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The
Congressional Update Magazine for Alumni, Parents, and Friends Spring 2016
John Cavanaugh
Celebrating 40 Years
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Janet F. Marsh Head of School
Kim O'Neil Director of Early Childhood Chris Robertson Director of Lower School
Brent Hinrichs Director of Middle School Chris Pryor Director of Advancement Gretchen Herbst Director of Admission and Financial Aid
Alyce Penn Director of Communications Jackie Rose Registrar
Cathy Neeves Director of Finance and Administration HD Baha Director of Operations and Technology
Drema McCoy Director of Human Resources
Dan O'Neil Director of Auxiliary Programs Tavis Laws Director of Physical Education and Athletics
2015-16 Board of Trustees
Jim Frye, Board Chair Richard Bynum, Vice Chair and Secretary Curtis Anderson, Treasurer William W. Devers, Chair Emeritus Janet F Marsh, Head of School Amanda Allexon Liz Barclay Edward Carr Thomas Coolidge Gretchen Devers Lindsey Devers-Basileo Harvey Ernest, Jr. Betsy Frantz Juanita Koilpillai Helen McIntosh Daniel Timm John Vassos Mary Worch
Table of Contents
Spring 2016 ..............................................................................
Features 7 11 14 18 23 25 26 28
Technology with Intention Susie Welty, Preschool Teacher John Cavanaugh, Celebrating 40 Years Founding Family Discovering History Project-Based Learning Saving the Bay Strategic Initiatives
Departments 5 30 31 31 32 34 36 37 38 43 44 46
From the Head of School Sport Court Unveiled Alumni News and Notes Sarah Mellor ’08 The Class of 2015 In Memoriam Samantha Devers ’05 Admiral Gerald E. Miller Bill Barns ’74 Vy Nguyen ’04 Class Updates Eat, Drink, Reunite. 1980s Reunion 75th Anniversary 2016 Homecoming Pictures
Congressional School admits children of any race, color, creed, and national or ethnic origin.
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Little Musicians
Music classes start early at Congressional. Our youngest students are given opportunities to explore steady beat through rhythm instruments and body percussion. Infants and Toddlers are introduced to steady beat through song favorites such as “The Ants Go Marching One by One” and “Rig-a-jig-jig”. They enjoy grasping the instruments in their tiny hands or nodding their heads to the beat as they watch puppets sing along with the songs.
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From the Head of School Dear Congressional Friends,
In 1939 when our school was founded, the educational philosophy of Co-Founder and Headmistress Evelyn Devers was that of a differentiated approach; one that challenged every student to the best of his or her ability. In 2016, this pedagogy remains at the core of the Congressional educational experience, with our teaching methods designed in consideration of current educational research and modern-day best practices.
Janet F. Marsh
Our focus is on providing rigorous academics, while being cognizant of the individual learning style of each student. This differentiated approach allows us to maximize the learning potential of each student, taking time to ensure that each one understands the material presented and acquires the necessary skills. All children are unique in the ways in which they learn, and our approach puts their needs first.
students to embark on their educational journey, our Core Values permeate everything that we do.
We were thrilled when the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) visiting team commended our school for the quality of our instructional program after their extensive visit in November. They were also impressed by the culture of our school and the warmth of our close-knit community. We are now awaiting the recommendation by the VAIS Accreditation Committee which is anticipated within the next couple of months.
I look forward to sharing more with you when a final decision regarding our accreditation is announced around the end of this school year. In the the meantime, at the recommendation of VAIS as well as Turnaround Marketing Communications (brand and marketing Approaches to teaching and learning advisors to K-12 independent schools) have evolved over the years. No longer are we have begun the process of working to children seated for hours at a time taking align the school’s mission statement with notes as teachers talk. Learning has our instructional program, core values, become an investigative process, where and strategic direction. teachers partner with students to guide and lead them to discovery and learning. Representatives from all constituencies Today at Congressional, students can be have been invited to participate in this seen moving around the classrooms as process, and I am excited to partner with lessons come to life through technology, you on this next chapter in our journey of collaboration, teamwork, and interaction. excellence. The results of our collaboration should culminate with the unveiling of Our Core Values -- Caring, Inspiring, a mission statement that affirms who Collaborating, Nurturing, and we are and what we do so well, and I Celebrating -- are woven into every look forward to sharing this with you academic and extracurricular experience before the start of the new school year. at Congressional. As you browse through the pages of this magazine you will see Most sincerely, our Core Values in action. From projectbased learning with Denise Yassine, to John Cavanaugh, who has been inspiring students for 40 years, to Susie Welty, whose Preschool classroom provides a Janet F. Marsh warm, nurturing environment for our Head of School CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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Thank You to Our 2015-16 Sponsors and Underwriters
Sponsors*
Underwriters*
Black Level Sponsor - $15,000
Gala Underwriting Levels
“Congressional School Sponsor” The Montgomery Family
Desserts - $2,000
Red Sponsors - $10,000 “Gala Title Sponsor”
Entertainment - $1,500
Available
APB, Ltd. Environmental & Power Services
Platinum Sponsors - $7,500
The Berol Family CapX Office Solutions, LLC The Clark Family Eye Doctors of Washington Nexus Systems
Gold Sponsors - $5,000
EagleBank The Edgar Lomax Company
Silver Sponsors - $2,500
Bob’s Discount Furniture Centurion Wealth Management DTS Tree & Plant Solutions The Englander Family Fairfax Food Service The Frye Family Finley Asphalt & Sealing Mercersburg Academy The Mueller Family TennisServ Samaha Associates
Bronze Sponsors - $1,000
Available Available Available
Photography - $750 Pam and Harvey Ernest, Board of Trustees Louis Zinzi Carpets, Ltd. Mary Worch, Board of Trustees
Theme Decorations - $250
Christchurch School Duron Educational Interiors Educational Connections Georgetown Preparatory School Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Reston Shirt & Graphic Company, Inc. The Ciesar Family
Centerpieces - $100
For more information about sponsorships, contact Chris Pryor, Director of Advancement cpryor@csov.org | 703-533-8167 www.congressionalschools.org/sponsorship
*As of March 1, 2016
Please join Us at Our Annual Gala! Saturday, April 16, 2016 6:00 p.m. Fairview Park Marriott Falls Church, VA www.CongressionalGala.org 6
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All in on iPads In 2014 Congressional launched its 1:1 device program, and students were provided with either a Chromebook or an iPad. Based on feedback from students, parents, and faculty at the end of 2014, we invested in iPads for each student in Grades 5-8. Scan the QR code above to see the videos students created using the iPad application, Noteability. In the following article, Technology Integration Specialist, Katie Brown (pictured above) discusses ways in which technology is incorporated into daily classroom activities.
