Issuu

FALL 2021 SPRING 2022

Football and Mental Health Headmaster’s Letter 3 | Q&A: The Titan Times 8

| Library Program 20 | Letter from the Rector 27

S P R I N G 2022

Table of Contents Features

On the Cover: Mary-Bruce Warenda, Priyanka Mandadi and Houston Daigle program a robot to move along a course in Imagination Lab. Editor and Layout Design: Taylor Lord

Our Mission St. Timothy’s Episcopal School is a nurturing community of academic excellence that instills the knowledge, skills, and values for a life of purpose.

Connect with STS StTimothysSchoolRaleigh StTimsRaleigh StTimsRaleigh St. Timothy’s School, Raleigh NC www.sttimothys.org 919-787-3011

Headmaster’s Letter

Special Guest in K

Q&A: The Titan Times

Giving Back

Football and Mental Health

Learning in the Library

Class Notes

Letter from the Rector

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

Headmaster’s Letter In recent years, I’ve been repeatedly reminded of the old Yiddish adage: we plan, and God laughs.

One other important and exciting part of our work involves a professional sabbatical for me, delayed from 2020. From July through December 2022, I will temporarily step away from my The last few years for St. Timothy’s day-to-day duties to do “big picture” research, School have been both extraordinarily think about our future and seek professional successful and incredibly challenging. growth and renewal that will equip me with the One thing they have not been, examples, knowledge and skills to navigate the though, is carefully planned. We’ve next stage in our school’s history. With gratitude needed more of a “playbook” than and excitement, I’m dusting off—and adding a “plan”—evaluating our current to—my original list from 2020 of conferences circumstances and responding with I want to attend, of example schools and the best real-time decisions and programs around the country I want to visit and strategies available… that may very of the reading, writing, and research I hope to well change the next day. undertake. This spring, we’re finally ready to start planning again. Our academic administrators spent a recent weekend together reflecting on the lessons we’ve learned, the “to-do” lists we’re ready to resume, and our big picture hopes for St. Timothy’s in the years ahead. Similarly, our Board of Trustees revisited our long-range strategic plan and began to map out goals and priorities for the years ahead.

We plan to develop innovative curriculum and programs that will offer our students new opportunities for engagement and success.

We plan to develop innovative curriculum and programs that will offer our students new opportunities for engagement and success. We will invest in teaching excellence. We will undertake important and thoughtful work to strengthen racial and cultural diversity within our community. We will advance our unique Episcopal school identity and partnership with St. Timothy’s Church. We will seek new opportunities for maintaining and strengthening school culture, philanthropy, and community engagement. There’s a lot of planning to do!

I’m excited to learn new things and bring them back to our school. In the meantime— particularly because of all I’ve seen my colleagues accomplish over the last few years—I know things will continue to go well at school while Tim Coleman serves as both Middle School Head and Acting Head of School.

I will be forever grateful for, and proud of, all that our teachers were able to offer our children in the midst of this pandemic. This includes not only our students’ sustained academic growth at a time of learning disruption for so many elsewhere, but also a safe and nurturing community where our students thrived each day. I feel this way not only as a Head of School, but also as a parent who can’t imagine what these last few years would have been like for my own three sons had they not been at St. Timothy’s. I’m also very excited to turn the page and begin planning for our future. It’s a great day to be a Titan!

Tim Tinnesz, Headmaster

S P R I N G 2022

Student Honors and Awards NC Science & Engineering Fair

Brooke Hershberger (8th), 3rd place Region 3A Competition, Effect of Press Handstands on Cast Handstands

Cole Harris (7th), advanced to Region 3A Competition, How A High Intensity Workout Affects Memory

Junior Classical League

Camden McGee (3rd), advanced to Region 3A Competition, Does Battery Size Matter?

Conrad Ives (3rd), advanced to Region 3A Competition, How Different Soil Conditions Affect Plant Growth

All-District Band

Dax Cuthbertson (7th), Ivy Connell Sarah Lynn (7th) and Grey Duncan (8th) won Rajaratnam (8th), rd 3 place at the NC Certamen third chair clarinet Tournament on February 5, 2022. Certamen is a game of speed and skill that tests the players’ knowledge of Latin, Roman history and classical mythology.

Gabby Rose (6th), 13th chair clarinet

Miette Gillum (6th), second band ninth chair trumpet

Science Olympiad The St. Timothy’s Science Olympiad team placed in seven different events in the Regional Competition. Alumnus Mac Cobb and sixth grader Joe Johnson are eligible to compete in the State Science Olympiad Tournament in April at North Carolina State University. Congratulations to the 2022 St. Timothy’s Science Olympiad Team Members: Dexter Brickell (8th); Riley Bridges (5th); Mac Cobb (‘21); Noah Gelb (6th); Dennis Greenway (6th); Joe Johnson (6th); Jack Markham (8th); Will Markham (8th); Sophie Newsom (7th); Hale Pulsifer (8th); Cole Reade (6th); Jordan Roe (6th); Archer Taylor (6th); Will Tucker (7th) Read more at www.sttimothys.org/SO2022/.

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

Kindergarteners Meet A Special Guest

bones have four layers: the first that contains nerves and blood vessels, the second that is hard, the third that is hard but spongy and the fourth that is bone marrow.

