ACADeMiC PASSiON CHINESE TEACHER XIAOYU CHEN
on loving the process SIXTH-FORMER IRENE LUPERON
on expanding classroom horizons
ASCALON
The newsletter for St. George’s School • Spring 2015
a passionate teacher Xiaoyu Chen, Ph.D., came to St. George’s to teach Chinese in 2010, but for him the road to teaching was anything but direct. He worked at a radio station in China, then came to the United States to further his education pursuing graduate work. He is passionate about his career, but not because he planned on it. We sat down with Xiaoyu and talked about his journey, how he came to love teaching and what he gains from his students.
Q. What brought you to a classroom at
each other, every day! We learned how to
St. George’s?
teach from each other. I think that was a
A. I have to say, I didn’t expect it, I didn’t
fantastic year for me. I learned from these
plan to become a high-school teacher. I
other experienced teachers.
was working for china radio International before I came to america to study
Q. What happened when the students arrived?
for my master’s degree in english and
A. In the second year, we welcomed stu-
american history at Idaho State Univer-
dents. We had 78, and I fell in love with
sity. Following that, I got my Ph.D. in po-
teaching chinese, through my teaching.
litical science from the University of
It’s not that I had this passion from the
Nevada, reno. at the time, I was looking
beginning, and then looked for a job. No,
for a college job. But then the conserve
absolutely the opposite! I think I began to
School, a single-semester school in Wis-
appreciate it after I started teaching.
consin for high-school juniors, called me
First, I love the chinese language, and
and asked me if I would like to create a
I’m good at teaching it. and particularly, I
chinese program for them.
love to demonstrate the differences be-
they recruited teachers from many
tween our two languages. chinese and
different places that first year, and we
english, you cannot translate them word
were all very excited. We didn’t have stu-
for word. You have to be aware of how
dents at that point. So all the teachers who
your students think, the way they use
were hired, we sat together and we taught
(Please see “Teacher” on the back)
P.O. Box 1910 • Newport, Rhode Island 02840 • 401-847-7565 • stgeorges.edu
the Point Notes from the Advancement Office
rogers Scholars descend on Washington, D.c. Over the March break, 10 SG students accompanied history Department chair Jim connor, history teacher cassie rudden and Director of alumni relations Bill Douglas to Washington, D.c., for five days of immersion in the thick of Washington politics and policy making, compliments of visionary funding from the William S.r. rogers endowment for Public Policy Studies. rogers Scholars included toni Woods Maignan ’16, eva Killenberg ’17, Joy Mitchell ’17, cindy Zhang ’15, adriana Jonas ’17, Mia Del rosso ’17, George Shepherd ’18, Jared rogers ’16, Will corridan ’16 and Scott andrade ’16. the itinerary delivered a nonstop, interactive experience that engaged the students in panels, lectures, visits, meals and discussions with SG alumni and a host of professionals operating in the public policy sector. Venues saw them everywhere, from the Stimson center, to the legal and business advocacy group Miller & chevalier, to the U.S. Department of the treas-
For most of the world, april 23 is just an-
ury, to the U.S. Department of State, to
other day, but for me it is a reminder of
Bloomberg television studios.
how special a community our school is.
Jeff Kimbell ’89, now a successful Wash-
While St. George’s Day has always given
ington lobbyist, established the rogers
us the opportunity to celebrate, this year
endowment in 1999 to honor and remem-
it held particular meaning, as it became
ber his former history teacher William S.r.
a day for Dragons near and far to show SG
“robin” rogers ’44, P’74, anthony M. Zane
pride. Pursuing an initiative generated in
chair in history and english and history
the advancement Office, we encouraged
teacher, emeritus, who made a lifelong
our community to display school spirit by
impact on him in his time on the hilltop.
sharing photos and posts on Instagram
Since then others have stepped up, most
and Facebook and by making gifts to the
recently John holder ’79 who made a gen-
St. George’s Fund. We prepared for an ex-
erous gift to the fund in 2015 to ensure
citing day, one that involved faculty and
that the program will continue to grow.