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By Katie Brown
Technology
When I was a Seventh Grader, I decided to make my own snowshoes for an art class project. My English teacher had just assigned “Into the Wild” and it was winter, but in urban Philadelphia this was not your standard school project that involved a quick visit to the World Book Encyclopedia on the library shelves. It was the 1980s so I couldn’t ask Siri to pull up a “how to” video from YouTube, couldn’t order a snowshoe kit on Amazon, and I certainly couldn’t enroll in a webinar on snowshoe creation. So I did what every curious 7th grader in the day would do… I went from teacher to teacher gathering information and knowledge until I had a basic understanding of where to start. One teacher introduced me to a homesteading magazine, another taught me how to steam and bend wood, and a third found a friend of a friend who actually had a pair of snowshoes that I could borrow as a model. I found my teachers to be the gatekeepers of all sorts of knowledge - they just knew things and I knew that they were my ticket to understanding. So much has changed in a world where information and knowledge are available at our fingertips yet teachers remain critically important in fostering curiosity, the drive to dig deeper, and the habits of lifelong learning. Technology has opened the world of information, changing the role of a teacher from the imparter of knowledge to the facilitator of learning and inquiry. At Congressional, we have discovered the benefits of this transition; learning has become much more individualized as teachers use technology to tailor instruction to each student’s needs, interests, and challenges. The tools we use promote a deeper, more authentic learning experience, where students are 8
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challenged to write for real audiences, explore problems within their world, and develop solutions to issues in their community.
So what do these new approaches look like in the classroom? What does it mean to write for a real audience or engage in problem-solving? Students at all grade levels are digging deeper into projects that stimulate their critical thinking skills, connect them with their community, and develop the spark that will propel them to become lifelong learners.
The First Grade made connections between literature, art, design, and engineering this winter with a “Polar Express” project that had the whole school gathered around to watch their creations come to life. Students celebrated a Polar Express Pajama Party Day and used a computer-aided design program to create their own model train car. Combining their study of three-dimensional shapes in math with the design and engineering process, the students put shapes together to create a train car which was then printed on the 3D printer. The students would stop by the printer on their way to and from lunch to check on the progress of their creations and see their designs come to life. Sixth Grade geography students used technology to chart their families’ migration stories. Through a process called “App Smashing”, they used multiple apps on their iPads to create multimedia stories to share with the class. They integrated interactive maps, video, interviews, and artifacts into seamless presentations. A highlight of the presentations
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with intention was the StoryCorps interview that one of the students conducted with his grandfather. Now, his family’s fascinating migration story is part of an important public archive at the Library of Congress. As a result of the project, the students unearthed many extraordinary facts about their lineage. Technology was an important tool that helped them to achieve their goals and then share their findings in an engaging way. Technology has changed the way we write in so many ways. Our 1:1 iPad program in the Middle School has allowed students to use apps that work to their strengths, challenge them to increase their skills, and allow them to write for authentic audiences of their peers, their community, and their world. When you walk into a classroom you will see students taking notes in varied ways. Some are typing in color-coded bullet points, some are taking photos of demos in the classroom and adding their own drawings or notes on top, while others are creating elaborate mind-maps using drawing tools, photos, and text.
Students are exploring digital media, creating blog posts about their novels in English class, writing articles about their science experiments, and even creating their own e-books for publication online. Second Grade students took their traditional unit on endangered species to a whole new audience by publishing a digital book with their writing, photos, and videos of their animals. They brought iPads on their field trip to the National Zoo to capture photos and videos of their endangered species which they incorporated in books they wrote about their animals. These books were published through the iTunes store in 51 countries!
Claymation videos
Scan the QR code at right to watch 5th Grade Claymation videos created with the iPad application iMotion.
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3DPrinting
The arts have also embraced digital media and technology in their creative process. Music classes have written their own songs which they orchestrated in the Garage Band app and then filmed music videos using green screen technology. Art classes have taken their character studies to the iPad, creating animations, 3D-printed designs, and web pages to explore artistic endeavors in the digital world.
Technology is a tool and just like other educational tools through the years, the importance lies not with the tool itself but with how we use it. Congressional is using these new technologies with intention, weaving them into the curriculum to engage everyone in student-centered learning, collaboration, and creation. Teachers are supported by a technology team that helps them find the ways technology can increase student engagement and personalize learning. Students are supported as they gain these new skills through practical learning that translates well to high school, college, and beyond.
First Grade students design their own “Polar Express” trains and print them on a 3D printer. Scan the QR code above to watch a video.
Digital Citizenship is woven into the curriculum so students have experience interacting and collaborating online. They learn how to craft emails to their teachers so they have the skills to interact with experts from around the world. They create closed blogs with teachers and students in their classes to learn how to interact in social media. Learning to engage in the digital world under the guidance of their teachers gives our students a chance to practice their digital skills in a safe and educational environment.
The teachers at Congressional are embracing this new role as facilitators and using technology to create an educational environment which is student- centered and creative in ways we could not have imagined even a few years ago. Teachers are modeling the development of a passion for lifelong learning as they adopt new technologies in their classrooms and engage in the process of discovery with their students. As we look to the future, the role of teachers may be changing, but their importance is only growing.
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A native of the D.C. area, Susie Welty remembers Congressional from her childhood, she says, “I always thought it was a beautiful school and campus. I loved all the trees, the land surrounding it, and the way the school sat up on the hill.” Many years later, as a teacher, she arrived on campus to interview for a job: “I felt at home immediately”, she said. “I was offered the job as a Preschool teacher with the option to move to Kindergarten the following year. At the end of the year I had found my niche! I fell in love with Preschool and never looked back”. Today, Susie still loves teaching Preschool-age children: “Seeing the world through their eyes is such a blessing. When they make a discovery, I get to be right there witnessing their wonder and excitement,” she gushes. She also enjoys working with the parents of her students and sees it as a true partnership, “I’m always so thankful to them for trusting me and letting me share in their child’s Preschool year,” she says. The biggest goal for her Preschool classroom each year is to create a family environment with a balance of academics and play. Susie believes the childrens’ ability to care about and work with others is a skill they will need throughout their lives. To help them learn this, she gives them jobs in the classroom stating, “Responsibilities help children take ownership and personal pride in their classroom. It provides them with an opportunity to mature at a natural pace.”
In 2016, Susie Welty celebrates 24 years of teaching Preschool at Congressional. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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The signs of the seasons are Susie’s favorite units of study that she teaches each year. She enjoys taking the children outside to explore Congressional’s extensive campus at the beginning of each season, “It is so much fun learning about the birds, plants, seeds, animals, insects, and other attributes associated with the seasons,” she says. “Our campus is a wonderful place to explore during these units.” Susie is always amazed at her students’ capacity for learning: “They end up teaching me something on a daily basis. Our discussions are always so thoughtful and often hilarious. Yet, even though they are big kids, they are still the perfect size to cuddle up with and hold on your lap. I really do love this age”, she says.
