February 23, 2018
MUSICAL: "Decatur 404" premiered on the DeAngelis Stage on Friday, February 16, with an additional matinee performance on Saturday. This musical is unique in BRS history as the script, lyrics and music were created by senior Franck Germain. Franck credits Director of Performing Arts Will McGreal and technology teacher Mike Burris for their guidance in the writing and musical production. Will also co-directed the performance. James Niederberger was the vocal coach. Senior Myles Jones also contributed to the lyrics.
The musical starred Juan Mareco '18 as Levi and EmmaLee Linaberry as Tara. Other cast members were Abdullah Al Saud '19, David Ayriyants '19, Zain Bankwalla '19, Cam Carr '19, Jack Cline '18, Keane Emmans-McGill '19, Myles Ham '19, Will Lowry '19, Henry Robinson '19, In Yong Song '18, Souley Sylla '18, Alex "Chiti" Tembo '18, Trammell Thompson '20, Katiso Tlelima '18, Jaab Veskijkul '18, Elias Weldegeorgis, '18 and Zac Wood '20. Special appearances were also made by Spencer Cadieux '18, Sardaar Calhoun '18, Myles Jones '18, Darius McGhee '18, Derrick Owusu '18, Henri Vainola '18 and Peter Sun '21. For a video of the entire performance, click
here.
VIDEOS THIS WEEK: Click
here to view several scenes from "Decatur 404" as well as two musical performances, a moment in anatomy class and a fun video by Franck and Juan for Portuguese class.
VAIS WORKSHOP: Blue Ridge School welcomed educators to the 2018 VAIS Outdoor & Experiential Educators Network Workshop on Wednesday, February 21. The workshop is part of the Outdoor & Experiential Educators Network.
This year's speakers included Associate Headmaster Franklin Daniels and a panel of students including Jack Cline '18, Ballard Earley '18, Ty Ewen '18, Selby Morgan '19, and Wai Kwan Ng '19, who spoke about their outdoor experiences at BRS. Alex Dillard '19 conducted one of the breakout sessions on "What's in Your First Aid Kit." For a video of the student panel, click
here. For more on this story, click
here.
TRAIL EXTENSION: Over the past few months, Cory Woods has been slowly working on
re-routing the Chesley Creek Loop, which used to swing up to the football field and cut through the grass adjacent to the upper practice field. "It was seldom traveled because there really wasn't an established trail," explains Cory. This new section of the Chesley Creek Loop follows an old roadbed and a newly-established trail that parallels Bacon Hollow Road. "This week, several of my Outdoor Ed Elective students helped me finish the construction of a new bridge that finally completes this new section," says Cory.
COLLEGE COUNSELING: Congratulations to seniors Taku Endo and Chiti Tembo on their recent college acceptances - Taku to The College of Wooster, and Chiti to Marymount University and Xavier University. Read Mrs. Amber Wilkins' latest blog post on campus visits
here.
SAGE: Senior student leaders Jaab Veskijkul and Jack Cline thanked our food service staff for their hard work and dedication to improve the quality of meals at BRS. Director of Food Services Jonathan Ballato and Assistant Food Services Director Alexandra O'Toole accepted the poster with notes of thanks from our boys for the rest of the SAGE staff.
PAINT BALL: Jack Cline '18, Michael Sloan '18 and friends (including
Dial Powers '18,
Ben Alejandro '19,
Wai Kwan Ng '19,
Mark Yee '18,
Trevor Albro '19 and
Aaron O'Donnell '18) recently decided the campus needs a paintball course to liven things up on the weekends. Headmaster Trip Darrin approved the initiative on one condition - they raise the money needed to buy the equipment, and they clear the area. On Wednesday, February 21, Michael announced that the field was ready and they had purchased the equipment. The first paintball game may be held as early as this Sunday!
ATHLETICS: The spring sports season began on Monday. Spring sports include varsity and JV lacrosse, track and field, varsity and JV tennis, golf, mountain biking and outdoors. (
Pictured left: Selby Morgan '19 helps first-time mountain biker Min Woo Ki '21 learn to balance.)
Congratulations to senior basketball players Darius McGhee and Sardaar Calhoun, who were named 1st Team All VIC, and to senior Myles Jones, who was named 2nd Team All VIC!
JV and varsity basketball teams won their games at Bishop Sullivan on Tuesday. They also won their VIC semifinal games at BRS on Thursday. The JV team beat Miller School 70-31, and the varsity team beat VES 76-56.
With these wins, both teams advance to the VIC Championship on Saturday at Roanoke College in Roanoke, Virginia. The JV team will play Hargrave at 12:30 pm, and the varsity squad will face Miller at 5:15 pm!
Indoor track competed in the Indoor Track State Championship meet on Saturday, February 17, at St. Christopher's in Richmond. Adam Maisano '19 finished 18th in the State in the 1000 with a time of 2:54.12. Adam also came in 18th in the 1600 with a time of 4:57.68. Taku Endo '18 finished 29th in the 500 with a time of 1:28.89.
