Important Dates

Charles Wright Academy 7723 Chambers Creek Road West Tacoma, Washington 98467-2099

www.charleswright.org253.620.8300 phone253.620.8431 fax

Bill White, Upper School Head & Athletic Directorbwhite@charleswright.org

3/16 • Upper School Spring Choral Masterworks Concert, 7:00 p.m. (Donn Laughlin Theater)

3/21 • Faculty In-Service, No School

3/23 • CHADD meeting, Parenting & ADHD with Guest Speaker Emily McMason, 6:30 p.m. (LS Commons)

3/28 • MP3 grades sent home

3/28- 4/1 • Spring Break, No School

4/4 • Classes resume

4/9 • ACT

4/14 • Founders Day- Breakfast, 7:15 a.m. (MS Commons) & Program, 12:45 p.m. (Wight Gym)

4/14 • Wright Connection College Counseling Event for Upper School Parents, 7:00 p.m.(Annie Wright School, Great Hall)

4/15-16 • US Spring One-Act Festival, 7:30 p.m. (Donn Laughlin Theater)

Sports Schedules online athttp://www.charleswright.org/athletics/athletics-overview/

Charles Wright Committments By: Bill White, Head of Upper School & Athletic Director

1. Stimulate your intellectual curiosity and develop your critical thinking, preparing you for success in college and for learning throughout life;2. Open your eyes to the world so that you grow to be a responsible, generous, and compassionate global citizen;3. Nurture in you the values of hard work, accountability, resilience, perseverance, and self-management;4. Encourage you to discover your talents so that art, music, and creative expression become a part of who you are;5. Motivate you to be your competitive best while developing teamwork, leadership, and healthy habits for a lifetime of fitness;6. Teach you the value of integrity so that it guides you in your relationships with others and yourself;7. Develop in you a discerning and generous respect for others’ work and the gracious acceptance of others’ assessments of your own;8. Provide you opportunities to discover the beauty and wonder of nature;9. Inspire you to build strong interpersonal relationships that adapt and grow stronger as you experience life’s difficulties;10. Laugh with you often and encourage you to use humor to make learning and life joyous; and11. Deepen your awareness of spirituality as you pursue your life’s meaning, purpose, and direction.

Several years ago the Charles Wright faculty created a list of Commitments that they made to the students. Through a collaborative effort the faculty developed ideals for which we strive to attain in all aspects of a student’s education. The faculty’s goal was to provide a blueprint on how we should approach all aspects of the educational program. The Commitments blend well with the School’s mission statement, which states, “ Charles Wright Academy provides a rigorous and dynamic liberal arts education built on the principles of excellence and compassion. Within an inclusive and globally aware learning community, we foster self-reliance, integrity, social responsibility, and humor,

CHARLES WRIGHTUPPER SCHOOLNEWSLETTER

EXPECT MORE

March 2016

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inspiring our students to discover within themselves the courage to achieve their personal best in mind, body, and spirit.” The Commitments help deepen the faculty’s understanding of the School’s mission. At a recent faculty meeting the faculty and I discussed the commitments and reviewed how we are upholding our commitments to the students.

Winterim is always a great time to have this discussion as so many of the Commitments are fulfilled during this time. Through travel and community service, students are opened to aspects of the world that they have never explored or envisioned. The gardening Winterim invited members of the L’Arche community (mental and physically challenged) to campus to help weed. The work ethic displayed by the workers from L’Arche stunned the students when they did three days of work in six hours. Living with host families in Colombia and Italy opened many Tarrier’s eyes to what it is like to live in another family in another culture. Generosity was prevalent in the Hunger Project, the Boys and Girls Club, the Lower School Mentors, the students who worked the Lower School Winter Wipeout, and the students who worked on the prairie restoration south of Olympia. Students learned the importance of being responsible and tolerant people as well as the importance of being good global citizens.

Many of the other commitments were discussed with passion by the faculty. The Utah trip leaders spoke eloquently about their experience of establishing stronger interpersonal relationships with everyone on their trip. Students from all grade levels were talking and laughing as they explored Dark Canyon. The exquisite scenery, the stunning rock formations, and the serenity of this place on earth where other humans were not in sight and cell service nonexistent was truly a respite from the daily life of being connected.

