NEWS AT OLIVERIAN SCHOOL

July 2011

07.26.2011
Summer Session Rafting Trip
Oliverian students experienced white water rafting in the Hudson River Gorge, 17 miles of action packed adventure. Students and faculty spent the day navigating Level 3 rapids with their guide Adam from Adirondack Adventures. When they were not riding the rapids everyone swam and floated down the calm stretches, jumped from giant boulders into the river, and generally just enjoyed themselves relaxing in the sun!

Please visit our Facebook Page or Flickr account to view more pictures.

John Gillies '11, Max Barksdale '11, Eddie Massimino '11, and John Regnell '11

07.22.2011
"A place with a dream as unique as its students"-Student Testimonial
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)

07.21.2011
Greetings from China!
Randy Richardson (Headmaster) and Barclay Mackinnon (Head Emeritus/Director of Admissions) visit the Shanghai Xinan Mo Fan Middle School to spread the word about the Oliverian ESL program.

07.20.2011
NEASC Visit to Oliverian
James Mooney, Associate Director of the Commission of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, spent a beautiful summer day meeting with Randy, Greg, and Abby to check in as part of the Association's ongoing work with Oliverian.

Pictured left to right are: Greg Vogel (Associate Headmaster), Jim Mooney (Associate Director of NEASC), Randy Richardson (Headmaster), and Abby Hood (Dean of Academics).

07.18.2011
"It helped me become the person I've always wanted to be."-Student Testimonial
The Oliverian School was a part of my life for two years straight (including summer school) and I know it will always be a part of my life. It helped me become the person I've always wanted to be. Since graduating I am confident, motivated, and sure of what I want; pretty much the complete opposite of who I was upon arrival. I know that for the rest of my life I have the staff and students of Oliverian to call whenever I'd like, for help or to simply catch up. They all saw me go through my transformation and therefore I feel they know me better than anyone else.

The school and community inspired me, yes, but so did the location. Rural New Hampshire taught me to appreciate nature and serenity and really has made me distant from electronic entertainment (although, yes, I'm on the internet right now). But I have not been on Facebook since leaving, and I don't want to be. I would much rather read a book and call up my Oliverian English teacher, Kara, to discuss it.

I can't say enough positive comments regarding Oliverian. It is the foundation from which I am now building my whole life. Without it, I would be lost.

Thank you, Oliverian!
Katherine Apuzzo '11 (Wilton, CT)

Photo credit: Catherine Gaffey (age 6)

07.15.2011
Oliverian Travels to China
Barclay MacKinnon and I are excited to travel to China this month to spread the word about the Oliverian ESL program. Our primary goals are to open the door to partnerships with various schools in China and to find Chinese students who are the right fit for Oliverian.

Oliverian has consistently served international students and families who have not only benefitted from our school, but also enriched our community. We work with a small group of ESL students who are integrated into our curriculum and school community with the extra support of a dedicated ESL class and study hall. We had four students from China last year and we currently have a student from Russia and another from Spain attending our Summer Session. While they are like any other teenagers in so many ways, they also bring a unique perspective and help us to expand our thinking at a time when a global understanding is so important.

Mark Burdick, of Burdick Psychological and Placement Services, helped inspire this trip to China because he believes so strongly in matching international students and families with our mission and school. Mark has already traveled to China, and is determined to follow up on what is clearly a strong Chinese interest in American education and better preparing Chinese students to study in American colleges and universities. We have also had the opportunity to work with June Wang Scortino, of Lloyd International Education Consultancy. June has worked extensively in China, and is also actively striving to encourage school partnerships and to appropriately place international students in American schools.

In addition to having Josh Holt lead our ESL program as a talented and experienced ESL teacher, we have the luxury of having a unique school with small and supportive classes to help guide our students. Oliverian ESL students have the luxury of having 5 to 10 students in virtually all of their classes. These small classes provide them with the opportunity for more support and connections -- not only vital to learning English, but also to opening the door to American life and culture. With such incredible access to peers, teachers, advisors, dorm parents and counselors, our international students have the opportunity to fast track their English and adaptation to an American approach to education. While our academic program is unique and alternative in many respects, it is also intentionally designed to prepare students for college.

