THE NA T IO N 'S OLDES T ON THE WEB: COU nt RY DAY SC HOOL www.pingry.org/page. NEWSPAPER cfm?p=388 VO LUME CXXXVI, NUMBER 1 The Pingry School, Martinsville, New Jersey OCT O BER 7, 2009 Green Dining Hall System Implemented By JULIA NOSOFSKY (VI) verted to organic fertilizer.” The company that converts Every year students return the waste into fertilizer sells to Pingry, anxious to see it to Pingry at a reduced rate. what has changed around the The prospect of this recy- school over the long summer cling system is that there will months. This year, Pingry be less overall food waste. introduced a new food dis- In October, Pingry will posal system in the cafeteria. introduce yet another change The goal of this new system regarding the cafeteria: trays is to reduce Pingry’s carbon will no longer be available footprint by composting for use. Besides the fact food waste. that many people don’t use Movie-theater-style ropes trays, Mr. Virzi believes that have been set up to guide students and faculty will be students to a waste bin be- “likely to take less food to fore they leave their dishes begin with.” After trays have and silverware after finishing been removed for some time, lunch. “Yes” and “No” signs, he explained, it will be pos- which indicate what should sible to guage exactly how and should not be compos- much waste was reduced by S. Tayler (III) ted, are located above the weighing the compost. waste bin. Finally, Pingry Student reaction to the calculates the total waste new food disposal system Mrs. Grant New English Department Head the “many experiences she and Creative Writing. However, collected weekly and posts style as “Romantic” because she has been mixed. “I think the By SHAAN GURNANI (V) has with students beyond just over the years, she has taught a the weight on a sign next to new cafeteria system defi- believes in the individual, in the This year, Mrs. Victoria the classroom: we go on trips number of courses, including class making decisions together, the bin. nitely solves the problem of Grant stepped up as the head together, work together, play American Literature, English and in creating independent According to Mr. Michael the congested garbage area, of the English department. She together, and learn together.” 9, and New Voices. She cre- thinkers. Mrs. Grant also likes Virzi, Director of Facilities, and I think the new compost- said that her new role as depart- She decided to apply for the ated the World Literature course having a lot of plants around and there are two main reasons ing system is a great help ment head is “to help all of the department head position be- with English teachers Dr. Susan thinks that it would be a good why Pingry has decided to to the environment,” Grace teachers in the department be the cause the twenty-first century is Dineen and Mr. Ted Li and has experience to teach a class while impose this new system: Putnam (IV) said. Others, best teachers they can be and to “such an exciting time, with so also taught German, French, and riding on horseback. because it’s the right thing such as Chris O’Connell make their lives easier. Also, to many ways [for us] to commu- Spanish. In her spare time, Mrs. Grant, to do, and because it saves (VI), find the new system to be a facilitator of discussions nicate with one another.” Mrs. Grant loves many as- a self-proclaimed “English the school money by “divert- be “inconvenient” because about pedagogy—the art of Additionally, it was the per- pects of her job, especially geek,” loves reading books. She ing [food] out of the waste “you don’t need ropes to teaching.” fect opportunity because of the “when a discussion gets going also enjoys nature and being stream to keep it from going tell you where to put your Mrs. Grant attended Gordon timing; the previous department and the kids forget I am in the outdoors, watching films, going to landfills so it can be con- food.” College in Wenham, Massachu- head Mr. Chris Shilts had recent- room." She also loves “watch- to the theater, and spending time setts as an undergraduate where ly chosen to pursue his life-long ing films with [her] students with her family. she majored in English literature dream of becoming the Varsity and using art and music in After spending time relaxing and minored in French, Spanish, Football head coach. [her] classroom.” She is also this summer in Acadia National and German. “I felt ready to accept a new fascinated by the connections Park in Maine, working on her After graduating from Gor- challenge here at Pingry after ex- between English and History, house, and doing a lot of read- don College, Mrs. Grant