Our Community. A special publication of St. Thomas Episcopal Parish Church and School Winter 2016
LILLIAN ISSA NAMED NEXT HEAD OF ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARISH SCHOOL St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School Prayer Heavenly father, hear our prayer, Keep us in thy loving care, Guide us through the live long day, In our work and in our play, Keep us pure and sweet and true, In everything we say and do. Amen
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Vestry, St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School is excited to announce that Lillian Issa will serve as the next permanent Head of School. Following an extensive search that attracted top candidates from all over the United States, the school narrowed its focus to seven semi-finalists and then two finalists – then with the final selection being Mrs. Issa. “St. Thomas is beyond fortunate that Lillian will be our next Head of School,” said Alex Dueñas, School Board Chair. “With her experience as a leader in a faithbased school, her commitment to innovation, her tremendous energy, her enthusiasm for creating a dynamic learning environment and her superb communication skills, Lillian stood out in a field of truly exceptional candidates.” “I believe a strong sense of self and a faith-filled heart are indispensable for leadership in a religious setting like St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School,” said Mrs. I ssa . “ My a sso ci a ti o n wi th Marymount School for 28 years has cultivated in me a deeply rooted allegiance to spirituality and tradition. Every event I planned, every meeting I conducted, every conversation I had with parents, students, and staff underscored my commitment to a strong, values-based community. Schools like St. Thomas Episcopal make a difference in the education of young people; they are the only kind of school to which I would choose to be affiliated.” Mrs. Issa is currently the Deputy Head of School and the Director of Admissions for Marymount School of New York, a highly regarded Catholic girls' school on
the Upper East Side in Manhattan. She first joined Marymount NY in 1986 as a teacher of the fifth grade and shortly became Head of the Lower School. Prior to coming to New York, Lillian worked at Marymount International School (Pk-8) in Paris, France and at the International School of Paris (N8). In these excellent schools, Mrs. Issa has taught grades 2-5 and served in numerous other roles including Curriculum Team Coordinator, Summer School Director as well as Associate Head of School in Marymount Paris. She is fluent in French. Her B.S was granted summa cum laude from State University College, Buffalo, NY; and her M.S. is in Curriculum and Teaching from Fordham University, NYC. She has also completed the National Association of Independent Schools Aspiring Heads Program. Mrs. Issa and her husband, Michel, have two adult sons, who themselves are beginning their professional careers. Until Mrs. Issa's arrival on July 1st, St. Thomas will continue to be led by Tom Southard, Interim Head of School.
Introducing Our Oak Society
Our Community is a publication that will be shared twice a year – in winter and in summer. Our goal is to highlight some recent developments as it affects our entire church and school community. We will also share important curricular news so that our constituencies will continue to have an understanding of what is taking place in our classrooms. As this is our first issue, the type of content may evolve to be of most interest to you. We look forward to your feedback! Please email Denie Harris, director of communications, at dharris@stepsmia.org. Mario E. Milián Rector
At a recent event at the home of Kristen and Wirth Munroe to launch our Oak Society, Interim Head of School Thomas N. Southard quoted a Chinese proverb stating, “A generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.” And, therein, lies the reasoning around the creation of our Oak Society. The Oak Society of St. Thomas is a special group of individuals dedicated, to not just supporting St. Thomas, but to making sure the campus maintains its beauty for decades to come. Membership into the society occurs after an individual, family or group dedicate an oak tree on our campus for $5,000. A plaque will sit at the bottom of the oak with a message personal to the donor. The oak, dedicated by the Munroes, reads, “Thank you, St. Thomas, for being our Giving Tree.” The Lopez-Irizarry family inscription reads, “With love and appreciation to our friends & the St. Thomas community, our village. May you continue to bloom and grow.” Other dedicated oaks have equally meaningful words. While the Oak Society is in its earliest stages, enthusiasm for the group is catching on. The inaugural event included a discussion with local tree expert Bob Brennan, the arborist at Fairchild Tropical Garden and the president of the Tropical Arborist Guild. Mr. Brennan educated the group about oak trees in a lively and engaging way, providing participants the opportunity to ask questions and tell their own stories.
