December 2008 Commons - Cape Cod Academy

The Commons
The Cape Cod Academy Monthly Newsletter
December 2008
The Head of School’s Column
Dr. Jane E. Smith, executive director of the Spelman
College Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement,
was the keynote speaker at the ESHA (Elementary
School Heads Association) annual conference in
October that I had the good fortune to attend. With her
doctorate in Education in Social Policy Analysis from
Harvard University, Dr. Smith’s inspirational message
urged all of us, as heads of independent schools, to think
far into the future when considering our mission as
educators today. With so much conversation in the
news about our country’s immediate economic
challenges and the way in which the entire world is
struggling as a result, there is tremendous focus on the
moment, on the present conditions, and on how best to
work through them. Although that sharp focus is not
only understandable but also essential, all of us should
take Dr. Smith’s advice and look over the top of the
current ridge of challenges toward the year 2050. That’s
a pretty long way off, and I’ll be 99 if I’m here at all that
year. I hope to be here and, with the benefit of Dr.
Smith’s speech, I know at least part of what I hope to
see.
In the year 2050, the children we are educating today
will occupy positions of leadership in our businesses,
corporations, non-profits, schools, colleges and
universities, local government, state government, federal
government and local communities. The mantle will
have been passed, and the future will be theirs to lead,
develop, enjoy, and prepare for their successors. Like
all of us, I want that future to be bright, I want those
leaders to be intelligent and visionary, and I want to feel
that I’ve done my small part to try to make that happen.
So, the strategic question is, what do today’s children
need in order to become our leaders in 2050?
They need strong, clear values: honesty, scholarship,
respect, and compassion—CCA’s four pillars. And they
need institutions like CCA that work hard to promote
those values. They need well-trained, dedicated teachers
who are continual learners, always seeking ways to
improve what they do. They need talented, cooperative,
achievement-oriented peers who will help create the
synergy that moves a generation forward. They need
well-developed critical thinking skills to tackle problems
that may not even exist now. They need the selfconfidence
that comes from real effort and genuine
achievement within a culture of encouragement so they
know they are competent. They need healthy
competition that teaches them the joy of success and the
lessons that come from failure, the building blocks for
future success. They need a variety of experiences
available to help them grow intellectually and
emotionally, to test their limits, to help them identify
their passions, to learn how to be effective leaders in
whatever endeavor they choose to pursue. They need
daily, meaningful interaction with adults invested in
their progress and prepared to help them along the way.
And they need skill—technological skill, mathematical
skill, communication skill, scientific skill, interpersonal
skill, leadership skill, and mechanical skill. That’s a
long list, and while it’s not complete, it reflects much of
what happens every day at Cape Cod Academy at every
grade level, K-12. While we don’t always look at our
students, your sons and daughters, and think of them as
the leaders of tomorrow, that’s who they are and what
they will be doing. So there’s already a lot of reason for
optimism even with the current economic landscape.
It’s critical for all of us to do our part in shaping the
future leadership of our country, ensuring the full range
of experiences today’s children need in order to become
tomorrow’s leaders. Choosing to enroll your children at
CCA is a substantial investment in tomorrow’s
leadership. CCA depends on the Annual Fund, in
addition to tuition, to sustain all it has to offer. Your
participation in annual giving is a further commitment to
helping our young people have all the experiences they
need to assume their future positions. In the interests of
2050, I hope you will join me in trying to look beyond
the current economic uncertainty and support our
Annual Fund this year so our children don’t miss an

important step along the way. In substantive
ways the Annual Fund supports the margin of
excellence that separates a Cape Cod Academy
education from just an education: professional
development for teachers’, improvements in
technology; enrichment programs; financial aid
to broaden and strengthen our student body;
off-campus learning opportunities; additional
supplies and equipment for science labs, fine
arts classes and performances, and athletics;
and software upgrades. It requires some
sacrifice and strong belief in the well-being of
future generations, and it’s absolutely worth it.
Our school has an impressive history of our
constituents doing what they can to support our
Annual Fund, and in spite of the uncertainty of
the moment, I hope each one of us will
continue to do just that and even more. If we
do, the future that our children and
grandchildren experience will be as secure as
we can make it.
