Vine & Branch Summer 2023

From the Head of School

I don’t know about you, but 2022-23 flew by for me. And as you read these pages, I think you’ll understand why!

Because each year builds on the last, I like to spend some time every summer reflecting on what I learned during the year. Every year presents its own set of challenges and triumphs, and I think it’s clear one of our biggest triumphs was our 10-year reaccreditation with the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and the Accreditation Commission of the Texas Association of Baptist Schools (ACTABS). As part of the accreditation process, visiting committees of private school educators from both organizations spent time on our campus in October. The committee from ACTABS reviewed our spiritual and character programming; I am delighted to report we received high accolades and no recommendations. The ISAS visiting committee looked at every aspect of school life at ROBS. In the committee’s preliminary report, they shared several takeaways with us. My favorite? ROBS stands out, even among the best private schools, for its pervasive feeling of joy. I couldn’t have asked for a better report. And I know that the joy we feel on this campus is because of all of you.

Our students, parents, teachers, administrators, and staff members – God brought each of us here to bring joy and light to each other. And as you’ll see in these pages, that’s exactly what we’re doing. You’ll read about our buddy program which, after a two-year hiatus, was back in full force this year. The look on a Kindergartener’s face while she reads with her sixth grade buddy says it all – we need each other. We crave connection with each other. You’ll see this again as you look at a photo collage of our many community

events. Our Christmas Tree Lighting was one of my favorite moments of the year – I just don’t think there’s anything better than our community gathered together singing about our Lord’s birth. And you’ll understand the pure joy our student athletes radiate as you read about what they’ve achieved together as teams. Joy abounds on this campus, and I’m grateful I get to experience it every day.

This fall we will embark on our next strategic planning cycle. Looking toward the future always energizes me, and I am excited to begin prioritizing the ways we can better nurture, educate, and develop your children. This will be a community-wide initiative, and I look forward to talking with many of you during this process as we dream together about the future of ROBS. I know God has great things in store for us.

As I reflect on this joy-filled year, I am reminded of graduation day for our fabulous Class of 2023. As I was mingling with families in Alkek Plaza after the ceremony, one of our young graduates gave me a huge hug. “I love you, Mrs. Reynolds,” she said emotionally. As always, I am both humbled and honored that you share your greatest gift – your children – with us. And as you read these pages, I hope you’re as filled with hope and inspiration for the future of ROBS as I am. I thank you deeply for being part of our ROBS family. Yes & Amen!

In Christ, Leanne B. Reynolds Head of School

Educating Each Child

Is my child bored in class?

Is she anxious about assignments?

Does his teacher really understand him?

Is she really being challenged?

Our mission at ROBS is to educate the whole child, recognizing that each is uniquely created by God with special qualities and gifts for development. What challenges and excites one may overwhelm or frustrate another. What one finds interesting, another finds boring. Finding that “sweet spot” for each student –work that challenges but doesn’t deter, work that reinforces but isn’t dull – allows us to reach each varied and unique learner in our community in a way that is both meaningful and purposeful.

How do we see this in action? might walk into a PreK classroom and see children engaged in one of our most popular activities –bookmaking. At the Preschool level, we know children move along the development continuum at varying rates and in different ways across skill domains. Teachers are trained to individualize instruction based on careful observations of early academic skills, fine and gross motor development, and grasp of speech and language, as well as the development of social skills. Because each child’s fine motor and early literacy skills are at a different stage, our teachers group students who are working on similar tasks. You see one group working with their teacher, focused on carefully adding details to their illustrations that show where or when the story took place. As the teacher scaffolds their drawing, she helps them develop the three-finger grip they will need for writing, building their fine motor skills. A second group is ready to add words to their books. The teacher helps those children slowly say a simple word, coaching them to listen for the beginning sound, identify the sound, match that sound to its corresponding letter, and then add that letter to their illustration. These children are developing their phonological awareness and phonics skills. A third group of students who have already internalized letters and sounds is ready to write a complete sentence on each page. The teacher shows them how to end sentences with punctuation and helps them stretch out long words to hear each sound. This group is working on grammar and spelling. Every student is growing in the way that’s best for them.

How do we see this in action? You might walk into a fourth grade classroom where students are learning about fractions. As students move into Lower School, pre-assessment and grouping inform instruction. In third and fourth grades, students are assessed on prior knowledge before each new mathematics unit. Based on the results, teachers plan flexible, purposeful groupings to meet their students’ instructional needs. In this room you see a group of students –maybe on the floor with individual whiteboards – who have mastered computational skills and are extending their knowledge by working collaboratively on complex word problems. In a circle at the back of the room you see another group of students – they’re working on their computational fluency through repeated exposure to the content. At the horseshoe table working with their teacher is a third group –these students are working through problems using manipulatives like fraction circles or cubes. Each student in the classroom is working through the material in the most appropriate way for him, surrounded by a group of supportive peers and encouraged by his individual successes.

Did you know?

Middle School core curriculum begins differentiating in sixth grade! Sixth graders are placed in either Math or the faster-paced Pre-Algebra. They are also placed in the appropriate-level Spanish course or Academic Seminar. Differentiated course offerings in seventh and eighth grade include three levels of math, an Honors English option, and an Honors Spanish option.

In Middle School, this philosophy is built into the program offerings. During the key middle school years, adolescents are discovering what excites them, honing their passions, and understanding more about their own learning preferences. With this in mind, we try to give our students, seventh and eighth graders in particular, more ownership over their learning. The elective preference and course placement processes ensure students are enrolled in the classes that best suit their interests and talents.

How do we see this in action? After an introduction to both choir and orchestra in fifth and sixth grades, a seventh grader might decide not to pursue performing arts – she enrolls in painting, Makerspace, maybe a leadership course instead. Another student might discover a passion for the cello that he would not have found otherwise – he enrolls in yearlong orchestra along with a leadership course and robotics, among others. Yet another student discovers a love of singing – she enrolls in yearlong choir and Chapel Worship Team. The many elective choices in Middle School, along with our honors English, Spanish, and math offerings, ensure our students are enrolled in courses that best fit their interests and abilities.

You Never Know Until You Try

At ROBS we believe in giving our students ample opportunities to try new things. While brain neuroplasticity exists throughout our lives, adolescence is a particularly active time of brain growth. Our middle school program is intentionally designed to support this growth by structuring opportunities to try new and varied pursuits.

Research has long touted the benefits of trying something new – it energizes you, stimulates your brain, assuages fears, promotes creativity – the list goes on. But the lasting benefits based in neuroscience might be the most interesting. For the last several years, ROBS faculty have engaged in the study of Mind, Brain, and Education science research (MBE). MBE – a multidisciplinary field that bridges neuroscience, psychology, and education – drives instruction, assessment, programming, and the learning environment, particularly for our middle schoolers. The six central tenets of MBE focus on the unique organization, abilities, experiences, plasticity, connections, and processes of the brain. By better understanding the complexities of the brain, we can develop more robust, engaging, and compelling programming for our students.

