2012 SSSAS Fall Winter Magazine

SSSASFALL/WINTER 2012 k the MAGAZINE ofSt. Stephen's & St. Agnes School

INSIDE

Learning & Serving: Locally and Globally

p Lower School Director/Assistant Head of School Bob Weiman visiting a school in China

q Michele Phillips '12 with students from our partner school in Haiti, St. Paul's Episcopal

St. Stephen's & St. Agnes SchoolLiving Our Mission

Joan G. Ogilvy Holden Head of School

Editor & DesignMelissa Ulsaker Maas '76, Director of Publications

Content EditorLinda Stratton, Director of Communications

Staff WritersMelissa Ulsaker Maas '76Mandi SappLinda Stratton

Alumni NewsTyler Hetzer, Director of Alumni Relations

PhotographySean CavanaughDevelopment OfficeSusan HamonPatricia LyonsMelissa Ulsaker Maas '76Jen MilbrettMandi SappBob Weiman

Sports PhotographyJameson Bloom '13Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76Connor Ortman '14

PrintingMasterprint

The St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School magazine is provided solely as an SSSAS community publication and is sent three times per year to alumni; current parents, grandparents, faculty, and staff; members of school boards; members of the school community who have made a donation to the school in the past five years; former faculty members who have left the school in the previous year or who served the school for ten or more years; and parents or grandparents of children who graduated in the previous year.

If you would like to update address information or you prefer not to receive this mailing,please contact Geoff Johnson: 703-212-2717 or [email protected].

400 Fontaine Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22302www.sssas.org

© 2012 St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School

3Fall/Winter 2012, SSSAS Magazine

SSSASSt. Stephen's & St. Agnes School

FALL/WINTER 2012

6 Pursuing a Passion for Learning The APT Summer Study Grants

12 Pursuing a Commitment to Service Strengthening Our Bond with St. Paul's School in Haiti

14 Pursuing a Commitment to Service Two seniors share their very personal service journeys

16 Teaching 21st Century Skills through Play

19 Reflections: Courageously Speaking

20 Senior Elected as Youngest Delegate to Republican National Convention

30 SSSAS Welcomes Local and International Students at S4S Conference

34 SSSAS Welcomes New Board Members

36 Perspectives from the Past: Two Alumni Share Early Memories of Our School

39 An Unheralded Blessing for Our School

DEPARTMENTS 4 A Letter from the Head

21 Saints in Action: SSSAS Highlights

32 The Book Report

41 Alumni Connections

45 Milestones & In Memoriam

FEATURES

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A Letter from the Head

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This fall, our Performing Arts Department performed the play "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" by Celeste Raspanti. It is about the World War II ghetto Theresienstadt in the Czech town of Terezin. More than 150,000 children passed through Terezin, and only about 100 were still alive when it was liberated at the end of the war. The play focuses on a character named Raja, one of the Jewish survivors. As the play begins, Raja returns to Terezin to remember and honor the people with whom she shared her time in the ghetto. Having lived through the horror, she is driven to tell the true story of the children. The play is based on the works of art and poetry by Jewish children who lived in Theresienstadt. In the words of our director, Jim Marvin, "It is my hope that we may all learn from these brave individuals and work to bring and sustain goodness in the world."

This play is powerful and intense. Mr. Marvin provided a spiritual advisor and history advisors for the cast, crew, and directors. These individuals gave the students an accurate historical perspective, as well as emotional support and understanding, given the complexities and depth of the topic. Everyone who contributed to this production did so with a seriousness of purpose and an openness and willingness to take on this subject. For many reasons, this is a very difficult play. I am proud of our students for taking on this challenge and for creating such a heartfelt and professional production.

"I Never Saw Another Butterfly" speaks to our mission at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, as it reflects both our excellent Performing Arts Department and our pursuit of goodness as well as knowledge. To quote Mr. Marvin: "May we, each and every one of us, contribute to the light and kindness in the world."

As we enjoy this Christmas and holiday season, let us remember these inspiring words.

Sincerely,

Joan G. Ogilvy Holden Head of School

Cast of CharactersRaja Englanderova from Terezin: Virginia Coffield '13

Young Raja Englanderova in Terezin: Claire Malkie '13Loudspeaker One, a voice: Aaron Brackett '14

Loudspeaker Two, a voice: Anii Chams-Eddine '14Father: TréVaughn Allison '14

Mother: Camille Jones '14Pavel, her brother: Alex Collins '15Erika, a neighbor: Lizzie Beane '13

Irena Synkova, a teacher: Sibet Partee '14Renka, her assistant: Dylan Reynolds '14

Irca, Pavel's fiancée: LeAnn Dunn '13Honza, a friend of Raja: Christian Osborne '14

Children of Terezin: Ellen Stevens '15, Isabel Dewhurst '14,Molly Brenner '16, Halle Cann '16, and Katie Connor '16

"I Never Saw Another Butterfly"


Bob WeimanLower School Director, Assistant Head of SchoolTrip to China organized by Independent Education and the Elementary School Heads Association

One of the goals of a St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School education is to prepare our graduates to be successful in an increasingly interconnected world. We want our students to be curious about the world around them, to be knowledgeable about myriad peoples and nations, to be comfortable interacting with people of different cultures, and to think critically about what they read, experience, and learn. As a country that is a major player on the contemporary world stage with an extraordinary and rich history, China is a nation that our students should learn about. This summer, thanks to a summer study grant from the Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) and professional growth and development funds from the school, I traveled to China with a group of independent school educators for 14 days to see the sights and visit schools in five cities, Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Hong Kong. Our purpose was to explore Chinese history and culture and develop connections with schools in China that can enhance our students' global understanding.

Experiencing the major historical sights of ancient China was extraordinary. Armed with my iPad I took hundreds of pictures, hours of video, and many notes that I will eagerly share with students throughout the year. Modern China is vibrant and captivating. When traveling throughout the country, one is quickly aware of the incredible scale of its cities and notable rate of growth. Cranes line the streets and skylines. Populations in major cities reach 20, even 30 million. China is certainly a country on the move. When I tried to post my first blog from China (www.saintsgoglobal.blogspot.com), I discovered one prominent aspect

of modern China that is in stark contrast with the United States. As I tried to log in to the Blogger website, an error message came up. The same thing happened on a colleague's Wordpress site. Deciding to explore this further, I looked up Tiananmen Square on Wikipedia. Blocked. Twitter and Facebook. Blocked. Several attempts to look up articles about Chen Guangcheng, the blind activist who had recently escaped from house arrest. No luck. After many attempts to explore what might be deemed controversial topics, I was able to obtain information online from various news sources like the Associated Press and Reuters. I subsequently learned that many people set up Virtual Private Networks to access information from servers outside of China. Inside China, however, gleaning information about sensitive topics, events, and issues is not easy, and searches and postings are most certainly monitored by the government.

I knew little about the Chinese education system before embarking on this journey, but I came to understand a great deal through my visits to six schools. While it is unwise to paint a vast nation's entire school system with one brush stroke, some interesting trends were discovered as we toured schools and met with administrators, teachers, and students. Firstly, the curriculum is extremely rigorous and narrowly focused on core academic subjects. In the schools we visited, students take multiple, high-level science and math classes each day, and there is almost no time for the arts, athletics, clubs, and extracurricular activities. This is facilitated by an extremely long school day and a culture of focus and hard work. Class sizes are typically between 50 and 60 students, and the format is lecture-based. Secondly, there is a major focus on exams as the primary form of exhibition of understanding, and a great deal rests on the students' performance on these exams. Students' promotion from middle school to high school is based entirely upon exam scores; those who score well will attend a top high school, those who do fair will attend a second-tier school, and those who do poorly will go directly into the labor force. The infamous Gaokao exam is given at the end of high school and is the sole determinant of the level of Chinese university that one can attend or if one will be able to attend university at all. This system, rooted in the ancient governmental examination system, is at once both extremely egalitarian and also narrow and stressful.

Thirdly, private schools have begun to spring up that offer more flexibility than traditional public schools. While these schools still follow a national curriculum, they have more leeway in regard to creating school culture and philosophy. Also, many have smaller international schools within the larger school setting. In these schools students essentially opt out of the path toward a Chinese university education and take Advanced Placement or A-Level courses with the goal of attending university in the U.S., Great Britain, Australia, Canada, or other Western nations. Finally, there is a booming educational consultant industry in China, as

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Pursuing a Passion for LearningThe Association of Parents and Teachers Summer Study Grants

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people take advantage of both a rising middle class with greater disposable income and a desire among some Chinese parents for their children to have a more well-rounded, diverse education. These consultants help Chinese students get into Western universities or even secondary schools, with the goal of enhancing their English skills and humanities knowledge to position them to attend a strong university down the road. We met with educational consultants at each school we visited, and sometimes they, and not school personnel, gave us the school tour. It will be interesting to see the degree to which these trends continue, given the desire of many upwardly mobile Chinese to broaden their international horizons.

My colleagues and I approached the school visits with many goals in mind. We were interested in creating joint inquiry projects, perhaps around environmental issues, that would be executed via the Internet; creating Internet-based cultural exchanges about customs, holidays, and daily routines; and connecting our Upper School Mandarin students with their high school English students to practice language skills. The administrators and officials at the Chinese schools, on the other hand, were single-mindedly focused on creating opportunities for their students to spend time in our schools, from a couple of weeks to a year, to practice their English skills and gain more exposure to and understanding of the humanities. Once we understood this desire, we were better able to frame our ideas and hopes in terms of developing relationships with the schools online on a small scale before embarking upon long-term student visits and exchanges. Our hosts responded that they would be open to such projects, and our group has since sent a list of specific proposals to the schools we visited for consideration.

During my two weeks in China I learned a great deal about Chinese history, culture, and education that I am sharing with the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes community. I also learned more about myself. There is something inherently challenging about traveling halfway around the world with a group of strangers to a country with different food, customs, and language. There were times that I felt nervous and uncomfortable, such as when I took a cab across Beijing by myself to visit SSSAS alumnus Travis Thompson '07 who was living in China, or when I took a ferry at night from Hong Kong to Macao to visit a college friend. But, as I encourage our Upper School students to consider traveling to China or any other country, I share that there is no better way to learn about a country or culture than to experience it firsthand, and only by taking some risks and leaning into discomfort can one grow in unique ways. I will forever be grateful to SSSAS for sending me on this amazing and fulfilling journey.

Alicia BlowersMiddle School LibrarianInternational Board on Books for Youth Congress, London

I had the opportunity to participate in the IBBY (International Board on Books for Youth) Congress, which was held in London. IBBY is a non-profit organization that represents people from around the world who are committed to bringing books and children together. This year's congress theme was "Crossing Boundaries: Translations and Migrations." I had the opportunity

to meet authors, illustrators, translators, and librarians from across the globe and gain insight into the benefits and challenges of translating, importing, and exporting literature from one country to another. The day before the congress began, I joined other delegates in touring Oxford, the "home of children's literature," where authors including C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, and J.R.R. Tolkien taught and wrote their now-classic works. While there, we had the chance to get a sneak peek at The Story Museum, which will be opening in 2015. The day after the congress, I took another tour to Leavesden for the Harry Potter studio tour and then headed to Great Missenden to see the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre. I also managed to visit several London sites, including Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the British Library, and Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey. Throughout the experience, I took copious notes, both on what I learned and ideas that were inspired by what I learned. I plan to incorporate more international titles into our library's collection and encourage our students to read globally by highlighting the origins of novels and drawing attention to award-winning titles from other countries. These travels left me enthusiastic to share my experiences with students and revisit the classics (old and new) myself.

The Rev. Sean CavanaughReligion Department Chair, Chaplain JK-12Social Landscape of the Bible Course, St. George's Anglican College, Jerusalem

For my APT grant I spent two weeks in Israel studying how geography and the social context of first century Palestine influenced the gospel writers. The course was held at a small Anglican college in Jerusalem. The study group for the course was small, but diverse. Anglican priests from England, New Zealand, and Australia made the experience both eclectic and global. The leader of the course was a Palestinian Anglican priest who has spent his entire life in the region. His knowledge and perspective of the geo-political climate of first century Palestine helped to transcend the course into something more than the facts and figures. I look forward to sharing what I learned about the region and first century Jewish life in my New Testament classes. In particular, the course gave me new insight and confidence to make maps of the region, including the social context of the region, which are an important part of my teaching going forward.

Ian HochbergUpper School Latin TeacherAP Latin Workshop: Teaching Caesar, Taft School, Connecticut

I attended an AP Latin workshop entitled "Teaching Caesar," which was taught by Jill Crooker at Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut. Twenty-two Latin teachers from around the


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across the country and the world who are now actively part of my professional learning network, mostly via Twitter. I also left the conference with a wealth of new ideas, questions, and goals, which I carried into this school year. At BLC 2012, I heard from many prestigious JK-12 and university educators representing countries and schools from across the globe. Presenters spoke on current events and subjects relevant to schools in 2012 and the future. Topics spanned from pedagogy to specific application of lessons and tools used in schools today. It may come as no surprise that educational technology was a heavy focus at this year's conference. Many of the 90-plus workshop sessions focused on the integration of iPads into school curricula and classrooms. I was particularly interested in these sessions to see what I may discover, and also what I may apply during St. Stephen's & St. Agnes' Lower School 2012-13 iPad integration pilot program. I learned many ways that leading educators and schools are using iPads as meaningful and practical educational tools. I left the BLC Conference with great excitement for the school year to begin and a mind filled with ideas on how I plan to enhance learning for our students, faculty, and the school community.

Lori Melfi Middle School English TeacherVermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier, Vermont

This summer I attended my first residency at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, in Montpelier. This residency marked the beginning of a four-semester journey toward earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing, with a focus in children's and young adult literature. The picture books, early chapter books, and middle-grade novels of my childhood caused me to fall in love with reading and writing. Therefore, I am excited and honored to be working with other writers who are also passionate about children's and young adult literature. At the residency, my creative writing was critiqued in an hour-long session with other writing students and faculty members. Additionally, I attended 23 thoughtful and creative lectures by graduating students and faculty members. All of the faculty members are published authors, so it was fascinating to hear about their personal experiences with writing, their favorite strategies, and their advice to beginning writers. I also enjoyed a Q&A session with Linda Sue Park, author of The Single Shard, which won the Newbery Medal in 2002. Each month since July, I have submitted creative writing, critical essays, and an annotated bibliography to my faculty advisor. I am keeping a list of the books I read so that I can make recommendations to my students for their independent reading. I offered a creative writing club to seventh grade students once a week for the past two years, and the many students who attended were imaginative and talented. I look forward to sharing my love for creative writing with a new group of seventh grade students this year.

Keith MillsUpper School Dean of Students, AP Government TeacherGardner Carney Leadership Institute, Colorado

I attended the five-day Gardner Carney Leadership Institute (GCLI) in Colorado Springs, Colorado for my APT grant. The GCLI is designed to bring together teachers and administrators

country convened to translate, analyze, and discuss all of the lines from Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico that were added to the new AP Latin course. I must admit that while I have attended conferences with plenty of Latin teachers, I have never been in a classroom before with so many dynamic teachers discussing their pedagogy and anticipated strategies for teaching Caesar to high school students. During the week, we spent six hours a day in class and continued our discussions long after class hours. The week proved to be vital in helping me prepare for a new AP course, and, admittedly, for me it was fun. I am excited to implement what I learned into my AP course this year, in particular, to incorporate essential questions. Jill Crooker explained the content of the new AP exam, offered strategies for improving student performance, and provided us with USB drives filled with countless resources. In addition, the class created an online drop box (a free service that lets you upload your photos, documents, and videos) to share our projects as well as future materials. Each teacher left the workshop with collective, new materials, but also with new acquaintances, friends, and colleagues to use as sounding boards.

Dallis ByrneMiddle & Upper School Chorus TeacherChoral Music Experience Workshop, Ithaca College

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a week at Ithaca College in New York, participating in the Choral Music Experience Workshop. The clinicians were nationally recognized choral conductor Janet Galván and composer Stephen Hatfield.

