2022 Winter Highlander by St. Andrew's Episcopal School

WINTER 2022

FULL STEAM AHEAD

FEATURES 4 5

Letter from Head of School

Remembering Our Friend and Teacher, Lauren Dill

26 UNDER THE SEA

SENIOR DIRECTORS

Melissa Grubb Named Head of School

Identity Work with DEIB

WE ARE SCHOLARS

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Fifth Grade Explores Service and Sustainability Full STEAM Ahead Turning Up the Heat in Math

WE ARE ARTISTS

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'The Little Mermaid' Stop, Collaborate and Listen Top Honors for Choir Students Take the Stage

40 FOOTBALL FEVER

WE ARE ATHLETES

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The Beginning of an Era

Chasing Success

Middle School Round Up

Coach Ray Wright Makes an Immediate Impact

WE ARE SERVANTS INAUGURAL DAY OF ENGAGEMENT

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St. Andrew's Day 2021

Third Grade Book Drive

Parent Association Spotlight

Ninth Grade's Day of Engagement

A SEMESTER IN PHOTOS

58 THIRD GRADE BOOK DRIVE

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Highlander Harvest Fest Homecoming 2021 Holiday Events

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni News

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear St. Andrew’s Families, This magazine celebrates the many academic, artistic, athletic, and servant-leadership accomplishments of our students during the first semester this year. It has been a special joy for me to witness, for the first time, the diverse array of our students' talents, interests, and skills that have delighted us on stage, made us cheer in the stands, and beam with pride during chapel announcements of accomplishments and recognitions. The celebrations that are such integral pieces of our school's culture and Administration Head of School, Melissa Grubb Assistant Head of School, Kama Bruce Head of Upper School, Ben Courchesne Head of Middle School, Alice Nezzer Head of Lower School, Katy Roybal Chair of Board of Trustees, Jason Near St. Andrew’s Lower and Middle School 1112 31st Street, Austin, TX 78705 St. Andrew’s Upper School 5901 Southwest Parkway, Austin, TX 78735 Mission Statement The mission of St. Andrew's Episcopal School is to provide an enriched academic program within a Christian environment emphasizing the fulfillment of each student's potential. Statement of Purpose St. Andrew’s seeks students of character and intelligence from diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The school strives to help young people achieve their potential not only in intellectual understanding but also in esthetic sensitivity, physical well-being, athletic prowess and moral decisiveness so that they may lead productive, responsible lives, not only for themselves, but also for their community. Diversity Statement of Purpose St. Andrew’s sees diversity as an integral element of community and education, and a vital facet of our mission, core values, and Episcopal identity. We believe that community diversity manifests in many 4

traditions are beautiful, meaningful, and serve to keep us centered on our identity as an Episcopal school committed to both mind and heart. I hope you enjoy these stories, photos, and the memories that shine on these pages. Happy New Year! Faithfully,

Melissa Grubb, Head of School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

ways, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, family composition, and physical ability. In our commitment to attracting, fostering, and celebrating all aspects of diversity, St. Andrew’s aims to create an intentional environment of equity and inclusion. We recognize that this work is constantly evolving as we address the changing needs of a diverse community and as we educate our students to engage with a diverse world. We believe that our strength and resilience as a community stem from our commitment to respect the dignity of every human being as a child of God. Core Values COMMUNITY — Based on trust, traditions, communication, appreciation, and support SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION — To develop moral behavior HIGH EXPECTATIONS — Reflected in both the knowledge base and behavior of the faculty, staff, students, parents, and board members CARING, CELEBRATION, AND HUMOR — Fostered by kindness and collegiality Statement of Nondiscrimination St. Andrew’s Episcopal School admits qualified students regardless of race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical disability, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical disability, socioeconomic status, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation in the administration of any policies or programs generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Melissa Grubb Named New Head Of School After a nationwide search, the Board of Trustees

named Melissa Grubb as St. Andrew’s new Head of School in October. She was hired initially as Interim Head after the departure of Sean Murphy, who faithfully served as St. Andrew’s Head for eight years. Melissa comes to St. Andrew’s from The Stanley Clark School in South Bend, Indiana, where she served as Head of School for eleven years. Prior to The Stanley Clark School, she spent more than twenty years at the Oakridge School in Arlington, TX. A native Texan, Melissa has a wealth of independent school experience. In her educational tenure, she has been a classroom teacher and department chair (English and Spanish), Assistant Head of Middle School, Head of Middle School, Interim Head of Upper School, Director of Studies and Head of School. She also has experience as an Interim Director of Admissions and of Facilities Management and is very involved with ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States), which will be tremendously helpful to St. Andrew’s during our upcoming year of selfstudy for our dual accreditation with the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and the Southwest Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES). Melissa is a community-builder, servant leader and strategic thinker who also deeply appreciates our

Melissa, her husband Tom, and their beloved Newfoundland, Bubba.

school’s commitment to Episcopal Identity. She has been married for 30 years to husband Thomas Grubb and and they have one son, Christopher. Christopher and his wife, Dr. Neda Bionghi, are both finishing their residencies at New York Presbyterian and they will both begin fellowships at UT Southwestern in Dallas in July - Neda in pulmonology critical care and Christopher in cardiology. Christopher and Neda are expecting their first baby in March. St. Andrew’s devotion to helping

students reach their full potential is central to Melissa’s focus as a Head of School. Melissa believes in balancing high academic expectations with spiritual growth, creativity in the arts and improving physical well-being, teamwork and athletic competition. She embodies our core values of community, spiritual foundation, high expectations and caring, celebration and humor. St. Andrew’s is wellpoised to accomplish great things in the years ahead under Melissa’s leadership.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 5

Remembering Our Friend

Lauren Dill

April 6, 1986 - November 10, 2021

“Let’s make our memorials the act of bringing her light, her kindness, her love into the world at every moment, at every place we can. Let's never miss an opportunity to love one another, to stand up to injustice, to show compassion. And while we're at it, let's take up Lauren’s cause of supporting young women, believing their life experiences, and working for equity for all. Every person here carries a piece of Lauren with them. Let’s honor Lauren by keeping her spirit in this world and keeping her kindness, compassion, and love as prevalent as we can.” — Jennie Luongo, Upper School Latin Teacher, December 11, 2021

St. Andrew’s alum, teacher, advisor, and coach Lauren Alyssa Dill ‘04, age 35, of Austin, Texas passed away on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Lauren is survived by her husband, Joey Miller; her parents, Lawrence and Peggy Dill; and her four younger siblings Caroline, Chris, Taylor, and Ashley Dill; and numerous other relatives, godparents, and friends. A beloved wife, teacher, sister, and daughter, she will be missed by many. Lauren was born April 6, 1986 in Tifton, Georgia. She attended St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Austin from elementary through high school and returned there as a Latin teacher in 2008. Lauren is an alumna of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee where she studied Greek and Roman Studies/ Classics and where she met her husband, Joey. She was an active member of the Rhodes community, participating in the Rhodes Singers and the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. She graduated summa cum laude and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. In her 13 year career as a teacher, Lauren touched the lives of many. She taught Latin and history at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. She was also a freshman advisor and dedicated her spare time to assisting with extracurricular activities including softball, the school musicals, and choir programs. Incredibly capable, Lauren saw every challenge as an opportunity and encouraged others to overcome their own challenges. Her deep passion for learning, ability to connect with her students, and respect for every person she came into contact with made her a remarkable educator and colleague. She will be remembered as a committed, compassionate teacher and mentor who cared deeply about the growth and wellbeing of her students. From a young age, Lauren became involved and served in the National Junior Classical League (NJCL), a youth organization that encourages the study of the ancient world. Lauren won many accolades and continued her involvement post-high school by chaperoning events and encouraging others in their studies. Most recently, she was a member of the NJCL Certamen staff and held the State Chair position for Texas for the past five years. In the summer of 2021, she was recognized with the Silver Bowl Award at the NJCL Convention in recognition of her

Lauren Dill Memorial Scholarship Fund At the request of Lauren's parents, Larry and Peggy, who provided a generous seed donation, Head of School Melissa Grubb announced the establishment of the Lauren Dill Memorial Scholarship Fund on St. Andrew’s Day. The fund will support students in perpetuity and ensure that her legacy lives on at St. Andrew’s. Lauren cared so deeply for the students of our school, and her impact on St. Andrew’s and its people cannot be overstated. She is so loved, admired, and missed. To make a gift to the Lauren Dill Memorial Scholarship, visit www.sasaustin.org/giving, hover over Other Ways To Give, hover over Memorial or Honorary, then click “Lauren Dill Memorial Scholarship Fund”. Checks can be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal School for the Lauren Dill Memorial Scholarship Fund and mailed to: Catherine Ervin, Advancement Office / St. Andrew’s, 1112 W 31st St., Austin, TX 78705.

long-time dedication to the organization. A woman of many strengths, talents, and passions, she especially loved music, languages, and travel. She was known for her beautiful singing voice, sang in a community choir, and attended various concerts and music festivals. She enjoyed international travel throughout her life. After studying in Italy in high school and college, she introduced countless students to Italy through the trips that she led. She was a fun-loving and spirited young woman who frequented local Austin events. Above all, her favorite activity was spending time with her husband, family, and friends. Lauren was a bright, dedicated individual who cared deeply for those around her. She was passionate about social justice and was a caring mentor and older sister. Lauren, always genuine and authentic, was a special person who created space without judgement for other people to be comfortable showing their true selves. Her generosity will continue as an organ donor and her legacy will be honored by the scholarship fund established in her name at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.

