Life at Horace Mann Student Ambassador Blog

Advanced Ensembles Concert

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:56:59 EST

A few nights ago Horace Mann held its annual Advanced Ensembles Concert. The Concert Glee, Horace Mann's advanced singing group, Sinfonietta, the advanced orchestra, and the advanced Steel Drums class came together and held a wonderful concert. It was wonderful to see all the different skill sets and the songs played in so many different mediums. The Concert Glee sang an arrangement of Harmonious Blacksmith (a piano piece transformed into vocal jazz) called Air. Afterwards we had a small reception. It was a wonderful night!

Rachel '13

Book Day

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:59:34 EST

On Thursday, April 4th, no Horace Mann student will attend class. Instead, the entire high school will study a variety of different themes from the book, Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This special day, Book Day, will begin with an assembly featuring Michael Dirda, a Pulitzer Prize-winning essayist, whose work focuses on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's story telling ability. Then, each student will get to choose four different workshops to attend. While each workshop will relate to the book, the topics vary from Mormonism to the role of computer science in crime scenes so that every student can find a workshop to interest him or her. I'm currently developing a workshop on the evolution of a murder mystery novel along with my former English teacher, Dr. Levenstein. To me, book day symbolizes why Horace Mann is so special. It's a place where people value coming together and learning just for the sake of learning.

Samantha '13

Assembly with Photographer Rodney Smith

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:55:01 EST

Yesterday the Upper Division was fortunate enough to spend our weekly assembly period looking at the life and works of one of the most distinguished HM parents. Photographer Rodney Smith shared his inspiration with us, and took us through the path that lead him from creative photography all over the globe to fashion shoots and magazine covers. It was a unique opportunity for us to gain insight into a field that most of us aren't too familiar with. It was also a great way for us to see some critically acclaimed art work that was both inspiring and thought provoking. I enjoyed hearing about his physical process and the thought process behind some of his most famous photographs.

Ross '14

Independent Study

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:15:26 EST

At Horace Mann, I have a tremendous amount of course flexibility for a high school student. This year, I have tried to take advantage of that flexibility by enrolling in an Independent Study course, which allows me to design my own curriculum. I am really enjoying studying ancient Roman history with my mentor. However, one of the highlights of the course is hearing my fellow students present their research every other day in our seminar class. I feel as if I am not only enrolled in a history course, but also a computer science course, a psych course, and tons of other courses! In independent study even more so than in my other classes, I feel so lucky to be able to benefit from the brilliance of my peers. I am now fairly well versed in encryption coding, the psychology behind dog behavior- and so many other interesting topics!

Sam '13

HM Diversity Team

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:51:28 EST

Early last month, the Diversity Team held an assembly for the Upper Division. We talked about culture in a lot of ways: our school's culture, time as a facet of culture, what culture at home is like, and much more. The Horace Mann Diversity Team holds a variety of activities every year where we discuss different topics relating to diversity, identity, culture, and how all three are parts of Horace Mann. The Team is a collection of individual students who live in different places, travel to school in different ways, and come from different backgrounds, but we come together with a desire to understand each other and our common surroundings. We think deeply and talk about these things, and have some fun along the way.

Jay '14

Training over Winter Break

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:48:12 EST

Over Winter Break the Horace Mann Varsity Basketball team and Varsity Swim team went to Florida for trips filled with training and competition. For the first time, the basketball team ventured to Orlando where they trained and also played in tournaments with Florida high school teams, while the Swim Team headed to Fort Lauderdale for its annual training trip. These trips are not only a great way for teams to practice and get in shape but also are a great bonding experience that brings teammates closer together. The Basketball and Swim team, and all of the other winter sport teams, are ready to continue the rest of their winter season! Go Lions!

Caitlin '14

Holiday Concert

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:35:30 EST

Every year on the last day before winter break, the Horace Mann Glee Club and the Orchestra have a holiday concert. This year's concert was especially fantastic! Among other things The Glee Club sang an arrangement of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas that included a little solo done by our very own Head of the Upper Division. The Orchestra even created a piece called the Toy Symphony where all the seniors played toys instead of their respective instruments! It's was great to see everyone doing something special to commemorate the holiday season and to welcome the New Year!

Rachel '13

Caring In Action Day

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:39:25 EST

At the start of December, Horace Mann held its annual Caring In Action Day. This year the event was expanded in both size and scope so that we, as a school community, could work to respond to the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. Members from all four divisions of the school participated, and the results speak for themselves. We prepared 920 sandwiches for the Yorkville Common Pantry, packaged 19 boxes of non-perishable food for the Westside Campaign Against Hunger, wrapped 291 toys for the Riverdale Mental Health Association, wrote 108 cards to Hurricane Sandy first responders, planted trees in Van Cortlandt Park, and collected more than 30 boxes of books to be delivered to schools in Brooklyn still recovering from the storm. Everyone who attended the event had a great experience, and we all look forward to many more service-learning events in the coming months. The success of Caring In Action Day was a testament to what we can accomplish when we come together as a school community. I could not be more proud to be an HMer.

Alex '13

Horace Mann Orientation

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:04:26 EST

When I first came to HM in ninth grade, I was beyond worried about learning the ropes of high school. Horace Mann was a whole world different than my extremely small and structured middle school. Luckily, HM requires a class for all ninth graders to address my exact problem: HMO (Horace Mann Orientation). HMO meets once a week for the first trimester. In this class, students learn how to study, how to work with teachers, how to deal with new social situations, and so much more. But here is the best part about HMO- the class is predominantly taught by two to three upperclassmen called Peer Leaders who are chosen by the Guidance and Counseling Office. I am currently a junior in the Peer Leader program and I absolutely love it. This year I had a really great class. We had great discussions and a lively atmosphere. Even though the class is now over as second trimester has started, I still say hi to all of my mentees and am always there to help them if they have any problems.

Phoebe '14

Getting Back to School After Sandy

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:00:13 EST

Although the results of Hurricane Sandy showed devastation around the Tri-State area, it also brought out a great sense of community. Horace Mann School was one of the places where the sense of community was amplified to extraordinary lengths. Several events were postponed including the fall theatre production Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Senior Absurdity Day, a Choral Concert and all sports activities. After the storm, although Horace Mann was closed for the week, we pulled together to get things up and running. Dr. Kelly opened his home to several students so that they would have access to power and internet, the library extended its hours to 9pm so that students could complete work all their homework before going home. Buses allowed students who normally took the subway or were driven to school to ride, and even the cafeteria pitched in and offered dinner this week for all Horace Mann families and the local community. After the storm, although we were hit hard, it gave us the opportunity to see what a wonderful community we have here.

Rachel '13

Football Rolling On

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:33:57 EST

Standing at 4-1, HM Football is on a roll. Led by the seniors, the players have become a close-knit team and look unstoppable. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Lions dominated Harvey in front of the whole school at Homecoming, winning triumphantly. The next week they followed with an intense victory over longtime rivals, Dalton, coming back down 21-8 with under 7:00 left and pulled out a clutch win, 22-21. The season has been perfectly described by my friend Davis: "we are reviving the HM Football legacy by starting a new chapter."

Steve '15

Pep Rally

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:25:50 EST

Today, HM had a pep rally for its annual Homecoming tomorrow. All the teams' captains came on stage to cheers and encouraged everyone to come out and support the lions tomorrow. The pep rally ended with a preview of the HM Spirit Squad's homecoming routine. Homecoming looks like it's going to be an amazing day.

Alex '13

Homecoming This Saturday!

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:35:16 EST

This weekend is Homecoming and the entire school is preparing to show some school spirit. Even my English class has something planned for the event. My senior poetry class is planning to have a poetry writing booth at homecoming where people can have us write poetry for them. I think it's a great idea because it will definitely improve our "on the fly" poetry writing skills and it's a fun addition to all the school spirit. After all, there can never be too many " GO LIONS!" poems!

Rachel '13

A Period English Class

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:32:35 EST

I am aware that what I am about to say is totally corny, but it's the truth. I love waking up every day to get to go to my A period English class, taught by Mr. Singer. We are reading Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. The book is fabulous, but the discussions we have concerning the different character's conflicting personalities are even better. I love being in such an intellectually stimulating atmosphere where everyone is so excited about discussing this great piece of literature.

Sam '13

Clubs Fair

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:49:16 EST

At the beginning of each year, the Upper Division hosts the Clubs Fair on the Main Field. Every club or publication has a booth (usually accompanied by lots of baked goods to entice people) that is manned by the officers of that specific club. Students are free to sign up to be in as many or as few clubs as they desire, based on their interests. There are over one hundred clubs and publications at HM, ranging from Model Congress, one of the various debate clubs, to Edible, a food magazine. If there isn't a club or pub that you are interested in, it's even possible to start your own! This year I started my own publication, The HM Chuckler, a new humor magazine, so I had the opportunity to be in charge of my own booth.

Phoebe '14

Fall Theatre Production

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:36:04 EST

This year the Horace Mann Theatre Company's fall production will be Tom Stoppard's absuridst play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. This week was the first week of rehearsals, and with a strong cast of about 25 people, we hope to produce a very special production on the main stage. The most interesting part of the play is that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are triple-casted, so in each act, there is a new interpretation of the characters. Come to see the show on November 8, 9, and 10th!

Rachel '13

Field Hockey Team

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:02:30 EST

This past Friday, the varsity field hockey team had an amazing win against the Masters School. The final score was 8-1. We are, so far, undefeated which is HUGE for us!! We are all so excited for the game against Riverdale in 2 days! Everyone on the team has a great time this season and we hope to keep up our great record and to keep having fun!! We're hoping to see lots of fans at the Four Acres field for Homecoming on October 13th!! GO LIONS!!

Emily '13

Fall Sports Preview

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:24:45 EST

Last week, the Boys' Varsity Soccer team had their first game against Columbia Prep on the Main Field and beat their rivals 5-2! Girls' Varsity Soccer follows that up with their own win against Poly Prep on Main Field! Throughout the fall season, the Horace Mann girls and boys sports teams will be competing against their Ivy League rivals either on the field, in the gym, on the track, or in the pool. I can't wait until October 13^th, when Horace Mann will host its annual Homecoming, a great day of sporting events and festivities. All of the different schedules are on the Athletics website, so I'll see you out there, cheering on the lions!! WOO!

Caitlin '14

Debate Team Preparations

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:12:48 EST

A couple of weeks ago, the first public forum debate topic of the year was released—"Resolved: Congress should renew the Federal Assault Weapons Ban." Even though it was still in the midst of the summer, members of the HM Debate Team were excited to kick off another year of debate and eagerly began researching the topic. The format of public forum debate requires each debate team (pairs of two) to be prepared to argue on behalf of and against the resolution; just last week, we held a team conference call to brainstorm potential arguments as well as rebuttals to those arguments. Considering that many people were in far-flung locations still enjoying the final weeks of summer break, it was wonderful to have so many participants on the call. We had a very productive discussion, and we are very much looking forward to our first major tournament of the year, which will be held in New Haven at the end of September.

Alex '13

Reflections of a Middle School Mentor!

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:44:40 EST

Up at Dorr, the 6th graders and their mentors have been having a blast getting to know each other. We've gone on hikes, gone swimming, canoeing, rafting, and so much more. From the competitive soccer and volleyball games to just sitting on the porch, I feel so lucky to be a mentor. Meeting the kids and getting to know them has been an amazing experience for me and the other mentors. This 6th grade Dorr program is a great opportunity to set a good foundation for the kids. The other mentors and I are able to share our experiences and insight with the kids to improve their transition into the middle school. It's also a great feeling seeing how comfortable the kids became with each other. On the first day everyone was a bit nervous and quiet, but, by the last day we were doing group cheers at the breakfast table and having a "Dorr Idol" singing competition in the cabins. Because of this three day retreat, I feel so much closer to the middle school and know that I was able to make a difference in their transition from 5th to 6th grade.

Kaitlan '13

What I love most about Dorr?

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:11:28 EST

There isn't really one thing I love most about Dorr. That said, I really love the idea of Dorr. There is so much independence here. We are taught responsibility for ourselves and commitment to our peers. Everyone here works together. We all pitch in to clean and to cook. I also love that we learn about the importance of conserving energy and the fact that for a couple of days there is no Facebook, no phones, no iPads and no computers. We just spend uninterrupted time playing with our friends.

Siona '19

Notes from a new sixth grader at Dorr Orientation

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:03:05 EST

I love doing the initiatives. They were really fun. So far, my favorite initiatives were the rope untangling exercise and the walk the plank exercise. Everyone worked together to complete the tasks.

Jacob '19

Summer School Physics

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:02:46 EST

Summer School Physics, or "Suphy," was a great experience that changed how I perceive the world around me. Dr. Weitz, our amazing Physics teacher, never failed to remind us that "Physics is everywhere," but, so are the lessons I learned alongside the curriculum. I became a more efficient student, and more importantly, became a good team member. Collaboration was a key component to my Suphy experience. I learned how to tackle difficult questions by asking the TAs questions and by tossing ideas around with friends. WUPOP (Weitz's Universal Principal of Prejudice) has extended beyond the classroom and has helped me perceive the world differently.

