39 minute read
Our Campus Heroes
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
OUR TECHNOLOGY TITANS
Thank you to James, Afshin, Chris, Boyd, and Eric for all that you do to make school a success.
As suddenly as our daily lives transformed in March, so too did the role of our Technology Department.
If the servers were down, classes were down, too. Every student needed a take-home device, an email address, a password. And the portals that brought school to life, Google Meet and Zoom, presented new challenges for teachers and students alike. Through all of this, our Technology Department was behind the scenes, ensuring distance learning was the best it could be and patiently guiding students, teachers, and parents.
Upon our return to campus, all classrooms were equipped with cameras to keep students connected, a critical accessibility expansion made possible by our Technology team — James Masciuch, Afshin Asgharian, Chris Echave, Boyd Reilly, and Eric Vacchio. And even though fewer students are now experiencing school on screens, the team is just an email or call away, ready to support and encourage us.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
OUR MAINTENANCE MARVELS
Thank you to Jose, Luis, Javier, Josh, Emilio, Eric, Dan, and Joe for all that you do to make our campus feel like home.
What happens when buildings close? The occupants pack up their things, lock the door, and walk away.
St. Andrew’s buildings closed to students and employees in March, but thanks to our operations team — Joe Phelan, Josh Jonas, Luis Aguilar, Dan DeMare, Eric Grieve, Emilio Perdomo, Jose Rivera and Javier Saavedra — our classrooms, hallways, and gathering spaces were kept in pristine condition, ready for our return whenever it was safe to do so.
So when we did return in October, it was as if we never left: the classrooms were clean, bright, and welcoming, and our hallways and gathering spaces were equipped to handle social distancing and new safety requirements.
news from st. andrew’s
ONE PRIDE INITIATIVE INSPIRES ACTS OF CARING, GENEROSITY
St. Andrew’s One Pride Initiative was first conceived as a coordinated response to the question, “What can I do to help?” Students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff saw opportunities to make a difference, and, through the One Pride Initiative, connect with the greater St. Andrew’s community to make an even bigger impact. Some of these projects included a mask-making assembly line at the home of Gabi Henderson ’24, faceshield fabricating by Jake Lee ’20 and Jill Wiedenmayer ’07, and a food-delivery brigade organized by local restaurant Medium Rare, which was supported by several St. Andrew’s teachers and families.
In April, the School announced an expansion of the One Pride Initiative focused on keeping our community whole. Many St. Andrew’s families experienced severe economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the School was committed to offering the necessary financial support. To ensure that all students could return to St. Andrew’s for the 2020-2021 school year, the School organized Giving and Caring Week, a campaign focused on celebrating the ways our community supported each other through acts of service and gifts to financial aid during the pandemic.
Inspired by the generosity of our current and former teachers, families and alumni stepped up to the challenge, coming together to motivate the community to give.
For more on One Pride, see page 76.
Thanks in part to One Pride, we were able to increase the number of students who receive financial support by close to 5%. This year, nearly 30% of students will receive financial support to attend St. Andrew’s.
$403,243
Amount of money raised for student financial aid during Giving and Caring Week
524
Number of donors who contributed to the One Pride initiative
NEW LOWER SCHOOL BUILDING OPENS
After a decade of being split across multiple campuses, St. Andrew’s officially became a one-campus school in the fall of 2019. A 31,000-square-foot, threestory building opened with spaces designed specifically for students in preschool through fifth grade. The spacious building features light-filled classrooms, purpose-built science, art, and design labs, and expansive space for student gatherings and performances. The Outdoor Learning Space provides preschool and elementary students age-appropriate play space to explore. Together, the project creates the best of both worlds for Lower School students and families — a first-rate, dedicated space for early-childhood and elementary learning while deepening our school-wide sense of community.
Aaron Hill, Sr.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NAMES NEW HEAD
Early in the 2019-2020 school year, Dr. Rodney Glasgow announced he would be stepping down as Head of Middle School at the end of the academic year to take over as Head of School at nearby Sandy Spring Friends School. This decision led St. Andrew’s to conduct a nationwide search for its next Head of Middle School, a search that culminated in the hiring of Aaron Hill, Sr. to take over the division.
Hill came to St. Andrew’s from Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia, where he was Director of Student Activities. Prior to that he was a teacher and administrator to both Middle and Upper School students at various schools, and was named Teacher of the Year while at Smithfield High School in Smithfield, Virginia, where he chaired the Fine & Performing Arts Department.
Hill, a native of York, Pennsylvania, spent the first 22 years of his adult life in the United States Army, serving three tours of duty at the Armed Forces School of Music, where his teaching career began.
Hill has spent much of his life focused on issues of equity and social justice, including serving as a facilitator at the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference and taking part in the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Southern Poverty Law Center’s educational and anti-bias programs.