Save The Date! Nazro Green Southwest Parkway Campus

A fun-filled evening of food, friends, and auctions, all to benefit our Financial Aid program! Look out for your invitation soon! Interested in volunteering on a Gala committee? Contact Catherine Ervin at cherter@sasaustin.org

Because of your support, we raised

$1,453,349 to support students & teachers.

Thank You. sasaustin.org/standrewsfund 8

Kindergarten students explore Identity work.

The Importance of Identity Work with DEIB By Priya Kenny | Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (LS/MS)

Being a Diversity Director allows me the flexibility to be in the heart of different areas of the school. I’m involved in admissions interviews, strategic administrative programming, in-depth conversations around race with colleagues, and best of all, student and faculty identity work. Identity work is the foundation piece of my duties and projects. If we don’t understand what our “I” perspective is, then we can’t possibly understand the “I” perspective of another person. Talking to others about how my identity shapes the way that I see the world helps them think and speak about how theirs does, too. Identity work is not only the starting point of all of our conversations related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, but it's a part of this work that can’t be skipped.

I play a very small role in the scope of the incredible work that our teachers do to build our curriculum and pedagogy for our students. Our faculty has engaged in challenging work around DEIB and they continue to engage for the sake of the students. We’ve checked our biases around books we read, challenged age-old grading practices, centered what belonging looks like for our students of color, and practiced strategies for helping others who make harmful remarks. This work is also predicated on the fact that we respect the dignity of every human being, we strive for justice and peace, and we love our neighbors as ourselves. The values echoed in our beautiful Baptismal Covenant in which we root all the work that we do. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 9

WE ARE SCHOLARS

Emma Dial presents research on media literacy at the Fifth Grade Newseum, also spotlighted on IMPΔCT.

Making an IMPΔCT Fifth Grade Explores Service and Sustainability “Why are we here?” It’s a big question, but one that St. Andrew’s fifth graders are bravely tackling with their ongoing project, IMPΔCT. After some exploration, students came to an answer: we are here to serve other people. With IMPΔCT, a website using digital storytelling to explore service learning, sustainability, and social justice, fifth grade aims to spread awareness that our everyday actions, no matter how big or small, have a larger impact on the people and the world around us than we may realize. A collaboration between Language Arts and Social Studies classes, IMPΔCT was spearheaded by fifth grade teachers Mark Garcia and Michele Turner. “At first, I didn’t believe that my teachers were actually building a website. It was amazing – I’ve never seen anything like it,” said fifth grader Iker Lopez about the early days of the project. Students were thrilled to take on a project of this magnitude and dove in head first. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have been a leading guidepost for the IMPΔCT site. These goals were set up by the UN in 2015 in order to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.” Fifth grade chose three of the seventeen UN goals to focus on for the IMPΔCT project: 1) climate action, 2) reduced inequalities, and 3) peace,

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Will Greenberg, Sally Queen, Caroline Bentley, and Avery Torres present an infographic they created about microaggressions.

Making an IMPΔCT justice, & strong institutions. Students choose topics to explore as they relate to these three sustainable development goals. The site is full of student-created videos, podcasts, essays, and drawings, all focusing on a different aspect of social justice or sustainability. So far, fifth grade students have educated on topics like microaggressions, marine pollution, media literacy, racial and gender inequality, and antisemitism, among so many others. There is always something new to learn: you can find student diagrams of an ideal “green city” focused on energy conservation and lower levels of pollution, videos about the future of journalism and artificial intelligence, and photos and audio reflections from the fifth grade volunteer trip to Community First Village, 12

a 51-acre master planned community in Austin that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. Each webpage features action steps provided by students, allowing their reader to take their education from online to real-life application and prove that small actions really do create lasting change. Iker had a particular interest in the research the class did on media literacy: “I learned that a lot of people were getting scammed with the news they were getting. Many people were not getting the reliable news they needed and the people who were getting unreliable news didn’t know it wasn’t reliable. While I was doing my research, I learned how important fact-checking is.” Fifth grader Madelyn

Adaire Metschan presenting to family and teachers on IMPΔCT launch day.

Madelyn Gurasich and Fisher Works recorded a podcast on their thoughts on the book “Insignificant Events In The Life of a Cactus,” which told the story of a young girl who was born without arms.

Gurasich has loved any time she’s gotten to explore climate action: “I really like anything to do with the planet section of IMPΔCT because I feel really strongly about helping the planet.” Students love the various methods of digital storytelling they are able to use to get their message across. “I love writing, but my favorite method was podcasting. When we first did the podcast, it was about this really lovely book that we read that I really liked [Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling] and at first, I didn’t even know it was ever going to be on IMPΔCT. Doing the podcast was a really free way to express my feelings.” said Madelyn. On December 7, the fifth grade invited St. Andrew’s administration, faculty, and parents to the McGill Chapel to present their website to the public for the first time. The community was amazed at the inspiring work that had gone into the site. IMPΔCT has not only allowed the students to spread their message to others, but it has inspired the fifth graders themselves to make positive changes in their own lives. Both Iker and Madelyn noted a new dedication to sustainability since they have started the IMPΔCT project. “I’ve been trying to find better ways for me to live more sustainably.” said Madelyn. “I’ve been composting and recycling. Now I’m really aware of throwing away too much trash or even using so much 14

PK Blake and Iker Lopez on IMPΔCT launch day.

trash.” From their earliest years at St. Andrew’s, students learn how to become global citizens with the help of their teachers. The fifth grade has been doing incredible work – they are sure to inspire others with their passion, intelligence, and initiative. Check out IMPΔCT to learn more.

TOP PHOTO: Students do landscaping work at their volunteer day at Community First Village, which provides affordable permanent housing and a supportive community for people coming out of chronic homelessness. LEFT PHOTO: Chance Fresch and Aaron Berman present research on media literacy at the Fifth Grade Newseum, also spotlighted on IMPΔCT.

Students in the STEAM elective work on a woodworking project in class.

Spotlight on STEAM Twice a week, in the freshlyrenovated STEAM Lab, a group of Middle

School students become artists, builders, and engineers. These students chose to participate in the new STEAM elective, one of several choices of new electives introduced during the 2021-22 school year. The STEAM elective was an especially exciting new opportunity, led by new science teacher David Ritchie. The class is designed for students to get involved in the engineering process through creative challenges. With the supervision of Mr. Ritchie, the class members have completed projects like building a vehicle that safely transports an egg along a ramp, constructing their choice of woodworking projects, and even creating the tallest tower possible out of dried pasta and mini marshmallows. Each student takes an active role in designing their project, researching the best materials, and ultimately building the final product.

WE ARE SCHOLARS

The inaugural class of the STEAM elective was a group of seventh graders during the first semester of the 2021-22 school year, while sixth graders began the class in the second semester. “It was the best class ever,” said seventh grader Gracie Edwards. “It was super fun. Everybody loved it.” Throughout the course of the semester, STEAM students graduated from popsicle sticks to power drills. Though they started small, they gradually gained confidence in utilizing all kinds of different tools – they have utilized everything from screwdrivers to Miter saws. One of Ritchie’s main goals was to encourage the students to relish the journey of designing and troubleshooting each project. “I wanted to get them into the habit of prototyping. Whether it’s designing or building or an engineering challenge, your first attempt is always just a rough draft.” he said, highlighting one of

Belle Blaha shows off her egg mobile.

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One of the students' favorite projects from the first semester of the STEAM elective was the egg mobile. Here, several eighth grade STEAM students display the different kinds of egg mobiles they came up with to safely transport an egg on a ramp.

the most important steps in the design process. “You can make your observations, see how it’s performing, see what you like about it and what you want to improve. I wanted to get them in the mindset of continually making adjustments and decisions throughout the process.” This attitude proved beneficial, making students more mindful of the choices made in the design and building process. Ritchie’s favorite project from the first semester was the “egg mobile”. He says, “A lot of them had done an egg drop in elementary school and they wanted to do something like that again. But we took it up a notch and built a ramp where they had to build cars and ramps, carrying the eggs. They made all kinds of designs to construct a safe car that could ride on the ramp and not damage the egg. There was lots of excitement there.” By the end of the semester, Ritchie observed a marked difference in the STEAM students, both in self-assurance as well as technical skill. “I noticed more discipline in handling the tools and the space. I saw so much more confidence – they felt more self-sufficiency. They didn’t need to ask me as many times whether or not something would be a good material for a certain project. They 18

WE ARE SCHOLARS

knew that this lab was their space to explore as long as they used it safely.” said Ritchie. Ritchie thinks the work in STEAM is particularly meaningful for the specific age group he works with. “This is what middle school is all about. Giving them the chance to be creative, giving them a wide range of different instruments, and giving them control of what they want to create. They jump right into it and they’re learning while having fun.” explained Ritchie. The first semester of the elective has been a huge success, and Ritchie is full of ideas for the future of the class: “I’d love for them to begin programming some robotics into things that they make. It would be great to get to a point where the class isn’t self-contained, where we can collaborate with other classes or community service program. I’ve seen schools where the student body votes on projects for the STEAM class to build depending on what their campus needs, like flower beds or benches. I’d love to do something like that.” With big ideas on the horizon and new groups of passionate students joining each semester, the STEAM elective is sure to reach new heights in the next few years.

Students have learned how to safely use all kinds of different tools in the STEAM elective.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 19 Mr. Ritchie helps students with a woodworking project.

All Fired Up

Turning Up The Heat In Math Class

Algebra II students test out their catapult alongside the ring of fire.

