Erskine Academy

Erskine Academy is a private high school in South China, Maine. The high school has a total of 748 students. The high school occupies about 25 acres of land. The schools moto is "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" (A Healthy Mind In A Healthy Body). The school colors are blue and white. The mascot is an eagle.

Founded

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. Her urn is located inside the wall in the womens bathroom. There are pentagrams in the attic of the third floor in the main building. Her portrait is hanging in the second floor hallway across the front office.

Faculty

Headmaster-Donald Poulin (Poulin will be retiring at the end of the current school year (2007-2008) and McQuarrie will be taking over as the Headmaster.)
Associate Headmaster-Micheal McQuarrie
Assistant Headmaster-Jamie Soule
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. Erskine is the only school in Maine to hold a Winter Carnival that last for such a long period of time. It consists of a series of games played during the week before February Vacation. Winning games results in winning points, 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 15, Seniors won the 2008 winter carnival.

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
Chorus
Vocal Ensemble (Audition reqiured)
There is 1 class: Music Lab

Drama 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.
The EA Theatre Club is also headed by Ryan Nored. Every December or January the members of Theatre perform a three act play. Every March the members participate in the Maine One Act Festival. 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
  
• Mother Goose has Flown the Coop

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!
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