4 Dedications & Unveilings
6 The Color of Music: Paul Smith
7 Alumni Spotlight: Emma Conkle
8
Five Reasons Stephanie Phillips Loves Teaching Kindergarten
10
Ada-Ari: Going Back To Her Roots
12 Rachel Dunlap, Director of Advancement and External Affairs
15 Back on Campus
17 The Big Leap
18 The Class of 2023 Off to High School
Welcome to the 2023 summer/fall issue of The Update magazine for Congressional School Alumni
I am pleased to share that Congressional's 2023-2024 school year is underway with enrollment at an all-time high Driving our growth is a strong reputation for excellence in teaching, learning, and innovation, where each student's unique qualities and talents are discovered and nurtured
Every child is unique. Every child has talents. Every child has room to reach and grow Our goal is to help each student be the best version of themselves. We want them to dig deep, set high goals, and be amazed by what they can achieve
Incrediblethingsarehappeningat CongressionalSchoolandwehavehigh aspirationsforthefuture Iinviteyoutoreview ourStrategicPlanwhichoutlinesourgoalsto buildontheaccomplishmentsofthepast whilemeetingthechallengesofthepresent andfuture ScantheQRcodebelowtoseethe StrategicPlanonline.
Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportand interestinourvibrantcommunity.OnceaColt AlwaysaColt!
Sincerely,
Edwin P Gordon, PhD Head of SchoolEdwin P. Gordon, PhD Head of School
Brent Hinrichs
Associate Head of School, Director of Lower and Middle School
Kim O’Neil
Assistant Head of School, Director of Early Childhood and Primary School
Amanda Carbury Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid
Rachel Douglass Admission Associate
Rachel Dunlap
Director of Advancement and External Affairs
Rebecca Ginnetti School Counselor
Stephanie Hecker Early Childhood Coordinator
Brian Krauss
Director of Athletics and Physical Education
Kay Lauren Miller
Senior Director of CTLI
Director of Innovation and Educational Programs
Instructional Coach: Early Childhood and Primary School
Dan O’Neil
Director of Auxiliary Programs
Alyce Penn
Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Ali Sheibani Director of Technology
Lisa Singleton
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer
Leah Webster
Executive Director of CTLI
Instructional Coach Grades 4-8
Jonathan Winebrenner
Director of Human Resources and Strategic Initiatives
Publication Designer
Anika Metcalf
With a full season of water fun behind us, our community has fully embraced the Rameika Family Aquatics Center The Center has been in constant use since its grand opening last fall, and we were excited to incorporate swimming units into the Physical Education program starting in the spring. The swim program will continue this fall.
The final phase of this major renovation project - the locker rooms - was finished right before the launch of a busy summer camp season Both projects - locker rooms and aquatics center - were made possible through generous Alumni donations
The Vance Family Garden is a wonderful new outdoor space on campus, Thank you to the Vance family for their generosity to the school Students in all grades have enjoyed visiting the space, which is equipped with gardens, seating, and pathways, and is a peaceful space to work and play.
Congressional brought together a generous group of donors and our former Director of Athletics and Physical Education Tavis Laws for a formal unveiling of our new refurbished gym floor The floor is dedicated to Coach Laws in honor of his service to the school.
Thanks to the generosity of major donors and school parents Mark Ilich and Emily Hughes Ilich, our faculty and staff have a fabulous space to gather, collaborate, eat, and relax In March, the family joined us for the grand opening of The Ilich Family Faculty & Staff Commons.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous alumni donor, we have lovely new locker rooms to complement the Rameika Family Aquatic Center They are equipped with cubbies, restrooms, showers, diaper-changing stations, bottle-filling stations, and a family changing room
Each year as part of their Capstone projects, 8th graders embark on a year-long research project based on a topic of their choice. Paul Smith ‘22 decided to pursue a topic that he has been passionate about for quite some time: music.
