News for Collegiate School Families and Friends
Holiday 2016
Six Seniors Receive National Merit Scholar Honors
I
n September, six Collegiate seniors — Georgia Beazley, Sumner Brinkley, Jane Fergusson, Claire Murphy, Kyle Riopelle and Price Withers — were named 2017 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, the most of any independent school in Virginia. These academically talented students will continue on to compete for about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth approximately $33 million. “As National Merit Semifinalists represent less than 1% of all students who took the test, we are exceedingly proud of these six students’ accomplishment,” said Upper School Head Patrick Loach. In addition, the following 13 seniors were named Commended Students: Morgan Baxter, Aidan Berger, John Bullock, Felipe Campos, Parker Conquest, Elizabeth Harrison, Christopher Johnson, Parker Johnson, Gillian Laming, Matty Pahren, Michael Romer, Quinn Schebell and Margaret Wadsworth. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships. About 1.6 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2017 program by taking the 2015 Preliminary SAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors includes the highest-
scoring entrants in each state. Although Commended Students will not continue in the 2017 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, these students have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise and placed among the top 5 percent of entrants.
National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced beginning in April through July 2017.
From the Head of School Dear Collegiate School Community,
proud of, including our:
As I was reading the articles for this most recent edition of Paw Print, I was struck by the variety and richness of school life that it captures so well … National Merit award winners, the International Emerging Leaders Conference (IELC), Envision Richmond, parent volunteer extraordinaire Cathy Donnelly, social media guru Katie Greer and the list goes on. What do these brief vignettes tell us about who we are and what we value? We have a lot to be thankful for and
• Outstanding and notable achievement • Disruptive and inspiring innovation • Compassionate and selfless service • Resilient and student-centered culture I picture a forward-thinking school community, always reaching a little higher, challenging itself to do better. I picture an engaged school community, living fully into its unique and compelling mission. I picture a responsible school community, taking ownership and doing its part to move us forward. I picture a
caring school community, embracing its important role in our city and region. Finally, I picture a connected school community, fostering transformative and enduring relationships and providing a sense of belonging for all. I look forward to our continued work together.
Steve Hickman Head of School
Save the Date!
Lower School GRANDPARENTS and SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY is Thursday, April 13. New Lower School Nutrition Program Bears Fruit In September, Collegiate School launched a new Lower School nutrition program to educate JK-4th Graders about the importance of making healthy choices at lunchtime and beyond. The program, developed in collaboration with Aladdin at Collegiate, features the Fantastic Five, a cast of characters who represent the five food groups — Frankie Fruit, Danny Dairy, Priscilla Protein, Victor Veggie and Gracie Grain — and reinforce the importance of moderation, variety and balance in a student’s diet. The program incorporates in-class lessons as well as handson demonstrations from the Aladdin staff in Centennial Hall, the Lower School cafeteria. Students received tools — including a monthly menu, refrigerator magnets and stickers to track their after-school consumption of items from each food group — that allow them to practice their good eating habits at home. Parents also received a brochure that provided details about the program and how they could support it. Each month, one of the five food groups is championed in the Lower School cafeteria. On “Try It Tuesdays,” all students — even those not on the meal plan — have the chance to sample foods from the month’s highlighted food group. September featured Frankie Fruit with different varieties of pears being highlighted, and recipe cards went home with dishes for families to try. Jacquelin Aronson, parent of Howe ’28, Joseph ’26, Jayne ’24 and Jack ’23, shared with Collegiate how much her family enjoyed preparing and eating the pear crisp. 2 | Paw Print
Joseph had told me days before that the recipe would be coming so he had great anticipation! In fact, he handed the recipe cards to me immediately when I picked him up. When it was time for dinner preparation, he and Jayne set out together with much excitement to tackle the pear recipe in our kitchen. Growing up in a family in the food business, I have a great appreciation for the School encouraging cooking and eating as a family. I will also add that the actual recipe cards are well-done and well-presented — a nice addition to any recipe collection. We might try the squash and zucchini recipes, but will look forward to cooking/baking based on next month’s focus food, too. The monthly-themed approach with the food item being offered in different school dishes, Try it Tuesdays and recipe cards is a wellorchestrated and thoughtful approach. It is evident that some folks have been intentional and very creative in the best interest of the children’s lifelong health, wellness and food knowledge and interest. The Fantastic Five program reflects the goodness of food. Congratulations and thanks to all those working to deliver a strong and solid food program for all of the families. Sincerely, Jacquelin Aronson
Campus Conversation Cougar Shop Holiday Open House
Katie Greer talks to a parent during her September visit.
