Although the journey to create and sustain BHSEC has been rough at times, Mr. Peterson has been there all the way. Over the course of just nine years, BHSEC has risen from the pages of Leon Botstein’s book Jefferson’s Children, to become a model for high schools all across the country.  But those who know the school best know that it would be nothing without its principal.  As Mr. Peterson prepared for his last days at BHSEC, we asked him to look back and reflect on his time at the school.

It was May of 2001 when Leon Botstein began his search for a principal to head his new early college. Among all his colleagues and friends, Mr. Peterson was the obvious choice.  Now, nine years later, it is easy to see why.  But starting BHSEC from scratch was not an easy task.  In only a few short months, teachers, students, and supplies had to be found, not to mention a building.  Faculty workshops were organized and forms were filled out for the Department of Education. To raise awareness about the school, an ad was put in the New York Times. “It was a busy summer,” Mr. Peterson recalled.

After months of hard work, the school finally opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in September 2001. By the next year, however, the student body had outgrown the school. BHSEC found a new home on the Lower East Side and applications rapidly increased. “Before long, we stopped looking for students, and students started looking for us.” Mr. Peterson remarked.

Because of its growing popularity, BHSEC could now be more selective in choosing its student body. But no matter how selective BHSEC became, Mr. Peterson always emphasized maintaining a diverse student body. “The diversity thing is a big deal to us,” he asserted. “Meeting kids from different neighborhoods and different backgrounds is as much a part of the BHSEC experience as Seminar.”

Mr. Peterson aggressively promoted BHSEC in neighborhoods that might not have otherwise heard of the school, and also recruited from nearby middle schools.  His idea of diversity was never just racial or ethnic, but economic as well. “I’m really proud that we’ve kept working at making the school reflect the city as much as possible,” he proclaimed.

Along with diversity, it is the stress on writing and thinking that has defined both BHSEC as a whole and Mr. Peterson as an educator.  Among the growing number of technical and job-based schools, Mr. Peterson’s steadfast focus on the liberal arts is admirable and refreshing.  The Writing and Thinking program that kicks off every new year is a proud monument to Mr. Peterson’s intellectual devotion and his desire to share his passion with others. Dr. David Clark, head of the BHSEC Language Department, noted, “The values of Writing and Thinking manifest so much of what makes Ray an extraordinary principal and human being.”

Above all, however, it is the student body that gives Mr. Peterson the most gratification. “It’s amazing to remember who somebody was as a 9^th grader, and look at the sophistication and language they have as a Y2,” he said.  Indeed, what BHSEC students graduate with is much more than an Associates degree—it is a genuine understanding of what learning is all about.  For parents, teachers and students alike, Mr. Peterson’s philosophy on education has proved inspiring and contagious. “It surprises and impresses me,” Mr. Peterson declared, “that when we have guests, BHSEC students are amazingly capable and able to define the mission of the school. They’re very expressive and meta-cognitive, and they can easily explain to a visitor the whole pedagogical and educational dynamic.”

The unfaltering trust Mr. Peterson has for every person at BHSEC only further fosters the comfortable environment of the school. Students are not closely monitored and are treated with respect.  The freedom and autonomy are so easy to get used to, that they are often overlooked.  But from the beginning, the notion of treating students as adults has been a conscious choice on Mr. Peterson’s part. “From my many years as a teacher I found that if you treat people like adults, most of the time they’re going to act that way,” said Mr. Peterson.  From his humble office on the second floor, Mr. Peterson runs the school more like a family than an institution.  “There are two rules at BHSEC,” he proclaimed, “treat everybody in a caring way, and don’t wear a hat.”

Despite a massive amount of emails to read and meetings to attend, Mr. Peterson always makes time to engage with students on a personal level. In addition to his administrative work load, he talks to students in the hall, leads an independent study, and teaches a 9^th grade English class, making some people question the number of hours in a day. But to Mr. Peterson, doing these things is not extra work—it is part of being a good principal.  Being a teacher as well as an administrator allows him to stay in touch with the school in ways that just being a principal alone would not.  Moreover, his time teaching is one of the most fulfilling parts of his day.

“You can tell right off that Ray is a natural teacher,” Dr. Clark articulated. “His eyes get that gleam of passion when he’s talking about a Shakespeare play, a film or a contemporary novel, which indicates to his students: this is exciting. See what it is doing for me; this could happen for you too. Let’s look at this carefully together.”