“We have a good solid foundation for learning with lots of opportunity to enhance the curriculum with activities that can meet the needs of multiple learning styles.” - Susie Welty
The 2015-16 Preschool teaching team. From left: Emma Davis, Susie Welty, Allyson Judge
About the curriculum, Susie says, “The wonderful thing about Congressional’s program is that we follow a best practices curriculum. We have a solid foundation for learning with lots of opportunity to enhance the curriculum with activities that can meet the needs of multiple learning styles. All of our units are designed around the child’s world. When they can make personal connections, the abstract becomes concrete for them. When they leave Preschool our hope is that they can see their world with different eyes. I have always felt that Congressional supported its teachers by providing all of the materials necessary to do this. The children really do come first.”
Over her 24 years of teaching at Congressional, Susie has gathered many happy memories, most of which relate to what the children have done or said. She recalls, “One year, on the last day of school, I was holding one of my students on my lap and I was crying (no big surprise). She lifted my sunglasses and told me to look into her eyes. She said that because we both had brown eyes, whenever we looked into a mirror we would always be able to think of each other. I do still think of her!” What changes has Susie seen over the last two decades? “There have been so many changes, yet many things have stayed the same. I was there for the ground breaking of the new gym which isn’t so new anymore. Kindergarten moving up to the Lower School building is probably one of the biggest changes so far. We’ve been together so long! There have been changes, but they are all part of growing as a school. That’s what makes us such a good program,” she says.
Susie lives in Woodbridge with her husband Mike, to whom she has been married for 29 years: “He has been such a great support system. He is my best friend and we still hold hands” she says glowingly. Mike and Susie have two children, Mollie and Ben, who both live at home. Susie and her family love dogs, and each family member has his own, so their home is quite busy with four people and four dogs. When asked how she enjoys it, Susie simply replies, “The more the merrier.” Although her biggest passion is teaching, Susie is very creative and has many hobbies, saying “I love to watercolor, use colored pencils, knit, go antiquing, kayak, read, and sit outside in my chair swing with my dachshund, Sophie Dog.” 12
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John Cavanaugh History and Latin teacher, John Cavanaugh is celebrating 40 years of teaching at Congressional. Since joining the Congressional family in 1976, Mr. Cavanaugh has seen generations of students pass through the hallways of our school, and has even taught the children of his former students. In light of this 40-year milestone, we sat down with him for a question and answer session.
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You started working at Congressional in 1976? What was your job back then? I came to Congressional as a Spanish teacher. I had met Congressional’s Headmistress, Mrs. Germaine Farrell, at Georgetown Prep where I was teaching German and working with the Speech and Drama Department on linguistics. Linguistics is my background, but what I really wanted to do was to teach Spanish, so Mrs. Ferrell called me and lured me over to Congressional with the promise of teaching Spanish. I taught Spanish here part-time and did a number of administrative jobs such as registrar, student scheduling, preparing a school newsletter, and delivering mail. I also ran the Extended Hours program. I was the Admissions Director for three years, the yearbook sponsor, National Junior Honor Society sponsor, ran a chess club, and more. I also taught English as a second language in the 1980s when Congressional had a large influx of foreignspeaking students enrolled at the school. Eventually that program was phased out.
Mr. Cavanaugh!! I loved learning history ever since I took his classes in 7th and 8th Grade. Aurelie Tu ’09
What do you like most about your current teaching job? I love to see the light bulb go off for kids. I can see it in their eyes. Sometimes there is an obvious “aha” moment, other times it is just an expression. I like to vary how I teach each group, as they are all different. If I did exactly the same thing with each group every year, I’d get bored. I get sad when the Eighth Graders leave, but I look forward to the new students who come up. Customizing my lessons to each new group of students motivates me. I teach students to gather facts, to understand the facts, and to learn the how and why of history; the cause and effect. We build on these skills in Seventh Grade so they can utilize them in Eighth Grade.
Still, to this day, the best history teacher I’ve ever had. Harper Thomas ’07
You are now in your 40th year at Congressional. Are there any changes that have taken place over the years that really stand out to you? There are lots of little differences that have taken place over the years, but the two big ones that stand out to me as significant are the closing of the high school in 1987, and the building of the gym. The gym was something that had been talked about for 20 years, so seeing it finally come to fruition was very gratifying. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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What do you think makes Congressional special as a school? One thing I notice about Congressional is that the students, faculty, and staff all enjoy coming here every day. They look forward to it and love it. This is an environment where students feel comfortable and the teachers genuinely care. There is a strong community feel.
You are an avid reader. One summer you said you read 35 books. What types of books do you like to read? I love to read, and my mind almost demands that I read. I read lots of history books, biographies, political thought books, and historical fiction. My favorite period to read about is the Roman Republic. I’ve just finished reading a book by Steven Saylor and have read every book he has written. I also like Ruth Downie and Colleen McCullough. I believe in lifelong learning. I can’t imagine not continuing to learn and I like to share with my students the fact that I’m still a learner and will be for life. I am also a big proponent of reading books and not relying on the internet. I encourage my students to enjoy reading paper books.
A life-changing teacher to say the least!! You are the best Mr. Cavanaugh. Jacob Deneault ’93 There seems to be a general consensus, among those who have been your students, that your classes are hard. In your opinion, why do you think students are so challenged in your class? I’m always amused in the fall when Seventh Graders enter my classroom for the first time. They are so nervous, and I can’t ever understand why. I guess I’ve got the reputation of being a tough teacher. I know my class is challenging. When a student tells me my class is hard, I say ‘thank you!’ Students don’t learn when the work is easy. I try to push them. I like to use humor to make the students feel comfortable, and tell them “if you knew everything, why would you be in school?” I also don’t take myself too seriously. If the classroom discussion is becoming dry, I like to share stories with my students. I have lots of stories to share. I want them to know that I’m still learning. I might share with them something I’ve learned from reading the newspaper, or in a book I’m reading, or a class I’m taking. I want them to see me also as a student. I also avoid creating barriers. I see my desk as a barrier to the students; I’d rather be up at the lectern, or walking around the classroom.
It's been 14 years and I still remember his class! Thank you Mr. Cavanaugh! Justin Blau ’01
Is there a secret to success in your classes? The students are the ones that would best be able to answer this question; however, if you do what I tell you and how I tell you – follow my instructions – you will be successful. I see the Seventh and Eighth Grade History program as a two-year continuum. I begin laying the framework in Seventh Grade, teaching the student how to fact gather, how to understand the facts, and the how and why of history. We build on these skills so that they can utilize them in Eighth Grade.
