Important Dates

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

http://enrolled.charleswright.org253.620.8300 phone253.620.8431 fax

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

12/6 • SAT

12/11 • US Winter Concert, 7:00 p.m. (Donn Laughlin Theater)

12/13 • ACT

12/15 • All-School Holiday Assembly, 12:45 p.m. (Wight Gym)

12/16 • US Study Day, 8:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

12/17 • US Exams (History and Math) 9:30 a.m. & 12:45 p.m. (Dome)

12/18 • US Exams (English and World Language) 9:30 a.m. & 12:45 p.m. (Dome)

12/19 • US Exams (Science & Make-up Exams) 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. (Dome)

12/19 • Last day of School before Holiday Break

12/22 - 1/2 • Holiday Break, No School

12/24 • CWA Christmas Eve Service, 8:00 p.m. (Chapel)

Sports Schedules online athttp://enrolled.charleswright.org/s/athletics/a

Inspiration of Giving By: Bill White, Head of the Upper School and Athletic Director

All my life I have had a genuine love for history. I was born a few miles from the Antietam Battlefield, which is the site

of the bloodiest single day in American History. On September 17, 1862 almost 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing in action. The casualties were greater than the “D” Day invasion of Normandy, Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg, the bombing at Pearl Harbor, and the Terrorist attack on 9/11. On that dreadful day in 1862, six generals were killed and another 12 were wounded. Oliver Wendell Holmes was wounded in the neck and left on the battlefield by a surgeon to die. Holmes lived into his 90’s and served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for many years. Also on the battlefield that day was Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, George McCelland, Abner Doubleday, Ambrose Burnside, and my great-great grandfather who gave his life in a cornfield for the Union Army. In addition, there was a nurse named Clara Barton who tended to wounded soldiers from both armies. Barton lived in Maryland not far from the cabin that Harriet Beecher Stowe depicted in her novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. While serving injured soldiers, she realized the amount of blood needed to treat soldiers was not available. As a result, she created an organization named the American Red Cross to help wounded soldiers, but it has benefited communities all across the country for over 150 years. Clara Barton realized the importance of serving others and this tradition of helping others has become firmly entrenched in American society.

Twice a year, Mike Moffitt and the Community Service Club invites the Puget Sound Bloodmobile to campus so students, teachers, and parents can donate. On November 11, CWA sponsored a blood drive where 27 participants gave blood and 14 people donated for the first time. For more than 65 years, Cascade Regional Blood Services has provided blood to patients at hospitals in Pierce and South King Counties. CWA donations directly support our community at MultiCare Health System and Franciscan Health System hospitals and clinics.

Like Clara Barton, many CWA students serve their communities in a variety of ways. Over the last six months, the community service club has organized the Chapel Home week where the school houses homeless families from the Community Connections Network.

CHARLES WRIGHTUPPER SCHOOLNEWSLETTER

EXPECT MORE

December 2014

Important Dates Continued on Page 2

Upper School News December 2014 Page 2

During the week of November 17, the entire Upper School shopped at Fred Meyer for food and gifts that will be given to families during the annual Christmas Dinner sponsored by the club. Students have organized Relay for Life and a number of other service opportunities for students. The School has a rich relationship with the Lakewood and Topping Boys and Girls Club. Over 40 students worked summer camps at Charles Wright. Many students are committed to service. Senior Constance Hosannah was recognized as the School’s Prudential Spirit of Community Local Honoree.

The CWA Upper School hopes to inspire all students to get involved in making their community a better place. Albert Einstein once stated, “A life of giving, is a life worth living.” His words ring true for many members of the Tarrier community. While I have many passions, helping others has provided me many opportunities to live a more fulfilled life.

Science Renovation Enhances LearningSir Isaac Newton stated, “To me there has never been a higher source of earthly honor or distinction than that connected with advances in science.” The Charles Wright Academy science teachers are experiencing big advances in their science classes due to the generous gifts made to CWA that allowed new equipment to be purchased and several classrooms to be remodeled. The generosity of the Charles Wright community has provided teachers the opportunity to create new labs and demonstrations that were not possible prior to the renovations. The teachers have been advancing science in a multitude of ways since September.

The larger Biology rooms have shifted the focus from safety concerns to actual science. In the past, teachers were always worried about students bumping into a hot plate, knocking over acid, or other chemicals. Rather than focusing on student movement throughout the class, the focus now is to provide individual attention or giving directions to students to work individually or in small groups. In addition, the larger rooms allow teachers to have more scientific materials on display, which has initiated inquiry amongst the students and teachers. Also, the larger space has allowed teachers to do some individual labs rather than larger group explorations.