Internet Safety Expert Raises Awareness As part of a yearlong effort to educate our students, parents and faculty about appropriate use of social media, internet safety expert Katie Greer visited Collegiate on Sept. 19-20. She spent time on campus speaking to JK-4th Grade and 7th-12th Grade students, parents and faculty. Ms. Greer will visit again in March to speak with 5th and 6th Graders and their parents.
Katie Greer’s Top 5 Tips for Parents: • Turn off locations services • Turn off ad trackers • Be careful about tagging in photos • Don’t talk to people online who you don’t know • Spotcheck your child’s social media outlets
Avoid the crowds and stay “home for the holidays” at the Cougar Shop Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Several local vendors will be in attendance and the shop will be stocked with gift items that have all been sourced locally. Shop with representatives from Liza Byrd and Edith Meriwether Jewelry. The shop will also feature Square Trade Goods candles, Gearharts Fine Chocolates, Three Sisters cheese straws, Pecan Jacks brittle, Andover Trask bags and dopp kits, as well as Turkish towels. Some new gift items that are uniquely Collegiate, including notecards and serving platters, will be on hand. For the young, and young at heart, the shop will be stocked with great toys including Waboba moon balls, Speak Out mouthguard game, Pyramix, glow-in-thedark basketballs and the always popular Melting Snowman.
Village Green Fair 2017 Get ready for Village Green Fair on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22! There will be treats, food, shopping, rides and inflatables and lots of FUN! Questions? Please contact VGF co-chairs
Karen Berson (lmva74@msn.com) or Bryn Smutz (brynsmutz@gmail.com). Please “like” us on Facebook: Village Green Fair-Collegiate School.
Follow the Parents’ Association on Facebook Stay up to date on Parents’ Association events and news by “liking” our NEW Facebook page! You can find us by searching for “Collegiate School Parents’ Association” on your Facebook app or at Facebook.com.
New Faculty and Staff Tammy Dunn – Technology Department Administrative Assistant BS in Information Technology, Columbia Southern University. Tammy is currently pursuing a master’s in organizational leadership from Waldorf University. A military veteran, she most recently served as senior administrator with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Previously, Tammy served as senior network administrator on the USS Mason and as assistant department head at the Stennis Space Center.
Melanie Gregory – Part-time Lower School Instructional Technology Integrator
The Cougar Classic is Coming!
Mark your calendars for the Cougar Classic on Monday, Feb. 27! Don’t miss this high-spirited and highly competitive basketball game featuring our very own faculty and staff All-Stars! Knockout games for students start at 5:30 p.m. in Seal Athletic Center. The big game starts at 7 p.m. Questions? Please contact Raine Salhab (rainesalhab@comcast.net) or Denise Leonard (leonardva@comcast.net).
BA in Elementary Education, American University; MA in Special Education with a Concentration in Elementary Education and MA in Special Education with a Concentration in ADHD and Learning Disabilities, American University. Melanie served as the innovation specialist at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee. She also has worked at the McLean School in Potomac, Maryland, as a 5th Grade special education teacher and at The Integrity School in Ongwediva, Namibia, as the K-12 technology integration specialist and resource center director. Holiday 2016 | 3
Campus Conversation (cont’d)
Collegiate Hosts 6th Annual International Emerging Leaders Conference (IELC) For 10 days in October, Collegiate School welcomed 41 high school students from 10 countries — China, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, Spain — for the 6th Annual International Emerging Leaders Conference. The conference is a unique Upper School experience through which 20 Collegiate seniors and the visiting students partner around design thinking and collaborative skills to devise business-oriented solutions for environmental challenges facing their countries. During their stay with Collegiate host families, the student guests and their chaperones also visited with JK-12 students and teachers. “It’s been absolutely fabulous,” said Arshdeep Singh, a student from India. “Being with Americans, staying in their homes, going to an American school. It’s awesome.” The international delegates, along with the 20 Collegiate senior ambassadors, met with local marketing, branding and design experts. They visited an environmental center, as well as the University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University, where they participated in a design thinking session with leaders of the daVinci Center for Innovation. Later in the week, the students participated in a forum on terrorism and the media, and took part in a Cultural Fair for 3rd and 4th Grade students and their families. “This is the single most important part of my education,” said Collegiate senior Sonja Kapadia about the conference. “International relations is an interest of mine and now I have a social network and an academic network that reaches all corners of the world.” The week led up to the DesignPitch event, during which student groups pitched their product designs to an audience of Collegiate community members and the general public. International delegate Haya Ghandour from Lebanon enjoyed being in a completely different setting and teaming up with high school students from around the world. “I feel privileged to be here,” she said. “We’re learning a whole new way of doing things. It is a whole new learning experience. We see the similarities between us and we’re breaking down stereotypes.”
