experience the langley school
Spring 2014
Role Reversal: Alumni Return to Langley as Parents
the langley school
experience The Langley School Experience is published twice a year for friends and families of The Langley School. Head of School Dr. Elinor Scully Editor & Designer Sharon Ifft, Director of Publications & Marketing sifft@langleyschool.org The Langley School 1411 Balls Hill Road McLean, Virginia 22101 Phone: (703) 356-1920 Fax: (703) 790-9712 www.langleyschool.org
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Contents
Head of School’s Message Campus Happenings Sports Spotlight Arts in Action Ryan Jefferson Named Head of Middle School Middle School Building Update Development Update Langley in Depth: Returning to Langley as a Parent Alumni Profile: Katharine Jiang ’11 Class Notes
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.
head of school’s Message Dear Langley Friends... What a wonderful introduction I’ve had to The Langley School this year! It’s been so much fun getting to know our faculty and staff, students, parents, and alumni over the past few months – along with discovering the school’s many traditions. More than anything, I have enjoyed getting into classrooms and watching masterful teachers create dynamic and engaging learning environments for all of our students. As I took part in my first Fall Fair and Grandparents & Special Friends Day, I was amazed at the high level of participation in and quality of our campus events. The commitment of our parents in helping to run many events is truly remarkable, and I thank every parent volunteer who gave of their time to keep these traditions alive. Through cherished events such as these, we build a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment for our students and families. Seeing the big smiles on the children’s faces at the Fall Fair in October as they climbed the rock wall, enjoyed some cotton candy, or drove a bumper car said it all! The significant impact Langley has on everyone who walks through our doors is evident in the 13 alumni who currently enroll their own children here at the school. Whether they attended Langley themselves for two years or 11 years, these parents had such a positive experience that they have chosen to entrust the school with their children’s education as well. Their memories and stories bring an important historical perspective that helps us honor and remember Langley’s past as we build for the future. I enjoyed learning from these parent alumni at a breakfast we held in their honor in March. Their stories of past teachers, plays, musicals, and school-wide events were both tender and, at times, hilarious. We had such fun reliving their Langley memories. Meet these 13 special members of our community on page 12.
Jefferson leading the way as our new head of Middle School and a brand new facility for grades 6-8 nearly completed, our Middle School program is on the cusp of a new era. The new building will Elinor Scully (far right) with the parent co-chairs of the Fall provide the space Fair, Kristine Sidhu and Joan Guilfoyle. for the academic and social aspects of the Middle School to thrive, allowing our teachers to dream big and develop innovative and dynamic lessons to prepare our students for a changing world. I knew Langley was truly beginning to feel like home to me when the fifth-graders asked me to join them on the stage for a final song during their production of “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” Their generosity of spirit and warm welcome was emblematic of how I have felt all year. I am proud to be part of an institution with such a deep commitment to building the vital foundational years of preschool to eighth grade for every single child. The expertise of faculty and staff, the partnership of parents, and the dynamism of the student body make Langley a uniquely vibrant school. I am thrilled to be here. Warm Regards,
Dr. Elinor Scully Head of School
As you can see in this issue, exciting things are happening at Langley – particularly in our Middle School. With Ryan
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campus Happenings Eighth-Graders Travel to Costa Rica In September, Langley’s eighth-grade class traveled to Costa Rica for a six-day adventure that helped them learn about environmental sustainability, gain a new perspective from a different culture, and develop greater independence and leadership skills. Eighth-graders spent the majority of their time at EARTH University in Guacimo, Limon, Costa Rica, a four-year undergraduate institution that educates students from around the world in agricultural sciences and natural resources management. Students saw firsthand how the people of Costa Rica protect and preserve their environment. They visited a waste management facility, learned to grow food in a limited urban space, and spent an afternoon at several local farms. The class also explored the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica and participated in cultural exchange activities with local students. “This is the third year we have taken our eighth-graders to Costa Rica,” says Head of Middle School Ryan Jefferson. “The trip continues to be an important part of our curriculum, as we take students outside of their comfort zones to gain a more global perspective of the world around them and to develop valuable leadership skills.”
Follow Langley’s New Blog This year, Langley unveiled a new school blog which features monthly posts by members of the Langley community. Check out the blog at http://langleyschoolblog.org. Be sure to enter your e-mail address to follow us and
Camp Highroad Trip
Langley fifth-graders visited Camp Highroad near Middleburg,VA, in October where they participated in team-building activities and developed leadership skills.
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receive e-mail updates each time a new article is posted.
campus
Happenings
Students Take Part in Mock Congressional Hearing
Seventh Grade Experiences Outdoor Adventure
During a four-day outdoor adventure at The Mountain Institute’s Spruce Knob Mountain Center in West Virginia last fall, Langley seventh-graders participated in a variety of activities, including orienteering, hiking, spelunking (or caving), studying streams and the environment, and a service learning project. The overall goal of the trip was to stretch students outside their comfort zones and to promote teamwork, leadership, cooperation, and responsibility.