Thomas N. Southard Interim Head of School
Donna Southard and Oak Society member Chris Cobb
Arborist Bob Brennan and Oak Society president Wirth Munroe
One interesting fact that came out of the get-together is that squirrels tend to have a total of about 10 homes! If someone is concerned about trimming an oak due to the presence of a squirrel's nest, there is no need to worry. They have several other homes to call their own. Also, there is a misconception that oak trees are not native to this area, but some are – it's called a Live Oak. As we all learned about oak trees, it became clear why these trees are so cherished and impor tant to our community. “We are truly excited about the creation of this special group that brings attention to the continued beautification of our campus,” said Linda Johnson, director of advancement. “An investment in our future through something so real as an oak tree – from a development stand point, nothing gets better than that!” For more information about our Oak Society, please contact Linda Johnson at 786-268-3496 or ljohnson@stepsmia.org.
After Decades of Faithful Service, Valerie Douberley to Retire in June Thomas N. Southard, St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School’s Interim Head of School, recently announced that director of admission Valerie Douberley will be retiring at the end of this school year. Mrs. Douberley has been a member of the St. Thomas community for 32 years, beginning as a parent in 1983, when her daughters, Amanda and Jessica, began attending the school. Her time at the school began as a volunteer – spending time on the board of trustees, as president of the Parents Association, and assisting in the office and then as librarian. She enjoyed her time at St. Thomas so much she soon found herself as an official member of the team, 28 years ago, heading up the admission office under the leadership of then principal Shirley Stradley. “Rarely does a school have the benefit of having such an esteemed and admired individual as Valerie as part of its administration for more than a quarter of a century,” said Mr. Southard. “Valerie will be missed by this community beyond measure.” “Serving St. Thomas as director of admission for so many years has been a joy and a privilege. I’ve met hundreds, actually
thousands, of the loveliest brighteyed families that just want what is best for their little ones,” said Mrs. Douberley. “St. Thomas isn’t just a school, it’s a home for our students and their families and all who work here.” Kris M. Charlton, former head of school who worked along Mrs. Douberley from 2001 until last spring, summarizes her time at St. T h o m a s , s a y i n g , “ Va l e r i e exemplifies the mission of St. Thomas. She is the perfect combination of a loving first impression that parents have when contacting the school with an understanding of what makes the school a good fit for each family.” Mrs. Douberley will conclude her glorious and incredibly productive career at St. Thomas on June 30.
Blessings, Dedications and Improvements The Blessing of our Playground Our new "Sue N i c h o l s Playground" was blessed on F r i d a y , September 11th. W h a t a wonderful event honoring the incredible playground (new shade structures, turf, gates and more) as well as the lovely Miss Sue. We love her so much. We are proud to say that playground is uniquely beautiful, large and safe. Exciting News About our Nursery We are pleased to announce a major update to our church and school nursery. Thanks to the generous contribution of a gracious donor, The Campbell Smith Family, we have been able to completely remodel the nursery. To give you some highlights, we removed the carpet and laid down a rubber and mat floor for safe play. We painted the walls a beautiful, sky blue color. The windows were repaired and white plantation shutters were
installed throughout. A new drop ceiling was installed as well as cloud sky panels in our overhead lighting. All new toys and equipment were purchased including bean b a g ch a i r s, a s m a l l trampoline, a slide, a swing and several toys to engage the children. On Sunday, October 20, the nursery was dedicated to our own Sandy Walter, Founder of the Center for Excellence. Father Mario blessed the space and our interim Head of School, Tom Southard, also spoke. T h e n e w nursery is a gift that will be appreciated by the St. Thomas community for years to come.
