News for Collegiate School Families and Friends
Fall 2013
A Fresh Start in New Spaces
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daunting goal of completing the new Sharp Academic Commons and refurbishing and switching the Middle and Upper Schools has been reached just in time for classes to begin on August 27. Books are on the shelves in the Saunders Family Library, classrooms and offices are newly outfitted with built-in cabinetry and art studios are ready for creativity in H2L2. Many thanks to Scott Carson, Director of Facilities and Construction, and his team of contractors for accomplishing move-in status right on schedule. We encourage you to come visit, and when you do to consider these ways that the campus has changed over the summer. The Sharp Academic Commons has lots of functionality that will be appreciated by students, faculty, staff and visitors. There’s a cafe with a fireplace and delicious Lamplighter coffee; a spacious boardroom for group gatherings; a fully wired “sandbox” where classes can Skype; an expansive library for study and research; offices for staff involved with many aspects of student life; an Octagon with classrooms and seating area illuminated by a spiral of cylinders. This new building has infinite possibilities for collaborative activities and events with its flexible spaces and proximity to the Hershey Center for the Arts and Upper School academic buildings. Looking for someone? The following offices are now located in The Sharp Academic Commons: • Assistant Head of Upper School: Kristen Harris
• Library: Allen Chamberlain, Melanie Barker, Ben Lamb • Student Life: Missy Herod, Toby Desch • Academic Services: Todd Hanneman, Helen Markiewitz • Communications: Elizabeth Cogar, Stacy Adams • Counseling: Andrea Miller, Alex Peavey • Global Education: Clare Sisisky, Anne Rusbuldt, Michelle Logan (also Economics) • Economics Education: Cathy Melton • Outreach: Erica Coffey
Coming up next: Completion (late September) of the total reconfiguring of Reed-Gumenick Library, now dedicated to use by Middle Schoolers. SAC renovation for the creation of four Middle School classrooms starts in September. (The SAC meeting room will remain).
A building switch has occurred. The Middle School is now where the Upper School was and vice versa. So now, for the first time ever, the three divisions are positioned in logical sequence, from south to north. Most teachers are in the same place in the nearly identical buildings, but Upper School Head Ben Rein’s office is where the faculty room was when the building was the Middle School. There’s a classroom where Charlie Blair’s office was. H2L2 Studios, spectacular new art classrooms located behind the Hershey Center, are ready for painting, drawing and ceramics classes. New this year: wood-working classes for Middle School students. On the hill between the Middle School (former Upper School) and ReedGumenick Library is a wonderful new outdoor theater. Meetings, classes, performances – just a few ideas for al fresco activities. The Lower School Luck Hall classrooms now have keyless entry locks on their doors and new carpet on the floors.
The Sharp Academic Commons
From the Head of School
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he coincidence of my final year at Collegiate with the opening of a new and renovated Middle and Upper School campus has made me think a lot about the power of generosity. I have been an up-close-andpersonal witness to a spirit of generosity at Collegiate that is nothing short of remarkable. Years ago, I was first struck by this phenomenal force as I watched our students interact with orphans in Honduras—not by giving them gifts or money—but by playing soccer or sitting around a table and working together on a project. What these children needed most was not something tangible and our kids knew that instinctively. They were generous with what mattered most— their time, attention, and nurture. You do not have to travel abroad, though, to find this spirit alive and well. Come to an Upper School assembly and listen to our students cheer for each other’s accomplishments. Watch our parent volunteers drive Middle Schoolers to service projects. Take note of 4th Grade Campus Cubs helping their fellow students in the carpool line. See how our community rallies around families in need whether because of illness, death, or some other
reversal. This habit of generosity is part of the fabric of Collegiate and one thing that seems to never ebb or flow—it just is. But there’s more. All of us whose children have completed their formal secondary education at Collegiate were beneficiaries of the generosity of others. The endowed fund that supported faculty development or financial aid, the Annual Fund that made new technology possible, the Winter Party gift that supported the Campaign, the capital projects that allowed for an inviting campus—all of these critical pieces of the Collegiate experience are made possible by, you guessed it, generosity. If you do the math, our tuition would be unmanageable without this single, essential factor. As the finishing touches have been applied to our new facilities, I have run into a number of people who have exclaimed, “The buildings just seemed to come out of nowhere!” This observation typically speaks to the speed of our contractor or the more infrequent visits that some of these observers make to our campus. But I have thought about this comment a little differently. Generosity has a cascading effect. A small act by one person influences another to step forward
—and another—and with each step the inspiration grows and the gift of generosity expands. So, yes, the buildings did “come out of nowhere” in a way. 27,000 square feet can happen fast in the hands of skilled builders. But also, no, these buildings came from somewhere. The generous donors who made all of these changes possible were influenced by a contagion that may have started at the Lower School carpool or in Open Gym or our spring Special Olympics or a hundred other places on campus, in Richmond, or around the world. Generosity works that way—it is both a cause and a response. In that sense, I have no precise idea as to “where the buildings came from,” while I am also certain that I know their origins exactly. For that knowledge, for the inspirational kindness of our community of support in all of its many manifestations, and for a wonderful year ahead, I am grateful.
Keith Evans Head of School
A Note from the Parents’ Association President
W
elcome to the 2013-2014 school year at Collegiate! It promises to be an exciting one as new buildings and spaces come to life and we welcome new students, families, faculty and staff. As this year’s Parents’ Association President, I am equally as excited about the activities and events that are planned, all designed to enrich your Collegiate experience. Along with new programs, you can look forward to the tried and true family fun events and traditions that make Collegiate so special such as Cougar Pause, ’Tis the Season holiday events, Cougar Classic and the Village Green Fair. Volunteering through the PA is a wonderful way to get involved and feel connected to the school. This past spring, we introduced a new and improved way to volunteer. It’s fast, easy and is 2 | Paw Print
available for you to sign up any time. Simply go to the Volunteer Opportunities page (www.collegiate-va.org/volunteer) to take a look at all of the opportunities available to you and to sign up. Be sure to check back often, as “Immediate Needs” signups will be posted throughout the year. Another valuable aspect of the Parents’ Association is our Parent Education programming. As we plan our offerings each year, we strive to provide programs that are both worthwhile and relevant. Each is designed to educate, inform and inspire you as a parent. Fall programs are listed in this edition of the Paw Print and a complete list can be found on the website. For the most up-to-date information about programs and events, regularly check the “Parents” section of the website, www.collegiate-va.org/parents. Event
details, committee lists and contact information, registration forms for holiday events and VGF, parent resource articles and much more can be found here. Another beneficial source of information is the Parents’ Association green pages in the Collegiate family directory, which will be available on Parents’ Night and in the Cougar Shop. Best wishes for a smooth transition back to school. Should you have questions or if I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to seeing you on campus throughout the coming year!
