Volume 37
Issue 2
Summer 2016
Global Lending through Kiva Submitted by Katie Nguyen, Alumni Editor (Class of 2014) Over the past few years, the third grade Community theme study has acquired a new dimension, which has extended its impact outside the school community. Through Kiva.org, a nonprofit organization that provides small loans to low-income families and small businesses across 79 countries, third grade students are able to make a global impact on people’s lives. Since 2012, third grade has made 170 loans across 50 of these 79 countries. They have supported farms in Indonesia and helped build water filtration systems in Uganda. Within the third grade Community theme study, students create their own businesses and homes in their River City model community. The broader TCS community participates in this theme by attending one of two “Market Days” during the year. Here, third graders operate entrepreneurial businesses and sell a variety of goods and activities. Parents, students, friends, and alumni exchange US dollars for River City dollars to shop at the Market and support the students’ efforts to learn about free market exchange and to capitalize their small businesses. The US dollars fund the loan investments that fight poverty around the world through Kiva.org. By participating in Kiva’s micro-lending system, third grade teachers Matt Diller and Penny Allen empower their students to perpetuate positive change in the world. In fact, when the class
What’s Inside? Taking a Global View: Third Grade Global Lending . . . . . . . . . . Page 1 Exploring Immigration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 Faculty Travel Abroad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2 Early Childhood Project Studies. . . . . . . . . . Page 3 Summer Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Congratulations to the Class of 2016 . . . . . Page 5 Diversity/Inclusion Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 ALUMNI EXPERIENCE Alumni Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 7 & 8 Highlights from Alumni Survey. . . . . . . . Page 9 Alumni News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pages 9-13 New TCS Team Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13 TCS Teachers Learn and Grow. . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Website Stop Action Video. . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 7th Grade Urban Podcasts. . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15
At Third Grade Market Days, students operate their entrepreneurial businesses to earn “River City” dollars for their homes and model community, while also raising US dollars to fund their global Kiva.org loans. sits down to browse Kiva.org, the students are the leaders and the teachers act more as guides. The third graders vote and decide on which countries they would like to pursue. Once a few countries are selected, the kids can either skim through a list of individual funds by country or narrow their search to certain categories and view those specific funds. The website makes it easy to narrow the search to sectors such as agriculture, education, arts, clothing, food, health and retail. Kiva.org allows users to focus on groups that have certain “attributes” like being fair trade, in conflict zones, “green,” and in disaster recovery. What Kiva.org allows, and what makes it so appealing, is its ability to make lending money across the entire world so simple and easy. Its platform enables even children as young as eight years old to comprehend and make an impact. Lending money through Kiva.org can be both addicting and rewarding. Matt and Penny facilitate an inquiry among the third graders to seek more ways to help out. To these eight and nine-year-olds, loaning money becomes a privilege. For example, when a student finishes his/her schoolwork early, Matt or Penny will allow them to go on Kiva.org and loan $25 to a fund of choice. This gives freedom to the kids, which they appreciate because they know their teachers trust them with great responsibility. Kiva.org has excited the third graders so much that many of them go home and prompt their parents to invest money on Kiva. Through Kiva.org, the teachers not only expose their students to different means of giving back to their communities, but also teach them other very important lessons. The third graders learn about gender discrimination through lessons about why it’s harder for women to be granted loans in many countries. continued on next page
Summer 2016
Exploring Immigration Submitted by Maggie Hagan, Class of 2016 Written as a Student Service Leadership Program (SSLP) project Middle School teacher Kevin Parentin has been teaching an immigration class for 11 years, but between the elections and the Syrian refugee crisis, the topic has never been more relevant than today. Immigration is a Middle School social studies exploratory course option during the middle trimester. To glean some insights, I asked him a few questions about his class:
ing different neighborhoods. It wasn’t until later that I realized the importance of the social justice aspects of immigration. I want students to realize how many diverse cultures there are that comprise the United States.”
Why did you decide to create the class?
What is the most powerful experience in the class?
What specific topics do you talk about?
“We begin by talking about the waves of immigrants that came to St. Louis. Many immigrants came from a specific country at a specific time because of things like war or famine. We look at a timeline of these immigration waves then explore each culture’s individual story. Food is one of the things that defines a culture, and we still spend a large part of the class exploring different foods and neighborhoods. We talk about what makes a person want to leave their own country, and why they still consider the United States the land of opportunity, even with all the hate expressed Student research on the receptiveness of U.S. States to accepting Syrian refugees towards immigrants and inspired the creation of a final class mural. refugees.”
“I wanted to teach a history class about St. Louis, and St. Louis is a city built by immigrants. At first it was meant to be a fun class with a lot of opportunities for exploring new things, such as trying new foods from different cultures and explor-
“The most powerful experience students have is interviewing and interacting personally with an immigrant to the city. Speaking directly to someone who has had the immigrant experience has the potential to be a life-changing experience.” n
Global Lending
continued from front page The students have full control over to whom they want to loan money. When they disagree, they debate the pros and cons of the different options. When one group is out-voted, Matt and Penny like to build consensus, and they may offer a compromise. Students learn about how money can be “recycled.” The College
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School has contributed $3,952 to the account, yet a total of $9,050 has been lent. The global impact third graders have on the world community through their work with Kiva.org is positive and personal. It enriches others’ lives while also enriching theirs, too. n
TCS Faculty Travel Abroad Submitted by Jack Kellaher, Alumni Editor (Class of 2015) What better way to learn about different cultures than to explore them firsthand as educators? This summer, TCS teachers have embarked on two educational trips abroad to different parts of the world that are meant to inform their teaching. One group of faculty traveled to China and another to Cuba. The China trip in June was sponsored by the Confucius Institute at Webster University, the same group that offers instructors for the Mandarin Chinese exploratory class in Middle School. TCS teachers Tim Wood (Sustainability), Sam Hahn (Middle School), Chelsea Denlow (Middle School) and Patricia Bohn (Second Grade) made the educational journey along with five other area educators. The main goal of the trip was to study the way foreign language is taught in our schools and how English is taught in China and to interact with Chinese teachers and students. Tim Wood related, “We spent about half our time visiting a variety of museums and shrines. We saw the Terra Cotta Warriors, hiked on the Great Wall, and toured the Forbidden City. The other half of our time was spent in grade schools, middle schools, high schools and universities.” He says that the general plan was to observe a class and then talk to students and teachers. Tim commented, “It was my first visit to Asia and I was fascinated by the people. I found them to be incredibly friendly and interested in our country and teaching techniques. They spend a tremendous amount of time trying to learn English.” The teachers on the August 6-16 Cuba trip are John Colbert (Middle School), Mary Jo Wilmes (Visual Arts), Cindy Bruns (Spanish), Sarah Hassing (Early Childhood Coordinator) and Kathy Lewis (Fifth Grade). This 10-day trip exclusively for educators is sponsored by CASE, Central American Service Expeditions. Teachers explore La Habana, travel to Vinales and snorkel in two different reef systems. These experiences supplement “meaningful interactions with the Cuban people through education, cultural exchange, and environmental conservation.” n
Summer 2016
Project Studies in Preschool: An Exploration of Homes and Rocks Submitted by Katie Nguyen, Alumni Editor (Class of 2014) Each year, the Pre-Big Bend and PreNewport classrooms participate in their own individualized themes. Teachers ask the preschoolers what interests them by sharing various “provocations” and build the year’s curriculum around this idea. This year, Big Benders (three/four students) explored “homes” and Newporters (four/five students) explored “rocks.” These projects begin with a discovery process guided by the childrens’ curiosity through field trips, various constructions, and even a final project. This idea of investigating what interests each particular class comes from the Reggio Philosophy, which guides the school’s Early Childhood program. Educator Loris Malaguzzi developed the Reggio approach in post-World War II Italy in a small city named Reggio Emilia. Malaguzzi aspired to improve preliminary education by focusing on respect and community by allowing students to learn through a “selfguided” curriculum. The Reggio goal is to engage children in active learning and dialogue while continuing to explore the topic of interest. Projects, such as this year’s on rocks and houses, are an integral part of Reggio-inspired learning.
