The Post, January 2019

VO LU M E X X I V, N U M B E R 5 | JA N UA RY 2019 A monthly publication of The Post Oak School B E E R E S U LT S • A L U M N I V O I C E S P H O T O S

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THE POST

POPA

COFFEE | WOR K Day

Grand p w e l c o a re nt s me!

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Wed., Feb. 6, 8:45–noon PHOTO BY KABOOMPICS .C OM FROM PEXELS

PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, & FRIENDS ARE ALL INVITED! Hosted by our POPA Chairs, this is a great way to meet other Post Oak parents and friends while helping our teachers accomplish a variety of easyto-do projects for their classroom.

These gatherings generally fall on the first Wednesday of each month at the Bissonnet Campus. Please join as often as you can!

Don’t miss an issue of The Post or the weekly Post Highlights!

Please take a minute to add info@postoakschool to your address book or safe sender list. That way you’ll keep getting photos, stories, and news from the school.

On the Cover

2018–2019 Post Oak Board of Trustees Sebha Ali Erin Busby Raj Chelapurath Rick Evans Blair Garrou Vean Gregg, treasurer Gregory Han, secretary Maura Joyce, president Mark Martin Bert Mellinger Jaana Porra Jennifer Rochlis Manolo Sanchez, chair Rona Sonabend Rochelle Tafolla Whitney Walsh Alison Wong

Trustees Emeriti Melissa Coleman Adam Forman Melanie Gray Bob Harvey Lloyd Kirchner Pat Mitchell Alan Ying

Students all over Post Oak find the best spot for their creative work, be it at a table or even on the floor.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates, photos, and more: www.facebook.com/ postoakschool and postoakhighschool

Instagram.com/ postoakschool/ and postoakhighschool/

twitter.com/postoakschool

JA N UA RY 2019

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Fostering Creativity

C

reativity is a complex word to define. The dictionary tells us it is “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.”

It also involves originality, progressiveness, and imagination.

Many of us still think about the arts when we think about creativity or creative people. But increasingly we see that creativity becomes more and more critical in the world in which we live. As technology takes over the way we communicate and do business, original ideas and new strategies are key. As the world economy transforms and people strive to re-define themselves and the way they earn money, creative solutions are a means of survival.

In 2017, when the World Economic Forum released their The Future of Jobs report, creativity appears in the #3 spot of the top ten skills needed in the workforce for 2020. (It is still ranked #3 in the updated list of skills needed for 2022.) When you look at the list for 2015 and 2020 side by side creativity made a huge leap from #10 to #3. At Post Oak, we find this list fascinating as it relates to

by Maura Joyce, Head of School

the work we do with the students in our Montessori school.

Maria Montessori spoke about creativity from a foundational standpoint. She observed that every child from birth has creative energies that are used to form the personality and become the human person they are destined to be. She saw how easy it was for children to develop and grow when they were allowed to follow their inner rhythm. She also saw how easy it was for the environment to stop that growth or squash that creativity.

My guess is that if Maria Montessori defined creativity, she would say it was a person’s ability to generate new ideas through the process of opening oneself up to the possibilities in life. I glean this from the following quote of hers: We cannot know the consequences of suppressing a child’s spontaneity when he is just beginning to be active.

We may even suffocate life itself. That humanity, which is revealed in all its intellectual splendor during the sweet and tender age of childhood, should be respected with a kind of religious veneration. It is like the sun which appears at dawn or a flower just beginning to bloom. Education cannot be effective unless it helps a child to open up himself to life.

Maria Montessori dedicated her life to creating learning environments that allow children to explore, discover, and create. Montessori fosters creativity in three parts: building the foundation

of sensorial experiences, engaging the imagination in the learning process, and the design and creation of work product.

PART ONE happens by giving the students as many concrete, real experiences with the world around them as possible, and allowing them to work with their environment independently; they build a foundation of experiences with objects, qualities, quantity, nature, etc. By working with real objects, plants, and animals, and by learning the language for all of them and the qualities they experience—tall, green, broad, hot, etc., the children have a bank of knowledge with which to work. This is most visible in all the work that happens in Primary.

