Sycamore Magazine - Winter 2016/17

SYCAMORE

NEW LEARNING SPACES Students Fill Them Up

FOUR ALUMNI SPEAK Hard Work And Passion

GRANLUND EARNS HONOR Indiana Music Teacher of the Year

Winter 2017 INDIANA’S ONLY PRIVATE, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR GIFTED STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH 8TH GRADE

SYCAMORE

SYCAMORE SEE MORE STORIES, VIDEO, NEWS & MORE ABOUT SYCAMORE SCHOOL AT SYCAMORESCHOOL.ORG

VOLUME 10, No. 2 FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL

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FROM THE SSA PRESIDENT

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GRANLUND NAMED INDIANA OUTSTANDING

MUSIC TEACHER OF THE YEAR

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NEW LEARNING SPACES COMPLETED

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS

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SCIENCE & THE GIFTED CHILD

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REFLECTIONS ON TREMONT TRIP

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES MIKE ROSIELLO - PRESIDENT HEAD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD JENNIFER WILLIAMS HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL GLENNA LYKENS

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HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL JAMIE MACDOUGALL

WINS STATE TITLE AT SOUTHPORT

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DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS DR. SUSAN KARPICKE

NEWS & NOTES: STUDENTS

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NEWS & NOTES: ALUMNI

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SYCAMORE WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE ACADEMIC OLYMPICS TITLE LOWER SCHOOL SPELL BOWL TEAM

HEAD OF SCHOOL DIANE BORGMANN

FIVE SYCAMORE SCHOOL ALUMNI NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

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DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT HOLLY LEE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PATRICK JUDAY SYCAMORE SCHOOL ASSOCIATION JESSICA LEE - PRESIDENT

ON THE COVER:

SYCAMORE 3RD GRADERS ADDI MOELLER (RIGHT) AND EVELYN MURRAY WORK ON A SCIENCE PROJECT.

MOMODU COLLABORATE IN ONE OF SYCAMORE’S NEW SPACES.

OPPOSITE PAGE:

THIS PAGE:

4TH GRADERS RAYNA MOIZ (RIGHT) AND HEIDI

GEOGRAPHY COMPETITION WINNER SHAAN MISHRA WITH HEAD OF SCHOOL DIANE BORGMANN

AND HISTORY TEACHER TONY YOUNG.

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SYCAMORE

SYCAMORE FROM THE SSA PRESIDENT

BY JESSICA LEE, 2016-17 SSA PRESIDENT

You may find it strange that as I sit and write about The Sycamore School Association (SSA), the school’s parent-teacher organization, I feel very moved. This school year, I have been a first hand witness to a spirit of volunteerism that is special. Volunteers have been busy planning, setting up, tearing down, shopping, cooking, stuffing envelopes, and gathering auction items for events. There is much, much more to this volunteerism, though. It is catalyst for community and very special friendships. All of these qualities—volunteerism, community and friendships—make me so very grateful to be a part of Sycamore.

FROM DIANE BORGMANN Dear Sycamore Friends,

In order to establish the environment for which we strive at Sycamore, we invest in people. We hire teachers, administrators, and other staff who are willing to challenge norms, to push boundaries, and to ask valuable questions. As an institution, we support the same kind of thinking among our faculty and staff that we promote among our students. That’s why you see sparks flying in our classrooms as ideas emerge, are challenged and explored, and eventually lead to innovation. Sometimes all that is required for innovation to flourish in classrooms is for us adults to just get out of the way!

Innovation. We hear that word used commonly in education, in the corporate world, and in our society in general. What does it mean? Why is it valuable?

How do we encourage it?

This year is an exciting one for Sycamore, and it has been filled with innovative thinking. The whole concept of innovation undergirds the new learning spaces we added at Sycamore. Although facilities are not the primary variable in learning, appropriately stimulating spaces can lead to and support innovative thinking. Teachers have been implementing ideas that were impossible or difficult before and rethinking ways to achieve learning objectives.

As a school, innovation is a must. If we are not moving forward, we are moving backward. William Pollard, a 20th century physicist, said, “Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.”

It’s imperative for us to challenge ourselves to constantly improve.

So we want to do everything we can to encourage innovative thinking among our faculty, staff, and students. We strive to provide an environment that nurtures innovation. How do we do that? We provide a learning atmosphere where creativity, imagination, experimentation, and mistakes are valued and appreciated. Healthy curiosity leads to innovative thinking. Innovation will not emerge when everyone thinks alike, so we encourage both creative and critical thinking. We appreciate fluency, flexibility, and originality in thought. We intend to create an environment in which students feel confident to express wild and disruptive ideas and to challenge others’ ideas. Innovation really is a way of thinking.

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In this issue of the Sycamore Magazine, you will read about our new learning spaces, new teacher ideas, and even new connections with our alumni. All of these are components of an environment that nurtures innovative thinking.

Changes call for innovation, and innovation calls for changes; both change and innovation lead to progress. Eric Hoffer, a 20th century American philosopher, expressed well the reason that we engage learners, share the excitement of learning, and nurture continuous learning: “In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the earth while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.”

After all, what we have at Sycamore is too good not to be better! Thanks for traveling with us on this exciting learning journey!

Onward and upward!

Best regards,

The All School Social kicked off our school year. This event is always filled with anticipation and excitement! This year’s event was special due to the completion of our school’s new and amazing spaces. Students got to explore the newly constructed areas, shop for new Sycamore Spirit gear, learn all about the new portal, chat with new teachers, socialize with friends old and new, and win prizes by exploring the area with a scavenger hunt.

The first few weeks of school provided many opportunities for students to have some fun outside the classroom and for parents to get to know each other. This fall began with a lot of face painting opportunities! SSA volunteers provided a face painting booth at the fall sports festival, and then again during Colts’ Day, when students were able to show their team pride by wearing Colts’ gear and having their faces pained at morning drop off.

SSA volunteers were also busy during the first few weeks organizing the Middle School back-to-school party and the fall hayride. Volunteers provided dinners for the staff and refreshments for parents at each division’s Back-to-School Night, and they also hosted two GetAcquainted Coffees for parents and administrators. Snacks and dinners were provided to the teachers during Early Childhood, Lower School, and Middle School Conference Days.

