The
CongressionalUpdate Magazine for Alumni, Parents & Friends
Fall 2014
Inside: Congressional’s 2014 National JASON Argonaut Senior Kindergarten’s Dynamic Teaching Duo
Congressional’s horse pastures and beautiful 40-acre campus are an endearing sight and a welcome contrast to the fast-paced demands of urban living.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fall 2014
11 Senior Kindergarten’s Dynamic Duo
5
Welcome from Janet Marsh, Executive Director
7
Ursula Costin, Director of Early Childhood Programs shares her impressions of Congressional as a new member of the leadership team
Michelle Fry and Janet Turk
15 Chris Pryor Getting to know Congressional’s Director of Development
16 Gala 2014 Innovative Learning Initiatives
18 Sun, Sand & Science
21 Chris Robertson, Lower School Director on
8th Grader Maxx Murray in Cape Eluthera, Bahamas
innovative teaching and learning
36 A Writer’s Journey
22 Brent Hinrichs, Middle School Director discusses
Alyssa Weinberger ‘03 is winning awards and launching her career in the TV industry
the opportunities for enhanced learning through Congressional’s ambitious technology program
37 Rocket Science
26 Class of 2014
Luke Cannon on his summer internship at NASA Cover Photo: Congressional’s Middle School students began the new school year with a day of activities at the Challenge Course. The students participated in a number of group challenges, involving collaboration, communication, and teamwork.
32 School News 34 Alumni News & Notes
Janet F. Marsh Executive Director
Mary DePippo Director of Marketing
Chris Pryor Director of Development
Ursula Costin Early Childhood Director
Kim O’Neil Director of Admission
Adrienne Howard Director of Advancement Services
Chris Robertson Lower School Director Brent Hinrichs Middle School Director
Alyce Penn Director of Communications
Congressional admits children of any race, color, creed, and national or ethnic origin.
Janet Marsh This year is truly about community building and collaboration, and there are more ways than ever for everyone to get involved.
Dear Congressional Friends,
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very year at Congressional is special, and this year is particularly meaningful as we celebrate a significant milestone as a school – our 75th anniversary! This milestone presents many opportunities for our whole community to come together and rejoice in all that we have achieved as a school, and to build on those successes as we stride assuredly into the future. We will celebrate all year long, in many different ways; look for our Throwback Thursday posts on Facebook, and I hope you will plan to join us in person at the many events we have scheduled. You can find a list of those events on the back cover of this magazine. Our 75th Anniversary Committee is led by Chris Pryor, who joined us this year as our Director of Development. You may learn more about Chris in his letter that appears in this issue. Chris has already reached out to many in our community to help with our 75th celebration, and we would love to hear from others in our community interested in partnering with us as we mark this very special occasion. If you would like to explore ways in which you can help, please don’t hesitate to call Chris or me – we would love to hear from you! Another significant endeavor for our school this year that will help to further solidify our reputation as a leading independent school is our candidacy for accreditation by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. VAIS is a service organization that promotes educational, ethical and professional excellence, and acts as an evaluating and accrediting body for independent schools in the state of Virginia. The association represents nearly 90 schools in our state, including 41,000 faculty members and over 31,000 students. In addition to our current partnership with the National
Association of Independent Schools and Independent Education,VAIS accreditation links us to a network of top tier independent schools in Virginia, and provides access to significant professional development opportunities. We are very excited about this immense strategic opportunity to move the school forward, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect as we celebrate our 75th year! Earlier this summer, we retained the services of a professional marketing and communications team to work with us over the coming months to capture the essence of what makes Congressional so special, and to help us tell our story through our website, marketing materials, newsletters and more. We are reaching out to members of our immediate and broader school community to join us in this process - after all, each and every one of you is part of our story - and we welcome your participation. This year is truly about community building and collaboration, and there are more ways than ever for everyone to get involved. We look forward to communicating with you often throughout the year with details and updates, and invitations for you to join us in our celebrations! I look forward to seeing you soon. Most Sincerely,
Janet F. Marsh Executive Director CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 5
In 1940 Congressional moved to the Yeatman House at 3155 North Pershing Drive, in Ar ling ton, Virginia. At that time, the school enrolled students through 4th grade.
One of the things that impressed me most is the faculty’s responsiveness to the need for young children to move about and explore the natural world.
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t is with great enthusiasm that I joined the Congressional family this year as the Early Childhood Director. Since arriving in July, I have been busy getting to know the school, the campus and the local area. Having relocated here from New Jersey, it is wonderful to be living so close to the Nation’s Capital, with all that the area has to offer. I am equally captivated with the beautiful Congressional campus, and the endless possibilities it offers for our students. I am excited by the start of the school year, and look forward to getting to know the Congressional family. With over 30 years of experience in education, both as a teacher and as an administrator, I have a passion for teaching young children and enjoy experiencing life through their eyes. They are so attuned to the wonder, humor and beauty in life, and I continue to learn from them every day. As a newcomer to Congressional, I thought to share with you some of my observations during my candidate visits to the school. These observations are the reasons why I accepted – without hesitation – the offer to become a member of the Congressional family.
a day visiting with teachers, and observing in the classrooms, I came away with a strong sense that Congressional teachers are dedicated to their craft. Their level of commitment to providing developmentally appropriate teaching practices through fun, interactive, hands-on experiences was clearly evident. It is important to me to be part of a school that views curriculum as more than the adult-designed course of study or activities. Instead, it is everything that transpires during a child's day, all that a child senses. Adults observe and respond to each child's needs and interests, taking this expanded understanding of the curriculum into account. Congressional is a school with a solid reputation for its curriculum. What I have observed is a strong focus on the development of literacy skills; in all the Early Childhood grades, children are exposed to outstanding children's literature and authors. I am impressed by the way the teachers support the children’s interests in written communication throughout the classroom, using the Writers Workshop approach. Beginning in Junior Kindergarten, development of handwriting is supported with Handwriting Without Tears.
