Congratulations to Coach Bragg (Bath ’83) and Rob Lewis (Woodstock ’12).

Men’s Basketball coach Thomas Bragg and postgraduate player Robert Lewis were recently named NEPSMBA Class C Coach of the Year and Player of the Year.

NEPSAC, the New England Prep School Men’s Basketball Association, honored both Bragg and Lewis for their impressive performances during the Class C tournament in early March, at which the fifth seed Hyde School team beat the first and second seed teams in order to reach the finals, where they defeated seventh seed Hebron Academy.

Sean Saucier, Athletic Director at Hyde School in Woodstock, CT, expressed his excitement and pride for both Bragg and Lewis. “It is a great honor that few prep school students and coaches receive,” said Saucier. “I have watched Tom coach for years, and his mastery of the sport and presence on the court is marked. The team has improved tremendously over the course of the season, and Robert has been a leader in that effort both on and off the court. I am very proud of both coaches, and think they are very deserving of these awards.”

In addition to these awards, Lewis and a few of his teammates were named to New England Class C all-star teams. Lewis was selected for the first team, Christian Ejiga ’13 made the third team, and Jahvaney Beckford received an honorable mention.

Read Hyde President Malcolm Gauld’s blog post on Coach Bragg.

In the production, Prince Dauntless, played by Alex Trager ’12, desperately desires to be married after the straight 12^th princess fails his mother’s royalty test – a test which any princess must pass in order to be rewarded Dauntless’ hand in marriage.   Despite the attempts of Queen Agravain, played by Jane McCafrey ’13, to scare off potential suitors, Dauntless falls in love with the rash and carefree princess Winnifred the Woebegone, played by Alex Smart ’12.  Hilarity ensues as the Queen tries to cut off their love at every turn and shenanigans overtake the usually docile castle.

While royal love is forming, old love is tested between the upstanding Sir Harry and the naïve Lady Larkin, played by Julian Goldenberg ’13 and Angela Guidera de Groot ’14.  After receiving worrisome news, Larkin employs the help of the laughable trio of King Sextimus, Court Jester, and Traveling Minstrel, played by Tom Rich ’12, Kun Il Kim ’12, and Jahmillia St. Claire ’13. However, what originally began as a plot for Larkin to flee the castle develops into a daring adventure to discover the Queen’s final royalty test, ending the town’s long lasting “opening for a princess.”

Directed by Hyde School faculty members Will Cutrer, Amanda Fuller, Robert Tunney, and Alexandra Keyes, the play featured the following Hyde School students: seniors: Tom Rich, Kun Il Kim, Alex Smart, and Alex Trager; juniors Julian Goldenberg, Jahmilia St. Claire, and Jane McCaffrey; and sophomore Angie Guidera de Groot.

Additionally, the stage crew, led by seniors Tom Rushin and Walker Corley and faculty member Alexandra Keyes, surpassed past productions through their solid work into creating the set and lighting for the show.

“Corley and Rushin have jumped at the opportunity to learn scenic painting techniques and have been active collaborators in the set design process,” shared Keyes.  “Their involvement has helped them take more ownership and pride in the show.”

Will Cutrer, the head director of the drama production, shared his excitement for the show. “The students of the Varsity Drama team should be very proud of their work this winter,” he said. “It has clearly been a team effort from theatrical veterans on down to those who are gracing the stage for the first time, and graduating actors Rich, Kim, Trager, and Smart should be proud of their grand exit from the Hyde stage.”

Once Upon a Mattress, Act One, Dress Rehearsal, Thursday, February 16, 2012

123456►

Once Upon a Mattress: Act Two

12345►

Dylan Marx ’14 and Angela Guidera-de Groot ’14 hard at work in the new Black Digital Arts Lab at Hyde School.

[Woodstock, CT]— With the introduction of a brand new digital arts lab, Hyde School students have embraced the arts to a fuller extent this fall.

Donated by Jeffrey Black, a member of the Board of Governors and of the Hyde School class of 1978, the Black Digital Arts lab features 10 Apple Power Mac towers, digital drawing tablets, professional film editing software, and a large-format color printer.