Pre-Big Bend teachers, Janelle Finder and Jess Lorentzen, began the project by sharing “provocations” to see what the children were most curious and enthusiastic about. Eventually, the concept of “homes” was established. First, the class explored their own homes. They discussed, modeled and shared stories about special spaces they had in their houses, such as their favorite couch or a particular reading nook. The students then branched out to learn more about animal houses. The Big Bend students also designed and built homes for animals. In addition, they composed stories with developed characters that corresponded with the animal homes they designed. They continued their study with the construction of a classroom campsite for special gatherings and group activities. As part of engaged learning, the chil- Newport preschool students ventured to Kirkwood Material Supply to gather dren are able materials for their rock sculpture project. to learn about topics while being fully caplearned about their geological classificativated by their curiosities. tions. Newport extended its investigation Similar to the Big Bend on rocks with a field trip to Kirkwood Mastudy of homes, Pre-Newterial Supply. Using rocks they collected port teachers Kate Booher from the site, they built sturdy sculptures and Kathryn Bruntrager in the Atelier, or studio. The sculptures rebegan their multi-layered quired careful thought and sometimes reproject by brainstorming construction for stability. The culmination with students about what of the children’s multi-layered project was fascinated them. It became marked by three outcomes. obvious that the NewportThe first was a “place-based” iners expressed a shared love struction manual called “A Newporter’s for rocks. To begin their Guide to Rock Collecting” for how to efstudy, they created a classfectively collect rocks. The second piece room cave and began the was “Rocks are Everywhere,” a sculpexploration of rocks outture book filled with drawings and phoside the school campus. tographs of rock sculptures. Finally, the Students collected rocks Newport students showcased their enfrom all over the St. Louis thusiasm for rocks through a rock collectarea. They mapped where ing adventure with their families, in which the rocks were found and they were able to demonstrate their special skills as geologists develRock collecting and classifying became a passion this oped over the course of the past year for our Newport (four/five) preschool class. study. n
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Summer 2016
Summer Construction: Upgrades & Updates Submitted by Ed Maggart, Head of School Exciting updates and upgrades are coming soon to The College School, including a new world-class building at our LaBarque Campus, a Digital Recording Studio on our Webster Campus, and a dragon that students can climb! Let’s take a look at each one…
The Jan Phillips Learning Center
The new Jan Phillips Learning Center on our LaBarque Campus is scheduled to be finished by October. It will serve as an outpost for exploration, study, and adventures on our environmentally-unique 28acre campus in the LaBarque Watershed near Pacific, MO. The Center will contain a multi-use classroom space on the upper floor with a flexible set up to accommodate group work and projects. The lower floor will feature a workshop that will double as a makerspace for students as well as a maintenance facility for the property. The main building has been “dried in” and, while the interior is finished, work will also turn to other parts of the facility. Outside the building will be a large patio. Adjacent to the patio will be a large pavilion to serve as an outdoor classroom and event space. Our teachers, from our youngest grades through middle school, have been busy this summer planning meaningful learning adventures for this year at the new center!
Digital Recording Studio at our Newport Property (“The Yellow House”)
The “Yellow House” behind our main campus building will house a new stateof-the-art video and sound recording studio and digital library. Technology Coordinator Jason Raznick and Music Teacher
Outdoor Play Spaces
The Jan Phillips Learning Center will soon be “weathered in” with windows and doors being a final step before work proceeds on the interior.
The AV Studio at the Catherine Cook School in Chicago has served as inspiration as we design and create our new recording space at The College School.
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Carl Pandolfi are part of an ad hoc group working to design the studio. New flooring recently went in upstairs, which will house the studio. As construction of the studio floor is completed, Jason and Carl will be setting up and testing the studio to have it ready for use by classes for projects including, making podcasts, recording music, and producing videos.
Improvements are also continuing on our upper elementary and middle school playground area. With a move of one side of the track, we will be able to install a large group swing, as well as a custom-built climber shaped in the image of our TCS Dragon mascot! Other smaller features in the playground area will continue to be installed over the course of this school year. n
Kurt Knickmeyer, who designs many of the sculptures at City Museum, is the artist designing our signature piece and provided this clay model for us to envision our new multi-faceted dragon climber.
Summer 2016
Congratulations Class of 2016
The College School Class of 2016
At graduation on May 26: Front Row: Mickey Zuckerman, Ben Krieger, Abby Morgan, Audrey Hiotis, Kenzie Akins, Luci Clark, Ella Hasek, Ivy Fitzsimmons and Lochlainn Dean; Middle Row: Chloe Peters, Ryan Strand, Charles Selipsky; Back Row: Olivia Barnes, Alyssa Knoerle, Lauryn Rhodes, James Gillardi, Mary Clare Muehlmann, Sullivan Jeffries, Maggie Hagan, Chloe Hayes, and Jillian Bhuyan.
And the Graduation Speech Tradition Continues… Submitted by Adrienne Rusbarsky, Director of Admissions & Editor A TCS graduation ceremony would be incomplete without the series of 3-5 minute speeches delivered by all eighth graders. Students draft their speeches in Language Arts, and fine-tune their content and delivery through rehearsals with peers and teachers. When they take the stage, one by one, they amaze us all with their poise, wisdom, humor and warmth and inspire us with lessons learned on their grade school journey. This year’s speech titles were: • Always be Confident (Alyssa Knoerle) • Anticipation Can Be Worse Than The Actual Thing (Mickey Zuckerman) • Sometimes Adventure Chooses You (Abby Morgan) • Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone (Audrey Hiotis) • The Importance of Acceptance (Olivia Barnes) • Organization & Hard Work (Ben Krieger) • Learning to Adapt (Chloe Peters)
• Friendship Takes Work (James Gillardi) • What Acceptance Really Is (Lauryn Rhodes) • Don’t Worry, Be Happy (Luci Clark) • Small Actions Can Make a Big Difference (Mary Clare Muehlmann) • Finding Confidence (Ella Hasek) • More Than One Family (Lochlainn Dean) • Becoming Outgoing (Kenzie Akins) • Taking Leadership Roles (Jillian Bhuyan) • Discovering Gratitude (Ryan Strand) • Making the Hard Choice (Maggie Hagan) • Trying Something New (Sullivan Jeffries) • Thinking on My Feet (Charles Selipsky) • Bravery Looks Different on Everyone (Chloe Hayes) • Staying in the Moment (Ivy Fitzsimmons) n
Hey, Class of 2016! Where did you go to high school? Eighth grade graduates from The College School transition to a wide variety of secondary schools in St. Louis, including independent, parochial and public schools. The typical pattern of choice is 35-40% independent, 35-40% parochial and 20-25% public. Over 95% of students are accepted to their first choice high school. The Class of 2016 will be attending the following secondary schools and running into their classmates at dances, games and events all over St. Louis. And they can now answer that proverbial St. Louis question, “Hey, where did you go to high school?” Chaminade College Preparatory Ryan Strand Crossroads College Preparatory Kenzie Akins Audrey Hiotis Alyssa Knoerle Mickey Zuckerman John Burroughs Lochlainn Dean Kirkwood High Luci Clark Metro Academy & Classical Ivy Fitzsimmons MICDS James Gillardi Charles Selipsky Nerinx Hall Ella Hasek Abby Morgan Mary Clare Muehlmann Chloe Peters SLUH Ben Krieger Ursuline Academy Chloe Hayes Webster Groves High Maggie Hagan Sullivan Jeffries Westminster Christian Academy Lauryn Rhodes Whitfield School Olivia Barnes Jillian Bhuyan
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Summer 2016
Diversity and Inclusion: A Continued Journey Submitted by Kelcie Bartley, Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion While reflecting on leadership and personal responsibility, Civil Rights activist Grace Lee Boggs once said, “We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.” The quote itself stands as both a call to reflect and a call to act. This past year at The College School, it has meant that no matter your age or role, every individual has the capacity and the responsibility to step up and lead the charge towards a more inclusive and impactful TCS community. Our diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout this past school year provided students, parents, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to reflect and to lead.
over 50 community members, from Big Bend students to alumni, faculty, and parents, gathered together to reflect on Dr. King’s vision for a “Beloved Community” and to make sack lunches for Operation
us hopeful and excited for future service possibilities.