In fifth and sixth grades, all students are required to participate in a robust elective rotation, exposing them to two classes not offered in Lower School – orchestra and choir. For most students, the orchestra rotation is the first time they’ve ever picked up their instrument. Patrick Guerrini ’23 was one of those students. He began playing the cello in his sixth grade orchestra class with Dr. Courtney Ruth. While he remembers being excited from the onset, it was Dr. Ruth who really impacted his experience. “Dr. Ruth was very patient and encouraging, and she always kept it fun,” according to Patrick. That first successful year had a lasting impact on his middle school career. He continued performing in the orchestra throughout his time at ROBS, and eventually decided to make it his focus. He now performs first chair for the Houston Youth String Orchestra and will attend Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts this fall in the instrumental program. He’s performed across Houston, at Interlochen in Michigan, and will participate in the Philadelphia International Music Festival this summer. “Playing the cello, and committing to it, has had a huge impact on my life,” Patrick says. And he gives credit where credit is due: “None of this would have been possible without Dr. Ruth.”

Much like Patrick, Suraj Verma ’23 was encouraged to try something new when he found himself in sixth grade choir with Leigh Shipman. Although he was hesitant and unsure at first, he recalls, “I soon fell in love with the class, the music, and how Mrs. Shipman patiently and passionately taught each one of us” Suraj spent the rest of his middle school career in Premier Choir with Mrs. Shipman, performing across Houston–fromSt.Paul’sUnitedMethodistChurchandPasadenaCityHall to the Nutcracker Market and Houston Astros games. He even performed in the ROBS Variety Show this year. “It is because of Mrs. Shipman that I was able to learn, grow, and shine so much in her class over the years,” Suraj says. Choir is what he will miss most about ROBS.

The patience and persistence of our teachers help our students cultivate their passions – and often-times find new ones. Just like Patrick and Suraj, most students can’t imagine their ROBS experience without the thingsthey’vetriedalongtheway.Whenyoutakeariskandtrysomething new, you sometimes find the best thing of all. And your brain is always better for it.

Neuroplasticity – one of MBE’s six central principles – is the brain’s ability to constantly change. Throughout our lives, our brain is continuously reorganizing old neural pathways, creating new ones, and rewiring connections based on new experiences. Our brains crave the type of stimulation new experiences provide, like learning a new instrument, experimenting with a new painting technique, mastering a particular digital code. Ultimately, challenging our brain to learn something new ends up strengthening the pathways that are already there.

Patrick Guerrini gives a solo cello performance at the ROBS Variety Show.

Suraj Verma (left) sings with fellow choir member Joshua Hou during the Spring Choir Concert, where the Premier Choir performed a medley of songs from The Sound of Music.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

What sets ROBS apart is the people, and we love bringing our people together. Communitywide touchpoints throughout the year like the All-School Movie Night, Back-to-School Picnic, and Christmas Tree Lighting offer parents and siblings a space to connect with friends alongside their children.

Meet Senior Pastor Dr. Steve Laufer

In May 2022, River Oaks Baptist Church installed Dr. Steve Laufer as its new Senior Pastor. An ordained Baptist minister for almost two decades, Steve has dedicated his professional life to preaching and teaching the gospel around the world.

Steve brings a wealth of Biblical and theological scholarship to the Church. He received a B.A. in Applied Ministry from Oklahoma Baptist University, followed by a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After pastoring churches in the Rio Grande Valley and Mississippi, he returned to graduate school with fresh questions, obtaining a Master of Theology and a Ph.D. in Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Steve also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Houston Clear Lake.

Steve recently talked about why he became a pastor, the journey that brought him to River Oaks Baptist Church, and some reflections about the ROB community.

WHAT DREW YOU TO THE MINISTRY?

I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, where church was an important part of my life. I planned on becoming a doctor, but I didn’t love my pre-med classes in college. My enjoyment came from helping people. Thinking about the various aspects of the human condition—physical, intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual—the spiritual dimension is often the most neglected. Spirituality can help people who are struggling with hard things like loneliness or poverty or lack of direction. That’s what nudged me towards Christian ministry. There are other ways for people to pursue the divine, but what God did in the person of Jesus is unique.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

I’ve been employed by churches almost continually since I was 19. I started working as a youth pastor nine months out of college. My first full-time church was in Harlingen, Texas. Then I was called to be senior pastor at a church in rural Mississippi. After finishing graduate studies, I returned to Texas to pastor a church near NASA for ten years. Along the way, I have taught and spoken at graduate and missionary schools around the world, in Honduras, South Africa, Thailand, Russia, Colombia, Mexico…. I am also currently working with a partnership between the Texas Department of Criminal

Justice and a Christian non-profit organization that provides theological education and ministry training for inmates at the Memorial Unit in Rosharon, Texas. I greatly value the diverse range of Christian environments in which I’ve been involved, and I appreciate how the ROB campus mirrors facets of that diversity.

So, I would say the two threads that run throughout my career are the church and education. Knowing the Bible well—understanding its languages, history, and cultures—provides tools that can help all of us practice our faith today as best we can. My goal is to make the faith of the Bible understandable and applicable for the ROB community and beyond.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO ROBC?

After Pastor Martus Miley retired a few years ago, ROBC went through a pastor search process, and identified a candidate for this position. A number of factors led to that connection not being realized, and the repercussions of its dissolution were quite painful for the Church as a whole. It also sent the Church back to square one on its pastor search. Someone from the Church contacted me in the summer of 2021 asking if I would preach one Sunday. I had recently left my previous church, my marriage had ended, and I was wounded, too. That’s how my relationship with ROBC began. I preached a few more times and eventually was offered the position of interim pastor. The interim role allowed us to get to know each other over several months, in a low-pressure way, before the Church offered me the permanent role. It felt like a divine meeting. I think our relationship has been redemptive for both the Church and for me, and I feel very blessed to be here.

OTHER CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN TORN APART BY HOT-BUTTON SOCIAL ISSUES. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR ROBC, AND WHAT ROLE CAN YOU PLAY IN THAT VISION?

My hope is for ROBC to be the healthiest possible version of itself. Our Church is comprised of thoughtful, educated people with varied political and ecumenical views. I think it’s important for a pastoral leader to minimize the political voice within the church. A church is better when the pastor represents the entire congregation, so my goal is to be as apolitical as possible. There’s tremendous value in reminding

THE CHURCH/SCHOOL RELATIONSHIP

River Oaks Baptist School is a mission of River Oaks Baptist Church. The Church founded the School in 1955 to educate the young children of its members. Over the years, the School has grown in size and stature through the support, generosity, and prayers of Church members and School parents, past parents, and alumni. Church members hold a majority of the seats on the School’s Board of Trustees, and the Senior Pastor of the Church holds an ex-officio position on the Board. The role of the Senior Pastor, according to School Bylaws, is to provide spiritual guidance to the School and to interview and approve the School’s Bible teachers. Since its inception, ROBS’ Christian identity has been and remains a cornerstone of its mission and academic philosophy.

everyone of the things we have in common. Ultimately, what we share as Christians is far more important than any political or theological issue we disagree about.