One of the things that impressed me most is the faculty’s responsiveness to the need for young children to move about and explore the natural world. The teachers in the Early Childhood program make the best use of our wooded campus, shifting the focus from a primarily indoor, teacher-initiated model to one that embraces outdoor, child-initiated play as critical to children's well-being. I was taken by the Early Childhood Program facilities, with its 4,500-volume library, three playgrounds, outdoor reading and writing gardens, cafeteria and multipurpose room. After spending CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 7
Playtime is critical to child development, and Congressional is clearly committed to providing many opportunities for imaginative, open-ended play. Playtime allows children to develop a strong sense of self as well as the ability to selfregulate as they make their own rules and practice self-control. Congressional parents can feel confident in knowing their children are in the best environment to begin their school experience. It is a safe, nurturing, stimulating and joyful environment, well prepared to embrace the journey into Lower School.
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Students in all grades look forward to the monthly Buddy Days where each class and each student within the class is paired with a “Buddy” in another grade. The students meet with their buddies to read or to complete projects together. Students are assigned a new buddy each year.
Senior Kindergarten’s Dynamic Duo
Michelle Fry and Janet Turk have been teaching at Congressional for a combined 54 years. This year, Janet Turk celebrates a 30 year milestone.
As they prepared for graduation, student “lifers” from the class of 2014 visited with their former Senior Kindergarten teachers to reflect on their educational journey.
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hirty years ago, after graduating from Shepherd College in West Virginia, Janet Turk decided that instead of returning home to Neptune, New Jersey, she was setting her sights on Northern Virginia. She packed her belongs and headed east to begin searching for the job that would launch her teaching career. She admits her search technique back then was quite simple, “I got out the phone book and started checking out private schools (no internet at that time).” One day, she received a call from The Congressional Schools of Virginia, inviting her to interview for a position as Junior Kindergarten Assistant Teacher. She sailed through the interview, and was offered the position. She loved the job, loved the school, and at the end of the year, she was asked to become the Senior Kindergarten lead teacher. She jumped at the opportunity, quickly settling into room number six in the Early Childhood building, a room that has been her home ever since. Next door in room seven is Janet’s friend and teammate, Senior Kindergarten teacher, Michelle Fry. Michelle came to Congressional 24 years ago just as she was completing her teaching studies. “I first noticed the school when I drove by the campus. I applied for a job and came on board initially as a substitute teacher. I then became a teaching assistant to Janet Turk, and after a year became a Senior Kindergarten teacher with my own classroom.” The two have been a team ever since, and their collaborative teaching techniques have gained them the highest respect from colleagues, CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 11
parents, and even the students themselves, who years later recall their time in kindergarten with fondness and gratitude. One thing that may strike a visitor to Mrs. Fry and Mrs. Turk’s Senior Kindergarten classrooms are the small clusters of children gathered around different activity centers. It is not the grouping of children that stands out, but the degree to which these students are focused on the task before them. Whether recording the differences in weight between items of a similar size, or adding an entry to a writing journal, or sorting items in groups of 100 in preparation for the 100th day of school, the children are fully engaged and happily working together. In the center of all this activity are Janet and Michelle, sharing words of encouragement, offering help when things get difficult, and celebrating successes. What are the philosophies behind Mr. Turk and Mrs Fry’s ability to connect with their students and create such a vibrant learning environment? Mrs. Fry says, “I come from the school of thought that focuses on multiple intelligences. Children learn in different ways, some are kinetic learners, others are visual, others learn best by hands-on activities. I love to incorporate a variety of teaching styles, moving around the classroom a lot, and engaging students in different ways of learning so that I reach all of them.” And Mrs. Turk, “I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a
secure, caring and stimulating environment in which to grow and mature socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. It is my job as an educator to help my students reach their fullest potential by providing an atmosphere that is safe, supports risk-taking and invites a sharing of ideas.” Both teachers are demonstrative in their enjoyment of teaching, and their interactions with students. “I enjoy the inquisitive nature of the Kindergarten aged child,” says Mrs. Turk. “It’s amazing to witness, encourage and foster. I love to observe my students having light bulb moments all the time.” Mrs. Fry is equally as enamored with the learning that takes place in Kindergarten. “Students at this age are sponges. The transformation in their skills and abilities from when they first arrive into the classroom to when they leave at the end of the year is quite remarkable. It’s a joy to watch how they grow over the course of the year.” Many students who have been through Senior Kindergarten at Congressional retain fond memories of that time in their childhood. Years later, students will talk about the fun they had learning about dinosaurs or the planets, or the time they made a real volcano in Mrs. Turks’ class. Some can even be heard years later, humming the song they learned in Kindergarten to help them remember the names of the plants. With their combined 54 years of teaching at Congressional, do Janet and Michelle have any classroom activities that stand out to them as favorites? “During our weather unit, we make it rain in the classroom,” says Mrs. Turk. “At first there is disbelief
Congressional is a second home, and I consider it to be part of my family.
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 12
You can’t make it rain inside! Then after explaining the water cycle, we set up the experiment. We put a tea kettle under a platform made of blocks and a metal pan filled with ice. The children patiently wait for the droplets to form under the metal pan (cloud). Once the droplets become heavy, they fall to the table as rain. One year, one of the children came up to me a little concerned. I asked what was wrong. ‘You better turn off the rain or our classroom is going to flood’ he said.”
2007) and she was running a camp program in my Senior Kindergarten classroom. It is amazing to think that she was once my student in that very classroom.” After all this time, what keeps Mrs. Turk and Mrs. Fry coming back? For Janet, in addition to her love of teaching, and the enjoyment she gets from being around her students, she says, “Congressional is a second home, and I consider it to be part of my family. The staff support and encourage one another; we enjoy and celebrate our achievements and share encouragement.”