In all of the Winterims the Commitment, “nurture in you the values of hard work, accountability, resilience, perseverance, and self-management” was widespread. Living in another household in a foreign country requires hard work and accountability. In most Winterim offerings, students were required to move outside their comfort zones to interact with people they didn’t know. This required hard work, resilience, and perseverance. Learning how to meet, engage, and interact with someone new who is different from your cultural norms is difficult. The vast majority of CWA students develop this skill exceptionally well. From observation in the travels and service I have done in recent years, students can look people in the eye, they are adept at picking up cultural nuances, and they treat others with respect and compassion. The Commitments are integral to the Upper School. Along with the School’s mission statement they guide us on how we should approach teaching our classes, examine each of the School’s programs, and how we relate to all of the constituents in the community. We are committed to providing the best educational experience and learning atmosphere possible for every student.

Winter PlayBy: John Forier,Drama Guy CWA’s Winter Musical “Little Shop of Horrors” was a huge success. The show itself was performed with precision and great energy, and every show was close to sold out, breaking all of our existing records for attendance. The Musical itself is beautifully written with powerful messages and wonderful songs, and the Charles Wright Academy Players gave stirring performances across the board. Johnny Hammer as the Dentist was comically despicable, and Ken Yang and Morgan Potter as the tragic couple showed power and great vulnerability throughout the show. All of the actors sounded amazing, and the Student Pit did an incredible job under the direction of Ms. Huckins and Mr. Wadleigh. A very big Tech Crew created an amazing set, mood lighting, and four intricate puppets that stole the show in their scenes. Mr. Twiner and Mr. Bishop led the crews to outdo themselves day after day, and Mr. Moffitt guided the publicity team to create an experiential entrance, as well as a new reservation system and social media campaign that helped achieve our record audiences. As always, all of our kids sacrificed much to offer the community a tremendous weekend of theatre. Bravo.

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ColombiaBy: Dana Flaskerud, World Language Department Chair & Spanish Teacher

Winterim provides once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for kids to discover the world, and once again, our intrepid Tarriers demonstrated to a superlative degree their willingness to dive in and explore a new culture for 10 days. This year, our Spanish students traveled to Bogotá, Colombia where they spent 10 days living with Colombian families and attending school at St. George’s School, a bilingual, private school in Bogotá. For most of our students, this was their first trip to South America, and they definitely experienced the sense of adventure and excitement that South America offers. Above all, students were most impressed by the amount of love and care given to them by our Colombian hosts to ensure a safe, educational and fun trip for all! Aside from making some wonderful new friends and being involved with a variety of different activities, some of the highlights included a visit to La Cigarra, a daycare in the outskirts of the city which provides a safe place for kids to be while their parents work. Many of the children come from extreme poverty, and the foundation provides nutritious meals, safe care and help with schoolwork. For our kids, it was both an inspiring and humbling day. Each day, Charles Wright students were reminded of how important music and dance is to the Colombian culture; our kids loved learning how to rumba! We had many opportunities to rumba at various parties, at school, at restaurants and even on a chivas bus! Our group traveled to a colonial town about 4 hours outside of the city called Villa de Leyva, and the kids were able to envision what Colonial Spain might have looked like in the 16th century. Our kids were also

mesmerized by the Museo de oro in Bogotá where they learned about how indigenous people envisioned the world and nature through various symbols such as the puma, the jaguar, and the eagle. Also, our Tarriers had the unique opportunity to visit the ostrich farm and learn all about this strange and wonderful bird! A trip to Colombia would not be complete without all of the wonderful food we ate, including an array of exotic juices and fruits such as guanabana, granadilla, lulo and cherimoya. In short, I was once again very impressed with Charles Wright Academy students for their immense kindness and warmth they showed each and everyday to each other and to all of the people they came into contact with. It’s an honor to travel abroad with CWA students and has truly been the highlight of my career as a teacher at CWA; Mr. Auter, Ms. Sparrow and I adored seeing them in action with the language and with the culture. We can’t wait for our next adventure together!