To start the lesson, groups of students were invited to look at Nigel the Friendly Skeleton. Some were eager to see the skeleton up close, while others were more timid. However, once Elkins explained that everyone has a skeleton and Nigel is not real, everyone wanted to touch the prop.

Students were interested to learn that their bones grow as they do, and bones can heal themselves if they get broken.

igel the Friendly Skeleton came to kindergarten one day to teach the students about bones. Dr. Jane Elkins, the Lower School Science Lab teacher, brought Nigel along to her classes to show kindergarteners the bone structure of a human adult.

Elkins taught the kindergarteners that bones protect important parts of your body, such as the skull protecting the brain and the rib cage protecting the heart and lungs.

This hands-on lesson was a big hit with the students, and they were all excited to go home and Kindergarteners discovered that all humans and most animals have skeletons, which are made up of tell their families about the special guest who came to kindergarten. bones and help you move. They also learned that

Kindergarteners in Mrs. Bardeen’s class get a close-up look at Nigel the Friendly Skeleton.

S P R I N G 2022

Titan Athletics WINTER & SPRING VARSITY TEAMS 1

Boys’ Basketball Girls’ Basketball Boys’ Baseball Co-ed Golf Girls’ Soccer Girls’ Softball Boys’ Tennis Co-ed Track & Field

JV TEAMS Boys’ Basketball Girls’ Basketball

1 - The JV Boys’ Basketball team poses for a group photo before a game. 2 - Charlotte Fusco dribbles the basketball down the court in a game against St. David’s School.

3 - Elias Rahbar goes on the offense in a game against Grace Christian. Photo by Tyler Cunningham 4 - Members of the golf team pose for a photo before a tournament. 5 - Davis Cunningham shoots a basket during a game against Grace Christian. Photo by Tyler Cunningham

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

S P R I N G 2022

Q&A THE TITAN TIMES A S TUDENT-LED NEWSLET TER Eighth graders Dexter Brickell, Colleen Eveson, Charlotte Leach, Anna Linhardt and Mivvi Warren banded together in the beginning of the year to create the Titan Times, a student-led newspaper. Published once during each seven-day rotation, the Titan Times includes student news, teacher interviews, current events and more. The staff has grown over the year—currently a group of eight students work alongside faculty advisor and Middle School Literature teacher BJ Nowak to produce the newspaper. Read on to discover what inspired the founding writers of the Titan Times. Q: What insipired you to create a student-led newspaper?

CL: We also include articles about whatever is going on at the moment, like important school events or upcoming holidays.

DB: The idea started with my Genius Hour project. I was doing research on different ideas Q: What is your favorite thing about writing and saw an article about a student-led newspaper the newspaper? at a school in Virginia. I thought it would be fun CL: I really like how we can work together. to start something like that at St. Timothy’s. Everyone has a lot of creative ideas, we work AL: I joined because I like journalism and I together to turn those ideas into sections for the thought it would be fun. We have the weekly newspaper. My favorite thing about writing the newsletter, but the Titan Times was something Titan Times is interacting with the students and different because it incorporates interviews. teachers. I enjoy hearing what they have to say— it’s really interesting. Q: How do you decide what to include in the Titan Times? DB: I like researching things that are going on in the world. When I learned about how NASA CE: At the beginning of each rotation, we have a entered the solar atmosphere for the first time, meeting and we assign people different sections I immediately wanted to include a story about to do. For example, we have a teacher feature, a the Parker Solar probe in the next issue. At the rotational question and a sports segment. beginning of the year, we had a world news section in the Titan Times, but it was diﬃcult

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

because a lot of the news was negative. We had to I think that’s helpful as a teenager. There’s this research to find stories that were more positive. stereotype that all teenagers are constantly on their phones. It’s nice to just talk to people and MW: I like working on the teacher feature. I put those conversations down on paper so others did the first one with Reverend Edwards and it experience that, too. started a great relationship between us. I talk to her all the time and email her questions. AL: We create videos for the morning announcements to publicize when a new issue Q: Describe what are you most proud of about of the Titan Times drops. I usually film and edit founding the Titan Times. them, and that’s gotten me back into editing. I CL: I’m really proud of how much progress we’ve think I want to do something like that when I’m made. We’ve created a lot of different ideas and I older. love how it’s turned out.

MW: I want to get more into photography. I AL: I am most proud of how the Titan Times has don’t see it as a full-time job but as a fun pastime that I’d like to pick up in high school. evolved. If you look at the first issue versus the most recent, it’s pretty different. I’m proud of CE: I want to work on a newspaper in high everyone for helping with that. school. It’s something that I really enjoy, just MW: Adding on to Anna’s point, I think we learn hearing people’s experiences and perspectives. from our mistakes and figure out what works Q: Have you learned anything surprising and what doesn’t. We know that we can always through your work with the Titan Times? improve it. AL: We’ve learned about teachers’ past jobs that CE: I’m really proud of the way we’ve adapted were unexpected—like Ms. Saunders working at to different situations and how we’ve worked a hot dog cart. It’s always interesting to see why together to overcome diﬃculties. It’s a really good teachers like working here. opportunity for leadership and team building, especially heading into high school. Q: What do you hope for the future of the Titan Times? DB: I’m proud of how the other members have taken this idea and run with it. If I could have AL: It would be really cool if it started to become seen how big the Titan Times would be when I a legacy. People would say, “five years ago, a first came up with the idea, I would’ve been really group of eighth graders created the Titan Times.” excited. MW: I hope that the seventh graders follow what Q: Do you picture yourself going into we’ve done, but also include whatever they think journalism or a related field? should be in there. The newspaper should reflect them as eighth graders. CL: I really enjoy writing and journalism. I don’t know if I would want to go into journalism, but I CE: I definitely want the Titan Times to continue. am definitely interested in something similar that Of course, the seventh graders will put their own involves writing and interacting with people. spin on it and that’s what makes the newspaper so special. It’s written by the students for the DB: I’m not sure, but I like working on the students. Titan Times because I get to interact with people.

