THE
CRUSADER ST. ANDRE W’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL • AUSTIN, TE X AS • WINTER 2017 MAGA ZINE
INSIDE • Robotics Team Win • Volleyball Champs • Legally Blonde Musical
• K indergarten and Playscape Dedications • A nd more!
Contents We Are Scholars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 We Are Artists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 We Are Athletes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 We Are Servants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Junior Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Social Emotional Learning. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Episcopal Identity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Our Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Development News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Alumni News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
ON THE COVER
Students in St. Andrew’s inaugural kindergarten class, Anita Vemulapalli, Isabella Shepard, and Teddie Gish, picnic on the Nazro Green before the Homecoming spirit tunnel and kick-off on September 16, 2016.
A LETTER FROM SEAN MURPHY,WE HEAD AREOF SCHOLARS SCHOOL
Welcome to the digital edition of our winter Crusader Magazine! I hope you enjoy the depth and diversity of the stories in these pages, written by students, faculty, staff, and guest authors. We are fortunate to have an amazing school filled with spirit, tradition, and a commitment to educating students to their fullest potential. I am proud of what St. Andrew’s has accomplished and am pleased you have an opportunity to see, in this publication, all the good work our students and teachers are doing around the world. St. Andrew’s just celebrated Grandparents and Special Friends Day on both our campuses. More than 800 guests joined our students for two fun-filled days of classroom time, special programs, and chapel. This tradition is a very special one at our school and reminds us of the love and support so many of our students are fortunate enough to receive. As we begin a new year, I would like to share with you this Prayer for School Community: Incline us, O God, to think humbly of ourselves, to be severe only in the examination of our own conduct, to consider our fellow creatures with kindness, and to judge of all they say and do with that charity which we would desire from them ourselves. Amen. Spring is approaching, our seniors will be graduating soon, and our new kindergarten class will complete their inaugural school year in May. We have much to look forward to! Thank you for being an important part of St. Andrew’s. Sincerely,
Sean Murphy Head of School St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
WE ARE SCHOLARS
SAS Robotics Wins Capitol BEST, Finishes 28th at State Championship By Jim Thomas, US Chemistry, Robotics
The St. Andrew’s Robotics team won first place in the head-to-head robotics competition held at Round Rock in October. The competition involved designing and programming a robot that could navigate an obstacle course and perform specific tasks. There were 32 Austin-area public and private schools competing in the Capitol BEST hub event. After winning first place, the St. Andrew’s
team moved on to the Texas BEST Robotics State Championships in Frisco, competing against the top teams from all over Texas and New Mexico. In the qualifying competition standings after seven rounds, St. Andrew’s placed 28th out of the 72 teams competing in head-to-head robot competition. I could not be more proud of our students. Not everyone could make the trip but we had a great contingent of 14
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club members that did a great job representing St. Andrew’s: Ryan Ajgaonkar ’17, Blake Birdwell ’18, Everett Bradley ’20, Addison Brown ’17, Sam Coon ’17, Katherine Dyson ’18, Finn Eagen ’19, Lorelei Ing ’20, Cord Mazzetti ’19, Austin Modoff ’17, Matthew Otto ’17, Ben Pollinger ’17, Alex Swearingen ’19, and Jeff Wang ’18. Click here for more photos and videos. SAS
WE ARE SCHOLARS
Hello World By Sanddhya Jayabalan ’18
Professional coders and engineers from Google, Facebook, IBM, and other tech companies joined forces to offer the “Hello World” after-school program in Austin, including St. Andrew’s. Over the course of 10 weeks, students worked in groups to master concepts in web development, mobile app development, data science, and artificial intelligence. The program culminated in a coding competition/demo day at Google Fiber in November. Student participant Sanddhya Jayabalan ’18 (pictured top right) shared her experience with us. I have always had a fascination with technology and playing around with various computer programs. While I was in Middle School I was introduced to a website called “Codecademy” by my math teacher. About a year later, my physics teacher started teaching me how to use a new programming language called “VPython.” So when I heard about the “Hello World” program, I was extremely excited. One of the new skills that I learned was design for web and app development. I enjoyed learning how to create wireframes and seeing all the steps involved in creating the final product. Being a person who loves art and technology, I found this part of the course fun because it combined two of my passions. At the beginning of the course, making a webpage with different features (dropdown menus, thumbnails, button, etc.) was not a very easy task; however, by the end, I was able to create and design my own webpage and also understand how each line of code affected the physical look of the page. The final event, held at the Google Fiber building in downtown Austin, was a nice way to culminate this ten-week course. In the morning, students from different schools competed in programming activities to show off what they had learned. Then, for the final few hours of the event, each of our groups presented to the audience. The team I was in did a data science presentation that analyzed a real data set of Titanic survivors and created a model that predicted the survival rate of a passenger based on certain criteria (gender, age, class, etc.). SAS
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WE ARE SCHOLARS
Andrew Hojel ’19 Beta Tests His New App Sophomore Andrew Hojel presented a beta version of his app “Caravel” to some Lower School teachers this fall to gain critical insight into the way teachers assess student performance. Andrew created Caravel with three other students from across the country at MIT’s Launch program over the summer: A four-week incubator where students launch a real startup. Andrew says his team’s idea was based on their belief that “assessing students with grades alone is flawed. There are under-assessed traits that are important for success in life.” With Caravel, a student’s strengths in areas like teamwork, creativity, and responsibility are rated on a scale. St. Andrew’s teachers noted this tool would be valuable in tracking Social Emotional Learning growth, but identified the need for a rubric to ensure a consistent baseline. Currently, Andrew’s team is rethinking the Caravel setup based on the beta feedback, noting “The inherent subjectivity in the data we were collecting was a significant issue. So, we are doing a lot of research on creating a way to assess students in a holistic yet objective manner.” What they aren’t doing is giving up. Andrew says, “The majority of the companies started at MIT Launch do not continue growing after the program. Although many of the alumni go on to start other successful businesses, I am very proud of the fact that my team continues working because we believe so much in what we are doing, and we honestly think that we can make a difference.” Managing Caravel along with his school commitments— including the Varsity Rowing team—has been “very difficult” for Andrew, but he perseveres, saying, “Whenever I get bogged down with work and question whether it is worth dedicating so much time to Caravel, I revisit our mission: ‘Redefining student success through meaningful metrics.’ Every time that I revisit the mission, I feel a newfound drive.” The best way to learn more about Caravel is by visiting their website here or by emailing them at info@caravel.io. They hope to begin a monthly subscription that updates all of their supporters. SAS
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WE ARE SCHOLARS
Class of ’17 Boasts 4 National Merit Semifinalists Congratulations to seniors (pictured left to right): Matthew Otto Amelia Long Katherine Salinas Benjamin Pollinger These students are among less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors whose PSAT scores qualified them for the National Merit Scholarship Program. SAS
6th Grade Asks “Why Can’t Sheep Play Chess?” As sixth-graders expressed varying degrees of excitement over the small sheep brain they were observing, science teacher Pam Harmon asked them, “Look at the brain stem, does this animal have two legs or four?” It’s part of the methodical process by which she helps students observe and dissect the brain to understand its functions and capabilities. With assistance from Ms. Harmon, the
students carefully removed the dura mater. Their Latin knowledge pays off when Ms. Harmon asks, “What does dura mater mean? What does the dura mater likely do?” Ultimately, students are able to explain why sheep can’t play chess through their hands-on dissection and discussion of the brain functions. Click here for more photos SAS
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WE ARE SCHOLARS
