The Knightline
Welcome to The Knightline!
The Knightline is the Upper School's parents newsletter, featuring short items and images that offer useful information and lively images of community life at Sem. Published in the first few weeks of each term, the Knightline will offer a view of upcoming events, glimpses of life at Upper School and links to information you can use. And be sure to visit Sem's website on a regular basis to keep up with today's class schedule and the activities, arts and athletic events happening every day at Sem.
From the Dean's Desk
I hope this issue of the Knight's Trail finds you well. Here at school, we are well on our way toward finishing the first half of the year in fine form, and we are all looking forward to soon spending time with family and friends.
Independent schools are rife with traditions small and large that are vital to bringing members of the school community together, and in so doing, they reinforce the values of that school community. Sem is no different. Whether it be the Chapels at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the special family-style meals, post-season competitions, "crepe day" at lunch, or holiday performances, the True, the Beautiful, and the Good are never more evident than they are at this time of the year.
On behalf of the entire Upper School family, I wish you the very best this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Tom Morris
Dean of Upper School
Life at Upper School
For information and images about activities, accolades and events at Upper School, click on the links below...
Cum Laude Society induction
Stefanov named National Merit Semifinalist
Sem students receive Alumni Service Awards
Students named to District 9 chorus
Athletes announce college decisions
Alexandria Folk Dance Troupe of Egypt
Sem is celebrating!
Since its founding in September, 1844, Wyoming Seminary has educated students for 175 years. To begin the celebration of its 175th anniversary year, Sem brought all students in all grades and all faculty and staff together for an all-school photo on Tuesday, Oct. 23 on the Back Campus of the Upper School. The weather cooperated, and the entire school community spelled out a huge 175, and the years 1844-2019. A drone captured this remarkable and commemorative photo event, and the photo was posted to Sem's website; click here to see the video, as well as an outstanding documentary video about Sem's founding and history.
Sem Speaks! Lecture on Immigration
An historical perspective of the issue of immigration to the United States will be the focus of a special free public lecture to be held at Upper School at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12. The lecture, a presentation of Sem Speaks: A Global Topics Lecture Series, will be held in the Stettler Learning Resources Center and is free and open to the public.
The speaker will be journalist Daniel Connolly, a reporter at The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, Tenn. His lecture is titled "Today's Immigration Battles – How We Got Here, Where We're Going."
Connolly specializes in coverage of immigration to the United States, particularly Mexican immigration. He is the author of "The Book of Isaias: A Child of Hispanic Immigrants Seeks His Own America." He has won numerous awards from state and national journalism organizations and has received grants from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the International Center for Journalists. In each lecture he works to keep the audience engaged through frequent questions, concrete examples, attention-grabbing visuals and memorable stories. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions following the lecture.
For more information about this lecture or the Sem Speaks! lecture series, please call the Sem communications office at 570-270-2192.
News you can use
The winter term agenda, including letter days, events and other useful information, is available for download on the Knight and Day.
This year's Student Auction, organized by Student Government, will be held on Friday, Dec. 14 at 7:00 p.m. in BPAC. Donations will be accepted up to the day of the event. Contact Harry Shafer, director of student activities, for more information.
The annual International Dinner, organized by the International Club, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Blue Gym. Note to parents: if your child is a member of the International Club, please consider discussing what recipes your child might want to use and what special ingredients might be needed. Your child will need to bring those recipes and ingredients back to Sem after the winter break.
The Winter Semi-formal Dance will be held at the Westmoreland Club, 59 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 6:30-11:00 p.m.
The Scoop from STEM
The STEMtastic Saturday Hour of Coding event will be held on Saturday, January 19 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Lower School. In this free event, open to the public, children in grades kindergarten-8 will learn about the basics of coding, using games, toys and online resources. Upper School student volunteers attend the event to assist.
This event follows the Hour of Code Challenge, held around the world during Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 3-9. Sem students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth, and various science classes at Upper School, also will participate in the Hour of Code.
The Arts at Sem
Coming in December, January and February:
December Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m., KCCA. Featuring seasonal music performed by the Sem Chorale, Madrigal Singers and String Ensemble.
Sem Presents! The Whiffenpoofs
Tuesday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m., KCCA. The Whiffenpoofs from Yale University are the oldest and best-known a cappella group and will be performing with the Madrigal Singers and the Lower School Select Chorus. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Click here for more information and to order tickets.
Sem Presents! Rufus Wainwright in concert
Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at 7:30 p.m., KCCA. Rufus Wainwright, one of the great male vocalists, composers and songwriters of his generation, has collaborated with artists such as Elton John, David Byrne, Joni Mitchell, Mark Ronson and others. Tickets are $55 for adults, $45 for students, seniors and staff. Click here for more information and to order tickets.
Winter Instrumental Concert
Sunday, January 20 at 2:00 p.m., KCCA. Featuring performances by the Sem Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Hand bells and Jazz Band.
Civic Orchestra Concert
Saturday, January 26 at 8:00 p.m., KCCA. Performance of the Haydn Cello Concerto in D Major (featuring Sem music faculty Christiane Appenheimer-Vaida on cello) and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.
Winter Drama Workshops
Wednesday-Saturday, February 13-16, 7:00 p.m., Sunday, February 17, 2:00 p.m., BPAC. Series of one acts and short scenes in a black-box setting.