All religions have extremists who use religion as a power play. The way to keep Christianity from being commandeered for extreme purposes is to know the Bible well. When people have intense and opposite feelings about an issue, I believe my role is to act as a mediator and a peacemaker. I encourage people to give a gracious ear to those with differing views. We can disagree, even biblically at times, and act respectfully towards each other at the same time. While ROBC will never be all things to all people, I hope we can be as many things to as many people as possible.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ROBC TO A ROBS FAMILY?

Baptist churches have certain things in common. We govern ourselves, meaning the members make the decisions on matters large and small (including who is called as the pastor). We believe in symbolic sacraments like baptism and communion. The Bible plays an important role in our faith: we believe it is divinely inspired, written by men, and offers us the best way to know who God is. Perhaps what ROBC is not is just as important as what it is. We don’t fit the “no dancing, no drinking” Baptist stereotype, nor do all our members vote for the same political party.

I think of ROBC as a “boutique” church. Although megachurches have more resources, our small size means every member has personal access to our pastors and other church leaders, and our members know each other. Over the last year, attendance on Sundays has grown from 30 – 40 people to 120 – 140 people. Some new attendees are ROBS employees and School families. Others are longtime members who decided to return after waiting to see what would happen after the many challenges presented by the COVID pandemic and the leadership transition. To any ROBS family who may be looking for a church home, I hope you’ll come visit. ROBC welcomes you.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER SPIRITUAL GROWTH WITHIN THE ROB COMMUNITY?

The Church and School are blessed with members who are extremely accomplished—in law, medicine, finance, oil and gas, real estate, and many other fields. I’d like to see us growing faith-filled Christians who want to be both leaders in the Houston community and

servants for the Kingdom of God. One new ministry is an evening worship service in the School’s Blue Box Theatre on the third Wednesday of the month during the school year. Our Youth Pastor Christian Johns is helping with boys’ sports teams at the School, including football, basketball, and lacrosse. I’ve been asked about the possibility of starting a Spanish-language service at the Church. I hope new mission opportunities arise from the relationships between Church members, School families, and the broader Houston community. I’m letting God lead and praying for Him to open doors.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING OUTSIDE OF WORK?

I have two sons: Noah, who’s 20, and Sam, who’s 18. I love music; I even owned a vinyl record store for a few years. My interests include sports, pop culture, food and drinks, and travel. I play beach volleyball and tennis (my dad was a tennis coach), fly fish, watch Netflix, love the theater, enjoy country dancing, and read continuously. The books in my current reading stack include And There Was Light, Jon Meacham’s biography of Abraham Lincoln, Keith Richards’s autobiography Life, and a variety of books on the Book of Revelation in preparation for our fall series at ROBC. I generally try to squeeze as much out of life as possible.

Dr. Laufer prays over the school and church community during the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Alkek Plaza.

Pollock Painting in PreK

Inspired by abstract artist Jackson Pollock and his well-known “drip technique,” ROBS Prekindergarten artists created their own masterpiece. Just like Pollock, students listened to jazz music while they painted to enhance their creativity.

Buddies are Back!

Our buddy program was back in full force this year, following a two-year hiatus due to Covid precautions. Students in grades 4-7 paired with counterparts in grades K-3 for activities throughout the year, including reading, singing, worshipping, and serving.

Kids Meals

The Middle School Student Council, along with Mrs. Breen and Mrs. Wilhide, shared information about the impact of Kids’ Meals during spring Buddy Chapel. Immediately following, Lower & Middle School students worked with their buddies to pack 2,900 sack lunches for Kids’ Meals. There’s no limit to what we can do when we work together!

First and fourth grade buddies celebrated the Christmas season with caroling. Thanks to great music from Ms. McDaniel, the Christmas spirit

Pastor Malcolm Marshall joined us for fall Buddy Chapel, where students sang, danced, and learned about God’s love together.

Sixth grade and Kindergarten buddies enjoyed the beautiful spring weather with some outdoor reading. The Kindergarteners loved showing off the reading skills they worked on all year!

Famous Texans & Games

Seventh graders visited their third grade buddies in their classrooms to hear their famous Texans research and play the games they created. Sharing what you know makes learning much more fun!

Fall Buddy Chapel

Buddy Reading

Through this acrylic technique sampler, students explored the painting techniques of many artists in history, from the masters to new age mixed media artists. Students demonstrated their understanding using techniques like glazing, layering, marbling, and texturing.

Artwork by Lillian Novotny, Eighth Grade

Off the Clock Teachers

When you’re a child, the association between your teacher and your school is so strong that it can be difficult to separate. Seeing your teacher at the grocery store, a restaurant, or even the movie theatre can feel shocking. But then you remember, of course teachers have a life outside of school, of course they don’t live on campus, day in and day out. And then you start to wonder, what else do they do when they’re not here? Well, we know our ROBS teachers are the best in their field when they’re on campus – so it makes perfect sense that the same goes for off-campus. The way our teachers use their creativity, hone their skills, and celebrate their God-given gifts and talents – even when they’re outside of school – is amazing. If you’ve ever wondered how our teachers spend their free time, we’ve found some answers!

Did you know?

Mr. Wrobel performs every weekend with the Music Box Theatre? In addition to being an excellent theatre teacher, he’s also an excellent performer. He co-founded the theatre over 10 years ago and is a three-time Emmy nominee.

8:00 a.m.

Wake up call! Thankfully not nearly as early as ROBS! Just early enough…

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

I teach a high school theatre class most Saturdays, which always energizes me for the day. I love being around the kids, both at this class and at ROBS…they definitely teach me more than I teach them.

1:00-4:00 p.m.

Lunch, nap, and show prep. Then I head to the Music Box. Sometimes people ask me why I keep performing at the Music Box, especially on top of a full-time job. And the answer is I truly love theatre. I believe it can bring people together and closer to God. It helps to empathize with and understand unfamiliar experiences, while also recognizing the shared aspects of being human. So this really motivates me and keeps me engaged.

In the Kitchen with Tara Currin, Head of Lower School

“When I’m not at school, you can typically find me in the kitchen. Baking is very meaningful to me, as it’s a hobby passed down to me on both sides of my family. I feel connected to so many of my family members when I bake, and I love baking – and cooking – for others. My favorite way to spend a Sunday is in the kitchen with my family making Sunday supper. We love choosing recipes that take all day to cook; our favorites usually come from With Gratitude, Johnny Carrabba’s family cookbook. I love those days – music up loud, singing, dancing, cooking, and all of us together sharing one of my very favorite things.”

7:30 p.m.

It’s show time! I’ve had a lot of fun playing many different characters. We did an 80s-themed show once and I played a professional wrestler – think Hulk Hogan meets Randy “Macho Man” Savage – that was a blast! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a show to remind me why I love theatre.

9:00 p.m.

As the show wraps up, I’m always reminded how much I love performing, especially with my castmates (one of whom is my wife!). If we didn’t love performing together, we definitely wouldn’t still be here. Music Box is my performance outlet, and when audiences experience even a single moment of laughter, joy, or connection at our shows, it makes the time and work worthwhile.

