THE MAGAZINE OF LAUSANNE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL | FALL 2018
Global Mindedness
Ms. Zhihong Li helps Aziel Lopez-Guzman ‘29 write mandarin letters during the lower school’s daily mandarin lesson.
Lausanne Magazine is a publication of Lausanne Collegiate School whose mission is to prepare each of its students for college and for life in a global environment. EDITOR
Shayne Dotson Communications Specialist sdotson@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1003 MANAGING EDITOR
Drew Smith Director of Strategic Communications dsmith@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1047 CLASS NOTES AND ALUMNI NEWS
Charlotte Albertson Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Affairs calbertson@lausanneschool.com 901.474.1029 COPY EDITOR
Carrie Linder Robinson ART DIRECTOR
Alison Johnson Charles PHOTOGRAPHY
Shayne Dotson Carrie Linder Robinson Steven Russell Drew Smith Lausanne Collegiate School 1381 W. Massey Rd., Memphis, TN 38120 901.474.1000 lausanneschool.com
ON THE COVER: Lausanne’s Outdoor Discovery Center helps students gain a global perspective as they play on its 14 unique structures representing sites like the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben. To take a closer look at the photo, use your phone’s camera to scan this QR code and follow the link!
We Embrace Global Mindedness Preparing our students for life in a global environment means growing their understanding and respect for other cultures. With students from over 55 different countries, Lausanne hosts a diverse student community which naturally brings different perspectives to each conversation. As a PK through 12th grade International Baccalaureate World School, our students grow to be active, compassionate and lifelong learners focused on making an impact to improve the world.
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Headmaster Stuart McCathie signs the agreement to officially become a PYP accredited school.
“ Lausanne School is deeply interested in the affairs of the world, especially in the universal movement for peace.” – Lausanne Life, April 1929
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LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER
In one of the first student newspapers produced at Lausanne, students advocated for pursuing peace on earth. Ninety years later and with students from 55 countries around the planet, learning at Lausanne continues to build intercultural understanding and respect into every part of its curriculum. Our campus has long been a place for students to gain a global perspective, encouraging them to help build and grow a better, more empathetic and peaceful world. As society continues to identify new challenges around the globe, equipping students to be inquiring and knowledgeable leaders becomes more critical than ever. Embracing global mindedness is a core pillar of The Lausanne Way and one that we continue to strengthen as we move toward the future. Because of this commitment and long-standing tradition guided by our strategic-planning documents, we began offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to our 11 and 12 grades in 2010. As part of a diverse range of schools around the globe working to build a better world, the IB and curriculum undergoes continuous review to ensure its recognition as the leading college preparatory education available. Teachers and faculty from diverse backgrounds and cultures analyze and evaluate the programs and adapt them to best prepare our students for a globally changing world. Because of the success of the Diploma Programme in our Upper School, in 2016, we began the twoyear accreditation process to offer the IB in our Lower and Middle Schools. This fall, we are proud to expand our partnership with the International Baccalaureate Organization and become a PK-12th Grade IB World School, implementing their PYP and MYP in August 2018. It was an arduous process, but we’re pleased to be one of only 24 schools in the United States that offers all three programs. And we’re sure that the benefits for our students far outweigh the effort. As we continue to be better tomorrow than we are today, we’re confident that the IB Programmes at Lausanne will continue to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people equipped to create a better and more peaceful world.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Stuart McCathie Headmaster
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LAUSANNE MAGAZINE | FALL 2018 We Embrace Global Mindedness TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Introduction INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE CONTINUUM
PK–4th Grade PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
5th–9th Grades MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
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10th–12th Grades Class of 2014 DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
90th Baccalaureate and Graduation CLASS OF 2018
5 Letter from the Editor 37 Class Notes 46 Legendary Lynx
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
When you step into Tully Dining Hall at Lausanne for the first time, the multitude of flags hanging from the rafters makes an impression. There are more than 80 different flags representing all of the different countries our students call home. It certainly did on me. Lausanne encourages its students to live globally minded lives, a fact that drew me to the school and one I couldn’t wait to experience firsthand. So, on my first day as Lausanne’s new Communications Specialist, I walked the grounds, hoping for a glimpse into the life of a Lausanne student’s learning experience. What I witnessed far exceeded my expectations. Walking through the Lower School, you can listen as students engage in their daily Spanish and Mandarin lessons. You can stop by the playground and watch as children from multiple nationalities engage with each other. In speaking with the students, they seem destined to change the world. There are so many aspects of this school that contribute to creating an environment in which our Lynx can succeed. The IB Programme is one of the providing factors in helping our students thrive, and this magazine serves to give you a view of what students are learning as Lausanne becomes a PK-12 IB World School. In the following pages, you’ll see overviews of the IB curricula for Lower, Middle and Upper School and stories that help explain how the program is utilized in each grade. I am honored to begin this journey as the new Communications Specialist and as a member of the Lausanne community, and I look forward to sharing stories and pictures with you which continually showcase The Lausanne Way. Go Lynx! #Globalmindedness #TheLausanneWay
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Shayne Dotson, Communications Specialist
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The International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum of international education, designed for ages three to 19, is an internationally recognized curriculum that focuses on challenging students to become compassionate, lifelong learners who excel academically and personally, and lead globally minded lives.
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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE CONTINUUM
“Lausanne incorporated the IB into its curriculum because it creates an atmosphere that helps develop versatility and character, so students can embrace a global perspective when facing a challenge,” said Dr. Stephen Campbell ‘91, Lausanne’s Assistant Head of Upper School. Dr. Campbell was instrumental in bringing the IB’s Diploma Programme to Lausanne in 2012. “The IB parallels Lausanne’s culture because it encourages students to be confident in their own identities and to celebrate all of humanity. We believe students who are a part of the IB develop an ethical understanding in decision-making and incorporate skills they learn in the classroom into the real world.”
“An IB education gives students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of languages and cultures outside of their own and to explore global ideologies and concerns,” shared Lausanne Assistant Head of Middle School Kim Thorpe, our Middle Years Programme Coordinator. “Its broad curriculum offers access to a range of academic studies and learning experiences.”
The IB, established in 1968, wanted to create a challenging but realistic education that would be recognized internationally by universities while also promoting cultural diversity and respect for others.
Students excel academically and personally, and the depth of their experience gives them an edge when applying to the top universities in the world. The acceptance rate of an IB student into an Ivy League school is 22 percent higher than the total population acceptance rate, according to an International Baccalaureate Organization survey. “One of the advantages of an IB curriculum is its structure and quality,” said Christoph Guttentag, director of undergraduate admissions at Duke University. “It is a coordinated program, well established, well known and respected. We know the quality of IB courses, and we think the IB curriculum is terrific.” “Through the IB Programme, students are encouraged to become inquirers who realize that an understanding of the world helps create the opportunity for global engagement and a more peaceful world,” explained Lausanne’s Assistant Head of Lower School Erica McBride, our Primary Years Programme Coordinator. “The IB helps students understand how the subjects they are learning are related to each other and to see things they are learning from many different points of view.” “Bringing the IB Programme to Lausanne will help prepare students for college and life after,” added Headmaster McCathie. “Through the IB, students gain independence, become lifelong learners and recognize the importance of a global perspective. We are excited to incorporate the IB into the school’s curriculum, and we truly feel it aligns with The Lausanne Way.”
The class of 2018 walks to the stage to begin graduation.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
All IB programmes are directed toward developing globally minded people, and each has its own characteristics, based on what is appropriate for the child’s age and developmental stage. The Primary Years Programme is aimed at children in Lausanne’s Lower School, while the Middle Years Programme is geared toward students in 5th through 10th grade. Lausanne received accreditation in both programs earlier this summer after a two-year process.
IB learners are required to study more than one language and to engage with their community through meaningful service. By doing so, students move past awareness and understanding into engagement and action.
IB learners at Lausanne strive to be: Inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, openminded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.
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Mrs. Roberson’s junior kindergarten class exploring the classroom treehouse.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP), designed for students three to 10 years old, is a leading academic system that introduces students to international primary education. The goal of the PYP is to enhance a child’s performance in the classroom and in the world around them as they actively become lifelong learners.