WE ARE SCHOLARS

A collaboration between the math department and the MLab yielded a project Algebra II students won’t forget. If you were to visit the Upper School gymnasium on December 16, you’d be greeted by Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” blaring over the speakers and dozens of students gathered with catapults around a tall flaming hoop, anxiously awaiting to see if golf balls would make it through the ring after being launched. This exciting scene was the culmination of an Algebra II project by math teachers Nhaila Hendrickse and Abby Jones. As part of their classes’ unit on quadratics, the students were assigned to design and build launchers. Their ultimate goal was to launch a golf ball perfectly through a ring of fire and land on a small cushion. The students would get only five tries, but if their math was done perfectly, it was guaranteed to hit both targets. “With this project, Abby [Jones] had said that she wanted the students to really get their hands dirty and see the math happening in front of them – this project was her brainchild.” said Ms. Hendrickse. Ms. Jones had experience with this project, having assigned it at her previous school. “The kids loved it. At my old school, we just used an embroidery hoop that we pretended was on fire – but I was by myself without a Richard Wright or an MLab!” said Ms. Jones.

Samir Ramachandran, Max Flint, Homero Rangel, and Tad O'Brien on catapult launch day.

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Two teams take their catapults for a test run outside before launch day.

All Fired Up The launcher project centered around projectile motion and was the culmination of the students’ unit on quadratics. Projectile motion involves any object that is thrown, shot, or dropped, and it can always be modeled by a quadratic function. After introducing the project, Algebra II students had about a month to research different types of launcher styles, like catapults, trebuchets, and spring launchers. Within their group, they decided which style of launcher would suit their needs best, then they set to work on designing the model. After coming up with their designs, they were to submit a materials list to Mr. Wright in the MLab, who got all the materials so the students could begin building in the MLab. Students had about five classes to build their launchers, using materials like PVC pipes, wood, springs, and rebar. Mr. Wright and Coach Reetz were in the MLab during building time to advise, but students were on their own to troubleshoot and figure out how to move forward if an element of design didn’t end up working out. Once the launchers were built, students began to collect data. They took their launchers to the lacrosse wall at

the Upper School and took video footage of the first part of the golf ball launch. They were able to record the first quarter of the launch path and one section on the third quarter of the launch path. Their goal was to calculate the vertex of the arc of the launch path, which would help them come up with a final quadratic equation. After collecting data points, they used quadratic regression to figure out the equation that would fit their data. Their knowledge of quadratic functions and projectile motion helped them place the ring of fire and the cushion in the correct spot for a proper launch. Then came the highly-anticipated launch day. Mr. Wright had fashioned the ring of fire with an extendable tripod Coach Reetz helped out Algebra II students in the MLab.

and a metal hoop that was attached to a propane gas can. The hoop had holes in it and it would ignite once lit. The atmosphere crackled with excitement as students prepared their launchers, a playlist of fire-themed songs playing over the gym speakers. Students gathered around one another’s launchers to watch each group’s five attempts at a perfect arc, with many groups achieving

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Margot Tully waits with anticipation to see whether her team's launcher makes it through.

Rory O'Hara, Caroline Cotlar, August Nodstedt, and Reese Goodman work on their launcher in the MLab.

Rory O'Hara, Caroline Cotlar, August Nodstedt, and Reese Goodman prepare on launch day.

David Moore, Griffin Hill, and Travis Josey display their final product.

Halston Fedorowicz, Ellie Herz, Bella Brand, and Addison Sell in the MLab.

both the golf ball going through the hoop as well as landing on the small cushion. “The great thing about this project was that once the ball went through the ring of fire, the students could see tangibly that their math was correct. It was an immediate satisfaction that you don’t always get with projects.” said Ms. Hendrickse about launch day.

ABOVE PHOTO: Lorenzo Jervis, Roshan Durairaj, Ryder Runkle, and Ben Stapleton work together on their launcher. BELOW PHOTO: Finley Ahearn, Lily Elliot, Keara Moore, and Beau Diede collaborate in the MLab.

The collaboration with the MLab was one that both Hendrickse and Jones considered extremely beneficial. “I hope the project was a good introduction to the MLab and that going there will feel more comfortable to the students who may not have had much experience with it, especially the 9th grade students who still have 3 years at St. Andrew’s.” said Ms. Hendrickse. The launcher project was an exciting way for students to see the real-world applications of the math they had learned in class. “The kids seemed to really like it,” said Ms. Hendrickse. “It also gave students a chance to shine who may not shine in the traditional test in math class – this gave a lot of them a chance to thrive and really get hands-on with their work.” Though it was the first time the project was done at St. Andrew’s, both Ms. Hendrickse and Ms. Jones want to continue it in future years – it’s a surefire way to get students excited about math. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 25

Mark Greenberg and Bella Castro as Prince Eric and Ariel in "The Little Mermaid."

WE ARE ARTISTS

'The Little Mermaid' Taking A Magical Journey Under The Sea Photography by Peggy Keelan

“I wanted the show to feel like Disneyland,” said director Jason Kruger of the production of The Little Mermaid that Upper School students put on in November. Inspired by the immersive joy of the theme park, Kruger imagined a show whose magic started right when the audience entered the lobby. It was this vision that led the theater department through the creation of this fall’s musical.

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Making The Magic Happen Upon entering the lobby, theatergoers felt as if the show had already begun. From elaborate set pieces of ocean rocks, nets, and seashells to a mermaid-themed photo area, the fun had kicked off even before the notes of the first song. A huge element of this year’s musical was the use of custom animated videos projected not only on the stage, but on the walls and ceilings of the Dell Theatre. By partnering with a video game design company, the crew was able to produce fantastic renderings of magical underwater castles, shipwrecks on angry waters, and the shores of sandy beaches, among so many others. These projections made the audience feel truly immersed in the magical world of The Little Mermaid. To create the illusion of swimming on stage during 28

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underwater scenes, the crew teamed up with ZFX Flying Effects and used theatrical flying systems to make the vision come to life. “Even though there were all of these scenic set pieces, all the projections, animations, all the crazy costumes and lighting, you want the flying to feel as seamless as possible. You want it to feel magical when Ariel is singing ‘Part of Your World’ and reaches that crescendo and starts flying. So that was what we were thinking – how do we preserve that feeling of magic?” said Kruger. “There’s always going to be that marvel of ‘oh wow, they’re flying!’ but if it becomes only about the flying, it becomes ineffective.” In a musical number like “Under The Sea” with such action and excitement going on, Kruger was proud of the way the crew timed the flying effects, in a way that added to the fun instead of

ABOVE: Cast members of "The Little Mermaid." AT // LEFT: Bella Castro and Laney St. Andrew’s Episcopal School sasaustin.org // 29 Goodrum as Ariel and Flounder.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 31 Ursula (Ella Parker) takes flight in a scene with King Triton (Jacob Burrows).

Cast members of the musical brought the magic on a visit to Mrs. Kruger's first-grade class.

distracted from the number. The crew chose to continue the immersive theater experience by occasionally having cast members enter from the audience or coming down from the stage to dance and sing in the aisles. “All of the projections are making the theater area part of the stage, so why wouldn’t the characters also participate in that space?” said Kruger, who also encouraged his cast to interact with any children in the audience who wanted to participate in songs like “Under The Sea.” The Little Mermaid was a true community show, being the first musical for children that the Upper School had done in about ten years. Unlike previous year’s shows, this was a production that the entire family could enjoy together. The cast and crew all had a blast bringing the magic to the younger members of the St. Andrew’s community. Cast members even came to Lower School carpool dropoff in character to drum up excitement for the show and give children a magical start to their school day. “Ariel is truly enchanting,” said Bella Castro, who

played Ariel, “She was my favorite Disney princess as a kid, so it was a dream come true to get to play her. It was so exciting to make other little kids' dreams come true by seeing a real life mermaid.” Thanks to lowering COVID case levels in the fall as well as the prevalence of vaccines compared to last spring’s show Evita, it was possible for the fall musical to look a little more normal. The cast rehearsed in masks but, after undergoing regular COVID testing leading up to the show, performed the show without them, though audience members were required to be masked. Thanks to the protocols, the cast and crew did not have a single case throughout the entire process. The cast and crew of The Little Mermaid took their audience on an aquatic adventure full of color, joy, and song – it was a special experience for St. Andrew’s community members of all ages. Thanks to all of the theater department who worked together to create such a magical show. We loved becoming “part of your world”!

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Upper School Choir members singing at Lessons and Carols.

US Concert Band playing at St. Andrew's Day alongside MS choir students.

Stop, Collaborate and Listen Though they are busy with their own classes and performances, our middle and

upper school choir and band classes have also found the time to come together and collaborate on different events throughout the year, much to the pleasure of their audiences. Students, parents and guests of St. Andrew’s may have seen some of the following ensembles perform together this year, shown in these photos. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to catch one of these performances, keep your eye out for more to come this spring!

Middle and Upper School band students brought the excitement at the Homecoming game.

WE ARE ARTISTS

Middle and Upper School Band performs together.

Middle and Upper School band students performed at Lessons and Carols.

Select choir performs at TPSMEA.