S P R I N G 202 2

In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - Acts 20:35

giving back

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

TO OUR COMMUNITY

tudents at St. Timothy’s are taught about the importance of giving back to their local and international communities through hands-on experiences. Throughout the school year, faculty, administrators and students work together on various community service projects. All sixth graders take CREATE class with Angela Parrish, the Middle School Language Arts teacher. CREATE class offers students the opportunity to explore their creativity while supporting various communities.

St. Timothy’s partenered with the UNC Rex Pediatric Unit and the Rex ER to sponsor a Toy Drive. Families were excited to participate, donating a myriad of toys and activites for children of all ages. On Monday, December 13, Student Council members helped sort the donations and loaded board games, Care Bears, Legos and more into cars. Head of School Tim Tinnesz and Head of Lower School Lindsey Behrens joined Savage to drop the donations off at UNC Rex Hospital. Throughout the week of February 7, the St. Timothy’s community gathered more than 1,500 new and gently used books to donate to WAKE Up and Read. The local nonprofit works to increase literacy rates in Wake County by giving children access to books so they can read at home. St. Timothy’s middle schoolers helped librarian Sarah Stanley organize the books and load them into cars to be donated.

During the first trimester, students worked on the Hats for the Homeless campaign. Sixth graders loom knitted hats with donated yarn and sold the hats to raise money to purchase more than 1,300 laundry detergent pods for those who cannot afford it. The CREATE class also donated more than 45 hats to Temple Dream Center, which is one of the largest homeless ministries in Johnston County. The remaining loom knit hats were sold at Freddie’s Christmas Store, with proceeds Second graders also participate in an annual service project—each year, students pack benefitting Friends of St. Timothy’s. goodie boxes for soldiers through the Raleigh Students in the second trimester CREATE Civitan Club. This year’s pack-a-thon was in class participated in the Compassion April: students included an assortment of items, Jewelry Campaign, benefitting Compassion such as lip balm, socks and playing cards, in International—a church-centered, child-focused goodie bags that they decorated with colorful international nonprofit organization that meets springtime drawings. Then, members of the critical needs, such as access to clean water, Civitan Club picked up the goodie bags and disaster relief and education assistance. other donated items, including blankets, Our State magazines and t-shirts. Sixth graders learned how to craft and sell earrings. They also worked with Parrish to Through helping with hands-on service determine how Compassion International used projects, St. Timothy’s students truly embody the proceeds. the Portrait of a Titan statement: St. Timothy’s School students are committed to academic Each year around Christmas, members of the excellence and strive to solve problems with student council assist with a service project for diligence and creativity; embrace faith and reason the community. This year, faculty advisor and in pursuit of truth and meaning; lead healthy middle school guidance counselor Melanie Savage lives with joy and gratitude; treat all people with wanted to bring cheer and joy to children in the dignity, respect, and compassion; and love and hospital. serve God and one another.

1 - Tinnesz, Behrens and Savage took toys to the UNC Rex Pediatric Unit. 2 - Second graders stuff goodie bags for soldiers. 3 - Student Council members load donations for the UNC Rex Toy Drive into cars.

S P R I N G 202 2

EXPLORE THE ARTS: DRAMA, MUSIC AND FINE ARTS Spring is blooming—and so is the arts program at St. Timothy’s. Every St. Timothy’s student is immersed in the arts: lower schoolers have drama, music and fine art co-curricular classes, and middle schoolers choose an arts elective to take for the year. Drama teacher Amy Murphy-Archer and her middle school students have put in countless hours throughout the second and third trimesters to perfect their skills for the spring plays. During April 23 and 24, students showed off their hard work with seven performances at William Peace University. Fifth graders put on a production of Cinderella, sixth graders performed Peter Pan, seventh graders and one eighth grade class enacted Baker Street Irregulars and the other eighth grade class acted out And Then There Was One. More than 540 parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and faculty members attended the performances. Pre-kindergarten through first grade music teacher Jordan Shaw has been teaching her students about instruments. Pre-kindergarteners made their own kazoos and maracas, kindergarteners created rainbow tambourines and first graders made harmonicas and pan flutes. Making their own instruments gives students a better understanding of how they work. For the first time in two years, kindergarteners performed the Easter Hat Parade in person for parents and grandparents on April 8. They sang, danced and played instruments while showing off their decorated Easter hats. Joe Farmer, who teaches music to second through fourth graders and directs the middle school chorus, has been busy preparing for the Band and Chorus Concert on May 25. This year’s chorus is the largest yet with more than 80 middle school members. The group

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

graders created their favorite animals out of clay. These clay sculptures will go on exhibit in a 3D Peaceable Kingdom.

performed at the Kings Dominion Festival of Music on May 13 and earned Superior ratings.

