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FACU LTY M E MBER P RES ENTS AT IN TERNATIoNA L L ANGUAGE CONFERENC E In late September, Arabic and French teacher Georges
Chahwan gave a paper at the Arabele Conference, which occurs in Madrid once every three years and includes teachers of Arabic as a Foreign Language from the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. Chahwan was the only non-university presenter at the conference, where he spoke about using the iPad to teach Arabic. STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS BEGINS Headmaster Alex D. Curtis and Board Chairman Michael J. Carr ’76 have appointed a Strategic Planning Steering Committee that includes Trustees Linda Hodge ’73 and Rob Minicucci ’71, along with on-campus co-chairs Alison Cady and Trent Nutting, to oversee the School’s strategic planning process. Alumni were asked to complete an online survey and participate in a focus group, either virtually or in person. A strategic planning retreat is planned for January 2013; the plan will then be presented to the Board of Trustees for adoption. Implementation will begin with the 2013-2014 school year. Says Dr. Curtis, “It is our collective hope that this strategic planning process will be embraced with the same enthusiasm, energy, and execution that have become this school’s – this community’s – trademark in all of our endeavors.” i n
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iPAD P ROGRAM F EATURE IN U .S. N EWS & WORL D REP ORT
Choate was featured in an August article, “Tablets Trump Laptops in High School Classrooms,” in U.S. News & World Report on the School’s incorporation of iPads into the classroom. “Adopting a one-to-one iPad program for all students at Choate Rosemary Hall is the right move at the right time,” says Headmaster Curtis. The School launched an iPad Pilot Program in spring 2011 with 13 faculty members across all academic departments to explore and develop ways to integrate this technology into best teaching practices. With enthusiasm for iPads growing, faculty participation in the pilot doubled last fall, then 80 students were added to the program in January 2012. The School moved to full adoption of a one to-one iPad Program this fall.
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1 This fall the school embarked on its iPad one-to-one program. This initiative attracted the attention of US News and World Report. 2 Arabic and French teacher Georges Chahwan presented at the Arabele 2012 Conference in Madrid last summer where he spoke about using the iPad to teach Arabic.
n ew ADMINIST RATOR S COME ON BOARD Two administrators joined Choate Rosemary Hall this summer. In July, Alison J. Cady became Director of Strategic Planning and Communications. Throughout her long career in independent schools, she has had several Choate connections. She comes to Choate from Morristown-Beard School, where she was hired by then-Headmaster Laird Davis, Choate ’65. There, she was Director of Development; Director of Admission, Marketing and Strategic Planning; and Director of Admission and Financial Aid. She also was Co-Chair of the Strategic Plan Committee when present Choate Headmaster Curtis headed Morristown-Beard. Alison also had been Associate Director of Admission at Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School in Kingston, Pa., where the Head of School was Jere Packard, Choate ’55. “I am so pleased to be joining the Choate Rosemary Hall community at this important time,” Alison says. “The strategic plan is a wonderful opportunity for the school to reflect on where it is, and where it would like to go. I look forward working closely with all of Choate's constituent groups as we evaluate and determine our course for the next five to 10 years.” Alison and her family live on campus at Fay House. Also in July, Geoffrey Liggett was named Director of Development and Alumni Relations; he will work for Dan Courcey ‘86, Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations. Geoff most recently was Director of Institutional Advancement for The Wheeler School in Providence. Before that, he was the Director of Development for Pomfret School. “After working in smaller boarding and day schools for the past 11 years, I look forward to helping lead one of the best development teams for one of the top schools in the country,” he says. “I feel very fortunate to be here at a time when the alumni and parents recognize what a great school Choate is, and are ready to support our fundraising and service opportunities for them in a big way.” Geoff has also worked as a fundraiser at Brown, Yale and Carnegie Mellon universities. He and his family live in Deep River, Conn.
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3 Alison J. Cady, Choate's Director of Strategic Planning and Communications and Geoffrey Liggett, Director of Development and Alumni Relations.