Choir Members Receive Top Honors St. Andrew’s Choir students had an impressive

showing again this year in the Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA) All-Region and All-State Choirs. There were 26 students named to the All-Region Choir and 18 to the All-State Choir, making it the fourth year in a row St. Andrew’s has had the most students named to the All-State Choir from one school. Additionally, our very own Cate Gasco, the Upper School Choir Director, was invited to serve as the clinician for the South Region Treble Choir. Congratulations to Ms. Gasco and all our choir students! St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 35

St. Andrew's Students Take the Stage! Year in and year out, the performing arts department at St. Andrew’s consistently produces beautifully directed and executed performances across all divisions, and this year has been no exception. Along with the masterfully produced musical The Little Mermaid, we were treated to three different adaptations of Stone Soup by our 2nd grade classes, a fun, whimsical, outdoor evening performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by our 5th graders, the 7th/8th grade production of Broadway in the Nazro Lab Theater at the Upper School, and the always impressive Senior Directed Plays by our Upper School students. Bravo to all the students and faculty involved in putting on these incredibly entertaining productions!

Adaptations of Stone Soup by the 2nd Graders: In celebration of gratitude, the 2nd grade

continued the tradition of performing Stone Soup, a classic tale about sharing and welcoming strangers. This year, each class created its own version of the story, learning through the creative process about adapting a story from the imagination. Original plays featured animals sharing with lost children in the rainforest, narwhals helping a group of disoriented belugas in the sea, and beagles and cats overcoming great obstacles to become friends! Songs developed with homeroom teachers and in Music class added musical magic. Students also created original backgrounds in Art! The Stone Soup Festival joyfully launched the Lower School community into the holidays with a message of reaching across differences to build bridges of support and understanding, all the while encouraging great Thanksgiving feasts for all!

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AT LEFT: Ms. Billups' class performs their rendition of Stone Soup. BELOW: Mr. Boutot's class performs their take on the classic Stone Soup tale.

Broadway 7th and 8th grade drama students, under the direction of Jason Kruger,

performed their adaptation of Broadway, a 1920s crime drama set in a nightclub in New York City during the prohibition era, in the Nazro Lab Theater on the Southwest Parkway campus in December. The fantastic performances, costumes and set design came together for an all around outstanding production by our middle school students.

Patrick Berry and Eve Golson in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe."

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 5th grade theater students shared a magical performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe with families and Lower School students alike. Thanks to the generosity of Jennifer and Fred Meyers, our neighbors across from the kindergarten, the young actors performed in the outdoor amphitheater nestled alongside Shoal Creek. The garden theater was the perfect setting for adventures into the world of Narnia! Percussionists from the World Music and Percussion program under the direction of Darrel Mayers, created an original musical score to accompany the show.

ABOVE: Middle school actors and actresses perform Broadway in the Nazro Lab Theatre. BELOW: Bo Aycock, Annie McMullen, Hailey Higginbotham, and Olivia Korman perform a scene.

Locke Reyna, Madelyn Gurasich, Harris Manuel, and Kendall Keller in "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe."

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Senior Directed Plays Each year in the Theatre Production class with

Mr. Zoth — Milt, as he’s known to his students — students study theater from the 1890s through present day. It also requires students to participate in one of the school productions, either as an actor, crew member or stage manager. However, there are a select group of seniors in the class that have the opportunity to direct a play that their peers will act in. This unique opportunity is what sets this class apart for many seniors, giving them a glimpse into an area of the performing arts they hadn’t experienced before. When asked, Johnny Bennett said this about his experience: The senior directing experience has been life-changing for me. As someone who is considering going into theatre

as a career, it has been incredible to get on this side of the playmaking process. I have truly taken this project by the horns and have made it my own, having worked on it consistently ever since I chose the script back in March. I've even had quite a few dreams about the show! The Senior Directing program is incredibly 'hands-off,' giving us not only the valuable opportunity to fail in a low-pressure environment and learn from our mistakes but, much more importantly, the opportunity to succeed and be able to truly call this project our own. I am so incredibly proud of my actors and their flexibility and talent throughout this process. They never fail to surprise me with their skill to embody these complicated roles! I hope you can come out and see the accumulation of my last 9 months of work, Fragments of Faith. This year, three seniors directed plays that were performed by their classmates in the Nazro Lab theater in January.

'The Last Day of School' Directed by Ella Parker

Featuring Actors: Arwyn Heilrayne ‘23 Dexter Gordon ‘22 Vivien Champ ‘22 William Sykes ‘23 This romantic comedy follows high school seniors on their last day of school. From climbing ropes to valentines, it is sure to make you laugh.

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'Fragments of Faith' Directed by Johnny Bennett Featuring Actors: Bella Castro ‘22 Jacob Kruger ‘22 Johnny Bennett ‘22 Follow Faith as she interacts with the many men in her life. She finds and loses love and eventually, finds herself. Through a collection of vignettes, Special Days will have you laughing, crying, and just about everything in between!

'Numbers' Directed by Mackenzie Soldano

Featuring Actors: Vivien Champ ‘22 Max Thibert ‘22 Morgan Harrison ‘23 William Sykes ‘23

Mean Girls meets Lord of the Flies.

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The Beginning of an Era This was certainly a historical year out on the gridiron, as 43 student-athletes, six coaches, and one manager united to launch the era of Highlander Football. After three years of partnering with St. Stephen’s and low numbers, it took a bit of a leap of faith to believe that we could build our program from the JV level up. We knew it might not be an easy sell, but it was a challenge we were ready to face.

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Members of the Highlander football team after the Homecoming game. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stratton.

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ABOVE: Football program director Rick Reetz coaching his team. AT RIGHT: The 2021 football team took a bold first step in the era of Highlander football. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Stratton.

The first step was finding the best candidate to lead our Football program. Enter Rick Reetz, Football Program Director. He had significant experience building multiple successful programs at independent schools similar to ours, with participation numbers that had also been down. Not only skilled on the field, he had an equally impressive academic background. Add it all up, and Coach Reetz was the perfect fit for our program. “What a great first season," Coach Reetz stated, "reclaiming a program is never easy, and it’s a lengthy process. We faced a lot of adversity putting this team together in such a short time and ahead of schedule, but when we saw the leadership we had on this team, we knew the time to start was now. The players bought in and held each other accountable to a standard that we needed to be successful. That’s what a team must do, and I am proud of this group for taking ownership. We are well on our 42

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way to establishing a winning tradition for the players, the school, the community — we want that Highlander pride.” After Coach Reetz's hiring and only having had the chance to meet as a group on Zoom, this brave group came together for spring football for a week in May. The initial turnout was strong, although there have been previous years where those numbers did not hold on into the fall. A large amount of credit goes to our seniors in particular for leading the way and encouraging each other and the underclassmen to stick together and build something lasting. Rico Beuerlein ’22 stated "We had a great group of players and coaches that always worked hard, and we all had a great time. I am excited to see the future of this program." Coach Reetz added, “We relied heavily on our senior class to set the example and be the foundation on which we would build our program. We will

be forever indebted and grateful to the seniors for their commitment and trust in coming out for the team. They were committed to being part of the group that turned it around and made it a special place. We were lucky they were up for the challenge. They not only improved the program for this team, but for years to come.” As the season got underway, not only did the numbers carry over to the Fall hold, they increased from the end of spring football. After facing some very strong opponents to start the year, the team stuck together. The Highlanders finished the year with a ton of momentum, winning four of their last six games, one of which was against a Varsity opponent. Anthony Tassone (’23) shared: “The brotherhood on the team is unlike any sport. You have a true connection with each other which makes the game much more fun to play and gives you

something to play for every game.” As we turn towards the 2022 season, we are ready for the next step in the evolution of our Football program. We are committed to play an Independent Varsity schedule, with the hope of being able to offer a JV experience to our younger players as well. “We’re going to compete this year,” Coach Reetz stated. "We might not win them all, but we’re going to take a big step. We have a new attitude, player commitment, and a lot of excitement around the program. I have seen it before. It’s one constant that, given time, always results in one thing – winning.” Although it might be years until they fully see the fruits of their commitment, the 2021 team took the bold first step in the era of Highlander Football. St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 43

Immediate Impact Ray Wright is Building Strength and Community at St. Andrew's

By Jeff McCrary, Athletic Director, K-12

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Coach Wright puts the Cross Country team through an outdoor workout.

The mission of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Physical Education and Athletics Department is to build the foundation for a

lifetime of physical fitness and well-being within a positive environment that empowers each student to reach their full potential. As the Director of Sports Performance, newly-hired Ray Wright has the ability to help so many of our students to do just as our mission inspires us. He has quickly started working with in-season boys and girls’ teams, off-season workouts in the morning

“Coach Wright has been an amazing addition to the St. Andrew's community. He has been working with the Varsity Girls Basketball team this season and is such a great coach. He challenges the kids and sets high expectations, but is also extremely relatable, personable, and fun!” Kristen Benjamin, Associate AD and Girls Basketball Program Director

and afternoon with various groups, and fitness class students during the day. Coach Wright undeniably brings next-level ideas, programming, technology, and more to St. Andrew’s. However, it is the relationships that he has forged with athletes and coaches alike that might be even more impressive and impactful. His ability to relate with students of all ages and experience levels is immediately obvious. However, rather than going on about Coach Wright, I will let our coaches share their feedback, as well as a couple of student-athlete testimonials:

“Coach Wright has had an immediate impact on our student-athletes. His experience has allowed us to advance our strength and conditioning program quickly. From a sports science and conditioning standpoint, he is far advanced of what we, and a lot of schools, have been doing in our programs for a long, long time. From what I have observed, his training techniques will not only improve athlete performance but also aid in injury prevention. I am really excited to have them here in our school. The players love him. He has rapidly built relationships and earned respect. He has done a phenomenal job in transition, and I know, long-term, he is going to play a big role in the future success of our athletic teams.” Rick Reetz, Football Program Director

“Coach Wright has been an amazing addition to our Department. He is an expert in his field, and can connect with athletes like a true professional coach. In just the two months he has been at St. Andrew’s, we have seen the excitement for being in the weight room grow exponentially, and look to carry that momentum into the offseason and beyond.” Trey Morin, Boys Basketball Program Director St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 45

"Coach Wright has already impacted the Field Hockey program in a great way. He communicates with our SAS athletes extremely well, and shares a vision that motivates and inspires them to get into the weight room and work hard. Even though we lift early in the morning, I have not heard anything but positive comments about how Coach Wright makes lifting fun for our athletes, while achieving results that will help them on the field."

