The Langley School Experience Summer-Fall 2013 by The Langley School

experience the langley school

Summer/Fall 2013

Langley Welcomes New Head of School Dr. Elinor Scully

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 Photographers Aki Debayo-Doherty Sharon Ifft Matthew Lester Frank McPartland Cover photo taken by Aki Debayo-Doherty

table of

Contents

Head of School’s Message

Campus Happenings

Graduation: Class of 2013

Sports Spotlight

Arts in Action

Faculty Notes: Langley Says Farewell to Susan Atkinson

Faculty Notes: Jan Silvano Named Banks Family Faculty Chair

Langley in Depth: Elinor Scully Joins Langley as Head of School

Middle School Building Update

Development Update

Alumni News

Alumni Profile: Brandon Holley ’81

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. The Langley School

1411 Balls Hill Road

McLean,VA 22101

Phone: (703) 356-1920

Fax: (703) 790-9712

www.langleyschool.org

head of school’s Message Dear Langley Friends... From the moment I arrived on Langley’s campus on July 1, 2013, I have been welcomed with open arms. During the interview process, it was clear to me that Langley took enormous pride in cultivating a strong, nurturing community for all of its members. As a newcomer, I can attest to this school’s great commitment to inclusion and building professional bonds that are respectful and heartfelt.

that make Langley unique. Already, I have met many students whose energy and enthusiasm for learning are truly captivating. I also intend to publish a transition plan on our school website that will detail ways I will reach out to all members of the community. Fortunately, the fall provides many opportunities for me to get to know all facets of the school. I look forward to seeing you on campus in the coming months.

This summer, more than 40 faculty and staff members found time to come and meet with me to tell me their Langley stories. Their commitment to Langley’s mission to educate “every child, every day” was extremely evident. Those meetings taught me so much about this community’s core values and its irrepressible desire to live the mission. I am most grateful to everyone who extended me this kindness.

Summer is never the quiet time we assume it might be. Langley’s Summer Studio was full of students from Langley and the broader community extending their learning and enrichment through the summer months. Progress on the new Middle School building is right on target. With every passing day, you can see the building taking shape; there is no question this remarkable space will facilitate pedagogical innovation within the Middle School program.

In the months ahead, I plan to spend as much time as possible in the community getting to know the faculty and staff, parents (past and present), students, and alumni. My job as the new leader of this great school is to build relationships and learn as much as I can about the curriculum, culture, and traditions

It is an honor to assume the headship of The Langley School. The faculty, staff, students, and parents who are the heart and soul of this place have built a vibrant community of learners. Generations of leaders before me have stewarded Langley’s resources in creative and responsible ways, build-

Dr. Elinor Scully and Board Chair Jamie Baker

ing a strong platform from which we can ask exciting questions about the future. Mostly, however, I feel honored to be part of a community that lives out its core values and where there is such sincere joy and love of learning. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you in the months and years ahead. Thank you for the authentically warm welcome. Best wishes for the 2013-2014 school year!

Dr. Elinor Scully Head of School

the langley school experience

campus Happenings Langley Shines in 10-Year Accreditation In late January, the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) Board of Directors voted on Langley’s 10-year accreditation, and we passed with flying colors. Virginia has one of the most rigorous and thorough accrediting processes in the country, with 73 standards each school must meet, ranging from the academic program and admission policies to campus safety and Board governance. We are thrilled that Langley passed all 73 of those standards. The final vote completed a nearly two-year process during which we identified Langley’s strengths and challenges in a comprehensive self-study. In December, we hosted an eight-member accrediting team which visited our classrooms, examined our programs and policies, met with members of our community, and observed campus life. The team then submitted a detailed report of its findings to VAIS’ Accreditation Committee and then its Board of Directors. The accrediting team, made up of administrators and educators from schools around the state, was very complimentary of Langley’s program during the three-day visit, noting that “each of us is a better professional and better person after our time and work at Langley.” The report was filled with glowing comments about every aspect of the school, from our strong sense of community and state-of-the-art facilities to our excellent financial management and robust professional development program. The report’s executive summary reads: “The school is remarkably well organized and staffed, the students are happy and engaged, the program is of exceptional quality, and the school enjoys enthusiastic and heartfelt support from all its constituencies. The school is institutionally mature: it is stable financially, programmatically, and culturally, but is not complacent. At all levels, the school is working to build on its strengths, to address its challenges, and to become a model for preschool to grade 8 education.”

the langley school experience

Student Qualifies for State Geography Bee Former Langley eighth-grader Caroline Morin ’13 qualified for the statewide Virginia National Geographic Bee in the spring. In January, Caroline won Langley’s school-wide Geography Bee for the third consecutive year, earning her the opportunity to compete for a spot in the statewide Bee. To qualify, she had to score in the top 100 students in the state on a written geography-based exam. Congratulations to each Langley student who participated in the first round of the Geography Bee in January: Ollie Bernasek, Erin Frankland, Jack Henry Lages, Clare Meehan, Jackson Merrick, Veronica Merril, Caroline Morin (champion), Rhett Rezendes, Aidan Singer (runner-up), and Ian Singer.

campus

Happenings

U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate Visits Langley J. Patrick Lewis, the U.S. children’s poet laureate, came to campus in April for a series of assemblies with students in JK through grade 5 during which he shared a wide variety of his poetry. Lewis was awarded the honor of children’s poet laureate in 2011 by the Poetry Foundation. During his two-year tenure, he has aimed to raise awareness that children have a natural receptivity to poetry and are its most appreciative audience. After a career as an economics professor, Lewis began writing children’s poetry in 1990 and has written more than 100 works of poetry for young people, including narrative poems, limericks, riddles, haiku, acrostics, and sonnets. His contributions to children’s literature have been recognized with the 2011 Poetry Award from the National Council of Teachers of English.

Students Team Up for Field Day On May 24, students in grades 1-8 joined together in teams for a day of outdoor activities during Langley’s annual Field Day. Made up of both Lower and Middle School students, each of the teams represented a different country and competed against other teams. Students ran, tossed, caught, and jumped their way through a rotation of many creative events. Kindergartners took part in their own Field Day on April 26, enjoying a morning of fitness, collaboration, and fun at six stations including a threelegged race, football toss, beanbag toss, and yoga.

First-Graders Showcase Integrated Polar Unit Langley first-graders shared their expert knowledge of all things polar during their polar region performance on March 4. During this integrated unit, students studied both the Arctic and Antarctic regions as they learned songs about the region’s geography, explorers, and culture in music, and explored food chains and animal adaptations in science. They researched polar animals and selected a polar-themed topic about which they created original presentations such as newscasts or slideshows. The culminating polar region performance featured polar-themed songs, facts about polar region animals, and group research presentations.

J. Patrick Lewis with Langley’s library staff.

Students Excel in National Science Competition Congratulations to rising seventhgraders Prasanna Patel and Reilly O’Flaherty, who placed second and third, respectively, in the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Virtual Science Fair. Their projects were chosen as winning entries out of more than 700 projects submitted from Middle School students nationwide. After earning second-place honors in the national competition, Prasanna was one of two students to represent the U.S. at the international level, competing against students from around the globe. In her project – “How Does the Amount of Water Salinity Affect the Buoyancy of an Object?” – Prasanna tested how the salinity of water impacts the behavior of objects in water. She finished seventh overall in the international competition. This is the second year that Langley has participated in the NAIS Virtual Science Fair. All of our sixth-graders took part, with six of them advancing to the national level.

the langley school experience

campus

Happenings

New Middle School to be Named in Honor of Doris Cottam In mid May, Langley hosted two retirement events for Head of School Doris Cottam – an informal reception for families and an adults-only cocktail reception. Current and past students, faculty, parents, and friends gathered to honor Doris’ 13 years of service to the school and to celebrate her remarkable legacy.

abandoned its desire to build character in students who are compassionate and care,” Joel Kanter said at the reception. “Academic institutions are not led by command. They are nurtured and inspired over time by tranquil and steady dedication,” added Jamie Baker. “Our school has been the beneficiary of Doris’ dedication.”

A short program at the cockBoard Secretary Susan DeMarco and Board Chair Jamie Baker present Doris Cottam with the resolution announcing the Middle tail reception featured remarks School will be named in her honor. by Board Chair Jamie Baker The highlight of the evening and Joel Kanter, former Lanwas the surprise announcegley parent, former Board chair, and trustee emeritus, ment that the Board of Trustees passed a resolution along with a musical performance by Langley alumna that Langley’s new Middle School building will bear Ashleigh Rabbitt Sekoski ’90. Doris’ name in honor of her contributions to Langley and to the independent school world over the “Doris leaves Langley as a school that not only provides course of her 30-year career in education. a great education, but that does so without ever having

New Digital Library Launched

Langley Welcomes Teacher from Egyptian School

In early May, Langley launched our new Student Digital Library which features works by our fifth-grade authors. Each of the posted stories was entered in Langley’s first-ever Children’s Story Award celebration earlier this year. Throughout the second trimester, every fifth-grader wrote, designed, and narrated an illustrated children’s story which was made into a digital version using Google presentations and iMovie.

