Spartan Life

SPARTAN Life EVENTS CLUBS CULTURE CELEBRATIONS AWARDS TALENT SPORTS HOLIDAYS ACHIEVEMENTS SUCCESS

Ali Michael Discusses Racism with Faculty and Staff

On the first Monday in January, as students savored the final day of winter break, St. Stephen’s faculty and staff attended in-service meetings and special programming. As part of the school’s ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work, guest speaker Ali Michael, Ph.D., engaged employees in a two-hour interactive discussion on Zoom about racism in American schools.

Co-founder and co-director of the Race Institute for K-12 Educators, Michael teaches in the Diversity and Inclusion Program at Princeton University and is author of several books, including “Raising Race Questions: Whiteness, Inquiry and Education.”

Michael told program participants that as a white girl growing up in a predominately white, affluent suburb of Pittsburgh, she was unaware of the different worlds that white people and people of color can live in. “I didn't grow up talking about race or even realizing that racism impacted my life,” she said. “I grew up, as many white children do today, thinking that racism had nothing to do with me.”

However, thanks to her undergraduate studies in political science and African culture at Williams College, she came to a startling realization: “I learned that racism in America is a white problem, not a black problem,” she said. “It’s built into our systems and institutions in ways that are invisible to white people but that benefit white people immensely. Change must start with this understanding and selfawareness.”

In her subsequent graduate studies in anthropology and education at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, Michael gained greater insights into the entrenched racism in American school systems. “Eighty-five percent of the K-12 teachers in America are white, and the educational system is largely designed for white, middle-class and upper-class students. If we don’t change it, we are complicit in its perpetuation.”

Today, she conducts research aimed at helping teachers mitigate the unintentional, pervasive effects of institutional racism in their classrooms. “Contrary to what I once believed, I have found that racial competence can be learned,” she noted. “I believe everyone, including white people, can get better at talking about race and addressing the radicalized inequality we have in education.” During the Zoom presentation, Michael fielded questions from St. Stephen’s faculty and staff and offered strategies for addressing racism. She noted that students’ personal relationships with teachers and peers—in which students feel valued and seen—are a primary factor in their success in school. As such, she advised teachers to practice deep empathetic listening, both inside and outside of class, and to create safe spaces for them to voice their opinions and feelings. Michael also noted that reading group and inquiry group exercises can help students learn to reflect critically on their own attitudes and behaviors.

—david e. perryman, ph.d, chief marketing and communications officer

A longstanding tradition at St. Stephen’s is to celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday by providing special programming about racial inequities in our country and the ongoing fight for civil rights. Rather than take the holiday off, we gather in community to share lessons and learnings about King’s endearing work toward racial equity and social justice.

“Leading up to MLK Day, the Chapel leadership team and student affinity group leaders planned activities to prepare our minds and hearts for discussions surrounding racial justice and building community,” explained Yvonne Adams, director of equity and inclusion. “Topics included how fear inhibits inter-racial connections, dialogue as the pathway to MLK’s beloved community and examples of courageous racial leadership.”

Then, on the Jan. 18 holiday, students and employees participated in a range of remote programs and Chapel services. The capstone events of the day were talks with Howard Stevenson, Ph.D., who teaches in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. A national expert on racial stress and trauma, his work focuses on resolving encounters that reflect racial profiling in public spaces, fuel social conflicts in neighborhoods, and undermine student emotional well-being and academic achievement in the classroom.

Stevenson spoke with our community about how we can all speak out against racism, manage in-the-moment racial stress and reduce the racial trauma that undermines the well-being of students.

“We are living in a very difficult time, reminiscent of our history in this country, navigating around race and violence,” he said during his morning Chapel talk with Upper School students. “We often think of racism as embedded in structural policies and systems. My work focuses on proximal racism—face-to-face and in-the-moment racism.”

Stevenson started his presentation by sharing an old African proverb: “The lion’s story will never be known as long as the hunter is the one to tell it.” He then noted, “We have to know and share our own stories. We need to know how to use our voice to speak to injustice.

“Racial moments are extremely stressful and overwhelming,” he added. “We need to develop racial literacy—the skills and tools needed to help us negotiate these moments. Doing so will give us the chance to read, recast and resolve racially stressful encounters.”

