Congressional School Magazine for Alumni, Parents and Friends: Spring 2017
IN THIS ISSUE: Mathematics: A New Mindset Highway to High School Celebrating 20 Years of Musicals
Janet F. Marsh Head of School
Our mission is to provide an inspirational and challenging studentcentered educational experience within our diverse and supportive community where children question, collaborate, create, and lead. Congressional admits children of any race, color, creed, and national or ethnic origin.
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Brent Hinrichs Assistant Head for Academics and Director of Lower and Middle School Kim O’Neil Director of Early Childhood and Primary School
Andrea Weiss Director of Innovation and Learning Tavis Laws Director of Athletics and Physical Education Chris Pryor Director of Advancement
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Gretchen Herbst Director of Admission and Financial Aid
Fred Schwanke Director of Finance and Operations
Alyce Penn Director of Communications
Dan O’Neil Director of Auxiliary Programs
Ali Sheibani Director of Technology
This fall, our school joined 3,354 schools world-wide for International Outdoor Classroom Day – a day to celebrate and inspire outdoor learning and play.
2016-2017 Board of Trustees Nicholas P. Clark, Chair Amanda Allexon, Vice Chair Curtis Anderson, Treasurer Thomas L. Coolidge, Secretary William W. Devers, Founding Family and Chair Emeritus Gretchen Devers, Founding Family Lindsey Devers-Basileo, Founding Family
Janet F. Marsh, Head of School Betsy Frantz Michael Gilbert Herbert Harrell Juanita Koilpillai Daniel Timm Magazine Designer Ru O’Dell
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Table of Contents Spring 2017
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Features Mathematics: A New Mindset Then and Now: A Tribute to the Class of 2017 & Those Who Came Before Them 16 Highway to High School 19 The Art of Interdisciplinary Learning 26 Stage Left, Stage Right: Celebrating 20 Years of Musical Theater 8 12
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Departments FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ACADEMICS 7 18
Service Learning Middle School Clubs
THE ARTS 23 24
Instruments to Celebrate the World Student Artwork Through the Grades
AROUND CAMPUS 31 35 35
Looking Good! School -Wide Improvements Meet Our Board Chair: Nick Clark Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
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COLTS ATHLETICS 36 38
New School “Spirit” Homecoming 2017
ALUMNI 40 41 42 52
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2016 Commencement Address: Will Figg ‘09 Congratulations Class of 2016 and 2012! Alumni Spotlights Class Notes
Spring 2017
On the Cover:
Third grade students, Christine (left) and Raghav, collaborate on a social studies project using books and digital media.
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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Congressional Friends, The value of a Congressional School education is multidimensional, with in-depth academic study and ample opportunities for students to demonstrate hard work, leadership, personal responsibility, and good citizenship. Many of these skills are refined by working collaboratively. Employing strategies such as design-thinking, interdisciplinary teaching, and project-based learning, teachers challenge students to work together to analyze problems using logic, knowledge, intuition, and reasoning to find solutions. What does this look like? Here are just a few examples: • After studying Newton’s Laws of Motion, sixth grade students put the theories into action by creating roller coasters. They sketched blueprint drawings, held simulations to test out their ideas and theories, and worked together on the construction of their designs. • Second grade students worked together in art class to invent and design a machine after being inspired by the inner workings of a watch-designs. • Kindergarten students practiced scientific observation when they dissolved candy pumpkins in a variety of different liquids, and analyzed the results. • Fourth grade students learned about economics and environmental considerations in a business simulation in which they used start-up capital to purchase tools and raw materials, and mined chocolate chips out of cookies which they cashed in for profit. • Seventh grade students participated in an algebra challenge, working in teams to figure out how many gallons of water the pool held using only a 3 oz. cup and a gallon jug. Every day, Congressional teachers are engaging students, inspiring them to become great thinkers and leaders. Unconstrained by bureaucratic process or teaching to standardized tests, our teachers have room for creativity in their delivery of our curriculum. Congressional’s infant through eighth grade educational learning environment is an ideal setting to prepare students for academic success in high school and beyond.
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Janet Marsh is Congressional School’s ninth Head of School, and she is also a mom of three, one of whom, Sarah, is a current seventh grade student.
“Our students are so engaged in learning that the concept of school as ‘work’ doesn’t seem to factor in. Instead they are having fun; they are motivated and eager for the challenges that are presented to them when they walk through the door. ” Incredible things are happening at Congressional School and our plans for the future are equally as exciting. The stories presented in the pages of this magazine are just a snapshot of all the amazing things taking place here each day. I hope you enjoy this issue! Most Sincerely,
Janet F. Marsh Head of School Congressional Update 5
ACADEMICS Heads in the Clouds iPads in hand, jr. kindergarteners went on a search to identify and capture photos of cloud types. Can you tell the difference between cumulus, stratus, and cirrus clouds? These students can– thanks to their weather unit!
Never Too Young for Exploration
Even the Ladybug classroom gets hands-on in school! Ms. Teresa makes sure that our littlest friends are actively exploring their world, and what better way than at the sensory tables with fun materials like moon sand and goop!
Walking in Another Person’s Bare Feet
While studying the world’s water crisis in science, sixth grade students took their new-found understanding a few steps further. Shoes were kicked off and the classroom was left behind. Teams of three were each given water jugs to fill and tasked with carrying the container up and down the field barefoot (without spilling), measuring their distance as they went. The purpose? To gain perspective about kids in other countries needing to carry water long distances just to have water to drink, cook, and bathe in. This activity included math as the students measured the distances in metrics, finding the mean, median, mode and range, and then graphing their findings.
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ACADEMICS
Inspiring Young Scientists
Bullfrog dissection in seventh grade means learning opportunities for our younger students too. Look at those faces!
Robots & Light Switches: A Design Thinking Challenge
Design Thinking is the process of identifying a problem and finding a solution. It is the cycle of ideating, defining, prototyping, documenting, testing, and refining that challenges our students to take a creative, methodical approach to problem solving. For example, second graders were given this challenge: There is a 10cm tall robot but there is a 30cm high light switch; come up with a plan and redesign him so he can reach! Not only was this a creative design challenge, but it was also tied to their current studies in reading (Iron Giant), math (measurements), and science (light)!
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Over the years, our school buildings have informally been referred to as the “Big School” and “Little School.” This year, we decided to make it official! Little School: infants jr. kindergarten; Big School: kindergarten - eighth grade.
Service Learning Congressional’s Service Learning program has undergone a transformation this year. Students are taking a proactive interest in community concerns, applying what they have learned in school to real community needs. The most effective Service Learning programs connect experiences outside of the classroom with areas of academic study as students reflect on their experiences. As a form of contextual learning, our Service Learning program integrates academics and citizenship, combining in-depth research and service in a way that benefits the students, the school, and our community.
Fourth graders made paper from various recycled materials from around the school to use later in art projects.
Preschoolers planted /monitored tulip bulbs Fifth graders learned about watershed managewhile learning and reading about gardening. ment and decorated rain barrels with third grade.
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Andrea Weiss working with seventh grade students in Algebra 1 Honors
MATHEMATICS W
alk into any math class at Congressional, and you will see students tackling problems using different tools and strategies. You will see teachers encouraging students to be flexible in their approach to solving problems. Students are challenged to contemplate numbers, to look for patterns, make connections, and to find different strategies in their quest to solve problems and arrive at the correct answer. “Our curriculum is active, vibrant, and incorporates the best of modern thought,” says Andrea Weiss, Director of Innovation and Learning and Middle School Math teacher. “We live in a world of technology and technology is intrinsically mathematical, so it’s important that our students develop these skills.” How are Congressional teachers accomplishing this? “We are engaging students using lessons and activities that get them excited about math. We’re changing how students think about numbers, helping them to see that success in math is well within their grasp,” 8
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Congressional’s math program is founded on a differentiated approach. “Our program is designed to challenge students at every level and to prepare them for success as they move forward,” says Mrs. Weiss, who has led the charge along with Division Directors Brent Hinrichs (Lower and Middle School) and Kim O’Neil (Early Childhood and Primary School) in collaboration with Dr. Penni Ross, Math Resource Teacher, and Congressional’s faculty to develop a highly challenging, flexible, and robust math program in preschool through eighth grade. “We’ve designed a rigorous program to ensure all students are challenged. Our goal is to create math students who thoughtfully approach each problem, believe that they are mathematically capable, and regard math as a rigorous, creative process.” This year in middle school, we offered a variety of math programs, based on where each student is developmentally. From Pre-Algebra, to Algebra I Honors and
A NEW MINDSET
Geometry, there’s a level to meet every student’s need. The program is not static; it is fluid with continuous assessment and new classes ready to go should the need arise. “Students develop at different paces,” states Mrs. Weiss, “and the program is there to meet their needs.” This flexible, differentiated approach isn’t just limited to middle school. “If students are ready, Dr. Penni Ross, our Math Resource Teacher, will collaborate with Primary and Lower School teachers to give students the extra challenge and move them forward.”
