Su rất vui và tự hào vì trừ môn English II là A-, tất cả các môn đều được điểm A.
Khác với trường ở Việt nam, ngoài điểm thầy cô còn nhận xét và đánh giá học sinh rất cụ thể và chi tiết:
School Year: 2011 - 2012
Academics
Fall Term Mid Fall Fall
English II | Ford | A- | A- |
Precalculus Honors | Eaton | A | A |
Modern World History since 1750 | Keough | A | A |
BIO: Marine Biology | Gibbs | A | A |
Chemistry Honors | Gibbs | A- | A |
ENV: Earth and Environmental Systems | Tucker | A | A |
Chorus | Houmard | A | A |
Private Instruction - Voice | Houmard | A | A |
Fall Comments
English II - Brian Ford
English II continued the trimester by moving from the Shakespeare of the English Renaissance to Samuel Johnson of the eighteenth century. We made our way through Johnson’s Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia, a philosophical Age of Enlightenment novel about the search for a rational choice of life. Our reading culminated in a philosophical essay in which the students tried to formulate the basis for their own choices. At the end of the trimester we turned to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s early Romantic poem “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere,” leading us toward the nineteenth century and the growth of Realism.
I feel the most whole-hearted admiration for An’s work in English this fall. That he was by a significant margin the most perceptive reader of Macbeth in the class is simply remarkable, given that he is reading a second language and that the language of the play is four hundred years in the past. He regularly volunteers understandings of the reading that the native speakers in the class have not reached. His writing, inevitably, has flaws of grammar and usage, but he works hard to correct them; in its attention to detail and in its thinking, his writing is superb. A most impressive trimester.
Precalculus Honors - Marshall Eaton
Precalculus Honors is a yearlong course designed to prepare the student for the rigors of a college level, first year course in calculus. In the first trimester, the course began with a review of elementary algebra and then focused on the nature and behavior of functions with particular emphasis placed on polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions. With the start of the second trimester, we will begin our study of trigonometry.
An’s performance since the Family Weekend grading period continues to be strong. He has become more active in class discussions, and his homework is done on a regular basis. His trimester exam was strong and clearly demonstrated his understanding of the concepts presented this trimester. I feel that An is on track for Advanced Placement Calculus next year. At present, An is my best Precalculus Honors student.
Trimester Exam: A
Modern World History since 1750 - Jessica Keough
It is hard to believe the fall term is coming to a close. While it went by fast, Modern World History covered a number of topics from the French Revolution, to the Industrial Revolution to the spread of Western Imperialism. The students used our textbooks to gain content and were able to exercise their mastery of the material on quizzes, tests and group projects. In the winter term, we will be looking at specific results of imperialism and start to make connections that will bring us to the start of World War I. We will tackle writing in history and continue to improve our collaborative and individual work.
An has made great progress this term. I can only imagine how difficult it can be to adjust to a new place and a new academic structure. An wasted no time demonstrating his desire to learn and to become a better student in history. He has gotten the most out of every opportunity offered to him, be it daily reading assignments or group projects. An is bright and not afraid to take a risk on a test or in class discussion. I have very much enjoyed watching him challenge and apply the themes we have studied. His test grades of 98% and 97% reveal excellent preparation outside of class. An also has a genuine curiosity that adds to the class environment. I appreciate these qualities in a small class. This winter we will tackle writing in history. This will be difficult for An, but I challenge him to take our work head on. If he brings the same tenacity and discipline to our work this winter, he will get a great deal out of it.
Overall, it is a joy to teach An and I look forward to his continued success and progress.BIO: Marine Biology - Donald Gibbs
The second half of the fall term in Marine Biology was devoted to an examination of the primary producers of the sea, the pressing environmental issues of coral bleaching and over-fishing, and a survey of important animal phyla, including the sponges, cnidarians, mollusks, echinoderms, and representative chordates, the fish. We focused on body design as we dissected a squid, examined planktonic feeders and active hunters and the design of fins in various fishes, and dissected primitive, cartilaginous, and bony fish in preparation for a final presentation of marine chordates. Too bad that this course is only one term in length; there is so much more to study and explore!
