spring 2011
St. Andrew’s Visits Haiti “No one has ever visited us before... You are the first people to care that we exist.”
Guys and Dolls upper school winter Musical for 2011 Directed by Ritchie Porter • February 25,26,27
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In this issue
16 28 32
In Civil, Haiti, villagers have no electricity or running water
Head of School: Robert Kosasky Director of Development: Linda Kiser Editor: Katherine Stevens Graphic Designer: Hillary Reilly Contributors: Colin Allen, David Brandt, Fulvio Cativo, Robert Kosasky, Tim Rose, Racquel Yerbury, Luther Zeigler Photography: Fulvio Cativo, Ginger Cobb, Lauren Cook, Mike Davila, Ruth Faison, Laura Hoffman, Sung Hee Kim, Mark Kontos, Christine Lewis, Lloret Moussa, Joseph Phelan Jr., Sue Harris Phillips, Betsy Sparks, Steve Sparks, John Troha, Bruce Weber, Racquel Yerbury, Luther Ziegler
and their school has no building. St. Andrew’s has committed
Published May 2011
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Features A World of Learning Students visited three continents over Spring Break this year. What they learned and what travel beckons in the future.
The Fit Reflecting on checking the ‘fit’ of college choices.
St. Andrew’s Visits Haiti: Our Partnership with Christ Roi School Begins
to funding the annual salaries each year of their 300 teachers and principal. Our relationship is just beginning.
28 32
Departments 4 Academic News 16 All School News 20 Postoak Campus News 40 Alumni News & Notes
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About our Cover: Students of Christ Roi School in the remote village of Civol, Haiti are seated on the benches of their open air school. Five members of the St. Andrew’s community visited the area over Spring Break to find out how we can help. See page 32.
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Board of Trustees 2010-2011
Chair: Anne S. Wallace Vice Chair: Anthony Izzo, III Treasurer: Oliver Carr Secretary: Nancy Appleby Uchenna Anya-Eze Siobhan Davenport Sarah Davis Gail Feagles John V. Geise Jane E. Genster David A. Heywood Aris Mardirossian Robert J. McGovern Iverson Melvin Richard Schoenfeld Kenneth P. Slosser Bradley Thayer Erin M. Wright-Gandhi ’96 Ex-Officio Members
2 Message From Robert 8 Potomac Village Campus News
St. Andrew’s Magazine is published by the St. Andrew’s Development Office for students, alumni, parents and friends of the school.
Head of School: Robert Kosasky, President, Alumni Association: Michael DiPaula-Coyle ’98 Bishop’s Representative: David Booth Beers President, SAPA: Tonya Finton Counsel: Elizabeth Gunyon Geise The mission of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning, and service. Consistent with the values of an Episcopal school, St. Andrew’s is committed to a diverse and inclusive community with respect to race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, family status, economic circumstance, age, and physical disability in its student body, faculty and staff. Pursuant to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, St. Andrew’s does not discriminate in the administration of admission, financial aid or loan practices, educational or other school-sponsored programs and activities, or in the hiring or terms of employment of faculty and staff, except that the Chaplain shall be a member of the clergy of the Episcopal Church.
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Message from Robert
Dear Friends,
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he cutting room floor was strewn with great phrases a year ago, as we put the final touches on our new mission statement. We—a small group of faculty, trustees, parents, and alumni—were determined to craft one strong, concise sentence. One of our final decisions, however, was to add one more word—“service”—and to make it the powerful last word of our mission. From requiring students to volunteer annually for outside-of-school community service projects 30 years ago to the curricular value we now place on our service learning programs, St. Andrew’s has always been “ahead of the curve” in its commitment to service. Service to
St. Andrew’s has always been “ahead of the curve” in its commitment to service. others is a core value that we live daily at St. Andrew’s. As wonderful as our service leaning program is, however, St. Andrew’s has more to offer the world. We are rich in “intellectual capital,” specifically in our distinctive mission and commitment to
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recognize and develop each child’s strengths as a learner. As a thought leader in innovative, individualized teaching strategies, we can and should serve a broader public purpose. Furthermore,
This summer, we plan to teach twice the number of TFA instructors how to reach each child, meaning that St. Andrew’s will positively impact the education of thousands of local public-school students. the best way to validate and increase our faculty’s expertise is to continually expand the pool of students and educators we teach. We have already seen the power of this expertise and vision in our thriving partnership with Teach for America, the most respected, sought-after teacher training organization in the United States. Following last summer’s inaugural seminar in neurodevelopmentally based teaching, in which a cadre of St. Andrew’s master teachers worked with TFA’s most promising recruits, dozens of TFA instructors have visited our campuses this year to see our science, English, and prekindergarten faculty practice their craft. This summer, we plan to teach twice the number of TFA instructors how to reach each child, meaning that St. Andrew’s will positively impact the education of thousands of local publicschool students. As I write, St. Andrew’s is taking the next exciting steps in serving a larger public purpose. This spring we will host our first All Kinds of Minds Facilitator
Development Academy, in which St. Andrew’s master teachers will train their peers alongside educators from as far away as Canada in how to implement neuroscience in everyday classrooms. Even more excitingly, we are forging a partnership with the Johns Hopkins School of Education to offer researchbased graduate seminars that will teach the science of how learning actually happens and the practical “St. Andrew’s way” of realizing each child’s potential as a learner. These partnerships, operating under the umbrella of our new Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (www.saes.org/cttl), mark a new chapter in St. Andrew’s commitment to service. Our faculty and students know the transformative effect that service has on adults as well as children, and how working in partnership builds trust and understanding. These new institutional partnerships with Hopkins, Teach for America, and other groups not
Teaching to, and learning from, the wider world—committing ourselves to improving education for as many students as possible— are producing a more powerful faculty and strengthening the environment of “exceptional teaching, learning, and service” we promise our own students.
purpose commits our faculty and school leaders to ongoing research, innovation, and excellence in our own classrooms. Teaching to, and learning from, the wider world—committing ourselves to improving education for as many students as possible—are producing a more powerful faculty and strengthening the environment of “exceptional teaching, learning, and service” we promise our own students. Are we becoming a different school? No, just a better and more impactful St. Andrew’s. As always, I welcome your thoughts and ideas, and thank you for your strong support for St. Andrew’s mission and each of our students. Faithfully,
Robert Kosasky Head of School
The mission of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning, and service.
only leverage St. Andrew’s distinctive strength—the intellectual and spiritual development of each child—to help thousands of school children beyond our campuses. This kind of bold public
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academic News science and Art meet
Designing Bridges to Tomorrow
hat were the creators of today’s sleek, I-want-it products doing when they were 9 and 10-years-old? Were the design forces behind the i-Pads, pods, phones and notebooks watching Sesame Street after school in the ’90s? Science department head Ian Kelleher bets they were on their bellies outside, observing insects or watching a ditch-digger operate. “The intersection of science and art is really fertile ground,” Kelleher exclaims. That’s why a 4th grade science unit recently began in the art classroom. In art, the students examined the organic work of Fernando Botero, and then brought in a soft toy from home and drew it, learning in the process how to observe and draw an object. “Later in science class, we studied beetles, millipedes and luna moths—their life cycles and the adaptation A 5th grade team works on their bridge of the animal. The detailed drawings made students take in the differences among the insects. The key challenge in high school science is to observe well the details that distinguish one thing from another,” notes Kelleher. The goal for St. Andrew’s is to teach 21st century skills—“we want to prepare students for the world that they will work in— not the world we’re working in,” explains Kelleher. Design is imbedded in STEM initiatives (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). “We want to place ourselves at the intersection of art skills and STEM skills” says Kelleher—it fits our mission, challenges and allows us to assess a lot of different neurodevelopmental constructs, and it’s a way to get a lot of higher order cognition work done because it contains elements
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of play that encourage the working-through process. “Our design curriculum will start with tasks our students connect to personally—a powerful motivation for learning—and result in solutions that are graphically and aesthetically interesting for viewers or users,” says Lauren Cook, head of Visual Arts. Play and the motivation of personal connection is especially true in the Lower School, where science teacher Laura Hoffman as often as not begins with art. Preschoolers know all about symmetry and balance from examining and drawing ladybugs and butterflies, and making them balance on classroom objects. Second graders study, assemble and practice using their own ‘equal arm balances.’ They look at examples of Calder mobiles, and then apply the concept of a beam and fulcrum by creating their own mobiles with straws and paperclips. “By creating something scientifically accurate, they make it their own, and then they remember it better,” Hoffman explains, “and the students are eager to add on to their knowledge.” Fifth grade students brought the same interest to their bridge building project. In Gary Wyatt’s art class, 5th graders focused on the use of scale drawings, pre-visualization and
tools—saws, glue, hot guns— “andUsing building dimensionally, increases learning exponentially. ” Chuck James, Science Teacher
We want to place ourselves “ at the intersection of art skills and STEM skills. It fits our mission, challenges and allows us to assess a lot of different neurodevelopmental constructs, and it’s a way to get a lot of higher order cognition work done because it contains elements of play that encourage the working-through process. Ian Kelleher, Science Department Chair
”
brain-storming. “The scale drawings document work done and help students talk about how this machine—in this case, a bridge—works, what it will do and why make one choice over another.” The bridge project was one of the first times that kids are asked to start in class and build something of their own creation, says science teacher Chuck James. “Using tools—saws, glue, hot guns—and building dimensionally, increases learning exponentially.” Students work together in teams during the school day and everyone has a task: an architect does the drawing, the manager finds the material and the engineer is in charge of construction. Design technology makes learning “dimensional,” says James, giving it a depth that you can’t get in other types of learning. He has set up broad parameters in which kids operate: his 8th grade class makes “a game”—which means they have to include a ball and a buzzer, but “what else is included and where it goes is up to the kids.” Fourth graders make wind racers (little vehicles with large fans to mimic desert races in the Mojave Desert); 5th graders make bridges; Kris Mohlman’s 6th grade class builds submarines; Kim O’Shaughnessy’s 7th graders build an artificial limb able to pick up something. Outside of science classes, John McMillen’s math students build mouse trap race cars, and Glenn Whitman’s history class is collaborating on a “museum” exhibit to reflect their Cold War learning, instead of making individual tri-fold posters. The collaboration forces kids to think about communication, and
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A 2nd grader with her equalarm balance mobile..
about what other groups are doing, notes James. “The project requires more thinking, but it’s more engaging.” It’s “walking off into the air” for teachers, says James—you have to be confident that kids can respond to your challenge. “We’re building a group of collaborative, innovative thinkers, not afraid to take risks,” explains Kelleher. Each project will have to allow enough time for rebuilding, because the fail/analysis/ rework is important. It’s often the most powerful learning experience. “When something’s not working, you create true moments of huge buy-in,” Kelleher notes, “a real investment to learn.” Kelleher predicts that the Intermediate School will become a place to make the interdisciplinary design program work, but with the goal that this will spread to other grades and other disciplines. “The toolkit of design collaboration is a strong toolkit.”
