February 16, 2012 

WELCOME TO PANTHER PAUSE E-NEWSLETTER

The purpose of this newsletter is to inform you about what is going on at NYA including basic calendar information as well as special events and programs. We also hope it will lessen the number of informational emails you receive from us!

Please always refer to our website to confirm information about athletics as it tends to change frequently. The calendar feature on our website is also a great place to go for updated schedule information.

If you have any feedback about the newsletter, please contact Kristi Belesca (847-5423) or simply respond to this email. 

FOR YOUR PLANNING

• Friday, February 17 – End of 2nd Trimester; Studio Band Concert
• Monday, February 20 – NO SCHOOL, Presidents Day
• Tuesday, February 21 – NO SCHOOL, Faculty In-Service Day
• Wednesday, February 22 – 3rd Trimester Begins
• Friday, February 24, Saturday, February 25 & Sunday, February 26 – Honk!
• Tuesday, February 28 – Parents’ Association Coffee Connection
• Tuesday, February 28 – NYA US Student & Alumni Art Opening
• Wednesday, February 29 – Senior Speeches
• Wednesday, February 29 – MS and US Athletic Celebration/Recognition
• Thursday, March 1 – Signed Contracts & Deposits due to Admission Office
• Thursday, March 1 – Lost-and-Found Removed
• Friday, March 2 – Last Day of Classes before Spring Break
• Saturday, March 3 – Sunday, March 18 – NO SCHOOL, Spring Break

THANKS FROM FACULTY & STAFF

• NYA’s Faculty and Staff extend a HUGE thank you to all of the parents who organized and contributed to the Valentine’s Day Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. Breakfast and lunch were delicious!  We certainly feel appreciated!!
• Thank you to all the parents who helped to make the day so special:
• Co-Chairs: Eileen Hawkins and Holly Mitchell and junior co-chair Laura Schaeffer
• Huge Helper and Poster Planner: Patty Bright
• Gift Bags: Catriona Sangster
• Lobster Donation: Fassett Family
• Prep and Serving: Eric Schaeffer, Will Chapman, Jackie Maidman, Yvonne Braun
• Lunch Supervisors: Alison Prawer, Michelle George, Janet Rousseau
• Paperware: Susan Hanson, Charlotte Bacon, Deb Cutten, Sheryl Haas
• Beverages: Eva McVicar, Charlotte Bacon, Carol Potter
• Entrees, Salads, Desserts: Lynn Stam, Jackie Maidman, Linda Manchester, Kathie Butterfield, Tammy McCarthy, Will Chapman, Laura Schaeffer, Charlotte Bacon, Kate Silvers, Holly Randall, Carol Eisenberg, Tracey Hardel, Anderson Family, Storey Family, Mary Nicholas, Sarah Claytor, Deborah Weis, Hope Mahoney, Deb Deatrick, Carol Potter, Lynne Seeley, Alison Metsker, Eva McVicar, Yvonne Braun, Susan Sato, Holly Randall, Beth Taylor, Joanna See, Elizabeth Henderson

DRESS DOWN DAY

• Friday, February 17 will be a dress down day to benefit Jacqui Desai’s “Hope is Beautiful” fund coordinated through Children’s Hospital. “Hope is Beautiful” is raising awareness about teens and their grooming/fashion needs as they work through changes cancer brings.
• The fund was started by Elanor West’s good friend Jacqui Desai – who passed away in September, 2011 after roughly two years struggling with osteosarcoma. Jacqui spent much of her last two years working with other hospitalized teens on how to still look and feel like a teen – wigs, make up, how jeans can be tailored, etc.

NYA STUDIO BAND CONCERT

• The NYA Studio Band will perform their final concert of the year, “The Last Waltz,” in Safford Center at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 17. Students will perform original music and songs by the Beastie Boys, Arcade Fire, Bachman Turner Overdrive, and many others. Donations will be accepted.

DISTRICT II ELEMENTARY FESTIVAL

• The District II Elementary Festival will take place on Wednesday, April 4 in Portland (location to be announced).

CONGRATULATIONS!