Inspiration in ColombiaBy: Davin McKinley, 11th grade student

Visiting Saint George’s school was a very eye opening experience for everyone on the trip to Colombia. The administration showed us their green campus, which included a nature reserve complete with a lake, an innovative recycling and compost program, and a cafeteria full of food grown in gardens on campus. The students there are updated on national and worldwide events weekly at assembly, and as a whole school, they participate in mock debates on current issues. The school creates strong ties within their community with parent led activities and annual class trips for their graduating class.

However, the most inspiring thing I saw there was Saint George’s connection with a foundation called La Cigarra. Located in an incredibly impoverished city above Bogotá, La Cigarra provides food, clothing, activities, and hope to children who live in conditions I could never have imagined before seeing them with my own eyes. These children live in shacks

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that threaten to collapse down, trash covered mountains, or on the side of stray dog infested streets. La Cigarra gives its children a safe haven while their parents, most of whom are victims of the world’s greatest displacement, struggle to provide for their families. The day we visited, these children, who have next to nothing, never stopped smiling. It would be an understatement to say that their courage and spirit changed my life. I will never again take my bed for granted. I was blessed to enter the lives of these beautiful, unforgettable souls. Now, more than ever, I am determined to take full advantage of every opportunity I have been given, in order to give opportunities to those without.

Civil Rights, Blues & BBQBy: Noel Blyler, Associate Director of College Counseling

In March of 2015 I participated in a program for college counselors at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. Over the course of 3 days we had a chance to learn about what is distinctive about Rhodes, as well as about what the city of Memphis has to offer. One of the highlights of the trip was a trip to the Civil Rights Museum. The museum is powerfully moving, describing the experience of blacks from their arrival as slaves through emancipation during the Civil War, through Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era, through the Civil Rights movement, the death of Martin Luther King, and up to the present. Though I was familiar with much of the history, the Civil Rights Museum makes it more immediate, more personal. I left with more factual knowledge, an appreciation for the courage and vision of many of the participants in the civil rights movement, and a wish that some of our students could have this experience.

Other highlights of the trip included hearing some great live blues on Beale Street, and eating some of the best barbecue I’d ever had from some famous Memphis barbecue restaurants like Rendezvous Barbecue and Corky’s. When I got back to Charles Wright I talked with other teachers about what a great trip it had been, and how I’d love to figure out how to take students. Neil Biermann joked, “Hey, this could be a Winterim trip.” Well, it turned out it really could be a great Winterim trip.

Eleven students, Mr. Biermann, and I flew to Nashville on February 15, planning to visit Nashville, Memphis, and Birmingham, with a packed agenda of places to go and barbecue to eat. We got right to the eating part of the agenda on our first night, when we had dinner at Bar-B-Cuties, enjoying pulled pork sandwiches, fried okra, ribs, sweet tea and more -- a promising start to our adventure. Tuesday we spent the morning at the Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame. The Country Music Museum covers much more than country music; it has exhibits on Americana, roots music, folk, blues, rockabilly, rock and roll, pop, and the music industry itself. There was a great exhibit on Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Studios, who recorded and produced just about any and every musician you can name from the 50’s to the 70’s. Though it was a rainy day we walked part of Nashville in the afternoon, saw Ryman Auditorium, and

had lunch at Jack’s Barbecue. We also took a rainy walk around the Belmont University campus, where Andrew Spangler, CWA class of ‘15 is a freshman. That evening we ate at Martin’s BBQ, where they really mean it when they say they use the whole hog. Andrew joined us, it was great to catch up with him and for our students to talk with him about his experience. That’s Andrew with Mr. Blyler and Mr. Biermann, and below are some happy -- and full -- Tarriers at Martin’s BBQ.

