Moorestown Friends School E-News - May 2, 2011
Color Day and Red Sock Run - Sat., May 7 | Paulsdale Tour - Sat., May 21
A Statement Regarding the Controversy Surrounding Author Greg Mortenson
Students Win Awards at TCNJ Model U.N. Conference | NJ Science Olympiad Recap
Faculty/Staff Members Honored for Service | Pro Dancer Leads Salsa Workshop
Sports Update | MFS in the News | Fox Tracks
What's Happening at MFS
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| Join the MFS Community for the Red Sock Run and Color Day this Saturday, May 7. Register today! |
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| The entire student body will attend the Greenleaf Classroom Building Construction Kickoff on Friday, May 6 at 1:30 p.m. |
Monday, May 2
- Red & Blue Club Meeting,
7 p.m., Moriuchi Room
Thursday, May 5
- Middle School Talent Show, 12:56 p.m., Auditorium
Friday, May 6
- Red and Blue Day - students encouraged to wear their colors!
- Alumni Weekend
- Greenleaf Construction Kickoff, 1:30 p.m., Greenleaf property
- Dinner Among Friends, 6 p.m., DH/C
Saturday, May 7
Monday, May 9
- Senior Projects Begin
- LS/MS/US Ceramics Show, May 9 – 13, Stokes Hall
Wednesday, May 11
MS Spring Concert, 7 – 8:30 p.m., Auditorium
Thursday, May 12
Cum Laude Banquet, 6 -9 p.m., DH/C & Meeting House
Friday, May 13
PS/PK Grandparents Day, 8:45 – 10:30 a.m., DH/C |
Color Day and the Red Sock Run - Saturday, May 7
Come out for Color Day on May 7! Students, families and alumni are invited to participate in a number of games and contests to earn points for their Red or Blue teams. Wear your team colors!
Schedule
8 - 9 a.m. Registration
The Red Sock Run features categories
for all, from toddlers to 5K runners. Sponsored by the Red and
Blue Club, the run is in memory of George Thomas, father of Prekindergarten Teacher Lisa Martin, who taught at
MFS for 25 years. George was known for having his students join
him in wearing red socks on Fridays. Proceeds benefit the George
Thomas Endowment for Faculty Salaries. Runners in each event
(5K, 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and Toddler Trek) will earn points for
the Red or Blue Teams.
8:30 a.m. 5K Race and 1-mile Fun Run
9:00 a.m. Color Day – featuring the Red Sock Run
9:20 a.m. Toddler Trek
Current Scoreboard
Leading into Color Day: |
BLUE |
RED |
1903 |
1779 |
As part of the 225th Anniversary Celebration,
the school is bringing back the tradition of Color Day. Alumni,
parents and students are encouraged to come out and
participate in the Red Sock Run and a series of field games to
earn points for the Red or Blue Teams.
There are two remaining opportunities for members of the community to win points for their teams. On Friday, May 6 all students should dress in their team colors. Participating students dressing in their team colors will be counted.
The final chance to earn points for the Red and Blue Team is on Saturday, May 7 for Color Day and the Red Sock Run.
After the 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk, Color Day games
will begin on the fields. The morning is sure to be fun for ALL
ages. Activities will include free-throw shooting, tennis serve
contests, Frisbee target toss, races and much more; we will assign
you a color when you sign up.
Most importantly, points will be awarded for each activity people participate in. The Red Sock Run and Color Day will be a great way to end this year-long competition! Don't miss it! |
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 10:45 a.m. Color Day activities
end, and the winning team of the year-long Color Day
competition will be announced and presented with the MFS Spirit
Stick. |
225th Anniversary Special Event:
Tour and Tea at Paulsdale
128 Hooton Road, Mount Laurel
Saturday, May 21 – 2 p.m.
 Join
us for an afternoon at the home of Alice Paul, suffragist, author
of the Equal Rights Amendment, and one of the school’s
most notable alumnae (Class of 1901). MFS invites all members
of the community to the home of Alice Paul, on Hooton Road in
Mount Laurel. Now run by the Alice Paul Institute, Paulsdale
was owned by former faculty member and alumni parent, Miriam
Feyerherm. This is a great opportunity to spend time
exploring a historic local landmark with a direct connection
to MFS. |
REGISTER HERE
A Statement Regarding the Controversy Surrounding Author Greg Mortenson
By now you are probably aware of the controversy surrounding Greg Mortenson’s book, Three Cups of Tea, and his organization, the Central Asia Institute (CAI). The three versions of the book served as our all-school read last summer, and Pennies for Peace, the fund-raising initiative associated with Central Asia Institute, was the focus of fundraising throughout our community. The organization’s stated mission, the promotion of peace through education, is a focus that resonates strongly with our school’s vision and mission. To date, the Moorestown Friends School community has collected over $2,600 for the organization.
There have been numerous reports and essays published since the 60 Minutes program aired on April 17. As is often the case with allegations involving such a public and far-reaching organization, there are conflicting reports and rebuttals. Two weeks after the program, the facts are not yet clear, and there is no definitive resolution to the controversy regarding CAI’s financial management. The funds we collected over the past few months have not yet been sent to CAI.
