The Magazine of Greenhill School
Speaking Volumes: Teaching Speech and Presentation Skills at Greenhill Decades of Great Debate Taipei Exchange Program Spring 2013 | Greenhill School
To learn more about curricular speech, presentation skills and debate at Greenhill, see page 30. Greenhill School is a diverse community of learners that strives for excellence; values individuality; fosters a passion for learning; promotes the balanced development of mind, body and character; encourages service; and instills a respect for others. Greenhill School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin in the administration of its educational policies and programs, admissions processes, financial aid programs, employment practices, athletic practices and other School administrative activities.
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www.greenhill.org
Spring 2013
Departments 4
5
A Word from Scott A. Griggs Head of School
Greenhill Fund Makes the “Extras” Possible
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School News Briefs
12 Fall 2012 Sports Recap 14 Greenhill Launches Annual Exchange
with Minglun High School in Taipei
16 Excellence Personified:
The Faculty Leaders of 2012–2013
18 Homecoming Week 2012 22 Founders’ Day 2012
Feature
23 Halloween on the Hill
Speaking Volumes:
30 Teaching Speech and Presentation Skills at Greenhill
24 Greenhill is Thankful for
Grandparents and Special Friends
26 A Greener Hill 27 On Going to College and Saying Goodbye
37 Aaron Timmons Receives Golden Apple Award
28 Equity and Inclusion
38 Decades of Great Debate
29 STEM Q & A with Natalia Hernandez
40 Careers in Speech
Alumni Profiles
43 A Message from Mark A. Platt ’87
President, Greenhill School Alumni Association
44 Alumni News 46 Class Reunions 50 Alumni Class Notes 56 In Memoriam 57 Turning Points 58 Why I Give 59 2012–2013 Board of Trustees 59 Greenhill School Advancement Office
Greenhill School 4141 Spring Valley Road Addison, Texas 75001 www.greenhill.org Our apologies for errors in the last issue of The Hill • Nick Petrocchi ’08 was listed as a 2012 alumnus. He is Class of 2008. •
Ablon twins Bronsin ’12 and Austin ’12 were incorrectly identified on pages 13 and 16. Page 13 is actually a photo of Austin, (it should have been Bronsin), and their names are also switched incorrectly on page 16.
• The Executive Director of ISAS is Rhonda Durham.
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A Word from the Head of School
Dear Greenhill Community, As Head of School, I frequently speak to large groups of people. In fall, I welcome the students back to campus, and try to put prospective parents’ minds at ease during admission events. In the spring, I celebrate our students at awards assemblies and divisional graduation ceremonies. I also spend time talking with students in the classroom, leading meetings with our Board of Trustees and talking with other groups in the community. For each of these speaking opportunities, I spend time writing speeches and preparing to present. Mastering presentation skills is critically important not only for me, but for our faculty and our students as well. Despite the fact that our world is becoming more technologically driven, the ability to articulate ideas, craft arguments and persuade others are skills our students will need as they move beyond Greenhill into college and ultimately, the professional world. As a result, at Greenhill we teach students how to present in virtually every class at every grade level. This issue of The Hill examines the myriad ways that students gain these skills from reading stories in Lower School, to formal presentation classes in Middle School, to leading divisional assemblies in Upper School. It examines how technology can aid presentations, but also how it can quickly become a crutch. It also reviews how students are given the opportunity to see professional speakers while they are on campus. This issue also highlights our debate program, which takes public speaking to the next level. Our debate program has had another banner season this year, becoming the only school in history to win two championships in varsity policy and Lincoln-Douglas debate at an octo-finals level qualifier in the same weekend. The team has also placed in the top 16 teams of the Bickel & Brewer/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF).
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As spring approaches, we are also gearing up for our inaugural Alumni Weekend, April 25–26. In addition to multiple opportunities for reconnecting and reminiscing, faculty members are preparing to share a slice of Greenhill with you with compelling lectures on trending topics. We hope to see many of you there. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon and, as always, we thank you for all that you do for the School. Sincerely,
Scott A. Griggs Head of School
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Greenhill Fund Makes the “Extras” Possible While reading Esperanza Rising, fifth grade students enjoy real tropical fruit that relates to each chapter – just one of the little extras provided by the generosity of Greenhill donors.
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little extra. It is the Greenhill Fund that closes the gap, providing that special extra that makes Greenhill a place of limitless opportunities. What are our extras? Thanks to the generosity of our donors, our students can enjoy: LivescribeTM Pens “A designated student volunteer takes notes in class with the pen on special dot-paper. These notes are uploaded to the LivescribeTM website and linked through Greenhill’s Blackboard. The pen also captures audio, so anyone in the class can then download the notes and the accompanying audio to review the lesson again.” – Michael Legacy, Upper School Chair, Math Department Roman Coins “I am grateful each year that I can get ancient Roman coins for my eighth graders. They cost about $100.” – Joan Romanosky, Middle School Latin teacher Headphones “I have used our new headphones with microphones for so much – digital storytelling, comic book creation, foreign language PowerPoint essays, foreign language national tests and research projects of all kinds. They cost $10 – $15 each and have really made a difference.” – Cheryl McCracken, Middle School Computer Science
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Other recent enrichments to classrooms include: • Pull-down maps in English classrooms that bring literature to life • Real tropical fruit to go along with each chapter of Esperanza Rising in fifth grade • Cooking and baking supplies for the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten kitchen • Materials and fabrics for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten’s dramatic plays and villages
• Annual subscription to professional magazines • Professional memberships for teachers • Webcams connecting classes to other classes and outside experts: third graders can track and chat with a student traveling around the world with her family; Upper School students connect with students in Israel as part of a virtual exchange program.
Your Gift Counts! All Greenhill students receive tangible benefits because of your gift to the Greenhill Fund – no matter the size. Thank you from the students, faculty and administrators for your support. Make your gift today to the Greenhill Fund. www.greenhill.org/give
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School News Briefs
Lower School News Upper and Lower School Students Team Up to Aid American Red Cross The Greenhill Upper and Lower School teamed up to host bake sales on the same day in mid-November to raise over $1,000 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. Fourth-graders Sheela Vasan and Alyssa Miller organized a morning bake sale, and the G.I.V.E. Service Leadership Council took over in the afternoon.
The Lower School Bake Sale benefited the American Red Cross.
Musician Susan Reed Visits Greenhill Lower School Susan Reed, a classical violinist, folk musician, singer and songwriter visited Greenhill School in early October. Her music entertained and educated, while including subtle and age-appropriate messaging such as getting along with one another. She has received numerous Parents’ Choice Awards. Visit our website for the latest news. www.greenhill.org/news Find us on:
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Middle School News Twelve Latin Students Place in Classics Competitions Twelve Latin students spent a week of the summer at Wake Forest University at the National Junior Classical League convention. Participants were seventh-graders Priya Agrawal and Nikhil Rao; eighth-graders Justin Estrada, Jordan Malveaux, Megan Marshall and Kas Tebbetts; freshmen Peter Grishin, Remya Menon and Tamara Prabhakar; and sophomores Joel Hashop, Brandon Ryan and Vicky Zhou.
The Science Olympiad Tournament brought students from 61 schools to Greenhill.
Science Olympiad Tournament Brings Over 1,100 to Greenhill In early December, the seventh annual Science Olympiad Tournament brought more than 1,100 fifth- to twelfth-grade students from 61 schools in four states to the Greenhill campus to demonstrate their science and engineering prowess. Greenhill’s tournament is one of the only Science Olympiad tournaments in which all 23 competition events are offered. “All of the top schools attended,” said Boyd Grayson, Middle School science teacher and Science Olympiad coordinator. “Our tournament is nearly as competitive as the state tournament in May.”
Middle School Character Council During the 2011–2012 school year, the Middle School initiated a new student-run organization known as the Character Council. Created and developed by a group of Middle School students, the Council is based on the understanding that students themselves must share responsibility with adults for creating a caring and just environment. The Council is made up of several students from each grade in the Middle School, with leadership rotating among the eighth graders. Middle School students submit written nominations of peers whom
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they feel will stand up for others and model the qualities of respect and compassion. Once the members are selected, they meet once each month to plan activities for advisory groups. The activities center on monthly character-focused themes, like gratitude or honor. The goal of the program is to help all students feel empowered to help to make each grade a cooperative, respectful and unified community. The program is a welcome addition to Greenhill’s campus-wide character education program.
Greenhill Welcomes Grant Lichtman In December, Greenhill welcomed Grant Lichtman to campus as part of his tour of independent schools across the nation. Mr. Lichtman spent Fall 2012 visiting 60-plus schools across America to “learn and report on how leading educators are implementing significant change to meet 21st century challenges.” Check out his detailed, in-depth account of a day-in-the-life at Greenhill, titled “Diverse, Creative Faculty Preserve a Tradition of Innovation at Greenhill School.” http://learningpond.wordpress. com/grant-lichtman/
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School News Briefs
Upper School News Greenhill Students Excel on Spring AP Exams Our students excelled on the Advanced Placement (AP) Exams taken in May 2012, continuing a pattern of improvement in score results over the past few years. 81% of all students taking the exams received a 4 or 5, the highest possible score on an AP test. 96% of all students taking the exams received a 3 or better. These are the highest aggregate scores that Greenhill students have received in the past twelve years. Montage Honored by Columbia Scholastic Press Association Greenhill’s literary magazine, Montage, was honored with five awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for the 2012 edition of the literary magazine. The annual competition recognizes individual achievement by student writers, editors, designers and photographers.
National Merit Semifinalists
Ten Greenhill Students Named National Merit Semifinalists, 27 Named Commended Ten Greenhill seniors were named Semifinalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. Pictured above, left to right: Arjun Gupta, Lilian Renfro, Anton Yu, Lindsay Rawitscher, Rebecca Kuang, Bridget Chan, and Jieyi Cai. Not pictured: James Barnett, Borren Moe, and Benjamin Packer. 27 additional seniors were also named Commended Students in the Scholarship Program. Visit http://www.greenhill.org to view all names.
Montage was honored with five awards.
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Freshman Achieves Eagle Scout Rank Freshman Hartley McGuire has achieved the highest rank of Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout. For his service project this past summer, he built benches for a classroom for Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church. Scouts from his troop helped with this project, and many of his friends from Greenhill also put in service hours to complete the project.
Visit our website for the latest news. www.greenhill.org/news Find us on:
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www.twitter.com/ GreenhillSchool
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Greenhill Junior Named Finalist in YoungArts Competition Junior Sophia Haid has been recognized as one of 150 finalists for the YoungArts competition. Each year, over 10,000 students in all aspects of visual and performing arts take part in the YoungArts competition in hopes of becoming a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. The competition is an extension of the National Foundation of Advancement in the Arts and is among the hardest competitions a student artist will undertake.
Greenhill Senior’s Research Earns National Semifinalists Recognition Senior Naomi Freeman’s work with cancer cells earned her a spot as one of 322 semifinalists in the Siemens Foundation’s Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology this October. Competing against 2,000 high school students across the nation, Naomi researched and discovered a treatment that would isolate and destroy only cancer cells, rather than killing healthy cells along with the “bad” cells.
Photograph by junior Sophia Haid
Faculty News Greenhill History Teacher Speaks at Latino Cultural Center Lecture Series In October, Upper School history teacher Jonathan Weber spoke at the 2012–2013 Latino Cultural Center Lecture Series. Weber’s lecture is titled, “Hustling the Old Mexico Aside: Public Health and the Transportation of the Dead in Porfirian Mexico City, 1887–1911,” based on a chapter in his dissertation.
Thistles, Sunflowers by Corbin Doyle Mr. Doyle, Middle and Upper School visual arts teacher, showed this and another of his drawings in a local gallery this past fall.
LaMendola Selected as 2012 Preschool Teacher of the Year In November, kindergarten teacher Janice LaMendola was honored by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences International with its Bammy Award as the 2012 Preschool Teacher of the Year. The Bammy Awards identify and acknowledge excellence throughout all realms of the education field.
Ms. Hill-Agnus Writes for D Magazine English and journalism teacher Eve Hill-Agnus wrote an article about local chef and restaurateur Tim Love in D Magazine. Ms. Hill-Agnus is a freelance writer with a focus on the food and dining industries. Kindergarten teacher Janice LaMendola with her students
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School News Briefs
Fine Arts News Greenhill Photography to be Featured in Upcoming Book Photographic images from past and current Greenhill students are featured in Volume III of the Best of Texas High School Photography, which was released in November at the National Journalism Convention in San Antonio.
Greenhill Music Students Selected to Perform with Region 20 Orchestra Several Greenhill Upper and Middle School students were selected to participate in the Region 20 Symphonic and Concert Orchestra, which performed in December. Musicians were: junior Charlie Wang, sophomores Julia Fulbright and Kyrene Moe, freshmen Lauren Baron, Joseph D’Apice and Dallas Dillon, eighth-graders Getty Hesse and Kirk Oliver, seventh-grader Nicholas Nguyen and sixth-graders Gaurav Agrawal and Grace Lostak-Baker. Greenhill Jazz Band Students Earn ATSSB All-Area Honors Seniors Borren Moe and Grant Unell were both honored with ATSSB All-Area laurels and joined fellow local honorees for a concert in November. Five Greenhill Students Earn TPSMEA All-State Jazz Band Honors Seniors Christine Lin, Borren Moe and Grant Unell, and freshmen Bradley Aptilon and Nehal Patil were all selected to the Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA) All-State Jazz Band. They traveled to San Antonio in January for a clinic and concert.
