16 minute read
Digest
Summer 2022
Digest
SPEAKERS
Three Experts Speak on Resiliency and Self-Efficacy
Early in the school year, educational psychologist Michele Borba, Ed.D., visited Agnes Irwin to discuss her book, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine. Dr. Borba theorized that while the usual markers for success such as grades and test scores remain relevant, character strength is most highly correlative to the resilience and emotional agility kids need to thrive in a culture that demands continuous adaptability. She identified what she says are the seven character traits that children and teens need to be happy, well-adjusted, peak performers in a rapidly evolving world: self-confidence, empathy, selfcontrol, integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and optimism.
In March, Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn To Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed, asserted that parents do too much for their kids. From homework help, delivering forgotten items and even masterminding kids’ friendships, many parents engineer what amounts to a mostly failure-free childhood and adolescence. “Setbacks, mistakes, and failures are the experiences that can help teach our children how to be resourceful, persistent, innovative and resilient citizens of this world,” said Lahey.
Speaking about her book How to Raise an Adult: Break Free From the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success, Julie Lythcott-Haims said that “self-efficacy is built in young adults when they see their own actions leading to positive outcomes.” Her message to parents: “We overprotect because we love our children. We are afraid. We think the world is so impossible and that somehow carrying our children on our shoulders will prepare them. But it won’t. Instead, we are undermining their sense of agency and resiliency. There are many paths to educational and career success. We have to let the kids find it themselves.”
From left: Joy Prince, Sally Keidel, Camille Seals, Julie Lythcott-Haims, Ali Monzo, and Vanessa Pope Educational psychologist Dr. Michele Borba New York Times best-selling author Jessica Lahey
LYTHCOTT-HAIMS’ 10-PART PLEDGE FROM PARENTS TO CHILDREN
1. I love you for you, not your achievements. 2. It’s your life. Not ours. 3. Home is a respite from the noise and stress of school and work. 4. Your feelings are valid. 5. I will let you solve more of your own problems. 6. I will teach you how to respectfully advocate for yourself with teachers and coaches. 7. I will respect your boundaries and ask you before I share information about you. 8. I will not compare you to others. 9. What I ask of you is to be kind and work hard. 10. I’m going to work on myself so you can have the parent you deserve.
DR. MICHELE BORBA
Speakers were sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Girls, The Class of 1957 Speakers’ Series Fund, and The Clower Family Speakers Fund
Digest | LOWER SCHOOL
GLOBAL
Culture Study
The first graders enjoyed virtual visits with students at the Cambridge College in Lima, Peru. The initial visit included lots of excited waving, student introductions, and descriptions of Agnes Irwin’s location, uniforms, curriculum, and mascot, Gus. The girls also had an opportunity to ask the Peruvian students about their school. During subsequent Zoom meetings, the children participated in a language exchange and a cultural dance party. “The girls benefited tremendously from the collaboration,” said first grade teacher Shailla Bari.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Young Historians
In connection with their study of the American Revolution, the fourth graders visited the Museum of the American Revolution. As part of the unit, they also learned to research like an historian, consider perspective, and understand primary and secondary sources. Peggy Pace Duckett, grandmother to Maggie Duckett ’30 and Museum of the American Revolution Board of Directors member, helped to arrange the visit.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Continuing Education
This summer, five Lower School teachers attended the Columbia Teachers College Reading and Writing Project as part of a professional development initiative. They learned strategies and developed skills to address and enhance changes seen in student writing associated with the pandemic, such as challenges with writing volume, fluency, and engagement.
CREATIVITY
Robotics
Our students have robots on the brain. The fourth grade Robotics Club engineered mechanized K’Nex configurations to carry a ping pong ball four feet. “Participation in the Robotics Club is optional,” said science teacher Julie Haines. “But this year, every fourth grade girl raised her hand to commit to robotics. That is pretty amazing.” While the annual Kindergarten Invention Convention is not technically a robotics event, the Class of 2034 seemed to be charting the course for the future with their dreamed-up robots that make beds, cut grass, clean up the kitchen, pick up toys, and even comfort babies.
LOWER SCHOOL | Digest
ART
Mirror, Mirror
In preparation for painting their own self-portraits, the Class of 2033 toured The Barnes Foundation in March. Agnes Irwin first graders have been completing this art project for twenty-two years. It is each girl’s own piece of Agnes Irwin history.
ALUMNAE
STEAM Careers
The Lower School hosted its fourth annual STEAM Showcase. Guest speakers — all current parents and family members of AIS students, including alumnae Cole Shaw Costa ’96, Alison Dillihay James ’00, and Neely Burch Morandi ’09 — presented about their work in orthodontics, project management at Boeing, accessories design and entrepreneurship, and more. “Hearing from women in the AIS community who work in STEAM fields inspires students to identify and discover careers and leadership positions which they may consider for themselves,” said science teacher Julie Haines.
CONNECTIONS
Wedding Belles
In February, third grade teacher Anna Tobia walked down the aisle as eleven of her students looked on. “I’ve been at AIS for six years, and every year I feel grateful for the group of girls I have. My students are a huge part of my life,” Tobia shared. She discussed the idea of ceremony with the girls in advance but had no concerns. “My students are fantastic and focused.” After the wedding, Eva McEvoy ’31 remarked, “It was the event of the season!”
