The Petroglyph Magazine, Spring + Summer 2022 by The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain

PETROGLYPH SPRING & SUMMER 2022

EXCEEDING OUR VISION

From the Head of School

Our graduates will be ready to achieve their individual potential, savor life, and meet the challenges of the world.

The Petroglyph is the magazine of The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain. Its Mission is to celebrate Dawson’s growth and the achievements of its students, alumni, and faculty.

– The Alexander Dawson School’s Vision EDITOR Rachael Lachhwani Communications Manager

Dear Dawson Community, Running a school during a pandemic is brutal. Actually, most days, there are moments that feel like a nightmare. When I stepped into the head of school role two years ago, I have to be honest and share that exceeding our Vision was not my goal. Instead, I joined our talented leadership team in assembling a plan to reopen our doors with safety measures that could bring some semblance of assurance to our faculty, students, and families. We wrestled every day with our newfound responsibility of having to prioritize cognitive, mental, and physical wellness, and the decision-making process was both scary and exhausting. Exceeding our Vision was not a part of our language, yet this is the outcome we found ourselves achieving. Something magical happened because our community rallied together to give our students an educational experience a virus was trying so desperately to steal. We found opportunities in the face of adversity, and the spirit of the Dawson community helped us see our power and strength. Our culture was alive and thriving. Exceeding our Vision quickly became our inspirational reality because this mindset has always lived at the root of Dawson. From Dawson’s earliest days, the notion of exceeding our Vision has been deeply ingrained in the ethos of the School and thereby embedded into the minds and hearts of teachers and students. When addressing the Class of 2022 during my graduation speech, I attributed this mindset to the inf luence of two men: Jerry Henderson and Oz Gutsche. Jerry lived a life of entrepreneurship and innovation. He began successful business ventures, one after the other, because he looked at the world with insatiable curiosity. Oz accompanied Jerry during most of these endeavors and often served as the intellectual architect for each of Jerry’s initiatives. Oz built our school in 2000 and served as chair of our Board of Trustees because he believed in Jerry’s quest for innovation and understood that the determination for thinking like no one else in the world must be cultivated at a young age. Oz and Jerry exceeded their vision for each of their endeavors, from designing the first underground cable television system to investing in the invention of the turbo prop airplane. They were changemakers, and their pioneering spirit fuels our motivation to exceed our Vision. This issue of Dawson’s Petroglyph magazine features the people, processes, and programs that exceed our Vision for making the world a better place. From alumni highlights to our approach toward hiring for excellence, the outcome is clear: Dawson is a school on the rise.

MARKETING Shea Phillips Marketing & Digital Content Manager HEAD OF SCHOOL Roxanne Stansbury ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL Andrew Bishop

CONNECT WITH US!

FACEBOOK @AlexanderDawsonSchool INSTAGRAM @dawson_bears TWITTER @DawsonSchool VIMEO vimeo.com/ alexanderdawsonschool ISSUU issuu.com/ alexanderdawsonschool YOUTUBE The Alexander Dawson School

Roxanne Stansbury, Head of School The Alexander Dawson School 2

The Alexander Dawson School Podcast Listen and Subscribe on iTunes, Apple’s Podcast App, Google Play, and Spotify

On this page: We were excited to reintroduce our Cross-Grade Buddies program this spring! Pictured here are our third graders utilizing our beautiful outdoor campus spaces to read to our Early Childhood students in the Ruffin Organic Garden and on the Lower School field. This program builds relationships and understanding across grade levels, helps develop students’ social and listening skills, creates mentorship opportunities for our older students, and gives our younger students a positive role model on campus.

Cover Photo: Flashing Lights by Riley Fegert, Sixth Grade

Contents 4 I THE ART OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL HIRING 10 I STUDENT-LED LEADERSHIP A Fourth-Grade Collaboration 16 I CHALLENGE SUCCESS WEEK Let’s Talk About Mental Health 20 I A FOND FAREWELL to Retiring Board Chairman Oz Gutsche 22 I DAWSON ALUMNI PROFILE Monique Koman, Class of 2011 24 I #AMAZINGDAWSON ALUMS Where Are They Now? 26 I DAWSON ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS

34 I BEAR DEN NEWS Second-Semester Highlights 40 I CLASS OF 2022 Where Are They Going? 42 I WINNING GRADUATE ESSAYS Ellodee Timmer & Caleb Ocampo 46 I DAWSON GRADUATE TRIBUTES 56 I HOMECOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS 60 I EARLY CHILDHOOD BUTTERFLY PROJECT 64 I VISUAL EXPLORATION & SELF-EXPRESSION Through The World Of Photography

Responding to the Needs of Dawson’s Students

The Art Of Independent School Hiring By Roxanne Stansbury, Head of School

Wayne Pittman accompanies his fourth-grade students during a field trip to the Lost City Museum.

Twenty-two years ago, I took a tour of The Alexander Dawson School. Although it was still under construction, I immediately fell in love. I knew I had to work at a school with colleagues who loved pedagogy as much as I did. I was enamored by the intentionality showcased during the tour and the headmaster’s description of every design decision made specifically with students in mind. I asked for an application and landed an interview the following day, which I ended up bombing. I was asked a question about classroom management, and I replied with a detailed description of my treasure box used to award student behaviors. The head of lower school at the time allowed me to finish my elaborate response and politely said, “We do not believe in extrinsic rewards. We want students to make good behavioral decisions because that is what good people do, not because they get a prize for doing so.” My heart sank. In that moment, I saw the best teaching job I could have ever achieved slip through my hands. I responded with the simple sentence, “I want to learn.” I guess she saw something in my eagerness and honesty because I was offered a job the very next day. I haven’t stopped learning since that life-changing day in August 2000. The hiring process is complex. Exceeding our Vision relies a great deal on behind-the-scenes, intentional strategizing, with hiring as the foundational root of this work. The number one way to actualize our Mission and deliver on our goal of academic excellence is through the hiring process. It is an art and a science. And it’s daunting; we spend a great deal of time improving a process that can sometimes feel like trying to hit a bullseye while wearing a blindfold, and there are many unknowns to uncover during a process where everyone always presents their best self. There is no user manual, but rather guidelines and best practices for how to conduct a Mission-aligned hiring season. Independent School Management, an educational consulting group that advances school leadership to enrich the student experience, reports that there is a 38 percent correlation between interview performance and job performance. Meaning, the hiring process needs to unveil a candidate’s authentic attitude and skills. We know we have to hire for who we intend to be and what we intend to accomplish in the years to come. Needless to say, the hiring process comes with a great deal of stress, responsibility, and pressure.

MISSION-FIT INTERVIEW METHODS Great schools always have their eyes on hiring and are continuously in some stage of action. At Dawson, the formal process actually begins in October, when we begin to assess programmatic needs and look at our strategic direction to chart the path toward actualizing our goals. In some cases, it is about defining new positions. By November, we start to analyze enrollment projections and make determinations about the areas where we need to reallocate resources to better serve the evolving needs of our students. In December, we send out employee “intent to return” surveys so we can gain a grasp of upcoming vacancies, and then January is a really important time where job descriptions are fleshed out and the public postings are put online. This is also the time when we start to assemble our search teams and strategize about recruitment initiatives. February and March are about all things interviewing. Dawson’s process is an experience designed to first let every candidate know who we are and what we value. Our interview questions get to the heart of finding candidates who align with our philosophy yet push us to be better. We pose a question that requires candidates to select which of our Core Beliefs resonates with them and then describe how it translates to their professional life. A performance task requires candidates to watch a video on teaching kids about power and perspective that leads to a self-reflection about how they would teach this concept to a specific grade level. We also believe here at Dawson that, as a learning institute, giving and soliciting feedback are important competencies. Every teacher candidate, therefore, watches a video of a Dawson teacher instructing a three-act math task. This task involves three distinct parts: an engaging and perplexing problem followed by an information-seeking activity that all results in a solution-revealing answer. We ask the candidate to share what they learned and would like to start doing in the classroom, what feedback they would give the instructor to help improve the lesson, and what they saw in the video that they currently apply toward their own teaching. This exercise teaches us so much about how a person delivers feedback and how open they are to learning from others.

subtleties of Dawson and what makes this school so special. We want a community where everyone feels they belong and can be their true selves; the School has a deep and personalized commitment to ensuring that those who set foot on our campus all feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. This also importantly extends to welcoming new faculty and staff.

RESPONDING TO THE EVER-EVOLVING NEEDS OF STUDENTS

In fact, learning from others is such an important component of this process that we also always ask my favorite question: “Name something that someone is better at than you in an area that really matters to you.” The response tells us so much about humility, how comfortable someone is with continued development, and what people value. This year, we also created an asynchronous interview exercise for the first round of the process. We sought to give candidates the opportunity to answer our questions and engage in our performance tasks while not being on the spot in front of a search team. Our current employees recorded different interview questions from their favorite spots on campus, an exercise that allowed candidates to get a sense of what it feels like to work at the School and hear personal stories from our employees about why they chose Dawson. From April to June we make offers to candidates. Those who accept are then invited to our comprehensive onboarding process in July called “New Bear Academy”, in which all new faculty members begin their two-year induction program to learn about the culture, climate, and community members of Dawson. The purpose of this program is to adequately prepare our new hires for our independent school learning environment. We seek to educate the educators about the intricacies and

Student needs do not look the same as they did ten, five, or even one year ago, which is why Dawson is committed to modern learning, an educational approach that focuses on the convergence of competencies, mindsets, and academic skills rooted in real-world applications. This commitment requires ongoing and responsive adaptions that continue to meet the evolving needs of our students. Looking at the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, we know that 50 percent of all employees will need reskilling by 2025, as the grasp of technologies continues to expand. We also recognize that skills such as critical thinking and problem solving top the list of those employers believe will grow in prominence within the next five years. Newly emerging competencies listed in the report include skills in self-management, active learning, resilience, stress, tolerance, and flexibility – everything we need our kids to learn from high-performing teachers. This reality demonstrated for our leadership team where we need to refine our strategic direction to better meet the present needs of our students. In an effort to remain relevant, we looked closely at our current staffing model to ensure we are equipped with the positions and personnel experience to prepare our students with world-readiness skills. As a result, four faculty members with titles new to Dawson were hired for the 2022-2023 school year.

DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE The dean of student life position was created in response to the wellness and engagement needs of our students. Nationally, the pandemic and social media are contributing to a rise in student discipline and wellness needs. As the pandemic continues and feelings of chaos and unrest persist, adolescents and teachers increasingly show signs of stress, burnout,

isolation, and anxiety. The dean of student life is a primary advocate for all students and is responsible for strengthening the Dawson community by leaning into conflict resolution, building relational trust, fostering a culture of dignity, and repairing harm through inclusive processes such as our relational discipline and restorative justice programs. This significant role reinforces our school culture and values through a restorative lens to help foster a positive, structured, cohesive, and caring culture.

strategist (grades six through eight) positions require passionate, patient, and student-centered educators with deep experience working with students who have diverse learning needs. They will provide a safe, inclusive educational experience that enables students to develop academic and interpersonal skills by identifying the right-fit interventions needed to meet their specific needs, as well as embedding inclusive teaching and learning practices by providing faculty professional development.

DEAN OF EXTRACURRICULAR ENGAGEMENT

Right-fit hiring is an integral part of creating and aligning all elements of the School. Although the process can sometimes equate to pushing a heavy boulder uphill, it is one of the most important, highstakes endeavors a school can undertake. Having the right people in the right places is important to the success of our students, our strategic direction, and our structure. It’s what leads to elevating our excellence, values, beliefs, relevancy, and impact. It’s what allows us to make the powerful connections we seek with all community members to continue to exceed our inspiring Vision.

Dawson is looking to build an engaging experience that extends beyond the traditional school day and school year. Our students need opportunities that will keep them off of video games and away from social media scrolling. We want our students to find their home away from home on our campus and participate in after-school and summer programs that will further enhance their curiosity and sense of belonging. A robust and innovative auxiliary program will allow students the time to explore unknown passions and develop classmate relationships while engaging in a common interest. The dean of extracurricular engagement is a primary advocate for all students and is responsible for student-related matters and experiences beyond the school day. This work is rooted in establishing a vibrant and inclusive student culture in support of the School’s Mission, Vision, Core Beliefs, and Diversity Statement. This position has direct leadership over all auxiliary programs such as the after-school enrichment program, the summer program, Middle School clubs, and student leadership groups. The dean of extracurricular engagement will also serve on the Advancement Team and support the School’s recruitment, retention, and marketing efforts.

LEARNING STRATEGISTS Dawson believes in educational personalization. Our Core Beliefs state, “We recognize students learn at different paces and in different ways, and we differentiate instruction accordingly,” so coupled with the need to curb learning loss as a result of the pandemic, we added two more significant positions to our faculty. The intermediate grades (grades three through five) and middle school learning

2022-2023 NEW FACULTY POSITIONS

DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE Mr. Wayne Pittman accepted the dean of student life position for the new school year; he has a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and previously worked at the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada, assisting at-risk youth all over the Las Vegas Valley. Mr. Pittman was an instrumental part of Dawson’s BASE program for three years before joining the Lower School learning support team and eventually transitioning into the classroom full time as a Middle School advisor and Lower School teacher.

DEAN OF EXTRACURRICULAR ENGAGEMENT Ms. Chrystal Miller accepted the dean of extracurricular engagment position for the new school year; she graduated college with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, integrating music and psychology. She loves working with students and has spent the last several years teaching orchestra and music technology at Dawson. Besides music, Ms. Chrystal's greatest passion is advocating for communities that are systematically othered, making her an integral member of the Dawson community, especially in her role as one of our DEI Ambassadors.

INTERMEDIATE-GRADES LEARNING STRATEGIST Ms. Kathy Martin, a new employee of Dawson, accepted the intermediategrades learning strategist position for the new school year. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Vermont and a Master’s of Education degree from Marymount University in Virginia. She was the 2007 recipient of the Excellence in Education Award and was chair of the language arts department at one of her previous schools. She has spent years as a learning specialist working with students in grades three through five and is excited to bring her expertise to Dawson.

MIDDLE SCHOOL LEARNING STRATEGIST Dr. Erica Reid, a new employee of Dawson, accepted the middle school learning strategist position for the new school year. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in sociology from The University of Albany, State University of New York, a Master of Science degree in secondary education from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, and a Doctor of Philosophy with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience and enjoys working as a learning strategist to help all students find success.

Project-Based Learning

STUDENT-LED LEADERSHIP: A Fourth-Grade Collaboration By Ms. Lopez’s, Mr. Pittman’s & Ms. Stratmeyer’s Classrooms

During the first semester of the 2021-22 school year, Director of Grades 2-5 Meg Aumann led all three fourth-grade classrooms in a weeks-long leadership project centered around the driving question, “Who am I as a leader, and how can I create change using my leadership skills?” Students took an age-appropriate personality assessment to determine their strengths and areas for growth with regard to their leadership abilities and then chose smaller internship groups to join for a variety of campus-wide leadership projects. Several Dawson administrators and faculty partnered with the students to serve as mentors during the process. The fourth-grade students worked together to interview students and staff, and this article is a compilation of their combined efforts written in their own words.

panda, Kiki’s animal was a border collie, and Mia’s animal was a tiger. We loved using our leadership journals, and we loved how we got to learn so much and have somewhere to write it.

Ms. Aumann is a leader of the internships. She is the one who created the Leadership Internships. She is the director of the Lower School. She came to our class with other teachers and told us about the leadership internships. She helps with the big events at school like Snow Day, Field Day, Pop-up Shop, Pep Rallies, and more. She organized the internships.

This internship was led by Mrs. Stansbury and Mr. Bishop. We went around the Dawson campus writing down ideas and things that are good and what needs work in that certain location. The first place we went to was the Design Lab. We talked about what is good and what needs work. Every meeting was somewhere new: D-Lab, old basketball courts, woodshop/art room, and the tennis courts.

Knowandlove.com is a personality quiz. It determines what animal you are based on your personality. It also says how rare the animal you got is based on how many kids got that animal. Most of the questions are easy to answer. That’s why it is a reliable website to use. Animals rule! We used this website to get our leadership qualities and our leadership animals. Some of the animals were panda (Lily), elephant (Vivianna), parrot (Dylan), and bunny (Malena). We made Jamboards about the topic of our leadership animals. To figure out our animals, we went to knowandlove.com. We chose animals there or chose our own. Using the Jamboard, we included quotes, leadership traits, quotes from our friends, and pictures. Our leadership journals are journals for writing down stuff we learned in our leadership classes and we wrote things we learned about leadership. We got our leadership journals laser cut by Mr. Lehrer with our spirit animal cut on the cover. For example, Noah’s animal was a wolf, Justin’s animal was a

We ranked our top choices for what leadership internships wanted to do. For example, someone could make their first choice Library Assistant, second choice Health and Fitness Assistants, and so on. Ms. Aumann used these choices to select a leadership internship for us. You got your first choice or second choice or even your third choice. The internships were:

CAMPUS DESIGN

CYBER SAFETY Our mentor was Mr. Hermanek. We learned about cyber safety and how you can take care of a computer. Sometimes, people don’t use computers the way they are supposed to, so we want to help get people on task. We made paintings and posters to hang around the school. We made a shape in Google Drawing and put pictures on it to show what to do and what not to do. We can take what we learned and improve Dawson by helping to fix broken computers and taking care of them.

DESIGN LAB In our internship, we used the 3D printer with Mr. Lehrer. We made nameplates for ourselves. Meanwhile, in the Design Lab classes with our whole class, we were making nameplates. All fourth graders were making nameplates for themselves on Tinkercad. And if someone didn’t finish their nameplate during the Design Lab class, we would finish it for them so Mr. Lehrer could 3D print them. It was a lot of fun working in the D-Lab because we got to learn about leadership and about the Design Lab.

FILMMAKING

LIBRARY ASSISTANTS

We worked with Ms. Gray and Ms. Phillips. We got to interview people. We learned a lot about other people in the process. We learned about how most people would help someone if they were getting bullied, but some people would be afraid to do it. We learned that you should help everyone no matter what grade they are in or what they look like. We also learned not to hold your finger up to the camera or else it will look like a chili pepper!

This internship was with Ms. McNamara. In our Library internship, we helped by making book displays and posters. Some of us helped at the Book Fair. At the Fair, we greeted people and ran the cash register. We also helped people find books. One other thing we did was shelving books. We would look up a book that was misplaced in the Library catalog, see where it was supposed to be, and put it there. We didn’t just learn how to shelve books, we also learned how to work together to do it. It was very fun and exciting and we hope to do it again soon!

HEALTH AND FITNESS ASSISTANTS This internship was with Coach Hodge. We sorted supplies and took items to the lost and found. We learned about how to keep track of scores and how to set up games. We can take what we learned to improve the Dawson community by helping teach fitness and help people be more active by leading runs or workouts and more.

INTERIOR DESIGN Our mentor was Dr. Zito. On the first day, we went to different rooms to look at different design ideas and wrote ideas down in our leadership journals. On the second day, we looked at each other’s ideas and claimed spaces. On the third day, we filled out the order form of what we wanted to buy. On the fourth day, our order forms were not approved so we went and got tables and chairs. We put up student drawings that we made. 12

RECESS WARRIORS Our mentor was Lower School Counselor Ms. Robinson. We helped kids with problems on the two playgrounds and the blacktop. There weren’t really any problems (which is good), just people in the ditch and people climbing up the slides or even hurting each other. We had discussions about scenarios and what we could do in those scenarios and after everyone was done, we shared them with each other and said what we thought. We were split into two groups and each went to a playground and would go to a special spot and would see what troubles kids were having.

STUDENT AMBASSADORS We worked with Ms. Finfrock and Ms. Jacobsen. We helped package Yeti water bottles to send to new families coming to Dawson. We also helped

stamp the boxes for the families so they know who and where it is from. We made little notes about coming to Dawson. We also created a video about coming to Dawson and how fun it will be. What was in the video was about the Gym, the playground, art, music, Design Lab, and much more. We really enjoyed being in these videos.

SUNSHINE COMMITTEE Our mentor was Ms. Mouzoon. In the sunshine committee, we taught ourselves to be kind and forgiving. We wrote secret notes to teachers with nice messages.

This fourth-grade project is a remarkable example of modern learning in action, helping students to understand the importance of effective communication and problem-solving skills, collaboration, empathy, and reflective and flexible thinking about situations requiring a solutions-based mindset. Dawson students are continuously and consistently introduced to situations that prompt them to hone their leadership abilities and engage in experiences that allow them to develop core competencies and knowledge. This importantly supports their ability to think critically, pose important questions, and become acquainted with who they are as learners. It’s equally crucial for Dawson students to see themselves as change agents who model empathy and are curious and compelled to make a difference in their local and global communities. These classroom experiences are just the beginning; collaborative projects such as these help prepare our students for what is expected of them in Middle School and far beyond the walls of Dawson.

