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Adoption Support Group Hide

In 2006-07, Solebury School students who have been adopted by their current families began a support group under the faculty direction of Diane Downs, an adoptive parent/sister/aunt.

This year, the group will be meeting regularly during M&M period (9:50 - 10:30 a.m.) to discuss issues unique to adoptees and their families.

The group has invited guest adoption speakers to meet with student adoptees, but also to address adoptive parents and teachers. These talks will also be open to the broader community. If this topic is of interest to you or someone you know, be on the look out for fliers, emails, and articles in local papers advertising these events. We are also collecting adoption resources which we will make available to adoptees and adoptive families.

For further information on the Solebury School adoption support group, please contact &lt;script language="JavaScript"> user = "ddowns";site = "solebury.com";document.write('<A href=\"mailto:' + user + '@' + site + '\">'); &lt;/script>Diane Downs or call her 215-862-5261 ext. 147.

Academic Committee Hide

The Academic Committee is made up of teachers and students. This group meets with certain students on the Academic Warning List or students in other academic difficulties. The most common role of the Academic Committee is to counsel students. The committee will usually develop an academic plan (with the student's and advisor's input), which the student will be expected to follow. The Academic Committee also may place a student on Academic Probation.

Amnesty International Hide

Amnesty International, which has been a club at Solebury in the past, was revived in the 2004-05 academic year by then senior Emily Ferris and junior Kali Graham. This club has been active or inactive over the years, largely depending on student interest.

Amnesty International (AI) fights to promote human rights causes around the globe.

This is AI's mission statement taken off their Web site:
“AI's vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

In pursuit of this vision, AI's mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights.

AI has a varied network of members and supporters around the world. At the latest count, there were more than 1.8 million members, supporters and subscribers in over 150 countries and territories in every region of the world.”

In recent years, our student group has focused most of its activities on letter writing campaigns called “Urgent Actions.” Urgent Action appeals concern individuals whose human rights have been violated and whose lives are in jeopardy. For example, a union leader in Myanmar might be a victim of imprisonment and torture. At Solebury, we would send letters directly to those in position of authority in Myanmar to have such a prisoner of conscience released. Our group sends about 50-100 letters for each Urgent Action. While this may not seem significant, if groups from all over the world target the same issue, the letters can add up to the tens of thousands. The letter writing campaigns are significant tools that give Amnesty International the leverage to push governments to put a stop to human rights abuses.

In addition to letter writing campaigns, our student group raised money so we could afford postage for our letter writing campaigns, and so we could make donations to AI. During lunch, we would set up a table to inform students about the current letter writing campaign; many students would then sign the letters we prepared. We also had bake sales at these times to raise money. Our group organized a large rummage sale/clothing sale to raise funds.

The group meets once a week during M&M. (9:50 - 10:30 a.m.)

Book Club Hide

Solebury School’s BOOK CLUB

Join the Discussion: http://soleburyreads.wetpaint.com/

About us:

The Book Club was founded in 2007 with 7 inaugural members: Ryan Todd (founder), Krystal Marte, Anders Simpson-Wolf, Hanna Elliot, Peter Ammirati, and Erika Bonner. Our mission is to encourage students and faculty members alike to enjoy classic and contemporary literature outside of the works assigned for class. The Book Club is a stress-free environment with no obligation; books are (usually, but not always!) enjoyed best if read by one’s own volition. Last year we met about once a week to discuss the week’s reading. By no means were our meetings strictly academic! We, as a group, simply found that we discovered plenty of interesting analyses to share.

Works read last year:

The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe (Fitzgerald’s long work took up the fall trimester and more, hence the short list.)

Plans for the 2008-2009 school year:

The Book Club will continue in full force this school year; however, things will be run a bit differently. It is undeniable that there is no mere modicum of clubs run at Solebury. This leads to scheduling pressure and difficulties in meeting on a weekly basis, and also alienates the students and faculty who, on the meeting day, have more pressing obligations. Therefore, Hanna Elliot proposed a solution that we are planning to implement. If everything works out, the Book Club will be taken online; discussions will take place in a forum setting. There are many benefits. Now, the option of discussion is kept without the difficulty of setting up a meeting time. There is also no pressure to discuss, and members who wish simply to read always have the option of watching the discussion play out. Members who wish to participate now can think their responses out carefully and can contribute at any time. With a link on the school website, the Club will have a wider audience. Finally, this does not rule out the option of discussing face-to-face, one-on-one (or more!) in the members’ own time. Happy reading!

Community Council Hide

Community Council is an organization comprised of student representatives from each grade as well as a faculty advisor to each class. The group is the primary means for students to express their needs and concerns, and to see that action is taken. It meets weekly to plan events, discuss problems, and present concrete solutions to genuine concerns of the school community. It is also responsible for the operation of Mike's Cafe, a small snack bar located in the student lounge, and has provided vending machines for more snacks.