College Counseling
Seniors should ask two teachers to write college recommendations for
them this month, if they have not done so already. Some will be
finishing up their SAT testing on DECEMBER 6 th. (Please note that
Barnstable High School is not a test center on this date.) Seniors should
be preparing their applications and polishing their essays. Those
applying for financial aid should be sure to pick up the FAFSA
worksheet in the college office, and file the PROFILE form, if required.
Many colleges will continue to interview during the first few weeks of
December. Our professional days on Dec. 1 st and Dec. 12 th are ideal
times to finish up those important visits and interviews.
On Thursday, Dec. 4 th , at 6:30 pm in the Science Center lecture
hall, there will be a workshop for parents of seniors on the financial
aid process. Please see the flyer sent home for more details.
Sophomores and juniors will receive their PSAT scores before
Christmas vacation. We will return students' own test booklets and
explain how the PSAT score report can be used to prepare for the SAT I
test (required for admission to college).
Mary Bellamy and A. Kerry Brown
Advanced Placement News
Eighteen members of the class of 2008 have earned the
designation of AP Scholar by the College Board, in
recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams.
Of the more than one million high school students in more
than 16,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP
exams, only 18 percent performed at a sufficiently high level
to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.
Eight CCA graduates qualified for the AP Scholar Award by
completing three or more AP exams, with grades of 3 or
higher: Caitlin Anderson (Washington University in St.
Louis), Rebecca Bertrand (Rollins College), Adam
Blackwood (University of Edinburgh), Nicholas Clarke
(University of Connecticut), Abigail Crowell (Boston
College), Eliza Heussler (Trinity College), Deanna Jones
(Babson College), and Nathan Walsh (Trinity College).
In addition, seven members of the class of 2009 have already
been named AP Scholars on the basis of their junior year AP
performance: Eric Eldredge, James Fargher, Jonathan
Fosdick, David Howland, Anthony Salamone, Sarah Van
Sciver and Kaitlin Zelman.
Eight members of the class of 2008 qualified for the AP
Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at
least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on
four or more of these exams: Ethan Baybutt (American
University), Amani El Sehrawey (Boston University),
Lyssandra Ju (Stonehill College), Samuel Marvin (Boston
College), Kevin McKay (Tufts University), Brittany
McSorley (Boston College), Whitney Shapiro (Princeton
University) and Chelsea Summersall (Colby-Sawyer
College).
Two 2008 graduates qualified for the AP Scholar with
Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5
on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or
more of these exams: Evan Drake (Colgate University) and
Michael Reardon (University of Massachusetts, Amherst).
We are very proud of all of our AP Scholars.
Some other interesting statistics:
Among last year’s junior class who took AP exams, 93%
scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam. (Exams are graded
on a five-point scale: 3 = qualified, 4 = well qualified, and 5
= extremely well qualified.) 58% of those students scored
either a 4 or 5.
Among seniors taking APs, 76% scored a 3 or higher, with
47%, or nearly half, of that group scoring either a 4 or 5.
Almost all colleges and universities value AP grades in the
admissions process, and use these grades to award college
credit or advanced placement.

A Note From Admissions
As the year moves from late fall to early winter and the
days continue to shorten, we often find ourselves taking
stock, grateful for what we have and planning for the
coming year. So it is in the admissions office. We are
grateful that the students who joined us in September now
seem so much a part of the community that it is sometimes
difficult to recall which of them was new to CCA. At this
time we are in the midst of meeting candidates for
admission and their families. We are trying to get the word
out about this outstanding school. That is part of our
planning for the new year.
Elsewhere in these pages, Clark Daggett has eloquently
written about how this school is making an investment in
the future. Our investment is in training the leaders of
tomorrow. CCA, with its facilities, programs, and faculty,
is providing its students with the skills and values to take on
that challenge. It is the people at CCA, and what they
value, that have the greatest influence. It is not only the
faculty who provide inspiration and challenge, but also the
influence of classmates who value achievement and
demonstrate intellectual curiosity. A young person placed
in such an environment has a great advantage over so many
of his or her peers.
Those of us enmeshed with the daily activities of CCAfaculty,
administrators, students and parents- understand
what a special place this school is. We are sometimes
surprised when we encounter people who have little or no
knowledge of CCA, dedicated as it is to the pursuit of
academic excellence and the development of life skills in a
safe, values-centered environment. Getting that message
out is always part of the planning we do each year in
admissions. This office is trying to provide more ways for
families to learn about CCA from those of us who
experience it first-hand. We are planning gatherings
outside of school that will allow for this exchange of
information and provide the positive impressions one
generally gets from this community of learners.