< Curriculum Corner > Reading Wonders…Bringing Curiosity Back to Learning Kelly Olivella, Curriculum Coordinator Our new language arts series, Reading Wonders by McGraw Hill, has provided a fresh look at balanced literacy and is being implemented in kindergarten through 5th grade in conjunction with the adoption of the Common Core State Standards. The use of broad themes and essential questions enables students to connect their learning across the disciplines through curiosity and inquiry. Digital components enhance traditional texts and put a modern twist on research-based best practice. Reading Wonders is designed as a comprehensive series that includes various components which work together to provide a complete language arts program. Onsite training at the start of the school year and ongoing professional development throughout the year supports teachers as they become familiar with the wealth of resources in order to integrate Reading Wonders into content area concepts and cross-disciplinary units. This is crucial as we continue our STEAM initiative through project-based learning (PBL) and a focus on 21st century skills. An emphasis on foundational literacy creates the building blocks for successful readers and writers. From phonemic awareness to phonics and vocabulary, all skills are interwoven throughout instruction to ensure students are able to apply what they learn when reading and writing independently. Explicit instruction in comprehension strategies and daily fluency practice are integ rated in whole group and small group l e s s o n s . Research and inquiry at all g rade levels e x t e n d s language arts to social studies, science, and math. Writing about and reflecting on their learning allows students t o m a k e connections and see the big picture. In 4th grade, students were
asked, “How can starting a business help others?” They read an article about Joshua Williams, a young entrepreneur from Miami who started a company called Joshua's Heart that provides food to those in need. Joshua and his friend Jordan Wong, a St. Thomas alum, visited St. Thomas and talked to the students about their experiences with starting a business and encouraged them to make a difference in our world. The essential question, “How can starting a business help others?” extends to the 4th grade project-based learning unit (PBL) centered around the company TOMS, which is also a topic of a story in Reading Wonders. TOMS sells shoes, eyewear, coffee, and bags and their one for one philosophy has helped millions of children around the world. Our students will work together to create their own business plan to put into action in order to raise money for each student to purchase a pair of TOMS shoes. TOMS is a business that helps others, so buying a pair of shoes allows TOMS to give a pair of shoes to a child in need, one for one! Experiences like this create opportunities for excellence and ingenuity. St. Thomas empowers our students to become confident and compassionate leaders in our global society. Reading Wonders is a catalyst for curiosity and through curiosity we discover more about ourselves and our world than we could ever imagine.
Parish Leadership Begins Joint Collaboration on Strategic Process Jason T. Quimby, Sr. Warden 2015 Periodically it is healthy for most organizations to go through a strategic planning process. This means pausing and introspectively analyzing certain aspects of identity and aspirations. The School is preparing for its next strategic plan after the arrival of the new head of school. During 2016, the Church will be developing its strategic plan. The Church and School will work in concert in the fulfillment of goals in both plans. In strategic planning, there are many things that can be analyzed depending on the type of organization. Here are some: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
What is our Mission? What is our Vision? Who are we? What do we want to become? How do we get there? How do we communicate this message internally? Ÿ How do we communicate this message externally? The St. Thomas Episcopal Parish Vestry and School Board started this strategic process in November under the leadership of Father Mario Milian with support from Interim Head of School Tom Southard, Board Chairman Alex Dueñas, and yours truly. The ethos of this process started in the spring of 2015 with a Vestry workshop led by the Very Reverend Rebecca McClain, during which time the Vestry identified that the Parish would benefit from three things: 1. Having a facilitator help St. Thomas Church create a long-term strategic plan 2. Involving the School Board of Trustees and leadership in the process 3. Conducting Surveys for the Church and School to ascertain Climate Assessment (We hope to have these surveys take place between January and April of 2016) As with most things we do, we sought God's guidance through prayer. God
answered by way of Bishop Coadjutor Peter Eaton's recommendation that we interview Father Jim Lemler as the possible facilitator of this process. Once we spoke to Father Lemler and learned of his experience and expertise, we understood why Bishop Eaton and God put him in our path. Father Lemler spent two evenings and one full day meeting with Vestry and Board members individually and as a unit. Within this process we asked ourselves all of the questions above. As you can imagine, the answers are extensive and the desires we have could probably keep us busy for the next decade. Here are the highlights: Church Mission: St. T homas Episcopal Church is a place to feel welcome, to be loved, and to grow in faith. We are an inclusive and diverse Christian parish that seeks to transform lives by engaging in actions that will grow our relationship with God, with each other, and our community. S chool Mi ssi on: St. T h oma s Episcopal Parish School is a secure and loving community that nurtures and challenges children. We teach children to honor God, respect others and themselves, care for their world, and develop a lasting enthusiasm for discovering and learning. Our Vision: Is to follow the Five Marks of Mission of the Church, which is the Mission of Christ, and also to continue taking care of our own by enhancing the quality of our spiritual and educational experiences, to continue taking the Christian message outside of our walls and helping our c o m m u n i t y, a n d t o g r o w o u r community by welcoming a diverse constituency seeking a spiritual and educational home. Who we are: A loving and welcoming community of Christians and Educators who are interested in the well-being of our community. What do we want to become?: With the help of God, we want to be a beacon
of light in a community that needs love. We would like to fill our sanctuary and halls with a community of parishioners that are engaged, diverse, and living Christ's message daily. We would like to focus on: a. Spiritual Education, including children and youth offerings as well as adult education b. New Initiatives to reach out to our community, especially in the Ministries of Music and the Arts c. Increased and robust Youth Engagement This is the start of a long and exciting process. We hope that our community at large will feel the same and participate in the surveys starting in 2016. We need your feedback in order to form our mission and vision going forward. Our Parish is defined by God's will via the people who are part of our community. Our Parish is defined by Christ living through us. We sincerely believe that together we can and will “do all things through Christ who strengthens us” (Philippians 4:13).