In Biology, Ryan Johnson has used Vernier probes to demonstrate a lab and then allowed students to design a separate lab. Neil Biermann has used the new Vernier probes in the Anatomy/Physiology class to analyze individual student’s electrocardiograms (EKG) and blood pressures. The probes are effective tools for students to visualize the science taught and to gain a strong understanding of the basic concepts. For example, the students in Advanced Biology measured cellular respiration rates in germination and non-germinating peas using the Vernier probes. Class data was pooled and then analyzed. Next, the students designed their own experiments using a different variable than pea seeds. Also, rather than the use of probes, students built their own respirometers. A respirometer is a device used to measure the rate of respiration of a living organism by measuring its rate of exchange of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide. The probes were a quick and efficient way to teach a concept, but by building the respirometers the students had to work through variables and strictly follow the scientific method about controlling the experiment in order to be successful. The probes provided students important knowledge prior to their own exploration. The new labs have provided students with the space to work on long-

Important Dates Continued . . .1/5 • Classes Resume

1/14 • Upper School Parent Association Meeting, 2:00 p.m. (Cum Laude Room)

1/17 • CWA Financial Aid Workshop, 9:30 a.m. (MS Commons)

1/19 • School Holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr.), No School

December 2014 Upper School NewsPage 3

term inquiry labs (osmosis and bacteriological) and to leave lab set-ups running for days and weeks. At the end of the year, each biology class will be using multiple probes to analyze dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, water quality and stream flow as part of their semester lab final.

The new counter tops in Room 37 have allowed Dan Wicklund the opportunity to organize chemistry labs, which he was unable to do until this year. Previously, he and David Kangas had to coordinate their labs because they had to use the same room. The Physics and Chemistry teachers are using the new equipment in the following manner:• The additional conductivity probes allowed us to run a new lab on the dissociation of ionic compounds in chemistry.• The new marble tracks and carts allowed us to develop and run a new lab on impulse, using our existing force sensors and various bumpers.• The additional spectrum tube power supplies enabled us to run a more comprehensive spectroscopy lab in both chemistry and astronomy with up to six lab groups able to work on the lab at the same time, and the single emission spectrometer we were able to purchase allows a small class the chance to measure the emission spectrum of an element electronically.• The department has used the new ballistic pendula to develop and run a new lab based on energy and momentum conservation.• The department has used the new centripetal force apparatus to assist with demonstrations (we were only able to get one, so we can’t use it for labs).• The new LabQuest interfaces are far more reliable than our aging LabPros and allow more flexibility in lab (and fewer wires!).• The new rotary motion sensors have been essential in the ability to design and run new labs for rotational dynamics (which was required this year for the first time by the AP curriculum).• The new hardware for ring stands, clamps, pulleys, etc. have been invaluable in replacing old hardware that was mismatched and in having enough to set up a class-worth of lab stations.• The new motion detectors have replaced our dying detectors and allow us to continue running the motion, dynamics and momentum labs we have done in the past.• The new 12” Dobsonian GoTo telescope has allowed the astronomy class to have real Observing Nights without having to borrow equipment. Through this telescope, we can easily observe both open and globular clusters, as well as planetary nebulae and galaxies on good weather nights.• The new 4L dewar allows the department to continue doing liquid nitrogen demonstrations in chemistry without needing to borrow university equipment every year.

The LabQuest2 devices from Vernier have been used frequently in the Physics department. These devices can connect probes up to the laptops for students to collect data, but they can also be used by themselves, without a laptop. They have a beautiful touch screen and are fairly easy to use. Students have used them with photogates to determine the speed of a Ping-Pong ball shot from a spring-launcher. They have recently connected them to a force plate to watch their apparent weight change as they rode the elevator in the LAPAC. To study the gas laws for a thermodynamics experiment, students used both a gas pressure sensor and a thermometer probe connected to the same LabQuest2. The physics classes also plan to use the new force/

acceleration sensors for a lab. Regarding the science research room, Robbin Xu has constructed his wind tunnel and is cutting various shaped wings or airfoils to test. Neil Biermann has been able to layout his crime scenes in the lab where they can rest undisturbed while students investigate.

