Category Archives: Congratulations

Change Heroes Coin Collection Results

2015 Kate Garrity Coin Box
Photo by Kate Garrity

Over the past few weeks, the ninth grade girls and boys have been in a friendly competition to see which of their dorms—John Wright or 194 Main, respectively—could raise the most money for the Change Heroes Coin Collection.

The results are in! John Wright has been declared the winner, with $64 raised toward the $100 total.

“I want to thank you all for your efforts over the last few weeks with our coin collection for Baystate Children’s Hospital,” wrote Kate Garrity, Community Service Club organizer.  “All of that loose change certainly adds up.”

The Change Heroes campaign is a coin collection drive for Baystate Children’s Hospital. The donations collected by individuals and schools for Change Heroes help kick-off fundraising efforts for the hospital’s annual 94.7 WMAS Radiothon for Baystate Children’s Hospital from March 5-7.

It’s little efforts like this that can really make a difference,” wrote Ms. Garrity, “especially if all of the schools around the state participate!”

11 Recognized as National Merit Scholars

PSAT National Merit Scholars pose after receiving their awards at assembly.
PSAT National Merit Scholars pose after receiving their awards at assembly.

At Upper School Assembly on January 14, Academic Dean Greg Tuleja honored 11 students for their exceptional performance on the October 2013 PSAT.  The following was his assembly announcement:

Every October, about 1.5 million high school students across the country take the PSAT test, and each year the College Board recognizes a small number of students who perform especially well on the test. It takes about a year for College Board to send this information to high schools, and this morning, we have the pleasure to award certificates from College Board to 11 Williston students for their exceptional performance on the October 2013 PSAT. This list includes our Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship program. As I call your name, please come up to receive your certificate from Ms. Evelti. There is some specific information about the award on the back of each certificate. On behalf of the entire faculty we would like to offer our congratulations to:

Erin An
Nicholas Dalzell
Benjamin Greeman
Cameron Hill
Emma Kaisla
Umi Keezing
Alexander Li
Brenna Quirk
Matthew Steinberg
Maya Wilson
Cade Zawacki

As You Like It Cast List

Congratulations to the cast of the upcoming spring play, As You Like It!

About As You Like It:

When Rosalind is banished from the court of her uncle, Duke Frederick, she and Celia, her best friend and cousin, retreat to the Forest of Arden. Rosalind disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede and Celia as his sister Aliena. Together they embark on a search for Rosalind’s father, Duke Senior, who was also banished by Frederick. While in disguise Rosalind and Celia, with their trusty court fool Touchstone, meet a dynamic set of characters in the forest: Jaques, a melancholy Lord, Silvius, a lovesick shepherd, and Phebe who falls in love with Rosalind in disguise, to name a few. To Rosalind’s delight, Orlando, the object of her affections, has taken to posting love notes about her on all of the trees in the forest. To ensure that his love is pure, Rosalind plays a few tricks on Orlando while in disguise. The result is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, a tale that celebrates the beauty in life and love.

ORLANDO: John Kay
OLIVER: Nick Dalzell
JAQUES: Ben Cuca
ADAM: Noah Jackson
DENNIS: Neha Nascimento

ROSALIND: Melissa Falcone
CELIA: Cameron Hill
TOUCHSTONE: Calvin Ticknor-Swanson

DUKE FREDERICK: Eric Chen
CHARLES THE WRESTLER: Evan Cavanaugh
LE BEAU: Sonia Berghoff

DUKE SENIOR: Loren Po
JAQUES: Harry Shea

CORIN: Anna Wilinsky
SILVIUS: Noah DeVos
PHEBE: Leeanna Albanese
AUDREY: Marie Innarelli
WILLIAM: Josh Holmberg
SIR OLIVER MARTEXT: Henning Fischel

BAND:
Phillip Lee
Sara Lee
Molly Wilder
Tina Zhang

ATTENDANTS TO THE DUKES
Caroline Channell
Emily Herbst
Sarah Lucia
Destiny Nwafor
Emily Sillars
Maggie White

Stage Manager: Cam Stanley
Directing Apprentice: Khanh Pham
Lighting Designer: Matt Steinberg
As You Like It
by William Shakespeare

As You Like It, by William Shakespeare and directed by Emily B. Ditkovski, will be performed on April 16, 18, and 23 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and April 17 and 24 at 7 p.m. in the Williston Theatre. Tickets are $7 for students/seniors and $10 adults. For ticket information visit www.williston.com/theater

Please join us for a talk-back with our cast and crew after the performance on Friday April 17 and 24.

National Chinese Honor Society

The following students were inducted into the National Chinese Honor Society and won awards at the 11th National Chinese Essay Contest.  For a complete list of the contest results nationwide, please go to this website.

