The Woods Academy News vol 23 iss 1 & 2015 2016 Annual Report by The Woods Academy

2016

FA L L VOLUME 23 / ISSUE 1 A Publication for The Woods Academy Community

Where curiosity and confidence thrive.

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Dear Woods Community, We are excited to share with you the latest edition of The Woods Academy News and our Annual Report. This vibrant publication is here to say thank you once again for your incredible generosity of this community and highlight the exciting and new at The Woods. Coming off a great 40th year anniversary celebration, The Woods is poised for continued success in the years ahead. This is a direct result of the great work being done by our faculty, the leadership of the board and the best students and families around. This past spring we graduated our largest class ever, with 36 students graduating from The Woods. Even more impressive was the fact that every student was accepted into his/ her first choice high school. Yes, 100% of our graduates are going to their first choice school. This is no small accomplishment. Combine that with the fact that this class was awarded over $250,000 in merit based scholarships and you can immediately see how well accomplished and prepared our students are for high school. We could not be prouder of this group and the continued success we see with our students matriculating at their top choice high school. So impressive! While we are on the topic of graduates, please take note of two great stories in this edition. Madison Sotos, Class of 2013, was recently in Kenya on a service trip with KEST. Madison was able to spend time with students at our sister school and the Nyumbani Village. Madison is truly living the Profile of a Graduate of The Woods. She is also a pretty great writer, thanks to Mrs. Piwko. Please also read our Donor Profile of the Mataac family. The Mataac’s recently created the Liza C. Mataac Dodson Memorial Scholarship in honor of Liza, a graduate and employee of The Woods who recently passed away. The Mataac family wanted to honor the beautiful legacy of their daughter so they created this scholarship that will be awarded to a rising 8th grader annually, who “best exemplifies the qualities of mentorship of younger students and involvement in school and community life that Liza so consistently displayed as a member of The Woods community.”

In this issue:

1 Head of School’s Message 2 Alumni Spotlight: Madison Sotos (2013) 4 Class of 2016 High School Matriculation 8 Class of 2012 College Matriculation

10 Class Notes 11 Around The Woods 19 Donor Profile: The Mataac Family 22 Annual Report: 2015–2016

The Woods Academy News is published by the Office of Marketing & Communications twice a year for families, alumni, and friends of The Woods Academy. Special thanks to Freed Photography for many of the photos included in this issue.

As I often reflect on our mission to serve an inclusive Catholic community preparing boys and girls to lead lives of significance, I look for examples of that mission being lived in our community. Our graduates, Madison Sotos, and The Mataac Family are just three examples of how we are living our mission. Nothing is more important and nothing is more impressive. Thank you to all who support this community in a myriad of ways and thank you to all who live our mission and lead lives of significance. Peace,

Joseph Powers

Special thanks to Martine Bernard Design (Martine Amirkhalili (1982)) for designing this issue.

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The Woods Academy N E W S

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

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It wasn’t until last year, the summer after my sophomore year in high school, that I revisited the idea of volunteering abroad. By then, I had traveled out of the U.S. without my family multiple times and my comfort zone had expanded. I also had acquired experience with volunteering, having worked in childcare at a homeless shelter for women and children and as a teacher’s helper at Head Start. Not only did these experiences lead to discovering my passion for volunteer work, they also helped me to discover my love of working with children. Those two things combined with my love of travel and my desire to learn about different parts of the world propelled me into action. I remembered Lloydie and KEST and reached out to her to learn more. After seeing the outpouring of enthusiasm she has for Kenya, I knew that I wanted this experience, so not long after I made this decision, I was getting on a plane, leaving my family for 21 days, the longest amount of time I have ever been away. I could not have made a better decision.

Alumni Spotlight: Madison Sotos (Class of 2013) The Pure Joy of a Visit to Kenya by Madison Sotos

hen I first learned about Nyumbani, I was a seventh grader at The Woods Academy. Grades one through eight were gathered in the multi-purpose room to hear an enthralling

presentation by Lloydie Zaiser, leader of Kenya Educational Service Trips (KEST) and the mother of Woods Academy teacher, Megan Mullally. In describing her adventures, Lloydie showed photos of the little ones at the Nyumbani Children’s Home, told stories about the shoshos (grandmas) at Nyumbani Village, and raved about the overall beauty and wonder of Kenya. At the time, it didn’t seem possible I could be a part of something like this—I’d traveled out of the country but never as far as Africa. So while Lloydie’s vibrant introduction to KEST sparked my interest, the thought of going all the way to Kenya to do volunteer work terrified me.

While initially nervous, the second I saw the smiling faces at Nyumbani Children’s Home, I knew I had made the right choice. My first day at the Children’s Home, four preschool children in Cottage E stuck their heads out one window to say hello to me as I passed, and I’d already made friends. During my time at the Children’s Home, I enjoyed reading books to children on the playground, visiting them in their cottages, dancing with them at mass and playing football with the boys. We visited a Maasai community, where I sang, colored and played games with a group of students. At Nyumbani Village, I had the pleasure of teaching a baby class as well as a class at Hotcourses Primary, which is the sister school of my alma mater, The Woods Academy. Because of this, visiting Nyumbani Village was an especially rewarding experience. I couldn’t contain my excitement when, on my first day in the Village, I saw a boy at the polytechnic school wearing a Woods Academy sweatshirt like one I have at home. The connection between The Woods and the Village became even more evident as I continued my stay: I was proud to see educational posters and books donated by my school all around the Hotcourses Primary classrooms where I taught, and happier still to see students enjoying the playground built for them with money raised by Woods Academy students. Having experienced Nyumbani Village and the Nyumbani Children’s Home, I know firsthand what special places they are and what special people live there. They are not people one easily forgets—their warmth and sincerity will stick in my memory for many years to come. I hope to revisit both, bringing family or friends with me so they can experience the same pure joy I felt while in Kenya.

Share Your News

Please send in your Alumni Notes for the upcoming issues of The Woods Academy News to keep your classmates and other Woods friends up to date. Photos are always welcome! Email your updates to Jodie Shoemaker, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Alumni Relations, at alumni@woodsacademy.org 2

The Woods Academy N E W S

CLASS OF 2016

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CLASS OF 2016 AWARDS

uring the commencement ceremony on June 3rd, the following Graduation Awards were given to the Class of 2016.

