May 5: The annual Pancake Breakfast hosted by Principia Scouts is the perfect way to start the weekend. Goodies will be served at the Preschool from 7:30–10:30 a.m.

May 11: In the Upper School Choir Senior Showcase graduating members of the group will sing their goodbyes to us with a lively mix of mostly modern solos and duets. This performance starts early—at 6:00 p.m. in Ridgway.

May 12: The annual Upper School Dance Show is a wonderful opportunity for all our dancers to share their enthusiasm and talents through a selection of energetic tap routines as well as contemporary works. The show begins at 8:00 p.m. in Ridgway.

May 17: Last day to register for the DiscoveryBound Leadership Conference
(See May 25–28 below.)

May 18: The Upper School Theatre Arts Junior Monologues never disappoint! They start at 7.00 p.m. in the Drama Workshop.

May 25–28
 Principia is hosting this year’s DiscoveryBound Leadership Conference, a weekend of fun and inspiration for students in grades 8–12. Participants do not have to be DiscoveryBound members, but everyone (including Principia students) must register by May 17. Learn more.

June 1: Campus Sing is the Upper School’s can’t-miss end-of-year extravaganza of music, dance, and drama. Come early to get the best seats and enjoy some of the year’s top performance picks! The curtain goes up at 8.00 p.m. in Ridgway.

June 2: Graduation begins at 10:00 a.m., in McCalmont Gym!

June 4: June Sports Camps and Summertime Discovery programs begin.

But our students’ extra effort, commitment, and sheer joy in sharing their time and talents make the annual spring production at Upper School all the more meaningful and enjoyable for the Principia community. (After all, how many Broadway performers have to show up to class and hand in papers on time despite multiple late-night rehearsals?)

Crazy for You, this year’s musical, was one of the larger and more complex endeavors of recent years. The Broadway production won three Tony awards when it opened in 1992, and was hailed by critics for breathing welcome new life into the near-moribund tradition of the happy-go-lucky, improbably plotted American musical.

In Ridgway, the sheer scale of the production posed a few challenges. Not only did it require building two-story sets depicting very different environments—the buzz of the Big Apple and the laid-back West of fictional Deadrock, Nevada—but it also included a larger-than-usual contingent of dancers, extensive and varied costuming needs, substantial choreography, and more than 20 songs.

Another unique factor this year, remarks drama teacher Liesl Ehmke with delight, was the wonderful mix of both seasoned as well as first-time student performers. “This made for amazing camaraderie and shared learning,” she said as she described actors moving from focusing on their individual lines, roles, and dance moves to making the link with others in the same scene, and then melding seamlessly with their counterparts in the orchestra and on the stage, lighting, and sound crews.

Each of the four performances over the Easter weekend was presented with fresh energy and thoroughly enjoyed by families and friends of cast members, as well as a large group of visiting students. The last show, a Sunday matinee, was much appreciated by families with smaller children who couldn’t stay up late enough for the evening shows.

Bravo to all the student actors, musicians, and stage crew, and a big thank you to our hardworking staff and faculty, spearheaded by Ehmke (theatre arts), Sheila Alioto (dance), Holly Barber (choir), and Martha Stitzel (band).

For the next decade, at least one abroad a year took place, first to European countries, but then Mexico was added, and in 1967–68, “Doc” Wanamaker led the first Principia abroad to East Africa. Below are other first-time abroad dates and destinations, though not a comprehensive list:

Learning themes
Though their destinations and topics vary widely, all study abroad trips have six common learning themes: spiritual development, character development, cultural competence, global context, citizenship, and contextual learning. Student response leaves little doubt that participants progress in all of these areas. A student back from Nepal a few years ago described her trip as “the purest form of education I have ever had. It has changed the way I look at the world as well as the way I live my life.”

Of these six themes, however, Professor Bohaker believes the first two in particular—character development and spiritual development—distinguish Principia abroads from those led by other schools. More specifically, the “family-style” interactions among faculty, staff, and students make all the difference. As one professor put it, “There is nothing in my professional life as an educator that compares: a learning community where you live together, eat together, play together, study together, and deal with it together when the power goes out.”

Bohaker elaborates, “Family-style living, in unfamiliar and sometimes challenging environments, allows us to work with students on substantive issues of character development and spiritual growth—even as we work through them ourselves! Faculty and staff have to be willing to grow alongside their students, modeling the same qualities we hope they’ll embrace.”

Confirming the value of such close interaction, a student returning from an abroad noted, “The unity of our group was powerful, enduring, and inspirational. We became a family, supporting one another as well as supporting the country and its people.”

What matters most
For Bohaker, abroads “capture the essence of a Principia education, getting at the heart of Mrs. Morgan’s vision.” As a matter of fact, they capture that essence nearly verbatim. During faculty meetings in Principia’s early years, founder Mary Kimball Morgan reminded teachers repeatedly of their top priority: “The main purpose is to develop character, to bring out the real child, God’s child” (Education at The Principia, p. 65). A century later, Bohaker tells students essentially the same thing: “Abroads are about learning more about God and who you are as God’s child.”

