Summer 2021
IN THIS ISSUE Graduation Alum of the Year: Síofra Rucker G’84 Curriculum Feature: Connecting the Dots
By Alexandra S. Thurstone G’80, ’84
Addie Regnier ’21, Norah Patrick G’17, ’21, Bella Nugent G’17, ’21, Teagan Morrison G’17, ’21, Eden Baize G’17, ’21, Sydney Snyder ’21
“I know without a doubt that I will be carrying what I learned here with me for the rest of my life. I was able to be a better student and think critically. I also know for a fact that I have grown here. I’m a better person, a better friend, and a better part of my community because I am able to see that things are bigger than myself.” - Katie Mushkin G’17, ’21
Wyvern Report
There is no doubt that school looked a lot different this year. The restrictions and safeguards we implemented to protect our students and our staff meant continuously finding new ways to teach, learn, connect, and celebrate. While we successfully managed the ever-changing restrictions, we dearly missed the normal rhythms and activities of a “regular” school year. There is an energy, a sense of connection, and a feeling of belonging that just cannot be replicated virtually. So, when we realized we would be able to hold Graduation for the Class of 2021 in person, without masking, my heart leapt! Graduation, on Friday, May 28, was scheduled to be outdoors under a tent in the fields of the Goshen Campus, but as the weather had other plans, we relocated into the also beautiful Goshen Gymnasium. And while not held in the usual venue, the ceremony was exactly as our Graduations always are: from student speeches to guest award presenters to the granting of diplomas to the culminating photograph capturing the newly minted SFS alumni tossing their caps, everything was able to return to what we all know and love. Being able to see the students’ smiling faces as they walked across the stage and shake their hands as I gave them diplomas were especially meaningful moments this year, and I certainly will never take them for granted in the future. As most of you know, one of our favorite traditions is that any student who feels compelled to speak at Graduation is invited and encouraged to do so, unedited and uncensored, and every year we look forward to hearing what they have to share about their time at St. Francis. Here are a few quotes from those who spoke: George Bevan ’21 reflected on becoming who he wants to be: “Looking back on my time at St. Francis, it will always be the place that made me not give up on myself. Freshman year, in a letter to my future self, I asked: “Are you actually happy or do you still just pretend to be? Are you happy? Are you happy?” St. Francis, through all of its magnificent people beside me, is where I was allowed to become who I wanted to be so I can firmly answer my freshman self with three resounding yeses.”
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Jimmy Lancaster G’17, ’21
Jaida Knuckles G’17, ’21
Bennett Middendorf G’17, ’21 spoke on learning to be resilient: “Maybe it wasn’t graceful, but it actually all added up to be worth something, and I’m not talking about the preparation for college, the report cards, or the teacher recommendations. It’s that I learned that I can do hard things. I learned to be grateful for those science classes and history essays that I thought would be the end of me, because they showed me that I can persevere and complete, even if the conclusion was rushed and the math wasn’t exactly perfect. I still did something hard.” Jaida Knuckles G’17, ’21 spoke about the diversity in her class: “I am so pleased to be a part of this class. And from what I know, everyone is different … everyone has different stories. How I feel when I think of SFS … I’ve honestly grown into who I am because of the factors and independence at this school.” Katie Mushkin G’17, ’21 shares gratitude for the gifts of her St. Francis education: “I know without a doubt that I will be carrying what I learned here with me for the rest of my life. I was able to be a better student and think critically. I also know for a fact that I have grown here. I’m a better person, a better friend, and a better part of my community because I am able to see that things are bigger than myself. I am prepared to be a part of the greater world now. So, thank you to St. Francis, and thank you to everyone here who makes it such a special place.” These students did not have the senior year that they had hoped for, but nonetheless, they persevered and they are wiser and stronger because of it. Please join me in congratulating all of these amazing, talented, resilient, compassionate, and curious young adults. They did it!
Founding Head of School Tom Pike and George Bevan ’21
8TH GRADE RETROSPECTIVE The 8th Grade Retrospective held on Friday, May 21 celebrated the growth and progress each of our 8th graders has made and recognized their contributions to the School and community during their time on the Goshen Campus. Each student was honored with a meaningful, moving tribute shared by a faculty member. The remarks about students were filled with love, humor, wisdom, and encouragement. It was an absolutely gorgeous day in Goshen for this first-of-itskind outdoor event reflecting on the young person that each student has become. This year we moved our 8th grade student speeches to our Middle School Awards Assembly to create a truly student-centered event. Here are a couple of excerpts from their speeches: Zoë Petiprin G’21, ’25 shares gratitude for her teachers: “You have taught us that the world is one filled with wonders, atrocities, rights, and wrongs. You give permission to use our voices, and mine often asked A LOT of questions that you never failed to answer. I leave Goshen prepared for the next chapter and with a heart that is open to difference and a head full of knowledge and skills that will allow me to achieve my dreams. For this, I am eternally grateful.” Eden Bess Farber G’21 offers some advice to rising 5th graders: “When you’re given the choice to do something that you think you would enjoy but you have doubts, take that chance. Don’t waste your time questioning yourself or asking 10 other people what their opinion is on your own choice to make, because before you know it, that chance will be gone.”
