CrossRoads Vol.2 Fall 2005

Celebrating 25years with Carolyn Brandt and Janet Rice

Mission Statement The mission of The Steward School Is to provide a high-quality college preparatofy program that encourages students of varied talents and abilities to develop their unique strengths In academics, athletics and the arts, while Instilling the values of responsible dbzenship. The Steward School seeks and cetebrates the Individual talents of ewry student and IS commlttl!\ to offering its students an educational experience in an intimate and nurturing, yet challenging, environment.

The Steward School will : • Champion small dasses and limit the size of the overall student body so that It will have the ability to identify and develop the talents of each student.

• Provide opportunities for individual participation to an extent not possible in a larger school.

• Ensure that each student acquires the values of honesty, Integnty, and responsible citizenship by adherence to the Honor Code.

• Provide structure and diSCipline adlequate to give each student a moral and ethical compass.

• Require that each child develops a sincere IDI1lI11ltment to learn and grow.

• Attract an enthusiastic, dedicated, and talented faculty who rejoice In helping each child reach his or her potential.

• Ensure that the faculty and students are aware of and embrace the tenets of Steward's Mission Statement ll1e Sleward Sd100I admits students WIthout rega«I to sex, race, color, religiOn, and national angln to all the ngtos, prIVileges, progroms and IICtIvItles _11y accorded 01' made _ _ '" studenU ot Iho

I letter

W

from the Headmaster

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elcome to the fall edition of Crossroads magazine. You will see a new name and look, and you will notice that we have focused our attention on capturing how various members of our community, young and old, embrace and express the mission of our school.

The mission, in all of its manifestations, is located at the heart of the crossroads. Each day when we meet here, coming as we do from the four points of the compass, we engage each other in a dynamiC, original encounter. We bring the uniqueness of who each of us is as an offering to share with others. Then we leave, having been mutually enriched by the experience.

While some pass through the intersection, others stay for years, as our Assistant Head of School Carolyn Brandt and our Athletic Director Janet Rice have. This edition recognizes and celebrates the enduring commitment of Carolyn and Janet to the students, families and teachers, who all have benefited from passing their way.

The summer marked a time for great changes with in our walls, and this edition highlights a few of those. One of the most prominent and exciting is the technological evolution that is helping Steward to keep pace with the finest institutions in Virginia . From eqUipment to technology education to the new faces among us here to guide us through the evolutionary period and beyond, great changes are afoot.

As we navigate through these changes, we must ask a number of questions regarding the challenges, obstacles, and benefits of technology. We must consider how it can help the school communicate with every constituency (and help them communicate with us) in an effiCient, effective and timely manner. How can it create and sustain relationships that otherwise would be difficult, if not impossible?

How can technology include those who would otherwise be excluded? How can it provide access to what otherwise would be inaccessible?

How can it make life more manageable, even easier? How can it help us to understand, process, organize or analyze what we encounter? These aren't easy questions, but the value that lies in the pursuit of their answers is immense.

For those of you who cannot be here each day, we hope that through Crossroads you can experience our miSSion, feel the power of our community, and savor the life we are creating together.

Ken Seward

Headmaster

cr+ssroads Issue No. 2

Fall 2005

13

Celebrating 25 years with Janet Rice

15 17 19 21 22 23

Back to School

Arts

Athletics

Helping to Rebuild

1

Faculty Professional Development

3 5

New Faculty and Staff

I Know What You Did Last Summer

7

Feature: IT at Steward

The Wave of the Future ...

Here Today

Summer Renovations

Board News

25

Heard it in the Halls

26 27

Spartan Spirit Week

Alumni on Campus

11

Celebrating 25 years with Carolyn Brandt

r+ssroads bllshed by

e Steward School 1600 Gayton Road 'chmond, Virginia 23238 804) 740-3394 sll us on the web at

.stewardschool.org

28

Letters From Graduates

Administration

Publication Staff

Kenneth H. Seward Headmaster carolyn Brandt Assistant Head of School Lisa Dwelle Directo" of Rnance Sarah Melvin Director of Development Scott Moncure Diffldor of Admission Butch Keller Head of Upper School Mike Maruca Head of Middle School Deborah Hanger Head of Lower School

Tracy Lynch Writer and Cc-Editor Sherilyn Small Graphic Designer and Cc-EditDr Paul Busse, Alec Kean, Rebecca CarelliSennett, Lee Healey, Ariel Skelley, Sherilyn Smail ConIributkrg photDgraphers The editors have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported in this publication .

We apologize for any inadvertent errors .

~ publislled three times â&#x20AC;˘ year by The Stew.cd SdlooI. All rtghlS reserved . No ~on of tI,ls magazine may be reprodu<:ed without the written permission of The Steward SChool. Address dlanges shoutd to Barbo.. _derman, Developmem Of!ice, The _ c d Sd1oo1, 11600 Gayton Rood, RichmOl1d, Virginia 23238. Suggostlons and commenlS regacdlng this publalion may be ... mailed to the editor, at lynchI@stewarrI.org, 0< mailed to Shorilyn Small, PubilC2tioos CoortIInator, The _ r d SdlooI, 11600 Gayton Road, Ridlmond, VIrginia 23238.

n.cv

Summer 2005: faculty professional development

For many teachers, after year-end exams are graded, report cards are completed, and goodbyes are said, it is time to finally enj oy the summer and ...

work?!

Yet that's exactly how some Steward teachers chose to spend their time last summer. These teachers agree that there is no better time to enhance what they do in the classroom than by using summer months to explore professional development opportunities.

Some chose to do so by traveling, taking a class, or devoting personal time to a passion or interest and finding ways to take the experiences into the classroom . Lower School teacher Kate Strickland (1), for instance, went on a mission trip to Turkey; her colleague, Katherine Goodpasture (2) , toured French areas of Canada this summer to support French education in her classroom . Kerry Blum (3) both traveled to Europe and received a full grant to become certified in ESL at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Other teachers also sought grant money to make their professional goals possible. Many applied to Steward's Professional and Curricular Development Grants, which distribute over $20,000 among Steward faculty

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crossroads fall 2005

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members who seek to learn in and devote additional time to their fields.

The grant monies make it possible for faculty to be a part of new and exciting advancements in their subjects-and for their students to reap the benefits.

Professional and Curricular Development Grant recipients Leslie Kovach (4) (US Science) : Leslie received three grants. One will make possible Steward's first-ever Family Science Night, an event for Lower School students and their families scheduled to run this winter.

The second enabled Leslie to attend this year's ChemEd Conference. This conference, held every two years, features chemistry education experts from around the world and focuses on current issues and trends in the teaching of high school and college chemistry. Kovach had the opportunity to speak directly with colleagues, science education professionals, and vendors regarding scientific equipment,

supplies, and ideas for experiments and lessons.

The third grant, a Curricular Development Grant, was awarded to the Science Department to integrate technology in the curricula for grades 6 through 12. It will involve the utilization of technology in the classroom and prioritize by division student and department needs, both practical and ideal. Amy Hale (5) is exploring voice recognition software; Kovach is studying Odyssey/Spartan Molecular Modeling software and digital probeware; Paul Busse (6) will implement a new ALTA spectrometer in a new Earth Science lab exercise to analyze reflectivity; Dewey Brown (7) developed a technology program with Sarah Jones (8) to co-teach a unit on the use of Excel as an organizer of scientific data and use of the computer to graph data; and Mary Greenlee (9) is examining the CPS testing response system (see more below).

Justin Lee (10) (US Social Studies) : Lee received a grant for development of the Social Studies curricula for grades 9 through 12 to better prepare students for college. The history department sent members to colleges and universities to ask history professors what incoming freshmen should know upon entering college (primarily from a historical perspective). The history faculty then met for two days to create a scope and sequence for grades 9 through 12, focusing on note taking, research and writing skills, and test and quiz taking skills.

Ron Coles (11) (LS) : The grant that Coles received enabled a revision of

the Lower School fifth-grade science curriculum, realign ing it to ease student learning and progression.

Coles examined how the current science curriculum compares to Virginia fifth-grade SOL requirements and those of other private schools in the area in an effort to ensure that a student transferring to or from Steward will be on track with the learning that is going on elsewhere.

As a result, each unit now has a study guide of basic concepts and assessment questions. Coles also viSited potential Lower School science field trip sites: the Virginia Marine Science Museum (Virginia Beach), the Virginia Living Museum (Newport News), and the Virginia Children's Museum (Portsmouth).

Mary Greenlee (9) (US Science) : Greenlee's grant allowed the creation of a "greenhouse curriculum" for the Environmenta l Science Class. The curriculum will make possible four topics : potting soil components, different seed types, transplanting seedlings, and rooting cuttings.

Greenlee has also been involved with the Science Department Technology Grant for implementation and use of the CPS testing response system.

This system consists of an infra-red sensor that receives input from each of 30 individual response pads and is used by students to answer practice quiz questions interactively. The system gives students and teachers an opportunity to record and evaluate individual responses instantaneously, thus highlighting subject areas that need to be reviewed.

Deborah Hanger (12) (Lower School Head): Mrs. Hanger received two grants to help Lower School students and faculty by incorporating current technology. The first allowed her to purchase and learn Words Their Way

(a spelling program that uses diagnostic assessments to determine each child's spelling levels). A member of each grade level worked with Words Their Way instructor, Debbie Buck, to complete a pacing scale for implementation this year. The pacing guide was designed to facilitate Steward's expectations of spelling skills and to better coordinate with our grading system. The second grant made possible Lower School report card customization using FAW (Faculty Access on the Web) . A member of each grade level worked this summer with Sarah Jones to customize report cards in anticipation of the use of FAW this year. Electronic report cards will connect the school to the Blackbaud system and make possible the creation of transcripts in the Lower School for the first time.

