Vine & Branch 2024

From the Head of School

of elementary-aged children will have jobs that don’t yet exist. How do we prepare our students for that future? That idea is at the core of our conversations with Future Design School, our strategic planning consultants, as we discern ROBS’ new strategic priorities. You can read more about our strategic

Finally, I want to offer my deepest gratitude to the generous donors who contributed to the acquisition of two pieces of property to extend the ROBS campus. As you’ll read in Redrawing our Footprint on page 22, these community leaders have effectively secured a legacy for ROBS that will endure long into the future. As you read these pages, I hope you can see that a commitment to the best possible education for your children – both academically and spiritually –is at the heart of our mission. Ambitious academics rooted in abiding Christian values – that is what remains steadfast in this changing world. Making sure our students know that each one is known, loved, and redeemed by God is the foundation of a ROBS education. This year, which you’ll see on the very next page, we’ve rededicated ourselves to our core values. Because above all, we want our students to know exactly who God calls them to be.

OUR VALUES

Love

Joy

Faihfulness

Patience

Kindness Gentleness Peace Goodness

Self-Control

In fall 2022, the School welcomed a committee from the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest to campus to assess its bid for re-accreditation. The committee members affirmed that our community enthusiastically embraces our ambitious academics rooted in abiding Christian values approach. However, they also noted that the specifics of those values are wide-ranging. The committee recommended the School undertake a community-wide project to articulate ROBS’ core Christian values.

Heeding their advice, we embarked on a yearlong journey of organizational introspection. Through brainstorming sessions, internal surveys, and team meetings, we talked about the values that set us apart as a school—the ones that represent who we are and what we expect of each other.

ROBS’ core identity reemerged. We could see the values that lived in character lessons, awards programs, chapels, the handbook, and banners around campus. Indeed, we had built a signature character program on identifiable spiritual values. They were hiding in plain sight.

By summer 2023, the School formally adopted the “fruit of the Spirit” – which has served as the bedrock of our character program for decades – as its core values.

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

– Galatians 5:22-23

In addition to reflecting the cultural identity that already existed, these spiritual values reflect a collective aspiration. ROBS is a community grounded in Christ’s love for us. As such, we’re given the perfect example of who to be and how to be. Each one of us – student, parent, teacher, administrator –is called to demonstrate these virtues. In living them, we create a culture that reflects the character and love of God. The power lives within each of us and the duty belongs to all of us.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

– Psalm 100:1-2

The Portrait of a Graduate outlines the skills our students exhibit when they leave ROBS. Teaching those skills starts early and involves many. When students learn skills from the foundation up, and when teachers reinforce those skills across grades and classes, that’s called vertical alignment. Peek inside for a look at how ROBS structures research and communication lessons from Kindergarten through Grade 8.

Vertical conversations between teachers across grade levels allow teachers to share ideas, strategies, and resources to align their teaching practices.

< Eighth Grade

• Addition of government databases to list of acceptable sources.

• Students transition to NoodleTools Advanced to organize their notes, sources, citations, and details. Students craft and defend a thesis for all research projects –culminating with their final position paper.

< Seventh Grade Students begin using NoodleTools to generate in-text citations for direct quotes and paraphrasing. Students develop and defend a thesis with supporting details and citations on topics like ancient Rome and the feudal system.

< Sixth Grade • Students transition to online notetaking in NoodleTools Intermediate.

• Students learn about concrete details and use scaffolded templates to record supporting details while studying topics like ancient Egypt, ancient Africa, Japan, and tectonic plates.

ROBS instructional coaches, administrators, and teachers analyze student achievement data longitudinally to identify trends and patterns in student learning. This is done both with standardized tests and in-class performance. This datadriven approach helps educators make informed decisions about curriculum revisions and instructional strategies in order to enhance vertical alignment.

< Fourth Grade • Students organize their Research Notebook by source and are introduced to MLA-style citations as they research famous leaders and explorers. Students defend a pre-written thesis with evidence they’ve gathered.

Vertical alignment ensures a consistent learning progression across grade levels, preventing gaps or redundancies in curriculum, and ensuring forward movement and growth.

< Second Grade • The addition of online encyclopedias to their list of available sources elevates our second graders’ research process when working on their bird books, a right of passage for every ROBS second grader.

Students learn the Independent Investigation Method (IIM), a scaffolded, 7-step approach to classroom research, to conduct their investigation, and use an IIM-organized outline to record their notes. Students move to words-only citations –author and title for books and database name and article author for online research.

< Kindergarten

Students research curriculum-connected topics like the ocean, apples, seasons, and life cycles with books and PebbleGo, a developmentally appropriate online source. Students record facts in their journal and use stickers to identify their source –a book or computer.

Building research skills from the bottom up K st1 2 nd 3 rd 4 th 5 th 6 th 7 th 8 th

Collaboration among educators across grade levels is key to vertical alignment’s success! Teachers communicate frequently to promote coherence in curriculum across the whole school, ensuring that concepts are introduced, reinforced, and mastered progressively.

Preschool, Lower School, and Middle School teams spend several days working together throughout the year to ensure content flow from one grade level to the next. Middle School subject areas may discuss grading practices and standards. Lower School teams may work together to create rubrics, adjust scope and sequence, or workshop an idea for a new project. Preschool teachers may examine assessment data and discuss how to incorporate new teaching practices.

Fifth Grade >

• Students begin notetaking on note cards, using bibliography cards to organize their sources.

• Students use NoodleTools Beginner, an online bibliography software, to generate full MLA citations. By second semester, students craft their own thesis to defend while studying the Industrial Revolution.

MS & LS Instructional Coaches work closely to ensure our fourth graders transition smoothly to Middle School, even giving our fourth and fifth grade teachers time to observe each other.

