Patterns - Fall 2013 by St. Martin's Episcopal School

FALL

Patterns

2013

The Magazine of St. Martin’s Episcopal School

Our Episcopal identity Tablet initiative • Volunteerism • Teamwork • Alumni News • Voices

Grandparentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Days are coming!

Early Childhood: Monday, November 25, 2013, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Elementary School: Tuesday, November 26, 2013, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Middle School: Friday, April 11, 2014, 9:30-11:00 a.m. All programs will be held in the Gymnasium.

Patterns Editor Christina Mimms Director of Communications

Contributors The Rev. Dr. James Hamner IV Shelly Manuel Dr. Mary McPherson Chris Nama The Rev. Stefanie Taylor Printing: Graphic Communications Corp. Photography: Mark Adams, Skeeter Lee, Greg Miller, Christina Mimms, David Strauss Administration The Rev. Dr. James E. Hamner IV Headmaster Cindy Alexander Principal, Early Childhood Dr. Mary McPherson Principal, Elementary School James “Skeeter” Lee Principal, Middle School

The Rev. Dr. John McCard Church Rector Patterns is published quarterly by St. Martin’s Episcopal School. Please direct any letters, comments or news items to: St. Martin’s Episcopal School 3110-A Ashford Dunwoody Rd. Atlanta, GA 30319 Attn: Christina Mimms (404) 237-4260 www.stmartinschool.org cmimms@stmartinschool.org

Mission Statement : St. Martin’s Episcopal School is dedicated to providing a quality education of the whole person in a loving, Christian atmosphere, which fosters lifelong learning.

contents

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2013

departments

2 3 6 13 16 8 10

letters

From the Headmaster and the Editor seen & heard

News and happenings in the school community in class

Time well spent

class notes

News from SMES alumni

voices

All who wander are not lost

features f e at u r e

The impact of volunteerism

f e at u r e

Our Episcopal identity

On the cover: Mother Stefanie Taylor with Luke Cannata and Deaja Dunbar.

letters from the headmaster The most important and unique characteristic and strength of St. Martin’s is in it being an Episcopal School. The Episcopal school tradition embodies a vigorous and nurturing commitment to the development of the life of the mind, body, and spirit. We believe that each person is uniquely created in the image of God, endowed with his or her own unique gifts which are to be used for the common good and the advancement of God’s kingdom. We strive to be an inclusive, welcoming, hospitable community which respects the inherent dignity of each individual. Whether in chapel, in religion classes, service learning or in anything we do here at school, this ethos permeates and frames our life as a community of learning. I know you will enjoy reading and learning more about our life as an Episcopal school in the article by our school chaplain, Stefanie Taylor. Likewise, our school continues a long and proud legacy of service and volunteerism,

from the editor At a fund-raising luncheon I attended a few years ago, the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award recognized all volunteers and their value to nonprofit organizations. I remember that she said, “Imagine if you took all those volunteer hours and assigned even minimum wage salaries to them, how much would that cost your organization?” Imagine if all of our Annual Fund callers, PTO event chairs and other volunteers were paid for the many hours of work they put in for St. Martin’s. I think all of our school events, and our tuition, would look vastly different. Not only would our events differ without volunteers to support them, but our community would suffer as well. I think about the many friendships that have been formed among parents working together on committees and the children’s friendships that have been nurtured by their parents’ connections. I think about all

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particularly in the wonderful work of our Parent-Teacher Organization. The work and mission of the PTO focuses on support of our families and of our school. Through its educational, social, recreational and service programs, our PTO enhances the lives of our children, our families and our teachers and staff. I strongly encourage all our families to participate in the vibrant life of our PTO through its multitude of activities and programs. I’m very grateful to all that the PTO has done, and continues to do, to uphold and strengthen the life of St. Martin’s Episcopal School. My thanks to each of you who continue to support the life and work of our school through your generous support of the annual fund, the capital campaign and Apogee, as well as through your service and participation in all the many facets of our diverse school life, from being a parent “mystery” reader to cheering on our sports teams, thespians, singers, artists and musicians. We are a blessed community.

the good times people have at events like the Fun Run and the Fling. Our teachers and administrators work very hard to make school happen every day, but our PTO and our many parent volunteers are behind them every step of the way. Volunteering can be a thankless job, but it is also its own reward. As members of an Episcopal community, we are called to serve, and all work is appreciated. The PTO’s motto, “Working together for our children,” is most appropriate. The volunteers at our school don’t do it for the recognition. They do it for their children and for the betterment of our school. I have had the pleasure of working with PTO leaders every year and I am always impressed by their dedication and the time they put toward their work. I know how much it meant to me that my mother was so involved at my school and I know our students appreciate all that our SMES parents do as well.

