Teacher Visiting from Japan Experiences Service at MBA

A note from Mr. Spiegl ...

Friends and colleagues, 

I wanted you to know that my visiting guest, Omi Takahashi of the Fulbright group that was touring campus Friday, was most impressed with our boys at the soup kitchen (L&F) Saturday.  She mentioned repeatedly:

• the manner in which our older boys took care of the younger boys (she wants to inculcate this with her charges in Japan)
• the frequency of the phrases "what can I help with" or "we could use some help with" and the response
• the degree to which our boys interacted with our guests and the genuine back and forth of the conversations

 Omi-san singled out Heyward Rogers as the most involved in this regard (very impressed with Heyward)

and her desire to share with Japanese students her experience with our boys and get something similar going. 

Chris

Another Successful Loaves & Fishes

On Saturday, May 3, 20 guys contributed to a very successful Loaves and Fishes. As the last one of the year, we had a Cinco de Mayo themed meal with enchilada casserole, black beans, fruit and ice cream with cinnamon puff pastries. Everyone did a great job and we were sad to go. Thanks to everyone who came and has helped in the past. I know they appreciate everything we do. 

Book Drive in Full Swing

Through April  28

… benefitting

Bring books to your advisory. 

Sponsored by Mr. Moxley’s Advisory.

Happy Birthday to the Bard!

The International Thespian Society raised $300 from donut sales during the "Shakespearathon" last Thursday & Friday. The Shakespeare Marathon started at 7 a.m. on Thursday and continued until 7 a.m. on Friday. Pledges are still coming in. Funds support ENDADA and the Nashville Shakespeare Festival.

THANK YOU to those who participated!

Help Needed THIS WEEKEND for Last Saturday Dinner

Please email Dr. Fuller if you can help.

Service Club Happenings THIS WEEK

¡Monday, 4/21

§Paragon Mills (Clark Hooks, Mr. Paolicchi)

¡Thursday, 4/24

§No Service Club Meeting

§Preston Taylor Tutoring (Sam Weien, Mr. Womack)

¡Saturday, 4/26

§Best Buddies Art Saturday

§ENDADA

§Last Saturday Dinner

Help Needed THIS WEEKEND for Best Buddies

Are you free Saturday morning?  Sunday afternoon?  Join us for some service fun!

Saturday, April 11 - MBA Sports Saturday
9:15 - 11:00 am
Meet in front of the gym.  We will be playing soccer with our Buddies!

Sunday, April 12 - Best Buddies Friendship Walk
Volunteers needed for various shifts between 12:00 and 5:00 pm.
Bicentennial Mall

For more information, contact Ms. Williams at annie.b.williams@montgomerybell.edu.

Service Happenings THIS Week

¡Monday, 4/7

§Paragon Mills (Clark Hooks, Mr. Paolicchi)

¡Thursday, 4/10

§Service Club Meeting at Break – Service Club Office, Lowry

§Preston Taylor Tutoring (Sam Weien, Mr. Womack)

¡Saturday, 4/12

§Best Buddies Sports Saturday (John Wheeler, Ms. Williams)

¡Sunday, 4/13

§Best Buddies Friendship Walk (John Wheeler, Jackson Garey, Ms. Williams)

Richland Creek Run VIII - Another Great Success!

Thanks to the 40 student volunteers who got up early Saturday morning to prepare the course for the Richland Creek Run. They set up cones and water tables, and served as marshalls, monitors and timers during the race. Special thanks to Chris Smith, Clay Bailey, Will Norton, Robbie Quinn and Project Manager Ferris Bailey for their leadership. This is the 8th year that MBA has sponsored this important neighborhood event and provided the core group of volunteers for this fundraiser for Greenways. 

Great Meal Enjoyed by All - Loaves & Fishes April 2014

MBA had another successful day at the Loaves & Fishes soup kitchen on Saturday.  Over 180 people were served a delicious meal of ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, biscuits, and chocolate pudding for dessert.  The  Big Red team was lead by: Taylor Asher (sophomore) with (senior) Sam Weien; (juniors)  Luke Kinman, James Matthews, John Triplett, Nathan Sharp, Jay Thomas; (sophomores) Hunt Smith, Sam Sullivan, Alvin Zhang, Chris Saxon, Crom Tidwell; (freshmen) Will Gray, Riley Steanson, Patrick Andreen, (8th graders) Alex Bulgarino and Patrick Butner.  Faculty sponsors for the meal included Mr. Spiegl, Mr. Bullington and his wife, and Mr. Rundberg.  A good time was had by all!

High School Students Have Logged Over 3800 Service Hours This School Year

Service at MBA is not required.  It is 100% voluntary.  A fact which makes the number of service hours earned by our high school boys even more impressive.

See below for a log of service hours by class this school year.  Note that these recorded hours do not account for hours worked on spring break service trips, work done by students during the summer or any volunteer efforts done through outside organizations like Boy Scouts or religious groups.  They also generally exclude the number of hours that go into project organization before the actual day of service.

Class of 2014: 887.5 hours
Class of 2015: 1374 hours
Class of 2016: 1117.5 hours
Class of 2018: 434 hours

Thanks to everyone for your hard work and dedication.

Registration Still Open for Richland Creek Run VIII- THIS Saturday, April 5

Visit http://richlandcreekrun.com/ to register.  

Online registration ends tomorrow, Thursday.  

Co-sponsored by MBA and benefiting Greenways of Nashville.  We hope to see you there!

April Brings Best Buddies Opportunities Galore

Please join us for any or all of the following events!  

Email John Wheeler or Ms. Williams for more information.