In September, Sycamore staff and students showed their school and volunteer spirit during Spirit Week. They showed much excitement with themed days that included Favorite College Day, Pajama Day, Hero Day (super, national or your own personal hero), Wacky Tacky Day, and Sycamore Spirit Wear Day. Students also enjoyed a special visit from Talon Ted during the all school assembly! While Spirit Week allowed students to show their school spirit, it also gave them an opportunity to show their community spirit through the annual Food Drive. Sycamore families provided over 6000 items for the Crooked Creek Food Pantry! The volunteers at the food pantry were very moved by the quantity and quality of items that our school donated. The entire Sycamore community should be very proud of this generous spirit.

In October, Sycamore opened its doors to all of our Grandparents and Special Friends. Again, this year was special as Grandparents and Special Friends got to explore all of the brand new spaces. This year’s Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day began with guests being treated to a light breakfast and student performances. After the presentations, our guests enjoyed a morning exploring their student’s classroom and the new spaces!

In December, the Library was transformed into a winter wonderland and shopping extravaganza! Gifts Galore provided students with the opportunity to do some early holiday shopping for family and friends (all priced under $5). Students loved selecting that perfect gift. The event wouldn’t have been a success without all of our wonderful volunteers, who wrapped each gift for the students to take home that day!

During the second half of the school year, SSA will organize the Auction for Advancement. This year, attendees will be treated to a Night of Southern Hospitality on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at 502 East.

At the auction, you will be able to sit with other families in your grade level, enjoy a southern style dinner and drinks, and bid on tons of one of a kind items and unique experiences. There will be a silent auction, live auction, and fund-an-item. The auction is a really fun event and a chance for the entire Sycamore community to come together to celebrate and raise funds necessary to support and enhance the school’s mission.

In April, SSA volunteers will organize Staff Appreciation Week (April 24-28). Each day during the week, staff members are treated to something small but very special. It’s a wonderful week where we can show our appreciation for the staff members who make each day exceptional for our children. It is because of Sycamore’s tremendous faculty and staff that our children love school so much.

This May, the Carnival will return! On Friday, May 12, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, the Carnival will take place outside (weather permitting) at Sycamore.

There will be a nice mixture of old favorites and lots of new and fun surprises! To give you a sneak peak at one of the new surprises - there will be a dunk tank this year! You won’t want to miss this after school event!

SSA continues to succeed because of volunteers like you who give of your time, talent and support generously. Your efforts are much appreciated as SSA fulfills its mission to support Sycamore’s philosophy, programs, and activities for the benefit of all Sycamore students. Sincerely, thank you for all that you do to help make each year fun and successful! n

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SYCAMORE

1ST GRADE STUDENTS WITH TEACHER JENNIFER HENDRY RELEASE BUTTERFLIES.

3RD GRADER LILY GRACE MARTINSON USES QUIET TIME TO READ A BOOK.

GRANLUND NAMED INDIANA OUTSTANDING MUSIC TEACHER OF THE YEAR Sycamore School’s longtime music teacher and band director, Candi Granlund, was named Indiana Music Educators Association’s Outstanding Indiana Music Educator of 2016. She was presented the award at a concert and ceremony on January 15. Indiana Music Education Association (IMEA) is a not-for-profit professional membership organization for music teachers, from kindergarten through collegiate levels.

2ND GRADERS (FROM LEFT) VICTORIA BYRNE, MARIN SMITH, SOPHIA SEIFERT AND GINNY NUEMEISTER POSE FOR A PICTURE IN

THE PATEL FAMILY ENJOYING AN INDIANAPOLIS COLTS GAME IN LONDON

FRONT OF THE SOAP ANIMALS THEY CREATED.

THAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF A PACKAGE THEY WON AT LAST YEAR’S AUCTION FOR ADVANCEMENT.

Bands under the direction of Granlund have earned numerous honors and awards at national, state and local festivals and competitions The Sycamore School Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the 2009 IMEA/MENC North Central Division Convention, and the 2005 IMEA Convention. The Symphonic Band travels yearly for performances in festivals and concerts. Past venues include St. Louis, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Granlund was selected as a 2013 Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellow, and as part of the $10,000 grant from the Lilly Foundation, Candi traveled to Austria and Hungary to bicycle through the countryside, visiting historical sites related to the lives of Mozart, Mahler, and Liszt. She then returned to study the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with Dr. Keith Sweger in preparation for a performance of the solo with members of the Sycamore Symphonic Band that winter.

A PHOTO OF MUSIC STUDENTS HAVING FUN IN MRS. GRANLUND’S CLASSROOM

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She is also co-founder and clinician of the Ball State University Bassoon Camp, and currently serves as the co-chair of IBA Jr. Al-Star Band. Granlund’s performance credits include: Lafayette Symphony; Lafayette Citizens Band; Kokomo Park Band; Lafayette Directors Woodwind Quintet; Muncie Symphony Orchestra; Anderson Symphony Orchestra; Kokomo Symphony Orchestra; and the National Honors Orchestra.

SYCAMORE’S CANDI GRANLUND WITH HER IMEA AWARD

A graduate of Ball State University, Granlund was a Presidential Scholar and earned a Masters of Arts Education degree with a focus on music from the University of Indianapolis.

Granlund is married to Rick Granlund who is the Performing Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands at North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. They have three children, Elise, Connor, and Laurel.

IMEA’s purpose is support and advance music education in the state of Indiana by representing the united interests of music educators and students and by providing professional leadership and service in music education to enhance the arts in the schools. n

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SYCAMORE

SYCAMORE

“ALL OF THE SPACES

NEW LEARNING SPACES COMPLETED; SYCAMORE STUDENTS FILL THEM UP The generosity of Sycamore parents and friends has been the catalyst that is helping the school realize a vision to nurture innovation in students, helping them turn their ideas and dreams into reality. The new spaces add to our facility, supporting our mission and our program.

In the summer of 2016, a $4 million renovation of the building was completed. The heart of the school now contains new spaces dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and technology instruction.

“We’ve been in these spaces since the beginning of the school year, and I’m sure the teachers’ use of them will evolve over time,” said Diane Borgmann, Head of School at Sycamore School. “As teachers contemplate possibilities and share ideas, I look forward to watching the spaces, the teachers, and the kids develop.”

As part of the Fulfilling Promise campaign, Sycamore raised a total of $5.7 million, including $4 million for facilities, $500,000 for Financial Aid Endowment, and $1.2 for the Sycamore Fund.