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academic News fantastic!
1:1 Laptop Program
N
ext year, every fifth grader at
game-based, with graphics.” and to inspire: “For
St. Andrew’s will
instance, there are virtual field
be outfitted with a
trips on the web. Children’s
laptop computer. Every child.
experience may now be very
School-to-home. 24-7.
multi-sensory. They can hear,
The 1:1 laptop program (meaning “one laptop per
see, touch and interact with subject matter via online
child”) will be piloted in Grade
programs. We need to gear
5, thanks to the enthusiasm of
our teaching toward the multi-
5th grade teacher Judy Kee.
sensory! Kids can enter a
Kee is a creative teacher who
volcano, go to the bottom of
is blessed with the ability to
the ocean or back in time.”
speak in outline format.
in an inclusive community:
And, she is a teacher new to
“Individual laptops will level
St. Andrew’s who starts with
out students’ experience—
the mission statement when
everyone in the classroom
she explains how fifth graders
will have access to his or her
will benefit from individual
own computer. Every child
laptops.
will have the same experience. For instance, while studying
The 1:1 laptop program will be piloted in Grade 5, thanks to the enthusiasm of fifth grade teacher Judy Kee.
world geography, we can bring the world into the classroom via e-pals and virtual author visits. Individual computers will encourage all kinds of talents—students can show what they know musically,
“First,” she said, “there’s to know.” To Know: “I’ll be able to
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kinesthetically. The program will include all kinds of different learners.”
image and go to a visual
teach each student, meet each
dedicated to exceptional
student’s needs. Programs like
teaching: “St. Andrew’s should
Martin Luther King Jr. give
Read Naturally for reading and
be an exceptional school.
the “I Have a Dream” speech,
IXL.com for math let students
We will pilot an e-textbook,
when they study civil rights.
work at their own pace. They
different from a regular text—
The laptop program will also
can go on and work on extra
it will be multi-dimensional;
provide different avenues to
skills. They are engaging,
students can click on an
show the teacher that students
image. They’ll be able to hear
Judy Kee works with 5th graders as they resume a project stored on their laptops. have learned—blogs, e-books,
administrators will learn
self-contained. Teachers of art,
web pages.”
whether the infrastructure,
science, math, music “could
such as the wiring, needs to
all dip their fingers,” Kee
consultant worked with
The nitty gritty is that a
be improved and whether the
suggested, invitingly.
St. Andrew’s to examine the
number of ports and portals
need and talk about what
meet demand.
a program would look like.
Fifth grade proved to be
During the one year pilot,
the perfect grade because it is
spring
2011
and service: Judy Kee will think of something. Guaranteed.
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Potomac Village campus news eureka!
Portrait of theWhole Child student learning profile (SLP)
Underneath the glossy hair of a kindergartner lies a powerful instrument: a 5-year-old brain. Its cells, pathways, and connections are increasing exponentially. But what’s really going on in there? What if, in addition to the annual school photo, you could get a portrait of your child as a learner? You’ve come to the right place and time. The portrait of
dergarten day give us a great window into each child as a learner,” explains Dresden Koons, head of the Lower School, so the profiles will launch with that class. The outline of the Student Learning Profile begins with observable phenomena—he likes to move a lot, she loves legos, he struggles at 2 p.m. each day. Then the training by St. Andrew’s teachers in All Kinds of Minds takes over, and teachers look for patterns in the observations collected
The academic rigor and length of the “ kindergarten day give us a great window into each child as a learner. ” Dresden Koons, Head of Lower School
the whole child —the “Student Learning Profile (SLP)”—is as perfect a portrait as any Renoir. As of the 2011-2012 school year, St. Andrew’s elementary grade teachers will create and regularly update an SLP for each student, beginning in kindergarten. The SLP will travel with each kindergartner all the way to 12th grade. “The academic rigor and length of the kinTeachers call the grid of student descriptors, of constructs and their components, "the placemat." It's their bible.
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and begin to align those patterns with neurodevelopmental constructs. A lot of scientific hypotheses and testing goes into the creation of an SLP. It’s not intuition. Through this process each student’s teachers work with a placemat-sized grid describing these eight constructs: attention, temporal-sequential ordering, spatial ordering, memory, language, neuromotor functions, social cognition, and higher order cognition. Each of those categories is broken into functions—memory, for example, includes short-term, active working, and long-term—and then further delineated into components like focal maintenance
and conflict resolution. Aligning patterns of observable phenomena with constructs allows teachers to specify key areas of cognitive strength and vulnerability. Teachers can accurately target strategies to improve student performance. The child you know comes into sharper focus. Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Dale Kynoch described a recent activity in which teams of teachers were asked to select one student and brainstorm the SLP process: “As a group we had to explore how to design an SLP instrument appropriate for elementary students. In our case, we chose a very active student. While aligning the group’s observations with neurodevelopmental functions, we had a eureka moment! I had thought this child’s particular challenge
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“This is compelling the teachers to be researchers!” Dresden Koons, Head of Lower School
was related to processing controls and that the high energy I saw meant the child was strong in production controls. But when we looked more closely, we saw that this child struggled in every one of the production controls that regulate academic and behavioral output. This insight offered me a whole new group of strategies to implement.” The real SLP portrait is created when observations reveal patterns and consistencies across all academic disciplines and home and school life. When affinities are factored in—all the things a particular child loves—”we can begin to discuss how to leverage affinities and strengths
to improve vulnerabilities,” says Koons. “And putting strategies in place to further strengthen each child’s strengths is equally important, so they can get even better at what they’re good at.” “The only way for this to work is if parents are our partners in this work,” notes Koons. “We will know we are on the road to success for each student when a parent, rather than asking in a teacher conference, ‘How is my child at math’ will instead inquire, “Tell me where my child is neurodevelopmentally strong and where he is challenged. What strategies are you implementing in the classroom, and what can I do at home
to support that?” Equally essential to success is the student’s own understanding of him- or herself as a learner. All need to be abe to advocate for themselves. “It’s never too early for a child to participate in the conversation about how she learns best,” Koons believes. “This process has empowered teachers as researchers, working closely with each student to maximize his or her learning potential!” Koons exclaims. And they have become true portraitists. Move over, Renoir!
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Potomac Village campus news New event!
PArent Education
Black tree farm visit
Parent Education Evenings Strengthen Parent-Teacher Partnership
T
think of no better way “toI can enjoy Earth Day than by getting our hands in the soil and planting!
”
Laura Hoffman, St. Andrew’s Science Teacher
“T
his year the Lower School launched its first two Parent Education Evenings. On January 25 faculty and administrators creatively introduced Lower School parents to the curricular initiative that drives our practice, the All Kinds of Minds neurodevelopmental framework, through a series of fun, interactive activities. Parents left the evening with a better understanding of how we teach and with a handful of strategies to try at home. On March 10 current and new parents gathered to view the documentary Race to Nowhere and participate in a parent and teacher-led post discussion. While a tornado warning temporarily interrupted the show, parents appreciated the opportunity to see the film and share their reactions to it. The result deepened parents’ sense of partnership with teachers to appropriately support and challenge each child. Both events had well over 60 parents in attendance, and not just because we offered free dinner and babysitting!
he best day ever”, according to one Lower School
student, was Earth Day 2011, celebrated by St. Andrew’s kindergarten through 5th grade students at the Black family’s (Lindy, Maddie and Cate) tree farm. Students participated in a variety of activities, including a hayride and a bug hunt. They discovered lady beetles and spiders, beneficial to the trees, as well as aphids and tent caterpillars that harm the trees. Student groups worked together to plant a row of spruce trees, taking special care to dig the hole and mound the dirt around the fragile baby tree. “From a science perspective,” wrote science teacher Laura Hoffman afterwards, “ I can think of no better way to enjoy Earth Day than by getting our hands in the soil and planting!”
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Blessing of the Animals
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he sunny courtyard of the Village campus was a lively scene on September 28, full of parents, singing students and their animals-dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters etc. Chaplains Gonzalez and Zeigler looked each animal in the eye, and, hand on head, blessed each one.
—continued
primo!
Italian Night Brings Out the Crowds
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Pennies for the Planet
sn’t everyone at least a little bit Italian? At least that’s true on Italian Night, this year November 12. St. Francis Hall was full of the smell of great food and the sounds of lots of families enjoying dance, games and good company. Many thanks to co-chairs Maura Lannan and Bernadette Brazier and their
volunteers for arranging a spectacular evening.
Q
uick! How much is 15,040 pennies? Children in kindergarten through 3rd grade can all answer that question. They competed to collect and count pennies
throughout the year. The winner is 1st grade: they asked the tooth fairy to leave 100 pennies instead of a dollar bill under their pillows. The kindergarten, pictured here, made a math lesson of their collection efforts, and then delivered their catch to PNC bank. Separately, the prekindergarten collected pennies for Pennies for Peace and will total their take in June. Pennies for the Planet, is recipient of the K-3 collection.
Thanks for supporting the “ Pennies for the Planet program! Christine Lewis, St. Andrew’s Kindergarten Teacher
”
collaboration
Write this Down!
F
or the second year, high school seniors from the Postoak Campus collaborated with 1st graders to write books. The first graders dictate while the seniors get the words on the page. Together they illustrate the books. Both sides of the pair benefit—the first graders, from the facile writing of their 12th grade friends; the seniors, from their young friends’ fertile imaginations. Each is empowered.
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Potomac Village campus news Earth friendly
The Buddy Bison Visits the Village Campus
B
uddy Bison officially appearance at an Assembly on February 17 highlighted what kids can do to conserve and save the planet, officially launching a new service learning initiative. The Blue Sky Puppet Theater’s performed Lights Out on the Bunny
Brothers for all the students. The inspirational “green” show, produced in partnership with the National Park Service, shows kids that they can play an important role and make a difference in the environmental challenge.
community
Grandparents and Special Friends Return to School “C ome to Grandparents Day and stay for Thanksgiving” is the way Lower School Grandparents Day invitations might read. Whether guests stay for turkey or not, there is plenty to be grateful for on November 23. Everyone enjoyed the sights of little children enjoying school and performing on stage.
Caption
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Caption?
—continued
creativity
glitterati
Young Authors Week
Showcase of the Stars: a galaxy
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pril 25-29 marked the 20th annual Young Authors Festival celebrated by children at 10033 River Road—now St. Andrew’s Lower School. Visiting author Pamela Duncan Edward told children how she gets ideas for her books, and encouraged her listeners to be creative and write. To older students, she emphasized perseverance.