CONVERSATIONS
Building Community
The new Anti-Bias Building Blocks class is designed to promote an inclusive and respectful class environment. The curriculum includes units on personal strengths and identity, appreciating differences, and confronting bias. “The topics make room for students to express their understanding and creativity through discussion and art projects,” said Lower School counselor, Kim Beamon, MSW, LCSW.
TRADITIONS
Grandfriends Day
In April, the Lower School girls welcomed their grandparents, parents, friends, and family for a spring concert, crafts, and an activity where guests and students exchanged thoughts about why family is important to them. Pictured here, from left: Alberta Dillihay with her granddaughter, Alyssa James ’34 and Dena Filipone with granddaughters, Mackenzie and Tobin Kerr, both Class of ’34.
Digest | MIDDLE SCHOOL
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Maydieval Day
The sixth graders celebrated the reimagined Medieval Night, a time-honored tradition (and Agnes Irwin perennial favorite), that is the culmination of the students’ interdisciplinary study of the medieval era. On the 672 Conestoga Road campus, the girls performed beautiful music and dances, and showcased colorful banners for their families and guests.
HISTORICAL ENGAGEMENT
National History Day Competition
This spring, the following students from the Class of 2026 placed at the regional National History Day Competition. They competed against other sixth, seventh, and eighth graders from schools throughout Delaware and Chester Counties:
1st Place Group
Exhibit: Lucy Pierce and Bella PeshekPercec’s “Restricting Free Speech: The Alien and Sedition Acts”
2nd Place Group
Exhibit: Chloe Spears and Aliane Vanderver’s “Bay of Pigs: A Clandestine Disaster”
3rd Place Group
Exhibit: Addison Reed and Grace Vauclain’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” 2nd Place Paper: Paige Conwell’s “The Abortion Access Effort: The Pro-choice Movement and Roe v. Wade”
2nd Place Individual
Exhibit: Caleah Henneghan’s “The End of Separation: The Doll Test and Brown v. Board”
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Field Trips Return
Middle schoolers visited town and country as field trips returned after a two-year hiatus. “The girls finally had off-campus opportunities to learn together,” said history teacher Corey Willingham. Destinations included the National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Seventh and eighth grade students enjoyed a day of snow tubing at Shawnee Mountain. In April, the fifth and sixth graders tapped into their love of animals at the Outdoor School (photos at right).
MIDDLE SCHOOL | Digest
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Agents for Change
Middle School students focused on making an impact this year. “The students initiated several service events themselves this year,” said service coordinator Joy Connelly. They organized drives for canned goods, books, clothes, and pet supplies, all for local organizations. “They helped pack the food before delivery to the food pantry. When students initiate service learning activities, they develop a love of service that will last a lifetime,” said Connelly.
LEADERSHIP
Corey Willingham has been named Interim Middle School Director for the 2022-2023 school year. “I am so pleased to have identified Corey, a dedicated leader from within our community, as Cintra Horn’s successor,” remarked Head of School Sally Keidel. In her six years at AIS, Willingham has served as a much-loved history teacher and was promoted to Dean of Students for the seventh and eighth grade in 2018. “Something really special about our middle school is how well our teachers know the girls,” said Willingham. “I can confidently say that every child who passes through this division is known deeply by our teaching community.” Her favorite part of AIS Middle School is watching girls take the stage during performance assemblies. “To watch a student courageously share a talent and be encouraged by her peers gives me goosebumps!” says Willingham.
SCIENCE
Intergalactic Planetary
Eighth graders took a multi-disciplinary approach to learning about the solar system. Teaming up with Middle School theater teacher Clare Mahoney, students created educational videos about moons and planets that have the potential to harbor extraterrestrial life. “They were encouraged to dress up like an alien from their researched moon or planet to convince NASA scientists to send missions there in order to learn more about their planet or moon,” said science teacher James Miller. Students learned about atmospheric conditions on different worlds, planets where it rains methane, deep icy oceans on Jupiter’s moons, and how different gravitational forces would affect the human body. “Combining the disciplines of science and theater allowed the students to explore the solar system and present what they learned in a fun way,” said Miller.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
During Parliament and Wellness, Middle School students worked in small groups on the new
#winatsocial
curriculum which teaches strategies for managing social media, such as how to develop a relevant, positive approach to social media and how to make highcharacter choices about content. Fifth graders learned about diffusing online gossip, rumors, and negative talk, while eighth graders discussed using their accounts to elevate a culture of inclusion at Agnes Irwin. #winatsocial
Digest | UPPER SCHOOL
WELLNESS REPORT
Flex Well Program Launches
A 2021 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics concluded that rates of clinically elevated anxiety and depression symptoms doubled during the pandemic. “We saw that we needed to provide more space for students’ emotional, physical, and intellectual wellness in our daily practice,” said Upper School Dean Sarah Leonard. The new Upper School Flex Well program was designed to do just that. During designated workshops, the girls had opportunities to practice yoga and Alexander Technique posture training, learn about nutrition, play chess, take nature walks, and compete in ultimate frisbee.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Students Recognized Beyond AIS
Clockwise from top: Sarah Toth ’22, Golda Mehl ’22, Lily Fusco ’24, Sophia Zheng ’24
This school year, twelve Agnes Irwin seniors were recognized for outstanding achievement in the National Merit Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, and the National African American Recognition Program. Sarah Toth ’22 went on to be named a National Merit Finalist. Separately, Toth was selected to join the 2021-2022 Harvard University Graduate School of Education Youth Advisory Board.
