FALL/WINTER MAGAZINE 2017-2018
Shrine Mont Senior Retreat Every September seniors and members of the Upper School faculty spend two days together at Shrine Mont, an Episcopal Diocese of Virginia conference center, in Orkney Springs, Va. This special excursion encourages class spirit and creates lasting memories for the senior class. Through games, social activities, and teamwork exercises, the retreat gives students the opportunity to grow as leaders of the Upper School and to build relationships with teachers and administrators in a fun and relaxed environment. A highlight of the annual trip is climbing the Great North Mountain in the Shenandoah Valley, which takes several hours to climb as a group.
"Shrine Mont was an experience that I had been looking forward to since I first heard of it in my freshman year. Generally optimistic of my class's ability to bond, I knew the shared experience was bound to bring us closer together. However what I didn't expect was the manner in which it happened. Our collective attitude seemed like the complete opposite of what one would expect from high schoolers up on a mountain with
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no cell service. We weren't lamenting over our now nextto-useless digital devices or staying in our small, safe little bubbles that we had all learned to create in order to get through each school day. We were instead, relating in ways that exceeded my expectations, from vibrant moments like sharing laughs while square dancing to more introspective ones, like mutually reveling in the silence of the mountain top.
Perhaps it was the spirit of the trip, and while all of the organized efforts to have us bond definitely helped us do just that, the real beauty of the memory lies in how effortless our connection as a class was. In our free time, we chose to reintroduce ourselves to each other, and discover friendships that otherwise wouldn't have the time or place to manifest themselves. Compared to the years before, where everything in your life begins to seem
predetermined, Shrine Mont felt like a necessary respite that allowed us to shuffle the cards before our senior year, diverging us from what we thought our year was 'destined' to look like. As a result, we could look onward, going in with as much ambition and enthusiasm as possible, knowing that there would always be a support system behind us full of people that are as much a part of us as we are of them."
Afua Nyantyaki '18 www.sssas.org | 3
WHAT'S INSIDE
F E AT U R E S
8
Planting Goodness by Seeding Social Innovation
18
Journey to Guatemala
20
One Question 3 Answers Alumni educators reveal how they foster respectful discourse and good citizenship in their classrooms.
23
Read Into It Our Lower School Director reveals her five most memorable moments as a new Saint.
18 24
Welcome aBoard
Meet our new members of the Board of Governors and the Foundation Board
28
Meet Our New Faculty & Staff: 28 Fun and Quirky Facts
30
"Tartuffe" Rave Reviews
20
D E PA RT M E N TS 6 Headliner
30
32
Saints in Action
40
Athletic Highlights
45
From the Archives
46
Alumni Connections
56
Milestones & In Memoriam
THE MAGAZINE
FALL/WINTER 2017-2018 Head of School Kirsten Prettyman Adams Director of Communications Jen Desautels Editor, Design & Layout Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 Staff Writers Jen Desautels Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 Mandi Sapp Alumni News Sue McElheny Director of Alumni Relations Photographers Advancement Office Jameson Bloom '13 Marcia Mallett Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 Jen Milbrett Photography Mark Regan Photography Printer Master Print Questions/Comments Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76 mmaas@sssas.org To Update Your Contact Information or Mailing Preferences Please email asmigel@sssas.org or call 703-212-2720. Published by SSSAS for alumni, current parents, friends, and other regularly supportive members of the school community. Š 2017 St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
HEADLINER
Dear Saints Community, As I write this the last of the leaves are falling from the trees around campus. The richness of the orange and red leaves floating to the ground remind me of my childhood, when jumping into the piles on the ground (and undoing in seconds the hours spent by my mother and father raking them into a neat mound) brought such delight. As an adult I still love the silence of the falling leaves and the sounds that echo in that silence— laughter, music from a piano lesson escaping from an open window, the rustle of the leaves in the evening breeze. Those are the moments sometimes unheard because of the noise so often surrounding us. In the hallways at school, I stop and listen, underneath the everyday noise, to the students. I hear their chatter about the weekend athletic competitions and the chorus concert, congratulations to their friends for success on an exam or project, discussion of their plans for winter break, and their pride in the success of recent service projects; their joyfulness is loud and contagious, their acts of goodness are inspiring. A few days ago, fourth graders and their teachers woke up early on a Sunday morning and went to Target with the money raised from their bake sale to buy toys for the children at Children's Hospital. Our students deliberated over what to buy, holding toys and books and dolls in their hands, and imagining the joy that each item would bring to another child. For a fourth grader to be able to set aside their own wants and to use that desire for a toy as the driving force behind purchasing it for another, is at the very heart of the goodness we aspire toward every day at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes. Goodness calls us to consider others while intentionally setting ourselves aside. It is more than just being nice and neighborly to one another, but rather is about putting the needs of others first. It is natural for these sacrifices to be challenging and difficult yet each day I witness our students and faculty effortlessly and joyfully pursuing goodness, service, and empathy. As part of our Episcopal identity it is woven into the very core of who we are as a school community; seeing this goodness in action is wondrous. Each week during chapel our community joins their voices in reciting the school prayer which St. Agnes Head of School Helen Macan wrote during World War II: "Our Heavenly Father, we give You thanks this day for all the blessings You have showered upon us— Our free land, food, shelter, and the ability to work and play without fear. We ask that You would look with compassion upon all children in distress wherever they may be. Grant them and us Your peace in the name of the Christ Child." This time of year allows us to reflect on those blessings and to consider the compassion with which God looks upon those in need. Feeling grateful inspires service, and we are all presented with many opportunities over the holidays to give back to our communities, to lift up those who need help and support. I am proud of the work our students and faculty do for others during the holiday season, but I am most moved by the service, sacrifice, and goodness I see them practicing every day of the year. The next time you are on campus, I encourage you stop and listen to the stories, the laughter, and the joy. Be inspired by our Saints and choose goodness each day. Warmly,
Kirsten Adams Head of School
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Planting Goodness By Seeding Social Innovation BY JEN DESAUTELS ILLUSTRATION BY JASMINE JIANG
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"A 17-year-old talking about 17-yearold issues is a very legitimate voice in our national dialogue." Jim Toomey pauses. "That's a voice that I think society is willing to listen to." They sit in small groups, their desks pulled together in tight circles. Some are taking notes on their laptops, while others scribble in their notebooks. I hear one student say, "Mark Warner. We could try calling him." Other names are said, students murmur to one another, nod their heads, sometimes laugh at what they consider a reach. "Mark Warner? I doubt we could get through." This is Seeding Social Innovation, a new class in the Upper School that directs students to take an issue that matters to them and develop a program to bring awareness to others in the community. And today, these 14 seniors are identifying with whom in the outside community they can speak about their ideas and their projects. Some of their lists are long, some are short. Some have "reaches" like Senator Mark Warner, while others have listed local business owners who they feel confident will take their calls. Seeding Social Innovation (SSI), a Social Entrepreneurship course, is part of a year-long signature program pilot. Participating students will leverage the skills, knowledge, and passion for service developed at SSSAS to generate a novel solution to a current social issue. While certainly a valuable and meaningful way to differentiate our school in the independent school market, more importantly this program creates a unified, coherent, and engaging experience for our students. "Without a doubt, this is the kind of authentic, real-world experience that students will carry with them for years to come," says SSI teacher Mary Via, Director of Learning and External Engagement. "This program is designed so students can identify and analyze an issue they deeply care about, imagine a better solution, and actually do something about it by breaking down complex problems into concrete actions. And as they do so, they acquire important research, innovation, communication, and teamwork skills. Equally important, they also begin to understand themselves in a new way: not as passive receivers of information, but as active changemakers and problem-solvers. "The program is aligned with one of our most important goals as an educational institution which is to create opportunities for every student to be an engaged, productive member of the world beyond St. Stephen's and St. Agnes. This program is also an important expression of our school's mission and Episcopal identity as our students respond to the deep needs of the world and seek to transform unjust structures of society." Goal One of the school's Strategic Plan directs the school to "develop a signature program where students positively impact
the greater community by utilizing strong academic skills, creative problem-solving, and exceptional communication skills." The school wanted to establish a program that would not just meet the requirements of the plan, but would also complement the school's existing curriculum and elevate our mission to pursue goodness as well as knowledge. As the idea for the program took shape, so did questions about how to best structure and form a new signature program: Should that program be one of our own making or should we adopt an established program that fits our goals? When Head of School Kirsten Adams was, by chance, connected with Scott Rechler, the Director and CEO of LearnServe, the answer to that quickly became obvious. LearnServe International is an organization that works with students and educators across the Washington, D.C., area to prepare them with the skills to lead communitybased change. Partnering with LearnServe, an organization whose focus is to develop changemakers, gave SSSAS the framework to launch the new Social Entrepreneurship program. LearnServe had a developed curriculum in place for Seeding Social Innovations—a curriculum, according to LearnServe, that "is designed to challenge students to articulate the social issues in their schools, communities, and the world that make them angry—and then design and implement their own approaches to address those issues. Through the process, students are in the driver's seat: selecting the topic, imagining the response, crafting the vision, and getting it off the ground. They are the ones to articulate the scale, scope, and strategy." The students work individually or in groups on an issue, develop a project, and then present to members of the school community as well as an external audience. In the classroom at the SSSAS Upper School, the students are working on: Promoting a Living Wage in Virginia; Project SafeHouse to advocate for greater support and resources for female victims of human trafficking; creating opportunities for friendship between children at the Lower School and Casa Chirilagua; helping bereaved families pay for their child's funeral; advocating for universal pre-K in Prince George's County; and Making All Voices Heard by creating opportunities for students to have better conversations across lines of difference. Andrea Barnes '14, a senior at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, founded Project uPGrade, a young women's empowerment conference supporting students in Prince George's County to excel. When she learned about the Social Entrepreneurship program at SSSAS, she was excited for all it would provide to students. "Being able to have the opportunity to tackle issues early on in life is extremely rare," says Andrea. "I think it will be really impactful for them in the long run. I certainly wish that I had the chance to take this course when I was at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes!" www.sssas.org | 9
Jeannine Walker '18 tries out the virtual reality station at the Washington Ideas Conference in D.C. in September.
Helping students become ready.
Using their generation's language to bring awareness.
Jeannine Walker '18 intends to address college readiness in Prince George's County. She wants to "make sure that all the kids have equal opportunities" to be academically prepared for college. "I want to ensure that kids from the county are prepared to go to college; they shouldn't have to go to private school to be ready."
"In ninth grade I wrote a paper about the minimum wage," says senior Connor Becton. "It was a short paper, only two pages, so it wasn't really that much." But it was. The work and the research stayed with him. Now, three years later he continues to be frustrated by the fact that there are people who fall under the poverty line, even though they work just as much as anyone else. "They can't support their families. I don't think people deserve that."
She says students are getting the credits in school, but there is some disconnect between what they are actually studying and how it can prepare them for college. "There's something hindering their preparedness to handle what college could throw at them," she says. Jeannine's passion for reform is in her blood. Her father is a politician, her mother is currently running for County Council, and her grandmother used to be a member of the school board. She knows how to dig for answers, and for the reasons why something isn't working the way it should. "The schools there have the potential to be very good," Jeannine says. "They have tremendous programs in place, and with the economic growth that they are working to bring into the county, I think that the kids there need to be ready for it." So she is backing up and starting at the beginning: pre-K. "There are studies that have shown that kids who read earlier, they have better vocabularies, and a stronger ability to learn." Jeannine believes that if Prince George's County adopts a universal pre-kindergarten program, more students will have the foundation and tools when it comes time for college. They will be ready. 10 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
To educate the community about the impacts of the minimum wage, Connor and two other seniors, Katharine Harding and Matthew Wiggins are planning to develop a simulation game, determined to find a way to make the issue relevant and accessible to their peers. They hope that by asking the player to make real-life choices such as, "Your child is sick. Do you take them to the doctor? That will cost $89. Or do you keep them at home and hope they get better?" will show the realities that low-income families face each day, and will compel the community to take notice of the issue. "I leapt at the opportunity to basically put this problem into the language of our generation," says Matthew. Social media and video games speak a language that teens can understand; developing a simulation would make it feel real and would reach those in the community who might not have had any exposure to or understanding of the impact of the minimum wage. The group recently interviewed Corey Holeman who owns some local McDonald's franchises. He shared with them information about how McDonald's supports their employees without raising the minimum wage by offering tuition assistance to eligible employees.
