May
2005
NEWS
The Commonwealth Institute
Former Clinton cabinet member praises Rice
by M. R. and G. T.
During a luncheon at the Sheraton Boston on April the 13th, Madeleine Albright,
former and first female Secretary of State and United Nations ambassador, conveyed
her thoughts on foreign and current affairs to an audience of about 900 people
as the audience ate.
Albright, who served under Bill Clinton, told THE DAYTIME about
her current profession. “I teach at Georgetown, and I have a business
that I started, and I’m on a lot of boards, and I am a chairman of something
called a National Democratic Institute that tries to help nurture democracy
abroad.”
A DAYTIME staff member, C. R. , asked Albright a question
toward the end of the luncheon, after 2 other audience members. The question
asked was “In your opinion, what is the purpose of government?” Albright
answered, “The purpose of government, as I always had thought about it,
is to act as the forum through which rulers talk to the people and the people
talk to the government - to the people who serve them.” She continued,
explaining her response to a question her daughters had asked her; “What
is the difference between a Democrat and a Republican?
“And I would say, at this time,” Albright told the audience, “...the
Democrats believe the government is on your side and the Republicans believe
the government should get off your back. Government is the difference between
a lack of law and society and a way for us to exist, and barbarism, so I am
all for government.”
Despite her close relationship to the Clintons, she had no idea as to whether
Hillary would run for President in the next race but said that she found it
odd that Bill Clinton said he did not know whether she would either.
She praised Pope John Paul II for assisting in ending communism, but thought
he could not fight poverty effectively without allowing family planning. She
also thought that the Pope should have been more supportive on equal opportunities
for women.
In praising the current Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, Albright has
a theory that female Secretaries of State can “make up,” meaning
apologies better than men, which is helping decrease hostility against the
USA. Albright had a surprising relationship with Rice; Rice was one of her
father’s favorite students.
On the day of the luncheon, Albright wore a bee pin. When asked about her
choice of pin that day, Albright replied “Today I just decided it would
look pretty with the yellow,” she said, gesturing to her yellow shirt
that was peeking out from behind her black top. “It doesn’t have
a significance. But it (the pin wearing) all started when Saddam Hussein called
me a snake and I had a snake pin so then I decided I would wear the different
pins. And I’m going to write a book about my pins.” However, the
last sentence was spoken jokingly.
The center of the wall behind the stage had a huge American flag hanging
from ceiling height, on either side were 3 flags. In front of these flags were
two armchairs, where Albright and the moderator, Emily Rooney, sat.
The food was the same for most people; chicken, rolls, and salad along with
a drink of water and/or coffee. There were 90 tables (often consisting of multiple
family/groups) each with 10 seats. At each of these seats there was a bag which
consisted of her book “Madam Secretary a memoir Madeline Albright”,
a bookmark, a pen (with case), and some promotional materials.
This luncheon had many people who donated help, including over 70 individual
hosts, who attended to hear what Madeleine Albright had to say.
Fundraiser brings in cash and luminaries
by A. H.-B. and S. S.
The silverware of over 700 guests clinked against plates, echoing throughout
the spacious room at the New Convention Center in Boston as Massachusetts Governor,
Mitt Romney, one of the speakers at the Cradles To Crayons award ceremony on
Thursday, April the 28th, stepped up to the podium and commenced his speech.
Romney presented Celtics co-owner and Bain Capital managing director, Steve
Pagliuca, with Cradles to Crayons’ first “Bright Star” Award,
honoring the organization’s noble work for children in need. A close
friend of Pagliuca’s, Romney described him as a man with a “...great
charitable heart.”
Cradles to Crayons (C2C) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2002 by
Lynn Margherio. Last year alone, 16,000 Massachusetts children received clothing,
school supplies, toys, car seats, and strollers through the organization’s
efforts. The event on the 28th raised nearly $1 million for C2C.
Making the evening particularly memorable was the presence of former President
Bill Clinton, the final speaker at the event. Pagliuca joked that the Secret
Service had been concerned about transporting Clinton to the ceremony, questioning
the security of the Big Dig tunnel. He went on to praise the social workers
present at the ceremony for their efforts to help needy children, and said “We
can ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed.”