Stevenson explained that practice is the only way to get better at finding the power of our voices and being racially courageous. “A good way to practice finding your voice is to be an ally and speak up for others,” he said. “You also have to learn to be OK with a lack of resolution or rejection. Don’t carry hate and stress with you. The goal is not to lose sight of the other person’s humanity.”

A highlight of the day for Middle School students was participating in “At the Table with Dr. King,” a musical, visual and spoken-word performance that teaches students about King, the American Civil Rights Movement, and valuable life lessons on equality and respect for others.

Following the day’s events, the school community focused on applying the day’s teachings to life on The Hill and beyond.

St. Stephen’s Hosts Racial Literacy Expert for MLK Day

There are so many valuable takeaways from sports participation. From maintaining good health and promoting social change, to realizing individual potential, sports allow people to impact the world around them and become the best versions of themselves. Sport is medicine. Exercise is prevention. When I was growing up, USA Women’s Soccer superstar Mia Hamm showed me that women could play sports that were traditionally considered men's sports. It was not until I saw Hamm and the women's world cup team competing in televised matches at the highest international level that I had a role model in my own sport. I was finally watching women play the game I loved, and it meant so much. Before that, televised women’s sports mostly consisted of tennis, ice skating, gymnastics and random individual sports on ABC's “Wide World of Sports.” At the time, women were stereotyped on TV, and it was hard to find role models in the sports that I loved. I’m so appreciative of the fact that now girls know that they can play collegiately and professionally. Truly, it’s important for us all to recognize the impact of “if you can see her, you can be her.”

—kathy rainey, head athletic trainer

Reflections on Girls and Women in Sports Day

National Girls and Women in Sports Day is celebrated annually during the first week of February. While our celebration moved to a digital platform this year, it was no less important to take a few minutes to recognize the impact of sports participation, past and present, in our own school community and celebrate female achievement in an industry traditionally dominated by men.

It took me a long time to recognize inequities in sport.

I do not think it was until I got to college that I realized how differently men’s and women’s sports were supported or celebrated. My collegiate career began 35 years after Title IX legislation had passed, and while I recognize how far women’s athletics have come, I have seen the loopholes and inequities firsthand. In some ways, growing up a bit naive about that imbalance allowed me to gain confidence in myself.

As I look back on my athletic career, I can attribute a lot of my characterbuilding moments to successes or failures on a field or in a gym. As I began to train more seriously and specialize in field hockey during my junior and senior years of high school, I learned how to set goals, push myself outside of my comfort zone and confidently promote myself during the recruiting process.

I chose to be part of a top-tier NCAA Division I program, so I figured out how to balance my priorities and become a better self-advocate—and a lot of that was through failure rather than successes. After graduating, sports took on a new place in my life. As an adult, I still play recreationally in leagues with friends, and I even met my husband on a soccer field. In fact, we held a bride vs. groom kickball game on our wedding day, and I am still bitter about losing that one!

Now, as a coach, I think my biggest takeaway has become the importance of being a good listener and creating a space where athletes are not afraid to fail. Long story short, each phase of my life has allowed me to take something from sport and, hopefully, become a better person.

—chelsea richards, assistant athletic director and sports information director

Librarians Host Online Literary Festival

At the end of January, Becker librarians hosted a talented array of writers for our all-school Literary Festival. The longstanding biennial festival spotlights a variety of writers and connects St. Stephen’s students to creative professionals in a relaxed setting.

Both Middle School and Upper School students served in leadership roles during the festival. Student moderators led the individual festival sessions, and faculty and staff proctors were in charge of running the Zoom rooms, admitting participants and assisting in the sessions as needed.

“Due to COVID-19 constraints, this year’s Literary Festival was held virtually,” said Cynthia Bartek, head librarian. “Despite the challenge, our students and faculty rose to the occasion!”

Since this was the school’s first all-remote Literary Festival, none of the organizers or participants knew exactly what to expect, but they quickly discovered the benefits of a remote format. “We were able to invite presenters from a number of areas around the country,” Bartek noted. “Also, since we had no physical constraints relative to the audience size, everyone got to participate in their preferred sessions; and more faculty and staff participated than ever before. “We also found that giving students of all ages the role of moderator helped many of them gain a variety of skills and allowed them to engage in direct conversations that were of particular interest to their peers,” Bartek added.