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ARE BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY ARE ALSO PROFOUNDLY FUNCTIONAL” SYCAMORE 4TH GRADERS WORKS ON PROJECTS IN THE NEW INNOVATION LAB.

Several new learning spaces were created out of former offices and the Meeting Center. Including the labs and meeting spaces, there are a total of eight new group spaces created for conferences, small group instruction, tutoring, parent meetings, faculty conferences, and volunteer meetings.

pictures of a variety of seeds with a close-up look at their dispersal features,” Fulwider continued. “That space was also the perfect place for students to create a seed modification plan. Once students had a plan, they could walk right next door to the Innovation Lab to create.

It was awesome!”

“All of the spaces are beautiful, but they are also profoundly functional,” said 2nd Grade teacher, Doris Fulwider, whose classes are regular users of the spaces. “Each space has its own unique purpose, and they all complement one another.”

In the Bhatia Technology Lab, the creative space is outfitted with five team tables, each equipped with a flat screen, software and hardware so students can collaborate at each table and teachers can put work individually on student screens.

Added were the Bhatia Family Technology Lab, the Innovation Lab, the Quest Room and the Guenthner Family Entrance, a technology support space, The Scott A. Jones Family Board Room, tutor rooms, and the Hagerman Family Commons.

In the Innovation Lab, student vision can become three dimensional.

The space is used for making, innovating, and collaborating with high tech and low tech materials. Students can access crafts, art materials, nature, and robotics.

“During our seed dispersal engineering activity, the large video displays in the Bhatia Family Technology Lab gave students detailed

“I have walked by and seen the 2nd or 4th Graders in the Bhatia Technology Lab, out in the lobby, and in the Innovation Lab all at the same time,” said

Jennifer Williams, Head of Early Childhood. “I’ve seen other faculty and staff walk by, stop, and ask the students what they are working on. It is just one more thing that brings the Sycamore community together.”

Since the start of school, the Innovation Lab has supported opportunities that have added depth and enrichment to Sycamore’s already amazing curriculum. It has become a place where students can gather to tinker, explore, discover, create, develop, and innovate using a variety of tools and materials.

Middle School students have used the 3D printers to explore and create original 3D art, invented prized possessions of book characters, and used the space as a design hub for our Destination Imagination Team.

“I like the variety of the spaces,” said 4th Grade teacher Ryan Cox. “I am surprised at how often my students choose to use the tutor/ conference rooms. The students love to use the whiteboard walls to write down their ideas, take notes, and make illustrations. They take a

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SYCAMORE

SYCAMORE picture with an iPad and are able to save their ideas to be used for the next class period.”

“Because of the new spaces, 2nd Grade is piloting a ‘Genius Hour’ at the end of each Friday,” Fulwider said. “During this time, students float between the Bhatia Family Technology Lab, where they do research, and the Innovation Lab, where they create.”

The learning opportunities for Early Childhood students have also ramped up to include construction-based activities, designing a spider with correct body segments, engineering different Christmas trees as

part of a holiday tradition unit, and designing for monthly challenges.

“I’m amazed at how quickly the Early Childhood classes have begun to use the new spaces - especially the Innovation Lab,” Williams said.

“While classrooms for young children have always been active, messy places, the teachers are trying new activities in the lab to go along with units they have been teaching for many years. Preschool has had construction time with hammers, nails, nuts, and bolts. This winter, the Prekindergarteners used the lab materials to explore the pros and cons of building a Christmas tree out of different materials,” she added. “They told me that the cardboard and magnets were not

FROM THE DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE NEW SPACES DR. SCOTT GUENTHNER : DONOR AND PARENT

DR. SEMEETA BHATIA : DONOR AND PARENT

The expanded areas make a great school even greater and allow for unique learning opportunities for all students from Preschool to 8th grade that push each of you to expand your boundaries of knowledge.

I am Sumeeta Bhatia, better known as Janvi, Rhea, and Aditya’s mom.

It has been our privilege to be a part of the Sycamore family for 11 years now. Janvi joined Early Childhood in 2006, Rhea in 2007, and Aditya in 2014.

Never forget that the people that fill the building are the most important asset. I encourage each of you to thank such people as your teachers, the staff, everyone around you here at Sycamore for dedicating their time and efforts to your learning and to meeting the Sycamore mission statement of allowing academically gifted children the opportunity “... to experience the enriched, accelerated education they need to reach their potential and to lead responsible, constructive, fulfilling lives.”

For us, it was not really a matter of giving back to the school or to the campaign but rather paying it forward for the future of our school, our city, and our nation.

We believe that students at Sycamore are the future leaders of this country.

Because of this, our family wants to make sure that our future is strong.

That future is built through education, and Sycamore provides an outstanding vehicle to impact and push our future leaders like you to new heights. When we give to Sycamore, we see the future brighten.

First, don’t forget where you came from as you soar to new places.

Sycamore has been great to many of you for years. Be great to it just like my family has been able to do with this gift.

Put back into Sycamore a little of what Sycamore has put into you.

Your time, talents, and blessings given back to Sycamore will pay it forward for years to come. n

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Janvi is now getting ready to graduate. All I have is eternal gratitude for providing our family a home where all our kids have grown and learned.

TOP PHOTO: SAMEER ZAIDI AND ALESSANDRO SALERNO WORK ON CREATIVE PROJECTS. BOTTOM PHOTO: 8TH

STUDENTS WORK ON INTERVIEWING SKILLS IN THE HAGERMAN FAMILY COMMONS.

GRADE AND 2ND GRADE STUDENTS COLLABORATE DURING “BUDDY” TIME.

I hope that as our kids graduate one by one from here, we would have left a part of us here, to a place that has given our family so much.

Sycamore is a special place that nurtures smart kids and tremendous teachers that teach us values for a difficult world.

Remember, we all rise by lifting others! As you help a good cause, you help yourself. That is what I hope we have done. n

very helpful, but the Styrofoam was great and didn’t collapse like the other things.”

Lower School students have investigated and experimented with the engineering behind seed dispersal; created earthquake-proof structures; invented habitats for insects; and created paper plate polyhedrons.

“The new spaces have expanded my classroom,” said Cox. “Instead of students huddled around one computer, groups of students can now project and stream their ideas to their classmates for collaboration.”

