2001-02 Discovery Teachers and Sponsors Amanda Bailey, 7th grade special education Jim LaPrad, Discovery math Gwen Brown, assistant principal Lauralyn McWilliams, Spanish and French Rick Estes, Math and Science Coordinator Andy Mink, Discovery director, social studies Gayle Fitzhugh, 8th grade algebra Kim Mink, OES media center specialist Officer Joe Gagliardi, MWC Police Dept. Gary Mittler, Orange Co. computer specialist Michelle Hurst, Discovery language arts Dwayne Satterfield, 7th grade pre-algebra Linda Insalaco, 7th grade algebra Allan Thomson, 8th grade physical science Kristin Kahler, Discovery science Jill Williams, 8th grade social studies
THOSE WHO BELAY Jamie Dyer Tom Poloso Jessica Ponton Gary Green Robin Coutts Rolland Cellela David Goldstein Leighton Reid Sandy Gray Pat Verling David Sickman Browning Porter Kate Hanson Bill Little Tommy Lam Rob Bullington Jeff Romano Lauren Price Mary Pat Burns Christine Collins Brady Earnhart Alli Honenberger Bobby St. Ours Stanley Beger Pete Katz Eva Graves Rob Jiranek Phillip St. Ours John & Doris Whitfield Roger Prine Laura Parsons David Cooper Jimmy Stelling John Fahey Gail Yemmington David Morris Jay Snipes Justin Neuhardt Erin Karasik Rob Skipper Will Stanley Thom Jones Charlie Bell Tammy LaPrad Gail Stanley Margaret Lam Guy deBrun Ethan LaPrad Claire Mink Ross Hunter Deb Caughron Lyn Belvin Harlan Eagle Eric Nelson Spencer Lathrop
Prospect Heights Middle School 200 Macon Street Orange, Virginia 22960 540-661-4372 FAX: 540-661-4399 winter-into-spring
Memberships held by Discovery: Potomac Appalachian Trail Club The Access Fund Association of Experiential Education Friends of the Rappahannock International Mountain Bike Association http://www.ocss-va.org/discovery All the Skinny for DISCOVERY ON BELAY Issues Forty-Five/Six Alumni & Friends Early Winter, 2002
Quality of work on display at the climbing wall by Jennifer Jarrell ('03) We're off! We are on our way to Richmond where the whole Discovery team will be going indoor rock climbing for our honor roll trip. I am sitting in my own seat so that I can have more room. I am sitting across from my good friends Robin, Jessica, and Kelsey.
When we arrived, I looked around and saw that the walls all around me where covered with footholds and ropes. We were divided into climbing groups, and I was with Jessica. We asked Ms. Kahler, our science teacher, to belay for us.
M. Hurst We tied our ropes on a huge wall that leaned in toward us. I didn't STANDING IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Eighth graders really want to climb it, but Ms. Kahler convinced me that it would be fun. Cameron Kemeys ('02) (center) and Tim Cudd ('01) (not I called the commands to her. She responded, and then I began my climb. pictured) took their last outing as a Discovery student on I stopped on a notch and slowly extended my arm to grab another one. January 11. Both earned promotion to Orange County High I kept doing that, and I began to feel more confident. I looked down. I'd School for the spring semester and will return as alumni for come up so far and the ground looked a million miles away. I felt even future outings. Former Discovery math teacher Robin going up this far that I had conquered my fear of falling and my fear of Coutts (l) and current sponsor Allan Thomson (r) share in heights. I finally reached the top after what seemed to be a perilous climb. I touched the top and told my belayer that I was ready to come down. congratulating Cameron on his accomplishment. When I was finally on the ground I realized that I had done it. Robin, Jessica, and I continued climbing with each other for the rest of the day. It was a blast! Discovery student awarded Student Appreciation Award Discovery eighth grader Kevin Edwards ('02) was awarded the Lake of the Woods Optimist Club Student Appreciation Award for 2002 at a dinner ceremony at the Lake of the Woods church on February 24. Kevin was nominated by the Discovery teachers for demonstrating out- standing character and achievement in all types of learning settings. Each year students from each school in Orange County are evaluated on academic and character by the LOW Optimist Club.
