PARENT PRESS St. Paul’s welcomed 138 new students this year. Pictured below are our PreK Half-Day students in Mrs. Ritchie’s class. Pictured l-r: Grace Moore, Bond Clement, Caroline LaGrave, Vivian McCall, Cooper Chappell, Katherine Stockman, Lauren Bixler, Ross Delaney, Emma Jane Hamilton, and Maddox Bethea.
Forty-Five St. Paul’s students earned Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams. Earning AP Scholars designation are Louis Albrecht, Mary Ball, Carson Cockrell, Mary Rose DeMouy, Cody DiFazio, Harry Eldred, Laura Erickson, Dylan Gibson, Kristin Granade, Kerry O’Connor, Jacob Grove, Josh Harrelson, Isabel Irvine, Libby Knizley, David Martin Mayhall, Bren McMaken, Beth Pickel, Deborah Jane Potts, Kristine Schroeder, Patrick Steadman, Sarah Williams, Cam Williamson. Earning AP Scholars with Honor designation are Funso Fagbongbe, Stuart Graham, Kaleb Kirkpatrick, Morgan Lancaster, Jeannie Marshall, Kyle Grace Mills, Ashley Walsh. Earning AP Scholars with Distinction are T.J. Beeker, Catherine Brown, Graham Byrd, Drew Citrin, Moritz Forsch, Ben Friedlander, Caitlyn Gaddy, Kendall Gibson, Sam Jeffers, Hannah Jones, Elizabeth Kim, John Lightbourne, Micah McGuire, John Moore, Finley Reeves, Emily Smith. Earning the highest possible designation, National AP Scholar, is Ben Friedlander.
O C T O B E R C alendar
3 Chapel Day Grades 3-12 10th Grade Service Day 6 Parent Viewing of “Finding Kind” 7 Chapel Day Grades PreK-2 “Bigs” and “Littles” Party 10-13 Lower School Book Fair 10 Chapel Day Grades 3-4 Family Night at Book Fair 11 Church Day Grades 5-12 12 12th Grade Service Day PSAT 9th-11th Grades Kanuga Parent Meeting - 6th Grade 13 9th Grade Service Day Homecoming Carnival 14 Church Day Grades PreK-2 Homecoming Parade, Pep Rally Noon Dismissal for Upper School Wear Homecoming T-shirts SPS vs. Gulf Shores 16-22 Teen Read Week 17 Student Holiday/Teacher Workday 17-21 6th Grade Kanuga Trip 20 Parent Council Meeting Fall Gollf Tournament for Parents 21 Church Day Grades PreK-2 Grades 5-12 Pep Rally 24 Church Day Grades 3-4 Chapel Day Grades 5-12 26 Lower School Parent Conferences 27 Senior Lunch 28 Chapel Day Grades PreK-2 Lower School Halloween Parade Grades 5-12 Pep Rally Download the Printable Monthly Grid Full School and Athletic Calendars from www.stpaulsmobile.net
The Building and Grounds Committee of the Parent Council recently added some fall color to the Old Shell Road entrances. We thank them for their hard work: Katie Kirby - Chair, Raina Elder, Katie Courtney and Jessica Little.
