Press Releases
Upland student's 'battlebot" wins big in science competitions
By Wm. Shawn Weigel
Published in The Kennett Paper: Thursday, May 06, 2010
When it came time for Upland ninth grader Alex Horne to choose an independent study project, he had little idea it would go quite so far.
An optional course for ninth grade Upland Country Day School students, the independent study project presents a one-on-one learning opportunity according to school head David Suter, who oversees the projects with the students.
For independent study, students put forth a written project proposal in the spring of their eighth grade year, which they will complete through independent study, work and weekly meetings with the head of school during their ninth grade year.
In the spring of their ninth grade year, students display the results of their work for parents, teachers and friends in a public exposition.
The goal, Suter said, is for the student to explore a personal interest that falls outside of the regular school curriculum. The project completes a year-long course of study in collaboration with Suter and comes in addition to the rest of the full ninth grade schedule.
"It's a really neat thing for our kids that differentiates it from a normal ninth grade year," Suter said. "And Alex took this idea and really ran with it, and that's the glory of this assignment."
Alex decided to create a "battlebot," a specialized remote controlled "robot" with destructive qualities designed to duke it out with similarly designed models in judged competitions.
Alex's battlebot - the "shish-kabot" - is built low to the ground and wide, making it more difficult to flip over. If indeed it does get flipped, the wheels hit the ground no matter which side it's on, allowing it to continue fighting. Alex's bot has a maximum speed of 14 MPH, almost double what the usual bot has.
Specifically, Alex's is a 30-pound Sportsman-class bot. It was built at his home with the help of his father Greg and is made mostly out of UHMW plastic and Lexan glass. Four modified 18-volt drill motors power the Shish-kabot and its primary weapon is a sharpened steel rod that pokes from the front of the bot.
Throughout the construction process, Alex took numerous photos and videos and wrote detailed journal entries for use in his independent study presentation.
He started work on the bot back in October and continued independently throughout the winter months, revising and perfecting the original design which he said he drew out on the back of a piece of cardboard.
And although he was shooting for completion of the independent study process, he wound up with a surprising number of successes along the way.
The Shish-kabot made its debut at the 2010 Motorama battlebot competition in Harrisburg on Feb. 20 and 21. There, Alex and his brand-new bot defeated opponent after opponent until he finally lost in the final match of the Sportsman Division, netting him second place and a 4-1 record.
After scoring enough points at the Upland Science Fair to earn a place in the Chester County Science Fair, Alex took home the first place ribbon in engineering, the overall Excellence in Engineering award for high school students and third place Best in Show for the ninth grade in the county competition.
Because of his success in the county competition, Alex then moved on to the Delaware Valley Science Fair competition in King of Prussia on April 6, where he competed against students from four states
.
Again, Alex came home as a double winner with second place in the ninth grade engineering competition and a special award to speak and display his robot at the University of Pennsylvania NANO/BIO Interface Center on Nanoday in October 2010.
Inspired by the now-defunct television show, "Battlebots," Alex said the nexus of the project was very simple.
"Basically, I like to build things," he said.
Although he was initially interested in the bots as a hobby, when his parents balked at the investment of time, money and energy taken from school, Alex had a thought.
"I said, 'well how about for class?'" he said.
And the background that helped decide on what to build?
I like Legos," he said.
Alex and Shish-kabot's next battle is scheduled for October 9 at the Franklin Institute. He's also using his robotics knowledge to help fund his endeavors, as he will be working this summer for a battlebot party business in the area.
To learn more about Shish-kabot visit http://teamcookinwithgas.tripod.com/Shish-Kabot.html. To view videos of the battles, visit YouTube and search "shish kabot spyro."
Upland students create mural for Kennett food cupboard
By Wm. Shawn Weigel
Published in The Kennett Paper: Thursday, March 18, 2010
When community service and art combine at Upland, the results are pretty spectacular.
