Q.E.D.

Special Edition
Atheneum School
15 yr. Anniversary an Independent School for grades 6-12 in Anchorage, Alaska
◊
Spring 2010
Annual Fund

Special Interest:
 Atheneum on the
Historic Iditarod Trail
 What is music?
 Partnering With BP to
install solar panels on top
of office buildings in the
lower 48
 Preparing Students to
Study the Latest Technol-
ogy and the Classic Texts
 Seminars on The Kus-
kokwim and Yukon Rivers
Inside this issue:
Spring Intensive in 2 our state and world today,
Iceland 2009
Guest Lecture
2 (well ahead of our new chem-
Series
Iceland Photo
3 als, two-week intensives, and
Collage
Atheneum, Today’s Renewable Energy School
In 2007, an alumni parent,
Sandy Matthews, provided a
car and the funding for
Atheneum students to convert
the car to fully electric power.
This exciting project became
the foundation for our studies
of all kinds of energy from
local and Native Alaskan vil-
lage resources to worldwide
concerns. Atheneum style
study of all sides and issues
led to controversial ideas
about extractables, renew-
ables, and a 2009 trip to the
leading country in the world to Above: Working on Geodesic dome in The Renewable Energy class
be off of oil, Iceland. With the
are Seiji Takagi, 8th grade and Brooke Poirot, 12th grade. Below: The
converted to fully electric 1968 Datsun Roadster taken for a spin by
immediate relevance and im- Linnaea DeVelice Ward (2007) and Austin Johnson (2009).
portance of this discussion in
independent studies to sup-
port this topic. Last month
Atheneum has incorporated
when an Atheneum parent,
this study into our sciences
Steve Poirot, was asked why a
company interested in install-
istry textbook that claims to
ing solar panels in Louisiana
be green!). We added tutori-
should partner (cont. pg 5)

Atheneum is In- 3
vited to Louisiana Atheneum Extends Educational Program to Village Schools
April 2010
In the summer of 2006, Kevin by several Native villages. What
and Lydia led a group of we didn’t realize at the time was
From the Pens of 3
Atheneum students and alumni that this trip was the beginning
Students
on our first canoe float trip on of a new adventure for the
the Kuskokwim River in the inte- school! The next winter we be-
From Alumni 4 gan a relationship with the Idi-
rior of Alaska. (We had com-
From A Parent 4 pleted two different summer tarod School District whose
float trips from Eagle to Circle headquarters are in McGrath.
Remembering 4 The district includes seven
on The Yukon in past years).
Friend, Bill Fowler schools and 150 students along Students in Nikolai, AK, working on
Putting in at McGrath, we arrived
A Thank You
6 the Kuskokwim and Yukon Riv- their illustrated map of The Iditarod
in Aniak two weeks later. The
ers, spanning some 400 miles. Trail with Lydia Ossorgin (03-10).
trip was full of adventure and the
All seven schools are (cont. pg 5) Nikolai is the first Athabaskan village
experience brought us to pass
checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail.
 Atheneum School
1920 W. Dimond Blvd.
Anchorage, Alaska 99515
tel: 907-344-2533
Fax: 907-349-3975
Email: athenaeum.school@gmail.org
www.atheneum.org
We are forever grateful to Ted Collins of
Alaska and Oregon. Our relationship with Ted
goes back to The Alaska Paideia Project days
when he was a student at Steller Secondary
School. Ted approached us several years ago
with a generous offer to help us build our web
site and to keep us up-to-date with the latest
marketing trends. Thanks from all of us, Ted!
And as always, Happy Trails!
Atheneum’s mission is to provide young people with the opportunity
and means to initiate and develop their own education. Students and faculty dis-
cuss original texts of literature, poetry, music, and history; reenact crucial scien-
tific experiments and mathematical demonstrations; strengthen the integrity of
body and mind; and travel to destinations celebrated for their historical and cul-
tural significance. Every course of study challenges the students and faculty to
consider the principles of their learning and the relevance of these principles to
their lives. In this way the program inspires the practice of not only the intellec-
tual virtues, but also personal and civic responsibility: the lifelong refinement of
community and self.
Our students represent the full spectrum of capabilities and interests, and
at Atheneum they develop these to the fullest. Small classes, individualized study
plans, and a program that instills reading, writing, speaking, listening, and rea-
soning skills, and health of mind and body ensure a complete preparation for
college and a life of continual growth in learning.