During the week, we worked on our conducting and rehearsal skills. We participated in classes on score study, solfeggio, improvisation, conducting, and conducting master classes. We worked with a choir made up of students in grades six through twelve. Additionally, we were able to conduct songs and watch rehearsals. This allowed us to witness many choral and

discipline techniques throughout the week. I was thrilled to return to my alma mater for the workshop this summer and have already begun using the rehearsal and sight-reading techniques I learned, here in my classes here at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes. (Above photo: Dallis Byrne (right) with Janet Galván, conductor of the Ithaca College Chorus and Women's Chorale)

Tim HowardLower School Technology CoordinatorBuilding Learning Communities Conference, Boston

I had the pleasure of attending the Building Learning Communities (BLC) Conference in Boston, which draws thousands of educators from all over the world. The three-day conference was the most engaging and substantial conference I've ever attended. I departed the event with more than I imagined I could gain. At BLC, I established new friendships with educators

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from independent schools so they can learn best how to motivate, instruct, and learn from student leaders. Many hours were spent hearing from experts on the brain, such as Dr. Joanne Deak, and problem-solving in small and large groups. Nightly reading informed our group sessions in the morning, while afternoons were spent simulating problematic, real-life school situations and then breaking them down to learn why we do what we do. Time was also spent participating in outdoor experiences in the Colorado mountains. The institute leads into a year-long extension program where small groups will continue to meet through email and conference calls to support each other and discuss challenging scenarios as they arise throughout this school year. The insight into the development of the teenage brain, and the support of new friends and colleagues will be influential in my relationships and will help better my style of leadership here at SSSAS.

Jill McElroyUpper School English TeacherNinth Biennial Iranian Studies Conference, Istanbul

I traveled to Istanbul, Turkey to attend the ninth Biennial Iranian Studies Conference, sponsored by the International Society for Iranian Studies (ISIS), an independent, non-partisan, non-political, multi-disciplinary, international community of

scholars and the premier Iranian studies organization in the world. I learned a lot about Persian literature and narrative traditions (such as writing as political allegory), as well as contemporary trends in Iranian literature, primarily memoir. As the conference covered topics in many academic disciplines, I also attended some sessions on sociology, politics, and women's studies. I hope to incorporate some of the texts I learned about at the conference into a Middle Eastern literature and history elective. I had

been looking forward to attending some workshops with Iranian writers, but none ended up attending. The Iranian government issued some warnings to the academics who had planned to attend, threatening their jobs, just weeks before the conference. This was disappointing, but also an eye-opening, real-life glimpse into some of the challenges present in contemporary Iran. Finally, spending the week in Istanbul, a city with rich literary traditions of its own, was wonderful.

Carrie RohrbachMiddle School French TeacherAmerican Association of Teachers of French Convention, Chicago

The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) holds a convention in a different North American city each year. I had the pleasure of joining an impressive number of French teachers in Chicago for the 2012 convention, appropriately named "Le Francais au bord des Grands Lacs" (French on the Great Lakefront). During the course of four days, I attended four to five sessions daily, which ranged from organizing a trip to the

Cajun countryside, to debating the definition of francophone in our current society, to integrating formative assessments as engaging activities, to utilizing Quebecois music in the classroom. I received booklets, websites, and email addresses from incredibly talented and generous educators who want to share their love of teaching the French language. I have explored a lot of the material I received during the convention and am excited to introduce my students to more authentic examples of French language on a daily basis as well as conduct an exchange program with other English- and French-language learners. I want to instill a lifelong passion for language learning, and I now have many more ways in which I can accomplish this with my eighth grade students.

Andrea OlatunjiUpper School Spanish Teacher, Modern & Classical Languages Department Chair JK-12Future of Learning Program, Harvard University

The purpose of my APT grant was to participate in a program called Future of Learning at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This four-day seminar is designed to help educators understand the way students learn in relationship to their society and the evolving technologies in which they are immersed. The program addresses questions such as: How might schools prepare the young for their increasingly global futures? What is worth teaching in societies where unprecedented amounts of information are available at the click of a mouse? How do you teach for the kind of deep understanding that allows people to solve complex problems and do work that is both excellent and innovative? In order to be an effective educator in this changing world, I believe I cannot cease to be a learner. Acquiring new skills and being challenged as a professional allows me to model intellectual curiosity and eagerness for knowledge. Being a lifelong learner enables me to inspire my students to seek academic, spiritual, and personal growth. This cutting-edge seminar not only provided me with a deep insight into emerging pedagogies, but it will also enable me to create instructional materials and environments that promote deep learning and understanding. In order to contribute to St. Stephen's and St. Agnes' pursuit of global and technological literacy, I am bringing back the expertise gained from this seminar to our school community. Through a variety of instructional techniques, I will be able to provide students with new perspectives on leadership, deepen their repertoire of problem-solving skills, engage them in personal reflection, and help them to build lasting knowledge.

Vonique Van WayUpper School French TeacherIFALPES Intensive French Course, Annecy, France

This summer I studied at IFALPES (Institut Français des Alpes), a school located in the city of Annecy in the French Alps. Known as the "Venice" of France because of its canals running


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through the old town center, Annecy is the perfect place to immerse oneself in the French language, culture, and cuisine. My intensive conversation class met daily and included students of all ages and nations–Russia, Germany, Spain, Hungary, China, Korea, Brazil, and the Ivory Coast, to name a few. The diversity of the students led to dynamic discussions about "hot" topics like housing in France for the Roms, a gypsy-like community that has recently been expelled from many French cities. As a teacher, I found this part of the experience extremely exciting since not only were we speaking in French, but we were also learning about controversial issues from citizens of the world! I loved watching my two professors teach–how they conducted class, introduced topics, led discussions, included everyone, and successfully taught such a wide variety of students. I was intrigued by the fact that the teachers used only a "soupçon"–a hint of–technology each day. These professionals used their own voices, their manicured lesson plans, and their intriguing questions and comments to teach. And finally, but most importantly, I found it refreshing to return to the classroom as a student–something I have always loved. I have already started incorporating what I learned during my week at IFALPES into my own lesson plans–just ask the students in my Francophone Literature class what they know about the Roms!

Kati TowleMiddle School Art Teacher, Visual Arts Department Chair JK-12Art Exploration & Teaching, Maputo, Mozambique

My summer study grant supported me as a volunteer art teacher for a week in Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. I was able to combine my passion for the arts with my commitment for community service at the Livro Aberto Children's Literacy Center. Livro Aberto employs creative strategies for supporting and enhancing literacy. I was asked to create a lesson plan for an

art project with a connection to an author or book. I chose the book, The Dot, by Peter Reynolds. I paired the story with a fun and easy painting technique, and working with teachers and more than 100 students in three venues, we turned the paintings into unique books. The children and adults with whom I was

working that week truly opened my mind to what it means to have a global perspective and what it means to be purely creative. As a result of this amazing experience, I plan to transform the Middle School Empty Bowls Project into the Middle School Empty Books Project!

Nina TyreeUpper School Science Teacher, Science Department Chair JK-12Oxbridge Teacher Seminar: The Visual Experience, Cambridge University, England

I spent a week at Cambridge University through the Oxbridge Teacher Seminars program. The seminar was titled "The Visual Experience," which challenged participants to "be thinking about

the visual arts not just as decorative or representative, but as they have shaped and changed the world." Each morning a small group of teachers gathered to discuss all aspects of art, and in true Cambridge tradition, our discussions rarely stayed on the topic of the day. At the end of the week, we each used something with which we had personally connected, to create our own art. Each discussion was followed by a field trip to one of the many resources in Cambridge, including museums, sculpture gardens, and the University Classics Department. Each afternoon, the full group of about 30 teachers came together for lectures and expeditions. Dinner was followed by events such as a concert, works of Shakespeare performed in a college courtyard, and social time. The experience was immensely valuable as well as rejuvenating. Being the student in a course outside of my comfort zone was a vivid reminder of the insecurities many of my students feel. I was reminded of the power of visual media to convey information, which is as useful in science as in any other discipline. Spending time in another country and embracing their culture brought to mind our school's efforts to provide a global curriculum. Finally, a week with no responsibility beyond thinking and learning, in the company of dedicated, motivated, independent school teachers, provided both rest and stimulation to return to the classroom with renewed enthusiasm.

More Faculty Seek Professional Development During Summer and Fall

v As president-elect of the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC), Director of College Counseling Dr. Michael Carter attended a three-day, in-depth conference for those about to enter their state and regional affiliate leadership cycles at the National Association for College Admission Counseling Leadership Development Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. He also served on the faculty of the PCACAC Summer Institute at the University of Delaware, which instructs college admission counselors and college counselors in their first five years in the profession. Dr. Carter presented two panel sessions during the conference.

v Upper School Associate Director of College Counseling Tim Doyle attended the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools Summer Institute that included sessions and seminars dealing with issues facing independent school college counselors today.

v Director of Upper School Bud Garikes, JK-12 Curriculum Coordinator and Dean of Faculty Theresa Cullen Hill, Acting Director of Middle School Charlotte Riggs, Kindergarten Teacher Donna Ryan, and History Department Chair Steve

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Ebner attended the four-day Building Learning Communities conference on global technology education in the 21st century classroom. The conference, held in Boston, Massachusetts, focused on finding ways to use technology to enhance the student-teacher experience and to make those critical connections that are such an integral part of the learning process.

v Lower School Chaplain and Religion Teacher The Rev. Rosemary Beales participated in a four-day class at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, Practicum in Spirituality of Children. Chaplain Beales was invited to be one of two "Godly Play" trainers. Together they presented approximately 40 Godly Play lessons to class participants.

v Third Grade Teacher Jonathan Lamkay attended TeachFest by LearnZillian sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Teachers from across the country came together for several days to plan and create lessons that faculty, parents, and students could access from anywhere. The program included breakout sessions to discuss changing trends and how teachers can reach students outside their classrooms through short video lessons.

v Fifth Grade Teacher Nhan Lo participated in a four-day Responsive Classroom Workshop in Arlington, Virginia, and Fourth Grade Teacher Caitlin Engelberg attended a seven-day Responsive Classroom Workshop in Washington, D.C. The workshops covered a variety of Responsive Classroom components, including Morning Meetings, Logical Consequence, Creating Rules, Teacher Language, and Interactive Modeling.

v Third Grade Teacher Kirsten Becker attended a two-day course on Planting the Seeds of Algebra with International Math Consultant Monica Neagoy, held at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School last summer, which focused on weaving algebraic concepts into elementary math.

v Middle School French Teacher Carrie Rohrbach attended the three-day Summer University for Teachers at the French Embassy of Washington, D.C. This summer's theme was "Orality and Theatre in the Classroom" and was conducted by two members of a French theatre group.

v Upper School English Teacher Jill McElroy attended a one-week AP Institute course, which prepares faculty to teach AP English Literature.

v Upper School Math Teacher James King attended a one-week BC Calculus Workshop in Fairfax, Virginia offered by the College Board, covering all calculus topics that are exclusive to the BC Calculus AP exam.

v Upper School French Teacher Kimberly Scott participated in a one-week AP French Language and Culture Workshop at the College of William & Mary. The workshop covered the AP course curriculum development, presentation of Internet educational resources for language learners, practice exam, samples of student work, rubrics, and assessments.

v Upper School English Teacher Dr. Roberta Klein attended a six-day Historic New England Program in Boston, Massachusetts to attend lectures on New England history, art, architecture, and decorative arts; hands-on workshops on antique ceramics, textiles, and furniture; and tours of numerous New England historic houses, from the Colonial period through 20th century. Dr. Klein also attended a Road Scholar educational adventure, A 21st Century Chautauqua, in Natural Bridge, Virginia, which offered four lectures daily on a variety of topics: history (especially Virginia history), literature, art history, theatre, music, and math.

v Upper School Spanish Teacher Fay Slattery attended a four-week Smithsonian program, The Aztec and Mayan Calendars.

v Upper School English Teacher Dr. Andrew Sidle attended a three-day Emerson, Hawthorne, and Poe Society conference in Florence, Italy, Conversazioni in Italia. Emerson, Poe, and Hawthorne scholars from around the world presented papers on topics involving the transatlantic connections with one of the three authors. The panels covered philosophical, historical, social, political, and literary contexts. Dr. Sidle's paper was entitled "Emerson, Marcus Aurelius, and Hadot: Transatlantic Transcendentalism and Timeless Ethics."

v Upper School History Teacher Dr. Jan Jacobs attended a three-day conference at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, Writing and the Contemplative Mind at the GMU Center for Consciousness and Transformation.

v Technical Support Specialist David Nadelhoffer attended the three-day Educational Collaborators Connections Conference in Washington, D.C. The hands-on sessions focused on a wide variety of sharing and learning experiences through technology, including flipping the classroom; using iPads to enhance curriculum and the student-teacher experience; technology and engagement techniques; creating eBooks, podcasts, videos, and screencasts to support education; and integrating digital citizenship and media literacy into the classroom.

v Director of Communications Linda Stratton and Technical Support Specialist Jake Currie attended a three-day WhippleHill Communications (Web Solutions for Schools) Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. Topics included Tips for Mobile Sites, Web Communication to the Max, Virtual Tours, and Using iPads in Classrooms.

v Upper School Religion Teacher Dr. Patricia Lyons is teaching two courses about Christian themes in the Harry Potter book series: a four-week course at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, and a semester-long course at Virginia Theological Seminary called Where is God in Harry Potter?


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Strengthening Our Bond with St. Paul's School in Haiti

By Rebecca Pearson Cooper Middle School Religion Teacher

This past June, a group of us from St. Stephen's & St. Agnes traveled to Montrouis, Haiti to visit our partner school, St. Paul's Episcopal. Accompanying me on the trip were JK-12 Chaplain The Rev. Sean Cavanaugh, Fourth Grade Teacher Kate Carpenter, and recent graduates Cullin Brown '12, Kate Curran '12, Michele Phillips '12, and Joe Warren '12. One of the goals of the trip was to explore the feasibility of taking additional groups of students to do service work at St. Paul's. Although we had only 48 hours in Haiti, Father Jacques Deravil, the priest in charge of St. Paul's Episcopal School and Church, his wife, and the children of St. Paul's left a lasting impression. I returned from the trip feeling proud of our graduates, awed by the perseverance of the Haitian people, and fully aware that partnerships such as these take time and patience to develop.

We arrived in Port-au-Prince on a hot, workday afternoon. Not far from the airport we saw a huge tent city set up for displaced persons following the devastating earthquake in January 2010. I noticed mostly bare hillsides, goats and cows tethered to ropes, people selling their wares, high walls built around homes, and construction projects in progress or halted from lack of

funds. The trip to Father Deravil's house, which lies along the ocean, took about two hours. We spent the rest of our first day getting acclimated and exploring the property.

The next morning we piled into Fr. Deravil's pickup truck to drive the short distance to St. Paul's School and parish. We started at the church, which serves as a classroom for the youngest students. Their blue uniforms, the bows in the little girls' hair, and the bright smiles impressed me. However, the language barrier frustrated me. I naively thought that my high school French might have been of use; however, the teachers and students spoke mainly Creole.

Opposite the church is a long, one-story building that houses about five classrooms for the older students. There is no electricity, so the brick construction is designed to let the most natural light through as possible. The students were excited to see visitors. I worried that we had interrupted the teacher's lessons but had no way to communicate my concern. All I could do was offer a warm smile and try to communicate as best I could.

Later during lunch, we shared the sports equipment we had brought. The soccer balls were a big hit. At one point, I sat down on a ledge to watch the students play and was surrounded by smiling, curious girls. We saw the outside kitchen where the daily meal of beans and rice is prepared using charcoal. For many students, this is the only meal they have per day. Our students had hoped to bring a solar oven for the school, since charcoal is scarce, gasoline is expensive, and electricity is unreliable, but airline restrictions on checking boxes to the Caribbean during summer months halted the plan for now. We saw the technology classroom under construction, which now has very nice wooden furniture. Last May, the SSSAS community generously raised funds for St. Paul's to purchase tables, chairs, and an electricity connection to help utilize the 20 laptop computers SSSAS donated in 2011. At this time, St. Paul's is still determining how to power the computers, given their current infrastructure.

