Pomfret School - Winter Term Grades (cont.)

Chorus, Charles Houmard
The Pomfret Chorus is going to Ireland next March, 2013. Many chorus members will also use the spring term to prepare for the Griff Tone auditions. We are predicting five openings, one in each of the five sections of the chorus. All chorus members are encouraged to audition. Singers will be selected based
on stage presence, the ability to blend, sing in tune, learn music quickly and accurately, and their commitment to provide cohesion and stability within the ensemble. Being a member of the chorus has given many singers the advantage of having proven themselves in many of these areas, yet everyone
should keep in mind that the competition is intense.
An holds himself to an exceptionally high standard that, hopefully, will not get in the way of his joy for singing. He has made fine progress with Ms. St. Denis and has become one of the more reliable and quick-learning chorus members. I found his duet with Maddy for Broadway Night to be delightful. It is my hope that An not get discouraged as he finds his way to becoming a singer.

Recital Class, Charles Houmard
In the courses Private Instruction, Recital Class and Recital Performance, students meet once a week for a lesson with a private teacher. During the lesson the teacher assigns homework for the remaining class periods of the week. The cost for private lessons is $495.00 per term, and a minimum of nine lessons must be completed. Failure to attend a lesson for any reason (aside from an infirmary stay due to illness) will lower the student’s grade. Students taking this course are encouraged to join the various music ensembles at Pomfret. Advanced students are encouraged to enroll in Recital Class and Recital Performance during the winter and spring terms. Under these courses the students perform regularly before their peers and work with a private instructor to prepare a recital.
An Hoang’s Private Lesson teacher, Ms. St. Denis reports the following for this term: An continues to grow as a vocalist and musician. I am proud of his progress. He is always prepared for his lessons and applies what he is taught. An gave a beautiful performance at Pomfret's Broadway Night Gala where
he exhibited vast improvement. I look forward to continuing our work this spring.

Social Issues, Anne Miller
This course identifies and examines the many issues faced by adolescents including relationship to self/others, wellness, diet, mental health, sexuality, AIDS, drugs and alcohol. To facilitate our exploration we have drawn upon a bevy of resources from contemporary culture such as film, television, Internet sites, books, magazine and journal articles. In addition to understanding facts about the topic at hand, students are encouraged to think critically and compassionately, and to develop and give voice to their own opinion in preparation for making responsible decisions. Throughout the term, students work at building their own text/resource guide. Journaling, meditation, guided relaxation and/or visualization are introduced in an effort to encourage self-awareness. All written assignments are graded on a ten-point scale. Since midterm, students have concentrated on preparing for their final presentation. Emphasis was placed not only on factual content, but also on original and creative presentation style.
An was not afraid to ask clarifying questions and was always willing to share insights from Vietnamese culture in order to enrich our discussion of adolescent culture. I valued his contributions to our discussions. I was amazed at his ability to identify, grasp and connect the topics we covered.
Although this is not his culture, he consistently produced the most insightful work in the class. For his final project An chose to prepare a presentation on the topic of the effect of media on teens. He approached the process with a thoughtful and creative attitude. I was concerned that the topic might be too broad for a 20-minute presentation but his organizational skills and careful research produced a cohesive and informative result. He added film clips that illustrated racism, violence, teen pregnancy and drug abuse. His handout was an overview in pamphlet form that was rich in illustration and information. For his good work and creative approach he received a 10/10.