Third Grade > Students research a famous Texan for an interdisciplinary project integrating library, ELA, social studies, and makerspace. The addition of magazine articles and teachervetted websites as possible sources enriches the available information, and students record what they learn in their IIM Research Notebook, along with citations that include publisher, publish dates, website titles, and full web URLs.

First Grade > Students use books and additional online databases to conduct research for their annual animal project, part of a six-week long interdisciplinary unit on animals. Students learn how to organize their notes into categories like appearance, habitat, diet, and predators –all featured in the book they author about their animal. Students build on their sticker citation by writing “book” or “computer” next to the sticker.

In the last few years, our expanded instructional coaching team has spent more and more time prioritizing vertical alignment as a key component of our programmatic success. Our program is most successful when our curriculum and methods build fluidly on each other –from grade-to-grade and division-to-division. Vertical alignment in education emphasizes a polished, organized curriculum that delivers each student to the next grade level prepared and eager to keep learning.

What this look like at ROBS

Look no further than our robust library program to see vertical alignment in practice. As early as Kindergarten we begin laying the foundation for research skills and practices that our students will use during their time at ROBS –and ultimately throughout their lives. New projects each year add additional layers of depth and understanding to an already-established skill set, promoting growth and higher-order thinking throughout the school experience.

Kindergarten Painted Popsicles

Our Kindergarten artists loved this messy, process-based project that worked their fine motor schools and pattern perception as they added varying types of texture to their popsicle designs. Tempera paint, texture tools, watercolor paint, and neon oil pastels were used to create these delicious masterpieces!

Ellie Hsia

Georgia Brown

Eva Lai George Teague

Six Things to Think About Each Time You Hand Your Child a Screen

Karrie Hilliard, Ph.D., Lower School Counselor

Elizabeth Smith, LMSW, Middle School Counselor

Parenting in the digital age is complex and scary. For better or worse, we tend to parent the way that we were parented, but today’s parents have no comparable technology management blueprint to follow from their own childhood. We are making it up as we go, and the landscape is constantly changing.

Despite the difficulties of researching the longterm effects of an ever-changing and relatively recent social phenomenon, most experts agree that limiting young people’s access to smart phones, as well as other means of accessing social media, is best practice for prioritizing their social-emotional development and health. That is why ROBS encourages our parents to Wait Until 8th grade to introduce personal devices to their children. The mounting social pressure and unrealistic expectations that come with unfettered access to the online world is not only distracting but also quite detrimental to our students. No matter the age of your child, we ask you to consider these six things EACH TIME you hand them a device.

Wait Until 8th is a global movement to delay the introduction of both cell phones and social media to young people until eighth grade. This also includes the messaging features on devices such as iPads and smartwatches. These devices are quickly changing childhood for children. But together, we can help kids be kids for just a little longer.

DEVELOPING BRAIN

Young people’s brains develop in such a way that they have an underdeveloped frontal lobe (responsible for rational thinking and impulse control) and a highly active limbic system (responsible for pleasure-seeking and big feelings). This combination means they have all of the gas without much brake. Add to this the developmentally appropriate stage of being highly motivated to build social connections and earn approval from peers, plus the addictive design of social media, and you have a nearly irresistible attraction to review, post, and engage with material on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, etc. Consequences associated with typical adolescent desires to follow the norms of their chosen group and engage in risky behaviors are heightened and accelerated in the always-on, artificial universe of social media. Bottom line – children’s brains aren’t equipped to handle the online world.

SOCIAL MEDIA

A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that American 13-yearolds are spending roughly 4 hours per day on social media, and 17-year-olds are spending almost 6 hours per day, with girls usually spending about an hour more than boys. Meanwhile, the CDC’s bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey published in 2023 showed that most teen girls (57%) say that they experience persistent sadness or hopelessness (up from 36% in 2011). Boys were at 29% (up from 21%). People are quick to point to pandemic-era

isolation as a cause for the rise in adolescent mental health problems, but social scientist Jonathan Haidt argues that the upward trend dates back to the rise of the smart phone in 2012. Recent congressional hearings shined a light on the importance of shielding kids from inappropriate content, but Haidt points out that even if we could somehow ensure that all social media content were positive, the damaging effects of constant social comparison, loss of sleep, perfectionism, and missed time together with real friends in the real world would persist.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Even if the content your child accesses through their device is benign or enriching, time spent on the device displaces time well spent on other activities essential to their development. Adequate sleep (roughly 9-11 hours for children and adolescents) is one of the most consequential activities displaced by screentime. Although some families may manage to maintain an appropriate bedtime, sleep quality can suffer when screen time precedes bedtime. What’s more, just having a phone charging in the bedroom has been shown to negatively affect sleep! Consider instituting a screen-free period before bed and charging devices out of bedrooms to protect good sleep.

KIDS HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Having all the information in the world at your fingertips can be overwhelming enough as an adult — for a kid, it’s even

With the long-term benefits of your children in mind, ROBS invites all families to sign the Wait Until 8th pledge and commit to prioritizing the socialemotional health of all children. Childhood is too short to waste on a smartphone.

SIGN THE PLEDGE HERE:

more challenging. In addition to the material we’d typically deem inappropriate, there are entire online communities dedicated to negative and self-destructing behavior. If your child gets caught in the wrong algorithm, they can easily get wrapped up in a world of hate, negative self-esteem, and concerning behaviors. Without the life experience and critical thinking skills to help filter information, kids may assume what they view online is safe, normal, or commonplace, even though it’s not.

THE INTERNET IS PERMANENT

Everything anyone posts on the internet is permanent. Content can be deleted, but a screenshot takes a split second and lasts forever. Photos can be traced back to locations and IP addresses. Things can be edited, taken out of context, uploaded to different platforms, or used against you in myriad ways. A good rule of thumb for kids is not to post anything they wouldn’t be comfortable having their parents, grandparents, or teachers seeing. Ask your kids how they’d feel to see their parents post something inappropriate, and remind them that one day their own kids could see their online footprint. Consider, too, impressions made on school admissions committees or hiring managers.