Rumor has it that you have a photographic memory. You never forget a student, even ones you haven’t seen for decades. How do you manage to recall every student you’ve ever taught? I would agree that I have a photographic memory, but only for things that matter to me. I am always amused when students come back after a number of years and come up to me saying “you probably don’t remember me but….” And I say, “Of course I remember you. You spent two years in my class, why would I forget you?” They are amazed that I can remember details about them, such as their hobbies. I tend to pick up on small individual details about the students, and then I associate that student with it, which helps me remember them.
Tell us one thing that is on your “bucket list.” I do have a bucket list, including learning Greek and Russian. I also plan to travel, especially to Italy and Greece. There are other places I’d like to travel to also, but worry about safety in those areas. I am fascinated about the influence western society has had around the world. Western values have permeated every corner of society, and I’d like to see as much of the roots of western society as I can. I don’t travel during the summer; I am saving my travel plans for when I retire. I also enjoy fishing and going to wineries.
Congratulations Mr. Cavanaugh on achieving this significant 40-year milestone. To send your messages of congratulations to Mr. Cavanaugh visit www.congressionalschools.org/Cavanaugh.
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I have always loved American History, but Mr. Cavanaugh really fueled that passion and challenged me, inspiring me to learn more. Sarah Mellor, ’08 I gave Mr. Cavanaugh a Warhead - the extremely sour candies that no one in our class could handle, and of course he didn’t even flinch! Christine Castro, ’11
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Founding Family
Congressional School under construction - September 12, 1959 Photos courtesy of Brad Tyree and Bill Barns ’74.
Congressional’s journey from a small, family-owned preschool in 1939, to its current status as a major player in the independent school arena is documented with many significant milestones. As the school’s founders, the Devers family has played an important role in the evolution of our school and the family’s commitment to Congressional’s future is just as strong today as it was more than seven decades ago. 18
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On September 21, 1959, the Devers opened the doors of the Sleepy Hollow Campus for the first day of school. n 1939, Evelyn and Malcolm Devers founded Tiny Tot Preschool in a five-room house in Westover Hills, Arlington, Virginia. Initially the school educated children between the ages of three and five, and grew very quickly. In 1940, the Devers moved to a larger location on North Pershing Drive in Arlington and expanded the school through Fourth Grade.
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The Devers placed great importance on offering children a year-round experience which led to the establishment of the summer camp in 1940. The camp offered programs for children ages three to five and was run on a farm at the family’s home on Carlin Springs Road in Arlington. As the school continued to grow and thrive, the Devers purchased the estate of General George Patton in Arlington and the school officially changed its name from Tiny Tot Preschool to Congressional School. A second campus was opened in Alexandria in the mid-1940’s which focused on Preschool through Fourth Grade, while grades Five through Eight remained at the George Patton estate in Arlington.
Congressional’s Co-Founder and Headmistress, Evelyn Devers’ educational philosophy included a differentiated approach, nurturing each individual student, and developing CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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each child’s potential to the highest degree. The school presented a well-rounded education in an environment where children could not only expand their knowledge, but could discover and enhance their individual talents. To accomplish this, Mrs. Devers kept the class sizes small and worked closely with the teachers to develop a strong curriculum. Mrs. Devers also loved school performances and students participated in many musicals and plays. Mrs. Devers’ daughter Diana Devers Stark, who would later become involved in running Congressional, described the school as having a “spirit of community, family, and togetherness.”
In their endeavor to offer an exceptional year-round experience for children, summer camp remained an important focus for the Devers family. To supplement the weekday camp program at their farm in Arlington, they transported busloads of Congressional campers to a dairy farm in Luray for weekend excursions. Horses were a big part of the camp experience, as they are today, and eventually Congressional adopted the colt as its mascot. The school’s enrollment continued to grow in the 1950s during which time the Devers planned another expansion and built a school on Sleepy Hollow Road in Falls Church.
The Falls Church Campus opened its doors in September of 1959 and the school has remained in this location ever since. Although no longer a high school, Congressional’s year-round program, with rigorous, differentiated academics, enriching summer camp program, and picturesque 40-acre campus, continues to evolve while staying true to the vision of its founders.
In 1971, after Mrs. Devers became terminally ill, her son William W. Devers (Bill) and daughter Diana Devers Stark took over the day-to-day running of the school. In 1972, the school newsletter ran a remembrance in honor of Mrs. Devers who passed away that fall. In the years since, Bill Devers and his family have played a significant role in helping to shape the future of the school and Bill has held many positions, including Chairman of the Board. In Congressional’s more recent history, there have been a number of significant milestones in which the Devers family has played a prominent role. The first of these milestones dates back to 1979 when Bill Devers reorganized the school as a non-profit organization and changed the name from Congressional School to The Congressional Schools of Virginia.
1959: Sleepy Hollow Campus under construction.
1996: A new gymnasium is built.
1973: William W. Devers Head of Administration.
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In 1996, as the owner of the Sleepy Hollow Road property which he leased to the school, Bill Devers donated five acres of the grounds to Congressional so that the gymnasium could be built. The gymnasium had taken decades of planning and years of fundraising, but it was ultimately the Devers’ generosity that helped to make the building a reality. In 1996, when it was opened, the building was officially named the Devers Family Gymnasium/Auditorium.
A third significant milestone in recent history began in September 2003 when Bill Devers offered to sell the remainder of the property to the school; this included over 34 acres and all the facilities. After engaging experts to conduct a Development Feasibility Study to help establish the site’s value, and securing an Environmental Site Assessment and appraisal, the Board finalized the purchase in July 2004. Today, we continue to applaud the family’s commitment to the legacy of Evelyn and Malcolm Devers with another significant milestone in the school’s history. As the school moves forward with its endeavor to achieve
accreditation through the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), the premier accrediting body for independent schools in Virginia, Bill, his family, and the Board of Trustees recognized that the school’s Bylaws needed to be rewritten. Working closely with Bill Devers, and an in an effort to ensure a truly independent governance framework pursuant to VAIS standards, the Board approved new Bylaws in June 2015. We are fortunate that Bill Devers and his family continue to play a significant role within our school. In his new role as Chair Emeritus, Bill Devers is a key advisor to the Board. In addition, Bill’s wife, Gretchen, and daughter, Lindsey, as Founding Family ex-officio members of the Board, also continue to assist in advancing the school’s mission and strategic goals.
We are grateful to the Devers family for their partnership and dedication to continuing the important work that their family - our school’s founders - began more than 76 years ago.
2015: The Devers family at the 75th Anniversary Gala. Pictured below from left, Gretchen Devers, William W. Devers, Lindsey Devers-Basileo, Derek Basileo.
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Discovering
History n January 8, 2016, Congressional celebrated Founders Day. Each year on this day, Congressional students, faculty, and staff pay tribute to the school’s founders, and take time to reflect on the school’s history and accomplishments since its founding in 1939.