4th Grade Learns Design Process By Dr. Alexandra Baird, Technology Coach This fall the fourth grade students have been immersed in a problem-based project with the main objective of learning about the design process (i.e., design thinking or the engineering process). The students had to solve Austin’s traffic problem by creating a bridge for Lady Bird Lake. The first challenge was to build a bridge out of two pieces of paper and Elmers liquid glue that can hold 100 pennies. Of course, the main purpose was less about the success of the bridge, but focused on collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, iteration, resilience and reflection. The students soon realized that they needed more information before they
could design and build the bridge. The objectives of this part of the project were research skills, learning to collaborate in Google Slides, and metacognition. During this time we also had conversations about plagiarism. Over the course of two weeks, students built their bridges in the STEAM Lab. This was a great opportunity for students to explore and experiment with different materials. Many students even brought in materials from home. The best part of problem-based projects such as this is, even if the bridge prototype does not stand, the students will have worked on developing a plethora of skills and learned much about themselves. SAS
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WE ARE SCHOLARS
“Seesaw” and THINK “What did you do in school today?” It’s the question most parents ask their kids and rarely feel is adequately answered. But with the launch of “Seesaw,” a digital portfolio of students’ work that parents can like and even comment on, Lower School parents have more answers. If students have just learned about acute and obtuse angles, a teacher may ask a student to create a drawing, video, or write image captions to show their understanding. Not only are students showing what they understand, they’re also building their technology skills. Teachers who are learning how to use Seesaw in their classroom are in the capable hands of our new Technology Coach, Dr. Alexandra Baird. Alexandra notes, “Sometimes pencil and paper truly is the better way for teachers to assess their students’ understanding, so my job is to help them determine when Seesaw is appropriate. I believe in balance.” Alexandra has also discussed with students the responsibilities associated with access to an iPad and internet at school. Beyond basic care of iPads, Alexandra emphasized the impact of a student’s digital footprint. “I give them the example of toothpaste. Once you squeeze toothpaste out of the tube, you can’t put it back in. That’s how they need to view what they put online.” With that in mind, Alexandra o ffers the THINK acronym, “Before posting something, they should consider: Is it True, Helpful, Inspirational, Necessary, and Kind?” Click here to watch the presentation “Digital Citizenship and Seesaw”. SAS
Whole Child Series This year the Lower and Middle School faculty have collaborated to create discussion groups for parents who want to learn more about their child’s educational journey; the result is the “Whole Child” series. Over the course of the year, parents are invited to attend discussions led by faculty on topics ranging from math language, to study skills, and positive feedback. For parents who are unable to attend, a Whole Child resource board is available in mySAS under “Resources,” which includes links to handouts and videos of some presentations. SAS Click on the topic below to access a video presentation or handout: ● Digital Citizenship and Seesaw ● English Language Arts Overview ● Math Overview
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WE ARE ARTISTS SCHOLARS
Local Austin Artists Visit Middle School Local Austin artists and musicians—including some SAS faculty—came to the Middle School campus to display their artwork, give performances, and answer student questions as part of the student-run “East Austin Art Tour.” Even the Upper School Jazz Band visited to demo their improv skills. The tour aimed to “engage, inspire, and involve students in Fine Arts events” as part of the Middle School Fine Art Cabinet’s mission. Math teacher Meredith Petry explained, “We are trying to raise awareness for the East Austin Studio Tour that happens just a few weekends later in November, and introduce new artists, perhaps in our own community, to the students.” Click here for more photos. SAS
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WEWE ARE ARE SCHOLARS ARTISTS
Middle School Musicians Make Top Region Band
Booth ’19 Makes AllRegion Honor Orchestra
By Danny Schmidt, LS/MS Band Director
By Lori Hahn, US Piano Instructor/Accompanist
Eleven St. Andrew’s Middle School Band students auditioned for the Association of Texas Small School Bands Region Band. Four hundred seventh and eighth grade students from 23 central Texas schools competed for spots in one of the two region bands. The top ranked players in each section are placed in the Region Symphonic Band, and the next set is placed in the Region Concert Band.
Region Symphonic Band Jack Bellingrath ’21—3rd chair overall out of 33 trombones Robert Botkin ’21—3rd chair overall out of 20 euphoniums Antonio Flores ’22—5th chair overall out of 58 alto saxophones Emma Schmidt ’21—6th chair overall out of 21 tubas
Sophomore harpist Anna Booth auditioned and was selected by a panel of judges for the Texas Music Educators Association All-Region Honor Orchestra. In November, students from numerous Austin area high schools participated in two days of rehearsals led by guest conductor, Stephen Heyde, Professor of Orchestral Studies and Conductor-in-Residence at Baylor University. SAS
Maja Urban ’22—5th chair overall out of 55 flutes
Region Concert Band Matt Kennedy ’21—5th chair (19th overall out of 63) on trumpet Maddox Kunik ’21—4th chair (9th overall out of 58) on alto saxophone
This is the fifth year in a row that St. Andrew’s has placed students in the Region Band. St. Andrew’s set a new school record by placing three students in the Region Band for the second consecutive year. Only one other student, Katherine Andrews ’20, had achieved this in the past. These students performed a concert with the other all-star musicians in December at the beautiful Bastrop Performing Arts Center. SAS
Film Students Win “Get the Vote” Congratulations to Ford Chupik ’18, Lucas Glass ’18, Rachel Nezzer ’17, and Theo Rankin ’18, our Applied Filmmaking students who won first place in the Travis County “Get the Vote” high school video competition. Click here to view their winning video, “Moving Forward”: https://vimeo. com/183725850 SAS St. Andrew’s Episcopal School • www.sasaustin.org • 8
WE ARE ARTISTS SCHOLARS
Cast Share Insights with Middle Schoolers Eighth grade students got a glimpse at life at the Upper School during their “step up” day in October, when they visited a few classes, explored the mLab, and attended a special performance of the Upper School musical “Legally Blonde.” Cast members spent a few minutes before the show sharing their experiences as performing artists at the Upper School. Stone Mountain ’18 said, “As a new kid this year, I felt really uncertain about what to expect, because I know auditions can get really cut-throat. But as soon as I walked into my audition, I felt nothing but love and support, and now because of this
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experience I have 20 new friends. It’s such a special thing we have here, a safe, welcoming place to create art.” Cason Doyle ’18 admitted, “I’m a football player and the first year I had the option to do the musical, I didn’t do it and I regretted it. So I auditioned the next year and despite my having two left feet I got in! I’ve been doing something I love with some of my best friends, and I’ve been able to play football for one of the best coaches I’ve had and some of the best teammates. So if you’re unsure if you can do a fall sport and the musical, trust me when I say you can.” SAS
WE ARE ARTISTS
Seniors Take Their Final Curtain Call This year the Upper School fall musical “Legally Blonde” gave student performers a chance to show off their comedic timing and singing and dancing skills through a light-hearted story based on the popular Reese Witherspoon movie. Three seniors, Christian Erben, Ethan Rogers, and Ellie Rudy reflected on the lessons they learned from this year’s project, and what it feels like to reach the culmination of their musical experience at St. Andrew’s. Click here for more photos.
Ellie: After our last performance, I remember hugging Aimee Williams, who played Vivienne, and Christian Erben, who played Paulette. Yes I was tearing up, but not out of sadness. I was so proud of the two of them. I had done my very first musical in sixth grade with these two girls.
Ellie: Something that really stuck out to me in Legally Blonde was the intrinsic sense of sisterhood and girl power. Although Vivienne, played by my best friend Aimee Williams, initially sabotages Elle, I think the way they come together in the end sends a really positive message to young girls. It’s all about loving what you have and being the best version of yourself you can be. Christian: I very much relate to Paulette in the beginning, how she’s awkward around boys because she is very insecure and has been hurt in the past. I love how she discovers a new found confidence in herself. She realizes she is beautiful, and smart, and while she does not need a man to be happy and complete her as she previously believed, she does find someone who treats her right, even when she thought all hope was lost. Ethan: My favorite quote has to be “Being yourself never goes out of style.” That is something that really resonates with me and I think that few people realize the importance of being yourself.