We trust that people in our community are happy to steer
newcomers towards CCA. This is especially true with our
parents. There is no greater endorsement of a school and its
people than to have satisfied parents speak to how their
children are thriving. Our parents are happy to relate their
satisfaction with the school, and it would be good to
provide more opportunities for them to do so. We hope that
some of you will be able to attend a gathering at some
point. We have begun to speak with some parents, and will
speak with more as plans for receptions or coffee hours take
shape. I would like to thank in advance those of you who
can help.
Steve DiPaolo
Director of Admissions
Fall Sports
Girls Varsity soccer finished the fall season with a 7-5-6
record. The girls won the Lighthouse Conference for a
third consecutive year and qualified for the MIAA State
Tournament for a third consecutive year, where they fell to
Norwell HS. The girls also were honored by local soccer
officials with the Cape and Islands Sportsmanship Award
for an unprecedented third straight year. Congratulations to
Junior Kendra Hickman, who surpassed recent graduate
Abby Doyle’s all time scoring record with 61 goals (27 on
the season).
Boys Varsity soccer finished the fall season with a 9-7-2
record and a second place finish in the Lighthouse
Conference. The boys qualified for the MIAA State
Tournament for a third straight year and for the fourth time
in seven years. In the tournament the boys hosted Bourne
HS and in an exciting and evenly matched game, the two
sides remained scoreless after 80 minutes of regulation and
20 minutes of sudden death overtime. After going to a
penalty kick shootout, the teams remained tied after 5 kicks
apiece. In sudden death penalty kicks, the team finally fell
in what was a gallant effort by the entire team.
Girls Cross Country finished the season with an impressive
8-2 record and the boys finished their campaign with a 4-6
record. Sophomore Julia Massard set two course records
on the season and senior Eric Eldredge set one course
record. Both teams traveled to Franklin Park in Boston for
the MIAA Eastern State Meet. The girls placed 27 th out of
37 teams, with Julia Massard finishing first for CCA and
74 th overall (259 runners competed) in a time of 22:36. The
boys placed 29 th out of 39 teams with senior Mike O’Neil
finishing first for CCA and 106 th overall (272 runners
competed) in a time of 19:04.
Phil Kenney
Athletic Director
The Commons is Losing Weight for the
New Year
In the interest of being green, and to reduce printing
and mailing costs, we are going to try to keep
the Commons Newsletter to just 8 pages. With
our new website, CCA can provide more information-often
with greater detail-than we could in the
monthly newsletter. So, be sure to keep an eye on
the website, in addition to the newsletter, for all
your school news. www.capecodacademy.org

Development Office “Wool Shop” News
Annual Fund Inspiration
We get inspired at school every day when we see all of
the things around us that are funded through our Annual
Fund. Whether it is the special field trip to the Museum
Why do I support CCA? “I didn’t know that
such a warm, secure, enriching, educational
environment could exist. My two children
have thrived at CCA. They have two different
approaches to learning, and the individual
attention from faculty helped them both
to grow and succeed.”
Candy Massard, Parent of
Andrew ‘07 and Julia ‘11
of Science or the soccer
team’s uniforms or perhaps
the Mac lab that our photography
student use regularly,
we feel blessd to have these
funds to be able to enhance
the everyday learning of our
students.
We also feel blessed that so
many current parents, past
parents, alumni, grandparents,
trustees, faculty and
friends of CCA understand
how much we rely on everyone’s support.
Thank you to those who have contributed thus far to our
Annual Fund. As of November 15th, we have raised
$41, 431 in gifts and pledges toward our $275,000 goal.
This goal must be made by June 30, 2009.
If you haven’t contributed yet, please visit our website at
www.capecodacademy.org to make an online gift or
pledge to be paid by June 30th, or send your contribution
to CCA Development, PO Box 469, Osterville, MA
02655. We also welcome gifts of stock or securities.
We are always happy to answer questions about how
important your Annual Fund gift is to our school. Call
Jean McCutcheon at 508-428-5400 x 213.