Pagliuca presented Clinton with a number 42 Celtics jersey in reference to
Clinton as the nation’s 42nd president. After a brief pose with his jersey,
Clinton began his speech by proceeding to say that this was one of those times
when “...everything that needs to be said has been said”. But even
so, Clinton managed to capture the audience’sattention
throughout his 30 minute speech with his poignant words and charismatic personality.
According to Clinton, “The greatest social development of the last
decade is the explosion of citizen action.” He went on to speak of the
AIDS Initiative, which saved many children in the Bahamas who were afflicted
by Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
With a warm voice, Clinton spoke of the now 110 thousand people receiving
life saving medicine for AIDS, who weren’t receiving it 2 years ago.
However, he believes that “...it’s an international scandal...that
some people aren’t getting medicine for AIDS.”
“The crayons are an interesting image,” he said as he began what
he dubbed the “...crayon story”.
When Clinton and former President Bush went to the tsunami-affected countries
after the tsunami in December, “...the most moving thing we saw were
the programs helping the children.” Clinton also noted that “...the
central instrument of the programs was the crayon.”
Clinton recalled how kids drew (using crayons) to express their feelings.
One moving picture a young girl drew, according to the former President, was “...her
mother drowning.” Another was of an American helicopter lowering a lifeline.
Clinton concluded his speech by reaffirming the work that Cradles to Crayons
does, and saying that “...if we did more of it, the world would be a
better place and the future of the world would be more secure.”
by A. R. and G. T.
The trip to Canobie Lake Amusement Park...6th, 7th, and 8th grade...a memorable
experience...a Day tradition...no more...
Kids loved it...but how about parents? Or teachers?
Many parents have been concerned with the high, unnecessary cost. There have
also been a number of educational concerns.
“Field trips should be educational...for some kind of purpose,” says
principal Gina Healy. “It’s harder for me to justify going on roller
coasters.”
It is not just Day that is losing its special last day of school field trip.
It is all four middle schools. Dr. Judith Malone-Neville, assistant superintendent,
met with the four principals to discuss whether this tradition should be continued.
6th grade science teacher, P. P. , said “I hope we’ll get something
we all can enjoy together as a school...whatever that might be.” Although
he does admit that an end-of-the-year activity is not easy to organize and
should not subtract from school time. “Well, I think the 8th graders
should do something special because they’re graduating.”
Most students are not taking this lightly, however. M. A. and G. S., both
6th graders, started a petition to convince the school committee. They have
collected over 70 signatures.
Why are they so upset? M. A. says, “The two main reasons the 6th and
7th graders should go is because if we don’t, it will break an F. A.
Day tradition and it isn’t right to just stop us from going when all
of the other 7th and 8th graders have been going with the school.”
It is not just M. A. and G. S. who are unhappy. “I’m appalled
and I think we should go,” said S. D., Coral Team student.
DAYTIME advisor, Robert Provencher, who lives near Canobie
and is credited with having started the trip many years ago, said, “Sure,
I’m sad to see a tradition end...we have so few of them. But, I have
every confidence that the faculty will come up with an appealing replacement
which will be more oriented to things educational than to things recreational.”
by A. G.
The other half of Day’s Italian exchange formally commenced on Tuesday,
My the 3rd at the Newton Seniors’ Center when Newton seniors hosted a
brunch for some 13 students from XX, Italy.
This is the second year that Italian exchange students have come to Day.
Day students went to Italy the week before [see page A10]. All of this was
organized, and made possible, by Jennifer Barsamian, the 8th grade Italian
teacher at Day.
The brunch was attended by the exchange students, Day Italian student, and
senior citizens from the center. Newton’s school superintendent Dr. Jeff
Young, Mayor David Cohen, and Day’s new principal Gina Healy also attended
the event. Young and Cohen were both presented gifts from the students. Young
received an Italian medallion. Cohen received a lion statue from Italy.
When asked what he felt about the exchange, Young replied, “This exchange
happened because of the leadership and persistence of Jennifer Barsamian...”
The Italians, who are staying at the homes of Day’s Italian students,
arrived in America on Wednesday, April the 27th in New York. They spent time
there and took a bus to Newton, arriving on Friday, April the 29th.
by R. P.
