We are thrilled that Albert Manginelli participated in the American Accordion Musicological Society Festival in March at The Inn at Valley Forge.  He entered the young people’s competition for children up through 16 yrs and he won first place.  He received a $50 cash award and a large trophy.  It was quite exciting since this was a first-time experience.  Albert will play the accordion at TAA for our April 18 spring music performance, which is always fun for our students and families. He’s looking forward to playing his Sigmund Romberg (jazz composer) piece at that time, too.  Way to go, Albert!

Congratulations to David Null (Grade 5) and Stephanie Meell (Grade 6) who won the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) essay contest, competing with four DAR chapters. Their essays have been submitted to the state level. All participating students received a certificate from Mrs. Graf of the DAR.

Congratulations to the following Gladwyne Library’s 36th Junior Author Contest winners:  Patrick Devine (poem “Right Down Santa Clause Lane,” Honorable Mention), Maggie Harnish (poem “A Horse Named Pete,” first place), Stephanie Meell (poem “My Sledding Hill,” second place), Ace Robinson (poem “Dad Travel,” first place), and Mikhail Shevchenko (poem “Whipping Wind Weather,” Honorable Mention).   There were a total of 851 entries from 17 different area schools!

Both Ace Robinson’s and Maggie Harnish’s poems will be published in Main Line Life in the upcoming months.

Julia Soper, TAA ‘06, Swarthmore ‘11 and Kate Anthony, TAA ‘05 and University of Pennsylvania ‘10, have  been admitted to the prestigious Middlebury Language program this summer in Middlebury, VT. Julia will participate in the Russian language program, and Kate will participate in the Arabic program.  Congratulations, Kate and Julia!

In the Spring 2008 issue of The Intercollegiate Review: A Journal of Scholarship & Opinion, an article by Peter J. Leithart, entitled “The New Classical Schooling,” refers specifically to The American Academy (p. 7). In the milieu of classical schooling, Leithart quotes the status quo: “At the Veritas School in Lancaster, students take Latin for six years before switching to Greek for two years, but Headmaster Ty Fischer admits that his students do not yet learn the languages as well as they should. Veritas initially taught Latin with the real aim of achieving ‘English mastery,’ but Fischer says they are now ‘moving in the direction of mastering Latin.’ … From his vantage point at CiRCE, Andrew Kern points to some language success stories, including [T]he American Academy in Philadelphia and St. Peter’s in Dallas. Yet he laments that many classical schools have ‘concluded that “classical” means three stages and a lot of books.’ Few schools ‘see mastery as the goal.’ Instead classical schools [often] teach Latin to help with English grammar, to raise SAT scores, or to increase vocabulary….”

Leithart adds that “What draws people to classical Christian schools is the children [and the teachers] they see who are different—more articulate, more respectful, and more intelligent.”

The entire article is available online at the Intercollegiate Study Institute’s web journal, “First Principles“

Congratulations to Stephanie Meell, whose poem “My Sledding Machine,” and to David Null,  whose poem “The Slingshot Sled” won “Honorable Mention” for Cricket Magazine’s poetry contest on a “beautiful moment you experience during the winter holiday season,” to be published in March 2008.

Congratulations to former student Julie Soper, TAA ’05, Swarthmore College ’11, who has received an invitation to be a “key speaker” at the International Convention of Rotary International,” Los Angeles, CA, June 12-14.  Winning a year scholarship to Siberia last year, Julie has been asked to speak about her experiences throughout the region.  Her presentation at the winter Rotary Eastern States Student Exchange was described as “excellently delivered, well organized, very insightful, and quite entertaining,” thus earning her the trip to Los Angeles.  Julie will speak immediately after the Rotary International President addresses the convention.  What an honor for Julie—and for TAA.  BRAVA!

Congratulations to the following students whose poems have been accepted for publication in Creative Communication: Sam Anthony “The Rhyme Scheme-Meter Challenge,” Josh Carroll “Gory Goblin,” Danny Carroll “The Wrong Way,” Patrick Devine “Right Down Santa Claus Lane,” Joel Fink “Frangar non Flectar (I Will Break Before I Am Bent),” Maggie Harnish “A Horse Named Pete,” Molly Harnish “Bedtime with Sisters,” Nathania Hofstetter “Party,” Hyunki Joo “Fall Wonders,” Mark Luber “My Bad Writing,” Noelle Ludlum “The PSAT Trial,” Samantha Ludlum “School,” Tad Lyon “A Trip to Japan,” Catherine Lyon “Fat Cat,” Albert Manginelli “Fabulous Fall’s Grand Opening,” Gianni Manginelli “Big Bunches of Books,” Nathan Master “Attack of the Ants,” Hanna Master “Train Game,” David Matej “Spring Baseball and Winter Basketball,” Barbara Matejova “Not Yet Right,” Stephanie Meell “Rules Rule the Roost,” Samuel Miller “Writing a Crummy Poem,” Felicity Miller “What Is He?” David Null “Terrifying Tornado,” Sarah Null “Sewing with my Mom,” Laura Null “Woof Woof,” Ace Robinson “Dad Travel,” Mikhail Shevchenko “Whipping Wind Weather,” and Peter Shevchenko “Splashing, Swimming, and Sliding.”

Congratulations to the following TAA students who won awards from Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 1711):

Voice of Democracy: Joel Fink 1st place, Barbara Matejova 2nd place, Sam Anthony and Noelle Ludlum 3rd place tie.

Patriot’s Pen: Patrick Devine 1st place, Ace Robinson 2nd place, and Samuel Miller 3rd place.

The top two students from each section were sent to the district-wide contest.

Thank you to Mrs. Robinson for the delicious cupcakes and special cake with the Blue Star insignia, which is the organization of mothers of active military.