Education

WC Alumna & Leading Delmarva Oncologist to Lead Off College Speaker Series

October 15, 2021 by Washington College News Service Leave a Comment

Dr. Laura D. Kerbin ’88, a leading medical oncologist and Director of Chemotherapy at Riverside Shore Cancer Center in Onancock, VA will be the inaugural speaker in a year-long 50^th Anniversary Celebration of the American Chemical Society Approval of the Washington College Program in Chemistry.

Kerbin’s two-part seminar, ONCOLOGY: A Quarter Century of Progress; The Cancer “Moonshot Initiative” at Midpoint, will be held on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 4:30 PM in The Litrenta Lecture Hall of the John S. Toll Science Center, located on the College Campus.

The Cancer “Moonshot Initiative”, launched by President Barack Obama in 2016 and led by then Vice President Joe Biden, is a national effort to accelerate research in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment with the aim of making 10 years’ worth of progress in just 5.

This event is free and open to the public. The College does have an indoor mask policy in place and all attendees will be required to be masked.

The series of three seminars has been designed to recognize Chemistry Alumni who have distinguished themselves in the fields of Chemistry & The Health Sciences.

The additional speakers, both scheduled to speak in the spring semester, are:

John L. Musachio’87, Ph.D., Section Head of Positron Emission Tomography at National Institutes of Health to deliver seminar, “My PET Projects at NIH” – 4:30 PM Thursday, March 31, 2022

Matthew D. Streeter’13, Ph.D., Chemist, Entrada Therapeutics, “Novel Approaches to Engage Targets Previously Considered Inaccessible and Undruggable.” – 5:00 PM Thursday, April 7, 2022

The Chemistry Program at Washington College offers an organic-first curriculum accredited by the American Chemical Society and Maryland Higher Education Commission. The program introduces students to fundamental concepts in chemistry through the lens of organic and biochemistry. This approach allows faculty to introduce material more thematically, gives students the foundation they need for advanced study in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, environmental science, engineering, psychology, medicine, and physics, and better reflects modern chemistry as an interdisciplinary science.

In addition, Washington College is leading the way in a national movement to integrate the principles of green chemistry into the curriculum and to train a new generation of chemists who are especially mindful of its environmental impact.

About Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. It enrolls approximately 1,100 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.

NYT Report Details Yearlong Firestorm Over Queen Anne’s School Superintendent’s Note on Racism

October 11, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

In a front-page article in Monday’s print edition, the New York Times details the firestorm that erupted in Queen Anne’s County last year after the county school superintendent emailed parents a note about racism following the in-custody murder of George Floyd by a police officer.

“Racism is alive in our country, our state, in Queen Anne’s County, and our schools,” Dr. Andrea Kane, the county’s first black school superintendent, wrote in the June 5, 2020, letter.

The email led to the creation of a Facebook group seeking Kane’s ouster, the posting of racist comments, and the election of school board members opposed to Kane, the Times reported.

According to the report:

“Over the last year, the protests and reflection prompted by Mr. Floyd’s death reverberated in school districts throughout the country, as school boards and legislatures reconsidered how and what students should learn about race and racism, from the history of slavery and segregation to the Black Lives Matter movement.

“The debate has sometimes focused on K-12 curriculums after conservative activists began branding a range of topics including history lessons and diversity initiatives as ‘critical race theory,’ an academic framework that views racism as ingrained in law and other modern institutions. The term is now often deployed to attack any discussion of race and racism in American classrooms — pitting educators who feel obligated to teach the realities of racism against predominantly white parents and politicians who believe that schools are forcing white children to feel ashamed of their race and country.”

Gunston Welcomes Comedian Brett Walkow as Bull & Oyster Roast Emcee & Auctioneer

October 9, 2021 by Gunston School Leave a Comment

The Gunston School is pleased to welcome comedian Brett Walkow as the master of ceremonies and auctioneer for their upcoming event, the Bull & Oyster Roast + Alumni Reunion on Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 5-9 p.m. For more than 25 years, Walkow has been making audiences laugh with his signature blend of silliness, warmth, and off-the-cuff audience interaction. He’s performed alongside Melissa McCarthy & Jimmy Fallon, appeared on The Tonight Show, and in Seinfeld’s movie ‘Comedian’.