As the animals hugged each other and apologized, the audience, too, learned lesson. First graders had everyone laughing during The Little Red Hen Makes Pizza. From Pickled Eggplant and the little chicks to the lazy friends, the students gave the audience a memorable presentation of the ageless tale. It was hard to not get
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very student, K-3,
timing each performance,
found a way to shine
or managing the stage.
in the 2011 Showcase
Performances ranged from
of the Stars—from actually
all-class pieces like the
performing on stage to
Kindergarten song on their
directing the spotlight,
recorders, to Lana Anderson
handing out programs,
and Camryn Yi’s piano/ballet duet, to Nicholas Brazier’s rock performance, to the 2nd graders St. Patrick’s Day song, to Jeremy Golub, Jack Hoffman, and Kisa Kingii’s hockey demonstration. The show ended appropriately with the Sound of Music’s “So Long, Farewell” sung by Maddie Black, Katherine Ernst, Demi Fragoyannis, and Kaeden KoonsPerdikis. The hard work by all students performers and stage crew, parents, and our very own Mr. Jason Kline, resulted in an impressive Showcase of the Stars!
Kindergarten’s dramatization “ofThePinduli touched our hearts. ” The week included a Character Parade and Pizza Lunch, and book exchange and an assembly featuring dramatizatons of several children’s books. Librarian Jennifer Shand wrote that, “kindergarten’s dramatization of Pinduli touched our hearts.
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tongue-tied for second graders presenting Princess Pigtoria and the Pea. They did a masterful job with the alliterative language and charmed all with their acting and singing. It was a wonderful celebration for our young authors.”
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Potomac Village campus news New event!
Family Heritage Night
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t the first annual Family Heritage Night on February 11, over 150 people representing 20 different countries shared their culture with neighbors and classmates. Dresden Koons called the evening a “visual reminder that our diverse students have the opportunity to learn and grow together, sharing with each other what makes them both unique and a part of our wonderful Lower School community. Thank you for enriching our school with your cultural heritage,” she added.
Thank you for enriching our “ school withyour cultural heritage. Dresden Koons, Head of Lower School
”
Dr. Alisa Kim and Mr. Woo Lee (parents of Colette Lee currently in PSII and younger brother Colin Lee
delicious
Donuts with Dads
Dozens of Dads filled the school on October 15—make that several “baker’s” dozens—to sit in little chairs, express their admiration for art and well-done schoolwork and see their offspring’s daytime environment . It was definitely a sweet day.
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very merry
Christmas Programs on December 14 and 17
ngels, shepherds—a heavenly host of beautiful children— performed songs and dances for families in two holiday performances before Winter Break.
red spirit Day
Community Sing, and Sings Again!
E
verybody loves “Community Sing”— so much so that we enjoy three during the year. The fall Community Sing is also dubbed “Red Spirit Day.” Garb for the spring event, jerseys, inspires extraenthusiastic singing. For a cold winter’s day, what better to keep a community of singers warm than pajamas? So the children here are pictured at PJ Day, ready to sing.
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All school news imagine
St. Andrew’s on the First Day of School, 2010-2011
O
n opening day of St. Andrew’s 33rd year, the school for the first time spanned preschool (age 2) through Grade 12. The break in the new Intermediate School closed in 2010-11 when a fifth grade class linked grade 4 to grade 6 on the Postoak campus. On Opening Day, St. Andrew’s had 527 students. During the summer on the Lower School campus, renovations created new elementary and preschool wings. Dresden Koons’ new role as Head of the Lower School opened a new era on the Village campus.
On the first full day of classes, Head of School Robert F. Kosasky welcomed the students and faculty back with an opening assembly. “I say it at the beginning of every school year—my 9th at St. Andrew’s—I’m grateful to be here and you should be, too. You have been chosen to attend this school or to work here ... because each of you has great promise and worth as a student and a person and more importantly as a person and a learner.”
homecoming
Walkathon Raises Thousands to Feed the Homeless
Walkathon Chair Sara Sennett
T
he 5th annual Walkathon to feed the homeless kicked off a beautiful Homecoming Day on October 16. Registration of 237 walkers and donors raised $6,000 for Samaritan Ministry. A big crowd of parents, faculty and students from both campuses
followed sophomore Matt Petraites’s bagpipe, a drum corps and the lion through a balloon arch and through the neighborhood.
Head of the Lower School Dresden Koons and the Lion with a pack of cubs who enjoyed Homecoming 2011.
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faith and commitment
Ordination of Betsy Carmody Gonzalez January 22, 2011
January 22 was the culmination of years of study, reflection, and ministry for Betsy Carmody Gonzalez, St. Andrew’s Lower and Intermediate School chaplain. She was ordained in the priesthood at the Washington National Cathedral by Bishop John Bryson Chane. Second and third graders opened the service in song, in an outpouring of spirit for their beloved chaplain. The service was a wonderful celebration of the faith and commitment of Rev. Gonzalez and of her ministry to St. Andrew’s.
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All school news The Wild Side A big crowd of 300 parents, faculty and staff responded to the invitation to the school auction on March 12. Thank you to all who donated, and attended the fun evening—the event brought in over $265,000 for financial aid. Kudos to the team: Co-Chairs Sarah Davis and Anne Duvall, Live Auction Co-Chairs Lynn Longley and Colleen Wei, Silent Auction Chair Susan Bies and Decorations Chair Ana Pabon-Naab and Director of Special Events Brooke Norrett.
The leadership team: zebra and Co-Chairs Anne Duvall and Sarah Davis
Sarah and Joe Davis
Susie Barnello roars with delight. Josephine Agbaniyaka, Isaac Agbaniyaka and Ana Naab
Siobhan Davenport
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Dads on the Wild Side— Alex Perdikis, Tom Parsons, Lawrence Winkler, and Corey Davenport
Best Costumes winners are Maureen StephensonBooker, Uchenna AnyaEze and Judy Wolf
Rick and Anne Wallace
The dispute looks fun: Robert Kosasky and Anne Duvall
Safari guide Brooke Norrett with Nancy and CG Appleby
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postoak campus news recognition
INCREDIBLE!
Hightower Named District Athletic Director of the Year
Senior Claire Devaney Tops 1,000 Career Points
l Hightower, St. Andrew’s Boys Athletic Director, was named the 2011 District 2A Athletic Director of the Year by the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association. Hightower was
one of 13 athletic directors from the state
of Maryland honored at the association’s 35th anniversary banquet held in Ocean City in April. “It’s always wonderful to be recognized for what you do,” Hightower remarked. This is Hightower’s 14th year at St. Andrew’s and his 9th
to be recognized “It’s alwaysforwonderful what you do. ” Al Hightower, St. Andrew’s Boys Athletic Director
as Athletic Director. He coaches varsity baseball at St. Andrew’s and teaches health classes and previously coached boys basketball. He is currently the commissioner of the MAC athletic league and received the distinguished honor for his commitment to promoting athletics in District 2A, an area encompassing nearly 30 independent schools in Montgomery County. He also received a 15-year Service Award from the MSADA.
exciting
Dance Instructor Roxie Thomas to Dance on Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
T
he Kennedy Center has invited St. Andrew’s dance instructor, Roxie Thomas, to be one of three upcoming female choreographers to perform on the Millennium Stage in April 2012. The Millennium Stage is the nation’s only free, daily performance space. All performances are webcast and may be found at www.kennedy-center.org. Thomas is working on a concept for the performance and will audition dancers for her “pick-up”company, The Doniphan Project, next fall. The company was previously chosen to perform at the Eureka Dance Festival at Dance Place in Washington last December.
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S
enior Claire Devaney scored her 1,000th career point on January 19 with just 12 seconds left in a game against Sidwell. Devaney joins Nikki Azzara ’10 and Alex Azzara ’07 as the only girls basketball players in the elite 1,000 point club. (The only boys player to accomplish the feat is Alex Zurn ’09. He broke the 1,000 mark in 2009 and is now playing basketball for Gettysburg College.)
celebrate!
Cum Laude Society Inducts New Members
C
ongratulations to the 15 students who were inducted into the St. Andrew’s chapter of the Cum Laude
Society on April 5: Seniors Mario Dehesa-Azuara, Claire Devaney, Tim Gregg, Cara Huskey, Lucas McLaughlin,
Ben Mitchell, William Royle and Emily Williams were joined by juniors Adam Barton, Chris Carr, Ben Coleman, Christina Farley, Tommy Finton, Janice Freeman and Jaclyn Rales in being inducted into the honorary group. The new inductees were welcomed into the Society by last year’s honorees Josh Sennett, Krissia Rivera, David Vogel, Eli Hunt, Annie Engelstad, and Anna Malawista. Keynote speaker Dr. Ian Kelleher, St. Andrew’s
Science department chair, encouraged the students to measure themselves by their “commitment to resiliency, curiosity, and humility” and their willingness to explore their world. Intellectual curiosity and intellectual humility, Kelleher said, are integral to academic success and broadening one’s world view as they allow one to listen, learn and open themselves to new insights.
HISTORY
St. Andrew’s Celebrates 14th Annual Oral History Night on March 7
T
he 14th Annual Oral History Night again featured the scholarly work of students enrolled in AP United
www.americancenturyproject.org—developed by junior Rehan Butt. Rehan interviewed St. Andrew’s alumni Pierre Omidiyar ’84 on his experience creating eBay. Learn more about the project at www.americancenturyproject.org
States History and United States/European History to 1860. The night was dedicated to the memory of Frank Buckles, the last American
veteran of World War I who died a week earlier.
This year’s group of oral historians traveled to 15 different states to complete their interviews, a project record, and they became part of the largest precollegiate oral history project in the United States. The American Century Oral History Project’s archive, located in the Dreyfuss Library and on-line at www.mdch.org contains nearly 900 interviews collected, preserved, and published by 14 years of St. Andrew’s students. The evening also included the launch of the project’s new website—
The St. Andrew’s community is always invited to suggest names for future oral history projects. Contact Glenn Whitman, gwhitman@saes.org. SPRING
2011
21
postoak campus news
—continued
inspirational
St. Andrew’s Celebrates 2011 Senior Art Show
St. Andrew’s celebrated its artists with a Senior Art Show—The Eleventh Hour—showcasing the work of 14 student artists in Kreeger Gallery this spring. The annual senior portfolio exhibit gives students an opportunity to organize a cohesive body of work that represents their learning and growth in the visual arts during their high school years, and affords the experience of curating (including planning, installation and communication) a solo exhibition within the context of a larger group art show.
WOW!