Susan Brizzolara President, 2013–2014 Collegiate Parents’ Association stbrizz@comcast.net
Campus Conversation International Students and Teachers to Visit in October This fall, Collegiate will host our third annual International Emerging Leaders Conference. Beginning Oct. 5, 2013, approximately 65 students and teachers from around the world will converge on our campus for a week-long innovation design challenge, including sessions with the Science Museum of Virginia, the University of Richmond, MeadWestvaco, VCU and Dominion. Collegiate students will work collaboratively with students from our partner schools in China, India, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, and Spain. The entire Collegiate community will welcome our international guests and contribute to the success of our program. Our students—in particular the 18 Senior Ambassadors and 34 Junior Ambassadors —will greet them and participate in the conference activities, too. Upper School families will host the international students; international teachers will shadow our faculty; the international delegations will visit middle school advisory programs; Lower School students will experience personal connections with the international students through extended classroom visits, a Town Hall meeting, and a highlight of the week, the Cultural Fair and Performances. Lower School students will connect with students from countries relating to their curriculum or language study, generating lifelong awareness of communities around the globe. Student delegates will also take part in DesignPitch on the Collegiate campus. This innovative program will allow them to practice their social entrepreneurial pitches in real time– sharing the solutions and designs their global team has developed to combat a particular environmental problem. The 2013 conference examines issues such as: • natural resource allocation • corporate responsibility • international law and negotiation • emerging markets • green technology • sustainability through a global economics lens; • social entrepreneurship • product design and marketability
New this year, we will have several “language” tables in Memorial Hall during Friday lunch period. Students can eat lunch with our international guests and practice speaking a studied language or two. Also, Friday’s farewell dinner will be a Fall Festival of sorts organized by the Junior Ambassadors; it will showcase typical “American” fare, games, pumpkin carving, and music by Collegiate faculty and students. Another addition will be a Collegiate group of performers at the Cultural Fair. Mike Boyd will lead these students in creating an American-themed performance. As in previous years, we will have classroom visits in all three divisions. The International Emerging Leaders Conference is organized by Collegiate’s Director of Global Education Clare Sisisky and her assistant Anne Rusbuldt.
Summit for Nonprofit Leaders Scheduled Collegiate has invited Richmond area nonprofit organization leaders and high school volunteer coordinators to a special half-day program called “Generation Next: A Summit on Understanding Millennial Volunteers—How nonprofits can motivate high school volunteers, benefit from their potential as social entrepreneurs today and cultivate their support for tomorrow.” The summit is designed to help nonprofits view their teen volunteers
through a new lens—one that can awaken their creativity and commitment and help organizations reap rewards from teens’ devotion to their causes. The featured speaker will be John Martin ’78, CEO of the Boomer Project and the Southeastern Institute of Research, and participants will also hear from a panel of high school students from six public and private Richmond area schools. The Summit will take place in The Sharp Academic Commons on Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, contact Upper School Service Coordinator Andrea Miller at amiller@collegiate-va.org.
Back-to-School Shopping at the Cougar Shop Round out your back-to-school shopping for all of your wardrobe and organizational needs at the Cougar Shop. We have many of the hot new trends in apparel for fall as well as cool, new supplies! Some back-toschool must haves include Under Armour backpacks and duffel bags, Lilly Pulitzer planners and lunch totes, Nike polo shirts, 1/4 zip jackets and the softest t-shirts and sweatshirts to kick off the school year in style. Please visit the Cougar Shop web page (http://www.collegiate-va.org/ cougarshop) for more details on new Cougar gear for back to school. The Cougar Shop is open from 7:45 a.m4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:45 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Friday.
Last year the 2nd Graders participated in a program called Making Money Count, presented by Michelle Mogel of Franklin Federal Savings Bank. Students were eligible to be picked to announce the names of the Richmond Flying Squirrels’ baseball players at a game, and a student from Mrs. Pickett’s class was selected. He announced the names of the players in the second inning on July 5, 2013. A proud Mrs. Pickett was there to take his picture! Fall 2013 | 3
Arts Notes
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recently witnessed a brainstorm in action, and it was a beautiful moment. Kate Parthemos, who works with us in the Hershey Center for the Arts, was thinking out loud as she was trying to figure out the theme for the first Collegiate Arts Newsletter of the year. As she was running down the names of each new faculty member and every part of the new rooms we will experience this year, she came out and said, “We have all of these new faces and new spaces.” Both Jon Shelley and I exclaimed, “That’s it!” New Faces and New Spaces is the theme for the start of our year. Now, of course, we were thinking of only the arts, but that does really apply to the whole school. With so many legendary faculty having departed after the past school year, we have a total of seven new faculty in the visual and performing arts. Certainly, many parents and students have been wondering how could we possibly replace so many valuable members of our arts community? The simple answer is: We cannot. After having met with each of the new team members, I am genuinely excited to work with each of these new faces as they each bring in a fresh energy to our community. This is not a mission to replace longstanding members of our arts faculty. That would be near impossible. Instead, this is the beginning of a new era. One in which the words like “change” and “different” will be used often, and will help define the future. This is a chance to
look at the world of artistic development from a different perspective. We will never replace those who have left for greener pastures, but instead have made way for other voices to challenge all of us to view and hear our perceptions of artistic endeavors in new ways. For those of us who are on the faculty, we will be challenged by the new ideas that are presented to us by each of these new faces, and that is a welcome challenge. In turn, both faculty and students will be charged up and excited to take on the new year with a sense of excitement. All of us here are excited about the possibilities with the new H2L2 studios and are looking forward to see how those spaces can be utilized. As a result of the new H2L2 studios, new spaces have been created in the Hershey Center, which include a media arts lab and additional rehearsal room. Perhaps the greatest aspect to the new spaces is the amount of thoughtful planning that occurred which will most certainly lead to the most innovative teaching and learning approaches in the arts to date. With such great teachers leading the way for these students in such wonderful state-of-the-art facilities, the school year promises to start of in a blaze of excitement, and will surely continue for years to come! Mike Boyd Director of Performing Arts
Fall Arts Highlights Collegiate Creates A exhibition of a wide variety of artwork by current Upper School students, alumni and Collegiate family members will be on display in the Hershey Center for the Arts and in the Middle and Upper School hallways through mid-October. Stop by and see the show!
Seussical the Musical Upper School thespians will perform this musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss on Oct. 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. & 25 at 8:00 p.m.. Tickets will go on sale on Oct. 1. The Fall Concert for grades 7-12 will be on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. in Oates Theater. In the Lower School, the 1st Grade play – The Little Red Hen – takes place at 9 a.m., Nov. 8 in the Estes building.
2013 Summer Grant Recipients
The following faculty members received grants to help them complete a project or course of study during the summer. All activities will impact students in the classroom.
Alumni Grant Liz Bowling and Kathy Vlieger worked on the Upper School Spanish curriculum. Frances Coleman, Susie Leahy and Sarah Williamson collected supplemental, hands-on materials to deepen the 1st Grade math curriculum. Shayna Cooke created and designed project-based content for her Biology I course. Kate Cunningham organized and supervised Upper School students in a three-week reading and mentoring program at Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, a 6-8 alternative middle school for at-risk students in Richmond. Dave Fuller created an ebook compilation of learning games, competitions and activities. Mil Norman-Risch and Clare Sisisky developed a new inter-disciplinary, teamtaught course to be offered as English elective for summer 2014. Marc Reynolds developed an advanced ecology class for spring 2014. Zhangyi Shi developed the Chinese II Honors curriculum. Esperanza Soria-Nieto researched texts and created new curriculum for Spanish IV Honors and AP Spanish to adapt to the new AP Spanish exam.