Walkow, who comes from a family of teachers and “truly believes we should all help one another,” spends a huge portion of his year performing for charities coast to coast with the help of his company, Team Love Army. His credits include: The Golden Globes, Comedy Central, HBO, NBC, FOX, CBS, Just For Laughs Festival, Lollapalooza, 11 years in Las Vegas (Harrahs & MGM Casinos), a 200 episode celebrity talk show (with guests including Kevin Nealon, George Wallace, The Simpsons, Family Guy), Hollywood red carpet specials, and various live venues worldwide.

“We are beyond excited that Brett agreed to emcee the Bull Roast,” said Event Director Lynda Scull. “His commitment to charity work, especially to teachers, is a perfect fit for this event. The Bull Roast has currently sold more than 200 tickets and gathered 50+ auction items (with more coming in every day). I think after 18 long months of the pandemic, coming together as a community to support the school will be just what the doctor ordered!”

The Bull & Oyster Roast + Alumni Reunion will be held outdoors on the school’s waterfront campus, overlooking the Corsica River on Saturday, October 23 from 5-9 p.m. The evening includes delicious food provided by Bayside Catering, premium beer and wine, plus a rye whiskey tasting bar. With both a silent and live auction planned, guests will have the opportunity to bid on an array of fantastic vacations (spring break at Deep Creek, Best of Bethany Beach A Trip to the Big Apple and more), golf outings, professional photography sessions, artwork, and a day cruise on a luxurious Fountaine Pajot MY6 Motor Yacht or Elba 45 sailing catamaran, among others. For the live auction, those unable to attend in person may appoint a proxy by contacting Jen Matthews at jmatthews@gunston.org.

Additionally, raffle tickets are on sale for $100 each. There will be five winners announced with four receiving $250 cash and the “grand prize” winner wins their choice of first pick of a live auction item or $1,500 cash. The event also features a Wine Pull in which attendees can pay $15 for the opportunity to choose (at random) from over 50+ donated wines from around the world, ranging in price from $15-$50 — the catch being that you don’t know what you’ll “pull” until you’ve opened it.

Tickets are on sale now at $100 per person and $65 for alumni and former faculty and staff members, with an option to also sponsor a ticket for current faculty and staff members. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

Visit https://gunston.org/bullroast21 to purchase tickets, donate wine or an auction item, or to sign up for a sponsorship (or do all three!). For more information, or for those interested in donating wine or an auction item, contact Event Director Lynda Scull at 410-758-0620, ext. 1101 or email lscull@gunston.org, or fill out an online form.

Sponsorships are available and range from a Brisket Sponsor ($100) up to a Grill Master Sponsor ($5,000), with a price point for every budget. New this year are Heron Hero Annual Sponsorship options, which combine the sponsorship benefits of all three Gunston fundraising events (Bull & Oyster Roast, Heron Hustle, Golfing fore Gunston) into a yearlong package. Along with community-wide recognition, Gunston’s sponsors are also listed on the school’s Green & White Pages, a directory of Gunston community-owned businesses and services.

Grill Master sponsors include Heron Heroes Rick & Dani de los Reyes, P’23, Heron Heroes Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM Easton (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23 ’25) and Friel Lumber Company (Jay & Gina Friel, P’22 and Jim & Mary Helen Friel).

Prime Rib sponsors include Heron Heroes Gillespie & Son, Inc. (Gillespie Family, P’20 ’22 ’24), Heron Heroes “Friends of Gunston” (anonymous), McAllister, DeTar, Showalter & Walker (P’25), and the Amygdalos Family, P’20 ’23.

Choice Sponsors include Shore United Bank and Mr. Glenn Michael. Select Sponsors include Heron Heroes Dr. Laurie Lewis & John Lewis, Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat on Kent Island, KRM Construction, and Kent School. Sirloin Sponsors include Tiffany Cloud, Realtor with Meredith Fine Properties, ImPRESSive Printing, Griswold Travel (Emily Griswold, P’24), Avon Dixon Insurance Agency, and the Sanderson Family, P’22 ’23. Brisket Sponsors include St. Anne’s Episcopal School, the Thomas Family, The Day Family, P’24, and the Arthur Family, P’25.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

Secondary School Event at The Country School

October 8, 2021 by The Country School Leave a Comment

The Country School hosted a Secondary School Night on October 5, 2021 in its Field House. The event drew admission representatives from 19 independent day and boarding schools along the east coast, as well as Easton’s very own Saints Peter & Paul High School and Easton High School.