John McAlister (13) (MUSiC): McAlister'S grant allowed him to attend Jamey Aebersold's Summer Jazz Workshop on the campus of the University of Lou isville. Aebersold is a nationally-known saxophonist and authority on jazz education and improvisation, and was one of the first to encourage small group classes which concentrate on jazz improvisation.

The experience will enable McAlister to continue to hone his teaching of jazz and improvisation by challenging his students as they improve their playing.

Melanie casper (14) (LS): Casper received a grant that afforded her the opportunity to travel to the San Diego Zoo this summer. There, she worked at the Center for Endangered Species.

She will incorporate what she learned into her third-grade science curriculum on global concerns and, specifically, endangered species, which is one of the most difficult units to teach . The many resources she collected will help Steward students better understand

how animals become endangered and how conservation efforts help these animals survive in our world.

Allyn Linas (Tutor): The grant that Linas was awarded allowed her to attend a 45-hour course in the OrtonGillingham language program, taught by faculty members from the Riverside School. The highly structured program is a mUlti-sensory, phonics-based program designed to teach students (particularly with dyslexia) how to read, spell, and write through repetition; it emphasizes focus on a student's cognitive strengths to provide him or her with fluency, comprehension and confidence as he proceeds through the levels of language mastery. The course provided Linas with a multitude of strategies for supporting Steward students, especially in the Lower School grade levels, when some students demonstrate difficulty with the expression or reception of language. She has had the opportunity to share a number of new resources with her fellow tutors .

Andy Mudd (15) (Technical Theatre): Mudd's grant will make possible the integration of an AutoCAD 2005 computer program, "Vectorworks," by Nemetschek Corp. This program is used widely in the architecture and theatre fields. This summer's grant enabled the school to purchase and install Vectorworks. Mudd can now begin to use it to create the techn ical plans for the school's theatre and music productions; he will be able to draw, edit, copy, organize, and print plans so the Upper School Technical Theatre students can construct and rig the scenery for Steward productions.

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newfaculty&staff Milton Bussells

(1)

teaches English as a Second Language and Spanish at Steward. The majority of Milton's teaching experience has been in the areas of ESL and foreign language instruction, primarily outside the United States. He received his B.A. in French from Virginia Commonwealth University. Milton has lived all over the world, including Poland, Saudi Arabia and Chad and is a foreign language fanatic; he is learning Swedish in his spare time.

is Steward/s new Math Department Chair. He graduated from The College of William and Mary with a B.S. and an M.S. in Mathematics. He has had previous experience working at st.

Christopher's School as a teacher and a football and track coach. He enjoys gardening, sports cards and playing bridge.

Wyndi Carnes

Meggie Hirsch

(2),

the mother of two Steward students, brings her talents and skills to Steward as the Special Events Coordinator. She is a UNC graduate and previously worked at The Children's Museum as the Marketing and Public Relations Manager. Wyndi loves cooking, entertaining, and spending time with family and friends.

She enjoys following design industry trends and loves the challenge of taking something ordinary and transforming it into something extraordinary.

Suzanne Casey (3) is Steward's new Enrichment Coordinator in the Lower School. She received her B.A. from the University of Richmond, has taught in Henrico County for over eight years, and has been an SOL tutor in the Hanover County school system for two years.

Suzanne has three boys and loves reading, cooking and traveling with her family. Last July in Alaska she had a snowball fight with her kids!

Ed Eades (4) teaches Upper School math including Geometry, Algebra II, and Statistics.

He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a M.S. in Theoretical Mathematics. Ed has previous teaching experience at Salem Middle School, Virginia Commonwealth University and Soundview Preparatory School in New York. Ed enjoys recording original music and playing the guitar, and he shoots a great game of golf.

Ed is also a closet entomologist; he loves cicadas and dragonflies.

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I crossroads fall 2005 I

Doug Griffith

(5)

(6)

attended Steward as a student for four years and has now returned as a new Spanish teacher. Meggie graduated from Indiana University with a double major in Spanish and Journalism. She previously taught at The Calloway School in Atlanta, Georgia, for four years. She enjoys reading and writing and is currently the champion of her family's Scrabble tournament.

Kari Hatfield

(7)

is teaching drama and music in the Lower School at Steward. She received her B.A. in Speech Communications and Theatre from Oklahoma Christian University and has also completed her MFA degree in Theatre Pedagogy at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a private voice and piano instructor and has experience in creating choreography and supervising Broadway-style musical perfomnances. She has coached various actors for the Chicago/Washington D.C. Professional Showcase.

catherine Hathaway (8) has joined our Kindergarten teachers .

She is the mother of three boys, all of whom are Steward students.

Catherine is a graduate of UNC. She loves the beach and is extremely active in the Richmond community, volunteering at both st. Joseph's Villa and the Children's Hospital.

Michaelliancristoforo (9) is teaching Technology and P.E. in the Middle School. He has had over three years experience teaching Health and Physical Education in Henrico County schools. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mike loves home

improvement and sports adventures.

He was a Senior National ranked swimmer in high school and also swam in college at Indiana University (PA).

You may recognize him when you see him, because Mike and his wife were among the top three finalists in the local NBC Dream Wedding competition last year!

Alec Kean

(10)

is a '95 Steward graduate and taught for four years in two independent schools in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his B.A. in Religious Studies from the College of Charleston. Alec has returned to Richmond to work as Steward 's new Alumni Relations Coordinator and is also working on his Master's in education at Virginia Commonwealth University. He enjoys hunting, reading, football and is a NASCAR fan, even though Alec can't drive and wear flip flops at the same time.

Tracy Lynch

(11)

is the co-editor of Steward's magazine, Crossroads. She received her B.A. in English from James Madison University and will receive her M.A. in Composition and Rhetoric from VCU this spring.

Tracy has twelve years of experience in writing, editing, proofreading, and teaching . She enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, ages 4 and 6/ and harbors a secret crush on Neil Diamond.

Sarah Melvin

(12)

joins Steward as the Director of Development. She has extensive experience in development and annual giving; previously, she worked as Director of Development for st.

Gertrude's High School and as Director of Annual Giving at the University of Richmond. A graduate of James Madison University, Sarah enjoys baking, trying new recipes, and spending time with her family. Her young children are excited about their mom's new job, although they may not quite understand it-because she works at a school, they think she's a teacher.

Mansa Riverson

(13)

is teaching French classes in the Lower and Middle Schools and is helping with the ESL program. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and has completed graduate coursework at the University of Virginia. Originally from Ghana, Mansa's family is now in the U.S. A fun fact about Mansa: When she was a baby she crawled feet first.

Adair Roper

(14)

has joined us as Steward's Annual Giving Coordinator. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Adair is a Steward parent and has various experience in Marketing and Advertising. She has volunteered for the Parents' Association Auction and other Steward events. Previously Adair worked for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and volunteered at the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. She brings great enthusiasm and energy to the Steward community.

Barbara Werdennan (15) joins the Development Office as the Development Assistant. She is a graduate of the University of Richmond and previously worked at the Omni Hotel. She enjoys running, water skiing, shopping, and hiking; she has even cl imbed the highest mountain in Tasmania, Mt. Ossa!

Hunter White

(16)

is teaching Middle School math. He has taught in Hanover, HenriCO, and Louisa counties. He received his B.A. in History and English from Washington and Lee University and was also in a graduate-level math program at Virgin ia Commonwealth University. Hunter loves computer networking and fishing .

Blair Whitley (17) is teaching second grade at Steward.

She taught first grade for three years and has worked at a mortgage company and at Nordstrom. She graduated from Wake Forest with a B.A. in Speech Communications and received her M.A.T. from Mary Baldwin College. She loves working out, ACC basketball, and acting . Blair was an extra in the HBO movie " Iron Jawed Angels."

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students

Sure, summer's for slowing down, having fun, taking a time out from the rest of the year. But Spartan summer days are anything but lazy.

Take a look at how some students chose to spend their breaks . ..

iknOWwhatyOU did lastsummer Lower School

New Orleans. She fell in love with the sights and sounds of the city, which made the devastation of Katrina that

Lauren and Claire Xu (3), sisters in the fourth and fi rst grade, respectively, spent their summer thousands of miles from school . .. in China! There. they got to spend time with their great, great grandmother.

followed two weeks after her departure that much more real and painful.

Many Steward students spent time away from home, making good friends at camp this summer. Julia Finley (sixth grade) may have only traveled to

Nikki Nadolski, a first-grader, once again spent his summer in Germany.

Daniela Brenner joined the fifth grade in the Lower School-all the way from Germany.

The Rhodes Family-Emma (third grade), Isabelle (first grade), and Eli (Kindergarten)-spent their summer immersing themselves in French culture by living in Paris.

Middle School

the Shenandoah Valley, but she stayed at camp for six weeks! Chloe Peters (also in sixth grade) spent time at a camp this summer as well. But Chloe's camp, month-long camp Waukeeb, lies deep in the woods of New Hampshire.

Upper School Kara Johnson and Scidney Morris, seniors, were both involved in Leadership programs this summer.

Tucker Dare and Caleb Brown (6)

Molly Gagan, a seventh-grader, spent

traveled to Juarez, Mexico, on a week-

part of her summer visiting family in

long mission trip to build homes for families in need there . Tucker says that the people, the conditions in which they live, and especially the children with whom they worked had a profound effect on their lives.

Emily Hazzard, a ninth-grader, was in the play Lion King, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with the Reflections Drama Academy.

Diana Keith, also a ninth-grader, toured seven countries in Europe. And she still managed to perform in the Staunton Blackfriars Theatre production of Macbeth.

Lexi Wiles, a tenth-grader, went on a mission trip to the Bahamas.

