9 minute read
The Hill
2021 VIRTUAL FOUNDER’S DAY:
CELEBRATING THE DEDICATED SERVICE TO FLINT HILL
TO COMMEMORATE FOUNDER’S DAY, Headmaster John Thomas hosted a 30-minute videotaped event, spotlighting members of the School community who have dedicated many years of service to Flint Hill. The program began with a bell ringing five times, representing the School’s core values: respect and value all equally, lead and support with compassion, act with integrity, imagine what’s possible, and blaze the trail. “Each of those values is at the heart and core of who we are as a school,” said Thomas. “Founder’s Day gives us that opportunity to talk about the people that are behind those core values and the people who bring life to this great School each and every day.”
Thirteen faculty and staff were recognized for 20 years of service at Flint Hill, with remarks shared about the unique impact each has made. “Those individuals not only will be recognized today as part of Founder’s Day,” stated Thomas, “but their pictures will go on the walls, on both campuses, to make certain that we always remember the commitment, the drive, the passion that they have brought to our great school. It’s an honor to have them all with us.”
AMY CLEMENT
Grades 7-12 History and Social Sciences Department Chair, Upper School History and Social Sciences Teacher “... she’s always creating an inclusive environment for students, faculty, and all community members ...”
KATE DAVIS
Middle School Drama Teacher, Director of Seventh and Eighth Grade and Upper School Drama Productions “... your encyclopedic knowledge of theatre and of acting techniques has produced a generation of theatre lovers and theatre practitioners that have you to thank …”
SHEENA HALL
Director of the Lower School “… she not only tries to make certain she knows what’s happening in the classroom but she knows how each child is doing in that classroom …”
GREG HOLLOWAY
Grades 5-12 Percussion Ensemble Teacher “... precision, commitment, joy, teamwork and leadership … Greg teaches all of us about putting students at the center, empowering them and letting them be the stars …”
BRIAN LAMONT
Director of the Middle School “... versatile, engaged and absolutely focused on making school a unique experience … He is someone who truly tries to make learning personal and meaningful ...”
JOHN MAGNER
Associate Director of Counseling, Middle School Counselor, and Wellness Program Coordinator “… he exudes genuine kindness, warmth and empathy. He inspires trust in every student, teacher and parent — trust that he cares, trust that he will help them through it, and trust that it’ll be ok ...”
DOROTHY MOONEY
Lower School Virtual Support Teacher “… always keeps students front and center, motivating them to be their best selves and reach their full potential. She builds authentic relationships with her students, and the bond she forms with them lasts long beyond their time in her classroom …”
JODY PATRICK
Lower School P.E. Teacher and Head Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach “... an inspirational colleague with an incredibly-strong work ethic, coupled with an upbeat can-do attitude. She has endless energy, and it’s clear that she absolutely loves what she does …”
KRISTIN PIAZZA
Upper School Spanish Teacher “... in every interaction, she brings the heart of a true Husky … a great perspective on the most important parts of a Flint Hill education. She always welcomes new team members with her inclusive nature, her openness and her optimism …”
ANNE PETERSON
Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations “... so willing to do everything necessary to make this school the great school that we all want it to be. We wouldn’t be the school we are today without Anne Peterson. She’s willing to put in the time and the effort, with a warmth, a care and a commitment that serves as a model to all of us here at school …”
JEFF SEALY
Upper School English Teacher “... a trendsetter, innovator ... spends a lot of time thinking outof-the-box in creating opportunities for growth … creating opportunities for students to feel that they have a safe place to engage …”
DANNY STROUTH
Groundskeeper “... kind, thoughtful, always willing to help … he’s looking out for everyone. He is someone who cares about the students, cares about the faculty and staff, and cares about Flint Hill …”
DOM VO
Building Engineer “... he is so hard-working, determined, calm and pleasant. He is someone who is well-respected by the students, faculty, the staff, and the parents. Someone who everyone knows is a gifted, kind and very special part of our School family …”
A CONVERSATION WITH KATIE COURIC
A COURSE IN FEMINISM AT FLINT HILL LED TO AN INTERVIEW WITH KATIE
COURIC, on February 17, after students saw her featured in “Miss Representation,” a film they were assigned to watch, pertaining to women’s under-representation in influential positions and their narrow portrayal in the media. Contemporary Topics in Feminism is a one-semester course offered through Flint Hill’s Upper School History department, and the pursuit to have a conversation with Couric was led by Abi Baker ’22, who partnered with classmate Sasha Sheikh ’21 to ask the notable journalist questions about her life and work.
