 
For the 156th year The Gunnery community was formally called together at the
First Congregational Church Meeting House on Washington Green on Sunday,
September 11th.
The Gunnery's Convocation marks the formal beginning of the school year with attendance by the whole school community. It includes a welcome from... (continued)  
"Playing in the rain under the lights," said Head Varsity Football Coach
Richard Martin, "was enough to get the team excited."
On October 8, 2005, The Gunnery varsity football team defeated rivals Williston Northampton School at the annual match for the Ogden D. Miller trophy, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. With a final score of 34 -7, The Gunnery team played in torrential downpours while a small yet vocal audience of Gunnery alumni, students and parents cheered on in the stands of Williston Northampton Academy's Berube Stadium at Sawyer Field. "This was a football game unlike any other I've attended," said Susan G. Graham, Head of School who officially presented the trophy to the football team at the Columbus Day All School Meeting. "I am so proud of your extraordinary performance," she said to the team. Richard also thanked the spectators for "braving the elements". "The Williston spectators outnumbered us with a ratio of 20-1," said Richard, "however, we were louder, more rambunctious, and everyone stayed despite the rain. Williston scored first. However, we took control in the 2nd quarter, built momentum in the 3rd and put the icing on the cake by the 4th quarter. It really was a team effort. Defensively, we got better as the game went on." The trophy was the idea of Nancy Lemcke, former Gunnery head Michael Eanes and then Williston headmaster, Dennis H. Grubbs to honor Ogden Miller, a 1926 graduate and trustee (1936-1954) of Williston as well as longtime headmaster of The Gunnery (1946-1969). All three trophy donors began their professional careers at The Gunnery having been hired by Mr. Miller. In its twenty year history, "The Cup" has been awarded to Williston eleven times and to The Gunnery nine. Williston holds the cup having won the game last year. The two schools are part of the newly-formed ten member Colonial Football League.  
On a Saturday afternoon in late August, Emily Sandefer '08 was shopping for
school clothes. The next day, she and her family were asked to evacuate her
home in New Orleans. On the day after that, she and her family were en
route to Florida when Hurricane Katrina arrived.
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 "Where are you from," asked the man. "Spain," replied student Alvaro Carreras '07. "No kidding," answered the man, "I've been to Mexico before."
Osha Rudduck (Australia) '06 was looked at as a health freak when she first arrived. "I would shop at health food stores all the time," she said. "because there is so much salt and sugar in American food. I wasn't used to it." Sisters Hwa-Jin Jung '07 and Hwa-Kyung Jung '06 (Korea) found the cold New England climates to be a huge adjustment. Jung Min Park '08 (Korea) was matched up with an American roommate during her first year at The Gunnery. It made it easier for her to meet people and make new friends. She and her roommate would talk about a number of topics. However, one topic provoked a real cultural adjustment and left her speechless in her friend's company. "Whenever she would talk about boys," she said, "I would be shocked." One common issue shared by boarders, both international and domestic, is the homesickness cycle. This sends students on a roller coaster of emotions. How do they handle this difficult transition? "During the first week, I was homesick," said Vincent Meyer-Madaus (Germany), "but I really like it here. I have fun here, and I've made a lot of friends." This response is echoed by Alvaro Carreras. "Friends are like family to me. Everyone at The Gunnery, faculty and students, has been warm, friendly and welcoming. That really helped."  
As chief executive officer of AHD, Inc. Richard Tager, '56 develops
affordable multi-family housing for low and moderate income households.
Since co-founding AHD in 1988 he has been involved in all aspects of the
company's activities, including, property acquisition, debt and equity
financing, construction, and management. "The majority of our properties,"
said Richard, "are located in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.
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In 1861 Gunnery founder, Frederick Gunn, marched (and sauntered, probably)
his students 47 miles to Welch's Point on Long Island Sound in Milford, CT.
He was preparing the students for service in the Civil War. The two Milford
trips in 1861 and 1863 were such a success that Gunn continued to hold
camping semesters at Point Beautiful at nearby Lake Waramaug after the war
ended. Thus Frederick Gunn is credited with having established organized
camping in America. Above, the American Camping Association, an international
group recreated the original walk on the 125th anniversary in 1986.
Look for complete coverage of this year's school walk in next month's edition of On the Go.   Make sure you continue to receive On The Go by adding "gunnery@thegunnery.01o.com" to your email address book.  If you would prefer to receive On The Go at a different email address, please email our Alumni & Development Office your name and new/preferred email address.  On The Go is produced by the Alumni & Development Office. Todd Santa Maria is our editor. Please feel free to email or call Todd at (860) 868-7334 ext.275. |
Like Alvaro, forty-two other students from fourteen different countries
encounter cultural misinformation or misunderstandings when they first
arrive in America to study at The Gunnery. The typical boarding school
adjustments (from community living and a rigorous schedule) are compounded
by culture shock, extreme weather, time changes and homesickness for
Gunnery's international students.
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