The Petroglyph Magazine, Fall + Winter 2017-18

Petroglyph THE ALEXANDER DAWSON SCHOOL FALL & WINTER 2017-18

INNOVATION AT DAWSON (Hint: It’s A Mindset)

From the Head of School The Petroglyph is the magazine of The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain.

Its Mission is to celebrate Dawson’s growth and the achievements of its students, alumni and faculty. It is published twice a year.

EDITOR EDITOR, DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY Megan Gray Director of Marketing & Communications mgray@adsrm.org COPY EDITOR Rachael Lachhwani Shea Phillips

In a rapidly changing world, experience can be a curse. Careers stall, innovation stops, and strategies grow stale. Being new, naïve, and even clueless can be an asset.

- A.J. Juliani Our lead article defines innovation as, “the introduction of new things or ways of doing something.” From the school-wide solar eclipse viewing and FIRST LEGO League to the yearbook and the virtual reality Viking experience, Dawson students and faculty embrace the “new” every single day. While Dawson faculty describe this as innovation in teaching and learning, our students perceive their school day as interesting, curious, challenging, and - more often than not - just plain fun.

HEAD OF SCHOOL Carola E. Wittmann, Ph.D. ASST. HEAD OF SCHOOL Roxanne Stansbury DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Davida Sims dsims@adsrm.org ALUMNI RELATIONS Stella Finfrock alumni@adsrm.org CONNECT WITH US!

This edition of the Petroglyph highlights some of the outstanding learning opportunities our Dawson students experienced this fall and winter. Step into our athletics department and learn how an emphasis on team building leads to success for our student-athletes, join third grade in their Viking Museum for a look at the past through virtual reality, or celebrate the Dawson Yearbook, recipient of multiple awards, including the highest Yearbook award, “All Nevada”. Or, how about when second grade independently designed and taught lessons on desert animals to their pre-kindergarten friends? The list goes on and on. What sets all of these experiences apart? Faculty who take a fresh look at their curriculum throughout the school year and students who feel inspired to take calculated risks. Both show an innovative mindset and both exemplify the Dawson Difference.

FACEBOOK @AlexanderDawsonSchool INSTAGRAM @dawson_bears TWITTER @DawsonSchool

Carola E. Wittmann, Ph.D. Head of School

Experience the Dawson Difference at www.AlexanderDawsonSchool.org or call (702) 949-3600.

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VIMEO vimeo.com/ alexanderdawsonschool ISSUU issuu.com/ alexanderdawsonschool

On this page: Third-grade student Aarti Patel holds up the dream catcher she made while studying Native American art and culture.

Cover: All Dawson students from preschool to grade eight had the opportunity to participate in this year’s solar eclipse viewing.

Contents 18| DAWSON ALUM PROFILE

Joshua Mirman, ‘09, is majoring in jazz trombone performance at the Manhattan School of Music

4 | INNOVATION AT DAWSON How Dawson is creating a generation of innovative thinkers

8 | BEAR DEN NEWS The latest and greatest happenings around Dawson’s campus and in athletics 14 | AUTHORS ARE ROCK STARS Dawson’s visiting author and author-in-residence program

20 | 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT 24 | MEET CATHI MUCKLE Dawson’s new Development Manager 26 | STUDENT PERFORMANCE GALLERY A photo gallery of first-semester 5-8 student performances

16 | VOCABULARY PARADE Images from Dawson’s first annual Vocabulary Parade

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F

or many of us, the word “innovation” conjures images

are just a few examples of fundamental innovations in teaching

of computers, robots and rockets to the moon. It’s not

and learning. Innovation at Dawson is, above all else, an ever-

surprising that, during this fast-paced second decade of the

evolving mindset.

21st century, the word innovation has become both overused and almost synonymous with any and all technological

In some ways, innovative thinking is the direct opposite of

advancements. However, when we talk about innovation on

what we were taught in our childhood classrooms. Traditional

Dawson’s campus, it is much more than inventions and products.

classroom instruction had teachers leading students to one correct answer or solution. Conversely, innovative thinking has

Innovation, by definition, is “the introduction of new things,

teachers and students questioning everything around them to

ideas or ways of doing something.” It is a way of thinking that

see what is possible. Innovative thinking starts with the idea that

can be applied to solve any type of problem; a research-based

there are no wrong answers; only better, more efficient solutions.

approach to teaching that taps into students’ creative, cognitive,

With this mindset, nothing should be taken for granted since

and emotional intelligence; a modification to students’ schedules

even today’s seemingly perfect solution can and should be

that optimizes their ability to learn and absorb; an advisory

analyzed to see how it can be improved, last longer, or continue

program that is purposeful and student-centered; or unique

to function in an unknown future.

professional development opportunities that not only help

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Dawson’s faculty grow and evolve as master teachers, but also

In their book The Innovator’s DNA, Hal Gregerson, Executive

models what it means to be a creative and flexible thinker. These

Director of the MIT Leadership Center, and Clayton M.

