Volume III, January 2020
The Raad Learning Center Opens Its Doors! With much anticipation, the new student learning center is opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony in dedication to Mrs. Lamia Raad, a founding member and previous Head of School at Veritas.
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Kindergarten and the Early Education Christmas Program
Fourth Grade and the Lower School Christmas Production
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Volume III • January 2020
CONTENTS 4 Message from The Head of School 6 Annual Fund Results 8 Alumni News - First alumni event hosted in the new Raad Learning Center 9 From The Voice of Veritas, an article written by Audrey Finch (Student Council VP): Tips and Tricks for Staying Organized During the School Year
13 Highlights from the First Semester 18 From the Nurse’s Clinic 20 Upcoming Academic Competitions 21 Eighth Grade Production Announcement 22 Remaining Events for the 2019-2020 Academic Year 23 2020-2021 Academic Year Calendar
14 Cultural Expeditions Program: Seventh Grade takes its inaugural trip to New York and Boston
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Cover Story: The Raad Learning Center by Ellie Veeningen
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Veritas Athletics Recap
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Dear Veritas Community,
From the Head of School
Happy New Year! I hope your family had a restful winter break, spending time with family and enjoying the holidays. We are glad to have our students back on campus and engaged this second semester in learning. I always enjoy reading articles that recap the previous year and try to categorize the most important events that happened and why they were so impactful. The new year provides me the opportunity to look back on our first semester. I have always liked the practice of beginning each year with a grateful attitude for the one behind you. As Christians, we are to be people of ‘thanks’, always taking stock of the good gifts which God gives to us. Our first semester on campus this year was one for which we have many reasons to give thanks. First, we are thrilled and very thankful to have opened the Raad Learning Center (RLC). After two years of envisioning what this space would mean to our students and community, it’s now open! The end goal for this new space on campus was to influence and impact our students’ learning experiences through a newly designed building. The RLC now provides us a unique space on campus to collaborate, research, and reflect. Like moving into a new home, we are learning to live in our new space. We are already underway with expanding the library, providing Veritas students with an excellent collection of classics to emphasize great books, great authors, and great literature. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing our students and faculty using this space already. Whether it has been listening to a broadcast by an astronaut from the International Space Station (above picture), welcoming our alumni back on campus, or making full use of the new computers in collaborative technology lab, the RLC has expanded not only the educational opportunities that we have but the quality of those experiences. Because of the RLC, Veritas was included in the recent Community Impact Newspaper about independent school campus improvements. Thank you for supporting this vision and how it now impacts our students!
5 Secondly, Veritas is officially accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). For more than two years, our Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty have worked toward the goal of gaining accreditation through SAIS, a leader in independent school education. The importance of accreditation cannot be understated to our families. Like a financial audit, Veritas intentionally underwent a thorough examination to scrutinize our school and its programs by other educators through the lens of best practices in independent schooling. We are very thankful to have completed this process, gained accreditation, and report to you the standard Veritas has attained. When we reflect on the first semester, we want to thank you for your generosity in contributing to this year’s Annual Fund, ‘I Am Veritas’. It is because of your gifts that we are able to carry out our mission, impact our students’ lives, and cover the full cost of a Veritas education. We are incredibly grateful to reach 99% participation in this year’s Annual Fund, a testament to the engagement and generosity of our families. Whether it is in your generosity or simply referring a family to our school – thank you for being ambassadors. The number one motivator of a prospective family to inquire about Veritas is when they hear from you as a current or former parent of our school. Most families that join our community do so because of you. Thank you! As we look forward to 2020, what excites us most as educators is the day-to-day work with our students. We are thankful as faculty and staff to work with such incredible students and to walk alongside each child as they develop in their faith and scholarship through these vital years of formation. As always, thank you for your continued support as we strive to provide your child with a Foundation for Life! Sincerely,
Brad Sewell
Eighth Grade Journalism Class
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Thank You, Veritas!
Annual Fund 2019-2020
99% Participation over $160,000 raised!