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seen&heard

SMES launches 1:1 program with iPads and Chromebooks With the start of this school year, St. Martin’s took an exciting step by incorporating a 1:1 model with 5th and 8th grade students. It became very apparent over the last several years that students and teachers were seeing great value in using various forms of technology in the classroom. The school technology team, along with the ES and MS principals, debated the merits of going to a 1:1 program for specific grade levels and spent a great deal of time vetting devices, as well as consulting with other schools with a 1:1 model. After several conversations with faculty, the technology team suggested using a multi-platform approach based on the developmental needs of students and instructional needs of teachers. A multiplatform approach to technology education has continually been supported by

the school through the intentional exposure of different platforms, which include IBM-compatible computers, Apple computers/ tablets and Google Chromebooks. For the 5th graders, St. Martin’s chose to use Apple iPads. The students are using iPads during the school day for the first semester and will be able to take their devices home in January. The 8th graders were issued Google Chromebooks. Each platform has its unique educa-

Students explore different classrooms SMES 8th graders have bright futures ahead of them and some are already thinking about their careers. Ansley Reese, Julia Steck, Gavin Guest and Kate Snyder explored government work and tested their leadership skills this summer at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. They participated in group sessions on different leadership topics and also visited numerous historical sites, including parts of the Smithsonian, the Capitol, the major monuments and the Newseum. Instructors related specific leadership skills to the different sites they visited. “We talked a lot about what we learned and how we can bring that back to our communities,” Julia said. Ansley Reese at the U.S. Capitol

tional uses, which helped guide the school’s decision to use them. The app capabilities and depth of available educational apps on Apple iPads made their use with 5th graders an exceptional choice for extending their learning in the classroom, while the highly collaborative environment available with the Google Chromebooks made them a natural choice for the 8th graders. St. Martin’s is seeing very promising learning outcomes from the incorporation of the 1:1 program and will continue to assess the effectiveness of the pilot program throughout the school year.

Charlie Albert participated in the McCallie School Character and Leader Community Program. Only rising 8th and 9th grade boys are accepted into the program, which educates students about leadership and community issues. Students enjoy outdoor activities as well as sessions and discussions in the classrooms on campus. Lindsay Smoak delved into medicine at the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, a three-week program at the University of Kansas. Lindsay qualified through the Duke University Talent Identification Program, which recognizes youth with high scores on standardized tests. Lindsay participated in high school and college-level biology classes for seven hours Charlie Albert at the McCallie School each day, which included lectures as well as some hands-on activities, such as dissection. One of her favorite lessons involved building a heart out of duct tape. “I want to be some sort of doctor one day,” Lindsay said. She hopes to go to another program next summer as well.

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Teachers training teachers in Liberia Why would seven people need 21 suitcases for a one-week trip to a remote village in Liberia? First grade assistant teacher Sharon Kalahar (photo below left) and six other Atlanta teachers each stuffed three bags with as many books and teaching supplies as they could fit to embark on a life-changing journey. St. Martin’s Early Childhood division donated a number of books and supplies for Kalahar to use in Gbansue, where she found the conditions quite primitive. Some of the rooms in the schoolhouse where they worked did not have a single table or chair. The male teachers they trained were high school graduates but had little training. Kalahar and the other teachers, all of whom were experienced in 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade curriculum, worked very hard over the course of five days to help the new teachers prepare for their young students. “They were very receptive and everyone in the village wants their children to go to school,” Kalahar said. She and her colleagues stayed in a block house with no electricity, showered over buckets and cooked food over coal fires. They also made a lasting impact in an extremely needy area and Kalahar hopes to take another trip there in the near future.

Drama students earn international recognition

Have backpack, will travel

Congratulations to Grayton Hudson, Brock Thrasher, Victoria Gronczewski and Emily Schmitt, and to Director of Speech & Drama Heidi Cline McKerley! Middle School students paddle down the Chattooga River on their summer adventure.

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St. Martin’s Outdoor Classroom received an Honorable Mention in the Southern Early Childhood Association (SECA) Exemplary Outdoor Contest: “Creating a Nature-Inspired Outdoor Learning Environment on a Shoestring Budget.” St. Martin’s will be acknowledged at the SECA annual conference that will be held in Williamsburg, Va., in January and will also be featured in the winter 2014 issue of “Dimensions of Early Childhood” magazine. SECA is a 65-year-old organization that serves preschool, kindergarten and primary teachers, administrators, caregivers, program directors and individuals to promote quality care and education for young children.

The Early Childhood outdoor classroom consists of a gazebo, a pond, rain barrels, various gardens and a greenhouse.

At the end of June, four SMES students attended the International Thespian Conference at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The students received two Superior ratings and one Excellent rating. They were among 3,000 students in grades 6-12 from all over the world who attended the conference.