By Davida Sims Christensen, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard

longer, open-ended projects of their choosing. The projects

Business School, claim there are five key traits that define

themselves involve everything from designing art and learning

an innovator. Although they seem innate, they can actually

technical writing to building rockets and 3D printing. Students

be taught to anyone. In fact, while their learning solutions

are encouraged to test and experiment. And if they fail? Our

are focused on adults, these traits are even easier to teach to

design thinking faculty encourages them to take a new approach

flexible-minded children. These traits are, “the cognitive skill of

and try again.

associating and the behavioral skills of questioning, observing, networking, and experimenting.”

Hubert Ham, Dawson’s Director of Innovation, explains, “The design thinking classroom environment is tailored so students

At Dawson, these traits are taught in almost every subject,

have a safe environment where they can feel free to express their

from science and art to humanities and world language. Yet,

ideas and take calculated risks. Students are never graded based

there is one Middle School-level course in particular - design

on success or failure. Instead, they are encouraged to try new

thinking - that exemplifies innovation in the classroom. Students

ideas and learn from their mistakes through experimentation

in design thinking, an insights rotation course every student in

and multiple attempts.” The ultimate goal of the design

fifth through eighth grade must take, work on various design

thinking course, as well as most of Dawson’s project-based

challenges that push their abilities to think critically, problem

curriculum, is to teach students the cognitive and behavioral

solve, design, and experiment. Students can choose to work

skills of innovators. Rather than waiting until students are in the

together on various challenges presented by the teacher or

workplace, Dawson creates a low-stakes environment that serves

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Innovation at Dawson

as a great arena for students to work on the important traits

Mrs. Stansbury says the presentation must include the following

that define an innovator, namely taking creative approaches to

criteria:

solving problems, learning to fail well, and the willingness to try again.

•

Identify a global issue

•

Analyze the causes of the issue

Roxanne Stansbury, Assistant Head of School for Teaching

•

Provide context as to why this issue is important

and Learning, also promotes the skills of innovative thinkers

•

Build empathy by providing perspectives of other people

throughout more traditional subject areas, including humanities

•

Propose an innovative idea for addressing the problem

and the Middle School’s newest course offering.

“Once we’ve given them the parameters, we have our Dawson “This year, all of our sixth, seventh and eighth graders will

students get into groups. Each group researches the presented

participate in a global studies course. The purpose of global

global issue and works to find their own solution. When

studies is to build student advocacy and develop a mindset for

they’ve completed the tasks, they design and give a two-minute

social responsibility. Learning activities are designed to widen

presentation we record as part of the mock IISE application

our students’ net for learning about the world and to connect

process. It’s an outstanding way to reinforce the innovative

them with people from diverse cultures. Students develop

habits of mind that will help our students - whether they’re

critical-thinking competencies by learning to question norms,

scientists or artists, and everything in between - become the next

practices and opinions. For example, our sixth-graders reflect

generation of thought leaders and creative thinkers.”

on their personal values, perceptions, and actions by taking a position on a global issue. As a culminating project, students

The key to an innovative mindset is fostering a commitment

work in groups as change agents who propose an innovative idea

to growth and learning as a school community. When Dawson

that would address a global issue they explored in depth through

faculty, regardless of whether they are teaching pre-kindergarten

networking.”

or eighth-grade students, are supported and encouraged to adopt an innovative mindset to teaching in the classroom,

Here’s another example Mrs. Stansbury uses when discussing

they are empowered to push the boundaries of learning and

innovation at Dawson: Each year, 1,500 high school students are

see the world as intricate, ever-changing, and interconnected.

chosen out of seven million applicants to compete at the Intel

They embrace new ideas and take fresh approaches to problem

International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest

solving. During the process of embracing new ways of teaching,

international pre-college science competition. Although our

no matter the subject, they ignite a passion for learning within

Dawson students are too young to participate, Mrs. Stansbury

their students. By becoming today’s education innovators, they

has them take on the challenge of submitting a mock application

are giving students - the next generation of innovators - the tools

for the competition. One component of the application is

and skills necessary to thrive, think outside the box, and lead the

recording a presentation that provides an analysis of a specific

world into the next century. k

problem and description of a solution idea.

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On this page: Sixth-grade students Aviva Hafter and Christina Podisor prepare to launch a bottle rocket they designed and crafted themselves in design thinking class. The objective of this challenge is to engage students in learning about physics and basic aerodynamic design theories. As with all design thinking challenges, faculty encourage students to not only design but to also test their product to consider how they can improve it.