Christian: St. Andrew’s is not always the easiest school to go to, because it is a college preparatory school and can be extremely academically challenging. The arts not only give me motivation to come to school and love school, but push me to be better in my other classes. Being an artist at St. Andrew’s has given me so much. The choir and theater programs here have helped me find what I want to do with my life, supply me with daily sources of joy, and have given me groups of people who I am lucky enough to call family. I will always carry my St. Andrew’s experiences with me, but most of all in the artist department, which I can never repay. Ethan: I will always remember my time at St. Andrew’s as an absolutely phenomenal experience. It is such a loving environment where I was truly given the tools to succeed and supported through thick and thin. I’m so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful program. Mr. Rosensteel and Mr. Garcia honestly changed my life and I am so thankful that they were a part of my life for all these years. SAS St. Andrew’s Episcopal School • www.sasaustin.org • 10
WE ARE ATHLETES
Cruisin’ In: Roberto Diaz ’11 Alum Roberto Diaz ’11 returned to SAS this year to help coach the cross country team. Roberto shared his fond memories as a student-athlete, and how the sport has changed. I started running cross country in 2008 under Gilbert Tuhabonye. I was a sophomore at the time and had only decided to join cross country after realizing that I was the slowest person on the varsity soccer team. Little did I know that cross country would turn me into a runner for the rest of my life. If it weren’t for Gilbert and my teammates I would have never enjoyed cross country. Gilbert is such an inspiration not only in running but in other aspects of life. I have a lot of teammates that influenced my running, but the other teammate who pushed me to the next level was John McNamara ’09. He went on to run for UT (NCAA D1). My experience as a student-athlete was awesome. We had a close group of friends to help through challenges so that was a huge reward. I went to school at Oklahoma Christian and stayed there for 5 years to be able to compete in NCAA D2 as we transferred from NAIA to NCAA during my time there. I began coaching this year with Gilbert because I loved running under him, and I knew coaching alongside him would be a true honor.
The sport in terms of SPC caliber has improved since I last ran for St. Andrew’s. There is a lot more depth throughout the top 6 teams at St. Andrew’s for both and guys. If this current class of runners ran back when we first won, it would have meant a championship for sure too. The current crop of runners is also very young. Over the season these kids only got hungrier to get better. It showed, as almost everyone had awesome new personal bests at the end of the season. The best that I bring to this team is experience. I’ve walked through their shoes and I know how it feels to be the underdog in a big race. I know the work and sacrifice that it takes to get to the top and I can help implement that throughout the seasons. I try to make sure I do everything I liked best about my coaches, and embody everything they said or did while I was a runner. I try to coach being the best person I can be, and bring the most passion I can to the sport. This sport has grown at St. Andrews a lot. The reason for that is simple, it’s Gilbert! He has a way of making the team into such a positive experience, and has become irreplaceable. He has a way of bringing people together and creating an amazing positive community, it truly is a joy to be able to run under him. Now it’s a privilege to coach next to him. He is an amazing role model and I still look up to him to this day. SAS
Gilbert Tuhabonye Named Austin Fit’s “Best Running Coach” Congratulations to our head cross-country and track coach, Gilbert Tuhabonye, who was recently named Austin Fit Magazine’s “Best Running Coach” of 2016. Congrats, Coach T! SAS
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WE ARE ATHLETES
Cruisin’ Out: Barrett Guttell ’17
I have had the opportunity to be coached by many coaches not only in volleyball at St.Andrew’s but also soccer and track. This also provided me the chance to compete with and next to so many amazing teammates. I could not be where I am today without my teammates. I have met some of my best friends through sports at St. Andrew’s. These girls were my role models and showed me how I should carry myself as a good teammate both on and off the field.
Senior volleyball player, Barrett Guttell ’17, signed her National Letter of Intent (NLI) in November in a chapel service, joined by friends, family, and coaches. She thus confirms her intention to attend and play for the University of Mississippi next fall. My favorite St. Andrew’s volleyball memory would be the St. Stephen’s Varsity SPC volleyball game my freshman year. St. Stephen’s was known as the SPC volleyball powerhouse. We knew we were not favored to win, but we planned to just try our best. We won 32–30 in overtime, and our student section stormed the court. It was amazing. That night showed me as a young freshman the tight bond of the SAS community and support they give to the athletics. People still talk about that volleyball game to this day. I love it. A huge obstacle I have had to overcome during my volleyball career, so far, is my confidence. Sometimes I’ll be in “funks” were I do not play very well. I have grown to learn that this is just part of sports. You cannot be 100% all the time, although we try to be, it is not possible.
Life as a student-athlete at St. Andrew’s is extremely rewarding. I think everyone should experience being a studentathlete at St. Andrew’s because you really feel the sense of family from the school but also from the SAS community and their support for the athletics. I am preparing for volleyball at Ole Miss with finishing my senior school volleyball season strong, and then moving into a competitive club season that enables me to play with and against the best girls in the country. I am training as much as I can outside of school and keeping my body healthy, whether it be in the weight room or physical therapy. I am staying on my academics and continuing to create good habits for both on and off the court in college. I want to thank my teammates and coaches for always believing in me by pushing myself farther than I thought I could go. Thank you for supporting me in sports and the classroom to become a better person. I hope that I can give back to the school someday because they have done so much for me and my family. I am really going to miss SAS next year and my teammates and coaches. I cannot wait to come back and visit and hear about all the exciting news. Thank you for an amazing 12 years! SAS St. Andrew’s Episcopal School • www.sasaustin.org • 12
WE ARE ATHLETES
Lower School and Middle School Volleyball Teams Celebrate Undefeated Seasons The 5/6 and 7/8 6A Volleyball teams achieved undefeated seasons and finished in first place under the guidance of Coach Nichole Adams this year. In addition, the 5/6 2A team finished their 10–0 season as league and tournament champs with Coach Betsy Ross. The 7/8 4A team was also undefeated and came in second in their championship match. Congratulations to our athletes, and Go Cru! SAS
The 5/6 2A team (pictured above). The 5/6 and 7/8 6A teams (pictured left).
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WE WEARE ARESCHOLARS ATHLETES
Fall SPC Awards Announced The 2016 Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) announced its winners of the Fall 2016 post-season awards in November.
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Football
Volleyball
ALL-CONFERENCE (Achieved by placing in the top 20 of each race) Ethan Huie ’19 (20th place) Carson Kurad ’19 (19th place) Austin Modoff ’17 (14th place) Helen Murphy ’18 (12th place)
ALL-ZONE Hannah Bray ’19 Coaty Ostendorf ’18
ALL-ZONE Ben Ledet ’20 Sean Fresch ’20
ALL-ZONE Barrett Guttell ’17
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE Morgan Nascone ’19 Mary Oden ’19
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE Dylan Bryant ’18 Cason Doyle ’18
ALL-CONFERENCE Coaty Ostendorf ’18
ALL-CONFERENCE Alex Briggs ’18 Thompson Renner ’19
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-CONFERENCE Hana Arriaga ’17 Kyla Thompson’20 ALL-CONFERENCE Barrett Guttell ’17 Annie Temple ’17
Sterling Wilson Award— Hana Arriaga ’17 Senior volleyball player Hana Arriaga received the Sterling Wilson Award, named in honor of Sterling Wilson, father of Grant and Trent, graduates in the class of 2009. It is given to that athlete that best exemplifies the qualities of Sterling, who was passionate, fiery, and committed, both as an athlete and also as a fan and supporter of the program. Pictured (left to right) is Sterling’s brother Steve Wilson, Hana, and her father Orlando Arriaga. SAS
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WE ARE SERVANTS
Carter Work Project By Taylor Thompson ’17 Meeting new people. New people from across the world. Volunteers. Executives. Contractors. Homeowners. All with their own talents. All with their own reason to be in Memphis. All with their own unique story. To have the opportunity to tell my story and hear their stories was a blessing. Storytelling that led to new friendships. Friendships that can last a lifetime. That was my favorite part of my trip to Memphis. Meeting new people. Sharing stories. Creating friendships. Changing the world, one nail at a time. What struck me most about President and Mrs. Carter was not what they said, but what they did. At ninety-two and eighty-nine they were the ones setting the pace. They were the ones to keep up with. They were the ones keeping us on track. They would not stop. Even when the heat index was above one hundred degrees, they would not stop. When the rain was coming
“An experience that has changed my life forever.” down, they would not stop. We joked on site throughout the week, “When is break time over?” The response was always, “When the Carters say it is.” I think this perfectly encapsulates their work ethic. They were always working. Always hammering the next nail, drilling the next the screw. To see a man and a woman who once occupied the most powerful house in the world displaying
President and Mrs. Carter joined hundreds of volunteers like Taylor Thompson ’17 in Memphis, Tennessee, to kick off a week of building and repairing homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity.
the purest form of servant leadership had a profound impact on me. President and Mrs. Carter were not the only stars working on my father and my house. We also had the opportunity to build with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. At one point during the week, the Carters, Garth, and Trisha all took a picture together. President Carter commented, “Wow! It’s really cool to take a picture with famous people.” This modesty. This humbleness. This comment. This man. A man who led a country, inspires many, and changes the lives of thousands of homeowners around the world. A man who doesn’t realize his own fame. This is the man I had the pleasure of building side-by-side with for a week in Memphis, Tennessee. What a pleasure. What an honor. What an experience. An experience that has changed my life forever. SAS
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Taylor Thompson ’17 was named the Association of Fundraising Professional’s 2017 “Outstanding Philanthropic Youth.” He will be honored at their Philanthropy Day awards luncheon in February. Congrats Taylor, Go Cru!
