A PUBLICATION FOR PARENTS, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF HOLY INNOCENTS’ EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
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SPRING 2011 VOLUME VII ISSUE 2
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CERAMIC AVIARY
TURTLE RACE George Fallon, Brandon Jackson, Rachel McGovern, Maddie Keith, Lizzie Franco, and Molly Marcus-Dower
Reviving a long-lost and much-loved HIES tradition, Middle Schoolers held a Turtle Race during PR Day this spring. Final results should be available by 2012. Inspired by visiting author Ashley Bryan’s book, Beautiful Blackbird, Lower Schoolers crafted scores of ceramic birds, now installed on a stunning display in the Curtis Library.
Molly Marcus-Dower and Brandon Jackson Ethan Weiss, Sidney Long
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Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School offers an educational program encompassing academics, arts, athletics and spiritual formation. Through opportunities to grow intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally, students develop their individual worth and dignity. The challenging academic program prepares students for higher education and emphasizes learning as a pathway toward ethical leadership and a
From the Editor
Senior O’Neal Wanliss displays a couple of his trophies from the Boys State Track Meet, where he set Georgia’s all-time record in the 800 meters and won his third straight state title in the 400 meters. O’Neal will enter – guess where? – UNC in the fall on a track scholarship. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Nick Roberts CONTRIBUTING EDITORS June Arnold Michele Duncan Dunn Neugebauer Peggy J. Shaw Missy Ver Eecke Tamika Weaver-Hightower Mary Chris Williams GRAPHIC DESIGN Irby Heaton PHOTOGRAPHY Nick Roberts
I remember learning about the world when I was in school. It mostly involved capitals – La Paz, Quito, Nairobi, New Delhi, and a quiz on Friday. I didn’t even own a passport till I was 26. And I’ll never forget my first thought stepping off a plane in a foreign country, which was France: “Wow, the air feels the same!” But that first whiff of Paris gave me a strong wanderlust. Within three years, I’d put four more notches in that little blue book. And at the age of 33, I landed in Dakar, Senegal as a Peace Corps volunteer where, in three and a half years, I learned more about life than 17 years of classrooms could ever have taught me. Holy Innocents’ students now have real opportunities – at a very young age – to learn the realities of their world. Through the Program for Global Citizenship, HIES sister schools, and foreign exchange programs, they live, work, play, pray, and most importantly, empathize with people from all walks of life. They discover that not everybody on earth grabs a shower and a bowl of cereal in the morning and hops in the car for the ride to school. They discover that people aren’t different – but the environments they’re born into, the resources available, and the political systems to which they are subject, are very different. They discover that “My country, right or wrong” is wrong – and that, as citizens in a free society, it is their job to hold tight to the reins of government. These programs will only flatten the learning curve when it’s our kids’ time to step into global leadership roles. And that why I have so much hope for the future; because the HIES students I’ve come to know are all genuinely good kids – and they’ll be running things in a few years. Mark Twain said it best, as he often did: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrowmindedness.” Considering the programs our school has introduced recently, I’d say HIES has taken Mr. Twain’s words to heart.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS James Barker Heidi Domescik Gemshots Photographic Dunn Neugebauer Alice Thompson Missy Ver Eecke Leanne Weaver Cover photo by Scott Gibson
Letters to the Editor Please send to the attention of Nick Roberts, at nick.roberts@hies.org, or mail to: Nick Roberts Director of Communications Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School 805 Mt. Vernon Highway, NW Atlanta, GA 30327
commitment to the common good. The school provides a welcoming and supportive environment, embraces the differences inherent in a diverse community, and embodies the inclusive Episcopal tradition of respect for the beliefs of others. Holy Innocents’ is an active community of faith engaged in local, national and international service to others.
Nick Roberts
TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | VOLUME VII | ISSUE 2
School Philosophy
Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School develops in students a love of learning, respect for self and others, faith in God, and a sense of service to the world community.
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Mission Statement
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F E A T U RE S
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Remembering Patty Roberts
Students Without Borders
Dave Stockert Interview
COVER STORY Citizens Of The World The Growing International Focus At HIES
ARTICLES
10 | Chaplain Sarah Wood Finds Common Ground With Atlanta’s Homeless 11 | Joanne Thomas’ French Program Published 13 | From the Head of School 14 | Principal’s Corner 26 | Bearly Related DEVELOPMENT
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From The Development Office Jingle Bell Jubilee 2011 Gala – Denim and Diamonds Class Notes
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TorchBearer is published by the Offices of Admissions, Communications and Development of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. Special appreciation goes to the parents, faculty and staff whose contributions make this publication possible. Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy within this magazine. Please notify the editor of any errors or omissions and accept our sincere apologies.
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Erin Ernst will soon get a chance to try something that has escaped the world’s most influential statesmen for generations – find common ground between the three major religions originating in the Middle East. An Eighth-Grader at HIES, Erin has been chosen to participate in Kids4Peace Atlanta, a year-long cultural exchange program sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta between 12 youth from our city and 12 from Israel and Palestine (four Christian, four Jewish, and four Muslim). The American and Middle Eastern “Peace Pals” will share their stories, hopes, and dreams, discover their common heritage, and celebrate the differences and similarities between their cultures and faiths. Through social networking websites, the youth communicate throughout
the year. They learn about each others’ lives, faith traditions, and cultures. A highlight of the exchange occurs during the summer, when the students come together for a week at Camp Mikell in North Georgia, followed by a week of conferences at Emory University. Through storytelling, art, music, dance, food, and games, the youth weave together the tapestry which makes up their common story. After their return to the Holy Land, the Palestinian and Israeli youth continue with meetings and activities to strengthen their friendships and deepen their understanding of each other. The Americans also continue to meet and develop interfaith dialogue with other students in Atlanta. The program’s goal is to develop lasting friendships and to foster sustainable friendships across lines of conflict.
Qspwjejoh!Dbsf!!Up!Epdupst One of HIES Spanish teacher Vilma Orrego’s first jobs after arriving in Atlanta from her native Peru was as a bilingual secretary at Grady Hospital. Each day, she’d witness nurses and doctors struggle to make themselves understood, and to understand, their patients from Atlanta’s growing Latino population. “So I had an idea,” she says. Orrego created a program called “Interactive Spanish,” which goes beyond basic Spanish instruction to teach doctors and nurses the language they need to serve their Spanishspeaking patients. Two years ago, Wellstar hired Orrego to work with both Kennestone and Cobb Hospitals. “In each class I teach the medical terms, or how to greet a patient, or how to answer the questions people ask doctors,” says Orrego. “And now I have an opportunity 6 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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at Emory. They know me – I also teach Spanish at ‘Evenings at Emory’ – and they say they want to do it.” The benefits go beyond proper medical service, says Orrego. “Hospitals spend so much money with translation services,” she says. “So they reduce that expense. And the employees can use it not only to benefit the hospital, but in their own lives, as well.” Orrego’s service has caught the eye of other professions, too. She now teaches lawyers, police, utility employees, government employees, and anyone who needs to communicate regularly with native Spanish speakers – though where she finds the time is anyone’s guess. “I even have a website,” says Orrego, referring to www.interactivespanishnow.com. The question we’d like to ask her is, “What’s Spanish for ‘whirlwind’?”
Canada’s Game, Y’all Freshman Sean Barrett and junior Callan Connolly are two typical southern kids who love to play one of the oldest and most traditional of American sports. Ice Hockey. Yes, ice hockey. While most boys in Georgia grow up strapping on football or baseball helmets, both Sean and Callan spend three to four days per week after school at hockey practice while playing games on the weekend. “My dad used to play. He’s from Rochester, NY,” says Callan, “and he introduced me to it. I’ve been skating since I was 2 and have played in organized leagues since I was 4.” A defenseman, Callan is in his last year at the Marietta Ice Center before, “maybe playing club in college.” Sean, who plays at The Cooler in Alpharetta as a goaltender, found the game a different way. “When I was 7, I went to an all-sports camp and fell in love with rollerblading,” he says. “So I got into roller-hockey and it just progressed into ice hockey.” Hockey season in the south begins in late April or early May. With playoffs, a season can potentially run all the way through the following April. “You can play up to 50 games per season,” says Sean. The pair’s love for the sport adds a unque element to the front hallway of the Riley building. It’s not uncommon to spot a basketball lying around, maybe a lacrosse stick or two. But when you see the hockey gear, you know who it belongs to. Callan Connolly
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English teachers often very, very grateful. So now discuss connections we’re trying to get the ball between literature and rolling outside of Atlanta.” music – the rhythm Goode-Peoples describes of prose, syncopated the band’s style as, alliteration, lyrical poetry, ‘orchestral pop.’ “We have etc. Upper School English/ a kind of combination Media Literacy teacher of traditional, organic Rebekah Goode-Peoples, instruments with more however, brings a bit more high-tech, electronic insight than most. She and stuff,” she says. The band’s her husband Ryan formed instrumentation includes a band, Oryx And Crake, cello, violin, electronic Rebekah Goode-Peoples that has been receiving drums, assorted percussion, significant acclaim as one banjo, acoustic/electric of Atlanta’s top new groups. guitars, and keyboards. “We As a matter of fact, this also do a lot of handmade, past March, Oryx And midi (i.e. computerCrake was invited to play controlled) instruments.” She at the most celebrated and and Ryan co-write most of the influential music and film songs. festival in America, South The name of the band Cover of the band’s self-titled CD comes from the title of one of By SouthWest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. the couple’s favorite books. “It’s based on “We went out to play a big party that the book by Margaret Atwood, which is a Paste Magazine throws,” says Goodesort of post-apocalyptic, dystopian fiction,” Peoples, says GoodeOryx And Crake who plays Peoples. keyboard and “The conflict sings vocals of modern for the group. technology “There’s a with the label out traditional of Atlanta values called humans have, Favorite and what Gentlemen, happens so the people when those who run that things clash.” label threw an Atlanta-centric showcase What seems to be happening is a lot of called “ATL-yeah!” Very festive.” The buzz around Oryx And Crake. If you’d performance received stellar reviews from like to hear why, you can purchase their the press – something that has actually album at any of the major online retailers – been happening quite often, it seems. iTunes, Amazon, etc. – and even listen “We’ve gotten a lot of recognition and on YouTube. They’ll also perform at a whole lot of press in Atlanta – kind of Haiti palooza in the HIES Fine Arts unbelievable,” says Goode-Peoples. “The Building on May 21! AJC and Creative Loafing both said we To learn more, visit www. have the best album of the year, and we’re oryxandcrakeband.com.
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These days, getting “plugged in” usually means downloading the latest iPhone app. But for Holy Innocents’ junior Shannon Coen, it wasn’t nearly that easy. Shannon has been selected to participate in “Leadership Plugged-In”, a 21st century leaders summer program sponsored by Turner Broadcasting. But getting selected took its toll. Shannon sent out questionnaires, went through group interviews, and appeared before august panels of executives. The normally reserved teenager says of the process, “It was nervewracking. They would ask , ‘How do you feel about current events?’ or ‘What would you do to improve today’s school systems?’ You really had to put yourself out there.” Fortunately for her, and for the 21st century, she answered brilliantly. “It turned out to be a great experience,” she says. “I was nervous but I’m proud I’ve done it. Getting accepted was the cherry on top.” Shannon will participate in a residential program July 17-22 on the Georgia Tech campus. “Plugged-In” is designed to enhance high school students’ skills in personal leadership and critical thinking while focusing on how technology drives innovation in the business world. Participants will come from more than 130 high schools across Georgia. “These are some really smart people,” says Shannon. “I’m looking forward to it!” TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 7
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Zfu!Bopuifs!Fodpsf Jo!Ofx!Zpsl In what has seemingly (and amazingly) become a regular event for HIES, Middle and Upper School Choral Director Dr. Ben Sims brought his students to New York City again this past February to perform as part of the National Children’s (Middle) and National Youth (Upper) Choirs at Carnegie Hall. This time, though, the kids also got to see Philadelphia. And New Jersey. And a few other unexpected places after weather shattered their well-crafted travel plans both coming and going. While everyone quickly wearied of the planes, trains, and automobiles involved in the journey, the young singers were all smiles after performing at America’s most famous concert hall. That Sims has earned his students Carnegie Dr. Ben Sims performances in three of the past four years is truly extraordinary, considering he’s competing against hundreds of other schools across the country for the privilege. “Every year, I get an invitation to apply, and then I send audition materials to see if we can make the cut,” he says. Besides this past February, Sims’ Middle and Upper School Choruses also earned spots in 2008 and 2009. The younger singers were conducted by Henry Leck, an internationally recognized choral director who is also associate professor and director of choral activities at Butler University. The Upper Schoolers, meanwhile, enjoyed the direction of Anton Armstrong, Tosdal professor of music at St. Olaf College, and a man Sims describes as “the guru of choral music – he’s what Robert Shaw was in our day.” The students somehow managed to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing, considering their rehearsal schedule in New York rivaled those of Broadway professionals, as well as a sound check before Sunday evening’s concert. They also enjoyed some of the more famous New York eateries, including the Carnegie Deli, where Sims assured us, “The turkey sandwiches are still six feet tall.” Sims believes the New York trip gives students much more than simple adventure. “They take back a complete understanding of what professional choral singing is about,” he says. “What professional demands are, and the joy of meeting those expectations. And it’s not just the applause, but it’s the accomplishment of doing a professional job.” Bravo. 8 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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Lower Schoolers Get A Lesson In Love
Karen Barney and Liza Vaughan sat calmly at the Lower School’s front desks on April 21, greeting people, answering phones, and directing traffic around the building. When teacher Heather Berry’s boyfriend, Brandon Kirouac, entered, as he does fairly regularly, they thought nothing of it… until Brandon had stood in front of them for a solid ten seconds without uttering a syllable. Finally, though, Brandon opened his mouth. “I’m really nervous,” he said. And when he pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back, Karen and Liza understood that the day had just taken an interesting turn. “It was so cute,” says Karen. “He opened the box for us to see the ring and we were all just aflutter with excitement. Then he said, ‘I need help.’” Karen and Liza hid Brandon in an adjacent classroom until just a few minutes remained in the period. “He kept saying ‘I’m so nervous,’” says Karen. “He was holding the flowers – very cute – and as the students were just about to leave, he went in.” “I was completely oblivious to what was about to happen,” says Heather. “When he came in, I started to stand up to hug him, but he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!” This time it was she who was speechless. But only for a few seconds. “I said, ‘YES!’” Her students, apparently, picked up on the moment much more quickly, as squeals and cheers filled the air. “Especially the girls,” says Heather, not surprisingly. “Then I was all smiles for the rest of the day.” So congratulations to the happy couple – with best wishes for a long and loving life together.