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FIRST LEGO LEAGUE AT DAWSON FLL TEAM QUALIFIES FOR REGIONALS

Dawson’s sixth grade FIRST Nevada Lego League Robotics Team (FLL) qualified for the Southern Nevada FLL Championship on January 27 at Cheyenne High School. Dawson’s FLL team researched hydrodynamic solutions for water conservation, an important topic in our desert environment. For the final portion of the competition, they had to design, build, program, and test an autonomous LEGO robot. Dawson’s FLL team is led by Dawson science teacher Dr. Kelly Gooden and parent George Podisor.

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Bear Den News

AWARD-WINNING YEARBOOK...AGAIN! The Alexander Dawson School is proud to announce our 2016-17 yearbook, titled Dawson Difference, earned our Middle School journalism students the Southern Nevada Society of Journalists (SNSJ) “All-Nevada” award, the highest yearbook award possible, honoring overall journalistic quality and design. This is the third year in a row the work of our Dawson yearbook team has been honored by SNSJ, and the first time earning the coveted “All-Nevada” award.

Dawson’s yearbook team (pictured left), led by eighth-grade English teacher Jolie Lindley, won a total of 22 awards including eight “Superior” awards, four “Excellent” awards, and 10 Honorable Mentions.

“This is the first year SNSJ has given awards for overall yearbook ranking, and to be one of only two middle schools named ‘All-Nevadan’ is a great honor,” said Ms. Lindley. “Our student yearbook staffers work very hard in a limited schedule to put out a book of stellar journalistic quality that attempts to capture the spirit of Dawson each year.”

For more information on SNSJ, visit followsnsj.com.

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NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY DAWSON WELCOMES NEWEST NJHS MEMBERS The Dawson chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) welcomed its newest members in November, bringing the total to 46 eligible seventh and eighth-grade students. NJHS is a program that recognizes and honors middle school students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. NJHS is an important tradition at Dawson and its student members are responsible for more than 500 hours of community service each school year. Community service highlights include work at Three Square Food Bank, cleaning up parks, and Dawson’s Local High School & Boarding School Fair.

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CONNECT WITH US! Learn more about the #DawsonDifference and our #AmazingDawsonAlums: FACEBOOK @AlexanderDawsonSchool INSTAGRAM @dawson_bears TWITTER @DawsonSchool

NJHS IN THE COMMUNITY

VIMEO vimeo.com/alexanderdawsonschool

Dawson’s National Junior Honor Society students volunteered their time, along with several Middle School faculty and staff members, to serve Thanksgiving lunch to students of Booker Elementary School.

ISSUU issuu.com/alexanderdawsonschool

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Bear Den News

STUDENTS TEACHING STUDENTS In January, Dawson second graders welcomed pre-kindergarten students into their classrooms. The second graders took tremendous pride in researching, designing and independently presenting a lesson on a desert animal of their choice. Giving all students the opportunity to work independently and show leadership is the Dawson Difference!

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VIRTUAL REALITY & VIKINGS STUDENTS ADD VIRTUAL REALITY TO VIKING MUSEUM EXPERIENCE This fall, Dawson third graders were given the opportunity to incorporate a virtual reality (VR) experience into their Viking Museum event. Students spent several weeks studying Viking history and culture, as well as creating replicas of Viking artifacts, ships, and homes. The culminating event was the Viking Museum, where third graders served as docents and invited parents and students alike to explore and learn. The addition of VR gave museum visitors an immersive experience and an in-depth understanding of what it was like to be a sailor on a Viking longship.

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UPDATE: CHALLENGE SUCCESS WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE’RE GOING

It’s was an exciting fall as Dawson kicked off its first year as a Challenge Success (CS) school. In September, a team of Dawson administrators and an Alexander Dawson Foundation trustee attended the annual CS Fall Conference at Stanford University for an intensive day of workshops and group activities (photo, right). Two of the Dawson group’s most important accomplishments were the implementation of the CS SPACE framework (which stands for Student schedule, Project-based learning, Authentic assessment, Climate of care, and Education for the community) and crafting the School’s Challenge Success Vision Statement, which will help guide all CS-related planning and implementation processes now and in the coming years: In future years, Dawson will emerge as a beacon school for Challenge Success where student voice is the fabric of the culture. Our goal is for the community to adopt a cohesive climate of care where the definitions of success, engagement and life satisfaction are authentic to the individual experience.