Paul completed his music album
Stripes&Sinewaves as part of his 8th grade Capstone Project, in which he explored the relationship between color and texture to music He also studied the phenomenon of synesthesia in music The word “synesthesia” has Greek roots and is translated to “to perceive together ” Paul described the phenomenon as having a second sensory perception, such as seeing color when you hear sound This is something Paul says he experiences when he listens to and plays music, and it is what Paul wanted to explore more deeply during his musical process
Paul's vision for his project was brought to life with the help of his mentor and former music teacher Ashley Spalletta and Class of 2022 classmates Alexey Nichipurenko, Lucia Almonte, Gabby Guagenti, Bushra Alsinnawi, Raghav Belle Trichur, and Sanjeev Belle Trichur '24.
The album name, Stripes&Sinewaves is a reference to Paul’s ability to visualize sound “Stripes” represent the visual sensations in Paul’s head, and “sinewaves” represent sound. The album demonstrates an intermingling of the two After completing his album, Paul had classmates listen to samples of his songs and draw what they saw as an example of how synesthesia works
Stripes&Sinewaves was released on April 29, 2022, to all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube, and is available to stream now
Use the QR code to learn more about the Capstone Project and see samples from 8th graders across the years
This year, we had the pleasure of welcoming Emma Conkle as our 2023 commencement speaker.
After graduating from Congressional School in 2017, Emma attended high school at Flint Hill, where she sang in the honors choir and a cappella group the Major Minors She was a four-year letterman in swimming, wrote and edited for the Rough Draft Literary Magazine, and participated in Classics Club, including attending Virginia and National Junior Classical League conventions.
She is a student at the College of William & Mary and the University of St. Andrews Joint Degree Programme, where she is now a Junior working toward an English major with a Classical Studies minor
At William & Mary, Emma sings in the group Reveille A Cappella and writes for the Gallery Literary Magazine At St Andrews, Scotland, she sings in the St Andrews Chorus, takes part in both the Yoga and Scuba Diving Societies, and works for St Art Magazine, a student-run art collective, as head of social media, a writer of arts, culture, and travel, and a member of the podcast team.
This summer, Emma worked as an intern in the communications and marketing department for George Washington's Mount Vernon. Below is an excerpt from her alumni address to the Class of 2023
I started attending Congressional in first grade in Mrs O’Neil’s class I was just six years old and had just moved from California Little did I know that Congressional would become such a vital part of my life for eight years Congressional undoubtedly gave me the confidence to pursue my passions in high school, which was Flint Hill School for me, and then beyond into college The journey that is ending today has given you skills and knowledge that you may not even realize you have gained
Stephanie notices that Kindergarteners have such a caring nature At 5 and 6 years old, they are so innocent, caring, and loving They typically see the good in things and people around them Because of this caring nature, it’s easy for them to make friends with one another Stephanie loves helping the children develop friendships and learn how to be kind to one another It’s such a fun time with the students’ social emotional development During this time, Stephanie notices that students begin caring for one another on an elevated level and helping each other more. They become aware of each other and look out for one another They also start navigating conflict on their own. Stephanie enjoys seeing how friendships evolve over the course of the year
In Kindergarten, students are excited about the little things! Things that we think are everyday items bring them so much joy and excitement This is even more true for Congressional School Kindergarteners, who have a 40-acre campus to explore One special aspect of teaching at Congressional is that the whole campus is a classroom Students are not bound to the four walls of a typical classroom Little things such as visiting the creek on campus, seeing the horses, and navigating the ropes course bring Kindergarteners so much joy and offer more opportunities for growth.
Kindergarten is such an important year during a child’s development. Just 5 years ago, students in Kindergarten were infants Now they are opening packages, navigating schedules, packing their own folders, and more “It’s fun to see the students that were so nervous on their first day start to thrive during the middle of the year, and then have so much confidence at the end of the year, ” Stephanie said. She notices that many students come into Kindergarten feeling overwhelmed by academic tasks "I hear some children saying they can’t read or don’t like math and by the end, they’re reading sight words, they know their letter sounds, they write on their own, and pick up books for enjoyment.”
exploration and play that is so important during childhood “While we are rigorous in our academics, Kindergarten is a beautiful bridge between Preschool and grade school ” Stephanie enjoys seeing her students take what they’ve been learning in the classroom and implement it into their play She also observes and encourages their willingness to try new things.