Brett Freebody, head of the art department at Hyde School, expressed his excitement for the possibilities of the new facility. “The art department is very excited about the lab. It rivals college art laboratories and allows the art department to embrace the digital medium.”

Hyde School currently offers introductory digital arts classes and is planning on adding a Digital Film Making course next year.

Hyde’s Publications course has already made extensive use of the new equipment to produce the first Hyde-Woodstock student e-magazine. The class was led by senior and Editor-in-Chief Bryn Nolan, and students worked hard to learn the Adobe CS5 Creative Suite and to put together a polished final product.

• Hyde-Woodstock’s e-magazine Vol 1
• Hyde-Woodstock’s e-magazine Vol 2 – Holiday Edition
• Hyde-Woodstock’s e-magazine Vol 3

Meghan Belka, a sophomore at Hyde School, shared her thoughts on the subject: “Making the magazine has been great—I’ve learned a lot working with the new computers and am proud of our final product. I hope that the students like our work!”

Executive Director of Hyde Schools and author Laura Gauld will offer a short presentation during the afternoon. Guests will later enjoy refreshments and some informal time learning about Hyde’s academic, art, and athletic programs from teachers, coaches, students, and parents.

Visitors are asked to call to make a reservation prior to the event.

The Hyde School approach to education has been developed since 1966 at the Hyde boarding campuses in Bath, Maine, and Woodstock, Connecticut, and through public school initiatives in New Haven, Connecticut and Bronx and Brooklyn, New York.  Known for its success in developing leadership skills in teenagers, Hyde School offers students in grades 9–12 and post-graduate studies, a strong academic curriculum, a wide range of sports, a performing arts program, plus many enrichment programs, including, Summer Exploration, and AP and honors courses. Hyde also offers a family program.

Ninety eight percent of Hyde School graduates are accepted to four-year colleges. To learn more about Hyde Schools, its summer leadership programs, and parenting and teen workshops, log on to Hyde.edu.

To make a reservation or for more information about Hyde School and the upcoming open house event, contact Kathy O’Dea in the Admission Office at 860-963-4721, kodea@hyde.edu; Web site: HYDE.edu.

Ranging in age from 6 to 18, lacrosse camp attendees participated in a variety of drills and activities geared towards improving their skill level, as well as a number of scrimmages.

The coaching staff included Hyde School faculty and alumni lacrosse players, many of whom now play at the collegiate level. Bob Felt, Associate Head of School, headed the staff. Felt was a two-time All-American lacrosse player at Springfield College, was named 1994 NCAA player of the year and midfielder of the year, and was a member of the Boston Blazers Major Indoor Lacrosse League.

More than 30 of the students participating in the lacrosse camp are day students from the local area.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to have so many local families be with us for a full day of Hyde lacrosse,” says Felt. “It’s been great to have their energy on the turf, and to get to work with all of the different kids.”

The Hyde School approach to education has been developed since 1966 at the Hyde boarding campuses in Bath, Maine, and Woodstock, Connecticut, and through public school initiatives in New Haven, Connecticut and Bronx and Brooklyn, New York. The organization, based in Bath, also includes national parenting workshops and wilderness experiences.

Ninety eight percent of Hyde School graduates are accepted to four-year colleges. To learn more about Hyde Schools, its summer leadership programs, and parenting and teen workshops, log on to Hyde.edu.

For more information about the Summer Sessions lacrosse camp and other Hyde School programs and events, contact Laura Michaels at lmichaels@hyde.edu, call 860-963-4763, or visit Hyde.edu.

See Lacrosse camp photos HERE. See photos of Lacrosse Camp and other Summer Sessions programs HERE.

This year’s recipients, their awards, and hometowns are as follows:

The Hyde School approach to education has been developed since 1966 at the Hyde boarding campuses in Bath, Maine, and Woodstock, Connecticut, and through public school initiatives in New Haven, Connecticut and Brooklyn and Bronx, New York. The organization, based in Bath, also includes national parenting workshops and wilderness experiences.

