Crossroads - Fall and Winter 2015

crossroads Issue 30

Fall/Winter 2015

Inside this issue:

STEWARD’S PURSUIT OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP PAGE 8

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also InsidE:

VISITING INNOVATOR DR. GARY STAGER

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, Low

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nual splayed handmade pinwheels for the tenth an

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crossroads Administration Dan Frank, Head of School Lisa Dwelle, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations

highlights

4 Color my world

Dan Frank shares international experiences as a reflection of Steward’s mission

Carol Moore, Director of Upper School Susan Atkinson, Director of Middle School Ingrid Moore, Director of Lower School

Publication Staff Rachel Williard, Editor

world, 8 Our our community Striving for global citizenship in the Steward community

Kyra Gemberling, Managing Editor Stan Hulen, Designer Kristina Kerns, Interactive Features Editor Stephanie Arnold, Elaina Brennan, Garrett Compton, Kyra Gemberling, Sydney Smith, Contributing Writers Laura Akesson, Mary Madison Andrews, Jennifer Blanco, Elaina Brennan, Bridget Hazel Photography, Allison Buchik, Barbara Coates, Shane Diller, Sarah Dwelle, Beth Farmer ’09, Kyra Gemberling, Wallace Inge, Cary Jamieson, Catesby Jones, Kristina Kerns, Wendy Popp, Sydney Smith, Jenny Suarez, Jenny Walsh, Wendell Powell Studios, Contributing Photographers

Printing Worth Higgins & Associates, Inc. The Steward School admits students without regard to gender, race, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

The editors have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported in this publication. We apologize for any inadvertent errors.

Correction: On page 11 of the spring/summer 2015 issue, it states that part of the work done

by Parke Rhoads ’95 was displayed in an outdoor multimedia presentation called “IllUmiNations: Protecting Our Planet” on First Avenue in New York City. Rather, Parke’s work for the United Nations included the outdoor presentation. He was in charge of the entire technology operation of the United Nations, a $3 billion renovation.

The Steward School’s Mission:

Prepare our students for college and for life in a community defined by robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care.

around 14 Steward the world See what our faculty and staff have accomplished around the globe

24 Visiting Innovator

Dr. Gary Stager shares benefits of learning to play in education by joining the Maker Movement

36 Sparty’s travels

Explore Sparty’s latest summer vacation destinations

departments 4 16 30 36 40

headlines campusculture teamtalk spartanliving alumninews

STEWARD WEBSITE www.stewardschool.org

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Crossroads

Scan here to visit Steward Snaps and download photos from a variety of campus events.

Fall/Winter 2015

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a d va n c i n g t h e m i s s i o n

Color my world I’ve asked a certain question many times in many different circumstances. I first heard it in a class by my favorite professor and first real mentor: If a man can only see blue, what is the one color he cannot see?

That question sparked a lifetime of exploration, and I’m still looking for all the answers. The first place I went to look was Sri Lanka, which was my first time ever abroad. To this day, I have a physical memory of the elation I felt walking off the plane and the sensory overload of being accosted by smells, sounds, customs, and words I had never imagined. There to study for a semester, my independent research project involved conducting interviews in the city of Kandy. I was interested in the variety of ethnographic influences in the city. My frequent letters home were filled with angst, frustration, and even depression as I struggled with separation from all that I was familiar with—family, language, food, even street signs—and worked to adapt to the new culture.

To say that I was not fully prepared for the challenge is an understatement. Likewise, to say that I learned more in those six months than I had in total previously is also an understatement.

After college, I joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to teach in a Catholic boarding school in the village of Taborio on the atoll of Tarawa in the central Pacific Ocean. On the beaches here, you can still find unexploded ordnance from a disastrous Allied invasion during World War II. Here, during my two-plus years of service, I learned to love teaching and my students. As individuals and as a group, they gave me much more than I was able to give them.

Then, several years after college, having earned my master’s degree in English as a Second Language, I did a Fulbright year in Gulbene, Latvia, where I taught English in a Russian-language high school. Not only did I struggle with having hot water for only 24 hours once every fortnight and the extreme darkness and cold during winter, but also with the compounded isolation of being an American in this unremarkable northwest region of Latvia. Adding to this, I spoke Russian in a country that had just thrown off its neocolonial masters, where being a Russian could be cause enough to be spit on. My true saving grace there was being “adopted” by a Russian family, who helped me navigate the needs of my daily life and included me in their extended family as one of their own. My fondest memories are of Sunday dinners when the family matriarch, Nadherzda, would prepare fried potatoes and unidentified meat, and I would stretch away the long afternoon with the grandfather, enjoying and respecting one another’s company despite my having the Russian language skills of an infant.

I could go on: spelunking in Nauru, trekking in Nepal, being sick in Calcutta, steering away from gangsters in St. Petersburg, getting lost in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and, through repeated visits, making true friends in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Chile, Venezuela, and Mexico—but back to the question. By now you’d probably like the answer, or at least as much of the answer as I can provide. If a man can only see blue, the one color he cannot see is blue. He has no frame of reference from which to understand that blue is blue. His mind will have adapted and created gradients of that color to provide a distinguishable fore and background, but he can never see blue as blue until he sees red and green and yellow, until he sees the full spectrum of color in the world. We can never really see ourselves or our country, language, family, culture, and values until we step outside of what we know in order to view the full array of what else the world and its people have to offer. In doing so, we learn to love and understand what we have and where we come from. You never love your family more than when separated from them; you never learn more about your values and priorities than when confronted with morals that are not your own.

In my personal experiences, I’ve learned more than I could teach, understood more than I can fully explain, and received more than I could ever give. At Steward, we feel experiencing the world in and beyond Richmond is an irreplaceable component of the educational program, and we seek ways to offer these opportunities to our students.

Read on to discover the ways in which our Spartans are coloring their world.

Dan Frank Head of School

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More Than School Thought Leadership Content Series

At The Steward School, we engage in conversations with our community about innovative teaching styles and new ways our students can learn. At the beginning of the school year, we debuted More Than School, a digital thought leadership content series intended to share our faculty and staff’s expertise on intellectually stimulating topics. Below are excerpts from the first four columns:

Finding the Words: Bringing Steward’s Mission to Life Dan Frank, Head of School I spent a considerable amount of time during the last few months thinking about our mission as a school and these three sentences: “Fuel the mind.

Stir the imagination. Unleash the possibilities.” These words describe our common purpose as a community. They’re not empty catchphrases; they’re not clichés. They’re an anthem, a rallying cry for the Steward community. Tied together with our guiding principles of robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care, these imperatives help tell our story.

Attributes For Success: How Strong Character Leads To Success in School And in Life Ingrid Moore, Director of Lower School Steward teachers did not cite “High IQ,” “Strong Math Achievement,” or “Early Reader” among the predictors of success— those traits did not even make the list. Instead, the faculty heralded curiosity, willingness to risk failure, positive attitude, and perseverance as qualities to nurture if we want to see our children achieve success.

Furthermore, the teachers underscored that while we are constantly supporting these skills in school, it is essential that the home environment also emphasizes their importance in order to grow these qualities in our children.

If the School Fits: A College Counselor Recommends Five Factors to Consider Heather Jeter, Director of College Counseling Countless books and articles have been written on the topic of fit, but to establish each student’s unique definition of fit, I begin by asking my counselees to consider five essential factors: size, setting, distance, social/academic culture, and affordability. By determining their preferences for each of these factors, students accomplish an important objective: establishing the type of school that fits them. I reject the notion that there is only one sterling school where each student can achieve superior happiness.

Rather, I believe there is a type of school that fits each student; once a student establishes that type, we collaborate to create a list of schools to consider (and, ultimately, to apply to) that fit the type.

skills for life and future careers: Creativity, communication, collaboration, and innovation Carol Moore, Director of Upper School How do we prepare students for success in college and their future careers when the needs of employers and the technologies they use change every day? Colleges and industry will require more than thorough conceptual understanding gained in their core classes—students graduating from high school need a more comprehensive set of skills.

They will need to think creatively, to communicate effectively, to take personal responsibility, and to collaborate and innovate. While traditional academic courses certainly help develop these abilities secondarily, we are obligated to add a new dimension to our students’ education: coursework specifically focused on these skills.

Look to www.stewardschool.org/more-than-school for more posts from a variety of faculty and staff members—as well as special guests—in the coming months on the following topics: n Exploring Blended Learning n Differentiation in the Middle School Years n Coding as More than 0s and 1s

n Technology Today and Tomorrow n Visual Literacy in a Video-Infused World n The Process of Learning to Read

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What is the biggest benefit of winning the Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship?

Morgan: It gave me the confidence that I needed going into Upper School—I figured that if I can do something like this, I can do anything. It gave me the leg up that I needed to make the transition. It also made me realize how much my teachers have influenced me through the whole process. By working hard like they taught me, I was able to do something I never thought I would accomplish.