About Seeding Social Innovation: Powered by LearnServe "We believe in the power of young people to create change. And we believe that leading positive social change has the power to transform young people. Too often young people are dismissed as part of the problem, or as passive bystanders. LearnServe's social entrepreneurship curriculum empowers students to become part of the solution. LearnServe equips students with the passion to make a difference and the tools and hands-on experience to make an impact. In the process, students strengthen their social and emotional skills (such as empathy, resilience, teamwork, and cross-cultural understanding); business and professional abilities (such as public speaking, written communications, and budgeting) and civic and global consciousness- which they, in turn, carry into college and their careers." From the 2017 LearnServe International Seeding Social Innovation Course Outline Seniors Matthew Wiggins, Connor Becton, Katharine Harding
"They are helping their employees, they are trying to benefit the economy," said Connor. And beyond bringing awareness, what is their goal for their project? "Theoretically, we would love to get the minimum wage raised, but at the same time, that's almost impossible for us to do," Connor says. Matthew nods in agreement. "Especially in the time frame."
Dr. Francoise Marvel '99 developed an app to help bridge the knowledge divide between patients and doctors; the app helps them to be better understand their condition, and the medicines and the lifestyle changes required for them to remain healthy. "I'm so glad that St. Stephen's and St. Agnes is piloting this new program," she says, "and I am excited that the school is progressive and innovative in identifying that this is something that is not only at the forefront of making the kind of change that we need within the United States, within just humanity in general, but it comes from people who are passionate and have ideas about changing the status quo.
"We are also not in politics," says Katharine. "Our political power, three high school students," shrugs Connor. But Jim Toomey '79 doesn't believe that being in high school without political power means you can't make a difference. Toomey is a cartoonist, best known for his creation of "Sherman's Lagoon." He is also actively involved in ocean conversation. "Don't underestimate your position in society as a 17- or 18-year-old, because that's also a voice that is valuable in our dialogue. Don't disguise yourself; don't try to be an older voice out there. I would just come right out and say, "Hey, I am 17, and I am very concerned about this issue because I have to live with it for the next 30 years." Seeding Social Innovation and the Social Entrepreneurship program could help to make the age of an agent of change irrelvant; high school students can and should make a difference. The opportunities of the program, the possibilities that lie ahead for the students is what alumni who are dedicating their time to this kind of work—helping others and bringing awareness to important issues—find most exciting.
"It's going to be the youngest generation who have the fresh perspective to challenge what we have been doing wrong for decades. They're going to be the one closest to change, and it's so important for them to feel that energy and to feel the support that their ideas matter."
Cultivating the seeds. St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School is currently pursuing a matching grant for this program through The Edward E. Ford Foundation. Any new or increased gifts up to $75,000 to the 2017-2018 Saints Fund will be matched by the Foundation for use in the expansion of the Social Entrepreneurship Program, a program that will give our Saints the tools to become change agents, investing in meeting the world's emerging needs and issues while inspiring others to join them in their quest.
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JIM TOOMEY '79 How the son and grandson of engineers became a cartoonist who loved the ocean and wanted to protect it. "You know, it wasn't really by design. It's really all about following opportunities. There's sort of a guiding light. I've always loved the ocean. There was sort of a passion 12 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
there, in the background, that helped guide me. But it's also a lot of just following up on opportunities, taking advantage of opportunities as they appear on the horizon. So for me, it really started with my love of the ocean, and my love of the ocean led to the theme of the comic strip. You know, I love to clown. I love to kind of be a smartaleck, and a social commentator. So I was looking for a job that combined all those interests."
Jim grew up in Alexandria, Va., attended St. Stephen's School, and while at Duke, earned his degree in mechanical engineering. He says he "had every intention of following in his family's footsteps," but his love of drawing and telling stories led him to become a daily cartoonist at Duke's college newspaper. He drew daily political cartoons for the paper, and after graduation, since cartooning jobs were difficult to get, he "kept this day job" and did political cartooning for smaller newspapers. And then‌ "And then, I got tired of the political cartooning thing, for one reason or another. I just felt like it wasn't going to lead to a full-time career, so I decided I wanted to create a world. I wanted to create characters. I wanted to create story arcs, and so I thought some of these other strips can do political satire through a comic strip, then maybe that's the way to go. So I combined my love of the ocean with my love of drawing cartoons." He moved to San Francisco and decided the obvious answer was to draw an underwater cartoon. "I self-syndicated, and started selling my cartoon directly to about a dozen newspapers, and succeeded. Twenty years ago, I finally got a syndicate contract with King Features. Through the course of it, I began to really want to put more purpose into the comic strip. I got tired of the joke-a-day kind of thing and the jokey storyline and all that, and I wanted to put a little bit more ocean awareness into the comic strip. So I started addressing marine conservation issues." And when the cartoonist put more purpose into his work, the ocean conservation nonprofit community took notice. "One thing led to another, and I started meeting a lot of people and attending some conferences here and there, and got asked to be on a board or two. And so, that's sort of the short story." For those students, who might not have a talent or craft that lends itself nicely to being a changemaker, Jim says, "There's passion, and there's purpose. So you can follow your dream, but after a while, I think you need a purpose to it, as well. Having some life experience helps, and obviously, you just develop more of that as you get older, so as a 17-year-old, what can you do? I think it might help to maybe address an audience of your contemporaries; tell a story of the world according to an 18-year-old or a 17-year-old. There's a lot of advantages that being that age have. You know social media so much better than people like me do. You probably do digital recordings and record your own music, or create your own small, short films, and things like that. You're so much better at that, at the media game than somebody like I am."
"I think the program is fantastic. I think, you know, when I was at St. Stephen's, it was really about getting into college, and then once you were in college, it was about getting a job. It takes a while, living in the real world to realize it's not really all about getting a job or earning money, and not all things that get done, get done through the workforce, or through paying people to do things. There's a lot of good things out there that need to be done by either volunteers or people who don't expect to be paid to get it done."
Jim Toomey is the creator of the daily comic strip "Sherman's Lagoon," which is syndicated in over 200 newspapers in North America, including the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Toronto Star. It also appears in over 20 foreign countries, in French, Portuguese, Spanish, Norwegian and Swedish. Jim has just completed his 22nd book, published by Andrews McMeel. Inspired by the ocean life he saw on a family trip to the Bahamas, a young Jim Toomey was instilled with a lifelong fascination with the sea. "Sherman," the star of Toomey's syndicated comic strip, has been appearing on his sketchpad ever since. Sherman, the great white shark, is more than just a comic hero, however; he is an ocean champion, introducing people everywhere to our underwater world, and educating readers on the important challenges facing our ocean today. In addition to drawing his comic strip, Jim is active in marine conservation, and serves on several nonprofit boards. The conservation message in his comic strip earned him the Environmental Hero Award in 2000, presented by NOAA on behalf of Vice President Al Gore "for using art and humor to conserve and protect our marine heritage." He won the award again in 2010. His comic characters and other illustrations appear in educational materials published by NOAA, the UN, Pew Charitable Trusts, and a variety of non-profit organizations for the purpose of raising awareness of the oceans. To learn more about Jim, visit http://jimtoomey.com.
Jim believes the program at SSSAS is bringing needed awareness and support to a critical generation of doers.
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ANDREA BARNES '14 She is a first generation college student from a low-income background determined to understand the chasm between where she came from and St. Stephen's and St. Agnes, and she intends to find a solution to bridge the gap. "I have always been really passionate about education and access to resources because despite the fact that I attended St. Stephen's and St. Agnes, I am a first generation college student from a low-income background in Fort Washington, Md., and essentially my whole middle to high school experience was me recognizing and coming to terms with the fact that I drove 15 minutes across a bridge and what I was exposed to where I went to school was drastically different than what a lot of students were exposed to where I lived at home. And I started to think to myself about whether or not that was a just difference and what I kind of wanted to do about that."
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Andrea graduated from SSSAS and headed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she soon began her work to examine that difference. She became the first Mount Vernon Leadership Fellow from UNC, and took part in the 5-and-ahalf week program which accepts rising juniors in college from around the U.S., and allows them to focus on leadership and to also tackle a world issue. "We heard from different speakers, we learned about the history of George Washington, we lived on the estate as well as in Old Town Alexandria. My focus was still formed around higher education access for Prince George's County. I came up with this whole non-profit idea known as 'It Takes a Village: Providing Higher Education Empowerment in Prince George's County.' I had mentors helping me and my goal was to form this nonprofit that would serve kind of as a resource base for students that was outside of the public school system. Now, fast forward when I actually came back from Mount Vernon, I realized that I did not have the capacity on my own to form a non-profit or to tackle issues of higher education access
as a whole. It was just absolutely too much and I wanted to find a way in which I could still improve my community, but in ways that were more feasible. I wanted to see an impact faster." She began working with two other young women at UNC and soon they were planning their first Project uPGrade conference. "Project uPGrade is a young women's empowerment conference that pushes young women in Prince George's County to excel academically, professionally, socially, and personally. The ways in which we do this is through providing different workshops and speakers that all tie towards our main four topics, so it's self worth, empowerment, leadership, and fellowship. We were really passionate about bringing opportunities to the forefront of the young ladies' minds." Through this work, she realized that something she had considered a major factor for the disparities was actually not the case at all. "When I was in the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows program, I had this preconceived notion that certain community-based or education-based resources were simply not there in Prince George's county." But through her research and applying for different proposals, she realized she was wrong. There were a number of resources available to the community in Prince George's County, but young people were just not aware of them, or were not aware of how to access them. And it seemed no one was there helping them navigate the complexities of the system. "We're a political hub of a lot of different public servants in the community, we're one of the most affluent African American neighborhoods, but where is the disparity coming from? So Project uPGrade doesn't create new resources, but instead serves as a middle group that brings those resources to the forefront of the students' minds just to show them that they're already there. "We don't in any way, shape, or form want to give students a voice, it's to show them that they already have one. To improve and allow them to realize that they have agency over their next steps. Whether or not that's college or career, it doesn't necessarily matter. Just understanding that there are things out there for them and showing them how to take advantage of those resources." The first Project uPGrade conference was a success; over 80 students attended for a day of activities and the group raised over $1,000. And now? "We want to go bigger and better. This morning our team had an interview for the CUBE at our university, which is a social venture hub here. Teams and individuals who are tackling different social issues apply for the CUBE. The CUBE provides you with mentorship, it provides you with pro-bono litigation services, fundings, stipends, courses, all that you need to improve your organization. Now, for us a big part of that is actually becoming an officially recognized organization. What we have right now is the three of us. We've got the brand of Project uPGrade, but we're not formally listed as a non-profit or a business of that sort just simply because we don't have the
bandwidth to be able to navigate the pathways and so a big goal of ours is to become officially recognized as an organization. Now, we're still trying to decide for which model that will be, so will it actually be a non-profit or will it just be a socially oriented for-profit business? That's one of our major goals. We would love to expand the conference to have more than just an annual influence on our community; we want to have a presence that continues throughout the year. "We want community members and students to see where we are, to see what we're doing, how we're working to improve the community, and we want to invite them into that process. So, for me, ideally, part of the organics of Project uPGrade is that all three of the people on the executive team, we're all from Prince George's County and that's how we want to keep the base of leadership our own. We want to find people who have experienced the conference and who want to be involved by allowing them to have that be their own and that kind of brings me to our third focus, which is really just sustainability." "We don't want to come into a community one time a year and just leave. We want to be able to have a long-lasting impact that has long-term consequences and really, I think that we are filling the gaps of where the public school system falls short, where perhaps government funds fall short and some of the cultural and social capital that may or may not exist in certain areas of Prince George's County. We want to make sure that all of our leadership is representative of the people who we're working with. The majority of the county is made up of minority populations; we have 60 percent African Americans and over 20 percent Hispanic individuals; we have immigrants, we have low-income people, and we've also got completely the opposite side of the spectrum. We just want to make sure that we are as representative of the population as possible as we continue to grow."