Wednesday morning we took a tour of Vanderbilt University. The campus, even on a cloudy, chilly day, was beautiful. We then toured Belle Meade, a restored plantation where we saw the plantation house, the grounds, and a restored slave cabin. At its peak Belle Meade was the largest and wealthiest plantation in Tennessee, with 5400 acres and 130-135 slaves. Our visit to Belle Meade was our first introduction, on this trip, to the economics of the slaveholding states and their dependence on slavery to make the economic model work. After our visit to Belle Meade, we drove to Memphis, and that evening we had dinner at Corky’s BarBQ, one of the culinary highlights of the trip. Memphis is known for its dry rub ribs, (as opposed to “wet” ribs slathered in BBQ sauce). After trying the ribs at Corky’s, we know why they’re so famous.

Thursday morning was spent at the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. The Museum actually covers much more than the Civil Rights Movement of 1954-68; it begins with an exhibit exploring slavery in North America from 1619-1861 and the economic model it supported, and continues with the exhibits on the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow, all of which

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sets the stage for the exhibits on the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Student Sit-ins, the Freedom Riders, voting rights campaigns in Mississippi and elsewhere, the Birmingham and Selma Marches, and more. The Museum is partly housed in the Lorraine Motel, and the first section ends at room 306, the room Martin Luther King was staying in when he was assassinated. The room itself is untouched -- the beds are unmade, there are coffee cups and cigarette butts in the ashtrays -- from the day of the assassination.

A few more pictures from the Civil Rights Museum:

The bus Rosa Parks rode when she refused to surrender her seat.

A re-creation of a student sit-in at a whites only lunch counter.

The real event -- a sit in in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Freedom Riders bus that was firebombed by white supremacists in Alabama.

In Birmingham we had a tour of the 16th St. Baptist Church, where four girls were killed in a bombing -- one of 50 bombings of homes and churches that led to Birmingham’s knickname, “Bombingham.”

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Across the street from the church is a park with a statue commemorating the Children’s March, and their courage even when attacked with fire hoses.

In Birmingham we also followed the Civil Rights Trail, a walking route that follows the path of the Birmingham marchers.

Back to the music part of our trip -- in addition to the Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame, we visited Graceland, and spent some time on Beale Street in Memphis, home of the blues.

Unfortunately, we simply couldn’t fit in everything we wanted to see. We’ll have to go back again to visit Sun Studios, the STAX Soul Music Museum, The Blues Hall of Fame, Slavehaven (a plantation that was part of the Underground Railroad), and more. And, even though we worked our way through a lot of barbecue, as well as some soul food, there were some world famous BBQ restaurants we missed. Next time.

A Culinary Adventure with Flavor! Cook Around the World (or Tacoma)By: David Bishop , US Technology Coordinator &Annie Senner, 9th and 10th Grade Dean of Students & Spanish Teacher

In five short days the Cook Around the World (or Tacoma) Winterim explored a multitude of flavors, textures, cultures, and styles from various corners of the culinary world. From shopping trips to “Los Amigos” and “Pal-Do World” markets, to soul food breakfast at Southern Kitchen, to a full day of service at St. Leo’s food connection, and always back to create our own delicacies in our very own CWA kitchen, the chefs on this team worked

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tirelessly to create a Winterim experience that was unique, heartwarming, and fun.

Want to try it yourself? Here is the recipe for a delicious Winterim adventure in cooking:

- 14 parts, thoughtful and enthusiastic students (a wide variety)- 2 parts, adventuresome teachers (it’s best if they have just a little nuttiness to them)- 1 game of “Foody Fight”- 14 aprons- 6 hours of community service work (at St. Leo’s food bank)- 4 pots of soup (be sure to substitute cayenne pepper for chili powder in at least one pot)- 15lbs of crawfish- 1 double batch of falafel- 1 large pot of underdeveloped bubble tea- 16 grilled Cuban sandwiches- A few servings of fried catfish- 4 giant sheet pans of roasted vegetables- 1 enormous bowl of chopped onions- 1 propane tank- 8-10 untested recipes - various measures of stuffed peppers, Cuban beans & rice, tofu curry, chicken teriyaki, and green tea cookies/cupcakes- . . . and. . . pickles! Don’t forget the pickles!

ENJOY!