The Athletic Director’s Award which recognizes model Woods Academy athletes for outstanding academic achievement, sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication, and sacrifice for the program was given to Maeve Dolan and Daniel Iannarone. The Woods Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts, given to eighth grade students who have excelled in the fine arts, was awarded to John Mikita and Ryon Sarkarzadeh for Fine Arts and Bella Bristol and Oliver Wolcott for Performing Arts. The Serviam Award, for the eighth grade students who have given outstanding service to The Woods community, was received by Tom Agnew and Megan Lynch. The Celestine Award was given to John Cavanaugh, Mary Fromm, and Jasmine Yelder as the eighth grade students who demonstrated the effort and hard work that characterizes the ideal Woods Academy student.

The Woods Academy Congratulates the Members of the Class of 2016 Tom Agnew Victor Aldridge Austin Allison Caroline Belt Alex Bender Emeka Blanchard Ray Briscuso Bella Bristol Erika Carmody John Cavanaugh Frances Cave Emma Chiaramonte Demon Clowney Thomas Colangelo Madison Copper Sophia DeCain Alyssa Diess Maeve Dolan

Mary Fromm Patrick Gaul Sophia Harrison Will Hohman Daniel Iannarone Megan Lynch Jack Manger John Mikita Sebastian Musalem Harry Palley Daniel Paláez Ryon Sarkarzadeh Travis Scala David Stewart Elisa Terman Genevieve Thibodeau Oliver Wolcott Jasmine Yelder

The Woods Academy Class of 2016 has been accepted to the following high schools: Academy of the Holy Cross Connelly School of the Holy Child Georgetown Preparatory School

The Award for Academic Achievement, given to the eighth grade students who demonstrated excellence in academics, was awarded to Maeve Dolan and Ryon Sarkarzadeh. Alyssa Diess and John Mikita were the recipients of The General Excellence Award, given to the eighth grade students who have demonstrated the ideals of The Woods Academy Mission Statement, including academic, athletic, spiritual, social excellence and emotional well being, a respect for others, a spirit of equality and a commitment to community service.

Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Gonzaga College High School Our Lady of Good Counsel High School St. Andrew’s Episcopal School St. Anselm’s Abbey School St. John’s College High School Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart The class was awarded $270,000 in merit scholarships.

Attention Alumni!

Have you moved or changed your mailing/email address? Please contact Jodie Shoemaker (alumni@woodsacademy.org) to update all contact information to ensure you receive invitations for your class gatherings and other pertinent alumni information. Please include the following: • First and Last Name • Maiden Name (if applicable) • Class Year • Address, City, State, Zip • Home and Mobile # • Email Address 5

We Are

The Woo t a w ds e N

Extracurricular

3 Competitive FLL Robotics Teams • Debate Team • Approximately different after school activities offered each year for all grade levels

THE

Woods

3D printers All girls Robotics Team

ACADEMY

Science and Food Curriculum Tennis, Volleyball, Golf, and Swim Teams

High School Placement

100%

of students in the class of 2016 were accepted to 1st choice high school Class of 2016 received over $270,000 in merit scholarships to high school Dedicated High School Placement Coordinator since 1990

Academics

Daily French or Spanish in grades 1–8, 4 days per week for Montessori Lunchers

Campus Stats Coed

Founded in 1975

Montessori Preschool

One of only seven schools

Head of School — Joe Powers since 2011

in Maryland accredited by American Montessori Society (AMS)

Average class size 15 students

Meets the needs and interests of almost 3 to 6 year olds

7:1 student/ faculty ratio Six-acre, park-like campus

Activities are interdisciplinary

320 Students

Since 2012 Sister School

Music instruction beginning in Montessori through grade 8 with numerous opportunities to perform

Exchange Program

with Hotcourses Primary in Nyumbani Village in Kitui, Kenya

Fine art instruction beginning in the Montessori Luncher year through grade 8

Partnerships with A Wider Circle, Bethesda Cares, and Saint Ann’s Center for Children, Youth, and Families

Explicit Technology curriculum beginning in Montessori Luncher year

Faculty & Staff

Business School Course in grade 5

45% have 10+ years at Woods

Community Service

38% students of color 66% Catholic

50% of graduates are Lifers, have attended since Montessori

2 are alumni

80% hold advanced degrees

Gym, stage, chapel, playing fields

23% persons of color

Athletics

29 teams • 10 sports • Over 95% of Upper School students participate on at least one team

Technology

Over 300 student devices; eight years ago there were just 80 • 1:1 student devices in Grades 1–8; Three 3D printers

The Woods Academy N E W S

CLASS OF 2012

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Class of 2012: Where are they now?

Four years ago we highlighted the Class of 2012 as they were heading to high school. Now we take a look at what they have accomplished since that time and where they now attend college. Julie Branitsky graduated from Academy of the Holy Cross and is off to Penn State University to study Theater. Break a leg! Graduate of St. John’s College High School (SJC), Cole Christenson, was a member of SJC Varsity Wrestling Team all four years and earned Second Place in DC City Wrestling Championship. He also received a Scholar Athlete Award. He now attends Northwestern University. Ally Cordom graduated from The Madeira School where she was the Manager of the Equestrian Team and earned the Ann Swift Cronin Award for Most Dedicated Rider. In addition to her AP and Advanced classes, Ally completed several internships, including those with The United States House of Representatives and Northern Virginia Family Service. She now attends Villanova University where she will study Psychology and minor in Business and French. Also a graduate of St. John’s College High School, Jimmy DeVol now attends Virginia Tech. While he has yet to declare a major, he is leaning towards either mechanical or biomedical engineering. Conor Dolan graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School where he was a member of The Saint Edmund Campion Chapter of the National Honor Society which is founded upon the principles of Service, Leadership, Character, and Citizenship. The National Honor Society elects seniors who have distinguished themselves in all facets of school life. Students inducted into the Society serve the school and their fellow students as academic leaders, role models, and tutors. Conor is now a freshman at University of Notre Dame.

Joseph Nadonley graduated from St. John’s College High School where he was a four year member of the Robotics Team and JROTC. He now attends Penn State University where he will major in Civil Engineering with a focus on Transportation.

Graduate of Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Carina Franco, was a National Hispanic Scholar and member of the Cum Laude Society at Stone Ridge. During her senior internship, she had the opportunity to meet Economist and former Secretary of the Treasury, Larry Summers. Carina is now a freshman at Georgetown University.

Also a graduate of St. John’s College High School, Alia Nahra earned Honorable Mention in 2-Dimensional Design at the 2016 SJC Gallery Night Exhibition. She now attends Washington University.

Braeden Gazdag graduated from St. John’s College High School where he was inducted into the National Honor Society as well as the French National Honor Society. He was also a member of Model UN for three years while at SJC. He now attends Clemson University where he will major in engineering.

Meredith Nolan graduated from Georgetown Visitation Academy where she had the opportunity to participate in NextGenVest’s Global Business Leaders Program as a sophomore. She now attends University of Virginia.

Graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Dhani Geer, served as editor of the school newspaper, The Talon. Dhani now attends Xavier University and will major in journalism.

Also a graduate of Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Annie O’Connor was a National Merit Commended Scholar and a member of the Cum Laude Society. She now attends University of Michigan.

Katie Jeffress graduated from Wooten High School. She now attends Royal Holloway University of London and is studying Biological Sciences. Mariana Jimenez-Ontiveros graduated from Georgetown Visitation Academy where she received the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation Bronze Award for completing at least 100 hours of service. She now attends University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Ryan Murray graduated from Landon School where he was the starting Catcher on Varsity Baseball and won IAC Championship. He now attends Elon University and plans to study business. Also a graduate of Georgetown Visitation Academy, Mary Kate Myers was added to the Visi Athletic Association Hall of Fame at Academic Awards Night on June 3. She now attends Sewanee: The University of the South where she plays Lacrosse.

Molly Shriver graduated from Connelly School of the Holy Child where she earned a Public Service Award which was presented by the state of Maryland to a senior in recognition of community service. She now attends Boston College Niko Skiadopoulos graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School where he was recognized for excellence in the study of Technology at the Senior Awards Ceremony in May and was a decorated member of the OLGC Debate Team. Niko now attends UMBC and is majoring in physics and pre-law. Also a graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School, David Stanislav played soccer for all four years at Prep. David now attends Southern Methodist University where is studying business. Caroline Wyckoff graduated from Georgetown Visitation Academy where she was a member of the Spanish Honor Society and Vice President of Student Government. She received the Head of School’s Award at Academic Award Night on June 3. She now attends Villanova University.

The Woods Academy N E W S

CLASS NOTES

Share Your News

Please send in your Alumni Notes for the next issue of The Woods Academy News to keep your classmates and other Woods’ friends up to date. Photos are always welcome! Email your updates to Jodie Shoemaker, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Alumni Relations, at alumni@woodsacademy.org

AROUND THE WOODS

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2015–2016 Good Samaritans Recognized

n Tuesday, May 10th, eight students from fifth through eighth grade were honored for putting others before themselves. Julia Capuano and Mateo Mwendwa in 5th grade, Hannah Kirby

and Chris Schiedel in 6th grade, Ellie Rubin and Aaron Flynn in 7th grade, and Bella Bristol and John Mikita in 8th grade were selected by their peers to receive The Woods Academy Good

1990s

Liza C. Mataac Dodson (1991) passed away on December 10, 2015 after a two and one-half year battle with pancreatic cancer. The Liza C. Mataac Dodson Memorial Scholarship has been started to pay tribute to Liza and highlight and encourage the traits that made Liza so special: kindness of spirit, generosity of time, and mentorship of the young. You can read more about the scholarship and the Mataac Family in the Donor Profile on pages 19–20. Kate Gerber (1993) married Brian Goodykoontz on August 6 in Baltimore, MD. Jennifer Clark (1997) was the Alumni Speaker at the 2016 Graduation Ceremony held on June 3. In addition, she is one of the newest members of The Woods Academy Board of Trustees.

Samaritan Award. This award honors students whose behavior is rooted in the actions of the Good Samaritan from Jesus’ parable in Luke. Students who are recognized with this honor are authentic, kind, encouraging, willing to go out his or her way for others, and positive.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

2010s

Molly Shriver (2012) received 2016 Outstanding Youth Volunteer Awards at Potomac Community Resources’ 20th Annual Patricia Sullivan Benefit Dinner on April 16. Isabel Jabara (2013) was recently featured in Bethesda Magazine’s “2016 Montgomery County High School Girls Soccer Previews.” She is a senior at Walter Johnson High School where she has played Varsity soccer every season. Kathryn Maloney (2013) has been named a 2016 Triple-ImKate Gerber (1993) pact Competitor Scholarship Finalist for striving to impact sport on three levels by working to improve herself, her teammates and her sport as a whole. In addition, she was an intern at the downtown office of the Catholic Charities of Washington, DC this summer. She assisted the Coordinator of Volunteers in organizing the group’s outreach and social justice programs. Darius Kuddo (2014) was recently featured in The Washington Post Small Business Journal for his Kickstarter campaign to fund production of The Lumen Tie, which Kuddo is billing as “the world’s first Bluetooth-controllable LED tie.” David Stewart (2016) was selected to compete at 4th Annual CP3 Rising Stars National Camp in Lewisville, NC in August. This camp is designed to provide elite student‐athletes entering high school basketball with quality, top notch instruction and competition.

The Woods Academy N E W S

AROUND THE WOODS

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The Woods Academy Arts Celebration

n May 19th and 20th, The Woods Academy presented its Twelfth Annual Arts Celebration. This annual event is a culmination of the year’s work by all students throughout the entire school.

In addition to having our multi-purpose room transformed into an art gallery — showcasing hundreds of paintings, watercolors, pastels, ink drawings, prints, sculptures, and weavings — the exhibition spilled into the hallways of the school. Student musicians from every grade performed in the Art Gallery on both days. There was even a special concert given by The Woods Instrumental Ensemble. This year’s drama production was The Lion King Jr., a story that follows the adventures of the young lion Simba, the heir of his father Mufasa, and Simba’s wicked uncle Scar who plots to usurp Mufasa’s throne. The audience was entertained by our 7th and 8th grade actors on stage.

The Woods Academy N E W S

AROUND THE WOODS

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Montessori Graduation

eady to move on to full days of classes and uniforms in the Lower School, the Montessori Lunchers graduated on June 3rd in a ceremony full of songs and poetry in English, French, and Spanish. There is no doubt the Lunchers will miss their Montessori teachers and friends, but we are sure they are going to enjoy First Grade!

First Communion

n May 25th, The Woods celebrated the 19 second graders and one third grader who made their First Holy Communion earlier in the spring. The whole school attended mass prepared by the First Communicants, their classmates, and teachers. The students also performed a special Communion hymn, “Jesus, You are Bread for Us.” The mass was celebrated by Fr. Percival D’Silva from Blessed Sacrament Parish. Congratulations to our First Communicants!

One Owl Created by 300+ Mighty Owls

here are some experiences that cement and bond friendships for a lifetime. Some projects such as this mural take on a life of their own. And may even spark conversation ten years from now. Building a mural as a community gives a great sense of group accomplishment as each child creates his/ her own piece to add to the massive puzzle. Please stop by and survey this beautiful piece of art created in recognition of our 40th Anniversary. Special thanks to art teacher Charmaine Taverner for executing the project.