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Sitting at lunch one day, a group of teachers were discussing what their first jobs after college had been. Middle School Principal Theresa Jespersen said she’d worked at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ, which had been housing Hessian mercenaries when George Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware and attacked. When asked if she wore a period costume for her job, Theresa grabbed a pen and napkin and, in just 15 seconds or so, sketched the dress she wore when giving tours. The image accompanying this story is, therefore, exactly how Theresa looked while working at her first job after grad school. When asked if she needed to affect an accent during the tours, Theresa replied, “Nobody in New Jersey has an accent.” Every attempt has been made to ensure historical accuracy in this reporting.
Holy Innocents’ launched its inaugural “Saving Lives” blood drive program this April to help raise awareness about the need for blood and put an end to summer blood shortages in Atlanta. Students, faculty and parents rolled up their sleeves and gave 78 pints of blood, which helped save almost 250 lives! “I am really proud of our students, faculty and parents for supporting this important program,” said Gene Bratek, Holy Innocents’ Head of School. “As educators, we instinctively know that blood is important. But in practice, blood donation is often overlooked as an important part of modern medicine. Since this program’s inception, I have heard story after story of how blood saved the life of someone within our school community or how one of our parent surgeons needed blood to perform an important surgery. There is no substitute for blood. We must do our part to teach our
children that the selfless act of giving blood makes a life-saving difference everyday,” he added. Many students donated for the first time, including Sarah Widener, who was
Sarah Widener
inspired by Head Football Coach Ryan Livezey, whose daughter is in remission from pediatric cancer. Coach Livezey
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Jsjti!Mbtt!Gspn!Ipmz!JoopdfoutÖ!Ebodft!Bxbz!Xjui!Dpnqfujujpot Many people who meet Nichole Murdock for the first time don’t realize that she came to the United States from Ireland only three years ago. And for a teen-ager who wants to fit in with the world around her, that’s just fine. Still, Nichole is extremely proud of her Irish heritage, and one way she honors it is through Celtic dance, a performance art popularized by the world-famous show Riverdance. The 14-year-old first donned a pair of Ghillies when she was only about 4 years old—back in the Emerald Isle. And she kept the Irish dancing shoes on when her family moved to America, where Nichole’s father, Ian Murdock, works with The Coca-Cola Company. “We did classes in Ireland, and when we
were leaving we thought that would be the finish of it, but in six months she found a class close to us,” explains Nichole’s mother, Josephine Murdock. “Then, when she went to class she was only there four days and there was a competition, and she won! Now, she’s going into prelims, which is a step behind world championships.” Nichole, a JV soccer team player at Holy Innocents’, understands how challenging it is for an athlete to keep fit. Just as demanding, however, is her dance class schedule at the Dan & Company Dance Studio in Dunwoody and Peachtree Presbyterian Dance Studio. “It’s a lot of work—you have to be able to dance for a long time,” says the Eighth-Grader, who goes to either group or solo classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and
Wednesdays, and attends two dance sessions on Saturdays. Dances that she’s mastered to date include the reel, slip jig, hornpipe treble reel and treble jig, and treble reel (her favorite) for solos, and the treble reel and reel for team dancing. Nichole’s dedication to Celtic dancing landed her on FOX 5 in Atlanta this past St. Patrick’s Day, and has taken her to different parts of the country, including Texas and Washington, D.C., for competitions. She usually places first or second in matchups, she admits modestly, and one of her dance groups recently placed third in the Southeast. Still, it’s not just the competition she’s interested in. “This makes me unique,” she says. “And it’s a good opportunity for me to keep up with the connection to Ireland, as well,” she says. “I’ve danced my whole life so it’s nice to be able to take that from home.”
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Some of Chaplain Sarah Wood’s most important work is accomplished off of the Holy Innocents’ campus. In fact, it’s not done on a campus or facility at all, but simply out in the open air. In December, 2010, Wood was named Assisting Priest at the Church of the Common Ground, a spiritual community for the homeless in Atlanta. Services take place in Woodruff Park, by the waterfall, every Sunday at 1 p.m., in the bitter winter cold or Georgia’s oppressive summer heat. Church of the Common Ground opened in fall 2006 as a “worshipful, safe space” where the homeless could come together with others and find God’s unconditional love and strength to heal. “The hope is to give them tools to get off the street,” explains Wood. To that end, the Upper School chaplain donates her time preaching, praying, serving lunches—and building relationships. “Everybody deserves a relationship,” she says matterof-factly. “Relationships transform us. It’s about building expectations that you’ll be there for each other.” Wood, a chaplain at Holy Innocents’ since 2007, began getting our school involved in Common Ground as a way to make students more aware of the needs of Atlanta’s poorest residents. “We have our own poverty issues here,” she emphasizes. “I wanted to get our kids invested in the city, in the needs of Atlanta—to have a relationship truly with ‘the least of these.’” For the last two years, Wood has also been working with faculty, staff, and students in a soup kitchen, St. Francis’ Table. “We are the biggest group that comes in on a consistent basis,” she says proudly of the HIES volunteers. “It’s important that the students are involved with this kind of transformative work.” In fact, Wood has been transformed, herself, by the experience of working with the impoverished. At first, she—like many people—was somewhat intimidated 10 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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by the thought of getting close to those at Church of the Common Ground and St. Francis’ Table. After observing faculty member Gerard Gatoux in action,
however, she gradually learned not to be afraid. “He was affectionate and warm, and would put his arm around them, and I thought I could, too.” Gatoux, in turn, praised Wood’s efforts in initiating Holy Innocents’ work with Common Ground and St. Francis’ Table. “These projects provide our students, parents, and faculty opportunities to live Jesus Christ’s words, which are to serve and love all our brothers and sisters,” he said. And Wood is also considered a blessing to her congregants. “We love her smiling and loving presence,” says Deacon Carole Maddux. “Her sermons are always so thoughtful and uplifting. She brings the light of Christ wherever she goes—even to some of the darker corners of this city.”
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....The 2010-11 school year marked a major rite of passage for HIES: our very first Upper School legacy. Kindergartner Reese Neumann is the daughter of David Neumann, class of ‘95, and the first child of a Holy Innocents’ graduate to attend HIES. “Even if I hadn’t gone to Holy Innocents’, it was still a no-brainer,” says Neumann. “HI’s just very strong. Excellent academics, we’ve got a great staff, and the technology – but the biggest thing for us was the community and the fact that I had such a great
experience.” Neumann points to Reese’s extracurricular activities as the highlight of her first year. “She’s cheering with the Little Bears – you can’t beat that anywhere,” he says. “You’ve got every age – elementary, middle and upper schools all on the same campus and no matter what age you are, you belong to the same thing. And the kids love looking up to the seniors, juniors and sophomores. Those girls that help out with the Little Bears – Reese just thinks the world of them, wants to be just like them. That is just huge for her.” So welcome, Reese, as the first of the second generation of Golden Bears. We’re all cheering for you.
Nnf/!Uipnbt!Ftu!Qvcmj f" The company Teacher’s Discovery prides itself on making the classroom, “as fun and interesting as possible.” To that end, they continuously search for innovative and effective methods, breakthrough concepts, and, most importantly, ideas that make students actually enjoy their schoolwork. Lucky for them they discovered HIES Middle School French teacher Joanne Thomas. A few years ago, Thomas (or Madame Thomas as she’s known throughout cyberspace in, of course, a French accent), created an entirely new methodology for teaching French. Teacher’s Discovery of Auburn Hills, MI, learned about her innovative program and offered her a contract. Earlier this year, they published her books and materials and have made them available in their most recent catalogue. As a matter of fact, Madame Thomas’ Middle School French Lessons is pictured on the front cover! “It’s a teacher’s guide with about 300 pages, and includes lesson plans, notes, Web 2.0 activities, and flashcards,” says Thomas. “The workbook has notes, worksheets and flashcards for the students.” The system is designed for sixth-grade students but, “It could be used over a two year period in fourth and fifth grades, and could also be used for exploratory,” according to Thomas. The idea for the program came to her after Chris Durst, who was principal of the Middle School at the time, asked her a simple question. “He asked, ‘Can you teach without a textbook?’,” she says. “And I said, ‘I write all my stuff anyway.’ And I thought – ding-ding-ding! – I write all my stuff…” Thomas had earlier decided that the French textbooks for sixth-grade students were sadly outdated. After searching in vain for more relevant content, she decided to create her own materials. So she enlisted the help of three of her students, Bailey Wilkie, Evy Mitchell, and Amelie Wendling, whose little brother Hartman joined the girls for the photo used on the books’ covers. “We went to a really small town in France and our job was to go search for native-speaking French teenagers and just ask them questions,” says Thomas. “We’d ask them, ‘How do you say this?’ We specifically targeted a little town where there would be no American tourists, so it was a pure, colloquial, teenager French.” “Then I wrote it,” she says, referring to her brand new, up-to-date materials. To make them accessible to her students (and to other French teachers who’d faced the same problems with stale books), she put everything online. “Because it’s the World Wide Web and I tagged all my pages so well, I’m number one on a lot of French-related searches. If you google ‘French Middle School,’ for instance, I’m number one and number two
out of about 130 million hits,” she says. The address of Thomas’ very popular website is ah-bonfrench.wikispaces.com. With her ever-expanding web presence, she soon realized that her program went well beyond a simple classroom textbook. “I realized that I’d created my own methodology for foreign language teaching,” says Thomas. “And that methodology is in four parts. It deals with flashcards, number one – so it’s French to image vs. French to English, which is a different type of mindset. I have two types of motivation. I have Web 2.0, which is the wiki and the quizlet, and several 2.0’s to bring the 21st century into it. And then I have realistic activities. So it’s a four-part methodology involved with the textbook.” Not all of Thomas’ fans are confined to the web. Middle School Principal Theresa Jespersen is also impressed by what Thomas accomplishes in the classroom. “She’s done a really great job of taking what’s an entry language for our students – because they don’t study French before sixth grade – and mading it something that is accessible and fun and very practical,” says Jespersen. “They learn how to shop, how to eat, how to order out, how to spend money, to use Euros. She covers a lot of things that I think aren’t even intentional – the exchange of manners and niceties while they’re shopping and doing other things. It’s a place where I think every student can master the material and feel like they are excellent. And I think that’s a gift.” Of course, such methods need hardly be confined to French. “Eliza (Suarez – MS Spanish teacher) uses it – this is her second year teaching it in sixth grade Spanish,” says Thomas. The two friends have developed a Spanish version of the website together. Teacher’s Discovery is translating the content into a Spanish version for their customers, also, which is scheduled to be released before next school year. While Thomas is understandably excited about getting published, she hopes that her association with Teacher’s Discovery is just the next step toward bigger things. In addition to her extensive online offerings and newly published materials, she also speaks at conferences around the country. And, she says, “I want to be a force in the foreign language community.” Of course, such talk could make some folks at HIES a bit nervous. Is our campus big enough to hold someone with such ambitious plans? “Oh, I’ll be here for at least the next 15 years,” she says, laughing. “I’m locked in till my boys have graduated.” Dieu merci!
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IN MEMORIAM
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
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Longtime HIES Chaplain Patty Roberts passed away last December after a long battle with cancer. During her years as Lower School and, later, Middle School Chaplain, Patty had an enormous effect on many people at HIES – and not just her students. “Patty was a source of calm and peace, which to her seemed very ironic, because she never saw herself as a calm or peaceful person,” says Middle School Principal Theresa Jespersen. “But she had to learn, in dealing with her illness, to transcend everyday cares and physical worries and pains, to find what was really important. And she was able to boil that down to that little kernel, that key issue.” One of Patty’s closest friends on campus was Lower School Chaplain Beth Lynch. “When I find that I’m going a hundred miles an hour trying to do a thousand things and beginning to get stressed and lose focus,” says Beth, “I remember Patty’s commitment to carving out quiet time each and every day, no matter what, to just sit and be still. When I do this I always feel better and more centered. “Patty and I each read a daily devotional called the Daily Word,” she continues. “Patty carried the small monthly booklet in her purse while I ended up getting it online. I still get it each day. It’s a daily connection with Patty as I say good morning to her and read our devotion.” 12 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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Patty’s students loved her, and took an active role in choosing the weeping cherry tree that was planted outside the front door of the Fred Rowan Family Middle School in her honor. As a matter of fact, one of the most beautiful testimonials to Patty was written by one of her students, sophomore Lindsay Stewart. It reads: It happened December 5th, when we all heard the news. They told us you went to a better place. God looked around his garden and he found an empty place. He then looked down on earth and saw your tired face and he put his arms around you and lifted you to rest. He knew you were suffering, he knew you were in pain, he knew that you would never get better on this earth again. So he closed your weary eyelids and whispered, “it is time.” You are someone to remember, a woman we loved so much. The memory runs through our minds of the last time we saw you. You lived a life of happiness, a life filled with love. You were always there to make us laugh and lift our spirits when our days were going wrong and times were tough. Since you left this world, things have never been the same. Not seeing your face, not hearing your voice. The thought of you runs through our heads as we look up in the sky, knowing you are looking down on us with a smile on your face, remembering the life you lived before you left this place.