Miss Bridget, We Sure Will Miss You! Bridget Moor man, b e t t e r known as M i s s Bridget, will be retiring from teaching at the end of this school year. We are so happy and grateful for the time that Miss Bridget has spent with us, but are extremely sad to see her go. Miss Bridget became a St. Thomas mom in 1982. Just two years later she became a temporary fill in for an injured ballet teacher. Even then, Miss Bridget was the perfect choice. She was an engaged and enthusiastic mom and, just to add to her credentials, she had graduated from Juliard with a degree in dance performance. The temporary position turned permanent and, thus began, Miss Bridget's chapter in St. Thomas' story – a chapter that will always be an example of what makes us special. Miss Bridget began her time at St. Thomas under then principal Mrs. Stradley's leadership. Miss Bridget credits Laura Walker, a subsequent head of school, with the true ability to soar in terms of extending what St. Thomas offers in dance. She added tap dancing – our school's first after-school enrichment program. In 2000, she established the Irish Step Dancing program. It is
unique to our school and has shaped the extra-curricular focus of hundreds of girls! Additional extensions of the program include creative movement, fine arts camps, school plays incorporating dance, and so much more. When asked what she will miss most about St. Thomas, Miss Bridget tearfully replied, “The kids. I get so much from them – the joy and satisfaction of getting to know them and watching them flourish from Jr. Preschool through 5th grade and beyond.” When the school year ends in June, Miss Bridget and her husband plan to move to Stuart. She will spend the summers North Carolina as she has for many years. Miss Bridget will be tough to replace, but the school has already dedicated itself to the search to find someone amazing. Miss Bridget is helping in this search and knows that the program will remain strong. While some modifications might take place, “St. Thomas dance” will still be remarkable.
Truly Notable Outreach – We Did This and So Much More A Visit to the Overtown Youth Center St. Thomas families really did STEP Up & Share Christmas Jo y ! T h e Outreach Committee hosted a party at the OverTown Youth Center (OYC) during the holiday season. Our students collected a tremendous amount of gifts to share, brought homemade Christmas Cookies, and enjoyed a pizza party with the kids from the OYC. Everyone had a blast! It was a wonderful opportunity to share Christmas Blessings. TLE Friends Visit St. Thomas The Outreach Committee is excited about our new initiative with the The Learning Experience School (TLE), a wonderful school that caters to students with disabilities and special needs. As part of our STEP Up & Share Campaign, the first interaction
with TLE students took place at a recent Chapel Service. Father Mario gave a short sermon about all of us being uniquely and wonderfully made by God and explained that we are all God’s children regardless of differences/special needs. Visits are planned to visit TLE throughout our school year. 5th Grade Visits Holy Comforter Our “seniors” boarded a bus and headed out to Holy Comforter to distribute bags and bags of food they collected so that the families of Holy Comforter in Little Havana might have a happy Thanksgiving. The children had the opportunity to hand the bags to the individuals personally and see the remarkable impact that these donations were making.