During the festival, the school community enjoyed the chance to hear poetry performances, see graphic novel drawing demonstrations, ask novelists questions about their work process, and learn more about journalism and business building. Participating writers, representing a wide range of genres, included Traci Chee, Young Adult (YA) novelist; Carrie Fountain, Poet Laureate of Texas; Lamar Giles, YA novelist; Chris Hooks ’08, journalist; Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, graphic novelists; Tim O’Brien, novelist; Lara Prescott, novelist; Ngozi Ukazu, graphic novelist; Mikaila Ulmer, St. Stephen’s student and entrepreneur; Eduardo Vega, poet and spoken-word artist; and Bryan Washington, novelist.

Many thanks to Literary Festival Chair Marianna Sher for her guidance and assistance with this major event, which benefits everyone at St. Stephen’s!

PHOTO Fabi Garza with alumnus Chris Hooks ’08 via videoconference

Scholastic Art and Writing Award Honorees

St. Stephen’s is pleased to recognize our regional Scholastic Art and Writing Award honorees for 2021. Judges received nearly 1,200 individual student submissions and 41 senior portfolios, all of which were adjudicated by a panel of creative professionals. Thirty-six Spartan artists received 19 Gold Key awards, 32 Silver Key awards and 38 Honorable Mentions for their works in Film and Animation, Painting, Drawing, Fashion, Architecture and Industrial Design, Digital Art, Mixed Media, Photography, Cartooning, Ceramics and Glass, and Expanded Projects.

Sixteen writers in the Middle School and Upper School received five Gold Key awards, eight Silver Key awards and 13 Honorable Mentions in categories ranging from Personal Essay and Memoir, Critical Essay, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Poetry, Short Story, and Dramatic Script.

Special thanks go to our school’s outstanding fine arts and writing teachers, who helped prepare students for these important competitions: Elizabeth Zepeda, Chris Caselli ’82, Lisa Orr, Mike Dolan, Victoria Woodruff, John Keyes, Marilyse Figueroa and Michelle Avery.

2021 HONOREES – ART

Allie Routh Blue Change, Honorable Mention, Mixed Media Amanda Bell Reflection of Home, Gold Key, Photography Light in the Foliage, Honorable Mention, Photography The Road Home, Honorable Mention, Photography Annie Ehrlich Peeking, Silver Key, Photography Anouk Martin-Gachot Somewhere There's a Feather, Honorable Mention, Ceramics and Glass Crisis of Confidence, Gold Key, Mixed Media Paratha Ride, Silver Key, Mixed Media Life in the Eyes of an Observer, Silver Key, Art Portfolio Six Days Apart, Honorable Mention, Expanded Projects Boys Overheard, Honorable Mention,

Film and Animation If I Were Sal, Honorable Mention, Mixed Media

Gus Cosby Metalepsis, Music Video, Honorable Mention,

Film and Animation

Ava Sadasivan AI-Generated Sea Creatures Utilizing Deep

Convolutional Generative Adversarial Networks,

Gold Key, Expanded Projects Bella Salazar Harper East MLK Affordable Housing Project in Austin,

Silver Key, Architecture and Industrial Design Industrialized Nature, Honorable Mention,

Architecture and Industrial Design The ‘Anything but Plain’ A-Frame, Honorable Mention,

Architecture and Industrial Design Carling McQuinn Infrared, Silver Key, Drawing and Illustration Cavan Bennigson Vintage Class, Gold Key, Photography Wheel to Wheel, Silver Key, Photography Closeup, Silver Key, Photography Virginia Visions, Honorable Mention, Photography Chang Shi loneliness, Gold Key, Photography in the rain among the fog, Gold Key, Photography a historic village in China, Gold Key, Photography single, Gold Key, Photography a second in the nature, Silver Key, Photography natural life, Silver Key, Photography lotus, Silver Key, Photography Chelsea Xue Ignite, Honorable Mention, Digital Art To Diana, Honorable Mention, Digital Art Chloe Legere Lonesome Lion, Honorable Mention, Photography Connor Dodd Light Searching for the Water, Silver Key, Photography A Glance into the Beauty of Change,

