The O’Neal Quarterly •
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O’Neal graduates 38 with $2.9M in merit scholarship awards. Among the Class of 2017 is a UNC-Charlotte Levine Scholar and future West Point cadet. Valedictorian Jack Hendricks and Mr. David Logan ‘86 speak at Commencement. Earth Day Photography Contest winners are J.T. Erle (5th), John Kester (K), Chris Dymond (12th) and grand prize winner is Walker Bell (10th).
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The “Blue Team” wins the traditional annual Field Day.
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Congressman Richard Hudson tours O’Neal’s campus, visits Lower School classrooms and talks with Middle School students.
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Second grade student Rayan Almony is Head of School for the Day, an auction item won by his parents.
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The Parents’ Association treats the faculty like “super heros” for Teacher Appreciation Week.
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The Upper School Leadership Club hosts the inaugural ultimate frisbee tournament involving Middle School, Upper School and faculty.
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O’Neal inducts 23 sophomores into the National Honor Society.
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Bill Youngclaus Creative Writing Awards recipients are Isla Riggsbee (1st), Ria Elamaran (7th) and Cecilia Bockoven (10th).
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The Blackbird’s Eye Literary Magazine is dedicated to Upper School Division Assistant Robin Prim.
The inaugural Community Heritage Festival has representation from 11 countries and is a huge success.
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The Talon - O’Neal’s Yearbook with this year’s theme” Our Story” is dedicated to Middle School teacher Sam Amato.
Elementary Battle of the Books places 2nd and Middle School BOB places 3rd in regional competitions.
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O’Neal offers Princeton Review ACT Prep Classes under the certified instruction of Michael Norman.
SPRING 2017 •
O’Neal Upper School English teacher Henry Hamilton receives a fellowship from the English Speaking Union to study literature at The University of Edinburgh this summer.
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O’Neal Trail, Math Field Day, Talent Shows, and Prom Promise, all continue in O’Neal tradition.
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Middle School Science Olympiad places 2nd in regional competition qualifying for a 4th consecutive appearance in state competition.
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The Parents’ Association and Booster Club make a $15,000 contribution to the “Aquatics Center at Taws Hall” project, launched as a “Fund a Need “ item at the annual auction. The $15,000 was earned from the Boosterthon held this past October.
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Co-author of the book “The Enlightened College Applicant”, Andrew Belasco, PhD and co-founder of College Transitions, Michael Trivette, PhD present to the greater community about what to know with the college admissions process.
Strategic Plan 2017 - 2022
O’Neal Announces Strategic Plan
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’Neal’s Board of Trustees approved The O’Neal School Strategic Plan 2017-2022 on May 8, 2017. It is a 5-year plan culminating at the celebration of O’Neal’s 50th year. You may read the strategic plan in its entirety by visiting O’Neal’s website under “About O’Neal”. Click HERE.
Vertical Alignment
the strategic plan, one of the actions outlined under The Educational Experience is InVertical Alignment and Program Cohesion.
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’Neal’s Strategic Plan 2017 – 2022 provides direction to strengthen our programs and the School to offer the best possible educational opportunity for students and families in the Sandhills region. It is an exciting time at O’Neal as we approach our 50th year. We thank our students, parents, teachers and community supporters for helping The O’Neal School reach this point in its history. This Quarterly highlights all of the major areas of our programs: academics, arts and athletics. This academic year has been extraordinary, and I am amazed by all that has been accomplished. All of our students can be proud of their growth and achievements. The faculty and I are honored to have taught and cherished the students entrusted to us, and we wish everyone a wonderful summer holiday.
