the langley school
experience Summer 2010
Developing 21st Century Learners: Strategic Plan Update
A Message from the Head of School
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Graduation Class of 2010 Celebrates Graduation What Langley Means to Me... My Favorite Langley Memory Is... Class of 2010 Gift
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Faculty Notes Ryan McKinney Named Banks Family Faculty Chair Veteran Faculty Members Say Farewell
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Sports Spotlight Jim Gleason Celebrates 30+ Years at Langley Basketball Teams Top the Competition Spring Sports Recap
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Campus Happenings
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Langley In Depth Developing 21st Century Learners: Strategic Plan Update
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Advancement Update The Langley Fund Exceeds $600,000 Goal Plans Under Way for Newest Building on Campus Spring Fundraiser Raises $140,000
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Alumni News Class of 2006 Ready for College Alumni Profile: Annik Baker Schwartz ’92 Alumni Profile: Dan Joseph ’93 Class Notes
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The Langley School Experience is published twice a year for friends and families of The Langley School. Head of School Doris E. Cottam Editor & Designer Sharon Ifft Photographers Anne Bielamowicz Aki Debayo-Doherty Sharon Ifft Matthew Lester Frank McPartland Advancement Office Warren Sarasin, CFRE Director of Advancement wsarasin@langleyschool.org Meg Clute Director of Parent Relations & Special Events mclute@langleyschool.org Sharon Ifft Director of Publications & Marketing sifft@langleyschool.org Shannon Ryan Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations sryan@langleyschool.org Mike Stein Advancement Assistant mstein@langleyschool.org The Langley School is comprised of students, teachers, parents, and staff who believe that a diverse school community promotes learning and growth, preparing students for responsible and compassionate citizenship in the global community. We administer all programs and policies without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or any other category to the extent protected by applicable laws. The Langley School 1411 Balls Hill Road McLean,VA 22101 Phone: (703) 356-1920 Fax: (703) 790-9712 www.langleyschool.org
a message from the
Head of School
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Each year, I look to our graduating class as an important barometer of our success as a school. At our annual graduation ceremony each June, our eighth-graders recite meaningful poems and readings expressing their love for Langley, their teachers, and their peers. It’s a wonderful tradition that clearly reflects the academic, social, and emotional growth they have each experienced during their time at Langley. The Class of 2010 was no exception. With great poise, self-confidence, and maturity, they said their farewells and now move on to an impressive array of high schools in the fall, ready to face the challenges that await them (see page 2).
In addition to the Class of 2010, we also said goodbye to three long-time faculty members who retired this year, Ann Potter, Carol Maciaszek, and Cathy Stube. These three ladies have a combined 81 years of Langley expertise and have deeply touched the lives of generations of students. Learn more about their tremendous impact on page 6. With Ann Potter’s retirement, Athletic Director Jim Gleason now becomes our most senior faculty member at 31 years and counting. He shares his memories and plans for his next 10 years at Langley on page 10.
such as a junior kindergarten expansion and a new Chinese language offering, both beginning this fall. See page 18 for an in-depth update on our strategic plan progress.
As we reflect on our past and on the many teachers and students who helped make Langley the school it is today, we also look ahead to the future and to the changes we must make in order to prepare our students for the 21st century. Our current strategic plan, “Developing 21st Century Learners,” provides a roadmap for the years ahead and lays out seven strategic priorities. Now two years into the plan, we have already announced some exciting new initiatives and programs
Doris E. Cottam Head of School
As we launch these and other new initiatives – and continue to celebrate our cherished traditions – the 2010-2011 school year promises to be a memorable one. I wish you all a wonderful and relaxing summer!
Pictured above (L to R): Head of School Doris Cottam with retiring teachers Ann Potter, Carol Maciaszek, and Cathy Stube.
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e have much to celebrate at Langley! As we put the finishing touches on yet another school year, I am so proud of all that our students, faculty, and staff have accomplished. From sports banners and band trophies to national language awards and a technology conference for educators, our achievements this year were impressive.
graduation
Class of 2010 Celebrates Graduation
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In addition to the schools listed, members of the Class of 2010 were also accepted at the following schools: Foxcroft School, The Heights School, Landon School, Paul VI Catholic High School, Porter-Gaud School (SC), St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, Salisbury School (CT), Sidwell Friends, and Woodberry Forest. *Denotes that student has continually attended The Langley School since nursery, TPC, or JK years
GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL Lulwah Al-Budaiwi Bishop O’Connell High School Eliza Jenkins Barrett* Ashley Hall Matthew Bielamowicz* McLean High School Griffin Thomas Black* Georgetown Day School Taylor Yvonne Michelle Burris The Bullis School Nina Shahrzad Chadab* Flint Hill School Samuel Child* Langley High School Arianna Rose Copito* The Madeira School Nicholas Gregory DeMarco Gonzaga College High School Jillian Brianna Freedman* Langley High School Harrison Michael Fritz* The George School Patrick Wiley Gallagher McLean High School Toby Clyde Scott Garrow St. Leonard’s College (Australia) Sarah Katherine Ing* National Cathedral School Brianna Ashley Klein Flint Hill School Lindsey Eleanor Klunder* South County Secondary School Annelise Christine Kollevoll The Madeira School Annika Elizabeth Kollevoll Baylor School Mairead Duffy Mazan St. Margaret’s School Thomas Cade Mazich Georgetown Preparatory School Grant Nathaniel Mintz* Langley High School Ilina Sen Mitra National Cathedral School Adam M. Morin Episcopal High School Alexandra Celeste Murphy The Madeira School Christian Spencer Nelms St. Paul’s School Nadia Elena Nobrega The Madeira School Moriah Grace Krieger Ratner* The Bullis School Daniel Stephan Rodriguez* Maret School Donahue Sauer Flint Hill School Matthew James Sniezek St. Albans School Cydney Solomon Flint Hill School Monica Golden Spafford The Potomac School Clayton Gilroy Stuckey Flint Hill School Victoria Rose Tribone Georgetown Day School
graduation
What Langley Means to Me... Reflections from the Class of 2010
“To me, Langley is more than a school. It is a safe environment where people can be themselves, have fun, and learn at the same time. The academic lessons that I have learned will be with me for the rest of my life. I am confident in my decisions, prepared for my tasks, and secure with the person I have grown to be.” -Arianna Copito “Langley has shaped me into the person I am today and will always be a contributing part of who I am and will be. Langley has been more than just a place of learning – it has been a home. It has given me the confidence that I will need to succeed in high school and in life.” -Harrison Fritz
“Looking back at my 11 years here, I realize all that Langley has done for me. Langley has not made me who I am; it has given me everything I need to choose who I want to be.” -Griffin Black “Langley has brought me friends who treat me like family. Langley is one of the best experiences of my life and there is no other school like it.” -Cade Mazich “Langley means community – a welcoming, nourishing, growing community of talented individuals who are here to learn with each other and use the opportunities presented to us. Langley means growing as an individual, but learning how to work as a unit to succeed.” -Sarah Ing “Langley is a place where you are encouraged to reach your potential and also to have fun. I believe the experiences I have had here will help me in life later down the road.” -Danny Rodriguez “Langley has taught me about the world and how I, as one person, affect it.” -Monica Spafford “My Langley experience has shaped the way I am today. I have been here my whole life and am a better person because of it. The teachers are kind and the campus is beautiful.” -Samuel Child
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
“During my 10 years at Langley, I learned lifelong academic skills and moral concepts. With the preparation I received, I feel like I can take on any challenge that comes my way in the future.” -Moriah Ratner
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graduation
My Favorite Langley Memory Is... “…the seventh-grade extended field trip to West Virginia. We hiked up the mountain and when we got to the top, the view was great.” -Patrick Gallagher “…the first time I came to visit Langley before I was an official student. Even though the students did not know me, they all embraced me with smiles, hugs, and kind words.” -Taylor Burris “…getting off the school bus in first grade. I remember a fourthgrader took me to the Assembly Room for my first day of school at Langley.” -Lulu Al-Budaiwi “…there are so many favorite memories, including bringing home the penguin in JK, having a big buddy and being a big buddy, the band trips, and fifth-grade art classes.” -Grant Mintz
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“…being backstage during the Middle School plays. The butterflies in your stomach when you see the lights dim and the red velvet curtain open are truly unforgettable.” -Annelise Kollevoll “…the seventh-grade field trip to Philadelphia. It was great to share a hotel room with my friends.” -Nina Chadab “…having a big buddy when I was in kindergarten. My big buddy was always ready to do things with me and made my kindergarten experience an awesome time.” -Danny Rodriguez “…my first day at Langley when I made my first friend, Nina.” -Jillian Freedman “…attending the Student Council LEAD conference in Chicago. It was one of the highlights of eighth grade and I’ll remember those memories forever.” -Victoria Tribone “…being an eighth-grade big buddy. Through these kids, I have learned patience and understanding. The joy and zest they bring to everyday activities is truly inspiring.” -Arianna Copito
Class of 2010 Gift Led by Class Representatives Griffin Black and Sarah Ing, the Class of 2010 left a lasting legacy behind for future generations to enjoy. As their class gift, students created an arts-themed mural at the top of the staircase in the school’s Jeffrey J. Sherman Arts Center (pictured above). Working with art teacher Jamie Fabrizio, Sarah, Griffin, and nine other classmates designed and painted the colorful mural which represents the fine arts disciplines of music, art, and drama. “We had lots of ideas for class gifts, but chose the mural because the stairway of the arts center needed some color,” says Sarah, who accepted the role of class rep because she felt it was important to keep her class connected after graduation. “Since the building is used for fine and performing arts, choosing a theme for the mural was easy.”