Author and Illustrator John Rocco Visits Greenhill School The Cultural Arts Committee welcomed John Rocco to campus in November to speak to Lower School and Upper School audiences. Rocco has served as a creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering and art director at Dreamworks for the film Shrek. He has also written and illustrated many children’s books. Greenhill String Musicians Honored by TPSMEA Three Greenhill School string musicians were selected to the Texas Private School Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra: Kyrene Moe, sophomore (violin); Joseph D’Apice, freshman (cello); and Dallas Dillon, freshman (bass).
Greenhill Upper School Singers Earn All-State and Region Selections Several Greenhill Upper School Singers were honored by the TPSMEA with selections to Region and All-State Choirs. Students selected for the All-State Choir include: junior Peyton Steurer, freshmen Max Harberg and Anurag Kurapati; 200-Voice Region Choir: juniors Lizzy D’Apice and Peyton Steurer, sophomore Wesley Johnson, freshmen Max Harberg and Anurag Kurapati; 100-Voice Region Treble Choir: junior Alexandra Binder, sophomore Remya Menon and freshman Priyanka Majumder.
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BookWishes Book Wishes, a Parents’ Associationorganized event, was held on December 9 at Barnes & Noble on Beltline and Montfort as a kickoff to holiday shopping. Throughout the day, Lower School faculty read stories, student artwork was displayed, the Upper School band and orchestra performed, AMP (Amateur Musicians Performing) played, eighth-grader Cole Forson played the keyboard and the Improv Troupe performed. Barnes & Noble donated some of the proceeds from purchases made December 8–14 to Greenhill’s Montgomery Library.
Fruit Noir, a pun-filled mystery about fruits
Greenhill Student’s Work to be Shown at Austin Film Festival An impressive short film created by Greenhill School senior Andrew Fields was selected to be shown at the Austin Film Festival in October 2013 as part of the Young Filmmakers Program Competition. His film, Fruit Noir, is a pun-filled mystery about fruits caught up in something sinister.
Debate News For more on Debate, see page 38. Greenhill Debate Program Captures Multiple Titles Over One Weekend The Greenhill Debate program achieved great success the weekend of October 20–21 as senior Rebecca Kuang captured the title at the New York City Invitational in Lincoln-Douglas debate while also earning silver medal honors at the Bronx Round Robin. Seniors Ben Packer and Andrew Spomer captured gold medal laurels in Policy Debate at St. Mark’s School of Texas Invitational. Greenhill School Advances in International Debate Contest The Greenhill Debate Team has advanced to the “Top 16” round of the Bickel & Brewer/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). By advancing to the “Top 16” round, the team remains eligible to win the $10,000 grand prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City in April 2013. Greenhill Debate Team Posts Epic Success at Glenbrooks Invitational The Greenhill Debate Team became the third program in high school debate history to claim an championship in both Varsity Policy and Lincoln-Douglas Debate at an Octo-finals Level Qualifier at the Glenbrooks Invitational held in Chicago in November.
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Sports News Briefs
Fall 2012 Sports Recap The Greenhill Athletics Department boasted an all-around tremendous Fall 2012 as the Hornets had nine All-Southwest Preparatory Conference award winners, two silver-medal teams and a record-breaking field hockey season.
Boys Volleyball The boys volleyball program posted a second-place showing at the 2012 SPC Championships as the Hornets dropped a decision to rival St. Mark’s School of Texas in the finals. This marked the fifth consecutive season that the Hornets have reached the SPC title match, including three championships during that span. The Hornets finished 26–8 overall during the 2012 fall season and reached at least 20 victories for the 21st consecutive season under the direction of head coach Keith Nannie. Following the season, the Hornets had a pair of first time All-SPC honorees in seniors Brian Broder and P.T. Yager.
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Girls Volleyball The girls volleyball program also captured silver medal laurels at the 2012 SPC Championships when the Hornets came up short against powerhouse St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. The Hornets were looking for their first SPC championship since the 2005 season and posted their highest finish under head coach Tatiane Deibert. The Hornets posted a 21–10 overall record and an 8–0 record during SPC counter action. This marked the third consecutive season that the Hornets posted at least 20 victories under Deibert. Seniors Melanie Andrews and Shelton Taylor each captured their first All-SPC honor following the season.
Field Hockey The Greenhill field hockey team posted its best season in program history as the Hornets captured 19 victories, breaking the previous record of 16 victories set in 2008. The Hornets posted a fifth-place showing at the 2012 SPC Championships after dropping their opening match to Kinkaid School, 1–0 in overtime. The Hornets rebounded with a pair of victories over Episcopal High School and All Saints’ Episcopal School to close championship play. Senior Stephanie Seale became a two-time All-SPC award winner at the conclusion of the season while senior teammate Mallorie Wise became a first-time winner.
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Visit our website for the latest sports news, scores and schedules. www.greenhill.org/athletics
Boys Cross Country The boys cross country team posted an eighth-place showing at the SPC Championships at Trinity Valley School. Senior Ryan Duffy was the Hornets’ top finisher in eighth place with a time of 16:29.38 while junior Nick Kraus crossed the end line at the 17:27.29 mark en route to finishing 43rd overall. As a team, the Hornets captured a trio of top-five finishes, including a meet championship at the Assault of Eagle Summit Invitational this past season. Duffy was the lone Hornet representative on the All-SPC award winner list as the senior claimed his third consecutive honor.
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Girls Cross Country The girls cross country team finished 10th overall at the SPC Championships this past season with a team score of 217 points. The future of the program is bright for the Hornets as all top-five finishers at the SPC Championships were either freshmen or sophomores. Freshman Abigail Grindstaff finished 25th overall with a time of 20:54.45 and was followed by fellow freshmen Meagan Wiora in 31st and Audrey Nelson in 38th place overall.
Football The football program struggled through a difficult, winless season. The Hornets had a pair of All-SPC award winners in junior defensive back Brent Rubin along with junior running back Jalen Sharp. Next season, the Hornets will return the majority of their offense, including all starters at the skill positions. Despite never emerging victorious this season, the Hornets are looking forward to the Fall 2013 season.
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Greenhill Launches Annual Exchange with Minglun High School in Taipei
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n October, Greenhill welcomed 10 students and one teacher from Minglun High School in Taipei, Taiwan to campus. Their visit spanned Homecoming Week and Fall Break, giving them a rich experience of Greenhill and the United States in the fall. During their visit, the students attended classes in Lower, Middle and Upper School. They also participated in a special community service project at Vogel Alcove, an organization focused on homeless children, and served lunch at The Bridge, an organization that provides solutions for the homeless.
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The students stayed with host families, who not only shared their homes, but also introduced the Dallas area as well, with excursions to Downtown Dallas and the State Fair of Texas. “When we heard about the opportunity to host a student from Taiwan, we were so excited,” said Karen Stock, mother of eighth-grader Lauren and junior Matthew. “We hosted a student from Korea two years ago, and we are still in touch with him, so we knew what a meaningful experience it would be.” One of the highlights of the trip for the Taiwan students was participating in a traditional Texas Homecoming. On October 5, the students attended the pep rally, Greenhill’s annual pre-game dinner and the Homecoming football game between Greenhill and Casady School. As a group, the students attended the Homecoming Dance the next evening.
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A group of Greenhill Upper School students will travel to Taipei during Spring Break in March 2013. The exchange originated through the Sister City relationship between Taipei and Dallas. This exchange, along with other efforts such as the TriWizard Program (which partners our students with students in Israel), the Global Online Academy and the 2013 China Summer Immersion Trip, is a critical part of the School’s global education initiative. “International exchanges offer a layered, nuanced experience for our students,” shared Warren Frerichs, Chinese teacher and coordinator for the Minglun–Greenhill Exchange. “When a student and family host a guest from another country, there is an extended challenge to, and awareness of, one’s identity, and in that comes the possibility for growth. Because these experiences involve both conscious and unconscious learning, they make it possible for Greenhill to honor its mission to the fullest.”
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Excellence Personified: The Faculty Leaders of 2012–2013 Every year Greenhill honors exceptional teachers with the Faculty Leaders program. The program, which started in 2002, highlights one of the most fundamental values that the Greenhill community upholds – our commitment to the highest caliber of teaching. As Assistant Head of School Tom Perryman ’81 introduced the three honorees at a Parents’ Association meeting at the beginning of the year, he said, “In many schools, the path to reward excellent teachers is to turn them into administrators. This is not always the right direction. The Faculty Leaders Program is Greenhill’s way to reward exceptional teaching and elevate the skills that shine in the classroom.” This year, Karen Dzialowski, Joel Garza and Donna Woody were selected. Their refreshingly varied perspectives follow, each closely derived from their own addresses at the Parents’ Association meeting. Congratulations.
Karen DzialowsKI Third Grade Teacher Karen Dzialowski loves jigsaw puzzles. When she was young, she and her sister would get one every year for Christmas and spend their vacations diligently working the pieces together between building snow forts and cross-country skiing in her home state of Michigan. “I like starting out by sorting the edge pieces from the center ones and building a framework for the work to follow. I enjoy studying each piece, interesting and unique certainly, but also beautiful when joined with other interlocking pieces. And I really enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of creating a mosaic out of the disparate pieces until the last one is locked into place. Perhaps that is why, as a child, I had the not-so-nice habit of hiding one piece away so I could be the one to fit the very last piece into place.” Every year, Mrs. Dzialowski’s classroom mirrors that puzzle. In August, she reviews a list of names with little recognition, and she slowly but surely gets to know complex facets of each personality. “Capitalizing on their talents and interests, I try to build a framework for our learning together and try to figure out how best to teach, motivate and inspire my students. It’s sort of like Christmas morning all over again. What career could be better than this?”
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Karen finds inspiration and zest for life from the experiences she has had with hundreds of students over the years. She counts on her students, past and present, her coworkers, the greater Greenhill community and her family to “feed” her enthusiasm and energy every day. She also credits the “amazing role models” of her parents for making it all possible. Part of her father’s obituary eight years ago was a John Wesley quote: “Do all the good you can; by all the means you can; in all the ways you can; in all the places you can; at all the times you can; to all the people you can; as long as ever you can.” Karen concludes, “I can only hope to do as much good in my lifetime as my father did in his. This is why I continue to teach, why I think Greenhill is such a good fit for me and why I love coming to school each day to continue the puzzlin’ magic.”
Joel Garza Upper School English Teacher Joel Garza had his first original thought when he was 11 years old. Sitting in Catholic church with his family in Irving, Texas, he listened to the priest explain the story of the prodigal son. The message was clear to young Joel: “Beg forgiveness if you are wrong; forgive if you’ve been wronged.” But then the priest went on to derive deeper meanings and analogies. Joel thought, “All stories are full of all kinds of meanings. Maybe my story could have all sorts of meanings.” So he went on to seek meaning in his life. As a middle child, he dreamed “May we strive to know his story could be one of ourselves so well that tragedy to triumph, as we find too much meaning he figured out ways to in our lives.” outsmart his siblings and their “knuckle-headedJoel Garza ness” to become “the Upper School English Teacher coolest kid in the class forever.” Growing up Catholic, he knew that suffering wasn’t always the result of human error, and thus held tight to the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys taught Joel how be a hero, how “to lose with dignity, and how to hope – for years.” As a GenXer, he also looked to music, staring at album covers and liner notes, searching for lineage of sound that he swore would lead to the “motherload of the funk.”
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From left, Donna Woody, Head Librarian and Middle School librarian; Joel Garza, Upper School English teacher; and Karen Dzialowski, third grade teacher, were honored as exceptional teachers with the Faculty Leaders program.
“From that first original thought, I lived a life full of constant and reckless searching. More importantly, I was allowed by my teachers, adults and family tremendous room to dream. They allowed me to see films that were way over my head, to read books that I still don’t understand. These adults in my life indulged me.” This love of introspective and wild curiosity ultimately led Mr. Garza to Greenhill. “On this campus I rarely feel like a teacher. I’m a reckless adventurer. I think with my students, ‘May we be reckless in our searching today. May we strive to know ourselves so well that we find too much meaning in our lives.‘” It is Mr. Garza’s hope and goal at Greenhill to keep his students ever-engaged, ever-curious, ever-mindful – steering them away from the “cheap knee-jerk cynicism” that is so prevalent today. He teaches his students that there is such a thing as original thought.
Donna Woody Head Librarian, Middle School Librarian Donna Woody’s enthusiasm is summed up in one word, “Wow.” As she shares the story of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes, Donna’s voice becomes as animated, playful and vibrant as the story. Lilly is a young mouse in the primary grades who loves school. She loves “the pointy pencils, the squeaky chalk, the way her boots go clicketyclick down the long, shiny hallways ... but most of all she loves her teacher so much so that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. ‘Wow,’ said Lilly. That was just about all she could say.”
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When she learned that she was the first librarian to become a Faculty Leader, Donna again utters “wow.” But she confesses, “I never wanted to be a librarian.” Growing up in Wichita Falls, her experiences with libraries were lackluster. She rarely visited them, thinking them “dull, dingy places.” But her love of reading was always a part of her, and as a teacher she collected books in her classroom. “Kids would find books they liked and read them. Some returned them. Some didn’t. I didn’t really care because I wanted kids to enjoy reading as much as I did.” Upon moving to a small town in the early ’80s, Mrs. Woody was finally introduced to a library that made a difference. “For the first time, I saw the power of school libraries woven into the fabric of the school.” In her next move to the Irving ISD, she was introduced to “library goddess” Mary Lankford, “a visionary diva” who built the IISD Library Program into an established thriving institution. Inspired by Mary’s success and encouragement, Donna became a librarian and that’s what led her to Greenhill. “It was love at first sight.” Now Mrs. Woody loves her library, her staff, her volunteers, her co-teachers and most importantly, her Middle School students. “I am so fortunate to work with passionate, outstanding [people] who challenge me to work harder, to be more creative and innovative, and adhere to our library mission in all that I do.” Like Lilly, Donna loves school and like the founding vision for Greenhill, she believes, “without a doubt, that in the next few years we, too, can build the best school library program in the nation.” Wow.