WE ARE SERVANTS
“By giving these students the push towards a higher education we are providing them with the tools they need to build a great future for themselves.”
Breakthrough By Liam Santa Cruz ’19 When I heard about the purpose and mission of Breakthrough Austin, I knew I had to be a part of it. I love the idea of informing and eventually guiding less fortunate students to attend a form of higher education, especially since these kids will be the first in their family to do so.
be with their friends and partake in a familiar sport, because of this I got to see a more fun side of them.
Working with, and getting to know the students is, hands down, my favorite part of the mentoring experience at Breakthrough. I really enjoy being able to see how their creative process evolves throughout certain activities. For example, on the first Saturday, we worked on an activity which involved directing a blindfolded group member to build a tower using materials like newspaper and plastic cups. I also like to be able to eat lunch and play sports with the students. Since lunch and “Breakthrough Gets Fit” are more casual settings, the students get to
I believe that supporting programs like Breakthrough is very important for St. Andrew’s and the community because of the message it’s providing for the next generation. Breakthrough “breaks” the trend of not attending college in lower income families. We live in a world where having a college education is a fundamental and hugely influential part of getting a job and creating a career for yourself. By giving these students the push towards a higher education we are providing them with the tools they need to build a great future for themselves. SAS
Participating in Breakthrough makes me feel like I am making a difference. Even if it’s for that one kid who remembers these Saturdays years from now.
“Working with, and getting to know the students is, hands down, my favorite part of the mentoring experience at Breakthrough.”
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WE ARE SERVANTS
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WE ARE SERVANTS
St. Andrew’s Day Community Service On St. Andrew’s Day, Lower School students returned to campus to collaborate with Middle Schoolers on letters and artwork for local charities. The second and sixth grades paired up to write holiday letters to soldiers and veterans through the A Million Thanks program. Third and seventh grades teamed up, as well as fourth and eighth grades, to make holiday notes and crafts to include in meals delivered by Meals on Wheels. Middle School Student Services Coordinator Annie Sykes remarked, “It was fun! The kids seemed to enjoy being helping hands in the community and spending some time together.” Upper School students organized and loaded food items into a large truck for El Buen Samaritano’s “Hands for Hope” project. St. Andrew’s continues to uphold this tradition of providing over 1,000 local families a Thanksgiving meal. Click here for more photos. SAS St. Andrew’s Episcopal School • www.sasaustin.org • 18
JUNIOR EXPERIENCE
Global Education One of the most exciting programs at St. Andrew’s Upper School is the Global Education (i.e., “Junior Experience”) graduation requirement. When the Upper School was founded, the visionary faculty set out to make sure that our graduates would “become citizens of the world.” Since then, the Junior Experience has transformed our students as they apply their learning firsthand, develop global perspectives, and experience new languages and cultures.
Spain By Carolyn Christian ’18 I plan on studying languages and working abroad in college, so I thought the Spain trip would help me get a glimpse of what it’s like to be immersed in another culture. The Spain trip helped confirm my plan. It’s one thing to study a language in school, but to be immersed in the culture and apply yourself gives you another insight. Granada is a small city, but I was surprised how fast I was able to navigate it. We walked everywhere, often being led up the mountain to the neighboring area of the Alhambra and finding our own way back down. I was also impressed by how quickly everyone adjusted to the native speakers. The first few days were difficult to communicate with our host families, but by the end of the week we were having in-depth conversations with them.
The Spain trip helped confirm my plan.
One of my favorite activities was the Flamenco lessons in a neighborhood in the mountains called Sacramonte that had traditional cave homes. After the class, we ate typical Spanish tapas at the restaurant and watched a fiery show with professional Flamenco dancers. It was a great way to experience authentic Spanish culture. This trip is best suited for students who are adaptable. Once you meet your host family, it’s three weeks of trying new food, customs, and speaking only Spanish. Open-mindedness is a necessary trait to have on the trip. SAS
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JUNIOR EXPERIENCE
Tanzania By Nina Molanphy ’17 It is easy for me as a St. Andrew’s “lifer” to forget there is more than just the world of St. Andrews, that there are other kinds of hardships, beliefs, stories and cultures in this world. I lost my father at the age of nine and I began to believe no one had it worse than me. I wanted to be reminded that that was not the truth. I wanted to be reminded of the many, many blessings in my life. I was surprised by how easy it was for me to adjust to living in a tent without electricity, WiFi, and running water. I was surprised by how difficult it was for me to deal with the language barrier. I am an extrovert and not being able to make conversation as easily really challenged me. My favorite activity was the water walk we did with the “mamas” (the mothers in charge of all functions of the home and children.) My head hurt from balancing the water jug on my head, but I also learned about the mamas hopes and dreams. That opened my eyes to the incredible strength these mamas have both physically and emotionally.
This trip reassured me that whatever I do with my life I want it to be for more than just myself.
This trip reassured me that whatever I do with my life I want it to be for more than just myself. I want to do something that I love while also giving back to others less fortunate. I would like to make a difference no matter the size. This trip is best suited for students who are willing to look beyond themselves, who care to make a real difference and take seriously the hardships of others. SAS
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JUNIOR EXPERIENCE
Tanzania By Isaac Segura ’17 One of the most difficult things I had to adjust to was the culture. When we went to the market we were given the task to buy food for the week with the equivalent of ten U.S. dollars, which is the average weekly income for a family there. We had to speak in Swahili and buy food after only learning basic words. People definitely made fun of us and gave us nasty looks. My favorite moment and my highlight of the trip was the closing ceremony at the school. It was the last time we had to spend time with the school children and we had a huge ceremony that included dancing, singing, and a friendly match of soccer between us and the school children. In their tradition a member from their community has to give a speech, and in return someone from our group was going to have to give a speech as well. No one in our group knew this, and Mr. Fulton and Ms. Kroncke looked at each other wondering who was going to speak. I stood up and said “I’ll speak” and I went up in front of all the children, teachers, and the local government and gave a speech. This definitely was the highlight of my time in Tanzania and a moment I will never forget. In the future I plan to study hospital administration when I go off to college. Due to this trip I have received the opportunity to travel to Kenya on a medical mission to see how healthcare works in Kenya and neighboring countries. I plan on going back to Africa on this medical mission and furthering my education about worldwide healthcare and hopefully I get to help a few people along the way. SAS
I stood up and said “I’ll speak” and I went up in front of all the children, teachers, and the local government and gave a speech.
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JUNIOR EXPERIENCE
France By Madison Leyens ’18 The rich depth of culture and the legacy left on these places by hundreds of years of human development humbled my sense of individualism. This trip also allowed me to step outside of myself and into our created world in new ways. By choosing an intensive art trip, I knew that I would have three weeks to devote myself to my art and improve my skills. This opportunity to focus without distraction gave way to tremendous growth in my work. I took risks by implementing new mediums and styles. I was also amazed to see the growth in my peers—it was particularly fun to see how people changed and improved throughout the trip.
In the future, I believe that I will have more doors open to me because St. Andrew’s taught me how to look for them. My favorite parts of the trip were eating local food from the farmer’s markets; having a little bit of introvert time at the beach in Sete by sitting on a rock in the ocean and painting for hours (as well as playing with the colorful pebbles!); reflecting on my thoughts in the incredible churches; seeing a real medieval city in Vannes; and the Rodin sculpture museum in Paris, although physically, I felt horrible this day—proof of the power of attitude. This trip is best suited for students who are self-motivated and not afraid to create art even if they have never tried it before or feel uncomfortable with it in the beginning. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who is willing to push themselves to focus and create. I am so grateful that this school allows and encourages me to try new things and embrace new experiences. In the future, I believe that I will have more doors open to me because St. Andrew’s taught me how to look for them. SAS
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JUNIOR EXPERIENCE
France By Alejandro Esquivel ’17 I thought this trip would be a perfect experience for me to try out new art skills in a place that I think is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I wanted to get better at drawing the human form during the trip, but it was pretty difficult. I did improve though. My favorite activity was jumping across the Boulders of Chaos in Pont Aven. The rocks were beautiful, and I enjoyed drawing them after our group finished hopping from one boulder to
…I now really want to take my future family to some of the places that I enjoyed most during the trip. another, trying to fall into the water. One student did slip into the water which was pretty funny.
