Tuscany photos

Below are a few pictures of our major class groups. Enjoy! 

Damen's creative writing class is all smiles as they gather around for a group shot! 

 

Lizz's travel photo class teamed up with Lutz's architecture class for a day of architecture photography and art education in Sienna.

Jessica's international relations class learned about how a government runs by appointing officials to help run the class so students could understand about leadership firsthand. 

JP's travel photo class captured the sights of Sienna with their cameras, creating some truly breathtaking images. 

Erika's survival italian class used their language skills to write postcards and order lunch in Sienna, demonstrating how their hard work is paying off! 

Buon Giorno Italia!

The Putney Excel group stopped over for a whirlwind trip to Paris en route to Tuscany this past week. After packing up and saying “au revoir” to St. Hilda’s and Oxford, the group loaded up their luggage and hopped through the Chunnel to Paris. That evening, students and staff took a leisurely boat ride down the Seine followed by crepes and bed at the Hostel Fourcy to prepare for a busy three days.

Putney's time in Paris included small group trips to many Paris attractions including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Napoleon’s Tomb, the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, and the Musee d’Orsay. Evenings included dinner at traditional French restaurants, a palate-broadening experience for many, concerts in funky French cafes, a carnival, and plenty of “crepes avec nutella e banane.”

After what seemed like no time at all, the whole crew grabbed one last baguette, croissant, or pain au chocolate and settled in for an overnight train ride to Italy. The group awoke in Tuscany just in time to look out the windows and ooh and aah over the lush scenery and vibrant architecture before arriving at the station in Florence.

After unpacking and settling into our rooms, the Villa welcomed us with a sumptuous midday meal.  Once the whole crew was thoroughly stuffed with pasta, fresh fruit, salad and crusty bread, classes took off for an orientation tour of Florence. Students learned the basic streets, how to get to the Duomo, and of course where to get the best gelato in town.

 Now that everyone had seen their new surroundings for the next two weeks and were properly hot and exhausted, everyone trooped back to the villa for another delicious meal and some relaxation time before bed.

The next and final leg of the Excel Oxford/Tuscany promises to be full of excitement: beach excursions, day trips to surrounding areas, games on the lawn and plenty of education in art, architecture, history, photography, journalism and international relations. Stay tuned for the adventures ahead. Buon giorno tutti! 

Putney Displays Special Passions at Oxford

Students and staff branched out from their usual class schedule on Sunday to explore other avenues during Putney Excel’s Special Passion Day. This break from the ordinary allowed students and teachers alike to check out another area of expertise and sample the talents of their friends and colleagues.

One group of athletically-inclined students took to the field for British Sports Day in which they played croquet, football (the World Cup version, not American), ran a mile to test their endurance, and learned about traditional British sports like cricket. The day ended with a tense Wimbledon watching session so the students could rest up before the evening’s festivities.

Another crew explored the wonderful world of music through “Sound Painting” an intricate marriage of sign language, vocalization, singing, and acting. The students spent all day learning some of the thousands of signs used by the Sound Painting conductor and prepared a breathtaking presentation for the evening’s Coffeehouse talent show.

Music fans who craved a more historical approach learned about British music and its roots, influences on American music, and origins of favourite bands with British Music Day. Beatles-lovers faced off against Rolling Stones fanatics, Blur followers took on Oasisheads, and everyone heard British music samples before conducting polls in Oxford music stores about current favourites. The day ended with a tour of Radiohead’s stomping grounds, an Oxford original that became a worldwide phenomenon.

For the more aesthetically-inclined, students could choose to participate in Putney’s own “Project Putney,” a fashion-centered day modelled after the popular show, “Project Runway.” Students met in the morning to learn about British fashion through the ages and discuss the socioeconomic factors that influenced what people wear, and how that continues today. After taking to the streets to observe British fashion in Oxford’s town center, participants paired off to shop for materials to create their own British fashion looks which they presented at Coffeehouse that evening.

Last but not least, some creative types spent the day writing letters and decorating envelopes to send to friends and family at home. Using paints, watercolors, glitter and other art supplies, students revived the art of letter writing and sewed their creations shut by hand with a lot of work and not a little love, creating a unique communication keepsake.

After a full day of unique learning experiences, students went out to dinner for the second and last Oxford dinner out, before the program’s first Coffeehouse talent exposition. All of Putney discovered the astonishing talent of all participants as the Sound Painters showcased their new skills, Project Putney participants strutted their stuff, and various staff and students read poetry, did magic tricks and contortionism, delivered monologues and sang karaoke to the delight of their eager audience.