Science education is a hot topic especially when students from other countries are consistently out-performing American students. In recent years, the Common Core standards have been in the forefront of educational discussions. While these standards seem laudable, the goal is to teach critical thinking and analytical skills so students are prepared for the freshman entry level courses at Universities. While those goals have always been a mainstay of the CWA science education, we always continue to strive for a higher level of achievement. The new equipment and classrooms will continue to allow CWA to outpace their counterparts not only in the area of critical thinking, but to provide students hands-on experiences where they learn science through traditional instructional methods as well as learning to solve problems, discover science through inquiry and collaboration, individual work, and self-discovery. As a school, we want students to live the words of Carl Sagan, “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” The remodeled rooms and equipment have opened avenues for CWA students to explore and reflect on the unknown. These characteristics alone will support students to move outside their current circle of intellect, and allow them to continue expanding their knowledge circle throughout the remainder of their lives.

Upper School News December 2014 Page 4

Japanese Author’s TeaBy: Stephanie Glenn, Upper School Japanese Teacher

In November, our Japanese 300 class participated in an Author’s Tea with our first graders. Our students worked hard to put together a traditional Japanese ‘kamishibai’ story telling for the first graders. Kamishibai involves showing a series of pictures as a story is being told. The story they presented was ‘kasajizo’, the tale of an old couple who has no money for a New Years meal so they decide to make and sell hats in the town to try to make money. When they are unable to sell any of the five hats they made, the old man walks home and sees six ‘ojizosan’ or statues of children guardian deities who look very cold on the snowy path. He gives them each a hat and gives the 6th, the hat off of his own head. That night, New Years Eve, the guardians come to life and bring plenty of New Years food and gold to the couple in thanks.

The Japanese students read the story along with English translations they wrote. Allison Knowles introduced the story and Carolyn Hossanah not only made hats as props for the story telling, but also made 27 miniature hats to give to each first grader asan ‘omiyage’ or souvenir. After the story, we had tea and mochi, a traditional Japanese New Years food, for the students to try. The Upper Schoolers really enjoyed the comments the first graders wrote for them.

Sharing folk tales from around the world teaches us so much about various traditions and reinforces those values that are universal.

Another great day to be a Tarrier!

David vs. GoliathBy: Bill White, Head of the Upper School and Athletic Director

Often when I watch Charles Wright athletic teams compete I think of the story told in the book of Samuel called David and Goliath. Goliath, the champion fighter, was a large Philistine man, covered in bronze armor, who came out for 40 days in a row to challenge an Israelite to battle him. Goliath would yell, “If you can defeat me we will be your subjects, and if I defeat your best, you will be our subjects.” The Israelites trembled with fear every time they saw the imposing Goliath. Finally, a young shepherd boy named David with a sling and five stones convinced his leader to allow him to fight Goliath. Goliath hurled insults and taunted his opponent. David with all of his might slung a stone with pinpoint accuracy through the helmet of Goliath and killed him.

After watching the undefeated Eatonville Cruisers charge the field prior to the state playoff football game against the Tarriers on November 15, the thoughts of David and Goliath raced through my mind. The Cruisers, with 60 plus players, many of whom were larger than the boys in green and white, stormed the field with a flag waving in the gentle breeze and chainsaws roaring in an attempt to strike fear in the heart of their opponents. The Tarriers did not tremble, they did not blink an eye, they just took the opening kickoff that was returned 60 yards by Desmond Jones and then scored first as Henry Cheney slung a pass with great precision

December 2014 Upper School NewsPage 5

to Rahsaan Mills. The Goliaths from Eatonville roared back with two quick scores in an attempt to demoralize the Tarrier spirit. As the first quarter ended, Rahsaan Mills threw a perfect strike to John Stoszek to knot the score. The titanic battle between David and Goliath continued for much of the second quarter until defensive standout Sean Gorman was injured. The Cruisers then gained the upper hand and no matter how hard Cederstrand, Cheney, Mills, Paaga, Workman, Jones, Stoszek, Skokin, Meadowcroft, Stoltenberg, and other Tarriers fought, they could not overcome the size of the blue and white Monsters from Eatonville.

While some of our sports fall into the David category, the Charles Wright boy’s tennis team is considered the Goliath. Teddy and Philip Grenley, Tyler and Dylan Sam, Griffin Welsh, and Wyatt Iverson led the Tarriers to another Nisqually League championship. The green clad maestros using tightly strung rackets slung lobs, forehands, and backhands at their opponents with the meticulous accuracy of a highly skilled surgeon at the district tournament. Five Tarriers will travel to Yakima in May to compete for the state title. The Goliaths of the Tarrier hard courts served plenty of aces throughout the season.

