Did you know? Half of all college students attend a college that is less than 100 miles from their home. 88% are within 500 miles of home cooking.
College of the Week - If you are among the 22% that want to venture further from home, read on! Founded in 1888 in Boston MA, Wheelock College is a private, coeducational college with the public mission of improving the lives of children and families - and society, in general. Wheelock is known regionally as a premier institution for those seeking an undergraduate education in Education, Social Work, Juvenile Justice, Liberal Arts or Child Life/ At Wheelock, they value the importance of an intimate learning community where students are challenged and supported by faculty members who are practitioners in their fields and who are committed to teaching, learning, and mentoring. My Schedule this Week - I will be on campus Monday 10-4, Tuesday 10-4 and Wednesday 10-5. I will not be on campus during Spring Break or Intersession but I check email regularly on days when I am not at school.
FOR JUNIORS
SAT/ACT Practice Test at TMS on Saturday 4/17 at 8:00 AM - Sign up on my door this week and indicate which test you'd like to take. If you are taking the Eureka SAT prep class here at school, you are expected to take this practice test.
Register for College Fairs - Save yourself time and agrivation and register for either the SF or Marin County College fair online. Registering before the fair will allow you to electronically exchange your contact information with colleges that you're interested in and that's a time saver and an excellent way to show you attended and were interested. Follow these links and note that The Marin School is not listed on the drop down menu (no idea why!) of high schools so you'll have to select "other" and add it.
Upcoming SAT and ACT Registration Dates - The next SAT will be given on 5/1 (late registration deadline is 4/8) Register for the 6/12 ACT before 5/7. I recommend students take the SAT in May or June, the ACT in April or June and, if the student has over a 3.0 GPA, 2 subject tests in May or June.
FOR SENIORS What do you have in common with titans, moguls and news makers? Well, some of them didn't get into their first choice colleges either. Here are a few things they had to say about the experience, with the benefit of hindsight, excerpted from a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.
Warren Buffet - “The truth is, everything that has happened in my life ... that I thought was a crushing event at the time, has turned out for the better,” Mr. Buffett says. With the exception of health problems, he says, setbacks teach “lessons that carry you along. You learn that a temporary defeat is not a permanent one. In the end, it can be an opportunity.”
Columbia University President Lee Bollinger wasn't accepted to his first choice college either. His advice: Don’t let rejections control your life. To “allow other people’s assessment of you to determine your own self-assessment is a very big mistake,” he says. “The question really is, who at the end of the day is going to make the determination about what your talents are, and what your interests are? That has to be you.”
Early Saturday morning eight TMS seniors will be heading to Death Valley for a week-long introspective quest. These seniors have been engaged in a preparatory process for the last two months. The trip itself builds up through a variety of group activities to a culminating 48-hour, fasting solo in the desert for each student.
The program was created to fill a gap in our modern culture, in which most of us no longer have the opportunity to mark the passage from childhood into adulthood in any guided, formal way.
This morning juniors, seniors and faculty members gathered for a send-off ceremony. The "questers" stated some of their feelings about the trip, and members of the community offered warm words of support for their up-coming experience. We look forward to their return and hope to share in some of what they learned.
Students in Matt O'Donnell's Revolution, Resistance, and Rebellion class visited the Rainforest Action Network's headquarters in San Francisco today to find out about the group's "Change Chevron" campaign. The RRR class had screened the film Crude earlier in the semester and was interested in finding out more about the issue. The students were shown how R.A.N. uses the media and social networking to hold corporations accountable for their environmental policies. The field trip inspired students in the class to plan a community-wide screening of the film Crude for the local community in the near future. You can view the trailer below.
Author Yiyun Li spent the afternoon speaking to students at The Marin School about her books and the writing process. Li is the author The Vagrants, a book that was read by the senior English class this year. There will also be and evening program tonight at 7 pm for parents and the school community.