“Our curriculum is active, vibrant, and incorporates the best of modern thought. We live in a world of technology and technology is intrinsically mathematical, so it’s important that our students develop these skills.” - Andrea Weiss congressionalschool.org
NUMBER TALKS As we shift student mindsets and get them excited about learning math, Congressional teachers are employing a number of teaching strategies. One strategy that has been widely embraced, particularly in the Primary and Lower School grades, is daily Number Talks. Students love Number Talks. They are quick (10 to 15 minutes) and they engage the whole class in discussion about math. Number Talks create a learning community where students collaborate on strategies to solve problems, share ideas, and articulate for the group their methodology. It’s a safe environment, with trial and error and discovery, where students lead the discussion and teachers are facilitators. Number Talks are a great tool for helping students understand the underlying concepts of the operations they are performing. The discussions help students develop techniques to solve problems in more than one way and to check that their answers make sense, helping to develop computational fluency with three primary objectives: Accuracy - produce a correct answer Efficiency - choose the most expedient problem-solving method Flexibility - ability to use a range of computation strategies What does this look like? We visited Mrs. Fry’s first grade class for a Number Talk...
ACADEMICS Gather around the whiteboard, students, and take a look at the pictorial. What number do you see? 20! Let’s count in 1’s to 20. Now let’s count in 2’s to 20. Can anyone tell me other ways to count to 20? Count in 5’s and 10’s. Let’s explore what else is in this pictorial. I see 6 + 9 + 5 What’s another way of displaying that? In a number bond. What other ways can you get to 20? Tally marks. OK, let’s count the tally marks together. Now, what is another way to represent this? 5+5+5+5 What else do you see in the pictorial? 6+8+6 Show us where you see this. The first box has six dots. Now move one dot from the middle box to the bottom box. Now you have six at the top, eight in the middle, and six at the bottom. This first grade Number Talk goes on for a few more minutes, until the board is filled and Mrs. Fry declares there’s no more room. The students voice their disappointment suggesting that she write smaller, so Mrs. Fry complies and the session continues. Congressional Update 9
Second graders measured around campus using rulers and yard sticks
Seventh graders calculated how many gallons our pool holds with only a 3 oz. cup and gallon jug
Fourth graders reinforced their understanding of factors vs. multiples in a factors and multiples “bump” game
“Our teachers do an incredible job delivering engaging and interactive math lessons to their students. Walk into any classroom and you will see the excitement in the children’s faces as they tackle math problems either independently or in small groups. Through a multisensory approach, our children are ‘living’ math.” - Kim O’Neil, Director of Early Childhood and Primary School
“The researchers found that when students were given problems to solve, and they did not know methods to solve them, but they were given opportunity to explore the problems, they became curious, and their brains were primed to learn new methods, so that when teachers taught the methods, students paid greater attention to them and were more motivated to learn them. The researchers published their results with the title ‘A Time for Telling,’ and they argued that the question is not ‘Should we tell or explain methods?’ but ‘When is the best time do this?’” - Jo Boaler, Stanford University Professor Third graders used manipulatives and games in learning place value
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ACADEMICS
Dr. Ross earned her doctorate in Instructional Technology from George Mason University, and received both her graduate and undergraduate degrees from George Washington University. She has conducted postgraduate work in Mathematics Education at a number of universities including Princeton, and was the President of the Independent School Mathematics Association of Washington, D.C. from 1994 -1996.
Meet Dr. Penni Ross D r. Penni Ross joined our faculty in 2015 as Congressional’s Math Specialist, with a focus on enhancing the teaching, learning, and assessing of mathematics to boost student achievement. She is an experienced math teacher, consultant, and trainer, and works with teachers to help develop lesson plans and supplement learning in kindergarten through fifth grade to prepare students for the rigor of middle school math. She also works with students to provide extra challenge for those who are ready to forge ahead, and additional support for students who need it.
“I strive to make math highly engaging for students,” says Dr. Ross. “Active learning makes lessons more meaningful for children.” She uses a range of strategies including Number Talks, games, puzzles, and activities with a combination of individual and small group work. “The students love playing math games; Four’s a Winner is one of the most popular. It brings out the competitive side of the students,” she said with a big smile. She believes that math games are useful because they help to reinforce number concepts and computational skills being taught in the class. “They are more effective than worksheets because games
Math Resource Teacher, Kindergarten - Grade 5
are motivating and they are fun,” she says. “Children are actively engaged in practicing math and care about doing well because ‘play’ is what children do. Teachers have an opportunity to assess through observation and questioning while the children play.” Incorporating a blend of teaching approaches, such as Singapore Math and Connected Math, Dr. Ross encourages students to develop problem solving strategies to gain a deep understanding of the concepts. Singapore Math tools such as manipulatives and pictorial representations (bar modeling and number bonds, etc.) help with visualization of the concepts, while Connected Math develops the students’ connections between math and other disciplines. Dr. Ross designs a flexible learning environment for students giving them choices in how they learn in a way that works best for them. For example, students may choose “math with my iPad,” where they use technology to practice math problems, or “math with myself ” where they work independently on targeted tasks. Others may choose “math with my teacher” if they need additional support, or “math
with my friends” if they want to collaborate with other students. Dr. Ross’ passion for teaching math is evident when you speak with her. She believes that all students have the ability to master the concepts and takes great pride in reaching every student wherever they may be in the learning process. “One of the most powerful problem solving strategies is ‘make a simpler problem,’ ” she says. “I cannot tell you how often a student says ‘I don’t know how to do this’ when faced with a problem laden with fractions or decimals. I can cross off the daunting numbers in the problem, replace them with ‘nice numbers’ like 2, 5, 20, and the student will say, for example, ‘multiply 2 by 20 and divide by 5.’ They knew how to do it all along, but may never have solved it without this problem-solving strategy.”
“Learning math helps develop problem-solving skills that can be widely applied in life. Math teaches reasoning, the ability to make sense of the world.” - Penni Ross Congressional Update 11
David Keniston ‘79
Linda Foster ‘81
Oren Ritter Lewis III ‘77 4 12Spring Spring2017 2017
Ahmed Abbas ‘17
Anna Giardina ‘17
Andrew Sobol ‘17
Azza Fawzi ‘82
Dana Daly ‘82
Adelia congressionalschool.org
ACADEMICS
Nasser Rezai ‘80
Ryan Ernest ‘17
Nermin Pasha ‘83
Amanda Gaffney ‘17
Then and now We are proud of our Congressional School history and the people who call us their alma mater. As a tribute to this year’s graduating class of 2017 and to those before them, we did a little photo remake shoot. Congratulations Class of 2017! While we will miss you, you will always be Congressional alumni and part of the Congressional family.
Jillian Kendrick ‘17
“Adi” Zytek ‘17
Amy Campbell ‘82
Yulu “Crystal” Xia ‘17 The Congressional Update135 Congressional Update
Mehdi Shoari ‘80
Linda Lucia Bertran ‘81
John Bridges ‘80 14 Spring 2017
Jack Bradish ‘17
Debbie Wilcox ‘80
Megna Ratnapuri ‘17
John Mason Conrod ‘17
Francine M. Thompson ‘77
Victoria
Daneh
Ishbel Neil ‘17
ACADEMICS
Iturralde ‘17
Margaret Ann Lowell Miller ‘82
Emma Conkle ‘17
2017 High school acceptances
Solhjou ‘83
Emma Giovanetti ‘17
Jim Kiser ‘79
Boarding Schools Dublin School (NH) Foxcroft School (VA) Lawrence Academy (MA) Mercersburg Academy (PA)
The Field School (DC) St. John’s College High School (MD) St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School (VA) The Heights School (MD) The Madeira School (VA)
Independent Day Schools (AISGW) Flint Hill School (VA) Georgetown Day School (DC) Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School (DC) Gonzaga College High School (DC) Maret School (DC) National Cathedral School (DC)
Catholic Schools Bishop Ireton (VA) Bishop Denis J. O’Connell (VA) Private For-Profit School BASIS Independent McLean (VA) A full list of matriculations, including public schools, will be shared at a later date.