" Katherine Bowie, Associate AD and Field Hockey Program Director

Coach Wright assists athletes training in the weight room.

“Coach Wright has challenged and motivated me to constantly work harder and push myself. Somehow he’s made me look forward to some of the toughest workouts and exercises I’ve ever done. I’m happy to have him here at St. Andrew’s.” Maddie Warren (’23), Varsity Girls Basketball Player

“Coach Wright is the most motivational person I have ever worked with. He pushes me to become a better athlete and carves me into a harder worker everytime I step in the SAS weightroom.” Will May (’25), Football, Golf, and Track & Field Athlete 46

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"Coach Wright is very charismatic and easy to work with. He has always been super generous with his time and offers to work with students and athletes in the morning, during their free periods, and in the afternoons. I love working with him because I know he will keep me honest to give me the best workout I can get!” Bella Benke (’24), Varsity Cross Country, Girls Soccer, and Track & Field Athlete

Of his time at St. Andrew’s so far, this is what Coach Wright had to say: “The last two months here at St. Andrew’s have been an absolute blast. The faculty and students have been welcoming and very helpful. The athletes are working extremely hard and are hungry to improve. The unwavering support and unselfishness of the sport coaches has been impressive. A vast majority of our student athletes are multi-sport athletes; therefore, it is important to have ‘in-season’ training to ensure that the athlete is as strong and conditioned as possible for the next sport. The ability to have robust year round ‘off-season’ and ‘in-season’ programs will be instrumental in our success.”

The Cross Country team celebrates the Boys' 2nd place SPC finish.

Chasing Success The St. Andrew's cross country team has been one of the most successful athletic

teams in the school's history. The Boys won 5 straight SPC championships from 2008 to 2012, including one finish that tied the SPC record for best team score. To say that a dynasty was formed would be an understatement. That tradition has carried on with many strong SPC finishes. However, after not reaching the team podium since that 2012 championship team, the Boys team captured hardware again this season, finishing in 2nd place at the November SPC Championships at Norbuck Park in Dallas. Captain Nicholas Gab ‘22 remarked on the season, “The season was a great payoff for all the hard work put in by each member, finishing the season strong by being the runners up at SPC.” Jake Gooch ‘23 had the following to say about the season: “The team experience was great because everyone was pushing each other constantly everyday. It made practice so much fun and also helped everyone improve immensely.”

Coach Gilbert leads his team on a chilly morning warm up during the SPC Championships.

In his always optimistic thinking, Coach Gilbert Tuhabonye is proud of the finish, but he has his sights set higher. He commented, “We have a young team that has the potential to do great things in the future. Finishing second was amazing and surprising for some people, but I have faith in this team. We are going for Gold next November.”

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2021 5th - 8th Cross Country Team

Middle School Athletics Fall Round Up By Jack Wallace, Associate Athletic Director, 5th - 8th

After a 2020 fall season filled with virtual practices, socially-distanced drills, and minimal external competition, our fifth through eighth grade student-athletes were off to the races this fall! Our students had the opportunity to participate in cross country, field hockey, flag football, TackleBar football, and volleyball. While there were many highlights for our developing student-athletes this past fall, three teams in particular had standout seasons.

The 5th/6th boys cross country team capped off an outstanding season with an Austin Inter-Parochial League (AIPL) Championship! They won their final three meets along the way, and improved their team average time for 2 miles from 16 minutes and 27 seconds to just over 14 minutes! The team was led by Cyrus S. (’28), Iker L. (’29), Loki E. (’28), Tres S. (’28), and Colin C. (’28). In addition, the 7/8 girls 1A volleyball squad also earned many noteworthy victories throughout their season. They started strong with a non-conference win over Hyde Park, 48

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and remained hot en route to an undefeated season in conference play. After earning the number one seed and a first round bye, they defeated St. Stephen’s to hoist the AIPL Championship trophy! The 8th grade leaders on the team were Grace A., Lauren M., Claire N., Aneesa R., and Mary Louise T. 7th graders Lela, Savy, Jordan, Lily, and Addy also contributed to the championship efforts and will look to repeat next year. The final fall 5th-8th grade championship team was the 7/8 girls 3A blue team coached by middle school science teacher, Ms. Robinson. Team members included Olivia A. (’27), Helene C. (’26), Harper D. (’27), Gracie E. (’27), Kaylee J. (’26), Cameron L. (’26), Charlotte L. (’27), Mila S. (’26), Allison S. (’27), and Kinsley W. (’27). Thanks to some phenomenal serves by Olivia, they were able to rally from being 10 points down in the 3rd set to win the Championship in thrilling fashion over Waldorf! Congratulations to all of our Championship winning teams!

7/8 1A Girls Volleyball takes home the AIPL title!

The 7/8 3A Girls Volleyball players are champions!

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St. Andrew's Day 2021 Celebrating Our Beloved Community

St. Andrew’s Day 2021 was a day of service, community-building, and this year, a whole lot of wind. After a virtual service in 2020, the community was craving the experience of coming together for one of our most beloved traditions, the celebration of our patron saint. On St. Andrew’s Day, we not only honor Saint Andrew, but also the incredible members of our community who make our school the special place that it is.

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Lower School students were all smiles before the start of St. Andrew's Day.

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Remy S. '33 receives communion from Ms. Brandon

Director of College Counseling, Elizabeth Guice, was recognized for 25 years of service to St. Andrew's.

Celebrating Our Patron Saint On November 17, students, faculty, trustees, families, and friends all gathered on the field of Beck Stadium to pay homage to dynamic members of our St. Andrew’s family. Upper School Chaplain Whitney Kirby and Lower and Middle School Chaplain Ashley Brandon led our service along with a sermon from Head of School Melissa Grubb. Lower, Middle, and Upper School choirs sang beautifully and the Upper School orchestra provided lovely music, as always. The Charles Alan Wright Excellence Award, an award given to a community member who leads a life searching for excellence, was given to Brian and Adria Sheth, parents of Deven ‘24 and Marley ‘29. In presenting the award, Mrs. Grubb spoke of the Sheths’ “shared vision to

improve education, youth initiatives, and conservation… their thoughtful approach to these important needs has made real change happen across the globe.” The Sheths have made extraordinary contributions to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Austin, Breakthrough Central Texas, Dell Children’s Foundation, COVID recovery efforts, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, among so many others. In 2012, Brian and Adria founded the Sheth Sangreal Foundation, a philanthropy that identifies the most urgent issues in specific impact areas and identifies the partners who are most poised to solve the underlying problems if provided the right resources. In addition, Brian also helped establish Earth Alliance, an organization to help address the urgent threats to our planet’s life support systems. Brian and Adria are so very deserving of this St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 53

Adria Sheth addresses the audience after receiving the Charles Alan Wright Excellence Award on behalf of her and her husband, Brian.

award, and we thank them for their philanthropic efforts and incredible outreach.

Their sacrifice and service to so many are things to be admired.

The John and Jeannine Miller Volunteer Award shines a light on community volunteers who devote time and energy to St. Andrew’s. This year, the award was given to the parent medical experts on our COVID-19 Task Force: Dr. Elizabeth Jacobs, Dr. Vicky Gregg, and Dr. Ari Berman. These St. Andrew’s parents are incredible medical professionals who play a critical role in keeping our community safe during the pandemic. They have hosted informative webinars for our parents and faculty, calmly and thoughtfully navigated each change that the COVID crisis has brought, and kept our community informed and educated, all while working overtime at their own demanding jobs. Director of Health Services Amanda Boardman said, “The combination of their knowledge, time, dedication, and desire to help educate our entire community is the reason we have been able to do the things we have done in the last 20 months.”