Ninety eight percent of Hyde School graduates are accepted to four-year colleges. To learn more about Hyde Schools, its summer leadership programs, and parenting and teen workshops, log on to Hyde.edu.

For more information about the Hyde School Baccalaureate and Hyde Schools, contact Laura Michaels at 860-963-4763 or at lmichaels@hyde.edu.  # # #

WOODSTOCK, CT—Hyde School, a national leader in character-based education, will host a spring Open House on Saturday, June 11 from 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. on its Woodstock, Connecticut campus.  The event will offer a glimpse of a day in the life at Hyde School, with afternoon activities beginning in Annhurst Hall, where guests will be greeted by Hyde faculty, students, and parents.  Campus tours begin promptly at 1:00 P.M.

A short presentation will be offered after the tours. Guests will later enjoy refreshments and some informal time learning about Hyde’s academic, art, and athletic programs from teachers, coaches, students, and parents.

Visitors are asked to call to make a reservation prior to the event.

Known for its success in developing leadership skills in teenagers, Hyde School offers students in grades 9–12 and post-graduate studies, a strong academic curriculum, a wide range of sports, a performing arts program, plus many enrichment programs, including the Hyde Wilderness Program located on its 600-acre wilderness preserve in Eustis, Maine, Summer Exploration, and AP and honors courses. Hyde also offers a family program.

Hyde School was founded 44 years ago on the premise that attitude, effort, and the development of character are keys to helping students reach their fullest potential. Ninety-eight percent of Hyde graduates are admitted to four-year colleges.

Since the founding of its first school in 1966 in Bath, Maine, Hyde School has grown to include another boarding campus in Woodstock, Connecticut, and public schools in Washington DC, Brooklyn, and Bronx, New York and New Haven, Connecticut.

To make a reservation or for more information about Hyde School and the upcoming open house event, contact Kathy O’Dea in the Admission Office at 860-963-4721, kodea@hyde.edu; Web site: HYDE.edu.

This will be the second year that the NEPSTA meet is being hosted on the Hyde School campus in Woodstock.

Attending teams include Bancroft School, Canterbury School, Cheshire Academy, Concord Academy, Groton School, Hebron Academy, Hyde School of Maine, Kingswood Oxford School, Lawrence Academy, Marianapolis Preparatory School, Middlesex School, Moses Brown School, Portsmouth Abbey School, Providence Country Day School, Roxbury Latin School, St. George’s School, Vermont Academy, Wheeler School, and Wilbraham and Monson Academy.

The meet will begin at 11:30 a.m. on the Grant Track & Field with throwing and jumping events. Running events will begin at 1:30 p.m.

A brief award ceremony will follow the conclusion of the meet.

The Hyde School approach to education has been developed since 1966 at the Hyde boarding campuses in Bath, Maine, and Woodstock, Connecticut, and through public school initiatives in New Haven, Connecticut, and Brooklyn and Bronx, New York. The organization, based in Bath, also includes national parenting workshops and wilderness experiences.

Ninety eight percent of Hyde School graduates are accepted to four-year colleges. To learn more about Hyde Schools, its summer leadership programs, and parenting and teen workshops, log on to Hyde.edu.

For more information about the NEPSTA track meet and other Hyde School events, contact Laura Michaels at lmichaels@hyde.edu, call 860-963-4763, or visit Hyde.edu.

Micheal Flaherty

Woodstock, CT—On Tuesday, May 3, Hyde School will host Micheal Flaherty, producer of Waiting for Superman, as a guest speaker.

Flaherty, a Tufts graduate and Massachusetts native, is the co-founder and president of Walden Media, a move production company based out of Boston.

Walden Media has produced a number of films, including Waiting for Superman, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and Bridge to Terabitihia.

As he told Naomi Schaefer Riley of the Wall Street Journal in an article titled “His Movie Company is Far from Hollywood in Many Ways,” Walden Media “look[s] for books where kids can really experience something life-changing and transformational, and can rise above their circumstances.”