Aayush: This was a big opportunity for me because I had not attended Steward previously, and the award allowed me to come here instead of going to public school by providing four years of full tuition. Teachers at Steward focus more on your academic success, and they’re flexible, so you can talk to them anytime you need help.

You were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants.

Why do you think you won?

Morgan: I’ve done a lot of community service work to help the homeless. I started a program at Steward that raises money for CARITAS and several other homeless shelters in Richmond. Also, when it comes to something like this, I push myself to do the best I can. When I put my mind to something, I don’t stop until I accomplish it, so I think I was just willing to put in the work.

Aayush: I was in the International Baccalaureate program at George H. Moody Middle School, in which students take advanced classes all three years. When I was writing my essay, I made sure to highlight this accomplishment. I also made sure to have a stepby-step, planned-out process while writing my essay to make sure I was putting forth my best effort.

Are there any challenges that come with being a recipient of this award?

Morgan: I feel that I have added pressure to do well and to make sure I keep up with my community service and my grades. I have to remember to keep doing everything that got me the scholarship in the first place.

Aayush: It was hard leaving all of my friends from middle school and coming to a completely new school, but Steward did a great job of welcoming me and introducing me to everyone.

What activities are you involved in at Steward and in your spare time?

Morgan: I play JV volleyball and basketball at Steward. I’m also in the Stewardship Club, which organizes the blood drives and the SpartaFest bake sale. I’m thinking of starting a club next year that has something to do with helping the homeless.

Aayush: I joined the Yearbook Club to get to know more people, and I’m involved with Model UN because I enjoy knowing what’s happening in the world today. In my free time, my favorite sport is tennis, but I’m also trying to get better at golf.

What advice do you have for the next round of applicants?

Morgan: Make sure to stay on top of all the things you need to do and put in the effort that it really needs—you can’t just write down a few things and say, “I’m done.” Don’t spend so much time on it that you’re going to go crazy, but put in enough that you know you really did your best.

Aayush: I was very nervous applying for this scholarship because it was something I really wanted. I took everything I learned in middle school and put my whole heart into writing my essay. I wrote about topics that are very dear to me, and I tried to give as much detail as possible. It can change your life in a big way, so it’s worth it to really put your whole self into the application.

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The Steward School announces a new merit-based grants program for students in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade.

The grants provide up to $10,000 for tuition per year for students who are new to Steward.

Steward’s robust financial accessibility program also includes $1.3 million annually in need-based financial aid, as well as the Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship, which provides four years of full tuition to two rising ninth graders each year.

For more information, visit www.stewardschool.org.

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global citizens

Our

world,

our

community By Kyra Gemberling

What does it mean to be a global citizen? Is it enough to simply travel to different countries and learn about new cultures? At Steward, we recognize that the world faces global challenges, which require global solutions. Through experiential education, we strive to transform students into compassionate individuals who are active in making the world a better place. We believe global citizenship is essential for young people to gain the skills, attributes, and knowledge to be successful, and it’s never too early to set the foundation for this type of learning.

Hop on a plane with us as we explore the ways Steward promotes cultural awareness and understanding on campus and in the international community.

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Meeting of the minds in Europe

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his past June, a group of 12 Upper School students, along with teachers Laura Akesson and Shane Diller, studied “Innovation and the Future of Education” in Europe as part of EF Educational Tours’ Global Student Leaders Summit.

EF offered six organized trips as part of the summit, all of which focused on different aspects of global education.

Mrs. Akesson and Mr. Diller’s chosen program traveled to locations in England and Switzerland that reflected elements of STEM education—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

“The goal was to conduct research and develop solutions for education from a global perspective, as well as immerse students in a variety of educational institutions,” Mrs. Akesson says. “The students were constantly asked to compare, contrast, and critique the educational value of the programs they visited.”

The enveloping experience combined educational tours and a two-day leadership conference in Davos, Switzerland, which was centered on tackling issues related to education around the world. It included presentations by Sir Ken Robinson, one of the world’s foremost leaders on creativity in education, Shiza Shahid, founder and CEO of women’s rights advocacy group The Malala Fund, and educator and poet Clint Smith.

previously,” Emma says. “My group’s hard work paid off when a creator of [the video game franchise] Angry Birds recognized our work by complimenting the innovation we used in creating an imaginary app. It was challenging, yet rewarding.”

Other program highlights included a visit to CERN—Europe’s nuclear research center and the world’s largest particle physics lab—at the United Nations in Geneva (pictured above), and a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, which houses the largest indoor rainforest in the world.

For junior Emma Zehfuss, the highlight of the conference was the Innovation Village, where more than 1,500 students from around the world presented their solutions for prominent issues in education.

“We specifically visited places that were trying to send a message to the broader community in an innovative way,” Mr. Diller says. “For instance, the Eden Project houses various biospheres to send a message about climate impact while also making it a beautiful place to explore, much as if the Metro Richmond Zoo combined with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.”

“We had to focus on a problem in education and find a way to fix it with group members that we had met only a few hours

Students also visited the Harrow School in London, an independent school for boys attended by such famous alumni as former

Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Sophomore Aaron Stein enjoyed this visit because he was able to learn about the daily lives of students in another country.

“Visiting the Harrow School allowed me to meet real English students and compare my daily life to theirs,” Aaron says. “I liked that our group participated in both tourist and non-tourist activities like this, which allowed me to get acquainted with the average life of someone in Europe.”

Mrs. Akesson says exposing the students to new cultures was a happy byproduct of the experience: “The speakers from around the world exposed students to different perspectives, but it also made them realize that the goals of education and the benefits of it are universal.”

Junior Cole Richardson says, “The best way to get to know a culture is to be directly placed in it. This program really managed to do that with the assistance of knowledgeable tour guides and an organized schedule.” l

Hosting international cyclists during the UCI Bike Race For senior Mary Madison Andrews, the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond really hit home: her family hosted three Serbian cyclists who were competing in the race for the week.

Mary Madison’s uncle is involved in Richmond’s cycling community, and he was contacted by the head of the Cycling Federation of Serbia asking for families willing to host several cyclists. Mary Madison’s parents agreed, and the cyclists arrived the night of September 21 and stayed until after the race concluded on September 28. At one point, the entire Serbian team came to her house for dinner! “The experience taught me a lot about the differences between some cultures,” Mary Madison says. “I feel that I’m a better-rounded person from meeting these people and learning about their culture. I think all Steward students should get to have an experience like this.”

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global citizens

Do you

remember

Riverston School?

Two decades ago, Steward was a smaller school, but it was still thinking big. In the mid-1990s, the school established an annual Minimester exchange program with London’s Riverston School. The school’s owner Michael Lewis sought out Steward for the exchange program, and he met with former Head of School Paul Cramer and former Assistant Head of School Carolyn Brandt to finalize the arrangements. A group of eight students (chaperoned by Mrs. Brandt and Middle School Coordinator Catesby Jones, pictured below and on page 13) visited Riverston for the first time in the spring of 1996. During the trips, students typically stayed with host families, attended classes, and even got to visit the school’s French chateau in Normandy. The schools alternated visitations, so Riverston students visited Steward several times and traveled to local sites like Washington, D.C., Monticello, and Historic Williamsburg. Steward’s last official trip to Riverston was in 2002.

Experiential learning during Minimester

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teward’s annual Minimester program is always a great opportunity for unforgettable experiences— students can participate in internships, community service, and more.

The one-week program at the end of February is also a great time for foreign and domestic travel: this year, a group of Upper School students will travel to southern Spain.

The program was initiated by juniors Gaby Ruiz and Sonia Jennings, who approached Upper School Spanish teachers Amy Cooper and Drew Forlano about traveling abroad during Minimester. The teachers decided the program must give students the most

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authentic experience possible, so they connected with Sevilla’s IES Itaca school— where Steward students will attend two days of classes—and matched students with homestay families, who will house them for four nights.

“Mrs. Cooper and I both lived overseas for a number of years, and we know the most influential part of any study abroad program is the personal connections you make while there,” Mr. Forlano says. “We’re hoping the students will feel connected to our new friends in Spain and get a glimpse into their culture. We also hope they come away with the understanding that there’s more than just their way of life.”

In addition to Sevilla, students will visit the cities of Malaga, Granada, and Cordoba. The itinerary for the trip includes Spanish cooking classes, Flamenco shows, a scavenger hunt, walking tours, and more.

Previously, Steward has hosted several service trips to Costa Rica during Minimester (pictured on pages 10-11). Organized through Costa Rica Service Expeditions, last year’s trip was chaperoned by Upper School history teacher Wallace Inge and Spanish teacher Jenny Suarez. Sixteen students in grades 8 and 9 participated in the program, which involved taking dugout canoes up the Yorkin River to stay with the Bribri tribe, Costa Rica’s largest indigenous group. Students assisted the Bribri by building the floor and wall foundations for a community clinic, living with only basic necessities for the duration of the trip.

