Fall Semester Is in Full Swing
Thirty-nine years after my own England abroad as a student at Principia College, I’ve just returned from meeting up with current College students who are studying in England this semester. While in London, Cambridge, and Esher, I also spent time with alumni and Principia friends.
At Claremont Fan Court School in Surrey, our College students led workshops focusing on their study of textual analysis and acting techniques at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. This event culminated with a pizza party presenting Principia to prospective students. It was great fun for all.
Back here at home, the fall semester is in full swing. Early next week brings fall break at the College, with no classes on Monday and Tuesday. Upper School’s Family Weekend starts tomorrow. We are looking forward to welcoming parents from near and far. They will visit classes on Friday morning, attend athletic competitions, and see their students perform in the Family Weekend Concert on Friday night, witnessing the full range of whole-man activities at Principia.
On Sunday, the School’s upper-level French students depart for a weeklong experiential learning trip to France, where they will study history and art while practicing their language skills and traveling to Paris, Giverny, and Normandy.
Next week, the College Theatre and Dance Department will present All in the Timing, a collection of award-winning comedy sketches by David Ives. Performances begin Thursday, October 9, and run through Saturday, October 11. Get tickets and more information.
October 17–19 brings College Homecoming Weekend, featuring inductions into the Gold & Blue Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday evening. Check out the full list of 2014 inductees, and feel free to nominate an alum you think should be recognized at the next Hall of Fame ceremony.
The annual Pan-African Conference that was introduced at the College in 1998 is shifting this year to incorporate a more global perspective. The student-run conference will now focus on a broad array of international issues. The first annual International Perspectives Conference, titled “At a Crossroads: Globalization and Culture,” will be held on October 23 and 24.
Before leaving for England, I enjoyed visiting some Upper School classes. I was particularly impressed with the 17 juniors and seniors enrolled in our dual-credit chemistry class. In addition to receiving honors high school credit for this course, the students are eligible for college credit. The School is also offering Field and Natural History as a dual-credit class this year. Seeing these exceptional students immersed in learning highlighted for me what Principia is all about—helping students move forward and witnessing limitless possibilities together.
We recently reviewed the College Board’s summary of Advanced Placement scores. Fifty of our Upper School students took AP exams last spring, and 88 percent received scores of 3 or higher on a scale of 1 to 5. This compares very favorably with the average of 61 percent of all students who take the test and receive a 3 or above.
This time of year brings some terrific traditions—old and new. On Saturday morning of Homecoming Weekend, October 18, we will once again launch the Cardboard Canoe Regatta from Piasa Harbor on the Mississippi River. Copious amounts of duct tape and cardboard always result in some surprisingly sturdy student-designed vessels, and the race never fails to entertain.
The other weekend my wife Sue and I played in the first annual College Pickleball Tournament. We had great fun, winning one match and losing another. There was a sand volleyball tournament at the same time, and we all enjoyed the crisp fall temperatures, hot chocolate, and s’mores. The trees are just beginning to turn bright in Elsah, and you can’t beat the beauty on the College bluffs in early fall.
At the School, we are pleased to announce that Middle School boarding will be returning as an option for the 2015–2016 school year. We’re looking forward to welcoming a group of seventh and eighth grade students who are ready to join the Principia community, living side by side with other young Christian Scientists and participating fully in the whole-man experience. If you know qualified students entering grades 7 or 8, please encourage them to think about this opportunity.
Principia’s founder Mary Kimball Morgan often spoke about the importance of supporting “the development of strong manhood and womanhood” (Education at The Principia, p. 195). Since the Middle School years are key for individual character development and progress, we want to make sure Principia’s innovative exploratory-learning curriculum and unique Christian Science-based boarding program are available to as many qualified students as possible. Thanks for your help in spreading the word and supporting the “bigness of thought” taking place at Mrs. Morgan’s “little school,” as she often referred to it in the early days.