MENTOR QUOTES “My goal was for kids to try to find a couple of leadership qualities that they could really connect with and identify with, and then use those to impart change in the community. There was an element of student choice, which is really important at our school and leads to engagement, change, and fun.” - Ms. Aumann “I wanted to help the fourth graders learn about leadership. I think that it’s a great part of the Dawson experience that we teach students how to be tomorrow’s leaders. The best way to be tomorrow’s leader is to be today’s leader.” - Mr. Hermanek “I would really like for our interns to be able to tour families and to tell the story of Dawson from a student’s perspective. I think families really want to know what students think, and part of what we do at Dawson is we hear from kids and give students a voice.” - Ms. Jacobsen “This internship project, for me, was really special. As soon as Ms. Aumann mentioned it, I thought, ‘Yes, absolutely, I want to see our fourth graders step up to the challenge of being the leaders I know they can be in lower school.’ ” - Ms. Finfrock

STUDENT QUOTES “I could use what I learned to help Dawson or other communities to make them a better place.” - Madison McLean Jones “I feel like this would be some good learning skills to learn for just life. You have to listen and you learn a lot and you figure out what your passion is.” - Cole Dake “Before we did internships, I felt like I was just a kid and I would have to wait years to step up. I loved that we were getting the chance to move up and felt like we had more power even though we were a kid.” - Jordan Steele “I can think of creative ways to help our community grow by creating ideas for our campus.” - Brandon Protell

Challenge Success

Challenge Success Wellness Week: Let’s Talk About Mental Health By Rachael Lachhwani, Communications Manager

Dawson’s Challenge Success team at the Spring 2022 Challenge Success Conference at Stanford University. Think back for a moment to when you were in elementary or middle school. What were your biggest fears? What worries or stressors kept you up late at night? Did you feel alone? What was the biggest fight between you and a close friend, and how was it resolved? Much of life was turned on its head for our younger generations over the last few years, and a lot of it is entirely out of their control – and even ours as the adults in their lives who just want to protect and nurture them. It’s human for our thoughts and 16

feelings to sometimes swing like a pendulum, and one thing we can do is help provide our children with the support and strategies needed to navigate challenging situations and learn to grow from problems and adversity, both of which are, let’s face it, inevitable no matter how much we love our kids. Alexander Dawson is Nevada’s first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school. Utilizing the unique Challenge Success framework,

the School applies a research-based approach to help regulate emotions and increase attention; toward emphasizing student wellbeing and a self-expression through relaxing endeavors such healthy school-life balance to create more engaged, as art projects, reading, dancing, and yoga to motivated, and resilient learners. According to decrease stress and anxiety; getting some extra Challenge Success, the students of today are under sleep to help with the ability to focus; and enjoying more pressure than ever to be successful, and with the shared beauty of the outdoors during a family that expectation comes immense stress that can fitness day. Students also heard a presentation from lead to sleep deprivation, feeling overloaded by the Mayor’s Fund for the Going Green for Good homework and extracurricular activities, mental Health Initiative, an endeavor that supports efforts health issues, disengagement, lack of a sense of throughout Las Vegas to promote sustainability belonging and authentic social connections, and and aid in climate protection, including the goal of feeling the need to cheat to keep up academically. planting 50,000 trees by 2050. Research shows the Dawson’s Challenge Success team – which includes effects of climate change – such as air pollution, lead teachers, administrators, and Middle School student in the environment, and urbanization – can result in leaders – is where the rubber meets the road: They negative impacts on our mental health, and living a partnered with our mental health advocates student more sustainable lifestyle can help combat depression voice group to organize an and anxiety. Benefits include educational initiative for improved mindfulness grown the entire community called from the awareness our actions Wellness Week. The week have on our emotions, boosting was especially timely and one’s confidence and self-worth necessary in response to the by making a positive difference needs of our students this year in our communities and the due to a rise in mental health world at large, and participation concerns involving schoolin physical activities such aged children: According as walking or biking versus to a joint statement from traveling by car to help improve the American Academy of our health and boost our mood. Parent University presenter Dr. Devorah Heitner, Pediatrics, the American author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) In support of Dawson’s ongoing Academy of Child and in Their Digital World Adolescent Psychiatry, and commitment to the schoolthe Children’s Hospital home partnership, families Association, children are experiencing a “mental were also invited to a special Parent University health state of emergency.” Further, according to presentation about the particular impact social 2022 data from Mental Health America, the state of media has on youth mental wellness. Dr. Devorah Nevada is ranked last with regard to youth mental Heitner is the founder of Raising Digital Natives illness, indicating a high prevalence of mental illness (www.raisingdigitalnatives.com), which supplies and lower rates of access to care. The purpose parents and educators with practical, timely, and behind Dawson’s Wellness Week was therefore to non-judgmental advice to set kids up for success break the stigma attached to mental health matters in the digital world and in life. The goal is to help and highlight the importance of taking measures to children thrive in this world by applying empathy, safeguard our mental and emotional health just as kindness, and integrity, and Dr. Heitner shared we would our physical health and safety, especially her knowledge with our community as part of since everything is interconnected. Wellness Week. In preparation, families were asked to read Dr. Heitner’s book, Screenwise: Helping Kids The week’s thoughtful pursuits were plentiful and Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World, a guide to applicable to everyone from Early Childhood to understanding more about what it is like for children adulthood. Some of the smaller-scale ideas anyone to grow up with technology and its special challenges can easily work into their routine as regular habits and advantages. included the simple acts of talking and listening; enjoying non-technology-related activities to help find balance; participating in mindfulness techniques

Social media and gaming both grant kids access to millions of people, visuals, and topics at all times, and their design entraps and intrigues them in such a way that makes it incredibly difficult to disconnect. Dr. Heitner shared some helpful strategies to employ when educating your children at home about appropriate online behaviors, including texting with friends. To begin, she noted it’s most important to “mentor over monitor”, meaning we need to start by looking at our own screen behaviors to ensure we’re “running our devices and they’re not running us,” as Dr. Heitner worded it. We have to acknowledge instances when we ourselves may have gone too far, strive to model balance, and share our own experiences and mistakes with our kids so they learn from us. Self-regulation and accountability are key to helping kids understand when it’s time to put down their devices and take a break. Dr. Heitner also shared four areas of focus when it comes to wellness with regard to developing positive social media habits: RELATIONSHIPS: How is your child interacting with their friends, with you, and with their teachers, and what role does technology play when navigating these relationships? It’s important to teach your kids the difference between true, good friends versus online followers and the necessity behind sorting conf licts face to face when they occur rather than in the online world. REPUTATION: Adolescence is the time when kids should be freely exploring their identity, and it is unfair that kids today may develop an online reputation that lives in perpetuity. Mistakes at 18

these young ages should not be concrete, so it’s also important to widely and openly discuss how the images we share don’t just go away if deleted, as well as the topic of consent – they must ask before they share photos of others, and others need to ask them. And it’s really okay to say no. SELF-ESTEEM: Social media, coupled with feelings of isolation born from the pandemic, has exacerbated our kids’ general wellness and mental health struggles. Parents need to offer support to their kids by taking an interest in their interests and providing other avenues for activities that increase their sense of usefulness, confidence, and self-worth. They need to feel good about themselves in ways unrelated to likes online. TIME MANAGEMENT: It is incredibly easy to fall down a technology rabbit hole. So have conversations with your kids about the sites they’re visiting and what they’re viewing on them, and create strategies that will help them refocus and stay on task. Help your child craft a schedule so they can responsibly identify when devices should be put away, especially when they need to get some sleep. Everyone is unique, and so the appropriate amount of time your child spends online or gaming and the frequency with which they are checking or posting status updates on social media will look different. The most important thing to watch for is how technology is impacting your child’s relationships, mood, or overall sense of wellbeing so that it doesn’t become problematic as an unhealthy presence in their lives. Dr. Heitner

also offered a simple token of advice during her presentation that really resonated with me: When navigating relationships of all kinds, she spoke of the need to “repair and move forward” when misunderstandings occur. I drew from this the need to exercise resiliency, or the ability to learn and grow from life’s unavoidably difficult or painful moments. Psychologists are studying how surviving challenging situations can often make us more focused, more compassionate, more appreciative, and more aware of our own strengths and possibilities. Sometimes we must sit with our pain and learn to tolerate it in order to right our mental focus and unearth empathy. Finding a way to move through tough experiences allows us to confidently take the hand of those beside us and chart a path together for journeying on, making room for healing, forgiveness, kindness, bravery, and gratitude to take shape in their many different and beautiful forms. I’m sure we’ve each heard the saying “stop and smell the roses”. Yes, a total cliche, but the meaning behind it truly is quite lovely: consciously directing your mind to be aware and attentive to the present moment to be able to experience and enjoy more of the world surrounding you. Simply, I think we would all do better to stop and smell the roses more often: unplug and get outside, have a real conversation, embrace your passions, do what brings you joy, care deeply for yourself and others, find your purpose, reach out for help when you need it. Your body and mind will thank you for all of it.

Speakers from the Mayor’s Fund for the Going Green for Good Health Initiative presented to students during an assembly.

Students and families participate in healthy activities on Family Fitness Saturday.

Students are practicing yoga as a mindfulness technique for relaxation. 19

Board of Trustees

A FOND FAREWELL

TO RETIRING BOARD CHAIRMAN OZ GUTSCHE By Megan Gray, Chief Communications Officer

The Alexander Dawson Foundation trustees and School trustees are pictured from left: Tom Kaplan (parent trustee), Susan Borst, Lisa Eyler, Pearl Gallagher, Oz Gutsche (retiring chairman), Nicole Rogers (parent trustee), Kimberley Johnston (newly appointed chairman), and Jeff Shih (parent trustee). Not pictured: W. Hunter Campbell.

Founded in 1957, the Mission of the Alexander Dawson Foundation is to establish, operate, and maintain two independent, non-profit schools that provide students with the highest quality education. The Foundation seeks to nurture future leaders, prepare young adults to excel in college and society, and develop the self-respect, selfdiscipline, and self-reliance of each student by stressing the value of hard work and personal responsibility. Of the two schools the Foundation supports, one is our treasured Alexander Dawson School, founded by philanthropist and entrepreneur G.B. ( Jerry) Henderson. 20

When retiring Alexander Dawson School Board Chairman Oz Gutsche was the young age of 19, he envisioned a very different future for himself. Airplanes and technology were his passion, and wanting to study and design the aviation systems of the future, he was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley’s aeronautical engineering program. As fate would have it, the summer before Oz was to begin college, he met fellow aviator and visionary Jerry Henderson, and they immediately connected over their shared passion for aviation, technology, innovation, and engineering systems.