Tom Rossini, Director of Enrollment and Outreach, shares some “key” attributes of the Key School with Country School 8th grader Calder Lopez.

Representatives met students and their families to get to know each other and determine how their priorities, interests, and values could align and make for a great high school experience. The lineup included:

Blair Academy

Boys’ Latin School of Baltimore

Christchurch School

Easton High School

Episcopal High School

Ethel Walker School

Garrison Forest School

George School

Gunston School

Hill School

Key School

McDonogh School

Mercersburg Academy

The Peddie School

St. Andrew’s School

St. James School

St. Timothy’s School

Saints Peter and Paul

Westminster School

Woodberry Forest School

Wye River Upper School

Secondary school counseling has been a consistent part of the Upper School experience at TCS so that students and their parents are aware of the many options available to them for high school. The school also recently hired a dedicated high school counselor, long-time Country School teacher Katie Hertelendy, to assist families with this important decision.

“We very much enjoyed welcoming and hosting these school representatives on the Country School campus,” said Jean Brune, Interim Head of School. “Our students are well positioned to take advantage of the strong academics, enrichment, and overall experiences offered by these top schools.”

Annual Birdies for Benedictine Charity Golf Classic Returns in October

October 6, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

After last year’s cancellation of one of its biggest and most popular fundraising events due to Covid-19, Benedictine has announced the return of its annual Birdies for Benedictine Charity Golf Classic on Friday, October 29, 2021. Over the past 30 years, this event has successfully provided much-needed support for Benedictine’s school and adult day and residential programs, which serve developmentally disabled children and adults ages 5-70+. This year, the funds raised from Birdies for Benedictine will support urgent needs, including student and adult program funding, facility repairs, and staff development.

Golfers practice putting before start of the 2019 Birdies for Benedictine Charity Golf Classic at the Talbot Country Club. The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year’s tournament will be held at the Talbot Country Club at 6142 Country Club Drive in Easton, Maryland. The tournament will follow a scramble format with 4-player teams and a minimum handicap of 40. Entries of less than four players will be paired by the tournament committee. Designed by Ed Ault, the Talbot Country Club course is enjoyable to play with ten par 4’s, four par 5’s, and four par 3’s, providing a challenge for all skill levels. The forward tees play from 5,200 yards and the back tees play from almost 7,000 yards.

Registration and lunch will begin at 10 AM, followed by a putting contest at 11:15 AM and a shotgun start at 11:30 AM. The entry fee is $175 per person, or $700 for a team of four. This includes a greens fee, a cart, lunch, beer & wine, and an invitation to the awards ceremony, which will begin at 4:30 PM and will offer hors d’oeuvres.

Benedictine is thankful to the following sponsors for enabling them to host this year’s event: PNC Bank, Brian Goff, St. Michaels Patriot Cruises, Marasun Roofing, Sandra Amato, Brian Hegarty, and John and Pat Krieger.

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. To register for the tournament or to become a sponsor, please visit: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/BirdiesforBenedictine2021

About Benedictine: Benedictine is one of the most comprehensive providers of services for children and adults with developmental & intellectual disabilities and autism. We offer a year-round educational program and 365-day residential program for students ages 5-21. Our students come from throughout Maryland, as well as adjoining states. Benedictine’s adult program provides community living, meaningful day services, and employment opportunities on the Eastern Shore and Annapolis. Benedictine’s mission is to help each individual achieve their full potential. Our mission and values of Hospitality, Dignity of Work, and Compassionate Caring are rooted in our founding by the Sisters of St. Benedictine. Today, Benedictine is a non-denominational organization, but we continue to honor and celebrate these values.

Three Benedictine Direct Support Professionals Receive Recognition Awards

October 3, 2021 by Spy Desk Leave a Comment

Three Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work at Benedictine have received special recognition from the Maryland Department of Disabilities and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration for their outstanding work as Direct Support Professionals. Alexandra Bank, Dawn Callahan, and Sharon Walbert were selected as award recipients after being nominated by the families of individuals they support.

Award recipients across Maryland were invited to Baltimore’s Camden Yards on Thursday, September 23, to receive special recognition at an Orioles game. A special ceremony was also held at Heritage Hall on Benedictine’s Ridgely campus on Thursday, September 30. Representatives of the Maryland Department of Disabilities and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration awarded Certificates of Recognition to Bank, Callahan, and Walbert. Also invited were the individuals who nominated each awardee, as well as members of Benedictine staff, including direct supervisors, department directors, and three members of Executive Leadership. All attendees were required to wear masks and remain socially distanced.