In November, Dawson welcomed CS co-founder Dr. Denise Pope to campus. Dr. Pope gave an outstanding presentation titled, “The Well-Balanced Child” to our parent community (one of the highest attended talks at Dawson to date) followed by a Q&A that lasted well over an hour. In addition to her presentation to parents, Dr. Pope met with a group of Dawson Middle School students (photo above) for a candid conversation about homework loads and school/life balance. She also met with faculty and administrators to discuss changes to homework policies, the daily school schedule, and health and wellness programs, as well as the ways in which Dawson is partnering with families to promote overall student wellness.

In the spring of 2018, a group of Dawson students from grades 5-7 and a parent representative will join the Dawson CS administrative team at the annual Challenge Success Spring Conference at Stanford, building upon the work the CS team initiated in the fall to improve student wellbeing and academic engagement.

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Bear Den News

Dawson Bears Athletics It was a great fall sports season for our Dawson Bears athletes! Whether on the field, court, track or in the pool, our athletes represented Dawson with pride. Here’s a recap of the Red Rock Athletic Conference (RRAC) season: Cross Country

Cross country finished third in the RRAC league overall. New and returning cross country student-athletes also improved “personal best” time goals.

Girls’ Volleyball

The 5/6 team took first place in the RRAC finals and earned Dawson a championship banner for the second year in a row! The 7/8 team ranked third in the regular season and made it to the RRAC semi-finals.

Flag Football

The 5/6 team had the largest turnout of players in recent history and showed tremendous growth this season. The 7/8 team won all but one game during the regular season and lost by only one touchdown in the nail-biter RRAC championship game.

Swim

The swim team completed a fantastic season, and our new and seasoned swim athletes showed much improvement. The team finished third overall in the RRAC. Several Dawson swim athletes medaled in individual events including first place in 50 meter butterfly, first place in 50 meter backstroke and second place in the 100 meter freestyle.

Cheerleading

Dawson’s cheer athletes support our sports program throughout the year, and keep school spirit high at pep rallies and other community events!

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Dawson’s Author Program

At Dawson...

Authors Are Rock Stars

By Rachael Lachhwani As students hurriedly enter the Dawson Library, their whispers

hosting such remarkable writers, Mrs. Reid joked, “Picking my

and excited laughter can be heard echoing through the room.

favorite memory is almost like asking me to choose my favorite

The students, books in hand for autographs, are eager to meet

child. Each visit offers something different to the students. There

one of their favorite authors and their enthusiasm is clearly

is nothing better than watching a child get the opportunity to

evident. This is a scene pleasantly all too familiar at Dawson

meet a favorite author.”

since our Author Program, introduced and maintained by

7 14

Librarian Lynne Reid, has experienced an impressive surge in

Not only do author visits prompt students to read more, but

visiting writers over the last few months. “I started author visits

they also learn a great deal about the writing process: personal

the very first year Dawson was open...as a coordinated program

accounts of the winding roads and detours these authors have

between Dawson and three other schools in Las Vegas,” explains

traveled, and the importance of recognizing the time, energy,

Mrs. Reid. “This year, we forged a relationship with The

and dedication devoted to such an invested project. After Ridley

Writer’s Block bookstore. They work with publishers to bring

Pearson’s visit, fourth-grade student Mekyle Mir explained,

authors and illustrators to the valley as a part of promotional

“When you write, you have to add humor and include a lot of

book tours. This allows us to have a wide variety of authors

details. And you’re not done if you write one or two paragraphs;

visit.”

you have to write four or five.”

This year alone, students from kindergarten through eighth

Perhaps the most impactful author visit this year was the speech

grade have heard stirring presentations from many award-

given to our eighth-grade students by author and Holocaust

winning children’s and young adult authors and illustrators,

survivor Stephen Nasser. Mr. Nasser, only 13 years old when

including Lin Oliver, Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen, Ridley Pearson,

he was taken from his family in Hungary and imprisoned

and Sonia Gensler. “Author visits make the literature personal to

in Auschwitz by the Nazis, shared details of his harrowing

the students,” says Mrs. Reid. “The students understand where

experience as written in his book My Brother’s Voice and the play

the stories originated and how they blossomed into books.”

Not Yet, Pista. In October, Mr. Nasser gave his 1,084th talk while

Reminiscing over the years Dawson has had the privilege of

at Dawson, also recorded by UNLV’s Department of Film

Dawson hosts many fantastic authors throughout the year. Pictured from left, Sonia Gensler, author of Ghostlight. Center: Holocaust survivor Stephen Nassar, author of My Brother’s Voice. Left: Ridley Pearson, author of Lock & Key. Below: Author Brian Falkner with his “Falkner Stars” students.

for an upcoming documentary. The documentary will feature

our sixth-grade students to coach them on the craft of writing

some of our Dawson students expressing their thoughts on Mr.