When they met, Jerry was interested in a new type of technology: cable television. Oz helped Jerry understand how underground cable systems worked and soon found himself installing the first cable television system in Monterey, California. “Jerry could see what was coming before most people. It was his gift,” says Oz. “He’d heard of this new technology called cable television and wanted to know how it worked. I explained the engineering behind it, and that was it. Next thing I knew, I was working for Jerry.” This venture marked the beginning of a lifelong partnership, and for Oz, the adventure of a lifetime. Next came the installation of the first residential satellite dishes, pioneering geothermal fish farms and greenhouses, building some of the first fully functional and elaborate underground homes (this was during the Cold War, after all), investing in the invention of the turbo-prop airplane, and building a sailboat factory in Las Vegas. Recalls Oz, “Jerry conducted all of his business out of his briefcase because the world was his office. But what he was the best at was he really listened to people. He liked talking to people. And he never stopped learning, never stopped moving. That’s what kept him young. I admired that most.” As founder of the Alexander Dawson Foundation, Jerry was a natural entrepreneur comfortable with risk, but he still believed deeply in the power of education. He built his first school – The Alexander Dawson School in Lafayette, Colorado – in 1970 as Colorado Junior Republic, a boarding school for boys in grades 9-12, to its current state as a coeducational college preparatory day school for grades K-12. Our Alexander Dawson School in Las Vegas followed in 2000. Oz, a founding member of the Alexander Dawson Foundation, served as a dedicated member of our Board of Trustees for more than 22 years before announcing his retirement in May of 2022. “As a trustee, I have a fiduciary responsibility to the Schools and to the Foundation,” says Oz. “The job is not as romantic as the early years of my time with Jerry, but it’s no less important. Jerry really valued education. We carry that legacy.”

And Dawson is poised to continue to grow and change in remarkable ways to ensure we continue to meet the modern learning needs of our students under the guidance of Head of School Roxanne Stansbury. With her expertise and passion, Oz knows the future of Dawson is bright.

Jerry Henderson, founder of the Alexander Dawson Foundation

“She is the best Head of School we’ve ever hired, no question about it,” Oz says of Roxanne. “I know she is the best person to carry the School forward. She understands the teachers, the facilities, and the curriculum. She knows what we need to do to ensure the School remains an excellent place for learning.” Alexander Dawson Foundation Vice Chair Kimberley Johnston was appointed our new Chairman of the Board in May of 2022. She was first with the Foundation from 1979-1983 and returned to serve as controller for the Alexander Dawson entities in 1993 before transitioning to Board member in 2012. “Kim has been with us from the early years,” Oz reflects. “She knew Jerry, and she knew all the ins and outs of the Foundation. The Foundation will be in excellent hands with Kim.”

When asked what he is most proud of in his time as a trustee, Oz points to Dawson’s incredible campus. “We have such a beautiful facility. I am proud of this campus. I am proud of what we’ve built. When we bought this land, it was just desert, and it’s incredible to see what has sprung up in this area in the last 20 years.”

Adds Kim, “( Jerry) was an entrepreneur with diverse business interests but remained true to his belief in the importance of young people and his love of this country and its opportunities. This Board of Trustees has stood by the Foundation and the Schools ever since Mr. Henderson’s death. I am sure he would be proud of the legacy we have made by keeping his spirit alive.”

Oz continued to lead our campus Facilities Committee through his final days on the Board. With his vision and support for what Dawson could and would become, our amazing 33-acres of desert beauty today awards our community access to many extraordinary indoor and outdoor areas that spark our students’ curiosity, collaboration, exploration, and personalized learning.

For his time, knowledge, experience, and much more over the many years, The Alexander Dawson School extends deep gratitude toward Oz Gutsche for his enduring support of our community. With Dawson’s solid foundation, we remain grateful that Kim Johnston’s steadfast commitment will continue to safeguard the School and its future wellbeing. 215

#AmazingDawsonAlums

Amazing Dawson Alum:

Monique Koman, Class of 2011 By Shea Phillips, Marketing & Digital Content Manager

Dawson teaches its students to be critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and advocates for their education so they flourish in any career or industry. The middle school years are vital for young learners’ cognitive, social, and emotional development, and Class of 2011 alum Monique Koman is confident her Dawson experience set her up for success. “I always say I believe it shaped me to be who I am today, and I attribute many of my qualities to what I learned at Dawson.” The best part about Dawson, Monique recalls, were the people. She credits our tight-knit community, where she made lifelong friends, for her strong social skills. “We had a lot of group discussions and classes were small so we always felt like we were looked after and cared for. That goes a long way.” Monique’s long list of influential teachers include Mr. Burby, Ms. Freeman, Mr. Finfrock, Ms. Shim, 22

and Mr. Hennemann. “Ms. Freeman impacted me because of her amazing energy and her great sense of humor. She always asked me how I was doing and was in a great mood. She made me laugh and made me feel loved and cared for, which is so important in school. Mr. Finfrock taught me so much about photography and sparked a fire in me that made me fall in love with taking photos. He was also always such a cool person, too! I remember how much he cared about his students and genuinely wanted them to learn and improve.” After graduating from Dawson, Monique attended Bishop Gorman High School. Academically, she says Dawson’s rigorous and challenging curriculum prepared her tremendously well. “I felt like I was ahead of the game and had learned things very early on that stuck with me throughout my high school experience. One of the most important skills Dawson taught me was critical thinking. I remember Mr.

Burby actually teaching us to think for ourselves. I think it’s so important to stay true to yourself and make decisions that you align with on your own.” And it was at Gorman where Monique fell in love with football: the games, the crowd, the people, the energy, the stories – all of it. She decided early on she wanted to attend a big football college, and this enthusuiasm led her to the University of Alabama, where she soaked in the SEC college football culture. “I loved the camaraderie and team spirit. I am so grateful I got to experience that dream of mine, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Growing up, Monique always knew she wanted to work in sports but did not know in what capacity until during her sophomore year of college, when the Raiders organization announced the team’s move to Las Vegas. She immediately began to manifest working for the team and sent a cold email to the organization. “I was determined. The thought of helping an NFL team move to my hometown and being a part of all of the firsts sounded like a dream job.” After studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, during her junior year, Monique transferred to UNLV to finish her degree in sports journalism. A member of the Raiders media team visited one of her classes and shared about a job opening for a production assistant. Monique listened carefully and took copious notes. She applied just minutes after the job was posted and got an interview. “I felt extremely underqualified. But I did it anyway and my biggest lesson from that period of my life was this: A lot of times you’ll suffer from imposter syndrome. You’ll think ‘Why would they pick me?’ And if you find yourself with that thought entering your mind in the future, get rid of it as fast as you can. That’s a limiting belief! You can do anything you set your mind to. I promise, and I’m here to prove it!” And the rest was history. With grit and perseverance, Monique paved the path to her dream job with the Las Vegas Raiders. She worked hard and a year later was promoted to her current role of producer. It’s a job that was not on her radar as a student but is one she discovered by adjusting her goals along the way. “I feel as though I created a lot of opportunities for myself, and my biggest advice is to find opportunities in your life and seize them. If you look around, they are everywhere.” Monique says the best things about the work she does are the people she meets and the stories she

tells. Most notably, she sat down with wide receiver Davante Adams to talk about his journey to the Raiders, and she was able to tell Carl Nassib’s powerful story of being the first active NFL player to come out as gay. “I love that I get to meet new and incredible people, get to know them, and be a part of their platform by sharing all of their experiences that have led them to where they are today,” she reflects. And her name is even etched in Las Vegas history: Monique participated in the Raiders’ Topping Out Ceremony, when the final steel beam was placed atop Allegiant Stadium after being signed by Raiders staff and executives, Allegiant executives, construction workers, and Las Vegas officials. Monique’s advice for our current Dawson Bears is to slow down, take things lightly, and always be kind. “Realize that the journey is the most important part. Once you get to your destination, what you’ll have to look back on is the process. Try to take in the moment, soak in all of the memories, and have fun! Be as present as possible! Don’t overthink things, don’t hold grudges, forgive, forget, and move on. You’re young and you have your whole life ahead of you. Take the changes as they are and be nice to everyone. You will look back at your experience at Dawson with the utmost gratitude for everything the School has brought to you. Not everyone gets to experience Dawson. It’s a privilege to attend this incredible school.”

For more inspirational stories about our Dawson alums, or to share your own amazing alum story, visit adsrm.org/alumni. 23

#AmazingDawsonAlums

Where Are They Now?

GRIFFIN HADDRILL Class of 2012 Griffin is CEO and co-founder of the digital marketing agency VRTCL, helping to launch the viral campaigns of a variety of musical artists and record labels across TikTok as mashups and memes. Griffin, whose company employs a diverse staff that is 50 percent women and 50 percent people of color, was recently recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 for marketing and advertising.

ANTONIO GUTIERREZ Class of 2013 Antonio graduated in 2017 from The Meadows School, Pepperdine University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business, and is currently attending Berkeley Law. He credits the holistic education he received in both the arts and sciences at Dawson for preparing him to travel a path where he could be himself and pursue his passions. This past May, Antonio accepted an offer to join O’Melveny & Myers LLP’s 2022 Summer Associate Class as a Coleman Fellow.

MARISA MISSION Class of 2013 Marisa graduated from Stanford University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations, with a specialization in Social Development & Human Wellbeing and a concentration in International Security. She was also awarded a Stanford Community Impact Fellowship at Venture Leadership Consulting in Silicon Valley.

One of the most incredible facets of measurable success for The Alexander Dawson School is the accomplishments of our graduates, as they are the change-makers of today and tomorrow. As illustrated in our Vision, a Dawson student exits our doors ready to achieve their individual potential, savor life, and meet the challenges of the world. For more inspirational stories about our Dawson alums, or to share your own amazing alum story, please visit adsrm.org/alumni.

SOPHIE GRAY & EVAN FIFE Class of 2018 Sophie and Evan, recent graduates of Las Vegas magnet school West Career & Technical Academy, qualified in January for the AP “We The People” Civics Team national competition in Washington, D.C. This was the first time a Southern Nevada team qualified for nationals since 1999. Sophie will attend the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in the fall to study English literature and history, and Evan will serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Juiz De Fora, Brazil.

PAYTON BUCHMILLER Class of 2018 Payton, a recent graduate of The Meadows School, spent part of his senior year of high school giving back to the Dawson community. He stepped in mid-season to coach our Middle School tennis team, offering his valuable knowledge, skills, and attention. Payton was instrumental in the end-of-season tournament, helping six of our student-athletes to win trophies. He also performed as the deejay for our Spring Carnival following Field Day this past April and was a volunteer for our summer program in June. Payton is headed to the University of Utah in the fall to study business and music technology.

JUDAH HAFTER Class of 2018 Judah was named The Adelson Educational Campus Class of 2022 Valedictorian this past May. He credits Dawson with providing a nurturing environment for a lifetime of education and growth, as well as the teachers who cared for him as an individual and for teaching him what it means to be a good person. Judah will study abroad in Israel before returning to the Honors College at UNLV to major in finance.

