{"id":64581,"date":"2023-01-02T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/?p=64581"},"modified":"2022-12-15T13:15:42","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T18:15:42","slug":"creating-a-culture-of-character","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/creating-a-culture-of-character\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a Culture of Character"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Growing up in Freeport, Ellie Bouman, 15, has only known the joys of living in Vacationland, so when she was exposed to environments that were intensely suffering the effects of climate change, she instantly became invested in climate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeeing the deterioration of the coral in the Caribbean just in the four years between visiting was enough to make anyone want to act,\u201d the North Yarmouth Academy sophomore said. \u201cIt was shocking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturally, Bouman was eager to participate when she heard about the Portland Museum of Art\u2019s new Tidal Shift Award, a prize for New England-based artists between the ages of 14\u201322 to create art to inspire climate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deeply inspired and feeling supported by Colby Myer, NYA\u2019s Upper School Art Teacher, who first presented the Tidal Shift Award opportunity to his students, Bouman devoted all of her art class and personal time to complete \u201cThe Colorless Sea.\u201d Her hard work paid off in the spring, as she was the youngest of six winners to receive the award, including a cash prize of $2,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly important, any time there is motivation beyond just the grade, to show students there is space for their art amongst the world,\u201d said Myer, who advised Bouman on her submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NYA has a long, cutting-edge history of nurturing the whole individual beyond just their academics. From the toddler to the postgraduate program, students\u2019 schedules (as well as their extracurricular activities) include time for performing and visual arts, and service-forward activities, as a way of emphasizing social-emotional development among their students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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New this year is the school\u2019s Character and Community program, headed by Betsy Tomlinson. Through service, leadership and volunteer initiatives, the Character and Community program encourages students to be thoughtful and effective members of their community and make positive change in their lives, formalizing a part of students\u2019 education that is vital but often over-looked in many schools\u2019 curricula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program comes from a unique differentiator of the independent day school: its size. From their days in the lower school to their graduation, students at NYA get to know the entire student body as well as faculty and staff, creating a successful environment for academic and personal growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a culture of good character at NYA, mainly because there\u2019s no place for unkindness or disrespect to hide,\u201d Tomlinson said. \u201cBecause of this culture, students can feel comfortable to find the best version of themselves because they have the support of their teachers and peers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NYA\u2019s culture is why initiatives like the Tidal Shift Award and other community engagement and mission-driven additions to their academics are second nature to teachers like Myer and students like Bouman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe make art not just for ourselves but to enrich the lives of other people; it\u2019s entirely organic to me to incorporate community involvement into what I\u2019m teaching,\u201d Myer said. \u201cTrying to make a change is inherent in making art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more at nya.org.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t

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