Milton Students Travel for Music, Service and Cultural Exploration Over Spring Break
The Jazz Band will make its 12th tour of South Africa this spring break, continuing a Milton tradition that began in 1992, band director and music faculty member Bob Sinicrope says.
“Each trip has a personality of its own,” Bob says. “A lot of it has to do with the students and adults, and a lot of it has to do with the itinerary. We’re going to visit some of the same places, but every time we go, we see something new. South Africa in 2019 is a much different place compared with 1992.”
Photographer Abelardo Morell Shares His View
“I did not come here to give you a prescription. This is what happened in my life and career,” photographer Abelardo Morell told Milton visual arts students. “You will find your own way to do what you are meant to do.”
Mr. Morell visited Milton as a Melissa Dilworth Gold visiting artist. He spent several days on campus meeting with students and demonstrating his work and technique.
Boys’ Basketball Advances to Semifinals
The boys’ varsity basketball team finished their impressive regular season (19-5) with a 65-50 win over rivals Noble and Greenough in front of packed bleachers in the ACC last Friday night. Seeded 5th in the NEPSAC Class A quarterfinals, the team traveled to Suffield Academy in Connecticut yesterday to pull off an exciting 62-54 win. The boys now advanced to the semifinals where they will play Phillips Exeter at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Exeter.
Latin, African, Irish, Hip-Hop and Contemporary Dance: The Winter Concert Has It All
Robert Skinner (Class I) likens the campus-favorite Winter Dance Concert to a new episode of a beloved television series.
“There may be some familiar styles of dancing year after year, but the concert brings entirely different components with the choreography, new dancers, costumes and storylines,” Robert says. “It’s fun to see people performing a style of dance you never thought they would do, and it’s even better to see them performing that dance well.”
Dancers, choreographers and tech crews have worked hard throughout the season to put together a show that combines a rich variety of performance styles, says Robert, who balanced preparing for the Dance Concert with playing varsity basketball this winter. “It can be challenging because of the limited amount of time we have to practice and perfect the choreography together,” he says. “Balancing multiple activities with academics can get hectic at times, but the end result is worth it.”
Mert Bayturk Dominates on the Mat
Mert Bayturk ‘19 won an astounding three heavyweight wrestling championships over the past three weekends—the Northern New England Championship, the ISL Championships and the New England Championship. After competing in the 220-pound weight class the past few years, Mert found his groove this year by competing against other heavyweights (285-pound weight class). This weekend, he heads off to the Prep Nationals at Lehigh University, where he will compete against other heavyweights from private schools from across the country.
Mert started wrestling the summer before his freshman year at Yaşar Doğu Spor Salonu, a wrestling club in Ankara, Turkey, where he spends the summers with his family. He says what he loves about the sport is that it’s “like a chess game, involving strength and technique.” Before his junior year, he sought outside opportunities to wrestle, establishing a connection with the well-known wrestling club, the Dungeon Training Center in Hanover, Massachusetts.
This Weekend, Students Direct One-Acts
The student one-act plays are a venue for student directors and actors to showcase their talents in a broad array of plays and topics. This year there are three one-acts, completely directed, acted and tech-supported by students. Jennifer Lim (II) is directing “A Game” which stars Brie Lewis (II), Charlotte Kane (I), Calvin Bonomo (IV) and Talia Sherman (IV).
“I chose ‘A Game’ because this play demonstrates the complexity of the human mind and human emotion, and the play’s high intensity would also capture the audience’s attention,” says Jennifer. “In addition, our own interpretations of what the human mind and consciousness is to us would leave room for interpretation. This play demonstrates the power and impact of our words.
“Directing this past season has been a positive experience for me. I have staged managed for Milton productions, but I did not have directing experience. Watching Mr. Fuller, Mr. Parisi, and Ms. Anastas direct in the past has helped me a lot. It was a very exciting and rewarding experience for me to be able to apply what I have seen and learned in the past.”
Chris Herren, Motivational Speaker and Former NBA Player, is This Year’s Talbot Speaker
Students often hear about drug addiction and alcoholism through the lens of a person who has permanently damaged their life, but young people should be thinking about the initial decisions that can start dangerous habits, said motivational speaker and former professional basketball player Chris Herren.
“I think we put too much focus on the worst day, and we don’t talk enough about the first day,” said Mr. Herren, who spoke to Milton students as this year’s Talbot Speaker.
Scholastic Art and Writing Award Winners
A “remarkable” number of student writers and artists were recognized in the Massachusetts Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the nation’s longest-running competition to identify creative talent among students. Earlier in the week, Ms. Baker and Mr. Torney announced the winners at assembly.
Scholastic works in conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University and the Boston Globe to judge regional winners. Gold and Silver Key winners are welcome to participate in the regional awards celebration, which will be held on March 16 at Tufts. Gold Key award-winning work will be exhibited at the Massachusetts Scholastic Art and Writing Awards regional exhibition at Tufts University from March 16 through March 25.
Gold Key work is currently being reviewed at the national level in New York City by panels of creative professionals for National Medal honors. National Medalists selected by these panelists will be announced on March 13.
Welcoming Student Guests From Shanghai
Students who celebrate the Lunar New Year gathered in Hathaway House on this unusually warm February day to make dumplings, play games and spend time with one another. Joining them were the nine students and their chaperone who arrived from Shanghai, China last week as part of Milton’s new China exchange program. The students attend the No. 2 High School of East China Normal University and are staying with student host families for their two-week visit.
This exchange program was organized by Shimin Zhou, a modern languages faculty member. So far on their visit, the students have visited Boston sites such as the JFK Presidential Library, the Institute of Contemporary Art and Faneuil Hall. They also toured the campuses of Boston College and Harvard, had lunch at Mr. Bland’s home and spent time attending classes with their student hosts.
Boston-Area Latinx Leaders Share Their Paths To Success
Even during powerful waves of self-doubt, Soerny Cruz ’12 found people in her corner. They were educators and social justice leaders who encouraged her toward a career in service.
“There were times when I didn’t believe in myself, but my community never gave up on me,” Ms. Cruz told students. “Because of that, I’ve been able to get to a place in my life where I can come back to Milton Academy and be proud of what I’m telling you about my work.”