KUDOS FOR EC OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

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Water was a frequent companion on the Middle School backpacking trip in Nantahala Forest, N.C., this summer. From rain to rafting to numerous river crossings, the 11 students, two alumnae and two adults on the trip conquered nearly every representation of H20 on their four-day journey, which included hiking, cooking outdoors, sleeping in hammocks and rafting. “The kids really worked well together,” said MS Principal Skeeter Lee. “It was a good learning experience for all of them.”

seen & heard

Speaker Kelsey Tainsh inspires Middle School As a child, Kelsey Tainsh had a lot of dreams and wishes. She wanted to be a world-class athlete and a famous actress. Instead, she survived a brain tumor and a stroke and became a popular motivational speaker. On Oct. 1, Tainsh shared her story with Middle School students. Originally diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 5, she underwent surgery and radiation and essentially resumed a normal life. Ten years later, the tumor came back and she suffered a paralyzing stroke. By adopting an athlete’s attitude, Tainsh went from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane, finished high school and graduated from the University of Florida. Since she still does not have full use of her right hand, Tainsh described that she had to learn to write left-handed and that even learning a different way to put her hair in a ponytail was challenging. “At times we all feel different or we feel like we don’t fit in,” she said. “Accept your differences and try to live life differently. The hardest thing in life can have the most rewarding opportunities.”

Boo! at the botanical gardens

SMES faculty celebrations Third grade teacher Claire Long married Kyle Conarro on July 20 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The reception was held at the Fox Theatre and the couple honeymooned in St. Lucia.

If you are touring the Atlanta Botanical Gardens this fall, keep an eye out for “The En’crow’ager,” St. Martin’s decorative scarecrow. Using the theme for the school year, “Lift Each Other Up,” the scarecrow represents the Warrior lifting the earth up with rocks down below and the SMES shield resting against his legs. Each class decorated one of the rocks. Students were invited to participate in a scarerow-naming contest in September. Fourth grader Jesse Reames submitted the winning name “The En’crow’ager.” St. Martin’s extends heartfelt thanks to parent Carol Ann Thomas for coordinating the display.

It’s hip to be square If you were a child in the 1980s, odds are 1 in 5 that you played with a Rubik’s Cube. The cube is still popular today and is joined by several new versions, in addition to the original 3x3 cube featuring 9 squares on each side. Seventh grader Bailey Means has played with most of the versions and can solve a 3x3 scramble in about 13 seconds. He proved his skills at the annual Rubik’s Cube World Championship Convention in Las Ve-

gas this summer, where he had qualified to compete with kids from around the world. Each “cubist” received the same scramble and competed to see who solved it the fastest. The winner was a 20-year-old from Australia who solved the scramble in 8.18 seconds. Attendees also tried out 2x2, 4x4 and 5x5 versions. Bailey, whose favorite subject is math, said he is working on his time and hopes to attend a convention again. patterns

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“When goals are difficult to reach, don’t adjust the goals. Adjust the action steps.” Confucius

Spring Fall 2013 2013=

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in class Faculty Profile

Time well spent

By Charlotte O’Keefe, 5th grade teacher

Teamwork and time management are new priorities in 5th grade. Fifth grade at St. Martin’s is intentionally designed to be a “bridge year” between elementary school and middle school. Our job is to guide students in developing the skills for fulfilling their responsibilities and for working well with others. This involves time management and teamwork. Students see the value of managing their time well by producing their work in stages. For example, the Lewis and Clark social studies project is structured by Ms. Pease with days in class for research. During this time, sub-deadlines are met, and then students make a plan for completion several days before the project is due. Along the way, students learn fascinating facts through research assignments. In language arts, students learn from instruction in class while producing a book report. For example, in one report they complete several sections: choose a quote from their book and comment on it, describe characters, and work through problem and resolution. They receive writing help and are able to ask questions in class. There is more writing confidence and pride in the work with this approach. In math, students may not have long-term projects in quite the same way; however, they have short review work each morning to reinforce prior teaching, which is foundational for the ongoing lessons. Mathematics is a system whose parts work together. The student planner is the foundation tool for keeping up with assignments. Each student receives a planner from the school and is expected to use it. When given an assignment

in class, the student immediately makes a note of it in the planner. If the teacher says “There is no homework tonight,” writing down “No HW” is also helpful so there is no confusion at home when students see a blank section in their planner. Teachers also have homework posted in each homeroom and on their web sites as “backup” components. (Students must know what their homework is before they leave school so that they can take the correct books and materials home.) Our teamwork concept in 5th grade is stated this way: All students in the 5th grade are team members. We support our team through kindness, cooperation and helpfulness. Team members are not allowed to exclude or insult others, and team members help each other to do their best. We have found that class meetings are useful for promoting teamwork and personal growth among our students. We meet three times a week for about 15 minutes. First, the class meeting is a time for teachers to praise the students for actions and habits that we want to reinforce. Second, this is a time when students can give compliments to each other for kindness, helpfulness and other admirable qualities. This is the most important part of the meeting. Third, the meeting is a time for teachers to give announcements and reminders to all the students at once. We might discuss events or expectations. This is efficient because it promotes consistency in our message. Our students are on a journey; they are not fully formed yet. It is our job to help them be successful along the way.

