My English teacher, Mr. Molloy, asks us all each day how we are doing. “Miss Weiman?” he prompts. I smile and say, “That’s a loaded question. How are you doing?” That response has been practically unanimous at this time of the year among Moravian Academy students. Through lecture, tests, and class discussion, we have all become so easily dazed by the vivid leaves dancing past the wobbly glass windows. Despite our sleepy fascination with the world outside the classroom, we students seem to have entered a high-intensity stint in our academic workout. Feverishly writing down every word and remembering, and answering, and testing, and applying - the whole of the autumn is a dizzying exercise, and yet we always seem to pull it off.

Recently, we have taken several opportunities to “play hard” as our proverbial “work hard” would merit. Brazilian Cultural Night, hosted by the Academy’s International Club was a very popular event. Ethnic food, a drum circle, and dancing were only a few of the highlights of this event that brought so many in to celebrate a culture shared by many students and families within our community.

Oct. 26 to 30 was our annual Spirit Week. This year’s themes were: ’Murica Monday, Twin Tuesday, Walt Disney Wednesday, Tropical Thursday, and as always, Freaky Friday. Oct. 30, we all wore our Halloween costumes to school and competed in a rousing costume contest in assembly. The first place winner this year, Cooper Bennett, grade 9, dressed as Napoleon Dynamite. He won the crowd with his spot-on character impression and dance.

We had a successful fall sports season and are sorry to see it end. The maccabees of the Lehigh Valley dominated their opponents in field hockey and golf. Small but mighty, we gave our bigger and some would say more skilled opponents a run for their money. In field hockey, Moravian Academy defeated Southern Lehigh, the long-standing District XI champions, and for the first time in two decades, won the title.

“We came with such a focus and desire to win, that it showed on field and ultimately in the score,” says Erin Danaher, grade 12, about the epic event. The golf team had its first female player in two years, Sydney Posh, grade 11, who took second place in the Colonial League finals. Our very own captains, Colin McQueen and Corey Haldeman, grade 12, took first and second places as well.

Currently, the entire school is preparing for our student variety show, Coffeehouse, a hallmark of Moravian Academy. The show sold out completely earlier this week, as it usually does. Being a small school drives students to exercise all of our talents, and the result is a breathtaking show that surprises every year with its endless exhibition of talent and versatility. We look forward to a spectacular show!

Monday, Nov. 23, was Grandparents’ Lovefeast at the Upper School. The grandparents, some alumni themselves, enjoy the opportunity to attend classes with their grandchildren and watch their shocked faces when they see tablecloths on the dining room tables for the first and last time all year. I’ll be honest, folks, we go all out for the grandparents. Central Moravian Church’s juice and cookie doesn’t stand a chance against the Upper School’s multi-course meal.

As students look ahead to Thanksgiving break, we remember our families, our friends, but also our home - the one we live in seven hours a day. Especially now, as we stay late for rehearsals, order Chinese food, and do homework together, we remember each other and where we come from - Moravian Academy.