“The biggest takeaway from the trip was the connection the students made with the Bribri,” Mr. Inge says. “The students lived in their houses, slept on their floors, and ate dinner with their families. Language was a little bit of an obstacle, but after a day or so, they started making personal connections that overcame the language barrier.”

Sophomore Lewis Tiller attended both the Costa Rica service trip last year and the Global Student Leaders Summit over the summer. He will also be going on the upcoming trip to Spain. Lewis says he’s glad he has forced himself to leave his comfort zone by participating in these programs.

“I ended up making myself curious to see what else is out there to explore,” he says. “After Costa Rica and England/Switzerland, I have nothing but excitement for the trip to Spain. I can’t wait to spend time with a new family and learn about their way of life.”

Other past Minimester study abroad programs include trips to Argentina, Portugal, the Galapagos Islands, Italy, England, and France. l

Helena Dambacher: Internationally ranked roller skater from Germany Sophomore Helena Dambacher, an international student who attended Steward for the first semester, is quick on her feet— she is a member of Germany’s national team for competitive roller skating. Helena studied at Steward through December and trained at the Roller Dome in Henrico County, but she is returning to Germany in January to continue her training, which she’s done for nine years. “I love it because it’s a unique sport that not everyone knows about,” she says. She has won the German National Championship for roller skating four times, and this year, she made it to her second European Championship, in which she placed seventh in free skating and fifth in figure skating. In regard to her time at Steward, Helena says, “I loved it. It’s so different because the technology is so much better. That’s something I’ll miss when I return home.”

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global citizens

MORE ways Steward promotes global citizenship The Steward School makes it a priority to teach students the value of being culturally aware whenever possible. Here are some examples: l Whirled Peace Day—On September 21 in celebration of International Day of Peace and the 2015 UCI Road World Championships, Steward families donated more than 50 bicycles to the non-profit organization Bikes for the World, which repurposes bikes and sends them to developing countries for people in need of transportation.

Specifically, the bikes will go to communities in several Costa Rican provinces, including the Bribri people in the Limon province, the Tico people of Guanacaste, and the villagers of Alajuela, the largest province in the country.

Cultural immersion on campus

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lthough Steward has numerous study abroad offerings, students technically don’t need to leave the classroom to build relationships with people from different cultures. Through the International Student Program, there are currently 23 students enrolled at Steward from China, Germany, Spain, Haiti, Korea, and Moldova.

International Student Program Coordinator Allison Buchik says student applications come from a variety of ways, ranging from word-of-mouth from family members living in Richmond to direct agencies looking to place interested students. Once students are accepted into Steward’s international program, their time on campus begins with a three-day new student orientation process. During this time, international students meet the faculty and other new students, take a tour of campus, participate in academic screenings, create their class schedules, and get to know their host families through fun outings like bowling.

l Upper School Model United Nations—This educational simulation, presided over by Upper School history teacher Sarah Dwelle, allows students to learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the role of the United Nations in global peacekeeping. Model UN teaches skills in researching, public speaking, debating, writing, and critical thinking. l Art outreach—Lower School art teacher Lynn Zinder says she has made it her mission to expose Steward students to global communities in need over the past ten years. Students created houses out of watercolor paper and made them into pins in honor of the 2010 Haitian earthquake, made ‘Cuddle Buddies’ on MLK, Jr. Day to send to orphanages, and donated money to the Lost Boys of Sudan to help them build water wells. l Lower School Winter Program—The fourth grade represented 24 different countries in the annual Winter Program in December, singing music taught by Lower School music teacher Donna Gocha that promotes tolerance, acceptance, and collaboration in our global community. l Lower School Day of the Dead Celebration— Lower School students spent the month of October learning about the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos in art and Spanish classes. In art class, students created picture frames to display photos of deceased family members or pets. They culminated this cross-curricular study with a Day of the Dead celebration on October 30 in the Bryan Innovation Lab with a combination of art, music, a dance performance, and food donated from the Lara family, owners of Richmond’s Mexico Restaurant chain.

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“I’ve grown so much by making a lot of friends and getting involved on campus. I’m happy I came here—it’s been a fabulous experience so far.”

— A M A ND A W A N G ( A B O V E , F A R R I G HT )

While most international students come to Steward with the anticipation of graduating and going to an American university, Mrs. Buchik says some come to take a gap year from their home countries and engage in new cultural experiences.

“Our goal is to accommodate the desires of the student and his or her family,” Mrs. Buchik says.

“We want to make sure the students get the best education and experience we can give, and that they’re happy and having a great cultural experience as well as academic.”

Grade 10 international student Amanda Wang came to Steward for her freshman year from Beijing, China. She plays volleyball and basketball at Steward, and she is involved with Model UN. She hopes to attend Yale University after graduating from Steward in 2018.

“Coming to Steward was very different because I’m no longer home or with my parents,” Amanda says. “But in the past year, I’ve grown so much by making a lot of friends and getting involved on campus. I’m happy I came here—it’s been a fabulous experience so far.”

Mrs. Buchik says having international students at Steward has huge benefits for the rest of the student body: direct student-to-student interaction allows them to discover more about other cultures by allowing peers to ask questions in a comfortable environment.

She adds that she loves seeing the international students begin to acculturate. A favorite moment occurred while watching a basketball game last year in which international students were cheering in the crowds, dribbling on the court, and playing instruments for the pep band.

“Seeing all of those interactions together in one place as they integrated with the student body— it was such a stand-out moment,” she says. “For me, it’s about all of these moments when I see students become part of the Steward community.” l

Look Who’s Talking Catesby Jones

Middle School Coordinator, Grade 6 World Studies teacher, and golf coach

With 34 years under your belt, you are Steward’s longest-serving faculty member.

What is the biggest change you’ve witnessed over time?

At one point, we opened the school with 192 students in K-12 (we didn’t have JK at the time). I remember how small the faculty and staff were at that point. But with growth comes positive change, and Steward is an exciting place to be. It’s been wonderful seeing how far we’ve come in the years I’ve been here, and I wouldn’t want to spend this amount of time anywhere else.

You are also the face of the golf program. When did you start golfing and how did you get involved with the sport at Steward?

I grew up playing with my father and grandfather. I absolutely love the game. There were some students way back who knew I played, and they did too, so we started the program in the mid-1990s. In the last few years, the varsity team has been practicing at Hermitage Country Club and JV uses Sycamore Creek, which are both stellar courses, and I’m grateful to use them. I really enjoy teaching the students about a sport I love—they know how passionate I am about it. If I had my way, I’d be golfing every single day.

You and Carolyn Brandt were chaperones on one of Steward’s first international exchange programs at Riverston School in England (read more on page 10).

How did this set a precedent for future study abroad programs?

Once we started the program, I think it just snowballed as other Upper School teachers started thinking about trips they could coordinate. It became a popular thing to do because it’s such a valuable learning experience for the students, and the adults learn a lot, too.

Why do you think international experiences are important for students?

They need to understand other countries and cultures. More businesses are becoming international, and students must have an appreciation for other ways of life in case they ever need to move abroad for a job. If they haven’t been exposed to other cultures, that move is going to be extremely difficult. My daughter (Liza Jones ’13) traveled to Greece and Italy during her time here, and now she’s studying abroad in Spain. If she decides to get a job overseas, she’ll be more comfortable than someone who hasn’t traveled, so I think it’s just an incredibly important experience to have.

What are some of your favorite travel destinations?

I love England and Scotland—those are probably my two favorite places. I like the French countryside. Because my dad was so passionate about golf, I’ve been able to play some really great courses, like Pebble Beach and Cypress Point in California. At a Steward auction a few years ago, someone donated a golf trip to Pine Valley in New Jersey, one of the top courses in the world, and I took the opportunity. It was spectacular.

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global citizens

STEWARD

AROUND THE

WORLD

It’s more than just a trip… check out some of the international experiences our faculty and staff members have had around the globe.

