Special Events - Assembly Club
Each week the Middle School has an assembly, the planning for which is the responsibility of Alexander Constantine, Michael Fink and the Assembly Club. There are various outside speakers and BPA sponsored assemblies, but the bulk of the presentations are generated internally. Faculty members speak occasionally about issues of interest, or travels taken which relate to the boys’ studies. Faculty entertainment is always a favorite at assemblies. Planning the assemblies, handling stage set up, lighting and sound are the job of the Assembly Club. The participation in Assembly Club has actually led several Upper School students to work with the theater technology teacher who is in charge of the new Baker Theater.
As a variation on the annual spelling bee assembly, there was a Geography Bee. Head of Middle School, Sarah Burdett, brought this idea to the Assembly Club. Seventh and eighth grade boys who were interested in participating were selected from each class using the National Geographic daily quiz to brush up on the kind of questions which would be posed.
A moderator from the Assembly Club was charged with presenting the questions. Each contestant could pick between two regions of the world for their question. The questions were both geographic and political such as the following: the location of the Bering Straits, the modern name for French-Indo China, the capital of numerous countries, the number of provinces in Canada, which two countries make up parts of Patagonia, and the country sitting on the largest reserve of oil.
There were many laughs with the contestants, not at them. Those who knew their answers were wrong frequently gave some comic relief: in response to what is the natural border between the U.S. and Mexico one respondent replied – the fence! After an “I don’t know answer”, the body language of the boys leaving the stage was often entertaining.
James Whittemore was the overall winner. Mrs. Burdett then challenged the boys to become part of the National Geographic Bee. Brunswick would register for this event and there would be a competition within the school followed by inter-scholastic competition. Mrs. Burdett suggested that the boys take the daily National Geographic Quiz, from which she learned the answers to some of the questions posed at the assembly. Boys interested in participating were asked to email Mrs. Burdett. Let’s hope Brunswick can put together a team and then make it to Washington, DC for the competition. Many thanks to the Assembly Club, Mr. Constantine and Mr. Fink for an educational and entertaining afternoon.
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