The Banyan Magazine - Summer 2019

BANYAN

THE

FOR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND ALUMNI OF THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY

LEGENDS

Celebrating Decades of Inspiring Service

SUMMER

2019

Core Values Respect Integrity Service Excellence Responsibility Since 1924, The Out-of-Door Academy has remained true to its mission.

Our faculty has always understood that shaping the lives of the students, by instilling core values and helping young people make good, honest decisions, is essential for learning and their growth and development.

www.oda.edu

A Message From the Head of School Dear Friends of Out-of-Door, As you will see in this edition of The Banyan, 2018-19 was a year of significant growth, progress, and achievement for The Out-of-Door Academy.The Class of 2019 led the way with the largest number of students in school history recognized by the National Merit program and the establishment of a new record high on the SAT. As a faculty, we continue to explore new means to create a more rigorous, robust, relevant, and unique Pre-K-12 educational experience for our students. Our collaborative curriculum work with Columbia University, Mote Marine Laboratory, and The University of Texas is expanding and enriching our STEM and engineering tracks. Upper School student access to online elective courses has been increased through the expansion of our relationship with the Hybrid Learning Consortium.Thanks to the incredible, ongoing generosity of the Dart Foundation and a major anonymous donor, state-of-the art labs equipped with 3-D printers, engineering software, augmented and virtual reality technology, interactive touch screens, and video conferencing are plentiful on both of our campuses and provide experiential, engaging, hands-on, 21st century learning opportunities for all of our students. Finally, a $1 million lead gift from the Emmons family will launch the founding of a business school at ODA with a practical curriculum focused on financial literacy and entrepreneurial studies.

Thanks to the continued generosity of the Out-of-Door family, both of our campuses were greatly enhanced over the past 12 months. Campus security upgrades and the addition of full-time security personnel on Siesta Key and at Lakewood Ranch were important steps forward in our efforts to make sure that all ODA students can explore their intellectual, artistic, and athletic passions in a safe environment. On Siesta Key, phase one of the historic restoration of the administrative building was completed, along with the addition of the new Thunder Hut, making outdoor dining a daily occurrence. At the Uihlein Campus, the new Thunder Athletic Complex was opened and fully utilized by our teams. In January, we cut the ribbon on the Fox Field House adding more than 12,000 square feet of indoor practice and competition space. It is a truly spectacular enhancement to our athletic infrastructure.These important additions to our physical plant eliminate the need for off-site rentals and staggered practice schedules so that all of our student-athletes can remain within the security of our campus and arrive home by the dinner hour, opening up more time in the evenings to pursue their studies.We are extremely grateful for the philanthropic support of all of the donors who have helped fund these projects.

As we prepare to celebrate Out-of-Door’s 95th year, we are humbled and grateful for the service of generations of faculty, staff, parents, and trustees who have contributed to our school’s history, growth, and development. In the end, like all great organizations, it is the people that define our school. Ken Pendery epitomized selfless leadership and service during his 26-year tenure as a Trustee. MikeYoung and Frances Williams defined teaching excellence and dedication to their students for a combined 61 years of service.We are inspired by their legacies and we will carry on the essential work of supporting our students to reach their full potential as scholars, artists, student-athletes, and global citizens who live our core values each day.

The 2018-19 school year witnessed an all-time high for the Annual Fund, a record-breaking Banyan Ball, and the growth of our endowment to nearly $25,000,000.These resources above and beyond tuition revenue provide our students and faculty with amazing new opportunities to learn and grow.These gifts make the ODA educational experience unique, exceptional, and truly transformative.Thank you for your generous philanthropic support, your spirited volunteerism, and your commitment to create an even brighter future for the next generation of Out-of-Door Academy graduates.

With gratitude and appreciation,

David V. Mahler Head of School

The Out-of-Door Academy |

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Contents

FEATURED ARTICLES

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6 8 33 78 84

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KEN PENDERY TRUSTEE EMERITUS ODA LEGENDS: COACH MIKE YOUNG & MRS. FRANCES WILLIAMS NATIONAL MERIT ACCOLADES AND RECORD BREAKING SAT SCORES CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS UNVEILING THE FOX FIELD HOUSE

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SECTIONS

Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Faculty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Sustainability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Academics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Siesta Key Campus

Grades Pre-K - 5 | 444 Reid Street | Sarasota, FL 34242

Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch

Grades 6 -12 | 5950 Deer Drive | Sarasota, FL 34240 oda.edu | Main Phone: 941-349-3223 | Admissions: 941-554-3400

Head of School

David V. Mahler dmahler@oda.edu

Chief Financial Officer

Senior Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Angel Cappar

Commencement. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Head of Middle School

Graduation Ceremonies. . . . . . . . 52 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

acappar@oda.edu

Julie Bianchi

jbianchi@oda.edu Associate Head of School for Development

John Carr

jcarr@oda.edu Head of Upper School

Christopher Chesley cchesley@oda.edu Athletics Director

Traditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Kippie Crouch

Campus Visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Head of Lower School

Service Learning. . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Philanthropic Support . . . . . . . . . 76 Alumni . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

kcrouch@oda.edu

Tanna Horner thorner@oda.edu

Director of Communications

Kim Metrokotsas

kmetrokotsas@oda.edu Director of Lower School Admissions & Alumni Relations

Laura Murphy lmurphy@oda.edu

Director of Middle & Upper School Admissions

Michael Salmon msalmon@oda.edu

Editor’s Note: The Banyan Magazine is designed for members of The Out-of-Door Academy community in an effort to tell our story and celebrate our successes. The Banyan Magazine is published by the Communications Office. We make every effort to ensure the names and information in this publication are correct at press time. Comments or suggestions can be addressed to: The Banyan Magazine, The Out-of-Door Academy, 444 Reid Street, Sarasota, Florida 34242 or call 941-203-3655. Š 2019 The Out-of-Door Academy

A Message From the Board Chair Dear Out-of-Door Community, In the three years I have served as The Out-of-Door Academy’s Board Chair, I have had the privilege to work with a dedicated Board that has served the School faithfully, helping to improve and expand facilities and programs as needs have arisen.They have selflessly shared the experience they have amassed through years of professional success, giving their guidance and energy to support the School and ensure its continued success. I would like to pay special homage to Ken Pendery for his many years of unwavering loyalty, leadership, and vision, and his steadfast support of Out-of-Door.

In the 2018-2019 year, ODA had a phenomenal fundraising year and achieved new academic and athletic milestones.

We enhanced both the Uihlein and Historic Siesta Key Campuses, completed construction on multiple new facilities, updated educational technology, and improved campus security.