Top: An assignment board in a 5th grade classroom. Bottom: Mrs. O’Keefe and Ms. Pease lead a 5th grade meeting. At left, Mrs. O’Keefe helps Connor Kritzer review his daily planner.

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The impact of

Volunteerism

Parents lend time and talent to the school in myriad ways. By Christina Mimms and Shelly Manuel

helley Payne vividly remembers her family’s first year at St. Martin’s when her son William was in Kindergarten. She was so excited to get involved at school that she signed up to volunteer on every committee for the Fling, St. Martin’s annual auction. While the PTO co-chairs liked her enthusiasm, they knew that much commitment was impossible for one person and so Payne scaled back to just one Fling committee. She also participated on the Family Fun event committee and has continued her involvements every year, serving as assistant treasurer on the PTO Board, vice president and co-president. She has volunteered for both the Annual Fund and the Capital Campaign and served as room representative for both of her children. This year, she is chairing the Fall Festival for the second time and is sponsorship chair for the Fling, in addition to being room representative for her daughter Claire, 5th grade. Payne also tries to contribute to most of the “all hands” calls, such as bringing cookies for Christmas Cookies & Carols. The Paynes are members of St. Martin in the Fields Church, where Payne has taught Sunday School for both children and adults, and volunteered at Vacation Bible School. She recently started a new women’s guild to do service in the community. While Payne may have a very full plate, she fills it because she wants to and because she knows her work is valued. A former clinical director in social work, Payne knows “how important volunteers are for every organization,” she said. “They serve a huge purpose.” Payne remembers her mother being an active volunteer as well. “My mother was very involved when I was a child. I was proud that she was present,” she said. “And I was always taught to leave something better than I found it.”

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Volunteers play a significant role at St. Martin’s. Not only was the PTO the single-largest contributor to the recent Capital Campaign with a gift of $1 million, its event chairs and volunteers have worked tirelessly year in and year out to raise funds for the school, hold community events, support school programming and simply make the school better, both for students and the teachers/administrators. National Education Association statistics state that school-aged children whose parents have high levels of involvement in their schools are more likely to earn high grades. In addition, children whose parents volunteer at their school report greater enjoyment of school and show a high level of involvement in extracurricular activities, such as sports and clubs. Volunteering is also beneficial to parents themselves, according to the National Association of Independent Schools. Parents spend time with other parents, creating better relationships between children and families. Volunteering also provides an opportunity to get to know the school — who the leaders are, why the school does what it does, and how the mission is carried out. Megan Stewart developed a deeper understanding of St. Martin’s through her volunteer work. In her second year at SMES, she was asked to co-chair the Sally Foster gift wrap sales. With her Kindergartener Devon and 2-year-old Chase, she was a little overwhelmed but her co-chair was a seasoned volunteer who helped Stewart feel comfortable. “It was a leap of faith but it was also a turning point for me because I felt like I was really part of things at St. Martin’s,” she explained. “I met a lot of the teachers and administrators and I understood how the school worked.” Since that time, Stewart has chaired the Family Fun event, served as assistant treasurer and treasurer, and this year is the

Julia Hubbard and Shelley Payne set up a Fall Festival display. member-at-large on the PTO Board. She also has served on the Annual Fund committee, and helped at Field Day and other events. She supports both of her alma maters, Marist School and Georgetown University, with volunteer work and is involved at All Saints Catholic Church as well. While Payne and Stewart may have a little more flexibility as stay-at-home moms, St. Martin’s provides a wide variety of opportunities to volunteer. Even with a busy career in commercial real estate, and as mother of Lindsey in 5th grade and Katherine in Pre-K, Melissa Bryson has volunteered in numerous capacities, from helping the Advancement Office with soliciting parents, to serving as a room representative and on the Parents Council. “Such a wide spectrum of talents are needed that everyone has something to offer,” Bryson said. In addition, she believes that volunteerism is the right thing to do. “I love this place and want to give back to something that has given my family so much.” Often when people think of volunteerism, they feel as though they will be asked to chair an event or a committee. While those positions do exist, giving back to the school can be as simple as reading to students in the library or making a meal for the Warrior Wings program or working a shift at the book fair. Weekend events, such as the Fun Run and Fall Festival, need a host of volunteers. Parents who volunteer with the Advancement Office work mainly on their own schedules. The Fling needs the most volunteers but the jobs vary in type and time commitment. Some parents may help only on the night of the event to set up at the venue. Other parents take on a larger job, such as chairing acquisitions. Some volunteers use their business talents to support the school. Members of the Board of Trustees work in professions

