SEVERN STORIES

SIGNS AND STORIES TO APPRECIATE OUR DIFFERENCES

As our first graders listened and laughed along with the story, the barriers of language and distance seem to disappear — a reminder that we often have much more in common with others than what you might see at first glance.

Through every part of our curriculum, Lower School teachers strive to expand their students' understanding of the many different ways of being in the world. For our youngest learners, real-life experience is a critical part of developing those understandings. In a recent Zoom visit with high school students from the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind, first graders in Ms. Cowell and Ms. Wong's classes learned that while communication might not look the same for everyone, a shared love of stories and connection puts us on common ground.

During their language arts unit about animals and people working together, first graders read "Koko and Penny," a story from Wonders Literature Anthology about a gorilla who learned sign language. Each class talked about different ways to communicate including verbally, with body language, facial expressions, and sign language. They had plenty of experience with the first three, but for most, sign language is a newer concept. Seeing an opportunity to make a memorable connection, Ms. Cowell reached out to her longtime friend and teacher of the Deaf and hard of hearing, Ms. Shellie Shipley, for a Zoom visit with three of her high school students.

Before the visit, Ms. Cowell and Ms. Wong asked their classes to brainstorm questions they would like to ask. Our first graders' genuine curiosity brought smiles to the high schoolers' faces as they signed their responses to Ms. Jacque Fult, an interpreter, who then relayed their answers verbally. Much of what they said about learning and using sign language could be applied to any language — starting with simpler, more gestural language at a young age followed by formal language development through school. "It's hard and takes effort, but if you are willing to put in the time, you can do it. It's a lifelong process of always learning new things."

When 1st grader Keon '32 Zooming from home asked, "How can I say something to a person who is Deaf or hard of hearing if I don't know sign language?" several high schoolers were eager to answer. • "There are so many ways that you can use right now. You can use a piece of paper and write back and forth and communicate that way." • "You can use an interpreter and bring them with you to communicate back and forth. Or you can use a phone and text back and forth." • "You don't have to use [formal] sign language, you can use gestures back and forth and figure out what each other is saying." Our first graders also asked how to sign different words and phrases including "Fly Guy" (a favorite book character), "Arizona," and of course, "crab." The high schoolers demonstrated how to make each sign while our first graders followed along.

Finally, the Arizona students signed a children's book, Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie, while Ms. Fult read their signs aloud and flipped through the pages on screen. As our first graders listened and laughed along with the story, the barriers of language and distance seem to disappear — a reminder that we often have much more in common with others than what you might see at first glance.

Our teachers commit to incorporating diverse perspectives, materials, and experiences in and out of the classroom. They create unique opportunities for students to learn about and appreciate different cultures, combat bias, and promote genuine understanding and acceptance of others. From reading literature that celebrates diversity and exploring history from varied perspectives to experiences like our Zoom visitors from Arizona, we aim to make diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging part of the fabric of everyday learning at Severn.

Learn ASL with us!

COMMUNITY LIFE ART AND ADVOCACY

Community Life offers a platform for middle schoolers to both celebrate and improve student life at Severn. Students join the club to practice advocacy and leadership and to discuss what it means to be part of a community by exploring topics like civility, equality, inclusivity, and more. This year, the club took on two major initiatives to promote a culture of belonging in our Middle School through assessment and action: a DEI survey and a kidfriendly collection of DEI resources for their peers to easily access. With the support of faculty advisor Ms. Whitney Etchison, the club demonstrated that good leadership comes from asking thoughtful questions, listening with empathy, and acting with intention.

The Community Life Committee created a survey for all middle schoolers with questions in six areas related to diversity, equity and inclusion: gender identity, mental health, neurodiversity, racial identity, religious identity, and sexual identity. The group followed an intentional process, from creating and editing the questions to administering the survey and presenting the results to their peers. In their Zoom presentation to the entire Middle School community, they shared statistics on knowledge, interest, and comfort level of these topics, along with data about the prevalence of inappropriate comments at Severn, the difference between a joke and an insult, and anecdotes from students' experiences in code switching at school. "We had a lot of great conversations during that process about the needs of our community, what kinds of questions we thought were important, and how we could use the information we received. As a result of the survey, we decided the greatest current need in our community was helping people become more informed about, and more comfortable with, topics that can sometimes feel very tricky or potentially controversial." — Ms. Etchison

Based on their survey results, the group took on their second big initiative, creating Topics pages in mySevern that would provide resources on the six DEI areas from the survey. The group gathered online resources for the pages, identified key vocabulary, and brainstormed different types of media (books, webtoons, tv shows, and movies) that provide a positive representation of each topic. To include their peers even further, they ran an art contest in which the winning pieces became the cover photo for the accompanying topic. All submissions were included in an online photo album and the Community Life crew created a large library display of the artwork with books related to each topic.

Although Ms. Etchison served as a facilitator and organizer, the students of Community Life led these initiatives from start to finish. Their energy represents a growing interest in advocacy and social responsibility among our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, a desire to address the real needs of our community, and the collective drive to make our Middle School the best it can be for each and every Admiral.