While Mr. Peterson will most definitely be missed, he feels confident that things will run smoothly without him. “As I prepare to leave the school,” he remarked, “I think there is going to be great leadership to follow, not just from the new principal, but from everybody who is out there in the network of support.”

The strength of this network is due in large part to Mr. Peterson’s strength as a leader. Like any good leader, he maintained his executive position while delegating responsibility among the entire faculty.  Allowing teachers to structure their own classes and conduct interviews for new staff members, Mr. Peterson’s faith in BHSEC’s faculty has made it easy for BHSEC’s faculty to put their faith in him.  To many teachers at the school, Mr. Peterson is more of a coworker than a boss. “I can say with absolute sincerity that my nine years working with Ray have made me a better teacher and a better person,” praised Dr. Clark.

The autonomy Mr. Peterson grants teachers has enabled them to make a huge impact on the school’s development. A number of teachers have even organized themselves into an inquiry team, which gathers data to help struggling students succeed. Symposium Day, a BHSEC tradition of which Mr. Peterson is particularly proud, was the brainchild of three BHSEC teachers: Dr. Marion, Dr. Budimir, and Dr. Cordi. “Symposium is an amazing testament to what the school is about,” commented Mr. Peterson. “It is a constant reminder of how much both BHSEC students and teachers have achieved.”

Although always reliant on the ideas of teachers, Mr. Peterson has been surprised by how much of an influence parents have had on the school’s development. From the sports program to the Garden Committee, BHSEC parents have been an integral part of the network of support, allowing BHSEC to grow beyond the classroom.  With a strong foundation consisting of students, teachers, and parents, the system Mr. Peterson created was built to last far past his retirement.

As Mr. Peterson completes his final days as principal, his emotions are bittersweet. Some aspects of being a principal he will be happy to leave behind. He will not miss his 13-hour workday, or his time spent filing Department of Education compliance papers. In the coming years, he will have more time to work on special projects for Bard College but will not have the strict day-to-day commitment of an administrator. “I think about the first day of school in September when I won’t be here, and about everybody who will be in a meeting at 8:00am while I am having a cup of coffee and reading the New York Times—it’s a great feeling,” he said smiling.

Nevertheless, it is hard for Mr. Peterson to say goodbye. “I’m going to miss nearly everything about this place. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. BHSEC has been a gift.”

For those of us who have been at BHSEC for a number of years, it is hard to imagine what the school will be like without him. His hulking yet calm mien, his dry wit, and, of course, his bow ties seem inextricably linked to the building itself. Mr. Peterson has become inseparable from BHSEC, and it is difficult to think of one without the other.  But as Mr. Peterson moves on to accomplish new and great things, BHSEC will as well.

Update: Dr. Michael Lerner has just announced that he will be taking over the position of head principal and Dr. Siska Brutsart will be replacing him as dean of studies.

As the weather gets warmer our Physical Education classes are held outside on the field. Due to safety concerns, the field can no longer be used by students on their lunch or free periods when Physical Education classes are using the field. Please use our lovely schoolyard or East River Park instead. The field may be used by students when there are no PE classes scheduled. As always, please put all trash in the proper receptacles.

The field is available during the following periods only:
Monday: 3rd and 4th period
Tuesday: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th periods
Wednesday: 5th, 6th and 7th periods
Thursday: 4th and 7th periods
Friday: 4th and 5th periods

As always, please put all trash in the proper receptacles. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Camille Sawick

This email was unexpected. In her e-mail, Ms. Sawick claims that the rule was intended to protect the safety of students who use the field during gym class. Reference was also made to use of “proper receptacles” for trash. Many students questioned why these safety precautions were being enforced now, after years of having a public field.

The field has not always been in the condition it is now. Four years ago it was an empty lot, an unpopular place to visit for BHSEC students. However, after receiving a grant from the National Football League, the field was created for the community. Although it is still young, it has proven to be a convenient and popular spot for the BHSEC students who regularly make use of the field during their lunch and free periods.
Although the students’ love for the field is evident, Ms. Nardone described how students take the field for granted rather than seeing it as a privilege. Students often leave trash lying around the turf instead of putting it in one of the field’s two trash bins.