For students arriving before school or staying after school, The Quest Room is a homey space available to students while their parents work. This area also allows science activities to take place in the Lower School Science Lab. Dusty Burwell, Sycamore’s longtime leader of the Quest afterschool program, said her students have unending praise for the new space.

“We know that this is our space,” Burwell said. “They know that an after-school activity, a class going overtime, or a teacher that needs to clean up will not be interrupting our activities. One told me ‘It feel like an actual program now and has everything accessible. Now we don’t feel hurried or like a visitor.’”

As new spaces translate to new opportunities for both students and teachers, it is the Sycamore teachers and faculty who truly understand the implications and what it took to create vibrant areas for enhancing the school’s students.

“I am so grateful to the generous Sycamore community members who listened to and considered our plan,” said Borgmann. “Teachers have embraced the new learning spaces and challenged themselves to do things they couldn’t do before or to do things they’ve done before in a new way.”

“It has enhanced my ability as an educator to provide my students with lifelong learning experiences,” Cox said. “Our school is now equipped with tools that allow our students not just to be curious or to think about ideas, but the ability now to act upon those dreams.”

“We’ve been thinking about these spaces and how we might use them for over a year. To see them become reality and challenge teachers is terrific,” Borgmann said. “To see a dream realized--and realized enthusiastically-really makes me deeply grateful to be a part of this community.” n

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SYCAMORE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: HARD WORK, INTELLIGENCE AND PASSION FROM FOUR ALUMS

I moved around a lot as a kid and never really fit in and would get bored in public school. I actually didn’t do very well until I got to Sycamore. I got here and met people similar to me. I got pushed academically. I actually had to work hard to do well in class, and that was almost like a challenge: Can I do the best I can do and what kind of grades can I get on something so hard for me at the time? It really changed my perception of what I wanted to do with my life. I really felt like I liked learning; I liked being involved in academia. It has in some ways has kept me in the sphere. I love the freedom that learning gives you. I’ve been to a lot of great schools. Part of why I came back (to speak) at Sycamore was that it was by far the most influential school for me through my graduate school that made me want to become a scientist.

SHANNON RISACHER:

As Shannon Risacher sat in the brand new Jones Family Board Room, awaiting her evening presentation in front of alumni, parents and friends, she was talking about why she does what she does. Risacher, who graduated from Sycamore 21 years ago, is at the IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis, studying neurologic diseases. She earned her Ph.D in 2011. She began working on Alzheimer Disease in 2012 and became a faculty member two years ago.

As she speaks about what she does every day, the realness of her passion comes through her eyes and in her voice:

SHANNON RISACHER’S WORK AND RESEARCH FOCUSES ON ALZHEIMER DISEASE.

CHRIS PALMER (’02): FOUNDER OF BOX FOX AND SUPPLY KICK;

“I do a lot of my research with patients, and it’s heartbreaking to watch the patients and their families suffer through a disease we have no real treatment for. I’m a scientist. I wanted to understand brain circuits, but once you see the human part of it, that is also a big reason I do what I do and get up every morning, come home every night, and go back the next day.

A SOCIAL, TECHNOLOGY, AND RETAIL ENTREPRENEUR.

“Every once in a while, a family member comes back and says, ‘you helped my grandmother or mother or sister so much,’ and they tell the story of how they struggled with their loved one and watched them slip away before their eyes. It’s really inspiring to continue doing what I’m are doing, because I hope other people won’t have to go through that.”

CHRIS STAEHLER (‘03): COMPOSITOR, PRE-VISUALIZATIONIST, MATTE

Passion. Grit. Smarts. How do we put them together to get closer to becoming the person we want to be?

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While we often ask Sycamore School graduates how their experiences at Sycamore impacted their education and lives as they moved through high school, college, and into the working world, it is less frequent that those alums return to talk to student and parents.

For the inaugural TalonTED Talk that was held at Sycamore School in November, we featured four Sycamore alumni speaking in 20-minute segments about their current passions, first in an afternoon session with students, and then in the evening with alumni and alumni parents. The talks were informative, inspirational, and fun.

DR. SHANNON RISACHER (’96): ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF RADIOLOGY AND IMAGING SCIENCES AT THE IU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

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I transferred from a public school and was unique because it really encouraged me to care about people on the heart level. In the big public school, it wasn’t that way. I would feel left out, I would react, get in trouble, go to detention; things changed when I got here. There was much more of a personal affection with students and teachers.

CHRIS PALMER:

CHRIS MCNETT (’00): WENT TO PURDUE AS A 13-YEAR OLD, RECEIVED B.S. IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING IN THREE YEARS, AN M.S. FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY, AND J.D. FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL.

PAINTER, DIRECTOR, EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, AND ANIMATOR IN THE FILM INDUSTRY IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA

We sat down with each of the returning alums for a Q&A session before the evening presentation. We talked to each about their memories of Sycamore, the lessons learned, insight from teachers, and about how it all may have helped them find their life’s passion. We purposefully asked the same questions to each graduate, and the insightful detours they took to answer the questions were enlightening, as was the strand of similarity that ran though their responses, especially when talking about Sycamore School and its impact on their lives.

First, let’s talk about how Sycamore may have impacted your life, both in education and in your working life. Is there still residue of your experiences here that has helped you along your path to becoming an adult?

SYCAMORE MAGAZINE:

Everything you learn here is important, but I think the important things I got from Sycamore were a love of learning, a willingness to work hard on things I do, and more of an attitude of working hard on things and being ambitious and trying do well on all the different projects and homework that I did. I think that is something good I got from Sycamore.

CHRIS MCNETT:

CHRIS STAEHLER: There seemed to be a large emphasis on arts and integration

between all subject matter, between art and history. That was awesome.

It made a huge difference, connecting dots between things. I’m not aware of any school that cross educates like Sycamore.

How did you discover what you wanted to do in your life? How did you find out what your passion is?

SYCAMORE MAGAZINE:

When I was a little kid, I was interested in memory.

When I was 3 or 4 years old, I asked my mom how we remember things.

It seems so unbelievable that something not in front of you can be brought back into your mind just by your brain. I went into college and grad school wanting to study memory. I actually didn’t come out of Sycamore knowing I wanted to be a neuroscientist, but it wasn’t that much later, in high school, that I learned that’s what I wanted to do.