Did you know?

Mrs. Currin is a fabulous cook and baker? Her specialty? Cooking up fun, memories, and delicious treats for her friends and family.

< Mrs. Currin bakes a delicious treat with her daughter Phoebe. Phoebe will be a second grader at ROBS next year.

A Saturday at the Music Box Theatre with Luke Wrobel, Middle School Theatre Arts

Mr. Wrobel performs in Feelin’ Groovy at the Music Box Theatre. >

Did you know?

Mrs. McAfee and Ms. Hess work together outside of school?

ROBS brought them together and inspired them to start their own business specializing in personalized paper goods, accessories, and experiences.

Getting Crafty with Meghan McAfee, Third Grade, and Ashleigh

Hess,

Middle School Spanish

What inspired you to start a bespoke, craft-based business outside of school?

Meghan: My dad is an architect and always helped me with my school projects. Learning about exacto knives and spray mount glue then has helped me execute many of my ideas as an adult. As a little girl, my Nana always taught us the importance of handwritten notes. I’ve always enjoyed hands-on, personalized, DIY projects, and now I love making those projects come to life for other people.

Ashleigh: Growing up my house was full of paper, scissors, markers, glue, and paint. The garage was reserved for wood-working and building. My mom painted and made everything out of paper; my dad fixed everything for everyone, made furniture, and worked on tiny toy trains in his free time. My aunts and uncles sent me post cards from their travels, bought me sketchbooks and journals, and took me to see shows! Everywhere there was magic to be seen and something to be created as a result. Inspiration is all around us, and I love that I can use my inspiration to bring joy to others.

On the Court with Leanne Reynolds, Head of School

How did you find pickleball?

I grew up as a tennis player. I played varsity tennis in high school and continued to play competitively in my twenties and thirties until a knee injury halted my tennis career. About 5 years ago my sister suggested I try pickleball in place of tennis. I played for the first time at the Briar Club – and the rest is history.

Do you have a favorite pickleball accomplishment?

I started playing pickleball with a group of 12 at the Briar Club, and eventually our coach suggested we start playing in tournaments. All my wins have been satisfying, but the best feeling is just knowing I can still keep up with all the young people I play against. It’s never too late to pick up a new passion!

What does pickleball mean to you?

Although I don’t compete in many tournaments anymore, I still play 2-4 times a week. It fills all my buckets – it’s a very social sport, which gives me the opportunity to meet many different people. It’s also quite competitive, which I love. And it’s great exercise. If only I could combine pickleball and Bible Study, we’d really be in business.

Did you know?

Did you know Mrs. Reynolds is a champion pickleball player? She’s participated in national tournaments, including winning gold and silver medals at the Amateur Athletic Union’s Pickleball International Games.

< Mrs. McAfee (left) and Ms. Hess (right) combined their talents to start The Studio Gals –bringing all their lifelong crafting dreams to life.

< Mrs. Reynolds and her husband celebrate their gold medal win.

Milestone Years of Service

The following people have given a collective 210 years of service to ROBS, shepherding and educating thousands of children. The consistent finding in education research over the last two decades is simple: teacher quality, above anything else, is the most important in-school factor influencing student achievement. We are grateful that the outstanding faculty and staff members listed below have chosen to share their gifts and their lives with our ROBS students, impacting them for a lifetime.

10 YEARS 15 YEARS 25 YEARS 30 YEARS

Sara Edgecomb PreK Teacher

Darrell Faler Facilities Director

Mary Catherine Sharman ‘94 Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations

Leigh Shipman Middle School Choir Director

Gladys Bertrand Facilities

Geneva Hudson Security

Paul Mayhew Associate Head of School for Operations

Teresa Neighbors Physical Education/Coach

Efrain Vaquera Security

Norma Vigil SAGE Dining

Anne Good Controller

Christi DeSpain Director of Spiritual Life

Khen

Hechanova Website Administrator

Christi DeSpain celebrates 30 years of service at ROBS, where she has served as a teacher in nearly every grade in Lower School, curriculum coordinator, eighth grade Bible teacher, and Director of Spiritual Life, making an indelible mark on the ROBS community.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.”

- 1 Peter 4:10

“Come,

Psalm 47:1

In a life-imitates-art moment, students in Drawing Intensive worked with the grid drawing method to bring their favorite pair of shoes to paper. The drawing turned abstract when students added color using diagonal lines.

Artwork by Bo Hermes, Seventh Grade

Academic Achievements

Motivated by our mission, we endeavor to offer ambitious academics rooted in a foundation of abiding Christian values. How do we measure ambitious academics? Above all else, we look at our students. Our Middle School students participated in several national competitions this year to great success. ROBS students are consistently recognized across a wide variety of platforms for their outstanding work.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

REGIONAL GOLD KEY

Murewa Biyi-

Olaoye

Elizabeth Brantley

Clayton Cox

Georgia Holton

Joshua Hou

Evie Laskaris

Annika McNulty

Jack Ritter

Hanley Sayers

Mabrey Stokes

Suraj Verma

REGIONAL SILVER KEY

Christian Atwood

Emerson Chenevert

Catherine Dick

Sebastian Frantz

Santiago Hanna

Graham Johnson

For 100 years the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program has been regarded as the most prestigious recognition program for young artists in the U.S. Twenty-three ROBS students received national recognition this year. Eighth grade students submitted work to be judged on originality, technical skills, and personal voice or vision.

NATIONAL SILVER KEY

Wes Kozar

Vivian Misso

Blakely Roberts

Lyra Swen

Evan Williams

Lily Zeng

CHESS TEAM TAKES FIRST PLACE!

This spring, ROBS hosted the first-ever Chess State Championships for private and parochial schools. One hundred students from across Texas joined us on campus to play chess. The ROBS Chess team took first place in the grades 1-8 division! Pictured here with their trophy are team members Evie Laskaris, Clay Stokes, Niko Laskaris, Harrison Moore, Carmichael Kyle, Max Vu, and Eleanor Dick.

Annika McNulty

National Spanish Exam

SPANISH 2

The National Spanish Exam is administered to students in grades 6-12, most of whom are in high school. Students are evaluated with others taking the same level of Spanish, regardless of grade level. Gold medal winners place at or above the 95th percentile of students taking the exam. Silver medalists place between the 85th-94th percentile. Bronze medalists score between the 75th-84th percentile.