Andrea Barnes is a senior Public Policy major with minors in Hispanic Studies and Education at UNC-Chapel Hill. As a first-generation college student, Andrea is passionate about expanding higher education access and using effective public policy to diminish the poverty cycle for underserved communities. She strives to find the intersection of education, policy, and law in all of her endeavors. In 2017 Andrea co-founded Project uPGrade, a young women's conference that aims to help Prince George's County residents strive for excellence academically, professionally, and personally. The first conference was held in June and brought together 87 high school girls for a day full of workshops, speakers, and performances focused on the tenets of S.E.L.F (Self-worth, Empowerment, Leadership, and Fellowship). Andrea hopes to bring positive attention to the young leaders in her community.
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The team at Johns Hopkins behind the Corrie App: Dr. Ali Afshar, Dr. Francoise Marvel '99, Ethan Dyer, and Dr. Seth Martin.
FRANCOISE MARVEL '99 "I'm the kind of person who dreams big. I believe that if you are motivated, if you believe in an idea, if you really want to change something and you dedicate yourself to that, you can do it. I think mentality, the can-do dreaming, is 100 percent important when you want to innovate and when you want to be an essential entrepreneur or innovator or person who is an agent of change." Dr. Francoise Marvel '99 is an Internal Medicine resident at Johns Hopkins. Her interest is in preventative cardiology; her passion is pursuing ways to improve the current healthcare system, to improve the experience and the lives of her patients once they have left the hospital and are left to follow discharge instructions and understand prescription medications.
16 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Francoise sees a world of opportunity for improving what she refers to as "our fragmented system" and the way that healthcare is delivered. "I've always seen healthcare differently than other people. It has major problems that need to be addressed with ideas that are looking to change and transform the healthcare system. You realize it when you meet a new patient experiencing their first major health issue, they might have just had this heart attack, just had this bad outcome with their health, and they are completely new to what it is like to be a patient to the hospital, to take medication, to undergo procedures. The way that our current system works is such that we have patients admitted to the hospital; we do our due diligence. But what I really found is there's a huge chasm between what the patient understands, is empowered to do, and is aware of, and what we're doing as healthcare providers for that patient. "The in-patient or in hospital experience becomes extremely passive. I have seen many, many patients, but there was someone in particular who really stuck out to me. A real estate investor who had all the resources and all the
education, had a heart attack. He left the hospital not really connecting with what medications he needed to take and he didn't have a good follow-up plan. He went down to Ft. Lauderdale, did some golfing, ran out of his cardiac meds, came back to Hopkins with acute sharp pain, and died while on the operating table. And it was all because he didn't take his medication as advised and didn't make the necessary lifestyle changes that are imperative right after having a heart attack. "When you see preventable deaths happen, when you see preventable harm occur, you start to really think deep. What can I do to change that? Seeing all those things happen with our patients really led me to think about, how can I change the way that patients are being hospitalized and discharged from the hospital? How can I help with cardiac recovery? How can I be that person to really make a big difference there?" It was while Francoise was a pre-medical student at University of Virginia, volunteering at UVA Health System that she began to recognize the healthcare delivery and patient experience was a fragmented and challenging process. "The patient experience and the passiveness of being in the hospital surprised me in a negative way, it shocked me. And I thought, well maybe I just haven't seen enough." Francoise continued her work at Georgetown, Washington Hospital Center, University of Miami North Medicine, and John Hopkins, and found that the system was flawed everywhere, no matter how renowned the institution. "When you still see these challenges, even at Hopkins, it becomes apparent that there is a problem that needs to be addressed globally within healthcare delivery. I became very interested in taking this idea of helping patients have a better outcome after a heart attack by transforming the discharge process, by creating a digital health platform, including applications and wearables, sensor technology, and bluetooth technology. Interestingly enough, when we think about digital health, we think, 'Oh, you know, those patients who have heart attacks, they are older people don't have smartphones. These digital solutions are only for those youngsters out there. Well, that's completely wrong. There's some patients who have a better understanding of mobile phones than I would argue some teenagers do. They're Snapchatting, they're involved with their grandchildren through a lot of high-end features of their smartphones. And many of them refer to their smartphones as their life. I know all of us don't leave home without it. You probably know where your phone is before you know where your house keys are."
In an effort to streamline the discharge process as well as ensure the patient's understanding of and connection with their health care plan, Francoise began work to develop Corrie Health, an app aimed at improving the recovery of heart attack patients. Available on the App Store, Corrie helps families stay on track with their heart health plan and connects them with their healthcare team. And for the students, like the ones at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes who have the ideas and now a class to flush those ideas out into something more tangible? She calls them disruptors—the good kind. "For them it is about being disruptors in a space where they see the opportunity for change to help people, to save lives, to make quality better for those around them." But to take the idea and the passion and make it something tangible, there's a process. Francoise understood the need for a framework and developed a business plan to transform the big idea into the real thing. "I developed about seven or eight steps, from identifying the problem to having meetings with stakeholders. For me, in the hospital setting, it's everyone from the patients to the families to the chief management team to the hospital nurses to the presidents of the hospital and the quality improvements people. There's a long list of people who you have to meet with to really understand the problems, to know what's out there already." There is lot of work between identifying the passion and delivering a product, but for the changemakers, the effort and the sacrifice is worth it. "There are some people who are born with an inquisitiveness, and an intellectual curiosity, and a spirit of wanting to be disruptive in a good way, in a positive way, in a way that can change our world in the right directions. And they're willing to put it all on the line to help other people have a better life."
Dr. Francoise Marvel is an Internal Medicine resident at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Marvel has a clinical interest in preventive Cardiology Health, precision medicine, and developing innovative healthcare transformational technology. She was recognized as an outstanding intern and received the Howard K. Rathbun Award for Clinical Excellence in 2015, and was a nominee for Physician of the Year (2014-2015) at Johns Hopkins Medicine. She was the recipient of the Johns Hopkins Linda Dunbar award, given to six residents nationwide each year to recognize outstanding medical residents in healthcare transformation, specifically technology innovation in mobile health. Dr. Marvel has been a finalist for mobile innovation in medicine during Johns Hopkins' Individualized Healthcare Shark Tank (May, 2016) and national competition at the American College of Physicians Dragon's Lair: Breathing Fire into Healthcare Transformation (May, 2016).
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Journey to
Guatemala BY SYLVIE WEIMAN '20
I
It was mid-January when a representative from an organization called Where There Be Dragons came to school to speak to the Human Rights class about social justice issues in Guatemala. Through a stroke of luck, my Spanish class went to sit in on this lecture. I was immediately captivated by the speaker's passion for Guatemala, and when I found out that he would be leading a trip there during the summer, I was interested in trying to go. During the forty-five minute presentation, I caught a glimpse of the tragedies that have occurred in Guatemala and also the resilience of the Guatemalan people, and during the summer, I got to experience that resilience firsthand. I traveled to Guatemala with Where There Be Dragons, an organization that leads trips all over the world for people of all ages. Dragons aims to teach participants independence, self-awareness, and
18 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
leadership, with an additional emphasis on global citizenship. Each trip of ten to twelve students and three instructors contains some of the same elements including home-stays, language study, and learning service, but each individual trip is unique. Each group visits different cities and stays in them for varying amounts of time. Because of the flexible itinerary, I had no idea what to expect before leaving on my adventure. I spent days traipsing from one outdoor equipment store to another, looking over a packing list that was specific and vague at the same time, but other than that, I didn't think much about the month to come. As my departure date drew closer, the trip still seemed like an abstract imagination. Waving goodbye to my mom at the airport on June 28th, however, the experience became all too real. I realized for the first time that I would be leaving everything I knew behind for a new group of people and new a country. As my plane touched down in Miami where I would connect with the rest of my group, I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for awkward introductions and stilted conversation. Sadly, I had to take many more deep breaths before actually meeting people, as I got hopelessly lost in the Miami International Airport. When I finally met up with my group, I was happily surprised with how fast we bonded. The discomfort I had imagined was virtually non-existent, and our first interactions together set a positive tone for the rest of our time together. By the time we arrived in Guatemala City, it was already dark outside. The air was warm on my face as I stepped through the
airport doors onto the crowded street. I immediately felt like an outsider as I saw many faces turn to stare at the group of Americans walking down the street. Although that feeling of being on the outside came over me many times while I was in Guatemala, there was one town where that sensation was so fleeting that I barely remember it. We spent 10 out of 30 days living in homestays in San Juan La Laguna, a small town nestled between two volcanoes on the edge of magnificent Lake Atitlan. My homestay parents, Michaela and Domingo, were also the parents of seven grown children, some of whom lived in the same little grouping of houses with us. They had many grandchildren and even great grandchildren, and though I was introduced to all of them many times, I never could remember everyone's names. I spent my mornings in San Juan attending Spanish lessons, and my afternoons exploring the town and doing group bonding activities. When I first arrived in San Juan, I was surprised by how different it was from towns in the United States, but I soon became accustomed tuk-tuks whizzing by me in the street, the smell of fresh tortillas wafting through the air, and stray dogs brushing past my legs on the way to Spanish class. Looking back, I am amazed at how quickly San Juan became my home. My family in San Juan was extremely patient with me; because my Spanish speaking abilities were limited and Michaela and Domingo spoke the Mayan language, Tzutujil, most of the time, I learned valuable non-verbal communication skills. Although it was difficult for us to talk, I could see how much Michaela cared for me in the way she made my tea every morning and her amused smile when I tried to make tortillas. Our busy house was filled of warmth and love without anyone speaking a word. One such wordless exchange happened on my penultimate night in San Juan. I retired to my room early, exhausted from planning the good-bye fiesta our group was hosting the next evening. I had been running around town all day, buying decorations and ingredients to make a meal for all the host families. As I was drifting off to sleep, I heard a knock on the door and then felt light penetrating
through my closed eyelids. I sat up in bed to see Michaela and her daughter-in-law, Maritza, bustling in, carrying a pile of clothes. After some gestures and a few sentences in Tzutujil that went right over my head, I finally understood that the clothes were for me to try on to see what I should wear the to the fiesta. I picked up the blouse from the top of the pile, and was moved to see that it was a gĂźipil, a traditional Mayan shirt. As Michaela and Maritza dressed me in the traditional Mayan outfit, I was overwhelmed with a sense of belonging. Having them fuss over my clothes and braid my hair made me feel as though I was truly part of their family. At the fiesta the next night, dressed in our borrowed finery, the other girls in my group and I danced and laughed with our homestay sisters and mothers, feeling truly accepted into the San Juan community. Coming back to regular life at home was difficult, but the lessons I learned in Guatemala about myself and people help me see the world differently. My passion for learning languages is stronger than ever, but my confidence in communicating without words has also grown exponentially. Knowing how it feels to be accepted so completely into a new community encourages me daily to strive to make our school a place where people can feel that same sense of belonging.
"Coming back to regular life at home was difficult, but the lessons I learned in Guatemala about myself and people help me see the world differently."
Sylvie with her homestay sister, Miki, on her first day in San Juan.
Fiesta Night for Sylvie's group members: Anat, Meg, Sylvie, and Lucia
www.sssas.org | 19
Q
ONE
3
UESTION
How do you foster respectful discourse and good citizenship in your classroom or within your school community?
ANSWERS INTRO BY MANDI SAPP
We live in a world where anyone
As an institution that is committed
cultural literacy and encourages
with access to a computer has access
to pursuing goodness as well as
them to think critically about what
to broadcast their views, reaching
knowledge, it is imperative that
they know and believe to be their
thousands of people quickly regardless
we provide our students with
truth. These three Saints alumni
of accuracy or appropriateness. It can
resources, skills, and opportunity
practice and teach the values
be difficult to know fact from fiction
to engage in discussions where
of respectful discourse every
when everyone is talking at such a fast
differences in perspective often
day in their careers and share
pace. For young people trying to learn
surface. Being able to engage in
their personal experiences and
how to speak and listen, this is an
respectful discourse is a sign of
reflections on the topic.
especially complicated business.
ANN SNYDER '03
Ann is the Director of Enrollment Management at Stuart Hall School in Staunton, Va., where she focuses on bringing in a diverse student body to expose students to viewpoints that challenge them and ideas that expand their thinking.
A.