For Mrs. Fry, pinpointing just one thing that she looks forward to the most is tough, she says “There are so many I don’t know where to begin, but one thing I really enjoy is seeing my former students come back. Many of them come back to work at Congressional Camp. I recently saw Jessica Gandy (Class of
Mrs. Fry also feels that Congressional has something special that makes her want to return each year. “The atmosphere here is what makes the school special. The family-feel, the beautiful campus, the pools, and horses are all things that make Congressional a unique and special place.”
...children learn in different ways, some are kinetic learners, others are visual, others learn best by hands-on activities. I love to incorporate a variety of teaching styles.
On August 29, 2014 Janet Marsh recognized Janet Turk for 30-years of service to Congressional School. In acknowledgement of her three decades of teaching excellence, plans were anounced for an Early Childhood children’s garden to be dedicated in her honor.
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 13
Thank you to our sponsors!
2014 EVENT SPONSORSHIP
Michael and Claire Young
EVENT UNDERWRITERS GALA & AUCTION General Support by: AITHERAS Music underwritten by: Environmental & Power Services, Inc. Cornerstone Office Solutions Gala & Auction Catalog Printing by: HBP Gala Signature Cocktail underwritten by: Fairfax Food Service Dessert and Beverages underwritten by: The Board of Trustees of The Congressional Schools of Virginia For more information about sponsorship, contact Chris Pryor, Development Director at cpryor@csov.org.
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 14
GOLF TOURNAMENT Title Sponsor: Environmental & Power Services, Inc. Beverage Sponsor: Springfield Toyota Lunch Sponsor: Upper Cuts Barber Shop Dinner Sponsor: Springfield Toyota Golf Tournament Hole Sponsors: Spring Cleaning & Maintenance, Inc. The Ernest Family Springfield Toyota Golf Tournament Program Printing by: HBP
Chris with his wife Lauren and children Emma and Anderson. Chris joined Congressional in June as the Director of Development.
Chris Pryor Director of Development
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ummers are a wonderful time to reflect and recharge. As a family, we typically spend a week at the beach and this year we explored Kiawah Island. We soaked up the sun, laughed, built sandcastles, played golf and took a few long bike rides. It was a tremendous departure from the hurried pace and busy days of Northern Virginia. We put down our iPhones (as much as possible) and let calls actually go to voicemail. And, we took time to consider the past year, our wins and our losses, and make plans for the year ahead.
and plan. In doing so, we ensure that we are ready to begin another year and are prepared to deliver our best selves in support of our students and families. For example, over the last few weeks, faculty have traveled to Columbia University for training, taken a Shakespeare class and attended a Singapore Math conference. These summer experiences will enhance their ability to provide a challenging and supportive environment for our children.
As the new Director of Development, I am excited to partner with you, With two young children, Emma (3.5 years) and Anderson (16 months), alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends of Congressional. We have a long and distinguished history as a school family and our ability a few months makes an enormous difference in who they are and how they experience the world. As I watched my children hit the beach, I was to partner and collaborate has enabled us to grow from a stunned by their progress. A year ago, Emma was fearful of the crashing small preschool in Arlington to the mature school we are today. Thanks to the vision and leadership of Malcolm and Evelyn Devers, waves; yet last week, she ran toward the ocean and happily submerged herself. Anderson, now walking, moved with ease up and down the coast and many others along the way, The Congressional Schools of Virginia will celebrate its 75th Anniversary this year. and enjoyed digging in the sand. Amazing! School communities are families too. Congressional is our family. We’ve all chosen to be a part of this dynamic community based on an appreciation for the school’s mission and a shared set of values. Our reasons for arriving at Congressional differ, but at the core we all believe in its ability to provide a transformative educational experience for our children -- a healthy balance of rigor and fun. Our recent parent survey confirmed that Congressional is valued for its caring and talented faculty, diverse student population and expansive 40-acre campus. Summers are important for school families as well. It gives us time to pause, consider our current practice, explore new opportunities, reflect
It is a major milestone in the life of any school community. The 75th Anniversary offers a number of opportunities to connect with each other, reminisce about the past and also consider where we want to be as a school family in the coming years. Everyone is encouraged to get involved! There will be a series of events throughout the year culminating in our 75th Anniversary Weekend on April 24-25. Please save the date and don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or suggestions. Thank you in advance for your warm welcome. I look forward to meeting you in the weeks and months to come as we build upon Congressional’s strong legacy. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 15
GALA At
the heart of our school, lies our mission to prepare our children through an “innovative and accelerated curriculum.” Gala funds this year were earmarked for investment into innovative learning initiatives throughout the school that will positively impact each of our students, from Bright Beginnings through Eighth Grade. We are excited to announce that due to the tremendous support of our community we met our Gala fundraising goal of $180,000 and thereby have been able to invest in ALL the items earmarked for these funds. This fall, across the campus, students will benefit from a widerange of school equipment and resources, and the resulting innovative learning opportunities. Here’s a synopsis of what our students will enjoy as a direct result of your support.
Classroom “Leveled Reading” Libraries for students in Senior Kindergarten – Grade 2. These libraries will make books readily accessible to each student at his/her level, and the collections will be highly instrumental in helping children advance their early literacy skills.