I am amazed by An’s capacity to endure a demanding workload and to remain so positive, alert, and fascinated about the subject matter and the people joining him on the journey. I have never seen him irritable or underprepared, and I find his willingness to share aloud his emerging ideas particularly refreshing. An commands the material, as evidenced by his excellent presentations this fall and by his detailed and polished written work, and his curiosity and productive tangents help the class to engage in very positive conversations about marine issues and organisms. Unsurprisingly, An is on the cusp of an A as we move into the final exam. On the comprehensive term exam, An earned an A, a performance that was consistent with the strong comprehension he demonstrated throughout the entire term. What a pleasure it is to work with An in both Chemistry Honors and Marine Biology. He is a first-rate student.
In the second half of the fall term, Chemistry Honors students turned their focus to chemical formulas and the mole concept. Students learned the fundamental skills of naming compounds and writing chemical formulas while coming to understand how to use the periodic table as an informational resource. Then students tackled the mole—another corner-stone concept that they will use throughout the remaining two terms of the year. Combining the mole concept with chemical formulas, we experimentally derived the formula of magnesium oxide and designed an experiment to determine the effectiveness of a hydrated salt as a potential desiccant material. To end the term, we applied an understanding of chemical formulae to the description of a balanced chemical equation.
I have been impressed by An’s rapid attainment of the core concepts considered to date and by his joyful approach to class and to life. He wrestles with ideas until he fully owns them, loves science, is unafraid to share his emerging understanding through participation and active questioning, and is a patient and quality teammate and collaborator on group tasks and lab activities. An has scored particularly well on assessments and is exceptionally confident solving computational chemistry problems, including the tricky mole concept. Recently, An earned a blistering 62/60 on the naming assessment, and that success followed on the heels of another handsome outcome that focused on empirical formulae and the manipulation of laboratory data (97%!). An is poised to find comprehensive success in Chemistry Honors. Even his scientific writing is polished, full of detail, and brimming with curiosity—what a joy it is to read.
On the comprehensive term exam, An earned an astonishing 100%! What a fitting capstone to a very impressive fall term in Chemistry Honors!
Homework: A- Lab Work and Scientific Writing: A Participation: B+ Assessments: AENV: Earth and Environmental Systems - Colby Tucker
Students in Earth and Environmental Systems continued the study of large Earth processes in the second half of the fall term. We delved into the concepts of systems, steady states, and feedback loops through a case study of Mono Lake in California. We then investigated the greenhouse effect with the Greenhouse Gas Lab that gave evidence of carbon dioxide’s ability to reradiate heat. We combined this conclusion from our lab with the in-class course work and used these ideas to help us describe how the differential heating of the Earth forms much of the world’s different climates. The concept of differential heating was crucial in learning the next topics of Hadley Cells, the Coriolis effect, and thermohaline circulation. As a culmination of the term, students presented to the class a short lecture on either a terrestrial or aquatic biome.
An continued his stellar work in the second half of the term. His work in class is consistently on target within both the lecture and lab components of class. An participates regularly in the formal class setting and is prepared for each class. In lab, his patience was tested when matched with a chatty lab partner during the Greenhouse Gas lab investigation, but An persevered and was able to bring his group to collect excellent data. His Greenhouse Gas lab report was thorough and precisely written. I am happy to say that An took me up on my offer to review his report prior to handing it in. An’s proactive nature for his studies is a wonderful sign of the superior student he is becoming.
Chorus - Charles Houmard
Chorus is preparing for the Service of Lessons and Carols that will take place on December 11th and 13th. The service on the 11th is open to families and the community and begins at 7:00 pm in Clarke Chapel. I invite all to attend. This service is a benchmark experience for Pomfret students that they hold dear after they graduate. A reception follows.