One thing is for certain: no one gets bored with Putney Excel. From punting on the Thames to exploring the local shops and restaurants, to London excursions, Cotswolds adventures, theatre, music, and just lying on the lawn enjoying each other’s company, Putney participants squeeze excitement into every single second.

Putney Discovers the Cotswolds

The Putney Excel clan took a break from classes yesterday and headed off to the English Cotswolds countryside for some outdoor adventure and relaxation. Part of the group took a trip to Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill and home of the present Duke of Marlborough. This contingent spent a lazy day at the largest private residence in England, where they wiled away the hours drinking in the breathtaking rolling parklands, wandering through the largest hedge maze in Europe, and enjoying tea and scones in the garden. Those who chose to spend the day lazing around this gorgeous residence returned refreshed and ready for classes on Thursday.

Another group of students ventured off into the woodlands on a hiking quest for the Holy Grail of the Cotswolds, braving sheep, streams and other stimulating sights for a glimpse of a hidden Roman mosaic from the 1^st century AD. Students came home from their hike with tired feet and a keen sense of accomplishment, and surely slept well Wednesday night.

Finally, a third contingent took a “Tour de Cotswolds” bike trip, a nineteen-mile expedition through the rolling hills, lush meadows, and quaint villages of the region. The climbs were steep, the sun was sweltering, but the panoramic vistas at the top provided ample reward for their efforts. After recharging in a charming park for sandwiches, salad and a siesta, the whole group agreed the trip had been well worth the exertion.

Students returned to campus Thursday evening for a dinner out with staff members, partaking in traditional fish and chips, pizza, Portugese, Indian, or noodles, allowing time for sharing stories and comparing notes on the day. If the animated chatter over rapidly-emptying plates provided any indication, a good time was had by all on the Putney Cotswolds excursion.

Excel Oxford/Tuscany Arrives at Oxford!

The Putney Excel Oxford/Tuscany program got off to a fantastic start today as students began rolling in to St. Hilda's College at Oxford early this afternoon. The bright sunshine and warm weather came as a pleasant surprise to anyone who had heard rumors about England's rainy summers! After a flurry of check-ins, snacks on the lawn and greetings from staff and new friends, students got settled into their rooms and ready for an exciting first day.

Once everyone got settled, staff members led students into town for a brief tour of Oxford and a “spot of lunch” at some of our favorite haunts. The day’s planned activities included games and exercises to get to know each other, as well as a rousing welcome and explanation of the program by our director, Tom Kane.

Putney’s own improvisation invention, “Jet-lag Theatre” got everyone up and moving, showcasing the talents of our budding stars and some of the best off-the-cuff comedy we’ve seen in awhile! Groups departed for tea and ice cream afterward to experience some of the best culinary traditions England has to offer. When we reconvened, the staff introduced ourselves to the students, giving everyone a little insight into what we’re all about, and talked over tomorrow’s plans and future excursions. After dinner in the St. Hilda’s Dining Hall, we met again for rules and regulations before splitting off into our dormitory groups for a bedtime snack, small group chatting, and an early and welcome bedtime.

Arrival Day at St. Hilda’s got off to a smooth start. If the laughter ringing across the lawn, exuberant conversations sparked by students and staff alike, and anticipatory faces at the activities and adventures ahead, Excel Oxford/Tuscany 2009 is gearing up for a fabulous summer.

Meet the Excel Oxford/Tuscany Staff

Susannah Grossman (Archeology and Classical Studies): University of Pennsylvania, B. A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, History of Art and English, minor in Classical Studies. Her senior thesis, which examined the changing role of Brutalist architecture in contemporary British architectural history, qualified her to receive honors with distinction in her major. She currently teaches Archaeology, English and History at the Archer School for Girls, a private middle and high school in Los Angeles. She has tutored middle school students in language arts and writing, and served as a teaching assistant for a variety of art and architectural history courses. This is her first summer with Putney Excel.

Tom Kane (Director): Northwestern University, B.S.; American Conservatory Theater, M.F.A. Tom is an educator and theatre professional with extensive educational leadership experience. For over twenty years he has worked with teenage actors at the Storm King School in New York, the American Conservatory Theater and the Hamlin School in San Francisco, Camp Laurel in Maine, and the Middlesex School in Concord, Massachusetts. Tom has been directing the Oxford/Tuscany program since 2000; previously he co-directed the theater program at Excel at Williams. Tom is currently the Head of the Theater Department at the Middlesex School where he lives with his wife, Samantha, and daughter, Zoe. This will be his thirteenth summer with Excel.