This cause was one that mattered to us as a community. Therefore, it is important that we thoughtfully and patiently approach the decision about whether to send the money. We will continue to gather information, seek the truth regarding the organization’s veracity, and avoid making quick assumptions as the facts continue to emerge. The funds we collected for CAI will be placed in an interest-bearing account until we have a better understanding of the situation. We remain committed to supporting education in a part of the world that is rife with conflict, and where children do not have the opportunities that we have here at MFS.
--Middle School Dean of Students and English Teacher Maggie Beck |
Students Achieve Model U.N. Success
Four students captured awards at the recent
College of New Jersey Model United Nations Conference in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Sophomore Taylor Hart-McGonigle and freshman Josh Kirkpatrick received the Outstanding Delegate Award representing Israel. Junior Lorenzo Gibson, also representing the State of Israel, received an Honorable Mention award, as did junior Doug Adair for his role representing Great Britain.
Other students attending the conference included: Chukwuebuka Anayo, Peter Bader, Dante Bucci, Eric Harkaway, Alicia Hutchinson, Joe Kiernan, John Leibundgut and Ari Levine.
The MFS Model U.N. Advisor is MS/US Social Studies Teacher Joel Hager. History Department Chair Clark Thomson also attended the conference with the MFS delegation.
State Championship Science Olympiad Recap
On March 15, the Middle School and Upper School NJ Science Olympiad teams traveled to the State Championship Tournament at Middlesex County College in Edison, NJ. Schools invited to the state tournament were winners from previously held regional competitions. Placing seventh overall in a field of twenty-six schools, the MFS Middle School team won medals in Battery Buggy (first place), Can’t Judge a Powder (fourth place), Dynamic Planet (sixth place), Fossils (sixth place), Helicopters (fourth place), Shock Value (fourth place), Storm the Castle (first place), Awesome Aquifer (fifth place) and Towers (third place). With five medals, the Upper School team placed eleventh overall in a field of twenty-nine schools. The team won medals in Astronomy (fourth place), Forensics (fifth place), Helicopters (first place), Mousetrap Vehicle (sixth place), and Sumo Bots (third place). Coaches for the Middle School team are Science Teacher Chuck Blatherwick and Deborah Bruvik, and Upper School coaches are Science Dept. Chair Barb Kreider and Upper School Science Teacher Drew Newman.
Three Honored for Service
People of Color in Delaware Valley Independent Schools (POCDVIS) sponsored an event “In Praise of Education” at Friends Central School on April 19. The event honored people of color employed in independent schools for 15 years or more. Director of Multicultural Affairs Karen Washington (21 years) and Director of Payroll and Employee Benefits Marie Loveland (17 years) attended the event along with Associate Head of School/Academic Dean Barbara Caldwell who presented the awards to the group. Also recognized but unable to attend was Camden Scholars Coordinator and Science Teacher Tina Corsey (16 years).
Pro Dancer Leads Salsa Dancing Workshop for Students
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| On April 25, professional
dancer Brian
Fortuna and several other instructors visited MFS for a salsa
dancing workshop with approximately 50 students from three classes
(one Spanish II honors class and two Spanish III honors classes).
After the workshop, students enjoyed a catered Latino lunch.
Fortuna was the star of Burn the Floor, a ballroom dance
theater production with long runs on London's West End and on
Broadway. He has also served as a teaching professional on Dancing
with the Stars, and competed during the show's fourth season
partnering with former Miss USA, Shandi Finnessey. |
Sports Update
Several Foxes varsity spring teams are off
to hot starts as the spring season unfolds.
 Boys
Lacrosse - off to a 6-1 start, 2-1 in the Friends Schools League
(FSL). Senior Greg Yingling (pictured) notched
his 100th career point in a 9-2 victory over Woodstown on April
11.
Girls Lacrosse - overall record stands at
5-2, 3-1 in the FSL. Only league loss was a narrow 11-9 loss
to Shipley.
Baseball - rainouts have impacted this squad
more than anyone as they have seen all non-league contests cancelled
to this point. This, however, did not prevent the team from bolting
out to a 4-0 start in league play before losing there first league
game to Germantown Friends on Tuesday. At 4-1, they hold a commanding
lead in the FSL's Patriot Division.
Boys Tennis - the team holds a 1-3 record
in the always-tough FSL, but they stand at 5-5 overall, including
wins over Cherry Hill West and Pemberton.
Golf - has yet to notch their first win, narrowly
falling to Friends Central last week 181-188. |
MFS in the News
Fox Tracks
In early April, sixth grader Brooke Parker and two friends organized the Spring Swing, a fun event to raise money for the rebuilding of Fullerton Park on Zelley Ave. in Moorestown, which took place this past weekend. The event raised over $1,300 for the park rebuild.
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For the second consecutive year, eighth grader David Howarth was selected to the 2011-12 New Jersey Olympic Development Program soccer team for players born in 1997.
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