Colonnade THE
A STEWARD SCHOOL PUBLICATION
ISSUE 34
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2021
INSIDE COMING TOGETHER TO BUILD OUR FUTURE
PLANNING FOR THE UNPLANNABLE
REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE
SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
facebook.com/TheStewardSchool twitter.com/stewardschool pinterest.com/stewardRVA instagram.com/thestewardschool youtube.com/TheStewardSchoolRVA vimeo.com/thestewardschool Snapchat: @stewardschool
View past issues of The Colonnade and Year In Review at issuu.com/thestewardschool. Stay tuned for more information about the digital issue of this magazine on Steward’s social media!
WWW.STEWARDSCHOOL.ORG
CONTENTS
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Being Spartan Strong is an Act of Courage A letter from Head of School Dan Frank
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Coming Together to Build Our Future An update on the Steward50 campaign as we approach the school's 50th anniversary
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Tutors of the Highest CALiber Steward's Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL) continues to adapt its services to meet virtual and in-person needs
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Planning for the Unplannable Looking back at the many ways Steward navigated the COVID-19 pandemic in order to resume in-person learning this past fall
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Reaching Across the Aisle Kara Chalifoux '18 recalls her work with President Joe Biden's campaign during the 2020 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses
SECTIONS
4
Steward News
10
Steward Athletics
12
Steward Arts
14
Spartan Spotlight
16
Cover Story
24
In Our Community
MISSION | Prepare our students for college and for life in a community defined by robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care.
S T E W A R D NEWS
Holding Tightly to the Values That Bind Us Together Welcome to this latest edition of The Colonnade, in which we reflect on and describe the pillars of this community. As a lead-in to describing the state of the school last fall, I recently discussed the stages of normal through which I believe we are passing. The first includes memories from before the pandemic: hugs, handshakes, and humanity informed by rich, in-person interactions. Some facets of that version of normal will return, and others will inevitably be different. Next, there will be a period during which therapies and vaccines will improve our daily lives. During this “interstitial normal,” we will evaluate and learn from the creative destruction that is occurring across all industries and education. Following this stage, during which we have managed and minimized the effects of the virus, we will enter the “new normal,” about which we read and discuss, but which we cannot clearly see from here. And now, this year, while we are striving each day to build, engage, and sustain our community, I think of as an “interim normal.” It is not a blip in time nor a period through which we can hold our breath. To the contrary, it may be the most important stage of normal. We must work harder than we ever have before and hold tightly to the values that bind us together. Now, today, we stand for the school for the future. We have much to be proud of and grateful for this year, starting with the incredible effort and dedication of Steward faculty and staff who are learning and implementing new ways to engage students despite new constraints. They are creating a school not seen before as they help our children stay involved academically and socially, surrounded in-person and virtually by
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
P U B L I C AT I O N S TA F F
Dan Frank, Head of School
Nathan Blake, Editor
Lisa Dwelle, Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations
Kate Carpenter, Designer
Adam Seldis, Director of Upper School Susan Atkinson, Director of Middle School Ingrid Moore, Director of Lower School
Lisa Dwelle, Sydney Smith, Rachel Williard, Contributing Editors Carley Hamilton, Contributing Designer
peers, coaches, guides, and teachers who love them. Our fine arts teachers are bursting with creativity, and our athletic coaches are finding new ways for students to practice skills, stay fit, and grow their self-confidence. Our staff members are working diligently in new ways to maintain our health and the safety of the classrooms and campus. In this magazine, you’ll read examples of the achievements of Steward’s students, faculty, families, and alumni. We are resilient. Clearly, we are stewards of something important and enduring. We must continue to see the world as it should be — as it will be — not just as it currently is, and we have to fight for that vision. In David Rubenstein’s "How To Lead," he quotes Yo-Yo Ma, who says, “The greater pleasure is the energy in the audience. [It] is a communion ... If we’re going to spend time together, let’s make it count. If it doesn’t count, if you forget what you did today tomorrow, and if I forget what I did today tomorrow, what’s the purpose of doing it?” This communion is our purpose; it is why we take on this challenge. Each morning, we strengthen our heavy hearts and renew our spirit. Acts of kindness and support are found and delivered anew every day. We know that we are stronger when we embrace the future together. Being Spartan Strong is, indeed, an act of courage. Stay with us, then, and we’ll travel this path together.
Nathan Blake, Kate Boyles, Jenn Downey, Dan Frank, Rachel Williard, Contributing Writers Nathan Blake, Aaron Jay Ledesma, Wendell Powell Photography, Contributing Photographers Worth Higgins & Associates, Inc., Printing The editors have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported in this publication. We apologize for any inadvertent errors.
DAN FRANK, HEAD OF SCHOOL
The Steward School admits students without regard to race, religion, color, ethnic or national origin, age, sex, disability, marital status, military status, pregnancy, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of these protected characteristics in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
S T E W A R D NEWS
Steward Adopts Schoolwide Set of Civil Discourse Norms Emotions run high in any given election year. A tumultuous 2020, however, saw particularly testy commentary surrounding the year's contests. To prepare our students to engage in meaningful conversations of current events ahead of — and beyond — the 2020 election, a cohort of 30 administrators, faculty, and staff collaborated with James Madison University (JMU) to develop a set of discussion norms to be shared in all three divisions. "It's about how we have civil conversations with one another in a democratic society," Lower School Academic Dean Rebecca Groves said. "As we all know, discourse right now is not always as civil as it can be, so we have to think about how the Steward community can serve as a model for others." Although the desire for a schoolwide civil discourse framework had been percolating for years within the Diversity and Inclusion Council, Tiffany Goodman, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) coordinator, helped accelerate its implementation with assistance from Steward's academic deans. The school was already well-positioned to begin a plan of action when a member of JMU's communications department approached Steward last spring offering to help create civil discourse guidelines for classroom use. Several virtual brainstorming sessions later, the aforementioned cohort, in collaboration with three JMU professors, generated plenty of material to work with. "Coming out of that first meeting, we felt it was really important for JK-12 students to have a common language," Upper School Curriculum Dean Melissa Freed said. "We wanted them to know that no matter whose classroom they enter, we're all on a level playing field of how to speak, listen, and act respectfully." The initial brainstorming went through multiple rounds of feedback between Steward's academic, curriculum, program, and steering committees, eventually culminating in 12
discussion norms. The final guidelines were introduced at a full faculty and staff meeting in early October just in time for the election, and printed posters (seen here) appeared in classrooms shortly afterward. "The idea was to prepare for the election," Mrs. Groves said. "We also want to set long-term expectations for how our students, faculty, and community should communicate with each other in general, whether it's inside or outside the classroom." Those expectations range from using "I" statements when speaking from personal experience to paying attention to nonverbal communication and potential biases. One of the key lessons the group wants to impart is that civil discourse transcends politeness and performative gestures. As in any rigorous academic environment, disagreements will happen. But whereas a politician's goal in an election is to win, the goal of a student in school is to learn, ideally in a way that prioritizes empathy and understanding. "With civil discourse the goal is to better understand," Mrs. Goodman said. "But there's also space for students to make a point." That means cultivating a safe space where everyone can express their views without fear of judgment or ridicule, especially when those views don't align with group consensus. "You don't have to change your mind," Mrs. Groves elaborated. "We all have our own opinions. But can you better understand someone else while disagreeing? Can you articulate your viewpoint in a way that helps other people understand where you're coming from?" We look forward to listening in as our students gain first-hand experience in answering those questions together.
CLASSROOM NORMS SAFETY Respect privacy and confidentiality Practice and express care for yourself and others Allow yourself to be open to the ideas of others
EVIDENCE Pause and think before responding Support your view with academic evidence/data /reason Recognize bias
PRESENCE Be fully present Acknowledge nonverbal communication Listen to understand, not just to respond
ENGAGEMENT Use “I Statements” when sharing from personal experience Contribute new ideas to the conversation Reflect actively on the dialogue
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S T E W A R D NEWS
Recognizing Our Young Leaders Two new programs recognize outstanding students. This year, Steward will begin two new programs to recognize outstanding students in grades 8-11. The programs are separate but related, explains Adam Seldis, director of the Upper School. “We’ve created the Impact Scholars merit award to recognize two rising ninth graders, and those Scholars — along with our Debbie Robson Merit Scholars — will automatically be granted entry into our new Upper School leadership program.” He went on to explain that each spring, two current eighth graders will be honored with a $10,000 scholarship toward four years of tuition in Steward’s Upper School ($2,500 per year). Those Impact Scholars will be chosen based on character and leadership, as well as community service, academic excellence, and extracurriculars. Because of these students’ proven track record of leadership, they are granted a place in Steward’s new highly selective leadership program. Other Upper School students will have a chance to apply each fall to the leadership program.