Pitched Mallet Instruments known as “Orff” Instruments will be available to students in all grades. The instruments are beautifully crafted; some made of wood, others of metal, and have a beautiful sound to inspire exploration of music composition and improvisation. Science Lab Upgrades for Middle School students including structural and organization elements to modernize the labs, as well as a wide-range of specific teaching equipment and materials. Our students expressed a particular interest was robotics and we are pleased to acquire Lego Robotics Mindstorm NXT Kits. These kits provide cross-curricular opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, and allow for creativity in design and enable students to explore the world of engineering by building complex control systems. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 16
LEARNING INITIATIVES
Senior Kindergarten and first grade teachers were on campus this summer to particiate in SMART Table training. The teachers are excited about the many innovative learning opportunities this multi-user interative learning tool will bring to their students
You Made It
Happen Smart Pad Learning Centers for students in Senior Kindergarten and 1st grade. The SMART Table is a social, inclusive and captivating collaboration tool that makes it easy to get young students excited about learning. It's a great way to enhance the social and academic skills of active learners and help all students achieve success. iPad Learning Center for the Library including 18 iPads and Cart for students in all grades. iPads increase student learning by providing a portable learning tool that reaches kinesthetic learners and connects students beyond the classroom. Smart Board Upgrades and a Smart Document Digital Camera System for students in all grades. Sine their initial installation in 2007, the classroom SMART Boards have become an integral part of the classroom learning experience. With a high level of use, many were in need of repair or replacement. Indoor/Outdoor Play Enhancements for students in Bright Beginnings, Preschool and Junior Kindergarten. Outdoor play is a very important component in the healthy physical and emotional development of young children. Students will enjoy a new climbing/slide structure for their playground, along with other enhancements and new playground toys and accessories.
THANK YOU!
Health Education Initiatives for Middle School students. We will partner with providers to bring expertise to our students on topics relevant and age-appropriate. The practice of bringing in outside expertise to present to our students was piloted last school year with a visit from Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD). This Boston-based group represents the gold standard in drug, tobacco and alcohol education for young people, and has worked worldwide to provide students (and the adults who care for them) with the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to make intelligent, healthy choices about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. Other specialists in a variety of areas are also being considered. Enrichment Initiatives for Congressional Staff in all grades. Attracting and retaining world-class educators to our community requires that we provide the highest quality professional experiences and opportunities to further their co-curricular interests. Gala funds, and a generous donation from the Congressional School Parents Organization have enabled many of our faculty to participate in professional development experiences around the country this past summer. Our teachers returned to Congressional excited to share all that they learned with their fellow staff and implement the new ideas in the classroom. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 17
& d n a S ,
Sun
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Earlier this year, Maxx Murray, Class of 2015 was named as a 2014 JASON National Argonaut. This coveted position brought with it a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Cape Eluthera Intitute in the Bahamas to study with scientists and researchers from around the world. his past summer was no ordinar y summer for 8th grader Maxx Murray! In July he traveled to The College of The Bahamas Cape Eluthera Institute as a 2014 JASON National Argonaut, where he represented Congressional as part of a delegation of students and teachers. Due to Congressional’s unique strategic partnership with the JASON Project, Maxx had the opportunity apply to represent Congressional as a student Agonaut. The application process was rigorous and involved a written essay on a scientific topic, a video describing why he aspired to become a JASON National Argonaut, and a telephone interview. Maxx was up to the challenge, and was ultimately selected to be one of 11 delegates to travel to the Bahamas for a week-long scientific learning adventure.
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The excursion began with a stop off at Sandyport Resort, in Nassau where Maxx and his fellow delegates took in some of the amazing aquatic life before hopping on a tiny airplane to make the quick trip over to the island of Eluthera. The airplane ride wasn’t for the feint hearted, but Maxx thoroughly enjoyed it, and was particularly thrilled with the aerial view of coral reefs through crystal clear water. Through its research and education efforts, Cape Eluthera Institute (CEI) seeks to encourage sustainable development and conservation efforts in The Bahamas and other similar island nations. The center hosts permanent and visiting scientists from around the world, and brings hundreds of students and educators to its facilities each year. Partnered with CEI and also located on the island of Eluthera is the Island School, which offers semester and summer study opportunities for students and teachers.
During their one week visit to the island, the JASON Argonauts worked with CEI visiting and resident scientists as well as the students of the Island School to conduct hands-on research on a range of marine science projects, and sustainable living practices. One of Maxx’s favorite activities during the visit was snorkeling on a coral reef among sea life such as angel fish and eels. He even snorkeled at night and learned about the importance of the delicate ecosystem. During their stay on the island, Maxx and the other student Argonauts took turns blogging about their adventure. A major highlight of the trip for Maxx was tagging turtles. “The island scientists had not tagged turtles in the bay area on the island so we were the first ones to do that. We caught young turtles using large nets, although we didn’t pull them all the way onto the dry land. We tagged the turtles on an area of their back flipper where there is no nerve so it doesn’t hurt them. Our purpose in tagging them was to track their movement to see if they return to the same area. They were not too difficult to catch.” Snorkling as another of his favorite activities. “We snorkled around looking at the reef ecology. The coral reefs are important because they are thriving ecosystems. They need to be protected. They also offer protection in storms by slowing the storm down. We snorkeled at night using underwater flashlights. There wasn’t as much activity at night but we still saw lots of interesting creatures including a small octopus, a sting ray, parrot fish, sea urchins and a slipper lobster. Our guide said she had never seen a slipper lobster before, as they are very rare, so we were lucky to see one.”
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 18
Earlier this year, Maxx Murray, Class of 2015 was named as a 2014 JASON National Argonaut. This coveted position brought with it a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Cape Eluthera Intitute in the Bahamas to study with scientists and researchers from around the world. Images courtesy of The JASON Project
Students in Mr. Smith’s fourth grade science class create static electricity using a Van de Graaff generator.
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Being innovative is thinking differently, embracing the possibilities, and taking risks.
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Chris Robertson Lower School Director
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will never forget the first time I was introduced to Smartboards. At the time, I was teaching 4th grade at Friends Academy, a wonderful Quaker school on Long Island. A colleague in Middle School invited me to stop by his classroom and take a look at a project he was designing using a new technology purchased by the school. When I entered the room, my eyes were immediately drawn to his “whiteboard” which was aglow with color and movement. For the next hour, he showed me how this interactive device helped drive the learning in his classroom. I felt as if I was witnessing something revolutionary; “going to the board” became a whole new experience for children. When people discuss innovation, they are often drawn to technology. However, having a particular device does not make a school innovative. Being innovative is thinking differently, embracing the possibilities, and taking risks. My colleague at Friends Academy experimented with new approaches, piloted new devices, and developed lessons that were out of the box but rooted in best practices; he took risks and was not afraid to fail. That made him innovative.