Tarrier athletes are noted for their grit, resilience, hard work, pursuit of excellence, and an unwillingness to concede even when the probabilities of victory are not in their favor. The Tarrier spirit of high intellect and big hearts has defeated larger opponents in the past. The team strength of “David” was omnipresent in all Tarrier teams this fall.

With basketball season underway, our boy’s and girls’ team are poised to challenge for league titles. Even though many of our players are small in stature, they are skilled on the court. Many of the Tarrier hoopsters are outstanding shooters, ball handlers, and rebounders. They are adept at positioning their bodies to gain an advantage over their large opponents. Hopefully, all Tarrier fans will have the opportunity to see a game this upcoming season.

Talent, Hard Work & Committment

By: Bill White, Head of Upper School and Athletic Director

So much talent and a great deal of hard work and commitment!

Over the years I have watched in awe as many CWA students participate in sports and activities outside of school. What makes this remarkable is that most of the students being recognized are also involved in activities at school. Recently, I asked students to email me with information on their participation outside what is offered at Charles Wright. I suspect there is more, but this is the information I received. If your son or daughter is not listed, please send me an email so I can recognize them in a future newsletter.

Colin Bartlett – Ice HockeyAdam Berg – Club SoccerGrace Bosley – Acting – Local TheatersKarl Bulley - TennisColin Caley – Speed SkatingSean Chevrier – Honor Band, Crew, and Pierce County Diversion ProgramBen Cary – Ice HockeyMino Cha – Martial ArtsIsabelle Chung – FencingJosh Clemons – Indoor Soccer and Pierce County Diversion ProgramAlex Dimmer – GymnasticsEmily Ge – Youth Orchestra; Columnist for Tacoma News TribuneAndrew Gonzalez – SwimmingMaddy Gonzalez – SwimmingPhilip Grenley – Regional and National Tennis TournamentsTeddy Grenley – Regional and National Tennis TournamentsWyatt Griffin – Indoor SoccerJohn Hammer – Water PoloRami Hassan - Pierce County Diversion ProgramJack Jorgenson – Competitive freestyle snow skiingCasey Kim – WMEA All State OrchestraHelen Kim – FencingKaylee Kim – WMEA All State OrchestraAndrew Lee - FencingXia Morrison – Swimming

Upper School News December 2014 Page 6

Sean O’Farrell – CrewKate Pasco – Honor BandErik Peterson – Indoor Soccer and Youth OrchestraGrace Palmer – Rock ClimbingSophie Robertson – BalletNathan Samanmit - CrewStephanie Shorin – GymnasticsEthan Walkley – Honor BandDaniel Wang – Water PoloAbby Webster – Acting – Local TheatersAnnie White – Figure SkatingGrant Young – Club SoccerNathan Williams – Rock BandGabe Friend – Rock BandEddie James – Rock BandRicci Valice- Rock Band

Congratulations to the following fall athletes for

being recognized for All-League honors!

VolleyballAllison Knowles- 2nd team

Lauren Meadowcroft- 2nd teamSavannah Vaughan- 2nd team

Kaylee Kim- Honorable Mention

TennisAll first team:Philip GrenleyTeddy Grenley

Tyler SamDylan Sam

Griffin WelshWyatt Iverson

SoccerJules Hebert- Honorable Mention

Dana Drouillard- Honorable Mention

Cross-CountryBoys

1st team:Rory Reshovsky

Adam Berg2nd team:

Nick LaBergeAdam Emerick

Girls2nd team:

Ann ThompsonKassie MastrasAnna Stewart

FootballHenry Cheney - 1st QBRahsaan Mills- 1st WRSid Nagaich- 2nd WR

Max Stackpole- 2nd WRDesmond Jones- 2nd RB

Avery Cederstrand- 2nd OGSean Gorman- 2nd TEEvan Minsk- HM OT

Sean Gorman- 1st LB Christian Workman- 1st LB

Desmond Jones- 1st DB Alex Meadowcroft- 1st DB

Jack Skokin- 2nd LBAvery Cederstrand- 2nd DL

Max Stackpole- 2nd DB Will Paaga- HM LB

December 2014 Upper School NewsPage 7

Final Exam PreparationsOne Month Ahead

By: Sinead Coleman, Upper School Learning Specialist

Does it feel like final exams are a long way off but also just around the corner? Depending on how well you prepare, the next few weeks will determine your level of success and stress on these important exams.

You might be wondering where and how to begin studying. Here is a list of steps that you should begin now, one month before your first exam.