Claudia Ramirez-Freytes, Lower and Middle School Spanish teacher— Graduated from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas, Venezuela, and Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, Mexico

Amy Cooper, Upper School Spanish teacher— Served the Peace Corps in Nicaragua; spent summers in Mexico and Argentina

Jenny Suarez, Lower and Middle School Spanish teacher—Graduated from Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia

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Melanie Rodriguez, Upper School Spanish teacher— Studied Spanish at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico; worked at the Caribbean School

Jennifer Blanco, Lower School Spanish teacher— Taught in Costa Rica in a private bilingual K-12 school

Lisa Dwelle, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations— Worked with international accounting firm KPMG in London

Rachel Williard, Director of Marketing and Communications— Worked at NBC News in London as a college intern

Jenny Walsh, Marketing Associate— Worked at NBC Universal in London as a college intern

Louise Robertson, Middle School Dean of Academics— Visited London during the summer of 2015 with professional development grant as recipient of Paul R. Cramer Award

Rugene Paulette, Visual Arts Department Chair— Visited Paris with professional development grant as recipient of Paul R. Cramer Award; visited Brazil as Artist in Residence with Partners of America exchange program

Ingrid Moore, Director of Lower School— Lived in England for a year; earned Master’s from the University of Nottingham

Beth Shamburger, Human Resources Coordinator—Family lived in Germany for 7 years: attended boarding school for four years and came home for vacations for three years during college

Tom Gallo, Upper School Science teacher—Visited CERN in Switzerland as part of an NSF-funded grant to give teachers experience learning and teaching particle physics

Laura Akesson, Upper School Science teacher—Born in Pusan, South Korea; taught math and physics in Switzerland at Zurich International School; taught English in Taiwan for a summer

Dan Frank, Head of School—Served the Peace Corps on the atoll Tarawa; taught English in Latvia as part of Fulbright Exchange Program

Kate Strickland, Lower School kindergarten teacher—Taught summer classes in Russia and China

Charlene Wilton, Director of Center for the Advancement of Learning— Adopted her daughter, Steward lifer Ana Leahy ’13, from Romania

Drew Forlano, Upper School Spanish teacher—Lived in Spain, Poland, and England; sailed the Mediterranean for a year crewing a 115-foot motor yacht

Bev Fox, Lower School Grade 5 teacher— Graduated from the Johannesburg College of Education in South Africa

Anton Gaston, Meriwether Godsey Chef at Steward—Born in the Philippines to a French family that began the sugar trade there in the 18th century

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SPIRIT WEEK! 16

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happenings

Fun festivities for our annual Spirit Week in October included a lively pep rally, dress-up days that ran the gamut from movie and book characters to mathletes and athletes, lunchtime trivia contests for the Upper School, a sidewalk chalk drawing contest and hallway decorating competition, a canned food drive for charity, and the always popular SpartaFest!

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That’s So Random, Part Two For the second year in a row, Admissions Associate Beth Farmer ’09 coordinated a “Random Acts of Kindness” campaign to spread positive spirit around campus. Introduced last year in memory of Associate Head of School for Advancement Debbie Robson, campaign participants made secret deliveries of small goodies, each with a laminated card that asks the receiver to pass along the good deed. One hundred Middle and Upper School students signed a pledge last spring to complete at least one act of kindness each, either on campus or in the community. Additionally, the Middle School and varsity field hockey teams completed 60 acts of kindness throughout the fall season. “It’s something so simple but so meaningful,” Ms. Farmer says. “I wanted to teach students that you don’t have to spend a lot of money or time to do something nice for someone else.”

Ms. Farmer asked Steward participants to tell her when they gave or received an act of kindness. Here are some responses: l “I put a note on Ms. Roy’s white board, put some stickers on someone’s locker, and got a nice, cold drink and put it on someone’s car.” l “I made a cute bag of dog treats and gave it to our neighbors across the street because they just got a new puppy.” l “I put a $5 Starbucks gift card in the note and put it on a random person’s car.” l “I gave a picture frame that was in the shape of a heart to my neighbor whose husband recently passed away.” l “I gave a candy bar to a sixth grader I didn’t know very well.”

Convocation 2015: Turning struggle into triumph At this year’s Convocation, The Steward School Alumni Association presented its second annual Alumni Achievement Award to Debbie Goldstone Horwitz ’90.

Mrs. Horwitz is a breast cancer survivor who created two books that showed what recovery actually looks like for women after a double mastectomy.

At Convocation, Mrs. Horwitz was introduced by her friend and classmate, Shahwar Qureshi ’90, who nominated her for the award. They were two of 13 graduates in Steward’s Class of 1990, a year when the school population had just reached 200. Borrowing the line from a friend, Mrs. Horwitz titled her acceptance talk as “I got sick, then I got better, and then I did something to help others.” With a brief description of her pre-Steward years at Richmond Montessori School, she explained that at both schools, “I got to be me.” With an outgoing personality, she said she had made many friends in her life, and those people were instrumental in helping her get better after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32.

After her diagnosis, Mrs. Horwitz says, the photographer who took her engagement photos had the idea to document the post-surgery process because they had had a discussion about the need to have pictures so that other women would know what to expect following a double mastectomy. This idea became not one, but two books over the course of several years—Myself: Together Again and Sherri’s Story.

Since then, the books have become a standard part of the recovery process in doctors’ offices, cancer centers, and hospitals around the world. They have literally helped women put themselves together again.

“Getting cancer was hard. Getting better was hard. But, helping others” made it all worthwhile, Mrs. Horwitz says.

“Making the book and helping others was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I never would have been able to do it if I hadn’t been allowed to be me from a very young age.”

Watch Mrs. Horwitz’s acceptance speech here!

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A Spooktacular Homecoming The Upper School hosted a Halloween-themed homecoming dance for approximately 25 students from Faison School for Autism in the Bryan Innovation Lab on October 30. Thirty-five Upper School students attended the event to welcome and interact with the Faison students.

Highlights from the night included a photo booth and a conga line that circled around the Bryan Lab several times during the evening.

The event was coordinated by Upper School history teacher Elizabeth Simpson, who said the visitors had a wonderful time dancing and getting to know Steward students. “Our students were amazing ambassadors for our school and reflected a desire to live in a more inclusive world,” Ms. Simpson says. “It was a great opportunity for all the students to come together and have fun doing something everyone loves— getting dressed up and dancing!”

Give it a Whirl Students donated more than $840 worth of “pennies for peace” on Whirled Peace Day for REACHcycles, a nonprofit organization that creates specialized bicycles for children and veterans with disabilities.

The Steward community also donated more than 50 bicycles to Bikes for the World, which refurbishes bikes and sends them to developing countries for people who rely on bicycles for transportation (see page 12 to find out where our bikes went).

Remembering Our Veterans On Veterans Day in November, the Lower School held a special assembly with guest speakers from Virginia’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program. Speakers assumed the role of a homeless veteran they’ve worked with and told personal stories to give students context about the program. “The most important thing to know is that homeless veterans can look like anyone, and you may not know that person’s story based on their appearance,” says Brooke Pendleton, HCHV program coordinator. “We’re trying to break the stereotype of what people assume a homeless veteran looks like.” Students brought in gallon-sized plastic bags filled with essential items like toothpaste, shampoo, socks, bottled water, snacks, and more to give to homeless veterans through the program, exceeding their goal of 160 bags. Some Lower School students also wrote letters to be given to veterans in the program, which has housed 329 veterans in Richmond this year.

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Middle and Upper School Grandparents and Special Friends Day Eileen Walker, grandmother of sixth-grader Nancy Walker (pictured above): “I’m so happy to see all the possibilities for Nancy’s growth and her future. I know that this is absolutely the best choice of school for her.” Diane King, grandmother of eighth-grader Jamie Biggs (pictured at right): “I enjoy being able to spend time with my grandson and learning about what he’s involved in here at Steward. I love getting information and learning more about the school.”

Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic

Great Tailgate The tenth annual Great Tailgate was a fun opportunity for bonding and relaxation in November. Some of the tent and dress themes included Mad Hatter, board games, classic slasher films, and the prom.

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A cool October day of golf made for a great day of fundraising for the Spartan Club, which received a recordbreaking $38,900.

Fall Social Steward families, faculty, and staff came together for food, refreshments, outdoor activities, and conversation at Steward’s annual school year kick-off.

Fall Charity Drives

PREVIEW

l Holiday Magic: Each grade in the Upper School adopted a family in need through Henrico Christmas Mother, which provides food, new clothes, toys, books, and other gift items to Henrico families with children, seniors, and disabled adults during the holiday season. The 2015 Henrico Christmas Mother Beverly Cocke (pictured at right in the center) spoke to students in November about the organization’s mission and the importance of giving back. l Canned Food: Steward donated 1,289 pounds of canned food and 50 pounds of vegetables harvested from the Bryan Innovation Lab gardens to FeedMore throughout the fall. l Blood: The Stewardship Club registered 36 donors and collected 26 units during the October blood drive, touching the lives of 78 people. l Give Some, Get S’more: In December, the Upper School Student Council hosted

the second annual event for the Steward community—attendees enjoyed s’mores, hot beverages, live music, corn hole, face painting, and more. Upper School advisory groups donated requested goods through Henrico Christmas Mother; Middle School collected pre-packaged drinks, snacks, and new books for the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation; and Lower School families donated boxes of cereal for Henrico Christmas Mother.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Lower School Jamboree January 8, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Family Bingo Night January 29, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Steward Town Hall February 3, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Gala and Auction February 27, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Pancakes for a Purpose April 9, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Steward Town Hall April 12, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Spring Social April 14, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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fine arts

Moon walk With a cast that included 19 students in grades 6-12, the inspiring tale of Walk Two Moons was performed for three nights in October. Based on Sharon Creech’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, Walk Two Moons by Tom Arvetis tells the story of 13-year-old Sal as she travels across the country with her grandparents to see her mother. While traveling, she entertains her grandparents with the story of her overly dramatic friend Phoebe. The play brings together the story of these two young girls as they face life-changing events. “We picked this play because even though the subject matter is serious, the show itself has some nice comic twists and turns to lighten the mood,” says director Craig Smith. “This show was different in that it was presented without an intermission. The play is so tightly constructed and all the scenes flow together so seamlessly that adding a break in the middle would have hurt the show, and it is still short enough that the audience didn’t feel like it was too long to sit through.” The cast included Trace Coles, Virginia Cooper, Daniel Corcoran, Caroline Curry, Evelyn Dumeer, Charlotte Finn, Dylan Ghosh, Colin Hudson, Alaina Jefferson, Dan Kovach, Nikki Leopold, Catie McKinnon, Byron Minson, Lydia Osborne, Mary Kathryn Pruett, Anna Reese Richardson, Caroline Willhite, Ethan Williams, and Aubrey Woods.