Dawson Athletics Highlights

BEAR DEN NEWS DAWSON ATHLETICS We strive to teach our student-athletes to develop a flexible and healthy mindset toward competitive activities, as well as important life skills such as teamwork, collaboration, time management, leadership, risk-taking, and goal setting. Our student-athletes are important representatives of the School’s Mission and Core Beliefs, both on campus and throughout the larger Las Vegas community, and they represent our school with pride and spirit. We saw incredible success this past year with our newly revitalized athletics program, and by forming purposeful partnerships with local sports clubs and recruiting knowledgeable coaches and mentors, we will continue to enhance an athletics program that is inclusive, dynamic, and beneficial to all of our students. We congratulate each of our student-athletes for their incredible strength, skill, and trust in one another this school year both on and off the court and field. Here’s a recap of our winter and spring sports seasons with the Red Rock Athletic Conference (RRAC) and the National Choice Schools Athletic Association (NCSAA). This is the first school year Dawson Athletics participated in the NCSAA, and the experience did not disappoint!

TRACK & FIELD (CO-ED)

Coached by Dawson faculty Corey Drummond, Rachel Pruitt, and Jessica Balzano, the co-ed track and field team came in first place in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions in the Tri-Meet Invitational in May. In their last regular-season meet against eight local schools, the 7/8 girls’ team came in first place with a final score that equaled more than double the second-place team. In their last regular-season meet against 11 local schools, the 7/8 boys’ team came in second place. In the championship meet during the last week of school, the 7/8 boys’ team placed third and the 7/8 girls’ team placed first! Over 50 schools total participated in the NCSAA League. 26

GOLF (CO-ED)

SOCCER (CO-ED)

Coached by Dawson faculty Hailey Vidales and Director of Admissions Krista Jacobsen, our soccer season was one for the books. The team hustled hard all season long, learned so much together as one team, and ended on a high note in dominating fashion with a score of 7-0 Bears in their final game.

Coached by Dawson staff Kyle Baker and PGA Golf teaching professional Collins Tamashiro, this incredible team had four students compete in the Southern Nevada Middle School league individual championships against eight schools and 40 golfers. It was an incredible end to the first full season with a gold medal in the 5/6 girls’ division and both a gold and silver medal in the 5/6 boys’ division.

BASEBALL (CO-ED) The inaugural season of Dawson baseball was stellar. Coached by Dawson faculty Jahvin Cosey and Chris Cowherd and substitute teacher Cal Govang, the team won four of their last five games to finish with a winning record. Additionally, Dawson has a school partnership with the local arm of the national Rawlings Tigers Baseball program, which through highperformance instruction and relentless dedication to players and families, provides resources to advance players’ skills as students and athletes. 27

Dawson Athletics Highlights

DAWSON ATHLETICS TENNIS (CO-ED)

Our boys’ tennis team coached by faculty Nancy Myster, Jan Brazell, and Mike Buchmiller, and Dawson Alum Payton Buchmiller (‘18) took third place in the Red Rock League this school year. The team made history by bringing home

COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING

Dawson’s cheer athletes are coached by faculty Jessica Lopes and Vegas Golden Knights cheerleader Sara Simpson. The squad participated in the NCSAA Battle of the Hearts in February, their first-ever competition, and they took home second place out of seven schools, and a group of four cheerleaders entered the group stunt competition and 28

Dawson’s first-ever boys’ singles title, a fourth-place medal in boys’ singles, and both first and second-place wins in the girls’ doubles-team championship.

won first place. In the NCSAA Spring Fling Competition in March, the squad placed third out of eight schools, and in their final competition of the year at Foothill High School in April, the squad came in second place out of eight schools. 29

Dawson Athletics Highlights

DAWSON ATHLETICS GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

Dawson’s Varsity Division volleyball team – coached by Stacy Sykora, Kayla Agae, and Elizabeth Rice of Sykora Volleyball – made it to the semi-finals of the RRAC in the fall. The team also finished undefeated in the NCSAA, entering the playoffs as the number-two seed. Dawson has a school partnership with Sykora Volleyball Academy, a high-quality volleyball program that strives to develop its players into the best individual, teammates, athletes, and community members through competition and life skills development. Owner and coach Stacy Sykora is a threetime Olympic athlete who took silver with Team USA Volleyball in 2008.

CROSS COUNTRY (CO-ED) All of our runners, coached by Dawson faculty Corey Drummond and Rachel Pruitt, showed drastic improvement during the fall season. They increased their race times by more than two minutes over the course of the season, and many runners consistently finished in the top 10 of their divisions. Dawson’s best finish was third place in the girls’ 7/8 division.

BASKETBALL

Coached by Joel Wright, faculty Malcolm Hodge, faculty Wayne Pittman, Jackie Lewis, alum Remmington Penn (‘08), and Danielle Morrow, our girls’ basketball team and four boys’ basketball teams started their seasons in November and showed incredible tenacity through big wins, tough losses, hard work, and numerous learning opportunities. Most excitingly, for the first time ever in Dawson history, Dawson’s 7/8 boys’ team won the championship in the RRAC!

Dawson Athletics Highlights

DAWSON ATHLETICS

FLAG FOOTBALL Coached by faculty Malcolm Hodge and alum Mikey Tuccelli-Margolin (‘08), over 40 students joined our flag football teams last fall, and every one of them finished the season with winning records. Season highlights included our Bears winning two incredible title championships: one in the RRAC, and a second in the new NCSAA league. In NCSAA, Dawson’s team beat 39 local, private, and charter schools throughout the valley to take first place!

SWIMMING

The Dawson swim team, coached by Dawson faculty Jessica Balzano, had an incredible winter season. They made it all the way to the RRAC championship meet in November, with the 7/8 girls’ team taking first runner-up overall. The team took home 10 individual event awards.

DAWSON ATHLETICS RISE PROGRAM Dean of Athletics Marc Leonor launched the RISE program during the second semester of the 2021-2022 school year, which stands for Reaching Individualized Sports Excellence. This program creates an avenue for K-8 students interested in one-on-one instruction and enrichment opportunities for any sport, including strength training, to partner with Dawson’s contracted athletics coaches for skills extension and practice. RISE helps us continue to recruit and retain highly qualified coaches in alignment with our Mission and Vision, provides our student-athletes with ongoing opportunities to master the fundamentals and grow their abilities, and allows for our athletics program to meet students at their personal level. It’s a great opportunity to prepare students as they join teams and compete in leagues both at Dawson and throughout the Las Vegas Valley. 33

Second-Semester Highlights

BEAR DEN NEWS

EC-4 VOCABULARY PARADE & FARMERS’ MARKET Our families loved watching words come to life once again during the Vocabulary Parade! This year, we were excited to include Early Childhood in the fun, and students through fourth grade dressed up in costumes that represented their chosen word of study. Following the parade, Dawson held a Farmers’ Market in the Ruffin Organic Garden in support of the Mayor’s Fund for the Going Green for Good Health Initiative, which seeks to plan 50,000 trees by 2050. Led by faculty Herma DeRidder and Matsuko Freeman, harvesting items for our community Farmers’ Market allowed students the chance to build knowledge, advocate for an environmental cause, and take action in the community.

LUNAR NEW YEAR Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. Each culture celebrates the Lunar New Year differently with various foods and traditions that symbolize prosperity, abundance, and togetherness. In January, students learned more about the holiday by reading books, playing games, and practicing their language skills in honor of the various traditions.

GLOBAL DAY OF PLAY In February, our EC through second-grade students participated in Global Day of Play celebrations. As Nevada’s first Challenge Success school, Dawson supports the importance of balance and the benefits of play. When it is freely chosen, unstructured, and personally directed, play is linked to an increase in children’s cognitive skills, physical health, self-regulation, language abilities, social skills, and empathy. Unstructured playtime teaches children to solve problems without adult interference and allows students to refresh their minds, bodies, and emotions.

HINDU FESTIVAL OF HOLI The Hindu festival of Holi in March marks the beginning of spring and represents the spirit of friendship, love, happiness, and family. Students learned more about the festival’s traditions through books, educational resources, and activities. Holi, which is celebrated throughout India and other regions of Asia and the Western world, is also known as the festival of colors, and students created art using the traditional colored powder and tossed the powder into the air in honor of this special time. 35

KINDERGARTEN CELEBRATION On the last day of school, our Class of 2030 students said goodbye to kindergarten and hello to first grade with a special celebration in honor of their year-long accomplishments. They performed for an audience of their families in the Dining Hall, singing the song “Let’s Get Together” from the movie The Parent Trap and the Quaver Music song “You-nique”, which is about standing up for yourself, finding your voice, and being true to who you are.

FITNESS FUN WITH FIT4MOM This year, Dawson was excited to continue offering its on-campus fitness program through our school partnership with Fit4Mom. The organization’s Body Well program – weekslong endeavors that encourage exercise, stress management, the importance of sleep, and a nourishing plan for healthy eating – was a convenient way for our families, faculty, and staff to enjoy self-care, gain strength and balance, and enjoy the outdoors for increased wellbeing.

ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN MIND, BODY & CHARACTER Each year, a small number of graduating eighth-grade students are selected to receive The G.B. Henderson Award. This award is named for the business executive and philanthropist Girard B. Henderson, whose generosity – coupled with his belief in the power of education – made the founding of The Alexander Dawson School possible. The award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, and citizenship, is a reflection of our Mission and Vision. From left, the students who received the G.B. Henderson Award for the 2021-2022 school year are Ausum Kwon, Sophia Maxwell, Hudson Borsari, and Bo Algate. Bo will attend The Kingsley School in England, Hudson will attend Bishop Gorman High School, Sophia will attend The Meadows School, and Ausum will attend The Adelson Educational Campus for high school in the fall. 36

Photo provided by Adam Trujillo Photography

PERFORMING ARTS

The entire community was thrilled to welcome back some of our beloved performing arts exhibitions during the spring semester! The second graders performed Journey Into Outer Space, complete with fun songs about the planets, the moon, space travel, and aliens. Our middle school choir students performed a wide variety of beautiful jazz songs during their spring vocal concert, and our middle school orchestra showcased our students’ incredible dedication to their instruments and the art of performing for an audience. Additionally, our middle school theater students participated in several acting showcases in May: The fifth graders performed When Bad Things Happen to Good Actors, the sixth graders performed 10 Ways to Survive the End of the World, and the seventh and eighth-graders performed the musical Beauty and the Beast, Jr.

CHILDREN’S DAY In May, many of our first and second graders celebrated Children’s Day, a Japanese holiday that extends well wishes for children to be strong, healthy, and happy. They learned about the holiday’s history and made origami kabuto, which are the helmets children wear on this special day. Students also enjoyed extra time outdoors and participated in choice activities.

