OliWorld

New Club at Oliverian “Rocks”!

Heather Haase — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:51:34 +0000

New this year, the rock climbing club has become a popular extracurricular activity in the Oliverian community. Any student can take a trip to the rock climbing gym every Tuesday evening and during the weekend. They also can participate in competitions against other schools in the area. This opportunity has become a great outlet for students to relieve some stress from the academic day, challenge themselves, and hang out with their peers.

Julie Sanderson, an adventure teacher and dorm parent at Oliverian, leads the group.

“It has been such a wonderful experience to be a part of the Oliverian rock climbing team. It is great to see the student’s motivation and to see them push themselves physically and mentally to learn new climbs. It’s also great to see the smiles when one completes a difficult climb!”

With spring just around the corner, we are looking forward to climbing outside!

Picture: Frank Moreno, ‘13

Senior Projects!

Heather Haase — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:07:15 +0000

The third quarter is now well underway and the seniors are all beginning to work on their senior projects. A graduation requirement unique to Oliverian, every senior must complete their own individual project by the middle of May. Students get to choose a field that interests them and then outline their goals. The project must be something that would contribute to the school. In the past, people have done a variety of projects, from creating original albums to building a functioning bridge!

Proposals and projected timelines were turned in two weeks ago, and we already see students working hard to meet deadlines.

Every senior also must ask a faculty member to be their Senior Project Mentor. The mentor should usually be someone that has some sort of experience or interest in the subject of the project, but could also be someone with which the student has built strong relationship and will help him or her focus on goals and deadlines.

My senior project involves creating handwoven hammocks. I plan to make three, hanging two around campus and raffling one off to raise money for the school. The raffled hammock will have the initials of every senior engraved on the wooden separator bars. I am really excited to set up my workspace and begin to work with the materials!

My mentor also happens my advisor, Farmer John. We have worked a lot together in many of my electives classes, as well as day to day with my academics and health. He has helped me so much over the course of my time here and I trust that he will help me stay on track. Being the forestry and wildlife teacher, FJ also has a lot of experience with hands-on work and can help me with the tools I will need to make the hammocks.

I chose this project because I enjoy being outdoors and think that it would be great to have another place for members of our community to be able to decompress and bask in our beautiful campus. I also think that I will enjoy the actual process of weaving the hammocks and producing something tangible to give back to the school that has helped me grow so much. I hope that these hammocks will be used for many years to come.

-Heather Haase, Class of 2013

Oliverian’s New Class: Performance Studies

MelissaMichon — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 19:43:15 +0000

Jennifer Pytleski is one of the many new staff members this year at Oliverian. Not only is she the dorm parent of Bolton house, but she is also the preforming arts teacher! This class is very new to Oliverian, providing a unique class experience to an already unique school. If there are students out there who are hesitant to take this class or not really sure what the class involves, you are in luck; I got the pleasure to sit in on one of Jen’s classes to see what all the hype was about. This is one of the rare classes that has something for everyone. Jen is always prepared with absurd and comical activities for every class however, there is always a method to her madness. It is almost magical watching these students completely break out of their shells, and take a chance. She has a way with these kids like nothing I have ever seen. Jen provides an incredible judgement free environment that always motivates students to easily express themselves. She is given a class of kids who may be shy or unfamiliar with each other, but by the end of each class they are working together seamlessly. Yet, nothing has impressed me in this class more than her passion. Her strong belief in the purpose of each exercise and the way she cares about each individual student is the most awe-inspiring part by far. I had a chance to talk with Jen as she was letting the students map out their improv skits. She talked about each student in the class like she had known them for years. I wish Jen good luck, because when next semester comes around, there will be a stampede of students waiting to get into her class.

Welcome back to Oliverian!

MelissaMichon — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:44:57 +0000

It is the start of the brand new school year and the Oliverian students already have one week under their belts! There have been some changes to everyday life at Oliverian, but nothing the returning students can’t handle. I decided to catch up with the new students to get their perspective on life at Oliverian, and how they are doing with the transition to a new school in a new place. So far, we have success! The first week is always the toughest, but the feedback has been extremely positive.

The new students seem to love the alternative style that Oliverian offers. “It’s not a traditional boarding school, but it has its own flavor,” says Duncan. While there are drawbacks to the small community, the new students stay positive and recognize the perks. The students voiced their opinions, and told me how they like the tight knit community. The strong relationships that you can build here seem to already be budding. “Everybody is unique and different. You can see who they actually are as a person,” says Bryn. Even though this is a very small community, there is a lot of diversity, and that is what is drawing people in. In addition to the community, classes also seem to be a big hit. This is something that a lot of new students say they struggled with in the past, but to them, Oliverian classes are not only manageable, but enjoyable! The small classes are a hit with the new students and everyone seem to be enjoying the personalized attention they receive from their teachers. “I like how the teachers understand where the students are coming from…they adjust the classes towards the student’s personal needs so they can get something out of the class and learn the actual material,” says Ben.