J. LaPrad
Discovery Duck Regatta slated for Mar. 26
K. Kahler
A. Mink Eight hundred rubber ducks will be released on the Rapidan River on CELEBRATION OF QUALITY: Rick Mittler ('03) (l) March 26 in the Sixth Annual Discovery Rubber Duck Regatta to ben- efit our eighth graders in raising their Outward Bound course tuition. makes a big move on a difficult climb at Peak Experiences The grand prize winner will receive a Dagger Redline white water kayak Climbing Gym in Richmond while Katherine Ridgeway ('03)
(retail value $800) from Outdoor Adventures in Fredericksburg. Other A. Mink
A. Mink A. Mink gets ready to tackle the black diamond slopes at Wintergreen winners will receive merchandise from Plow and Hearth, tasty treats Ski Resort on two recent Discovery honor roll outings. OverJ. Gagliardi from Ben and Jerry's, high octane coffee from Not the Same Old Grind, 70% of the Discovery team participated in one or both of family passes to the Discovery Museum, climbing passes from Rocky Top Climbing Gym, spring tickets to Live Arts performances, and din- these outings by passing all of their tests with at least a "C" ner certificates from the Firehouse Cafe. and by doing at least 70% of their homework for each class. ON BELAY, Early Winter, 2002 PBS "ZOOMS!" to Orange to film, OUTING READINGS FROM air segment on Book Buddies THE OUTWARD BOUND PRIMER At the start of each meeting and outing, we gather in a On Friday, February 15, the Discovery Program seventh circle to start with a reading. Each member takes a turn grade class and their second grade book buddies fro at sharing a passage that verbalizes the theme of the mOrange Elementary School will be featured on the na- adventure we are about to undertake. Taken from the Hurricane Island Outward Bound Readings Book donated tionally broadcasted PBS program ZOOM! Segments were by Wendy Cohn, these words give us a thread to tie our filmed in November after the local Charlottesville station experiences together. The following passages were heard about the bat conservation project that our students recently shared: are working on together. Television crews visited Orange You may fall and fall many times, but you aren't a failure Elementary to film our partners in action and conduct in- until you blame someone else for pushing you. terviews with students. Ten Discovery students were se- -- James Burroughs lected to film the opening introduction of the program, and You may be disappointed in your fail, but you are doomed if Elliott Gillan was given the star role of welcoming the au- you don't try. dience and introducing the show. The segment aired on -- Beverly Sills national television on Friday, February 15, 2002. If we do not keep pace with our companions, perhaps it it because we hear a different drummer. Let us step to the mu- sic we hear, however measured or far away. -- Henry David Thoreau
Self-approval is the most necessary, and yet the most hard to come by thing there is. -- Polly Bergen
Whether adversity be a stumbling block, discipline, or bless- ing depends altogether on the use made of it. -- Unknown
The pessimist looks at opportunities and sees difficulties; the J. LaPrad optimist looks at difficulties and sees opportunities.