faculty notes
Ryan McKinney Named Banks Family Faculty Chair S
During his three-year appointment through 2013, Mr. McKinney will receive a $3,000 stipend each school year and up to an additional $2,500 each school year designated for professional development opportunities. “It is a tremendous honor to have been chosen for this award, and confirmation that my efforts at Langley are respected and valued,” he says. “I have the chance to have a huge impact on the community and plan to put my full effort into the next three years to help improve the health of our students, parents, faculty/staff, and environment.”
Making an Impact Through Science
An eight-year Langley veteran, Mr. McKinney has made significant contributions to the school’s science program and has shared his contagious
passion for science and the Earth with countless students. Working within the framework of Langley’s science curriculum, he has developed numerous innovative new projects to engage his students, build their understanding of the scientific process, and encourage them to be responsible stewards of our planet. As part of his sixth-grade unit on the water cycle, for example, Mr. McKinney incorporated a two-day, hands-on field experience in which students investigate the health of their own watershed. This project has had a lasting impact on many of his students, with several of them now attending community action meetings to encourage homeowners to user fewer chemicals – which can negatively impact water quality – on their lawns. Mr. McKinney’s creative approach to differentiated instruction and his focus on student collaboration have helped him reach every student regardless of learning style. “I have found that when students work together to solve problems in science, they help one another succeed,” he says, noting that his second-grade unit on dinosaurs has been successful in large part because of the group project he created in which students uncover a 100-millionyear-old dinosaur fossil. In addition, a new Middle School science textbook
and set of labs he recently introduced at Langley are designed to integrate science, technology, and math while meeting the needs of multiple learning styles and helping teachers better assess their students. “Ryan is a leader, a collaborator, an innovator, and a positive role model to the entire Langley community,” says Co-Head Librarian Jan Silvano. “He is a driven and passionate teacher who gives of himself to make the student experience all that it can be,” adds Mary Dobmeier, P.E. teacher, who considers Mr. McKinney a mentor. Outside the science lab, Mr. McKinney is actively involved in many areas of school life. In addition to serving as coach of the JV boys’ soccer team and as a Middle School advisor, he frequently fills in as a bus driver and recently worked to overhaul the Lower School dismissal process through the use of classroom televisions.
Enhancing the Curriculum Through Gardening
Mr. McKinney plans to use the funding he will receive as part of the Banks Family Faculty Chair award to help improve the science department and better integrate science across the curcontinued on page 9
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cience teacher Ryan McKinney has been named Langley’s third Banks Family Faculty Chair. Established in 2003 by past parents William and Karin Banks, this prestigious award helps promote and enhance Langley’s ability to maintain excellence in teaching. The award’s previous recipient, Chuck Schmidt, completed his threeyear term at the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Kathy Pascal was the first faculty member to receive this honor.
faculty notes
Veteran Faculty Members Say Farewell Ann Potter, Carol Maciaszek, & Cathy Stube
Ann Potter, Instructional Technologist
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ne of Langley’s most beloved and influential faculty members – Ann Potter – retired this year at age 76 after 35 years at the school. While she taught first grade and several Middle School classes during her tenure, Mrs. Potter’s true legacy is the technology program she built. It’s hard to imagine a time when technology wasn’t an integral part of the curriculum at Langley. Today, our teachers use everything from laptops and interactive whiteboards to green-screen technology and videoconferencing to enhance their lessons and make the learning process more interactive. And it all began under the leadership of Mrs. Potter more than 30 years ago. She first arrived at Langley in 1974 as a kindergarten substitute. When a fulltime position for a first-grade teacher opened up the following fall, Mrs. Potter gladly took the job. She recalls the warm, welcoming atmosphere at Langley and enjoyed the cooperative relationship between the faculty, staff, and parents. In the early ’80s, a Langley family donated the very first computer to the
school – an Ohio Scientific. “It was a very basic computer and the only one on campus,” recalls Mrs. Potter. “One of the math teachers encouraged interested faculty members to learn how to use it, so I figured why not?” As someone who thrives on learning new things, Mrs. Potter was intrigued by the computer’s capabilities and soon found herself volunteering to teach basic programming skills to the students. Langley purchased two early Apple computers which Mrs. Potter took around to the classrooms on carts, while juggling other duties as a first-grade reading teacher, sixth-grade homeroom teacher, and seventh-grade math teacher. By the mid ’80s, it became clear that computers were here to stay and should become a more significant part of the curriculum, so the school hired Mrs. Potter as its first full-time computer coordinator. “A big step for our budding technology program was the creation of our first computer lab in what is now the Primary School assistant’s office,” she says. The new lab had six Commodore 64 computers and students in grades 1-8 would visit about once a week to learn Logo, a very
popular program at the time, which focused on the development of problem-solving strategies and geometry concepts. While the younger students worked on pre-programming activities, the older children often used Logo to create “sprites,” which were moveable objects that could be controlled with commands. Under Mrs. Potter’s guidance, the technology program continued to grow, with a larger computer lab filled with an early version of the Mac soon established in the old Lower School building. “Computer classes became part of a rotation in grades 6-8, so each student took the class for one quarter of the year,” Mrs. Potter recalls. “This block of time really opened up what I could do with the students and allowed us to take on larger projects.” For example, she had her eighth-graders form their own companies. They used various programs to write a letter of application, keep spreadsheets of their expenses, and develop a company logo and letterhead, and in the process, gained valuable new skills. Through the years, Mrs. Potter found ways to better incorporate technology into homeroom lessons and lobbied
for additional resources, eventually creating a technology department with multiple faculty members. With three computer labs, a green-screen creative media studio named in her honor, countless software programs, and seamless integration into all subject areas, Langley’s technology program has come further than she ever imagined. “It was clear early on the tremendous impact that technology would have on society, so my goal was to incorporate it into the educational experience in a meaningful way,” she says. “Langley has been consistently supportive of technology and has provided the funding and staffing to support integration into all curricular areas.” Although she stepped down as technology director in 1998, Mrs. Potter remained an active part of the department in recent years as a part-time instructional technologist. Young at heart and always up for the challenge of learning something new, she remained on the cutting edge of the latest technologies up until her retirement this year. Mrs. Potter’s dedication and vision earned her several awards during her career, including the Virginia Association of Independent Schools Teacher of the Year Award in 1989 and the American Association of University Women (McLean chapter) Educator of the Year Award in 1998.