At Congressional, we continue to cultivate an innovative spirit. Our new math program teaches children there is no “one way” to solve problems. Students in world language skype with individuals from across the globe and have conversations in French. Other children work in teams to design and build an arcade machine using cardboard, tape, and paper. The Responsive Classroom approach encourages teachers and students to work together to develop behavioral expectations for the classroom. This year, I begin my 23rd year as an educator in independent schools. Throughout my career, I have seen how innovation has impacted ways children think about their world. Schools that devote time, training, and resources to building their technology initiatives are doing a great service to their school because technology naturally encourages innovation. However, an integral piece is the building of an innovative mindset in the classroom. By doing so, children become intellectual and creative pioneers who learn the importance of thinking critically about their world.
Schools that are innovative adopt a mindset that risk-taking, making mistakes, and learning from mistakes are a vital part of academic growth. The classrooms in these institutions become hotbeds of intellectual curiosity and ideas. Teachers and students alike are partners in the learning process. These are the schools where children are safe to act on the “what if….”, take risks in their learning, and are not afraid to fail. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 21
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The iPads have been transformative. As curiosity enhancers, they stretch the minds and imaginations of students and present opportunities for learning that otherwise wouldn’t exist.
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Brent Hinrichs Middle School Director
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ast year, Congressional embarked upon an ambitious and exciting technology program. After the tireless efforts of HD Baha, Director of Technology, and his team, all Middle School students received an iPad or Chromebook at the beginning of the school year. Within the first few weeks of school, teachers and students were immersed in these exciting devices, creating new opportunities to enhance learning. All last year, teachers and students learned from this one-to-one device program and this year, in 2014-2015, all Middle School students received an iPad to further Congressional’s mission of providing an innovative program. By giving every Middle School student an iPad, we are laying the groundwork for new pathways of learning by encouraging students to take risks, explore, experiment, figure out and tinker. They are learning valuable critical thinking and problem solving skills while using this new and innovative tool. Tony Wagner, founder of the Change Leadership Group at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and author of The Achievement Gap and Creating Innovators, identifies several skills necessary for future leaders and innovators. Those skills include critical thinking and problem solving; collaboration across networks; agility and adaptability; accessing and analyzing information; and curiosity and imagination. In the age of instant information, it’s not enough to just know something anymore. Students have to know how to analyze, synthesize, infer and problem solve. Congressional’s students are developing these skills with the support of a first-class technology program. In English, students are reading novels as iBooks. Using the Kindle app, the student’s download novels to the iPad, highlight text, make, mark and save notes at any place within the text, CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 22
and access the digital dictionary at the tip of the finger. Long gone are the days of multi-minute excursions to locate the dictionary and then flip pages for the meanings of mysterious words. With the iPad students have instant internet access now. Within seconds, students are gathering information and creating new knowledge. In History and Social Studies, students are accessing photos of various locations throughout the world using GeoPhoto, an iPad app. Coupled with internet research, students are gaining a better understanding of countries, regions and topography. Another app that they are using is Keynote which is a similar to PowerPoint - after researching and writing, students design presentations within minutes that allow them to shape and share this newfound knowledge with their classmates. Congressional now subscribes to Google Drive, a storage and synchronization service which enables cloud storage, file sharing and collaborative editing - this has transformed the logistics of work flow and how teachers and students “do business”. Faculty and students are using Google Drive to place documents and assignments into virtual lockers; if a student forgets materials at school or is absent from school, Google Drive has 24/7 accessibility. A student will power up the iPad and no more misplaced assignment sheet or the dog ate my homework- the forgotten book or assignment is in Google Drive now. It is not unusual to enter a class to find students writing and referencing various materials using Google Drive. Congressional now provides email accounts to all Middle School students; email allows our students and teachers to converse regularly and effortlessly in mature and significant conversations about learning.
There are dozens of apps that teachers and students are using on the iPad now, from AnimationHD and Voice Recorder, to Notability and the frog dissection app in 7th grade Science. Backpacks are lighter also; The iPad allows students to read on the iPad. The Spanish textbooks are all digital subscriptions to be read on the iPad; 5th grade Social Studies text and the 6th grade Geography text are also a digital subscriptions. Even the tried and true classical Latin book is accessed via the iPad. The paper student planners have been rendered obsolete due to technology. Students are using electronic calendars and the school website to manage and organize their time and assignments. At the beginning of the school year, we were eagerly anticipating how these devices would enhance the educational experience for the students. Since the fall, the iPads have become an integral part of the Middle School program and seeing these instruments in the hands of students is as commonplace as seeing a pencil or threering binder. As we expected, the students have taken to the iPads as young people do with most technological advances- they were eager to explore and learn which has resulted in a fluency that most adults would envy.
helping our students be responsible users of technology by offering several classes on Digital Citizenship. In a world of rapid advances and changes, we can’t just expect our students to know how to be navigate the internet and other online resources; we will teach students how to take care of themselves and others in our everchanging and complex digital world. The school is continuing its practice of innovation. We are willing to take risks and remain nimble with these transformative technology devices. As curiosity enhancers, iPads provide opportunities to stretch the minds and imaginations of our students and present opportunities for learning that otherwise wouldn’t exist. Tremendous potential remains with the iPads as we continue to explore and experiment. Congressional is in the forefront of technology integration in the Washington DC area. We are excited to have begun the new school year; we are challenging our students and enriching their learning experience with this exciting and innovative program.
In August, Congressional hired its very first Technology Integration Specialist. After a national search, we were very fortunate to hire Katie Brown. Ms. Brown and her family moved to Falls Church from Hawaii where she was an academic dean and Middle School teacher in several independent schools. With the internet at our students’ fingertips, we know it is critical that students understand the proper and ethical uses of technology. In addition to working with teachers to integrate technology Ms. Brown will be CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 23
In September, Congressional hosted a Capital Athletic Conference Cross Country Meet. Eight schools and over 80 runners turned out for the event.
