Assemblies at George School are different. They will probably challenge your opinions and worldviews, inspire you, and give you and your friends a lot to talk about. Here are some highlights of assemblies from the 2008-09 year:


Friday, May 15, 2009
Recognition Assembly

Head of School Nancy Starmer recognized the contributions of all members of the George School community. Academic recognition included seniors who have made the Head of School’s List, the Honor Roll, and/or both lists for six or more terms during their time at George School. Faculty members announced the recipients of the Pi Letter Awards, the Laramore Awards, the Caroline Buck Book Award, the Rhode Island School of Design Award, and the Argo Poetry and Prose Awards. Nancy Starmer announced the faculty recipients of endowed chairs and professional development grants for the 2009-10 academic year and recognized faculty and students who will be leaving at the end of this academic year. The student editors of Opus, the school yearbook, announced this year’s yearbook dedication. All audience members were invited to sing “The George School Hymn” to conclude the assembly.


Monday, April 27, 2009
Career Day

During this assembly period, George School students explored nineteen different career options in workshops planned by the Parents Association. Alumni workshop presenters were Wayne Chen ’99 (architect), Paul Hammer ’74 (career planner), Peter Ingerman ’52 (computer programmer), Ayse Figanmese ’03 (flood control engineer), Arthur Henrie ’47 (entrepreneur), Johanna Kolodny ’97 (food system expert), Allison Betof ’01 (MD/PhD candidate), Shari Nathanson Rosenbloom ’80 (metallurgical engineer), Melicia Escobar ’96 (midwife), Jon Spare ’77 (pilot), Jennifer Kasirsky ’84 (OB-GYN hospitalist), Laura Goldberg Saluja ’84 (primary care physician), and Hannah Galantino-Homer ’85 (vet and biomedical researcher). Other speakers were Carson Elrod (actor), Thomas Firchow (film industry executive), Rajie Cook (graphic designer), Phil Beck (journalist), Craig Barton (marketer), David Graham (photographer), and Scott Nelson (risk engineer).

Friday, April 17, 2009
Dance Eclectic

At this assembly, George School students performed selections from Dance Eclectic to promote the full production scheduled to take place on the evenings of April 17 and April 18, 2009. Performances included a number of student-choreographed pieces, with music ranging from Philip Glass to Hans Zimmer. According to dance teacher Barb Kibler, many of the student choreographers took risks, finding new ways to use partnering and lifts and using their compositions to express deeply felt emotions. Dance Eclectic also featured several dances choreographed by Barb, who drew inspiration from the migration patterns of birds.


Friday, April 3, 2009
Doug Tallamy, “Conservation of Biodiversity”

Doug Tallamy—professor and chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware—explained how a sustainable approach to gardening and landscaping helps to create a healthier planet. “Biodiversity” is a term that refers to the number of plant and animal species that exist in a given ecosystem. The United States is dominated by human-centered ecosystems that lack biodiversity, with 41 percent of land used for agriculture, and 54 percent used for cities and suburbs, Doug said. He described biodiversity as an essential, non-renewable resource; without it, an ecosystem cannot adequately perform functions—such as producing oxygen and clean water, building topsoil, and moderating weather systems—that are necessary to sustain life on our planet. He reported that as many as thirty-three thousand species are currently endangered in the United States, and our natural parks and reserves are not large enough to sustain nature. The solution, he said, is to share our spaces by replanting half of our lawns, as he has done at his own home. Traditional landscaping favors non-native plants, which do not support the native insects that allow animal life to thrive. Doug explained that native plants with a high “carrying capacity”—or ability to support life—are necessary to create healthy ecosystems on our lawns. He showed photographs of the insects that inhabit his lawn, and encouraged audience members to feel empowered by the ability to conserve nature in their own backyards. The author of sixty-nine research articles and the book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens, Doug teaches courses about the conservation of tropical ecosystems, debates in conservation biology, behavioral ecology, and insect taxonomy.