AROUND THE WOODS

The Woods Academy N E W S

AROUND THE WOODS

At the completion of the 2015–2016 school year, the following faculty and staff members celebrated milestone anniversaries at The Woods. 15 Years

Joe Powers, Head of School

25 Years

Najah Ouazzad, LS French Teacher

Suzie Tomlinson, Special Events Coordinator

Maria Saucedo, Facilities

30 Years

10 Years

Joanne Gerber, Director of Montessori

Debbie Dosh, 3rd Grade Teacher

Christina Kornegay, Montessori III Teacher

Nancy Talbot, 4th Grade Teacher

2016–2017 Board of Trustees

A.B. Cruz III (Chair) • A.B. Cruz III is visionary senior executive of the highest integrity with over 30 years of significant achievement and proven leadership spanning the business, legal and military fields.

Iñigo Ascanio Capelli • Iñigo Ascanio, Senior executive and Entrepreneur with extensive experience in Finance, IT and Business Development.

Jennifer Clark * (1997) • Jennifer is the Executive Director of the African Dream Initiative, a New York- and Uganda-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children in East Africa who have the talent and motivation to excel, but lack the opportunity.

@TheWoodsAcademy

@theWoodsAcademy

Follow The Woods

Academy Company Page as well as join the alumni-only group. To search for the alumni group type in The Woods Academy Alumni.

he Woods Academy is a non-profit, independent school governed by its Board of Trustees. The Board, which includes the Head of School and parent and faculty representatives, is responsible for setting school policy, overseeing finances, and making decisions that shape the longterm goals of the school.

Kelli Campbell • Kelli fulfills dual roles at Discovery Education - overseeing product development for the company’s suite of SaaS-based services, as well as spearheading the company’s international expansion, including operational management of DE’s UK business.

Tom Parker, PE Teacher

The Woods Academy

Meet The Woods Academy Board of Trustees

Warren Blanchard • Warren Blanchard is the Vice President of High Speed Data Strategy for Time Warner Cable.

Sarah Stewart, Montessori Assistant

Stay Connected

2016

Faculty & Staff Anniversaries

5 Years

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Steven Fay • Steven Fay serves as OneWeb’s Vice President of Finance & Business Operations and is responsible for all Financial Analysis, Treasury, and Accounting

functions, as well as oversight for the IT, Partnerships, HR, & Facilities operations of the company.

Joe Powers (Head of School), Ex Officio • Joe Powers has been the Head of School since 2011.

John Gaul • John Gaul is Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Inova Health System in Falls Church, Virginia.

George Reese • George is the CEO and founder of Employee Navigator, a HR and benefits software firm located in Bethesda, MD.

Bob Gregg * • Bob Gregg is the Head of School at Green Hedges School in Vienna, VA where he has served since 2009.

Jeanne Shriver • Jeanne Shriver is an at home mother and has been a parent at The Woods Academy since 2003.

Peter Kenny * • Peter Kenny is a Senior Vice President in the Global Private Client Division of Merrill Lynch/Bank of America.

Andrea Lynch (1985) • Andrea Lynch has been a parent at The Woods Academy since 2004 and is an at home mother.

Adeeb Mahmood (2002) • Adeeb Mahmood is a Manager in the Federal IT Advisory practice of MorganFranklin Consulting advising clients with evaluating information systems, resources and internal controls to maximize efficiency and minimize risk.

Jack O’Rourke • Jack O’Rourke is the founder and principal of O’Rourke & Nappi LLP, a law firm that provides strategic advice and government representation to corporations, associations and issue-based coalitions.

Anna Stewart • Anna Stewart is the Senior Director for Development at the Cancer Support Community where she provides leadership for and management of the direction, planning, execution and evaluation of fundraising and development strategies for the organization.

Edwin Villegas (1984) • Edwin Villegas is the CEO of Winmar Construction.

Sheryl Wilbon • Sheryl Wilbon has been a Woods Academy parent since 2012 and a member of The Woods Board of Trustees since 2014.

Darien Wright • Darien is a Vice President of Asset Management for Marriott International where he works with owners and partners with regional and corporate teams to resolve pre-opening issues, negotiate agreements and manage risks of hotel development projects.

* New Member 2016–2017 17

The Woods Academy N E W S

AROUND THE WOODS

New Faculty Profiles Ashely Robertson 1st Grade Teacher Ashley Robertson was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas and moved to Madison Mississippi at the age of six. For the past three years Ashley worked at Saint Anthony Catholic School in Madison, Mississippi where she taught third grade science her first year and kindergarten for the following two years. Ashley has always been very passionate about the Arts! She began her dance career at age three and continued to the college level as a member of The University of Alabama’s dance team. She now loves sharing this creative art form with her students. Her newest hobby is painting abstract art. Samantha Firstenberg 6th Grade Math & Science Samantha Firstenberg was born and raised in Bethesda, MD. She was a student at The Woods from Montessori through 5th grade and then attended Stone Ridge from 6th through 12th grade. This spring, Samantha worked as a substitute teacher and a private tutor. Prior to this, she was a data analyst for colleges and universities. Samantha is an avid triathlete and long distance runner!

She is always training for her next Ironman or Half Ironman, but also enjoys running marathons. Lori Camalier 2nd Grade Teacher Lori Camalier grew up in Maryland and considers Potomac her hometown. Most recently, Lori was the longterm substitute teacher in 2nd grade at The Woods while Mrs. Phelps was on maternity leave. Lori loves the outdoors, especially paddle boarding, fishing, and collecting shark teeth in the Northern Neck of Virginia. Kate Fogarty 1st Grade Teacher Kate Fogarty’s hometown is Buffalo, NY. Kate’s last position was teaching first grade in NY. Kate went on vacation with her family to Glacier National Park in Montana. They enjoyed hiking, kayaking, and seeing wildlife! Kelly Tanzi 5th Grade Language Arts & Social Studies Kelly Tanzi was born and raised in the Washington, DC area, and lives in Chevy Chase, MD. She taught at Blessed Sacrament for 8 years before joining The Woods Academy.

From the Archives

o you have any Our Lady of the Woods (OLW) or The Woods Academy swag like the OLW t-shirt pictured here? We would love to add these retro pieces to our growing archives. The Woods has hosted an Annual Book Fair for years now. In 2001, Clifford the Big Red Dog joined then Head of School Mary Worch, Coach Don Clubbs, and PE Teacher Eric Richardson at carpool to promote the event. This year, the Book Fair is scheduled for the week of November 7 in the Library. We hope to see you there. The Annual Halloween Parade is another fun Woods tradition. Check out Farmer Gerber and Rapunzel Iyer from the 2001 Halloween Parade. What will you be wearing at this year’s Halloween Parade?