OUR Values Our community CARES, taking a genuine interest in each child's well-being and personal growth. Our Community COLLABORATES, with students, faculty, and parents working together to support learning and growth. Our Community INSPIRES engaged learning through a dynamic and balanced curriculum. Our Community NURTURES its students, embracing each child’s individuality. We encourage students to take intellectual risks and learn from mistakes. Our Community CELEBRATES the learning experience!
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CONGRATULATIONS
Class of 2014
“Looking back, you have successfully navigated the rigorous academics of Congressional. You have been exemplary role models to other students here at Congressional, modeling strong citizenship and leadership skills, a caring and kind nature and a strong work ethic. You have accomplished much. Congratulations.� Janet F. Marsh - Executive Director
Class of 2014 High School Matriculations Bishop O’Connell High School The British School Edmund Burke School Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology Madeira School Mercersburg Academy National Cathedral School Potomac School St. Anselm’s Abbey School St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School Washington International School
“You will be incredibly well prepared for the academic challenges of high school.”
2014 Commencement Address arents, board members, faculty, graduates — thank you for having me here today. I’m so glad Mr. Hinrichs couldn’t get in touch with any alumni at Harvard. To the class of 2014 —congratulations. Seven years ago, I was sitting on this stage in your place. The speaker that day was way older and wiser than I am. It was Mr. Cavanaugh. As a college student, I have very little wisdom or life experience to offer you. Luckily, what little experience I do have is very relevant to you all. Today I am going to talk about high school.
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Now before I get into the details, a few comforting words to you and your parents: having graduated from Congressional, you will be incredibly well prepared for the academic challenges of high school. You’ve read great books, learned algebra and taken language classes where you’ve actually studied a foreign language. You’ve survived Mr. Cavanaugh! Academically, freshman year will be a natural progression from the learning you’ve done here. In many other ways, however, high school is pretty different from Congressional. Almost all of you will be going on to schools much larger than this one. No matter where you go, you won’t always be in a place where everyone knows your name. You won’t always have a ropes course and a water slide. I want to tell you a story from my first day of high school to illustrate, ome of these differences. The first time I went to my high
school, Georgetown Prep, was in the summer after my Congressional graduation — it was July of 2007. Prep is pretty serious about its sports, so well before classes even started, all incoming freshmen had to attend a weight room orientation to familiarize ourselves with the gym. I arrived not knowing anyone and ready to make some friends. A few seniors showed my class around the weights, teaching us proper form on squats and bench press. I quickly exhausted myself squatting, and before I knew it, I started to feel dizzy. I hadn’t eaten anything all day. As I moved from the squat rack to the bench press, I lost vision and passed out on the floor. I woke up minutes later surrounded by the headmaster, a couple firefighters, and all of my freshman classmates. I know the Prep Class of 2011 made a lot of jokes about me that day, but when I showed up to start school two months later, nobody even remembered it was me. If this happened at Congressional, everyone from first to eighth grade would know, but of course we wouldn’t be mean about it. So what to do without ropes courses and water slides. Without two-on-one Latin classes, field days, handbells, and science fairs. Sometimes high school seems like it’s all about having the right friends, making a team, or getting into a good college. I don’t have much advice to give on those things, mostly because you’ll figure them out. Those aspects of high school are pretty simple —work hard, get good grades, join clubs…you all know the drill.
Joseph H. Giammittorio, Class of 2007. A graduate of Georgetown Prep and a student at Yale University, Joe has taken a year’s leave from university to study Chinese in Northern China.
What I wished I’d known in high school, more than anything else, is that you need to take your interests beyond classrooms, clubs, and teams. People say “real life” begins once you graduate from college. I don’t really know what happens after college, because I have yet to graduate myself, but I do know that from the moment I got to high school, there were exceptional people around me doing very “real” things. While most of my classmates and I sat around and watched ESPN, a few guys out there competed in triathlons, played concerts at the 9:30 club, or, in the case of Rami Bedewi, who graduated from this school in 2008 and from Prep in 2012, built a hybrid car that he drove from New York to DC on one gallon of gas.
But what about those of you who don’t know if you prefer writing books or writing code? That’s where school comes into play. Treat your classes, your friendships, and the activities your school offers as windows into topics to explore on your own. I am seven years ahead of you, and I don’t know how I want to spend my time, either. I am a writer, a personal trainer, an economics major, a Navy ROTC dropout, and currently, an intern for the New York City Triathlon. In August, I will be taking a one-year leave from Yale to study Chinese at a university in northern China. The world’s greatest sushi chef, Jiro Ono, has said, “You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret to success.” I agree, but first, you’ve got to find that skill.
In high school, I thought that doing well in school, playing soccer, and joining a few clubs was good enough. I thought there was a natural path to follow, where you go to school to learn, and then once you graduate you start making and doing real things. I had a lot of school work! And I was afraid to deviate from the path. I loved writing, but I never wrote outside of school because I wasn’t ready to be a “real” writer. I was probably right —I don’t think I would have written anything that great when I was 16. But if I had tried, I know I’d be a better writer now. You don’t have to wait until you are 22 to do more than what your school expects from you. Do it now.
I hope that in the next four years, all of you will come closer to finding something that you love. One of Congressional’s missions as a school is to be innovative. Be innovative —which is to say, do things differently! I hope that you’ll approach high school differently from how most do, and that you’ll do more than people expect from you. Today, you are graduating from a school that has prepared you to create your own challenges. Take them on, and make sure that your next great accomplishment isn’t your high school graduation. Congratulations, again, to the class of 2014.