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Patty with her husband, Dave, son Oliver, and daughter Julia
With Upper School Chaplain Sarah Wood
Presenting the Middle School Chaplain’s Award to Robert Moore
Recently, while walking to Lower School Chapel, I met HIES junior Austin Holland, who introduced himself to me. I remembered that he had the male lead in the recent Upper School musical A Little Night Music. I told him how much I admired his talent in acting, singing, and dancing and added that I couldn’t do any of that. He quickly responded, “You can do anything you put your mind to.” For a second I thought this was an example of the unbridled optimism of youth. But then I realized that he was echoing an attitude I have encountered in so many HIES students. I believe this “can do” way of thinking has been at the root of the student successes I have been hearing about since my arrival here. I saw it in the eyes and body language of fifth graders this year as they performed in their production of the musical HONK. I was amazed by their confidence, poise, and stage presence. Clearly, they thought they could do anything they put their minds to and then went about proving themselves right by their performance. I have always believed that the major role of teachers is to inspire their students to have a passion for learning. It’s so incredible to be with students who, in turn, are an inspiration for their teachers and other adults around them. In my first couple of months at HIES I have had the opportunity to visit classes and see first-hand how our students are progressing. In Craig McGowan’s sixthgrade science class students were studying air quality issues. While they discussed smog, London-type fog, photochemical smog, acid rain and other atmospheric phenomena, they also had the unplanned opportunity to learn some English grammar. When the phrase “the effect of smog on air quality” appeared on the SMART board, one student immediately wanted to know the difference between the words “effect” and “affect.” Just as quickly as the question was posed, another student responded, “Effect is a noun, affect
is a verb.” Wow, what a great example of instant, across-the-curriculum learning. “Last Man Standing” is a game Susie Ross plays with her fifth grade students. It’s a fast-paced exercise to review what has been learned about science in recent classes. There were “phone a friend”
opportunities and even bonus questions. Clearly, students were having fun while refreshing their memories of material they had learned only days ago. While I have never studied French, I envied those Middle School students in Joanne Thomas’ class recently as they gathered into three groups for the day’s lesson. Using the SMART board, each student, in turn, participated in a virtual shopping experience for an appropriate present for a classmate’s birthday. Then they presented their gifts and sang “Happy Birthday.” The class, of course, was conducted entirely in French. In Sarah Balfour’s second-grade reading class I watched as her eleven students enthusiastically stood and chanted the spelling of words from their spelling list. They then studied how prefixes changed the meaning of the root words they preceded. I noticed that every student was focused and mentally engaged in the day’s lesson as Sarah encouraged them to stay involved. I learned a lot about
non-standard units of measure in Kristen Ahler’s pre-first grade class. Kristen guided these eager young scholars through a thoughtful lesson that helped them understand some challenging concepts. The next day the students measured their own lengths and reported to me that their classroom was eight Griffins long, using the non-standard unit of Griffin Bittel’s length. An eye-opening treat for me was the visit I made to the Pre-School division. Watching these young students working with their teachers it seemed that I was seeing positive school attitudes being formed before my eyes. Heather Hahn was teaching her Early Learners (3-year olds) the letter “Q.” As she sat in her rocker she would pull from her box something that started with the letter “Q.” She would give clues to encourage her students to guess what might emerge. One clue was that she had something associated with a duck. Sitting on a rug in front of their teacher, students quickly guessed that she had a quack in the box. On it went with a piece of quilt and other “Q” items. I witnessed similar activities in Barbara Dye’s Pre-Kindergarten and Kathy Armata’s Kindergarten class. In all of these classes I saw students who were challenged, engaged in the thinking process, and delighted that they were having fun as they were learning. Somehow, I know that as these young students progress through HIES and enter the Upper School they will have developed multiple skills and talents and have many achievements that will make us proud. I am equally sure that we will be able to point to their formative years in Pre-School and Lower School when they developed such a positive attitude toward learning, and to the Middle School where they became confident and poised and ready to take on the challenges of Upper School. And, like Austin Holland, they will likely believe that if they put their minds to it, they can do anything. TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 13
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MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
PRINCIPAL’S CORNER
CHRIS DURST UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL I have said on many occasions that one of the charges to an independent school in the United States is to not merely create responsible citizens, but to foster an obligation and call to leadership. The shape of the world, and the instantaneous connections and relationships that accompany the 21st century, demand that our students are intellectually and emotionally agile in order to navigate a constantly evolving, pluralistic, and global society. Independent schools have the opportunity to help redefine American citizenship by leveraging civic opportunities for greater global engagement. Earlier this spring in both my US History course and on a school visit to Charlotte, North Carolina, I reflected upon the changes in citizenship over the last 50 years that have affected our thinking today. The first thought came to my students as we discussed the integration of the Little Rock, Arkansas public schools in 1957. It became evident to them that the timing of this event started a chain of independent schools opening around the United States—so many schools like HIES emerged in the aftermath of Little Rock.
Fast forward to 2011, Charlotte, NC and Johnson C. Smith University. JCSU is a historically black college just off the main corridor downtown. Central to its mission is JCSU’s partnership with civic leaders in the growth and revitalization of Charlotte. A group of school-minded entrepreneurs and the president of JCSU are exploring the possibility of creating an independent school on their campus. I consulted with this group on what it would take to start an Episcopal high school. Schools on a university campus are not unusual; however, it’s not commonplace. This particular project is unique in that the JCSU president is committed to bringing diversity to his campus…could it be that integration of a different kind was being proposed here? Is this a way to turn the jaded racial paradigm into something about civic responsibility? I’m intrigued with the urban campus model and the possibilities to help shape the evolving notion of citizenship for our students at Holy Innocents’. Several schools have taken to this idea; the Hawken School in suburban Cleveland is exploring ways to create curriculum around an urban campus setting. The possibilities for educational innovation around curriculum, connections, and use of time and resources will continue to emerge as ‘private schools with a public purpose’ and urban immersion campuses gain more traction.
For HIES, an urban campus associated with a local college or university has some advantages in redefining our thinking of citizenship and leadership: r QIZTJDBM QSFTFODF NFBOT TP NVDI BOE an educational enterprise that’s in close proximity to higher education, non-profits, and regional, national, and global businesses can only lead to greater connection and opportunity for our students; r VSCBO FEVDBUJPOBM PQQPSUVOJUJFT DBO foster and support an entrepreneurial spirit, especially in the areas of service and justice opportunities, and; r DPOUBDU XJUI EJWFSTF JOUFSFTUT JOIFSFOUMZ found in an urban setting can only lead to students’ understanding that local actions have a global impact. I hope a vision of urban immersion catches on, sooner rather than later. We are seeing this entrepreneurial spirit with our Global Citizenship students. The transformative impact of their experiences lies in their understanding that the role they play as informed and conscientious citizens has created tremendous meaning in their lives. One can only hope that at Holy Innocents’, we provide the same transformation for all our students.
Is it possible for 413 students ranging from Pre-First to Fifth Grade to make a difference in the world? Even if they could help the community and others, how would they do it? Most importantly, why would they want to help people they don’t know or may never meet? All of our Lower School students participate in our Virtues and Biblical Values (VBV) classes taught by our chaplain, Beth Lynch. The VBV classes build on the foundations laid in Pre-First through Second Grades. These students learn how to be the good people God created us to be. The activities range from baking and selling dog biscuits to benefit the Canine Assistants Program and bagging rice for the Community Action Center, to serving the elderly by delivering food provided by Meals on Wheels. In Third Grade, the students gain an understanding of the
biblical vision of justice and unity for all God’s people. Their visit to the Community Action Center provides an opportunity for them to see firsthand how our community pulls together to help the less fortunate. Our Fourth Graders focus on exploring the idea of the “common good” and how each individual is called by God to act upon this idea. The tough issues of hunger and homelessness are addressed and discussed. The service projects involve our students sorting donated food items at the Atlanta Community Food Bank and visiting the Atlanta Children’s Shelter. The Fifth Graders explore ways to answer God’s call to love our neighbors. These students visit the Solidarity School and provide learning opportunities for the Solidarity students and offer exceptional activities for the senior citizens at the Dorothy Benson Center. Yes, our students indeed make a difference! One of the best parts of my job is to witness our students actually “putting into practice” what we teach. This is when the “light bulb” goes on! For the Lenten Season, our Lower
School participates in the Starfish Project. This project provides critical funding for St. Matthieu of Haiti, our sister parish school. Students are asked to donate any change they might have during the forty days of Lent. This year our students decided to go beyond what was suggested. Their initiatives included holding bake sales (with homemade goodies baked by the students), making bracelets and headwear to sell, and saving allowances. I asked one of the students why she was making all of the bows and headbands for the Starfish Project. She responded that the Haitians needed her help and she would give it. Do our 413 students make a difference in this world? I would certainly answer, “Yes!” But ask the World War II veteran at the Benson Center. He tells of his experiences on a fighter carrier during the war and expresses how he looks forward to our students’ visits. He loves hearing the stories that our students tell. Why do we do it? Because around here, we know this is how it should be done.
TERRI POTTER
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LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
THERESA JESPERSEN
One of the things a private school should offer its students is a chance to develop some leadership and a sense of personal agency: one of the things a private school should offer its community is a commitment to engage and improve the world community. The Middle School is working on just that: developing engaged and committed leaders who will be ready (at some point) to tackle problems of a complex adult world. We are developing some programming that will continue some of the groundwork laid by the Lower School service learning and projects, as well as prepare our young people for the social entrepreneurship component of the Upper School’s Global Citizenship and service learning programs. Like our other age-specific programs, this is not a thru-way between childhood and young adulthood, but a real opportunity for our Middle Schoolers to explore and expand their personal horizons. An important step in demonstrating a school’s commitment to service,
or what some educators call civic engagement, is to place it in the curriculum. Next year our Sixth Graders will have a nine-week rotation on Service Learning. The course will introduce the students to some avenues where they might focus their efforts: there are myriad opportunities to serve, but by providing some specific strands, we may find our students better able to develop relationships with agencies, connections that are more meaningful for both students and community groups. Food and Families would include food banks, community action centers, and other ministries that assist people in need of basic necessities; Animals and the Environment would focus on animal rescue/adoption agencies or environmental education and protection services; and our sister schools in Japan, France, and Argentina, not to mention our special relationships with the St. Matthieu and St. Marguerite and St. Jean Baptiste schools in Haiti, constitute many Friends Overseas, our
A reporter from Parenting Magazine recently asked a group of educators a question that I found intriguing: “In an ego-centric world, how do we raise soul-centric children?” She clarified that, by “soul-centric,” she meant “kids who are aware of self and others and who lead through compassionate example.” As I consider the meaning of our HIES Mission Statement, and how it applies to our students outside of the confines of our campus, that question keeps returning to my mind. First, let me tell you that I love the phrase “soul-centric.” It was not one that I had heard before, but it is perfect for what the Pre-School faculty and I work hard to achieve with our children. Along with a “love of learning” and a “faith in God,” our Mission Statement calls for the development in our students of a “respect for self and others... And a sense of service to the world community.” I think with the youngest children, especially, this last phrase is critical. In our work with the 3-year-olds, PreKindergartners and Kindergartners,
we are often introducing them for the first time to the idea that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. For all of their lives, their world has mainly consisted of home, immediate family, and perhaps their neighborhood. But at HIES we endeavor to help them understand that they are part of a school community, and greater still, a “world community,” and, as such, they have a responsibility to contribute. I often tell our students (and our parents, too) that you don’t have to be an adult to be a teacher. Whether you are 3-years-old or 103, you have something to give to the world. You have knowledge and experiences that no one else has had, and it is your responsibility as part of this school family, and as a citizen of the world, to share that knowledge and those experiences with others. I think that knowing they will be heard, and that others want to hear what they have to say, empowers the children. It is my hope that it also inspires some self-reflection on what an awesome responsibility it is to be
third strand. Our design allows for growth and development of the Service Learning program into the seventh and eighth grade curricula, encouraging long-term involvement and, in the best-case scenario, a chance for students to assess needs and design their own service projects. What an awesome opportunity to foster service to the world community and leadership at the same time! Learning works best when it is engaging and positive. It’s difficult to imagine a more affirming opportunity for our young people to affect change and culture commitment. I am very excited about the future and the roles our students will play in shaping it.
a teacher, and the realization of this, in turn, will inspire a mindset more cognizant of the needs of others. Will it completely eliminate egocentricity? Of course not. But it is a good start. I realize that this may be overly ambitious when we are talking about children who are just now learning not to bite each other when they are frustrated. But I think a little ambition is a good thing, and I know that kids will often thrill me with the amazing levels of insight that they can provide into the subjects of empathy and compassion. These traits are there, inherently, within each of them. Our responsibility as teachers and parents is to guide them in thought and in action to an understanding of how powerful the act of placing others before ourselves can be.
PRE-SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
GREG KAISER
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INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
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Despite the well-worn phrase, the world isn’t really getting smaller. Earth’s diameter has remained pretty constant for the past four billion years or so, at just under 8,000 miles. Mt. Everest climbs a few more feet each century and the Mariana Trench sinks a few. But as the old advertising slogan says, “Perception is Reality.” And if that’s true, then the world is now about the size of Milwaukee – and shrinking at a Disney-esque pace. Consider, for instance, the ease, immediacy, and cost of global travel. Just one hundred years ago, it took anyone – or anyone who was wealthy and could afford such extravagance – weeks on an ocean liner just to get from New York to London. Today, virtually anyone with a few hundred dollars can wake up in Atlanta and stroll the Thames ten hours later. Or think about international communications. “Current” world news first appeared with transcontinental telegraph service in the late 1800s. After whizzing through the radio, TV, and satellite revolutions, our global communications are now person-toperson in real-time between virtually any two (or three, or ten) spots on the globe. The effects of such developments – in business, politics, medicine, research, etc. – is still anyone’s guess; the paradigms seem to change about every six months. But the simple reality is that today’s youth will enter a geopolitical landscape and international marketplace unlike any in our history. So who can imagine the consequences and/ or opportunities of such development? The answer, to those of us at HIES, shouldn’t come as much of a surprise: forward-looking educators.
Mother and daughter, Tay and Pyrrha Rivers, in Japan
sophomores focused on international issues and policy, global environmental concerns, religion, literature, and foreign language study. It also requires students to travel through foreign study or service projects. Meanwhile, during the 20102011 school year, we formalized relations with another “sister school” – Colegio Carmen Arriola de Marín in Buenos Aires, Argentina – which, along with schools in Briey, France A makeshift classroom in Haiti. and Sapporo, Japan, gives us a total of three active and engaged foreign exchange programs. The process of establishing such a relationship with a school in South Africa has also begun, hopefully culminating in a formal agreement by the end of the year. Current HIES students have studied in Egypt, Japan, Morocco, and England, to name just a few of the places that now benefit, and benefit from, our school’s long-distance focus. And a Chinese exchange student will graduate HIES in 2011, having shared and received two years worth of insight and understanding between very, very different cultures. None of these programs would even have been possible 20 or 30 years ago. And who knows what in the world of education might become possible next?
Back to the future
Sarah Venable, Caroline Keenan, and a Japanese exchange student Kate Borden
What in the world will we do next? Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School now boasts some of the most aggressive and, literally, far-reaching international programs of any school our size in America. The Program for Global Citizenship is a three-year curricular option for rising 16 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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Price Barnett learns to write Kanji symbols from a visiting exchange student.
The question remains – how will such a “shrinking” of our world affect the opportunities, challenges, and potential of today’s students? Of course, there is no definitive answer. But we learn from the past, and history allows us to gauge potential. So the educators at HIES have decided to make the world as available as possible to their students, to teach critical thinking skills, to embrace the differences between cultures, religions, and artists. If our students had lived just a hundred years ago – a virtual blip on the evolutionary timeline – chances are they’d never travel in their lifetimes more than fifty miles from their places of birth. Today, most of them do that before they’re out of diapers. Now that’s a small world.