What a Fair! Nearly 1,000 people attended the school’s Fall Fair on November 2, an annual Langley tradition since 1954. The games, rides, hands-on projects, and Cake
This spring, Langley seventh-graders testified at a mock Congressional hearing in front of “senators” who were considering a mock energy bill. Students shared a short opening statement and then fielded questions from volunteer “senators.” To prepare for the hearing, students studied and researched different aspects of energy production that are current in America today. In science, language arts, and technology, students worked collaboratively to identify different perspectives in today’s energy debate, create a public service announcement to support their own group’s view, and create a Google site for their organization.
Sixth-Graders Explore Water Quality
As part of their October hydrology unit in science, sixth-graders spent two days visiting local parks and sailing aboard an oyster ship where they determined the overall health of the Potomac River watershed by conducting various water quality tests.
Walk were as popular as ever; the inflatables, bumper cars, super-sized space shuttle, and 26-foot climbing wall had steady streams of visitors; the raffles had everyone crossing their fingers for the winning ticket; and the food and baked goods were devoured by all who worked up an appetite enjoying the day.
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campus
Happenings
More Than 350 Attend Grandparents Day More than 350 guests came from around the country, and as far away as Korea and South Africa, to participate in Langley’s annual Grandparents & Special Friends Day on November 26. The day began in the Sherman Arts Center, where students presented a series of musical performances. Students in grades K-5 each offered their own creative numbers, and Langley’s Lower School Chorus, Middle
School String Orchestra, and Middle School Symphonic Band also took the stage. Guests then moved into the classrooms to spend time with their grandchildren or special friends. Teachers planned a wide range of interactive activities for students to share with their guests such as making special crafts, playing games, reading stories, or working with technology.
Halloween Fun
Langley students of all ages celebrated Halloween by dressing up in a variety of creative costumes. Primary School students shared a brief musical performance for parents and Lower Schoolers took part in a Halloween parade.
Students Meet Supreme Court Justice
Langley’s seventh-grade class visited the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court as part of their study of the foundations of American government. The students were treated to a private 30-minute session with Justice Anthony Kennedy and one of his clerks in the Lawyers’ Lounge.
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Book Fair
Langley’s Pat Bush Library hosted its annual two-day Book Fair featuring hundreds of books and activities for all ages.
campus
Happenings
School Launches Month of Service
Langley Crowns Geography Bee Champion Langley held the annual National Geographic Bee on January 9 which included 10 participants in grades 4-8. Sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the opening round was held in thousands of schools across the country and was the first step toward naming a national champion. Langley’s contestants tackled a series of oral and written questions about both physical and cultural geography. Congratulations to Langley’s 2014 champion, eighth-grader Ethan Kallett, who advanced to the state level of the competition.
Primary School Celebrates Olympics
As the culmination of their month-long integrated spiral unit on the Winter Olympics, Primary Schoolers showcased what they learned about the Olympics and Russian culture in music, art, Spanish, library, and technology.
Langley Voted Best of Arlington
The January/February issue of Arlington magazine featured its annual “best of” section which asks readers to identify their favorite restaurants, doctors, shops, schools, and more. The magazine’s readers chose Langley as one of only six top private schools in the area!
Throughout the month of February, the entire school took part in our firstever “Month of Service.” Through a series of integrated activities, projects, and assemblies, students of all ages gained a better understanding of social responsibility and their impact on the community. “By dedicating an entire month to service learning, we wanted to highlight the many different ways to serve and demonstrate that service can and should be a part of students’ daily routines,” said Dean of Students Brent Locke. Teachers wove themes of service into classroom activities and special assemblies throughout the month. The entire school collected more than 800 pounds of food in a canned food drive benefitting the Capital Area Food Bank, with fifth-graders taking a leadership role in the drive and Middle Schoolers taking part in a hunger simulation to better understand the causes and effects of hunger. Students in grades 6-8 also worked with younger students at a local elementary school, assisted with an American Legion fruit sale, and participated in a project to reduce e-waste. The school also hosted an American Red Cross blood drive on campus.
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sports Spotlight New Sport Added to Fall Offerings This fall, Langley added girls’ volleyball as a new sports offering to our busy fall season. Congratulations to Langley’s student athletes and faculty coaches on successful soccer, cross country, and volleyball seasons in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), the nine-school conference in which Langley competes throughout the year. Student athletes were honored at an all-school sports awards assembly in November.
Boys’ Varsity Soccer
The boys’ varsity team had an undefeated 9-0 season, winning their eighth championship in 10 years. After defeating Norwood 4-1 in the semifinals of the CAC tournament, Langley won a dramatic final 1-0 over a tough Immanuel Christian team.
Girls’ Varsity Soccer
Despite a small roster of available players this season, the girls’ varsity team played some close games and learned the value of teamwork and commitment. The team was led by a core group of committed players who stepped up and demonstrated a strong effort. Langley ended the season with a hard-fought loss to St. Patrick’s in the CAC tournament.
