Concert Dazzles, Ryan Wins, Veteran recap, and Toys for Tots

Last night's Band and Chorus concert was fantastic. Those who missed it can look forward to the replay at our assembly on December 10.

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Everybody's All-American -- After winning the 2006 contest in Durham, Sophomore Ryan Tozzi finished 2nd in this year's Voice of Democracy Essay Contest, sponsored by Durham's Veterans of Foreign Wars. When he's not writing, Ryan (kneeling, third from left) and his teammates from the Carolina Chargers have been winning baseball tournaments all over the south. After winning consecutive tournaments in Raleigh, Winston-Salem, and Fayetteville, the team is currently ranked #1 in the country among U-16 teams. Congratulations, Ryan!

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Speaking of veterans, check out the story about our recent Veteran's Day assembly, presented by Mr. Adair and his Literary and Artistic Responses to the Vietnam War course.

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From Patrick Toal and Jon Vagi (two-time AFS host parents who collaborated with our students on a service project this fall).

"Leslie Ogden and the rest of the Upper School Cavaliers did a great job helping us to collect for Toys for Tots this year. We are just beginning to collect from the various sites, but already have 9 overflowing collection boxes, donations of $750 and a few gift cards to add to the mix. Thanks to DA US students for your generous donations, and thanks again to the CAVS CLUB for their supreme efforts!"

DA Debate Update and a Thanksgiving Present from Mr. Markus

US Debate update, from coach Jeff Welty: "A small contingent came home awash in trophies from Asheville High School: Josh Zoffer and Robert Kindman went undefeated and took 2nd in varsity public forum, edging out teammates Grace Wallack and Dede Pless, who took 4th." For more info, schedules, and results from DA Speech and Debate, click here.

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The Most Inspiring Speech I have Ever Heard (blog post from Mr. Markus Goes to Harvard)

I do not have much time to write today, but the Video of Mohammed Yunus's [2007 Nobel Peace Prize Winner's] talk has just been made available and I wanted to make it available to you all. You have heard me talk a great deal about this man, but when you hear him in person, you understand the power of his vision. It is a simple but amazing vision that a change in our thinking about poverty and about people can lead to a better way to improve everyone's lives. Not by handouts but by investments in a new form of business which he calls "social business."

If the students who go to Harvard Business School or even the Kennedy School who are focusing on "doing well instead of doing good" can shift to a new focus to "doing well by doing good" we might have a better world. If you get a free hour, this is worth the time. One feels buoyed just by knowing a person like this exists.

 Here is the link.


Enjoy,


Mr. Markus

New Hope, Hillary's videos, and Kelsey in Florida

Several Durhamites wrote to contratulate our seniors for their generous gift to Housing for New Hope. To see the article that tipped them off, click here.

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Hillary Rosen (AFS'ing in Germany) recently sent a few short videos she uploaded to motionbox (like youtube). To see Hillary traveling in Austria and rapping in her gymnasium, click here.

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Senior Kelsey Kearney (already signed to play soccer at UNC-Greensboro next year) is keeping the goal for her Triangle Futbol Club team this weekend at The Super Y-League North American finals. Regarded as the top youth soccer tournament on the continent, the event pits 130 of the best club teams in the nation against each other in Tampa, Florida. On Friday, Kelsey's team beat Florida powerhouse Shultz Academy 4-0. To follow her progress through the weekend, click here and look for TFC's under-17 team.

Cash for Community-builders, Debaters rock East, and Briani and Nick tackle college

$EAC and DMHR grant update Student Entrepreneurs Activating Community (SEAC) and David Markus Human Relations (DMHR) grants, funded by the DA Parents Association and an anonymous donor, give Upper School students the opportunity to design, propose, fund, and carry out projects that build community on campus or build bridges to communities outside the school. You and your advisees/students can find out more by clicking here.

Eight individuals/groups made proposals in the first fall cycle, and six were funded. Please congratulate the following, and feel free to ask any member of the Student Life Committee for more information about the programs. Thanks in particular to Dennis, who leads the $EAC/DMHR process.

1. $850 for the SOCK Camp (Week-long summer camp for low income Durham kids.)
2. $70 for the Cavs Club (community service coordinators of drives, fundraisers, and projects).
3. $90 for the CAVS club (for DA students to collaborate with Hoop Dreams and take a group of 20 - 30 sick youngsters to a Duke women’s basketball game.
4. $100 for Science Olympiad DA Upper Schoolers teach/entertain DA Lower Schoolers
5. $400 (or less if we can find cheaper shipping) for Kate Taylor to send neck coolers made by DA students to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
6. $250 for Amigos de Hope Valley and Lakewood, the revived version of the Spanish club that has resumed one-on-one tutoring of Latino children at the Upper School campus on Saturdays.