History teacher Eliza McGehee, the faculty coordinator for the leadership program, and Dr. Seldis shared that it will be structured similarly to the Entrepreneurship Program, as it will combine academic and hands-on experiences with projects led by Steward faculty and Richmondarea partners. Ms. McGehee also pointed out one key difference: “The leadership program will finish at the end of junior year,” Ms. McGehee explained, “so that they will then be able to demonstrate and take what they've learned into leadership roles at the school their senior year and beyond to college.” Dr. Seldis added: “Our Entrepreneurship Program and existing merit grants for Upper School students already set us apart in Richmond. These two new programs further recognize the excellent caliber and variety of talents among our Steward students.” Steward community members should look for more information about both programs by email and on Steward's online Newsroom in the months to come.
"The fact that so many Style Weekly readers were moved
Steward Named “Family Favorite” by Style Weekly
to name The Steward School as a favorite private school speaks to our reputation in the community," Head of School Dan Frank said. "Our faculty and staff continue to impress families around central Virginia with their dedicated work ethic and innovative spirit." A local magazine covering Richmond news, culture, and opinion, Style Weekly is read in print by over 79,000 people The Steward School was honored to be named a "family favorite" private school this year by Style Weekly! Every September the magazine asks readers to vote for their family-favorite area businesses, locations, and activities. What is noteworthy about the selection process is that voters don't choose nominees from a list, but instead submit them voluntarily and by name.
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and averages more than 230,000 monthly visitors to its website. To be listed in its pages among the top three private schools in a field of more than 20 is a distinction we are proud to hold. The Steward School was previously named a Style Weekly family favorite in 2016, and we hope the recognition spreads to the greater Richmond area a message that our community knows well: Steward is a great place to be!
S T E W A R D NEWS STEWARD FOR LEARNING STEWARD FOR LIFE
Coming Together to Build Our Future STEWARD FOR COMMUNITY
STEWARD FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
STEWARD FOR ALL
“As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2022, I am focused both on Steward’s solid foundation as well as the promise of our future,” Dan Frank, head of school, said. While both the number of students and buildings on campus have grown, Mr. Frank explained “there is one thing that couldn’t get any bigger from 1972 to today: the heart of this community.” That care for the individual and the community has sustained the school through challenging times within our Spartan family as well as the broader
world. It’s integral to our mission and what makes Steward a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students.
thrive, during the COVID-19 crisis. (Read more about how we’re thriving on page 16.)
“One of the most important ways we can take care of our students is through financial gifts to the school,” explained Shawn Morrison, director of development. “Those gifts support the high-quality programming and caring, expert faculty that are our hallmark.”
The school was able to make necessary upgrades over the summer because of our financial health, Mr. Frank explained. Past donor generosity, combined with a healthy enrollment and wise management, enabled the school’s stability, but continued giving is required for the school to continue to flourish.
Donations to the Steward50 capital campaign secure the school's future. “That’s true whether 'future' is defined as 'later this year' or 'later this century,' Mr. Morrison said. The Steward50 campaign, which launched in 2018, has supported the school’s initiatives to not only survive, but
“In the upcoming months and years, we are not only working toward the original goals outlined in our Compass 2022 strategic plan, but we are now also layering on COVID-19 mitigation," Mr. Frank said. "That work takes dedication, heart, and resources.”
To learn more about the Steward50 campaign and how to show your care for Steward, please visit StewardSchool.org/give. The Colonnade |
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S T E W A R D NEWS
A "STORIED" CAREER
Books on Demand Mobile library cart brings books to students. Middle and Upper School Librarian Crystal Hamlin has found an innovative way to keep books moving on campus. Her method? Turning the traditional library on its head — and, occasionally, on a dime. "I wanted to provide students a library browsing experience during a time when they aren't able to come browse as usual," Mrs. Hamlin said, describing her new mobile library service Books on Demand. Although Middle and Upper School students have more than 8,000 titles to choose from, the library serves as classroom space for the seventh and eighth grades and is currently closed to most traffic. Mrs. Hamlin decided that in order to put books back into the hands of students, she would need to bring the library directly to them. "I saw where [another school librarian] had created something similar called Bookhub," Mrs. Hamlin explained. "Bookhub lets students 'order' library books for on-campus delivery the way Grubhub delivers food. I imagined something along the lines of Amazon shopping
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but for library books, so I thought about how to use an online browsing experience that students are familiar with to help them locate and check out library materials." Mrs. Hamlin launched Books on Demand in the third week of school, carting a selection of books to classrooms and other open spaces for students to browse through and check out. The cart makes its rounds at least twice a week during snack time, lunch, and study hall for both Middle and Upper School students, who sanitize their hands before touching the books. Materials are also quarantined for at least 72 hours once returned in keeping with guidelines from the Institute of Museum and Library and Library Services. And even though the number of books she travels with is substantially fewer than the library's full offering, Mrs. Hamlin has noticed a surprising outcome. "The books being checked out and put on hold are not the ones you would expect," she said. "Students are browsing more and finding books they may not have heard of otherwise."
In order to teach children the magic of reading, a librarian must have the magic touch to help students pick “just right” books. Lower School librarian Betty Enright, who retired this fall after 18 years at Steward, has just that touch. She was always able to help children find the best books for their interests and skills. “She was often referred to as the ‘book whisperer,’” said Ingrid Moore, director of the Lower School. “She was passionate about nurturing children’s love of reading and learning.” Mrs. Enright was also known for her deep love of all things British, including playing Queen Elizabeth every year in the fifth-grade Shakespeare celebration. Her Spartan spirit shone as a member of the Sunshine Committee, host of the Lower School holiday party, giver of books to mark momentous occasions, and number one fan of the Spartan baseball team, especially when her son, Nic Enright '14, was on the field.
S T E W A R D NEWS
Looking Forward into the Past Fewer than 40% of college seniors know that George Washington was at the Battle of Yorktown, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. Historian Dan Roberts, executive producer and host of the award-winning radio show "A Moment In Time," believes that statistic only belabors a conclusion he's long-since reached: we're losing touch with our history. "These are the future leaders of America," he said, referencing the aforementioned report during a virtual presentation to the Upper School History Club on September 24. "How are they going to
Remembering Don Steeber
make decisions about the future if they live in blissful ignorance of the past?" Dr. Roberts's program airs each morning on National Public Radio and has earned a devout following based on its mission "to make the story of the past and its impact on the world today more accessible to a wide audience." Segments are notoriously short — each no longer than a minute or two — and unpack topics, both known and obscure, from all across recorded history. Recent episodes explore Andrew Johnson’s impeachment, gas warfare in World War II, and Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.
Don Steeber, a longtime board member and supporter of The Steward School, passed away in October 2020. Many current Spartans associate his name with Steeber Commons in the Upper School, which honors his dedication to the school. His roles here started in 1977 and are multi-hyphenate: parent and grandparent of alumni, Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, former teacher of math and economics, former member of both the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board, former Director of Plant and Property, and former Athletics Director. “There was almost nothing Don wouldn’t do for this school,” Head of School Dan Frank said. “In Wilton Hall, we used to have a field hockey
“Short-form delivery of high-quality information can help people improve their knowledge,” Dr. Roberts said. He went on to discuss the other factor crucial to his show's nearly 30-year run: oldfashioned storytelling. “If you ever have an opportunity to teach someone about the past, never bore them,” Dr. Roberts advised. “Enliven their lives with a wonderful story of the past, and people will understand. This is the way information has been conveyed since long before even writing.”
uniform that he sewed hanging in a frame.” As a board member, Mr. Steeber volunteered his professional expertise and contacts to support projects such as the Upper School expansion in 2009. He co-managed that project while running his high-end residential construction business, Steeber & Father, with his son. Mr. Frank shared that Mr. Steeber’s dedication to Steward lasted far longer than his time as an employee or board member. “From Don, I learned that if you truly care about something, that never stops, whether or not you’re officially affiliated with an organization. He never loved anything halfway, most especially his family, but also tennis, his business, the symphony, and — luckily for us — The Steward School.”