All that jazz The Varsity Jazz Band performed as part of the inaugural “Battle of the Bands” event at Innsbrook’s Great Pumpkin Palooza in October and won Best Jazz Variety and Best Song Selection. The band’s set list included a diverse mix of songs, ranging from Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s “Eight Days a Week” to classic 1930s hit “Minnie the Moocher”

by Cab Calloway and Irving Mills. They also scored the maximum amount of points in each category, including musicality, professional etiquette, and musicianship. They received bonus points for performing several songs with original arrangements by band director John McAlister. Band members include Dan Eakin, Ryan Leopold, Cole Richardson, Cory Brumagin, Xzavier Caldwell, Ethan Stein, and Avery Maestrello.

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Creative team The Arts Guild was formed to bring a collective umbrella of support to the Fine Arts Department. Chaired by parent Alice Young and alumni parent Andi Metts, the group assists with all arts-related activities. One of the highlights of the season was the inaugural Steward community art exhibit One Family, which debuted at SpartaFest in October and ran through the end of November in the Carolyn R. Brandt Gallery. “It was lovely to see the creativity and effort put forth by Steward community members, including parents, grandparents, faculty, alumni, and extended family, who submitted original artwork for this exhibit,” says Rugene Paulette, Visual Arts Department chair. “We certainly have a diverse set of talents in our Steward family.” Arts Guild Committee chairs include Mary Andrews (Visual Arts), Kyle Frayser and Nancy Coles (Theatre), Miri Eynan (Choral Music), and Sydney Smith and Tammy Gelber (Instrumental Music).

Note worthy Eight students from the Spartan Select Ensemble attended the District I auditions at Patrick Henry High School on November 14. Sophomore JuJuan Armstrong (left) was selected as a Tenor II to participate in the SATB choir in February. The event will take place Feb. 11-13 at Hanover High School. JuJuan will perform a repertoire of six choral selections. The concert will be performed after three days of rehearsal with guest conductor Erin Freeman. This opportunity affords students in smaller music programs to join with top students throughout this school district, both private and public schools.

All choral groups, along with fourth and fifth grade students, spent a day in December bringing holiday cheer to residents at several assisted living communities in Richmond.

Under the direction of Bonnie Anderson and Donna Gocha, Spartan Select Ensemble and the Middle School Chorus performed seasonal song selections from their concert repertoire, and Lower School students performed snippets from the Winter Program.

Students also distributed more than 250 small gifts to their audiences to spread holiday cheer.

PREVIEW

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Winter Jazz Jam Combo Concert February 1, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Art Gallery Exhibit February 3-March 11 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Winter Play: All in the Timing February 4-6, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Art Gallery Exhibit March 16-April 8, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Lower School Talent Night March 18, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Middle and Upper School Talent Night April 1, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Art Walk April 14, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Spring Musical: Pippin April 14-16, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Spring Instrumental Music Concert May 16, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Spring Choral Concert May 18, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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v i s i t i n g i n n ova t o r

Make my day The Steward School welcomed Maker Movement leader Dr. Gary Stager to campus November 10 as the first 2015-16 Visiting Innovator. Dr. Stager spent the entire day teaching lessons, giving presentations, and engaging in hands-on activities with students. Take a walk through his day at Steward: 8:30 a.m.

Lesson with first-grade students featuring TurtleArt programming: students used geometric constructions to create colorful, moving images on screen.

9 a.m.

Session with third-grade students about the visual programming language Scratch: students recorded and recreated sounds and made Squishy Circuits using play dough.

10 a.m.

Presentation to grades 5-12 in the Lora M. Robins Theatre: “kids are at the center of the [Maker] revolution,” Dr. Stager said, and he noted several of his favorite examples: Caine’s Arcade—a nine-year-old boy spent his summer break building an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his father’s used

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auto parts store. A filmmaker created a documentary about Caine, which ultimately led to a movement and enough money for him to “retire” at age 11.

Super Awesome Sylvia—an eight-year-old girl who enjoyed science experiments and created her own online show, Sylviashow.com.

In the episode Dr. Stager showed, she made an Arduino adjustable strobe and demonstrated how it can be done at home.

Using Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room as an inspiration, Dr. Stager showed footage of teachers using Hummingbird programming to create robotic birds.

2:15 p.m.

Lesson with Middle School students using Hummingbird technology: students created lifelike creatures through programming software.

3:30 p.m.

Maker Fair with demonstrations in the Bryan Innovation Lab: existing members and newcomers to the community tinkered with technology brought in by representatives from MakerSpace Chesterfield County, College of William & Mary, Amtek Company, and more.

6:30 p.m.

Community presentation, Learning to Play in Education: Joining the Maker Movement: Dr. Stager spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people, “I have always believed in using computers to amplify human potential,” he said.

Look Who’s Talking Dr. Gary Stager Maker Movement leader, executive director of The Constructivist Consortium, special assistant to the head of school for innovation at The Willows in Culver City, California

What is the Maker Movement all about?

It’s about re-energizing timeless craft traditions by integrating programming and new manufacturing technologies to add intelligence and interactivity to everyday objects. There’s a hunger for creativity and expression through making things with one’s own hands. My work is done with the goal of creating an educational system in which school prepares children to solve problems that educators have never anticipated. It shifts agency to learners to be able to go forth in life with confidence in their ability to solve complex problems, even if it’s just discovering that there’s more they need to know.

Can you give concrete examples of Maker projects?

Tinker Toys and other traditional games are coming back in vogue, but now we’re able to add sensors and motors to bring them to life. We’re adding colors to the crayon box. You can still build a puppet out of a Pop-Tarts® box, but now it can call your mother for you. During Steward’s Maker Fair, we had a student take a traditional poster board displaying the parts of the cell, but he added conductive tape so that when you touch it, it signals a computer to add animation or produce an educational video. I’ve done workshops with students who built their own version of Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room and made birds that can sing and dance.

We are allowing children to create real things, and that enables more authentic, deeper learning experiences.

How much does it cost to implement this type of learning?

Many of the materials being used are very inexpensive, like adding batteries and LED lights to traditional materials. But even the cost of more advanced robotics materials is coming down, and 3D printers will soon be the price of a standard printer. This stuff is rapidly decreasing in price but increasing in power. The greater challenge is creating the time and developing the expertise in schools to make this sort of learning possible. Far too many schools have been devoid of experiential learning for far too long, but hopefully we are getting people excited about what their children are capable of doing.

What is your biggest goal in promoting the Maker Movement?

I’m only interested as far as it improves the lives of children. It’s relevant to me because it makes progressive education viable. It was really difficult until now for children to become mathematicians, scientists, and engineers. Now, the materials exist for even the youngest child to have those kinds of authentic experiences. But the movement is being picked up around the nation—Maker Fairs in San Francisco attract thousands of people of all socio-economic statuses every year. There was even a Maker Fair at the White House, and President Obama said he believes the movement is revitalizing the economy by bringing back manufacturing jobs. I believe there’s euphoria with making something work from nothing, and it’s time we required children to learn with their heads, hearts, and hands equally.

Learn more about Dr. Gary Stager’s visit to The Steward School and watch a video here! www.stewardschool.org/learning-through-doing

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class acts

heavy liftinG

budding artists Internationally acclaimed botanical illustrator Lara Gastinger returned to the Bryan Innovation Lab to work with the second and sixth grades and Upper School science classes on the basic principles of botanical illustration. Students honed their skills of observation and concentration to achieve a calm focus in order to study nature.

Tenth-grade students in Chris Lundberg’s Fundamentals in Design and Innovation class conducted a consumer testing experiment to explore the cleaning product Shamwow®.

Students devised and tested their own hypotheses against the company’s claim to see if Shamwow® really does absorb 20 times its weight.

The activity refreshed students on the elements of basic experimental design and provided a comparison to the engineering designand-build cycle that students studied later in the semester.

ALL SET TO GO Susan Sanford’s sixth-grade theatre students designed and built small-scale versions of stage sets. Cramer Center Technical Director Andy Mudd visited the class to teach them about the design process, and the students chose scenes, drew them out, and created the 3D designs.