SHANNON RISACHER:

My passion is about building things and understanding technology. Law is adjunct to that. The reason I went to law school is to study patent law. As a patent lawyer, you still get to work with technologists and still get to learn about technology, but there is an added dimension to learn to write and communicate effectively, especially with a non-tech audience. I think those are skills to develop.

I hope to stay in the law long term, but even if I don’t, the skills I get with this are transferable to other areas I enjoy.

CHRIS MCNETT:

I feel like my success and where I’ve gone (as a filmmaker and animator) goes back to when we had touched on things in class, and then I spent hours and weekends and free time learning and exploring and taking it deeper and further. I think it’s important to keep in mind school gives you the ideas to start, but keep looking for it on your own.

CHRIS STAEHLER:

CHRIS PALMER TALKED ABOUT THE POWER OF “DOING”, NOT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

I think at Sycamore, I learned the lesson first that you advance in life not by tearing others down, but by lifting them up. I realized that much success in life would be much more fulfilling lifting people up.

And I first learned that at Sycamore.

CHRIS PALMER:

SYCAMORE MAGAZINE:

Any teachers at Sycamore who influenced you?

Ms. O’Malley is great. I think back to all our talks about grammar. It just strikes me how hard all of our teachers worked to facilitate anything that I wanted to try and anything I was interested in.

That impressed me.

CHRIS MCNETT:

There were a lot. The teachers who get to you the most - that inspire you the most – are the ones that make you want to do the best job, even if it isn’t your talent.

SHANNON RISACHER:

There are so many good teachers here. Mr. Schuth, Ms. O’Malley, Mrs. Granlund, Coach Fink, Mr. Stroebel. The best teachers at Sycamore had a personal investment in our lives and really cared about what we knew and how our knowledge was growing. They graded our papers with some grace and some constructive criticism and had a personal interest in helping us and watching us grow.

CHRIS PALMER:

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SYCAMORE SCIENCE & THE GIFTED CHILD

BY GLENNA LYKENS - HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

Children from an early age are fascinated by science. Whether they collect rocks or shells, dig for worms, stargaze, or build a Lego robot, the concepts and processes of science grab their attention and passion.

They have so many questions about nature and science - often questions to which the adults around them do not have answers! Students will check out nonfiction books from the library and excitedly share what they learn with teachers and other students.

CHRIS MCNETT WENT DIRECTLY FROM SYCAMORE TO PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

CHIRS STAEHLER IS PRODUCING AND DIRECTING A FILM IN LOS ANGELES.

Mr. Schuth was always very encouraging and showing my stuff in class. He’s a big science fiction fan, and I am too. We just ended up having a lot in common. It was fun, as a kid, talking to someone who would get excited and interested in the same ways. He fostered a lot of creativity. He encouraged me to tinker with stuff and try different things; he would ask me why I thought something was working. He and Ms. Prince both were encouraging in that way.

are things I go back to. It stuck with me, these things that are incredibly critical in a visual, artistic field. That made lasting impression.

CHRIS STAEHLER:

Is there a bit of advice you could pass along to someone here, maybe an 8th Grade and getting ready to go to high school? Something you have learned as you have gotten older that has served you well?

SYCAMORE MAGAZINE:

This is a special time. Being in school is always special when you get to inquire about things and have some direction in study. When you are not in school and in a job, when you have specific tasks, you have a lot lot less autonomy to explore what you want. I would encourage students to find things they enjoy and things that they want to explore.

CHRIS MCNETT:

SYCAMORE MAGAZINE:

Any little memories or stories you still remember

about Sycamore?

There was always a challenge. I had MATHCOUNTS, a History Day project, and a science project to juggle and try to do the best I could at all of them. And the school really encouraged me to take on different challenges at the same time rather than just finish my homework and go home. The fact that Sycamore pushed me to try hard was important.

CHRIS MCNETT:

Whether it is what I remember from science class or what I did for a Science Olympiad, I learned so much about Physics that I later tested out of AP Physics later in high school. I went so far beyond by making contraptions and shooting things in the air. If I hadn’t gotten my hands dirty after school, I would not have learned all I did.

CHRIS PALMER:

Sycamore prepared me for what they try to teach in grad school better than high school or college did. They teach you to take all these facts, throw them out, and start from scratch, and to learn how to answer a question appropriately. We learned how to learn well, how to think well and how to ask a question and really comprehend a topic instead of learning facts. That’s what I remember about Sycamore.

SHANNON RISACHER:

Sycamore helped a lot because the Art program with Ms. Prince was fantastically helpful. Perspective, art history, and color theory CHRIS STAEHLER:

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My biggest advice would be to just do things and not just talk about them, whether that’s building a business or getting an internship or taking an extra class. Anything that interests you, commit your hands to doing it, rather than just thinking about doing it. I think you learn the most through experience. If you don’t actually experience something, you don’t secure those lessons.

CHRIS PALMER:

School is great, and it will give you the tools and open the door to ideas and concepts, but school won’t get you 100 percent of way there. I did medical animation in Carmel and then went to LA. I got that job to bring some of my knowledge of the process of visual effects from the film side and bring it into the medical animation world. It was a challenge. I had no medical background. It was different. I learned a bunch of stuff I didn’t know before. It’s all educational.

CHRIS STAEHLER:

A lot of people will tell you that you can’t do something or it isn’t a good idea, or you can’t get there. But you should never give up getting there. Once you identify what your passion is, don’t let anybody persuade you to do anything different – not for money, not for fame, not for anything! n SHANNON RISACHER:

Too often, children lose their love of science. Sometimes it happens when schools focus so much time on reading and math to the detriment of science, or even forgo science units until 2nd or 3rd Grade. Sometimes it happens when teachers focus on facts over exploration. Sometimes it fades away because the child’s interest in science is not recognized or nurtured. For gifted students, I believe it is important for teachers and parents to help foster and guide their love of science.

Teachers can nurture that love of science by giving students opportunities to be scientists. To do this, teachers need to cultivate students’ scientific habits of mind and develop their ability to engage in scientific inquiry. Students need to see that science is not just a collection of facts, but a set of practices to help them investigate, evaluate, and develop solutions or explanations.

“TEACHERS CAN NURTURE THAT LOVE OF SCIENCE BY GIVING STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO BE SCIENTISTS.” SYCAMORE 1ST GRADE STUDENTS EXPLORE AND DOCUMENT FINDINGS IN THE OUTDOOR SCIENCE LAB.