• Congratulations to the students who performed as part of the District II Instrumental Music Festival! These students performed at Oxford Hills High School on January 28 with other students from throughout the district. Despite missing half of their practice time due to bad weather, the concert was incredibly well played.
• These students were selected from auditions this past October:
• HIGH SCHOOL BAND: Olivia Stam, flute, and Kevin Schwarm, percussion
• HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA: Elise LeBihan, Ben Randall, Maggie Meixell, and Tae Park, all on violin; and Hannah Hungerford, viola
• MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND: Zelda Clegg and Suzanna Butterfield, clarinets; Cris Paradis, bass clarinet; and Tyler Waaler, trumpet
• MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA: Liz McIntosh, Claire Maurer, Dagen Braun, Linnea Hull, Acacia Bright, and Hailey Frager, all on violin

FROM THE ADMISSION OFFICE

• Re-enrollment contracts have been mailed. If you did not receive one, please notify our office immediately. Contracts and deposits are due on March 1. This deadline is in place so we can better determine class sizes and manage financial aid awards. Many thanks in advance for your cooperation. We do anticipate waitlists in some grades.
• Some upcoming events:
• NYA Winter Hockey Camp, February 21-23 (public school break): Hockey camp featuring NYA coaches for Middle School students. Camp runs from 10:00 a.m. – noon each day. On Thursday, families will tour the campus and have a pizza party in the Middle School Community Room. Registration is on our website.
• NYA Live, Tuesday, February 28, 8:30-10:30 a.m.: our monthly informal open house for prospective parents to see NYA in action.
• If you would like more information or would like us to share these dates with a prospective family, please contact the Admission Office at 846-2376 or Laurie Hyndman or Holly Dana.

NO SCHOOL DAYS

• Monday, February 20: Presidents Day (Academy Closed)
• Tuesday, February 21: Faculty In-Service Day

SECOND ANNUAL HUT TO HUT SKI TRIP

• Once again this year, we will be offering a cross country skiing hut to hut trip over March break. The trip will be led by former NYA faculty member, Bob Gross, and an assistant leader (TBD). The group will depart from NYA on the morning of Tuesday, March 13 and travel by NYA minibus to Maine Huts and Trails in the Carrabassett Valley area. Each day, they will ski with day packs and arrive at the next hut where their bags, a delicious dinner, and a relaxing evening of games await. The hut system provides breakfast, dinner, and packed lunches. The group will return to NYA on the afternoon of Friday, March 16. Skiers need to provide their own equipment (we can pass on information on rentals if needed), but minimal cross-country experience is required. Bob Gross will be announcing the trip to students and handing out information and sign-up sheets. Estimated costs are $325-$375, depending upon the size of the group.

Last year’s hut to hut trip, photo: Bob Gross

SENIOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECTS

• The time of year is rapidly approaching when seniors will be deciding on what to do for their spring Senior Social Service Projects (SSSP). For parents of seniors who would like more information on the SSSP, including deadlines and a project description, please visit this informational page. If you are involved with an organization that could use a volunteer in May and are interested in seeing if the SSSP would be a good fit, please contact Patia Maule. Thanks!

HONK!

• NYA Drama presents HONK!, a musical based on the story of The Ugly Duckling, on Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25, at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, February 25 and 26 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door.  Make sure you get a seat by reserving your tickets through Carol Harris (847-5442).

PARENT COFFEE CONNECTION – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28

• Please join the Parents’ Association at our Coffee Connection on Tuesday, February 28 from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. at Maine Roasters Coffee on Route One in Yarmouth. Faculty member Erica Kent, who is new to the English Department this year, will join us.
• We hope to see you!

MERCY YARMOUTH HOSTS NYA STUDENT ART ON FEBRUARY 28

• NYA Mark your calendars and come join us!
• The NYA Upper School Visual Arts Department will have recent and alumni work on display at Mercy Yarmouth, 385 Route One, Yarmouth, with an opening reception from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28. The reception is open to all participating art students, families, friends and alumni.  Ms. Olins’ second trimester art students will show Xerox transfer prints. Ms. Sewall will show award winning photographs from NYA alumni, 2001-2008, hand printed in large format.