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S T E W A R D ATH L E TI C S
WE ARE
STEWARDS: GOING TO BAT FOR OUR ATHLETES At a time when the easy answer would have been “let’s just skip sports this fall,” Steward’s leadership team and athletics staff said: “That’s not the Steward way. We can figure this out for our kids.”
Director of Athletics Bruce Secrest explained how, after a summer of preparation, we were able to welcome all of our athletes back to the fields and gyms this fall.
How did the athletics department adjust to the pandemic and structure its program this fall?
What safety precautions did you take? Outside, our athletes were masked unless they were 10 feet apart, in which case they could remove their masks. Inside, our athletes were masked. We focused on drills which provided the lowest level of close interaction.
What was the student response? Every JV and varsity team from the fall, winter, and spring seasons was given the opportunity to practice twice a week. All Middle School fall sports practiced together, too. Competitive play with other schools wasn’t an option, but our Middle and Upper School athletes met from September through November to build skills, muscle memory, and friendships.
Why was it important to you to get the students back on the field and in the gym? Our kids were just so happy to be together, out of the house and running drills. They needed this — physically, mentally, and socially. Being a part of a team is about so much more than physical skill; it’s also an important outlet for kids to talk together and build relationships, especially after all they had been through this spring and summer.
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On some teams, 100% of the team members signed up to play. Some teams had lower participation, but that was frequently because the athlete had to choose between available sports. Even students who had chosen to learn from home came to campus to play. Every athlete and family was so glad for the opportunity — we didn’t hear one complaint. You should have seen their faces when they first got back together!
How does this fit into our athletic philosophy at Steward? This shows who we are as a community, at our core. The word “care” doesn’t seem like a big enough word for the love we have for these kids.
JOIN THE SPARTAN CLUB Supporting the Spartan Club is a win for our student-athletes! Even though our teams weren’t able to compete with other schools this fall, our athletes still benefited from the Spartan Club’s generosity. They ran skill-building drills with equipment the Club purchased, and can’t wait to use the Hudl livestream to showcase play in the gym. Spartan Club membership dues go directly to our athletic department to support our athletes. Join today by scanning the code below on your mobile device. Our teams need your support to help them compete!
Scan here to join the Spartan Club!
S T E W A R D ATH LETI CS
Hat Trick Three-sport athlete Saara Qureshi '21 is headed
girls now. My team members are my close
to play D1 lacrosse at Mercer University next fall.
friends, even if they’re not in my grade.”
Though she’s leaving Richmond, Steward will always be a part of her. Saara, who started at Steward in kindergarten, shared that she loves playing sports at Steward because of the bond among teammates of all ages.
This feeling is true off the courts and fields, too. “Since Steward is a smaller community, being here has taught me to be very open to all kinds of people who are both older and younger than me,” she shared. “That’s a skill I’ll have
Saara started playing lacrosse with her dad,
throughout life. I won’t just stick to my comfort
Faisal Qureshi '92, in the backyard. When
zone or my group of friends who are exactly like
Grace Fass '21 started at Steward in fifth grade,
me.”
the two became fast friends and bonded over their shared love of the game. They started playing on travel teams together, as they still do. Saara plays midfield for the Spartans and on her travel team, the Yellow Jackets South, and will in college as well. “I started playing field hockey, lacrosse, and basketball in Middle School,” Saara said. “The older girls then really took us under their wing, and we try to do the same thing for the younger
Athletics have given Saara confidence that will propel her as she plays in college and also helped earn her a starting position on the state-championship basketball team, in the National Honor Society, and as an Admissions Ambassador. “When I'm playing, I get an energy, an adrenaline rush,” Saara shared. “I feel confident and know I’m a leader. I need to step up. I have a job to do. I want to be involved and help my team.”
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S T E W A R D ARTS
I AM A
STEWARD: HAYDEN ASHWORTH '23 For the first time in school history, The Steward School performed a fulllength play written by one of our very own students.
Steward's theatre department has staged some of the most well-known titles in drama, including "Guys and Dolls," "Chicago," and "As You Like It." But never before have we seen a full-length play written by one of Steward's very own students. "On the Subject of Acquitting a Spirit," written by sophomore Hayden Ashworth (pictured above left) and directed by Lower School theatre and Upper School acting teacher Craig Smith, centers on recently deceased Grayson Forleau as he stands trial for his life's deeds. Hampering his defense are witnesses testifying against his character and the eagle-eyed prosecutor, Helio Mallsworth, who seeks the sternest punishment possible. Along the way evidence goes missing, secrets are uncovered, and the case is far from open-and-shut. "It sounds serious but it's actually pretty funny," Hayden said. "I'm glad the actors brought out the story's humor." We sat down with Hayden to talk about what it was like to write a full-length script and see it performed by his fellow Spartans.
and that if he ever needed material for the club to read, he should ask me. Mr. Smith eventually asked to see some of my writing, and I sent him the first 10 pages of something I had started in late 2019 but had already put down a few months later. I didn't think it was working. Mr. Smith said he really liked what I had and that I should finish it. That got me writing again, plus my mom encouraging me to come up with new ideas and see the play through to the end.
What were some of your influences? I think most of my guidance came from movies. I looked to the ones I really like and tried to put the key elements that united them into my own script. My favorite director is Wes Anderson because there's such a unique character to his writing and the way he brings his scripts to life. I wanted to inject a similar kind of flare into my own work to make it distinctive.
When did you decide to write a full-length play?
How did it feel seeing your peers perform your script?
When I joined the Theatre Club, my mom
During rehearsals, my job was to sit back and
directing, so I didn't need to intervene. I was there to see it come alive. Occasionally people would ask me how certain names were pronounced, but otherwise I could enjoy it as a spectator. Seeing how actors interpreted the lines in different ways and getting a fresh perspective on what I wrote was really eye-opening. They also brought a lot of life to the parts I wasn't happy with at first, but that I reimagined based on their feedback.
What did the process teach you about yourself as a writer? It forced me to be a better planner. I'd actually written half of the play when I realized it wasn't working, so I had to go back and change a lot of the material. Now I know that you can't get it 100% perfect the first time through. It's okay for the first draft to have problems or even for it to be a total failure. Looking back at all the notes and edits that piled up, I can see it as a measure of my growth as a writer.
Scan here to watch "On the mentioned to Mr. Smith that I like creative writing,
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watch. Mr. Smith has years and years of experience
Subject of Acquitting a Spirit."
S T E W A R D ARTS
Steward Senior Earns First Place in Summer Palooza Music Festival When Hailey Wharram '21 heard about The Cadence Theatre Company's inaugural Summer Palooza Music Festival, she was hesitant about submitting a song to the virtual showcase. "I had never entered any sort of contest before," she said. "[Lower School theatre and Upper School acting teacher Craig Smith] forwarded me the details and said that [Middle School theatre and Upper School public speaking teacher Susan Sanford] had a connection to the theatre company, and I thought, why not put myself out there?" She certainly didn't expect to take home the top prize in the Best At-Home Performance category for her original song entitled "The Dark Side of the Moon." The song — unrelated to the Pink Floyd album of the same name — draws inspiration from the music of Taylor Swift, whom Hailey described as "setting the blueprint" for young musicians like herself. Hailey picked up guitar in third grade, and despite writing her first songs five years ago, it was just within the last year that she began sharing them with others. The Summer Palooza Music Festival invited high school and college freshmen musicians from all over Virginia to submit their original work for a chance to win cash prizes and receive an opportunity to spend two hours of instudio time with an engineer at Red Amp Audio. In other words, it was a low-risk, high-reward opportunity. "I knew I was going to be up against a bunch of really talented Richmond musicians, many of whom had entered other contests through Cadence Theatre," she said. "I was coming in as an outsider." Even if that were true, it didn't stop this Spartan from standing out in a big way. Congratulations to Hailey on this prestigious win and for making a splash in the Richmond music scene!
Scan here to watch Hailey's performance of "The Dark Side of the Moon."