Christian Atwood, Catherine Dick, Graham Johnson, Evie Laskaris, Mabrey Stokes, Suraj Verma

Lily Black, Sebastian Loebe

Emerson Chenevert, Joshua Hou, Kaitlyn Manning, Thea Popovic, Evan Williams, Lily Zeng

SPANISH 1

Harrison Hadnott

Alexandra Brown, Savannah Petit, Taylor Synnott, Georgia Webster

Madeline Bell, Sloane Blair, Riley Canonico, Emily Hines, Nicholas Laskaris, Patrick Marcoux, Valentina Marks, Vivian Misso, Campbell Pacey, Aashi Pawar, Mac Sayers, Lillian Slania, Bennett Thomas, Will Thompson, Gavin Yue

SPANISH 01

Campbell Bain, Craig Johnson, Conner Lee, Akshay Pandya, George Zhou

Emma Ahuja, Frederick Brooks, Cyrus Davoudi, John Dawson, Will Ebaugh, Evan Gildea, Patrick Guerrini, Santiago Hanna, Grant Hilliard, Reece Hodges, Cameron Johnson, Paul Kartye, Mattie Kathryn Kincannon, Leighton Kuo, Eloise Pannier

Margaret Black, James Chang, Drew Chenevert, Evelyn Donovan, Abby Gilmour, Asher Gurr, Leah Hadnott, Avery Hofstetter, Kai Hofstetter, Edward Kang, Elle Kohlhausen, Amelia Marcoux, London McMillion, Britta McNulty, Maddox Morris, Finn Parker, Jackson Pierce, Adriana Popovic, Jushin Sidhu, Luke Trahan, Neeraj Verma, Samuel Wangler, Emory Williams, Ava Wood, London Wu

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

-Edgar Degas

Inspired by contemporary painter Sari Shryack, students in Painting Intensive put their understanding of color mixing and value into practice to create groovy disco balls.

Love You, Poppy

Middle School Student Council President, pictured below, submitted the following personal essay to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, earning a regional silver key. Deeply personal and touching, Graham details the final trip he took with his beloved grandfather, Poppy, and the wisdom he learned along the way.

WHICH COUNTRY’S CAPITAL IS HAVANA?

“Easy!” I thought as our new Spanish unit proved to be unchallenging.

As I read these words on a Kahoot! contained within a bold, violet rectangle, memories of Havana and Poppy flooded my thoughts. I recalled the savory churros topped with melted chocolate. I recalled the vivid colored cars, which bolstered Cuba’s picturesque scenery. And mainly, I recalled the compelling, historical details of my grandfather’s life which he shared with me on the cruise ship, and the unforgettable memories I formed with him before he died.

“Despiértate, wake up!” Profe said.

I swiftly snapped out of my trance and was transported back to Spanish class.

It was the time of year when turkeys lined store shelves and family recipes were reviewed and shared. Yep, you guessed it, it was Thanksgiving, specifically, in 2017. It was finally time for our annual family Thanksgiving vacation!

Disney World: the most magical place on Earth. My nine-year-old self dreamed of spending the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with Mickey Mouse. I continually replayed how I would suggest this family vacation, however, I faced a dilemma. Two months prior, Poppy, my grandfather, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, an illness that stiffened his lungs and forced his heart to work harder to provide more blood and oxygen to his body. His doctor said he had approximately two years to live. I realized that maneuvering through Magic Kingdom’s one-hundred and seven acres may not be the ideal vacation for him, a person on oxygen, and at times, one that required the use of a scooter. Instead of choosing the Thanksgiving vacation, I asked Poppy one evening where he would love to travel.

“Mimi and I have traveled the globe, but we have never visited Cuba!” Poppy exclaimed.

I brought this travel suggestion to my parents as Thanksgiving Day drew closer. They loved the idea and researched ways to visit. Due to the recent lifting of the US embargo, American citizens were finally able to visit Cuba. However, the caveat was the sole option of traveling via cruise ship. Despite my hesitation towards a cruise ship vacation, my compassion for Poppy surpassed any uncertainty.

In Miami, boarding the Royal Caribbean cruise ship, we rocked in sync with waves incoming from other ships advancing towards the aged dock. Approaching the ship, its imposing blue and white logo blinded me. The waves struck the dock’s legs, the splash inserting my mouth, which left a salty stain on my tongue. Finally on the ship, the fragrant odor of sweet desserts on display contrasted the briny aroma of saltwater from the dock. Moments later, the abrupt swing of the ship signaled our departure. The ship slid through the sea gently, sounding like a prolonged whisper. At last, off to Havana, Cuba!

Chocolate, churros, the smell of coffee, all bring me back to the Plaza de San Francisco. The vivid 1950’s cars with sputtering exhausts that amused us were a reminder of the isolation Cuba experienced under Fidel Castro’s violent, oppressive dictatorship. Birds swooped, the sun shone brightly, and the citizens possessed effervescent

personalities that portrayed the optimism and hope they mustered during a dark period in their history. While the parades comprised of men on stilts passed by, we ate the delicious beans and rice at a local paladar, a small, familyrun restaurant in Cuba. When served food in the homes of Cuban families, we were reminded of the Cuban economic crisis that spurred an increase in paladares as families in the restaurant business attempted to hold onto as much money as possible. Poppy’s trip proved so much more than a simple vacation; we gained insight into a country’s history together, hobbling down the cobblestone streets of Havana, hand-in-hand.

As memorable as Cuba was, the true highlight of my trip was enjoying coffee and pastries in the evening with Poppy aboard the ship. Throughout the voyage, Mimi habitually fled to the cabin for sleep before Poppy. She teased his nightly dessert snacking, but it was our secret evening ritual on the trip. Each night, I accompanied him to the outdoor deck for this treat, and we unfolded stories of each other’s lives. Mine included narratives of baseball hits and tennis aces, but his stories varied from his MLB career, reflections on being the first in his family to go to college and beyond, to even walking in one of the Selma to Montgomery marches to exercise his constitutional right to vote. Through this special time with Poppy, I unlocked so many integral details of his life.

It was the funeral. The order was wife, now widow, children, now fatherless, and grandchildren, left without their beloved Poppy. The ringing silence evoked fear and pain as we began shuffling through the isle. Concerned and sorrowful eyes followed. I finally reached the casket. I saw him, still. Death stripped him of life, it stole him from us. Yet even in death, he smiled, snug in his resting place. I smiled and walked to our pew. The lined vivid flowers resembled the ‘50s Cuban cars with sputtering exhausts. The ceremony lasted hours on end with family members sharing his achievements, all of which were shared and bonded over on our voyage to Cuba. These included being the first in his family to attend college, his successful career in public health, playing on the Giants in the MLB, walking in Selma, but most of all, his family. He loved us all so much. Now I understood why family members called him a ‘Renaissance Man.’ The ceremony continued and memories with Poppy flowed through my mind: walks to Ben and Jerry’s to indulge his taste for butter pecan ice cream, car rides in New Orleans to Café du Monde, Mimi and Mom suspicious when inspecting the powdered sugar coating our lips and clothes from beignets when we arrived home, and Cuba. We shared churros, shopped in plazas, and explored most of Havana, and we shared aspects of our lives that we bonded over spanning way after our Thanksgiving vacation. It was then when I realized Cuba represents the outcomes of selflessness and the bond Poppy and I shared. Without thoughtfulness towards Poppy’s illness and his desire to travel to Cuba, the memories forged between us would not have existed, and neither would I have learned of the greatness my Poppy possessed. The ceremony was over. Licking the dried saline water patched on my face, I stood and looked out to him for the final time.

“Love you, Poppy,” I muttered.