Junior Experience 2017 Next year Junior Experience is heading to: Argentina Italy Madagascar Montana New Mexico Taiwan
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This trip definitely influenced my goals for the future, because I now really want to take my future family to some of the places that I enjoyed most during the trip. This trip is best suited for students who are passionate. You don’t have to be an artist or a traveler to enjoy this trip, you just have to want to draw and appreciate the surroundings. SAS
JUNIOR EXPERIENCE
Alaska Mackenzie Harrison ’16 Mackenzie overheard “one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Wright, talking about the trip with other students. It sounded exciting going camping and kayaking in Alaska.” Though she started out “unsure and homesick,” by the end of the 12 days she felt “at home.” “Initially I thought ‘I’m going to be a weak link’,” during the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) expedition. NOLS trips can be physically demanding, and when Mackenzie embarked on her first long paddle day—12 nautical miles—she initially felt motion sickness and had to switch paddling partners. “Then Mr. Wright started encouraging me, and with one mile left When we were done he said ‘Let’s take it up a notch’ and we actually passed other boats. They were cheering us on I felt physically confident with encouraging words. When we were done I felt physically confident and mentally tougher. From and mentally tougher. that day on I never stopped paddling.” Mackenzie’s tenacious spirit was inspirational to her classmates. During their sharing time, a classmate acknowledged Mackenzie saying “I’m thankful Mackenzie never stopped paddling.” Mackenzie kept a journal as part of her NOLS experience; three things she learned about herself were, “I judge others too quickly, I need to put myself in their shoes. I also have a need to please and it can be hard to say ‘No’ to people.” She laughs, adding “I’m also a neat freak so I should probably warn my roommate about that!” At the end of the NOLS trip, Mackenzie “felt stronger, and that I had made a positive impact on my group.” When thinking of other students considering these trips, she says, “I’d tell them ‘don’t doubt yourself and go with an open mind.’” Mackenzie wants to do another NOLS trip that focuses on education. It’s the area she’s most interested in exploring as a student at the University of Denver. SAS
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age A popular documentary was shown at St. Andrew’s this year to continue the dialogue about digital screen time in the lives of kids and adults. Scott Zimmerman, SEL Director, and Brearley Khan, LS/MS Counselor, arranged to show “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” to Middle School students, and Middle and Upper School parents in separate sessions. While many students had a negative reaction to the movie, “because they felt it was biased and gave such extreme examples,” the parent reaction was “overwhelmingly positive in the sense that parents felt validated about their concerns,” according to Scott. Over 100 parents attended the screening at the Upper School Dell Fine Arts Center. After the screening, parents attended discussion sessions with Scott and Brearley to further investigate problems and solutions. Parents were given an example of a digital contract similar to the one the documentary director had her own daughter sign. Scott notes, “This movie changed my and my wife’s perspective on our standards for our kids too. I think it’s ok as a parent to say to your kids ‘We need to change some things and talk about how you navigate the online world.’ We need to set healthy boundaries, and a digital contract can help with that.” But a digital contract is only part of the solution. Scott says, “I can’t encourage enough parents to watch this film. It helps them understand the wide array of issues, and thus helps them better understand the position their kids are in.” As a parent, Scott adds, “We don’t talk about this enough, we rely too much on our kids to tell us what’s going on. This area is changing so rapidly it’s hard to stay in the loop, but parents can help each other.” Ultimately, in Scott’s view, “moderation is key. Screens can be a part of students’ education, but we need to encourage free play and social engagement with others. From a social-emotional perspective, smartphones can be used as an avoidance mechanism for kids. They need to learn how to handle social situations.” Scott adds, “I think a big takeaway for parents was that it’s ok to set boundaries, and that this is an ongoing discussion that we as a community need to talk about more. If we can afford to purchase the screening rights again, I would love to offer this to parents again.” If you would like more information on “Screenagers” or a related topic, contact Scott Zimmerman or Brearley Khan. SAS
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Ella Hall ’23 (far right), at Mo Ranch with classmates (right to left): Kate Fason, Madison Mathews, Mark Greenberg, Finn Grogono, John Huston, Marshall Harrell, Annie Zimmerman (upper left) and Camden Werner.
Mo Ranch: An “Electronic-Free Outdoor Extravaganza” The annual overnight camping trip to Mo Ranch for sixth-graders is an electronic-free time to bond with classmates and teachers while learning teamwork and other social-emotional skills. Ella Hall ’23 shared her thoughts on the trip with us. Ella says, “I was excited to try something new and bond with some other people. I had been camping and backpacking many times with my family and Girl Scout troop. This camping experience was more fun than any others because there were a lot of people around me; and there were no bugs that crawled into my sleeping bag or shoes.” “I got to know many of my classmates better because of the high elements; while someone was hanging in the air, I would shout words of encouragement and they would reply. I got to know about other people’s fears and feelings about the challenges that they were about to face, like the Big Gulp zip line.”
“During this trip I learned that I am happiest when I am encouraging people with others around me doing the same. I’ve always been a social person, however I also learned that I enjoy quiet spaces.” Once the trip was over, Ella realized, “I felt like I knew a different side of everybody that I have ever known. St. Andrew’s should definitely continue to offer this trip, it brings the whole grade together and exposes us to an electronic-free, outdoor extravaganza! All in all, this trip was a great escape from school while learning things without knowing that you are!” Thank you SAS 6th Grade Teacher, Pam Harmon, for sharing your photos! SAS
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WE ARE SCHOLARS EPISCOPAL IDENTITY
Rev. Whitney Kirby, Upper School Chaplain As a student at UT, Whitney Kirby remembers hearing about “the great reputation of St. Andrew’s,” so years later when the Upper School chaplain position became available she was immediately interested. Chaplaincy was always something she had considered, in her words, “if it was the right place. I think it’s important that the chaplain be an essential part of the community, not someone who is only seen or heard in chapel.”
Jesus Loves You While still in her first few months as chaplain, Whitney was heartened to see her messages getting through to students when she spotted a student sign. She explains, “The cheerleaders had made a sign for cross country, it said ‘Good work team. Jesus loves you.’ That’s part of what I say every day at the end of chapel, and I was so excited to see that students took it to heart.” At the end of every chapel service, Whitney says: Good talk team. Make good choices. Jesus loves you. See you out there. She explains the nuances of these phrases, “I use the word ‘team’ because everyone in that room needs everyone else to get through each day. We are in it together. I refer to ‘Jesus’ because I want to remind them that God knows them and loves them wherever they are in their lives. And the last phrase ‘out there’ is to encourage everyone to go do the work we talk about.”
Scripture, Tradition, Reason The Episcopalian foundation is based on scripture, tradition, and reason. “This means CHAPEL HOURS & PRAYER REQUESTS All are welcome to join us in holy worship daily at both campuses. Contact our chaplains for service times, as well as prayer requests or other spiritual needs.
An Embarrassment of Riches
LS/MS Chaplain— Ashley Brandon US Chaplain— Rev. Whitney Kirby
we are asked to engage with an important text, include it in our rhythm of life, and use
During her application process, Whitney realized
our minds to understand. These are things
she had found a special place that fulfilled her
students already do in a school setting, they are
goal, “When I gave a homily to the Upper School,
already in a place that asks them questions and
I remember standing there wanting to belong
pushes them to seek new ones. The hallmark
to the community before me.” She adds, “As
of an Episcopal identity is the encouragement
a priest, I love leading worship, teaching, and
to ask questions.” Whitney realizes, “For some
providing pastoral care, and this role would
people I might be the only religious professional
enable me to do all of that every day. Now that
they know, which is a blessing but also a big
I’m here, it really is an embarrassment of riches.
responsibility. My job is to be honest and
I can be engaged in chapel, classes, meetings,
sincere, to be a servant and witness to people—
even athletic games. I feel so blessed to be here.”
