Crossroads Fall/Winter 2011

crossroads Issue 20

A publication of The Steward School

Looking Back to Move Forward Headmaster Ken Seward’s journey to breathe life back into his 18-year-old self

Fall/Winter 2011

A special thanks goes out to the Parents Association for hosting this year’s Back-toSchool social that featured good food and good friends. A great time was had by all.

crossroads is published three times a year by

The Steward School

The Steward School’s mission is to prepare each child for college and for life. Our core character values are honor, responsibility, and achievement, balanced by caring and respect for oneself and for others. Steward is committed to small classes and to small overall size, which allow for discovery and development of each student’s unique talents and passions, while providing more opportunities for individual participation.

We believe an environment with a diversity of talents, abilities, cultures, and backgrounds provides the richest and most fully-rounded educational experience.

crossroads Fall/Winter 2011

What’s Inside Feature Story: Looking Back to Move Forward The Host Family Experience: Creating Bonds Across Borders Bryan Innovation Lab Evolution of a Design Adjehi Baru ’11: NCAA Player

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Departments campusbeat 14 finearts 29 classacts 32 teamtalk 40

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facultyfocus 42 alumninews 44

STEWARD WEBSITE www.stewardschool.org SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS http://www.facebook.com/TheStewardSchool http://www.twitter.com/stewardschool

Administration

Publication Staff

Printing

Kenneth H. Seward Headmaster Carolyn Brandt Assistant Head of School Dan Frank Director of Upper School Chip Seidel Director of Middle School Melanie Casper Director of Lower School Lisa Dwelle Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Melvin Director of Development Debbie Robson Director of Admissions Lori Jobe Director of Communications

Lori Jobe, Ginny Evans Editors Sherilyn Smail Designer Bill Cavender, Ginny Evans, Karen Huennekens, Lori Jobe, Sarah Melvin, Andy Mudd, Meg White Contributing Writers Joan Cameron, Shayna Cooke, Ginny Evans, Cindy Grissom, Amy Hale, Lori Jobe, LifeTouch Studios, Rugene Paulette, Sherilyn Smail, Katherine Toman, Lynn Zinder Contributing

Total Printing Company

Photographers

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.

headlines

ne of the books that I have O repeatedly read is The Wound ed Leader

by Rick Ackerman. In it, Ack erman describes leadership as “…the capacity to be totally and utt erly oneself, to be able to sho w up fully, to express oneself, and to sha re this self with an organizat ion that one cares about and wants to influence.” For me, this definit ion has posed a lifetime of personal and professional challenges.

This year, I was especially tes ted by this definition, as I ret urned to Steward after retracing my years in Vietnam. Leading a school whose mission is to discover and develop the talents and abi lities of each individual student, I have been equally encourage d to define my own journey to self -realization. Our central task of education is to challenge and support both children and adu lts alike in determining who they are and who they are trying to bec ome.

The capacity to be utterly gen uine, to engage fully, to captur e what you care about, and to focus your energy and influence can tru ly create the greatest positive effe ct on others.

As Ackerman says, we all hav e “wounds” – the real life bum ps and bruises that create detours on our way to accomplishing tha t which is most important. Neverthe less, when we encounter these wo unds, we are better able to discover our own identity.

In this issue, you will encoun ter scores of people who are fully engaged in what they care abo ut at Steward and beyond. My own story is just one of many tha t make up this very special com munity that cares about the whole per son.

Ken Seward Headmaster

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featurestory

By Ginny Evans, Marketing and Communications Associate

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“Homesickness comes in many colors, triggered by unexpected longing for things all but forgotten.”

-Ken Seward, Then and Now: A Vietnam Memoir

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wo years ago, as he rummaged through his late aunt’s kitchen drawers, Ken Seward uncovered a plastic bag filled with the letters he had written home during the Vietnam War. Arranged in chronological order, the letters reintroduced Ken to a part of himself he had long forgotten.

Yet now, after finding the letters and being forced to remember his years in Vietnam, Ken was eager to rediscover his experiences in the context in which they were lived. Thus, in April 2011, Ken departed for a ten-day journey in Vietnam in hopes of reuniting his past and present selves.

Returning to Vietnam 45 years later, Ken wondered, “What is going to be there, how have things changed, and how am I going to feel?”

Guided by his letters, Ken traveled throughout South Vietnam to revisit the places in which he had spent time in the late 1960s. At each stop, Ken would read the letter he had written at that place and then reflect in his journal about his present feelings. Each time he opened a letter, he also opened himself to the 18-year-old he had been. “There was a sense that I was living simultaneously,” Ken said, “both then and now, and maybe even have been for 40 years.”

In 1966, following in his family’s footsteps, Ken graduated from high school and joined the armed services. After training in the Marine Corps, he flew across the ocean to Vietnam and was stationed in the demilitarized zone in the northern part of South Vietnam. His duties consisted of overseeing the captured enemies, transporting them to field hospitals for care, guarding them during interrogation, and then flying with them south to a prisoner of war camp. Having never left the state of Vermont, except to see a Boston Red Sox game, Ken was obviously in very unfamiliar territory.

Reliving the memories where he had experienced them was freeing. He realized how Vietnam had reclaimed and reestablished itself. Every trace of the Marine Corps, the bases, or even his own years there had now all disappeared under shops, restaurants, plantations, and city life. Yet, this reality raised fresh concerns about the value and purpose of the war.

Arriving at the Los Angeles International Airport, Ken remembers hurrying into the men’s room to change out of his military uniform and into the “camouflage of the day” in order to blend in with

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He said, “When I came back, it looked like the whole world had changed. You went away a patriot, serving your country, and you returned feeling like a criminal, that you had done something terribly wrong.”

As a flood of memories suddenly returned, Ken was struck by a deep homesickness for the country. He soon realized that a part of him was still there. “When I listened closely,” he said, “the homesickness was a sense of missing something or having a set of questions that I didn’t have the answers to.” Mesmerized by this feeling, Ken was eager to return to Vietnam, retrace his steps, and breathe life back into his 18-year-old self.

Fast forward to 1968. Ken returned home to one of the largest antiwar movements in American history.

Bewildered by the lack of support for the war or his efforts, Ken began to push his memories of Vietnam to the back of his mind.

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the crowds. Feelings of guilt and uncertainty thus emerged, as he was never able to talk about the things he had seen or experienced.

Fall/Winter 2011

“My outlook on the country and the people, then and now, is ever-changing. One minute understanding, the next bewilderment, then love, then hate, then pity.”

-Ken Seward, Then and Now: A Vietnam Memoir

Top Left: Picture of Hao; Top Right: Ken and Mr. Ky, Hao’s husband; Bottom Left: Hao’s identification card during the war; Bottom Right: Ken on the Mekong River

Headmaster Ken Seward spreaking to students about his exhibit.

Scan the code with your smartphone to watch Ken revisit a bunker from the Vietnam War. If you do not have a smartphone, visit http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=oMOojmx3_qI.

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Scan the code with your smartphone to watch Ken revisit where he lived in Vietnam during the war. If you do not have a smartphone, visit http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=p1ALZNJhTdw.

“Maybe Tien was right.

What I came to see, to find, no longer exists. Just feelings without pictures, words without any reality, buried by layer upon layer of present tense.

I didn’t know where to dig, how deep to go, but I was nowhere near what I came to do.”

-Ken Seward, Then and Now: A Vietnam Memoir

“I was relieved to be back there to see how well the country has done and how positively I felt about the country and the people. But, I felt confused about what difference fighting a war for ten years and costing many lives on both sides resulted in,” said Ken. “Although American Studies is my field and I understand what the books say about why the United States got involved at the time, I think recent history has suggested that the compelling reasons that were described to the public actually were less compelling to those who knew more about the country and the circumstances.”

Besides retracing his steps with the letters, Ken also sought to find two people who might help him fully rediscover who he was then. Ken hired a local guide who began the journey by leading him to the home of Hao, the then 12-year-old girl who had done his laundry. Ken met her husband and three of their 12 children. Although Hao passed away in 2001, her family was able to show Ken the now unrecognizable places he had once lived.

life after the war. In the end, reconnecting with Hao and Tien enabled Ken to begin resolving his unanswered and probing questions.

After the ten-day trip, Ken once again returned home feeling uncertain about his feelings towards the Vietnam War. Having collected a number of photographs, videos, and journal entries, Ken began to compose a memoir, entitled Then and Now: A Vietman Memoir, to document his encounter with the past.

“I wrote the memoir really for myself, as a vehicle for exploring this whole subject.

And, secondly, I wrote it for my children so they can read about the Vietnam War from others, but also understand my experience from my memoir and photographs,” said Ken. With the help of Art Department Chair Rugene Paulette, Ken also created the first art exhibit of the 2011-2012 school year. The exhibit showcased his eclectic collection of photographs and artifacts and enabled him to share his experience with students.

Ken confesses that his April trip, coupled with these two projects, has helped him “come out of hiding.” Ken has never been part of a veterans association or spoken much about the Vietnam War, but he admits that Vietnam remains a significant part of him. Even though many issues of his time and purposes in Vietnam remain unresolved, Ken’s confrontation of his homesickness ultimately allowed him to rediscover his love for the Vietnamese culture, food, Top photo: hand carved vase by Tien. landscape, and people.

Bottom Photo: Tien starting a marble sculpture.

Second, the guide led him to Tien, a marble sculptor whose presence Ken remembered from an ambush.

Tien ultimately allowed Ken to both understand the incident from another point-of-view and ask about

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The

Host Family Experience:

Creating Bonds Across Borders

By Ginny Evans, Marketing and Communications Associate

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teward families have taken this leap of faith and have welcomed international students into their homes for the last 15 years through the International Student Program. “Integrating students with diverse talents and cultures enriches the Steward experience for all of our students,” said International Student Coordinator Kim Linnell.

“Since its beginning, the program has furthered the mission of the School by helping diversify the student population and by allowing all of those students involved, both the host student and international student, special opportunities to grow and share their cultures.”

Currently, the Upper School hosts eleven international students with five of them living with Steward families. Both visiting students and host families express satisfaction with the experience.

While each student and family has a unique experience, they all agree that they’ve created memories and bonds across borders.