such as finance, law, higher education, real estate, construction, government and business management, and lend their expertise to the school. David Thomas served on the Board of Trustees from 2005 until 2012. He played an integral role on the facilities committee that helped to build the new Middle School. While all three of his daughters (Tara ’07, Darby ’10, and Abby ’13) have graduated from SMES, he continues to volunteer as a volleyball coach. David said he enjoys “seeing first-hand that St. Martin’s is living its mission and being a part of the school’s success. I have a special connection with each of my girls that I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t spent that time with them.” As a parent to high school and college students, Thomas also knows that there is a short window when children are young and there are opportunities to be involved at school. And most kids in the grade-school years enjoy having their parents visible and available in school. “Claire loved it when I was PTO co-president because I was at school a lot,” Payne said. “I used to sneak notes into her locker during the day. And my kids love that I chair the Fall Festival because they get to help with it.” “My kids love it when they see me around the school,” Bryson said. “I feel connected to staff and parents and know more about what is going on. I feel like I have influence on what’s going on, especially in a place that will have such a huge impact on my children’s lives.” Volunteering is never a thankless job at St. Martin’s. “I am completely amazed every day at what our volunteers are willing to do and what they accomplish,” said Mary Ann Embleton, PTO co-president. “Being part of the community is the best reward.” patterns

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Our Episcopal Identity 10

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the Rev. Stefanie Taylor and Christina Mimms = st. martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s episcopalBy school

While evolving technologies, the need for expanded life skills and other factors shape a 21st Century education, the core values of the Episcopal education at St. Martin’s strive to balance innovative schooling with a tradition of faith, character growth and community.

piscopal Schools are ministries of the Episcopal Church. As such, our schools are characterized by tradition, reason and scripture. This threelegged stool, as it is often referred to, grounds our students and enables them to be educated in a way that informs them as a whole person. In order to fully understand the Episcopal identity of St. Martin’s School, the three-legged stool is the best explanation. The first leg of the stool is tradition. The tradition of the Episcopal Church began with our historical relationship to the Church of England. In the 16th Century, Henry VIII along with parliament dissolved the relationship between the Church of England and the Pope. Bloodshed followed as the Protestants and Catholics fought for power in England. In 1559, Henry’s second daughter, Elizabeth I, became queen and established a “middle way” called the Church of England or Anglicanism. This “middle way” challenges Episcopalians to see both sides of the coin — to appreciate all people and their views. Some say this commitment to appreciate the “both/and” makes the Episcopal Church seem unwilling to take a stand and appear to be subject to the whims of modern culture; however, the Episcopal Church was founded by the belief that truth is found in the middle and not in the extremes. Anglicanism was built upon the desire for a peaceful solution. This desire, in turn, arises out of our knowledge of Christ, who taught about peace and reconciliation. Hard, fast rules and moral judgments of others only leave people

feeling outside of God’s fold — a feeling that Episcopalians believe would be the antithesis of Christ’s primary message.

History and tradition

Students’ primary means of learning about Christianity is through their religion classes. Starting in Early Childhood, students focus on the foundational stories of both the Old Testament and the New Testament. “We try to emphasize joy, wonder, awareness and reverence,” said religion teacher Whitney Pierce. “We are conscious of how God speaks to us and is present with us.” In Elementary School, students learn more about the history of Christianity and also dig a little deeper into the faith by asking more questions. “I really want the students to be equipped with the ability and the confidence to ask questions and think critically,” Pierce said. The historical studies paired with indepth discussions continue throughout Elementary School and into Middle School. For example, in 6th grade, students learn about Mosaic law and in 7th grade they start comparing the differences between Mosaic law and the beatitudes, according to religion teacher Brandon Collins. Students write many reflection papers and take a lot of time for discussions in class. They also study scripture that they have heard since they were younger students, but in Middle School, they can give more thought to them. “We now look at those stories in a way to question them,” said religion teacher Jan Swoope. “How can these stories now relate to them on a day-to-day basis?”

Inclusion is the cornerstone of the Episcopal faith. Episcopal theology errs on the side of love — grace will handle any gaps between love and righteousness. This means ALL are welcome; all are “in” God’s fold. “Students always ask why there are so many divisions of Christianity,” Collins said. “It provides an opportunity to talk with them about being inclusive and how to treat others. They start to see how all faiths are connected.” That message of how to treat others also syncs with the character education program at St. Martin’s. Students learn about character and “Golden Rule” behavior from 3-year-olds on through 8th grade. Teachers reinforce the message in general discussions in their classrooms as well as in religion classes.

Love and respect

The Episcopal Church strives to accept everything that points to love and peace and reconciliation. This belief is not seen as wishy-washy by Episcopalians; it is seen as Christ-like. It is the deep conviction of the Episcopal Church that Jesus’ primary message was one of love and acceptance. He came to accept and not to reject. That message can be expressed on the Kindergarten playground as easily as in 8th grade ethics class. “Respect is a key word in my class,” said Swoope, who teaches both 6th and 7th grade religion classes. “The classroom is a sacred place and a safe place.” She opens each class with a devotion and intercessory prayers, during which students can pray for individual needs. She closes each class by asking the stupatterns

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dents, “Will you respect the dignity of every human being?” and waits for their response: “I will, with God’s help.”