Students from the Advanced Drama course attended a special matinee presentation of Bertolt Brecht’sThe Caucasian Chalk Circle at ACT on Thursday, March 11th. The production featured ACT’s resident theatre company and several of its conservatory’s MFA candidates performing together in a brilliantlly staged contemporary rendering of the classic play. Directed by John Doyle, the production managed to utilize many of Brecht’s trademark theatrical components to strong effect. In order to prepare for the production students staged their own version of the play’s compelling final scene. Comparing their version with ACT’s proved to be a real highlight. Students were also treated to a Q and A with all of the production’s actors after the show.
College trivia, or "what can I tell you that you don't already know"?
The oldest college? Harvard University - founded 1636
The college with the most land? Berry College in Georgia with 28,000 acres
Where was Raiders of the Lost Ark filmed? University of the Pacific in Stockton
Top US destination for spring break? Daytona Beach, Florida
Best campus food (based on student surveys)? Virginia Tech
Dorms like palaces? Smith College (sorry, guys!)
My Schedule this Week - I will be on campus Monday 10-4, Wednesday 10-5 and Thursday 10-4. I check email regularly on days when I am not at school but do not check voice mail.
FOR JUNIORS The importance of your name - If all you friends know you as "Buddy" but your legal name is "Mortimer", make sure that your College Board, ACT and TMS transcript all hail you as Mortimer. If there are discrepancies, colleges will not be able to match up your application, the documents we send them and the official scores the College Board/ACT send. This can (and does) lead to denials of admission. So double check your College Board and ACT accounts if there is any doubt as to how you registered and make corrections now. See me if you need help with making changes.
SAT/ACT Practice Test at TMS on Saturday 4/17 at 8:00 AM - Sign up on my door and indicate which test you'd like to take. If you are taking the Eureka SAT prep class here at school, you are expected to take this practice test.
Upcoming SAT and ACT Registration Dates - The next SAT will be given on 5/1 (registration deadline is 3/25) Register for the 6/12 ACT before 5/7. I recommend students take the SAT in May or June, the ACT in April or June and, if the student has over a 3.0 GPA, 2 subject tests in May or June.
FOR SENIORS Events for Accepted Students - Many colleges plan special events both on and off campus for accepted students. They want to provide you with opportunities to obtain information and get answers to your questions but most of all they want you to say "yes!" to their offer. Attending these events can be helpful when you have narrowed down your choices to one or two. Even if you have visited the campus previously, you will be surprised by how differently you view it now because you've learned a lot about yourself in the past year.
Students and teachers at The Marin School celebrated St. Patrick's Day with "corned beef sliders" in the library prepared by Marybeth Colman and a contest for the student showing the most spirit. Robert Little won a Starbucks gift card for his effort but Chris Pflueger's daughter Sylvie gave him some tough competition.
The Marin School had two winners in the Marin County Science fair this year. Congratulations to Nick Gaede for his first prize win in Behavioral Science . He did a study of the efficacy of free throw rituals for basketball players.
Also, congratulations to Luca Tedesco for his study of the experiments of Galileo. He won a third prize in the Physical Sciences category.
Students in Jonah Weaver's sophomore English class presented projects developed from the novel A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a Boy Soldier to students, teachers and parents in the Hawk's Nest at The Marin School yesterday.
Eight Unique Opportunities to Learn “Outside the Classroom Walls” 1.Surviving your Own Cooking
Course Description:
Surviving Your Own Cooking will help to widen your culinary horizons beyond the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.We will solve the mysteries of the “perfect” French omelet, Asian stir-frying, Italian paninis, All-American barbeque, and painlessly introducing fresh vegetables and fruits into your life…
What I Can Expect To Learn:
Someday, we may choose, or be forced by the vagaries of fortune, to cook for ourselves, and wouldn’t it be nice to learn some simple, easy recipes that are tasty, cheap, and quite possibly healthy. In this class we will investigate recipes, shop for cooking equipment, and explore the seasonal food opportunities in local farmers’ markets.