Accomplishments to note include: • Exceeded our Annual Fund campaign goal and set a new benchmark with the most successful Banyan Ball to date • Students achieved the highest SAT average in ODA history • Five student-athletes committed to Division 1 colleges and universities • Grand opening of the 12,300 square foot Fox Field House • Installed security gates, sign-in technology, and new signage at both campuses • Constructed new shade structures for outdoor dining on both campuses • Began Phase 1 of the Siesta Key Administrative Building renovation by replacing the roof • Constructed a restroom and concession facility at Thunder Athletic Complex off Deer Drive • Ended fiscal year 2018-2019 with a budget surplus • Completed a comprehensive facilities audit of both campuses • Established a physical plant renewal fund These accomplishments could not have happened without the hard work and dedication of many Out-of-Door personnel. In addition to the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank our administrators, facilities personnel, faculty members, and countless volunteers who are dedicated to making our School a world-class institution. Many of these professionals have spent decades in service at ODA, including newly retired Coach MikeYoung and Mrs. Frances Williams.The longevity of our faculty speaks to the pride and dedication they have to Out-of-Door and our students.Their commitment represents the very model of why Out-of-Door stands head and shoulders above its competitors.

I extend a warm welcome to the 2019-2020 Board Chair, Ms. Ashley Kozel. I look forward to continuing to work with this team of leaders to support our community’s ongoing growth and evolution.

Larry Fox Board Chair

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The Banyan | Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees

Welcome Ashley Kozel, New Board Chair Ms. Ashley Kozel has served on The Out-of-Door Academy’s Board of Trustees since 2013. She served as Vice Chair from 2016-2019, chaired the Committee on Trustees and Governance, and was a member of the Long Range Planning Committee. Ms. Kozel’s two daughters have attended ODA since pre-K. Ms. Kozel holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was valedictorian of her class. Ms. Kozel received her B.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University. Prior to starting a family, Ms. Kozel practiced corporate law with the Business & Finance Section of Morgan Lewis (Pittsburgh), and previously worked for Federated Investors (Pittsburgh), where she oversaw the development of domestic equity funds, international funds, and offshore funds for non-residents.

Ms. Kozel served as a Trustee of Forty Carrots Family Center from 2013-2019, chairing its Governance Committee from 2016-2018. She has participated in a number of Sarasota community events, including co-chairing Selby Gardens Orchid Ball since 2017, and Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key to the Cure from 2016 to 2018.

Ms. Kozel spends her spare time with her family traveling, skiing, and enjoying their horse farm.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

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KEN PENDERY

TRUSTEE EMERITUS

Ken Pendery with past and present Trustees.

Over the course of his tenure, Mr. Ken Pendery Jr., the longest serving Trustee in the history of The Out-of-Door Academy, has served as Board Chair, Vice-Chair, Past Chair, and Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee. His exceptional leadership has been instrumental in the planning and founding of the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch, as well as continued facility development. He has selflessly supported the School philanthropically and tirelessly served as a School ambassador in the Sarasota community. Now, almost three decades after joining the board, Mr. Pendery is retiring from his position, and subsequently being honored by the Board of Trustees with the distinction of Trustee Emeritus.

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The Banyan | Board of Trustees

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2 1) Ken Pendery at Commencement 2019. 2) Keith Reeves, Ken Pendery, Ron Gelbman, and David Mahler.

From the early years when the Pendery children (Lifers Trey ‘04 and Libby ‘06) were just starting their education on the Historic Siesta Key Campus, Mr. Pendery, CEO of First Watch Restaurants, saw the great potential of the School. He watched how the faculty interacted with their students and consistently went over and above to ensure they were all getting the individual attention needed. “ODA’s small class size and student-teacher ratio was, and still is, exceptional,” he said. “There is better camaraderie...teachers are exceptional at giving their students the attention they deserve.They do a quality job nurturing their students, in pre-K all the way through to 12th grade.”

Mrs. Martha Duffy was Head of School when the Pendery children were in their early years at ODA.While Mr. Pendery and his wife Jennifer felt that the education their children were receiving on the Siesta Key campus was excellent, what they didn’t see in place were established school practices to guide and govern the School as it grew. “Martha had a positive cloud of educating students,” he affirmed.With Jennifer’s encouragement, he decided to join the Board of Trustees to help support the operation and growth of the School. “I thought that I could be helpful in helping ODA to run more smoothly and operate more effectively as an independent school.”

With his extensive business operations background, he knew that putting strong practices in place to help govern the school would help attract dedicated trustees, top-notch administrators, and excellent faculty. “Once these practices were in place, future Heads of School, administrators, and boards would carry them forward. From the beginning, the changes weren’t hard, but they were new ideas.”

In the late 80s and early 90s, the School had a strong population of students in pre-K through eighth grade, but with no Upper School for students to matriculate to, there was high turnover. Knowing the Board was leaning towards the future expansion of the school to include grades 9-12, Mr. Pendery organized multiple studies to determine what would be needed for the growth to be successful. Careful research determined that it would take 14-16 years for a school of ODA’s size and growth

rate to flourish. As there was no logistical space option for an Upper School expansion on the Siesta Key Campus, Mr. Pendery secured a land donation from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch for the new Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch.The generous donation was expansive enough to not only support the initial construction of the Upper School for grades 9-12, but to sustain future growth of the campus.

True to the research, it took 15 years to establish the population needed for continued growth and sustainability at the new Upper School. From 1999 to 2014, the graduating class size increased from 12 to 54. In that time, Mr. Pendery had been instrumental in helping the Board govern the school, champion the ongoing growth, and unite the two campuses.

“The biggest change was the idea that although we seemed to be two different schools in two different locations, we needed to be united. It took some time, but after a few interim years, the two campuses were able to be efficiently run as one.”

Now under the direction of current Head of School Mr. David Mahler, the Uihlein Campus has seen continual growth for more than a decade.

During his tenure, the campus has seen the addition of a Middle School, Thunder Athletic Stadium,Taylor Emmons Memorial Baseball Field, Malisoff Tennis Complex, Gelbman Family Wellness Center,Thunder athletic practice fields, Arts Center, Dart STEM Lab,Vitale Family Student Center, and Fox Field House.This summer, a 13,000+ square foot expansion of the Middle School is scheduled to begin, and the Emmons Business School is also in the pipeline.

With all of the changes that he has accomplished during his tenure, Mr. Pendery says that what he is most proud of is intangible. “The independent school values that we were able to instill at ODA, that’s what I am most proud of. Because of them, we’ve been able to attract trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff who maintain those values and pass them on to our students.” He notes that there is a uniqueness about the school–evident in the self-confidence and happiness Out-of-Door students express about getting their education there. “My kids loved going to their school,” he says with genuine pride.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

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LEGENDS

Celebrating Decades of Inspiring Service

Coach Mike Young and Mrs. Frances Williams join Head of School David Mahler to kick off Spirit Day 2019.

Merriam-Webster defines a legend as “a person who inspires.�

At The Out-of-Door Academy, we are fortunate to have faculty members who dedicate their entire professional careers to ODA. Some, with larger-than-life personalities, are comfortable with being the center of attention, while others are gratified by quietly fulfilling their responsibilities. Regardless of how different their roles on campus may be, these essential faculty members bring a special light to the ODA community.