Monday, March 30, 2009
International Baccalaureate Music Students

Students in Jackie Coren’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Music Seminar performed at this assembly. The IB Music Seminar offers students who have studied a specific musical form the opportunity to study various musical genres and forms, to work with guest musicians, to compose several works, and to participate in performances. The class is part of George School’s IB Program, a rigorous and challenging curriculum that is offered at schools in 130 countries. Instrumental music at the assembly included performances by a guitar, piano, and percussion ensemble; a Korean harp accompanied by drums; a flute duet; and an electric bass guitar solo. Vocal selections included a traditional Afghan song, and a jazz piece.


Monday, February 23, 2009
Andrew Bourns Social Justice Awards

Religion Department Head Maria Crosman introduced this assembly, in which Associate Director of College Guidance Tiffany Fujioka and senior Emma Folk presented the projects they did as recipients of Andrew Bourns Social Justice Endowment grants for 2008-09. The Andrew Bourns Social Justice Endowment enables George School students and faculty to participate in social justice projects. It was established by David and Ruth Bourns in memory of their son Andrew, a 1987 graduate of George School. Tiffany described her work volunteering for the Philadelphia Education Fund's College Access Program, which focuses on improving college access and choice for low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students. Emma presented a video about her volunteer work at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, which serves meals to the hungry in Trenton, New Jersey, and provides adult education and other programs to help its constituents achieve self-sufficiency.


Friday, February 20, 2009
The Fantasticks, George School musical

At this assembly, George School musical theater and stagecraft students presented scenes from The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt in order to promote the full productions scheduled for the evenings of February 20 and 21, 2009, in Walton Center Auditorium. The world's longest-running musical, The Fantasticks is a romantic comedy about a young boy and a young girl who live next door to each other and fall in love in spite of a feud between their families. Unbeknownst to the boy and girl, their parents want them to marry and have conspired to stage the feud, believing that young people will fall in love only if they are forbidden to do so.


Monday, February 9, 2009
Frida Herskovits, Holocaust survivor

Frida Herskovits has been speaking for nineteen years about the horror of what happened to Jews, gypsies, homosexual people, and others whom the Nazis sent to concentration camps during World War II. Frida was forced to take a train from her home in Czechoslovakia to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp when she was seventeen years old. She described the heinous acts she witnessed there and at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where she was later imprisoned. By the end of the war, both of Frida's parents and seven of her sisters and brothers had been killed in the Holocaust. Only three members of her immediate family survived: Frida, a brother, and a sister. Frida believes that it is not right to criticize people's differences, and that people must learn to accept one another. She stated that hate is a disease that shouldn't exist, and that everyone must work hard to find a cure. She explained that she shares this message at schools because young people are the future. Frida received a standing ovation.


Friday, February 6, 2009
Inkhay

Inkhay, a group that plays traditional music from the Andes, performed at this assembly, which was funded by the Chuck O'Neill '94 Musical Performance Fund. Tom and Kate O'Neill established the fund in memory of their son Chuck. Tim O'Neill '99, Chuck's brother, introduced the assembly, speaking of his brother's love of music. The five members of Inkhay played on a variety of flutes, pan pipes, whistles, drums, and string instruments, presenting a number of songs that originated in the Andes in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.


Monday, January 19, 2009
MLK Day

George School's twentieth annual all-day commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day began with an all-school assembly featuring storyteller Mark Judelson. A performer who dramatizes true stories of individuals who responded to violence and hatred with acts of peace, Mark has told stories at high schools, colleges, churches, synagogues, prisons, and conferences for over twenty years. At the assembly he presented a story entitled "In the Lions' Den," which recounted the life of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan in 2002. Told from the point of view of Daniel, the story depicted the events leading up to the kidnapping, Daniel's love for his wife and unborn son, his commitment to truth, and his love of music. Following the assembly, various workshop sessions on campus encouraged participants to discuss and reflect in a variety of ways on Dr. King's message of multiculturalism, diversity, and peace. The day's events concluded with an all-school meeting for worship in the afternoon.


Friday, December 12, 2008
ESL Assembly

Students in George School’s ESL (English as a Second Language) program gave performances to share elements of their cultures with the community, drawing enthusiastic cheers from the audience. The performances included a Korean song; an Arabic dance; and a humorous skit about martial arts, in which students appeared to be floating in slow motion. George School has one hundred students of foreign nationality or Americans living abroad, from thirty-two countries: Afghanistan, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, Rwanda, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.