As we left early the next day, I thought about Haiti's complex history and the many challenges that Haitians face. I also thought about how impressed I was with our recent graduates. They met the challenges of the trip–especially the heat, unreliable electricity, poor plumbing, and a

p From left to right - front row: Michele Phillips '12, Fr. Jacques Deravil, Fr. Sean Cavanaugh; back row: Kate Curran '12, Cullin Brown '12, Joe Warren '12, and Rebecca Cooper.


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flat tire–with patience and a positive attitude. They interacted with the students in a relaxed way and with generosity of spirit. Michele Phillips said, "Taking a group of students from our school really established a stronger bond between SSSAS and St. Paul's, one that I hope continues to grow. Although we as a community are helping them by donating resources, the SSSAS community is gaining the same, if not more, back from St. Paul's. There is so much to be learned from the Haitian people, and those at St. Paul's are just starting to show us." Joe Warren reflected on the trip and the impact it will have on his future. "Going off into college, I definitely thought about the incredible gift I'd been given by SSSAS in seeing Haiti," he said. "It made me realize that I have an obligation to try and take advantage of the opportunities given to me and use them to make those less fortunate better off. It was a truly life-changing experience."

For me, this trip was about building trust and exploring possibilities to deepen our partner relationship with St. Paul's School. We are looking forward to exploring more opportunities for cultural exchange and possible service projects for our students. Father Cavanaugh said, "We continue to discuss with Father Deravil what our working together should look like. This relationship, like any relationship, continues to evolve and change. We will be working with the people at St. Paul's to find common projects and goals that we can share." On this trip, he said, "Our students gained insight into the struggles, challenges, and hopes of what it means to be a student in a very poor and underdeveloped country. Overall, I came back with the renewed sense that our relationship and partnership with St. Paul's is something that is very important to both of our communities."

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Meredith Godfrey '13Comfort Zone Camp Fundraiser

Comfort Zone Camp is the nation's largest, non-profit bereavement camp. This camp helps grieving children through one of the hardest times of their lives after experiencing the loss of a parent or sibling. The primary focus is to incorporate fun into a safe environment that encourages young children to feel

comfortable enough to tell their stories, although sharing is not mandatory. I lost my father when I was ten years old. After numerous fights and having to carry me out of the car kicking and screaming, my mom forced me into this camp. Comfort Zone provided an environment that made me feel normal again and safe enough to express the emotions I was feeling. This camp proved to be the greatest catharsis for me in a time of need. I can confidently say that without this camp, I would not have been able to deal with my grief in a healthy manner, and I would not be the person I am today.

After my mother, Colette, and my brother, Cooper, saw what a profound difference the Comfort Zone Camp made in my life, they vowed to raise money for this unbelievable organization. In 2006, they created a tennis tournament fundraiser. Although the camp is free for the campers and their families, it costs Comfort Zone $500 to send a child to camp. I took over the fundraiser for my brother in 2009, when he went to college. Writing letters, getting sponsors, and asking local shops for donations have become regular tasks in my life. Each year's work culminates in the tournament held at the Mount Vernon Health & Racquet Club in Alexandria. In addition to the tennis tournament, we celebrate in the evening with a party that includes a room filled with silent and live auction items. This year we had more than 50 silent auction items, 100 guests, and raised roughly $8,000 for this wonderful cause. Our annual tournaments each March have raised more than $60,000, and in addition we have been able to hold two weekend camps in honor of my father.

Through this experience I have learned the true meaning of giving back, especially to an organization that has touched your life in some way. Working with the camp has been a highlight of my life, and I will continue to help

During the summer numerous Upper School students volunteer their time to help local and international service organizations. The Class of 2013 performed service in more than 50 organizations in the Washington Metropolitan Area and around the world. As part of their 40-hour service project requirements, they write reflection pieces about their experiences. Seniors Meredith Godfrey and Jeremy Simmons graciously agreed to share their profoundly personal and extraordinary journeys to give back to organizations that made a significant difference in their own lives.

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them. I have experienced the true joy of helping those in need. I believe that charity is what builds us up the most and speaks volumes about our true character. It is difficult for anyone to fully understand the pain and emotional sickness that a child suffers after losing a parent or sibling. Dealing with the loss of a loved one is hard, but Comfort Zone taught me that it gets better and that every day gets a little bit easier. If I can help even one child who is in as much pain as I was to realize that, then all the work that this fundraiser has required over the past seven years has been well worth it.

Jeremy Simmons '13The Arthur Gough Orphanage, Costa Rica

The Arthur Gough Orphanage is a home for children in San Jose who have either lost their parents or were given up because their parents could no longer care for them. The orphanage works to keep the children safe and active in hopes of adoption, but it also houses children with dis-

abilities. It is associated with an adoption agency in Fort Worth, Texas, the Gladney Center, which is the orphan-age from which I was adopted.

When I first walked into the gates of the orphanage, the children swarmed me for hugs. Any reservations I had about this trip vanished. In addition to interacting with the children, my group painted two houses inside and out. It was hard work, but worth it because I was helping improve their home life. I also spent a lot of time playing with the children in the orphanage. Seeing them every day made me think about what it would be like to have no parents or family. It was hard seeing them, because they acted so lonely, yet they seemed happy. For example, they would choose to go play alone but would laugh as they did so. There was one autistic child who walked around and sat on the swings holding the hand of a girl from our group. He never talked, only nodded and smiled. I felt so sad for him, but he seemed so content just to hold her hand.

When we played basketball, I would lift the little ones up to dunk, and they would have the biggest grins on their faces. It made me so happy to see a child with almost nothing smile and laugh. I never imagined I could have so much fun being so clueless about what people were saying. I would yell out "here" in Spanish, and they would pass and yell out a direction I didn't understand. I would look so confused, and then I would laugh as I messed up the game. I felt as if I was out of my own bubble and seeing the world in a whole new way. It scares me to think about how my group of friends and I can get so caught up in material possessions, while the children at the orphanage find pleasure in the simple things in life, such as a good conversation, a funny story, or my lack of Spanish skills.

I realize how lucky I am to have been born and adopted where I was, in Texas. I could have found myself in the Arthur Gough Center with those sweet and adorable children in Costa Rica. Most of them will never be adopted, and even fewer will find their parents. I hope that I made a positive impact, both emotionally and physically, on the children. While I was there, I was reminded that there is more to life than things. I learned that just being with a child can make a difference in his or her life.

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A 21st century education is designed to increase students' ability to learn, independently and with others, through curiosity, imagination, technology, adaptability, critical-thinking, and problem-solving, just to name a few. Many experts agree that right-brain thinkers (creative, artistic, empathetic) are wired for 21st-century success. At St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, these skills are incorporated into our curriculum in all grades, with added opportunities for design-thinking such as the tinkering spaces on all three campuses. This year the Lower School is tapping into the right-brain mindset of our youngest students through two new initiatives: Imagination Playground and ThinkFun University.

Imagination Playground An important part of developing creativity and problem-solving skills includes giving students "free" time to think, without rules or supervision. Introduced at the Lower School this fall, Imagination Playground does just that. It is an outdoor block set containing dozens of separate parts, including cubes, blocks, cogs, curves, and cylinders, which students can use to create an infinite array of structures such as houses, cars, and ramps. The parts have holes and shapes that fit together in ways that allow the continuation of a child's idea. One of the most wonderful aspects of outdoor play is that it is student- and

imagination-centered, not centered upon single-purpose equipment. "Students are able to explore elements of design, architecture, physics, and engineering as they interact with the Imagination Playground materials," said Lana Shea, Lower School associate director. "Moreover, students learn to navigate the social landscape as they must learn to negotiate, compromise, and collaborate in order to build their structures."

Third Grade Teacher Aaron Kellner has witnessed firsthand the advanced skills our students are gaining from Imagination Playground. "They are learning to think out of the box, to cooperate with their peers on a group project, the process of trial and error when they may need to adapt their vision if it isn't working, and to be more flexible thinkers, especially when the necessary pieces/materials are unavailable to them," he said.

Imagination Playground truly allows our students to build a new world every day. "One moment the students might build a ship to navigate the seas. Another day they may create an obstacle course or an Olympic venue. In each instance, students are able to bring to fruition their visions and ideas," said Ms. Shea. "It provides opportunities to use their imaginations, explore their curiosity, and create learning opportunities through play."

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Our Lower School has two Imagination Playground sets on campus, one for junior kindergarten through second grade and another for third through fifth grades. The students aren't the only ones learning through play–this summer, the Lower School faculty had a chance to dive in and use the materials themselves, before school started. By using the block sets, they were able to see their own concepts come to life and better understand the lessons students will learn through their use.

ThinkFun University For the past two years, the Lower School has been using ThinkFun educational games to encourage 21st-century skills through play. ThinkFun is based in Alexandria and is a leader in producing "addictively fun" games that build reasoning and creative-thinking skills. "Each game has fun manipulatives that children can hold and touch, which enhances their curiosity in learning," said Junior Kindergarten Teacher Anne Choi. "Students can choose to work independently or in a larger group, and each game is designed to teach children to develop their problem-solving skills. They start by solving problems that are easier and then work their way up to more difficult ones at the end."

This spring an entirely new dimension of ThinkFun was introduced when St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School was invited to join a handful of schools around the nation to pilot a new program called ThinkFun University. ThinkFun University utilizes many aspects of the latest in technology and educational pedagogy to deliver a thoughtful, thought-provoking, and stimulating experience for our students and faculty. Sixteen interested fifth grade students were selected at random to participate in this eight-week pilot program. Each Wednesday afternoon this past spring, the group gathered in Fifth Grade Teacher Trish Dougherty's classroom to learn each facet of creating puzzles for the game Chocolate Fix. Each lesson began with a video "screencast," followed by hands-on practice using worksheets in addition to the physical game. Halfway through the lesson, a second screencast was shown, followed by more hands-on work to bring their understanding to the next level. The teachers (Mrs. Dougherty, Ms. Choi, Kindergarten Teacher Donna Ryan, and Director of Lower School Bob Weiman) circulated around the classroom to answer questions and help students through any challenges. "Many aspects of this course made it unique and truly cutting edge," Mr. Weiman said. "First, it is an excellent example of what has become known as 'blended learning.' A blended learning experience combines face-to-face student/instructor interaction with online learning." In this case the online component was the series of screencasts by Mark Engelberg, inventor of the Chocolate Fix game. Typically each lesson included a beginning and mid-lesson screencast, but occasionally the teachers were asked to pause the video to provide time for class discussion.

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Lower School students let their imaginations run free on the Imagination Playground, building everything from oversized marble runs to obstacle courses, to forts, and more!

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Mrs. Ryan said by participating in this program, our students are learning to become lifelong problem-solvers. "When students develop the ability to articulate their own thinking, they have reached a higher degree of competency," she said. "That is what Mark Engelberg taught them to do…question, explain, and describe, the goal of a true mathematician!"

Students were asked not only to provide their answers, but also to explain their reasoning, rationale, and understanding behind them; not orally or in journals–but rather digitally, using video cameras, iPads, and smartphones. This enabled the teachers to view and review the students' thoughts at a later point in time, and to share the videos with other teachers in the pilot program.

As Mr. Weiman explains, the ThinkFun University course enhances the skills needed for success in the 21st century. "While students learn the techniques necessary to create workable Chocolate Fix puzzles, they hone their strategic-thinking and problem-solving skills," he said. "When they pair up to solve, analyze, and create puzzles, they are working on collaboration skills. When they are asked to clearly and concisely express their

understanding both on paper and on video, they are practicing communication skills. And at the end of the course when they are asked to develop their own Chocolate Fix-like game, they are applying their knowledge and understanding in a creative way."

To get the most out of the ThinkFun games throughout the school year, teachers and administrators visit the company's headquarters each summer for a "playday" with ThinkFun Chief Executive Officer Bill Ritchie and Communications Manager Charlotte Fixler. The visits help teachers discover new ways that the games can complement different aspects of our curriculum. Faculty also discuss ways to fit the games into the school day, such as using them during free time, collaboratively between kindergarteners and their fifth grade buddies, or after assignments or tests are completed. Ms. Choi points out that the games can even teach important lessons beyond academics. "Students also have to develop different social skills because they need to explain to their opponent their reasoning and why they moved to a particular spot. It's fascinating to hear their conversations when they play these games."


By KiKi DavisJK-12 Multicultural Director

Our Middle School is a wonderful place for students to develop academic skills that will carry over into a successful Upper School experience and, in effect, create a blueprint for them to thrive in an ever-complex and changing world. In the Middle School, students gain important core knowledge and are exposed to new artistic and athletic endeavors. In addition, our Middle School is an opportunity to encourage students to find their voices and build excitement to make a difference at whatever stage in life they may be. In a time where blending in and meeting the status quo may be what most adolescents seek, their malleability at this age gives educators and parents the chance to challenge them to think about what they know and do not know.

Our Middle School provides several participatory options, such as SEED (an environmental club) and the sixth grade committee UNITE (Unite Now in Tolerance and Equity), that focus on issues of social awareness and activism. For the past two years, I have had the pleasure to work with amazing Middle School students through a group called Courageous Conversations. This group focuses on issues of concern to students in their immediate community and provides them the opportunity to offer ideas that resonate with their peers. Many of these issues revolve around valuing diversity, encouraging inclusion, and being stewards of positive behavior and character. Students initiate the conversations, develop strategies to communicate the issues to their peers, and create the vehicles by which the messages will be exchanged.

The Courageous Conversations meeting time provides a safe space where each student feels heard, and no judgment is placed on concerns or challenges that students may have encountered personally or witnessed of a friend or classmate. Within this safe space, students feel empowered to bring up issues that may be difficult to raise in other situations. Such empowerment produces students who are willing to take leadership roles inside and outside of the group, imploring their classmates to demonstrate the character, grace, and goodwill that are expected in a community like St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School.

While the conversations are a large part of the group, the real passion of the students is evident in the actions that come from those conversations. Whether it's producing public service announcements

encouraging inclusion or warning against gossip, which are shared during a morning meeting, or providing an information table at lunch that explains the importance of being an ally, the idea that a simple conversation can evolve into making a difference is the larger lesson. Students start to understand that standing up for what you believe in often begins with finding the courage to speak up. Ultimately what makes a group like Courageous Conversations truly meaningful are the conversations that begin to happen outside of the confines of our small meetings. Students begin to spontaneously assert the power of words when they spot an injustice or opportunity.

Kay Toliver, the subject of the multicultural education learning resource "Good Morning Miss Toliver," asserts that "when you get kids to start speaking, you start getting into the way they think." Courageous Conversations is about the way kids think, what they think, the way they process, and the impact those thoughts have on their community. Not only are courageous conversations in their nature, but the nature of the students themselves becomes courageous. Isn't that, after all, what we want for all of our students? Courageously speaking, that is.

Courageously Speaking

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At the Republican National Convention this summer, St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School senior Evan Draim was representing Virginia's 8th Congressional District–as the youngest delegate at the event. He was elected in May as one of three delegates to represent his region, which includes parts of Fairfax, Alexandria, Arlington, and Falls Church. At just 17 years old, he ran an organized, grassroots campaign with a message of representing America's youth.

"My primary goal in running for delegate was to represent an underrepresented demographic," Draim said. "I felt honored to be chosen as a delegate to the convention because the voters in my district trusted me to represent their interests and those of my fellow Virginians and young Americans." This spring, he campaigned throughout the 8th District, speaking at a number of Republican gatherings. Still too young to vote himself, Draim was able to run for delegate because he would be of age by the next general election. On May 12, Draim was elected at a district party convention of more than 400 Republicans.

Among his duties as one of the 2,000 delegates in Tampa, Florida, Draim voted on the presidential and vice-presidential nominations, policies in the party's platform, and rules to govern the next national convention, and he served on a committee to draft proposals for the entire convention body to consider.