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The Penberthy Family

The Strickler Family

Two years ago, David, Kim, and Morgan Penberthy ’13 decided to host Carla Schliephake, a one-year exchange student from Germany. Their love of traveling and meeting people of different backgrounds made their decision easy.

Next door to the Penberthys live Charles, Mary, and William Strickler ’10. “You know the world is definitely shrinking, when you greet your car pool riders with “Guten Morgen! or Guten Tag!” in the spring and “Zão’än!” in the fall,” said Charles. “I guess you could say that our car pool experience with Carla paved the road for hosting our own exchange student, Kevin.”

Kevin Liu ’12 came to Steward last year from China through the International Experience (IE) agency.

Upon his arrival in Richmond, Kevin learned that IE had not yet placed him with a host family. Kevin later attended a bowling event, as part of the international student orientation, where he met William. He then found out that William’s family had decided to host him after recognizing his name on the list of international students.

While Morgan was excited to have a new companion in her home, David and Kim wondered how she, being an only child, would adjust. Yet, David said, “Morgan adjusted without a hitch and was a wonderful sister.” Likewise, Carla integrated well into her class and into the Penberthy family.

“We had a great year together,” said David.

The Stricklers have greatly added to Kevin’s time in America – teaching him about the country, helping him with his English, and traveling with him throughout the United States. In return, Kevin has shared much about his own country, occasionally preparing authentic Chinese food for the family to sample. The Stricklers now plan to visit Kevin and his family in China during the summer of 2012.

Like other host families, the Penberthys traveled with Carla throughout the states to teach her about America. The family spent weekends and school breaks going to places such as Monticello, Washington, New York City, Las Vegas, and the Grand Canyon. “As an offshoot of our desire to show Carla as much of America as we could,” said David, “our family got reacquainted with the country as well.”

Remembering the end of their year with Carla, David described sending her back to Germany as if they were sending a daughter off to college.

“Emotions ran high,” he said. Since her departure, Carla and the Penberthys have reconnected through vacations with Carla’s family. “We got to meet a great person and a great family from another country, and we made strong friendships along the way,” said David. The Penberthys’ host family experience continues to be a highlight of their years at Steward.

Kevin will graduate from Steward this year and plans to attend college in the states. His first choice is Virginia Tech, both Mary and Charles Strickler’s alma mater. Thinking back on his overall experience at Steward, Kevin said, “Just after one year, I have learned a lot. Not many people are going to have this opportunity.” Similarly, the Strickers affirm that “it is a very rewarding experience.”

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The Sorensen Family Lexi Chen ’14, also from China, joined the Steward community this year as a sophomore. Having once lived in China themselves, Elizabeth and Rob Sorensen were eager to host Lexi and help her adjust to a new life in America. “We remembered how hard it is to move to a foreign country, and we could empathize with her,” said Elizabeth.

“Jaana has also made some truly wonderful friends at Steward,” said Libby. And with their help, Jaana has been able to make the most of her time at Steward. She has enjoyed participating in sports and attending all of the social events. The Herrings are thankful for Jaana’s presence in their home and look forward to staying in touch after the experience is over.

Elizabeth, Rob, and their children Catherine and Matthew ’17 have since enjoyed getting to know Lexi and learning about her life and family in China.

“The experience has taught us to open our hearts to a new culture,” said Elizabeth. “My children are learning patience and the value of getting to know someone else.”

Lexi’s new friendships with fellow exchange students have also provided opportunities for both the Sorensens and her to meet other families in the Steward community. Elizabeth said, “It has been a pleasure meeting other host families and their students. It has given us a great sense of community.” This year, the Sorensens look forward to adding a new chair to the table, as they share the holidays with Lexi.

The Herring Family The Herring family welcomed Jaana Pohjaranta ’13, an exchange student from Finland, into their home this year after receiving an email about the host family program. Libby Herring remembers her children, Abigail ’16, Molly ’18, and Jacob (9), hearing about the opportunity and immediately starting to prepare Jaana’s room for her arrival.

Since then, Jaana has fit right in with the Herring family. She has taught her host siblings a few Finnish words, cooked some Finnish-style meals, and enjoyed sharing stories about her life back in Finland. The Herrings have even met some of her friends and family through Skype.

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The Shelton Family Upper School English teacher Terri Shelton met Jeoung Seok Han ’11 when he came to Steward as a freshman. After completing three years at Steward, Han went home to Korea for a year of work. He then returned to Steward in 2010 for his senior year. Remembering Han as one of the “kindest, nicest young men [she] had ever met,” Terri and her husband, Richard, volunteered to host him for this final year.

Not having children of their own, the Sheltons had to adjust to their new host parent role. Terri said, “It was interesting getting used to sharing our home with someone else.” Yet over the course of the year, Han had “truly became a part of our family.” Terri and Richard shared their love of NFL football with Han, frequently watching games and teaching him about the American sport.

The Sheltons also enjoyed introducing Han to their extended family. Terri said, “We loved taking Han on trips with us and having him be a part of family gatherings and holiday celebrations.” Now an undergraduate student at NYU, Han plans to return to Richmond this year to spend spring break with the Sheltons.

Finland Jaana Pohjaranta

Korea Jeoung Seok Han

China Lexi Chen

Germany Carla Schliephake

The International Program Office The International Program Office consists of International Student Coordinator Kim Linnell and International Student Advisor Elizabeth Coleman. Kim and Elizabeth work collaboratively to support teachers and host families, provide academic assistance to the international students, teach English as a second language, help acclimate students to American life and culture, and prepare students for the college admissions process.

China Kevin Liu

This year, they also began the International Student Ambassador Club, which consists of eight juniors and seniors who help plan orientation and two field trips for the international students.

To learn more about the office and the International Student Program, please contact Kim Linnell at Kim.Linnell@stewardschool.org.

To find out more about the host family program and how you might become involved, please contact Director of Admissions Debbie Robson at Debbie.Robson@ stewardschool.org.

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campusbeat

Torrential rains didn’t stop the Steward community from celebrating the beginning of the school year at the Back-to-School Social. Although Tropical Storm Lee delayed the event by a week, approximately 400 guests enjoyed burgers, hot dogs, and fun with family and friends.

Guests participated in a video shoot describing what they love about Steward, and younger students illustrated their favorite things about Steward on a paper shield. Older students visited with friends and enjoyed playing ball on the athletics fields.

A tremendous thank you goes out to Patty McDonnell and Karen Huennekens for producing another wonderful Back-to-School Social for the Steward community! Due to their flawless and efficient planning, even Tropical Storm Lee could not knock them off course. Also, thank you to all the parent volunteers, faculty, and staff who stepped up to make such a large event possible. A wonderful time was had by all. It was a great way to kick off the new school year and to welcome all of the new families to the Steward community.

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“Who needs football when you have the Great Tailgate?” has become a resounding question

throughout our community of parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and friends. The Sixth Annual Great Tailgate kicked off the school year on Friday, September 23.

The over 21 crowd danced to the musical sounds of Back-to-Zero, who returned for a second year by popular demand. The famous chili, made by Meriwether Godsey, continued to be a hit despite the warmer weather. Oysters, prepared by Stinky’s Oyster Bar and donated by the Callis family, were delivered fresh from the Northern Neck and enjoyed by all.

Back-to-Zero awarded the “Animal House” tailgate with the Best Tailgate award. Members of the tailgate were dressed in togas and classic Animal House attire. How they managed to keep a death mobile float under lock and key is still mind boggling!

Special thanks to Edie Ragan and her team of volunteers for making the night both memorable and entertaining!

We also want to thank our sponsors who contributed to the success of the evening by underwriting many of the expenses. Mark Dellosso of AXA Advisors; Cherry, Beakhart, and Baker; James Schreiber ’05 and Steven Roth of MassMutual Financial Group; CUT-N-CARE Lawn Services; and Shutterbooth of Richmond all made this evening one we won’t forget!

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Fa l l i n g i n t o Fa l l a t

The Steward School campus was transformed into a fall festival on Saturday, October 15 with the SpartaFest Bazaar, farmers market, pumpkin sale, plant sale, bake sale, carnival games, and activities including the Farm Bus from Farm 2 Family. Visitors enjoyed great food while listening to student-formed bands, instrumental ensembles, and choral performances. Children’s activities included a rock climbing wall, bungee jumping, pony rides, and inflatables. Face painting, a hay maze, and photos with Clydesdales were also popular activities.

A highlight of the festival, the Farm Bus allowed visitors to take part in a unique interactive shopping/educational experience, like stepping into the country for a brief moment in time. The Farm Bus sources fresh, local ingredients, concentrating on chemical free products while building relationships between local growers and producers. Visitors to SpartaFest had the opportunity to purchase local produce, while learning about reducing their carbon footprint and creating a sustainable food distribution system.

Richie and Charlsie Lloyd of Lloyd Family Farm provided pumpkins for the pumpkin patch and brought a John Deere tractor for children to explore.

Shoppers enjoyed the SpartaFest Bazaar, which included beautiful jewelry, clothing, artwork, and many original hand-crafted items.

SpartafesT 16

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Thank

Pajamas, Crazy Hats and Socks, Oh MY!

to the volunteer team that made this event possible:

Students broke out their pajamas, crazy socks and hats, favorite jerseys, jeans, and blue and gold attire for a fun-filled spirit week leading up to the homecoming pep rally and SpartaFest. As always, students delighted in the spirit competition, especially Middle School students who took top honors. The Pep Band kept everyone entertained with lively music, and the class banners got teams fired up for a weekend filled with competition.

you Libby Lewis, Event Chair Mary Andrews Catherine Both Allyson Brand Mindy Dumeer Amy Ernst Lisa French Noelle Harrison Helen Landry Kris Leverty Aimee Patrick Laurie Petronis Alice Young

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A Grand Ol’ Time Middle and Upper School Grandparents and Special Friends Day On October 21, over 225 grandparents and friends attended the annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day. The festivities began with a coffee reception, followed by lunch including Middle and Upper School faculty, staff, students, and guests in the Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Grandparent Marge Hassan Cramer addressed the audience, speaking about her earliest days at Steward beginning in 1975. She marveled over the many campus improvements and praised the School’s commitment to its mission of small size and individual attention.