History Department Chair Jim Connor, history teacher Cassie Rudden and SG students in Washington, D.C., courtesy of the William S.R. Rogers endowment for Public Policy Studies, visit the Hart Senate Office Building where they are greeted by u.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.i., and Jack Reed, D-R.i.
students in SG “spirit dress,” videos and a host of photos showcasing SG pride. We were overwhelmed particularly by the response from you — our alumni, parents and friends. hundreds of photos poured in, along with comments and gifts to the St. George’s Fund. By day’s end we had received over 500 gifts totaling more than $345,000, an incredible show of support for — and pride in — St. George’s.
What do …
Trimesters, Design Thinking, Blitz Planning, Interdisciplinary Study, SGx, Graduation Requirements, Student-Driven Inquiry, Solution-Based Learning, New Courses, Skills Mastery, AP Initiatives, the Afternoon Program and Saturday Classes
…
… all have in common? A bold new approach to the academic status quo at St. George’s. Stay tuned, because you’ll be hearing all about it from faculty and deans in the months ahead! Follow SG communications for updates, details, news, notes and a fresh focus on the dynamics of change. For now, go to the SG website and learn more on the Academics page at www.stgeorges.edu/academics.
the generosity was extraordinary, but for me, especially poignant were the comments that accompanied those gifts and photos, comments of thoughtful
Scott Storytelling takes the stage
recognition and deep appreciation for
On thursday, april 16, a performing
classrooms and communities. the
faculty who made a difference in your
troupe from the inspirational poetry
cornerstone of a Project VOIce visit is
lives and for the community of peers who
ensemble Project VOIce delivered an
a live performance of award-winning
supported you. those sentiments were
animated all-school presentation in
poetry, intended not only to entertain,
echoed in the alumni Weekend chapel
Madeira hall, then followed it with an
but also to inspire and encourage
address by tony castle ’65 who spoke
interactive Spoken Word workshop for
students to create their own work.
eloquently about the unique learning
a group of whetted SG students. the
community that nurtured his own moral
event was made possible by the
endowment for Storytelling was es-
and personal development some 50 years
ramsay and John Scott ’65, P’01
tablished by members of the class of
ago. those qualities and values continue
endowment for Storytelling, which
1965 and former students of John’s
to define the St. George’s experience and
has championed such affairs since
from the class of 1993, along with
resonate through all the stories and im-
the fund’s inception in 2010.
ages you’ll encounter in Ascalon. thanks for all your support!
the ramsay and John Scott ’65, P’01
friends and family of ramsay and John, to honor them both in perpetuity. John
Project VOIce uses spoken-word poetry to entertain, educate and in-
was an english teacher at St. George’s
spire. through stage performances and
and an avid devotee of folklore and the spoken narrative craft. he became ill
collaborative workshops, the group is dedicated to promoting empowerment, Robert Weston
improving literacy and fostering
Associate Head of School for
empathy and verbal creativity in
External Affairs
Brown university grads Franny Choi and Phil Kaye address SG students in a Project VOiCe spoken-word presentation on the Madeira Hall stage sponsored by the Scott Storytelling fund.
and died at an early age in 1994. his wife ramsay died within only a few years of him.
teacher
thoughts with limited vocabulary, you
(continued from the front page)
have to express yourself using the lan-
their language. You don’t just hand them a
different from reading text, totally dif-
translation. For example, “have a good
ferent from repeating what I just said.
day.” how am I going to translate that into
You have to force yourself to think! that’s
guage, and then suddenly it is totally
chinese? I can’t. Why? Because we don’t
the way we train our students, or I think
say it that way. So, those things come up
that’s the way I’m trying to train my
while I am teaching, because when a stu-
students, to think carefully.
dent uses a word translated directly from
Xiaoyu Chen in the classroom with Garrett Fownes '15 during a session of Chinese 4.
a textbook and puts it into a sentence, it
Q. When you think about your students, espe-
doesn’t make sense. You have to figure out
cially high-school students, so distracted by
how you are using it. these things fasci-
college and a mountain of interests and an
nate me. Not only am I teaching chinese, I
unformed future, how do you approach them in
am getting better at understanding my
terms of what you expect from them as learners?
nese is important?” I won’t exaggerate
them, hey, you are high-school stu-
own language!