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High School Athletics and Wellness Center Since the Winter 2020 issue of the Wyvern Report, significant progress has been made in the ongoing Campaign to increase the scholarship endowment and meet goals outlined in the School’s long-term Master Facilities Plan. We are excited to announce that this April, an anonymous $5,000,000 gift was made to support the existing scholarship endowment, which funds need- based tuition assistance to students on both the Downtown and Goshen Campuses! This gift marks the single largest contribution ever made in the School’s 56-year history and ensures that our robust financial aid program, which awards scholarships to over 50% of the student body, will continue well into the future. Wyvern Report
New 2,750 square foot open indoor turf space
The final project of the Master Facilities Plan is the expansion of the Downtown Campus, with expanded athletic facilities in our current building and a new Athletics and Wellness Center. Phase 1 of the Plan has begun: we are converting currently unused space in the basement of the 3rd and Broadway building into a beautiful glassed-in weightlifting and fitness room, as well as a 2,575 square foot open indoor turf space to be used for practice and training by SFS’s varsity teams. This space will provide students with increased opportunities for training needed to develop specific athletic skills and will support the School’s efforts to further incorporate physical fitness into the curriculum. This project is a major step forward in our effort to secure an abundant future for the School and the students we serve. The second phase of the plan is an $8,000,000 state-of-the-art Athletics and Wellness Center to be located adjacent to the existing 3rd and Broadway space on our current parking lot. Designed by architects Luckett & Farley, this new facility will provide regulation-size high school basketball and volleyball courts, locker rooms, athletic offices, and concessions, as well as space for student gatherings and assemblies, lunchtime/free period recreation, and student wellness programs that emphasize the value of physical activity as a critical part of overall personal health and well-being. The Athletics and Wellness Center will also greatly enhance the aesthetics of the 3rd and Broadway corridor and open doors for new partnership opportunities with downtown neighbors, as the School hopes the gymnasium will serve the broader Louisville community. “We have been a part of downtown Louisville since the High School’s founding in 1976, and our commitment to the area remains strong. The city of Louisville is an extension of our classrooms that complements our academic program and provides our students with an experience that sets them up for success in higher education and life beyond school,” states Head of School Alexandra S. Thurstone G’80, ’84. “This project is the culmination of a multi-year campaign and will provide our students with the outstanding facilities they deserve.”
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thank you to our parent association Every parent at SFS is a member of the Parent Association (PA). The PA raises funds through optional annual dues, the High School used book sale, and fun family events throughout the year to give back to the School in the form of PA grants. For the 2020-21 school year, the School received a PA grant of $10,000 to fund the following items requested by the faculty: High School New furniture for a model classroom to promote student learning and health, featuring desks that can be combined in various permutations for partner/group work, whole-class discussions, etc.; standing desks; and seating options that include ergonomic chairs and balance stools. Middle School The BrainSTEM Project Pilot Program, taught by Dr. Ricky Mason, a Johns Hopkins and UK-educated Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, provided 20 middle schoolers the opportunity to design their own video games during a 9-week program that introduced students to coding, foundational computer science concepts, and computational and problemsolving skills.
Lower School New furniture to continue our work of aesthetically unifying all of the classrooms on the Goshen Campus, while also ensuring that it may be flexibly arranged to accommodate our open concept design. The new furniture makes reading and writing materials in our language arts classroom more accessible for students and provides additional storage for teachers. Preschool A wooden playhouse for the natural playground that offers more climbing opportunities for our preschoolers. This will simultaneously support the longevity of our burning bushes by providing another climbing space and encourage imaginative play. Thank you, SFS Parents, for these amazing grants for opportunities we discovered outside of our budgeting process that could not have happened without your support and for all you do to make our School the wonderful community it is! Questions about how to support your PA or to volunteer? Ask Michelle Browning Coughlin, High School PA Chair, at DowntownPA@StFrancisSchool.org; Allison King or Bridget Morgan, Goshen PA Co-Chairs, at GoshenPA@ StFrancisSchool.org; or Laura Burke and Stacy Plotts, Preschool PA Co-Chairs, at PreschoolPA@StFrancisSchool.org.