‘witness’ in the sense of being human. I share
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my foibles, and I keep a sense of humor.”
EPISCOPAL WE ARE SCHOLARS IDENTITY
Exploring Faith Traditions The first week of October, both the Lower and Upper Schools celebrated the feast day of St. Francis with the school’s annual tradition, the “Blessing of the Pets.” At the Lower School, students brought their animal friends to the chapel garden to be blessed by LS & MS Chaplain Ashley Brandon. We had dogs, cats, even a pig received a blessing! The Rev. Whitney Kirby performed the blessings in chapel at the Upper School, attended by mostly faculty pets. A more recent tradition, the Third Annual “Sweetness in the Stacks” included apple slices and a shofar (ram’s horn) in the
Religious Studies This fall, Whitney taught “Old Testament” and “Lived Religion”, and in the spring she will teach “Sin and Redemption” which she describes as “the study of relationships of people or groups of people with God.” Whitney is particularly excited to teach a new class she proposed and got approved for next year, “It’s called ‘The City on the Hill: Why Jerusalem Matters to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.’ This is yet another example of how wonderful it is to be supported when new ideas are offered.” If you’re on the Upper School campus, be sure to swing by the chapel to say hello to Whitney and her pet dog Boo Radley! Whitney laughs, saying, “Boo is my ‘in’ with some students!” Her door is always open to the St. Andrew’s community. SAS
Rollins Library while students learned about the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah. On October 27, Rabbi Amy Cohen of Temple Beth Shalom visited Lower and Middle School chapel services to explain the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah and give students an up close look at a Torah. She recited a verse from the Torah in Hebrew too: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Watch the clip on our Facebook page. The “Religion, Art, and Technology” class at the Upper School recently discussed how phone apps, websites, and the internet in general are shaping religious practices. For this discussion they focused on the Buddhist and Jewish religions. Teacher Grace Ortman posed the question, “How is technology changing the experience of being religious?” Students discussed their research findings, which included live-stream meditation sites, guided meditation in virtual reality, apps to find Kosher restaurants, and faith-based social networking sites. Students debated the merits of these tools in the context of religious tenets. Their final projects—in a
“My job is to be honest and sincere, to be a servant and witness to people— ‘witness’ in the sense of being human.”
medium of their choice—are available to view here. SAS
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OUR TRADITIONS
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OUR TRADITIONS
Homecoming St. Andrew’s Homecoming on Friday, September 16 was filled with “firsts.” It was the first all-school event with the new kindergarten class in attendance. Kindergartners joined first-graders and seniors on the field for the St. Andrew’s Spirit Tunnel to welcome their Crusader football team to the field. For the first time, St. Andrew’s also hosted an official pre-game alumni reception. St. Andrew’s Varsity Football faced their first contest against Casady School, with Head Coach Taylor Stewart remarking prior to the contest, “This match-up is one of the more intriguing [games] we will have under the new Southwest Preparatory Conference football alignment, as Casady represents the sole remaining member in the state of Oklahoma. I am honored for us to host this excellent school and program while looking forward to cultivating our own Red River Rivalry of sorts in the coming years.” Thank you to faculty photographers for snapping photos, and to SAS alumna Sarah Wilson ’92 for serving as our professional photographer of the evening. Click here for more photos. SAS
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WE ARE OUR TRADITIONS SCHOLARS
St. Andrew’s Day Celebrating our patron saint, dedicated faculty and volunteers on St. Andrew’s Day is a feat that would likely impress Saint Andrew himself. In the first few hours of the morning, the entire K–12 student body, faculty, parents, and friends joined together for an all-school chapel service to honor those who have shaped St. Andrew’s for the better. Click here for more photos.
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OUR TRADITIONS
SAGE Dining Services did not disappoint: They provided a proper feast that included 800 pounds of brisket, 350 pounds of sausage, 100 pounds of coleslaw, 130 pounds of macaroni-and-cheese, 1,800 rolls and 3,000 cookies. SAS
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OUR TRADITIONS
St. Andrew’s Day Honorees “These exceptional individuals are an inspiring testament to the St. Andrew’s community.” Sean Murphy, Head of School
Charles Alan Wright Excellence Award Margie Cowden
Outstanding Teacher Awards Upper School History Teacher Gustavo Garza
Jeannine & John C. Miller Volunteer Service Award Mary Ann Frishman ’79
Lucy C. Nazro Faculty Service Award US Biology Teacher and Sustainability Coordinator Dina Tucker
St. Andrew’s honored four faculty/staff members for their 15 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL: Lower School Percussion Teacher Darrel Mayers, Middle School Latin Teacher Greg Mele, Upper School Art History Teacher Marsha Russell, and Facilities Manager Marvin Shelton. St. Andrew’s also acknowledged choral director Michael Rosensteel for his nine years of service as he departs for a new opportunity.
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Outstanding Teacher Awards Lower School Music Teacher Lucy Bourland
Nine years service Choral Director Michael Rosensteel
OUR TRADITIONS
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
Lessons & Carols
THE FESTIVAL OF
Lessons & Carols Friday, December 16, 2016
Our all-school Lessons & Carols showcased the many talents of all our student artists in choir, orchestra, and band. We joined together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and to wish everyone a happy holiday season before break. Click here to view photos. For the first time, we live streamed Lessons & Carols via our Facebook page here! Over 150 people tuned in! Visit our page to see the full video, and a clip of our Kindergarten class singing “Little Lamb.” SAS
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WE ARE OUR TRADITIONS SCHOLARS
2017
ST. ANDREW’S
Grandparents & Grandfriends Day This Grandparents’ Day, almost 800 grandparents and grandfriends joined their Crusader students on both campuses to see firsthand the benefits of an enriched SAS education. Click here to see photos and videos in our Grandparents’ Day gallery. Participating in the Grandparents’ Club at St. Andrew’s is one way to help sustain a quality education for our students. Join with more than 260 grandparents who have given this year by making a gift or pledge at sasaustin.org/SAF.
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OUR TRADITIONS
WE YOU!
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DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Class of 2029 Rejoices at Kindergarten Dedication Ceremony Rosemary branches blessed with holy water were joyfully waved in the air by kindergartners as they processed through their new building—Eleanor Hall—during St. Andrew’s Kindergarten Dedication Ceremony on Thursday, November 3. Almost exactly a year since the groundbreaking, Eleanor Hall is finally ready to welcome 51 kindergartners and six teachers into its 5,000-square-foot learning space. Click here to view photos. The ceremony’s moments of reverence were complemented by the kindergartners giggles and smiles as they offered a prayer, a blessing, and a song in honor of their new home. The opening scripture offering by student Addison Sell ’24 affirmed them: “Jesus said ‘Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; for it is such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs’” (Matthew 19:13–15).
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Kama Bruce, Head of Lower School, remarked on the gift of the kindergarten’s presence in the St. Andrew’s community. Quoting author Robert Fulghum’s book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Kama told the kindergartners, “You may never have proof of your importance, but you are more important than you think. There are always those who
DEVELOPMENT NEWS
couldn’t do without you. The rub is that you don’t always know who.” Head of School Sean Murphy was happy to note, “Establishing this kindergarten program makes St. Andrew’s the only K–12 Episcopal school in Central Texas, and one of only 19 in the nation. We can now offer 13 years of a St. Andrew’s education, which is very exciting for future generations of St. Andrew’s students.” While celebrating the bright future of the kindergarteners and classes yet to come, Sean acknowledged the efforts of many others that led to this historic occasion, including a special St. Andrew’s family. Alumna Bremond MacDougall ’84—whose grandmother Eleanor helped found St. Andrew’s in 1952, and whose mother Eleanor was in the first graduating class of 1958— provided the lead gift to the kindergarten building with her husband and fellow alumnus Michael MacDougall ’84.
Sean addressed Bremond, “We are so honored that this building is named after your mother. I hope she would be proud of the work we plan to do. As you said in your remarks at our groundbreaking, how lucky are our first kindergarten students who get to be here from the very beginning, just as Eleanor was. I hope you will come visit Eleanor Hall often, Bremond, to watch these young students learn and grow in this beautiful space.”