PREPARATION (3-4 weeks before exams)

1. Organization – Gather all of your notes, homework, class work, tests, and quizzes for your classes. Make a pile for each class. You should have papers going back to August. For each class, put the papers in chronological order by the date they were given to you or were completed. If you get stuck, consult the class syllabus – it can help you determine what units or chapters you covered and in what order. Depending on the size of the pile for each class, find a way to keep them together in order. You could use a 3-ring binder, binder clip, file folder, or staple. Whatever you use, just be sure that you keep your classes separate (i.e. no mixing History with English, etc.).

2. Old Tests & Quizzes – now that you have an organized, chronological “stack” for each class, pull out all of the tests or

quizzes you’ve gotten back from your teachers. Again, keep each class separate from your other classes. You’ll have a pile of math tests and quizzes, a pile of English tests and quizzes, a pile of science tests and quizzes, etc.

3. Study Guides, Notecards, & Vocabulary Lists – within each class, find your old study guides (the ones that some teachers give before a test). Also, if you have made notecards to study for tests, find those too and group them by class. Lastly, anytime a teacher gave you a list of key terms or vocabulary, you’ll want to find those.

4. Schedule – Look at your schedule for the month of December. The month page in your planner is perfect for this. Make sure that all of your existing deadlines, tests, and responsibilities are written down for the month. Include athletic events, due dates for papers and projects, and any remaining tests or quizzes you have for your classes. Don’t forget personal or family obligations too. Now, look and see where you can schedule in final exam study time. Yes, you should actually schedule this time in. Studying in advance can often be pushed to the bottom of priorities (procrastination!!). Putting final exam studying into your calendar will make it a priority and help you actually do it. Spread your studying out over many days. You will remember, retain, and understand much more if you spread you studying out rather than cramming at the last minute.

STUDYING (2-3 weeks before exams)

5. Talk to Your Teachers – ask them what will be covered on the final exam, what format it will be (multiple choice, fill-in, essay, etc.), and any recommendations they have to help you prepare. If they give you a study guide, great. If not, make yourself a Topic List.

6. Topic List – create a topic list for each class. What were the main topics covered this semester? Those topics will likely match chapters in the textbook and/or tests that you took. Your list will look like a table of contents or outline for what you covered since August. You are essentially making your own study guide. For each topic, as you read through your notes, retake the test (see #7), and review your flashcards and vocabulary lists, mark it off. 7. Practice Tests – for each topic, look at the graded test you took back then. Try taking the test again by asking yourself the questions while covering the answers. If you didn’t do well when you first took the test and you don’t do well again in this practice test, make a note that the topic is a priority to focus on.

8. Memorization vs. Understanding – both are important in preparing for an exam.

a. Memorization – being able to recall facts and all details of a chapter or topic. It is the who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Upper School News December 2014 Page 8

For math classes, it is remembering equations and what steps to take to solve a certain type of problem. Memorization takes time and practice. The sooner you start, the better. Make mnemonics, acrostics (My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos – for the planets), acronyms (HOMES – for the Great Lakes), songs, rhymes, pictures, or any other technique that works for you. Practice throughout the weeks prior to the final exam. b. Understanding – being able to apply, critique, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the things you’ve memorized. This is the part most often overlooked by students when they study. i. Quiz yourself. Once you’ve memorized the facts, ask yourself questions like these: (depending on the class)1. Why is _____ important?2. How does this compare to ____? 3. Discuss the pros and cons of ____.4. What ideas validate ____?5. What are some alternatives to ___? 6. How would you compare ____ to ____?7. What can you infer from ____?8. How would you solve ____?9. What facts support _____?10. What would the result be if _____?ii. Developing understanding is often facilitated by studying with a peer or in a group. Discussions build your ability to create and defend your answers. So, find a focused study buddy and quiz each other!

REVIEW (During the last week before the exam)

9. Practicing – When you review, you are no longer learning or re-learning information. You are practicing and strengthening your memory. You are re-reading your study guides and using flashcards. You are repeating your memory techniques. You are meeting with peers to quiz each other. You are posing and answering sample questions. You are isolating any remaining areas that need further study. You are meeting with teachers to get help with those last trouble spots.

10. Handling Stress – as the days get closer to exam day, stress and fatigue can grow. Be sure to take good care of yourself in the days leading up to exams.

a. Get enough rest (at least 6-8 hours of sleep a night – whatever you normally need)b. Eat regularly (don’t skip meals in order to study)c. Eat healthy (don’t overload on junk food or caffeine while you’re studying)d. Take breaks (exercise, spend some down time with others)e. Visualize your success (imagine yourself writing a good essay, solving math problems, and feeling successful)f. Practice relaxation: deep breathing while imagining your “happy place”