Stuart Hall's curriculum is a skills-based program that prioritizes experiences and learning outcomes over content acquisition. To that end, global citizenship is one of six pillars around which our academic program is formed. Developing empathy and a unique worldview are part of the bedrock of our education, and students work actively to understand each other and the world from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Whether that is through a comprehensive service-learning curriculum, fostering reflective dialogue about race or gender in chapel, or studying world religions and metaphysics as part of our required philosophy course for seniors, our students look at their community and the global community from a number of angles. In my role as Director of Enrollment Management, I oversee a team that brings in students from over 15 countries, 14 states, and various educational, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds. I hope to contribute to our school's ongoing global citizenship conversation by bringing in the most diverse student body possible so that our students are exposed to viewpoints that challenge them, friends that support them, and ideas that expand their thinking. Never has it been more important to encourage the next generation of leaders to be comfortable with being challenged and to expect dialogue, not argument, as the norm.
20 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
CAMERON WILLIAMS '09
A.
As a teacher in the Interlude Program for Students with Emotional Disabilities at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Va., Cameron hopes to encourage his students to speak out and stand up for issues they believe in. make sure that my students are
In today's society it has
like as many of my students,
become increasingly easy
through either homelife or
to place your opinions on
their disability, have difficulty
a pedestal and to neglect
properly expressing that they
any information that you
disagree with an opinion. Doing
don't agree with. From news
these things makes a small, but
networks that largely show bias
meaningful, impact on students
towards one side of a story, to
lives.
seen on the news and how we
homogeneous friends group; it
It is also essential that we
the discussions by bringing
is far too effortless for a person
teach our students to be
to have a limited worldview
global citizens. Last year,
that will not be threatened.
while working in Washington,
the many students who have a
D.C., a few of my coworkers As an educator, I feel like
and I chose to stage a protest
it is one of my vital roles
after school to show our
to teach my students how
disapproval of the murder of
to respectfully listen to the
Jordan Edwards as well as
opinion of others, regardless of
the many instances of police
if they agree with the position
brutality that had happened.
of their counterparts. To me,
Afterwards, many of us spent
the best ways to do so are to
a day teaching the students (of
constantly have discussions
whom 95 percent are African-
about what's going on in the
American) about topics such
world, using real-life examples
as Malcolm X learning how to
within topics such as politics
read in prison, the role racial
and sport—as these are the
bias plays in our everyday lives,
things I find my scholars are
and the disproportionality
the most passionate about.
in incarceration of African-
I also try to model what
American males. Even now
appropriate dissent looks
in my new position I strive to
up-to-date in the news so that they can be informed on what's happening around the globe. With one of my classes, we start the majority of mornings by talking about what we've feel about it. I normally end up important things that they might now have seen, such as Catalan Independence or the lack of power in Puerto Rico. All in all, working in education is about more than teaching students the materials from the textbook. I strive to make sure that all of the students I educate are prepared for the world after high school by inculcating their ability to successfully have appropriate debates, by making sure they are informed and able to have discussions about what is going on in the world around them, and by encouraging them to speak out and stand up for issues they believe in.
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PETER BAKKE '05
A public school physics teacher in Seattle, Wash., Peter builds the skills of citizenship and discourse as he would any other academic skill: modeling, scaffolding, practice, and feedback.
A.
Teaching our students the value and skill of respectful discourse is as important today as ever. Our cities are global communities with dozens of languages, cultures, and backgrounds represented. In a national climate that highlights division, it is the role of the schools to promote inclusion, diversity of thought, and the development of strong, principled young voices. You would be surprised how many times this statement comes up in educational conversations: "Students must be taught how to _______." What seems like a truism is often a necessary reminder for frustrated educators. For young people to become thoughtful and contributing members of society, the requisite habits and skills for our desired outcomes must be introduced, supported, practiced, and reinforced. In my classrooms, I set the tone for respect and citizenship by displaying clear core values. When community, respect, and compassion are emblazoned along the classroom walls and woven into my core as a person, it becomes easier to expect these characteristics from my students.
22 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
I assign students a perspective, I try to build the skills of citizenship
which forces them to consider a
and discourse as I would any
viewpoint they may not already
other academic skill: modeling,
hold. When students are reminded
scaffolding, practice, and feedback.
of the expectation of respect
Before a discussion, it is best to
and given tools for structured
model an exemplary (and perhaps
discourse, these discussions are
non-exemplary) conversation.
generally quite fruitful.
Additionally, I provide my students with conversation protocols that
If one looks at the commentary
include prompts, sentence starters,
on social media or other popular
and time cues for each participant
outlets, it is clear that respectful
to talk and to listen. Like any new
discourse is not natural or easy.
skill, students rely on exemplars and
You may see comments that show
scaffolds until the intricacies become
passion but lack reasoning, or
more natural to them.
show reasoning but lack empathy. As educators, we are tasked
Throughout the school year, I
with giving students the tools
provide opportunities for students
to communicate in a variety of
to converse in this structured setting
situations hitting on all cylinders:
in small groups. In my biology
passion, reason, and empathy. If
courses our topics have included
you expect students to come away
stem cells, genetic modification,
with this complex set of skills and
animal and human studies, and
dispositions, you had better get to
racism in scientific research. Often,
lesson planning!
Read Into It
5 Jalene Spain Thomas, Lower School Director, shares some of the most joyful and meaningful experiences from her first months at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS AS A SAINT
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS
FIFTH GRADE BONDING TRIP
This outdoor chapel filled my heart with joy, especially seeing the sea of stuffed animals held lovingly by our students. I enjoyed gathering outside with the community on a crisp October morning to pray for all animals that bring us so much joy. Highlights included watching my dog Bailey join the procession and receive a blessing, and the opportunity to give the homily honoring St. Frances and his passionate and selfless manner in protecting God's creatures. Each expression of our school's Episcopal identity warms me and it was so special to join in prayer and service for the vulnerable, the young, the learner, the teacher, and the family.
My favorite outdoor adventures tend to happen close to my home or during my travels with family. My list of favorites includes walks with my dog in Rock Creek Park at dusk, watching the sunrise with family at the Grand Canyon, and exploring remote beaches with friends in Puerto Rico. My list now includes the fifth grade bonding trip in October at Inner Quest, which provided team-building opportunities and exciting physical challenges for our fifth grade. The Lower School core values of respect and compassion were palpable as students offered encouraging words for adults and peers and I was especially heartened by their words of encouragement for me as I took my first-ever zip line ride!
KINDERGARTEN SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING & FIRST GRADE COFFEE HOUSE What a vibrant learning community we have for members of all ages! At the Spotlight on Learning, kindergarten teachers present a mini-lesson to students and parents and then provide an opportunity for them to practice the skill together. During First Grade Coffee Houses, families start the day reading together. I love seeing these opportunities for children and adults to experience our dynamic curriculum shoulder to shoulder.
HALLOWEEN AT THE LOWER SCHOOL
I loved my first Halloween celebration as Saint! The parade was unforgettable, watching children and teachers proudly display their costumes for cheering parents and visiting sixth graders. The inaugural pumpkin contest was a success, as faculty and staff carved, decorated, and dressed pumpkins entries judged by our fifth graders. A favorite moment occurred when I saw two kindergarteners viewing the pumpkins in silence and wonder as if in an art gallery.
HOMECOMING PEP RALLY
I have found many moments of joy as a new member of a JK-12 school, cheering on our athletic teams, adding Saints gear to my collection, and attending my first football game and Fall Family Festival. This year's Hollywood theme provided an electric atmosphere for the Homecoming pep rally at the Lower School. Our smallest Saints were so proud of our visiting Upper School athletes, who came down the red carpet to thunderous applause. Students were vocal cheerleaders during our group game of "Strike a Hollywood Pose" and as teachers "Pinned a Letter" on the Hollywood sign.
www.sssas.org | 23
welcome aBOARD MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
What is your favorite life motto? "I just believe that every day is a learning opportunity. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed helping others to have the confidence to take risks, try new things, do their best, and always seek the learning experience in every opportunity."
Pictured with his son Jason, wife Julie, daughter MacKenzie, and son Graham
THOMAS ARCHER '86 Board of Governors
Thomas Archer '86 is a partner with PwC and lives in Silicon Valley, Calif. He has been with the firm for 28 years serving clients in the technology and telecoms industries. He feels fortunate that his work has enabled extensive travel in the U.S. and around the world. In addition, he is an elected member of PwC's U.S. Firm and the Global Firm Boards. "I always enjoyed math in high school.
Tom and his wife, Julie, have three
values and provided me many of the
children. Their oldest, Mackenzie,
foundational tools that shaped who
attended SSSAS for kindergarten
I am, including such skills as critical
before the family moved to California.
thinking, continuous learning,
Mackenzie and Jason are currently
working together, and caring. I
attending the University of Virginia
dedicate nearly all of my volunteer
and their youngest, Graham, is a
time to educational activities at
sophomore at Bellarmine College Prep
the collegiate, high school, and
in San Jose, Calif.
elementary school levels. It is very rewarding for me to give back
Tom is inspired to give back. "St.
and I also have a passion for how
Stephen's helped to formulate my
technology will continue to impact education."
So when I started at the University of Virginia, I continued to build off the teachings from Mr Biddle's calculus classes with a focus towards a math major. I then decided to pivot to business and graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce with a concentration in accounting."
24 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
We asked, "What is your favorite Saints tradition?" And all the men replied...
The Sleepy Thompson Basketball Tournament
CATIE MEYER '86
Board of Governors The Child and Family Network where she previously served on the capital campaign, and on the Middlebury College's Parents' Committee. Catie graduated from Duke University and
What is your favorite life motto? "Well, I love a good quote. I have them taped all over my refrigerator, so it is hard to pick
Georgetown Law School, and was a
just one, but our family favorite
litigator specializing in white collar
is 'When you can't control the
crime and securities litigation before
wind, adjust your sails.'"
retiring from practicing law to raise her children, Luke '15 and Rita '21. Catie's parents set a wonderful example
There were many teachers who made a
for her of giving back with one's time,
lasting impact on Catie during her time
treasures, and talents. "I want to
at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes. "So many
Catie Meyer '86 has given generously of her
continue that example by giving back
have influenced me in various ways over
time to St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School
to a place that means so much to both
the years. A few that stand out are: Ms.
for many years, including serving as Co-
me and my children. The collective
Barksdale who taught me how to take
Chair for Light the Way: A Campaign for our
years that Rita, Luke, and I spent at St.
proper notes; Mrs. Babcock who taught
Teachers, on the Reunion Committee and
Stephen's and St. Agnes School have
me my love of the written word; Dr. Pratt
The Saints Fund Leadership Committee,
shaped us as individuals while allowing
who taught me critical thinking; Mrs.
and volunteering for school events such
us to form lifelong friendships. I give
Morse who taught me art history (which
as the Gala and grade-level parent socials.
back as a "thank you" from us and
became one of my majors in college);
Catie also serves on the Advisory Board for
because I want to ensure that others
and Kathy Jenkins who taught me the
the Duke University Annual Fund, on the
continue to have the same educational
joy of playing sports with my friends
development and benefit committees for
experience in the future."
after school."
Pictured with her children, Luke '15 and Rita Peterson '21
MONTEZ ANDERSON '93 Board of Governors and influence legislation, projects,
What inspires you to give back?
programs and campaigns. Montez has
"The blessing of having a fabulous
been actively working for many years in
wife, two wonderfully inspiring
building coalitions between corporations,
parents, supportive family
nonprofits, government bodies, labor unions, advocacy groups and the private sector.
and friends, and substantive opportunities throughout my life allows me to wake up everyday
It was Roger Barbee who had the greatest impact on Montez during his time at SSSAS. "A man of great faith and sincerity, Pictured with his wife, Kelly Anderson Montez is the president and CEO of Constella Solutions, LLC, a full-service public affairs, business development and strategic consulting firm that strategically advocates by connecting elected officials, company executives, organization leaders, advocacy groups and the media to promote
Mr. Barbee took a vested interest in my
thankful to God and ready to give to those who simply need a hand to pull them up."
personal growth--spiritually, academically, and athletically. He encouraged me to be a critical thinker and to observe and understand my environment." Montez has supported the school in many ways over the years, including as former president of the Alumni Association Board and as a volunteer for reunions, the Fathers'
Club, and our Admissions. Montez serves on the board for several local organizations including Leadership Greater Washington, The Levine School of Music, The Campagna Center, and the Providence Hospital Foundation.
www.sssas.org | 25
living our MISSION SERVING AND LEADING
DONNAN C. WINTERMUTE '65 Board of Governors Virginia Alumni Society of the College of William and Mary. She has been a member of the Junior League of Washington, received the Campagna Center Award in 1995, and was the Honorary Chair of the Historic Alexandria Homes Tour. In 2014 Donnan was named an Alexandria Living Legend.