Langley hosted Amanda Sunderman, a Lower School teacher from the Schutz School in Alexandria, Egypt, in May. She spent three days visiting our classrooms and meeting with faculty, staff, and students to learn more about our program and lay the groundwork for a global partnership between our two schools.

The school plans to continue adding to the Student Digital Library collection during the upcoming year. Check out this exciting new way to showcase our students’ work at http://vimeopro. com/langleyclassvideos/books.

the langley school experience

An embassy school which offers an American diploma, Schutz educates 300 students in pre-K through grade 12. The majority of its students are Egyptian, but classes are conducted primarily in English with a block of Arabic each day. “We try to connect with other schools throughout Egypt and wanted to form a connection with some schools in the U.S., too,” says Ms. Sunderman, who is an American citizen and has been teaching in Egypt since August 2012. “It’s exciting to begin this idea exchange with Langley and see where it leads.”

campus

Happenings

Primary Schoolers Celebrate Eric Carle Primary School students shared their exploration of the works of children’s author/illustrator Eric Carle during their Spiral Unit Celebration for parents and guests this spring. Each February, our preschool, junior kindergarten, and kindergarten students take part in a month-long spiral unit with a theme that is integrated into their homeroom, music, art, Spanish, physical education, library, and technology classes through developmentally appropriate lessons and activities. Students read a number of Eric Carle’s classic animalthemed children’s stories

which inspired them to create their own artwork and stories. For example, kindergarten students practiced handwriting and language skills as they put together creative class books and wrote a class poem about fireflies. Junior kindergartners studied Carle’s various artistic methods, such as painting tissue paper and using finger painting. After reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” preschool classes used the mathematical concept of repeating patterns to make a caterpillar using ink dotters and practiced handwriting strokes, lines, and curves

to draw legs, antennae, and grass for the caterpillar. During the Spiral Unit Celebration, students presented a musical performance in the Sherman Arts Center, with each class singing songs and doing dances based

Fifth Grade Hosts 15th Annual Cricket Match 2013 marked the 15th anniversary of Langley’s fifth-grade cricket match, a uniquely British all-day event first organized by fifth-grade teacher Mark Loach in 1998. Now a springtime tradition, the much-anticipated day of cricket not only teaches students the finer points of the game, but also provides them with valuable life lessons in sportsmanship, honesty, and respect for other cultures. Under sunny skies on May 14, fifth-graders divided into Oxford and Cambridge teams to play first and second innings throughout the day. During the spring, students spent their lunch breaks and part of their P.E. classes learning the complex cricket terminology, rules, and techniques. “Langley empowers its teachers to find innovative ways to expand the children’s understanding and perspective of the world,” says Mr. Loach. “Through the unique experience of cricket, children learn to celebrate the achievements of others and reach new heights in respect, citizenship, trust, honesty, and kindness.”

on Carle’s animal characters. Students and parents also enjoyed browsing a “museum” which featured Eric Carle-inspired student artwork and activities for all to enjoy.

2013-2014 PALS Executive Committee The following parents will lead the school’s volunteer efforts in 2013-2014 as part of the Parent Association of The Langley School (PALS) Executive Committee: Jennifer Graham, Chair Kit Stouffer, Past Chair Anne Wydler, Chair-Elect Dana Cilluffo Beth Coakley Barbara Denton Kate Pinkerton Erin Seale Kristine Sidhu Hiwote Tadesse

the langley school experience

campus

Happenings

Middle School Students Develop iPad App Through Elective During the 2012-2013 school year, Langley offered a new elective to Middle School students interested in learning about intellectual property. Langley administration was approached by attorneys from the DC-based law firm of Patton Boggs, LLP to develop a year-long curriculum for grades 6-8 to foster problem-solving skills and creativity by teaching students the basics of patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secrets and then helping the students develop their ideas into intellectual property. Throughout the year, the students engaged in an interactive class each Tuesday to learn the basic concepts of intellectual property law in the context of current technologies they use and problems they would like to see solved. They then worked to find ways to identify novel solutions that could have potential IP protection. As part of the course and understanding the value and power of intellectual property, the students also developed a game for both the iPad and iPhone.The iPad/iPhone game, called BLASTPHEMOUS™, is a variant of chess that allows players to gain points for capturing the game pieces. Employees of Hadean, Inc. helped form the class’ game concept into a reality, developing BLASTPHEMOUS™ which will soon be available for download on the Apple store. Patton Boggs is in the process of filing a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the name BLASTPHEMOUS and registering the underlying source code with the U.S. Copyright Office.

the langley school experience

Former Librarian Pam Edwards Returns to Campus Acclaimed children’s author Pamela Duncan Edwards visited Langley in February to share the inspiration behind many of her stories, to discuss the process of publishing a book, and to inspire students in grades JK-5 to express themselves through writing. A popular speaker at schools and conferences around the country, Mrs. Edwards served as Langley’s librarian from the mid 1980s until 1998. She collaborates frequently with author/illustrator Henry Cole, another former Langley faculty member and science teacher. During her talk to the fifth grade, Mrs. Edwards also presented The Langley School Children’s Story Award to two of our talented fifth-grade writers – Grace Darcey and Jackson Sands – for their original stories, “The Bird That Was Afraid to Fly” and “Cleo the Clumsy Hero.”

Langley Sends Delegates to National Leadership Conference During the first weekend in February, Langley’s Student Council sent 14 student delegates and five faculty chaperones to the Washington, DC, LEAD conference, a national conference designed to encourage interstate communication among student leaders and advisors and to strengthen leadership skills. Delegates attended workshops on identifying the critical problems facing youth today, combating and preventing bullying, developing leadership skills, networking and sharing ideas, and much more. In addition, students participated in special sessions presented by

popular motivational speakers that addressed methods to improve school climate and empower student leaders to become the positive change in their schools and communities. This was the first year Langley delegates, as well as the SCA executive board, attended the conference. Delegates were selected for this trip based upon their essays stating why they would be excellent candidates to attend the conference and how they would share their experiences with their peers.

campus

Happenings

BookFest 2013 On April 17, the Pat Bush Library highlighted National Library Week with BookFest, a day to celebrate reading. For the fourth year, all students and faculty were encouraged to come to school dressed as a beloved character from a favorite book.

2013-2014 Board of Trustees Announced The slate of Langley’s Board of Trustees for the 2013-2014 school year has been appointed and includes three new members: Cathy Bernasek, Joan Guilfoyle, and Elizabeth Keeler.

2013-2014 Board of Trustees

Langley Hosts Second Science Soiree On April 23, Langley’s Science Department hosted the second annual Science Soiree, an evening event during which students in grades 6-8 shared their unique science projects with the Langley community. Sixth-graders began working on their projects in October as part of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) 3rd annual Virtual Science Fair. Each student selected his or her topic as it related to the scientific method and/or engineering and design processes. Projects ranged from the engineering and design of “The Perfect Alarm Clock” to the scientific investigation of erosion rates in rocks. As part of their unit on Newton’s laws of motion, seventh-graders selected projects based on Newtonian physics, while eighth-graders presented their independent study projects which focused on the life sciences.