ItalyBy: Monica Refuerzo, 12th grade student

Do language barriers exist? But of course. The English and Italian languages bear few similarities.

For example, in the Italian language, there are formal and informal ways to conjugate verbs. When I first met my host family, I addressed them in the formal way. However, as our relationship was not “strictly professional,” my host mom corrected me to use the informal vernacular.

“Ah, non-- come STAI.. che cara. (Oh, no-- how are YOU.. what a dear.)”

My host parents spoke little to no English, so I thought it would be near impossible to communicate with them. A big part of human interaction relies on words and speech. However, as I reflect back to the first night at this foreign household, I do not immediately jump to the thought of language difficulties. No, we did not share a common language, but we forged a bond with the vivid curiosity we all had in common.

At some point during the first night, I realized I had not entered anything into my journal all day. I pulled it out and flipped to the first blank page as my host and host mom gawked at the ink. For a few pages, blank space was in the minority.

I remembered a particular word that my host mom kept repeating and felt compelled to ask, “tantissimo… What does that mean?”

Aside from this word, which means “a lot,” there was so much culture to teach and learn. We sat on the floor and talked about subjects ranging from American football to Andrea Bocelli. My host mom would make the occasional visit to google translate on her cell, and, far-fetched as it is, I felt warmth in my heart from the glow of her phone screen.

All relationships require dedication in order to become strong. For some relationships, the dedication equates to quality time. For others, it’s concrete gifts. The relationship between me and my

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host family required us to dedicate patience. We stepped out of our comfort zones in attempting to create sentences in another language. And although the sentences were a little broken and incomprehensible at times, they got to the root of the message we wanted to give. I think that’s why I became so connected to them in the span of only six days. We weren’t afraid to make mistakes, which were bound to happen. We were immersed in both the American and the Italian cultures, and when people of different backgrounds try to understand each other, a link of mutual respect comes into existence.

I had countless novel and awe-inspiring experiences on this trip. We walked along the ports of Venice as we ate gelato in 30-degree weather. We watched operas that made our ears ring with lyrics we couldn’t understand. We held our breaths as we stared at the tongues of saints from ancient times.

One afternoon, Ms. Crouch came up to me and asked, “so Monica, what has been your favorite thing that’s happened so far?” And although there was a multitude of wonderful experiences to choose from, it didn’t take me long to realize that the one I loved most was the homestay.

And with that, I come back to my initial question: do language barriers exist? Yes, absolutely. I can tell you now that I have faced their heights. But more importantly, I tell you that they are not impossible to overcome.

Hunger Giving Project & Boys and Girls ClubBy: Bill White, Head of Upper School & Athletic Director

During Winterim, I participated in the Hunger Giving Project with Sharon Hurt and the Boys and Girls club with Yanely Mesa. These community service activities really helped fulfill two of the School’s commitments to students. The first commitment was, “Open your eyes to the world so that you grow to be a responsible, generous, and compassionate global citizen.” In both Winterims students learned the deep importance of serving the communities where they live. In Pierce County, there are 103,000 people living at or below the poverty level. According to statistics, the poverty level for a family of four is around $24,000 per year. For a retired person over 65, the level is $11,300. One in 5 kids in Washington live in a household that struggles to put food on the table.

One of the exercises in the Hunger Giving Project was to give students a monthly allowance of $2,000.00. They had to figure out how to spend the money. Should they pay their rent, car payment, health insurance, electric bill, water bill, sewer bill, buy food, or buy extras such as clothing or other necessities of life? Students learned very quickly that families living under the poverty level, which represents 17 percent of the population in Pierce County, are faced with difficult decisions every month on what bills they should pay and what they should forgo. The students learned why Food Banks are so important. Often, families get their food by standing in line at one of the local food

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banks. We learned that these organizations rely on monetary donations to purchase the food, donations from local stores, and food drives to feed an ever-growing population of people who are food insecure. Community service at FISH and the Emergency Food Network during Winterim opened students’ eyes to a world most didn’t know existed.