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Homecoming Week 2012
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omecoming Day arrived with a palpable buzz as green-and-gold-clad students filled the campus. The Lower School pep rally started the day, followed by the Upper School cookout and powder puff game. The Homecoming pep rally energized the entire community and school spirit remained high throughout athletic events. A record attendance of more than 1,100 alumni, current families and faculty then gathered for the traditional fried chicken dinner and watched football as the sun set.
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Week In Review Monday, October 1 Dress: Twins Events: Welcome Assembly for Visitors from Taiwan Heart of the Hill Cheerleaders taught cheers and read to Lower School students Tuesday, October 2 Dress: Pajamas Event: GIVE “Pink” Bake Sale Wednesday, October 3 Dress: Country Western Event: Senior Breakfast Thursday, October 4 Dress: Holidays Event: Ribbon Distribution Friday, October 5 Dress: Green and Gold (with a touch of Pink!) Event: Homecoming Day
Cindy Frank Birne ’75 (mother of Scott Birne ’11) and Lisa Zidell ’75 joined current Greenhill cheerleaders for the Cheerleader Reunion held on Homecoming night. www.greenhill.org
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Cheerleader Reunion Alumna cheerleaders donned matching shirts and joined current cheerleaders in a spirit rally and reception before the football game. Alumnae then gathered at the home of Waverly Ware Wilson ’86 to continue an evening of reconnecting and reminiscing.
Senior Style The Class of 2013 stepped into the spotlight with such events as the senior breakfast, where they received alumni sweatshirts, and the all-school pep rally, where they performed the dance from “Gangnam Style.”
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1972 Football Team Reunion This Homecoming was particularly special for football players of the Class of 1972 because it marked the 40th anniversary of their undefeated season. The team reunited on campus to commemorate their success and to cheer on this year’s Hornets. They even flew in their coach, former SMU football player Tommy Brennan. The team gathered on the field and did the coin toss to start the game.
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Founders’ Day 2012 September 11, 2012, the Greenhill community gathered in Phillips Gymnasium to celebrate Founders’ Day. During an assembly that included singing, speeches and spirit, two new “Heart of the Hill Heroes” were named to honor the founding values and principles of the School, now 62 years old. David Hunt Heart-of-the-Hill (HOH) Red Group 5 is now named for David Hunt. Eighth-grader Zayna Syed gave the address summarized here: David Hunt wrote the lyrics for our School song, Hail to Greenhill, and he certainly embodied the true Greenhill spirit. Mr. Hunt and his wife, Gloria, were part of the original twelve faculty members at Greenhill School. David Hunt truly believed in this new “idea” for a school named Greenhill – so much so, that he, as well as Bernard Fulton, Jennie Stuck and Charlie Leathers, were willing to give up their salaries for the first year Greenhill was open. They believed that in time Greenhill would become a success, and through their tireless effort and dedication they were proved right. Even after the first year when Greenhill could afford their salaries, Mr. Hunt and the other teachers donated that money toward scholarships for students. His legacy is one of a selfless man who put all his effort into helping develop a school. He nurtured this School with faith and passion, and for that he will always be remembered.
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Tom Perryman ’81, Assistant Head of School, introduces the Founders’ Day speakers
Jackie Conlee Shanks HOH Red Group 6 is now named for Jackie Conlee Shanks. Senior Brian Wiora gave the address summarized here: Jackie Conlee was head of Upper School from 1958– 1964 – and the only female head of Upper School until this year when Mrs. Ross followed in her footsteps. Mrs. Conlee, now named Mrs. Shanks, had a passion, not just for academics, but for students and teaching. She took the position as head of a fledging Upper School at a time when there was even talk of shutting it down. But with Mrs. Shanks’ hard work, dedication and optimistic attitude, more and more students attended the Greenhill Upper School. In short, I would not be standing here today as a Greenhill Upper School student if it were not for Mrs. Shanks. She gave everything to the School and it is time to recognize this amazing effort. In our HOH Group, we hope to embrace everything that Mrs. Shanks represented: a warm heart, a dedication to learning and most importantly, a love of Greenhill School.
www.greenhill.org
Halloween on the Hill
www.greenhill.org
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Greenhill is Thankful for Grandparents and Special Friends We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the Thanksgiving break than to invite our grandparents and special friends to campus. On Friday, November 16, over 800 visitors in record attendance enjoyed the vibrancy of Greenhill. From a welcome program and lunch to hands-on classroom activities and musical performances, grandparents and special friends saw a day-in-the-life of Greenhill at its best.
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Our visitors collectively came from 22 different states and two countries, Canada and India – a true testament to the diversity we celebrate every day. We are also incredibly grateful for our grandparents’ participation in the Greenhill Fund, which in recent years has increased dramatically. Last year, we had over 175 grandparent donors with an average gift of over $960. Thank you, grandparents, for your vested interest in your grandchildren’s education.
www.greenhill.org
www.greenhill.org
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A Greener Hill The beginning of the school year was a noteworthy time for green initiatives, spearheaded largely by the efforts of our dedicated Green Team. The Green Team is Greenhill’s allcommunity program, made up of parent volunteers, faculty and students. The team is committed to making Greenhill a more sustainable place, with a focus on conservation of resources, smarter eco-friendly habits, green buildings and education about how we can make this world a better place for future generations. The latest green initiatives this year are categorized into a few key areas:
Recycling Program We now have a uniquely branded single-stream recycling program called “Keep Greenhill Green.” In a new partnership with a recycling company, Republic Services, Greenhill now receives periodic audits detailing materials recycled or trashed. The first audit, conducted last December, created a benchmark for us to measure our progress, and the Green Team has taken action. Our recycling logo can be seen on recycling bins paired with trash cans in every classroom and common outdoor area on campus. There are also separate “e-cycling” bins in every building on campus where we collect cell phones, ink jet cartridges, small electronics and used batteries. The Green Team has also unrolled an in-depth education program to the community with plans for continued reminders. Read more about it on the Green Team web page: www.greenhill.org/greenteam.
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Electric Vehicle Charging Station Spurred by the efforts of Ivan Kumamoto ’12, Greenhill is now home to two EV charging stations. As president of the Ecology Club, Ivan took the idea for the charging stations to the Green Team in January 2012. Only seven months later, the idea became reality, funded by a $4,500 grant from the Department of Energy and a $1,900 donor gift to the School’s Ecology Club. An unveiling ceremony took place on August 16, and the charging stations are now available to anyone in the DFW community.
Amory Lovins On September 18, Greenhill was fortunate to host Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI) Chief Scientist Amory Lovins. Lovins inspired everyone in the room as he gave a rendition of his renowned TED talk, Reinventing Fire, which offers bold business solutions for running a 158% bigger U.S. economy in 2050 with efficiency and renewable energy sources. His talk is based on the book he jointly published with RMI, Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era. All attendees of the lecture received his book.
www.greenhill.org
On Going to College and Saying Goodbye By Marie Bigham Marie Bigham, Director of College Counseling, published this piece in The New York Times online on September 7, 2012. Marie has also been featured in USA Today and on The New York Times Facebook page as a college admissions expert. As a college counselor, I have helped hundreds of students with the college application process. I have sent hundreds of students off to college. But I have never experienced sending a family member away until my mother, Dr. Thuy Bigham, asked for help completing an application to the Peace Corps. Together we organized all the paperwork, edited essays, did practice interviews and requested recommendations. We talked about her excitement and impatience with this process, and we waited.
Mom was disappointed and scared that this experience was more than she could handle. For the first few weeks, every email and phone call deteriorated in tone. I was worried for her, as was the rest of our family. I was reminded of some of my phone calls home my first weeks at college. Transitions happen in every stage of life, and our relationship transitioned through this process. I took on the parent role and she took on the student role. I tried to comfort her, but I was distraught after we talked. I almost did something that I warn every parent of a college freshman against – I wanted to call the Peace Corps offices to demand changes. Even worse, I told Mom that she could come home.
In late March, just as seniors around the nation received decisions from colleges, my mom was accepted into the Peace Corps. We were thrilled and began making preparations for her departure.
Like any college freshman, my mom was horrified when I told her of my plan to call the Peace Corps. She was adamant that she did not need me to solve her problems, so I pushed her to do it herself.
Just like seniors and their parents, Mom and I argued about how she should complete forms, about what supplies she would take and how often we would communicate. In late June, she left for Benin in West Africa to begin her two-and-a-half-year commitment.
Mom identified her issues and developed strategies to manage. She found her voice to speak up and found an advocate within the Peace Corps to listen.
Mom’s entry into the Peace Corps was difficult. In her early 60s, she is the group elder by 30 years. Even though she is a seasoned world traveler, she has never experienced the challenges of living in an impoverished country.
The director in Benin was eager to help. Together, they found solutions to some of her problems and coping skills for others. She is now happy and focused on helping the people of Benin. Instead of talking about coming home, she talks about the friendships she has made and the positive effects she has had on the community. My mom’s transitions are very much like the transitions college freshmen and high school seniors traverse. They will live in new places and feel challenged by their surroundings. They will define – and redefine – their sense of identity. They will meet people who do not share their beliefs or values. Relationships with family and friends will change. Running away and digging in will both feel like viable options. Continued on page 28
College Counseling Office Marie Bigham bighamm@greenhill.org
J.R. Neiswender neiswenderj@greenhill.org
Jennifer Kincaid kincaidj@greenhill.org
Visit us on the web: www.greenhill.org/collegecounseling
www.greenhill.org
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On Going to College and Saying Goodbye, Continued from page 27 Seniors are ready to leave high school, but more than a little intimidated by the next steps. College freshmen are entering a whole new world, which can be overwhelming. Here’s how we managed those challenges this last year: •
Identify the real issue. Does your new roommate really hate you, or are you learning how to communicate with a new person?
•
Be your own advocate. It is a challenge not to call your parents every time something goes wrong. Don’t rely on them to fix everything. I’m so glad that I didn’t call the Peace Corps, and I’m glad that Mom didn’t let me.
•
Find an advocate. Colleges and high schools are filled with people who are invested in your success. If you reach out, you’ll be surprised by how many people want to help.
• Speak up. Finding your voice can help you solve many situations. •
Embrace the challenge. Realize that sometimes you are scared, and that’s OK. New situations are hard, and new can be frightening. You will get through it. Growth happens when you are challenged.
Whether you are the loved one who is leaving or the one who feels left behind, remember: Others are transitioning, too. Be sensitive to how others react to their own transitions.
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What is The Office of Equity and Inclusion? By Art Hall, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion Issues this office will address include, but are not limited to: • Examining curricular issues across all three divisions, with regards to content and purpose • Promoting the professional growth of teachers and staff as it pertains to the School’s mission
A year ago I was the Dean of the Upper School; a year ago the Office of Equity and Inclusion didn’t exist. Fast forward to today and I am no longer the Upper School Dean. I am the Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. For those of you who don’t know, or who may be new to Greenhill, the Equity and Inclusion program is replacing what was formerly known as the Office of Multicultural Programs. Why the change? It was decided that the word “multicultural” was misunderstood by many people on campus. As a consequence, there were people in our community who did not feel the office was a fit for their needs because they didn’t see themselves as being “multicultural.” By changing the name of the office the School hopes to communicate two very important details: 1) Allow the office to be more accessible to a broader spectrum of people in the Greenhill community and 2) re-energize the School’s focus on issues other than race and/or culture.
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Exploring the continuing achievement gap developing between male and female students (Hint: Girls Rule!)
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Continuing to make sure that Greenhill’s program remains a leader in independent schools with 21st century pedagogy
I have been a member of the Greenhill community for 14 years. During that time I have married (Paula Hall, third grade teacher), added two daughters to the family (Kennedy, 4 and Mara, 3) and I am currently a member of the School’s senior administrative team. I am truly blessed. Additionally, I have seen the School change tremendously ... constantly striving and growing to live up to its mission and the vision of Bernard Fulton, founding Head of School. It is not easy, and each day there is always a new challenge, but I am confident the Office of Equity and Inclusion will continue to serve the School as a beacon of fairness and hope for all who call Greenhill home.
www.greenhill.org
STEM Q & A with Natalia Hernandez Education news is buzzing with talk about STEM, the newest acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We sat down with Natalia Hernandez, Director of Curricular Programs, to find out more about how Greenhill offers STEM. Q: What is STEM? Why is it suddenly so important? A: STEM, or the study of science, technology, engineering and math, originated primarily because of the job growth in areas requiring these skills, combined with the perceived lack of expertise in U.S. students. STEM is also more than the sum of the four subjects – it is the integration of those subjects in such a way that students have a solid foundation in problem solving. Q: Does Greenhill offer STEM? A: Absolutely! We offer a rich curriculum in math and science that starts in pre-kindergarten and builds through Upper School. Our Lower School and Middle School programs build foundational skills and ignite a sense of curiosity, a desire to know how the world around them works. Then in Upper School, student learning becomes more focused and individualized. Students can tackle in-depth analyses in math or science classes, or select a specific area of study for a capstone project. Q: What about technology? A: Greenhill students are exposed to technology in two ways: as a learning tool and as a part of the curriculum. In the classroom, we use the latest technology where appropriate, from SMARTBoards™ to iPads, in order to help students master essential concepts. We also offer a technology curriculum with classes that range from computer science programming, to 2D and 3D animation, to robotics.
www.greenhill.org
Q: Tell us about engineering. Greenhill doesn’t offer any courses with engineering in the title today. A: It is true that we do not have any classes with “engineering” in the title, but all of our science, math and technology classes establish the problem-solving framework that is essential for engineering. Engineering is the designing and refining of solutions to technological problems. The overarching philosophy of our science program embodies that definition. We are deliberate about program evaluation, though, and committed to continuous improvement. Therefore, we are seeking to enhance both the course offerings which focus on engineering skills, as well as the instructional programs and strategies of existing classes to reflect the real-life application of problem solving from a scientific perspective. Q: You mentioned capstone projects before. Are capstone projects a part of STEM? A: Capstone projects are projects that allow a senior to focus on a specific area of study during their senior year. Capstone projects may be done in any academic discipline, but interestingly, had an increase in the number of science or math capstones seen over the past few years. In fact, this year we have seven projects in those subjects. A couple of their topics include designing a simple, low-cost prosthetic, and developing detection methods for metastatic breast cancer.