Jamie Baker, Chair Jennifer Choi, Vice Chair/Treasurer Susan DeMarco, Secretary Cathy Bernasek Lee Carol Cook Christa Davidson Robert Denton Steve Dussek Dick Ewing Joan Guilfoyle Jeff Hsu Joel Kallett Elizabeth Keeler Michael Mendler Michelle Olson Geoff Pence Fred Singer Spencer Stouffer Joel Kanter, Trustee Emeritus

Third-Graders Go West In April, the third-grade class presented “Westward Ho,” a dramatic performance which spanned historic American events such as the Louisiana Purchase and the exploration of the Wilderness Trail and territories beyond. Featuring famous characters of the West, in-

cluding Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Lewis and Clark, the play touched on friendships and tensions between Native American tribes and frontiersmen and portrayed the tall tales of adventure that inspired wonder and fear in those back East.

the langley school experience

graduation Class of 2013

“My Langley experience has changed me for the better and helped shape who I am today.” -Andrew Spafford ’13

the langley school experience

graduation

Class of 2013

Class of 2013 High School Choices Abdulwahab H. Al-Adwani Elliott Jacobs Aliff Maya E. Blake Paul Terrence Boyce Thomas Steven Boyce Quinn Walker Boyd Aaron Lawrence Buchwald* Nicholas Bukont Marina R. Carlucci Alexandria L. Clarke* Lucy Dabadie Wesley Martin DeMarco Michael Junius Elliott Ryan Ethan Friberg Paige Elizabeth Hettinger Ainsley Louise Jacobs Gabriella Katerina Jacoby* Michael John Keeler, Jr. Sabrina Belle Kersten* Madeline Ann Koch* Jacob Michael Labovitz Julia Grace Leisenring Quentin MacClean Levin Brittany Jae Lockwood Hudson Phillip Merrick* Veronica Rita Merril* Caroline Hutchings Morin Mary Elaine Pelson Thomas James Persinski* Claire Ann Robertson Caleb Steven Roderiques* Philip Anthony Rozendaal Douglas Wilson Sarasin Christopher Avery Smalls William Jarrel Smith IV Andrew Michael Spafford Samantha Anne Stacey Priya Trehan-Sarna Meredyth Hall von Seelen* Emily Louise Wallach* Summer Symone Wright* Elliot Jihoon Yim

American International School (Kuwait) St. Albans School Phillips Exeter Academy Gonzaga College High School Gonzaga College High School Landon School The Potomac School Madison High School Langley High School Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Maret School Gonzaga College High School Bishop Ireton High School St. Albans School Potomac Falls High School Flint Hill School Georgetown Day School Gonzaga College High School Flint Hill School St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School Langley High School Episcopal High School The Potomac School Langley High School Flint Hill School National Cathedral School National Cathedral School National Cathedral School Gonzaga College High School St. Andrew’s Episcopal School McLean High School Georgetown Day School Gonzaga College High School St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Landon School Georgetown Day School The Potomac School George C. Marshall High School The Connelly School of the Holy Child Langley High School The Key School The Potomac School

In addition to the schools listed, members of the Class of 2013 were also accepted at the following schools: Bishop O’Connell, Blair Academy (NJ), The Bullis School, Edmund Burke, Field School, Foxcroft School, Georgetown Preparatory, The Hill School (PA), Holton-Arms School, Loomis Chaffee School (CT), Madeira School, Mercersburg Academy (PA), and Sidwell Friends.

*Denotes that student has continually attended The Langley School since preschool or JK years

the langley school experience

graduation

Class of 2013

What’s Your Favorite Langley Memory? “…being a bunny in the secondgrade play. I loved wearing a leotard and a bunny tail and I was so proud. I practiced at home every day!” -Marina Carlucci ’13 “…the 2013 band trip because I had so much fun with my friends and conquered my fear of roller coasters.” -Andrew Spafford ’13 “…camping with my advisory group in seventh grade. We had so much fun hiking, canoeing, and cooking together.” -Mary Pelson ’13 “…winning the lacrosse game against Norwood in seventh grade. We were tied and I scored to win it.” -Ryan Friberg ’13 “…going to Costa Rica and meeting new people and learning about their culture.” -Samantha Stacey ’13 “…this year’s Field Day. I sincerely enjoyed my role as a leader on Team Kenya! I was thrilled with every kid’s efforts and the camaraderie of the other team leaders.”

-Quentin Levin ’13 “…having the opportunity to record stories for a Langley kindergarten class for them to listen to during nap time.” -Gracie Leisenring ’13

“…starting on the varsity lacrosse team as a fifth-grader.”

-Caleb Roderiques ’13 “…the seventh-grade camping trip. We hiked the ‘trail of tears’ in the pouring rain! I also loved canoeing with Allie when our canoe got flipped and sunk.” -Maddie Koch ’13 “…playing in the eighth grade vs. faculty basketball game and making a half-court shot.”

-Tommy Persinski ’13 “…showing up to my first Field Day and being so excited to finally have that experience. Since then, Field Day has been my favorite day of the year.” -Maya Blake ’13 “…going to Costa Rica this year. I had so much fun with my friends and it bonded our grade together. I had the time of my life and got to really know my teachers and classmates in a way I never have before.”

-Jack Keeler ’13 “…the first-grade penguin play. I remember being so proud of myself and how much I learned about the King penguin. My favorite part of the play was the ‘Rockhopper’ song – I still remember how the chorus went!” -Caroline Morin ’13

2013 Class Reps Congratulations to Paul Boyce

and Marina Carlucci who were chosen as alumni representatives for the Class of 2013 by their peers. As class reps, Paul and Marina led the class in selecting and raising funds for their class gift, and will help their classmates stay connected to each other and the school in the future.

the langley school experience

graduation

Class of 2013

How Has Langley Influenced You? The Class of 2013 Shares Their Thoughts Summer Wright:

“My experience at Langley has made me a better person. I learned to stay organized and that if you stay true to yourself, people will love you for who you are.”

Paul Boyce:

“Langley allowed me to learn in a welcoming community that encouraged us to accept one another. I learned that pushing myself, even if it was uncomfortable, made me a better student. Langley has taught me many life skills which will help me succeed no matter the obstacle.”

Veronica Merril:

“Langley has been one of the most influential stages of my life so far. Langley has been an important stepping stone for me to succeed later in my life.”

Brittany Lockwood:

“At Langley, I have learned to be an individual and be confident in myself. Langley is a place where not everyone is exactly the same, but we can all be friends.”

Douglas Sarasin:

“The Langley experience is having great teachers, fun classes, amazing sports, and an awesome sense of community.”

Emily Wallach:

“I learned many life lessons at Langley, including ‘never, ever give up’ from Mr. Robbins. He always taught me this and that is why I am the person I am today.”

“Langley prepared me for my future by pushing me way, way out of my comfort zone, and I have become a better person because of it.”

Allie Clarke:

Lucy Dabadie:

Jacob Labovitz:

“I have been at Langley my whole life, so I grew up here. I have learned how to be a better version of myself and how to focus on the positives which will help me get to the next stage in my life. I would be a completely different person if I had not attended Langley.”

Elliott Aliff: “Langley has prepared me to be the man I want to be. I’ve learned to treat others well and, most importantly, to be honest.”

“I have learned to branch out, meet new people, and experience new things while at Langley. I came to the school as a shy, timid girl, afraid of new and different experiences. I am leaving Langley as a confident young woman, ready to put myself out into the world.”

Class Gift As their parting gift to the school, the Class of 2013 donated funds for a Langley flag which will be hung from the school’s flagpole on special occasions throughout the year. Eighth-graders held numerous bake sales to raise money for the gift.

the langley school experience

sports Spotlight Congratulations to all of Langley’s winter/spring athletes and coaches on successful seasons. In addition to gaining athletic experience on the field, our students learned the value of teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Girls’ Varsity Basketball

Overall Record: 15-2 CAC Regular Season Finish: Champion (west division) CAC Tournament Finish: 2nd CAC All-Stars: Maya Blake, Allie Clarke, Allison Franke The girls started strong, with a pre-season tournament win in December. They went undefeated until the last game of the regular season when they lost by one point to Woods Academy. Langley entered the tournament as the overall top seed and advanced to the final where they faced Woods – and again lost in a thriller by just one point.

Boys’ Varsity Basketball

Overall Record: 10-6 CAC Regular Season Finish: Second (west division) CAC Tournament Finish: Champion CAC All-Stars: Quinn Boyd & Tommy Persinski Our boys’ varsity team had a good season overall with big steps in player achievement and team cohesion.The highlight of the season came during the conference tournament. Going into the tournament ranked second, the boys had to raise their level of play and take on teams that had beaten them in the regular season.They topped Woods in the semifinals and Westminster in the final to take the title.

Girls’ JV Basketball Overall Record: 10-3 CAC Regular Season Finish: 4th CAC Tournament Finish: 3rd

The girls enjoyed an outstanding season in which they played as a team against some very tough competition. Langley improved throughout the season and finished with our best game against Woods.

Boys’ JV Basketball

Overall Record: 6-4 CAC Regular Season Finish: 3rd CAC Tournament Finish: Quarterfinals With a roster of only 10 boys, the JV team finished the season with a winning 6-4 record, earning them a solid third-place finish in the league. In the CAC tournament, Langley lost a tough quarterfinal overtime game to Immanuel Christian.

the langley school experience

sports

Spotlight

Spring Sports Recap: Varsity Softball Undefeated for Fourth Straight Year Girls’ Varsity Softball Overall Record: 8-0 CAC Regular Season Finish: Champion CAC Tournament Finish: Champion

After breezing through the regular season undefeated, the varsity team faced a tough Green Acres squad in the semifinals of the CAC tournament. Despite falling behind early, Langley came from behind to win 7-4. In the final, the girls easily topped Congressional 15-2 to take home the title. Langley extended our unbeaten streak to four consecutive years, and this team included 11 eighth-graders who never lost a Langley softball game.