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Coach Mike Young When Coach MikeYoung came to Siesta Key in the early 1980s to interview for a physical education (PE) position, he circled the campus in his car three times looking for the gymnasium. He retells that anecdote with a smile, revealing a lot about his easy going nature. Although the campus has never had an indoor gym in the 37 years he taught at Out-ofDoor, CoachYoung was never stymied by the lack of traditional facilities.

Early in his career, he coached ODA’s sports teams in addition to teaching PE, giving his players an equal mixture of encouragement and sports psychology, often with a quick magic trick thrown in for good measure. From the onset, CoachYoung stressed the importance of fair play and sportsmanship, two themes he continued to encourage throughout his entire career. “From a very young age, [CoachYoung] cultivated an incredibly healthy competitive environment for ‘athletesto-be’ that held teamwork, collaboration, and fun at the forefront of our activities,” says Brian Ragone ‘12.

As the years progressed, CoachYoung and his wife Patty, an ODA first grade teacher, added to the school’s population when their own children became school age. Lifers Krystal Young ‘09 and Jeff Young‘11 were fortunate to have both of their parents as teachers before heading up to the Uihlein Campus.

Coach Young introduced the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart campaign to the campus.The annual fundraiser brings awareness to the importance of heart health and raises funds for children with cardiovascular health issues. Each year, CoachYoung participated alongside his students, working with the young jumpers in the weeks leading up to the event to be sure they would be ready for their big day of jumping. For each of the 33 years since the inception of Jump Rope for Heart at ODA, CoachYoung always joined the pre-K, kindergarten, and 5th graders in the special “Lollipop Dance” at the close of the event, a tradition he began the first year of the campaign.

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Another annual ODA tradition, Spirit Day, will forever be firmly embedded in CoachYoung’s legacy. A key fixture in the management of the school-wide event, Spirit Day is debatably the all-time favorite day of the school year for every student, from pre-K all the way through to their senior year. CoachYoung managed the enormous task of organizing the multitudes of staff and volunteers, marking the fields, and setting up games, with grace and good nature, all to ensure that the day filled with friendly competition and teamwork was always a huge success.

As a tribute to CoachYoung’s integral part in the annual competition, students, faculty, and staff arrived at this year’s Spirit Day wearing special commemorative T-shirts emblazoned with a superhero-style shield and the letters “SD” on the front, and “Young” and the number 37 on the back. As a special surprise, ODA alumni joined current students in Thunder Stadium during the opening ceremonies to honor CoachYoung.

Emily Dixon ‘17 recalls CoachYoung’s dedication to both of the annual events. “I will always remember CoachYoung’s passion, kind heart, and humor. He was very passionate about the American Heart Association and always helped to raise a large amount for the organization [through Jump Rope for Heart.] He also had a huge passion for Spirit Day. He did as much as he possibly could to make those events amazing.”

Although one could argue that CoachYoung’s legacy lives on in the skills he taught on the playing field and basketball court, most students will agree it was the life lessons and supportive nature that he will be best remembered for. His infectious smile, passion for fun, and supportive, friendly nature will always be fondly remembered.

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1) Coach Mike Young at the opening of the 2019 Jump Rope for Heart. 2) 2018 Jump Rope for Heart. 3) Mike Young and John Hamner ‘03. 4) Mike Young and Coach Jeff Horr. 5) Sharing a smile with Gabe Goldstein ‘30 and Cole Jarrell ‘30. 6) The Young Family at the Historic Siesta Key Campus. 7) Early 1990s PE class. 8) Valentine’s Day Court. 9) Coach Young and a 1980s soccer team.

“ What has left the biggest impression on me is Coach Young’s endless energy and dedication to

finding the exciting side of life. Like so many teachers at ODA, Coach Young’s impact on students isn’t limited to the day-to-day lessons, it is also seen in our understanding of how best to live life.

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William Crouse ‘07 The Out-of-Door Academy |

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Mrs. Frances Williams In the late 1990s, teaching assistant Mrs. Frances Williams came to Siesta Key to work with some of the youngest students at Out-of-Door. She and lead first grade teacher, Mrs. PattyYoung, immediately “clicked,” and the two became an unbreakable team for the next twenty-four years.

“Frances has a huge heart for children and she was always able to find the best part of every child. She found time each day to talk to each child and to get to know them personally. She knew all about their family, and their likes and dislikes.

Soft-spoken and kind, Mrs.Williams was universally loved by students and faculty alike. She was a quiet, hardworking faculty member with a clever sense of humor and a quick smile. Mrs.Williams was a constant delight to her students, who absolutely adored her. Never one to shy away from adventure, she was 100% hands-on in the classroom.

Whether helping to raise chickens in an incubator, getting covered in paint during art projects, or playing during a drum circle, Mrs.Williams loved to be side-by-side with her students, enjoying every moment she spent with them.

Her heart lies with helping children to read and become lifelong readers.

She had a magical talent for helping emergent readers develop their skills and passion for reading.

During the retirement luncheon honoring Mrs.Williams and Coach Young, Mrs.Young had powerful words to say about her experience working with her:

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She also had the ability to light up our classroom, always knowing what to say or do to create a safe environment for kids to learn.

I have been blessed to work with such an amazing supportive colleague.

For the past 24 years I have worked with the most amazing educator and friend.

Frances leaves behind a legacy in first grade; she has touched the hearts of many and helped so many students thrive.”

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1) Frances Williams and Patty Young with their marine friends. 2) Brooke Chapman, Sandy Elliot, Pamela Davis, Frances Wiliams, Patty Young, and Cheryl Lorge. 3) Frances and her husband Roger at Banyan Ball.

4) Frances and Patty enjoy a Coca Cola. 5) The teaching partners with a first grade student. 6) Decked out in astronaut gear. 7) Grand Opening of the Kozel Amphitheater/Three Story Building.

8) Spring 2019 Siesta Beach clean up. 9) Homecoming fun on the Uihlein Campus.

“ I hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement! You and Mrs. Young made such an amazing team, it’s going to be impossible to replace the chemistry you had together!”

Tucker Kittle ‘12

The Out-of-Door Academy |

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Faculty Professional Growth and Development Our inspiring and innovative teachers are the most important assets influencing student learning and achievement. At Out-of-Door, we retain extraordinary faculty with an average of nearly 10 years of service. Faculty and staff at ODA are committed to challenging themselves by continuing with their own education, attending conferences and webinars, and supporting both new and experienced educators and administrators. Ongoing professional development keeps Out-of-Door employees up-to-date with research on how children learn, emerging technology tools for the classroom, new curriculum resources, and more.The best professional development is ongoing, experiential, collaborative, and connected to educating students.

LOWER SCHOOL Sarah Bryan • Earned a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning: History.

Daniele Daddario • Attended the LiPS Conference, a remedial reading program for students with learning differences.The LiPS: Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing ® Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech- Fourth Edition is a comprehensive multisensory program that uses explicit, systematic instruction to develop phonological awareness, decoding, spelling, and reading skills.

Martha Gulácsy • FCIS accreditation visit to Carrollwood Day School.

• Joy of Singing Choral reading/music session/course: John Jacobson & J.W. Pepper.