Parents as Diversity and Inclusion Leaders
Parents played a larger role in our diversity and inclusion initiatives this year, as the Diversity Committee grew in membership and sought ways to involve parents more in their child’s understandings of social justice, diversity and inclusion. This fall we kicked off our Parent’s Raising Students of Color (PRSOC) socials. This group was designed as an opportunity for TCS parents with children of color to meet, build relationships, and collectively Growing as Social address some of the specific Justice Scholars and needs of their students at TCS. Leaders Each gathering featured great This year our Middle food and conversation that School Diversity Council stuhelped highlight areas of sucdents were busy participating Parent engagement in diversity & inclusion conversations is a key priority at TCS. cess and growth for the TCS in a variety of diversity and socommunity. cial justice leadership opportunities. Last Brown Bag and The Bridge Outreach. To Along with our PRSOC socials, the fall, TCS sent a delegation of thirteen kick off, a few of our 5th graders read Diversity Committee planned and hosted 7th and 8th grade students to the annual their essays on what a beloved commua great evening of learning and converMICDS Middle School Diversity Leadernity means to them, and we heard our sation with Amy Hunter, former Director ship Conference, with four of of Racial Justice for the YWCA our 8th graders serving as stuand the current Manager of dent facilitators leading workDiversity and Inclusion for St. shops throughout the day. Our Louis Children’s Hospital. Amy students left the conference led a courageous conversation feeling energized and ready to on privilege and oppression, share their knowledge and exand challenged the audience to periences with the rest of the reflect deeply on their role and community. responsibility towards helping As members of SixOne, an to end the various forms of opinter-school social justice colpression in our society. As an laborative, the Diversity Counindependent school parent, cil also participated in two halfAmy also touched on how she day conferences. In the fall they engages her students in convisited Wydown Middle School versations around these topics. and participated in a variety It was a great night of learning of workshops focused around and community building and fictive kinship and building releft each audience member lationships across difference. thinking about what’s next. During the winter, they visited As we move into the 2016Hancock Place Middle School On a special day of service to honor MLK, Jr. Day, 50+ community members prepared 2017 school year and look toand attended a series of stu- sack lunches for local non-profits Operation Brown Bag and The Bridge Outreach. wards the work that still needs dent-led workshops on the to be done, we reflect on how modern immigrant experience. Middle School Diversity Council students far we’ve come in many of our conversareflect on the purpose and importance of tions around social justice, diversity, and The Beloved Community celebrating Dr. King with service. Afterinclusion. We take pride in our work toThis past January marked our first wards, we put together 200 sack lunches wards becoming “the leaders we’ve been community-wide day of service to comfor two great local non-profits. It was a waiting for.” n memorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther wonderful day full of enthusiasm and celKing, Jr. On the Sunday before MLK Day, ebration that went by all too fast and left
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the college school alumni association
Summer 2016
EXPERIENCE the college school :::: Volume 10 :: Number 1 :: Summer 2016
ALUMNI PROFILES We asked our Alumni Editors to interview a few recent alumni for this issue. They learned Luke Hellwig (2007) has a passion for the interconnection of science and art. Andi Garavaglia (2003) is combining her love of sports with her business skills in working for the NHL in NYC, and Kasey Strawbridge (2005) continues to be inspired by her love of math. Journeys beyond TCS take students to different high schools, colleges and along different career paths, but their passion for learning continues and their strong connection to and memories of TCS persist.
Luke Hellwig (Class of 2007) Submitted by Jack Kellaher, Alumni Editor (Class of 2015) After graduating from The College School in 2007, Luke attended St. Louis University High School, where he was a National Merit Finalist, and then attended Carleton College, a small liberal arts school in Minnesota. At SLUH, Luke received the Mac Boland Award, which is an award given to the senior that best reflects the traits of Mac Boland: “The otherwise unheralded senior, who through his dedication and determination has most influenced his fellow students toward more united participation in the spirit which is St. Louis University High School.” While at Carleton, Luke earned a degree in Physics, was involved with KLRX radio, worked for a student newspaper and participated in student government. He graduated from Carleton in 2015 and moved to Brooklyn, NY, where he worked for DOOB-3D, a company that “specializes in highquality 3D prints of scanned, real-world objects and people.” He currently works as a high school math and physics tutor and is taking classes in 3D design and sculpture at the Art Students League. Luke shared these responses in a recent interview:
How has experiential education at TCS affected you?
“I try to carry the spirit of experiential education with me in everything that I do. I’m currently working on an art project that deals with the human perception of color and light. I have realized that creating an opportunity for people to experience color in a new way opens the door for them to reflect on their experience of perception and learn something new. For myself, as I develop as an artist, I know that progress only comes from getting my hands dirty and trying new things. So, even though I graduated TCS almost 10 years ago, I’m still “learning by doing” every day, and helping other people do so, too.”
Alumni
Profile
What is one of your most vivid or meaningful memories from TCS?
“One of my most vivid memories from TCS is of our tarp falling apart at night when I was a junior leader on the
Alumni Editors Katie Nguyen (Class of 2014) Katie graduated from The College School in 2014. She is currently a rising junior at Nerinx Hall High School, where she received an academic merit-based scholarship. She has played on the tennis team for two years now. Katie enjoys playing tennis, painting, and spending time with her friends and family in her free time. At TCS, Katie participated in the Junior Leadership program and the Middle School Diversity Council. Today, she still carries with her one of the greatest things TCS taught her: how to love learning. She visits us often and volunteers as an alumni representative at many TCS events. Jack Kellaher (Class of 2015) Jack graduated from TCS in 2015 and is beginning his sophomore year at John Burroughs School. He plays soccer, basketball and lacrosse for Burroughs and has a passion for computer programming and photography. At TCS he qualified for Duke TIP and was a member of the Middle School Diversity Council. Like Katie, he willingly provides volunteer alumni support at school events. n
continued on page 9
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the college school alumni association
Summer 2016
Andi Garavaglia (Class of 2003) Submitted by Katie Nguyen, Alumni Editor (2014) Andi Garavaglia graduated from The College School in 2003. She then moved on to high school at Nerinx Hall. As a “proud Marker,” Andi played on the soccer team, which earned her a soccer scholarship to Division I Stetson University in Florida. She graduated in 2011 with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Marketing. Today, Andi is the Manager of Retail Sales and Marketing for the NHL in New York City. She facilitates all retail relationships between the league and its business partners. A few years ago, Andi was able to spend six months in Europe. She spent three of those months in a study abroad program at the University of Oxford where she “selfdesigned coursework in the psychology of social media.” Andi also worked with Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). She spent three weeks in Tuscany learning how to tend to olive trees and the culinary art
Alumni
Profile
of fermenting organic soy. Although she can’t use her farming skills in the “concrete jungle of New York,” Andi still uses her skills of adaptation gained from her experiences in Italy. Andi has traveled to sixteen countries, including Mexico, Canada, Peru, Colombia,
Kasey Strawbridge (Class of 2009) Submitted by Katie Nguyen, Alumni Editor (2014) After graduating from The College School in 2005, Kasey Strawbridge attended John Burroughs School, where she graduated as a National Merit Finalist. Kasey then went to Columbia University planning to major in Civil Engineering. After two years, she found that her passion was really in Math, so she majored in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Economics. Kasey shared that she worked exceptionally hard in the summer, taking her hardest courses during this time, so she could take fun electives during the year. In college, Kasey loved her Science of Psychology class. So excited about the material, she read her textbook from cover to cover. She also took a class called “Ear Training.” In it, Kasey composed music and even momentarily acquired a very special skill: perfect pitch. Through an arrangement between
Alumni
Profile
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Columbia University and Barnard, Kasey was able to take an education course at Barnard. This was where she was first exposed to teaching in the classroom, as the class offered opportunities to work with children.
