St. Peter's School (Philadelphia) Bulletin 2014

Spring 2014

Discovery. Innovation. Tradition. Ready.

Bulletin St. Peter’s School

The St. Peter’s Jo Discovery.

Innovation.

Tradition. Ready.

ourney Contents Spring 2014 4 7th Grade Stock Market Project 7 Odyssey 8 Design Thinking 10 What do you see?

14 Congratulations Class of 2014 16 Bon Voyage! Upper School Goes to France 18 Alumni in the World ally Wiggins Turf Field Opening 20 SColor Day 

2 Faculty News In Brief 2 AIS Former President Pat Bassett 4 NVisits 2 St. Peter’s School

5 Meet the new Board Members 2 6 Clubs: New this year!

2 8 The Road Ahead: A New Strategic Plan 2 vents Harvest Festival 0 ECelebration 3 of Light 

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Faculty vs. 8th Grade Basketball Game

tability Today and For The Future 32 SEndowment Giving

St. Peter’s School 319 Lombard Street  Philadelphia, PA 19147 215.925.3963  fax 484.751.0909 st-peters-school.org Photography by Michael Branscom

academic excellence since 1834

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Starting it right.

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The Stock Market Project

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Select a company to research, gather information about the products or services, the history, its management practices, and its review and profits.

Present your research in a written report and oral presentation. This assignment sounds like a syllabus for an economics class. In fact, it is what St. Peter’s Seventh Grade Math students tackle in the Stock Market Project.

Springtime for Seventh Grade Math students: percentages, averages, statistics. Learning these new equations and formulas involve classroom teaching, homework assignments, quizzes, and tests. Instead of moving directly to the next chapter when finished, however, Upper School Math Teacher, Kathy Hadden, presents the class with a project: the Stock Market. Why? Stock analysts use these same basic equations that our students just learned to make decisions on what to buy and when to sell.

Real life applications make the math relevant, showing students the practicality of what they are learning. Students gather data and learn to organize it in spreadsheets to evaluate performance and trends. Incorporated in this assignment is a wealth of practical knowledge and experience: expanding research skills using newspapers and online sources such as Yahoo Finance, presentation

skills – written and oral, learning how companies are managed, how boards works with presidents, how franchises operate, what yield means.

What at first starts as route memorization, X over Y = %, evolves into conversant understanding of use. One of the student requirements is to explain how the stock market works and how their company is managed in their own language, not a memorized textbook example. Students discuss their company’s stock averages, hi and lo of the day, and compare market performance of the NYSE and Nasdaq. They debate how global news might effect the economy and what steps they might take with their holdings depending how situations unfold. Listening to their morning discussion, which includes topics far beyond basic percents and averages, sounds more like a strategic planning meeting in a high-powered office.

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The Odyssey

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scarcely had that island faded in the blue air than I saw smoke and white water with waves in tumult – a sound the men heard, and it terrified the Oars flew from their hands; the blades went knocking wild alongside till t

A renowned classic known for its legends and profound messages. One word – Odyssey – evokes countless legends and interpretations: a long journey, Troy, family, war, the Greek empire, myth, faith. It is a powerful story that remains poignant today even though it was written approximately three thousand years ago. Now, condense this epic into three scenes and present your work to your classmates, teachers, and families; an assignment with unforeseen obstacles in uncharted waters, just like the Odyssey itself.

In Fifth Grade, students read The Odyssey as part of their Ancient Civilizations curriculum.

They read in class, at home, memorize facts such as the many locations visited, names of major and minor characters, and take exams. The real test of understanding is the final assignment. The teacher acts as a coach only, neither a leader nor participant. The instructions are brief: select three scenes from The Odyssey and create a stage play.

Brief instructions, however, belie the complexity of the task at-hand.

With such rich tales to choose from, deciding can be difficult. If you select the famous Cyclops scene, possibly Scylla and Charybdis, and the seminal bow and arrow home-coming scene – would that convey enough of the story to be meaningful to an audience? Do you begin with the sack of Troy emphasizing the start of the journey and how long Odysseus has been away from home? Which scenes and which three scenes does the class agree on as a whole, as a team? Next comes dialogue. Then there are the costumes. What play is complete without sets? Minimalist or expansive? Attempt to build a ship? What combination of these elements best reflects the story as written by the students?