What teacher impacted you most? "General Harold R. Jackson definitely had the greatest impact on me during my
"I truly believe that we are put here on earth to help others," says Donnan. "Every summer I go on
St. Agnes years. He was my eighth grade science
a mission trip to San Pedro Sula,
teacher and my math
Honduras, for 10 days to work
teacher in both my junior
in an orphanage for 62 girls. It is
and senior years. He was
Donnan C. Wintermute '65 has worked in
hard and exhausting work in one
real estate for 35 years and is a Real Estate
of the most impoverished areas of
Broker and Vice President of Coldwell
the world, but I must say that it is
by all! We maintained a
Banker Residential Brokerage in Old Town
the most meaningful thing that
very close relationship long
Alexandria. Donnan is an active volunteer,
I do all year. I love being able to
after I graduated and up
both with SSSAS and within the outside
help bring love, support, hugs, and
community. She has generously hosted events
encouragement to the young girls
such as the Leadership Donor Reception and
in the orphanage. Life is all about
her class party for her 50th Reunion. She has
giving back and helping others."
much admired and beloved
until his passing. I actually have a framed picture of General Jackson in my office, which brings back
volunteered for alumni phonathons and for her 40th and 45th Reunions. She chaired
Considering Donnan's
the Antiques Show and in 1989 was the St.
commitment to service and her
Agnes Commencement speaker. Donnan
community, It is fitting that her
is very active in the Alexandria community.
favorite quote is "Yesterday is
She is a trustee at the Goodwin House
history... tomorrow is a mystery...
Foundation Board; Vice Chair of INOVA
and today is a gift."
many happy memories of a true gentleman and a fabulous teacher!"
Alexandria Hospital Foundation, and is on the board of the Christ Church Foundation. She has previously served on the boards of the College of William and Mary Foundation, the Alexandria Symphony, and Hampden Sydney College. She was formerly Chair or President of the following boards: the Campaign Center Circle of 1000, the Campagna Center, the Alexandria Senior Citizens Employment and Services, the Campagna Center's Business Leadership Council, and the Northern
26 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
...and the women's favorite Saints tradition...
Celebrating St. Agnes' Birthday on January 21
JOHN REPETTI '81 Foundation Board John is the founder of
John attributes his interest in
Sila Solutions Group, a
education to Mr. Babyak, his
national technology and
seventh grade math teacher
management consulting firm and is also an executive mentor with the Global Pictured with his sons, John '16 and Mark '19, and his wife, Marnie
What teacher impacted you most?
Good Fund an organization
and principal of the Lower and Middle School at St. Stephen's. "Even though he was a tough
dedicated to developing
disciplinarian and demanded
social entrepreneurs into
your best, he taught and led
John Repetti '81 lives in Alexandria with his
impactful global leaders.
wife Marnie and their two sons, John '16 and
with such energy and joy that
"As one of the many parents
Mark '19. John says he is inspired to give back
and alumni who have gone
he brought out the best in
to St. Stephen's and St. Agnes because he has
the entrepreneurial route,
"always had an interest in education and how it
it is incredibly exciting that
can help people reach their full potential." John
the school is launching
has served in multiple roles supporting the
such an innovative program
giving freely and being totally
school including serving on the Alumni board
that aligns with the school's
committed had a profound
and most recently helping with the school's new
mission to pursue goodness,"
Seeding Social Innovation course.
says John.
effect on me."
his students," John says. "He was active in every aspect of the school. That spirit of
PETER V. MEYER '88
Foundation Board Like his sister Catie Meyer '86
(new board member), it is Peter's parents that inspire him to give
"Mrs. Rogers, my math teacher
back to his community and to
in high school, was one of my
others. "For them, it is second
favorite teachers. She took me
nature to help someone in need. They passed that value along to their children."
seriously and made me realize I had an affinity for math. Upon reflection, she probably had an
Peter, one of six children, and
influence on my path to a career
now a parent of four boys, asked
in finance."
his children what they think his Pictured with his wife, Kit, and sons Peter, Graham, Chris, and Quentin Meyer
What teacher impacted you most?
favorite quote is and they all agreed on the following: "'You only need to be good at two things:
Peter V. Meyer '88 is Co-Head the high
going to sleep and behaving at the
others with respect, enjoy food and the
yield trading group at Credit Suisse. Peter
dinner table.' This is my nightly
company of friends and family. Another
is an avid golfer and lives in Pelham, N.Y.,
lecture to them. I think it's a good
favorite quote is 'There is no such thing
with his wife Kit and their four sons: Peter,
recipe for a satisfying life at all
as fun for the whole family,' which also
Graham, Chris, and Quentin.
ages: take care of your health, treat
applies to our family dinners."
www.sssas.org | 27
Meet Our New Faculty & Staff
Adrienne Allen '04
Lisa Bliss
Sarah Brands
Anne Brewster
I developed a curiosity about Russian literature, music, and movies in high school, so I spent a summer studying in St. Petersburg, Russia, to see that history up close. It was the adventure of a lifetime!
I started my own business in 2015, Blissful by Design, specializing in personalized gifts and parties.
I make my own deodorant using no aluminum.
I lived in Normandy, France, for a year after graduating from college. I was an English teacher in a high school in a small town there.
Upper School English Teacher
Lower School Fifth Grade Teacher
Lower School Learning Specialist
Lower School Junior Kindergarten Teacher
Can you guess... ...who is traveling to Mongolia and Thailand next summer to hang out with horses and elephants?
Andy Carr
Middle School History Teacher I have over 40 ties... and I've started the year by trying to wear all of them without repeating. The ties include ones that I wore to my 6th and 8th grade graduations.
Linda Carter
Assistant to Director of Multicultural Education One of my childhood dreams was to be a National Geographic photojournalist. Alas, I've settled on taking pictures of my children, but it has been just as rewarding.
Sean Finan
Lower School Fifth Grade Teacher I can sing the entire score of "Les Miserables" by myself and play all the parts.
Melina McCrary
Debra Garcia
Jayson Gilbert
Quincey Grieve
Rebecca Haddad
My first car was a 1976 VW Dasher. But before I was allowed to drive it, I had to take it apart and put it back together! It took me a year of work to do but then I didn't have to pay for gas or insurance.
About 13 years ago, when I was really into practicing the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira, I was able to walk the length of a basketball court on my hands.
I have a secret career filling out changeof-address forms — I've moved four times in the past 15 months!
I have lived in four countries — New Zealand, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and America.
Middle School Science Teacher
Upper School Spanish Teacher
Middle School English Teacher
Lower School Kindergarten Assistant
Can you guess...
Tom Johnson
Jen Knutson
Dania Lee
I ride a unicycle.
I like to bake in my free time. My girls have a homemade dessert in their lunches everyday.
I was chased by a squirrel until I surrendered my peanuts.
Upper School Technology Education Teacher
Lower School Kindergarten Assistant
...who studied in New Zealand and went bungee jumping and sky-diving there?
Middle School Mathematics Teacher
Kate Roessler
28 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
28+ Fun and Quirky Facts Illustrations By Jasmine Jiang
Can you guess...
Joe Lindsay '12
Lower School Fourth Grade Teacher I was a firefighter for four years while in college at the University of Virginia.
...who has traveled all over the world, including hiking in the Patagonia of Chile, the King's Trail in northern Sweden, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and through the Tongariro National Park in New Zealand.
Marcia Mallett
Melina McCrary
I love listening (and singing) to upbeat alternative rock, indie pop, and a mix of reggae. My family frequently asks me to turn it down.
I went to a deaf university for graduate school and am fluent in sign language.
Communications & Admission Associate
Middle School Learning Specialist
Andy Carr
Sue McElheny
Director of Alumni Engagement I was on the equestrian team in college!
Susan Miranda
Lower School Junior Kindergarten Assistant I was an actress in a TV commercial that aired locally last year. The print ad is still posted in Virginia airports.
Matthew Mutterperl
Michele Phillips '12
I enjoy weightlifting and swimming, and I love going apple picking in the fall.
I worked as a raft guide in Jackson Hole, Wy., for two summers.
Lower School Spanish Teacher
Advancement Officer
Can you guess... ...who loves macarons but not macaroons.
Kate Roessler
Michel Romano
I did Irish Dancing for eight years when I was younger.
I previously worked for NASA as a Space Weather Forecaster.
Jalene Spain Thomas
Scott Strednak-Singer
Gillian Walrich
Jennie Wills
I​ have driven cross-country five times and love visiting National Parks along the way (camping not so much!). My favorite park is Bryce Canyon in Utah.
I participated in an archeological excavation in Israel, after graduating from college. When I uncovered a well full of vipers, I realized that I really didn't want to be Indiana Jones.
In another life, I was a massage therapist and worked on athletes, actors, and performers. The two most memorable were Carrot Top and Harry Connick, Jr.
After studying theater and dance in college, I danced in professional modern dance companies in New York and D.C. and taught dance for 20 years in both private studios and K-12 schools.
Upper School Learning Resource Teacher
Jamie Segraves
Upper School Physics Teacher
Upper School Associate Director and Spanish Teacher
Dania Lee
Lower School Director
Upper School Religion Teacher
Administrative Assistant to the Middle School Director
I was the only girl to play football in the entire little league. To this day most of my former teammates still believe I was a boy.
Director of Development
www.sssas.org | 29
“Tartuffe”
"A comedic standout that rounded out the family dynamic was Jackson de Vallance in the role of Damis. De Vallance used his smaller size to make his character's violent tendencies more ridiculous and endearing." THE ALEXANDRIA PATCH
RAVE REVIEWS
The Upper School Stage One Players presented three performances of "Tartuffe" in November. One of the most famous comedies by Molière, "Tartuffe" is about a scoundrel who illustrates the disastrous nature of hypocrisy. This satire unfolds with deception, seduction, wrongdoing and ruinous marriage plans — yet with the help of a wise and resourceful wife the story is steered towards righted wrongs. Opening night was reviewed by Cappies students, high school peers in the metro D.C. area who are trained as critics and attend each other's shows. JP Payro '18, Christian Corpening '18, and Jackson de Vallance '21
"St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School's performance of "Tartuffe" ... takes the classical French comedy into the 20th century with a spectacular set and buoyant, physical performances by the talented cast … Replete with wildly entertaining physical comedy and lovable characters ... Molière's story is as hilarious today as it was 400 years ago." KRISTEN WAAGNER (McLean High School)
Nikki Bires '20 30 | St. Stephen's Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Bette Vajda '19
Campbell Weiss '19
Jackson de Vallance '21
Ben Johnson '18 JP Payro '18
"In his performance as the gullible, self-satisfied headof-household, Christian Corpening imbued Orgon with a fatherly spirit while upholding the comedic demands of the role. His vocal variation and emphasis indicated an adept grasp of the show's hefty English translation." KRISTEN WAAGNER
"As the impostor, the hypocrite, and a liar, Tartuffe (JP Payro) scored laughs from the audience from curtain to curtain. His confidence and commitment added relatable humor to a character written so long ago ... Payro showed tremendous presence on stage, drawing all eyes to him whenever he entered." ELIZABETH WALDT (West Springfield High School)
Christian Corpening '18, Julia Burke '18, and JP Payro '18
"Loving housewife Elmire (Julia Burke) played up the physical comedy of the script with domestic grace, excelling in the second act." KRISTEN WAAGNER
Campbell Weiss '19 and Bette Vajda '19
"Portraying Mariane, Orgon's lovestruck daughter, was actress Jen Lansing , who brought a familiar, melodramatic element to her teenage character. She threw herself about stage and cried as her father told her she cannot marry her one true love, Valère (Sam Stevens). Together, Lansing and Stevens convinced the audience of their love with overwhelming chemistry." ELIZABETH WALDT
Tessa Moore '18
Lexi Olsen '21
Christian Corpening '18
Julia Burke '18
MORE PHOTOS
FLICKR.COM/SAINTSPHOTOS www.sssas.org | 31
SAINTS IN ACTION
1
3
2
4
A Veterans Day Celebration On November 13 the Middle and Upper
Mabus inspired the audience to consider
Lindsey Ellison. Lindsey's father, Col.
