OliWorld

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?”

Senior Projects

Julie Gaffey — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:15:45 +0000

Caitlin Barnhart '11 (Brunswick, ME)

The Senior Project is a program that provides each Oliverian senior with the opportunity to design and carry out a personally meaningful educational program. Projects should demonstrate a senior’s ability to: select and identify a challenge of personal interest, problem solve, manage time, organize, research, document learning, communicate, and reflect. Caitlin Barnhart ’11 (Brunswick, ME) has exhibited a special interest and great talent in the arts throughout her experience at Oliverian. Therefore, for her Senior Project, Caitlin chose to showcase fellow students’ artwork as well as create a few original pieces of her own to share with the community.

Oliverian takes on The Dead River

kapuzzo — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:26:03 +0000

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!

Shh! It’s Study Hall

adamunger — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:43:22 +0000

During my study hall period, all I hear is the quiet mumbles of people working together. It’s a great time during the day to get work done. Especially with the weekend coming up, I can get my work done now so I don’t have to worry about it this weekend.

Electives Week: The Enneagram

adamunger — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:57:43 +0000

This electives week, The Enneagram class learned about personality traits and classification of people.

Which type are you?

Type 1: The Reformer
Type 2: The Giver/ Cheerleader
Type 3: The Success Striver
Type 4: The Romantic
Type 5: The Observer
Type 6: The Guardian
Type 7: The Optimist
Type 8: The Director
Type 9: The Harmony Seeker