Young Soloists Turn Butterflies Into Bravado

Posted on January 24th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

Yes, there were a few butterflies in the stomachs of Lower School students who had signed up for the annual Solo Performance Night held January 18th. But once they got started, the young students turned those butterflies into brave and beautiful notes that floated to the receptive ears of a welcoming audience.  (more…)

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Posted in: Authentic Learning, Fifth Grade, First Grade, Fourth Grade, Highlights, Kindergarten, Lower School, Second Grade, Third Grade

AC Science Students Challenged with a Different Kind of Midterm

Posted on January 24th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

By Maya Crosby

It’s midterm week at Allendale Columbia School, but around here you will see a different kind of test. End-of-semester exams measure Upper School science students’ understanding of concepts through more authentic, challenge-based assessments.

As a part of his analytical chemistry final, sophomore Spencer Dworkin determines the type of chemical reaction occurring in the test tube.

In Analytical Chemistry, a required science course, students take part of their exam in the lab, discovering the identity of an unknown. They answer questions about each reaction, focusing on “why did this reaction occur” and “what does it mean?”. In Forensics, they take on a case-based challenge, trying to understand the nature of a crime using clues provided to them and the tools in the lab. Using this kind of assessment requires much more work on the part of faculty than a traditional multiple-choice exam. However, it’s worth the extra effort in terms of the quality of the learning that the students can demonstrate and the lasting understanding that a student takes with them after the course. (more…)

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Posted in: Authentic Learning, Centers for Impact, Eleventh Grade, Highlights, Invent, Ninth Grade, Tenth Grade, Twelfth Grade, Upper School

AC Food Featured at PACK Coffee Connection

Posted on January 18th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

What words or images go through your head when you think about school lunches? How about “healthy” and “sustainable?”

At Allendale Columbia, it may start with providing healthy, sustainable, fresh, tasty, and allergy-safe sustenance, Food Service Director, Laura Reynolds-Gorsuch related at Wednesday’s Parents of Allendale Columbia Kids (PACK) Coffee Connection. But healthy and sustainable goes beyond the food. Laura and her team also seek to contribute to students’ overall well-being and develop practices that will sustain students into their adult lives. (more…)

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Posted in: Highlights, Lower School, Middle School, PACK, Pre-Primary School, Upper School

Fearless Friday: Ginger-infused Edamame

Posted on January 18th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

It’s Fearless Friday, and Super Chef Yessy Roman made a vegan, protein-rich side or snack for cold winter days. Food Service Director Laura Reynolds-Gorsuch, who generally does not like vegetables, and some Lower School taste testers gave it a try before it was available to everyone. While the first few tasters loved it, the last two had a different opinion.

Recipe: Ginger-infused Edamame

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs cooked shelled edamame
  • 1 large red or white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small sweet red pepper, chopped small
  • 1/4 cup peeled and grated fresh ginger root
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley (or cilantro)
  • 2 cups olive oil
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 Tbs ground black pepper
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Procedure:

  1. Whisk all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Add to edamame.
  3. Enjoy!
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Posted in: Fifth Grade, First Grade, Fourth Grade, Highlights, Kindergarten, Lower School, Second Grade, Third Grade

Change Provides Car for Afghan Hero

Posted on January 15th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School
Ellen Smith (NOLB Rochester Chapter Head) and Abdul Wali Akrami receive a ceremonial check from Change We Can Believe In leader Elina Natarajan '22.

Ellen Smith (NOLB Rochester Chapter Head) and Abdul Wali Akrami receive a ceremonial check from Change We Can Believe In leader Elina Natarajan ’22.

Abdul Wali Akrami, a humble hero who helped U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan, received a car and insurance to help him resettle in Rochester as a result of AC ninth-grader, Elina Natarajan’s inspired “Change You Can Count On” fundraiser at Allendale Columbia School.

Natarajan rallied the Community Service Club to help with the project, in which students in each grade and faculty sought to fill 2-liter bottles with loose change. All those coins added up to $743.00 to support No One Left Behind (NOLB), an organization that helps resettle the Afghan and Iraqi heroes who assisted the U.S. as drivers, interpreters, and special assistants.

“I was inspired when I met Matt Zeller and Janis Shinwari after a discussion at school,” Natarajan explained. AC alumnus and 2018 CNN Hero, Matt Zeller ’00, is a co-founder of NOLB with his Afghan translator Janis Shinwari. “I heard Ellen Smith (the Rochester Chapter Head) talk in the evening forum about raising money to help provide vehicles to these relocated helpers, and I thought, we can do that!”

“Wali” and his family fled his home country of Afghanistan to go to Pakistan when it became too dangerous under the Taliban. He returned when U.S. forces arrived to, as he put it, “help restore our country”. He became the trusted driver and special assistant to Fulton Jones, DynCorp International’s Deputy Program Manager for the Ministry of Interior’s Mentoring Program working with the Afghan National Police. Jones is the one who sponsored Wali’s visa. “On two occasions while we were traveling in my vehicle around Kabul, nearby coalition military bases or Afghan governmental institutions were attacked by Taliban insurgents. Wali quickly assessed the situation and realized that we were in danger of being hit,” Jones wrote in his letter of recommendation, and related how Wali got them to safety. “Wali risks his life daily just coming to work…but firmly believes what he is doing is right and worth the risk.”