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PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
“The PYP gives students a broader perspective and encourages them to ask questions about the world they live in,” said Head of Lower School, Kara Barbour. “As a result, students become individuals who can engage in life with a respect and understanding for themselves and others.” Students in the PYP are encouraged to engage in six transdisciplinary units of inquiry that focus on global significance: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves and sharing the planet. Starting in JK, students are led through each of these units as they explore the connections between subjects. Each year, the students’ capacity to understand the world around them grows. Students deepen their learning by developing their conceptual understanding; and strengthening their knowledge and skills across and beyond subject areas. In the fourth grade, students complete a culminating project that showcases what they have learned during the course of the PYP.
“ The PYP allows students to immerse themselves in what they are learning, by applying the curriculum learned in the classroom to their everyday life. Most importantly, we’re showing them their role in their education and helping them grow a desire to investigate their world.” — Erica McBride, assistant head of Lower School and PYP coordinator
Students who participate in the Primary Years Programme become prepared for the next step in their education as they enter the IB Middle Years Programme. Research shows that Lower School students who participate in the PYP reach higher levels of achievement overall compared to peers who come from similar socioeconomic backgrounds but didn’t participate in the IB curriculum. (Gough, A, Sharpley, B, Vander Pal, S and Griffiths, M. 2014. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in Victorian Government primary schools, Australia. Bethesda, MD, USA. International Baccalaureate Organization.) “The PYP allows students to immerse themselves in what they are learning, by applying the curriculum learned in the classroom to their everyday life,” said PYP coordinator Erica McBride, Lausanne’s Assistant Head of Lower School. “Most importantly, we’re showing them their role in their education and helping them grow a desire to investigate their world.”
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A Memphis firefighter shows Elliott Schulter ‘31 how to use a fire hose.
PK
Pre-kindergartners practice working in the community garden.
Smiles covered the faces of every Pre-Kindergartner as McGruff the crime-fighting dog entered the classroom.
A firefighter and EMT stopped by with a firetruck for students to explore.
“Welcome to Lausanne,” shouted a student, as the class erupted with chatter about the fluffy dog standing in front of them in a trench coat.
A nurse, doctor and pharmacist educated the students about what they do for a living and on staying healthy.
For Lausanne PK students, understanding the role of helpers in the community and instilling the belief that we all are helpers in some way is an integral part of their curriculum.
The students also met a FedEx pilot, the Lausanne mail carrier and an employee from Muddy’s Bake Shop, along with Lausanne staff members.
The PYP unit on how we organize ourselves in the community helps the PK class navigate the world of community helpers and to recognize different ways people contribute to a community.
“Our Pre-Kindergartners begin to see how they fit into the community and learn that even though the world is a big place, there are people all around to help them stay safe and feel comfortable,” said Peggy Boyd, Lausanne PK teacher.
Throughout the school year, the class of 2031 was introduced to real people who fill the roles of helpers in the community by inviting them into the classroom.
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A police officer accompanied McGruff to talk about “stranger danger” and how to stay safe in public.
Along with meeting helpers from the community, our PK students learned to organize themselves through dramatic play. By dressing in costumes and uniforms and acting out behaviors learned from people the students met, they were able to develop social and emotional skills which furthered their understanding of the community.
PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
JK Laughter echoed across campus as children glided on balance bicycles around the school’s water fountain. Lausanne loves creating an environment that encourages students to enjoy learning. For Junior Kindergarten teacher Amy Morrison, that meant integrating bike riding into the curriculum. “We learned how to be safe on a bike first but then started using riding the bikes with different subjects,” shared Ms. Morrison. “It’s been a great way to get the kids active and engaged.” Integrating the classroom curriculum with bike riding in creative ways helps the junior kindergartners retain what they are learning. “We’ll take the students outside to ride around the fountain, and maybe we’ve read a story that day so we’ll retell the story in a sequence as we ride the bikes,” said Ms. Morrison. “The more we can combine what we are learning, the greater the picture is for them, and the more we can connect what we are learning with the world around them, the more globally minded they’ll become.”
As a part of the PYP, students become principled learners and risk-takers who can solve problems and practice responsibility while caring for others, and through the bike riders program, junior kindergartners are able to practice these attributes on a regular basis.
TO SEE A VIDEO ABOUT MS. MORRISON’S BIKE RIDERS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT LAUSANNESCHOOL.COM/BALANCE.
Jaxon Dally ‘31 enjoys a bike ride around campus.
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“Here at Lausanne, the idea is to be open-minded and to go for it,” said Ms. Morrison. “If we think something is going to help children grasp what they are learning, then Lausanne is always willing to try it, and the bike riders program is a phenomenal example of this.”
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By learning about the chickens’ impact on the environment, the senior kindergartners discover their own ways to positively contribute to the world around them. Senior kindergartners observe their newly-hatched chicks.
SK Springtime at Lausanne means birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and chickens are hatching. Watching the baby chicks hatch has become the norm for our Senior Kindergartners and a tradition students look forward to. As part of the PYP’s Sharing the Planet unit of study, students investigate life cycles and the wants and needs of living things. Watching eggs hatch and building an environment for the chickens to thrive creates a hands-on experience for students to utilize what they have learned. “Each year we order eggs and incubate them in the classroom for three weeks,” said SK teacher Krishna Andrews. “After we spend a few weeks caring for the chicks, we send them to a forever home.” The chicken-hatching project gives students the opportunity to watch chicks grow into full-sized chickens and to learn about the benefits chickens provide our ecosystem. By learning about chickens’ impact on the environment, the Senior Kindergarteners discover their own ways to positively contribute to the world around them.
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PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
1st grade
The aroma of herbs filled the dining hall as eager firstgraders poked their heads through the windows of wooden cutouts resembling food trucks. After spending the school year exploring through the world of spicenomics, our first-graders were ready to showcase the treats they created. As a part of the PYP transdisciplinary theme, How We Organize Ourselves, the spicenomics journey involved the class of 2029 growing herbs in a garden and creating recipes and products from the plants. While the herbs were growing, students investigated the process of running a business by taking a field trip to the Lynx Store and Blue Heron Café on campus to learn about profit, loss, service, goods, producers, consumers and trade. The first-graders practiced math by making tally charts for their favorite recipes, were
introduced to money concepts by adding totals and giving back change and learned how to make commercials and flyers to advertise their marketplace. Students made cucumber dill salad, cilantro salsa, lavender lemon cupcakes and mint brownies. For the herb-based products, students created mint sugar scrubs, herb painted bookmarks and garden rocks and decorated herb planters. After finalizing their creations, the students opened a one-day-long food truck market in the Alumni Dining Hall and invited friends and family to eat and shop. Students took on the roles of cashier, server, quality control officer, chef and customer service representative. The students raised $712 and donated all proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Not only did our first-graders learn to make and sell delicious treats and usable products, but by completing the spicenomics project, the students gained a better understanding of human-made systems in a community and making societal decisions within groups of people.
Brooklynn Rossler ‘29, Aziel Lopez-Guzman ‘29, Andre Piaaimenti ‘29 and Blakely Bickerstaff ‘29 investigate different forms of plant life during a trip to the Memphis Zoo.
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Second-graders spend the day outdoors learning about choices that impact the environment.
2nd grade
To wrap up the first week of school, Lausanne second-graders brought the classroom outdoors with a fun-filled learning experience at Blue Heron Lake. The students split into three groups, each rotating through stations as a kick-off to their first unit, Choices. The stations included studying product labels on foods and how to choose healthy snacks, launching energy rockets using compressed air in plastic bottles and exploring Blue Heron Lake and the inhabitants of it on canoe rides. Through the experiences of each station, the students learned how the choices we make impact each other, our resources and the environment. The unit also provided teachers with the opportunity to display the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), which creates challenging and exciting settings to help develop the minds of young students. “Our hope is that the children understand that our choices affect each other, our resources and our environment. This unit focuses on reducing, reusing and recycling, healthy choices for our bodies and the earth and renewable energy,” second grade teacher Robin Fessler said.
