Worcester Academy school ties benefit Rick Carlisle '79, newly appointed head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Other recent Worcester Academy news items include innovative Middler arts and culture programs, and the beginning of two weeks of Senior Projects. All three stories follow below.


'WA CONNECTION HELPS CARLISLE'

Donnie Nelson '82, president of basketball operations for the Dallas Mavericks, tapped Rick Carlisle '79 as the team's new head coach recently.

Nelson and Carlisle, who is a former Celtics player, are among a growing number of prominent NBA players, coaches, and officials with ties to Worcester Academy.

The Telegram & Gazette, in its coverage of Carlisle's hiring, credits his Worcester Academy ties as key to his hiring.

Read the complete story, including details about other prominent Worcester Academy hoops stars, in the T&G story, "WA connection helps Carlisle land in Dallas."

Also referenced in the article are: Chicago Bulls assistant coach Mike Wilhelm '86, Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Michael Malone '89, Portland's Jarrett Jack '02, Minnesota's Craig Smith '02, Boston College assistant coach Mo Cassara '93, former WA athletic director Tom Blackburn, and WA Head of School Dexter Morse.

SENIOR PROJECTS UNDERWAY

Worcester Academy seniors finished their last day of classes Friday and headed off to Spree Day festivities on the Quad.

The pursuit of academic excellence didn’t end with their last classes, however. Members of the Class of 2008 are now participating in Senior Projects.

A Worcester Academy tradition for many years, Senior Projects are an opportunity for WA students to put their personal stamps on their education, learn valuable lessons, and bring closure to their years at WA before heading off to college.

As a graduation requirement, Senior Projects are completed in the weeks that precede Graduation. Students are responsible for choosing their projects, maintaining daily journals, and presenting to faculty panels at the conclusion of their projects.

The depth and quality of the projects has always been impressive, and many Worcester Academy students say it is a tremendous learning experience.

Some of this year’s projects include the following descriptions: horse trainer intern; Boston tour guide; Sister of Charity intern; UMass nurse intern; pc game conversion; assistant D.A. intern; writing original music; athletic trainer intern; Beijing Olympic volunteer; shadow a lobbyist; and special education assistant.

WHOLLY CANNOLI – IT’S MIDDLER ARTS!

Worcester Academy continues to make good use of its urban environment, creatively utilizing opportunities that come with an "open gates" academic philosophy.

Grade 8 art students in the Academy's Middle School recently visited the Wholly Cannoli bakery, where they got a nice surprise when they arrived.

The eighth graders found that the walls of the bakery were adorned with their artwork.  The subject of the paintings?  Cannolis and other baked delights!

According to Elizabeth Bowles, a Middle School art teacher, the students got their inspiration from a box of baked goods that she and fellow art teacher Robyn Thompson had picked up from the bakery a few weeks earlier. One of the bakery's owners, a former art teacher, was so impressed, she asked to display the student work.

Ms. Thompson, the Academy's Hope Fellow, artfully arranged the exhibit in advance of the student visit.

CROSSING CULTURES

As the final installment in WA's Crossing Cultures program, Worcester Academy Middle School students and others enjoyed a performance by Lalo Izquierdo, an Afro-Peruvian musician and dancer, in Warner Theater.

Among other talents, Mr. Izquierdo is a renowned player of "cajon" (Peruvian percussion box-drum) and a performer of "zapateo" (Peruvian tap dancing). He is a former instructor at Stanford University.

For more information on Lalo Izquierdo, or Afro-Peruvian music and dance, visit his Web site.