Last week, Upland Country Day School in East Marlborough Township donated a student-created mural to the Kennett Area Food Cupboard, located on Cedar Street in Kennett Square.
And although the mural was created as part of the school's regular art program, a group of students also spent much of their daily free periods in the art studio working on the project.
Upland community coordinator Sylvia Barreiro said the idea for the mural came while some students were serving at a food distribution in December at the food cupboard's new offices.
"I asked [executive director] Sandy [Reynolds]. 'Is there anything in particular you need for this building from our wonderful art department?' Barreiro said. "And Sandy said, 'How about a mural?'"
Reynolds said the mural, which depicts a pastoral farm scene with cows and a red barn spread out across a hillside, keeps in theme with the region's agricultural and multi-cultural history and is a perfect addition to the food cupboard's new digs.
"And it's something done by the kids," she said.
Barreiro said the students have been working on the mural since December, in both the regular art classes and with a smaller group of students from sixth, seventh and eight grades.
Those students chose to work on the project as part of a daily activity period that can be used for enrichment in a variety of subjects, according to Barreiro.
"They can do music, there's some science work they can do, they can explore all kinds of activities. And the faculty provide this extra time," she said.
Upland art teacher Terry Anderson said that the students provided Reynolds with drawings for the design and that they collaborated with her to create the right piece.
"I looked at the drawings and said, 'I like them all! Let's put them together!'" Reynolds said. "And they did!
"
After they received approval on their design, Barreiro said the students then visited the mural at the Garage on Union Street in Kennett Square to get a feel for the kind of art that fits in with the community.
"I'm very impressed," Reynolds said. "And it's a very cool design."
Barreiro said that the project is part of a continuing community outreach effort on Upland's behalf that works to show students the value of service.
"Community action has to be taught," Barreiro said. "And we go out into the community and we say, well we're a community partner so what can each of us do? And teach them to do one thing, because one thing leads to another."
And that idea of service is expanding to an international level, Barreiro said, as she plans side trips to Costa Rica for some students while others plan on exchanging with Finnish students.
"We want to take it from the ground up - from the family to the school to the community locally to the international community," she said.
This article can also be viewed on the Kennett Paper's website, at:
http://www.southernchestercountyweeklies.com
Emphasis on Service at Upland Country Day School
From the Kennett Paper Back-to-School August 20-26, 2009 Education Supplement
While spending each day on a 23-acre country campus just outside of Kennett Square, Upland Country Day School students are learning that even though they are fortunate to learn and grow in such a bucolic setting, they are also citizens of their local and global communities and as such, are called upon to make a difference.
Upland, since its founding in 1948, has always put an emphasis on service in and outside of school as part of the School's commitment to enrichment activities. Throughout their time at Upland, students are always celebrated as individuals, but they are also shown how they are each contributing members within a community.
Whether their service project is taking out the recycling at school or volunteering time at the Kennett Food Cupboard, Upland students learn compassion and responsibility from the time they enter in pre-kindergarten until the time they graduate after 9th grade. "While academic excellence is central to what we do at Upland, so is teaching young people how to be service-oriented and active in their communities," said head of school David Suter.
Upland's focus on philanthropy and learning how to make a difference has taken a global focus in the last couple of years. During the 2007-2008 school year, Upland collectively decided to support the efforts of the organization Power Up Gambia, a not-for profit organization dedicated to providing electricity and water to hospitals in the Gambia through the use of solar energy. The organization was founded by local college student Kathryn Cunningham, who visited Upland and inspired students and teachers to work together to come up with different games and projects in order to raise money for the cause.
The teachers and students used the science, art, music, and social studies curriculum as vehicles to build a solar powered popcorn popper, learn more about African geography, bring in two artists-in-residence, and perform an Upland-written song for Power Up Gambia.