Monday, December 8, 2008
25-Year Awards from Nancy Starmer, TERRA Presentation

During the first portion of the assembly, Head of School Nancy Starmer recognized three faculty members who have reached their twenty-five-year anniversary of teaching at George School: Scott Hoskins, Carter Sio '76, and Norm Tjossem.

Scott Hoskins teaches stagecraft and video production and serves as the coordinator of performing arts. After attending Quaker secondary schools and Earlham College, Scott spent over twelve years as a scenic carpenter, stage electrician, and sound technician for off-Broadway, regional, national tour, and Broadway productions. Nancy said, "In his twenty-five years here at George School, Scott and the students in his stagecraft classes have designed and executed an extraordinary number of superb productions."

Carter Sio teaches woodworking and design. He was introduced to woodworking as a student at George School, learning from his predecessor Palmer Sharpless, before studying fine arts at Marlboro College. George School has had a woodworking program since its founding, and Carter is only the fourth woodworking teacher in the school's history. "In the wood shop and with his advisees, Carter is known as a teacher who both inspires students and cares about them as individuals," said Nancy.

History teacher Norm Tjossem has headed Orton and Campbell dormitories, and spent a year as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher. He is a graduate of Scattergood Friends School, Antioch College, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Nancy noted, "For the past eighteen years Norm has taught IB World History, where, one of his colleagues writes, 'He has a flawless record of achievement and his professionalism is meticulous. One could not ask for a better, more disciplined and committed colleague than Norm.'"

Continuing a school tradition, Nancy presented each teacher with an engraved bowl from the George School Committee, the school's governing board, to mark the occasion.

During the second part of the assembly, the student environmental group TERRA presented tips for recycling and energy conservation on campus.


Friday, November 14, 2008
Native American singer/dancer

Eric Shepard, a Native American dancer of Dakota/Arikara heritage, performed at this assembly. In addition to dancing, he invited student and faculty volunteers onstage to learn a dance. Students cheered enthusiastically to encourage their teachers to participate. Eric explained the significance of the colors and materials of his traditional dance regalia, spoke about his heritage, and encouraged students to be proud of who they are. Eric is a grass dancer and fancy dancer with Native Pride Dancers, based in St. Paul, Minnesota.


Friday, October 31, 2008
Dr. Leon Bass

Dr. Leon Bass, an educator and former George School teacher, gave an account of his experiences as a soldier in World War II. As a young man, angry about the racism and segregation he faced as an African American in the U.S. army, Leon participated in the Battle of the Bulge and saw the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald shortly after its liberation. He stated that the horrors of Buchenwald opened his eyes to the universality of human suffering and the ongoing potential for humans to enact evil against each other. After the war, with a new resolve to stand up against evil, Leon participated in the civil rights movement in the United States and became the first African American principal of Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia. When a Holocaust survivor spoke at the school, Leon felt moved to speak about his own experience at Buchenwald, and he has been sharing it with audiences ever since. He urged students to use their education and the power of love to stand up for what they believe is right. He received a standing ovation.


Monday, October 27, 2008
Mock Presidential Debate

During this mock presidential debate, students presented the policies and platforms of the four presidential candidates on the 2008 Pennsylvania ballot: Bob Barr (Libertarian), John McCain (Republican), Ralph Nader (Independent), and Barack Obama (Democrat). The students explained the candidates' positions on issues such as the economy, healthcare, energy, taxes, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, national security, defense, veterans' affairs, and poverty. The participants volunteered to take part in the debate, and researched their candidates in advance with the guidance of a faculty sponsor.


Monday, October 13, 2008
SAGE

This assembly was a presentation about SAGE, a student-run organization of peer counselors who are trained to listen, give support, share information, and make referrals. In order to introduce themselves to new students and explain the group's purpose, the SAGE students performed a series of skits. The skits addressed situations that might prompt a student to seek SAGE counseling, such as homesickness, dealing with stress, or depression. The peer counselors reminded students that they are always there to listen or to refer them to professionals.


