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Arts

Review: Joe Holt’s “In the Spirit of Dave McKenna”

December 24, 2012 by Jeff Davis

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in-spirit of Dave McKenna_coverMusic is one of the universal languages. Most languages include a developed vocabulary to convey information and express ideas. A good vocabulary thickens the plot to the story teller’s yarn. Jazz pianist Joe Holt’s latest solo release, “In the Spirit of Dave McKenna” is a pleasing plethora of usage and depth of that vocabulary, to which Joe masterfully adds a couple words of his own.

Admittedly, even though I am an avid listener of jazz, I am not overly familiar with the work of Dave McKenna, to whom Joe attributes his inspiration for this release. In hearing McKenna for the first time as a teenager, Holt recalls, “I remember the performance vividly. It was one of those moments in life when I grew in understanding what was possible.”

As the title implies “In the Spirit of…” is brimming with clever left-hand walking-bass lines, rhythmic play, and chord changes reminiscent of McKenna’s solo jazz-piano style. However, the story told through these fifteen standards is pure Joe Holt. There is a comforting familiarity surrounding each tune, which gives way effortlessly to Joe’s sweeping sensibility of the jazz vocabulary of both past and present times. Holt weaves a playful tale indeed… there is plot, there is action, there is comic relief, some sentimentality, but mostly there is the evidence of an incredible inner dialog happening as Joe transcends the possibilities from popular tune to improvisational music. Joe is taking us on a magnificent journey here.

You may find yourself reminiscing as you listen; recalling impressions you have of these works, but not getting lost in their nostalgia as Joe’s musical expression elevates — giving new meaning to each tune. (Which is a very good thing as this listener believes nostalgia, no matter how sweet, is merely a distraction from seizing the moment.)

“In the Spirit of Dave McKenna” opens with a wonderfully uplifting and spirited interpretation of the Gershwin tune “I’ve got Rhythm,” which sets the pace for the rest of the journey. You can learn more about Joe and his other releases at www.joeholtsnotes.com, or give a listen. (Link to: https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joeholt4)

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Filed Under: Arts

“Think Tank” Spring Session Welcomes Kids From all Counties

March 7, 2012 by Jeff Davis

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The Think Tank, an enrichment program led by Lee Franklin and hosted by The Gunston School, is getting ready to launch into spring classes March 27–May 24. The Think Tank welcomes kids, ages 5–14, from all counties to the Gunston campus. Bus transportation is available for students from Centreville and Kennard Elementary, and Centreville Middle to Gunston on bus #0511. The spring classes each run 4:00–5:30 p.m. and include the following:

Chesapeake Bay Eco Explorers digging through sediment from the Corsica River, looking for signs of life and collecting water for testing.

Little Adventurers: Grades K, 1 and 2 / Tuesdays / taught by Hollie Epp

Does your child like the outdoors, animals and exploring? Join this class to become a “young scientist” and trek through the woods, dip seine nets into the river and comb the Gunston campus gardens in search of common and not-so-common live critters. You will identify native species of animals, learn their habitats, behaviors and what makes them unique.

Spanish: Grades 2-5 / Thursdays / taught by Liamar Young

Come learn Spanish while you explore the woods and the water on Gunston’s beautiful campus. Through hands-on activities in art, music and game-playing, Chesapeake College Spanish Professor Liamar will help you make connections with Spanish words and what you see in nature.

Chesapeake Bay Eco Explorers: Grades 3-8 / Wednesdays / taught by Jenny Houghton

Join Adkins Arboretum’s Youth Program Coordinator for hands-on experiences with authentic environmental science equipment. You will use sieves, dip nets and kick seines to search for organisms living in and around the Corsica River. You will investigate and study these living organisms under microscopes, spot birds with binoculars and navigate the Gunston campus with compasses. You will also try your hands at field sketching and cartography.

Raptor Research: Grades 4-8 / Tuesdays / taught by Courtney Leigh

These girls are all smiles as they hold a snake at the Rainforest Eco-Adventures Think Tank event.