Paul’s Parents, D earWeSt.hope the school year is off to a great start for your family! There certainly are some exciting plans being made this year and we would
like you to know that every parent of a St. Paul’s student is invited to become an active member of the Parent Council. The function of Parent Council is to support the mission of St. Paul’s Episcopal School and we do this in a variety of ways. Parent Council is structured with a Lower School division and a Middle/Upper School division. Each division has grade representatives (room mothers) and committee chairmen. We meet regularly throughout the year – sometimes jointly and sometimes separately. The meetings begin promptly at 9:30 a.m., last one to one and a half hours, and often feature a speaker, members of the administration or representatives of the student body. This year there will be many opportunities for your involvement. Grade representatives (room mothers) and committee chairmen have been selected, but they will need your help. Each grade will have a special event and/or project in which they will participate and they will need parent volunteers to assist. There are many committees ranging from Teacher Appreciation and Athletic Boosters to Saints’ Night Out, that will need volunteers as well. You can find the meeting dates on www.stpaulsmobile.net under Parent Council. You are welcome to attend. We have also included the names of the Grade Representative Liaisons and Committee Chairmen. If you would like to help them in any way and have not had the opportunity to sign up, please call them or us so you can get involved! We are looking forward to a great year for Parent Council and your participation will go a long way toward helping that happen! Michele Morgan Lower School Chair onelmorgan@hotmail.com
Peggy Harkness Middle/Upper School Chair gharkjr@aol.com
Adrienne LeDoux Kim Klyce Lower School Co-Chair Middle/Upper School Co-Chair Adrienneledoux@comcast.net kimklyce@robertsbrothers.com
Senior parents coordinate monthly Senior Lunches in Saints’ Square. Pictured above l-r: Pam Andrews, Lexus Andrews, Laura Erickson, Mackenzie Klyce, Carol Erickson and Kim Klyce.
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
SAVE THE DATE
Saints’ Night Out 2012
Friday, March 16th • Space 301 gallery • 6:30 pm
The St. Paul’s Parent Council “Houndstooth” September Meeting Notes: Next meeting October 20th Compiled by Kathy McMaken and Tracey Whatley
Peggy Harkness, Middle/Upper School Parent Council Chair, opened the meeting by introducing Libby Knizley, SGA President, who gave the invocation. Headmaster Marty Lester’s Report: Mr. Lester delighted us with an extensive and fascinating story of how St. Paul’s spent the summer coming up with an enhanced Vision Statement, Logo, and Standards for students and faculty/staff with the help of Edward Whiston, IBM. Mr. Lester’s talk was exhilarating for all of us who were there, and for many of us whose children will be graduating this year, it was a reminder that St. Paul’s is forever moving forward, changing for the better, and we will not be here to see the splendid results! However, those who are coming behind us have much to look forward to, and for that, we are blessed! Assistant Headmaster/Upper School Director Victor Helmsing’s Report: Mr. Helmsing regaled us with reports of our aspiring arts programs and students of the arts who have received awards, such as Cam Williamson and Grace Williams for state vocals. Mr. Helmsing gave us an athletic report and encouraged us to come out and support our teams. Mr. Helmsing also said that the Senior fundraiser this year is $10 Bebo’s carwash coupons, graciously donated by the Klyce family. The $10 cost will go 100% to the fundraiser. Middle School Director Scott McDonald’s Report: Dr. McDonald talked about our Bullying Prevention and Character Building Programs and our initiatives to be proactive. Community Service Director Leslie Lerner’s Report: Mrs. Lerner gave an enthusiastic report on her community projects and the opportunities for involvement on the part of students AND parents. Grade Level Philanthropy projects are aimed towards the list below: 1st - working with the elderly, SPHL nursing home; 2nd – Veterans and active military; 3rd - Environment; 4th – Regional School of Deaf and Blind; 5th - Little Sisters of the Poor; 6th – Assisted Living/Homeless; 7th - Children; 8th - Physically challenged adults/ VOA; 9th – Families with emotional and financial issues; 10th - Environment; 11th - Veterans; 12th - Special Olympics and Habitat. Mrs. Lerner asked the Council for help with Community Service Projects. Volunteers can reach her at llerner@stpaulsmobile.net. Curriculum Specialist Will Hester’s Report: Mr. Hester welcomed the Council and thanked parents for the sacrifice they make to send students to St. Paul’s. He talked about our new writing curriculum, Writer’s Stylus. He also talked about our benchmarks and standards - the way we measure to see that our curriculum makes sure our students are ahead. Admissions Director Julie Taylor’s Report: Julie reported that we have 138 new students this year and she thanked the Parent Council for welcoming new families and serving as mentors. She reminded all parents to spread the great news about St. Paul’s to their friends, and asked that they encourage prospective families to contact her for a tour. Development Director Carey Baumhauer Golden’s Report: Carey thanked the Parent Council and Brenda Ferguson in the Development Office for all their work with the Council. She said she is proud to be back at St. Paul’s and is impressed by the excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, and spirituality. She said our excellence in these