Girls’ JV Softball

Overall Record: 4-1 CAC Regular Season Finish: 2nd CAC Tournament Finish: Rained Out The JV girls’ team brought a range of experience and abilities this season and worked hard to continue developing their skill as a team.The girls ended the regular season in second place in the CAC. With thrilling wins over Norwood, Congressional, Green Acres, and Westminster in the regular season, the team was prepared to fight in the tournament.They won their first two tournament games against Green Acres and Congressional before the remainder of the tournament was rained out.

Boys’ Baseball Overall Record: 3-2

In a shortened season, the boys’ varsity baseball team had a great year. Thanks to solid hitting and defense, the team ran out to a 3-0 record and looked to be on its way. A few postponements disrupted the team’s flow heading into its two biggest games, resulting in the only two losses of the season. continued on next page

the langley school experience

sports

Spotlight

Spring Sports Banquet Awards Special Awards

Athlete of the Year: Allie Clarke & Quinn Boyd Coaches’ Award of the Year: Marina Carlucci Outstanding Athletic Contribution of the Year: Samantha Stacey

Boys’ Varsity Basketball

MVP: Tommy Persinski / Unsung Hero: Aaron Buchwald

Boys’ Lacrosse Overall Record: 4-4-1

Langley enjoyed some big wins and crushing losses this season.There were two overtime nail-biters – one resulting in an early-season 5-4 win over Trinity, the other in a lateseason 7-7 tie against Potomac. Langley finished the season with a close 3-2 win against Norwood.

Girls’ Lacrosse Overall Record: 0-5-1

The girls had a strong season despite tough losses to Norwood,Woods Academy, and Immanuel Christian (ICS).The highlight was a dramatic 8-8 overtime tie against ICS.

Track & Field This spring, Langley formed a coed track and field team for the first time. Students practiced long and triple jump, shot put, javelin, hurdles, high jump, block starts for sprints, agility drills, speed drills, and pacing for 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter runs. Langley hosted two meets during which students chose to enter a variety of running events and to practice the long jump and shot put.

Tennis In its third year, Langley’s coed tennis team practiced together and played several friendly matches against Potomac this spring.

the langley school experience

Girls’ Varsity Basketball

MVP: Maya Blake / Unsung Hero: Marina Carlucci

Boys’ JV Basketball

Coaches’ Award: Grant Bower, Kyle Morin, & John Youngkin

Girls’ Varsity Softball

MVPs: Allie Clarke, Cameron Clarke, Maddie Koch, Mary Pelson, & Samantha Stacey

Girls’ JV Softball

MVP: Ilona Deckelman / Most Improved: Holland Hiler Coaches’ Award: Maddie Leisenring Unsung Hero: Elizabeth Buchwald

Boys’ Baseball

Leadership Award: Aaron Buchwald & Andrew Spafford Most Improved: Jonathan Merril

Girls’ Lacrosse

MVP: Brittany Lockwood / Coaches’ Award: Gabriella Jacoby Most Improved: Allie Clarke & Ainsley Jacobs Enthusiasm Award: Meredyth von Seelen

Boys’ Lacrosse

Offensive MVP: Quinn Boyd / Defensive MVP: Will Smith Coaches’ Award: Caleb Roderiques Most Improved: Chris Smalls

Track & Field

Sportsmanship Award: Maha Mohamed Coaches’ Award: Tabor Roderiques

Tennis

Coaches’ Award: Luke Bennett

arts in Action

Middle Schoolers Present Musical Version of “Cinderella” Nearly 80 Langley Middle School students brought the enchanted fairytale of “Cinderella” to the stage this spring as they presented Rogers & Hammerstein’s musical version March 14-16. The show drew more than 1,000 attendees during its four performances.

1950s, this production differed from the popular Disney version in its musical score. But the timeless plot – featuring a wicked stepmother, a fairy godmother, a royal ball, a handsome prince charming, a glass slipper, and a happily-ever-after ending – remained true to the original fairytale.

Written by the famous musical team of Rogers & Hammerstein as a TV movie starring Julie Andrews in the

Langley’s version of the family-friendly show included memorable musical numbers, including solos, duets, and

instrumental selections performed by a live student pit orchestra. Middle Schoolers were involved in all aspects of the show, serving as actors on stage, student leaders, or musicians in the pit orchestra and assisting with sound, lighting, props, costumes, hair and makeup, ushering, and choreography.

Middle School Students Compete in Music Festival During the weekend of May 10, Langley’s Middle School musicians traveled to Williamsburg, VA, to compete in the Music in the Parks Festival. In the competition, Langley’s Symphonic Band received a rating of “Excellent” with second-place honors, while the Jazz Band earned first place and an “Excellent” rating. Eighth-grader Emily Wallach received an Outstanding Jazz Soloist award, topping students from three Class AA schools (schools with more than 750 students total). Langley’s seventh- and eighth-grade chorus also competed in the festival, winning first place in the Middle School Choir category out of four schools.

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arts in

Action

Fifth-Grade Musical

During their performance of “River Child” in January, Langley fifth-graders entertained audience members with a high-energy show. With seven songs and choreographed dances, the musical focused on major world rivers including the Nile, Mississippi, Amazon, and Rhine. Each scene featured facts, traditions, legends, and famous characters associated with these rivers.

Lower School Spring Concert

More than 150 students in grades 3-5 took part in the Lower School Spring Concert on May 23 which featured both band and choral groups, as well as the grade 3 violin class.

Artist-in-Residence Each year, Langley’s Fine Arts Department brings a professional arts expert to campus for several days of hands-on instruction with the seventh grade. This year’s artistin-residence was Patrick Kirwin, a muralist, Trompe L’oeil artist, and decorative painter who has taught classes at the Art League School. For three days, small groups of seventh-graders spent about 80 minutes each day with Mr. Kirwin, creating large-scale paintings inspired by the book, James and the Giant Peach. As part of the project, students learned a variety of painting and texturizing techniques.

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Middle School Concerts

In honor of the school’s 70th anniversary, the Middle School Pops Concert in February featured the music of the past 70 years, from the 1940s to the present. At the Middle School Spring Concert in early May, our three band ensembles, the grade 7-8 chorus, and several strings groups presented “best of” music from the last 20 years of Langley concerts.

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Grades 1-2 Musical

On May 9, more than 100 students in first and second grades presented their annual musical, “An American Tale,” which spanned the decades of American history from the end of the Civil War to the present with songs, marches, and dancing.

Kindergarten Musical

In May, kindergarten students presented their musical performance of “Marvelous Musical Months,” a journey through the 12 months of the year featuring songs, dances, and poetry that corresponded to each month. Each child also wrote and recited a line about a particular month.

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faculty Notes Langley Says Farewell to Middle School Head Susan Atkinson

n June, Langley said goodbye to Head of Middle School Susan Atkinson who led the division for the past 10 years. Beloved by students, parents, and faculty, Susan was instrumental in transforming the Middle School into a well-respected and global-minded program that focuses on the specific needs of students in grades 6-8. Susan first came to Langley in fall of 2000, serving as assistant to the head of school and as director of studies before becoming head of the Middle School in 2003. During her 13-year tenure at Langley, she made a significant impact on all areas of the school, co-chairing the 10-year accreditation in 2002, serving as an essential part of the strategic planning process, creating the current department head structure, developing the first curriculum guide, and even teaching a number of Middle School math classes. As Middle School head, she oversaw the introduction of numerous new programs and initiatives, including Chinese; the iPad program; the eighth-grade trip to Costa Rica; more diverse elective offerings; more fine arts offerings such as chorus and strings; the first Middle School musical production; and additional sports options such as baseball, cross country, and tennis. Susan also placed a significant focus on leadership and service learning, strengthening the Student Council program and empowering students to take part in service projects on a local and global scale. By shifting to a multi-grade advisory system, instituting a standardized

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weekly assembly time, and creating Monday morning meetings for the entire division, Susan helped develop a cohesive bond within the Middle School that transcended grade levels. In addition, her in-depth knowledge of and dedication to the high school application process helped place countless Langley graduates in top high schools locally and around the world. “I have always liked working with Middle School kids, so this was the perfect job for me,” says Susan, who previously taught Middle School science and math at Harpeth Hall in Tennessee, Ursuline Academy in Delaware, and St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria. “My goals were to always consider what was best for the students first and foremost, to make the teachers’ jobs easier so they could focus on their critical job of teaching, to be fair, and to make the Middle School a fun place to be for the students and the adults.” Although Langley has always maintained a strong sense of community, Susan feels the Middle Schoolers treat each other with more respect and understanding now than when she first arrived, in large part due to the introduction of the school’s Community Contract. Other significant changes she has noticed at Langley over the past 13 years include a much more global per-

faculty spective in teaching and learning, the tremendous impact technology has had in the classroom, and the addition of amazing new facilities like the arts center and turf field.

rooftop classroom will enhance the academics, and having everyone in one building sharing a common space will build an even stronger identity for the Middle School.”