Rachel Garber works with other American students for an NGO in Ghana
Djuj{fot!Pg!Uif!Xpsme The HIES Program for Global Citizenship In today’s history books, the 20th century is often referred to as “The American Century.” Our country became the world’s major superpower, the dominant force in global economic, military, cultural, and political affairs. English became the de facto international language – because that’s what we spoke. Any company with designs on international trade needed a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The world’s democracies made no foreign policy moves without approval from the White House. And the movie, music, and pop fashion industries became red, white, and blue. But as Bob Dylan forecast in 1964, “The times, they are a-changin’.” Today, America is still the major force on the international scene, but over the past decade, a lot more colors have appeared on the global palette. With the Star Treklike advance of communications – the
opportunity and, as we learn all too frequently on the evening news, danger. Global influence is no longer dictated by GDP. Ideas and perseverance now rule – and their potential is born inside of every baby on earth. So if American students are to succeed in the 21st century, they’ll need to understand the factors behind this distribution of influence, to think ahead on a truly international and multi-cultural scale. They’ll need teachers who can direct their thinking toward a much larger picture. Like the teachers at HIES. Internet, wireless technology, remote management tools, social media, etc. – businesspeople no longer need to move to Wall Street to move their products. The facility and swiftness of international travel has literally opened the world to the masses, bringing unimaginable
Sandy Springs Episcopal School “I remember when I first came to Holy Innocents’, talking to a senior about his fear of going off to college,” says Upper School Principal Chris Durst. “For that student – and a lot of students TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 17
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INTERNATIONAL – Holy Innocents’ had been quite a small container; they hadn’t known much outside Sandy Springs or Atlanta. So I think we had an obligation to push at that container, to explore opportunities for students to expand their boundaries. And one of the ways to do that was Global Citizenship.” The HIES Program for Global Citizenship (PGC) was born four years ago as a direct response to the parochial nature of the traditional American high school curriculum. It is a three-year program beginning sophomore year that focuses on international issues and policy, global environmental concerns, comparative religion and literature, and foreign language study. It also includes international study and service projects. “One of the obligations of independent schools is to prepare students for leadership,” says Durst. “Independent schools have the intellectual strength in the United States – the data suggests that we have the top five to ten percent of the smartest kids. And for us not to engage them in ways of global awareness is kind of a dereliction of our educational duty. So I think that preparing kids for the 21st century, they have to be prepared to navigate between different cultures, languages, different ideas, so that it’s not foreign to them when they leave here.” The director of PGC, Quinton Walker, remembers being approached about the project. “The conversation started in 2004,” says Walker. “The board wanted to explore the option of an International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, but a self-study concluded that really wasn’t a good fit for Holy Innocents’. So then they decided to explore other options that were more global in nature, that could help broaden our school’s – and our students’ – boundaries. The board especially wanted to focus on developing our kids’ commitment to service. So with that broad charge, Chris and I set out to try to find a real answer to the question, ‘How do we get students genuinely engaged in conversations about the world?’” Today, those conversations take one of four forms. Walker explains them as 18 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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INTERNATIONAL follows: “First, academic enrichment – if there is an academic area for which a student feels passionately, and there’s a place in this world they can further that, we want them to take that opportunity. An Travel is an integral component of the Program for Global Citizenship. This year’s sophomores and juniors have traveled, or plan to travel, on their study/service programs to the following locales: Sydney, Australia Phnom Penn, Cambodia San Jose, Costa Rica (2) London, England Lyon, France Madurai, India Cinque Terre, Italy (3) Florence, Italy Sapporo, Japan (5) Tokyo, Japan Ann Arbor, Michigan (Univ. of Michigan) Rabat, Morocco Managua, Nicaragua (2) Kigali, Rwanda Malaga, Spain Arusha, Tanzania (3) Kenya/Tanzania Washington, DC example would be Carter Ehlers studying at Oxbridge, a summer program at Oxford University (England) –she spent six weeks there taking classes in psychology and Far Asian studies, and will continue pursuing those interests next year at Wake Forest University. “Second is a cultural immersion experience, which often includes a home Rachel Garber in Ghana
stay setup. This means going somewhere – or really, living somewhere – and being totally immersed in a culture different from our own. Madison Inglett trekked through the Atlas Mountains of Morocco for six weeks, learning far more about North Africa and its nomadic people than could ever be possible here at HI – or really in any school in America. “The third is a service component: Carolina Saca teaching organic English – tutorial English for the French-
environments,” he says. “These are people skills we want them to develop. “Beyond that, in the classroom, we focus on the 21st century competency development – critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. I want each of the program’s graduates to be able to access and analyze information, weigh its merits, and synthesize the information into their own distinct world view.”
On Top Of The World So far, the program has received glowing reviews from both its participants and the larger HIES community. Walker and Durst continue to tweak certain components, but feel confident in its goals and direction.
Tay Rivers
speaking people of Guadeloupe, would be an example. This summer, Emma Van Beuningen will work with an orphanage putting together photographic materials to help them with a fundraising campaign in Tanzania. Many of our students choose this option, since it’s very close to our school’s mission and the Episcopal traditions they’ve been involved with for as long as they’ve attended HI. “And finally, there’s a study abroad experience, for students who want a more long-term commitment. Brianna Schacter spent a year in Greece working with students who wanted to become more civically engaged. And recently, Tay Rivers was taking a full semester in Japan when the earthquake struck.” Walker explains that the program also focuses on universal concepts not necessarily confined to foreign study. “We also work toward increasing students’ competence with diversity and inclusion – having students who are not only aware, but also seek to build inclusive
Justice, in this case, doesn’t mean lawyers, defendants, and courtrooms. “Diversity consciousness, for example, is a way for us to develop a more sound justice-orientation in our students,” explains Walker. “Thinking about gender
Carolina Saca working with other students for an NGO in Guadeloupe
“I like the curricular requirements from other disciplines – the increased foreign language requirements, comparative religions, and AP environmental science,” says Durst. “I knew there was going to be a macro perspective around global studies and international relations and that the service component was going to be strong. I also felt that there needed to be a culminating activity at the end – the capstone experience. Originally,” he continues, “it was to be a reflective piece on what they had done internationally, what their service projects were, what their passions were. But now it’s turned into something even better. Because after that first year, we really began to pound the notion that our work should be centered around justice as opposed to charity. And the Episcopal School Association is making a point that in service orientation, students should be working for justice.”
Carter Ehlers with a friend in China
or race, for example, helps us look for facets of our world that may be unequal or unjust for certain populations. We can look at gender or race from an academic standpoint to gain a shared understanding, and then we’ll be better able to look toward real-world issues surrounding race and gender and examine where they result in inequity. But not until you understand these inequities can you truly speak to justice in the 21st century.” The program designed for senior year has also evolved; it is now called the “Incubator.” “That’s our way of giving the seniors a real chance to put into practice the things we’ve talked about. Once they come back from their international experiences, we ask them to think about certain issues that captured their attention,” says Walker. “Or, they may look right here in Atlanta and think about community-based challenges. In short, we ask them to bring a critical lens to society and examine it for an unjust situation that exists for a group of people. Using a social entrepreneurship framework, students develop their ideas to address these problems, and, depending on their success, are granted funding to bring that social enterprise to life. Really, it’s about taking a sterile classroom experience and making it real. Students are identifying and addressing problems, and trying to change the world for the better. But with that realness comes a certain amount of ‘messiness’ and struggle. And it is vital
for our 21st century leaders to experience these challenges in a safe environment like Holy Innocents’.” Examples of such projects include Spikes 4 Tykes, a foundation established by O’Neal Wanliss to send used track shoes to students in his parents’ native Jamaica, and Bead of Hope, a non-profit created by Lily Rolader and Brianna Schacter that sells jewelry and other keepsakes, with the proceeds going to help rebuild Haiti. “I think it’s evolved from merely doing service projects and having an international experience to more of a proactive way of serving the common good,” says Durst. “In that way, the curriculum pieces in the program are maturing.”
Learning To Let Go When It Comes To Learning As with any such international program, safety is a major concern. How can HIES ensure that these kids will be ok when traveling to foreign countries? “For us, it’s a lot of phone conversations vetting references,” says Walker. “There’s no agreed–upon accrediting body for these agencies. I speak to schools who have used various travel partners. The students check with other students who have traveled, parents check with other parents. Each layer exercises the due diligence necessary so that all parties involved feel safe in their decision. The students, ultimately, drive their experiences, and we do what we can to facilitate those experiences safely.” Alex MacLellan, Carolina Saca, Emma Borne, and Rachel Walker in Nicaragua
“I get a little nervous,” says Durst. “But we have a bit of quality control. We try to direct students in ways where we are fairly certain of what the programs will be and what the experience is.” TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 19
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INTERNATIONAL Apparently, it’s working. The lone instance that caused concern was Tay Rivers’ studying in Japan when the earthquake struck in March (she was fine, by the way – see page 23). Actually, the biggest concern with PGC these days is supply vs. demand. In its current state, only about 25% of the students who apply for the program can be accepted. Says Associate Head of School Rick Betts, “I’d like to see the program enroll more students. We’re basically between 15 and 18 kids in Rachel Garber in Ghana each class, and I’d like to see more like 30 kids involved.” Durst agrees, and hopes to expand PGC beginning in 2012. He’d also like to see a more localized evolution. “I’d love to see Holy Innocents’ have an urban presence in downtown Atlanta – to have an extension school and a physical presence so that students can engage in activities in Atlanta that are fairly global, and work with non-profits to broaden their perspectives that way,” he says. “It would be nice if we could partner more closely with other schools or colleges and universities here Carolina Saca and other American in town to create students in Guadeloupe something like that. And with the popularity of the program, now we’re looking to create a Center for Global Citizenship that does a variety of things and attracts more students and that has maybe a wider reach, a broader reach.” Walker, too, recognizes the potential for the continued evolution of the program. “We have really just scratched the surface of what we can do with our students. The greater educational landscape is changing and we want to ensure that Tay Rivers we are relevant. Students have to move beyond just knowing things. We need them to do things – and do them now. The Program for Global Citizenship wants to be both relevant for our current students and responsive to the evolving educational world. We will keep working to further develop the program. Each of my students deserves that. I fervently believe these students really will change the world.” As the saying goes, “The world is watching.” Stay tuned. 20 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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Mjwjoh!Bcspbe Jo!Tboez!Tqsjoht Not all students can travel the world through the programs now at HIES. Fortunately, the administration has brought a small part of the world to campus. Her name is KK Wu. The first foreign exchange student in HIES history, KK will graduate with the class of 2011. You may remember this extraordinary young woman from last fall’s issue of TorchBearer, in which we included a story on her taking AP Calculus C and Multivariable Differential Calculus courses through Stanford University’s online Education Program for Gifted Youth. What few people realize, however, is that KK very nearly wound up elsewhere in America. “The institute gave me a list of 200 or 300 schools and Holy Innocents’ was not on the list” says KK. “But at the last second, the teacher emailed me and said, ‘There is a school in Atlanta and they would love to have an international student.’ So I checked the website and it looked like a fun place, so I picked Holy Innocents’.” KK comes from the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, China. While she was excited at the prospect of studying in America, she found the transition difficult at first. “Junior year was really tough. I remember the first day I came into a classroom and I couldn’t understand a thing the teacher was talking about, I didn’t understand what was going on,” she says. “But this year has been really good.” KK says the main difference between American and Chinese education is the interaction between students and teachers – something that really doesn’t happen at her old school. “And people are more flexible here,” she says. “I don’t mean that I can miss a deadline or something. But if I have a reasonable explanation of why I missed something, people will understand your difficulty.” “For our community,” says Associate Head of School Rick Betts. “KK has taught the kids about understanding and respecting a person from another culture, She’s a model of the diligent student – she’s excelled academically in a country that doesn’t speak her native tongue.” Upper School Principal Chris Durst probably best sums up KK’s transition over the past two years. “I don’t consider KK an exchange student,” he says. “She’s a Holy Innocents’ student.” Next year, KK will attend North Carolina State University, where she’ll study Engineering. She says she’ll miss a great deal about her time at HIES. “I’ll miss my friends. And I will miss my host family.” The Rasmus family, with whom KK has lived while in Atlanta, has two children attending HIES. “They are super nice. I’m going to miss them so much next year.”
INTERNATIONAL The great American novelist Louisa May Alcott once wrote to her sister, Meg, “Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood.” The sentence could just as easily be attributable to Gerard Gatoux. The HIES French and Spanish teacher has made it his mission to promote cultural awareness and sensitivity through foreign exchange relationships with high schools around the world – i.e. “sister schools.” Last fall, he and Foreign Language Department Chair Christine Stafford announced the third such relationship for HIES – with Colegio Carmen Arriola De Marín in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Gatoux brings a unique perspective to the program. A native Frenchman, he understands the difficulties and obstacles of immersing oneself in a foreign culture. But he also understands the unique opportunities, for both learning and fellowship, that such programs offer. When he joined HIES in 1998, the school had just begun an exchange program with Asahigaoka High School in Sapporo, Japan. “I was very, very impressed with the school in Japan and I felt we needed to do something to get better in French and Spanish,” he explains. “And the best way, in my opinion, is to have close ties to countries where those languages are spoken. So I decided to have a sister school in France and I started about three years ago.” That led to our second sister school relationship, with Lycée Louis Bertrand in Briey, France. “We have made a very strong program in France, and the future is very bright,” says Gatoux. “We’ve made three exchanges – they’ve come here twice and we’ve been there once and plan to go again next year in March. To me it has become a well-oiled machine.” Besides exchange trips, students hold regular videoconferences with their foreign counterparts utilizing the latest
Lycée Louis Bertrand Japanese students visit the Alan A. Lewis Pre-School
web-based technology, and are encouraged to form pen-pal – or rather, email-pal – relationships with individual students, many of which have blossomed into close friendships over the years. Upper School Principal Chris Durst has enjoyed a bird’s-eye view of the program’s progress. “I think the transformative effect that it has had on our kids has been remarkable,” he says. “Sitting in those meetings with the Japanese and French exchange students and listening to the kids talk about the relationships and how much it’s meant to have them in the States – it’s profound and deeply moving.” Associate Head of School Rick Betts concurs. “They begin to build relationships with students their own age in other countries. That only makes them more enriched as individuals,” he says. “And I think it’s a mutual reward; kids from other countries get to know more about Americans and vice versa. And they really build some tight bonds.” Once the French connection had become established, however, it was time to seek a relationship with a Spanishspeaking community. Aside from English, Spanish is, of course, the language most widely spoken in the United States and, over the past 25 years, has displaced French as the default foreign language program for young students. Gatoux and Stafford set their sights on South America. “I tried Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica… I tried many countries and it didn’t work,” says Gatoux. But with the help of a former teacher at Colegio Carmen Arriola De Marín who now works for CNN en Español in Atlanta, they were introduced to their counterparts in Buenos Aires. When Gatoux and Stafford visited Argentina last July, the two schools realized they were a perfect fit and began the process of establishing a formal relationship. According to Gatoux, the criteria for successful sister school programs is quite
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Colegio Carmen Arriola De Marín French students enjoy dinner with their HIES friends, including Gerard Gatoux, left.