“I think it’s disrespectful to the other people who spend time on the field,” said BHSEC student Caterina Kenworthy, “especially because they tolerate a lot from Bard students already. We’re always there, and we’re lucky that they let us share it with the community. We should show a little more gratitude and not leave our trash everywhere.” Most students and faculty members would probably agree that the littering is a problem that must be resolved jointly.

Nonetheless, the new rule has caused frustration among students.  A few dedicated students wrote letters to the administration to express their opinions and have their voices heard.  In addition, a petition was created by a group of seniors in an attempt to unite the student body in protest. After receiving all the protests, the Physical Education Department agreed to negotiate. A meeting was held with Ms. Nardone, Mr. Gagstetter, Ms. Sawick, and the BHSEC students who wrote protest letters.

After discussing the new rule and student reactions, the faculty and students came up with a compromise.  A new system was set up with a schedule indicating the availablility of the field during certain periods. When a large gym class is in session, the field is closed, and no students are allowed on it. When there is a smaller class, it is partially open. A quarter of the field could be used by BHSEC students, though ball playing, or any type of sport activity by students not in the gym class, would be prohibited. When there is no gym class, the field is open to the public including BHSEC students.

A new three-strike system is also being enforced along with the new schedule. Strikes will be given if students interfere with the physical education class or leave trash on the field. If BHSEC students receive three strikes, they lose field privileges.

The new system satisfied many BHSEC students who agreed that the compromise was fair and reasonable. However, there were students who were still unhappy with the new rule and continued to protest. A ‘sit-out,’ an outdoor version of a sit-in, was organized and a group was created on Facebook to gain support for the cause. However, the group was quickly removed, as many students commented on the ineffectiveness of the sit-out, which many claimed would simply anger the Physical Education Department further. To mock the absurdity of the sit-out idea, another parody group was created called the “BHSEC Naked Sit Out.” This new group was more light-hearted, holding no animosity towards the recent change of the system.

Commenting on student protests over the new ruling, Ms. Nardone said, “Honestly, I think this has all been a positive experience for our school. The students were able to express their opinions and for the most part, they were very respectful. The Physical Education Department was not trying to take the field away from the students. This compromise is for the safety of the students.”

Mr. Gagstetter and Ms. Nardone sent out another email to students explaining the new rule and the three strike system. The compromise seems to be working well. As long as the students adhere to the rules and keep the field litter-free, there won’t be any further problems. After nearly a month of debate, students seem content.

Jackson Rogou, John Northington, and Evan Nathan performing at the Battle of the Bands

On May 6th, the Asian Culture Club hosted BHSEC’s annual Battle of the Bands.  Ava Robinson and Cat Schneiderman organized this year’s event, taping up posters all around the school to hype up the fundraiser.

It was an exciting night, in which BHSEC students and non-BHSEC student alike came together to enjoy a wide variety of musical acts.

The night started off with some slower, soulful tunes played by Aya Aziz and Jack Jenkins. Jenkins and Aziz were followed by some more hardcore groups and well known bands within the BHSEC community such as Mother Courage, and Sister Helen. Newcomers such as the Rumble and In Memory of Tom Sharon also shared the bill. The judges for the battle were Mr. Gagstetter, Ms. Walk, Dr. Lerner, Dr. Youngren and Ms. Gamper.

The audience was completely engrossed by the performers and went wild every time each band began a new song. Students even formed a makeshift mosh pit.

One student commented, “I seriously would not expect Bard kids to be able to go crazy like that – but it was so much fun!”

At the end of the night the awards were announced.  Mother Courage won first place while Sister Helen and The Rumble won second and third respectively.  As their prize, Mother Courage was awarded a free one-hour time slot at a professional recording studio. “The show was a huge success, as it is every year. The performances were great, and the kids seemed really into them,” said Mr. Gagstetter.

Everyone found the night to be a huge success. Co-organizer Cat Schneiderman remarked, “there was a wonderful turnout from each grade. The judges were amazing, and so were the bands.” A freshman added, “I can’t wait to come again next year.”

But perhaps most important was that all of the money raised from the tickets and refreshments were donated to the CITTA foundation (the total came to $440.62). The foundation helps to fund schools and hospitals in struggling Asian countries. Asian Culture Club President and Co-organizer Ava Robinson said that the club keeps donating to this foundation because it is a “wonderful cause, where our donations will actually make a difference.”