Whitney Frost (4), a senior, had the fascinating experience of spending six weeks in Israel this summer. She saw

Elicia Buchsbaum, an eleventhgrader, worked with " Voices Toget her," a camp for children with special needs.

She states that it was an "incredible experience."

amazing sights and did unusual things, such as stay 24 hours in the desert learning survival skills, live in a kibbutz for a week, and even spend an entire week training with the Israeli army.

She will never forget the

Junior Tyler Harris (5) competed in

challenges and thrills of such an

the U.s. Senior Nationals Swim Meet,

exciting week.

which was held in Irvine, californ ia.

This is the highest level swim meet to take place in the U.S. Competing against swimmers from across the country, Tyler placed 46th and gai ned valua ble experience for t he next Senior Nationals, which he will attend in Seattle this spring .

Christine Kasper (2), a ninth-grader, won Circuit Grand Champion at the Culpeper Horse Show series th is summer. Christine had the highest number of points from the 6-show series, although she competed in only three of the shows and was one of the youngest to compete. Christine also won Champion at the Central Virginia Show Jumping Association show in July.

Beth Howard (1), an eleventh-grader, ea rned t he highest honor possi ble in Girl Scouts this summer as she was awarded her Gold Award (equivalent to the Boy Scouts' Eagle Scout). To achieve this award, Beth created memory books for students at Comfort Zone camp, a camp for children who have lost a loved one. Beth was also nominated for and chosen to be a National Counci l Delegate for the National Girl Scout Convention, which was held in Atlanta October 7-9.

feature

Th. Prace â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘

Front row (L to R) Shah war Qureshi, Sarah Jones, Student Intern Patrick McKeown; back row (L to R) Bill Wade, Christel Johnson, Twann Atkins.

Steward Is In the middle of what can best be described as a technology explosion. The entire IT program Is busting at the seams with changes, all of which are designed to benefit the steward community and, most Importantly, prepare its students for the ever evolving world of technology that awaits them after they graduate.

Christel Johnson, acting Director of Technology, welcomes the chang~nd _II of the accompanying advancements, excitement, and challenges. Her enthusiasm is evident as she discusses steward's updated IT program, which Include (among other additions) IT's summer "makeover," the reworking of technology education, and the development of a formalized IT team. In a presentation to the Board on September 27,lohnson highlighted the IT program as it stands now-how far it's come, where It's headed, and why we should be so excited about It.

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The VI.lan The vision of the IT program is straightforward: to graduate students who are adept, life-long learners of technology. Although it is by no means impossible, realizing that vision is somewhat more complex. It requires a delicate balance of factors, including the full cooperation of the entire Steward community-parents, teachers, and the students themselves. Success involves providing an effective, intentional, and appropriate technologyenabled learning enVironment, one in which leaders and teachers model effective technology learning and usage and engage students in handson technology tools across the K-12 curriculum.

Challenging, yes, especially given the frustrations that seem to come inherently with new technology. There will be bumps in the road, but Johnson is the first to point out that with technology education, "it is not the destination, but the journey that is the most important. Technology is not nor never will be perfect. The key issue is how well we select, use, and leverage these tools in our daily life, despite those imperfections."

There are three major components to the IT evolution at Steward. Rrst is the formal K12 technologv education component. This component involves both expanding and enhancing the selection of technology courses offered. Witb the help of Sarah Jones and the IT education team, the entire IT curriculum is in the process of being reworked to effecti,@ly tackle this challenge (see page 9). The goal is to offer a broader mix of teChnology learning opportunities for students.

This will include several factors: a greater focus on developing and measuring core technology student competencies, a different mix of elective and required technology courses, and implementation of a variety of non-traditional learning opportunities.

The second success factor involves K¡12 classroom integration, or reaching out to incorporate technology across all curricula. A key component to this factor is educating faculty on effective and innovative ways to include technology in their classrooms.

Many teachers have already done so and are finding exciting programs, options, and equipment with which to teach their material. Robin Ricketts and Jane Covington are creating digital student reading and writing portfoliOS, to better enable students to observe and track growth in those areas; John Alley is also creating digital portfolios to help students keep less cumbersome track of their artwork. The US science department is using a computer program that allows students to simultaneously take pre-qUiZZes, keying in their answers and watching, live, on screen as anonymous results are tallied. And the list goes on.

Third comes the important step of incorporating technology into campus operations. This Involves staffing of an IT team; additionally, in January, the IT department hopes to begin formal internship programs for current

and former Steward students. Staff IT development plays an important role as well . CUrrently, a program entitled Faculty Access on the Web (FAW) affords teachers the chance to maintain and track grades, access student data, and update attendance. Future projects involve Net-Classro0m, which will better connect the entire school and Improve communication.

Shahwar Qureshi is currently in the first phases of a major website makeover project. A key element is to involve parents in planning website enhancements.

This summer, the Blackbaud system was updated, which involved the integration of student records across administrative functions-admissions, the business office, and development. carolyn Brandt, Assistant Head of School, explains that this integration cuts down on the difficult overlap of information that occurred when multiple offices were entering data for students records. She adds that "getting from point A to point B is a bit stressful.

But we have to be cognizant that the stress will all be worth it." She is working with Debbie Fitzgerald to bring together the old system's data to make it consistent and make the complete Integration (scheduled for 2006) possible.

FH2gerald also admits that the process Is slow going. But, she says, " I am now beginning to see what is possible.

Why it's worth it. I'm noticing that tasks that used to take four steps can now take one. That's when you realize the value of what we've done." She is working on a program called TCC; WorkspaceK12, which will greatly enhance students' college searches and application processes. Once it's up and running, explains Brandt, "it will be a really great tool for seniors to have."

f The Gael.

In developing Steward's technology eaucation goals for the future, Johnson refers to those outlined by the National Education Technology Plan (NETSr. The NETS Plan has created a general set of profiles describing technologyliterate students at key developmental points in their pre-college education.

As Johnson explains, these profiles reflect the underlying assumption that all students should have the opportunity to develop technology skills that support learning, personal productivity, decision making, and daily life. These profiles and related standards provide a framework for preparing students to be lifelong learners who make informed deciSions about the role of technology In their lives. The NETS plan also offers a new strategiC framework that it is encouraging all schools to adopt as they move forward in technology.

Technical agility will be a required skill for graduating seniOrs, and these seven action steps can prepare them for technology of the future.

The seven actions ateps of the NETS plan are:

• Strengthen leadership • Consider innovative budgeting • Improve teacher training • Support e-learning and virtual schools • Encourage broadband access • Move toward digital content • Integrate data systems

The Teem To make all of this possible, the IT team has grown and now includes familiar and new faces, all prepared to train, teach, and guide the Steward

communi ty into the future. I n addit ion to the IT Director, there is Shahwar ~ re?hi, Assistant Director, Web Master, Network Administrator; Sarah Jones, K12 Academic Technology Chair; Bill Wade, Help Desk, and, coming soon, established student interns, from both high school and college. The..internship program,.

Johnson explains, will expand to provide afterschool and summer programs. The goal is to recruit interns who can join the staff in high school and stay with the team through college-a nd beyond.

Wade is optim istic about the future of the IT program. "Before coming to Steward, 1 worked for several of the largest companies in the Richmond area," he explains. "I'd say, pound for pound, our new IT infrastructure ri vals any of them. Faculty and staff reaction to the changes has been overwhelmingly positive. I knew we in IT were going to be happy with the results, but the faculty feedback really made the effort and investment feel worthwhile."

The End Reeult The future of IT at Steward, like the future of IT everywhere, is evolving.

In the process, cautions Johnson, there will continue to be those bumps in the road. There will be trials that meet with profound success, and there will be those that fail along the way. But as Johnson reflects, " It's not how perfectly we're doing all of this, but whether we're doing it all . And it's all in how we model the material, the information, the problem solving ahead of us. Students are watching and learning. We plan to be positive technology role models."

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8

I Te c h nology Education I Wiring Ourse Ives for Future Learning

Technology, with all its bells and whistles, is not just a convenience or an exciting "toy" anymore. It's a fact of life. When children graduate from high school and move on to colleges and universities, there are a few things expected of them-not the least of which is basic (and even advanced) knowledge of computer programs, equipment, and all the endless possibilities offered by today's technological world.

This fact presented the administration and faculty with a challenge. Steward's previous IT instruction was just not cutting iti in fact, the IT curriculum was so in need of updating that some computer courses listed in the school

course guide were not even offered anymore. The solution? The creation of a new, true IT team-and an overhaul of Steward's concept of what it means to prepare students for today's technological world.

As the liaison between the faculty and the IT team, new faculty member Sarah Jones has filled a void. Jones brings over 7 years of experience with her to her first year at Steward. In addition to teaching computer classes (to students and faculty members), she is rewriting the Middle and Upper School technology curriculum. And perhaps most significantly, she is implementing ways to help the entire Steward community become life-long

learners. Together with Mike Jiancristoforo and Kathy Karmolinski, Middle and Lower school computer teachers, respectively, she is teaching the core concepts and strategies to both learn today's technology and be armed with the knowledge necessary to handle future change.

"1 see technology education three ways," Jones explains. First are basic technology classes, which teach students how to use the computers in front of them. Second are technology integration core courses, in which students learn the possibilities of the programs they have learned and can integrate them into their classes and learning. Third are advanced computer courses, a goal of hers for the future.

These will involve logic, website design, AP computer SCience, and the like.

The key, Jones explains, is to start students with required core courses that meet regularly and can "spiral upward" to work off of what students learn in one year and build on that knowledge the next. Currently, Middle School students meet one time per week. When students reach ninth grade, they take a required Basic Applications course, which Jones calls a "sampler platter" that introduces Word, Excel, PowerPoint, digital cameras and scanning, basic web deSign, and a bit of programming. As students move through their years here, they will move through more advanced IT concepts and implementation.