Boys’ JV Soccer
Our 35-student boys’ JV squad improved their play as the season progressed, earning the fourth seed in the CAC tournament. After beating the fifth seed in the tournament opener, the boys took Norwood into double overtime in the semifinals. Norwood finally took the win after an eight-round shoot-out. In their biggest win of the season, Langley beat St. Patrick’s in another shoot-out to clinch third place in the tournament.
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Girls’ JV Soccer
The girls’ JV team played a tremendous season. Two of the three losses occurred due to playing a “man down,” with one resulting in a forfeit and one going into overtime for a 1-0 loss. In the post-season tournament, Langley beat the previously undefeated Woods Academy team to advance to the championship. The final game against St. Patrick’s went into overtime and then into penalty kicks, resulting in a tight 4-3 loss for Langley.
Cross Country
Langley’s cross country team had a great season as they worked on their endurance, speed, and hill running. Our runners participated in three meets, and saw substantial improvement between each one. The team supported each other and showed great sportsmanship to their competitors, making Langley proud.
Girls’ Volleyball
The girls had a great season in what was a new athletics offering this fall. Due to the large number of girls participating, two Langley teams were formed, with each team playing home and away games against schools in the conference and surrounding area. All players grew in confidence and ability as the season progressed.
arts in Action Middle School Performances Middle Schoolers performed “James and the Giant Peach” in November and the musical “Annie” in March. Both shows included cast and crew, student leaders, and pit orchestra members in grades 6-8.
Fifth-Graders Rock Musical Production The entire fifth grade presented “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” on January 30. Based on the popular educational television series, the show featured 11 toe-tapping songs and choreographed dances.
Student Concerts
Students shared their musical talent at the annual Lower and Middle School holiday concerts and at the Middle School pops concert.
Langley Earns Gold Rating at Theater Festival Twelve Middle School student actors performed Langley’s firstever black box production, “Outside the Box,” at the Virginia Theater Association’s Middle School Festival in Herndon, VA, on November 9, where they were critiqued by local drama teachers. Langley received a gold rating, the highest given by the judges, as well as four Outstanding Performance Awards. Students in grades 7 and 8 auditioned to be part of Langley’s Middle School black box elective which was held twice a week this fall and included 22 students.
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faculty Notes Ryan Jefferson Named Head of Middle School Following a national search, Langley has named Ryan Jefferson as head of Middle School to lead our program for grades 6-8. Ryan, who served as interim head of Middle School since July 2013, was one of three highly qualified finalists in the search process. His deep and abiding commitment to Langley’s mission, his dedication to our students, and his vision for the future of our Middle School program distinguished him as the best person for the job. A graduate of the Haverford School and Temple University, Ryan began his career at Westchester Country Day School in High Point, NC, where he served as assistant head of the Middle School, dean of students, and a social studies teacher for grades 6-8. He came to Langley in 2010 as director of student life. In this capacity, he worked to develop the advisory program, enhanced schoolwide service learning and leadership opportunities, assisted with high school outplacement, oversaw the
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assembly program, managed day-today discipline and student issues in the Middle School, and developed and coordinated our eighth-grade trip to Costa Rica. “Ryan’s in-depth knowledge of our Middle School program and the outplacement process, the personal
relationships he has built with students, faculty, and parents, and his ability to prioritize the needs of the students have made him an invaluable member of my administrative team,” says Head of School Elinor Scully. “I am confident that with Ryan at the helm, our Middle School will continue to grow and thrive.”
A Conversation with Ryan What are the strengths of Langley’s Middle School?
One of our greatest assets is our enthusiastic faculty who care deeply about our program and who are committed to creating an engaging and safe learning environment where students feel comfortable participating and expressing themselves – and where they truly want to learn. The sense of community here is a huge strength as well. Our students are trustworthy and caring with a deep sense of responsibility toward one another. Finally, the strong academic programming in our Middle School allows our kids to excel in areas where they might not at other schools.
How will the new Middle School building enhance the program?
This new facility will transform the experience we offer students in grades 6-8. Larger, more spacious classrooms and science labs will provide the physical space to introduce new projects, programs, and
faculty
ways of learning. Since teachers will be able to simply walk across the hallway to another classroom – rather than across campus – the building will also offer more opportunities for collaboration and cross-curricular projects between subject areas. Having the entire Middle School centrally located in one building together will create a greater sense of community, as well as more organic opportunities for student interactions. And the teachers and I will have a stronger pulse on Middle School life since we can better oversee the day-to-day happenings in the hallways or Student Commons area. I also think this wonderful new facility will help position our Middle School as a leader in the area. Students in our Lower School will see the exciting things happening in grades 6-8 and will be eager to enter Middle School themselves, and families in the community will be drawn to Langley in part because of the opportunities this amazing building will offer their children.
What are your goals for the Middle School?
We do so much so well at Langley, and we can be proud of our program as it stands now. However, we must continue to challenge our students and prepare them for a changing world. I would love to see a higher level of school spirit and participation in our athletic and arts programs. I believe we can accomplish this by helping our students learn to better manage their time and finding more time in the school day for them to meet individually with their teachers. I would also like to continue our efforts to encourage kids to read and write because they want to, not because they have to.