“The future of Langley’s Middle School program is extremely bright,” she adds. “The new building is going to be awesome! The science labs, technology, and

After moving to Richmond, VA, with her husband this summer, Susan will begin a new position as middle school director at The Steward School, a coed junior

Notes

kindergarten through grade 12 independent school of more than 600 students. We thank Susan for her many contributions to Langley, and wish her well in this new chapter of her life.

Jim Gleason Awarded Sabbatical Ryan Jefferson to Serve as Interim Head of Middle School Langley’s Director of Student Life Ryan Jefferson will transition into a new role as interim head of Middle School for the 2013-2014 school year, following Susan Atkinson’s departure this summer. Ryan joined Langley’s staff in 2010 after serving for five years as assistant head of middle school at Westchester Country Day School, a K-12 school in North Carolina. At Langley, he has become involved in all aspects of Middle School life, serving as an advisor, leading the faculty advisory committee, planning all Middle School assemblies, teaching seventh-grade social studies, organizing the eighth-grade trip to Costa Rica, and coordinating service learning opportunities for the entire school. Ryan has also played a central role in the high school outplacement process, working closely with Susan Atkinson and our eighth-grade families. “Ryan has a firm grasp on our programs and our students, as well as a clear understanding of how to transition our eighth-graders to high school,” said former Head of School Doris Cottam when she named Ryan as interim head of Middle School in April. “By proving that he will put students’ needs first, Ryan has gained the respect of students and faculty alike.”

During the 2012-2013 school year, Langley’s Board of Trustees reinstated the school’s sabbatical program which provides veteran faculty members with the opportunity to grow and develop new skills while helping Langley retain valued teachers. Langley named Athletic Director Jim Gleason as the next recipient of this special program. During his six-month sabbatical from August 2013 to January 2014, Coach Gleason will visit independent and public schools throughout the local area and the nation where he will observe physical education, athletic, and health programs at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He will also share his in-depth knowledge of physical education, coaching, athletics, lifelong fitness, and teamwork with the school communities he visits. “I anticipate learning about new ways to continue to refine our current curriculum, athletics program, and the Capital Athletic Conference to best support our students at Langley,” says Coach Gleason. “I am also confident I will offer something to these school communities while increasing Langley’s visibility.” Coach Gleason will also use his sabbatical to continue fighting cancer through cycling events around the country. To date, he has raised approximately $35,000 for the cause and hopes to double that figure while competing in a number of 24-hour cycling races in Maryland, Indiana, Georgia, and Texas. “Jim is an excellent choice for this honor,” said former Head of School Doris Cottam upon the announcement of the sabbatical. “He has served the school for more than 30 years and has shaped and built our athletic program. This sabbatical will allow him to share his wealth of knowledge and bring back new ideas to further enhance our program.”

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Notes

Faculty Summer Grants Each year, the school awards numerous summer grants to faculty and staff. These grants provide professional development opportunities for our personnel to enhance their classroom skills, explore new educational trends, or pursue personal interests. Below are the recipients of Langley’s summer 2013 named grants.

Debi Gustin, Language Arts Teacher Mark Robbins Faculty Grant

Debi traveled to Ghana on behalf of Ghanaian Mothers’ Hope (GMH), a nonprofit organization that sends teams to work with local women and children in the areas of healthcare and education. While working at GMH’s reading camp in the town of Accra, Debi taught spoken and written English to Ghanaian students in grades 1-3. In addition to educating the children, she also helped the local teachers learn new skills and techniques as well. The experience enriched her communication skills, and will give her the opportunity to bring pieces of the Ghanaian culture, language, and enthusiasm to her classroom at Langley.

Dana Litke, Music Teacher Jeffrey J. Sherman Grant

During a musical tour of the Austrian cities of Vienna and Salzburg, Dana visited significant landmarks of classical Western music. She immersed herself in the world of Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Schubert, and Strauss, visiting the cathedrals, palaces, and concert halls where they performed. By making connections between music history and the locations where that history took place, Dana will be able to better interpret the worlds of these composers to her students and add even greater meaning to their study of classical music.

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Jan Silvano Named Banks Family Faculty Chair Head Librarian Jan Silvano has been named Langley’s fourth 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. During her three-year appointment through 2016, Jan will receive funds designated for professional development opportunities. The award’s previous recipient, science teacher Ryan McKinney, completed his threeyear term at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. Other faculty members who have received this honor include Kathy Pascal and Chuck Schmidt. “Jan is a lifelong learner who has made a lasting impact on this community during her more than 20 years here,” says Assistant Head of School Kathleen Smith. “In addition to sharing her love of reading and instructing our students on the critical use of information, she is also deeply committed to character education and creating a positive and nurturing learning environment for students and faculty alike.” Now in her 22nd year at Langley, Jan has served the school in a variety of administrative and teaching roles, beginning as a part-time employee helping with office support in 1991. The following year, she transitioned to a full-time band assistant position, assisting the fourth- and fifthgrade band program for the next five years. During this same period of time, she also taught French to kindergarten

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Notes

Brent Locke, Interim Dean of Students Global Education Initiatives Grant

and first grade, gave admission tours, and helped hire substitute teachers. Although she loved teaching music and enjoyed working with the students, Jan was ready for a new challenge. She began work toward her master’s degree in library science at Catholic University, serving as Langley’s Primary and Lower administrative assistant for three years while attending graduate school. When she finally earned her degree, an opening became available in Langley’s library and she joined the library staff in fall 2002 as the Lower School librarian. Over the next 10 years, Jan transitioned into the role of head librarian and is proud of what she and her colleagues have accomplished in the Pat Bush Library. Under her leadership, the library has resurrected the guest authors program, placed more focus on educating students to use authentic sources, added numerous new technologies such as e-books and an online library catalog, and encouraged greater collaboration between teachers and librarians. The Silvano family has indeed made its mark on Langley. Her husband, Louis, worked at the school for nearly 10 years, teaching social studies and serving as head of the Middle School. And their two children, Carl ’99 and Lucie ’03, are both Langley graduates. “I am extremely honored that Langley chose me for this award,” says Jan, who may use some of the funds to pursue her dream of writing a book about her hometown in western New York. “I have seen a lot of exciting changes at Langley through the years, and am proud to have been a part of the school’s growth.”

In order to learn how schools around the world train and mentor new teachers, Brent traveled to both London, England, and Helsinki, Finland, this summer. While visiting these countries, he met with teachers and administrators to learn more about the mentoring processes they have established to develop new faculty. By gathering data, evidence, and perspective from other schools that have these systems effectively in place, Brent will bring ideas back to Langley about how to implement a mentoring program that will incorporate our newest teachers into the community more quickly and establish a collaborative culture.

Ivan Mandic, P.E. Teacher PALS Grant

During a visit to Pawleys Island on the South Carolina coast, Ivan enjoyed researching local flora, learning more about sea life, and exploring the role the tidal changes played in shaping this tiny island. A nature-lover with an interest in history, he also visited Myrtle Beach where he toured several museums and landmarks and gained a deeper appreciation for different ways of life.

Ryan McKinney, Science Teacher Karen D. Michalowicz Grant

Ryan explored the Pyrenees, a mountain range between France and Spain, by bicycle to learn more about the geology and sociology of the region. During his week-long adventure, he studied the rock types that make up the mountains and how they influenced the region’s geography, and also looked at how this geography impacts the way of life for the people living there. Ryan plans to share his experiences with his Middle School students through a series of integrated science and world language lessons that investigate how geology influences history, culture, and language.