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Annual Auction 2020
Friday, February 21, 2020
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Alumni News
First on-campus alumni gathering has a great turnout! Veritas held its first alumni gathering since its inception in 2003. In what we hope to be an ongoing precedent year by year, the first gathering of Veritas Alumni proved to be very successful. With over 30 alumni returning to campus - from current high school students to working professionals - the new Raad Learning Center was teeming with laughter, smiles, and conversation as students reminisced with their peers and previous staff and faculty members. Being some of the longest tenured faculty members, Mrs. Molly El-Issa and Ms. Joy Jones, were greeted with many hugs and words of gratitude for the impactful years that they gave to each of the previous students. Stories often began with, “Do you remember...” and “I still remember when...” Veritas alumni included people who currently work for Methodist Hospital and the Veteran’s Affairs to students currently enrolled at University of Texas in Austin, the US Naval Academy, Baylor University, and Georgetown University in Washington D.C. It was a pleasure to see the various successes of these previous Veritas students. Many of their marked successes, our alumni attested, began with their experience at Veritas
- providing the foundation to which many were able to build upon. In recent years, A Foundation for Life has become a resounding message throughout the Veritas community, especially with its impactful educational experience. Beginning with early education in the PreK3 and PreK4 classes and ending in eighth grade, the students of Veritas receive a foundational education in core subjects and spiritual development. Alumni who recently visited campus reiterated the foundations of learning, character development, morality, and biblical literacy which helped them navigate through their high school and college years. They were also in awe of the many improvements and changes to the campus, recalling how they were unable in the past to even go into the space that is now the Raad Learning Center. Many were saying, “It looks so different now...Wow!” We look forward to welcoming our alumni yearly as we move into the future.
9 The following article is taken from the first edition of The Voice of Veritas, a school newspaper created by the eighth grade journalism students. Journalism is a new eighth grade elective that is offered this academic year. The article is written by Audrey Finch, our Student Council Vice President.
Tips and Tricks for Staying Organized During the School Year by Audry Finch
It’s hard to stay organized when school gets going, and assignments start to pile up. Sometimes it even feels like life is going faster than you can keep up with. But, with a few simple organization tips and the discretion to make wise decisions, you can overcome the mess and madness of a hectic school year. One of the easiest ways to stay organized is to keep a planner. Writing down your homework and upcoming assignments may seem overrated, but it seriously helps you remember tests and quizzes you need to study for. If you find yourself getting cluttered, make it a point every week to set aside time to go through the papers that have accumulated. Along those same lines, an accordion folder can help categorize your homework by subject. If you should decide to keep one of these folders, you must deliberately file it to replace older papers with new papers and homework assignments. While middle school gives you new freedoms, it also gives you new responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is lockers. Some of the ways to organize your locker are to separate your textbooks and binders from smaller notebooks using shelves. That way, things won’t get lost in the bustle between classes. If you find yourself stuffing extraneous papers into your locker and leaving them there, consider finding a folder to hold those loose papers, placing a mini trash can in your locker, or even just taking the time to put those papers away. Another responsibility you have as a middle schooler is getting to class on time. One of the easiest ways to keep track of your classes is to tape a schedule on the door of your locker or make a list of materials you need for every class. That way, you set yourself up to be prepared and on
time for every class. Lastly, and most importantly, you must stay on top of your personal schedule and how many activities you say yes to. Saying no is an important skill. Some helpful questions you can ask to help you determine whether something is worth spending your time on are: • What will I be saying NO to if I say YES to this? • Do I have any other commitments during this time? • Which commitment will be more beneficial to me in the long run? Sometimes we get caught up in trying to please everyone, but you have to know that trying to make everyone happy will just make you more stressed in the end. If you find yourself struggling with what to say yes to, try to look at the bigger picture. Once you set these standards for your own personal life, begin working them into your student life. Eliminate distractions during your study time. The more focused you are, the less time you will have to spend and the better you will understand what you are studying for. Phones present huge distractions with the continuous dinging of text messages. If you put aside your phone and allow your mind to focus, you may be more pleased with how you perform academically in the long run. It may also be helpful to have a certain spot set aside for study time. That way, when you get in that space, you know it is time to focus, and it becomes a routine. Finally, if you feel overwhelmed with large assignments, break them down into smaller bits and set goals for yourself. Challenge yourself to spend five minutes each day organizing your school materials or locker. Eventually, it will become a habit that you don’t even have to think about. Despite the obstacles that compete for your time, if you’re intentional, you can overcome the clutter and chaos using these few simple steps.
