OliWorld

As many of you know, the Oliverian School is full of talented young artists, including painters, guitarists, pianists, photographers, writers and rappers. One artist that really stands out in the community is Sam Zilberg, also know by his rapper name, “Quintessential.” You can frequently catch this young artist jotting down lyrics, or in the studio recording and working on his music.

I caught up with Mr. Zilberg to ask him a few questions about his music and his passion for it. Sam’s preferred musical genre is hip hop. His love for music began when he started playing at age 12, and then it progressed, when he started writing his own music at age 15. Sam gets inspired by anything he listens to, and likes the artists Tupac and Slim Shady.

Some may wonder what kind of message Sam is trying to send with his music? The answer is simple: there is no particular message he is trying to send, he just writes about what he feels.  Sam said it is difficult to put into words what music means to him; it is basically everything he has, and gives meaning to his life.

Sam currently has a collection of songs and recordings from over the last year or so, and  a mix tape. He is also hoping to release an album at the end of the school year. Sam plans to progress and grow with his music for the rest of his life. His dedication to music is truly inspiring, and I know many people are very excited to see the directions his music takes him in the future.

I have been a student at the Oliverian School, and now that I am no longer, I wish I still was. From the time I started there as a freshman, at a very young age, Oliverian has been my home away from home. Oliverian is hard to describe in words, as there is no way to share the wondrous experience and do it any justice. Here is my attempt to do so.

Oliverian is a place where one feels at home, it is a haven from discrimination, and will provide you with the help you require to learn about yourself and to be comfortable with what you find. Not only that, but it is a place with a dream as unique as it students, to truly understand and learn from one another not only from the staff. In addition to that, there is no place on earth that one can find staff that cares more. This is a place that shall be in my memories fondly forever and has provided for me and helped me achieve.

Max Barksdale ’11 (St. Michaels, MD)

Our beloved math/science teacher Maurice Liddy is going to return for the 2011-2012 school year and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Last year he was a dorm parent when Clifford Dorm housed boys and he was like a big brother to them all. It was devastating to see him depart after this most recent summer session, but that makes his return all the more exciting. We love Maurice. He’s like a super smart big kid and he is going to make next year a blast.

This weekend the entire school headed up to Caratunk, Maine to Adventure Bound’s campground. Spread throughout seven outdoor cabins, we stayed Saturday and Sunday night of Memorial Weekend. We arrived Saturday, got situated, spent time in the 15 person hot tub and ate an awesome pizza dinner supplied by Adventure Bound. Then came Sunday, the best day; the day of rafting! Up at 7am, we all got fitted into our wet suits then bussed off to The Dead River where the water levels were unusually high- 10,000 cubic feet per second (CFCs)! With huge waves and boats full of friends and the entertaining raft guides, we spent half the day challenging the pulsing waters. Two full boats were flipped, but thankfully everyone was okay. Once off the river, there was more hot tub time, hanging out, s’more making, campfires, and movies. Most kids slept outside that night and then came Monday morning and we departed. Overall the weekend was one for the books. The river woke up the spirits of so many students and really gave us all that extra burst of energy to make it through the end of the year!