KIDS CAN COMMUNICATE IN WAYS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

By now, most parents know texting, Snapchat, and TikTok aren’t the only ways your kids can communicate on the internet. Online conversations can be compared to

letting a stranger in your front door; you never really know who you’re talking to. As for digital communication with friends (e.g., group chats via iPad), bear in mind that kids may be emboldened to cross lines they wouldn’t think to cross in in-person communication. Fallout from hurtful comments made on group texts, social media apps, and video game chats plays out at school for days and weeks. The impact from these chats is very often counterproductive to students’ healthy social-emotional growth. Parent monitoring of such conversations is not an invasion of privacy because it is a matter of safety.

Parents can learn about the communication capabilities of their child’s favorite games and apps by reviewing a comprehensive list on Commonsensemedia.org

Doodle on a Painting

Inspired by artist Stephanie Corfee, Middle School students experimented with layering, blending, and color mixing with acrylic paint. They also tried their hand at mark-making with different brush types. An interesting twist? Only the primary colors – red, blue, and yellow –were used to create these works.

Catherine Lewis

Abby Leonard

Riley Clarke

Alexandra Brown

Madison Soper

Lucy Rogers

Carly Burgoyne

Emma Ahuja

Redrawing our Footprint

River Oaks Baptist secures 1.8 acres of contiguous property, bringing the campus footprint to nearly 16 acres in the heart of Houston.

“When the opportunity comes to secure land that will never be available again, you take it.”

– Mignon Gill, ROBS Board Chair

Redrawing our Footprint

In an off-market deal negotiated for the better part of 2023, ROBS acquired two tracts of contiguous property. The acquisitions, combined with the 2015 transaction to purchase the property where the Mosing Middle School Building and the Westheimer parking lot now sit, have added about 30 percent more land to the campus footprint over the last 10 years.

Philanthropic Changemakers

Through conversations to explore the feasibility of the acquisition, a handful of community leaders and the ROBS Board of Trustees stepped up to make it happen. A total of 18 trustee gifts and 17 individual gifts enabled ROBS to move forward with the acquisition.

Anonymous (3)

Greggory Fields Burk, Allie Fields, Jay Fields & The Fields Companies

Campo Family

David and Rosangela Capobianco

Nestled in the heart of Houston’s urban landscape, River Oaks Baptist Church has preserved its original campus to serve its biggest ministry: the School.

A growing community

When it opened in 1955, the School had two Kindergarten teachers and 30 students. Now, ROBS serves 916 students from more than 40 surrounding zip codes. “Our central location is an amazing asset, allowing us to attract families from all over Houston. But we’re landlocked,” says Mignon Gill, chair of the ROBS Board of Trustees and longtime church member. Commercial and highrise residential developers vie for the prime real estate neighboring ROBS. “When the opportunity comes to secure land that will never be available again, you take it.”

Master campus plan

A committee of school and church leaders will be working with designers to redraw a master campus plan. The plan will serve as a blueprint for facility development, taking into account short and long-term strategic priorities. See An Eye Toward the Future on page 35 for more information on the strategic planning process.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Carter, Jr.

Elkins Foundation

Scott and Jacklyn Freeman Family

Hildebrand Foundation

Paula and Jonathan Jones

Chelsea and Matthew Pacey

Nancy and David Pustka

Krystal and Garrett Thompson

John A. Turner

Jennifer and Hap Weitzel

Lexie White and Jason Dunahoe

In addition to these contributors, 100 percent of the ROBS Board of Trustees made gifts toward the purchase. The full Board list is printed on pg. 67.

“I’ve always known that God has big plans for the School. Witnessing Him work through the hands of friends in the community to bring this opportunity to fruition is more than I could possibly have dreamed. Their generosity has changed the footprint of the School forever. With them and God’s grace, our future is amazingly bright.”

– Leanne Reynolds, Head of School

Fourth Grade Self-Portrait

Fourth Graders drew inspiration from famous artist Frida Kahlo and her use of storytelling self-portraits to create these shoescape self-portraits. The process began with a direct observation drawing of their shoes…and then their imagination took flight! Artists were encouraged to add additional elements to their work – like a background –that revealed things about themselves. An artist statement also accompanied each work.

Chiba City, Japan Houston

Since 1973, Houston, Texas, and Chiba City, Japan, have been sister cities through Sister Cities International. And since 2017, ROBS has partnered with the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) in a student exchange program. We alternate between sending ROBS students to Japan and hosting students from Chiba City on our campus each year. Both JASH and ROBS are committed to recruiting youth ambassadors that represent the city of Houston well, in Japan and beyond. After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak, ROBS finally sent four students back to Japan for two weeks in summer 2023.

What inspired you to apply to be a Youth Ambassador through JASH?

I really enjoyed learning about Japan in my sixth grade social studies class with Mr. Reynolds. He really made the history and culture of Japan come alive for us. I didn’t know much about Japan before that class, but I quickly became fascinated with the culture. When I found out about this opportunity, I couldn’t wait to experience what I had learned in-person.

How did you feel as you were preparing for the trip?

I was super excited…but definitely nervous. I was most nervous about making a good impression, especially on my host family. I didn’t know if we would be able to communicate easily, which also worried me. I did find out after we arrived in Japan that they had hosted students before, which really eased my mind. They could sense that I was nervous and made me feel so comfortable and welcome, which I really appreciated.

Speaking of communicating, how did it feel to not speak or understand the language? Well, it was pretty confusing. But I think it helped me improve my communication skills in general. When you aren’t able to use words, I found that it really helped to be able to “read” someone. I think it helped me rely on my other senses to communicate, instead of just my voice. I was able to pick up a few words during our few weeks there. I learned how to say “1, 2, 3,” thank you, sorry, and good morning. And I felt so proud of myself when I understood a word or two of what someone else was saying.