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The following week, the students combed Lausanne’s campus on a scavenger hunt, picking up discarded items while looking for ways to repurpose them for use within the classroom. Each of the tasks on the scavenger hunt gave the students an opportunity to be independent thinkers while encouraging them to be caring and knowledgeable. “Our takeaway from today is that we hope the children understand that we live in a healthy world, and we need to take care of it,” Ms. Fessler said. A neighborhood services manager for the city of Germantown also spoke with the students about the importance of recycling and the impact their choices have on others and the environment. As the students headed back to the classroom, they discussed the experiences and the lessons learned during their time outdoors and how they applied to daily life. Through this experience, students displayed the transdisciplinary themes of the PYP while also living out the tenants of The Lausanne Way. TO READ MORE ABOUT THE PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME, VISIT THE LAUSANNE WEBSITE AT LAUSANNESCHOOL.COM/IB.
PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
Alicia Gibson ‘28 swings from one continent to another on Lausanne’s Outdoor Discovery Center.
3rd grade
For our third-graders, figuring out where we are in time and place involves learning about inventors and inventions from across the world. The class of 2027 learned how inventions and the people who created them connect us globally. They also investigated the process of creating an invention and how technology changes over time. “We spent some time learning about female pilots and the invention of flight,” said third grade teacher Mary Fonseca. “Our students learned that all inventors take risks and make a variety of plans before finishing their final invention.”
As a part of the PYP, it is important for students to be able to make connections with where we are in time and place, and learning about inventions and inventors helps shape their perception of what is going on in the world around them.
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Students not only become more aware of how the past has shaped the present, but they incorporate that knowledge across different subject groups. The third-graders researched different inventors and inventions in a Reading Workshop, a time for students to build their reading comprehension. As they worked on their writing abilities, the students created stories based on what they had learned. Math skills were fostered as they designed an invention of their own: a marble run stretching over nine feet in length!
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4th grade
The class of 2026 focused on the transdisciplinary theme of sharing the planet.
Students check out a fellow classmate’s culminating project during the exhibition.
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PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
Four students walked on stage and waited until the room was completely silent. “Did you know that an average plastic bottle takes nearly 450 years to decompose?” a student asked with concern, as she and her classmates stood on stage in front of a full audience.
In the final year of the PYP, our 4th graders start working on a culminating project that showcases all of the skills, attitudes and learner profile traits that students have developed in Lower School.
“It was thrilling to see how engaged and excited students were to work on their projects each day,” said Jenna Toth, fourth grade teacher. One group was concerned about how pollution affects wildlife, and they worked together to create informative brochures and poster ads promoting awareness of the issue.” Family, friends and Lower School teachers and students were invited to the culminating exhibition at the end of the year so our fourthgraders could showcase how hard everyone worked on the project. The exhibition experience left many students feeling empowered and confident to make the transition to the MYP.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
The class of 2026 focused on the transdisciplinary theme of sharing the planet. Students discussed the importance of sharing earth’s resources and how our actions can impact other living things.
During the project, students formed groups based on issues about which they were passionate. Each group worked collaboratively with fellow students, teachers and mentors to perform an in-depth inquiry into the subject and to decide which action(s) should be taken to assist in resolving the problem.
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Malaika Kumar ‘23, Nikhita Srinivas ‘23 and Anooj Talati ‘23 plant magnolia trees near Blue Heron Lake as a part of their Ecology unit.
The Middle Years Programme (MYP), designed for our fifth to tenth grade students, builds on the skillsets learned from the PYP, further preparing students for success in school as they continue to grow their role in their academic success. It provides a structure of learning that emphasizes a challenging intellect and encourages students to make connections between the subjects they are studying and the real world. MYP learners are motivated to be creative, critical and reflective thinkers.
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MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
“MYP learners engage with larger ideas rather than memorizing facts for an exam, so students can develop learning skills that can be utilized to promote independence throughout their life,” said Greg Graber, head of Middle School. “We want our students to be able retain what they are learning and in the future be able to use the skills taught in our classrooms with confidence. The MYP provides this for our students.” The MYP offers a broad range of understanding through the study of eight different subject groups that focus on sciences, mathematics, language and literature, language acquisition, arts, design, and physical and health education. A transdisciplinary approach is organically supported through the connection of the six global contexts: identities and relationships, orientation in space and time, scientific and technical information, personal and cultural expression, fairness and development and globalization and sustainability.
“ The MYP approaches learning holistically by addressing the intellectual, social, emotional and physical development of students,” shares Kim Thorpe, Lausanne’s MYP coordinator and assistant head of Middle School. “The Programme’s focus on the traits of the Learner Profile and skills developed through the Approaches to Learning prepare students to become problem solvers and active participants within the community.” In the tenth grade, MYP students work on a culminating Personal Project that allows them to actively practice, communicate and reflect on the skills and knowledge they have gained over their five years in the program. Students who complete the MYP are more prepared for their academic requirements and the Diploma Programme that is introduced in eleventh grade. (Australian Council for Educational Research. 2015. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP): Comparing IB Diploma Programme outcomes of students who complete the MYP and other middle years courses of study. Bethesda, MD, USA. International Baccalaureate Organization)
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5th grade “Breathe in for five seconds, hold for one second, exhale for seven seconds.” Lausanne fifth-graders sat with their eyes closed. as Kelly Douglas, fifth grade English teacher, repeated the instructions again. This meditating technique is part of the “Mindful Moment”, typically lasting from 30 seconds to two minutes, and it is how each teacher in Middle School starts every class period. During the school year, long days and full schedules can seem overwhelming at times, especially for a student transitioning from Lower School to fifth grade, but taking a moment for mindfulness to sit down with the lights off, eyes closed and no noise gives students and teachers the opportunity to reflect and reset before conquering the curriculum. “I have been teaching for 25 years, and I have taught with the Mindful Moment and without it, and I am a firm believer that it helps our children,” Mrs. Douglas said. “The Mindful Moment helps my students, but it helps me too. A teacher’s energy trickles down into the culture of a classroom, and having this moment helps me stay positive.”
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Ayanna Jones ‘26, Emily Bomar ‘26, Tuere Payne ‘26 and Allie Rose Sorenson ‘26 participate in a Mindful Moment before starting the daily lesson in Mrs. Douglas’ class.
At the beginning of the school year, Mrs. Douglas gave students an index card and asked them to write what the Mindful Moment meant for them and what they tend to think about while they are reflecting. “It’s the only time throughout the day that I get to be alone with my thoughts,” wrote one fifth-grader on her index card. “It gives my brain a moment to relax, and I feel more prepared for class.” The Mindful Moment parallels the MYP because of its efforts to have a balanced curriculum. Lausanne challenges its students, but taking a moment to reset gives them an opportunity to prepare for that challenge and gain the inner balance they need to be successful emotionally and academically.
MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
6th grade
Beautiful handmade butterflies hung from Ms. Maria Pirani’s classroom ceiling. A closer look at the details revealed a glimpse of a tragic time in history.
Boy in the Striped Pajamas, fiction set in War World II. Toward the end of the book, students have the opportunity to design and create the butterflies.
For a sixth grader, it can be hard to grasp the gravity of the Holocaust, but through the butterfly project, students have the opportunity to engage with written works from children their age who lived through this devastating time period.
The butterfly project is a reference to the poem, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” by Pavel Friedmann. Pavel was living inside the Terezin ghetto when he wrote the poem. As a class, the students analyze the poem and discuss its significance.
Maria Pirani, a sixth grade English teacher at Lausanne, introduced the project to her classroom to help students understand the impact of the Holocaust. The butterfly project is an extension of the project from the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Houston that created an exhibit with 1.5 million handmade butterflies to represent the children who perished during the tragedy. “Even though the museum reached its goal, I wanted to extend the project into my classroom,” Ms. Pirani said. “This project helps our students gain a better understanding of the tragedy children faced in the Holocaust. It is especially powerful because a lot of these children were only 12 to 15 years old.” At the beginning of the school year, Ms. Pirani begins the project by having her class read The
During the project, students are assigned different poems written by children living in the Terezin ghetto. The butterflies created by Lausanne students reflect the hopes and fears of those children, with each butterfly’s artwork echoing the emotions behind the poem they select. After the designs are complete, the students present their butterflies and poems to the class and hang them in the classroom. A week later, Ms. Pirani tells each student the fate of the child who wrote the poem, and students are asked to take their butterflies down if the children did not survive. It’s a powerful, moving experience. “The students grow attached to their butterflies,” Ms. Pirani said. “It holds a significant weight with them when they realize that the children they spent time writing about and getting to know did not survive.”