Flaherty is also known for his work as a speech writer for Senator Billy Bulger and for his involvement in Massachusetts education reform. He helped co-found a charter school in Boston, the Frederick Douglass School, that is no longer in operation. Currently, he serves on the board of Rachel’s Challenge and as a member of the Global Advisory Council of Vision360.

Flaherty will speak to the Hyde Leadership Society as well as to the student body during a school meeting.

The Hyde School approach to education has been developed since 1966 at the Hyde boarding campuses in Bath, Maine, and Woodstock, Connecticut, and through public school initiatives in New Haven, Connecticut, Washington, DC, and Bronx and Brooklyn, New York. The organization, based in Bath, also includes national parenting workshops and wilderness experiences.

Ninety eight percent of Hyde School graduates are accepted to four-year colleges. To learn more about Hyde Schools, its summer leadership programs, and parenting and teen workshops, log on to Hyde.edu.

For more information about guest speaker Micheal Flaherty and other Hyde School events, contact Laura Michaels at lmichaels@hyde.edu, call 860-963-4763, or visit Hyde.edu.

Pseudolus, played by Lincoln Sherman ’11, tries to hold off the Roman warriors as Miles Gloriosus, played by Charlie Kehler ’13, comes to claim his bride.

When drama students at Hyde School performed Stephen Sondheim’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum recently, audiences walked away with their stamps of approval beaming from ear to ear.

“The performance was a hit,” says Assistant Head of School John Rigney. “The actors had me laughing through the entire show, as their energy on stage was tremendous.”

In the production, Pseudolus, a Roman slave played by Lincoln Sherman ’11, used his wit, guile, and the innocent love of his master, Hero, played by Christopher Wells ’11, to launch him toward earning his freedom.  The only problem standing in the way of his liberty are the mishaps of his charmingly befuddled cast-mates made up of ego-laden Roman warriors, smooth-talking, yet gullible, merchants of lust, witless slaves, and potential adulterating Roman aristocrats.

The show incited ruckus laughter as the audience followed the insuring craziness of Hero falling in love with the purest courtesan, Alex Smart ’12, who has already been sold to Captain Miles Gloriosus, played by Charlie Kehler ’13.  Not willing to give up on his dream of no longer being enslaved, Pseudolus sets in motion a series of events that don’t cease until all the cross dressing and mistaken identity follies are resolved.  Tragedy tomorrow; comedy tonight!

Directed by Will Cutrer, Meara Palmer-Young, and Amy Sherman, the play will feature the following Hyde School students: seniors Lincoln Sherman, Christopher Wells, and Adam Ben-Hanania; juniors Alex Smart and Alex Trager; and sophomores Charlie Kehler and Julian Goldenberg.

Hero and Philia, played by Christopher Wells ’11 and Alex Smart ’12, sing a duet together entitled “Lovely.”

“I’m very happy with the end results of what have been months of very hard and driven work,” states Hyde School teacher and drama coach Will Cutrer. “All of the students have put their full effort into the show and were excited to share it with an audience.”

Teacher and co-director Meara Palmer-Young enthusiastically referred to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as a “delightful show full of humor and wit.”

“The whole cast has been working as an ensemble, mastering their musical numbers and learning their characters,” remarks Palmer-Young. “Their dynamic as a group definitely added to the humor of the show.”

For more information about this event, contact Laura Michaels at lmichaels@hyde.edu, call 860-963-4763, or visit Hyde.edu.

Check out these photos from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”

1234567►

Hyde School, a leader in character-based education, furthered its dedication to encouraging and recognizing students’ leadership through the recent launch of a new program called the Hyde Leadership Society.

New this year on both the Bath and Woodstock campuses, the Hyde Leadership Society is comprised of juniors and seniors who challenge themselves in academics, athletics, community service, performing arts, and residential life beyond Hyde’s basic expectations.

Students in the Hyde Leadership Society on the Bath campus of Hyde School pose for a picture.