PART TWO is using the imagination as their most important learning tool. Most visible in the Elementary level—impressionistic charts, time lines, pictures, and stories all give the child the opportunity to learn about the places and things that are not directly in the classroom: “A rainforest with its tall trees that have broad leaves giving off water because it is hot, creating a steamy atmosphere of deep forest green.” With the strong foundation of experiences in part one, they easily conjure a picture of what a rainforest is in their mind.

PART THREE is putting it all together to create work—work that shows the breadth and depth of their knowledge and brings out their creative self. When given the freedom to use continued on page 4

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THE POST

Class of 2019 College Acceptances Acceptances for our future alumni are still coming in. Here’s the full list so far:

Arizona State University

Ithaca College

Baylor University

Lake Forest College

Bradley University

Louisiana State University

Brown University*

Millsaps College

Champlain College

Savannah College of Art and Design

Colorado School of Mines Colorado State University Cornell University*

Southern Methodist University Southwestern University St. Edward’s University

Drexel University

Texas A&M University

Fordham University George Mason University Goucher College

Texas Christian University Trinity University Tulane University

High Point University

University of Colorado, Boulder

Howard University

University of Kansas, School of Business University of Houston University of Houston, College of Technology University of Houston, Honors College University of Oregon University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Dallas University of Tulsa West Virginia University Wheaton College Worcester Polytechnic Institute

University of Denver *Early decision

Scholarship offers to date amount to $1,457,340.

Fostering Creativity continued from page 3

their imagination, students come up with so many options to demonstrate understanding and mastery. In passing, I asked Lower Elementary teachers to give me a few examples of creative work. In Mrs. Sood’s class, students are making mobiles with nomenclature cards they

have created from their biology vocabulary. Parts of the bird and parts of the fish are hanging from the ceiling. In Mrs. Olitzki’s class, two students created a model of Yankee stadium with recycled materials after an architecture lesson.

In Ms. Rebuffini’s class, students created a comic book that demonstrated their understanding of Native American

history. In Ms. Taj’s class, two students replicated the periodic table using hieroglyphics. continued on page 5

JA N UA RY 2019

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Post Oak Board Brief FROM OUR BOAR D OF TRUSTEES LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AT THE POST OAK SCHOOL

by Vean Gregg, Board Trustee, Finance Committee Chair Financial stewardship is among the most important longterm responsibilities of Post Oak School’s Board of Trustees.

World-class, well-trained faculty and staff; long-recognized programmatic vision and excellence; highly adapted classrooms and facilities; innovative leadership and culture—just a short list of the Post Oak essentials that are provided for each year.

Some aspect of the school’s financials is presented at every board meeting and often accompanied by thorough discussion and explanation. The board is fortunate to have a diverse group of trustees who bring relevant skills and experience in many critical disciplines well beyond finance. Importantly, many trustees are also parents and therefore have innate sensitivity to potential community impact when making financial decisions. It’s a deeply ingrained core value that Post Oak’s long-term financial sustainability is a key duty of the board.

Financial planning is a continuous process that is led by the head of school, chief financial officer, treasurer (board member) and Finance Committee; and then approved by the board of trustees periodically. Every August, the board conducts an in-depth review of Post Oak’s five-year strategic plan that analyzes and aligns the school’s financial outlook against key strategic goals for the next several years. Annually, these goals are translated into the budget, which is the basis for tuition setting. For many years, the Post Oak Board has successfully followed the guidance of Independent School Management’s stability model, which specifies that tuition

Fostering Creativity continued from page 4

Montessori looks at creativity more broadly, focusing on bringing out the innovation that is inherent in each child. Students are encouraged to create

should cover all “hard” program costs. Additional generous giving from our school community, alumni, and foundations is used for longer-term programmatic goals, investments in facilities, building up the operating reserve, and steadily growing Post Oak’s Endowment Fund.

Your family should have already received the 2017–18 Annual Report which highlights key accomplishments and presents financial information for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018.

The Post Oak School demonstrated consistent programming, financial resiliency, and community spirit despite starting the year with Hurricane Harvey—a 500+ year storm. Thanks to the tremendous effort, poise, and skill demonstrated by many leaders, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders from all over the Post Oak community, we overcame a catastrophic storm without catastrophic financial consequences.

Midway through fiscal 2018–19, Post Oak maintains a steady financial position and outlook. While we have many opportunities that can be considered for potential future investments to expand facilities and programming, we have no pressure to do anything without careful, thoughtful deliberation.