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WRITE APPROACH Fifth-grade teacher Bev Fox added a new twist to her math curriculum this year—she created math journals for the students to learn how to write about math, not just solve problems. Each marking period’s journal is composed of about 30 math problems, and the students are required to answer them in math form and in sentence form. Mrs. Fox has found that her students can often solve problems, but they might not know the “why” behind the answer. The journal method is a building block, and she says, “They don’t have to have already learned an algorithm to solve a problem. They can draw a picture, make an organized list, use patterns, make a table, or use the guess-andcheck method to help them.”

Water Works Fourth-grade students created their own water filters, utilizing different materials to improve and retest several versions to see what designs produced the clearest water. Lindy Durham from Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District worked with the students on additional watershed lessons, including testing the dissolved oxygen of pond water and talking about erosion. Teaching Fellow Shane Diller mentored the students in exploring watershed areas around the lab.

how arrr ya’?

Ahoy mateys!

The Lower School teachers, led by fourthgrade teacher Chris Tickle, put on a pirate show to present this year’s Accelerated Reader theme.

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going off book The Middle School science faculty made a revolutionary decision for the 2015-16 school year: they dropped textbooks. The freedom to create hands-on lessons for their students has given them endless territory to explore.

Eighth-grade earth science teacher Eric Latourelle uses projects to teach the principles for each unit of study—his students build everything from paper airplanes, boats, and submarines to earthquake and flood tables and…gnome villages? For a recent lesson on the study of maps, Mr. Latourelle gave the students an assignment that took on a life of its own. Several years ago, when he worked at a summer camp, Mr. Latourelle needed to keep the campers busy for a period of time, so he began telling stories about Phillippe the Unicorn of Action, who works for Geoureurriey the Gnome King. In the ensuing years, he has developed the story into a project that his students love. They are tasked with creating gnome colony maps that incorporate certain criteria, including topography, scale, and strategic planning to keep the king safe from the Evil Bunny Alliance.

out and about Middle School’s annual Community Week: sixth graders (pictured at right) explored various wellness and innovation topics; seventh graders explored community service and outdoor challenges at Triple C Camp; and eighth graders (pictured above) explored at Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing in southwest Virginia.

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In addition to the scientific skills the students are learning from these hands-on assignments, Mr. Latourelle incorporates economics into his lessons, giving each student a budget of “science dollars” to use during the design phase. For example, for the airplane lesson, paper and other materials had “costs” so that the students would not burn through supplies endlessly. Students receive extra points if money remains in their budgets at the end of each assignment, so they are encouraged to be careful about what they use.

Mr. Latourelle says his overarching goal is to teach students that “the first draft is never your best iteration of the design. You are supposed to fail and make changes as you go.” He adds that not using textbooks allows students to play, “which is really important because it gives them a chance to grasp the concepts.”

Scholarly Behavior During the fall, The Steward School announced a milestone: 27 students and alumni were named AP Scholars by the College Board, and two current seniors were named Commended Scholars by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Commended Scholars: Tom Stack ’16 and Jackson Wellons ’16 (Their scores placed them in the top 50,000 students nationwide.)

National AP Scholar: Jack Sims ’15 (average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more exams)

AP Scholar with Distinction: Bowen Chen ’15, Ben Fox ’15, Megan Frayser ’15, Conor Frydenborg ’15, Dan Kovach ’16, Adam Mickle ’15, Allison Mitchell ’15, Jack Trepp ’15 (average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams)

AP Scholar with Honor: Emily Cox ’15, Caroline Curry ’16, Matthew Gelber ’15, Henry Harrell ’15, Walker Poling ’15, Elise Taylor ’15, Jackson Wellons ’16 (average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams)

AP Scholar: Lucy Davis ’15, Ally Dods ’16, Will Farmer ’15, Ricky Lin ’15, Bella Metts ’15, Megan Norman ’15, Emily Parris ’15, Jackson Pieters ’15, Will Renner ’15, Sam Trepp ’15, Charlie Vaughan ’15 (scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams)

spar wars Much like the political candidates of the current season, juniors in Tom Gallo’s Innovation Studies class recently engaged in debates during the unit on social and political science. The main topics included a study of the nature of leadership, the value of governance, and persuasive argument techniques. Throughout the semester, the students had been presented with many topics that have no single correct answer, and they often engaged in informal debates during class discussions. The formal debate arena allowed them to practice separating personal preference from argument structure. They spent time researching the issues to be wellversed on both sides of the argument. Overall, the debates were spirited and responsible—the groups that prepared factual support for their claims generally had stronger arguments, and the audience was able to recognize this. Audience members were asked to take notes and determine winners based on both force of character and strength of argument.

HANDS-ON LEARNING

reading between the lines

The third-grade teachers have taken recent projects to new dimensions—literally.

To help their students grasp certain concepts, Marsh Hayes, Nancy Loyd, and Jane Whitely are using 3D projects with recycled materials. For example, the third graders built French landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe and the Palace of Versailles, out of discarded oatmeal boxes, straws, and paper cups. In a lesson about photosynthesis, each student placed a sugar cube inside an empty, clean, pint-sized milk carton with “cholorophyll” (a.k.a. green paper); the carton represented the plant, and they added sunshine to enhance the process. Students were required to give a verbal demonstration to the teacher in order to make sure their understanding of photosynthesis was complete.

First-grade students are using the iPad app Book Creator to keep records of their reading this year. According to teacher Lyn Lunsford, they take pictures of pages about which they did a lot of thinking, then record themselves reading those pages aloud and talking about their thoughts. The Book Creator lessons are in addition to writing about reading.

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teamtalk

athletics

Cross Country

Middle School

n The Middle School team deployed its biggest and fastest team ever under the guidance of coaches Laura Akesson, Kat Celata, and Todd Serr.

n Eighth-grader Olivia Koerner had a fantastic season, placing 15th in the Collegiate JV Championship race with a personal best time of 22:51, followed closely by sixth-grader Jabrianna Lara, who placed 18th with a time of 23:23.

n Three Steward boys took first (Kieran Haug), second (Ben Poling), and third (Henry Landry-Seward) places respectively in the Collegiate JV Championship race, all with times under 19 minutes!

Varsity

n The varsity boys team increased in size this year with great athletes joining an experienced core, and the varsity girls team was the strongest it’s been in many years, placing 8th out of 22 scoring teams at the state meet.

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n Senior Harrison Vicars led the team

n Led by Summer Owens’ ALL-LIS and

throughout the season, capped off with an 18:35/28th place finish at the state meet in a field of 293 runners. Henry Landry-Seward (19:12), Doug Kiester, Chris Dellosso, and Baker Dewey rounded out the top five scoring runners, finishing 19th out of 30 scoring teams.

All State performances (21:22/18th place), the girls trained hard and pushed each other to be their best. Ashley McCreary (22:24/35th place), Olivia Koerner, Ellie Hall, and Nayeli Lara were the top five scorers at states.

Field Hockey

Are you a former Steward student-athlete who went on to

Middle School

play in college (for any length of time)? Then we want to include

n The Middle School field hockey team was

you in our soon-to-be-completed Wall of Fame in the Athletic

made up of 21 girls and led by eighth-grade captain Ines Stack, as well as a different co-captain each week under coaches Beth Farmer ’09 and Annie MacKimmie.

Center! If you or an alumni friend fits into this category, please email steward.student.athlete@gmail.com. Thank you!

n The girls improved each week and scored their first goal against Williamsburg Christian in a very exciting game.

Varsity

n Under coach Christen Fratter, the varsity team had a season filled with games that went to the extremes—shut-out wins or tough losses.

n All four seniors served as captains: Mackenzie Carnes, Julie Iuorno (leading scorer with seven goals), Rachel Ragan, and Helen Russell.

n Freshman goalie Abby Dwelle had 127 total saves during the season, and Caroline Laibstain, Taylor Walker, and Emma Zehfuss served as midfielders and were essential in the team’s transition.

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athletics

Boys’ Soccer Middle School Gold

n With more than 50 boys coming out for Middle School soccer, there was enough interest for three separate teams, one for each grade.

n Under coaches Jordan Clark and Jim Brennan, the Middle School gold soccer team consisted of all sixth-grade players and ended a hard-fought season with a winning record.

n The team’s schedule consisted of mostly bigger and older competitors, and team chemistry was apparent with key wins over St. Christopher’s, The Millwood School, and New Community.

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Owen Carter makes big golf moves Senior Owen Carter has made quite a name for himself as a young man in the golf world.