"I learned that age should not be a barrier to becoming politically active," Draim said. "Many young Americans can often be intimidated by politics or view it as a subject reserved for much older citizens. However, my views as a young student were always respected by the other attendees and media outlets at the convention."

His youth definitely drew attention from fellow attendees and reporters. Throughout the experience, Draim was interviewed by numerous local, national, and even international media, on outlets such as The Washington Post, CNN Headline News, Fox News' "America Live" with Megyn Kelly, MTV, and Reuters.

He met with prominent members of the Republican Party, including House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. He even was scheduled to address the convention and assigned a speechwriter–but the onset of Hurricane Isaac cancelled events the night he was set to speak.

Draim says running a campaign is hard work, but rewarding, and hopes that more young people will participate in the political process: "I called almost all 700 registered delegates, sent out numerous emails, designed a professional campaign flyer and website, gave speeches at various Republican gatherings around the district, and registered supporters to vote for me at the convention. If you put time and energy into your campaign, people will realize that you are serious about your candidacy."

In early November, Draim participated in an elections assembly at our Lower School, along with John Taylor Chapman '99, Democratic candidate recently elected to the Alexandria City Council. He also plans to pursue politics in college and beyond–starting now. "Being received so positively at the convention only increased my passion and desire to participate in American government," Draim said. "I will continue to represent and promote the concerns and values of the voters who elected me last May. The convention may be over, but my role as RNC delegate is not yet done!"

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p Evan Draim '13 and his brother, Kyle '14, just after winning the election to represent Virginia's 8th Congressional District at the RNC.

Saints in Action: SSSAS Highlights

Nine Students Receive National Merit Honors At the first academic convocation of the school year, Upper School students were congratulated on a quarter of hard work and success. Math Teacher Mary Frederick gave a thoughtful speech about how life can bring many changes, but what's important is how you handle them. "Change is inevitable; it helps us grow and learn," said Mrs. Frederick. "I have learned that success doesn't have a recipe or set of directions. Success will not come by chance; it will come by change. How you grow and mature through it is optional. Choose wisely."

At the convocation, Head of School Joan Holden recognized students who earned Head's and Deans' Lists this quarter. She also congratulated members of the Class of 2013 who have been recognized as National Merit Semifinalists or Commended Scholars. Last fall, more than 1.5 million students took the 2011 PSAT. Of these, the top 1 percent will enter the next round of competition as National Merit Semifinalists. SSSAS semi-finalists are seniors Evan Draim and Douglas Maggs. This fall more than 1.5 million students from approximately 22,000 high schools entered the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Seven SSSAS seniors scored in the top 5 percent and are Commended Scholars: Carter Blair, James Desio, Naz Koont, Ilkka Kovanen, Alex Parkhurst, Harrison Tyler, and Brett Williams.

Saints Mathletes First in their League Our team of Upper School Honors Geometry and Algebra 2/Trigonometry students earned perfect team scores in the first three contests of the Junior Mathematics League, sponsored by the Northern Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics. They are also tied for first place out of 23 public and private schools. The students are so excited that they ordered "Saints Mathletics" shirts and will be wearing them to school for their last three contests in January, February, and March! Our team of Advanced PreCalculus and AP Calculus students is also currently in first place in the Alexandria and Arlington Division of the Virginia Math League.

In October Middle School Math Teachers Suzanne Nuckolls and Sarah Odioso accompanied 18 students to the first math meet of the year at St. Albans School to compete with 13 other independent schools in the area. Sterling Gilliam '17 and Wiley Miller '18 tied for top mathletes of the day. Our Saints tied for third place in this round of very challenging problems.

p The Level 2 Latin team, from left to right: Katie Henshaw '16, Sarah Lowe '16, Will Revers '16, Dokken Shapero '16, and William Moore '16

SSSAS Hosts the State Latin Kick-off Tournament Ninety teams representing 26 schools from Virginia and Maryland convened at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in October for the annual Virginia Senior Classical League (VSCL) Kick-off Certamen. A certamen is a quiz-bowl-like contest covering Latin grammar and language, literature, mythology, and Roman culture and history. This was the sixth year SSSAS has hosted the event. More than 350 students, teachers, and parents attended the event on our Upper School campus. During the tournament, eight Saints teams competed, and three of our teams placed. The level 3 team came in first place, defeating Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and Flint Hill School on an exciting final bonus of the final question! Additionally, out of 12 teams, the eighth grade level 1 advanced team placed fourth, and the upper level team placed fifth. The seventh grade level 1 team placed tenth out of 30 teams.

Numerous SSSAS students competed or volunteered as a spotter or scorer during the rounds. "Many people helped to make this certamen a success," Upper School Latin Teacher Ian Hochberg said. "The event ran smoothly, and many teachers and students from other schools have shared how helpful they found our students and parents." Virginia Junior Classical League State Co-chair Adam Williams said, "Many of the students could not stop talking about how much fun they had. This is a tribute to the organization, fairness, and overall quality of this tournament." The Saints Latin Club involves more than 100 students in Middle and Upper School who participate in a variety of different events throughout the year. In addition to Middle and Upper School classes, events include: in-school activities, field trips, conventions, certamina, and national exams. Our school has several certamen teams who participate in weekend tournaments throughout the school year.


p Class of 2013 National Merit Scholars, from left to right ~ front row: Naz Koont, Douglas Maggs, Evan Draim, Brett Williams; back row: James Desio, Carter Blair, Alex Parkhurst, Ilkka Kovanen, Harrison Tyler

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p John Taylor Chapman '99

Alumnus Elected to City Council John Taylor Chapman '99 was elected to a seat on the Alexandria City Council in the November election. A native Alexandrian, Mr. Chapman has an extensive history of public service on Alexandria's youth policy commission, the commission on HIV/AIDS, and the city budget and fiscal affairs advisory commission, and as former president of the local NAACP chapter.

Before the election, Mr. Chapman returned to SSSAS to speak at a Lower School assembly about the election process, along with Evan Draim '13, who was the youngest delegate at the Republican National Convention this summer (see page 20). He answered lots of great questions from students and shared how a political campaign works and why he chose to run for city council in his hometown. While a student at SSSAS, Mr. Chapman was an active participant on many student committees and groups, including the Upper School newspaper, the Black Student Union, and the student tour guides. In his senior year, he won the Sportsmanship Award and the Fathers' Club Award. Most recently, he served as the communications chair on the SSSAS Alumni Association Board for six years.

p John Harrington '89 speaking to the fourth grade about his documentary

Alumnus Filmmaker Visits with Fourth Grade Award-winning documentary filmmaker John Harrington '89 shared some of his professional experiences with our Lower School students this fall. He visited with the fourth grade classes, who have been studying Native American life. Mr. Harrington

p Our "It's Academic" team, from left to right: Douglas Maggs '13, Brett Williams '13, and TreVaughn Allison '14

SSSAS Advances to the "It's Academic" Playoffs A team of St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Upper School students won their first-round match and advanced to the playoffs of the long-standing quiz program, "It's Academic." On the program, which aired on NBC4 in October, the team defeated Sidwell Friends School and DeMatha Catholic High School to move on in the competition. This year's Saints team consists of TréVaughn Allison '14, Douglas Maggs '13, and Brett Williams '13. Their faculty coaches are Upper School Art History Teacher Kara Sandoval and Upper School English Teacher Dr. Roberta Klein. A group of SSSAS teachers, students, and parents were also there to cheer on the team in the studio during the show's taping. The playoff match will take place on Saturday, March 2 versus Blake High School and the Islamic Saudi Academy and will air at a date yet to be determined.

Upper School Students Hold Political Debate About a week before the elections, the Upper School incorporated class projects, student participation, and technology to execute a debate on current political issues. During an all-school assembly, members of the student-run Young Conservatives Coalition and People's Democratic Front debated four general issues: the budget/taxes, health care, foreign policy, and energy/the environment. Members of the AP Government class drafted the questions. Each representative had two minutes per question, with opportunities for rebuttal. In order to prepare for the debate, both groups met independently several times prior to the assembly and researched each topic extensively. Upper School English Teacher Dr. Andrew Sidle moderated the debate.

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Ben Franklin Stole Lightning to second through fourth grades; and discussing George vs. George with fifth grade students. In addition, she told students about her writing and research processes. Mrs. Schanzer's visit was part of an Association of Parents & Teachers (APT) grant for the Sinclair Library to help bring more visiting authors to the Lower School.

p Asian exchange students with their Saints hosts

Upper School Hosts Asian Exchange Students For five days in November, the Upper School hosted eight students who were visiting from Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. The students were part of a larger group from the East-West Center who attended the Students for Sustainability Conference (S4S) (see page 30). The purpose of their trip was to study environmental education in American schools, and they chose three cities to visit: Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Honolulu. The Asian students were hosted by SSSAS families for the week and attended classes with their "Saints buddies." The Upper School students and their guests also attended a special event at the U.S. State Department, which focused on environmental sustainability.

SSSAS Hosts Electronics Recycling Event The Association of Parents and Teachers (APT) launched a new initiative in November: the "Saints Electronics Recycling and Document Destruction" event, held on the Lower School campus. The event was open to all members of the school community and surrounding neighborhoods. Participants were invited to drop off their old computers, printers, cell phones, and other electronics for recycling, and their documents for shredding. The APT teamed with the non-profit Service Source to offer the event as a service to our school and community. Organizers processed 2,736 pounds of miscellaneous electronics, 245 pounds of PC towers, and 9,717 pounds of CRT monitors! Approximately 1,200 pounds of paper were collected for shredding. The APT hopes to make this an annual event.

Upper School Art Teacher Receives Grant Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Terry deBardelaben received a grant from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities' Artist Fellowship Program to write an instructional ceramics book based on her research of the traditional pottery techniques used in the village of Kuli, Ghana, West Africa.

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recently worked on a project called "Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness," which explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness, and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. The exhibit is on display at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

p Michael Schwimer '04 talking to the first grade about baseball and life

MLB Player Michael Schwimer '04 Visits with First Grade Philadelphia Phillies Relief Pitcher Michael Schwimer '04 recently returned to his alma mater to visit with first grade students. He shared with them that the very first time he had the idea that he wanted to be a professional athlete was in the first grade! He gave advice to students about the careers they hope to pursue one day, told stories about his experiences in the major leagues, and answered thoughtful questions from students. "St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School helped me tremendously with my career," he said. "Without SSSAS, I probably would not have been accepted to University of Virginia, so having the right education has spring-boarded me into the career I am in now. All of the lessons I learned from some of the great SSSAS teachers that I still think about to this day, have definitely benefited and helped me today."

Mr. Schwimer made his first-grade dreams come true when the Phillies drafted him in 2008. His first major league debut was in 2011 in his hometown against the Washington Nationals. While at SSSAS, Mr. Schwimer was a three-sport athlete and earned All-Met honors in baseball his senior year. He went on to pitch at the University of Virginia where he earned his degree in 2008. While playing in Williamsport, Pennsylvania prior to his MLB debut, he was honored with the Max Border Community Service Award, which is given to the player who best exemplified community service and volunteering around the local community.

Award-winning Author Visits Lower School The Lower School welcomed award-winning, non-fiction author Rosalyn Schanzer to campus in November. Mrs. Schanzer's books depict the life and times of real heroes, legends, and historical events. Winner of numerous awards, her latest publication, Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem, won The Society of Illustrators' Gold Medal for best-illustrated book of 2011. Mrs. Schanzer gave three presentations during her visit, including introducing her books The Old Chisholm Trail and Davy Crockett Saves the World to junior kindergarten through first grades and How

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p In addition to collecting new blankets, student volunteers spent their free period making "no-sew" blankets.

Helping Victims of Hurricane Sandy SSSAS Upper School students coordinated the collection and delivery of blankets to hurricane victims in public housing in New York and New Jersey. Through a blanket drive on all three campuses, our community donated new or gently used blankets. In addition to collecting blankets, 17 Upper School students spent their free periods making no-sew, double-insulated, polar fleece blankets. More than 100 blankets were donated and delivered in November.

p Upper School students participating in the Carl Lewis Challenge with Carl Lewis (center) on the National Mall

Saints Walk the Mall for Best Buddies In October, 14 Upper School students set out early in the morning to participate in a 5K walk on the National Mall in support of Best Buddies, an organization devoted to supporting people with developmental disabilities. This year's walk was called the Carl Lewis Challenge, in honor of the Olympic athlete's continued support of the organization. Our Saints even took a picture with Mr. Lewis! Blake Pohanka '13 organized our school's participation in this event. She was honored as one of the leading student fundraisers in our region. She also led the charge by running the 5K, finishing in the top five of all women and placing in the top-15 runners overall.

Middle School Art Teacher's Work Included in Museum Exhibit Middle School Visual Arts Teacher Juliette Madison was one of 28 artists selected for the Hampton University Museum national competition exhibition, New Power Generation 2012: A National Juried Exhibition. This competition for contemporary African-American artists yielded finalists from Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and California. Ms. Madison entered three fused glass pieces dealing with child soldiers. The exhibit will be up until March 23.

SAINTLY ACTS

p Class of 2013 Eagle Scouts, from left to right: Douglas Maggs, Clay Kane, Harrison Tyler, Paul Griffith, and Bennet Habliston

Senior Achieves Rank of Eagle Scout Harrison Tyler '13, a member of the SSSAS-sponsored Boy Scout Troop 1515 in the Colonial Unit of the National Capital Area Council, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was recognized at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Attending his ceremony were four fellow seniors who also have earned the Eagle Scout designation: Douglas Maggs, Clay Kane, Paul Griffith, and Bennet Habliston. For his Eagle Scout project, Tyler worked with the trustee of Saint Paul's Church Cemetery to plan a reinvigoration effort of the historic cemetery. After more than 70 hours of preliminary planning, Tyler supervised 20 scouts to restore over 250 feet of the water removal system for the roadbeds of the cemetery. Additionally, snowplows had placed large mounds of road material inside the edges of the grassy plots, and the scouts used this material to fill in groundhog holes throughout the property.

Middle School Saints Sell "Pupcakes" to Benefit Local Shelter Julia Burke '18 and Virginia Kane '18 caught the baking bug this summer and decided to take it a step further. They baked dozens of pupcakes to sell in support of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, and the Olde Towne School for Dogs agreed to host a stand for them outside their shop. Setting a personal goal of $500, the girls sold the decorated pupcakes for five days in August. They not only reached their goal, but also succeeded in doubling it in sales and public donations. They presented the animal shelter with a donation of $1,000.

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The Power of Pixie By Tim Howard(Originally published on the Creative Educator website, which focuses on effective ideas and strategies to foster creativity and engage students in the curriculum)

As Technology Education Coordinator and Technology Teacher at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia, I'm always on the prowl for new ways to integrate high quality and substantial academic technology into our curriculum. Working in the Lower School division presents the unique challenge of introducing and teaching fundamental uses of technology to students as young as five years old. As great as the programs and software we use are, a lot of educational technology requires students to have a certain degree of proficiency to become independent users.

This is one reason I'm so grateful for Pixie, a software program by Tech4Learning designed specifically for students. Pixie allows even my youngest elementary school students to work on a variety of important skills independently with an emphasis on expressing their creativity. Whether it's a multi-class project where students are drawing and recording narrated stories, or a simple one-day lesson practicing keyboard and mouse skills, students are enticed and immediately engaged by the power of Pixie.

Pixie is the perfect program to get students started off on the right foot at the beginning of the school year. My junior kindergarten and kindergarten students were filled with excitement when creating paper nameplates. Using Pixie, students created a piece of artwork, then typed their names into a text box. The next step was to layer the artwork and the text. Finally, using the cool words feature, students made their artwork appear on top of their names against a solid background all with the click of a button. This was easily achieved in less than 30 minutes, including my visual demonstration.

At the end of last school year during our school's peace week, a first grade class used Pixie to create artwork that represented what peace on earth meant to each of them. The students absolutely loved the project. Almost all of them were able to start and finish the assignment with little or no hands-on help from me. When their work was complete, I pulled all the files together and created a slideshow with music to play at our peace week assembly. Everyone was delighted with the first graders' project, and the smiles on the students' faces were priceless. The depth of the software, combined with its simplicity, makes it a go-to resource at our school. Pixie is fun, practical, easy to use, and has so much more to offer. It's no wonder why my students ask to use it every day.