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Raad Learning Center by Ellie Veeningen, 8th Grade
The newest addition to the Veritas campus is a fully-equipped collaborative learning lab and library, named after one of our school’s founders and previous Head of School, Mrs. Lamia Raad.
progress for two years. It was designed with the intention of having a school library and collaborative space. The creation of this building is thanks to the generosity of the entire Veritas community. Without their contribution, this would not have been possible. When asked about his hopes for this space, Mr. Sewell, Veritas’ current Head of School, explained, “I began with the belief that architecture is a ‘third teacher’[...] This space allows us to emphasize particular skills of research and collaboration that will further our academic program.” He went on to say that a student’s experiences are mainly shaped by three things: (1) adults and faculty, (2) their peers, (3) the places and physical environment.
This building is the product of hard work and thoughtful planning of our school administration. After purchasing our property in 2016, the administration knew they wanted to utilize this space somehow and decided to turn it into a learning hub. Veritas is beyond excited to have this new center. It has been a long process, watching the learning center go from the original plans to what it is today. The Raad Learning Center has been a work in
The students will receive greater experiences from this learning environment, different from anything before at Veritas. The RLC can encourage a student to progress and advance in their studies because of this researching facility. This building should reflect what Veritas aspires for in its students: dedication and a good foundation for life beyond graduation. This learning center will help students work together and collaborate (vital tools for the future). Veritas hopes to instill a lifelong love of learning by giving them resources such as this.
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Faculty and Staff Meeting
Fifth Graders working in the Library
Prospective Parents at our Fall Open House
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First Semester Highlights
Fourth Grade STEAM Project: Fog Machines for the Fine Arts Department
Chili Cook Off 2019 Family Day 2019
Sixth Grade Washington D.C. Trip
Fifth Grade Texas History Trip
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New York and boston A Recap of the new addition to the Cultural Expeditions Program
One of the most unique and rewarding experiences that Veritas students have during their middle school experience is to embark on the various trips through our Cultural Expeditions Program (CEP). This program has seen growth over the years and has experienced shifts with the addition of multiple destinations. This year marked another shift in the program that included a couple of new destinations - New York City and Boston. CEP is closely tied to Veritas’ core value of Intentional Engagement and combines travel education with history, architecture, and higher educational exposure. The New York and Boston Trip continues in that tradition as students are immersed in a richer experience of American History which added to their previous experience in Washington D.C. Upon arrival on Monday morning, our seventh grade class visited various historical sites in New York which included the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, Times Square, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Rockefeller Center. At the iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library, they learned of its historical significance as one of the first freshwater reservoirs in New York - Croton Reservoir. Additionally,
our students learned of the significance of the Library’s showpiece lions, which guard its entrance, during the Great Depression as they were coined with the nicknames Patience and Fortitude to give hope to the many New Yorkers who were struggling during that major financial crisis. Our students a l s o had the opportunity to view the original stuffed animals which inspired the classic Winnie-the-Pooh books by A.A. Milne, which are on display in the children’s section of the Library. The first day ended with a bird’s eye view of the city overlooking the island of Manhattan atop Rockerfeller Center at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. Day 2 of New York was a packed itinerary which began with a quick ferry ride to visit Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty (left picture). After lunch, our students visited the World Trade Center which included a few hours touring the 9/11 Memorial at the previous Ground Zero and visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Our students gained a visual of the historical events of September 11th, 2001. This visit provides the bookend to their previous visit to the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, VA. The day ended with a unique tour of lower Manhattan and the Financial District with the Alexander Hamilton and Founding Fathers Tour in which our students learned of the area’s significance in the Revolutionary period of American