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Through the PYP, students are encouraged to be compassionate and empathize with others. The butterfly project helps students gain a sense of empathy and compassion for people and the world around them.
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LCS Innovations products were designed and packaged by the students.
7th grade Scented candles, glittery slime and headphone organizers lined the table as eager seventh-graders waited for shoppers to enter the Farmer’s Market. The class of 2023 spent the school year planning and creating products to sell, and the Farmer’s Market was the final event in an effort to raise money for a local charity.
With a grant from Real World Scholars, a non-profit based out of San Diego, students were given the opportunity to step into the roles of entrepreneur and philanthropist by starting a business. The Lynx named the venture LCS Innovations and enthusiastically began their start-up. During this year-long project, each student learned how to write mission statements and build business plans to help sell their products. Students incorporated the PYP by becoming inquirers, taking risks and using their communication skills in a real-world situation. “During our business, we were able to use our mathematical and critical-thinking skills in a real-life simulation which made it even more interesting because there are so many things to consider in a business,” said Jyotika Maharaj ‘23. “This opportunity of working in the real world will be an unforgettable experience and has opened our minds as young adolescents to what awaits us in the future.” Through this journey, students also learned how to rebound when something did not go as planned. The setbacks taught students to become resilient and patient individuals while learning the true purpose of math in the real world. By the end of the school year, the LCS Innovations team raised $1,100. The group donated a portion to the Mid-South Food Bank and set aside the rest to be used as seed money for next year’s Real World Scholars project.
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MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
Eighth-graders spend time with their Promise Academy friends during the Promise Picnic.
8th grade
During an emotional moment for our eighthgraders, the class of 2022 gathered in front of Shockey Hall to wish their Promise Academy friends one last goodbye. After a day filled with picnics, games and ice cream, the students hugged and waved to the kindergarteners as they stepped onto the bus to head home.
Having community awareness and building empathy is important for students at Lausanne, and for our 8th graders, this means becoming positive role models to kindergartners in the Memphis area. For the last few years, Lausanne’s eighth graders have partnered with Promise Academy, a charter school in North Memphis, to help younger children with their reading skills and learning the importance of education.
Throughout the school year, the class built strong connections with the youth and helped them build better reading skills. Our students took turns visiting Promise Academy each week and hosted the kindergartners at Lausanne for a viewing of the Middle School musical. At the end of the year, a Promise Picnic was held at Lausanne to celebrate the friendships made and to send the kindergartners off to first grade with stronger reading skills and an understanding of the importance of education. “My favorite thing about partnering with Promise Academy was teaching and connecting with kids who are younger than me,” said Simi Faleye ’22. “It made me realize that everyone is different, and we all come from different places and experience different things, but we all deserve an education.” The PYP encourages students to practice community involvement and to have respect for others. By partnering with Promise Academy, our students were able to recognize and appreciate what teachers do, build leadership skills and engage with the youth in our community.
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“Our main goal with the Promise Academy is helping little ones have a strong sense of the impact education can have in our lives, and our eighth-graders have done a wonderful job
providing that for them,” said Lainey Lunsford, an eighth grade Spanish teacher at Lausanne.
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9th grade
Through Lausanne’s commitment to provide its students with a global perspective, our ninthgraders were given the task of interviewing immigrants who migrated to America and creating a video to highlight the experience. By completing the oral history project, the class of 2021 had the opportunity to help preserve people’s memories for future generations and to discover stories that they might not have otherwise come to know.
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MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
“This is great for our students because they get to have conversations with people who may have experienced life differently than them,” said Collin Libassi, ninth grade history teacher. “The immigrants themselves were often very happy to share their experiences and pass their story on to students.”
TO SEE SOME OF THE VIDEOS, VISIT LAUSANNESCHOOL.COM/ORALHISTORYPROJECT.
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Students interviewed immigrants about their experiences and what led them to the United States then added pictures and sound bites to create a video depicting the story.
At the end of the school year, students shared the stories and presented their finished videos to classmates.
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10th grade
It’s not often someone considers the mathematical probability of the existence of extraterrestrial life, but with the IB curriculum at Lausanne, interesting questions stream from the minds of our students. IB learners strive to be inquirers, figuring out new ways to ask questions like this and find elusive solutions. In the final year of the MYP, sophomores are required to complete a capstone personal project that aligns with concepts and skills learned in the classroom and is completely based on their own interest. The project can go in any direction as long as it is appropriately challenging and achievable. “This capstone project offers a creative outlet with few boundaries for our tenth-graders, and the reason a student chooses a project really should be because they are interested in it,” said Collin Libassi, History teacher and head of the tenth grade personal project. “I met so many students who were eager to share their project ideas and proud of what they completed. That sense of accomplishment and learning is way more valuable than students realize at the outset.” After completing the project, students wrote essays to reflect on their process and product, which is critical in helping them identify what went well, what didn’t and what they learned through the inquiry cycle. Tenthgraders learn how to make a plan, take risks and improve after failure. A personal project exhibition is held at the end of the school year so our 10th graders have the opportunity to present their projects and show confidence in what they have completed. As for the results of the investigation into alien lifeforms conducted during the capstone . . . “The truth is out there,” says Mr. Libassi with a smile.
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MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
Drew Culbreath ‘20 presents her project to students during the tenth grade culmination exhibition.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
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The IB Diploma Programme (DP), designed for eleventh and twelfth grade students, builds on the holistic and inquirybased skills learned in Lower and Middle School and is highly regarded by universities around the world.
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DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
“The DP challenges learners academically with final examinations and essays that prepare students for a higher education and a global society,” said Head of Upper School, Stuart Dunster. “We strongly support the DP because it establishes a role in the intellectual, social, emotional and physical welfare of our students.” The DP consists of six subject groups, and each DP student is required to choose one course from each subject group. This process gives learners a broad range of knowledge and understanding of language, literature, individuals, societies, sciences and mathematics.
“ Success in an IB programme correlates well with success at Harvard. We are always pleased to see the credentials of the IB Diploma Programme on the transcript.” — Marilyn McGrath Lewis, asst. dean of admissions at Harvard
DP courses are offered at higher level (HL) and standard level (SL). Students must take at least three but no more than five higher level classes, and the remaining classes are taken at standard level. Allowing students to choose their courses this way gives them the opportunity to explore subjects they are interested in and to ensure that they are exposed to courses they might have chosen to opt out of. “By completing the DP, students are well prepared for college and living independently in a globalized world,” explains Dr. Stephen Campbell ‘91, Lausanne’s DP coordinator and assistant head of Upper School. “Universities across the world support the DP and recognize the potential of students who complete the program.” Research into the postsecondary success of students that participated in the DP shows that in college, they perform notably higher than their counterparts that didn’t. (Bergeron, L. 2015. Diploma Programme students’ enrollment and outcomes at US postsecondary institutions 2008–2014. Bethesda, MD, USA. International Baccalaureate Organization.) The message to universities around the globe is clear: students with IB DP curriculums are better prepared to succeed. “Success in an IB Programme correlates well with success at Harvard,” said Marilyn McGrath Lewis, asst. dean of admissions at Harvard. “We are always pleased to see the credentials of the IB Diploma Programme on the transcript.”
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
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11th grade When Lausanne students reach their junior year, the Diploma Programme (DP) presents an opportunity for students to expand their learning horizon and prepare themselves for college.
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As a part of the DP, students take six classes and participate in three extra components that offer a challenging but beneficial academic experience: • The Theory of Knowledge, a seminar-type course, where students explore the way a human being learns • The CAS project, a two-year program where students are involved in activities that are creative, active and serviceoriented • The Extended Essay, a process students start as juniors and finish their senior year
DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
Lucy Callicott ‘18 (left) performs with Sophie Faughnan ‘20 on stage during Legally Blonde The Musical.
The DP creates a rigorous learning environment. For Sophie Faughnan ’20, it is a challenge in which she is prepared to succeed.
Along with Sophie’s academic endeavors, she is Junior Class President, in charge of planning the Junior-Senior Banquet, filming the junior-senior video and involved in theater.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
“For the DP, I am taking five higher level courses, which is both scary and exciting at the same time,” said Sophie. “I love that the DP allows you to choose classes you are passionate about. I have a new motivation going into the next two years because I have been given the opportunity to excel in what I want to do in life.”