Campbell Pacey, ROBS class of 2024, sat down with Associate Director of Marketing & Communications Kara Neumann to talk about her experience.

Meeting the Mayor Youth Ambassadors met with several government officials while in Japan, including the mayor of Chiba City, pictured here. To honor the Japanese cultural tradition of exchanging gifts as tokens of appreciation, ROBS students brought the mayor a Houston Astros tie and received official city shirts in return.

Try that on for size!

While visiting the Chiba City Folk Museum, Campbell donned a replica of traditional samurai armor. Her takeaway? It was super big and very heavy!

Time for School

Youth Ambassadors were welcomed with excitement and fanfare at Chiba Municipal Inage High School/Affiliated Junior High School. Students stayed with host families from the school during the second half of their visit. They are pictured here with their host siblings.

Welcome to Chiba This year’s ROBS Youth Ambassadors Evan Gildea ’25, James Gillett ’24, Campbell Pacey ’24, and Emma Ahuja ’24 are pictured in front of Chiba Castle with their chaperones Mr. Reynolds and Mrs. Atkins.

It’s all in the little victories!

Yeah. And it did help that all the kids from ROBS were experiencing that. We really bonded through that experience. Plus I got to know them all so much better, especially since they were pretty much the only people I understood once we got to the school part of the trip.

Tell me about the different parts of the trip. For the first half, we stayed with our chaperones – Mr. Reynolds and Mrs. Atkins – as a group. We did a lot of touring and sight seeing during that time. And we attended meetings with different people in the Japanese government and community.

Those meetings were really interesting, but also kind of stressful for us. At each meeting, one of the JASH Ambassadors had to give a speech. I gave my speech to the Superintendent of the Board of Education in Japan. I talked about myself, why I wanted to go to Japan, and what I had learned so far. He was so nice to me. And he ended up coming to a few of our other meetings, so he became a friendly face to see in the audience.

Do you have a favorite memory from the sightseeing?

I really liked going to the Tokyo Tower. At the very top we could see out over the entire city. The city looked so big and beautiful from that view.

That sounds great. Any other favorite memories?

Well, I think my favorite part of the trip was going to school. For the second part of our trip, we stayed with a host family and attended a Japanese school with our host siblings. And even though it was pretty much all in Japanese, which was hard to understand, I still loved it. They take English as their foreign language like we take Spanish, so I was able to help out a bit during their English class. They were studying for a conversational oral assessment while I was there, so I got to help the students study just by talking to them!

What was the school like?

The school was kind of different from ROBS because the students generally stayed in the same classroom and the teachers moved around. It was a pretty large campus, but I got pretty good at navigating it after a few days. They had a ton of after-school activities available. I ran track one day and tried hurdles for the first time. I was not very good at the hurdles!

What was your host family like?

My host family – the Kobayashis – were great. One of my

favorite memories from the whole trip was one of my nights with them. They invited their whole family over –grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins – to meet me. Yuki, my host sister, helped me translate so I could talk to them. One of her uncles was a fan of American baseball, so I got to talk to him a little about the Astros. He really liked the Mets. We played a traditional Japanese card game which was really fun. And we made a ton of food. One of my favorite dishes that I tried in Japan was Takoyaki, which is like a seafood stuffed bread that was made in a waffle-type maker. I got to help make it that night and it was delicious. That night was just the best.

Any final thoughts that you want to share?

I just loved experiencing the culture of Japan. I felt a strong sense of community and responsibility while I was there – like everyone has a duty. You can see this responsibility in public places because everything is really well-kept and respected. Plus most everyone I met was incredibly nice to me. I really enjoyed my time there.

How do you feel about studying abroad for a longer time? Would you consider it in high school or would you rather wait until college?

Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I know I’ll be interested.

ROBS is the only school in Houston that sends Youth Ambassadors to our sister city, Chiba City, Japan, through the Japan-America Society of Houston.

So Long, Farewell After two adventure-filled weeks, ROBS Youth Ambassadors bid farewell to Japan and their new friends as they began the trek back to Houston.

An Eye Toward the Future: Strategic Planning with Future Design School

In January 2024, the School engaged Toronto-based strategic planning consultants Future Design School to help us look ahead to ROBS’ next chapter. FDS surveyed parents, faculty and staff, trustees, church members, and alumni to identify areas for growth. Armed with their survey results, FDS visited the ROBS campus in April to meet with various stakeholder groups. A series of visioning and aspirational goalsetting sessions presented an opportunity for FDS and ROBS leadership to think critically about what our community believes to be the strengths

In the coming months, members of the Strategic Planning Core Committee will work with Future Design School to set ROBS’ priorities and strategic direction for the next five years, carefully considering the suggestions and feedback we’ve received from parents, faculty, and students, alike. We are grateful to all community members who shared their time and voice with us during this process, and we look forward to

OUTSIDE FORCES TO CONSIDER DURING THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS:

Top 5 Skills of 2023

• Analytical Thinking

• Creative Thinking

65% of elementaryaged children will have jobs that don’t yet exist. How do we prepare them for that future? We want to equip our students with a flexible skillset that can adapt, adjust, and problem solve wherever the future takes them. With technology like AI rapidly changing the future as we know it, being proactive about how we educate and evaluate our students is more important than ever.