K.C. Crewdson, Gérard Gatoux, Megan Ernst, Ana Marie Sokolowski, Jake Decker, Imani Anderson, Christine Georgakakos, Sarah Merkel, and teacher Maria Barberis from our Argentine sister school.
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INTERNATIONAL simple. “First off, we want to see where our kids will be safe,” he says. “Secondly, we want the school to have the same values we do – as far as academics, religion, sports… I think it’s important, because these kids are going to become good friends, hopefully, and they need to have some things in common.” Even though the relationship in Argentina has just begun, Gatoux is still looking ahead. “I would love to have a sister school on each continent,” he says. “But what does that mean – Antarctica?” Since there are no schools at the South Pole, a more realistic goal might be a relationship on each inhabitable continent. And he’s already begun the process. After exploring schools in Senegal and Cameroon, Gatoux finally got a nibble. “We are on a good track to have one in Africa within a year,” he says. “Most likely in South Africa – Cape Town.” “We have to realize we are not only citizens of the United States, we are citizens of the world,” HIES students visit Tokyo in 2009
says Gatoux. “So by learning another culture, another way of seeing things and learning things, we are getting better ourselves. The Japanese are strong working in teams and we are strong as individuals, so we are learning to do stuff with other people – and all our kids have responded very well to that. And the Japanese, when they come here, they love the idea of being individualized – they love to see the relationship between student and teacher. So they learn from us and we learn from them. That’s what it’s all about.” According to everyone associated with the program, that is, indeed, what it’s all about. But Stafford also appreciates who brings it all about. “We would not be here if it weren’t for Gerard,” she says. “He is simply the backbone of the entire sister school program. He’s so involved in it and he’s been a wonderful supporter of it.” 22 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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Tuvezjoh!Bsbcjd!Bu!Uif!Tpvsdf! Cz!Lbuf!Cpsefo!Õ22 Checking a box changed my life. I applied for a summer program and checked a box on the application saying that I would like to be considered for a longer program. However, after a long and rather dramatic process, I was offered a State Department scholarship to study abroad for a semester in Egypt. Along with eleven other scholarship recipients, I was flown to New York in late August. Many of the participants were students taking a gap year; everybody spoke at least one other language and many were set to attend impressive institutions in the fall of 2011, such as Middlebury College, Princeton University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The rapport within the group was, and remains, one of my favorite parts of my journey. We were all armed with copious amounts of luggage and unbridled enthusiasm. Soon enough we were on a plane to the land of the pharaohs. We arrived during the holy season of Ramadan. Living in an Islamic country is obviously very different from secular America. However, I soon learned to love the various religious customs, such as the call to prayer and the constant murmurs of “Insha’Allah”, meaning, “with God’s will”. I soon started school and Arabic class, both of which were experiences in and of themselves. I attended the American division of the Misr Language Schools with another exchange student. This school is American in name only. Academics were rudimentary at best and behavior was terrifying at worst. Let me just say that fistfights between boys are a daily occurrence. However, I quickly made friends and learned to love MLS. I also spent much time attending supplementary language classes at the renowned Kalimaat Language Institute for 15 hours a week. I was lucky, as my class consisted of me and one other girl, while the other language class had ten students. I attended Egyptian colloquial Arabic classes taught by a lady named Mona and modern standard Arabic taught by a man named Ra’afat, the institute director. Ra’afat is a true character. He is uncharacteristically tall for an Egyptian, from Aswan, and speaks with an intimidating, booming voice. At first, we, the other girl and I, feared him because when we would answer a question incorrectly he would, in a very theatrical manner, lightly slap our faces and exclaim “Allah yakhra betik!”, “May God destroy your house!”. However, once we got to know him better, we found that he was just a giant teddy bear. As different as Egypt was – the food, the roads, the language, and basically everything in general – the warmth of the people was a reminder of home. I was reminded of the people at Holy Innocents’; people were so willing to help me and I could not help but think of the faculty and staff at HIES. I feel so grateful that the folks at HI were so accommodating; after all, it was only because of our gracious administrators that I was even able to go; they worked with me to make sure I could graduate on time. I highly encourage other HIES students to go abroad; although I did not go through the Global Citizenship Program, the school has been eager to both help me go abroad and to readjust to American school and life. I hope that after my experience, other Golden Bears will feel encouraged to go overseas with the State Department; I recommend applying for NSLI-Y or YES. I know that our students have great potential and that if we simply apply ourselves we can see the world. Finally, for those parents who are afraid of their child going abroad, especially to the Middle East, I leave you with this: much of the Arabic language colloquialisms are centered around peace. People constantly bestow hopes for peace upon one another. The typical parting words in Arabic translate to “peace be with you”, so ma salaam!
INTERNATIONAL
IJFT!Tuvefout!Wjtju!Ibjuj!Up! Tbgf!Cvu!Tiblfo Ifmq!Qmbo!Ofyu!Tufqt faculties at all the schools. These are working men Earlier this spring, Upper School Religion and women, with families. teacher John Porter, who has helped oversee the “And we have to pay – or somebody has to relationship between the people of Leogane, Haiti pay,” he continues, “for some architectural plans and the communities of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal for the reconstruction. And we have to take down Church and School, took yet another trip to the the broken pieces of the mother church at St. island country that remains devastated from the Matthieu, because that is dangerous and there are earthquake nearly a year and a half ago. children all around that campus now. So that will This time, he brought along two HIES seniors, cost around $8,000.” Lily Rolader and Brianna Schacter. “They’ve Porter estimates the chaired the Haiti Club Brianna Schacter and immediate needs for the and have raised a lot Lily Rolader visit with the principal of St. parishes at $20,000. “That of money through Marguerite school in will be good, because events like Haiti Week, a temporary, outdoor they’ll see the buildings Hoops for Haiti,” says classroom. changing,” he says, Porter, “and I wanted to emphasizing the emotional reward them before they boost that actual graduated.” construction activity will According to Porter, have on the communities. “Lily and Brianna took The schools at St. Haiti by storm. The Matthieu, St. Jean Haitian children loved Baptiste, and St. them.” But this trip Marguerite all continue was a far cry from the to operate, though in pre-earthquake exchange a manner significantly program, when new different from the days buildings and bright before January, 2010. uniforms had people “They’re going to school in both Leogane and now on the lawns, covered Atlanta excited about with little tarps,” says the future. Fundraising Porter, “and in the church is now more important and in the rectory and than ever. all over. They bring their little chairs out and the “I told the congregation that the two girls were teachers teach under the trees and under the tarps responsible for raising $10,000 and they gasped if it’s raining.” and applauded.” “All three schools are partially usable,” he says. After greeting the parishioners, the students “And where they’re not usable, they’re out on the toured the three schools damaged in the lawn.” earthquake. “They saw what we all saw,” says Porter estimates that it will take about five Porter. “They saw the destruction. They saw the years to bring all the facilities back to normal. hope and despair.” “Of course, we will want the schools rebuilt,” he When asked what such things look like these says, referring to the American idea that education days, Porter doesn’t hesitate. “The despair should be the priority. “But I have a suspicion they looks like rubble, tents, congestion, disease, will want the church – because that’s the heart cholera – worsening conditions, environmental of their life. It’s much different than the United strangulation,” he says. “The hope looks like the States, where church is optional. It’s not optional joy, the smiles, the coping, the praising God.” for them – they need their community. But I would The Holy Innocents’ community continues say five years if we were to work steadily to get to plan and support our friends who’ve suffered back to where we were.” so much over the past 16 months. But nearly To help our friends in Leogane, please donate everything that needs doing remains undone, and to the Kirk Duncan Endowment Fund for Haiti, the survival of the schools is in a precarious spot. either through the HIES website at www.hies. “The fiscal situation is that we have to pay for the salaries of the teachers The presidential palace remains in org/gifts, or by sending shambles 16 months after the earthquake a check to the HIES at all the schools for the Development Office at next quarter,” says Porter. 805 Mount Vernon Hwy, “And that is about $5,000, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327. which covers all the
The world watched in horror March 11, as a devastating earthquake and tsunami destroyed parts of Japan, killed thousands of people, and initiated an ongoing nuclear crisis. For weeks, people around the globe stayed glued to their televisions, waiting to see what might happen next. HIES junior Tay Rivers, however, had a much closer perspective. A student in the Program for Global Citizenship, Tay had moved to Japan on January 2, after her mother accepted a position teaching Spanish at the Yokosuka U.S. Naval Base on the southern end of Tokyo Bay. After originally wanting to study in Spain, Tay’s plans changed when her mom got the opportunity in Japan. Little did she know, she’d wind up just a couple hundred miles from the epicenter of one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. “It was after school and we were about to have softball practice,” says Tay, now safely back at HIES. “They have small tremors all the time, but that was the first time I’d felt anything like that.” She said that when she realized what was happening, she felt a bit of excitement, a brief surge of adrenaline. “But then you step back and think, ‘If it’s this strong here, then it’s stronger somewhere else.’” Authorities at the base continuously emphasize the potential for tsunamis – Japan lies directly above one of the world’s most active fault lines and the base is, obviously, on the water. So Tay knew what to do after the quake. “My mom and I went to a friend’s apartment on the base – she lives in a tower, and we stayed there till the warning was lifted.” Tay says she was impressed with the reaction of the local Japanese. “They were so calm,” she says. “The next few days, there was a little more traffic because the trains weren’t running. But people were just going about their business – a little more melancholy, but not really upset. I remember Katrina and the news reports from New Orleans, and it was a very different feeling in Japan.” After returning to the States for a bit of unexpected leave, Tay’s mother has since returned to Yokosuka. “The original plan was for me to go back to Japan, too,” says Tay. “But as of now, I’m planning to stay here and finish out the year.” TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 23
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HIES INTERVIEW
!Ebwf!Tupdlfsu!
Xjui!ijt!uisff.zfbs!ufsn!fyqjsjoh!uijt!Nbz-!uif!Dibjs!pg!uif!Cpbse!pg!Usvtufft!uppl !ujnf!up!tju!xjui!vt!boe!sfàfdu!po!ijt!xpsl!gps!IJFT!boe!ijt!ipqft!gps!jut!gvuvsf/ Mr. Dave Stockert will complete his term as Chairman of the HIES Board of Trustees this spring. As the Board’s first Chair who was not also Rector of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, Mr. Stockert has helped guide our school through a time of growth and development, as well as the difficulties resulting from the national recession. He and his wife Cammie Ives are longtime members of Holy Innocents’ parish and have three children – Olivia ‘10, Emily ‘12, and Joe ‘15 – all of whom are AlphaOmegas at HIES. We sat down with Mr. Stockert in his office at Post Properties, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, to discuss his service to the school and his feelings upon leaving the Board of Trustees. Q: What exactly does the Chairman of the Board of Trustees do? DS: If I may, let me back up and first talk about what the Board does. I believe that Trustees, first of all, have to love the school. That doesn’t mean that you have to like everything or that you don’t have to make hard decisions. But you have to come at your work always thinking about the best interests of the community – the students, faculty, staff and parents. The name “Trustee” speaks for itself. You have boards of directors and boards of trustees; and this is a board of trustees. We are “entrusted” with the care of the school. We clearly also are tasked with looking
out over the horizon and imagining the school as it might be in the future. We try to stay focused on the bigger strategic issues and not so much on things that are dayto-day and more properly the role of the administration. Maybe the hardest part for those of us who are also parents is to take off the “parent hat” when we’re working as Trustees. As for the job of Chair, you really have to be an advocate and a partner with the Head of School. My job is to have a relationship built on trust, so that when I give particular advice, the Head knows it’s coming from a place of care and commitment, and that I have the Head’s best interests in mind. And more practically, the Chair’s job is to keep the board focused and organized. My job is to help make sure that we don’t waste the time of the volunteer Trustees or waste the time of the staff, and we get done what we need to get done. Q: What were your goals and objectives for the Board when you became Chair? DS: I hoped to continue improving the processes of the board – the way we organize our work in committees and go about our business, as well as advancing our process for determining the needs of the Board and vetting and attracting a regular succession of Trustees. With this new model – a Chair who’s not the Rector – it was also important to make sure that the transition to the next Chair
would be smooth. Bruce Ford (who will take over as Board Chair in May) has been very involved as the Vice Chair of the Board and also chaired the search committee. That was intentional and Bruce is very much already established as the next leader. And finally, I hoped that the relationship between the church and school would actually get stronger, and I couldn’t be happier on that front. Both are thriving and each is made better by the other. I had hoped that the Rector would be able to have more time to be the Rector. And Michael Sullivan has been a whirlwind. But the governance change was a fairly big one and I wanted to make sure nobody thought it was a point of departure in the way the church and school work together in a common mission. Looking ahead, the big goals for the school are, first, to make sure we have a great program for the students. The implementation of technology, or the Strategies Program, or the expansion of the arts and athletic programs – those were examples where the Board worked to provide some overall guidance and financial analysis and support, but also really listened to the community and to the administration about what we needed to be able to increase the offerings of the school. Financial aid has also been a huge issue over the past few years, and how do we as a Board address that? Community is so important to Holy Innocents’ and with the
HIES INTERVIEW economic situation lately, we’ve had families who’ve faced new challenges with staying at the school. I am proud that so many people at Holy Innocents’ have come together to help make that happen for those families. And lastly, our facilities are always going to be a big issue. The next thing that everybody identifies is the need for a new Upper School building. The Board certainly gets that. We’ve been moving deliberately toward that goal, working on the things that we have to do to get ready. The mini-construction project that will start this summer has to happen first. It will help us meet parking requirements and administrative office requirements that pave the way for an eventual tearing down of part of the Riley Building and the construction of a new Upper School and Commons. We recently bought the Stone House, and we’re going to fix it up, change the parking, do site work, positioning us to go out and start the fundraising for the new Upper School. That is the critical next step in the evolution of our campus. Q: Is the Master Plan that was presented to the community before the current economic crisis still in effect? DS: Yes, that’s still the working plan and it’s very exciting. The church is also doing a piece of that plan – a very important piece – that is going to enhance the school, too; because the church is where a lot of activity happens – chapel, baccalaureate and honors and awards programs. It is our spiritual center. So it’s exciting what the church is doing on the north end of the campus – and that construction will also start this summer. Q: As of now, what do you feel are some of the most important issues facing the school? DS: We talked earlier about program, facilities, financial aid and our economic model, and those will get a tremendous amount of attention. But now that we have our new head – and I not only think Gene (Bratek) is going to be terrific, but I also think Rick (Betts) did a fantastic job – one of the things we need to do is to reassert our special place in the Atlanta private school
community. We bring something that is completely unique, and we can talk about that now in a more confident way. The fact that we now have our leadership cemented allows us to beat our chests a little bit. Q: I’ve heard that uniqueness defined a number of ways – as community, as respect, as an Episcopal acceptance and inclusion. How would you label it? DS: Our mission goes a good way in defining who we are. But it’s more than that. We’re a place where an individual child or student can feel appreciated, loved, nurtured, like they are somebody, they have a special identity, they can work on their gifts. And we deliver all that through this amazing community – with its inclusion, the spirituality of the place, the warmth of the place. Everyone uses the same general basket of words for it, and I think people generally feel the same way, but I don’t think we always express it in a way a marketer would appreciate as being crisp and to the point. And that’s an opportunity for us. I do think that – at least when I talk to prospective families at open houses – they seem to know what it’s all about. Notwithstanding that we don’t have a catchy marketing slogan that encapsulates it, I think people have a sense of what Holy Innocents’ is. I love the language in the school philosophy – “the worth and dignity” of each child. And I love the language in the school hymn. So it’s all there. We just need to do a little better job of telling our story. Q: What are your hopes, both near and distant, for the future of Holy Innocents’? DS: Well, we’re entering a fantastic The Stockert family at 2010 graduation: Emily, Dave, Joe, Olivia, and Cammie Ives.