Sam '13

125th Anniversary Celebration

Thu, 31 May 2012 09:37:28 EST

Last week was Horace Mann School's 125^th anniversary celebration. Tents were set up on Clark Field for the extravaganza that hosted alumni, current and former parents, grandparents, faculty and staff. In my Photography 2 class we were given a project to help celebrate the school's 125^th anniversary. Each student was assigned a teacher or staff member that has been part of the HM community for 25 years or longer. We then took a portrait of our subject and collected a short story about his or her best memory about their time at Horace Mann. In the final presentation we also included photographs of our subject's first years at Horace Mann. The final presentations of each faculty or staff member were then presented for the 125^th Celebration. They provided a great way to applaud and celebrate the admired teachers and staff of our community who have been here for 25 years or more.

Caitlin '14

Service-Learning Day

Tue, 01 May 2012 08:58:27 EST

Last Saturday, Horace Mann held is fifth annual All-School Service-Learning Day. For the past four years, Service-Learning Day has been a culmination of the yearlong work of the students on the Service-Learning Team. The Service-Learning Team is a group of Upper Division students that works weekly with elementary-aged students in the surrounding Bronx neighborhoods on homework, music, drama, robotics, cooking, and many more activities. For Service-Learning Day, Horace Mann worked in conjunction with many schools and organizations, including the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center, the Marble Hill Community Center, the Bronx Center for Science and Math, the High School of American Studies, and Van Cortland Park. Throughout the day, there were various service activities including mural painting, robotics, gardening, fun activities with younger children, magic, trail clean up in Van Cortland Park, and so many more. This year, Service-Learning Day was the largest and most successful that it has ever been. Hundreds of people came together to help and serve the greater community. As always, we look to the future for a bigger and better Service-Learning Day next year and for years to come. We hope you join us!

Dorin '12

Student Body President Elections

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:21:56 EST

Earlier this spring, the Upper Division wrapped up the annual Student Body President elections. Four pairs of juniors presented their platforms to the Upper Division and then took questions from the audience. Among the ideas proposed were: making vending machines more available to students, putting copies of the faculty's schedules online, and increasing the number of community service opportunities. Charles, my running mate, and I were fortunate to be elected; we are honored to have the chance to represent the student body next year. Each of the candidates would have done a fantastic job and we hope to work with all of them to implement their innovate and creative proposals. We also have a number of ideas of our own, including working to foster greater school spirit, making foreign language tutors available in the tutoring office, and organizing an end-of-year trip to Six Flags. We can't wait to get started!

Alex '13

Middle Division Orientation Day

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:47:02 EST

This past Saturday, newly admitted Middle School mentors were invited to help out at the Orientation Day for students coming into the Middle Division. Each Upper Division volunteer was given a group of about twenty students to lead around for the morning, with assistance from some current Middle Division students. Activities during the day included learning about HM's core values, getting a sneak peek of the theatre department's huge wardrobe closet (not to mention a behind-the-scenes preview of the upcoming production of Guys and Dolls), and touring around the school. With the great sunny weather, there seemed to be an unspoken agreement in my group that all intervals between scheduled events must be spent outside. Their liveliness and enthusiasm was predictable, but what I didn't expect was how much I would enjoy playing freeze tag and Duck Duck Goose with them on Clarke Field. The day ended around noon, when all the students came to the cafeteria for lunch with their parents, teachers, and new friends. By then, I was truly upset to say goodbye to the students in my group – although I know the parting isn't for long; I'll get to see them in August for the orientation trip to Dorr!

Rebecca '15

Boys Varsity Tennis Trip

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:00:53 EST

A few days before the official start of Spring Break, Horace Mann's Boys Varsity Tennis team piled into a bus and drove off to JFK for our annual trip to California. We were all excited to have qualified for a national high school tournament and knew that we had 8 long days of tennis in the California sun. What followed were great workouts, family style dinners, trips to the arcade, a few too many double faults, dance parties in the vans, and much more. Thanks to an excellent coaching staff, I can say with absolute certainty that every player left more skilled and more knowledgeable than when he boarded that bus. And it wouldn't be a good tennis trip without a nice tan to complement the improved game! As co-captain of the team, the end of the trip was bittersweet because I knew that I would not have the pleasure of going again, but I am very excited for an excellent season ahead of us.

James '12

Documentary Film Club

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:25:52 EST

On Wednesday nights, members of the Documentary Film Club gather together, watch an outstanding documentary, and eat too much pizza. We then engage in an interesting discussion that begins by chatting about our impressions on the film and can lead to anything from a debate about our opinions of the documentary's characters to a deep conversation about the meaning of life. Recently, the Documentary Film Club watched Food Inc., an incredible documentary that exposes the way the food industry produces meat. After the film, we had the honor of video chatting with the director of Food Inc., Mr. Robert Kenner. Mr. Kenner answered all our questions about the making, purpose, and message of the documentary that has turned many people into vegetarians. We had an incredible night with Mr. Kenner, and we look forward to more great meetings throughout the year!

Samantha '13

Model UN Club

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:53:53 EST

Through a combination of public speaking and international politics, students in the Model UN Club work together to produce solutions to some of the greatest issues facing the world today, from freedom of speech to nuclear non-proliferation. This year, the Horace Mann Model UN team soared to national success. We attended three major away conferences hosted by major universities, and won the Best Large Delegation award at each of them, the highest team award that a delegation of our size can win. We also went to a local conference at Columbia University and held our own conference at Horace Mann (for the twenty-sixth consecutive year), which was the largest single-day Model UN conference on the east coast this year. Before every conference the members of the club put in lots of time researching and learning about their topics and their assigned countries' positions. At the end of the day we are as tightly-knit a group as I have ever been a part of, even (as we often joke) a family, and always open to improvement and new members.

Jay '14

Congrats to the Newly Admitted Students!

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:48:30 EST

Having just completed the admissions process for entry to Horace Mann this September, we want to congratulate all of the newly admitted students who will be joining us this fall. We saw a lot of really amazing applicants, and after many difficult decisions, we are very excited about each and every new student we will be welcoming in September. See you next year!

The Horace Mann School Admissions Office

Performing Arts Updates

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:31:25 EST

For the past couple months the Horace Mann Glee Club has been working hard for our concert at St. Jean Baptiste Church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The Glee Club learned at rehearsed 8 pieces of music, including Little Beggarman, an Irish folk song. The choral concert, which featured all of the Middle and Upper Division choral groups at Horace Mann, ended up being a huge success, and the pews of the church were packed. Looking forward to this spring, the Horace Mann Theatre Company is putting on a production of Guys and Dolls. This production promises to be a huge, student-produced success, and I, along with everyone else involved, am very excited. This weekend, we had one of our first all-cast Saturday Rehearsals, where we went through the scene for the musical number "Sit Down You're Rockin the Boat." Although it was tough having 40 people on stage all at once, in the end the number was a lot of fun to practice and sing.

Rachel '11

Preparations for Annual Service Learning Day

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:27:12 EST

The Service Learning Team has begun preparing for our Service Learning Day. Even though the actual event is not until April 21st, the logo contest for both the t-shirt that will be given out and for murals and flyers to promote the event is well on its way. We already have gotten some great submissions! All divisions are eligible (and highly encouraged!) to participate in putting together a simple logo reflecting the day's theme: working together with others in our community. We're definitely going to have a hard time choosing which logo to put on the t-shirt this year!

Hillary '12

Girls Lacrosse Pre-season

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:18:55 EST

With spring just around the corner, the high school athletes have jumped back into their gear and hit the fields for the beginning of the spring sports season. As a member of the Girls Varsity Lacrosse team since 9th grade, I am entering my 4th year on the team. Last Thursday we began our pre-season and tryouts filled with lots of drills, running, and skill building exercises. There are plenty of energized and talented student athletes trying out for the team, and I can tell that it is going to be a great season. Over spring break we are heading down to Disney World with all of the Varsity teams for spring training which should be fun (but very tiring)! Peace, Love, Lax!

Rachel '12

Hilltop Diversity Conference

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:49:46 EST

I recently attended a wonderful Diversity Conference for Middle Division students from all of the nearby hilltop schools. The Diversity Conference is where many students from different social backgrounds and different schools go to learn about diversity in their community. We first began in our affinity groups, where we talked about our experiences with ethnic problems, what we could do to make the community a more understanding place, and how the media affects our specific ethnic group. Next we went to various workshops, including an ancestry workshop where we learned about our own ancestry through a database. All of my friends at the conference said that they had a great time in their workshops as well. After two workshops we got to listen to a band called Andy Suzuki and the Method. They sang for us and even invited us to go onto the stage and sing! I didn't, but many other brave people did. After that it was time to go back to school. The Diversity Conference was a very fun and interesting experience. I had a great time learning more about my ethnic background and meeting new faces, and I'm excited go to the Diversity Conference next year.

Erin '16

JSA Winter Congress

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:09:52 EST

Last weekend the Horace Mann club, Junior States of America, went to Washington D.C. for Winter Congress 2012. The weekend was filled with intense debating and bill writing. More than 25 different schools from around the Northeast showed up and competed with each other for certain bills to be passed. I enjoyed hearing the opinions of students from different schools and hearing how all of them debate differently. From this trip, I learned what the process of bill writing and debating is like for the United States government and that public speaking is not as hard as it sounds!

Josh '15

Middle Division Read-In Day

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:06:31 EST

Recently the Middle Division had its yearly Read-In Day. All of the Middle Division read the book The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd and participated in multiple workshops related to the book. The book is about a boy named Salim who goes missing. His cousins, Kat and Ted (who has Asperger syndrome), then set off on a very long adventure to find him. Elements of the book were adapted into workshops. For example, there was a workshop about what it was like to have Aspergers, and there was another in which you played a game similar to I Spy (just like finding the clues to find Salim). At the end of the day, the entire division attended an assembly with a speaker who has Asperger syndrome himself, and he taught us about what it was like to live with this condition. Overall, the Read-In Day was a huge success throughout the school, and each one of us learned something we might never have discovered.

Grace '16

FAD Fashion Show

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:03:26 EST

Last Friday, FAD Magazine (HM's Fashion Design publication) held its 2nd annual Fashion Show Fundraiser. The event was a huge success with a raffle, a student made fashion show, and a guest speaker. The fashion show was Geometry themed with about 26 looks made by Horace Mann's Fashion Design Club. The event could not have been successful without the hard work and dedication of so many FAD staff members. We raised $4000 dollars overall, half of which will be donated to Generation Rwanda.

Rachel '12

Japan Day

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:54:32 EST

Konnichiwa! Last Thursday was Japan Day, one of the most exciting days of the year. Filled with cooking, dancing, and calligraphy, it embraces, and educates students about, Japanese culture. This year, Japan Day had workshops during the afternoon, including calligraphy, an authentic Japanese tea ceremony, and cooking Japanese cuisine. My favorite part of the day was the student-performed plays. All of the Japanese classes worked hard to perform different Japanese plays in front of their parents, classmates, and teachers. My class put on the folktale of a boy named Issun-boshi. He was very small but strong-willed and the play was about his journey to become a samurai. The day culminated with a professional Taiko drumming performance. Taiko drumming is an ancient Japanese style of drumming, which has become increasingly popular for performances around the world. Overall, Japan Day was so much fun and I look forward to it again next year.

Austin '15

Dance Conference at Long Island University

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:38:01 EST

Last Wednesday the Horace Mann Dance Company went to Long Island University for a dance conference. The day was filled with different dance workshops and a performance at the end of the day. There were about 18 other New York schools there as well. It was really fun to dance with students from other schools and the dancers at LIU. The piece that we performed was called "Speak No Evil" and it was based on the spreading of rumors. I really enjoyed watching the other schools perform at the end of the day!

Emily '13

Middle Division GeoBee

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:45:11 EST

Last Friday, I took place in the final round of the Middle Division Geography Bee. After a preliminary round and a semi-final round, the Bee had been narrowed down to 8 participants from all three Middle Division grades. The contestants sat on the stage of the theater and answered a range of questions, from naming specific Canadian Provinces to identifying the names of rivers in Asia. Overall, I think that it was an exciting experience that encouraged learning about geography and commended those who excelled in this topic. The questions were challenging, and made me remember topics from past grades and experiences. After an exciting final round, the highest scoring student will be traveling to Albany to compete in the New York State National Geographic Geography Bee!

Daniel '16

2011 Cum Laude Society Paper

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:32:57 EST

Last year, my math teacher, Mr. Jones, gave our Pre-Calculus BC Honors class the opportunity to use any topic that we had discussed that year and create our own project. Excited by the creative license granted to me, I decided to explore something that had been an interest of mine: the roles of mathematical probabilities and human intuition in our decision making. The finished product was entitled "The Prisoner's Dilemma: A Mathematical Analysis" and included mathematical derivations, game theory, and a few of my own personal research components (one of which was a real time and in-person test of prisoner's dilemma strategy with the "reward" being Silly Bandz). I am very thankful that Mr. Jones decided to nominate my paper to represent Horace Mann for the 2011 Cum Laude Society Paper Contest and I was thrilled to later hear that a committee of Horace Mann faculty had agreed with the nomination. Last month, I was informed that my paper had been named the national winner in the contest! Without Horace Mann's support and Mr. Jones's assignment and nomination I would have never had the opportunity to complete a project that was truly much more fun than work. If you would like, you can read my paper here. Enjoy!