• Resilience, flexibility & agility

• Motivation & self-awareness

• Curiosity & lifelong learning

The fastest growing jobs from 2023-2027:

• AI & machine learning specialists

• Sustainability specialists

• Business intelligence analysts

• Information security analysts

• Fintech engineers

Because of AI…*

• 83 million jobs may be destroyed as a result of the labor market churn driven by AI and economic uncertainty

• 69 million new roles may emerge that are more adapted to the new division of labor between humans, machines, and algorithms

*Source: World Economic Forum

National Writing Recognition

Motivated by our mission, we endeavor to offer ambitious academics rooted in a foundation of abiding Christian values. This year’s Scholastic Art & Writing Award recipients are clear examples of our mission in action. Their award-winning personal essays cover topics like coping with grief, the importance of family, and the value of telling the truth – a clear commitment to our Christian values on display in all their works.

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

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.

Notable past recipients have included Ken Burns, Stephen King, Robert Redford, and Andy Warhol. Our Middle School students participated in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards this year to great success.

Regional Gold Key

Campbell Pacey

Nicholas Laskaris

Regional Silver Key

Bella Phan

Noah Selouan

Morgan Norris

Ava Schwausch

Vivian Connelly

Riley Canonico

Emma Ahuja

Riley Clarke

I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and skill, in understanding and intelligence, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship. – Exodus

31:3

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

– Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Raiders Race to Victory

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. This year, four ROBS teams claimed conference championships.

Conference Champions

Cross Country (Boys 7-8)

Track & Field (Boys 7)

Track & Field (Girls 7)

Track & Field (Boys 8)

Finalist Teams

(second place):

Track & Field (Boys 6)

Football (Boys 8)

HOUSTON JUNIOR PREPARATORY CONFERENCE SCHOOLS

Record-Breaking Accomplishments

ROBS athletes perform at the highest level, as evidenced by the eight school records that were broken this year.

Swimming:

Sackett (Grade 8) | 50 Yard Backstroke

Track & Field:

Fisher Bresnahan (Grade 7) | Discus

Britta McNulty (Grade 7) | Shot Put

Asher Gurr (Grade 7) | 800m

Asher Gurr (Grade 7) | 700m

Asher Bravo (Grade 8) | 1600m

Taylor Synnott (Grade 8) | 1600m

Bennett Thomas (Grade 8) | 800m

The seventh and eighth grade boys cross country team crushed the competition and claimed the conference title by a huge margin. The champions are pictured here with Coach Neighbors and Coach Honn.

Character Award Recipients

2023-24

How do you teach character? Identify what it looks like in practice. Character formation based on the biblical “fruit of the Spirit” is woven into all aspects of the ROBS experience – social-emotional lessons, Bible class, daily devotionals, prayer, and weekly Chapel. Each month, one Middle School student from each grade is recognized with a character award for demonstrating these virtues.

Love Joy Peace

Owen Old (5)

Max Davis (6)

Robert Beich (7)

Ava Schwausch (8)

Ari Akhter (5)

Elena Kang (6)

Evan Gildea (7)

Jack Bresnahan (8)

Max Maat (5)

Noah Chan (6)

Reece Hodges (7)

Jack Pool (8)

Patience Kindness Goodness

Katelyn Wei (5)

Claire Wangler (6)

Zoey Fisher (7)

Zoha Mujtaba (8)

Cassidy Chervanick (5)

Sloan Fenton (6)

Britta McNulty (7)

Nicholas Laskaris (8)

Faihfulness Gentleness

Davis Holcomb (5)

George Gips (6)

Major Roeser (7)

Chase Hollis (8)

“This student has a very kind and patient nature, and always shows patience and understanding even in tense situations on the field and in the classroom. She is a positive influence on everyone she meets and is an asset to any group or team.”

Sienna Foster (5)

Julia Talamas (6)

Abby Gilmour (7)

Sam Wangler (8)

Brock Dennis (5)

Max Vu (6)

Lucy Rogers (7)

Bella Phan (8)

Self-Control

Leah Hilliard (5)

Harris Adams (6)

Harper Wommack (7)

Laura Carter (8)

“This student exemplifies what it means to be a joyful student each day in and out of the classroom. He shows joy while working with his peers, learning something new, or just doing an everyday task. He is someone who simply enjoys the present and the presence of others.”

Back to Brookwood

After a several-year hiatus due to COVID-19, our seventh grade students and faculty were thrilled to return to The Brookwood Community in November 2023. ROBS students engaged with many of Brookwood’s residents in a variety of activities. Worship and prayer, singing Christmas carols, and visiting their art studios were among the favorite experiences. Students also visited the Brookwood greenhouse, where they heard about Brookwood’s annual poinsettia project. Brookwood produces over 50,000 poinsettias each holiday season, providing meaningful work for more than 100 of their Citizens. At the end of their visit, some students even picked up a few things at the gift shop that were handmade or hand-crafted at Brookwood. But the most fun of all? Seeing ROBS students and Brookwood Citizens bond over their mutual love of – who else? Taylor Swift. No matter how different we may seem, it’s always nice to be reminded that in Christ we have a lot in common.

“Brookwood is a perfect representation of God’s love. Everyone in the community knew they were loved and had a purpose in their life.”

- Harper Wommack ’25

“Our trip to Brookwood was truly amazing. Every resident there was full of joy and happiness. I made memories with residents I will never forget! I loved when one of the residents and I shared our love for God. The director knew that everyone there was meant to be famous, and they will forever be famous within the ROBS class of 2025.”

– Hadley Pennington ’25

The Brookwood Community Founded in 1983, Brookwood is a God-centered non-profit residential and vocational community for adults with disabilities in Brookshire, TX. Brookwood seeks to provide meaning and purpose in the lives of adults with disabilities by unlocking their God-given potential and offering meaningful opportunities for their success. 230+ Citizens live or work at Brookwood (or both!), keeping the community’s many enterprises up and running.

Brookwood Director of Community Life Greg Glauser offers some history about the community and gives an overview of the residents and their day-to-day operations.

Students visit the Brookwood greenhouse.

Students spend time in prayer and reflection in the Brookwood Chapel.

GRADUATE of a PORTRAIT CLASS OF 2024

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.