Classical music, mostly selected by Ms. Wu, was a significant part of the service. The afternoon included works by Massenet, Bach, Schubert, Mozart, and Beethoven, beautifully performed by Ms. Wu’s musically accomplished friends.

Rabbi Andy Bachman spoke of Ms. Wu’s “incredibly generous soul” and how “beautiful music was at the root of her being”. This was followed by a charming video of Ms. Wu’s wedding to the Muppets’ song “Somebody’s Getting Married.”

Several members of BHSEC took part in the service. Principal Ray Peterson spoke of the high standards Ms. Wu had for both herself and her students and the vast number of students who were changed by her. He also spoke of how she was “incredibly modest about her accomplishments.”

Dominic Veconi, a former student of Ms. Wu, spoke of how blessed he was to be taught by Ms. Wu. She made the class “fun and exciting” and “really cared about her students.”

Gwen Weston and Katherine Glanblock, also former students, talked about how Ms. Wu involved them in karaoke and encouraged them to enter a competition from which they won an award. They also performed a song.

David Clark spoke of his friendship with Ms. Wu, calling her an “ideal colleague and early college teacher,” and told amusing anecdotes of their relationship.

Ms. Wu’s father recited, in Chinese and English, a poem he wrote about his daughter, movingly saying “I wrote it with my tears.” A group of Ms. Wu’s college friends spoke of their friendship with Ms. Wu and their loss.

Another close friend spoke about what advice Ms. Wu would want to pass on to her daughter Helen, mentioning listening to good music, learning to play an instrument, being proud of her heritage, eating good food, being strong, traveling to foreign lands, being generous, sharing what you know, being organized, focusing on maximum happiness, and not being afraid to have a little style.

Finally, Ms. Wu’s husband, Steven Horowitz, briefly spoke while holding their infant daughter Helen. He encouraged those who did not speak Chinese to learn a phrase, and those who did not speak English to do the same.

The service was followed by a pot luck lunch.

In honor of Ms. Wu’s contribution to Bard High School Early College, a fund has been established to assist students who study in China or who take intensive Chinese classes. Contributions, which are tax deductible, can be made by sending a check, made out to BHSEC PTA with “Wu Fund” written in the memo, to:
Bard High School Early College
525 East Houston Street
New York, NY 10002

Attn: David Clark/Wu Fund

For those who were unable to attend, the text as presented in the program for the celebration of the life of Wynne Wen-Ren Wu, February 26, 1975 – April 23, 2010, appears below:

Wynne Wu dedicated her life to teaching but didn’t confine her instruction to the classroom. She taught her friends, students and loved ones to pursue adventure, embrace challenges and value relationships. Although her moments on this earth were far too few, Wynne savored every last one of them and loved the people who shared them with her.

Wynne Wen-Ren Wu was born in 1975 in Queens to Magdalena Ching and Jim Wu, and raised on the Lower East Side with her older brother Winslow. She graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1993 and continued her education at Oberlin, double-majoring in piano performance and East Asian studies, graduating Phi Beta Kappa.

Wynne received her Masters in Music Education from NYU and taught at The Little Red Schoolhouse before being recruited to create the Chinese Language Program at Bard High School Early College. Wynne’s students describe her as a wonderful teacher whose love of Mandarin was inspiring. “Wu Laoshi” was fun, non-judgmental, and endlessly creative. She turned restaurants into classrooms, taking her students out for dim sum and making them order in Chinese. She also demanded excellence, requiring students to perform to their ability and refusing to accept excuses; she felt she was teaching them important life lessons by holding them to high standards.

Wynne’s creativity extended beyond the classroom into her other passions. She deeply loved music and played piano throughout her life. On her blog, she wrote, “Music is truly a transcendent experience for me, and has so much healing power.” During on hospital stay this April, Wynne found a piano in a patient lounge and gave an impromptu performance. She was worried that her radiation treatment would affect her ability, but she played as beautifully as ever.

Wynne also loved food and was a self-taught chef. She appreciated all kinds of delicious food, trying unfamiliar delicacies when abroad, crafting genius out of leftovers and constantly envisioning new creations. She loved taking friends to her favorite Chinatown restaurants and ordering off “the real menu.”