EC’S WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD Every April, our youngest Dawson Bears celebrate Week of the Young Child (WOYC), an annual event hosted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This year, our Early Childhood students spent a fun-filled week as Kindness Campers and enjoyed activities such as painting kindness rocks for our community to find, a story-time campout, a nature scavenger hunt, a campus clean-up, bike day, and Dawson’s school-wide Field Day.

FIELD DAY & SPRING CARNIVAL Dawson was excited to combine its annual EC-8 Field Day and Spring Carnival into one fabulous day in April! Field Day was a campus-wide day of excitement complete with inflatables, a relay race, and games galore. The beloved Spring Carnival following the Field Day festivities was an exciting way for Dawson to show gratitude to our entire community for the achievements accomplished during our Annual Fund campaign and a fun way to welcome spring break! 38

TRAVELING FIELD TRIPS Our Middle School students were beyond excited to resume their traveling field trips in the spring! Fifth grade traveled to Camp Stevens in Julian, California, sixth grade traveled to Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park, seventh grade enjoyed the beach at Camp Surf in Imperial Beach, California, and eighth grade toured Washington, D.C., and Virginia to learn more about our nation’s history. These experiential learning opportunities allow our middle schoolers to take healthy risks, develop an understanding of the School’s culture, structure, and goals, and make connections with peers and teachers outside of the classroom.

Dawson Class of 2022

CLASS OF 2022

7 40

WHERE ARE THEY GOING? BISHOP GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL

CLARK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Lilah Azous Hudson Borsari Rafael Carducci Zachary Coneh Charles Elardi Ivan Fernandez Giacomo Ferrence Asher Fine Alexander Freestone Adrianna Gumm

Meiling Franklin, Rancho High School Brooklynn Holbert, Palo Verde High School Anthony Palazzo, Amplus Academy Spencer Wilbur, Palo Verde High School

Kaden Hammond Dylan Kelly Dylan Kwong Sydney McIntosh Tyler Protell Jaxon Richardson Yashveir Singh Zan Stockham Bryce Tagle Nathan Wong

BOARDING SCHOOLS Sophia DaBell, Blair Academy Matthew Murphy-Ottolenghi, Kent Denver School

CLARK COUNTY CTA/MAGNET SCHOOLS Clark Anderson, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Sophia Bilak, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Lillie Berkowitz, Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Casen Brown, Southwest Career & Technical Academy Isaac Griffith, West Career & Technical Academy Olivia Levy, West Career & Technical Academy Emiliano Politis, Southwest Career & Technical Academy

Dawson’s High School Planning Team is dedicated to finding the right-fit high school for each of our graduating students. There are a variety of options that can and should be explored, from local public and private schools to magnet and career/tech academies and nationally recognized boarding schools. As part of the services provided to students by our High School Planning Team, we were honored to welcome the following boarding schools to campus during the first semester of the 2021-2022 school year. Each boarding school visit provides an intimate setting for small-group information panels and admissions process prep sessions with our seventh and eighth-grade students.

FAITH LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL Abigail Anton Jacob Figg Brynn McCracken Ashur Weber

OUT OF STATE Bo Algate, The Kingsley School in Leamington Spa, England J.J. Anderson, Sheldon School in Chippenham, England

THE ADELSON EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS Maximillian Jimenez Ausum Kwon

THE MEADOWS SCHOOL Martina Bilak Austin Blanco Madeleine Browne Gwyneth Maddox Matthew Maddox Sophia Maxwell Mekyle Mir

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Caleb Ocampo Aarti Patel Kip Ryan Tristan Saxe Elliott Shulman Ellodee Timmer

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Winning Graduate Essay

DAWSON GRADUATE ESSAY

Ellodee Timmer, ‘22

To me, there will always be a moment that belongs particularly to the person it touched the most. And there is a moment, I’m sure, everyone in this school can remember. One I know must have been different, yet all the same, for each of us here. The moment where we first discovered Dawson. Were you scrolling through the internet or heard about it from a friend? Arrive by pure fate and Photo provided by Adam Trujillo Photography

chance? Did your parents tell you that you were changing schools, moving, or starting this “new chapter” in your life? Or were you fortunate enough to have been offered a job here so many years ago, however many that may be? By the time this speech is finished, it doesn’t matter how many different paths everyone around us took to get to Dawson. Because we still all stand here today. In a new moment. After so many contrasting ones we have gone through.

With this speech, I could spend the majority of it talking about my time here, meandering on exuberantly while mentioning my disastrous first day or my growth as a student. And further spend it commemorating those few specific people who left influences across me as a whole. Telling you all about my own personal and uncharacteristically specific moments. I could do all of that. Truly. But if I spent this time – this small, illusory amount I think will help summarize all of those moments – then I would be yet another graduate singing that tell-tale tune that further compares me to our predecessors. So instead, I won’t. A shocking conclusion for most of you, I know. But I do not want this speech to become something you listen to for five minutes, then allow to evaporate from your mind. The human attention span is only eight seconds after all. So I’m sure most of you have given up altogether. My time at Dawson all the way through to the very end is only something all of us have shared. I’ve spent seven years at Dawson. Someone else could be starting here for the first time in a couple of months. The difference? Nothing. Because we will both go on to spend our time here with different advisors, different combinations of friends, and different grades levels all leading us both to right here and now. And for all of that time, we would have spent it here. At not a school, but a world dedicated to creating those specific moments in time. Moments of which, I’m sure, will either be completely forgotten or will stick alongside you until the very end. The point is, however you may look at it, in the end a life is made up of different moments. Ones that stick out, hide away, or become something you cherish for as long as you can. We are stronger as a whole because of these moments. They change and mold us into people we wouldn’t expect to be. If it weren’t for this school, I wouldn’t have discovered the hundreds of different “mes” I fell in love with. The one who obsessed over musical theater, the one who learned how to use math in real life whether she liked it or not, and the one who wanted to go through life helping people because she too knew what it felt like to be helpless. Each of these intertwining personalities only came to be with each of the moments forged behind them.

I’ve changed, grown, and second guessed myself the entire way. But because of this school and because of the people around me, I have gone one step closer to fully accepting the fact that I can’t genuinely control every aspect of my life. Expect the unexpected, and you’ll never be disappointed again. But allow for it to come into your life where you wouldn’t have thought otherwise, and let yourself be altered and pleasantly surprised by the moment it creates. The unexpected. That is the bigger picture. So whether it is your first time here or your very last, no one will know what happens next. Which is why, due to that very statement, we should trust in ourselves. The reason why we should focus on those around us and take note of the unforeseen. And you can take this advice with a clear voice in mind. Because without this unknown we might not have had COVID. Conversely, without COVID we wouldn’t be here today, expecting it and preparing. Coming from someone who spent half of her life as a chronic overthinker, this may all sound crazy. But at the end of the day, the moments we leave behind and the ones we create become this separate peace we should live in. A separate peace we should flourish in. “We have no control over what can happen tomorrow, so it is today where our impact truly counts.” Who said this? Me. Right here, right now, to all of you. And if that isn’t enough to help you look at the world around you and not take it for granted, then I don’t know what is. It is with this that I leave you. A statement that will hopefully not stay within this room, but at the very least, within each of the moments this commencement day has created. It is not the final end or the very beginning. Rather, the small limbo in time right before the next thing that happens. The place where the unexpected will truly arise. Within the middle of nothing. Tomorrow, there will be another moment to create. Another world for us to make similar to this one. From the lessons we have each learned here and the next generation of those after us to help inspire, we will continue making these small moments. These lightbulbs in our minds that will once again stick out to us. Because as an Italian poet once put it, “We do not remember days, we remember moments.” So take it upon yourselves to truly make the most of these next moments, whatever the outcome may be. k

Winning Graduate Essay

DAWSON GRADUATE ESSAY

Caleb Ocampo, ‘22

Photo provided by Adam Trujillo Photography

Robin Williams once said, “ ‘O me! O life!…Of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains for the faithless….‘Oh me, O life?’ Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?” As we end our final year at Dawson, I ask you all to look at the class photos of eighth-grade classes from years prior. Imagine them in your mind. Not that different from you, are they? Sure, they have different hair cuts, different faces, and different expressions, but they’re exactly like you. You’re full of excitement for the future just as they were, adrenaline pulsing through your veins just as theirs was, each and every single one full of aspirations as if the entire world was destined to obey their rules and their rules only. Their names are forever ingrained in Dawson’s history. Their legacies will forever be known as the class clown, the studious – albeit, morose – academic, and the most caring person you will ever meet in your life. Now, as we graduate, I ask what will your legacy be? Who do you want to be remembered as? It seems like only a few months ago I was still in the sixth grade. My first year at a new school. Until now, graduation was just a date on a page that marked that the school year was nearing its end. Now that I’m here, I can see it’s so much more. It’s as if I was closing a book I’d taken months to read. An entire storyline finally reaching an end. That symbolic thud when the book is finally closed for the final time after being opened daily for months parallels the moment the speaker says, “Congratulations to the class of some year.” Now that we’re heading into the next chapter of our lives, the most important theme in this book we call Middle School is most definitely cherishing the moment. I didn’t know it at the time, but the best year of my life had to have been the seventh grade. Of the three years I’ve been at Dawson, I chose the one where a pandemic was in full force. I chose the one where my grade had been quarantined the most times in a year. Everything about that year pointed to it being the worst year of my life, but the more I reflect upon that year and all the smaller things I did, I can’t help but say it was the best. The different dares I made with my friends, the water wars at recess, and the lunch alternating from in our classrooms to the Dining Hall every week were all small things I took for granted. At the time, I thought half of these

things were actively detracting from my middle school experience. The classroom lunches were mediocre compared to when we were in the Dining Hall, but I wasn’t prepared for how fun those lunches actually could be. Jaxon nearly fell in the trash can once during his weird dunking game. I absolutely loved his sacred throne, which he guarded with his life. His passion for that chair could legitimately convince someone that that chair was made by a master craftsman hailing from Japan who brought over sacred maple wood to India by foot, got it shipped by boat to Mexico, then proceeded to carry it on his back until he got to Nevada and carved it so meticulously that it was a chair fit only for a king. I’ll never forget the death stares he gave me whenever I sat on his special throne. If I could talk to that seventh-grade kid one more time, I’d tell him to savor this. Just as John Knowles explained in A Separate Peace, these small momentary, illusory, special anomalies in a world otherwise filled with chaos created a small window of a separate peace. In these moments, there was no pandemic. There was no political unrest. Just pure, unadulterated self-expression by a couple of 12 and 13 year olds. If there is one thing we should appreciate more than any of these special moments, it should be the people who made those moments possible. Cherish the ones who love you and make amends with the ones who did. I’ve seen relationships torn apart and stitched back together with fabric so tightly woven that the friendship is near impenetrable. As Rami Malek once vehemently expressed, “There are some people out there. It’s rare. But they refuse to let you hate them. In fact, they care about you in spite of it. And the really special ones, they’re relentless at it. Doesn’t matter what you do to them. They take it and care about you anyway. They don’t abandon you, no matter how many reasons you give them. No matter how much you’re practically begging them to leave.” Now that our entire grade is splitting up to pursue a new direction in our lives, I ask that you make amends with that one person you split up with in the sixth grade because of a superficial reason. Make sure their last memory of you isn’t negative. I ask that you remember to cherish every single moment and every single person you meet because you don’t know when you might be able to experience something like that again or meet someone special truly worth fighting for. k 45