Representatives from the Maryland Department of Disabilities and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration present Awards of Recognition to Dawn Callahan, Sharon Walbert, and Alexandra Bank at a ceremony on Thursday, September 30.

DSPs serve as the face of Benedictine to the students and adults served by the organization, as well as to their families, employers, and the community. DSPs provide a broad range of individualized support to people of all ages, including assisting in the classroom; providing employment supports; teaching students and adults to navigate all aspects of daily life; providing transportation to school, work, medical appointments, and recreational activities; and assisting in financial matters. DSPs also help supported individuals to stay connected to family, friends, and the community.

Alexandra Bank was nominated by Anne McCormick for her work with McCormick’s adult son, Benjamin. McCormick commended Bank for her success in helping Benjamin hone his daily living skills, thereby boosting his confidence and his ability to contribute to his household.

“In three years’ time, Ms. Bank has encouraged and taught our son to do his own wash, including folding, set and clear the lunch and dinner table, put dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on, clean the kitchen and his own room, and cook!” wrote Mrs. McCormick. “His self-esteem has soared while in her care.”

Dawn Callahan was nominated by Don and Lorna Reid, parents of Alison Reid, an adult resident with whom Callahan works as a one-on-one DSP. The Reids nominated Callahan for her assistance in facilitating Alison’s participation in community-based activities, workplace assignments, recreational activities, and arts and crafts projects.

“Dawn Callahan has been and continues to be the driving force that has helped Alison be a part of community activities and she shares in the success and happiness [Alison] has achieved,” wrote Lorna Reid. “She has gone above and beyond in her efforts to assist our daughter and others with disabilities.”

Sharon Walbert was nominated by Sandy Bishins, mother of Dan Caplan, an adult resident of the group home where Walbert works as Lead House Counselor. Earlier this year, she was also nominated for Benedictine’s Sister Jeannette Award, an honor that is bestowed each year upon exemplary employees who exhibit the organization’s three core values of Dignity of Work, Hospitality, and Compassionate Caring.

“Sharon is a very compassionate person. She goes above and beyond doing anything she can to help everybody,” said Walbert’s coworker, Robyn Carter. “She has a special touch, and she’s really a great person.”

Benedictine wishes to thank Alexandra Bank, Dawn Callahan, and Sharon Walbert, and all the exceptional employees who demonstrate incredible dedication and compassion on a daily basis. If you wish to support Benedictine’s community and mission, please visit www.benschool.org and click “Donate.”

Author Mary Beth Norton Wins 2021 George Washington Prize

October 1, 2021 by Washington College News Service Leave a Comment

The 2021 George Washington Prize has been awarded to Dr. Mary Beth Norton for her book 1774: The Long Year of Revolution. One of the nation’s largest and most prestigious literary awards, the George Washington Prize honors its namesake by recognizing the year’s best new books on the nation’s founding era, especially those that engage a broad public audience. Conferred by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Washington College, the award will be presented to Norton in May 2022 at Mount Vernon.

Norton’s 1774 (Knopf/Vintage) covers the sixteen months stretching from the destruction of East India Company tea in Boston Harbor to the marching of troops to Lexington and Concord. Readers experience the uncertainty and unpredictability of this prelude to revolution. “I have long thought that historians have unfortunately overlooked crucial developments in that year just prior to the outbreak of war,” wrote Norton after learning she had won the George Washington Prize. “It was in fact then — and not before — when many Americans decided that seeking independence would be desirable. Tracing precisely how that happened proved enlightening to me and I hope it will be the same for readers of the book.”

“This vividly narrated history brings to light a moment when America’s future — and in a sense, also the world’s — hung in the balance,” said Adam Goodheart, director of Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, which cosponsors the Washington Prize. “At a time when questions about America’s past are so central to understanding democracy’s present-day challenges, Mary Beth Norton’s book is essential reading.”