and storytelling. The culminating event of Mr. Falkner’s visit

Nasser’s message of kindness and the necessity of self-respect,

was “Falkner’s Stars,” an awards celebration recognizing and

the freedoms available to us as Americans, and the importance

commending the writing of our students. Sixth-grade student

of turning problems into challenges. “I could really understand

Onah Nwapa felt honored to have won an award during

what Mr. Nasser was feeling and the pain he was experiencing

Falkner’s visit for her story, “Planet Oogbleth”, about an evil

because my great-grandfather was in the Holocaust,” eighth

queen named Oogbleth who wanted to take over Earth. Her

grader Stella Spiegel shared. “You can never take anything for

daughter, Angel, turned against her, which prompted Onah’s

granted because

award for Best

anything could

Funniest Line:

happen at any

“Angel was no

moment. Cherish

angel. She was a

the friends and

rude, smelly girl

family you have,

and a real pain

and live every day

in the asteroids.”

like it’s your last.”

Onah says Falkner

Presumably, this

was a great teacher

author visit is one

and she learned a

that will resonate

considerable amount

with our students far beyond their time at Dawson. “This

from him during the week he spent with the sixth grade. “I now

was, overall, an amazing experience I’ll never forget,” says

use more interesting words. I’m more descriptive. Overall, I’ve

Stella. “It’s what makes Dawson amazing. Not everyone can

really improved over the years I’ve been at Dawson.”

hear a Holocaust survivor speak to them. We are so lucky and

grateful.”

The enjoyment Dawson’s author programs instill in our young

learners while emboldening them to explore the world is

Dawson’s famed Author-in-Residence program also welcomed

impossible to replicate, and the valuable lessons gleaned from

back ones of its most revered writers this year. Award-winning

such enriching first-hand experiences nurtures a lifelong passion

young adult author Brian Falkner, who visited Dawson for

for both reading and writing. Here’s to inspiring our students to

his 10th year this past September, spent a week working with

open their minds and open more books! k 15

VOCABULARY PARADE Pictured here: Dawson held its first annual Vocabulary Parade this fall. To prepare for the parade, students chose their own vocabulary word to study and created some of the most imaginative and expressive costumes to bring their words to life. All students gathered in the Dining Hall following the parade to sing songs and act in skits all about...vocabulary!

#AmazingDawsonAlums

DAWSON ALUM PROFILE

Joshua Mirman, ‘09

By Shea Phillips

As a child, Joshua Mirman loved music yet never imagined

The first instrument he played was the tuba, as assigned by

it could be his future career, assuming the only professional

then-Dawson teacher Mr. Stamanis, who Mirman says made

musicians were ones on the radio. When he was in fifth grade at

a huge impact on his life. The following year while in sixth

Dawson, however, he started playing an instrument for the first

grade, he wanted to play in the jazz band but the tuba was

time. That opportunity struck a chord with Mirman and he has

not included. That’s when he switched to the next-closest

pursued his passion ever since.

instrument, the trombone.

“It’s hard to say with words what I love about music; it

After graduating from Dawson in 2011, choosing a high

always drew me in. Whenever music is playing, even in the

school did not go as originally planned. Mirman assumed he

background, it has a piece of my attention,” he says.

would follow his older brother and attend A-TECH but, to his

surprise, he was accepted into the Las Vegas Academy for the

“That was one of the most uplifting experiences of my life - to

Performing Arts (LVA). “…So I went with my gut feeling and it

see a completely different culture excited to hear the music I

paid off,” he says.

was playing.”

The transition into high school was generally easy. “I felt very

When he isn’t playing trombone, Mirman enjoys writing

prepared for high school. I had good study habits and a good

music for small groups and big band and string quartets, and is

grasp on how my mind learned, and I could find a way to

currently writing his first piece for a full orchestra.

understand something even if I didn’t grasp it at first.”

“Writing for me is almost a cathartic experience, where I can lock myself in a room with a piano for a couple of hours and

Although the academic side of things went well, Mirman had

hopefully come out with something that I like,” he says.

to adjust to the different culture of LVA. Luckily, he

Reflecting upon his

says he naturally got along

Dawson experience, his

with most of the people at

most-cherished memories

the magnet school.

include music and band with Mr. Stamanis,

“Easily, the hardest thing for

playing basketball, and

me was managing sleep,”

eating bananas foster

he says. So, he set alarms

in the Dining Hall. He

around his room to force

remembers this treat

himself to get up and turn

being so incredible that

them off, and regularly took

it sticks out as the best

naps on the way to school.

version he ever tasted.

Currently, the Dawson alumnus is

Josh Mirman takes a break in the practice room at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

working toward a degree in jazz

He also recalls Mr. Burby encouraging him to think in unconventional ways. “I am not a

trombone performance at the Manhattan School of Music in

very conventional thinker so he helped me become comfortable

New York City (MSM).

with that,” he says.