But IT education doesn't stop with students. One of the most important factors to its success is having faculty on board with the skills, programs, and, perhaps most importantly, the problem-solvin9 techniques associated with classroom implementation. It is crucial that faculty and staff model appropriate and effective problemsolving techniques. If students see faculty and staff members handling technological challenges calmly and logically, they are more likely to respond in a similar fashion as they are faced with even more technological change in the future.

Sarah Jones and US Student Michele Casper.

IT education is exciting, says Jones, but it does have its challenges. Of particular concern is the importa nce of getting word out about the ethics involved with technology usage and learning. Plagiarism is one major concern , as are copyright issues, identity theft, and the safety of posting private information in public domains.

The IT education team will be going into ethics courses to address t he complexity of these issues with students. An important future step, says Jones, is also educating the faculty and especially parents.

lips for Life-Long Technology Leaming t"

. \

(.#

)

1

••

Such cha llenges are to be expected.

Overall, the process of integrating IT educational courses is going well, Jones says. It is clear that everyone is becoming excited about the knowledge with which they are armed to face the future of technology. 0

IT Director Christel Johnson offers the following advice for anyone who hopes to be "an adept, life-long learner of technology."

• Model perseverance and patience even when technology irritates you. Your children, students, and peers will follow your example.

• Become comfortable with the -discomfort" and common frustrations of learning and trying out new tools.

Know that most technical issues can be easily resolved by simply talking to the right person or looking in the right place for assistance.

• Recognize and use multiple sources of technology assistance. There are too many to list, but some include online help, help desks, software and vendor support pages, peers and colleagues, and more. o

Make sure you are applying the right tool to the right job. Consider your business or school needs and choose appropriate software.

o

Be persistent. Keep trying and applying what you know; you will figure out the program (or problem, or skill) and wonder how you ever lived without it.

o

Try to find a way to work around any technical problem. For example, if you cannot open a file attachment someone has sent, simply ask them to send you a file in a "text version" so you can read the basic content.

o

Not every problem requires a technical solution. The fact is that sometimes the real issue is people or process and does not speak to a technology solution.

o

Read about technology. Stay informed about new tools and technology that best suit whatever your technology needs may be.

o

Protect yourself and your family.

Passwords, home pc firewalls, internet content filters, and virus control software are requirements for protecting your confidentiality and preventing identify or data theft.

o

One size does not fit all in the world of technology. Use what works for you and your needs or your group.

o

And, perhaps most importantly, remember the ftoff" button. Just because we can be connected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, doesn't mean we should be. Take time to disconnect from modern technology and reconnect with your family and friends.

Monitor and limit the time your children spend on the computer or playing games.

Christel Johnson with US Student Patrick McKeown.

Technology'S Summer Makeover This summer marked a time of great change for Steward's IT department. The "makeover" included hiring new staff members, purchasing new equipment, and updating out-of-date technology-all to benefit the Steward community. Some specifics include . ..

• New Server Room, complete with two additional Dell Power Edge Servers, a dedicated AC unit, a new UPS and electrical busway system, all components that will support scalability or future growth • Microsoft Enterprise Conversion and Upgrade, including the negotiation of a new Microsoft Annual Campus Agreement that will allow for perpetual renewal of all base MS software as well as several other upgrades and automatic downloads • Enterprise Virus Control. IT has implemented Symantec Anti-Virus Enterprise, Version 10, an updated, safer form of virus control • Enterprise Workstation Builds, one component of which featured installation of a new version of Symantec Ghost™ Solution Suite, the industry's most widely used Enterprise imaging and deployment tool • Reconfiguration of the enterprise backbone, as well as installation of a new Cisco LAN core switch and outlaying data closet switches with features to support future IP Telephony implementations • Inventory Replenishment, which included the installation of many updated printers, digital tools, monitors, laptops, memory, and more • Network Administration Enhancements, designed to increase security, optimize speed and effectiveness, and make the network more user-friend ly. Notably, Out look Mailboxes were created for all US students • Standardization of setups, configurations, applications, network drive mapping, printing deVices, etc., all to ease in use and effectiveness of the network • Software and Tool Deployment, which included the completion of Blackbaud Education Edge major upgrade and the purchase and deployment of a variety of classroom curriculum software titles to teacher offices and classrooms • IT Staff Development to better update and inform users; included were up-ta-date User Guide publication and multiple training courses

Technology at its best gives you more time for the most inherently valuable ways of connecting-that is, face-to-face with those you love.

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10

carolyn brandt arolyn Brandt moved to Richmond in 1979. In the fall of 1980, she was hired by Paul Cramer to begin her career at The Steward School. In the 25 years since, Mrs. Brandt has reached out to the entire school community in many ways. Whether through the variety of courses she has taught (history, government, economiCS, and public speaking to name a few) or in the number of leadership positions she has held (Director of Studies, College Counselor, Head of Upper School, and her current role as Assistant Head of School), Mrs. Brandt has become a part of the lives of Steward students, families, and faculty and staff. Her dedication spreads beyond Steward's walls to her family, her faith, the arts, and her beloved Tarheels!

C

Here's what Carolyn had to say to editor Tracy Lynch about her time at Steward so far.

TL: What would you say has changed the most at Steward in the 25 years you've been here?

appropriate fit. The Board has always been committed to having a good fit between students and the School.

CB: The variety of offerings, both extracurricular and within the curriculum, has changed the most.

Partly due to the wonderful gifts, which allow us to increase the programs we currently offer. And partly due to the increase in the student body, which has allowed us the opportunity to offer more. When I came here, my first graduating class had 8 students. Now, we're into 35 and more graduating students, so we can really offer students far more choices.

TL: If I asked you, "Why have you stayed 25 years at The Steward School," what would you say?

CB: There are quite a few reasons, really. First and foremost, the students. I truly believe in them.

Also, the mission. The fervent belief that every child is special, every child can learn and blossom in a supportive environment. Plus, the fabulous faculty, who are committed and fun and have an eclectic mix of interests and great senses of humor.

Parents, too, through the years become very special. And the Headmasters. I've worked under four Heads, and I've never had a Head tell me "no" when I've made a suggestion if I have very carefully researched the rationale for it.

There's tremendous support.

TL: What features of the school have stayed the same?

CB: The mission. The willingness to cast a Wider net in admissions than perhaps at other schools. The willingness to take a risk on a child .

The commitment of the faculty to seek what is unique in each individual and help each child find his or her strengths-whether on the basketball court, in the classroom, in the theater, or in some other area.

TL: Can you think of a time when the school has faced a challenge that It has overcome? How did it make it through?

CB: Definitely. It was, I believe, in the early 1990s, when the economy wasn't doing well and a variety of schools-

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including ours-were worried about admissions. But we came through it beautifully. One of the greatest things for me has been the support of the Board of Trustees. Throughout the whole time that I've been here and no matter what we face, they do not say that you have to have X number of students even if they aren't an

TL: When you look back on the past 25 years, is there a key moment that really strikes you as being valuableeither on a personal or a professional level?

CB: No, not one moment. There are just so many of them. For instance, graduation every year. Every year, I

tear up because I see someone walk across the stage who is a true success story. I get very emotional when I think of the many success stories. And I've taught all three alumni members of the Board, all alumni employed by the school, and children of my students are now applying for kindergarten ! I'm very fortunate .

Some of my greatest satisfaction comes from watching students grow in confidence-in class, in their extracurricular activities, during the college admissions process, and so on.

TL: What changes would you like to see in your next 25 years at Steward?

CB: (Laughs, and thinks for a moment) A further increase in the number of opportunities for students, in terms of courses. Particularly in the fine arts and technology. With the wonderful Cramer Center, there are things we can do if we can find the money. There are electives in English, History, and the sciences ... that are all dependent on staffing and funding.

TL: How has Steward impacted your life outside of its walls?

CB: If you love your job, then you're happy, and that happiness carries over into the rest of your life regardless of what hurdles you have to face. This community always rises to whatever the challenge a faculty member or student faces . Steward really is a family.

â&#x20AC;˘

janet rIce anet Rice began her career at Steward in 1980, when she was hired by Paul Cramer to teach middle school science and K-12 PE and to coach field hockey, basketball, and softball. In the twenty-five years Coach Rice has been at Steward, she has played a significant role in developing and strengthening Steward's athletic program. She became Athletic Director in 1987 and still loves coaching . A graduate of the University of Richmond, where she played basketball and field hockey, Coach Rice remains a loyal Spiders fan and, when not attending a Steward game, can usually be found on the sidelines at her alma mater, especially at their football and basketball games (for which she has season tickets).

She loves old movies, and her all-time heroes are Jimmy Stewart and Katharine Hepbumboth of whom she has met! She's also brushed fame by meeting her two favorite coaches, Mike Krzyzewski and Bobby Knight. In her spare time, Coach Rice can be found at the beach, her "favorite place on earth."

J

Janet took t ime to sit with editor Tracy Lynch and to refiect on her twenty-fifth anniversary at Steward:

lR: The physical plant. The buildings. When I got here there were three : the gym, which looked like an old bam, the main building, and the artroom and science section, which is part of the middle school now-and wh ich actually had classrooms open to the outdoors.

TL: What about with the students? lR: An even bigger change is the enrollment and the reputation of the school. Years ago, if we took a bunch of kids out to a basketball game at the Robins center, for instance, they would never wear their school sweatshirts.

Now, they wear them, and they really wear them with pride. The school is Vibrant, it's its own entity, it's got its own niche in the community. Kids today want to go to Steward, are proud of their teams, their productions that they put on, everything. The pride has grown.