Faculty Leaders:
Marybeth Colman and guest chefs
Schedule of Activities:
Monday, 4/12
Intro to cooking
Tools of the trade
Shopping secrets
*Presentation is everything
Accessing recipes and DIY videos from YouTube
Menu:
Omelets, frittatas and quiche
Fruit smoothies
Tues, 4/13
The secrets of the George Foreman grill
Menu:
Grilled chicken paninis
Wed, 4/14
The Art of Stir-frying
Menu:
Chinese Mongolian Beef with Ramen noodles (throw away the sauce packet)
Thurs, 4/15
Easy, quick, football game food
Menu:
Killer chili and guacamole quesadillas
Fri, 4/16
AM: Work on presentations at school
PM: Group presentations to all students
2.Life Long Fitness
Course Description:
This experience will challenge participants to look at their personal nutrition and observe levels to determine if their current choices will maintain proper health, mental wellbeing and self worth.It is our belief that a few moderate changes in both diet and exercise can lead to a better life.We challenge each participant to look beyond their teenage years, and establish a routine designed to provide an active and enjoyable long life.
What I can expect to learn:
-The importance of maintainable moderate exercise as it relates to health.
-The importance of choosing healthy foods and monitoring caloric intake
-How to make daily life choices to support your health and nutrition.
Faculty Leaders:Iain and Keith
Mon, 4/12
-Introduction
-Personal fitness analysis
-Personal nutrition analysis
-Goal setting
-Creating a life-long fitness plan
-Simple exercise activity
Tue, 4/13
-Morning journal check-in
-Mollie Stones/Trader Joes/In and Out nutrition analysis field trip
-Fitness options (bosu, yoga etc..)
Wed, 4/14
-Journal check-in
-Health minded Baseball game
Thurs, 4/15:
-Journal check-in
-Pros-cons weight watching
-Student centered exercise activity
-Preparing presentations
Fri, 4/16:
-Morning activity/exercise component
-Afternoon presentations
3.Photo Philanthropy
Course Description:
We will use digital cameras to create fine art photo-cards, and a calendar for sale at local stores. The proceeds will be donated to Drawbridge an arts program that serves homeless and other vulnerable children in seven Bay Area counties. (www.drawbridge.org)
This April, we will explore the San Francisco Bay Area with our digital cameras searching for the perfect shot(s) for our fine art card collection. We will visit the Flower Conservatory, and other destinations in Golden Gate Park, and travel to west Marin, where will visit a photography gallery and then photograph the magnificent beauty of the coastline. Wednesday through Friday we will edit and produce our photo cards, and calendar.
What I Can Expect To Learn:
This is an opportunity for you to visit beautiful places in the Bay Area, learn and improve your photography skills, edit your images in Photoshop, add to your portfolio, and help a children’s art program continue to serve children in need.
What You Need to Bring:
Digital Camera (at least 4 megapixels – cell phone cameras are insufficient)
Good shoes, warm clothing and rain gear
Pack a bag lunch, and, or bring money for lunch
Energy, enthusiasm and a sense of adventure
Faculty Leaders: Marianne Owens and Gustavo Jimenez
Schedule of Activities
Monday, 4/12
Meet at school at 8:45 am and depart at 9 am for west Marin. Stop in Pt. Reyes for a gallery visit, and drive to the beach where we will take lots of photos and have a picnic lunch. Return to school to download and edit your photos.
Tues, 4/13
Meet at school at 8:45 am and depart at 9 am for Golden Gate Park. We will photograph at the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden and other points of interest in the park; we will have a picnic lunch at the park. Return to school to download and edit your photos.
Wed, 4/14
Meet at school at 9 am edit photos and prepare a slide show of your best photographs, get feedback from the group, make the final edit and upload photos to be printed. We will have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we will work on our power point presentation for the school assembly.
Thurs, 4/15
Meet at school at 9 am. Demonstration on card making, each student will make fifty cards. We will meet as a group to select photos for the calendar. Create a Power point of our week for the school assembly.
Fri, 4/16
AM: Work on presentations at school
PM: Group presentations to all students
4.Mountain Bike Marin!