15 History. From its early start as the New Amsterdam settlement to becoming the business hub of the new colonies, students were able to delve into its rich financial history as the site of the historical buttonwood tree which would bring forth the Buttonwood Agreement which would eventually lead to the creation of the New York Stock Exchange. Students also sat on the steps of Federal Hall, the scene of America’s first presidential inauguration. Lastly, our seventh graders visited Trinity Church and the gravesite of the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. The last day in New York included tours of the United Nation with its significance in international foreign policy, and the historical Carnegie Hall. The day ended with a visit to our country’s largest cathedral, St. John the Divine, and Ivy League school Columbia University. Midway through the trip, the seventh graders took a quick bus ride to Boston, MA. Upon arrival, our students toured Harvard University in Cambridge. The tour was led by a current Harvard student and provided our students with an intimate look into one of the United States’ most prestigious universities. The visit at Harvard included a tour of Memorial Hall and Memorial Transept with its grand hall of marble flooring, high wooden gothic vault, beautiful stained glass windows, and memorial tablets honoring Harvard associates who fell on behalf of the Union
during the Civil War. The first day in Boston ended with a Duck Tour of the city which also included both a driving tour of the streets of Boston - from Back Bay, passing Boston Common, the Public Garden, and making its way through Beacon Hill and West End - and a quick boat ride on the Charles River providing a view of both Boston and Cambridge. Many of our students even had the privilege of “driving” the boat through the river! The second and last day in Boston included a roughly 3-mile walking tour of the historical Freedom Trail. The tour was led by the historical African-American figure, Phillis Wheatley and included numerous stops throughout the city which outlines many of the historical events of the Revolutionary period. Beginning with Boston Common and meandering through the streets of Boston, our students visited sites such as the Massachusettes State House, Park Street Church, Old North Church, Granary Burying Ground (burial site of John Hancock, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and the victims of the Boston Massacre), King’s Chapel, Old State House, Paul Revere House, Bunker Hill Monument, and ended at the USS Constitution (the oldest commissioned warship still afloat). The Boston trip ended with lunch at the famous Quincy Market, and a Boston Tea Party Tour, including our students “dumping tea” into Boston Harbor as members of the Sons of Liberty! The first trip to New York and Boston proved to be successful and will be a staple of the CEP for years to come!
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Veritas athletics Varsity Volleyball completes a historical championship season! The Varsity Volleyball (coached by Allicia Tillman) set Veritas history completing its first ever undefeated season (14-0 record). Led by a host of talented eighth graders (Ellie Veeningen, Kara Thomas, Tiara Gordon, Kate Mueller, Ava Farris, Helena Arnold, Virginia Fairfield, and Audrey Finch) with the addition of a few skilled seventh graders (Sarah Dewhurst, Eden Droog, and Mikayla Villafuerte), the Volleyball team easily went through league play with less than a handful of challenging matches. Their biggest challenge came from Grace School which they were able to sweep this year after losing both matches to them the previous season.
Flag Football completes a turnaround season! The Flag Football team (coached by Ted Raad and Kirk Berger) completed a bounce back season qualifying for the playoffs again after having a winless season last year. They were led by Quarterback Garrison Smith and Wide Receiver Luke Johnson. Additionally, the team had a myriad of supporting members in Ryan Beers, James Finch, Jonathan Jacoby, David Alvarez, Dane Breitenwischer, Daniel Breitenwischer, Bradley Hanna, Joseph Johnson, Prince Key, Reid Roberson, and Carter Droog.
The GHAC champions added to their success at the Bayou City Volleyball Tournament and finished 8th out of 32 participating teams. For the first time in school history, the team entered the tournament in the top-tier Premier Division and finished the morning group play first in their group (with St. John’s, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Village School). They entered the bracket play portion competing in the Gold Bracket with the other top 7 teams. They finished the tournament 8th overall after losing matches to Lutheran South, Emery/Weiner, and Kinkaid. Though they finished the tournament a bit disappointed only finishing 8th, overall the team had a great experience and showed grit and camaraderie. Here’s to a wonderful championship season!
undefeated
The team showed continued growth and a determination to change their fate after winning the first game of the season. They completed the turnaround when they qualified for the WHCAC playoffs with only one loss. The season ended in their first playoff game against Southwest Christian. The Rams finished the regular season 5-1 and the overall
17 season at 5-2. They look forward to continued success in the following season as the Flag Football team looks to bring the championship trophy back to Veritas after a two year drought.