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TL: What would you say makes Steward's athletic program unique?

lR: Students can be involved in athletics in lots of ways-they can be managers, players. All are very important. I think the school has about 30 sports teams this year, which is a pretty good number for our size school.

Does that make it unique? I'm not so sure. But we are one of the few schools that does start interscholastic sports at the sixth-<;Jrade level. That can be a little bit of a down side, as far as competing against bigger schools. But our kids are able to get involved in sixth grade. Lots of schools don't offer that.

Also, what's unique is that because we're so small, we have to use a lot of younger kids on JV or varsity teams.

For instance, last year's varsity tennis team was made up of mostly middleschoolers. That's tough when they're young, but it's great when they get to high school and have so much experience. We do still need to fill in the gaps in the program-we have lots of teams where we have just middleschoolers on varsity, with no JV. We need to bridge that gap.

TL: So, tell me what has changed the most since you started at Steward.

Physically the plant was not appealing at all. But there were awesome people in those small buildings. I will say until the day I die, that this school survived through some pretty tough times because of the good internal leadership, such as Paul Cramer. He kept the school together during those times, but he did it with the help of great faculty and several key families who stuck by Steward when it was a hard thing to do.

voluntary partiCipation in athletics. You have kids lining up to audition for plays and music programs, and that's all voluntary. The kids want to be involved here, and that's really helped along by the staff. Without the pressure, though, which is good because it helps the kids find a niche.

TL: What would stand out as one or two of your most favorite moments at Steward?

TL: What has stayed the same?

lR: What Steward believes in has stayed the same, and so have the relationships between the teachers and the kids. It's a little different now, because we're all spread out a bit more, but you still have closeness between the kids and faculty. There's not a wall there, whereas there might be at other places. Also, involvement of the kids in all the extracurricular activities.

Throughout, kids have had opportunities here they may not have at other schools. In athletics, we do have cuts, but you might be able to play here where you might not be able to at a larger school. Last year, we had 87%

lR: There is not really just one thing .

I do think about how far we've come with the program-the Athletic Center and the fields and the equipment. But it is the dedication of the teams of the past that laid the foundation for today, for building that pride that I talked about earlier. Back in the 805, we had struggles, but we had people that believed in athletics at Steward throughout the years, all of whom have helped us grow and become what we are today.

Back then, we didn't even have but so many basketballs. But there were some really good teams and really good players who wanted to be at Steward.

The kids on these teams are still active

alumni, and I'm still in touch with them.

These people were all so involved in the school and the coaching staff was so tied into the school, that we started making impressions in the community.

Because of them, we started earning respect from area schools. I don't want anyone to forget that it's because of them that we are where we are today.

One time, in the nineties, I was standing there looking at these two new beautiful scoreboards, and Paul Cramer walked up to me. "Isn't it beautiful?" I said, and he looked over and said, "Yes. Isn't it something?" Then a student walked up and said, "Well, aren't fields supposed to have scoreboards?" That student didn't recognize the struggle, the accomplishments that brought us to that point.

TL: What about today's Athletic Program?

JR: It is just really, really strong. We have a few teams that have won a state championship, which is really exciting. Right now, today, our boys' soccer team is ranked #4 in Division 2 in the state. That's great. Also right now, there is such great excitement around our boys' baseball team, and it is just rallying the kids. There are so many ways for kids to become involved.

TL: What would you like to see happen to the athletic department in your next 25 years?

JR: (laughs) Well, I'm sure I won't be here! We have the athletic strategic plan that we developed last year, and one of the key ideas is that we want to try to do what we're doing now, only

better. We're putting in a third field .

Even with this beautiful building, it's still filled when we have events, so we need to look at size. For now, we want to just keep kids involved. Keep great coaches involved and attract even more.

TL: What would you like to say to Steward parents?

JR: Our parents are awesome. By and large, our parents at Steward have been incredible supporters for our kids and our coaches. In the stands, in all types of weather. They volunteer to help with concessions. They work hard to support their kids and their school, and they do it the right way. That's what parents are for. They are the ones who are supposed to give their kids a pat on the back. We're fortunate to have them.

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back to school

At a Glance . ..

Stewards 'Round Richmond

By Deborah Hanger Our One School-One Community theme got off to a good start this year with our first Staff Development Day on August 22. All 120 staff and faculty gathered in the Cramer Center and were assigned to be on one of ten teams. Once we donned our color-coordinated t-shirts and were given instructions to complete a scavenger hunt chart, we loaded our buses outside and traveled throughout the metropolitan area for creative items to fulfill our goals. Each team was also given a survey to complete; who knew that this staff knew so many famous people, has traveled to all corners of the world, and has mastered such fascinating talents and skills?

After scurrying around Richmond for two hours, we all met for lunch and presented our posters and surveys to our illustrious Maintenance Crew who served as judges.

They rated each team on completion of the poster, interesting facts learned, and creativity of the presentation. We had drama, raps, poetry, singing, theme-based posters-and some teams even offered bribes to the judges. Now, was that fair? We certainly got to know each other and enjoyed lots of laughter that day!

Our efforts to continue our team spirit will continue in November when each group will present a chapter of the book Biggest Job to the staff and faculty. During second semester, the teams will plan a social event and work on a community service task together. All of these events will ensure our One School-One Community theme will be incorporated into both our professional and personal lives.

The Yellow Team members (from L to R: Bev Harris, Linda Dunville, Sherilyn Smail, Rebecca carelli路Sennett, John Alley, carolyn Brandt, Dewey Brown, Terri Shelton, Jane Whitely and Michelle Johnston) placed fourth, but who's counting!

Top: All ages enjoyed the Parents' Association Spaghetti Dinner held on September 27.

(Left) The members of the Judges table (L to R: April Sawyer, Norma Augillon, Marla Fernanda, Martha Villavicencio, Mike Wood, Tom Nelms and Bob Sanders) had the hard task of scoring each team's performance. (Right) Chris TIckle performs a hilarious rap that places the red team in first position.

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Middle: Middle School Students sign the Honor Code at the Honor Code Signing on September 22.

Bottom : Artists in the Lower School adorn the halls with their talented renditions of Van Gogh's The Scream.

Convocation On Monday, September 9, Steward officially ushered in a new school year with its annual Convocation ceremony. Bonnie Anderson provided the music, and The Upper School Choir and the Upper School Select Ensemble performed. Fourth-grader Chloe Staples sang the Star Spangled Banner to begin the program.

Convocation traditionally marks a time to reflect on the possibilities of the year ahea~n what we, as a community of individuals, can accomplish together. As part of that tradition, seniors led kindergartners into the ceremony hand in hand, representing the mutual support and connection of Steward students. As Headmaster Ken Seward stated in his address, "By holding hands, we reach across the years and experiences that separate us to connect and share that which binds us as a community. It represents what a K-12 school should be."

Seward opened his address by reading a few notes sent by kindergartners to 2005 graduates, accompanied by a pillow and well wishes. He then told a story of a learned professor and a Zen master. The Zen master expected that the professor had come to listen, experience, and learn about Zen, but instead of listening, the professor proceeded to tell the master about all of

the degrees he had earned and all of his opinions, concepts, and convictions. As the master poured tea for his guest, the professor continued on and on; the master continued pouring until his guest's cup was overflowing. Finally, the professor stopped speaking long enough to exclaim that there was no more room in his cup. The Zen master noted the accuracy of this statement, wisely explaining, "I cannot show you Zen when you have filled up all of your space with your own opinions; I can only show you Zen when you have created some empty space in your cup."

Too often, Seward stated, the busy-ness of the school year rapidly fills our collective cups too full-to the point, in fad, that they are overflowing, leaving little time for each other or for our true selves, our true purposes in a community. He referred to the Steward seal-the crossroads at which our lives intersect-and pointed out that various commitments, aSSignments, and priorities can cause us to rush through those intersections. Seward urged faculty, staff, parents, and students alike to take the time to pause at these intersections, to occasionally "turn our shield into a stop sign and place it at each comer of our crossroads so we do not miss an opportunity to genuinely engage each other." He encouraged the entire community to make this the "year of interruptions," a year in which we stop for others and create the collective space in our cups to learn from the time we spend together.

•

Ine ar s

The faculty and students of the Fine Arts department have been quite busy this fall. They have created, practiced, and performed their way into the Steward community through various musical theatrical, and visual arts events. Here's a look at events that have touched us this fall, as well as future opportunities to see Steward students at their artistic best.

MusicDepartment

thisFall

• "Whirled" Peace Day Assembly, September 21: The music department assisted this visual art event. The enti re Lower School sang "Let There Be Peace On Earth;" Upper Schoolers Dabney Broaddus & Elizabeth Franklin sang a duet.

• Richmond Symphony Musical Ambassadors Assembly, September 28: Students enjoyed a trip through musical history, hearing selections by composers including Mozart, Corelli, Strauss, Foster, Joplin, and Hindemuth while learning about the different instruments and their capabilities.

• District Chorus Auditions, November 12, Deep Run High School: All students in the 9-12 choral program were expected to aud ition for a spot in the District Chorus, which is made up of public and private schools throughout Richmond, Hanover County, and Henrico County.

• Thanksgiving Assembly, November 22: This annual schoolwide event featured music and speeches from all three divisions about the importance and significance of the Than ksgiving Holiday.

comingUp • Holiday "Goodwill'" Choir Tour, December 2: The Fourth & Fifth Grade Choir, the Middle School Choir,

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and the Upper School Choir participate in this annual event that takes the students to va rious retirement homes and other stages to bri ng holiday cheer through service and song. This is the 15th year! The service clubs make favors and everyone touches a life that day by giving out a treat and introduCing themselves. Bonny Hajek is always the Santa, and students are well received by the residents of all of the senior facili ties.