Notes
I want our curriculum to continue evolving to include new challenges, such as developing our math program to further differentiate and identify students’ needs and incorporating the arts into math and science. In the new building, our students will have access to the latest technology. We need to be sure we effectively teach them to use these tools responsibly so they will be ahead of the curve when they reach high school. Service learning should become a more significant part of our curriculum, with students taking on larger leadership roles in projects both on campus and off. As part of readying our students for high school, I would also like to see Langley focus on social issues so they are prepared to deal with the pressures and situations that will arise in the high school setting.
Why is this job a good fit for you?
I believe deeply in Langley’s mission and in our faculty’s ability to carry out that mission. “Every Child, Every Day” is more than a tagline – it’s a genuine description of the community we have here. I wanted to be part of a school that values the Middle School years as Langley does and that arms pre-teens with valuable skills such as confidence, empathy, and humility. It’s impossible to be in a bad mood when you’re working with Middle Schoolers because there’s always a funny moment happening to make you smile! I remember what it was like during those years of my life, and I enjoy helping our Middle Schoolers navigate their experience.
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Middle School Building Update Construction is nearing completion on Langley’s new Middle School which will be named in honor of Doris Cottam, head of school from 2000-2013. The 28,000-square-foot building features four state-of-the-art science labs, 15 classrooms, a rooftop “classroom in the sky,” and a student commons area for students in grades 6-8 to gather.
Exterior
Exterior
Classroom
Science lab
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Classroom hallway
development Update The Langley Fund Exceeds 90 Percent Parent Participation! Thank you to the greater Langley community for your generous donations to The Langley Fund (our annual fund)! At this point in the year, we have raised just over $600,000 toward our $665,000 goal, and have reached 92 percent participation among current parents! Faculty/staff and the Board of Trustees hit 100 percent participation.
$605,000 Raised
The Langley Fund 2013-2014 Parent Participation Percentage by Grade 100% 91% 87% 90% 91% 92% 94% 96% 91% 93%
100% 80%
77%
60%
Thank You!
40% 20% 0%
92% Parent Participation
A sincere thank you
PS JK K
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3
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5
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to The Langley Fund Co-Chairs Peggy Evans and Dan Nichols, as well as 1942 Society Chair Katharine Powell,
Grandparents & Past Parents
who all worked so hard
This year, we tripled the number of gifts received and the amount raised by Langley grandparents. We increased past parent giving as well, bringing in almost double the amount of money. Past Parent Gifts Received Grandparent Gifts Received 51 ($24,108)
68 ($60,577)
parent participation. Also, a huge thank you to Advancement Committee Chair Lee Cook and all of The Langley Fund grade captains and
42 ($29,939)
volunteers for putting in so much time and effort to help us reach
16 ($8,475) 2013
to bring in 92 percent
our goals. 2014
2013
2014
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langley In Depth ROLE REVERSAL: Returning to Langley as a Parent The Langley School’s alumni have many happy memories of their experiences here and many have returned to campus to visit former teachers or to reconnect at a reunion. However, a handful of our alumni have returned to Balls Hill Road not as students, but as parents, choosing to send their own children to Langley. The following 13 alumni are also current parents at the school.
Erik Briceno ’89 Years as a Langley Student: 6 Current Occupation: Manage IT services for small businesses in the DC metro area
Michael Coakley ’82 Years as a Langley Student: 2
Children Who Attend Langley: Banks (preschool), Bay (kindergarten)
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
Current Occupation: President of C.J.
Coakley Co., Inc., a commercial interior construction company
The many friendships I made.
What impact did Langley have on you? Langley definitely prepared me to take the next step in my life.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? We believed that an education at Langley would provide our children with the best opportunities in happiness and success.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent? Great! As a parent, I find Langley to be very interactive and communicative. Additionally, the social community promotes involvement of the parents that trickles down to the children who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the process.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? The biggest change is the many new buildings on campus. Coach Gleason is the primary thing about Langley that hasn’t changed since I attended.
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Children Who Attend Langley:
Evelyn (grade 3), Lauren (grade 5), Neil (grade 7)
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
My favorite memory is receiving Roger Tory Peterson’s Field Guide to Birds of North America in John Trott’s seventhgrade science class. I still have the book 32 years later and use it to identify birds in our backyard.
What impact did Langley have on you?
Mr. Wolf’s eighth-grade history class was awesome! We learned about the Civil War that year and it sparked a lifelong interest in me. I have read and studied the Civil War extensively since then.
langley
In Depth
Jennifer (Fritts) Darcey ’89 Years as a Langley Student: 7 Current Occupation: Stay-at-home mom and part-time sales consultant for Etcetera Clothing line
Children Who Attend Langley:
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? We wanted our children to experience small classroom sizes, a sense of community, and a preschool to eighth grade focus.
Grace (grade 6), Lily (grade 3)
What has your experience been as a Langley parent?
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
It has been a joy and a privilege to watch my children share in similar experiences (and field trips) that I encountered as a student at Langley.
One of my most vivid memories as a student at Langley was sleeping in a cave with bats!