Atheneum Lecture Series

In 2007, friend David Hoffman started a lecture series that became a fast
and favorite event among students and staff. The purpose was twofold; to
introduce the school to a variety of community leaders and to introduce stu-
dents to people who were passionate about what they were doing! We have
had wonderful speakers such as mountaineer Charlie Sassara; civic entre-
preneur Eleanor Andrews; author of Fifty Miles From Tomorrow, Willie
Hensley; Alutiq mask carver, Perry Eaton; Dr. Al Wong, a leading UCLA
physicist and many other inspiring speakers. This year we have been very
fortunate to welcome parent Mrs. Dianna Jensen who prepared a wonderful
organic raw foods meal for all of us to enjoy; Poet Gary Holthaus introduced
fellow writer Nancy Lord who spoke to us about writing; alumnus /
businessman Chris Miller who talked to us about development and recruit-
Top (Left): Parent, Mrs. Diana Jensen; Author Nancy Lord;
ment; Alumnus/Entrepreneur/Adventurer Austin Johnson who talked to us
David Hoffman (rt). Bottom (Right): Alumni/Businessman,
about his incredible trip to Sweden to meet and speak with people in cutting
Chris Miller who holds a photo of himself as an Atheneum
edge development in the Renewable Energy field; and Cal Williams, an Afri-
student; Poet, Gary Holthaus; Alumni/, Austin Johnson; Afri-
can American community activist who talked to us about his early and more can American Leader, Cal Williams.
recent experiences in the civil rights movement.