TheatreDepartment thisFall

• Fifth-Grade Play, October 14: The Legend of Anne Bonny was a big success as students sang and danced their way through colonial history with this fun and exciting look into the different roles women played in the colonial period.

Written by Monica Kal lman and directed by Ka ri Hatfield and Monica Kallman, t he play told the tale of Anne Bonny, one of the most feared and revered women pi rates in colonial history to ever sail the seas.

• Fall Main Stage Production of The Outsiders, November 10- 12: This fun and complex production involved students in grades 6-12 and was a big success, thanks in large part to the hard work of the students involved in every step of the acting and production process. This adaptation of S. E. Hinton's popular novel was adapted for the stage by Christopher SergeI.

• Middle School/Upper School Winter Concert, December 5 at 7 p.m.: Instrumental and choral groups will perform their fi rst formal concert of the year.

• Middle School/Upper School Winter Concert for the Lower School, December 6 at 8:30 a.m.: A special concert for Lower School students

• Lower School Holiday Program, December 20 at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.: "Rah Rah SCU!" This yea r the play is set in the North Pole at Santa Claus University, where incoming students, t he "Polar Bea rs," will take such required classes as "elf esteem," reindeer flight, deputy Santa Claus training, peace-making, music of the season, and so on. Each grade level is featured in this beloved annual event.

(L) Annie Jung and and (R) Hali Yun.

• Third-Grade Play, November 18: At press time, students are preparing for t he prod uction of Asas Oa Borba/eta (The Wings of the Butterfly), also written by Monica Ka llman and directed by Kari Hatfield and Monica Ka llman. Adapted from a Portuguese Folk Story and set in the Amazon Rain Forest, t his production is a wonderful opportunity for students to create exciting characters and explore other cu ltures and languages.

comingUp • Fourth-Grade Play, January 20 at 8:30 a.m. in the Black Box Theatre • Second-Grade Play, February 24 at 8:30 a.m. in the Black Box Theatre

• Arsenic and Old Lace, February 16-18 at 7:00 p.m. on the Main Stage: Students from the Middle and Upper Schools will be presenting Joseph Kesselring's classic comedy about two sweet old ladies and their pension for poison.

VisualArts thisFall • "Snapshots, A Collection of Photography" by Jaclyn Smith '04, Alan Briceland, Parke Smith '01, and Cindy Grissom, August 29-September 29: This collection was featured in the new Upper School gallery space and offered a glimpse into the diverse talent of these four individuals.

• "Whirled" Peace Day, September 21: Lower, Middle, and Upper School art students created pinwheels for peace and "planted" them during a

ceremony promoting world peace.

More than 900 schools around the nation partiCipated in this event.

• Rick Bragga Photography Exhibit, September-October (Cosby Hall Gallery): The images in this exhibition were shot during the past five years in the United States and Canada. Bragga describes his work as presenting nature in "an infinite variety of shapes, textures, colors, and patterns that vary by time of day, month, or season of the year and types of weather and light."

comingUp • "Metaphor for Life," by Sonja Stoecki, November 21December 22: Cramer Center Gallery. Open Gallery November 30, 3-6 p.m.

• "Domestic Partners, n by Adele Castillo, January 4-February 9, 2006: Cramer Center Gallery. Open Gallery January 11, 3-6 p.m. and January 25, 3-6 p.m.

• Student Honors Photography Show, by students of John Alley, February 1S-March 22, 2006: Cramer Center Gallery. Reception

Fifth-graders perform The Legend of Anne Bonny.

February 23, 3:30-7 p.m.; Open Gallery, March 1, 3-6 p.m.

• Senior project photography show, Whitney Frost and M'lissa Levitt, March 22-March 29, 2006: Cramer Center Gallery.

• "A Celebration of Art," by Lower School students, April 3-May 16, 2006: Cramer Center Gallery.

Reception, April 2.

For the month of October, Steward was honored to welcome i pai nter Ed Trask to campus. A graduate of VCU, Trask has painted over 30 murals in Richmond and all over the world. His ork has been shown at local and Museum Frame . His art has also been featured in galleries, including Eric Shindler Gallery, 1708, Artspace, and magazines such as Juxtapose, Giant Robot, Stop Smiling, Style Weekly, Richmond Magazine, and 64. He has taught for t he summer discovery program at VCU for 2 years and has opened the EGG SPACE, a gallery for underg round artists to show all media of work.

In his time here, Trask painted two murals for The Steward School. Students in The Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were afforded the invaluable experience of learning techniq ue, perspective, and method directly from Trask by partiCipating in the mural creation process from start to finish .

Steward's e-nouncements previously printed this quotation from Trask: "I paint a symbolic portrait of themes dealing wit h preservation, spirituality, our social condition, morality, and loss of civility in a consumer-driven age. I choose imagery that sparks the imagination . . . [so the viewers] can oome to their own conclusions of where they themselves stand."

His Show, "The Stories We Could Tell," was on display in the art gallery from October 5 to

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athletics

Thisfall Steward Invitational Field Hockey and Soccer Tournament: Saturday September 10. Field Hockey: Steward defeated St. Gertrude's in the opening round, but lost to the Division II-defending State Champs, carlisle, in the Championship game. Soccer: Steward lost to Stonebridge in the opener, but defeated Tandem in the consolation game to finish in third place. Jamie Adams and Carter Fitzgerald captured AIITournament for field hockey; Brin Hill, Micah Keller, and Daniel Kamieb were All -Tournament for soccer.

State Rankings: Coach Sadler's Varsity Soccer team started off the season 5-1. They were consistently ranked in the top 5 (currently #4) of Division II state polls. Coach Rice's Varsity Field Hockey team was ranked 7th in the Division II state poll.

JV Volleyball: Coach Wilberger's team started off the season 9-0 and moved to 12- 1. This near-perfect record includes impressive wins against across-town rivals Collegiate and St. catherine's.

Steward hosted the VCC (Virginia Commonwealth Conference) Soccer Tournament on October 31 and November 2 and won first place. The VCC Cross Country championship was held at Deep Run Park on November 1. Steward came in second place.

Steward hosted the LIS Field Hockey Tournament on November 1, 2, and 4. Steward lost to Covenant School in the semi finals.

Comingup On January 6 and 7, the Spartan Club will host their annual girls' and boys' Steward Invitational Basketball Tournaments.

The girls' field will include Steward, St. Gertrude's, Trinity, and Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot.

The boys' field will include Steward, Virginia Episcopal, Benedictine, and Trinity.

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Th e

Third

On Monday, October 3, 2005, the Hollows Golf Club was the backdrop for the Third Annual Spartan Golf Classic. It was a day of perfect weather, plenty of food and refreshments and, most importantly, great friends getting together for the benefit of the students of The Steward School. Karla Williams Boughey, Golf Classic Chairperson, Kathy Matthews, Spartan Club PreSident, and the entire Spartan Board were all present to host this spectacular golf outing . Through the efforts of the Spartan Board, generous sponsors and enthusiastic golfers, $30,000 was raised for the athletic department.

Annual

Spartan Golf Classic

F re!

Much of the success is owed to the sponsors. This year the Golf Classic was privileged to have Hometown Realty as the Exclusive Sponsor. The Steward community would like to thank all sponsors, who were involved in every stage of the Golf Classic beginning with the printing of the "save-the-date" card and brochure by Worth Higgins and the postage paid by Ray Tate and Old Dominion Glass to the filling of the two gift bags per golfer!

Special thanks go to Costen Floors, Bob Foley's Next Level Basketball, Kevin Eastman Basketball camps, Karen's Homemade, Dr. Brad Matthew of Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists, Valiant Photography and Doug Hinckley, Moore Cadillac, Richbrau Brewery, Langdon Christian, Finks Jewelers, Mark Newlen's Making of a Champion Sports Champs, Elizabeth and Mike Fraizer and Spartan Cheerleading, and Westend Trophies. Please thank our sponsors by patronizing their places of business. Let them know you are part of the Steward School team!

a good cause

by Karla Williams Boughey

The event would not have been possible without the help of the many volunteers. Thank you for your time and tireless support. A few individuals who truly went beyond the call of duty were Lee Healey, Wallace Inge, and Mary Harvard Nolde ('93). Their efforts were the backbone of the entire event.

Mark your calendars now. The fourth Annual Golf Classic is always held on the first Monday of October. You will not want to miss out. If you want to join the Spartan Club, please contact Kathy Matthews at 360-3596 or Janet Rice at 565-2305.

Thanks to our major sponsors

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community service

For Steward students, August 29, 2005, marked the first day of a new school year, one filled with promise and possibilities. But for hundreds of thousands of people living along the Gulf Coast of the United States, hat same date completely changed life as they had it. Hurric ne Katrina hit with surprising and lng-I ting evastation. In its wake, and with so uch ime and money needed to repair the considerable hysi al and em tional damage, people across the natio hav '\:jggled conflicting feelings of helplessness, hope, and drive to create change.

Many in the Steward community have reached into their hearts and their wallets to try to help in a number of ways. The need to simply do something-the urge to help those in need in another part of our world- has propelled students, faculty, staff, and parents alike to give and do whatever they can to ease the bu rden of Gulf Coast residents. Here are only a few of the numerous ways in which the members of our community have reached out:

• The Parents' Association is raising funds for Katrina Relief at all of their fund raisers by having a designated donation box.

• The Lower School held a Hurricane Relief Effort on September 26. The faculty stayed after school to partiCipate in fun activities with any child who donated $15 or more to this relief effort.

• MS Students Hayley Redmond and Courtney Cooper made lemonade-for a good cause. They raised $432.20 for the Red Cross to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina .

• MS student John Dozier went doorto-door to collect money for the Red Cross. He raised $400 in his efforts.