Advisor - Annette Miller, Dean of Students

Community Service Hide

Every individual possesses some quality which can help others. Community Service-time and skills given to an individual or organization in need-heightens one's understanding for different groups in society, and it lends a new perspective on one's own life. In recent years, as the world has become a more complicated and often harsh environment, the value of positive influence in one's community has become more and more apparent.

In an effort to put into practice Solebury's philosophy of commitment to the “active concern for the greater humanity,” Community Service has become an integral part of the Solebury experience. The administration and faculty have for years seen disciplines such as Science, English, Mathematics, Foreign Language, Social Studies, the Arts, and Athletics as such high priorities that they are required experiences of each Solebury graduate. Solebury School has made Community Service a priority for its students and a requirement for graduation.

• Students from grades nine through twelve will be expected to complete ten hours per year of approved community service. Up to half of these hours may be completed on campus. Middle school students will be required to complete five hours per year. Those entering Solebury after 7th grade will not be required to make up the lost hours from previous years; the requirement begins with the year of the student's enrollment. Any number of hours above the required ten hours per year will count toward the next year's requirement. Therefore, a student might conceivably satisfy his or her entire requirement in one summer.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY SERVICE?
Community service opportunities are as diverse as our student body. The Community Service Advisors will help students and advisors to find opportunities. Here are but a few examples of appropriate service:

• People who love animals can help at the Humane Society or another such organization.
• Athletes can work as referees or umpires for local youth groups, or help with the Special Olympics.
• People who enjoy working with children can get involved at homeless shelters or elementary schools to spend time with the children. They can work for Special Olympics or Easter seals to help children with handicaps.
• Those with musical or artistic talents can perhaps share them at retirement centers, day care centers, or not-for-profit arts centers.
• Those concerned with issues of hunger could work at a soup kitchen or in a food pantry.
• Those who share a concern for the environment can work at various parks in the area, form a group to adopt a highway, or help ecological organizations such as the Audubon Society or Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center.
• Students whose lives have been touched by a disease like cancer or AIDS can volunteer at fundraising events or do office tasks for groups like the American Cancer Society or FACT Bucks County.
• Those already involved in a church, synagogue, or other religious society can get involved with community service through that organization.
• Students can work for the American Red Cross, local fire and emergency stations, or other emergency relief organizations.
• On campus, students can volunteer to help the school as: Peer Tutors; Sherpas (guides for visitors to campus); helpers at the school auction in the spring.

Conversation Partners Hide

The purpose of the Conversation Partner is the make it easier for international students to integrate into the Solebury community. The added bonus is that you each get to learn about another culture.

To qualify, you must be a Solebury student who is a native born speaker of English. You must have patience and have some free time. You must make the commitment for a full year, and you should not be in academic jeopardy.

We expect you to have two (2) 30 minute conversations with your international partner each week on a free or assigned topic. You must write one page in a journal about each conversation you have completed. The journal must be handed in every Friday by 3 p.m. Your journal will be given a score depending on the content.

The advantages of being a Conversation Partner are clear. At the end of the trimester your journal scores will be averaged and the appropriate points (+3 to -2) will be added or subtracted from your final class average. So if you have an English grade of 78%, a +3 could move you from a C+ to a B- grade. If you complete the year as a successful Conversation Partner, you will receive 1 credit on your transcript or you may use it as community service hours. You will be able to list this on your college application to show that you were involved in the community. You will be invited to birthday celebrations of international students during occasional conference periods, and you will have made a new friend and learned about a country from which you are far removed.

If you are interested in being a Conversation Partner or have questions about the program, contact Cinnie Wappel at cinniew@solebury.org or ask one of the many partners from last year.

Diversity At Solebury (D-Club) Hide

Dorm Proctors Hide

Proctors are student leaders who oversee the daily routines and guidelines in the dormitories. The proctor's position is a very important one; s/he is a leader in this community whom we think will work well with the teachers and the students. The proctoring role is one that may be difficult at times, and requires a great deal of responsibility, but it can be very rewarding to help a fellow student.

Girl Power, Inc. Hide

Girl Power Inc. Purpose: To provide a space for young women to acquire and use the tools needed for developing a positive self image and decision making. Utilizing dialogue and self reflection, participants will also have an opportunity to enhance their sense of community with each other and the faculty members involved. Girl Power Inc. will schedule a series of outings for the young women to discuss issues relating to being a woman in the 21st century.

Girl Power Inc. meets during M&M period.

Events are listed on the school's Web site calendar.

Judiciary Committee (Four students and three faculty members) Hide

National Spanish Honor Society Hide

The Spanish Honors Society at Solebury School has participated in several activities during the 2007-08 school year. They have done some fundraising by selling salsa and chips, along with baked goods, and several other bake sales, which raised almost $200. They held two movie nights, where the school community was invited to come and watch a documentary about Colombian gang warfare called "La Sierra" as well as the Spanish modern classic "Todo sobre mi madre" by Almodovar. The group plans to have a chili cook-off and also plans on making pi…atas for Palooza. They will end the year with a Spanish Honors Society dinner.

In the spring, the current members will host a celebration for the new members who will be inducted.