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To mark the occasion this year, we invited Bill Barns from the Class of 1974 and Dudley Chapman who attended Congressional from 1947-48 on the Arlington campus, to talk about the construction of the Sleepy Hollow campus. Bill Barns shared photos from 1959 and told the story of how Congressional’s Lower & Middle School building was built on the Craig Estate and was originally designed to accommodate high school students.
Bill also presented Congressional with an original photo album from the Tyree family. Mr. Tyree was the builder and he partnered with Evelyn and Malcolm Devers to construct the high school in just six months. The son of Mr. Tyree, Brad Tyree, gifted a 1959 photo album to Congressional and Bill Barns gave us a replica copy to be displayed publicly. The Sleepy Hollow Campus officially opened its doors on September 21, 1959 even though the building was not completely finished.
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2 3 1. William Bradley Tyree, Congressional builder, and Malcolm Devers, Co-Founder. 2. Installing ground floor classroom windows. 3. Emmett and Virginia Craig’s house was originally on the school site. 4. A construction truck prepares the building site.
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“...I couldn’t image a year without a regular offering of project-based learning opportunities for my students.” Denise Yassine
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Project-Based Learning
A
t the beginning of each school year, I discuss these quotes with my students: “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success” and “Mistakes are sites for learning.” I tell them that these principles are not only true for them, but they are true for their teachers. Every day, as we fashion our lesson plans, we do so fervently and vigorously with specific goals in mind, yet we must also learn from our mistakes in order to continue on the route to success. This was certainly true when it came to creating an effective project-based learning model for my classroom. In my first years of teaching, I loved the sound of the hum when my students worked on a hands-on project. Fresh from graduate school and Jean Piaget’s theory of constructivism, I was satisfied that they were out of their chairs and actively engaged. It didn’t take long, however, for me to realize that when questioned about their projects, they spent more time telling me about the materials they used than about their understanding and knowledge of the subject they had constructed.
Upon reflection, I knew that my students didn’t hit the learning targets because I didn’t make them clear from the start. Now, many “sites for learning” years later, I continue to love the creative hum of project-based learning, and I know that well-selected guiding questions, visible learning targets, and teacher-as-facilitator feedback will ensure that my students not only enjoy the opportunity to collaborate, communicate, and create, but they will also think critically about the content and deepen their understanding of its connection to themselves and the world.
Project-based learning is an authentic way to learn, and I couldn’t image a year without a regular offering of projectbased learning opportunities for my students. It is rooted in learner-driven creation, collaboration, and academic choice. Their critical-thinking processes and communication skills are highly esteemed because exercising those has more lasting value than the “right” answer delivered in isolation and then quickly purged from short-term memory. Well-designed and executed projects leave a residue, and those experiences provide hooks upon which students place understanding. Rubrics provide authentic feedback and assessment, and guiding questions, generated by students and teacher, connect the project and real-world dots.
This school year, my students migrated like the Native Americans and worked together to provide food, shelter, and clothing. Working in small groups, they created descriptive videos detailing the key aspects from exploration to colonization. Role-play, 3D (virtual and actual) models, and numerous apps became the communication choices for a deep dive into thematic maps, Colonial Williamsburg, and globalization. As I reflect on the year, I can’t help but look forward to fervently and vigorously partnering with my students to meet the deep and rich goals that we create for learning success.
By Denise Yassine
5th & 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Scan the QR code at left to watch a time-lapse video of Mrs. Yassine and her students reenacting a Native American migration and settlement. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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Saving the Bay Seventh Grade students embark on a learning exploration of the Chesapeake Bay.
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Last October, Seventh Graders traveled to the heart of the Chesapeake Bay for a three-day, two-night experiential learning expedition. The students learned all about the 64,000 square mile watershed, the issues facing it, and the work that is being done to restore and protect it. The students learned about the history and ecology of the Bay and observed some of the Bay’s wildlife. They explored the area by boat and by foot and stayed in the Karen Noonan Education Center, which is situated on a 20-acre marsh. It was a perfect opportunity for students to venture into the natural environment and to put context around many of the concepts learned in the classroom.
STRATEGIC
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Eight Strategic Pillars
1. Academic Excellence 2. Student Development 3. Professional Educators & Staff 4. Financial Stewardship 5. Advancement* 6. Infrastructure & Physical Resources 7. Innovation & Technology 8. Auxiliary** *Marketing/Communications, Admission, Fundraising and Alumni Relations. **Extracurricular Activities, Extended Hours, and Summer Camp.
OUR BRAND
In the fall of 2014, Congressional partnered with Turnaround Marketing Communications to help us further develop our brand to best capture and communicate the essence of our school.
Staff from Turnaround spent two days on our campus visiting classrooms and meeting with members of our school community. The resulting Brand Strategy Report presented a set of strengths and weaknesses. One of the weaknesses they noted was the school’s name, which causes confusion in the marketplace due to the use of “Schools” and “of Virginia.” Turnaround recommended that we truncate our name to Congressional School. The Board’s Marketing and Branding Committee is actively working on addressing the findings in the Turnaround report with a goal to create new marketing materials, including a new logo and brand messages, for the 16-17 academic year.
The school’s current Strategic Plan was published in January 2014 and included a newly developed Vision Statement and Core Values. It also included four primary strategic goals, each with a brief overview and desired outcomes. These goals are: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Cultivating a Love and Passion for Teaching and Learning Utilizing our Surroundings to Enhance Learning Providing the Very Best to Our Students Elevating Congressional’s Image to Best Serve Students
One year following the rollout of the plan, the Strategic Planning committee, comprised of parents, staff, and Board members, is continuing the process of building out an actionable subsidiary plan. The Committee has developed a framework of eight primary pillars, each with a set of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant & Realistic, and Time-Bound) goals covering a 5+ year time frame that are aligned with our current strategic plan.
The Congressional Brand STRENGTHS:
An energizing, exploration-based education Academic depth over breadth Program quality over speed Process over product Social and emotional well-being and growth High calibre teachers Strong Division Heads Technology School reputation
WEAKNESSES:
School name Executive Director title School name recognition Marketing Deferred facilities maintenance Campus upgrades
INITIATIVES
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VAIS Accreditation Update
In early November, an eight-member Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) Visiting Accreditation Team, comprised of independent school teachers and administrators from all over the state of Virginia, conducted a four-day visit to Congressional to assess the degree to which the school meets the VAIS Standards for Membership. VAIS is the premier independent school accreditation agency within the state of Virginia and we are seeking initial accreditation. The visit was the culmination of a multi-year initiative that involved students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and Board Members.
The team members were impressed with the warm, positive, welcoming atmosphere they observed during their visit. They highlighted Congressional’s overall strengths which they determined to be our instructional program, technology program, camp, and school culture. We were pleased with the VAIS team’s praise for our school. Next steps in the VAIS Accreditation process include a review of our report by the VAIS Accreditation Committee and a recommendation by this Committee to the VAIS Board. A final decision regarding our accreditation is expected in late May or June.