• In addition to the funds raised by these individual students, the Middle School student body has raised over $1,000 for Katrina relief. They also collected books to send to students in need .

• The students of four advisee groups-Jane Keller, Janet Rice, Bruce Secrest, and Marcie Soucek-set a goal immediately after the Hurricane to raise $2,000 in one week. Helped by donations from the entire Upper School, they far surpassed that goal by raising over $3,000!

• Parent Betty Baugh Harrison, a veterinarian, took several horse trailers down to Louisiana to rescue lost animals.

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from hurricane Katrina MS Students Courtney Cooper and Hayley Redmond.

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summer renovations

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Upper School students returned to school this year to a new and improved Upper School building . On August 29, the first day of school, Headmaster Ken Seward welcomed students to a brighter, more open, and more accessible environment. He thanked the many people who made the renovations pOSSible, including parents of the Class of 2005 for their generous support, the Foundation Endowment, architect Dennis Craig, Valentine Electrical, the Trent Corporation, Martha Freuhoff and her family's foundation, and the entire maintenance and custodial crew-all of whom put in ti reless hours to make sure the school was ready for the new year.

What's new about the Upper School? The list is long and the improvements to the feel and the space are significant. Among the enhancements are : • • • • •

New carpet throughout A Foreign Language suite, including lab and classroom space ESL office space A new faculty lounge Larger tables added to some classrooms to enhance communication by creating a seminar feel • Art show space, complete with gallery lighting and substantial tackboard, which will house monthly art shows and offer better ways to feature student, faculty, and visiting artist artwork • Lockers, cubbies, and a new student commons area to better meet the needs of US students • Columns, crown molding, and other aesthetic improvements

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On August 30, the Lower School was treated to a makeover of its own, as the new and improved playground was unveiled to the eager students. The entire Lower School made its way outside as Mr. Seward presented them with "the best playground you could imagine having." New features to the playground include more and enhanced playground equipment, additional swings, and even a rockclimbing wall!

The students cheered as Mr. Seward, Mrs. Hanger, Mrs. Dunville, Mrs. Brandt, and many of the faculty took turns testing out the new slide. Even the entire maintenance crew, whom Mr. Seward thanked for their active involvement in making the improvements possible, got in on the fun.

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from the board

Dear Steward Community, It is my great pleasure and honor to serve this year as the Chairman of The Steward School Board of Trustees. For the last three years, the Board was fortunate to have been led by Ferd Baruch, who left an indelible mark on the school with his tireless effort and dedication to The Steward School and its mission. It would have been a much more difficult transition for me to follow Ferdie were it not for a very engaged and energetic group of Trustees on the Board as well as our very capable Headmaster, Ken Seward, who, in his second year at Steward, has already demonstrated both excellent administrative talents and a clear vision for The Steward School.

My involvement with The Steward School began, like many in the Steward community, as a parent of a kindergartner. At the time, my wife and I just hoped that Steward would be the right fit for our child. Beginning with a wonderful kindergarten teacher and continuing on with many more dedicated and caring teachers and administrators throughout the Lower School and now the Middle School, we soon came to realize that Steward School was truly special. Many independent schools talk about how they are "unique" and give individual attention to students, but I have yet to find any that can match Steward for assessing the talents and individual leaming skills of each student and then intentionally deSigning instructional programs to take advantage of those talents and skills.

The Board of Trustees consists of people with varied talents and backgrounds: businessmen and women, accountants, educators, lawyers, homebuilders, and stay-at-home moms, among others. Many of the trustees are parents of current students at Steward or of Steward alumni. Other trustees are alumni themselves. Some of the trustees have connections with The Steward School that span decades, and the institutional knowledge and longterm perspective that these trustees offer are invaluable. other trustees are relatively new to the school but also bring an important insight into how best to oversee the school. I invite all of the members of The Steward School community to get to know the trustees and to communicate to them their views on any aspect of the school.

In the second half of this school year, the Board of Trustees will undertake a StrategiC Plan for The Steward School. The last time that the Board prepared a Strategic Plan was in 1997. Needless to say, much has changed since then . In 1997, there were 325 students at Steward; this year we have enjoyed a record enrollment of 591 The campus also looked far different in 1997 than it does now. Thanks in large part to an anonymous gift of $15 million, a refinanCing and increase of the tax-exempt bonds issued for the School and contributions from members of the school community to the Major Gift Initiative and other fundraising campaigns, the Steward School campus now boasts a spacious athletic center and new athletic fields, a new administration building and library and the beautiful Cramer Center for the Arts, as well as expanded and renovated Upper, Middle and Lower School buildings. We will have more to say about the StrategiC Plan later this year, and we will solicit the views of all of the constituencies of The Steward School community as we begin the StrategiC Planning process next spring.

As much as The Steward School has grown over the past several years, in terms of the number of students, physical facilities, athletic programs, the arts and curriculum, the Board of Trustees is determined to remain true to the mission of the school. That mission celebrates the importance of small classes and identifying and nurturing the individual talents of each student. The Board of Trustees looks forward to working with The Steward School community this year in determining how best to meet the growing demands on the school while at the same preserving this mission that has always made The Steward School such a special place.

Sincerely,

Charles L. Menges Chairman

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newboa

rd members

"The Steward School had a tremendous influence on the person I am today. The faculty, coaches and administrators challenged us (students) to go for it, to believe in ourselves and to achieve all those things which need to be discovered, understood or conquered. Steward is not just a place of business. It is an extension of family. And like a family, it will challenge you, support you, and celebrate you."

-Lou Ellen Blackwelder, Board Member

Lou Ellen Blackwelder: Lou Ellen graduated from The Steward School in 1984. She played on the basketball team, sang in the choir, was photographer and editor of the yearbook, and ran the lights for theatrical productions. She received a B.A. from Lynchburg College in 1988. LouElien returned to Richmond and was recruited to be the President of the Alumni Association and member of the Board of Trustees, a position she held for four years. Today, Lou Ellen is the Director of Operations for the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond. She enjoys playing golf whenever possible.

Denise Kasper: Denise returns to the Board this year as vice-chair and chair of the personnel committee.

For the past five years, Denise has worked at Capital One, where she specializes in organizational development, change consulting, and leadership coaching. She is also teaches an Organizational Behavior class for VCU's School of Business. Denise's husband, George, is also on the Board. Their two daughters are in 9th and 11th grade at Steward. Denise's hobbies are cooking, reading spy novels and thinking about exercising. She believes in the stress-relieving power of a good laugh.

Anne Pace: Anne has a Master's degree in public administration and formerly worked in the Governor's Budget Office during both the Wilder and Allen administrations. She is an active school and community volunteer, most recently having co-chaired Spirit Day and the 2004 Steward School Auction, both of which were highly successful events. Anne is married to Farrar Pace, Jr., a Richmond native, and has three children : Farrar III (who attends St. Christopher's), Georgeanne and Belle (who are in the 4th and 2nd grade at Steward, respectively). Anne's hobbies are spending time with her family and attending their many sports activities and, when time permits, reading an exciting book!

Don Steeber: Don and his family have long had ties to The Steward School. From 1978 to 1981, Don taught, coached, and served as the Athletic Director (and he made the uniforms for the hockey team!) .

Don has quite a few family members who have attended Steward, including his daughter, Heidi, and her husband, Michael Clements (both class of 1981). Don graduated from Lehigh University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Virginia Commonwealth University and is a licensed professional engineer.

Currently, Don is a partner in Steeber and Father, Everything Under the Son, general contractors; he is active in his church and enjoys serving on the Board of the Virginia Opera.

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Weezie Wiltshire: Weezie's background is in elementary education. She holds an M.Ed. from the University of Richmond in Reading . Weezie taught in HenriCO County for two years and at the Collegiate School for ten years, supervised student teachers for University of Richmond for four years, and was head of the Lower School at Steward for three years (there is a corner of the Lower School library dedicated in her honor). Currently, Weezie tutors an elementary school student and volunteers in a third-grade in Chesterfield County, conducting book clubs for the students. She is on the Board of the Woman's Club and The Virginia Home, where she enjoys friendships with the residents. In her leisure time, she reads, travels with her husband to New York City to see her two grandchildren, and helps plan her daughter's wedding .

She is excited to be back with so many good friends at Steward.

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In lieu of gifts at their birthday party this year, students Samantha Bisger and Mary Taylor Tepper asked guests for donations for a good cause. At the party, they raised $816, which enabled each of them to adopt a student in Haiti .

The money will cover food, clothing, and education costs ... Ask a middle-school student about the always intriguing weekly " Name that Mystery Teacher" contest for some interesting inside information .. . Faculty member Paul Busse will be a first-time grandfather this spring! Walk the MS hallways any day to find spectacular photos of students from our own master photographer, Mr. Busse, and make sure to congratulate the new Gramps-to-be! ... Chip Chapman, a long-time wrestling coach at other schools, will be starting a MS wrestling club here at Steward this November ...

Amy Hale will be traveling to the Galapagos Islands in March ... Students Sam Elliott, Grace Henderson, Ryland Scott, Jake Rowe, Whitley Menges, Matt Hall, and Celeste Nash recently attended the " Prejudice Awareness Summit" at VCU with 250 other middle school students from the greater Richmond area. They will share what they learned with their peers here at school . .. On a recent Twin Day, eight faculty members-male and female-donned khakiS, pink shirts, flip-flops and bow ties to win the contest hands down .. . Clubs are now under way, with photography, ultimate frisbee, cooking, knitting, and classic rock topping the charts ...