“I hope you will come visit Eleanor Hall often, Bremond, to watch these young students learn and grow in this beautiful space.” Sean Murphy, Head of School
The kindergartners embraced their chance to perform John Denver’s “Garden Song” accompanied by faculty musicians and the Upper School’s Select Choir vocalists. The kindergartners gleefully sang and
“You may never have proof of your importance, but you are more important than you think.” Kama Bruce, Head of Lower School
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WE ARE SCHOLARS DEVELOPMENT NEWS
pantomimed the lyrics, “Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow.” They turned the stage over to the adults for the final ribbon cutting, officially marking the opening of Eleanor Hall to the community. The handprints of the kindergartners and their teachers are eternally etched in the paved walkway leading to Eleanor Hall; the written hopes and dreams of other St. Andrew’s students offered to the kindergarten are forever buried in the entryway. As the Class of 2029 prepares to move into this state-ofthe-art space, it is the legacy of a joyful education and the support of an entire St. Andrew’s community that will sustain them and future classes for generations to come. SAS
About St. Andrew’s Eleanor Hall Eleanor Hall was formerly the site of the Daughters of Charity convent. The Daughters of Charity sold their property to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in 2014. At the time, the school’s newest strategic plan called for the formation of a kindergarten program. The acquisition of the property solidified the School’s plans to move forward. Designed by STANTEC architects and built by American Constructors, Inc., this $2.8M building includes a soundproof music room, makerspace with a teaching kitchen, reading lofts, an outdoor education garden and a number of environmentally friendly and energy efficient features, including a rainwater collection system and a lighting system with daylight sensors. Eleanor Hall was conceived, built, and funded thanks to the efforts and generosity of St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees; Kindergarten Task Force Trustees David Grimm, Jeff Howard, Gerry Speitel, and Anne Smalling; St. Andrew’s Kindergarten Campaign Committee Yvette and Jason Wesbecher, Randy Erben, Margie Gaudin, Taylor Bowles, Niffer and Mark Greenberg, and Anna and Jason Near; and 113 donor families. SAS
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DEVELOPMENT WE ARE SCHOLARS NEWS
Laughter And Joy Abound On New Playscape Kindergarteners and first graders joined parents and faculty to sing, pray, and watch the special rosemary branch blessing unfold at our Playscape Dedication Ceremony on Thursday, January 12. Click here to see photos and video clips. There will be no shortage of discovery with features like monkey bars, slides, a xylophone and steel drum, a dinosaur fossil dig area, sand scoops, and a topsy turny spinner. Head of Lower School Kama Bruce remarked to students, “Now it is up to you, the children of this community, to bless this space with the sounds of your joyful play, to populate it with friendships, to create imagined worlds together and most of all to play for the sake of play.” St. Andrew’s thanks especially, in the words of Kama Bruce, “Our donors, for their clarity of mind, belief in this vision, and a deep understanding of what play means to children.” Even our students wrote thank you cards in appreciation of our donors! SAS
Thank You to St. Andrew’s Playscape Donors The Sheth Family Carol and Jon Gormin Huyen Cao and Shane Hayes Yvette and Jonathan Boatwright Andrew and Leslie Morgan Lynne Jamshed and Alex Chang Anna and Jason Near Ceecy and George Robinson Julie and Patrick Willis Jen and Richard Nield
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DEVELOPMENT NEWS
A Round of Applause! St. Andrew’s Fund parent participation is at 85%—higher than it’s been in more than 15 years, all thanks to our parent volunteers. High participation helps us secure additional funding, and shows strong support for St. Andrew’s and our mission. Please join us in giving our 2016–17 Chairs and Ambassadors a round of applause!
Ben Bentzin
Stacy & James Ehrlich
Laurel & Dudley Simmons
Susan & Peter Rauch
Shana & Brady Anderson
Upper School Chair
10th Grade Ambassadors
Kristen & John (’80) Nelson
9th Grade Ambassadors
Middle School Chairs
Sarah (’88) & Thomas Queen Lower School Chairs
Tami & Richard Scott
12th Grade Ambassadors
Mary Ann (’79) & Ben Frishman
11th Grade Ambassadors
Mary Korth
4th Grade Ambassadors 3rd Grade Ambassadors
Alison & Tres Frey
8th Grade Ambassador
2nd Grade Ambassadors
Shelby & Tom Goodrum
Cary (’98) & Brad Johl
7th Grade Ambassadors
Shelly & Brent Metschan 6th Grade Ambassadors
Karey & Chris Oddo
5th Grade Ambassadors
1st Grade Ambassadors
Laura & Todd Wallace
Kindergarten Ambassadors
Carol Nelson
Grandparents’ Club Chair
We’re 76% of the way to our $904,000 goal! Still need to make your Annual Gift? It’s easy online at http://sasaustin.org/SAF
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DEVELOPMENT NEWS
SaveThe Date
St. Andrew’s 2017 Spring Soirée in support of the Financial Aid Fund! Saturday, April 8th Lions Municipal Golf Course Cocktail Hour Music from St Andrew’s Rock Bands and a Live Concert (back by popular demand) from Suede!
* Lawn Games
* Delicious Food & Beverages
* Putting Challenges * Wine Pull
* Vespa Raffle
* Auction Fun & much more!
Purchase your tickets or sponsorships online here. We can’ t wait to celebrate our community and raise funds for this very special cause.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni Reception Homecoming Our first-ever alumni reception at Homecoming drew Cru alums from near and far! Alumna Anne Fish ’79 flew in from Jackson, Wyoming for the event, saying, “I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to re-connect.” Alumni of all ages reminisced with faculty over yearbooks, a slideshow, and a catered dinner made with ingredients from the St. Andrew’s garden. Click here for more photos. SAS
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Alumni Reunion: Classes of 2006, 2011 We had a blast catching up with familiar faces, and we look forward to hearing more exciting updates from our alumni of all ages. If you have an interesting project/milestone to share—or just a change in contact info—we’d love to hear from you! Contact alumni@sasaustin.org or visit our SAS Alumni webpage here. SAS
Dallas Alumni Missing a few alumni from this photo, but all had a great time catching up at dinner in Dallas at RJ Mexican Cuisine on November 14th! If you missed out, don’t worry, more Dallas events to come. SAS
ALUMNI, ARE YOU REPRESENTED IN THESE PAGES? If not, visit our Alumni page (www.sasaustin.org/alumni) to find out how you can submit your story, update your contact info, connect with other alumni, or represent your class as a Class Ambassador. SAS St. Andrew’s Episcopal School • www.sasaustin.org • 44
ALUMNI NEWS
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Alumni Holiday Party A wonderful time was had by all at this year’s annual Alumni Holiday Party! It was great to see so many alumni, faculty and former faculty in attendance for our best turnout to date. Select Choir gave a beautiful performance, singing Christmas carols and welcoming alumni to join them. A big thank you to the Covert family for hosting this special event! Click here to see our growing photo gallery from this event. If you have photos from the party you’d like to add to our gallery, click here to upload your favorites! SAS
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WE ARE SCHOLARS ALUMNI NEWS
Welcome SAS Alumni Relations Manager, Julia Driscoll As our new Alumni Relations Manager, Julia Driscoll hopes to meet as many alumni as she can, so if you’re on the Upper School campus be sure to stop by her office (1207) to say “Hi” and pick her brain on her fun facts below:
1. My favorite team to root for
(besides the Crusaders, of course!) is the Alabama Crimson Tide. Roll tide roll!
2. Traveling is my favorite hobby!
I’ve been to 14 countries over 5 continents. Favorite trips have included Tanzania on safari, Indonesia (where I lived for a year when I was 10 and have since
returned), Argentina (where I studied abroad in college) and trekking across Peru to get to Machu Picchu.
3. My favorite book of all time is “To
Kill a Mockingbird.” On my drive to Austin from Atlanta, I stopped in Monroeville, AL to see Harper Lee’s hometown, and the original courthouse that was replicated in Hollywood for the movie set.