Best Buddies Sports Saturday – 4/12

Best Buddies Smashville (18 and over) – 4/12

Best Buddies Friendship Walk – 4/13

Best Buddies Art Saturday – 4/26

Best Buddies Art Saturday Rocks Again!

Thank you to all of our wonderful 

MBA volunteers and to the Buddies who joined us!  

A special thanks to Ms. Hollifield and Jackson Hughes.

Service Happenings THIS Week!

¡Monday, 3/31

§Paragon Mills (Clark Hooks, Mr. Paolicchi)

¡Thursday, 4/3

§Service Club Meeting at Break – Service Club Office, Lowry

§Preston Taylor Tutoring (Sam Weien, Mr. Womack)

¡Saturday, 4/5

§Richland Creek Run (Ferris Bailey, Dr. Fuller)

§Loaves & Fishes (Gage Anderson, Ms. Williams)

Fort Negley Volunteers Survive Rough Conditions

A handful of MBA boys trudged on down to Fort Negley on March 29th to lend a hand.  Fighting against the weather, they were able to get a lot done and help prepare Fort Negley for its "Fossils at the Fort" day on April 5. Though physically exhausting, the boys dragged rocks with great enthusiasm and big smiles.  The day ended with a nice cup of hot chocolate and a tour of the old fort.  Fort Negley is very thankful for their hard work.

TNFP Needs Continue During Spring Break

"Providing access to healthy foods in 

homeless and working poor communities 

across Davidson County."

A big shout of for those who worked  the truck run on March 15!

Thank you to

William Snow '15

Haynes Young '15

Dr. Fuller

For more information on the "truck run" and other TNFP projects, visit www.thenashvillefoodproject.org.

DR Spring Break Trip Makes an Impact

"In America there is such a focus on what's ahead and planning the steps of your life. The Haitians that we have worked with this week worry about what they are going to eat that day. I think this gives them the ability to be more present in relationships and community because their focus is on today and not tomorrow." 

- John LaFranchise, MBA Class of 2015

This past week, students from MBA and HH spent their spring break week in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  They used their time to reach out to others and ended up bettering themselves.  To read more about their experiences, visit their blog at http://www.alternativesbtrip.blogspot.com/.

MBA Helps Sponsor Richland Creek Run VIII: Volunteers Needed

Saturday, April 5

Contact Ferris Bailey '14 or Dr. Cal Fuller

to volunteer or for more information.

Service Club Happenings THIS WEEK

¡Monday, 3/24

§Paragon Mills (Clark Hooks, Mr. Paolicchi)

¡Thursday, 3/27

§Service Club Meeting at Break – Service Club Office, Lowry

§Preston Taylor Tutoring (Sam Weien, Mr. Womack)

¡Saturday, 3/29

§Ft. Negley (Clay Cavallo, Dr. Bailey)

§Best Buddies Art Saturday (Jackson Hughes, Miss Hollifield)

Glen Leven Work Continues

8 MBA Teams Competed in the Lwala Dodgeball Tournament at HH

Thanks to all of you who participated in the Annual Dodgeball Tournament at Harpeth Hall.  Sara Puryear, secretary on the Service Learning Board at Harpeth Hall in the Upper School, reports, "It was such a success- we raised around $3,000 for our uniform initiative project. We are so grateful to the 8 teams we had from MBA!"  Proceeds benefit the Lwala Alliance Community in Lwala, Kenya. 

Rally Rumble Taking Applications

Who? Bands and singers

What? Music festival

When? April 19

Where? Rocketown

Why? To raise awareness and money for childhood cancer research

How? Email Ms. Williams for an application

Service Club Happenings THIS Week

¡Monday, 2/24

§Paragon Mills Tutoring (Clark Hooks, Mr. Paolicchi)

¡Thursday, 2/27

§Service Club Meeting at Break – Service Club Office, Lowry

§Preston Taylor Tutoring (Fred Harwell, Mr. Womack)

¡Saturday, 3/1

§Loaves & Fishes (Gage Anderson, Dr. Fuller)

Best Buddies Art Saturday Off to a Good Start!

Miss Hollifield's comments say it all:

"9 MBA boys came and Jackson [Hughes] did a great job of leading and helping get things set up Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.  One of my favorite parts of both Art and Sports Saturdays has been seeing how thoughtful our boys can be.  Ensuring that everyone is having a good time seems to be their primary focus. In turn, they have fun/feel good while thinking about someone else."

This is what service at MBA is all about.  Thanks to all who participated for making it a special day.

Best Buddies Shout Out

MBA loves our Buddies, and they love us!  Click here to read the recent article on the Best Buddies Tennessee website.  Opportunities to participate will expand this weekend with the addition of Best Buddies Art Saturdays at MBA, 9:30 - 11:00 am.  Meet in front of the gym.

"The mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities."

Book Drive Thrills East End Prep Kids

A big thanks to Montgomery Bell Academy … for holding a book drive for our scholars.  These hundreds of books will a go a long way in helping us create and build our school library.  Stay tuned this spring for ways you can also help us build our school library.   

Special thanks to Tim Bryant and Chandler Harrington for facilitating …

Best, 
Jim Leckrone
School Leader
East End Preparatory School

Service Events THIS Week!

¡Thursday, 2/20

§Service Club Meeting at Break – Service Club Office, Lowry

§Preston Taylor Tutoring (Fred Harwell, Mr. Womack)

¡Saturday, 2/22

§Best Buddies Art Day (John Wheeler, Miss Hollifield)

Hundreds Attend Best Buddies Prom

Thanks to John Wheeler, Tucker Voges, Drew Davis, Fred Harwell, 

Nick Dreher and Grant Green for sharing in the fun!