Our Scottish dancers, under the tutelage of Mrs Susan Null, have been traveling far and wide to compete in various Scottish games and dance competitions.  In late April, in a difficult novice competition in southern Maryland, Jaqcueline Hofstetter scored 5th and 6th places in 4 dances.  In the beginner competition, Magdelena Harnish and Nathania Hofstetter both scored second and third places, moving them one step closer to novice level. Brava ladies!

We have received the results from our National Greek and Latin exams.  We are very proud of our students, and give the glory to God for their accomplishments.  Congratulations to Samuel Anthony, for his certificate of merit in the intermediate Attic Greek.  The results for the National Latin Exam are: Introduction to Latin: David Matej, Magna Cum Laude (certificate of merit); Jim Mearnes, Magna Cum Laude (certificate of merit); Molly Wells, Magna Cum Laude (certificate of merit). Latin I: Molly Harnish, Maxima Cum Laude (silver medal); Nathania Hofstetter, Cum Laude; Harry Robinson, Magna Cum Laude; Josiah Wells, Summa Cum Laude (gold medal). Latin II: David Null, Magna Cum Laude. Latin V-VI: Sam Anthony, Cum Laude.

Congratulations to the following students whose poems were selected for publication by Creative Communication: Sam Anthony “Hungry Visions,” Madeleine DeWitt “Begin With Porcelain,” Seth DeWitt “Cape May, NJ,” Lena Harnish “The Terrific Two,” Molly Harnish “The Best Dog of All,” Susanna Harnish “First Grade,” Jacqui Hofstetter “Not Aragorn but Still a Strider,” Nathania Hofstetter “The Witches Hallow’s Eve Brew,” Samantha Ludlum “Flowers, Leaves, Snow,” Hannah Master “Sam: Then and Now,” Nathan Master “A Poem about Poetry,” Samuel Master “Animals Aren’t Cannibals,” David Matej “Poetry vs Essay,” David Null “After School Dilemma,” Laura Null “Fruit in Summer, Jam in Winter,” Sarah Null “Bad Day / Good Day,” Atticus Robinson “What is Work?,” Harper Robinson “An Ode to English Teachers All Around,” Josiah Wells “Trumpet or Bray?,” and Molly Wells “Beautiful Ballet.”

Congratulations to Kate Anthony, TAA ’05 and UPenn ’09, on her graduation from Army Officer Candidate School as a second lieutenant.  Kate’s officer pin was pinned by her Navy brother Matthew, who flew in from San Diego for this event; Dr. and Mrs. Anthony were also in attendance. Kate was in the top 10% of her class of 106, and was one of two women who were distinguished honor graduates.  She won the top physical fitness award for women, and will now be training in Ft Leonard, Missouri after a short leave in Philadelphia.

The American Academy would like to congratulate Atticus Robinson for his winning entry, “Mama and the Bishop’s Boys”, in READ magazine’s Take Five contest.  There are only four winning entries, all of which will be published in READ magazine.

We are proud of our students who have placed in the Scholastic writing competition this year. Congratulations to Nathania Hofstetter, who won Honorable Mention for her story “A Boy, a Chest, and a Mysterious Note”; David Null, who won a Silver Key for his story of “Breakaways, Battles, and Brawls”; Atticus Robinson, who won a Gold Key for his piece “Fun, Fun, Fun”; and Harry Robinson, who won a Gold Key for his piece “Orthodox Observations”.

Congratulations to the following students in Grades 3-12 whose essays were accepted for publication by Creative Communication: Sam Anthony “Day of the Turtle,” Samuel Chang “A Boy and His Dog,” Lena Harnish “Practice Makes Perfect,” Molly Harnish “Not Just a Bruise,” Jacqui Hofstetter “A Time for Everything,” Nathania Hofstetter “Hustle to Hershey,” Eli Holmes “Not Bungee Jumping or Sky Diving,” Samantha Ludlum “Birthday Bologna,” Hannah Master “My Brother Nathan: Oh, Boy!,” Nathan Master “Homework: Blah, Blah Blah?,” David Matej “Baseball Cursed: Lemonade Blessed,” David Null “Learning the Basics of BASIC,” Laura Null “Battered, Bruised, and Broken,” Sarah Null “Helping with Hair and Hats,” Ace Robinson “The Strength to Change,” Harry Robinson “A Place for Hate,” Josiah Wells “A Splashdown into San Diego,” and Molly Wells “Three States, One Country, Five Schools.”

The national 2010 Salvatori Prize winner for Excellence in Teaching is Mrs. PJ Chagan, history teacher at The American Academy (Conshohocken, PA).  The Prize recognizes outstanding examples of teaching the ideals of western civilization and US constitutional liberty, and will be formally awarded Oct 3 at Hillsdale Academy, Hillsdale, MI.  The award includes a $25,000 grant to The American Academy.

As described on the Hillsdale College website, institutions which receive the Salvatori Prize are recognized as “…address(ing) constructively the perilous state of American education…it is intended that educators and citizens alike will come to regard the Salvatori Prize as a measure of teaching excellence and its recipients as inspiring examples.”

The full press release is available here.

Congratulations Mrs. Chagan!  We are so very proud of you!

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Congratulations to all our TAA Scottish dancers who competed in the Essex County Scottish Dancing competition on 6 March 2010: in the 8 & under beginner category, Hannah Master, Laura Null, and Lena Harnish; in the 9 and over beginner category, Jacqui and Nathania Hofstetter; and in the Premier level, Sarah Null.  Ages 8 and under: in the Lilt , Hannah won 1st place, Laura 2nd place, and Lena 3rd place; in the Fling, Laura won 5th, Hannah 6th; in the Sword, Laura won 2nd; and in the Seann Triubhas, Laura won 2nd, Hannah 3rd.  Ages 9 and over: in the Lilt, Jacqui won 4th; in the Fling Jacqui won 2nd; in the Sword Nathania won 5th; in the Seann Triubhas Jacqui won 4th and Nathania won 6th. In the premier level, Sarah won 1st in the Fling and 4th in the Sword. She will go on to the regional level. Thanks to Mrs. Null for teaching and preparing the girls for this competition.  Lena, Jacqui, Laura, and Hannah each got a stamp for being in the top three in at least one dance.  When a dancer acquires six stamps they move up a level, excepting the Intermediate level, in which you only stay for one year.

Six of our students won awards in the Gladwyne Library League’s 38th Junior Author Contest on March 5. Congratulations to Samuel Chang (3rd grade) “Castles and Kings and Knights, Oh My!”, who won 2nd place for 3rd grade poetry, Seth Dewitt (1st grade) “Animal Cinquains”, who won 3rd place for 1st grade poetry, Jacqui Hofstetter (3rd grade) “Soccer Dog”, who won 3rd place for 3rd grade poetry, Lena Harnish (3rd grade) “Disneyland, Not!”, who won Honorable Mention for 3rd grade poetry, Sarah Null (5th grade) “Mystery Box”, who won 1st place for 5th grade poetry, and Molly Wells (5th grade) “Three Wonders of Nature”, who won 3rd place for 5th grade poetry.  There were 732 entries from 12 different area schools.   Thanks to Dr. Traver for helping the students with their poems.