Brinkley Grants Karen Albright attended a Math Funshop in Youngstown, OH where she worked with integrating multiple technologies into the classroom. Dan Bell, Fletcher Collins, Dave Fuller and Lindsey Melvin redesigned 7th Grade history to integrate technology. Karen Cribbs and Laurie Goode revised the 5th Grade math curriculum to implement Connected Mathematics 3 in the 2013-2014 academic year. Todd Hanneman researched and compiled study guides and plans to empower teachers and students to use executive functioning strategies. continued on page 10
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Collegiate Travel The following trips were organized by Collegiate and provided valuable opportunities for faculty and students. Cambodia • June 9-22
Upper School counselor Alex Peavey and three students joined four other schools on this collaborative trip through the Global Education Benchmark Group, organized by Hathaway Brown School in Cleveland, OH. The trip was a unique way to learn more about international development and participate in service opportunities with local organizations, meeting dedicated leaders tackling some of the world’s most challenging issues. The group also explored the culturally and historically rich nation of Cambodia, learning about everything from genocide and the Khmer Rouge to the ancient Buddhist wonder of the Angkor Wat temple complex.
China • June 9-21
Upper School math teacher Peggy Chan along with four of our Chinese language students lived for two weeks in China practicing the Chinese language with their host families from our partner school in Changzhou. The students engaged in school activities along with specially designed language classes and activities. Ms. Chan worked with the math department, observing classes and learning about Chinese education. The group also had an introduction to Chinese life and culture in Beijing, with visits to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and other cultural sights.
Costa Rica • June 8-16
Thirteen students, along with Upper School Spanish teacher Erica Coffey and science teacher Shayna Cooke, stayed at La Selva Biological Research Station, an active rainforest research facility and learned about the ecology and wildlife of the region from leading scientists and rangers. They also spent time on community service projects, including working alongside community families in painting and improving housing structures. The group visited a local school in the rural town of Santo Domingo, connecting with the students in Spanish and playing in a soccer match.
South Africa • July 9-22
Thirteen students, along with Upper School science teacher Pascal Losambe and Academic Dean David Colón, participated in the Youth Leadership Festival of our partner school Lebone II College of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, in the native homeland of the Bafokeng people in rural NE South Africa. Students engaged in an intensive week-long program focused on social justice, collaborating in groups with students from throughout Southern Africa as well as the students from Lebone II. Students also enjoyed a safari to see the animals and natural beauty of the region and five days in Cape Town. Highlights of the stay in Cape Town included visiting Robben Island, the former prison of Nelson Mandela, on his 95th birthday, and a school visit and homestay with a new magnet public school in the area.
Teachers David Colón and Pascal Losambe traveled with 13 Upper School students to South Africa this summer. Fall 2013 | 5
Summer Adventures … Students Get Economics Exposure at CSEI Eleven Collegiate rising seniors were part of a group of 30 students from 12 schools in the Richmond area who participated in the 2013 Cochrane Summer Economics Institute at Collegiate. Starting June 24, the students were immersed in activities focused on the concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship, both for profit and non-profit. During the first week, they learned basic economics principles from CSEI Director Cathy Melton and heard from representatives from established companies such as CarMax and the Hilb Group as well as entrepreneurs from a range of companies including Ledbury Shirts, Schutt Capital, Richmond Balance and Corinthian Construction. Speakers included Collegiate alums and friends Ethan Wirt (89 Paint), Ted Linhart (Dominion Auto Group), Bobby Ukrop (Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods), Robert King (The King Consortium) and Andy Stefanovich (Prophet). Following the first week of in-house education, students ventured out into the community to serve as interns for the next five weeks. Each student presented a summary of his/her internship experience for an audience of their fellow interns as well as parents and mentors. Congratulations to these rising seniors who spent six weeks learning about life on the job and much more: • Haley Rising: Davenport & Co. • Shawn Kerry: Tredegar • Will Stallings: Lansing Building Products • Carter Allen: Health Diagnostic Laboratory
A Collegiate senior addresses his fellow CSEI interns at the final meeting. 6 | Paw Print
Sophomore Jed Londry, a member of a sailing team at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in Deltaville, Va., recently placed 38th out of 279 competitors, including Olympic-level and veteran sailors, in the Laser North American Championships in Canada. Jed sails a Laser and is ranked 15th of all sailors in the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association (CBYRA). Previously he sailed an Optimist and was ranked 1st in 2011 and 2nd in 2012.
• Phillip Colón: Capital Region Airport Commission • Tyler Roberts: Mead Westvaco • Morgan Dykshorn: Tridium • Andrew Fernandez: Science Museum • Emily Cyr: Richmond Ballet • Mary Weston DeVoe: John Tyler Community College • Jane Blackmer: SPCA
8th Graders Serve Dungannon, Va. Community For the last seven years, rising 8th Graders have traveled to Dungannon, Va. for a summer service trip. Nearly 170 Collegiate students have had the opportunity to participate in this experience. Over the years, we have helped a countless number of individuals and made a significant difference in their lives. Throughout the week, the children help others in need, and grow to learn more about themselves and each other. We work hard but play hard too—enjoying the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. We are lucky to share this time together as Collegiate Cougars. This year 20 students and five adult chaperones filled boxes with food, organized a thrift store that benefited the community center and families, did yard work, washed windows, refurbished patio
furniture, and sealed decks. The trip was such a great experience for the students because they were able to lend a hand to less fortunate families and partake in new projects such as weed waking, power washing and organizing an entire thrift store that benefits the community. This trip was more than just a service trip. The students really had the opportunity to learn more about themselves and create memories with classmates that will be remembered for years to come. I loved every minute of this trip, and I can’t wait until next year! —Beth Kondorossy
Collegiate students helped Dungannon, Va. residents with chores around their homes.
notable writers such as poet art/critic Eileen Myles. I also participated in a program on “Jewish Lithuania,” which included visitation of Jewish ghettoes and mass graves as well as discussions on historiography and commemorative narratives. Why did I go? I received a partial fellowship from SLS on the basis of fiction I submitted to their annual contest, associated with Concordia University, St. Petersburg Review and Fence. —Mil Norman-Risch US English
Middle School teacher Kate Cunningham taught for three weeks at Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School, part of her plan to launch a Reading Mentoring Program/Community Service with Upper School students in the summer of 2014.
Collegiate students chop onions at the DC Central Kitchen while on the YSOP trip in Washington, DC.
Eleven rising sophomores spent a week in Washington, DC this summer working with issues associated with homelessness with YSOP (Youth Service Opportunities Project). “We went up to Washington DC for one week to serve the poor and homeless community of DC. We worked on a farm, in a soup kitchen, and many other places throughout the week. I had a blast serving and working with my friends and helping the homeless of the DC area!” said Aven Jones, rising sophomore.