James '12

East Wind West Wind-Asia Night

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:53:21 EST

Every year, students in East Wind West Wind, one of HM's biggest clubs, put together an annual event called Asia Night, a dinner and show that display Asian culture. This year Asia Night is on 1/20, the Friday before Lunar New Year, and we are having the Columbia University Lion Dance Troupe open our show. We have many talented performers at HM and we complement them with performers from outside groups who can really exhibit tradition and style at a different level than we can. As a club leader, it is interesting to see how students interact and get group performances together. I can arrange the logistics for spaces, equipment, and technology but only they can do the actual performance and decide what support they need. The students need to balance the additional commitment of Asia Night with everything else they do, but they get to experience, perhaps on a very simple level, what goes into putting together a show and I am truly grateful that HM provides this experience for its students.

Ken '12

Q&A with Francis Ford Coppola

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:42:29 EST

Yesterday, I had the honor with about 300 of my classmates of hearing Francis Ford Coppola answer questions regarding his movie career and life. It was an amazing experience! Mr. Coppola, the director behind the Godfather Part 1 and 2, Apocalypse Now, and the Conversation, winner of five Oscars, and a lifetime achievement award, was kind and funny. He was also open to sharing anecdotes about his experience filming the Godfather with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, his college experience that piqued his interest in directing, and the myriad other remarkable moments in his life. Mr. Coppola stayed for over 2 hours chatting with students and sharing his life with us. His genuine warmth and interest in the questions of the students, was as one student termed "extremely profound considering his achievements and fame." With questions ranging from Mr. Coppola's thoughts on the congressional legislation PIPA and SOPA to his favorite work (Godfather 2!) to his love of personal, artistic films, Mr. Coppola's presence in our auditorium was a special experience shared by all.

Jessica '12

HM Ski Team

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:59:25 EST

Recently, the Horace Mann Ski Team spent three days skiing at Smugglers Notch in Vermont. We had an incredible time and were able to get a lot of practice. We were even fortunate enough to watch ourselves race on video (wipeouts and all). We practiced racing as well as just getting back into the feeling of being on skis. As soon as we got back to school, we had our first actual race of the season. We skied against the Hendrick Hudson School and we won! It seems as though all our training has paid off. We are all looking forward to the rest of the season.

Paige '13

Presentation on Mons Olympus

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:58:28 EST

For my 3^rd Grade class I just did a presentation about Mons Olympus (on Mars) - the biggest volcano in the Universe. My teacher asked me to do some research - so I got a book from the library and found sites on the internet. I got pictures and placed them on a poster board and included all the facts that I could find: including: Mons Olympus is 14.8 miles high and the crater is 40.3 miles wide! Last week, I showed my poster and did my presentation. Then my class had a chance to ask me some questions that I was able to answer. I really like giving presentations.

Jackson '21

8th Grade Art History Assembly

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:54:29 EST

Yesterday morning, the 8th graders were treated to an Art History Assembly by Mr. Schlesinger, a high school Art History teacher, to further our current studies of Middle Eastern religions. It was very interesting to be exposed to architecture in his in-depth lecture, and it tied in very nicely with our Middle Eastern religion curriculum. We studied a picture of a Mosque, and we were asked to participate by identifying the purpose of different parts based on our new understanding of architecture. It was very fascinating to learn about architecture in this way, and I hope to learn more in the future.

Alexandra '16

Upper Division Winter Whirl

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:20:47 EST

At Horace Mann, the only school dance we usually have has been the prom for the seniors at the end of the year. But, for the first time, we had an informal school dance called the Winter Whirl last week. The cafeteria was decorated with snowflakes, couches, and tables, food was ordered for the dance, and a student DJ was picked. At around 6:30, kids began to filter in, unsure of what to expect; and although it was the first dance it turned out great. It was a great way to have all the students in the Upper Division come together for a fun night.

Rachel '13

Stage Crew for the Middle School Musical

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:15:42 EST

Last month I was the Deck Manager for the Middle School theater production, Once Upon a Mattress. I relayed instructions to the running crew on the stage from the Stage Manager - Rachel - and I organized the set changes. It was the first Middle School show to be put on in the main theater in several years. As a part of the Upper School Stage Crew, it was a really nice opportunity for me to support the theatrical endeavors of the Middle School cast. I remembered how hard the Stage Crew worked on the plays I acted in when I was in the Middle School, and I am glad to pass that help along to this year's Middle School students.

Winta '12

Holiday Concert

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:14:44 EST

Just before our Winter Break, Horace Mann hosted the annual Holiday Concert. Included in the performance were the Glee Club, the Chamber Choir, the String Sinfonietta, and the Orchestra, of which I am a member. We performed the "Rienzi Overture," composed by Richard Wagner, and the "Flying Theme" from E.T., composed by John Williams. To close out the performance, the Orchestra and the Glee Club presented the Hallelujah Chorus. As is tradition, members of the audience were invited up on stage to sing along; it was great to see so many people, especially alumni, eager to participate. As always, it was a fantastic concert, and a great way to usher in the holiday season.

Alex '13

FAD Magazine Shoot

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:53:16 EST

Last Friday, members of FAD, Horace Mann's fashion, art, and design magazine, held a photo shoot for the upcoming junior issue of the magazine. We worked extremely hard to plan and execute the shoot, and we are really excited to see the results. After school, we set up a photography studio for the shoot. We had a variety of makeup artists, assistants, and photographers from all grades participate. We completed and photographed four different looks all inspired by the natural elements: fire, water, earth, and wind. The shoot was a huge success and all of FAD cannot wait for the issue to go to print. Keep an eye out for the shoot in the next issue!

Paige '13

Student Diversity Leadership Conference

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:17:14 EST

Last Wednesday through Saturday, eight students from the Upper Division attended this year's Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Philadelphia. This conference is held in different cities across the United States every year with the purpose of helping students deal with their experiences in the real world. There were different workshops targeting issues such as racism, sexism, agism, differences in socioeconomic class, and many more. Students in independent high schools throughout the nation came together to discuss these issues so that they could bring their experiences at SDLC back to their schools and share the wealth of information they received. I personally found the experience to be life-changing because I am now able to confront everyday situations with an open mind; I can't wait to share this experience with the rest of the student body.

Catherine '14

TEDxWomen Conference

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:07:14 EST

Last week, the Women's Issues Club hosted a TEDxWomen conference at Horace Mann. TED is an organization that holds conferences with the goal of spreading ideas, and we certainly did just that. We hosted three talks of our own throughout the day, hearing from Miranda ('13), Dani ('12) and an HM parent. Having been licensed by TED, we were also able to live-stream the talks being given at the official TEDWomen conference in New York. The conference was a huge success- we had great turnout and we all learned a lot. We're already getting excited for next year!

Kiki '13

Class Trip to NY Historical Society Lecture

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:20:36 EST

This week my AP United States History class attended a lecture at the newly renovated New York Historical Society. The featured historian was Pulitzer Prize winner Gordon Wood, an expert on the American Revolution and early American history. Moderated by National Review editor Richard Brookhiser, the discussion touched on topics such as African-American suffrage and judicial review. Professor Wood also discussed the similarities between the Arab Spring and the American Revolution. It was a great experience, and I look forward to incorporating what I learned at the lecture into our upcoming class discussions.

Alex '13

Class Trip to the MoMA

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:50:13 EST

Last Friday, all of Mrs. Rubirosa's visual arts students went on a trip to the Museum of Modern Art. At first, we were split into two groups and each group went around the museum with a guide and looked at some of the wonderful pieces of art that the MoMA has to offer. One group went to Vincent van Gogh's painting "The Starry Night" and shared thoughts about it. It was probably one of the prettiest paintings we saw on our trip. We then visited a few more paintings and learned how the artist made their artwork as well as what the artist was trying to show in their art. Every student learned a lot about some of the most famous artists in history.

Rachel '18

Middle Mania Dodgeball

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:42:16 EST

Last week, the Middle Division was roaring with excitement as the Middle Mania season kicked off to a great start. Everyone was sporting a colored t-shirt for their colored team- Red, Green, Black, Yellow, and Blue. The 7th and 8th graders played their dodgeball games during D and E periods, and the 6th grade played their games during F period. The games were fair and fun as the 5 colored teams were remembering the 5 D's of dodge ball: Dip, Dive, Dodge, Duck, and Dodge. Yes, Dodge is supposed to be there twice. There were slides and catches that were amazing, but there was great sportsmanship too. You could really see that everyone was trying their very best to get their team into 1st place for the beginning of the Middle Mania season. I think that these dodgeball games were a fun and exciting way to start off the Middle Mania Season. GO BLACK TEAM!!

Emma '18

Note: Middle Mania is a year-long set of friendly and fun competitions (both athletic and academic) where the five teams try to win the most points by the end of the year.

Sixth Grade Talent Show

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:38:01 EST

On Tuesday, the 6th grade held a talent show in the Recital Hall. All of the performances were spectacular. The two hosts of the show were Amani and Aurora. First, there were two steel pan performances. Each of the bands played two songs. The first band played the songs Buffalo Solider and Calypso and their name was The Sneezes. The second steel pan group played La Cucaracha and Tingalayo and their name was The Ripped Pants, and I was part of The Ripped Pants. Then, there was Benjamin, who played a piece on the cello. After that there was the dance class which danced to "Footloose." Then there was Brian who played a piece on the piano. All of the performers put a lot of hard work into their performance. Overall this was a wonderful talent show.

Naren '18

Class Trip to the Egyptian Wing of the Met

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:18:21 EST

On Wednesday my class and one other Fifth Grade class went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since we are studying Ancient Egypt in History, we had a tour to go to some of the Egyptian exhibits. One of my favorites was going in to the Temple of Dendur. We also saw a room all about Hatshepsut, one of the few female Pharaohs. The tour guide explained to us that some of the faces were chipped and her name wasn't on them because when it was time for her to step down as Pharaoh, she didn't. This made her nephew furious with her. When she died her nephew went to all her statues and chipped the faces and chipped her name away and put his name instead. We also saw mummies! It was a great experience and it helped me understand more about Ancient Egypt.

Juli '19

Fall Athletic Banquet

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:44:33 EST

To commemorate a season full of learning experiences, victories, and individual and team goals being met, the Athletic Department hosts an Athletic Banquet for all of the athletes that participated in a sport that season. This past Thursday, we all gathered in the cafeteria to reunite with our respective teams, hear coaches give speeches and awards, and of course enjoy a pizza bagel or two! Each coach recaps their season, sharing both struggles and triumphs with the rest of the athletes. Additionally, an MVP Award and a Coach's Award are given to two selected members on each time by the coach. Unfortunately this was my last year on the girls varsity tennis team. After an undefeated season and being named Ivy League Champs, it was certainly an awesome way to share our team's accomplishments with the rest of the community- I can't believe that this was my last banquet!

Hillary '12

Note: Though she is too humble to mention it, Hillary won the team's Coach's Award at the banquet.

Alphabet Agnes

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:02:14 EST

Alphabet Agnes brings letters to us on her headband with a heart on it. She didn't come today but she came yesterday. One time she brought 2 letters. The first letter she brought was "F" and we made words with it.

Josh '25

1st Grade Trip to SoundWaters

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:28:35 EST

On our SoundWaters trip we learned all about sea creatures and we collected shells. I got to pick up all of the sea creatures and my favorite was the horseshoe crab. We went into a laboratory and looked at all the different creatures through a microscope. It was cool! They gave us paper and we drew what we saw in the microscope. We had to circle if it was an animal or a sea creature.

Julia '23

Note: The 1st Grade took a trip on Monday to SoundWaters, an environmental education organization on the Long Island Sound

7th Grade Trip to Dorr

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:19:51 EST

On our trip to Dorr recently, we played games about the rock cycle and it made learning it really fun! We also did a lab where we went to different testing stations to try and figure out what type of rock we were given. We went to the stream the second day and measured lots of different characteristics of the stream, like the width, the velocity, the type of sediment, and we also performed various chemical tests on samples of water we collected, to find out the streams health. My trip to Dorr was really fun!

Chase '17

HM Lead Retreat

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:32:45 EST

Last Monday, the Middle Division HM Lead committees gathered for a leadership retreat on the Theater stage. The HM Lead is a group of Middle School students, organized into 4 committees, who are committed to helping the school and the students in various ways. Each of the committees serves a specific purpose. The Student Concerns Committee works towards realizing any suggestions that students have to improve the school. The Student Activities Committee plans and organizes events for the students. The Peer Mentoring Committee helps tighten the great community of students that we have. Finally, the Service Learning Committee encourages students to participate in community service events and activities. On Monday these students, about 50 of us in total, gathered for a morning of leadership exercises and fun. We discussed, through conversation and activities, the characteristics of a leader and how we could be leaders as students in our school. I think it was a really beneficial experience, and we all learned about how we could be role models for other students, formulate and share our ideas, and so many other lessons. It was a great experience, and I am looking forward to our next retreat later in the year.

Daniel '16

The HM Lion Visits the Lower Division

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:15:16 EST

Last Friday was the annual celebration for Homecoming at the Lower Division. I was so excited to see the lion in the playground during recess. The lion let out a loud, squeaky roar and gave all of the kids high fives. I knew that meant Homecoming was happening the following day.

Adam '22

Glee Club Baking Party

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:53:03 EST

This past Friday the Glee Club's annual baking party took place in Rye, New York, where members of the Glee Club came together to bake goods for our homecoming bake sale. One senior and his family kindly offered to host the party (and all 96 Glee Clubbers!) at their house, thus continuing a tradition that has spanned more than a decade. The party was quite the sight to behold as some Glee Clubbers turned the kitchen into the set of "Top Chef", while others controlled the music, ate snacks, and frosted one hundred cupcakes! Unfortunately, the blizzard on Saturday caused homecoming, and our bake sale, to come to an abrupt end. On the bright side, however, the Glee Club, Mr. Ho (the Glee Club director), and the rest of the music department now have a 12' x 4' table covered in delicious desserts for their own enjoyment!