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The Steward Varsity Jazz Ensemble provided the music for the luncheon. This year’s ensemble, led by band director John McAlister, includes Omid Mahban, Greg Lindgren, and Andrew Caldwell in the horn section; and Jacob Roca, Sebastian Vera Brain, and Kevin Friend in the rhythm section. The group played swing standards such as Benny Golson’s “Killer Joe,” John Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C.,” and Sonny Rollin’s “Sonnymoon for Two,” and jazz rock standards including Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” and Eddie Daniel’s “Cold Duck Time.” They also performed a

special selection based on a tune by Kurt Cobain and arranged by John McAlister, called “Smells Like Jazz Spirit.”

As the day continued, guests were invited to enjoy campus tours, join their grandchild in class, as well as enjoy a sneak preview of the fall play, The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare. A special thank you to Meriwether Godsey and a host of volunteers for plating almost 600 lunches and transforming the gymnasium into a festive luncheon space, resulting in a very special day for all.

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Helen Dixon’s son, Mac Dixon, holding the Senate Resolution.

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Convocation: Celebrating the Life of

Helen Dixon Convocation began early on September 15, as Steward seniors walked hand-inhand with kindergartners through the colonnade and into the Athletic Center.

This year’s Convocation marked an important milestone in the School’s history, as we celebrated the life of the School’s founder Helen Fowlkes Dixon.

Headmaster Ken Seward began Convocation by welcoming 126 new students.

Assistant Head of School Carolyn Brandt followed with her fond memories of Helen Dixon. Ms. Brandt remembered the twinkle in her eyes, her selflessness, her humor, and her spunky, warm, and gracious nature. Ms. Brandt then stated that her own 30-year commitment to The Steward School has been grounded in her love of the School’s mission. That mission, Ms. Brandt believes, evolved out of the passionate dreams of Ms. Dixon. She said, “From the very beginning, Helen Dixon had a sense of what this new school’s mission should be. It should be a caring school, a school that stays small so that teachers develop a personal relationship with their students, and a school where teachers discover, encourage, and celebrate each child as unique.”

“From the very beginning, Helen Dixon had a sense of what this new school’s mission should be. It should be a caring school, a school that stays small so that teachers develop a personal relationship with their students, and a school where teachers discover, encourage, and celebrate each child as unique.”

–Carolyn Brandt, Assistant Head of School

Resolution No. 510, which celebrates the life of Helen Dixon. A Senate Resolution, Senator Stosch noted, is a statement that honors an individual who has contributed greatly to his or her community and who the Senate holds in great esteem. The resolution outlines pinnacle moments in Ms. Dixon’s life and her work to establish The Steward School. The resolution now hangs outside the headmaster’s office.

Final words at this year’s Convocation came from Mrs. Brandt, “As a Steward family, we are all here to care for one another and to help one another reach our dreams. So, believe in yourself and your dreams. If we do that, we keep Helen Dixon’s dream alive.”

Don DeLaney, Board of Trustees Chair, then shared with the students more about Ms. Dixon’s early life. She was a native of Mobile, Alabama; graduated from Murphy High School in 1935; was the 1938 Queen of the Mobile Mardi Gras, and founded Miz Dixon’s School on Monument Avenue in Richmond. Mr. DeLaney explained that her hard work and dedication to teaching led to Miz Dixon’s School evolving into a preschool, daycare, summer camp, and eventually into The Steward School in 1972.

The highlight of this year’s Convocation came when Senator Walter Stosch presented the School with Senate Joint Crossroads

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Pinwheels for Peace To celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21, students gathered for their own celebration of “Whirled Peace Day” by joining in the international art and literacy project known as Pinwheels for Peace.

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, from Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. The project was quickly embraced by their students and school community and by millions of art teachers, teachers, parents, children, and adults who desire peace in the world. “Whirled Peace

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Day” has become an annual celebration to promote peace in the Steward community.

Every year, students participate in this oneday event by planting pinwheels carrying messages of peace. The community also makes donations to a designated community or area in need. Because water is this year’s school-wide theme, the School chose to support the James River Association. Students in Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools collected money to donate to the local organization.

The School community met on the front lawn, as art teachers Lynn Zinder and Cindy Grissom led the celebration.

Becky Groves’s fifth-grade class began by leading the community in singing “This Land is Your Land.” The Middle School and Upper School choirs followed with two selections. The ceremony ended with children planting their pinwheels in the shape of a large peace sign on the School’s front lawn, while singing “Peace like a River.”

The Art Department Decked the Halls of the Governor’s Mansion In October, an alumni parent asked The Steward School’s Art Department to help decorate the Christmas trees in the Virginia Governor’s Mansion.

This holiday season, the mansion’s decorations replicated the Civil War period with boughs of greenery and vintage decorations.

After being selected, the art teachers worked to integrate this fun project into their classrooms. All Steward students, from JK to Grade 12, researched Civil War holiday décor and ornaments. Each grade level focused on creating one craft that would have been on the Christmas tree at the beginning of the Civil War.

The tree was decorated with paper decorations, candied fruits, and miniature toys. Gifts under the tree were wrapped in scrap wallpaper and tied with hemp string, intermingled with candied fruits and nuts.

Little is known about how the mansion was decorated during the wartime tenure of Governor John Letcher, but other documents, such as engravings and photographs, helped give direction to Steward’s art teachers as they designed this year’s holiday decor.

Through their research, students discovered that Christmas in the 1860s had many of the customs we know today.

Decorations, however, took on a more simple tone. Greenery often adorned entryways and mantelpieces, while the Christmas tree was often dainty, sitting on table tops and lit only with small candles.

Renovations Enhance the Middle and Upper School Library Middle and Upper School students have even more reasons to visit the Middle and Upper School Library. After a summer filled with renovations, the library has a new and improved look. Librarian Corina Haywood believes the new space, paint, carpet, furniture, and electronic devices enrich the collaborative nature of the library.

says, “The fully renovated library provides a place for our students to grow, learn, and gain valuable 21st century skills. It is indeed a living library and will continue to grow and adapt to the ever-changing needs of our users.”

The new furniture, such as chairs with laptop arms, and a café-style seating area give students more choices for where to work. An instructional seating area also allows for library instruction and collaborative-teaching projects.

Adding to the existing eight computers available, the Middle and Upper School Library gained a combined total of 60 new laptops, iPads, Kindles, and Nooks.

The study room also has a new flat screen monitor, offering another collaboration area for student groups. Ms. Haywood Crossroads

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bryan innovation lab

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breaking ground spring 2012

the steward school

Bryan Innovation Lab Our mission evolves with the Bryan Innovation Lab. We are pleased to announce that on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, The Steward School Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve development of the Bryan Innovation Lab. The official groundbreaking will take place in spring 2012, and the Lab is scheduled to open in fall 2012.

Kitchen Lab: The test kitchen and gardens will engage students in the production and preparation of food, fostering lifelong healthy decision-making skills.

Generously funded by the Bryan family and numerous other donors, this 6,000 square foot facility and its unique curriculum are designed to equip our students with specialized, hands-on critical thinking skills.

Synergistically integrated with all subjects and grade levels, the Bryan Innovation Lab extends our ability to provide our students with one of the strongest preparatory educations in Virginia.

In the spirit of our remarkably collaborative community, we encourage students, parents and alumni to offer their ideas and to personally participate in the development of the Lab.

Some of the ways that you will be able to participate include: ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥ ✥

Photographing and recording site progress Contributing to a Bryan Innovation Lab blog Proposing guest speakers and activities Suggesting curriculum ideas Developing the garden and grounds Assisting with kitchen programming Recommending entrepreneurial ventures Helping with community outreach

We believe that the Bryan Innovation Lab will provide endless possibilities to inspire, educate, and better prepare our students. It will be even more successful with your involvement. For more information about how your family can participate, please contact: William R. Cavender Program Director, Bryan Innovation Lab

804.565.2335 william.cavender@stewardschool.org

Dry Lab AND wet lab: Spaces for scientific inquiry using cutting-edge tools, with the freedom to get messy.

Outdoor Classrooms: An opportunity for all disciplines to explore and innovate in the outdoor environment, helping our children connect to the natural world.

“As the Bryan Innovation Lab curriculum evolves, we will be in an even better position to help our students thrive in a highly innovative world, where versatility, out-of-the-box questioning, resourcefulness, and adaptability are necessary skills.” ✥ Ken Seward, Headmaster

The Core: Exposed and labeled mechanical systems show students how the building operates.

Wellness Lab: A vital teaching space for physical and mental exercise and health.

View 3D animation of building plans.

In recognition of efforts to implement specific environmental policies and practical actions that reduce the generation of carbon emissions, The Steward School received the Green Schools Challenge Award in the category of Day Schools with more than 500 students on November 14.

Sponsored by Trane and BCWH Architecture Interiors Planning, the competition was open to independent schools within Virginia as part of Go Green Virginia, an initiative of the Virginia Municipal League designed to provide information and practical strategies to promote environmental responsibility.

Participants in the program are encouraged to find innovative solutions to reduce energy usage and promote sustainability.

The award was presented at the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) annual conference in Richmond.

The prize plaque and a cash award of

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Steward Wins

• creating the Sustaining Steward Club, an Upper School club that promotes sustainable behavior, • purchasing of green power from our energy provider, Dominion Power, • posting regular communications on the Sustaining Steward section of the website, and • participating in a variety of national environmental programs such as National Green Week.

$500 were accepted by Headmaster Ken Seward, Director of Plant Operations Bob Sanders, and Bryan Innovation Lab Program Director Bill Cavender.

Recognition as a Green School is a result of ongoing efforts to increase sustainability across campus, including • retrofitting lights in the gymnasium by replacing bulbs with newer, more efficient bulbs, • installing new receptacles for collecting recyclable and compostable materials,

In October, the Board of Trustees approved a Strategic Sustainability Plan that pledges to “continue efforts to reduce and improve our energy consumption, minimize waste, improve campus sustainability, and inform the community about how we can reduce our carbon foot print.”

The Steward School will continue to evaluate new technologies and search for innovative new solutions to our energy needs. The Bryan Innovation Lab will add a powerful new set of tools and opportunities to do even more in the future.

finearts

By Andy Mudd, Technical Theatre Director

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The Script All scene designs begin with the script.