A. Good question. I think I do my best, in
how important chinese is, so I pose this
dents. high school is like a buffet.
this way, because you have to understand
to my students: You are studying chem-
teachers prepare for class, put the
Q. How do you get that across in the classroom?
your students. You see their strengths,
istry. Why do you think chemistry is
courses on the table, and you come to
A. Whenever I am teaching, I think, ahhh, I
you see their shortcomings. You under-
take a bite. Whether you like it or don’t
am teaching chinese, but I have to com-
stand them, they understand you, we
like it, take a bite, chew on it, swallow
pare it to english, and I have to feel the
understand each other. I say to them, you
differences. Sometimes I point out to a
come here to study, right? all I need from
I keep thinking that one of the most important parts of what I do as a teacher is, I always ask my students: “Teach me how to teach you.”
it, find the taste and see what you think. If you don’t like it, you don’t have
student, OK, does this translation work?
you is to focus, to give me your best 50
No, it doesn’t, because you can never flow
minutes of class. If you can do that, you’ll
this concept into that sentence. You have
be fine. Some students come to chinese
to use a different sentence structure, and
class and they are thinking about english.
you have to put it in a different context,
they come to english class, and they are
and then it makes sense.
thinking about math. they come to math
than your english class or your math
class and they are thinking about chem-
class, I can’t say that. I will say we’re
this year I came up with an exercise.
to study it when you go to college. If you like it, you stick with it, maybe that’s your future. That’s why we have all this stuff! I don’t want to say that my chinese class is more important
everybody comes to the classroom and
istry. No, don’t do that, and that’s what I
important? You are studying art. Why
equally important. and the teachers
tells a story. any story! Because, telling a
tell my students.
do you think art is important? If they
are equally devoted. Give them your
can’t answer those questions, I tell
attention!
story, you have to organize your own
People ask, “Why do you think chi-
alumni Board of Visitors, Parents committee and Fifth-Form Parents share midwinter weekend spotlight amid single-digit, bone-chilling cold
practice in empirical focus. the St. George’s School Parents
lege counseling program. the group at-
kept the number of attendees down for
tended panel discussions with students
the February meeting, but it did not
and their parents, counselors, and col-
quell the spirits of those who made it.
lege and university admission staff.
Said former trustee Welles Orr ’78, P’18
Other aBOV activities included an
who, along with former trustee Lisa
snow, the weekend of Feb. 13-14 pre-
Committee conducted their winter
open-forum discussion with eric Peter-
colgate Scully ’81, P’15, ’18 co-chairs
sented a trifecta of committee visita-
summit a day earlier so that fifth-form
son about the state of the school and
aBOV, “[I learned] how unbelievably
tions as alumni and parent groups
parents could be available for both pro-
upcoming changes to the academic pro-
dynamic and focused [the school is in
convened to run through their assorted
grams. co-chairs Janette and rob
gram, its schedule and philosophy.
and the ever-present threat of yet more
St. George’s invited 32 additional
terms of developing] a new modern curriculum. … SG is demonstrating
agendas and touch base with each other
Macaulay P’12, ’14, ’16 welcomed their
and the school.
colleagues in the Nathaniel P. hill Li-
alumni to join the ranks of aBOV this
the commitment to stay ahead of
brary’s Davenport room before launch-
year, bringing total membership in the
the curve ...”
ing into a lively presentation on the
group to 73, with members serving three-year terms. Inclement weather
anchoring the calendar was FifthForm Parents Weekend, organized and run by the SG college counseling Office.
state of the school from pivotal faculty.