areas is what sets St. Paul’s apart from other schools. Middle School Counselor Betty Stone’s Report: Mrs. Stone talked about the IndieFlix screening of “Finding Kind” we will be showing to girls in grades 5-10 and a special screening to parents on Oct. 6th. Parents are encouraged to attend and bring other parents who are interested. St. Paul’s participates in Character Counts and Owning Up in the Middle School. Athletic Club Chair Susan Boudreau’s Report: Susan talked about the initiatives the Athletic Club has taken this year to support our athletics and spread school spirit. The Saints’ Walk is a great addition to our home football games. The Athletic Club meets weekly with the Development Office and Cheerleading coach. The school does not give athletic scholarships. All students who receive financial aid from the school must apply through our Financial Aid Committee. Saints’ Night Out Chair Susan Smith’s Report: Susan Smith gave us insight into all of the new fun ideas she and her committee have for Saints’ Night Out set for March 16, 2012 at Space 301, including a 5K run the Sunday before to kick off the spring running season. Other plans are: selling “Party in a Box” to clean out past Saints’ Night Out theme decorations, a Marston Avenue party, Alumni involvement, Teacher and Me packages, and Photography. Susan introduced her co-chair, Melissa Stowers. Innisbrook Gift Wrap Chair Shari Parker’s Report: The Innisbrook Catalog mailings went out and you can place your orders online to be delivered to your house or to the Advancement Office. The deadline is October 6th. Uniform Committee Chair Greer Helmsing’s Report: The Used Uniform Room is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Advancement Office at Wilmer Hall. Committee members are available one day every month, and the dates are listed on the website. Lower School Chair Michele Morgan’s Report: Michele thanked all the participants for the New Parent Coffee. She introduced the committee chairs/co-chairs and made the following announcements: • Volunteers are needed for the Homecoming Carnival on Oct. 13th. • Homecoming treats are needed, if anyone can donate. • Please include Michele and the co-room mothers on emails from Grade Level Reps. • Include AIP students/parents on emails assigned to your class. • Lower School Conferences are Oct. 26 and there is no school that day. • Lower School Highlights are now posted to the website every Wed. and not included in folders. • Please use Reimbursement forms. • Ask your teachers what grade level philanthropy project they are planning. • Halloween Parties Friday Oct. 28 after parade at 10:30. • 3rd and 4th graders watch the parade and have a snack on Halloween, October 31. • Book Fair is Homecoming Week – still need some help, contact Ashley Jackson or Maiben Martin. Family night is Monday, October 10 from 3-6. • Collect your Bruno’s’ Green Receipts, Campbell Soup Labels, and Box Tops for Education. • Reminder of teacher birthdays that will occur in the near future.
AROUND CAMPUS
Education in the 21st Century
By: Will Hester, Curriculum Specialist and Kelli Etheredge, Teaching and Learning Specialist
The 21st Century School - What does it mean? It’s a label that has different meanings for different people. Certainly recent technological innovations have transformed education. Your child’s classroom is dramatically different from your childhood classroom. St. Paul’s Episcopal School continues to lead on this front by incorporating laptops, groundbreaking research, and innovative lessons. Technological advancements, however, are only one part of the 21st century school. A larger component is the focus on The Five C’s – Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Cross-Cultural Relations. Business leaders and educators around the globe believe the Five C’s are crucial skills for students in the new global economy. St. Paul’s uses the 5 C’s to help educate your child and prepare them for their future. • Critical Thinking – St. Paul’s has always encouraged critical thinking. In Social Studies, for example, rather than simply memorizing facts regarding a region, students analyze and interpret a map or editorial. As a result, students will receive higher test scores and think more critically as citizens. This is one of many examples of how St. Paul’s focuses on critical thinking. • Communication – St. Paul’s is introducing an ambitious new PreK through 12 writing program that will strengthen our present excellent curriculum. The Writer’s Stylus program is a comprehensive and spiraling curriculum, which connects and engages students in the writing process allowing them to reach an even higher level of skill and style in their writing. • Collaboration – Every day, St. Paul’s students – of all ages – work together to solve problems. Collaboration is a key characteristic of a St. Paul’s education. • Creativity – Teaching and learning at St. Paul’s encourages students’ creativity in not only art or music class but in core classes through various projects. Spanish I students, for example, create videos advertising goods in the campus store; Biology and World History I students create timelines and skulls from the prehistoric time; and English 10 students turn poems into movies. • Cross-Cultural Relations – In their studies, St. Paul’s students have opportunities to connect with children from around the world via video conferencing and collaborative projects shared on wikis. For example, St. Paul’s third graders video chat with Canadian third graders; Mrs. Hodges’ and Mrs. Mosley’s first graders connect with nine classrooms around the world in a friends for peace wiki project. The St. Paul’s standard for teachers is to explore and implement effective educational trends. Teachers must model a curiosity for learning, embrace new challenges, and take strategic risks. In doing so, St. Paul’s will concentrate on the changes ahead and prepare your students for college and life.
