The Explorer
The Greater Harrisburg
Area's First
IB World School
April 4, 2014
Quick Links...
3rd Quarter Grades
Centers: Noorjahan
Akbar
Spring Benefit
"Chapter 8" Play
Congrats to...
Centers News: Costa
Rica
Blood Drive Thanks
Prom 2014
Spartan Spirit Blog
Athletics News
Tennis Camp
Glee Club
Announcements and Events
Please visit the School Calendar page of our website to learn
about events coming up at school. Selected upcoming events are
listed here:
 Friday, April 4: International Fair, 5:30 p.m., Louis
Lehrman Gymnasium and McCormick Auditorium
 Saturday, April 5: Student production of "Chapter 8," 2
p.m., McCormick Auditorium. Pizza party to follow.
 Monday, April 7: Parent Conferences (No Classes)
 Thursday, April 10: CENTERS EVENT: A Conversation
with Noorjahan Akbar, 4 p.m., McCormick Auditorium
(Academy family-only reception at 3:30 p.m.)
 Friday, April 11: EC/LS Night at the Gym, 6:30 p.m.,
Louis Lehrman Gymnasium
 Saturday, April 12: Early Childhood Admission Play
Date, 9 a.m.
 Saturday, April 12: "Celebrate the Academy" Spring
Benefit
 Monday, April 14-Thursday, April 17: Spirit Week
 Thursday, April 17: MS/US Spring Band Concert, 6:30
p.m., McCormick Auditorium
 Friday, April 18: Good Friday (School Closed)
 Tuesday, April 22: MS/US Spring Choir & Orchestra
Concert, 6:30 p.m., McCormick Auditorium
Box Tops
Connect with us online!

Thursday, April 24: Kindergarten Play, 6:30 p.m.,
McCormick Auditorium
 Friday, April 25: National Honor Society Induction
Ceremony, 10:30 a.m., McCormick Auditorium
 Friday, April 25: States Fair, 12-1:30 p.m., Louis
Lehrman Gymnasium
Please be in touch with feedback and news! We're always happy
to celebrate the success of our students and their families.
3rd Quarter Grades Available on NetClassroom
Report cards have been posted on NetClassroom today (Friday, April 4). If you have questions
about how to access NetClassroom, please contact your division assistant (Debbie D'Day,
EC/LS; Carol Riordan, MS; and George Nagle, US).
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A Conversation with Noorjahan Akbar
Harrisburg Academy and its Center for Global & Local Citizenship is
excited to welcome Noorjahan Akbar, an award-winning activist, on
campus on Thursday, April 10 at 4 p.m. in McCormick Auditorium to
speak about education, the empowerment of women, and the women's
movement in Afghanistan as it relates to the world. This event is free
and open to the entire community. Academy community members are
invited to attend a special pre-event reception at 3:30 p.m. Please find
more information on our website.
Questions? Please contact Amy Miller.
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Purchase Your Tickets to the Spring Benefit Today!
Saturday, April 12, 2014
6:30-10:30 p.m.
Level 2, downtown Harrisburg
$75 per person
RSVP today to Beth Zak
Show your Spartan spirit and support Harrisburg Academy! At
the Spring Benefit, there will be cocktails, hors d'oeuvres,
dancing, a live and silent auction, and a "Best of the Best" raffle.
Can't attend? Make sure to purchase your "Best of the Best"
raffle tickets. Ticket holders could win a collection of items sure
to make your life simply the best, or one of 10 "Celebration" bags filled with restaurant and spa
certificates, gift baskets, and much more. Tickets can be purchased in the Development Office
during school hours.
Mark your calendar and don't miss the fun! If you have any questions, please contact Beth
Zak.
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"Chapter 8" - Harrisburg Academy Student-Directed Play
Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m., McCormick Auditorium
All are invited to attend "Chapter 8" on April 5 at 2 p.m. in McCormick Auditorium. Harrisburg
Academy senior, Brendan D. '14 will direct the piece, written by fellow 17-year-old California
high school student, Griffin Osborne. "Chapter 8," has gone viral this year, being produced by
a number of schools across the country. Most exciting, Osborne will join us at the Academy for
our performance! Community members attending the production are welcome to attend a
pizza lunch with the cast and playwright at the conclusion of the play.
Says Osborne, "'Chapter 8' is the result of some of my own psychology and thoughts on
morality. People often ask if I wrote myself in any of my characters, and in a way I have. Both
characters of Damon and Jacob together make up an amalgamation of my mentality, with two
very different sides fighting against each other when it comes to concepts of good and bad."
Questions? Please contact Michael Gamon.
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Congrats to...
The Academy's Brain Busters team, Matthew R. '16,
Ilija M. '15, Austin D. '16, Jini G. '15, and not
pictured, Brian C. '15, Jalen G. '17, and Alexander
Z. '15, for their semi-final victory against Cedar Cliff last
week. The team will compete in the finals on May 29 at
the Whitaker Center.
Hannah S. '14, who placed 2nd in the Alto II section in
the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association State
Honor Choir, which performed last Saturday.
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Centers News: Destination Costa Rica
The Costa Rica trip, sponsored by the Center for
Experimental Sciences and the Center for Global
& Local Citizenship, was a huge success. Many
thanks to the student participants: (standing)
Dominic Z. '17, Amelia N. '17, Chelsea M.