He has competed in nearly 30 tournaments since 2011, including the VSGA Amateur Championship last June. In August, he placed 13th out of 71 at the Izod American Junior Golf Association championship, and most recently he was invited to play in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Winn Grips/Butch Harmon Senior Showcase in December at Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas. Butch Harmon is considered one of the best golf instructors in the world, having taught Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Middle School White

n Coached by Mark Nugent, this seventh-grade team often played against older students, and the boys improved greatly, ending the season with a win.

n Led by offensive stars Alex Eiben and David Cheon, the team scored a total of 15 goals in eight games.

n The defense was spearheaded by Mike Frank, Jack Ludwin, Alex Hambrick, and John Wesley Hall, who came together to form a formidable wall.

Middle School Blue

n The team, led by coaches Tom Funkhouser and Inyah Hiwott and captains James Cox and Callen Smith, finished the season with a solid 7-3-2 record.

n Two of the best games were against Collegiate, earning a 0-0 tie in the first meeting and a 2-0 win in the second; other noteworthy accomplishments included two wins against Fredericksburg Academy and a 5-1 victory against Goochland.

n The squad of 20 eighth graders showed

meaningful improvement with each game, and Matthew Cantor made consistent contributions with his calm and tenacious leadership of the defense.

JV

n The first Steward JV team in many years had a very successful season under coach Patrick Tucker and Devin Lane.

n The highlight of the season was a 1-1 tie

when Steward went down early, but through suffocating team defense and multiple saves

by Ned Cole, the Spartans were able to pull the goal back through a great ball by Matthew Frayser and a composed finish by Ryan Odibo.

As for his future, Owen hopes to play NCAA Division I golf in college, but for now, he’s taking things one step at a time. “My goal is just finding the next step,” he says. “Just like on the golf course, you focus on your next shot. Now I’m just focusing on my next shot in life, which is playing in college.”

Owen has been golfing since he was in second grade, and he’s been a member of the varsity golf team at The Steward School with coach Catesby Jones since eighth grade. “I get a great deal of satisfaction when I see young men like Owen having success because I know how hard he works,” Mr. Jones says. “I’m fully convinced that he’s just got to find the right opportunity, and it’s going to be there. He’s an outstanding young man and a fine gentleman.”

Varsity

n The team had its best regular season in many years with a 10-4-3 record, while playing the toughest schedule in division 2 and advancing to quarter finals of the VISAA state playoffs.

n Some of the biggest victories included the Homecoming win over Christchurch in a game where the Spartans dominated from kickoff to the final whistle and a huge win over D2 stalwart Hampton Roads Academy 2-1 in double overtime with a Miguel Salgado Saez goal.

n The team was led by captains Weston Popp, Theron Powell, Tom Stack, and Jackson Wellons, and included players in grades 9-12 under coaches EJ Watkins and Casey Smith.

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teamtalk

athletics

VOLLEYBALL Middle School Gold n Under coach Bonny Hajek, the Middle School Gold girls team was enthusiastic and spirited. n Every player improved their passing, hitting, and serving, and by the end of the season, everyone had at least one great serve and one great hit. n The sixth-grade team rotated the captain position so that all members could serve. Lauren Johnson was a stand-out server for the team, with the most serves and the most overhand serves. Leading hitters were Annabel Wang, Kyler Oliver, and Caroline Brumagin, followed closely by Claire Patterson, Zoe Macgill, and Camryn Sutton.

Middle School Blue n Under head coach Kylie Kutney, the team worked well together and had a positive season. The team started running an offense with designated setters early on, which allowed many players to have stand-out moments. n Throughout the season, Kennon Cummings made game-winning plays, Nicole Odibo’s incredible hustle led to some phenomenal saves and points, and Kennedy Crook started consistently jump-serving over the net, never missing more than one each game. Mimi Traynham ruled the net with numerous blocks and tips, and Jenna Odum had some amazing digs throughout the season.

JV

n This season, JV volleyball had a lot of new, raw talent.

Under head coach Jenn McCathern and assistant coach Ian McCathern, the girls worked on the fundamentals and basics of volleyball. n Returning JV player and captain Morgan King led the team on the court as primary setter with 101 assists.

Eighth-grader Crary Moore led the team defensively as a libero and a strong server. This was sophomore Amanda Wang’s last season on JV—she led the team on the offensive as a middle hitter.

Varsity n Under head coach Greg Young, varsity volleyball capped off an 11-13 season with a victory over rival Collegiate on Senior Night. Under a new coach and offensive system, the team rallied and trained like champions from the beginning. The team put more hours in the gym this season than ever, and the result of that hard work could be seen from the start of the first game. n Junior captain Mary Ann Neale accumulated more than 217 kills and 54 aces over the course of the season.

Juniors Kellie Fonville and Matea Magnano both accumulated more than 120 kills apiece. Junior setter Ashley Higgs had more than 450 assists for the season.

Senior captain Meg Trepp had a season total of 128 kills. n For the first time, the team was ranked on the state poll from the beginning of the season. They also defeated many teams this season that they had not defeated previously.

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PREVIEW –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Athletic Hall of Fame Dedication January 14, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Winter Invitational Tournament January 15-16, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Alumni Back-to-Basketball January 15, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Winter Athletic Awards Night March 23, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Spring Invitational Tournament April 9, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Spring Athletic Awards Night May 26, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Ray Tate Student-Athlete Scholarship Winners

Seniors Jonathan Beigel and Julie Iuorno are the 2015 recipients of the Ray Tate Student-Athlete Scholarship, worth $1,000 for each student.

Jonathan has been playing basketball and baseball since he was seven years old. He joined The Steward School in the eighth grade and has been a valuable member of both teams ever since. He is the varsity basketball team captain, vice president of the Special Olympics Club, an admissions ambassador, and a member of the Honor Council, Student Philanthropy Initiative, and National Honor Society.

He was the school’s representative at the 2014 Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership seminar, he received the West Point Leadership Award, and he participated in the West Point Leadership Forum, Cochrane Summer Economics Institute, and the Costa Rica service expedition. He regularly volunteers with Special Olympics, Steward’s summer sports camps, and Stop Hunger Now. Julie has played field hockey at Steward since sixth grade, and she played lacrosse for the first time in 2015. She is a member of the National Honor Society, participates in The Club (which emphasizes diversity at Steward), volunteers with Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9’s (BARK), and helps coach a club field hockey team. She has won the title of an ALL-LIS Division 2 athlete as well as an ALL-LIS Division I title for field hockey. In her earlier high school years, she won athletic awards for Commitment and Most Valuable Player.

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spartanliving

i n s p i r a t i o n f o r d a i ly l i f e

Where in the When he’s not pumping up the crowd at pep rallies and making appearances at campus events, Sparty takes a much-deserved vacation. This past summer, Sparty traveled all around the world with many Steward families.

Here are some highlights from his visits:

Alkmaar cheese market; Alkmaar, Netherlands This city is famous for its cheese market, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. Popular selections include Gouda, Edam, and Frisian clove cheese.

Angkor Wat; Siem Reap, Cambodia This temple complex is the largest religious monument in the world. It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire and was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple in the twelfth century.

Machu Picchu; CuSco, Peru The ancient city of Machu Picchu was believed to have been a royal estate or sacred religious site for Inca leaders. The site stretches over a five-mile distance with more than 3,000 stone steps.

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Plaza Mayor; Madrid, Spain This central plaza was built during King Philip III’s reign.

Visitors can choose from a variety of restaurants and cafĂŠs to enjoy Spanish wine and tasty tapas.

world is

Flat Sparty?

Swiss Alps; Interlaken, Switzerland

The Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps has a diversified landscape filled with lakes, snow-capped mountains, tiny villages, cogwheel trains, hiking trails, and more.

Grand Ducal Palace; Luxembourg City, Luxembourg The palace is the official residence of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, where they conduct meetings with heads of state and government officials from around the world.

Centre PompidouMetz; Metz, France This museum of modern and contemporary art features works from the large collection of the French National Museum of Art. It is the largest temporary exhibition space outside Paris in France.

Hawa Mahal; Jaipur, India The renowned ‘Palace of the Winds’ was built to house the royal women of the Kachhwaha Rajput dynasty. Its 953 windows provided them with a view of everyday life, as they never appeared in public.

Planning an upcoming trip? Take Flat Sparty with you and send pictures to sparty@ stewardschool.org or scan here—we’ll feature your photo on our social media accounts!

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spartanliving

i n s p i r a t i o n f o r d a i ly l i f e Winter is the perfect time to cuddle up with a good book and warm mug of hot chocolate. Why not learn about another culture at the same time?

Upper School English teacher Stephanie Arnold teaches world literature to tenth-grade students. Below, she lists some of her favorite internationally themed novels that are great choices for your next book club or a chilly evening at home.

The Namesake l This novel, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Jhumpa Lahiri, traces the life of young Gogol Ganguli as he discovers the surprising derivation of his often mocked name. He struggles to find his identity as his firstgeneration immigrant parents from India embrace the culture of their past while trying to forge a new community in America.

Americanah l This story by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie vividly captures the exotic sensory details of life in Nigeria. It tracks the lives of Ifemelu and Obinze, who fall in love as teenagers, yet must separate when Ifemelu leaves to study in the United States. Obinze stays in Nigeria and becomes fabulously wealthy but dissatisfied with life.