In this raptor research project with outdoor environmental educator Courtney, you will experience both classroom and field work to learn about birds of prey and scientific data collecting. You will learn how to identify signs of raptors, conduct research and be able to identify different kinds of raptors. You’ll hike the woods to collect data on the number of resident raptors on Gunston’s campus. Activities may also include dissecting owl pellets, a visit with live raptors and a bird seminar.

Exploring Great Questions—Serious Fun with Philosophy: Grades 6-8 / Wednesdays / taught by Jeff Franklin

Philosophy begins with wonder. Philosophers apply their curiosity by asking questions that help them logically explore the nature of the world. Join Franklin’s Toy Store owner and ex- St. John’s College tutor in this discussion class that will introduce students to important and interesting philosophical questions. Students will learn to discuss with rigor, good humor and mutual respect. Questions we will investigate may be, “Should you let little things bother you?” and “Should you ever tell a lie?”

Canoes on the Corsica: Grades 6-8 / Thursdays / taught by Hannah Gerres

With experienced adventure guide Hannah, you’ll learn basic canoeing skills, including proper oar grips, arm techniques and paddling strokes, and what to do if you are on the water and something goes wrong. We will talk about how to avoid other boats and fishermen, safety signals, emergency situations and how to recognize weather that could be potentially dangerous. We will discuss a little “canoe history.” In addition to becoming proficient at canoeing, you will explore the Corsica River and its natural habitats to gain a deeper understanding of its ecology and the living things in its surrounding ecosystems.

For more information on The Think Tank and to register, visit www.gunston.org/thinktank. Questions? Contact Lee Franklin, Director of The Think Tank, at 410.758.0620 or [email protected].

Sign up by March 13 and receive $15 off each session!

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Filed Under: Archives

Gunston Announces SAT Prep Classes with The Princeton Review

February 15, 2012 by Jeff Davis

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The Gunston School will continue to host SAT Preparation courses run by The Princeton Review, and currently Gunston is the only Mid-Shore hosting site for Princeton Review. To satisfy the high demand from local high school sophomores and juniors, Gunston has scheduled three additional classes to be held in the spring and summer on Gunston’s campus in Centreville. The classes are open to all interested students from public and private schools, including those who are home-schooled.

The classroom course focuses on the most important information students need to know to get their best score on the important College Board Exams. “When your SAT score gets better, even by 50 points, it can increase your options for both college opportunities and scholarship dollars,” explains Gunston’s College Counselor, Amy Gross-Kehoe. The Princeton Review course includes expert and personalized instruction with 18 hours spent on the most important questions on the SAT. Students will receive test-taking strategies based upon their own strengths and weaknesses from a professional teacher. In-class review of practice tests allows beneficial group learning. The expert instructors keep students focused on the areas of the exam where they can gain the most points.

The $549 tuition includes 12 class sessions, 120 days of online access to the Online Student Center, copies of The Princeton Review’s manual for the SAT, 11 Practice tests for the SAT and Diagnostic Tests A-D. Minimum class size is 10; the maximum is 15.

Spring Class Schedule: Saturdays, March 17- April 28
Tuition: $549

March 17 9 am-1 pm Test #1
March 24 9 am-12 pm; 1 pm-4 pm Class #1 & 2
March 31 9 am-1 pm Test #2
April 7 9 am-12 pm; 1 pm-4 pm Class #3 & 4
April 14 9 am-1 pm Test #3
April 21 9 am-12 pm; 1 pm-4 pm Class #5 & Test #4
Apr 28 9 am-12 pm Class #6

Summer Class Schedule: Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday evenings, July or August
Tuition: $549

July Session: July 10-August 2 (Tue/Wed/Thur, 4 weeks) 6-9 pm
August Session: August 7-30 (Tue/Wed/Thur, 4 weeks) 6-9 pm