Sam Moritzkat ‘17 Congressional Update 15
Highway to High School Helping 8th Graders Find the “Right Fit” High School For middle school students, the transition to high school is an exciting time in their lives. For their parents, it marks a milestone – their child is embarking on the last leg of their educational journey before heading to college. By eighth grade, students have discovered a lot about themselves. They have uncovered strengths and weaknesses; they have figured out likes and dislikes and discovered talents and interests. Our goal at Congressional during the high school transition period is to help students and parents find the ‘right fit’ high school. By eighth grade, a student’s unique qualities have emerged, helping to make the task of selecting the right high school a more streamlined, personal process. There are many options for students when looking at high schools (independent, boarding, public, etc.). Our goal is to help them matriculate to schools that meet their needs and wishes; schools where the students will be happy, fulfilled, and successful. There are many considerations when evaluating high schools. To begin, there is the size of the school. Some range from seventy-five students per grade to 400 or more if public school is a consideration. Class sizes can range from twelve to thirty-five. At some schools, making a sports team is no issue; at others, their sports teams may be the best in the state so “making the team” is a mighty challenge. Popular extra-curricular activities such as speech and debate, and robotics, might be a draw for some families. The “feel” of a school is also primary in choosing where to attend. In eighth grade, students have the privilege of shadowing at area high schools. These half-day visits allow a student to attend classes, meet students and teachers, and essentially experience the school firsthand. By eighth grade, most students have already begun shadowing at high schools. “These shadow visits are critical to the process and often help students make definitive decisions on whether the school is right for them,” says Brent Hinrichs, Assistant Head for Academics and Director of Lower and Middle School, who also fills the role of High School Placement Counselor. Mr. Hinrichs works closely with middle school families beginning in sixth grade when he holds the first of several meetings 16 Spring 2017
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ACADEMICS with parents to discuss the timeline and process for high school applications. In seventh grade, he advises families, “This is the best time to start contemplating the possibilities of high school without the immediacy of deadlines and due dates. High school open houses are excellent opportunities to tour schools, pick up literature about school programs, and meet students, faculty, and administration,” says Mr. Hinrichs. “Gathering information about schools in seventh grade gives families a good start to the high school admissions and registration process, which begins in earnest in the fall of eighth grade.” One of the most helpful events for families at the beginning of their high school search process is the annual Life After 8th Grade High School Fair, held in the fall each year. Congressional School is a co-founder of this event in partnership with other local independent schools that end in eighth grade. The event has grown significantly over the years and now boasts attendance of more than 60 high schools, including day and boarding schools.
(HSPT) that many high schools require. As an added convenience, the FLEX SSAT is administered each year at Congressional. Students are well-prepped for high school shadow visit days, including thinking through questions they might ask on their visit and answering questions that might be asked of them. Admission directors of many high schools come for recruitment visits to meet our eighth graders. The representatives share information about their schools and answer the students’ questions. “The student meetings with high school admission representatives are really beneficial,” says Mr. Hinrichs. “By the end of these meetings, the admission representatives know our students better, and the students have a familiar face at these schools when they visit.”
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Congressional students have matriculated to over 55 high schools in the last 5 years!
In addition to offering advice and information to parents, Mr. In turn, Mr. Hinrichs has visited over 20 high schools, educating Hinrichs works closely with students. “I meet with the seventh them about Congressional and the quality of our academic grade students to talk about the importance of doing well in their program. Janet Marsh, Head of School, and Chris Pryor, Director seventh grade year. Of course, I stress of Advancement, have also established strong that it is important to do well in school “Congressional’s leadership relationships with area schools – a definite all the time, but seventh grade shows advantage to our students as they apply to does an excellent job of prominently on a student’s transcript,” these schools. he said. working with families to eighth graders have submitted their maneuver through the very Once In the summer of eighth grade, Mr. applications to independent high school, Hinrichs holds individual meetings with stressful process of choosing boarding schools, and registered at local public parents to discuss specific high school the appropriate high school schools, and once their entrance tests have plans for their students. “The fall is the been taken, the admission cycle slows until for their student.” busiest time for eighth grade families and March when students receive decisions and the students.” he says. A “High School commit to a high school. “The high school - Hope Englander P’14,’16 Decisions” booklet is shared monthly application and selection process for students with parents and students to guide them on their journey. The and families is rigorous and requires organization, time, and booklet is packed full of information such as upcoming deadlines, resilience, but it is a process that offers great rewards as students information on registering for standardized tests, worksheets to identify and ultimately decide where they will be in ninth grade. track visits, questionnaires to help narrow down choices and much It’s also good practice for students in preparation for college more. applications, which is only a few years away,” says Mr. Hinrichs. Julia Phaltankar ‘13, a senior at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School who “Congressional’s leadership does an excellent job of working has been busy with college applications, agrees with this statement, with families to maneuver through the very stressful process of “The high school application process definitely prepares you for choosing the appropriate high school for their student,” says Hope deadlines and, most importantly, determining the right ‘fit.’ ” Englander, who along with her husband Jeff, has been through the process twice. Their son, James ‘14, is a junior at St. Anselm’s Abbey School in Washington, D.C., and their daughter, Sally ‘16, is a freshman at Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA. “Mr. Hinrichs takes the time to get to know each student individually, including oneon-one sessions with their parents, in order to mesh academic, personal, and athletic aspirations with the best high school.” As they navigate through the high school admission process, eighth graders meet periodically to role-play interviewing, talk about and begin essay writing, and more. Mr. Hinrichs and the eighth Grade faculty help students stay on top of the plethora tasks to be accomplished, including registering for standardized testing such as the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE), and the High School Placement Test
High school admission directors visit Congressional eighth grade students.
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Stream Keepers Club
Middle School
Clubs
One of the goals of the middle school experience is to provide students with opportunities to pursue additional, varied interests and to give them some choice in what they study at school. Although most of a student’s course of study is predetermined in middle school, this year, we introduced clubs, which meet one period every six days with students selecting a different club each trimester. The clubs are taught by middle school teachers and reflect both the students’ interest and the teacher’s interest. Clubs this year ranged from Model UN to French Culture to the musical group “Nothin’ But Treble” to Project Service Club. “We’re excited about this new component to the middle school program,” commented Brent Hinrichs, Assistant Head for Academics and Director of Lower and Middle School.
“It gives students a sense of ownership in a program that is already very scheduled for them. Students can further explore areas of interest, and the practice of evaluating and selecting a club is good preparation for when they get to high school where they will choose electives.”
Congressional Entrepreneurs Club
Project Passion Club
Screen Print Club
Wood Workers Club
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- Brent Hinrichs
Musical Design Club
Project Dirt Club
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The ART of
ACADEMICS ACADEMICS
Interdisciplinary Learning Art becomes the perfect channel for interdisciplinary learning as teachers collaborate and bring subject areas together.
The Congressional Update19 5 Congressional Update
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hrough interdisciplinary methods, Congressional teachers engage students in learning that combines content, skills, and thinking processes as students explore connections among the subject areas. Students demonstrate deeper understanding when integrating knowledge from more than one discipline, and this type of learning helps in the development of critical thinking skills. It also provides students with a more authentic experience in relation to the world around them, authentic in that the real world is multifaceted and not compartmentalized by subject area. Art lends itself well to interdisciplinary learning. Here are a few examples:
Japanese Multiplication and Piet Mondrian After discovering how closely a Japanese multiplication technique resembles the geometric, minimalistic artwork by Piet Mondrian, fifth grade art and math joined forces to create works of art based on multiplication equations. In the Japanese visual representation of an equation, lines are drawn to represent a number by 1000’s, 100’s, 10’s and 1’s and the lines are intersected by the other number represented the same way. Through counting and viewing the intersections, the answer to the multiplication of those numbers can be found. After seeing the intersecting lines of this math technique and its connection to Mondrian’s geometric, minimalistic artwork, the math and art teachers combined their classes, giving each student a canvas on which to create a Mondrian-inspired work of art using their chosen multiplication equations.
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ACADEMICS
Mathematical Weaving
Lighting the Sky in Preschool
Kindergarten Shadow Art
Ada Dietz, an American weaver known for her Algebraic Expressions of Handwoven Textiles, was the inspiration for a middle school math and art project. Students picked an algebraic equation and associated a value with each of the elements in their weaving project. Slowly, the students saw amazing patterns emerge representing their mathematical equation. It was a perfect project to help them see patterns in math, and the results were beautiful.
In preschool science class, the students were learning all about night time and the Aurora Borealis. Primary and lower school art teacher, Sarah Philip, was inspired by this and came up with the perfect multidisciplinary project to celebrate. The students took a field trip to the art studio in the Big School and got to work painting northern light frescoes on the underside of the art room tables. They looked like Michelangelo in training!
Teachers regularly get together to discuss curriculum and share what they are doing in the classrooms. When primary and lower school art teacher, Sarah Philip, found out that kindergarteners were learning all about shadows in science class, she jumped at the opportunity to build on their understanding even more. She set up project boards and gave the students flashlights to create their own individual shadows, and then she showed the students how to draw the shadows that they created.