Barclay and I look forward to both teaching and learning during our trip to China. We return at the end of July, and will soon share our stories of international outreach and connections.

Warmly,
Randy Richardson
Headmaster

07.13.2011
Wildcat Mountain Weekend Trip
Summer Session students journeyed to Wildcat Mountain to enjoy camping, hiking, and the breathtaking views!

07.12.2011
Blueberries are in Season!
Summer Session Garden Science class enjoyed clearing out the blueberry bushes for the school kitchen!

07.11.2011
Oliverian hosts "SAG Stop" for the Prouty
Our campus may be a long way from the mountains of France, but the School’s participation in this past Saturday’s 30th Annual Prouty fundraiser for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center had a Tour de Oliverian spirit to it! Thanks to the support of Oliverian Trustee, Jeff Caron, and Associate Headmaster, Greg Vogel, Oliverian hosted a “SAG Stop,” where weary 100 mile bike riders were able to rest, rehydrate, and learn a little bit about the School. The event, with more than 6000 participants, raised almost $2,500,000 for cancer research.

07.07.2011
Alumnus Ben Davidson '10 meets Vice President Joe Biden
Oliverian alumnus Benjamin Davidson '10 pictured with Vice President Joe Biden at a recent fundraising event in Chicago at the Navy Pier. When asked about the evening, Ben simply stated, "It was amazing!"

07.06.2011
Hay Season is Upon Us!
After morning classes, students worked hard in the field gathering, stacking, and storing square hay bales for the animals on campus. Pictured is Rodion Lozhnikov '13 (Moscow, Russia).

07.05.2011
Alumni Return to Oliverian as Interns
Brady "Bea" Dragone '10 and Constantine "Costa" Ferrara '11 return to support the Oliverian Summer Session as interns. Bea and Costa's energy, dedication, and enthusiasm are excellent examples for the student body to follow!

07.01.2011
Graduation Message from Barclay Mackinnon,
Head Emeritus/Director of Admissions
I've had the pleasure of being part of every graduation at the Oliverian School since its founding over ten years ago. Each one has been significant and unique in its own way, but this year was especially memorable for each one of our graduates, their families, the faculty, and our alumni. I could talk all day about honors, awards, and prizes, but what was most powerful were the energy and tears, the enthusiasm, feelings, and sentiments palpable throughout campus in the days and weeks leading into graduation weekend, eventually culminating in a truly remarkable celebration of our graduates.

Two days before graduation, at our last community meeting of the year, the traditional "appreciation" portion of the meeting went on with each student sharing how much they meant to each other and the part the School had played in their lives. Quite honestly, in all my years at Oliverian, I had never seen anything like it. I looked over at Greg Vogel, Greg and I go back a long way at school, and winked, wanting to pinch myself just to be sure it wasn't a dream. You see, it's moments like these which we all live for at Oliverian. These times when "our kids" can begin to look back and appreciate their moms and dads, their friends and teachers, their brothers and sisters, and all those "in between moments," as Greg calls them, that have allowed them to be celebrated for their triumphs.

Sitting on the stage at graduation, I couldn't help but feel as though our graduates had triumphed. I kept looking over at Hanni, Katherine, Caitlin, and Ellie and seeing young women who'd grown and matured in ways I'm not sure they even understand yet. John, Sam, Robbie, Adam, Costa, John Will, and Luke were beaming and reveling in their new found confidence, while Eddie, Josh, Max, Jon, Amir, and Jordan just couldn't have been prouder of their moment.

For those of you who couldn't be there, take my word for it, it was unforgettable. Even now, three weeks later, it resonates with me every day. In so many ways, I wish they were all coming back, but I know they can't, and probably shouldn't. A great friend once said to me that being a good parent means preparing your children in a way so they can comfortably leave you and be prepared to move ahead with their lives without the daily presence of mom and dad. Honestly, in so many ways, I didn't want my kids to leave home. I loved being with them, but I knew it was time for them to go. Well, to our Oliverian kids, we know it's time for you to go, but please remember, you're welcome back anytime you want to return.