News Detail
NEWS FROM THE HEADMASTER December 2004
COLLEGE NEWS FOR THE CLASS OF 2006
Invitations and the agenda for the Class of 2006 College Weekend were mailed December 9th. Watch for those and please return the response card as soon as possible.
Deans of Admissions from Dartmouth College, Florida Southern College, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be joining us for the college weekend on February 18th and 19th.
PSAT/NMSQT and SAT Prep letters were mailed to all parents in early December. All members of the class of 2006 received their results at Class Meeting on December 9th. If you have any questions, make sure you contact me.
JUNIOR URBAN ADVENTURE
“We’re tired, but we had a great time!” says Hans Mundahl, Director of Adventure Education, about the Junior Urban Adventure. Students and staff returned from Boston after three days of experiential learning, tired but satisfied by an intense learning opportunity combined with some time for sightseeing.
The Junior Urban Adventure is a three-day learning expedition to Boston. Students choose a topic area in which they are interested (twelve were offered this year from Healthy Athlete to Photography to Animal Rescue), meet with professionals working in that field, and visit exhibits to explore the topic in depth. The focus of the junior year is independent learning so each student formulates a research question and focuses their exploration of their topic area as it relates to their essential question.
Here’s what students said about the JUA in their own words: I liked all our activities and I am glad it was varied. There was a good variety of topic areas! I felt I got a lot from everything we did! It gives you a better idea than being in class. I learn better this way! It was too structured. I asked questions on my own. I got to see a wide variety and can definitely answer my research question. My topic was interesting to me; it’s what I want to do after college. I loved the place we went, I learned a lot! I would have liked something in the realm of science. It was interesting to deviate from the normal class. I learn when I do things at my own pace and my own way. I loved my trip and I learned a lot!
Juniors will present their findings to the school at a Portfolio Fair beginning at 10:00 a.m. on January 13, 2005, in McEvoy Theater. Parents, alumni, and friends are welcome to attend. If you are interested in the JUA or other Adventure Education programs at New Hampton School, please contact Hans Mundahl at 603-677-3404.
HOLIDAY PROGRAM AND DINNER
On Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m., the entire school gathered in McEvoy Theater to celebrate the upcoming holiday. The Hamptones sang, Mrs. Berry and Hayden Berry read us “The Night Before Christmas,” and I wished the entire school a safe and peaceful holiday. We adjourned at 6:00 p.m. and Neal Shartar and his staff put on a feast. Excitement abounds as our students head off to their homes all over the world.
HEADMASTER SEARCH
The search for the next Headmaster of New Hampton School is moving ahead on schedule. A few weeks ago, the trustees’ Search Committee announced that a field of eight candidates had been selected and the goal of the Search Committee was to narrow the field of candidates to three by the holiday break. The three candidates have been identified, and they will be visiting campus during the month of January. The trustees plan to select and announce the name of the new Headmaster at the beginning of February.
HUSKIES’ SUPER SEASON ON THE GRIDIRON
On November 27, the Huskies took on prep school powerhouse Worcester in the Class A Prep School match-up. Worcester, whom we had defeated 30-6 earlier this season, came back for revenge, never letting up. Worcester scored first, causing the Huskies to be down for the first time all season. Brendan Smith (Andover, MA) threw a 10-yard pass to Colin Lynch (Manchester, NH). With a Point After Touchdown by Brendan Poh (Meredith, NH), the score was tied.
Warren Wilson (Lawrence, MA) continued the momentum with two touchdowns. One was a spectacular 53-yard run and the other a 5-yard rush. Poh, a first-year kicker who used to play soccer and who has been kicking less than a year, made both extra points. Worcester scored on a 6-yard run to bring the halftime score to 21-14.
In the third, Smith ran in a 4-yard touchdown, with Poh missing the extra point. Worcester responded with a touchdown pass with a missed extra point. The third quarter ended at 27-20.
Worcester handed the New Hampton crowd an anxiety attack as they went ahead 33-27 with just minutes remaining. New Hampton drove the ball down the field, aided by a long pass from Smith to Wilson. The Huskies had first and goal from the three. The Worcester defense held strong as the Huskies tried to pound it up the middle on three consecutive plays before Smith scored on an option to the right to tie it up with 1:42 remaining. Poh’s extra point sealed the Huskies win with a 34-33 victory over Worcester.