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langley in Depth Dr. Elinor Scully Joins Langley as Head of School

n July 1, Langley welcomed Dr. Elinor Scully as our new head of school. Elinor assumed her role as Langley’s next leader following the retirement of Doris Cottam who served as head of school for 13 years. With more than 20 years of both classroom and administrative experience in independent schools – and a strong background in childhood and adolescent development – Elinor brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for Langley’s mission to her new position. In her capacity as a nationally sought-after educational consultant, Elinor has frequently worked with our parents, faculty, and students over the past 10 years, serving as a regular speaker at Langley’s parent association meetings and as a consultant discussing healthy relationships with our fifth-graders and leadership with our Middle Schoolers. She was also instrumental in helping create Langley’s Community Contract and core values in 2003. For the past three years, Elinor served as associate head of National Cathedral School (NCS), a Washingtonbased independent day school for girls in grades 4-12. In this role, she was the principal deputy to the head of school, was responsible for leading 17 depart-

the langley school experience

ment chairs in the Lower, Middle, and Upper divisions, and oversaw the school’s curriculum. For five years prior to her appointment as associate head, she served as NCS’ Upper School director and assistant head. At NCS, her work centered on curriculum development; the creation of a nurturing and supportive school climate; faculty, staff, and student leadership; multicultural education; and parent education. Elinor began her education career in 1991 at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria as a health and human sexuality teacher. During her 13-year tenure at the school, she moved into the administration as the associate head of the Upper School which encompassed grades 9-12. A native of Falls Church who attended Falls Church City public schools through high school, Elinor earned her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Virginia. She also holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral work focused on the social construction of masculinity in

the context of an independent school. With a national reputation in the field of childhood and adolescent development, she has worked with more than 40 independent schools on a range of topics, including gender issues, health and sexuality, adolescent development, and parent education. “Elinor’s credentials are impressive; however, the Board was most impressed by her passion, her vision, and her adaptability as an educator,” said Jamie Baker, Langley’s Board chair and chair of the Head of School Search Committee. “She is a lifelong learner and a trend-setter, but not a trend-chaser. She is ardent about understanding cognitive neuroscience and its relationship to childhood learning, but has not forgotten that there is often no substitute for a smile or a well-held hand. She is a gifted communicator, but also a gentle listener and a community-builder. Elinor is the right educator to build on Doris Cottam’s legacy and lead Langley into the 21st century.”

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In Depth

getting to know Elinor Why did you decide to enter the field of education?

I have always enjoyed working with young people and spent many summers as a camp counselor. I also loved school and had an amazingly positive experience as a student myself. In high school, I had a human sexuality teacher who was a gifted teacher – someone I admired and respected a great deal. She helped her students understand the complexities of healthy decision-making so they would grow to be confident young adults. That’s when I first realized how exciting it would be to become a teacher and have that type of transformative impact on a young person’s life. When I began my first teaching job, I found I was drawn to the relationships I formed with my students and my colleagues. It was a very dynamic and creative job in which I was constantly learning new things, and I loved the mentoring I received from more experienced, master teachers. Education is a field in which you can always improve and learn something new, and I found that very rewarding and exciting. There is something extremely “human” about education that made me want to pursue the field. Working at a school, you get to know kids in a way most people, other than their parents, never do. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a student grow and mature into his or her full potential.

What are the accomplishments in your career of which you are most proud?

As an administrator, it’s been very rewarding to be able to use my background as a classroom teacher to help schools balance the academic program with a healthy social/emotional environment. For a school to be truly successful in preparing its students, both of these pieces must be in place and must be given equal focus. I think I’ve been able to bring this perspective to the schools I’ve worked with which has helped create a much stronger learning environment for the students. When I arrived at National Cathedral School, their academic program was outstanding, but they needed to improve the social climate on campus. So I did a number of things to help strengthen the student experience such as looking at the competing demands on students’ time, creating a new homework policy, empowering the Student Government with a stronger voice, partnering with parents to look at the psychological and emotional development

Why did you choose Langley?

I think what most impressed me about Langley was the school’s powerful sense of community and its clearly defined mission which drives all aspects of school life. Many schools will say they are committed to educating the whole child – the academic, social, and emotional domains – but they don’t always put the concept into practice. At Langley, the core values and the mission are centrally integrated in a way that’s very genuine and palpable. While on campus working with Langley’s students, parents, and teachers as a consultant over the past few years, I came to love and admire this place. I saw a school that was fully dedicated to its students, meeting children where they are and using innovative strategies to help them grow. At National Cathedral School, I encountered a number of Langley graduates and was always impressed with how Langley had prepared them both academically and socially. Having come from schools with older students, I was also excited by the opportunity to focus on the development of very young children at a preschool to eighth grade school. At Langley, we have the freedom to look creatively at our curriculum and programs without the restrictions sometimes placed on high schools due to college requirements. It’s thrilling to be able to impact children at such a young age when they are still in their most formative years. Thanks to Doris Cottam’s leadership, Langley is in an extremely strong position. Leading a school like this that doesn’t need “fixing” is a dream job for any head of school. I can pick up the reins and begin thinking about the exciting big-picture issues and the direction our mission and culture will take us in the future.

the langley school experience

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In Depth “I think what most impressed me about Langley was the school’s powerful sense of community and its clearly defined mission which drives all aspects of school life.” -Elinor Scully

of young women, restructuring the advisory system, and supporting a teaching and learning center that focused on the science of how students learn and the use of that research for more effective classroom teaching.

What has impressed you most about Langley so far?

The people. I have already met with many of the faculty and staff members, and I am so impressed by their commitment to the school’s mission and philosophy. The teachers have a clear passion for what they do, demonstrate a true eagerness for learning and growing professionally, and are excited to share their passion with me by inviting me into their classrooms. I have never received a warmer welcome at any school than I have at Langley! Our human resources are by far our biggest asset. Langley’s faculty and staff give 110 percent every day and our families are deeply committed to the school on multiple levels. We have a beautiful campus with amazing facilities that enhance the learning environment, but our people are our greatest gift.

Dr. Elinor Scully (second from left) visits with Langley parents during a meet and greet event with the school community last October.

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What are your top priorities and goals for the year ahead?

My primary goal for the upcoming school year is to get to know Langley inside and out. I want to spend my time building relationships with members of this community, both past and present, as well as understanding the nuances of what makes Langley unique. I look forward to visiting classrooms, attending plays, concerts, and sporting events, and discovering the school’s cherished traditions. By immersing myself in the Langley experience over the course of the next nine months, I will be better prepared to help the school move forward in the years ahead. I will also develop a head’s transition plan as a roadmap which I will share with the entire community. As a “big picture” person at heart, I’m very excited about my new role as a head of school. I enjoy fitting together the many pieces that make up a school – from the curriculum and facilities to the finances and community involvement – to ensure we deliver our mission to the students.

What challenges does Langley face?

Langley is fortunate to be an extremely healthy school in virtually all areas. Doris and the Board have laid a foundation for success which allows us to focus on our vision for the future. But like all independent schools, we must continue to look at our long-term sustainability. Rather than resting on our laurels, we must continue to find ways to provide an outstanding education, hire the best faculty and staff, keep tuition affordable, and enroll a talented and diverse student body. The Washington area is filled with top independent and public schools, so it’s imperative that we keep thinking creatively about how to attain these key goals and ensure that Langley continues to be an outstanding institution for generations to come.

Middle School Building Update Construction Continues on New Middle School

Put Your Name on the Eighth-Grade Stairs!

Langley’s new Middle School building is taking shape, with both interior and exterior work progressing on the facility during the summer months. The goal remains to open the building in winter 2014. In honor of former Head of School Doris Cottam’s 13 years of dedication to Langley, the new Middle School will bear her name. In addition to providing our Middle School students and faculty with a dedicated space for grades 6-8, this wonderful new facility will feature:

Without the generous support of the entire Langley community, Langley’s new Middle School building would not have been possible. Parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends have contributed to this ambitious effort, helping us close in on our goal of raising $10 million for the Middle School project and Langley’s endowment. We invite alumni of all ages to join the com-

• A science center with four state-of-the-art laboratories munity in supporting the new Middle School through a special naming op• 15 classrooms with the latest technology portunity exclusively for alumni. • A rooftop “classroom in the sky” See real-time photos of the Middle All Langley graduates who • 28,000 square feet of space School construction project at make a gift of $70 or more to www.langleyschool.org/campaign! • A student commons area the Middle School campaign will

be permanently recognized on a plaque by the eighth-grade stairs, a cherished tradition for each graduating class. Additionally, all donors to the campaign will be recognized on a wall of honor that will be prominently displayed in the entry vestibule of the new Middle School building. The eighth-grade stairs were originally built as a class gift to the school from the classes of 1989, 1990, and 1991. The stairs were only to be used by eighth-graders and Langley faculty and staff – an important tradition that will continue in our new Middle School building. To make your gift, contact Director of Development Sarah Deschamps at sdeschamps@ langleyschool.org or (703) 848-2785.

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development Update 2013 Sponsors

Langley thanks the following sponsors of our 2013 spring fundraiser:

Langley Stars Sponsors The Harms Family Pactolus Private Wealth Management LLC Whitener & Jackson, Inc. – General Contractors Auction Co-Chair Shelly Breslin, Head of School Elinor Scully, Auction Co-Chair Anne Wydler, and former Head of School Doris Cottam at the fundraiser in April.