JP Obley (Drawing and Painting, Travel Photography): California College of the Arts, B.F.A. JP lives in Portland, OR where he teaches digital photography and digital printing at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. He has exhibited his photographs nationally and internationally. His next show will be in June 2009 at the Manifesto Gallery in Oakland, CA. JP came to education via commercial photography and a brief stint at the internationally circulated Transworld SNOWboarding Magazine. Currently, he is helping to design a new educational curriculum incorporating technology and the arts at P.N.C.A. with a plan toimplement it in the 2010/2011 school year. In his spare time JP enjoys riding bikes, snowboarding and, of course, being in the studio.

Lutz Robbers (Art through the Ages, Architecture through the Ages): Universitat Bonn, B.A.; Freie Universitat Berlin, M.A.; Princeton University, Ph.D. candidate. Lutz is currently pursuing his doctorate in Architecture at Princeton, where he has been a teaching fellow instructing Princeton undergraduates in architectural theory and history. A citizen of Germany, Lutz is fluent in German, French, and English. He has worked for the Red Cross and Mercedes-Benz in Delmenhorst, Germany, and as an assistant to the editorial staff of several German radio and television companies. He was the founding coordinator of Studentenwerk Bonn, a student housing organization. Lutz enjoys soccer, basketball, running, and windsurfing. A resident of Paris, he worked at the “Cité de l’architecture et de la patrimoine”, France’s national museum of architecture, and at the German Forum of Art History. He is currently teaching for Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Paris. This will be Lutz’s eleventh summer with Excel.

Damen Scranton (Creative Writing, Print Media): University of California at San Diego, B.A. in Theatre/Creative Writing, and M.F.A. in Acting. Damen was one of two U.S. recipients of a Princess Grace Award for Acting in 1996. Since 1997, Damen has worked as an actor, playwright and teacher for the Irondale Ensemble Project - an improvisation-based, political theatre company in its 25th season in NYC (www.irondale.org). As an actor, he has also performed at the Lincoln Center Theater in NYC, the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, and the Granary and Firken Crane Theatres in Cork, the Republic of Ireland, among others. As a playwright, Damen has had four plays produced in the U.S., Ireland, and Northern Ireland. He has taught courses in Shakespeare, acting and creative writing at the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, UC San Diego, Manhattanville College, Marymount College in Manhattan, numerous NYC public high schools, and the Port Stewart Community Center in Port Stewart, Northern Ireland. He has also worked as a sportswriter for the Pasadena Star-News (circulation 45,000) and is a self-diagnosed international and political news junkie. This is Damen's seventh summer with Excel Oxford/Tuscany.

Elizabeth (Lizz) Schumer (RA, Travel Photography): B.A., St. Bonaventure University. Lizz graduated last December with a B.A. in journalism/mass communications and a minor in theatre. After studying Shakespeare at Somerville College at Oxford the summer after her freshman year and exploring black and white 35mm photography, history of Italian cinema, Franciscan philosophy, and Italian language at the Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy the spring of her sophomore year, Lizz decided the near-fatal bite she received from the travel bug will probably never fully heal. As former vice president of the Alpha Psi Omega theatre fraternity at St. Bonaventure, Lizz adores theatre in all its incarnations and currently works as Communications Director for the Subversive Theatre Collective. She also works as a freelance reporter and photographer for Buffalo.com and Auxiliary Magazine, does public relations work for Buffalo State College, and blogs compulsively.

Jesica Thavarajah (International Relations, History of World War II): Florida International University, B.A. International Relations magna cum laude and certificates in National Security Studies and Law, Ethics, and Society,. American University, M.A., International Peace and Conflict Resolution. European history has always been one of Jesica’s great passions, which is what led her to focus her degree on Europe and the European Union. She volunteered at a refugee camp in Slovakia as it entered the European Union and was able to see first hand the impact of the European Union on its member countries. Jesica began traveling internationally when she was two and has traveled all over the world including extensive travel in Western Europe, Sri Lanka, Australia, and Hungary. Jesica’s personal interests in music and art have led her to be a radio DJ and to curate an exhibition of Miami artists. This is Jesica’s second summer with Putney. She led the Cultural Exploration program in Switzerland, Italy, France, and Holland in 2008.

Welcome!

In order to keep parents updated on the progress of their child's Excel program, from time to time over the course of the program, the Excel staff will post an update on this blog. We hope that the occasional updates will keep you informed about the activities, projects and successes of the summer, as well as comfort the usual worries in sending a son or daughter to a far-away place.

You should expect the Excel staff to post blogs no more than once per week during the program. Please know that any important issues on the program will be discussed and resolved with leaders and parents by phone, not through the blog.

We suggest that you subscribe to the blog during your first visit so that you will receive e-mail notifications at the end of the day whenever a new update is posted. To subscribe, enter your email address under 'Subscribe via e-mail' on the right-hand column of the blog.

Enjoy!