I attended a Climate Change Teacher Workshop in Glacier National Park, MT, as the first part of my summer grant. The second part of the grant took place in late August, back at Glacier National Park studying and measuring one of the few remaining glaciers, Sperry Glacier, in the park. The class will allow me to implement the latest research on global climate change into next year’s Middle School science curriculum and give my students a more direct link to a quickly vanishing resource. – Paul Lupini, MS Science
I investigated the color of water, which is only clear if you don’t look at too long of a container of it. When you stand at one end of a long pool under water and look across at the far side, it looks dark blue, bluer than the water near you, because water filters out red wavelengths due to a vibration of the molecules that is excited by red light. —Dr. David Headley US Physics
I went to the Summer Literary Seminar in Vilnius, Lithuania, where in seminars with novelist and critic Antanas Sileika we writers shared our fiction. We gave readings and also heard readings by
I attended the seminar “Tradition and transformation in contemporary China” in Shanghai East China Normal university. This seminar was hosted by Asia Society and Hanban. The seminar lasted 11 days. Thirteen teachers from the United States and the United Kingdom attended the seminar. We had sessions from experts in different fields, group discussions and field trips. – Zhangyi Shi, US Chinese Fall 2013 | 7
From the Upper School
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o what’s new in the Upper School this year? Ummm … everything. Literally (and physically for those who haven’t been on campus in awhile) everything. But maybe nothing. You see, we’re opening this year at a transformational nexus, while simultaneously residing exactly where Collegiate has always found itself—at the crossroads of the innovative and the enduring. Let me try to explain. This summer I read Frank McCourt’s book Teacher Man (McCourt of Angela’s Ashes fame), a look back at his 30-year high school teaching career in New York City. The chapters whiz by not with visions of educational pedagogy or philosophical rants on the problems with schools, but with stories, lots of stories, about kids and relationships and victories and failures that are all about the essence, pain, beauty and risks of relational teaching. Course content, academic output and core competencies were never part of the discussion of McCourt’s three decades in the field. And while it’s not a glamorous read, it’s practical and honest, and anyone who has found their calling in the classroom
can relate. In many ways, it reminded me of Collegiate. I finished the book, sat for a minute, picked up my phone, and immediately opened an article entitled “What If You Could Learn Everything,” about an educational technology start-up company called Knewton. Their goal is to use “adaptive” learning technology and data mining to revolutionize the world of K-12 education. Meeting kids where they are, recognizing learning differences, focusing on optimal and unique learning preferences, allowing teachers to spend time targeting specific student or small group needs. In many ways, it reminded me of Collegiate. Now, back to our new campus. The beauty of the building project is not just aesthetic, it’s the ability of the new buildings to marry the tenants of relational teaching with the fundamentals of data driven, “adaptive” cutting edge learning. The spaces we have created in the Sharp Academic Commons, the H2L2 studios and the renovated Pitt Hall are not just clean and pretty to look at, but they will allow us to interact with students in ways both traditional and cutting edge, timeless
and pioneering. Research on education strongly suggests that the relational side of teaching—the human interactions and connections that push kids to develop character, integrity, intrinsic motivation, a keen work ethic and just plain “grit”—may be far more important to future success than content acquisition. But wow, if you can find the way to marry the first to the second in a legitimate way … look out. So what’s new in the Upper School this year? Everything and nothing. It’s not out with the old and in with the new, it’s onward with the enduring, and upward with the teaching, technology, and inspirational workspaces to drive our students, teachers and programs to a place where we have always been—the forefront of innovation and the foundation of enduring human values.
Ben Rein Upper School Head
Upper School Fall Parent Education Programs Bagels with Ben – Fall Edition All at 8:00 a.m. Sharp Academic Commons Board Room Tuesday, Sept. 24 Wednesday, Oct. 30 Wednesday, Dec. 11 Catch up with Upper School Head Ben Rein. He presents a flexible subject agenda in a roundtable type discussion. Feel the pulse of the Upper School and exchange thoughts about enhancing the US Collegiate experience. Questions? Contact Julia Calamita (jcalamita1@verizon.net).
Navigating the Upper School Wednesday, Sept. 25 • 7:30-9:00 p.m., Sharp Academic Commons Board Room All 9th Grade parents are invited to join Upper School Counselor Andrea Miller, Student Life Director Kristin Harris, and a panel of students for an informative evening about what to expect in Upper School. Come learn more about student support services, health and wellness programming, academic, athletic and 8 | Paw Print
service requirements, international travel opportunities, extra curricular activities, social events and much more. Questions? Contact Gill Thaxter (gillthaxter@me.com).
Natural Highs and Healthy Choices … How to Parent Teens Using Positive Prevention Wednesday, Oct. 16 • 7:30-9:00 p.m., Sharp Academic Commons Board Room 10th Grade parents welcome ... In his first appearance at Collegiate, Matt Bellace, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, youth motivational speaker, stand-up comedian, and author, will present to parents examples of how to communicate effectively with teens about responsibility, healthy coping skills, and alcohol and other drug use … all in a humorous and engaging way. 10th Grade students will have experienced Matt’s interactive and entertaining presentation on “Natural Highs” earlier in the day at their retreat. Don’t miss this dynamic speaker and
impactful program! To learn more about Matt and his powerful message, visit his website at www.mattbellace. com. Questions? Contact Frances White (whites6@comcast.net).
What’s Really Going On? US Student Survey Results with Renee Soulis Thursday, Nov. 7, 8:00-9:30 a.m. Academic Commons All 9th–12th Grade parents welcome... Get the scoop from Renee Soulis of FCD (Freedom from Chemical Dependency) as she presents and interprets the results from the most recent Upper School Health and Wellness Survey. Questions? Contact Julia Calamita (jcalamita1@verizon.net).
Upper School Fall Dates 9/11/13
Upper School Parents’ Night
9/15/13
New Families Ice Cream Social
9/22/13
10th Grade Parent Social, home of the Gutenberger Family
9/24/13
Bagels with Ben
9/25/13
9th Grade Parent Education: Navigating the Upper School
10/16/13
10th Grade Parent Education: Natural Highs and Healthy Choices … How to Parent Teens Using Positive Prevention
10/30/13
Bagels with Ben
11/3/13
11th Grade Parent Social, home of the Wiley Family
11/10/13
9th Grade Parent Social, home of the Brown Family
New Upper School Faculty/Staff Erin Breese – Associate Director of College Counseling
BA in Communication Studies, University of Vermont; MSEd in Higher Education and Enrollment Management, University of Miami. Erin has 13 years of experience working in education: counseling high school and college students and their parents at the University of Vermont, the University of Miami, and most recently at the UNC-Chapel Hill as the senior assistant director of admissions. She has also done consulting work for Duke University at their admissions camp for high school students. During her time in college admissions, she read approximately 25,000 applications as a member of the admissions committee. She has called the following places home: Alabama, Texas, Nebraska, Belgium, Oklahoma, Virginia (for high school), Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, and North Carolina.
