Headmaster's and Associate Headmaster's News

What an exciting and rewarding year it has been! From the celebration of the opening of the new Harrison Center to the sixth grade-inspired Bone Marrow-thon for Kajal Patel, it has been a culmination of 45 years of excellence with honor. The parent support for the Capital Campaign resulted in an unprecedented attainment of their goal, and the Class of 2012 displayed their outstanding leadership in many areas.

Offering many opportunities for growth and exploration, the Harrison Center's performance hall, vaulted ceilings, large picture windows, gallery spaces, discovery centers, learning resource areas, preschool media center, and stimulating play area all create a backdrop to maximize learning and discovery for young minds. During the year many in the Athens community, as well as the school community, have been able to experience it for themselves while attending events in this state-of-the art 46,000-square-foot building.

Community service and the spirit of cooperation were evident this year at the Academy.
What began as a dream of a group of sixth grade students to find a bone marrow match for their classmate, Kajal Patel, became a reality as they approached the challenge with enthusiasm, compassion, and perseverance. The result was a new world record for bone marrow registry in one 24-hour period - 2,938 - and ultimately the addition of over 4,000 new registrants as a result of the tireless work of volunteers, community leaders, and people from all over Athens and the surrounding areas. By early April, several matches had been found for Kajal, and hopefully many more will be found for others who need bone marrow transplants.

Supported by the parents, the 21st Century Capital Campaign achieved its goal of raising $8.9 million in cash and pledges for construction to obtain the $1.25 million foundation challenge match -- a significant achievement! Led by Greta Covington '83, the alumni were active in all aspects of campus life as well, from sponsoring the fall cookout and supporting the fund raising efforts to attending campus activities throughout the year. Their increased involvement in all areas of the Academy bodes well for all alums - in their personal and professional lives. Under the leadership of Hart Roberts as PSO chairman, many parent volunteers participated in school coffees, Grandparents/Special Friends Day, the golf tournament, Spartan 5K, Evening at the Indigo, faculty appreciation lunches, and Festival Day.

Athens Academy students, in record numbers (958), have worked hard, accomplished much, and enjoyed the experience. Members of the Class of 2012 have distinguished themselves in the four pillars of academics, athletics, arts and service. The senior mentors became leaders of the freshmen in study halls; the 12th Man Spirit Club supported all sports and fine arts school events; the senior class had the highest participation since 9/11 in the blood drive; the Student Council organized a new fundraiser, the Volleyball Tournament, donating the proceeds to Relay for Life; and the Academic Team won the single A State Championship and will compete in the upcoming nationals. Congratulations to the Class of 2012, and remember to join them in their upcoming art show and graduation ceremony.

Throughout its 45 year history, Athens Academy has been a very special place for children to live, grow, experience, and prepare for a fulfilling life. To be a part of the interaction of all members of all ages of our school community continues to inspire me. I hope it is true for you, too.

In a recent article, the San Jose Mercury News reported that the California State University system, one which traditionally admits "only freshmen who graduated in the top one-third of their high school class," has instituted a program called Early Start intended to stem the tide of incoming students who are not prepared for college-level mathematics or English courses. In a freshman class of 42,700 students throughout the state in 2010, approximately 27,300 (nearly 64%) required remedial assistance in one or both core subjects. The proposed fix to this disturbing trend: a 15-hour remedial course designed to boost basic skills. "A 15-hour intervention is just not enough when it comes to skills that should have been developed over 12 years," asserts one critic of the approach. Still other educational leaders fear that the system's overall situation is far more dire: "We're all trying to figure out how to handle these students who are woefully unprepared. The greatest fear is that we're going to lose a generation of students."

Unfortunately, the issue of incoming college students' lack of fundamental skills is not isolated to one state or one university system. Much closer to home, a 2010 Atlanta Journal Constitution report stated, "about one in four freshmen who attended a Georgia college [more than 14,000 students at the system's 35 colleges] took remedial classes" before they even were eligible to enroll in college-level courses.

Regardless of the one's political perspective, or one's opinion about the cause(s) of problems that states like California, Georgia, and many others currently face, the statistics underscore the vital importance of building a strong foundation of academic skills from an early age. Since its founding, Athens Academy has sought to prepare students for the rigors of college study. Even as the exact meaning of the phrase "college preparatory" has changed somewhat since 1967 as a result of rapid advances in technology and an increasingly interconnected global society, Athens Academy's faculty and administration have always maintained a careful focus on developing the fundamental skills which have empowered the school's graduates to be successful at the college level and beyond for more than four decades. Skills in reading, writing, mathematics, research, and critical think take time to develop and to be nurtured. Moreover, they are often developed at different rates and through different means, thanks to the skilled approaches of our teachers and those who support them. This approach, which is evident in the earliest days of our Preschool program, is no doubt one of the reasons why so many of Athens Academy's graduates often begin their college careers by taking advanced courses, having placed out of entry-level requirements. In a word, they are prepared. And that preparation was developed the right way: over years and years of hard work and high expectations.