DONOR PROFILE

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Fun fact! Kelly has girl/ boy twins! They are going off to college this fall! Mrs. Tanzi loves learning languages, and is functional in three.

Bob Kalas 6th Grade Language Arts & Social Studies Bob Kalas is originally from Gettysburg, PA. Bob spent the last 11 years teaching at Little Flower School in Bethesda. Bob travels yearly to the Dominican Republic to volunteer as part of Somos Amigos Medical Missions. Estela Pascale Spanish Teacher Estela Pascale is from Asunción, Paraguay. Before coming to The Woods, Estela taught Middle and Upper School Spanish at the Barrie School for seven years. Estela is a people person who loves the era of technology, yet still prefers being with people. She enjoys nature, outside activities, camping with friends and family, as well as reading good books based on true stories. She also likes traveling to different places and exploring different cultures.

Donor Profile: The Mataac Family

Liza C. Mataac Dodson Memorial Scholarship

iza’s parents, Celso and Vilma Mataac, moved from the Philippines to the United States in July 1969 to further their studies and to

seek a better life. Celso is a partner at a large regional accounting firm, while Vilma worked at and retired from the World Bank. Their two children, Francis and Liza, both attended The Woods Academy. Tell us about your family and its history with The Woods.

The school was recommended by friends while we were looking for a school with high educational and moral standards that practiced the principles of Catholic education. We were especially attracted to the school’s Montessori program and its environment. We were both very active in school activities as volunteers while Francis and Liza were attending The Woods. Celso was a member of the Board of Trustees, serving as treasurer for many years.

Tell us about Liza and her connection with The Woods. The Woods Academy was an important part of Liza’s life. She attended The Woods from Montessori (age 3) to 8th grade, and was an outstanding student, athlete and school community leader during her time here. While at The Woods, she excelled at all grade levels and was active in the student government, where she was elected as the student government’s school president. In her twenties, she worked as a teacher at The Woods as she embarked on her career in early education. JR, her son, also attended school here during his Montessori years. So Liza was a Woods Owl through and through, as a student, a teacher, and a parent. continued on page 20

The Woods Academy N E W S

AROUND THE WOODS

Donor Profile, continued from page 19

Why did you decide to honor Liza in this way? Why The Woods?

What do you hope to accomplish by starting this scholarship?

We decided to honor Liza by establishing the Liza C. Mataac Dodson Memorial Scholarship because we wanted to create a lasting tribute to Liza that would highlight and encourage the traits that made Liza so special: kindness of spirit, generosity of time, and mentorship of the young.

We hope to keep Liza’s memory alive by recognizing a Woods 7th grader who in his/her Woods career has best exemplified the qualities of mentorship of younger students and involvement in school and community life that Liza so consistently displayed as a member of The Woods community.

Liza’s lifelong passion for childhood education, in conjunction with her deep history with The Woods, made The Woods the natural place for such a memorial.

Said differently, we are hoping to award this scholarship to a student who does his or her best each day to do the right thing — and the kind thing — even when no one is watching. We are looking for the student who reaches out to the new kid in class to make her feel welcome, helps a younger child tie his shoes in the hallway, or notices when a classmate is having a rough day and reaches out with a kind word. Someone who is kind and respectful to all, regardless of who they are…because that’s the type of person Liza was.

How was the scholarship started? After Liza passed away, we who love her wanted to come up with a forward-looking way to honor Liza that advanced her life goals, in the spirit that she would have employed. Once we determined that this scholarship was the path we would like to take, we contacted The Woods. Our primary contact here has been Chris Stewart, the Director of Development. He and Joe Powers, Head of School, could not have been more supportive in helping make this a reality. They efficiently and compassionately worked with us to crystallize our ideas into an actionable plan. Jodie Shoemaker, Director of Alumni Relations, then took the lead role in converting our words and ideas into reality with the creation of the Memorial area where the plaque and list of scholarship recipients will be displayed.

How did you fundraise for the scholarship? Shortly after Liza’s passing, Liza’s sister-in-law, Lara Mataac, created a memorial website for Liza: www.youcaring.com/ LizaMataacDodsonMemorial. Visitors to this site are able to read about Liza, see a few pictures and a video, and donate to Liza’s Memorial fund.

Do you have any closing thoughts? We wish to thank Lara and Francis for spearheading and coming up with the idea of Liza’s Memorial. This is the best way to remember Liza, who during her short life with us always cared for young children’s welfare and education. Thank you also to Chris Stewart, Joe Powers, Jodie Shoemaker, and a number of other members of The Woods family, past and present, for assisting with Liza’s Memorial and for your role in our children’s lives. A special thank you to our friends, Larry Pateros, Art Gajarsa, Barbara Snyder and many others who encouraged us to be involved at The Woods to make The Woods community a model school for our children.

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THE WOODS WORD OF THE DAY: #1

owlvocate

2016

n: A person who gives significant time, talent, and treasure to transform the lives of Woods Academy students.

Lastly, our sincere appreciation to all teachers of Liza and Francis who helped mold their character and personality and gave them a quality education.

2015–2016 ANNUAL REPORT An inclusive Catholic community preparing boys and girls to lead lives of significance. 20

ANNUAL REPORT

The Woods Academy N E W S

ANNUAL REPORT

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Our Lady of the Woods Corporation Statement of Activities For the Year Ended June 30, 2016 Revenue Tuition and Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,018,613 Auxiliary Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 771,113 Annual Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246,819 Auction Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150,434 Contributions, other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31,677 WAPTO and Fundraising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91,741 Release of Resricted Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79,253 Dividends and Interest Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,042

TOTAL REVENUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,397,692

Expenses Program and Supporting Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,540,312 General and Administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,365,804 Plant Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,133,940 Fundraising and Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357,636

An inclusive Catholic community preparing boys and girls to lead lives of significance

TOTAL EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,397,692

Revenue Head of School Joseph Powers

Annual Fund, 3%

Chris Stewart, Director of Development Jodie Shoemaker, Director of Marketing, Communications, & Alumni Relations Molly McNamara-Hugo, Director of Admissions Sam Gallagher, Database Manager

Auction Income, 2% Contributions and Grants, 1% WAPTO and Fundraising, 1%

Jeff Mancabelli Stefanie Morgan-Davis Jack O’Rourke Joseph Powers George Reese

Jeanne Shriver Anna Stewart Edwin Villegas (1984) Sheryl Wilbon Darien Wright

General and Administrative, 19% Tuition and Fees, 81%

2015–2016 Woods Academy Parent Teacher Organization (WAPTO) Officers Catherine Grosh, President Julie Raley, Vice-President Eunice D’Augostine, Treasurer

Plant Operations and Depreciation, 15%

Dividends and Interest Income, 0%

2015–2016 Board of Trustees A.B. Cruz, Chair Steven Fay John Gaul Andrea Lynch (1985) Adeeb Mahmood (2002)

Fundraising and Events, 5%

Auxiliay Services, 11%

Advancement Office

Iñigo Ascanio Capelli Warren Blanchard Kelli Campbell Chris Capuano Janet Demas Crilley

Expenses

Program and Supporting Services, 61%

Inez McCormick, Communications Director Ines Vega, Volunteer Coordinator Brit Powers, Owlcove Online Store

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this listing. If you find an error or omission, please contact Chris Stewart, Director of Development, at cstewart@woodsacademy.org. All gifts listed in this report are those received between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016.