Recreating The Odyssey in Fifth Grade is a complex assignment presenting real world problem-solving for students. Not only are students exercising decision-making, but also group discussion and resolution skills. There are countless questions and decisions demanding students work together to create one play, one vision – practice for any profession, any career they embark on.

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Design Thinking

Homework. Science project. Soccer practice. Piano recital. Need to finish Chapter 7 by tomorrow.

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How to start? Take one piece, tackle the next. Or, stand back. Take the time to assess what the goal is and what resources are available to achieve that goal. Is there one approach? Or several different possibilities. Is the first solution the best? Or, another that works better? As our students progress in school, they will encounter more situations with increasing levels of difficulty and complexity. Design Thinking intends to provide students with the skills to be intentional in their approach and resolution…to anything.

For example, cubbies in Upper School. Anyone who has walked down the hallway cannot help but notice the cubbies, not for any particular reason other than the mess surrounding them; books spilling out, winter coats enveloping two cubbie spaces. Was this perpetual chaotic visual the intentional fault of Upper Schoolers? The Sixth Grade class, led by new Academic Dean Matt Evans, decided to tackle the situation and find out.

The first step: assessment. The universal agreement was that the cubbies were sloppy and unorganized. Off to a good start. But why so untidy? Several immediate answers, “Because we are in Upper School and we are sloppy.”

“Everyone walks through the hallway and bumps into the cubbies. The hallway isn’t big enough to handle the traffic.”

As a group, they took everything out of one cubbie and organized the contents on the floor. Individually, they tried to restack it, this time neatly. Each student attempted, trying a different order. No go. A suggestion: “Do our books even fit these dimensions?” Another suggestion, “What about measuring the cubbie and then seeing if our books fit?” One student measured the cubbie while the other recorded. A second pair measured the books. The answer: no. The problem had been defined; books and bags fall out because the cubbies are too small. Next: Devise a solution. Invent an appropriate storage unit for Upper School, one that can handle everything, even winter coats.

And, they have to fit within the confines of the hallway.

What at first seemed the fault of “messy” pre-teens was in fact unsuitable space. A valuable lesson of taking the time to understand a situation not just from a cursory glance, but from a more complete understanding of the facts. Design Thinking, or perhaps better stated as Intentional Thinking, is designed to empower students with the skills and know-how to embrace problems, work independently and within a group, create sustainable solutions and then implement those solutions. With the access to knowledge expanding daily, our students will be required to know more and more, never less. What Intentional Thinking can give them is how to approach, how to begin to understand, how to solve, and how to improve.

The St. Peter’s Journey

Innovation.

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What Do You See? Take a look through the window. Take a second look.

Now, tell me what you see. Is it a tree? How many shades of green do you see? Other colors? What shapes? The bark?

What is the texture? Shades of brown and grey? What do you see? Brushstrokes? Lines? Different light?

Line. Light. Color. Texture. These four fundamentals comprise the language of Art. It does not matter the style: modern, impressionistic, realism. Art is described using line, light, color, and texture. Prekindergarten Art class is for some their first official class in Art. Elena Matero, Prekindergarten through Second Grade Art Teacher with over 30 years of experience, starts the year introducing these fundamentals of art.

Comparison is a good way to teach fundamentals.

Students look at Monet’s Bridge at Giverny next to a realistic painting of water. Each artist is using the four fundamentals and students learn how to look at art discerning how artists use these fundamentals differently. Significant class time is directed to asking questions so students can develop their own perception of what they are seeing. Most importantly, to take a second look. Take the time to look again. What do you see?

The culmination of the year is the PK Art Show, an annual art gallery opening featuring five projects based on artists and works students studied in the first part of the year: Van Gogh Starry Night, Native American Spirit Pots, Masks, Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers, and Louise Nevelson Sculpture. Ms. Matero has found this age group connects particularly strongly with these artists. As the students work on these multi-step projects, you get to see how they think, how they interpret the night sky and stars, how they see flowers close-up. “You cannot believe what they do,” Ms. Matero says proudly. It is difficult to determine what is more remarkable: seeing the amazing works of art or having a Prekindergarten student explain Van Gogh to you. Come to the show and decide for yourself.

