Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Winter 2007 | Page 2

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Taking the Extra
from Extracurricular
Making the Call

By Carl J. Stasio, Jr.
Headmaster

Academy—melting snow dripping from the

never purposely jeopardize any student’s chances for

rooftops, winter sports in full swing, and

academic success. But prohibiting our lower-achieving

preparation for spring events. One mid-

student s from the very activities that probably bind

winter landmark is our annual publication,

them to us most tightly may not ultimately be our

the Program of Studies.

wisest choice. Continuing to work at something one

Kelly VanClief ‘09 (left) and
Rubie Gaudette ‘09 were
among the many students,
alumni and trustees who
volunteered during January’s
phonathon to raise pledges
for the 2006-07 Thornton
Fund. Photo by Lynn Novak.

Winter has many guideposts at Thornton

finds hard or uninteresting is exceptionally difficult.

Perhaps I am prejudiced, but I view each edition

Academic achievement is crucial; I would

of Thornton’s Program of Studies with pride. Its many

Postcripts

Thornton Academy
Winter 2007
Vol. 42, No. 1
Postcripts is published twice a year
for Thornton Academy alumni and
friends. The mailing of Postscripts
is made possible through gifts to
the annual fund. Please address
alumni news & correspondence
to: Postscripts, Alumni Office,
Thornton Academy, 438 Main St.,
Saco, ME 04072-1595, or call (207)
282-3361.
Production by: Lynn G. Novak;
Nancy Tripp ‘67; Cathy Coffman;
Lisa Morin; Caron Smith Pelletier
’98; and Mitch Boutin ‘01.

Without the reinforcing success from athletics, theater

varied course descriptions and photographs illustrate

or club activities, lower-performing students can lose

the depth of our program, the remarkable natural

their drive to persevere. Withdrawing the chance to

beauty of our campus and our students’ vitality. The

enjoy school through extracurricular activity may

Program is a “window to opportunity.” The courses

backfire, with students having even more trouble

and activities symbolize a frontline chance for every

improving their academic performance.

student to challenge him or herself to grow, both as a

student and individual.

activities has its own lessons—the benefits of regular

engagement with others, the challenges of goal

Helping our students to succeed on both

Participation in athletics and extracurricular

COVER PHOTO:
Thornton Academy middle
school teachers Hope Hall and
Kirk Agreste ‘99 lead the way as
students exit the middle school
building on the first day of school.
Photo by Mitch Boutin ‘01.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PHOTO:
Thornton senior Samantha King
works quietly on her laptop during science class. Photo by Shawn
Patrick Ouellette ‘89.

setting, winning and losing with grace, maintaining

school be broader than the classroom. We cannot

one’s composure under pressure, pride in individual

ignore the power of “extracurricular” activities, things

and group accomplishments. The structure and

like the spring musical, athletic practices, jazz band or

restrictions of the classroom can hamper a teacher’s

orchestra, Amnesty International, student council, and

ability to discover what’s really going on with a

many more. Integration of academics, athletics, arts

struggling young person. A coach, theater director or

and activities unlocks many students’ energy to find

club advisor may well have the right touch.

the kind of success we wish for them.

Alumni Director: Nancy Tripp ‘67

fronts—as students and people—demands that our

connection between coach and athlete, director and

Some contend that extracurricular activities—

The right touch comes from the personal

TRUSTEES: Vangel Cotsis ’85,
Philip Fearon ‘70, Dennis Flaherty,
Bernard Gaines ’65, Stephen
Garland ’64, Robert Gowen, Ken
Janson ‘72, William Johnson, William Kany ’77, Karen Lovell, Joyce
Haley Martin ’75, James Nelson ’67
(President), Eric Purvis ’81, Joan
Vachon Victor ’48, Mark Willett
’65.
ALUMNI BOARD: Teri Hogan
Arenstam ‘77, Patricia Martin Beaudoin ‘71, Kathy Allen Bergeron
‘72, Andy Cole ‘81, Todd Davis
‘81, Lauren Chenard Folsom ‘75,
Scott Gallant ‘86, Ken Janson ‘72
(President), Bill Kany ‘77, Debbi
Ketchum ‘75, Melody Jordan Laskey ‘79, Tony LeBlanc ‘88, David
LePauloue ‘84, Susan Willey Marston ‘62, Kathy Boutet Santamore
‘80, Mary Ann Stickles Martin ‘78,
Richard Milliard ‘66, Richard Parker
‘60, Kirk Purvis ‘93, Allen Sicard
‘75, Giselle Tardiff ‘90.

actor, advisor and club member. It results from

distract students from their real job of work. We

mutual belonging to a community, being a part of

parents impress on our children that “school comes

something larger than one’s self. Mario Cuomo,

first.” By that, we invariably mean things like

former governor of New York, writes regretfully that

homework, studying, research projects, and college

only in times of crisis, for instance in the Depression,

essays. Students have to be academically successful

does our country really embrace community: “At

to be involved in any athletics or activities. When

those moments we understand community—helping

academic performance falls too low, students become

one another. In baseball, you do that all the time. You

“ineligible,” and cut off from participating in any

can’t win it alone! …I love bunt plays. I love the idea of

extracurricular activity.

a sacrifice. Even the word is good. Giving yourself up

Shelby Hill ‘11, Joanna Aboroa
‘12, and Megan Rounds ‘12 are all
smiles at the Middle School Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony. Photo by Shawn
Patrick Ouellette ‘89.

and even co-curricular courses like the arts—just

for the good of the team… You find your own good in

After 40-some years of working with 14- to



the good of the whole.” Is understanding one’s place

Ineligible students miss out on the one act play

in a community any less powerful for coming by a

competition, forfeit the chance to release energy in

non-academic route?

hockey practice, lose the jolt of pride from a quick

pass to an open player. Do we assume that they need

in the coming months, Thornton Academy is looking

the extra time to devote to their studies? Is too little

ahead to envision the kind of happy, healthy, engaged

time spent studying, too much time “playing,” really

and engaging young people we want to develop.

behind an ineligi ble student’s falling grades? Maybe,
Corrections will appear in this
space. Please bring errors to the
attention of the editor by calling or
writing the Alumni Office. We appreciate your bringing these items
to our attention.

18-year-olds, I question the wisdom of this system.

Taking the “extra” out of extracurricular in the 2010-

maybe not. Could we miss something important in our

11 Program of Studies might be a positive step for

focus on the ineligibility solution?

many of our students.

As we admit our bicentennial Class of 2011

POSTSCRIPTS * WINTER 2007