Since the Superbowl, Brendan Smith was named as Gatorade Thirst Quencher’s 2004 New Hampshire High School Football Player of the Year. In partnership with Scholastic Coach & Athletic Director magazine, Gatorade honors one player from each of the 50 states as a State High School Football Player of the Year. Brendan now is a finalist for Gatorade’s National Football Player of the Year award. Brendan will be attending Northwestern University next year.
FEBRUARY FUN ON THE HORIZON
Save the dates! Winter Carnival 2005 will be held on campus from February 2nd to the 6th. Teams are organized by class and will compete for a cash prize and pizza party for the winning class. Parent volunteers are a huge part of previous Winter Carnival successes. If you are interested in helping with various tasks during Winter Carnival, including Saturday evening’s Casino Night (February 5th), please contact Cindy Buck by phone at 603-677-3414 or by email at cbuck@newhampton.org.
Don’t miss the fun on Sunday, February 13th, when parents, alumni and other New Hampton friends gather for an evening with the Boston Celtics. The 6 p.m. game against the Sacramento Kings is preceded by a reception at 4:00 p.m. at a nearby restaurant. You can register online beginning Monday, December 20th. Deadline for tickets ($60 each including reception) is January 26th. Make plans now to join us for this annual event and see our own New Hampton alumnus Darius Songaila ’98 (left) who plays for the Kings as he takes on the Celtics on their home court.
ANNE BEEDY MOVES TO THE CURRIER MUSEUM OF ART
After twelve years, Anne Beedy will be leaving her position as New Hampton School’s Director of Development at the end of December. Anne will be moving to Manchester to become Director of Development of the Currier Museum of Art. Anne competently and successfully has led New Hampton School’s fund-raising, alumni relations, and communications efforts, and she will be missed. All of us have enjoyed Anne’s friendship, and I want to wish her all the best as she embarks on this next exciting phase of her career.
We will undertake a nation-wide search for a Director of Development in the near future, and I welcome your advice. If you know of a well-qualified candidate, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible.
As she did during Anne’s leave of absence last spring, Cindy Buck will serve as the point person within the Development Office and assume the title of Acting Director of Development. The Development Office team will continue to meet with me regularly as we move New Hampton School’s goals forward.
TRUSTEE PROFILE: ROBERT D. KENNEDY
Former New Hampton School Board of Trustees chairman Robert D. Kennedy is one of four brothers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to attend New Hampton School. An honor student, Bob also played football, baseball, managed the basketball team, and worked on the staff of the school newspaper. His bass voice was a welcome addition to the Glee Club, the Double Quartet, and Choir.
After his graduation in 1950, Bob went on to Cornell University where he received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1955. A loyal Cornell man, he is a Trustee Emeritus, Presidential Counselor, past Co-Chair of the Committee on Academic Affairs and Campus Life, and past Chair of the Task Force on Athletics.
Bob joined Union Carbide in 1955 at the Edgewater Research Laboratory of the National Carbon Division. He held various positions in that division for 20 years, including the management of the European Carbon Business from Geneva, Switzerland. He returned to New York as president of the Linde Division in 1977, a position he held for five years. Bob was elected a senior vice-president of the corporation in 1981, and an executive vice-president in 1982. He became president and chief operating officer of Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics, and was also elected to the corporation’s board of directors, in 1985.
Bob was elected president and chief executive officer in April 1986, and chairman in December of that year. He stepped down as chief executive officer in April 1995, and retired as chairman on December 31, 1995.
Bob received the 1995 Chemical Industry Medal from The Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) for his leadership, foresight, and many contributions to applied chemistry that have enhanced the progress of the entire industry. Chemical industry security analysts named him recipient of the 1995 Kavaler Award for chief executive excellence. In 1991 the American Section of the Societe de Chimie Industrielle awarded Bob the prestigious International Palladium Medal for his leadership in environmental and education efforts. He received the Honorary Fellow Award from the American Institute of Chemists in 1988.
Bob was a member of the board of the Chemical Manufacturers Association until June 1994. In 1989 he was elected chairman of the board for a one-year term. He had previously served as chairman of the association’s executive committee and vice chairman of the board.
Bob is currently a member of the Business Council, a past member of the Business Roundtable’s education committee, and founder and past chairman of the Connecticut Business for Education Coalition (CBEC). During 1993-94 he also served on the Commission on Educational Excellence for Connecticut (CEEC), which was created by the Governor and General Assembly to develop a plan to establish a world class educational system for Connecticut.
He is a past chairman and former member of the board of National Inroads, Inc., an organization that identifies outstanding minority students and introduces them to the business world. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Aspen Institute; a moderator of the Aspen Institute Programs on Humanistic Studies and the Corporation in Contemporary Society and is a past member of the Board of Governors of the International School of Geneva, Switzerland.