Third graders built upon the skills they learned in previous years to make clay pots with a variety of attachments. Bierer said, “With this open-ended project, there is great variety. Some students create realistic animal pots and some create abstract teapots! They are confident with clay because they previously learned how to create designs and attach items.”

Fourth graders use their knowledge of clay art— rolling out clay, design-creating, pinch pot making and attaching—to make a realistic mask of an Lower school art animal found in North Carolina. After firing the teacher Laura Bierer sculptures, the students glazed their pieces. The teaches all of her students masks were fired again, then many fourth graders to create art out of clay, added squirt paint details, pipe cleaner whiskers or which is a unique aspect feathers. of the arts program at St. Timothy’s. Pre-kindergarteners Middle school art teacher Phoebe Guice shows used the soles of their shoes and students how to build upon the skills they learned various tools to create texture on in lower school. Fifth graders recently learned about clay, then cut their favorite part zentangle art, which is a form of meditation while out with a heart-shaped cookie creating simple, unplanned patterns. Students cutter. They glazed the hearts and created zentangle-inspired artwork in the form of added beads to create one-of-a-kind umbrellas. necklaces. Sixth graders refined their drawing skills by using Kindergarteners applied their charcoal to draw an animal on cardboard. Seventh knowledge of shapes and colors to make graders used their knowledge of clay to create brightly-colored clay fish. claymation videos in small groups. Eighth graders have been learning about fine art photography and First grade artists crafted Native Americanmicrography, which is small text that forms an inspired pots by using the two thousand-yearimage when viewed from far away. old pinch pot technique. Each student used a stylus to carve symbols and later applied glaze. Through drama, music and fine arts classes, After learning how to draw animals, second

all St. Timothy’s students learn how to express themselves in creative ways.

Top Left: Torrance Harrell, 7th, in Baker Street Irregulars. Photo by Steve Leach Top Right: Micrography Heart by Jack Markham, 8th Middle Left: Clay Heart by Lucy Roche, Pre-K Middle Right: Jaxson Lewis, K, shows off his decorated Easter hat. Bottom Left: Emma Rizzo, 5th, plays Lady Lotta Bon Bon in Cinderella. Photo by Tyler Cunningham Bottom Right: Seventh and eighth graders in Vocal Ensemble practice for their upcoming performance.

S P R I N G 202 2

TH A NK YOU

for inspiring young minds

e wish a very fond farewell to first grade teacher Sharon Carlson. For the past 22 years, Carlson has dedicated her life to inspiring young children at St. Timothy’s. Now, she is ready to take the next step: retirement. Carlson is looking forward to a change of pace from teaching. She said, “I have loved being with first graders everyday and watching them learn and grow as students. It’s especially rewarding to participate in the process of teaching students how to read. I also appreciate the many friendships I have made with my fellow teachers here at St. Timothy’s School.” During retirement, Carlson plans on spending quality time with her granddaughter, Holland. She is also excited about going to the beach more often and traveling to new places.

Left: Carlson will retire at the end of the year. Right: Carlson posed for a photo with her ﬁrst grade class.

First grade teacher Angie Austin said: I have had the privilege of working alongside and learning from Sharon Carlson for a decade. Sharon has always been passionate about teaching first grade, and her number one priority is giving her students her very best. She was born to be

a teacher and has positively impacted so many lives. Sharon is prepared every single day, spending countless hours after school making sure everything is just right and ready for her students. Most days, she is the first teacher to enter the building and the last one to leave. Her commitment to our school and the teaching profession is what sets her apart. Sharon invests in and cares deeply about her colleagues, too, and these relationships will be nurtured and treasured past the walls of St. Timothy’s School. She has truly dedicated her life to being an excellent and loving teacher, and I know that there are many former students, some who are now adults, who still call Mrs. Carlson their favorite teacher of all time. I can’t imagine first grade without her, and I truly believe I am a better teacher because of her. While the St. Timothy’s community is sad to see Carlson retire, we are grateful for the more than two decades that she has dedicated to teaching our students. Best wishes for your retirement, Mrs. Carlson! We hope to see you back in a few years as a St. Timothy’s grandparent.

TITAN SPIRIT GEAR

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

www.titanspiritstore.com All online purchases can be picked up at the main ofﬁce or sent home with a current student.

SHOP ONLINE TODAY!

Find shirts, chairs and more at the Titan Spirit Store!

S P R I N G 202 2

PA S S I O N P R O J E C T : football and mental health Despite advances in mental health awareness, a stigma remains—particularly in maledominated, highly-competitive sports. As football is the most watched sport in the United States, the players and coaches face constant scrutiny and criticism for their actions. That pressure, not to mention other life stressors, is bound to have an effect on one’s mental health. Hadley Horton, an eighth grader at St. Timothy’s, was interested in how NFL and NCAA coaches and players handle the demands of their highprofile careers. During her second trimester, Hadley took Genius Hour, a class designed for students to focus on passion projects. She used that opportunity to speak with coaches Ricky Brown and Ryan Day about mental health and playing and working in the NFL and NCAA.

scholarship, leadership and athletic ability. He went on to play for the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens before suffering a career-ending injury in 2012. Once he recovered, Brown began coaching: first at the University of Southern California, then at Boston College and now at Ohio State University. He spoke with Hadley about how he worked through the sudden change from a player to a coach, the importance of mental health and how to move on from obstacles and look forward to the next chapter. Hadley said, “Coach Brown continously persevered through some of the most challenging moments of his life. He carries himself with kindness on and off the field.”