Photo: Molly Moss ’05

SENIOR SPEECHES

• 11:06 a.m., NYA Gym, everyone is welcome!
• Wednesday, February 29: Hannah Harmatz, Ryan Salerno, Rachel Matson
• Wednesday, March 28:  Jeremy Doyle, Sam Leishman, Charlie Gerrity

LOST-AND-FOUND REMOVED MARCH 1

• Lost-and-found will be displayed beginning on Tuesday, February 28 in the hall outside of the NYA gym. Parents and students are encouraged to check the tables for lost or misplaced items before they are removed from campus on Thursday, March 1. Please label all belongings, including books, to reduce the unidentifiable items in lost-and-found.

EXPERIENCE SUMMER!

• NYA is excited to announce the revitalization and expansion of summer programs for 2012!  We are offering a broad range of programs including sports camps, art camps, academic courses, and outdoor leadership expeditions. Registration opens THIS WEEK!  Please check out our website for complete course catalog and registration information.
• We are pleased to host Bartley’s Driving School again this summer at NYA! Bartley’s is offering two sessions of driver’s ed, starting June 27 and August 1, respectively. Sessions cost $420 per student, which includes the cost of a permit. Classes will run from 9:00 a.m. – noon. 
• Session 1: June 27, 29, July 2, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18 and 19
• Session 2: August 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17, 20 and 22

• Call Bartley’s Driving School at 657-5010 or visit their website for reservations and more information.

FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

• THE ANNUAL FUND
• As of February 14, we have raised $224,604!  We need to raise $45,396 by June 30 to reach our goal. 
• Congratulations to the Class of 2019 – who is currently leading with 50% participation! To see how your class is doing and to learn more about the Annual Fund, visit the Annual Fund section of our website.
• Click to make a secure gift online now.
• CAMPUS NEWS
• NYA Trustees Elect Frank Knight ’25 Honorary Trustee
• NYA Student Named National Merit Scholarship Finalist

NYA AUCTION

Save the date for the NYA Auction!We are looking for item donations and volunteers.  Please contact Alison Prawer.

NATIONAL LANGUAGE EXAMS

• Each year, language students at NYA take the national exams in French, Latin and Spanish. These standardized tests assess and recognize student achievement in language on a national and even international level. Awards are given in late spring to celebrate achievement.
• MIDDLE SCHOOL: 8th grade of students in level B of French, Latin and Spanish will be taking the national language exams this year.  French and Latin students will take their exams during a single class period on Thursday, March 1. Spanish students will take their exams over the course of two days during the week of April 2-6.
• UPPER SCHOOL: French, Latin and Spanish will be taking the national language exams this year.  French and Latin students will take their exams during an extended break period on Thursday, March 1. Spanish students will take their exams over the course of two days during the week of April 2 – 6.
• You may contact Heidi O’Connor, Chair of Modern and Classical Languages, with any questions.

THE PREP SCHOOL NEGRO AND OUTREACH WORKSHOP

• The public is invited to a free screening of The Prep School Negro, followed by an outreach workshop with Director André Robert Lee.
• The screening will take place on Thursday, March 1 at 6:00 p.m. at UNE’s Ludcke Auditorium, 719 Stevens Avenue, Portland. Click here for more information.

SECOND EDITION OF NYA ART CARDS ON SALE NOW

These cards make wonderful gifts year round! Cost is $2 per card or $18 for packages of 10.  If interested in purchasing, please contact Abbie Sewall at 847-5411.

CLYNK RECYCLING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PROJECT GRADUATION

• Pick up Clynk bags from the Main Office, Middle School Office, or at Dole House. Fill the bag with your cans and bottles and return to any Hannaford Clynk drop-off center. Contact Deb Regan for additional bags or with questions.

RECYCLE! HELP BOOST THE 2012 PROJECT GRADUATION FUND

• Once again, The Parents’ Association is participating in the recycling program Cartridges for Kids to help raise funds for Project Graduation. We will be collecting: printer cartridges, cell phones, iPods, video game consoles (with accessories), video games (include cases), GPS systems, digital cameras, PDAs and Palm Pilots and DVD movies (with packaging). Look for drop-off boxes in the Main Office, Middle School Office, Dole House, and in the Admission Office.
• If you would like more information or to arrange for a pick-up of a large collection, contact Bruni Muller (671-2713). Thank you for supporting our seniors!

NYA ONLINE CALENDAR

FACULTY PAGE SPOTLIGHT

• Coach Mazzurco’s Indoor Track & Field page

CLICK FOR UP-TO-DATE ATHLETICS