DREYFUSS FAMILY MAKES SECOND-LARGEST GIFT IN SCHOOL HISTORY
In the fall of 2019, St. Andrew’s received the second largest gift in school history. Donated by Jody and Kathy Dreyfuss, the gift endowed a Faculty Chair for Research ensuring that the science of learning would continue to inform classroom practices at St. Andrew’s in perpetuity.
The Dreyfuss family has played an essential role in the growth and success of St. Andrew’s for 30 years. Jody Dreyfuss served on the Board of Trustees from 1992-1999, and as Board Treasurer was instrumental in acquiring the Postoak Campus and securing the school’s financial future. Previously, Jody and Kathy, parents of Paige ’93, endowed the position of Head Librarian, and the Library is named in honor of Jody’s parents, Muriel and David Dreyfuss.
“We believe in St. Andrew’s mission, the way it treats its children, and the principles that are the basis of the school,” Jody and Kathy Dreyfuss said in 2018 when discussing why the school matters to them philanthropically.
Dr. Ian Kelleher, a University of Cambridge-trained scientist, is the inaugural Joseph and Kathleen Dreyfuss Faculty Chair for Research. Dr. Kelleher has been a member of the St. Andrew’s faculty since 2002, has previously served as department chair and teaches physics, chemistry and robotics, and currently serves as the CTTL’s Director of Research. A co-author of the book “Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education,” Dr. Kelleher, in his role at the CTTL, designs and conducts research with the Omidyar Faculty Fellows, the Finn Family Student Research Fellows, and individual researchers at universities including Johns Hopkins, the University of Virginia, Stanford, and Research Schools International that was created by faculty at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Ian is also one of the lead designers of Neuroteach Global, the CTTL’s web-based professional development tool for teachers around the world.
Dr. Ian Kelleher
Kathy and Jody Dreyfuss
SEPTEMBER
Mariela Shaker is more than just an acclaimed violinist, she also is a refugee who fled the Syrian civil war. She performed for Middle School students and shared her story to help kick off the 2019-2020 Middle School theme of “Choose to See, Choose to Act.” The theme focused on empowering students to create safe spaces for others and choose to see and respond to injustices they witness. Shaker, who was honored at the White House in 2015, spoke to students in grades 6-8 about fleeing Syria in 2013.
Latin teacher presents at American Classical League’s centennial conference
Kristin Webster has only been at St. Andrew’s a few years, but the Latin teacher has doubled enrollment in her upper level Latin classes as well as placement on the National Latin Exam. She credits Mind, Brain, and Education Science strategies that draw on research into the connection between emotion and cognition. She has focused on creating a classroom culture that gives students an active voice in their learning.
Webster took what she gleaned from her experiences in the classroom to the American Classical League’s centennial conference in New York City in the summer of 2019, presenting to colleagues from around the country on how MBE strategies have enhanced her teaching. ▲ Josh Lobsenz ‘20 named
a National Merit Finalist
Josh Lobsenz ’20 was named a National Merit Finalist, one of just 15,000 nationwide out of 1.5 million then-juniors who took the PSAT the previous year. Others in the Class of 2020 who earned recognition as National Merit Commended Scholars were Felicia Gelos, Owen Gilman, Jake Lee, Nick Tsintolas, and Bill Zhang.
Lower Schoolers work together to form community guidelines
Every year, Lower School students work together to come up with School Rules for their division. These community guidelines show a shared commitment to a community that is guided by principles that fit with the school’s values and mission. In 2019, inspired by the book “One” by Kathryn Otoshi, the three guidelines were “Do the right thing,” “Respect others and objects by following the Golden Rule,” and “Take risks and learn from your mistakes.” In 2020, with community revolving more than ever around individual homerooms, each class came up with their own rules to guide them.
▲ Middle School students
meet accomplished violinist Mariela Shaker
OCTOBER
▼ Lower School students participate
in annual Blessing of the Animals
The Blessing of the Animals has always been a signature Lower School event that includes a chapel service celebrating the ministry of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology. With the Lower School building still being finished, students brought in stuffed animals and photos of their pets to be blessed in 2019. In 2020, students were able to bring their animals into their virtual classrooms and receive a blessing from our chaplains. We are excited to have animals with us again for future Blessing of the Animals services.
Rev. Gene Robinson speaks to Middle and Upper Schoolers
The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson gave the guest homily during the 2019 Ally Week chapel service. Bishop Robinson, who became the first openly gay and partnered Bishop in historic Christianity when he was eleced Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003, is a recognized voice on issues of civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people; antiracism; and AIDS education. The Bishop met with Middle and Up-
Alumni return to campus for Homecoming and Reunion
per School students and answered their questions on the Bible’s perspective on homosexuality, coming out to loved ones, and keeping your faith as an LGBTQIA+ person.
