Erskine Academy

Erskine Academy
Location
309 Windsor Road South China , Kennebec , Maine 04358 United States
Coordinates	44.373587°N 69.57522°W / 44.373587; -69.57522
Information
Motto	Mens Sana in Corpore Sano (A Healthy Mind In A Healthy Body)
Founded	1883
Founder	Mary T. Erskine
CEEB code	200945
Headmaster	Michael J. McQuarrie
Staff	56
Color(s)	Blue and White
Mascot	Eagle
Website	http://www.erskineacademy.org

Erskine Academy is a private high school located in South China, Maine. The high school has a current enrollment of 748 students and serves eight surrounding towns. The campus occupies about 25 acres (100,000 m²) of land and includes several academic buildings as well as various athletic fields. The school's motto is "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" (A Healthy Mind In A Healthy Body). Erskine Academy's school colors are blue and white, and an eagle is the school's mascot.

History

Erskine was founded in 1883 by Mary T. Erskine. There is a school legend that Mary T. Erskine still haunts the halls during the night. This legend has spawned many rumors over the years, such as the belief that Erskine's urn was located in the wall of the old women's locker room (renovation was done in 2006 and the old locker rooms are now a weight room). A pentagram located on the floor of a third floor room in the Home Ec Building has added to rumors. Mary Erskine's portrait can be seen in the second floor hallway, hanging across the Front Office. The home economics teacher has said that the portrait has mysteriously been removed from the wall and placed in other parts of the building.

Faculty

Headmaster: Mike McQuarrie
Associate Headmaster: Jamie Soule
Assistant Headmaster: John Clark
Guidance Director: Susan LaGasse
Athletic Director: Doran Stout

Towns

Erskine Academy serves the following towns:

• Chelsea, Maine
• China, Maine
• Jefferson, Maine
• Palermo, Maine
• Somerville, Maine
• Vassalboro, Maine
• Whitefield, Maine
• Windsor, Maine

Winter Carnival

Every February, Erskine Academy holds its Winter Carnival. It consists of a series of games played during the week before February Vacation. Winning games results in winning points, and when Winter Carnival is over whichever grade (9th,10th,11th,12th) has accumulated the most points wins Winter Carnival. The events in Winter Carnival include skits (performed by each grade), volleyball competitions, egg tosses, paper airplane throwing, push-ups, crunches, mini-golf in the library, log throw, and many more. For winter carnival there are three different main days of competition; Indoor Day, Outdoor Day, and the Assembly. Although Indoor Day and Outdoor Day are very critical toward earning points, a large portion of the points are earned at the Assembly on the Friday before February vacation. Also, over the year there is a constant competition dealing with the collection of cantabs. These cantabs are donated to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and also benefit the grades by allowing them to win more points.

-On February 13, Seniors won the 2009 winter carnival(breaking a school record of points earned)
                Sophomores 2nd
                Juniors 3rd
                Freshman 4th

As an additional note, the Class of 2007 made history by winning Winter Carnival three years in a row.

Academic Departments

Music Department The music department consists of one instructor, Jim Johnson. He is aided by his wife, Bridget Convey. She accompanies the Vocal Ensemble and Chorus. There are 5 performing Ensembles: Concert Band, Jazz Combo (Audition Required), Percussion Explosion (Teacher Permission Required), Chorus, Vocal Ensemble (Audition reqiured). There is 1 class: Music Lab.
Theatre Department The drama department consists of two classes taught by Ryan Nored. The classes are Introduction to Drama and Advanced Drama. Advanced Drama students must have taken Introduction to Drama or have been a member of the EA Theatre Club.
English Department The English Department is a busy department because students need to take four English classes in order to graduate. A.P. Literature and Composition and A.P. Language and Composition are offered. Rod Robilliard is the department head.
Math Department Students need to take three math classes to graduate. A.P. Calculus and A.P. Statistics are offered. Mark Bailey is the department head.
Science Department Students need to take three science classes to graduate. A.P. Biology is sometimes offered. Kris Reynolds is the department head.
Language Department Students need to take two language classes to graduate. EA offers Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, German, and in the past has offered Italian after school. Marcia Tyrol is the department head.
History Department Students need to take three history classes to graduate. A.P. U.S. History is offered.

