Form of 2020 Plaque

The center of the 2020 Form plaque features the COVID-19 virus  – the global pandemic being the most significant event of the 2019/2020 school year. The top of the design shows a flock of flying pelicans, representing the distance learning that was a result of COVID-19, and that “pelicans fly together.” The bottom left shows an open book with the initials of 14th Rector Kathleen Carroll Giles, representing the beginning of her term as rector. The bottom right features a horseshoe magnet and a door to represent the magnets that were added to the doors in the dorms. In the three lower corners of the quatrefoil are three books to represent the three rectors that served in the four years that the Form of 2020 was at SPS – the book on the left has the Roman numeral XIII to represent the 13th Rector Hirschfeld, the book on the right has the Roman numeral XIV for 14th Rector Giles, and the book at the bottom has the letter “I” for interim rector Richards.

2020 Plaque Progress: Plaque Completed

The Form of 2020 plaque is now completed. The detail photograph above shows a sample of the painted finish on the plaque –  A section of the central part of the design featuring the COVID-19 virus.

The completed framed plaque will be hung up in the Middle Dinning Hall of Coit, and available for viewing once the school is able to open to outside visitors.

2020 Plaque Progress: Carving Completed

 

The carving for the Form of 2020 plaque is now completed. The representatives from the Form of 2020 chose the following events to be illustrated on the plaque:

• The center features the COVID-19 virus  – the most significant event of the 2019/2020 school year
• The top of the design shows a flock of flying pelicans, representing the distance learning that was a result of COVID-19, and that “pelicans fly together”
• The bottom left is the open book with the initials of 14th Rector Kathleen Carroll Giles, representing the beginning of her term as rector
• The bottom right features a horseshoe magnet and a door to represent the magnets that were added to the doors in the dorms
• In the 3 lower corners of the quatrefoil are three books to represent the three rectors that served in the four years that the Form of 2020 was at SPS – the book on the left has the Roman numeral XIII to represent the 13th Rector Hirschfeld, the book on the right has the Roman numeral XIV for 14th Rector Giles, and the book at the bottom has the letter “I” for interim rector Richards

Now that the carving process is completed, I will apply a painted finish to the plaque to have it ready to hang in it’s permanent place in the Friedman Community Center. Stay tuned for updates on the completion of the plaque!

Upper left: One of the pelicans in flight.

Upper right: Pelican flock together.

Bottom left: The open book with Rector Giles’ initials.

Center: The COVID-19 virus over Interim Rector’s book.

Bottom right: Magnets added to the doors in dorms.

2020 Plaque Progress: Design Completed

The design stage was completed for the 2020 form plaque early last summer. I worked with representatives from the Form of 2020 to come up with a list of events, and the following were chosen by them to represent their 6th Form experiences at SPS:

• The center features the COVID-19 virus  – the most significant event of the 2019/2020 school year
• The top of the design shows a flock of flying pelicans, representing the distance learning that was a result of COVID-19, and that “pelicans fly together”
• The bottom left is the open book with the initials of 14th Rector Kathleen Carroll Giles, representing the beginning of her term as rector
• The bottom right features a horseshoe magnet and a door to represent the magnets that were added to the doors in the dorms
• In the 3 lower corners of the quatrefoil are three books to represent the three rectors that served in the four years that the Form of 2020 was at SPS – the book on the left has the Roman numeral XIII to represent the 13th Rector Hirschfeld, the book on the right has the Roman numeral XIV for 14th Rector Giles, and the book at the bottom has the letter “I” for interim rector Richards

This design has been used to create the wood carving of the 2020 form plaque. I will document the carving process in an upcoming post.

Form of 2018 Plaque

The upper left corner of the plaque design features a closed book, marking the end of the Rectorship of Michael G. Hirschfeld ’85. To the right of the book is a dorm building with a lock and key, representing the addition of locks on dormitory room doors. The bottom left of the plaque shows the number 6 springing on a trampoline, to commemorate the 6th Form class trip to a trampoline park. The bottom center features the hashtag #metoo, which began to be used on Twitter in October of 2017 and spread into an international movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault. The lower right corner of the plaque shows the New Chapel tower with a clock set at 8:30, to note the later start time for morning chapel.