Her legacy is visible in the digital tools in every classroom and computer lab throughout Langley’s campus, but Mrs. Potter prefers to be remembered for the values she instilled in her students. “I hope my students remember me as someone who was patient and who encouraged them to become independent learners, to explore new ideas, and to think outside the box,” she says. “Ann Potter was my favorite computer teacher during my time at Langley,” adds Kathleen Jennings, a Langley second-grade teacher and alumna. “My favorite thing about learning from her happened after I left Langley. During my freshman computer class at Holton-Arms, my teacher was quite frustrated with me because I had already learned everything he was trying to teach! Ann put me ahead of the curve in terms of technology, and I am very grateful for that.” What does Mrs. Potter see for Langley’s technology program in the years to come? “I am confident the school will continue to support a program that brings the best practices to the classroom,” she says. “Since technology is essentially a tool, I see its use becoming more transparent as time goes by – a seamless part of the educational experience and no longer a novelty.” Thanks to Mrs. Potter’s efforts over the past 35 years, Langley is leading the way in classroom technologies and is prepared to embrace whatever the future may hold. L
Pictured at right: Ann Potter worked with hundreds of students during her 35 years at Langley.
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“We want to thank Ann for showing us all that, no matter how far along we are in our careers, it is not only never too late to learn new things…it is never too late to be a leader in so doing as she has done throughout her career,” say past Langley parents Peter and Peg DiGiammarino.
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faculty notes
Carol Maciaszek, First-Grade Teacher
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or the past 27 years, Carol Maciaszek has been a central part of Langley’s first-grade program, guiding hundreds of students as they made the leap from kindergarten to first grade. She arrived at Langley in 1983 and settled in the old Lower School building which was later replaced by the current Betty Brown building. “Even though the facilities maybe were not as nice as they are today, I was so impressed with how friendly everyone was,” she says of her introduction to Langley. “I felt like I was joining a community of people who were so dedicated and loyal.”
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While the first-grade curriculum was already strong when she arrived, Mrs. Maciaszek oversaw several major enhancements to the program. Integrated projects, a hallmark of the Lower School today, existed in 1983, but on a much smaller scale. She and the first-grade team developed one of the first lessons that was truly integrated throughout the curriculum. “We started with bears and had the children learn all about the animals in different subjects, but then we had the idea to switch to penguins,” she adds. “There were so many ways to tie penguins into social studies, science, math, art, and music. This very quickly became a favorite unit, and soon other grade levels were developing similar integrated projects.”
class book for the entire class to enjoy – an idea that has evolved into the student writing portfolios many Langley teachers use today. What are some of the biggest changes she’s seen during her time at Langley? “The improved facilities have really opened the door for so much more activity on campus. There is a lot more happening here on a daily basis,” she says. “I’ve also seen a lot of positive growth in our math program with the introduction of manipulatives into the homeroom setting.” Mrs. Maciaszek hopes her many students remember the laughter and wonderful times they enjoyed in her classroom and that she helped them build self-confidence and problem-solving abilities. “I’ve gotten a lot of joy from watching my students grow and mature during their first-grade year,” she adds. “Their creativity and sense of wonder has taught me so much over the past 27 years.” In retirement, Mrs. Maciaszek plans to move to Midlothian,VA, where she hopes to work part-time for an educational seminar company, become more involved in volunteer work, and perhaps do some substitute teaching. L
Mrs. Maciaszek also began a “creed of writing” program in which students wrote stories throughout the year and added them to a
Cathy Stube, Art Teacher
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hope I’ve inspired my students to love art and to discover their creativity in new ways,” says Cathy Stube, who is retiring this year after 19 years of teaching art to grades K-5. Mrs. Stube came to Langley in 1991 as an art assistant and quickly moved into the role of head art teacher. During her tenure, she built an exceptional, well-rounded, and sequential art program that includes a strong focus on art history and better integration across the curriculum.
From watercolors and weavings to wire art and pottery, students in Mrs. Stube’s art classes were exposed to a variety of mediums and creative new lessons – most of which integrated with art history to further enhance students’ understanding and knowledge. Working closely with homeroom teachers, Mrs. Stube developed numerous
art lessons that integrated with the curriculum in other subject areas. Two of her most innovative and favorite lessons are the fifthgrade canopic jars and the third-grade animated Colonial portraits. “The canopic jars are a wonderful culmination to the Lower School art program for our fifthgraders because the
lesson not only integrates with the students’ study of Egypt in social studies, but also allows them to use each of the four clay techniques they had learned in grades 1-4,” she adds. Third-grade students had been creating painted portraits of Colonial figures during their Colonial America unit for a number of years. Always looking to enhance her lessons, Mrs. Stube recently added a new aspect to the lesson in which students learn to work with an animation computer program to bring their Colonial figures to life. For Mrs. Stube, each student’s artwork is valued because it is a unique expression of his or her creative vision. She believes in celebrating every child’s creative spirit and filled the campus with beautiful displays of her students’ projects for all to enjoy.
riculum. “It will also be my priority to find ways to improve the efficiency of the school as a whole to ensure that our ‘footprint’ on the environment is as small as it can be and that our students leave Langley with sustainable, green habits,” he says. One of his main areas of focus will be incorporating science into many of the Lower School’s social studies, math, and language arts units through the use of Langley’s new outdoor community garden. For example, during the second grade’s study of Native Americans, Mr. McKinney will have his students cultivate and tend Native American plants, helping them make a tangible connection to the trials of growing these foods. Students will also apply math and language arts skills when learning about the unique characteristics of the plants. Learning to use a garden appropriately will help make Langley students of all ages more aware of their health and the environment, Mr. McKinney says, noting that he will use part of his stipend to attend a Virginia Master Gardening class and visit other schools that use gardens as part of their curriculum. “Today’s students often don’t realize that food comes from the soil, water, sun, and air, rather than a grocery store. With the help of the garden and other initiatives, I would like to stress the concept of ‘going green’ so that our students leave Langley with a better sense of how their everyday choices impact the health of their bodies and the environment,” he says. Mr. McKinney adds, “After eight years at Langley, I still come to work excited and motivated every day, in part because of the balance of teamwork and autonomy that I feel as a teacher in this unique school. Langley gives its teachers the ability and freedom to use what we learn through professional development and life experience to help improve the quality of education for our students. I truly appreciate the ability to teach what I love to students so that they can better appreciate the world around them, and I thank Langley for that opportunity.” L
Honoring Faculty/Staff Milestones
With her Langley days behind her, Mrs. Stube now looks ahead to new possibilities which may include taking museum education or graphic arts courses, creating and selling her own artwork, or perhaps giving private art lessons. L
This year, Langley honored four long-time faculty/staff members who reached major milestones in their tenure with the school. L to R: Athletic Director Jim Gleason, 31 years; Head of School Doris Cottam, 10 years; Archival Assistant Missy McClelland, 20 years; and Head of Middle School Susan Atkinson, 10 years.
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“Since I taught students for many consecutive years, I had the special opportunity to really watch them develop in their knowledge and abilities,” she adds. “I feel I was able to connect with them in a special way and hopefully instill in them a love and appreciation of the visual arts.” Mrs. Stube hopes her students will continue to enjoy expressing their ideas through art and to make personal connections that will instill a deeper understanding of fine works of art when they visit museums.
Ryan McKinney, continued from page 5
sports spotlight
Jim Gleason Celebrates 30+ Years at Langley
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hether playing professional basketball, participating in college-level sports, or simply making fitness a priority in their lives, generations of Langley alumni
have been influenced by Jim Gleason, Langley’s beloved athletic director. Through the team sports and physical education programs he built, Coach Gleason teaches his students much more than the fundamentals of a game – he gives them the tools to become self-confident individuals who value teamwork and good sportsmanship both on and off the field.
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Coach Gleason recently completed his 31st year at Langley. With more than three decades of accomplishments under his belt and the school’s new turf field named in his honor, he has built a lasting legacy here…and he’s not done yet. Coach Gleason shares some of his fondest Langley memories and plans for the years to come.