Matthew '13

Polyphony Orchestra Concert

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:43:12 EST

On Tuesday, the Polyphony Orchestra performed for the Middle Division during an assembly. Polyphony is an Israeli-based organization that brings young Jews, Muslims, and Christians living in Israel together. Most of their members are from Nazareth or Tel Aviv, but some members come from other regions in Israel. The members of Polyphony ranged in age from 11 to 21. They had played in Atlanta for over 7000 people over the weekend and played in New York in front of about 350 people on Monday night before visiting the Middle Division. After playing two pieces, the orchestra answered some questions before playing an encore piece at the end. The music was great and the Middle Division really seemed to enjoy it.

Alex '13

Office of Diversity Assembly

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:27:39 EST

This year's Diversity Assembly centered on the theme of "mirrors and windows". A mirror represents self-reflection and a window represents discovery of a new idea or perspective. During this student-engaging assembly, we showed the Horace Mann community a series of photos, videos, and dialogue poems about topics ranging from a Beatle's performance to the Tiananmen Square massacre. Students and faculty from all areas of the school shared with colleagues and classmates their personal reactions towards each image and video presented. One student was even inspired enough to free-style rap a response! I personally enjoyed this assembly because I felt that hearing these reflections brought the already close HM community even closer.

Gurbani '12

HM Sailing Team

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:02:26 EST

The Horace Mann Sailing Team was started last year by three Upper Division students. It started out as a small team; only 4 students (including me) attended and participated in the first regatta. However, this year the club has substantially increased in size. Many freshman joined the club who will hopefully keep the team going after the three founders of the club graduate. Already, there have been some practices and 2 regattas this school year. At the end of October there is a final qualifying regatta. I plan to participate in this upcoming regatta and I hope to continue to practice and improve my sailing skills with the Horace Mann Sailing Team!

Ashley '13

The HM Review

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:57:47 EST

The HM Review is one of the many student publications that exist at Horace Mann. Unlike the Record, which is published weekly and focuses on school news, the Review is a political commentary magazine. Our writers are encouraged not only to inform the reader about important world issues, but also to offer their own perspectives and opinions. This past summer, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association honored the Review by naming it one of the best high school magazines in the country. We were thrilled with this achievement and plan on continuing this reputation of excellence. Last week, after a lot of hard work, we finally finished our first issue. We can't wait until it hits the shelves!

Alex '13

Trip to The Jewish Museum

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:01:55 EST

We saw many pictures of The Snowy Day, a few of Whistle for Willie and a few of Peter's Chair. In the next room we saw pictures of A Letter to Amy. We talked about how Ezra Jack Keats made his books and illustrations. He used paper, stamps, some newspaper and lots of other materials. We made collages with paper and some kind of crayon. Mine is a person standing next to a statue and the statue is next to a tree.

Clementine '23

Note: Today Clementine's 1st Grade class took a trip to The Jewish Museum

5th Grade Dorr

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:22:43 EST

Recently, my 5th grade class returned from 3 days and 2 nights at Dorr, our campus in Connecticut. Dorr is a fun place to learn about nature and your surroundings. Among the things that I like about Dorr is being with my friends and teachers out of school. It is really fun to gather wood and build a fire to cook our dinner. At night, our teachers read us stories. We are so tired from all the things we do during the day. This is my fourth time going to Dorr and my third time spending the night. Each year gets better and better, because you get to do new things as you get older. Now that I am in the 5th grade, we finally got to climb the rock wall, which was really great. Last year, my favorite part was the stream walk, because you get to go on natural water slides. The year before, we got to run around in muddy swamps.

Jake '19

Nursery Division Pajama Party

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:52:29 EST

It was so exciting to go to school at night. I had never been there when it was dark. I wore my Steelers pajamas and my mommy and daddy wore Horace Mann pajamas. I sat on my daddy's lap and Mrs. Whyte and Ms. Levin read two stories. We finished the chapter book Pipi Longstockings and we ate a lot of banana bread.

Danny '24

Student Social Entrepreneurship Conference

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:18:23 EST

On Saturday September 24th, 2011, I hosted the First Annual Student Social Entrepreneurship Conference at Horace Mann. The event, the first of its kind in the New York City metropolitan area,was tailored specifically to high school students. I am hopeful that the conference served as a platform to educate, motivate, and mentor students who will be our world's next group of social entrepreneurs. Students from 11 schools, both public and private, were in attendance to hear 15 successful social entrepreneurs share their stories and answer questions. Our keynote speaker, Mr. Doug Band (Chief Architect of the Clinton Global Initiative), discussed his years working as President Clinton's presidential aide and his work with CGI. Along with free bags, T-shirts, pens, and notebooks, our entire audience left the conference inspired to help make a difference in the world. The Second Annual Student Social Entrepreneurship Conference is already in the planning stages for next year!

James '12

Upper Division Clubs Fair

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:51:45 EST

Every year, Horace Mann has a Clubs Fair so that students in 9th and 10th grades can visit various club's tables and sign up for them. It is one of my favorite events at HM because it really shows a snapshot of all the different things that Horace Mann offers for students to do. This year, the clubs fair was rained out and took place in the gym, but it was a huge success. Just by walking around everyone got a chance to learn about each club and publication and new students were better acclimated to the school.

Rachel '13

Student Leadership Seminar

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:22:52 EST

There are countless opportunities for students to play leading roles in their communities, both in an out of school; from classrooms, the sports fields, the theater, clubs, publications, and many others. In late August this past summer, Dr. Tischler led a leadership seminar for several student-leaders in the Upper Division. We discussed many aspects of what being an effective, positive leader involves, how to approach a leading role, and how to better improve your community as a result. We had open discussions, lectures, and Q&A sessions with several guests, including: the Grade Deans, the Head of the Upper Division, the Dean of Student Life, coaches, and other faculty members. The workshops we did offered an excellent chance to learn as individuals, as well as a team – a team that will further develop into the leaders of our colleges and careers. Everyone really learned a lot, and it is an opportunity that doesn't come every day. The seminar will definitely have a long-lasting impact on the growing leaders at Horace Mann.

Sarah '11

My First Day of Middle School!

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:48:40 EST

The first day of Middle School was so much fun! It was very cool to be able to walk around with your friends to classes and being able to talk in the halls during those transitions. Getting lockers and ID cards was also a big part of the day. We now have two lockers; you get one locker to keep your bag and books in, and another for your gym uniform. It was very exciting to be able to see how the older kids buy their lunches and thinking that we will be able to do that on Monday with our ID cards. My friends and I loved the teachers! They are so nice and reassuring. All in all, I had the BEST first day of Middle School.

Emma '18

First Issue of The Record

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:23:01 EST

For most students, yesterday was their first day back to school, but members of The Record, our weekly newspaper, have been working at school since Tuesday on getting our first issue out. We spent over twelve hours editing and laying out our pages - running on a steady supply of bagels and juice. The product is sitting on the stands as I write this. The "Welcome Back" issue features what students and teachers did over the summer, welcoming new faculty, highlighting some of the new changes the school has undergone during the summer, previewing the sports, the arts, serving as a platform for student voice, and so much more. Keep an eye out for our new website, where you can join in on the Horace Mann experience.

Eden '12

My Trip to Ghana

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:43:43 EST

Hello everyone! I just recently got back from a Putney Student Travel community service trip to Ghana, West Africa, funded by the HM Lembo Sperling Travel Grant. The trip was amazing! It was my first time out of the country and I felt extremely lucky to be going to Ghana. I have always been interested in education and the history of social and political development in Africa, especially after taking AP World History in 11th grade and learning about the history of the continent. Thus, I went to the little village of Cape Three Points with 13 other high school students from around the country. Together we built a library for the Trinity Yard School, their local trade-based high school. We also dug a cistern for clean drinking water for the villagers, and helped work with the school system to update curricula and teach the students more English. The trip was truly eye-opening and really taught me to be grateful. Being without electricity and running water for over a month truly teaches you that a lot of the things you think you need in life, you don't really need. Bucket showers were just as good as regular showers! The work that I did in Africa really furthered my passions for education and development, and I am excited to apply the new things that I've learned to my classes this year and continue pursuing my goals. Thank you HM and Lembo Sperling for the awesome opportunity!

Yvonne '12

Suphy 2011

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:04:49 EST

This summer, I was a part of summer physics 2011, or suphy11 for short. In suphy11 we learned everything taught in the academic school year in a condensed period of six weeks. The course was unique not only because of the rapidity with which the material was taught but also because of the intense collaboration with teachers as well as with classmates. This collaboration and sharing of knowledge in problem sets and labs was critical to understanding of the complex material. Suphy11 was a great overall experience in which I learned, had class on the beach, dinner at a great restaurant, and the class has made me more interested in physical sciences as well the mechanics of the world around us.

Daniel '13

Our trip to Wild West City was amazing!

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:17:21 EST

HM's Summer Day Camp visited Wild West City during one of their weekly trips. One of our campers had this to share:

At Wild West City, many shows reenact the old west, which is part of our American history. Visitors can even participate in a few of the activities, such as pretending to be sheriffs and capturing bandits. Kids can also go mining for fool's gold. Another fun thing to do there is the pony rides. Altogether, the trip was really great and I would love to go back again next year!

Caroline '18

Graduation

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:31:19 EST

On June 8th 2011, not even the immense heat could prevent the Horace Mann Class of 2011 from walking across the stage to receive their diplomas from Dr. Schiller. The memories of cheers from our friends and family will forever be imbued within our hearts as we stood together as a class one last time. At this moment, no one thought back to the countless hours of dedication to academics, athletics, and extra-curricular activities over the years; instead we reflected upon the joy of our bonds and the life long relationship that had been cultivated over the years. To see the ebullience in the faces of all those around us made the journey to this day gratifying.

We hope that we have left our mark on a school that has provided us with a forum for our ideas to grow, and an education, that has fostered a love of learning. As Dr. Kelly announced the Class of 2011 and our caps flew high in the air, I was grateful for the love and support of my teachers, friends, and family that have inspired me to get to this day. On behalf of all the members of the class of 2011, thank you Horace Mann for the passion you instilled within us and the community you have helped to build among our peers.

Nick '11, Student Ambassador Leader

LCC Seminar

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:12:04 EST

Leadership is a quality that is apparent in so many students at our school. Whether it is being a club president or just organizing a group of people, there are so many ways to be involved in the HM community. For three days I participated in a seminar that truly taught me so much about how to be a leader not only at Horace Mann, but in life. The seminar was titled "Leadership, Creativity, and Community." Each day we attended several workshops led by HM faculty and covered a wide variety of topics. It was an incredible experience that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. Around 20 students were involved, and everyone was so dedicated to the success of the program. We even had the special bonus of climbing to the top of the clocktower! Now that's an experience I will never forget.

Rachel '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Middle Memories

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:10:22 EST

Middle Memories was a really great way to end the eighth grade year. Not only did the graduation help us establish closure to our time in the Middle Division, but my classmates and I also had the opportunity to reflect on our experiences in our individual homerooms by submitting a meaningful object to the Time Capsule. Between performances from various art classes, each homeroom elected two representatives to present and speak about the object they chose. These presentations made all of my graduating peers feel included and involved in the ceremony. Another memorable part of graduation was the speeches given by two students in the eighth grade. These two students, a boy and a girl, were voted on by the grade, and undoubtedly represented the class well, recalling grade-wide memories and jokes from throughout our Middle Division years that made the entire audience laugh. This year's Middle Memories was a wonderful event that will definitely be remembered by all who came.

Rebecca '15

ERBs

Mon, 23 May 2011 14:46:34 EST

On the week of May 16th, our grade started and finished the ERBs. I think that compared to last year, the math sections were pretty hard, and maybe some of the reading, but it was mostly an easy "test". Most 5th graders probably enoyed the ERBs, because we had no homework! I know I enjoyed it. I think it was interesting to actually see what we need to touch up on. There were some things on the ERBs that were from last year, and I hardly remembered how to do it. I thought it would be nice to know that stuff again. You never know when it could turn up!

Grace '18

Kindergarten Sing!

Mon, 23 May 2011 14:43:21 EST

At the Kindergarten Sing we sang lots of songs and danced. Each class had two solo songs. It was so much fun to see all of the Kindergarten classes perform. My favorite part was being on stage. I also really liked that we got to help give flowers to our teachers at the end.

Bailey '23

Improv!

Fri, 20 May 2011 15:28:45 EST

This Friday, my Intermediate Acting and Directing class is having its improv showcase. We will be doing various games and improv scenes in front of an audience. In our class this year, we focused on developing and fully committing to our characters and being more free, spontaneous, and creative. This has been such an interesting experience for me because I had the chance to learn and think in a different way than I normally would in my other academic classes.