Painting to Protect the Environment During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulger family, like many others, found themselves spending more time in nature, frequenting the community beach down the street from their home on the Potomac River in Heathsville, Virginia. Since they acquired the house in 2014, the family has watched erosion take its toll on their beloved getaway. Worse, the homeowners' association couldn't agree on whether or not to continue funding a breakwater that would prevent further erosion. First grader Patrick Bulger, upon learning that the beach was in danger of eroding away completely, asked what he could do to help to keep the project moving. "We told him to take action if he wanted things to be different," his mother, Mary Lou Bulger, said. "So he did!" After contemplating a T-shirt fundraiser, the Bulgers brainstormed a few other options that they thought would tell a more captivating message. Their solution was to use the beach itself — or part of it — to tell the story. With help from his younger brother, Patrick began collecting driftwood that he then painted with inspirational "Save the Beach" messages to rally the community around funding the breakwater. His mother said the community buy-in was swift. "We started getting unsolicited donations and realized our little quarantine project was really affecting people," Mrs. Bulger said. Aside from some help with the wording, Patrick was in charge of the whole operation, including collecting, designing, and painting the driftwood, even delivering some of the pieces in his own battery-powered vehicle. Community members were so captivated by the driftwood art that they donated money to fund the breakwater installation with every piece he completed. Through Labor Day, the family raised roughly $1,850 to donate toward the breakwater's second phase, which is already underway and progressing. "This got so much bigger than we ever imagined," Mrs. Bulger said. "But I guess that's a good thing!"
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SPAR TA N S P OTL I G H T
Tutors of the Highest CALiber Steward's Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL) continues to adapt its services to meet virtual and in-person needs.
"We're sort of a hidden gem on campus," Director of CAL Yaa Akinfolajimi said. This year is Mrs. Akinfolajimi's first as director following Charlene Wilton's tenure, and together with CAL Administrative Assistant Cindy Arrington, the team is working to promote all that CAL can do to accommodate student and faculty success during this atypical school year. "CAL is known for having the expertise to identify learning styles and finding just the right approach to allow our students to excel," Mrs. Arrrington said.
"What is less understood are the many ways we can support every student enrolled at Steward." As a cross-divisional instructional resource, CAL's mission is to facilitate learning through a variety of services. The department conducts student assessments and provides support materials for faculty and parents. Most notably, CAL employs a team of roughly 15 tutors offering one-on-one instruction tailored to each student's learning style and interests. "It's rare to see the level at which our tutors and teachers can partner together to monitor and improve student achievement during school hours," Mrs. Akinfolajimi said. Marsh Hayes, a teacher in the Lower School who has partnered with both internal and external tutors, describes Steward's tutor-teacher collaboration as "invaluable" to helping students shine.
HANNA MCGRATH
LEDA SPENCER
TARA HASENSTAB
Number of years with CAL: 3
Number of years with CAL: 3
Number of years with CAL: 20
Professional background: Mrs. McGrath is an ESOL and computer literacy instructor with Chesterfield County Adult Education in addition to tutoring with CAL.
Professional background: Mrs. Spencer has been teaching for over 15 years and owns her own small business working with students in the community who struggle with reading and other language challenges.
Professional background: A teacher in Hanover County for seven years before joining CAL, Mrs. Hasenstab specializes in English, history, math, and organizational test prep/study skills.
Random fact: Mrs. McGrath lived in Italy for an entire year and taught English there. My favorite thing about tutoring is getting to work with students in different grades on all different subjects. I enjoy the challenge of shifting from math to social studies to language arts, from second grade to fifth grade to ninth grade all in one afternoon.
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Nestled within the Lower School is a space where students of all ages can read on, Zoom in, or chill out. You may have walked right past it without second thought, but for hundreds of Spartans over the past two decades, the Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL) has made a lasting impact on their growth and achievement.
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Random fact: English is not Mrs. Spencer's first language. The greatest thing about working with kids is seeing the spark when something finally makes sense and watching them take the next steps in their learning journey. I have learned so much from my work with them, and they have been excellent and patient teachers!
Random fact: Mrs. Hasenstab has taught group fitness classes for 27 years, including classes at American Family Fitness Short Pump for 23 years. Being a part of CAL gives me the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of my students. Coming to campus each day and seeing my students thrive is a fantastic feeling. Each day is different, which keeps things fresh.
SPA RTAN S POTLI G H T "Being able to rely on existing relationships with tutors is crucial," she said. "We know each other and use the same language. We're aligned on making sure each child is cared for in the best possible way." Known simply as the Resource Center in years past, CAL has since evolved into a robust enrichment service made possible by Mrs. Wilton's dedication to its growth as well as a generous $250,000 gift from the Robins Foundation in 1998 to be used specifically for CAL's expansion. Now, its tutors serve anywhere from 30 to well over 100 students at any given time. "CAL is not a one-size-fits-all program," Mrs. Akinfolajimi explained. "Sometimes students just need help getting over a hump. After a month, they may not need our services again. Or, we have students who meet with tutors several times a week for a longer period of time. Whether
it's a 20-minute session or an hour, we can accommodate for nearly any situation." Recently, CAL has been offering fully integrated virtual tutoring sessions. For students learning at home, that means tutors and students can now meet within the comfort of their own separate spaces. Options are also available for on-campus students to Zoom with their tutors in the redesigned learning spaces, which are limited to one student at a time and are sanitized after each use. Additionally, tutors have been relocated to spaces within each division to allow for social distancing and proximity to students and faculty. CAL has also seen an uptick in visits from students who simply need space to decompress. "Our focus goes beyond classwork. We are always looking at providing social and emotional support, because when those needs are met, students are
better able to learn and grow," Mrs. Akinfolajimi said. She brings 12 years of experience as a social worker with Henrico County Public Schools to her current position, and her background in mental health counseling undergirds the vision for CAL she laid out earlier this year: "I believe that the responsibility for student success is a shared one, and that every child’s individuality must be respected and understood."
See below to learn more about a few of the passionate tutors serving CAL's mission to respect and understand every student.
CHERYL LAFFERTY
LAURA PRUITT
JOHN DACEY
Number of years with CAL: 3
Number of years with CAL: This is Mrs. Pruitt's first year with CAL.
Number of years with CAL: 2
Professional background: Mrs. Lafferty has served as a substitute and volunteer teacher in several capacities including for Chesterfield County Public Schools and Bright Spots. Random fact: In 2001, Mrs. Lafferty and her husband quit their jobs in Chicago and volunteered to teach English for a year in Iquique, Chile. I am so encouraged when students show evidence of applying learning strategies to achieve their personal goals. My desire is to foster their confidence and sharpen their skills so they are fully equipped to move forward and live out their purpose to the fullest.
Professional background: Mrs. Pruitt previously taught fourth and fifth grades at The Steward School, and has extensive experience substitute teaching. Random fact: Mrs. Pruitt is a selfprofessed game geek — she loves games of any kind including board games, card games, sports, etc. As a mom of kids who have benefitted from tutoring for years, I’m so thankful to be able to give back in the same way. Tutoring is a unique opportunity to truly connect with a student, learn their interests, and help them to gain confidence and skills at the same time.
Professional background: Mr. Dacey previously taught at Goochland High School for 27 years. He primarily tutors Middle and Upper School students in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. Random fact: Mr. Dacey is a professional musician and has played shows up and down the east coast for many years. My favorite part about tutoring is when a student comes in at the beginning of the hour saying things like, 'I'm so confused,' or 'I have no idea what I'm doing,' and they leave saying, 'I totally get this.' That is an awesome feeling.
COV E R S TORY
Planning for the From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Steward School was committed to offering both on-campus and distancelearning accommodations for the 2020-21 school year that would be safe, intentional, and robust. We are fortunate to have been able to honor that commitment through the first months of the school year. However, none of it would have been possible without the countless faculty, staff, board, and community members who helped bring our plans to life.
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COVER S TOR Y
Robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care. At The Steward School, this mission shapes every decision affecting our student body. Whether developing curricula, planning community celebrations, maintaining budgets, or creating lunch schedules, we keep ourselves grounded by placing community well-being at the center of each choice we make. But no matter how dedicated we remain to our mission, sometimes we are confronted with situations that challenge our traditional notions of how we bring “care� to life. The COVID-19 pandemic presented one such dilemma. Or, rather, a series of them. "We're educators and school administrators, not health experts or crisis managers," Associate Head of School Lisa Dwelle said, describing the diversity of logistical hurdles facing the school when a national emergency went into effect on March 13, 2020. Following Governor Northam's closure of all state schools shortly afterward, Steward finished the 2019-20 school year with a fully online experience, suspending all in-person interactions for the next five months. "It was just eerie," Head of School Dan Frank said, describing the empty grounds. Although campus life appeared idle, board members, school administrators, faculty, and staff were working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure we were ready to open the campus to families at the start of the 2020-21 school year. "We had a strategic vision to get these kids back in the classroom safely," Mr. Frank said. "We weren't exactly sure what that would look like, or if we could entirely commit to our vision, but we knew that having the opportunity to be together again was paramount." We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to be in the position to have offered in-person learning this year as well as a Synchronous At-Home Learning (SAL) option. Our small class sizes, our sprawling campus, and our dedicated faculty and staff all factored into our opening this year, as did an abundance of good fortune. In the following pages, we look back at the detailed preparations that allowed Steward to safely resume school in person and on mission in the fall of 2020.
