School Wide News

Headmaster Letter
Stratford Academy is engaged in preparing for the five-year re-accreditation process. For the first time, our school will seek re-accreditation through a joint effort of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Stratford Academy will host a Visiting Committee in early fall of 2008 as the culminating activity of our petition to be re-accredited. While that date may seem far away, now is the appropriate time for us to begin the school assessment and writing of the "Self Study". I am pleased to report to you the appointment of two of our faculty, Griff Ethridge and Kathy Larsen, to serve as co-chairs of the Accreditation Committee. Both are experienced with the SACS self-study process and will provide wise counsel to all of us over the coming months and well into the next school year. I have accepted their recommendation that our accreditation committee structure be reorganized. It is our objective to have all faculty and staff involved in the internal assessment (study) and reporting process that leads to our school's final document, "The Self Study", that will become our guide through the subsequent five-year cycle. Griff, Kathy and I are available to answer your questions about this critical process, one that is of immense benefit to Stratford Academy, our school.

Mike Collins
Interim Headmaster

Robinson Garden Dedication
The Tommy Robinson Memorial Garden  was dedicated on March 4, 2007. Family and friends of the Robinsons gathered for the dedication of the garden which is located adjacent to the band room. The Robinson family's hope is that "this garden will provide a place where creativity will grow and friends will gather often in the spirit of "love, compassion and devotion." The area is in the shape of a treble clef and includes a lovely water feature. Classes and students have already been using the area for picnics, breaks and studying.

Grandparents Day
"Stratford Stars on Broadway" was the theme for this year's Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day. Preschool and Lower School students performed for an audience of around one thousand on March 30 in the Stratford Gym.

Shanon Gross, PS and LS music, was program director for "Stratford Stars on Broadway." Shanon has been at Stratford Academy for nine years and this was her ninth production of Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day. The fifth grade band students, under the direction of Dan Tyner, Band Director, opened the program. Fifth grade music students, under the direction of Ashley Childers, fifth grade music, performed a dance of English origin that culminated with the building of a Stratford star.

Weeks of preparation went into the performances for Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day. Each grade performed songs, accompanied by a live ensemble, from Broadway musicals. They wore costumes to reflect the themes of their performances. PreKindergarten students sang "Happy Talk" and "Dites Moi" from South Pacific. Girls wore grass skirts and boys wore sailor hats. The fourth grade did a medley from Hair including "Let the Sunshine In" and "Aquarius" and dressed in "hippie" fashion. After the performances, everyone visited the classrooms to meet teachers, see special decorations, and meet other students and friends.

The student art display was coordinated by Gena McWilliams, LS art. Students have been working diligently to prepare art for the show. This year's Kindergarten art was based on the theme of Van Gogh's Cherry Blossom Trees. Lower School Students picked from their year's portfolios for display in the show. According to McWilliams the art was "a variety of art from Rock n' Rollin' Line Designs to Expressionistic Self-Portraits."

Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day was an enjoyable and memorable day. Special thanks go to all Stratford staff, faculty, administration, students and parent volunteers who helped to make this event a success.

 Upper School News

Honor Graduates Announced
US Principal Margaret Brogdon announced the 2007 Honor Graduates at a school assembly on March 26. Twenty-one students were recognized for their academic excellence. Honor students are Sami Ahmed, Blake Allen, Franky Davis, Mary Parker Davis, Hannah Hall, Maddie Henderson, David Holmes, Stephen Jackson, Claire Jones, Kunal MacDonald, Sara Ann Manocheo, Albert McKay, Mallory Page, Ross Rabun, Chris Scelsi, Kristin Stevens, Hampton Vernon, Nancy Wilfong, Sarah Wilfong, Sam Willis and Soren Young. Sami Ahmed was named class valedictorian and Blake Allen class salutatorian.

Key Club Blood Drive
The Tommy Robinson Memorial Blood Drive, sponsored by the Stratford Key Club, surpassed its goal. There were fifty-eight donors from the Stratford family. Lynn Hutto, Stratford Key Club Advisor, was grateful for all the support from the students, staff, faculty, administration, and friends of Stratford. According to Hutto, "the drive at Stratford was an enduring way of remembering Tommy, and it was a great day for Stratford."

Carolyn Spajer, Donor Recruitment Representative of the American Red Cross, was appreciative of Stratford for the "superior" drive at our school. "The Red Cross in Georgia stays in a chronic deficit situation; forcing us to import blood from other regions...we are working toward being self sufficient."

All Key Club members helped in some way with the blood drive. Stratford inducted fifty-two new members into the 2006-2007 Key Club on Friday, March 2, 2007.   

Benefit Concert
"King of the Juice" band played a benefit concert for the Lemon family on Thursday, March 8. The band includes Stratford seniors Steven Kent, Hampton Vernon, and Davis Popper. The Student Activities Board helped with ticket sales and advertising. The concert raised around $1500 for the Lemon Family Fund.