We are in a comfortable position to continue our heritage of making responsible long-term decisions that are consistent with the mission and advancement of the legacy institution. Looking ahead to 2019–20: We’re expecting to be at or near full capacity on both campuses with a total enrollment of approximately 520 students.

Please contact me directly at if you wish to discuss Post Oak’s financial condition or policies in more detail. •

something original that brings meaning to them as they practice a skill or acquire knowledge. Maria Montessori’s words on Post Oak’s new year’s card inspire our work in the classroom: Imagination does not become great until human beings,

given the courage and the strength, use it to create. • Link: www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/ study-you-will-need-this-top-job-skill-tosucceed-in-age-of-robots-by-2020.html

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THE POST

A Way with Words

Braes Food Drive Thanks!

The week before winter break, Upper Elementary students participated in our annual Spelling Bee. A big round of applause to all of the spellers who participated and congratulations to our winner, Shyla (above right), and our runner-up, Gautam (left)! Shyla will participate in Houston Public Media’s Spelling Bee. •

Thank you so much for your participation and support for our Braes Interfaith Ministries annual food drive to support Houston families in need. The generosity of our Post Oak community never ceases to amaze and inspire.

Thank you for your enthusiastic support of our greater Houston community!

—Beth Olitzki, LE Teacher

POPA Family Community Service Join us for blanket-making benefitting The Center for Children and Women along with Casa de Esperanza-House of Hope for Children. Our goal is to surpass the 60 blankets we made last year!

DATES

January 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. !

Community Service activity ome c o t in Post Oak gym e Mor

Join us in the Bissonnet Campus gym for an hour or stay all day. This activity is for the whole family (kids of all ages are welcome).

If you have any questions, please contact John Duboise at or .•

December’s service activity at Don Greene Nature Park was awesome! Thank you to Post Oak family volunteers!

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Alumni Voices This is one of our favorite nights of the year! Post Oak alums (and two soon-to-be alums from the Class of 2019) answered questions from parents and talked about their experiences post-Post Oak. It’s always a delight to welcome back our former students and hear about the impact the school has had on their lives, as well as what they’re up to now. This event was recorded, so we’ll share the video as soon as it’s uploaded to our YouTube channel. •

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THE POST

POST OAK PARENT EDUCATION EVENT S

MS

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL PARENT ED

Pathways to Independence

Self-Care

HS

Coffee with the ELEMENTARY DIRECTOR

EL

Wed., Feb. 13 at 9 a.m.

in the Bissonnet Parenting Center

Wednesday, Feb. 6

6:45 p.m. Refreshments 7:00 p.m. Event start, High School facilitated by MDC Counselor J’anvieu Pilisi, CSC, LPC-I, NCC Join the Middle and High School counselor and directors for this series of ongoing conversations.

ALL

Redirecting Children’s Behavior with Deborah Fry, Ph.D., C.P.E.

Tuesdays, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, & Mar. 5 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Post Oak $245 for one; $345 per couple Register online at www.deborah-fry.com

Topic: Watch the weekly Post Highlights e-mail!

Parenting the Love & Logic Way®

ALL

presented by

Phylis R. Tomlinson, LPC, LMFT, ATR-BC

Thursdays, Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 7, 21, 28, March 7 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Post Oak

$130 individual, $240 per couple Workbook (optional) $15 To register, send payment & email address to: Phylis R. Tomlinson, 4010 Blue Bonnet #109, Houston, TX 77025 phylistomlinson@gmail.com or 713.253.9044

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HMI Open House Join us for an Open House on January 23 at 7 p.m. or February 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bissonnet Campus to learn more about the upcoming AMI Primary teacher training.

Spring ParentTeacher Conference Registration Spring Parent-Teacher Conference registration is available on our website.

Sign up at www.postoakschool.org ▶ For Parents ▶ Schedule/View a Parent-Teacher Conference and use your My BackPack login information.

POST OAK ANNUAL FUND Congratulations to Landon Bagby’s, Cynthia Blessman’s, Orly Kluk’s, Debbie Nickerson’s, Renee Smith’s, and Tamara Townsend’s classes for reaching 100%!

CONTRIBUTIONS

PARTICIPATION

THANK YOU!