As this history major’s experience several years ago demonstrates, the essence of a Principia education extends far beyond the campus gates. “Ever since Vienna,” she says, “I have had the feeling that no matter what is going to happen, God is in control. I guess that’s what I learned most through Christian Science on the trip—just to rely on God totally.” There’s no “just” about that!

Learn about abroads through the summer of 2014. Also, the Abroad Office recently announced the following programs for the 2014–15 academic year:

Fall Semester 2014
Shakespeare’s England, with a focus on literature, theatre, and culture/country studies

Winter Break (3­–4 week program)
Middle East Abroad, with a focus on Biblical studies and contemporary issues in Israel and the West Bank

Spring Semester 2015
Argentina Abroad, with a focus on journalism/mass communication, Spanish language, and culture/country studies

Nepal and India Abroad, with a focus on religion/philosophy, anthropology, Hindi language, and country studies

May 2015 (3­–4 week program)
Kazakhstan Abroad, with a focus on political science and country studies

Commencement Weekend activities take place all day and into the evening Saturday, May 11. See highlights, including times and locations of events.

Then Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. commencement itself begins (doors open at 1:15 p.m.). This year’s speaker is Chaplain (Col.) (Ret.) Janet Yarlott Horton, the first woman in the Army Chaplain Corps to be assigned as a Division or Corps-level Supervisory Chaplain and the first woman to attain the grade of Colonel in the Army Chaplain Corps. During one of her two tours at the Pentagon, Horton prayed in the Pentagon Courtyard with those injured on 9/11. She also advised the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on Muslim issues following 9/11 and conferred with a wide range of military personnel about the terrorist mindset.

Horton’s education includes a master’s of divinity from Boston University School of Theology, where on September 22, 2011, she was selected as a Distinguished Alumni. She also earned a master of arts degree in Religious Studies from Stanford University and was the first woman chaplain to attend the Army War College.

Horton has applied the teachings of Christian Science to a variety of situations, including physically demanding field and deployment settings. She currently provides Christian Science services at the Marion County Correctional Facility. Learn more about Horton’s background and accomplishments.

Then during Trip Week in mid-April, they experienced firsthand the relevance of all that learning. During grade-level trips to Washington, DC (including Philadelphia and Baltimore), New York City, and Costa Rica, our students came face-to-face with history and political power, conversed with other children in Spanish, watched masters of the theatre perform, viewed masterpieces of modern art, and identified and spotted quetzals, scarlet macaws, and howler monkeys.

Sixth graders (pictured above) had eye-opening encounters with American history and government, mixing times of fun with moments of great solemnity. Starting in Philadelphia, they considered the great gift of liberty—symbolized by the Liberty Bell—and then considered the cost and sacrifice of maintaining such freedom on their stops at Gettysburg and the Arlington National Cemetery. Visits to the Capitol, the range of Smithsonian museums, and the Pentagon rounded out their time in Washington, DC.

Sean, who took the history elective America under Attack in the winter, had focused his class project on the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. He was awestruck when the group viewed the outdoor memorial. “It’s cool learning about something and then coming to see it,” he commented.

Seventh graders loved their taste of theatre, art, and culture (and genuine New York-style cheesecake!) on their five days in the Big Apple. Hit stage shows (including War Horse and The Phantom of the Opera), the Guggenheim Museum, and a harbor cruise were on the itinerary. So was some literary work: At Poets House, the students researched different poets, and wrote their own poems, in addition to daily journaling. They also attended several classes on theatrical interpretation, including stage combat. Students were so entranced by the rich array of offerings, there was not a single murmur heard when it came time to don ties and formal dress for their evening at the Lincoln Center!

The eighth graders, in contrast, stuck with shorts, boots, and binoculars for their foray into the remote and rich biodiversity of Costa Rica. Upon arrival, a visit to a local elementary school and interactions with the friendly locals offered a wonderful opportunity to use their Spanish skills and bridge the language barrier. On almost daily hikes, they were able to view and identify dozens of bird and animal species in their natural habitat.  Any initial nervousness about traveling so far from home among a handful of students soon vanished amid the camaraderie and solid spiritual support offered by their classmates and teachers. “This was the best thing I’ve ever done at any school!” remarked a student who was new to Principia this year.

Almost the entire Middle School faculty (along with a few teachers from Lower and Upper Schools) accompanied the students, and they all had only positive feedback for parents. History teacher Evan MacDonald was impressed by the students’ interest, focus, and behavior. On numerous occasions, he noted, other tourists or visitors at sites commented on the Principia students’ composure and consideration. “The group did a fantastic job of being on their best behavior. It was noticeable how much more respectful our students were than other groups,” he said. In addition, many sixth and seventh graders offered testimonies of gratitude and healing at Wednesday evening meetings they attended in Christian Science branch churches in Arlington, VA, and New York City respectively.

To see more photos, click here.

Although the conference is primarily for students currently in grades 8–12, special sessions for adults will be held as well. Workshops for teens will cover applying Christian Science to tough social issues, learning to lead by example, honing personal communication and public speaking skills, and improving time and money management—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There will also be plenty of time for socializing, sports, and games—and maybe even a moment or two to relax. Learn more and register! Or download information here.

Those attending do not have to be DiscoveryBound members, but everyone (including Principia students) must register for the weekend. The deadline for registration is May 17.