, but a ski with some reasonable performance characteristics is a plus. Twin tips are fine, but a true park ski can be a bit too soft. All Mountain Twin Tips are ideal, please be sure the bindings are toe mounted, NOT center mounted. Skiing on a center mounted ski can encourage bad habits (remember the ski as the teacher from above?) If you have a budding park skier, perhaps a center mounted pair is justifiable, but primarily for park skiing, not really for free skiing. Most importantly, these skis will take a beating. One of my favorite ski people always said “You can have good skis or good memories.” Creating great memories sometimes involves some damage to your skis.

All of this information may leave you with as many questions as answers…ask them! Coaches, shop professionals, and friends with similar age athletes will all have a perspective.

If you have the opportunity, actually skiing on different brands and lengths can be very enlightening. Our GACP equipment test at the end of March each season is a rare opportunity to truly test junior race equipment.

ASK! TEST! and TUNE! But that’s another Blog.

Want access to expert information like this on the regular?
Learn more below.

Gould Alpine Competition Program Winter Term

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Priscila Berdeja ’17

Girls’ Basketball

From Varsity Girls’ coach Todd Siekman:

Skyler Nash ’17

Boys’ Basketball

From Boys’ Varsity Coach Cory McClure:

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