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Collegiate Students Prepare for 3rd Annual TEDxYouth Event
Seniors from Collegiate and several other Richmond area high schools get to know each other at Studio Two Three. Since last May, a group of Collegiate seniors has been working collaboratively with a contingent of area high school students to plan the 3rd annual TEDxYouth@RVA, which will be held Nov. 19 in Collegiate’s Oates Theater from 5-9 p.m. These students are enrolled in a TEDxYouth senior seminar taught by Rhiannon Boyd and Allen Chamberlain, and they are partnering with seniors from
James River High School, George Wythe High School, Maggie Walker Governor’s School, Hanover High School, Douglas Freeman High School, Glen Allen High School, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School and Trinity Episcopal School to organize the event, using this year’s global TEDxYouth conference theme What Now? The event, open to the general public, will be live streamed from Oates Theater, while students in 17 other countries will
simultaneously host their own events. The goal is to bring together bright minds to give short, powerful talks and to offer hands-on activities that will spark great conversations. TEDxYouth is part of TED, a renowned global thought leadership platform that gives an audience to different perspectives and voices. To learn more about TedxYouth@RVA, visit tedxrva.com/tedxyouthrva.
We Celebrate Our Behind-the-Scenes Volunteers It is no exaggeration to say that Collegiate could not function without volunteers like Cathy Donnelly. For three years, the mother of senior Max Donnelly has, without the slightest fanfare, decorated the Cougar Shop’s windows, baked delectable treats for Collegiate sports teams and prepared gorgeous flower arrangements for events such as the Board of Trustees dinner and the faculty and staff All School Meeting luncheon. Her butter bars and chocolate chip cookies have been known to cause a stampede on campus. “I volunteer at Collegiate because I love it,” she said. “It’s creative and it’s fun.” Andy Harrison, Collegiate’s food service director, often benefits from Mrs. Donnelly’s talents at various School functions. “Events at Collegiate would not be the same without Cathy,” he said. “She turns a luncheon into a wedding reception. She also has one of the biggest hearts I have ever encountered. Whether it is showing up with your favorite cookies (which she does consistently for multiple people on campus, including entire sports teams) or perfectly decorating for your daughter’s first birthday party, I feel lucky just
knowing her.” Mrs. Donnelly credits her grandfather and father for her “go big or go home” approach to her work. “Wow is what it’s all about,” she said. “The more you do it, the more you want to do it.”
Cathy Donnelly delivers treats to students. Holiday 2016 | 5
Campus Conversation (cont’d)
A Message from Annual Fund Parent Chairs Lacey and Ned Sinnott ’86 Annual Fund Class Captains
Annual Fund Parent Chairs Lacey and Ned Sinnott ’86 Did you know that Collegiate, like many independent schools, relies heavily on several areas of funding for operational support, including investments and tuition and fees — and the Annual Fund? It’s true! STEAM curriculum, faculty professional development and global education are just a few examples of programs and initiatives supported by the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund relies on contributions from alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends to sustain it year after year. By donating to the Annual Fund, you will have a direct impact on each student’s experience. Each and every aspect of a Collegiate education is enhanced by support of the Annual Fund. You may not realize it, but for the past six years, 100% of Collegiate faculty members have contributed to the Annual Fund! Please join them in making a gift, of any size. Many of our parents, including our wonderful parent Annual Fund volunteers, have led the way and made their own contribution or pledge — we are so grateful for your leadership and support! To make a gift online, please visit collegiate-va.org/makeagift or call the Development Office at 804.741.9706. If you would like to join our efforts as an annual fund parent volunteer, please call the office. Thank you and Go Cougars!