“I wanted to take this year to challenge myself in a leadership position but to successfully balance everything and improve myself,” said Sophie. “I think when you go to a school like Lausanne that works to encourage its students, it helps you so much more than you can imagine.”
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“ Being a part of the DP has given me the opportunity to explore things I might not have been able to before.� 32
DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
12th grade Moving into senior year at Lausanne, students reflect on their journey so far and look forward to the future. The DP helps show them a path ahead after graduation. “The DP is great for college applications because our students leave Lausanne knowing how to complete a rigorous research paper, they have participated in a seminar-type classroom and they have learned to balance extra-curricular activities with academic life,” said Rocio Rodriguez Del Rio, IB Diploma Programme coordinator and Upper School teacher. Madeline Culbreth ’19 agrees that managing the DP while being involved in numerous extra-curricular activities is worth it, because of her college goals. She plays soccer, runs track, is captain of the lacrosse team and president of the Spanish club, is involved in HOSA and is the student coordinator for volunteering in the Upper School. She knows that completing the Diploma Programme will set her apart from other college applicants. “The number one school I am applying to, Georgetown, has a much higher DP acceptance rate than non-DP students,” said Madeline. “My workload has been challenging, but you just have to find the time to work things out and complete your work.” The DP helped open doors for Madeline, and she is appreciative for what is offered through the program.
Madeline Culbreath ‘19 focuses on passing the ball during a soccer game.
“I am writing my extended essay in Spanish on poetry because I love learning about the Spanish language and reading poetry,” said Madeline. “Being a part of the DP has given me the opportunity to explore things I might not have been able to before.” Through the DP, students like Madeline are offered the chance to excel, have more options when choosing a college and continue to grow as lifelong learners. LAUSANNE FALL 2018
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CLASS OF
2014
The class of 2014 was the first graduating class at Lausanne to complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP). Since graduating, the DP has created endless possibilities for our alumni and has led them down numerous paths. Elizabeth Dia ‘14 graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in history and a specialization in the history of human rights. While in college, Elizabeth was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society, was a Student Marshal for her academic performance and community involvement and won the Ignacio Martin-Baró Human Rights Essay Competition for her essay on the contested rights of noncitizen soldiers and veterans in the US military. Elizabeth currently works as a paralegal for Harris Immigration Law and plans to attend law school.
“ My Higher Level IB history class inspired me to major in history and helped me learn how to use primary and secondary sources in order to intervene in historiographical debates,” said Elizabeth.
Margaret Goetz Cochran ’14 graduated cum laude from Virginia Tech, where she studied environmental studies for her major and geographic science and watershed management for her minors. After graduation, Margaret worked as a research technician for the College of Natural Resources and Environment before starting her current position for the County of Roanoke, where she performs GIS mapping and supports the erosion control engineers and inspectors for the Department of Community Development.
“ The IB Programme’s rigorous format prepared me for the more rigorous college coursework,” shared Margaret.
Haley Dutch ’14 graduated from Penn State University in 2017 and is now in her second year of law school at the University of Michigan. She spent the summer of 2018 as a law clerk for the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and will return to the city as a summer associate at a national law firm in 2019. During the coming school year, Hayley will also work as a law clerk in the Michigan General Counsel’s Office. She is heavily involved at the University of Michigan as the Associate Editor of the Michigan Law Review, Chair of the Oral Advocacy Competition, Speaker Chair of Michigan’s Federalist Society Chapter and a tour guide for Michigan’s Law School.
“ My favorite things about Lausanne are almost too numerous to list—running through the halls on our last day of school, senior drive-in, traveling abroad with my LCS teachers and classmates, giving tours as an Ambassador—but most importantly, having teachers who cared about and believed in me,” Haley explained.
Monika Jain ’14 graduated with a B.A in kinesiology from Rice University, where she majored in health sciences and minored in medical humanities. After completing her undergraduate degree, Monika joined the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement as an associate researcher in the Benchmarking Department. She is currently applying for medical schools and is using the time to pursue research projects with physicians at Harvard University Medical School.
“ The IB HL Spanish assessments strengthened my conversational skills so I was able to talk with patients despite not taking a language class in college,” said Monika. “My lab courses in college were similar to my IB HL science labs, so I came having background knowledge and experience. I think being a part of the IB Programme introduced me to the level of rigor of college courses and helped me start to develop different study tactics.”
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DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
John Leake ’14 completed a B.A. in history with a minor in Russian and Slavic Studies from New York University. John recently received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship Award to teach English in Kazan, Russia for the 2018-2019 school year. He will be teaching the English Language and American Culture at Kazan Federal University.
“ Primarily through the Extended Essay, Internal Assessments in various subjects and intensive writing on the IB exams, the International Baccalaureate Programme prepared me to enter college with the foundational tools to become a strong researcher,” John explained. “As a History major, the Internal Assessments essays written in my HL history class weren’t that different from the term papers I had to write for my upper level history courses. As I would ultimately like to become a college professor, the early development of these research skills at Lausanne served me well in college and will continue to serve me well once I enter grad school.”
Jessica Reed ’14 completed her B.S. in psychology with a concentration in neuroscience from Yale University. Jessica recently moved to Atlanta to start medical school at Emory University School of Medicine.
“ The IB was the beginning of learning how to think broadly and critically,” said Jessica. “These skills are especially relevant now as I start a career in medicine where details are important, but just as important is how we critically engage with information.”
Keyuree Satam ’14 graduated from Harvard University after completing her B.A. in neurobiology with a minor in global health and health policy and is now pursuing a medical degree from Yale School of Medicine. During her undergrad, Keyuree volunteered with Elderly with Alzheimer’s, South Asian Dance, Model UN, neurobiology lab research, global health and peer tutoring and spent the summer of 2016 in Peru and Costa Rica through the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children.
“ Many aspects of the IB Programme helped me throughout college,” Keyuree wrote. “The numerous independent projects in the fields of chemistry, physics and biology at Lausanne made lab work in Harvard’s premed classes much easier, and the focus on designing feasible and novel experiments aided me in the development of my thesis project. Most importantly, it allowed me to join an international community of IB scholars, a fact that became evident throughout college.”
“ My favorite Lausanne memory will always be the senior drive-thru! It’s an exciting tradition that will always live in the memories of Lausanne alumni. We waited so long for that moment, and it was nothing shy of amazing when it finally came!” Jayla shared.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Jayla L. Sims ’14 will be graduating this December from the University of Memphis with a degree in sports management. While at U of M, Jayla has interned in the Athletics Department with the Compliance Officer. After graduation, she hopes to travel internationally before starting law school in the fall of 2019.
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Eden Siskind ’14 graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park where she majored in government and politics with a minor in both Spanish and international development and conflict management. Eden is currently a Consular Affairs Intern at the US Embassy London, and her next step is attending the London School of Economics and Political Science to pursue a master’s in international social and public policy.
“ A lot of my background knowledge in my classes and workplace came from my IB classes, such as IB History and IB English, moreso than in some of my university classes,” said Eden. “The IB is also responsible for hammering time management into my brain which made juggling internships, classes and social life in school a lot easier.”
Grady Vaughn ’14 graduated summa cum laude from Rhodes College, where he double majored in international studies and Russian Studies. Grady is currently an English Teaching Assistant with the Fulbright Grant Recipient to Kazakhstan, and he plans on applying to Georgetown, Columbia and the University of Washington for his Master’s.
“ The IB definitely prepared me for all of the writing assignments I completed in college and allowed me to gain a lot of credits for college classes,” Grady explained.
Courtney Williams ’14 completed her undergrad at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga with a B.S. in biology and pre-professional psychology and is enrolled at Christian Brothers University for an MBA in healthcare administration. After undergrad, Courtney accepted a position as an Executive Assistant to Chief Diversity Officer at Erianger Hospital, and her next position will be at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital/ALSAC.
“ An important component of the IB experience is experiential learning,” said Courtney. “All students are encouraged to participate in activities outside the classroom that are interesting and meaningful to them. This encouraged me to look at my extracurricular activities as opportunities for learning and insight rather than mere resume builders.”