Atheneum Travels to Iceland to Study Renewable Energy March 2009

Another superhero Atheneum his guidance, we decided to rent

parent, Meade Treadwell,
paved the way for us to visit Ice-
land last year. He arranged for us
to meet Iceland’s President when
he was here in Anchorage speak-
ing at the World Affairs Council.
After his speech, President
Grimsson met with a group of
Atheneum students about the
possibilities of geothermal power
here in Anchorage. He also in-
vited us to visit him at his resi-
dence if we would come to his
country to see the geothermal
power in use there. We were very
excited as we learned more about
Iceland. Meade loaned us books
on the Viking Sagas, helped ar-
range travel, and met with in-
spired parents and students. With
a van and small car to take 13
students all over the country on
our own. We were so graciously
accepted everywhere we went!
We went from huge green-
houses to hydrogen fueling sta-
tions, from geothermal plants to
the Blue Lagoon, a resort heal-
ing spa in the ―tailings‖ of a
geothermal power plant. We
traveled from large , affluent,
futuristic cities out to small re-
mote fishing villages along gla- Atheneum students with President Grimsson
at his residence in Reykjavík, March 2009.
cial coastlines. When we visited
President Grimsson at his resi-
dence, we were shocked to find budget. They pride themselves on going from a largely oil
that there was no security , we dependent country 40 years ago to a nearly self sufficient,
just went up to his house and peaceful, sustainable country now. Iceland provided many
knocked on the door! This coun- such remarkable advances and visions for Atheneum stu-
try has no military or military dents to seminar late into the evenings.
 Photo Collage from our trip to Iceland. Students who participated in the Atheneum to Iceland Intensive: WenYin Metcalf, Seiji Takagi, Savannah
Echols, Chris Cullinane, Keenan Troll, Nicholas DeMolina, Brooke Poirot, Timothy Treadwell, Austin Johnson, Janelle Coy, Stephen Burgoyne, and Siena
Jensen and Katrina Burgoyne (alumna). Teachers and Atheneum founders, Kevin Holthaus and Lydia Ossorgin led this trip.
Atheneum Invited to BP in
Louisiana
Steve Poirot, activist Atheneum parent, has
organized our next energy project for an
intensive this spring. BP leases a large
building in Louisiana on top of which they
plan to install solar panels. When Steve told
them about Atheneum’s renewable energy
programs, they were excited to involve the
school in their installation. We will help
determine the financial benefits and costs,
measure the energy potential, brainstorm
about possible uses of excess electricity,
and write proposals for grants. Lead stu-
dents will be flown down to do studies on
site as well. We are excited to provide an-
other hands on, real world project of such
magnitude for the students!
From the Pens of Students
Rain, sleet, snow and wind sums up our trip to
Iceland. Throw in a volcano, nice people, and a
long van ride and you’ve hit the nail on the
head. Between all of this though it was an
experience that will live on in our lives to be-
come lasting memories. The sights were
We Need Your Support!
In these difficult economic times, all
of our independent schools are
struggling. Many people are not
looking for options, or are not aware
of Atheneum’s financial assistance
program. Our best marketing is
always your “word of mouth” and it is
more important than ever this year.
Our enrollment is below survival
without your financial donations.
Please spread the word and give to
help us build up our numbers and
continue providing amazing
educational opportunities for
enthusiastic students!
unique on that island smaller than Texas, as
were the sounds. You can look out the window
and see farm houses and waterfalls, the sea
crashing and energy plants. When you open
the window though it is a whole new world. As
you kink your neck hoping to identify the birds
flying above you, just listen for their cry and
you can call them as the Icelanders do. Iceland
is a paradise for photographers and outdoors-
men…if you have the right gear. You could be
on top of a mountain swimming in a hot river
under a bright blue sky, only for it to hail and
snow ten minutes later- quite an experience.
You need the right lens if you want to shoot
far, and you need some water protection for
your camera. Gear is crucial in the land of
snow and ice.
We are Alaskans though and we toughed it out.
(Sure we lost some stuff here and there, we
made it back in one piece!) At the end of the
trip some lived by the slogan on a hat at the
tourist trap, ―Iceland, been there done that!‖
Some may think this while others hope to re-
turn. Whatever the final idea about this trip is,
I believe that we can all come together to say
we had a great trip, made new friends, and
discovered a self sustaining paradise.
-Timothy Treadwell, Class of 2009
 From Alumni

Jenny Minor (Class of 2002): I credit my years at Atheneum

for encouraging precisely this sort of enthusiasm about this depth
of study — the teachers, other students, community, trips, Great
Learning, and of course the texts themselves — all set the stage
for the kinds of observation, awareness, and questioning that are
so integral a part of healing, learning, and life itself. (Hmm, I just
noticed that I have the same Latin dictionary on my desk that I got
for my first quarter in 6th grade… and have many more intimate
book-friends dating to Atheneum days on my shelf!)

The farther I go in my education, the happier I am to have been at

Atheneum and the luckier I realize I am to have had such an op-
portunity at that age; it has truly deepened every aspect of my
higher education and my very way of living and engaging with the
world — in interactions with other people, ideas, cultures, prac-
tices, and my own sense of self.
Photos (left to right) Middle school students with pendulum experiment.
Finished constructing the geodesic dome are Austin Johnson and Jacob
Surber (2009). Below is Atheneum’s 10th class of seniors, the Class of
2009: Austin Johnson, Ali Bowles, Jakob Surber (from Switzerland), Janelle
Coy, Tim Treadwell and Stephen Burgoyne.