Class of 2017 Lacey and Ned Sinnott Julie and Paul Sheehy
Class of 2022 Margaret and Ben Pace
Class of 2027 Jen and David Wilkins Sarah and Cheairs Porter
Class of 2018 Frances and Chuck White Ellie and Robert Lynch
Class of 2023 Carrie and Thayer Montague Stephanie and Hunter Lansing
Class of 2028 Whitney and Scott Conrad
Class of 2019 Kelly and Tiff Armstrong Beth Hutchins Keane and Eric Kauders
Class of 2024 Clare and Chad Bradshaw Courtney and Wortie Ferrell
Class of 2029 Anne and Matt Hunter
Class of 2020 Melinda and Jody Smith Denise Barnes
Class of 2025 Anastasia and Jim Seevers
Class of 2030 Muffy and Noah Greenbaum
Class of 2021 Ann and Brude Stoever MH and Tut Bartzen
Class of 2026 Lane and Billy Mosby Amy and Brian Quigley
Collegiate parent volunteers gather at Shore Dog in October. 6 | Paw Print
After the Bell Rings When Collegiate’s afternoon bell rings, it signifies for many the end of the school day. For staff members of Kinder Quest, Cougar Quest and Middle School Quest, it means their day is just beginning as they take care of JK-6th Grade students who participate in the Quest after school programs. For 2016-17, Quest is fortunate to have many returning staff members and is proud to welcome some new faces to the Quest family. Our counselors have degrees in art, education, accounting, IT and political science and many hold master’s degrees. There’s even a Ph.D. candidate. Their interests include mountain biking, traveling, gardening, reading, sewing, hiking, cooking and photography. The activity they enjoy most, however, is spending time with family and friends. No wonder they fit in so well here at Collegiate. To learn more about these wonderful members of the Cougar family, please visit the Quest page on the PawNet and click on the link on the lefthand side of the page.
Front row (from left): Holly Phillips, Sharon Hamner, Carole Kahwajy, Neil Etheridge. Back row: Sherry DeWitt, Linda Brown, Peggy McGraw, Kathy Etheridge, Jessamy Austin, Jane Mims, Christine Bryant, Meghan Sisk. Not pictured: Kelly Fenwick, Paul Lupini, Brandon Webster, Kristina Thornton.
Winter Party & Auction: “A Night at the Museum” Chaired by parents Ellen Bonbright ’86 and Jim Bonbright and Laura and Steve Holdych, the 41st annual Winter Party & Auction will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts! Bid on our fabulous silent auction from your smartphone while enjoying cocktails and live music with other parents in Marble Hall. Then head to the Cochrane Atrium for a seated dinner while auctioneer Ernie Rogers takes the stage. We are excited to expand our art category this year with many original pieces by alums, parents and local artists. Tenley Beazley ’86 will be donating a very special piece of artwork for the live auction! Proceeds will support ongoing capital projects, including the transformation of McFall Hall, Burke Hall and Oates Theater. Mark your calendars and watch for your invitation in the mail in January! Questions? Please contact Pam Roberts (proberts@collegiate-va.org) at 804.741.4760.
Mike Neese gets into the spirit with Jana Barnes, Liane Pace, Kristen Neese and Jen Porter at the 2016 Winter Party & Auction. Holiday 2016 | 7
Thursday, Dec. 1, 4-7 p.m. With a few minutes of online shopping and a quick visit to campus, you can complete your holiday “To Do” list. Order online all of your Holiday Greens, Portico Gourmet Dinners, Dove Chocolates, Willie Byrd Chocolate Sauce and Plantation Peanuts for easy pick up. Before or after you pick up your items, join your friends and family in Centennial Hall at the Lower School for a Family Holiday Dinner from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy entertainment by Cantorion and other Collegiate musical guests.
Portico Gourmet Dinners
● All orders online at www.collegiate-va.org/cougarholidayexpress ● Pay by credit card ● Pay by student charge
Holiday Greens ONLINE ORDERS DUE MONDAY, NOV. 14 Deck the halls with wreaths, garlands, poinsettias and more from the Collegiate Holiday Greens Boutique! Shop and find beautiful holiday decorations for your home as well as gifts for your neighbors and teachers.
Pick up your Holiday Greens pre-sale orders and shop on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 8-10 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. in Burke Hall. Limited selections will be available for purchase during Cougar Holiday Express from 4-7 p.m. Questions? Please contact Melinda Smith (melindasmith111@gmail PLANTATION PEANUTS .com), Beth Norfleet (bethnorfleet.va@gmail.com) or Lisa Brennan (lisabrennan@comcast.net).
DOVE CHOCOLATES ONLINE ORDERS DUE MONDAY, NOV. 14 Dove Chocolate Discoveries offer a variety of gourmet chocolate confections. These ready-to-eat sweets are perfect for entertaining, gifting or adding a little something special to someone’s day. Dove Chocolate Discoveries are made by Mars Inc., a company with more than 100 years of chocolate experience, and are not available in stores. 8 | Paw Print
Pick up your order on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 4-7 p.m. in Centennial Hall. Questions? Please contact Louise Ingold (lbingold@yahoo.com).