M. Hurst "Today, we are not students. We are cavers." Looking back on the first semester by Katherine Ridgeway ('03) by Kelsey Powell ('03) My group is bursting with excitement imagining how it's going to feel I came back home from vacation with skin as red as a tomato from all to be a caver. All of us are discussing what the cave is going to be like. of the sun. We stopped by my grandma's house to get the mail. As usual, We all agree that it is probably going to be semi-dark and relatively easy there was probably not going to be anything for me. We pulled into the with few obstacles. Almost like a walk in the park. driveway and got out of the car. When I walked into the house, my grandfather handed me a letter from school. I didn't know what it was A fear crosses my mind when Mr. Mink announces that we are only a about -- I never got mail from the school. few minutes away from our destination. What if we get lost? What if the cave collapses and buries all of us? I am not beginning to feel a little I slowly opened the neat, white envelope. tense. The bus slows down, and we pull into the parking lot of a church. I unfolded the paper. I am looking for our entrance to the cave, but all I see are hills, trees, and houses. We could see that our gear is waiting for us to put it on to It read, "Congratulations -- you have been chosen for the Discovery start our journey. There were three men standing with their arms crossed. team". I was stunned! I screamed all day with excitement. They waited for us to reach them and then started passing out gear and explaining what would happen. I never thought I'd get ino Discovery because only five girls from my school were chosen out of 96 entries. The probability of me getting in We walked downhill that got rockier as we got closer to the cave's wasn't that good. I was thinking that I might get placed on the Dolphins opening. I could tell that there was a cave nearby because of the sur- team, but I ended up on the Discovery team. I really wanted to be in it, roundings. A cold, brisk wind brushed by me, rocks now everywhere, but none of my close friends were chosen. Luckily I'd still see them (continued on page 5) (continued on page 3) -2- ON BELAY, Early Winter 2002
EARLY WINTER CalendAr of Outings
February 11: downhill skiing at Wintergreen Ski Resort (honor roll only) MAKE UP
February 12: service project with Sierra Club (Battlefields Chapter) (7)
February 13: Lattehouse IV at Live Arts Theater in Charlottesville (7,8)
February 14: Sixth Annual Faculty-Student Hoop-a-Thon at PHMS gym
February 18: student holiday
February 20: service project at Wildlife Center of Virginia (8)
February 22: Book Buddies at OES (7)
February 28: Book Buddies at PHMS (8)
March 1-2: outdoor rock climbing and winter camping at Seneca Rocks, West Virginia (7)
March 7: Book Buddies at PHMS (7)
March 26: Alpine Tower Challenge and Sixth Annual Discovery Rubber Ducky Regatta (honor roll trip)
ESKIMO ROLL: On Janu- LOOKING BACK (cont. from page 2) ary 24, seven Discovery during my third and fourth block classes. I wondered what it would be eighth graders joined like. Woodberry Forest outing Before you could say "on belay", I was on my first Discovery outing - club director Jim Reid at the - the low ropes course. There I conquered the PamperPole and faced my WFS indoor pool for an af- greatest fear of all time -- heights. When I was there on top of the pole ternoon of kayak roll prac- it felt like anything was possible. Trips from then on just came and tice. Students were intro- went. The day hike was fun, wet, and filled with laughs. The caving outing challenged me down into the depths of a cave. I became a spe- duced to the basics of lunker, moving by the light of my helmet. I also went rock climbing at kayaking last October on the two indoor gyms and learned to use my physical and mental abilities to Rappahannock River with get to the top. I learned my belay commands, and everyone gained trust John Garman of the Virginia in each other. On the camping trip to Assateague everyone focused on Outdoor Center, and these friendship, teamwork, and compassion. Something there on the island opened everybody up a little more. There we all splashed in the waves
K. Mink volunteers wanted to learn and the tides and caught a table or two on fire. more about the sport and practice intermediate moves. WFS senior Leighton Reid ('98) (pictured above) was on hand to The first semester of my seventh grade Discovery year was exciting demonstrate and assist in the whitewater boats. and unforgettable. Because of the memories and exciting trips, I wait with anticipation for the next outing this spring.
