Written by Alice Dang ’20

“Word Wednesday” has officially become the new representation of Hebron’s enthusiasm for creative writing, more specifically, poetry. Being the initiator of this new program has brought me incredible joy as well as great responsibility. It all started with my love for poetry itself and the desire to bring it along wherever I go. Seeing Hebron had a specific “tradition” everyday like  Music Monday or Lumbergames, I noticed that a slot for Wednesdays was empty and an idea instantly came to my head! Spoken poetry performed well could really impact some conventional perspectives on poetry. I personally believe that poetry should not only be read, but also be heard; so it was a great opportunity for other poets to share their words out loud. After getting approval from the teachers and encouragement from friends, I was even more determined to bring this idea to life.

Clearly, there was hesitation and fear that the program would not work out or no one would be interested in joining. However, after introducing “Word Wednesday” and sharing a poem of mine, a lot of people were curious about this new “tradition”. Soon, one after another, more students and teachers started signing up for a spot; within a short period of time, we had the list filled up until the end of winter term! It was then that I’d realized the power of words, how they could bring people together within minutes and gather such an amazing community. The first few weeks of the program went surprisingly well, with readers performing their own work or a favorite of theirs. Aarti Singh was not familiar with the world of poetry, but knowing about “Word Wednesday”, she had volunteered to share her first poem. Christian Quinones also read a heartwarming poem for his sister, Eliza Quinones, on her birthday. I cannot be more thankful for all the people who have signed up to be the “poet of the week”! Poetry can sound intimidating or even tedious at first, but there are various categories and expressions that you never thought you would enjoy until you read (or hear) a really good poem. I would like to quote a saying I found on Tumblr that conveys my feelings for poetry. “I fell in love with you the way paperbacks fall down on shelves; slowly, and then all at once”. I do not expect every single member in Hebron to love poetry instantly, but it is my wish to gradually change people’s view on poetry and help them acknowledge how beautiful yet powerful words can be.

Due to the different schedules in each term, a new name will replace “Word Wednesday”. Stay tuned!

Update: It is now called “Pocket Poetry”!

Written by Emma Skelton ’19

This February’s Saturday Event saw Hebron students learning a wide variety of “life skills,” skills that reach beyond the classroom. Faculty and students alike were involved in the planning of the event as well as teaching each of the seminars. Any students, teachers, staff, or parents were invited to share their abilities with students eager to learn. The final list of seminars ranged from “How to Tie a Tie” to “CPR Certification” to “Budgeting and Banking.” Students submitted their top five choices from the list to try to ensure everyone would be placed in a seminar that they were interested in.

Ms. Miriah Nadeau, one of the key organizers of the event says, “My goals for the  event were for students to go to workshops they were interested and to come out with skills they could use when they leave Hebron. I think the event was extremely successful!  The students I heard from really enjoyed the workshops they attended and learned some great skills. The teachers all seemed to really enjoy the topics they were teaching! Overall, the event seemed to be very well received!”

Students also saw the event as a success. Most everyone seemed content with the workshops they attended. Teemu Hukkanen, class of 2018, even said he didn’t mind waking up early on a Saturday to go to it! Sophomore Ellena Frumeinto says of her experience in the Resumes and Cover Letters seminar, “I learned a lot about how to write a resume and a cover letter. I learned tips about what to do and what not to do. This was a very helpful and informative class and I will definitely use what I learned in the future.” The event appears to be one of the most well received of the year, and the students enjoyed learning important, new skills. I’d say it was a great success!

Written by Sophie List ’19

The Hebron Academy Players are excited to present The Man Who Came To Dinner which will be playing in the Androscoggin Theater on February 23rd and 24th. The Man Who Came To Dinner is a comedy about radio personality Sheridan Whiteside who becomes an unexpected houseguest at the Stanleys’ home after falling and breaking his hip on their doorstep. The play follows the strange time during which Mr. Whiteside lives in their home and consequently turns their lives upside down.

This year’s play is different from those in the past for many reasons. Ms. Coleman, the director, decided it was time to switch things up and Hebron is doing a straight play as opposed to a musical for the first time in many years. Regarding this decision she said she hoped it would get other people involved who did not want to participate in a musical. She also said, “In both the professional world and college they produce more plays than musicals. So if students want to go on and do theater in college, having done a play is important.”

Additionally, many of the props have been built by Hebron’s art classes. Mr. Tholen’s3D art classes were tasked with building a cockroach farm, a massive animal crate, and an Egyptian sarcophagus. It is not just art classes that have been helping out with the production, but the entire community has been indispensable in creating the play. Students have volunteered on weekends to help build, paint, and put up the set. Also, many faculty members and student’s families have volunteered props or other necessities for the production. The drama crew would also like to extend a massive thanks to the folks at Maintenance, to Mr. Bill Anderson, and of course to Ms. Coleman because without her endless dedication to the cast and this production, none of this would have been possible.

Morgan Prentice ‘19, one of the leads, urges everyone to come see the play because, “The cast and crew and Ms. Coleman, of course, put a tremendous amount of work into this play and we would love it if everyone in the community would come to see our hard work.” She guarantees it will be worthwhile and promises: “fun, excitement, action, drama, and gossip.” If you enjoy any or all of these things in a play, make sure to come down to the Androscoggin Theater on February 23rd and 24th at 7:30 PM to see The Man Who Came To Dinner!

Written by Benjamin Bryce ’18

During spring break of this year, Mr. Michael Tholen and Mr. Bill McNamara are taking seven Hebron students on a surf and service trip to Puerto Rico. Leaving March 8th, the group will fly out of Boston-Logan airport and land in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The group is staying in a Hostel and is excited for the warm weather and opportunity to help those that have been ravaged by the latest hurricanes.

Service-oriented work will be done throughout the week, but one notable service initiative will be beach clean-up on the island beaches. When not doing service work, the group is slated to practice surfing and engage in hiking and other outdoor activities. The students that are going are Ben Bryce, Delano Brown, Masataka Mita, Beks Alimov, Will Kline, Saga Stenberg, and Grace Keneally.

Written by Bradley Sperl ’18

October 13th was the annual fall Cohen Concert. These concerts are thanks to the Cohen Chamber Music Series sponsored by the Saul B. and Naomi R. Cohen Foundation. Mr. Cohen was a graduate from Hebron Academy in 1951 and served on the Board of Trustees as well. These concerts are meant to engage students in world-class musical performances, something that not everyone gets the chance to experience. This specific concert was performed by Yevgeny Kutik, a Russian-American Violinist from Boston, and Dina Vainshtein a Russian Pianist. They are both well known and well educated musicians holding degrees from world-renowned music institutes and conservatories. The program for the evening featured pieces from Mendelssohn, Bloch, Debussy, Franck, and Ravel. Personally, my favorite was the “Baal Shem (Three Pictures of Chassidic Life),” which is a piece with three movements where each movement represents a part of life, one of which being marriage. About thirty people attended the concert, half students, and the other half faculty and parents. These concerts are a great way to get involved in the music program at Hebron while learning more about different music genres.