• Lucy Calkin’s Online Office Hours/Writing,Teachers College Columbia University.

• Webinar on Interactive Notebooks.

Jeff Horr • Continuing work toward a Masters Degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration at Concordia University.

Jill Jaiswal • Completed three Masters courses at Saint Leo University; “Cultivating a Positive School Community,” “Curriculum Development Beyond Common Core,”and “Facilitating Student Learning.”

• Co-presenter at the November 2018 Florida Kindergarten Council.

The workshop focused on how teachers can use the LAUNCH cycle of design thinking in their classrooms while highlighting ODA’s sustainability projects from the past two years. She and Mrs. Caylyn Wells have been chosen to present the workshop again at FCIS in November 2019.

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Serena Robins • Webinar: Effective Strategies - Working with Students with Autism with Nina Finkler M.Ed., LDT/C, BCBA. • Orton Gillingham Online Academy: 30 Hour Orton-Gillingham Basic Language Course.

• ASU Graduate Courses: Child Guidance, Intro to Research and Evaluation in Education and Psychology, Applied Project-Cumulative.

• Webinar: Culturally Responsive Teaching: Key Principles and Practices.

• Earned an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction Early Childhood Education July 2019.

Jane Runge • Completed Orton-Gillingham training.The Orton-Gillingham Approach is a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling does not come easily to individuals, such as those with dyslexia.

Michelle Ulrich • Ms. Ulrich and her students worked on a food sustainability project over the course of the 2018-2019 school year. Out-of-Door has subsequently been awarded the DeWitt E. & Vera M. Hooker Fellowship Award based on Ms. Ulrich’s grant proposal for food waste sustainability.

Caylyn Wells • Co-presenter at the November 2018 Florida Kindergarten Council.

The workshop focused on how teachers can use the LAUNCH cycle of design thinking in their classrooms while highlighting ODA’s sustainability projects from the past two years. She and Mrs. Jill Jaiswal have been chosen to present the workshop again at FCIS in November 2019.

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1) Faculty members join ODA supporters at the annual Banyan Ball. 2) Faculty and staff at Spirit Day.

Dr. Linda Vasilaki • Certificates earned: Build Art Code: Integrating robotics within the K-2 Curriculum; Creating Marker Spaces on a budget; Using Makerspaces to Help teach Empathy and Problem-Solving; An Overview of Google’s Mobile Apps; Hour of Code: Resources to Help Students Code; Creating games for Classes with Free Web Tools; Fifteen Projects to Spark an Interest in STEAM TOPICS; Steam Up: Learning to Inspire Inquiry, Critical Thinking, and Problem-solving;What’s inYour Steam Toy Box? • Attended the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) Conference in Tampa, FL. • Assisted in the organization of ODA students’ participation in the Venice SymphonyYoung People’s Concerts and played viola in the concert.

• Plays viola with professional groups and is the director of the Church of the Palms Orchestra.

• Invited to visit Grand Valley State University in Michigan to audit, observe, and give feedback as requested for college music classes.

• Professional memberships:Venice Symphony, Suzuki Association of the Americas, Music Educators Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Delta Omicron.

MIDDLE SCHOOL Dr. Joanne Barrett • Earned a Certificate of Completion for “Artificial Intelligence Explorations and their Practical Use in School Environments.”

• Presented two workshops and a session at Future of Education Technology Conference (FETC) in January 2019: “Nurture Student Coders Making Apps with App Lab” Workshop, FETC, Orlando, FL, “Breaking Out of the Same Old Lesson Plan”Workshop, FETC, Orlando, FL, “Let’s Design and Build with Blocks CAD” Concurrent Session, FETC, Orlando FL .

• Attended the Hour of Code international launch in December 2018 with Code.org as a member of the Review Committee.

• Presented at ISTE, June 2019 in Philadelphia “Building Coding Skills From Blocks (like Scratch) Into 3D Models With Blockscad3d.”

• Attended CSTA Annual Meeting representing Florida in July 2019.

Steven Brelsford • Attended FlipTech East Coast Conference in Collingswood, NJ, June 2018.

• Attended the SafeTalk on Suicide Alertness Workshop, March 2019.

• Participated in the Reading Difficulties, Disabilities, Dyslexia Training, May 2019.

Joanna Johnson • Presenter at the Future of Education Technology Conference, January 2019.

Alyssa Mandel • Published an article in the professional journal “School Library Connection” on ways to incorporate art authentication methodologies into classroom and library skills curricula.

• Became a charter member of the newly formed Florida Independent School Library network (FLISL).

• Invited to write blog posts for NoodleTools, Inc., a platform that supports academic research, writing, and bibliography skills to students in many schools nationwide, including ODA. Stephanie Sassetti • Member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the National Science Teachers Association.

UPPER SCHOOL Levi Biedermann • Member of the International Ceramic Arts Network.

Kippie Crouch • Coach Crouch has been recognized as a Certified Athletic Administrator by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.To earn this distinction, applicants must demonstrate the highest level of knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration.The certification process includes a thorough evaluation of the candidate’s educational background, experience and professional contributions, as well as a rigorous, comprehensive written examination.

Coach Crouch is one of an elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism.

The Out-of-Door Academy |

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3 3) Assistant Head of School, Sean Ball, and Leslie Garasic, Head of the Upper School Visual Arts Department, in the Petrik Commons.

Margarita Dooley • Participated as a re-accreditation team member for FCIS for St. John Country Day School in Jacksonville, FL. • Received a Level 1 Google Certification in March 2019.

Leslie Garasic • Completed two courses toward a graduate degree; “Art Education Research Methods” and “The History of Art Education in American Culture.”

• Inducted into the National Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi. Denise Hoff • Named new Music Director for Venice Theatre.

Marc Roberts • Received a Level 1 Google Certification.

• Received a Florida High School Athletic Association Soccer Coaching Certificate.

Daniela Rozanes • Lead presenter at the 2018 Florida Foreign Language Association Conference with session “Harkness Method and Travel Abroad: Key Ingredients for a Pre-AP Curriculum.”

Nicole Young • Attended 2019 Florida Music Educators Association Conference (FMEA) in Tampa, FL. Dr. Ellen Zitani • Attended a Peaceworks program held on the US/Mexico border whose focus was the realities of immigration.This training will help develop the Social and Cultural History of the 20th Century course and the unit on immigration in ODA’s sociology course.

• Conducted workshops at two universities based on her personal finance book, “The Envelope System” and worked with young people on her ideas behind budgeting, reducing waste, avoiding debt, and living a healthier life.

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STAFF Alyse Evasius • Attended the INDEX Marketing & Communications Conference at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA. Terri Medina • Organizational Best Practices Webinars: Basics of Fundraising; Fundraising & Donor Retention, Raiser’s Edge: Basics of Constituents; Basics of Events; Basics of Prospects; Basics of Raiser’s Edge; Basics of Reports; Import 1; ManagingYour Events; Membership Management; Mastering Batch and Gift Maintenance; Moves Management and Retention;Tips,Tricks, and TimeSavers; Maintaining Accurate Constituent Records; Expert Data Segmentation with Query; ConfiguringYour Database for Success; Effective Database Administration; Actionable Reporting.