The Woods Academy N E W S

ANNUAL REPORT

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owlvocate

n: A person who gives significant time, talent, and treasure to transform the lives of Woods Academy students.

Annual Giving 2015–2016 Summary $600,000 Raised!

100% Participation Rate from the Board of Trustees 100% Participation Rate from the Faculty & Staff 90% Participation Rate from the Parents

The Woods Academy’s thriving culture of philanthropy depends on significant annual contributions from all of our owlvocates (trustees, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni, alumni, faculty and staff, corporations & foundations, and friends). Giving to The Woods Academy affords you the rare opportunity to invest in the students of The Woods. This tax deductible investment is guaranteed to produce an exponentially positive return over a lifetime and is applied in vital areas like… Exemplary academics bolstered through spiritual development & character education, Cutting-edge technology like 3D printers, Google Chromebooks, & iPads, and Top choice high school placement.

The following donors made outright gifts in support of The Woods Academy between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. Those donors who gave $1,975 or more were invited to the Leadership Circle Dinner on May 17, 2016. Head Philanthropists ($10,000+) Anonymous The Dr. Francis P. Chiaramonte Private Foundation The Crimsonbridge Group A.B. and Jill Cruz Philip and Maureen Dolan Sean and Cathy Fromm David and Sally Iannarone Edwin (1984) and Roxana Villegas Woods Academy Parent Teacher Organization (WAPTO) Willie and Joyce Woods

40th Anniversary Benefactors ($4,000–$9,999) Tim and Melissa Bender Dan and Kelli Campbell Chris and Lisa Capuano David and Jeaneen Cavanaugh Don “Coach” Clubbs Doug and Missy Cooper Anthony Eze and Uchenna Anya-Eze Peter and Brooks Kenny Tom and Jacqueline Manger Jack and Carolyn O’Rourke Ana Raley John Ridenour and Robin Ann Clark Mark and Jeanne Shriver John and Anna Stewart Michael and Sheryl Wilbon

1975 Leaders ($1,975–$3,999) Anonymous Iñigo Ascanio Capelli and Nuria Aliño Pérez Pedro Campanario and Maria Cecilia Velez Class of 2016 Joe and Carol Crespo John Curry and Liliana Cuervo Moe Danaie and Shabnam Foroughi DARCARS Nikel Davis and Stefanie Morgan-Davis Scott and Sandy DeCain Kevin Fandl and Monica Lugo Steve Fay and Amy Halverstadt John and Marybeth Gaul Neil and Lisa Grammer Greg and Cristina Hillyer

The Woods Academy N E W S

Geoffrey and Elizabeth Hobart Jim and Catherine Karrels John Lankenau and Megan Rave Lankenau Tom and Andrea (1985) Lynch Mataac Family (Francis and Lara Mataac, Celso T. Mataac, Jr. and Vilma V. Mataac, Angie Tangi, Jim and Maddy Dodson) Carl and Pinkie Mayfield John and Karie McMickle David and AnnMarie O’Connor Gregg and Karen Pane Larry and Kathy Pateros Russ and Leila Phillips John and Roxana Pierce Joe and Brit Powers George and Mary Jane Reese Amir Sarkarzadeh and Kate Nematollahi George and Peggy Sotos Greg and Patti Steis Stephen and Rosanne Terman Chuck and Cecile Toner Darien and Laura Wright Fred and Laurie Yang Patrons ($1,000–$1,974) José Andrés and Patricia Fernández de la Cruz Bank of America 26

ANNUAL REPORT

Guillermo Belt Noelle Belt Warren and Orlena Blanchard Tom and Gerry Borger Dejan Bujak and Jodi Longo-Bujak Capitol Cadillac Brendan and Vivian Carmody Catholic Business Network Pat and Annah Cave Robin Cohen and Donna Damico Bob and Hillary DeVol Pat Dresser Marc and Vinka Ferrell Chris and Leslie Flynn David and Michelle Giannini Peter and Nancy Grenier Grenier Law Group Brad and Caroline Heming Tim and Kristen Hohman Paul Hugo and Molly McNamara-Hugo Dan and Lisa Jobe Mark Johnson and Joanne Manrigue Randy and Abby Lackey Admiral Tom Lynch J. Paul and Jill McNamara Edson and Marilisa Mori Keith Ott and Florence Novellino Huseyin Ozan and Lina Carmona-Ozan

ANNUAL REPORT

Pablo Pelaez and Maria Pizarro Kathy and Ron Piwko Chris Priest and Mary Beth Muha Michael Rubin Kerrie Rushton Anthony and Katherine Scafide Tom and Christine Schiedel Peter Schuck and Teresa Magone Tom and Carol Seitz Edward and Marie Shannon Keith and Jodie Shoemaker Eric and Katie Smith Ben Wu and Teresa Li-Sien Lee Friends of The Woods ($1–$999) Anonymous Mike and Kate Agnew Peter and Lidia Aldridge Jamie Alisbah Chuck and Kelley Allison Leandro Alves and Valeria daSilva Amgen Corporation Reza and Martine (1982) Amirkhalili Peter Andersen and Sinead Ryan Andersen Jason and Meena Andrew Tim Angelos and Nitsa Stamoulis-Angelos Steve and Erin Atkiss

