The Gunnery is pleased to announce that as of February 20th, the following seniors have been accepted at the following schools:

Jay Bauer (Woodbury, CT), Colgate University, Hilary Benjamin (Short Hills, NJ) Roanoke College, Pat Brennan (East Falmouth, MA), University of Iowa, Dylan Crittenden (San Francisco, CA), University of St. Andrews, Scotland, Sasha Geerken (Bethel, CT), Bennington College, Zachary Grossman (Lithia, FL), University of Iowa, Jaime Heilbron (Panama City, Panama), Colgate University, Gregory Jack (Watertown, CT), Boston College, Dae Han Kim (Seoul, Korea), New York University, Jong-Min Kim (Seoul, Korea), Oxford College of Emory University, Jack Leary (Roxbury, CT), Emerson College, Alex Rinaldi (Greenwich, CT), Lehigh University, Priyanka Shetty (Middlebury, CT), University of Vermont, Chelsea Simpson (Bronx, NY), University of Virginia, John Vazzano (Trumbull, CT), University of Vermont, Alex Werner (Lake Forest, IL), St. Lawrence University, Jeff Buvinow (Turnersville, NJ), Brown University, Wilburn Logan (Kingston, RI), Georgetown University

As of publication, all decisions have not been received. Updates will be featured in future issues of Highlander Highlights.

The Gunnery battle of the dormitories continues. This past January, residents from each participated in a friendly match of dodge ball. It was a close match with the residents of Emerson dormitory emerging as the winners. Thirty points were awarded for this win. Gibson and Gibson and Van Sinderen were awarded 10 Dorm Cup Points for advancing once. Browne and Brinsmade were given Dorm Cup Points for advancing twice. Another challenge, a Gunnery trivia night, was held in early February. Gunn and Emerson dorms did particularly well that evening.

Started last year, the Dorm Cup Challenge lets each dormitory bond together as a group during ten challenges throughout the academic year. "This is a chance for the kids to have some pride in where they live," said Director of Residence Life, Kate Merritt. "They work and interact with people they normally wouldn't socialize with." Kate meets with the residential advisors at the beginning of the year to brainstorm each challenge. This past year, challenges included fund raising events for diabetes, a dorm flag designing contest, and a "turn-your-dorm-into-a Haunted House" Halloween party. The next dorm challenge is being planned for March.

»» Dodge Ball Tournament Pictures.

The Gunnery's thespians received a special gift when Broadway legend (and Gunnery current parent) Patti LuPone gave a master class for members of The Gunnery Drama Society. During the three hour session, the performers, sang, danced, and spoke their prepared pieces which were critiqued by Ms. LuPone during and after each presentation. The Tony award winner instructed the students in some core principles of acting relating the critiques to her own experiences on stage and in the movies. Then she applied those principles to each student's style and presentation. After her evaluation of each performance, the students were asked to perform their respective pieces again, this time under her direction. The audience and the actors themselves were dazzled by what Ms. LuPone managed to pull out of them. In a few short minutes, she managed to bring them to the top of their game. (continued)

The Junior Research Paper resonates for almost every student who has participated in the process. Some view the long, complex project with excitement, others with dread. It is a winter term project for the entire junior class which seeks to meld students' research, thinking, and writing skills developed over an educational lifetime. At the end of the process, the student, if he/she has applied himself/herself to the task, is well-prepared to take those skills to the next level in preparation for college.

Under the tutelage of both a history and an English teacher, each student chooses a topic from American history and American literature, and explores literary works, original historical documents and other historical references about it. Project Coordinator Sean Walsh commented on the benefits, "In fact, by asking students to frame the subject of inquiry within both disciplines simultaneously, I believe that the JRP brings the narrative elements of history "as she is writ" into greater relief and, likewise, makes evident that culture and art, in this case literary, emerge out of a specific place and time."

The resulting 10 to 12 page paper is created under the MLA style and usage rules. A committee composed of the English and history teachers of juniors has been studying and refining the process for six years to ensure that the students reap the maximum benefit from a program, which represents 40% of their winter term grade. "Ideally, the student who successfully completes the JRP will have deeper capacity to engage multiple points of view based on a broader understanding of what it means to contextualize," said Mr. Walsh.

Susan Rogers, head librarian, is a great resource for the students. She holds classes or "tours" in the fall to introduce students to the myriad sources of information about given topics. She helps the students plumb the depths of library catalogs and databases; then shows them how to tap the sources they've located. "An interlibrary loan is often our only source for a specific piece of the research. We've had books sent from as far away as Ohio, from the Amherst College library, and of course, the very helpful UConn library." Ms. Roger's enthusiasm for her subject is contagious as she leads the student to just the right book for the topic. "This year the historical time period was extended from the American Revolution to the 1960s," said Mrs. Rogers. "There was definitely a higher level of involvement and excitement about the topics."

In an action packed week, The Gunnery boys hockey team took on Millbrook, Williston Northampton, and Albany Academy between Wednesday January 16th and Sunday January 20th.

Against Millbrook on Wednesday the 16th, the Highlanders scored early and often to take a four goal lead after the first period. Led by Junior Mike Dolman (2G, 1A) and Seniors Nick Izzi (1G, 2A) and Colby MacDonald (3A), Gunnery leapt out to a lead and never looked back. Senior Billy Sanborn and Junior Shane Gorman added goals in the second period to make the score 6-0 after two periods. The third period saw both Gunnery and Millbrook score 2 goals to end the game at 8-2. The Highlanders continued to pepper opposing goalies, this time outshooting Millbrook 50-27. Sophomore Alex Vazzano kicked back 25 shots in the winning effort. (continued)

On Thursday, January 17th, seven senior Gunnery students under the direction of history teacher, Ari Baum '03, gave the whole school something to think about in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jeff Buvinow, DJ Cingari, Erin Kelly, Danielle McDonald, and J. Conor Reilly delivered stirring speeches about different aspects of Dr. King's legacy. Each brought his/her thoughts of the progress toward the realization of Dr. King's "Dream" into his presentation. Zoey Greco and Sage Bachmann sang the familiar protest song from the civil rights movement "We Shall Overcome". Interspersed throughout the program were quotes from other philosophers, authors, and protesters as well as those of Dr. King. (continued)