• Raiser’s Edge NXT Webinars: Basics of Configuration and Security; Basics of Fundraising and Email Communications; Basics of Lists; Basics of Raiser’s Edge NXT and Constituents; Maintaining Accurate Constituent Records; Fundamentals – Overview and Data Entry; Fundamentals – Fundraising.

• Raiser’s Edge Workshop: Policies and Procedures – Constituents; Policies and Procedures – Gifts; Process Improvements,Tips, and Tricks.

• ResearchPoint Webinars: Basics of Prospect Research; Basics of ResearchPoint Integration; Basics of Raiser’s Edge and ResearchPoint Integration.

Kim Metrokotsas • Attended the INDEX Marketing & Communications Conference at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA. Mary Beth Speaker • Attended the 2019 MISBO Facilities Conference.

John Spencer presents to the Out-of-Door faculty.

Faculty & Staff “Launch” into Professional Development As part of preparations for the 2018-19 school year, faculty and staff attended a professional development workshop with accomplished author John Spencer after reading his books “Launch” and “Empower” over the summer. Mr. Spencer met separately with ODA Lower School faculty and combined Middle and Upper School faculty to offer targeted approaches to teaching different age groups.Teachers learned how to prepare today’s students for success using inquiry-based design thinking.This innovative approach to learning helps students develop essential skills including creativity, problem-solving, empathy, and grit.

“Mr. Spencer’s ideas on how important it is to ask questions of students so that they are in charge of their own learning was inspiring and affirming,” said chorus teacher Ms. Denise Hoff. “We use this design thinking approach in music classes daily. I like to think we inspire kids through music to learn empathy, respect, integrity, and collaboration.”

In interactive sessions, faculty members brainstormed new ways to bring this model of teaching into their respective classrooms.Teachers found the training inspiring and useful as they prepared for the upcoming school year. “While there was inspirational emphasis on the big, life-changing projects that often get air time, we also explored when and how these ideas can be used in smaller, everyday ways and how to apply them across our wide variety of subjects,” said Middle School Latin teacher Ms. Anya Grady. “I came away with a lot of answers of how to actually DO (or improve) things I’ve always wanted to bring to my classroom.”

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New Faculty & Staff 2019-2020 LISA CLAY - CO-DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING Mrs. Lisa Clay comes to Out-of-Door with a wealth of experience in college admissions. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and has spent 14 years advising students, working in college admissions offices, and as a director of college counseling for independent schools. Mrs. Clay is also very involved in professional development organizations and has received multiple awards for her outstanding service. She is passionate about partnering with students to find the right college fit to springboard them into successful careers and lives. She brings a unique personality, energy, and approach to the admissions process, and genuinely loves building quality relationships with students and families. In her free time, Mrs. Clay and her husband love to travel and volunteer their time fostering for animal rescue organizations.

LUREA DOODY - UPPER SCHOOL PHYSICS TEACHER Dr. Lurea Doody holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Waynesburg University, a Master’s degree in Earth Science from California University of Pennsylvania, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She has been a science professor and teacher in Pennsylvania and West Virginia for more than 25 years. Her research interests include understanding the motivational effects of sustainable science curriculum and green chemistry as a form of public scholarship. In her role as Lead Teacher for Beyond Benign, she writes and develops green chemistry laboratories and curriculum through the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry in Woburn, Massachusetts. Always looking to nature for personal and professional inspiration, Dr. Doody enjoys biking, kayaking, fossil hunting, and bird watching. Being new to the area, she is excited to learn about the local flora and fauna.

THAYER GREENBERG - MIDDLE SCHOOL THEATER ARTS TEACHER Ms.Thayer Greenberg holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts Administration and Education from the University of Massachusetts. She brings more than a decade’s worth of creative experience gained from working in childrens’ community theater in both NewYork City and Chicago and plans to bring new ideas to ODA’s theater program. Ms.Thayer intends to help students think about theater in exciting ways; exploring and diving deep into characters through improvisation, movement, imagination, and critical thinking. A native of Sarasota and a Booker Performing Arts graduate, Ms. Greenberg is looking forward to returning to Florida and joining the Out-of-Door team. An avid singer and dancer, Ms. Greenberg is excited to rejoin the Sarasota Arts community, not only as a teacher and director, but as a performer as well.

ERIN HARDING - UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER Mrs. Erin Harding holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies and History from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Military History from Norwich University in Vermont. Her thesis research focused on the evolving role of women in the military during the twentieth century. Mrs. Harding began her career at Interlochen Arts Academy in residence life and as an assistant ESOL teacher. She then transitioned to the classroom full-time, working in middle and high schools in Connecticut and Florida. She was awarded the Rookie of theYear at Auburndale High School, was a two-time recipient of Social Studies Teacher of theYear at Dr. Earl J. Lennard High School, and received a Certificate of Award for Outstanding Work in American History from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is a reader for the AP U.S. History Exam and a board member for the Sunrise Scholars Foundation. She cherishes being part of a school community and has held many active roles outside of the classroom including Student Government Advisor, Spelling Bee Coordinator,Varsity Swim Head Coach, and Cheerleading Coach.

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CAROLYN KEBER - UPPER SCHOOL MATH LAB TEACHER Mrs. Carolyn Keber earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a minor in French from Dartmouth College and a Master of Science in Economics from Lehigh University. She is currently finishing her Ph.D. in Finance from The Open University in England. Mrs. Keber, her British husband, and their two dogs have moved back to Florida after living in the UK for five years, where, in addition to undertaking her Ph.D., she taught at the University of London, SOAS, and tutored high school students in math, economics, and statistics. In addition, she coached lacrosse at the University of Leicester and for the Welsh National Team. Mrs. Keber is excited to be returning to the Out-of-Door community having previously taught in ODA’s Mathematics Department from 2008-2011.

JASON MAHN - ASSISTANT HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Mr. Jason Mahn earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree and a Master’s degree in Education from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. Most recently, Mr. Mahn was the History Department Chair at Nichols School, where he oversaw curricular shifts at both the Middle and Upper School levels—each seeking to foster a greater sense of inclusivity and global awareness. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also coached varsity baseball and JV/varsity volleyball. Prior to his service at Nichols School, he was an Administrative Dean at Freedom Middle School in Orange County, FL and the Lead Teacher for the Social Studies Department at City Honors School in Buffalo, NY. Outside of school, Mr. Mahn and his family are avid sports fans, proudly rooting for the Buffalo Bills and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

STEPHANIE PAAS - MIDDLE SCHOOL VISUAL ARTS Mrs. Stephanie Paas earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education with a K-12 Endorsement from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.With undergraduate coursework focused on ceramic arts, and teaching experience in 2-D, 3-D, graphic design, Photoshop, and photography, she offers her students a wide range of expertise in both traditional and modern art-making methods. Over the past 10 years, she has taught in every grade, K-12, and has found her passion for Middle School art. Graduate courses at the University of Florida have prepared her to bring the full scope of an art education to her students in the most meaningful and applicable ways. Her past students in grades 6-8 have notably won Scholastic Art Gold Key Awards, artistic scholarships, and gone on to pursue careers in the arts. In her free time, Mrs. Paas loves making memories with her family through travel and new experiences.