Two sessions of Summer SAT Prep with The Princeton Review are offered as part of the Gunston’s Summer Programs. Interested students can use the Spring Class registration form and indicate “July” or “August.” To register, visit www.gunston.org. Questions? Contact Gunston’s College Guidance Director Amy Gross-Kehoe at 410.758.0620 x202 or [email protected].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 5 News Notes

Three Gunston Students Make All Shore Chorus

February 6, 2012 by Jeff Davis

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Brandon Walls

Kendyl Walton

Jack Wilson

Three students from The Gunston School have qualified to participate in the Eastern Shore Choral Directors Association All Shore Chorus.

 

 

Freshmen Kendyl Walton and Jack Wilson, and senior Brandon Walls are among only 110 students selected by audition from about twenty Maryland high schools from Kent County to Worcester County.

 

They will spend the coming months preparing the assigned music; then, Kendyl, Jack, and Brandon will represent their school at rehearsals on Thursday, April 26, and Friday, April 27, before performing in the 8:00 p.m. All Shore Chorus concert at Queen Anne’s County High School that Friday.

Tickets will be available at the door for $5.

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Filed Under: 6 Arts Notes, Arts

Gunston School Presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”- Feb. 10 & 11

February 6, 2012 by Jeff Davis

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The Gunston School will present Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Church Hill Theatre on Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11, 2012.

Tickets are $5, and may be purchased on line at www.gunston.org and at the box office on the days of the show, providing seats are still available.

Friday, February 10 – 8pm
Saturday, February 11 – 2 pm

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Filed Under: 6 Arts Notes, Arts

Gunston School Announces 2nd Quarter Honor Roll

January 30, 2012 by Jeff Davis

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Congratulations to the following students for receiving High Honors or Honors for the second quarter of the 2011-2012 academic year. To earn a place on the Honors list, a student must achieve a B+/A- average and effort grades of “S” or above. To earn a place on High Honors, a student must have an A average and effort grades of “S” or above.

Gunston Honor Students (2nd quarter)

High Honors

Grade 12
Tricia Athey, Lindsay Gilbert, Taylor Leverage
Grade 11
Natsumi Chiba, Blaise Dickinson, Olivia Keene
Grade 10
Alex Kukorowski, Jiahao (Liam) Lian, Xiaosu (Shirley) Liu, Xiyin (Yves) Liu, Chengxi (Elaine) Wu, Avery Zuber
Grade 9
Andy Camp, Lizzy Clemens, Jay Desai, Bellie Fichtner, Clare Ingersoll, Lizzie Katz, Mackenzie Moorhouse, John Panor, Madi Shenk, Hailey Wallace, Jack Wilson

Honors

Grade 12
Morgan Bench, Joe Cusimano, Catherine Davis, Kate Donaldson, Katie Hottel, Junjie (Jack) Liao, Marie Maness, Lingzi (Angel) Pan, Rowan Powell, Bryan Schlosser, Yaozhi (George) Wang, Katie Weller, Shaoying (Daisy) Ying, Yujiang (Mark) Ying, Cihan (Marcus) Zhang
Grade 11
Anne Agee, Maddie Clemens, Kaitlyn Collins, Shuqi (Kelly) Dong, Joe Eynck, Philip Kenlon, Logan Leverage, Dan Lohr, Chloe Meyerhoff, Mary Beth Parkerson, Kat Rhodes, Jay Wegner, Shane Wetmore, Weijin (Jimmy) Ye
Grade 10
Melanie Basham, Liz Davis, Valerie Inglesby, Jia (Lydia) Liu, Haonan (Robert) Lu, Mary McLean, Kylie Miller, Meghan Moorhouse, Jianyu (Henry) Qian, Kimberly Schlosser, Nathan Simmons, Lexi Welch, Hongyi Xi, Yihua (William) Xu
Grade 9
RJ Baldwin, Justin Covell, Savannah Gervais, Caitlyn Hyland, Abi Johnson, Conor Maloney, Makayla Mullikin, Kendyl Walton