Basketball is off to a great start The winter season of athletics at Veritas means one thing - Basketball. As the season continues the successes from the fall season have carried on for both the Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams. The Boys Varsity team (coached by Kirk Berger) is led by eighth graders Luke Johnson, Joshua Trapolino, Christian Ninan, Garrison Smith, Carter Bernal, Ryan Beers, and Micah Davis. The team is joined by sixth grader Joseph Johnson. The team currently has one loss in the season and are looking forward to continuing their successes. The Girls Varsity team (coached by Kiana Johnson) is currently undefeated and is led by eighth graders Kara Thomas, Audrey Finch, Ava Farris, Ashlin Dennis, Virginia Fairfield, Kate Mueller, and Ellie Veeningen. They are joined by seventh graders Olivia Nicholas and Eden Droog.
Junior Varsity teams continue their development The future of Veritas Athletics is looking favorable as all the Junior Varsity (JV) teams continue to develop their individual skills and team chemistry. Because of the bulk of eighth graders who are playing multiple sports this academic year, many of the JV teams have been spearheaded by strong seventh grade leadership. This is added with experienced sixth grade participation. The continued development of these students will bring future success to Rams athletics in the coming academic year. Volleyball this past season, had the most participants ever in Veritas history which sparked the creation of an additional 5th grade development team
which included matches, providing students with development time at practice and game experience as well. 5th Grade Development (Volleyball) participants were Pearce Aycox, Madison Campbell, Caroline Finch, Mary Gilliam, Cadence Leatherwood, Alexis Ninan, Elisabeth Steinbach, and Maya Zakhem. JV Volleyball participants were Mila Veeningen, Payton Beers, Alexis Burkhead, Ellen Moore, Gabby Raymond, Sofia Trapolino, Nicole Bakht, Nina Hosch, Andrea Irias Banegas, and Addie Kirk. JV Girls Basketball participants are Avery Ro, Mary Gilliam, Olivia Leung, Caroline Finch, Maya Zakhem, Avani Yaltho, Andrea Irias Banegas, Nardeen Bekhit, Alexis Burkhead, Julia Arrazolo, and Addie Kirk. JV Boys Basketball participants are James Finch, Jonathan Jacoby, Dane Breitenwischer, Daniel Breitenwisher, Bradley Hanna, Nathan DeVries, Nathan Trapolino, Noah Chen, David Tsang, Reid Roberson, Caleb Fox, Carter Droog, and Zion Beason. Spring Sports will begin in February and will include co-ed Tennis and Track & Field. For all game and practice schedules, please visit the Athletic Calendar on the Veritas website.
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the nurse’s clinic The Power of Handwashing We are in the midst of the flu season and the best combatant to the spread of germs is frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water. A recent article (on msn.com) details the effects of not washing your hands. It shows clearly that hand sanitizer, though somewhat effective, does not get rid of germs as effectively as washing your hands with soap and water. So, let us remain vigilant to preventing the spread of communicable disease, which might otherwise be easily preventable, by practicing good handwashing techniques. Also, keep in mind that other conditions, such as asthma, may be more easily aggravated at this time of the year.
symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea with the use of medication before returning to school. Please refer to the updated section of the Veritas Parent-Student Handbook under Health Services for school guidelines and resources, which is available on our website. Feel free to contact the school nurse with any concerns or questions.
Other reminders as we continue into the academic year would be: • Dress your child properly for the weather changes • Stay hydrated
Keep Your Child Home if Sick If your child has a fever over 100°, is vomiting, or has diarrhea, the nurse will be contacting a parent to pick up your child from the school. Your child needs to be 24-hours free of fever without fever-reducing medication, and not exhibiting
Healthy children learn better and have brighter futures. With prayers for a healthy, safe, and strong finish to our 2019-2020 academic year.
