The Peace Crane Project

Peace Crane

Our Kindergarten, PrePrimes, Primes, and 1st Form students (above) and the Hanoi International School students holding their peace cranes in Hanoi, Vietnam (right).

Peace Crane PROJECT

The Peace Crane Project invites all children to fold an origami crane, emblazon its wings with a message of peace, and exchange it with another child elsewhere in the world. Launched after the cataclysmic devastation of the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 and inspired by the use of paper cranes as a symbol of hope and healing in Japanese culture, The Peace Crane Project has become an international force for encouraging the next generation to pursue harmony and peace throughout the world. Since its inception eight years ago, The Peace Crane Project has involved millions of children in 154 different countries and this past fall, Rumsey Hall was proud to join their ranks. Spearheaded by our Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McGrew P'14, '17, the Rumsey Hall Peace Crane Project brought new understanding to this year’s theme We All Belong Here. For a month, our Kindergarten, Pre-Primes, Primes, and 1st Form students partnered with the Hanoi International School located in the heart of Hanoi, Vietnam. As an initiative to honor our school theme and International Day of Peace (September 21), our students spent their recesses, class time, and library time folding origami doves, hearts, and peace cranes to send across the globe to their new friends in Vietnam. The students in IInd Form aided the Kindies counting and sorting the origami menagerie and producing graphs to represent the data they collected. The 1st Formers sent a letter and photograph to the Hanoi students in the hopes of becoming long-term penpals. Then, with some help, our students packaged and mailed their project the 8,100 miles between Washington Depot and Hanoi. Soon after our students shipped off their contribution to the Peace Crane Project, they received a package from the students in Hanoi - a box overflowing with paper cranes. There were enough for each student to take one home and those remaining were distributed around campus to faculty and staff, where they serve as a daily reminder to be kind and open to others, because we all belong here.

FACULTY PROFILE

VAL DI LORENZO P'15, '18 Library Media Specialist

I always say that the “Librarian Gods” had their hands in placing me at Rumsey. I grew up about five miles away from the School, yet never knew much about it. In May of 2010, some friends of mine (parents of both current students and alums) mentioned that the Rumsey Hall librarian was leaving. They put in a good word for me. After I interviewed with Mr. Spooner P'88, '90, '94, he walked me around the campus. I remember meeting some students in the Lower Office who were excited about their performance in the Talent Show the night before. Thinking back, I realize that I didn’t even walk through the library on that first visit! It didn’t matter though; I knew Rumsey was where I wanted to be from the moment I stepped onto campus.

Though I’ve remained as the Library Media Specialist during my tenure at Rumsey, I’ve worn quite a few other hats. I coached when I first started and now am an Advisor, and last spring, I filled in for a dorm parent. These experiences have helped me become a better teacher and person. With the help of others, I’ve done my best to make it a welcoming, productive, and fun learning space for all.

What are three things that the Rumsey community may not know about you?

I spent over two weeks in the United Kingdom during 2019 thanks to a Rumsey professional development opportunity. I was able to partake in "The Library and The Academy", a seminar series offered by Oxbridge Academic Programs. We explored the libraries of Oxford University, and I was in librarians’ heaven. I also traveled to parts of Scotland to meet with friends and fellow educators. – I learned to ski last year at Bromley! – I’ve lived in Taiwan and Beijing.

What was your favorite book as a kid, and why?

Believe it or not, I wasn’t an avid reader when I was a kid. I do remember reading and enjoying Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, though. That book was so different from other books at the time. Now, my favorite genres are realistic fiction and historical fiction. I think it’s important for the students to see that I wasn’t much of a reader as a kid, but I became one – that’s why I’m always trying to plant the seed for students to become readers if they aren’t readers already.

Tell us about the Rumsey Hall Book Fest.

Our first Book Fest program started in 2014. We were going to be utilizing our third book fair vendor in four years because of a variety of circumstances. I had had several meetings with a small group of Rumsey Circle volunteers, and we thought, why not do something totally different? We came up with Book Fest. We envisioned a variety of activities that would change year to year, but that all encompassed a love of books and reading. My goal for Book Fest has always been to get as many people as possible in the Rumsey community talking about books. We had author, Alex London visit our campus as part of that first Book Fest in 2014. We also held our first Book Clubs that year. At the start, I had hoped to have 100 Upper School students signed up for Book Clubs, but we quickly surpassed that number, ending with over 200 participants. All of our Lower School students join a book club. We’ve had well over thirty different book clubs meet each year since 2014. Starting that first year, we had an “in-store” book fair at the Hickory Stick Bookshop just after students signed up for book clubs.