England, France, Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Italy, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Spain, Austria, and Sweden, and throughout the U.S. Andi’s job with the NHL takes her all over North America—traveling on average one to two times a month. Through all of her travels and experiences, Andi has successfully acquired a diverse and rich assortment of skills. She shared, “At TCS I learned to love “experiencing” and that experience is the only way to truly understand something and to empathize with, relate to, and put into sharp relief the essence of an idea.” From soccer, she has gained a “stubborn resilience” which has taught her to never give up. From her travels, she has learned “to love the excitement of the unknown and to have an open mind, an essential quality people should have in such a globalized world,” she says. Andi uses these skills every day and, thanks to TCS, she is embracing the new experiences she encounters in her life. n
Check out our Alumni Facebook page www.facebook.com/ TheCollegeSchoolAlumniAssociation This teaching experience inspired Kasey to pursue graduate study in education at Claremont College in California. Here, she said, she worked the hardest she ever had in her life. She was pushed to her limits working as a first year teacher. All at once, Kasey earned her Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Math Education and a teaching certification. Kasey’s love for being active and living a “carefree lifestyle” was stimulated by her experiences in all of the places she’s lived. This part of her personality still rings true as she has found fervor for Pokemon Go recently. When she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her Masters and dream of teaching high school math, Kasey also learned several unique skills, including skateboarding and surfing. She also tried skydiving. After two years in California, Kasey moved back to St. Louis to be closer to her younger siblings. She is currently self-employed as an academic tutor. Today, you can find Kasey tutoring kids at TCS, sharing her zealous and friendly charisma with the community that shaped her love for learning in her grade school years. n
the college school alumni association Luke Hellwig
continued from page 7 Fifth Grade caving trip. It was raining, and I had to figure out how to get the stakes back in before all of our sleeping bags were drenched. I somehow got the tarp to stand up again, and everything turned out fine. This experience—like many of other times in the outdoors when things didn’t go according to plan—taught me how to keep my cool in any situation.”
What makes your job as a tutor rewarding or interesting?
“I find my job interesting because I’m constantly learning new things about the subjects I tutor, and I’m always growing as a teacher. The most rewarding part comes from the friendships I develop with my students.” n
Summer 2016
AluMNi News Christie (Ernst) Kovacs (1973) is a rheumatologist in Boston. She shared, “I just stepped down after being chairman of our department for the last 6 years to pursue my true passion of seeing complex undiagnosed patients and clinching the diagnosis. I also enjoy teaching residents and medical students. The last two years I have been named in the Top Doctors issue of Boston Magazine. I have three children ages 19, 18 and 13. I wish we had a College School in Boston! I would have loved for them to experience learning the way I did at The College School. My older sister Kathie Ernst (1971) and brother Steve Ernst (1968) both attended The College School as well. Kathie is a pilot in St. Louis and Steve is an engineer in Colorado.” Jennifer Sultz (1978) started a new job as Development Director of Turning
Point Behavioral Health Care Center in Skokie, IL in 2015. Rachel Neumeier (1979) wrote, “Well, my ninth novel, a young adult fantasy from Random House called The Keeper of the Mist, just came out in March. And my tenth, an adult fantasy called The Mountain of Kept Memory, will come out from Simon and Schuster in November. I just revealed the cover for next year’s young adult fantasy at www. rachelneumeier.com/news. I’m now working hard on my first science fiction novel; I should finish the rough draft in the middle of July. And my young dog Ishmael just finished his Advanced Rally Obedience title—actually, he’s also shown in a recent post on my website because he had a litcontinued on next page
Alumni Survey 2016: What our Alumni Had to Say Submitted by Jaclyn Stewart-Strothmann, Director of Advancement This past spring, we asked our alumni to participate in an online survey reflecting on their experiences at The College School. Many thanks go to those readers
who participated. We had an overwhelming response and in the below infographic you will find some of our top bragging points. We will also be using this data to
98%
of alumni would recommend The College School to a friend or colleague.
77% of alumni hold a leadership role in a club, sport or activity.
Top 5
Alumni know our program the best, these are the top five curricular areas where they believe The College School truly shines.
98% 2016 of alumni consider their TCS experience as something extraordinary.
guide programming, communication and outreach efforts with our alumni from our most recent Class of 2016 to our earliest students in 1963. n
alumni survey
#1 Experiential Education #2 Field Trips #3 Student to Teacher Ratio #4 Sense of Community #5 Education for Sustainability
901
members, from the Class of 1963 to 2016.
95%
of alumni feel they are a valued member of the school community long after they graduate.
Prepared? 3/4
Alumni credit The College School for preparing them for life in the following ways:
- Being Open-Minded - Being an Environmental Steward - Being Creative - Working collaboratively on a team - Actively contributing in class or at work
of alumni continue to participate in service and volunteer opportunities.