US actors get assistance from silent performer
The Upper School fall play in 2019 was “Our Town” and to help students prepare to perform the play without props, the intention of playwright Thornton Wilder, drama teacher Ritchie Porter turned to a novel performer for help. Mark Jaster, a performing artist trained in mime by 20thcentury masters Étienne Decroux and Marcel Marceau, led a miming workshop for cast members. Jaster helped them express everyday activities using basic illusion, including arrest, point in space, and association.
Upper School students make real estate ad for Gilded Age homes
If the Gilded Age was more than 100 years ago, then why did Upper School students make real estate ads for homes during that time period? The Upper School History class “Rad History: American Radicals & Rebels in the Gilded Age” em-
St. Andrew’s hosted Homecoming and Reunion the weekend of October 18-20, 2019 with graduates from the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s coming to campus for activities including class parties, the alumni vs. faculty soccer game, Reunion Celebration Brunch and the Alumni of Color Network event. Adele Waugaman ’94 received the Alumni Achievement Award, Alex (Sasa) Portner ’89 received the Thomas Shaw Award, and Alex Azzara ’07 and the 2003 Boys Soccer and 2003 Boys Cross Country teams were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
In addition to the traditional Walk for the Homeless, volleyball and soccer matches, and alumni rewards luncheon and Hall of Fame induction, this year’s homecoming also included the blessing of the new Lower School building. The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, was on hand to bless the newly opened building and help with the
ribbon cutting.
phasized learning the humanities through multiple modalities, challenging students to dive deeper into the ways industrialization and class struggle influenced America following the Civil War.
▼ New LS building hosts
first Halloween parade
One of the hallmarks of the St. Andrew’s Lower School experience is the annual Halloween parade. Last year, the new Lower School building was able to host its first Halloween celebration. Cheered on by Middle and Upper School students, Lower Schoolers showed off their ghoulish garb before enjoying class parties in their new building.
NOVEMBER
US History students interview Richard White of Stanford University
Richard White is a Stanford professor and MacArthur Fellow and in November, he joined an Upper School history class via Skype. Students asked the historian about his method for researching and writing books. “Usually the first part of research is proving myself wrong. I make sure everything wrong with the book I will have anticipated before I publish it. You can’t explain everything, but I want the kind of truth that contains most of what I know.”
Tenth grade students advocate for books through Great Works Project
The Great Works Project is the signature academic program for sophomores at St. Andrew’s. The annual competition, which has students in sophomore English classes impact their own curriculum, was won by Oliver Bush ’22 and Seth Baker ’22. The competition has students, through oral presentation, advocate for why a book should be considered a Great Work and studied in the third trimester. Baker successfully advocated for the book “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah and Bush argued for “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess.
▲ Girls Who Start club pitches ideas
for beauty product competition
Girls Who Start is an entrepreneurship club that encourages girls to create their own business enterprises. In 2019, a just-for-fun competition allowed students to pitch ideas for low-cost beauty products. In 2020, a team of Olivia Kindfuller ’20, Maya Naboa ’21, Edith Erickson ’21, and Cece Fainberg ’21 came in second place at the Girls Who Start Design Challenge Hackathon for their prototype of an app that would contribute to environmental sustainability in the home. A $500 prize came with the second-place finish.
▼ First graders visit
Locust Grove Nature Center
Art and Science came together on a trio of field trips for first graders. Visiting Locust Grove Nature Center in September, November and March, students observed the signs of the emerging seasons and created different types of artwork based on their observations. In lieu of excursions
off campus, students have enjoyed virtual field trips to places like Politics and Prose Bookstore during distance learning.
Steve Zerlin accompanies Upper School musicians
Steve Zerlin is an accomplished electric and acoustic bass guitarist who has performed with top jazz artists and toured India extensively. In November, he spoke to St. Andrew’s Upper School jazz band class about his experiences as a musician. Student instrumentalists were also treated to a jam session with Zerlin.
3rd and 12th graders collaborate on art
Sometimes the best thing for an AP student is to get the perspective of a third grader. That’s what happened when AP Art and Design students turned to third graders for inspiration. It was part of the Upper School students’ exploration of the relationship between play, creativity and innovation, and its influence on the creative process. Creations during the 30 unstructured minutes crafting with pipe cleaners ranged from crowns to cell phones.
DECEMBER
▲ St. Andrew’s Night tradition continues with lessons and carols
St. Andrew’s Night of Advent Lessons and Carols is one of the school’s oldest tra-
Lower School students dedicate December as the Month of Code
Inspired by the global Hour of Code, Lower School students dedicated the entire month of December to learning programming and exploring creativity. Upper School robotics team members demonstrated their new FIRST Tech Challenge robot and fielded questions from kindergarten through fifth-grade students, ranging from how long it took to build the robot to their choice of wheels.
ditions. Last year, attendees were treated to Middle and Upper School singers and instrumentalists as well as a homily by The Rev. Meredith Heffner, Rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Potomac. In 2020, due to social distancing and hybrid learning, the Advent Lessons and Carols will move to the afternoon, closing out the final day of school before Winter Break.
