In the Sunshine State - Poly Prep Country Day School

In the Sunshine State
Parents, alumni, and friends joined the Poly Prep Blue Devils for their
season finale game at Disney World. The Devils triumphed over Space
Coast High School, winning 21-7 and capping off a great autumn.
The teammates made lasting memories while visiting Epcot, Animal
Kingdom, the Magic Kingdom, and MGM Studios. They enjoyed a pasta
dinner on the eve of the game at Planet Hollywood.
On Senior Night, the soon-to-be graduates shared with their teammates
what Poly has meant to them and what it means to be a member of the
Poly Football team. It was an emotional, bittersweet time for all.
"It was a wonderful opportunity for the boys to finish the season on a
positive note and in a Bowl setting," says Coach Craig Jacoby. "I couldn't
have been prouder the boys' behavior on and off the field."
The adults had fun, too! We were happy to welcome Micky Solomon '55, Jay Springer '62 and wife Maria,
trustee Rob Sabbagh '87, and Gregg Kaye '83. Thanks for coming.
Just for Fun, Part I
While wandering around by one of the ponds on the Bay Ridge campus, Poly Prep's
communications director, Melissa Tyrrell, captured this odd-looking fowl on film.
Any guesses what it is?
(See below, under Just for Fun, Part II, for the answer).
NYSAIS
Our visit from the New York State Association of Independent Schools in October (www.nysais.org) went
swimmingly. Most of the delegates who observed our school genuinely enjoyed their time with us. They'll
soon return their findings and recommendations in a report. Chuck Hertrick, headmaster of Allendale-
Columbia School in Rochester and chair of the NYSAIS Visiting Committee, spoke to our staff and faculty in
Chapel at the end of the team's three-day tour of the school. Last spring, Poly's faculty and administration
wrote a thorough and forthright self-evaluation of the school, making it much easier for evaluators to assess
our strengths and note areas for improvement. Hertrick lauded the school, noting particularly our diversity.
"It is one of your signatures and I commend you on that," Hertrick told the faculty. He praised that we don't
squander that advantage but use it to truly teach character to our students.
"We really found it to be a warm and gracious place," Hertrick said before the team departed.

Hello, Bean Town
Poly graduates joined headmaster David Harman in his hometown of
Boston for an Annual Alumni Reception at the Harvard Faculty Club on
November 17. David shared a lively report of life and work back in Bay
Ridge. Others enjoyed a roundtable discussion of what Poly has meant
to them through the years.
Headmaster emeritus Bill Williams
and his wife Linda joined us for
this smashing night. We were
joined by recent graduates and
ever-returning alumni, such as
Harvard students Monique Wilson
'05 and Donald Ottenstein '38, probably our most loyal attendee at the
Boston reception.
The evening was hosted by trustee Dr. Alan M. Kantrow '65.
Just for Fun, Part II
When some of us in the Alumni House saw the picture above, our first thought was "chuck or dicken?" After
all, it's common knowledge around Poly that chickens and ducks sometimes mate, producing the strange
offspring that go by those names.
But, then again, common knowledge is often wrong.
"Duck" is the common name for a bunch of different genera and species in the
family Anatidae. But a chicken is Gallus gallus, or the species gallus of the genus
Gallus. Most natural hybrids in the animal kingdom are interspecies
hybrids—beefalo, wolphins, ligers, and zeedonks, strange as they are, are all
interspecies hybrids, like mules. There are even some cases of natural breeding
between animals of different genera. But chickens and ducks are not in the same
genus, the same family, or even the same order. Of course they're both birds
(Aves), which puts them in the same class. But that doesn't cut it. If animals that
only shared a taxonomic class could mate, we might have platypussycats,
rabbats, and elephanteaters.
The animal pictured above is, in fact, (drumroll) . . . Cairina moschata, or a Muscovy duck.
Shop till Ya Drop at Poly
If you can't stand the holiday crowds, don't forget: The Store at Poly Prep
will host a special holiday shopping event from 5:30 to 8:00 PM on
December 9, and from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on December 10.
All purchases made in the Store, including gift certificates, will receive a 10-
percent discount during the event. (All faculty and staff will receive a 15-
percent discount all day on all purchases made December 9 or 10.)
Receive a free Blue Devil doll with the purchase of a gift certificate. Holiday cheer, refreshments, and music
will accompany your shopping on Friday night and on Saturday. Parking is available in the rear parking lot.

Barbara and Clifford Barr '48, trustee emeritus, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and Cliff's 75th
birthday at the Harvard Club of New York, on October 21, 2005. "It was a grand event and the Poly
connection, warmth, and lifelong friendships made it special," said Cliff.
From left to right, Richard Edelman '48, Nick Trynin '48, Steve Carb '48, headmaster David Harman, Clifford
Barr '48, headmaster emeritus Bill Williams, Arthur Levitt '48, and Jacob Brody '48.
Congratulations to Cliff and Barbara!
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Please contact Lisa Della Pietra '86, director of alumni relations, at
(718) 836-9800, ext. 687, or ldellapietra@polyprep.org.