taught periencing 25 successful years. and tries to incorporate them ing, Mrs. Grant is looking for- with her husband, Mr. Timothy It just felt right," she said. into her teaching. ward to a fabulous new year as Grant, at West Nottingham Finally, she described Pingry She describes her teaching the English department head. Academy in Rising Sun, Mary- as her family, mentioning that land for one year. Soon after, her sons both grew up here they came to Pingry, where they (“lifers” Thor Grant ’03 and have taught for 25 years. Josh Grant ’06). With regards Inside The Record Mrs. Grant loves Pingry be- to her decision, Mrs. Grant said, cause of “the extent of engage- “my colleagues are very special ment.” In reflecting upon her people; they enrich my life. I re- years at Pingry, she said, “during ally just wanted to give back to a free period, students, both for- them and the students.” mer and current, are always up Mrs. Grant hopes that the for a discussion about literature, English department will con- politics, or anything else.” She tinue to grow. She also wishes is impressed that “my students to “fine tune the curriculum in are as excited as I am about order to best meet our students’ learning.” Mrs. Grant feels that needs.” this engagement encourages This year, Mrs. Grant is “intellectual growth.” teaching Sophomore English, S. Gurnani (V) Mrs. Grant also appreciates European/British Literature, Committee Approves "3-4-3" Grading Scale grades were calculated with grade distribution is not By KATE DREYFUSS (VI) pendent school in the midst the familiar 14-point scale, what I had expected it to be, of the greatest economic Courtesy of Roxanne Oghaz (V) the Academic Committee, The Oghaz twins took in the view of Santorini during At the start of this school and I am still permitted to do recession in nearly eighty their trip to Greece this past summer. year, Pingry implemented a which is comprised of de- that as I see fit.” years.” new grading scale. The new partment chairs and admin- While the faculty was Alex Daifotis (VI) agreed, The Downside of Protocol Space Rave scale distributes grades in istrators, began weighing the generally on board with adding, “I won’t really ben- a 3-4-3 pattern, therefore pros and cons of switching revising the grading scale, efit from the change because Inspired by Kanye West, Sam Students respond enthusiastically making the new cutoff for Pingry to a 100-point scale. there was some concern many of the classes I am Baron (VI) explores societal norms and to the futuristic-themed Homecoming earning grades such as an A The Committee recently ap- about grade inflation, since taking this year, such as the value of breaking protocol P4. dance P8. or a B a 93 or an 83 instead proved the change. a student now needs to earn Math 6, AP Chemistry, and Mix, Match, and Layer of a 94 or an 84. According to Mr. Leef, only an 83 to get a B or a AP Physics, use their own New Faculty Members Gabby Scrudato (VI) reveals how According to Mr. Jon the most attractive trait 93 for an A. Mr. Leef said, scales as determined by the Five new teachers add their aca- Leef, Assistant Headmaster, of the new scale is that it however, that this concern to wear the new trends in fall fashion teachers.” Sam Baron (VI) demic and athletic skills to Pingry's P10. the idea for the new 100- “maintains consistency in was ameliorated when it believes that “this artificial repertoire P5. point scale came up at the grading” between sections became clear that “students grade inflation is okay so Soccer Stays Strong end of last year when the of classes that are taught by still need to work hard to long as the school notifies It's All Greek to Me After losing key seniors, boys' faculty was calculating final different teachers. He also earn their grades.” colleges about the change Varsity Soccer hopes to continue last grades. He said, “Pingry had added that the new scale So far, student reaction in policy.” Roxanne Oghaz (V) reflects on her season's success P12. just installed a new computer does not rescind teachers’ to the new grading scale has Whatever the opinion experiences traveling in Greece P6. system which would more right to determine how to been mixed. Brandon Brier may be, the new 3-4-3 grade Sections readily calculate grades us- grade their assessments, say- (VI) believes, “Although distribution makes Pingry’s Spreading the Wealth News...........................1,5,8 ing a 100-point scale rather ing, “As a math teacher, I’m providing students with ad- grading consistent with the Commentary..............2-4 than our traditional 14-point not a perfect test designer.