Schools gathered to pay tribute to the
living a life of service, whether it be in the
Kyle B. Ellison, is currently stationed
servicemen and servicewomen in the
military or in another service profession.
in California to commanding the 7th Marine Regiment. Earlier this year Col.
Saints community. Before the assembly, our guests spoke with Upper School
The assembly included the posting of
Ellison spoke to our students at the
faculty and students about their military
the colors by Boy Scout Troop 1515,
Upper School Honor Code Assembly. The
experiences. Our guest speaker, 75th
a performance of "The Star Spangled
service closed with "Taps" performed by
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, was
Banner" by the Upper School Jazz
Sgt. First Class Matthew Byrne, followed
introduced by Brian Gilday '18. Mr.
Ensemble, and remarks by senior
by a moment of silence.
CAMPUS TWEETS SSSAS Languages @saintslanguages: French 5 class visiting the 5th grade French students! C'est super amusant! #frenchisfun #saintslanguages
32 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Upper School Science Teacher Sam Chan @ChanBioChem: Chemistry students performing flame test to support the quantum mechanical model of the atom. #doingscience #saintslearn#saintsscience
CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY NEWS
7
6
8
5
9
10
1. Col. John Sherner III 2. Col. Brent Richards, Rear Adm. Andy Burcher, Maj. Leroy Borden 3. Cmdr. Michael Gilday 4. Lcdr. Jim Walker 5. Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Byrne 6. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus 7. Boy Scout Troop 1515 8. Maj. Terence Peterson, Col. Linda Kotulan, Col. John Sherner, Col. Brent Richards, and Staff Sgt. Sahavit Mosley 9. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Brian Gilday '18 10. Lindsey Ellison '18
Lower School Third Grade Teacher Jonathan Lamkay @JonathanLamkay: Saints play math dice chase to build fact fluency #mathgames
Middle School English Teacher Kirsten Silberberg @kmsilberberg: 164 puzzles for INOVA Children's Hospital made by 5th and 6th grade @ SSSASsaints #saintsserve
www.sssas.org | 33
SAINTS IN ACTION
"As a happy member of the faculty at a school that truly values goodness it was an exciting, interesting, and beautiful experience to go to a progressive yeshiva in Jerusalem and study ethics, justice, religion, and philosophy for 12 hours a day with the rabbis and scholars who are grounded in the thought and traditions
"The experience was, in short, refreshing and gave me food for thought about how I want to teach goodness to my students at SSSAS. And, the food was really good too."
that began and developed in the land of Israel thousands of years ago. It was an intellectually and emotionally supercharged experience that left me reeling in thought as I tried to digest the intense stream of new ideas that came at me each day. Working all day, every day pondering statements such as "You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself," was the best way I could think of to spend three weeks in pursuit of becoming a better teacher."
ROBERT DAVIS MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER Three week-course at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel Light the Way Recipient
Fall Academic Assembly On November 10 Julian Wamble '07 spoke
State University in 2014, and is currently
at the Upper School Academic Achievement
working toward his doctorate in political
Assembly. He told students: "Life can take
science at the University of Maryland,
you in different directions, so it's all about
College Park. During his time at SSSAS,
preparation. You're so far beyond the classes
Julian was a member of the Disciplinary
you are in and don't even know it yet. I urge
Board, participated in every show produced
you to take in these moments—recognize and
by the Stage One Players, was in chorus all
appreciate the strong foundation you receive
four years, and served as president of Unity
here."
Through Diversity.
Julian attended Drew University where he
During the assembly National Merit
graduated cum laude in 2011 with honors in
Commended Scholars, National Merit
all recognized—as were many
political science as well as minors in history
Semi-Finalists, new members of the Cum
other student clubs including
and Pan-African studies. He received a
Laude Society, and inductees into the
debate, robotics, and the literary
master's in political science from The Ohio
Foreign Language Honor societies were
magazine.
Shannon Fusina @MsFusinaChem: Using @PhETsims "Build an Atom" as a way to explore the parts of an atom before beginning to explore their history #SaintsLearn #ChemEd
34 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Upper School Robotics Team Thunderstone 6010 @FTCThunderstone: Interview went well. Looking forward to the upcoming matches! #OMGRobots #SaintsLearn
SSSAS Hosts Student Diversity Conference November 10 was a day of inspiration,
environments. The student sessions
This conference gives them the tools
empowerment, bonding, and fun. The
were led by SSSAS Upper School
and encouragement they need to be
St. Stephen's and St. Agnes fourth annual
students who are leaders in the school's
upstanders when they see injustice
Middle School Diversity Conference
diversity efforts.
instead of the easier path of a
welcomed more than 175 students from
bystander. We want to inspire them to
16 schools to help them learn to be
"We live in a complicated world,
go back to their school communities
leaders in their schools and communities.
and students are aware of the
and support an environment where
circumstances that create a not-so-
doing the right thing is the norm
The conference, "Do you see what I see?
equitable society," said KiKi Davis,
and those who seek to hurt others or
Examining Bias to Embrace Differences,"
SSSAS Director of Institutional
engage in negative behaviors are the
allowed students to experience
Equity and Diversity. "It's important
outliers. Students want to do the right
interactive workshops to explore what it
for middle school students to know
thing; it is our job as educators to
looks like to create positive, supportive
they have the power to affect change.
ensure that they are prepared to do so."
Middle School Religion Teacher Rebecca Cooper @RCooper3712: Excited to teach about Ethiopian Orthodox Church @SSSASsaints #religiousliteracy #religiousdiversity #teachafrica
St.Stephen's St.Agnes @SSSASsaints: #SaintsServe SSSAS held a lantern walk as a culmination of efforts to fundraise for Episcopal Relief & Development's hurricane relief fund.
www.sssas.org | 35
SAINTS IN ACTION
"I love studying fossils. It makes me happy."
"It makes me happy to find any fossils, even sharks teeth in the Chesapeake Bay. More importantly, kids love fossils. I run a fossil camp for the SummerTimes program and when we go prospecting the kids get sweaty, dirty, scratched, and tired. But when they find their first shark's tooth or snail fossil it doesn't matter — it is all joy. For my AP Biology students I bring my fossils into class and put them in their hands so they can feel geologic history. A teacher can lecture on extinction events — but when a student holds a 55-million-year-old Cucullaea gigantea shell, they are interacting with a relic from the past."
TED YODER, UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER The University of Washington Burke Museum Discovery in Geosciences (DIG) Field School for K-12 Teachers at the Hell Creek Formation in Jordan, MT APT Holden Summer Grant Recipient
Lower School Robotics Teams Bring Home Judges Awards In November our Lower School Robotics teams, the Tsunami Saints and the Drips, participated in the FIRST Lego League challenge, their first-ever competition, and both teams were awarded the Judges Award, which is given to teams for their "unique efforts, performance, or dynamics merit recognition." The hard work and dedication of our students and coaches were on full display as was our students' joyful engagement with the robotics and presentation tasks.
Snapshot: Seventh Grade Bonding Day There is nothing like spending a school day hiking and rafting with best friends.
Upper School History Teacher Kate Hardwick @hangingwithMsH: 11th grade American history students exploring the @USNatArchives @amhistorymuseum and monuments today! #saintslearn 36 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
St.Stephen's St.Agnes @SSSASsaints: Upper School Digital Media students working and practicing their interview skills for the broadcast journalism section of class! #SaintsLearn
Inaugural Poet Inspires Upper School Richard Blanco spent two days in
to open their minds and see beyond
including an honorary doctorate
early December at our Upper School,
their differences.
from Macalester College, a
working with students, speaking
Woodrow Wilson Visiting
at an assembly, participating in an
In 2013, Blanco was chosen by
Fellow, Paterson Poetry Prize
open Q&A, and signing his books. A
President Obama to serve as the
(2013), Thom Gunn Award (The
passionate poetic voice and magical
fifth inaugural poet of the United
Publishing Triangle, 2013), and
storyteller, Blanco enthralled the
States. He performed "One Today,"
Maine Literary Awards (2013).
community through the power of
an original poem he wrote for the
He was also named the first-ever
his words and engaging presence.
occasion, becoming the youngest
education ambassador for the
Through stories and poems that
writer to hold the honor.
Academy of American Poets.
capture the human spirit and heart,
Blanco holds a bachelor's in civil
he has an amazing ability to connect
Blanco has received numerous honors
engineering and a Master of Fine
to his audience and encourage them
for his writings and performances,
Arts in creative writing.
Lower School Fourth Grade Teacher Kirsten Stammer@KBteachandstuff: Huge thank you to all the 4th grade @ SSSASsaints for getting up early to shop for patients at Children's Hospital. #bakesalemoney
St.Stephen's St.Agnes @SSSASsaints: Saints donated 37 units of blood, saving up to 111 lives at 2017 Dr. Geiger Blood Drive in honor of cherished Upper School Religion Teacher.
www.sssas.org | 37
SAINTS IN ACTION
SSSAS WELCOMES BISHOP SUSAN GOFF On November 29 the Lower and Middle
she oversees mission churches, in addition
Tappahannock. She came to the diocese
Schools were pleased to welcome The
to multicultural and ethnic ministries.
from St. Christopher's in Springfield,
Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff, Bishop Suffragan
During her visit, she was joined by Dr.
where she served as rector for 15 years.
of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.
David Charlton '69, President of Church
She was also an adjunct instructor in
Bishop Goff led our Lower School's Holy
Schools in the Diocese of Virginia.
liturgics and a trainer of seminarian
Eucharist, and then visited some of our
supervisors at Virginia Theological
classes. She had a wonderful tour with
Bishop Goff previously served as chaplain
Seminary. Her prior positions also
her fifth grades guides, William Price and
of fellow Church Schools St. Catherine's
included rector of Immanuel Episcopal
Gracie Hunsicker. As bishop suffragan
in Richmond and St. Margaret's in
Church in Mechanicsville.
Lower School Librarian Julie Esanu @ booksandbytes: 1st grade @SSSASsaints make snowflakes and bookmarks using recycled picture book jackets #saintsread#saintscreate
38 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
St.Stephen's St.Agnes @SSSASsaints: WE DID IT AGAIN! Every single teacher, administrator, and staff member has given to The Saints Fund! #SaintsGive
Lower School Impacts Community During October the Lower School participated in Socktober, a national "sole warming movement" that helps collect new socks for homeless shelters in our area. In November fourth grade Saints used their design-thinking talents to create the Crenshaw Arcade, an amazing arcade built from reusable materials. The arcade was inspired by the book "Crenshaw," which includes themes about hunger and homelessness. To play, students and teachers donated canned goods and nonperishable foods for tickets. St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School donated more than 1,500 cans of food to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC).
"From the moment I arrived I felt at home." "Getting away from our busy, over-stimulated lives is not easy, and this experience helped me to reconnect with my true self, be more self-compassionate, and feel more connected to the present every day. I hope to impart this mindfulness with my students on a daily basis while we learn and take deep breathes together!"