Q
What was Langley’s athletic program like when you first arrived in 1979?
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There really was no athletic program back in 1979. Team sports didn’t exist and the P.E. program was very minimal compared to what we have now. During my first year, I got together with a small group of athletic officials from Westminster, Georgetown Day, Sheridan, and St. Stephen’s, and we decided to form our own athletic conference, the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC). We all believed that interscholastic athletics would enhance our programs while helping students develop important skills like loyalty, sportsmanship, and respect for others.
Q A
How did you organize the new CAC?
In those early years, we started with just three sports – soccer, basketball, and softball – all of which I coached. Each team was coed and made up of students in grades 4-8, and we probably only played two or three games in a season. In a few years, the CAC began to grow and split into male/female and JV/varsity teams. Other schools joined the conference and we added new sports. Today we have 10 schools, seven sports, a full schedule of home and away games, and season-ending tournaments in most sports.
Q A
What was the biggest challenge you faced in building the CAC?
Since Langley had been a cooperative school, the Board was wary of competitive sports that might leave some children out. So we had a no-cut policy on all of our teams from the very beginning – a policy that still stands today. I was actually grateful for that no-cut policy at first because we really didn’t have enough students to field those early teams! When some of our competitors began to have tryouts and cut students, it was hard for Langley initially. But we stayed true to our childcentered mission and allowed everyone to participate, and have remained one of the league’s top competitors.
Q A
How has Langley’s P.E. program changed during your tenure?
One thing that hasn’t changed is the enthusiasm of the students. I’m proud that I’ve been able to instill that sense of excitement for fitness through the years. Even if we held P.E. classes in a gravel parking lot today, the kids would still have the time of their lives.
Q
What are some of your favorite memories during your 30+ years at Langley?
A
I have so many. Seeing our kids wearing a Langley uniform for the first time when we began competing in the CAC was a very special moment for me. I realized we were starting something important here. The year we finally split into single-sex teams at JV and varsity levels was also memorable.
In the late ’80s, our boys’ basketball team won the Bullis Tournament for the first time, which was “the” tournament in the area. When we beat all of these tough teams to win it, it was a huge milestone for our athletic program. It put us on the map. Obviously the day the school named the turf field in my honor last spring was extremely special, as was the day this year when Langley hosted the CAC track and field meet here at home for the first time. It was wonderful to share our amazing facilities with other schools and to have the homefield advantage. But I think some of my most favorite moments are learning about the many successes of my students. I’m so proud of them all – from Keith Bogans in the NBA and Jamsine Thomas at Duke to those who have gone on to become coaches themselves to the student who stops by to tell me she just ran a marathon.
Q A
What lessons do you hope your students learned?
I hope I have taught them to work hard, have fun, and appreciate the human body. They only
have one body, so I want them to realize just how important exercise and nutrition are. Beyond that, I hope they’ve learned the value of teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship.
Q A
What are your plans for the future?
At this point, I see myself staying at Langley for another 10 years until I retire at 65. I’m doing what I love and Langley is a wonderful place to be. When I see the talents of some of our younger students, I’m excited for the future and I want to be here to coach them. Could I have gone on to coach high school or college? Probably. But I realized early on that the age of the kids doesn’t matter as long as I’m making an impact…and I believe I’m able to do that here at Langley. L
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Our physical space and resources are 100 times better. When I came, we had the old Field House and a grass athletic field. Today, we have the amazing Solomon Athletic Center with two gyms and a new turf field which allows us to teach three or four classes simultaneously. For a number of years in the ’80s, I was the only P.E. teacher on campus, teaching seven classes a day and coaching all the teams! Today, we are lucky to have a great group of P.E. teachers and coaches. We definitely offer a more comprehensive P.E. program today than in previous years, with students learning a number of sports and skills. I remember when I visited Langley during my interview, the P.E. class I saw consisted of students playing ping pong in the Field House. We have moved so far beyond that now.
sports spotlight
Basketball Teams Top the Competition JV Teams
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The girls’ JV squad landed in the middle of the pack this season, finishing with a 6-7 record that included some very solid wins and some tough losses. In February, Langley was the top seed in the Bullis sixth-grade tournament where they came in second to Washington Episcopal in the final. Their season came to a close in the quarterfinals of the CAC tournament as they bowed out to Green Acres in a hard-fought game, 25-20. Made up primarily of fifth-graders, the boys’ JV team was small and young, but showed great promise and should be a force next season. The team won the games they should have and lost to the better teams, notching an overall 6-7 regular season record. In the CAC tournament, they beat Green Acres in the quarterfinals before losing to Norwood 40-30 in the semifinals.
Girls’ Varsity
Overall Record: 18-2 CAC Regular Season Result: 5-1 in CAC west division (2nd place) CAC Tournament Result: Champion CAC All-Stars: Sarah Ing, Marta Sniezek, & Monica Spafford Highlights: The girls opened the season by winning the December Langley Holiday Tournament, knocking out rival Immanuel Christian 35-22 in the final. During the regular season, Immanuel Christian evened the score and handed the girls their only loss in the CAC west division. In non-conference play, Langley took on St. John’s twice, winning both games, and Holy Spirit, a tough team that played a phenomenal game to beat us 49-47 for the girls’ only other loss of the entire season. In the CAC tournament, Langley easily moved past Green Acres in the quarterfinals to face the top seed from the east division, Woods Academy, who they beat 35-20. In the final, Langley once again faced Immanuel Christian. Despite digging a 10-2 hole in the first quarter, the girls fought their way back to take the tournament title 35-27.
Boys’ Varsity
Overall Record: 17-3 CAC Regular Season Result: 6-0 in CAC west division (1st place) CAC Tournament Result: 2nd place CAC All-Stars: Harrison Fritz & Matt Sniezek Highlights: The boys’ varsity team kicked off a successful season by winning the Langley Holiday Tournament in December, taking out Green Acres in the semifinals and Immanuel Christian in the final, 58-40. Langley went undefeated in the CAC west division during the regular season, beating their biggest rival, Immanuel Christian, twice. Another highlight of the regular season was a very strong showing against Woods Academy, touted as the best middle school team in the metro area. Langley pulled ahead by seven points at halftime, but fell 65-53 to this talented team. The boys entered the CAC tournament as the top seed from the west where they beat Sheridan in the quarterfinals and upset a strong Norwood team by 10 points in the semifinals to advance to the final against Woods. Woods was too solid, despite Matt Sniezek’s 38 points, and handed Langley its third and final loss of the season.
Spring Sports Recap Boys’ Baseball
Due to several rain-outs, the boys’ baseball team only played three official games this season. Among their wins was a 7-3 first-ever victory over a tough Norwood squad. The boys also topped Congressional, who had beaten Langley twice last year. To round out the season, our team participated in a softball tournament which they finished with three strong wins.
Girls’ Softball
Boys’ Lacrosse
Girls’ Lacrosse
Young and inexperienced, our girls’ lacrosse team struggled to notch wins this season and ended with a 1-4 record. However, they played hard and pushed several good teams, with extremely close losses to Immanuel Christian, 12-10 and Woods Academy, 11-9. Their one victory came at the end of the season over Edelin School, 13-10.
This year’s boys’ lacrosse team was one of the strongest the school has had in recent years. The boys put up some
Langley Hosts and Wins Track Meet On Tuesday, May 4, Langley’s Gleason Field was filled with excitement as approximately 250 students from nine independent schools – including more than 40 Langley students – participated in the annual Capital Athletic Conference track and field meet. It was the first time Langley has hosted the meet, which for the past two years was held at Landon School. Langley coaches painted our turf field with track lanes for the races, used our new long jump pit for the long jump event, and created an area at the back of the field for the shot put event. The meet was open to students in grades 5-8 and featured 26 events, including the 100-yard dash, 200-, 400-, and 600-meter races, several relays, shot put, and long jump. “It was wonderful to have the meet here at Langley,” says Coach Jim Gleason. “The atmosphere was great and the other schools all loved competing on our turf field, so I’m sure we’ll be hosting the meet for many more years to come.” Langley won the meet overall, with 10 first-place finishes, five second-place finishes, and nine third-place finishes.