What resources does the Dane W. Dicke Family Library provide for students?

In my ten years at Rumsey, I’ve tried to add something new to our library almost every year. From iPads to audiobooks and ebooks, to ergonomic chairs in The Reading Room, to a document camera, a green screen, Apple TV, a Makerspace (with a sewing machine, duct tape station, and more), board games, a variety of assistive tools (earplugs, magnifying reader rulers, book rests, etc.), a Reading Bike, a “Reading Chair,” and more. I always encourage people to simply ask if they need something. Just last week, a student came in with broken glasses and we had the tiny tool needed to fix them!

Tell us about an event, experience, or interaction during your time at Rumsey that has been especially rewarding to you.

I have so many special moments and memories at Rumsey. One that stands out, however, was the very first time that Upper School teachers announced their Book Club choices at Morning Meeting. That was a brand new program. I didn’t even know if teachers would be willing to take part. They did, of course. I don’t know why I ever had any doubts. Their book club announcements ranged from impromptu to humorous, to competitive, to sincere. Our teachers succeeded in pulling the majority of our students into clubs that year. The program ended up becoming an annual activity. We’re now in our seventh year of Book Clubs.

I feel so fortunate that I was able to teach at the same place where my two sons went to school. Though they’ve both graduated, Rumsey helped shape them into the young men they are becoming.

I always loved listening to Mr. Spooner tell a story. I still remember him telling a story about boats. In certain places they are directed to "leave no wake." In this particular story, Mr. Spooner eloquently compared boats to students, encouraging them to like the boats "leave no wake."

Professionally, I am still in awe of the dedication of our teachers to students and the School, in general. Whenever I come up with an idea, I know that if it’s good for the students and I put it out there, one or more of my colleagues will jump on board to make the program/activity/event work. That’s why we have a huge white birch branch lying on top of a bookshelf in our library!

RUMSEY QUESTIONNAIRE

What are the first words that come to mind when you think of Rumsey?

A special place to learn and grow.

Who are your Rumsey heroes?

Our boarding faculty are my heroes. I marvel at how they are able to juggle so much every day, 24/7, when school is in session. What do you treasure most about Rumsey? The people and the place. After a vacation, I still get excited driving down Romford Road to come back to Rumsey to see the faculty, the students, and the library.

If you were to be given a superlative here at Rumsey, what would you be

awarded? I asked a few of my Library Prefects, and they said, “Most Likely to Travel the World . . . in retirement, of course”!

DEIJ LEADERS Rumsey sat down with faculty members Kim Mandl P'07, '11, '15 and Craig Ough P'23 to talk about the issues of Diversity,

Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

on our campus. How did Rumsey’s initiative towards Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) begin? Where did your involvement start? CRAIG: The kids were telling us they needed more from their experience at Rumsey. They were having conversations about inclusivity and overall awareness regarding the school. These percolated up in different ways, such as Morning Meeting announcements and student led awareness campaigns. Even conversations among the adults indicated there was something missing in the climate of the school. The initiatives led by students wishing for a better community experience regarding multicultural awareness had to be amplified by mentors and school leaders. The foundation of my involvement in DEI really started from my work in community engagement and character <=> Since the writing of this article, the world and our community have been turned upside down. The Covid-19 pandemic began with anti-Asian sentiment throughout the world and we even heard fear and hate speech spread on our campus. Two incredible students from China, Emily Son ‘20 and Miranda Wang ’20, worked with Craig Ough to share a factual and informative presentation about coronavirus that dispelled myths for our greater community. We led two empowering Zoom meetings with VIth and VIIth Form students and several faculty that focused on hate speech and the power of words. Students were engaged and thoughtful in sharing their personal experiences and offered suggestions for how to make our community more inclusive so that everyone truly feels they belong. After the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, we wrote letters to our community on Rumsey’s stance regarding hate. We shared our plans regarding work the school has done and is committed to doing going forward. We received feedback from several alumni after those communications – thank you! Some were rightfully upset and some shared the positive experience they had while they were here. All were willing to jump into the work and help break down our own systems of oppression. As time moves forward and we listen to divisive words and witness violence all around us, we are committed to standing beside those in our Rumsey family and in the world who are pushed to the margins of society, to upend systems and policies that rob them of opportunity and peace. We look forward to hearing more from alumni and to working with our entire community in our antiracist work. – Kim Mandl and Craig Ough of discussion, reflection, and listening to others. About three years ago, I attended the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute as a professional development opportunity to invest in a character and leadership program at Rumsey Hall, as well as improve my Challenge 20/20 community engagement class. The mentors of that program wove diversity and multicultural intelligence in with their character curriculum and lessons about developmental needs and communication skills. I was excited to bring these techniques to our teachers. I offered what I could to faculty workshops that start our term and organized a Character Day which was an exercise in deliberate teaching of character skills, but also cultural awareness and anti-bias. The Challenge 20/20 class certainly was infused with these new lessons, but more importantly the value of giving and receiving feedback. While all of this was going on, education. Middle school students should practice the skills Kim and I worked together, compiling our experiences and