People say “real life” begins once you graduate from college. I don’t really know what happens after college, because I have yet to graduate myself, but I do know that from the moment I got to high school, there were exceptional people around me doing very “real” things. -Joseph H. Giammittorio
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Another Wonderful Summer at Congongressional Camp
In the summer of 2014 we welcomed back fifteen alumni who returned as camp counselors Class of 2007 James Abrahamson Class of 2008 Kristina Pontillo Katie Jones-Powe Jessica Gandy Class of 2009 Daniel Anderson Patrick Abrahamson JJ LaPointe Austin O’Brien Class of 2010 Nicholas Proano Jack Riordan Jordan Zelasko Class of 2011 Sayeema Hoque Christine Castro Class of 2012 Julian Anderson Eric Creely
School News Strong Showing for Colts Innaugural Lacrosse In the spring of 2014 Congressional added lacrosse as a new sport in its line-up.The inaugural team of nine Middle School boys, trained hard and and set a strong foundation for the sport at Congressional going foward. Coach Tavis Laws highly commended the team for its strong showing, anticipating great things for the sport at Congressional in years to come.
Students Embrace Singapore Math Math in Senior Kindergarten - Grade 4 looked a little different last year at Congressional. After months of evaluation and a strong recommendation by the Math Committee, Congressional adopted the highly acclaimed Singapore Math program. The students quickly embraced the new teaching methods which offer a conceptual approach to math, designed to build a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.
Gala Funds: Multi-Sport Court Adds New Dimension to Campus Congressional raised $180,000 at the 2013 Gala in support of a Sport Court, a multi-purpose athletic surface, from a number of generous donors. The Sport Court will serve all students, Bright Beginning through 8th Grade, and provide an optimal playing space for basketball, tennis and numerous other games. Eighteen months ago, we partnered with a leading civil engineering consultancy firm, Professional Design Group, Inc. (PDG) to help us design and pursue permitting from Fairfax County for the Sport Court. At this time, we remain engaged with Fairfax County over the rights to build in our proposed location, on the site of our second softball field, due to the existing Flood Plain. We anticipate hearing positive news from Fairfax County in the near future. We have also taken steps to explore alternate sites on campus for the Sport Court, in the event that the project is delayed further due to environmental concerns. Our goal is to have the Sport Court available to our community by Spring 2015 and the funds remains earmarked for this initiative. If you have any questions about the Sport Court, please contact Chris Pryor, Director of Development, at 703-533-8167. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 32
School News 2014 Faculty Summer Fellowships
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the spring of 2012 Congressional launched a Faculty Summer Fellowship program to support the professional development of our teachers and staff. The CSPO partnered with the school in this endeavor, and each year, for two years straight, donated in excess of $10,000 to the fellowship. The range of fellowships has been diverse, and has taken our faculty all over the country. The teachers as a result have returned to school with a wealth information about the latest educational research, innovative teaching practices and with renewed energy and enthusiasm which has resonated in the classrooms. In the summer of 2014, our faculty participated in the following fellowship activities: Seven teachers attended the Reading & Writing Project at the Teachers College in New York City. Five teachers attended a Responsive Classroom workshop in McLean, Virginia. One teacher attended the Singapore Math annual conference in Las Vagas, Nevada. Seven teachers attended Development Designs workshops in Maryland and Washington, D.C. One teacher attended the Fords Theater Catherine Reynold’s Fellow Faculty Summer Workshop in Washington, D.C. One teacher attended a JASON Project Summer Workshop in Northern Virginia. One teacher conducted research for an 8th Grade Social Justice Project in Georgia and Alabama. Six teachers collaborated on Advisory curriculum in preparation for the 2014-2015 school year.
The range of faculty fellowships has been diverse, and has taken our teachers all over the country. The teachers as a result have returned to school with a wealth information and experience.
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alumni NEWS and notes
Class of 2013 - Several members of the Class of 2013 returned to Congressional in June to talk with the 8th graders about the transition to high school. Among the alumni who returned were Jack Walker, AJ Majia, Ankush Joshi, Daniel Agate, Courtney Laughlin, Grace Hillkirk and Julia Phaltankar. Class of 2001 - Devin Coleman Houff welcomed Madelyn Grace who was born on January 11, 2014 at 6:15 PM at 8 pounds, 12 ounces and 22 inches in length. Devin wrote: “She is a beautiful, spunky little girl who has already won over many hearts!� Devin says she looks forward to her first class of 2001 kids reunion. Devin attended Yorktown High School and the University of Kansas.
Class of 2005 - Nelson Carr graduated with distinction this summer from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. He earned a BA (Hons) in Geography. This fall he began a Masters program in Real Estate Management, also at the University of Northumbria. Class of 2010 - Members of the Class of 2010 came back to campus for a reunion before heading off to college this fall. Among the group were: Julia DeVico - University of Ohio Jane Werntz - Oberlin College Diane Arnos - Tufts University Nikhil Bhattasali - Stanford University Ola Zytek - Rensselaer Polytechnic, Akua Nyarko-Odoom - Stanford University (Not Pictured) Rohan Rana - University of Miami Sanjay Bhagowalia -Virginia Tech. Kelley Anderson
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alumni NEWS and notes 50th Reunion
Class of 1964 & 1965 - On July 20th a group of Congressional alumni got together to mark the 50th year since the they graduated. Executive Director, Janet Marsh stopped by to congratulate the graduates. Pictured above in the front row, from left to right: Jackie (Bond) Worthy, Marion Parham, Frank Dove, Josephine (Haden) Ludolph, Brian Katen. Second row: John McElvey, Nancy (Bentzel) English, Alice (Fowler) Harper. Third row: Toni (Piccolo) Burkhart, Carolyn (Ryther) Liss, Pam Lee, Lee Parham, Steve Powers, Henry Hutchinson. Fourth row: Jody Laurents, and Francis (Julian) Liebertz. Back: Bill Herman,and John Simon. Class of 2013 - Maggie Lavoie was back on campus over the summer working with our youngest students in the Bright Beginnings program. Maggie loves working with the babies and the children and staff have really enjoyed Maggie’s visits.
