Embrace Possibility
The Campaign for Ravenscroft SUMMER 2015
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
“It’s a testimony to our parents. And an investment in our children.” KELLY GOULD ’90 AND RAMONA HOLDSTOCK, PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION 2014/15 CO-PRESIDENTS
INSIDE
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A Conversation With Two of our Campaign Co-Chairs
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Goals of the Campaign
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Understanding the Annual Fund
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On the Ground: Mythbusters Lead From Here edition
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Spread the Word
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Campaign Leadership
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Thank You!
Parents’ Association Jump-Starts Embrace Possibility Campaign Outgoing Parents’ Association co-presidents Kelly Gould ’90 and Ramona Holdstock signed the official agreement on May 14, 2015: All funds raised by the Parents’ Association will be directed to the newly established Parents’ Association Embrace Possibility Endowment Fund for the duration of the campaign, or until the Fund reaches $600,000—whichever comes first. When they first learned about the Embrace Possibility campaign, Kelly and Ramona did a bit of historical research. And they found that the Parents’ Association has a 20-plus year tradition of making significant donations to major Ravenscroft campaigns. Particularly inspiring was a document they found in the files. It’s a letter from the Ravenscroft Board of Trustees to the Parents’ Association, thanking them for their pledge to the Bold Initiatives capital campaign of 1998–2001, and stating that “this historic pledge has sent a strong message of support to the entire Ravenscroft family, serving as an inspiration to volunteers for and donors to the campaign.” Kelly and Ramona believe deeply that supporting the Embrace Possibility campaign is exactly what the Parents’ Association mission calls for—to “assist in the promotion of excellence for the Ravenscroft community through active parent/ guardian involvement.” “We wanted to make a statement to the community that this is what we, as an association, want to support. We knew we could raise the money, and we know our parents want to support it,” says Ramona.
ABOVE Outgoing Parents’ Association co-presidents Ramona Holdstock and Kelly Gould ’90,
seated; Campaign co-chair Charles Winston ’78 and Head of School Doreen Kelly, standing.
A conversation with …
Two of our Campaign Co-Chairs Jenny and Charles Winston ’78 share co-chairmanship duties for the Embrace Possibility campaign with Easter Maynard ’89 and John Parker. In our last issue of Update, we spoke with Easter and John about their involvement with the campaign. Here is our conversation with Jenny and Charles.
How are you connected to the Ravenscroft community? JENNY: We have three children enrolled at Ravenscroft—RuthAnne is a tenth grader, Charlie is in ninth grade, and Georgia will be in sixth grade this fall. And, we are in our 11th year here at Ravenscroft. Charles is an alum and has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2005 in a variety of roles—most recently as Board Chair. I am a Lead From Here Parent Advocate and I just began my term as Parents’ Association Co-President. Why do you believe in this Campaign so much that you have volunteered to take on the challenge of co-chairing it? CHARLES: There are a few great reasons. The first is the Lead From Here component, which Ravenscroft is developing in partnership with CCL (Center for Creative Leadership). It is literally going to change the face of education. It will not just be about being smart in math, science, or English anymore. It’s going to be about emotional maturity, making better choices as an adolescent, developing kids who are not only smart and willing to work hard, but are also inspired and ambitious about the impact they can make on the community. 2
JENNY: A lot of the funds we raise will go to faculty and staff training, so that they can train our children in leadership, self-awareness, and collaboration. Endowing this program will fund Ravenscroft’s professional training out into the future. Educators need to continue their training on an ongoing basis—because you’re never done. I can’t think of an industry where you don’t have to continue your education to maintain your growth and excellence—and teaching is the same. CHARLES: The financial aid component is critical too. We need to help children who don’t have access to the kind of education our children receive at Ravenscroft. It brings a diverse community to the school. It changes kids’ lives, and when they go out into a very complex world, they will make great things happen. A robust financial aid program will allow families who feel passionate about changing another child’s life to come forward and be a part of that. JENNY: I am really fired up about the student support component of the campaign as well. I believe this is a unique offering that other schools do not have and really lends itself to Ravenscroft’s mission of nurturing each student’s individual potential. It is going to be for all children who
“Lead From Here is literally going to change the face of education. Just turn on the news and you’ll see why it’s so urgent.”
