#5 Binnacle 09-10

Volume 09-10   Edition 8-28-2009

Upper School Honor Code Assembly

Upper Schoolers donned their assembly dress today and gathered in Price Auditorium for the annual Honor Code Assembly (click here to see photos). New Upper School Head Bea Fuller opened the assembly with a brief message about honor and the philosophy of the Code. "The basic premise of an Honor Code is to accept the responsibility for academic integrity," explained Fuller. "The onus and effectiveness of an Honor Code rests primarily with the students. You have control over your choices, your behaviors, your actions. I encourage you to make choices of which you will be proud."
        Upper School Student Council President Max Schechter '10 then introduced special guest speaker Captain Mark Adamshick, Permanent Military Professor of Leadership, USNA, who gave an inspirational talk about honor and doing what's right. 
        The Honor Code (outlined on page 36 of the Directory/Handbook) was established to create and maintain a culture of trust in the Upper School.

The Week Ahead

MONDAY, AUGUST 31
8th Grade Vision & Hearing Screening

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
4:00p    Var Boys Soccer v Key @ Home
4:00p    JV Boys Soccer v Key @ Home

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
8th Grade to Echo Hill
8:00a    Regular Start of School (No first Wednesday delay)

Olympic Medalist New Severn Sailing Coach

Athletic Director Julian Domenech '84 today announced the appointment of Severna Park resident and Severn alumnus Scott Steele '76 as Severn's new head sailing coach. "We are very excited to have Scott join our staff at Severn and continue the excellence which has become synonymous with Severn sailing," said Domenech. 
        An Olympic silver medalist (LA games 1984), Scott has been sailing since he learned to walk.  He studied at St Mary's College of Maryland, where he was nominated the first All American sailor and later inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. Scott has been an Annapolis-based sail maker for many years, while also coaching young Olympic-hopeful sailors, including a stint as head sailing coach at Georgetown University.   
        "As a Severn alum, being named Sailing Team Coach is an extraordinary honor," commented Steele. "This opportunity allows me to share my experiences and knowledge with young, inspired athletes as well as instill the discipline it takes to have success on the water and in life."  
        Former head coach Tom Sitzmann who resigned as head coach at the end of the spring season, will continue with the program as an assistant coach.

2009-2010 Severn Handbook & Community Directory

This year's Severn School Handbook and Community Directory will be distributed to all students on the first day of school (2 per household). Be sure to check your student's backpack/trunk/athletic bag for yours!

Please click 'read more' to view all the additions, corrections, and deletions to the Directory, as well as how to communicate changes to your Directory entry.

Seniors & College Counseling

Severn’s college counselors will kick off the college application season by meeting in small-group sessions with seniors during their free period on September 16 and 17. The night before these sessions begin, parents will have an opportunity to learn and ask questions about the college selection process by attending College Information Night for Parents of Seniors, Tuesday, September 15, at 7:00 p.m. in Roche Lecture Hall. 
        In the meantime, seniors should make an appointment to meet with their college counselor at a mutually convenient time. Counselors look forward to these one-on-one sessions for a number of reasons, but especially because it provides another opportunity to get to know students whom they will be asked to support through a letter of recommendation. 
        Parents will receive a written summary of the counseling session and are encouraged to stay in touch by e-mail or by phone. Also, parents are urged to submit a Brag Sheet, available on Family Connection or upon request by e-mail. 
        A huge thank you in advance to parents for your continuing help and support! 

The Middle Years Parent Newsletter - September Edition

The Middle School Guidance Office posts a monthly newsletter, The Middle Years, with tips, activities and suggestions to help parents face the challenges of raising adolescents. The articles emphasize effective parenting, school success, positive parent involvement, discipline, and character development. The Middle School years present parents with many challenges. Please contact the Middle School Guidance Counselor, Rande Schneider, for further information and for help with any concerns regarding your Middle School student.
Click here to download your copy of the September edition of The Middle Years.

Volunteer Opportunities

THE GALLEY
The Galley, the snack bar located in the Edward St. John Athletic facility, is fully stocked and open for business. The Galley sells an assortment of beverage and snack items during home sporting events. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact parent voluntter and Galley Chair Colin Callahan (colincallahan@comcast.net). Colin's goal is to have parents volunteer when their child is not on the field. Training will be offered. Thanks so much in advance. 
        Galley volunteers are needed for the following dates: Thursday, 9/3 @ 4p during the JV football game; Friday, 9/4 @ 4p during the JV Girls soccer and Varsity Field Hockey games; and on Friday, 9/4 during the JV Field Hockey @ 5:30p.

USED BOOKS
The APA Used Book committee is looking for a couple of volunteers to create an inventory of the remaining Used Books and to pack up the textbooks no longer being used in the Severn School curriculum. If you are available and would like to help, please contact Used Book Chair Linda Finlay (lindafinlayrdh@msn.com). 
        The Committee thanks everyone who participated in the summer Used Book Sale - from those who helped to those those who purchased books. The remaining used books are in the School Store. If your student has misplaced a textbook or transferred into a different class, please have him/her stop into the School Store, during regular School Store hours, to see if a used book is available before ordering one on-line. All proceeds from the Used Book Sale go back to support Severn School programs and activities.