Using Technology to Study World Religions World history students in the Upper School recently learned about the history of Buddhism by talking with a monk via Skype. From his center in Victoria, B.C., Canada, Eshu Martin, abbot of the Victoria Zen Centre, chatted with the SSSAS classes in the Black Box Theater. He shared about the philosophy, his daily life, and answered questions from the students. Dr. Gus Grissom, Upper and Middle School history and Latin teacher, arranged the Skype session and says "It's one of those instances where we're leveraging technology to bring subject-matter experts to the students instead of just having the teacher talking about the textbook."


Lower School Saints Win Robotics Award Team Dynamite, a team including one Middle School and four Lower School Saints, won the first-place award for Robot Performance at the Alexandria First Lego League (FLL) competition in November. Fifth grade students Nikki Bires, Jay Cunningham, Abigail Henshaw, and Jessica Lopez, sixth grade student Cameron Luther, and three additional team members achieved the highest overall scores for the robot in three competitions. They were declared the alternate team to attend the state competition at James Madison University in December. The FLL challenge this season was "Senior Solutions," so Team Dynamite met with more than 25 seniors, visited nursing homes, and talked to physical and occupational therapists to learn about the challenges of aging. They also partnered with At Home Alexandria (AHA!), a service agency working to help seniors stay in their homes. The team's research resulted in the construction of a prototype for a shoe lift, TOES UP, to help prevent seniors from falling. Team Dynamite is coached by SSSAS parents Bob Henshaw and Laura Cunningham.

iPad Integration in the Lower School Curriculum This fall the Lower School is piloting a program that provides opportunities for classroom integration of iPads and explores the vast potential they have for the education of our students. No matter what the subject or grade level, teachers are discovering new ways to use the iPads with their students every day. "We are looking for worthwhile, high-quality uses for the iPad that students don't typically utilize outside of school," said Lower School Technology Coordinator and Technology Teacher Tim Howard. "Games, music, and videos are fine on personal devices at home, but in school we strive to use our iPads as practical educational tools. Our faculty is embracing their use and exploring the many educational opportunities that a pilot program like this presents."

"My students are able to use the iPads independently in homeroom for math," said Terri Haughton, first grade teacher. Students love exploring new ways of learning with the iPad: "I really like how we use the iPads during library because it makes it easier to find the books," said Joan, third grade student. "Also, in homeroom we took pictures of things and used an app to record our voices and draw on top of the pictures. I really liked that." "I like how there are apps for every subject," said Jack, first grade.

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Athletic Enthusiasm Saints Run in the Marine Corps Marathon Matthew Griswold '14 has not only completed the 26.2 miles of the Marine Corps Marathon for the past four years, but this year he placed seventh in the 17- to 27-year-old category. On October 28 as Hurricane Sandy began to bear down on the East Coast, he finished the race in four hours, eight minutes, and 25 seconds—a 9:47 minute-per-mile pace. Griswold and his father, John (a former member of the SSSAS Board of Governors), have long enjoyed running together. They first ran the Marine Corps Marathon together when Matthew was in eighth grade, and he finished in 5.5 hours. This year, Matthew finished the race more than an hour-and-a-half ahead of his dad.

Middle School Science Teacher Tim Dodds also ran in the marathon with his father in honor of his grandfather, who was recently diagnosed with ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). Mr. Dodds and his father ran together and completed the run on behalf of the ALS Association, raising $2,500 to help find a cure.

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Hts Alumnus Inspires Fall Team Captains

St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School graduate Ian Davidson '07 addressed the subject of leadership as the guest speaker at the fall sports "Captains' Lunch," which is sponsored by the Fathers' Club. Held at the home of Head of School Joan Holden, the event was attended by captains of the school's 2012 fall sports teams. While a student at SSSAS, Mr. Davidson played varsity football and competed on the wrestling and track & field teams. He was the co-captain of his varsity football and wrestling teams for two years each. He received many honors during his SSSAS athletic career, including The Washington Post All-Met first-team selection and All-State Honors in football, wrestling, and track & field. Mr. Davidson is a 2011 graduate of Hampton University.

Saints Went Undefeated at Homecoming The Saints went undefeated in six games on Friday and Saturday of Homecoming Weekend. On September 28, the Saints varsity boys soccer team defeated previously unbeaten St. Albans. The next day, the Saints JV football team started things off by defeating Potomac School 40-18, followed by the Saints JV and varsity field hockey teams as they faced off against the Bishop Ireton Cardinals. The JV team won 4-0 followed by a decisive 5-0 varsity win.

The Saints varsity girls soccer team took on the Blue Storm of Mercersburg Academy in a highly competitive game where the Saints played great defense down the stretch. The game ended in a 2-2 tie, but it was by far one of the best games the team played this season. In the final contest of the day, the Saints varsity football team took on the Paul VI Panthers in an exciting matchup. The Saints trailed 7-17 at the half, then rallied in the second on two touchdowns, but still trailed 21-24 with just minutes to go. The Saints charged down the field, and with just 17 seconds left, sophomore quarterback Ish Seisay connected with junior wide receiver Sam Gallahan for the Saints' fourth and final touchdown to win the game! Final score: 28-24 SSSAS. Head of School Joan Holden proclaimed a "dress down day" in honor of our undefeated weekend!

p Junior Sam Gallahan scores the winning touchdown in the final seconds of the Homecoming game to beat Paul VI.

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Saints Bring Home the Seminary Hill Cup In October, the SSSAS Saints and Episcopal High School Maroon took to the fields and courts for the Fifth Annual Seminary Hill Cup, a yearly competition between the fall girls athletic teams from both schools. With ten competitions on the day, the Saints faced tough EHS squads in JV field hockey, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and cross country; and varsity soccer, field hockey, cross country, tennis, and volleyball. By the last matchup, the Saints were up 5-4 overall with just the volleyball game remaining. In that contest, SSSAS took to the court for a fifth and final set against the Maroon, whom the Saints had already defeated earlier this year. The points went back and forth until finally the Saints came out on top with a 16-14 victory in the fifth set. The Saints retained the Seminary Hill Cup for a second straight year with a 6-4 overall victory!

Football Team Practices Yoga Varsity Head Football Coach Bernard Joseph added a new dimension to his players' program that focuses on mental preparation. Once a week, his team heads to the wrestling room for an hour-long yoga session with Upper School History Teacher Dr. Jan Jacobs. Coach Joseph believes the sessions have contributed to the team's success this year. Every Thursday the team leaves the field behind to meditate and relax together. Coach Joseph thinks it has resulted in less muscle cramping, fewer injuries, and more flexibility during games. Team Captain Darius Manora '13 believes it has helped improve player confidence, and with four freshmen starting on the line, that's important.

Dr. Jacobs has been practicing yoga for five years and Hatha yoga for the past two-and-a-half. She ran a SummerTimes yoga camp for three years and also teaches a regular P.E. yoga class each athletic season. This year she studied to become a Registered Yoga Teacher, which took eight months and required 200 hours of training. The course emphasizes the history and evolution of yoga and requires trainees to teach yoga classes and create 90-minute routines for people of varying skills. When Coach Joseph approached her about teaching the football team yoga, Dr. Jacobs jumped right in. "Being the 'yoga coach' has brightened my interaction with students," she said. "It is an enormous privilege to work with these talented athletes, and I am grateful that they and the Athletic Office support the program."

p The varsity football team asked Dr. Jan Jacobs (far right) to lead them on the field at Homecoming.

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Field Hockey ~ ISL Tournament ChampionsOutstanding Athletes: Hannah Thomas '13, Wyatt Whitley '13Saint Award: Besser Dyson '13JV Coach's Award: Paula Dammann '15All-ISL: Besser Dyson '13, Margaret Tucker Fogarty '13, Hannah Thomas '13, Wyatt Whitley '13All-ISL Honorable Mention: Mollie Lane '13VISAA All-State: Margaret Tucker Fogarty '13

The varsity field hockey team had a tremendous season and finished with an overall record of 17-5-1. The Saints started out on a high note with a 4-0 victory over perennial powerhouse Bethesda Chevy-Chase at the Sally Nyborg Tournament and continued their dominance from that point onward. With a potent combination of a stellar offense and impressive defense, the team scored 71 goals on the season while only allowing 14 goals against. After finishing second in the Independent School League (ISL) regular season with a league record of 9-1, they went on to win the ISL Tournament Championship with a 1-0 win over Bullis, avenging their only league loss this season. In the 28 years that the ISL has been in existence, the Saints have finished first in the league 21 times and second seven times. After the ISL Tournament, the Saints went on to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Tournament as the #5 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals against Trinity Episcopal School. The team will miss the exceptional leadership of seniors Elizabeth Cornick, Besser Dyson, Margaret Tucker Fogarty, Lindsey Gess, Charlotte Taylor, Hannah Thomas, and Wyatt Whitley but look forward to seeing how young Saints mature into new leaders next year.

Cross CountryOutstanding Athletes: Tucker Burnett '15, Lizzie Zulauf '13Saint Awards: Bayley Garland '15, Carter Holland '14, Sylvie Howton '15JV Coach's Award: Matthew Griswold '14

With contributions from veteran runners and new members of the team, the boys and girls cross country team had a great season. Between distance runs, hill workouts, and intervals on the track, the team logged a cumulative total of more than 4,000 miles. The team competed in ten meets, ranging from small dual meets to large invitationals. Many runners earned personal bests throughout the season, and several runners finished in top spots in various races. One highlight was senior co-captain Lizzie Zulauf's second-place finish at the Alexandria City Championships with a lifetime

best time of 21:18. Zulauf also finished in the top 40 at the VISAA State Meet. The varsity girls team finished 11th at the ISL Championships and 14th at the VISAA State Meet. The varsity boys team finished fifth at the IAC Championships and 14th at the VISAA State Meet. With a solid group of returning young, motivated runners, the team is excited to see what the next few years will hold for Saints cross country.

Girls TennisOutstanding Athlete: Gussie Johns '14Saint Awards: Catherine Fonvielle '13, Layne Voorhees '13JV Coach's Award: Kemble Mountcastle '14All-ISL: Gussie Johns '14VISAA Second Team All-State: Gussie Johns '14

With a great group of seniors and contributions from new varsity members, the Saints varsity tennis team had a good season. The team finished 6-9 overall with a final ranking of ninth in the state, just one spot shy of making the VISAA State Tournament. The Saints notched big wins against ISL opponents Georgetown Day School, Flint Hill, Episcopal, Visitation, and Maret. The team also had a terrific win over state and cross-town rival Bishop Ireton on senior day. Junior number-one singles player Gussie Johns was an ISL All-League selection and was also chosen for the VISAA All-State Second Team. The team will miss the leadership of seniors Catherine Fonvielle, Marian Shaw, Myrna Sidarous, Merrill Turner, and Layne Voorhees but look to continue to be competitive within the state and the ISL next year.

FootballOutstanding Athletes: Khaamal Whitaker '13, Ish Seisay '15Saint Award: Darius Manora '13JV Coach's Award: Kobe Pinkney '16All-IAC: Sam Gallahan '14, Darius Manora '13, Jordan Waite '14, Khaamal Whitaker '13Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Month: Darius Manora '13VISAA All-State First Team: Darius Manora '13, Khaamal Whitaker '13, Sam Gallahan '14, Jordan Waite '14VISAA All-State Honorable Mention: Ish Seisay '15

The varsity football program had one of their most successful seasons in recent history and inspired a renewed energy and excitement to Saints football. The Saints opened the season with a 14-12 win over Riverdale Baptist at the I-95 Classic at the University of Maryland. They proceeded to win their next four

Saints in Action: Fall athletic highlights

Hannah Thomas '13 Tucker Burnett '15Darius Manora '13 Khaamal Whitaker '13 Lizzie Zulauf '13


games and run their record to 5-0 at the beginning of the season, followed by a thrilling 28-24 come-from-behind win over Paul VI at Homecoming. The Saints punctuated the season with a 31-14 senior day win over St. Albans to finish with a 6-4 overall record. For the second straight year, senior co-captain Darius Manora rushed for more than 1,000 yards to lead the Saints rushing attack. Senior co-captain Khaamal Whitaker and junior Sam Gallahan linked up with sophomore quarterback Ish Seisay to lead the team in receiving. Junior Jordan Waite once again led the Saints defense in tackles. Seniors Bennet Habliston, Qasim Mahmood, Myles Nelson, Devante Phillips, Quentin Price, Aires Reyes, Max Spence, Areke Walcott, and Jonathan Winbush all played major roles in the success of the Saints this fall. The Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC) honored four players with All-League honors. With many underclassmen returning, the Saints look to carry the momentum of this season into the fall of 2013.

Boys SoccerOutstanding Athlete: Andrew Arnold '14Saint Awards: Graham Guidry '14, Taylor Jackson '13JV Coach's Award: Tom Coward '14All-IAC: Andrew Arnold '14, Patrick Erickson '13, Graham Guidry '14, Taylor Jackson '13Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Month: Graham Guidry '14All-State First Team: Taylor Jackson '13, Graham Guidry '14All-State Second Team: Andrew Arnold '14

The Saints varsity boys soccer team had another very strong season in 2012. Under Head Coach Bo Amato, the team finished with an overall record of 16-5-1, matching their win total from the 2011 season. The Saints were led by senior captains Patrick Erickson and Taylor Jackson and also received key contributions throughout the season from a balanced group of talented underclassmen. The soccer team went 7-2-1 in the IAC and finished in second place in the league. The Saints once again qualified for the VISAA State Tournament and advanced to the semifinal match for the second year in a row. They also played in the semi-finals of the IAC Tournament. The Saints tallied 45 goals on the season, led by junior Graham Guidry who tallied 20 goals for a new school record. The IAC honored four Saints with All-League honors. With a strong group of underclassmen returning to the team, the Saints look to remain a team to contend with in 2013.

VolleyballOutstanding Athlete: Leah Joseph '13Saint Awards: Alexia Amblard '13, Maggie Hughes '14JV Coach's Award: Amanda Tinkleman '15All-ISL: Alexia Amblard '13, Leah Joseph '13VISAA All-State: Leah Joseph '13

The varsity volleyball team had one of their best seasons in recent history, leaving a legacy for future Saints volleyball players. The Saints finished just one win shy of a 500 season with a 9-10 overall record. The Saints started off strong with a five-set victory over Episcopal High School in the Alexandria City Tournament. The team went on to defeat Maret for the first time in more than eight years and to beat Episcopal again in five sets during the 5th Annual Seminary Hill Cup. After finishing second in the ISL A Division, the team made it to the ISL A Tournament Championship game and lost a tough five-set match to Holton-Arms. Senior co-captains Alexia Amblard and Leah Joseph were both selected to the ISL A All-League team, and Joseph was also a VISAA First Team All-State selection. The team looks to continue to be competitive in the years to come.

Girls SoccerOutstanding Athlete: Meghan Moloney '13Saint Award: Alison Lindsay '14JV Coach's Award: Morgan Maves '15All-ISL: Darby Philbrick '14

After a record-breaking banner season last year, the Saints varsity girls soccer team put together strong performances and made many positive strides with a young team this fall. The team finished 3-9-3 on the season and scored a total of 21 goals. Highlights included a tie with a strong Potomac team in the upper division of the ISL on senior day, as well as big victories over ISL divisional league opponents Madeira and Episcopal. A 3-1 win over Episcopal helped the Saints secure the Seminary Hill Cup for the second straight year (see page 27). Junior co-captain Darby Philbrick was selected to the ISL All-League team for her impressive offensive play during the season. Seniors Kendall Donohue, Alexis Maloney, Meghan Moloney, Blake Pohanka, Carly Reed, and Katarina Williams will be missed next year, but with a solid core of returning players the Saints look to carry their positive momentum forward as they head into the 2013 season.