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Line. Light. Color. Texture.

Prekindergarten Art Show

The St. Peter’s Journey

Ready.

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Participate in the Annual Fund

Support the Journey.

27,755,945 minutes devoted to support students, family, and community.

Do you have a minute to support St. Peter’s School?

Support everything that makes St. Peter’s great. Participate in the Annual Fund today.

It only takes a minute!

The St. Peter’s Journey

Discovery.

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Class of Congratulations

“ It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.� William Shakespeare

2014

Eighth Graders will attend the following schools next year: Central High School Friends’ Central  George School  Lower Merion High School  Merion Mercy Academy  Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA)  Springside Chestnut Hill Academy  St. Joseph’s Preparatory School  String Theory School  William Penn Charter

 

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Bon Voyage!

Passport? Check. Itinerary? Check. Luggage? Check. Ready to sp After years of studying French in the classroom, Upper School students embarked on a great journey to France — an eightday trip with an ambitious and exciting itinerary — in February to test their language skills and experience the culture they had been learning about first-hand. To make the most of their tour, each student was assigned one stop to research and then serve as the official tour guide to their classmates and teachers. Looking at the itinerary below, this was no small task; the Bayeux Tapestry, Napoleon’s Tomb, the Castle of William the Conquerer to name a few.

Teachers noticed a significant increase in confidence as students immersed themselves in the culture and language. Using their French, they asked questions and understood the answers. Students navigated city streets by following signs in French.

By the end of the trip, students were comfortable conversing in French and learned a few new phrases along the way.

The experience does not stop on the return to Philadelphia. Additional trips planned throughout the year are intended to keep speaking skills sharp and increase cultural awareness: Trolley Tour of French Influence in Philadelphia, the Sixth Grade Annual trip to a French Restaurant where only French is spoken, the Impressionist Tour at the Barnes, and more.

SUNday 2/9

Arrive Paris!

• 11 am (France time!) arrival Cole ville-Sur-Mer to tour American Cemetery at Nor mandy • Head to D-day Landing Beaches , including Omaha Beach and Pointe-du-Hoc • 6 pm arrive Bayeux hotel

Monday 2/10

• 8 am breakfast at hotel • Board motorcoach for 10 am tour of Graindorge Cheese Factory, Livarot, France. Lunch on own in Livarot • Motorcoach back to Bayeux, walk ing tour pedestrian area Bayeux • 2 pm Bayeux Tapestry Museum Tour • 3:30 pm walk to Bayeux Cathedra l and explore Bayeux •D inner at Creperie

TUESday 2/11

Lodging

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Monday 2/10 Sunday 2/9 and , 23 rue Larcher, lde thi Hotel Reine Ma ance 14400 Bayeux, Fr Saturday 2/15 to Tuesday 2/11 inal Ecoles, 75 rue Card Hotel Des Grandes ris Lemoine, 75005 Pa

• 8:30 am breakfast at hotel • 9:30 am Tour Drakkar Chocolate Factory • 10:45 am Board Motorcoach for short ride to Caen • 11:45 am Memorial Museum Tour • Lunch at Museum’s cafe • 2:30-4:00 pm Walking tour of Caen, including William the Conqueror Castle • 4 pm Board coach for Paris •6 pm Check-in at hotel, unwind, then walk to dinner.

• Evening walk , explore area near hotel, including Sorbonne, Jardins de Luxembourg , famous bookstore Shakespeare and Co., etc.

peak French and French only? There is only one way to find out!