In 2004, Wynne went looking for love on JDate. She chose the cheeky username “AsianShiksa,” describing herself as having “enough sass and chutzpah to defy the usual stereotypes.” Her profile caught Steven Horowitz’s eye, and soon they began dating. She helped him expand his culinary horizons. He introduced her to a community of ultimate frisbee players who evolved into some of her closest friends.

Wynne and Steven married in 2007, a year after Wynne learned that the breast cancer for which she had been treated in 2002 had returned and metastasized to other parts of her body. Wynne began her ABC (American-Born Chinese) Cancer Diaries blog to document her treatments, describing her day-to-day experiences and also offering opinions on subjects from pink ribbons, which she felt commercialized the disease, to cliches such as the phrase “battling cancer”–she preferred to think of her treatment as a “dance.” Even as she danced, she continued to swim, jog, knit, sing, play piano and travel.

She and Steven also started a family. Although Wynne’s cancer made natural childbirth impossible, they decided to have a baby via surrogacy. Helen Zi-Zhen Wu-Horowitz was born on Dec. 28, 2009. “Our lovely daughter is a joy,” Wynne wrote, “and the long journey was definitely worth it!” Helen brought Wynne so much happiness, as she prepared for her daughter’s arrival and shared the experience of parenting with Steven.

Wynne’s friends and family plan to honor her wishes for Helen. To teach her Chinese. To give her a lifelong appreciation of music. To instill a love of food and life, including a taste for exotic dishes. And to share with her their memories of her very memorable mother.

Though the students left New York this Sunday, their week in the Big Apple was filled with many exciting touristy adventures. Their schedule included visiting the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Chinese in America, as well as many other great destinations. Thursday night they even went to see the Broadway musical, Memphis.

The exchange students also had the opportunity to visit the classes of their host students.  BHSEC teachers were not only hospitable to the Chinese guests, they got them involved in the class conversation.  In Dr. Marion’s sophomore history class, two of the Chinese students were asked to explain how Chinese schools teach about the westernization and industrialization of China and Japan.  In Ms. Fu’s advanced Chinese class, the Chinese exchange students were asked to explain how their language program differed from BHSEC’s.

This ability to analyze cultures comparatively is just one of the many reasons that this exchange is so valuable to both the Chinese students and the BHSEC students taking part in the exchange.

While visiting BHSEC and seeing a Broadway show were all highlights for the Chinese exchange students, nothing beat the experience of tasting New York City pizza. “I can never enjoy China’s Pizza Hut again,” one Chinese student remarked.

Sunday morning was filled with hugs and goodbyes at Grand Central Station as the Chinese students headed to New Haven, Connecticut to visit their school’s founding university, Yale.  From there they will head to Los Angeles where they will hopefully get to see Hollywood and Disneyland.

The Bard students in the exchange program will be heading to China for two weeks from May 8^th to the 22^nd.

“I hope that the BHSEC students will enjoy Chengsha as much as I have enjoyed New York,” said Alex, the eldest exchange student.  “My experience in New York has been like a dream.”

BHSEC’s Model UN delegates arrived at George Washington University, the site of the event, equipped with knowledge and research regarding the issues and politics of their respective countries. To effectively partake in the WAMUNC events and be eligible for awards, the delegates were required to submit a position paper that included information about the history of their topic, involvement of the UN in their topic, and their nation’s policies.

BHSEC participant Zijian Wang commented on the authenticity of the event: “I felt like a real United Nations delegate because we were writing working papers and passing resolutions that correlated to events taking place in the world today.”

One committee at this year’s WAMUNC was the African union, which addressed issues such as malnutrition, labor laws and regional security in Africa. Another committee was the League of Arab States, which addressed issues such as Palestinian liberation and rebuilding Iraq.

In addition to regional and historical committees, there were joint crisis committees, international committees, and specialized committees. One specialized committee, the United States National Security Council, addressed US foreign policy, compilation of the US national government, and security affairs. Within each committee the delegates discussed how could resolve their nation’s issues and present their topics effectively to the rest of the Model UN.

On the night before Sunday’s closing ceremonies, the Conference hosted a Delegate Dance at George Washington University, which was attended by the Model UN participants.

Overall, the weekend was a success and was enjoyed by all of the participants.  Above all, it was a great way to learn about international affairs and issues and to meet others who share these interests.