More than 80 families attended a
head of School eric Peterson, Dean of
chockablock program that included
academics christopher Shaw, Dean of
presentations by Director of college
Students Derry Mason, associate head
counseling Kelly richards, a panel of
for external affairs Bob Weston, and
current seniors, and admission repre-
Kelly richards all brought constituents
sentatives from Franklin & Marshall
up to speed on news from their respec-
college, Bates college, and Boston col-
tive corners.
lege. an interactive mock-admission
the second annual meeting of the
exercise in which parents went through
Alumni Board of Visitors (aBOV) coin-
the process of evaluating simulated ap-
cided with Fifth-Form Parents Week-
plications and making decisions on
end to offer aBOV members insight into
imaginary candidates put the whole
the college search process and SG’s col-
Dates for the next SG alumni Board of Visitors meeting are Oct. 16-17, 2015.
Geronimo Captain Tony Arrow and Welles Orr ’78, P’18 compare notes at the annual meeting of the Alumni Board of Visitors in the Nathaniel P. Hill Library’s van Beuren Reading Room on Feb. 14.
a passionate learner Sixth-former Irene Luperon spent the better part of last summer as an intern working with local Salve Regina University researchers engaged in a field study of the marine ecosystem off Newport Neck in Newport, R.I. The purpose of the study was to identify and quantify sea life along the immediate shoreline and create a database of findings to be used for comparative purposes in the effort to measure to what extent those demographics change, or don’t, as the sea level rises in response to global warming. We sat down with Irene to talk about her role and what it meant in terms of her experience here at St. George’s. take microbiology and DNa science. So
student, to develop my own abstract. It
it helped me plan out my courses for
was titled “a Study of Species abundance
senior year and choose my electives.
along Newport Neck.” at the end of the summer, we attended a conference funded
Q. Do you think that this is a good model for
by the rhode Island Idea Network of Bio-
students here at St. George’s who have an idea
medical research excellence, organized in
of where they want to go, to get out of the
partnership with the National Science
classroom and do something like this, basically
Foundation’s experimental Program to
non-Hilltop related?
Stimulate competitive research, or eP-
A. I think so, especially for students who
Scor, where a bunch of college students
know what they want to do, or what they
came in and presented what they had
are interested in, because this way they
been working on, and there I was able to
can get hands-on experience in whatever
meet a lot of interesting people my age. I
that is. In a way it’s better than being in a
presented my abstract, which was fun.
classroom because it is so hands-on and
I’ve never done anything like that.
you are actually knee-deep in what you are studying and you get to apply what
Q. Do you see teaching at St. George’s moving
you learn in the classroom to the outside
in these kinds of non-conventional directions,
world. I got to meet some amazing people
out of the classroom?
by doing this project. It was just a great
A. Definitely, yes, I do. For instance, I
experience in general. irene Luperon ’15 presents her abstract “A Study of Species Abundance along Newport Neck” at a Brown Bag Lunch in the duPont Center following a summer internship working alongside Salve Regina researchers in the field collecting data on Newport’s shoreline ecosystem.
went on the Whale Sail last year aboard Geronimo down to the Dominican re-
Q. You chronicled your work in an abstract and
public and observed whales. I also was
presented it here at St. George’s last fall. Was
part of the Global Studies class this year
the abstract that you produced in any way like
so I was able to go to romania over
Q. Tell us about how you got involved in
with the predicted rise in sea level, and
your classroom work here, or was it something
March break. So I have taken part in a
the project.
so that people can have a better under-
completely different, a whole new academic
few programs here that let us apply our
A. Sarah Matarese is a science teacher
standing of the forms of life that inhabit
pursuit?
in-class knowledge to the real world. It
here, but before she came to St. George’s
the area. It’s amazing because no one has
A. I had never done anything like that. and
makes learning fun, and it adds a new
to teach she was working on a five-year
done it before, no one has thought to go
it’s something that generally is done only
twist to what you are doing, which I like,
research project with a couple of profes-
out there and approach the shoreline sci-
at the professional level, so I felt kind of
and I think most students should take
sors at Salve, studying the ecosystem
entifically. It’s such a popular place, and
cool being able to do that as a high-school
advantage of that here at St. George’s.