Sophomores team up to support Nigerian business
Six girls in the Class of 2022 are working with a catering company in Nigeria to bolster their business and support the broader community. Clare Gamma, Rushien Maghsoud, Sophia Papdemetriou, Ella Perkins, Lacey Somwaru, and Shannon Yehl connected to the company through the International Business Internship two-year internships with small businesses in the developing world. The program is organized by Washington, D.C.-based Leadership Initiatives, a 501(c)3 international nonprofit that helps students gain real-world experience, explore future careers, develop leadership skills.
Seventh graders embrace The Outsiders
“The Outsiders” is a classic novel read by Middle School students across the country. Last year, seventh-grade English Program which offers high school students
students had their choice of projects after reading S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age story — create a 3D timeline, record a podcast, or design trophies to award to characters in the book. The project, which emphasizes novelty and choice, was designed to encourage students to reflect on their reading beyond the traditional essay.
JANUARY
▼ Fifth grade students get creative
for This is Not a Box project
Sometimes, a box is just a box. But for fifth-grade students, a cross-discipline design project challenge asked them to transform a cardboard box into something that was “not a box.” Students designed pool tables, gumball machines, television sets, and gaming systems, working to convince classmates, family members, and friends that what they saw before them was “not a box.”
A twist on the biological essay: Students create Facebook pages for 20th century activists
Writing a biological essay on an historical figure helps students learn about their life. But what if you want to go beyond knowing what they did and better understand their motivations and thought process? Upper School history students studying the Progressive Era designed Facebook pages for 20th century labor activists, such as Emma Goldman and John L. Lewis, allowing them to come to life in a new, and timely, manner.
Preschool students end hibernation unit with annual Bear Hunt
It’s a bit of a tradition in preschool — the annual Bear Hunt. Students spend
Upper School robotics team takes first place in Cap Tech Qualifier
In February, our Upper School FIRST LEGO Tech Challenge Robotics team took home first place at the Cap Tech Qualifier competition. In robotics competitions, there is a qualifying phase at which point top teams can invite other squads to be part of an alliance in the final round of competing. Our students, having earned second place for the Design Award by building a robot that balanced form, function, and aesthetics, were picked by one of the top squads and together they won the competition. St. Andrew’s FIRST LEGO robotics program inspires students in grades 1-12 to be math, science, and technology leaders by building skills, inspiring innovation, and
fostering self-confidence, communication, and leadership. slowly evolved into a morning akin to a design challenge with parents and students taking part. This year, they collaborated on an animal sculpture project adorning penguins, sea turtles and wild beast structures with decorations made out of plastic bags, bottle caps, corks, and CDs. The success of the Wonder Workshops led to Co-Head of Lower School Jordan Love, Science Teacher Hilarie Hall and Art Teacher Justin Pyles presenting on time learning about what bears eat, hibernation and how they survive the winter. Then students crawl through the tall grass, cross rivers and head through snowy passages, all while following bear tracks to find the sleeping beast.
FEBRUARY
Lower School students collaborate on art and science at Wonder Workshop NPR host Felix Contreras speaks
Several years ago, the Lower School bewas a way to demonstrate the intersection of science and art to families, and then
intergenerational cross-discipline learning at the National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference in early March.
gan the Wonder Workshop, which at first
to Spanish students
As co-creator and host of NPR’s Alt. Latino, Felix Contreras has built a suc-
cessful career in journalism where he can elevate Latino musicians. In February, he visited St. Andrew’s and spoke to Upper School Spanish students. He discussed not just his career, but also his experience with NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series and the challenges of promoting artists.
Middle School science students hear from genetic counselor
Lindsay Middelton is a bioethicist and genetic counselor. In February, she visited seventh-grade science classes and asked students to consider how they would respond to real issues at the intersection of medical advancement and moral discernment. Discussions in class allowed students to take part in conversations around topics like genetic trait testing.
Eighth grader speaks to Maryland General Assembly
Xander Alarie ’24 began a charity lemonade stand as a young child but ran into some issues that most seven-year-olds don’t need to deal with — Montgomery County regulations. This experience led him to testify in front of the Maryland General Assembly in February on behalf of a bill that would make it easier for children to launch a first entrepreneurial venture.