once a wyvern… Please join us in welcoming Bethany Heckel back to the St. Francis community. Bethany joined us in May and will be serving as the Director of Advancement. Bethany was the Director of Development at the High School in the early 2000s. During that time, in partnership with school leadership and the Board of Trustees, she raised significant, transformative funding to complete the Capital Campaign for the initial renovation of the Downtown Campus. Additionally, she
launched multiple programs to expand annual giving, enhance alumni relations, and strengthen communications across all constituencies. After leaving St. Francis, Bethany went on to serve in advancement roles with the University of Louisville, The de Paul School, and most recently, the Episcopal Church Home. With nearly 20 years of experience in development, Bethany brings an abundance of fundraising knowledge and expertise to this role. She is passionate about the Mission of the School and eager to make an impact on its continued advancement. When asked why she returned, she said, “Because I love this School and everything it stands for, and I want to be part of the effort that helps ensure its future strength and success.”
annual fund thank you
save the date!
Thanks to the generous support of our SFS community, we exceeded our 2020-21 Annual Fund goal of $350,000! Thank you! We would also like to thank Chairs Jonathan and Cheri Baize and all of the Class Captains for their hard work during this unprecedented school year.
On Saturday, October 9, 2021 we will host Our Good Earth in the fields of the Goshen Campus. We hope to see you there!
A Legacy of Learning
William led a five-day writing instruction intensive for Lower School teachers on the Downtown Campus in 2018.
The St. Francis community mourns the recent passing of William Van Cleave, a dear friend and devoted alum from the Class of 1986. This loss leaves a giant hole in the hearts of his family, friends, and colleagues. He was a lover of learning, teaching, and the St. Francis Mission. When asked about his time at St. Francis, William always spoke with enthusiasm about the dedication and creativity of his teachers and the extra personal effort they contributed to help him discover his unique strengths, talents, and passions. As William himself put it, “They never gave up on me.” After successfully completing his academic career at St. Francis, William continued to explore and cultivate his love for language arts. He received a B.A. in English and Women’s Studies from The College of Wooster (1990) and earned his M.A. in English from S.U.N.Y. New Paltz (2001). He went on to devote his career to helping teachers around the country enhance their effectiveness in the classroom, specifically in the areas of critical thinking, speaking, and writing. After spending 12 years in Greenville, NC, William returned to Louisville in 2017 where he continued to work as a renowned teacher trainer, educational consultant, language tutor, and author. He leaves behind an important body of work that will continue to advance classroom instruction. We were fortunate enough to have him conduct workshops at St. Francis during recent summers that some of our teachers were able to attend – several at significant discounts thanks to William’s generosity to the School – which helped transform writing instruction in our Lower School and intermediate grades. William in his senior year at St. Francis in 1986
Wyvern Report
William was an active and engaged alum. He attended alumni activities regularly and was a loyal contributor to the School’s Annual Fund. Through a bequest from his estate, William’s generosity and dedication to the Mission of St. Francis will continue for many years to come. With this posthumous gift, William earns the bittersweet distinction of being the first alum from whom such a gift has been realized. St. Francis will work in close partnership with the Van Cleave family to ensure that William’s legacy continues to be celebrated in the St. Francis community through the initiatives this contribution will support for years to come.
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Síofra Rucker G’84
Every year at Graduation, we have the distinct pleasure of honoring one of our St. Francis School graduates as Alum of the Year. We are fortunate to have such an amazing pool of Wyverns to choose from who continually support the School and our Mission, while also demonstrating the qualities of a St. Francis graduate years after they leave our halls. This year, we honored Síofra Rucker from the Goshen Class of 1984 as the 2020-21 Alum of the Year. Below is the speech that Melanie Pugh, Director of Alumni Relations & Stewardship, delivered to honor Síofra at Graduation.