Wednesday 2/12

el • 8 am breakfast at hot tece (ancient Roman Lu de s ene Ar to alk •W nge Market Mo ruins), then to Place see Notre Dame, to e Cit • Walk to Ile de la Conciergerie Ste. Chappelle, and La p at famous Berthillon unch nearby and sto •L ice cream shop, too! t line) to Les Egouts de • 2 pm take Metro (direc Paris (Sewers) for tour the Seine • 4 pm Boat Cruise on de Triomphe c • Walk or Metro to Ar ations at Pot de Terre erv res • 7:30 pm dinner

THURSDAY 2/13

hotel • 7:45 am breakfast at opening am 9 for e alk to Louvr •W Place de la Concorde see , ns rde Ga ies • Walk Tuiler visit to ef bri ), (and ride Ferris Wheel!

L’Orangerie Museum to walk and explore roup divides into three •G Champs-Elysees area in area • Group meets for dinner 5 pm D’Orsay, open until 9:4 see • Walk or Metro to Mu

FRIday 2/14

el • 8 am breakfast at hot e Funicular up hill, etro to Sacre Coeur, tak •M climb dome urist artre, possibly hop on “to • Walk/explore Montm train sightseeing” miniature re unch in Montmart •L

“ We bonded, got to see beautiful places, and experienced French culture. I became more confident speaking in French.

The trip validates I could speak French!”

KARIN HANANEL ’14

FRIday 2/14 CONT

INUED

• Metro to Marais/P lace des Vosges/Pla ce de la Bastille area for walking tou r and exploring • 5:30 pm Dinner Re ser vations Bistrot du Peintre • 8 pm Opera de la Bastille Amphithea ter Show “Arrets De Jeu” (dan ce/acrobat story of 1982 World Cup Soccer loss)

SATURDAY 2/15

• 8:15 am breakfast at hotel • Metro to Eiffel To wer for 9:30 am res ervation to go to top • Walk Champs de Mars, Walk to Inva lides to see Napoleon’s Tomb an d tour Army Museu m • Lunch in area • Metro or walk to Op era Garnier, Tour Op era Explore area includi ng Musee Fragonard Perfume, Galeries Viviennes and Passages Couv erts, Galeries Lafayette departm ent store • 5 pm arrive Musee Grevin (wax museu m) • 7:30 pm Dinner at Hard Rock Café Pa ris • Back to hotel, pack for morning departu re

SUNDAY 2/16

• Breakfast at hotel , private coach to airport for flight ho me • 2 pm Arrive home in Philadelphia!

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1 George Marriner Maull Class of 1960 George Marriner Maull, artistic director of The Discovery Orchestra (discoveryorchestra.org) and public television personality, received a 2014 Emmy Nomination from the New York Chapter of the American Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Discover Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, for Best Education Program/Special. This two-part series investigates the poetry Vivaldi wrote into the score and how these thoughts are musically portrayed. The show has been broadcast more than 400 times on public television stations across the United States and Canada since the premiere on Philadelphia station WYBE in April 2013, and has been seen by more than half a million viewers, according to the Nielsen ratings. The program has already received three 2013 Telly Awards. This is George’s third Emmy Nomination, having also received them for his shows Bach to the Future and Discover Beethoven’s 5th.

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Alumni 2 Michelle Olivia Smith (Young) Class of 1983 After a 22-year career in insurance culminating at the executive level, Michelle recently made a career change and became a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She is excited about her new career and is pleased to affiliate with a highly respected, global company. You can visit her on the web at www.coldwellbanker.com/website/MichelleSmith. No matter where you are in the world, Michelle can refer you to a Coldwell Banker agent in your area, and if you are buying or selling in the state of Virginia, Michelle can personally

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Send in your latest n

handle your transaction. To this day, Michelle values the education received at St. Peter’s School. “It was the firm foundation that led to my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Business and allowed me to climb the corporate ladder and become a Vice President of an insurance company. I am eternally grateful to St. Peter’s School for equipping me with the tools and study habits to meet any academic challenge, including most recently passing the state and national exams for Real Estate on the first try. I know it all started with Declamation, History Studio, Math, English, and even the patience to master Calligraphy.”

Michael Baumholtz, MD

Class of 1986 After 4 years in Philadelphia, Michael decided he wanted to return to San Antonio where he is now in private practice (sacs-SA.com). The warm weather just drew him back!