What impact did Langley have on you? Langley taught me the importance of family and community. This still holds true and is why we chose Langley for our children’s education.
independent school with a more professional and educated staff. Langley has always maintained a sense of community and family atmosphere.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? When I was at Langley, it was a co-op school. Since then, it has become an
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley?
My Langley experience was very positive. The things I learned there have stuck with me through the years. I wanted the same for my kids. We live in Arlington, which has wonderful public schools. However, we saw the trend of over-crowding happening as our children were approaching school age. Langley’s small class size was a huge draw for us. The personal attention our kids receive at Langley has made a tremendous difference in their educational experience. We see that the teachers are interested in our kids as people, not just students they see during the day. I also have nieces and a nephew who went to Langley. After graduation, they went on to excellent high schools and fantastic colleges. They are great students, but Langley gave them the solid foundation and skills that prepared them for the rest of their education.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent?
I like being a Langley parent better than being a student!
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed?
The campus and the technology are the biggest changes. Langley has done a great job of predicting facility needs, planning, and then acting to make our educational facilities a reality. Langley classrooms are conducive to learning in the 21st century; the technology that our kids use every day is their future. They are learning to use technology not as a toy, but as a tool. What hasn’t changed is Mr. Gleason and Mrs. Pascal! Mr. Gleason was my coach when I was in middle school and now he coaches my kids. I was one of Mrs. Pascal’s first students in the brand-new Upper School building. The “brand-new Upper School building” is the old Middle School building that was just demolished two years ago. There is something special about a workplace that makes people want to stick around that long.
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langley
In Depth
Peggy (Reizes) Evans ’85 Andrew Kaplan ’87
Years as a Langley Student: 6 Current Occupation: Waker-upper, dresser, short-order cook, taxi driver, scheduler, homework helper, and overall fire extinguisher (stayat-home mom). In a past life, I was a fundraiser and Capitol Hill staffer.
Years as a Langley Student: 10 Current Occupation: Attorney Children Who Attend Langley: Cole (kindergarten), Lane (joining JK
Children Who Attend Langley: Mark (grade 3)
in fall 2014)
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
The annual school-wide ice skating party.
What impact did Langley have on you? The Langley School was my family. My mom passed away the summer between pre-k and kindergarten. The whole school came together to make sure I felt secure, safe, and included in everything.
There are many. A few that stick out are playing on all of Coach Gleason’s teams, growing up with the same group of friends from junior kindergarten through eighth grade, and enjoying some fantastic teachers.
What impact did Langley have on you?
Academically, Langley prepared me for high school and beyond. But Langley was a lot more than a “school.” It was really the center of my world from before I could read to my pre-teen years – sports, friends, everything I did in the community, all involved Langley.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley?
It is hard to pinpoint, but Langley’s focus on younger children and their development set the school apart.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I hoped the sense of community still existed and would be supportive of my son. I have not been disappointed.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent? My son has been very fortunate to have great teachers that have given me direction – to help me be a better parent. Also, his class has really fantastic kids. It’s so great to look at the friendships that have evolved for both of us in the past four years.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? No more ice skating parties! Langley was much smaller and you really knew everybody. The community bond is the same, especially within the grades. I feel like Langley has never stopped wanting to be better. I have never felt they were settling for being “a good school.” Also, Mr. Gleason has not changed. I still see Betty Brown almost every day (she lives up the street from me). Those two are going to be around forever!
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Kenny Hutman ’81 Years as a Langley Student: 9 Children Who Attend Langley: Teddy (grade 5) What’s your fondest Langley memory? My favorite memories revolve around great teachers and friends. Other memories include the Langley Fair, music class, football on the playground, swings, Mrs. Layman’s country reports, the trip to Pennsylvania, and the school plays.
What impact did Langley have on you? Langley provided me with lifelong friendships.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I wanted my son to have a strong environment to encourage a love of learning, curiosity, and respect for community.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? The facilities have changed, but the great teachers and warm community are still the same.
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In Depth
Luis Neto ’87 What has your experience been as a Langley parent?
It has been a great start with our son’s first year. He adores his teachers and has made great friends. What has been most impressive is how quickly Cole’s teachers learned who he is, both as a person and as a student.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed?
The biggest changes are the incredible developments in the grounds and facilities. What hasn’t changed is the feeling I get when I walk on campus. It still feels like home.
Years as a Langley Student: 10
Current Occupation: Business Manager/Owner
Children Who Attend Langley: Andrew (grade 3), Evan (grade 5), Hannah (grade 7)
What’s your fondest Langley memory? I enjoyed P.E. with Mr. Gleason, science with Dr. Rinker, and watching documentary movies with Mrs. Bush in the old library.
What impact did Langley have on you? Positive reinforcement from faculty gave me much-needed confidence as a child that helped me reach the goals I wanted to achieve later in life.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I loved the great positive atmosphere here and the feel of a tight-knit community.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent? Very positive. What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? The growth of the campus and the many new buildings are definitely the biggest changes, but the community feel hasn’t changed at all.
