Stay Connected
Alumni, we would love to hear what you’re up to!
Reconnect with Unquowa!
Our alumni are an integral part of the Unquowa community and we are eager to stay connected. Alums are welcome back anytime – stop by for a visit or join us for lunch! We also love hearing alumni news, so send us a photo and let us know what you’re up to and we will share your updates here.
The Nations Game!
Posted by Eric Snow
Coming back from Winter Break is always difficult. It can take students (and teachers!) some time to ramp back up to the rigors of academic life after two weeks.
That’s why, in seventh grade, the Humanities team chose a game to kick off the new year!
But not just any game… a geopolitical game of intrigue and trade!
“Nations: A Simulation Game in International Politics” (shortened to the “Nations Game” in class).
A bit like a fantasy version of Model United Nations, the Nations Game presents students with a fictional continent full of countries that have tenuous relationships with one another. Some countries are highly religious, others have superior military strength, and yet others have plenteous natural resources. Students are assigned as heads of state, diplomats, and journalists of a particular country, and throughout the two weeks that the game runs, are required to trade, make treaties, establish alliances, complete secret missions, and acquire resources from other countries. Making war between nations is disincentivized (though occasionally still happens) as students are encouraged to use diplomacy to solve international problems.
And then we just kind of… let them go!
We had trade meetings, military alliances, false accusations, and terrifying brinkmanship – just about everything that happens in the real world! In addition, students created political maps of their countries, national anthems, and wrote news articles to promote their fictional country’s agendas. (Some might have included some propaganda and misinformation, but that’s how these things work!)
After completing the game, students reported that they understood how diplomacy in the modern world works and decided that working other nations is more effective than trying to accomplish goals on their own.
It was an incredibly energetic and vibrant start to the new year, and a fun one at that!
Alums on the Ukulele
Posted by David Coe
One of the highlights of Winterfest each year is seeing our Alumni return to enjoy the performance and participate in the traditional dances. A few of our 2019 graduates visited the instrumental classroom after the show to play “Ode To Joy” on the ukulele one more time!
Sharing Experiences and Culture
Posted by Debbie Leidlein
’08 graduate Conner O’Brien recently visited Unquowa to share with the 7th and 8th grade students his experiences in the Peace Corps, living in Ukraine for the past two years. Conner had the students’ rapt attention as he shared with them aspects of Ukraine’s culture and physical landscape. As Conner served as an English teacher in a Ukrainian school, he was able to help our students compare their educational experiences with their counterparts. Additionally, Conner shared pictures of Ukrainian food, housing and transportation. He also talked about cost of living and how it compared with the United States. Connor also spoke to the students about the Peace Corps, explaining what they do and how individuals volunteer for this unique international opportunity. After answering a barrage of questions, the students invited Conner to come back and have lunch with them, an invitation he promptly accepted. Who knows? Maybe one day another Unquowa student may decide that they would enjoy this same opportunity of sharing American culture with the world.
Winterfest Past: A Look Back
Posted by Lloyd Mitchell
Venture back through past Winter Festivals! What an awesome tradition!
Founders’ Day
Posted by Karen Williamson
We probably say this every year, but this year’s Founders’ Day felt like the best ever! Maybe it was because the weather cooperated at the last minute, or maybe because we were so happy to see so many alumni. Whatever the reason, it was a lovely day to bring the community together to celebrate the fall season and the founding of our school.
As always, our eighth graders kept younger students busy with activities, such as face painting and cupcake decorating and the ever-popular bounce house. They also made cotton candy and popcorn and sponsored a bake sale. The funds raised will be used for their spring trip to Woodloch in the poconos. Unquowa parent volunteers set up a display of Gator Goods that were available for purchase. Our chefs truly outdid themselves with the farm-to-fork barbeque and the band, Siren, kept the party rocking with great music all afternoon.
Will Hansen ’17
Posted by Lloyd Mitchell
Members of the Unquowa Soccer Team traveled to Fairfield Prep to watch Will Hansen ’17 and the Fairfield Prep Varsity soccer team battle West Haven High at Rafferty Stadium. It was great for our team players to see an alum continuing his soccer career in high school. Fairfield Prep came out on top and we even got to see Will make some great saves!