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The girls had a successful season despite being a very young team, tying for first place in the regular season with Woods Academy and Congressional and finishing with a 6-2 record. They easily topped Sheridan, Westminster, and Immanuel Christian and took out a tough Woods team 13-3, only suffering one loss in the regular season to Congressional. In the CAC tournament, Langley beat Woods 5-4 in the semifinals before losing to Congressional in the final.
solid results during the season, topping Woods Academy 3-0, Immanuel Christian 9-8, and Trinity School 10-8. Their losses were close and came against tough teams – they lost to Norwood by just one goal and to a talented Flint Hill squad 7-5. The team finished with a strong 6-3 record overall.
campus happenings Clockwise from top left:
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Ten Langley students in grades 4-8 competed in the opening round of the National Geographic Bee on January 7. Langley’s winner, seventh-grader Evan Drake, advanced to the state level of competition where he placed in the top 10 in all of Virginia.
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Seventh-graders organized a bake sale to support the earthquake victims in Haiti, raising $1,600 which they donated to Doctors Without Borders. In January, fifth-graders performed their first musical production, “Dig It! A Musical Tale of Ancient Civilizations,” a history play with choreographed musical numbers. As part of their “Coming to America” unit on immigration and ancestry, secondgraders created and performed short plays about the immigration experience, complete with musical selections.
For their annual Colonial Day performance, third-graders depicted scenes from Colonial times and the 1950s, comparing and contrasting the two time periods. First-graders studied the polar regions during a two-month-long integrated unit that culminated in a polar region performance featuring poems, songs, and skits.
The Middle School spring play, “The Envelope Please,” featured a cast of nearly 30 student actors. A two-act comedy that takes place on a TV set, “The Envelope Please” allowed students to learn the basics of TV acting while honing their theater skills. “The Envelope Please” also featured a live pit band and an 11-member student tech crew to assist with lighting, sound, and props.
15 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
During Primary School Parents’ Day on February 26, Primary Schoolers celebrated the 2010 Winter Olympics with special activities, songs, and dances.
campus happenings Clockwise from top left: Kindergarten students kicked off Langley’s all-school Earth Day assembly with a special Earth-friendly song.
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During Langley’s sixth annual Shakespearean BardFest, sixth-grade students wrote and performed scenes that addressed the fates of their favorite characters from Much Ado About Nothing. Students in grades 1 and 2 performed the joint musical, “We Are the World,” which featured songs and dances from 12 different countries. On April 23, kindergartners participated in an afternoon of fitness and fun during their annual Field Day event. Competing in teams, students in grades 1-8 rotated through 10 creative events during Field Day in May.
Lower and Middle School students joined together for a combined spring concert in April, featuring six ensembles, including the Middle School Jazz Band. The Lower School Chorus also performed at the spring concert, singing a series of classic oldies, including “Footloose.”
As part of the Pat Bush Library’s BookFest on May 12, students and teachers came to school dressed as their favorite literary character. Led by fifth-grade teacher Mark Loach, fifth-graders explored another culture and learned the importance of good sportsmanship as they participated in the 12th annual cricket match in May.
17 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
On May 14, Langley kindergartners presented their musical performance, “Out of This World,” as they took audience members on an adventure through outer space.
langley in depth
Developing 21st Century Learners Langley’s Strategic Plan Update
I
n September 2008, The Langley School launched our new strategic plan, “Developing 21st Century Learners.” Built on the foundation established by our previous plan, “Bold Steps,” this new plan provides a roadmap that will establish Langley as a model institution for developing students who will thrive in our continually changing, global world. The plan includes seven strategic priorities which focus on evaluating and implementing educational initiatives and programs that will best prepare our students to be successful, contributing citizens of the world.
18 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Now two years into the plan, substantial progress is under way on each of the seven priorities. A series of committees was formed to look at the plan’s objectives and develop recommendations, resulting in a number of exciting new ideas and initiatives. While there is still much work to be done over the next few years, we are pleased to share this update on what we have already accomplished.
Priority 1: Prepare students for their future in the 21st century by further strengthening our dynamic curriculum.
The skills required to compete in an increasingly global world continue to evolve and Langley’s curriculum must change accordingly. To educate this new generation, the school must empower our students with the necessary tools, skills, and new literacies essential for tomorrow. Beginning in fall 2010, Langley will introduce Chinese as a language offering. The new Chinese program will begin in the Middle School, with grades 6 and 7 having the option to take Mandarin Chinese instead of Spanish or French. Based on interest levels, a similar Chinese class will also
be available as an after-school enrichment class. Langley has hired Dr. Xiaoli Wang, a Chinese specialist from Princeton University, to develop and teach the new program. The school continues to incorporate leading technologies into the curriculum to enhance teaching and learning. In October 2009, Langley hosted a technology conference for educators to showcase the digital tools our faculty integrates into classroom lessons every day. This unique conference drew more than 100 teachers from more than 10 states and Canada and positioned Langley as a technology leader. Through service learning and leadership opportunities, Langley is also working to develop key attributes for
responsible global citizenship in our students. During the past several years, the school has integrated additional service learning projects into the curriculum, such as the Day School Green Challenge which gives seventh-graders a leadership role in using environmental resources responsibly and the partnership with the Stanton School, a DC public school, that enables our eighth-graders to give back to an underprivileged community. A potential service trip for the eighth grade, a farmers’ market project led by Middle Schoolers, an academic mentoring program, and a significant project at each grade level are just some of the possibilities for the upcoming year. To lead these efforts going forward, Langley has hired a new director of student life, Ryan Jefferson.
Priority 2: Support the school’s mission and vision by assessing and, as necessary, adjusting the divisional design and infrastructure.
As Langley hones our dynamic curriculum, the organizational structure and programmatic format must continue to meet students’ changing educational needs in an ideal learning environment. After carefully examining our divisional and programmatic structure based on best practice, developmental appropriateness, and market demand, the school decided to expand our junior kindergarten program beginning in fall 2010. The new structure, which will consist of two concurrently running sections from 8:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., nearly doubles the instructional time each day from our previous three-hour program. We feel this change is more developmentally appropriate for our students and will allow our JK teachers to enrich the curriculum.
Priority 4: Meet the needs of
Faculty and staff remain Langley’s biggest asset, so securing and retaining talented professionals is critical to the success of our educational program.
In order to preserve our unique sense of community, while ensuring the quality of the educational program remains, the school evaluated a variety of options for students and parents before, during, and after the school day.
munity through their innovative, energetic, and inspirational work.
The school recently conducted a study of salaries and found that we remain competitive, with our starting teacher salaries comparable to those in area public schools. We also hired consultants to review our non-salaried benefits. They were very impressed with Langley’s offerings and had only minor recommendations for improvement to our already strong package. Langley continues to look at ways to create additional opportunities for professional development, personal growth, and a balanced quality of life. During the past year, for example, Langley offered a free weekly Pilates class, casual dress days, a reserved parking spot drawing, and a pedometer walking contest for faculty/staff.
Beginning in fall 2010, Langley will offer a new morning care program before school from 7:00 – 7:50 a.m. as well as additional bus service at 5:00 p.m. to make after-school activities more accessible to students and families. In addition, junior kindergarten students will have the option of extending their school day by attending The Leopard Spot, an age-appropriate program that begins at the end of the JK day and runs for two additional hours. In order to provide our parents with the latest educational and developmental research to help raise healthy children, Langley also initiated several parent education programs, including the Parent Association of The Langley School (PALS) monthly parent speaker series, the monthly Brown Bags & Books discussion group led by Director of Resource & Counseling Ed Triggs, and the Primary School’s educational talks for parents.
19 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Priority 3: Secure qualified professionals who contribute to our vibrant com-
students by ensuring a purposefully inclusive community that provides a balanced quality of life.
Priority 5: Design and implement a physical facilities plan that captures the vision and spirit of Langley in the 21st century.