Honorable Mention, Photography Devon Bell Confetti, Silver Key, Fashion Eric Xie Maiden Flight, Silver Key, Photography A Distant Shine, Honorable Mention,

Drawing and Illustration Fer Hurtado The Stance, Silver Key, Expanded Projects Georgia Lee Dark Figures, Honorable Mention, Photography Sunshine Stained, Honorable Mention, Photography Jack Gormin A Passerby, Gold Key, Photography Familial Ties, Gold Key, Photography Downtown on a Wednesday, Silver Key, Photography Rebel Rebel, Silver Key, Photography Seaward Wind, Silver Key, Photography From the View of an Onlooker, Honorable Mention, Photography Brewing, Honorable Mention, Photography Jacob McDaniel Midas, Honorable Mention, Ceramics and Glass

Jaden Alvarez Haida Heads, Honorable Mention, Ceramics and Glass

Jasmine Li The Bandwagon Effect, Silver Key, Editorial Cartoon

Jason Layton Jack Action 2, Silver Key, Film and Animation Kayla Patel Reflections Are Not What They Seem, Silver Key, Photography Perspective, Silver Key, Photography Shadows, Honorable Mention, Photography Kristin Svahn The Light from Within, Honorable Mention, Photography Lockdown, Honorable Mention, Photography Layla Metni Raindance, Silver Key, Design Pop Art, Honorable Mention, Art Portfolio

Lara Tanner people doing things that people do, Gold Key, Mixed Media Penelope Cano Semper Fidelis, Silver Key, Digital Art

Ray Swartz Family Portrait, Silver Key, Photography Portrait in Clownery, Honorable Mention, Photography Sarah Courtney Stars and STRIPES, Honorable Mention, Photography Writing On the Wall, Honorable Mention, Photography Tony Shan Harbour, Gold Key, Photography En Route, Gold Key, Photography Submerge in Darkness, Gold Key, Photography Metropolis, Gold Key, Photography Tension, Gold Key, Photography Dimension, Gold Key, Photography Passing by Pass, Silver Key, Photography Crossing with Pursuit, Silver Key, Photography Boundaries, Silver Key, Photography Exuberance/Warmth, Honorable Mention, Photography Approaching Within Sparkle, Honorable Mention,

Photography Mirage? Esteem, Honorable Mention, Photography Sofia Messer Feed Me, Silver Key, Ceramics and Glass Sophia Fan Time, Gold Key Photography The Last Leaf, Silver Key, Photography

Watson Tao Side Glance, Silver Key, Drawing and Illustration A Day Out, Honorable Mention, Drawing and Illustration

Wen Wen Morning, Honorable Mention, Photography Selina Lu Frozen, Silver Key, Drawing and Illustration Candy Transplant, Silver Key, Painting Feast, Honorable Mention, Mixed Media Zoe Ehrlich "A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play" Poster Design,

Gold Key, Design Fall Confetti, Honorable Mention, Photography Sun Shower Flower, Honorable Mention, Photography Striking Up a New Year, Honorable Mention, Photography To Grandmother's House We Go, Honorable Mention,

Photography

PHOTOS Works by Annie Ehrlich (left) and Anouk Martin-Gachot; (clockwise from top) pottery by Jacob McDaniel; weaving by Devon Bell; work by Selina Lu

2021 HONOREES – WRITING

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Lizzie Ahlgren Honorable Mention, Personal Essay and Memoir Basil Baldwin Honorable Mention, Personal Essay and Memoir Rebecca Cole Gold Key, Poetry Annie Ehrlich Honorable Mention, Personal Essay and Memoir Steely Horne-Lalande Honorable Mention, Poetry Honorable Mention, Personal Essay and Memoir Tristan McCain Silver Key, Personal Essay and Memoir Charlie Navarre Gold Key, Personal Essay and Memoir

UPPER SCHOOL

Christopher Aung Silver Key, Science Fiction and Fantasy Honorable Mention, Short Story Honorable Mention, Short Story Henri Bariselle Silver Key, Poetry Devon Bell Silver Key, Poetry Honorable Mention, Poetry Honorable Mention, Poetry Honorable Mention, Short Story Zoe Ehrlich Gold Key, Poetry Matthew Kim Silver Key, Personal Essay and Memoir Honorable Mention, Poetry Natalie Kim Honorable Mention, Critical Essay Linda Liu Silver Key, Short Story