Course Description:
Come and bike some of the county’s best trails!We will be on our bikes each day, and in between we’ll learn about bicycle maintenance and repair, the history of mountain biking, trail usage, and controversies over trail access.Geared towards the intermediate skilled mountain biker.
What I Can Expect To Learn:
Marin is the birthplace and the Mecca of mountain biking.It has some of the world’s most scenic trails.Jeff and Chip have been riding the trails of Marin for over twenty years and are intimately familiar with the best our county has to offer.In addition to riding a selection of the best trails, we will learn the history of mountain biking, current controversies over trail access and how to prep and maintain your bike.
Faculty Leaders:
Jeff Sandler is a grizzled veteran with the stamina of a 20-year old.He has lived the sport of mountain biking since he arrived in the Bay Area in 1988.
Chip Vetter, younger and better looking, nonetheless has years on the bike as well.
Schedule of Activities
Monday, 4/12
Equipment check at school.
Ride from school to Rodeo Beach through Tennessee Valley.
Lunch at school.
Watch the movie “Klunkerz” about the history of mountain biking in Marin.
Tuesday, 4/13
Ride Bolinas Ridge (park at Olema trailhead).
Bolinas Ridge - WHAT a ride! This ride has just about everything a body needs to be happy: cool redwoods, wide open grasslands, great views, neat rocks, long climbs doing double duty as long, sweeping downhills, and a little bit of technical stuff (some tree roots, some rocks).It's a ridge and we will start at the bottom of the ridge in Olema and do an out-and-back. There's enough to hold your interest, but not so much that you're not demoralized if you ain't exactly Hans Rey.
Lunch on trail.
Wednesday, 4/14
Ride China Camp Stae Park in San Rafael.
In the late 1800’s, Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco suffered many indignations caused by the prejudice that was prevalent there at that time. Many of them relocated across the bay to Marin and settled in an area along the shoreline that was convenient for their shrimp-harvesting trade. Today that area is known as China Camp State Park and is a popular destination for overnight campers and mountain bike enthusiasts. While most state parks in California permit mountain biking only along fire roads, China Camp is a notable exception. All the single-track trails in the park are legal for bikes and this is a major factor in the park ’s popularity for cyclists. The route of this ride initially leads up a steep incline along Bay View Trail to get to the higher ridges in the park. While the main climb in the beginning is not terribly high, it is steep. Once up the hill, however, the ride becomes a very enjoyable cruise along narrow and bumpy single-track. This ride consists mostly of singletrack. The trails are well marked and easy to follow.
Lunch at Taqueria San Jose.
Thursday, 4/15
Drive to Ross Common, ride the “Lakes Tour”.
We start at the trailhead in Ross and it’s a short climb up to Phoenix Lake, a little gem in the Marin Muniocipal Water District.Passing the lake, we will head up Shaver Grade and Concrete Pipe Trail to Sky Oaks Rod and ride out to Bon Tempe Lake nestled at the base of Mt. Tam.Next on the Lake Tour is Lake Lagunitas, an easy ride on Sky Oaks Road, or, for those looking for a challenge, a ride over Bon Tempe Dam and a sharp climb up and over the ridge on Rocky Ridge Trail.Lunch at Lake Lagunitas and then a fast descent down Fish Grade back to Ross.
Friday, 4/16
Morning: All groups work on presentations
Afternoon: Presentations
5.Self-Presentation through On-Camera Auditioning
Course Description:
Students attending this workshop will enjoy a unique opportunity to look behind the scenes at the selection process that puts actors into most movies, TV shows and commercials. Students will then practice the self-presentation techniques required for a good audition, techniques applicable to a great many real-life situations.
What I Can Expect To Learn:
Whether they are interested in ever pursuing a professional acting career or not, by practicing the techniques and attitudes required for a good audition, students will learn how to present themselves with confidence, ease, sincerity and a positive, cooperative attitude in potentially tense situations.
If a student is interested in acting as a possible career choice, then this workshop could be an invaluable introduction to the fun and challenging world of professional performance, providing real tools for the young actor to use in getting started.