Last spring, our Guest Director and Visiting Artist-in-Residence Foster Solomon, suggested doing William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. The play follows the tradition of the ancient Greek and Roman comedies where the entire story takes place in a single location, namely, the streets of Ephesus.

As I read the script in May 2011, I envisioned a street scene with various buildings along one side, where characters could run in and out of the houses and storefronts. All the places the characters visit are located on the street, so the scene would never need to change.

A scene from a play by Roman playwright Terence.

The scene shows three entrances on a street that actors use as entrances.

The Theme Most of Shakespeare’s plays are adaptable for any location and time period. Themes help set the scene in a time and place.

In June, Foster emailed me a fanciful suggestion: “What if our play took place in a seaside resort?” I immediately thought it was a great idea! Over the summer, as I started imagining the details of our street scene, I looked at the architecture and colors of the Outer Banks and Key West. The rainbow colors, the quirky decorations, and the flat, low, wooden buildings of the beach towns soon became the inspiration for the production.

Photos taken as research. Do you recognize these places on the Outer Banks?

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The Thumbnail Drawings As the old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” After the theme is selected, the designer drafts ideas and presents them to the director.

By August, I had worked up a dozen variations of boardwalks and storefronts in quick sketches called, “thumbnail drawings.” Incorporating Foster’s suggestions, the scene options included two or three buildings, a balcony, and a public square. Ultimately, we decided on two structures that would serve multiple purposes during the play – one building would even have two fronts.

The Model A designer works on drawings from two distinct angles: the “ground-plan,” which is a bird’s-eye view of the entire stage, similar to a road map, and a “front elevation.” To make the relationship between space and height even clearer, a designer will take his or her twodimensional images and create a threedimensional model. With this model, everyone involved has a clear idea of how all the elements of the design will work on the stage.

The Tech Rehearsals As the date of the first performance draws closer, the large portions of the set are completed, and the designer works on putting the finishing touches on the set.

The actors for The Comedy of Errors were shown the model at their first read-through in early September.

The ¼” scale model made from card stock.

Top: Seniors Cameron O’Connor and Henry Bassett tie a decorative rope onto the boardwalk.

Bottom: Seventh grader Caroline Duley paints a door.

Furniture was selected and put in place; pictures were hung on the walls; and drapery was hung in the windows.

Molding and doors were also installed, and paint treatments were applied to finish the scene. Finally, we covered the buildings in knickknacks and elements from the seashore.

The Build After a designer dreams up the visual environment of the play, it is then built out of wood, fabric, and paint.

In September, I took the sketches of the set and turned them into blueprints, or “technical drawings,” with exact measurements and materials. The students in the Upper School Technical Theatre classes then used these plans to construct the platforms and houses that I had designed.

I shopped for the appropriate paints at the hardware store, and slowly, the little ¼” scale model had blossomed into a full-scale structure in the theatre.

The Performance Scenery needs an audience as much as actors do.

On Thursday, October 20, our cast and crew of 20 Middle and Upper School students opened the doors to the Lora M. Robins Theatre to entertain our audience.

For three performances, the words of Shakespeare came alive upon the colorful streets of Ephesus.

What begins as dialogue on a page, a casual conversation, and a doodle in a sketch pad evolves into an essential element of the full theatrical production.

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classacts

Upper School

Students Click with Spiders Seniors Harrison Mire and Boyd Chambliss were working photo-journalists for the University of Richmond Homecoming game on October 21. Running the sidelines and shooting with the pros, Harrison and Boyd produced excellent images and video footage of the game.

Halloween

in the Upper School

Rings to Remember Following tradition, members of the senior class presented juniors with personalized class rings during Ring Ceremony on Wednesday, October 26. During her speech, senior Sam Henderson described her ring as a symbol of her memories at Steward.

She said, “From now on, when I look at my ring, I’m going to remember my class in this great memory. I’m going to think of us united, cheering together at our last pep rally.” Upper School Math Teacher Katherine Toman also gave a speech during the ceremony, in which she emphasized the symbol of a circle.

“Upon receiving these rings today, I charge you with the responsibility of driving your own growth,” said Ms. Toman. “A circle has no true beginning or ending, and in this same manner, may you never forget where you started.”

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Upper School students were decked out in their Halloween costumes on Monday, October 31. Students gathered in Steeber Commons during their morning break for a Halloween Costume Contest. The winners were Lucy Anderson, Lauren Saurs, Sarah Shimer, Ryan Johnson, Caitlin Phelan, Gracie Côté, Audrey Gallagher, Chloe Pieters, Kelsey Wright, Kendall Bendheim, Mackenzie Kirchmier, Sam Cummings, Sam Henderson, and Kaki Patterson who all dressed as the Upper School faculty.

Second place went to the Audrey Hepburn look-alikes Sam Douma and Liza Jones. Morgan Schroder received third place for her costume as a tourist.

Crowning Moment The Upper School students danced the night away on October 15 at the Homecoming Dance. Khoa Tran and Chloe Pieters shared a first dance after being crowned Homecoming King and Queen.

The 2011 Homecoming Court: seniors Khoa Tran and Chloe Pieters, Heth Owen and Caitlin Phelan, Kendrick Peters and Ryan Johnson; juniors Mason Butler and Yvonne Taylor; sophomores DeMarco Nelson and Annaliese Blank; and freshmen Jack Sims and Allison Mitchell.

More Clubs, More Fun The Upper School held its first Club Fair on Wednesday, September 7. Faculty members offered over 20 clubs, including returning clubs such as Stewardship (community service), Italian Club, and Big Sisters/Little Sisters. These were also joined by many new clubs such as the Mountain Biking Club, Friday Night Lights Movie Club, and the Writers’ Café. At least a dozen clubs had several students sign up. The new Wilderness Adventure Club had as many as 20 students interested!

Here are some highlights of the clubs’ recent activities: During October, the Peace Out Club focused its efforts on Breast Cancer Awareness. On Wednesday, October 19, the Club sponsored a “Pink Out” day. They encouraged the entire Upper School to wear pink clothing and pink ribbons. There was also a bake sale, with all the money going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.

Top Photo: Peace Out Club group members.

Middle Left Photo: “Pink Out” day bake sale sponsored by the Peace Out Club.

Middle Right: Pottery Club members Clemie Norman and Casey Dellosso each working on their creations.

Bottom Left: The Sick-Awesome Mountain Biking Club.

The Sick-AWESOME Mountain Biking Club has met several times, gathering to ride at Poor Farm Park, Forest Hill Park, the Buttermilk Trail, Belle Isle, and the Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield. Trails have ranged from moderate to difficult, and riders have improved their performance dramatically since the first ride. Junior Sam Fink has used his GoPro HD camera to capture some action footage and is working to make a promotional video. Senior Henry Bassett is also working to design a club t-shirt.

On Sunday, October 16, the Pottery Club gathered together in the Upper School art studio to learn the art of throwing pots on the wheel. Students were given step by step directions on how to throw on the potter’s wheel and each student made several pieces of pottery including bowls, cups, and abstract bowls.

Nat i o n al

Day On W r i t i n g

October 20 was National Day on Writing, and many different classes participated in various writing activities. In the Upper School, the students reflected on the writing they have done and updated their writing folders. The eleventh grade and the fourth grade also met in Steeber Commons to share their Native American stories. Both grades studied Native Americans and wrote creation myths during the Fall Semester.

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Penny for Your Thoughts

Middle School

How many drops of water can fit on a penny? In eighth grade science, Mrs. Shayna Cooke’s students not only tested this, but they also compared it to how many drops of water would fit on the penny if the penny was first dipped in soap. Students then learned how they had unknowingly been walking through the steps of the scientific method. What a great reinforcement of a core concept!

Fun at Deep Run On Tuesday, October 25, the sixth-grade class enjoyed a fall outing at Deep Run Park. A nature scavenger hunt provided a challenging activity, as students searched for objects such as a cocoon, a pink stone, and the most challenging item, a maple key, which they learned is the “whirlybird” seed pod of the red maple tree. After a picnic lunch, students played soccer and other games before returning to school for their afternoon classes.

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Mrs. Hale’s Model Behavior During October, students in Mrs. Amy Hale’s Life Science selected one virus on which to research and write a paper. Each student presented their model of the virus and shared five facts with their peers in class. Also in October, Mrs. Hale’s sixth-grade students constructed DNA models out of marshmallows, toothpicks, and Twizzlers. After checking their models against the class key, the students ate their models. Yum!

JK and Seventh Grade

Act Up A “dramatic” time was had by all as Mrs. Monica Moehring’s seventh grade theatre class performed Aesop’s Fables for Junior Kindergarten. Stories included The Fox and the Crow, The Man and the Fly, Androcles, The Two Travelers, The Wind and the Sun, and The Fox and the Rooster. The show was followed by a combined acting workshop where the seventh graders directed the Junior Kindergartners in the plays. The seventh grade theatre class has been studying children’s theatre, and they not only did a wonderful job with the shows, but they also had a fantastic time “playing” with their new JK buddies.

Artful Homeland History This fall, Mr. Wallace Inge’s seventh grade history class explored family histories. The students created family trees, wrote a paper, and shared stories and objects important to them and their families with the class. In conjunction, Mrs. Cindy Grissom had her seventh grade art class create family shields based on the information the students learned about their families. The family trees and shields were on display in the Middle School halls. The countries that the seventh grade students’ families hail from are Wales, Scotland, England, Ireland, Cameroon, Spain, Russia, Lithuania, Italy, Greece, France, Armenia, Dutch East Indies, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, India, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Korea, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Lebanon, Belgium, Poland, and Native America.

Clubbing in the Great Outdoors On On Sunday, Sunday, October October 16, 16, Ms. Ms. Melissa Melissa Sopher Sopher and and Mrs. Mrs. Shayna Cooke took eight students to Dobie Mountain, Shayna Cooke took eight students to Dobie Mountain, near near Waynesboro, Waynesboro, Virginia.

Virginia. They They did did aa four-mile four-mile hike, hike, had had aa picnic picnic lunch lunch on on Glass Glass Hollow Hollow Overlook, Overlook, and and saw saw a aBeechcraft Beechcraftplane planethat thatcrashed crashedinin1964.

1964.ItItwas wasa a beautiful fall day and everyone had a blast. The group also did a bit of bouldering on the hike, which the kids really enjoyed.