National Honor Society inductees: Bryan Hong, Emmett O’Malley, Ray Dong Ho Kim

11th National Essay contest:

Alexander Li: Silver award in the intermediate category for heritage students in grades 9-12
Serena Chen: Golden award in the advanced category for heritage students in grades 9-12
Bryan Hong: Silver award in the intermediate category for regular students in grades 9-12
Emmett O’Malley: Silver award in the intermediate category for regular students in grades 9-12
Ray Dong Ho Kim: Golden award in the advanced category for regular students in grades 9-12
Vivien Shao: Golden award in the advanced category for regular students in grades 9-12

Student Council Elected Officials 2014-15

Student Council Elected Officials for 2014-15:

Class of 2015
President – Emmett O’Malley
Vice President – Terry O’Brien
Treasurer – Noah Jackson
Secretary – Maisy Glick
Class Representative – Milo Cowles

Class of 2016
President – Verdi Degbey
Vice President – Calvin Ticknor-Swanson
Treasurer – David Yu
Secretary – Kelly Killeen
Class Representative – Sideya Dill

Class of 2017
President – Cody Cavanagh
Vice President – Natalie Aquadro
Secretary – Sima Gandevia
Treasurer – Gabbie Mercier
Class Rep. – Makenna Hambley

Results of Williston Film Festival 7

Congratulations to all the winners of the Film Festival 7! The goal of the annual Williston Northampton School Film Festival is to showcase the work of student filmmakers currently attending a high school in New England. The festival was held this year on May 15 in the Reed Campus Center.

“This year we received a larger than usual number of excellent entries,” said Ed Hing, adding that there had been 30 short films submitted by student filmmakers across New England. During the judging deliberations, magician Anthony Leung ’15 also kept the audience entertained.

The following are the festival results:

Best Picture:  “Jackpot,” by Jordan Tse, The Hotchkiss School

Best Documentary: “A to B, The Art of Parkour,” by Ben Glass, Concord Academy

Best Screenplay: “The Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Had To Do,” by Oliver Demers / Ben Sarat, Williston Northampton

Best Editing: “Oreos,” by Alex Kozikowski, Williston Northampton

Best Cinematography: “The Dancer,” by William Huang, Williston Northampton

Best Animation: “Snow White,” by Mia Abel, Walnut Hill

Best Music Video: “Music Video,” by Mariya Kurguzkina, Walnut Hill

Best PSA: “Smoking Gun,” by Dylan Kenseth, Williston Northampton

Most Creative: “Apple,” by Queenie Zhang, Walnut Hill

Honorable Mention: “The Leaf Sweeper,” by Tom Greto, PVPA

Thanking Claire Frierson: A Call for Submissions

20120601_Schnaittacher_224She’s taught the oui’s and sí’s to countless students, lead trips to countries across the world, and has been a leader among French teachers. Now, after 32 years at Williston Northampton, Mme Claire Frierson is planning to retire—and the Language Department is creating a book of messages in thanks.

Whether you took one of her French and Spanish classes, or traveled with her to Canada, France, Honduras, Spain, Mexico, or the Dominican Republic, we know that Mme Frierson made an impression on your life. As a way to thank her for her long service—which has included chairing the Language Department, founding the school’s annual Quebec trip, advising the “As Schools Match Wits” team, and supervising the student newspaper, The Willistonian—the school is collecting messages of gratitude from former students and colleagues of Mme. Frierson.

As well as her work in the Language Department, those who know her may recall Mme Frierson making costumes for the Williston theater, presenting Diversity Conference workshops, and serving several terms on the Faculty Council. Her devotion to the French language went beyond the classroom—leading her to chair the American Association of the Teachers of French, and serve as Administrator for the National French Contest in Western Massachusetts. In 2005, Mme. Frierson received the Clapp Grant for independent study and French immersion in Morocco.

Please submit your messages of gratitude and memories to Language Department Head Nat Simpson at nsimpson@williston.com. The collected submissions will be presented to Mme. Frierson upon her retirement at the end of the academic year.

Classics Day Award Winners

Williston students went to Mount Holyoke College on Friday, January 17 for an all-day regional high school Latin event. The annual event, known as Classics Day, is optional for students in all levels of Latin. Congratulations to all the award winners!

ART CONTEST

Sculpture
1) Katie Davis, Mt. Greylock
2) Lucas Benjamin, Taconic
3) Matthew Gallagher, Taconic

Poster
1) Jordan Gamacke, Belchertown
2) Mason Chiulli, Williston
3) Jessie Schuhlen, Williston

Paintings & Drawings
1) Jaclyn Symiakakis & Isabelle Griffin, Belchertown
2) Matthew Mitera, Belchertown
3) Lily Daoust, Lenox

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