 Where would you look for the Stray Shot on campus?
Answer
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Why do students choose to attend The Gunnery? There are hundreds of thousands
of schools all over the world. What made The Gunnery stick out? Here's what
the students had to say.
"When I toured here, the people I met were very intelligent, kind, and shared a
desire to learn and pass on what they had learned (teacher and student). I saw
that courses were very challenging, and that students and faculty alike were
very self-motivated to do their best at their respective jobs. I had looked at
other top schools, but none of those schools showed the same family-like
community, hospitality, and mature decorum alongside a willingness to learn
that The Gunnery School community displayed and still displays today."
(Joseph Lobb '10)
"As a writer hungry for practice, I looked to the Gunnery to help enhance my
ability. The English classes were both challenging and interesting, showing
me the intricacies that make famous writers like Dickens so great while also
introducing me to lesser-known authors who were just as talented. The school
newspaper became an outlet for my own writing, giving me the practice I needed
to better articulate my thoughts on paper. I now graduate from the Gunnery to
pursue a career in creative writing, and feel confident knowing that I am well
equipped with the tools to make it."
(Sean Kelly '07)
"When I came for the revisit day at The Gunnery, I was taken not only by the
beautiful historical campus, but more importantly the welcoming and genuinely
friendly students and faculty. I am glad that I chose The Gunnery because my
great experience on revisit day was only a fraction of the great time had at
this school."
(Lauren Brooks '10)
(continued)
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If you would prefer to receive Highlander Highlights at a different
email address, please email our Admissions Office with your name and new/preferred
email address: admissions@gunnery.org
Highlander Highlights is produced by the Admissions Office. Todd
Santa Maria is our editor. Please feel free to
email or call Todd at (860) 868-7334 if you have any questions
or comments about our newsletter.
The Gunnery
99 Green Hill Road
Washington, CT 06793
(860) 868-7334
admissions@gunnery.org
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The Gunnery is pleased to announce that as of March 30, seniors have been
accepted at the following schools: Colgate, Hamilton, Trinity, Colby, Skidmore,
Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson, Hobart, St. Lawrence, Boston College, Boston
University, NYU, George Washington, Lehigh, University of Richmond, University
of Michigan, University of North Carolina, RPI, Wake Forest, and the US Naval
Academy.
As of publication, all decisions have not been received. "My goal is to help
students find a good fit among the colleges they are considering," said Emily
FitzHugh, College Counselor. After meetings with juniors and their parents,
Emily provides each student with a list of colleges to be researched,
considered, and visited. "College admissions have become increasingly
competitive over the last several years," she said, "so we feel fortunate
that our students are doing so well in this process.
The Gunnery honors nine of its athletes named to all star teams in their
respective winter term sports: Austin Smith '07, PJ Tatum '07, and Adam Houli
'07 in boys' hockey; Jessica Cofrancesco '07 in girls' hockey; Sarah Gallagher
'07 and Alyson Hill '07 in Volleyball; Sarah Lane '09 in girls' basketball; and
Luis Padilla '07 and Kyle Endres '07 in wrestling.
The coaches of the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) have
named Austin Smith, to the All New England boys' hockey team, while NEPSHIA-West
named Austin and his teammates, PJ Tatum and Adam Houli (son of Mr. and Mrs.
Solomon Houli, Howell, NJ) to the all star team for the league.
The girls' hockey team is proud of its season record which earned them a berth
in the playoffs where they lost in the first round to Greenwich Academy, the
eventual winner of the New England tournament. Senior goalie Jessica Cofrancesco
was named to the First Team, All New England squad.
(continued)
For the third consecutive year, two Gunnery students studied abroad in India at
The Woodstock School through the SAGE (Studies Abroad for Global Education)
Program. From June 2006 to January 2007, juniors Jonathan Hartmann and Brandon
Rodriguez participated in Woodstock's intense college preparatory program
while immersing themselves in Indian culture.
Woodstock, which was founded only four years later than The Gunnery, is located
in the foot hills of the Himalayas. "A friend of mine runs SAGE," said faculty
member and English Department Chair, John Alter. "We were interested in
getting involved, as we felt it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for
our students. This is an experience unlike any other. The students lived and
studied in India for six months."
"I wanted to get more of a global sense of how people live," said Jonathan.
"The world is much bigger than people think. I didn't want to spend my
educational life wrapped up in our community alone." Jon described living in
the town as being "amazing." Although the weekdays were rigorous with
Woodstock's demanding curriculum, both he and Brandon were given free range
to do as they wished on the weekends. "I fell in love with Delhi." Said
Brandon, "In my mind, it reminded me of New York City. There was so much going
on there."
When commenting on his residential life experience, Jon commented "Things are
very bare bones there. The dorms carried a rustic feeling. Also, the dorm
masters were much stricter there than at The Gunnery. When they called lights
out, my lights were out."
All applicants were required to write a letter of interest to be considered
for the program. John and the school administration reviewed the letters and
interview potential applicants. "In addition to those who present strong
academic skills, we look at students who can handle extreme challenges," said
John, "after all; they will be far away from home for a long period of time."
"I had a great time," said Brandon. "Most of all, going through this
experience really made me appreciate what I had back home."
On Friday April 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting House on The Green in
Washington, poet Naomi Shihab Nye will present the 2007 Distinguished Author
reading and talk in the ongoing Gunnery Speaker Series. Ms. Nye follows such
recent authors as Dr. Henry Kissinger, Russell Banks, Richard Russo, Ha Jin,
Frank McCourt and poet, W.S. Merwin. She will sign copies of her books for
members of the audience. The public is invited to the presentation and
admission is free. Ms. Nye's visit is timely as the Gunnery celebrates poetry
month in April and diversity week that week.
Naomi Shihab Nye describes herself as a "wandering poet." She has spent the
last 30 years crossing the country—and the world—to lead writing
workshops and inspiring students of all ages. Nye was born to a Palestinian
father and an American mother and grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San
Antonio.
(continued)
"I stumbled out of the basement. Kurt ('09) had turned off the light without
realizing I was still down there; he's been lecturing me all month about
electricity and conservation" said Jane Bailey, faculty spouse and beneficiary
of faculty housing. She was commenting on the newly-formed Green Club's
initiative to reduce electricity usage on campus for the month of February.
Everywhere, from the school store's sale of compact fluorescent bulbs to the
sale of Washington Environmental Council bracelets to purchase the energy-saving
bulbs to the darkened hallways of the dining hall, there was evidence of the
effectiveness of the club's educational efforts.
(continued)
At first this seems to have an easy answer. The school's literary magazine
Stray Shot, published once a year, is in all the reception rooms and the
library. But there is an elusive Civil War cannon ball, a plaything of the
students, which, among other places, has resided in the bottom of the Mayflower
pond, been rolled down the commencement aisle, been soldered to Gibson dorm's
wall, and been hidden in snow banks and under sun dials. The tradition is
that the seniors hide the ball and leave clues for the rising seniors at the
end of the year, but there are often pranks and exchanges during the school
year. The faculty does not participate. The ball has twice been lost and
replaced, getting progressively smaller and lighter (the first one weighed
upwards of 150 lbs and was as big as a beach ball) because of the rising cost
of Civil War artifacts.
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