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An Official Lecture

Lower School

After Convocation on September 15, Senator Walter Stosch spoke to the third, fourth, and fifth grades about why he chose to run for office and the process of getting elected to public office. The students were eager to listen since many ran for office in the Lower School SCA.

Halloween Carnival On October 28, the Lower School students enjoyed a fun-filled day of spooky Halloween activities during the annual Halloween Carnival. There were goblins and ghosts, games, skeleton bingo, and even a Halloween safety talk. Bonny Hajek and parent volunteers organized the carnival.

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A Hilarious Triumph for the Fourth Grade Comedy ensued and laughter filled the Blackbox Theatre, as the fourth grade performed Twisted Tales from Story-Con on October 4 and 5 for the Lower School and on October 6 for parents and friends of the Steward Community.

The challenge for the actors in this play was pretending to be characters pretending to be different characters, and they did a fantastic job. The students ended the show with the song "Things Are Seldom What They Seem" from the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, HMS Pinafore. They were accompanied on keyboard by fourth grade's own Mr. Chris Tickle.

Oh, How They

Grow!

Junior Kindergarten has loved learning about nature, leaves, trees, and how things grow.

On Monday, October 17, they planted beautiful pansies in the garden. The class is excited to see them grow from their classroom window. Virginia Eiben, JK mom to Luke Eiben, helped organize this fun day for our JK students.

Edible Science Kindergartners baked bread as a science lesson involving plants and yeast. Each student had an assigned task, and they all kneaded the dough. They had fun choosing their group’s loaf shape and an even better time eating it!

Drop Everything and

Read Day During the week of October 10-14, the Lower School celebrated Book Week.

At 8:05 a.m. on Thursday, October 13, students celebrated "Drop Everything and Read Day," by reading silently in the hallways. Fourth graders sat side-by-side with their JK buddies, each child lost in a good book.

An Homage, If You Will, To William Shakespeare Congratulations to all of the fifth graders on their production, An Homage, If You Will, To William Shakespeare. This play included what we know about Shakespeare and scenes from the different eras and genres including Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, and The Tempest. This play presented the challenge of understanding the Shakespearean text and the language of the late 1500s. They did an amazing job learning and understanding the dialect in order to tell the stories.

Giving Thanks On November 22, the School gathered for the annual Thanksgiving Program. Senior Chloe Pieters served as the emcee, Middle School history teacher Chip Chapman delivered the invocation, and Headmaster Ken Seward spoke about the traditions of Thanksgiving. Students from each division also delivered speeches, expressing gratitude for their blessings. Speakers included fifth graders Gracie Goodpasture, Gracie Burress, Lizzie Parris, Trace Coles, Artan Jabbar, and Tyler Steinfatt; seventh grader Anna Osborne; and senior Lucy Anderson.

Following tradition, “Timothy Turkey” made an appearance during the program, as the kindergartners sang their song about his dinner demise. “Timothy Turkey” was played by Gates Orgain, the son of Frazer Orgain ’95 and Corbin Adamson Orgain ’96. Other performances by third graders, the Seventh Grade Ensemble, the Eighth Grade Ensemble, the Upper School Select Ensemble, and the Upper School Jazz Band enlivened the School community with the holiday spirit.

Let’s Celebrate!

This year’s Holiday Program, “CELEBRATE with JOY,” took the audience on an adventure to the North Pole and around the world. Written and directed by Bonnie Anderson, the play followed Elfeneezer, one of the CEO’s (Creative Elf Order) of Santa’s factory, as he tried to rediscover his lost holiday joy.

Traveling with his five spirit guides, Elfeneezer visited Africa, Mexico, Israel, Germany, and the United States of America to observe families celebrating different holiday traditions.

Mrs. Anderson’s cast and crew consisted of the entire Lower School student body. Fifth-grade students held the lead roles, while smaller parts were given to approximately ten students per grade. After months of practice, the students amazed their audience with their well-memorized lines, impressive costumes, enthusiastic songs, and holiday cheer.

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teamtalk

CROSS COUNTRY Team Captains: Kevin Friend and Preston Huennekens Highlights: The Cross Country team worked very hard to improve throughout the season. Many athletes recorded their best times this year, one runner dropping his time by nine minutes. At the VCC meet, the team finished fourth behind Fuqua School, Richmond Christian School, and Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot Academy. Kevin Friend, Ethan Maestrello, Boyd Chambliss, Bryce D’Surney, Ben Cardwell, Forrest Andrews, Tyler Ludlam, Matt Wolf, Walker Poling, Charlie Vaughan, Garrett Toler, and Avery Maestrello all traveled to the State meet, where the team ran very well and beat both Richmond Christian School and Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot.

Season Records: 4th place at the VCC and 21st place at State.

FIELD HOCKEY Varsity Field Hockey Team Captains: Sam Henderson and Lauren Saurs Highlights: Steward had three players named to the All-LIS Team: Keaton

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Busser, Sam Henderson, and Lauren Saurs. Keaton Busser was also named to the All-State Tournament Team, as well as the All-State Team. The Varsity Field Hockey team wrapped up its season on Tuesday, November 2 in a state quarterfinal game against Walsingham Academy.

The team beat Covenant School twice in the regular season. Four key components of its unit, seniors Sam Cummings, Sam Henderson, Mackenzie Kirchmier, and Lauren Saurs will graduate this year, but ten strong underclassmen remain for the future team.

Season Record: LIS 4-2; Overall 6-10

Middle School Field Hockey Team Captains: Meredith Hughes and Julie Iuorno Highlights: The Middle School Field Hockey team was a very young team that has a tremendous amount of potential.

They beat every team on the schedule at least once. Highlights include beating St. Catherine’s 4-0 and St. Anne’s Belfield School 2-1.

Season Record: 6-2

VOLLEYBALL Varsity Volleyball Team Captain: Caitlin Phelan Highlights: After losing the first two games, the team came back to defeat Richmond Christian School and place second at the Steward Invitational in a five-game match.

Season Record: Overall 2-15

JV Volleyball Team Captains: Meg Trepp and Ashley McCreary Highlights: The team, consisting of seven eighth graders and four ninth graders, worked hard to improve as a team throughout the season. The team’s most impressive win came at the end of the season with a come-from-behind victory over Covenant School.

Season Record: Overall 4-10

Girls MS Volleyball – White Highlights: The team showed dramatic improvement over the course of the season, taking St. Catherine’s to a tie-breaker in the final home match. With a limited

schedule, the team used its practices to develop skills and learn the basics of the game.

Season Record: 0-4

Girls MS Volleyball – Gold Team Captains: Katherine Taylor and Taylor Walker Highlights: The team had a stellar season, finishing with only two losses. A highlight of the season was securing a well-earned victory (27-25, 21-25, 15-7) in the final game over St. Catherine’s, one of the only two teams to hand the girls a loss during the season.

Season Record: 10-2

Girls MS Volleyball – Blue Highlights: Although the team faced a few challenges throughout the season, the girls pulled out an impressive win over St. Anne’s Belfield, and won two out of three games. Only losing the second game by two points, the team showed its aggressive side, and several team members had season best stats in aces and kills. Overall, the team improved significantly in terms of aggressiveness and communication.

Season Record: 3-7

SOCCER Boys Varsity Soccer Team Captains: Alex Gary and Ben Williamson Highlights: The Boys Varsity Soccer team finished the season with an overall record of 8-6. The boys put together numerous great performances and fought through a host of injuries and a busy October game schedule to produce a winning season for a third year running. Highlights of the season included defeating seventh-ranked Covenant in Charlottesville 1-0 off of a wonderfully worked set piece delivered from second team All-State midfielder Ben Williamson and Jung So and defeating eighth-ranked Richmond Christian 4-1 at home with the goal of the year coming from senior Sebastian Vera-Brain. Overall, the boys performed well and should be proud of their efforts.

Season Record: 8-6

Boys JV Soccer Highlights: The JV team played an abbreviated schedule and had an overall record of 4-1. They were able to overcome St. Christopher’s twice, as well as outpace Collegiate in an exciting 1-0 game. This is also the third consecutive

year that the JV team has had a winning season, and the future looks bright for the program going forward.

Season Record: 4-1

Boys MS Soccer – Blue Team Captains: William Cox and Jackson Wellons Highlights: The team had a strong season, finishing with a 6-2 record and picking up big wins over rival Collegiate School along the way. The boys achieved an excellent goal differential at season’s end, outscoring their opponents 39-15.

Season Record: 6-2

Boys MS Soccer – Gold Highlights: The team finished the season with a 2-5-1 record. Often playing against seventh- and eighth- grade teams, the gold team showed grit and determination each and every game. A highlight of the season was a 5-0 win over St. Edwards, where several players pulled out season best games.

Season Record: 2-5-1

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facultyfocus Bill Cavender is the Program Director for the Bryan Innovation Lab and is teaching Sophomore Seminar-Newspaper in the Upper School. He brings a variety of skills to Steward, including interactive communications, web 2.0, marketing, fundraising, sustainable agriculture, and extensive international experience. He has worked around the world and was engaged with the internet during the early years of the web. He has worked closely with children in the developing world, integrating technology into education.

Bill has a B.A. from the University of Richmond and an M.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.

Seth Corazzini joined the Steward community as the Middle School Resource Coordinator for the Center for Advancement of Learning and a science teacher in the Middle and Upper Schools.

her teaching career at The Baylor School in Tennessee, where she taught eighth grade Physical Science and Life Science.

Next, she and her husband headed west, where she worked at Steamboat Springs High School and Colorado Mountain College. Shayna is an avid skier, world traveler, and outdoorswoman.

Ginny Evans is the Marketing and Communications Associate. She graduated from Davidson College in May 2011 with a B.A. in Religion. Prior to Steward, Ginny worked for the Office of College Communications at Davidson for four years. She also interned here in Richmond with ChildFund International, Children Incorporated, and The Martin Agency. She enjoys working alongside four other Davidson alumni in the Steward community.

he taught ESL in several locations in Spain and Poland. Drew is published, was selected for a Fulbright Exchange in Chile, received his B.A. from the College of William and Mary, and holds his M.Ed. from the University of Vermont.