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Shannon Lambert-Ryan

Class of 1995 This spring, Shannon Lambert-Ryan and her husband, Fionán de Barra of Dublin, will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary and six years of playing music together professionally! Together, the couple co-founded the Celtic Roots band, RUNA, in 2008 and the band now tours nationally. Having just won two awards in the Irish Music Awards for Top Group and Top Traditional Group and an Independent Music Award for Best World/ Traditional Song, the members of RUNA have just finished recording their fourth album and they are celebrating with an Album Launch Show at the Sellersville Theatre on Friday, June 20 at 8.00pm! Come out and join them for this exciting evening! They also performed the National Anthem for the Phillies’ Irish Heritage Night on May 16, 2014!

In the World 3 James Lavino Class of 1987 James was commissioned to compose music for the ceremony dedicating the national 9/11 Museum in New York City. James scored the videos that were shown during the ceremony, and his music was part of presentations made

by President Obama, George Pataki, and Rudy Giuliani.

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5 Adrienne Hertler Class of 2001 Adrienne graduated from UCLA’s MFA Acting program this past May and is now living in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career. She loves Shakespeare. She remembers that her 8th Grade Play was a collection of scenes from the stories of Mark Twain. She was in the Prince and the Pauper and Huckleberry Finn.

She has great memories from that production and believes it is what started her on the path to loving theater.

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ews! SPSClassNotes@st-peters-school.org 19

Life-long memberships you enter as a First Grader. The entire school – teachers, faculty, students, families, and friends – gathers together, typically in early October, to hear the anticipated announcement from Athletic Director, Mr. B. Once every student has joined his or her color, the traditional tug-of-war contests begin to great applause. This was not, however, a typical year. The fire in early July rendered the West Lawn unusable as the Preschool and Prekindergarten classrooms were under construction for several months.

Seeing an opportunity to prepare a more consistently usable play area on the West Lawn, the school researched the possibilities of installing turf. After visiting local and regional schools and conferring with

The Garnets.

The Greys. experts, the decision was made to move forward. St. Peter’s School is very grateful to Sally Wiggins, elementary school teacher, ardent school volunteer, mother, and grandmother for stepping forward to fund the Sally Wiggins Turf Field. An ardent supporter of St. Peter’s rigorous academics, Sally also values the positive impact of outdoor play and recess on student productivity. Rain, snow, or shine, students are able to play on the Wiggins Field in all weathers.

In early February, 2014, St. Peter’s had three reasons to gather and celebrate: end of construction of the Preschool and Prekindergarten classrooms, installation of the Sally Wiggins Turf Field, and Color Day! The old axiom holds true: good things come in threes.

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Sally Wig

gins Turf Field Opening Color Day

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Faculty News in Brief education developed by Carl Orff, and we use his ideas in many lessons at school to foster creativity and learn skills in a very engaging way.  Participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association’s District 12 Fall In-service Conference at Valley Forge Christian College. Sessions focused on choral music for children, advocacy for music teachers, drama in the music classroom, and Orff-based projects.

Matt Evans Academic Dean and Upper School Director  Member of the Accreditation Team for the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools. The 10 Year Accreditation Team for the Sanford School, a PK-12 school in Delaware spent three days on campus talking with students, faculty, parents and administrators to determine the school’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation.

Jess Cronin-Connolly Preschool Teacher, Prekindergarten Math Teacher and Diversity Coordinator  Attended the National Association of Independent School People of Color Conference. A three-day conference with keynote speakers, dozens of practitionerled workshops, extensive affinity group work, and dialogue sessions.  Completing a Master’s Degree in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum.

Courses focused on early childhood math, literacy, and social studies, and a course in ELL instruction.  Attended Diversity in Independent Schools: What Leaders Need to Know  Coordinated and attended the Positive Multiculturalism for Parents and Educators workshop  Visited other schools in the area for professional development

Matt

Kate Seltzer Jess

Early Childhood Division Director

Susan Moore

Kate

Susan

Cathy Mazza Music Director  Attended the Philadelphia Area Orff Schulwerk Association’s workshop for music teachers at Abington Friends School. The workshop, “Playful Process,” focused on exploration and discovery.