'15, Ali T. '16, Laura M. '16, Molly M. '17,
Dayna L. '15, Carly W. '16, C.J. P. '16,
Sarah T. '16, and Suning Y. '16; (seated)
Nisha M. '17, Gillian B. '17, and Claire M.
'16. Students enjoyed testings the waters at
the Arenal hot springs; zip-lining through the
forest canopy; meeting students at a local
school; viewing exotic wildlife, such as sloths, monkeys, and iguanas; and attempting Costa
Rican dance steps. Ultimately, trip participants experienced the "pura vida" lifestyle of the truly
beautiful country and warm people of Costa Rica.
More photos from the trip are posted on the Centers blog. Questions? Please contact Amy
Miller or Mary Toth.
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2014 Blood Drive: Thanks for Helping
Us Help our Community!
Here at the Academy, we believe student character is
fostered through our commitment to community service.
We strive to further connect our school to the greater
Harrisburg area by providing opportunities for our
students to engage as a community volunteers. The
Academy's annual Blood Drive, benefiting the Central
Pennsylvania Blood Bank, is one way in which we take
action to achieve our mission.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's blood drive this past Wednesday.
With the help of students, parents, trustees, faculty, staff, and administrators, we collected
enough blood to help 42 local patients! Thanks also to the Academy's National Honor
Society members, Academy senior, Ann S. '14, and school counselor, Virginia Getz, for
coordinating this year's event.
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Prom 2014: A Night in the Spotlight
The 2014 Upper School Prom, "A Night in the
Spotlight," will take place on Saturday, April 26 from
6:30-10:30 p.m. at the Country Club of
Harrisburg. Students in 10th through 12th grade
received invitations in March. The ticket cost is $50
per student, and checks should be made payable to
Harrisburg Academy. RSVP with payment to Mrs.
Heather Shumaker by Friday, April 11.
Questions? Please contact Mrs. Heather Shumaker.
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Spartan Spirit Blog
The Relevance of Charter Day in 2014
by Jim Newman, head of school
Today in 2014, Charter Day is part of the Academy's
distinctive culture and identity. Charter Day is
celebrated every April 4. It commemorates the day
in 1809 when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
approved a request by Academy trustees to
incorporate the school that John Harris, Jr. had
started on his property 25 years previously, in
1784. Read more...
We Choose Harrisburg Academy
by Aimee Connelly (parent of Joshua '27 and Miles '25)
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aimee Connelly, and I am a parent at Harrisburg
Academy. We started at the Academy for the 2012-13 academic year, when my older son was
entering Kindergarten and younger son was entering HATS. Let me start by saying -- the
Academy offers an incredible education. Read more...
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Athletics News
Congrats to Drew B. '14 and Trent M. '14, who played in the All-Star basketball tournament
last week. Drew and Trent were the 2013-14 Varsity Boys' Basketball co-captains. Drew made
a career-high 24 points in a game, and was also selected to the Falcon Holiday Tournament AllTournament team. Trent ranks 5th in all-time assists at the Academy and has the most assists
in a season with 161. Read highlights from the tournament here and here.
Click here to read The (Carlisle) Sentinel's Boys' Basketball end-of-season recap, with input
from Coach Steve Pancoski.
Questions? Please contact Jeane Serino.
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Summer Session: Andy Stoner
Tennis Camps
Harrisburg Academy is hosting two weeks of Andy
Stoner Tennis Camps as part of its Summer Session:
MINI Camps and Classes offerings. During Andy
Stoner Tennis Camps, students will learn from the
finest instructors and practice skills necessary to
improve their game. This year, there is a new fullday camp option, which will offer, in addition to
tennis instruction, water games and outdoor
activities. Click to learn more about Andy Stoner
Tennis Camp week 1 and week 2. Please note that
the registration deadline for these camps has been
extended to April 25.
Questions? Please contact Andy Stoner Tennis Camps.
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4th Annual M&T Bank Glee Competition
Harrisburg Academy's Glee Club will be participating in the 4th Annual M&T Bank Glee
Competition on Saturday, April 5 at 5 p.m. at the Carlisle Theatre. Come out and support the
Academy's Glee Club!
Click here for more details and ticketing information. Questions? Please contact Beth
Darowish.
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Parents Association
Early Childhood & Lower School Night at the Gym
All Early Childhood and Lower School families are invited to a free, fun-filled night of games and
activities in Louis Lehrman Gymnasium on Friday, April 11, 6:30-8 p.m. This event is
sponsored by the Parents Association and is not a drop-off event. RSVPs are not
required. Questions? Please contact Jen Coyl.
Spring Box Tops Collection
This spring, the Parents Association is hosting the Spring
Fling Ice Cream Thing, which gives Academy students
the opportunity to help win an ice cream party for their
grade. Each of the divisions, Early Childhood, Lower
School, Middle School, and Upper School, will have
separate collections, and the winning grade from each
division will receive an ice cream party! The collection
starts now and runs through Friday, April 25. Let's
raise as many Box Tops as we can! Click here for more
information and the spring collection
flyers. Questions? Please contact Paula Lofland.
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Questions? Contact Mary Campbell.