Happy Parent's Weekend!

What a beautiful weekend we're enjoying here at BMA! We're thrilled to have so many parents and friends on campus and we send a great big hello to the community members who couldn't be here for the weekend

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Foggy Gap

I tried to capture the mist settled in Willoughby Gap this morning, but the picture doesn't look as good as it did in person. You'll just have to see it this weekend!

Brothers from another mother?

Hard Corientation

Hard Corientation was a blast on Saturday. As a community, we unofficially logged about 1,400 miles: that's about as far as from East Burke to Minneapolis, Minnesota! Viv's statistics class is compiling the data for an official results, so we'll have confirmed data soon. It was a beautiful day in the Kingdom, and everyone challenged themselves all day. Here are some shots from the event. Enjoy!

Chambo, Sam M, Kalle, Anna, Olivia, Chase, Dannica, Kate, Fredi, Christopher all head out for their last run/hike at 7PM

Ava, Sophie S, Sophie W

Surprisingly (?) this idea did not last long! Brandon and Parker with the most optimism, though...

Freddy, the Viking

The Mike Boardman memorial shot!

Lucas, Brandon, Sam and Ollie

The post-race debrief, s'mores and kumbaya

Sophie, Bay and Fredi on the home stretch

Massively cool orientation.

Best orientation I've done in 20 years.  Super fun!  Thanks, Viv, Darrell, et al.

Reviewing "The Raven"

After reading and discussing Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" I asked 11th grade American Lit students to imagine they were critics in 1845 and to review the poem as if it had just come out. Here are some of their reviews:

Poe constructs his finest work yet; "The Raven" was a mysterious, disturbing story of how a reasonable man is transformed by grief. Told in rhymes, "The Raven" is both entertaining and gripping. The realistic responses of the narrator to his strange situation make his eventual decline into insanity perturb the reader. Poe’s exploration of human nature under circumstances of grief culminates in an experience that will both fascinate and haunt the reader. Lyrical fire.

Paul Sheils

"The Raven" is a poem that describes a man pondering his sorrows when a raven appears on his door. This poem marks the beginning of Edward Allen Poe’s success, which I’m sure the world will see much more of. The poem has a mysterious tone, which is intriguing for the reader. The highlight of the poem is the ending, when the raven never leaves the speaker. In this situation, the raven represents the speaker’s sorrows over his lost lover Lenore. Poe’s The Raven is surly one of the finest poems of the decade.  

Nina O'Brien

Last night as I sat upon mine desk I took upon to a piece of writing that grabbed my fancy. I soon unearthed that I was examining the verbose thoughts of Sir Poe. 'Twas “The Raven” that mine eyes gazed upon. As I took to comprehending this work of the unknown it frolicked with my sentimental feelings. Poe’s work of enigma was inscribed to the paper with appreciable delicacy. His delicate piece of writing thrilled my mind as I feel inclined to say that it was good.  

Ryan Donohue

Coaches Ed

Today all the coaches got to review and update our CPR and First Aid certifications with the American Heart Association. Check out these amazing splints and slings! 

BMA Women 2-Craftsbury 1

BMA's women's soccer team traveled to Craftsbury where they won 2-1!

Abby and Dannica

The team

Anna B

Anna EB

Ava

Avery

Abby and Moriah

Bridget

Dannica

Isabel

Jordan

Lexi

McKenna

Audrey

Olivia

Parker

Sophie S

Libby and Christin and team

Many thanks to Karin Sullivan for the fantastic photos!

Wilderness versus Wildness

On Monday, Dave and Lindley’s Environmental Studies class took a hike up Wheeler Mountain to take in the scenery and discuss some themes we have been thinking about in class. Although it was a little cold, the views from the top of the mountain were well worth it. We had to scale up slippery rock walls and trudge through muddy paths to reach our destination. Some of us looked like Spiderman as we struggled to climb the rock faces! Freddy was especially happy that he chose not to wear his white Converse sneakers. Once we reached the summit, we sat down to discuss the differences and similarities between “wilderness” and “wildness”.  After a few group shots, we headed back down just in time for afternoon workout. Thanks Dave and Lindley for taking us on such a great hike! 

- Audrey O'Brien  '14 and Moriah Wilson '14

The morning rain made for some slippery steps. It's a good thing Freddy opted not to wear his Chucks.

What's that crawling out of the bear cave?

class discussion

The Environmental Studies Crew

Give me a "J"! A Wheeler Mountain shout out to Jake Fisher, a faithful Burkie Bear Blog reader.

Frazier on a rainy Monday

Fun with Lumber

When the Northwoods Stewardship Center called to ask if we might help them hike some lumber to the top of Bald Mountain Darrell knew he had a new workout.  "Fun with lumber" involved hiking roughly 1.5 miles into the woods to a staging area where the lumber had been brought in via tractor, from there the Burkies carried the lumber one more mile to the top of the mountain where a cabin is being rebuilt. Everyone made two trips moving over 300 pieces of lumber and contributing over 90 hours of community service toward a grant match for Northwoods.

Braving the rain..

and mud

Bryna all smiles and thumbs up

Amanda with her load of lumber

The cabin to be rebuilt

All the lumber

Happy Crew!

  

As part of orientation each pod was asked to examine an area of life at BMA and determine what trust and honor “look like” and “sound like” in that area, such as the dorms, traveling, tuning room, etc.  Each pod was then asked to create an original statement about honor and trust.  Here are the original statements:

Trust earns respect.  Respect earns honor.  Honor is integrity.

Integrity means acting the same way no matter who you are with or where you are.

At BMA, honor and trust are upheld by the constant effort of everyone to do their best and learn from their mistakes in an environment where all are equal and respected.

By being honorable and trustworthy you not only help yourself, but also the people around you.

Respecting people and their belongings makes for a caring, cooperative and clean environment.  Take pride in following the rules, and the trust that comes with it.

We live in a place where the mutual honor and respect we have for one another allows us to be ourselves and grow together to accomplish our individual goals.

Campus Capture the Flag

With the BMA vs. Stratton Mountain School girls' soccer game cancelled yesterday, the girls played a spirited 2 hr game of Capture the Flag. Here the "black" team awaits rescue from jail (in the pouring rain).