Athletics

Erskine Academy offers several sports.
Fall Season

• Soccer (Varsity Boys, JV Boys, Freshman Boys, Varsity Girls, and JV Girls teams)
• Cross Country (Boys and Girls teams- a non-cut sport)
• Field Hockey (Varsity Girls and JV Girls teams)

Winter Season

• Basketball (Varsity Boys, JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and JV Girls teams)
• Wrestling (One main team open to boys and girls)
• Cheerleading (Varsity and JV teams open to boys and girls)
• Indoor Track (Girls and Boys teams- a non-cut sport)
• Swimming (Girls and Boys teams- a non-cut sport)

Spring Season

• Baseball (Varsity and JV teams)
• Softball (Varsity and JV teams)
• Track and Field (Girls and Boys teams- a non-cut sport)
• Tennis (Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls teams)
• Golf (One team open to boys and girls)

Extracurricular Activities

AFS American Field Services helps sponsor students from other countries to come to EA and students from EA to travel to other countries. Normally, they hold several fundraisers throughout the year. Traditional activities are the AFS Slammer at homecoming, volunteering at the Common Ground Fair, a yearly trip to Quebec, Canada, and several meetings throughout the year which normally have a guest speaker discussing the culture of another area of the world. This year several members are traveling to El Salvador to do volunteer work. Sonia Stevenson is this group's advisor.
Amnesty International AI is a fairly new group at Erskine. It was started during the '07-'08 school year. This group has urged students to sign petitions to make their voices heard and spread knowledge of human rights. Several meetings are held throughout the year where the group may watch movies, make T-shirts, or learn about the problems in the world and what we can do to help solve them. Ryan Nored is this group's advisor.
Art & Lit Art & Lit gathers several short pieces of writing and drawings or pieces of art and publishes a yearly magazine near the end of the school year. Emily Foss is this group's advisor.
Business Club The Business Club runs many events through out the school year such as a dunk tank, school dances, volunteer activities, and has gone on trips to Florida and New York in the past. Roxanne Malley is this group's advisor.
Chess Club The Chess Club holds several meeting throughout the school year where students are encouraged to come learn and practice the game of chess. In the past they have participated in state competitions. Bill Childs is this group's advisor.
Destination Imagination DI is a group that encourages students to use their mind to come up with creative ways to solve issues. Sometimes machines are built and sometimes skits are done. The idea is to learn what you can do with a very limited budget. This group participates in several competitions on the regional and state level. Julie Jackson is this group's advisor.
Math Team The Math Team meets and practices their math skills throughout the school year. Historically this team has done a tremendous job taking home many first, second, and third place wins on the individual and team level. They are a team to be rivaled at state competitions. Armed with their TI-83s and TI-84s and with Lew Purinton as their advisor, these students impress everyone with their number skills.
Model State Model State or Youth in Government (some states call it Youth and Government) is a group in which students get first hand legislature experience. These students write bills and run for positions. The students spend a weekend in May at the State House in Augusta. Here they try to argue for their bills and vote on important issues. Positions that Erskine Academy students have held in the past are lobbyist, member of the House of Representatives, member of the Senate, House chair for numerous committees, Senate Chair for numerous committees, Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House, and even Speaker of the House. Lori Dube is this group's advisor.
National Art Honor Society NAHS is a national group that only allows certain, very talented artists in. Students must collaborate a portfolio of art which is then judged in order to be allowed in. Emily Foss is this group's advisor.
National Honor Society NHS is a prestigious group that chooses students who have been highly involved in the school and community while maintaining an impressive GPA. Students are inducted during their junior or senior year. NHS sponsors a dance, decorates the school for the holiday season, and sells flowers during the school year. Mary Oches is this group's advisor.
Pep Band Pep Band practices throughout the school year and plays during basketball games in the winter. James Johnson is this group's advisor.
Prom Committee The Prom Committee is made up of juniors who plan the year's prom during May. Betsy Benner is this group's advisor.
Ski/Outing Club The Ski and Outing Club travels to the mountains as many times as the weather permits during the winter. Dennis Scates is this group's advisor.
Speech and Debate This team goes to several meets during the winter and spring. They have done very, very well in the past. Berit Freeling is this group's advisor.
Student Council The Student Council is composed of four students elected by the peers from each class. The class presidents are also on student council. They run dances and attend conferences. They do many things for the school and student body, especially during winter carnival. They have also won the Spirit Cup for many, many years. Mary MacFarland is this group's advisor.
EA Theatre Club Every December or January the members of the drama club perform a three act play. Every March the members participate in the Maine One Act Festival sponsored by the Maine Principals' Association. They have had success numerous times at the regional competitions, earning the right to move onto the state level. They have won by performing: Impromptu, Childhood (2nd place), Juvie, Competition Piece, and Mother Goose has Flown the Coop. Ryan Nored is this group's advisor/director.
TLC Teens Leading and Learning through Community Service provides students with opportunities for volunteer service within the local communities. They may spend time at area nursing homes, share afternoons with young children, or assist at local businesses. Kelly McQuarrie is this group's advisor.
Yearbook The Yearbook staff work all year round to compile pictures and information for the year's yearbook. They work long hours and sell and distribute the yearbooks at the end of the school year. Heather Shute is this group's advisor.

School Song

Give them a rousing cheer for ol' EA,
Fling out the banner now for aye!
Long may it wave so proudly in the light
Showing the royal blue and white.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
While our exultant song shall bring dismay
Unto our foes what ere their might
The blue and white, get in the fight
And we will make this an Erskine day!

References

• 1. http://www.erskineacademy.org/about_erskine/index.html