Síofra in 8th grade
Síofra and classmates
When choosing an alum, we look for graduates who have made a significant impact on the St. Francis community during the most recent school year – but in Síofra’s case, her contributions to St. Francis go far beyond this past school year alone. Síofra is not only a graduate of our Goshen Campus, she was also the School’s first-ever Director of Advancement. She came back to St. Francis with fervent determination to help move the School forward, and she has worked tirelessly every day to do just that. None of the things that St. Francis has accomplished in the past nine years could have been possible without Síofra in this role. Síofra has not only made possible these incredible spaces for our students – from the Goshen Gymnasium and Theater to acquiring the Gray’s Bookstore building to renovating the High School entrance and Commons Room – but more importantly, she has made possible incredible opportunities for our students by significantly increasing our scholarship endowment, so that any deserving student can join our community. She believes in the magic of St. Francis because she is a product of that magic herself. She truly is all that a Wyvern should be, all that we as a school hope to instill in our students – strength, perseverance, curiosity, compassion, kindness. When graduates leave St. Francis, we hope that we’ve given them the tools they will need in life – that we’ve done enough to help mold them to become compassionate citizens of the world. If St. Francis can take even the smallest amount of credit as to the person Síofra has become, we are humbled and honored to be a part of her life’s journey, and we will forever be thankful for the role she’s played in ours.
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Robert Bonnie G’81
alumni committee After a short hiatus, we are proud to revive the St. Francis School Alumni Committee! The overarching goal of the Committee will be to have a true alum voice in some of the School’s operations. The Committee is comprised of alums representing every decade who work with the Director of Alumni Relations to identify, recruit, and cultivate alumni who will work to find ways to connect alums to each other and the School in the short and long term. The Committee will also help increase alumni engagement in all regards, including but not limited to reunions and other events (including those in other cities), annual giving and other fundraising, and admissions and recruiting, and will ensure that alumni input is solicited and considered for relevant School matters. The Committee is being chaired by Trustee Rob Penta ’99. If you have interest in joining our virtual meetings, contact Melanie Pugh at MPugh@StFrancisSchool.org.
Wyvern Report
Akhtar Nawab G’83, ’87
Michelle Marks ’05
Shannon (Moore) Papka ’05
Robert Bonnie G’81 has just been nominated by President Biden to be Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation with the Department of Agriculture. Robert currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Climate at USDA. He led the USDA Transition Team for the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect. He also served in the ObamaBiden Administration as Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, as well as Senior Advisor for the Environment and Climate. He is one of the nation’s foremost authorities and leaders on working lands approaches to conservation and incentive-based climate and conservation practices for farmers, ranchers, foresters, and landowners. Akhtar Nawab G’83, ’87, a 25-year veteran of the restaurant industry and an award-winning chef based in New York City, published his first cookbook titled Good for You: Bold Flavors with Benefits. This cookbook provides recipes that infuse clean eating with rich flavor with 100 healthful and hearty recipes that satisfy every appetite. He was also recently featured on “The Dish,” a segment of CBS This Morning: Saturday. Michelle Marks ’05 graduated from Western Kentucky University in 2009 with a B.A. in marketing/advertising before fulfilling a variety of account management and supervision roles with Fortune 500 companies in Nashville, TN and Louisville, KY. In 2018, after a number of family deaths, she realized that she wanted to get out of the corporate world and create long-term financial planning for individuals, families, and small business owners for the expected and unexpected. “There are too many unknowns to not have a plan and to be prepared at any moment. The effects of not having a plan can be devastating and I would know because I’ve lived through many over the past couple of years,” she says. This vision led her to become a financial advisor with Raymond James in 2020. She also has immersed herself in helping the community by serving as her neighborhood’s HOA president, treasurer of local nonprofit Inside the Lines Training, and member of the SFS Alumni Committee, and she was recently accepted into the 2021 Ignite Leadership Louisville program. Although she keeps herself quite busy, there is always snuggle time with her three fur babies (Julep, Abbott, and Maybelline). Shannon (Moore) Papka ’05 is the proud business owner of Louisville’s first mobile plant shop, Dancing Deer Botanicals. Shannon grows and gardens from her own greenhouse, but you never know where she will “pop up” in Louisville to sell her beautiful plants. You can follow her on Instagram.com/dancingdeerbotanicals and Facebook.com/ dancingdeerbotanicals.
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baby
wyverns
Stephanie (Honchell) Smith ’02 and her husband Zak welcomed their son Morgan Eli on May 16, 2020.