Students will learn how to relate to the camera in a comfortable way; how to interact professionally and positively with clients; and how, generally, to access their “best selves” whenever they need to.
Faculty Leaders:
Phil Van Eyck, Drama Instructor
Chris Pflueger, Social Studies Teacher and SAG, AEA, and AFTRA Member
Schedule of Activities
Mon, 4/12
AM: Intro Exercises at TMS
SELF-INTRO AND SLATES
“HOW TO BE” AT AN AUDITION
ON-CAMERA REVIEW AND CRITIQUE
PM: Field Trip to Marin Theatre Company, with special guest Josh Costello, Creative Director (VAN)
Tues, 4/13
AM: Intro Exercises at TMS
“THE INTERVIEW”
WORKING COMMERCIAL SCRIPTS
TAKING DIRECTION
ON-CAMERA REVIEW AND CRITIQUE
PM: Field Trip to JE Talent Agency and Nancy Hayes Casting in San Francisco. (VAN)
Wed, 4/14
AM: Intro Exercises at TMS
REVIEW SLATES
AUDITION IMPROV
ON-CAMERA REVIEW AND CRITIQUE
PM: Field Trip to Stuart Locklear Photography in San Francisco for professional headshots. (VAN)
Thurs, 4/15
AM & PM:
WORKING ON COMMERCIAL SCRIPTS
LINE-TO-LINE OBJECTIVES
MOCK AUDITION PRACTICE
Fri, 4/16
AM: Work on presentations at school; SPECIAL GUEST DIRECTOR J.P. ALLEN
PM: Group presentations to all students
6.Graton Day Labor Documentary Filmmaking
Course Description:
China Blue, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Third Monday in October -- movies that have all been big hits at The Marin School over the past couple of years. What do they have in common? They’re about issues that have social impact, newsworthiness and strong human interest. They were made skillfully by film-makers who cared deeply about their subjects, who investigated tough, complicated stories and put a human face on the issues.
You too can make a movie like that. The intersession on migrant labor will include the production of a video documentary about the issue. In the 21st century global economy, migrant labor is a big story, with a potential audience for our documentary locally, around the state, nationally and even internationally. You don’t have to be a spectator on this issue, simply reading and talking about it. Instead you can report on and be a part of the global conversation on one of the big issues of our time.
The first half of the movie was shot last year and turned out very well so we are guaranteed a successful film if you do a good job again this year. Those who worked on it last year are welcome to return, while newcomers are also welcome.
What I Can Expect To Learn:
How to make a real movie!
What makes a movie successful? Is it about something interesting and important? Does it hold the viewer’s attention by informing and entertaining? Do the film-makers use a strong storytelling strategy and technical skills. All of those are important, and this intersession will provide a chance to learn those skills, or improve those you already have, by working on an actual film production, from planning, through shooting, to editing and screening.
After shooting our documentary we will try to edit it in time to show at the TMS Filmbridge Festival in early May, plus create DVDs and perhaps upload it to Youtube. Even if you don’t want to be a career film-maker, an increasing number of careers require some film-making, editing and journalistic skills as we enter the “information age.” Making a great documentary will give you something to show, not just tell about, when you’re putting together those college applications and looking for interesting jobs, plus give you the satisfaction of having done something real in a way the whole world can see.
Faculty Leaders: Kieran, Matt, Marie
Schedule of Activities
Monday, 4/12
Film Crew shooting on location/ Production Crew editing at TMS
Tues, 4/13
Film Crew shooting on location/ Production Crew editing at TMS
Wed, 4/14
Film Crew shooting on location/ Production Crew editing at TMS
Thurs, 4/15
Film Crew shooting on location/ Production Crew editing at TMS
Fri, 4/16
AM: Work on presentations at school
PM: Group presentations to all students
7.Smash, Spin & Roll
Course Description
This exciting and physically challenging course will focus on practical self-defense techniques, de-escalation skills, and non-violent communication. We’ll demystify the subtle and not so subtle ways violence is both perpetrated and perpetuated, and uncover ways to minimize and/or avoid violent situations altogether. The course will blend physical activity with discussions, lessons, and the viewing of a martial arts film. The culminating activity will be a form (series of techniques) that students will learn and practice over the 4 days, and perform on the final day in front of the student body.