As we implement and execute the initiatives in our long range planning process, the school continues to be committed to our emphasis on wellness in many forms - emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, environmental, and of course, physical. To this end I extend my appreciation to our parents, faculty, staff, and community who have volunteered their time and talents in all of these areas - specifically the nutritional component of physical wellness.

Athens Academy's focus is working together with our families to develop a lifetime plan of good nutritional choices. When researching nutritional information and choices for each age group, it becomes apparent that "one size does not fit all." Special nutritional needs, restrictions, allergies, activity levels, dietary recommendations, likes and dislikes, the discrepancy between what food is offered and what is consumed, and logistical constraints all must be taken into consideration in developing guidelines.

As we continue to address and improve the challenges and opportunities for the individual child, we are pleased to work with parents at grade level to identify, choose, and share healthy nutritional choices throughout the entire day - breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Currently the school is considering several initiatives to better understand and address our community's habits and needs. Some of these include grade-level websites that will share breakfast, snack, and dinner ideas; efforts to remind each other of the value of including more fresh fruits in snacks and meals; and surveys which will provide feedback.
Beginning this month, menus will be posted on the "Dining Services" link of the school's website and will include a list of ingredients for featured items. As always your participation in the school's lunch offerings is optional. You may choose to pack, bring your child's lunch, supplement with some of the school's offerings, or select the entire meal.

I appreciate your interest and involvement in our efforts to improve the nutritional wellness of our school community.

It's an exciting time at Athens Academy! During our annual Trustee retreat last week it was announced that Athens Academy has secured the $1.25 million challenge grant as well as the $80,000 match. I would like to thank you, the entire Athens Academy community, for your generous support in achieving this goal. It is the support of the entire Athens Academy community that ensures our success as we strive for excellence with honor. Our students and teachers are already benefiting from the opportunities these facilities provide!

We are very pleased to announce that Board Chairman Gene Howard has been honored by current and former members of the Board of Trustees with their gifts for the naming of a road on campus "Howard Drive." Mr. Howard has worked selflessly for many years to make a significant difference in the lives of our children. As parents, he and wife Margaret saw three daughters through Athens Academy from preschool to graduation.

A devoted trustee since 1989, Mr. Howard has held many positions including chairman of the Development Committee. His many years of leadership as chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, especially during a period marked by dramatic growth in the school's facilities and enrollment, have been invaluable. For the past three years, in addition to his Buildings and Grounds responsibilities, Mr. Howard has also served as chairman of the Board of Trustees. We are so pleased to be able to recognize his service to the school by naming the road that winds from Rte. 441 through the athletic fields, between the lakes and continues to Spartan Lane, "Howard Drive."

It is so rewarding for me to have the opportunity to observe young people grow and develop. Every student is different, and no two paths are the same, and I enjoy watching each of them pursue opportunities, meet challenges, and respond to adversity. Ross Mason, member of the Class of 1987 and this year's Schacht lecturer, is one who has seized opportunities and risen to the challenges he has faced. A born leader, Ross was student body president at both Athens Academy and Georgia Tech. He went on to get his MBA from The Wharton School and studied Russian at Middlebury College, using those skills to start a real estate development firm in Moscow following the fall of the Soviet Union. Ross has worked in finance, venture capitalism, information technology, and healthcare, and his work has taken him all over the world.

While training for a triathlon, Ross was in a bicycle accident that left him paralyzed from the collarbones down. Rather than slowing down as a result of a tragedy, Ross faced his new challenges with the same commitment and leadership he has shown all his life, focusing his talents and connections in the world of healthcare and finance to found HINRI (Healthcare Institute for Neuro-Recovery & Innovation) and HealthTrain Ventures. Ross works tirelessly to explore therapies, treatments, and scientific breakthroughs that will improve the quality of life for those with spinal cord injury, brain trauma, and neurological diseases.

We are excited to welcome Ross back to campus and to hear about his past and future projects and efforts. It has been a pleasure for me to observe him push boundaries and follow through, during and since his days as a student at Athens Academy. The world is a better place for his contributions, and we all stand to be inspired by his courage and determination.