A member of the Board of Directors of Sunoco Inc. and Hercules Corporation, he is also a member of the Advisory Boards of the Blackstone Group, Sullivan Associates and RFE Investment Partners.
Bob was elected as Chairman and CEO of UCAR International, Inc., effective March 18, 1998. He stepped down as CEO, effective June 22, 1998. On September 15, 1999 he stepped down as Chairman.
Bob has also been a Director of the Union Camp Corporation, General Signal Corporation, Kmart, International Paper, and Birmingham Steel. For two decades, he has served with distinction on the New Hampton School Board of Trustees, having been elected in 1984, and currently he serves on the Executive Committee and the Development Committee. He and his wife Sally reside in Connecticut.
FACULTY INTERVIEW WITH JAYNE ADAMS-LAURION
Number of years at NHS:
I am in my second year of teaching at New Hampton.
How long have you been teaching?
Prior to NHS, I was involved with local schools and volunteer workshops or individual private lessons. I was also involved with coaching youth teams and middle school track and field. Also, the nature of my small business of 18 years was informative and educational.
Education:
I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with B.F.A. in painting.
What was your life like before New Hampton School?
It was one of wearing many hats. I owned and operated a small business as a professional picture framer and gallery owner, while raising my two sons, attending to the details of their busy lives, actively participating in their school, producing artwork for various venues, and getting out in nature as much as time would permit.
Tell us about your life as a professional artist.
I have been included in numerous exhibits in New England: Fitchburg Museum of Art in Fitchburg, Mass.; the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, N.H.; the Chapel Art Center at St. Anselm College; Arrival Art Gallery, Kennebunkport, Maine, etc. I have been a three-time winner of the Currier Gallery of Art Award through the N.H. Art Association, of which I have been a member since 1992. I am also a member of the Ogunquit Art Association and the Barn Gallery in Ogunquit, Maine. My work is in numerous private collections in the U.S.A. and Canada.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
I have been fortunate to win several art awards and prize money and have been amazed at the opportunities that occurred for major paintings to sell. This concrete measure of success is fantastic and appreciated, but what really motivates me to keep working is that I am still here and I am still driven to work and to create. I cannot foresee myself doing anything else. It is a life force.
What about your greatest personal accomplishment?
I feel that I have had many and that I know that there are more to come. Every day is open to something new with the possibility of accomplishment as we cross daily thresholds. But, probably narrowing down a few standouts would be watching my family achieve for themselves some of their dreams, aspirations, and accomplishments. I love to watch the look on their faces when they have really done something or were in the “zone”!
Describe your classroom.
It hums with productivity or is intense with quiet and focus! The atmosphere is relaxed so students can unwind and get to that place where they can focus and create. Students are generally engaged from the beginning of the term to the end. Teaching is usually one-on-one after the introduction of a project to meet the needs of the individual.
How do you get kids motivated to find their artistic side?
Encouragement, encouragement, encouragement! I break down the projects to a level that they can comprehend, and we build from there. It is really important that students can feel successful however small the accomplishment is.
The hardest part about teaching is to adequately spread myself out to all those in a class so that they can improve. I want all my students to know that I see them and hear them.
What makes NHS unique?
The one thing I appreciate at NHS above all else is the smaller class size. Students have the advantage of personal interaction and one-on-one with the instructor. Also, faculty attention to students of concern is significant for “rounding up” a student before he falls too far behind.
Teaching at the school where my sons are also students is great. We are all on the same page pretty much, I get to see them, however briefly, and we are all good at staying out of each other’s way as well as respecting each other’s position and space.
Personal info:
I married Marc R. Laurion, a woodworker, philosopher, and teacher, on Mt. Washington after hiking with a party of eight to the summit in the rain in record three-hour time! Our elder son, Dylan, 18, graduated from NHS in 2004 and attends College of Wooster. Our younger son Owen is 16 and a member of the NHS Class of 2006.
As a family we are all avid hikers, bikers, and love to paddle the sea kayaks that Marc built. We are all ready for any adventure at hand, whether sliding down Kate’s Hill in the north country, pool hopping our favorite waterholes, or seeking remote destinations like northern Newfoundland. Experiencing outdoor adventures has been a family tradition.
Jayne’s work will be featured in a group show entitled “Figure, Form, and Spirit: Interpretations from life in photography, painting, sculpture, and drawing” to be on exhibit in the Galletly Gallery January 7-30, 2005.