More recently, throughout the 2008-2009 school year, Upland students learned even more about what it means to be global citizens through supporting the service-learning program Pennies for Peace, which was founded by Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson who is committed to helping build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. After reading Mortenson's book, Upland's Head of School David Suter thought Pennies for Peace would be an excellent program for Upland's students to support. "The book is a call to action for us to help underprivileged young people by supporting their efforts to become educated. The tie-in of these philanthropic opportunities to our curriculum, to our mission, and to the culture of our small school is perfect!" Suter remarked.
Headed by Upland's 4th grade Poppers, who for the past five years have successfully run a school-based popcorn business for charity, learning teamwork and creative marketing ideas was key to the program's success. "Starting with a reading of the children's version of the book, Three Cups of Tea, was essential to help fourth graders understand and empathize with children a whole world away," said 4th grade teacher Julie Wells. Running a small business isn't easy and raising money is even more difficult. "The children took turns rotating through groups of marketing, advertising, defining mission statements, exploring different ideas for packaging and flavors and came up with a plan that works." Meanwhile, they learn geography, mathematics, advertising, letter writing, social studies, science, and even sing a class composed jingle. For this particular project, there was a different initiative for each month, and most importantly for the fundraising, popcorn sold at every event and lunch two days a week, totaling over 200 pounds of popcorn! From the littlest pre-kindergartener to the biggest ninth grader, everyone was involved in helping raise an amazing $10,000! Kids helping kids is always a great fit, and Upland students learned that nothing—not even a penny—is valueless, and that even a small group of people working together can have a global impact.
The lessons that arise from taking part in causes like Power Up Gambia and Pennies for Peace are numerous and far reaching. Students learn that anyone, no matter where they live or how young they are, can make a difference. Additionally, everyone, regardless of age or background, should work to be citizens of their own local communities and of the global community as well. These are lessons that Upland is committed to instilling in all of its students.
Money raised by Upland Country Day School students will go toward the
building of a school overseas.
By BRENDAN MONAHAN, Staff Writer
Even after a yearlong fundraiser ended, pennies continued to pile up in
Julie Wells' mailbox.
The fourth-grade teacher at the Upland Country Day School has seen plenty
of pennies throughout the 2008-2009 school year. Wells' class led Upland
in a school-wide effort to raise $10,000 for the Pennies for Peace
organization.
Wells claimed the school's final estimate tallied $10,005.01. The money
was raised in order to build a school for children in either Afghanistan
or Pakistan.
"I absolutely did not throw in that penny," Wells said. "It just happened
to be that way."
Upland was first inspired to raise the $10,000 after several teachers read
Greg Mortenson's book, "Three Cups of Tea." Mortenson co-founded the
Central Asia Institute and later founded Pennies for Peace to provide
children in Afghanistan and Pakistan with proper education.
Wells read the children's version of "Three Cups of Tea" to her
fourth-grade class. Every year Upland chooses an organization to donate
to, and this year, Mortenson's book encouraged the students to give to
underprivileged children in another part of the world.
The various penny fundraisers included a horse race in May, an expanded
Santa contest in December and a black-versus-gold competition. All three
contests pitted groups of students against each other with groups
scrambling to get more pennies than the other.
Pennies were also raised through Poppin' for Charity, a popcorn business
run each year by the fourth grade with the students charting their
monetary progress.
"As the totals were rising they got real excited about that," said school librarian Grace McKay. "To have
a goal and to actually meet your goal was real positive for them."
McKay was a vital part of the operation because, as Wells said, the
library is a "central location." Whenever pennies were brought in, they
were taken to the library.
The pennies didn't just accumulate at Upland. The children had penny
depots set up in their parents' work offices, said Wells, and the children
made phone calls in order to gain as many pennies as possible. Upland Head
of School David Suter said even the pre-kindergarten class believed one
penny could make a difference.
Although the $10,000 mark may have been feasible in the students' minds,
Suter, McKay and Wells admitted that at first, they didn't think that sum
of money could be raised.
"10,000 was sort of a magical number in the book in that that was the cost
that was needed to build a school in Afghanistan or in Pakistan," Suter
said. "We sort of joked about the idea of building Upland East and that
number became our target goal."