Focusing on scientific concepts can guide these opportunities. When students look for patterns in nature, or study the cause and effect in experiments, or consider systems and the models that can represent them, or discuss the relationship between the structure and function of objects, they engage in the habits of scientists. They learn to think and reason like scientists. They also need opportunities to learn about famous scientists throughout history and those that are making important news today in all areas of science.

Students need opportunities to ask questions and define problems. They need to learn how to plan and carry out an investigation and analyze the results. Gathering and evaluating information will allow them to share that information and use it to argue with evidence for their point of view.

Burgeoning scientists need time to apply what they learn and problem solve through innovation.

Parents can help nurture the scientist in their children, too. Frequent your local library and check out books on topics of interest. Make it a habit to get outside with your children to observe nature, journal about it, and reap hands-on experiences with plants, insects, birds, and native animals. Track the weather, look at the stars, watch the clouds, or simply take a hike in the woods.

Don’t forget the Arts in STEAM. Children can draw or paint pictures of

what they observe outside or take photographs and create slide presentations or books. Field trips to the zoo, the Children’s Museum, Conner Prairie, or any of the many state and local parks can provide experiences that deepen children’s interest and knowledge in all kinds of science. Experience what Holcomb Observatory, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Indiana State Museum have to offer. Look for classes from organizations such as Bricks4Kidz, Engineering for Kids, Mad Science, Codelicious, or Stem Scouts.

Many universities such as Butler and Marian Universities host summer STEM camps for children. Don’t forget, many of the Quest Summer Camps and Summer Academy classes at Sycamore School are also science-based.

Ideas can also be found in apps and websites. One site that has a collection of science apps and websites is from Common Sense Media. Before there was Pokemon Go there was geocaching. Learn more about this real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game at Geocaching. Other websites to explore are Science News for Students, Kidsites, or Wonderville.

Together, teachers and parents can help guide and develop the scientist in each child. Helping children discover the wonders in all areas of the life sciences, physical sciences, or earth and space sciences can ignite life-long interests and passions. n

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SYCAMORE “... I’M PLUNGING HEADFIRST INTO EXCITEMENT.”

REFLECTIONS ON TREMONT TRIP JAMIE MACDOUGALL - HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

EACH YEAR, SYCAMORE SCHOOL TRAVELS TO THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE AT TREMONT WITH THE 5TH GRADE CLASS FOR A WEEK OF TEAM-BUILDING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. TREMONT IS A NON-PROFIT RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER THAT PROVIDES IN-DEPTH EXPERIENCES THAT CELEBRATE ECOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY, FOSTER STEWARDSHIP, AND NURTURE APPRECIATION OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK. THIS YEAR, HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL’S JAMIE MACDOUGALL WROTE ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE TREK, AND SHARED SOME WRITINGS AND OBSERVATIONS OF A FEW STUDENTS.

LILY HOVDA AT SPRUCE FLATS FALLS. IMAGES FROM THE 5TH GRADE TRIP TO TREMONT IN 2016.

It has become an autumnal tradition to take to the woods for a week with our 5th Graders. The Great Smoky Mountains provide context for learning of scientific proportion, inspiration for creative writing, and residual marks of years gone by. The curricular ties are plentiful, but it is the magic of the time on the trail, alone with our thoughts while surrounded by one another, that affords us access to an infinite wisdom that only the solace of the wilderness can provide.

Henry David Thoreau went to the woods compelled by the need to “live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life.” John Muir found that, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Jane Goodall who reminds us, “that changes happen by listening.”

Our time in the woods catching salamanders, classifying plants and rocks, embracing solo sits and solo hikes, engaging in trail banter, and river exploration unveiled the depth of our connections with each other, our world, and our thoughts.

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Yes, we go to the woods to connect to our curriculum. Yes, we go to better understand the world that is our context. But most importantly, we go to the woods to understand ourselves.

rescue a person from the solitary life in the ocean. This can occur by accident or by purposeful intentions. Alone, and lonely are two very different words that can be easily fixed.”

Some of the reflections from our 5th Graders upon their return.

“One of my favorite parts of the trip was the solo hike because that was one of the only things that we did alone on the whole trip, not counting eating, or sleeping. I learned how to work together much better than I used to, I also learned how to ignore people and listen to people better than I used to.”

“The last thing I learned at Tremont that left a standing impression on me was the influence of friends. After spending a longer period of time with people other than your direct family for an extended period of time - staying with friends - you start to learn more about their personality, when they are not at school, or have much influence from grownups.”

“You might find another side of person that you really like or the opposite, but whatever happens, there is always someone there for you.

Without people indirectly related to you, that you hang out with, you are left on a tiny island in the middle of the ocean just far enough away from another island that it is impossible to contact them. By saying this, I am stating that the best people are those who send their boats out to

“I learned that to cooperate, you need to slow down and not do it all yourself. You need to help each other by being not just a leader but a follower, and sometimes following is just as hard as leading.”

“At Tremont, I learned so much. Some of the knowledge I gained was just straight facts, like the rich and juicy fact that Hellbenders are the largest salamanders, growing up to two feet long. Other things I learned through experience that are slightly helpful, but overall ultimately useless in life, like test if a log flips over by gently pushing it before

walking across it over a valley. Other things I gained from just being there I will use for the rest of my life. I can’t even say the kind of stuff that is, so I’ll just try my best to explain the sort of things that fall into my category. They include the wonders of solitude, the way that the sound of a rushing river or call of birds can soothe almost anything, and the sheer amount of fun it is to use leaves as toilet paper. That is all I can say about the essential, life changing things I learned at Tremont.”

“The trip to Tremont was so perfect, and I am just so happy you signed that paperwork allowing me to go. In honor of the trip and that paperwork, I wrote an ode to the pen that signed that paper.”

Like a black river Like a streak of night On a perfect white cloud It flashes across the line And I know I’m plunging headfirst Into excitement. n

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“WITH ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, STUDENTS LEARN THE VALUE OF HARD WORK AND I THINK MANY FEEL A BOOST OF SELF ESTEEM.”

SYCAMORE’S ACADEMIC OLYMPICS SQUAD IN FRONT OF THE SCOREBOARD SHOWING THE WINNING RESULT.