▲ Hearts for Haiti Raises
$13,000 for Christ Roi
Student leaders of the Hearts for Haiti Club met its $13,000 fundraising goal for Christ Roi, our partner school in Civol, Haiti, after a week-long student crowdfunding event that included moving testimonies at Morning Meeting, bake sales after school, and a culminating piein-the-face event in February. So far, the funds have been used to purchase food and face coverings for Christ Roi students. The face coverings are reusable and bear the “L’Ecole Christ Roi” logo.
MARCH
Students recreate works of art for Getty Museum Challenge
Museums around the world were some of the most creative organizations to adapt to the pandemic by offering, among other things, virtual tours. The Getty Museum had a different take — they challenged people to recreate works of art with objects and people around their house. St. Andrew’s students in multiple divisions got in on the action and produced some truly memorable recreations.
▼ Legally Blonde thrills as Upper School musical
The St. Andrew’s Players underwent a youth movement in 20192020 when it mounted a production of “Legally Blonde.” Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the movie starring Reese Witherspoon, more than 60 students took part as members of the cast, crew, and show band. With three underclassmen as leads, it was the largest cast and crew for an Upper School musical in recent memory.
Then-freshman Charlotte Lobring ’23 starred as Elle Woods with sophomores David Stevenson ’22 and Oliver Bush ’22 playing the roles of Warner Huntington III and Emmett Richmond, respectively.
APRIL
▼ Seventeen students inducted
into Cum Laude Society
Being inducted into the Cum Laude Society is one of the highest academic honors that a St. Andrew’s student can attain. Typically, students gather in Mac Hall and current members of the Cum Laude Society, both students and faculty, induct new members by surprising them in the audience. Since that wasn’t possible in 2020, students instead received surprise phone calls and video messages letting them know they had received the honor. This year, 17 students were inducted, including nine juniors and eight seniors.
From the Class of 2020, Eunice Chang, Felicia Gelos, Daniel González-Kosasky, Sophia James, Colin Krinsky, Justice Morgan, Rodrigo Ortiz Mena Martinez, and Steve Zhou were inducted, while Cameron Behram, Fiona Gallagher, Sarah Kee, Annie Li, Amanda Newcombe, Michelle Qin, Jacob Ravitch, Stephen Speyer, and Caroline Zebrak were inducted from the Class of 2021.
MAY
▲ Jovi Greene ‘24 co-writes and
performs song for “The Call to Unite”
In early May, a 24-hour global livestream event “The Call to Unite” was staged with song and reflection from international figures ranging from Yo-Yo Ma and Quincy Jones to President George W. Bush and Oprah Winfrey. Notably, St. Andrew’s eighth-grader Jovi Greene ’24 co-wrote and performed a song titled “Unite Anthem.”
Reid Povinelli ‘22 raises money for essential workers and first responders
Reid Povinelli ’22 decided he needed to do something to help both essential workers and local businesses when the pandemic struck. He came up with a novel way. By selling yard signs that thanked essential workers, he was able to generate money, which he then used to buy gift cards to local restaurants. Those gift cards were then donated to hospitals and first responders as an additional thank you for their hard work to save lives.
Seniors deliver Last Stand speeches demonstrating analytical skills
As seniors prepare to leave St. Andrew’s, they are challenged to demonstrate the rhetorical and analytical skills they have developed during their time as Lions by delivering a speech on a topic of their choice. Seniors Last Stand, now in its second year, took a different approach during the pandemic with students making their presentations via video rather than in-person speeches. These speeches, between three and four minutes long, allowed students to explore a topic personal to them to an audience of their peers and parents.
▲ Mandarin students head to
the kitchen for savory assignment
In Mandarin II, Upper School students
completed their last unit of the school year with an activity that spiraled vocabulary from previous lessons and added a new challenge: cooking. Students read an authentic recipe for a Chinese comfort food, “Stir-Fried Egg and Tomato,” and created a cooking video. The assignment was a savory success. VOLUME 1, JUNE 2020
Journal of Organic Biochemistry at St. Andrew’s
Review articles researched and written by Upper School students.
research and write review journal
Students in Will Ferriby’s Organic Biochemistry class developed a scientific mindset by reading and presenting on scientific journal articles, including research on COVID-19. They completed the trimester by writing their own journalstyle papers on chemistry topics of their choosing, such as the science behind vaping products, self-tanning, and food coloring. The articles were anonymously reviewed by their peers, and the top papers were included in the inaugural Journal of Organic Biochemistry at St. Andrew’s (JOBSA).
Upper School history students become historians
Inspired by the ordinary people who became historians when they chronicled their lives during the bubonic plague, the Black Plague, and the Spanish influenza, Upper School history students have been journaling about their experience living through COVID-19.
Katia Atiyah ’22 created the above illustration and wrote these thoughts on the post-pandemic world: “I believe that the world won’t ever be the same. Perhaps we will all have to socially distance, and the idea of the common handshake or casual business meeting or concert or school dance will become extinct ... it’s hard to say exactly how the future will unfold but the one thing I know for sure is that history has its eye on this pandemic.”