Saints in Action: Fall athletic highlights

Leah Joseph '13 Alison Lindsay '14 Graham Guidry '14 Meghan Moloney '13 Taylor Jackson '13

SSSAS Welcomes Local and International Students at S4S Conference

Students from across the Washington, D.C. area, Baltimore, and Virginia joined forces at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School for the fifth annual Students for Sustainability (S4S) Conference on November 13. Our school welcomed 120 students from 22 high schools and middle schools, plus 30 students visiting from Asia, who all hope to make their schools a "greener" place. The conference was a day of education, discussion, and planning where students learn to make a difference for environmental sustainability in their schools and communities. The conference included a keynote speaker and 13 innovative breakout sessions aimed to pique the various interests of the student attendees. Laura Sauls '03, who works for the Environmental Protection Agency, returned to SSSAS to speak to students about the future of the Rio de Janeiro summits. Some of the other breakouts included: observing live birds of prey and learning why they're important to the environment; exploring two kinds of electric cars–the Tesla and the Chevy Volt; learning how their classrooms can become 100 percent paperless; and much more. New this year, students participated in an interactive Green Forum where they worked in teams to answer environmental questions during a fun competition for organic and environmentally friendly prizes. The S4S Conference is waste-free; everything used/served during the day is recycled or composted. The silverware is made from potatoes, and the cups, plates, and napkins are recyclable. "The students attending have so many questions in their minds about the environment and what they can be doing to improve it," said Brian Kane, St. Stephen's & St. Agnes JK-12 sustainability coordinator. He says the S4S Conference allows them to network with other like-minded students and empowers them to take positive action, whether at school, at home, or in their communities. "The S4S Conference gives students some insights about what they can do as an individual."

The Fifth Annual Students for Sustainability Conference

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Those insights resonated with St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School senior Max Shapero, who is co-president of the Upper School Environmental Club. He says attending the conference helped him see how much our behaviors really do matter to the environment. "Every person can make a difference," he said. "It really goes to show how even if we stopped throwing away waste for one day, like we do for this conference, that it really makes a difference with the amount of trash going into landfills." SSSAS was also pleased to welcome 30 students from five Asian nations (Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam) who are traveling with the East-West Exchange Center to study sustainability in American schools. Winona Rajamohan, a student from Malaysia, said, "We have realized that the United States has a very clear focus on the 'green' education system, and that is something we want to implement in our own countries," she said. "We plan to create a 'green' action plan and want to add all of the things we are learning into each of our schools' curriculum." The Asian students have also visited schools in Honolulu and San Francisco during their three-week educational trip. Eight of the students stayed with St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School host families and attended our school with their "Saints Buddies" during the week.

The event kicked off with keynote speaker Chris Jordan, an internationally acclaimed artist and cultural activist. His work, which includes photography and film, illustrates the enormous collective waste produced by humans, such as cell phones, paper and plastic bags, plastic bottles and cups, and plastic waste in our oceans. "I am constantly astonished by the willingness of young people today to face the issues of

our time," Mr. Jordan said. "Not only in high school, but also those who are even much younger than that. I've shown my work to second graders and among their tears, they're passionate and willing to act. They want to do something for our world." SSSAS senior Bridget Thompson, co-president of the Upper School Environmental Club, says the conference provides new ideas for the club and supports their current efforts. "We recently added more recycling bins on campus, and we are working towards sending solar ovens to Haiti (St. Paul's Episcopal School, partner school of SSSAS) so they have more environmental energy and won't have to go as far to get water and food."

Photos:p Students learned to charge radios and small fans with solar power.

t From left to right: Speaker Chris Jordan, Head of School Joan Holden, JK-12 Sustainability Coordinator Brian Kane, Nora Boles '15, and Khalil Hoque '15.

q Kent Knowles from the Virginia Raptor Conservancy led a breakout session on why raptors are an important part of our region.


""The Book Report

Michael J. Puri '90 Publishes His First Book on Ravel

Michael Puri '90 has written numerous articles that have appeared in leading music journals and various edited collections. Many of his articles have focused on an intense study of Maurice Ravel, and ultimately resulted in his new book, Ravel the Decadent: Memory, Sublimation, and Desire, published by the Oxford University Press this past spring.

The Oxford University Press website describes Mr. Puri's book:

The music of Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), beloved by musicians and audiences since its debut, has been a difficult topic for scholars. The traditional stylistic categories of impressionism, symbolism, and neoclassicism, while relevant, have offered too little purchase on this fascinating but enigmatic work. In Ravel the Decadent, author Michael Puri provides an innovative and productive solution by locating the aesthetic origins of this music in the French Decadence and demonstrating the extension of this influence across the length of his oeuvre. From an array of Decadent topics Puri selects three–memory, sublimation, and desire–and uses them to delineate the content of this music, pinpoint its overlap with contemporary cultural discourse, and link it to its biographical context, as well as to create new methods altogether for the analysis and interpretation of music.

Ravel the Decadent is described as "the first book to thoroughly examine the relationship between French Decadence and music; to theorize memory in great depth, and thus to make a major contribution to memory studies in the humanities; and to sketch out a theory of musical dandyism, whether in Ravel or any other repertoire, and use it to flesh out new autobiographical possibilities in music." Reviews by professors of music have described Puri's writing as "elegant, clear, and engaging…He moves persuasively between critical theory and musical discussion, between context and aesthetics, in what surely ranks as not only one of the finest studies of Maurice Ravel ever written, but also as a model for musical scholarship of early 20th century repertory in general." Mr Puri's book "will not only satisfy the musicologist, but it also suits a more general reader through its broadly humanistic key concepts, immersion in contemporary art and literature, and clarity of language."

Since graduating from SSSAS, Mr. Puri earned a B.A. in music and Germanic languages and literatures from Harvard University as well as a Ph.D. and M.Phil in music theory from Yale University. He also has undergraduate and graduate diplomas in piano performance from the Music Academy of Basel, Switzerland. Mr. Puri's articles have appeared in leading music journals and various edited collections, and national societies and foundations have supported his research. In 2008 he received the Alfred Einstein Award from the American Musicological Society. Currently, he is an associate professor in the McIntire Department of Music at the University of Virginia.

Read, read, read. Read everything–trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window. ~ William Faulkner

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""

Michelle Chan Brown Publishes a Book of Poetry

Upper School English Teacher Michelle Chan Brown's Double Agent was published this fall and won the 2011 Kore First Book Award, judged by Bhanu Kapil. Ms. Kapil, who teaches writing and thinking at Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, chose Double Agent as the winner from more than 350 entries.

Double Agent is a manifestation of the poet's pet obsession—the dangers and comforts of community. Ms. Brown traverses many territories in the poems—embassies, subdivisions, cottages, islands, and compounds; real and imaginary. Emerging from Double Agent's poems is a concern for borders and how they materialize in the personal (love, family, consciousness) and the political (country, race, gender), as well as their relationship to physical and psychological security. A secondary question is how the poetic self or the "I" can move, sometimes queasily, sometimes bombastically, always uncertainly, through them.

Ms. Brown earned both her bachelor's degree in Russian language/comparative literature and her Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she was a Rackham Fellow. She was a Tennessee Williams scholar at the Sewanee Writers' Conference and received scholarships from the Vermont Studio Center and the Wesleyan Writers Conference. Other works include a chapbook, The Clever Decoys, published by LATR (Love Among the

Ruins) Editions, and poems which have appeared or are forthcoming in Cimarron Review, Linebreak, The Missouri Review, Quarterly West, Sycamore Review, Witness, and other publications. In addition to teaching at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, Ms. Brown edits Drunken Boat, an online journal of art and literature.

Matthew Geiger Co-authors a Review Essay

Upper School Religion Teacher Matthew Geiger co-authored an article, "Review Essay: Five Books About Religion, Young Adults, and Secondary Education," with Ryan Gardner of Brigham Young University-Idaho that was recently published in Religious Education (Volume 107, Number 4, July-September 2012). The co-authors believe that schools are an underutilized resource for one of the most important dimensions of religious education: meaningful mentoring relationships between teenagers and adults. Their article reviews five recent books that are helpful for surveying the rocky, yet fertile, land that is the ground upon which religious education and schools meet. This intersection can be a valuable ecological resource for the respective missions of religious education, youth ministry, and democratic society. Mr. Geiger and Mr. Gardner are co-chairs of the REA Schools Task Force and believe that the educational and institutional nature of schools can be a leading voice in the contemporary challenge to create environments conducive to spiritual growth in souls.

A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone's knowledge of himself and the world around him. ~ Dylan Thomas


Serving & LeadingSSSAS Welcomes New Board Members

Kirk Blalock New Board of Governors member Kirk Blalock and his wife, Kristen, are the proud parents of two Lower School Saints, and he is pleased to serve in this new role. "SSSAS offers its students a world-class education, a focus on athletics, a foundation in religion, and a belief in strong character development in an environment of community and

family," Mr. Blalock said. "SSSAS is building the country's next set of leaders, which is important."

Mr. Blalock is a partner at Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, a government relations and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. providing strategic advice and advocacy at the federal level for companies, national trade associations, and business coalitions. Prior to joining the firm in 2002, Mr. Blalock served President George W. Bush's administration as special assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. He was President Bush's lead staff liaison to the U.S. business community. Previously, Mr. Blalock served in several key positions, including director of external affairs at Philip Morris Companies, Inc.; special assistant to Chairman Haley Barbour, Republican National Committee; and special assistant to U.S. Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander.

Mr. Blalock served as the national chairman for young professionals during John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign. He is also a member of the Board of Visitors of The Fund for American Studies housed at Georgetown University. At SSSAS, Mr. Blalock has been an active Saints Fund volunteer, parent chair, and Light the Way volunteer. He is an Atlanta, Georgia native and a graduate of Auburn University. In his "off time," he enjoys spending time with his family (children are Maddie '19 and Makin '23), skiing, and playing tennis.

Suzanne S. Brock Board of Governors member Suzanne Brock feels strongly about the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School mission. "SSSAS is important to me because it is an institution in our community that provides an excellent traditional, yet well-rounded educational experience within the Christian tradition," she said. Ms. Brock's granddaughter,

Eddie Miller, is currently a third grade Saint. Her son Geoffrey attended the Lower School, and her niece, Sarah Landon, is a member of the Class of 1990.

Ms. Brock works at Beacon Communications where she manages the family's communications tower sites. Previously, she was the co-founder and secretary-treasurer of Metrocall, Inc. She earned her A.A. in child development from the University of California at Berkeley and her B.S. in biology from George Washington University. She volunteers her time in numerous positions, including the INOVA Alexandria Hospital Foundation Board, Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Foundation Board, and the Board of Directors for the Choral Arts Society of Washington, just to name a few.

In her free time, Ms. Brock enjoys traveling, singing, dressage horseback riding, and gardening.

Heather Cox Heather Cox is a proud parent to two Saints, Lea '17 and Victoria '18, and is a new Board of Governors member at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School. She and her husband, Chris, are dedicated to the mission of our school to pursue a balance of excellent academics, athletics, and a faith-inspired approach to

developing character in our students. "We greatly appreciate the unique SSSAS environment, which celebrates all diversity and encourages our children to build a lifelong appreciation for giving back to our communities," Ms. Cox said. "Chris and I believe the caliber of education available at SSSAS is unrivaled, and we are dedicated to ensuring that the school sustains academic excellence over the course of time, serving many generations into the future."

Ms. Cox is the executive vice president of U.S. card operations for Capital One Financial Corporation. She is a member of Capital One's Card Leadership Team and serves on the board of the Capital One Foundation. Additionally, she serves on the board of LIFT, a non-profit, which aims to combat poverty and expand opportunity for all people in the U.S. In 2011, Ms. Cox was named to American Banker's "25 Women to Watch" list and was also recognized as Capital One's "Working Mother of the Year" by Working Mother magazine. In 2012, Governor Bob McDonnell appointed her as a member of the Council on Virginia's Future.

34 www.sssas.org

Ms. Cox earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She is an active member of our school community and has volunteered at the APT Fall Festival, annual parent parties, and for various grade-specific and athletic events. Ms. Cox enjoys boating, traveling, reading, and supporting her two daughters with their various scholastic and athletic activities.

Cathy Tyler '80 Cathy Smith Tyler '80 is excited to serve her alma mater as a St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Board of Governors member. She and her husband, Ruffin, have three sons, Harrison '13, Rice '15, and Chris '21. Mrs. Tyler's siblings Billy '75 and Leith '78 are also alumni of the school. Mrs. Tyler's family has a long history with the school. Several more

of her relatives have attended St. Stephen's & St. Agnes over the

generations, including some from the earliest classes of St. Agnes School and St. Stephen's School.

"SSSAS is such a wonderful oasis in the midst of our busy lives," Mrs. Tyler said. "The academic excellence is unparalleled, and the school community is vibrant and engaged. I am especially impressed with the concept that each student is encouraged to take appropriate risks and try new things all while being supported and mentored. Every child has talents and gifts, and at SSSAS they are encouraged and challenged to develop those skills."

Mrs. Tyler is a graduate of the University of Virginia where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in rhetoric and communication studies. She also has a certificate in landscape design from George Washington University. She gives generously of her time at SSSAS. She has served in many roles, including Reunion Fund agent, Reunion Committee volunteer, The Saints Fund alumni chair, Light the Way Campaign volunteer, and room parent. She enjoys spending time with her family, knitting, and gardening.

The 2012-2013 Board of GovernorsFirst row, left to right: Shanda Ivory, Head of School Joan Holden, Chair Clay Perfall, Michelle Go;

second row: Vice Chair Steven Peterson '84, Heather Cox, David Charlton '69, APT President Laurie Drysdale, Suzanne Brock; third row: Alumni Association Board President Montez Anderson '93, Cathy Tyler '80, Amy Curtis '80, Michael Chiaramonte, Craig Veith;

fourth row: Philip Herget, Robert Wadsworth '78, Kirk Blalock, Jeffery Walter, John Siegel, and Berkeley Shervin '78 (not pictured: Amy Argetsinger '86, Ian Markham, and Karen Walker)


Perspectives from the Past:a

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By Anne Bolen, School Archivist

the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School archivist, I often ask our community members to tell me about their school experiences. Capturing their memories helps our current students and faculty identify with our rich history and see their places in the continuum of our school's life. We recently had the unique opportunity to visit with two graduates who were students during the founding years of our school: Virginia "Ginnie" Cary Dawson Smart, St. Agnes Class of 1928; and George Penn, Jr., St. Stephen's Class of 1952, both of whom entered their respective schools the year they opened. Talking with them was a wonderful glimpse into the past, and a chance to see how the traditions and values they experienced endure at our school today.

At over 100 years young, Ginnie Smart still lives independently in White Stone, Virginia and continues to volunteer for non-profit organizations. In fact, she still lives in the same house that she and her late husband, Frank, purchased when he retired as a Navy chaplain in 1962. His active-duty military years took them to places far from Alexandria, where they met and where Ginnie grew up. Ginnie showed us a wonderful, small oil painting of her childhood home on Quaker Lane, which in the 1920s was a one-lane, dirt road.

Her memories of Alexandria in the 1920s and during the Great Depression paint a picture quite different from the bustling, urban Alexandria of today. "Alexandria stopped at King Street, right there at the [Masonic] temple and the train station. That was the end of town; there wasn't even a drug store," Ginnie recalled. "I had a pony, and I had strict orders that if I went towards town and got to the end of King Street, I was to turn around! I was not allowed to ride in town."

Prior to entering ninth grade at St. Agnes in the fall of 1924, she was tutored at home. "There were no county schools in those days," Ginnie explained. "The nearest thing to a grammar school I ever attended was in the home of the wife of a student at the seminary, which was just up the road. So she just gathered about half a dozen of us who had no place to go! The high school, Episcopal, was there. My brother started attending up there at about 11 or 12 years old. But there was no place for the girls."

Until St. Stephen's opened in 1944, St. Agnes was co-educational through the eighth grade, so Ginnie's memories include the boys in school as well as the girls. She fondly remembers bright and hardworking classmates, including her good friend "Kin" (Flora Kinloch Shackelford), for whom the St. Agnes Valedictorian Award was named: "She was such a brain that when we went to St. Agnes, we were both put in the advanced Latin class," Ginnie recalls. "She went 'zip!' while I was struggling, saying, 'Hey, wait up for me!'"