2018 Plaque Progress: Design Completed

The design stage is complete for the 2018 form plaque. I worked with the student council officers from the Form of 2018 to come up with a list of events, and the following were chosen by them to represent their 6th Form experiences at SPS:

• Upper left corner: The book from the school shield is shown closed and inscribed with the initials MGH to represent the end of Michael Hirschfeld’s rectorship
• Upper center and right corner: Features a dorm with a lock and key, representing the addition of locks to the dorm rooms during the school year
• Lower left: Shows the number 6 springing up from a trampoline to represent the 6^th Form class trip to Skyzone that took place at the beginning of the year
• Lower center: Features a banner with the Me Too hashtag to represent the international viral movement that began in the fall, addressing the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment and assault
• Lower right: Shows the New Chapel tower with a clock set to 8:30 to represent the later start time for morning chapel

I will be posting photos of the carving process here on the Form Plaque Project blog and on the Form Plaque Project Facebook page when I begin working on the carving process of the 2018 plaque.

The Form of 2012 Plaque

Here is a photograph of the completed plaque for the Form of 2012. It was dedicated on June 1, 2013 and hangs in the Middle Dining Hall of Coit (The Upper) above the panels that contain the names of all the members of the Form of 2012. Below the photo is the description of the elements incorporated in the plaque design.

The upper left corner of the plaque features an open book with the initials MGH carved onto the pages, representing the beginning of the Rectorship of Michael Gifford Hirschfeld, Thirteenth Rector of St. Paul’s School. The book symbolizes the Rural Record, a journal of day-to-day life that was kept at St. Paul’s School from 1857 into the early 20th century. The upper right corner shows the symbol for the Delphians – the Greek letter Delta surrounded by a laurel wreath – winners of the Club Cup competition for the School year. The upper center of the plaque has the World Trade Center towers and in the middle left section the date 9/11/11is carved – marking the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attack. A snowman holding a Jack-o-lantern is carved in the lower right corner of the plaque, representing the big snowstorm on Halloween – the only significant snowstorm of the winter season. To the left of the snowman is the newly constructed Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science, dedicated on November 29, 2011.

2012 Form Plaque Progress: Carving Complete

The carving process for the 2012 Form plaque is complete.  Below are some photographs of the carving process, with details of the finished carving as well.

This first photograph shows the design layout on the plaque blank, with outlines in place as guides for roughing out the background.

This shows the plaque after being roughed out with a small format router.  This sets an even depth for the background of the plaque. From this point forward all the carving is done using hand tools.

A big jump to the finished carving – after many, many hours of work the fine details are all in place.  I first carve the rough shapes for the entire design and then refine each element to its finished state.

This detail shows the book with Mr. Hirschfeld’s initials – marking the beginning of his Rectorship.  The World Trade Center towers are on the right of the photograph with the 10th anniversary date of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

This detail shows the Delphian symbol – winners of the Club Cup for the 2011/2012 School year.

The Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science is shown in this detail.

The snowman and Jack-O-lantern representing the Halloween storm that blanketed Millville in deep snow.

The next stage in the process involves sealing the plaque with oil and then painting it and adding the protective finish.  The next time you will be able to see the plaque will be Anniversary weekend at the beginning of June of 2013.  I’m looking forward to finishing the plaque and sharing it with all the members of the Form of 2012!

2012 Form Plaque Progress: Design Complete

The design stage is complete for the 2012 Form plaque. I worked with members of the Form of 2012 during the previous School year to come up with a list of events, and the following was chosen by them to represent the 6th Form experiences of the Form of 2012:

• Upper left:  An open book with the initials MGH. The book symbol represents the Rural Record, a diary of day-to-day School life that was kept from 1857 into the early twentieth century.  Michael Hirschfeld’s initials are incorporated on the pages of the  open book, symbolizing the beginning of his Rectorship and representing the recording of the event of the change in leadership into School history.
• Upper right: The symbol for the Delphians – the Greek letter Delta surrounded by a laurel wreath – winners of the Club Cup competition.
• Upper center and middle left: The World Trade Center towers and the date 9/11/11 – marking the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attack.
• Lower right: A snowman holding a Jack-o-lantern representing the big snowstorm on Halloween – the only significant snowstorm of the winter season.
• Lower left and center:  The Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science, dedicated on November 29, 2011.

I will now begin working on the carving process, with the plan to have the finished plaque to present at Anniversary weekend in June this year.  Photos of the process will be posted on the blog, so stay tuned for more information!