During her time in America, Ifemelu blogs about race and culture with intriguing social commentary. She worries she will become too “Americanah� to ever return home.

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Steward’s Supper

Favorite Recipes by Meriwether Godsey

An Ordinary Man l This book is the stunning autobiography of Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines, who saved the lives of 1,268 Tutsi and Hutu refugees during the Rwandan Genocide. His story inspired the Academy Award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda. Throughout this powerful work, written in the most unassuming language possible, Rusesabagina asserts that he was simply ‘an ordinary man’ despite his extraordinary heroism.

Neverwhere l British author Neil Gaiman’s novel creates an entire alternate universe dubbed “London Below.”

The novel begins with protagonist Richard as he encounters an unusual woman named Door. Richard soon realizes, to his horror, that he is no longer visible.

He loses his apartment, his job, and must venture into the unknown in order to regain his footing in the real world. Stylish and dark, this is a perfect introduction to Gaiman’s incredible collection.

Norwegian Wood and Kafka on the Shore l Though he hasn’t yet won the Nobel Prize in Literature, Haruki Murakami is often said to be on the short list. A contemporary Japanese author with a postmodern beat, Marukami’s novels are bubbling with riddles, literary references, musical interludes, strange twists in time, and even the occasional talking cat. The novel Norwegian Wood begins as Toru Watanabe overhears a snippet of the Beatles song “Norwegian Wood,” inspiring a long, nostalgic reverie about several pivotal relationships when he was a college student living in Tokyo. Another favorite, Kafka on the Shore, tells the story of young Kafka, who tries to escape an Oedipal curse by retreating to a library in the seaside town of Takamatsu, Kagawa.

Scan here to see more recommended reading from faculty and staff members on our Pinterest board!

Adobo (Marinated chicken from the Philippines) Makes 4 servings INGREDIENTS: 1 c. white wine vinegar 1 c. soy sauce 1/2 c. light brown sugar 4 cloves garlic, crushed 3/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 2 dried bay leaves 12 chicken drumsticks 2 c. chicken broth 3 tbsp. arrowroot 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley or cilantro Lime wedges DIRECTIONS: In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Arrange the chicken in a single layer in a 9x13x2-inch glass baking dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken and refrigerate for 2 hours, turning the chicken over halfway through. Place the chicken and marinade in a large, high-sided skillet or Dutch oven and add the chicken broth.

Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 45-50 minutes, turning the chicken every 20 minutes, until cooked through (the thickest part should register 165 degrees).

Remove the chicken from the liquid and arrange on a serving platter. Discard the bay leaves and garlic cloves.

Whisk the arrowroot and lime juice into the liquid and bring the mixture to a boil. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the sauce over the chicken or serve alongside as a dipping sauce. Sprinkle with chopped parsley or cilantro and garnish with lime wedges. Excellent served with white rice.

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event spotlight

Fall fun!

alumninews

Our Steward alumni had a blast reconnecting at many of the fall community events. Thanks to everyone who came out to support blue and gold!

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Great Tailgate This year’s alumni tailgate theme: Go Blue!

Casey Smith, Beth Farmer ’09, J.T. Wauford ’09, Jordan Harless, Veronica Tharp Harless ’09, Heather Mitchell ’09, Will Cropper Carter Shamburger ’05, J.T. Wauford ’09, James Schreiber ’05 Melissa Beck Aspero ’01 and fiancé Taylor Wiseman Alumni Board Secretary Jennifer Cronk ’88, Alumni Board member Laura Weisiger ’02, Clay Tharrington ’02, Alumni Board President Corbin Brierre Ryland ’01, Mark Ryland

College update

PREVIEW Alumni Panel January 6, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––– Alumni Board Meeting January 12, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––– Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony January 14, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––– Alumni Back- to-Basketball January 15, 2016

Spartans at William & Mary This fall, Head of School Dan Frank caught up with Steward alumni at the College of William & Mary. Pictured from left to right: Adam Mickle ’15, Jack Sims ’15, Megan Frayser ’15, Emily Cox ’15, and Ben Fox ’15.

––––––––––––––––––––––– Alumni Board Meeting March 15, 2016 ––––––––––––––––––––––– Alumni Board Meeting May 10, 2016 –––––––––––––––––––––––

Game on!

Alumni Soccer and Field Hockey Games at SpartaFest Thanks to Kevin Cameron ’15, Aubrey Nichols ’15, and Chance Diffee ’15 for participating in the alumni soccer game, and to Beth Farmer ’09, Mary Martha DeLaney ’08, Kemis Noble ’08, and Susan Cramer Twining ’84 for participating in the alumni field hockey game.

Grateful group THANKSGIVING SOCIAL At this year’s annual alumni Thanksgiving social, 24 alumni gathered at The Tobacco Company Restaurant for an evening of food and fun.

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alumninews

class notes

’10s

’80s Catherine Woody Graves ’98 and Adam Graves ’98 announce the birth of their first child, a daughter, Greenlee Graves, in early June.

Camberly Pearson ’98, owner of Sweet Pear Paper, was featured in Richmond Bride magazine for her large-scale art installations for weddings.

John Knorr ’89, owner of Evolution Craft Brewing Co., officially launched his beer in the Richmond market in October.

’90s

’00s

Ted Benson ’00, CTO of Cloudstitch, was mentioned in an article on TechCrunch for his work regarding Amazon’s Dash buttons.

Christopher Howell Shriver was born on May 29 to Austin Haas Shriver ’06. Christopher loved attending Steward Middle School soccer games in the fall to cheer on his uncle, Channing Haas ’20.

On November 4, Lauren Christian ’07 was recognized by CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) of Richmond as one of the top 25 women whose efforts and achievements are shaping the present and future of commercial real estate in the area.

Elizabeth Hickman ’08 graduated in May from Old Dominion University with her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She is a licensed provider in Virginia and works as an acute care physical therapist for Sheltering Arms in Richmond.

Hillary Lane ’10 graduated in May with a Masters in Teaching from Christopher Newport University. She works for Hampton City Schools as a ninth-grade teacher at Bethel High School.

Congratulations to all of the Class of 2015 alumni who were named AP Scholars by the College Board: Bowen Chen, Emily Cox, Lucy Davis, Will Farmer, Ben Fox, Megan Frayser, Conor Frydenborg, Matthew Gelber, Henry Harrell, Ricky Lin, Bella Metts, Adam Mickle, Allison Mitchell, Megan Norman, Emily Parris, Jackson Pieters, Walker Poling, Will Renner, Jack Sims, Elise Taylor, Jack Trepp, Sam Trepp, and Charlie Vaughan. See page 29 for more information about the AP Scholars Program.

Debbie Goldstone Horwitz ’90 received The Steward School’s second annual Alumni Achievement Award at Convocation (see page 18).

Mary Harvard Nolde ’93 is serving as event chair for the 21st annual Women and Wellness Forum Series on February 9, which features keynote speaker Elin Hilderbrand. The event supports women’s cancer research at VCU Massey Cancer Center.

Lindsay Lillard Greenwood ’05 proudly welcomed baby Graham Landon Greenwood on August 15, 2015.

Veronica Maria Tharp ’09 married Jordan Christian Harless on July 18 at St. Bridget Catholic Church. Heather Mitchell ’09 was the maid of honor, and Jamie Adams ’09, Hailey Marie Ragan ’14, and Rachel Ragan ’16 were bridesmaids.

Olivia McCray Montgomery was born to Meg White Montgomery ’05 and Director of Plant Operations Chad Montgomery on November 21, 2015.

Corbin Adamson Orgain ‘96 and Frazer Orgain ‘95 welcomed baby Henry Frazer on October 1. Corbin teaches Middle School math at Steward, and her children, Gates and Ann Darnley, are current Steward students.

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Katie Perkins ’05 married Michael O’Neill on October 10 at Second Baptist Church in Richmond. The new couple resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Katie works at Ravenscroft School.

Submit your Class Note Email alumni@ stewardschool.org or scan here.

lastword

The Steward School is

#MoreThanSchool

It is a place where minds are fueled, imaginations are stirred, and Scan here to watch a new video and see why we’re more than school!

possibilities are unleashed. It is a community with arts, athletics, academics, innovation, and relationships that prepare students for college and for life.

Help us build community and school spirit through shared stories on social media—use #MoreThanSchool whenever you post to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter about Steward!

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There is power in numbers.

Each and every year, donors to Steward’s Annual Fund support our campus community. Gifts are put to work immediately to fund Steward’s highest priorities, including enriched academic, art, and athletic programs, as well as technology, financial aid, and resources for our distinguished faculty. When combined with hundreds of gifts from parents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, grandparents, and friends, your gift—no matter the size—adds up to big support for our school. Your sparticipation matters!

Make an impact today, and give to Steward’s Annual Fund.

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