need additional support—whatever that might look like. It will not be just financial, but social, athletic, academic, language or any other opportunity where Ravenscroft can bridge the gap in the life of a student. It’s designed to make sure that children who may have felt awkward or out of step in the past always feel that they belong here. Why is the Campaign so urgent— why must we do it now? CHARLES: Just turn on the news and you’ll see why it’s so urgent—Congress can’t agree on anything anymore. Terrorist organizations are recruiting and indoctrinating kids. We need leadership so badly—people who know how to collaborate, to walk in other people’s shoes. This
is the kind of training that Lead From Here will weave into the curriculum to build the leaders of tomorrow. Why is it important for every parent, grandparent, and alum to support this Campaign? CHARLES: Ravenscroft students—now and in the past—all benefited from the foresight and gifts of the people coming before us. The buildings, classrooms, and fields were all built by someone else. The teacher training that has made Ravenscroft one of the best schools in the country was paid for with philanthropy. It is our turn to give back and be a part of it. Don’t just grab water from the well and walk away. Dig the next well and replenish the well you’re drinking from! 3
Embrace Possibility:
Campaign Progress through August 2015 $15m
Embrace Possibility Campaign Goal
$6.28m raised
CAMPAIGN PROGRESS
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
$7m
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$.5m
LEAD FROM HERE
SUCCEED HERE
Start-up and endowment for a new
Endowment for innovative programs
model of academic and citizen
and services to ensure the success of
leadership education
every Ravenscroft student
$2.5m
$5m
BELONG HERE
ANNUAL FUND
Endowment for financial aid to
Annual giving to support
increase access & socioeconomic
operating expenses: $1 million for
diversity
each of five years
Demystifying campaign jargon:
Understanding the Annual Fund The Embrace Possibility campaign seeks to raise money for two types of funding. In our last issue of Update, we discussed endowment funds, which are invested today to provide support into the future. The other type is the Annual Fund, which is used to fund current school operations. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Annual Fund. What exactly is the Annual Fund?
need more than just a solid education—they need an
Each year, Ravenscroft parents and grandparents,
extraordinary one. If we had to rely on tuition alone
alumni, faculty, staff, and friends make gifts to the
to pay for everything that makes up a Ravenscroft
Annual Fund. These donations, together with tuition,
education, tuition costs would skyrocket. (Bonus
make up the “income” side of our yearly operating
benefit: Donations, unlike tuition, are tax-deductible.)
budget. The Annual Fund is “unrestricted,” which means that we can direct the money toward areas of greatest need.
How does the Annual Fund fit in with the five-year Embrace Possibility campaign? The Annual Fund is one of the campaign’s four
How is the Annual Fund money used? The
key components (see Campaign Priorities on
Annual Fund is used to help pay all of Ravenscroft’s
facing page). The campaign combines educational
budgeted expenses—from teacher salaries to
initiatives with annual support to ensure that
computer software to lightbulbs. The largest
Ravenscroft remains strong while we work to raise
portion of our expense budget goes toward faculty
endowment funds for new programs.
compensation and professional development—nearly 70%—because nothing is more important than ensuring that our students are taught by the very highest quality educators available.
Will I still be asked to donate to the Annual Fund each year, during the Embrace Possibility campaign? Once you include your three- to five-year Annual Fund donation as part
Why should we give to the Annual Fund?
of your gift to Embrace Possibility, you will not
For the same reason you give to any charitable
be asked to donate again for the duration of the
institution you believe in—because your generosity
campaign.
has an immediate and profound impact. Your gifts change kids’ lives.
How can I learn more about the Annual Fund—and how can I support it? Call
We already pay tuition every year—why do you ask for Annual Fund donations too?
Anna White Hosea ’98, Director of Development, at 919.847.0900.
Because in today’s competitive world, your children
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Embrace Possibility: On the Ground
Ravenscroft faculty and staff are some of the lucky beneficiaries of the Embrace Possibility campaign. They have all been offered the opportunity to attend onsite workshops at CCL in Greensboro, to learn how to put the principles of Lead From Here into practice. The other beneficiaries of this initiative are your children, who are experiencing a brand new approach to education that will prepare them fully for whatever our unpredictable future brings.
Mythbusters: The Lead From Here Edition By Mrs. Jen Baccus, 3rd grade teacher and Lead From Here Certified Lead Trainer. Thank you Mrs. Baccus!
Have you ever watched the show MythBusters,
which takes commonly held misconceptions or urban legends and drills down through the talk and rumors to the bare facts? That’s my inspiration for this article. I have heard quite a few myths around campus regarding Ravenscroft’s Lead From Here initiative, that I believe need busting. MYTH #1: Lower school students cannot possibly understand the meaning of terms like motivated, accountable, growth-minded, and culturally inclusive.
They can and they do! About a week after a lower school Tree Talk on the “Leading Self” competency accountable, I took several of my third-grade students to work on a group project in the conference room beside Mrs. Stapleton’s office. I left them to get started and went back to check on the rest of my students. When I returned, I over6
heard this comment coming from the room, “Hey guys, Mrs. Baccus is counting on us to do our work. We have to be accountable.” Recently, second-grade teacher Jessalyn Crawford told me: “When I asked one of my students to describe the little boy in the story we were reading, she told me how self-aware the little boy was in a potentially dangerous situation.” If we give young children the language of leadership and let them have moments in which they can genuinely experience it, they can easily internalize these sophisticated concepts. BUSTED! MYTH #2: Not everyone can be a leader. Does Ravenscroft seriously think every graduate will be a CEO because of Lead From Here?