PLANTATION PEANUTS ONLINE ORDERS DUE MONDAY, NOV. 14 Plantation Peanuts, a family-owned company located in Waverly, Virginia, uses only quality Virginia peanuts – cooked one tasty batch at a time. Using a 75-year-old family recipe, Plantation Peanuts’ gourmet peanuts and nuts are sure to please everybody.
Pick up your order on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 4-7 p.m. in Centennial Hall. Questions? Please contact Louise Ingold (lbingold@yahoo.com).
DOVE CHOCOLATES
ONLINE ORDERS DUE MONDAY, NOV. 14 Stock your freezer with delicious dinners compliments of the chefs at Portico Restaurant. Enjoy these delicious Italian classics that are quick to heat up and feed a family of five. Great for late-night practices, last-minute guests or to take to a friend.
No Grownups Allowed! Students (Grades JK-6) will enjoy secret shopping for family, friends and pets while you pick up your holiday goodies. The Cub Boutique, staffed by helpful elves, will offer a variety of fun, unique, thoughtful, pre-wrapped gifts priced at $10 or less. Cash will be accepted, or purchases can be charged to your student’s account. Join us from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the Estes Building at the Lower School. For more information, visit www.collegiate-va.org/cougarholidayexpress.
Pick up your order on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 8-10 a.m. in the Business Office parking lot closest to Centennial Hall. Questions? Please contact Sheri Word (sheri655@msn.com).
ONLINE ORDERS DUE MONDAY, NOV. 14 We are offering Richmond’s own Willie Byrd Chocolate Sauce in each of their four delicious flavors. Choose from Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Peppermint, Espresso Dark Chocolate or Sea Salt Dark Chocolate. Try one of each! Sold in 9 oz. jars perfect for gift giving. Pick up your order on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 4-7 p.m. in Centennial Hall. Questions? Please contact Angie Hutchison (angie.hutchison@verizon.net).
New This Year!
Questions? Please contact Carrie Johnstone (carrie_estes@yahoo.com) or Andrea Gardner (andrea.farinacci@gmail.com).
REGISTER ONLINE BY MONDAY, NOV. 21 Get in the holiday spirit with a gourmet pasta dinner and celebrate in Centennial Hall with Collegiate families and friends. Enjoy the seasonal sounds of Cantorion and other Collegiate music groups. Make your reservations by Nov. 21. Join us from 5-7 p.m. in Centennial Hall.
Register online at www.collegiate-va.org/cougarholidayexpress. Questions? Please contact Tia Thomas (mrstthomas26@gmail.com) or Dawn Greene (dawn.greene3@yahoo.com). Holiday 2016 | 9
In the Upper School Upcoming Events Nov. 19 TEDxYouth Event Nov. 22 Feast of Juul Nov. 23 Brunch Dec. 1 Cougar Holiday Express Dec. 2 Lessons & Carols Dec. 5-6 Pageant Dec. 9 Mornings with Mr. Loach Jan. 17 Parent Education: Driving Issues with
Officer Netherland
Jan. 24 Mornings with Mr. Loach Jan. 25 Upper School Music Recital Jan. 31 Community Engagement Week
Information Meeting
Feb. 7 Parent Education: Natural Highs and
Healthy Choices with Matt Bellace
Feb. 8 College Dean’s Panel Feb. 9 Global Issues Forum Feb. 22 Parent Education: Leaving the Nest
with Linda Hancock
College Counseling Events Athletic Recruitment Information Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Sharp Academic Commons Estes Cafe Financial Aid Information Nov. 17, 7 p.m., St. Christopher’s School College Dean’s Panel Feb. 8, 7 p.m., Oates Theater Q&A for 9th Grade Parents March 15, 19, 24, 27 and 29, 8:30 a.m., College Counseling Office Questions? Please contact Jenn Earle at jenn_earle@collegiate-va.org or 804.741.9742.