John C. Elmore Head of School
Vertical Alignment is a road map of concepts for each subject taught beginning at the early level of kindergarten and going through grade 12. It indicates at what grade the details of each concept should be introduced, mastered or simply reviewed in order to move to the next one. The idea of curriculum review is not exactly new at O’Neal, as its tremendous track record of academic achievement cannot be produced with no direction for instruction. However, in an effort to continuously look for better ways, teachers across divisions have been meeting together regularly to collaborate on the common subject they teach in order to put this road map on paper in the form of a chart. Otherwise known as an “IDEAL”, it is a working document that will adapt as new technology and other advances that affect the way students learn evolve. Every detail of every concept of the subject is addressed. The benefits:1 • It allows for a wider variety of concepts to be taught by reducing repetition of concepts that may have been happening across more than one grade. What if it is revealed in the vertical alignment for science that students learn about different aspects of the skeletal system in several grades, but the concept of velocity is hardly addressed? The science teachers can make changes to the plan in the appropriate grades to provide balance. • Skills are building blocks. The mastery of one detail helps to introduce the next providing consistent skill development. For example, if fraction multiplication was taught in 5th grade but never addressed again, students may not be able to apply fraction operations in more advanced courses. • There is a strong correlation between those schools that engage in regular curriculum review and those who have strong student achievement. A more reflective learning community provides more rigor in learning. • It also helps to better articulate what a school communicates about its curriculum as well as hold the school accountable for accomplishing mastery of the skills expected in a college preparatory school. “A teacher regularly reflects on their practice and sometimes to a fault,” says Middle School math teacher Megan King. “Like in the middle of a lesson, wondering what would be done better or noticing a learning opportunity we had not planned. The exercise of our vertical alignment work was our way to reflect on our teaching in a much larger scale. We first documented what we currently teach in each course and took a step back to see the whole picture. It allowed us to step outside the courses we have taught for a year or years and see how our students’ future learning is impacted based on what we teach. Next we designed what we think would be the best ideal alignment progression. There is value and motivation in knowing that we are a community of educators all striving for the ideal.” Curriculum review via vertical alignment will continue to be a consistent process for all subjects going forward. 1 - Washburn, Kevin - “4 Benefits of a Vertical Alignment Initiative” - Jan. 2016 - www.clerestorylearning.com
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”
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tudents in O’Neal’s Middle and Upper Schools performed the Broadway musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” on Wednesday, March 8th. Based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz, the musical encompasses the many classical he 2016-2017 athletics seasons were exciting! The girls’ varCharlie Brown moments through the years. The cast includes sity golf team and middle school pep team made their debut. Jenna Burns as Charlie Brown, Grace Ann Mottola as Sally The boys’ varsity soccer team made it to the second round of state Brown, Ryann Perkins as Schroeder, Eliza Nooe as Snoopy, competition. The middle school cheer team placed 1st in the Fay- Molly Mansker as Linus Van Pelt, Calli Brielle McIntyre as Lucy etteville Invitational Tournament. Girls’ varsity swimming won its Van Pelt, Niasha Kodzai as Frieda, Lacey Hardy as Peppermint 3rd consecutive conference championship and placed 3rd in state Pat, Abby Cedeno as Marcie and Sierra Stefanelli as Violet. The competition. Girls’ varsity basketball competed in the final four for production is co-directed by Upper School English teacher and the conference championship. The boys’ varsity tennis team made One-Act Play Coach Henry Hamilton and Head of Middle School it to the quarter finals of the state competition as the varsity girls’ Virginia Andres. Lower School music teacher David Lussier is track and field team placed 2nd in the conference championships the music director. The production crew is Grace Stroud as stage manager, Chuck Andres for set design, Hannah Burns is run crew and 6th in the state meet. There were 18 track and field studentand Jamie Wenzel is light design and board operator. athletes who qualified for the state championships. The most successful team of the whole year was the varsity boys’ golf team who earned 2nd place in both their conference and state tournaments. “The Importance of Being Earnest”
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Sports Recap
On the individual front, some amazing achievements were made. 8th grade student, Jackson Van Paris won the varsity golf EPIC Conference Championship by one shot and then went on the win the NCISAA Championship by a remarkable 8 shots. O’Neal yielded an incredible count of 52 All-Conference recognitions including 2 “Conference Players of the Year” and 22 All State recognitions. 80% of O’Neal’s Upper School students participated in a JV or varsity sport this year. All of O’Neal’s teams played with Passion, Resilience and the will to Compete this school year. The future is looking strong for the Falcons!
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he O’Neal Players performed Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” on April 28th, 29th and 30th. The play, subtitled “a trivial comedy for serious people”, explores the social standards of late-Victorian Britain and chronicles the tale of two young aristocratic men who have each invented fictitious personae to allow them the opportunity to ‘escape’ from the social constraints of the period and to lead a double life. Leading the cast this year are junior Andrew Shoecraft-Martin as John Worthing, J.P and sophomore Stefan Woolley as his ever-hungry friend Algernon Moncrieff. Senior Grace Stroud leads the female members as the irascible, hard-nosed (yet hilarious) Lady Bracknell. Senior Natalie Placa and sophomore Calli McIntyre, play the deceived fiancées Cecily Cardew and Gwendolyn Fairax respectively. Rounding out the cast are sophomore Jenna Burns as Cecily’s governess, Miss Prism; sophomore Andrew Phan as the Reverend Canon Chasuble, junior David Lewis as Algernon’s servant, Lane and junior Maddie Gutschmit as Merriman. The production is directed by O’Neal drama teacher Michael Norman and stage-managed by O’Neal junior Mary McMurray.
O ’ NEAL SUMMER FUN Summer Enrichment Programs for Youth of All Ages.
End of Year
AWARDS
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