Marie Craig (Class of 2000) writes: Atheneum School sent

me into a future that was more than I bargained for. After my
graduation from the program in 2000, I found myself learning
Greek in Crete, studying the Great Books at St. John’s College
in Santa Fe, teaching literature and math at a Quaker Boarding
School in Ohio, and teaching subjects that range from Keats to
Compost Piles in Uganda. I learned at Atheneum that I could
succeed in many fields, as the faculty excited me equally about
the study of novels and the dissection of a pig. I insisted to my
math teacher that I could never do calculus, and he showed me
that I was wrong. This led me to risk foolishness on many occa-
sions, whether that meant opening a Crepe Stand for a summer
job or traveling to Uganda to teach students my age. Atheneum
taught me the strength of my own voice. When I spoke out in Remembering Our Friend, William Dix Fowler
class, teachers and fellow students responded with care and
interest. My teachers often encouraged me to write down my
thoughts, a practice I maintain to this day. I felt trusted to When Tim Treadwell gave his graduation speech last May, he reminded
probe an issue or question with depth and care, and so I us all that he came to Atheneum School in the first place because of Bill
learned to trust myself. Fowler. Bill knew his dad and Bill knew us. Bill was a people gatherer ,
always looking to bring people together for something great to happen.
At such a gathering, Kevin and I met Bill and his wife, Toni, seven years
The largest gift Atheneum gave me was a love of learning. I ago and that is when Atheneum School became Bill’s personal mission in
approach my life with eagerness even in tough times, because I the last years of his life. He took time to help us develop a future plan,
know I have the opportunity to learn something new. I see chal- tutored us on the fine art of networking (Bill Fowler style), and he and
lenges as opportunities to understand life a little more. I can Toni were behind us on every level– the first to contribute and the last to
learn in or outside of the classroom. Atheneum has not made leave a function. Bill loved to ask our students questions about how they
my life easier, for it forced me to examine my decisions and my were thinking and he delighted in their responses. ―You know what
life. It has, however, made my life better. Wherever my life Atheneum is?‖ he asked me after being a guest lecturer talking about the
takes me, I will never forget my first true educational experi- building of the Alaskan Pipeline. ―It is a leadership school. They can take
ence at Atheneum Classics School. the lead in anything they want. These kids are so creative in their think-
ing. How do they think like that?‖ Then he laughed and I thought to my-
self that taking that creative lead in just about anything was what Bill did
From A Parent all of his life. We are influenced by him daily and I miss him. –L. Ossorgin

Steve Poirot sent an email to us early this winter: Brooke We are grateful to Bill’s wife, Toni and their children and their families for
and I just had dinner with Michael Barber (Class of 2000) and requesting donations be made to Atheneum School in lieu of flowers.
Sifu Zhou (founder of Atheneum’s Great Learning Program). Many of Bill and Toni’s friends responded. To honor Bill, Northern Air
Michael got to talking with Brooke about Atheneum (a long con- Cargo established The William Dix Fowler Memorial Scholarship shortly
versation, needless to say), and Brooke said something like, after his death in the summer of 2008. The scholarship recipient for the
"I'm always finding that everything that we're learning in one 2008-2009 school year was Nicholas DeMolina. The recipient this year
class is closely connected to all the things we're learning in our was Clyde Hoffman (below right). We are most grateful to NAC.
other classes... it's so amazing! I often catch myself wondering
if it's just me, but then I think about it and realize that these
things really ARE connected." I commented that to create a
program that leads to such realizations would require a combi-
nation of artistry and genius, and that probably not one in a
thousand schools have programs that would cause students to
say what she had just said. Everyone strongly agreed.