Kevin Coffey – History
BA in History, University of Virginia. Kevin has 11 years of teaching experience, teaching World History part I and II all at Thomas Dale High School. He coached varsity football for seven years and girls’ basketball for 11. As the basketball coach, Kevin was voted regional coach of the year and district coach of the year for three consecutive years. He joins the varsity football and girls’ basketball programs at Collegiate. Kevin is married to Erica and they have two children, Kyla ’24 and Kai.
Ryan Hart – Physics
AB in Physics, Bowdoin College. Ryan was born in southern California, but spent most of his life in the mountains of Park City, UT. He attended and worked at a summer camp in Maine for many years, which eventually led him to Bowdoin for his undergraduate studies. After graduating in 2008, Ryan worked at The Governor’s Academy as a full-time physics teacher, coach, advisor, and dorm parent. He taught a variety of levels of physics, most recently regular physics and AP Physics B, and was a JV coach for volleyball, soccer, track, and basketball. He also spent three of his March breaks chaperoning student exchange trips to Kenya, Costa Rica, and Prague. He teaches regular and honors physics and coaches JV volleyball.
Pamela James – Choral Music Director
BA in Music (Vocal Performance), The Catholic University of America; MME, Shenandoah Conservatory; DMA (Music Education), Shenandoah Conservatory. Before teaching music in schools, Pam maintained a voice and piano studio while singing with companies such as the Washington National Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Washington Concert Opera. Eager to share her love of music with others, Pam pursued her advanced music degrees and has taught at all levels from preschool through college. She continues to be an active clinician and researcher with interests in classroom management, informal learning and the history of music education.
Rachel Johnson – E. E. Ford Teaching Fellow in History
BA in History, Hamilton College with a focus on American military history. Rachel studied history and social policy at the University of Edinburgh. She rowed competitively for eight years, racing for Hamilton’s crew team (where she was a captain her senior year) and Philadelphia’s Penn A.C. U23/Intermediate team. Before coming to Collegiate, Rachel worked for both Bryn Mawr College and Hamilton College in the alumni and major gift offices. Rachel coaches tennis, swimming, and lacrosse.
Glen LaFerriere – Math
BA in Mathematics, College of William and Mary. Before coming to Collegiate, Glenn taught in Virginia Beach off and on for 33 years. He spent three years working with Young Life. The last 25 years were at Frank W. Cox High School teaching all levels of mathematics, most recently AB and BC Calculus. He coached varsity boys and girls tennis. He and his wife have four children, three of whom live in Richmond. He enjoys skiing, exercising, VCU Havoc, RG III, and playing any sport his son Jake is playing. A Collegiate senior traveled to Haiti on a mission trip this summer—here, he hangs out with new friends.
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In the Middle School
I
had the opportunity to spend a week in Montana this summer horseback riding in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. With over one and a half million acres, The Bob, as it is called by locals, is one of the best preserved parcels of land remaining in the US. Lewis and Clark traversed these mountains and river valleys over 200 years ago seeking a northwest passage to the Pacific and the Wilderness area is said today to be much like it was when they made their trek. On day one of our ride, we navigated a pass in the Chinese Wall that marks the Continental Divide and I imagined what those early explorers must have experienced as the country unfolded before them. Awe perhaps, optimism, the thirst for further exploration, all the while holding to the principles that defined their mission. The unknown was before them, yet these bold men pushed on, charted the territory and ultimately established an American presence in these contested lands. I believe that the Middle School finds itself in much the same position as we embark on a journey of our own. With an abundance of new learning spaces and technologies at our disposal, we must
boldly push forward while holding on to the enduring qualities that have guided us over the life of the institution. The refurbished classrooms with their new technologies, the incredible outdoor spaces including the theater, and especially the new Reed-Gumenick Library provide endless possibilities. Our teachers are poised to explore each working side by side with our students in the spirit of discovery that comes with taking on new challenges. Together, they will engage in the kinds of learning required for each to continue to grow. When Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Lewis and Clark expedition, he envisioned that their efforts would transform the country positioning the nation to better compete with the then world powers Great Britain, Spain, and France. This legacy continues to guide us as we evolve. And there is nothing like a view from 9,000 feet to help drive it home.
Middle School Fall Dates 9/6/13
6th Grade Time Out
9/9/13
8th Grade Community Service Coffee
10/4/13
5th Grade Time Out
10/14/13
7th Grade Parent Education: Bringing Balance and Sanity to the Second Half of Middle School
10/15/13
Middle School Harvest Book Fair
10/20/13
Charlie Blair Middle School Head
5th Grade Parent Social, home of the Pahren Family
10/20/13
Summer Grant Recipients (cont.) David Headley developed two lab-based physics electives for the 2013-2014 academic year: Physics II, Light and Sound and Physics II, Electronics. Adam Moss and Andy Stone attended the Gambetta Athletic Improvement Network in Houston to develop a new assessment/grading system for Middle
School PE and to strengthen the program with new information/practices.
Williams Paul Lupini attended a four day field class entitled “Geology/Glacial Recession in the Sperry Basin at Glacial National Park, Montana” at the Glacial Institute.
Parents’ Night Reminder Collegiate Directories will be available for purchase at Parents’ Nights.
Kindergarten:
Tuesday, August 27 (Pre-orders taken; directories delivered in September)
Lower School:
10 | Paw Print
Thursday, September 12
Middle School:
Thursday, September 19
Upper School:
Wednesday, September 11
6th Grade Parent Social, home of the Angle Family
10/21/13
7th Grade Parent Social, home of the Fallon Family
10/23/13
7th Grade Parent Education: Drug and Alcohol Education 101 – You Should Know As Much As They Do
11/10/13
8th Grade Parent Social, home of the Donahue Family
11/13/13
8th Grade Parent Education: Lifestyle Risk Reduction Workshop with Brenda Conlan: Conversations About Making Healthy Choices
Middle School Fall Parent Education Programs 8th Grade Community Service Coffee Monday, Sept. 9 • 8:00-9:00 a.m. • SAC All 8th Grade parents welcome! Suzanne Fleming will discuss your child’s participation in the upcoming community service program, and how parents can get involved. Questions? Contact Tracy Wilton (Toaruba2@aol.com) or Beth Norfleet (bethnorfleet.va@gmail.com).
New Middle School Faculty/Staff Teresa Lemons Coleman – Middle School Art BA in French, Oberlin College; BFA in Art Education, Virginia Commonwealth University. Teresa studied art at John Tyler Community College, and she completed a graduate class in gifted education at the College of William and Mary. Before coming to Collegiate, Teresa taught art at Woodville Elementary School. Before a career switch to become an educator, Teresa spent her professional life as a writer. While pursuing her BFA, she worked part-time for two years at the Virginia Poverty Law Center as the Community Outreach Coordinator. For nine years before that, she was the publications manager at the Virginia Housing Development Authority, where she supervised and produced print and e-publications for the organization. That job was preceded by nine years at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and the former Richmond News Leader, where Teresa wrote a variety of news and feature stories about education, business, minority affairs and women’s issues. Teresa and her husband, Ron, have two sons, Nigel, a former Collegiate student, and Noah ’17.