KIMBERLY SCOTT, UPPER SCHOOL FRENCH TEACHER Plum Village Mindfulness Retreat, France APT Holden Summer Grant Recipient
Middle School Math Teacher Julie Riedy @mrsriedy: SSSAS saints sixth grade scientists getting ready to conduct a water canary test at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary #outdoorclassroom
Upper School Science TeacherTed Yoder @SaintsAPBio: Wetlands Bio field trip to Huntley Meadows...a tough job but someone has to do it... can you spot the Heron in the picture? #saintslearn www.sssas.org | 39
FALL ATHLETICS
BOYS SOCCER
FOOTBALL
Defeated nationally ranked
Defeated St. Albans School on
Landon School 2-1 and qualified
Homecoming 22-17
Overall Record: 9-9-3
for the VISAA State Tournament
Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Month: Chris Rainey '18 IAC All-League: Miles Clark '18, Chris Rainey '18, Tyler Smith '19 VISAA D1 All-State 2nd Team: Chris Rainey '18 Outstanding Athlete: Chandler Kourtesis '18 Saint Awards: Chris Rainey '18, Jack Wood '18
GIRLS SOCCER Overall Record: 7-6-3
Advanced to the ISL Semi-Finals and defeated Holy Child 3-0 on Senior Day
ISL All-League: Ana Bach '21, Grayson Offutt '18 Outstanding Athletes: Margaret Kadlec '18, Grayson Offutt '18 Saint Award: Sarah Gallahan '18
Overall Record: 2-7
Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Month: CJ Lyons '18 IAC All-League First Team: CJ Lyons '18, Thomas Majure '18, Charles Thompson '19 IAC All-League 2nd Team: Naj Johnson '18, Zion Lee '18 VISAA Football All-State 1st Team: CJ Lyons '18, Charles Thompson '19 VISAA Football All-State 2nd Team: Naj Johnson '18, Thomas Majure '18 Honorable mention: Tre Boone '20 , Lamumba Howard '20, Zion Lee '18 All-Met Honorable Mention: Charles Thompson '19 Outstanding Athletes: Naj Johnson '18 (Defensive), Thomas Majure '18 (Offensive) Saint Award: CJ Lyons '18
GIRLS TENNIS Overall Record: 6-11
Achieved decisive wins over Bishop Ireton and Holy Cross
ISL All-League: Peyton Hensley '21 Outstanding Athlete: Peyton Hensley '21 Saint Award: Kate Coward '20
CHRIS RAINEY '18
40 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
CHANDLER KOURTESIS '18
THOMAS MAJURE '18 ARON SOBERS '19
NAJ JOHNSON '18
MARGARET KADLEC '18 SARA WALLMAN '18, EMILY RYAN '18
PEYTON HENSLEY '21
www.sssas.org | 41
FALL ATHLETICS
FIELD HOCKEY Overall Record: 19-5
2017 ISL Regular Season and Tournament Champions, VISAA D1 Semi-Finalist
Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athletes of the Month: Emma Day '18, Taylor Henriksen '18 ISL All-League: Christie Coulter '18, Annie Dyson '18, Taylor Henriksen '18, Anne Craig Veith '18 VISAA D1 All-State 1st Team: Annie Dyson '18, Taylor Henriksen '18 All-Met First Team: Taylor Henriksen '18 All-Met Honorable Mention: Annie Dyson '18 Outstanding Athlete: Taylor Henriksen '18 Saint Award: Maya Tumiwa '18
CROSS COUNTRY
Two current record holders moved up on the top 20 and three new runners made the top 20 for the first time.
Outstanding Athletes: Audrey Androus '18, Mason Edwards '19 Saint Awards: Callie Heimbach '21, David Weissman '20
TAYLOR HENRIKSEN '18
VOLLEYBALL Overall Record: 7-14
Achieved huge state wins over St. Anne's-Belfield and Saint Gertrude High School
ISL All-League: Emma Patterson '18 Outstanding Athlete: Emma Patterson '18 Saint Award: Samantha Kadlec '18
SENIORS JEANNINE WALKER, AUDREY ANDROUS, GRAHAM TRACY, JAMES MCLUCAS
42 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
EMMA PATTERSON '18
MASON EDWARDS '19
SENIORS ASHAUNI FRAZIER, ALEAH WALKER, SAM KADLEC, EMMA PATTERSON, GWEN RAK, GEORGIA TRITAK
AUDREY ANDROUS '18
TIMO KIRBY '19 , GRAHAM TRACY '18, CAMPBELL COOPER '21, ETHAN BEAN '20
www.sssas.org | 43
FALL ATHLETICS
The 10th Annual Seminary Hill Cup: Celebrating Girls in Sport Throughout its ten-year history, competition for the Seminary Hill Cup has always been remarkably close. This year closely contested battles defined the day, with each school capturing a total of 5 "Cup" points. This is the first time that the final results ended in a tie!
Senior girls started the festivities on International Day of the Girl two days before the tournament, handing out Seminary Hill Cup stickers to our youngest Saints on the Lower School campus during morning drop off. Pictured in the top photo, clockwise starting in the lower left: Seniors Margaret Kadlec, Taylor Henriksen, Julia Burke, and Carroll Phillips with Ryiee Michael '26. Third, fourth, and fifth grade girls wrote inspiring notes of support and encouragement to their Upper School girl athlete buddies to wish them good luck in their Cup matches. Within days the Lower School students had received their own inspirational notes from their buddies.
44 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
All Upper School girls were invited to a dinner the night before the competition, where they joined in fellowship to hear stories and words of wisdom from a St. Stephen's and St. Agnes alumnae panel. Pictured above: Maggie Vaughan '86, Michele Phillips '12, Dara Brunelli O'Hara '93, and Leslie Keleher Harris '79 shared stories that empowered the girls not only to compete, but also to appreciate the dynamics and special relationships that come with being part of a team.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The Lywood Cup St. Stephen's and St. Agnes has a long history of
In the Summer 1990 school
spilled over into my adult life. But
military families attending our school. The St.
magazine, Jane Lywood Prior '46
we learned to be good losers, too. Good
Agnes boarding department provided a consistent
reminisced about her time at St.
sportsmanship was highly regarded,
education for daughters of military families.
Agnes. "I loved St. Agnes—quite
and if I remember rightly, the silver
During the London "Blitz" in World War II, Air
simply loved it. The height of my
cup my father gave to the school is
Vice-Marshal Oswain Lywood of the Royal Air
glory was to become Captain of
awarded for this most important of
Force sent his young daughter, Jane, to attend St.
the Little Green Team. Winning
attributes."
Agnes School for an excellent education in a safe
was everything, and I am sure that
environment.
intense feeling of competition on the St. Agnes games fields has
After the war Air Vice-Marshal Lywood was so grateful for the care his daughter received that he created an award to be given in his daughter's name and donated an antique silver cup with the Lywood family crest dated 1797 to the school. The award is presented annually at the Upper School Prize Day to the student showing the best sportsmanship, in the British sense of the word, exclusive of athletic prowess.
www.sssas.org | 45
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
46 | St. Stephen's Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
REUNION 2017
"Everyone enjoyed themselves even more than they dreamed, and it was an occasion we won't soon forget. It felt like going back 50 years in a time machine with old acquaintances you had been with just last week. Old friendships were still intact." DON MCILVAINE '67
www.sssas.org | 47
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
Singing the St. Agnes School song — and they remembered every word!
"My own take-away is that after 50 years, it was an absolutely extraordinary and loving experience. As one of the few only children in the class, these women were truly my sisters and St. Agnes truly my home with them. It was a family reunion for me!" ALICE RENO MALONE '67
Displaying their St. Agnes class rings.
48 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
"Our 50th Reunion was a huge success with over half of our class returning—by far our best effort. Several returned for the first time and left talking about getting together again!" DICK BLACKBURN '67
www.sssas.org | 49
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
Are You Smarter than a Third Grader? Our Class of 1967 alumni joined the third grade to talk about their days at the school and use iPads to play a rousing round of Kahoot, a game that makes learning fun! Can you answer these questions?
THE QUESTIONS ... 1. What year were St. Agnes and St. Stephen's Schools founded? 2. What was the No. 1 song on the Billboard Chart in 1967? 3. What were the school colors for St. Agnes and St. Stephen's? 4. In 1967 who was the Head of School at St. Agnes and who was Head of School at St. Stephen's? 5. Who was the President of the United States in 1967? 6. Which Walt Disney movie, released in 1967, has since been remade two times? 7. Who won the first Super Bowl on January 15, 1967? 8. What is the current No. 1 song on the Billboard Chart? 9. Who is the current Head of School at SSSAS? 10. Who won last year's Super Bowl?
THE ANSWERS ... 1. 1924 and 1944 2. "To Sir with Love" by Lulu 3. Green and Gold/Red and White 4. Miss Roberta McBride and The Rev. Emmett Hoy, Jr. 5. Lyndon B. Johnson 6. "The Jungle Book" 7. Green Bay Packers 8. "Look What You Made Me Do" by Taylor Swift 9. Kirsten Adams 10. The New England Patriots 50 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
The Alumni Reception
"Homecoming was truly a coming home. It was wonderful to reconnect with so many classmates nearly half a lifetime later, and we made some great memories to tide us over until our next reunion in five years' time!" CAROLINE EDSALL LITTLETON '02
"It was really special to have so many St. Agnes and St. Stephen's friends in town for our 30th! Reconnecting with them was fun and so easy. I really enjoyed hearing about each person's path in the last 30 years—careers, job changes, marriages, children, travel, and fun times. Time may have passed since graduation but our school bond is still strong." CECILE LASTELIC PHILLIPS '87
"My 10-year reunion was fantastic! The hustle and bustle of life after high school makes it easy to forget how much seeing old friends and reconnecting can mean. The trips down memory lane were fun but, for me it was seeing so many of my classmates flourishing that made the experience all the richer." JULIAN WAMBLE '07
www.sssas.org | 51
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
Creating a Kindred Community BY LAKESHA BANKSTON-GLOVER '96
For the past two years I have had the amazing opportunity to serve as the Chair of the Alumni of Color Affinity Group (AOC), a position on the St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School Alumni Association Board. AOC didn't start with me. I stand on the shoulders of those who came before; those who cared about creating these connections within the community and, through years of research and focus groups, saw in the rich stories and shared experiences of our Alumni of Color the opportunity to create this kindred community. Last year the 2016 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend marked the inaugural St. Stephen's and St. Agnes Alumni of Color Brunch. Generations of alumni returned home for this event. We were especially excited to welcome The Rev. Tony Lewis '65 and Lydia Jones Nunn '72, the first African American graduates from St. Stephen's and St. Agnes, respectively, to this momentous event. Participants filled the Upper School Library, enjoyed a soulful brunch and reconnected with old friends, sharing laughs and stories about their time in the St. Stephen's, St. Agnes, or St. Stephen's and St. Agnes community.
52 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
This October we gathered for the Second Annual Alumni of Color Brunch during the 2017 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. While we were once again excited to reconnect and share laughs and stories, we also wanted to put forth a plan of action to identify ways in which the AOC group could support the school, and make a meaningful impact on the experiences of the current students. Whether it is speaking in classrooms, mentoring current students and young alumni, talking with prospective families about the school, planning future affinity group events, or contributing to The Saints Fund, there are many way that members of AOC are enriching the SSSAS community this school year and future years. Communities that appreciate and celebrate their multicultural roots not only strengthen those of diverse affinities, they also increase the capacity for the community-atlarge to value the rich diversity of perspectives, knowledge, and talents present in all of us. So for those alumni who may identify with the Alumni of Color Affinity Group, we welcome you and we need you!
Alumni of Color Affinity Group HELPING YOU CONNECT... The SSSAS Alumni Association helps connect alumni with similar interests, backgrounds, career goals, and class years through Affinity Groups.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED... COME BACK ... Attend events or speak to current students.
OFFER CAREER ADVICE ... Serve as a mentor to a current student or young alumni.
TALK ABOUT US ... Share your SSSAS story with prospective families.
HOST AN EVENT ... Help plan future affinity group outings and events.
SUPPORT THE SCHOOL ... Make a gift to The Saints Fund in the area that matters most to you.
If you would like to know more about how you can get involved, contact Sue McElheny, Director of Alumni Engagement, at smcelheny@sssas.org.
Get Connected! Welcome to Saints Link
There's a new way to network and interact within the Saints community!
Alumni Receptions With more to come...
Los Angeles: Monday, January 22 Richmond: Thursday, April 19 Chicago: Wednesday, May 2
Alumni Reunion 2018 September 28 & 29
For alumni with class years ending in 3 or 8 Are you interested in helping plan your Reunion weekend? Contact Sue McElheny at smcelheny@sssas.org to get started!
RECONNECT with classmates, share photos and memories, and learn about upcoming Saints Alumni events in your area.
GIVE BACK to your Saints community
26th Annual Sleepy Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament April 30, 2018 Belle Haven Country Club Register at sssas.org/golf
by offering career advice, posting a job, or serving as a mentor.