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the college school alumni association ALUMNI NEWS
continued from previous page tle adventure last Monday.” Liessa (Thomas) Bowen (1987) is “happily home schooling two boys, currently ages 9 and 12. I was 12 when I started at TCS Middle School. It took a little while to settle into a new school, but then the realization that learning was fun— wow! If I could re-create my TCS experience for my kids, I would. But since I can’t, I do the best I can to incorporate lots of hands-on experiences and field trips for them to enjoy and (hopefully!) remember. We live in NC and have made 2016 the year we try to visit as many NC State Parks as we possibly can!” Veronica Torres Theodoro (1987) was named Editor-in-Chief of St. Louis At Home Magazine in August 2015. She shared, “I attribute my interest in the field of journalism to my time at TCS, where I learned to live and learn in real-world environments, and understand and appreciate people of all backgrounds and lifestyles through the school’s integrated curriculum and field work.” Elysia (Joyce) Krieger (1988) and her husband Mark are now officially the proud parents of a TCS graduate, Benjamin Krieger, Class of 2016, who heads to SLUH this fall. Rhonda Sneeringer (1992) has relocated to South Lake Tahoe, CA, with her husband and 2 boys. They are enjoying the lake, skiing, and camping, and she is starting to teach her sons some of the skills she learned at TCS. Her oldest is starting kindergarten this fall, and she is excited that there is a local school option that reminds her of her time at TCS and experiential learning. Professionally, Rhonda has moved from Director of Pediatrics to the Vice Chief of Staff at her hospital. She continues to practice internal medicine and pediatrics for hospitalized patients. Emily (Rowe) Underwood (1993) wrote, “My husband Jason and I just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this year. We have one daughter, Madeleine (Maddie), who will turn 3 on August 2. She is also the granddaughter of Margaret Rowe (former TCS teacher) and niece of Matthew Rowe (1995). I currently work at the Missouri Historical Society as the Director of Community Programs. I have been with the Historical Society for almost 14 years, and have been in my current position for a little over one year. I am passionate about the St. Louis region and issues related to justice, equity, and community, and I feel very lucky that I have been able to engage those passions through my career. “
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Peter Pranschke (1994) shared this news: “In January, a 100-page, full color book of my drawings was published by Fort Gondo Compound for the Arts (St. Louis). In May, I had an exhibit of sculpture at Millitzer Studio and Gallery (St. Louis), and in August, I’ll be part of a group show at Gallery 210 on the campus of UMSL.” John Paul Shen (1994) remains at the University of California, San Diego where he splits time as a scientist, studying the cancer genome, and a physician, treating patients with cancers of the GI tract. His most recent work was featured in the Aug. 2016 issue of the journal Molecular Cell. Outside of work, he says he still holds on to the delusion that he can continue to play competitive rugby, much to his mother’s dismay. Alex Wilson (1994) is living in Charlottesville, VA, with his wife Ariel and 3-year-old son, Edin. Alex and Ariel are both occupational therapists at UVA Medical Center. Chelsea (May) Tischler (1997) shared, “It’s been a busy few years. In 2010 I left my career as an engineer and policy writer for the US EPA to become a freelance photographer. I married my husband Todd in 2011, and we welcomed our daughter Karson in 2012. In addition to my parental activities and running my local photography business, I’ve traveled a lot over the last few years to photograph in Europe, North & South America, Africa, Asia, Antarctica, and the Arctic, leading to significant publications in National Geographic’s social media, Newsweek, Town & Country, Conde Nast Traveller and commercial licensing to Apple, Hewlett Packard, and Citibank. As my daughter has started preschool this past year (in Michigan), I am remembering fondly my time at TCS, which also began in preschool. I give TCS a lot of credit in fostering my interest in the outdoors and my curiosity in other cultures. All my best to everyone at TCS!” Leigh Hullverson (1998) wrote, “In the last 10 years, I’ve graduated from Webster University with a Bachelor’s degree in Photography. I’ve also worked with adults who have developmental disabilities at St. Louis ARC for over 9 years and have loved every minute of it.” Ivan Shen (1998) lives with his wife Nora and three beautiful daughters, Vivian (5) and identical twins Edith and Natalie (17 months), in Hoboken, NJ. After attending high school in New York City, Ivan graduated from University of Michigan Ann Arbor. He shared, “This coming August will be my 20-year anniversary working at Barclays Investment Bank in NYC. I’m a director there in their short-term interest rate trading group, where I focus
Summer 2016 and specialize in short-term US Treasuries. I have been fortunate enough to have traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and North America. My favorite trips were to Santorini, Greece with my wife, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with my long-time high school friends, and to have walked the Great Wall of China with my mother and father. High on my to-do list are the fjords in Norway, the Port Valley in Portugal, and Patagonia, Peru. I miss my TCS classmates and regret that I haven’t kept in better touch…Can’t find a single one on Facebook!” Grayson Coleman Selby (2001) wrote, “I am still traveling the country working renaissance festivals as a performer and salesman. I spend half the year in Chicago doing seasonal work and then travel with the fairs for the rest of the year. I also play piano bars and sell honey at a German Christmas market in Chicago each year. Life is very eclectic for me, and TCS played a big role in teaching me flexibility and versatility.” Ally Hawksley (2002) lives in Pasadena, CA, and works freelance in unscripted TV. Currently she is working as a Story Producer for Season 15 of Project Runway. Anna (Fargo) Fontaine (2003) and her husband, John, welcomed their daughter, Susan Maria Fontaine, into the world! Anna shared, “She was born on July 14 in Hartford, CT, and we’ve all been recovering, resting, eating, and just loving having her ever since. Other than that, I’m working as a civil engineer and just passed the Professional Engineering Exam. Life is good.” Her mom, Mimi, is looking forward to spending the month of August with Anna and Susan! Kayla Griffin (2003) wrote, “I started a new job working as a manager for Schnucks Central Fill Pharmacy. We are in charge of filling and dispensing over 11,000 prescriptions per day and sending them out overnight to stores. Busy, busy, busy! But I enjoy it! Also, my husband and I are so excited for this year as we are expecting our first child in January 2017!” Dan Allen (2004) shared, “I am currently working as a product designer in Phoenix, AZ. I am the facilitator of a wide range of products from concept to production. Focusing on the needs of the user, I strive to create a balance between form and function to develop meaningful user experiences and innovative solutions to all types of challenges. I am very busy these days working on multiple consumer products, some of which should hit shelves across the country this year. When I’m not working, I still enjoy exploring the southwest by camping, hiking and off-roading. TCS taught me so many lessons that I still
Summer 2016 use today and I am thankful for every opportunity that it has given me.” Elise Hellwig (2004) is currently in graduate school at UC Davis. She is working on a dissertation in Ecology about the effects of climate change on almond and walnut trees and their pests. She has three chickens, a three sisters garden and grapes. Kate (Midden) Wathen (2004) went to Webster High then Loyola University Chicago after TCS. She married Alan Wathan in September 2013 and bounced around from Chicago to Oakland, CA to Washington, DC. She wrote, “I’m currently a press officer with the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance. When there’s a natural or manmade disaster abroad, I either support the response from DC or deploy to manage the media and communications on the ground. In the spring, I’ll start working on a Master’s degree in International Development and Diplomacy part-time at American University.” Ben Schmidt (2005) is beginning his fourth year of medical school at the University of Missouri and will begin applying to internal medicine residency positions in the fall. After TCS, he attended John Burroughs and Northwestern University. Joshua Wilson (2005) is working in San Francisco, CA, as a software engineer for Uber. Tessa O’Neill (2006) shared, “In my two years post Mizzou I have been up to a lot! I got back from working in France as an Au Pair for a family with two children in a Paris suburb. I had the best time traveling throughout Europe and soaking up the Parisian culture. Since being home, I have worked at Dicom, a Media Marketing agency in Des Peres. My first six months were as an intern and I’ve been full-time since January. I work in radio buying and promotional radio. I still think of my time at TCS so fondly, and it always brings to mind a lot of laughs. I still keep in contact with my classmates.” Olen Berthold (2007) graduated from St. Louis University Parks College and is employed as a pilot in private aviation and is an officer in candidate school in the National Guard. His mom, Rita Ryerson, reports that he graduated basic training with honors and expert marksmanship. He also climbed Mount Hood in May, which he would highly recommend. Kate Butler (2007) graduated from Skidmore College in upstate New York in 2015 and moved to New York City to work at a startup for the summer. She shared, “Last September, I moved to Avignon in the south of France to teach English for
a year. I just recently returned, and have moved back to New York permanently. I now live in Brooklyn and work as a copywriter and social media coordinator for a branding agency in Soho called 214. My older brother David Butler (2002) also lives in Brooklyn with his girlfriend, and works for a sister company to mine—the experiential marketing agency MKG. We might have moved across the country, but we’ve still managed to live within two miles of each other and work only five floors apart! It’s a good thing we like each other ;)” Rachel Kent (2007) shared, “I just finished my year with AmeriCorps in the Education Department at the International Institute, and I will be attending Washington University Law School this fall.” Irene Wilson (2007) is a mechanical engineer working for GKN-Land. She will be on assignment in Telford, England from July to December 2016. Catherine Turner (2008) graduated from Hendrix College in May and is joining City Year in Little Rock, Arkansas. City Year is an organization that partners with public schools in urban, high poverty communities to help students stay in school and on track to graduate from high school. Andrew Webster (2008) is finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Promotion at Missouri State in December. In April he attended an American Marketing Association collegiate conference in New Orleans. He wrote, “Around this time last summer, I was packing my bags for Scotland as part of a Study Away program through school. The trip was easily the most fun I’ve had in college. Aside from my education, I have been volunteering with the American Cancer Society, and find myself speaking with groups in Springfield about my experience with cancer. I gave a long speech at center stage during our campus’ Relay for Life this spring. Other than that, I am looking forward to graduation and whatever comes afterward. My brother, Ben Webster (2008) is living and working in Dallas, TX.” Brigit Carmody (2009) is working as a Counselor at Camp Nicolet in Eagle River, WI. In July, she co-led a group of girls on a 7-day canoe trip to the Boundary Waters area between Minnesota and Canada. She has been attending St. Louis Community College at Meramec and has been active in the Theatre department there. Her proud mom, Kathryn, shared, “She appeared in the chorus of Spamalot, as the Logician in Rhinoceros, and was recognized with an award for Outstanding Achievement during the 2015-16 Theatre season.”