Q: We’ve heard that STEM involves scientific research. Are any Greenhill students doing any research? A: Yes! Last summer, we had eight students doing research at institutions around the Dallas area, including UT Southwestern Medical Center and The University of North Texas. For example, senior Meg Ranganathan spent the summer doing research at Rockefeller Center working with a postdoctoral candidate on creating a device that can count bacteria using light. Senior Jeremy Auerbach worked in a lab at UT Southwestern trying to understand how the body regulates the pancreas. Q: Anything else that we should know about STEM? A: STEM is not an end-state, but rather an effort to maintain high levels of offerings in math and science subjects. Our offerings in those areas are already top-notch, as reflected in our AP scores in math and science. But, in the spirit of continual improvement, we plan to refine our course offerings, provide additional faculty development to increase the teaching of engineering concepts, and continue to encourage experiential learning for our students.
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SPEAKING VOLUMES:
Teaching Speech and Presentation Skills at Greenhill On a brisk, sunny morning in November of 2012, a sixth grade student addresses his class. “Hello everybody,” he says. “I’m going to talk to you today about the country of Greece.” With an enthusiastic smile that never really leaves his face, he looks at his audience, gestures to the map on the screen and begins his overview of the country, covering demographics, landmarks and current events. His history classmates sit in concentrated silence, their pens poised in note-taking fashion. On the side board is written a list entitled Ideas for Compliments. Eye contact, use of notes, pace of speech and familiarity of subject are bullet points in this list. The class has been asked to evaluate the speaker on things he did well. The sixth-graders take notes on each of their peers’ speeches, concentrating on positive, constructive feedback.
What is really happening here? A speaker is practicing presentation skills, and an audience is practicing full engagement. And this is just one example of one classroom in one subject. On that very day in November, dozens of students walked up to dozens of boards and addressed their classmates on myriad topics. From formal presentations to seminar discussions to show ’n tell, Greenhill students are working every day to become better speakers. “Learning how to speak is fundamental to a Greenhill education,” says Director of Debate and Speech Aaron Timmons. “If our graduates can learn to organize their thoughts and articulate them in an effective manner, we are providing them with an essential life skill that will pave the way toward future success. They will do well in college, in interviews and in business. One of our goals at Greenhill is that we want our students to be incredibly well-rounded. Public speaking is a key piece of that package.” How do we teach speech? The answer to this question lies ahead – woven and layered into a multi-faceted Greenhill experience. <SIDEBAR>
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Learning how to speak is fundamental to a Greenhill education. If our graduates can learn to organize their thoughts and articulate them in an effective manner, we are providing them with an essential life skill that will pave the way toward future success.â&#x20AC;? Aaron Timmons Director of Debate and Speech
Why is public speaking so important right now? National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) President Patrick Bassett is concerned that public speaking has become a lost skill. “For many Boomers, public speaking was an annual requirement in the public schools, every year, so many of us grew up comfortable in front of a crowd. Somehow, over the years, that public speaking requirement has been crowded out of most schools, public and private. It needs to be reinstated in schools, because the skill will be even more prized and rewarded in the future, given its growing absence as a skill set in most people.”
Laying Foundations Head of Lower School Michael Simpson loves Mondays. Every Monday morning the entire Lower School gathers in the atrium to hear news, share announcements, sing songs and simply join together as a community. But it is not just Mr. Simpson who leads these assemblies. “Every Friday, four fourth grade students – new ones every week – meet with me to plan what will happen on Monday. We decide what community news to share and if there needs to be any public service announcements,” he said. These fourth graders take turns speaking to their gathered peers. They share news, encourage participation and recognize achievements; they also practice the fundamentals of public speaking. As leaders of their School, they are expected to mentally organize content and confidently address their audience.
“We now define literacy as reading, writing, speaking and listening. It’s a shift of definition that is important because reading and writing transfer into the skill of speaking.” Natalia Hernandez Director of Curriculum
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Learning to speak is not only a recognized life-long skill, it is a fundamental part of literacy training. Director of Curriculum Natalia Hernandez says, “Literacy used to be defined primarily as phonics – putting sounds together; and spelling – putting letters together. We now define literacy as reading, writing, speaking and listening. It’s a shift of definition that is important because reading and writing transfer into the skill of speaking.” Mrs. Hernandez cites Fountas and Pinnell’s Continuum of Literacy Learning with, “The ability to speak effectively to a group – small or large – is an enormous advantage. We see performance as a basic skill that needs to be developed across the years.” Head of Early Childhood Kim Barnes describes examples of this in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. In pre-kindergarten, children all have the opportunity to take Chocolate the Bear home for a week or weekend. When Chocolate comes back to class, his most recent caregiver recounts their adventures together. In kindergarten, “LeaderShare” is a bigger version of show ’n tell. The class leader, which rotates every day, gets to engage the class in a discussion about their chosen item while assuming other leadership roles of the day. Kindergarteners also participate in a class-wide culminating project, such as Mrs. LaMendola’s Pattern Zoo this fall, where students transformed the classroom into a zoo and acted as docents, guiding guests through their displayed work.
www.greenhill.org
In other words, Lower Schoolers are coached and encouraged to speak with age-appropriate activities. Mr. Simpson describes the continuum from the earlier years of “reading something they’ve written, telling a story or reciting poems” to the later years of Lower School where it takes the form of presentations, biographic reports and public performances with grading rubrics. Junior Brent Rubin started at Greenhill in preschool and recalls opportunities in every class where he was expected to speak. “I didn’t recognize it at the time, but things like show ’n tell, skits and plays were designed to make me talk in front of my friends.” Brent recalls an activity in second grade called the Wax Museum, where everyone had to dress up as a famous icon. “I was James Naismith, the founder of basketball, and I wore a red button. Older Middle School students attended and whenever anyone pressed my button, I would recite my lines.” Brent’s comfort level with speaking has now become second nature. “My teachers found ways to make speaking fun so that I wasn’t thinking about presenting skills, I was simply doing it.” Apart from Monday assemblies, there are two other times when fourth graders are called to speak. One is at the annual Founders’ Day assembly, where this past September, Emma Jerrier stood before approximately 1,270 largely older students in Phillips Gymnasium and explained the importance of tradition at Greenhill – or more to the point, why ice-cream would be served at lunch that day. The second formal speech opportunity occurs for fourth graders at their end-of-year recognition assembly. “They run the show,” says Michael Simpson. Two students act as emcees and six to eight students give speeches about a poignant memory or what it has meant to be a leader in the Lower School.
The Hornet vs. The Peacock This year, as a result of parent and student initiative, a new Speech and Debate Club was started for third and fourth graders to practice speaking in a peer-to-peer recreational atmosphere. On October 24, Debate Director Aaron Timmons, along with the leading efforts of his wife, Cindi Timmons, and many other parent volunteers, coached 48 club members in the inaugural debate of whether or not the Peacock should replace the Hornet as the Greenhill mascot. Good points were made in both camps. Reasons to go with the Peacock included the power of change, being representative of our diversity and a proud strong animal. Reasons to stay with the Hornet included a respect for our founders, tradition and roots; plus, it would be very expensive to change. See the inside back cover for a photo of these young debaters. www.greenhill.org
Raising the Bar When these fourth graders get to Middle School, they are ready to exercise more formal definitions of speech. “There is great institutional pride at Greenhill to express ourselves verbally,” says Head of Middle School Susan Palmer. Middle School is the time when students are required to take a formal public speaking course, but there are assignments and built-in practice throughout the curriculum to strengthen the skills of public speaking and verbal communication. “I can’t think of any class where students don’t need to present their knowledge with clarity, showing their grasp of the topic,” says Mrs. Palmer. In seventh grade, the required public speaking course taught by Aaron Timmons hones the two most important objectives of speaking: art of delivery and clarity of message. “My students learn how to deliver a message in an effective manner,” says Mr. Timmons. “We emphasize structure, tone, rhetorical devices, use of metaphor and zingers to get the audience’s attention.” Audience adaptation is another class objective. “You have to read your audience and modify or adapt your subject matter to best suit and engage them,” says Mr. Timmons.
“There is great institutional pride at Greenhill to express ourselves verbally.” Susan Palmer Head of Middle School
The performance is another aspect of speech, not to be underestimated. “Any presentation is part-theater,” he says. “You’ve got to be on, energized, compelling and powerful.” Senior Jessica Giraudon recalls her seventh grade speech class as a time where she learned invaluable fundamentals. “Mr. Timmons taught me so much. He forced us to practice things like addressing your audience, speaking slowly, timing, how to carry yourself and use persuasive language. I only remember one speech from that course,” continues Jessica, “It was about Starbucks and I messed up on the speech, so I hit myself on the head with the Starbucks cup that I was holding.” The audience laughed and it became a memorable moment.
Speaking Volumes:
Teaching Speech and Presentation Skills at Greenhill
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Strategies for a Good Speech Director of Debate and Speech Aaron Timmons has a few tools that help his students grasp best practices. One is the Five Finger Approach for structuring content; the other is GIT ’EM for effective delivery.
Five Finger Approach
GIT ’EM
Thumb – Hook, Attention-getter, Preview Statement
G – Grab ’em – Hook I – Involve ’em – Commonality T – Teach ’em – Core content E – Entertain ’em – Keep their attention M – Motivate ’em / Move ’em – Call to action or emotion
Index Finger – Point #1 Middle Finger – Point #2 Ring Finger – Point #3 Pinkie – Conclusion that links back to intro
Use of humor is important because “it gets the audience with you,” says Mrs. Palmer who, when speaking herself, uses humor where she can. “I also like to start with a compelling story and find a commonality between me and the audience.” Mr. Timmons agrees, grouping humor and finding common ground among the various rhetorical devices that he encourages his students to use. “Humor can be effective if you have good comedic timing.”
Incorporating Technology Fifth graders take Communication Skills for the 21st Century, taught by Aaron Timmons and Cheryl McCracken, to learn to weave different technologies and digital storytelling into presentation fundamentals. Mr. Timmons has noticed a shift in recent years due to the ubiquitous presence of technological devices in our lives. “These days you have less than one second to get the attention of your audience. You used to have about 10–15 seconds. They also say you have one minute of attention for every year of age, so for seventh graders, you have about 12 minutes of their attention. And in the best-case scenario, the audience typically retains only 20% of what the speaker is saying.” To keep the momentum of the audience’s attention, Mr. Timmons recommends using a variety of stimuli.
Mr. Timmons takes a similar position on computers for note taking and reference. “There is no doubt that computers have helped tremendously in being able to access information quickly. But they can also be an impediment. If a student is using a laptop to take notes in class, they might also try accessing games, chats or other sites. If a student is using a laptop for delivery notes, he or she might be burying their face in their screen or speaking into their iPad.” He concludes that a balanced approach is best. “A good speaker can use the computer simply as a tool or visual aid to enhance effect and delivery.” Mrs. Palmer makes another very different connection to speaking skills and technology. “Our commitment to teaching speech fundamentals continues despite the avalanche of technological innovation and devices. In fact, they can work together. For example, if you’re Skyping with someone in New Delhi, you still need to express yourself clearly, as a reflection of your character, your school and your country.”
Technological aids are encouraged, but they must be used in moderation. “I try to instill a balance between speaking and technology,” he explains. “Use of programs such as PowerPoint and Prezi cannot be a crutch. If the speaker is reading his slides, or looking at the screen or notes too much, he is not speaking effectively. I tell them to keep it human. Technology is simply an aid.”
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www.greenhill.org
Across Disciplines In the Upper School, where students are given much more independence to carve out their own path, their communication skills shape their entire experience. Head of Upper School Laura Ross says, “The Upper School isn’t a place where adults are expected to carry the community’s expectations. Students have an active role in making things happen. How they communicate with their teachers and peers is crucial.” Luckily this isn’t a problem at Greenhill. “Greenhill kids by nature are so participatory and engaged that it almost obviates the need for a large focus on presentation training. It’s built into so many facets of what we do and who we are,” says History Department Head Scott Cotton. That said, separate skills of formal presentations are fostered throughout the curriculum. Every grade level in the Upper School has a class where speaking occurs and is required. It may be in English class one year, history in another and science in another; but every year, students encounter formal public speaking in a cross-disciplinary fashion, designed to emphasize and practice a variety of styles and subject matter. In foreign language, the challenge comes in presenting ideas within a language that doesn’t come naturally. Senior Jessica Giraudon says her foreign language classes have equipped her with invaluable skills and have had a “tremendous role in public speaking. When you have to express yourself in another language, it’s hard not to stumble on words. The key is to talk around the stumbling blocks. You have to pull from words that you do know.” In math and science, students are asked to explain how they solved the problem, not just give the correct answer. In fact, says Mrs. Ross, “The way that you speak about something can also show where your gaps of knowledge are. Speaking is another way to develop content mastery.” Mrs. Ross firmly upholds the Upper School mission to emphasize speech across all subjects. “To be an active and engaged participant in the classroom, you need to state a point and defend it, back it up with facts and create a productive dialogue,” she says. “Presentations freshen up the class,” says Mr. Cotton. “It’s an important life skill and a teaching tool, but it’s also a way for students to teach each other. It becomes more meaningful when they learn from peer-to-peer interaction.” In Mr. Cotton’s sophomore Atlantic Experience class, students do mini “TED Talks” or YSK’s (You Should Know’s) to address relevant subject matter with fresh, short and dynamic presentations. Speakers in his Human Rights senior seminar-style class become more polished and professional as they address in-depth, serious, well-
Speaking Volumes:
Teaching Speech and Presentation Skills at Greenhill researched topics. Students may also be given Socratic Seminar assignments, graded solely on their participation, the researched points they make and how they back them up. Speaking skills become thoroughly integrated and essential to the class. Mr. Cotton evaluates speakers on a number of rubrics such as quality of information, engagement, use of notes, eye-contact, but he also notices the room. “I often watch and notice the audience’s nonverbals,” he says. “In the age of laptops, there are countless distractions out there for the listener. I look for eye contact and respect.” Susan Palmer agrees, “In Lower and Middle Schools, we actually teach audience behaviors – how to listen, what you are listening for and what the speaker expects from their audience.”