Day first began getting recognized for his prowess at football in high school. While a senior Both Brown and Day knew Hadley’s dad, Donald at Manchester Central High School, he won Horton, who played as a lineman for Wittenburg New Hampshire’s Gatorade Player of the Year University and coached at Boston College Award. Day played all four years at the University and North Carolina State University. In 2006, of New Hampshire, then accepted a coaching Horton was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and he position there. He met Horton in 2003 when he passed away ten years later. Many players who joined the coaching staff at Boston College, and knew Horton wrote letters to Hadley and her currently works as the head coach at Ohio State older sister, Libby ’17, sharing memories of their University. beloved coach. In 2019, Day and his wife, Christina, For the Genius Hour project, Hadley announced that they were partnering with the interviewed Brown and Day because of their On Our Sleeves movement to create the Ryan distinct experiences on and off the field. Horton and Christina Day Fund for Pediatric and had recruited Brown to play at Boston College in Adolescent Mental Wellness at Nationwide 2002. Brown thrived there, earning the Thomas Children’s Hospital. On Our Sleeves is a national F. Scanlan Memorial Trophy for his outstanding organization that is trying to end the stigma of

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

children’s mental health by providing educational resources and connecting families to mental health professionals. Day lost his father to suicide when he was nine years old. He told Hadley how he felt ashamed, embarrassed and angry when he was growing up. During a recruiting trip for Ohio State, Day saw how other families were affected by mental health struggles, and he and his wife wanted to help. The couple’s fund has helped raise awareness for children’s mental health by advocating its importance and developing educational opportunities. They created a “Day Time Break” program to help educators teach sixth through eighth grade students about caring for their mental wellness. Day talks about mental health with his players, encouraging them to be open about their feelings and seek treatment, if needed.

Hadley Horton, 8th, interviewed NCAA coaches for her Genius Hour project.

Day told Hadley, “In a ‘manly’ sport, I think it’s good for people to hear that our guys are vulnerable—we’re all vulnerable—and that if people need help, they shouldn’t be ashamed.” It’s diﬃcult to talk about mental health and sports without mentioning superstitions. Players, coaches and even fans perform different routines to “help” their team win. While eating a certain breakfast or wearing a lucky outfit does not affect the outcome of the game, it does provide a sense of control and reduces stress.

Coach Ricky Brown during a Boston College game. Photo credit: Boston College Football

During the interviews, Hadley asked Brown and Day if they practiced any superstitions. Brown admitted to eating chicken and green beans the night before a game and walking on the field before warmups to enjoy a serene moment. Day said that the Ohio State football program follows various superstitions, including running the same plays the day before a game and warming up in a specific way. Hadley said, “I thought this was an exciting question that humanizes Coach Brown and Coach Day. Their superstitions allow us to relate to them and see what they are genuinely like.”

Coach Ryan Day during an Ohio State game. Photo credit: Ohio State Football

St. Timothy’s School

SNAPSHOTS

We are thrilled to have been voted a Midtown Magazine Diamond Award winner in the Best Private School category!

Pre-K students dressed up as 100-year-olds for the 100th day of school!

First and second graders enjoyed lunch in the newly-renovated Dining Hall!

Natalie Velthuisen with her collection of self-portraits that she has drawn every year she has been at St. Timothy’s, from K to eighth grade!

The first-ever community-wide Day of Giving at St. Timothy’s was a huge success!

On Nov. 30, more than 200 St. Timothy’s students ages 5-11 received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine!

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

reflecting

on our mission statement The Board of Trustees recently refined St. Timothy’s mission statement to better reflect the school’s values: St. Timothy’s Episcopal School is a nurturing community of academic excellence that instills the knowledge, skills, and values for a life of purpose. Board Chair Joe Diab ’79 said: Emerging from the most complex and challenging time in our school’s history provided an opportunity to shift our focus from intense operational demands to the long-term strategic planning central to our growth and success. Part of this shift includes assessing and defining our identity and our mission with clarity. The updated mission statement captures the most essential elements of St. Timothy’s, namely a nurturing community, academic excellence, and commitment to the knowledge, skills and values central for a life of purpose. We were fortunate on the Board to have Maria Plentl ’86 lead this work, given her history as a St. Timothy’s alum, and to align it with our Episcopal School identity statement and our Portrait of a

Titan, which in combination provide the essential picture of who we are. Being an Episcopal school is a major aspect of our identity. Over the past few years, Chaplain Rev. Brittany Edwards has helped revitalize the school’s Christian education programs. Rev. Edwards teaches religious studies to sixth and seventh graders. She has also started Chapel Guild, which is a group of 12 middle schoolers selected for leadership roles in the worship life of the school. They read Scripture and prayers during weekly chapel services, assist with lower school worship events, help lead school-wide morning prayer and provide an example of leadership and faith for their peers. At St. Timothy’s, students are encouraged to begin exploring lifelong questions of existence, purpose, and meaning. This requires that we provide them with the strongest academic and intellectual foundations in science, math, literature, history, languages and the arts. The updated mission statement helps describe who we are: St. Timothy’s is an Episcopal school that values Christian principles, academic excellence and a nurturing community.

