Ross School News: Tribute to Hal McKusick, Grade 7 Rome Unit Highlights, Student Art

Farewell: Hal McKusick, 1924-2012
Hal McKusick, Ross School’s beloved jazz teacher, passed away last week after a prolonged illness. He was 87 years old. This world-renowned composer and performer was also a talented craftsman and dedicated teacher. He was a kind and generous man and an important member of the School and surrounding community. Hal will be remembered and missed by many. 

Caesar and Gnocchi: Grade 7 Completes Rome Unit
Ross School seventh graders recently completed their Rome unit with a lesson on how to make gnocchi and a performance of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. In the Rome unit, students examined how and why empires expand and collapse. They learned about Julius Caesar and the motivations and consequences of his assassination, and they researched many aspects of ancient Roman society, including art, architecture, social and political structure and cuisine.

Performing Arts teacher Gerard Doyle and English teacher Carol Crane helped the students with their dramatis personae, which were rehearsed over several weeks. The students studied how their characters might have dressed and were asked to use ingenuity to create costumes. “They did a great job!” said Carol. The performance integrated English, cultural history and performing arts.

This classic tragedy portrays the conspiracy against Roman dictator Julius Caesar, his assassination and its aftermath. Caesar ignores a warning from a soothsayer to “Beware the Ides of March,” as well as pleas from his wife, Calpurnia, for him to abandon plans to speak to the Senate after a prophetic dream. Ultimately, his arrogance is his fatal flaw, as conspirators assassinate him at the Capitol that day. The student production included scenes depicting Brutus and Cassius plotting to kill Caesar; Calpurnia begging her husband to stay home; the actual murder of this titan; and the ghost of Caesar warning Brutus of his fate.

In addition to the performance, the students learned firsthand how to make homemade gnocchi with expert Café Chef Franco. Afterwards, each student received a bowl of fresh, hot gnocchi dressed in either melted butter or fresh pesto. The entire Ross community also enjoyed a special Rome-inspired meal for lunch. The Café served panzanella salad with olives and cucumbers, pickled beets, watercress and date salad, roast chicken, gnocchi with butter and sage, and tofu with red wine honey vinaigrette.

Another highlight of the unit is a trip to New York City to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In preparation, each student researched a specific artifact and presented their findings to the class. Once at the museum, they were excited to locate and examine the artifacts in person.

Medieval Times: Exposition of Student Art
The Eighth Grade Medieval Exposition was held on March 28 outside the Ross Café. Projects and performances were related to the student’s Guild Projects, where they worked with “Master” artisans in mosaics, gilding, stained glass and ceramics. Other work related to their Medieval unit was also on display including maps, paintings, models of castles, Viking shields and family crests.

-- Carey London