The committee has up to $2,250 for its spring granting cycle. If you have students or advisees with a good idea, please help them think about these micro-grants designed to build leadership and community.

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DA Debate Update: "We attended the ECHHS tournament this weekend. Results per our website: Nathaniel Donahue took first place in impromptu speaking. Grace Wallack and Dede Pless were second in varsity public forum, while Josh Zoffer and Robert Kindman took fourth in Robert's public forum debut. Josh Erb was fifth in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, and Tanner Caplan was 3-1 in novice L-D."

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From Gloria Woods-Weeks, Assistant Principal at East Chapel Hill High School and mother of Briani (DA '07): "Briani is doing great! She loves the campus at Temple University and her suite mates. She is still adjusting to the weather. I can't wait to see her. She's coming home for Thanksgiving. She loves cheering, most of her time is spent in class, at practice, and games. She feels really prepared for college and has stated that on many different occasions. We miss her over here. I miss her terribly. Thanks so much for asking about her."

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Nick Thomas ('06) recently began his second season on UNC's JV basketball team. To see Nick in action, go to the Smith Center before a varsity game. To see his profile on the web, click here.

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Food for thought (especially for those contemplating sub-par Q1 report cards)


In the game of life, it's a good idea to have a few early losses, which relieves you of the pressure of trying to maintain an undefeated season.
- Bill Vaughan

If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot.
- Dean Smith

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.
- Abraham Lincoln

There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.
- Eliezer Wiesel

Arcadia, Halloween Thanks, Super Sophs, Hillary's Pix, Beach Sweep, and The Power of One

Next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday: Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in Kenan at 7:30 each evening. To reserve your free tickets to this complex and hilarious play, click to the DA news page.

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From LS Director Carolyn Ronco to the US community: Thank you so much for the warm reception our Lower Schoolers received today at the Upper School. The music set a festive atmosphere, and the US students were friendly and supportive. Several of our students came back with stories of Upper Schoolers commenting on how cool their costumes were. Our children were grinning from ear to ear! Nothing beats that show of support from an older schoolmate. I heard a lot of comments that this was the best parade ever. Thank you for making it happen-- for guiding us along our route, for preparing your students, and for making our time fun and memorable.

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DA Debate update: At the University of Florida, sophomore Mackin Brinegar became the first Lincoln-Douglas debater in DA history to advance to the elimination rounds of a national tournament. Once there, he upset a higher seed in double-octafinals, marched through the octafinals and into the quarterfinals, where he finally fell to a nationally prominent debater. Grace Wallack and Dede Pless ripped through the preliminary rounds of public forum before losing a split decision in the double-octafinals. Their consolation prize was the opportunity to compete in extemporaneous duo, where they reached the semifinals. At Enloe High School - For the second tournament in a row, 9th grader Tanner Caplan was undefeated in novice Lincoln-Douglas debate and placed fourth based on speaker points.

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Sophomore Mollie Pathman, who has been playing with the U-15 Women's National Soccer Team, recently learned that she has been selected for the 40-player pool for the U-17 national team slated to play in the first ever FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, to be played in New Zealand in October, 2008. As a modest fifteen year-old, Mollie considers herself a longshot for the eventual 22-24 player team, but she will have the chance to impress coaches during domestic and international training camps next spring and summer. Congratulations, Mollie!

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Sophomore Nathan Hsieh was recently selected as the first chair saxophonist for the UNC-Greensboro High School Honors Jazz Band, directed by Chad Eby. Writes Nathan's ITP Co-teacher Herb Lamb, "As you may know, the UNCG jazz program is outstanding and becoming well known throughout the country. They had Fred Wesley Jr. on staff for a few years. "Hit Me" Fred was the innovative trombone player for James Brown. I had the good fortune to see him a few years ago at the Greensboro Blues Festival. He was still cookin', moving to a jazz funk genre of music."

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Hillary Rosen (AFS-ing in Germany) recently sent a link to her most recent electronic photo album. To see her host family and their adventures in town, school, and mountains, click here.

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Last weekend 30 locals joined 6 DA students for the Wrightsville Beach Sweep organized by Senior John Lindsey. They spent three hours bagging trash and picking up over a thousand cigarette butts. To see a picture and short story in the local newspaper, click here (page 3, bottom left). The Cape Fear Surfrider Foundation, along with Jerry Allen's Bar on the main strip in Wrightsville, have offered to sponsor anther beach sweep in the spring.

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If ever you doubt the power of one, check out these two videos:

A surprise at Britain's Got Talent

A bagger changes a culture