As a result of the school's achievements, the fourth grade spoke to
Pennies for Peace Director Christiane Leitinger via Skype earlier this
month.
Leitinger responded to the students' questions, said Wells, and her
reaction was one of astonishment.
"She actually blinked and sat back," Wells said. "Her reaction was a,
'What!' kind of thing."
Leitinger wasn't the only one astonished over the money raised. The
students had the same reaction when the fourth grade presented two large
checks in front of the school last week.
Although the yearlong project culminated with the checks, Wells still has
to decide what to do with the penny accumulation in her mailbox.
"I keep thinking I'm going to keep collecting them and send them a check
at some point," Wells said. "It's funny that people keep dropping them on
my desk, and people keep coming in with them. I don't know if I'll ever
take this hat off at this point."
A Lifetime of Learning
By, Tony Rotondo
Curtesy of Chester County Life Magazine
On 23 acres of lush green fields and wooded groves in Southern Chester County, Upland Country Day School encourages children to be independent learners and vital members of their community. It is a school with a rich history and a unique story to tell. Donna Melton, Director of Development at Upland says, “It is exciting to wake up every morning and have another chance to capture and tell Upland’s story as it unfolds.”
The independent day school on West Street Road in Kennett Square is home away from home to over 200 students, pre-Kindergarten through 9th grade. Looking at the school now, it is hard to believe that on its very first day on September 13, 1948 there were only 22 students and four faculty members housed in a small farmhouse on Upland Road.
Upland's founding mothers - Mrs. Kerr, Mrs. Lofting, Mrs. Cocks and Mrs. Newhall- shared a vision for a school that would encourage children to think independently and to live and work well with others. Their vision became Upland Country Day School, and while people, buildings and programs have been added through the years, its values and goals have never changed. Says Melton, “The school prides itself on offering quality education, small classes and individual attention, and a well-rounded student experience.”
Walking through Upland’s classrooms and park-like campus, evidence of the School’s history and traditions are everywhere. But while Upland clearly has a rich history, it is always looking to the future. A new chapter in the Upland story is the recent arrival of new Head of School David Suter who comes from St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut. Suter, who is excited about joining the Upland faculty, is drawn to Upland because of its focus on providing a relevant education that will serve students not only in high school and college, but their adult lives, as well. He says, “This school has a great history, a great culture, and most importantly great people working with kids.”
The educational philosophy at Upland is structured around the “Four A’s,” a concept which permeates the school’s curriculum. This alchemy of Academics, Arts, Athletics and Attitude helps students discover talents, strengths and ultimately, identity. “Watching young people learn something about themselves through the work they do in and out of the classroom speaks to the joy of participation and the joy of creativity and teamwork,” Suter says. There are no barriers between the academic classroom, the art studio or the athletic field. Lessons and values are shared across the disciplines. Gina Ralston, alumna and current English teacher at the school, says, “Learning is not confined to the classroom here; it happens anywhere and everywhere.”
The first “A,” Attitude, is about positive relationships and consideration of others and is based on the School’s motto, “Understanding, Trust and Responsibility. “It’s about being open-minded, not judgmental,” explains Suter. “We teach children to be accepting of others as they learn about their differences.”
Attitude informs the other three “A’s”- Academics, Arts and Athletics. Academics, is developmentally appropriate and sequential, and is rigorous on all levels. Upland's three divisions - Primary (Pre-Kindergarten through 1st grade), Lower School (2nd through 5th grade) and Upper School (6th through 9th grade) - focus on teaching children how to learn so that when they leave Upland they possess a clear understanding of how they learn best and how to be independent learners.
Academically, there are many aspects of Upland’s multidimensional curriculum that make an Upland education unique. For example, laboratory science begins in Kindergarten. By 2nd grade students have 40-minute science classes three times a week. Additionally, instruction in Spanish begins in Kindergarten, and by 1st grade, students have Spanish twice a week. When students get to Upper School, they take one year of Latin to further build their foundation for language, and then choose between Latin and Spanish for the remainder of Upper School.
