ASSEMBLY IN BRIEF
Monday, September 15, 2014
Announcements
*American Patriots: Meeting tomorrow at 8 am in the 2-D studio.
*Chess Club: Meeting tomorrow at 8 am in 203.
*International Club: Meeting tomorrow at 8:15 am in 102.
*KIVA: Meeting tomorrow at 8 am in 201.
*Mad Bomber: Meeting tomorrow at 8 am in Mr. Lewis’s classroom.
*Review: Meeting tomorrow at 8 am in Ms. Simonds’ classroom.
*Sports for Charity: Meeting tomorrow at 8 am in Mr. McKone’s classroom.
Ferguson – the Discussion Continues
At the invitation of Diversity ETC, Brittany Packnett ’02 spoke to assembly about “bearing witness” to
the events in Ferguson, the racial divide in St. Louis and the importance, after listening, to share one’s
voice about things that matter. She frequently referred to a quote she first heard in a JBS English class,
“To absorb without use is the gravest error of privilege.” See “Latest News” tomorrow.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Announcements
*Bake Sales: Today the Montgomery Plan is sponsoring a bake sale to raise funds for Ferguson Junior
High and KIVA is selling cinnamon rolls for KIVA!
*Challenger Baseball: Sign up.
*JBS Family Picnic: Tomorrow at noon in the Quad.
*Library Advisory Council: The library is establishing an advisory council and welcomes representation
from each class. Those interested should apply by the end of the month. Hard copy applications are
available in the library and an online version is posted on the library homepage.
*Middletown: Cast should check the call board for schedule changes.
*Review: All students are welcome to submit writing and art for the Review, the annual art and literary
magazine, which is published at the end of the school year – and to attend the first Review meeting on
Tuesday the 16th.
“Defence of Fort M’Henry”
Today is the 200th anniversary of the writing of this poem by Francis Scott Key after witnessing the
bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The first stanza was put to existing music and
named “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Mr. Abbott read the complete poem to assembly.
O say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation.
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Announcement
*Bake Sales: Tomorrow the Montgomery Plan and KIVA are sponsoring bake sales.
9/11
Christine Marshall (history) shared her experience at a summer workshop, “9/11 and American
Memory,” held at NYU and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. She also showed a reflective video she
made using photography from the memorial/museum.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Announcement
*Challenger Baseball: Sign up!
TAUP
During advisory today, students will discuss and sign the school’s Technology Acceptable Use Policy.
Mr. Abbott ran through the high points, emphasizing that Burroughs embraces technology as it
enhances the curriculum but that we are a community that is fundamentally defined by personal
interactions/engagement.
KUTO
Leaders of KUTO described their mission: to promote the emotional well-being and health of teens
through peer counseling, informational assemblies and relaxations days.
A member of the junior class then took the podium to share her struggle with depression, encouraging
anyone who might be suffering from depression, to not handle it alone – to seek the support of family,
friends, the JBS counseling and wellness department. She concluded her story with “Trying to go
through something like depression alone is impossible. As our very own student body president
declared just a few weeks ago, this is the Year of the Trust Fall. Jimmy, you encouraged us to step out
of our comfort zones, to do something that might make us nervous, but most importantly, to rely on
the Burroughs community to be there to support us. This is quite a trust exercise for me but what
makes it a little bit easier, is knowing that there will be people to catch me when I fall.”
Tuesday, September 09, 2014
Announcements
*St. Louis World Food Day: On Friday, October 10, Burroughs will host this annual packaging of meals
for distribution both locally and internationally. Volunteers come from all over the St. Louis area, but
JBS wants a strong showing. Students can volunteer for a one-hour stint during the day or be part of
the high school rally in the evening. $10/participant.
*Student Clubs: Student Congress has developed new guidelines for all student clubs and is requiring
the student leader/s of every existing club to submit a mission form (names of student leaders, faculty
sponsor/s, goals for the year, etc.) to Sarah Taylor by the end of the day on Friday. Congress’s goal is to
assure that clubs are active.