On Friday November 14th, students from the American Academy were the guests of a kind benefactor at a Kimmel Center concert in Philadelphia.  Before the performance, Mr. Tom Anderson prepared the children for the performance of Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Grosse Fugue, and Missa Solemnis.  After the performance, our students were invited backstage to meet the conductor and performers.  Praise God for this wonderful opportunity, and thanks also to Mr. Anderson and to our very thoughtful benefactor!

Congratulations to our students whose works were selected for publication in this year’s Creative Communication Celebrating What Is Important to Me essay contest: Sam Anthony; Lukas, Danny, and Josh Carroll; Maggie and Molly Harnish; Jacqui and Nathania Hofstetter; Samantha and Noelle Ludlum; Tad and Baret Lyon; Nathan Master; David Matej; Rachel Meell and Stephanie Meell; Eleanor and Samuel Miller; Laura, Sarah, and David Null; Ace Robinson; and Elena Sutton.  Well done!

In addition:

• Students in grades K-12 are busy working on their poetry for the upcoming Creative Communications poetry contest.
• Grades 5-8 are writing for the Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest, on the topic “The Ideals of the Gettysburg Address.”
• Noelle Ludlum will represent TAA in the 27th annual essay contest, sponsored by Penn State University.

Thanks to Dr. Traver, Mrs. Null, and Mrs. Chagan for all of their hard work helping our students find their muse!

The American Academy will hold an open house on Saturday, November 22nd, starting at 6PM.

Anyone interested in attending should contact the school (see our contacts page for the phone number).

It’s Summer School at The American Academy!

• We have had a great science camp in June in Potter County, where the students built rockets and successfully launched them; they built electric engines out of ordinary household items; they hiked, star-gazed, and went fishing.
• June17 was our all day summer book discussion at Dr. Traver’s house. The students read George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion together, watched My Fair Lady and had a fun pizza dinner. Thank you to the Travers!
• High school students attended a three day trip to Washington DC. Courtesy of Senator Arlen Specter’s office, they had special tours of the Russell building, saw the 19 C senatorial marble baths (now underneath heating equipment!), rode the underground tram to the Capitol Building, toured all aspects of that building and ended with tickets to observe the Senate debating several items – that was just one afternoon. Senator Specter’s office also arranged a special early morning tour of the Library of Congress, where 20,000 items are received and stored each day – and not all of them are books! The students also saw Hillwood, home of Marjorie M. Post, the National Cathedral, The Museum of Natural History, the Holocaust Museum, the special archaeology exhibit from Afghanistan (National Gallery, East wing) and enjoyed a wonderful evening tour of the lit monuments of the city. Thank you to Mrs. Chagan for organizing this memorable trip.
• On July 1, students attended the annual Intercollegiate Studies Institute BBQ in Wilmington, DE. Charles Murray spoke about education. He cited the lack of education for bright students as a “national security crisis.” Tom Anderson wrote a review of the lecture for The Bulletin which appeared last week.