Suffolk Art League visiting artist Kathy Rose visited campus to work with Middle School and Fifth Grade students in Mrs. Sofia Dakos's art room. With her guidance and expertise, students created original Artist Trading Cards or ATCs. ATCs are miniature works of art about the size of baseball cards. The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and is believed to have its origins in Switzerland. The students' cards were produced in various media, including dry media, wet media and paper media. ATCs are usually traded or exchanged. Thanks to regional community partnerships with organizations such as the Suffolk Art League, our NSA students are expanding their horizons and creating beautiful works of art! 

Seventh Grade students culminated their intensive study of other cultures with their "Cultural Fair" recently. Their hard work was evident in the varied costumes, student exhibits and native items from each country. Guests enjoyed art displays and festive music while browsing the student work in the Camp Gym. At left, Robert Joyner '17 proudly shows off his "Costa Rica" exhibit. The day after their "Cultural Fair" seventh graders were hard at work again as they planted the first NSA butterfly garden the following day with their science teacher, Mr. Pat Hilliard. They have been growing their own seedlings in class, including Cosmos, Milkweed, Cornflower and Marigolds. Now they will see that dedication and commitment come to fruition as their seedlings grow and hopefully attract beautiful butterflies in the raised garden area by the Middle School. What a great NSA start to an "outdoor classroom" experience!

Third graders celebrated spring during their annual May Day performance on Tuesday, May 1. Dressed in their finest spring colors, students danced, sang and played recorders in front of their audience of family, friends and fellow students. During the traditional maypole dance, third graders wove a lovely ribboned creation as the circled the pole in their rendition of an ancient spring festival. Girls wore flower crowns and boys were dressed in their finest as they entertained the audience with the result of their hard work and practice. Mrs. Ann Spanagel, Lower School Music Director, the Third Grade teachers, Stella Payne, Colleen Perry and Pam Serianni and Third Grade assistant, Ms. Paula Johnson, did an excellent job working with the children! The signs of spring were everywhere on the NSA campus!

Today the Upper School students enjoyed a presentation by Katy Miller '13 about her incredible Operation Smile mission to India and heard a special performance by the Jazz Bandits. The US assembly was a great example of our multi-talented Saints! Mark your calendars now for the NSA Fine Arts Showcase on Sunday, May 6 at 7:00 p.m. at the Chrysler Museum of Art. Special performances by NSA Theatre Arts students, Select Chorus members and the NSA Jazz Bandits will be the highlight of the evening. Don't miss it! This one-of-a-kind event is open to the public so tell a friend and bring a guest to experience the Fine Arts of NSA at the Chrysler.

The Kindergarten Class of 2024 presented an amazing performance last night of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." The students each had to learn a speaking part, often more than one, as well as nine songs. They were dressed in incredible costumes, all handmade by dedicated parents. The set was wonderful and included a real "rickety-rackety bridge" on loan from Boy Scout Troop #1. Even more incredible than the actual performance, was the student art show following it. Student art work was "for sale," marked with prices by each artist, and all proceeds were to benefit Relay For Life. One of the largest price tags: $1,000,000! Not only are these two classes of 30 Kindergartners talented, they are charitable-minded and have very generous family and friends - they raised over $1,500 for Relay for Life during this one evening! What an incredible group of five and six year-olds! Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Travison and Mrs. Spanagel certainly worked hard with these students and it showed. Way to go Saints!

The Upper School rallied for Relay today in a spirited "Wipe Out Cancer" kick-off assembly. Eight teams competed: Bailey's Buddies, Fighting Frijoles, French Frogs, the Garrett Booker Experience, Interaction Faction, KurpDawgs, LAX Chicas and the Verendi Gladiatores. From the beach blanket coconut toss to dodging coral reef, through the hula hoop relay to the beach ball volley, including the beach blanket pull and ships and sailors, and finishing up with a hilarious flipper and crab race, the morning was a huge success! Each team gave it their all as they showed their support of the American Cancer Society's 2012 Relay for Life theme to "Wipe Out Cancer." At left, Bailey's Buddies pass the hula hoop with grace and speed! With just a little over five weeks left until the May 18 Suffolk Relay For Life event at Bennett's Creek Park, NSA teams got the entire Upper School and the faculty in the spirit to make a difference. The Garrett Booker Experience were returning champs as they topped the boards witha whopping total of 20 team points. Congratulations to all the Relay teams and thanks to Ms. Candy Nash for organizing an amazing event once again!

Art I and foreign language students celebrated the extraordinary life of Vincent vanGogh recently as they hosted an art show on the art room patio. At left, Bridget Murphy '15 is shown with her "AP Best in Show" painting. The art celebration culminated an exciting study in the art and times of van Gogh. Pictured at right is Carly Thorndike '14 with her "Best in Show" award winner. 

The NSA Upper School has been a busy place this week! Juniors enjoyed Career Day sponsored by the Office of College Counseling where they participated in workshops to prepare them for their journey to college. Sophomores also joined the Juniors as they visited four out of fifteen possible career sessions with community professionals including a veterinarian, an engineer, a business entrepreneur and a musician, just to name a few. Ms. Carly Mayer's Spanish 3 students enjoyed language immersion exercises as they followed Spanish directions on street signs posted in the NSA hallways to find certain locations in their Spanish city. In preparation for the "Week of the Young Child" April 16-20, Upper School Art student Tori Dail '12 worked with Pre-Kindergarten four-year olds as they modeled for her tape sculpture. Upper School is full of spring energy!

Bernie, Master of the Colors Matt Lee '12 and Student Council President Shannon McDonald '12 kicked off the Spirit Rally today for the entire campus as the Saints Band played NSA crowd favorites. In anticipation of the school-wide Field Day in May, today's rally was super exciting with Blue and Gold team volunteers of all ages joining in the fun. Hula hoop relays, dancing and t-shirts thrown into the crowd kept the school spirit high and the cheers loud. Kindergarteners through twelfth graders all participated in the rally as faculty and staff cheered them on. School spirit is certainly alive and well in the NSA community! GO SAINTS!