S P R I N G 202 2

LEARNING

in the

LIBRARY

Librarian Sarah Stanley reads “The ChickenChasing Queen of Lamar County” by Janice N. Harrington to Ms. Duda’s third grade class.

“In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with floaties and teach us how to swim,” wrote Linton Weeks in his 2001 Washington Post article, “The Old-Fangled Search Engine.” More than two decades ago, computers were becoming widely avaliable for the first time and people started to share information via the World Wide Web. There was a fear that

brick-and-mortar libraries would die out because of the invention of the internet, but that concern has proved to be as unfounded today as it was then. In this age of instant communication and 24hour news cycles, information is more widely avaliable than ever. Critical thinking skills are

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

week to develop literacy and research skills. Since the content is not attached to a certain class, the curriculum is focused on skill-building. The main goal is for students to learn about the library and understand how to research instead of just coming in when they need help with a research project for another class.” Although learning how the Dewey Decimal System works is a fun lesson in third grade, students don’t just learn how to find a book in a library. The library program goes beyond the basics by instilling research skills, critical thinking and digital citizenship in St. Timothy’s students. Kindergarteners through fourth graders take Media class, which focuses on building literacy, developing research skills and improving visual and auditory skills. Fourth graders learn how to become well-rounded digital citizens by expanding their critical thinking. Building on the lessons learned in lower school, fifth through eighth graders hone their research skills by using various databases to find information from quality sources. Stanley and Tinnesz are teaching students skills that will help students during their time at St. Timothy’s and beyond.

Going beyond the classroom: Stanley writes Go Ask Mom blog posts essential to wade through those stories and determine what the facts are. All students at St. Timothy’s are building a strong foundation of research skills and digital literacy through their time spent at the Robert A. Campbell Library. Librarian and Educational Technology Facilitator Sarah Stanley teaches third through eighth graders in the main section of the library, and Library Assistant Karen Tinnesz works with pre-kindergarten through second graders in the Everyone Library. The two combine their efforts to help students gain necessary skills for this digital age. Stanley said, “The library program at St. Timothy’s is unique because the curriculum is intentionally designed for each grade level. Students come to the library once or twice a

In addition to facilitating the library program at St. Timothy’s, Stanley, who has master’s degrees in theology from Emory University and library science from University of North CarolinaChapel Hill, has recently started writing articles for WRAL’s Go Ask Mom blog. Her first article, “Tips for talking to your kids about the news,” includes ways that parents can help their children understand and navigate a news-saturated world. Hearing about various world issues and watching adults struggle to solve problems can perpetuate anxiety and fear in children. Stanley devised three strategies to help children process the news: look beyond the headlines, use “filters” and look for the helpers. She uses these same strategies to teach her students to understand news stories. In Research Skills, sixth graders focus on media and news

S P R I N G 202 2

three different databases that are geared towards students at different grade levels. In the blog post, Stanley wrote, “the student-focused online databases provided by libraries are incredible for helping kids find information that has already been vetted for accuracy. There are resources like online encyclopedias and articles from reputable websites, all organized by age appropriateness and reading level. Many of them even have a ‘read to me’ feature that allows students to listen to text that may be above their reading level.” In class, Stanley and Tinnesz teach students how to use the different databases so they know how to find information for school projects.

Sixth grader Zoe Cavallaro reads a library book during Research Skills class.

To read Sarah Stanley’s Go Ask Mom blog posts, go to www. sttimothys.org/ stanley/.

Sixth grader Miette Gillum said, “We have done lots of projects using Gale and other research platforms. My favorite was the Christmas throughout the year. Students learn about what kind of information is available in the news, how traditions project, where we got into groups, researched Christmas traditions from around the different news sources report stories and how world and shared them. We also learned how to famous journalists made names for themselves. use proper citations by doing a mini biography Some sixth graders held a newspaper for the first project so that we could get experience not time when Stanley brought them in to show plagiarizing.” students how to read a newspaper. Stanley and Tinnesz also explain what makes a Stanley said, “My goal is for sixth graders to see source a “good fit” for their research purposes. that there is a world beyond the website when Tinnesz shows the younger students how to find it comes to the news. I teach them to compare websites that are geared towards their reading a news story reported through various outlets: level and include few distractions. The older radio, written articles, broadcast, social media. students go more in depth to find credible online By the end of the year, students learn that they sources. Stanley teaches them to look at the need to search for different sources to get the full author’s credentials and determine if the purpose story.” of the article is to sell a product or inform the reader. These strategies help students intentionally The second article that Stanley wrote for WRAL’s choose sources instead of simply getting Go Ask Mom blog, called “Librarian-approved information from the first website that pops up in tips for surviving school projects,” is related to a search. another topic that she teaches her students. As children move up from one grade level to another, Strengthening research skills the research projects, papers and presentations get more complex. Students experience a big learning Throughout the year, Stanley has her students complete various research projects about topics curve from reading one book that is all about a subject to having to search for and piece together that are not covered in other classes. These projects help students develop their research skills relevant information from various sources. while teaching them about important matters. Stanley and Tinnesz encourage students to use Fifth graders learn about and plan a “trip” to the library databases, find “good fit”sources and use online citation makers for their research projects. many theme parks in the United States. Sixth graders discover what life was like for Nellie Bly The library program at St. Timothy’s has access to as she wrote investigative articles and broke

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

barriers as a female journalist. One of the main research projects in seventh grade is learning about the Salem Witch Trials. Students look at maps, timelines and other sources to figure out what caused the witchcraft hysteria, what happened to the women accused and how the trials ended. Stanley focuses on digital responsibility with eighth graders. She said, “as the students transition from St. Timothy’s to high school, it is important for them to realize that they have a responsibility to decide what online information they believe and how to spread facts instead of misinformation.” Eighth graders demonstrate what they have learned in a culminating final project. Students pick a group or cause to advocate for and put together a presentation. They must be truthful and find quality sources to prevent the spread of misinformation.