While Stephanie has been teaching Kindergarten at Congressional for many years, she still learns something from her own students “I learn as much from them as they learn from me sometimes,” she says. "It’s incredible to see the creativity flow through the minds of my students " She loves seeing what children create when given an endless supply of materials. For example, during Creation Station, students are given supplies and they dictate what is being created. They often integrate what they have been learning in science and social studies into whatever they create
In Kindergarten, there’s still time for the
"Teaching isn’t always about sharing your knowledge, but building upon the students’ interests."
I went to St. James Episcopal in Warrenton, Virginia, for high school. I then went to Virginia Tech for college.
When did you get into writing?
I have always loved writing. I remember writing stories when I was younger and telling my dad, “Dad, publish this for me!” I started reading to my children, who are now 4 and 6, in 20172018. It was in 2021 that the seed was planted and I knew I wanted to pursue this (writing).
I’m on a mission to promote diversity and inclusion in children’s literature. I want to promote an appreciation for African culture. These books are retelling African folktales that have existed for thousands of years. The Turtle’s Cracked Shell is a story from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria The Spider’s Thin Legs is a story originating from the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana
The Lion’s Promise is a story from the Zulu tribe in South Africa Each book follows characters on important journeys where they learn important lessons
Ada-Ari graduated from Congressional School in 1998 A Nigerian immigrant, she came to America with her family in 1996 and was a student at Congressional from 6th to 8th grade In those three years at Congressional, Ada made wonderful memories and developed meaningful relationships with her teachers and fellow classmates that she still remembers fondly today
Ada lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with her family and two young children and is passionate about her African heritage, setting out on a mission to promote an appreciation for African culture through the retelling of African tribal folktales. She is the author of three children’s stories: The Spider's Thin Legs, The Turtle’s Cracked Shell, and The Lion's Promise
The first story I wrote I shared with Mr Cavanaugh I love that he's still at the school
Being a young immigrant, I did everything for the first time at Congressional I remember going to Congressional Camp every summer, the gym was just built, and I remember being on the basketball team I remember making tons of friends whom I roughly keep in contact with today
I remember learning important lessons at Congressional I took piano lessons and was in my first play “The King and I ” I haven’t been back to campus since the late 1990s, but I want to come back
Rachel Dunlap joined Congressional School in March as Director of Advancement and External Affairs. She brings more than 15 years of experience in managing fundraising teams with proven success in comprehensive fund development, and over the course of her career, has raised more than $125 million by creating and cultivating philanthropic support through relationship building.
She has prior experience working in the independent school environment, and as a fundraising consultant, most recently as Senior Director Rachel received a Bachelor of Family and Consumer Science from Baylor University and a Master's Degree in Nonprofit Management from The New School Originally from Texas, she relocated to Northern Virginia from California to join the Congressional Community.
Just that - the community. In my career working with organizations across the US, Congressional has one of the strongest and most supportive communities I've seen I was welcomed with open arms (and a whole Gala!) right away. It is a delight to come to work here every day.
I want our alumni to feel invested in the school again Some of our alums spend most of their educational years at Congressional, so it's important they feel a connection with the school even as they move on to other things. I'm looking to build an alumni program (with the help of an Alumni Advisory Council) that appeals to our graduates of all ages -ways for them to network, engage, and give back that make the most sense for their stage of life.
You recently adopted a puppy. Tell us a bit more about your newest family member.
Teddy Oso Dunlap (goes by Oso) was born April 1 and is the sweetest Goldendoodle He's super cuddly, really smart, and has yet to meet someone (person or animal) he doesn't like He loves playing tug and fetch, and would eat an entire container of blueberries if I let him As we get closer to his 1st birthday, I'm hoping to certify him as a therapy dog, like his mom.