Becky Groves is the new fifth grade teacher. She grew up in the Richmond area and earned her B.A. in English education at the College of William and Mary. She then received a master’s degree in reading education from the University of Virginia and became a licensed reading specialist. Becky taught language arts in Chesterfield County for ten years.

She and her husband have a two-yearold daughter.

Morgan Hutchinson ’05 returns to her alma mater as a teaching fellow. She received her undergraduate degree from

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42

After graduating from the University of Virginia, he earned a Master of Education degree from VCU. He then made his way north, teaching science, psychology, and resource classes at a school in New Jersey.

Over ten years, Seth made a name for himself, not only as an excellent teacher, but also as an exceptional soccer coach.

He and his wife have three children ranging in age from a three-month-old to a five-year-old.

Barbara Filler may be familiar to many of you as the outgoing high school principal of St. Gertrude High School in Richmond.

She brings an enormous amount of experience and a true love of teaching and kids to Steward, teaching Geometry, Precalculus, Algebra II, and Statistics — yes, she can teach all those courses! Barbara earned her B.A. from Bucknell, completed work in Applied Statistics at Villanova, and earned master’s degrees from Beaver College and from Marymount.

Shayna Cooke is teaching seventh - and eighth-grade science. She has returned east with her husband and two-year-old son after spending the last few years in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Shayna received both her undergraduate degree and a Master of Teaching degree from the University of South Carolina. She began

Drew Forlano was most recently at Brooks School, one of the finest boarding schools in New England, where he was Head of World Languages. Drew now teaches Spanish and chairs the Steward Language Department. He has taught Spanish since 1999, and prior to that,

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Randolph-Macon College with a B.A. in English. She played field hockey, lacrosse, and basketball as a student at Steward, and now coaches all three sports. This year, she is working with one of her own third grade teachers.

Marsh Hayes is returning to The Steward School, where she taught for three years, as a third grade teacher. She left the Steward family to start a family of her own 11 years ago. Marsh attended high school at Collegiate and college in Massachusetts at Mount Holyoke. She has also taught in Richmond City Public Schools, as well as Henrico County. She and her husband, Jeff, have two sons.

Katy Koppanyi joined Steward this fall as a fourth grade teacher. She is an experienced teacher with over 15

Pictured left to right: Seth Corazzini, Becky Groves, Marsh Hayes, Ashley Raggi, Miranda Saunders, Drew Forlano, Bill Cavender, Charlotte Wallis, Barbara Filler, Elizabeth Nunly, Courtney Pochet.

years in the classroom, a B.A. from Duke University, and an M.S.Ed. from Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Additionally, her classroom background includes teaching internationally at the American School of Warsaw and the American International School of Budapest. Katy and her family moved to Richmond over the summer from Long Valley, NJ. Elizabeth Nunley is teaching World Studies and U.S. History in the Upper School. She is joining us from Durham School of the Arts in North Carolina. She has a B.A. from Oklahoma and a M.A.T. from Duke.

Courtney Pochet joins us from Queen Anne School in Maryland to teach Government, AP Government, and AP U.S. History in the Upper School. While at Queen Anne, in addition to these courses, she was department chair, a middle school teacher, and Director of Admissions. Courtney spent part of the summer working for the Johns Hopkins Talented and Gifted Program in California.

She has her B.A. from Maryland and her M.A. from Loyola.

Ashley Raggi is teaching eighth-grade Spanish in addition to working in the Lower School. She grew up in the Richmond area and went on to earn her B.A. from the University of Richmond. It

was during a college experience abroad in Spain when she discovered her passion and calling to be a Spanish teacher. She joins us after spending the last few years at Hermitage High School, where she earned a wonderful reputation and honed her skills. Ashley loves to ride her bike and hike with her husband and two dogs.

Miranda Saunders is Associate Director of College Counseling. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience from her many years working in independent schools in New York, and she has also worked on the other side of the table as Assistant Director of Admissions at Vassar College.

Miranda has a B.A. from Michigan and an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Melissa Sopher is the new Health and PE teacher for the Lower and Middle Schools.

She is a native of western Pennsylvania.

After earning a physical education degree at Slippery Rock University, she taught for three years in Indian Head, Maryland.

During that time she also completed a Master of Education degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. In addition to teaching PE, she coaches Cross-Country and serves as a conditioning coach in the Steward weight room. She is a personal trainer along with being certified in first aid, CPR, and AED.

Foster Solomon is an award-winning actor, film-maker, theatre teacher, and this year’s Visiting Artist in Residence.

He directed the 2011 fall production, The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare.

He and his wife, Susan, have two sons, Trey and Jordan. Trey is in second grade at Steward, and Jordan is in fourth grade at the Bon View School.

Charlotte Wallis is the new kindergarten teacher. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom, where she completed university. She then moved to the United States where she obtained her master’s degree in elementary education at the University of South Florida. Charlotte taught in Norfolk, Virginia, and then moved to Richmond with her husband, Jamie, and dog, Seffy. Charlotte loves swimming, running, and travelling.

Meg White ’05 returns to her alma mater as the Annual Fund and Alumni Relations Associate. After attending Roanoke College, Meg returned to Richmond to study mass communications at VCU and became an active member of the Alumni Board and the Annual Fund Steering Committee. She served on both committees for three years and developed a strong passion for the advancement of Steward. Since taking the job in the Development Office, Meg has enjoyed working closely with the entire alumni community.

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alumninews

Alumni Spotlight

Adjehi Baru: NCAA Player 44

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Adjehi Baru Begins New Journey

By Diamond Leung ESPN.com

Reprinted with permission by ESPN.com

The celebratory phone calls from Adjehi Baru went out to the world.

Charleston coach Bobby Cremins received the first one. Then Baru dialed his legal guardians in Richmond, Virginia. He later called his uncle in France to spread the good news.

Three years and a day after Baru first set foot in the United States, coming over from the Ivory Coast to pursue basketball and an education, the nation’s ninth-ranked center for the 2011 recruiting class received quite an anniversary gift when the NCAA informed the school Thursday that it had cleared him to play.

Cremins cited what he called “extenuating circumstances,” given what Baru faced in the Ivory Coast, that allowed him to gain eligibility after his academic record had been questioned. He arrived in America and soon found himself in search of proper living conditions and schooling before his talent thrust him into the competitive, high-stakes world of college basketball recruiting.

Perhaps improbably, despite strong interest from Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, Baru

landed at the College of Charleston along with his newfound American brother, Pat Branin. When ESPNU’s No. 59-ranked recruit passed on offers from the big boys and chose a Southern Conference school, the hopes of a program that came within one win of an NCAA tournament bid last season were raised.

For all the attention Baru is receiving as the highestranked recruit in school history, the 6-foot-9 big man prefers privacy and his headphones on campus.

What does he listen to? “Any type of music except country music,” Baru mused, tuning out the noise and commotion around him. “I don’t want anyone trying to get a miracle from me because if you work hard, you get something,” Baru said. “If you don’t, you get nothing.”

If the 19-year-old Baru’s vision for the future sounds strikingly perceptive, consider how far he has come.

Last spring, when he walked into Cremins’ office during an impromptu visit to campus with the Branin family, Cremins didn’t even know who he was.

“The minute I saw Adjehi, I grabbed him and said, ‘Can he play?’” Cremins said. “I had no clue. I didn’t know anything about the background or anything.”

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“This is my ‘Blind Side.’”

– Charleston coach Bobby Cremins The white-haired coaching veteran had heard all the stories of how Houston with Hakeem Olajuwon and Wake Forest with Tim Duncan happened upon program-changing big men. Now here was Tim and Jennifer Branin, along with their three children and Baru on their way back home from spring break in Florida, stopping off for a meeting with the coach.

Tim had called and said Cremins had played in a celebrity golf tournament group with his brother, but the coach forgot all about it. His initial reaction upon hearing Baru’s unique story was more memorable. “‘The Blind Side,’” Cremins said, referencing the book and film about an African-American child from a broken home being taken in by a white family and developing into a top college football recruit. “This is my ‘Blind Side.’”

Baru had come to the United States in October 2008 on the recommendation of the Ivory Coast’s basketball federation, the approval of his mother and the help of his uncle in France. But alone in search of the American dream, he initially couldn’t help but feel used.

The first high school Baru briefly attended was called the Center of Life Academy in Miami, which he now simply refers to as “the bad school.” The basketball players who played there, many of whom were from out of the country, ultimately faced eligibility concerns in college due to questionable academic credits. He didn’t enjoy his subsequent stint at Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., or living with his host family near there.

Baru wasn’t even starting for his AAU team at that point, but despite his limited English, he struck up a conversation at a tournament with a player from another team, Pat Branin. Upon learning Baru was unhappy with his living conditions, Tim Branin invited him to stay at the family’s house in Richmond about two weeks later. Baru felt nervous about it at first, but ended up finding a second family.

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“We weren’t seeking out a child from the continent of Africa to come here,” Tim Branin said. “When he came here, we realized this kid doesn’t want to leave.

“The unusual part was he didn’t want to leave, so we knew there was trouble. We really couldn’t say ‘no.’”

Said Jennifer Branin: “His prior situation was unfair and just sad. Here’s a kid in the country alone. It was terrible to hear about. He needed a family. He needed a mother, father, rules and stability. It’s what he deserved.”

The one thing they asked of Baru was that he would become part of the family, which included the Branins’ three teenaged children. He washed dishes, folded clothes and took out the trash without being asked, setting an example for the Branin kids. “At first we thought it was because he was new, but it never went away,” Tim said.

Not only did the Branins read with Baru and go through Rosetta Stone software with him to help with his English, but they also paid his tuition to attend The Steward School, where Pat studied and played on the basketball team. In order to enroll Baru, the Branins became his legal guardians.

Tim put Baru through basketball drills and got him access to a gym at a neighbor’s house, and the two would stay up late watching NBA games together.

Baru not only became a close teammate to Pat, but also an older brother.

Baru simply calls Tim and Jennifer mom and dad.

“They really do care,” Baru said. “They didn’t try to treat me different as they treat their son and daughter.”

What Baru still has difficulty doing is opening up about his childhood in the Ivory Coast. When he was 8, his father, who he is named after, passed away. Baru said he’s unclear on the circumstances of his father’s death, saying only about the single mother who raised him, “She’ll give me really what happened when I grow up.”