Make it a Four-Peat: St. Andrew’s Golf Team Wins Fourth Consecutive Championship
epeat, threepeat, four-peat.
strokes and down to the
WOW! It is rare
sixth player on the team,
when a team,
St. Andrew’s needed Jacob
any team, can
Reiskin (sophomore) to shoot
win a championship four years
a 90 or less in order to defeat
in a row. The St. Andrew’s
Flint Hill by one stroke. Fate,
golf team shocked the
luck, skill, destiny—call it what
other teams in the MAC on
you will, but Jacob made par
October 19 by winning the
on the 18th hole to record a
banner by one point over
90, a personal best for the
previously undefeated Flint
year. St. Andrew’s four-peated,
Hill, the favorite to win the
to the shock of everyone
championship. Led by senior
except us.
and team captain Tim Gregg,
22
Behind Flint Hill by two
Congratulations to Tim,
followed by Michael Fuller
Michael, Richard, Cole
and Richard Koch, our top
Greenspan, Andrew Bubes and
three players put the team in a
Jacob for a great effort and
position to win.
some real drama.
swimming
greek classic
Upper School Performers Wow with ‘Antigone’
T
St. Andrew’s Launches a MS Swim Team, Coached by Sophomore Matt Petraites
W
he St. Andrew’s Players put on an impressive production of the Greek classic ‘Antigone’ October 29 through 31. In this classic story, the fiery Antigone, daughter of the doomed Oedipus, defies the state by burying her brother, Polynices, branded as a traitor by King Creon. St. Andrew’s production updated the 2,500-yearold play, making Thebes the backdrop of a modern dictatorship.
ater is sophomore Matt Petraites’ environment.
At the Washington area Christmas Championships in Laurel, MD in December, Matt swam in 13 events, achieved nine 1st place finishes, two 2nd place finishes and two 3rd place finishes. Matt’s passion for swimming led to the launch of a Middle School swim team. Five St. Andrew’s Middle School swimmers competed for the first time in the 11th annual Private Middle School
Seniors Astrea Somarriba and Ben Mitchell played Antigone and Creon, respectively. Also featured were seniors Annie Engelstad as Ismene, Antigone’s sister, and Marta Knudson as the blind seer,
Tiresias. St. Andrew’s version began the production by incorporating the end of “Oedipus Rex,” also by Sophocles. Junior Tommy Finton made an appearance as Oedipus.
Championship Meet at HoltonArms School on January 29. Seventh graders Ryan Brown, John Henneman, Ryan Hess, Josh Szymczak and eighth grader Kai Waller represented St. Andrew’s in the Middle School-only meet.
exceptional
Teach For America Learns from St. Andrew’s
“W
hat does exceptional teaching and learning look like?” That was the essential question that Teach for America (TFA) teachers were trying to answer when St. Andrew’s master teachers welcomed TFA corps members for two days of observation in February. The group focused on teaching and learning at the preschool level one day, and the next, on work across divisions in science where St. Andrew’s is embedding design throughout its science curriculum. “The school was incredibly impressive and the classrooms quite confirming of my beliefs about a science education; they were driven through inquiry and self-advocated learning,” said one visiting teacher. During summer 2011, TFA and St. Andrew’s will work together again to train even more teachers in brain-based learning and teaching techniques. Irene Walsh explains a lab to TFA core members.
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Swimmer Matt Petraites Coach Petraites works with the MS team with help his father, Bob Petraites, and David Brown, Assistant Head of the Upper School and father of swimmer Ryan.
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postoak campus news
—continued
family first
Grandparents Day Niki Makkinejad ’11 with her mother, stalwart volunteer Azi Miri
Elizabeth Naab ’15 and Maria Naab ’18, with Grandmother Anita Pabon and Allan and Camila Winslow.
Peggy and Guy Steuart with grandson Rys Steuart ’14
Loli Lambert ’15 with Eric and Betty Daughtry
About 100 grandparents, relatives and special friends visited St. Andrew’s Post Oak Campus on October 22 for the annual Grandparents’ Day celebration, chaired by Page Dekker (Tommy, Grade 5).
celebrate!
St. Andrew’s Night Festivities
A
record 400 parents and students participated in the 2010 St. Andrew’s Night festivities on December 9, chaired by Joan Atchinson (Zoe, Grade 11, and Zach ’09).
It was a family affairs for Grace, Glenn and Owen Whitman
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Phyllis Koch, Colleen Wei and Susan Bies welcomed the guests to St. Andrew’s Night. Upper right, Dr. Amy Wooley practices with the orchestra. Lower right, Intermediate school boys enjoy their dinner.
winners!
Joys and Challenges
Girls’ Varsity Soccer Reclaims Francisco Hope Championship
Author and Children’s Health Expert Ned Hallowell Speaks at St. Andrew’s
L
ed by its four seniors—Molly Christian, Tasha Belikove, Claire Devaney and Stephanie Orsini—the girls’ varsity soccer team won the annual Francisco Hope Tournament at the end of the first week of school. The tournament’s Most Valuable Player was Anne Mercer-
Schoenfeld ’12. Claire Devaney’11, Tasha Belikove 11’, Abigail Stephenson ’12, and Stephanie Orsini ’11 made the all-tournament team.
O
n October 5, Dr. Edward M. Hallowell, child and adult psychiatrist, and best-selling author of 18 books, spoke to parents and children and worked with teachers on managing stress, busy lives and being better communicators. With a large, rapt group of St. Andrew’s faculty, he talked about the joys and challenges of working with students and dealing with the stress of evolving work demands. In the evening, he was introduced to parents by his collaborator from his first book, St. Andrew’s parent Bill Grace. Grace credited his daughter Julia ’13 with the great idea of inviting Hallowell to St. Andrew’s. Hallowell, author of books such as Driven to Distraction (a bestseller about attention deficit disorder) is also the founder of the Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Sudbury, Mass. and New York City.
self-respect
Visiting Speaker Urges Students to Live With Purpose
“R
espond, don’t react. Live with purpose. Always take time to think. Have love in your heart,” youth speaker Jeff Yalden, best known for his books and appearances on the MTV show “Made,” advised St. Andrew’s students at an
assembly on September 27. “No person, no place, no thing should ever give you what you have to give yourself—self-respect,” Yalden told an audience of Middle and Upper School students and faculty gathered for an hour-long assembly in MacDonald Hall. Hulking, tattooed, bald and with a bushy goatee, Yalden drew on life experiences—such as the death of his elderly grandfather, the trials of raising two adolescent daughters and taking care of
make good choices and take time to think. “Live your life by your
an autistic nephew—to urge St. Andrew’s students to be smart,
character,” he told students. “Don’t worry about your reputation.”
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postoak campus news
—continued
go varsity!
Way to go girls!
Boys Varsity Basketball Claims Tournament Crown
Girls Cross Country Team Makes State Championship a Habit
F
The boys varsity basketball team defeated St. Anselm’s to claim the 2010 St. Andrew’s Holiday Tournament Championship in December. Tournament MVP Dylan Rublee ’11 led the Lions with 12 points in the final including the go-ahead free throw with 12 seconds left. Tim Gregg ’11 and
or the sixth time in seven years, St. Andrew’s girls’ cross country team won the small school state meet. On November 13 at the Montgomery County Agricultural Farm in Derwood, Md., all of St. Andrew’s top five runners placed in the top twenty of the race, for the winning score. In doing so, they edged Mount Airy Christian Academy by 60-71 while beating four other schools as well.
Jonathan Consor ’13 joined Rublee on the all-tournament team.
friendship
St. Andrew’s Hosts Moroccan Coaches, Athletes as Part of U.S. Department of State Program
T
welve Moroccan soccer players and coaches visited St. Andrew’s
September 24, for a scrimmage with the St. Andrew’s Girls Varsity Soccer Team. The Moroccan delegation came to the United States as part of a 10-day coaches’ program to learn from and interact with American players. The program is sponsored by the
soccer, empower women from
appreciation for one another,”
U.S. Embassy in Morocco, the
very different cultures and
said Glenn Whitman, head
U.S. Department of State.
can bring different worlds
coach of the varsity girls
“The value of this game is to
together in order to create a
soccer team.
see how sports, in this case,
deeper understanding and an
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The top five were: Junior Hannah Hastings, senior Cara Huskey, junior Carly Thayer, junior Randi Kontner, and Senior Steph Shaw. Senior Krissia Rivera rounded out the varsity scoring with her 24th place showing.
smart stuff
service
National Scholarship Programs Honor Five Seniors
St. Andrew’s Holds Day of Service, Stages ‘Lions in the Kitchen’ Cooking Competition
S
eniors Lauren Fairbanks, Anna Malawista, William Royle and David Vogel were named “Commended Scholars” in October by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Commended students place among the top 3 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2011 competition by taking the 2009 Prelininary SAT/National Merit Scholarshp Qualifying Test. Head of School Robert Kosasky also recognized senior Mario Dehesa-Azuara as a National Hispanic
Recognition Scholar. Each year, the NHRP identifies nearly 5,000 of the highestscoring students (from more than 200,000 juniors) in the United States and U.S. Territories who take the PSAT/NMSQT and designate themselves as Hispanic/ Latino.
S
t. Andrew’s second annual Day of Service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day kicked off
two days early with a cooking competition. On January 15,
Anna Malawista ’11, left, and Mario Dehesa-Azuara ’11, above with Robert Kosasky, were among the students recognized this year by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
teams of students competed for the best preparation of a chili dish and dessert, in a “Lions in the Kitchen” cook-
The judges ponder, above, and make their announcement, top.
off. The Bethesda Marriott was the scene of the event, which
Bethesda Cares. During the
was part of students’ regular
nationwide day of service on
service to Campus Kitchen.
January 17, students, parents
Judges were Justin
and faculty helped make
Ross ’02, of Justin’s Grill at
bowls for soup kitchens,
Nationals Park, Marriott COO
prepared sandwiches and
and parent Arne Sorenson and
assembled toiletry kits for
DC Central Kitchen CEO (and
local organizations who serve
founder of Campus Kitchen)
the homeless.
Robert Egger. Five Marriott chefs worked with teams of students. Food created during the competition was donated to
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2011
27
Self-portrait by Rebekah Daniels ’13
Fit is tricky. If you’re trying on a new pair of jeans, a three-way mirror is key. But what if you’re looking for a college—it will be home for several years, the source of friends, a catalyst for growth in unknown directions —where’s the three-way mirror for checking that fit?
The Fit 28
college counseling Self-portrait by Billy Petito ’13
ne high school junior on a series of college visits watched the reaction to her new green athletic shoes to gauge fit: if kids and professors noticed and applauded the choice, the college worked for her. Visits to colleges, friends’ testimonials, parents’ experiences and, increasingly, the chatter on college facebook pages—official and unofficial—all contribute to impressions pro and con about prospective colleges. “Reflection is a big part of the search” for fit, says St. Andrew’s Director of College Counseling, Randy Tajan. That is, the kind of guided reflection that goes on in a kid’s head, which can be as revealing as any three-way mirror. The groundwork for St. Andrew’s students’ decision day is laid with voluminous questions for students and for parents, a Myers-Briggs type personality profile, interviews with students and parents, and college counselors’ meetings with advisors and students’ teachers. Years of a student’s work and life at St. Andrew’s, in and out of the classroom, fleshes out the emerging portrait. In the winter of junior year, college counselors sit down with the family for an hour or two of conversation. “It’s important to get on the same page as the family—to understand where their conversation has taken them before they ever come in,” explains Tajan. The talk, like the questionnaires, covers size, region,
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Greek system, interests, priorities. It’s the opportunity for parents, the student and the counselor to trade information and impressions and educate one another. “Our job is to listen to their preferences—the student’s and the family’s—and ask them to think about those,” points out Délice Williams, Associate College Counselor. “We try to challenge their notion of “fit” and broaden it. If we have one message we want everyone to get, it’s ‘trust me: we have your best interests at heart.’”