Austin Lewandowski (2009) is currently working with the Missouri Department of Conservation out of Clinton, MO. He’s doing field research on prairies consisting of a management technique of patch burn and grazing. Elizabeth Buckley (2010) is entering her third year of college at Saint Louis University studying Speech Therapy. She shared, “I just recently returned from my semester abroad in Madrid, Spain, where I had the pleasure of being immersed in the Spanish language and culture. Throughout my semester, I was able to visit 7 European and African countries, including Spain, Germany, Morocco, Ireland, Italy, France and Portugal. I know that the adventurous, curious and respect-oriented mindset that was instilled in me at TCS helped me get the most out of my adventures for those 5 months!” Hale Berthold (2010) Is enjoying studying Civil Engineering and Photography at Mizzou. He participated in a very cold winter backcountry ski expedition in the Idaho Tetons in January with NOLS and traveled the northern region of India in June from New Delhi to the Himalayas. Jocelyn Hartung (2010) just finished her freshman year at Warren Wilson College in NC, where she was on the Paddling team and the Timber Sports team. She’s decided to major in Conservation Biology under Environmental Studies and is working for the athletic crew. Her mom, Marian, reports, “She loves WWC and is working this summer at Camp Miniwanca in Michigan.” Rasa Whittaker (2011) has a proud dad, Jeff, who shared, “Rasa is doing very well at DePaul University in Chicago. She loves the school and the city. She’ll be majoring in Environmental Studies (Not sure where that influence came from!) with a minor in French and working toward a Geographic Information Systems certificate. She’s planning a two-month trip to Iceland next summer.” Jeremy Abraham (2012) is headed to Colorado School of Mines to study Engineering. He remains a dedicated boulderer, rock climbing sans ropes, and will be hiking the Continental Divide this summer as part of his freshman orientation. Sophie Allen (2012) will be attending the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. She graduated from Clayton High School in May where she participated in girls swimming, co-ed water polo, broadcasting, newspaper, the student-run musical, cheerleading and student government. Her mom Jill shared, “Using skills learned at The continued on next page
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Summer 2016 ALUMNI NEWS
continued from previous page College School, Sophie tried to maximize her experience in high school by participating in everything that was of interest to her. She received awards for journalism and leadership.” Jill is excited to visit Sophie in Phoenix this winter! Kate Arendes (2012) graduated from Webster Groves High School and will be attending NYU in the fall to study Dramatic Writing. She is currently playing guitar and singing in a band that’s recording its first album. This summer, she attended an international theatre festival in Lincoln, Nebraska after earning the highest ranking in theatre marketing at the Missouri State Thespian Conference. She also had the opportunity to play Queen Gertrude in a production of Hamlet that headlined the conference. Elizah Becker (2012) has a proud mom, Kathy, who shared, “Elizah graduated from Kirkwood High School in the top 10% of her class. She ran cross-country all four years and was team captain as a senior. As a board member of the Kirkwood Youth Service Group, Elizah co-led students in community service throughout the St. Louis area. She also played ultimate Frisbee, and her team won the state championship in May. In July, Elizah headed to Melbourne, Australia, in a studyabroad program with Northeastern University. She’ll settle into her Northeastern dorm in Boston in January as a member of the Bouve College of Health Sciences.” David Brake (2012) graduated from Clayton High School in May and will attend the University of South Carolina to study Sports Management. His mom shared that his high school activities included varsity basketball and baseball, working as a sixth grade camp counselor, and DECA, where he placed in the region and state, as well as presented at the international conference in Nashville. David was named to the National Honor Society. Henry Brown (2012) is excited about attending The Citadel in South Carolina in August after graduating from Clayton High in May. He is spending the summer preparing with a local military group and interning with Mayor Slay’s Office for a second season. Connelly Dean (2012) graduated from CBC and is headed to Mizzou. Lily Fitzsimmons (2012) graduated from Crossroads College Preparatory School this May and is heading to Grinnell College in the fall. This past spring, she received the Head of School Award at Crossroads for Scholarship, Imagination and Responsibility. She shared, “I am
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looking forward to all the opportunities to study abroad and explore my love for writing and environmental science. I am missing TCS every day!” Jack Grossman (2012) graduated from MICDS and is headed to Miami University in Ohio this fall. Madeline Hasek (2012) graduated from Nerinx Hall in May and just recently returned from a 2+ week trip to France. She will be attending the University of Kansas this fall and majoring in Strategic Communications. Aedan James (2012) graduated from SLUH and will be heading to the University of Tulsa to study Theatre and Psychology. He received a full academic/theatre scholarship and is super excited, according to his mom, Pattie. Ben Mangelsdorf (2012) has a proud father Dave who shared this news, “Ben graduated Summa Cum Laude from Webster High School and participated in Math Club, Physics Club and Honor Society. He will be attending University of ColoradoBoulder on a Presidential Scholarship. One of his personal passions is rock climbing, which he was first exposed to at The College School.” Dave reflected, “I think the College School really helped him in a lot of ways, but in one thing particularly. His high school teachers commented that Ben was never afraid to challenge them to teach better. He always spoke up when he didn’t understand and challenged the teachers to break it down. They commented that many in the class were beneficiaries of that dialogue, as they didn’t understand either, but were afraid to ask. I think he learned that teachers shouldn’t be classified as authority figures immune to challenging discussions. That, I believe, is a direct result of the culture at The College School.” Alex McPherson (2012) graduated with honors from Kirkwood High School and will be attending Truman State University this fall as an English major with minors in French and Film Studies. Claire Miller (2012) graduated from Crossroads College Preparatory School in May. Throughout high school, Claire was very involved in the theater program, leading to a focus on costuming, makeup and wig design. She also was the catalyst for the school’s large, well-equipped maker’s space, which debuted her senior year. Her mom, Laura, shared, “In honor of Claire’s leadership in bringing the maker’s space to life, she received the school’s Alumni Association Book Scholarship Award, which pays for her first-semester books.” Claire will attend Webster University and received an academic scholarship award. She successfully auditioned for entry into
the University’s Conservatory of Theater Arts, where she is majoring in Costume Design and Construction. She’s spent her summer working at COCA as a costumer. She volunteered her help for the musical Shrek, and has now been hired as a costumer for future productions. Spencer Ott (2012) graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory School in May 2016. He will be attending Loyola University Chicago in the fall majoring in Accounting and received the Loyola Scholarship. Caroline Robinson (2012) graduated from Nerinx Hall High School and is headed to Indiana University to pursue a degree in Harp Performance and Arts Management. Trisha Schranck (2012) will attend Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, this fall majoring in Marine Biology with a minor in Creative Writing. Kenny Schergen (2012) graduated from Thomas Jefferson School and is heading to Cornell College this fall. He shared, “I hope you (Adrienne) and everyone else there knows the truly amazing impact you all have in the kids you educate; I wouldn’t be the same without you all.” Alex Wagner (2012) graduated from Crossroads College Preparatory School in May and will be attending Webster University this fall with an academic scholarship focusing on Computer Science. Jaleen Walker (2012) graduated from MICDS and plans to study Engineering at Georgia Tech this fall. Carter Wells (2012) graduated from Westminster Christian Academy and will be attending Southern Methodist University this fall in the Engineering school. Stina Berthold (2014) is beginning her junior year at Whitfield School and spends all her spare time riding and showing her horse in hunter/jumpers. She is currently researching and visiting colleges that have strong engineering programs. She enjoys snow skiing, especially during her recent Jackson Hole, WY, trip. Binyamin Fredman (2014) has a proud mom, Donna, who reports that he “is putting the confidence he acquired at The College School to good use. He is taking Mandarin at Whitfield, and this year the Mandarin class took a two-week trip to China, staying in Chinese boarding schools and with host families. He loved it!” She added, “His involvement in Theater at TCS has continued at Whitfield: he has taken Theater each year and spends many hours outside of school involved in every play, musical, and student-directed one-act. He has been inducted into Troupe 5436 of the Thespian Society and attended ThesCon in Kansas City this