Baru speaks with his uncle nearly every day and keeps in contact with his mother, who he said approved of him playing basketball beginning at

Steward Headmaster Ken Seward and Steward basketball coach Elliott Gravitt congratulate Baru on his one-thousandth point during the 2010-2011 Steward basketball season.

the age of 12 but was more concerned that he received a good education.

When Cremins made the trip to visit Baru and the Branins in Richmond, he marveled at the home where the player had his own room overlooking the swimming pool. “What I saw was a loving family,” Cremins said. “I saw him washing dishes. His manners were perfect. I was truly amazed. I love everything I saw.”

By then, Baru had impressed colleges who spent a summer tracking his progress playing AAU basketball. Cremins might not have known anything about Baru when they first met in Charleston, but he now recognized how the forward played with such energy, could use his length on defense and run the floor like a guard. At The Steward School, Baru had averaged 13.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5 blocks as a junior while carrying a 3.54 grade point average.

The rest of the nation took notice as well, with a who’s who of college coaches finding their way to the Branin house. North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Maryland’s Gary Williams and Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg all made visits, with Kentucky’s John Calipari showing interest later in the process, as well.

But despite being the mid-major, Charleston had the upper hand because Cremins knew that Baru and Pat Branin were especially close and wanted to be recruited together. He decided to offer scholarships to both the top-100 recruit and the 6-1 brother who was receiving a little Division I interest and very much wanted to play on that level. “Is he good enough to play here right now? No, but he’s helping us,” Cremins said of Branin’s skill level.

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Baru said he would have signed with Charleston even if Branin hadn’t been able to go with him. It all came back to that first unofficial visit he took to the school, as the warm weather there reminded him of the Ivory Coast and Cremins came off as both a coach and a father figure. Both Cremins and Tim Branin said they encouraged Baru to go through the recruiting process before committing. But coming from a West African nation, Baru indicated his perception of the college basketball hierarchy probably differed from those of other top recruits.

“Roy Williams was at our house, but [Baru] can’t equate a North Carolina to Charleston or Kentucky,” Tim Branin said. “He didn’t have that kind of feeling of ‘I got to be a Tar Heel.’ He based his feelings on the environment and the coach.”

In recruiting Baru, Cremins revisited his own past.

He is the son of Irish immigrants who were prideful of their heritage, but rarely discussed the troubles they faced in their homeland. Cremins, who went on to coach in the Final Four, understood when Baru was quiet about his time in the Ivory Coast.

“He did not want to talk about personal stuff,” Cremins said. “He just doesn’t like that. I had to ask the Branins a lot of questions. He was very quiet, but he just kept on saying, ‘I really like Charleston, I really like Charleston.’

“I thought we might lose him to an ACC or SEC school, but he was just so determined to come here.

There was something about him and Charleston.”

“I thought we might lose him to an ACC or SEC school, but he was just so determined to come here. There was something about him and Charleston. ” – Charleston coach Bobby Cremins

“I love Charleston,” Baru said. “I love the city. I love the weather. Everybody is nice here. I love the coaching staff and Coach Cremins. I’m so happy here.”

Said Tim Branin: “He doesn’t see it as he has to go somewhere to be great. In his inner person, he believes he’s great. Take my word for it. He is a quiet, quiet soul, but he has a strong inner being in there.”

Diamond Leung covers college basketball for ESPN. com and can be reached at diamond83@gmail.com.

Baru said he gets embarrassed and doesn’t like talking about the situation he faced in the Ivory Coast.

Whatever he told the NCAA about the unrest in his hometown of Abidjan as a result of years of civil war, it was compelling enough to get him cleared despite his stint at Center of Life Academy nearly making him ineligible.

Charleston could definitely use his talent after the Cougars lost their top three scorers from last season and top returning forward Willis Hall missing the season with a knee injury. Cremins said Baru still has work to do offensively and needs to adjust to playing a higher level of competition. For now, Baru has found peace with his family and Charleston’s small-town charm.

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Baru and the Branin family at the 2011 Steward graduation.

Classnotes Full Circle’s mission is to provide children and their families with creative ways to express their grief and remember their loved one. The center’s website is www. fullcirclegriefcenter.org.

Over a year ago, Mary Harvard also started her own business. Check out the website at www. lifemax.net/mhnolde.

Left to Right: Corbin Brierre Ryland ’01, Christine Beil Rigsby ’01 , Sarah Martenstein Jefferson ’01, Jennifer Gray ’02, Laura Hargrave Slabaugh ’01, and Caitlin Rossmore Baron ’01.

’80s Robert Dietz ’81 and Denise Featherton Dietz ’81 have been running Featherson Service Stations and Properties for the past seven years. They are busy renovating a rental property in North Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, for the 2012 season. Their son, Danny, who graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in May, is attending VCU’s graduate finance program and working for Covington Travel Company. Their daughter, Katie, is a sophomore at the University of South Carolina.

LouEllen Blackwelder ’84 recently accepted a position with VCU Health System as Grants and Business Manager for VCU Continuing Medical Education.

’90s The dynamic doubles tennis team of Mary Harvard Nolde ’93 and Delaney Turnage Mescall ’92 have teamed up again to work at Full Circle, Richmond’s Family Grief Center. Mary Harvard has signed on as Director of Development and Delaney is the new Director of Community Relations.

’00s Sarah Martenstein ’01 and Taylor Jefferson were married on October 15, 2011. Sarah is currently working as a Registered Nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Maggie Harman ’04 is working as a Special Investigator for the Federal Government, conducting background investigations. She lives in the Fan district of Richmond.

Ayers Gilman ’06 recently began a new job with The Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals as Assistant to the Executive Director. She also coaches for the Richmond Rockets Dive Club and referees for the Central Virginia Volleyball Officials’ Association.

Bev Borum ’06 has returned to Noia, Spain, for another year, teaching English at a high school called San Alberto. She teaches in plurilingual classes, such as Music Composition, History of Music, Philosophy, Biology, and Natural Sciences. She also assists in English classes with students ranging in age from 12 to 18. She also continues volunteering at a lower school in the same town.

This past summer, Kelsey Mohring ’08 completed a public relations internship at Community Health Network in Indianapolis, Indiana. Kelsey also studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain, during the spring of 2011 to complete her minor in Spanish. She is now a senior at JMU. She serves as the events chairperson for the

Public Relations Student Society of America chapter and is completing an internship in the university’s public affairs office.

Emily Friend ’09 is a junior at James Madison majoring in Sports Management/Business.

She is a manager for the women’s basketball team and has been a resident advisor in the dorms for two years.

’10s

James Neels ’11 is finishing his first semester at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, pursuing his bachelor’s degree in welding and metallurgy technology.

He is enjoying a mix of academic and labbased activities and has adapted well to life back in Pennsylvania.

Now and Then: (L to R) Mary Harvard Nolde and Delaney Turnage Mescall.

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chool The Steward S END

K REUNION WEE

, 2011 September 24

The classes of 1991, 2001, and 2006 held their reunions preceding the Sixth Annual Great Tailgate.

J.C. Chenault and his wife, Joy, hosted the Class of 1991 at their home for a Twenty-Year Reunion. Will Perkins and Corbin Brierre Ryland worked with Brianna Bloom Spotts to organize the Ten-Year Reunion for the Class of 2001 at Brianna’s home. Grace Astrove organized the Class of 2006’s Five-Year Reunion at F.W. Sullivan’s in the Fan. Special thanks to all of the hosts for their hard work.

Top Left Photo (left to right): Divam Mehta, Anusha Abbasi Gregory, Brianna Bloom Spotts, Laura Slabaugh, Sarah Martenstein Jefferson, Evan Weiner, Corbin Brierre Ryland, Will Perkins, Christine Beil Rigsby Top Right Photo (left to right): J.C. Chenault with wife Joy and daughter, Thomas Galvin with wife Jessica, Stuart Bowman Bottom Left Photo: 1st Row, left to right: Grace Astrove, Nicole Hill, Ayers Gilman, Liz Franklin; 2nd Row, left to right: Bev Borum, Austin Haas, Louisa Kendig, Sarah Greenlee, Whitney Frost, Ryan Delaney, Kara Johnson, Ashleigh Albright; 3rd row, left to right: Doug Smith

Annual Alumni Soccer Game The Alumni Association held its first event of the year on August 26. Alumni came out to play in the Fourth Annual Alumni Soccer Game against the students. wThe common meeting place was the “Alumni Hospitality Tent.” Alumni who graduated from 1988 to 2009 were present, along with their family and friends. While the students came out strong and took an early lead, experience won out over youth and the alumni won the game in the second half.

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2011-2012

Alumni Board Members Will Perkins ’01, President Corbin Adamson Orgain ’96, Vice President Michael Congdon ’00, Treasurer Grace Astrove ’06, Secretary Suzanne Rahal Monroe ’85 Ann Nichols Crosby ’88 Graham Hickerson ’89 Shelly Giglio Felvey ’99 Michael Maszaros ’99 Corbin Brierre Ryland ’01 Brianna Bloom Spotts ’01 Clay Tharrington ’02 Kourtney Boughey ’03 James Schreiber ’05 Monica Casper ’07 Katy Kasper ’07 Jordan Rennie ’09

Alumni Coffee Talk and Power Breakfast The Alumni Association hosted the first Alumni Coffee Talk and Power Breakfast at Einstein Bros Bagels on Wednesday, December 7, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Alumni showed up to grab coffee and a bagel with fellow alumni and Carolyn Brandt to discuss the Alumni Association and their memories of Steward. Look forward to more coffee chats at various locations in the future.

Left to Right: James Schreiber ’05, Lindley Flohr ’05, Carolyn Brandt, Meg White ’05, Will Perkins ’01.

Donor Wall Dedication Trustees and campaign donors gathered on September 15 to celebrate the dedication of the donor wall, representing the generous donors of the Building a Legacy Capital Campaign. Guests enjoyed a back-to-school breakfast prior to the dedication, which was followed by Convocation.

The donor wall installation has been mounted in the breezeway outside of Wilton Hall as a permanent recognition and appreciation for our donors.

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The 2011-2012 Annual Fund The Annual Fund supports students past, present, and future and all of our favorite things!