SYCAMORE WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE ACADEMIC OLYMPICS TITLE Sycamore captured their third consecutive Academic Olympics title this year, defeating St. Richard’s in the finals to win the 2016 Academic Olympics at Cathedral High School. The win was Sycamore’s fifth title since 2007.

Academic Olympics coach and Middle School history teacher, Tony Young, says the highlights of this year’s competition were his team’s competitiveness, and an interesting question that was part of the competition. “Every year, we get asked some pretty interesting questions,” he said. “The one that comes to mind for parents and students was a question about methods pursued by the United States to “bump off ” Fidel Castro. I think anytime you refer to the attempted assassination of a world leader, you are going to raise a few eyebrows.”

Team members this year included Noah Tan, Nicky Ivan, Ethan KacenaMerrell, Jeremy Smart, Shaan Mishra, and Emma Hermacinski.

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KELLY FULK (LEFT) AND AINSLEY BALE CELEBRATE THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

“Each group is fun and unique to work with. St. Richard’s is always wellcoached and fiercely competitive. The St. Richard’s match was close at the half and then we began to pull away, eventually winning 49-37.”

Sycamore has strong history of competitive academic teams in not just the Cathedral Olympics, also in MATHCOUNTS, Science Bowl, Destination Imagination, and the National History Bee. Young said he likes the lessons learned by students competing as a team.

“Competition helps students learn that the best and brightest are not always the winners, but those who learn to work hard and persist,” he says. “Working with gifted students is helpful to doing well, and understanding the motivations and drive of the students to keep getting better is the key,” said Young.

“With academic competitions in Middle School, students learn the value of hard work, and I think many feel a boost in self esteem,” Young said. “The part I love about Academic Olympics is how the students learn to gel as a team and how to effectively communicate even though they cannot discuss answers in this competition.” n

LOWER SCHOOL SPELL BOWL TEAM WINS STATE TITLE AT SOUTHPORT The Sycamore School Spell Bowl team topped a field of 24 Indiana teams as they placed first in the state in their division at the 2016 competition at Southport High School.

Coached by Sycamore 2nd Grade teacher, Deb Stewart, the team’s success wasn’t a surprise to her, though she was certainly impressed with the performance.

Their hard work and dedication paid off as they correctly spelled 51 out of 56 words selected randomly from the difficult list of 750 words.

“The majority of the Spell Bowl team consisted of students whom I taught as 1st Graders,” Stewart said. “It was an honor to spend time with them and see how they have grown and matured in just a few short years. “I knew that students were well prepared for the competition, so I wasn’t

surprised by the number of difficult words that they were able to correctly spell,” she said. “However, I was certainly impressed. It was our first Spell Bowl competition, and we placed 3rd nationally out of 134 teams in our division.” Stewart cited the team’s hard work as a key reason that they won.

“There are many factors that contributed to a successful season. Practices were held two mornings a week from 7:15 - 8:00 a.m.,” she said. “That was only one small part of the preparation. Our team was very supportive of one another throughout the entire season.”

In addition to earning the top prize, Stewart values the other part of the competition that she hopes helps her students in the coming years.

“Without a doubt, we have some very talented spellers, but these students were dedicated to practicing many hours outside of the school day in addition to the times that we met together. I like that the Spell Bowl competition teaches the value of teamwork.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SPELLING TEAM MEMBERS: FIFTH GRADE:

ABBY CHENG, ADITI DEY, RIA TANDRA

FOURTH GRADE:

EMILY HACKWELDER, KELLY FULK, NATE LIANG,

HEIDI MOMODU, SIRI VUPPALANCHI, INSIA ZAIDI, AND AINSLEY BALE n

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SYCAMORE

EIGHT SYCAMORE GIRLS SCOUT CADETTES VOLUNTEERED OVER THANKSGIVING AT THE WHEELER MISSION IN DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS.

MRS. HENDRY RELEASES A BUTTERFLY AS HER 1ST GRADE STUDENTS WATCH.

OLIVIA WILLIAMSON PLACED 1ST AND 3RD IN TWO DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS AT THE US NATIONAL TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS.

NEWS & NOTES: STUDENTS SYCAMORE 7TH GRADER EARNS TAEKWONDO TITLE

7th Grader Olivia Williamson competed at the U.S. Fall National Taekwondo Championships in Orlando, won the Combat Sparring competition and placed third in Traditional Sparring, after a tough loss in the semifinals. She entered the competition ranked #1 in World Rankings in both Sparring and Combat Sparring.

WEI EARNS WRITING HONOR

BUTTERFLIES RELEASED BY FIRST GRADERS

Sycamore 5th Grade student, Alex Wei, attended a writing conference in Topeka, Kansas, and was recognized with a 2nd Place award in narrative writing on the topic of courage. Congratulations, Alex!

First Graders released a pair of butterflies earlier in the school year.

The students had been studying metamorphosis, and the two butterflies released were brought in by Jeffrey Kirkendall, who had received them from a family friend who works with the monarch butterfly population. Over a three week period, the 1st Graders had been waiting for the butterflies to emerge.

DECEMBER RECEPTION HONORS TWO

Sycamore hosted a retirement reception in honor of the Director of Technology, Larry Fletcher, and school nurse, Shelli Andrews. Both left Sycamore in December.

AUTHOR VISITS SYCAMORE

GIRLS SCOUTS HELP AT WHEELER MISSION

Author Kate Beasley visited Sycamore during the first semester, meeting with students about writing and her new book, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness. It is the first novel for the author, who holds a Masters Degree in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She was engaging and funny as she talked to students in classrooms and also to a larger group in the theater.

Sycamore 7th grade Girl Scout Cadettes spent some of their Thanksgiving break baking pumpkin pies and then donating them, along with serving a Thanksgiving meal, at Wheeler Mission in downtown Indianapolis.

MUSICIANS TRAVEL TO NYC

Sycamore students Margot Helft, Laura Janetta and Claire McGuire are members of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and sang with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir as they performed the New York City debut of Zabur.

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SYCAMORE INTERN FILM PROJECT HONORED

Jon Eddy, the 2017 Sycamore School marketing intern, had his short film honored by the Heartland Film Festival. Jon’s documentary short film, “Raising A Village,” which was initially created as his IUPUI Senior Capstone project, was included in the 2016 Heartland Film Festival as part of the Indiana Filmmakers Spotlight. The documentary examines early childhood education for some teachers and families Indiana.