Back
Invitations and the agenda for the Class of 2006 College Weekend were mailed December 9th. Watch for those and please return the response card as soon as possible.
Deans of Admissions from Dartmouth College, Florida Southern College, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be joining us for the college weekend on February 18th and 19th.
PSAT/NMSQT and SAT Prep letters were mailed to all parents in early December. All members of the class of 2006 received their results at Class Meeting on December 9th. If you have any questions, make sure you contact me.
JUNIOR URBAN ADVENTURE
“We’re tired, but we had a great time!” says Hans Mundahl, Director of Adventure Education, about the Junior Urban Adventure. Students and staff returned from Boston after three days of experiential learning, tired but satisfied by an intense learning opportunity combined with some time for sightseeing.
The Junior Urban Adventure is a three-day learning expedition to Boston. Students choose a topic area in which they are interested (twelve were offered this year from Healthy Athlete to Photography to Animal Rescue), meet with professionals working in that field, and visit exhibits to explore the topic in depth. The focus of the junior year is independent learning so each student formulates a research question and focuses their exploration of their topic area as it relates to their essential question.
Here’s what students said about the JUA in their own words: I liked all our activities and I am glad it was varied. There was a good variety of topic areas! I felt I got a lot from everything we did! It gives you a better idea than being in class. I learn better this way! It was too structured. I asked questions on my own. I got to see a wide variety and can definitely answer my research question. My topic was interesting to me; it’s what I want to do after college. I loved the place we went, I learned a lot! I would have liked something in the realm of science. It was interesting to deviate from the normal class. I learn when I do things at my own pace and my own way. I loved my trip and I learned a lot!
Juniors will present their findings to the school at a Portfolio Fair beginning at 10:00 a.m. on January 13, 2005, in McEvoy Theater. Parents, alumni, and friends are welcome to attend. If you are interested in the JUA or other Adventure Education programs at New Hampton School, please contact Hans Mundahl at 603-677-3404.
HOLIDAY PROGRAM AND DINNER
On Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m., the entire school gathered in McEvoy Theater to celebrate the upcoming holiday. The Hamptones sang, Mrs. Berry and Hayden Berry read us “The Night Before Christmas,” and I wished the entire school a safe and peaceful holiday. We adjourned at 6:00 p.m. and Neal Shartar and his staff put on a feast. Excitement abounds as our students head off to their homes all over the world.
HEADMASTER SEARCH
The search for the next Headmaster of New Hampton School is moving ahead on schedule. A few weeks ago, the trustees’ Search Committee announced that a field of eight candidates had been selected and the goal of the Search Committee was to narrow the field of candidates to three by the holiday break. The three candidates have been identified, and they will be visiting campus during the month of January. The trustees plan to select and announce the name of the new Headmaster at the beginning of February.
HUSKIES’ SUPER SEASON ON THE GRIDIRON
On November 27, the Huskies took on prep school powerhouse Worcester in the Class A Prep School match-up. Worcester, whom we had defeated 30-6 earlier this season, came back for revenge, never letting up. Worcester scored first, causing the Huskies to be down for the first time all season. Brendan Smith (Andover, MA) threw a 10-yard pass to Colin Lynch (Manchester, NH). With a Point After Touchdown by Brendan Poh (Meredith, NH), the score was tied.
Warren Wilson (Lawrence, MA) continued the momentum with two touchdowns. One was a spectacular 53-yard run and the other a 5-yard rush. Poh, a first-year kicker who used to play soccer and who has been kicking less than a year, made both extra points. Worcester scored on a 6-yard run to bring the halftime score to 21-14.
In the third, Smith ran in a 4-yard touchdown, with Poh missing the extra point. Worcester responded with a touchdown pass with a missed extra point. The third quarter ended at 27-20.
Worcester handed the New Hampton crowd an anxiety attack as they went ahead 33-27 with just minutes remaining. New Hampton drove the ball down the field, aided by a long pass from Smith to Wilson. The Huskies had first and goal from the three. The Worcester defense held strong as the Huskies tried to pound it up the middle on three consecutive plays before Smith scored on an option to the right to tie it up with 1:42 remaining. Poh’s extra point sealed the Huskies win with a 34-33 victory over Worcester.
Since the Superbowl, Brendan Smith was named as Gatorade Thirst Quencher’s 2004 New Hampshire High School Football Player of the Year. In partnership with Scholastic Coach & Athletic Director magazine, Gatorade honors one player from each of the 50 states as a State High School Football Player of the Year. Brendan now is a finalist for Gatorade’s National Football Player of the Year award. Brendan will be attending Northwestern University next year.