Orff Schulwerk is a philosophy for music 22

Prekindergarten Teacher, Reading Readiness Teacher for Kindergarten, and French Teacher for the ECD  Attended Developing a Mindful Child; Penn Program for Mindfulness at the University of Pennsylvania as part of Penn Medicine. “Mindfulness is noticing what is happening inside and outside your body and mind with kindness and curiosity.” Mindful meditation helps children to calm their anxieties, to pay attention, to mange their impulses, and to relax their bodies. Mindfulness contributes to the development of non-cognitive skills, teaches us to listen with our full attention and to know and notice our triggers.

Mindfulness practice teaches children about attention and inner and outer focus using age-appropriate tools.

Lower School Participated in a Math in Focus Professional Development. This Extended Learning Workshop covered topics such as Calendar Math, differentiation, pacing, enrichment, and problem-solving. 

Cathy

Marc Silver

Deborah A. Fluehr, P’07

Music Teacher  Attended the Philadelphia Area Orff Schulwerk Association’s workshops for music teachers at Abington Friends School. The April workshop focused on the Orff process, Italian traditional songs and movement pieces. The September workshop, “Playful Process,” concentrated on the process of exploration and discovery.  Attended Ultimate Frisbee Coaching Clinic at Haverford High School. The workshop reviewed the ethics codes of coaching, liability and insurance, skills and drills, physical conditioning and training techniques, and provided information on programs available in the area for middle school involvement.  Member of Northeast Regional Folk Alliance. This folk music organization focuses on the art and business of a performing artist’s life.

Business Manager  Member of the Accreditation Committee for Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools. The team of eight independent school professionals from this area visited a school over a period of three days. The team prepared a report making commendations and recommendations where appropriate, and recommended to PAIS whether to accredit the school.  Attended the National Business Officers Association Annual Meeting.

The sessions provided information and resources for dealing with the challenges currently facing business officers and also helped us look ahead to future challenges so that we can develop strategies to help keep our schools strong today and in years to come.

Monique Coval French Teacher  Participated in the annual Teacher Immersion Day at Chestnut Hill College. The annual workshop is a way for foreign language instructors from elementary schools, high schools and universities to meet and collaborate together in the target language. Some of the general topics covered pertain to conversation, pedagogy, cultural themes and best practice/student engagement.  Attended American Council on the Teaching Foreign Languages National Conference. The organization is responsible for establishing many of the national guidelines used in the teaching of Foreign Languages.  Visited other schools in the area for professional development

Marc

Debbie

Monique

The St. Peter’s Journey

Tradition.

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Pat Bassett

Former President of the National Association of Independent Schools visits St. Peter’s School!

For two days in March, Pat Bassett, Former President of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) 20012013 met with current families, faculty, and the board to share his vast experience in schools to help our community better understand what we must do to prepare our students for the ever-changing world, in and out of school. Seizing on this rare opportunity to have a leader in education spend time on campus, many came to hear and discuss these important issues.

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New Board Members Linda Jeter Harris Linda began her association with St. Peter’s School in 1972 as a Prekindergarten and Sports Teacher to First through Fourth Grade students. When the school embarked on a capital campaign in the 1980’s, Linda became the Director of Development.

She later returned to the classroom as a substitute which evolved into seven years of teaching Kindergarten until 2010.

James Lavino James is a composer of film music and choral music. He attended St Peter’s from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, graduating in 1987. He is the father of two current students, Olivia 3rd grade and Owen 1st grade.

Sean Cusack Sean is the Senior Executive Director, Development and Alumni Relations Services at the University of Pennsylvania. He is involved in several community services: Trinity Playgroup (TPG) Board of Directors Treasurer 2012-present, President 20102012, At-Large Board member 2008-2010. Princeton Club of Philadelphia Board of Governors Club Treasurer 2013-present, Secretary 2007-2013, At Large Board member since 2003 and member since 1998. Sean began volunteering at Harvest Festival and Auction when his first son started and now has become more involved since both boys are attending: Aidan 3rd grade and Connor, Kindergarten.