LAUSANNE LINK Join the other 250+ alumni who have already joined our new online networking platform, Lausanne Link. This new system provides alumni with a powerful and searchable alumni directory. •R e-connect: Find and reminisce with fellow graduates, see what they have been up to and stay in touch. •G ive back: Introduce, offer internships, employ and act as a mentor to our graduating students. • E xpand: Leverage your professional network to get introduced to people you should know. •A dvance: Advance your career through inside connections working in top companies. • And more! Getting started is quick and easy! Join today at www.lausannelink.com or download the app from iTunes or Google Play. Sign-up for the platform by December 15 and be entered in a chance to win a Lausanne swag pack including Vineyard Vines Lausanne apparel, Nike Lausanne Athletic gear and more!
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Class Notes
As I write this, I am eagerly anticipating seeing so many of you at the 2018 Alumni Weekend. This annual tradition creates a special opportunity for alumni to reflect on their time here and on the global, inclusive and mission-driven school Lausanne continues to be.
Several Lausanne faculty and staff members celebrated Mr. Eddie Spencer’s 98th birthday. Mr. Eddie is a World War II veteran and a longtime friend of Lausanne.
WE WANT TO
HEAR FROM YOU!
Soon after Alumni Weekend ends, we will begin traveling for alumni visits! To extend our networking efforts even further, the Alumni Office is partnering with College Counseling in order to offer more opportunities for our alumni to engage with students during their time on campus and as they transition into young alumni. Be sure to update your information so that we can keep you in the loop about upcoming special events and networking opportunities. If you haven’t already, please also join our online alumni community, Lausanne Link, in order to stay connected to our alumni network all over the globe. It has been a joy to meet so many alumni who are just as passionate about Lausanne as I am. With all of the exciting things happening on and off campus, my number one priority is listening to you. Your feedback matters to me, and as your Director of Alumni Affairs, I want to ensure that we are building an alumni program that reflects the wishes of our graduates. How do you want to stay connected to your alma mater? What kind of special events or programming would you like to see? Please schedule a tour, drop us a line, mail us a postcard or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you! #AlwaysALynx Best,
Email calbertson@lausanneschool.com
Charlotte Albertson Director of Alumni Affairs calbertson@lausanneschool.com | 901-474-1029
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Please let us know about new jobs, marriages, children, travel opportunities, accolades etc.
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1963
Nora Noe Alexander ’63 has been happily married for 53 years. Since graduating from Lausanne, she moved to Jackson and is happy be close to her three children and six grandchildren. About eight years ago, Nora retired from Doncaster, an in-home wardrobe consultant business. She and her husband enjoy traveling in their retirement, and Nora has been riding and showing Tennessee walking horses for over 20 years! Jean Colvin Delano ’63 is enjoying retired life in Atlanta. Cathy Caradine Parker ’63 and her husband, Chris, have been married for 17 years. She is currently a personal assistant for an elderly couple here in Memphis, which she remarks is rewarding. She has five children and eight grandchildren who always keep her busy and continually laughing! Clara Yerger ’63 lives in Memphis and is currently a real estate broker and Vice President of Crye-Leike Realtors.
1964
Cathy Hood Caraway ‘64 has been married to her husband, Charles, for 11 years. She retired from the Mississippi State Department of Human Services after 30 years.
1968
Mynette Dee Rosenblatt Farrell ’68 and her husband, Joe, whom she dated while at Lausanne, have been married for 34 years. Their four children have given them seven wonderful grandchildren ranging in age from 18 months to 16 years. Fifteen years ago, she qualified for a Black Belt in Seibukan shorin ryu, an Okinawan style of karate. The couple has retired and spends their time in leisurely pursuits, limited US travel and visits to their children’s locales in California, Texas and Tennessee. Their local interests center on their granddaughter, entertaining their pet, playing bridge with friends, reading, cooking, exercising, volunteering and cementing their relationship with each other. Anne Walker Ratcliff ’68 lives on a farm outside of Fayetteville, Ark. On this property, she rents out a cabin on AirBnB and VRBO. Anne is a retired high school English teacher and volunteers weekly at Meals on Wheels. As a side note, she and her husband, Bill, who was her date for the Lausanne Senior Prom in 1968 have been married 35 years!
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IN MEMORIAM: Claire Marie O’Callaghan Johnson ‘48, was born November 9, 1930 in Memphis, Tenn. to Martin F. and Clarabealle O’Callaghan. She was predeceased by her mother and father as well as her husband, the late Warren I. Johnson. She is survived by her three children, Warren Johnson, Mark Johnson and Katie Taylor. In addition, she leaves seven grandchildren, Austin, Blake, Cole and Caroline Johnson, Erin and Darby Johnson and Rachel Tichy and three greatgrandchildren, Alec, Anna and Isabella Tichy. She also leaves behind her beloved brother-in-law, Charles Casazza, much loved nieces, Sharon O’Callaghan and Dr. Gayle O’Callaghan, and cousin, Mary Catherine Phelan of Port Leische, Ireland. She was valedictorian of Lausanne School for Girls, Class of 1948. She received the renowned French Scholar Award to attend college in France. She graduated with a degree in teaching from the University of Memphis and taught elementary school and later tutored. She was a writer with stories published in numerous periodicals. She loved her cats as well as the finer things in life, especially if they had anything to do with her Irish heritage, but she felt her biggest accomplishment was being a wife and mother to her three children. She was always very interested in what other people were doing, especially her children and grandchildren. She was a devout Catholic and communicant at Holy Spirit Catholic Church where she and her husband were founding members and started the church library. She was also very involved in the clothing and food pantry ministries there. A funeral mass was held to celebrate her life on July 26, 2018 at Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit.
CLASS NOTES
1969
Deborah England ’69 spent January through March of 2018 in South America visiting Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. She especially enjoyed sailing and snorkeling in the Galapagos. Deborah loved not traveling with her cell phone, as it allowed her to enjoy the generosity and kindness of other people and cultures. Miriam Flowers Hasson ’69 has been married for 45 years, with three children and nine grandchildren. In her spare time, she volunteers, works part-time in a local needlepoint and knitting shop and travels often to visit family. Vivian Watson ’69 lives in Oxford, Miss. and splits her time between Memphis and Oxford where she sells real estate.
1976
Liz Alperin Simonian ’76 celebrated her birthday in June with some of her classmates Leigh Abrahim Henry ’76, Terri Jalenak Mendelson ’76, Alison Shea Barger ’76 and Valerie Kaplan Arnold ’76. The event was a 1960’s themed “Dancing Under the Stars” party!
1981
Amber Dancy Gooding ‘81 and her husband, Harold, sold their house in Nashville this summer, where Dawne Dickey Davis ‘82 was their real estate agent. Congrats to Amber and Harold on their move to St. Louis!
1988
Jodi Gold ’88 lives in Manhattan with her husband, Mitch, and three children. She is psychiatrist and the Director of the Gold Center for Mind Health and Wellness. She recently wrote a book entitled Screen Smart Parenting. Jodi also consults on mental health issues for the media and speaks to schools and organizations around the country.
2003
Alex Pollack ‘03 and Michael Widener ’03 celebrated the wedding of Adam Bursi ‘03 in St. Paul, Minn. Pictured together, with Alex sporting his Lausanne alumni shirt! #AlwaysALynx
2005
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Wendy Wurtzburger Bentley ‘76 Philadelphia home was featured in the April 2018 issue of House Beautiful. The magazine describes her home with husband and designer Chris Bentley as a mix of family heirlooms with maximalist florals. To see the digital tour, visit housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/house-tours/ g19434511/wendy-wurtzburger-chris-bentley-house-tour/.
Zoë Etkin ’05, her husband, Max, and their daughter, June, recently relocated back to Memphis from Los Angeles. They’re thrilled to be back and enjoy all Memphis has to offer. Zoë is working as a doula and writer and has also opened AWAKEN space + shop in Cooper Young (pictured), an education and retail space that offers parenting, pregnancy and women’s health related workshops, groups and products. Learn more at www.awakenspacememphis.com.