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Parents’ Information Standardized Testing Window Kindergarten-8th grades April 1-9, 2020 In preparation for Standardized Testing, please ensure that your child: • does not have any appointments during scheduled testing times, • has a good night’s sleep, • eats a healthy breakfast daily • arrives to school on-time daily
ParentTeacher Conferences At the core of student success is good partnership between teachers and parents. Veritas has parent/teacher conferences for all grade levels to strengthen communication between school and home.
Early Education (PreK3 and PreK4) March 2020 All Early Education conferences are mandatory
Lower School (including Kindergarten) and Middle School March 23-31, 2020 Lower School and Middle School conferences are optional
Lower School (including Kindergarten) conferences will be scheduled between 3:40-5:00 p.m. Middle School conferences will be scheduled between 4:00-5:00 p.m.
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ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Further information will be provided to parents of participating students for confirmation.
Spelling Bee
Friday, January 17, 2020 hosted at First Baptist Academy - Baytown 3rd - 8th grades
Speech Meets
Lower School Friday, February 28, 2020 hosted at Alpha Omega Academy or Summit Christian Academy - Huntsville 1st - 6th grades Middle School Friday, March 6, 2020 hosted at Rosehill Christian School - Tomball 7th - 8th grades
Math Olympics
Saturday, February 22, 2020 hosted at TheWoodlands Christian Academy 3rd - 8th grades
Math League Mail-in Event 7th - 8th grades
Friday, April 3, 2020 hosted at Founders Christian School - Spring 3rd - 8th grades
Creative Writing
Monday, January 27, 2020 hosted at Humble Christian School 4th - 8th grades
Art Festival
Music Festival - Choir
Friday, March 20, 2020 hosted at TheWoodlands Christian Academy 1st - 8th grades
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Tickets go on sale April 1st
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Remaining Events
History & Science GO TEXAN DAY Friday, February 28, 2020
FAIR
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 6:00 p.m.
Hamilton the Musical Friday, April 17 - Monday, April 20, 2020
Fine Arts Night
Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 5:15 p.m.
Athletic Awards Ceremony Thursday, April 30th 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 7, 2020
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2020-2021 Calendar 2020-2021 School Calendar August S
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Dates and Events August 14 17 19
New Parent Orientation Back to School Night First Day of School
September 7 No School - Labor Day 9-11 MS Orientation (Carolina Creek) 17 School Portraits 23 See You At The Pole
November 7 13
Chili Cook Off (Rain Date) Annual Campaign Ends 16-20 Book Fair 20 Family Day 25-29 No School - Thanksgiving Break
December
2-4 5th Grade Texas History Trip 11 Lower School Christmas Production 10-16 Middle School Midterms October 16 Early Ed (PreK3-K) Christmas Production 4-8 7th Grade New York / Boston Trip 9 Faculty Development Day / Early Dismissal 17 Alumni Day 18-4 No School- Christmas Break 12-13 No School- Fall Break 19 Annual Campaign Begins 24 Chili Cook Off 26-30 6th Grade Washington DC Trip
Grading Periods Q1 Q2
Progress Reports Q1 Q2
Q3
August 19 - October 9 October 14 - December 17 January 5 - March 12
Q4
March 22 - May 26
January 1-4 No School 4 Teacher In-Service 18 No School- Martin Luther King Day
February 3 Yearbook Photos 1 10 Yearbook Photos 2 15 No School - President's Day 26 Annual Auction Event 24 Class Pictures
April 2-5 7-16 14 16 22 29
Parent Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast Fine Arts Night Athletic Awards Ceremony
May Band Concert 7 10-14 8th Grade Finals 14 8th Grade Production
19-25 2 History & Science Fair 25 5-11 8th Grade London / Oxford Trip 25 12 Faculty Development Day / Early Dismissal 26 15-19 No School - Spring Break
March
No School - Easter Break Standardized Testing Window Shakespeare Day
7th Grade Finals End of Year Chapel 8th Grade Graduation Last Day of School / Early Dismissal
Report Cards
Q3
September 16 November 11 February 10
Q1 October 15 Q2 January 7 Q3 March 25
Q4
April 14
Q4 May 28
7000 Ferris Street Bellaire, TX 77401 www.veritasca.org 713-773-9605
7000 Ferris Street • Bellaire, TX 77401 www.veritasca.org • 713.773.9605