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Senior photography student Douglas Smith received two top awa rds from the Virginia State Fair of Virginia for his photography. He won First Prize in the "A Fair to Remember" category and Second Prize in the Animal category of the State Fair photographic competition ... Faculty member Carrie Vandervelde gave a presentation entitled "Greek Games: How to Host a (Semi-Authentic) Ancient Athletics Festival" at the annual meeting of the Foreign Language Association of Virginia on Friday, October 14 . .. Lexi Wiles competed in a recent Radio Disney competition ... and won! She is now the spokesperson for the Richmond area for Radio Disney .. . Mrs. Kovach and her chemistry classes discovered a new element: Candium. They determined its atomic mass and then found that it was radioactive. They experimented with the concept of half-life and then even ate the decayed product! . . . Fifty-five students and facu lty members signed up to partiCipate in The American Heart Walk at Byrd Park on Saturday, October 29 . . . The Eleventh grade History and English students visited Monticello and Michie's Tavern in Charlottesville on Wednesday, October 19 . .. The Foreign Language Department hosted a get-together on October 20 to thank all the staff and maintenance crew members who were involved in helping them move into their new home .. . Christine Kasper, Madison Ellis, Melanie Rodriguez, Shelby Holland, and carrie Vandervelde helped out at a Community Day at London Towne Apartments on Sunday, October 16 .. . Patrick McKeown was nominated by Mr. Lee to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum-and was accepted! He was one of only 320 students across the nation to attend the conference, which was held from November 1-6 in Washington, D.C. . ..

Beth Howard is fresh off her stint as the Head Page for the Virginia House of Delegates, where she was responsible for managing all of the other pages from across the state ... Keep an eye out for the US Battle of the Brains team-their competitions will be televised every once in a while . . . The Henrico County Board of Supervisors has approved Art Department Chair Rugene Paulette's nomination to serve on the Board of the Cultural Art Center in Glen Allen . ..

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Fifth-grader Mackenzie Marcia wil l perform in the Nutcracker this holiday season . .. Fourth-grader Chloe Staples appeared on the new television show Commander in Chief as a member of the French choir singing at the White House ... Second-grader Elizabeth Scott's illustrations are in a book that was just published.

The book is called The Power of a Wish by Ali Spizman, and it is about the Make-A-Wish Foundation. There will soon be a copy in the Library ... The following students started off the school year well-read-they completed the summer reading prog ram at their local libraries: Lindsey Lubin, Mary Beth Hopkins, Sarah Lindamood, Katie Hardi n, and Elizabeth Scott ... Kerry Blum was awarded a full grant to become certified as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher . .. The first-year Lego League worked hard this fall to prepare for their first competition on November 18. The team, the Steward CloDoms, created their own robot (which must be able to perform "missions!") and competed against 23 other teams! (results are not yet in, but the team has had fun preparing for such an exciting event) . . . Grayson Shelly (4th grade) was selected for the Glen Allen All-Star Baseball Team (lOU) for the second year in a row! .. .

Fifth-grader Morgan Penberthy donated a bicycle and bags of toys to children who lost their belongings and were displaced by Hurricane Katrina ... Michelle Napper is performing with the Concert Ballet of Virginia ...

Nordstrom's Fall Fashion Show featured three Steward LS students as models .. . Remi Klein (3rd grade), Katie Hardin (2nd grade) and Elizabeth Scott (2nd grade) ...

Very special thanks to Unda Ounville, Joan Cameron, Lee Healey, Mike Maruca, and Carrie Vandetvelde for their help in pulling together the information herein.

If you know of a faculty, staff, or student accomplishment that should be mentioned in future Heard it in the Halls columns, please drop Tracy Lynch, editor, at Iyncht@stewardschool.org.

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a line to

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with . â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ hahwar Qureshi

Shahwar ,larted as a Steward student in 1979. After graduatillg UI 1990, she wcntto .Va., whcrc , hc lI1ajored ill P~yc hology and H istory. She returned to Steward as a parL-till1c tutOl/ tcacher ill 1994. [n 2000. Shahwar returned to U.Va. to earn her Master's in Management [llforll1ation Technology while juggling a full-timejoh at a dotCOlI1 ,ulll colltinuillg to lutor Stew; u'd studenL>. She hec~me Sieward's Assistant Director of Ted1ll0logy ill 2003.

Shalill',u' ;U1d her husb;1I1d, Sujit Mohanl}', recenily hecame the proud p;u'ents of Sabula Alib;U1dra Moh;U1ty. [n addirion to heing ;1 new mom, she spends weekends fixillg up her 80-ye ar-old hou se in the Fan an d hanging our with he r family, including Faisal ('92) ;Hld Fahad ('00). Shaliw;u' spends he r spare moments designing wehsites and taking hl;LCk-and-white photos.

You wear a lot of hats here at Steward. Tell me about them.

"My favorite part of the job is the contact with the kids ."

My official title is Assistant Director of Technology, which allows me to wear those different hats. As the network administrator, I focus on the servers at Steward making sure that they are secure and running well. As webmaster, I designed the website and am responsible for all of the content on the site. As the SAT teacher, I teach students the skills necessary to succeed on the new SAT and other standardized tests.

What have been t he biggest changes in the IT world at Steward t he past few months?

This summer, we retired our primary file and print server which ran on Novell. We are now able to do some very cool things to make life better for our users. Behind the scenes, we have made some changes that wi ll help teachers bring more technology into the classroom. My favorite change is the addition of email for Upper School students.

What do you hope to see change i n the future?

I hope to see the presence of technology continue to increase in the classroom. A lesson about Egypt can come to life when students build pyramids online; a lesson about Paris could include a virtual tour of the Louvre.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is the contact with the kids . In the past, I have had a web design club where students created their own web pages. In the classroom, I get to reassure juniors that standardized testing is not all that bad. IT also "adopts" kids who show an interest in technology, and we let them help us.

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letters from graduates Crossroads reached out to three 2005 Spartan graduates to get a glimpse into life after Steward.

When asked about the challenges, differences, and benefits of college life, here's what they had to say ...

Dear Steward students, The adjustment of lifestyles, between what you are used to at home and what you find yourself thrown into in dorm life, is virtually unexplainable. You will never know the full extent of the differences until you are actually living it. As to living on your own, it is nothing you can't handle.

One of my biggest tips for succeeding in college is to take classes that suit your sleep pattem. If you have trouble waking up to get to Steward on time, you will never survive in 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. classes. In college you stay out much later than you ever did at home-you may still be awake at 4:00 a.m. doing a paper that is due at 8:00. I've found this out the hard way.

Also, the first week of school, leave your door open. You'd be surprised how many people will introduce themselves just because your door is open.

You will never make friends by secluding yourself in your dorm room.

The things that I miss the most about Steward are sitting around with the Lunch Bunch just talking about nothing; seeing Mrs. Healey every morning when I signed in late; visiting Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Shamburger, and Ms. Carelli-Sennett when I probably should have been doing work; Wednesday morning Meaning of Life Classes, which always involved Starbucks and interesting discussions; and, shockingly enough, Mr. Lee's Government class. Who would have thought? As for life in Richmond, I really miss being able to go downtown and walk through Carytown. I miss the Galaxy Diner, Westbury, Mama Zu's, Joe's Inn, Bookbinders, Strawberry St., Bottoms Up, and the White Dog. You never know how much you appreciate good food until you eat salad every day for 3 weeks because that's the only thing that appears edible.

The only advice I have for seniors when they are picking their college is to go somewhere you feel comfortable. Don't pick a school based on its prestige, football team, or nice dorm rooms. Pick your school because you can see yourself living there comfortably for the next four years and because it's a place where you will find enough challenge to keep you interested and on your toes.

So far, college soccer has been one of the biggest challenges of my life. I have learned a lot about myself as an individual and as a player. It has shown me that I have capabilities well beyond what I ever thought imaginable. I recommend for all of the seniors (soon to be freshmen!) to find something that you think is beyond your grasp and to go for it. So far my experience has been amazing.

Lauren Malizia, LaSalle University

Dear Steward students, Hello, Spartans!

Dear Steward students, When you graduate from high school, the first thing on the newly free student's mind is to spend as much time as possible with friends. This is a good thing. Make sure when you leave for college you keep in contact with your close friends. E-mail and the internet make it possible to stay in touch with everyone-it is how I keep in touch with my friends , from everywhere from Tech to South Carolina to across campus.

There is a big adjustment from living at home to living in a dorm. The curfew. There is no curfew at college. If you want to stay up till 4:30 in the morning and have an 8 a.m. class the next day, go right ahead. But you are the one that will suffer, and professors do not care if you fall asleep in class. In fact, that just gives them a chance to call on you and make you look like a fool. Trust me, it's different. You have to remember that getting to class on time and being ready for it is your responsibility. If you have an 8 a.m. class, make sure you get there.

That is a key thing to do in college. You hear about the kids that don't go to class and all they do is show up for the test and midterms and hand in the papers? Well, it just won't work. Even if you just show up to class, you pick up more than if you don't even bother going.

And don't think that pop quizzes stop in high school.

I had very little trouble adjusting to college. The independence, freedom, and atmosphere of college are magnificent. I feel much more capable. Truthfully, I found that I did not have too many challenges once I arrived; everything worked out pretty well on its own. Most of that is because the people on my floor are absolutely wonderful and have become my family. Cell phones are great inventions, so I don't have to miss too much about home. Mostly, I get cravings for real food .

To the Class of '06 on choosing a college: don't let the thoughts of others get in the way of where you want to go. College is completely about your choice.

Rachael Meyers, Washington University at St. Louis

Carter Shamburger, High Point University I

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Your gift to the 2005-2006 Annual Fund will help all Steward Students reach their potential, and the School reach new heights. ~

~ THE SrEWARD SCHOOL 11600 Gayton Road Richmond, Virginia 23238 www.stewardschool.org

Nonr roA I OrganiLa tioli

u.s. POSTAG E PAID RIchmond. VA

P(路rmit f\o. 8905