Additionally, class trips augment the curriculum beginning in Pre-Kindergarten and multi-day curricular adventures begin in grade 5. The traveling classroom experience culminates in the Upland Overseas annual trip to Finland by 8th and 9th grade students. Begun in 1977, this program of friendship and cultural exchange is believed to be the oldest middle school international exchange program in the country. Not only do Upland students travel to Finland, but Upland hosts two or three Finnish students each year and, every three to five years, welcomes Finnish gymnastics and ice hockey teams for a similar cultural exchange.
"In athletic circles, Upland is known as 'the little engine that could,' ” explains Melton. Upland teams are known as much for their heart as their skill on the field or the ice, as the school's trophy cases will attest. Upland's coaches are teachers first, so from learning basic skills in Lower School PE classes to the interscholastic competition that begins in the Upper School, students understand that the athletic program is an extension of the classroom. Upland students play fall (soccer, field hockey), winter (ice hockey, volleyball or cross country) and spring (lacrosse) against local schools and in eagerly anticipated regional tournaments that are part of the rich athletic tradition. “Athletics is a required part of the curriculum because we believe that the playing field is one of the best places to develop character,” said Melton. "There are so many natural opportunities to teach young people about teamwork, fair play and good sportsmanship."
Responsibility and teamwork are also by-products of the fourth “A,” Art. In a time when many schools are cutting back on their art programs, Upland's is expanding! Recent studies reveal that art develops creative expression, listening, problem-solving, cognitive and fine motor skills, all of which enhance academic performance. Upland students study Music, Drama, 2-D and 3-D art during the year and participate in art shows as well as musical concerts and theatrical productions- from Shakespeare to Broadway classics. To further encourage cultural understanding and a broader view of the world, Upland hosts several visiting artists each year.
Another unique aspect of an Upland education is the 9th grade year. This is a critical and rewarding year for students because it allows them to consolidate their academic skills, to explore their own strengths, and to mature in a caring and supportive environment. While many 9th graders at larger schools are struggling at the bottom of the social heap, Upland’s 9th graders have the opportunity to assume the leadership roles that most high schools reserve for their juniors and seniors. Serving as active leaders for an entire student body at a time when they are developmentally ready for the responsibility, by the time they graduate Upland's 9th graders are armed with the confidence and skills they need to become active and vocal members of their new communities.
Along with leadership development, Upland’s 9th grade year includes a highly personalized secondary school placement program. With a Director of Secondary School Placement coordinating a personalized search process designed to help each student find the right fit for their next school, many Upland graduates choose one of the fine area independent day schools; many are accepted into some of the East coast’s most prestigious boarding schools; and some choose their local public schools. Gina Ralston finds that her own education at Upland made her own transition seamless. “Certainly my high school was so much bigger, but I left Upland with confidence that I could find my niche. And I did, not just because I had confidence, but because I had social and academic skills as well. When I was a kid, this was a great place to learn. Now that I’m an adult, I find it’s a great place to teach.”
Upland Country Day School - A Lifetime Of Learning Begins At Upland. in the unique elements of the curriculum, the full participation philosophy - on the beautiful country campus, in the small classes and through the dedicated faculty who care deeply about children. Upland educates the whole child with the belief that a bright future cannot rest on an incomplete foundation- there is a great deal of caring and trust that stays with students long after they have graduated. Each year, Upland hosts an annual alumni ice hockey and volleyball tournament on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Amazingly for a small junior school, approximately 250 alums return each year to catch-up with old friends and teachers, to take to the ice or the court with former teammates and to reminisce. “It’s home,” said Ralston, “And people want to come home.”
Upland Greets New Head of School
David Suter never thought he wanted to be head of school. But, here he is, quite delighted to be the new head of Upland Country Day School.