Class of 2009 - Alexandra Zachem was recently named the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Week during the final week of her freshman season on the Saint Joseph’s University women’s tennis team. After graduating from Congressional in 2009, Alex attended Yorktown High School and is now a sophomore majoring in Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania. Photo: Courtesy of Saint Joseph’s.
Class of 2012 - Julian Anderson was back on campus over the summer to complete his Eagle Scout project. Julian provided us with some much needed upgrades to the front entry of our Camp Office. His work included laying new turf, and pressure washing and treating the wooden ramp. Thank you Julian! He also worked at Congressional Camp through out the summer. Julian is a junior at Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia.
Class of 2010 - Sanjay Kumar Bhagawalia graduated from Middleburg Academy on May 31st. This fall, he is a Freshman at Virginia Tech majoring in pre-law. Class of 2009 - Raj Bhagowalia is a sophomore at Emory University in Atlanta majoring in pre-med.
Class of 1999 - Brittany Hyde was married on March 1st in Vero Beach Florida. She and her husband Randy honeymooned in Norway. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 35
A Writer’s Journey Alyssa Weinberger ‘03
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In this industry, you mostly have to play it by ear...
As a Congressional student, Alyssa took great pride in her writing, commanding the attention of her teachers as well as those outside of the school. In 8th grade she was recognized for her submission to the DAR’s American History Essay contest, making it all the way to the State finals in Richmond. She attended high school at the Madeira School where she continued to be recognized for her writing abilities. In 2011, after earning her BA from William and Mary she headed to Los Angeles to take one of a select few places at the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Cinematic Arts. At USC she learned to develop and pitch TV pilots and developed her own drama project “Make Believe” for her final year’s thesis. “It was quite the process writing it, from having no idea what I was doing to being fully ready to talk about it with producers and agents.” After two years of study at USC and an internship at Groundswell Productions, Alyssa was fully entrenched, and totally hooked. She decided to stay in Los Angeles. Alyssa’s writing has continued to generate attention. In 2012 she was the winner of the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Award for her script SINGULARITY. She describes the project: CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE | 36
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prolific writer from a very young age, Alyssa Weinberger’s love for creative writing has transported her from east coast to west, as she pursues her creativity and passion to become a writer for film and television.
“SINGULARITY is an original narrative about an astrophysicist trying to discover clues to the origins of the universe while also coping with his father's Alzheimer’s.” In 2013 Alyssa was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival, and went on to win an award for her Spec (a sample episode for a TV series) “Doctor Who: Ghost Town.” Currently working for Schachter Entertainment, Alyssa is realistically determined in her approach to her career: “In this industry you mostly have to play it by ear. I'm more focused on the TV realm these days. I spent a good chunk of May and June applying to a couple of TV writing fellowships, including the Sundance Episodic Story Lab, and I should start hearing back soon. The dream would be to sell a pilot and eventually be a showrunner one day, but for now my goal is to be staffed on one of the amazing shows that's already on the air.” Alyssa Weinberger with her parents Mike and Karen.
Rocket Science Luke Cannon '12
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A Junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
fter hearing about a summer science opportunity through a friend, Luke Cannon '12 applied and was selected for a six week internship at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He was assigned to the Joint Polar Satelite Systems (JPSS), a program dedicated to creating and launching satellites that have a polar orbit of the earth. Explains Luke, “JPSS is currently working on creating its second satellite the JPSS-1. The group that I interned with, Flight Vehicle Testing Suite (FVTS), is working to create a simulator for this satellite.” Luke helped the FVTS team by creating interface displays for the satellite simulator. The data his pages displayed reported to the FVTS user how the simulator was functioning to ensure that
the simulator is running properly. The work was detailed and necessitated Luke to become familiar with Xtensible Markup Language (XML), a computer language used for the transportation and retrieval of data. “These XML files are good for transporting data because they don't actually do anything and have the same meaning on all systems. In creating the pages I had to work a lot with the Linux operating system because I used a host interface to create my pages that ran on that operating system.” Luke was glad he pursued the internship, which wrapped up in midAugust, and felt he gained from the experience: “I learned a lot. This internship was a great experience for me.”
Two years ago, as a Congressional graduate, Luke Cannon was eagerly anticipating life as a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. This year, Luke is a Junior and headed back to school with a new perspective after a summer internship at NASA.
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Luke Canon ‘12, Eric Creely ‘12 Amir Arabi ‘13, Arun Bhattasali ‘13 Kayla Simpson ‘14, and Isabelle Nimick ‘14 Camille Sommerfield ‘12, Maggie Lavoie ‘13 Courtney Laughlin ‘13, Amir Arabi ‘13, Ankuh Joshi ‘13 Jessica Edwards ‘13, Victoria Haver ‘13
7. Genevra Maria Beck Guagliano ‘85 with her husband and children
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S av e t h e Date H OM E C OM I N G 2 0 15 Mark your calendar! Friday, January 9, 2015 Special on-stage seating and refreshments for Alumni
Hip Hip Hooray! The Congressional Fund exceeded its goal last year in both parent participation and dollars raised. No small feat! With your support, we’ve enhanced innovative learning opportunities across the entire campus from Bright Beginnings through Middle School. As we begin a new chapter in our school’s history, we simply wanted to say
Thank You!
The Congressional Fund Our Annual Commitment
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. Falls Church, VA
3229 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
MAJOR EVENTS FOR 2014-2015 Saturday, November 1, 2014 – Service Day Tuesday, November 25, 2014 – Grandparents and Special Friends Day Friday, December 19, 2014 – Winter Concert Friday, January 9, 2015 – Founder’s Day and Homecoming Friday, January 30, 2015 – International Night Friday, March 20, 2015 – Student Musical Production Friday, April 24, 2015 – 75th Anniversary Celebration and Golf Tournament Saturday, April 25, 2015 – Gala and Auction Wednesday, June 3, 2015 – Senior Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony Friday, June 5, 2015 – Grade 8 Graduation