For years, Josephine Komow’s nephew, Richard Kirk Mills, watched his
aunt’s spirited persona shine through the decades. His poignant words
graced the woman many distinguished as “quite a character.” Day’s
library was filled with fond memories and humorous tales shared by some of
Komow’s close friends, family and colleagues at the memorial service
on Sunday May the 1st.
Scattered laughs and endearing jokes helped commemorate the woman who was
more than a former teacher and DAYTIME proofreader; she was
a passionate activist, adored by all who came within her animated presence.
She was a member of the Newton Community Chorus as well, who honored Komow
during the service with the song, “Let There Be Peace on Earth”.
The podium set the stage for about a dozen speakers, weaving personal remembrances
of Komow for over an hour. Speakers included Day’s custodian and poet
Roger Marrazzo, who dedicated two poems to Komow, as well as former Day principal
Dr. Paul Stein.
“I’m glad that I’ve gotten to know Ms. Komow.... [ The
service] was a good way for people to remember her and talk about the good
times they had with her,” states Bing Wang, THE DAYTIME’s executive
editor, who also spoke during the service about how Komow aided her job of
editing.
Whether it be humorous or heartfelt chronicles of trips to the Berkshire
Mountains or weekly trips to Komow’s house, dozens felt the loss of a
woman whose warmth touched the community.
by Z. G.
[Editor’s note: we are reprinting last month’s story
on the Newton Schools’ Foundation’s spring fundraiser. The version
we published contained substantial factual errors which we inadvertently
published due to an importation error by the Layout Department.]
With a goal to raise money for the Newton Public Schools, The Newton Schools’ Foundation
(NSF) held a fundraiser on Friday, March the 18th. Called “Salsa Into
Spring”, the fundraiser, which took place at the Sheraton Newton Hotel,
raised more than $130,000 for the schools. The emcee for the evening was Steve
Siagel, of Siagel Productions, who has acted as emcee for all the NSF’s
spring fundraisers over the last 7 years.
The parents also participated in a silent auction, featuring auction items
ranging from two Red Sox tickets to a color printers/scanners.
At the event, there was a salsa band for the main audience, a hip-hop ballroom
for young teens and pre-teens, and a separate room with a magic show and a
clown for young children. Later that night, all ages of the audience learned
how to salsa, being instructed by professional salsa dancers from Boston. Later,
the Siagel Productions Dance Academy had a performance.
By far, the audience agreed that this fundraiser is one of the greatest,
if not the best, that the Newton Schools’ Foundations has ever hosted. “This
is our seventh ‘Into Spring’ fundraiser, and it is even more successful
than last year’s, which was a record-breaker. It is a wonderful event
for families, and gives the NSF an opportunity to bring the community together
for our schools,” says executive director Clare McCully.
Later that night, the mayor and the superintendent praised the NSF for all
the contributions it has made to the Newton Public Schools over the last 19
years, donating more than $1,830,000 in grants. The co-presidents Victor Milione
and Dennie Rothschild announced that the Foundation planned to donate more
than $275,000 in grants this upcoming May. They thanked the Salsa attendees
for increasing the funds raised at these events, from $50,000 in 1999 to more
than $130,000 this year.
Barbizon ’s Duren gives pointers to STAND
UP
by R. F. and A. M.
Students Taking Action Nobly at Day and Understanding their Possibilities
(STAND UP) learned the value of life skills from Laque Duren, from the Barbizon
School of Modeling Agency, personal development and related creative arts department,
on Monday, April the 11th.
Duren spoke of the importance of life skills, such as a good handshake, dressing
for success, and how to present oneself. She touched on self-confidence, self-esteem,
communication, setting goals, and leading, not following.
When Duren discussed how to communicate effectively with other people, she
noted that, “Communication is also body language.”
To demonstrate, Duren walked around shaking everybody’s hands, while
giving them advise on how to improve their handshaking.
Duren also talked about how to dress for success. She talked to girls and
the boys about not following the footsteps of celebrity fashion choices. She
told the girls that hip huggers, mini-skirts, and exposed cleavage is neither
very appropriate, nor appealing.
She told the boys that oversized and baggy clothes are not always appropriate,
sometimes a nice suite and tie is the way to go depending on where you are.
STAND UP is made up of African-American Latino students who asked for an on-going
group that would help with academic, cultural and social growth. This affinity
group is still very new, less than one year old.
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