Summer 2016 year. He still talks about all the things he loved about TCS.” Jack Morgan (2014) finished his sophomore year as an Honor Roll student at Whitfield. This summer he has been working as a welder and mechanic’s assistant and will be attending the National Youth Leadership Forum at UC Berkeley to study engineering. Paul Whittaker (2014) will be a junior at Vianney this year. His dad Jeff reports, “He’s maintaining honor roll grades and playing on the Vianney tennis team. He’s also the ‘sound guy’ for the Vianney theatre productions (another TCS influence?) and has a music recording studio where he produces the work of three of his classmates. His on-line presence is “Hittmaker,” and he recently set-up a store where he is selling his ‘beats.’” Dylan James (2015) will be a sophomore at Webster Groves High School and is taking honors courses and is on the cross-country and Robotics teams. Hannah Munz (2015) has a proud mom, Michele, who shared, “Hannah just completed her freshman year at Nerinx Hall. She was among a few freshman who won The Mary Ellen Mark Award for Extraordinary Commitment to the Creative Process. She auditioned for and earned spots on two student dance companies at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), HipHop Crew and COCAdance, which start training this fall.” This summer, Hannah and TCS classmate Camille Nunes (2015) attended the weeklong STEM Academy at Westminister College in Fulton, MO, where they explored how physics, math, environmental science and chemistry impact our daily lives. Luke “Spike” Kohlbecker (2017), currently in secondary school at Chaminade, claimed first place at the World Karting Association Daytona 2016 Kartweek. To kick off the 2016 National Karting season, Spike competed against some of the best racers in the country. A news clip noted, “A huge congratulations goes out to Spike Kohlbecker, who bested a field of 27 drivers in Yamaha Junior with a well battled race lasting over the course of 4 days of testing, practice, preparation, qualifying, heat races and culminating with a first place finish in the Final.” Spike’s racing season will continue in Mooresville, NC, Indianapolis, IN, and Pittsburgh, PA. n
New TCS Team Members Submitted by Ed Maggart, Head of School Please join us in welcoming these new faculty/staff members to the TCS team for the 2016-17 school year.
Gina Brym (Human Resources/Accounting Coordinator)
Gina has worked in myriad Human Resources and Bookkeeping environments over the past 15 years. Most recently, she worked at Cotton Babies where she was in charge of payroll, HR, insurance, bookkeeping, accounts payable, policy and procedure development, and auditing. Gina, her husband Nik, and their two children, Sawyer (2 years old) and Norah (Pre-Newport), will make great additions to our community. Gina started work with us in late May, and many of you may have already met her.
Emily Figley (Second Grade)
Emily has worked in many educational settings: an instructional coach in St. Louis Public Schools, a second and third grade teacher in a California charter school system (Rocketship Schools), a corps member in Teach For America, and a first grade intern at Cury in Cambridge School in Cambridge, England. She earned both her Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education at University of Virginia. Her Missouri state license is in Elementary Education for Grades 1-6. Emily and her fiancé, Matthew, moved here last fall from California. Emily loves taking children on learning expeditions, providing a strong foundation in socialemotional health, and working in a community that shares her belief that people need to explore the world around them in order to feel rejuvenated and fulfilled.
Lori Knoblauch (Middle School)
After 13 years of middle level teaching, Lori is excited to be part of a dynamic and thriving middle school team that is committed to nurturing and challenging 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. A district-wide teacher of the year, Lori has experience in both independent and public school environments and has taught across the core content areas of Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. She most recently taught at Crossroads College Preparatory School and before that at Northwest Valley Middle School. Lori’s undergraduate degree is from Alverno College in Milwaukee, her Masters degree in Middle School and Secondary Education is from
Maryville, her Education Specialist degree is from University of Missouri at Columbia, and her Missouri state certifications are in social science and school principal. Lori and her husband Brad have three children, the youngest of whom is graduating from Crossroads this spring.
Katie Malone (Kindergarten)
Katie just recently relocated back to St. Louis with her husband after working the last several years in Virginia. Katie’s undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with both Elementary Education and Special Education certifications. Most recently, she worked for two and a half years in a kindergarten through second grade classroom at The Auburn School, which supports children who are on the autism spectrum. Prior to that, she worked at a preschool for two years here in St. Louis and was a private educational caregiver to a family of two preschool-aged children. This summer Katie is teaching at the St. Louis Zoo Preschool. Having grown up on a farm in St. James, MO, Katie intimately knows what it means for a child to learn, discover, and explore the out of doors.
Laura Notrica (Early Childhood Faculty Support)
Laura has been a member of our community for a long time—as a parent, advocate, and substitute teacher. With a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish, Laura has been immersed in learning her entire life. She is a mother, traveler, volunteer, child-care provider, and owner/operator of a restaurant in Georgia. Laura’s role as Early Childhood Faculty Support will see her leading Spanish and Physical Education instruction (in partnership with Cindy and Doug, respectively) for the Early Childhood students, as well as supporting the Early Childhood team in other areas, including the lunchroom experience.
Jill Pampel (Associate Director of Marketing & Communications)
Jill has done some great communications and public relations work throughout her career at organizations such as Pi Beta Phi Foundation, Saint Louis Science continued on next page
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Summer 2016
TCS Teachers Learn and Grow Submitted by Ed Maggart, Head of School Each year our teachers choose professional development opportunities and many present at conferences. Here are some examples of what faculty members have been up to this past school year: Sam Hahn, Middle School Math: “After attending a Singapore Math work-
helpful. I use it when teaching about soils, and it changed the way we manage our school garden!” Carol Fitzsimmons, Fourth Grade: “Tim Wood and I attended the National Science Teacher Convention. I attended workshops about space science, robotics, coding, and biomimicry. I incorporated the Makey Makey tool into our States and Stories theme via the creation of regional map games this year.” Carol added, “Also, Mindy Bhuyan, Fourth Grade, and I attended the Challenger Learning Center’s training to gather ideas for our new Space Studies theme. We learned how to make a pocket solar system and about the NASA missions and history. We took a trip Penny Allen (Third Grade) and Patricia Bohn (Second Grade) share their into virtual space to comcoding expertise along with Dot and Dash Robot at a professional conference. plete a mission as chemists, doctors, geologists and shop, I was excited to bring “mental engineers.“ math” to my Algebra classes. We now Penny Allen, Third Grade: “Last incorporate math sprints, mental math summer, Patricia Bohn, Second Grade, strings, and geometric visualization into and I attended IDEA:TE at The Cathour curriculum.” erine Cook School in Chicago and were Tim Wood, Sustainability Coordinainspired by ways technology can serve tor: “Middle School teachers John Colas a “language” for students. This year bert, Chelsea Denlow, and I visited Brazil we have continued to learn alongside our in summer 2015 on a Fulbright Scholarstudents as we explore the world of codship trip. Having the freedom to create ing and robotics.” a Global Sustainability class made it easy During 2015-16, faculty and staff to use what I learned. Another program members shared their work with eduon soils, provided by the River Des Peres cators at local, regional, and national Watershed Coalition, was extremely conferences. Presenters included: Tim Wood, Kathryn Bruntrager (Preschool), Kate Booher (Preschool), Penny Allen, New TCS Team Members Gerald Axelbaum (Fifth Grade), Kathy continued from previous page Lewis (Fifth Grade), Sarah Hassing (Early Childhood Coordinator), and Kevin NaCenter, and The Leadership Institute— varro (Assistant Head). n Women with Purpose, as well as in internships at The Field Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Her undergraduate degree in Public Relations and English is from Valparaiso University, and her Masters of Arts in CommunicaJason Raznick, our Technology tions Management is from Webster UniCoordinator, celebrated his 10-year anversity. Jill is excited to work in a school niversary at TCS. We honored him in setting. She is inspired by our school proearly June with a faculty-written and gram and eager to help us tell our stories performed skit outside on the banks of in new ways and places. We are thrilled our playground “River.” to welcome Jill, her husband, Robert, and Sarah Iannarelli on our Middle their toddler daughter, Evelyn, to The School team welcomed her second baby, College School. n Reid Anderson Iannarelli, on April 28.