season in the life of the school each year, the springtime – so my immediate hope is that we really celebrate this class of 2011. They’re what it’s all about. This class is really gifted and it’s so exciting to see them coming into their own and getting their college acceptances and their awards and recognition. And as a dad who went through it last year, it’s just one of the most amazing, magical times ever. So I hope we can all step back and enjoy it, because that’s why we do what we do. Longer-term, I just feel very confident that we have a great team, a great leadership, a great community, and the hardest working and most committed Trustees you could ever hope for -- and it’s just going to get better and better. There’s always going to be something to do, always something to improve. That’s the way each of us is, the way every organization is. When you run out of things to work on, that’s probably not a very good day. But I’m very confident that we’re just going to get stronger. I just look forward to the future of Holy Innocents’. Q: What do you think you’ll feel when you pound that gavel for the last time? DS: I’ll definitely feel some sadness. I’m excited and I’m proud of the Board of Trustees and the work that we’ve done together, particularly the way so many Trustees stepped up through the transition and the search process, or with big-time financial commitments. The school is amazingly well served. And I will miss the interaction of the Board. But the last thing I’ll get to do right around that time is to sign one more set of diplomas and participate in one more graduation. And that is the one major perk that comes with the job. To be able to be up on the stage and shake those kids’ hands, it’s unbelievable. The look they have on their faces – it’s this combination of pride and exhilaration and excitement and they’re just beaming, every single kid. And I’m face to face with them. And this will be the third time I’ve done it and I’ve never gotten a bad handshake – so we must be training the kids well to go out in the world! So I’ll miss that piece of it. But I’ll also feel like handing off the gavel is exactly the right thing to happen. TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 25
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BEARLY RELATED
FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Qbsfout-!Bevmu!Dijmesfo!Gjoe!Dbsffs! Gvmgjmmnfou!bu!Ipmz!JoopdfoutÖ Jackie Fishman Ali Fishman
Anne Jackson James Jackson Maria-Louse Coil Linda Evans
Mike Thorton Eamon Thorton Meg Frederick Julia Frederick
Toni Fowler Kristin Ahler
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Many parents with children work at home while the little ones are young. Some operate a familyowned business after the kids are grown. And still other parents and their adult offspring manage to discover one special place where they can find career fulfillment—a place like Holy Innocents’. This school year, in fact, 10 sets of parent/child employees were on the payroll at HIES. “I wouldn’t say it is a tradition, but I think more a reflection of our ‘family school’ approach,” said Associate Head of School Rick Betts. “And many of them are alumni and have been part of this community. We see many benefits to the whole community/family experience at HIES when people connected to our community stay connected and remain, or return, as employees.” Audra Mullen Thompson ’95, for example, is not only an alumna but also the daughter of Early Learners teacher Pam Mullen. “It has been such a gift to be able to work in a school with my mother for 10 years,” said Audra, a second-grade teacher. “We may not see each other every day but just to know she is across campus with many of my students’ siblings is very cool. “I’ve also enjoyed the fact that we have taught many of the same children. When she comes to visit my classroom, the faces of my students that she taught many years ago—in 3-year-olds—just light up. It is such an amazing moment for me!” Kindergarten teacher Meg Frederick also feels a sense of continuity with her daughter, Julia. “Since my kindergarten children go to Julia in first grade, we have the opportunity to discuss the children’s growth and development,” Meg explained. “And we share the same community of loving, supportive teachers. “Our biggest challenge will be next year after Julia becomes Mrs. Leech. The children are concerned they will not know who Mrs. Leech is and where Ms. Frederick went!” Scott Tucker ’00 faced a bigger challenge when he returned to Holy Innocents’ to become director of the Horizons Program. Scott’s mother, Millie Tucker, a longtime Pre-School music teacher, had been involved with Horizons since its inception, which meant that she would soon be working for her own son. “It was funny when you became my boss,” she said to Scott, in a joint interview at the Pre-School. “And you made me submit a resume for the job,” she added, good-naturedly. “I was making everybody reapply,” Scott explained, in mock exasperation. “And you got the job!”
Like all Bearly Related, parent-child pairs on campus, the Tuckers give each other some space during the workday, seeing each other only occasionally. “He pops into my classroom every now and then, which is fun,” said Millie. “I say, ‘This is my little boy,’ and the students shake their heads and say, ‘Uun-uh. He’s big!’” LS Visual Arts Assistant Jackie Fishman also tends to get only glimpses of her daughter, LS Spanish teacher Ali Fishman ’98, during the school day. “I get ‘sightings’ of her; every now and then she will pop in. It’s wonderful for the children, a great exchange program,” said Jackie. “ But I also get to hear from adoring young children about how they much they love Senorita Fishman. “Sometimes, we do get to grab lunch together in the lunchroom. The hardest thing would be working someplace else and not seeing her—we both love HIES and she is such a part of it for me!” Kindergarten teacher Susan Staples actually sees such “pop-ins” as instructional for students. Her Elisabeth Beatty daughter, Claire, Peggy Shaw an Upper School Millie Tucker counselor, drops in Scott Tucker every now and then to Susan’s PreSchool classroom. “It’s wonderful for the children—a great exchange program,” explained Susan. “We’ve also from top left: Carson, Claire, partnered up to have Clockwise Jack, and Susan Staples. some of my UpperSchoolers mentor her kindergartners,” added Claire, who came to HIES in 2004 as a counselor. Perhaps none of the Bearly Related parent-child pairs on campus have been as entwined with Holy Innocents’ as
French teacher Anne Jackson and her son, James H. Jackson ’03, who teaches US media literacy. James is an outstanding HIES alumnus—an Alpha-Omega who won the Atlanta Journal Cup his senior year and served as president of both the Middle School and Upper School student bodies. Anne is a longtime Holy Innocents’ faculty member who has been a parent, an HIES volunteer, fund-raiser, teacher and eighth-grade dean. In fact, she actually taught James when he was in seventh and eighth grades, during what she calls “one of the best experiences of my life.” And this school year, the two became colleagues. “Not often he will call or email me and say, may I come over to your office, or could I ask your advice about what you would do in this situation?” said Anne. “My daughter laughs and says, ‘You and James always talk shop.’” Anne, though, keeps a professional distance from her son, stopping only every now and then to toss him a wave in his class. “I stay removed,” she said, “but working with James is a gift.” As for James, he’s grateful for the opportunity to work with his accomplished mom. “For so long she has been a personal mentor to me; now she is a professional mentor, as well,” he said. ““My mother has been such an integral part of the HIES community, I just hope I can be half the teacher she is.” Meg Frederick also feels this strong connection to the Holy Innocents’ community. Her family has an enviable history at HIES and is still making memories on campus. “I always give credit to the school for helping me raise Julia,” she explained. “Now we are both committed to give back to our families and children. “I hope we can both continue to be a part of Holy Innocents’ for many more years.”
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Whether your child is an accomplished student, gifted athlete, aspiring artist or committed community volunteer, his or her pursuits are aided by the Annual Fund. The simple truth is that, without the Annual Fund, many of the wonderful accomplishments of our students could never happen because opportunities would be far more limited. Each and every year, Holy Innocents’ Annual Fund helps meet immediate needs and directly impacts every one of our students. Just as all other independent schools do, HIES supplements its budget with Annual Fund monies to pay for classes, student projects, special programs, equipment, and to attract and retain excellent faculty. In addition, gifts
to the Annual Fund are viewed as a sign that families support our mission, which encourages foundation giving to our building campaigns. This has been a stellar year, with outstanding college acceptances and accomplishments in academics, athletics, and the arts. We want next year to be at least as strong. Please help ensure another year of excellence by making your gift to the Annual Fund today. To give, visit www.hies.org/gifts or contact June Arnold at (404) 303-2150 x 102 or june.arnold@hies.org before June 30, 2011. If you have already given, thank you for your generous support!
Dbsjubt!Tpdjfuz! The Caritas Society was established to recognize the generosity of all those who have made a planned gift to Holy Innocents’. Planned gift opportunities include naming Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in your will, or as a partial beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy. A planned gift is a way to leave a lasting legacy that increases the School’s endowment and overall financial strength. For now, the Caritas Society is a group of Holy Innocents’ parents, grandparents, past parents, and staff. We hope to see its membership grow substantially. If you prefer, your membership in Caritas can remain anonymous. Please contact June Arnold at (404) 303-2150 x 102 to discuss making an unrestricted or restricted planned gift.
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We were thrilled that through the support of HIES parents, grandparents, friends, and several local C-Corps we raised $249,000 from the Georgia Education Expense Credit program last year. By redirecting their Georgia tax liability from the State to our school, donors let their tax money go toward admitting talented, deserving students to Holy Innocents’. The funds from this past year supported partial scholarships for 11 new students with money remaining for continued financial aid to these students in future years. Students who are eligible to receive the aid must be new to
HIES and coming from a public school. This Georgia fund allows for scholarship funds to be freed up for current financial aid students. While our first year in this program helped our financial aid budget, we are still unable to offer aid to all of the students we would like to enroll. Now is the time to donate for 2011. The process is simple and can be found online at www.hies.org under the Support HIES tab at the top of the page. Forms are also available from the Business and Development offices by calling Mary Chris Williams at 404-303-2150 x 107. TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 27
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FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
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Golf and Tennis Tournament
The Holy Innocents’ Athletic Association, formerly the Booster Club, would like to announce date of the golf and tennis tournament – Monday, October 17 at White Columns Country Club. This year, the group has added a tennis tournament and fashion show for the moms. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tennis Tournament, Lunch and Fashion Show 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Golf Tournament and Dinner
Jay Hood channels his inner Payne Stewart
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Cheryl and Parker Hix and the Farrell Scruggs Foundation have named the concession area next to Baker Field in memory of Parker’s father, William L. (Bill) Hix.
FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Mjgfujnf!Hjwjoh! Tpdjfuz!Epopst Newest members of the Lifetime Giving Society are Board members: Susan and Jim Hannan, Cammie Ives and Dave Stockert, Missy Rathburn-Stewart and Michael Stewart and the Patricia Bowman Terwilliger Foundation. The Stockert family The Lifetime Giving Society was established in 2009 during the 50th anniversary of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School. The Lifetime Giving Missy Rathburn-Stewart Society recognizes those and Michael Stewart families, organizations and foundations that, over their lifetimes, have donated $250,000 or more to the school. Besides families and foundations, The Lifetime Giving Society also includes the HIES Parents’ Association and Susan and Jim Hannan Booster Club, both of which receive smaller donations from the majority of HIES families, but which, combined, have donated millions of dollars to the school.
The members of the Lifetime Giving Society include:
The Hix family
Save the Date
All School Cookout Friday, August 26
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. All School Cookout - MS/LS Playground
2011 Jingle Bell Jubilee Saturday and Sunday, December 3-4, 2011 This year, the Fine Arts Department will incorporate their holiday concerts within the festivities. Susan Been, Chair 28 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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George D. Baker * Susan and Jon Been Connie and Chris Brogdon Nancy and Bill Davies Earl Dolive Sr. Mary and David Haddow Susan and Jim Hannan Ray Inglett Lettie Pate Evans Foundation Jeanine Lewis Carolyn and Louie Pittman Bernice and Fred Rowan Lizanne and John Stephenson Missy Rathburn-Stewart and Michael Stewart Cammie Ives and Dave Stockert Patricia Bowman Terwilliger Foundation Tull Charitable Foundation, Inc. Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, Inc. In addition, there are fifteen anonymous donors who are members. *deceased
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Everyone associated with Holy Innocents’ understands the need for improved Upper School facilities. The Riley Building has served us well over the years, but it is and always will be a 1950’s-era elementary school structure, reflective of neither our school’s excellence nor our position as an innovative and far-sighted leader within Atlanta’s Independent School market. The first step toward a new Upper School will be to add additional parking, move the Development and Business
Offices to the Stone House (so the administrative house north of the Alan
A. Lewis Pre-School can be demolished) and expand the Pre-School Playground. In order for the staff to be relocated, the Stone House must be renovated to make it a commercial building. Once construction of the Upper School Building begins, all of the parking in front of the Upper School will disappear. For this reason, additional parking must be in place before work can begin. Funds are being raised currently in order to begin construction during the Summer of 2011.
Jingle Bell Jubilee The first Jingle Bell Jubilee was a huge success. Over the weekend, Holy Innocents’ hosted over 1,400 guests from the Atlanta area, while raising nearly $45,000. Proceeds directly benefitted our students and school programs. The event, coordinated by the Fine Arts Alliance and Parents’ Association, was a vision of the holidays, filled with Christmas trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, a vendor market, a giant Lego display, a specially designed tree donated by Neiman Marcus, and a visit from Santa, himself. Gingerbread village
The band “Better Than Nothing”: Warner Ray, Ben Rousseau, Peter Myer, Patrick Hayes, and Jack Mitchell Paxton Juneau and Max Walton
Leah Hopkins Henry tends to her booth
Santa meets both naughty and nice. Morgan Brock and Bailey Wilkie
Students work the crafts tables.
Rick and Stephanie Betts visit Alexis Vear at her booth TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 29
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Jed and Angela Dorsey. Mr. Dorsey’s “Teachers’ Treasure” donation earned the highest bid of any silent auction item!