Reason and scripture

Above: Mother Stefanie Taylor invites questions in religion class. Amalie Little reviews a passage.

To view a video about our Episcopal identity and spiritual life, please scan the QR code with your smartphone.

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The Episcopal Church deeply values all people and, in order to honor each person, Episcopalians have a responsibility to provide education and to pass knowledge down. This responsibility comes from the second and third legs of the stool: reason and scripture. Reason, defined as the use of education, logic, and common sense to understand complexities, is valued and essential in the Episcopal Church because the Bible is not taken literally; rather, it is read interpretively. Thus, reason is necessary to ensure that scripture is read reasonably and responsibly. The Episcopal Church believes no one person has full knowledge of scripture. Truth arises when every person gets a say. The Bible is not meant to be studied in isolation. In order to understand the Bible, Episcopalians take classes, consult experts, study history and look for clues within the context. Often, other religions or cultures are examined in order to exemplify a fuller picture of God. In Middle School, students learn about Judaism, Islam and Hinduism and in the past have taken field trips to a synagogue, a mosque and an Indian temple. “Students realize that the message is the same, even with different traditions or different dress,” Collins said. “Faith is very personal to everyone and not everyone is the same.” Teachers still bring the message back to the Episcopal tradition. “We define what it means to be an Episcopalian and compare that with other Christians and other religions,” Pierce said. Chapel services, of course, also use the Episcopal order of service, with a modified version for Early Childhood and a more formal version for Elementary and Middle

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School chapels. Students enjoy the rhythm of weekly chapel and recognize it as a time for community. Chapel provides readings from Scripture, hymns and a reflection, usually from the chaplain but guest speakers often participate in chapel services. Service projects provide another opportunity for students to come together as a community. Kenneth Bouldin, author of leadership book, “The Image: Knowledge in Life and Society,” writes, “The meaning of a message is the change which it produces in the image.” For Episcopal Schools, we know that we are producing leaders in the world because it is reflected in the service work they engage in each year. Serving Others through Leadership, Education and Volunteerism (SOLVE) is the program that leads this effort. Students are responsible for participating in 16 different charities each year, either through gradelevel projects, SOLVE Club projects or school-wide activities. They provide food for the hungry, clothing for the poor and comfort for the sick. They offer gifts for the needy during holiday season, they care for the earth and they provide supplies for needy animals. St. Martin’s works with parents to teach students to live their faith in a way that is visible to themselves and the community. This is the legacy of Episcopal Schools. Students soak daily in a pool of Christ’s teachings and these teachings change fear into hope, hurt into love, and change children into adults. Our three-legged stool of tradition, reason and scripture grounds students in a peaceful environment accomplished by love, acceptance and faith in a very real and great God. This solid foundation enables students to feel safe enough to explore who they are and connect to God’s voice — gently guiding them toward confidence and authenticity in a world that craves solid, reliable leaders.

class notes 1989 1996 Nikki Davis lives in San FranElisabeth Varner completed cisco, where she is an accounts specialist for Southern Wine & Spirits. She is a graduate of Marist and College of Charleston.

1990 Roberta Hunte is a professor

at Portland State University, teaching women’s studies, conflict resolution and black studies. She graduated from high school at Della Salle College in Johannesburg, South Africa and graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa with a degree in politics and English. She earned a Master’s degree in conflict resolution from Portland State University and recently completed her doctorate at the University of Manitoba in peace and conflict studies.

1992 Beth Kytle works at Credit

Suisse in Atlanta, advising high net worth clients on their personal investments. She serves on the Boards of Directors for the MIT Enterprise Forum, Atlanta International School and Zoo Atlanta. She married Zeb Chandler on August 24 at Callaway Gardens. Beth graduated from Atlanta International School as valedictorian. She received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her MBA from Stanford University.

her third year of veterinary medicine studies at Western University of Health Sciences.

Patrick Pierce Hastings on June 14. He weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz. (photo below)

Lauren Steed Chorey and her husband Billy welcomed baby Noah Mitchell Chorey on April 12 (photo below). He was 8 lbs., 14 oz. Lauren is a graduate of Marist and University of Virginia.

at St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Johns Creek. The reception was held at St. Ives Country Club. They are graduates of Valdosta State University. Dana is the media specialist at Holy Spirit Preparatory School and Brad works for Goodman Manufacturing. Louiza Vick is a fashion photographer based in Los Angeles. Her work was recently published in Genlux magazine and Status magazine. She is a graduate of University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

1998 2002 Zach Bailey is vice president Lia Marianes married Paul

Susan Wieschhaus lives in Seattle, where she is a primary care and pediatric nurse. She graduated from University of Georgia.