Applications

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

CATCHING UP WITH THE CLASS OF 2019

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 2019.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

STUDENTS FROM THE ROBS CLASS OF 2019

JUST COMPLETED THEIR FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE

Class Notes

1985

Eliza McHard Tenney and husband Nathan welcomed son Samuel Matthias in January 2023.

1997

Richard Howell was named the Executive Chair of the Board of Trustees at Episcopal High School.

1999

Nora Reardon Annunziato and husband Brett welcomed son George Patrick on June 28, 2023. (1)

2000

Patrick Yarborough married Lauren Veillon in November 2023.

2001

Rogers Crain and wife Anna welcomed daughter Charlotte on July 12, 2023.

2005

Emmie Curry Lucks and husband Geoff welcomed son Edward Michael (Teddy) on October 3, 2023. (6)

2006

Lacey Rybarczyk Meehan and husband Evan welcomed daughter Magdalena Mae on March 10, 2023.

Ellen Pellegrin married Jeff Daugherty in Round Top, Texas, in October 2023.

Katherine Kuntz moved permanently to the safari capital of South Africa - Hoedspruit. She is the President & Adventure Specialist of her own travel company Hope African Adventures, curating transformational African journeys that are soul-stirring to her worldwide clientele.

2007

Blakely Hamblin married Andrew Campbell on December 9, 2023.

Kevin Hassenflu married Jordan Jupe on March 15, 2024, in Waco, Texas.

Lauren Rothwell married Jay Dwyer on March 24, 2024, in Fredericksburg, Texas. Bridesmaids included sister Sarah Rothwell Strode ’10 and Rachel Robins Hamblen, Ryan Cranfield, Anna Edelman Watts, and Tori Thompson Robertson, all ’07. (2)

2008

In June 2024, Alex Waits will complete her fourth year of Anesthesia Residency with Baylor College of Medicine and in July 2024 will begin a two year Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and ICU. (4)

Henry Waite married Grace Braun on September 30, 2023, in Los Angeles, California. (8)

John Heard married Jane Towns on March 16, 2024, in Carmel, California.

2009

Rhett Baker and wife Lillian welcomed twin girls Avery and Isabelle on July 1, 2023.

Mia Gerachis is making her Broadway debut performing in the ensemble of Sweeney Todd.

2010

Shelby DuPré married Steven Senter on March 2, 2024, in Houston. (7)

Courtney Favaloro married Eric Tran on October 14, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. (3)

Charlotte Paine married Alec Bucshon on March 2, 2024. (5)

Grace Munford works at Houston Christian High School as a Spanish Instructor, Varsity Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach, and Field Hockey Assistant Coach.

2011

Anne Petrov married Jay Walsh in San Diego in October 2023. (15)

Elizabeth Ducote married Whit Hobbs in September 2023. Josephine Driscoll ’31 served as flower girl.

Grace Notestine married Ryan Hoeffner on October 14, 2023, at River Oaks Baptist Church. (11)

2012

Hannah Herrold married Joseph Beeler on April 27, 2024. The wedding party included Lexie Ammons, Leslie Campion, Isabelle Haugh, and Lauren Panus, all ’12, Hailey Herrold and Sasha Vermeil, both ’14, and Preston Herrold ’17. (9)

2013

Rebecca Noel received her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri. She is working as a reporter for KUHF, Houston’s NPR affiliate.

2015

Matthew Boling ran the third leg for Team USA’s mixed 4x400-meter relay that won a gold medal with a world record time at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

2016

Jesse McMillan qualified for the national championship meet in the pole vault with a Chapman University school record mark. This was the first time in program history that the Panthers were represented at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

2020

Harrison Goytia wrote and directed his short film Mind Over Machine, which debuted in New York City. (13)

Brooks Danile committed to play lacrosse at Wesleyan University beginning fall 2024. (10)

Jackson Herauf played the lead role in Houston Christian High School’s production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Stephen Gill, Grant Petersen, and Billy Wheless were named to the Touchdown Club of Houston’s Preseason All-Greater Houston Private High School Football Team.

Mackenzie Allen will play field hockey for Vassar College beginning fall 2024.

Ben Who was recognized as one of the country’s most outstanding high school leaders by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and was awarded a college scholarship. (14)

2021

Charlie Puckett attended TASIS boarding school in Switzerland last year and participated in a mission trip to Kenya. Charlie worked with a school where they built classrooms, prayed with the students, played sports with them, and spent time sharing life stories. (12)

2023

Winnie Hughes is a freshman at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and was recognized by the Independent School League as an All-ISL selection in field hockey for the fall 2023 season. The ISL is comprised of 15 independent schools in the greater Washington, D.C. area. (16)

ALUMNI LUNCH WITH FACULTY

January 3, 2024

Alumni from the Class of 1994 to the Class of 2023, and many in between, visited campus in early January to have lunch with their former teachers – including many beloved retired teachers who returned to ROBS for the event.

Yearbook Advisor Jan Edwards caught up with Claire Valera ’08, who served as Yearbook Editor during Mrs. Edwards’ very first year at ROBS.

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Alumni Events

WELCOME BACK TO CAMPUS CLASS OF 2020!

ALUMNI CHAPEL

February 7, 2024

In February, we welcomed back members of the ROBS Class of 2020, current high school seniors, to our annual Alumni Chapel service.

Several of our alumni participated in a panel sharing their high school experiences. They also visited with eighth grade students for an all-about high school Q&A session.

ALUMNI HAPPY HOUR

November 15, 2023

Alums of all ages gathered for happy hour at Kirby Ice House and enjoyed a casual opportunity to reconnect with their fellow Raiders.