10 | Paw Print
Parent Events Mornings with Mr. Loach All Upper School parents are invited to join Head of Upper School Patrick Loach in a discussion of relevant topics. Friday, Dec. 9 and Tuesday, Jan. 24, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Craigie Board Room, Sharp Academic Commons Community Engagement Week Information Meeting All 9th Grade parents are invited to hear from Andrea Miller, Upper School Counselor, as she shares details about this inspirational week of community service for freshmen. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 8:30 a.m., Craigie Board Room, Sharp Academic Commons Driving Issues with Officer Netherland Officer Netherland of the Henrico County Police Department addresses issues facing teen drivers and their parents. Collegiate faculty will discuss our Driver Education program. All 9th and 10th Grade parents welcome. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 8:15-
9:15 a.m., Craigie Board Room, Sharp Academic Commons Natural Highs and Healthy Choices: How to Parent Teens Using Positive Prevention Matt Bellace, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, youth motivational speaker, stand-up comedian and author, will present examples of how to communicate about responsibility, healthy coping skills, alcohol and other drug use. Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7:30-9 p.m., Craigie Board Room, Sharp Academic Commons Leaving the Nest: How to Effectively Help your Senior Transition to College Linda Hancock, Ph.D., RN, Director of The Wellness Resource Center at VCU, will speak directly and dynamically about how to help our kids transition to college life. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7:30-9 p.m., Craigie Board Room in the Sharp Academic Commons
Parent Event Parking Request To allow for adequate student and faculty parking, please remember to curb park in the left lane of the Loop Road/Lansing Lane behind Seal Center, Reeves Center and the science buildings between 8-8:15 a.m., after the carpool line ends. Please keep crosswalks and speed tables free from cars. Only once that lane is full should the parking spots be utilized. Thank you for your cooperation!
English Teacher Wins at Prestigious Film Festival In October, Upper School English teacher Josh Katz attended the Oaxaca FilmFest in Mexico, often called the “Sundance of Mexico.” His screenplay, Murphy’s Act, was nominated for three awards, Best Thriller/Crime, Best Original Script and Best Overall Script. He and his writing partner, Josh Thorud, were awarded
Best Thriller/Crime. Upon his return to Richmond, Mr. Katz expressed his excitement over the outcome. “I’m still buzzing from the experience, which was a blast on so many levels, not least of which was the award, which I genuinely, sincerely did not expect to win,” he said.
In the Middle School Upcoming Events Nov. 23 Brunch Dec. 1
Cougar Holiday Express
Dec. 2
Lessons & Carols
Dec. 5-6 Pageant Dec. 9
Morning with Mr. Loach – 8th Grade parents
Jan. 10 5th and 6th Grade Winter Concert Feb. 22 Connect Richmond March 23 Understanding Social Media at
Every Age & Stage
Parent Events Healthy Communication about Alcohol and Other Drugs Attendance is required for 8th Grade parents. Brenda Conlan will present information and facilitate small group discussion with 8th Grade parents and students about alcohol and drug use prevention. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7-9 p.m., Oates Theater Mornings with Mr. Loach All 8th Grade parents are invited to meet Head of Upper School Patrick Loach. Friday, Dec. 9, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Craigie Board Room Connect Richmond Information Session All 7th Grade parents are invited to learn about your child’s involvement in Connect Richmond, the grade-level community service project. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Reeves Center
Middle Schoolers Enjoy James & Emma Concert On Sept. 30, Nashville singer-songwriters Emma White ’11 and James Harrison performed for the Middle School during a special assembly. James & Emma welcomed a 9th Grade accomplished banjo player, onstage for a truly memorable performance. Holiday 2016 | 11
In the Lower School Upcoming Events Nov. 18
Mornings with Mrs. Miller
Dec. 1
Cougar Holiday Express
Dec. 9
3rd Grade Concert of Carols
Dec. 15 Kindergarten Chapel Jan. 18
Mornings with Mrs. Miller
Jan. 19
Chinese New Year Celebration
Feb. 3
2nd Grade States Fair
Feb. 27
Cougar Classic
March 17 4th Grade American Mosaic
Parent Events Mornings with Mrs. Miller All Lower School parents are invited for coffee and conversation with Lower School Head Debbie Miller at an informal gathering. Friday, Nov. 18, 8:15-9 a.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 18, 8:15-9 a.m., Centennial Hall
Members of the Fantastic Five – Danny Dairy, Frankie Fruit, Victor Veggie and Gracie Grain – help Lower Schoolers learn the importance of moderation, variety and balance in a student’s diet. Not pictured: Priscilla Protein. (See New Lower School Nutrition Program Bears Fruit on Page 2.)