FIRST GRADE AWARDED COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT

Sycamore First Grade teachers Jennifer Hendry and Melissa Brannigan were awarded an $800 grant from the Service Learning Action Fund for their annual Community Service Day. For the second consecutive year, 1st Graders created blankets, cut up used jeans for shoes, and wrote stories for servicemen and women. Aided by their teachers, parent volunteers, and members of the Middle School Leadership Council, they again served four non-profit organizations. “We are extremely grateful to SLAF for partnering with us in this endeavor,” said 1st Grade teacher, Jennifer Hendry.

after the popular middle school math competition, MATHCOUNTS. The invitational is designed to be both a full-fledged contest and an opportunity for the students to grow as problem solvers.

As a bonus to the students, after the contest, while waiting for results, Sycamore coaches Trent Tormoehlen and Bob Fischer reviewed the problems with the students and demonstrated the different techniques used to arrive at the correct answers.

In the final results, in 4th Place overall with a strong score of 35, was Sycamore’s Rhea Acharya. Sycamore’s Shaan Mishra took 7th Place and Nicky Ivan tied for 8th in the 8th Grade and under division.

In the 6th Grade and under division, Sycamore students recognized in the top 16 were Tanay Acharya (8th), Nikita Mukhin (9th), and Steven Sun (12th). n

SYCAMORE MATH INVITATIONAL DRAWS 154 STUDENTS

There were 154 mathletes from across Indiana, ranging from 5th to 8th Grade, who descended upon Sycamore School to participate in the 7th annual Sycamore Math Invitational. The contest is modeled

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NEWS & NOTES: ALUMNI

SOME OF OUR SYCAMORE ALUMNI RETURNED TO SCHOOL FOR THEIR ANNUAL REUNION IN DECEMBER.

BLOOD DRIVE HELPS SYCAMORE GRAD

GARARD LEADS TEAM TO VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL TITLE

ALUM NAMED TO US ROWING SCHOLASTIC HONOR ROLL

NATARAJAN WINS STATE DOUBLES TITLE AT CARMEL

Just before the holiday break, Sycamore hosted the Megan Yoder Blood Drive. Megan, currently a junior at IU Kelley School of Business, is majoring in Supply Chain Management and Sustainable Business, with a minor in Environmental Management.

Sycamore grad Mamie Garard helped lead Zionsville to their first ever Regional title in volleyball. Garard finished the season with 1,291 assists, the most in the state. She was named the Indy Star Athlete of the Month for October.

Brendan Murphy, a senior at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, and a rower at the Indianapolis Rowing Center, was selected to be on the US Rowing Scholastic Honor Roll for 2016-2017. This is a national recognition by US Rowing, the national governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. The honor is based on both academic achievement and success at a high level in the sport of rowing. Another of Brendan’s classmates from the Sycamore class of 2013, Justin Matei, a senior at the Culver Academies, received Honorable Mention for this award.

Carmel senior and Sycamore alum, Jay Natarajan, teamed with Ethan McAndrews to earn a 7-6 (7-3). 6-4 win over Park Tudor to win the 2016 IHSAA State Doubles Tennis Championship. “After we won the tiebreaker, we knew exactly what it took in terms of strategy and just the fundamental patterns we have to play to win the second set,” Natarajan said. “I felt like in the second set we had a much clearer vision of what to do.” Jay was also named to the All-State Academic Team.

This fall, she started having left-side numbness and was diagnosed with a brain tumor called a Glioblastoma, located in the right parietal lobe.

It was five years ago this summer that she ended chemotherapy for leukemia. Megan is a fighter and wants to do everything she can to survive and continue leading her life to the fullest. We thank Megan, her family, donors, and the American Red Cross for all their work.

GRAD SERVES AS CIRCLE CITY QUEEN

Sycamore grad Kourtney Kinchen was named 2016 Circle City Classic Queen and represented the Classic at a number of their events in September.

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GRADS RETURN FOR NORTH CENTRAL CONCERT AT SYCAMORE

In November, the North Central Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band presented a concert for all Sycamore students in the gym.

The performance featured a number of Sycamore alumni, including Allison Gerecke, Julia Mann, Elise Granlund, Meena Moorthy, Emily Schwartz, Alex McGrath, Jonathan Schwartz, Connor Granlund, Sophie Pollack-Milgate, Jayanth Tatikonda, and Graham Helft (Jazz Ensemble). Sycamore parent, Rick Granlund, is the director.

TWO SYCAMORE GRADS IN IHSAA SOCCER STATE FINALS MCNULTY PRODUCES VIDEO

Gordon McNulty, a Sycamore alum and current Herron High School junior, produced a video about prescription drug abuse prevention.

The public service announcement was created for a statewide contest.

Jordan Smith and Reni Osuntokun were members of the Brebeuf girls’ soccer team as the Braves lost 2-0 trying to defend their state title against Penn HS. Brebuef was the defending state champs in 2A (there are two soccer classes in the IHSAA) and have a 22-2-1 record this year.

Penn came into the game at 22-0-1. n

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SYCAMORE

HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL JAMIE MACDOUGALL, ALONG WITH JENNIFER WILLIAMS AND GLENNA LYKENS, PRESENTED PARENTS WITH A LIST OF GREAT BOOKS FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO READ.

FIVE SYCAMORE SCHOOL ALUMI NAMED NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

Sycamore School graduates garnered five National Merit Scholar Semifinalist awards. The scholars are chosen by taking the Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) at the specified time in the high school program, usually as juniors.

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS (SEMI FINALISTS) SYCAMORE SCHOOL GRADUATES

AUDREY GEIPEL - UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL EMILY MCDONNELL

- BREBEUF JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL

JORDAN MCQUISTON - UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL KAYA MERNITZ - CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL MEENA MOORTHY - NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Semifinalists have to fulfill requirements to advance to Finalist standing.

Each Semifinalist submits a detailed scholarship application, which includes essays and information about extracurricular achievements, awards, and leadership positions. Semifinalists also must have an outstanding academic record, be endorsed and recommended by a school official, and earn SAT scores that confirm their qualifying test performance.

By the conclusion of the competition, a select group of Finalists are chosen to receive prestigious National Merit Scholarships totaling nearly $35 million. n

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2ND GRADERS EACH WEAR SHIRTS THEY MADE USING LEAF PRINTS.

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