This is actually a real quote from my own internal monologue during the 2011 faculty meeting when we learned that Ravenscroft was partnering
with the Center for Creative Leadership. I was deeply skeptical of the notion that “everyone can be a leader.” But the more I’ve learned about Lead From Here, the more it makes sense. No, not everyone can be class president, but everyone can be a leader in some way. We need to teach our children that families need leaders. Churches and synagogues need leaders. Neighborhoods, classrooms—even lunch tables need leaders. I think the name Lead From Here says it all; everyone can lead from “here,” wherever here is. Even if that is simply leading yourself to make good decisions during a difficult moment. BUSTED! MYTH #3: Lead From Here is an “add on.” It is taking away from academic instruction.
This could not possibly be farther from the truth. On the contrary, Lead From Here enhances academic instruction at Ravenscroft. Teaching Lead From Here competencies directly supports the Ravenscroft mission of “preparing students to thrive in a complex and interdependent
world.” The more I learn about Lead From Here, the more I question how our students can succeed academically and in life without these skills and competencies firmly in place. One of the most important competencies in the Leading Self circle of our framework is motivated. As a parent of two upper school students, I can tell you that it is nearly impossible to be successful without motivation at Ravenscroft. You can’t be growth-minded and resilient if you are not motivated to grow, change, and improve. Ravenscroft teachers are learning to help students internalize the Lead From Here competencies so that they can more readily find whatever motivates them as individuals. We are teaching students to recognize growth opportunities, to push through challenges, and come out stronger and smarter than they started. Ravenscroft students are going to make a difference in the world, because we are equipping them with 21st-century skills and giving them the space to experience them in action while they are still in school. BUSTED! 7
Spread the Word: Conversation Starters
Have you seen it? Our website has a great
Precocious kindergartners They may not be
video that tells the Lead From Here story.
able to pronounce the words yet, but even
It isn’t very long and will give you a great
kids as young as four or five understand and
understanding of why this initiative is so
use Lead From Here skills. Recently overheard
important!
in Ms. Dubose’s classroom: “Resilient means: Don’t be a bubble because bubbles burst!” And
See the video at: ravenscroft.org/leadfromhere
“Compassion means: When you see somebody down, you help them!”
“The Center for Creative Leadership’s training is the best professional development that I have received in my entire career as an educator in over 14 years of teaching all across the country.” UPPER SCHOOL TEACHER
$800,000 Lead From Here for parents Did you know
Generous parents & alums Last year 67%* of
that Ravenscroft partners with Center for
Parents and 10% of Alumni made donations to
Creative Leadership to offer on-campus Lead
the annual fund. Imagine all that Ravenscroft
From Here workshops for parents? If you are
could accomplish for our children if 100% of the
interested in gaining a deeper understanding
parent/alumni community donates this year!
of our ground-breaking initiative, contact Colleen Ramsden, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs, 919.847.0900.
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*As reported in the FY13/14 annual report. FY14/15 will be reported in the fall.
Thank you to our campaign volunteers for your support and participation in achieving our campaign goals. Each of you plays an important role in advancing our mission. You are truly helping us change the world! HEAD OF SCHOOL
HONORARY COMMITTEE
CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS
Doreen C. Kelly
Judy and Chip (’55) Anderson
Kevin Anderson ’82
Mary Grady Koonce (’81) and
Robert Beller
HONORARY CO-CHAIRS
Vic (’74) Bell
Mary Bossong
Fran and Watson (’38) Pugh
Cecelia and Mike Condrey
Elise Dorsett ’06
Joy and Temple Sloan
Noel and Harold Lichtin
Caryn McNeill
Jane and Tom Mann
Michael Murphy
CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS
Connie and James Maynard
John Parham ’84
Easter Maynard ’89 and John Parker
Mary and Bill (’74) Moss
Jennifer Ratliff ’06
Jenny and Charles (’78) Winston
Flo and Charles (’47) Winston
Nelle Schantz ’83
Tracy and Bob (’80) Winston
Nancy ‘Pickel’ Tannenbaum
Mary Brent and Bob Wright
Chuck Vitello Jim Ziperski
“Ravenscroft is really a progressive school, because our teachers don’t just tell us to learn a lot of material, take a test, and then forget it. They’re working with us to cultivate strong adults and innovators. And I think that’s a very long-term mindset.” UPPER SCHOOL STUDENT
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Call 919.870.0900 and ask to speak with Phil Higginson, Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement or, Anna White Hosea ’98, Director of Development.
about the Embrace Possibility campaign and answer all of your questions.
We’d love to tell you more
You’re Invited! 7409 Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27615