– DAWSON GRADUATE TRIBUTES –

2022 Dawson Graduate Tributes

Bo Algate Bo, we are so proud of you and everything you have achieved. We can’t wait to see what you will do next. With all our love, Mum, Dad, Lily & Rufus

Clark Anderson Clark, congratulations on your graduation! You leave Dawson filled with memories and move forward toward your dreams. You’ve shown us you can achieve anything you set your mind to. So, dream big – the best is yet to come! We are so very proud of you and love you so much! Dad & Mom

Abby Anton Abby, your journey to eighth-grade graduation has been an adventure. As you embark upon this new chapter, remember to love yourself, laugh often, and never settle for less than you deserve. Enjoy the highs and the lows; after all, they’re all temporary. Continue to work hard and dream BIG! You’re our greatest gift, and we are so incredibly proud of the young lady you have become. Here’s to the next four years of some of the best days of your life! “Who says you have to grow up?” -Walt Disney Love, Mom & Dad

Lilah Azous Lilah, congratulations on this milestone of graduating eighth grade! You have worked very hard, stayed focused, made great friendships, and always kept a smile on your face. Your positive attitude and willingness to do the work will take you far in life. The adventure ahead of you is full of potential and incredible experiences. Soak it all in, learn from it, and grow from it! We can’t wait to see what you do in this next chapter. We are very proud of you and love you very much! Mom, Dad, Talia & Ethan 47

2022 Dawson Graduate Tributes Lillie Berkowitz Dear Lillie, congratulations on your graduation from Dawson. You inspire us each day with your pure heart and incredibly strong sense of self. Your dedication and drive academically is nothing short of remarkable. You are an extraordinary young woman whose laughter and smile brightens any room. May you always shine as you do now. As you take your next step, the world is your oyster, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds! We are so proud of you. Love, Mom, Dad, Hannah & Samantha

Martina & Sophia Bilak Sophia & Martina, we are so very proud of you both. You’ve walked this long and beautiful road together as sisters. Our hope is that you enjoy the same success in all of your life experiences. Always know that Dad and Mom love you. Congratulations, our little Coniglio & Burrettino!

Austin Blanco Austin, congratulations on graduating from Middle School! We are so proud of your hard work and everything you have accomplished in your time at Dawson. You’ve challenged yourself, challenged those around you, excelled in your academics, made new friends, kept up with old pals, tried new things, and had some fun along the way! You are truly an old soul with a very bright future. It’s a privilege to be your parents. Love, Mom & Dad

Hudson Borsari Hudson, congratulations on your accomplishments during your 11 years at Dawson. You’ve developed into a great student-athlete and are well prepared for your next academic chapter. We are so proud! Even more impressive is who you’ve become as a young man; you have sound principles rooted in compassion and loyalty, and a drive that will take you where you want to go in life. We love you so much and are excited to watch you grow throughout the years to come. Take pride in how far you’ve come and have faith in where you can go! Love, Mama & Papa 48

Casen Brown Casen, congratulations on this amazing achievement. You have accomplished so much at Dawson. I am super excited to watch as you graduate middle school and take the next steps on your journey and begin high school. Your fearlessness in trying new things that are just outside of your comfort zone is one of the things I admire most about you. You found new talents and creative outlets you are now able to take with you and incorporate them not only into your studies, but into your life. I am proud of you, and I am so grateful you’re my son. Love you 1,000 yellow daisies, Mom

Madeleine Browne Whether racing bikes at Dawson, swatting softballs, peppering the volleyball with friends, or swimming with dolphins, you’ve put your best efforts into being a great athlete, student, and friend. And in this universe – and in all multiverses we’ve come to know – we would trade you for no other daughter! For always caring, always saying thank you, always being empathetic toward others – every year with you has always been the best year, and we look forward to all that comes next. To steal from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “[we] love [you] to the level of every day’s most quiet need by sun and candle-light.” Love, Mom & Dad

Zachary Coneh Zachary, we are so proud of all you have accomplished and even prouder of the young man you have become. Your strong character, determination, charm, and hard work will take you far. Whether it is in the classroom, on the basketball or tennis court, or on the football or lacrosse field, you always have your head in the game! We are so proud of you and happy to have a front-row seat to watch what’s to come. Keep reaching for your dreams! “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson Love, Aba, Mommy, Remi, Maya & Jacob

Ivan Fernandez Ivan, I am very excited you are going to high school, but at the same time, I am a little emotional because you are growing so fast! I wish you everything awesome and fun in life, and always remember your family is here to support you. We’ve got you every step of the way. I know things can get tough, but no matter what life throws your way, you stay the course and you never give up. You are an inspiration to everyone around you, and your dad and I are so proud of everything you have accomplished. I love you forever and always. Love, Mom 49

2022 Dawson Graduate Tributes Giacomo Ferrence Giacomo, over these past nine years, you’ve become such a kind and caring young man. We are so proud of all you accomplished in school, in sports, in StuCo, and in life! The style, personality, and friendships you developed at Dawson are amazing! But, Giacomo, you’re destined for big things, and you are only getting started! Always aim high and strive for excellence in all you do. We love you more than you know! Mom, Dad & Carmela

Jacob Figg Jake, congratulations on your eighth-grade graduation. You have taken on life’s challenges and flourished. We are so proud of you and your accomplishments! We love you and can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. With Love, Mom, Dad, Avery & Kelsey

Asher Fine Asher, we are so proud of all you have accomplished, and we are even prouder of the young man you’ve become! Enjoy this next chapter in your life. We love you so much! Love, Mom, Dad, Hollin, Levin & your entire family

Adrianna Gumm Adrianna, we are so proud of the beautiful, kind, caring, and intelligent young woman you have become. As you leave your journey here at Dawson, we are excited for you to begin your next adventure at Bishop Gorman. We wish you all the best and can’t wait to see what the next chapter in your life will bring. We love you, Mom, Dad & Bradley

Kaden Hammond Congratulations, Kaden! Your genuine kindness toward others, witty sense of humor, athletic and musical talents, and academic excellence will take you far in life. We are so proud of who you’ve become, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish in high school and beyond. We love you so much! Mom, Dad & Chloe Kate

Brooklynn Holbert Our sweet and beautiful Brooklynn. We are so proud of your growth, your strength, and your tenacity. As you begin your next chapter, go with the comfort that you have a village of supporters and well wishers in your corner at all times. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Bravo baby girl, Mommy, Daddy, Auntie Tina and LaWanda, Grandpa, Grandma, Grandma Pat & your whole village of supporters

Dylan Kelly We can still remember dropping you off for your first day at ECEC, and now you’re graduating from middle school. We are so proud of the young man you have become and are becoming. Your openness to learn new things, resilience, confidence, and kind heart will undoubtedly continue to guide you on a bright path. Keep working hard, be true to yourself, and have the best time in high school. We are so blessed to call you our son. We will always be your biggest fans. We love you, Dylan! Mom & Dad

Dylan Kwong Dylan, moving to the U.S. so unexpectedly hasn’t been the easiest of transitions. COVID interrupted what you knew to be normal and turned your life upside down. But through it all, you persevered and adapted to a new adventure in Las Vegas. We couldn’t be prouder of the person you are now because of this experience. We hope your time at Dawson and the next few years in high school continue to bring fun, lasting memories. The best is yet to come! Love, Mom & Dad

2022 Dawson Graduate Tributes Gwyneth Maddox May your hands always be busy. May your feet always be swift. May you have a strong foundation when the winds of change shift. May your heart always be joyful. May your song always be sung…. And may you stay forever young. Congratulations, Gwyneth! You light up the world every day with your quick-witted humor. Never stop believing in yourself; your resilience is an amazing strength. You are our angel of love, light, and beautiful laughter. We are so lucky to be by your side. The best is yet to come for you, sweet girl! Love, Mom & Dad

Matthew Maddox May you grow up to be righteous. May you grow up to be true. May you always know the truth and see the light surrounding you. May you always be courageous to stand upright and be strong…. May you stay forever young. Matthew, we couldn’t be more proud of you! Time goes by so quickly, and it’s our greatest joy being by your side. You have the biggest heart, a true sense of empathy, a curious mind, and a deep understanding of loyalty. Stay true to yourself, believe in your dreams, and enjoy the ride. We love you forever, Mom & Dad

Sophia Maxwell Dear Sophia, congratulations on your graduation! We are very proud of you, both for your hard work and for your kindness. During your decade as a Dawson Bear, we watched you excel because of your work ethic. Whether it was in French, NJHS, tennis, volleyball, yearbook, or algebra, you consistently impressed us with your commitment to excellence. What impressed us more was you were never too busy to help a friend through a challenging assignment. We have loved being a part of the Dawson community and will miss that very much, but we are so excited for your next adventure in high school. We love you and are so lucky to be your moms. Love, Kiki & Susie

Brynn McCracken Congratulations, Brynn! Your entire family is very proud of your graduation and the incredible person you have become during your nine years at Dawson. Your journey has only begun, and we wish you continued success and great happiness in high school and beyond! Your playful spirit, sense of humor, intelligence, and kindness make us proud every day. We love you with all of our hearts, Your Family

Mekyle Mir Dearest Mekyle, thank you for all of the precious memories and for bringing so much joy into our lives. Thank you for being there when we need you. You are the best brother in the world. We love you and wish you success and happiness in life! You have achieved so much; we are proud of you and hope all your dreams come true. Mom, Dad & Eileen

Matthew Murphy-Ottolenghi Matthew, you changed our lives the day you were born. Every moment has been lit (filled) by your brilliance, humor, and love. All you’ve achieved at Dawson has been remarkable, rewarding, and a reflection of you. Now you’ve grown and become a young man. Your future is even brighter, and we are fortunate and privileged to take this next step with you. Onward and upward! Love, Mom & Dad

Caleb Ocampo To our beloved son Caleb, it is with great pride that we congratulate you on this momentous event in your young life. We know you worked so hard to accomplish your goals and aspirations in life. As you embark upon this new endeavor we call high school, we are certain of your continued success because of your innate passion and dedication toward anything you do. You always make your family proud. We love you, Dad, Mom, Josh & Johann

