Tarriers looking for first 3A title
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Charles Wright Academy’s Knowledge Bowl teams turned in dominating performances at the recent Tacoma Invitational and Puget Sound Regional Competition and the Tarriers have earned the chance to compete for the school’s third consecutive state championship in Richland on Saturday, March 27. CWA not only won the regional competition decisively and qualified for state as the top seed, but did so competing for the first time two divisions above schools its own size. In the final rounds of these two competitions, CWA defeated Stadium High School, Bellarmine Prep and Federal Way Public Academy. Read the rest of this entry »
CWA seniors took the PSAT well over a year ago, but the accolades keep rolling in for those who did exceptionally well on the exam. Last fall, four members of the class of 2010 were named semifinalists for National Merit and National Achievement awards. Now, after submitting their academic records, information about CWA’s curriculum and grading system, two sets of test scores, an official recommendation from the school, information about their activities and leadership, and an essay, all four have been named scholarship finalists. 
CWA’s sixth grade program picked up a big award this week. After eight years and 1,266 hours of service caring for Chambers Creek, Pierce County has selected the teachers and students as a 2010 Youth Group of the Year. “You are being recognized for your special dedication and commitment to make your community a better place to live, through your exceptional volunteer efforts,” wrote County Executive Pat McCarthy in a letter to Alisha Bright, the sixth grade team leader. The Tarriers will be honored at the County’s Volunteer Recognition Brunch on March 20. 
CWA’s Upper School boys and girls basketball teams met last week to celebrate the conclusions of a successful winter sports season. While neither squad advanced into post-season play this year, they still accomplished many of their goals. All-Nisqually League honors were earned this season by juniors Jackie Kirschner (first team) and Rachael Williams (second team). Coaches of competing teams also selected CWA’s girls team as recipient of the league’s Sportsmanship Award. For the boys team, Senior Brandon White, Junior Sean Fuller and Junior Colin MacLeod received honorable mention.
In the spring issue of Ties, CWA is Going Global. Living, working, teaching, studying and traveling all over the world has profoundly affected many Charles Wright teachers and how they see the world. Their experiences and perspectives help them instill in every student the most important traits a traveler can have: an actively open mind, a problem-solving spirit and a self-reliant nature. CWA also helps students create their own international connections through Winterim trips and exchange programs that bring students from all over the world to our school. If you don’t think you can fit the world onto a 100-acre campus, you haven’t been to Charles Wright lately. 
While other high schools suspend classes for midwinter break, every February CWA sends students and faculty out into the world to explore. Winterim is a five-day experiential program that allows students and faculty to share concentrated exploration of themes and activities outside the regular curriculum. Among this year’s offerings was a rock climbing trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Teacher Ryan Johnson reports back on the experience: 
Carnegie Mellon University is a school many people have never heard of, but it’s one of the nation’s top research universities and the alma mater of six Nobel Laureates. The computer science department alone can attract more than $100 million a year in research grants, many from the Department of Defense and National Science Foundation. It’s peer institutions include Cal Tech, Cornell, Duke, MIT, Princeton and Stanford. Like all those schools, Carnegie Mellon is extremely selective – fewer than one in three applicants are admitted – but CWA senior Rafael McCauley is one of the lucky ones. 
This morning 11 CWA sophomores were among 2,400 Western Washington high school students to attend a lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. Diamond discussed the themes of his best-selling books Guns, Germs and Steel (1997) and Collapse (2005), as well as his current investigation of different cultures’ approaches to parenting. 
For more than five years, students at CWA have partnered with The Salvation Army to help local families in need. CWA students have worked with organization during Winterim experiences, senior internships and special events. On behalf of all those at CWA who have worked with The Salvation Army, senior Bura Mwangi, junior Rachael Williams, Service Learning Coordinator Carla Parker and Board of Trustees Chair Dwight Williams recently accepted one of the highest service awards presented by The Salvation Army. The Phyllis Bench Award was presented to the CWA delegation by Roberta McClintock, director of The Salvation Army’s Joyful Noise Child Care program, at the organization’s annual volunteer recognition dinner.
Ask CWA senior Max LaBerge what he likes about running and he won’t mention his state championship title in the 3200 meter or the challenge of competing against himself in pursuit of an elusive new personal best, although those are certainly part of running’s appeal. Instead, Max talks about the calm that comes when all you can hear is the sound of your own heartbeat and air rushing in and out of your lungs. “Sometimes you’re just there with your own thoughts,” he says.