Paul Martorana ’86 Years as a Langley Student: 2 Current Occupation: Executive in wholesale distribution
Children Who Attend Langley: Franco
academically until then and was disappointed to receive only a C on the paper. Mrs. Hockmeyer, my teacher at the time, pushed me to raise my academic game so to speak, and by year’s end she helped me to reveal the higher gear I never knew I had.
(kindergarten), Isabella (grade 2)
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley?
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
I remember fondly the time I spent there. Small class sizes were very important to us. And Langley has a wide array of resources as well as a tight-knit and loving community.
I have many fond memories of my time at Langley. Probably my favorite memories involve playing football at recess with my classmates.
What impact did Langley have on you? I remember working extensively on an involved research paper about Depression-era homelessness in fourth grade. I had never been pushed so hard
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? Probably the biggest change I have noticed is all the development (new buildings) around the campus. The children really have a first-class facility to call their academic home.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent? Overall it has been a wonderful experience for me and I am quite happy that my children attend Langley.
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langley
In Depth
Michelle (Malek) du Pont Olson ’82 Years as a Langley Student: 11
Phillip Norton ’83
Current Occupation: Housewife/activist in the area of human
Years as a Langley Student: 2
trafficking
Current Occupation: Vice President,
Children Who Attend Langley: Olivia ’12, Scarlett (grade 2)
Vendor Programs – ePlus, inc.
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
Children Who Attend Langley:
The whole experience was nurturing, loving, academic, active, and community building. What I appreciate most is the strong early education and the lasting friendships.
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
What impact did Langley have on you? Langley provided a great education. We learned how to study and to be independent thinkers. At the same time, I always felt part of a community where everyone had my back. Long term, the Langley foundation helped me be a good citizen.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I want my kids to get the best education a big city can offer, while being nurtured in a small-town environment with strong core values. I want a school that is flexible enough to appreciate the differences of all of my children and help them accentuate their strengths and work on their weaknesses within the framework of a wholesome, kind community.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent? I love being engaged in the day-to-day of the school and love that the school encourages this. At Langley, I know the other members of the community, I know what’s going on in the classrooms, and I know the teachers. I am part of a community as much as my child is. I cherish our cooperative roots, because that spirit of involvement is still very alive today.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? The physical facilities are completely different. We had little in the way of an athletic department. There was big excitement among the student body when Coach Gleason showed up years later to start a basketball team! Music class involved a lady coming into the classroom with her guitar, passing out words to Beatles songs, and everyone singing along. While parents no longer come to the school to paint the walls or landscape, what hasn’t changed is the strong sense of community.
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Alexandra (grade 4), Catherine (JK) I have quite a few happy memories of the experience I had while at Langley, from certain teachers to playing sports for Coach Gleason.
What impact did Langley have on you? Langley impacted my
life by making me realize that I wanted my children to have the small private school experience that will challenge them as well as give them the foundation they need to be successful through their academic life.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I sent my chil-
dren to Langley because of the experience my brothers and I had and the foundation it delivered to all of us. The small classroom size and the tremendous resources Langley has help both my children be successful and happy.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent? Our
experience has been excellent. Our girls have gotten the individual attention and support that we had hoped for, as well as the excellent education.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? The biggest
change is the new facilities and resources available to the students. What hasn’t changed is the nurturing and caring faculty and staff who offer support to the students.
Brian Pence ’91 Years as a Langley Student: 6 Current Occupation: Hotel Owner/Operator Children Who Attend Langley: Wyatt (grade 1), Robbie (rising KG) What’s your fondest Langley memory? I loved the eighth-grade field trip to Assateague Island.
langley
In Depth
Sandra (Neto) Panizo ’90 Years as a Langley Student: 10 Current Occupation: Registered Dietitian Children Who Attend Langley: Chloe (JK), Natalie (grade 1), Nathan (starting preschool in fall 2014)
What’s your fondest Langley memory?
What is the biggest change you see in the school today? What hasn’t changed? There are many changes
and the teachers have maintained their commitment to providing the students with guidance, support, and a love for learning.
to the school since I graduated from Langley. For example, when I attended, the school only had two classes per grade. The school has increased in size, but maintains the same core values
My fondest memory was when we went camping overnight in tents. We had so much fun with our group, learning about living in the outdoors, playing capture the flag, and roasting marshmallows.
What impact did Langley have on you? Langley introduced me to my love for science, health, and sports. The teachers at Langley supported and encouraged my strengths, while also encouraging me to improve my weaknesses.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I wanted them to experience the family-like atmosphere that I enjoyed throughout my years at Langley. I also wanted for them to experience small and familiar class sizes and to have the support and encouragement to follow their dreams.
What has your experience been as a Langley parent? As a Langley parent, I have been very pleased to see the commitment that the teachers have toward their students. I love the involvement of the parents and the sense of community that the school offers.