Kristina and Mitchell Blass
Vanessa Birdwell, Kelley and David Pugmire
William Shaheen, Grace and John Foster, Frances Shaheen
On Saturday, March 26, the HIES Gym was transformed into the coolest corral in Atlanta, as guests donned jeans, boots, and bling while mingling with friends, dancing to The Ivy Road Band, and nibbling on grits and other cowboy favorites from Dennis Dean Catering. This year saw a record number of sponsors – thank you! – and the new “Fund-a-Need Roundup” resulted in wonderful support for all sorts of HIES programs, including the Laptop Program and Financial Aid Fund. Special thanks go to Susan Been for chairing the Gala and to everyone who contributed to the incredible success of this event!
Leslie and Greg Gates
The Gala Committee Left to Right: Suzy Smith, Vanessa Birdwell, Michele Nelson, Susan Been, Kimberly Earle, Dana Patton, Liz Henry, Leslie Gates
Ivy Road Band, including one of our very own parents, Bob Ward
Rose Marie and Gene Bratek Sara and Chad Shirley, Tressa and Chris Bell
Stephanie Langford, Susan Been, Michele Nelson Caroline Jones Shah and Neal Shah
Merry and Chris Carlos
Gala Committee 2011 Susan Been Chair Andrea Barnes PS/LS Class Art Projects Jenny Pittman Cantrell Teacher Treasures Paula Collins Class Baskets Kitty Correll Sponsorship Melissa Davis Set Up Bruce Freides Printing and Signage Stephanie Langford Decorations
Leslie Gates Data Entry and MS/ US Class Art Projects Liz Henry Treasurer Michele Nelson PR and Marketing Dana Patton Volunteers Catherine Pittman Data Entry Suzy Smith Acquisitions Tamika Weaver-Hightower Check In/Out
Debbie and Matt Reams Lori and Scott Ainsworth
Kelly and David Asbury, Julie Brehm, and Susan and Jim Hannan
Lisa Brown with the Yorkshire Terrier Puppy that she purchased in the Live Auction
Kitty Correll, Sara and Tony Rich
Krist and Ben Voyles
Photography courtesy of James Barker 30 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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CLASS NOTES ALUMNI HAPPENINGS 1st Annual Distinguished Alumnus Award The Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Distinguished Alumnus Award. This award will recognize an outstanding alumnus for his or her personal and professional accomplishments and contributions to the community. This alumnus must embody the HIES Mission Statement “Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School develops in students a love of learning, respect for self and others, faith in God, and a sense of service to the world community.” Be on the lookout for more details and instructions for submitting a nomination. The committee consists of Anne Rivers Gunton ’96, Heather Hahn ’91, Matt Little ’97, Ashton Thurmond ’97, and Tamika Weaver-Hightower.
Winterfest Reception Every January, Holy Innocents’ invites alumni and parents of alumni to a reception during the Varsity Boys and Girls’ Basketball games. It is a chance to reconnect families and alumni with the school. Here are three photos from the 2010 event.
Marshall and Anne Bachman, Mary Alice Isele , Karen and Ace Martin
Isabelle Isakson ‘05, Rachel Shunnarah ‘05, and Meredith Many Back Row: Bettina Hall ’01, Ellen Williams ’01, John Webster ‘00, James Williams ‘04
Front Row: Isabelle Isakson ’05, Rachel Shunnarah ’05, Greer Homer ’06, Heather Hahn ’91, Katie McGoogan Weeks ‘98
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CLASS NOTES Alumni Access to the Gym During the Summer Alumni are welcome to visit the gym and weight room during the summer. The dates and times are listed below. Weight Room Summer Hours are: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Friday Access to the Courts – Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. June 8 June 22 June 29 July 20 August 3 August 17
Alpha Omega Society Class of 2011 The Office of Alumni Relations hosted a reception at the home of Barb and Andy Meyer for the parents and students from the Alpha Omega Society on Thursday, April 14. There are 25 Alpha Omega from the Class of 2011. Mr. Michael James Almeter Mr. Addison Bradley Baitcher Miss Catherine Weston Bennett (Kaki) Miss Kathleen Elisabeth Borden (Kate) Miss Mary Carter Ehlers (Carter) Miss Megan Elizabeth Ernst Mr. William Henry Fisher Miss Christine Blythe Georgakakos Miss Nikki Herzog Miss Christine Huff (Christie) Miss Caroline LaPointe Miss Kathryn Maloy Miss Delaney McMullen Miss Sarah Meyer Mr. Andrew Parrish Miss Callan Phillips Miss Lily Rolader Mr. Zachary Scott (Zach) Miss Anna Marie Sokolowski Mr. Richard Sokolowski (Richie) Mr. Ret Terrell Jr. Mr. Peyton Warley Mr. Ellis Watson Miss Kathryn Weitzner Mr. Adam Wypyski See the inside back cover for a photo from the reception.
If you would like to submit class notes for the Fall issue of the Torchbearer, please contact Tamika Weaver-Hightower at tamika@hies.org or 404.303.2150 ext 181. If you are interested in serving as a class representative, please contact Heather Hahn ’91 at heather.hahn@hies.org. Kathryn Copeland McGraw, Hilary Pepper Nelson, Audra Mullen Thompson, Ashley Purrington Halloran, Dawn Koehler Dwyer, Jill Herndon Littlefield, and Nina Naffis Miguel
A group of women from the Class of 1995 who went to eighth grade together at HIES reconnected for a mini reunion. Some of the girls had not seen each other since eighth grade. Some went to other schools and three of them graduated from HIES. Ellen Blake taught them math and made a surprise visit. The girls report, “It was a blast!”
SAVE THE DATE Alumni Reunion Weekend Celebrating Classes of 1996, 2001, and 2006 Friday, September 30 – Saturday, October 1 For details about your reunion, contact Gralyn Crumpler Daily, Gralyn.crumpler@ gmail.com, Class of 1996 Cara Puckett, cara.puckett@gmail.com, Class of 2001 Adam Harris, ayharris1987@gmail.com, Class of 2006
CLASS OF 1995 Class Representatives: Stephanie Little: sll1176@yahoo.com Jill Herndon Littlefield: jilllittlefield@hotmail.com Audra Mullen Thompson: audra.thompson@hies.org
Hunter Spence and his wife, Mabry, have two sons, Hunter (3) and Wyatt (18 months). They live outside Albany, GA where Hunter is the General Manager of Longleaf Plantation, a private quail hunting operation, and Keel Creek, a deer and turkey hunting operation. Even though he rarely comes back to Atlanta, he thinks about many of his classmates and how they are doing. Heather Haralson Williams, her husband, Dick, and big brother, Patrick, welcomed Walker Joseph Williams on January 1, 2011.
CLASS OF 1996
CLASS OF 1997 Class Representatives: Ashton Thurmond: maryashtonthurmond@yahoo.com Kristin Wolford Tiliakos: kristinjwolford@aol.com
Bethany Gilmore Armstrong and her husband, Thomas, along with daughter, Emma Jean, welcomed their newest arrival, George Robert Armstrong, born in August 2010. The family lives in Avondale Estates. Sarah White Balfour (2nd grade teacher) and husband, John, announced the happy arrival of their first child, Robert Graham, born Sunday, December 5 and weighing in at 7lbs. 8oz. John beams that “Sarah was FANTASTIC! She looked great throughout, unreal. She’s recovering nicely.” Those of you who know Sarah know that she has one of the most radiant smiles in the world. Hope baby Graham gets that smile, too! Ashley Bahl Binder and her husband, Michael, announce the birth of their first child, a daughter, Hadley Vista Binder on April 27, 2011. Hadley weighs 6 lbs 6 ozs and arrived on Michael’s birthday.
Class Representatives:
Facebook and LinkedIn Join the Holy Innocents’ Alumni Association on Facebook and LinkedIn. This will keep you connected to the school with news and events.
Emily Brown Latone: emilylatone@gmail.com Raine Crumpler Hyde: raine.hyde@gmail.com
Marisa Blank Gewertz and her husband, Dave, welcomed a beautiful boy, Jordan Paul Gewertz, on October 4, 2010. He was 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 19 ¾ inches long. Marisa, Dave, and big brother Joe are so happy to have Jordan in their lives. Sara Hall McNeal and her husband, Patrick, are expecting their first child in September. They are both teachers in Frisco, TX.
Sarah Churchman currently lives and works in Montgomery, AL. Sarah moved to Montgomery in August 2010 to work for the small firm, Matrix, where she is a web designer and developer. Some of her projects have included work for The Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) and many governmental and political clients. She has also created custom WordPress templates. When not working, you can find Sarah following the Canadian band, Rush, around the South this summer. She is also available for freelancing. Feel free to contact her at: sarah@gr870sfunk.com.
Dylan Deal and his beloved wife, Katie Arnold, welcomed their first child on April 4, 2011. Norah Larkin Deal weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 inches long. Dylan shared, “Norah is adorable and very calm.” Susan Humphlett is engaged to Chad Carlson. Susan is living in Myrtle Beach, SC and will marry Chad on October 1, 2011. Spears Mallis is graduating from Brenau University with his MBA in May. June 18 will be the five year anniversary of Rock the Cure, a fundraiser he founded to raise money to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Check out www.jdrfrockthecure.org for more information. HIES alum William Boyd’s ’06 band will be headlining the event. Casey Aderhold Ritchey and her husband, Thomas, welcomed Eva Claire Ritchey on December 6, 2010. She was 6 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 inches long. Big brother Preston (17 months) is so excited and loves “playing” with his new sister. Pictured are Preston (21 months) and Eva Claire (4 months). Ali Stafford and Charles Malone, who attended Holy Innocents’ until his junior year, will marry on June 18, 2011 at Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Ashton Thurmond is marrying Eric Ragone on August 26, 2011, in Atlanta. Each graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.B.A. in Risk Management and Insurance. Ashton is the Assistant to the Director of Young Life Northwest Atlanta and Eric works for Ironwood Insurance Services.
CLASS OF 1998 Class Representatives: Katie McGoogan Weeks: katie.weeks@hies.org Effie Swartwood Thompson: effiesthompson@gmail.com
Caroline Catts-Xie and her husband, Ricky, are excited that their son, Aiden, will be starting pre-kindergarten at HIES next year. They look forward to rejoining the HIES community. TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 33
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CLASS NOTES Amanda Clower Craig married in Atlanta on December 4, 2010 to Jason Craig, who graduated from Lovett in 1996. Her maid of honor was Kate Commins Vepraskas ‘98, and Elizabeth Andersen Fleury ’98 was a bridesmaid. The wedding will be featured in Atlantan Brides in their Fall edition this year. Amanda and Jason currently reside in Chicago. Allison Fishman became engaged to John Bussey on New Years Eve and they plan to marry at St. Simons in October 2011. She’s stoked! Aida Mahmutovic Mayhew, her husband, Chris, and big brother Grayson, welcomed Charlotte Emina Mayhew on December 23, 2010.
CLASS OF 1999 Class Representatives: Jennifer Cavanaugh Brown: jennifer.brown @hies.org Samia Hanafi: samhanafi@gmail.com Drew McDonald: tam1980@gmail.com
David Anderson married Dr. Stacy Katherine Ugras on February 19, 2011 at Church of Saint Monica in New York City. Scott Suarez ‘99 was a groomsman. David and Stacy are both surgical residents at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Katie Kelly Braun gave birth to her second child on March 17, 2011. Julia Marie Braun weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. Mom and baby are doing fine. Rich Braund married Crystal Carolann Cone (Tallahassee, FL) at the Event Gallery at the King Plow Arts Center in Atlanta on December 11, 2010. Erik Carlson ‘99 was one of the groomsmen. Other HIES alumni from the class of 1999 at the wedding were: Jess and Jennifer Brown, Mitch Brown, Todd Carlson, Molly Eustis, Brian Hall, Leigh Spence Jackson, Drew McDonald, Taylor Speer, and David Willis. 34 | TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011
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CLASS NOTES Hadley Hickman Creekmuir married William Carroll Creekmuir on October 9, 2010 at Northside United Methodist Church. Leslie Duesenberg Wyatt ‘99 was one of her 20 attendants. Hadley works as a freelance writer. She graduated from University of the South and received her Masters from the University of Mississippi.
The photo is from the tournament (she’s #13). Caroline has also been taking improv comedy classes and performing in DC through Washington Improv Theater.
Geoff Hall and his wife, Beverly, had a baby girl in March. Geoff will graduate from Veterinary School of UGA in May.
Cliff Berryman married Sarah Morgan, a Marist graduate, on November 13, 2010 in Atlanta.
Lauren Frederick Hill and her husband, Roger, welcomed twins on March 4, 2011. Michael Allan Hill was born at 10:19 p.m. weighing 5 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 ½ inches long. Emma Catherine Hill was born at 10:20 p.m. weighing 5 lbs. 9 oz. and was 17 ¾ inches long.
Rebecca Brown married Jason Rivera on October 16, 2010 at Temple Sinai. Other HIES alumni in attendance were Rabbi Josh Brown ‘98, a groomsman, Nicole Silva Yarsawich ‘01, a bridesmaid, and Alisha Ways ‘01, who performed a reading during the ceremony. Rebecca works in the Special Education department of Chattahoochee High School, while Jason is completing his PhD in Economics at UGA. The couple currently lives in Athens.
Lauren Harper Kalen and her husband, Todd, welcomed a daughter this past September. Her name is Corinne Annabelle Kalen and she was born September 21, 2010. Corinne is pictured at 6 months of age. Leslie Duesenberg Wyatt and her husband, Tom, had their first child, a son, Hayden Grice, on February 25, 2011. Grice weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20 ½ inches long. They live in Aiken, SC.
CLASS OF 2000 Class Representatives: Stephanie Brown: sbrown@georgiaaquarium.org
Brendan Baker married Lindsay Lamberth on December 11, 2010. John Webster ’00 was the best man. Caroline Clear is living in Washington, DC and works in hospital administration at Georgetown University Hospital. She’s been volunteering with Special Olympics of DC, playing and coaching in the Unified Basketball League, where athletes with intellectual disabilities play side-by-side with those without disabilities.
CLASS OF 2001 Class Representatives: Cara Puckett: cara.puckett@gmail.com Allender Laflamme Durden: allenderl@gmail.com
Anne Haddow Freeman and Matt Freeman welcomed a beautiful son into the world. Wilson Gage Freeman was born on November 7, 2010. The family lives in Sandy Springs. Tippa McClure has a new position as catering sales manager at the Ruth’s Chris Steak House at Centennial Park in Atlanta. Ashlee Sadler Burke and her husband, Hunter, announced the birth of their first child, a son, on April 17, 2011. William Sadler Burke, to be called Sadler, weighed 5 lbs. 7 oz. The Burkes live in Boulder, CO.