Matthew Lee ‘14 received the Outstanding Alumni Award for his service in the United States Air Force. One of Matthew’s larger recent missions was evacuating refugees and service members during the US withdrawal from Kabul, Afghanistan in late August. Matthew reflected on this experience by saying, “It was a tiring and exhausting couple of weeks for the crew, however, it was also the most rewarding. Watching the Afghans leave our plane, knowing they all would have a better chance at life, was incredibly humbling. After talking to some of the Afghanis, it furthered our beliefs that the women would finally be able to have freedom, the men would not have to worry about protecting themselves or their family from being killed by the Taliban, and the children would finally be able to have a childhood. Our crew was humbled and grateful to be part of this operation and it made us proud to be Americans.” It was with great joy that we recognized

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Matthew for his service - he makes St. Andrew’s very proud to count him as an alumnus. The faculty and staff awards went to several extremely deserving faculty members. Doug Alford received the Lucy Collins Nazro Faculty Service Award, for his enormous contributions in coding, data, and tech support to the success of our school. He is truly always there to save the day. “Doug, you are an invaluable member of our faculty,” said Mrs. Grubb while presenting the award, “and while some may refer to you as the ‘man behind the curtain’ - pulling levers and keeping our engines running we see you. And we recognize you today with enormous gratitude for your service to St. Andrew’s.” Kimberly Horne received the Southwest Parkway Teaching Award for her amazing contributions to both the English department and the school as a whole. Mrs. Grubb said, “She makes us believe that we can be brave and bold because she is brave and bold. She reminds us of our core, of our true north, and she uses her energy and passion to bring us back when we stray. She is a master of good questions, causing us to reflect, reimagine, and reinvent when needed. Her wit is delightful, her enthusiasm contagious, and her capacity for compassion deep. You simply want her on your team because you can’t help but be better for it.” Graduates spoke of her ability to engage with students, her passion for her field, and her encouragement of each student. The 31st Street Teaching Award went to Ashlye Battaglia, an exceptional educator and asset to our school. Mrs. Grubb said of Battaglia, “She has a gift for getting children excited to learn and always puts students first. She is eager to help students gain knowledge and become independent learners. She is always considering new ways to engage her students. She sets the bar high in her belief in every child, and she is always concerned with growth and development of each of her students. She is quick to share her gifts with the world, giving freely of her time to create more inclusive student experiences.” Her colleagues spoke of her desire to fearlessly try new things, her ability to make others around her better, and her talents for growth-oriented motion. Each year at St. Andrew’s Day, we honor those faculty and staff members who have been at our school for 15 years as well as those who have been with us for 25 years. Since 2020’s service was a virtual one, we recognized two years of faithful servants.

Doug Alford received the Lucy Collins Nazro Faculty Service Award

2020:

25 Years: Veronica Putney 15 Years: Steven Garcia, Dan Latreille, Jason Kruger, Elizabeth Martens, Chris McCoy, Jennifer Tollefson, and Aimee Zivin

2021:

25 Years: Elizabeth Guice 15 Years: Evangelina Tonche, Gilbert Tuhabonye, Rommel Eclarinal, and Heather Latreille Following the awards portion of the service, students, faculty and families came forward to receive communion or a blessing before everyone made their way to the Nazro Green for a community lunch and performances from the Upper School Jazz and Rock Bands. After lunch, students in all three divisions took part in a service activity of their choice. Activities ranged from 31st Street students making birdseed cakes and writing letters to soldiers at Ft. Hood to Upper School students packing lunches for the Ronald McDonald House or learning about ways to volunteer in the community with local nonprofits like Austin Pets Alive! After a wonderful service, celebration and meal it was the perfect way to round out a day of honoring Saint Andrew. To look out onto the sea of students, teachers, faculty members, and parents on November 17 was to look out at a community who has thrived in the face of obstacles. A community who has leaned on one another. A community who has repeatedly shown their resilience, their generosity, and their servant’s hearts. It was an honor to share this special day with them all! St. Andrew’s Episcopal School // sasaustin.org // 55

9th Grade Day of Engagement Community Action, Personal Reflection, and Class Bonding By Kendall Evans, Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

October 13, 2021: St. Andrew’s inaugural Day of Engagement. The idea for the event was conceived by Upper School Assistant Head, Mrs. Kate Jones. Kate was part of a team that invested a great deal of mental labor into coming up with a plan that would meaningfully engage the freshmen class on PSAT Day: a day that typically offers picture-perfect weather for seniors to work on their college essays while sophomores and juniors take the high-stakes Freshmen work together packaging meals.

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The inaugural Day of Engagement for the freshman class worked with Mission of Hope to provide meals for Haitians in need after a natural disaster.

Freshmen learn to engage in Courageous Conversations during Day of Engagement national exam. But it’s also a day that can make our 9th graders feel like lonely, forlorn leaves set adrift on an autumnal wind. Thankfully, due to the team’s thoughtful planning, such wasn’t the case last fall. "It was inspirational to see our students working together so joyfully for the benefit of others. Their energy was palpable.” The sentiments expressed by Head of School Melissa Grubb were echoed by many of the adults who were present to offer their support for the big event. But what, in fact, were the students doing with such verve, and why did it engender such an enthusiastic response from visitors? The answer to this question is directly related to the aforementioned mental labor, which not only led to the idea for the Day of Engagement but also to its twofold programmatic structure. 58

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The students kicked things off with an introduction to something called the Courageous Conversation protocol – a process for handling difficult conversations predicated on race but which can be applied to other aspects of identity as well, from gender to religion to neurodivergence. A more comprehensive training in Courageous Conversation was shared with the entire K-12 St. Andrew’s faculty and staff over the course of two days at the outset of the school year. But just because the student version was completed in one morning doesn’t mean that it was any less impactful. In fact, since their time was so focused, the freshmen were able to fully concentrate their efforts on learning the Courageous Conversation compass, a self-orienting tool that is foundational to the protocol. The compass contains four quadrants – thinking, feeling,

Students spend the afternoon in the "doing" quadrant of the Courageous Conversations compass by completing the task of packaging meals.

believing, and doing. Students spent their afternoon in the ‘doing’ quadrant, helping to pack meals for people in Haiti who had recently been hit by yet another natural catastrophe. The way that they took to this effort, which was organized by English teacher and Service Learning Coordinator, Mr. Austin Davis, is what Mrs. Grubb found so inspirational. She added: “Their sense of purpose was evident, and our Episcopal identity was front and center!” The ability to bring one’s entire self – the thinking, feeling, believing, and doing parts – to the act of encounter, be it with people or projects, speaks to the holistic approach to education which animates the Episcopal identity in such meaningful ways at St. Andrew’s. But one day does not an upper school career make. With this in mind, the freshmen have spent the past 10 weeks in their Habits of Mind classes pivoting to the thinking quadrant so they can learn how to inform their future actions to the best of their ability. In context of the meal packing project, this pivot has allowed the freshmen to see how ‘learning’ is every bit as important as ‘service’ when it comes to service learning

initiatives. As a result of this mindset shift, they can better appreciate the people they are helping, regarding them as equals who have as much to teach as they, the students, have to give. Furthermore, having been disabused of the savior complex which can beset even the best of service-related intentions, the freshmen are beginning to understand how they can maximize their efforts so the greatest good can be done for the greatest number of people. However beautiful our capital city is in the fall, it is very encouraging to know that our students are being provided with skills that will not only last a season but a lifetime. Naturally, they will need intentional, ongoing, and wellorganized opportunities in order to practice these skills. But if the past is any indication, and so long as the St. Andrew’s family includes people like Mr. Davis and Mrs. Jones, such opportunities are certain to abound. And like Mrs. Grubb so proudly observed, with the energy that our students bring to everything that is shared with them, there’s no doubt that they will continue to inspire as they work joyfully on behalf of others.

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The 2021 Third Grade Book Drive By Annie Sykes

This December, SAS third graders, inspired by the idea of every child in Austin having access to a home library, organized a book drive with BookSpring. The book drive brought in over 1,700 books! Here is the story of the first annual Third Grade Book Drive.

Third graders collected and donated over 1,700 books to BookSpring book drive.

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Third graders proudly showing off the results of the book drive.

3rd Graders Work Together To Help As the coordinator of community service on the 31st St. campus, I heard from Mr. Chilton earlier this year about brainstorming a service-oriented project or field trip for the third grade. We began by looking for a way to connect the students' current learning with service; one of the principles of service learning is that when service is directly tied to what students are learning in the classroom, both the learning and the community impact intensify. As it turned out, the third graders were in the middle of a humanities unit called "Overcoming learning challenges near and far." Mr. Chilton and the students began discussing how they might be able to help others in our community overcome a learning challenge. One such challenge the third grade identified is not having access to books in the home. Studies show that children with home libraries are more likely to see positive outcomes in literacy, numeracy, and even 62

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problem solving and empathy. However, the third graders came to understand that building a home library takes money, time, space, access, and many other resources that not everyone has in equal amounts. This was the issue the third grade wanted to address; they were looking to promote equity in access to books and the positive outcomes associated with it. Our book drive was inspired by our first humanities module in third grade, "Overcoming learning challenges near and far." In this module, we studied how people around the world are faced with and overcoming obstacles to learning. We brought this study right here to Austin where we figured out that many kids in central Texas face obstacles accessing books. So the book drive and Bookspring were a good solution and tangible way to use our privilege," said Kenny Chilton.

With home library equity in mind, I started looking and asking around for local organizations that have a similar mission. Several members of the St. Andrew’s community brought up BookSpring, a local non-profit whose mission is to "build literacy skills and the motivation to read through increasing home libraries and reading aloud activities for children." They support literacy with families, elementary schools, and other groups all around Austin. I reached out and began working with Mariela Rodriguez, BookSpring's Communication Director, to organize a book drive for the end of December. BookSpring was incredible to work with, even dropping our logo into a flier we could use for advertising. Meanwhile, Mr. Chilton, Mrs. Dolan, and Ms. Goldman were working with the third graders on the drive and the reason behind it. The students were very excited and got right down to work: They made posters to advertise the drive and posted them all around the Lower School. They found and decorated boxes to store the book donations as they arrived. They even took a morning to go to every Lower School homeroom to present about the drive and deliver fliers with hand-written letters on the back! Finally, the week came when donations should start arriving. None of us knew what to expect, so we were thrilled to see the books start pouring in. Families in every grade sent books! By the end of the drive, the third graders had collected over 1,700 books. Mr. Chilton even had to move his collection area to the hallway just to have enough room in the classroom! It was a huge success. The next step was to deliver the books to BookSpring. Mr. Chilton and Mr. Richardson, SAS Director of Transportation, muscled the 1,700+ books into the back of one our school Suburbans. After Lessons & Carols, I drove them over to BookSpring for the drop-off. The staff there helped me unload the books, and by the time we were done, the third grade books took up an entire section of the donation area! The folks at BookSpring were thrilled! With the drive over and the books delivered, BookSpring took over. One of the ways they support their mission is by partnering with elementary schools to give out books and host literacy events. The Third Grade Book Drive books went to two of these partner schools: Wooten Elementary and Harris Elementary. Together, Wooten and Harris Elementary serve between 750 and 800 students. Mariela Rodriguez shared the following

Books were donated from every grade in the Lower School.

information about the impact of the book drive: “The books collected by SAS students supported holiday book giveaways for students at two campuses: Wooten and Harris Elementary. All students selected one book for themselves and another to gift to a classmate, and all students went home with two books before the holiday break.” Because of the Third Grade Book Drive, two books from the Third Grade Book Drive now live in the homes of over 700 fellow elementary students in Austin. This is both inspiring and motivating; the energy and generosity of our community made a substantial impact yet there is still so much to be done. If you feel inspired and motivated as well, take a cue from the third graders. Learn about a cause you care about, make a plan to support it, and ask your community for help.