ALL HANDS ON DECK The phrase "spring break" conjures sunglasses, crowded beaches, and breezy vistas. Those images stand in stark contrast to the signage posted on all building entrances leading up to last year's spring break requesting that people who had recently traveled to COVID-19 hotspots not enter and instead follow self-quarantine guidelines. Families were advised to share any illness information with school nurse Rebecca Heck, who would pass it along to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) anonymously, and faculty and staff were preemptively trained on the technology needed for program and business continuity in the event of a school closure. When faculty, staff, and students left for spring break on March 6, the atmosphere was anything but relaxed. "I don't think any of us knew what to expect heading into break," Mrs. Dwelle said. "We felt as ready as we could be given the circumstances, but there was still so much uncertainty."
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COV E R S TORY
Steward had published its first COVID-related
what language should be included in "out-of-office"
implications of potential long-term closures. Top
communication a week prior on February 28,
email messages and everything in between. Board
priorities included securing a Paycheck Protection
outlining the latest advice on preventing the virus's
of Trustees Chair Dan Campbell recalled those early
Program (PPP) loan to keep operations running,
spread from the Centers for Disease Control and
days as "all-hands-on-deck."
equipping faculty to teach remotely, and ensuring
Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization
students and families felt supported through such
(WHO), and the VDH. Even then — two weeks
"We reconsidered everything," Mr. Campbell said. "It
dramatic changes. Simultaneously, Mr. Frank and
before the national emergency went into effect,
wasn't just about how to continue educating kids,
the rest of the Task Force spent hours educating
and nearly a month before Governor Ralph
but rather how to exceed the minimum health and
themselves on a virus about which very little was
Northam ordered all Virginia schools to close for the
educational standards in ways that reflect Steward's
known. That meant making decisions informed by
remainder of the school year — Steward questioned
mission."
reliable data — and lots of it.
whether enough was known about COVID-19 to safely commit to on-campus learning in the next school year. "We believe the Steward community is wellprepared," Mr. Frank wrote in his letter to families. "Nonetheless we have built a team (administrators, deans, IT staff, and health providers) to plan for different scenarios. These possibilities include managing ongoing learning for quarantined students, providing teaching and learning in the event of a long-term school closure, developing standards for visitors to campus who have recently traveled abroad, and providing for business continuity in the case of quarantine or closure." The Task Force Mr. Frank described above held its first COVID-19-specific meeting on February 24 and continued to meet every day via Zoom, sometimes upwards of four hours at a time, for months on end. Discussions touched on every topic related to the school, from salvaging the spring sports season to
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TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK Steward's Task Force pulled in administrators from all across the school, eventually growing to include Mr. Frank; Mrs. Dwelle; Mr. Campbell; Board ViceChair Molly Anderson; Division Directors Ingrid
"The love that you get when in proximity to another person who loves you is a big deal."
Moore, Susan Atkinson, and Adam Seldis; school nurses Rebecca Heck and Heather Sams; Executive Assistant Stephanie Bowlin; Director of Technology Shahwar Qureshi; Controller Dena Dickson; Director of Plant Operations Chad Montgomery; Director of Marketing and Communications Rachel Williard; and Director of College Counseling Heather Jeter. Initially, the group's focus was to keep school operating for the handful of months remaining in the 2019-20 school year. "The triaging phase," as Mr. Campbell described it. During this period, the Task Force aligned on addressing the immediate educational and financial
"It's easy to get tongue-tied with all the acronyms," Mr. Campbell said, referring to the group of local, state, and national authorities The Steward School consulted or collaborated with. Among them, the U.S. State Department, WHO, CDC, and VDH, as well as the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE), the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA). The VDH's COVID-19 dashboard was particularly
COVER S TOR Y instrumental in helping Mr. Frank set what he calls
"Decisions you take for granted in a normal school
"We had to reevaluate every process and every
"flag numbers," or thresholds by which Steward
year, like what to do when a teacher gets sick or
product here at the school to make sure we were
would "tap the breaks, reconvene, and discuss the
how to feed kids during lunch, went totally out the
prepared for what has come to be our new normal,"
implications of those numbers."
window," Mrs. Anderson said.
Mr. Frank said.
The more the Task Force considered offering
Complicating the myriad decisions that needed
In mid-July, Steward released another update
100% distance learning, the more data they found
to be made was how all of this was occurring in a
that introduced a way for Spartans to hold one
suggesting that being in school, in person, affects
constantly changing landscape. Despite occasionally
another accountable for keeping the community
every part of the student: their engagement, their
unclear or divergent opinions on how to remain
healthy. The "Spartan Strong" Community Pledge,
social acclimation, their mental health, and their
safe during the pandemic, some guidance earned
which each Spartan signed before the school
overall well-being.
widespread support from public health authorities:
year as part of the parent/student handbook, is a
increased sanitation measures, wearing protective
formal commitment to "make safe choices every
"It's indisputable," Mr. Frank said. "The needs
face coverings, and maintaining a physical distance
day, knowing that our individual decisions impact
of students are best met through face-to-face
of at least 6 feet between persons. Those guidelines
health, safety, and campus access for the whole
instruction; peer interactions; musical and artistic
might present no more than a slight change of pace
community," Mr. Frank explained.
performances; competitive athletics; and loving,
for some organizations. But for a busy day school
supporting faculty. There are other needs that
of over 750 students, faculty, and staff, it meant
The July update went on to spell out in detail all
can be met, and we can meet some of those
"rebuilding a school from scratch," in Mr. Frank's
that the school had done, or was in the process of
needs virtually, but the love that you get when in
words.
doing, to prepare for the first day of school. These
proximity to another person who loves you is a big
changes were presented in clear, matter-of-fact
deal."
bullet points that belied how each was mulled over
Mr. Frank soon pulled together another group to look beyond the short term toward the summer and fall. This mix of past and current board members
Watch Steward's Community Pledge read by fellow Spartans.
tasked themselves with devising a strategic road map by which the entire school could join forces to reach Steward's overarching goal: returning to inperson learning in the fall with options for remote learning. By late June, plans were already well underway.
REBUILDING A SCHOOL FROM SCRATCH "Caring for every individual in our community means keeping our community safe, while also providing an environment where our students are engaged, inspired, and learning." These words, co-authored by Mr. Frank and Mr. Campbell, prefaced the first public-facing document detailing The Steward School's preparations for fall 2020. It outlined a broad-strokes overview of the eight subcommittees (shown right) tasked with making decisions about different areas of school operations like health and wellness, technology, and communications.
STE WARD'S COVID-19 PL AN N IN G COMMIT TE E S
during daily Task Force huddles that rarely lasted fewer than two hours.
"And it's not like you could hop off these phone calls and be done with it," Mrs. Anderson said. "When the call ended, that's when the real work began." By the time Spartan students, faculty, and staff arrived on campus for the first day of school on August 31 — more than five months after leaving for spring break — Steward had transformed itself into a school unlike anything we had seen or been before.
SPARTANS COME HOME "Elation. Trepidation. A dash of terror," Mr. Frank said, recalling the experience of seeing campus come to life again on the first day of the 2020-21 school year. "An unbelievable amount of energy had gone into opening our doors again. All I could think was, 'Is it going to work?'"
toward in-person learning. While nothing about the COVID-19 pandemic is predictable, the school's planning committees had approached every conceivable problem from multiple angles to ensure a safe but welcoming reopening.
SchoolPass, including a temperature check, before arrival each morning. As for face masks, everyone on campus wears them at all times except adults working alone in their offices or people who are outside and at least 6 feet away from others.