Students Put Bow on Original StopMotion Video
Submitted by Jaclyn StewartStrothmann, Director of Advancement At the beginning of the third trimester, Mary Jo Wilmes’ “Hands on Art” class embarked on a mission to bring The College School journey to life through stopmotion picture illustrations. From March to May, our Middle Schoolers took the project from concept to completion in a piece now featured on the front page of our new website. After selecting an image or symbol that represented a facet of their TCS experience, students went on to illustrate ten to thirty frames linking each symbol together through handanimated sketches. Not familiar with how you create a stop-animation project? Follow through the steps and images here.
Step 1: Students brainstormed meaningful symbols and images that represented a smattering of experiences across early childhood, primary and middle school grades. You’ll find images continued on next page
Faculty/Staff Milestones
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John McElwain, Auxilliary Programs Coordinator, received his M. Ed. in School Counseling from UMSL. Kevin Navarro, Assistant Head of School, completed his Doctoral Degree in Character Education and Democratic School Governance at the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL). n
Summer 2016 Stop-Motion Video
from inside the classroom and out, from fine arts to coding, and from Spanish to the climbing wall.
ings around campus to set the backdrop for the animation. Students shoot onlocation and you’ll see their personality (and their thumbs) show as they provide a setting and a context for each anchor image.
Step 2: Having determined each image or “anchor drawing,” the class put all eighteen images into a sequence. The goal of the collective piece is to draw ten to thirty images that visually transition your anchor drawing into the drawing of the next artist. Step 3: Having gone through multiple drafts and many hand-drawn frames to animate the piece, the larger animation is assembled. Students armed with video cameras take their anchor draw-
Step 4: We celebrate! Over the trimester, the eighteen students have drawn nearly 400 illustrated frames that became 00:53 seconds of produced video. The original creation can be found on the homepage of The College School’s new website, thecollegeschool.org, as well as on the school’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/thecollegeschool.
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This production continues the tradition of making stop-action movies at The College School. Originally established as a way of looking at art history, this was a great opportunity to use the technique to explore and portray our program using drawings. Mary Jo shared, “I love the range of ideas and styles of drawing. Each student met the challenge in their own way. With the help of Technology Coordinator Jason Raznick and his supportive perspective, students were encouraged to explore the ideas visually. With the addition of music composed by our very own teacher Carl Pandolfi, the collaboration has come full circle.” Looking back on the project, TCS Technology Coordinator, Jason Raznick shared that the work the students collectively produced “far exceeded my initial expectations of the project. It was incredible to see the project develop week-by-week, and get to see first-hand the talent of these emerging artists.” n
7th Grade Urban Podcasts Submitted by Jack Kellaher, Alumni Editor (Class of 2015) Each spring, seventh graders immerse themselves in the Urban Experience theme, which takes them into both St. Louis and Chicago neighborhoods. Middle School Teacher Kevin Parentin relates, “As seventh graders explore our urban landscape, we wonder together about the many different aspects of community. Students learn to use public transportation, explore neighborhoods, and interact with local residents and business owners in an effort to produce radio podcasts concentrating on timely and relevant issues.” In small groups, students travel to several St. Louis urban neighborhoods, including University City, the Central West End, Downtown, Cherokee, Dogtown, and others, to conduct interviews, do research, and absorb the atmosphere that makes up our city. This spring, students created podcasts on many topics, including Local vs. Chain businesses, MLS vs. Rams, the Aftermath of Ferguson, Homelessness and Local Architecture. They gather the opinions of the public through planned and unplanned informal interviews with scripted and on-the-spot questions. The
students record the interviews to review later, and they must also deal with conflicting public opinions to come to a general consensus on their chosen topic. Students are given ample time for all facets of the project. Parentin shares, “We alternate studio days and field trips to relevant cultural focal points to prepare them for the production of a dynamic and informative piece of audio journalism.” Though this may seem like a large task for 7th grade students, they benefit from working directly with staff experts at NPR. They learn how to effectively create short segments similar to those that air on NPR. One of the student groups made a podcast that dealt with the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in August 2014 in Ferguson, MO. This event brought a lot of attention to our city; however, the group of students felt that many media sources did not cover the protests and trial of Darren Wilson in the correct perspective. The students traveled to different parts of the city to interview people with differing opinions and connections to the shooting of Michael Brown. They interviewed a Black Lives Matter activist
and locals on the street. After considering the comments, the general consensus of the students was that “This event changed St. Louis; major events can have a big impact on our community, our businesses, our media, our homes, and our lives.” One other popular topic covered regularly is the difference between Local and Chain Shops and the different impact they can have on a community. The students uncovered “shocking differences between local and chain establishments,” such as product range and price variation. They found that there were varying opinions in each of the different areas they visited, coming to the consensus that local and chain businesses can work together to form a stable economy. The culmination of the Urban theme is four-day trip to Chicago. Students take an Amtrak train from downtown St. Louis to Grand Station in Chicago and stay in a church in the city. While there, students travel to different cultural focal points in Chicago through the metro system, which is much larger and more challenging continued on back page
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Preschool through Eighth Grade 7825 Big Bend Blvd. Webster Groves, MO 63119 (314) 962-9355 www.thecollegeschool.org
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Upcoming Events
7th Grade Urban Podcasts
Please RSVP for these events on our website.
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Parent Education Coffees on Child Development Friday, 9/30 and 10/21, 8:15-9:15 AM Optional small group tour to follow
Preschool Showcase Fri. Dec. 9, 8:15-9:30 AM Get an up-close look at our preschool classrooms and program from the teachers’ and parents’ perspectives.
Fall Festival Open House Sat. Nov. 12, 9 AM to Noon An interactive event featuring a theater performance and classroom activities.
Winter Children’s Festival (Ages 2–8) Sat. Jan. 7, 2017, 9 AM to Noon Features an exploration of activity stations followed by a special performance.
than the Metrolink in St. Louis. Students compare and contrast the two cities to explore the differences. While there, students also partake in fascinating informal interviews captured on the streets of Chicago to further their interviewing skills. Through conducting interviews on the street, to absorbing the city atmosphere, to creating and sharing podcasts with the TCS community, students tackle an interesting and challenging task that exposes them to many different opinions and urban issues. Check out the student podcasts at https://www.thecollegeschool.org/about-tcs/forward-thinkingeducation/reflective/ and read some of the fascinating informal interviews students captured on the streets of Chicago at #TCSUrbanExperience on Facebook.
Transition to Middle School Night Tues. Dec. 6, 7-8:30 PM Demystify the sixth-eighth grade journey by interacting with teachers, students, alumni and veteran parents. Take a glimpse into your child’s next chapter.
Kindergarten/First Grade Showcase Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, 8:15-9:30 AM Spend an hour+ taking a closer look at our K/1 classrooms and program and learn from our teachers and parents personally. Main Cycle Application Deadline for 2017-18 Friday, Jan. 27, 2017
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