-3- ON BELAY, Early Winter 2002 STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND: discovering Australia Throughout the year, eighth grade Discovery students will immerse in was named for Matthew Flinders, who was the first European to explore the geography, culture, and history of the Pacific Rim through a series of the area in the early 1800s. I drove to the Flinders National Park, and communications with Sarah Curtis-Fawley, who will be living in Aus- stayed in a cabin at the base of Wilpena Pound. Wilpena Pound is a ring tralia as a Fulbright scholar to study the effects of the juvenille justice of mountains spanning 80 square kilometres; it is called a "pound" be- system in that country. The class will conduct several joint projects cause it is a natural enclosure with only one exit – just like a dog pound! with Sarah, including designing outings for her to take in the area, solv- I hope you get my postcard so you can see what this looks like! ing problems that she provides from the field, and completing online joint studies on land, sea, and air. Additionally, she will provide narra- After a good night’s sleep, I was ready to take on the challenge of hiking tive feedback on relevant social issues and cultural observations. up the side of the Pound. I chose the most difficult hike offered because it promised the best views of the area! For the first couple of hours the 16 January 2002 hike was relatively flat, and I was excited to see lots of different butter- flies, spiders, and skinks (like a long, fat lizard!). Then the terrain quickly G’day Discovery!! became rockier and I was on a very steep path up the side of the moun- tain. I was on my hands and knees for part of this hike, using every It has been quite a while since we have been in touch! I hope that all of muscle in my upper body to pull myself up the sheer face of the ridge. you had great holidays and that the start of the new school term is going There was not another person in site, and I became very nervous that I well. I had a nice Christmas down under – a bit strange to have a would fall and hurt myself, never to be found again. (In fact, after I barbecue for Christmas dinner, but I had a lot of fun with all of myA. Mink returned from my trip, someone told me that a few years ago a boy fell off Aussie friends and their families. of this very ridge, and his body has never been found…yikes). I was sweating like I have never sweated before (the temperature was 39 de- I just returned from a great trip to the central part of South Australia, grees Celsius – that is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit!), and cursing my and I am so excited to tell you about it! I flew from Adelaide to Whyalla, stupid decision to take this trail. But when I finally got to the top, it was which with 14,000 people is the second largest city in South Australia. all worth it. The view was simply incredible – I could see for miles in Whyalla is a very cute little outback town – everything seems to have a every direction, including the huge Lake Torrens (a saltwater lake) to the dusty red veneer from the desert sands and the sea air (the town motto is west and the Aroona Valley to the north. Breathtaking. "Where the Outback meets the sea!"). In Whyalla I picked up a rental car, and cruised north towards Port Augusta, which is known as the true Instead of just turning around and heading back down the outside wall of gateway to the outback. Once I left this town, I knew that I was truly in the Pound, I ventured inside the walls of the Pound and hiked directly a big, wild country. The land spread out before me for miles and miles through the forest in the center. Although it was a very long hike (almost (although here they would say "kilometres and kilometres" since they 9 more miles – and this is after climbing that huge wall!), it was well use the metric system!) in shades of orange and red, marked by a few worth it because I saw dozens of kangaroos and euros (a marsupial like tall gum trees. The land was very flat and I drove very fast – too fast, a ‘roo, but stouter and with shaggier fur). So neat to see these wild because I almost hit a kangaroo that came leaping across the road! animals in their natural habitats! If I was very quiet and approached them carefully, the ‘roos would allow me to get very close to them. I even From Port Augusta I drove through Quorn and then Hawker, small towns saw a momma ‘roo with a joey in her pouch! with nothing more than a few pubs and a petrol station (that is what they call a "gas station" here!). In between these two towns I stopped at the When I returned to my room at the resort, I drank about 2 litres of water Kanyaka ruins, which are the remains of a sheep ranch that was founded and then collapsed into my sleeping bag and slept for 12 hours! The next in 1851. All that is left standing are the skeletons of some houses and morning I went on a 4 wheel drive tour with one of the park rangers. barns, but it is amazing to think about what it must have been like to live This was incredible off road driving, on steep mountain roads (well, these on a farm with 50,000 sheep in the wild Australian bush in the 1850s! were not even roads really – just tire tracks in the dirt!), through streams, and up some paths so steep I felt like I was on a roller coaster. The park I also made a stop at the Yourambulla caves, where I embarked on a ranger was incredibly knowledgeable, pointing out all of the trees and very steep hike up to caves with Aboriginal paintings. The paintings flowers that grow in the arid desert land, as well as the wildlife! We saw were done with ochre and ash, and it is believed that they were made lots of birds (emus, rosellas, budgerigars, galahs, and many more that I