Friday, October 3, 2008
Open Doors

Members of the organization Open Doors—an alliance of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight students—presented an assembly about the painful emotional experiences that can occur as one comes to terms with one's sexual orientation. Performances, quotations, and film segments addressed topics such as the experience of coming out, discrimination and intolerance, and the importance of treating others with respect. Open Doors supports students and their families while raising awareness of relevant issues within the school community.


Friday, September 19, 2008
Nuclear Power

Rosalie Bertell, PhD, GNSH, has worked for decades as a biometrician and environmental epidemiologist. A Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart, she works on behalf of victims and potential victims of industrial, technological, and military pollution, especially indigenous people and those in underdeveloped countries. At the assembly, Rosalie explained her view that nuclear power is not the solution to the problem of global climate change. She cited research and historical data to support her argument that nuclear power is not economically viable and poses threats to human health and safety, reproductive viability, and the environment. She proposed that the best solution to global climate change will come from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, and biofuels that are not corn-based, along with energy conservation. Rosalie founded the International Institute of Concern for Public Health, an organization that helps communities to assess and improve the health of their environment.


Monday, September 15, 2008
Sustainable Food

George School Food Service Director Joe Ducati of CulinArt Inc. presented this assembly with Jonathan Snipes, Melanie Snipes, and Susan Snipes-Wells of Snipes Farm in Morrisville, Pennsylvania. Joe described George School’s ongoing efforts to serve local, organic food in its dining room. As part of George School’s campus-wide commitment to environmental sustainability, Joe established a farm-to-school program that brings produce from Snipes Farm to George School’s dining room, and expanded an on-campus garden (at George School) so that it can provide organic vegetables for school meals. Joe encouraged students not to waste food or disposable products, and to take advantage of the new healthy beverages that are available in the dining room. He also described the on-campus composting program that transforms dining room and kitchen food waste into fertilizer. Jonathan (a 1978 graduate of George School) spoke about Snipes Farm’s mission of modeling and teaching sustainable farming. Melanie noted that it is important to move away from fossil fuels because they are not sustainable. Susan and Jonathan described the growing season on the farm, illustrating their presentation with a slide show.


Monday, September 8, 2008
George School Music Teachers Perform

George School vocal music teacher Jackie Coren introduced this assembly, in which several of George School's music lesson instructors gave performances on the instruments they teach. Steve Heitzer (trumpet) and Betsy Loughran (cello) played Steve's arrangement of the Invention in B Flat by Johann Sebastian Bach. Andrea Maurer (flute) performed "Dance of the Blessed Spirits" by Christoph Willibald von Gluck. Dan Chamberlin (guitar) presented a medley of Spanish, Brazilian, and rock and roll music. George School science teacher Alyssa Schultheis joined violin instructor Carmina Gagliardi to play the slow movement from Bach's Concerto in D Minor for two violins. For the final number, drum instructor and jazz ensemble coach Harry "Butch" Reed, saxophone and clarinet instructor Brian Adamszcyk, and Dan Chamberlin performed "Autumn Leaves" by Joseph Kosma.


Friday, September 5, 2008
Prefect Introductions/Deans' Security Issues

Associate Dean of Students Pippa Rex introduced this year's prefects—students in the senior class who provide leadership and advice to the student body. Two prefects live on each hall of every major dormitory, and day student prefects are based in the day student lounge. Pippa encouraged students to approach the prefects for advice during the school year. Dean of Students Nate McKee reviewed campus safety procedures. The assembly ended with an evacuation drill in which all students exited Walton Center and convened with their advising groups in the proper location outside.


Monday, September 1, 2008
Opening Assembly

Head of School Nancy Starmer welcomed students to George School for the new school year. In honor of Labor Day, Nancy recognized the work that George School's environmental services, food service, maintenance, and grounds departments had done to make the opening of school possible. She also recognized the work of the administrative offices that remained open during the summer. New students were welcomed, and new faculty and staff were introduced to the community. A slide show illustrated the athletic, academic, and orientation activities that occurred during the two weeks before the first day of classes. To close the assembly, the audience sang a rousing rendition of "The George School Hymn."