What I Can Expect to Learn
Students will have the opportunity to learn and practice valuable physical techniques, boundary setting, and verbal de-escalation skills. They’ll leave with more practical awareness around self-defense, and more confident and connected to their intuition so that in the event of either a physical or verbal/emotional attack they’ll have more options and tools available. Because this course is both physical and personal in nature, participants must be willing to push their boundaries physically and emotionally, take the idea of violence seriously and without sensationalizing it, and be willing to go beyond the idea that they are learning how to fight.
10:30-11:45: Lecture/discussion: Living Peacefully
11:45-12:30: Lunch
12:30-1:45: Self-defense technique/grappling/ground-fighting/forms practice
1:45-2:00: Break
2:00-3:15: Martial Arts film screening
Fri, 4/16
9:00-10:15: Self-defense technique/demonstration practice
10:15-10:30: Break
10:30-11:45: Self-defense technique/demonstration practice
11:45-12:30: Lunch
8.Space and Place: Art in the Bay Area
Course Description:
What are the criteria for installation of public art?
What makes public or outside art successful?
How it is created on both the official and unofficial level?
Our outside the walls course will spend each day experiencing the rich variety of outdoor public art, indoor alternative art and working Art studios throughout the bay area to find answers to the above questions.
To achieve this goal, we will tour various artist studios, public spaces, and art workshops and also have the opportunity to create firsthand public art through a unique outdoor workshop.
The week will be documented through the creation of personal artistic journals and will also culminate with a photo presentation on Friday to the TMS community.
We invite all students regardless of their fine art background to participate in this exciting week!
What I Can Expect To Learn:
You can expect to build on your knowledge about art in the bay area, using what you already know and bridging that with exploring new avenues to understand art in another, new context.
You will participate in hands-on workshops and go to places to create outdoor art firsthand.
You will find the answers to the above questions, by having an open-mind, having fun, and exploring!
Faculty Leaders: Alison, Nancy, josh
Schedule of Activities
Monday, 4/12
Introduction to our week:San Francisco Perspective
·What is public art?What do we know about the art scene in the bay area?
·What are alternative art spaces?
·Where is art that is often ignored by the public?
·What opportunities are there for artists and spectators?
We will Tour various public art projects supported by the San Francisco Arts commission and visit artists’ studios.
Possible venues:Wave organ, Coit Tower Murals and various public installations.
Tues, 4/13
Marin perspective:San Rafael
We will visit a variety of artist studios, both in private and public venues.
Possible places: Art Works Downtown, West Marin Cheese Factory, Novato Art Center.
Wed, 4/14
Oakland/East Bay perspective
We will explore the various ways art can be recycled and formed in an unofficial and unorthodox context.
We will start with a tour at the Crucible, which is a non-profit educational facility that fosters a collaboration of Arts, Industry and Community. Through training in the fine and industrial arts, The Crucible promotes creative expression, reuse of materials and innovative design while serving as an accessible arts venue for the general public.
We will continue to Urban Ore to find materials and then arrive at the Bulb, a landfill turned outdoor art studio in Albany for a hands-0n renegade art activity.
Thurs, 4/15
Napa/Sonoma Perspective
We will begin the day with a tour at di Rosa Art Preserve.This is a 216 acre nature preserve and art environment that focuses on art in many forms that is displayed in harmony w/nature in an open environment, including a sculpture meadow.It is unique and inspiring.
We will also visit the private hess Art Collection located at the Hess family winery.This private collection of extraordinary and thought provoking international contemporary art is often a place for emerging artists to show their work.
Fri, 4/16
Marin School Perspective
Bringing it all together.
We will wrap up the week with a morning filled with summarizing the week’s events and discussing what we learned from our workshops and visits to public art spaces.We will then use the remainder of the time discussing and completing our Art Journals and photo presentation.