The Bard Bulletin would like to congratulate Ben Goloff, John Iselin, Avital Mandil, Juan Patrick Soto, Evan Espinoza and Max Botstein who all earned awards from the Washington Area Model United Nations Conference.

Leila Buck (left) and Adam Abel (right)

This Wednesday from 6th period to Dean’s hour, BHSEC will host Leila Buck and Adam Abel for a presentation on their experience in the Middle East and a discussion of their views on the conflict in the region.

Leila is of Lebanese-American descent and Adam comes from a Jewish background. In 2006, the couple was visiting family in Lebanon when war erupted between Hezbollah and Israel. Throughout the 34 days of hostility they traveled from Lebanon to Syria and eventually to Jordan. Building off of these experiences, both Adam and Leila have addressed the controversial issues surrounding the Middle East in insightful ways.

Leila is a play-write and actress who uses theater to express her views on the Middle Eastern conflict. She has written and acted in over five plays, including a one-woman off-Broadway show about the experiences of an American foreign service family in Washington, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iraq, Kuwait, and Oman, as well as other places. She is now working on the play In the Crossing, in which she addresses the challenges she faced during her 2006 visit to Lebanon. More of her work can be seen at www.leilabuck.com.

Adam is a multi-media artist and the creative director of Thinking Digital Studio. He also teaches new media at Lehman College. His web design work and his innovative digital photography can be seen at www.thinkingdigitalstudio.com.

This presentation will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the politics and culture of the Middle East, through the artistic and personal perspectives of a couple who has felt the effects of the Middle Eastern conflict first hand.

Many students are excited, as it is the first trip geared specifically for those taking Latin.  Dr. Clark has visited Rome twice and is looking forward to experiencing it again with his students. He is eager to see the looks on his students’ faces when they discover the Rome they know only through books by Catullus and a speech by Cicero.  Ms. Rowen, on the other hand, will be experiencing Rome for the first time.

“In addition to seeing remnants of ancient buildings, students will experience centuries of art and architecture,” said Ms. Rowen.

In Rome, students will enter the Vatican and see the Sistine Chapel, one of Michelangelo’s masterpieces, which Dr. Clark insists is “a quasi-religious experience for even the most cynical agnostic, or tenth grader.” Also on the agenda is the incredible marble Alter of Peace.  The altar was commissioned by the Roman senate in the early 1^st century BCE to commemorate the Pax Romana, and is laced with intricate carvings depicting a Roman sacrifice to the gods.

Plans are being made to prepare the students for the trip.  Dr. Clark says that basic Italian lessons will be given six months before the trip, and classes will include cultural information.  Students will watch relevant movies, such as Fellini’s Roma, which is a series of vignettes depicting a surreal and artistically stunning representation of Rome.

At the moment, only Latin students who have completed at least a year at BHSEC will be allowed to travel to Italy.  Other students may be invited, though Latin students will get preference.

Valete!

Ms. Poreba is especially curious to see how reading the Greek tragedies, Dante’s Inferno and other works last semester, has affected her students.  Since many of the students in her seminar class were also in her class in 9^th grade, she is eager to see how they have developed.  She remarks, “kids entered the school without much experience writing essays or analyzing complex texts.  Teaching seminar will give me a chance to see how they have grown.”

While teaching 9^th and 10^th grade, Ms. Poreba is responsible for preparing her students for the college program.  For the first time, she will get to teach at the level she has been preparing the younger students for.

Ms. Poreba was careful to emphasize that her seminar will be a rigorous college course. She was concerned that students would sign up for her seminar assuming that it would be just like her 9th grade class.

The course will be challenging for her as well. Her main difficulty, she says, will be to slow down and take her time teaching the texts. “Students sometimes complain that I go through the material too fast,” she explained.  She sees seminar as an opportunity to challenge herself and take her time.

Unlike her high school English classes, seminar gives her a chance to present classic works of literature in a more well rounded setting.  Combining elements of English, philosophy, and history, seminar allows teachers to move beyond the confines of a regular English class.  Ms. Poreba is most looking forward to teaching Hamlet and is enthusiastic about using diverse materials to accompany the required texts. She plans to include paintings, poetry, and even music to enrich the course.

Ms. Poreba will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective to Year I seminar.  Those in her class have much to look forward to.