FEBRUARY FUN ON THE HORIZON
Save the dates! Winter Carnival 2005 will be held on campus from February 2nd to the 6th. Teams are organized by class and will compete for a cash prize and pizza party for the winning class. Parent volunteers are a huge part of previous Winter Carnival successes. If you are interested in helping with various tasks during Winter Carnival, including Saturday evening’s Casino Night (February 5th), please contact Cindy Buck by phone at 603-677-3414 or by email at cbuck@newhampton.org.
Don’t miss the fun on Sunday, February 13th, when parents, alumni and other New Hampton friends gather for an evening with the Boston Celtics. The 6 p.m. game against the Sacramento Kings is preceded by a reception at 4:00 p.m. at a nearby restaurant. You can register online beginning Monday, December 20th. Deadline for tickets ($60 each including reception) is January 26th. Make plans now to join us for this annual event and see our own New Hampton alumnus Darius Songaila ’98 (left) who plays for the Kings as he takes on the Celtics on their home court.
ANNE BEEDY MOVES TO THE CURRIER MUSEUM OF ART
After twelve years, Anne Beedy will be leaving her position as New Hampton School’s Director of Development at the end of December. Anne will be moving to Manchester to become Director of Development of the Currier Museum of Art. Anne competently and successfully has led New Hampton School’s fund-raising, alumni relations, and communications efforts, and she will be missed. All of us have enjoyed Anne’s friendship, and I want to wish her all the best as she embarks on this next exciting phase of her career.
We will undertake a nation-wide search for a Director of Development in the near future, and I welcome your advice. If you know of a well-qualified candidate, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible.
As she did during Anne’s leave of absence last spring, Cindy Buck will serve as the point person within the Development Office and assume the title of Acting Director of Development. The Development Office team will continue to meet with me regularly as we move New Hampton School’s goals forward.
TRUSTEE PROFILE: ROBERT D. KENNEDY
Former New Hampton School Board of Trustees chairman Robert D. Kennedy is one of four brothers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to attend New Hampton School. An honor student, Bob also played football, baseball, managed the basketball team, and worked on the staff of the school newspaper. His bass voice was a welcome addition to the Glee Club, the Double Quartet, and Choir.
After his graduation in 1950, Bob went on to Cornell University where he received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1955. A loyal Cornell man, he is a Trustee Emeritus, Presidential Counselor, past Co-Chair of the Committee on Academic Affairs and Campus Life, and past Chair of the Task Force on Athletics.
Bob joined Union Carbide in 1955 at the Edgewater Research Laboratory of the National Carbon Division. He held various positions in that division for 20 years, including the management of the European Carbon Business from Geneva, Switzerland. He returned to New York as president of the Linde Division in 1977, a position he held for five years. Bob was elected a senior vice-president of the corporation in 1981, and an executive vice-president in 1982. He became president and chief operating officer of Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics, and was also elected to the corporation’s board of directors, in 1985.
Bob was elected president and chief executive officer in April 1986, and chairman in December of that year. He stepped down as chief executive officer in April 1995, and retired as chairman on December 31, 1995.
Bob received the 1995 Chemical Industry Medal from The Society of Chemical Industry (American Section) for his leadership, foresight, and many contributions to applied chemistry that have enhanced the progress of the entire industry. Chemical industry security analysts named him recipient of the 1995 Kavaler Award for chief executive excellence. In 1991 the American Section of the Societe de Chimie Industrielle awarded Bob the prestigious International Palladium Medal for his leadership in environmental and education efforts. He received the Honorary Fellow Award from the American Institute of Chemists in 1988.
Bob was a member of the board of the Chemical Manufacturers Association until June 1994. In 1989 he was elected chairman of the board for a one-year term. He had previously served as chairman of the association’s executive committee and vice chairman of the board.
Bob is currently a member of the Business Council, a past member of the Business Roundtable’s education committee, and founder and past chairman of the Connecticut Business for Education Coalition (CBEC). During 1993-94 he also served on the Commission on Educational Excellence for Connecticut (CEEC), which was created by the Governor and General Assembly to develop a plan to establish a world class educational system for Connecticut.
He is a past chairman and former member of the board of National Inroads, Inc., an organization that identifies outstanding minority students and introduces them to the business world. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Aspen Institute; a moderator of the Aspen Institute Programs on Humanistic Studies and the Corporation in Contemporary Society and is a past member of the Board of Governors of the International School of Geneva, Switzerland.