A more intense focus on community health prompted Steward to hire a second nurse, Mrs. Sams, to assist Ms. Heck in the school clinic, which was relocated to a larger space in the Cramer Center to accommodate a quarantine room. Mrs. Sams had previously worked with VAIS to develop school health guidelines that helped independent schools across the state reopen for in-person learning. The school also needed a new way to track the health of individual community members beyond online surveys. In July, after weighing several options, the school officially adopted SchoolPass,
After successfully completing the SchoolPass wellness check, students arrive at their classrooms where desks and chair-tops have already been sanitized. The maintenance staff continues to disinfect high-touch surfaces throughout the day — bathrooms, 2-3 times a day, doors, after each class change. To increase airflow within buildings, Steward updated the HVAC wherever necessary to replace recirculated air with fresh outdoor air. Air filters have been upgraded to MERV 13 where possible, and windows are kept open as often as they can.
"Caring for every individual in our community means keeping our community safe, while also providing an environment where our students are engaged, inspired, and learning." Most public schools, both locally and nationally, opted for full-time virtual education, and, like Steward, other private schools were moving
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a platform to track school attendance, dismissal, and visitor management. Everyone who enters campus submits daily wellness screenings through
We also trained all constituents on hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, mask-wearing, staying home when sick, and physical distancing. Whether it's promoted through signage, animated videos, or during live town halls, we tailor each learning experience to the intended audience and their environment. Administrators reimagined the campus's entire structure and flow to facilitate physical distancing and prevent large gatherings. Working with the maintenance staff over the summer, division directors measured every classroom and removed
COVER S TOR Y furniture to determine how classrooms would need to be arranged in order to keep a 6-foot distance between students. For example, after restructuring, the average Upper School classroom contains 12 students in a 660 square-foot space, far surpassing the CDC's minimum requirements. Hallways and cafeterias, once hubs of congregation, received makeovers to minimize student interactions. The former now feature one-way-only signs to minimize crossing paths, with designated entry- and exit-only doors. Now that the school employs Yay Lunch, an outside food delivery service, for lunch, the latter — along with both school libraries and the Brandt Gallery — have been converted into classroom spaces. The Middle and Upper Schools host roughly half the classes they used to, with the rest being spread to other areas of the campus. One of the most visible additions to campus has been the learning cottages. The additional classroom space these cottages provide further reduces the number of students in any one building or area. Each is 800 square feet, slightly larger than most of our classrooms, and is outfitted with all of our usual classroom technology like Wi-Fi, largescreen TVs, and individual HVAC units to control humidity and ventilation. "I love being able to keep the windows open for fresh air and fall breezes, as well as having the ability to quickly take my class outside for short mask breaks," Middle School science teacher Claire Bailey said. Though Steward's Task Force was committed to reopening in person, it simultaneously refined the groundwork laid during last spring's period of Remote Continuous Learning to offer a full-time remote learning program in all three divisions. The resulting Synchronous At-Home Learning (SAL) program gives students the option to learn from home through video conferencing in tandem with on-campus classes. Over the summer, teachers received professional development guidance to accommodate for distance and face-to-face learning in the same room at the same time, testing the equipment before the start of school that allows SAL students to see the teacher and any boards in
use and contribute to classroom discussion. "I don't use the word 'Herculean' often, but what our teachers are doing to incorporate distance learning into their face-to-face classroom routine is nothing short of Herculean," Mr. Frank said. "To teach in two modes at the same time in such a way where both sets of students are served with the same expectations is remarkable.”
ROUNDING OUT THE STEWARD EXPERIENCE Of course, academics is only one part of campus life at The Steward School. Our arts and athletics programs provide the entire community with spiritraising programs and events. In the arts, many of our usual events leading up to winter break like the fall play, the Winter Choral/ Instrumental Concert, and Lower School Winter Music Show needed to be composed and shared virtually. These constraints brought about creative breakthroughs in unexpected ways. The socially distanced videos allowed for more solo- and smallgroup performances. Collaboration with the theatre tech program and outside recording studios was much more common, too. "Before the pandemic, I had never edited a video in my life," Middle and Upper School instrumental music teacher John McAlister said. "But this summer I taught myself enough to get by, and it has been a great learning experience. I guess you would call that one of my personal 'silver linings' of the pandemic."
timing was not right to compete against other schools, our athletes pushed themselves to develop their athletic skills and work toward competitive play with a fall training schedule that relied on twice-weekly, socially-distanced drills, masked intramural play, and practices limited to 90 minutes focusing on fundamentals and teamwork. "It's so exciting to watch our players develop themselves while experiencing such hardship," Director of Athletics Bruce Secrest said. "They're going to be that much more resilient when the world returns to normal." Although Mr. Secrest was speaking about Steward's athletes, we think that sentiment applies to every area of school life at The Steward School. Our students and their families have learned to connect and thrive in some of the most isolating circumstances imaginable. Our faculty and staff have found innovative ways to lead classrooms in engaging, challenging ways that break from tradition and adapt to the new world we find ourselves in. And our school's leadership took on the school's reopening efforts with an empathy and diligence that can only be described as allconsuming. "I've never seen anyone work more tirelessly, more collaboratively, more thoroughly than this school has since the pandemic started," Mr. Frank said. "That's what Spartan Strong is all about."
Sports presented a trickier problem for Steward given their reliance on physical proximity. We recognize the large role sports play in the lives of our students, especially when it comes to physical health, leadership opportunities, and selfconfidence, and our administration looked for every possible way to get our Spartans back on the field. To make that happen, Steward followed guidance from Governor Northam, VDH, the Virginia High School League, and the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) to adopt a detailed return-to-play model prioritizing personal development over competitive play. While the
Watch our Face Masks 101 tutorial.
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The Lower Schoolers got close to their food at the Bryan Innovation Lab while picking cherry tomatoes. 2 The campus receives a makeover with the addition of several learning cottages to open up more classroom space. 3 Upper School English teacher Melissa Calkins and daughter Caitlin Calkins '24 took the literary route for their joint Halloween costume based on "To Kill a Mockingbird."
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A parent in kindergarten teacher Catherine Hathaway's class organized students to hold up handmade signs thanking their teacher as they logged on to Zoom one morning during Remote Continuous Learning. 5 Lower school theatre and Upper School acting teacher Craig Smith practices lines with students in front of the green screen while recording the third grade class play, "Adding and Rounding Landforms and Landmarks."
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Middle School students take a break from the classroom to stretch their arms and legs during Community Time.
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Lower Schoolers practice their teamwork skills with junior kindergarten teacher Kris Marchant during Lower School Wellness Week. The division directors take their commitment to supporting one another to a whole new level. 8 American Literature students received a hands-on home economics lesson while reading "The Crucible," seen here sewing bonnets for their play production.
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Upper School science teacher Mary Greenlee's environmental science students tend to the Brassica (cruciferous veggies) they planted in the community garden.
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Students in Middle and Upper School visual arts teacher Sejal Vaywala's art class make use of the spacious art room to put finishing touches on their portfolios.
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Left to their own "devices," these first grade SAL students kept one another occupied by reading chapter books to one another when the librarian stepped away for a moment.
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A student catches some lateafternoon rays while sorting acorns for the Virginia Wildlife Center.
Reseeding the meadow was as easy as launching seed bombs from a hand-built slingshot.
13 Simon says, "Roll around on the floor!" Seniors and their JK/K buddies got to know one another during a rollicking game of Simon Says in the gym.
16 Health and Wellness Coordinator Michelle Khalife leads sixth graders in a stress-reducing yoga session on the tennis courts.
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Students voted on which design they thought would best protect a pumpkin dropped from the roof of the Cramer Center during Middle School science teacher Mike Mailey's annual pumpkin drop.
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We were able to host our very own pumpkin patch on campus this year thanks to a generous donation from Home Depot and a lot of creativity from our faculty.
18 Upper School world languages teacher Diana Niemas's Spanish 4 class creates Tibetan prayer flags in connection with a class read.