To ensure our students are prepared for their future, the school must continue to make the most effective use of available space, while providing modern facilities capable of supporting our innovative curriculum. A strategic committee looked at Langley’s master plan and determined the sequence of the next two major projects – the building of the Security & Facilities Gatehouse at the campus entrance, followed by the building of a new Middle School facility. The school also conducted an in-depth evaluation of the allocation of space on campus to ensure each room is being used in a way that meets the needs of our program. In addition, we reconfigured the parking lot and paved an existing gravel lot to create more suitable parking.
Priority 7: Ensure financial
sustainability, competitiveness, and availability of a Langley education by building endowment and reserves. Langley should ensure we establish and maintain sustainable financial policies for long-term financial health, including increasing our endowment and reserves. These additional funds will also help Langley strengthen our financial aid program, enabling us to both attract and retain students who come from a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds. The Board of Trustees has made a commitment to building a stronger financial aid program, with the goal of allocating 10 percent of tuition revenue toward financial aid by the 20132014 school year. Over the past few years, the school has remained dedicated to assisting current families who have fallen on hard times as a result of the economic downturn. During 2009-2010, 10 percent of Langley’s student body received financial aid.
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Priority 6: Promote the school’s unique identity to the Langley community and beyond.
In order to continue recruiting and retaining students of promise and potential, the school must continue educating families about all Langley has to offer and promoting our program to the greater Washington, DC, area and beyond. Over the last three years, despite the difficult economic climate, Langley’s attrition has decreased and enrollment has increased. The school has attempted to reach a wide variety of prospective families through area school fairs and by developing and maintaining
our relationships with organizations that promote independent schools. Various marketing initiatives such as targeted print and online advertising, press releases, and posters advertising school events have also helped market the school to the DC metro area. High-quality print materials – including a newly redesigned admission packet, school newsletter, and Middle School brochure – and an informative Web site have helped create a consistent, professional image for the school. During the past year, Langley also moved our admission application and re-enrollment process online, making these procedures easier for families.
In early 2010, Langley parents Glenn and Suzanne Youngkin established a new student scholarship which will cover up to 95 percent of tuition and expenses through graduation for one newly admitted student in grades 4-7. The Youngkins also set up a permanently restricted endowment that will provide the ongoing financial means to award the scholarship annually. L
advancement update
The Langley Fund Exceeds $600,000 Goal By Lee Carol Cook & Katharine Powell, Langley Fund Co-Chairs
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Thank You to Our Langley Fund Leaders The school would like to thank this year’s parent co-chairs of The Langley Fund, Lee Carol Cook and Katharine Powell, whose leadership allowed us to meet and exceed our monetary and participation goals. They, along with the 22 parent grade
None of this would be possible, of course, without the incredible generosity of the entire Langley community, both past and present, to the 2009-2010 Langley Fund. Contributions to The Langley Fund send a clear message to our students and faculty that this community is here to support their efforts to become 21st century learners and educators.
captains, revved up a fun and lively par-
Not only did we meet and exceed our monetary goal of $600,000, but we also ended the fiscal year with over 90 percent of our parents participating in The Langley Fund and 100 percent participation from the Board of Trustees and faculty/staff. The Langley community celebrated these unprecedented successes at the “You Make A Difference” donor and volunteer appreciation event which took place in the Jeffrey J. Sherman Arts Center on Thursday, May 20. L
Shenoy, parent of alumni chair, Rich-
ent participation competition between all the grades.
We also offer our thanks to Neena
ard and Judith Mellon, grandparent chairs, Rajiv Shenoy, alumni chair, and Kristy Nicolette and Ashley Brandt, faculty/staff chairs.
21 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
s we look back on the 2009-2010 school year at Langley, we are struck by what a positive and productive year we have had. Not only have we strengthened our campus community through successful academic, artistic, and athletic programs and a fabulous spring fundraiser, but we have also reached out to the greater McLean community and beyond with events like our Creative Pursuits technology conference for teachers and the inaugural 1942 Society Distinguished Speaker Series event featuring Septime Webre, artistic director of The Washington Ballet. We have also been able to add to the already incredible experiences of each of our students with the addition of items like composters, rain barrels, and a community garden for learning about green living, new microphones and camera technologies for Sherman Arts Center performances, and Langley’s very first full-color yearbook for even better lasting memories.
advancement update
Plans Under Way for Newest Building on Campus Langley’s Board of Trustees recently approved plans for the construction of a new Security & Facilities Gatehouse building. Located at the campus entrance on the site of the current maintenance shed, the 1,140-square-foot building will house the school’s security and facilities staffs.
22 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
With windows facing Balls Hill Road and Langley’s driveway, the building will serve as a central point for security monitoring for Safety Officer John Gural and will help improve overall campus safety. It will also include a dedicated workshop for Langley’s facilities team, complete with tools, storage, and a restroom. In addition, the project includes new landscaping along Balls Hill Road and new signage to enhance the front entrance.
Spring Fundraiser Raises $140,000 On Saturday, April 24, the Langley community gathered in the lovely and enchantingly transformed Sherman Arts Center for the school’s annual spring fundraiser, “A Nautical Night: Charting a Course for Every Child.” It was a night to celebrate all that is good about Langley, and the community came together with the shared goal to make Langley an even better place for our students and faculty to learn, grow, and flourish. Every facet of the event – the online auction, class art posters, live
Although a completion date for the Security & Facilities Gatehouse has not been finalized, the school is currently in the process of obtaining the necessary demolition and construction permits and is working with civil engineers on the project.
auction, and raffles – exceeded expectations. It is thanks to the very
To date, pledges to this effort exceed $220,000. Contributions were motivated by a challenge match totaling $150,000 established by three Langley families.
“A Nautical Night” would not have been
generous and enthusiastic support of our community that more than $140,000 was raised for faculty professional development, student financial aid, and school programs essential to Langley’s strength and vitality.
possible without the leadership of CoChairs Danielle Aguilar and Kit Stouffer. Their work was truly a labor of love. Thanks to these two women and their cadre of parent volunteers, the fundraiser built community spirit at Langley while raising significant funds for the school.
Auction Co-Chairs Kit Stouffer and Danielle Aguilar
Special thanks to the event’s major sponsors: BOWA Builders,Wydler Brothers Realty Team, and Alston & Bird LLP
Preliminary design of building
alumni news
Class of 2006 Ready for College Congratulations to members of Langley’s Class of 2006 who will attend the following colleges and universities in the fall.
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Members of the Class of 2006 and their parents gathered in Langley’s Jeffrey J. Sherman Arts Center on Memorial Day for a final reunion before they head off to college in the fall.
GRADUATE Hayley Mercer Andrew Millian Lucas Montoni Takahiro Nakamura Churchill O’Connell Marwan Omar (Jeong) Peter Park Nikhil Prakash Sally Rosen Stefan Schmidt Allison Schneider Elliott Silverman Rachel Skillington Victoria Stewart Daniel Sunshine Margo Thronson Camila Vargas Brittany Whittington Chanel Willis
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY Loyola University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Unknown Bowdoin College University of Virginia Trinity College (CT) Unknown Duke University University of Colorado-Boulder The Citadel Vassar College Southern Methodist University College in Australia in 2011 St. Joseph’s University University of Virginia College of William & Mary GED Program University of Virginia University of Maryland
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
GRADUATE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY Molly Aaron Unknown Brett Andersen University of Virginia Patrick Belaga University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Sarah Berman Duke University Sierra Blake University of Pennsylvania Natalie Blosser Harvard University Griffin Boyle George Mason University Jeremy Burke The College of Wooster Tara Chadab McGill University Natasha Chadha Virginia Tech Nikita Chadha Virginia Tech Sarah Cusenza College of William & Mary Austin Dabney University of Virginia Gabrielle Devlin Amherst College Han Dinh Claremont McKenna College Michael Douglas University of Virginia Marvin Elliott Virginia Commonwealth University David Ensey University of Virginia Madeline Foley Miami University (Ohio) Cary Garfinkel Bullis School (senior year) Chelsea Gleason Catholic University Devin Gorsen Davidson College Michael Guberman Governor’s Academy (senior year) Kyle Gutkowski University of Richmond Megan Hauptman Brown University Molly Hayes Stanford University Sarah Hunt Loyola University Rachel Ing Washington University Olivia Jacquemin Hobart and William Smith College Julia Karnaze Villanova University Kelsey Klunder Virginia Commonwealth University Jonathan Lewyckyj Dartmouth College Richard “Ty” Malone Unknown Arjun Maniyar College of William & Mary Stephan Mecklenburg Susquehanna University William Mecklenburg American University
alumni news
Animal Kingdom
Alumni Profile: Annik Baker Schwartz ’92
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hile vacationing in Monterey, CA, several years ago, Annik Baker Schwartz ’92 heroically acted as a volunteer lifeguard while walking on the beach. But rather than a human, the object of her rescue was a baby porpoise.