Visiting Speakers Programs such as Greenhill’s volunteer-run Cultural Arts Committee and Visions of the Future Speaker Series work actively to bring notable speakers to Greenhill’s campus. Others are initiated by clubs and teachers.
John Rocco
Doc Patton
Recent visitors have included: John Rocco Illustrator and Creative Director for the film “Shrek” (see page 10) Doc Patton Two-time Olympic Silver Medalist in Track and Field Susan Reed Classical Violinist and Folk Musician (see page 6) Amory Lovins Chief Scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute (see page 26) Rev. Charles L. White, Jr. National Field Director for the NAACP
www.greenhill.org
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Showing Leadership By the time Upper Schoolers reach senior year, they are eager to display their leadership role and do so voluntarily. Dean of Students Jack Oros coordinates C-Day Meetings, one of the Upper School’s community gatherings. “Seniors want to get up and speak,” says Mr. Oros. “In many years there are waiting lists of presenters. Students see it as a privilege to speak.” In the fall, senior Lauren Butowski spoke to her peers about the importance of family in her life and senior Naomi Freeman spoke about carpe diem and the variety of choices she has in shaping her career and future.
Speaking Volumes:
Teaching Speech and Presentation Skills at Greenhill
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By Greenhill societal norms, seniors exhibit a willingness to present themselves that will serve a lifelong importance, most immediately in the college admissions process. Junior Brent Rubin is looking forward to his college interviews. “It’s our chance to shine,” he says. “By the time we become seniors we’ll be so comfortable speaking to our teachers, other parents, administrators and peers. We’re not intimidated and we won’t shy away from opportunity.” Leadership opportunities abound in the Upper School, from student council and honor council to sports teams and clubs. Jessica Giraudon, student council member and vice-president of the senior class, recalls running for class office in tenth grade. “I was so nervous when I gave my speech. I remember stumbling over words and shaking, but I made it and became vice-president of the class.” Jessica has held this position since tenth grade and now speaks in front of her classmates with ease. “It takes repetition and practice to really get rid of the nerves,” she says. Jessica also credits her English classes, her ninth-grade debate team experience and being president of the International Club, as giving her invaluable practice and experience in speaking as a leader.
www.greenhill.org
Faculty Enrichment Students are not the only ones who benefit from constant coaching and practice. Mrs. Palmer says, “As faculty we can always work on upping our own game.” The entire Greenhill faculty is encouraged to seek professional development in their areas of knowledge and beyond. Mrs. Ross encourages professional development amongst the Upper School faculty to continue to improve such skills as effective communication, speech and presentation. “Professional development in presentation helps you change up the pacing, think about the audience and how you measure engagement,” she says. “You hear the expression of ‘the more you know, the easier it is to forget what it feels like not to know ...’ That’s why communication skills are so important. In the classroom, it’s not as much about your depth of knowledge or understanding – it’s how you present the information and pass it to your students.” In the fall of 2012, Aaron Timmons gave talks to Middle School and Upper School faculty about how to improve the integration of public speaking into their courses. He gave them such tools as GIT ’EM and the Five Finger Approach. He also stressed the importance of teaching strong communications skills. “If we can teach our students to be excellent effective communicators, they will not only do better in school, they’ll do better in life,” he said. He also made the point that students look up to and model the behavior of their teachers. “They model what we do, so we need to do it well.”
The Greenhill Difference In summary, Greenhill students encounter speech preparation and effective communication from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. They practice throughout divisions and disciplines to learn the fundamentals that prepare them better for life, not just school. But what makes Greenhill stand out? Why are our students especially articulate, animated, enthusiastic and eager to express themselves? Laura Ross, in her first-year insight into the Greenhill community, has one theory: “This is not a place that will pigeon-hole you into a certain track. There is very little social pressure to do one thing or another. Therefore, Greenhill students are forced to think for themselves and explain why.” In other words, this is an open and honest community where students are declaring their own identities and sharing their unique voice: This is who I am. This is what I believe. And here’s why.
www.greenhill.org
Aaron Timmons Receives Golden Apple Award Adapted from the presentation at the MinneApple Debate Tournament on November 3, 2012 by Pam Cady Wycoff, Director of Debate and Speech at Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota Aaron Timmons is a most deserving recipient of the Golden Apple Award, recognizing outstanding achievement and dedication of an individual in the debate community. First, his program is synonymous with excellence. His students have not only been successful in Lincoln-Douglas debate – but in policy debate as well. In an age of specialization in debate, this is a unique accomplishment. In fact, he is the only coach to have multiple champions at National Forensic League (NFL) Nationals in both divisions. Remaining active and engaged in this activity for approximately 30 years is not an easy, nor a common event. Add to that the consistency and longevity of excellence – an incredible accomplishment. Aaron’s leadership in debate is also noteworthy. He has been an active leader, serving on the Tournament of Champions (TOC) Advisory Committee, NFL Lincoln-Douglas Committee, as president of the Texas Forensic Association, National Debate Coaches Association executive board and NFL LD Wording Committee. He has also been a long-time advocate for diversity in debate – an ongoing issue that is yet to be resolved – and deserves continued attention. Finally, he is not only a successful coach and leader, but in many respects a “debater in life.” When I think of this person I think great debate mind, thorough, focused and intense. He values innovation. He is unafraid to speak his mind. He cares deeply about the art and skill of argumentation. Aaron has made history with many accolades and memberships in every possible hall of fame that exists – but also in another area. A few years ago, his wife Cindi received the same award. Together Aaron and Cindi Timmons have become the first husband and wife team to win this award. Congratulations.
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Decades of Great Debate “Debate is important because it is the foundation of democracy. It is the exchange of ideas, policies and directions.” Aaron Timmons Director of Debate and Speech Within the fundamentals of speech that Greenhill integrates throughout the curriculum, it is important to note the one program that elevates and refines these principles by its very essence: Debate. Over the last three decades, the Greenhill Debate Team has amassed a level of success on the state, regional and national levels that is virtually unparalleled. Under the steadfast leadership of Director of Debate and Speech Aaron Timmons and Associate Director of Debate Eric Forslund, the program continues to grow, and even surpass, the accomplishments of previous seasons. The success of the debate program has increased Greenhill’s exposure, not only in Dallas, but nationally and internationally. Aaron Timmons’ perspective stretches far and wide. “Our program is increasing the academic reputation and perception of the School. Students who are skilled in debate not only help the Greenhill community, but they also help the broader national community.” He continues to say, “Debate changes the way students think. It gives them skills that they will use throughout their careers: critical thinking, listening, research, data processing, collaboration, teamwork and public speaking. These skills are essential to all graduates today.” Debate alumni are testament to that. Mark Wallenstein ’98 (read more on page 40) credits much of his current success to debate, “Debate equipped me with the powers of persuasion and advocacy – in both oral and written form – and cultivated a work ethic to which I attribute all the most significant successes of my academic and professional career.” Dustin Marshall ’96 agrees, “Debate is one of the most intense learning environments that a person can have. You learn how to research, analyze problems, speak and write persuasively, structure your thoughts, and dissect the feelings and emotions of others.”
Highlights of Greenhill Debate •
Recognition by the National Forensic League as one of the top high school programs of the twentieth century.
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The only program in the United States to win multiple national titles in both policy debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate.
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In 2010–2011, Greenhill was acknowledged as the most successful program at the Tournament of Champions in the last 15 years.
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Earned 17 state championships in debate events at the Texas Forensic Association State Tournament. No other school in the history of the Tournament has come close to that number.
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In 2012–2013, Greenhill became the only school in history to win two championships in the varsity division of policy and LincolnDouglas at octo-final level qualifiers on the same weekend.
• In 2009, the Greenhill Fall Classic was awarded the “National Tournament Host of the Year.” •
In 2011–2012, the team of Lyall Stuart ’12 and Azhar Unwala ’12 won the prestigious David P. Baker Award as the best high school team in the country in the regular season.
Apart from the stunning track record of wins, what differentiates Greenhill debate from our peer schools? Mr. Timmons’ twenty-year commitment, vision and tireless dedication to the program might be the best answer. He also credits scope and variety. At Greenhill students can engage in various types of debate: policy, Lincoln-Douglas, public forum or congressional. He also encourages his students to try dramatic/humorous interpretation or original oratory. “I like to think of us as a one-stop-shop for all types of debate and competitive speech.” He also emphasizes that students can vary their level of commitment based on their interest and balance with other pursuits.
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The Election In light of the 2012 presidential race, several events were held on campus in the fall to highlight and analyze debate on a national scale. On October 16, Greenhill hosted the Michigan State University Spartan Presidential Debate Series. More than 50 students and parents attended and learned about the presidential debate process, as expert debate coaches analyzed Mitt Romney’s and President Barack Obama’s strategy. When asked why she loves debate, senior debate champion Rebecca Kuang replied, “You get to surround yourself with incredibly intelligent people. We like to talk about things that normally high school kids aren’t interested in, like the healthcare system in France. Everyone around you is brilliant and the conversation is always stimulating. Plus we’re lucky enough to travel around the nation. I’ve gotten to know kids from other schools and I’m friends with some of the best debaters in the nation.” Senior Arjun Gupta adds, “Debate is fun, especially when you win. There’s nothing better than winning. In debate, learning is fun.” This year’s success continues. In the fall, Rebecca Kuang captured the title at the New York City Invitational in Lincoln-Douglas debate, earned silver medal honors at the Bronx Round Robin, and varsity division at the Glenbrooks Invitational. Seniors Ben Packer and Andrew Spomer won gold medal laurels in policy debate at St. Mark’s School of Texas Invitational and at the Glenbrooks Invitational. All three seniors are invited to Harvard Round Robins. Associate Director of Debate Eric Forslund, who brings nine years of debate experience to teaching at Greenhill, says, “In tournaments, our students are incredibly competitive, well-regarded, and organized. But beyond the competition, I think they realize that participating in debate is much more than being in the class and on the team. It’s about learning that you have something to say – and you can say it well. These are life skills that take you through college, into the real world, and on to professional success.”
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Aaron Timmons provided an overview on civil discourse and the role it plays in our society, followed by a description of the town hall format. Will Repko, the Michigan State University debate coach, served as master of ceremonies and expertly ensured a nonpartisan approach. Mr. Repko also noted that debates represent the only time during the campaign where opposing sides get to critically evaluate the other’s position. He then pointed out a unique attribute of the presidential debates: the debater wants “to shine in a YouTube sense, and not fail in a YouTube sense.” Since very few people watch the entire debate, the best and the worst comments quickly make their way into social and print media and may sway people’s opinions when taken out of context. Later, as a culminating event on November 6, The Political Action Club (PAC) and the debate team hosted a mock presidential debate and election. In the debate, seniors Hebah Khan and Andrew Spomer and junior Nick Kraus represented the Democratic side, while seniors Katie Sanders and Brian Wiora and junior Jake Eberts represented the Republican side. Debated topics included foreign policy, health care and student loans. Want the results of Greenhill’s election? Visit Evergreen Online: evergreengreenhill. wordpress.com
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Careers in Speech further details. “Attorneys are ethically prohibited from talking about the specifics of pending cases,” he said. Wallenstein attended Harvard as an undergraduate and Yale Law School. After passing the bar exam, he served as a law clerk at federal courts in Manhattan and Honolulu. Marc then worked at a law firm in Washington, D.C. for three years. “Then this opportunity came up to prosecute for the Department of Defense.” Wallenstein said. “I jumped at the opportunity to work on these extremely important national security cases.”