Fit is roomy. Throw out the jeans
College counseling team: Délice Williams, Randy Tahan, Tricia Bennett
metaphor. Williams says, “We might suggest, ‘these are the kinds of places’ you’d feel comfortable. But meanwhile, students are going to change—not just in college
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college counseling
The goal of the College Counseling team is to get kids to the place where they can say to themselves, “There are lots of places where I can be successful.”
Self-portrait by Cheyenne Polk ’13
but also over the summer and partly as a result of the process. It’s April, and not even the most clueless, head-in-the-sand junior is unaware of college ahead, at least blurrily. A day-long exercise brings the future into sharper focus: College Day for Juniors. The Athletic Center is the scene for the 71 juniors, divided up at round tables into mock college admission committees at the fictional Fairbrook University, considering the application of five mythical high school students. The room is loud. Each group can admit two, waitlist two and reject one. But wait! The economy tanked; after an
30
hour of discussion yielding the five decisions, now each team must narrow their choices to one admit, one waitlist and one rejection. Passions run high in the renewed decision-making: kids love or hate “student A”, can make a case for some of the others—excusing or understanding the inconsistencies, some failures—but there’s not one vote for ”student K.” Odds are that the exercise, which forced 71 kids to identify with the point of view of the college admission counselor, made some students think. What does my transcript look like to someone else? What can I say to explain that poor grade
in my proposed major? Does anyone know that even though I’m really good at soccer, I want to quit it and try crosscountry? That I’m worried about leaving home? That I’m desperate to leave home but there’s only budget for Maryland? That even though my dad and mom both went to Duke, I really like North Carolina? Etcetera. One of the interesting challenges is fine-tuning the type of fit. Among all students, regardless of their academic ability, there are big distinctions. One student thrives with attention, or access to professors, or she wants to lead, so a smaller environment suits best. And a student who is progressive might need a different college than the one who is conservative. “I wish we could get rid of the notion that ‘fit’ and vibrant intellectual life are separate things,” remarks Williams, “There is such a thing as intellectual fit. We want our students to find that as well.” “You do your best to show students the possibilities,” says Tahan. “We want to get them to think honestly about what they really need.” “It’s kind of an informed intuition,” mused Williams. We try to visit a lot of schools, and sometimes you can see a kid at a place, but then we say, ‘you need to see for yourself.’” When the fat envelopes arrive with the acceptances, “fit” begins to look different. Reaching out to friends and alumni helps, and the college counseling office becomes a safe place to process the questions— with or without feedback, as appropriate. It’s time for another metaphor: it’s like choosing among eight pairs of shoes. They are different, but any one will be good, even great. The goal of the College Counseling team is to get kids to the place where they can say to themselves, “There are lots of places where I can be successful.”
college counseling
Two Fitting Stories T
revor Johnson ’04 suggests that all college seekers should equip themselves with their own rating list, based on their own preferences—not the list in the
T
hea Klein-Mayer ’08 describes herself as a flexible person who suspected she could be happy wherever she went. She did want to be close to a city, and close
U.S. News and World Report, or their friends’ list. Trevor’s
to a body of water, and sought a good school of engineering
personal list grew out of reading (“Mom said, ‘Here, look at
because she planned to be an engineer. She visited several
this book,’ so I read Colleges that Change Lives”), his lack of
schools and applied to the Universities of Maryland and
interest in staying on the East Coast, his need to at least be
Virginia, the University of Rochester and Case Western. Then
near a city, to be in a place he didn’t already know, and in one
Délice Williams urged her to consider Northwestern University
that would be intellectually exciting but not cutthroat.
in Illinois. She did, she was accepted to it and all the other
The trying-on process was intuitive—he would visit places
schools, and finally visited it post-acceptance.
and see how they felt. “I’d think, ‘is this right? Or not?’” Midwestern schools seemed friendlier than Eastern schools
“The College Counseling office put me in contact with
and smaller communities were attractive. When he visited
Northwestern grads. I was fortunate to be able to hear
Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin, the small, friendly campus
their positive reinforcement,” Thea remembers, being
appealed to him. “I thought, ‘Hey, I like this!’” For the city boy,
reassured that although it was far away, it was worth
having Chicago only 100 miles away was a safety net.
it and the cold winters were bearable. “Some of the biggest influences were the positive things I heard
“It’s what you do when you’re in college, more
about Northwestern.”
than where you go,” Trevor believes. He did go to Beloit, continued the interests in photography and
One of those was the idea that Northwestern had strength
dance that grew out of his St. Andrew’s experience,
beyond its engineering programs. “Other universities with
but did significant coursework in the sciences. “I
strong engineering programs had only that—no other
took, literally, classes in psych, political science,
strengths.” Northwestern’s breadth turned out to be fortunate
physics, calculus, bio, chem, environmental studies,
when Thea, as a student who entered a selective “Integrated
photography, entrepreneurship and public health.”
Science Program” decided it was too heavy on physics, and
And he’s at Beloit to this day, where he’s working as
that what suited her best were the natural sciences. Now,
a college admission officer, helping the young Trevor
she says happily, “I get to do research with professionals and
Johnsons of 2011.
professors in plant biology.” She’s also involved in the campus environmental organizations, heads a campus community
What’s his message to today’s juniors and seniors? College
vegetable garden and enjoys a design group that focuses on
can be a balance, and be a place where you can grow as a
creative problem-solving to positively impact the community.
whole person, grow in new ways. Your decision comes down
The intense pursuit of art that characterized her St. Andrew’s
to, “Can you see yourself here, hanging out with the students?
years is taking a backseat, though she does balance her five
Can I be comfortable here?” Talk to every student. Ask
classes and extra-curriculars with work in the college art
them all, what do you like? What don’t you like? Look for a
gallery.
dynamic community of kids who are engaged. And remember (speaking as the Beloit admission officer), “many lesser-known schools offer merit scholarships!”
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31
St. Andrew’s Visits Haiti: Our Partnership with Christ Roi School Begins B y R e v. L u t h e r Z e i g l e r C h a p l a i n t o t h e U p p e r a n d M i dd l e S c h o o l s
Betsy Gonzalez and Rachel Yerbury pose with students.
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St. Andrew’s Visits Haiti
T
he tiny village of Civol lies in the Central Plateau region of Haiti, a few hours north of the capital city, Port-au-Prince. An impoverished place without electricity, running water, or any of the amenities of modern life, Civol is about as poor and remote
a place as one can imagine. The village is little more than a collection of shacks and simple dwellings, at the center of which sits a modest, one-room Episcopal church. The church’s school—which serves about 300 children with five teachers and a principal—has no building. Classes are held outside under a portico adjacent to the church. The students sit on simple wooden benches. They have no desks, no supplies, no books. To say the school is “struggling” fails to do justice to the bleak conditions under which these children are trying to learn. Over Presidents’ Day weekend, five members of the St. Andrew’s community—Board Chair Anne Wallace, Upper School Dean of Students Ginger Cobb, International Study Programs Coordinator Racquel Yerbury, and School Chaplains Betsy Gonzalez and myself —visited our new sister school in Civol for the first time. Our unfailingly helpful and saintly guide was Father Jean Joseph Jeannot, the Episcopal Archdeacon of the Central Plateau and the Haitian priest who oversees the Christ Roi parish and school, in addition to 15 other parishes and schools in the region. Despite their poverty, the people of Civol welcomed us with great warmth, hospitality, and joy. During our twoday stay in their village, in addition to meeting the school’s teachers, principal and students, we participated in a wedding, we sang and danced with our hosts at a reception that went late into the
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“No one has ever visited us before,” he said. “Even our own government has forgotten us. You are the first people to care that we exist.”
33
St. Andrew’s Visits Haiti
Dean of Students Ginger Cobb and Board Chair Anne Wallace with Haitian friends.
34
St. Andrew’s relationship with Christ Roi is part of a national program of partnerships between American Episcopal schools and Haitian Episcopal schools overseen jointly by the National Association of Episcopal Schools and the Bishop of Haiti.
St. Andrew’s Visits Haiti
night, our chaplains baptized 16 town children, and we enjoyed a three-hour Eucharist service during which we were welcomed with words and song by our Haitian hosts. We were moved to tears when one of the town leaders rose to speak during the church service, thanking us profusely for our presence and commitment to a long-term relationship. “No one has ever visited us before,” he said. “Even our own government has forgotten us. You are the first people to care that we exist.” As Board Chair Anne Wallace later reflected: “Hearing these words, I realized that I, as an individual, and we, as a school, carry an imperative and deep responsibility to help.” In the months leading up to our visit, St. Andrew’s students and families from all four divisions participated in a wide array of fund-raising activities (including bake sales, holiday card sales, “coin wars”, and dress-down days) that netted more than $7,000 for the Christ Roi School— more than enough to fund the salaries of the school’s five teachers and principal for this year. We also brought with us care packages that St. Andrew’s students had assembled for their new Haitian friends: we presented to Christ Roi’s students individual gift bags containing pencils, protractors, calculators, toiletries, hand-made greeting cards, and a stuffed animal. In addition, each of the teachers at the school received a large backpack filled with their own school supplies. St. Andrew’s relationship with Christ Roi is part of a national program of partnerships between American Episcopal schools and Haitian Episcopal schools overseen jointly by the National Association of Episcopal Schools and the Bishop of Haiti. Our partnership
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Father Joseph Jean Jeannot, The Rev. Betsy Carmody Gonzalez, Father Fritz Lafontant, and The Rev. Luther Zeigler.
Our deepest hope is to develop a rich cultural exchange with Christ Roi that will allow our students to benefit from getting to know, learn from, and love the people of this tiny Haitian village. with Christ Roi is for the long-term: We have committed to funding each year the annual salaries of their teachers and principal; we are planning a student trip to Civol next year over the Presidents’ Day weekend, which we hope to make an annual tradition; and finally, our most ambitious goal is to raise $40,000 through outside fundraising initiatives to build a five-classroom school building for Christ Roi, along with a well for clean drinking water and a latrine.
But our relationship with Christ Roi is far more than just a financial one. During our visit, we learned that the people of Haiti have as much to teach us about their culture, values, and way of life, as we have to offer them. Our deepest hope is to develop a rich cultural exchange with Christ Roi that will allow our students to benefit from getting to know, learn from, and love the people of this tiny Haitian village.