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IN O UR COM M U N I T Y: ALU MNI
Reaching Across the Aisle Popular depictions of Iowa highlight its idyllic cornfields and Midwestern agreeableness. But Kara Chalifoux '18 (pictured above right) knows it more for the hefty role it plays in shaping presidential elections. Early in 2020, Ms. Chalifoux, a junior and political science major at Elon University, was among a handful of students enrolled in the winter term class "The Trail Starts Here: The Iowa Caucuses." Held only in presidential election years, the class offers two weeks of hands-on experience at the Iowa caucuses, allowing political science and journalism students to see the electioneering process up close. For Ms. Chalifoux, that meant everything from canvassing door-to-door to rubbing elbows with high-ranking politicians like former Secretary of State John Kerry (pictured above). "On my first day, I overheard someone casually mention how [Senator] Cory Booker had just texted him to grab dinner that night," she said. "Where else would you hear that?" Noteworthy for being the first major contest of the U.S. presidential primary season, the Iowa caucuses are often seen as a strong indicator of how presidential candidates will fare in the upcoming election. Caucusing, which has been used in Iowa since the 1800s, eschews ballot voting for open debate. Voters assemble in churches, libraries, and other public spaces to wrangle over which presidential candidate they support, while politicians make the most of the
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concentrated political activity by seeking face time with constituents. "They want to take you to dinner and get to know you," Ms. Chalifoux said. "Voters can bring up topics they care about, and elected officials can elaborate their positions. It's a win-win." Ms. Chalifoux's political interests began in Steward's Upper School with an offhand comment from her younger brother Michael Chalifoux '20. "We were on a college visit road trip when he casually said, 'Oh, Congressman Dave Brat came to our class and said that anybody who wants an internship should just email him,'" she explained. "And I thought, really? So I emailed him and ended up interning with his campaign three days a week for the entire summer." Despite working for now-President Joe Biden's campaign — the only student in her class who chose to do so — all of Ms. Chalifoux's previous campaign experience had been with Republican politicians. She believed Biden's views were the most moderate among Democratic candidates, views she felt she would be most able to advocate for with undecided voters. "I was in the position of canvassing voters who seemed genuinely conflicted over a handful of candidates they felt equally good about," she said. "That made my job more stressful, but a lot more interesting, too." As she discussed the ins and outs of campaign strategy, Ms. Chalifoux spoke with pride about the
Biden team's commitment to not tearing down other Democratic candidates. "We were actually building them up," she said, an approach that served her well among voters weary of political division. Ms. Chalifoux described her commitment to the campaign as a full-time job ... and then some. Her days generally began with 8 a.m. coordinated door-knocks in 20-degree weather, and ended at 10 p.m. after hours of phone banking. Still, she says the experience was an enlightening, if intense, way to see the varieties of political engagement available to the average voter. She advises those who want to become active to take it one step at a time. "Decide what matters to you and why," Ms. Chalifoux said. "Do your research to figure out where you stand on the issues. Then decide what you can do about it. It's not always about giving speeches or staging protests. Start small."
IN O U R CO M M U NIT Y: ALUMNI
Steward's Alumni Board FAQ The Alumni Board is made up of an advancement officer (a Steward employee) and alumni who serve as elected members (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, etc.). HOW MANY MEETINGS?
There are five Alumni Board meetings each year, occurring once a month in September, November, January, March, and May.
WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES?
Responsibilities include attending Board meetings and at least two events during the school year.
WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF STEWARD'S ALUMNI BOARD MEMBERS?
Finding and reconnecting alumni with the broader school community.
Encouraging peers to participate in events and give their time, talent, and treasure back to the community.
CAN I SERVE WITHOUT BEING AN OFFICER? The Board also welcomes class representatives. Many alumni serve as class representatives; it's a great way to stay in touch with classmates. Please contact Jenn Downey at Jenn.Downey@ stewardschool.org if you are interested in representing your class!
Identifying community connections.
Identifying potential alumni who may be interested in sharing their post-Steward experiences with current students.
WHAT EVENTS ARE HOSTED BY THE BOARD? The Alumni Board assists with the annual Trucks & Shucks event, the Thanksgiving social, and other summer gatherings.
Thank You to Our 2020-21 Premier Partners! Premier Partners are generous supporters of The Steward School. Their support helps fund the Spartan Club, the Alumni Association, and the Parents Association, all of which provide incredible opportunities for members of the community. If you are interested in becoming a Premier Partner for the spring semester, please email Jenn Downey at Jenn.Downey@stewardschool.org to learn more about how we’ve revamped the program for this school year.
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IN O UR COM M U N I T Y: ALU MNI
Healthy Living, Chapter by Chapter
"We all need tools to take care of ourselves, so that we can take care of those around us and our world," shared Morgan Penberthy '13. Ms. Penberthy and her mother, Kim Penberthy, MA, PhD, ABPP, co-wrote a book called “Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan” that was published nationwide in November 2020. Most of the book was written while they sheltered in place together at the beginning of the pandemic. As in their professional work (Dr. Penberthy is a clinical psychiatrist and professor at the University of Virginia, and her daughter works for the American Psychological Association), this book comes from both the head and the heart.
John Knorr '89 Wins Alumni Achievement Award
“The book is accessible,” Dr. Penberthy explained. “Unlike most self-help books, it includes research data in addition to shared personal experiences from throughout our lives at different ages. Our goal was for people to understand the research within a relatable context, which will help them make choices that work for them. It’s something a parent could read with a teenage or adult son or daughter, keep on a nightstand, or give as a gift. While it contains practical guidance, it’s not prescriptive.” Dr. Penberthy, a former Steward trustee, went on to share that the book reminds her of the ethos of Steward. “It’s open-minded and accepting,” she said. “There’s never only one right way to do something, including taking care of yourself and personal growth.” Ms. Penberthy, who attended Steward from second grade through graduation, credits both her parents and teachers with giving her the confidence to cowrite this book.
At Convocation on September 11, John Knorr '89 was awarded the seventh annual Alumni Achievement Award. After graduating from Steward in 1989, Mr. Knorr earned a degree in political science from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and planned on attending law school. However, it was a connection he made during his ninth-grade alternate program experience (aka Minimester) that set him on a different path. "Not only was this the biggest impact during my high school years," he said, "but it would also be the biggest impact on my life." Mr. Knorr described how his freshman internship with Steve Phillips, president of Phillips Foods, Inc. and Seafood Restaurants, laid the foundation for what would evolve into a highly acclaimed career in the restaurant industry. He joined the company in 1993 and held several different positions throughout the restaurant division before becoming chief operating officer in 2001.
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“Every single English teacher I had at Steward had a huge impact on my love of writing, my style of writing, and my ability to write collaboratively,” Ms. Penberthy said. “My teachers and friends at Steward really bolstered my confidence, and confidence is something that you need when you’re working on something as daunting as writing a book.” Co-writing is a challenge both mother and daughter are eager to tackle again. “As soon as we finished this manuscript, Morgan turned to me and said ‘what’s next?’” laughed Dr. Penberthy. Her daughter agreed: “We have some ideas up our sleeves!”
To order “Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan,” please visit Routledge.com.
Mr. Knorr and his brother later acquired the Red Roost, a 400-seat crabhouse in Maryland. Today, he is co-founder and co-owner of Southern Boys Concepts, a collection of seven eclectic restaurants, and Evolution Craft Brewing Company, which distributes beer throughout the East Coast and Japan. He attributed his success in the food industry in part to his ninth-grade internship. But, more importantly, he reinforced the importance of connections he made while at Steward. "School is a place where many children and young adults with different opinions, different backgrounds, and different hobbies come together to learn," he said. "I think you will find that you will not only learn from your teachers, but you will also learn so much from each other."
Scan here to read our alumni spotlight on Mr. Knorr from 2015
IN O U R CO M MUNI T Y: ALUMNI
Connections Strong Among Buddies, Years Later
The Buddy Program, in which each junior kindergarten and kindergarten student is paired with a senior student, has been a favorite Steward tradition since 2003. Throughout the year, the students connect during important Steward events like Convocation, the Thanksgiving program, College Declaration Day, and pep rallies. When the Class of 2020 graduated, not only were they celebrated by their younger buddies with special art projects, photos, and videos, but the alumni office also coordinated a new surprise. A group of “lifers” (students who have been at Steward since junior kindergarten) received letters from the alumni who were their
senior buddies back in 2008. In each letter, the ‘08 graduates reconnected with their Class of ‘20 buddies by mentioning shared experiences and offering words of wisdom and encouragement for navigating life in college and beyond. One memorable letter offered this good advice: “In your next few years, you'll feel like other people will have certain life goals and career choices figured out, and I remember how stressful that was because I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to pursue after college. The truth is everything will work out for the best. Just try and do what makes you happy because life really does fly by.”