EXPAND your professional network and connect with other Saints who share your interests and career field.
ADVANCE your own career and help fellow alumni advance theirs by leveraging your valuable Saints network.
TO JOIN, visit saintslink.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION Do you receive our Alumni Bulletin eNewsletter? If you don't and would like to, please contact Sue McElheny at smcelheny@sssas.org. You may also visit our website at sssas.org/alumni. www.sssas.org | 53
ALUMNI CONNECTIONS
Washington, D.C. Alumni Reception NOVEMBER 2, 2017, AT THE METROPOLITAN CLUB
1 2
3 4
5
6
7 1. Montez Anderson '93 (Former Alumni Association Board President), Schuyler Deming '93, Denny Cordell '93, Craige Moore '93, J. Christian Ferry '93 (Alumni Association Board Member) 2. Lynne Rogich Ford '80, Kirsten Adams (Head of School), Donnan Chancellor Wintermute '65 (Board of Governors) 3. Glenn Archer '82 (Alumni Association Board President), John Repetti '81 (Foundation Board), Dave Cogar '87 4. Olivia Hooper '08, Kate Andes '08, Mona Rashidi '08 5. Ann Morton Young Habliston '78, Charles Habliston, Jori Raymond '78 6. Victor Lafranke '60, Lily Matini '99, Robbie Hyatt '10, Jon Herrera '11, Erik Romanin '11 7. Jennifer Mason Halsted '94, Nancy Ragland Perkins '89 8. Julian Wamble '07, Ann Parrish Jackson '53, Caitlin Blair '04
54 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
8
DOUG PECK '65 Making It His Legacy to Support the Saints the inspiration "I have bumped around a lot since 1965—from the West Coast to Oklahoma—and have not visited the school since then because of the geographical distance. I started receiving the magazine again lately and have been gobsmacked by the change, the progress, the students, facilities, the programs...and I'm thrilled. This made me reflect on my own experience and realize I need to be more involved."
the time to think about the future "When you are living your daily professional life, raising your kids, I understand you don't think about that kind of stuff. But as you get older you realize that you may have some money or assets. I realized I needed to think about what could happen to them and my family. My father, who set a great example for me, died recently and was very organized about how he took care of my mother in his estate. I realized that it was time to get my house in order too."
the time to look back and honor the past "It starts with my experience. My dad was in the service and I attended 16 different schools. When I took the admission test to come to St. Stephen's in ninth grade I didn't pass it. Dean Willis Wills told me to go to Hammond and come back next year. After that and summer school, I got into St. Stephen's and was way behind academically. St. Stephen's took a real chance on me; I did not have much going for me at the time. I got to participate in sports, be on the Student Council and the Honor Council. After just three years at St. Stephen's I was prepared enough and received enough support to attend an Ivy League school; so what the school did for me was truly remarkable. I hope to honor that and Dean Wills by the codicil I am putting in my will."
the planning is easy "It was straightforward and simple to put the school in my estate plans. There are various avenues for making a planned gift and all of those were easily spelled out at sssas.plannedgiving.org. The school gave me some personalized help and there was a wealth of information in the annual report as well."
the way to make your legacy To put St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in your estate plan, contact us today. Geoff Johnson, Director of Stewardship and Planned Giving, 703-212-2717
www.sssas.org | 55
MILESTONES
ALUMNI COUPLES
Kyle Stuart '02 and Michelle Dee '02
Karla Herrera '04 and Tucker Crockett
Kevin Gallagher '06 and Virginia Terwilliger '08
Sally Klose '08 and Dennis Gallagher
Kermit Brawner '97 and Andrew Toppank
Betsy Zimmermann '08 and Madison Bullard
MIDDLE AISLE Alumni Kyle Stuart '02 and Michelle Dee '02, August 19, 2017 Kevin Gallagher '06 and Virginia Terwilliger '08, September 9, 2017 Kermit Brawner, Jr. '97 and Andrew Toppank, October 15, 2017 Cliff Cummings IV '00 and Rachel Golden, October 14, 2017 Salman Cheema '01 and Memona Tazamal, July 29, 2017 Paul vom Eigen '01, former faculty, and Alison Wheeler, September 23, 2017 Timothy Gray '03 and Sarah Begeman, September 23, 2017 Thomas Hawkins '04 and Coleman Short, October 7, 2017
56 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Salman Cheema '01 and Memona Tazamal
Taurus Brackett '09 and Shardey White
Caroline Rabbitt '05 and Andrew Tabler
Chelsea Pasfield '09 and Chris Cahill
Karla Herrera '04 and Tucker Crockett, August 5, 2017 Connor L. Locke '04 and Madeline W. Hurst, September 9, 2017 Anthony Tisdall '04 and Christina Vassallo, July 22, 2017 Worku Gachou '05 and Catherine Colwell, October 23, 2017 Benjamin Kuna '05 and Jenna Sokolowski, September 16, 2017 Caroline Rabbitt '05 and Andrew Hillerich Tabler, September 23, 2017 Elizabeth Abramson '06 and Stoddie Nibley, July 29, 2017 Cameron DePuy '06 and Justin DiLorenzo, October 14, 2017 Sally Klose '08 and Dennis Gallagher, July 22, 2017 Betsy Zimmermann '08 and Madison White Bullard, October 7, 2017
Yates and Margaux Alnouri
Marina Pearl Guzman
Fielding James Huddleston
Owen Sheetz Littleton
Jaya Olivia Mani
Patrick Donohoe Regan
Fletcher '02 and Clementine Murphy Wilson
Margaret Rosemarie Mackey
Taurus L. Brackett II '09 and Shardey White, August 17, 2017 Stephen Neubig '09 and Taylor Coyner, September 16, 2017
Shannon, Riley Savannah, and Matthew Wasilewski '06
Caleb Alexander, Laura, and Justin Hughes '05
Charlotte Allen Alnouri '03 and Sam, a daughter, Margaux Alnouri, and son, Yates Alnouri, September 30, 2017 Abby Bullock Tinsley '03 and Alex, a son, Samuel Bullock Tinsley, September 15, 2017
Chelsea Pasfield '09 and Chris Cahill, July 8, 2017 Michelle Cook Mackey '04 and Kyle, a daughter, Margaret Rosemarie Mackey, Oct 1, 2017
NEW ADDITIONS Alumni Allison Swindell Guzman '00 and Pedro, a daughter, Marina Pearl Guzman, October 1, 2017 Molly Jenkins Huddleston '00 and Pemberton, a son, Fielding James Huddleston, October 22, 2017 Caroline Edsall Littleton '02 and Judd, a son, Owen Sheetz Littleton, July 5, 2017 Nish Mani '02 and Emma Gardner, a daughter, Jaya Olivia Mani, August 14, 2017 Fletcher Wilson '02 and Kathleen Coggshall, a daughter, Clementine Murphy Wilson, August 7, 2017
Meaghan Donohoe Regan '04 and Patrick, a son, Patrick Donohoe Regan, August 6, 2017 Justin Hughes '05 and Laura, a son, Caleb Alexander Hughes, May 28, 2017 Justin Bissell '06 and Ashley, a son, Jonah Malachi Bissell, August 13, 2017 Matthew Wasilewski '06 and Shannon, a daughter, Riley Savannah Wasilewski, on October 31, 2017
Faculty and Staff Romney Willson Beebe, former staff, and Courtenay, a daughter, Miller Lee Beebe, and son, Clark William Beebe, May 15, 2017
www.sssas.org | 57
IN MEMORIAM
Alumni Beatrice Conrath Berle '41 September 19, 2016 Nancy Evans Miller '47 October 19, 2014 Martha Manchester Michie '48 mother of Kathy Michie Aucott '76 July 27, 2017 Marlene Bayliss Conner '53 sister of Patty Bayliss Owens '58 October 16, 2017 Dolly Newman Chapin '55 October 19, 2017 Eleanor Boothe Smith '57 sister of Julie Boothe Perry '54 September 8, 2017 Jane Davidson Winer '57 October 11, 2017 Lucy Lee Howard Hickson '58, sister of Lynn Howard Smith '60, and the late John P. Howard '63 June 30, 2017 Kearsley "Kim" Briggs '64 October 4, 2017
Family, Faculty, and Staff Paul Bryan Belanga father-in-law of Mayumi Rodriguez Belanga '96, grandfather of Alessia '27 October 18, 2017 C. Thomas Cooper, Jr. father of Robert Cooper '84 and Katherine Cooper Hoffman '87 October 6, 2017 Bob Foster husband of Anne Sellon, faculty, stepfather of Timothy Sellon '06 and Emily Sellon '08 September 14, 2017
Harry "Pete" Howton father of Sylvie Howton '15 and Annabeth Howton '19 grandfather of Felix Howton '24 and Cecilia Howton '26 July 6, 2017 Lois Kling (former faculty and staff) mother of Anne Kling Ross '73, current faculty; John Kling II '75; and Elizabeth KlingFranke '82; grandmother of Patrick Kling '10 and Meaghan Ross Vento '01 July 3, 2017 James "Jim" Lamb father of Joseph Lamb '77 and James Lamb '81, grandfather of Elizabeth Lamb '10, and Aidan Lamb '18 September 13, 2017
Reverend Harold "Sam" Goers father of Amy Goers Rhodes '76 and Nancy Goers Hubbell '78 August 21, 2017
Dorothy McCreery grandmother of Brad McCullough '13 September 23, 2017
Manohar Gulati father of Gautam Gulati '93 October 23, 2017
Capt. Robert V. Morgan father of Robert Morgan '83 and Michael Morgan '86 July 2, 2017
Carolyn Peacher mother of Brent Peacher '89 July 26, 2017 Myles Reid father of Mya Reid '10 and Adhana Reid '13 July 7, 2017 Thelma Campbell Rhyne mother of Patricia Rhyne '79 and Theresa Rhyne Butler '84 September 23, 2017 Dorothy Shelton grandmother of Angela Griffith '12, Perry Griffith '15, and Paul Griffith IV '13 August 26, 2017 Joseph Warder grandfather of Zach Warder '08 and Griffin Warder '12 July 8, 2017 Thomas Winans father of Susan Winans Minichello '86 August, 3, 2017 Albert Zuidema father of Paul Zuidema '71 July 3, 2017
Dr. Julia Brent 1937-2017 On August 28, 2017, the St. Stephen's and
leadership roles, including chairing the
St. Agnes School community lost cherished
English department for many years. She
former faculty member Dr. Julia D. (Judy)
initiated connections with OxBridge
Brent. Dr. Brent dedicated 22 years of service
Academic Programs, an academic semester
St. Stephen's School and St. Stephen's and
abroad at Oxford, which draws SSSAS
St. Agnes School from 1987-2009. Dr. Brent
students every year. In 1997 she received
taught English and served as Chair of the
The Washington Post Agnes Meyer
English Department.
Outstanding Teacher Award.
Dr. Brent attended Mary Baldwin College
Dr. Brent is survived by her sister,
and earned her master's and doctorate from
Elizabeth Moore; her two daughters, Julia
George Washington University. She served on
Lytle Brent '84 and Virginia Brent Jones
the faculty of George Mason University for 20
'86; her son-in-law, Arthur Jones; and three
years before joining our school. During her
grandchildren, John Lytle Jones, Virginia
time as a Saint, Dr. Brent assumed numerous
Martin Jones, and William Louis Jones.
58 | St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Seniors Cristal Badu-Sekyere and Graham Tracy with their kindergarten buddy, William Lawrence, after the annual All-School Thanksgiving Service. Graham is wearing his senior pin and William has just received his angel pin during chapel. www.sssas.org | 59
Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Alexandria, Virginia Permit No. 10
Seminary Post Office Alexandria, Virginia 22304 If the addressee no longer lives at this address, please contact the school: 703-212-2720 or asmigel@sssas.org
t Wha rs te Mat t Mos ? ou to Y
Even the smallest things make the biggest impression. Our junior kindergarteners love exploring the world around them through their digital microscope. You can designate your Saints Fund gift to the area that matters most to you. For more information or to make a gift today, visit sssas.org/whatmattersmost. You may also contact Jennie Wills, Director of Development, jwills@sssas.org