ALMOST ALUMNI LUNCH

May 20, 2024

The Almost Alumni Lunch traditionally celebrates our eighth grade class as they embark on the next step in their journey. This year, the Almost Alumni Lunch was re-imagined to include eighth grade parents for a very special send-off for our graduates. Attendees heard words of wisdom from Head of Middle School Connor Cook, Director of Spiritual Life Christi DeSpain, and Head of School Leanne Reynolds. Eighth grade parents and students also exchanged touching letters reflecting on their years at ROBS.

ALUMNI PARK PLAYDATE

April 28, 2024

Alumni with young children were invited to a play date at Pumpkin Park. Alumni enjoyed catching up with old friends and making new connections while their children played.

CLASS OF 2020 RECEPTION

May 6, 2024

Every year in late spring, we invite all graduates who are current high school seniors to campus for a reception before they head to college. Members of the Class of 2020 visited with former teachers and administrators, got a kick out of reading their eighth grade time capsules, and donned their college t-shirts for the occasion.

Members of the Class of 2020 loved singing their favorite Chapel songs!

Student panelists

Members of the Class of 2020

Stephen Gill, Patrick Sullivan, Adam Miller Mary Louise Wareing, Sarah Margaret Hill, Emma Chang, Lillian Jones, Julia Bragg

Jenn Harris, Kay MacIntyre, and Martha McDaniel ‘91

Catherine Dick, Wes Kozar, Evie Laskaris, Jack Ritter, Mateo Leal, Joshua Hou, Elise Sanders, and Mabrey Stokes, all ‘23

Meghan, Beau ’24, and Eddy ’95 Blanton

Adrian ‘01, Hayes ’35, Walker ’34, and Lauren Turnham

Austin Weekley, Michael Weekley ’01, Knox Nunnally ’93, and Rowan Nunnally ‘35

Milestone Years of Service

What makes a wonderful community? Almost anyone would tell you – it’s the people. ROBS has been blessed by the wonderful people on this list, who have given a collective 250 years of service to the School. The people listed below are teachers, administrators, coaches, and staff members – all of whom continue to leave ROBS better than they found it. We are grateful that these dedicated members of our community have chosen to share their gifts and their lives with our ROBS students, impacting them for a lifetime.

Joyce Toombs leaves ROBS after 19 years teaching Fifth Grade Reading. Joyce is beloved by her students and colleagues, alike, and received a standing ovation at this year’s Celebration of Service. As Head of School Leanne Reynolds shared, “There are good teachers and there are great teachers. Ms. Toombs represents the greatest among them all.”

10 YEARS

Staci Carlson

Mina Jaco

Gloria Villagran

Gayla Crawford

Mike Kinslow

25 YEARS

Lisa Gilmore Maritza Mora (Maintenance)

15 YEARS

Sarah Graham

Dana Machen

Melissa Mendoza

Melinda Williams

Marco Quiroga (HPD)

30 YEARS

Sharon Reardon

Anne Good retires from ROBS this year after 26 years as Controller. Anne has been a faithful member of both our River Oaks Baptist School and Church communities for decades, and it is bittersweet to see her go. Her colleagues in the business office describe her as incredibly attentive to detail, which has served her well in her career at ROBS. Always prepared at least a month in advance, she has received a perfect audit each year as Controller. Over her tenure, thousands of students benefited from her commitment to the financial health and wellbeing of our School. We are forever grateful to Anne for her many years of dedicated service to ROBS.

35 YEARS

Holly Tindel

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Anne, pictured here with her Business Office colleagues, will be deeply missed.

Raiders on the Road

Retirees Celebrate Lasting Connections

The bonds created at ROBS are boundless. Woven into the fabric of our lives, they shape who we are and who we become. It is not just students who are affected; so are the teachers, staff, and administrators who work at the School. Students spend as many as 12 formative years at ROBS—but some employees serve the School and its students for 20, 30, even 40 years or more.

ROBS employees don’t just work together. They learn together, worship together, pray together, and play together. They celebrate the joy of marriages and the blessings of new babies. They raise their children side by side. They comfort each other through the loss of parents, spouses, and siblings. It’s no wonder, then, that when employees leave ROBS, what they say they miss most is the people.

Missing friends—that was the genesis for a new type of alumni group that came to life during the COVID pandemic. As hope spread that the pandemic would wane, two retired employees devised a plan. Judy Adams and Penny Jackson

worked together at ROBS for decades, wearing so many hats along the way that it would be hard to name them all. Among other things, Judy served as Associate Head of School for Academics, Head of Middle School, and math teacher over the course of 33 years, while over 42 years, Penny taught Middle School English, Latin, and even a few math classes back in the day.

In early 2021, Judy approached Penny with an idea. To combat the social isolation people everywhere were feeling, what if they could make it easier for former employees to connect? What if they could resurrect some of the camaraderie they had cherished at ROBS? Penny was all in. The two joined forces and proposed formation of a group for former employees.

With Head of School Leanne Reynolds’ wholehearted support, Raiders on the Road was born. “The members of Raiders on the Road wrote many chapters of the School’s story,” said Leanne. “Their tireless work and deep faith laid

the foundation for the community, culture, and campus we enjoy today. All of us who love ROBS owe a debt of gratitude to the employees who came before us.”

The inaugural meeting of Raiders on the Road took place in May 2021 with a party at Leanne’s house and a tour of the newly-opened Mosing Middle School Building. The kick-off was a resounding success: Over 70 former employees returned to campus for the celebration. Some have retired; others continue working at other schools or outside the field of education. Some live near the School; others have left Houston to be closer to family.

Former employees traveled from as far away as Dallas, Waco, and the Texas Hill Country, drawn back together by their love for the School and each other. A shared history of beloved colleagues, important school milestones, and humorous events made it easy for people to reconnect, even if they had been apart for years.