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Virginia "Ginnie" Cary Dawson Smart '28

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She also remembers many of her teachers, such as the headmistress, Miss Marguerite Chapman, who was "tall and dignified," and one of the younger teachers who volunteered to chaperone some of the girls to a dance in Maryland.

Teenage life in her day was very different. Although there were some dances at EHS and occasional music recitals held at St. Agnes, there were few extra-curriculars. With no gym at the school, girls who wanted to play basketball took the city bus to a large public gym in Old Town to practice, and the SAS Green and Gold teams competed against each other. Ginnie was proud to remember that she was a "Gold." Outside of school, sporting events were a great source of entertainment, and everyone went to the games. "You'd go and watch football, then you'd watch basketball, and then you'd watch baseball!" she said. Going on a date consisted of a two-mile walk to the end of King Street to get a soda and then a two-mile walk back home. "The boys didn't have cars, and nobody had any money!" she remembers.

Ginnie did not recall if St. Agnes had a dress code back then, but she cherishes a tradition that is still part of SSSAS today. "I was thinking about our graduation picture, and there were six of us. We all had white dresses not quite to the knee, which was the style then. Still is, of course," she said, laughing. "We wore white stockings and white heels, as high as we could get them! But with those white dresses, white stockings, and white shoes, we carried long-stemmed, red roses. It was quite

beautiful." After graduation, Ginnie attended a finishing school in Pennsylvania where she trained to become a business secretary, a job she held before getting married in 1942.

Ginnie Smart's wonderful memories and matter-of-fact, yet humorous outlook on life certainly came through in her advice to our students who are about to graduate: "Go ahead and enjoy life and be happy! Never mind all the small details."

the time I left Ginnie's home, I had a clear picture of life in the 1920s and '30s. Next we travelled forward in time to the 1940s and '50s (and a few hours north in Virginia) to get the boys' perspective from George Penn Jr., St. Stephen's Class of 1952.

George and his wife, Ellie, returned to SSSAS this fall for his 60th Reunion, along with two of his eight classmates. He entered St. Stephen's in 1944 as a fifth grade student. George explained how Headmaster The Rev. Edward Tate was part of his decision to go to St. Stephen's: "He was great, and I had known him for years from the church (Emmanuel Episcopal on Russell Road). When the school opened, that was one of the reasons that I went there as one of the first students."

As with St. Agnes, there was no gym at St. Stephen's in the early years, and students who wanted to play basketball

Two Alumni Share Early Memories of Our School

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George Penn Jr. '52


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practiced at the city gym at night. However, there was a hard, dirt-packed, and occasionally rocky playing field for football and baseball, and a great Saints enthusiasm for athletics. George remembered The Rev. Tate being unable to resist leaving his office now and then to join the football team for a few kick-offs. George was on the six-man football team in the school's early athletic program. They had an undefeated season his senior year, capped off with the all-important Thanksgiving win against Christchurch.

When there were no scheduled games, or schools to compete against, the boys would organize "scrub teams" of neighborhood friends, or even the returning WWII veterans who filled Alexandria at the time. "We often played against what we called the '52/20 Club,' and these were veterans from the war," he explained. "They got 20 dollars a week, for 52 weeks, and that was the '52/20 Club.' But these fellows were like kids in some ways, maybe 18, 19 years old, but still, we got beat! We were much younger and smaller."

World War II shaped much of George's family and school experiences. Many of his relatives worked in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town, manufacturing torpedoes. Along with clothing and gasoline rationing, the housing shortage for service personnel and their families was felt everywhere. "When I was about eight or nine, we had the wife of a serviceman who was stationed in Washington, D.C. sharing a room in our house," George recalled. "In exchange she took care of me while mom and dad worked."

By senior year, George and his classmates felt more like adults than teenagers. "You have to realize that we had the draft," he said. "That was coming along with death and taxes!" Many of the St. Stephen's faculty had served in the war and shared their experiences. "Mr. [Willis] Wills had served in the Coast Guard. He [told us he] had ruined his

eyesight staring through binoculars at night looking for U-boats," George said. "Colonel [Thomas B.] Gale had served, and most of our coaches had been or were in the Army. A lot of the boys' parents were in the military too, so that was just a part of life."

These feelings of responsibility were combined with a jovial fondness and earnest respect for the faculty and staff. "The relationship with the teachers was very casual. There were none of those teachers that you feared to go to or talk to," George said. He believes the most important thing was their genuine interest in the students. "If you sat down and talked with them about something, it was not something that was passing through. It was sincere, and it was meaningful."

By the 1950s, a strong bond had developed between St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, as some of the boys had sisters, neighbors, and friends who attended the girls school. Having a car was an instrumental way to meet St. Agnes girls. George smiled and said, "You'd take your car, and you'd go over and sit in the parking lot at St. Agnes after school and see what happened!" Although St. Stephen's still did not sponsor dances, George has photos from parties they had with the girls from St. Agnes. "Someone would bring records, and you'd have a record hop," he remembered. "It would start maybe about 8:00 in the evening and go to about 11:00, well-supervised. Some folks would bring some Coca-Colas, and you'd talk and listen to music."

As for the greatest life skill he gained from St. Stephen's, George says, "Respect. Learning to respect the people you are talking to, dealing with. And earning their respect is an opening for communications." Like Ginnie, George's advice to our Saints today resonates across all time periods and generations: "Be true to yourself." He concluded, "We had excellent teachers and an excellent leader in [The] Rev. Tate. When we graduated he said, 'When we came to the school, we were both brand new, but you have taught me everything I needed to learn.'" both spoke about close friendships, rigorous academics, respect for and camaraderie with their teachers, and a deep pride in our school. While many things have changed since they were students—we no longer play football on a dirt-packed field, and none of us ride our horses to school—many things have endured: a strong Episcopal identity, a sense of community that continues long after graduation day, and a training of the mind and character that prepares students for life well beyond the neckties and white dresses of Commencement day.

Ginnie and George

p George Penn '52 helping Archivist Anne Bolen identify his classmates in a St. Stephen's photo from the 1950s.

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An Unheralded Blessing for Our School

August, the school received word that it would be the beneficiary of a generous gift of $500,000 from the estate of Margaret Crawley, the mother of an alumnus, who passed away on May 20, 2012. This incredible support was a completely unheralded, unanticipated blessing for St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School. Mrs. Crawley's son, John, Class of 1970, who predeceased her in the early 1990s, was active in drama and on the school newspaper staff. Mrs. Crawley left her entire estate to be divided in half for the benefit of her college and for the benefit of SSSAS.

Head of School Joan Holden said, "This gift is a wonderful reminder to us that our school makes a permanent impact on individuals well beyond Alexandria, our school, and their years spent right here in this environment. These individuals can unexpectedly show their gratitude and generosity long after they have walked our halls and indeed forever consider themselves part of our community."

We are grateful for conversations with classmates and friends, who have shared more with us about Mrs. Crawley and her son and some of what may have inspired this astonishing remembrance. John's classmate Michael Ferrara remembers that Mrs. Crawley had a Hammond B-3 organ with a huge Leslie rotating speaker system in her home, which would "fill the

house with music." According to Michael, Mrs. Crawley had strong opinions, but she also had a warm, sly sense of humor. John's classmate Herb Curlee took keyboard lessons from Mrs. Crawley and says she "was inspirational" in his musical interests. "She would nod wisely and say it sounded great, when at that age I know we must have all been very bad and very loud." Herb credits Mrs. Crawley with being one of the main reasons he is still playing music today, and he even wished to dedicate his recent solo CD release to her.

As a classmate recalls, John was incredibly strong — he could arm wrestle anyone in the class — but he was also a very gentle, upbeat soul with a good sense of humor. He ran track and cross country and was on the Chapel Committee. Classmates remember that John was a wonderful musician in his own right. He acted in Amard-Encore productions (during his senior year, he portrayed Joshua in "Ring Round the Moon"), and Michael recalls how, for one production, John recorded the music for the opening of the show and was very meticulous about the sound quality. "He went from place to place to find the right piano sound and wanted to get it just right. Everyone remarked how great it sounded that year." During the summer, John was a counselor at Camp Whitehall. When John passed away in the early 1990s, his ashes were spread at the Tidal Basin

An organist who could "fill the house with music" fills our school with appreciation this fall

In

p The 1970 St. Stephen's Drama Club ~ The actors, from left to right: Ed Ettinger, Jim Wallace, Chip Stelle, Blaise deFranceaux, Chip Queitzch, John Crawley, Ralph Shaffer, Michael Ferrara, Herb Curlee, Nick McGaffin, and Mark Fox


in Washington, D.C. John loved the area near the cherry blossoms as a place for reflection, and he was particularly keen on photographing the area as well.

It is no doubt that this gift to St. Stephen's & St. Agnes, 42 years after her son graduated, represents Mrs. Crawley's extraordinary gratitude and fondness for our school. Michael and other classmates concur that Mrs. Crawley thought John benefited greatly from attending St. Stephen's. And now, with the help of Mrs. Crawley's wonderfully generous remembrance, our school will continue to inspire the next generation of musicians, dramatists, runners, photographers, and the strong, gentle, upbeat Saints students of all talents and interests.

While it is not uncommon for estate plans which benefit the school to be completed without the school's knowledge, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss with anyone considering a bequest intention for the school what specific plans you might have for your contribution and its use.

We can help you make the most personal impact with your legacy gift by contacting our Development Office at 703-212-2720.

John Martin Crawley '70

Every Hand Raised!

Every day at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, students raise their hands with confidence and curiosity, empowered by the knowledge they gain inside and outside of our classrooms.

They seek to share their own voices as well as to question and to understand. Their raised hands indicate their participation and their enthusiastic response to our dedicated teachers, coaches, and mentors.

We ask that you join our 1,143 Saints students and raise your hand in bold support of our school community.

To give your gift online with a credit card, please visit our website at: http://giving.sssas.org

Or, contact Julia Farnham '06, director of Annual Giving: 703-212-2715 | [email protected]

Thanks to Our Fantastic 2012-2013 Saints Fund Volunteer Leadership Committee

Development Committee Chair: Jeff WalterLeadership Gifts Committee Chairs:

Kevin & Tracy DurkinParent Chairs: Kathy Edmunds (US), Ed Pratt (MS),

Brian & Bambi Coval (LS)Alumni Chair: Michael Shepherd '76Young Alumni Chair: Chris Miller '05

New Parent Chairs: Jo & David FelsenthalPast Parent Chairs: Stevie & Gardner Gillespie

Grandparent Chairs: Harry & Margaret GerlachFaculty Division Chairs: Doug Adams (US),

Kelley Gorman (MS), Beth Barrow (LS)Administrator Liaison: Tim Doyle

Staff Chair: Israel Zavala

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Alumni ConnectionsLetter from the President of the Alumni Association Board

is with great pleasure that I have accepted the opportunity to serve a two-year term as president of the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Alumni Association Board. As a 1993 graduate, I am keenly aware of the traditions and standards set forth by our school. Having served on the Alumni Association Board as vice president, I am pleased to note that year after year, our organization has continued to create innovative programs that fulfill the

emerging needs and interests of the alumni community. Through substantive programming and outreach to alumni as well as working with the school's parent organizations, we hope that the Alumni Association Board will continue to grow stronger in fulfilling its role as a proud ambassador of the school.

In September the Alumni Association welcomed back hundreds of alumni, including the graduating classes ending in "2" and "7" who celebrated their reunions during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Alumni, parents, and faculty also reconnected at the Torpedo Factory, the 10th Annual Robert Lamond '67 Memorial Alumni Soccer Game, and the Saints Story Time for our children of alumni.

I am delighted to report that last year, each member of the Alumni Association Board contributed to The Saints Fund. We stand beside our faculty–who also participated 100%–in supporting this critical fund that benefits faculty salaries, buildings and grounds maintenance, teaching supplies, financial aid, technology, arts, science, and athletic programs. We plan to continue the tradition of giving back and achieve the same goals again this year.

In addition to The Saints Fund, the Alumni Association is proud to continue our commitment to the Children of Saints Endowed Scholarship Fund, a fund established in 2006 to provide financial assistance to qualifying children of alumni who attend the school. We are also currently working to fulfill

our pledge to Light the Way: A Campaign for our Teachers. We feel especially excited about honoring those teachers who taught us in years past and helping to recruit and retain bright teachers in the future.

Within the past year, the Alumni Association Board has instituted a new programming initiative for alumni, parents of alumni, current parents, and those interested in the school, in the form of a Legal Affinity Group. Winston and Strawn, LLP was the site of the inaugural event this past spring in which former U.S. Senator from Virginia John Warner was our guest speaker. He wowed the room of 80 participants with his extensive knowledge as an attorney and lawmaker, and contributed to making this event a notable success. The group followed with another successful reception held November 1 at Van Scoyoc Associates with remarks by U.S. Navy SEAL Peter Osyf and The Honorable Kenneth L. Wainstein. We encourage all who are interested to attend our future gatherings.

Be sure to visit www.sssas.org/alumni to check out photos of all of the Alumni Association's events. We encourage your input and support as we move forward.

Go Saints,Montez J. Anderson '93

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Montez Anderson '93

p Alumni Association Board members Bryan Booker '99, Montez Anderson '93, and Zach Terwilliger '99 helped Head of School Joan Holden welcome alumni to the Torpedo Factory Reception during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.

Save the Date!Wednesday, February 27

Join us for a Regional Alumni Reception in

New York City at the home of Marguerite Orr Pitts '62

Tuesday, March 19Join us for a

Regional Alumni Reception in Richmond, Virginia

at the Commonwealth Club

Monday, May 20Tee off this spring at the

22nd Annual Sleepy Thompson Memorial Golf Tournament

Join us at the Army Navy Country Club for a round of golf, lunch and dinner,

fun contests, and great prizes

For more information, contact Alumni Relations DirectorTyler Hetzer at [email protected] or 703-212-2718.


Alumni Moments from the 2012

A 50th Reunion Moment from Dave Davidson '62 & Mike O'Donnell '62…

The "Golden Alumni Reunion" was very special. Our attendance included 11 classmates: Warren Andrews, Dave Davidson, Landon Davis, Randy Earnest, Richard Fisher, Bill Hannan, Doug Hotchkiss, Mike O'Donnell, Michael Turner, Keith Walters, and John Williams. We also were joined by two friends from other classes, Chuck Shepherdson '61 and Andy Kreutzer '63.

Friday we had a great time being interviewed by third grade students, who asked us questions about our life at St. Stephen's School. Afterwards we had a very nice luncheon at Lloyd House, where we listened to very informative talks by Head of School Joan Holden and a current student who spoke about St. Stephen's & St. Agnes in the present. Some of our class attended the pep rally and others enjoyed a visit to the "Ask the Archivist" display. The class pictures dating back to the early 1900s were very impressive. That evening, we attended the Torpedo Factory Art Center alumni reception and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with other alumni, faculty, and school staff. Refreshments were served, and class pictures were taken. Later, we had a private celebration where framed yearbook photos and fun gifts were given to each member of the Class of '62.

On Saturday at the Upper School, we enjoyed the APT Fall Family Festival and our special seating to watch the football game. At halftime we marched together in front of the stands to the cheers of the crowd. Four of us wore our varsity football jerseys. What a game! It was a tight contest; the Saints won with a touchdown in the last few seconds. It made our day. That evening we had our class dinner in Old Town Alexandria. Our class had 36 members in 1962, and over the years five have passed away. Doug Hotchkiss read the names of our classmates who are no longer with us: Kirk Briggs, Thomas Lamond, Jeff Mills, Randy Peyton, and Vic Woerheide, and we made a special toast to them.

A very special thank you to the school staff for all their efforts to make the weekend special, and in particular to Joan Holden, Tyler Hetzer, Geoff Johnson '89, and Anne Bolen. In appreciation for a wonderful weekend and a wonderful school experience, the Class of 1962 is very pleased to have made a contribution to the 2012-2013 Saints Fund.