Juliet '13

Concert Collage

Fri, 20 May 2011 13:54:50 EST

The Orchestra will give its second concert in two weeks this Friday at 7:30 pm during the Concert Collage, which will also feature performances by the Glee Club and all of the steel drums classes. This concert will be the first of its kind and it will also be one of the largest in recent years at Horace Mann. The Orchestra will be performing Beethoven's Egmont Overture for the second time this year, and Nimrod, which is a short yet beautiful piece. Last week the Orchestra and Glee Club had their own concert, in which the Orchestra played a piece written by its conductor Mr. Lewis. As a cellist in the Orchestra, I was impressed by the level of difficulty of the piece, which featured Irish melodies and provided challenging solos for the concertmaster and principal (first cellist), who were given a standing ovation when the concert ended. Sadly, the Concert Collage will be the last concert in Gross Theater for all of the seniors, however, it will certainly be a memorable one.

Matthew '13

Ivy League Champs!

Thu, 19 May 2011 08:47:49 EST

The Horace Mann Varsity Softball Team played its 9th game of the season on Saturday May 14th, against Riverdale. We won 9-0. Ironically we are also now 9-0 in the season (9 wins, no loses). Our victory today against Riverdale left the Horace Mann Softball Team with the title of "Ivy League Champions." It was a well-played game; our batting was aggressive, our fielding was flawless, and we were all very focused and determined on winning. I look forward to the NYSAISAA (New York State Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association) Post Season Tournament and hope we perform and execute as well as we did today!

Ashley '13

Varsity B Tennis Closes Out its Season on Thursday

Wed, 18 May 2011 10:54:39 EST

Over the past two years I have been part of the Varsity B Tennis Team at Horace Mann. People always ask me why it is called Varsity B and not JV Tennis. I tell them that the reason is that along with playing other schools' JV teams, we play many of their varsity teams. Our current record is 6-6, 6-0 against JV teams. We finish the season on Thursday against the Trinity JV team at the Andrew Feinberg Tennis Center at Horace Mann. We hope to close out the season on a good note with a win!

Alexander '13

Science Associates Celebrate the Year with an Appreciation Meeting

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:08:58 EST

During the course of this year, each Friday I went to a biology classroom to prepare and put away the materials used by the freshman biology classes. This week, the Science Associates Club celebrated a fantastic year with an appreciation meeting. I love being a Science Associate, because it allows me to become further involved in the science department, and also gives me a great opportunity to meet other students and teachers. I'm looking forward to continuing my participation in this Club next year, and we can always use additional members!

Carly '13

Second Annual Acappellooza

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:07:23 EST

On April 15th, I had the privilege of producing and directing the second annual Horace Mann Acappellooza, an a cappella competition that united ten New York schools in an event that celebrated the power of music. At 7:00PM the Cohen Dining Commons was flooded with over 400 people, excited for the night's performances. By the end of the evening, the event had raised over $4,000 with proceeds being donated to the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center music program. It was the quintessential community moment, where so many students came together through music in order to help a community in need. I will never forget the incredible energy of the audience, and I will always be grateful that Horace Mann gave me the opportunity to run such a tremendous event.

Andrew '11

Class Officers

Wed, 11 May 2011 18:03:46 EST

My friend and I were recently elected to be our grade's co-class presidents. As part of our platform, we hope to organize a variety of initiatives throughout the year. In an effort to raise money for charity, we plan to hold a massive game of musical chairs, known as the Chair-a-thon. In addition, we wish to organize two talent shows and an end-of-year trip to Six Flags. We are honored to get the opportunity to serve our fellow classmates. We have a lot of exciting things planned for next year and we can't wait!

Alexander '13

Lower Division Carnival

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:25:15 EST

On May 7th, alongside my friends and classmates, I got to volunteer for the Lower Division Carnival. It was a great experience. We got to help the Parents Association by volunteering to help the kids have a great day by making Snow Cones, Popcorn, and Cotton Candy for them. Every kid who approached us had a huge grin, and was clearly happy to be at the carnival having so much fun. I remember being in the Lower Division and loving the carnival, and I was glad to be back on such a special and fun occasion both working and enjoying the beautiful and fun day.

Caroline '15

Fourth Grade Dorr

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:23:40 EST

Last week our class went up to Dorr for 3 days. It was so much fun! I loved the stream walk, the bunks were amazing and I even tried a taste of a Dorr dog. The Dorr counselors are really nice and took us on hikes and explained things to us. Dorr is a special place and I can't wait to go back again!

Jimmy '19

To read more about Dorr, visit the page here.

Royal Wedding!

Tue, 10 May 2011 10:07:18 EST

This past week I was asked to write the OpEd for the Horace Mann Record commenting on the Royal Wedding! I loved every part of the wedding, from Kate's dress, to William's soldier uniform, the horse and buggy, and the overall pomp and circumstance of it all! Most importantly, it was very satisfying to see my picture and article published in The Record for my friends, teachers, and administrators to read! I am very happy that I chose to be a staff writer for The Record and I hope to continue writing for the next two years.

Alexa '13

Senior Spoons

Tue, 10 May 2011 10:05:56 EST

Being a senior in May comes with a price: you've got one month to really hone in on some fantastic classes and experiences. It seems that every senior, though, has taken it upon him or herself to have a fun time in the few moments we have left to cherish this place. Now that a lot of the academic stress has lessened towards the end of the year, my peers and I have set up hammocks on campus, spent more time hanging out on the field, and most importantly, we have begun to play a grade-wide game of Spoons. Basically what happens in the game is that we all carry around a spoon that we will use to tag out an opponent, which consists of letting the spoon touch the body of the person you must tag. Once you get them, the game continues on and on as you tag out the opponent that your first opponent had to tag out until one person wins. The game has really served as a way for our grade to have fun together around campus. As we sit over our desks, trying to ingest as much academic substance as possible during a given period, we cannot wait for the moment when class ends and we all frantically run through the hallways to get to our next class, spoons out, and sweat flying. To all the seniors: good luck and god speed!

Tucker '11

HM Spring Dance Concert

Fri, 06 May 2011 10:51:57 EST

This past weekend, the talented Horace Mann Dance Company put on a show that will be one of my most cherished experiences at HM. A show composed of 13 choreographed pieces came together in a two act show that brought smiles to everyone's faces. We expressed "The Elements," relating our dances to Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and The Heavens. As this was my first production at HM, I became closer to the HMDC/HMTC members than I had ever been before. From the rehearsal process to the final product, being involved in the Dance Concert was one of the best projects I've had the fortune to be a part of here at HM.

Victoria '13

Spring Family Gathering

Thu, 05 May 2011 13:36:14 EST

The Family Spring Gathering, hosted by the Office of Diversity, is always one of my favorite events at HM. The FSG is a event we hold twice a year to get together and enjoy being together as a HM family. It's great to see Horace Mann students of all ages get to come out and enjoy a day on campus. When I first started at HM in the 3s program this event didn't exist, and now that I'm about to graduate they have magic bouncy castles, and magicians, and face paint. This is not fair. Is it too late to reapply for nursery?!? Even if I HAVE to graduate, I still think it's great to have an event that lets Horace Mann kids just be kids and let's Horace Mann parents enjoy swapping laughter, stories, and good cheer.

Sinclaire '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Ultimate Frisbee

Thu, 05 May 2011 13:35:45 EST

I'm taking a break from my normal responsibilities as a student ambassador leader to talk about my new spring sport, Ultimate Frisbee. Being a long time soccer and squash player, I always felt an empty void during my spring trimester. Sometime last year a few of my friends and I decided that when we became seniors we'd do something a little different to close out our time at Horace Mann. I love being out in the sun, getting to hang out with my friends, and even win a few games (we're currently 5-0, go lions!). My time at Horace Mann may be over soon, but I definitely feel like I can carry my experiences with HM Ultimate throughout my time at college and beyond. It goes to show, it's never too late to embrace a new experience.

Josh '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Kindergarten Kite Flying

Thu, 05 May 2011 13:31:42 EST

Kite Flying Day was pretty because some kites were just floating in the air and the sky was blue. It was hard to get our kites up, but I got mine up and I had a good time.

Willa '23

Note: Kindergarten Kite Flying Day brings all five sections of our Kindergarteners, plus their teachers, parents and family members, to our main campus in the Bronx for kite-flying fun! The children decorate their own kites for the special day. Fortunately the weather cooperated beautifully this year!

Skyping with Judy Blume!

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:57:31 EST

On Tuesday, April 26th the second and third grade Skyped with Judy Blume. Certain people were picked to ask questions like "Where did you grow up?" or "What's your favorite book?". We learned that she is writting a new book but she has no idea what the title is yet! She showed us her garden and her office. It was really fun!

Abigail '20

Spring Chicks at Nursery!

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:32:45 EST

The Nursery Division has been home to a dozen chicks for the last week. The children have enjoyed watching them hatch and welcoming them to the world. One of our Threes had this to say:

There are brown chicks and yellow chicks. I like when the chicks move because it's good that they walk. They only drink water. The chicks don't like milk or orange juice.

Blake, '25

HM Record Photography

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:09:00 EST

At the beginning of freshman year, the board of The Record sent out an email to the entire school asking for any interested writers. I'm not much of a reporter,but I've always loved photography, and a newspaper always has pictures. I attended the writer meeting, not to be a writer, but to ask how to get involved with the photography side of the newspaper. From then on, I've received emails from the photo editors with new assignments each week. It's always a great feeling to have your work published for the entire student body to see. Being a part of The Record is one of the greatest things I've done at Horace Mann.

Victoria '13

Upper Division Book Day 2011

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:05:55 EST

Book Day 2011, April 7th -- a day students of the Upper Division attend assemblies and workshops centered around a book, this year, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- defines the Horace Mann community. Being on the Book Day Committee (a group of students and faculty who organize the event) I feel immense pride seeing it come together, and even prouder when I see people enjoying it as much as we do. Attending workshops throughout the day, we were treated to an exploration of infinity and beyond, with guest speakers like Janna Levin and performances by our teachers and peers.

Eden '12

Girls' Varsity Lacrosse Flies South...

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:10:59 EST

The Girls Varsity Lacrosse team spent 5 exiting days in Orlando, Florida for Spring Training. Although we spent a lot of time dodging raindrops and tornado warnings, it was great bonding experience. The team won 3 out of 4 games at Mayor's Cup this past weekend on Randall's Island. Regardless of our scores, our team is full of spirit and we always have a great time out on the field.

Emily '13

Searchers

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:08:31 EST

HM Senior Searchers are back for the second year in a row after a 15 year hiatus. This year nine Searchers and teachers Kevin Johnson and Kalil Oldham will have the unique opportunity to backpack across the Adirondacks and Appalachian Mountains, rock climb in the Shawangunks Mountain Ridge, participate in Service Learning Day and even experience a 24-hour solo hiking experience. In addition to these weekend adventures, Searchers meet afterschool Monday through Friday to train, to learn skills and, in May, to rappel off the roof of Tillinghast!

Having generally participated in theatre and dance during my HM years, I am thrilled to be spending my last months at HM bonding with different students, facing new challenges and learning both outdoor and life skills that will complete a wonderful HM education. I urge everyone, whether you are a three-trimester athlete or a "theatre-geek" (like I am!), to sign up to take advantage of this special opportunity. After an amazing first trip and first few weeks of practice, Searchers 2011 are off to a great start.

Maia '11

Middle Division Orientation

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 10:59:44 EST

This year the fifth grade went to Middle School Orientation on Saturday, April 9^th. When we got there, we all sat on the benches in Rose Hall with old and new students seated together. We were assigned a mentor who is an experienced, trusted advisor. Our mentors were students from the Upper Division who guided us through the Middle School. Our mentors pretty much took us everywhere in the school. We visited Math, History, Science, Technology, Diversity, Homeroom, the Library and more. After our tour, we all had lunch together and got to know the new students a little better. I even saw a friend that I met over the summer and now he will be attending HM.

I think 6^th Grade is going to be great next year! The orientation was awesome too. I am so happy to be part of a great school.

Stephen '18

Korean Drumming Club Bake Sale

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:23:38 EST

This year, the Samulnori (Korean Drumming) club held a baking party at my house to prepare food for a bakesale. Along with friends from the East Wind West Wind club, we had fun making decorations, watching ABDC (America's best dance crew), and cooking until late hours to make sure everything was ready to sell the next day. Normally, Korean Drumming is known for our strong beats, but this time around we took over the school with our Bulgogi (Korean Beef), Yaki-soba, and Mitsuwa candy. We'll take fans any way we can get them =D. The bakesale was a huge success, and I couldn't imagine a better way to spend a day to raise money for our club than to do it with my friends.

Nick '11 (Korean Drumming Vice-President)

Spring Break Crew

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:01:21 EST

Seventeen members of our team traveled to West Palm Beach Florida to begin our rigorous Spring Training. The 2011 Crew Trip involved a great amount of endurance and perseverance. Our seven days consisted of a morning row, an afternoon row, and a feedback session from the coaching staff at the Florida Rowing Center. After the rowing sessions our team would make its way to one of our many unique afternoon activities some of which included Zumba class and even Birkam Yoga. But, most importantly, the team bonding which occurred each night and during each rowing session helped us to trust and recognize each other's potential. We worked as a team and now row as one.

CeCe '13

Spring Break Tennis

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:58:33 EST

For the first week of Spring Break, the Varsity Boys Tennis Team, of which I am a member, traveled to Costa Mesa, California, just south of Los Angelos. We played a ton of tennis, although not as much as planned because of the unusual bout of intermittent rainstorms going on while we were there. As a rookie to the team, I had a blast in a new place, bonding with my teammates, and playing a lot of intense tennis.

