second message from French Goalie

Jeanne Morin	Oct 28 (2 days ago)
to me

Hi,

I am sorry I was not able to answer you faster, but our internet is not free and right now I will only be able to use it for 24 hours.

We played two games so far. the first one against Slovakia and the second one against Kazakhstan. I play the first game fully and we won 3-2, but I did not play in the second even though we won 5-0. Kazakhstan was not a strong team, and as a team we did not play very well. Everyday we have a muscular warmup at 8:45am and a Breakfast/ brunch before our game. On top of this we have individual meeting after every games and team meetings after and before every games. We are playing G.B. tomorrow.

The web site with everything about the tournament is linked at the end of this email.

Jeanne Morin

http://www.iihf.com/competition/312/statistics.html

My last home meet

On Sun, Oct 28, 2012 at 9:36 AM, Bill Gulotta <bgulotta@berkshireschool.org> wrote:
10/27/2012

Berkshire vs  Gunnery, Salisbury, and South Kent  @ Berkshire

Berkshire 29  Gunnery  26,
Berkshire 15  South Kent  50
Berkshire 20  Salisbury  43

In our last home meet of the season the Bears ran awesome.  22 out of 22 Berkshire Boys ran their fastest time of the season improving by an an average of 30 seconds on the same course that they ran one week earlier.  The courage that was on display by these harriers was inspirational for they took the pain necessary to succeed for each other.  Selfish behavior never brings the joy one receives when one sacrifices for another, and on this day the determination to perform at the highest level was achieved by young man sprinting the last 300 yards until they virtually collapsed upon completing their run. The highlights I will now mention in no way are meant to belittle the effort on the teammates that I do not mention.  Wes Lickus arrived at the meet a bit late due to an academic commitment. Without the proper lunch or warm-up he went to the line and ran the best race of his 3 year running career at Berkshire.  Sam Sabin had been sick all week, yet he finished 5th out of 57 runners and improved his time by 30 seconds, while Dylan O'Connor finished 3rd in the race and 1st for the Bears on his sore knee that kept from doing the regular workout for 10 practices in the last 2 weeks.  Spectators were thrilled by the amazing final Sprints of Sasha Podolsky and Peter Giordano who ran step for step with competitive opposition runners and nipped them in the end. The biggest improvement by a varsity runner was accomplished by Nate McKenzie who dropped 50 seconds from his previous best on the Berkshire Trail. Congrats to a tough, yet sportsmanlike Gunnery team who defeated us by running an excellent race.  Our victory over Salisbury and South Kent are nice, but it is the effort of "giving it everything you had for the team" that made this a memorable day.  Thank you boys for an exciting day under the mountain!!

The Bear on the French Team

Jeanne Morin a Berkshire School Senior is on the U-18 French National Team  Currently preparing to play in an international tournament.  She will be sending me updates on her trip so we will have the honor of following her progress -- here in #1

Hi Mr. Gulotta,

We are finishing up our 3rd day of camp in the north of France, Valencienne. The camp is making us ready for the championship. We have 2 practices a day, at different times a day, so we are ready to play at every time of the day. The practices are hard, but made up to review every play we would need during a game. 

I know have to go to practice,

Jeanne Morin

Due Friday 26th of October

 Write the first paragraph of the Causes of the War of 1812 paper.

(link to short movie/article on war of 1812)
http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/exhibition/flash.html



Below is the history department expectations for your essays: read it as a guide to your paper.           

Essay expectations for US History Students at Berkshire School. 

    A.    Introduction  (at least 3 three sentences but often this is not sufficient.)

         1.   Clear description of topic

         2.   A concise thesis Statement—this this will include specific historical points that        illustrate the point of the paper.

         3.     Excellent quotations often enhance the quality of introductory paragraphs. This often separates great from mediocre papers—use credible sources!

    B.     Body

1.     Clearly written paragraphs that provide supporting evidence to the thesis.

2.     Counter arguments should be described and disproven when appropriate.

3.     Body paragraphs should include factual material and proper citations.

    C.     Conclusion

       1.     Re-emphasize the thesis statement with more evidence to prove the author’s point.

   D.    In non-testing situations a works cited page is required.

rest needed

With a break on the horizon at Berkshire am I tired because I know there is a rest soon, or am I simply tired?  How many days off have we had as a community since August 26, 2012?? The answer is none really: we had a couple of days that changed the pace, but we wrote college recommendations or something on those days.  I loved the CHANGE OF PACE days: but I think we are really- really tired also.  I am always very charged up in the classroom in November, and I think it is because we just had a break and the next one is right around the corner.  Our campus is beautiful, our kids are great, however time alone with our families will be very refreshing and rewarding.