Morgan Eli Smith
Blaze Betts
Lucy Dayton
Charlotte Joy
Julie (Brayton) Dayton G’01 and her husband Chris welcomed their third child, Lucy, on August 2, 2020. Dom Betts ’09 and Caitlin Joy G’07, ’11 welcomed their son Blaze on March 18, 2021. Charles Joy G’05, ’09 and his wife Leah welcomed their first child, Charlotte, on February 9, 2021.
wyvern pop-ups One of the silver linings of the pandemic is the weekly Class of ’88 Zoom reunion, spearheaded by Chris Browne ’88. Starting in May of 2020, a small group of Wyverns gathered via Zoom and spent time catching up, drinking bourbon, and laughing … a lot. As the COVID-19 crisis kept us all at home, Chris began inviting other former classmates to join, surprising the rest of the regulars! He also managed to wrangle alums from several other Wyvern classes to join in on the weekly virtual happy hour. Highlights from the year included Robin Beggs Toepp ’88 joining from her trucking rig; the surprise siblings Zoom; Joe Dinwiddie ’87 and Devin Emke G’84, ’88 jamming virtually at a pre-Derby gala; and many other memorable moments. If anyone would like to join sometime (former
Class of ’88 Zoom reunion
Goshen Class of 1980
students or staff), please contact Chris Browne at thecb810@gmail.com. Pictured here, left to right: Devin Emke G’84, ’88, Chris Browne ’88, Bill Schreiber G’84, ’88, Galen White G’84, ’88, Jack Chaffin G’84, ’88, Adam Sachs ’88, Jenny (Weiner) Karmiol G’80, ’84, and Trent Rosenbloom G’84, ’88. The Goshen Class of 1980 enjoyed a winter mini-reunion on the porch of Alexandra Thurstone G’80, ’84. Pictured here, left to right: Alexandra Thurstone G’80, ’84, Michael Kelley G’80, Stephen McCrocklin G’80, and Noel Saltzman G’80.
in memoriam William Van Cleave ’86
John Gamboa ’99
Declan Keegan G’16 , ’20
John Gamboa ’99 passed away on March 21, 2021. John lived his life fearlessly, much to the amusement of his siblings, and would do almost anything to get a good laugh. He took on school bullies or those who would prey on the vulnerable. He is survived by his parents Anthony Gamboa, Jr. (Debra) and Gayle Gamboa, brother Anthony Gamboa, III (Julia), sister Francesca Gamboa (Brandon Essenmacher), and many other family, friends, and classmates.
William Van Cleave ’86 passed away on April 20, 2021. William was a nationally-known expert in the field of dyslexia education. He travelled far and wide sponsoring workshops, training sessions, and conferences. The people Declan Keegan G’16, ’20 passed away on December 9, whose lives he impacted number in the thousands. He is 2021. Declan was a recent graduate of St. Francis School survived by his mother Martha Ruth Van Cleave, his brother who was an ardent lover of the outdoors and an Trey (Joan) and their three children, his father Richard Van environmentalist. He is survived by his parents Bob and Cleave (Patti), and many other family, friends, and Jennifer Keegan, sister Aidan Keegan G’19, ’23, and many classmates. See the article on William in this publication other family members, friends, and classmates. regarding his many contributions to the SFS community. 9 www.StFrancisSchool.org
8th Grade Retrospective and End-of-Year Awards
Top left: 8th grade class performance. Top right: Zoë Petiprin G’21 and Alexandra Thurstone G’80, ’84 pose for the Head of School Award. Bottom left: Tom Skaggs G’04, ’08 was chosen as the faculty speaker by the 8th grade class. Bottom Center: Savion Butler G’21 receives his abacus and tribute. Bottom right: Maren Saleem G’21 receives the Frank Q. Cayce Scholarship Award.