Troy '13

Lower Division Orchestra Performance

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:15:23 EST

On Tuesday, March 15th, the Lower School Orchestra played on the opening night of the Arts Festival. The performers were probably nervous, but very excited to play. For me, being a performer felt like I've accomplished something. In September 2010, the Third Grade started to play the violin, viola or cello of their choice. The three instruments are fun and full of music to play. The 4th and 5th grade violin players were very good and inspired me to play like them.

Sidharth '20

Note: The three-day Lower Division Arts Festival includes a gallery display of student artwork featuring every student in the Lower Division, and three evenings of concert performances by Orchestra, Band, and Chorus.

Union Retreat

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:06:24 EST

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to organize a retreat for The Union. The Union is a student run club with a focus on Diversity. The theme of the retreat was "Language of Power." We explored this topic by analyzing Horace Mann's mission statement and the club's in order to come up with our own personal mission statements. Student Leaders also planned and facilitated workshops on the influence of media, stereotypes&labels and marginalization. Putting it all together was a lot of hard work but the result was a powerful day which students and faculty alike grew from.

Imani '12

An Evening of MYSTERY and SUSPENSE

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:05:09 EST

Being in the play at Horace Mann was an amazing experience that I enjoyed thoroughly. From my new friends to the joy of acting, the whole production was great. My friends and I really bonded and I had a great job acting in Sherlock Holmes, as Sherlock Holmes. At Horace Mann, the play is more than just about acting...it's also about having fun, expressing your emotion on the stage, entertaining the audience, and just having fun.

Spencer '17

(Note: The Middle Division spring production, "An Evening of MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE," featuring two one-act performances "Sorry Wrong Number" and "Sherlock Holmes and the Emerald of Alcazar," was performed March 10, 12, and 13.)

Middle Division Science Olympiad

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:20:13 EST

On March 5th, the Horace Mann Middle Division Science Club sent a team of seven students to the NYC Regional Science Olympiad. After months of discussing, researching, learning, and constructing, the team comprised of five eighth graders and two seventh graders put its skills to the test. Even though we were such a small team, and this was our first year competing, we won medals in four events, competing against many larger, more experienced teams. It was amazing how much we learned in such a short time about many areas of science that are not normally covered in the regular curriculum. Most importantly we had fun, and are already thinking about and preparing for next year.

Tyler '15

Orchestra Concert

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:07:31 EST

The concert Friday night was really fantastic; we got an incredible amount of positive feedback from the audience. The repertoire that we play in this orchestra is advanced enough that you can hear it in concert halls around the world. Playing Dvorak's New World Symphony, Beethoven's Egmont Overture, and the Chamber Symphony Op. 110a of Shostakovich was an amazing experience.

Jacob '12

Fourth Grade Forensics Experts Solve a "Crime"

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:03:14 EST

Last week in fourth grade we solved a crime, "Who stole the Horace Mann 50th Anniversary Book from the Library?" First we watched a video that had our six suspects say what they were doing and what they saw in the Library. Then we examined some fingerprints and footprints and we also took samples of powders. We took notes on our suspects, who were Mrs. Steinthal (Head of Lower Division), Mrs. Neuwirth (Asst. Head of Lower Division), Dr. Kelly (Head of School), Mr. Sullivan (P.E. Teacher), Mrs. Spicer (Kindergarten teacher), and Ms. Flores (our new Fourth Grade History Teacher). We tested all of our substances and fabric we collected, and we figured out that Ms. Flores stole the book. She confessed that she stole it so that she could learn about the School (since she's a new teacher!). I think it was fun and very challenging to solve a crime!

Juliana '19

Sixth Grade Williamsburg Trip

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:55:38 EST

On February 28th, the sixth grade left for an amazing 5-day trip to Virginia. The bus ride went by quickly, and we were soon exploring museums in Jamestown and walking through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg. On the last evening, the sixth grade experienced what it would be like to be a soldier in the American Revolution. It was very exciting and extremely memorable! I had a great time in Virginia. I learned a lot, had fun touring, and spent time with my friends!

Eva '17

Word

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:27:27 EST

The best part about HM's clubs and publications is how student-driven they are - but that means a lot of work for us! I'm editor in chief of our fictional prose publication, which was inactive until last year, when a couple of seniors revived it and renamed it Word.

It was unbelievably satisfying to see our magazine's latest issue hit the shelves. The school's copy shop printed it for free, even though the Governing Council had given us a generous budget. If it our whole school wasn't so supportive and encouraging of student expression, this process would have been so much more difficult. Now I'm free to sit back and plan out our next issue!

Megan '11

Nursery Division Movement Showcase

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:57:02 EST

On March 1st, the Downtown Kindergarten families enjoyed participating in the third annual Movement Showcase. Parents joined their Kindergartner for a morning of fitness and skill activities, dancing and fun! The Showcase events are designed to celebrate the ND Movement Program, to include parents in the Movement Curriculum and to extend an opportunity for the children to become the "teachers", as they instruct their grown-ups on how to use the equipment and participate in the activities.

The Showcase kicks off with a welcome and introduction, moves to participation in ten activity centers, and finishes with a dance performance. To connect the Movement Showcase event to the classroom curriculum, the children design a showcase project or two that emerges through brainstorming and group discussions. This year, KA designed a singing invitation where they barnstormed lyrics, picked tunes and wrote sound-bites to introduce the songs. Group KA also designed a ribbon cutting ceremony for their parents to start their event. Group KB's project connected to their Under the Sea curriculum, as they created "bubble letters" that depicted underwater creatures. KB used their math skills to divide out the letters and ultimately spell "Welcome to the Movement Showcase". The "bubbles letters" were hung across the gymnasium. Group KC decided to make life-size bodies in motion to decorate the gymnasium. Students worked in small groups to choose what activity they wanted to depict and then worked together to trace a student in motion and add details when painting.

The Kindergarten Movement Showcase was a fabulous success. The Ks families had 100% participation for the third year in a row, many with both parents present! We look forward to sharing the event again next year!

Ms. Cathy McKay, Nusery Motor Learning Specialist

Lower Division 100th Day

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:52:05 EST

Last week the HM Lower Division celebrated the 100th Day of School. One of our Kindergarteners had this to share about her day:

Well, we made a 100 out of Hershey Kisses and then we got 10 kisses each and we got to eat them. We did this number chart 1 to 100. We got to throw confetti up in the air.

Julia '23

Middle Division Newberry Awards Committee

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:06:28 EST

Being on the Middle Division Newberry Committee was a lot of fun. While the book I was hoping would win, The Red Pyramid, didn't end up going as far as I wanted it to, it was entertaining just trying to convince everyone just how great I thought the book was! In the end, After Ever After had the most votes - but only after a TON of heated debates (both online and on the committee's forums) from those trying to sway the votes in favor of the book they most liked. Everyone in the Newberry Committee had a blast, and it's definitely a tradition worth keeping.

Amit '16

"Clay" Exhibition

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:38:33 EST

The ceramics exhibit opened recently in Fisher Hall, and setting up the show was a pretty interesting experience. None of the work was made with display particularly in mind, so figuring out how to include everything and position it so it would be easy to see was a completely new challenge for all of us. It was also nice to have the chance to display work. The ceramics program has produced some incredible art, but unlike theater or music, visual arts can't stage plays and concerts, so a lot of amazing pieces are never shown publicly. Because of this, being able to share our work with the rest of the school is particularly gratifying.

Spencer '11

Office of Diversity Update

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:52:15 EST

It's been a busy start to 2011 and we continue to find opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and explore issues of diversity. On January 28, twelve HM students in grades 9-12 joined about 75 other students in a full-day workshop led by facilitators from National Coalition Building Institute. Through several interactive discussions, students shared stories and examined stereotypes related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and other cultural identifiers.

African American Theater actors returned to HM for Black History Month. During this visit, Ms. Waddy-Thiboudeaux invited 11 sixth graders to perform with her by playing the roles of the bus riders in the Rosa Parks story. They performed the play for children in kindergarten to 6th grade. In preparation for their trip to Washington, D.C., Michael Green performed the Benjamin Banneker Story for the 5th grade.

On February 9, the Smithsonian held a mid-day webcast for the 50th anniversary of The Freedom Rides. Several HM classes and teachers participated in the live webcast and had the rare opportunity to hear stories first-hand from four of the thirteen Freedom Riders who rode the first buses into the Deep South in 1961.

Patricia Zuroski, Director of Diversity Initiatives

Robotics

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:41:43 EST

This is the Horace Mann Robotics Team's rookie year, and we are starting off strong. We are the Dandy Lions, a First Teach Challenge team, and this year we are participating in two competitions and a slew of various other events. We meet every Friday after school, as well as during free periods. Our first competition was two weeks ago at Pace University, and we are proud to say that we've made many friends and had a blast.

The theme of the competition this year is aptly titled, "Get Over It!" The playing field is a twelve-by-twelve foot square with various obstacles, as well as baton dispensers and goals for scoring. The goal of the game is to traverse the field, get batons, which are six-inch pieces of PVC pipe and then score them in various goals. Points are awarded for scoring, as well as achieving various positions on the field (for example, climbing over the mountain.) An alliance is formed with another team and the two-minute game is played against another alliance.

At the Pace competition we played six matches and won three. The entire process is a learning experience, and already we have changed many details of the robot in preparation for our next competition at Javits Center. The process of designing, programming, building, re-building (and re-building, and re-building...) our robot is immensely fun -- no wonder we're all so hooked!

Greg '12

Squash

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:43:37 EST

Walking on to court for the first match of the season is always a surreal experience. Crowd screaming, teammates fidgety and your heart racing as you prepare for battle of the mind and body. Although it is an individual sport, my experiences throughout the season on and off the court taught me more about leadership, communication and teamwork then ever before. We may be participating in a new, obscure sport, but the commitment and dedication in practice, in the gym, and from the first to last point of every match is the essence of our team and school.

Josh '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Wrestling hopes for State and National victories

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:40:29 EST

As the 2nd trimester comes to an end, the wrestling season begins to conclude another successful year. This past weekend, we competed in the Ivy League Championship Tournament and captured our 11th consecutive tournament victory. In the tournament, we had 17 wrestlers in the top 4 placements, including 6 champions. In the upcoming weeks we plan to wrestle in the state tournament and a few select wrestlers will go to the National Preparatory Tournament. In the past, we have placed 1st in 10 of the last 11 State Tournaments, but this is the first time in many years we will be sending wrestlers to the National Tournament. The competition at Nationals will be tough, but we hope few teammates will win some difficult matches and our goal is to place at least one team member in the top 8, granting them the title "All-American." It will take much work and dedication to achieve such a formidable task, but we hope to overcome these challenges and succeed.

Justin '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Model UN

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:39:53 EST

Spending the weekend debating topics such as the role of education in financial development, and internet censorship, the Model United Nations team returned from its third conference at Harvard. Be it writing resolutions in the morning, or discussing how committtee is going over pizza at night, the four days in Boston boils down to meeting new people from all over the globe, and working together toward one common objective -- making the world a better place.

Eden '12, Student Ambassador Leader

East Wind West Wind

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:48:02 EST

The East Wind West Wind club (the shnazziest club at HM) brings awareness of eastern and western culture and integrates them into our school community through multiple school events and functions. This year, we've had a great orientation, a really fun baking party/sleepover, a DORR trip at our nature lab in Connecticut, and we are now getting ready for Asia Night! Everyone is super excited to see the great performances and acts. We always have dances choreographed by the students and even some cool fighting scenes. During the whole process of performing and preparing for the highlight of our club, our club members really get to know each other, either through helping one another with dance steps or teaching someone how to make onigiri. We cook, we have intense discussions about prevalent issues in our community concerning diversity and identity, we dance, we play awesome hand games like ninja, and we have fun!

East Wind West Wind, i heart you!

Yvonne '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Insight

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:38:55 EST

We have been meeting for several weeks during clubs period for Horace Mann's annual photography publication, Insight. During the fall we take student submissions and during the winter we select photos in several groups and decide on the layout of the magazine. We're narrowing down our final decisions today (from more than 100 submissions!) and are especially excited that this year's issue has so much participation, in the form of submissions and meeting attendance, from underclassmen. You can look out for Insight around HM in May!

Sinclaire '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Music Week

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:38:18 EST

The high school orchestra and wind ensemble recently participated in HM Music Week, a week when both students and faculty in the Upper Division can showcase their passion for music through a wide array of performances, whether it's with a small chamber group or a large choir. The halls are filled with music all day for the entire week. As a performer in the wind ensemble, this is a tradition that I look forward to each year.

Arynne '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Final Swim Meet

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:13:42 EST

One meet, four more races. That is all I have left to swim at our beloved Prettyman pool. As I prepare for my last home meet as a HM Sea Lion, I can't help but reflect on my time here: all of the challenges my team has helped me face, the dedication of my coaches and the spirit of the sport. My experience on this team has influenced a deep passion and a desire to embrace the lessons learned in the pool throughout my entire life. As I step up on the blocks for my last race today, my heart will be pounding with excitement and filled with thanks for those who have helped shaped who I am today. To Coach Duffy and my teammates, thank you for always pushing me to greater heights and inspiring me to achieve.

Lets Go Sea Lions!

Nick '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Second Trimester Winds Down...

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:12:58 EST

It's almost the end of the second trimester, so classes are getting a little crazy now - especially because of the five snow days! We just finished The Prince by Machiavelli in Political Philosophy and debates are heated about the relevance in modern day times. Current event discussions on Fridays are also controversial about topics such as Egypt or gun control.