Spring Fundraiser Celebrates 70! Langley’s 2013 spring fundraiser, “Celebrate 70,” raised close to $200,000 for faculty professional development, student financial aid, and other key programs that strengthen the school and enhance the student experience. Decorated in a Studio 54 theme, the April 27 dinner and live auction event in the Sherman Arts Center drew 250 attendees and featured a five-star dinner, fun raffles, dancing, and 13 fabulous auction items. Paddles were raised high during the “Raise the Paddle” portion of the live auction, with approximately $60,000 raised specifically for Langley’s faculty professional development. A terrific online auction featuring very special class photo books, “Fun with Faculty” events, and a wide array of items donated by the school’s generous parents as well as the business community took place prior to the live event and was a great success as well. It takes a tremendous team of parent volunteers to execute an event of this size, scope, and magnitude. Led by Shelly Breslin and Anne Wydler, the “Celebrate 70” Committee devoted an incredible amount of time, talent, and energy to this effort. Thanks and appreciation to everyone who took part in or supported this wonderful community event.

the langley school experience

Specialty Bar Sponsor Ed and Patti Rogers

Decorations & Centerpiece Sponsor Wydler Brothers

Wine Sponsors Ms. Lisa Fischer Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Youngkin

Langley Friend Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. John M. Clarke Mr. and Mrs. Alan Dabbiere The Fontaine/Meehan Family

Faculty Friend Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Brian Bernasek Mr. Satish Kini and Ms. Jennifer Choi Kevin Morin and Cindy Hutchings Ms. Regina Nealy

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Update

The Langley Fund Raises More Than $500,000 Thanks to the generosity of the entire Langley community, we raised more than $500,000 for the 2012-2013 Langley Fund. In addition to numerous past parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends, more than 75 percent of current parents and 100 percent of the faculty/staff participated in the effort. The Langley Fund bridges the gap between tuition and the cost of a Langley education, and funds a wide variety of programs and resources critical to preparing our students for the 21st century. During the 2012-2013 school year, your generosity helped fund the purchase of iPads, MacBook Air laptops, string and band instruments, and iPad apps for Algebra and Geometry classes. A very special thank you to The Langley Fund parent co-chairs for 2012-2013, Beth Watt and Peggy Evans, as well as 1942 Society Chair Spencer Stouffer, who worked hard to make the fund a success. Also, we thank Advancement Committee Chair Lee Cook and all of The Langley Fund grade captains for reaching out to the Langley community.

Meet Our New Development Staff Sarah Deschamps

Nora Saunders

In August, Langley welcomed Sarah Deschamps as our new director of development. Sarah joins Langley from the Friends School of Minnesota in St. Paul where she served as director of development for five years. She has been involved in education her entire career, serving as assistant head of school at the Montessori School of Tokyo; on the board of directors at The American School in Japan; and as a Spanish teacher at two different schools: Saint Paul Academy and Summit School in St. Paul and Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois.

Nora Saunders recently joined Langley’s development team as assistant director. In this role, she will lead the school’s alumni programs and direct The Langley Fund. Previously, Nora worked in alumni relations at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC.

Sarah – who has a master’s from Stanford University and a bachelor’s from Macalester College – lived with her family in Tokyo, Japan, for seven years before moving back to Minnesota in 2007. This summer she moved to McLean, and is excited to get to know the Langley community and to explore the Washington, DC, area with her family.

During her summers, she grew up attending and then working at Camp Susquehannock, a sleep-away sports camp in northern Pennsylvania founded by her great-grandfather.

Director of Development

Assistant Director of Development

A native of the Philadelphia area, she attended Davidson College where she earned her bachelor’s degree and Duke University where she earned her master’s degree from the Fuqua School of Business. While in school, Nora enjoyed rowing on the club crew team and spending a semester abroad in Australia.

the langley school experience

alumni News Class of 2009 Reunion On May 28, nearly 30 members of Langley’s Class of 2009 gathered for their four-year reunion. Alumni, along with parents and teachers, met in the Sherman Cafe to catch up and reconnect before heading off to college in the fall.

Class of 2009 to Attend Top Colleges Members of Langley’s Class of 2009 will attend the following colleges and universities this fall. Congratulations to our graduates! Yasi Ansari Henry Blondman Michael Bauer Daniel Becker Kyla Bouldin Tucker Boyle Akira Brown Emmy Carlton Zach Danker-Feldman Ellen David Giulia Del Bianco Amy Fifer Elizabeth Foley Justin Galiani Andrew Garcia Jackson Geller Mary Hall Claudia Harrison Nicole Johnson Tatiana Kersten Matthew Lewis Will Marvin

George Mason University University of Michigan California Institute of Technology Colby College Ohio State University University of Kentucky Northeastern University University of South Carolina Yale University Clemson University Newcastle University (Great Britain) Brown University Trinity College Bucknell University Syracuse University University of Maryland University of Virginia Colorado College University of Virginia College of William & Mary Florida Atlantic University University of Indiana

Duke McGinnis Cameron Mencia Allie Monroy Nik Padmanabhan Gregory Parseghian Lauren Petka Heather Ratner Gabe Rodriguez Sam Rosenthal Tiffany Seal Rotana Shaker Nathaniel Sharer Rachel Sharer Kayla Sharpe Michael Sniezek Maddie Stearn Felipe Vargas-Viana Jordan Weisberg Beatrice Werness Daniel Wooddell

Northern VA Community College West Virginia University University of Colorado – Boulder University of Virginia James Madison University West Virginia University Rollins College Colorado College University of Illinois Auburn University Tufts University Case Western Reserve University Brandeis University College of William & Mary University of Mary Washington Dickinson College Carnegie Mellon University Christopher Newport University St. Olaf College University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

*The above list includes students who attended Langley at some point between 1998 and 2009 for whom the school has college information.

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alumni

News

Brandon Holley ’81 “I have the best Langley story,” laughs Brandon Holley ’81, a well-known editor in New York’s fashion magazine world who most recently served as editorin-chief of Lucky. She describes sitting next to Cindi Leive ’80, the editor of Glamour, at a Valentino fashion show in Paris several years ago. While stuffing some shopping bags under her seat, Brandon muttered under her breath that the experience reminded her of Tysons Corner.

alumni profile

Cindi turned to her and asked where she was from. When the two discovered they both hailed from McLean,VA, they quickly came to the shocking realization they had each attended Langley just one year apart. “Imagine finding a Langley classmate at a fashion show in Paris!” says Brandon, who went by the name Lisa as a child. “Although Cindi and I had known each other as professional colleagues in New York for years, we never knew we had Langley in common until that moment.” Like Cindi, Brandon’s resume in the publishing industry is impressive. Over the past 25 years, she has worked for a number of top magazines, beginning her career at Rolling Stone and serving as senior features editor at GQ. She also launched and was editor-inchief of ELLEgirl, was editor-inchief of Jane for two years, and was editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine, Lucky, for the past three years. In 2007, prior to her appointment at Jane, Brandon ventured into the digital world to launch Yahoo!Shine – one of the largest online destinations for women – which attracted 25 million visitors per month under her leadership. As the general manager, she ran

both the business side and the editorial content. “That was probably my favorite job because I was able to start something from the ground up and really grow it,” she says. “I knew a little about digital at the time, but I primarily brought an understanding of what women wanted.” Although she has been in the print industry most of her life and loves the creative people she worked with on each magazine staff, Brandon realizes the limited growth potential in magazines today and is ready for a new challenge. So she is currently taking a break to explore possibilities for new ventures in the digital realm which would allow for a more quantifiable, interactive experience with female readers. “I would love to start my own online home and fashion site for women,” she says. “Magazines tend to be a oneway street, where digital is a two-way street that allows us to use reader feedback to provide women with the latest content they want and need. We haven’t even come close to tapping into the types of online experiences women are looking for today, so the possibilities are very exciting.” Brandon notes that digital mediums have more freedom to grow, experiment with new ideas, and focus on the reader because they are not as dependent on advertising as print publications. Like many who enter the publishing world, Brandon’s career path took a few turns before she landed her first job at a magazine. After graduating from Madeira School and Barnard College, she planned to go to law school. She was working on a book called A Girl’s Guide to Muscle Cars while bartending at a New York City gallery bar on the lower East side. One of Brandon’s regular customers, the editor of Paper magazine, found out about her book and hired her to write an article about it for Paper. After the

excitement of seeing her name in print, Brandon was hooked and soon found her first fulltime job at a small magazine called Women’s Own at age 22. “Langley fostered a great sense of confidence which has stayed with me and propelled my career,” says Brandon, who attended the school for 11 years from age three up through eighth grade. “I never felt shy or awkward in meetings where I was the only woman or not the most senior person. I’ve always been able to raise my hand, speak my mind, and take risks – and I attribute a great deal of that to my wonderful experience at Langley.” She fondly remembers Mrs. Layman’s fifth-grade class, especially visiting Pennsylvania Amish country and building a Greek temple out of candy. And thanks to Mr.Trott’s eighth-grade lessons in ornithology, she continues to enjoy watching and listening to birds and shares that interest with her 5-year-old son. A self-described tomboy, Brandon recalls playing kickball with the boys in her Langley class and held the school record for the 50-yard dash and the standing jump. Although she calls Brooklyn home, Brandon is spending the summer renovating her home in the small Long Island fisherman’s village of Montauk with her husband and son. “I grew up on a little farm in Great Falls very close to nature, and I’ve missed that living in New York most of my life,” she says. “It’s been wonderful spending time outdoors sailing, fishing, and horseback riding. Plus, I’ve learned how to spackle and rip out drywall.” A skill not often mastered by fashion editors!

the langley school experience

alumni

News

Class Notes To submit your notes and photos for publication, log on to the alumni section of www.langleyschool.org.