Athletic Achievements

Students in grades 6-8 compete against middle school teams in the Houston Junior Preparatory Conference. ROBS is the only school in HJPC to field sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teams in every sport we offer. Of the 11 sports in which we compete, five ROBS teams claimed championship titles!

Conference Champions

Volleyball (Girls 8)

Soccer (Girls 8)

Swim (Boys 6-8)

Track & Field (Girls 8)

Track & Field (Boys 7)

Eighth grader William Fitts is only the second boy in ROBS history to win the HJPC Tennis Singles Championship title!

Finalist Teams

Cross Country (Girls 7-8)

Basketball (Girls 8)

Track & Field (Boys 6)

Track & Field (Girls 7)

HOUSTON JUNIOR PREPARATORY CONFERENCE SCHOOLS

Annunciation Orthodox School

The Awty International School

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

First Baptist Academy

The John Cooper School

The Kinkaid School

Presbyterian School

River Oaks Baptist School

Second Baptist School

St. Francis Episcopal School

St. John’s School

The Village School

EIGHTH GRADE GIRLS GO FOR GOLD

The eighth grade girls volleyball, soccer, and track teams all claimed HJPC conference titles this year – one championship per season for this talented eighth grade class!

Volleyball: Our eighth grade girls entered the HJPC tournament as a #1 seed and defeated Second Baptist for the championship in two decisive sets.

Soccer: Once again, these eighth graders faced off against Second Baptist in the HJPC championship, winning 3-2 in a shootout.

Track & Field: Evie Laskaris, Hanley Carlock, Catherine Hamner, Thea Popovic, and Elizabeth Brantley helped lead the eighth grade girls to their third HJPC conference title of the year. This eighth grade girls team won every meet they participated in for three straight years.

Eighth grader Evan Williams, boys swimming’s MVP, helped the team clinch the HJPC Championship with great swims throughout the season.

Sixth grader Abby Gilmour hurdled past the competition to post the fastest time in the nation for sixth grade girls 80-meter hurdles.

Seventh grader Asher Bravo capped off a stellar track and field season with a first-place finish in the mile event at the HJPC championship meet. Not only did he win the event, he became the first ROBS athlete to run the mile in under five minutes with a record-breaking 4:58 minute performance.

Seventh grader Taylor Synnott, pictured with Coach Neighbors, placed first in the grades 7-8 girls division in the HJPC championship meet. In fact,

Along with the eighth grade girls, the seventh grade boys also brought home the HJPC conference title in Track & Field. The champions are pictured here with Coaches Neighbors and Bell.

ROBS athletes are known for performing at the highest level, and this year was no exception.

“I’m going to miss everything about ROBS, but I think I’ll miss the people the most…my classmates who are going to different high schools, my good friends in the grade below me who will still be here, and all the teachers – I miss them so much already.”

-Joshua Hou ‘23

GRADUATE of a PORTRAIT

CLASS OF 2023 HIGH SCHOOLS CHOSEN

8

5 5 5

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Carnegie Vanguard High School (1)

Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts (2)

Memorial High School (2)

39

Episcopal High School – 39

St. John’s School – 18

The Kinkaid School – 9

St. Agnes Academy – 5

Boarding School – 5

Public School – 5

Other Private – 8

BOARDING SCHOOLS

Episcopal High School (Alexandria, VA)

Middlesex School

Phillips Academy Andover (2)

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School

OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS

The Awty International School Second Baptist School (2)

St. Catherine’s School (Richmond, VA)

St. Thomas High School (2)

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory (2)

ROBS is the only school of its Houston-area peers to have a dedicated office of high school counseling.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

– Benjamin Franklin

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

STUDENTS FROM THE ROBS CLASS OF 2018 JUST COMPLETED THEIR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE

CLASS OF 2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ROBS prepares its students to perform with distinction at the high school level, which is exactly what these students have done. With pride, we share these achievements of ROBS graduates from the Class of 2018.

CLASS OF 2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

11 Collegiate Scholarships

3 National Merit Scholars

4 Collegiate Athletes

58 National Honor Societies

50 Academic Awards

22 Athletic Awards

1 Girl Scout Gold Award

2 Eagle Scouts

28 Service Awards

40 Arts Awards

9 Varsity Team Captains

82 Student Leadership Positions

1 Valedictorian

Class of 2018

Evie Barrett St. John’s School Wake Forest University

Davis Bell

Episcopal High School Texas A&M University

Chandler Black Episcopal High School University of Mississippi

Mitt Black Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

Sewanee: The University Of The South

Sophia Black Episcopal High School University of Texas

Kathryn Bragg

Episcopal High School University of North Carolina

Emily Brennig The Kinkaid School Texas Christian University

Mary Ann Cabes Episcopal High School Southern Methodist University

Michelle Cai St. John’s School Washington University in St. Louis

Calli Colvin

Lawrenceville School Northeastern University

Elizabeth Cox St. John’s School University of Texas

Emma Daves Stratford High School University of Texas

Cooper Davis Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Texas A&M University

Payne Davis Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Texas A&M University

Andrew Debnam Episcopal High School University of Texas

Patrick Fanning St. John’s School Tufts University

Emily Farris Memorial High School Texas A&M University

Alex Finkelstein Episcopal High School Texas A&M University

Kenzie Frazier The Post Oak School Guilford College

Kate Freeman Episcopal High School University of Texas

Susie Girard The Kinkaid School Southern Methodist University

Mitchell Glotfelty Episcopal High School Texas Christian University

Isabella Goytia Episcopal High School University of Colorado - Boulder

Morgan Grace St. John’s School University of Southern California

Cameron Hargrove Bellaire High School

Nyla Hartigan St. John’s School Rice University

Sam Hartland McCallie School Southern Methodist University

Alex Haug ✝ St. Francis Episcopal School

Reed Hightower Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Vanderbilt University

Channing Hill Episcopal High School Texas A&M University

Caroline Holmes Episcopal High School Texas Christian University

Samantha Hoover Episcopal High School University of Texas

Olivia Hopwood Episcopal High School American International School of London

Kendall Howes The Kinkaid School Chapman University

Andrew Hung Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Texas A&M University

Allie Irwin

St. Francis Episcopal School Fordham University

Michael Jeffery

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Texas A&M University

Will Jeffery

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Texas A&M University

Margrethe Jensen Episcopal High School Wake Forest University

Vaughn Johnson

Episcopal High School Baylor University

Cory Kardesch

Episcopal High School University of Texas

Hannah Kothari Memorial High School Bates College

Margaret Anne Krieg

Episcopal High School Baylor University

Charlie Kugle

The Kinkaid School Texas A&M University

Bhodi Langford Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts University of Houston