1997 Patrick Hastings and his wife

of engineering for ExactTarget, the largest online digital marketing company in the world. He married his wife Emily in June 2011 and welcomed baby girl Lily in February 2013. Zach is a graduate of Marist and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated cum laude in three years with a BS in computer science.

Lundberg on May 25 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation. Their reception was held in the

2000 Dana Petrecca (photo below)

married her college sweetheart, Brad Altone, on May 18

Martha welcomed new baby

Kartos Ballroom at the cathedral. Annie Bidgood recently earned a Master’s degree in city planning from University of Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Woodward Academy and Georgia Tech.

1994 Rick Atkins married Beth

Bailey on July 13 at Julia Thomas Smith Chapel at Agnes Scott College (photo at right).

Merle Jabr is the owner of Potter Risk Advisors, LLC, a risk

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class notes Alumni Profile on Cameron Schriner ’05

management and insurance company. She is a graduate of Chamblee High School and Georgia State University. (photo below, with Mme Shirley Carroll)

productions. He will play the part of Mr. Van Daan in “The Diary of Anne Frank” and Rapunzel’s prince in “Into the Woods.”

2008 Andrew Roberts is a presiCameron Schriner’s interest in robots started back in his Middle School years at St. Martin’s. Dr. McPherson was just starting the Lego robotics program and Cameron was among the first students to learn how to assemble and program their own robots. He continued his work with robots at Roswell High School, where he competed on the robotics team and served as president in both his junior and senior years. As a sophomore and again as a senior, the Roswell team took 1st place in its division. “We had only six kids on our team building a 150 lb. robot,” Cameron said. “Most high school teams had 100 kids.” Now, as a student at Georgia Tech, Cameron is majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in automation and robotics. He also works for the CEISMC Department, which has helped to create robotics curriculum in middle schools around Georgia. Cameron has traveled to middle schools all over the state and has even helped to launch robotics teams in schools. He also helped to start a technology summer camp in Savannah for 4th-8th grade students. Cameron hopes to work in exoskeletal robotics, which can aid people who have lost limbs or have spinal cord injuries. “To have an extension of yourself through robotics is amazing,” he said.

Fall 2013

2004 Pfc Spencer White is cur-

rently stationed in San Diego with the U.S. Marines.

dential scholar in the honors program at University of Georgia. He is studying political science and economics and is the director of recruitment and development for University Judiciary, the student conduct formal hearing organization. He is a senior

from University of Georgia. After a three-week trip around Europe, she relocated to Dallas and is working in Atlanta-based Jackson Spalding’s communications office there. Caryn Hamner graduated from University of Georgia and is relocating to Washington, D.C., where she recently interned with U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey.

2006 Chaz Duffy is performing

in two roles this fall in High Point University theater

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Maria Rubiano graduated from Marist and is in the honors program at Georgia State University. Her major is linguistics and she is a cheerleader (far left in photo above). Davis Price pledged Chi Phi fraternity at University of Georgia. Garrett Price received the theology award and a community service award in his senior year at Marist. He now attends University of Wyoming.

Jill Florence graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in industrial engineering. She is a consultant with BravoSolution, a supply chain management and strategic sourcing company.

2005 Ellen Marsau graduated

man at University of South Carolina.

Annie Moore has pledged Chi Omega sorority at University of Alabama. editor for Georgia Political Review and is a Student Government Association senator from the Terry College of Business. He also is on the sailing team and is a mentor at an after-school mentoring and tutoring program for disadvantaged students.

Katherine Baumstark is majoring in journalism and speech communications at Auburn University. She pledged Phi Mu sorority and is a swim team ambassador. She also participates in Campus Crusade and was selected for the Freshman Leadership Panel.

Claire Brehm transferred from University of South Carolina to University of Virginia. She worked at Anthropologie this summer.

Jackson Taylor is in the marching band at Georgia Tech.

from Marist and is a fresh-

Jake Parker graduated from

2009 Ryan Vaughn graduated

Ellen Brum has pledged Alpha Omicron Pi sorority at Auburn University.

Many St. Martin’s alumni participated in the St. Martin in the Fields Church J2A pilgrimage trip to Ireland in June. They toured ancient monasteries and other historical religious sites. The group included Drew Beck, Julia Beck, Sarah Belisle, Alex Boor, Grace Francour, Ripley Fricano, Caroline Hamner, Alex Magee, Michael Matthews, Sam Nail, Henry Owen, Elizabeth Perez, Rebecca Price, Emma Smith, Sally Smith, Claire Snyder and Julia Vitti. SMES parent Tricia Maloney was one of the chaperones. Rebecca Price ’11, above with varsity cheerleader Callie Cardenas ’11, is the Golden Lion mascot at St. Pius. Woodward Academy, where he was on the Honor Roll all four years, ran varsity cross country for four years and ran varsity track & field for three years. He achieved 2nd team All-Region status and placed 15th in the AAA cross country state championships. He recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Jake is a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a institutional scholarship and was recruited to run cross country and distance track & field. He is pursuing a double major in cognitive science and computer science. Graham Roy is a freshman at Auburn University, working toward a pre-med degree. His ultimate goal is to become an orthopedic surgeon. He pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

2010 Dave DeLany received two awards at St. Pius’ Honors

Brendan Phillips is on the dean’s list at Marist. In May, he received the Dartmouth book award, the AP English award and the Latin IV award.