The Goshen Campus Head of School Award Zoë Petiprin The Spirit of St. Francis Award Lucy Bogel, Savion Butler The Eagle Award Eden Bess Farber, Isaac Jones The Frank Q. Cayce Scholarship Award Lucy Bogel, Lillian Hale, Zoë Petiprin, Maren Saleem The Edward Y. Mason, Jr. Memorial Athletics Award Savion Butler, Bella Feitelson, Caroline McCurry, Maren Saleem The St. Francis Goshen Campus Triple Crown Award Savion Butler The Russell D. Herr Memorial Art Award Savion Butler, Parker McCurry, Zoë Petiprin, Maya Rawlins, Sophie Renda
Wyvern Report
The Ed Gupton Memorial Drama Award Lucy Bogel, Sloane Coughlin, Eden Bess Farber, Charley Ignatow, Rand Massey, Zoë Petiprin, Wyatt Reynolds, Jude Sleadd Goshen Campus St. Francis Lifers Attended St. Francis continuously from Preschool through 8th grade:
Tonya Amini, Savion Butler, Isaac Jones, Ben Rutherford, Jude Sleadd Attended St. Francis continuously from Junior Kindergarten through 8th grade:
Eliza Frazier, Jayden Frazier Attended St. Francis continuously from Kindergarten through 8th grade:
Eden Bess Farber, Quentin Johnson, Rand Massey, Zoë Petiprin, Wyatt Reynolds, Molly Waggener 8th Grade Children of Alumni Quinn Cross, Charley Ignatow, Jack Masticola, Caroline McCurry, Parker McCurry, Jude Sleadd The Cassie Stevens Memorial Award (5th grader) Max Gray
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High School 2nd Semester Honor Roll: Students who earned all As and Bs
12th Grade Eduardo Avila, Eden Baize, George Bevan, Audrey Brinkmann-Piuma, Will Caudill, Charli Clark, Harrison Hilton, Sophie Johnson, Matt Kurtz, Jimmy Lancaster, Audrey McClain, Bennett Middendorf, Teagan Morrison, Katie Mushkin, Bella Nugent, Claire Richards, Drew Siciliano, Mellie Simpson, Parker Smith, Sydney Snyder, Natalie Stewart 11th Grade Nora Abugabal, Stevaun Butler, Evie Dunn, Lily Gilbert, Anna Hardwick-Jones, Jed Ives, Lucy Johnson, Ayda Marshall, Rayya Metry-Bonyun, Blake Millwood, Lucas Nofsinger, Rosemary Peters, Katy Roemer, Henry Schneiderman, Alison Smith, Ellie Westfall
10th Grade Amir Campbell, Ja’Karri Clay, Emily Cordero, Moss Dingman-Root, Amelia Gorman, Ku Htoo, Luke Johnson, Hayden Jones, Aidan Keegan, Guy Koerner, Ava Kurtz, Aryana Luckett-Orr, Jane McLeroy, West Middendorf, Alex Miguel, Sheridan Oller, Xavier Shelley, Jackson Sleadd, Emma Todd 9th Grade Ibraheem Abugabal, Lachlan Apple, Amy Bagley, Mia Barbercheck, Mireia Cecil, Ousmane Cherif, Jack Christensen, Emilia Garibay-Romero, Ella Gordon, Elliott Loewy, Ben Manno, Jack Scantland, Gavin Smith, A.J. Stevenson, Mya Stevenson, El Willey, Mae Wilson
High School Awards Day Ceremony BOOK AWARDS (for 11th graders) Dartmouth College (Excellence in World Languages)
Lucy Johnson, Anna Hardwick-Jones Harvard University (Excellence in Math) Nora Abugabal Princeton University (Excellence in Science) Ellie Westfall University of Virginia (Excellence in History) Ayda Marshall Bryn Mawr College (Purposeful Woman) Lily Gilbert Hampden-Sydney College (Purposeful Man) Henry Schneiderman University of Louisville (Excellence in English) Evie Dunn
SENIOR DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
History Math Science World Language
George Bevan Sophie Johnson Drew Siciliano Natalie Stewart Sydney Snyder
SENIOR NATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARTS AND LETTERS AWARDS
Excellence in Drama Excellence in Music Excellence in Visual Art Excellence in Creative Writing Overall Award for Fine/Performing Arts
Katie Mushkin Addie Regnier Sam Yost Audrey McClain Bennett Middendorf Teagan Morrison
ATHLETIC AWARDS
Senior Athlete-Scholar Awards Jimmy Lancaster, Natalie Stewart Athletes of the Year Awards Ayda Marshall, Darian Wade
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The Class of 2021
Graduation Awards The Phi Beta Kappa Award Drew Siciliano The Head of School Award Teagan Morrison The Thomas H. Pike Award George Bevan, Natalie Stewart The Class of ’93 Esprit de Corps Award Bennett Middendorf, Addie Regnier
Senior Project Honors George Bevan - “The Most Effective and Ineffective US Presidents”
Mayor’s Outstanding Senior Award Drew Siciliano
Audrey Brinkmann-Piuma - “Sexual Harassment in Adolescence”
St. Francis Lifers Attended St. Francis continuously from Preschool through 12th grade: Sophie Johnson, Matt Kurtz, Drew Siciliano
Jimmy Lancaster - “The History of Instrument Flight Rules” Audrey McClain - “Instilling Womanhood”
The Cia White English Prize Bella Nugent
Bennett Middendorf - “Storyboards + Script = Working Graphic Novel”
Honors Graduates Eden Baize, George Bevan, Audrey Brinkmann-Piuma, Sophie Johnson, Matt Kurtz, Jimmy Lancaster, Audrey McClain, Teagan Morrison, Katie Mushkin, Bella Nugent, Claire Richards, Drew Siciliano, Parker Smith, Sydney Snyder, Natalie Stewart
Teagan Morrison - “The Birds and The Bees in the Bluegrass: Making Sex Ed More Accessible in Kentucky”
St. Francis AP Scholars Jimmy Lancaster, Drew Siciliano, Sydney Snyder
Wyvern Report
Drew Siciliano - “The Design of Tanks and their Doctrines, 19161945”