Tom Suddath Tom is a partner at Reed Smith LLP, an international law firm, where he specializes in representing clients in white collar government investigations. He and Mollie are the proud parents of Thomas (K) and Emily (PS). Tom also serves as the chairperson of Christ Church Preservation Trust, a non-profit organization that is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the historical buildings and artifacts of Christ Church, Second and Market Streets, Philadelphia.

St. Peter’s School celebrates its 180th Birthday this year.

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woodworking

Innovations.

This Year at St. Peter’s: Clubs!

Getting to meet new friends. Trying something new. Leadership opportunities. How do these come together? During Club Period newly instituted for Upper Schoolers this year.

There is a broad range of material covered in the Upper School curriculum: Math, Science, History, Music, Art, Language Arts. A student’s schedule is prescribed given the rigorous class schedule. Introducing clubs offers students a choice. Choice of subject matter. Choice to do something outside their regular classwork. The same holds true for faculty. In this introductory year, faculty offered what types of clubs they were interested in organizing.

Starting next year, students will lead these activities with teachers acting as advisory coaches.

robotics

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quilting ultimate frisbee

2013-2014 Clubs

clay

Robotics Woodworking Clay Ultimate Frisbee Quilting Rock Band Reader’s Theater Puzzles & Cards

rock band

puzzles & cards

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St. Peter’s School

Feb 2013

2013

Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) established.

Composed of 4 board members, 2 parents, 4 faculty/staff.

Meet every two weeks.

Concentrics Team established.

Expert consultants in school strategic planning. Data collection!

Jan 2013

Mar 2013

2013

Board, Faculty, and Staff Orientation Sessions.

Steering Committee (SC) established.

Intended to represent the school community, this group is composed of the SPC, parents, alumni, faculty, and board members.

Interviewed Key Stakeholders.

Individuals, current families, neighbors, former Heads of School Feeder Schools: Moonstone, Greentowne School Destination Schools: Shipley, Friends Central, Penn Charter, Friends Select Community Partners: St. Peter’s Church, Old Pine Community Center, Lavner Camps

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What is it? A focused, collaborative effort to set priorities and goals.

Strategic Planning Why do it? It is recommended that a school go through this exercise. St. Peter’s is Ready.

2013

Oct 2013

Distributed surveys.

Current Families Students Alumni Faculty and Staff

Strategic Planning Conference.

70 diverse stakeholders – faculty and staff, students, current families, alumni, community partners, board members – meet for 11 hours in 1 weekend.

2013

Summer 2014

Focus Groups.

Current Families; 5 groups Students; 2 groups Alumni; 1 group Board; 1 group

Strategic Plan Approval.

Fall 2014 Strategic Plan Launch!

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Traditions.

Harvest Festival

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Celebration of Light

Faculty vs 8th Grade

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Stability today

and for the future

Linda Jeter Harris has been involved in St. Peter’s School for many years in many roles: teacher, Development Director, board member, and friend. Teaching gave Linda experience with the needs of the classroom, development provided the needs of the budget, board member provided the desire to lead, and most importantly, friend provided the wish to nurture. Supporting the school with a named endowment combined these roles into one: generous supporter.

Staying indoors for a full day was never easy for Linda.

She frequently took her classes outside to take advantage of the environment in order to supplement classroom

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teaching. The benefits of being outside were clear as Linda recognized that students become more interested and engaged in their learning. Embracing green spaces became part of Linda’s standard educational curriculum.

Linda created the Linda Jeter Harris Endowment to encourage all teachers to similarly use green spaces, especially in an urban school, for the benefit of students now and in the future.

If you are interested in supporting the school by naming an endowment or through a bequest, please contact Development Director Karin Morse: 215.297.3099, or kmorse@st-peters-school.org.

The St. Peter’s Journey

Ready.

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St. Peter’s School 319 Lombard Street  Philadelphia, PA 19147 215.925.3963  fax 484.751.0909

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PA I D Pottstown, PA Permit #157

st-peters-school.org

Students on the Move

academic excellence since 1834

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Just a short walk from their classrooms on Lombard Street.

St. Peter’s students on the move to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art.