The other finalists for the 2021 George Washington Prize include (in alphabetical order):

Mark Boonshoft, Aristocratic Education and the Making of the American Republic (University of North Carolina Press)
Vincent Brown, Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War (Harvard University Press)
Peter Cozzens, Tecumseh and the Prophet: The Shawnee Brothers Who Defied a Nation (Alfred A. Knopf)
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The Age of Phillis (Wesleyan University Press)
Michael W. McConnell, The President Who Would Not Be King: Executive Power under the Constitution (Princeton University Press)
William G. Thomas III, A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to the Civil War (Yale University Press)

Created in 2005 by George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and Washington College, the $50,000 George Washington Prize is one of the nation’s largest and most notable literary awards. Previous winners Prize include Ron Chernow, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nathaniel Philbrick, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Rick Atkinson.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON PRIZE

Washington College

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth-oldest college in the nation and the first one chartered after American independence. It enrolls approximately 1,250 undergraduates from more than 35 states and a dozen nations. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in the environment, history, and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.

Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience explores the American experience in all its diversity and complexity, seeks creative approaches to illuminating the past, and inspires thoughtful conversation informed by history. Through educational programs, scholarship and public outreach, the Starr Center bridges the divide between the academic realm and the broader world, while offering dynamic hands-on opportunities to Washington College undergraduates from a wide range of majors. More information can be found at starrcenter.washcoll.edu.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Since 1860, more than 85 million visitors have made George Washington’s Mount Vernon the most popular historic home in America. Through thought-provoking tours, entertaining events, and stimulating educational programs on the estate and in classrooms across the nation, Mount Vernon strives to preserve George Washington’s place in history as “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.” Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, America’s oldest national preservation organization, founded in 1853. In 2013, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association opened the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, which safeguards original books and manuscripts and serves as a center for research, scholarship, and leadership development. Learn more at mountvernon.org.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History was founded in 1994 by Richard Gilder and Lewis E. Lehrman, visionaries and lifelong supporters of American history education. The Institute is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to K–12 history education while also serving the general public. Its mission is to promote the knowledge and understanding of American history through educational programs and resources. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, the Gilder Lehrman Institute is supported through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations. The Institute’s programs have been recognized by awards from the White House, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Organization of American Historians, and the Council of Independent Colleges. Learn more at gilderlehrman.org.

Kent County Public Library Board of Trustees Seeks New Member

September 30, 2021 by Kent County Public Library Leave a Comment

The Board of Trustees of the Kent County Public Library is seeking potential nominees to replace one trustee whose terms will be ending on December 31, 2021.

By Maryland Law, the Board of Trustees consists of seven members appointed by the county governing body (the Kent County Commissioners) from nominees submitted by the Board of Trustees. Trustees are chosen on the basis of character, ability, and demonstrated interest in library matters. Members of the board must be representative of the area the library serves and residents of Kent County. Trustees are appointed for an initial term of five years.

Interest forms are now being accepted by the Kent County Public Library Board of Trustees from citizens who wish to serve as a member of the board. The form can be downloaded from the Trustees’ page of the library’s website at kentcountylibrary.org/a/trustees.php or picked up at any Kent County Public Library location.

Completed forms can be sent to bot@kentlib.org or mailed to:

Kent County Public Library Board of Trustees
Attention: Search Committee
408 High St.
Chestertown, MD 21620

Interest forms must be submitted by Sunday, October 10, 2021.

All submissions will be considered by the Trustees. Interviews will be scheduled promptly and the successful applicant will be notified in November.

Md. Health Secretary Pushes Back as Senators Call for Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines in Schools

September 29, 2021 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

Senators continued to push Maryland Health Secretary Dennis R. Schrader to exercise his authority to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for eligible school-age students Monday.

“I brought this up in the last briefing last month and you weren’t sure that you had the authority to do so and it sounds like this month, you’re still uncertain and not willing to explore that as a possibility,” Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Howard) said at a meeting of the Senate Vaccine Oversight Workgroup Monday. “I hope that next month you’ll be able to bring back some additional considerations as to how you can improve those rates in schools through a mandatory vaccination program in conjunction with [the Maryland State Department of Education].”

According to a presentation from the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability for the Department of Legislative Services, since school has been in session, the sharpest increase in COVID positivity rates in the state has been among children.

About 72% of children between 12 and 17 years old have received at least one shot.

Lam asked Schrader what is being done to encourage eligible minors to get vaccinated.

Schrader said that the Department of Health has “two tracks of priority:” getting booster shots in the arms of the state’s most vulnerable and tracking down the nearly one million eligible Marylanders who have yet to get vaccinated.