Two AIS students were recognized by the Main Line Times for academic and athletic achievements. Golda Mehl ’22, named Student of the Week, was a co-head of PALS, the AIS peer mentoring program, and sat on the Advisory Board of the Starfish Project for Children, an organization that helps children discover the joy of community service. She was last year’s recipient of the AIS Bradford Fogarty Award, which is given “to that student whose selfless interest and untiring effort on behalf of others reflects the same unselfish spirit that Bradford exhibited during her high school years.” Lily Fusco ’24 was selected as Girls Athlete of the Week. She is a three-sport athlete for the Owls (soccer, basketball, lacrosse) and participates in many other activities, including STEM Club and Athletes Helping Athletes.
In March, Sophia Zheng ’24, was awarded a III Prize at the XIII Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT. Additionally, she won a New York Young Performers Prize from the Associated Music Teachers League competition for her high level of musical achievement.
WRITING NEWS
Sharon Rudnicki Writing Center Opens
The newly-established Sharon Rudnicki Writing Center, which memorializes the legacy of longtime English Department Chair, Sharon Rudnicki, has become the central hub for writing. “Since the Writing Center opened in October, there have been over 200 student visits to the center,” reported Dan Slack, Writing Center teacher. A group of student volunteers, trained by English Department Chair, Lydia Traill, devoted free periods to helping peers who visit the center. The center is open to Lower, Middle, and Upper School students, and it is suitable for both group workshop-style writing instruction, as well as for one-to-one tutoring, editing, and mentoring.
UPPER SCHOOL | Digest
ROBOTICS
Code Break
Agnes Irwin is one of just three local allgirls teams in the FIRST Robotics Competition League (FIRST). “The AIS robotics program started twenty-two years ago — the first Inter-Ac school to have one, in fact. At that time, we were the 709th to join FIRST,” said Robotics Coordinator Jim Mathisen. “Today, there are 3,898 teams in the FIRST league.” Running from December to March, robotics is offered as a winter “sport” with students meeting five times a week after school and even Saturdays. “Most of the forty-four robotics students this year contributed to the general building of the robot, but others focused on a specific aspect like electrical, coding, and 3-D modeling,” said Mathisen. Each year, teams in FIRST are assigned to engineer a robot that is able to complete a certain set of tasks or play a game. This year, the assignment was a mechanical challenge to construct a robot that could shoot a ball and climb monkey bars. “We clinched a win in the final seconds in the second round of competition,” said Mathisen.
RESEARCH
With Honors
The With Honors program gives juniors and seniors an opportunity to delve into a subject of interest that aligns with a selection of electives. Students who choose to take a course With Honors develop a thesis, conduct rigorous research, and meet monthly with a teacheradvisor for feedback and direction. For the first time, students were also required to present their research to peers, teachers, and faculty. “This gave them an opportunity to work on public speaking and presentation skills,” said The Anne Bullock Perper ’76 Fellow and Science Department Chair Rosann Westmeyer. “It was wonderful to see what the students spent months researching.” Topics included “Green Architecture,” by Maya Johnson ’23, “How Language Impacts the Way You Think,” by Olivia Heldring ’22, and “The Perception of Nuclear Power,” by Ivy Ng ’23.
MUSIC
Class of 2021 Piano Lab
The new Class of 2021 Piano Lab, donated by Amy and Hank Summy in honor and memory of their daughter Naya Summy ’21, is picking up tempo. “When the pianos were delivered during the pandemic, we had a soft opening,” said Visual & Performing Arts Chair Murray Savar. “Things have officially taken off this school year.” The lab includes electronic keyboards, headphones, microphones, and software that enables individualized instruction, even in a group setting. The new arts elective, Piano Lab, quickly filled with eight students, ranging from a concert pianist to students who had not played a single note. Savar promises that every student will finish the course able to play at least one perfect party tune.
Spring Review
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1. Lower School Field Day 2. Fifth graders enjoy their Greek Day celebration 3. The first grade proudly displays their self-portraits 4. Middle School Language Awards 5. Middle School students compete on Stars and Stripes Day 6. Lower School students celebrate May Fair
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7. Juniors and seniors celebrate prom at the Constitution Center after photos on campus 8. The Class of 2023 Junior Coating Ceremony 9. 2022-2023 Student leaders pinned at Changeover Assembly in both Middle and Upper School 10. The Class of 2030 celebrates Moving Up Day 11. 8th Grade Closing Ceremonies marks the beginning of Upper School for the Class of 2026