Although he had been building a resume well suited to the position, it was not at all his goal. But, when the position opened up and word reached him in Connecticut that there was a school in Kennett Square, Pa. whose head of school was retiring, he decided to check it out.
Upland’s mission and philosophy are very similar to the schools where he had worked previously. The school emphasizes the “four As” – academics, arts, athletics and attitude. It is a private school with a current student population of 210 children and requires participation in all aspects of school life. All the children are involved not only in classroom activities, they also create art, participate in theatrical and musical productions and play sports.
The-kindergarten through grade 9 school attracted Suter right away. “It has a fantastic little campus. I was really taken with the faculty members who have given so much of their own lives to work here. It has a staff of less than 40, but 12 of them have been here more than 20 years. Combining that with the enthusiasm of younger alums who have come back to teach, makes for a wonderful blend of faculty. The enthusiasm when people spoke of the place was infectious. The things I heard about the place – that kids can be kids here longer than they would otherwise and there is a real, genuine emphasis on character in education – spoke to me. It was very appealing.”
Suter and his wife Liza moved to Kennett Square with their three small children from Connecticut. Much like the students, staff members at many independent schools wear numerous hats and Suter was no exception. At St. Luke’s School In New Canaan he was director of admissions and financial aid, a coach of various sports and an English teacher. Before that he worked at two boarding schools, Oxford Academy and Cheshire Academy, where he said he adapted the educational philosophy of educating the whole child.
He explained that small academic communities such as Upland and his previous schools afford faculty and staff “the luxury” of truly knowing their students, beyond the 40 minutes they spend in class every day. They get to see them on the playing fields, on the stage, on field trips, in the classroom and with their families.
“By getting to know who that whole child is, you’re not just teaching a class, you’re teaching the child,” Suter said.
Upon his arrival as head he sent out an appeal to alumni from the almost 40-year-old school, asking them to write him with their fondest memories and any input they were willing to share. He has received “a flood” of responses and they keep coming. He said the majority expressed sincere gratitude not only for the great education, but also for the positive mentoring of teachers who helped them grow up and become good people.
When assessing the school Suter said he found it in good shape and knew he had big shoes to fill. Former headmaster Rusty MacMullan had retired, leaving the school in good stead. Suter said he tried to slip right into MacMullan’s footprints and had no intention of being “an agent of change,” nor did he find big changes in need of making.
“The school has solid traditions, good financial health and a solid faculty,” Suter said.
Technology at the school is on the upswing with the faculty all receiving new lap top computers. A new and improved Website has debuted, improving communication within and with out the Upland community.
The school is celebrating the 30th year of the Finnish exchange program begun by Upland’s first headmaster Dr. Jack Cleveland. Each year at least one boy and girl from Finland come to spend the school year as members of Upland’s 9th grade class and live with Upland families. As an exchange of sorts Upland sends 8th and 9th graders to Finland during spring break to stay with families, play ice hockey and volleyball and learn about the country’s history and culture. Since 1977, 66 Finnish students have been hosted by Upland. In December, as part of the 30th anniversary celebration, girls from the Finnish Lahjan Tytot gymnastics club and boys from the TPS ice hockey club will come to Upland for a week of performances, ice hockey and friendship.
When Suter started breaking the news to his Connecticut friends and colleagues that he would be moving to Pennsylvania to take the head job at a school there, Upland’s reputation had preceded him. For many years Upland coach and teacher Court Dunn has been taking ice hockey teams to New Canaan and Greenwich to play games in January and have made many friends throughout the area.
The Upland community acted as an unofficial “welcome wagon” as soon as the Suter family moved into their new Kennett Square home. They came not knowing a soul and had no local connections outside of Upland. But, families brought them food, maps, lists and things to see and do, offering help in all sorts of ways.
As it turned out the Upland was everything Suter had hoped. “The school did a really good job in truth in advertising. People are very honest and kid-centered. It’s a very lively place. It’s the kind of program that I love.”
-Prue Osborn for the Kennett Paper and Daily Local News