I spent them getting to know as many people as possible. Between meetings, coffees, and events, I've enjoyed getting to know so many community members and hearing why THEY chose Congressional Even though most of my job is interacting with adults (parents, alumni, community friends), I really like getting to know the kids as well Between working with the 8th graders on their class gift, to dancing with the Busy Bees during the Little School Gala, this is the most fun I've had at any job
I like cooking, especially on the weekend when I can experiment with new recipes I tend to pick up a new craft every few months (right now it's bracelet making). About 2 years ago I started rowing for exercise (thanks to Hydrow) I still haven't rowed out on water yet, but I'm hoping to build my confidence for that by next spring.
Created in the fall of 2022 by Head of School, Dr Edwin P Gordon, the Speaker Series and Endowed Fund was created to honor John Cavanaugh, History and Latin Teacher, and his extraordinary 47-year legacy of service to Congressional School. The endowed fund is established to support the professional development of Congressional School faculty
John Tato '99, Paul Smith '22, John Budwick '20 and alumni parents Sandra Buteau and Philip Budwick attended the event Paul Smith '22 provided wonderful musical entertainment We are grateful to the Budwick/Buteau Family who made a generous donation to help launch this new endowed fund
Scan the QR code to visit the website & make a contribution.
The 2022-2023 school year marked Mr. Cavanaugh's 50th year of teaching. Forty-Seven of those years have been as a teacher at Congressional School.
From left: John Budwick '20, John Cavanaugh, Sandra Buteau, Philip Budwick, and Dr Gordon
We love seeing Congressional alumni back on campus, and welcomed a number of alums back to school over the past several months.
Annika Hermans '19 (left) and Bella '20 and Gabby Guagenti '22 at the 2023 Science Fair.
Eva Smith, Jill Mankofsky, Omer Aziz-Quintana, and Johanna Woldeher '19 at the Tip Off Classic.
Javier Almonte '21 (right) with John Cavanaugh and Dr Gordon, Head of School
Raghav Belle Trichur '22 (left) and Paul Smith '22 (right) with Brent Hinrichs
share their high school
Members of the Class of 2022 return to
experiences with the Class of 2023. From left: Alexey Nichipurenko, Thomas Singleton, Raghav Belle Trichur, Paul Smith, Owen Davies, Lucia Almonte, Julia Christacos, Ekaterina Orlova, Maegan McCann.
Ekaterina Orlova '22 and Mehr e Ali Qudus '22 with Dr. Gordon at Homecoming.
We kept it a secret from our 8th graders for some time, and on a warm, sunny day in June, they were in for a big surprise! In a symbolic gesture to their "Big Leap" to high school, the 8th graders made their way to the Rameika Family Aquatic Center and jumped into the pool together. Surrounded by faculty, staff, students, and their parents, the students made a big splash. And, the icing on the cake they made sure Middle School Director, Mr Hinrichs took a dip as well! We now have a fun new tradition to look forward to at the end of each school year.
WewishtheClassof2023allthebestasyoustartoutonyournewhighschooladventures. Wemissseeingyouinthehallways,classrooms,andontheathleticfields,butweknowyouare readyfornewchallenges.Pleasekeepintouchandgiveusupdatesonhowyouaredoing. And,don'tforgettovisit-often!
September 30, 2023 - Fall Festival 10 AM-2 PM Need volunteer service hours? Why not volunteer to help at the Fall Festival? Email to inquire at advancement@congressionalschoolorg
January 5, 2024 - Winter Tip-Off Classic 4:00-6:00 PM
March 14, 2024 - Middle School Musical 6:00 PM
March 15, 2024 - Middle School Musical 7:00 PM
We would love to see you in the next issue of our alumni publication To share with us what you've been up to, simply email advancement@congressionalschool.org
Congressional School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs
3229 Sleepy Hollow Road Falls Church, VA 22042