To be inducted into the National Spanish Honor Society, students must be in Spanish II or higher in the third trimester. Students must have an average of A - or better.

Outdoor Club Hide

The Outdoor Club's intention is to be outside enjoying nature in a non-competitive arena. We hope to:

•Explore the perimeter of the school, walking on the fields, up into the forest and around the new gym. Observing and talking about the different types of trees, flowers, animals and birds.

•Spend time in the woods behind the football field cleaning up the cabin and perhaps lighting a fire to warm ourselves.

•Build bird houses to be used, hopefully by bluebirds.

•Construct natural-material dwellings for fairy folk on “tree island” behind the Abbe building.

•Take nature walks/scrambles along the canal bank, in Ralph Stover Park and other appropriate venues.

•“Wet” hikes on/in Tohickon creek and other streams and rivers.

•Perhaps do some rock climbing at High Rocks.

•Experience canoeing on local ponds, canals and perhaps even the River Delaware.

•First-Aid instruction.

•Watching adventure sports and/or nature appreciation films.

•Classes in nature craft and survival skills.

•Also this year we have a teacher experienced in the various opportunities offered by local environmental organizations and we hope to participate in appropriate events.

Peer Leaders Hide

Each year a number of students are selected to become Peer Leaders. They receive special and extensive training on how to counsel their peers on the many different and complex issues that adolescents face. Peer Leaders meet as a group on Mondays and then with new student groups on Tuesdays from 9:50-10:25 a.m. during the fall trimester.

Peer Tutors Hide

The Peer Tutoring program has a number of student volunteers to tutor other students who are struggling in particular classes. Questions about or request for this service should be directed to the Peer Tutoring Coordinator.

Prom Committee Hide

SEAC - (Solebury's Environmental Action Corps) Hide

SEAC (Solebury Environmental Action Corps) first priority is to create an efficient, organized recycling program with the support of Home and School as well as the students and faculty on campus. When SEAC was first organized in 2005, the group sponsored a competition among students in which they are challenged to come up with an attention-grabbing recycle logo that will promote recycling. Lina Pearson won first prize. SEAC also has a mission to encourage conservation right here at Solebury through education. SEAC meets during M&M. All students and faculty are welcome!

In recent years, SEAC organized a school-wide celebration for Earth Day. With the support of the administration, an entire afternoon was dedicated to outdoor activities geared toward appreciating our planet and the elements earth, wind, fire, and water. Activities included kite designing and flying, tree and garden planting, mural drawing, stream exploring, nature hiking, bow drill fire building, and much more! Parents contributed organic goodies to enjoy before an open-mic presentation put on by students.

Ski/Snowboarding Club Hide

SPECTRUM (Formerly known as the Gay/Straight Alliance) Hide

Seeking to expand our mission and our goals, and to be more inclusive of different groups, the GSA has changed its name to SPECTRUM. The name has two meanings. It plays on the traditional symbol of sexual tolerance, the rainbow, but primarily it is intended to express the idea that sexuality and gender identity both are spectrums. Sexuality is not simply gay and straight, nor is gender identity simply male and female. Between both of these sets of extremes lie a host of other groups of people such as bisexual and transgender. SPECTRUM feels it is important to represent, defend, and make welcome all people, and that the name Gay-Straight Alliance worked against this goal.

As a group, we have identified three main objectives of our group:

1) Safety and support - There are students here who are gay, who are bisexual, who are transgender, who are questioning. Some of them belong to SPECTRUM, I'm sure there are others who do not. SPECTRUM is a place where they, together with their straight allies, can come together and deal with questions such as: How can we make sure that people of all sexualities and gender identities feel comfortable and safe here at Solebury? How can we make sure that this is a place that promotes tolerance rather than tolerating bigotry?

2) Social - We watch movies and discuss them, we eat brownies, we do things with students from other schools. The goal is to have fun and enjoy each other's company.

3) Activism - Whether it is organizing our school to participate in the local AIDS Walk, dealing with local, national, or international instances of injustice and bigotry, or organizing events like the ones mentioned below, we feel that there are problems that require our attention and our efforts.

Last spring, SPECTRUM hosted an inter-school summit to discuss these issues and try to make all schools in the area safe places. Students from local public and private schools were invited and encouraged to attend. Organizers of this event were thrilled with the response and decided to make it an annual event.

In addition, SPECTRUM organized the second annual “Day of Silence” in mid-April. This is a day where students and teachers voluntarily take a day-long vow of silence to acknowledge, and to protest, the discrimination and violence that occurs in schools against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth and adults.

SPECTRUM meets during M and M period (9:50 - 10:30 a.m.). Discussions are based on things like the above events, but they also spend a lot of time discussing events here at school, doing activities that promote understanding and foster discussion of these topics, and eating yummy snacks. No one is ever pressured to discuss their own sexuality or personal life. By coming to our meetings, you are not declaring you are gay, straight, or anything in between, you are simply saying you support our agenda. ALL ARE WELCOME!!! Come check us out!