His decision-making process was similar when choosing a

As Mirman looks onward to graduating from MSM in 2019, his

college. Mirman knew he wanted to study music and MSM felt

plans are quite simple: “I just want to keep working hard and

like the best fit even though, as Mirman says, “I never weighed

take whatever opportunity I can get. I want to play music as

it as an option because I never expected to make it in.” Living

much as possible; I want to write as much as I can. The goal is

in New York City was also appealing, with the freedom of the

to do as much as I can to the highest-possible degree.”

subway, energizing aesthetics, and no shortage of pizza options after late-night rehearsals.

To our current and future Dawson Bears, his advice is to work as hard as you can.

“Nothing tastes better than mediocre pizza after a two-hour rehearsal with a group of tired friends,” he says.

“Don’t take the easy road just because it is there; always choose the path where you learn something as opposed to learning

Throughout his musical career, one of his proudest

nothing. That being said, try to have fun and enjoy life!” k

accomplishments yet is touring and performing in Brazil.

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2016-17 Dawson Annual Report

Annual Report Our Gratitude to Dawson’s 2016-17 List of Donors RED ROCK SOCIETY

$25,000-$49,999

Matt & Kay Maddox

DAWSON SOCIETY

$10,000-$24,999

The Elardi Foundation Oz & Jeanne Gutsche John O’Brien John & Kay Welsh

PLATINUM CIRCLE

$5,000-$9,999

Hunter & Vanessa Campbell David & Stacy DelZotto Dan Hamilton & Mary-Ann Winkelmes David Kotkin John Silberman Scott & Michelle Thompson

DIAMOND CIRCLE

$2,500-$4,999

Drs. Richard & Jennifer Baynosa Nicolas & Alice Cage Jason & Cagla Hirschman Kevin & Kim Johnston Rony Mansour & Jesika Towbin-Mansour David & Anna Robins Farrow & Grace Smith James & Paige Whelan

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GOLD CIRCLE

$1,000-$2,499

Tim & Susan Borst John & Lisa Eyler Pearl Gallagher LeeAnn Inadomi & Robert Glaser Suzette & Scott Kreeger Jim & Bre Manning Dr. David & Mindy Oliveri Charlie Silvestri & Marydean Martin Fred & Mynda Smith Sundstrom Family Dr. Carola E. & Charles P. Wittmann

SILVER CIRCLE

$500-$999

AC Ansani Frank & Anneliese Flansburg Judsen Gundersen & Christine Zack Gundersen Amy Lucier Katheen Potter Erik & Josefine Sagstrom Michael & Susan Seip Davida Sims Roxanne Stansbury Stephen & Alexandria Storey

BRONZE

$250-$499

Mike & Tina Allec

Craig & Taylor Borsari Thatcher & Shelly Dilley Brian & Angela Edgeworth Chris Estrella Matsuko Freeman Drs. Arjun Gururaj & Sandhya Wahi-Gururaj Frank & Piper Kassela Susan Perry & Kelly Maxwell Michael & Robin Prescott Greg & Jennifer Rosebeck Humberto & Kimberly Trueba Carolyn & Michael Wood

SUPPORTER

$249 & below

Erin Agy Geoff & Meg Aumann Nikki Baker Karen Barra Peter & Kim Benitez Cristina Benson Richard & Rita Marie Bioni Ann Blut Susan Boyum Amanda & Taler Brazell Jan Brazell Jacob Brown Michael & Jessica Buchmiller Robert Buss Annette Calhoun Mark Carroll Nicole Ciuca Tim & Breanne

Copenhefer

Christine Cowherd Dennis Uniform Tulasi Dennis Denise & Brad Donahue Dottie Drachler Neil & Stephanie Ellis David Eyler Reagan Eyler Colleen Farrell David & Stella Finfrock Bill Frederick Galin Family John & Dierdre Gautieri Astrid & Charles Giffon Steve Gillis & Julia Reis Natalie Goldie Peter & Megan Gray Christi Gumm Vanessa Gutierrez-Redondo Fred & Volha Hathaway Kai Hennemann Lee Howard Chaoui Huang Linda & Craig Hudson Krista Jacobsen Jessica Jennings Scott & Kristen Kissel Carol Lamb Jacob Langsner Sylvia Lazos & Jean Sternlight Jolie Lindley Kelly McNamara Walter & Melanie Maclay Joyce T. Mraz Kelly McCollum Heather Moore The Moreno Family David & Cathi Muckle James & Amanda Musgrave

Nancy Myster Kym Newell John O’Rourke Alanna Otzenberger Nissa Pearson Shea Phillips Angel Poe Lynne & Tom Reid Matthew Reynolds Jojeen Riechers Jude & Mayuko Ross Michelle Rourke Peter Sand Lindsey Shumway Mike & Lindsey Slanker Bryan Smith & Deborah Negrel-Smith Denise Sprague Suzanne Stansbury Kevin & Maria Stoehr Jose Suarez Karen Tolbert Jose Vazquez Dana Walton Tara Williams

EVENING IN NAPA The Evening in Napa at Dawson event revenue directly supports Dawson’s educational programs.

Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, donated an item, made a cash contribution, and bid on or won an auction item.

A special thanks to our generous event sponsors and donors:

Food & Beverage Sponsors Breakthru Beverage Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Downtown Summerlin VIP Sponsors Anne Mazzola & Russell Rosenblum Perry & Nicole Rogers Phillip & Oleksandra Ruffin Rony Mansour & Jesika Towbin-Mansour Auction Donations (Alphabetized by first name) 103° Hot Pilates & Yoga

Adriano & Thea De Micheli Antoinette Ferraro Atelier by Square Salon Barbara & Thomas Bell Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop Darin & Patricia Feinstein Evan & Alida Glusman Five Guys Burgers and Fries Garden Song Studios Gustav & Corri Backman Hexx Chocolates & Confexxions Jeff & Lieuchi Fine Jerry Nadal Matt & Kay Maddox Moe Daniels & Kenna Smith PR+Partners Robb & Allison Bonanno Sarah Camarota Scott & Natalie Goldie Shannon McBeath Shelley Kalb Simone & Benedetta Ricci Square Salon Stephanie Bitters The Chien Family The Ruffin Family Theresa Talmon Towbin Motorcars Valerin Morris Warner Hospitality Watchclub.shop

Mr. & Mrs. David DelZotto The Khanna Family Luxury Estates International Nathan’s Hot Dogs & The Bonanno Family Remington Nevada The Ruffin Family Saxe Orthodontics Tease Boutique Salon The Turner Family Vegas Comics Mr. & Mrs. James Whelan Mr. Kamran Zand

RESTRICTED GIFTS

LEGACY ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN

FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION Dawson Parent Association

GINGERBREAD HOUSE EVENT Monica Maini, Party USA

FALL FESTIVAL Mr. & Mrs. Lael Berelowitz Mr. Shan Davis Teresa Degattis-Sundstrom Mr. Michael D’Errico & Ms. Melissa Bachochin

Russell Rosenblum & Anne Mazzola Ken Rubeli Maureen & Paul Rubeli Foundation Charlie Silvestri & Marydean Martin Farrow & Grace Smith Jennifer Corey Smith & Catherine Yackira George & Amy Tu David & Carla Van Kalsbeek Mr. & Mrs. John S. Welsh Michael & Renee Yackira

IN-KIND Dawson Parent Association

SCHOLARSHIP FUND ANONYMOUS Windsong Trust

SHOPPING PROGRAMS & EVENTS California Pizza Kitchen Daily Kitchen Dennis Uniform Dorian Studios Wolfgang Puck Restaurants

Alexander Dawson

Foundation Craig & Taylor Borsari John & Lisa Eyler Forman Charitable Foundation Oz & Jeanne Gutsche Richard Haddrill Kevin & Kim Johnston Fletcher Jones Mr. & Mrs. Michael Imperi Frederick & Meghan Mossler John D. O’Brien David & Mindy Oliveri Walter & Monica Pelaez Micha Raines Perry Rogers Mr. Daniel Rosenblum

We have made every effort to compile an accurate listing of donors from the 2016-17 fiscal year. Please accept our apologies if your name has been omitted or misspelled. To update our records, please contact the Development Office at (702) 949-3600 or email cmuckle@adsrm.org.

Thank you to the following individuals for their support and service to the 2016-17 Dawson Board Committee:

FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE Cagla Hirschman, Chair Stephen Cootey Robert Glaser Kim Johnston Cynthia Mun Mindy Oliveri Farrow Smith

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Dawson’s First Fund helps every student by covering the difference between tuition, the actual cost of hiring and retaining extraordinary faculty, and offering innovative programs and curriculum. Pictured here: Dawson’s Middle School Orchestra.

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Annual Report By The Numbers 2016-17 Revenues $15,398,255 Other Revenue ($774,043) Contributions ($2,850,773)

Tuition ($11,773,409)

2016-17 Expenses $16,520,863 Support Services ($1,299,995) Depreciation ($1,507,599)

9%

Financial Aid ($1,543,000)

9%

Physical Plant ($1,634,331)

10%

Bond Interest & Fees ($2,063,831)

12%

Administrative ($2,727,631)

17%

5% 19%

76%

8%

Instruction ($5,744,476 )

35%

$2,155 Depreciation (unfunded) $2,185 Contributions & Other Revenue

In 2016-2017, the total cost to educate a Dawson student was $31,710. While tuition covered most of this cost, the School relied on Dawson First Fund donations and other sources of revenue to supplement tuition.