They covered several topics over a half hour, including developments in feminism over the decades, how journalism has changed during the course of Couric’s career, and present-day issues concerning social media and misleading content. Members of the Upper School community were invited to watch the interview, and the students appreciated the substantive discussion.
“It’s great for me to talk to you all because you’re the future, and it’s so exciting,” said Couric, “and I want you to be aware of some of the challenges you’ll still face out in the world as we evolve as a society.” When asked to give advice to anyone interested in pursuing journalism as a profession, Couric suggested, “Be really well-informed ... keep up with the news, read a lot of publications, and try to develop a deep reservoir of understanding about the world … be willing to work really hard and have initiative.”
–Katie Couric
Baker prepared diligently for the interview, and she shared her thoughts about the conversation. “When interviewing Couric, it was important to me that the questions we asked were relevant to today’s world while also urging her to reflect on the entirety of her career, in comparison to the current day. It’s clear to me her success has been a result of persistence and genuine passion for journalism. She wasn’t often intimidated and had to assert her dominance to be taken seriously. Her story is also one that proves our society has a long way to go, because even despite her accomplishments, she still faces unwarranted bias and doubt. What was most interesting to me was to hear her talk about the change over time in covering the news, especially as misinformation has increased through the rise of social media. It was also telling to hear her assessment of feminism from when she initially began her career as opposed to now when it’s experiencing an exciting revival.”
CLASS DISMISSED FOR LONGTIME LOWER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
FOR 20 YEARS, Sheena Hall has brought a distinct presence and energy to the Lower School. The announcement of her retirement, which will be at the end of this 2020–2021 school year, means that the sound of her cheerful voice — with a clear dialect from her beloved home country of South Africa — is going to be missed in the hallways, but her positive impact is sure to be long-lasting.
Hall has been the director of the Lower School since 2007 and began at Flint Hill as a Lower School teacher in 2001. Headmaster John Thomas described her as “a tireless, engaged, energetic, and focused member of our School family.” In a statement to the School community regarding her retirement, he commended her dedication over the past two decades. “Her commitment to each student and the faculty and staff who work with our students has made the Lower School a true mainstay of the Flint Hill experience. Her devotion to the concept of ‘making the learning visible’ has led to an enormous number of developments that have enhanced the experience for students, teachers and parents. She has even been called on by our local associations to help guide and inspire ‘emerging leaders.’ Sheena is a major figure in our
regional educational landscape. She clearly deserves, at this time of great strength — as we have now reinvented our Lower School and have opened the new refurbished Hazel Lower School — to step away and enjoy time with her family and her grandson, Jack. While she will be missed, her legacy will live on, and so many of the enhancements that she brought to us have been institutionalized and will always remain as part of the Lower School educational program.”
“I feel enormous gratitude to have been a member of the Flint Hill community for the past 20 years and an integral part of the lives of the many curious and caring students who have passed through the Lower School,” shared Hall. “It has been such a privilege to teach, learn, laugh and lead alongside the finest faculty and staff I have known, and I will always value the amazing support of a phenomenal parent body. Flint Hill will always hold a very special place in my heart — once a Husky, always a Husky — and I look forward to watching Flint Hill and the Lower School continue to grow, from strength to strength, in the years to come. As this chapter closes, I would like to say farewell using two South African greetings: ‘sala hantle’ (stay well — Sesotho) and ‘totsiens’ (until I see you again — Afrikaans).”