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Congressional’s New Sport Court Unveiled
Scan the QR code to watch a video of the sport court ribbon cutting.
The oďŹƒcial ribbon cutting for the new sport court took place at the Fall Festival on Saturday, October 31, 2015. Through the tremendous support of our community at the 2013 Gala, and after many months of planning, permitting, and construction, the court is now being enjoyed by Congressional students in all grades. Thank you also to members of the Class of 2015 for their class gift of benches for the sport court.
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alumni NEWS and notes Sarah Mellor ‘08 2015 Commencement Speaker
Sarah Mellor’s journey at Congressional began in the fall of 1999 as a student in Mrs. Turk’s Senior Kindergarten class. Throughout her time at Congressional, Sarah took full advantage of opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate with her teachers and her peers. She enjoyed science and history and was involved in numerous community service projects.
Sarah was a leader at Congressional through her involvement with the National Junior Honor Society, as President of the Student Senate, and as a member of the Leadership Club and Yearbook Staff. She was also a competitive student-athlete and actively participated on the soccer, basketball, and track and field teams. After graduating from Congressional, Sarah enjoyed a successful high school career at Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C., and is currently a senior at Wake Forest University in North Carolina majoring in Health and Exercise Science. Sarah was the alumni speaker at Congressional’s 2015 Commencement Ceremony.
“
Here at Congressional, I learned how to spell, how to type on a keyboard, how the moon orbits Earth , I learned the 50 states and their capitals. But even more so, I was inspired here. I was nurtured here. I was cared for here. I grew up here. And the passions and inspirations I encountered here continue to drive me.
“
Sarah Mellor, ’08 Excerpt from Commencement Address Delivered on June 5, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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Class of 2015 Siham Araye
Nina Brooks*
James Tyler Ennis
Ryan Alexander Frant* Ethan Edward Frye Ryan Gallagher*
Charles Andrew Haver* Hibba Ibrahim
Thomas Johnson
Katherine Marie Joiner*
Class of 2015 Matriculation Annandale High School 1
Bishop O’Connell High School
2
Bullis School
1
Edmund Burke School
1
Flint Hill School
2
Georgetown Preparatory School
2
Georgetown Day School
2
Gonzaga College High School
3
JEB Stuart High School
1
Landon School
1
Linden Hall School (PA)
1
The Madeira School
2
McLean High School
1
Mercersburg Academy (PA)
1
Miss Hall’s School (MA)
1
Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
1
Washington & Lee High School
1
Washington International School
1
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Norman Joseph King, IV*
Francis "Frankie" Ryan Lavoie*
The 25 members of Congressional’s Class of 2015 matriculated to 18 different schools. 84% = independent high schools. 16% = public high schools. 11 of the 25 graduates began their Congressional education in Kindergarten.
Lindsay Claire Lukehart
Maxximus Alexander Murray Victor Quoc Nguyen
Nicholas "Nico" Rhys Ozioli Nicholas “Nicky” Palmer
Fatima Muhammad Pate Neha Shelvi Ratnapuri*
Salvador Thoreau Simpson* Cynthia Leonard
Ryker W. Stokes*
Matthew Kent Vidrine Kyle Yi
Tyler Jihoon Yun*
*Congressional Lifers: Students who attended Congressional from Kindergarten or earlier.
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1
4
2
5
3
6
2015 Graduation Highlights 1. Cynthia Leonard, Admiral Miller Athletic Award Winner.
4. Ryan Gallagher, Admiral Miller Athletic Award Winner.
2. Neha Ratnapuri, Karen H. Weinberger Outstanding Student Award Winner.
5. Jim Frye, Founder’s Award Winner for Outstanding Volunteerism.
3. Victor Nguyen, Annandale Rotary Service Award Winner.
6. Neha Ratnapuri and Ethan Frye deliver the student address.
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alumni NEWS and notes In Memoriam
Samantha Devers, Class of 2005
Samantha Devers, the daughter of Malcolm Devers and Margaret “Peggy” Voight, was an active member of the Congressional student community. She took her studies seriously, provoking comments from her Lower School teachers such as, “Samantha is an excellent student” (Bennett, 3rd Grade), and “Once again, Samantha has done an outstanding job” (Ozbay, 2nd Grade). In Middle School, Samantha was an Honor Roll student and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. Samantha embraced her role as a Congressional student, immersing herself in the life of the school. She was a member of the Student Senate, Safety Patrol, and the school choir. She also participated in sports, playing on the Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball teams and the Varsity Soccer Team. Samantha was very well-liked by her classmates, and was designated as the “sweetest” student in the 2005 yearbook. After graduating from Congressional, Samantha attended Oakcrest High School and went on to study at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Samantha passed away on Monday, August 3, 2015 at the age 24.
1) Samantha (pictured below center) on a Congressional field trip with classmates Chris Salpeas (left) Andrew Graykowski and Mary Crane. 2) Samantha’s Varsity Soccer Team photo. 3) Eighth Grade Commencement in June 2005.
1
2
3 34
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alumni NEWS and notes In Memoriam Admiral Gerald E. Miller
Gerald E. Miller (Vice Admiral, US Navy) was a prominent member of the Congressional School community as a parent and alumni parent. Admiral Miller was the father of four children; his son Jonathan B. Miller, graduated with Congressional’s Class of 1996.
Admiral Miller was well known on the Congressional campus due, in part, to his energetic and enthusiastic personality. He was a sports enthusiast, loved to play golf, and even taught golf skills to Congressional students. A strong supporter of Congressional, he contributed much time and effort to help build Congressional’s athletic program during the 1990s. His contributions were recognized with an athletic award named in his honor and the Admiral returned yearly to present the award.
The Admiral Miller Award: “In honor and recognition of the tradition that Admiral Gerald E. Miller established in the Athletic Program of the Congressional Schools of Virginia. This award is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete who demonstrates the qualities exemplified by the Admiral: enthusiasm, dedication, and leadership.” More than 20 years later, Congressional continues to present the award to one boy and one girl each year at graduation. Admiral Miller passed away on November 6, 2014 at his home in Oakton, VA at the age of 95.
Admiral Miller presenting the Admiral Miller Award to 8th Graders Erin Benton and Anthony Binker in 2003.
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alumni NEWS and notes Bill Barns ’74
After graduating from Congressional High School in 1974, Bill Barns went on to study at George Washington University (GWU). While a student at GWU in 1976, Bill became involved in data networking and was employed by the U.S. Air Force as a research assistant using the ARPANET network. Since his graduation from the GWU in 1980, he has held a number of engineering positions involving network infrastructure and applications development. Now a retired network engineer and software developer, Bill has over 30 years of experience in designing and building data networks and network applications. He retired from the Network Technology organization at Verizon Communications in 2011 as a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff.