Congressional teachers engage students in learning that combines content, skills, and thinking processes as students explore connections among the subject areas. Congressional Update 21
THE ARTS Aboriginal Art Dotting the
Walls
In sixth grade art, students explored two Australian Aboriginal art styles: traditional Aboriginal art incorporating hieroglyphics and the art movement of dot painting that began in the 1960s. The students collaborated on their own Aboriginal-style painting incorporating both techniques, and it turned out to be quite a statement piece!
In art class each month, students in kindergarten through fourth grade learn about a different artist. In March, students celebrated the work of Yayoi Kusama and her colorful, psychedelic designs. They had fun creating their own installation by decorating their classroom (and their teacher) in polka dots of different sizes and color.
Día de Los Muertos Día de Los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrated internationally. Sugar skulls are a well-known icon of the multiday celebration in which people pray for and remember friends and family who have passed. As the holiday approached last fall, third grade students worked on an interdisciplinary project (Art & Spanish) in which they created their own sugar skulls and learned all about the holiday. The students enjoyed adding their own individuality to their creations which they painted in the traditional Mexican style. 22 Spring 2017
Music in Preschool
In Mrs. Bicksel’s music class, preschoolers make story books come to life. One of their favorites is “The Lady with the Alligator Purse” in which the students sing-along with the story, dress up as the characters and act out the events in front of their classmates. The students are imaginative, creative, and confident while making music and having fun!
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THE ARTS
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Our middle schoolers are currently learning guitar in music class and performed both at the Winter Concert and morning gatherings.
Instruments to Celebrate the World
International Day is a Congressional School tradition and has grown from a ninetyminute performance with a parade of flags, fashion show and music into a day-long celebration that also includes workshops and interactive learning activities. In music and art classes, students in preschool through third grade have been making instruments that they will play at the International Day assembly. Preschool and Junior Kindergarten: Shakers out of gourds Kindergarten: Sistrums Grade 1: Rainsticks Grade 2: Xylophones Grade 3: Shekers
Don’t miss out on CSPO’s International Night: May 12, 6-8 p.m. A hallmark event at Congressional is International Night, offering a wonderful blend of international performances, traditional dress, and delicious global cuisine representing the diverse heritage of our community.
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Infants and Toddlers
Grade 2
Summer T.
4 Spring 2017
Grade 7
Sara A.
Ellie P.
Preschool
Grade 3
Arthur W.
Katya O.
The Congressional Update 5
Grade 8
Megna R.
Jr. Kindergarten
Grade 4
Claire J.
THE ARTS
THE ARTS
Declan C.
Kindergarten
Grade 5
Andrew Z.
Maitlen S.
Grade 1
Grade 6
Coco E.
Mariam G.
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.� - Scott Adams, Comic Artist We value arts education and the opportunity it presents for students of all ages to express themselves creatively. This form of visual learning is rich with exploration, interpretation, and expression. Congressional Update 25
Stag
Stage
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THE ARTS
ge Left, Stage Right
e Left, Stage Right
Celebrating 20 Years of Musical Theater Celebrating 20 Years of Musical Theater C hildren love school musicals. From the initial announcement of the production, to the auditions and rehearsals, to the night of the big performance, excitement runs high. From memorizing lines, scouting for props and preparing the backdrops, to making the costumes, working the sound system and stage lights, so much goes into a production, and Congressional students are involved every step of the way.
When the Devers Auditorium opened in 1997, its big stage, layers of velvet curtains, special lighting and space for audiences of 500 and more, made Congressional’s annual school musical feel like the big time. This year, on March 17, a musical milestone was reached when Beauty & the Beast JR. became the 20th musical production to take place in the Devers Auditorium. Eleven of these 20 productions have been under the direction of Derek Bowley, Middle School Speech and Drama teacher, whose dedication and passion has inspired hundreds of students and helped to bolster the excitement surrounding the musical, making it one of the highlights of the school year.
Photo: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. cast, March 2017
Congressional Update 27
Once on This Island JR., 2013
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erek Bowley’s enthusiasm for the performing arts is clearly evident when you speak to him. “Musical theater is my favorite art form,” he says. “I love seeing the students work hard, develop their performance from the first rehearsal to the final curtain call, and feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when it is all over. I enjoy giving students an opportunity to shine in a different arena, while still in the safe environment of the school community.”
Peter Pan JR., 2016
Mr. Bowley has also pioneered a couple of brand new musical productions at Congressional. “The first musical I directed at Congressional was Willy Wonka JR. Just like Peter Pan JR.., it wasn’t available for licensing yet, but we were able to do it as a final pilot production before the materials and performance rights were made available to schools across the country.” In fact, images from Congressional’s Peter Pan JR. production have been adopted as the official images for the production materials distributed by the Broadway JR. company.
Does Mr. Bowley have a favorite production? “Once on This Island JR., my seventh musical at Congressional, was special because it is one of my favorite junior shows. It’s also a show I never thought I would direct at Congressional because it has a lot of music from start to finish, and requires a lot of dance. That year, I had a very strong group of performers and decided to take the leap and do it. I was very pleased with how it turned out, as I always am. I consider myself fortunate to say that I’ve never been disappointed in a production that we’ve done here.”
When he’s not directing the school musical, Mr. Bowley teaches middle school speech and drama, and believes the musical is an important component of Congressional’s program. “The annual musical production allows students to explore an interest in drama more deeply than they can in speech and drama class. For the students involved, it allows them to learn what it takes to perform a full show for an audience of classmates, teachers, friends, and family. Whether on stage, or backstage, the cast and crew experience teamwork as they rely on each individual to do their part for the success of the whole production.”
The annual musical brings together the community, and parent support and involvement has been significant over the years. Ramona Deal P‘07, who helped with costume design on more than one production states, “Constantine Stanislavski once said, ‘There are no small parts, only small actors.’ Derek Bowley’s approach to theater is the embodiment of this philosophy. Consistently, he is able to achieve a wonderful ensemble cast where everyone is important and even the youngest student playing an Oompah Loopah in Willie Wonka or a townsperson in Mulan, or a pirate, lost boy, or Indian in Peter Pan understands that their efforts are important to the success of the show. Derek is a pleasure to collaborate with and naturally brings out the best in everyone affiliated with his projects!”
Mr. Derek Bowley directing Disney’s Little Mermaid JR.
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THE ARTS
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR., 2011
Guy Arnos P’10,‘06 was involved in the musical productions for nine years. “While a Congressional parent I worked backstage on technical and production issues for nine shows from 2002-2010. The first five shows I worked with three different directors. The last four shows I worked with Derek Bowley. Derek brought professional theater experience and an understanding of production that made it easier to have an excellent collaboration to make sure the show priorities were met and technical issues complemented the show. He has continued that throughout his tenure at Congressional.” 2017: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. 2016: Peter Pan JR. 2015: Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR. 2014: Disney’s Aladdin JR. 2013: Once on this Island JR. 2012: Disney’s Mulan JR. 2011: Disney’s Alice in Wonderland JR. 2010: Dear Edwina JR. 2009: Honk! JR. 2008: Getting to Know Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella 2007: Willy Wonka JR. 2006: The Sound of Music 2005: Amazing Musical Journey 2004: Annie JR. 2003: Schoolhouse Rock Live! JR. 2002: Fiddler on the Roof JR. 2001: Bye Bye Birdie 2000: The Music Man 1999: The Wizard of Oz 1998: The King & I
For most Congressional students, the annual musical is their first experience with theater, and for some the experience inspires them to stay involved in theater after they graduate. Norman King, IV ‘15 is one of those students and says, “From a very young age, becoming an actor and filmmaker was a dream of mine. Every year, while attending Congressional School, I would participate in the musicals. It was always a joy to be a part of the productions. I found that Mr. Bowley consistently did an excellent job with producing the musicals. Attending the Edmund Burke School for two years, I have participated in five theatrical productions. I will always be grateful to Mr. Bowley for inspiring me to make my dream a reality.”
Norman King IV in “Trials of Nuremberg” as a sophomore at Edmund Burke School
“I love seeing the students work hard, develop their performance from the first rehearsal to the final curtain call, and feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when it is all over.” - Derek Bowley
Dear Edwina JR., 2010
Rehearsing Willy Wonka JR., 2007
Getting to Know Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, 2008
Congressional Update 29
AROUND CAMPUS
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AROUND CAMPUS
Looking good! School-Wide Improvements
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Many campus improvements have taken place this year and our school is looking great. All of the planned enhancements have been made possible through the generous support of our school community - thank you!
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Word Wall - A new focal point in the Big School is a wall filled with words that capture the essence of Congressional School, including our Core Values.
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Energy Efficient Lighting - Our new LED lights in classrooms and common areas are a significant step forward as we keep an eye on implementing green initiatives!
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Interactive White Boards - All classrooms have been equipped with upgraded interactive white boards.