interests in an increasingly organized manner, pushing the time I had a different experience. school to do more DEI work. Eventually, we were asked to Year one was about learning vocabulary, learning about oversee the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force during myself and my lens on life, and feeling honored to be in a place our strategic planning process. full of the most beautiful minds willing to share their knowledge KIM: I think there are many answers to how our initiative and life experiences with me. I studied cultural competency and towards a diverse, inclusive, and equitable school began. I development of identity. I learned about finding opportunities to know that for the last few years, many students approached start conversations with students around diversity and engage me with their own personal struggles regarding diversity. them in activities that celebrate identity. I also learned how to Students who identified “differently” would come to me begin to incorporate racial literacy through those courageous seeking help or understanding around their experiences conversations and activities. Year two was more focused on my here on campus – some of them quite challenging and own identity as a white woman in a space for people of color to be upsetting. Discussion among administrators surrounding the held up and fortified so that they could move through the world need for building capacity in our faculty to discuss with and educate our students about diversity and more importantly equity and inclusion seemed to increase. The Board of Trustees, administrators, and department heads met during a retreat in June 2019 and from that meeting a Strategic Plan for Rumsey was initiated. Several areas of study were determined to be a priority for the school. Craig and I were asked to co-chair the task force on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. While my official journey in diversity education began in the Summer of 2019 I have spent my life amplifying underrepresented voices, being an upstander and an interrupter of bias and hate, and helping support equity and opportunity for all. I work my hardest to make everyone feel welcome and valuable and worthy. Especially those who feel marginalized – for any reason – skin color, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, gender expression, culture, family makeup or socio-economic status. Tell us about the People of Color Conference (PoCC) and your experience there? How will you use the things learned there to improve the DEI efforts at Rumsey? KIM: The NAIS PoCC is committed “to equity and justice in teaching and learning. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership and professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees, with knowledge, skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in their schools, as well as the attending academic, socialemotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students with “full buckets”. I was aware of the space that I was taking up and feeling the need to bring that feeling home with me to Rumsey. I focused my learning on how to bring lessons about leadership and inclusivity into the dorm, classroom, and field. I deepened my understanding of allyship and how to build that skill in the adults and students here at school. Craig and I each went to subject specific anti-bias lesson building workshops in support of building faculty capacity towards our DEIJ initiatives. CRAIG: The PoCC was eye-opening and full of joy; thousands of people came together to share their experiences, offer advice, and be in that place where their voices were heard. My work there was as an ally, engaged in active listening and gathering resources for my students and our diversity initiatives. The professional development I gleaned there is copious, including new strategies to introduce anti-bias education in my math classes and how to enhance student-led initiatives and discussions. The lessons from PoCC will also help steer our teachers toward stronger cultural competency and anti-bias practices, acting as allies and building an inclusive community. This only improves the strength of our school as a safe place to learn. What has been your greatest inspiration so far in this undertaking? CRAIG: My biggest inspiration has been the student led awareness campaigns. I’m amazed by the leadership and passion demonstrated by these students. These have included a gender awareness conversation led by Ellie LaCasse '19, daily announcements duirng Black History Month led by Indiah Kent '19 and Nande Cuba '19, and so many others about discrimination during the pandemic, human ailments, and disability. These steered our school to take a closer look at our overall inclusivity <=> and adults alike.” I have attended this conference twice and each and how way may continue to amplify the student voice.

KIM: Working with students and watching them start to think on their own, question their views and the views of those around them. I love to see students chew on a topic and then have an “aha” moment or be able to justify their opinion. There are students who I have watched learn to trust a few more adults than they used to. Just knowing that a few teachers, administrators, or staff members are there to be a safe haven can make a student’s experience here immensely positive. Several students have become leaders and allies in the work of diversity and inclusion as they learn to trust themselves. That is truly inspirational.