Discussion Questions:

■ What are home libraries, and why are they good to have? ■ What can we do to make it easier for everyone to have a home library regardless of income or flexible time? ■ What are some other obstacles to learning that people face in our community? ■ How can we help?

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Highlander Harvest Fest

Thanks to Co-chairs Amanda Oudt and Allison Bassetti and all the parent volunteers for their hard work putting on such a fun event!

Highlander Harvest Fest was a fun-filled day with family and friends.

Homecoming 2021

A very special thanks to Co-chairs Mary Dial and Carmen Huston and all the parent volunteers who made Homecoming 2021 such a special event!

Holiday Events

Parent Association Spotlight The Parent Association has been busy during

the 2021-22 school year! After a school year where many typical PA opportunities had to be put on pause, parent volunteers were ready to hit the ground running when school started in August.

Thanks to a spectacular team of volunteers, the Parent Association has been able to put on some truly wonderful events this year! Mairin Epp (Lower School President), Becca McMullen (Middle School President), and Helen Gilbert (Upper School President), along with countless parent volunteers, have organized opportunities for parent engagement, faculty appreciation, and student celebration. Here is a spotlight on some of what they were able to accomplish – we are so grateful for the efforts that volunteers put forth to lift up the St. Andrew’s community. At the Upper School, volunteers kicked off the year with a welcome breakfast for both returning and new ninth grade parents, assisted with the annual Senior Breakfast to welcome the class of 2022, organized a coffee truck for Faculty Appreciation, put on the Senior Grill Out, helped to keep the Spirit Shop running smoothly, and assisted with setting up the Nazro Green for St. Andrew’s Day lunch! At the Middle School, parents volunteered in the lunchroom, helped run the Spirit Shop and concession stand, brought Middle School students joy in the form of breakfast tacos for Taco Fridays, organized holiday treats during the holiday

From L to R: LS PA President Mairin Epp, MS PA President Becca McMullen and US PA President Helen Gilbert.

season, and treated teachers to a Faculty Appreciation breakfast. At the Lower School, volunteers helped to put on an unforgettable afternoon of fun at Highlander Harvest Fest, organized the K-5 P.E. Fun Run, volunteered as Library Angels and Library Helpers, helped to serve lunch in the lunchroom, provided Faculty Appreciation goodies, and served as Teacher

Helpers and field trip chaperones. Together, parents across all divisions helped to put on a fabulous Homecoming celebration in October, complete with delicious food trucks and activities for kids. Gorgeous weather, great friends, and a Highlander win made it a Homecoming to remember. On February 15, St. Andrew’s hosted

Guest speaker, Jeremy Goldstein, presented on internships and immersive learning at the February PA meeting.

Parents volunteering at the Senior Grillout.

Jeremy Goldstein at the Parent Association Meeting at the Dell Fine Arts Center. Mr. Goldstein hosted an interactive workshop for SAS parents focusing on internships, externships, and immersive learning, highlighting how workforce learning can help students chart their own path. With a broad background in teaching, administration, and innovation in education, Jeremy started his career after graduate school working as a Forensic Archaeologist and Anthropologist in Southeast Asia. He started his teaching career in public education in 1998 and later in independent schools. Jeremy's educational leadership journey began when he was tasked with directing a growing Global Education program in Rhode Island. He currently serves on the senior leadership team at Episcopal High School as the Executive Director of the McCain - Ravenel Center where he leads teams in developing innovative curricula, designs professional development opportunities, and builds the school's network of

Parent volunteers at the Spirit Shop table at Homecoming.

partners in the greater Washington D.C. area and beyond. Using anthropology and a design-thinking mindset as a foundation, he strives to build energy around innovation and connecting communities to unique strategic partnerships. The Parent Association was so grateful to have Mr. Goldstein share his time and expertise with St. Andrew’s families. Please join us for the Parent Association’s next meeting on April 26 at the Upper School campus.

The Parent Association is always looking for new volunteers! Volunteering is a wonderful way to connect with fellow parents and help the school. Contact your respective grade level president for ways to get involved. Mairin Epp (LS) mairinepp@gmail.com Becca McMullen (MS) mcmullenbecca@me.com Helen Gilbert (US) hgilbert12@gmail.com

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ALUMNI NEWS ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

WINTER 2021-2022

SAS Middle School math teacher and department chair Audrey

Huntsberger Moreaux ‘09 and her husband, Billy,

welcomed baby girl Lilly into the world on January 7.

This year, the children of Custis and the late Charles Alan Wright gathered for the Thanksgiving holiday. From left to right, Norie Clarke ‘61, Ted Wright ‘65, Margot Clarke ‘66, Henny Wright ‘69, and Cecily Fitzsimmons ‘72 are all graduates of the St. Andrew’s Lower School. Their father, Charles, served on the St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees for many years, and is the namesake for our prestigious Charles Alan Wright Excellence Award.

Jody Hart ‘78 writes,

“Recently left New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) as Regional Director for the Department's Contact Tracing/ Case Investigation Unit. Prior to my work with NMDOH, I was Dean of Students at a large Title I elementary school with Albuquerque Public Schools.”

ALUMNI NEWS

Malia LeMond ‘79 writes, “I moved to Europe in 2018, living in Switzerland for 2 years and have been living in Rome, Italy since June of 2020, teaching at independent international schools.”

Christian Erben ‘17 writes, “I was cast in a professional

production of Sweeney Todd in Lakeway, TX! I will be playing the role of Beadle Bamford and the show will be running in February. It's very full circle since it's been six years since I did Sweeney Todd at SAS when I was 16 and fell in love with the show.”

Brian Houstoun '04, Alle (Crouch) Houstoun '06 and big brother Giles welcomed Charles Anthony Houstoun on June 8, 2021.

New York Times bestselling author, Mark Manson ‘02 has been working on a new project: Will Smith’s Memoir. The two teamed up to write Will, which was released in November 2021, covering the actor’s early life in Philadelphia to his rise to fame. The book has already gained attention as a major success, with notable critics such as Oprah Winfrey calling it, “The best memoir I’ve ever read.”

Gabriela Henriques ‘08 writes, “I recently completed

a first of its kind campaign with ESPN to premiere Alesso & Katy Perry's new music video during halftime of the College FB National Championship game. As a result, the video premiere was #1 trending on Twitter and the week's greatest gainer on Shazam USA top 100.” Read the press release for Capitol Records here.

Margaret Works Yerkovich ‘03 welcomed her Charlie Rall ‘09 married Veronica Rodriguez in the Upper School Chapel on December 5, 2021.

third child, Louise, on August 18. Big sisters Charlotte (6) and Alice (4) are so proud!

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Retiring #10: Honoring Sam Selman '09 On January 7, 2022 the SAS Athletic Department officially retired the #10 baseball jersey belonging to Sam Selman ‘09. Athletic Director, Jeff McCrary ‘94 and Baseball Program Director, Steven Garcia ‘02 spoke about Sam’s many accomplishments, both as a student and now a member of the Major League Baseball organization. Sam expressed his gratitude for all of his friends and family, many of whom were in attendance, for all of their support over the years. He also thanked his St. Andrew’s coaches, including former coach Andrew Prater. Finally, Sam threw out one last pitch to Jackson Roche ‘08, his catcher for 3 of his 4 high school seasons. Sam Selman becomes the first St. Andrew's Alum to be honored in this way, as it is reserved for those athletes who go on to play at the highest professional level of their respective sport. Sam’s lengthy baseball success began while

ALUMNI NEWS

he was a student at St. Andrew’s. He was an American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/ Rawlings All-American, and he was a two-time All-SPC selection in 2008 and 2009. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 14th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign, as he chose to attend and play baseball at Vanderbilt University instead. He helped the Commodores reach the College World Series in 2011. He went 9-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 21 games (13 starts) as a junior at Vanderbilt. Sam was then drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft at the 66th overall pick. He pitched in the Royals organization from 2012 through 2018. During that time, Sam earned back-to-back CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Pitcher of the Year awards at his respective levels while pitching in Idaho Falls in 2012 and in Wilmington in 2013. He also concluded the 2012 season in Idaho Falls as a postseason AllStar and in 2013 as a Kansas City Royals Organization All-Star. In 2017, Sam was named a midseason Texas League AllStar for Northwest Arkansas, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. In 2019, Sam signed with the San Francisco Giants organization. That year, between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento, he went 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA and had 78 strikeouts and just 14 walks in 47 innings pitched. For his efforts, Sam was named a midseason Pacific Coast League All-Star for Sacramento.