Amy Becker Leibowitz ’88 – Middle School Latin
7th Grade Parent Education: Bringing Balance and Sanity to the Second Half of Middle School Wednesday, Oct. 23 • 8:00-9:15 a.m. • SAC Calling parents of 7th Graders—be sure not to miss this one! Gain helpful insight and strategies for balancing Cub sports, after school activities, and six- and 12-week tests. Moderated by Ruth Webb, Middle School Academic Services Chair and Fletcher Collins, Assistant Head of Middle School, Instruction and Technology. Questions? Contact Melissa O’Toole (pmotoole@comcast.net) or Janet Dibbs (laming@comcast.net).
7th Grade Parent Education: Drug and Alcohol Education 101 – You Should Know As Much As They Do Friday, Nov. 8 • 8:00-8:50 a.m. • SAC Calling all 5th, 6th, and 7th Grade parents! World-renowned prevention specialist, Brenda Conlan, will lead a workshop on communicating the risks of alcohol and drugs to our children. Questions? Contact Hope Foster (hopesings@aol.com) or Michelle Lewis (benmicmagell@verizon.net).
BA in History and Sociology, Brandeis University; MA in Higher Education Administration, New York University School of Education. Amy’s career in education spans over 20 years with experiences in educational settings ranging from preschool to graduate level instruction. Amy taught graduate international students at NYU, advised Honors students there, and led a student trip to Europe. Upon relocating to Chapel Hill, NC, Amy worked in financial aid at Duke University for three years as a counselor and admissions representative. At UNC - Chapel Hill, she worked in the division of student affairs for two years. Before coming to Collegiate, Amy tutored students in elementary, middle, and high schools in the Richmond area in a variety of subject areas including French, Latin, Spanish, and history. Her lifelong study of world languages and history began with Hebrew language studies during elementary school, and expanded to include Latin and French when she was a student at Collegiate, and later as an undergraduate at Brandeis University. Amy and her husband, Seth, have two children, Jordan ’19 and Taly.
Matthew Richardson ’07 – Middle School Intern BA in Economics and History/Ancient History with a minor in Classical Studies, Elon University. At Elon, Matthew was on the Student Government Association, Student Athlete Advisory Council and selected as a charter member of the Social Entrepreneurship Program. He was also a member of the Elon cross country team and served as captain for two seasons. Matthew is a 2007 graduate of Collegiate and coaches cross country, indoor track, and spring track.
8th Grade Parent Education: Lifestyle Risk Reduction Workshop with Brenda Conlan – Conversations About Making Healthy Choices
groups designed to promote thoughtful discussion and strategies for alcohol and drug avoidance. Brenda Conlan, Prevention Specialist, will moderate. Questions? Contact Tracy Wilton (Toaruba2@aol.com) or Beth Norfleet (bethnorfleet.va@gmail.com).
Wednesday, Nov. 13 7:00-8:45 p.m. • Oates Theatre Attendance is required for all 8th Grade students and their parents! Parents and students will break into small Fall 2013 | 11
In the Lower School
I
like small bets. Lower School teachers always have interesting ideas for things that they feel will enhance learning for their students. Here’s where the small bets come in. Let’s take a promising idea and try it in one classroom. If it does what the teacher hopes, it then is embraced by the whole grade level. That is exactly what we are doing this year. I want to share two such small bets from last year that were wildly successful and will now be happening across a grade level. First, we have 4th Grade Mindfulness. This topic has been a part of Collegiate for the last few years thanks to the work of Upper School counselor and coach Alex Peavey. Many faculty and older students have taken part, and here is the way it translates to our Lower School students: Various activities are designed to develop more stable attention skills that in turn allow children to respond with a greater sense of clarity, balance and ease with their environment. Our teacher who piloted this activity in her class last year saw a marked difference in how her class handled stress and attended to learning throughout the year. Now all 4th Grade students will have this mindfulness training. A 3rd Grade teacher implemented a Classroom Economy. In her room, students learned economic concepts by experiencing a classroom economy designed to mimic real-world economic activity. Again, students embraced it, really ran it, and learned a great deal in a fun way. Now, all 3rd Grade students will have this opportunity this year. The 3rd Grade team met over the summer to get this all set to go. Small bets … there are two more that involve science and art that will be brewing this year. Stay tuned for news about how they develop!
New Lower School Faculty/Staff Christine DeSantis Hoffman – Music BM in Music Education, Virginia Commonwealth University; MM in Music Education, Northwestern University. After receiving her master’s degree, Christine moved to Japan and taught English and music in elementary and middle schools in Tomioka-shi, Gunmaken. Upon returning to Virginia, she taught K-5th Grade general music at Beaverdam Elementary School in western Hanover County for 10 years. During that time she also conducted the Greater Richmond Children’s Choir and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart’s Children’s Choir, founded the Western Hanover Art & Music (WHAM) Camp, and taught piano and guitar lessons at the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education. In 2012, Christine achieved National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Music, becoming one of only 37 music teachers in the state of Virginia to do so. She and her husband, Barrett, live in Richmond and enjoy biking and kayaking.
Samantha Price Huber ’03 – 2nd Grade BA in History, University of Virginia; Teacher Licensure Program, University of Richmond; Working toward the completion of MA in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Richmond. After graduating from the UVA, Samantha moved to Charlotte, NC, where she began teaching Kindergarten as a full-time assistant at Charlotte Country Day School. After three years in Charlotte, Samantha moved back to Richmond, and began the graduate program at UR. Since then, she has taught 4th Grade at Seven Pines Elementary. After her first year at Seven Pines, she received the New Teacher of the Year award. She has served as the Social Studies Core Content Teacher, and taught the English Language Learners and Collaborative Exceptional Education class. Both Samantha and her husband, Hunter ’02, are graduates of Collegiate, and she is thrilled to be back on campus.
Tori O’Shea ’08 – 3rd and 4th Grade Assistant BA in Sociology with Distinction, University of Virginia; Masters in Teaching Elementary Education, University of Virginia. Tori is a 2008 graduate of Collegiate and most recently was a full-time substitute in the Richmond area in both private and public schools. She has been a part of the Collegiate Summer Quest Program, teaching numerous athletic, academic, and enrichment camps. While living in Charlottesville, Tori coached five seasons of field hockey and lacrosse at St. Anne’sBelfield School. Tori coaches both field hockey and lacrosse.
Carrie Persing – Science BS in Elementary Education, D’Youville College; MIS in K-8 Mathematics Specialist, Virginia Commonwealth University. Carrie has over 20 years teaching experience spanning pre-school to graduate students. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she moved to Richmond after college and began her teaching career at Walnut Hill Elementary school in Petersburg. Carrie also taught in Chesterfield County at the elementary and middle school level in both science and math. Before coming to Collegiate, she was an educator and administrator at the MathScience Innovation Center. Carrie has been involved in various professional organizations at the local, state, and national level and has made several presentations for these organizations. In 2008 she was awarded the Presidential Award of Excellence for Mathematics and Science teaching and then in 2011 was awarded a Honeywell scholarship to attend the International Space Academy in Huntsville, AL. All of these opportunities have continued to fuel her love of teaching. Carrie, her husband Chris, and daughter Morgan live in Chester.