GOAL: 100%

$352,000

96%

TRUSTEES & EMPLOYEES

12TH GRADE

11TH GRADE

10TH GRADE

9TH GRADE

8TH GRADE

7TH GRADE

TOWNSEND

TAJ MAHMOOD

SOOD

SMITH, R

SMITH, K

REBUFFINI

PINTO, M

PINTO, E

OLITZKI

NICKERSON

KLUK

HANSEN

GUERRERO

DURAN

BLESSMAN

BAGBY

100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 94% 100% 100% 89% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 92% 87% 100% 91% 82% 89% 100%

Thank you all for your gifts! If you have not contributed, please help your child’s class reach 100% participation.

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THE POST

SCENES from The Post Oak School

JA N UA RY 2019

FO L LOW U S O N FAC E B O O K & I N S TAG R A M FO R E V E N M O R E PH OTO S

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THE POST

N OT I C E B OA R D 2019–2020 ACADEMIC CALENDAR AUGUST

Bissonnet Campus 4600 Bissonnet St., Bellaire, TX 77401 Phone: 713-661-6688 | Fax: 713-661-4959 Museum District Campus 1010 Autrey St., Houston, TX 77006 Phone: 832-538-1988 | Fax: 832-538-1926 www.postoakschool.org

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HOLIDAYS/SCHOOL CLOSED

EXPANDED YEAR CONTRACT DAYS

9/2 Labor Day 10/14 Teacher in-service 11/27–29 Thanksgiving Break 12/23–1/3 Winter Break 1/6 Teacher in-service 1/20 MLK Jr. Day 2/17 Presidents’ Day 4/9 Teacher in-service 4/10 Good Friday 5/21 Last day for High School 5/25 Memorial Day

Conference Days 10/18 11/1 3/13 3/27 Primary Admission Day 2/13 *YCC, EL, MS, & HS in session Other 2/14 Professional Development 3/9–13 Spring Break

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Visit our website to view the Annual Report for the 2017–2018 school year.

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for parents and their children in YCC & Half-Day Primary

SIGNIFICANT CALENDAR DAYS 8/12 8/20 8/30 9/10 10/19 11/25 11/26 3/9–13 4/5 5/22

Teachers & assistants return Fall term begins (see orientation calendar for start days per level) New Parent Welcome Coffee (BC) POPA Dinner Family Fun Day Grandparents’ Day (BC only) Grandparents’ Day (BC & MDC) Spring Break Book Fair High School Commencement

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2019–2020 Academic Calendar available on our website Next year’s academic calendar is available online in a handy one-page PDF. Visit www.postoakschool. org/postoak/School_Calendar.asp.

Book Fair Pre-Order Form coming soon Pre-order books from a curated list of recommendations by Post Oak faculty. This year’s Book Fair Order Form will be coming out near the end of January. Look for more details in upcoming Post Highlights emails.

Book Fair is Sunday, April 7 at Brazos Bookstore.

Wed., Jan. 30 at 2:30 p.m.

Mark Your Calendars for these High School happenings!

J-Term presentations, 2/1 Senior Art Exhibition, 2/28

HMI Trainees Seek Accommodations Post Oak community, do you have a spare room or living space available for rent? Houston Montessori Institute trainees will join us for the Primary teacher training starting in July, and are seeking lodging. If you are able to provide accommodations, please email Amy Kirchner at info@ hmiusa.org.

To avoid the school’s e-mail communications arriving in your junk mail folder, please add info@postoakschool.org to your safe sender list or address book/contacts.

A BOU T TH E POST The Post appears every first Monday of the month during the regular school year.

You can receive a printed copy from your oldest child, or a PDF version online.

Submit letters, articles, or photos in electronic form to Communications Coordinator Elaine Schweizer (elaineschweizer@postoakschool.org) by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday one week prior to publication. Please direct all requests for permission to reprint articles to the communications coordinator.

The Post Oak School was founded in 1963 and accredited by both the International Baccalaureate® Programme (IBO) and the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) Bissonnet Campus: 4600 Bissonnet St., Bellaire, TX 77401 ■ Tel.: 713-661-6688 ■ Fax: 713-661-4959 Museum District Campus: 1010 Autrey St., Houston, TX 77006 ■ Tel.: 832-538-1988 ■ Fax: 832-538-1926 www.postoakschool.org | facebook.com/postoakschool