Aarti Patel Aarti, you have brought so much joy and love to our lives. We are so proud of the young woman you have become. We are very excited for your next chapter in life. To see how you have taken on the challenges of school, sports, and life with such determination and grit makes us very proud. Your enthusiasm is contagious; you are a true cheerleader. Your passion for life is motivating and your happy, jovial nature makes everyone laugh. It fills our hearts with love and admiration. We love you, beta, always and forever. Mama, Papa, Aarjav, Brownie & Bailey 53

2022 Dawson Graduate Tributes Tyler Protell Tyler, congratulations! We are so proud of you! We love you so much! There is nothing greater in life, as a parent, than watching your child grow, develop, and flourish into a wonderful and terrific young man such as yourself. It is the greatest reward. We are thrilled with your success at Dawson and look forward to watching you grow more in the next four years at Bishop Gorman! We love you! Dad, Mom, Andrew & Brandon

Tristan Saxe Hey Einstein, time to wake up and make your dreams come true! We are so proud of you, Tristan! Love, Mom, Dad, Camden & Simone

Eli Shulman Eli, it was an honor and an adventure for us to witness your growth since your first day at Dawson. We foresee big and exciting things in your future, and we can’t wait to cheer you on at every step. You make us so proud each day. We love you, Mama, Dad & Lucy

Zan Stockham Zan, you are an amazingly smart, beautiful, talented, and strong young lady. You are the best friend to all of those around you, and you bring a smile to everyone’s face. You have become an excellent volleyball player who led your team to victory. The best is yet to come for you. Congratulations on your graduation. Follow your dreams and always believe in yourself. You are awesome and will continue to be awesome as long as you want to be and as long as you continue being the best you can be and doing the best you can do. We love you to the moon and back, GMa 54

Bryce Tagle Dear Bryce, congratulations on your graduation! We are so proud of the young man you’ve become…. Moving and changing schools are life events not taken lightly, yet you took them in stride. Your resilience, persistence, open and kind heart, creativity, and education has allowed you to adapt and excel. We are confident you will find happiness and success as you move on to your next set of challenges.... And we will always be there to support you and cheer you on. We love you, Dad, Mom, Brian & Brianna

Ashur Weber We couldn’t be prouder of you, Ashur, and the journey you have been on these last eight years at Dawson. You’ve grown into an amazing young man. You continue to wow us with your kindness, compassion, and leadership. The adventure has been so much fun, and we were happy to share it with so many amazing friends. We are super proud of you and are excited to see what your next chapter brings as you enter high school, start driving, grow in your academics and sports, and so much more. We love you, Ashur Behr!

Spencer Wilbur Spencer, you make us so proud! Your love of music and the arts is inspiring. We’re amazed every time you pick up a new instrument! Keep singing, acting, playing music, and doing what you love. We look forward to seeing what you do next. Continue to shine your bright light and enjoy every moment. Love, Mom & Dad

Nathan Wong Congratulations, Nathan! We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. Besides doing well academically, you have also grown into a fine young man, and that makes us even prouder! You are talented, hardworking, and most importantly, you’re loving, kind, and sweet! With your talent and determination, the sky is the limit! Believe in yourself. Stay true to yourself. Enjoy this next chapter in your life. We love you so much!

HOMECOMING

Homecoming Food & Wine Festival and Alumni Mixer photos provided by Adam Trujillo Photography 22 56

COMMUNITY EVENTS The first iteration of Dawson’s Homecoming events was born from the pandemic in 2020-2021, during a year when we had to be imaginative and inventive to remain connected without contact. Inspired by its enormous success due to our community’s willingness to meaningfully interact with the School through new and different approaches, we sought to make Homecoming an annual tradition for our entire community. And this ambitious endeavor didn’t disappoint: Once we were able to welcome families back to campus in the spring, we launched two days of amazing events at the end of April that celebrated our students and Dawson at its finest.

ALUMNI MIXER As Dawson works to build its alumni network, we welcomed back all graduates to campus for an Alumni Mixer, featuring a special tribute to the Class of 2018 as they prepare to head off to college in the fall. It was a great chance for our former students to reconnect with friends and faculty and share stories, memories, and fun. Learn about more opportunities for our alumni to get involved with Dawson by visiting adsrm.org/alumni.

GRANDPARENTS DAY & OPEN HOUSE In a first-ever joint endeavor, Dawson combined our annual EC-8 Open House with our annual Grandparents & Grandfriends Day festivities! The entire campus was alive and buzzing with excitement, complete with classroom exhibitions of learning, a display of performing and visual arts work by students, and a showcase of the many other amazing learning experiences Dawson has to offer. Experiences such as these are truly the Dawson Difference.

HOMECOMING FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL It felt incredible to raise a glass together once again in acknowledgement of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families at Dawson’s annual Food & Wine Festival! The beautiful outdoor setting in The Ruffin Organic Garden was complemented by amazing local chefs serving delicious bites, great wine and spirits, music, an auction, and a whole lot of fun in support of our remarkable school community!

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From The Dawson Blog

Early Childhood Butterfly Project By Rachael Lachhwani, Communications Manager

Project-Based Learning

From The Dawson Blog

With Dawson’s commitment to modern learning, all of our families have by now heard the term ProjectBased Learning, or PBL. But you may not yet fully understand what it means and how modern learning is accomplished through the PBL process. The Early Childhood Butterfly Project, cultivated by teacher Katie Figg, is just one incredible example of how Dawson delivers this inquiry-based approach toward teaching new information and demonstrating how student learning takes shape. PBL is rooted in the fundamental belief that in order to truly understand something, you must have a lived experience; you must dig and labor into an idea or project, charging through inevitable challenges and setbacks, until an outcome is actualized and the real lessons are learned. And this is just what our Early Childhood students did: They got their hands dirty – literally! – doing some fulfilling work during the completion of their Butterfly Project. To form meaningful connections throughout this PBL endeavor, students first spent weeks observing the life cycle of complete metamorphosis within the classroom, building knowledge about caterpillars, butterflies, ladybugs, plants, and flowers. They also learned about key vocabulary words associated with their studies – such as migration, kaleidoscope, cocoon, proboscis, and more – plus interesting fun facts about butterflies, including which body parts they use to taste, drink, and smell; the different colors and types of butterflies; and the Queen Alexandria Birdwing, which is the largest butterfly in the world with a wingspan of 12 inches! Students used the following driving questions to help guide them:

• What happens to the butterflies after they are released? • Could we create a space on campus where they can live, thrive, and continue their life cycle in our natural environment? • How can butterflies survive in the desert environment after they emerge from their chrysalis?

process, all of the students were asked to reflect upon their work and how they performed as learners as a means of personal and educational growth. They will now regularly care for this garden area so the space continues to provide food and shelter for the butterflies throughout their life cycle. In May, our EC students were proud to facilitate a special Butterfly Ceremony that celebrated the release of their butterflies into the new garden space they helped create, and a few days later, students also released some ladybugs they had been studying. All of this provided students a chance to showcase for our community how they developed a deeper understanding of what they now know and can do, and how this knowledge can be applied to other subjects and designs. And this is what true success looks like at Dawson: Students learned how their purposeful and intentional actions directly correlated to the completion of their project. So even for our youngest learners, modern learning through PBL projects enhances students’ ability to investigate the world around them and to explore, share, and enjoy their findings. “We have a lovely campus with many opportunities to explore outside of the classroom as an extension to what we are learning indoors,” says Ms. Figg. “I hope to continue to collaborate with our amazing teachers to build a library of projects where teachers feel empowered to choose from multiple options based upon student interests and their own passions. I hope the next steps in Early Childhood are to expand some of the projects we have started already and to continue to explore ways to create real-world connections through hands-on learning experiences.”

“I wanted to present our youngest learners with an authentic and meaningful problem to solve while integrating upcoming units of investigation,” explains Ms. Figg. “As the project began, we researched the type of butterfly we ordered, the host plants it would need for food when laying eggs, the flowers that would produce nectar, and a location on campus that could serve as a new outdoor learning space.” Part of the pure magic of PBL is the collaboration between students and their teacher mentors. Together, after selecting the perfect sunny area outside for their garden, students learned how to mix and fill planter boxes with soil to grow the specific flowers needed to attract the butterflies. Each class voted on two colors of flowers to plant, and throughout the entire 63

Alexander Dawson Visual Arts Dawson’s Middle School students in teacher David Finfrock’s elective fine art photography course spent the semester exploring the world of dynamic imagery and visual communication. This powerful medium of self-expression and creative composition allows students to share their vision of profound ideas, messages, or emotions.

Maxwell Monteil - Spikey Sun, 5th Grade

Clark Anderson - Colors From Above, 8th Grade

Sienna Rourke - Fire and Water Waves, 7th Grade

Claire Anderson - Shy, 6th Grade

Ella Freestone - Bright Plant, 7th Grade

Keanu Phukan - Busy Bee, 6th Grade

Keanu Phukan - Circular Cactus, 6th Grade

Clark Anderson - Rock, 8th Grade 65

Alexander Dawson Visual Arts

Madeleine Brown - What I See, 8th Grade

Isabella Giger - A Little Birdie Told Me, 6th Grade

Maxwell Monteil - Check Mate!, 5th Grade

Rocky Ramsey - Broken Glass, 7th Grade 66

Daniel Mansour - Billy, 5th Grade

Cozy Lowen - Follow The Yellow Brick Road, 7th Grade

Ikaika Gardner - ICE, 6th Grade

Hollin Fine - Untitled, 5th Grade 67

Alexander Dawson Visual Arts

Mia Modafferi Yellow and Orange Flowers, 5th Grade

Mia Modafferi - Bee On Flower, 5th Grade

Zachary Coneh Lady Bug On A Leaf, 8th Grade 68

Lucy Shulman Colors In Blossom, 7th Grade

Sophie Kopanski BESTT, 5th Grade

Hudson Borsari Dreaming Of Spring and Fall, 8th Grade

Alexander Dawson Visual Arts

Levi Finfrock - Modern Torch, 7th Grade

Ikaika Gardner - NIKE, 6th Grade

Will Sellers - Pencil Jar, 5th Grade

Levi Finfrock - One Lonely Light, 7th Grade

Sophie Toy - Awesome, 5th Grade

Cozy Lowen - Spilled Cards, 7th Grade

Axel Tamir - 2nd Base, 7th Grade

NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS, NV PERMIT NO. 302

10845 W. Desert Inn Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89135

DAWSON'S VISION Our graduates will be ready to achieve their individual potential, savor life and meet the challenges of the world.

Learn more at AlexanderDawsonSchool.org or Call (702) 949-3600

facebook.com/ AlexanderDawsonSchool

@dawson_bears

@DawsonSchool