Meredith Lium

Episcopal High School Texas Christian University

Cannon Low

Episcopal High School Texas Tech University

Isabella Mach Episcopal High School University of Colorado - Boulder

Brooke Martin The Kinkaid School

Concordia University Texas

Scott Martin St. John’s School Texas Christian University

Sophie Martin Episcopal High School Baylor University

Corby Martinez

Lamar High School

University of Georgia

Sam Matthews

Episcopal High School Southern Methodist University

William Mengwasser

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Texas A&M University

Will Moursund

Episcopal High School University of Chicago

Jack Murrell

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Rice University

Anshul Nayak St. John’s School Case Western Reserve University

Sophia Neylon

Episcopal High School Baylor University

Emma Nguyen Memorial High School Texas A&M University

Taylor Nisbet Harpeth Hall Wake Forest University

Blake Noteboom Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Loyola Marymount University

Preston Popov Strake Jesuit College Preparatory University of Texas

Ellie Pratka

Episcopal High School Rhodes College

Brady Ray Episcopal High School Texas A&M University

Baz Rivera Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Cornell University

Peter Sall St. John’s School University of Texas

Joe Schaffer

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory University of Colorado - Boulder

Elise Shu The Kinkaid School Rice University

Jeevan Sidhu

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory University of Texas

Ella Sklar Choate Rosemary Hall Boston College

Elena Small

Episcopal High School

Vanderbilt University

Locke Stanton

The Kinkaid School

University of Texas

Lauren Tanner

The Kinkaid School

University of Southern California

Kate Thomas

Lamar High School

Collin Turbidy

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Southern Methodist University

Reid Turlington Episcopal High School

University of Texas

Austin Underwood

Episcopal High School Texas A&M University

Grace Vallone

The Kinkaid School University of North Carolina

Mathias Wagner

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory Texas A&M University

Elizabeth Wheless Episcopal High School Southern Methodist University

Wells White Episcopal High School Texas A&M University

Harrison Witcher Episcopal High School

Austin Community College

Gyotaku is the traditional Japanese practice of printing fish on rice paper. This practice, which dates back to the 1880s, was used widely by fishermen to record the fish they caught. Third graders turned into professional printmakers as they experimented with sea salt, rubbing alcohol, and watercolor paint to create these unique underwater creations.

Artwork by Ryker Seekman, Third Grade

GRADUATE of a PORTRAIT

RIVER OAKS BAPTIST SCHOOL PROVIDES STUDENTS THE FOUNDATION TO PERFORM WITH DISTINCTION AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, TO BECOME ENGAGED AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS, AND TO LEAD SUCCESSFUL AND REWARDING LIVES BY PREPARING GRADUATES:

To think CRITICALLY, CREATIVELY, ANALYTICALLY, and INNOVATIVELY

To ACCESS, EVALUATE, SYNTHESIZE, and COMMUNICATE INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY

To DEMONSTRATE CURIOSITY, INITIATIVE, and PERSEVERANCE

To develop ROBUST INTERPERSONAL SKILLS including EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, EMPATHY, APPRECIATION FOR HUMAN DIFFERENCES, and COLLABORATIVE WORK HABITS

To UNDERSTAND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, EXHIBIT STRONG MORAL CHARACTER, and MODEL THEIR LIVES ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES.

What does ROBS mean to me? ROBS is an important part of my foundation. The School, along with my family, shaped me as a person and gave me the tools to navigate high school and beyond. There’s more to education than just academics. The faith-based education at ROBS, its focus on character and the Fruits of the Spirit helped me become a whole person. I’m grateful that ROBS helped nurture my faith in God. Not everyone in high school has that foundation. Because of ROBS, I felt completely prepared for my transition to St. John’s.

ROBS was the starting point for all my activities in high school. Early in freshman year, I was elected to Student Council. I learned to overcome my fear of public speaking by participating in Student Council at ROBS. ROBS provided a safe space for me to develop my skillset. I wasn’t afraid of failing or being judged. My love for basketball and track began at ROBS. My very first race was the Turkey Trot, and all those Lap Days paid off. I enjoyed showing prospective families around ROBS as a Good Will Ambassador. As a result, I joined the Tour Guild at St. John’s and eventually served as its chair. Through projects like Kids Meals and the Food Bank, ROBS taught me the value of community service. I carried this passion to serve others into high school, even though community service is optional at St. John’s. I served as an Officer on the Community Service Board.

I think it’s advantageous that ROBS ends in eighth grade. Many of my high school peers were “lifers” who seemed a little hesitant about moving on to college. Having to change schools after eighth grade prepared me well for other transitions. Graduation isn’t “goodbye,” it’s “see you later.” Relationships change and evolve, and you can stay in touch with the people you care about. I’m not stressed about moving across the country, because I’m ready for what’s next.

I’m headed to Yale to study Global Affairs and Spanish. I had only been to the Northeast a couple of times before I visited several Ivy League schools, so I didn’t realize Southern hospitality isn’t the norm everywhere. But I felt welcomed on campus and in New Haven. Yale has the high academic standards I wanted, and it’s a very diverse community. It feels like home.

I have confidence that I can handle whatever challenges come my way, and I attribute that to my family and ROBS. Both constantly reinforced the idea of continuous growth: try, fail, get back up, and try again. That mindset keeps me level. I’m contemplating law or international business after college. Thanks to ROBS, I know I can achieve my goals.

To my ROBS teachers, I want to say:

Thank you for helping me develop my love of learning. ROBS teachers have a passion for their subjects that’s contagious. I also appreciate how welcome the teachers and faculty made me feel. When I started at ROBS at age four, I was the only African American male in my class. I was too young to fully understand what race was, but I could feel people cared about me and I belonged. That made me trust and love ROBS.

(1)HADLEY RIVERS EGGEN

(6)BOBB-CHIKOWSKI WEDDING

(5)EDELMAN-WATTS WEDDING

(7)BUCKLEY-ROBERTSON WEDDING

(8)CRAFT-GREENHUNT WEDDING CAMERON GARLAND '17

(10)CHARLOTTE LOWETH

(2)LEVI JAME TRAUBER(3)FINLEY MARGARET WHITE

(4)SELLINGSLOH-BROWN WEDDING

Class Notes

1999

Fritz Eggen and wife Deisy welcomed daughter Hadley Rivers on November 29, 2022. (1)

2001

Joe Sharman graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business.

2004

Richard Campo was named Manager of Real Estate Investments at Camden Property Trust with a focus on the Phoenix, Arizona, market.

Whitney Easterling Sharman joined Greenwood King Properties as an Associate Realtor.

2005

Matthew Trauber and wife Ashley welcomed son Levi Jame on October 1, 2023. (2)

2006

Alston Edwards White, husband Jordan, and big sister Emory welcomed Finley Margaret on November 27, 2022. (3)

2007

Laura Sellingsloh married Christian Brown on March 18, 2023, in Houston. Kelly Bernard ’06 served as Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids included Kelsey Drusch Gilliam, Rachel Robins Hamblen, Tori Thompson Robertson, Kate Sanford, and Anna Edelman Watts, all ’07. Zoe Gerachis Dobb ’07 served in the house party. (4)

Anna Edelman married Jacob Watts on April 29, 2023, in Austin. The wedding party included sisters Lynn Edelman Gordon and Ellen Edelman Ross ’02 and Laura Sellingsloh Brown, Rachel Robins Hamblin, and Lauren Rothwell, all ’07. Nephew Henry Gordon ’31 served as ringbearer and niece Olivia Gordon ’33 as flower girl.(5)

Lauren Rothwell is the Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Benchmark Bank in Austin.