While we rarely agree it's a lot of fun.

Sarabeth '11, Senior Ambassador Leader

Upper Division Governing Council

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:12:13 EST

The Horace Mann Governing Council (the GC) has been a staple in my Horace Mann life since 6th grade (it's been 5 years!) The GC is an elected body within the school (7 representatives from each grade) who are given the opportunity to write and vote on "legislation" to change the school--a little like the Congress. Every year, I have bravely overcome my stage fright to make speeches in front of the whole grade. Apparently I am doing something right; my grade has elected me 5 straight years!

The GC provides me with a unique opportunity to practice my debate skills, to work on my public speaking skills, and to try to fix what I see wrong in the school (thankfully, there isn't much wrong). And hey, you never know, all this exposure to the political life may lead me to a political career in the future. President of the United States, James in 2032? Just maybe.

James '12, Student Ambassador Leader

FAD Fashion Show!!

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:41:57 EST

After months of preparation and hard work, the FAD Fashion Show Fundraiser finally took place last night! It was everything we could have ever imagined. The HM community was so supportive of our event, with over 200 attendees. With an amazing raffle, fabulous fashion show, and a really engaging panel discussion; an amazing energy was created at the event. We were also extremely lucky to have Dr. Thelma Dye with us, who is the Executive Director and CEO of the Northside Center for Child Development. We are donating 50% of the proceeds from last night's event to Northside, and we feel that they are truly an amazing and deserving organization. Thank you so much to everyone who came and supported us, and we hope to continue this event for years to come! Stay FAD-tabulous!

Rachel '12, Student Ambassador Leader & FAD co-Junior Editor

Check out the latest issue of FAD here.

"Sea Lions" swim through Winter Break...

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:36:36 EST

As always, the commencement of winter break sparked excitement within the hearts of Horace Mann's Varsity Swim Team. As we do annually, the team embarked on a one-week training trip to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. During the trip, we swam close to six miles a day and spent what seemed to be endless hours in the pool. However, this trip represented much more than a physically challenging obstacle; it was a time when our team became a family. Through our coach's inspiration and the invaluable time we spent with one another, every member of the team returned from the trip having realized that they can surpass any challenge when they have a goal to achieve. It is a lesson for life.

Nick '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Orange Bowl performance!

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:06:28 EST

Sunshine, eight hour dance classes, and Jaquel Knight, Orange bowl was an experience that we will remeber forever! Our amazing dance choreographers (shout out to Bayli and V) and their idyiosyncratic phrases (tiki, tiki, tiki tik) reminded us to believe in our inner talents and super star. We are so happy that all of the hardwork we put in to our funtastic dance allowed this dance experience to be beyond better than we expected. BTW, props to the guys who BRAVELY danced in their sparkly shirts.

Luv the orange bowl squad!

THANKS TO Mrs. Kolinski!!

Ken '12, Yuhna '13, Gurbani '12, Rachel '13

(To read more about the event, see our news story here.)

More Snow Day Fun!

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:08:04 EST

Yesterday was the first snowday of the year! Although we all love learning, it is always nice to get a day off to play and hang out with friends in the snow. All throughout Thursday the students were constantly checking the Horace Mann Possible Snow Day Index (HMPSDI). Through a complex formula Mr. Francis, the school's registrar, calculates the odds of a snow day. Eventually, at 4:30 AM, everyone received an email from our head of school, Dr. Kelly, delivering the good news. I quickly turned off my alarm and slept in. At 12, a few friends and I went to the park and had a snowball fight that eventually escalated to a 40-man war; people were joining in from the street. It was a really fun day, I can't wait for the next snow day.

Justin '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Snow Day!!

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:29:32 EST

On my day off I got to snuggle a lot later in my flannel sheets. Then I got to play with my sister in our playroom with all of our new Christmas toys, and later when my friends came home we got to play in the snow and have hot chocolate.

Kelly, '21

Snow Day, Service & Fashion!

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:26:59 EST

There is nothing better than waking up late during the school week and seeing tons of snow on the ground. This only means one thing: snow day!! I didn't spend my snow day the typical sledding and hot chocolate way, but instead I decided to spend my snow day at the Northside Center for Child Development. NCCD is a center in Harlem that provides education and other services to children with emotional, developmental, and educational needs. In February, the HM Fashion Design Club and F.A.D magazine will be hosting a fashion show, and some of the proceeds will go to NCCD. I felt this day would be a great opportunity to go and meet some of the children there and see what the cause is really about. It was an amazing experience seeing these children immersed in their activities, and they were definitely all bundled up for the snow as well! Happy snow day everyone, and look out for more information about the Fashion Show in February!

Rachel '12, Student Ambassador Leader

8th Grade Dorr

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:38:51 EST

I just spent eight days and seven nights up at Dorr for the 8th grade program. It was a great experience and really taught me that you can do anything you want to and that there is always a way to unlock new experiences. We did many fun things such as go on a 3 day hike on the Appalachian Trail. We climed the CAT, which is pretty much a super hard rock climbing wall but you have to overcome obstacles and you have to climb up logs, and we did many bonding activities. I had so much fun because not only did i make a lot of new friends, but I saw that you can overcome any experience, or unlock lots of new experiences every day.

Julia '15

Caring in Action and Book Fair Day

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:07:39 EST

Book Fair and Caring in Action Day were both big successes. Caring in Action Day was all about doing things for people that needed our help. For instance, we beaded bracelets, wrapped presents, and put together gift bags for sick children. It felt nice to be doing things for people that needed our help. And let's not forget about Book Fair! Kids from Lower Division bought books of all kinds, and there were also a few activity pads to choose from. Our featured author was David A. Adler. Everyone should be very thankful that our school could make both of these wonderful events come alive.

Katie '19

Conservatory Gardens

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:28:20 EST

The group of 3 and 4-year-olds who went on a field trip to the Conservatory Gardens had an exceptional time collecting the goldfish that spend their winter months in our studio. As one child said "Mr. Monroe (a Conservatory Garden staff member) is fishing for us. He caught a lot of Goldfish. Two came to the studio and he brought the rest home to his house. He is a cowboy fisherman." As they walked through the gardens, the children saw a rainbow, explored empty fountains, noticed different colored fish, and smelled a range of fall flowers. They had the opportunity to watch the fish get transferred from their home in the Park pond to plastic bags, and they had the adventure of transporting them back to school on the city bus. The children are now able to feed, watch, and admire the fish before they are returned to the garden in the spring.

Marcia Levy, Head of Nursery Division

Model UN

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:28:24 EST

Model United Nations recently participated in one of our biggest events of the year, PMUNC or Princeton Model UN conference. It was a very exciting weekend in which many new delegates experienced their first away conference. We were all happy to be a part of such a lively group. I personally represented China on SPECPOL and my topic was the protection of civilians in war zones. We debated for about 30 hours all together, from Thursday to Sunday.

Sarabeth '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Asian American Leadership Conference

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:50:43 EST

Just got back from the Asian American Leadership Conference at Yale with a bunch of HMers this past Saturday! We attended workshops and discussions about the prevalence of Asian Americans in American media, we met Fay Chiang, an Asian American Arts activist from NYC, and best of all, we met Asian American high shool students from around the country! It was a great experience just to meet new people who were tackling the same issues of Asian American identity and acceptance in their respective communities. We brainstormed new ways to break down social barriers and talked about empathy, respect, and just high school! We had great food, toured the amazing campus, and the Yale students who mediated the conference even had a dance-off for us! Totally a great way to destress and just be yourself right before first trimester is over!

Yvonne '12

(For more information about the Conference, click here.)

FAD Magazine

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:50:00 EST

As the new trimester begins, FAD Magazine, Horace Mann's Fashion, Art, and Design Publication, is in the midst of creating their second issue of the year! From photo shoots to writing articles, everyone is working hard to make sure the magazine is on shelves in February! It is the Junior Issue, so more younger students are getting involved and getting a sneak peek into the lives of people in the fashion industry. Check out our website at http://issuu.com/fadmag/docs/fadvolume2issue1new , and keep your eyes peeled for Volume 2 Issue 2!

Rachel '12, Student Ambassador Leader, Co-Junior Editor of FAD Magazine

Lower Division Fall 'Family Fun Night'

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:08:37 EST

I liked The Fall Fun Night a lot. The music was pretty good. I heard my favorite song "Dynamite" and I liked that a lot. It felt good to be at school after it ended. There were a lot of people there that I knew. I liked how they set up tables with gummy bears and M and Ms. I liked how the kids were dancing to music and playing games with hoola hoops.

Andrew '20

Note: Family Fun Night was held Tuesday night; on Wednesday school was closed for Lower Division Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Junior Class Assembly

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:09:55 EST

As Class President, I was tasked with creating an one-hour assembly to entertain the Junior Class during the "end of trimester push" filled with hard work. After weeks of planning, all 171 members of the Junior Class gathered in the cafeteria for what was sure to be a great time. The show started off with three performances. The first was a violinist "playing" John Cage's 4' 33", a piece that has no actual music --just silence. The second was two students rapping an original song, and the third was a rock band. After these performances, we began a series of 7 "challenges" taken from the TV show "Minute To Win It." Students volunteered prior to the assembly to participate in challenges filled with cookie eating, cup stacking, ping pong balls, vaseline, and panty hose. Everyone had a lot of fun either participating in the challenges or cheering on his or her friends. The assembly provided some fun for everyone in midst of the hard work. I can't wait to start planning the next assembly!

James '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Skyping with Mette Shayne

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 19:06:29 EST

On Wednesday, all of the Fourth Grade skyped with Mette Shayne. She is one of the millions of Jews who survived World War II. Mette escaped from Denmark to Sweden on a fishing boat just like Ellen from the book Number the Stars that all the Fourth Graders read. One of the things I thought was the most amazing part of Mette's journey was that they fit twenty-three people on a fishing boat meant for three people. I also thought it was awesome how the Danes had taken care of her apartment and her car and the government paid her rent so everything was OK when she could come back home. Number the Stars is a great book, but Mette Shayne makes it seem even more interesting.

Juliana '19

(Posting Note: Number the Stars is written by Lois Lowry. For more information about the book and author, click here.)

Enjoying the Arts

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:49:28 EST

Before Glee became an Emmy award winning T.V. phenomenon, I was a proud member of Horace Mann's own Glee Club. Fulfilling one full credit of my art requirement in performing arts, I still have half a credit in arts appreciation. I decided on Art of Film -- my reasoning was I enjoyed watching movies. Art of Film has been an experience in disecting the composition of a film, from a frame, to a shot, and I look forward to learning more!

Eden '12

Saturday Morning Tutoring

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 12:55:47 EST

The Saturday Morning Tutoring Program (SMTP) is a program where Upper Division students at Horace Mann tutor children from grades 5-8 who attend public schools around the Bronx. The program is run by Dr. Delanty, the Upper Division Dean of Student Life. Every Saturday at 10, we go to Horace Mann to help these kids with any subject that they need help in. Some of them need a little coercion, and others are ready to learn and are interested in the work that they are doing. After we tutor them, we have some pizza and talk to the kids. It is one of the best things I do at Horace Mann because it is great to see a school like Horace Mann sharing their facilities and privilege with the schools around it.

Rachel, '13

Lower Division Halloween Parade

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:36:47 EST

The Halloween Parade was really fun. All the costumes were really cool and funny. By walking around Clark Field three times I really got to know my [first grade] partner. I can't wait until next year's parade.

Gavin '19

Senior Absurdity Day

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:22:46 EST

Last Friday was a day I have been looking forward to since my first year at Horace Mann: Senior Absurdity Day. The entire Senior class gathered on the field during first period as students, teachers, and administrators watched, laughed, and tried not to get dirty as we ran around the field in our costumes. The sumo ballerinas were dancing, the chefs were throwing flour, the human Tetris blocks were forming shapes, the firemen who came to school on fire trucks were squirting everyone with water, and the BP workmen were covering everyone with black paint. At the end, we all went down the slip-'n-slide, sealing the mixture of different food ingredients and paint that was then caked onto us for the rest of the day. It was a unique moment for our grade to be together all at once and celebrate our final year together. It's a day I know I will look back on as one of the highlights of my time at HM – and it was certainly worth the mess.

Arynne '11, Senior Ambassador Leader

Middle Division Athletics Afternoon

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:22:16 EST

On Tuesday the Middle Division held their first "homecoming" or Athletic Afternoon. It was designed so that kids of all ages could stay after school to watch the Middle Division sports teams. There also was a big bake-sale that ended up being very successful due to all of the people staying after school. Overall, the event turned out to be a great new idea for the Middle Division.

Robert, '15

Mentors in Middle School

Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:31:20 EST

The Middle School Mentoring Program has been going really well this year. Every other Tuesday morning, high school students go to a middle school homeroom for 20 minutes to talk to them about middle school life and to help them with anything from social issues to homework. Each high school student goes to the same homeroom every other Tuesday and builds lasting friendships with the middle school students in that homeroom. Thus far this year, the high school mentors have talked to the middle division students about group projects, tests, quizzes, and behavior in the homeroom and in the school. Next week, the topic of discussion will be time management. This program is great for the mentors because they get to share their personal experiences and help middle schoolers through the ups and downs of middle school. The middle school students are given important information and tips about middle school life while making a great high school friend. I look forward to many more great mentoring moments as the year progresses.