Laura (Magruder) Trent ’88 Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I love the sense of
Years as a Langley Student: 2 Current Occupation: Stay-at-
community at Langley. You really get to know the families of your child’s classmates. Langley has excellent teachers and is able to maintain small class sizes.
home mom
Children Who Attend Langley:
Anna (kindergarten), Gavin (grade 5), Jacob (grade 7)
What’s your fondest Langley memory? The friendships I made and the strong bond we had as a class.
What impact did Langley have on you? I think the biggest influence Langley had on me as a student was to be confident in who I was so that I made (mostly) good decisions when faced with the challenges and peer pressure in high school.
What is the biggest change? What hasn’t changed?
The school is bigger now, but hasn’t lost its sense of community. When Jacob first started, I did see a handful of teachers that I used to have (Mrs. Patterson, Madame Javedan, Mrs. Potter). Of course, Mr. Gleason is still here!
What impact did Langley have on you?
What has your experience been as a Langley parent?
I loved my time at Langley. I think the small class size combined with some special teachers allowed me to become a more well-rounded student. The relationships I had with my teachers paved the way for me to stay active with the school even many years later as an alumnus.
Awesome! My team won Leopardy this spring.
What is the biggest change you see in the school today from when you were a student? What hasn’t changed? The biggest change has been the physical campus, but the warm and caring learning environment is still the same.
Why did you send your child(ren) to Langley? I had a really positive experience and wanted my children to have the same opportunities I did in many different areas.
This coming fall, two new alumni parents will join our community: Elizabeth Crocker ’89 and Ashley Rabbitt Sekoski ’90. the langley school experience
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alumni News Giving Back: Katharine Jiang ’11
alumni profile
Katharine Jiang ’11 still remembers the excitement she felt each fall when she and her mom went shopping for new school supplies, filling their shopping cart with pencils, pens, crayons, and notebooks in preparation for the upcoming school year. So when she read an article several years ago stating that more than 16 million American children cannot afford basic school supplies, she decided to take action. After finding numerous boxes of unwanted office supplies left behind when her father’s office relocated in 2012, Katharine asked if she could have the supplies. Sitting among thousands of donated paper clips in her garage, she had the idea to start a nonprofit organization which would provide underprivileged children in the Washington, DC, area with school supplies. “Every child deserves the chance to succeed in school by having the proper tools to learn,” Katharine says. “Without paper and pen, how can a child retain information?”
In August 2013, as a 16-year-old junior at The Madeira School, Katharine officially founded the CLIPUS Foundation. The name CLIPUS comes from the paper clips she collected and the promise of togetherness. The studentrun foundation includes a four-person Board of Directors and more than 30 members, all of whom are teens at four area high schools. The organization supports its mission through three basic programs: fundraising bake sales, a partnership with a commercial moving company to target, collect, and recycle unwanted office supplies, and a toner recycling program which Katharine initiated here at The
Langley School and at a local theater company. Since its founding nine months ago, CLIPUS has raised $3,000 to purchase new school supplies. On March 25, Katharine’s dream became a reality when she and her team distributed their very first batch of school supplies to students in need. CLIPUS packed and delivered 80 backpacks filled with folders, notebooks, markers, pencils, pens, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, and pencil cases to underprivileged families at Cannon Road Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD, where 60 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced meals.
Katharine Jiang ’11 (second from right) and several fellow CLIPUS Foundation members distributed their first round of school supplies on March 25 to an elementary school in Silver Spring, MD.
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alumni “It was a wonderful feeling to see the smiling faces of the students and parents as we handed out the backpacks,” says Katharine, who spends about seven hours per week working Katharine Jiang ’11 with CLIPUS. “This is a very tangible way to improve a child’s educational experience and I hope to expand to include more large-scale distributions in the future.” It was during her 10 years at The Langley School that Katharine first realized the importance of giving back to those who are less fortunate, and she credits Langley with instilling her passion for community service. “I vividly remember
News
the day in eighth grade when we went to an elementary school in DC to play with and read to the kids there. It was the first experience I had working with kids from a disadvantaged background, and it had a profound impact on me,” she says, noting that the experience propelled her to tutor children in need and volunteer at the DC Special Olympics while in high school.
always encouraged us to speak up in class and that really helped me come out of my shell,” says Katharine, who now serves as junior class president at Madeira and plays on the varsity tennis and track and field teams.
Katharine also fondly recalls the Langley experiences of taking earlymorning trips to So Others Might Eat (SOME) to serve the homeless, learning to be a role model to her kindergarten buddy, taking memorable band trips, and participating in math competitions. “When I was little, I was very shy, but the teachers at Langley
Although she hopes to use her love of math and science to become an engineer, Katharine’s deep commitment to serving children in need will likely remain a central part of her life.
To learn more about the CLIPUS Foundation, visit
www.clipusfoundation.org.
Patti’s Park Receives a Facelift Patti’s Park – the lovely garden area between Langley’s Lower School and the Sherman Arts Center – was refurbished last fall. The school worked with a landscape architect to add new plantings and relocate some of the existing plantings to enhance this peaceful spot on campus.
In the fall, Pam Schmid ’79 visited Langley to see the newly renovated garden created in honor of her sister, Patti.