Recipe # 3--a Winner

Maybe you all forgot -- but I was reviewing recipes my wife is creating in her One World Vegetarian Cook Book.

Well number three was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was some kind of Butternut Squash Soup and it was delightful, warm, spicy, and down right good.  It would be great with grill cheese, and of course any one could add hot-sauce if they wanted to, but I liked it just the way it was.  Good first course for Super Bowl Sunday!!  Deb has a winner.

Who deserves "equal protection of the law"?

Who among us should not be treated justly and equal under the law?  Should all children have the same legal protections as our seniors?  Should religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or age change ones constitutional rights?    The answer is no!!!!! Lady justice is blind for a good reason.  Everyone must someday be afforded the liberties of under the Bill of Rights with no exceptions.

Proud coaches do not always win

10/13/2012 Berkshire Boys' Cross-Country @ Suffield vs Taft and Suffield Suffield  19    Berkshire 36 Taft        19   Berkshire  42   Saturday was a perfect day for running and I had told my team that their times were what mattered, for the competition had several runners that should be able to beat us as a team.  Could we improve even though it was virtually impossible to win?  20 out of 20 Bears ran their best time of the year on a cross country course by at least 30 seconds: 10 boys improved by at least one minute: Dylan O'Connor finishing in 17:34 and second for Berkshire, improved by 1:30 and Sam Sabin who finished first for Berkshire  in 17:33 ran his best time by 1:25. Cody Turner, Co-Captain Nate MacKenzie, Sam Cabot, and Bao Nguyen also were quite impressive as they ran courageous races against the competition surrounding them.  The other boys who scored in the varsity race were, Derrick Burt, Sasha Podolsky, and Pete Giordano, and these three runners ran tough throughout the 3.06 mile course. Wes Lickus, Tyler Stewart, Dan Kim, Shaan Peckham, Rad Savage, Max Beauroyre, William Pang, Matt Spaniol, Kevin Kim, and John Leasure all also need to be congratulated for this was a full team success. On a day where students of lesser character could have whined or given up, the Bears conducted themselves as gentlemen and competed hard without ever displaying anything but great sportsmanship.  In a loss I was still very proud. Our team is learning  life lessons that will stay with them well after they leave Berkshire.

yeah for good students

After going to an "ed-tech" course this summer I decided to try a blog that would make students write answers to questions that anyone could read.  The idea that the kids would be accountable to their classmates and to anyone else that happened upon the blog appealed to me, for it may make them write more carefully.  After reading the fourth blog entry of the Advanced US History classes, I am very glad that I instituted this policy.  I am impressed with their effort in this project and to their good fortune their grade point averages have been helped tremendously.  Yeah for the kids cooperating in this new adventure, and yeah for the professional development funds that made it possible.

con law assignment #4

Did the Supreme Court Decision of Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) hasten the out break of  the American Civil War in 1861?

1st 2 Political Parties--Ad. US History #4

After reading the assignment in the text through page 171, decide who was right regarding their interpretation of the Constitution: was it the Federalists or the Republicans?

Should a strict or a broad interpretation
be used?   Was Jefferson or Hamilton right?

</

Alexander Hamilton

First Debate

In the world of politics and debate, the candidate who attacked the most--the candidate that disregarded the rules the most--the least civil man--HAS BEEN DECLARED THE WINNER.

Is this what is the most important part of the discussion?  Should we choose a candidate because they bullied their commentator and their opponent?  All the pun dents are telling us that Romney won.  So what is it that he won?  Why is acting less like a gentleman than the president winning?  Liberals are saying that Obama should have attacked.   So if he had attacked as much as Romney he would have won?  

I think we saw a real difference in the candidates---one will do what ever it takes to win.

   ----the other will maintain his dignity no matter what?   It is a serious question to ponder which of these qualities is best for America right now.   Do we need someone to push and attack our congress to get them to act?     or    Do we need someone to compromise and be inclusive?  In a crisis do we want to negotiate or go full steam ahead? I truly do not know.

cape cod dreaming

Oh how I miss you, let me count the ways

pink

Breast Cancer Awareness was increased at Berkshire by a thoughtful presentation by two wonderful young ladies. Ms Henry and Ms Toffolon did a great job advocating their passion and I was moved by their commitment.  Great job ladies and PINK IS POWERFUL.