Attended St. Francis continuously from Junior Kindergarten through 12th grade: Jimmy Lancaster, Mellie Simpson Attended St. Francis continuously from Kindergarten through 12th grade: Audrey McClain, Bennett Middendorf 12th Grade Children of Alumni: Harrison Hilton, Bella Nugent
Natalie Stewart - “Creating an Aquaponics System”
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class of 2021 enrollments and acceptances Eduardo Avila - Jefferson Community and Technical College; Morehead State University Eden Baize - University of Louisville; Centre College; University of Kentucky George Bevan - McGill University; American University; Drexel University; Fordham University; Skidmore College; University of Maryland, College Park; Villanova University Audrey Brinkmann-Piuma - DePaul University; Loyola University Chicago; Michigan State University; Pennsylvania State University; Saint Louis University; University of Cincinnati; University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Kentucky; University of South Carolina; University of Wisconsin, Madison Izakk Carrillo - University of Louisville Andrew Case - University of Cincinnati; University of Kentucky Will Caudill - Centre College; Transylvania University; University of Colorado, Denver; University of Denver; University of Louisville Charli Clark - University of Memphis; Anna Maria College; Ball State University; Bellarmine University; Dominican University; Eastern Kentucky University Cayleigh Clifford - Gap Year Will Crecelius - DePauw University; Butler University; DePaul University; Hanover College; Reed College Harrison Hilton - Arizona State University Lily Johnson - University of North Carolina, Asheville; Appalachian State University; DePauw University; Saint Louis University; University of Denver; University of Kentucky Sophie Johnson - University of Wisconsin, Madison; Michigan State University; University of California, San Diego; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Denver
Jaida Knuckles - Bluegrass Community and Technical College Matt Kurtz - University of Louisville; Florida Gulf Coast University Jimmy Lancaster - Washington University in St. Louis; Indiana University, Bloomington; Miami University, Oxford; Southern Methodist University Audrey McClain - University of San Francisco; DePaul University; Loyola University, New Orleans; Rutgers University; Saint Louis University; The University of Tampa; University of California, Davis; University of California, Irvine; University of California, Santa Cruz; University of Cincinnati; University of Kentucky Bennett Middendorf - Davidson College; DePaul University; Temple University Teagan Morrison - Butler University; Flagler College; Savannah College of Art and Design; University of San Francisco Katie Mushkin - University of Kentucky; Butler University; Centre College; Loyola University Chicago; Miami University, Oxford; Purdue University; Saint Louis University; The Ohio State University Hiba Mzawak - Jefferson Community and Technical College Charlotte Naser - University of Cincinnati; Sarah Lawrence College; University of Kentucky; University of Louisville; Whitman College Bella Nugent - Macalester College; Bryn Mawr College; California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; College of Wooster; University of California, Davis
Bold text denotes enrollment
Addie Regnier - Transylvania University; Albion College; Baldwin Wallace University; Earlham College; Knox College; Northern Kentucky University; Ohio University; University of Kentucky; Wittenberg University; Xavier University
Claire Richards - Ohio University; Agnes Scott College; Hollins University; Miami University, Ohio; Temple University; University of Kentucky; University of Louisville Drew Siciliano - Purdue University; Georgia Institute of Technology; RoseHulman Institute of Technology; University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign; University of Maryland, College Park; University of Notre Dame; University of Virginia; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Mellie Simpson - Utah State University; University of Louisville; Utah Valley University Parker Smith - North Carolina A&T State University; Oregon State University; University of Kansas Sydney Snyder - Centre College; Hanover College; Western Kentucky University Natalie Stewart - Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Purdue University; University of Louisville Amber Villarreal - Gap Year Darian Wade - Fisk University; University of Louisville; West Virginia University Max Willey - University of Louisville Sam Yost - University of Louisville
Norah Patrick - University of Louisville; Bluegrass Community and Technical College; Western Kentucky University Grayson Razavi - University of Cincinnati; Savannah College of Art and Design; Transylvania University; University of Kentucky; University of Louisville
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Connecting the D Wellington Engag How do you know if your
CHALLENGED
students are being challenged ... or simply entertained? How do you know if they love a class … or hate it? Historically,
“Grind”
“Engaged”
HATE IT
LOVE IT “Bored”
“Entertained”
qualitative student surveys and anecdotal observations were the only ways for teachers to answer these questions.