While the teachers play one role in class, they have a different relationship with the students outside the academic environment that has been a key factor in the successful transition of all the students, new and old. According to the new students, teachers are very easy to connect with and offer a lot of support. “I feel like I can actually talk to them about personal problems rather than just school work,” say Bryn. Duncan feels like the “facility is very understanding and supportive.” The staff really care about the students and are working really hard to make everyone feel at home. “The staff really want to get to know you,” says Vinny. One thing that seems to be a favorite among the new students is that they are never alone, and help will always come when they need it. Nate says he already has some people he knows that he can rely on, he can “…just give them a call and I know they will be there in a couple minutes.” Community meeting really shows what this community is all about, and to some students, it’s their favorite part of the day! “It lets us deal with our problems as a community,” says Vinny. In summation, it sounds like the new students are really starting to enjoy themselves here. A lot of these students have been hopping from school to school, and it’s nice to hear that they are finally starting to find a place where they can plant their roots and thrive.

Honduras 2012

EmmaG — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:22:14 +0000

During the 2012 winter Electives week, a group of 9 students and 2 staff members ventured to Honduras to practice their spanish, do some service work, and learn more about the honduran culture. The whole group was a little unsure on what to expect at first because most of the group had never been to a third world country, but excitement was running through everyone. After a long day of traveling we arrived in Honduras, where the sun was beating down on us, and the scenery was amazing. As soon as we got off the plane and got our bags we met our guides for the week, Mark, Nelsan, Barasa, and Isaias, all worked for the company Central American Relief Efforts. Our first night in honduras we stayed at Hotel Palmeras in a town called Pespire. The town was small, and its main attraction was an indoor soccer field where people gathered to both play and watch soccer. After resting up from a long day of traveling, the group headed off to the kindergarden in Pespire for our first day of service. The Paint on the school building was wearing off due to the amount of rain they recently got and it needed to be repainted. The group quickly jumped in and started to work! We sanded down the building and then came the hard part, painting. When we first started it seemed like more paint was getting on people than the building but after a long afternoon of painting, the building was covered with paint and it actually looked good! The most rewarding part of the day was seeing the appreciative look on the teachers faces when we showed them the finished building. After painting the school we were off to a new town called Choluteca. Our second full day in Honduras was spent at the Cambridge school which is a private school with grades k-12. When we got to the school we were greeted by the principle of the school and a few students. We then participated in their morning assembly. After that we split up into groups and read stories to the kindergartners. After reading to the kids we got to interact with some of the older kids, and even sit in on a few classes. Students got to sit on classes like biology, math, and english. In class the students at the Cambridge school are required to speak in english, so they can practice and better their english. The classes were a lot like what a normal math or english class would be like in America. Later in the day we went with a few students from the school and the principle to a pottery studio where we saw a local honduran women creating these amazing pieces of pottery. She showed us how with a mixture of mud and clay she did designs on the handcrafted pottery, and then we got to create our own designs on a piece of pottery. That night we went to a bonfire hosted by the Cambridge school where we played different games, sang, and danced! Our third day, we had another service day we went to the local pubic hospital in Choluteca. One of the doctors at the hospital took us on a tour, and then we went to the building where the mothers and their children go after birth. We then painted and interacted with the parents and their newborns. The best part of the day was just being able to talk to the people. The Next day we headed back to Pespire, specifically to Las Lajas school, where several schools had come to participate in a field day. The kids put on a very entertaining talent show, where one of very own Lenora got serenaded by a little honduran boy. We then played games with the kids, did face painting, and had some fun with piñata’s. The children were so happy to meet us and play with us. It was a great day! Our second to last day we had a much needed beach day! The beach and sceneary around it was beautiful! Our last day in Honduras we visited the stores in El valle de Angelec a town right outside the capital Teguigalpa. We then headed back to the capital, to Hotel Honduras Maya where we just hung out, relaxed, and tried to soak up as much of the honduran atmosphere we could before heading back to U.S. Overall the trip was a once in a lifetime experience that the whole group will remember forever! Not only did the whole group improve their spanish but we also got a chance to learn about the honduran culture. I know i can speak for the whole group when I say that if we had the chance to go back and do it all over again, we would with no hesitation at all!

Artist Profile: Sam Zilberg ‘12

Emma Gerhold — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:19:24 +0000

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.

“A place with a dream as unique as its students”-Student Testimonial

Max Barksdale — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:15:38 +0000

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)

Goodbyes Already?

kapuzzo — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:33:14 +0000

Today we had our first students leave campus for the year and it’s really making it hit me that this year is coming to an end. Especially because they are international, going back to China, and I don’t know if I will ever see them again! I’m going to miss Tim, Jerry and Ding. I’m graduating on Sunday and I’ve resisted packing my room because I’m in denial. I really should start, but I hate sleeping in a bare, lifeless room. This year has been incredible, yet again. As much as I don’t want to leave, though, I know I have an wonderful life waiting for me. Because of what I’ve learned about myself at Oliverian, I feel stable, confident, and ready to start pursuing my academic and career dreams. I am going to miss this place more than I can say, but at least it’s helped me become excited for what lays ahead.

Maurice! (Pronounced Morris… He’s Irish)

kapuzzo — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:53:53 +0000

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.

Will you sign my Yearbook?

adamunger — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:44:03 +0000

It’s that time again! Yearbooks are here and everyone is asking that timeless question, “Will you sign my yearbook?”