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Sound System - The Gymnasium/Auditorium has a brand-new sound system, thanks to the generosity of the Ernest Family (Ryan ‘17), that has enhanced our performances.
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Little Building Playground Equipment - Bikes, push toys, sand trucks, a playhouse, a caterpillar tunnel and much more were added to the Little School playground.
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Music Room - Fourth through eighth grade students are appreciating the new music room, which is also equipped with acoustic guitars.
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Security System - Security enhancements include a new entry security system for all main doors in the Little and Big School Scoreboard - A new athletic field scoreboard was installed in September and was christened during our home fall soccer games. This was a legacy gift from the Class of 2016.
New Lockers - New, much larger lockers were installed in the Big School. Students can fit all their belongings in the lockers, removing the need to store backpacks on top.
Art & Design Lab - Middle schoolers are enjoying art in the new Art and Design Lab, a beautiful space filled with natural light - perfect for inspiring creativity! Congressional Update 31
Thank You, CSPO! It has been a busy and successful year for the Congressional School Parent Organization! Mobilizing volunteers and organizing over 20 events and activities throughout the year, our CSPO Leadership Team, backed by a strong base of volunteers, has worked hard to fulfill the CSPO’s mission to “Welcome Families and Build Community.” Room Parents play an important role in supporting the CSPO and classroom teachers by coordinating volunteer needs and keeping other parents informed of school events and opportunities. Volunteers are the backbone of the school. We are truly grateful for your time and support!
Fall Festival
2016-17 CSPO Leadership Team (from left) Stephanie Cheng Ruggeri, Early Childhood Division Coordinator; Nicole Guagenti, Lower School Division Coordinator; Nicole Iturralde, Middle School Division Coordinator; Amy Kang, President; Laura Michael, Primary School Division Coordinator. Not pictured: Cheryl Vance, Vice President.
S’Mores and Movie Night
Family Night Out at Pizzeria Orso
Horse Farewell Event 2016 On November 13, students and staff gathered outside to bid farewell to our horses for the winter. Students shared their favorite moments with the horses and Allison McCrea, who oversees our equine program, answered student questions. It was a wonderful event and may even be the start of a fun new tradition at Congressional! Ms. Marsh rode in on horseback to greet our students!
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CAMPUS AROUND CAMPUS
MAKE YOUR IMPACT The Congressional Fund 2016-17
Thank you for your investment in the Congressional School community! Your commitment and philanthropy enables us to support our students, each day, in ways big and small. And, we know the best way to prepare and launch our students on a lifetime of enthusiastic learning is to nurture their sense of academic adventure. By investing in The Congressional Fund, you enable us to create an inspirational and challenging studentcentered educational experience for all of our young learners. Thank you from all of us at Congressional School! If you have not Made Your Impact, please support The Congressional Fund with a gift by August 31, 2017. www.congressionalschool.org/giving
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Tuition only covers two-thirds of a Congressional education. Every gift, regardless of size, Makes an Impact!
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The Congressional Update 5
! p m a C l a n o i s s re g n o C t a n o o S Coming ACA Accredited, Coed Day Camp: Ages 4-14 Session 1 (6/19-6/23) Session 2 (6/26-6/30) Session 3 (7/5-7/7) Session 4 (7/10-7/21) Session 5 (7/24-8/4) Session 6 (8/7-8/18) Session 7 (8/21-8/25) www.congocamp.org
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“ We love Congressional
Camp and both our daughters have attended for years! It provides a secure, fun, and challenging environment with lots of activities to keep children active and engaged. With 40 acres of land, a creek running through campus, horses, a climbing wall, and a huge pool, what’s not to love?”
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AROUND CAMPUS
Meet Our Board Chair: Nick Clark Chairing our Board of Trustees this year is Nicholas “Nick” Clark, whose proven leadership skills continue to be an asset as the Board works to propel the school forward strategically and financially. Nick is also Chair of The 2016-2017 Congressional Fund and has been instrumental in making this year’s campaign far exceed expectations. A former senior executive in the field of banking M&A, former CEO of a publicly traded company, entrepreneur and board director, Nick has founded publicly traded companies, as well as private companies, in the US and around the world. Nick’s two children are Congressional students – Elliott, a preschooler, and Lucy, a first grader. Nick’s late wife, Georgia, was an active participant and room parent in Elliott’s room and Nick remains committed to serving the school in a multitude of ways.
Thank you to Nick for his Congressional Give Day Challenge, helping catapult The Congressional Fund to its highest level in school history! Nick is a member of the Founding Family Circle ($20,000 or more).
“Congressional is far more than just a school, it is a community; a community where teachers, parents, and staff can interact and feel that they belong in a system that encourages their thoughts and recommendations, for the best interests of the school. More importantly, Congressional provides a nurturing and exceptional education above any other standard that sets the children on a path ahead of the rest. I am proud to be not only Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Congressional Fund, but also a Congressional parent of Lucy and Elliott.” - Nick Clark
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee The newly formed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee under the leadership of Janet Marsh, Head of School, was formally launched this year. Comprised of parents, faculty, school administrators, and board members, the committee meets monthly to engage in conversation and plan initiatives around the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Congressional School. As the committee began developing its mission and agenda, it sought the expertise of Dr. Gene Batiste, a senior consultant with over two decades of experience helping independent schools visualize, build, and sustain diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities. Stay tuned for more information on ways you can get involved; the committee plans to engage our whole community! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Janet Marsh, Head of School, at jmarsh@congressionalschool.org.
Mission and Goals Congressional School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, in partnership with the broader Congressional community – past, present, and future – continuously strives to recognize, respect, engage, and celebrate the individual differences and identities represented in our community. We seek to advance diversity of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, physical ability, or any other distinguishing feature through the recruitment and support of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and trustees representing diverse identities.
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COLTS ATHLETICS New School “SPIRIT” To round out the launch of our new brand this year, we were excited to share our new, official Congressional Athletics logo with an updated Spirit design. The logo was unveiled at Homecoming on January 15, and Tavis Laws, Director of Athletics and Physical Education, greeted a packed gymnasium, announcing, “We are happy to launch our new athletic logo as our program continues to strive for excellence.” Once the curtains opened, the new logo was revealed in a special video and the fresh new design generated a big cheer from the audience. After the unveiling, students were excited to wear temporary tattoos featuring the new “Spirit” and the athletic department took orders for sportswear featuring the new design.
2016-17 Sports Achievements Soccer JV Girls - CAC 4th Place Basketball JV Girls - CAC Champions Varsity Girls - CAC 3rd Place Cross Country JV/ Varsity Boys - 3rd Place Eagle Invitational JV/ Varsity Girls - 2nd Flint Hill Invitational CAC Cross Country Meet @ Home JV Boys - 2nd Place JV Girls - 2nd Place Varsity Boys - 3rd Place Varsity Girls - 2nd Place Think Pink Cross Country Invitational @ Home JV Boys- 3rd Place JV Girls- 3rd Place Varsity Boys - 3rd Place Varsity Girls- 1st Place Congressional School competes in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC).
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COLTS ATHLETICS COLTS ATHLETICS
As our last runner emerged tired into the final leg of the race at the CAC Championship Cross Country Meet, something truly heart-warming happened. At first, a few friends came alongside to cheer saying, “You can do it!� A moment later the entire Colts team followed by our coaches were running behind and supporting all the way to the finish line.
JV Girls ended their basketball season as Capital Athletic Conference Champions!
Photo by BP
Photo by BP
A celebratory photo after a great day at the Cross Country Think Pink Invitational
Photo by BP
As an after school activity, many of our young students took cheerleading. It was awesome having a cheering squad at some of the basketball games!
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HOMECOMING2
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COLTS ATHLETICS
Photo by BP
Congressional Update The Congressional Update39 5
ALUMNI (and b eyond)
Top 10 for High School Success Will Figg ‘09, 2016 Commencement Speaker
In Will Figg’s address to Congressional’s Graduating Class of 2016, he encouraged students to “Get of Out of Your Comfort Zone” and included his Top 10 tips for success in high school and life.
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Choose character over popularity. Stay abreast of current affairs – it is hard to read the paper every day, but at least read the Sunday edition.
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Attend all classes and take handwritten notes during lectures.
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The summer months are very important time to get ahead – use it wisely! Also, find a way to explore the world in your off time – there is a famous quote from a German philosopher and scientist, “the most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not seen the world.”
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Put the phone (and Xbox) down and talk to people. Galileo once said “I never met a man so ignorant that I couldn’t learn something from him.”
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Find a study partner(s) or join a study group. But more importantly, the people we surround ourselves with either raise or lower our standards. Select your friends wisely!
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Exercise routinely. Each year read a classic novel that isn’t required for class - It is not enough to just be schooled, strive to be educated!
