vision now Dear Friends and Families, I love visiting classrooms, having lunch in my office with the girls in small groups, and engaging in activities with them. I make time each week to be with children and that is what drives me. When you work with girls and young women, you wake up each day with a sense of optimism and excitement about what can happen today. You know that you will have the opportunity to grow from their perspectives and to encourage them to dig for deeper meaning and understanding.
St. Catherine’s Now Fall 2016 Vol. 75 No. 1 Head of School
Terrie Hale Scheckelhoff, Ph.D. Executive Editor
Theodora Miller Director of Marketing and Communications Managing Editor
Jennifer Harter Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Designer
Haley Hollenbach Director of Publications Contributing Writers
Kim Witt Catley Jennifer Harter Judy Carpenter Hawthorne ’75 Sarah Martin Hergüner ’77 Director of Development
Debbie Andrews Dunlap ’70 Assistant Director of Development
As we think about our role as a school, we are committed to providing the framework and resources for girls to thrive. It is not enough to have them go through the motions as passive learners. They must have “fire in the belly,” as my dear friend says. So we ask ourselves, how can we better ignite their passions? If you haven’t visited our libraries and learning resource center recently, please do. You will witness firsthand the power of designing spaces that align with girls’ learning. We now have a variety of learning areas including all types of tables, moveable seating, small group spaces, and individual learning nooks. The silence of libraries past is no longer present as girls fill social spaces, meet in unique collaborative areas, or seek refuge in the designated quiet area. Courtney Lewis, our Director of Library Services and Innovative Research, says that the space changes meet the needs the girls identified. Students were actively involved in the library layout and selection of furniture. As you will see on the following pages, athletics and arts continue to play an important role in our girls’ lives. Teamwork and cooperation ground our students and help them be more creative and resilient. When students play sports or engage in arts activities, they practice problem-solving, communicating their ideas in different ways, and listening to multiple points of view. Whether they are on the field or on the stage, they learn to set goals, be more observant and determined, and develop their inner motivation. The strong foundation created at St. Catherine’s through these various learning environments comes to life every time I meet with our alumnae, who model the ideals of our School every day. I hope that we, as parents, alumnae, and friends, can collaborate as our students do, and continue our work together to ensure that St. Catherine’s remains an innovative leader for girls.
Katherine Ferguson
Director of Alumnae Affairs
Laura Spratley Birdsey ’96 Photography
Duane Berger Jennifer Harter Haley Hollenbach Jim Robb “St. Catherine’s Now” is a publication of St. Catherine’s School, 6001 Grove Ave., Richmond, VA 23226, 804.288.2804; alumnae@st.catherines.org. St. Catherine’s admits students without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to the students at the School. Letters to the editor are welcomed and should include the author’s name, address, email address and daytime phone number. Please send correspondence to: Editor, St. Catherine’s Now, St. Catherine’s School, 6001 Grove Ave., Richmond, VA 23226. Printed letters may be edited for length, content and style. “St. Catherine’s Now” is a bi-annual magazine for the St. Catherine’s community and is published by the Marketing and Communications Office in collaboration with the Alumnae and Development Office. The publication celebrates a legacy of excellence, provides meaningful connections and captures the life of the School through reporting that adheres to high journalistic and literary standards.
My best to you,
Terrie Hale Scheckelhoff, Ph.D. Head of School
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