Chinese New Year Celebrated in Style
Lower and Upper School students ushered in the year of the dog in celebrations that easily could rival those occurring in any major city. The celebration, which takes place in conjunction with the Lunar calendar and lasts for 15 days, unites the living members of a family with those who have passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect and their “presence” is acknowledged at the family banquet table with an empty place set for them. Nathalie Rovner, a dancer, presented an interactive program for Pre-K through fifth grade. She described a variety of things Chinese do in preparation for the holiday including cleaning the house to sweep away all the dirt to make a clean start to the year; wearing red; and making lots of noise by banging drums and lighting firecrackers to scare away bad spirits. Students learned the special lion dance. The Upper School celebration centered around food. The mother of Joy Tao ’07 and the moms who host the traditional Winter Teas, prepared a reception with a spread of spring rolls, noodles, cookies, and candies for all to try.

Relief Sculpture on Exhibit
After learning about American sculptor, Louise Nevelson, 8th grade art students were challenged to come up with their own designs. Nevelson is most noted for her mono-chromatic relief shadow boxes and sculptures found in major museums and in cities around the country. Each small group of three to five students was given a box measuring 27 by 18 inches in which to build their design. Their first task was to choose whether to have theme-oriented designs or random found objects assembled in no particular order. Pieces were then glued in the boxes and spray-painted silver. Some students opted to leave one component of their sculpture unpainted. Whether representing the four seasons, the OC (Ocean County TV show), or technology deconstructed, the finished sculptures draw the viewer to look closely. The sculptures are currently on exhibit in the Resource Center of the West Middle School.

Earthquakes: Whose building stays standing?
Another kind of building took place in the 9th grade’s biological systems course, where students have been studying earthquakes. To illustrate what happens to buildings during an earthquake and how construction design is important to a building’s stability under stress, students were asked to design their own structures and put them to the test. A variety of structures were created using popsicle sticks representing beams. Points were awarded when construction criteria were met:  height over 50 cm, minimum of 101-105 popsicle sticks, upper-most point of structure to hold a 500 gram weight, and structure to weigh less than 145 grams. Points could be taken away if more than 105 popsicle sticks were used or the structure weighed more than 145 grams. Some students opted for obelisk-shaped buildings that came together at a peak. Others chose a more traditional rectangular structure. The buildings were subjected to vigorous shaking, bouncing, and rocking. Not all buildings maintained their integrity during the testing. In fact, some faltered when they were shaken only slightly. In the end, it was decided that diagonal support struts, similar to the trusses found on bridges, improved the buildings’ stability, and a strong, stable middle and base were important.

Potlatch: A Ceremony to Raise the Totem Pole
Second grade studied the Native American Indians of the Pacific Northwest, known for carving magnificent Totem Poles prominently displayed outside their homes. The word "totem", an anthropological term, refers to the belief that a family group is descended from a certain animal and the group treats it with special care, refraining from eating or hunting it. The potlatch ceremony was the event during which the carving was done and the finished totem pole was raised. Salmon were at the center of life for native peoples living along the Asian and American shores of the North Pacific Ocean. So, second grade students participated in a potlatch of their own to celebrate the completion of the class totem pole. They read a poem thanking the mighty cedar tree, tasted a bit of salmon, and sang and danced.

Tea with Cream, Sugar, and Tasty Treats
What could be a nicer experience then a spot of tea and some tiny tea sandwiches and tasty sweet treats to end an otherwise routine school day? After the 4th grade completed their Roald Dahl unit which included book reports, and book jacket cover designs, they were treated to a proper English tea. This year’s volunteer class mothers hosted the event, and nothing was left to the imagination. The students used the “good” china, and sipped their tea from teacups just as they would expect to do if they were having tea with the Queen.

Pizza Sales Help Support Embangweni Hospital in Malawi, Africa
Whitney Hanson, a junior, has been passionate about helping children at Embangweni Hospital in Malawi, Africa. Embangweni Hospital is located in northern Malawi, bordering Zambia. The hospital serves a population of about 100,000 people, with referral cases often coming from much further away, including Zambia. At Embangweni Hospital, it is believed that one out of three patients treated is affected by HIV/AIDS. To help support the hospital in its mission, Whitney has regularly sponsored Pizza Days, charging $2 a slice, and to date has raised nearly $350. She will continue to sponsor a pizza day each month for the remainder of the year, so remember to watch for the signs and help support a great cause.

February 10, 2006