Patti’s Park was created in 1999 in memory of Patricia Lynn Schmid, a 1981 Langley graduate who passed away suddenly in 1995 while teaching English to children in Namibia. Her family donated funds for the creation of the garden which also includes a bronze statue of a young girl in the likeness of Patti.
In what has become a Langley tradition, members of the Class of 2013 returned to campus this fall to paint the class rock on the athletic field.
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alumni
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Class Notes To submit your notes and photos, log on to the alumni section of www.langleyschool.org or e-mail Nora Saunders at nsaunders@langleyschool.org.
1988 Allison Lefrak lives in Bethesda, MD, with her husband, Malcolm, and three children: Luke (6), Harper (4), and Abigail (2). She is an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission where she works on consumer protection issues. Allison hopes to find the time to plan a Class of ’88 reunion gathering and welcomes anyone interested in doing that to contact her at Allison_Lefrak@yahoo. com. She also encourages class members to join the Langley Class of ’88 Facebook page, if they have not done so already.
1994 Jennifer Dreiling recently finished her time in the United States Navy as a lieutenant commander after completing a 13-month tour in Nuristan, Afghanistan, at Forward Operating Base Kalagush. She was the senior medical officer and the only physician for a base of approximately 200 sailors, soldiers, and marines where she provided medical care to both United States service members and local nationals. During her deployment, Jennifer was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for her efforts. After completing her service to the Navy, Jennifer accepted a residency position at the National Cancer Institute’s Laboratory of Pathology in Bethesda, MD. She is currently the chief resident and will complete her training in June before beginning fellowship training in cytopathology. Jennifer and
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her husband, Andres Nieto, are expecting twin boys this July. They plan to stay in the Northern Virginia area with the hope of one day sending their boys to Langley!
2000 Jon Carrier earned his M.B.A. from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business in 2012. In 2011, he and several Darden classmates co-founded 501 Auctions, a mobile bidding and online auction platform that makes it simple for charities to create their auction catalog, collect bids, and process payments for fundraising events.
Coming May 27...
Class of 2010 Family Reunion Members of Langley’s Class of 2010 and their parents are invited to attend a family reunion on Tuesday, May 27 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. in Langley’s Jeffrey J. Sherman Arts Center. Join your classmates for a chance to reconnect before heading off to college in the fall. Additional information about the reunion will be posted on Langley’s Facebook page later this spring.
alumni
2003 Allison Hutchins has been teaching fifth grade in Fairfax County,VA, since 2011. In July of this year, she plans to move to San Francisco to work for Rocketship Education, a network of public charter schools that serves primarily low-income students. Allison will be teaching at one of Rocketship’s schools in San Jose, CA.
2006 Kyle Gutkowski will graduate from the University of Richmond in May with a degree in accounting. Upon graduation, he will work for Virginia Dominion Power in Herndon, VA.
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Faculty Notes Henry Cole, former Langley science teacher from 1984 to 1999, won the 2013 Horace Mann Upstanders Award for his book, Unspoken. A wordless picture book about the underground railroad, Unspoken was designated by The New York Times as one of the 10 best picture books of 2012.
Mr. Cole returned to Langley in April for a series of student assemblies.
2008 Marisa Messina, who is a sophomore at Stanford University, participated in a study-abroad program in Paris, France, for three months last fall. She is double-majoring in French and symbolic systems which is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on computers and minds. While in Paris, Marisa took various classes on everything from art, theater, and literature to economic Marisa visited Langley French teacher Caroline and governmental Bosc before leaving for her study abroad in policies. Paris last fall.
2010 Grant Mintz will be graduating from Langley High School in June and has loved his high school years as a Langley Saxon. He has enjoyed coaching McLean Youth Basketball, and will be attending Miami University in Oxford, OH, where he plans to study sports leadership, management, and business.
2013
In Memoriam Pat Bush, Langley’s beloved former librarian, passed away peacefully on September 23 at the age of 90 in New Hampshire. Pat was a truly significant part of the Langley community for 45 years, serving as a parent volunteer in the library in the 1960s and then as the school’s first paid head librarian for 16 years. She continued to work in the library in various capacities until her retirement in 2008 at age 85. In 1992, Langley paid permanent tribute to Pat’s contributions by naming the school’s library in her honor. Her daughter, Karen, is a 1973 Langley graduate. The school honored Pat this spring at a memorial event. Watch for more information about Pat’s legacy in the summer/fall issue of The Langley School Experience.
Follow Langley!
Caleb Roderiques was recently voted captain of the McLean High School JV lacrosse team, a special accomplishment for a freshman.
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID McLean, VA 22101 Permit No. 48
The Langley School 1411 Balls Hill Road McLean, VA 22101-3415 www.langleyschool.org (703) 356-1920
the langley school Academics
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summer studi Science
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Wide variety of classes for students in preschool to grade 8 More than 30 all-new classes, including exciting off-campus day trips New busing and lunch options Morning and afternoon sessions available Six weekly sessions June 16 – August 1, 2014 Held on The Langley School campus
NOW registering at www.langleyschool.org/summerstudio!