▲ Organic Biochemistry students
SUMMER
▼ Class of 2020 celebrated at on-campus diploma ceremony
An uncommon year ended in a unique way for the Class of 2020. Commencement was held virtually in late July but there was an in-person celebration for students as they came to campus to receive their diploma and take photos. During the virtual commencement ceremony, graduates were able to hear from their peers as well as alumna Parisa Karaahmet ’87, who gave the commencement address. The entire ceremony can be seen on the St. Andrew’s YouTube page (www.youtube.com/saeslions). For more on the Class of 2020, see page 84.
news from the athletics department
BASKETBALL TEAMS SWEEP ISL AND MAC TITLES
The boys and girls basketball teams pulled off an incredibly rare feat in 2019-2020 when both teams won their regular season title and followed it up with conference tournament championships.
The girls team was unbeaten in the regular season, compiling a 16-0 mark in the ISL. In the title match, they topped St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes, 68-56, to win the ISL A Tournament Championship. The boys weren’t unbeaten in the MAC regular season but they did finish with the conference’s top seed. They topped Sidwell Friends in the title match, 50-42, to take home the MAC Tournament title.
The boys basketball team finished ranked 8th in the Washington Post rankings of all high school teams in the DMV and Benny Williams ’21 was named first-team All-Met while Colin Smalls ’20 was All-Met honorable mention.
CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS WIN SMALL SCHOOL STATE TITLES
The girls cross country team won its fifth Small School State title in six years and this time around, they had some classmates to celebrate with as the boys cross country team also won the title. The sweep by the two teams was led by Ally Mitchell ’22 who won the individual title for the girls and Thomas Casasola ’20 who finished third for the boys. The boys had a quartet of top-10 finishes including Harrison Keeler ’22, Charlie Ryan ’22, and Jack McCloy ’22. For the girls it was
The boys basketball team topped Sidwell Friends in the title match, 50-42, to take home the MAC Tournament title in February.
In February, the girls basketball team defeated St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes, 68-56, to win the ISL A Tournament Championship.
their 14th state title in 18 years and for the boys it was their seventh in that same span.
THOMAS CASASOLA ‘20 WINS MAC WRESTLING TITLE
Thomas Casasola ’20 capped a terrific St. Andrew’s athletics career by winning a MAC wrestling title after finishing first in his weight class in the MAC Championships. Casasola also finished fifth place at the Maryland Independent School meet and went on to compete in the National Prep Wrestling Championships. The MAC title, along with helping lead the cross country team to the Small School State Championship, helped earn Casasola the title of St. Andrew’s Male Athlete of the Year.
EIGHT STUDENT-ATHLETES SIGN TO PLAY AT COLLEGIATE LEVEL
Eight St. Andrew’s student-athletes in the Class of 2020 signed to play their sport on the collegiate level this past spring, including several who signed Division I national letters-of-intent. Brooke Anya signed to play basketball at Longwood University while Colin Smalls committed to American University and Spencer Hayes signed to go to Howard University, both for basketball. Anya was also named the St. Andrew’s Female Athlete of the Year.
Other student athletes that will play collegiate include Sophia James (basketball, Pomona College), Peter Bronson (soccer, Trinity College), Kisa Kiingi (soccer, Cornell University), Colin McDermott (lacrosse, St. Mary’s College of Maryland) and Wyatt Murphy (lacrosse, Christopher Newport University). Congratulations to all our collegiatebound Lions.
Thomas Casasola ‘20 finished first in his weight class in the MAC Championships.
Ally Mitchell ’22 helped the girls cross country team win its fifth Small School State title in six years. Peter Bronson will play soccer at Trinity College.
ALUMNI, STUDENT GROUPS FORM TO ADVANCE DEI INITIATIVES
The death of George Floyd and the ensuing antiracism protests and calls to end police brutality galvanized St. Andrew’s alumni and students to take action. In June, the Black Alumni Collective (BAC) was formed by alumni Delonte Egwuatu ’12, Kiah Simms ’12, Jamee Williams ’12, Husam Shabazz ’15, and Gillian Sanford ’18 out of the desire to “do our part” and support the racial justice and equality movement in the United States. The BAC is committed to helping St. Andrew’s work with its Black constituents to foster and model reconciliation, ensure racial equity and equality, and enrich the experience of Black St. Andrew’s students and alumni through fellowship, advocacy, and mentorship.
In an effort to improve communication and transparency between the Black community and the School administration, St. Andrew’s and the Black Alumni Collective hosted a Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation Call on August 27. More than 70 alumni and current faculty and staff attended the virtual gathering.