Merritt Bury ‘09 married Spencer Rasmussen in the Upper School Chapel on November 20, 2021. The bridal party, which included SAS alums Paige McGhee ‘09, Flo Clemons ‘09, Allison Sjoberg ‘09 and Adair Cummings Belisle ‘09, posed for a photo with a sculpture of former head of school, Lucy Nazro, ahead of the ceremony.

Sam was rewarded by the Giants and was called up to the Major League club on August 1st of 2019, and he made his debut that day against the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2020, as a member of the Giants, Sam earned his first career save on September 17th against the Seattle Mariners. He finished the season only allowing hitters a .186 batting average against him. Sam was traded on July 30th, 2021 to the Los Angeles Angels, who activated him to their Major League roster the following day. St. Andrew’s is so proud to honor Sam by retiring his #10 jersey. For more photos from the Jersey Retirement Ceremony, click here!

This fall, Ethan Rogers ‘17 played the role of Wolf/ Cinderella’s Prince in the Zach Theatre production of Into the Woods. This show marked the return of live performances at the venue, with the performances occurring outdoors in the People’s Plaza, sitting the audience members in rolling office chairs to allow them to swivel for a 360 theatrical experience. The production earned outstanding reviews as it ran from October through November 2021. Ethan graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Music in Music Theater.

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Matthew Lee, Class of 2014

2021 Outstanding Alumni Award On the 50th Anniversary of St. Andrew’s, the Outstanding Alumni Award was established to be given to a graduate of St. Andrew’s who has demonstrated through their field of work, or service, that they are dedicated to the wellbeing of their community and its future; and their contributions of time, talent, and energy have made a positive impact in their community. This year, we recognize a member of the Class of 2014, Air Force Academy graduate, and active duty service member, Matthew Lee ‘14. A true servant, Matthew entered the Air Force Academy, noting the saying “you apply for one reason, and you stay for another.” “I stayed for the people,” Matthew says, “the opportunity to make a difference in the world, and have a greater purpose than myself.” After graduating from the Academy in 2018, Matthew began pilot training in Del Rio, Texas, later continuing his flight instruction on C-17 planes in Oklahoma. He is currently stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California, flying missions to the Middle East and Europe. One of Matthew’s larger recent missions was evacuating refugees and service members during the US withdrawal from Kabul, Afghanistan in late August 2021. Matthew reflected on this experience by saying, “It was a tiring and exhausting couple of weeks for the crew, however it was also the most rewarding. Watching the Afghans leave our plane, knowing they all would have a better chance at life was incredibly humbling. After talking to some of the Afghanis it furthered our beliefs that the women would finally be able to have freedom, the men would not have to worry about protecting themselves or their family from being killed by the Taliban, and the children would finally be able to have a childhood. Our crew was humbled and grateful to be part of this operation and it made us proud to be Americans.”

ALUMNI NEWS

It is with great pride that we recognize Matthew Lee, Class of 2014, with the 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award.

Flo Clemons ‘09

This fall, Katherine Lewin ‘09 opened a shop, called Big Night, in Brooklyn, NY! Big Night focuses on dinner party essentials and specialty grocery items to help with all of your hosting needs! Read more here.

married Max Conte in the Upper School Chapel on October 2, 2021, with many SAS alumni in attendance!

Conor Keelan ‘13 has begun

work on a new stage adaptation of Spirited Away in Tokyo as the Associate Music Supervisor, Orchestrator, and Electronic Music Programmer. Unfortunately, due to Omicron, he will not be able to be there in person but he has been working remotely since December. Show is set to open in March.

This December, Callie Clemons Burns ‘07 and her

Pema Bear ‘18, who is studying public health and business at American University in Washington, DC, spent the fall semester abroad in Copenhagen!

husband Randy welcomed their first child, Randall. The family of three is currently living in New York City!

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Grace Evans ‘19 is double

This fall, SAS fans of NBC’s The Voice watched Kalie Jennings ‘17 audition with her impressive cover of Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Put your Records On.” Within seconds, celebrity coaches Blake Shelton and John Legend both turned around. Ultimately, Kalie chose Team John, and had the opportunity to work with singer Camila Cabello for her battle vs. fellow contestant Samuel Harness. Though Kalie’s time on The Voice was short, she has been performing shows in LA. She is a student at the Berklee College of Music with a focus on jazz performance, and is scheduled to graduate in 2022.

majoring in Political Science and Ethnic Studies at Santa Clara University and this fall, she was named a recipient of the Hackworth Fellowship with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. Each fellow is given the opportunity to “engage more deeply with the application of ethics to a topic of concrete concern” and is granted a $4,000 stipend. Grace has been interning with the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies in Washington, DC this fall, researching the relationship between the US and Haiti with regard to refugees.

You can watch Kalie’s (also known as KJ) Voice audition here!

Greg Hutton ‘07, wife Lindsey, and big brother Cash welcomed Grace Elisabeth Hutton on July 23.

Nathan Lietzke ‘19 was named to the USA Men’s

Volleyball Team, and competed in the Pan American Cup in September 2021. The team took home the bronze medal, the first medal for the USA since 2014. Nathan is a junior playing collegiate volleyball for Stanford University.

ALUMNI NEWS

Ryan Bishop ‘08 started a pediatric cardiology fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital in July of 2021.

Carson Witt ‘18 writes, “I graduated from St. Andrew's

in 2018, where I played varsity soccer, ran varsity track, participated in Select Choir and theater, and played piano. After graduation, I reported to the United States Naval Academy. I continued to pursue music at the academy with the men’s choir, but I left the group in my sophomore year to pursue other sports and interests. I am majoring in Operations Research, a mathematics major that is comparable to Data Science and Industrial Engineering. Some courses I take in the major include linear programming, simulation, probability, statistics, and matrix theory as well as operations research courses applied to military problems. I will graduate with a bachelor of science degree and commission as an officer in the United States Navy on May 27, 2022. I will then report to Pensacola, FL where I will go to flight school and train to become a Naval Aviator for the next 10 years. I am very excited to start my naval career, and I can’t wait to see where the coming years will take me. All in all, the Naval Academy has been a great experience. A common saying is that the reason you come to the academy is different from the reason you stay. This couldn’t be more true. The academy is very difficult, both academically and physically. My past four years have been filled with many challenges, early mornings, and late nights. I wouldn’t have been able to get through those days without the friends I have made along the way. While the academy has been a challenge, I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything, and I have grown so much as an individual and as a leader.

This fall, Emma Schmidt '21 was recognized with the Rising Star Award from the International Dark-Sky Association. The Rising Star Award honors students of any grade level who demonstrate an enthusiasm for and commitment to dark sky conservation or research into natural darkness and light pollution. During her time at the SAS Upper School, Emma developed a curriculum program called "Fight for the Stars: Be a Knight for the Night", earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. Her curriculum covers light pollution, its causes and effects, and is designed for fourth and fifth grade students. St. Andrew's students in Ms. Donna Hunt's 4th grade class used the materials from Emma's course to learn more about the issue of pollution.

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McLean Eubank ‘16 is a

second year law student at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder, Colorado. She spent the summer of 2021 clerking for the Third Court of Appeals in Austin and the law firm of Cokinos & Young. She graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina Magna Cum Laude in May 2020 with degrees in Political Science, International Relations and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.

Kyle Quick ‘10 married Brittany Gottfried on June 5, 2021 in Kevin Latreille ‘19 is a

junior at the University of Kansas, majoring in Sport Management. This January, Kevin embarked on a “study away” program to Maui, where he was working on the Sentry Tournament of Champions, the calendaryear opening tournament of golf’s PGA Tour. Kevin’s duties ranged from ticketing and hospitality to serving as a spotter on the course.

Our annual Alumni Baseball Game is back! Join the team, or just come to watch the game. Afterwards, enjoy a grill out by SAS grad parent Brett Schwab! Alumni Baseball Game Sunday, May 29, 2022 Upper School Baseball Field Email Steven Garcia '02 (sgarcia@sasaustin.org) to join the roster!

ALUMNI NEWS

Austin, TX.

It was great to see so many players come out for our Alumni Soccer Game on December 29! Hope to see you all next year!

Reunion 2022 April 1-2 Save the Date! April 1-2, 2022 Classes of '02, '05, '06, '07, '10, '11, '12, '15, '16, '17 Alumni, we hope you’re planning to join us for our biggest Reunion weekend yet. Come back to visit classes and Chapel, catch up with your classmates and teachers, and celebrate your reunion milestone. Questions? Email alumni@sasaustin.org

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St. Andrew’s Episcopal School 1112 West 31st Street Austin, Texas 78705

2022 Winter Highlander

Articles inside

Alumni News

Homecoming 2021

Highlander Harvest Fest

Third Grade Book Drive

Chasing Success

Middle School Round Up

Ninth Grade's Day of Engagement

Coach Ray Wright Makes an Immediate Impact

St. Andrew's Day 2021

The Beginning of an Era

Top Honors for Choir

Students Take the Stage

Stop, Collaborate and Listen

Full STEAM Ahead

Identity Work with DEIB

Fifth Grade Explores Service and Sustainability

Turning Up the Heat in Math

Melissa Grubb Named Head of School

Remembering Our Friend and Teacher, Lauren Dill

'The Little Mermaid'

Letter from Head of School