Marc Wallenstein ’98 By ninth-grader Catherine Leffert, staff writer for The Evergreen, adapted from the November 14, 2012 issue Marc Wallenstein, former Greenhill debater, has turned debating into a living as a prosecutor for the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Military Commissions at the United States Department of Defense, a position he has held since February 2012. Wallenstein’s specific field is prosecuting alien enemy belligerents who have been accused of violations of the law of war and terrorism offenses. According to the Office of Military Commissions, the duties of the Office of the Chief Prosecutor are to “coordinate investigative efforts, prepare charges, and represent the United States before military commissions.” “My office is prosecuting two cases. The first is the prosecution of Khalid Sheik Mohammad and several other individuals accused of perpetrating the September 11 attacks, [as well as] another man who has been accused of masterminding the bombing of the USS Cole,” Wallenstein said. The attack on the USS Cole occurred in Yemen in 2000 and resulted in the deaths of 18 sailors. Wallenstein cannot discuss
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Wallenstein has wanted to be a prosecutor from a young age. Debating at Greenhill further encouraged this dream. “I did debate in Middle School and Upper School and I found it extremely satisfying. And that probably got me thinking about law school,” he said. As a former debater and an expert in national security law, he was able to assist senior Rebecca Kuang with the September/October debate topic about terrorism and due process. “Mr. Timmons gave me [Wallenstein’s] email and I asked him a ton of questions, and he advised me on the best arguments on the topic. I think it was largely because of Marc that I was in finals of two national round robins and the champion of one national tournament,” Rebecca said. Wallenstein has enjoyed working for the Department of Defense so far. “The thing I enjoy most is that I get up in the morning and I go to work and my job is to do good for a living,” Wallenstein said. He also offers advice to Greenhill students and future jobseekers. “If you want to be a doctor or architect or lawyer or anything, I would encourage you to talk to someone who’s done it for a career, to see how you’d enjoy the day-to-day work involved in that job.” he said.
Michaela Ablon Hall ’89 Michaela Ablon Hall knows how to speak and be heard. “I present every day,” she says. She teaches public speaking for grades 4 through 12 at the oldest girls school in Manhattan, Convent of the Sacred Heart. She has also coached their forensics (speech) team since 1994, competing in six categories of competition ranging from public address to dramatic performance. “When you work with such a wide age range,” she says, “every day is a dog and pony show.” Hall also has a public speaking consultancy, Speak Well; Be Heard. “I coach professionals and organizations to deliver their message in a way that is unique to their project or institution. My clients range from artists to Fortune 500 companies to young entrepreneurs whom I prep for meetings, pitches and press interviews.” In another aspect of her consulting, she helps independent schools integrate public speaking into curricula and beyond. “Public speaking is not elective in life, and so I don’t recommend that schools make public speaking an elective course. It is most impactful when integrated into academic curricula. If you really want to measure their mastery and
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questions about my case. And about a week before my oral argument, I try to crystallize my case in a single page containing my most important arguments and the key evidence in support.” She also memorizes an introduction of two to three sentences to ensure the strongest start possible.
fluency in a subject area, have your students speak. This is the ultimate test of comprehension.” Hall remembers her Greenhill years with fondness and appreciation. “I had seminal teachers at every level at Greenhill, and I credit them with the values I try to model as a teacher and coach.” At Greenhill, she was active in theater and speech, competing in humorous and dramatic interpretation and duet acting. “Those experiences forced me to face my fears often and early, and learn how to manage them. I learned how to listen to direction and feedback, and how to change. This is critical. Good speakers seek feedback and grow.” She strongly encourages those who have anxiety to pursue opportunities for practice and experience. “Join the forensics team, college debate team, student government, or take improvisation classes. You need to learn to think on your feet, communicate with your whole being and own your message.”
Speaking Tips from
Michaela Ablon Hall ’89 1. Enterform – Inform and entertain. Deliver a well-organized presentation, but also parallel the narrative arc: beginning, rising action, climax and denouement. 2. Eyes and Ears – Make eye contact with your audience for 80% of your presentation. Be clear, dynamic and authentic. 3. Prepare – Practice out loud, at performance volume, standing up. Before the event, warm up and get loose. For more details, contact Speak Well; Be Heard: spkwell@me.com.
www.greenhill.org
Lindsay Harrison ’96 Lindsay was featured in The Hill, Spring 2009 issue for being one of the youngest attorneys ever to argue a case before the Supreme Court. For more information on the trial, refer to that issue. Lindsay Harrison has to think on her feet and do it fast. As a litigator for the Washington, D.C. law firm of Jenner & Block, she frequently appears in courts as an advocate for her clients. She specializes in appellate litigation, which means that she regularly argues in front of panels of multiple judges, fielding questions from them while making affirmative points on behalf of her clients. How does she prepare for such high stakes? “I do hundreds of hours of research before arguing an appeal in court. My job is to anticipate all of the best arguments that my adversary could possibly make, and to consider my best responses. Before any oral argument, I practice in a ‘moot court’ where my colleagues pretend to be the judges and ask me all the hardest
Harrison’s greatest challenge in public speaking is making her points as strong and succinct as she can. “Every oral argument has a time limit, often less than 15 minutes. I always have significantly more to say than time permits. It takes a lot of time and effort to figure out how to cut everything down while including all of the most critical content. There is a wonderful Mark Twain quote that I find apt: ‘I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.’ The same is true of public speaking.” In the wake of Harrison’s stunningly successful career, Greenhill remains. “Greenhill provided me with a ton of speaking experience because of its superlative debate team. I was a member of the debate team for all four years of high school, and through countless practice speeches and full debates, I developed the confidence and ability to speak publicly on just about any subject.” She also advises current students to practice and research as much as they can. “Most of the fear of public speaking will go away if you are absolutely confident about what you have to say. If you completely master the subject about which you are speaking, you can present with great confidence and minimal fear.”
Speaking Volumes:
Teaching Speech and Presentation Skills at Greenhill
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A Message from Mark A. Platt ’87 President, Alumni Association Greenhill School 2012–2013 Alumni Board Sheli Barnett ’82 Michael Baum ’89 Scott Beck ’92 Jennifer Bell-Garcia ’04 Taylor Burks ’03 Chris Clark ’89 David Crooks ’87 Joey Music Daniel ’92 Macey Small Davis ’94 Shaun Dawson ’93 Clay Deniger ’86 Angela Adkins Downes ’87 Jeff Fiedelman ’87 Julie Ray Fields ’81 Will Fulton ’68 Holland Gary ’93 Allison Grossman ’97 Rachel Davidoff Ladin ’91 John Lesikar ’03 Larry Ley ’68 Mark McKay ’89 Shannon Ming ’94 Janie Morris ’95 Scottie Pearson ’87 Sabrina Mallick Peterson ’00 Debra Goldstein Phares ’88 Mark Platt ’87 Matt Prescott ’03 Byron Sanders ’01 Nick Schanbaum ’00 Michael Seeligson ’02 Ben Setnick ’93 Cindy Solomon ’93 Robin Finkelstein Stone ’93 Michael Waldman ’98 Rick Weisberg, MD ’95 Waverly Ware Wilson ’86
Dear Fellow Hornets, The Greenhill School Alumni Association had a very busy fall with several events. The fall kicked off with the annual alumni volleyball game. The Dallas Trending Topics series also continued with a presentation by Jim Lites, President and CEO of the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. This series continues to grow in popularity, and I hope you will join us for upcoming Trending Topics meetings to hear interesting speakers and network with other Greenhill alumni. Homecoming brought more than 1,100 alumni and their families back to campus and they took part in, among other things, the annual Homecoming cookout and football game. The classes of 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, Legacy Hornets, Cheerleaders and the undefeated 1972 Hornets football team all celebrated reunions during the Homecoming weekend. Also this fall, I had the opportunity to travel to New York in October to visit alumni. Phil and Mary Foote graciously co-hosted a wonderful reception at The Cosmopolitan Club with more than 100 alumni and guests attending. It was great to see old friends and meet new ones, and I look forward to making a return trip next year. The fall concluded with the annual Holiday Reception held at Sevy’s the evening before Thanksgiving where 120 alumni and guests attended to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season together. As we look forward to spring, plans are well under way for the inaugural Alumni Weekend, which will take place on campus on April 26–27. We hope your plans are already in the works to come back and enjoy a weekend full of activities, including lectures with well-known faculty, class reunions, campus tours and a retirement reception for Faculty Legends. In addition, we just returned from an on-the-road reunion on March 7 in Los Angeles. Special guests of that event were Art Hall, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Corbin Doyle, video production teacher. Plan to also join us for more Dallas Trending Topics events in April and June. There are many ways for alumni to get involved in all of these activities. For more information, please contact Katie Young at youngka@greenhill.org or visit the Greenhill alumni website at www.greenhill.org/alumni. With Hornet Pride,
Mark A. Platt ’87 President, Alumni Association
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Alumni News
The Alumni Womens Volleyball team
The Alumni Mens Volleyball team
Dallas Trending Topics Events The 2012–2013 Dallas Trending Topics series kicked off September 19, 2012 with remarks from Jim Lites, President & CEO of the Dallas Stars Hockey Organization. Mr. Lites has served twice as the President of the Stars and once as the President of the Texas Rangers. Over the course of Lites’ two prior stints with the Stars (1993–2002; 2003–2007), the team won seven Division Championships, two Presidents’ Trophies and the 1999 Stanley Cup. After being introduced by Grady Raskin ’92, Vice President of Sponsorships for the Dallas Stars, Lites spoke to a crowd of 60 guests regarding his background and current events in the National Hockey League and Dallas Stars. The Trending Topics series offers an opportunity for alumni to reconnect, network and learn more about Dallas current events and subjects. Join us for the next event: a tour and lunch at the new Klyde Warren Park on April 18, 2013.
Annual Alumni Volleyball Game The 14th Annual Alumni Volleyball Game was held August 10, 2012 in the Phillips Family Athletic Center at Greenhill. More than 100 turned out to watch the games. Although hard fought, the women’s alumna team fell to the varsity girls. The Men’s alumni team continued their winning streak defeating the varsity boys.
Jim Lites, President & CEO of the Dallas Stars Hockey Organization, spoke at the Dallas Trending Topics event on September 19.
Annual Alumni Soccer Game Former Greenhill soccer players gathered on December 30, 2012 for the Annual Alumni Soccer Game against current varsity girl and boy players. Former Greenhill coach Dick Hall, a Greenhill Legend of 40+ years, led the co-ed alumni team, with 22 players who graduated in the last four decades. It was a special match for Clay Deniger ’86 who played against his son, senior Patrick Deniger. The game ended in a 1–1 tie.
Senior Patrick Deniger with his father, Clay Deniger ’86
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New York Reunion From October 22–24, the Greenhill Alumni Office went to New York City to visit alumni living and working in the region. The visit was topped off by a reunion at The Cosmopolitan Club co-hosted by Scott Griggs, Head of School; Mary and Phil Foote, former Head of School; and Michael Manes, Head of Fine Arts. More than 100 alumni and guests attended the event – the largest crowd in years. If you live in the New York area and want to stay connected to this large network, join the Greenhill Alumni of New York area group on Facebook. Head of School Scott Griggs and former Head of School Phillip G. Foote
Isabelle Pan ’08, Ashley Feinberg ’08, Conor Biller ’08 and Tessa Shore ’08 Yvette Ferrer ’07, Lauren Pully ’07, Keith Williams ’07, Evan Lacher ’07 and Alice Davis ’06
Todd Levin ’05, Upper School teacher Mary Tapia and Jared Scheib ’04 Bay Scoggin ’05 and Katie Cowling ’05 Mike Swartz ’05, Laura Ramirez ’06, Upper School Dean Jack Oros and Morgan Christopher ’06
Alumni Holiday Reception The annual Holiday Reception was held at Sevy’s in Dallas the evening before Thanksgiving. The event drew a crowd of more than 120 alumni, faculty and guests to enjoy food, reunite and kick-off the start of the holiday season.
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Class Reunions
Left to right, First row: Tom Boyle ’51, Tom Sloan ’52, Will Fulton ’68, Karen Finlay ’67, John Fulton ’71 and Molly Fulton Seeligson ’60; Second row: Gayle Fogelson ’52, Gene McCutchin ’52, Cody McCutchin ’72, Sherri Seeligson Pilcher ’71 and Steve Davis ’57; Third row: Mickey Stuart ’67, Toni Culpepper ’75 and Wilkes Alexander ’75; Fourth row: Roger Charlebois ’71, Larry Ley ’68, Doug Box ’76 and Kim Sinks ’71
Legacy Hornets The Legacy Hornets from the Classes of 1951–1980 enjoyed reuniting at the Montgomery Library. After dinner, Molly Fulton Seeligson ’60 gave remarks and showed a video of her father, Bernard Fulton, sharing memories of Greenhill’s founding. Afterward, more than 40 alumni present shared stories and laughs from their days at Greenhill.
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Call for Cavalcades We are collecting yearbooks from the ’50s and ’60s for our archive collection. If you have one to donate, contact Whitney Strauss, straussw@greenhill.org. or 972.628.5519
www.greenhill.org
Class of 1977 Bill Keffer wrote, “What a great turnout! First, a big thank you to Mindi Levine Kahn for hosting and taking care of all of the arrangements. And thanks to DJ ‘LL Cool’ Morgan Sheffer for the reunion soundtrack that played throughout the evening, replete with delicious selections by Chicago and the Beach Boys. (Our other musical alternative for the evening had been ‘Sweet Baby’ Joe Liken accompanying me on the tuba, while I performed the Rex Mooney songbook, including his tribute to Mao Tse-Tung called ‘Papa Ooh Mao Mao.’) We had a total of 17 classmates (along with five brave spouses) in attendance out of our graduating class of 41, as well as two of our mates who were with us along the ride, for an attendance rate of 39.5%. That’s pretty impressive and almost as high as Pearlman’s GPA!
Left to right, First row: Kathleen Gibson (wife of Robert Gibson), Robert Gibson, Linda Morgan Sheffer, Mindi Levine Kahn, Joe Liken, Sabrina Pratt, Scott Upfield and Sonya Upfield (wife of Scott Upfield); Second row: Bill Keffer, Jeff Gentry, Michael Kahn (husband of Mindi Levine Kahn), Stuart Pearlman and Randy Rogers
It would be great if we could track down and include our missing classmates for future reunions. Maybe instead of waiting another five years to gather together again, we should consider having annual reunions. It was great to see everyone,
and it was obvious that everyone had a great time. Until next time, take care of yourselves – and always remember you have friends in the Class with Class!”