along Newport Neck. Last summer she
the beaches are so famous, yet no one has
was looking for one or two high-school
thought to go out there and see what’s
students to join the project and do field
actually in the water and document that.
academic center update
work with the team. earlier in the year, I had contacted my advisor [science
Q. How did the project dovetail with what you
teacher] holly Williams to let her know
are doing here at St. George’s, with your class-
that I was looking for something science-
room experience? Was it completely separate,
related to do over the summer. She con-
or was there a correlation?
nected me with Dr. Matarese, who told
A. Going into senior year, I was trying to
me that I would be going out on the water
decide whether I wanted to take aP bio,
two times a week doing hands-on field
marine biology, or two semester courses
work. It sounded like a great opportunity.
which would have been microbiology and DNa science, to get as much sci-
Q. Did you have to do any preparation for it,
ence in as I could. Because I was able to
or did they simply give you your marching
get the marine bio piece in over the
orders when you got to Salve?
summer through my internship, I de-
A. When I arrived, they told me what to
cided not to take marine biology. But
do. We were establishing a numerical
having exposure to organized field
baseline, so that in the future we will be
work made me want to continue pursu-
able to see how the ecosystem changes
ing science in general, so I decided to
The Academic Center as it appears from the northeast, fully glazed, awaiting architectural trim to finish the glass curtain walls and copper cladding to finish the towers, all of it striking against the corduroy brickwork. The new structure will be open for business by the start of school in September. The entire facility including duPont, fully-renovated, will come on line in January 2016.
ADVANCEMENT NEWS
Board Chair Skip Branin ’65 to pass the torch
Leslie Heaney ’92 to become the new board chair
her credentials aside, Leslie’s feeling for the school and her de-
In the June 2015 meeting of the St. George’s Board of
St. George’s salutes Leslie B. heaney ’92 in her upcom-
sire to see it thrive are
trustees, Francis S. “Skip” Branin, Jr. ’65, P’06, having
ing role as new chair of the Board of trustees. Leslie
what make her new
celebrated his 50th re-
joined the board in 2005, and over the course of her
calling such an exciting
union barely a month
decade-long tenure she has served on the Develop-
prospect. She said, “I
before, will step down
ment, executive, Finance, Student Life and Strategic
have had the tremen-
as board chair and hand
Planning executive committees, as well as the com-
dous privilege and
the title to fellow
mittee on trustees which she ran from 2007 to 2014.
honor to work on behalf of St. George’s as a trustee for
trustee Leslie heaney
Leslie received a B.a. in Public Policy from Occiden-
the past 10 years. Yet my work on the board could not
’92. Skip served on the
tal college in 1996, and her J.D. from Fordham Law
board from 1985 to
School in 2001. She practiced family law in New York
experiences and lifelong memories it gave me during
1996, then returned to
city for a number of years. She is a founder and hon-
my time as a student on the hilltop.
begin to repay St. George’s for all of the opportunities,
chair it in 2004, a role he has embraced with style,
orary chair of the Family advisory council of the Phyl-
“I feel very strongly that the current capital cam-
spirit and dedication ever since.
lis and David Komansky center for children’s health at
paign gaining traction now will be a game changer for
New York Presbyterian hospital’s Weill cornell Medical
the school. Its success will bring our academic pro-
the pivotal Strategic Plan of 2006, weathered the
Under Skip, the school embarked on and adopted
center and a member of the center’s children’s advi-
grams, facilities, faculty development and financial-
economic meltdown of 2008, saw completion of the
sory council. She also serves on the administrative
aid program to another level, ensuring the strength
hill Library renovation and expansion in 2011, ig-
board of the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering
and vitality of our school for generations to come. I am
nited a critical discourse on the nature of the school’s
cancer center. She lives in Millbrook, N.Y., with her
both thrilled and honored to be serving St. George’s at
academic outlook through the eyes of Merck-horton,
husband andrew and three young children.
such an exciting and important time in its history.”
and formed the foundation of a major ongoing capital effort that already is asserting itself in the construction of a state-of-the-art academic center. he said, “It has been an honor and a true privilege for me to serve St. George’s School as chair of the Board of trustees. I have so much appreciated the opportunity to return even a small part of what SG has been to me and my family. I really believe that over the past 10 years the board has done an excellent job of walking the very fine line between governance and management, helping to foster a spirit of ‘team’ rather than ‘we-they’ between the trustees and our faculty and staff. to me, this is a very important dynamic in the governance process at an institution like St. George’s. We are all on the hilltop for the same reason.”