Japanese Students Visit Stratford Academy
Eleven Japanese students visited Macon and attended a school day at Stratford on Monday, March 12. The Students were from Kurobe, Japan. This visit was part of a cultural exchange tour sponsored by YKK Corporation of America. YKK Vice President Kazuhiro Yoshida, a Stratford parent, organized the tour. The Japanese students shadowed eleven US students: seniors Sami Ahmed, Chris Scelsi, Blake Allen, Soren Young and Hannah Hall; junior Amy Schwartz, sophomores Megan Johnson, Heidi Stevens, Zip Brown, and William McCommon and freshman Maggie Sowell. Japanese students began in homeroom and rotated classes throughout the day. A special luncheon was held in their honor. US Students were treated to a special assembly where Japanese students performed traditional dances.

 Middle School News

Eighth grade students have been studying forces in motion in physical science. They were treated to a demonstration by Dr. Louis Schlesinger and martial arts students in the third annual "Physics of Martial Arts" exhibition. Dr. Schlesinger instructed and demonstrated concepts of momentum, speed and acceleration as it applies to martial arts. Students were treated to several exercises as well as watching individuals break boards with their hands and feet. Kathleen Peterson, MS science teacher, says the students really enjoyed the opportunity to see the science concepts they study put into action. Several Stratford students experienced in martial arts helped Dr. Schlesinger in the demonstration; sophomore Rachel Schlesinger and eighth grade students Ruhi Rahman and Taylor West.

Four Hundred Thousand
That is how many pages seventh grade students intend to read by the end of the school year. Pat Smith, MS English, has been working with her class all year on reading. "We want to raise life-long learners and reading is an important skill towards this goal. " Smith also notes that reading in seventh grade is a wonderful way to work towards SAT preparation. Currently, students have read independently two hundred seventy three thousand nine hundred and eighteen pages. Smith believes they will meet their goal.

 Lower School News

The LS Talent Show was Thursday, March 22 in the Henry Tift Auditorium. Thirty acts showed the range and diversity of talent of Stratford students. There was dance, song, guitar and piano performances, as well as a few surprises. The LS faculty performed a dance that was a crowd favorite. Elvis appeared on the stage and sang to adoring fans. The fifth grade girls' dance was the grand finale. The girls were dressed in lime green t-shirts and danced to an upbeat mix of songs. They were a highlight of the show.

 Preschool News

The Stratford Preschool was filled with special spring celebrations this March. The classes celebrated the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known to the world as Dr. Seuss. Classrooms were filled with Dr. Suess' books during this week-long celebration. Susan Jones' class was treated to a special tea party prepared by Juanita Roberts, PK Assistant, of green eggs and ham.

The classes have also been studying vegetables...things that grow in the ground. Classes have planted grass seeds. Within a week, students have observed green shoots sprouting up from the soil.

St. Patrick's Day was also a fun and very green day in the PS. Students were encouraged to wear green, had special tea parties, and some classes created special puppets.

 Fine Arts News

Overall Literary Champion Award
Stratford is the winner of the Region 2AAA GISA Overall Literary Champion Award for 2006-2007. The Region competition was held on March 5, 2007 and combined the literary events of the day with the previous first place wins from our Debate Team and One Act Play. The students who competed for these awards are coached by many members of the Stratford faculty and staff. Literary team members were Soren Young, Blake Allen, Will McDavid, Stephen Jackson, Amy Schwartz, Aiden Carter, Megan Johnson, Asra Rehan, Whitney Firth, Mallory Page, Grey Henson, and Nathan Carter. Students who received first place awards were Will McDavid, Boy's Argumentative Essay; Stephen Jackson, Personal Essay; Soren Young, Domestic (U.S.) Extemporaneous; Blake Allen, International Extemporaneous; Megan Johnson, Whitney Firth and Mallory Page, Girl's Trio; Soren Young, Grey Henson, Blake Allen and Nathan Carter, Boy's Quartet. Second place awards were received by Amy Schwartz, Girls Argumentative Essay and Grey Henson, Boy's Solo.

Stratford was well represented at the GISA State Meet held at Valdosta State University. Students who received second place awards were Stephen Jackson, Personal Essay; Grey Henson Boy's Solo and Grey Henson, Blake Allen, Soren Young and Nathan Carter for quartet.

Spring Musical
Students in grades three through eight have been cast in the spring production of Bugsy Malone. The play, which was originally a movie, is set in the 1920's in New York City. According to Robert Stallworth, Theater Director, "Bugsy is the narrator and a charming bon vivant. There are two rival gangs vying for control of the city. We'll have lots of dancing, singing, and splurging!" The dates for Bugsy Malone are May 18 and May 19.