SAMUEL PEDERSON - UPPER SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHER Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Mr. Pederson graduated from Hope College with a degree in Secondary Mathematics Education. After a year of teaching math and physics in a small town in Honduras, he relocated to Florida to teach math to high school students with learning differences. In his free time, Mr. Pederson enjoys running, Ultimate Frisbee, and traveling.

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BRITTANY PELLEGRINO - DIRECTOR OF LOWER SCHOOL COUNSELING AND ACADEMIC SERVICES Mrs. Brittany Pellegrino earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Behavioral Healthcare from University of South Florida, and her Master of Science degree in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University. Mrs. Pellegrino is licensed as a mental health counselor and is certified in school counseling and trauma-focused therapy. She joins The Out-of-Door Academy after serving as a therapist at Child Protection Center in Sarasota, FL. She has worked in the mental health and education fields for seven years and has served as a counselor in public, alternative, and charter school settings.

KYMBERLI RIVERS - MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH/HISTORY TEACHER Mrs. Kymberli Rivers graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Over the last eight years, she has taught English in grades 6-12, most recently teaching Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition at Manatee High School in Bradenton.Teaching students in both charter and public schools has provided her diverse teaching experiences that have shaped her innovative and engaging instructional style.This past year, Mrs. Rivers was honored to be awarded the prestigious Congressional Teacher of theYear for the 16th district of Florida.While that was a definite highlight in her career, she is most proud of the relationships that she has developed with her students. She is excited about the opportunity to build relationships and to use her expertise to form on the wonderful traditions at the The Out-of-Door Academy.When she isn’t teaching, Mrs. Rivers enjoys cruising with her family or relaxing with coffee and a book.

EMILY SHAW - LOWER SCHOOL PRE-K TEACHER Ms. Emily Shaw grew up in NewYork and earned her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education. She has a passion for working with young children and more than ten years of teaching experience. Ms. Shaw relocated to Sarasota after spending two years in the mountains of Jackson Hole,Wyoming.When she is not teaching, Ms. Shaw enjoys searching for beach treasures, golf, photography, and gardening.

ANGELA WILSON - LOWER SCHOOL STEM TEACHER Ms. Angela Wilson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and her Master of Education degree in Elementary School Administration from Shippensburg University. She is also continuing her education with Endeavor, NASA’s STEM certification program. She arrives from North Carolina with a variety of educational experiences in fourth through eighth grades. Most recently, she taught fifth and sixth grade science and social studies, coached cross country and Science Olympiad, mentored beginning teachers, and served on curriculum committees. Ms.Wilson is passionate about inspiring students to become lifelong learners with a thirst for knowledge and understanding.When she isn’t teaching, she loves to travel and be outside kayaking, gardening, exercising, or simply watching a sunset at the beach.

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L’Tanya Evans Begins a New Act After 17 years at The Out-of-Door Academy, Associate Head of School for Academics Ms. L’Tanya Evans has accepted a new role as Head of School at Academy Prep Center of Tampa. A consummate professional, Ms. Evans has been an excellent teacher, talented theater director, and well-loved and respected colleague at Out-of-Door. She has made her mark at ODA, and leaves behind a legacy of loyalty, dedication, camaraderie, and compassion.

During her tenure at Out-of-Door, Ms. Evans’ trajectory rose steadily as she took on more challenging roles in academics, the arts, and administration. Her passion for teaching is evident in the fact that she continued to work in the classroom when she became an Academic Dean, then Head of Performing and Visual Arts, Dean of Students, and finally Associate Head of School for Academics.

Ms. Evans was integral to growing Out-of-Door’s performing arts program, producing and directing Middle and Upper School students in exciting and challenging performances in the Black Box Theater.

Over the years, she guided the students in more than 90 dramatic, comedic, and musical performances including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” “Cats,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “Guys and Dolls,”Teenage Cyrano,” “The Crucible,” “Into the Woods, Jr.,” “High School Musical,” “The Miracle Worker,” and “Rebel Without a Cause.” As a wonderful supporter and advocate of ODA in the vibrant Sarasota Arts community, she coordinated regular visits from well-respected local and national artists who worked with Out-of-Door students on honing their craft.

Ms. Evans nurtures students with an abundance of joy, discipline, respect, and kindness. Kinsey Newhams ‘19, worked closely with Ms. Evans during the many performances she participated in while in Middle and Upper School, and values the many life-lessons she learned, in addition to acting and singing skills. Ms. Evans encouraged her students to always speak up for themselves and to show others empathy and compassion.

“We’ve built such a tight-knit community that we’re able to express ourselves,” Newhams said. “You wouldn’t find that anywhere else.”

Director of Lower School Admissions and Alumni Relations Mrs. Laura Murphy worked with Ms. Evans for the entirety of her time at Out-ofDoor. “Ms. Evans was all about the kids; they loved her. One year she had a knitting club and it was not unusual to find a whole group of kids, boys and girls alike, spilling out of her office into the hallway chatting and knitting together. She was an excellent teacher and a wonderful colleague.” Mrs. Murphy noted that in addition to her talents on the stage and in the classroom, she was also an excellent cook. She was a regular entrant (and winner) in the annual Thunder Fun Day Chili Cook-off and often treated the faculty and staff to her culinary masterpieces.

“Ms. Evans is all heart,” said Mr. Michael Salmon, Director of Middle and Upper School Admissions. “Whether directing a play, baking hundreds of cookies for a hungry senior class, mentoring faculty, or simply lending an ear, she gave her time, expertise, and love with an open heart and a desire to make others smile. She made difficult situations easy. Her ‘can do, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work’ attitude has helped shape Out-of-Door for the better.”

During the 2019 Commencement Ceremony on the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Head of School Mr. David Mahler presented Ms. Evans with an honorary diploma, making her an official ODA graduate.

Mr. Mahler spoke of the important role Ms. Evans had played at the growing campus over the years, and reflected on the long-time employee who has touched so many hearts. “Ms. Evans is a passionate and talented educator who always puts the students first. She has positively impacted the lives of countless students, parents, faculty, and staff during her 17 year tenure at Out-of-Door.While we will all miss Ms. Evans at ODA, we wish her nothing but the best as the new Head of School at Academy Prep.They have hired a strong leader, but more importantly, a great human being.”

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Sustainability

Aeroponic Garden Project Offers Second Graders Hands-On Learning Opportunities The second grade embarked on an amazing cross-disciplinary journey constructing and maintaining an aeroponic tower garden.The project aligned with ODA’s focus on design thinking and offered a multitude of learning opportunities.