4. I have a 10-year-old black lab rescue dog named Molly.
5. The strangest thing I have eaten is
“Cuy” or Guinea Pig, Peruvian style. It actually tastes like chicken! SAS
Christina Stull ’11 Christina Stull ’11 enrolled this fall as a member of the inaugural Dell Medical School class at the University of Texas. Read Christina’s account of how her love for science stemmed from her time at St. Andrew’s! “As a lifer, I was blessed to have been taught by many wonderful teachers in my 12 years at St. Andrews. Even through early teachers such as Mr. Robinson in middle school Life Sciences, I developed an early interest in science. Ms. Rasmussen, who taught me freshman Biology and AP Biology, further strengthened my desire to study biology. I also was thrilled to be able to take electives such as Anatomy and Physiology, Forensics, and especially Microbiology (taught by Ms. Tucker). I had so much fun doing my own research project on antimicrobial effects of spices in Microbiology that I ended up concentrating in Microbiology and minoring in Food Science at Cornell. In fact, I learned so much about techniques that I was able to do well in my Food Microbiology lab and even impressed my lab professor who strongly urged me to TA a General Microbiology Lab course.
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It wasn’t just science teachers who helped me apply myself. Ms. Martens encouraged my creative writing and I ended up developing it further in college. l, and my art teachers (from Ms. Melear in lower school to Mr. Brooks in middle school and Mr. McCoy and Ms. Reed in high school) kept my interests well rounded and gave me a creative outlet amidst the science. It’s quite difficult to not name every teacher I had, because so many of my teachers left a positive impact on me and helped me reach the point where I am at today. I used the knowledge I gained from my time with Father Leacock’s wife, Dr. Leacock at UT to help me ace my difficult genetics course at Cornell. Overall, I entered my time at Cornell with strong foundations from all my teachers at St. Andrew’s which helped me tackle not only my major but two minors and even graduate early. I was honored to be able to substitute teach there during my gap year while I applied to medical school and talk with my past teachers and friends throughout the process. I am overjoyed to be continuing my education in Austin, the community I hope to continue to serve throughout my life.” SAS
WE ARE ALUMNI SCHOLARS NEWS
Emily Bury ’12 An update from Emily Bury ’12: “I recently graduated in May of 2016 from Vanderbilt University with a major in Civil Engineering and a minor in Engineering Managment. I recently started working in DC as an Engineer for Clark Construction Group renovating the Cannon House Office Building.” SAS
Isabelle Kerr ’13 This month, Lower School students visited Isabelle Kerr ’13 on the UT soccer field decked out in their UT gear. Isabelle has played on the UT soccer team since her freshman year. SAS
Greg Hutton ’07 Greg Hutton ’07 stopped by campus and caught up with two of his SAS Advisors, Malia Aycock and Jennie Luongo! Greg is currently living in Denver and working for the Nuggets as a Membership Services Executive. SAS
Callie Speer ’02 and Jack Wilson ’02—Nominated “Best of Austin” 2016! Two members of the Cornerstone Class at SAS are up for The Austin Chronicle’s “Best of Austin” 2016 awards: Callie (Whigham) Speer ’02 for Best Pastry Chef and Jack Wilson ’02 for Best Coffee Shop-Radio Coffee & Beer. Additionally, Callie has been working on a new project! Some of the details are still under wraps, but check out her new punk rock diner Bombshell coming soon! SAS
Nicole Falkenberg ’08 Don Wilcox and Nicole Falkenberg ’08, both of Fox Searchlight Pictures, were married on January 14 at the Wynn in Las Vegas. The pair will honeymoon in Punta Mita this summer. Don works in international marketing and distribution and Nicole in publicity. SAS
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WE ARE SCHOLARS ALUMNI NEWS
Julia Josowitz ’14
Kelly Wynne Ferguson ’05
Alumna Julia Josowitz ’14 was awarded a summer fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. The Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)-CURE Summer Undergraduate Research program selects 40 undergraduates from around the world and pairs them with mentors at MD Anderson for 10 weeks of employment in a cutting-edge research lab. This past summer, Julia worked in the lab of Dr. Patrick Hwu, an expert in immunology who heads the Cancer Medicine division at MD Anderson. Julia is a Biology major at Kenyon College in Ohio where she is also a member of the track team, competing in the pole vault. SAS
Congratulations to Kelly Wynne Ferguson ’05, who was named in “Austin’s CultureMap Top Texans under 30” list for her handbag line, Kelly Wynne Handbags, @shopkellywynne. SAS
Jenna Bush (MS ’96) & Nicole Falkenberg ’08 Alums Jenna Bush (Middle School ’96) and Nicole Falkenberg ’08 had a quick reunion on the Red Carpet at this year’s Golden Globe Awards! SAS
Claudia Covert ’16 and Maggie Miller ’13 Steven Garcia and Chad Fulton caught up with Claudia Covert ’16 and Maggie Miller ’13 at the USC vs. Alabama game in Dallas. SAS
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Jade Ross ’12
Catherine Osborn ’08
Jade Ross ’12 was back on campus yesterday giving a presentation to the US Latin classes on her archaeological dig in Sicyon, Greece. On the right, Jade is pictured with US Latin teachers Mrs. Luongo and Ms. Dill. SAS
Look who SAS athletic trainer Abby Elliott spotted on TV: Alumna Catherine Osborn ’08 snapping photos at the Rio Olympics track-and-field events! Catherine paused to catch up with her fellow Yale alum Kate Grace who ran in the final 800 meter race. SAS
Jase Burner ’09 Jase Burner ’09 stopped by the Lower School Campus today and caught up with Academic Dean Tim McGhee, his former MS history teacher and MS Head! Always great to have #crualumni on campus! SAS
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ALUMNI NEWS
Conor Keelan ’12 Conor Keelan ’12 has been working as a Production Assistant on the Broadway musical, A Bronx Tale. SAS
Photo Caption: Left to right, Mark Hoebee (recent Tony Award winner artistic director of Paper Mill), Ron Melrose (music supervisor), Alan Menken (composer), Conor Keelan ’12, Tommy Mottola (producer and ex-head of Sony Music).
IN MEMORIAM
Kay Hart Kay Hart, a member of the founding faculty and first Head of St. Andrew’s Middle School, passed away on August 28, 2016. A beloved teacher, mentor, and colleague, she served St. Andrew’s with passion and dedication for 20 years. The Kay Hart Service Award was created in her honor to recognize Middle School students who exemplified servant-leadership by dedicating themselves to many hours of volunteer service. Kay retired from St. Andrew’s in 2002 but her family continued to be a significant part of the life of St. Andrew’s: Her daughter Julia Hart taught at the Middle School for many years and her son Jody Hart taught at the Lower and Upper Schools. SAS
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IN MEMORIAM
Andrew Hunt ’11 Obituary excerpted from Dignity Memorial Second lieutenant Andrew Jefferson Hunt, United States Army, age 23, died on September 13, 2016, in Ft. Hood, Texas. Andrew was born on May 29, 1993, in San Antonio, Texas, to Franklin D. Hunt, Jr., and Donna M. Martin. He began his educational journey with kindergarten at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Austin, Texas. He then attended St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, also in Austin, beginning with first grade. While Andrew attended St. Andrew’s High School, he participated in track and field, football, and cross country. He also loved the fine arts and played cello in the strings program. Andrew loved listening to a variety of music genre, reading great literature, playing video games, and watching lots and lots of movies or “films”, as he called them. But most of all, Andrew loved heading out to the family ranch where he enjoyed hunting, tending livestock, and observing wildlife. He loved his cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and big belt buckles. Andrew graduated from St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in 2011. He then was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he actively served as a Color Guard member, finishing as the Cadet Color Captain during his senior year. Andrew graduated and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on May 23, 2015 with a B.S. in English. He went on to earn an Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. Read the complete obituary here: Andrew Hunt ’11. SAS
IN MEMORIAM
Harrison McClure ’13 The St. Andrew’s community is deeply saddened by the passing of Harrison McClure ’13 on August 22, 2016. Harrison graduated from St. Andrew’s Episcopal High School where he developed his love for film making and the Chinese culture and language. During his time at St. Andrew’s, he went twice to Beijing to study Chinese. At graduation Harrison received the Hilary Henneke Carson Award that honored him as the graduate who most exemplified exceptional personal growth and outstanding values. He went on to study filmmaking at Santa Fe University of Art and Design and had completed his junior year. A tribute to Harrison’s life may be found here: Harrison McClure ’13. SAS
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