Newsletter  

Summer 2005

In This Issue

• In a Class by Herself
• A Longtime Student
• PLA Graduation
• Faculty Notes

In a Class by Herself

This June, Princeton Science Academy held its second annual commencement, graduating a single student — Abigail Abramson of Princeton, NJ. Abigail was new to PSA this year, having attended Princeton High School and a boarding school in North Carolina previously. During the commencement address, Abby charmed the audience by noting that, as the only graduate of PSA’s 2005 class, she was not only the valedictorian, but the prom-queen, best-dressed, most-likely-to-succeed and homecoming queen as well. Abby is going to be attending the University of Hartford this fall, where she plans to study Early Childhood. At Princeton Science Academy, Abby was able to spend some of her time assisting the kindergarten teacher and working with the children, both of which she loved.

The faculty of Princeton Latin Academy and Princeton Science Academy wishes Abby every success as she begins college in the fall.

A Longtime Student

In marked contrast to Abigail Abramson, who spent only one year at Princeton Science Academy, Abigail Whitley, class of 2006, has been enrolled at either Princeton Latin Academy or Princeton Science Academy since she was in kindergarten. She is not the only member of next year’s graduating class, but she is something very remarkable in the Schools’ history — she will be the first student ever to have completed all of the grades k-12 at Princeton Latin and Princeton Science Academies. As such, the faculty is necessarily quite attached to Abigail, and extremely proud of her besides. “She is someone you rely on,” remarked the School’s English teacher, “if there is something you need to do, you ask Abby to help you.”

Everyone was pleased, but no one was surprised, to see Abigail awarded the distinction of cum laude for Latin II on this year’s National Latin Exam. The headmaster noted, “before we opened the high school four years ago, we would send kids who had done great work in Latin and other subjects off to other schools, and we would miss watching them just as they were really coming into their own. It has been great to have Abigail with us for so long.” Like the headmaster, the faculty is excited at the prospect of seeing Abigail as a senior this fall. Abby herself is probably more interested in enjoying the rest of her summer vacation.

PLA Graduation

This June, Princeton Latin Academy graduated three students. This was an unusually small class for the Academy, compared with nine in the preceding year and an anticipated eleven next June. The class Valedictorian was Cimarron Sharon of Princeton, NJ, who has been at Princeton Latin Academy since kindergarten. Cimarron will be attending Princeton Science Academy in the fall. Newer to the school were Laura Murphy, who came to PLA as a 5th-grader, and who will be attending the Hun School in the fall. Kevin Miller, who joined PLA as 7th-grader, will be attending the George School next year. The faculty of PLA congratulates the graduates and wishes them all the best!

Faculty Notes

This summer, Magistra Vaillancourt is studying in Rome on a Fulbright. When she returns this fall, PLA will be sharing her with CUNY, where she will begin graduate work in Classics. Magistra Houst is leaving this week to begin life in Virginia, where her husband is a college professor. Magister Enna and Magister Perrulli are busy getting ready for the new school year. Magistra Ferland is in the middle of the Horatio Hornblower series, but she took time off to write this newsletter. Magister Mordetsky is visiting Paris. He recently had two paintings in a gallery show in Trenton. Magistra Toda is visiting Japan this summer, and Magister Goldman is with his family in California. Magistra Kenyon is busy moving, and Magistra Sarah is taking summer courses in Math and Language.

With the exception of Magistra Houst, all of the faculty will be returning in the fall. The faculty would like to welcome officially its newest member, Magistra Amelia Murchio, to PLA and PSA. Magistra Murchio is full of energy and will be teaching Latin, Greek and Philosophy. Three years ago, Magistra Murchio’s mother saw a reference to the School online and said, “this is where you’re supposed to teach.” The faculty would like to thank Magistra’s mom for sending her to us. Magistra Murchio is spending the summer in New Jersey.