THE FOUR PILLARS OF OUTWARD BOUND PHYSICAL FITNESS QUALITY OF WORK SELF RELIANCE AND, ABOVE ALL ELSE, COMPASSION -4- ON BELAY, Early Winter 2002 NOW WE ARE CAVERS (continued from page 2) When you see these Discovery alumni, students, or and I can see the entrance. It is a cramped looking hole that you have to sponsors, give them a celebratory shot in the arm for lower yourself into. Right when I entered the cave, I felt a wintery chill the passing of another year: in February, Theresa Rohall shoot up my spine. The thermostat attached to my day pack read 52 ('99) on February 6; Elsa Haberland ('02) on Febru- degrees. I started to look around. We were standing in a huge room with ary 9; Justin Rowe ('98) on February 10; Wendy Short stalactites and stalagmites everywhere. My image of the cave just on February 14; Ainsley Lockhart ('01) on February changed to unexplainable reality. 15; Sage Jones ('01) on February 16; Brenda Nissen on February 18; and, Susan Loiacona Reed on Febru- We saw many bats and a type of stalactite called Angel Wings that day ary 26. In March, Lucas McCulley ('00) on March 1; in the cave. There were some parts of the cave when we had to get down Serena Souders ('00) and Cassandra Collins ('03) on on our stomachs and slither through a small, narrow passage. For some March 2; Hannah Buchman ('97) on March 4; other sections, everybody was on their knees. Still others allowed us to Carleigh Collins ('00) on March 5; Jessica Ponton easily stand and walk around. It's an experience that I'll never forget. ('98) and Charlie Lovelace on March 6; Ashley Barlow ('98) on March 7; Lauren Price ('99) on March 9; Editor's Note: Katherine went caving with her seventh grade Discovery class in Kathryn Baylor on March 10; Amy Kendall ('99) on late November, 2001 in southwest Virginia. The Discovery eighth grade class March 11; Leighton Reid ('98) on March 12; John explored a different series of caves near Franklin, West Virginia in mid-January, Birckhead ('03) on March 13; Rick Estes and Neale 2002. for both trips, Discovery employs Action Endeavor, a locally owned cav- Nickels ('00) on March 16; Amanda Knighton ('99) ing guide service based in northern Virginia. For more information about area on March 17; Allan Thomson on March 20; Elsa caving possibilities, contact owner Miku Mehta via email at
Andy Mink and Billy O'Steen have been invited to DISCOVERY present information on the Discovery Program at the Annual Mid-Atlantic Association of Experiential Edu- NEWS AND NOTES cation (AEE) Regional Conference at Salisbury State University in Salisbury, Maryland on March 23-25, Congratulations to Tim Cudd ('01) and Cameron 2002. Kemeys ('01) for earning placement in the ninth grade at Orange County High School for the spring semester, The Discovery Program rasied over $3,000 to benefit 2002. our Outward Bound tuition fund and to cover general
A.Mink
S. Curtis-Fawley operating costs for the spring semester with the Sixth Amy Kendall ('99) and Leighton Reid ('98) are among Annual Discovery Benefit Music Festival. The show forty two students at Woodberry Forest School to be was highlighted by thirty minute sets by Brady trained as Alpine Tower facillitators for the 2001-02 Earnhart, the Hackensaw Boys, Nickeltown, and the school year. Rapidan Outing Club leader Deb Hogwaller Ramblers. Displays were set up in the lobby Caughron created a student-led course that Discovery featuring many organizations that support Discovery, students will be experiencing in March. including the Sierra Club (Battlefields Chapter), Electric Art, the Virginia Outdoor Center, North Discovery welcomed new seventh grader John Carolina Outward Bound School, International Mohrmann ('03) to our team on February 11. Mountain Bike Association, the Access Fund, the Friends of the Rappahannock, and Leave No Trace. Betsy Reid ('02), Katie Gainsback ('02), and Kevin Posters were donated by Kaminer and Thompson Edwards ('02) all finished in the top ten of math place- Printers in Charlottesville, and coffee was provided by ment scores for PHMS in January. Betsy earned the Not The Same Old Grind in Orange, and Four County highest score in the school. Players representatives Rob Skipper and Gail Yemmington helped plan and run the show. Special Best wishes and continued success for Kevin Shifflett thanks to Mary Pat and Tom Hanson and Ralph ('02) and Raven Feagans ('03) who moved out of Or- Graves for their advice and guidance. ange County in January. Congratulations and warm wishes are extended to Jim Thirty-six Discovery students packed the audience at and Tammy LaPrad, who are expecting triplets in mid- the February 11 show of Lattehouse IV at Live Arts July, 2002. Theater in Charlottesville to support Addie Horan ('02), who wrote three monologues and starred in two Harold Marsh of the Virginia Historical Society spoke others. to the Discovery seventh grade history class about Life as a Civil War Soldier on March 4.
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