But Schrader also clearly demonstrated his disinterest in mandating COVID-19 vaccines for school-aged students.

Under Maryland’s education code, the Department of Health has the ability to issue regulations that require students to be inoculated to attend school.

“You do have the tool to be able to require vaccination of students going into schools,” said Lam. “Is that right, is that something that you’re looking at?”

Schrader responded “not at the moment.” He said there have been conversations about working with school systems to increase the vaccination rate in 12- to 17-year-olds but he wants to respect local school districts’ authority.

“We really need to rely on the schools to help us with this,” Schrader said. “They’re autonomous and we want to make sure we respect that autonomy in working with them.”

Lam, a physician, pushed back and said the state is falling short on protecting its kids.

“I am concerned about the spread of COVID in our schools and you have a tool that you can use as the secretary to require this to be required vaccination and students coming into our schools, but it sounds as though [the Department of Health] is not reaching for this tool or is not willing to do so,” he said.

Schrader said the health department’s focus now is increasing the rate for routine vaccinations in elementary school students.

“We want to make sure that those are taken care of, but we’ll go back and take a look at your suggestion,” he said.

After other senators pressed the health department to take more decisive action, Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s) grew frustrated and asked Schrader where the buck stops: with the State Department of Education or with the Department of Health?

“So, we have the adults pointing fingers at each other while the kids are suffering and the parents are suffering,” he said.

Rosapepe told Schrader that he should exercise the power he has to mandate the vaccine in schools.

But, “if for whatever political reason” he decides not to do that, Rosapepe suggested that the Department of Health “aggressively work with the school systems to identify in every school which kids have been vaccinated which kids haven’t been vaccinated” through the state’s ImmuNet vaccination record system and bring mobile vaccination units to those locations.

Rosapepe also proposed rating school systems like the Department of Health rates nursing homes based on their rates of vaccination.

“A couple of suggestions if you’re not willing to go with mandatory vaccinations,” he said.

By Hannah Gaskill

CWS at Gunston Kicks off 3rd Semester with Trip to Susquehanna River

September 28, 2021 by Gunston School Leave a Comment

The Chesapeake Watershed Semester (CWS) at the Gunston School officially kicked off its third semester on Sunday, August 29, 2021, after a brief hiatus in 2020. Twelve students departed on their orientation expedition to the headwaters of the Susquehanna River in Cooperstown, N.Y.

This fall’s cohort includes 11th and 12th graders from Gunston as well as Queen Anne’s High School and a student from Pennsylvania currently staying with a host family, prompting Head of School John Lewis to enthusiastically announce the term “pilot” has been officially removed from the program’s name.

The group set off from Gunston’s campus on August 30th — stopping in Ashley, Pa. to tour abandoned mine sites and learn how they impact water quality through acid mine drainage — before setting up their first campsite in the Pinchot State Forest. The following day, the group packed up and continued the drive north, stopping for a hike, to explore waterfalls, and investigate aquatic entomology, which is the study of insects that live in the water during all or part of their lives. Many flying insects such as dragonflies, damselflies, caddisflies spend their larval youth in a stream, where they are the primary prey of fish.

The fall 2021 cohort of Chesapeake Watershed Semester (CWS) at the Gunston School gathers alongside a waterfall while hiking in Pennsylvania. Pictured (L-R) is Robert Crow, Tom de los Reyes, Ian Kissel, Nathan Porter, Colin Denault, Liam Thomas, Thomas Umidi, Calla McCluskey, Charlotte Cook, Julia Buchanan, Alec Sanderson and Evie Hagan.

“I think the high point for the group was standing in the very headwaters of the Susquehanna River, perched on Council Rock,” said CWS Teacher Ronnie Vesnaver, who, along with fellow instructor Zack Hoisington, traveled with the students and applauded them on their teamwork and upbeat attitudes as persistent rain from Ida made for a damp end to the expedition.

The Chesapeake Watershed Semester is a semester-long immersive learning experience for students in grades 11 and 12 to study the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed through the dual lenses of science and public policy. Through hands-on and immersive learning experiences, students develop leadership skills, connect with stakeholders, and travel the watershed in five different learning expeditions. CWS is currently taking applications for the 2022 spring semester at chesapeakewatershedsemester.org, on a rolling basis. The program is open to qualifying 11th and 12th-grade students from Gunston and surrounding areas (within commuting distance from Gunston).

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