After receiving a grant from the Parent Association, the second grade team of Mrs. Caylyn Wells, Mrs. Jill Jaiswal, and Ms. Kristin Ulrick consulted with Upper School science teacher Mrs. Kimberly Walsh and Dr. Jonathan Roberti, an expert in plant-based nutrition and an ardent proponent of vertical farming systems.The team collaborated to design a detailed plan for the year-long project.

From day one, students had 100% hands-on involvement.They unpacked the shipping boxes and laid out the pieces of the garden structure; then worked in teams to build the garden’s towers utilizing hand tools. Once the towers were fully constructed, the students planted the seedlings and filled the water reservoirs.When the towers were ready, the classroom lights were dimmed and the towers were turned on to the delighted “wow’s!” from the students and teachers.

The aeroponic garden project involved multiple subjects throughout the course of the year as students learned about science, math, culinary arts, economics, horticulture, and more.They studied their plants’ growth cycles and learned how to manage their care. In the role of “plant detectives,” they measured growth, maintained the pH of the water, and studied how air and light quality impact the overall health of the plants.

The students trimmed the plants’ roots and leaves and learned how proper maintenance leads to successful crop propagation.

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Dr. Roberti visited the classes to discuss the different qualities of the plants and what natural chemical compounds make each look and taste differently.The students were excited to taste the different greens, which included herbs, leafy greens, and edible flowers, and they commented on the variety of flavors they experienced.They then brought a hefty selection of their harvest to Flik, who used them in the dining hall salad bar. Each child was excited to bring home a selection to share with their families that day!

As the end of the year approached, students hypothesized how aeroponics might be used to solve a real-world problem, or how it could be used to serve a bigger purpose.The classes worked together to propose a feasible solution that they then launched to an authentic audience.

ODA Engineering Program Awarded Toshiba Grant for Oyster Reef Project This fall the Out-of-Door Academy received a $7,250 STEM grant from the Toshiba America Foundation (TAF) to support the ODA Aquaculture Project, in which students are designing sustainable oyster reefs to improve water quality in the Gulf of Mexico.

ODA engineering students tackled a design challenge to develop a practical, economical, and sustainable solution to combat water pollution and red tide in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. After researching the issue and speaking with experts, the students learned that oysters naturally filter water of pollutants and microalgae. Moving forward, ODA’s engineering and science classes will collaborate to construct reefs for the oysters that are biodegradable and beneficial to marine environments. Students plan to set up saltwater reef tanks that mimic the Gulf conditions, and will monitor water conditions, care for the oysters, and test reef prototypes on campus before transporting them to shorelines for long-term study. Over time, the oyster colony will naturally reseed itself and become self-sustaining, filtering thousands of gallons of water per day.

“The funding from the Toshiba Grant will provide exciting and meaningful learning opportunities for ODA students,” said Head of School David Mahler.

“Given the recent impact of red tide on our region, this student-driven research project could not be more important or timely.”

Toshiba America Foundation’s grants fund projects designed by individual classroom teachers.This “direct-to-teacher” approach brings immediate results.Teachers are able to change the way they teach Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects because the grant supports equipment for hands-on experiments and inquiry-based approaches to the curriculum.TAF grants provide teachers with the tools they need to be more effective educators and make the classroom a more exciting place to learn.

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ODA’s Director of Dining Services Wins President’s Award Out-of-Door is proud to announce that Director of Dining Services Lindsey Kraus is the recipient of the 2018-2019 Flik Independent School Dining President’s Award.The prestigious award is given to a Flik associate who “consistently exceeds expectations, makes a positive difference in the lives of their guests and peers, exhibits humility, and strives for excellence every day.”

Miss Kraus, who has been working in the food service industry for more than 10 years and joined Flik in January of 2018, says that she was not anticipating receiving an award when she was invited to the event in Hartford, CT. “I am grateful that I’ve been able to come into ODA and make a positive change.That has actually been the ultimate reward,” she shared.

When she took the reins of ODA’s dining program, Miss Kraus faced many obstacles. From staffing and healthy options, to sustainability practices and food waste, there were many challenges to tackle.

“When I first came to ODA, we didn’t have a full, permanent team that wanted to be part of the ODA community. It was important to me that the team members got to know the students and became engaged by going to their games and performances. I wanted them to take pride in the work they do and to feel like they are not only a team, but part of a family.”

Students expressed interest in having more healthy, seasonal options, alternative grain choices, and more variety in cuisines.Wishing to support the local community, Miss Kraus and her staff began to regularly visit the Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market and formed relationships with local farmers who could supply fresh produce and Camelot Breads for fresh baked goods.They added new flavors into their meal options, a variety of healthy snack choices, and whole grain choices including freekeh, amaranth, and farro.

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Miss Kraus–who is an ardent supporter of sustainable practices–was encouraged by the knowledge that Out-of-Door consistently works on its sustainability initiatives. She worked with the students in the Global Action Club regularly, moving the discussion forward by talking about the “why” in addition to the “how.” They explored working with the facilities staff to begin composting on campus, and researching new ways to reduce food waste.

Supporting Head of School David Mahler’s desire to reduce the use of plastic, she moved away from coated paper plates, plastic straws, and plastic cutlery, and introduced responsibly sourced plant-based plates and flatware. She was also supported in her desire to serve only antibioticfree chicken, cage-free eggs, hormone-free milk, and sustainably sourced seafood. “I am fortunate that both Flik and Out-of-Door are flexible and open to new ideas about making changes in order for the School to become more sustainable,” says Miss Kraus.

In addition, Miss Kraus has met with a regional dietician who visited both campuses and spoke with students. She was impressed with the variety offered at each meal, as well as how open ODA students were to trying new foods.When the students at the Lower School were asked what foods they enjoyed the most they replied, “flaky, baked cod,” and when asked what they would like to have added they responded that they would like “sushi rolls!”

Looking ahead, Miss Kraus says that there is still plenty of work to be done to enhance ODA’s sustainability practices and reduce its carbon footprint. She looks forward to working in partnership with students and leadership to help Out-of-Door realize this challenging but attainable goal. But in the short time she has been at ODA, we have seen a strong impact - enough to elicit national recognition.

FREE ADMISSION

- BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Saturday, November 9, 2019 11:00 am - 3:00 pm PRESENTED BY:

The Out-of-Door Academy Historic Siesta Key Campus 444 Reid Street, Sarasota, FL 34242

FUN DAY oda.edu/TFD FOOD • FUN • GAMES • CRAFTS • INFLATABLES • CHILI COOK OFF

Academics

1 1) The class of ‘31 visits the control room at SNN.

Lower School Academics KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS GO BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT SNN As part of the kindergarten unit on weather and meteorology, students visited the SNN studio in Sarasota to see the systems used for weather tracking and learn about the broadcast process.

SNN Meteorologist Mr. Marco La Manno was engaging and entertaining as he took the inquisitive kindergarteners on a tour. He showed the students the control room, explaining all about the equipment and the different technology used to set up the weather videos, transitions, and music for all of the weather and news segments. “I learned how to use the controls in the control room.There were a lot of buttons!” Hudson Turek ‘31 remarked.