Wali’s son, Aleem, related some of his father’s story to the packed Curtis Performance Center at AC, while tears of gratitude streamed down Wali’s face. A family friend, Jawad Tawakali, who moved here as a child, translated Wali’s thanks to the group. “It feels good to know we could help,” said Natarajan, who also noticed the tears. “It was a very emotional moment.”

 

Interested in supporting No One Left Behind? Send donations to:

No One Left Behind, Inc.
888 Pittsford Mendon Center Road
Pittsford, NY 14534

You can also email Irwin Solomon at irsolnolb@gmail.com.

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Posted in: Alumni News, Centers for Impact, Eleventh Grade, Global Engagement, Highlights, Ninth Grade, Tenth Grade, Twelfth Grade, Upper School

Now in College, AC Grads Sound More Like Their Parents and Teachers

Posted on January 10th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

By John Palomaki

Get to bed earlier.
Don’t wait to the last minute to start your homework.
Get out of your room and make friends.
Do your laundry.
Talk to your teachers.
Manage your time.
Find your passion.
School work comes first.
Surround yourself with good people.
Turn your homework in on time.
Make sure you get enough sleep.
Just do the work.
Think about who you are.

Admonitions from parents or teachers? Not this time. These are some of the many tips Allendale Columbia graduates gave Upper School students based on their college experiences. (more…)

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Posted in: Alumni News, College Advising News, Eleventh Grade, Highlights, Ninth Grade, Tenth Grade, Twelfth Grade, Upper School

Empty Bowls Proceeds Presented to Ugandan Water Project

Posted on January 9th, 2019 by Allendale Columbia School

Allendale Columbia School’s Middle School Ceramics class presented a check for $717.00 to Maddy Campbell, Event Coordinator and Executive Assistant of the Ugandan Water Project, on Wednesday, January 8th, 2019, the proceeds from their fourth annual Empty Bowls project.

Ceramics students organized and ran the entire Empty Bowls event. Members of our AC community created over 75 bowls for the silent auction, held on December 12th, 2018, including Upper Schoolers, faculty, and of course the Middle School Ceramics class. Additionally, artists in Rochester donated 7 vessels for a raffle, and local businesses contributed delicious food and coffee for the fundraiser.

The Ugandan Water Project is a global, non-profit humanitarian organization that provides clean water, sanitation, and hygiene resources to communities in Uganda. A representative from the Ugandan Water Project visited the Ceramics class on Monday, December 3rd, to talk with the students and answer questions about their work.

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots project to fight hunger, personalized by artists and art organizations on a community level.

For more information on AC’s Empty Bowls Project, go to https://allendalecolumbia.org/emptybowls.

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Posted in: Eighth Grade, Highlights, Middle School, Partnerships, Seventh Grade, Sixth Grade

AC Events Preview 2019

Posted on January 2nd, 2019 by cnickels

 

Mark your calendars for these fun events happening with the Allendale Columbia community in 2019:

 

JANUARY
  • January 16th: Movie Screening, Science Fair (open to the public)
  • January 18th: Open House
  • January 23rd: Kindergarten Breakfast
  • January 26th: VEX IQ Robotics Qualifier (Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse)
  • January 31st: Class of 2020 Coffee Klatch
FEBRUARY
  • February 1st: Lower School Friday Night Delight
  • February 5th: Third grade field trip to Roberts Wesleyan Orchestra
  • February 6th:  Middle and Upper School Next Steps
    Current students will visit the Middle or Upper School to attend classes, meet faculty, and join students for lunch.
  • February 8th: Lower School Next Steps
    Lower School parents with students entering Kindergarten through Grade 5 are invited to hear from Michelle Feiss, observe classes and speak with teachers. 
  • February 13th: Lower School Musical (open to the public)
MARCH
  • March 1st: Lower School’s Faculty/Parent Side-by-Side Concert (open to the public)
  • March 6th: Sophomore Forum
  • March 7th: PACK All Parent Dinner
  • March 15th: Innovation Day (open to the public)
  • March 15th-16th: Middle School Musical: Peter Pan (open to the public)
  • March 21st: Open House
APRIL
  • April 5th-6th: Upper School Drama Play (open to the public)
  • April 11th: Freshmen Forum
  • April 26th:
    • Science Writing & Research Symposium (open to the public)
      Science Writing & Research class will be presenting the results of their year long research project at St. John Fisher College.
    • Lower School Friday Night Delight
    • Middle School Dance
  • April 29th: Start of Lower School Kite Week
  • April 30th: Spring Chorus and Band Concert (open to the public)
MAY
  • May 1st-3rd: 8th Grade Trip to D.C.
  • May 4th: Open House
  • May 6th-17th: AP Exams
  • May 8th:
    • Lower School Spring Concert (open to the public)
    • 8th Grade Project Exhibition
      8th grade students present their capstone project that explores how the science and technology of World War II influences our lives today. 
  • May 10th:
    • Mother’s Day Tea in Pre-K
    • PACK Middle School Swim Night
  • May 18th: Prom
  • May 20th – June 6th: May Term
  • May 24th: Strawberry Breakfast
  • May 29th-31st: 5th Grade Whale Watching Trip
  • May 30th: Kindergarten Variety Show
JUNE
  • June 6th: May Term Exhibition Night (open to the public)
  • June 7th:
    • Lower School Moving Up Ceremony
    • Middle School Recognition Ceremony
    • Upper School Convocation
    • Senior Dinner
  • June 9th: Commencement
Posted in: Highlights