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IN MEMORIAM: Candace Ann Parker Vaughan ‘67 was born on November 6, 1949 in Coronado, Calif. Her family moved to Millington, Tenn. in 1961, where she attended Lausanne School for Girls. She attended Rhodes College and Memphis State University, majoring in Commercial Art, and graduated from Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. Candie worked for Fleet Trucking in Nashville and Brentwood for many years, also working for the State of Tennessee, from which she retired in 2011. In 2002, Candie married Harry H. Vaughan III of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. the “heart of my heart, love for all time”. In 2008, they moved from Hermitage, TN to Gallatin, where she used her artistic skills to design and decorate their dream home. They recently celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary. Harry and Candie enjoyed traveling in their retirement years, including cruises to Hawaii and the Caribbean. Candie had a passion for genealogy, dancing, cats (usually Siamese), flamingos, scrap-booking, painting and her grandchildren. In addition to her husband Harry, Candie is survived by her son, Sean Wilson, his children Destanie, Kiersten, Chase and Zachary and her great-grandson Emmett Jones; Harry’s children: Amie Vaughan PhD., Jennifer Balazadeh, and their children Machias and Semiah. She is also survived by her siblings, Peter Parker, Pattie Parker Dingeldein and their children Christian, Sally and Parker; and Michael; a niece Reid Massie Hafer and their children Carter, George and Jack. Candie was preceded in death by her parents John A. Parker, Capt. USN, and June Brown Parker; mother and father-in-law Harry H Vaughan Jr., Col. USAF and Jean Davis Vaughan; her sister Sally Massie Bivins; sister-in-law Sandra J. Vaughan and granddaughter Tenby Balazadeh. A visitation and memorial was held on August 19, 2018 at Alexander Funeral Home in Gallatin, Tenn.
SAVE THE DATES! Upcoming Alumni Events
Interested in RSVPing to any event below or learning more about upcoming events in your region? Contact the Alumni Office at calbertson@lausanneschool.com or 901-474-1029.
West Coast Alumni Be on the lookout for an upcoming event in November 2018.
Chair of Ideas, Featuring Justine Okerson ‘01 November 14 from 11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Elder Performing Arts Center, Lausanne Collegiate School
Young Alumni Week 2019 January 2–5 Lausanne Campus
Philadelphia Alumni Be on the lookout for an upcoming event in January 2019.
D.C. Alumni Be on the lookout for an upcoming event in February 2019.
Dallas & Houston Alumni Be on the lookout for an upcoming event in February 2019.
Nashville Alumni Be on the lookout for an upcoming event in April 2019.
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CLASS NOTES
2012
Tyler White ’12 is working in video production with V2 Media in Bartlett, Tenn.
2013
Alex Scarbrough Fisher ’05 and her husband welcomed Jackson Scarbrough Fisher on September 5. He was 9 lbs., 5 oz. and 22 inches. Congratulations to the new mom and dad!
2008
James Arena ’08 currently works as an airline pilot and has been working for a variety of different airlines for the past seven years. He is currently a captain with American Airlines. James spends his days off with his girlfriend and dog, traveling to new and fun destinations together! Mahal Burr ’08 works at Bridge Builders with youth community organizing. She runs a program where youth lead social justice campaigns in their schools and in their community in Memphis. Alex Carlew ’08 and Gary Schwartz ‘07 moved to Denver where both will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder this fall. Lindsey Hansom Johnson ’08 recently moved back to Memphis and is currently serving as the Director of Development at Literacy Mid-South.
2010
Carly Stein ’13 stopped by the Alumni Office to update us on life in California. She manages corporate special events for Avenue of the Arts Hotel (pictured), a boutique hotel described as “an oasis of luxury” in Costa Mesa, Calif.
2014
Jiayi Diao ‘14 graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in May with a degree in Nuclear Engineering. He is excited to be moving to Illinois following graduation. Grady Vaughan ‘14, who graduated from Rhodes College in May with a degree in international studies and Russian studies, was selected to receive a Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant for the 2018-2019 academic year. He will serve as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Kazakhstan. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. While in Kazakhstan, Grady plans to examine how Kazakhstan, with two official languages, intends to implement English language programs as part of its ambitious development goals. At Rhodes, Vaughan was a Russian tutor, a service scholar through the Bonner Scholarship Program and a member of the Dobro Slovo National Slavic Honor Society as well as Sigma Iota Rho, the honor society for international studies. He also has served as an intern for the Refugee Empowerment Program in Memphis.
2015
Morgan Walker ’15 spent her summer as the Visual Communications Intern with Motorola in Chicago. She is excited to be heading into her senior year at DePaul majoring in Public Relations and Advertising and minoring in Digital Cinema.
2016
Lillian Wilcox ’10 is working in International Education in London, England.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Josh Steiner ’10 opened Strano by Chef Josh in June at a new location on Perkins Extended in Memphis, TN. The space is three times the size of his previous location in Memphis’ Cooper Young neighborhood. It features three dining rooms, a patio and a large bar area.
Aynsley Hartney ’16 had an amazing sophomore year at Clemson University. She studied abroad in Ireland this past summer and is hoping to do it all over again in Denmark next spring. She recently received The S.W. Shalaby Award for Outstanding Sophomore in Bioengineering and was surprised by her parents and grandmother who were able to join her at the banquet. At the beginning of the summer, she presented some of her research from her time at Greenville Memorial Hospital at the Industrial Engineering Conference in Orlando, Fla. This fall, she plans on declaring minors in Biology and Global Politics, which will make for an even busier fall semester as she is also the Editor-in-Chief of Clemson’s international affairs magazine and Co-Peer Minister for Clemson’s Episcopal campus ministry.
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IN MEMORIAM: Anne Morton Simmons ‘63, a career employee of Delta Air Lines, died peacefully at age 73 on July 14, 2018 after her battle with cancer. Anne graduated from Lausanne School for Girls where her mother was the librarian. Anne attended Southwestern University (now Rhodes). Upon graduation from Memphis State University, Anne began her career as a reservationist for Delta Airlines in the Memphis office. When Delta closed and consolidated the Memphis office, Anne moved to Atlanta, Ga. with the company. Anne took the early retirement package at Delta, continuing to work for the company as an independent contractor up until the time of her illness. Anne’s friends described her as a “renaissance woman” with a wide range of interests who could do and did just about everything she wanted to do. She will be remembered for her quick wit. Anne loved working with her hands, building and making things. She tried her hand at everything from gourmet cooking, sewing and making needlepoint pillows and carpets to rebuilding and decorating her houses. Anne was a prolific reader and collector of books on multiple subjects. Working for Delta provided the “free passage” allowing Anne to travel with friends worldwide to faraway places like Hong Kong, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Paris and the Swiss Alps in pursuit of her many interests.
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Reghan Hovell-Wilkins ’16 will be starting her junior year at Vanderbilt University. She is majoring in Human and Organizational Development. Nahal Latifi ‘16 is excited to graduate a year early with a degree from the University of Memphis in International Marketing and a minor in Finance. Afif Showkat ‘16 had a busy sophomore year at Purdue. He played soccer, joined the salsa club and excelled academically.
2017
Greg Bonnema ‘17 declared his major in computer engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is involved in the Robotics Club at IIT and started a varsity e-sports program. Jake Brannon ‘17 is excited to be transferring to Vanderbilt University this fall and joining other Lausanne alumni already in Nashville. Andrew Gilreath ‘17 is officially an Architecture major at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He spent his summer interning at Lakeland City Hall. Rishab Jain ’17 competed on Jeopardy! this past spring and enjoyed his summer interning in Oxford.
Maliah Mayweather ‘17 and Mekhi Prince ‘17 were inducted into the Alpha Lamda Delta National Honor Society at Xavier University on April 17, 2018. This is open to freshman students who earn a scholastic average of 3.5 or higher when enrolled in twelve hours or more of college level courses during fall or spring semesters. They were also recognized for making the Dean’s List. Maliah is on track for pharmacy school, and Mekhi is majoring in biology and pre-med. Matthew Shibata ‘17 is excited to be transferring to the University of Memphis, as Memphis College of Art anticipates closing its doors in May of 2020.
CLASS NOTES
ALUMNI BOARD PROFILES
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LAUSANNE’S 2018 YOUNG ALUMNI COLLEGE CONNECTORS These individuals have volunteered their time to help our newest alumni, the Class of 2018, transition smoothly into their first year in college. Interested in being involved as a connector for the Class of 2018, whether in your city or through your university/college? Contact Charlotte in the Alumni Office at 901-474-1029 or calbertson@lausanneschool.com.