Advancement rocks in April
DRAGON PRIDE CHALLENGE ONE DAY | 511 GIFTS | $345,430
THANK YOU!
To see pictures from St. George’s Day, go to stgeorges.edu/stgeorgesday
In charleston, S.c., on tuesday, april 21, Dawn and Bear Dyke ’87 hosted 25 guests at the Mira Napa
a spring docket of receptions and events filled the april calendar, and St. George’s thanks not only the hosts who made these affairs possible, but also the
alumni, parents and prospective families at NoMas cantina.
Valley education center. In atlanta, Ga., on Wednesday, april 22, trustee April Anderson ’86 entertained 20 guests including
loyal attendees who brought them to life. In Washington, D.c., on tuesday, april 14, Tucker Carlson ’87, P’15, ’18 and his wife, trustee Susie Andrews Carlson ’87, P’15, ’18, welcomed more than 80 alumni and parents at their house, including a strong showing of young alumni currently attending George Washington, Georgetown and american universities. In Boston, Mass., on thursday, april 16, George and Kathy Putnam P’11, hosted a rousing reception at the Somerset club — their fourth annual — with more than 110 guests in attendance, including daughter Rosie ’11 and a number of her classmates.
Tanita Williams ’98, Trustee April Anderson ’86, Matilda Davis ’05, and Will Bruce ’08 enjoy catching up at NoMas Cantina in Atlanta, Ga., on April 22.
it’s a family affair as Susan Myers P’07, ’08, ’10, ’17, joins son Hank Myers ’10 and daughter ellie Myers ’08 at the Somerset Club in Boston, Mass., on April 16.
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID St. George’s School
P.O. Box 1910 Newport, Rhode Island 02840 401-847-7565 • stgeorges.edu
KeeP iN TOuCH Ascalon is published twice a year by the St. George’s Advancement Office. The Editorial Board welcomes your comments.
Upcoming events For more happenings and detailed information visit stgeorges.edu/events. HOLIDAY EVENTS:
ROBERT WESTON, Associate Head of School for External Affairs robert_weston@stgeorges.edu
Friday, Dec. 11
CINDY MARTIN, Associate Director
Tuesday, Dec. 15
of Advancement cindy_martin@stgeorges.edu
Christmas Festival
QUENTIN WARREN, Advancement Editor
Lessons and Carols
Thursday, Sept. 10 First day of classes
Friday, May 6
quentin_warren@stgeorges.edu BILL DOUGLAS, Director of Alumni Relations
bill_douglas@stgeorges.edu
Tuesday, Oct. 27
through Sunday, May 8, 2016
Reception in New York, N.Y.,
Alumni Weekend
at the New York Yacht Club ADMISSION:
SUZANNE MCGRADY, Director of
Communications & Marketing suzanne_mcgrady@stgeorges.edu DIANNE REED, Communications Associate
Friday, Oct. 9 and
• Oct. 17
Parents Weekend
• Nov. 7 • Dec. 5
Friday, Feb. 12 and
Xiaoyu Chen with his wife Zhongli Yuan accompany St. George’s students and their guide on the unrestored Mutianyu section of the Great Wall during a Chinese immersion trip in the summer of 2013.
Saturdays
Saturday, Oct. 10
dianne_reed@stgeorges.edu
Cover photo:
SAVE THE DATES:
• Jan. 16
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016
SG Today Progam
Fifth-Form Parents Weekend
Your chance to be a dragon today