The concept behind the society is to inspire and support student leaders to become more effective contributors in the community by aiding them in being exemplary role models for their peers and in teaching them how to work collaboratively with the faculty.

Students in the Hyde Leadership Society on the Woodstock campus of Hyde School pose for a picture.

“We created the Leadership Society in order to honor our students who are striving for excellence in all areas of their lives,” says Don MacMillan, head of school on the Bath campus. “It aligns well with the Hyde mission and philosophy and it will serve as an important leadership development and character-building opportunity.”

In order to join the Hyde Leadership Society, students have to obtain the recommendation and support of a faculty member and successfully complete an interview.

“The core belief and mission statement of the Hyde Schools is that every individual is gifted with a unique potential that defines a destiny,” says Executive Director of Hyde Boarding Schools Laura Gauld. “We believe that there is leadership potential in everyone and that we earn our leadership skills through challenge, risk-taking and ownership. The HLS is comprised of those students who are committed to leadership by example as well as the courage to be both learners and leaders in any given situation.”

So far, the Hyde Leadership Society is comprised of 23 seniors and one junior at its Bath, Maine campus and 15 seniors and seven juniors at its Woodstock, Connecticut campus.

When asked why they wanted to join the group, students spoke to the importance of this opportunity. “I joined the HLS so I could be part of a dedicated group of students who will challenge me and push me to continuously work harder,” shares senior Mac McGuire.

Juniors Dan Weintraub and Julia Biederman shared their collective view that the program will ensure their ability to become successful leaders in whatever they pursue after they graduate from high school. “I felt that I was in a good place to solidify my leadership and to set a good example,” states Biederman.

And what do students hope to get out of the Hyde Leadership Society? Across the board, members spoke to their hopes to further improve and expand their leadership.

“I want to continue to find my voice in the school,” says senior Mari Barnett, “and I’m hoping HLS will help me to find other ways to reach out to my peers and become even more engaged in the school.”

For more information about the Hyde Leadership Society and other Hyde School programs, contact Laura Michaels at lmichaels@hyde.edu, call 860-963-4763, or visit Hyde.edu.

Hyde School Facilities Director Gary Giambattista among the new treatment and storage tanks, results of the water purification project.

In December 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency changed its standards for what constitutes the purity of drinking water and, as a result, Hyde School began a three-year project to build an on-campus water purification system in order to meet the new standard. Known as the “European standard,” the new standard marked an 80 percent decrease in the maximum contaminant level of parts of arsenic permitted per billion parts of water, among others.

“The new standard states that there can be 10 parts arsenic to every billion parts water, which is about one drop in a bucket,” says Hyde School Facilities Director Gary Giambattista. “Our level was 22 parts to every billion parts due to naturally occurring arsenic in the bedrock, a level that met standards before this change.”

After two years of research, Hyde School contracted G. Donovan Associates to head the project, beginning in April 2010. Aqua-Pump, Co. was then sub-contracted for the arsenic removal system. Victor Nigro, Jr., vice-president of Aqua-Pump and a Connecticut-certified water treatment operator, is leading the installation of the new system with Giambattista.

The new treatment plant consists of three main parts: water enters through a pump from two underground wells and is initially chlorinated in order to begin purification and to make the media for arsenic removal more effective. From there, water travels through two 300-gallon treatment tanks, where the arsenic is removed from the water in a redundant system. Purified water is then transported to a 20,000-gallon storage tank, where it is kept until needed. The system finishes with a booster pump system that continuously checks and maintains water pressure based upon usage and demand.

“The new system provides treatment, extra storage, and higher flow rates if needed,” adds Nigro. “Additionally, it should reduce energy costs, as the booster pumps constantly monitor energy expenditure and need.”

To house the system, a 24- by 40-foot extension was built on the end of the facilities building at Hyde School.

This new treatment facility will be the fourth largest treatment facility of its kind in the country.

“The hope is to have the project completed by December 31, going online during Christmas break,” says Giambattista. “Then, we’ll have some of the cleanest, tastiest drinking water around.”