UNCHALLENGED Wellington Engagement Index
Student engagement is at the heart of a St. Francis education. As shown in study upon study, when students are truly engaged in their learning – meaning they are involved, curious, interested, and passionate – they get the most benefit from their educational experiences. As a School with Intellectual Curiosity as one of its Core Values, we care deeply about our students’ level of engagement with their learning. In order to learn more about this key factor in student success, this spring, we implemented a tool called the Wellington Engagement Index (WEI) in the Middle and High School Divisions. The WEI was developed by The Wellington School, a fellow Independent School in Columbus, OH, and is now being used by a number of Independent Schools throughout the country. The WEI is based on the principle that student engagement CAN be measured, and that the essence of engagement is determined by how challenged vs. bored a student is and how much they love vs. hate a class. When students are both appropriately challenged and loving a class, they are optimally engaged. Measuring this involves a simple, quick process by which students place dots on a graph: students log in using any device, including smartphones, and see a list of their classes; they place a “dot” for each class wherever they choose on a grid that consists of an x-axis measuring how much they love a class and a y-axis indicating how
Wyvern Report
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Dots: Implementing the gement Index at St. Francis
challenging they find that class; and then they save and exit. It takes just a minute or two, and it produces a score for each class for each student. The scores are then aggregated for teachers and administrators, who can see the anonymous feedback immediately, giving us a snapshot of how students are feeling about their classes. The quadrants on the grid at left are identified as “Engaged,” “Entertained,” “Bored,” and “Grind.” Results of the “dots” enable us to identify patterns and trends of engagement across grade levels, departments, sections of classes, and student demographics. This data then allows us to employ various strategies to impact student engagement and measure the impact over time. Going forward, the WEI will be conducted in the Middle and High School multiple times per semester so we can see how student engagement evolves. Shelly Jones, Associate Head for Teaching and Learning on our Goshen Campus, has explored that evolution recently: “One teacher I worked with in looking at data grew curious about how to move students from the ‘Entertained’ quadrant to the ‘Engaged’ quadrant. The teacher asked the question, ‘What could I adjust in the coming weeks to keep the positive classroom climate that is already well-established and also provide greater differentiation for those students desiring an extra challenge?’ Adjustments were made to lesson design, and at the next dot collection, the teacher had in fact moved more students into the ‘Engaged’ quadrant.” Faculty and administration can track student engagement over time and work together to form hypotheses about certain patterns or trends, test them, and then explore the outcomes. The WEI is a tool that will help us both answer
questions and bring to light new ones. As Middle School Director Zak Cohen explained, “The WEI is a data collection instrument designed to prompt inquiry. It is not some magic 8-ball, making the complexity of our students’ attitudes, behaviors, and aptitudes suddenly transparent; rather, it is a tool of curiosity – one that provides us with the foundational information necessary to generate and test hypotheses around classroom structure, pedagogy, and relationships.” Schools’ experiences with the WEI tell us that it’s not an answer-finder; it’s a question-finder. In the High School, Suzanne Gorman, Associate Head of School, Downtown Campus, agrees: “The WEI raises more questions than it answers, so it is perfect for a Progressive school like ours. We want to know over time what patterns we see in each different grade level; for instance, we might see seniors’ engagement be higher at some points of the year than others, and then we could proactively explore ways to increase their engagement when natural dips occur. We believe that delving into these questions and looking for answers will help us be more attuned to our students and enable us to continually improve their St. Francis experience.” While we know that there will always be a range of engagement in classes and among students, we can now evaluate strategies to impact every student’s engagement and ultimately impact success. By examining regular WEI data, we can work effectively to continuously improve the student experience as we strive to promote our students’ intellectual curiosity, engagement, sense of joy, and true love of learning.
15 www.StFrancisSchool.org
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Save the Date Alumni Reunion 2021! Calling all alums from the classes of 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2011! Mark your calendars for your reunion (or make-up reunion) weekend in Louisville as we celebrate 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40-year class reunions! Join us on Friday, September 10 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate an evening on our Goshen Campus during our annual Fall Sports Picnic. On Saturday, September 11, return to the halls of the High School as we come together for dinner, laughter, and memories across the decades. Help us organize your class by being a Reunion Class Captain! Email Melanie Pugh, Director of Alumni Relations, at MPugh@StFrancisSchool.org to help with planning!