Leona Ba Rina Bados Michael Atingi-Ego and Vernetta Barungi Craig and Margaret Bash John Basso and Meredith Kleykamp Colin and Jennifer Beebe Rob and Cathy Bell Jason Bennett and Ginine Beyer Mark and Shannon Bieter Luis Brandao and Rosario de Gregorio Ray Briscoe Bryn Briscuso Ray Briscuso John Bristol and Caroline Quijada Doug and Angela Britton Bob and Betty Brown Buckeye Cleaning Kate and Bob Burke Matt and Donna Byrne Richard and Marilyn Campbell Lindsey Canter Ron Carbis Michele Carpenter Justin and Rosa Cassidy Fran and Jennifer Chiaramonte Michael and Sonya Chiaramonte David and Jennifer Chow Kevin and Nancy Clark Jennifer Clark (1997) Myles Clark and Erin Green Thomas and Rosalind Clark Donald and Patricia Clausen Jeff and Terri Clausen J.P. Clubbs CohnReznick LLP Judith and Jerry Conrad Andrew and Valerie Corcoran Daniel and Hester Coutanche Harry and Laura Criswell Criswell Automotive Mike and Janet Crilley Allison Cullinane Kent Cushenberry and Stacy Woods Sean and Eunice (1990) D’Augostine Gevork and Lusine Devoyans Carlos Diaz Digital Evidence Group Dixon Golf Llewellyn and Jennifer Dmello Daniel Dolan Debbie Dosh Doug and Sara Dowe Serban Dragoi and Mariana Vlasceanu Daniel and Carrie Dresser Bruce and Donna Ellis John and Crystal Esler Craig Farland

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Bryant and Jennifer Farland Edward and Margo Farley Kevin and Vicki Fay Calixte Fayemi Liz Feeley Monica Fernandez Giovanni and Sarah Forni Kate Fullenkamp Cory and Melanie (1988) Funkhouser Sam and Brian Gallagher Miklos Gaszner and Michele Shannon Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School Joe and Joanne Gerber Lauri Getlan-Watson David and Carolyn Giannini Steve and Ingrid Gobien Golf My Future My Game Gonzaga College High School Brian and Nicole Gormley

Mike and Lisa Hotchkiss Paul and Carol Howard Allison Howard (2002) Amy Hugo Chris and Michelle Hutter Anthony Iannarone Anu and Raj Iyer Kim Jibladze Charles and Janet Johnson Roy Joseph Jorge Kamine and Ana Tschen Krista Kasten and Alan Taffel Craig and Sophia Kirby Pam Klobukowski KOA Sports Christina Kornegay Jessica Krupenie Land’s End Direct Merchants Macpeak Landscaping

Rick and Maureen Grant Mary Grosh Mark and Catherine Grosh Tim and Brittan Hamilton Linda Handy Robert Hangliter and Anna Shariat Scott and Jill Harper Constance Hart Lois and Harlen Haywood Ramona Heming Kalila Henry Will Heuett and Erin Dawson Hewlett-Packard Corporation Patty Horn

William and Frankie Lawrence Matthew Lerner Adeeb Mahmood (2002) David and Hasmig Mahshigian Patrick Maladina and Angila Woodham Chris and Lynn Maloney Jeff Mancabelli Sam and Pat Mancuso Osmel and Marbelly Manzano Maury Real Estate Marsh & McLennan Christy McCauley Jeff and Inez McCormick Chris McCormick (2014)

2016

The Woods Academy N E W S

ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL REPORT Donald and Christine McLean JD McLean (2014) Ted Mekonnen and Ruth Betru Josiane Mendonca Jeff and Ceil Mikita Stan and Wanda Mikulski Helen Miller Lauren Miller Manuel and Luzmaria Monasi Andy and Huda Montemarano Shawn and Eileen Mood Albert and Shirley Morgan Morgan Stanley Corporation Fair Oaks Motors Megan and Matt Mullally Pablo and Angela Musalem Eugene and Denee Mwendwa Greg and Barbara Ann Myers Francis Namin and Nooshin Geramifar Ross Nassiri and Debbie Ghamkhar Nassiri Daniel Nezianya and McClain Deshon Brian and Ingrid Nixon Paul and Janet Nolan Meredith Nolan (2012) Sheila Raso-Novikov Nuala O’Connor Jerry and Molly O’Leary Patrick O’Neil Najah Ouazzad Sharon and Tim Pabon Paul Paoletti Will Pappert (2015) Tom Parker Sameer and Zeena Patel Christina Phelps Rick and Julie Phillips Katya (1998) and Kevin Pilong Pete and Alison Plotas Jane and John Pontius Potomac Capital Advisors Alex Powers and Peri De Orio Joseph and Ashley Profaizer Vladimir Radovic and Adela Barrio Sarmiento Kevin and Laura Raimond Charles (1986) and Julie Raley John Ratino and Tricia Murphy Derrick and Eileen Raymond George and Pat Reese Erin and Kevin Ricca Paul and Krista Ritacco John and Eiko Roberti Jimmy Rodriguez Chris Roome (1989) Michele Roome (1987) Marina Rufas and Alonso Albarran Daniel Saucedo

Edgar Saucedo Gerardo Saucedo Maria Saucedo Steve and Michelle Scala Philip Schellekens and Catherine Cheng Ondrej Schneider and Michaela Erbenova Chris Sharkey and Iwona Karska Birgitta and Barry Shay Lis Sheehan Danielle Shegerian Heggie Shegerian Roger and Ann Shoch William and Judith Sikes Mary Alice Silverman Chris Simmons and Adrienne Shoch Nevil Singh and Sumana Chakravarty Wendy Skolnik Matt Smith RJ and Mary Beth Smith St. Andrew’s Episcopal School St. John’s College High School David Stanislav (2012) Marty and Wendy Stanislav Chris and Katherine Stewart Ron and Barbara Stewart Sarah Stewart Brian and Jennifer Sullivan James and Joan Sullivan William and Jennifer Sullivan Jun Sun and Donna Swistowski Nancy Talbot Charmaine and Frank Taverner J.P. and Cathy Thal-Larsen Themis PLLC

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Jon and Colette Thibodeau Brian and Laurna-Mae Thomas Kendall Thompson Michael Timms and Bettina Guevara-Timms Bill and Joanna Todd Suzie Tomlinson Peter and Jeanette Torti Camilio Tovar and Sylvia Diaz Jerry Truman and Jamie Knight Clesson Turner and Suzanne O’Neill United Way Paul Vaky and Viancy Demilta Ortiz-Castro Erica Vassos Ignacio Velasco and Lucia Basterra Frank and Valerie Viggiano Alejandro Villegas and Ines Vega Fredric Walls and Judith Stockmon Andrea Warren Wells Fargo Financial Advisors Lynn White Scott and Lauren White Winmar Construction Woods Academy Board of Trustees Alan Wolcott and Giuliana Centty Wilbur and Sherry Wright Xianhu Wu and Tiantian Jang Lee and Andy Wurst Connie Yelder Lloydie Zaiser Claude and Zoomie Zein Carl and Peggy Zwisler