Diversity in the library Outside of class, students can visit the library to pick out new books to read. Stanley and Tinnesz make sure there is a book for everyone: of the 15,000 books avaliable, many include main characters that represent a variety of races, cultures and backgrounds. Diversity and representation in literature is extremely important to Stanley and Tinnesz. In 2019, the Everyone Library was redecorated as an ode to an author known for including children of minorities as main characters: Ezra Jack Keats, famous for his book, “The Snowy Day.” Born in 1916 to Polish Jewish immigrants, Keats faced anti-semitism and discrimination during

his life. His experiences inspired him to include in his books those who were underrepresented in literature. In the Everyone Library decorated with scenes from “The Snowy Day,” “Pet Show,” “Keats’s Neighborhood” and other books, Tinnesz teaches kindergarteners about the well-known author and his impact on literature. Stanley talks to her third grade students about the importance of diversity awards in literature. In 2019, Stanley and her fourth graders evaluated Time Magazine’s 100 Best Children’s Books. Students analyzed the books to see if the characters, authors and illustrators were from diverse backgrounds. They found that more than 40 books only included male main characters and 92 percent of the authors identified as white. There were only five Asian and three Black authors included on the list. Stanley uses those statistics to help her third graders understand the value of diversity awards: everyone should be able to see themselves represented in literature. In the Robert A. Campbell Library at St. Timothy’s, students learn much more than how to find a good book—they build strong literacy, critical thinking and research skills that are necessary to navigate the digital age of information.

Sarah Stanley and Karen Tinnesz in the Robert A. Campbell Library.

S P R I N G 202 2

THE DONOR PERSPECTIVE meet the Morris family

Doris and Bill Morris speak about their giving philosophy.

Bill and Doris Morris, current grandparents to three St. Timothy’s students, have always felt called to give back to Christian organizations. The couple has always been very involved in their church, teaching Sunday School and performing duties as Eucharistic ministers. Despite their hands-on involvement, the Morrises knew there was more that they could do. In 2002, Bill bought his family’s business from his father. The same year he aquired Morris & Associates, Bill began a philanthropic giving program where at least ten percent of the company’s proceeds support charitable organizations.

Learn more about how monies from the St. Timothy’s Annual Fund support the school at www.sttimothys.org/giving/.

Bill said, “one of our abilities is to provide support to Kingdom partners. Each year, we look for about 30 charities to support through Morris & Associates. When deciding which organizations to choose, we pray about it, visit the non-profits and talk to people about their experiences, among other things.” The Morris family first heard about St. Timothy’s two decades ago, when they were moving from

Wilmington to Raleigh. A beloved teacher recommended St. Timothy’s for their son, Billy, who was going into fourth grade. Bill and Doris were encouraged by the school’s committment to the Christian faith and the rigorous academic program, so they enrolled Billy and sent their other children to what was then St. Timothy’s Hale High School. Billy loved every moment as a student at St. Timothy’s; however, the lower school and Hale began its split to two seperate schools. The Morrises decided to send Billy to St. David’s School so all their children would be at the same place. Many years later, the Morris’ daughters, Catherine Hadley and Rachel Hawkey, considered schools for their own children and found the perfect home at St. Timothy’s. As grandparents, the Morrises have been avid supporters of the school. Bill said, “St. Timothy’s is special because of how the school balances faith and education. I have heard so many wonderful things about the school from my grandchildren.” Doris added, “what sets St. Timothy’s apart from other schools in the area is the focus on encouraging leadership at a young age.” With their generous gift to the 2021-2022 St. Timothy’s Annual Fund, the Morrises are making it possible for students to enjoy the many opportunites offered at St. Timothy’s. Each year, the St. Timothy’s Annual Fund provides monies for faculty to invest in professional development opportunities, for upgrading campus facilities to promote a safe teaching and learning environment, and for enhancing academic programs.

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

CL ASS NOTES

2007

2008

2012

Meghan Lord is working to obtain a doctorate of Textile Science at North Carolina State University. In March, she presented an abstract, “Removal of textile dyes from aqueous solution for water sustainability,” at the American Chemical Garrett Pedersen and Justin Barber graduated Society’s Bonding Through Rachel Schwitzgebel ’10 with honors from the Chemistry exposition in married on September 25, University of Cincinnati’s San Diego, CA. 2021 at the Wintergreen College of Engineering Ski Resort in Wintergreen, and Applied Science with a 2009 VA. Garrett and Rachel Bachelor of Science in Civil both attended St. Timothy’s Engineering in May 2021. School and met again years Prior to graduation, Justin later when they began an accepted a position with Analytics Masters program The Walsh Group, Dallas, TX, at North Carolina State where he is now a project University. engineer working on a 40-story luxury apartment building in downtown Dallas. Taylor McKeown and Chris Andrews, who attended St. Timothy’s for kindergarten, got engaged on the St. Timothy’s School campus. The two met in Vaughn Vreeland is the kindergarten, then went Senior Video Journalist their separate ways before at The New York Times reconnecting in high for NYT Cooking. He was school. Chris proposed in invited to Good Morning America during the holiday front of the Marcia Hall season to explain the secret building, where they first met in kindergarten class. to delicious Christmas cookies.