Thank you for your contribution,
Jean McCutcheon
Director of Development
jeanm@capecodacademy.org
The Wool Shop
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
November Parents Association Meeting
Thank you to Risa Rountree, hospitality chairperson,
who brought the delicious goodies for all who
attended our November Parents Association meeting.
They went perfectly with the delicious coffee
that Fancy’s Market of Osterville supplied for
the meeting.
And...to our colleague and CCA parent, Joe
Remillard, we thank you for speaking at our
November Parents Association about the job of
being the new Head of Lower School. Joe was
able to share many insights about the happenings
inside our lower school classrooms, some
anecdotes and videos of various events and some
details about how CCA prepares our Lower School
students for the next step, Middle School.
Sports Award Ceremony
Karen Rauss, CCA parent, sports award ceremony
chairperson for the fourth year in a row and
our Parents Association Treasurer, organized
another very successful event. Thank you,
Karen, and also a huge “thank you” to everyone
who brought desserts to the event and to all who
helped Karen to set up and clean up. A successful
event takes many hands and we appreciate
greatly everyone’s participation and support!
Once again, Michael Kayajan ’95 of Great
Rock Springs donated our bottled water for the
sports award ceremony. Thank you, Michael,
for continuing to be so generous with your
many donations to our school.
Teacher Appreciation
We were very pleasantly surprised in mid-
October by a generous amount of delicious and
healthful snacks that were delivered to our faculty/staff
room. Thank you to Jenny Goff,
teacher appreciation chairperson, for surprising
us with such fine treats. They were very much
enjoyed by all!

Development Office “Wool Shop” News
December Meeting for All Parents! A Parents Association
Meeting
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 8:00AM
Science Center Lecture Hall, Lower Level
Guest Speaker: Vicki Uminowiycz
Manager of Titcomb’s Book Shop
Supplier of our Holiday Book Fair books and a CCA family!
“Who knew?...such great choices for adults, even better
choices for young adults and the very best for children!”
Join us and find out the perfect books to buy at our Holiday
Book Fair—a fundraiser to benefit the entire school.
Titcomb’s Bookshop
Parents Association Executive Board:
Donna Benoit - Co President (Alex ‘11, Jon ‘13 and Noelle ‘18)
Kathy Smith - Co President (Jacqueline ‘14)
Jennifer Rako - Secretary (Alexandra Bernardo ‘16)
Karen Rauss - Treasurer (Olivia ‘11)
CCA’s PARENTS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS
Our Annual
Holiday Book Fair
December 11 and 12, 2008
Thursday and Friday
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Davis Commons
Books for ALL Ages! ▪ Teacher Wish List Books ▪ CCA School Store
Merchandise AND MUCH MORE!
All supplied by Titcomb’s Bookshop, a CCA Family
All proceeds support CCA students in many, many ways!
Please come to enjoy the fun and support this wonderful fundraiser!
Grades K through 6 will visit the book fair on Thursday, 12/11, to fill out wish lists
and may also make purchases.

Development Office “Wool Shop” News
“The Magician’s Boy” and Breakfast
with the Head of School!
It was the lucky 4th grade class whose parents pooled together to
win the bid on this summer auction offering, an opportunity to
have breakfast prepared by and served by Mr. Daggett. Although
“Green Eggs and Ham” was the original theme, these 4th graders
were more than mature enough for “The Magician’s Boy” instead.
The theme quickly changed to dragons and magic and puppet
shows! The scrambled eggs, sausage, and pancakes were plentiful,
as was the excitement and the story telling. It was a morning that
will surely be remembered by every 4th grader, not to mention Mr.
Daggett, who looked right at home in his chef’s hat with spatula in
hand.
An Exciting “Dude Ranch” Adventure!
This magnificent “dude ranch” vacation for two at the Lane
Guest Ranch in Colorado was an auction item offered at our
summer auction and won by the Pajolek family. When they
looked at their busy schedules and realized that they were
unable to enjoy this adventure, they generously donated this
trip back to CCA for a faculty member to enjoy.
So...we offered it to all faculty and staff and were pleased to
see the flurry of interest and excitement. In mid-November,
we hosted an assembly during which time the winners of this
incredible vacation were drawn from a hat.