Dancing Across the Globe From Steward to New York City and then around the world, alumnus Patrick Coker '10 was determined to follow his dream. “There are so many people who have the talent,
and Ailey. This dream started in Middle School,
but a lot of success is what you’re exposed to and
and by 17, he was dancing on Ailey’s stage. Ailey’s
how you can get there,” said Patrick Coker '10.
mission is to celebrate and bring together a
Mr. Coker, a modern dancer with the first company
diversity of both dancers and audiences.
of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, has always
“Dance has not only taken me to New York, but
been clear about his own ambitions to dance
it’s opened up the world to me," he said. "Ailey
professionally. He credits his parents and The
conducts national and international tours every
Steward School for helping him make it happen.
year, and I’m connected to so many people and
“Steward sees students for who they are and what they wish to be, and nudges them in that
places I wouldn’t have been otherwise. I wake up excited every day to go to work.”
direction,” Mr. Coker said from his apartment in
Mr. Coker offered this advice for students today:
New York City. “Through Steward, I was able to
“If you have the passion, you owe it to yourself to
have a pathway to what I dreamed of doing.”
follow through with it. I’ve learned through my
He went on to explain that the teachers and administrators at Steward, especially former Director of College Counseling Carolyn Brandt, helped him to graduate early and enroll in a
work that it’s not the most talented people who get the job, it’s the people who work the hardest and are the most determined. My advice to anyone who’s following their passion is 'just keep going.’”
partnership program between Fordham University
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1 Whitney Hajek Richman '98 (not pictured) ran the fastest time ever recorded on the Virginia Capital Trail, completing the 52-mile run in 7 hours and 41 minutes. The previous record was 9 hours and 52 minutes. 2
Caitlin '01 and Harry Baron '01 and their daughter Maddie (7) welcomed a new baby girl, Layla James, on March 2, 2020. 3
Allison Strickland Worley '03 lives in Kuwait City, Kuwait with her husband Kelsey and children Bennett (8), Lia (5), and Alexander (3). This is their fifth move in five years and their eighth move with the Army! Since the early days of the pandemic, her mother (and former faculty member) Kate Strickland holds regular storytimes with the children via iPad. 4
James Schreiber '05 and Ashley-Lauren were married on September 2, 2018 at The Greenbrier. Carter Shamburger '05 was a groomsman and Steward alumni
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Lauren Anderson '05, Austin Hyatt '05, Liz Moran '06, and Jessica Sexton '05 attended. James and Ashley-Lauren welcomed baby girl Frances Wellesley on April 4, 2020. 5
Sisters Jessica Powell Sexton '05 (Kyle) and Dana Powell Burkholder '09 (Jared) welcomed precious baby girls into their families. Finley Burkholder was born on July 31, 2019, and Charlie Wray Sexton was born on March 16, 2020. 6 Carter Shamburger '05 married Jessica Austin on May 25, 2019. James Schreiber '05, was a groomsman, and several Steward alumni attended including Chris Brown '05, Austin Carter Hyatt '05, Liz Moran '06, and Jessica Powell Sexton '05. 7 Annie Wise '05 and Clay Carter '05 were married in October 2019. Braxton Pruitt '05 and Carrie Ryan '05 and were among the wedding party. Former Steward faculty member Chip Chapman was their officiant!
8 Scidney Morris '06 and his wife, Shannon Murray Morris, with their two children, Ivy and Alexander. The Morrises live in Midlothian, VA and are both realtors with The Murray Morris Group - Keller Williams Realty. 9 Douglas Smith '06 graduated in May 2020 with a masters in decision analytics from Virginia Commonwealth University. He and his wife, Nicole Hill Smith '06, have two sons, Preston (5) and Braden (1).
personal trainer for a private boutique studio in Washington, D.C. 12 Anna Greenlee '08 had a chance encounter with one of our former school nurses, Heather Sams, while volunteering at a COVID-19 testing site. This was before Mrs. Sams was hired! 13 Page Conway Ruhsam '08 and Chelsea Congdon Voltz '08 met up in October 2020 in Orlando, FL for a mini vacation at Disney!
10 Beth Howard Sugar ’07 (not pictured) married Dylan Sugar in September 2019. They welcomed Mary Grace Francis Sugar in December 2019 and live in Raleigh, NC where Beth works as the Director of Business Development at Carolina House Eating Disorder Treatment Center.
14 Beth Farmer-Smith '09 and Casey Smith welcomed Lena Elizabeth into the world on August 15, 2020.
11 Hector Feliciano Ayala '08 and Kathryn Feliciano were married in August 2014. They were recently blessed with a little boy, Micah Javier (5 months). Hector is working as a
16 Catherine Lillard Hughes '09, husband Jack, and sister Adeline (3) welcomed baby sister Clementine on November 5, 2020.
15 Veronica Tharp Harless '09,
husband Jordan, and daughter Frances (age 2) welcomed Mark Warren Harless on June 4, 2020.
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17 Rebecca Smyth '09 married Jay Morgan on October 19, 2019. Chloe Higgins '09 and Finn Smyth '11 served as members of the wedding party. 18 Carnes Willhite '09 and Sara Willhite were married on December 31, 2018. They welcomed baby girl Eleonora (Ellie) Grace on October 19, 2020. 19 Grace Henderson '10 married
Dr. Matthew Wallace on August 17, 2019 at the University of Richmond's Henry Mansfield Cannon Memorial Chapel. Samantha Henderson '12 was a bridesmaid, and alumni in attendance included Samantha Cummings '12 and Mary Stuart '10. Grace and Matt live in Nashville, TN, and she works as a senior clinical research coordinator at Vanderbilt University. 20 Stephanie Perlman '10 married Joel Saslawsky on July 13, 2019 in Richmond, VA. Stephanie earned her master's in social work in 2017 and currently works as a pediatric oncology social worker at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
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25 Stuart Good '11 married Drew
Aaron Rowland in November 2020 in Charleston, SC. Samantha Bisger '10 and Mary Stuart MacIntyre '10 were bridesmaids. Alumni in attendance included Kate Farmer '11, Blair Oliff Scallion '10, Mary Taylor Tepper '10, and Parker Wheat '10.
Hayhurst on September 5, 2020. Steward alumni Mary Warden Good '07 and Emily Norman '11 were in the wedding party.
Chaffin on November 2, 2019 at the Williamsburg Winery. Alumna Claire Kramer Stout '10 was a bridesmaid and Ryan McKeown '10 was a wedding guest. 23 Mary Stuart '10 married Andrew
McIntyre in June 2020 in Crested Butte, CO. Alumni Madelyn Stoneburner '10, JEB Stuart '09, Kathleen Stuart '15, and Parker Wheat '10 attended the celebration. 24 Megan Wright '10 married William
Sours in November 2019 at The Mill at Fine Creek in Powhatan, VA. They welcomed baby girl Lily Frances on September 8, 2020.
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21 Madelyn Stoneburner '10 married
22 Kelly Stosch '10 married Forrest
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26 Ann Marchetti '13 married Micah
Keller (former Steward student) on September 14, 2019, in Weems, VA. The bridesmaids included cousins of the bride Liz Delaney '08 and Mary Martha Delaney '08, as well as Kemis Ann Noble '08. Groomsmen included Sam Keller '09 and Alexander Tharp '08.
computer information science and materials science and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, where he plans to finish in the spring of 2022. 29 The Class of 2016 held a successful virtual happy hour via Zoom on May 28, 2020. Close to 20 alumni joined the online gathering! 30 Marvin Cannon '17 signed with the Charlotte 49ers basketball team in September 2020. Congrats from all of your Spartan fans!
27 Weston Alexander Smith, son
of Holly Highfill '14 and Josh Smith, was born on May 29, 2020. Holly is currently working as a registered nurse in progressive care at Henrico Doctors Hospital. 28 Bowen Chen '15 (not pictured)
graduated from Johns Hopkins University where he double majored in materials science and engineering and applied math. He is currently working on a dual-degree masters in
Do you have an important life announcement? Scan here and submit a class note!
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IN O UR COM M U N I T Y: S N APS HOTS
First Day of School
You can download additional photos from these events and more on Steward Snaps!
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IN O U R CO M M U NIT Y: S NAPSH OTS
Convocation
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Whirled Peace Day
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IN O U R CO M M U NIT Y: S NAPSH OTS
Fall Spirit Week
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50th Day of School
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IN O U R CO M M U NIT Y: S NAPSH OTS
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Give Some, Get S'More
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In a year full of surprises, one thing was certain:
Our connections to one another mean everything.
We are so thankful for your energy, love, and support.
Together we are Spartan Strong!
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