Faces of Excellence - Berwick Academy

Excellence in Facilities
The Berwick Academy campus has undergone many exciting changes and
enhancements over the past several years. The newest additions to campus
are our state-of-the-art turf fields. The main playing field measures a massive
360’ by 210’ and sits behind Jeppesen Science Center. This high tech fi eld
will be used by the Middle and Upper School soccer, fi eld hockey, and
lacrosse teams. A second “mini-turf” field was also installed this summer
outside of the Kendall Lower School, which will be used by the Lower
School students for outdoor recess and other activities. These projects result
from the extraordinary generosity of a small group of donors who wanted to
support this initiative specifi cally.
Thanks to the Berwick Academy Parents Association (BAPA) and their annual Community Benefi t, our campus has been greatly
enriched in the past three years. One campus improvement project has included a new roof for the Commons Dining Hall. BAPA
is also responsible for funding a beautiful new entryway, outdoor seating area, and landscaping in front of the Clement Middle
School. The newest renovation, completed this summer, is the walkway leading from the parking lot between the Lower School
and the Commons. The walkway welcomes all visitors through a granite stairway at the base on which lies a stunning engraving
of the Academy’s seal.
In addition to the campus improvements, Patricia McManus, Director of Facilities, has worked tirelessly over the last several years
to “go green” in every area possible. One initiative is the composting of all food waste which is recycled and reused for campus
landscaping and was implemented by a group of BA students last year. Another environmentally friendly choice was to power
all campus grounds equipment by bio-diesel fuel. Simply Green, the Seacoast company that provides the biofuels, was founded
by Berwick Academy alumnus Andrew Kellar ‘94. All athletic fields here on the campus (except the turf fi elds of course!) are
maintained with certifi ed organic formulations that create a greener and healthier landscape.
Middle School English teacher Mary Anker can often be found kneeling
by her students’ desks in deep conversation about what they are trying to convey.
This year’s Dorothy Green Teacher of the Year has a philosophy of learning that
refl ects Berwick’s core value of “Stretching Through Engagement.” She knows
her students by listening to their comments in class, their banter during breaks
and sports, their hopes, dreams, and fears. She emphasizes formal writing rather
than creative. In their analysis of literature, students reveal their ideas, forge their
opinions, and practice organization and development of thinking and writing. By
teaching grammar as the language of language, Mary’s students not only understand
the rules of writing and speaking, they are able to articulate their comprehension
and ask cogent questions. They are well-prepared for the acquisition of foreign
language. Through direct instruction and with the knowledge that Ms. Anker will
do anything to help them succeed, students willingly take the risks necessary to
Excellence in Teaching
Mary Anker (L) and Naomi Shihab Nye celebrate the culmination of
their work together at Haystack Mountain School of Arts and Crafts.
Photo credit: David Brook Andrews.
hone skills and gain confidence and pride. In addition to her passion and energy, Mary provides ample class time to work with
students while they write.
Two years ago, Mary was challenged to take the same risks she asks of her students. After bringing BA students to read their poetry
at the Press Room and RiverRun Bookstore, they urged Ms. Anker to read her work, too. She has now read in several public venues.
Her professional development for the past two years has been studying with poet Kimberly Green. This summer she attended the
prestigious Haystack Mountain School of Crafts where her teacher, Naomi Shihab Nye, gave tough but inspiring assignments to
the group of twelve writers. One of Mary’s poems was used by the Precious Metal Clay Instructor, Donna Penoyer, for her class
the next day. Another poem written there about watching a sculptor is now featured on the website www.clyattsculpture.com.
Mary commented that going to Haystack made her remember what it is like to be scared, frustrated, exhilarated, and successful.
Taking classes and reading in public inform her own pedagogy. Mary describes her love for both teaching and writing as alchemy.
The magic of what she does can be overheard in those conversations she cherishes and seen in her students’ enthusiasm.
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