The Alexander Dawson Foundation contributed $2,486,358 ($4,772 per student). Dawson First Fund donations and other revenue accounted for an additional $2,185 per student. These sources of income were crucial in continuing to provide our children with an exceptional educational experience.

$31,710 Total Cost of a Dawson Education Per Student

The True Cost of a Dawson Education

$4,772 Foundation Contribution

$22,598 Average 2016-17 Tuition

We would like to acknowledge and thank all of those who support the School with their generous contributions.

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Dawson Faculty Profile

MEET CATHI MUCKLE

Dawson’s New Development Manager

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By Megan Gray Having worked in both public and private schools in Las

Q: What do you love most about Dawson?

Vegas for more than 15 years, Cathi Muckle, Dawson’s new development manager, is no stranger to education. And as the

Dawson is the place where Samantha learned all education is

parent of Dawson alumna Samantha Muckle, class of 2012

not created equal. At Dawson, she had a voice, choices, and

(now in her sophomore year at Scripps College in Claremont,

accountability, as well as the opportunity to be really understood

CA), Cathi is also a passionate advocate for the power of the

and supported by teachers who genuinely cared about her

Dawson educational experience.

future success. Eight years later, Samantha’s story is not a unique one in our Dawson community; I can name so many

Q: Tell me about your background in education. How many years did you

students who have experienced the “Dawson Difference” and

work for Clark County School District (CCSD), The Alexander Dawson

who are flourishing academically because of the educational

School and Dawson College Bound (DCB)?

foundation and skills Dawson gave them.

I was volunteering in my daughter Samantha’s kindergarten

Q: What are you excited to start doing as the new development manager?

class and the principal, Scott Bailey, said if I was going to be there daily, I might as well be paid for it! That was 15 years

Being development manager means I have the privilege of

ago and every step since has been an unbelievable adventure. I

getting to know faculty and parents on a deeper level. I get to

went from Samantha’s elementary school to Southwest Career

hear their stories about Dawson, stories that always reinforce

and Technical Academy, a fantastic CCSD high school I helped

what a unique educational beacon we are for Las Vegas. I look

open. I worked there for several years until a position opened at

forward to cultivating relationships I hope will last a lifetime. I

Dawson. Samantha encouraged me to apply and that decision

also have the honor of speaking about Dawson to the greater

changed my life forever! I was promoted to program manager

Las Vegas community. We need to get the word out there about

of Dawson College Bound and spent six years helping students

all of the incredible things happening at this school. It’s a very

from CCSD reach academic goals that, until that point, they

exciting time!

had only dreamed of pursuing. Our first cohort of sixth graders are now juniors in high school and many of them have received

Q: What are a few things you would like our community to know about

full scholarships to the best boarding schools in the country.

you?

Boarding schools are another passion of mine.

My story is a unique one: I am a singer and grew up in a Q: Why is working in education important to you?

show business family. My aunt is singer and actress Rosemary Clooney and, when I was younger, I traveled and sang

I have seen lives change in dramatic and immeasurable ways

with Rosemary all over the world. I have also had the great

through education, particularly when a teacher takes an active

privilege of singing for four presidents, I’ve recorded over

interest in a student’s success. Every encouraging conversation,

300 commercial jingles and this year, I recorded a holiday

every kind word and every piece of good advice has an impact

album. Lastly, I am fearless when it comes to communicating

on a student’s life. Education is the great equalizer: Whatever

about something for which I love and believe wholeheartedly:

your background or socioeconomic status, education leads to

Dawson! k

the freedom of being able to decide one’s future.

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Student Performance Gallery Dawson’s Performing Arts program draws on students’ individual and collective talents to build confidence, foster creative expression and reflection, and encourage exploration - elements that are integral to overall student growth and wellbeing. Here are highlights from the grades 5-8 first-semester performing arts Acting Showcase, featuring spoofs of fairy tales and popular young adult book themes. #DawsonDifference

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NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS, NV PERMIT NO. 302

10845 W. Desert Inn Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89135

DAWSON'S VISION Our graduates will be ready to achieve their individual potential, savor life and meet the challenges of the world.

Learn more at AlexanderDawsonSchool.org

facebook.com/AlexanderDawsonSchool

@dawson_bears

@DawsonSchool

For more information, please visit www.AlexanderDawsonSchool.org or call (702) 949-3600