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Call your parents routinely and tell them you love them!
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And most importantly - Don’t alter your moral compass! Choose the hard right over the easy wrong.
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Will graduated from Congressional in 2009 and matriculated to high school at Woodberry Forrest School – an all-boys boarding school of 400 in Woodberry Forest, Virginia. Will excelled there and after graduation decided to take his talents abroad enrolling at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He selected Trinity because of its reputation as a global leader in teaching genetics to undergraduates. He is scheduled to graduate in 2017.
“You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. Life begins at the end of that comfort zone!” - Will Figg ‘09 congressionalschool.org
ALUMNI
Congrats, Class of 2016! High School Matriculations:
Bishop Denis J. O’Connell High School Flint Hill School Foxcroft School George Mason High School Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Gonzaga College High School Home Schooled Lake Braddock High School Langley School Miss Porter’s School Servite High School (CA) St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes St. Timothy’s School The Madeira School W.T. Woodson High School Yorktown High School
Congratulations, Class of 2012, on your college matriculation! American University Bucknell University Case Western Reserve University College of the Holy Cross Georgetown University George Mason University Howard University James Madison University
Northern VA Community College Philadelphia University for the Arts Radford University Rochester Institute of Technology St. Mary’s College of Maryland Syracuse University University of British Columbia University of Central Florida
University of Illinois University of Maryland University of Pittsburgh University of Virginia Virginia Tech Virginia Military Institute Yale University
The Congressional Update 5
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ALUMNI
Alumni SPOTLIGHT
he Odoom Family George and Elizabeth Odoom and their three children Akua, George, and Olivia found a path to Congressional through the Emerging Scholars program in 2009. The Odoom family talks about their journey here, their experience as members of the Congressional community, and what the future has in store.
Congressional Update 43
Alumni SPOTLIGHT Emerging Scholars Fifteen years ago, Congressional joined forces with six local independent schools as founding members of Emerging Scholars, a not-for-profit educational organization that provides opportunities for bright, motivated, underserved students. Students enrolled in Emerging Scholars participate in a rigorous 14-month program of academic, cultural, and social preparation that earns them the opportunity to apply to local area independent middle schools. While most students are relaxing on weekends and over the summer, Emerging Scholars are studying and persevering through a demanding academic program, on top of their regular school work and responsibilities. In the years since its founding, Emerging Scholars has grown from its original seven founding member schools, to its current partnership with over 50 area independent schools, and in the spring of 2017, will matriculate its 13th cohort of students. Congressional’s Head of School, Janet Marsh, is a member of the Emerging Scholars Board of Directors and is Co-chair of the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee.
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fter completing the Emerging Scholars program in 2009, and applying to a number of independent schools, the Odoom family settled on Congressional as their home. “Our initial visit was so welcoming that we decided to choose Congressional over other independent schools we were considering. This has been the case over the years we’ve spent in this diverse community, so we know we made the right choice. Congressional fosters a nurturing environment and provides a variety of activities for families and students whereby everyone can participate. The quality of education our children have received has been excellent, especially in preparation for high school and beyond.” For George ‘12 and Akua ‘10, the opportunity to attend Congressional has paid dividends in preparing them for high school and university. “Congressional helped lay the foundation for the study habits I use today,” says George. “During my time at the school, I was also introduced to new methods of properly confronting academic challenges.” Although Akua’s time at Congressional was brief, the experience had a big impact. “I would say my experience was transformative,” she says. “The way I viewed school and approached learning grew tremendously during this year. I was surrounded by highly motivated peers, one of whom I am still good friends with as we both attend the same university. Additionally, I was given the kind of individual attention I wasn’t afforded during my years in public school.” Congressional Athletics also played a significant role in the lives of the Odoom children. This year, Olivia ‘18 enjoyed the opportunity to participate at the varsity level. “For fall sports, I tried out as goalie, which I was nervous to do at first, but it came to be that I was a natural at it,” she said. Akua also took advantage of the athletic offerings during her year at Congressional.” I was fortunate to be able to participate in basketball and track and field for the first time,” she said. “In high school, I continued with track and field.” George also saw success on the athletic field. “At Congressional, everyone played every sport regardless of whether you played the sport outside of school,” he says. “I bonded with other people in the Congressional community through playing sports, and I’m still friends with those people today.“
“I am honored and truly privileged to have the opportunity to serve an organization that is changing the pathways of people’s lives. Emerging Scholars students are bright, driven, value education and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the program. When I leave an Emerging Scholars Board Meeting I am beyond excited and driven to do all that I can to serve this wonderful organization!” - Janet F. Marsh
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Congressional has enrolled 17 Emerging Scholars since 2005.
Akua and her a capella group, Stanford Talisman, singing at the new Standford University President’s inauguration in Fall 2016.
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ALUMNI
Akua enrolled as an eighth grader and graduated with the Class of 2010. She attended high school at Flint Hill School graduating with the Class of 2014, and is in her third year at Stanford University.
George enrolled at Congressional in sixth grade and graduated with the Class of 2012. He attended high school at Flint Hill School and is a first-year student at Virginia Tech.
Olivia is a current Congressional seventh grader who has been enrolled since kindergarten. Olivia will graduate with the Class of 2018.
What are the future aspirations of the Odoom children? At Stanford University, Akua is studying Human Biology with a concentration in Healthcare in Underserved Populations. “I am considering a minor in African Studies,” she says. “After university, I plan to go to Medical School but not before taking at least one gap year to serve in the community.” George is completing his first year at Virginia Tech’s School of Engineering. “I plan to focus on mechanical engineering,” he says; “however, I’m still open to other engineering disciplines such as computer or electrical engineering.” And after he graduates? “I would like to work at a defense technology company such as Northrop Grumman or Lockheed Martin, but engineering is very broad and I would be interested in working in other areas.” Olivia, is currently a seventh grader, and is keeping an open mind about where she will attend high school. “I am considering all my options, but currently I am looking at Episcopal High School,” she says. For Olivia, it is early days, but she has already given some thought to what she wants to study at university. “I am looking at Business Administration or medical school.”
“Akua and George are both doing well at Stanford and Virginia Tech and are a testimony to the great academic and social foundation they received at Congressional. They have both been an inspiration to Olivia, who is trying very hard to follow in their footsteps. We had the opportunity to make friends with other families and will forever treasure the opportunity extended to our family by Congressional.” - Mr. and Mrs. Odoom For more information about Emerging Scholars, visit their website at www.emergingscholarsprogram.org Congressional Update 45
Alumni SPOTLIGHT
Q&A’s
A: She loves to see old pictures and figure out where things were. She was super excited this year, because she is in the same classroom for second grade that I was in for second grade with Mrs. Jalli. I also love that I get to participate in things that she’s doing in class. Sometimes I pop in just to get to do some of their fun activities.
from the Ones who Stayed
gave me the opportunity to move into an administrative role in education after having taught at the high school and college levels for over 6 years. It’s great because I grew up here and it’s always been home.
JACKIE ROSE
Registrar & Coach, Class of 1996 Q: What brought you back to work at Congressional? A: I worked at camp all through high school and college, starting as a counselor in training and ending up as the Front Desk Administrator my final year. When my family found out that we were moving back to Northern Virginia for Kevin’s job, I reached out to Dan O’Neil about a camp administrator position that was available, just to get me back up here, and it all snowballed from there. Congressional 46 Spring 2017
Q: What are some of the things that are the same about Congressional from when you were a student? A: Mr. Cavanaugh - haha. I told him that he can’t retire until after Avery graduates. The big picture of Monticello in the lobby is also one of my favorite things that is still here, because that is where we used to take pictures with our parents when we graduated. When Avery graduated from senior kindergarten, we took a family picture in front of it. Even with all the changes on campus, it still has the same overall feel that it has always had. One of my favorite things to do is when I am here really early in the morning, I like to walk by the playground and just look out over the field and the haze that is normally there in the morning when it is completely quiet. There’s something calming and familiar about it. The other great thing is that it is still the feel of the Congressional family (probably part of the reason that they can’t get rid of me). Q: Avery is in second grade – do you talk to her about when you were a student here?