Wendy Wilson – Kindergarten Assistant BS in Elementary Education, Indiana University. Wendy has taught for the last 15 years at various independent schools. Her experience includes teaching 12 | Paw Print
Jill Hunter Lower School Head
continued on page 13
Lower School Fall Dates
Condolences
8/27/13
William F. Dickinson, father of Richard Dickinson, and grandfather of Kathryn ’12 and Lauren Dickinson ’15, died March 24, 2013.
Kindergarten Parents’ Night
9/12/13 Lower School Parents’ Night for 1st – 4th Grades
9/15/13 New Families Ice Cream Social
9/26/13 Cougar Pause
10/11/13 Cultural Fair – 3rd and 4th Grades
11/20/13 Parent Education Program
Lower School Fall Parent Education Programs Navigating the Social Scene: Bullies, Victims, and Observers with Marella Gregory Wednesday, Nov. 20 8:15-9:15 a.m. • Luck Hall, Room 100 Here’s a great opportunity for us to help our children navigate the ins and outs of social interactions, peer relations, and the challenges that we have all faced growing up. We will explore definitions of “good natured” and “mean spirited” teasing, kindness vs. respect, and bullying. We will also discuss how students at Collegiate are taught to handle each situation, like saying “No” or “Stop”, and the difference between “tattling” and getting help from a grown-up. You may even be able to better answer the ever-present questions, “When do I call another parent and what do I say?”
Please keep these Collegiate families in your thoughts. Johnie Clifford Tharp, Jr., grandfather of Rachel Davenport ’24, died March 11, 2013.
Molly Huff Suddith, mother of Middle School faculty member, Cheryl Smith, mother-in-law of Dan Smith ’68; grandmother of Whitney Smith Conrad ’93 and Ellen Ashton Smith Jackson ’95; and great-grandmother of Will ’22 and Spencer Conrad ’25, died March 26, 2013. Captain George Franklin Nasworthy, Sr., father of Tim Nasworthy, and grandfather of Teddy ’13 and Charlotte Nasworthy ’15, died April 8, 2013. Page Hamilton Sutherland, husband of Bobbie Lee Norris Sutherland ’54; father of Beth Kennon, and grandfather of Ranny ’15, Lee ’18, and Sarah Kennon ’22, died April 3, 2013. Dominic Anthony DeLaurentis, father of Lower School teacher and parent, Lauren Brown and grandfather of Mason ’13, Olivia ’17 and Bo Brown ’21, died May 14, 2013. John Chewning ’68, Upper School faculty member, husband of Lower School teacher, Blair Chewning, and father of Craig Chewning ’94 and Cameron Chewning Stockner ’97, died May 21, 2013. Jane Carol Wedge, mother of Upper School faculty member, Rob Wedge, died May 23, 2013. Jacqueline F. Herod, mother of Upper School Director of Student Activities, Missy Herod, died May 29, 2013. Richard W. McDaniel, husband of Mary Kennon McDaniel ’61; father of Mimi McDaniel Ziletti ’82, Peter McDaniel ’84, and Anne McDaniel Pollard ’88; and grandfather of Mary ’19 and B Pollard ’21, died June 29, 2013. Guy R. Friddell, grandfather of Upper School faculty member Mac Friddell ’02, Ginny Friddell Kurtz ’04, Francie Friddell ’06 and Robert Friddell ’09, died July 20, 2013. Randolph Burwell Cardozo, father of Scott Cardozo, and grandfather of Sydney ’14 and Lily Cardozo ’17, died July 21, 2013. Margaret “Peggy” Wickham, mother of Middle School faculty member George Wickham, and grandmother of Clayton Wickham ’10, died July 23, 2013.
New Lower School Faculty (cont.) kindergarten, first grade and second grade at Park Tudor School in Indiana, McLean School of Maryland, and most recently at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She is trained in using the Orton-Gillingham
methodology and Everyday Mathematics. Wendy recently moved to Richmond with her husband John Wilson, Director of Admission, and their two daughters Ellie ’26 and Shelby.
Fall 2013 | 13
New Kids on the Block
Please welcome the following new students in Grades 1–12:
1st Grade Charlie Hurst
Mary Munford Elementary School
Tuckahoe Elementary School Detroit Country Day School (MI)
Steward School Homeschooled Country Day School Guanacaste (Costa Rica)
Richmond Christian School
2nd Grade Luke Bowling Bailee Wallace
3rd Grade Tyler Brand LJ Hawkins Lucy Ottley
9th Grade Claire Andress Bobbie Edmunds Max Donnelly Ah’rea Jones Jake Johnston Austin Jupe Jacqui Marchetti Tana Mardian Mary Ottley McGee Roman Shaan Sharma Grant Villanueva
St. Michael’s School Orchard House St. Michael’s School Anna Julia Cooper School St. Michael’s School Short Pump Middle School Steward School Steward School Country Day School Guancaste (Costa Rica) St. Michael’s School Matoaca Middle School Tuckahoe Middle School
4th Grade Angelo Parker
5th Grade Nkosi Budd Elyse Cram Anne Ross Hope Grace Marchetti Teagan McCluskey Gracie Moss Carter Stokes Sammy Tyner Bryce Wallace Katherine Williamson Emilie Yang
Ruby Carver Elementary School Steward School Tuckahoe Elementary School Steward School Mary Munford Elementary School Flat Rock Elementary School St. Michael’s School Grange Hall Elementary School Detroit Country Day School, (Detroit, MI) St. Catherine’s School Twin Hickory Elementary School
Jacob Baldwin Julia Hahn Max Vaughan Daniel Wake Brittney Woods
Midlothian High School Douglas Freeman High School Godwin High School Douglas Freeman High School Trinity Episcopal School
11th Grade Jack Edwards Peter Mahoney
Deep Run High School Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
12th Grade
6th Grade MaKenzie Allen Lilly Brand Joya Melvin Luke Tyson
10th Grade
Cold Harbor Elementary School Steward School Mary Munford Elementary School Steward School
Deven Shakya
Steward School Colvin Run Elementary School (Great Falls, VA) Steward School Country Day School-Guancaste (Costa Rica) Tuckahoe Middle School
American School of Doha, Quatar
7th Grade Zachary Cram Ann Mahoney Robert Marchetti Catherine Ottley Zaed Karabatek
8th Grade Caitlin Allocca Lainey Beckler Ayinde Budd Madeline Smith
Steward School Escola Americana de Campinas (Brazil) Pocahontas Middle School Short Pump Middle School
Faculty/Staff Recognition At the opening meeting of Collegiate’s faculty and staff, the following individuals were recognized for excellence in teaching and service. Congratulations! Brent Award: Nathan Goodwyn, Middle School English Griffin Award: Jan Bacon, Upper School math Schwarz Award: Lauren Brown, 3rd Grade Craigie Award: Lindsey Melvin, Middle School history Jones Staff Award: Dave Sherman, Network/Technology
14 | Paw Print
New Upper School Faculty (cont.) Ben Lamb – Library and Archival Assistant
BA in American Studies, Temple University. Ben comes to Collegiate from Philadelphia where he was a collections and archive intern at the Rosenbach Museum and Library and the Please Touch Museum. He also worked as a carpenter for 10 years and enjoys helping others learn how to build things. Ben will manage our new archives space in the Saunders Family Library (in the Sharp Academic Commons) and assist with general library tasks.