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A World of Learning for Students in St. Andrew’s International Programs
S
pring Break trips in 2011 connected real world experience with the school curriculum as students traveled to Costa Rica, Mexico, South Africa, Greece and Turkey. “Global learning at St. Andrew’s broadens students’ horizons, with international travel, cultural immersion and field study,” said Racquel Yerbury, St. Andrew’s Director of International Programs. Future St. Andrew’s trips include home stays and language immersion in Honduras as well as a service trip to Chicago this summer. In addition, a language immersion trip to Spain is one of a number of St. Andrew’s programs planned for the summer of 2012. The new partnership in Haiti will deepen as St. Andrew’s discovers ways to incorporate student involvement, and the school is working towards new programs in China and Jordan: l Through a partnership and exchange
program in China through Independent Education (formerly, AISGW), and other funding sources, we are working towards a student exchange
36
that brings Chinese students to St. Andrew’s for one week and affords our students the opportunity to visit our partners in China over Spring Break. The program also may bolster Chinese language learning opportunities for St. Andrew’s students. We hope to have a multi-faceted mentoring program by our faculty for Chinese teachers who are implementing the Advanced Placement curriculum in China. l We are exploring ways to continue
our program in Jordan and Jerusalem, where we were fortunate in 2010 to be hosted during part of our journey by the American Center of Oriental Research, an internationally renowned institute of archaeological scholarship. The focus of any future partnership would be to promote student understanding of the Middle East, archaeology of the ancient world and exposure to Arabic language learning opportunities.
Freshman Amberleigh Ray probably spoke for all travelers when she called trips like hers to Baja, Mexico “something that changes you and the way that you look at life. You can’t help but live in the moment.”
A world of learning Lucas McLaughlin and Cara Huskey contemplate the striking theater of Termessos.
St. Andrew’s students investigate the Propylon, built for the Roman Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 130 at Termessos.
GREECE AND TURKEY
L
atin teacher Racquel Yerbury took 25 students and eight St. Andrew’s parents to the remains of the ancient world in Greece and Turkey. Highlights included exploration of Istanbul, Athens, Monemvasia, and Delphi. The group, Yerbury said, was especially impressed by Termessos—an ancient Hellenistic city near Antalya, Turkey. “We were the only ones there. It’s an amazing place that makes you feel like a 19th century explorer. Part of our focus is learning to interpret archaeological sites, understanding civilizations that once flourished, and engaging in comparative historical thinking,” Yerbury said. “Seeing our students’ faces light up here was priceless.” St. Andrew’s students, parents, and teachers in front of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.
spring
2011
37
A world of learning
7th and 8th graders try out the brightly-painted traditional Costa Rican wagon transport and take a hike in the tropical rain forest.
COSTA RICA
S
t. Andrew’s Math Department chair Frank Wagner took twelve 7th and 8th graders on a weeklong wildlife and adventure tour of Costa Rica. Their journey took them to the Arenal and Poas volcanoes, the tropical rainforest, and the local rivers near Arenal. Hiking, horseback riding, learning about Costa Rican chocolate production, sleeping at night in the jungle, seeing howler monkeys, snakes, and other wildlife were among the trip highlights. “This trip gave them a great opportunity to be independent and responsible for themselves. They got to speak Spanish and learn how to travel as well as learn about Costa Rican culture and history,” said Wagner.
MEXICO
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iology teacher Phyllis Robinson led 13 students on a marine biology sojourn to Baja California, Mexico. The group spent five days tent camping, with no access to running water, on Espiritu Santo at the southern point of Baja. Hiking through rugged desert terrain to a hidden oasis, gaining extensive knowledge of marine invertebrates, doing real marine biology research, and snorkeling with sea lions were but a few of the highlights of the trip. “On an experience scale of 1 to 10, that was a 100!” freshman Mike McShane exclaimed about the snorkeling experience. The trip was facilitated by Ecology Project International on a marine protected area of the Sea of Cortez.
“On an experience scale of 1 to 10, that was a 100!” exclaimed freshman Mike McShane over the snorkeling in Baja, Mexico. 38
A world of learning
SOUTH AFRICA
T
he South Africa trip has been a transformative experience for many students over its 11-year history—including some of the 18 juniors and seniors taken out of their comfort zones this year. Trip leader Roy Barber describes the journey together as a chance “to experience the challenges of poverty and the legacy of [Apartheid’s] racism up close and personal through engagement on multiple levels.” The trip’s itinerary included a new partnership with the Neddoman High School outside of Cape Town where some students did home stays in Muslim or public orphanages, while others stayed with families who are struggling economically. Students also visited a community outside of Johannesburg where April Sizemore-Barber ’02 is doing dissertation research on Khulumani, an organization that helps women oppressed during Apartheid. Other highlights included visiting wildlife at Pilanesburg Game Reserve, feeding the homeless at night on the streets of Johannesburg and visiting with friends at the Bokamoso Youth Centre in Wintervelt. “I found South Africa to be a fascinating country,” said Eli Robbins, a senior traveler and a student in Barber’s Race and Culture course. “To truly experience race and culture in context, especially with our friends from Bokamoso, was something I feel fortunate to have done.”
Enjoy Racquel Yerbury’s video on Beyond Borders learning at St. Andrew’s: http://saeslions.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/beyondborders/
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alumni news & Notes
T
he last 12 months have been busy for the Alumni Department. We have traveled to see alumni in Los Angeles, San Diego, Boston, New York, Atlanta, North Carolina and, of course, throughout the Washington, D.C. area. We also started some new events for Alumni Parents, and sent care packages to the alumni in college—make sure we have your address! My favorite event had to be in Los Angeles when a group of alums joined me at Street, the restaurant of Bravo’s Top Chef Master Susan Feninger. Throughout every meeting it has been a lot of fun to hear some great stories about life at St. Andrew’s. It is hard to believe that next year at this time we will be celebrating the 30th
anniversary of the first graduating class. And with this important milestone in the school’s history, we want to change the alumni weekend a little bit and make it more of an event. But as I have said many times, this is your program, so I could use your help. Let me know what you want to see during Alumni Weekend. Do you want a more formal event? Should we create a Hall of Fame? Let us know by calling 301-983-4725 or sending an email to callen@saes.org I hope you enjoy all of the alumni updates on the following pages. Enjoy the summer and I look forward to hearing from you. Best, Colin Allen, Director of Alumni Affairs
Parisa Karaahmet ’87 merica’s “give me your tired, your poor” orientation is still taught and celebrated, even as large sectors of the population protest that immigrants rob the current population of jobs, increase crime, and raise health and education costs. Industry responds, however, that they have to look for talent overseas. It’s in that conundrum where you’ll find Parisa Karaahmet ’87 working. She’s a lawyer with Fragomen, an international law firm devoted to immigration matters. Parisa worked as an Assistant District Counsel and Acting Deputy District Counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service in New York, before moving into private practice where she helps companies man-
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age their human capital. She specializes in individual and complex immigration matters and manages a number of corporate accounts, and she advises academic institutions and hospitals on their immigration matters. “There’s not enough talent in the United States,” Parisa explains, citing as an example the high proportion of MIT grads who are foreign but who then return to their countries because “it’s hard for them to stay in the U.S.” As for American citizenry, “they need to invest themselves more in STEM education”—study in science, technology, engineering and math. “Top candidates for job openings tend to be foreign—especially at banks” she notes, not a problem for large corporations who, at
least until 2008, would “pay anything for top talent.” Today, businesses are not spending money on foreign nationals, visas are increasingly expensive, and compliance has become more important since 2008. “The current immigration application is much stricter—almost to the point of being unreasonable,” says Parisa. Immigration reform is necessary, she says—it will force immigrants to pay taxes, and improve American security with improved sys-
tems for knowing who is in the country. “If Obama is reelected there will be reform to provide economic growth and national security,” she predicts. Immigration reform is one way out of the conundrum; the other is education. “STEM skills are so much better overseas than here,” she observes. Watch for improvement there: Parisa’s daughter’s school has a STEM program that starts in first grade. “The early age is ideal to set up and provide opportunities for kids to enjoy and excel in science.” Parisa is a graduate of Syracuse University and Catholic University’s Columbus College of Law. See Building Bridges, page 4, on the new program in art/technical design.
alumni news Kent, Westin, and Severn Henry ’10 Lindsey Brown ’06
Holiday Party The annual Alumni Holiday party took place on Saturday December 18 at BlackFinn American Saloon in downtown Bethesda. Alumni of all ages took advantage of the free food and beverages to reconnect with old friends and faculty members.
Below, Austin Schaefer ’06’ and Nora Mann ’06. At right, Michael DiPaula Coyle ’98 with Alumni Director Colin Allen
Robert Kosasky, Murray and Cora Simpson
Will Evans ’92 Jason Klippel ’92 and their families
Lauren Heywood Daniel Belchamber Clinton James Claire Hansen Kristina Petraites (all class 2010)
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2011 FAculty/Alumni soccer game
alumni news
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In a huge upset, the Faculty and Staff defeated the Alumni 1-0 in the Annual Soccer Game. The result was not without controversy and the result goes into the books with an asterisk as two Alums played for the Faculty/Staff team. Thank you to all of the Alums who came back to play and cheer on their classmates.
The family cohort was a formidable first for the alumni soccer game: Michael ’09, Tom ’83 and Matthew ’10 Graves
Mirko Pefaure ’97 and Colin Troha ’95
alumni news
Class of ’90
The Class of 1990 held their 20th Reunion on October 16 at BlackFinn American Saloon in downtown Bethesda.
Mr. Matthew D. Cutts '90 Mr. Graham E. Johnston '90 Ms. Jennifer M. Kerney '90 Mr. William Walsh '90 Mr. Gordon R. Currey '90 Ms. Vanessa C. Beveridge '90 Mr. Mark W. Baker '90 Mrs. Jessica L. Bulman Kolchins '90 Mr. Andrew W. Dougherty '90 Kim Druckenmiller '90 Mrs. Sara Graser Thomas '90 Mr. Kevin A. Vendt '90 Mr. Jeffrey A. Fleisher '90 Nick Demas Colin Bill Mr. Adam Pollin '90 Ms. Catherine Worthington '90 Ms. Zola Springer Solamente '90
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alumni news
Brenton Duvall ’09 on your iPod? Consider yourself ahead of the curve.
I “Producing is such a process,” he said. “It’s playing all the instruments and arranging the same way Dr. Wooley is arranging [using musical software] ... I am doing the same thing musically.”
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t is pretty simple to figure out if you know the latest on the music scene. If you have Brenton Duvall ’09 on your iPod then you can consider yourself ahead of the curve. But what does he do to create his music? “It’s basically just like writing songs … it’s writing songs, making beats.” The process to create a new song can be lengthy as he kicks around ideas, songs and arrangements. Ideas, he said, can go “back and forth for months.” Usually it takes about a day when you find out where the song is headed and just finish. The live act, he explained, is different. “Live, it’s being a DJ.” As his reputation grows, Duvall (who is taking a break from his studies at the University of Colorado) said artists are approaching him to do remixes. This is where he hopes his future in this industry will be—producing music. “Producing is such a process,” he said. “It’s playing all the instruments and arranging the same way Dr. Wooley is arranging [using musical software] ...