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p Marguerite Orr Pitts '62, Barbara Gunn Zerkel '62, and Ann McMurray Murray '62 enjoyed reminiscing and looking at their class graduation photo.

p The St. Stephen's Class of 1962 had a great turnout for their 50th Reunion. From left to right: Chuck Shepherdson '61, Mike O'Donnell, Landon Davis, Michael Turner, Warren Andrews, Doug Hotchkiss, Dave Davidson, Bill Hannan, Randy Earnest, and Richard Fisher (not pictured: Keith Walters and John Williams)

p The 50th Reunion alumni, full of school spirit, carried their banner proudly onto the field at halftime.

p Returning St. Agnes Class of 1962 alumnae in front of Lloyd House just after the Golden Saints Luncheon

p Beth Grosvenor Boland '67, Frances Pollak '67, and Deborah Androus '67 had a blast being interviewed by Mr. Kellner's third grade class.

42 www.sssas.org

Homecoming & Reunion Weekenda

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A 25th Reunion Moment from Sarah Williams '87…

Jennifer Griffin crossed the Atlantic just in time, flying back from a week-long European tour with U.S. Army commanders. Becca Brockman Zuvich, Della Pace Patteson, and Heidi Brown traveled from Raleigh, Atlanta, and New York City, respectively. Jane Barness Verdeccio, an SAS lifer, flew from California for her first reunion. Seeing Jane's always-smiling face again was, as fellow lifer Ginny Taylor Scott (in from Austin) put it, "a highlight of the reunion."

What was the news at our 25th Reunion? Many of us are working, many are at home, some are in transition—all are juggling too much but thriving. Courtney Jewell Beveridge is a happy newlywed, Sasha Price Hogan has been to Mt. Everest base camp, and Stephanie Sharma Wilson is busy with her 18-month-old son.

Cecile Lastelic Phillips and Katherine Cooper Hoffman rallied 22 of the 49 of us to attend the well-planned weekend: Friday at the Torpedo Factory Art Center with after-party at Virtue restaurant; Saturday evening with SSS '87 at Evening Star Café's upstairs lounge.

As fun as the coed evening events were, it was at the Saturday morning SAS-only coffee at Lloyd House, architectural confection/nostalgia crib, where the reconnecting clicked, thanks to Shelly Webb's clever video chock full of SAS trivia.

"Do you realize that at our 50th, we're going to be grandmothers?" exclaimed Mary Elizabeth Paul Duke. While doing the math in their heads, some nodded in shock; others got more coffee.

Wherever SAS graduates gather, we aren't afraid to address serious matters. "I must say, we all have much better hair now," Amy Wagner Hanley said while flipping through our senior yearbook. She's right; our classmates look good and at ease. Turns out 43 is the new 38. If one among us mourned her lost mullet or perm-gone-wrong, well, reader, she didn't say.

p Cecile Lastelic Phillips '87 received her commemorative reunion pin from her fifth grade daughter, Lily, during halftime of the football game.

p The St. Agnes Class of 1987 alumnae carried their 25th Reunion banner with pride!

p St. Agnes Class of 1977 alumnae enjoyed the APT Fall Family Festival picnic.

p The St. Stephen's 1987 class alumi and family members carried their banner onto the field during halftime.

p St. Agnes Class of 1952 alumnae Sherry Handly Martin (with husband Ed) and Brandon Forrest Rohr celebrated their 60th Reunion at the Torpedo Factory.


A 5th Reunion Moment from Annie Culvahouse '07…

It is hard to believe five years have passed, and yet it seems like just yesterday James Kennedy was reciting his "nacho cheese" joke every morning meeting, and Dr. Brent was telling us to get off the hallway floor. However, these past five years have been the most important five years of our lives. We have gone to college, traveled the world, learned more about who we are, and (most importantly) we have learned what a suit, tie, and pencil skirt are. Still, the Class of 2007, in my eyes, has not changed that much. We left SSSAS with a bang to return five years later with a BANG, fireworks included.

You could feel the excitement at the Torpedo Factory Art Center on Friday night where it seemed like our class took over the entire right-hand section. You could hear Becca Devine's excited scream every time she saw someone new and Ian Davidson's giggle as he watched ten field hockey alumnae trying to speak to Coach Way (should have had the trifecta!).

The enthusiasm carried on to Saturday at the football game, where we reminisced about Homecoming dances, our favorite classes, and how Kevin Teague stunk up the senior hallway with his 20, two-month-old lunches hidden in his locker. It was also so nice to see the new additions to SSSAS, including the Taibls' and Mrs. Koroma's new baby girls. Although the campus has changed a bit with the new picnic tables and school store in the gym area, it still felt like home.

Finally, Saturday night rolled around, and as we each made our way to the George bar in Georgetown, we were enveloped with flashing cameras, hugs, and smiles. Some highlights of the evening included seeing Greg Perkins' dance moves and how great Ross Blair looks! I think being surrounded by all of the faces we grew up with reminded us of how lucky we are. So Class of 2007—I hope it does not take another five years to get to see you all, but most importantly, "What cheese is not yours?"

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p A large crowd of 2007 alumni gathered to celebrate their 5th Reunion at George in Washington, D.C.

p Caroline Nuckolls '07 and Abigail Holden '07 had a wonderful time at their 5th Reunion.

p The Gibson family gathered at the Torpedo Factory. From left to right: Gay Gibson '88, Dorothy Gibson '82, Kirk Gibson '80, Linda Gibson, former faculty member Dottie Gibson, and Head of School Joan Holden.

p The Class of 1992 celebrated their 20th Reunion at the Torpedo Factory.

p Many alumni came out to compete in our 10th Annual Robert M. Lamond '67 Memorial Alumni Soccer Game!

44 www.sssas.org

March 28: Jasmine Larrinaga-Johnson, faculty/staff, and husband Maxton, a son, Cameryn Maxwell Johnson

June 20: Jon Kunz, faculty/staff, and wife Karen Kunz, faculty/staff, a daughter, Amelia Gray Kunz June 26: Amanda Jennings Carrington '98 and husband Kenneth, a daughter, Peyton Lee Carrington July 6: Chris Tillson, faculty/staff, and wife Becky, former faculty/staff, a daughter, Leah Beran Tillson August 15: Liz Argetsinger '87 and husband Richard Reyes-Gavilan, a daughter, Margretta Jean Reyes-Gavilan

August 24: Ned Bair '99 and wife Meghan, a daughter, Chloe Florence Bair

September 4: Matt Williams, faculty/staff, and wife Shwetha, a son, Kalyan Kesting Williams

September 6: Eloise Priest Southard '98 and husband Bo, a daughter, Landon Glover Southard

September 6: Olivia Titus-Dalu '90 and husband David, a son, Joseph Everett Dalu

September 11: Kyle Earnest '98 and wife Kate, a daughter, Emily Jane Earnest

September 15: Nhan Lo, faculty/staff, and husband Alan, a son, Nathan Ying Kit Lo

September 15: Sarah Humphrey Reinprecht '96 and husband Steven, a daughter, Mette Lansdale Reinprecht September 18: Taylor Kiland '85, former Alumni Association Board member, and husband Mike, a daughter, Kiland Virginia Anne Hatcher

September 19: Caroline Bellino Marvel '99 and husband Hynson H. Marvel III '98, a son, Hynson Howell Marvel IV

October 5: Joe Wenger, faculty/staff, and wife Hartley, a son, Noah Couper Wenger

October 9: David Darby '92, former Foundation trustee, and wife Helen, a daughter, Lucy Jo Esther Darby

October 12: Jill Iverson, faculty/staff, and husband Nick, a daughter, Jenna Nicola Iverson

Amelia Gray Kunz

Peyton Lee Carrington

Landon Glover Southard

Joseph Everett Dalu& big sister Caroline

Nathan Ying Kit Lo

Mette Lansdale Reinprecht& big brother Henning

Kiland Virginia Anne HatcherHynson Howell Marvel IV

Milestones: New Additions


Lucy Jo Esther Darby

Elizabeth Smith '02 & Thomas DiStanislao

March 31: Taylor Kiland '85, former Alumni Association Board member, and Mike Hatcher

April 14: Prashant Wilson '02 and Galen Griffin '04

July 28: Abby Vinyard '96 and Cormaic O'Melia

August 4: Will Albright '01 and Julie Reimer

August 11: Elizabeth Smith '02 and Thomas DiStanislao

August 17: Elliott Brown '04 and Christina Parrish

August 25: Lucy Toole '98 and Jason Guillot

September 1: Katherine Leleszi, faculty/staff, and James Carbo

September 22: Brett Allen '94 and Billy Collins

September 22: Meg Hart '99 and Drew Marks

September 29: Andrew Sidle '78, faculty/staff, and Sabiha Sorgun

September 29: Peter Vaughan '02 and Meredith Terry

October 11: Mary Downs '04 and David Roberts

October 13: Margarita Jennings '06 and Cutter Brenton '06

Lucy Toole '98 & Jason Guillot

Katherine Leleszi & James Carbo

Margarita Jennings '06 & Cutter Brenton '06

Milestones: Middle Aisle

Galen Griffin '04 & Prashant Wilson '02

46 www.sssas.org

Alumni Couples

F Joe Saury '67, 1/24/11F John Doelman, husband of Marcia Cole Doelman '52, 4/30/11F Rhoda S. McComb, grandmother of Paul Eisenberg '25, 11/20/11F Elizabeth Grab Hansen '51, 12/8/11F Dorothy B. Morgan, grandmother of Clifford '07 and Nicole Garvin '12, 2/23/12F Gloria Gale Nardini '53, 2/28/12F Dorothy M. Jones, mother of Carter Jones '75 and Mary Page Jones Frantz '77, and mother-in-law of Stacy Holleder Jones '76, 3/10/12F Eric T. Werner, father of TJ Werner '15, 3/19/12F Robert P. Smyth, grandfather of Elizabeth Bellino '94 and Caroline Bellino Marvel '99, 3/24/12F Patricia Grant Bolton, grandmother of Katie '09 and Tom May '12, 4/13/12F Henry Sturgis Morgan, husband of Jean "Sandy" McCain Morgan '52, brother-in-law of John S. McCain '54, uncle of Douglas '77, Andrew '80, and Sidney McCain '85, 5/6/12F Ann Irwin Heflin '55, 5/25/12F Erma Ruth "Bootie" Poarch, former faculty/staff, 5/29/12F Gerard "Jerry" Giles Coleman, father of Kate Coleman Pruiett '72, 7/15/12F Roger A. P. Cooley IV, father of Harold D. Cooley II '77 and Madeline Cooley Flagler '73, 7/15/12F Vance Anderson '60, brother of Jane Anderson '72, 7/16/12 F Robert T. Go, father of Michelle Go, Board of Governors member, grandfather of Adrienne '21 and Brooke Lai '24, 7/17/12 F Bill Raney, husband of the late Carol Raney, former faculty/staff, 7/21/12F Kathleen Chase, grandmother of Katy '10 and Chris Chase '15, 7/24/12F E. Jane Herring, grandmother of Courtney '17 and Carlton Tillman '23, 7/24/12F Phil Blondheim '57, 8/18/12

F Sarah Baroody, grandmother of Parker '14 and Sarah Lowe '16, 8/26/12F William A. Hazel Sr., former Board of Governors member, father of Ruth Hazel Little '76 and Jean Hazel '78, 9/3/12F Michael A. Nemir '60, son of Mary Lou Nemir, former faculty/staff, brother of Lewell P. Nemir '59 and Diane Nemir Reed '64, 9/14/12F Phil VanderMyde, husband of Terry VanderMyde, former faculty/ staff, father of the late Jane Gray Stilwell '82 and Maslin VanderMyde Seal '92, former Alumni Association Board member, 9/16/12F Berdelia R. Kotulan, grandmother of Sarah Kotulan '24, 9/17/12F Elizabeth Nager Thompson, daughter of Deborah Hirst Nager '57, granddaughter of the late Omer Hirst, former Board of Governors member, niece of Tom Hirst '60 and Robin Hirst Moore '67, 9/18/12F Sheila Kelley, grandmother of Matt Kelley '13, 9/20/12F Diana M. Palmer, grandmother of Paul Eisenberg '25, 9/20/12F Landous Creek, great-grandmother of Myles '23 and Madison Sandy '24, 9/23/12F Leo S. Mackay Sr., grandfather of Sarah '11 and Josiah Mackay '16, 9/26/12F Benjamin Irving Johns Sr., former faculty/staff, father of Mary Johns Sullivan '70, Elizabeth '71, Benjamin '74, and Randy Johns '82, and grandfather of Gussie T. Johns '14, 10/5/12 F Donald Allen, father of Adrienne '04 and Jonathan Allen '08, 10/11/12F Seymour "Sic" Young, father of Marion "Happy" Young McCown '74, Rob Young '76, Ann Morton Young Habliston '78, former Alumni Association Board member and former Board of Governors member, grandfather of Caroline '06, Chazzo '09, and Bennet Habliston '13, 10/11/12F Marilyn Foster Oliver, grandmother of Jacob '18 and Shannon Foster '18, 10/13/12

In Memoriam

On July 28 the St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School community lost cherished former teacher and friend Jane Holman, St. Stephen's School fourth grade teacher from 1963-1986. She died at the age of 85 in the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia.

Throughout her 22 years at St. Stephen's, she brought a sense of warmth to her classroom and was beloved by her students and colleagues. Charlie Joyce, former St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School Latin teacher, said, "Her kindness and focus on the children's needs and education were always evident. She was the type of teacher I would have loved to have had in elementary school. Jane always had a warm smile to greet you. She was, in my mind, the type of terrific teacher you would never forget."

Ms. Holman was born in Missouri. Her family settled in Washington, D.C. in 1943, where she graduated from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington. She received her bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in English from the University of South Carolina in 1948. She married John Desmond Holman in 1949 and together raised three children, who attended our school, Christopher '72, William '75, and Prudence '83. "My mom just adored teaching her fourth grade classes," said her daughter, Prudence Holman Waters. "Many of the students she taught would return as adults to visit her, and it would be as if they were eight years old again around her. It was very sweet. She would always say that she knew, even at their young age, that her students would be successful, and she just loved seeing what they ended up doing in their lives."

Throughout her life, Ms. Holman spent numerous hours volunteering her time for many church and community-based causes. Her attendance and patronage to First Baptist Church of Washington, D.C. spanned 60 years.

Ms. Holman is survived by her children Christopher Holman '72 and Prudence Holman Waters '83 and eleven grandchildren.

Jane Holman 1926 – 2012


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St. Stephen's & St. Agnes SchoolSeminary Post OfficeAlexandria, Virginia 22304

p From left to right ~ front row: Third Grade Teacher Kirsten Becker, MS Math Teacher Amy Langenstein, Kindergarten Teacher Rachel Ostrye, US English Teacher Michelle Brown, MS Drama Teacher Lindsay Jagodowski, First Grade Teacher Tyler Leachman; second row: Fourth Grade Teacher Caitlin Engelberg, US Science Teacher Shannon Fusina, US English Teacher David Yee, MS PE Teacher Mindy Urick, LS PE Teacher Caroline Helmer, First Grade Teacher Lindsay LaBarr; third row: JK-12 Sustainability Coordinator Brian Kane, US Technology Coordinator Richard Rho, MS/US Latin & US History Teacher Gus Grissom, US English Teacher Zach Shtogren, LS Associate Director Lana Shea; back row: US Math Teacher David Weis, US Spanish Teacher Jayson Gilbert, MS Associate Director Quincey Grieve, MS PE Teacher & Head Basketball Coach Ron Ginyard, MS Science Teacher Elizabeth Kan, US History Teacher Joe Banno, and LS Assistant Librarian Lauren Crooke

Meet Our New 2012-2013 Faculty & Staff

If the addressee no longer lives at this address, please contact the school:703-212-2720 or [email protected]

Documents

2012 SSSAS Fall Winter Magazine