1993 Brooke Maxfield was an intern this summer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle.

1994 Scott Holmer, a former English and religion teacher at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, MD, was recently ordained as a Catholic priest. “When I was teaching at DeMatha, I was very happy, but I wanted something more,” he says. “There are things a priest can give that I couldn’t give as a teacher. People feel much more open to sharing what’s going on in their heart. A teacher is a very intellectual thing. But I think a priest is a heart thing.”

2004 Colin Barbalace graduated from Florida Institute of Technology in May 2013 with a B.S. in construction management and minors in sustainability and business administration. His senior design project team was awarded the “President’s Cup” for their sustainable/energy efficient house. He is now working for the Energy Division of Kiewit Construction and Engineering Corporation, based

the langley school experience

in Houston,TX. Colin also started his own business, Overland Off-Road, fabricating custom parts for off-road trucks.

2006

Her first lead-author astrophysics paper, titled “Nearby M, L, and T Dwarf Stars Discovered by the WISE Satellite,” was recently published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. The paper is based on Maggie’s collaborative research work while interning at CalTech in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Stephan Mecklenburg was recently inducted into the Omicron Delta Epsilon economics honor society at Susquehanna University.

2007

Former Faculty News

Ryan Barbalace is beginning his junior year at Wake Forest University where he is majoring in physics, with minors in entrepreneurship and social enterprise and psychology. He has been participating in thermoelectrics research at the Wake Forest Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials. In his free time, Ryan enjoys keeping active with running, skiing, cycling, and wakeboarding. He is captain of the Wake Forest wakeboard team.

Diane Hren, former Middle School head and science teacher, is currently serving as head of school at the ACS Doha International School in Doha, Qatar, which has approximately 750 students. She and her husband, Ben, have enjoyed traveling to Oman, India, Bali, and Egypt.

2008 Maggie Thompson completed her freshman year at Princeton University and interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California this summer.

David Willard, former director of community life and English teacher, received a Doctor of Education with a specialization in administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in May 2013.

alumni

News

2009 Kyla Bouldin received the National Buckeye Scholarship to Ohio State University, a merit scholarship awarded to out-of-state students for academic excellence. She also received the Award for Aspirations in Technology from the National Center for Women in Information Technology for her work in app and game design. Kyla plans to major in engineering at Ohio State.

2010 During the past year, Nadia Nobrega danced in seven sold-out Ballet West productions of “The Nutcracker” at The Kennedy Center and also played the role of Glinda in her high school musical production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Along with her rhythmic gymnastics, singing, piano lessons, and dancing, Nadia kept very busy this past year working every Wednesday on Capitol Hill as an intern for Senator Patty Murray of Washington state, handling constituent calls and giving Capitol tours. Nadia is a gold-level rhythmic gymnast and recently competed in Palm Springs, CA, at the USAIGC Rhythmic Nationals where she had the highest all-around score in her age division and earned three gold medals. Stephanie Pecaro spent the summer at Northwestern University’s Theatre Arts program for high school juniors. She is currently a senior at Georgetown Day School.

From Our Readers... Dear Editor, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Langley School Experience spring issue of Langley celebrating 70 years. I have pleasant memories of the period my children were attending the school. My son, Robert, first enrolled in the school in 1951. He had Evelyn Swindler as one of his teachers and liked her very much. Eventually three more of our children attended the school. My wife, Lorraine, served as president of the Board. We parents had to donate a given number of hours on the upkeep of the school. The Laughlin House was rather old and there were lots of chores, including painting, cleaning, taking care of the yard, and similar duties. I remember there was a nice black snake that lived down in the basement. It had loose stone walls he could hide in. I was treasurer of the school and, as a recent graduate of the Stanford Business School, was interested to find that Langley did not have a budget. I instituted the budgeting and other financial procedures and struck the first balance sheet for the school. Lorraine and I chaired the second school fair. It was a lot of fun and raised a considerable amount of money for the school. I really want to thank you for this brief history of the school. I am very impressed to see how rapidly the school has grown from a meager beginning to the fine institution that it is today. Sincerely, Richard Henninger Former Langley Parent

2013 Justin Galiani will play Division I soccer at Bucknell University this fall. At Langley High School, he helped lead the boys’ soccer team to a state tournament appearance in 2011 and a trip to the Northern Region semifinals in 2012. During his high school career, Justin was named first-team all-Liberty District three times, first-team all-

region as a junior, and second-team all-state. He plans to major in economics at Bucknell. Nik Padmanabhan, who graduated from McLean High School in the spring, won the Northern Region and Liberty District singles titles in tennis. In the state singles tournament, he

reached the semifinal round. He lost just four matches all season, winning 18, and was chosen as a first-team all-region player in 2013 at the No. 1 singles position. Nik is now attending the University of Virginia where he plans to play club tennis.

the langley school experience

alumni

News Keith Bogans ’95 to Play for Boston Celtics NBA veteran Keith Bogans, a 1995 Langley graduate, was recently traded to the Boston Celtics, after playing for the Nets for the past two seasons. Since he was first drafted to the NBA in 2003, he has played for Orlando, Charlotte, Houston, Milwaukee, San Antonio, and Chicago, appearing in more than 665 games, including more than 330 starts.

“Langley turned my life around,” says Keith. “When I arrived in seventh grade, I struggled academically at first because the academics here were so far ahead of what I was used to. But wonderful teachers like Ms. Glass, Mr. Raneses, and Mr. Lekuton worked with me and helped me turn the corner. I received an academic foundation here and built habits here that made school a lot easier for me While at Langley during grades 7 from then on. Langley was a family – and 8, Keith played basketball under everyone knew and cared for each Keith Bogans with Head of School Elinor Scully current Langley Athletic Director Jim other. Even though the campus has Gleason. He went on to become a McDonald’s and Parade changed through the years, the memories still hit me when I All-American at DeMatha High School, leading the team to a turn the corner onto Balls Hill Road.” 34-1 record and a third-place national ranking in 1999. For the third consecutive year, Keith ran a coed basketball He was heavily recruited by Coach Tubby Smith at the camp at Langley this summer. Students worked on a variety University of Kentucky, and signed with the Wildcats during of basketball skills and drills, while learning the fundamentals of sportsmanship and teamwork. “Langley did so much for his junior year of high school. A 6’5” star at Kentucky, Keith led the team to an SEC Tournament title and an Elite Eight me, so it’s fun to be able to give back in some way,” Keith finish in the NCAA Tournament in 2003. Among his many adds. “In addition to having fun and learning basketball skills, honors, he was named SEC Player of the Year, first-team one of the goals of the camp is to let kids know that NBA All-SEC, SEC Tournament MVP, and third-team All-American players like me are real people who once started out as kids with dreams just like them.” during his distinguished college basketball career. Keith was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Check Out Langley’s New Website! Last spring, Langley launched our newly redesigned website. In addition to a fresh new look, the site has some exciting features, including videos of our students and teachers in action, that make it more userfriendly and better highlight the school.

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the langley school experience

It’s easier than ever to stay connected to Langley...

Reconnect Today! • Join Langley’s Facebook alumni and school pages (find us under “The Langley School Alumni Group” or “The Langley School”)

• Follow Langley on Twitter (find us @langleyleopards) • Follow Langley’s Vimeo video channel

(find us at http://vimeo.com/channels/langleyschoolvideos)

• Submit your news and Class Notes or update your contact information in the alumni section of www.langleyschool.org

• Contact your class representative (a list of class reps can be found in the alumni section of www.langleyschool.org)

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The Langley School 1411 Balls Hill Road McLean, VA 22101-3415 www.langleyschool.org (703) 356-1920

You’re Invited… Join us at these upcoming events at Langley this fall:

November 2: Fall Fair November 21-23: Middle School Fall Show November 26: Grandparents & Special Friends Day December 10-11: Book Fair December 12: Middle School Holiday Concert December 19: Lower School Holiday Concert For a complete schedule of Langley events, visit our online calendar at www.langleyschool.org.