In addition, the BAC hosted the inaugural Juneteenth Celebration for Black alumni; presented its Eight Commitments for the Increase of Racial Integration and Inclusivity of Black Students to St. Andrew’s senior leadership; was voted by the Alumni Council to become an official auxiliary and have a seat on the Council; and created the annual tradition of presenting Black graduates with Kente
The newly-formed Black Alumni Collective created an annual tradition of presenting Black graduates, like Michaela James-Thrower ‘20, pictured, with Kente cloth stoles, beginning with the Class of 2020.
cloth stoles, beginning with the Class of 2020.
This summer St. Andrew’s students Danielle Peters ’21, Brianna Lane ’21 and Stefen Rincon ’21 created the Students of Color Association (SOCA), a new student leadership organization that seeks to encourage, inspire, and uplift young people of color to become leaders in the St. Andrew’s community and stand up for those whose voices are not heard. Peters, Lane, and Rincon met virtually with administrators to stress the urgency of anti-bias training and anti-racist curriculum. They also gathered virtually with the Student Government Association and other student leaders to discuss the importance of the organization and the need for solidarity to address systemic racism, and the need to increase the visibility and voices of students of color at St. Andrew’s.
BLACK ALUMNI COLLECTIVE AWARDS SIX SCHOLARSHIPS
On August 28, the Black Alumni Collective held its first fundraising event, the BAC (FAM)ily Fundraiser. Thanks to donations from more than 200 donors, the one-day virtual campaign raised $37,400, which will go toward helping Black St. Andrew’s students and young alumni afford books, travel opportunities, and college tuition, and fund an innovation award or grant for Black St. Andrew’s students or young alumni.
The Black Alumni Collective is pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural (FAM)ily Fund Scholarships. All recipients are currently enrolled at an undergraduate institution and were selected in a nameblind application process on the basis of merit, financial need, and a commitment to the BAC’s core mission.
From the Class of 2020, Justice Morgan received a $2,500 award and Tami Akinde received a $1,000 award. From the Class of 2019, Tony Diallo received a $1,000 award. From the Class of 2018, Gabrielle Sanford received a $5,000 award and Marcus Mahtemework received a $1,000 award. Finally, from the Class of 2017, Alex Smith received a $2,500 award.
“LEARN, UNLEARN, AND RELEARN” GUIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY RESOURCES
The DEI leadership team, which includes faculty or staff coordinators for each division, has deemed this school year an opportunity to “Learn, Unlearn, and Relearn.” This theme will be the focus of St. Andrew’s professional development with faculty and the individual and collective work we do with our students. Already, our faculty and staff are answering the call to provide each student with an anti-racist and anti-bias curriculum and pedagogy that prepares them for the world outside of St. Andrew’s.
Among the new resources for St. Andrew’s students, parents, faculty, and staff is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Lounge, where community members can connect with the DEI leadership team, ask about resources, or check in.
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lorraine Martinez Hanley checks in with a community member in the new DEI Virtual Lounge.
LORRAINE MARTINEZ HANLEY NAMED DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
In February, Spanish teacher and CTTL Leadership Team member Lorraine Martinez Hanley was appointed to succeed Dr. Rodney Glasgow as St. Andrew’s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Lorraine brings long-term relationships and deep expertise to this role. She is a founding member of the National Diversity Practitioners Institute and has been a faculty leader at the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference for 14 years. After serving as Director of Equity and Inclusion at Indian Creek School in Crownsville, Maryland, Lorraine joined the St. Andrew’s faculty in 2017 as a Middle and Upper School Spanish teacher and advisor. As a Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning Omidyar Faculty Fellow, Lorraine has been instrumental in connecting our DEI initiatives to our Mind, Brain, and Education research.
Dr. Glasgow, former Chief Diversity Officer and Head of Middle School, departed St. Andrew’s in July to become Head of School at Sandy Spring Friends School. “Lorraine is a highly respected educator and colleague at St. Andrew’s. She is also nationally known and trusted as a seasoned diversity practitioner,” Dr. Glasgow said. “I have had the pleasure of leading diversity work with Lorraine in various capacities over the past 15 years, and it warms my heart to know that this important work at St. Andrew’s will be in her most capable and loving hands.”
news from the cttl
ST. ANDREW’S AND THE CTTL AWARDED SECOND EE FORD LEADERSHIP GRANT
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) was awarded a $250,000 EE Ford Educational Leadership Grant in December, becoming the first school to ever receive two such grants from the EE Ford Foundation. St. Andrew’s previously received the leadership grant, the largest one the EE Ford Foundation annually hands out, in 2015.
“St. Andrew’s and the CTTL have been harnessing technology to bring the tools of cognitive neuroscience to teachers throughout the world and they now want to expand this effort to include students,” said John Gulla, Executive Director of the EE Ford Foundation. “The EE Ford Foundation has supported them in this work before and is pleased and proud to have made a second Educational Leadership Grant to the school for this exemplar of an effective program demonstrating the public purpose of a private school.”