Ashley Mosier – History
BA in History, University of Virginia; MAT in Social Studies, Emory University. After receiving her Master’s, Ashley returned home to Richmond and began teaching middle school U.S. history in Henrico County, where she also served as yearbook and newspaper moderator. After two years, she joined the faculty of her alma mater, Saint Gertrude High School, and taught World History I, World History II and Honors Human Geography. Ashley also designed and implemented a new 9th Grade course, Ancient and Medieval Civilizations, which employed a multi-disciplinary approach to World Studies. At Saint Gertrude, Ashley moderated the Student Council Association and Model General Assembly, ran the after-school program, established the annual Cancer Awareness Month, and served as head moderator of the sophomore class. In addition to teaching she coaches Cub basketball.
Steve Perigard – Interim Drama
BA in Theatre Arts, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Steve comes to us most recently from within the Richmond theatre community where he has performed and directed several productions with the Virginia Repertory Theatre Company. Chances are, if you have been to any Virginia Rep performances in the past few years, you have seen Steve’s work. He was Virginia Rep’s Artistic Director from 1997-2009. Steve has worked with students of all ages on productions at SPARC, VCU, and Randolph-Macon College, and he will continue Collegiate’s sterling reputation for student-based theatrical productions.
Allison Seay – Upper School English
BA in English, Mary Washington College; MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Allison has nearly ten years of teaching experience at the university level and has taught freshman composition, literature survey courses, and creative writing workshops of all levels. She has tutored students of all ages in reading and writing skills. A native Richmonder, Allison has most recently been Arrington Poet in Residence at the University of Mary Washington, where she taught a senior seminar in prosody and led the advanced poetry writing courses. She served as an advisor to incoming freshmen and transfer students and has several years of experience in arts administration and magazine production. She is currently an artist’s fellow for the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to teaching, Allison coaches cub field hockey and basketball.
classically trained pianist and music aficionado, Dave took a year off of teaching to run a professional recording studio as an audio engineer. He then moved to the West Coast to teach and serve as department chair at the Windward School in Los Angeles. Before coming to Collegiate, Dave spent a few summers teaching at the Phillips Exeter Summer School program.
Zachary Townsend – Technical Director/Set Designer BFA in Technical Theatre, Virginia Commonwealth University. Zach joins the Collegiate theater department with extensive lighting and sound knowledge. He has designed lights and building sets for various youth theater companies. Specifically, he has worked with SPARC, CYT and as an independent building contractor.
New Administration/Staff Lauralee Glasgow Allen ’03 – Development Assistant BBA in International Business, James Madison University; RN from Bon Secours College of Nursing. Before joining the development team, Lauralee worked as an RN at St. Mary’s Hospital on the Mother-Infant Unit where she will continue to work occasional weekend shifts. She is currently pursuing her certification as an IBLC. She is excited to be back at Collegiate and looks forward to being a part of the development team, assisting with alumni and campaign events. Lauralee is married to Will Allen ’03.
John Wilson – Director of Admission BA in Political Science from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. John was born in Northeast Ohio, attended and graduated from Western Reserve Academy prior to his college years, and has spent the last seventeen years in independent schools. He coupled teaching and admissions work at The Kildonan School in Amenia, NY, served as the associate director of admission for six years at the McLean School of Maryland, and most recently completed a seven year tenure as the Lower School dean of admission at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, MI. John and his wife, Wendy, herself a veteran of teaching, have two children, Ellie ’26 and Shelby.
Newsletter | English David Stillman –3 Upper School BA in English, Washington and Lee University; MA in English, Middlebury College. A Virginia Beach native, David was a three-time NCAA All-American and Academic All-American swimmer in college. He earned his masters while teaching, coaching and having dorm duty at Suffield Academy. A
Welcome, New Faculty/Staff Kneeling: Matthew Richardson, Steve Perigard. Front Row: Lauralee Allen, Wendy Wilson, Carrie Persing, Tori O’Shea, Pam James, Teresa Coleman, Ryan Hart, Rachel Johnson, David Stillman, Ben Lamb, Glen LaFerriere. Back Row: Zach Townsend, Allison Seay, John Wilson, Erin Breese, Christine Hoffman, Samantha Huber, Ashley Mosier, Kevin Coffey Fall 2013 | 15
103 North Mooreland Road • Richmond, Virginia 23229 (804) 740-7077 Fax (804) 741-9797 www.collegiate-va.org
103 North Mooreland Road Richmond, Virginia 23229 www.collegiate-va.org
Keith A. Evans, Head of School Phyllis Palmiero, Vice President-Finance Amanda Little Surgner ’83, Vice President-Advancement Ben Rein, Head of Upper School Charles L. Blair, Jr., Head of Middle School Dr. Jill Hunter, Head of Lower School David Colón, Academic Dean Karen Doxey, Director of Athletics PAW PRINT is published multiple times throughout the year. Elizabeth Cogar ’77, editor phone : 741-9781 e-mail : ecogar@collegiate-va.org Beth Flippo Hutchins ’88 and Marguerite Bostic, Parents’ Association Correspondents PAW PRINT may be read online at www.collegiate-va.org Collegiate School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin in the administration of its educational, admission, scholarship or employment policies, or any other programs administered by the school.
Role Shifts
The following faculty/staff have new roles this year:
Staff
Lower School Elizabeth Andrews Lee Bottoms Nicola Byford Debbie Lappan Katie Taylor Carrie Thomas Carolyn Villanueva
2nd Grade Kindergarten K Assistant 2nd Grade Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd/3rd Grade Assistant Kindergarten Assistant LS Learning Specialist 3rd Grade 1st Grade MS English 2nd Grade 4th Grade
Middle School Tyler Boyd Liz Clayton Amanda Cowgill
Latin MS Library MS Technology LS Technology PE Assistant to Athletic Director
Upper School Erica Coffey Toby Desch Kristen Harris Brian Justice Suzanne Lewis Jenny Lindner
Spanish Spanish/Outreach Coordinator Student Life Intern Driver’s Ed, Student Life Coordinator Director of Student Life Asst. Head of Upper School History Religion/History College Counseling History PE/Driver’s Ed MS PE
Lynne Berkness Director of Stewardship Director of Planned Giving and Stewardship Shep Lewis MS History MS History/ Development Assistant Steve Hart Planned Giving Planned Giving/ MS Woodworking Emily Randolph Alumni Director LS Admission Assistant Jennifer Wilkins Campaign and Events Manager Director of Alumni and Special Events