2014

Kathryn Cahill, a senior at Appalachian State University, was selected as the Outstanding Senior

S P R I N G 202 2

2018-2021 representative for the Bachelor of Science in Political Science: American Politics concentration. Email alumni@ sttimothys.org Each year, faculty in the Fill out the form on the Government & Justice Studies Department website select a graduating Reach out on social senior who demonstrates media outstanding performance and dedication within their concentration, and who ranks among the top of their peers in the department.

Send Us Your News!

Kathryn will graduate in May with a major in Political Science with an American Politics concentration and a minor in Criminal Justice.

Anne Dougherty ’19, Kate Hansen ’20, Ava Lurie ’21, Abby Melton ’18, Matthew Bain ’19 and Alex Kilani ’19 participated in Cardinal Gibbons High School’s rendition of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Abby played the ﬂute in the orchestra; Anne acted and was a part of the wardrobe crew; and Matthew, Alex, Kate and Ava played various characters.

2017

Faculty News

Stephen Vanyo graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School last May. During high school, he was a member of the National Honor Society and on the A Honor Roll all four years. Stephen played on the freshman and JV football teams, was a member of both the Lancer Club and Biology Club and volunteered at A Place at the Table.

Michaela Iiames, Lower School Science Lab teacher, attended her son’s wedding on January 27, 2022. AJ and MacKenzie were married on the beach in the Bahamas.

STS Athletic Director, married his fiance, Lauren, on April 9, 2022. The couple celebrated their wedding in Las Vegas, NV with several St. Timothy’s teachers in attendence.

In Memoriam

Lynley Travis Whitley ’85 passed away peacefully on Christmas night, December 25, 2021, after battling a devastating injury and ensuing illness. Born July 3, 1971, in Smithfield, NC, Lynley grew up in Raleigh and attended St. Timothy’s School, then Hale High School. After graduating, she obtained a B.A. in religious studies from New York University. Lynley moved to Northern California for nearly three decades, enjoying a successful career and making a family and lots of friends. In 2017, Lynley moved back east to be closer to family. Lynley had a lifelong passion for animals and the natural world. Both tenderhearted and spirited, Lynley was loving, thoughtful, generous, creative, funny, resourceful, hard-working, and savvy.

Stephen attends North Carolina State University and plans to major in biological sciences. Mike McConoughey,

Lynley is survived by her daughter, her parents and her sister.

S T. T I M OT H Y ’ S Magazine

Letter from the Rector I imagine few STS parents have both grown children, the church will continue to love young children and adult children. STS and work towards its continued success. Whether you are a lower school parent However, St. Timothy’s Church must reclaim its (and still your kid’s hero) or a middle primary identity: not as the parent who raised a school parent (when everything you successful child, but as those forever defined and do is a complete embarrassment), we continually motivated by Christ’s commission know that one day, these children will to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. become adults. Yes, they will still be 28:19). our children, but the nature of the relationship between you and them will For this reason, I want to invite you to truly consider coming and being part of what is be different. Your happening at St. Timothy’s adult children may ...come because Church. Please, do not love you dearly, but let’s face just give the church a you see in us a it, they won’t need you in the chance because you have way they do now. church actively a great love for the school. rediscovering who From speaking to those in Instead, come because St. Timothy’s Church who it is called to be in you see in us a church have gone through this actively rediscovering who Christ...a church transition already, I have it is called to be in Christ: who is not satisfied seen two ways parents deal a church setting its sights with “spectators with this change. One is on more than just surviving that their whole life remains a long season of decreasing in the pews,” but wrapped up in their kids. attendance; a church who is is asking God for These parents forever remain not satisfied with “spectators good workers in His in the pews,” but is asking defined by the successes or failures of their children. God for good workers in harvest field. Others have discovered His harvest field (Matthew a new lease on life— 9:35-38). recognizing new opportunities to learn, explore I believe someone reading this article has a new places, and restrengthen their identites as spiritual itch that needs scratching, that God people and as children of God. desires to use you to do His work through your Although I have only been the Rector of St. involvement at St. Timothy’s Church. STS is a Timothy’s Church for three years, I see a very wonderful legacy for St. Timothy’s Church (no similar parent/grown child dynamic between one would deny that) but God is doing new the church and school. In the 1960s, when work and I think he wants you to be part of STS was just beginning, the school had a it. Pray about it (really, I’m serious, pray!) and genuine need for the church to support it, both come on Sunday to tell me what God said. I bet financially and prayerfully. As the school has he is calling you, so why not come and follow grown, the church has been slowly realizing that Him? its “child” is all grown up. Like the parents of

Father Allen Waller Rector, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church

Non-Profit Organization U. S. POSTAGE

PA I D Raleigh, NC Permit No. 2341

ADMISSIONS OPEN FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR Contact the Admissions Ofﬁce at admissions@sttimothys.org to schedule a tour. Applications open in early September 2022.