David Cooley ’00 currently lives in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with an undergraduate degree in environmental management and global environment change from Duke University. David is a senior analyst at Abt Associates, a global company with a focus on evidence-based and multi-disciplinary approaches to solving tough challenges in health, social and environmental policy and international development. Charlotte Hays ’65 is a native of Greenville, Miss. and currently resides in Washington, D.C. She is currently the Senior Editor and Director of Cultural Program at Independent Women’s Forum. Known for her quick and irreverent sense of humor, Charlotte has appeared on cable television programs such as Politically Incorrect, C-Span’s Washington Journal and PBS’s To the Contrary. A former correspondent for the National Catholic Register and a feature writer at The Washington Times, Charlotte has been fascinated by politics since covering local politics for alternative weeklies in New Orleans. She is co-author of three humorous books on southern culture, the first of which was the best-selling Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, the Washington Post’s “Book World” and The Weekly Standard. Janelle Crandall Osowski ’05 is from Memphis, Tenn. and works as an employment law attorney for Donati Law, PLLC in midtown. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from the University of Colorado and a juris doctor in law from the University of Memphis. At Lausanne, she was involved in Spanish Club, Varsity pom, track and field, Model UN and Student Council. She currently volunteers as a chapter advisor for Kappa Alpha Theta and is an active member of the DAR. Courtney Robison Semisch ‘87, a Memphis native, works in Washington D.C. as a Senior Research Associate for the United States Sentencing Commission. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology, women’s studies and criminal justice from the University of Richmond, a master’s in sociology from VCU and her PhD in sociology from Penn State University. During her 15-year tenure at Lausanne, Courtney was Business Manager and Co-Editor of Horizons. She also represented Lausanne on the volleyball and basketball courts as well as in track and field. Hillary Weiss ’10 is from Memphis, Tenn. and is an Assistant Public Defender at the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office. Since graduating from Lausanne, she has lived in both Boston and Chicago but is thrilled to be back in Memphis with her friends and family and excited to get involved with her alma mater!
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
Sharwil Bell ‘08 Jonathan Campbell ‘99 Austin Curland ‘12 Jay Diao ‘14 Haley Dutch ‘14 Aynsley Hartney ‘16 Addie Haverkost ‘17 Esperanza King ‘06 Carly Nahon ‘15 Liza Wadlington Nikitas ‘02 Natalie Russell ‘15 Adam Siegler ‘14 Nuper Singh ‘17 Amanda Scheidt ‘17 Ryan Thornton ‘08 Brooke Vogel ‘09
We are pleased to welcome five new members to the Lausanne Alumni Board…
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Alisha Pershad ‘18 gives her salutatorian speech at the 2018 graduation.
Lausanne celebrated its 90th baccalaureate and graduation in May. On Saturday, May 27, the class of 2018 and their families and friends gathered together for Baccalaureate, where Lausanne alumnus Ryan Thornton ‘08 gave the address. To conclude the ceremony, guests attended a reception in Tully Dining Hall in honor of the graduating class. The next afternoon, Lausanne seniors lined up outside Shockey Hall, dressed in their caps and gowns, to begin their walk to the gym, where family, friends and faculty waited patiently to watch the 83 students become Lausanne alumni. Nancy Schiesari ’69 was welcomed back to campus to give an inspirational commencement speech, encouraging seniors to look forward to life after graduation. Ceylan Metin ’18 received the honor of valedictorian, and Alisha Pershad ’18 was named salutatorian.
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CLASS OF 2018
Class of 2018 • $13 million in scholarship awards • $156,626 average in awards per student • 83 members of the class of 2018 • Matriculation to 49 different colleges and universities • Acceptance to 161 schools around the globe • 27 Full International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidates • 11 High School Musical Theatre Award nominations • 105 Scholastic Art Awards • State Football Champions • State Soccer Champions • Robotics Champions LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2018 AND THEIR FULL MATRICULATION LIST AT LAUSANNESCHOOL.COM/CLASSOF2018
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
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LEGENDARY LYNX BLANKET DONATION Over the summer, Maggie Spence ’19 and Naiya Nolan Dillard ’19 completed a tremendous act of kindness for cancer patients in the Memphis area by donating 25 fleece blankets to West Cancer Clinic-Midtown. Their efforts were part of the CAS project all Lausanne juniors and seniors are required to complete which focuses on creativity, activity and service. The students organized volunteers to help them assemble 25 no-sew blankets. Working in teams of two, each blanket took two hours to construct. The project took two months to complete.
LYNX 4R EARTH The Class of 2025 gave back to their community by donating $1,200 to the Humane Society of Memphis. The funds were raised by the Chipouch pencil bag business known as Lynx 4R Earth that the fifth graders started last year for their year-long Real World Scholars learning journey. Chipouches are pencil cases made from recycled chip bags that students designed, manufactured and sold themselves.
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HIGHLIGHTS
ARTISTS DISPLAY AND EXHIBITION Solbok Yi ‘19, Natalie Eslami ‘19, Jenny Rogers ‘19 and Marie-Pia Bonnot ‘19 were chosen by the Frist Art Museum in Nashville to have their art included in the Frists’s 2018 Young Tennessee Artists exhibition. Only students enrolled in either IB Visual Arts or AP Studio Art are eligible to submit artwork for this statewide biennial competition. With 500 entries from aspiring young artists across the state, Lausanne’s four students represent more than any other school in the West Tennessee region.
FRESHMAN NATIONAL HISTORY DAY Ali Devji ‘21, Jad Hamze ‘21, Dalia Chemaitilly ‘21 and Isabel Kagoo ‘21, with help from Kate Heim ‘21, received an Honorable Mention at the National History Day competition at the University of Maryland, College Park on Tuesday, June 12. They competed against over 110 other senior group performance entries from all over the United States and American schools abroad and placed second in the preliminary round.
SOCCER CHAMPS Lausanne’s varsity soccer team made history in May by winning the state championship for the second year in a row. The soccer team took on Battle Ground Academy and went into overtime. During overtime, Vinny Garcia ’21 scored off a pass from Kelvin Borges ‘20 that broke the tie and gave the soccer team its win.
LAUSANNE FALL 2018
CULTURAL TRIP TO CHINA Over the summer, 39 members of the Lausanne community went to China for a cultural trip. The trip was organized by by Lausanne teachers Yanhua (Jessie) Vann and Nancy Graham and consisted of Middle and Upper School students, teachers and parents. Over the course of 10 days, the group visited multiple cities, saw famous historic sites like the Great Wall, practiced martial arts and ate authentic Chinese cuisine.
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LEGENDARY LYNX
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NATIONAL GYMNAST TOURNAMENT Representing Lausanne gymnastics, Zara Meyers ’30 captured first place in the all-around in her age group at the 2018 Xcel Championship invitational, held in Sevierville, TN in June. She also took first place on beam, second place on bars and second place on floor. Zara’s strong performance helped her region win the award for best region among all eight that competed.
TOUCHDOWNS FOR CANCER Seniors Isaac Weiss ’19 and Eric Gray ’19 dedicated their football season to raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The players used a sports fundraising platform called Pledge It that helps teams and athletes raise money for non-profits based on their performance. The seniors raised a total of $18,032.
TRUTH TO POWER At the beginning of summer break, 26 Middle and Upper School student leaders took a trip to Washington, D.C. to learn about the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Program “Speak Truth to Power”. Students attended the RFK Human Rights awards ceremony in June, the 50th anniversary of RFK’s assassination. At the event, they had the opportunity to hear from honorees such as the youth founders of March for Our Lives, Color of Change, International Indigenous Youth Council and United We Dream.
HOUSE RACE WINNERS The House of Cottingham was named the 2018 winner of the Middle School house competition. After competing in numerous competitions over the course of the year and winning the most points for their house, Cottingham earned the house trophy and recognition from their classmates. The Lausanne House System began in 2006 as a way to encourage students to build meaningful and positive relationships with one another.
With the International Baccalaureate Programme, we are helping our students prepare for the future, challenging them to be better tomorrow than they are today and growing Lausanne’s ability to make an impact on our world. Anything is possible at Lausanne, and we will continuously strive to create unlimited possibilities for our students’ futures.
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Summer campers canoe across Blue Heron Lake.
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