Raiders on the Road sponsors about five events per year, from game days, casual cocktail parties, and Houston history tours, to day trips to places like Texas wineries and Schulenberg’s painted churches. Other types of social events may be organized in the future; suggestions are always welcome. Regardless of the activity, the soundtrack of every get-together is laughter. “It’s not that being part of the ROBS community was fun,” said Penny. “It still is fun!”

An unexpected benefit of the Raiders on the Road group is how it engenders continued enthusiasm for the School. Each social media post about an event is met with a flood of nostalgic comments from alumni, past parents, and colleagues reminiscing about their memories of ROBS. It’s a testament to the lasting relationships forged within our community. “Whenever we get together, it feels like a family reunion,” said Judy. “It feels like coming home.”

RAIDERS ON THE ROAD* LEADERSHIP

WANT TO JOIN THE FUN?

Anyone 60 years or older who worked for ROBS for any length of time is invited to join Raiders on the Road. If you qualify for the group and would like to be included in future invitations, please send a note with your email address to Penny Jackson at pjackson4c@aol.com.

BOARD

Judy Adams, Administration (*Facilitator)

Sarah Almy, Lower School

Margaret Brewer, Middle School

Claudia Hutcheson, Staff (*Treasurer)

Penny Jackson, Middle School (*Communications)

Susan McDaniel, Preschool

Kay McIntyre, Lower School

Carter Stone, Preschool

Kackie Dunwoody, Carolyn Kirklin, Margaret Brewer, Barbara Luengas, and Elizabeth Byrd catch up at a party hosted by ROBS past parent Johnny Carrabba.

Judy Adams welcomes over 70 former employees to the Raiders on the Road kick-off in May 2021.

Raiders on the Road Leadership Board members Claudia Hutcheson, Judy Adams, Penny Jackson, Carter Stone, and Susan McDaniel organize events throughout the year.

Adonica Aston, Cate Ebbs, Julie Boone, and Beth Foltz swap stories at Carrabba’s.

“My favorite picture book of the year!”

Stock Your (Book) Shelf for the Summer!

We love our librarians Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Pryor, and Mrs. Martellino – and they want you to love reading! You’ll be transported to a deserted island, the Louvre in Paris, a fantasy land filled with dragons, and more with the books on this list. Our librarians have you set with recommendations for a stellar summer of reading!

“This heartwarming story is perfect for a family readaloud or an independent read for students in grades three and up.”

Mrs. Martellino

Nell Plants a Tree by Anne Wynter

This picture book shows how one little girl’s careful tending of a pecan tree creates the living center of a loving, intergenerational family. The author and illustrator both drew upon memories of the pecan trees of their youth. The illustrations are a powerful example of how art extends the meaning of the text.

The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos

One of my favorite middle-grade novels published this year – it celebrates friendship, community, bravery, and doing what’s right! Butternut is a young rabbit who loves stories, makes friends among the other animals and birds of Milkweed Meadow, and convinces them to help her rescue a litter of orphaned coyote pups.

“Students in grades three and up will enjoy this fantasy adventure!”

Mrs. Potter

The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day

This book takes you back in time to a period of revolutionary change in Paris. Then you travel further back in time to learn about Leonardo DaVinci. The action switches back and forth throughout the book. This is a creative non-fiction read that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end!

The Dragon and the Stone by Kathryn Butler

In this book, twelve year-old Lily McKinley’s brilliant imagination helps her cope with the loss of her father, her grandmother’s worsening illness, and the cruelty of Adam, the bully at her school. One day, she does more than imagine! She’s transported to a fantasy world where her father’s secret history embroils her in an epic quest. With the help of a dragon guide named Cedric, Lily battles evil shrouds, harpies, and other creatures to find her way through grief, rescue the world from evil, and discover the power of redemption.

Mrs. Pryor

The Overthrow (Book 1): Bloom by Kenneth Oppel

“Middle school students will enjoy this powerful non-fiction graphic novel.”

The invasion begins with rain – rain that carries seeds. Seeds that sprout –overnight, everywhere. They bloom – and release toxic pollens. Three kids on a remote island seem immune to the toxic plants. What’s their secret? Can they stop the invasion before it’s too late?

Hour

of Need: The Daring Escape of the Danish Jews During World War II by Ralph ShayneMiddle school students will enjoy this powerful non-fiction graphic novel.”

Hour of Need is a graphic novel that tells the true story of the resistance to Nazi rule in occupied Denmark during World War II. Told from the point of view of a Danish woman returning to the country years later with her grandchildren, Hour of Need is a tribute to the heroes who saved the Danish Jews and how humanity can triumph even in the darkest hours.

“Did you know the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in 1911? I didn’t!”

“Great for grades 6-8 and YA readers!”

ROBS Leadership

2022-2024 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The list above reflects the Board of Trustees from both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. All members listed contributed to the recent property acquisitions. To learn more about our expanding footprint, see page 34.

2023-24 ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Head of School

Leanne Reynolds

Associate Head of School for Academics

Amy Womack

Associate Head of School for Advancement

Paige Martin ‘85

Associate Head of School for Operations

Paul Mayhew

Associate Head of School for Student Support

Deborah Harper

Head of Preschool

Dawn Hanson, Ph.D.

Head of Lower School

Tara Currin

Head of Middle School

Connor Cook, Ed.D.

Director of Enrollment Management

Kealey Johnson

Director of Marketing, Communications & Development

Meghan Blanton

Director of Safety & Security

Chris Baltazar

Contributors: Meghan Blanton, Stacy Breckell, Sarah Graham, Jenn Harris, Melanie Hightower, Karrie Hilliard, Jane Martellino, Kara Neumann, Shelia Potter, Christa Pryor, Elizabeth Smith, Mary Kate Springmann, Liz Wleczyk

Photographers: Three Smudges Photography, Jan Edwards, Bailey Reynolds, ROBS faculty, staff, and parents

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.

Coordinator of Belonging

Barbara Glass

River Oaks Baptist Church Pastor

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.