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
“I saw the porpoise floating upside down in the ocean and knew he was in distress,” says Ms. Schwartz, who has training as a marine biologist. So she dove into the waves to try to pull the creature ashore. After several failed attempts, she was finally able to drag the porpoise onto the sand amidst a growing crowd of amazed beachgoers. She quickly called local marine rescue officials and soon the baby porpoise was receiving the care it needed. “That was pretty unusual for me!” she laughs. “I don’t normally go around rescuing animals out of the ocean.” But Ms. Schwartz does have a true love for wildlife and has dedicated her life to learning about and working with animals – both in the water and on land.
theme park’s “hoof stock” – meaning animals with hooves – such as giraffes, zebras, antelope, gazelles, and cape buffalo. Ms. Schwartz’s varied duties include feeding the approximately 300 hoof stock animals, cleaning their habitats, distributing medication, assisting with veterinary procedures, and training. “The training we do is primarily to prepare the animals for medical procedures,” she says. “So we might do voluntary blood draws to help them become accustomed to veterinary care they will need, for example.”
She currently serves as a senior animal care specialist at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL, a position she has held for the past six years. She and approximately 20 co-workers care for the
One of the joys of her job is helping raise baby animals that are born at the park. Ms. Schwartz is currently working with a 7-month-old cape buffalo and is in the process of trying
to build a relationship of trust with it. “Young cape buffalo are very attached to their mothers, so getting one-onone training time can be difficult,” she adds, noting that she especially enjoys hand-raising, or bottle-feeding, baby animals when their mothers are unable to care for them. What’s her favorite animal at the park? The cape buffalo because she works with them so closely and has helped raise four babies. This African species is larger than the American buffalo and tends to be strong-willed, with an adult breeding male weighing around 2,000 pounds. “Our breeding male is very mellow, so I’ve been able to do a lot with him,” Ms. Schwartz continued on page 26
alumni news
Finding His Voice
Alumni Profile: Dan Joseph ’93
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As a conservative, Mr. Joseph watched as overwhelming numbers of his “Generation Y” peers shifted to the left in recent years and played a significant role in Barack Obama’s 2008 election. “I have always been surrounded by liberal-leaning friends, whether in college, as an actor in Hollywood, or in the journalism field, so I decided to write a book to explore what young conservatives can do to bring about a change in the thinking of the 18- to 30-year-old generation,” he says. The 185-page paperback, which was published in April 2010, took him almost eight months to write and edit. Although he did attempt to sell his manuscript to several large publishing houses, Mr. Joseph ultimately decided to use a self-publishing company due to the timing. “I felt very strongly that I wanted the book to come out before
the fall 2010 elections, so the quickest option was to self-publish,” he says, adding that he is currently in talks with a conservative publishing house that may be interested in printing and promoting the book. He is uncertain how many copies have been sold online to date, but has done some recent promotional work for the book, including a live radio interview on Denver’s “Mike Rosen Show.” Mr. Joseph’s progression from student to author has taken some unlikely
because they had a public platform to do it. That made me think I should try to share my ideas.” So he started a blog in 2005 to express his political thoughts and soon after left acting for journalism school at California State UniversityNorthridge where he learned to hone his writing skills. After earning his second bachelor’s degree, Mr. Joseph went to New York to intern with NBC News. “The presidential election of 2008 was in full force all around me
“I can say that many of the words I use frequently today came from vocabulary lessons in Mrs. Rombach’s fourth-grade class at Langley.” turns along the way. With a bachelor’s degree in theater from Rollins College in hand, he headed to Hollywood to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. For five years, he had some success in plays and musicals, but never landed a significant film role. “It was glamorous for a while, but then I began to wonder if this was really the life for me,” he says. “I saw all of these celebrities who weren’t particularly wellinformed making political statements
there and I saw so many young, liberal Obama supporters,” he says. “I knew then that I wanted to write my book.” Although he was editor of Langley’s school newspaper for one issue in fifth grade, Mr. Joseph claims he was never a particularly strong writer as a child. A Langley student during grades 1-5, he preferred acting at the time and credits Langley with helping him continued on page 26
25 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
ince he was a teenager, Dan Joseph ’93 has had a passion for politics. Now he is putting that passion into words as a published author at the young age of 31. His first book, Generation Right: The Young Conservative in the Age of Obama, is currently being sold online through Barnes & Noble and Amazon. com.
Annik Schwartz, continued from page 24 says. “I like all the animals, but the smaller gazelles tend to be jumpy and harder to work with, making it almost impossible to build a relationship with them.”
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Although Ms. Schwartz knew she wanted to work with animals since her Middle School days at Langley, she originally planned to focus on marine animals. A marine biology major at Southampton College on Long Island, she took a five-week tropical marine biology course in Fiji and the Solomon Islands and interned at a marine mammal and sea turtle rescue facility. After college, she spent several years at New York’s Marine Environmental Learning Center as assistant director of marine education where she was in charge of outreach programs for children.
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
But Ms. Schwartz soon realized her true passion was working directly with animals, so she moved to Florida with the hope of securing a job at Sea World. She volunteered at a local state wildlife park for a time, gaining her first experience working with land mammals. When a friend told her Busch Gardens was hiring zookeepers, she figured it might be a good way to get her foot in the door. “Since Busch Gardens was owned by the same company that owned Sea World, I thought it would be a good stepping stone,” she says. “Little did I know that I would come to love my job with hoof stock and would choose this career instead of one with marine animals.” “I’m not sure exactly when I knew I wanted to pursue a career with animals,” says Ms. Schwartz, who
Dan Joseph, continued from page 25 find his voice on stage. “I don’t recall the names of any of the plays I did at Langley because they were probably written by our teachers, but I did land some lead roles and really enjoyed it.” “I can say that many of the words I use frequently today came from vocabulary lessons in Mrs. Rombach’s fourth-grade class at Langley,” he laughs. “She would give us new words to learn every week like myopic, gregarious, and loquacious.” Some of his fondest Langley memories revolve around science class with Henry Cole. “I remember looking forward to science more than anything. Mr. Cole was hilarious and really had a special quality as a teacher,” he says. Mr. Joseph also made wonderful friends during his Langley days who he says made a lasting impact on his life. “The people I met during those formative years are a part of me today – I even dream about them sometimes!” he adds. “Langley was truly one of the most enjoyable and colorful educational experiences I’ve had.” So what’s next for Mr. Joseph? He hopes to continue expressing his voice through the media, whether writing more books or hosting his own conservative television or radio talk show. With his talent and ambition, chances are you’ll hear his name again.
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attended Langley for four years in grades 5-8. “But I do remember that we had a science project in sixth grade in which we had to choose a sciencebased career and research it. I chose zoology. Soon after that I became very interested in marine animals, especially dolphins and whales.” In Langley’s Middle School, her interests ranged from playing sports – soccer, basketball, and softball – to playing percussion in the band to excelling in art. She fondly remembers band trips to Chicago and Toronto and the Middle School end-of-year trips. “I had a lot of wonderful teachers at Langley,” Ms. Schwartz says. “When I arrived in fifth grade, I was a little bit lost. Langley’s classes were small, I got the attention I needed, and I learned to be
a better student.” Today, she remains in close contact with several Langley classmates, including Lauren Rabbitt ’92 and Rachelle Hill ’92, whose wedding she will attend this summer. As for the future, Ms. Schwartz – now a wife and mother of a 7-month-old – plans to remain at Busch Gardens caring for the animals she loves…and she’ll be on the lookout for any animals that might need her help the next time she goes on vacation! L
alumni news
Class Notes To submit your news, log on to www.langleyschool.org or e-mail Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Shannon Ryan at sryan@langleyschool.org.