Grace Mugo Gold Key, Poetry, Silver Key, Poetry Silver Key, Poetry Honorable Mention, Poetry Sloan Witliff Gold Key, Dramatic Script

When one of the 8th-grade theatre students was only able to perform virtually in “Waiting for Godot," Middle School Theatre Director Jeremy Sweetlamb and his class brainstormed a creative solution: They borrowed a Robotics Club invention to serve as the mobile body of the remote actor, then attached a mannequin body and laptop for the head. The student then joined the class via Zoom on the robot’s laptop to perform his lines while another student operated the robot. How cool is that?

The Show Must Go On!

Throughout the winter and into the spring Upper School fine arts students collaborated on an exciting musical showcase, “The Show Must Go On.” The cabaret-style production included 12 incredible student performances that were prerecorded by film students and then shown on The Hill for small groups of socially distanced audiences.

“Production was a long process,” Film and Theatre Instructor Mike Dolan explained. “Once we knew we were going to make a cabaret-style show, we asked students to submit songs that spoke to the unusual times we are going through right now. For their auditions, students sang songs they hoped would be chosen for the show.”

After the show was cast, the cast and crew spent weeks rehearsing the different songs. “There are three ensemble songs that all performers learned together in the Chapel while socially distanced and wearing masks,” Dolan said. “Other solos and duets were taught both on Zoom and in person. We met as a full company on Zoom to workshop and write the introductions to all the shows. The student advisory board chose the performance order and made many critical creative decisions along the way.”

Dolan said he was proud to see students working together to creatively solve problems. “A good example of this is how the introductions to all the songs were created,” he said. “We had a big Zoom call, paired up company members and then they presented their ideas. We all discussed and edited the text, then the advisory board decided who would introduce the songs.”

Although all the songs are entertaining, Dolan said that filming “Aquarius” was a highlight of the production. “It was a ton of fun,” he said. “It was the last song we made. We were outside in the woods, using drones and huge ladders for filming. The kids were having a ball—it is a great song. I can say that was an especially rewarding day.

“Our students are endlessly creative,” he added. “If you give them a big project to really dive into, their commitment and performance are always

PHOTO Robot actor Rex Gilliland with Clara Rogers

PHOTO A sampling of classroom showcases from Grand Day

PHOTO The St. Stephen's Advancement team: (front) Hayden Blood, Christine Aubrey, Michelle Geo Olmstead, (back) Melody Harman, Judy Mullinix, Sherry Buchanan and Emily Crouch-Ponder

A Virtually Perfect Grand Day

On Friday, March 26, the St. Stephen’s community was excited to welcome Spartan grandparents and special guests to a virtual Grand Day celebration.

Grand Day participants enjoyed a robust morning of campus activities from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The online event included more than 40 live and prerecorded programs, including a welcome message from Head of School Chris Gunnin; an opening Chapel service with our school chaplain, the Rev. Todd FitzGerald; and a wide array of Middle School and Upper School classroom showcases, fine arts and athletics offerings, campus tours, and more.

More than 320 households from 27 countries and 182 cities from around the globe tuned in to view the work of our talented students and dedicated faculty. We were thrilled so many of you were able to join us. Special thanks go to the Parents Associations’ event chairs, Debbie Gonzalez and Desiree Botkin, as well as the Advancement staff, who worked hard to create a virtual version of this annual capstone event.

Thank You for Supporting the Annual Fund!

Spartan Strong was the defining theme of the 2020–21 Annual Fund, so it was fitting that that our tremendous school community rallied in support of this essential fundraiser. We are grateful for the extraordinary generosity of parents, grandparents, alumni, trustees, faculty/staff, and community friends who made this year’s Annual Fund a success. Thanks to you, we achieved our fundraising goal!

Thanks also go to Annual Fund Parent Chair Kat Erben and her outstanding team of class volunteers. They led the call to support St. Stephen’s and our annual operating budget in a year like no other.

As we celebrate the success of the Annual Fund, the Advancement team wishes to recognize and honor Christine Aubrey, who retired this spring from her role as associate head of school for advancement. She leaves us a great legacy—28 years of dedicated service to our school. We will miss her dearly.