Bill has remained in regular contact with Congressional since his graduation, researching and gathering information and photographs that tell the story of Congressional’s rich and fascinating school history. See related story on page 22.
Scan the QR code to watch our Founders’ Day video.
Bill Barns (second from left) and Dudley Chapman (left) visited Congressional to deliver a donated album of photographs from 1959 depicting the construction of Congressional’s Sleepy Hollow Road campus. Pictured with Janet Marsh, Head of School, and Chris Pryor, Director of Advancement.
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alumni NEWS and notes
o say that Vy Nguyen has been busy in the twelve years since she walked across the stage as a newly graduated member of Congressional’s Class of 2004 would be an understatement. Since that warm June day when she and her classmates emerged from the Devers Family Auditorium ready to embark on their exciting journey into high school, Vy has established herself as a highly accomplished student, author, and legal professional.
T
Vy Nguyen ‘04
Vy’s high school years were spent at Flint Hill School, from which she graduated in 2008. She received her Honours BA with Distinction from the University of Toronto - University of St. Michael's College, specializing in International Relations, with minors in History and East Asian Studies. From there, she went on to receive her Master’s Degree from the American University, School of International Service, International Peace & Conflict Resolution Program. In 2015, Vy was awarded her Juris Doctor (Cum Laude) in International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law, and International Human Rights Law from the American University in Washington, D.C. She was admitted to the Virginia Bar this past December. In addition to her educational accomplishments, Vy has immersed herself in her local community taking on the role of Vietnamese Team Leader for the Fairfax County Asian American History Project (FCAAHP). Founded in 2008, the FCAAHP works to research and document the experiences of Asian Americans living in Fairfax County, Virginia. In 2004, Vy wrote a book that was published entitled, “Second Generation Vietnamese Americans: A Comparative Perspective.” The book featured stories and images of second generation Vietnamese Americans in the Washington, D.C. area. It seeks to provide a “comparative perspective across generations, state, and country borders, and various experiences at different stages of their authors' lives.”
In 2015, Vy was a finalist for the prestigious Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, a leadership development program for advanced degree candidates interested in becoming government leaders. Vy was also selected through the Attorney General's Honors Program, from a field of 3,000 applicants, to begin serving as a Judicial Law Clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice Krome (Detained) Immigration Court in September 2015. In the fall of 2017, Vy will continue her public service as an active duty Judge Advocate General (JAG) for the U.S. Army JAG Corps. Vy is the sister of Duy ’03 and Khoa who is a Sixth Grade student at Congressional.
CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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alumni NEWS and notes ’64
’05
Toni Burkhart (Piccolo). Toni and her family, (husband Larry, father Tony, and son Chris) are all living in Oklahoma. Toni attended Congressional High School, after which she attended Central State College (The University of Central Oklahoma).
Nelson Carr. In December 2015, Nelson graduated with distinction from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne, England with a Masters in Real Estate Management. He is currently working as a Graduate Surveyor at Intu Properties in London.
Steve Hortin. In May 2015, Steve and his wife Vicki relocated from Atlanta to the DC area; Steve accepted a job as a Branch Chief with the US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, in Alexandria, Virginia. After graduating from Congressional High School in 1981, Steve attended Florida State University.
’06
’81
’01
Devin Coleman-Houff. Over the summer Devin wrote, “My daughter, Madelyn, is now a year and a half old. We live in Ashburn, Virginia. I am working on my Master’s Degree in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis.”
’03
Alyssa Weinberger. Alyssa recently worked as the assistant to two of the executive producers/writers on NBC's "The Blacklist," where she helped to outline Episode 2 of the third season and helped with prep and research on Episode 3. Alyssa also worked at Paramount studios in the heart of Los Angeles. Alyssa received her B.A. from The College of William & Mary and her M.A. from The University of Southern California School of Cinematic Art. 38
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Gabrielle Widawski. Gabrielle and her husband, Anthony Risi were married on August 15, 2015. They reside in Destin, Florida. After graduating from Congressional, Gabby attended Battlefield High School in Haymarket, VA and attended Christopher Newport University.
Ryan Lester. In September 2014. Ryan began a cybersecurity startup called Cyph (cyph.com). Ryan writes, “Cyph is a super easy-to-use encrypted messenger. We recently finished up a rigorous crypto audit/pentest with great results and we’re currently being relied on for some cool stuff like HIPAA-Compliant doctor-patient video calls and coordinating the dropshipping of humanitarian aid into Syria (with drones).” After graduating from Congressional, Ryan went on to graduate from McLean High School, and Carnegie Mellon University. Brendan Ware. Brendan graduated in 2014 from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a B.S. in Computer Science. He is now working as a software developer for a company outside of Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Congressional, Brendan attended Gonzaga College High School.
Gabrielle Risi [Widawski] ’05 and her husband Anthony were married in August 2015.
Steve Hortin ’81 and his wife Vicki recently relocated from Atlanta to the D.C. area.
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alumni NEWS and notes ’07
Carly Robinson. After graduating from Congressional, Carly attended Bishop O’Connell High School. She graduated from the University of Virginia in the spring of 2015 and is currently studying law at The College of William and Mary. One of Carly’s fond Congressional memories is “playing in the championship game for the Girls Softball Team in 8th Grade.” Carly has returned to Congressional as a Camp Counselor for six consecutive years.
’08
Jessica Gandy. After graduating from Congressional, Jessica attended Flint Hill School in Oakton and Battlefield High School in Haymarket. She is a student at the University of Alabama and has returned to Congressional for seven consecutive years to work as a Camp Counselor.
’09
Julia Anderson. Julia is a junior at Vanderbilt University where she is studying Economics. She has kept in touch with many of her Congressional friends and teachers. She writes, “I’m loving Nashville, TN as my second home and have had some adventures recently such as backpacking the Camino de Santiago in Spain this May and attending great concerts in the D.C. area while I’m back for the summer.” After graduating from Congressional, Julia attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.
Rajeev “Raj” Bhagowalia. In May, 2015 Raj received his Associate Degree from Emory University in Atlanta. He is continuing his studies at the University where he is majoring in pre-med. William “Wil” Figg. Wil is currently studying Genetics at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. After graduating from Congressional, he attended Woodberry Forest School. While home for the holidays, Wil took the time to stop by and donate board games to Congressional’s Extended Hours program. Wil will return to Congressional in June as the 2016 Alumni Graduation speaker. Austin O’Brien. After graduating from Congressional, Austin attended Georgetown Preparatory School and is currently studying at Gordon College in Massachusetts. Austin has returned to Congressional for the past six years to work as a Camp Counselor.