Left to right: Louis Zweig, Frank Bracken, Robin Zweig (alumni spouse), Heather Hutton, Jeff Hoppenstein, Jeff Susman, Mike Weinberg, Laura Dunston Lett, Kimi Morse Reist, Kristen Clinger, Sheli Barnett, Lynn Switzer Bozalis, Scott Miller and David Silver (former student)
Class of 1982 Mattito’s served as an excellent venue for the Class of 1982 to reunite. More than 30 class members attended traveling in from distances as far as Canada. There was even a signature drink to commemorate the occasion – the Greenhill Margarita!
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Class Reunions Class of 1987 Amy Kreisler Harberg and Joe Harberg graciously hosted the ’80s-themed Class of 1987 reunion party. More than 50 classmates attended and enjoyed catching up until the early hours of the morning. Several classmates came decked out in ’80s gear – including an original prom dress from 1987!
Left to right, First row: Marc Birenbaum, Cynthia Bright, Greg Homan, Kirk Dunk, Brad Blonkvist and Kevin Epstein; Second row: Kathryn Hamm, Stefani Dardaganian, Julie Black Spurr, Valerie Malone, Amy Kreisler Harberg, Elise, Diane DeGrasse Adamson, Nancy Lane Volk, Jennifer Lipshy Karpeles, Carson Clement Arkinson and Jon Paul Buchmeyer; Third row: Shelley Bradley Dailey, Helene Lerman Schussler, Scottie Pearson, Katherine Grossman Moore, Mark Platt, Mark Moniot and Jeff Fiedelman; Fourth row: Angela Adkins Downes, Mila Hermanovski, Jeff Goodman, David Crooks, Chris Huffman, Trey Johnson and Chris Velvin
Class of 1992 More than 40 members of the Class of 1992 reunited at Times Ten Cellars. Classmates enjoyed catching up over wine and pizza catered by Il Cane Rosso, owned by Greenhill parent Jay Jerrier. Left to right, First row: Rohit Kumar, Eric Natinsky, Allyn Woghin, Karen Rovinsky, Correne Lynch and Loren Jacobsen; Second row: Matt Rush, Scott Beck, Beth Rule, Molly Erdman, Allison Read, Thao Vu, Courtney Myers and Tasha Taylor; Third row: Brian Calhoun, Ann-Marié Tannen Warren, Ellen Johnson, Joey Daniel, Andy Gilbert, Brad Gaswirth, Mark Lang and Jason Ginsburg; Fourth row: Grady Raskin, Nathan Shulman and Peter Bogdanow
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Scott Miller ’96, Amy Rovinsky Sandler (wife of Jason Sandler), Jason Sandler, Erin Conley (guest of Jeff Hearty), Ron Barker and Amanda Kasten Bresie ’96
Jenny Kasten Turner, Debra Steinberg Lawson, Evangeline Sonnier-Smallwood and Jeff Hearty
Class of 1997 The Class of 1997 celebrated their 15-year reunion Friday night after the Homecoming game. Classmates gathered at The Hub Sports Bar and Grill , just down the road from Greenhill and owned by fellow classmate Kyle Hidell.
Class of 2002 The Class of 2002 Committee wrote: “The Class of 2002 had a great time catching up and reminiscing at their ten-year reunion at The Gin Mill. Classmates traveled across the country to attend the event, including David Klein and his wife, Jacquie, from Minneapolis; Charles Smith from D.C.; Kim Sanders and her fiancé, Brett. One surprising fact from the reunion is that many members of our class have careers that have taken them to a different city than their spouses. At least three classmates live and work in different cities and states than their husband or wife! Left to Right, First row: Lauren Schanbaum, Ashley London, Joanna Fulton Lewis and Ben Wiseman; Second row: Lauren F. Jones, Carla Kinney Childs, Brian Portner, Ray Mascolo, Lindsay Washington, Chris Farrokhnia, Nakita Garraway Johnson, Justin Cohen, Austin Holtsclaw, Paul Thibodeau, David Knowles and Andrew Ganz; Third row: David Klein, Michael Seeligson, Charles Smith, Will Corvey, Kelly Berkemeier Finley, Zach Thomas, Buddy Rosenberg, Alex Chalfant and Andrew Jordan
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Although much has changed in the past ten years with degrees, jobs, weddings and babies, the reunion served as a reminder that many of the relationships cultivated at Greenhill will always be the same.” – The 2002 Reunion Committee
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CLASS NOTES To submit information for class notes and alumni news, contact: Katie Young Alumni Relations Coordinator alumni@greenhill.org 972.628.5521 phone 972.628.6521 fax Find us on:
1958 Lynn Hutchison Stevens wrote, “I have been living on a farm in Kaufman County for the past 20 years with my husband Joe, cows, chickens, dogs and cats. I have four children and 15 grandchildren. I have been employed as a hospice nurse with Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, Kaufman Branch for almost 13 years. Farm life has been great, and being a hospice nurse has been very rewarding.”
1966 Paul Osborne, Jr. was featured in the October 2012 issue of D Magazine. The article focuses on Paul’s success as a magician and production coordinator for some of the most famous magicians in the world. David Munson ’78 with his 1966 Corvette convertible
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Mike Gibbs ’67 at a BizSmart Global workshop, a new venture that he and his wife Peggy started.
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1976
Peggy and Mike Gibbs have started up BizSmart Global (www.bizsmartglobal. com), a new education venture delivering project-based, skill-driven workshops, teaching teens about product design and the ins and outs of starting a business. After creating non-profit Camp BizSmart in 2007 with camps at universities like Stanford, Mike and Peggy are expanding their vision internationally to teens in Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi, India. Microsoft provides executives and facilities in the U.S. and India in support of BizSmart Global.
Lee Sebel wrote, “I am a little over halfway through my M.Ed. program, through Ashford University’s online program. My specialization is distance learning, and I hope to become involved with everything from content design and delivery, to moderating the kind of online introductory courses that inspired me to pursue my degree in the first place. I would welcome the opportunity to network with any alumni in the education field!”
1978 David Munson wrote, “A quick update! My daughter is a freshman at Northeastern University. My son is a freshman at a boarding high school in Colorado, and the twins are in fourth grade. Life is interesting and my natural ranch raised beef is now available for purchase at Local Yocal in McKinney, Texas. I’ve still got the same car I bought during my senior year at Greenhill – a 1966 Corvette convertible with a 427 engine. I can honestly report that I have never gotten a ticket or been in a wreck – it’s still in great condition!”
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1984
1993
Susan Reeves deMasi wrote, “I’m keeping busy as a full-time mom to son Alex (sixth grade) and daughter Katie (third grade).”
Isaac Lavie wrote, “My wife Heather and I welcomed Sophie Eden to the world on May 25. She joins big brother, Jacob. We are all in Austin, where I work as an ob/gyn.”
1987 Oscar Joyner ’93 with his wife, Alem Gola, and their son, Kaleb
1995
The cover of Kathryn Hamm ’87’s new book
Kathryn Hamm wrote, “In January 2013, we released our new book: Capturing Love: The Art of Lesbian & Gay Wedding Photography, www. capturingloveguide.com.” Kathryn will be on a promotional tour around the U.S. (including Phoenix, Washington, D.C., Dallas, Boston, Portland and more) and would love to enlist the support of volunteers from Greenhill in these local areas. You can find her on Facebook or in the Greenhill LinkedIn group.
1992 Cole Dunnick wrote, “My wife Christina and I welcomed our second child, Kathryn Martin Dunnick, on November 19, 2012. Our son George (4) is thrilled to have a baby sister.”
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Natan Yakar and his big sister, children of Jenny Solomon ’93
Jenny Sherling Solomon wrote, “On February 14, 2012, we welcomed Natan Yakar to our family. Big sisters Meirav (10) and Adi (8) adore their little brother and we are savoring each and every day with him. I continue to do part-time rabbinic work in Raleigh and I am excited to report that I finished my first halfmarathon last fall.” Oscar Joyner recently celebrated his 2-year anniversary with his wife, Alem Gola. They currently live in Coppell and travel quite extensively with their son, Kaleb. Only a year old, he already has a passport that has been stamped in Jamaica, England and France.
Jeremy Goldberg wrote, “On August 18, 2012, I married Jenna Arnold at the Seeds of Peace Camp on Pleasant Lake in Maine. It was a three-day affair featuring a Color Games competition, talent show, lots of lobster, a Rabbi and a Buddhist Monk, and my riding up to the wedding ceremony on a white horse, a nod to my Texas roots and an Indian baraat ceremony. Greenhill was well represented, with my brother Josh Goldberg ’97 as my best man, as well as Brad Bernstein, Andrew Cooper, Scott Rothkopf, Darryn Sandler and Todd Waldman in attendance. Color Games was even organized by Seeds of Peace staff member Sarah Brajtbord ’07. We plan on honeymooning in Bali and Bhutan in the spring. I’m now a partner at [212]MEDIA and leading our LeagueApps business, and Jenna recently launched a company called ‘I Will Save the World’ while also running her production company, Press Play Productions.” Karen Hughes Rodrigues married Brad Rodrigues in March 2012. Greenhill alumnae at the wedding were Rachel Schiller Berman, Sheela Kadekar Seth and Beth Frederiksen Collins.
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CLASS NOTES
1996 Lindsay Harrison and her partner, Jonna Hamilton, became proud moms to a son – Max Levi Harrison – on July 8, 2012. Emily Singer Harrow wrote, “I am excited to announce that my husband, two children and I are moving back to Dallas in 2013!” Shane Stein wrote, “My wife, Tracey, and I recently had our third girl, Alyssa Paige Stein! She was born on September 19, 2012, weighed 7 lbs, 1 oz and measured 19 inches. She is doing great, and our older daughters Emma (5) and Hailey (2) are very excited to be her big sisters!” Lyndsay Wright wrote, “I got married September 5, 2010, to Brian David, whom I met in 2004 while studying architecture at The University of Texas at Arlington. While we both got master’s degrees in architecture, neither of us is practicing in that field any longer. He is the designer for the Dallas Mavericks, designing all of their printed materials, from Tip Offs to billboards and train wraps. In August, I left my job as an architectural designer at HKS after four years. I am now an Information Architect at Bottle Rocket Apps, designing mobile apps for iPad, iPhone and Android devices. I am very happy in my new job, loving the collaborative, innovative work and functioning creatively on a daily basis. Brian and I had our first baby on February 16, 2012 – a son who we named Lucien Partridge David. As my first degree is in French, I speak only French to him, doing my best to raise him to be bilingual. Becoming a mother is definitely the most amazing thing I have ever done, but I think most moms feel this way!”
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1997 Carolyn Thomas Ley has joined the Breast Cancer Alliance of North Texas as a breast oncology surgeon. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Her office is located in Dallas. Andy Plenge writes, “Our son Ben is now 19 months old (born August 3, 2011) and we’re living in Chicago where I work in finance at an energy company and my wife, Jamie, works in Alzheimer’s research at a local hospital.”
1998 Brooke Oberwetter married Joey Coon in Portland, Oregon on November 10, 2012. Her sisters Ellen Oberwetter ’93 and Rea Mackay ’95 attended the wedding, as did the families of both the bride and groom. After the wedding, the couple celebrated by going straight back to work in Washington, D.C. – Brooke to her job in Facebook’s public policy office and Joey to the development office at Cato Institute. Will and Heather Klein Hamilton welcomed their son, Chase Thompson Hamilton, on March 26, 2012. Amanda Thomas was the recipient of the First Decade Award at Austin College Homecoming on October 26, 2012, recognizing distinguished accomplishment and leadership in the first decade after college graduation. Amanda is now an architect for global design firm Gensler in Washington, D.C. where she specializes in commercial architecture and works as part of the firm’s Sustainable Design Task Force, leading the coordination and documentation of LEED credits. She participated in community service projects such as the Urban Land
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Institute’s Volunteer Day to install a green roof at American University and the D.C. Public School Beautification Day. While living in Houston, she organized Lunch ’n Learns for the Houston community to learn about sustainable architecture. She helped with a recycled architectural materials event for teachers in local school districts and organized a rain barrel and composting bin event.
1999 Wendy Parnell, M.D. was featured in the September 2012 edition of the Dallas Medical Journal. She works in the practice of Carlos and Parnell, M.D., P.A. with her father, Winfred Parnell, M.D. Wendy has been a guest physician on the Dr. Oz show. During her final year of residency at Parkland, she had the distinguished honor of serving as Chief Resident at the largest Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training program in the country.
Zeren Ziad Kharrat, son of Laila Kiblawi Kharrat ’00
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Fundraising Efforts in Memory of Jeff Guyer ’99 The latest news from Zac Bleicher ’99 about the cancer fundraising efforts in memory of Jeff Guyer ’99 is below. “This year, Jeff’s widow Autumn Chandler Guyer and I re-organized last year’s amazingly successful fundraiser ($200,000) with the help of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center. ‘Spinspiration’ uses the fun of indoor cycling as a catalyst to start fundraising for rare cancer research. During the months of September and October, indoor cycling events took place in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas and San Diego, while satellite events, such
2000 Laila Kiblawi Kharrat wrote, “Zeren Ziad Kharrat was born at 12:44 a.m. on July 18, 2012, at 8 lbs. 11 oz. and 21.5 in.” He is the light of our eyes. I continue to teach French at the Episcopal School of Dallas, and visit Zeren throughout the day at the Babies on Campus house. I am currently working on my thesis and plan to earn my master’s degree in French by the end of August 2013.” Sarah Shulkin Pailet and David Pailet ’91 were married on January 15, 2012 at Shearith Israel in Dallas.