St. Andrew’s was awarded its current grant to help build Neuroteach Global Student (NTGS), a companion to the CTTL’s highly successful Neuroteach Global, a first-of-its-kind digital professional development experience, rooted in MBE Science and currently used by thousands of teachers around the world. When completed, NTGS will help students build academic confidence, resilience, and performance by helping them learn how their own brains work and how to apply that knowledge to their own learning.
Neuroteach Global, a first-of-its-kind digital professional development experience, is rooted in MBE Science and currently used by thousands of teachers around the world.
“Neuroteach Global Student (NTGS) provides a novel learning experience that uses the Science of Learning to teach students the Science of Learning,” said Glenn Whitman, Director of the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning. “Our goal is to elevate 100% of St. Andrew’s students’ understanding of the research-informed strategies that can enhance their academic achievement and make them more efficient, confident, and healthy students. St. Andrew’s students will play a critical role in the building of NTGS as members of the team that will design this virtual learning experience. After launching at St. Andrew’s, NTGS will be shared with students from around the world.”
This is the fifth time St. Andrew’s has won a grant from the EE Ford Foundation. In addition to the Leadership Grant in 2015, St. Andrew’s also won grants in 1986 for professional development, 1999 for faculty laptops and 2005 for service learning.
MBE SUMMER DEEP DIVE SERIES BRINGS EXPERTS TO GLOBAL EDUCATOR, PARENT AUDIENCE
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Science of Teaching and School Leadership Academy, a week-long professional development experience for teachers and school leaders focused on translating Mind, Brain, and Education Science (MBE) research to public, private, and international schools, the CTTL quickly pivoted to design a new event for educators and parents.
The MBE Summer Deep Dive Series, held from July 13 to July 17, was a virtual event designed to provide attendees with
foundational strategies for supporting students’ learning, whether school was in-person or online. Each day of the Deep Dive Series featured a leading researcher and focused on topics such as distance learning, metacognition, the link between emotion and learning, and strategies to boost memory. Following each talk, attendees shared takeaways and developed lesson plans during small-group facilitated “translation” sessions.
The five-day event attracted close to 350 educators and parents from throughout the United States and countries including Singapore, Uruguay, France, Canada, Thailand, and Australia.
WHITMAN FACILITATES WORKSHOPS IN SYDNEY, BANGKOK
The CTTL expanded its international reach in January with two workshops led by director Glenn Whitman at schools in Australia and Thailand.
The two visits, first to The Ravenswood School for Girls in Sydney and then to NIST International School in Bangkok, follow both schools’ participation in the CTTL’s Science of Teaching and School Leadership Academy.
At Ravenswood, Whitman facilitated a two-day workshop for 180 faculty and staff members who were seeking to begin or elevate their understanding of the most promising research and strategies in MBE. With the school year in Australia about to begin, teachers and administrators were able to consider how to integrate MBE strategies around memory retrieval and spaced practice, feedback, meta-cognition, dual coding, and the social emotional learning of students to support its whole child mission and commitment to balancing the academic rigor of the school’s curriculum with the wellbeing of each student.
At NIST, Whitman worked with groups of teachers who wanted to deepen the school’s translation of MBE research and how they apply it to their work with nearly 1200 students. A full-day of discussion with more than 25 NIST teachers and school leaders explored the science of reading and coaching, and what research is most promising for the varied developmental ages of NIST students.
“It is an amazing experience to take the decade-long work of St. Andrew’s teachers with our students and share it with like-minded schools around the world who are eager to apply our experience to how they think about their teaching, student achievement, and the whole child’s school experience,” Whitman said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NIST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL In January, Glenn Whitman worked with groups of teachers at NIST International School in Bangkok who wanted to deepen the school’s translation of MBE research and how they apply it to their work with nearly 1200 students.
TEACHERS, STUDENTS AUTHOR ARTICLES FOR VOLUME 4 OF RESEARCH PUBLICATION
The CTTL published the fourth volume of its research publication, “Think Differently and Deeply,” in April. Published biennially, “Think Differently and Deeply” highlights how St. Andrew’s teachers and students are applying educational neuroscience principles to their teaching. Volume 4 features two articles by students: “Chasing Sleep” by Sarah Schwartz ‘20 explores the delicate balance of school, sleep, activities, family, friends, college apps, and well-being during a typical school year, and “Going Big on Retrieval Practice” by Will Cirrito ‘21, Cece Fainberg ‘21, and Maya Noboa ‘21 recounts how one researchinformed study session shifted the trio’s understanding of how the science of learning can impact their achievement. All four students were interviewed for the CTTL’s “Think Differently and Deeply Podcast,” which can be streamed on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