As I watched yesterday's 27th Annual Holiday Celebration, I couldn't help but be struck by the realization that students, faculty and families representing every major religion in the world and several minor ones were assembled together to enjoy the spirit of a season of sharing and giving. We come together from twenty counties in Northeast Georgia, from varied family histories, from a multitude of neighborhoods, from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, each with our own story. With so many significant differences, what is it that draws us together on our 154-acre campus in Oconee County, GA? Is it the academic program? Is it the opportunity to feel a part of something much larger than one's self? Is it the award-winning fine arts programs? Is it the opportunity to be involved in a community focused on service? Is it the focus on physical fitness that has brought national recognition for ten straight years? While I can't say for certain why each family is a part of Athens Academy, I can say the result of our collection of differences makes for an incredible learning and growing environment.

Mr. Chambers and I had the privilege of attending the Southern Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference this past October in Atlanta. While at the largest gathering of independent school leaders outside of the National Association of Independent Schools' Annual Conference, we attended a session lead by Pat Bassett, the President of NAIS. As Mr. Bassett was addressing issues and emerging trends that significantly impact independent schools throughout the nation, he brought up the idea of celebrating our differences. He encouraged each of us to celebrate that which makes each school unique while also recognizing that each independent school also has much in common. He then encouraged us to think about the quality and diversity of our own student, faculty and parent bodies. Finally, he concluded that section of his presentation with the statement, "Scientists have consistently found that the more diverse a system, the better the outcomes." Those of us from a scientific background can readily see how this statement is applicable to many experimental situations. With my background in developmental biology, I recognize how this concept is directly applicable to growth and development in animal and human systems.

But the question is; how does this apply to schools?

As we consider Mr. Bassett's statement, there are some questions we might consider asking. Would the dialogue in an Upper School United States History class be enhanced or hindered by differing opinions? Do Middle Schoolers benefit from having studied the topics in Skills for Adolescents that challenge them to think beyond their own sphere? Is the experience of a third grader enhanced or hindered by having classmates who don't live in his or her neighborhood? Do Preschool students enjoy seeing their older peers from all religions decorating a symbolic Christmas tree and singing songs of the season together as Spartans?

No matter what our individual answers are to these questions, there is no doubt in my mind that our responses would demonstrate the value of our differences. We come from such varied backgrounds, each with a unique story. It is our collective stories that help produce the environment of mutual trust and respect at Athens Academy that our faculty, students and families enjoy each day.

In this season of sharing and giving, I hope we each enjoy time spent with our loved ones and friends. I also hope for each of us that as we celebrate our story and our history, we continue to value the stories of each member of this community. I wish you a safe and joyous holiday break and a Happy New Year.

J.P. Watson
Associate Headmaster

The holiday season is always one of excitement and anticipation. Children and adults are looking forward to what is to come. During December at Athens Academy, many special activities and service projects are planned to celebrate the season. These holidays, and the feelings they engender, transcend any boundaries of religion, and unite us all in a common feeling of affection for one another. Be a part of our tradition and join the celebration.

Holiday Service Projects:
• The Upper School Advisory Groups are participating in the Clarke County DFACS Holiday Angels program, providing a special Christmas for local children in need.

• The sixth grade is leading a Toys & Cans Drive during morning drop-off on December 8 and 9, to benefit the Salvation Army and ACTS (see page 5 for more details).

• Preschool and Lower School students are collecting canned goods, eyeglasses, and new, unwrapped toys for the Salvation Army.

Holiday Calendar:

Tuesday, December 6
Upper School String Orchestra Performance
11:00 a.m. at the Athens Regional Medical Center Atrium

Wednesday, December 7
School-wide Holiday Program
9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Spartan Center
Seniors and first graders decorate the Christmas tree. Senior and first grade parents invited.

Wednesday, December 7
Middle School String Orchestra Performance
Grades 5 & 6 at 12:15 p.m.
Grades 7 & 8 at 1:45 p.m.
Athens Regional Medical Center Atrium

Tuesday, December 13
Fifth Grade Holiday Hand Puppet Show
8:20 a.m. (Preschool)
11:35 a.m. (First grade)
Bertelsmann TV Studio

Wednesday, December 14
Fifth Grade Holiday Hand Puppet Show
8:40 a.m. (Preschool)
Bertelsmann TV Studio

Friday, December 16
Pre/Lower School Holiday Sing-Along
10:00-10:45 a.m. in the Lower School Barrett Hall

Pre/Lower School Holiday Parties at 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Grades 5 & 6 Classroom Holiday Parties at 10:45-11:30 a.m.

All divisions dismiss for the holidays at 11:30 a.m.
(Note: Extended Day will be available until 5:45 p.m. on Friday, December 16.)