A member of the Board of Directors of Sunoco Inc. and Hercules Corporation, he is also a member of the Advisory Boards of the Blackstone Group, Sullivan Associates and RFE Investment Partners.
Bob was elected as Chairman and CEO of UCAR International, Inc., effective March 18, 1998. He stepped down as CEO, effective June 22, 1998. On September 15, 1999 he stepped down as Chairman.
Bob has also been a Director of the Union Camp Corporation, General Signal Corporation, Kmart, International Paper, and Birmingham Steel. For two decades, he has served with distinction on the New Hampton School Board of Trustees, having been elected in 1984, and currently he serves on the Executive Committee and the Development Committee. He and his wife Sally reside in Connecticut.
FACULTY INTERVIEW WITH JAYNE ADAMS-LAURION
Number of years at NHS:
I am in my second year of teaching at New Hampton.
How long have you been teaching?
Prior to NHS, I was involved with local schools and volunteer workshops or individual private lessons. I was also involved with coaching youth teams and middle school track and field. Also, the nature of my small business of 18 years was informative and educational.
Education:
I graduated from the University of New Hampshire with B.F.A. in painting.
What was your life like before New Hampton School?
It was one of wearing many hats. I owned and operated a small business as a professional picture framer and gallery owner, while raising my two sons, attending to the details of their busy lives, actively participating in their school, producing artwork for various venues, and getting out in nature as much as time would permit.
Tell us about your life as a professional artist.
I have been included in numerous exhibits in New England: Fitchburg Museum of Art in Fitchburg, Mass.; the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, N.H.; the Chapel Art Center at St. Anselm College; Arrival Art Gallery, Kennebunkport, Maine, etc. I have been a three-time winner of the Currier Gallery of Art Award through the N.H. Art Association, of which I have been a member since 1992. I am also a member of the Ogunquit Art Association and the Barn Gallery in Ogunquit, Maine. My work is in numerous private collections in the U.S.A. and Canada.
What is your greatest professional accomplishment?
I have been fortunate to win several art awards and prize money and have been amazed at the opportunities that occurred for major paintings to sell. This concrete measure of success is fantastic and appreciated, but what really motivates me to keep working is that I am still here and I am still driven to work and to create. I cannot foresee myself doing anything else. It is a life force.
What about your greatest personal accomplishment?
I feel that I have had many and that I know that there are more to come. Every day is open to something new with the possibility of accomplishment as we cross daily thresholds. But, probably narrowing down a few standouts would be watching my family achieve for themselves some of their dreams, aspirations, and accomplishments. I love to watch the look on their faces when they have really done something or were in the “zone”!
Describe your classroom.
It hums with productivity or is intense with quiet and focus! The atmosphere is relaxed so students can unwind and get to that place where they can focus and create. Students are generally engaged from the beginning of the term to the end. Teaching is usually one-on-one after the introduction of a project to meet the needs of the individual.
How do you get kids motivated to find their artistic side?
Encouragement, encouragement, encouragement! I break down the projects to a level that they can comprehend, and we build from there. It is really important that students can feel successful however small the accomplishment is.
The hardest part about teaching is to adequately spread myself out to all those in a class so that they can improve. I want all my students to know that I see them and hear them.
What makes NHS unique?
The one thing I appreciate at NHS above all else is the smaller class size. Students have the advantage of personal interaction and one-on-one with the instructor. Also, faculty attention to students of concern is significant for “rounding up” a student before he falls too far behind.
Teaching at the school where my sons are also students is great. We are all on the same page pretty much, I get to see them, however briefly, and we are all good at staying out of each other’s way as well as respecting each other’s position and space.
Personal info:
I married Marc R. Laurion, a woodworker, philosopher, and teacher, on Mt. Washington after hiking with a party of eight to the summit in the rain in record three-hour time! Our elder son, Dylan, 18, graduated from NHS in 2004 and attends College of Wooster. Our younger son Owen is 16 and a member of the NHS Class of 2006.
As a family we are all avid hikers, bikers, and love to paddle the sea kayaks that Marc built. We are all ready for any adventure at hand, whether sliding down Kate’s Hill in the north country, pool hopping our favorite waterholes, or seeking remote destinations like northern Newfoundland. Experiencing outdoor adventures has been a family tradition.
Jayne’s work will be featured in a group show entitled “Figure, Form, and Spirit: Interpretations from life in photography, painting, sculpture, and drawing” to be on exhibit in the Galletly Gallery January 7-30, 2005.
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