What has been the greatest challenge?

KIM: Patience. Patience is my greatest challenge in all parts of my life, but because being patient in making Rumsey a more inclusive and representative community is so personal and important to me it has been especially hard to “wait”. Some things seem so natural and instinctive to me and I want change to happen right away. I realize and accept that our community is on a journey and that it takes time. Also, knowing that we are moving forward and that our administration and the Board have made the work their priority keeps me feeling inspired and energetic. The bottom line in this work is that we are beyond talk. There needs to be action. Now is the time for action.

CRAIG: Change takes time. There’s an urgency to the work and a need to get everyone boarded as soon as possible. Doing that correctly takes adequate research and planning as it’s about building an overall climate of inclusion and tolerance.

What are your goals for DEI at Rumsey?

CRAIG: Ideally, we need to be an institution that teaches our students to be decent humans, and there are really two pieces to this. There’s the need for ensuring the school’s overarching policies and philosophies are lined with DEI best practices which ultimately leads to greater representation of people on our Board, as school leaders, and as employees. These policies and philosophies need to steer our entire school towards greater cultural competency and continuously aim to reduce unintentional bias. There’s also the need for thoughtful and deliberate planning for students. I envision an enhanced curriculum where kids learn about different cultures in all of their classes. I hope for an environment within which they are allowed to practice conversation, giving them opportunities to hear others and also be heard. There needs to be adequate planning in support of marginalized populations at our school, such as affinity groups and community-wide celebrations. As this grows, there are numerous ways to expand this work to include parents and alumni.

KIM The work of DEI is long and forever ongoing. People are ever evolving and changing. Middle school is one of the places we begin to learn about who we are and who we want to be. We also learn about other people and who they are. It is most important that we learn how to embrace and celebrate the things we each have in common as well as, and almost more importantly, the things that are different and unique about each of us. My goal for the entire Rumsey family, our community, is that we all feel safe, respected and valued. That we are committed to an inclusive mission that teaches social responsibility, justice and cultural competency. I hope we can achieve a school culture where we celebrate everyone’s appearance, perspective, values, and ability. I hope that becomes our living mission.

How can people in the Rumsey community best support the DEI effort?

KIM: Awareness is most important. Recognizing that our community will only be stronger when we embrace and practice DEI is key. Our world will only increase in multiculturalism and it is important for anyone in a mentor or leadership role to build their cultural competency. As we build our own competencies our students will develop stronger multicultural intelligence. Ideally our students will act to make our community a safe place for all to learn. We need to foster a community of learners where students get to practice cooperation, collaboration and most importantly, communication.

CRAIG: The best way for the Rumsey community to help with DEI efforts is for each of us to look at ourselves and be open to opinions and different perspectives. I would like to see us all have the desire to teach all of our students (and help each other) look deeper than the surface, to think critically, to build compassion, become multiculturally competent, and to commit to celebrating everyone’s individuality. We should look outward to increase our understanding, improve our skills, and expertise around DEI, but we also look inward to better understand each other and our different backgrounds. Only then will we truly be committed to the process. The last thing I want to say is that this can no longer be only a DEI issue. We MUST add the J for Justice.

The Francis M. Ryan Indoor Rowing Facility Dedication

Have you ever noticed in the Lufkin Rink the door that has the red and white oar on it?

Have you ever wondered what was inside? Each spring upwards of 40 athletes call that room home. The "erg room", the "boathouse", it has earned a few names. On June 9, 2020, with the blessing of Mr. Ryan's family, Mr. Przygocki, past and current Rumsey rowing coaches and friends, it was given a new name. The Francis M. Ryan Indoor Rowing Facility was dedicated to Mr. Ryan in recognition of his 31 years at Rumsey Hall School. Under the tutelage of Mr. Ryan, Rumsey Crew has developed into an incredible middle school rowing program. Rumsey Crew uses the space to train and learn the rowing technique in the indoor rowing tanks. With a proper space to teach young rowers and coxswains, Mr. Ryan and his coaches were able to develop their athletes' skills and a strong rowing community. As a testament to the impact this program has had on young athletes, banners of several college rowing teams commemorate those students who got their start on Rumsey Crew. • • •

Thank you Mr. Ryan for your dedication to developing the Rumsey Crew program! We all wish you well in your new leadership role in VA.