Academic

GPANEWS
INVENTORS TAKE OVER
THE ACADEMY
More than 90 children who signed up for
The Grosse Pointe Academy’s 2015 edition of
Camp Invention were busy this past August
as one of the most popular camps of the
school’s summer program began in earnest
on GPA’s lakeside campus. According to Camp
Invention director and GPA science teacher
Michelle Roberts, the special “Invention”
course offered last year was called “M.O.V.E.:
Motion, Obstacles, Variety, Excitement.”
The camp is designed for students
entering grades one through six, and
immerses them in a weeklong experience
where they’ll discover creativity and
inventiveness through hands-on, creative
problem-solving activities.
Participants will use their imagination as
they reach for the stars and get in motion,
overcome obstacles, make variations to classic
games and build excitement during this
activity! During this high-energy and vibrant
series of physical activities that promote 21stcentury
thinking and moving, campers will
be encouraged to exercise their teamwork,
cooperation and collaboration skills. Students
will strategize and problem solve their way to
self-confidence through an activity that’s like
recess, only reinvented!
About Camp Invention: Camp Invention
is the only nationally recognized, non-profit
elementary enrichment program backed by
the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Over
the past 40 years, and in partnership with the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
Camp Invention programs have encouraged
nearly two million children, teachers, parents,
college students and independent inventors to
explore science, technology and their own innate
creativity, inventiveness and entrepreneurial
spirit.
CAMPUS PRESERVATION PROJECTS
MAKE BIG PROGRESS OVER SUMMER
BREAK
A major component of this year’s “Fête des Amis” Action Auction, which
was held May 9 on GPA’s campus, was the special ‘paddle-raise’ appeal
dedicated to the preservation of campus buildings and grounds. According to
school officials, net proceeds from the paddle-raise, which totaled in excess
of $125,000, are being used in support of preservation of the Academy’s
historic buildings and grounds.
Over the past summer break, a number of the major initiatives included
in the preservation plan already have been completed. The phone system
school-wide has been significantly upgraded, driveways and parking lots
have been resealed, a new integrated camera/intercom door-entry security
system was installed at all main building entrances, and major tuckpointing
work on many of the brick and limestone joints was completed prior to
school opening in September.
Head of School Lars Kuelling said that these much-needed repairs
and maintenance efforts may not generate the same kind of excitement
as curriculum development or technology enhancements. “But they do
play an important role in sustaining and protecting the nurturing learning
environment inherent in a Grosse Pointe Academy education,” he said. “We
are especially thankful that our generous community came through once
again to help make these improvements happen.”
Kuelling also wanted to make sure all involved knew how grateful he
and the rest of the Academy administration were for all of the hard work
that went into not only the paddle-raise, but the entire auction weekend.
“I would like to thank everyone who had a part in this tremendous event,
especially our co-chairs, Fay and Paul Savage and Lindsey and
Tom Buhl, who put in a great deal of voluntary time in
order to ensure the success of this year’s auction.”
More than 90 children signed up
for The Grosse Pointe Academy’s
2015 edition of Camp Invention
this past August. It is one of
the most popular camps of the
school’s summer program.
32 FALL 2015 / THE ACADEMIC