Annual Fund Steering Committee Linda Santini and Bud Jones Steve Ambrose Chris Armstrong Allyson and Alex Brand Lindsay Chambliss Larry Eiben Debbie and Bob Farlow Ivan Gil Jim Gorey Susan Haas Jeff Harrison Stephanie Hudnell Mike Huennekens Tawanda and Ron Johnson Frank Iuorno Roger Kasch Jeremy Leahman Libby and John Lewis Jonathon Lyle Laura and Steve Maestrello Kim Marcia Carrie McAllister and David Wright Donna and Todd Mitchell Aimee and Mike Patrick Bryan Phelan Sam Proctor Andi and Brian Redmond Martha Rhodes Carter Thompson Nancy and Lin Tynes

Kick Off Party The Annual Fund Steering Committee volunteer team kicked off the year with a wine tasting on August 26 at the home of co-chairs Bud Jones and Linda Santini.

Emily Jones ’06 provided the wine, compliments of her business, Strawberry Street Vineyard. Ken Seward, trustees, and volunteers enjoyed an evening full of socializing and celebrating the new school year. The Annual Fund team has 45 representatives this year, who represent parents from JK – 12 as well as alumni. The team held its inaugural business meeting on September 16, officially launching this year’s campaign.

Phonathons and Annual Brew Thru The Annual Fund Steering Committee conducted two phonathons in October and December. The team successfully contacted all parents of the Steward community, resulting in 51 percent overall participation as of December 2011. We are working towards a $400,000 goal and have over $220,000 in gifts and pledges as of December 1, 2011. The Annual Fund, along with tuition and endowment income, supports the annual operating budget. Because of the many generous donors, Steward continues to provide many of our students’ “favorite things!”

The Annual Fund Steering Committee, faculty and staff, volunteers, and the Student Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) hosted the annual Brew Thru on Friday, December 9, serving complimentary coffee to Steward parents. Thank you to Meriwether Godsey for providing the delicious coffee.

Alumni Annual Fund Members Suzanne Rahal Monroe ’85 Will Perkins ’01 Michael Congdon ’00 James Schreiber ’05

Student Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) This year, the Alumni Office began working with a group of current juniors and seniors to educate them about the importance of philanthropy and alumni giving. The students have participated in various school-wide events, volunteering their time to show thanks to the Annual Fund.

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Building a Legacy Through Planned Giving Spotlight on Heritage Society Member Don Steeber

W

hen you have been a member of the Steward community for as long as Don Steeber has, the School has a special place in your heart. For Don, Steward is so important that he wants his giving to outlast his lifetime. “I looked at my situation a few years ago, and the organizations I support, and thought something was missing – the icing – a planned gift. I wanted to let these organizations know that I thought so highly of them during my life, and wanted them to know that I had closure, and didn’t just drop off. I wanted a way to say thank you again, for all I had been given and that my grandchildren had been given.”

of 1981. Don left Steward to go into business with his son, and they formed a general contractors company which they have run for the past 31 years.

Though he left his employment with Steward, Don has never departed. He recently completed a six-year term as a member of the Board of Trustees, where he chaired the Buildings and Grounds committee. No doubt you have seen his truck parked on campus often as Don has provided oversight for every major building project on campus in recent memory. For the last three years Don has had a new relationship at Steward as a Grandparent. His step-grandson, Perry Zakaib is a junior in the Upper School and thriving at Steward.

The Steeber family has a long history Don has been a loyal Annual Fund with Steward. Don Steeber arrived supporter throughout the years, as in Richmond in 1979 by way of well as a significant donor to capital Don Steeber during the Upper School renovations.

Williamstown, Massachusetts to pursue campaigns. During the most recent a career in teaching. His children had Building a Legacy capital campaign, Don been in boarding school in Connecticut considered giving anonymously. “Then I and he thought it would be fun to teach, thought, no. I really want people to know to give back to children a little of what had been given to his that you don’t have to be a big time businessman to give; you can children. He sent his resume off to a small, independent school be a little general contractor. I wanted people to look at a list of in Richmond, VA and, then Headmaster, Paul Cramer called. donors, made up of everyday people. I believe it’s important to do The school needed an Athletic Director/soccer coach/Upper what you can – do something, but do.”

School math teacher. Being an engineer, Don had the required After the campaign, Don decided to move forward with the background and decided to accept the opportunity to relocate to ultimate gift, a planned gift. He has set up his planned gift via a Richmond, Virginia. bequest to Steward School. Bequests are the cornerstone of The When Don arrived on campus he thought, “this can’t be it.” All Heritage Society planned giving program. “It was easy to do. It that he found on the remote stretch of Gayton Road was one gave me a very comfortable feeling, knowing I had done it, and main building and a metal gymnasium; that was it. But Don that in the end, Steward would continue to benefit.” If he could quickly became attached to Steward, and the following year, share a message with other members of the Steward community – his daughter, Heidi enrolled. Don taught at Steward for three parents, alumni, and grandparents, Don’s advice is, “Try it, you’ll years and Heidi Steeber Clements graduated with the Class like it.”

The Heritage Society Donors who make documented planned gifts to The Steward School are recognized as members of The Heritage Society. For more information on making a planned gift or joining the Heritage Society, please contact Sarah Melvin in the Development Office at 804-565-2306.

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trusteenote year Board of Trustees developed our five I n 2006, The Steward School and the sed, focu ly n.” This broad based, but high strategic plan, “Vision TwentyEleve have plan for the significant prog ress we initiative provided a comprehensive witnessed these past five years. a strong initiatives was a desire to articulate irst and foremost, among the five F college sion: to be a small, inclusive, JK-12 and clear statement of our core mis are each e Steward School’s mission is to prep preparatory school. As it states, “Th bility, and character values are honor, responsi child for college and for life. Our core ard is respect for oneself and for others. Stew achievement, balanced by caring and and y ll overall size, which allow for discover committed to small classes and sma g more ue talents and passions, while providin development of each student’s uniq a ation. We believe an environment with opportunities for individual particip and est , and backgrounds provides the rich diversity of talents, abilities, cultures nce.” most fully rounded educational experie ing faculty; to increase our financial to attract, develop, and retain outstand The other strategic initiatives were compete in an ever-changing world; increase diversity to help our children assets and endowment resources; to foster a lear ning environment and of these initiatives were designed to ion and to enhance communication. All mission. You can find copies of “Vis strengthen and support the School’s community of interests that would rts on the school’s website.

TwentyEleven” and the annual repo these worked hard to implement each of tration and Board of Trustees have inis adm ted the s, cula year arti five rly clea last the Our r .

Ove each of them measurements to refine and enhance and ls goa the ual of ann set each to and and ents es ativ initi trative departm king. Throughout all of the adminis -ma sion deci all sure of t mea hear ees the mitt at is com d mission stees and all boar core guiding value. The Board of Tru school divisions, the mission is our berations. the impact on the mission in all deli back and reflect on how ol year, it is appropriate for us to look scho 1-12 201 the of nt -poi mid the As we near d our School.

“Vision TwentyEleven” has impacte ironment that attracts, and has worked hard to create an env lty facu ing tand outs an with sed to add $2.4 million The school is bles recent Capital Campaign, we were able the h oug Thr . hers teac nal ptio exce rewards, and retains y. ntly improve our financial sustainabilit to the school’s endowment to significa le achieving a near 50/50 gender NAIS benchmarks for diversity, whi We have managed to achieve VAIS and balance throughout the school. a sense of community that allows is to maintain a small school “feel” and sion mis our of core very the lly, Fina nging. One of the great sources to faculty and staff, and a spirit of belo ss acce , tion d by rma info of e ang exch a free ity” that was nurtured and develope board is that the “Steward Commun and ion trat first inis they adm n our whe for e tion prid of new families men cited today as one of the first things Helen Dixon and by Paul Cramer is come to Steward. begin work on the preliminary hard on VAIS reaccreditation and will king wor be will we s, year two t eful for the Steward Over the nex “Vision TwentyEighteen.” We are grat ely ativ tent , plan c tegi stra t nex our outline for ion TwentyEleven.” helped us realize the successes of “Vis have ch whi rts, effo ous end trem community’s

Don DeLaney, Board of Trustees Chair

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Crossroads Fall/Winter 2011

The Steward community recently lost one of its most dedicated supporters. Ray Tate was not only parent to Morgan Hutchinson ’05, but he was also a devoted athletic booster and member of the Board of Trustees. He was enthusiastic about the growth of Steward athletics and was often found cheering at every athletic event. As the founding president of the Spartan Club, Ray was instrumental in bringing baseball to the School. In addition, he played a major role in starting the annual fundraising event, the Spartan Golf Classic. To honor his commitment to athletics, the weight room in the Athletic Center was also named after him in September 2000.

His impact on the School is immeasurable, and he will be remembered for his creative leadership and deep commitment to the School’s mission and development.

My first memory of Ray Tate was nearly nine years ago during my interview. Upstairs in the Board Room, Ray chaired the parent search committee. As imposing as the setting and the number of people in the room with pressing questions to be addressed were, Ray over-shadowed them all.

Sitting straight across from me, in that gruff, but engaging way he had, he zeroed in on me. There was simply nowhere to hide, no way to run around him.

In the middle of addressing one of his questions, the whole room began to shake; the building began to shake; everything and everyone shook, except for Ray, who sat as motionless and composed as Buddha. I thought, “Oh no, I’m having a complete meltdown, I’m totally losing it, I’m toast.” Despite the real earthquake, he continued with another question, even though I had stopped somewhere in the middle of answering the last one.

“He loved his family, he loved this School, and he loved athletics.

That’s where his heart was.”

-Janet Rice, Athletic Director

I learned long after I was hired that much of Steward had Ray Tate at the center of it, supporting, questioning, prodding, always with the School’s mission and best interests at heart.

Sitting next to him in matching, over-stuffed “Lazy-Boys” at the Federal Club, he never wanted to talk about all of the stresses he was enduring in his own life, only how he could help me help Steward. I still feel his help surrounding me every day here. Thanks, Ray. -Ken Seward, Headmaster

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Our passion is helping students discover theirs.

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11600 Gayton Road • Richmond, Virginia 23238 • (804) 740-3394 www.stewardschool.org