Photo (Right) 2007 Atheneum friend and advisor, Bill Fowler, with
students Sandra Amoak (from Ghana) and Tim Treadwell. This was
(Above) Clyde Hoffman, 11th,
one of many occasions Bill visited students to talk about their educa-
Napaimute, AK and Johnnie
tion, their dreams, entrepreneurship and making good things happen
Chung 11th, Taipei ,Taiwan
in the world. “Nothing is impossible if your best thinking is behind it.” Photo by Nick DeMolina, 12th.
(Cont. from pg. 1 Renewable Energy reach to remote village schools. Further-
School) more, our outreach has included our stu-
dents and parents. Austin Johnson and
with a high school way up in Alaska, Steve
Tim Treadwell flew out to Takotna for
merely challenged them to find another
the last two years to help villagers run the
school closer that had such a renewable
checkpoint during Iditarod. Takotna is a
energy program! They are very excited
favorite spot on the trail for mushers to
and we will have an Intensive at the end
take their mandatory 24 hr. layover. Re-
of the month to help in all phases of in-
cently, Takotna needed more hands to 1.
stalling the solar panels. We will provide
make it work. Austin and Tim made quite
our students with the hands on project
the impression. Last year, Heather John-
involving economic considerations, accu-
son, Austin’s mother went to volunteer!
rately measuring the energy, mechanics of
installation, and possibilities for uses of
extra electric power.

Since 2007, Atheneum students have

“Music is sound in the
periodically participated and presented in
the Arctic Energy Summit, the Bioneers air with rhythm and
Conferences, a graduate class at U.A.A., emotion echoing through
local Native conferences on energy, the
summer energy fair, local news stations
lots of worlds even all the
and others. way to Nikolai.”
Atheneum School is flexible and in con- -Miska Alexia 2.
stant dialogue with students, parents, and
From a seminar discussion in Nikolai, AK
the concerns of our society and its future;
therefore we have been able to provide
these kinds of exciting ―cutting edge‖ pro-
grams for our students as well as influ- Photos from Top Left 1.Puppets and
ence our community. At the same time, theater made by Atheneum stu-
what allows us to think ―outside the box―, dents for an original Native Alaskan
challenge contemporary assumptions, and tale. 2. Greg Tony of the village of
become better able to speak, write, and Nikolai working on illustrated map
be rigorous in our discussions, is all due project of the Iditarod Trail.
to our study of philosophy and the clas- 3. Students in Grayling arranging
sics! These are the great minds through- composition for a project they titled
out history that challenged their contem- “The Community Caring Quilt.”
poraries and continue to speak in most 4. Katie, webbing the village sea-
sons. 5. Miska Alexia with his buddy
3.
powerful ways to our students at
Kevin. 6. Music class at Top of The
Atheneum School.
Kuskokwim School. Phil Runkle (rt)
has since moved to Anchorage with
his family and is in 9th grade at
(cont. from pg.1 Atheneum Program Atheneum. 7. Lydia at below –50 in
in Village Schools) Takotna. 8. Tim Treadwell,
Atheneum student/ volunteer dog
on the Iditarod Trail (southern route, run
handler in the village of Takotna at
on even years) and off the road system.
their checkpoint for The Iditarod–
The villages are accessible by boat in the 4. 5.
The Last Great Race!
summer and plane in the winter. The next
summer, the faculty was invited to partici-
pate in teaching music and art at a week-
long Fine Arts Camp in McGrath for middle
school students from all the district vil-
lages. Since then, faculty and interns,
Elijah Ferbrache, Will Hoelscher and
Kyra Rice have ventured out to village
schools bringing Socratic seminars, art
and music classes. It has been a mutually
6.
beneficial partnership! Lydia and Kevin
have led professional development work-
shops both on site and through wideband
video tele-conferencing made possible by
parent Brad Spees, GCI Vice-president of
Marketing. By installing state of the art
VTC equipment and cables, GCI contin-
ues to support our vision of extending
our educational program through out- 8. 7.
 To our Friends, Students,
Parents, Alumni and Staff:
We are celebrating
the 15th Anniversary
of
Atheneum School!
We could not have done it
without you.
Thank you for your
involvement, inspiration
support and friendship
throughout the years!
Best Wishes to each,
Lydia Ossorgin and
Kevin Holthaus
Co-founders