STEPHANIE PHILLIPS Grade 1 Teacher, Class of 2004
Q: Is there any overriding memory you can share from your time as a student? A: I can remember studying the Iditarod in third grade, a marble roller coaster project in fourth, a hot dog stand computer program that helped us learn the economics of running our own small business in sixth, and numerous musicals. While the specifics are a bit fuzzy, what is clear in my memory is the joy I had coming to school. The caring community, the teachers’ enthusiasm and passion, the EHP staff ’s love and excitement – I obviously had to love it if it inspired me to want to be in a school full-time as an adult! Q: Is there anything you took with you when you left Congressional that helped you in high school and college? A: Work ethic and enthusiasm to learn new things – the rigorous curriculum prepared me for the challenges of high school and the joy my teachers imparted into their lessons made me excited to continue to explore all subjects.
congressionalschool.org
ALUMNI Q: When did you decide to become a teacher? A: Freshman year of college after working a few summers at Congo Camp. Q: What do you like about teaching? A: I love having the ability to make students feel comfortable enough that they know they can try things that are out of their comfort zone and know it’s okay to make mistakes. I tell my students, we’re not just a class, we’re a family, and families support one another. I want the students to know they are loved and want them to come to school excited to try new things every day. I want our classroom to be a home away from home because students will only learn when they are comfortable. Q: What led you back to Congressional as a teacher? A: I stayed connected with the school through camp. I was drawn to the beautiful campus and caring community. Who wouldn’t want to teach on this gorgeous 40 acre campus with a stream for science and an amphitheater for readers’ theater?
away about a month later in June. I was in the area and didn’t have a job or any immediate plans for the future, as I was coping with grief from the loss and trying to find my sense of direction without the help of my dad, who was super influential to me. I was applying to a lot of different jobs and thinking about what I might be interested in and I realized that I really loved working with young children and that made me very happy, so I applied to several different teaching jobs in the area, which weren’t quite the right fit. My best friend, also a Congressional alumnus, Valeria Almada ‘06, suggested that I look and see if Congressional had any openings, and when I saw that they did in the Early Childhood Program, I immediately applied and interviewed with Kim O’Neil and was extended an offer…and the rest is history. Q: Are you still in touch with any of your classmates? A: Yes, I’ve run into a bunch of them over the years, especially in high school. Since college, though, I have not been in touch with many of them except for my best friend, Valeria. She and I met in kindergarten in Mrs. Fry’s class and became best friends then and have remained best friends to this very day. Q: What activities were you involved in as a student here? A: Soccer team, softball team, musicals/ plays, Yearbook Club, and National Junior Honor Society.
ASHLEY TERR
Early Childhood Assistant Teacher, Class of 2006 Q: How did you find your way back to Congressional to work? A: I had just finished up college and graduated when I found out that my dad was sick with lung cancer and so I came back to the area from Florida to be with him and my family until he finally passed
Q: You were voted, “Most likely to own a billion dogs” in the 2006 yearbook. How many dogs do you own? Are dogs still important to you? A: Although I would still love to own a billion dogs, sadly, I only have one right now, but he is extremely important to me. His name is Charley and he is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and he is almost four years old. Dogs have, since I was very little, always will be extremely important to me and one of my favorite hobbies. You can ask any of my co-workers about Charley because I talk about him all the time, probably to the point that sometimes they are tired of hearing about him. You can even ask my students! They look at his picture on my phone (when they are waking up from nap time) and tell me “Charley! Charley!” and whenever they see my phone they
ask me to see him. One day when I wore slippers with his breed’s face on them, they even ran over to my slippers and started petting them and yelling, “Charley! Charley!” at them. So as you can see everyone knows about my love for dogs and more specifically, about my love for my current dog, Charley.
#Flashback Ashley and her best friend, Valeria
Ashley’s soccer team (bottom: 2nd from left)
Jackie at National Jr Honor Society ceremony
Stephanie playing the recorder in third grade
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Alumni SPOTLIGHT
Reflections with Julia J
ulia Phaltankar’s eleven-year academic career with Congressional School began in 2003 as a preschool student. She was highly engaged in school life, assuming leadership positions including lead roles in school musicals, Co-President of the Student Council, and participating on junior varsity and varsity athletic teams. After graduating from Congressional, Julia matriculated to St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, where she continued to be greatly involved in school life. She is Student Body Co-President, has played varsity sports and pursued an interest in civic engagement and government that led to a two-year leadership role with Inspire Virginia, a program aimed at promoting civic engagement among high school juniors and seniors.
In the following excerpts, Julia reflects on a number of topics and discusses the impact of her Congressional School education, leadership roles in high school, and what the future has in store. Preparation for High School Considering that Congressional was where I spent the majority of my key, developmental years, I credit the school with many of the skills and qualities I value most about myself as a student and person. Academically, Congressional set a strong foundation for my writing abilities, and I think that by having such a leg up, I have been able to succeed not only in writing papers, but even in applications and simple emails to college representatives and employers. Global Awareness Socially, Congressional instilled in me a rich appreciation of international cultures and a sense of global awareness. Today, since we live in a society that is more interconnected than ever before, it is imperative that we analyze issues, whether they are international or domestic, with a global perspective. Congressional gave me a strong foundation to extensively build upon this idea in high school. Public Speaking I remember when Congressional first introduced speech & drama into middle school, I didn’t see the value in it and public speaking was by no means one of my strong suits. With that said, I am so unbelievably grateful for all those classes over the years! The little notes Mr. Bowley gave us, such as to speak slower when presenting and to make frequent eye contact, combined with the practice that other teachers at Congressional would provide us, allowed me to gain a fair amount of experience before high school. 48 Spring 2017
Civic Engagement During the summer after my sophomore year, I was selected to attend the Virginia Governor’s School for Humanities where I took a class called Civic Engagement in the 21st Century. It was there that Inspire Virginia, a non-partisan organization dedicated to registering youth to vote, encouraged all of us to apply for their new Virginia cohort. I’ve been part of the organization my junior and senior year, and as a school team, we’ve registered 80% of my school’s senior class and even registered some teachers as Virginia voters. As a Virginia cohort, however, we’ve registered over 1500 new Virginia teen voters! I think one way that Inspire Virginia will carry over into the life I hope to lead is that I want to make an impact on underrepresented communities, particularly those with limited access to necessary resources. Leadership I enjoy being a voice for the student body [at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School as Student Body Co-President], and the unique privilege of having a close relationship with the Head of School, Dean of Students, and Director of the Upper School. With this relationship, I am truly empowered to have a stance on school issues as they affect my peers and to serve as a liaison between the administration and the students. Further, when assuming such a high leadership role, I automatically become involved in all facets of school life. When it comes to a community that I love and want to see thrive, why wouldn’t I want to be as involved as I could possibly be? congressionalschool.org
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Julia P
Athletics To be frank, my athletic career at Congressional was marked largely by more losses than wins. With that said, though, this trend helped me learn that the fun I associated with sports was not solely derived from winning; rather, it was from playing the game I loved with a team that had the common goal of improving. I think this mentality helped me transition from the JV to Varsity teams at St. Stephen’s and eventually as a team captain for both basketball and volleyball. Friendships I’m still in touch with many of my friends from Congressional, and there are a few of which I can still call my best friends – even after 13 years. Even though none of us attend the same high school, we make an effort to meet whenever we can, and I think the friendships I’ve made during my time at Congressional will follow me wherever I go.
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Congressional Teachers Mr. Cavanaugh has been one of the most knowledgeable, caring, and hilarious teachers I’ve ever had, and I think he definitely set the bar high for the quality of our work; I think all of the teachers at Congressional did. Congressional is a unique environment in the sense that I had most of my teachers in consecutive years, and I still had the opportunity to see teachers that I had three, four, even five years prior. The Future As of now, medicine is my current trajectory. I’m not sure if I want to practice medicine or remain on the business side of it, but I do know that my goal is to open medical clinics in underserved international communities. With that said, I also have a wide range of interests that I have yet to fully explore, so my career path could completely change. I do know, though, that I would like to be fluent in Spanish, Chinese, and German. Congressional Update 49
Alumni SPOTLIGHT
Frank Badalson ‘72
Living the Dream
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passion for cars was the hook that brought together a lively group of Congressional high school students in the early 1970s. The group – Frank Badalson ‘72, Sammy Clarke ’71, Phil Gamble ’72, Jim Gray ’72, Julian Smith ’73, and Steve Sowar ’71 – developed a tight bond as they immersed themselves in cars, driving them, restoring them, and simply talking about them at every opportunity they could find. Phil Gamble was the envy of the group with a brand new 1971 Roadrunner. Steve Sowar drove a 1970 Coronet RT, and the guys enjoyed working on Julian Smith’s 1967 Firebird. Over the years, life has taken the group of friends in many different directions, and for most, the fascination with cars has had to take a backseat. Their friendship however, has endured in the 45 years since they first connected and the group is now living their interest in classic cars vicariously through one member – Frank Badalson – who has turned his passion into a business. A retired Chesterfield County, Richmond police officer and current Chesterfield County Deputy Sheriff, Frank is owner of American Performance, LLC, operating out of two garages on an industrial park overlooking Chesterfield County Airport. His reputation as a restoration expert of American muscle cars draws clients from across the country, including a high-profile
Steve Sowar ‘71
Jim Grey ‘72
Frank in 1972 with his 1970 Barracuda
car collector in California. Sitting in stark contrast to the shiny hot rod cars in one of his garages sits an old, rusted, faded green station wagon. It is a 1955 Chevy Bel Air and is related to another passion of Frank’s. Over the past 40 years, he has extensively researched the JFK Assassination, tapping into his knowledge of forensics from his years as a police officer. When he saw that the 1955 Chevy formerly owned by Ruth Paine and driven by Lee Harvey Oswald was up for auction, he quickly jumped at the opportunity to add it to his collection. Verifying the car’s authenticity, he contacted Ruth Paine for official verification. Ruth Paine lived in Irving, Texas and was hosting the Oswald family at the time of the assassination. The Roberts family, immediately next door to Ruth, bought the Chevy in the Spring of 1964 after her testimony to The Warren Commission and kept it for the next 50 years. But, unlike the other cars he’s worked on, he has no plans to restore the broken down old Chevy, choosing instead to leave its historical integrity intact. In a 2016 TV interview for a local Richmond network, Frank referred to the car as “…my little piece of history.” However, he recognizes that its history is dark, acknowledging that many would not want to even sit in it. But for Frank, it provides a strong connection to a major historical event that he’s researched for decades.