Community Service Spotlight
By: Leslie Lerner, Community Service Director
St. Paul’s Episcopal School held a special 9/11 Memorial Service on September 12 for grades 5-12. Lower school students wrote letters of thanks to firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians, and military personnel. The service remembered those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks and honored our firefighters, police, ambulance personnel, and active military personnel. The main guest speaker was Mobile Police Department Chaplain, Dr. Jerry Brown, and The Reverend John Riggin led students in prayer and meditation. Additional guests included Keith Stallings, Victor Smith, W. J. Appling, and Allison Burroughs of Mobile Police Department Honor Guard, John Spivey from the Mobile County Sheriff’s Department played the bagpipes, and Jeff Beaverstock, Irvin Rentz, Edward Hudson, and Edward Whiston were honored and recognized for their unselfish service to our community and country. Jody Powell, Missy Powell, and the Chamber Singers performed A New Dawn.
Over 200 students and faculty members welcomed home the Honor Flight VI WWII Veterans on September 21. Pictured above are students welcoming home Darlene Dyess’ (Kindergarten teacher) father, Jim Dyess, Sr. who was on the flight.
AROUND CAMPUS
HOMECOMING 2011
WE HAVE SAINTS SPIRIT! The St. Paul’s Athletic Club has been instrumental in spearheading many efforts on campus. The goal is to support all athletic teams and spread school spirit among students, parents, faculty and alumni. We are proud of all of our student-athletes and teams. Please check Sports Central at www.stpaulsmobile.net for team news.
Four St. Paul’s Episcopal School students auditioned for the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra this year and all four were awarded Chairs in this prestigious group. Pictured l-r: Barrett Thompson double bass, 9th grade; Hiro Kamei, violin, 11th grade; Justin Way, violoncello, 8th grade; and Kelly Jeon, violoncello, 8th grade. These students will have the opportunity to play the very best of the full orchestral repertoire with other young artists from across the Gulf Coast. They will experience music making at a very high level and will interact with some of the World’s most renowned and respected guest soloists.