CLASS OF 2002 Class Representatives: Katie Kirtland: katie.kirtland@gmail.com Alley Pickren: alleypic@gmail.com
Micajah Anderson married Victoria Shamblin in Birmingham, Alabama at the Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church. Micajah is now an Energy Analyst after graduating from Auburn with his Masters degree. Victoria is completing her residency in Pediatric Medicine at UAB in Birmingham. Zachary Bush, author of three collections of poetry, recently graduated with an MFA in Poetry from the City College of New York in 2010. He is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Literature and Historical Studies from Drew University. He teaches Literature and Writing at CCNY/ CUNY, Pace University, Berkeley College, Kean University, and others. He and his girlfriend live in beautiful Hoboken, NJ. Barrett Daws is currently attending Vanderbilt, where he is pursuing his Masters in Business. Franklin Hendrick is at the University of Maryland in a Pharmacy program, where he is pursuing his PhD. Franklin intends to stay in the DC/Maryland area when he finishes his program. Sylvie Cierny McDonald and her husband, Lucas, welcomed their daughter into the world on June 7, 2010. Her name is Sipsey Lola McDonald. She weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and is truly a blessing! Monique Constantaras Nikolov and her husband, Nasko are pleased to announce the arrival of their baby girl, Maria Rada Atanasova, born on October 26, 2010. Monique writes “Maria is almost 6 months old now and fills our lives with joy every single day. She is always full of smiles, giggles, and surprises! She is testing us daily with wanting to sit
up all the time wherever she is.” The couple met while studying at the University of Georgia in 2002. Monique graduated in 2006 with a BBA in Real Estate; Nasko graduated in 2005 with a BBA in Finance and with an MBA in 2008. The couple will be celebrating their 4th wedding anniversary this May. Monique and Nasko reside in Sandy Springs. The family will be moving to Athens in the Fall, as Nasko will be pursuing his Doctorate in Marketing at the University of Georgia. Alley Pickren is currently working in the Alumni Relations department at Vanderbilt University. Ryan Hogue Rubin graduated from Mercer Law School this year, and recently took the Georgia Bar Exam. He is currently working with an NFL sports agency in Atlanta. Logan Schochet and his wife, Nikki, welcomed their first child on March 15, 2011. Brody Ryder Schochet was born at 2:00 p.m. weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz. Liz Ortstadt Smith moved from SC to Okinawa, Japan in January. Liz’s job with the US Army Corps of Engineers transferred her after they got orders for her husband, Bradley Smith, who is in the United States Marine Corps and has been for the past 10 years. They will be living in Japan until 2013, and are expecting their first child in May or June.
CLASS OF 2003 Class Representative: Emily Weprich: emily.weprich@yahoo.com
Alex Aughtry received her Masters at Tulane and currently is using her social work degrees as a caseworker with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans. Regan Brantley graduated from the University of Melbourne in ‘09 and has been living in Melboune, Australia for five years. As a Librarian of Fine Literature with a specialization in antique books, she has quickly become a rising star among the Melbourne literary circles. In her spare time, she enjoys gourmet cooking and equestrian sports.
Jenna Downey will marry Matt Hofkes in Atlanta at The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on June 17, 2011. Matt is from Wisconsin and teaches at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School. Jenna is currently teaching Pre-first at HIES and coaching Varsity Cross Country and Track. Matt coaches at OLM also, so the two compete against each other throughout the year. Nick Hurst is living near Los Angeles, and attending Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Melanie Touchstone graduated from Elon University in ‘07 and is currently living in Atlanta and working as the Assistant Business Development and Marketing Coordinator at Morris, Manning & Martin in Buckhead. Her greatest achievement has been the success of the Morris, Manning & Martin Corporate Technology Blog, the MMM Tech Law & Business Report (www.mmmtechlaw.com), of which she is the chief administrator, webmaster and content coordinator. Since its launch late last year, the website has been met with overwhelming success, top media coverage and a huge social media following.
CLASS OF 2004 Class Representatives: Amy Fore Kane: amycfore@gmail.com Collins Marshall: collins.marshall@ml.com Gordon Silvera: gordon.silvera@gmail.com
Jennifer Bickley and fiancé Kyle Sewell will be married August 20, 2011 at the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta. The reception will be held at The Fox Theatre immediately following. Jennifer and Kyle were engaged the week before Christmas during a surprise ski trip to Lake Tahoe. They currently reside in Kirkwood, a historic neighborhood just outside of Atlanta. Their engagement photo was taken in Ocean Beach, San Diego. TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 35
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CLASS NOTES Angelique Constantaras would like to announce her engagement and upcoming marriage to her “best friend and soul mate,” Alexander James Chuchas of Sacramento, CA. The couple will be married mid-May, after which Angelique will be moving to Santa Barbara, CA. Lauren Deedy and Mark Noonan (of Clonmel, Ireland) will wed June 18, 2011 in Atlanta. The couple will reside in Decatur. Lanie Sleder Draper married Brent Draper on September 5, 2010 at St. Dionysios Greek Orthodox Church in Overland Park, KS. The couple now resides in Leawood, KS. Amy Fore married Michael Copeland Kane on March 5th in Athens. Michael actually attended Holy Innocents’ in Kindergarten before moving to Jacksonville, FL, but did not meet Amy until they both attended the University of Georgia. Bridesmaids included other Holy Innocents’ 2004 alumni - Jessica Fritts, Kate Laird, Lauren Morgan and Jessie Pickren. Following a honeymoon to Ireland, Amy and Michael will live in Atlanta. Amy works for the American College of Rheumatology and Michael works for Echo Global Logistics. Jessica Ann Fritts received her Master of Education in Human Development Counseling from Peabody College, Vanderbilt University on May 13, 2011. While at Vanderbilt, she was awarded a Chancellors Scholarship and named to the Chi Sigma Iota National Counseling Honor Society. Jessica performed her internship at the Davidson County Tennessee Drug Court and worked with clients in both individual and group settings. Jessica currently lives and works in Austin, TX.
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CLASS NOTES Laurie Segall gave three current HIES students and their journalism teacher a backstage tour of CNN’s main NYC headquarters in March when the students were attending a journalism convention at Colombia University. Laurie works as a technology writer for CNN Money and is also a CNN reporter. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Kate Stice is engaged to Peter Kenyon Stewart and will be married in September in Highlands, NC. Kate works as a grant writer for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta after graduating cum laude from Florida State University with a degree in Public Relations. Peter is a graduate of Georgia Tech and is an industrial specialist with CB Richard Ellis. Andrew Tate is finishing his final semester with Emory abroad in Germany. Hannah Ward will graduate from the Georgia State School of Law on May 13, 2011. Hannah is employed as a Law Clerk with the law firm, Dwight L. Thomas, P.C., and will join that firm as a Criminal Defense Attorney upon passing the Georgia Bar Exam.
CLASS OF 2005 Class Representatives: Tyler Rathburn: tprathburn@gmail.com Rachel Shunnarah: rshunnarah@gmail.com Kate Sternstein: kasternstein@gmail.com Allyson Young: allysonyoung87@gmail.com
Katie Downs Jame married in November in Atlanta to Russell Jame from New York. The couple met at Emory while Katie was an undergraduate and he was in graduate school. After graduating, Russell took a position as Professor of Finance at University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. They just moved to Sydney in January. Katie was able to transfer with her company, Aon. They are absolutely loving Australia!
Chrissy Orangio is receiving a Masters of Environmental and Geographic Sciences at the University of Cape Town through a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. Kate Sternstein has moved to London for Bank of America where she will work on various projects related to a conversion of the general ledger acquired after the Merrill Lynch Transition. She will be there through August, 2011. Courtney Strack is in Texas in the United States Air Force pilot training program.
CLASS OF 2006 Class Representatives: Kaitlin Duffy: duffykc@auburn.edu Miller Edwards: edwardm@auburn.edu Anna Pickren: annapic@uga.edu Amy Schwartz: amy8700@hotmail.com
Justin Bower graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2010 and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force. He has since progressed in his pilot training - having already completed the Air & Space Basic Course at Maxwell AFB, Alabama; Initial Flight Screening in Pueblo, Colorado; and the Aviation Preflight Indoctrination and Water Survival course at NAS Pensacola, Florida. He is currently finishing his primary pilot training at NAS Whiting Field, Florida where he is flying the T-34C. He expects to finish his current stage of training sometime this summer at which point he will most likely transition to Vance AFB, Oklahoma to start flying either the T-1 or T-38 advanced trainer aircraft. Vance AFB will be the last stage of training before Justin earns his pilot wings and learns which airframe he will be flying in the USAF. Tessa Cierny married Neil Adam Beers on April 23, 2011 at The Atrium in Norcross GA. Tessa graduated on May 8 from UNC-Chapel Hill with her Master of Library Science.
Katie Hammond now resides in Manhattan. Having graduated from the University of Virginia in May, she has accepted a marketing position with AT&T Advanced Ad Solutions in NYC. Courtney McClain graduated from Wake Forest and is working at Georgia Expo in Atlanta.
CLASS OF 2007 Class Representatives: Charlotte Bissell: cmb123@comcast.net
CLASS OF 2009
LOST ALUMNI
Class Representatives:
Name/Maiden Name Nooshin F. Bagheri/Farhidvash Katherine L. Schultz Kimberly A. Campuzano/Perisino Christopher B. Chappell Benjamin J. Gaudreault Kathryn N. Wegman Keith A. Cooper George M. McCord Zachary A. Yager Juliana R. Alves Elizabeth M. Fowler Lauren D. Friedrichs Holly M. O’Keefe Katharine M. Duke Jasmine Nadja M. Smiri Lawson B. Thompson Amanda S. Wolfe Danielle A. DeFoe Noah K. Hauber Stephen A. Satterfield Tracy L. Edmundson Mary V. Coleman Shaquita N. McWilliams Jaimal F. Scott Lauren E. Taylor
Shamaz Denerson, former Lady Bear hoops’ star, was named Great South Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the second time this year. Starring at Salem College in NC, she is averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Spirits. Shamaz played a vital role in leading the Bears to a playoff berth her senior season at HIES.
Taylor Pack: pack_t@bellsouth.net
CLASS OF 2010
Emily Phillips: goldengirl188@aol.com
Class Representatives:
Patti Hensley graduated from UGA with a BS in Education in December 2010.
Theo Papadoulos is living in Budapest.
Sarah-Elizabeth Kirtland: kkirtla@clemson.edu
Clover Street graduated from Unity College on May 7 with a Bachelor’s degree in Captive Wildlife Care and Education, and received the Office of Residence Life Service Award and the Captive Wildlife Care and Education Leadership Award. Clover has accepted a position in Texas as the new reptile keeper for the New Braunfels Animal World and Snake Farm where the largest collection of venomous reptiles are exhibited. Charlotte Wheat is doing research at Georgia Tech on pyrolysis and biomass. She has been playing club volleyball at Georgia Tech, and is the President of the club volleyball team (fall ‘10 until present). They were ranked 5th nationally last year. Ryan Woolfolk will start at wide receiver this fall at William and Mary after seeing action at both running back and cornerback over the years. Woolfolk caught 13 passes for more than 200 yards last season.
CLASS OF 2008 Class Representatives: Rachel Sullivan: moochie921@bellsouth.net Kerry Martin: kiwi667@bellsouth.net
Kai Street and Blaine Costello are currently working for ATL Nightlife/ Vertigo Entertainment, spinning music in Atlanta nightclubs such as Primal Nightclub and QUAD: Spring4th. They have opened for world-renowned DJ’s such as Welsh DJ/ Producer DJ Sasha and many more. Currently, Kai and Blaine are working on their first album, which is to be released mid-summer. Aubrey Sutter made the cheerleading squad at the University of Georgia; she will be cheering for the Dawgs this fall. Aubrey was the captain of the cheerleading squad at HIES her senior year.
Class 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 2000 2000 2000 2000 2002 2002 2002 2003 2004 2004 2006 2006
We are missing contact information for the above alumni. If you are in contact with any of the above HIES graduates, please encourage them to get in touch with the HIES alumni office. You can also log on to the website at www.hies.org. Click on alumni. If you have never logged onto the site before: Your username is firstnamelastnamegraduationyear (i.e. TamikaHightower97) Your password is your date of birth (i.e.MM/DD/YYYY) this includes the slashes.
Trevor Gillum: tgtopgun28@yahoo.com Kate Decker: kated7523@gmail.com
Arden McClain is currently in London and will be a senior at Miami of Ohio next year.
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ALPHA OMEGA 2011
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The best deals in town are right inside the hallways of HIES! Did you know that when you purchase items at The Campus Shop, all profits are donated directly to the school’s general fund? And there’s never a sales tax on your purchases!
At the Book ‘N’ Bear Campus Shop in the Riley Building, you’ll find everything your student needs to be cool in school, including: HIES uniform outerwear Additional uniform items HIES spirit items School supplies New and used textbooks We even have great gift and personal items: Greeting cards Jewelry Balloons Beatriz Ball Vera Bradley Personalized gift baskets and more And the Cubby Hole, located in the second grade hallway, caters to Lower School students and their families with: School supplies HIES uniform outerwear HIES spirit items Toys Games Jewelry Webkinz Cubby coins Novelties, and more
Seated, left to right: Ellis Watson, Callan Phillips, Kathryn Weitzner, Lily Rolader, Addison Baitcher, Caroline LaPointe, Christie Huff, Megan Ernst, Delaney McMullen, Sarah Meyer, Nikki Herzog. Standing, left to right: Kathryn Maloy, Kate Borden, Christine Georgakakos, Andrew Parrish, Adam Wypyski, Peyton Warley, Zach Scott, Anna Marie Sokolowski, Richie Sokolowski, Kaki Bennett, Ret Terrell, Michael Almeter Not pictured: Carter Ehlers and William Fisher
The Campus Shop is the perfect place to shop for birthday and holiday goodies! TORCHBEARER SPRING 2011 | 39
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NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S.POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 312
Address Service Requested
Easter Service: A group of HIES Upper School students and their teacher chaperones took Easter weekend
to serve families in New Orleans still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Left to right, standing: Daniel White, Alex Jespersen, Sarah Stallman, Daniel Forrestal, Clint Dolan, Addie Alter, Darby Cook, Ally Yankauskas, Megan Westmoreland, Katie Keith, Christine Georgakakos, John Taylor, Kyle Donahue, Sydney Knoechel, LeAnna Wade Kneeling: Bailey McDearis, Sarah Merkel, Meredith Many, Mary Catherine Hodgson, Kathryn Weitzner, Rekeyia Sherrell
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