And the winners were Susannah and Joe Remillard! Yee
Haw!! We’ll expect some tall tales from the great west.
Thank you to the Pajolek family for making this possible.

December 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Lower, Middle &
Upper School
Professional Day
No School
Winter Sports
begins
2
7:55 am-Classes
resume-
2nd Trimester
3
8:00 am-
December PA
Meeting-Science
Lecture Hall
4
6:30 pm-
Workshop for
parents of seniors
on Financial
Aid-Science
Lecture Hall
5
3:30 pm-
BJVBB@
Upper Cape
(scrim.)
5:00 pm-BVBB@
Upper Cape
(scrim.)
6
SAT (optional;
seniors; not at
CCA)
Southeast JH
Music Auditions-
Furnace Brook
Middle School
7 8 9
3:15 pm-BVBB-
Mashpee-
GVBB@
Mashpee
(scrim.)
10
7:00 PM-Lower
School Holiday
Concert-LS
Gym-(K-5)
118:00 am to
4:00 pm
Holiday Book
Fair-Davis
Commons
3:30 pm-GMSBB-
Harwich
5:00 pm-BMSBB-
Harwich
12Parent-
Teacher
Conferences-
No School
8:00 am to
4:00 pm Holiday
Book Fair-Davis
Commons
13
4:00 pm-BVBB-
Hopedale
12/12: 3:00 pm-
BJVBB-
Falmouth Academy
14 15 16
12/16:
4:00 pm-
BMSBB@Falmouth
Academy-GVBB-
Holbrook-GMSBB@
Falmouth Academy
6:00 pm-BVBB-
Holbrook
21 22
9:00-3:00 pm
School office
open
8:00 am to 2:45
pm-Gr. 5 to
Boston Museum
of Fine Arts
23
9:00-3:00 pm
School office
open
17
7:00 pm-Middle &
Upper School
Holiday Concert-
LS Gym (6-12)
24
School office
closed
18
3:30 pm-BJVBB-
Chatham-
GVBB@
Chatham
5:00 pm-BVBB-
Chatham
25
School office
closed
Winter Holiday
19
1:15 pm-All
School Holiday
Concert-LS Gym
26
School office
closed
BVBB-Christmas
Tournament
20
27
BVBB-Christmas
Tournament
28 29
9:00-3:00 pm
School office
open
30
9:00-3:00 pm
School office
open
31
School office
closed
1
School office
closed
2
School office
closed
3
Winter Holiday
Classes resume: Monday, January 5, 2009

Dates to Remember
Monday, December 1
Lower, Middle & Upper School Professional Day-No School
Winter Sports begin
Tuesday, December 2
Classes resume-Second Trimester begins
Wednesday, December 3
December PA Meeting-Science Lecture Hall
Thursday, December 4
Workshop for parents of seniors on Financial Aid-Science Lecture Hall
Saturday, December 6
SAT (optional; seniors; not at CCA)
Saturday, December 6
Southeast JH Music Auditions-Furnace Brook Middle School
Wednesday, December 10
Lower School Holiday Concert (Grs. K-5) Lower School Gym
Thursday, December 11
Holiday Book Fair-Davis Commons
Friday, December 12 Parent-Teacher Conferences-No School for Grs. K-12
Friday, December 12
Holiday Book Fair-Davis Commons
Tuesday, December 16
Grade 5 to Boston Museum of Fine Arts
Wednesday, December 17
Middle & Upper School Holiday Concert (Grs. 6-12)Lower School Gym
Friday, December 19
All School Holiday Concert-Lower School Gym
Friday, December 19 Winter holiday begins at end of day for Grades K-12
Monday, January 5
Classes resume
Wednesday, January 7
Alumni-Senior Lunch-Lower School Gym
Cape Cod Academy admits students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or
ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies, employment practices, and athletic and other school
administered programs.
Editor, Design & Layout: Carrie Christopher
Printing: Minuteman Press, Hyannis, MA
Parents of Alumni: If this publication is addressed
to your child who no longer maintains a permanent
address at your home, please notify the Development
Office of the new mailing address. Send all address changes
to CCA Development Office.
Cape Cod Academy is an EOE
Tel. 508-428-5400; Fax:508-428-0701
Email: cca@capecodacademy.org
You can find this newsletter on our website
www.capecodacademy.org