’10
William Figg, ’09, (above left) visited in December. Pictured with HD Baha, Director of Operations & Technology.
Jan James Castro. After graduating from Congressional, James attended Bishop O’Connell High School and is currently a student at the University of St. Andrews. James remembers skiing for the first time as a Congressional student. He writes, “every year there was a ski trip to Whitetail, and 6th Grade was my first time skiing.” James returned to Congressional in the summer of 2015 to work as a Camp Counselor. Julia Devico. After graduating from Congressional, Julia attended high school at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School and is currently a student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Julia returned to Congressional in 2015 as a Camp Counselor.
Raj Bhagowalia ’09 received his Associate Degree in May 2015 from Emory University in Atlanta. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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alumni NEWS and notes ’10
Nicholas “Nick” Proano. Nick attended high school at Washington International School, and he is currently studying at the University of California at Los Angeles. Nick reminisces about a Congressional field trip, “at Williamsburg in 8th Grade we went on a ghost tour and ate in a colonial-style tavern. It was like a travel through time.” Last summer, Nick returned to Congressional to work as a Camp Counselor.
Wil Ciesar ’11 graduated from Flint Hill School in June.
John “Jack” Riordan. Jack attended Bishop O’Connell High School after graduating from Congressional. He is currently studying Business with a focus on Economics at Seton Hall University, and hopes to work on Wall Street one day. Jack has returned to Congressional for the past five years to work as a Camp Counselor.
Jordan Zelasko. After graduating from Congressional, Jordan attended Bishop Ireton High School. He is currently studying engineering at the University of Scranton and hopes to eventually go to law school. Jordan has returned to Congressional to work as a Camp Counselor for five consecutive years.
’11
Julian Anderson ’12 received an early offer from the Rochester Institute of Technology. 40
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Christine Castro. After Congressional, Christine attended Bishop O’Connell High School. From there, she went on to study at Virginia Tech. Christine has come back to Congressional to work as a Camp Counselor for the past two years.
William “Wil” Ciesar. Wil Ciesar graduated from Flint Hill School on June 12, 2015 and is currently focusing his studies on liberal arts at Wake Forest University.
Jason Pazirandeh. Jason attended high school at Bishop O’Connell, and is a student at the University of Virginia. Jason particularly remembers Congressional for its academic program and how it prepared him for high school. He returned to Congressional in 2015 as a Camp Counselor. Imaan Shaikh. Imaan attended Fairfax High School and is now studying at Virginia Commonwealth University. Imaan returned to Congressional last summer to work at Congressional Camp. .
’12
Julian Anderson. Julian has received an early decision offer from Rochester Institute of Technology to study for a degree in Motion Picture Sciences.
Maris Ratliff. Maris is a senior at Bishop O’Connell High School. She is an accomplished dancer and has danced for the Washington Wizards during half-time. Maris has worked as a Congressional Camp Counselor for the past two summer.
’13
Leonardo “Leo” Proano. Leo is a junior at Washington International School. In the summer of 2015 he worked at Congressional as a Counselor in Training.
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alumni NEWS and notes ’14
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Penn. Lizzie is a sophomore at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax and plans to do the James Englander. In January 2016, James became an Eagle Scout. He was full IB Dipoma Programme starting next year. On a recent sightseeing trip in awarded this honor after leading 29 London, England she had a chance scouts through a strenuous service encounter with her friend Kayla project, earning 33 merit badges, Simpson, also in the class of ’14. Kayla holding troop leadership offices including Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, is a sophomore at Stone Ridge School and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, and of the Sacred Heart. completing an hour-long interview Lorenzo Proano. Lorenzo is a called the Eagle Board of Review. He is sophomore at Washington the 18th Scout to become an Eagle in International School. Last summer, his troop’s history. At the age of 15, he returned to Congressional as a James is one of the youngest scouts to Counselor in Training. receive this award (the average age of a new Eagle Scout is 18). Joeseph “Joe” Kamal. Joe is a sophomore at Bishop O’Connell High School. He has fond memories of Mr. Cavanaugh’s class and in particular remembers “all of Mr. Cavanaugh’s jokes and advice.” Joe returned last summer as a Counselor in Training.
Welcome Back Alumni
Kayla Simpson ’14 and Elizabeth Penn ’14 in London, in July 2015.
James Englander ’14 became an Eagle Scout in January 2016.
’15
Norman King, IV is enjoying life as a freshman at Edmund Burke School where he is an honor roll student. He recently starred in the school’s musical “Almost Maine” and is currently rehearsing for the musical "Legally Blonde." His family reports that “between his volunteer work, rehearsals, and the regular studying, he's been very busy.”
Norman King ’15 with his co-star in Edmund Burke’s version of “Almost Maine.”
It’s always great to see alumni return to campus, and every summer we see between 15-20 Congressional School alumni back on campus to work as Camp Counselors. CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
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“
...the students, faculty, and staff all enjoy coming here every day. They look forward to it and love it. This is an environment where students feel comfortable and the teachers genuinely care. John Cavanaugh
“
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On Saturday, November 7th, Congressional welcomed back over 30 alumni and their spouses from the classes of the 1980s.
The event was spearheaded by Steve Winney from the Class of 1983 and Genevra Beck Guagliano from the Class of 1985 and brought together a group of alumni from six dierent states, the District of Columbia, and even as far away as Turkey. The group reminisced about their days as students at Congressional and shared fond memories from their time at our school. They also learned about Congressional today from Janet Marsh, Head of School and Chris Pryor, Director of Advancement who were also in attendance. Scan the QR Code to watch John Cavanaugh’s video message to the 1980s alumni group.
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(Top) Congressional Alumni at the 75th Anniversary Golf Tournament, from left to right: Gary Crutchfield ’80, Tom Aslakson ’66, Frank Dove ’64, and Henry “Hutch” Hutchinson ’64. (Left) Linda Ward Byrd, ’68 at the on-campus celebration.
(Below) Students, faculty, and staff gather for an all-school photo on the front steps.
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(Above) Golfers at the 75th Anniversary Golf Tournament. (Left) The Gala was the perfect way to to conclude our year-long anniversary celebration.
Scan the QR code at right to watch our 75th Anniversary video.
In 2015, Congressional celebrated its 75th Anniversary. Throughout the year, we acknowledged this milestone with different events and activities and in April 2015 our year-long celebration culminated in a weekend of events that brought the community together from far and wide. Linda Ward Byrd from the Class of 1968 gave a wonderful address at an assembly that launched our oncampus celebration. The Founding Family was honored in a tribute by Tina Trapnell, a Former Board Member who detailed the Devers' long history with Congressional from the school's initial founding to today. Students performed songs and placed items in a time capsule. The celebration continued with the 75th Anniversary Golf Tournament, and the culminating Gala event of “Glitter” and glamour was the perfect way to round-out the celebration.
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