Campus Conversation (cont’d)
Collegiate Players Perform Into the Woods For three nights in October, the Collegiate School’s Upper School thespians presented Into the Woods to a packed house in Oates Theater. The challenging score by Stephen Sondheim brought together the Brothers Grimm characters Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack (and his beanstalk) for a magical production. Congratulations to the cast and crew! 12 | Paw Print
Campus Conversation (cont’d)
Acclaimed Essayist Speaks to Upper School Students In October, essayist Harrison Candelaria Fletcher, known for his powerful and lyrical memoir, Descanso for my Father: Fragments of a Life, spoke at Collegiate’s Upper School Assembly as the Whitfield Lecturer. For more than 10 years, the Whitfield Lecture series, generously made possible by former Collegiate parents Maha and Bryan Whitfield, has brought poets, journalists and novelists to campus to talk about their craft. Before he addressed the entire Upper School, Mr. Fletcher, a former journalist, spent time with two Upper School English classes. He engaged students in two writing exercises, one on characterization and the other on the anatomy of a scene. He encouraged the students to save what they had written because, “these things often turn into something,” he said. During the Upper School Assembly (which Mr. Whitfield attended), Head of School Steve Hickman described Mr. Fletcher’s memoir — an attempt to “find” the father he lost when he was not quite 2 years old — as “a story of spaces and gaps.” Mr. Fletcher, a Latino and a native of New Mexico, explained that while the meaning of descanso is literally a resting place, it really is more of a living monument. “It is a sacred, special place where those
Upper School Winter Play Jan. 12-13 at 7:30 p.m.
Harrison Candelaria Fletcher engages with two Upper School English classes.
who have lost someone go to talk to them,” he said. “So every essay, fragment and poem [in my book] was a literary shrine to this man I never knew.” After reading excerpts from Descanso, Mr. Fletcher was joined onstage by Upper School Head Librarian Allen Chamberlain for a brief Q&A. He answered queries about his definition of his genre and about creative nonfiction, how to get comfortable telling personal stories and his next
project, which is a look at his mixed ethnicity. Mr. Fletcher said throughout his life, he felt as if he was on a fault line: He was raised by his mother’s Latino family but looked like his father; he was a journalist but wanted to use his imagination. He called it “life in the hyphen.” “It’s a lifelong process of inhabiting the hyphen and making it my own,” he said. “I’m still discovering.”
Save the Dates! 8th Grade Play
Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. | Feb. 18 at 2 p.m.
Upper School Spring Play April 6-8 at 7:30 p.m.
Collegiate Welcomes New York Lacrosse Players Fifteen Collegiate School families hosted 27 players from Harlem Lacrosse & Leadership (HLL) as they participated in lacrosse clinics, played pickup games with Collegiate athletes and visited two local colleges in the Richmond area during a weekend in October. HLL is a nonprofit organization that uses lacrosse to engage at-risk children from low-income areas of New York City. HLL’s mission is to provide a safe, structured environment for children to compete, learn and develop into future leaders in their communities. The players arrived on a Friday night and met with their host families. On Saturday, they visited the University of
Richmond for a lacrosse clinic and a campus tour of classrooms and facilities. That afternoon, HLL and Collegiate lacrosse players teamed up for several hours of informal games on Grover Jones Field. “The most important part of lacrosse, and probably sports in general, is the relationships you develop on and off the
field,” said Andrew Stanley, Collegiate lacrosse coach. “Having the opportunity for our lacrosse players to meet and have fun with players from a different part of the country reinforces the idea that sports are a valuable vehicle to build bridges and broaden your perspective.”