I am doing the same thing musically.” Not that it is easy trying to make your mark in the music world. A typical tour swing for Brenton from April 22 to May 6 looked like: Hamilton College on Friday, Vanderbilt Saturday. Then UMassAmherst, Wellesley, Syracuse and back to Maryland on May 6 to play Art Attack at the University of Maryland, College Park, headlining with Nelly. We can’t wait to see what is next. Just don’t call him a mash-up artist.
alumni news
Victoria Westin Hutchen ’96 “It’s an exciting time for education—an exciting time to show how people can impact children’s learning.”
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t has been exactly a decade since Victoria Westin Hutchen ’96 graduated from college and returned to the classrooms of her alma mater to teach in St. Andrew’s “First Year of Teaching” program. She taught 6th and 7th grade history and physical education, helped with the Middle School musical and coached lacrosse, basketball land Middle School volleyball in 2000-2001 before moving to Chicago. She’s there today, still working with children. Children may not change, but the understanding of how to teach them has evolved in the decade since this alumna became a teacher. St. Andrew’s investment in brain-based teaching is one example. The growth of Victoria’s own understanding of the challenges and potential for teachers has followed the same path as St. Andrew’s, and as at St. Andrew’s, the path begins in belief of meeting the needs of the individual student. Victoria manages a gifted and talented summer enrichment program for students
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Pre-K through grade 3 at the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. She hires the faculty and designs innovative academic enrichment courses. When the summer is over, she analyzes program effectiveness and works with area teachers to plan curriculum and professional development opportunities. “I’m drawn to working with both low and high achievers—helping all students reach their potential,” she told the St. Andrew’s Magazine recently. “It’s an exciting time for education—an exciting time to show how people can impact children’s learning,” Victoria said. She pointed out that both large motivators
like the recession and smaller ones such as current films (“Waiting for Superman” and “The Race to Nowhere”) have the potential to change the way the public looks at education. She perceives the charge to educate all children as more urgent than ever. At a time when we need strong teachers who can work with all different types of kids, “teachers are having trouble finding jobs—at all education and skill levels. Teachers need to be creative, flexible, proactive, involved, and utilize current research and put that into practice,” Victoria said, sounding just like a disciple of St. Andrew’s. (Victoria’s degrees are from Mt. Holyoke and DePaul University.) “Teachers must be able to
meet the needs of individual students; they must have the ability to work with a greater volume of students; and they need to be team members who can be on the forefront to share their expertise.” As for the standards that are subject of so much controversy, yes, said Victoria, “teachers should be tied to standards but should still be creative within them.” Whether it’s an Independent, public or charter school, getting people together to support the students is the goal, she said. Communities need to hold themselves accountable, and we need to encourage grass roots efforts to take responsibility, Victoria added. “I’m curious to see what’s going to happen with charter schools in terms of oversight,” she said, noting her interest in public/private partnerships. Outside of the classroom, two more young people especially benefit from the thoughtful teaching of Victoria Hutchen: her daughter Taylor (age 4) and son Charles (age 1).
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alumni notes
1983 Edie Demas shared with us this exciting email: Grace and Theo Demas-Graef were born early, on 12/18/10. We are now all home and terrific, if a little sleepy...
Henry is now an international air transport consultant/ economist working mostly with the World Bank and the EU on air transport in developing countries, with global experience (25 or so countries) and extensive exposure particularly to subSaharan Africa. He will shortly start a PhD dissertation in economics at a European university. Henry is still an avid photographer, and many photos can be found at www. walkerandhenry.com.
1984 Colin Clark let us know that he has a couple of new additions to his family. Since he last wrote, Colin married Christina and they had a daughter, Lilly Clark, born November 19, 2008. Colin’s older daughter, Madison, is now 16-years-old.
1985
It was great to hear from Henrich “Henry” Bofinger. He told us that he got married five and a half years ago to Walker Smith (December 10, 2005). They both have international careers. She is a director at EPA in the Office for International Affairs and Foreign Policy, where she deals in the multi-lateral arena and travels quite a lot. 46
Erin Lyman wrote to us about the passing of her mom, and former St. Andrew’s trustee, Judith Lyman, from breast cancer. Erin told us that she, Derek Lyman ’87 and their father have received “so many wonderful messages of love, support and remembrance of Mom from our St. Andrew’s friends—both classmates and former faculty. Julie Young Mann also joined us as we celebrated Mom’s life.”
1987 Laura Galliher Wertz sent us the following update: My good friend, an alumna from Holton, recently opened up a unique specialty shoe shop in Montgomery Mall. It’s called My Shoe Café and I help her run it as well as direct the PR for the store. It’s really cool stuff. Check it out at myshoecafe.com and let everyone know! Thanks!!!
1988 Amy Understein married Michael Strahan of Dallas, TX on December 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Ga. Allison Understein Rottner ’86, Heather Certner Brugger and Kristen Friedman Venit enjoyed a girls trip to Charleston, SC before the wedding. Pictured are Amy, Michael and kids Brooke (12) and Chase (10) Foxman.
alumni notes
1988 Here’s a great update from Dorsey Barnett Horowitz: “I gave birth to Lucy Woodward on May 13, 2010. Since my last St. A’s update, I’ve changed jobs. I’m now a Director at Russell Investments. I’m based in NY and travel frequently. Our main office is in Seattle so I see Alycia Butchman Lamb a ton—which is really fun. We also spent a fabulous week with the Butchman family on Martha’s Vineyard this past summer. I’m seeing Amy Selinger in a couple weeks in Boston for dinner and I’m looking forward to that. Boyer Profitt lives in Pelham, too, so I see him often and have become good friends with his wife Eileen. Facebook has been a great way to stay connected to former St. A’s classmates.
1990 From Colin Kao: I’m living in Chicago and am a physician in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. From Jessica Karp: “I just finished a new endeavor as the assistant director of a Theater J production of “Photograph 51.” Theater J is at the Jewish Community Center at 16th and Q Street NW in Washington DC. It was a great experience to be in the midst of a production. The show played throughout the month of April.” SPRING
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Kevin Vendt, in Bethesda, owns three Allstate insurance agencies. He had a fourth child this fall and named her Beatrice.
1992 Dana Harrison wrote the following update: “My daughter Hope is enjoying her first year as a St Andrew’s student in the 6th grade. We are so happy to continue being a part of this wonderful community.” Jason Klippel ’92 and Will Evans ’92 celebrating Maxey Evans birthday.
Whitney Cummings ’00
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n the list of the items needed to be a successful stand-up comedian, a fantastic highschool history teacher probably wouldn’t be at the top. But for Whitney Cummings ’00, who was recently named one of the top 10 comics to watch by Variety and starred in “Made of Honor” with Patrick Dempsey, that was exactly what it took. Whitney came to St. Andrew’s after her sophomore year. While she considered several other schools in the area, Whitney was attracted to St. Andrew’s because the students were “smart, creative, and individuals.” Nowhere was that better shown than in Glenn Whitman’s AP U.S. History class. There, Whitman encouraged students to engage in discussions with people who had opposing viewpoints, to read voraciously, and to look at both sides of the issue. And if anyone has seen Whitney’s comedy, you know that seeing things from a different viewpoint is a hallmark of her show. In the past couple of years, Whitney has gained a following as a result of her scathing comments during Comedy Central Roasts of Joan Rivers and David Hasselhoff. She also appears regularly on E’s “Chelsea Lately” and last year filmed a comedy special for Comedy Central in D.C., an event that was attended by several of her St. Andrew’s classmates. She is currently working on two pilots for network television—one of which, “Two Broke Girls”, was named one of the top new pilots by NY Magazine.
1993 Amy Carr-Taylor wrote: “I got married to Josh Taylor on September 18, 2010 and am now Amy Carr-Taylor. We live in our new condo in Takoma Park, Md. I joined the I.A.T.S.E. Local 772 Theatrical Wardrobe Union in January 2011 after working with them for only a year and a half. I’m currently dressing the world premier musical LIBERTY SMITH at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.
James King was married on December 18 to Elizabeth (Carpenter) King in Annapolis. James continues to own two restaurants in the area—Rockfish Restaurant and Kaufmann’s Tavern.
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alumni notes
1994
1996
Camila Sosman Palmer, her husband Andrew and dog Mosi welcomed Caetano Bay Palmer to the family. Caetano was born on November 18, 2010.
A short film by Tim Finn, “CYMoKay,” was screened in the international showcase of the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
1995 Tim McCune and his wife Rene were married in Oregon this past August. Joining him from St. Andrew’s were longtime friend Colin Troha, Trey Taylor and Ted Mann.
Jennie Powell Norton told us, I’m so excited to have something to post! James Norton IV and I were married at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, S.C. on September 12, 2009. Mari Palmer McDonald, Katie Barr Cornish, Alex George, Lang Collis (all class of 1995) were in attendance. James and I met as next door neighbors in college and were great friends for nine years before we finally decided to try dating. We now live in Atlanta, Ga. where I am the manager of a boutique and James is a senior vice president with BB&T. Katie Barr Cornish and husband Ben Cornish welcomed the adorable Fiona Carey Cornish last November. Katie, Ben and Fiona also have moved to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Alex George moved to NYC last October and accepted a job with AOL in their digital media, advertising division.
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Carl McEntire and his wife Michelle have a two-yearold son, Ethan, and recently moved to Rochester, N.Y. Carl is a Resource Manager for Hyatt hotels in Rochester and Buffalo. Michelle is an environmental engineer for O’Brien and Gere and is helping build a new water treatment plant for the city of Rochester. Brooke Kenny wrote with this exciting news: “I had my first novel, “Echoes of Her,” published January 3 by All Things That Matter Press. It was a long-lived labor of love, but I’m so happy it is now out in the world. It is available on Amazon, should anyone be interested. I can always be reached at brooke@ brookekenny.com.”
Becca Ohle married Gary Artinian on October 23, 2010 on Marco Island, Fla. They are currently living in Durham, N.C. where Gary is attending Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and Becca is continuing her work as a Physician Assistant working for the University of North Carolina.
1998 Lisa German wrote, “Ray and I welcomed our third child, Raymond Peter IV, on November 3. For a while we had three kids under 3-years-old, so it is sometimes crazy but always fun and exciting. I kiss a lot of boo boos in a day. I am back to work at LexisNexis as a trainer for large law firms in Philadelphia.
alumni notes
1999 Amy Petersen wrote: “I live and work in Baku, Azerbaijan—far away from St. A’s but I still remember my days there fondly.”
2000 Scott Minkoff told us: I am finishing up my Ph.D. in political science at the University of Colorado at Boulder this May and will begin a tenure-track position in the fall as a professor in the Political Science Department at Barnard College in New York City.