Monday, October 10 Upper School Out of Uniform with Homecoming T-shirt Tuesday, October 11 Upper School Moe’s Catered Lunch Thursday, October 13 5:00 Homecoming Carnival on Quigley/ Bennett Fields Friday, October 14 PreK-8th Grade Out of Uniform with Homecoming T-shirt 8:15 Upper School late arrival to school 8:25 Upper School Doughnuts in Saints’ Square 8:50 Game Show in Theater 9:55 PreK-12 Parade to Stadium for Pep Rally - Crowning of Mr. Halo 11:00 Powder-Puff Game on Skillet Noon Dismissal for Upper School 5:30 All Alumni Tailgate 6:00 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction 6:30 Saints Walk 7:00 St. Paul’s vs. Gulf Shores 9:30 Homecoming Dance for Upper School Saturday, October 15 10:00 a.m. Kokes, Kids and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Saints’ Square for Alumni and Families
Fall Play “The Curious Savage” November 10 - 13
Alumna Author and Illustrator Rebecca Harrison Reed ’86 Inspired by St. Paul’s Art Instructor Beth Compton 2011-2012 Highlights St. Paul’s Alumna Rebecca Harrison quite an impression on me at that age. Her Reed (Class of 1986) is a children’s book encouragement gave me the hope and beauthor and illustrator living in Clifton, lief in myself to pursue a career in art, and I Virginia. Earlier this year, Lower School will always be grateful.” Librarian Kim McDonald received a copy Rebecca holds a BFA in printmaking with of her latest book, Only Cows Allowed for a minor in art history. She received her MFA her library collection. Rebecca attributes in painting and printmaking from Florida Upper School Art Instructor, Mrs. Beth State University, where she studied under Compton for her successful art career. the noted British abstract painter, Trevor According to the author and illustrator, “I Bell. She also studied art at the Cité Univerconsider my experience at St. Paul’s to be sitaire de Paris in Paris, France. Rebecca a key factor in my decision to pursue a career in art. St. Paul’s has has been the recipient of numerous a wonderful visual arts program, which gave me exposure to the art awards throughout her fifteen year career field at an early age. And it was my art instructor at St. Paul’s, Beth as a freelance artist. She recently won Compton, whom I’ve always considered to be one of the primary the Grand Prize Art Award at the Annual reasons that I am working in the art field today. Beth is one of the best Society of Children’s Book Writers and art instructors I’ve studied under, and I was very fortunate to be a Illustrators New York Showcase. Rebecca part of her class for so long. It was with Beth, that I first really learned was also the Debut Featured Artist on the to paint in watercolor, which is one of the primary mediums I work in SCBWI website, and has been a member today. She was also the instructor who taught me to ‘see’ what I was since 2001. drawing. My first printmaking lessons were with her, which inspired Rebecca’s latest book, Only Cows Alme to study printmaking in college. (Incidentally, one of the serigraph lowed, which was written by award winning prints that I created while in Beth’s high school class won the Judge’s author, Lynn Plourde, was just released on August 16, 2011. Choice Award that year in the “Art and the Alabama Woman” stateRebecca is pictured above with her cow, Dandy. Mrs. Beth Compwide competition at Mobile College.)” ton, Upper School Art Instructor, is also “The invaluable lessons and insights St. Paul’s Alumna and children’s book pictured above with Headmaster Marty that I gained from Beth are a part of my illustrator Rebecca Harrison Reed will Lester receiving her 35 Year Pin of Service ‘subconscious toolbox’ that I still use participate in our “Teen Read Week” via to St. Paul’s. St. Paul’s Alumni Children, Guy today on a daily basis. Beth once wrote Helmsing and Elizabeth LeDoux are pictured podcast on how she turns children’s in my report card, ‘Rebecca can go as in the Lower School Library after reading, literature into pictures. far as she wants to in art,’ which made Only Cows Allowed. www.rebecca-reed.com
Please submit Alumni Success Stories, News and Spotlights to cvulevich@stpaulsmobile.net
12th Annual Legacy Night St. Paul’s hosted the 12th Annual Alumni Legacy Night for Alumni and their familes. This year there are 41 Alumni working at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, 332 children of Alumni are enrolled and the total number of St. Paul’s Alumni is 4,000! Pictured left is Evans Crowe (Class of 1980) and his daughter Adele (Class of 2022). Right: Anne McCall Gill (Class of 1994) with husband Chris, and “Future Saints” Daniel and William, with Philip (Class of 2024), not pictured “Future Saint” John Dawson.
Upcoming Events for St. Paul’s Alumni
Tailgate Party for Families, October 14, Bussie Greer Baseball Field Kokes, Kids and Krispy Kremes, October 15, Saints’ Square Fall Golf Tournament, October 20, Timber Creek Sporting Clay Shoot, November 3, Taylor Creek Shooting Preserve Open House for “Future Saints” (PreK-4th), November 17, St. Paul’s Parish Hall Full Campus Tours, November 18, Lower School and Main Campus