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Filed Under: 5 News Notes

Gunston Awarded $100,000 Grant from CBT

January 16, 2012 by Jeff Davis

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Pictured (L-R): Headmaster John Lewis, Waterfront Director Amy Gross-Kehoe, Board Chair Stoney Duffey

The Gunston School, a college preparatory high school in Centreville, recently received some very good news from the Chesapeake Bay Trust program—a partnership of the Trust, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center, and the Maryland Department of the Environment. Gunston was awarded a grant in the amount of $100,000 for a 770’ living shoreline project on the school’s waterfront property. This grant comes on the heels of a $100,000 gift the school recently received from a donor to renovate the school’s waterfront athletics complex. “Very few schools have direct waterfront access,” said Headmaster John Lewis, “and we now have the resources to transform our waterfront into one of the finest facilities on the East Coast.”

Upon completion, The Gunston School’s Living Shoreline will restore 770′ linear feet of eroding shoreline and create 16,183 square feet of wetlands. This stable habitat will benefit local fauna- herons, Maryland Terrapins, fish, crabs and other aquatic organisms that benefit from a typical living shoreline project. Plantings to be installed include Scirpus Pungens, Spartina Patens, and Panicum Virgatum. Other benefits include the enhancement of wildlife and fisheries habit, water quality improvements, and public education and involvement. The renovation of the waterfront athletics complex will provide modern facilities for the school’s crew and sailing teams, both of which compete with schools up and down the East Coast.

The school’s strategic planning process has been focused on developing Gunston’s connection to the water, making the waterfront and the associated educational and athletic opportunities a signature theme of the school. To accomplish this, Gunston has partnered with the MD-DNR, Sustainable Sciences, LLC and Delmarva RC&D. DNR’s Ecosystem Restoration Services (ERS) has had many years of experience in living shorelines and habitat restoration/creation. Personnel from ERS were instrumental in passing the Living Shorelines Law in 2008, while also continuing to provide technical assistances to waterfront property owners throughout the State. RC&D has been working with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Shore Erosion Control Program (DNR SEC) since 1987 by providing assistance to Maryland property owners in resolving shoreline and stream bank erosion problems.

In the short term, the project will directly involve Gunston’s 200-plus student, family, faculty, staff and neighbors. Many regular users, including the Corsica River Conservancy and other partner groups, have shown great interest in monitoring the progress of the project and helping install sand and plants. Approximately 300 volunteers will be assisting with various facets of the project.

The Gunston student experience is deeply intertwined with the waterfront, from the time they arrive to Gunston by boat their freshman year, to the time they disembark by boat as graduating seniors. Access to the river provides a dynamic living classroom, for classes ranging from biology and environmental science to writing and art. Among two of the school’s most popular sports are interscholastic Rowing and Sailing teams. Summer Programs provide children and teens access to water-related camps including rowing, sailing, and the “Water, Wonder, and Wetlands” environmental science camp. Amy Gross-Kehoe, Gunston’s Waterfront Director and Director of Summer Programs, has many reasons to celebrate: “This project allows us to maintain Gunston’s waterfront access that is used by numerous community partners. This also presents a wonderful teaching opportunity on the importance of preserving the Chesapeake Bay.”

Much of the school’s community service is also centered on shoreline and river access. Gunston students mentor local elementary school students in water quality studies and the “Maryland Grows Oysters” project. Additionally, Gunston offers waterfront access on the Corsica River to community members and groups like the Corsica River Conservancy and the Chester River Association. Nearly 600 people per year access the Chesapeake Bay though the Gunston waterfront.

In 2011, Gunston was named a Maryland Green School due to its long standing commitment to instill in students the importance of place, which has resulted in educational experiences that take advantage of the school’s unique riverside location.

For more information on The Gunston School and Open House events, visit www.gunston.org or call 410.758.0620.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 5 News Notes

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