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As meticulous about record keeping as he is about restoring cars, Frank has kept in pristine condition many artifacts relating to Congressional School including an original team photo from the spring 1972 baseball season. “Mr. Magnotti was a great ball coach and teacher,” he reminisced (James Magnotti taught world history, government, and was a physical education assistant and coach). Looking over his original 1972 commencement program he noted, “There were 19 of us in my graduating class.” He even has his original report cards, which unlike the electronic versions of today, were printed on paper, filled-in by hand, and signed by each teacher. As the conversation meandered, it always came back to his primary interest – cars. With razor sharp memory, he recalled the cars that he and his friends owned “back in the day.” “In the summer of 1971 Steve bought a 426 Hemi powered Plymouth Road Runner”, he recalled. “In college, I had a 1971 Hemi Cuda hot rod…” Looking at Frank, surrounded by classic muscle cars, with their raised hoods and gleaming engines, it is clear that this is someone who has achieved great success in life, and is truly living his dream.
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DID YOU
KNOW
Sammy Clarke ‘71
Frank today in his auto shop
Phil Gamble ‘72
Sammy Clarke ‘71 actually married another Congressional School alumni, Helen Howard ’72
Jullian Smith ‘73
Original, hand-written Congressional report cards
Congressional Update 51
class notes
‘60
Jean Stokes (Cowherd) went to at NVCC after graduating high school at Congressional.
Charles Eaton ‘80 (pictured right) in Erbil, Iraq examining counterfeit currency
‘80
Charles Eaton retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2015 after serving 23 years. His positions included Financial Specialist, Financial Management Officer, Deputy Director, Director of Domestic Services, Director of International Law Enforcement and Narcotics Operations, Pearson Fellow, and Inspector. His posting locations ranged tremendously from Washington, D.C. to U.S. Embassies Mexico City, Sofia, Caracas, Chisinau and Bratislava to the Iraq and Afghanistan Support Center to U.S. Consulate General Erbil and more. He is currently developing a project management business in Southern New Hampshire.
‘04
Richard Allridge married Maureen Wirshup on July 2 in the chapel at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A reception following the ceremony was held at the Mendenhall Inn in Chadds Ford. Both Rich and Maureen are 2012 graduates of St. Joseph’s University. Rich earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the Haub School of Business and is a financial planner with the firm of Nelson Financial Partners, LLC located in Warrenton, VA. Maureen teaches English for grades 6 through 8 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic School in Sterling. Rich and Maureen are living in Fairfax, Virginia.
‘07
Jessica Deal graduated from Christopher Newport University in 2015 with a BS in Environmental Biology, magna cum laude. She received Departmental Honors, a minor in Leadership Studies as a student in the President’s Leadership Program, and a Service Distinction Award recognizing her community volunteer work over her four years as an undergraduate. In May 2017, she will earn her MS in Environmental Sciences. Jessica is also working as a Marketing Assistant for the Ferguson Center, the multi-million dollar Center for the Fine Arts in Newport News.
Congrats to Rich Allridge ‘04 and his new wife, Maureen on their marriage in July!
‘07
Imogen Grylls attended Red House School in England followed by college at Aberystwyth University. She is now a serving police officer with the Metropolitan Police in London.
‘82
Erica Vernon says, “Since retiring from a career as a Special Agent two years ago, I am enjoying life at a slower pace. I am spending my time as the Vice President of Paws for Seniors, a rescue group that focuses on saving senior pets and placing them in loving forever homes.”
‘02
Matt Mroczek is one of five partners in a new start-up business – Scrub30. After Congressional, Matt attended Bishop Ireton High School graduating in 2006. He received an undergraduate degree and MBA from Strayer University in 2010. 52 Spring 2017
Hamid Amerian ‘79 stopped by campus last August while he was in town with his family.
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‘09
Daniel Anderson graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and is currently at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He is anticipating graduation in May 2017.
Ankush Joshi ‘13 presenting about his time aboard the Nautilus, an ocean exploration research vessel.
‘12 ‘09
Rajeev Bhagowalia will be graduating in May 2017 with a B.Sc. degree in Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. He attended Congressional School and Middleburg Academy, and then decided to study biology and become a pre-med student at Emory. After graduation he will be applying to medical school with the hopes of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Raj will take a gap year after undergrad and plans to travel the world and pursue his interests in producing music and DJ’ing, while taking a well-deserved break from studies.
Julian Anderson is in his first year in Motion Picture Science program at Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated from Flint Hill in 2016.
‘13
Ankush Joshi, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, recently visited Congressional to talk to students and faculty about his trip aboard the Nautilus last summer with Dr. Bob Ballard, founder of JASON Learning and discoverer of the Titanic. This was Ankush’s second time on the Nautilus. In the summer of 2013, he represented Congressional School as a National JASON Argonaut, joining Dr. Ballard’s expedition on the Nautilus as it traveled from the Bahamas to Grand Cayman.
‘16
Daniel Aziz-Quintana says, “Since graduating Congressional, I have visited Spain as well as tried out kayaking and saw the Mediterranean Sea for the first time. At school (W.T. Woodson High School), joining DECA has been a blast. I have been focusing on engineering with a future dream job being an aeronautical engineer. Meeting new people that come from different backgrounds is a unique and enriching thing to do. Overall, it’s a good experience in high school even though I still have a long time ahead of me.”
‘16
Will Sapp graduated from Congressional School in 2016 and is currently attending Gonzaga College High School and was one of two freshmen to make the JV baseball team.
Connect With Us: Graduates from the Class of 2016 – (from left to right) Delaney Moore, Isabel Garcia-Sosa, Sophia Phaltankar, Maria Simpson, and Lily Rathbun – visited campus for Fall Festival.
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Roanne Baldwin ‘74, Bill Barns ‘74, JM Smith ‘73, Steve Shelnutt ‘73 and Randy Hill ‘74 stopped by for a tour of campus in July.
Norman King ‘15 along with his parents attended Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. in March.
Madhumita Venkatesh ‘16, Anthony Marquez ‘13, Nico Ozioli ‘15, Camron Nemati ‘16, and Derik Mejia ‘16 visiting our eighth graders.
We want to hear from YOU We want to hear about your accomplishments, family, travel, work, and anything else you might want to share with us! Visit www.congressionalschool.org/alumni.
In Memoriam Robert M. Koch, Jr. Class of 1965
Robert M. Koch Jr., 69, a resident of both Concord and Wilmington, VT passed away peacefully Sunday June 19, 2016, in Concord surrounded by his family. While working as a lobbyist at the Office of the Postmaster General in Washington, D.C., he met Brenda Barry, and they married on April 12, 1975, in Wollaston, MA. Soon after, they started their life together in New Hampshire. For many years Bob maintained a successful law practice in Concord. Above all else, Bob enjoyed spending time with his family.
Robert D. Donegan Class of 1975
Robert was born on August 23, 1957 and passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Robert was a resident of Rocky Mount, North Carolina at the time of his passing.
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HeartBall
gala 2017
CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL
We invite you to join us at this year’s Gala and Auction which supports capital improvements throughout campus.
6:00 p.m.
Black-Tie Optional
Fairview Park Marriott Falls Church, VA
www.congressionalgala.org
Thank You you to to our Thank Oursponsors! Sponsors! Gold Level ($5,000):
Current Sponsors as of April 1, 2017
Silver Level ($2,500):
Bronze Level ($1,000):
Maple Grove built by Snead Homes
Explore With Us Thank you for being a part of the Congressional community! Connect with us on our social media channels and explore even more exciting happenings on our campus! www.congressionalschool.org