2011 Trey Blasingame (photo Day last spring. He was recognized for outstanding achievement in Spanish IV honors and he received the Yale Book Award, which is given to a junior with outstanding personal integrity and intellectual promise.

below) played a key role in Westminster’s third consecutive AA soccer state championship. A corner kick by Trey to a teammate resulted in the game-winning goal and a final score of 1-0 vs. Calhoun High School.

of the faculty and staff, best exemplify the energy of the human spirit as established by Mr. Woodruff: “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” In addition, Logan was recognized for his academic achievements as a Silver Eagle, and received the department award for physical conditioning for sports.

Julia Beck (photo at left) shot an 89 at the state golf championships in the spring, placing 10th overall. She attends Pace Academy.

2012 Kendall Witty-Williams at-

tends Riverwood. His classes last year included honors Biology and French II honors. This year he is in French III honors. Logan Cooper received the Woodruff Award at Woodward Academy in the spring. The award is presented to students who, in the opinion

In Memoriam Robert Barnett ’12 May light perpetual shine upon him.

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brandon collins, middle school teacher For as long as I can remember, I have never done things the easy way. It is not because things in my life have been difficult, but because I like to do things my own way and at my own pace. There is nothing wrong with taking a tried and tested route, but I like to wander. It satisfies me to pursue my passions and use them to accomplish my goals. It makes me appreciate my achievements that much more. That said, I must acknowledge that I understand this is not a quality everyone appreciates. It used to drive my parents and grandparents crazy that I chose a major like Religious Studies in hopes of teaching in college! I come from a family of teachers, but my choices made absolutely no sense to them. I enjoyed what I was learning, but as graduation came and went, it became clear that the fact that I knew how Siddhartha became the Buddha was not exactly a highly sought-after skill. I tried many paths before I found my passion. I substitute taught every grade from Kindergarten to 12th grade, including special education. I gained experience, but when a job came open, someone else always had the credentials. Life was pretty hard for two years. There were dead ends and missed opportunities, and I began to wonder if my family was right all along. I was discouraged, but I was determined to be in my own classroom. In 2009, I enrolled in graduate classes to make that happen. As I started to interview with principals at different schools, I was thrilled that my dream was finally coming true, but every time I sat down, the conversation turned immediately to, “What kind of coaching experience do you have?” It was hard for me to believe that after all the work I had done to reach my goal, the one thing holding me back was a lack of coaching. I was feeling rather hopeless at that point, and when I got an email from St. Martin’s, I was honestly expecting more of the same. What actually happened is exactly what makes St. Martin’s such a special place. Instead of looking at me as someone who lacked direction or was not focused on a single goal, Mr. Lee looked at my résumé, and then said, “Wow. Look at all the things you can bring to the table. Look at all you can do.” That was the first time I truly felt like the path I chose was acknowledged for all it meant to me. I felt accomplished, and I felt appreciated. I am so blessed to work in a place that encourages me to live my life fully and in the way that works best for me. St. Martin’s embraces all kinds of differences in all kinds of people. Each day as I come to school, and I think about how lucky I am to get to spend time in such an amazing place, I cannot help but reflect on one of my favorite quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien: “Not all those who wander are lost.”

The state of Georgia has set aside $58 million for taxpayers to redirect a portion of their state tax liability to provide financial aid to students matriculating into independent schools from the public school system. You can redirect some of your income tax liability to St. Martin’s specifically, thereby increasing financial aid opportunities. This is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for those paying Georgia state income taxes. The cap has been met for 2013, but you can pre-register to participate in 2014. For Individuals: A single individual or a head of household will receive a credit against their Georgia income tax liability in an amount equal to the actual amount expended or $1,000 per tax year, whichever is less. If you are Married Filing Jointly: The amount of the tax credit is equal to the actual amount expended or $2,500 per tax year. If you are a Corporate Donor: State income tax credit limit up to 75% of the corporation’s income tax liability or the actual amount donated, whichever is less. New in 2014: S-Corps, LLC’s, and Partnerships are eligible to contribute up to $10,000 for each shareholder/member/partner of an entity. A recent change in the law now allows individuals who receive income through a pass-through entity to redirect as much as $10,000 toward private school educational opportunities and receive a Federal charitable deduction with a dollar-for-dollar State tax credit. For additional information on how to participate in the tax credit, please visit the St. Martin’s Web site under Support SMES or contact Shelly Manuel in the Advancement Office at 404-228-0727.

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St. Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Episcopal School 3110-A Ashford Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA 30319