It was wonderful to watch how CWA interacted with the clients of the food banks. The fastest growing groups who live in poverty are people under 21 years of age or over 65. The students who participated learned the importance of being caring, responsible and compassionate citizens. A number of people in the line to get food had lost jobs, were under employed, and/or didn’t have the education or skill set to change their plight in life. Students also engaged in raising funds to support a local organization working to end hunger in our region. After making a personal gift and fundraising, the group collaboratively developed criteria for granting the money raised. The group exceeded their fundraising goal of $750 and decided to make a gift to Northwest Harvest after thorough review of several organizations.

The students who volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club learned quickly that they were loved. Throughout the week, they were told how much they were loved, how thankful members of the club were that they were volunteering, and constant affirmations through hugs, high fives, and words of genuine appreciation. CWA students tutored during power hour, helped with art projects, and played in the gym, but most importantly, they spent quality time with 250 club members who needed mentors or teenage role models in their lives. The Tarrier students were truly stunning. The students were excited the moment they arrived and sad when

they learned it would be our last day. Throughout the week, I observed compassion and the importance of being responsible citizens.

A second commitment that was clearly present in both Winterims was, “Deepen your awareness of spirituality as you pursue your life’s meaning, purpose, and direction.” During the week, students were constantly reminded how fortunate they were, but also learned that a few unfortunate events could lead them to the place in which they served. The week provided time for reflection and hopefully helped students gain a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. The faculty is committed to fulfilling the School’s Commitments and to help students grow and prosper in many ways. Watching students talk with the elderly as they picked out food for the week or interact with seven year olds at the club was heartwarming. They all made a difference and impacted the lives of the people they encountered.

Athletics UpdateBy: Bill White, Head of Upper School & Athletic Director

Spring sports are in full swing. With 180 students out for CWA teams, the fields are full, the track is brimming with activity, and the courts and courses are packed with athletes preparing for the upcoming contests. The coaches are excited by the number of participants, the quality of the athletes, and the commitment students have made during the early season practices. I hope that you will have the opportunity to see some games and matches this spring.

I would like to personally congratulate the girl’s basketball team for finishing second in the West Central District 1A competition. The girl’s played Lynden Christian in the regional round of the state basketball tournament. The Tarriers were excited throughout the post season. The team won big victories over Coupeville and Vashon that advanced them into the state playoffs. During the playoffs the team was led by Shoni Prichett, Majestic Moler, Kaia Valentine, Grace Hanly, Julia Hanly, RubyJoy Pikes, and Nikki Baldwin. Congratulations to the Tarrier girls and Coach Kate Rue for an outstanding season.

The following athletes earned all Leauge recognition: Shoni Prichett was named MVP of the League, Henry Cheney, and Majestic Moler 1st team, and Honorable Mention, RubyJoy Pikes. Congratulations to the student athletes who were recognized by the Nisqually League.

I would also like to congratulate all of the Senior winter athletes on a successful season. Henry Cheney, Majestic Moler, Kaia Valentine, Aliyah Narcisse, Shoni Pritchett, Carolyn Hosannah, Lola Oyetuga, Miranda Ferguson, Jessica Lee, and Isabella Vails.

During the 2016-2020 W.I.A.A. classification cycle, Charles Wright’s student population for grades 9 – 11 placed the school in the “A” classification. The Nisqually League will remain the

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same during the next classification cycle. The League’s Athletic Directors and I are in the process of developing schedules for the fall season. At this point the football schedule is complete. The Tarriers will open the season against Toledo High School on Friday, September 2 . The Headmaster’s picnic is Friday, September 23. The Homecoming game will be Friday, October 21 against Chimacum. The search for a football coach ended several weeks ago. Brian Burdick will be the new Head Football coach. Brian has worked at Curtis, Wilson, and Bellarmine in recent years in a variety of positions all related to football. I would like to welcome Brian to CWA.

I would like to personally congratulate Tyler Francis on his appointment as the School’s new Athletic Director. Tyler will begin this position starting July 1. I look forward to working with Tyler in a variety of ways to insure a smooth transition of the athletics department.

Go Tarriers!