2009

Kit Klaes Hance opened needlepoint store The Courtly Canvas near River Oaks and Highland Village in Houston. The Courtly Canvas offers classes and a wide selection of canvases, threads, and other needlepoint accessories.

Sydney Bobb married Brett Chikowski, of Fairfield, California, on October 1, 2022, in Austin. The bride’s sister Sara Bobb ’12 served as maid of honor. Sydney works for Fidelity Investments and Brett co-owns and operates Middle Way Marketing. The couple currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, with their golden doodle Bo. (6)

2010

Jack Murphy graduated from Chapman University Fowler School of Law with a joint MFA and JD degree. He resides in New York City.

Anna Louise Buckley married Walker Robertson on May 20, 2023, at McGovern Centennial Gardens in Hermann Park in Houston. The wedding party included brothers of the bride John Buckley ’09 and George Buckley ’12, as well as former classmates Sarah Rothwell Strode and Audrey Briscoe, both ’10. (7)

2011

Allie Hughey graduated from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

2012

Allison Buaas works for Margot Robbie’s production company LuckyChap Entertainment.

Caroline Murphy received her master’s degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University.

Hobbes Reynolds currently attends Loyola Marymount University and is pursuing his master’s degree in cinematography.

2013

Madison Carter joined Agile Interiors in Business Development in their new Austin office.

Catherine Craft married Kyle Greenhunt on January 7, 2023, in Dallas. (8)

Jake Schick performed in Brooklyn on November 13, 2022, as part of the NYC Comedy Festival.

2014

David Dickerson is currently training to become an Army Ranger. (9)

2015

William Gordon graduated from Hamilton College and will begin to pursue his master’s degree in finance from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business.

2021

Charlotte Loweth became a U.S. Figure Skating Gold Medalist (10).

2022

Michael Chin was chosen to play on Team USA 15U team this summer.

ALUMNI LUNCH WITH FACULTY

January 3, 2023

Alumni from the Class of 1981 to the Class of 2022, and many classes in between, visited campus in January to have lunch with their former teachers. Graduates visited with longtime teachers like Christi DeSpain and Margaret Brewer, along with many of our beloved retired faculty members who joined us for the event.

Alumni Events

WELCOME BACK TO CAMPUS CLASS OF 2019!

May 1, 2023

Every year in late spring, ROBS invites graduates who are current high school seniors back to campus for a reception before they head to college. Graduates from the ROBS Class of 2019 visited with former teachers and administrators, got a kick out of reading their eighth grade time capsules, and donned their college t-shirts.

Leanne Reynolds, Jalen Bradley, Amy He, and Gay Lee Pearce

“Raiders on the Road” is a group of our retired faculty members who still plan activities to do together.

Members of the Class of 2022

Current ROBS faculty members who are also alumni

Retired teacher Barbara Luengas and Lucas Vaughan

ALMOST ALUMNI LUNCH

April 27, 2023

Almost Alumni Lunch celebrates our eighth grade class as they embark on the next phase of their journey. At a catered lunch in their last month at ROBS, our almostgraduates get to hear what it means to be alum and sport their high school t-shirts.

ALUMNI CHAPEL

February 22, 2023

We were thrilled to welcome members of the Class of 2019 back to campus for a Middle School Chapel service this spring. Several of our alumni participated in a panel sharing their high school experiences. They also visited with the eighth grade students during Advisory to share favorite memories in a smaller setting.

Our group of six students heading to boarding and out-of-state day schools this fall, from left: Elise Sanders, Murewa Biyi-Olaoye, Claire Kapinos, Annika McNulty, Winnie Hughes, and Adam Effendi

Daria Massey, Conlee Hodges, Georgia Holton, and Catherine Hamner

Nine boys will attend SJS next year, from left: Wes Kozar, Suraj Verma, Joshua Hou, Micah Kan, Jack Ritter, Hanley Sayers, Carleton Ritter, Evan Williams, and Graham Johnson

Members of the Class of 2019

2022-23 Leadership

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Mignon Gill, Chair

Katie Stanton ’90, Vice Chair

Kristy Bradshaw

Brian Bravo

Jaime Casas

Josh Davis

Angie Gildea

Brandon Holcomb

Terry Huffington, Emeritus

Jakeen Johnson

Brandt Leibe

Tracy Livingston

Corby Martinez

Mike Poe

Gail Stewart

Crystal Wright

Ex-officio:

Steven Laufer, River Oaks Baptist Church Pastor

Leanne Reynolds, Head of School

ACCREDITATION

ISAS, ACTABS, Praesidium

PUBLICATIONS

Managing Editor: Kara Neumann

Contributors: Meghan Blanton, Melanie Hightower, Kara Neumann

Photographers: Olive Shoot Photography, Jan Edwards, Kara Neumann, Bailey Reynolds, ROBS faculty, staff, and parents

Designer: C2-Studios, Inc.

We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the magazine. If we have made an error, please accept our apologies. You may contact Kara Neumann at kneumann@robs.org regarding the publication.

ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Head of School

Leanne Reynolds

Associate Head of School for Academics

Todd Herauf, Ed.D.

Associate Head of School for Advancement

Paige Martin ‘85

Associate Head of School for Operations

Paul Mayhew

Associate Head of School for Student

Support

Amy Womack

Head of Preschool

Dawn Hanson, Ph.D.

Head of Lower School

Tara Currin

Head of Middle School

Connor Cook, Ed.D.

Director of Admission & Enrollment

Management

Kealey Johnson

Director of Marketing, Communications & Development

Meghan Blanton

Director of Innovation

Brian Mahabee

Director of Safety & Security

Chris Baltazar

River Oaks Baptist School

2300 Willowick

Houston, Texas 77027

713.623.6938

www.robs.org

be the example

Ambitious academics rooted in abiding Christian values

WATERCOLOR TREE

Alight with playful color, the watercolor tree represents the beautiful potential and possibility-filled expanse of a child’s life.

ACADEMIC PATH

Deliberately engineered, research-based, and comprehensive, the School’s thoughtful academic curriculum builds upon itself from grade-tograde, laying a self-reinforcing foundation for students to be ambitious, courageous, resourceful thinkers.

FRUIT BUDS

Growing naturally from the academic path, the fruit buds represent the practice-based, immersive character curriculum that permeates every lesson and action at ROBS. The nine fruit buds known as the Fruit of the Spirit nourish children’s lives well beyond their time at ROBS.

STYLIZED TREE

Fastening together the academic path and the fruit buds, the stylized tree presents a child’s journey through ROBS—the way ROBS guides students toward shaping life direction, forming connections, and preparing them for all that comes next.

LAYERED IMAGERY

Layering the artistry of the watercolor tree with the technological imagery of the stylized tree signifies the School’s commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math—each a priority in our ongoing curricular enhancements and our new master campus plan.