1954
1968
John Weyl lives in Lincoln,VA, with wife, Lisa, and works for Loudoun County Mental Health where he counsels mentally challenged young people and adults.
1970
Kitty Weyl Dove lives in Potomac, MD, with her husband, Robert, and their children, Caroline (15) and William (13).
1984
Christopher Gergen participated in the Race Across America this summer, a 3,000mile bike race that covers 14 states from San Diego, CA, to Annapolis, MD. He and seven friends joined together as a team to compete against 60 other teams from more than 20 countries. Racing 24 hours a day in a relay format, Chris crossed the country in just six days, 13 hours, and 14 minutes. His journey raised more than $104,000 and over 9,000 hours of volunteer time for 18 high-impact non-profit organizations in his hometown of Durham, NC.
1985
Dan Restrepo works for the White House National Security Council, serving as special assistant to the President and senior director for western hemisphere affairs. He and his family live in Silver Spring, MD.
1986
for the theme park’s hoof stock animals. See page 24, for an in-depth article about Annik.
1993
Dan Joseph has published his first book, Generation Right:The Young Conservative in the Age of Obama, which is available for sale on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. For more about Dan, see page 25. Jim Newcombe lives in Sydney, Australia, and stopped by to visit Langley and tour the campus this spring on a trip to the U.S. Jim is currently in his pediatric residency at the University of Sydney.
1995
Keith Bogans was recently featured in an article on the front page of The Washington Post’s sports section. A seven-year NBA veteran, he now plays for the San Antonio Spurs as a starting guard. A star at the
Karin Nelson lives in San Francisco. She is an appraiser and has an 18-month-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
1990 Past Parent News Beatrice Welters, mother of Langley alumni Bryant ’02 and Andrew ’05, was sworn in as the U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago in April 2010.
Ashleigh Rabbitt Sekoski lives in Cambridge, MA, with her husband, Josh, and is enjoying her work as a contract project manager with MEP, a boutique management consulting company in Boston.
1992
Annik Baker Schwartz currently works as a senior animal care specialist at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL, where she cares
Keith Bogans ’95, a starting guard for the San Antonio Spurs, returned to Washington in May when the Spurs played the Wizards at Verizon Center. During warm-ups before the game, Keith posed for a photo with Langley Athletic Director Jim Gleason.
27 THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
Ann (Anita) Freeland McMahon recently sold The Louisiana Radio Network, the company she and her husband, Rhett, founded 35 years ago. They have moved from their lifelong home in Louisiana to Silver City, NM. Ann says their new community has an amazing number of activities which are centered around green technology and loves the richness of wildlife, scenery, and history there. The Louisiana Radio Network will continue to provide news, sports, and farm programming via satellite and the new-age tools of Web and e-mail blasts to more than 60 radio stations statewide. Congratulations and best wishes, Ann and Rhett!
University of Kentucky, Keith was named SEC Player of the Year and All-American Third Team during his distinguished college basketball career. Since he was first drafted to the NBA in 2003, he has played for five teams, appeared in 425 games, and made 177 starts, averaging 7.5 points and 3.2 rebounds. Dan Gershwin recently completed his first year of law school at the University of Pennsylvania. He plans to work in Philadelphia this summer, splitting his time working for a professor and the General Counsel’s Office of the Philadelphia School District.
1996
In Memoriam The husband of Marcia “Billie” Close, Arthur Close, passed away on Saturday, June 19. Billie, who retired from Langley in 1995, served as head of the Middle School (now called the Lower School) for 12 years and also taught third grade. Their sons, Tom and Stephen, attended Langley. Langley Board member and parent Wayne Parks, father of rising fifth-grader Sarah Parks, passed away suddenly in May. A Board-certified forensic psychologist and founder/director of the outpatient mental health agency, Family Trauma Services, Wayne joined Langley’s Board of Trustees in 2008. During his two years on the Board, he served on several committees, including the Finance and Governance Committees and the Strategic Structure Subcommittee. Contributions may be made to the Sarah Virginia Parks Custodial Fund. Checks may be sent to: Sarah Virginia Parks Custodial Fund, U.S. Trust, c/o Beverley Miller, 8300 Greensboro Drive, Suite 360, McLean,VA 22102.
Jenny Hamilton received her M.D. from Eastern Virginia Medical School in May 2010.
28
Anne Laughlin recently competed in her first triathlon, the DC Triathlon, only eight months after major surgery to repair a torn ACL. This spring, Anne organized a small gathering of classmates from the Class of 1996 at a restaurant in Arlington.
THE LANGLEY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
2000
Jaedra DiGiammarino has spent the past year using her certification in Hatha yoga instruction and teaching movement classes to elementary and preschool students in both public and private schools in Brooklyn, NY. She has also found per-
formance opportunities in dance as well, using her movement training for modeling. This fall, Jaedra is returning to the DC area where she will continue her career in dance and theater performance. Additionally, she will teach private and group sessions in classical Hatha yoga to adults and youth. Kate Hayes will attend the University of Virginia next fall to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture.
2001
David Cooley graduated from George Mason University last December with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and a minor in business administration. He currently works as marketing coordinator at RAM Consulting in Sterling,VA, and as a freelance graphic artist. Jessica Freedman moved to Georgetown and is the head buyer and manager of a specialty gift boutique, Après Peau, located on K Street, just two blocks from the White House in Washington, DC. The shop offers unique and stylish gifts for sophisticated DC enthusiasts. Jessica graduated from James Madison University with a B.B.A. in marketing in May 2009. In June, she enthusiastically returned to Langley to attend the graduation of her sister, Jillian Freedman ’10. Andrew Rohrbach has been working as an assistant to Judge David Tatel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and, in his free time, serves as the assistant coach for the Yale Debate Association. This fall, Andrew will leave the DC Circuit for a job with Bloomberg News.
2003
Jasmine Thomas recently completed her junior year at Duke University where she is a key member of the women’s basketball team. She was named the ACC Tournament MVP, averaging 16.3 points, Patrick Belaga, Daniel Sunshine, Jonathan Lewyckyj, and Austin Dabney – all members of Langley’s Class of 2006 – completed their senior year at Landon School this spring.
4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals, while hitting 61.5 percent from threepoint range. Jasmine trained with the USA National Team in April as a member of the USA Select Team and has started 84 of 101 games played in her three years at Duke. She was also named AP Third Team AllAmerica and USBWA All-America. Jasmine enters her senior year starting 60 straight contests. Also excelling in the classroom, she was awarded the Kay Yow Award as the Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete
of the Year and was named to ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-America Team.
2006
Austin Dabney graduated from Landon School and will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall to pursue either business or pre-law. This summer, he will work as an intern in the marketing department of the Washington Capitals.
Marvin Elliott graduated from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria,VA, where he earned the Reverend Paul Kelly Award for the Most Improved Senior Academically with an average 3.5 GPA. Marvin will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall majoring in business with an emphasis on marketing and art.
Stay Connected to Langley…
• Submit your news and Class Notes or update your contact information in the alumni section of www.langleyschool.org
• Join Langley’s new alumni page on Facebook (find us under “The Langley School Alumni Group”)
• Visit our online community for alumni at http://alumni.langleyschool.org • Contact your class representative (a list of class reps can be found in the alumni section of www.langleyschool.org)
• Contact Langley’s Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Shannon Ryan with questions, ideas, or news at sryan@ langleyschool.org or (703) 356-1920, ext. 871
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Olympic Spirit Primary School students capped off their interdisciplinary spiral unit on the Olympics by creating their own unique version of the Olympic rings.