2001 Iliza Shlesinger wrapped her second season as the host of the CBS syndicated dating show Excused in September. She spent the fall in clubs and colleges across the country, preparing for her stand-up special which was taped in Dallas at the Lakewood Theater on December 1, 2012. She also toured Afghanistan with the 2012 annual USO Holiday Tour. She traveled with celebrity athletes and country music artist Kellie Pickler to entertain and raise morale of deployed service members.
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as a 5-K beach dog walk, took place in New York and San Francisco. Organizers included Sharon Shuster Goldberg ’99, Brad Meyers ’98 and Karen Bookatz ’99. Altogether, we have almost reached our annual goal of $100,000 to benefit rare cancer research at MGH. Projects in the works for 2013 include a launch party in Dallas and more indoor cycling events.” If those in the Greenhill community would like to participate, learn more or donate to the cause, they can visit our website at www.spinspiration.org.
Byron Sanders spoke at TEDxSMU in December on the importance of mentoring. He was selected by public vote during an online contest last spring. You can find it online here: http://tedxtalks.ted.com. Byron is the executive director of the Dallas Education Foundation, a nonprofit charitable and educational organization that benefits the Dallas Independent School District. He is also the current chairman for the Young Leaders in Education, an education service and advocacy organization with the SMU Simmons School of Education.
2002 Singer-songwriter Russell Howard, whose second album City Heart (2012) has been garnering excellent reviews in the music blogosphere and in print magazines, recently signed a career management arrangement with the New Jersey based Rock Ridge Music group. City Heart is available through iTunes, amazon.com or www. russellhowardmusic.com.
Russell Howard ’02’s second album City Heart
2003 Josh Feldman wrote, “In addition to continuing to serve as the play-byplay broadcaster for the Kannapolis Intimidators (Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox), I’ve joined UNC Charlotte as the voice of the women’s basketball program. This fall, I also served as a studio host/producer for University of Houston football radio broadcasts.” Caleb Raymond Thomas was born May 15, 2012 to Ray Thomas and his wife, Laura. Amanda Thomas ’98 and Jessica Thomas are happy to be aunts.
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CLASS NOTES
2004 Jason Klein is currently completing his orthopedics residency in Miami, Florida since graduating from Baylor College of Medicine in May 2012. Jared Scheib wrote, “The Dallas premiere of The Mayor was a blast, with about 200 people in attendance. I was so happy to have friends and family there, as well as some Greenhill pals. I’ve had additional screenings in Los Angeles, Pennsylvania and Texas since, speaking with university classes and having great Q&As. You can check out future screenings at themayormovie.com, and I’m also excited to finally have released the DVDs, which wraps up the whole project with a nice little bow and lets everyone who’s been following the film see it finally.”
2005 Shawn Hiner-Leamon is currently living in Madrid, Spain and is pursuing his MBA at IE Business School. Check out his “Why I Give” piece on page 58.
2007 In May 2012, Andrea Schpok received her Master of Public Health from Tufts University School of Medicine in May, and is now living in Manhattan working for Wunderman World Health. She had a blast running her first half marathon this fall in Central Park thanks to moral support from seasoned runners including Lauren Pully. Andrea’s favorite parts about living in NYC are the ability to walk almost anywhere and the abundance
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Jared Scheib ’04 speaking at the Dallas premier of The Mayor.
of farmer’s markets. She volunteers for Shape Up NYC teaching free Zumba classes for the city. Te’Qin Windham (Toi) wrote, “I have recently moved to Liupanshui, Guizhou, China to teach middle school and high school English classes. I love it here and my students are great! My city is located in the southwestern region of China, in the mountains, which are beautiful to look at from my apartment window. I wake every day knowing that each day is a new adventure. I have plenty of opportunities to meet new people, practice my Chinese, and teach others how to speak English. I miss Greenhill and really appreciate everything Greenhill does and stands for; you have prepared me well for this new journey. Thanks everyone. See you in a year!”
co-founder of CodeHS, which teaches computer science basics and programming to high school students. It provides online video lessons and interaction with computer programmers. Check it out here: http://www.codehs.com.
2009 In September 2012, Brad Girson helped raise more than $15,000 for injured Tulane football player Devon Walker. Brad is a senior at Tulane and started a clothing line with his classmate during his sophomore year. The funds assisted the Walker family with medical bills.
2008 Noah Comisar is working for Chevron as a petroleum engineer and is pursuing his master’s degree through the University of Southern California distance learning program. He lives in Bakersfield, California. Zach Galant was featured in the Dallas Morning News as the
Te’Qin Windham (Toi) ’07 is teaching English classes in Liupanshui, Guizhou, China.
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Eric Klein ’12 is a Syracuse University cheerleader.
Members of the Class of 2009 gather at Sevy’s the night before Thanksgiving.
2010 Mohammad Housini is a teacher assistant for Behavioral Neuroscience with Dr. Van Miller. He is a research Assistant in the Lab of Synaptic and Cellular Physiology under the direction of Dr. Marco Atzori in the Neuroscience department at The University of Texas at Dallas.
2011 Jennifer Wiseman wrote, “After spending a great freshman year at Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv, I had the amazing experience this summer of interning in the lab of Dr. Reuven Reich at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr. Reich and his team are researching tumor progression in ovarian and breast carcinoma, and tumor cell invasion and metastasis. My main contribution was researching target pathways associated with specific mRNA on special programs. I counted cells in well-plates and made buffers, gels and solutions for procedures like gel electrophoresis. Everything was a learning opportunity! One important thing I learned was that research requires patience and no matter how
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insignificant or tedious a task may seem, you are making a difference. I am now in Manhattan at Yeshiva University, enjoying the city, making new friends and keeping in touch with friends from Israel who are also in the New York area. I am enjoying my classes – even organic chemistry – and was fortunate to be selected to participate in the pre-medical enrichment program for Dean’s Scholars at Yeshiva’s Albert Einstein School of Medicine. There is a lot of work, but I love every minute of it!
2012 Lesley Rowland was picked by Seventeen Magazine to be one of their College Freshman 15 and has been blogging and vlogging during her freshman year at the University of Florida. There were more than 6,000 applicants for the spots. You can view her posts through the Seventeen Magazine website. Cameron Steurer is on the Division I nationally-ranked USC Women’s Rowing Team as coxswain.
Grace Park ’12 in front of the Eiffel Tower Jennifer Wiseman ’11 in the lab of Dr. Reuven Reich at Hebrew University in Jerusalem
Former Student Allison Silberberg has been elected to the Alexandria City Council.
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In Memoriam Christopher Culpepper Son of Toni Culpepper ’75 January 16, 2013
Gil Naert Father of Mackenzie Naert ’10 January 2, 2013
Elizabeth Dauterman Mother of Peter Dauterman ’67 January 1, 2013
Charlotte Shtofman Grandmother of Kevin Shtofman ’00 and Scott Shtofman ’02 September 29, 2012
Diane Dolan Middle School reading teacher, mother of Jeff Dolan ’77 and Andrea Dolan ’79 and former Greenhill students Tim Dolan and Kelly Dolan December 1, 2012 George Louis Dorber, Jr. Father of Athletic Director Earl Dorber, grandfather of Brian Dorber ’04 and Kelly Dorber ’06 July 19, 2012 Doan B. Finlay Aunt of Karen Finlay ’67 September 2, 2012
Albina Theilen Grandmother of Trevor Theilen ’01 October 23, 2012 Bernard Theilen Grandfather of Trevor Theilen ’01 July 29, 2012 Lorene Zeiter Reading teacher and Greenhill Legend; mother of Susan Zeiter Kennedy ’69 and the late Stephen Zeiter ’66, grandmother of Kris Zeiter ’93 and Nick Zeiter ’96 December 8, 2012
Danielle Hall Daughter of Darlene Caraway, Assistant to the Head of School, and Richard Hall, Director of Greenhill Sports Center January 30, 2013
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Turning Points WEDDINGS
Jenna Arnold and Jeremy Goldberg ’95 August 18, 2012 Brooke Oberwetter ’98 and Joey Coon November 10, 2012 Left: Karen Hughes Rodrigues ’95 and Brad Rodrigues
Sarah Shulkin Pailet ’00 and David Pailet ’91 January 15, 2012 Karen Hughes Rodrigues ’95 and Brad Rodrigues March 31, 2012 BIRTHS
Left: Brooke Oberwetter ’98 and Joey Coon Far Left: Lucien Partridge David Left: Benjamin Charles Plenge
Christina and Cole Dunnick ’92 Daughter, Kathryn Martin Dunnick November 19, 2012 Heather Klein Hamilton ’98 and Will Hamilton Son, Chase Thompson Hamilton March 26, 2012 Lindsay Harrison ’96 and Jonna Hamilton Son, Max Levi Harrison July 8, 2012 Laila Kiblawi Kharrat ’00 and Ziad Kharrat Son, Zeren Ziad Kharrat July 18, 2012
Left: Alyssa Paige Stein
Heather and Isaac Lavie ’93 Daughter, Sophie Eden Lavie May 25, 2012 Jamie and Andy Plenge ’97 Son, Benjamin Charles Plenge August 3, 2011
Right: Chase Thompson Hamilton Left: Caleb Raymond Thomas
Jenny Sherling Solomon ’93 and Eric Solomon Son, Natan Yakar Solomon February 14, 2012 Tracey and Shane Stein ’96 Daughter, Alyssa Paige Stein September 19, 2012 Laura and Ray Thomas ’03 Son, Caleb Raymond Thomas May 15, 2012
Left: Zayla Sarene Yousuf
Right: Max Levi Harrison
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Lyndsay Wright ’96 and Brian David Son, Lucien Partridge David February 16, 2012 Sarah and Sohail Yousuf ’98 Daughter, Zayla Sarene Yousuf December 8, 2011
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Shawn Hiner-Leamon ’05 stands in the middle with alum friends James Rahardja ’05 and Jonathan Gary ’06 in New York City. Shawn graduated from Dartmouth in 2009 and is currently pursuing his M.B.A. at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. His brother, Phillip Hiner-Leamon ’09, is a senior at Trinity University in San Antonio.
Why I Give Shawn Hiner-Leamon ’05 Shawn Hiner-Leamon ’05 entered Greenhill as a kindergarten student and fondly remembers the debate team and Honor Council as especially impactful experiences during his time as a student. “The skills you learn in debate – how to reason, how to defend both sides of every issue, how to research, how to persuade – are tremendously important every day,” he says. “Honor Council, the lack of locks on lockers, the needlessness of proctors during exams, the ability to trust my fellow students, are all things I have missed in my post-Greenhill world.” Of course, Shawn also remembers the peacocks. “Having been at Greenhill since kindergarten, I somehow think that having peacocks roaming the campus is a perfectly normal thing. These days I only see peacocks in the zoo, and my friends are incredulous when I tell them about my school. Seeing such beautiful creatures around is truly a treat.” Since graduating, Shawn has consistently supported Greenhill by contributing to the Greenhill Fund. “Giving – in whatever amount we can – is essential to ensuring Greenhill can provide for the next century of students. Everyone in the Greenhill family can make their impact by giving to the School.” To Shawn, the reason to give to Greenhill is simple: “The teachers, the students, the peacocks and the campus were essential in molding me into the man I am today. I give because I want others to enjoy the same transformational experience I had at Greenhill, both in and out of the classroom.”
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Greenhill School 2012–2013 Board of Trustees Officers Peter Andrew Kraus Chair Ann Frances Jury Assistant Chair/Secretary Thomas Curtis Holmes, Jr. Finance Chair/Treasurer Trustees Debbie Andres Ellenore Baker Karla R. Barber Barry Barnett Gilian Lempel Baron Sandra J. Beckert Aimee B. Boone ’97 John Baxter Brinkmann Dani Butowsky Nancy P. Carlson Clayton K. Deniger ’86 Gary J. Fernandes Laura Forson Holland P. Gary ’93 Scott A. Griggs, Head of School Gail Griswold David J. Haemisegger Joan Hill, Ed.D. Maria-Cristina Jaramillo Preethi Jayaseelan Oscar A. Joyner ’93 Rabbi Nancy Kasten Lester Levy, Jr. ’79 Zeck Lieberman, M.D. Malia Litman E. Pierce Marshall, Jr. ’86 Manju Menon Sandra Kim Moon Milton Packer, M.D. Guillermo Perales Mark Platt ’87 Pam Beck Pluss ’81 William E. Rose ’85 Steven Rudner Molly Fulton Seeligson ’60 Mark Solomon Bruce Sostek Mike Weinberg ’82 Waverly Ware Wilson ’86 Neena R. Wiora www.greenhill.org
Former Board Chairs Electing to Serve Ex-Officio Irwin Grossman Trustee since 1973 Michael J. Halloran Trustee since 2002 Rusty Jaggers Trustee since 1994 David L. Johnson ’67 Trustee since 1987 H. Ronald Nash Trustee since 1987 Lifetime Trustee Daniel T. Phillips Trustee since 1997
Greenhill School Advancement Office Scott A. Griggs Head of School Julie Diaz Chief Advancement Officer Alli Busby Director of Advancement Services Mel Curtis Administrative Assistant to Chief Advancement Officer Anne Hudson Director of Annual Giving Kristy Joiner Database Coordinator
Whitney Strauss Director of Alumni Relations and Major Gifts Emily Wilson Communications and Public Relations Associate Katie Young Alumni Relations Associate The Hill magazine is published two times a year by the Advancement Office of Greenhill School. Questions? Comments? Contact: Emily Wilson wilsonemi@greenhill.org
Theresa Jones Events Manager/Parents’ Association Liaison Joe Monaco Web and Media Services Manager
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Kerry Shea Director of Marketing and Communications
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