An has seized upon singing as his artistic passion at Pomfret. I encourage him to pursue this passion and will offer the support he needs to continue lessons and participate in recital class. He absorbs all that I and Ms. St. Denis present to him during rehearsals and lessons. I hope that he is finding sufficient time to spend in the practice room so that he can progress rapidly. My goal is for him to consider preparing a recital for the spring. We will see how he does in recital class this winter. I look forward to his first Broadway Night solo.
Private Instruction - Voice - Charles Houmard
Private Instruction is designed for students with a sincere desire to learn to sing or play a musical instrument. No prior musical experience is necessary.The course meets for the equivalent of four class periods per week. One meeting time is with a private instructor. The student is expected to practice during the remaining class time. The Music Department will assist in finding the appropriate private teacher for the student when possible. Private Instruction is offered for diploma credit for one trimester per year with the requirement that the initial term be taken for credit. (Students enrolled in electric guitar, bass and drums may petition for a second term.) Students are encouraged to continue private lessons for additional trimesters on a non-credit basis. Private Instruction is offered each term. Fee: $495 per term.
Ms. St. Denis reports the following: An has been a pleasure to teach this term. He has a lovely voice, maintains good practicing habits, is organized, and is motivated to take his singing to the next level. This winter An will work on his performance skills in Recital Class and will have the opportunity to perform in Broadway Night. An is making excellent progress in his vocal technique, as well as in his musicianship.
Grade: AAthletics
Fall Season
Fall Athletics
Cross Country - Boys JV
David Ring
The Junior Varsity Cross Country squad was a healthy mixture of veterans and new freshmen. We competed in a total of nine races, four of which were invitational races where several schools competed. The returning runners were accustomed to the effort of getting back into running shape. New runners were challenged by rigors of developing aerobic capacity, physical endurance, and mental toughness. In many ways, races are the easiest part of the season. It’s the daily training that tests the fortitude of cross country runners, especially those new to the sport. With the exception of those unfortunate few who were injured, all of our runners made significant progress during the season, culminating in our 8th place finish (out of 13 competitor schools) at the Division 3 New England Championship.
An made remarkable progress during the course of our season. When we first began, he was unable to run very long or very fast. To his credit, An continued to strive and week by week made improvement. By mid-season, An was able to run for much longer durations, and we challenged him to participate in our first home race. He ran well and finished the race in 31:21. One aspect where An could improve is his attention to instructions. Naturally, some of these issues are due to everything that is new to him here. In one instance, An falsely assumed that he wasn’t racing the next week and missed a race in which we could have further tested himself. As the season progressed, some of our workouts grew more intense, and there were times when he felt that it was too much for him. We coaches prodded him to push himself, and despite some self-doubt, he persisted. Our next home race happened to be in a freak, fall snow storm. An lost a sneaker in a muddy section of the course but was determined to finish. When he crossed the finish line, it was in two socks and no sneakers. His time wasn’t his best, but it certainly showed his extreme commitment to finishing. It was a truly remarkable and defining moment for him this season. An continued to improve, posting his best time in the final race of the season, 26:53. An received a Coaches Award for persistence. He should feel proud of what he’s accomplished and know that he’s capable of further improvement.
Chúc mừng Su vì những cố gắng trong thời gian qua và đã xuất sắc vượt qua những khó khăn ban đầu: vừa phải hòa nhập, làm quen với môi trường mới, vừa phải học bằng ngôn ngữ không phải tiếng Việt mà vẫn đạt kết quả tốt.
Dĩ nhiên đây chỉ mới là chặng đường đầu tiên. Vạn sự khởi đầu nan! Nếu vẫn siêng năng, nỗ lực như vừa rồi, chắc chắn Su sẽ tiếp tục đạt những thành tích mới cao hơn.
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