The Woods Academy N E W S

ANNUAL REPORT

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Endowment and Named Fund Gifts The Woods Academy gratefully acknowledges these endowments and the individuals whose generous philanthropic spirit created them. Founders Fund Endowment for Financial Aid Mr. and Mrs. George Reese Jr. Liza C. Mataac Dodson Memorial Scholarship Francis & Lara Mataac, Celso T. Mataac, Jr & Vilma V. Mataac, Angie Tangi, Jim Dodson & Maddy Dodson Sharing in Growth Fund for Financial Aid; National Philanthropic Trust; SOTOS Faculty Development Fund (Support Our Teachers, Our School) Dr. and Mrs. George Sotos Werres Fund Endowment for Financial Aid Mr. and Mrs. Ian Ravenscroft

DONOR PROFILE

Liza C. Mataac Dodson Memorial Scholarship Francis and Lara Mataac have created the new Liza C. Mataac Dodson Memorial Scholarship in honor of Liza Mataac, a proud Woods alumna and former teacher and parent, who sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer back in December 2015. The scholarship will award $2,500 annually to the 7th grader who in his/her Woods career has best exemplified the qualities of mentorship of younger students and involvement in school and community life that Liza so consistently displayed as a member of the Woods community. The inaugural winner, Wesley Grammer, was announced at the closing Mass on June 8, 2015. (See the Donor Profile on pages 19–20 of this issue.)

Faculty & Staff Recognition Reception Faculty & Staff Recognition Reception was held on Friday, October 23, 2015 at The Woods and honored fourteen Faculty & Staff members who have given twenty or more years of service to The Woods. Thank you to Jodie Shoemaker, Peggy Sotos, and Susie Tomlinson among others for leading this event.

Golf Classic 11th Annual Woods Academy Golf Classic was held on Friday, October 9, 2015 at the Bretton Woods Golf & Country Club. It was a great success as owlvocate golfers, sponsors, volunteers, & staff came together in fellowship to raise $6,000 for the Sharing in Growth Fund for Financial Aid which enables us to retain and attract the best students in our area.

Grandparents & Special Friends Day 31st Annual Grandparents & Special Friends Day was held on Friday, October 9, 2015 at The Woods. Three-hundred proud owlvocate grandparents & special friends attended and the theme was “Lordy, Lordy, Look Who’s 40!” Thank you to the Chairs (Cristina Hillyer, Vivian Carmody, Leila Phillips, & Roxana Villegas) and all Faculty & Staff that worked so seamlessly to produce a great day. Betty Brown was honored for her incredible tenure as the Grandparents Coordinator at The Woods.

EVENTS

Founders Day

On January 19, 2016, we celebrated our Annual Founders Day Mass with Donald Cardinal Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington. We were blessed to have members of all three founding families in attendance: Mr. and Mrs. George Reese, Mrs. Jean Walsh, wife of the late J. Robert Walsh, and Mrs. Rose Scozzafava, wife of the late John Scozzafava.

Annual Night Owl Auction 26th Annual Night Owl Auction was held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 here at The Woods. The theme was celebrating the remarkable 40th Anniversary of The Woods Academy and we certainly did as we honored the incredible legacy of our fine school. An impressive team did tremendous work to ensure success. Thank you to owlvocates Marcy Borger, Eunice D’Augostine, Leslie Flynn, Sam Gallagher, Marybeth Gaul, Catherine Grosh, Cristina Hillyer, Brooks Kenny, Steve Little, Andrea Lynch, Adeeb Mahmood, Inez McCormick, Julie Raley, Kerrie Rushton, Katie Shaffer, Jodie Shoemaker, Peggy Sotos, Anna Stewart, Chris Stewart, Laura Tan, Kendall Thompson, Laurie Yang, Coach & Crew. They lead the effort that raised significant treasure including $35,000 for the amazing Woods Arts Program!

Leadership Circle Dinner The Leadership Circle Dinner was held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Columbia Country Club. Eighty families gave $1,975 or more earning an invitation showing how strong philanthropy is at The Woods!

Legacy Council Reception Luncheon The inaugural Legacy Council Reception Luncheon was held on Friday, May 20, 2016 at The Woods. The Legacy Council is an honorary advisory group to the Head of The Woods Academy, its initial class of twenty-one members recognized as trusted friends, advocates and ambassadors of the school. Mr. and Mrs. Borger (Tom and Gerry) Mr. and Mrs. Clark (Kevin and Nancy Ripp) Mr. and Mrs. Cosimano (Kevin and Pam) Mr. and Mrs. Criswell (Harry and Laura) Mr. and Mrs. Farrell (Peter and Stephanie) Mr. and Mrs. Garner (Charlie and Elizabeth) Mr. and Mrs. Grant (Rick and Maureen) Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss (Mike and Lisa) Mr. and Mrs. Jobe (Dan and Lisa) Mr. and Mrs. Morgan (Thomas and Karen) Mr. and Mrs. Murray (David and Tonya) Mr. David Pappert Mr. and Mrs. Pateros (Larry and Kathy) Mr. and Mrs. Reese Jr. (George and Pat) Mr. and Mrs. Rudnicki (Dion and Michelle) Mrs. Rose Scozzafava Ms. Helen O’Neil Shere Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Bob and Natalie) Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Doug and Gabriela) Mr. and Mrs. Ungerman (Mark and Marirose) Mrs. Jean Walsh

The Woods Academy N E W S

10 Super-Easy Ways You Can Promote The Woods Academy

Like us on Facebook:

facebook.com/thewoodsacademy. It doesn’t get any easier than that.

Invite family, friends, and neighbors to the Arts Celebration. Not only is it quality, family-friendly entertainment, it shows off all the great talents and features of our school!

Wear your Woods gear proudly. We have yoga pants, Adidas pullovers, Under Armour hoodies, Vineyard Vines ties and totes, and even golf umbrellas. Shop Owlcove today!

Spread the word about our Open Houses. And volunteer if you can — there is always coffee!

Read Window on The Woods, the Official Blog of The Woods Academy and share the stories with your friends, family, and neighbors. You just might learn something new and interesting.

Take a minute to express what The Woods means to you, whether you are an

alum, a current parent, or a former parent. We use testimonials in different ways in our marketing efforts, and they bring a smile to our faces. E-mail us anytime at alumni@woodsacademy.org.

Don’t forget about Summer at The Woods

— for your own kids, or for someone else’s. It’s a great option for visiting relatives or neighborhood pals.

as entertaining as some celebrity tweet-ists, but you’ll be up-to-date with all things Woods AND help promote the school.

Embrace the idea of legacy: make a referral and bring one new student or family to be your “successor.” They’ll do the same, and so on. Think of all the lives you’ll change!

The Woods Academy 6801 Greentree Road Bethesda, MD 20817 301 365 3080 www.woodsacademy.org

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