View the Fellows websites and videos online at BIT.LY/2021SEVERNFELLOWS

COMMUNITY AND FELLOWSHIP DEFINED

Through the Van Eney '09 Fellows Program, select seniors transcend our traditional curriculum with a year-long intellectual pursuit that reflects their growing interests and passions. To complete this year of independent study, our students must demonstrate genuine curiosity and a commitment to pushing past their academic boundaries. And with so many obstacles to overcome this year, we are reminded that mentorship and support are equally important to the program. In the spirit of true fellowship, our 20-21 Fellows hosted two events inviting all members of our community to share in their inspiration, challenges, and discoveries: a fair for their peers and an evening of presentations for families.

With COVID guidelines in place, the Upper School was unable to gather as a whole for the annual presentation of Fellows projects; Zoom is limited in terms of interaction and connection for such a large gathering. Our innovative fellows crew met this challenge by staging the first ever Fellows Fair. With our Fellows presenting in different classrooms on a rotating schedule, upper schoolers could see all of the presentations in a more intimate setting, ask questions, watch films, listen to music, play games, and more.

We were beyond excited to welcome a limited number of family guests to Price Auditorium while also live-streaming for those at home. This was one of the first events this year that families were able to attend in person. Program director Ms. Mary Ellen Carsley began the evening with a heartfelt thanks to the Eney Family for their continued support of the program. Then reflecting on this past year, which in many ways reshaped our perspectives, she explored the meaning of community as formally defined and as she has come to understand it while mentoring the Fellows. Following her introduction, each Fellow took the stage, led the audience through their year of discovery, and thanked their faculty mentors for guidance and support.

Although the pandemic presented many obstacles this year and last, it also opened doors to new traditions. Following in the footsteps of their 2020 predecessors, our Fellows again created short videos to highlight their findings and overall experience in the program. They also created websites documenting every step of the process from inspiration and initial meetings with mentors last summer to the completion of their work this spring.

"I think of community as a verb, not a noun. Community is more a shared call to compassionate action and understanding. In ideal circumstances, through fellowship — which defines community — we strive to share the best of who and what we are. We share our joys and our sorrows, our failures, our achievements. And through true community, we can become better and stronger." — Ms. Carsley

FOR MORE SEVERN NEWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES OR VISIT WWW.SEVERNSCHOOL.COM/NEWS-ARCHIVE.

Three Seniors Headed to Service Academies/ROTC this Fall

Jacob Darrow, United States Naval Academy Caleb Morgan, Vanderbilt University ROTC Aislinn Murray, United States Coast Guard Academy

22 Student-Athletes to Continue Athletics in College

Check out the list of Severn's young alumni playing in college at www.severnschool.com/athletics/admirals-in-college

2021 Dillon Moran '09 Musician in Residence

Our eighth annual Musician in Residence program looked a little different this year. Embracing remote artists in residence, we welcomed an amazing series of musicians and educators. Special thanks to John Dierker and Zack Branch, Dr. Marques Garrett, Ball in the House (repeat from 2018!)

DOUBLE THE FUN IN 2021!

Join us for an in-person celebration on campus on Saturday, October 9, 2021 and virtual events throughout the month of October. Alumni events for all ages and interests! Alumni with years ending in 0's/1's and 5's/6's will celebrate milestone reunions! A complete schedule and registration will be available in September at www.severnschool.com/alumni Questions? Email Carrie MacVean Grimes '91 at c.grimes@severnschool.com.

Farewell and thank you, Molly Moore Green '83

Part of the Severn community for 43 years, Molly walked through our doors as a 7th grader in 1978. After graduating in 1983, she attended Salem College, led a musical career in New York City, and then returned to lead Severn's development team before transforming our admissions department as Director of Enrollment and Outreach. She played a significant role in elevating Teel Campus, raising support for the construction of McCleary Hall in 1999, Creeden Hall in 2002, the St. John Athletic Center in 2008, and Teel Hall in 2015, quite literally changing the shape of our school. Her energy and vision have been the driving force behind our incredible admissions program, filling our classrooms with outstanding students who exemplify Severn School values and welcoming every new family with warmth and thoughtful attention. Her list of accomplishments is long and impressive, but what we'll miss most about Molly is her passion and pride for all aspects of our school. She has led by example with a genuine connection to our curriculum, students, faculty, and community, and in countless ways has made Severn School what it is today. Her legacy lives on through the stories of every Admiral who has walked our halls during her tenure.

Welcome to Severn's Director of Studies and Director of Enrollment and Outreach

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sidra Smith to the Admiral family. Dr. Smith has served a variety of independent schools and universities in both teaching and administrative capacities. “I have always loved working with and for young people who populate the campuses. In my endeavors to educate the whole child/ individual, I bring my whole self….The ultimate goal of my professional work is to realize the mission of our school and to support the intellectual, social and emotional health of our students, faculty and staff. At my core, I am a servant leader who prioritizes relationships and respects individuals and individuality within the context of community.”

Kim Slade comes to Severn with nearly 30 years of enrollment management experience, most recently at Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, NC. "I particularly value the opportunity to develop relationships with students and families. My approach with this constituency is two-pronged: First, to listen with the intent of understanding a family's goals, hopes and needs for their child. Second, to be the front-line storyteller, helping them see and desire the wonderful opportunities offered at my school. Successful relationship management is critical in attracting new families, retaining current families, and ultimately inspiring alumni to continue to support their school."

Curious what our faculty and staff are reading this summer? Add this to your booklist! "The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups" by Daniel Coyle