2001 Tim Harwood wrote: I received my masters in public policy at the College of William and Mary and moved back to the area in June to begin work at Editorial Projects in Education. Here is an update on three members of the class of 2001 courtesy of Claus Moberg: I’m still living in Madison, Wis. with my wife, Christine deAngeli Moberg. Christine is in the fifth year of her PhD in Clinical Psychology at UW-Madison, where she is studying alcoholism. I’ve recently taken a leave of absence from my own PhD program to focus on growing a company that I, along with Erland Kelley and a few of my fellow graduate students started in the spring
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of 2010. Our company is called SnowShoeFood LLC, and we make smartphone apps that help shoppers find and save money on food items that are good for the environment. Erland will also be taking a leave of absence, starting this summer, from his MS in computer science at Cal State to move back to Madison and work on this project full time. We’ve just released our first product—the True Local iPhone app—last February. We were very excited to receive this timely update from Jen Cantwell: It’s been pretty crazy here with all of the news about the Royal Wedding. Prince William and Kate Middleton were both in hall with me in my first year at the University of St. Andrews and were both really nice people, so I was delighted to hear that they were getting married!! I just heard today that I get the day off work for the Royal Wedding because it happens to be my boss’ birthday as well! :) I will be returning to the DC area from Edinburgh in August this year while my husband, Mike Thomson, does an MBA at Georgetown University. We’re pretty excited to be closer to family and friends in the States for awhile. I’ll finally be able to attend some of the alumni events :)!
Chris Danly ’05
C
hris Danly ’05, stopped by the Alumni Office in early April on his way to an experiment at a laser facility in New York. Chris is working at Los Alamos National Laboratory, developing nuclear diagnostics for the Photo credit: Lawrence Livermore National Ignition Facility. National Laboratory. The NIF uses giant lasers to compress a tiny gas-filled target and replicate the temperature, pressure, and reactions found inside stars, to further the decadesold quest for fusion power, and to help ensure the reliability of aging nuclear weapons. Why fusion? Chris explained to us that “Fusion power has the potential to satisfy all the world’s energy needs, cleanly, for literally millions of years. That, coupled with the fact that we’re making tiny stars, is why it’s cool. We know it’s physically possible, it’s just very difficult.” After work, he enjoys running, climbing, skydiving, and skiing in the mountains of New Mexico. Here’s a link to some neat pictures and video on the NIF website: https://lasers.llnl.gov/multimedia/video_gallery.
My twin brother, Ben, is still in China with his wife Guo ce living in Guangzhou. Chris ’95 and his wife, Megan, are due to have their 5th baby in May! My oldest brother, Greg ’93, is living in Iowa with his lovely wife, Lisa, and everyone is doing very well. My mom and dad are living in Cleveland, Ohio at the moment while he does an interim headship at St. Joseph Academy, an all-girls Catholic School which finishes up in June after which they will return to Stuart, Fla.
2002 Meredith Coyle is now in her 4th year of medical school at Ross University. Alison Inderfurth is enjoying her work as Chief of Operations for Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Co.). Congratulations to Heather Babby on her marriage to Eric Rimsky on April 9. Heather continues to work in New York as a media buyer and marketing campaign specialist for Saks Fifth Avenue.
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alumni notes
2003 Kim Feldman sent us this update: I’m living and working in Rockville as a clinical social worker. I work for a non-profit organization that provides wraparound services for families of children and teenagers who have cooccurring mental health diagnoses and challenging behaviors. I love working directly with families and children/adolescents and seeing how much progress they make when they feel empowered and become knowledgeable about how to use the resources available to them. I recently got my LGSW (graduate license in social work) and am working toward earning my clinical license (LCSW-C). I graduated from American University in 2007 with a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies, and went to grad school at Catholic University, where I got my MSW in 2010. Someday, I hope to become a school social worker and/or go into private practice. Kate Ivins continues to work at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and was recently promoted in January to Casting Director. Jacqueline Westley told us that she will be pursuing an MBA at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business this coming fall.
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2004 We got a note from Diana (Levin) Cohen: “Hi there. I just got married on March 5, 2011 to Jeff Cohen. Many of my friends from St. A’s were there... including Kate Bramante who works in the development office.”
Marissa Fowler checked in to tell us that she is working at Brown House, the infant and toddler center at HoltonArms.
We heard from Kate Guerin Calvert that she’s working for the third year in the federal government as a management and program analyst, recently got promoted a grade level. Charlotte Agger is completing a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. If you are ever in the Chapel Hill/Durham area, please let her know! Jack McMackin told us that after much anticipation, he recently launched www. TheRestInvest.com. They’ve had some great early feedback and are going to be featured by Elon University when they launch a new alumni facebook page for the university.
2005 Paul Iribe graduated from Hamilton College in May 2009 and is now in Boston working for Bank of New York Mellon. Andy House recently started working for Compass Partners here in Washington, an educational consulting company that trains and supports young social entrepreneurs around the world. Alisa Kaswell recently moved to Princeton, New Jersey to work for Merrill Lynch as a Marketing Consultant. Gillian Kline gave us this update: I am living in NYC, working at a digital advertising agency (CDMi Connect) and am also building my copywriting portfolio at the School of Visual Arts. I see Laila Salimi often since she moved here in January, and recently celebrated my birthday with both Laila and Emily Taylor. Give my best to everyone at SAES, especially Ginger Cobb!
alumni notes
2006 Chris Shelton is now attending law school at Columbia University. We heard that Courtney Ivins graduated from Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service in May 2010. She was working for a pro bono legal foundation temporarily, and left in February for Rio de Janeiro on a Fulbright award. She will be studying the feminization of power in favelas. She will also be attending the Pontificia Universidade Catolica in Rio de Janiero studying (in Portuguese!) for a masters degree in “Social Development.” Courtney remains in close contact with St. Andrew’s teachers Maria Diaz and Alex Haight. Benjamin Clarke is in the computer science masters program at George Washington University. He expects to graduate in June 2011. Chris Finton recently moved to Richmond and is now working at the law firm BrownGreer. The firm has a piece of the BP oil spill action, and Chris is reviewing claims.
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Hailey Gosnell graduated from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland last spring where she majored in Biology. She is now in a master’s program at Georgetown University.
2007 Nora Goddard wrote to tell us that she has a new job at the New England Center for Children, a school in Southborough, Mass. for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nora will start after she graduates from Hamilton College in May. Stephen Lanpher is a senior history major at Texas A&M University, where he’s in the Corps of Cadets. He completed Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Va., in the summer 2010 and plans to commission as a 2nd lieutenant when he graduates.
hampden MAcbeth ’03
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ealth care, finance, war, entitlements — the U.S. Congress is grappling with a myriad of problems. Hampden Macbeth ‘03 is in the middle of it, working for Rep Adam Schiff (D) of California. Hampden signed on immediately with Schiff, as a new Occidental College graduate, and began to work as his tax assistant during the financial crisis. The storm clouds were obvious—he saw the calls increase and heard the range of opinions and the intensity of the constituents’ concerns. With that crisis improving, he’s now Schiff’s Legislative Assistant. The use of social media has changed the exercise of democracy—advocacy groups, constituents and the Congressman are all using social media to achieve political and policy goals, notes Hampden. “There’s a multiplier effect, with people checking on topics several times a day,” definitely intensifying the role of the young congressional staffers who manage communication. Law school or graduate school to focus on urban planning issues beckons, an interest that began in Glenn Whitman’s U.S. History class, discussing social justice. Transportation and housing are the most interesting issues because “they fly under the radar,” notes Hampden, and because of their impact on the environment and global warming. City planning—working on the development of denser, more walkable urban areas and providing transportation choices are priorities he would like to work on as well.
Kaytee Nesmith came back to St. Andrew’s to speak with current art students about her experience as a graphic design student and president of the AU Design Club. Kaytee is currently studying Interaction Design at AU.
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alumni notes
ERIC ROGSTAD ’88
2009
2010
s more companies move to make the Washington D.C. metro area home, advertising agencies that help sell those products no longer only call Madison Avenue home. And just like the rest of the world, advertising is moving more and more towards digital. Erik Rogstad ’88 is helping to lead that change as the General Manager of the DC office of AKQA. After graduating from St. Andrew’s, Erik attended Bowdoin College and then spent the rest of his twenties in New York with the goal of being on Saturday Night Live. In his free time, he was working as a writer and found himself concentrating on the web. After an interview set up by St. Andrew’s classmate Wil Klass ’88 at AKQA, Erik has gone from strength to strength, leading the agency in getting work with ESPN, Volkswagen, and the NHL. Any similarities between high school and life at one of the top ad agencies? “St. Andrew’s definitely helped prepare me for agency life. Jumping from client to client and in and out of meetings is not unlike a high school schedule,” he said. “I sometimes wonder if we should put in a bell system in the office,” he suggested parenthetically. “Seriously though, the tight-knit community feel that St. Andrew’s fosters really helped bring me out of my shell and provided me with not only a great education, but a new found level of self confidence.” Eric lent invaluable expertise in marketing to St. Andrew’s this year, with a goal of improving the school’s website and communication.
Neha Shastry, a sophomore at the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland, sent us this update: I am one of the founding subeditors for my University’s first and only photography magazine, Stereoscope, which successfully launched this past December and we have our next issue coming out at the end of April http:// www-ah.st-andrews.ac.uk/ stereoscope/. We are an extremely successful publication, and are sponsored and looked at by influential companies such as Teen Vogue and GUP (Guide to Unique Photography). This summer, I am interning for Magnum Photos in New York City, which is an international photographic cooperative. I will be freelance writing and reporting for them as well as working in their film department.
Katherine Young worked at the 2010 Summer Horizons camp before heading off to Oxford, Ohio to start her freshman year at Miami University. She is studying to become a teacher, either high school or middle school, with a concentration in math and science and minors in French and special education.
A
2008 Matthew Vaveris ’08 is a second term junior honors student majoring in computer science. Matthew will intern this summer at BAE system Inc, in the Washington, DC area and is a member of
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the PHI GAMMA DELTA Fraternity at the College of Charleston. Drew Singer spent the fall semester studying abroad at Hong Kong University.
Dominque Samuels spent the 2010–11 school year studying Spanish abroad Alex Liz-Perlis ran the 115th Boston Marathon as part of the Tufts Marathon team.
Aiden Bundy writes that he is a first year student in biomedical science at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Ben Yeo was named to the Fall 2010 Dean’s list at Hamilton College. Alysha Howar recently won the title of Miss Maryland Teen 2010. Catherine Singer modeled in the NYU Expo Spring Fashion Show.
Little Shop of
Horrors
Directed by Roy Barber November 14-15, 2010
St. Andrew’s Middle School Players Dazzle with “Little Shop of Horrors”
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Summer Programs that Fit Age 2-Grade 12
Academics: For Credit & Enrichment Adventure: Community Service • CIT Arts: Culinary • Performing • Visual Athletics: Synthetic Turf Fields
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