James '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Office of Diversity Fall Update

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:14:08 EST

Over the first six weeks of school, The Office of Diversity has hosted several meetings, discussions and workshops with students and HM faculty. In conjunction with our Head of School, Dr. Tom Kelly, we also hosted diversity practitioners and Heads of School from all over the Tri-State area. All of these meetings were designed to raise awareness (especially self-awareness) about issues of diversity that extend beyond just race and ethnicity and help participants to better see how they can be impactful in the Horace Mann community and in the other communities to which they belong.

Markell Parker, Associate Director of Admissions, Diversity Associate

The Apple Tree

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:00:44 EST

The entire Middle Division had a special sneak preview of the Upper Division play, The Apple Tree, yesterday morning.

The Apple Tree was an amazing piece of theatre with wonderful and talented actors. The singing and dancing was well-rehearsed and you could really see how much the students loved what they were doing. The sets were elaborate and the orchestra was beautiful. Everything flowed, and all the while, the students were smiling ear to ear. It was a wonderful musical and I'm sure the next one will be as well.

Izzie '16

Independent Study

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:03:40 EST

Yesterday was my first independent study presentation. The Independent Study program at HM is mainly for seniors who can design a course for themselves around just about anything they want; each student is assigned a mentor from the faculty who they meet with weekly and a seminar group that meets every other day. Once a trimester, each student teaches the class about what they've been studying or creating for one of the seminar periods. People in my group have done things as varied as studying the science of music, to the history of women artists, to modern fairytales - all of which have been really interesting. My project is on the relationship between art and poetry so we had a discussion about some poems I picked that were based on paintings. I was really nervous before the class started, but everyone was so enthusiastic and engaged that it turned out to be a really fun experience!

Sinclaire '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Kindergarten Applefest

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:56:48 EST

Apple Fest was awesome!

I got to help kindergarteners make hats. Some of my friends read to them. The kindergarteners did an apple toss, apple bowling, and made apple cider. They looked very happy making hats and doing what they got to do! We wore apples that said " Official Apple Fest Helper." It was so much fun! The kindergartners were very cute.

That was how much fun Apple Fest was!

Anna, '18

Color War!

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:02:57 EST

Last Friday the Upper School definitely showed their school spirit during the Upper School Color War! Seniors wore pink, juniors wore green, sophomores wore red, freshmen wore blue, and the faculty/staff wore black. The students showed great school spirit especially the seniors. Wearing pink shirts and pink pants didn't seem to be enough for some. Some went as far as to have pink hair! Next year I look forward to see what other crazy things some HM students will do to show their school spirit!

Yuhna '13

Fifth Grade Dorr Trip

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:06:33 EST

5th grade Dorr was awesome! We got to climb the rock wall for the first time and it was a moment I will never forget! We also had a cook-out where everyone in the class gets to go into the woods and collect wood to build our own campfire, (which later we used to cook hot dogs and, of course, "Dorr mores"!) It was great! My favorite part was the one night we got to go star gazing, and we found a lot of cool constellations, including: The Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and The Summer Triangle! The Dorr teachers were so great and helped make 5th grade Dorr a very exciting experience!

Emma '18

10th Grade 'In-School' Field Trip

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:54:41 EST

On Thursday, the entire 10th grade met in the Recital Hall, an area at Horace Mann for meetings, plays, and even talent shows! In 10th grade we learn about United States History, and the History department graciously brought in an archaeologist from Harvard to teach us a little about archaeology and how it relates to what we are studying this year. The lecture was great, and we had the opportunity to learn about the excavation of an "Indian College" that had once stood ground on Harvard's college campus. We also learned about the history of the Massachusetts region during the 17th century. It was truly amazing.

Ben '13

New Flag Football League

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 10:42:37 EST

This year, HM started a new Flag Football league. I was chosen as a captain which has been so much fun, and we had our first game last Thursday. Although we tied, it was a great way to start the season (even on a rainy day!) and get to know the players drafted. I can't wait to see how the rest of the year goes!

Sarabeth '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Admissions Open House

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:59:46 EST

This past Sunday, roughly 400 parents came to Horace Mann to learn more about the school, tour the facilities, and meet some students. After a week of rain, the sun finally came out in time for our tours. I take great pride in being a student at Horace Mann, and it's always fun to share the school with parents and their kids. It's an exciting feeling to finally be a senior; I am able to take on the new role as a moderator of Open Houses, reminisce on my earlier years in the school as I train the new ambassadors, and remember the first time I visited the school when I tour prospective families. While I'm excited for my senior year and all the special events included, each time I have an Open House, I can't help wishing for a little more time at HM.

Arynne '11, Student Ambassador Leader

HM Homecoming 2010

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:17:20 EST

This past Saturday, students, faculty, administrators, parents, and alumni gathered for one of Horace Mann’s most thrilling events, Homecoming. The beautiful weather was only a complement to the plethora of games, activities, food, and sports events that made this day remarkable. Making my way from event to event, I was thrilled to see the enthusiasm of all those in attendance. Whether it be on the sidelines of the boys soccer game, or the stands above the Prettyman pool, echoing booms of cheers shook the very foundation of the school. As it was my last homecoming as a student here at Horace Mann, nothing could have please me more than to see our school come together as a community and to share a day celebrating the wonderful life here at Horace Mann. I expect to return numerous times to this special day as a proud alumnus of this school. Until then, Let’s Go Lions!

Nick '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Senior Movie Night

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 08:41:33 EST

Last Friday, members from the senior class gathered on the field outside of Tillinghast to watch The Lion King as a part of the annual senior movie night. There were tables piled high with pizza, cookies, and soda; games of ping pong and football; and fellow students singing along to a variety of music. Once the sun set behind the infamous clock tower of HM, the seniors present gathered on a large tarp and spent the next hour laughing, singing, and crying at a movie that reminded us of our childhood. It was a wonderful moment to spend with each other and will certainly be a highlight of my senior year.

Nick '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Clubs Fair activities

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:59:06 EST

Last Thursday was the clubs fair, the annual event where all clubs recruit new, prospective students into their clubs. Looking back, as a freshman, I truly felt a home at Horace Mann during my first clubs fair. That day, as I walked around the fair, I saw, for the first time, hundreds of students joining together and doing what they truly loved. Each booth had endless possibilities. There were just so many clubs that I wanted to join! Still to this day I am joining new clubs that I want to get involved in and finding new opportunities Horace Mann has to offer.

Justin '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Upper Division Clubs Fair Today

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:05:03 EST

The clubs fair for this school year was insane! As an officer of East Wind West Wind, I was shaking with excitement about all the students that would be joining our club. As an officer, I really really want this year to be productive and get all the kids interested. We had 100 people sign up!! The clubs fair has reminded me that the school year has now officially started. We will all be swamped with school work and after-school club activities, sports, musicals, whatever our active Horace Manners are into. But knowing that I wasn't alone, and that we all really loved being a part of a community with a passion for something, made it feel worth all the effort and time. This school year will be fun. (:

Yvonne, '12, Student Ambassador Leader

First Full Week of Middle School

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:53:29 EST

I can’t believe that the first full week of 8th grade is almost over. It was great and I’m so glad to be back at school. I must admit- I was a little nervous at first, but now I’ve realized that there was absolutely no reason to be. As usual, all the teachers were engaging, and they gradually got us back into the work mode. This week’s classes started off with introducing the courses and reviewing last year’s material, but now I am beginning to feel the workload piling up. With sports tryouts being almost over, and talent shows and Governing Council speeches coming up, I am looking forward to the exciting year ahead!

Riya '15

Class of 2011 Senior Photo and Yearbook Kickoff!

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:55:46 EST

Yesterday, the class of 2011 assembled for the senior class photo. It was truly amazing to see everyone standing together on Four Acres, ready to start our final year of high school together. Following the tradition of yearbooks past the class photo will be used as the endpages and senior section divider of Horace Mann's yearbook, The Mannikin. Not only did the photo get everyone psyched for senior year, but it was also a perfect way to kickoff our work on the Mannikin. Sara and I are co-Editors-in-Chief and we have been brainstorming ideas for the Mannikin since last year; we're more than excited to get the Mannikin staff together to start working!

Nicole '11, Mannikin Co-Editor-in-Chief

First Advisory & Making Connections

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:38:47 EST

As I opened the door to the world of advisory, I was greeted with the sugary sweet smell of cinnamon monkey bread. Our advisor, Ms. Goater, always bakes us a treat for Advisory as a way of bonding with other advisees in a comfortable way, through food and talking about our schooldays. After tedious advisee forms were completed, the new freshmen were introduced to our advisory and all thirteen of us pleasantly talked about our first days of school. Some students said they were scared, some said they were tired, some were esctatic to be back. It was nice to hear about the first day of school from students of all different grades. But I was mostly just glad I had a break during my busy week to actually talk about my first week of school.

Yvonne '12, Student Ambassador Leader

First Day of Senior Year

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:52:37 EST

When I arrived at school yesterday morning the empty second floor hallway, where all of the seniors like to meet, quickly filled up; it was soon jam-packed with kids reuniting, lounging around, and chatting loudly. It really hit me at the assembly, sitting up on the balcony and scanning the gigantic sea of students around me, that I was actually a senior, that the kids of the Class of 2011 are finally the oldest in school. Going through all my classes, having my favorite “Monday chicken” in the cafeteria, and relaxing on the field really helped me get into my new but familiar daily routine. It’s a big change from summer days, but this first day has gotten me so excited for the year to come.

Stephanie '11, Student Ambassador Leader

First Day of School!

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:18:53 EST

I am back at school after an awesome summer of working and traveling. I, like many other juniors, am nervous about the work of junior year. After a full day of all of my classes, though, I'm excited for this year of school. Since I am a junior, I had the freedom to choose most of my own classes so I actually look forward to all of my classes. (Haven't received any bad grades yet this year, so I would say I'm off to a good start!)

James '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Welcoming our new students at Dorr

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:22:06 EST

At 10:30 a.m. on September 3rd, we waited at the John Dorr Nature Lab to greet 55 new high school students. The weekend, known as UDO (Upper Division Orientation), gave them the chance to get to know almost 90 returning freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and faculty members of HM. We spent the weekend performing skits, climbing on the rope course known as the Odyssey, playing games on the floor and outside, dancing, and participating in various group initiatives aimed at acclimating the new students to the ins and outs of the Horace Mann community. We hope that our new classmates walked into Horace Mann today with a sense of security knowing that they already have friends and mentors all around school.

Best,

Nick '11 and Sarabeth '11, Student Ambassador Leaders

Ready for classes to start

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:50:45 EST

After having had three months of choosing what you want to do each day, it’s nice to come back to school with the opportunity to do just that, within reason. This year as a junior, I have the liberty of being able to choose which classes I want to take and drop, aside from English and Math, which are mandatory. With this freedom, I’ve decided to drop History for the year and try Psychology, a class I’d never before had room in my schedule to take. Who knows, maybe I’ll wind up wanting to take it again next year!

-Hillary '12, Student Ambassador Leader

Preseason winds down... and heats up

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:02:58 EST

The heat has been a huge obstacle up at school for all the sports teams in the middle of preseason; however, the 95 degree temperature cannot keep all the athletes away from their sports. This is my third year on the field hockey team and this has been by far the hottest preseason we have ever had! Constant water breaks and shade are a must to get through this difficult training! After waiting inside for an hour today until it cooled down, my team went up to Four Acres and got right into practicing skills and scrimmaging. With 14 games ahead of us, we all can't wait for the season to start! Only a few more days until the 2010-1011 academic year begins!

Rachel '12, Student Ambassador Leader

The Record gets ready....

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:21:48 EST

Yesterday all the editors of the Record, the school’s weekly newspaper, all met to prepare for this year’s first issue. Normally we meet Thursday nights; however, because this is a larger issue, we need two days to put the paper together. The StuPub was filled all day with editors, photographers, and writers. It is such a large transition from the empty school we saw nearly a week ago. Pre-season teams were at school today also to train for the upcoming season. The school is getting in to full gear to begin another great year!

Justin '12, Record Photography Editor
Stephanie '11, Record Features Editor

Preseason is best described as a fresh start

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:12:06 EST

Filled with bruises, laughs and tears, the first week has posed many challenges. The beach seems but a distant memory, as my teammates and I prepare for another run at the Ivy League Championship.

I've been playing the beautiful game for 10 years, and it's surreal to believe this will be my last season as a HM soccer player. After a tumultuous start to my first day of preseason (spraining my ankle, accidently walking into the Girls' Locker room), I remember walking out on the pitch for the first time; filled with butterflies, but proud of my Maroon Jersey and HM symbol on my chest. The last four seasons definitely had their trials and tribulations. But this preseason has been nothing but a tribute to my teammates, coaches and love for the game, and I look forward to another fantastic season!

Josh '11, Student Ambassador Leader

Hello from Dorr!

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:30:50 EST

I am so excited for the 2010-11 year! However for me the school year has already started up at our John Dorr Nature Lab campus in Connecticut. I am here with the 6th graders and their mentors for the 6th grade Dorr Orientation programs. Everyone has been having a lot of fun meeting new kids and reuniting with their old friends after a long summer. Last night all the kids participated in skits (with a special appearance from their mentors), and today we are building rafts! We are all having a great time and can't wait for school to start!

-Rachel '12 , Middle School Mentor Leader, Student Ambassador Leader