Holiday 2016 | 13
8th Graders Envision Solutions for Richmond Collegiate’s entire 8th Grade took part in Envision Richmond the week of Oct. 17-21. Now in its fourth year, this unique capstone program provides these students with the opportunity to explore their city, learn the issues it faces and develop viable solutions as creative designers and problem solvers. The week began with a whitewater rafting trip on the James River to build trust and communication between teams. Then, using the design thinking process, the 8th Graders collaborated to develop solutions to Richmond’s various challenges. They partnered with 20 nonprofit organizations, including the Cameron Gallagher Foundation, Richmond Cycling Corps, Virginia War Memorial, Tricycle Gardens and the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls. On the final day of the week, Oct. 21, they presented their plans to community leaders who offered feedback on the viability of their solutions. (In the spring, students will implement a service learning project to address the need they’ve worked on, making Envision Richmond a true, yearlong educational experience.) “I was inspired by the level of participation, curiosity and drive these 8th Graders had during the week of Envision Richmond,” said Wendi Moss, a Middle School English teacher who helped coordinate Envision Richmond. “In just five short days, they were able to view themselves as change agents in our community. This program allows them to see the power and difference one person can make.” Over the past three years, students’ designs have influenced several programs in the community. Student ideas contributed to plans for the BridgePark across Manchester Bridge, a new after school program for students at Oak GroveBellemeade Elementary School in partnership with the YMCA, new bus shelters and stops for GRTC and a campaign to recruit new foster care families for older children. This year’s presentations included one group’s model of a revamped Monroe Park complete with solar lights and lanterns to address safety concerns. Another team demonstrated their idea for an app to read body temperatures for those who suffer from sickle cell disease. All of these potential solutions were borne from the students’ visits and candid conversations with leaders and patrons of the nonprofits they toured. Eighth Grader Lily Hunnicutt said it was interesting to learn about all the different organizations in Richmond and to try to solve problems. “Envision Richmond gives us confidence and makes us think that if we can do this, we can do anything,” she said. 14 | Paw Print
Collegiate Families Gather for Annual Cougar-Paw-Looza On a beautiful fall evening in late September, the Parents’ Association hosted Cougar-Paw-Looza, its annual “welcome back to school” family picnic on the Lower School campus. Close to 1,000 students and parents convened for music, food, games and demonstrations from the Maker community. We can’t wait until next year!
Condolences Paw Print extends condolences to Collegiate parents, faculty and staff who have recently experienced a loss in their families and have notified the School. Donald C. Sheap, father of Susan Dunn and grandfather of Katie Dunn ’20 and Abigail Dunn ’23, died March 3, 2016. Charles R. Henry, father of Michael Henry ’84 and Patrick Henry ’90 and grandfather of Jack Henry ’22, died June 8, 2016. Alan Fleischer, father of Tenley Beazley ’86 and grandfather of Ford Beazley ’16, Georgia Beazley ’17 and Frances Beazley ’23, died Aug. 17, 2016. Dr. Adolphe “Kic” Kiczales, father of Vincent Kiczales and grandfather of Nicholas Kiczales ’15, Luke Kiczales ’17 and Noah Kiczales ’21, died Aug. 17, 2016. James Stephens “Steve” Kollmansperger, brother of Frank Kollmansperger and uncle of Kirby Kollmansperger ’16 and Matt Kollmansperger ’18, died Sept. 5, 2016. Peggy Flippen Whitaker Bleecker ’44, stepdaughter of Catharine Stauffer Flippen, who headed The Collegiate School for Girls from 1940 until 1959, facilitated the School’s move west, and headed the Girls School from 1959 until her retirement in 1972, died Sept. 5, 2016. Dr. Peter Wilcox Brown, father of Charlotte Brown Woodfin and grandfather of John Woodfin ’22, died Sept. 13, 2016. John Marshall Lee, father of Missy Roberts, Human Resources Specialist, and grandfather of Meriwether Roberts ’15 and Matson Roberts ’11, died Sept. 21, 2016. Dr. Michael J. McCreery, father of Sarah Cowles, Associate Director of Annual Giving, and grandfather of Grace Cowles ’22, died Sept. 24, 2016. Pat Rider, mother of Bill Rider, Middle School math teacher, and grandmother of Spencer Rider ’17, died Sept. 25, 2016.
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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
Steve Hickman, Head of School Stacy H. Adams, Director of Communications Charlie Blair, Head of Middle School Jamie Britto, Chief Information Officer Karen Doxey, Director of Athletics Susan Droke, Academic Dean Patrick Loach, Head of Upper School Debbie Miller, Head of Lower School Phyllis Palmiero, Vice President-Finance and Administration J.P. Watson, Assistant Head of School Kristen Williams, Vice President-Development PAW PRINT is published multiple times throughout the year. Erin Egan, editor phone: 804.741.9781 email: erin_egan@collegiate-va.org Charla Eastep and JoAnn Andrales Ruh, 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, gender, sexual orientation or national origin in the administration of its educational, admission, scholarship or employment policies, or any other programs administered by the School.
Visiting Artist Demonstrates Flameworking Expertise Collegiate School welcomed glass artist Beccy Feather to campus for several days in late September to demonstrate her expertise in flameworking. Born in Suffolk, England, she has traveled and
worked for studios in Canada, America, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Turkey. Ms. Feather has an affinity for combining her art with her interest in robotics and general science. During her
time on campus, she created pieces in borosilicate and Moretti/Effetre glass with students and participated in a gathering of Makers at Cougar-PawLooza. (See page 15.)