Mr. La Manno then spoke with the group about the science behind weather forecasting. He explained the different weather patterns associated with dry air and moisture, and talked about the approaching cold front and how drier air (usually) means no rain. Mr. La Manno also showed the students the weather camera mounted on the roof of the building, and played live video to show all of the fog in the region.The students then watched a live broadcast of the news which included the weather segment they had just learned about. At the conclusion of the broadcast, the students were brought on camera for an adorable introduction!

STUDENTS LEARN LIFE CYCLE HATCHING BABY CHICKS The first grade classes began their Life Cycle unit by putting 24 chicken eggs–12 Cream Legbars and 12 Black Copper Marans–into the incubator in their classroom. During each of the 21 days it took for them to 26 The Banyan | Academics

mature, the class learned about the daily physiological changes going on inside each delicate shell.The teachers used a set of 21 plastic eggs that open to show an illustration of each days’ development to help their students understand the growth occurring. After three weeks, the class was excited to see 13 healthy chicks emerge from their shells. Once hatched, students had the opportunity to watch their rapid growth while the chicks were living in their classroom.

After a few weeks, the chicks were transported to their new home at Swain Farm. Once they had settled into their new home, the first graders visited the farm for the day.They were reunited with their chicks, went on a hayride, drove a tractor, and enjoyed a picnic lunch. Mrs.Young has been teaching first graders about the Life Cycle by hatching chicks for many years and has always had great feedback from her classes. “This unit is one of our favorites.We do a lot of learning and have a lot of fun.The memories our students make during this unit last a lifetime!”

SECOND GRADE MARINE BIOLOGISTS STUDY MANATEES The 17-acre Ft. Myers Manatee Park is a beautiful and unique destination where enthusiastic Out-of-Door students were able to view the endangered Florida manatees in their non-captive, natural environment in the Orange River. In addition to viewing the manatees, students participated in engaging, interactive lessons about manatees and went on a scavenger hunt where they had to work collaboratively to find specific plants, animals, and landmarks around the park.

The field trip tied in with the second graders’ manatee unit in marine science. Classes have been learning about the physiology, adaptations, history, and conservation of manatees, with the field trip to view the

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2) Cole Jarrell ‘30 and Eva Jobe ‘30 with two of the chickens raised in their classroom. 3) Starlla Jackson ‘28, Sophia Paterson ‘26, Quincy Van Hoesen ‘26, and Mrs. Tanna Horner at the STEM Award Ceremony. 4) Shades were needed for this cool Daytona Beach Travel Agency booth. 5) Mrs. Martha Guláscy, Marina Atwell ‘27, and Mr. David Mahler at the Embracing Our Differences reception.

animals in the wild as the culminating highlight of their studies. In their classroom, students were able to examine the bones of a manatee.The skeleton, on loan from the Fish and Wildlife Institute in St. Petersburg, came from a manatee that was killed by a boat strike. Because of this unique opportunity, students were able to have hands-on experience articulating the entire skeleton, including the flippers, helping them to have a better understanding of manatee physiology.

LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS EARN STEM FAIR AWARDS At the start of the 2018-2019 school year, students in 3rd-5th grade applied and were selected to be part of the ODA STEM Fair team.

From this group, students decided whether they wanted to complete an engineering project or an experimental project, and were grouped according to interest. Students worked through the engineering design process or scientific method, defining the problem, asking questions, researching, experimenting and prototyping, analyzing the results, and finally presenting their findings.

Students worked before school, after school, at home, and during class on their STEM Fair projects.They followed the guidelines given by the county and used an electronic log book to keep track of each step of the

process. Students were able to decide on a project based on their own interests and the needs of the community.They considered problems, brainstormed solutions, and then designed their projects.

More than two dozen public, private, and independent schools participated in this year’s fair. More than 400 area students traveled to Robarts Arena to display 365 STEM projects to be judged in five categories; Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics and Technology, and Engineering. Out-of-Door Lower School students submitted 12 projects for judging. Students created a display board detailing their project and prepared for interviews by community judges.They demonstrated their RISER manners and behavior, answered questions about their project, and discussed the real life applications for their prototypes.

ODA is proud that two projects received awards. Starlla Jackson ’28, Sophia Paterson ’26, and Quincy Van Hoesen ’26 received 2nd Place in the 3rd Grade Engineering category for their project “The Scented Bean Bag Chair.” The Student Choice Award was won by Abby DiPinto ’28 and Alana Kaplan ’28 for their submission “Happy Headbands.”

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6 6) Fifth graders visit the Sarasota Courthouse. 7) Third graders work together to make a large reef ball.

STUDENTS FEATURED IN LOCAL EXHIBIT Original quotes written by Mia Amdur ‘26, Marina Atwell ‘27, and Tyler Ellerson ‘26 were chosen for the 2019 Embracing Our Differences exhibit this year.The three students composed thoughts about embracing differences, diversity, bullying, or inclusion for the contest and were selected from 11,791 entries received from 111 countries around the world.The exhibit was displayed in Sarasota’s Bayfront Park.

FIFTH GRADERS DELVE INTO CIVICS & GOVERNMENT As part of a cross-curricular study about the basic functions of the government, fifth grade students learned about the role of each branch of government and the relationship between local, state, and national government as well as the judicial system. Students also read John Grisham’s “Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer,” a book centered around a boy who aspires to be a judge.

Their inspiring words are synonymous with the core values of respect and integrity.

• “Books are like people, if you judge them by their cover, you may never know their story.” - Mia Amdur ‘26 • “Be brave, be strong, and most importantly, be you.”

- Marina Atwell ‘27 • “Being mean is easy. Standing up for someone takes courage.”

- Tyler Ellerson ‘26

Mrs. Bryan’s history classes studied the multi-step process of how a bill becomes a law. After learning how the government systems work, students wrote their own bills based on a change or new rule they would like to see implemented on the Lower School campus. Bill proposals included changes to the schedule, new classes, holidays or days off, and nap time. Each class was then divided into the Senate and House of Representatives. Small committees first approved the bills within each section.The bills that were approved moved on to the whole House or Senate for approval.

FOURTH GRADERS BECOME TRAVEL AGENTS Mrs. Bryan’s fourth grade history students concluded their study of modern Florida by presenting their Florida Travel Agency projects.

Prior to starting their project, Mr. Neal Alfano, Creative Director from Miles Partnership, visited the entire fourth grade class class to talk about his career in travel and tourism marketing. Mr. Alfano, a Ringling College of Art and Design graduate, gave the students advice for their upcoming projects and showed the fourth graders examples of work he and his team created for several travel-oriented marketing campaigns.

Each group researched a Florida city, learning about the history, landmarks, things to do, places of interest, and more.The students then designed a poster in Ms. Gabrici’s art class using 2- and 3-dimensional elements to visually present the information they learned from their research. On presentation day, booths for each project were set up around the Kozel Family Amphitheater to exhibit each project. Parents and Lower School classes were invited to visit each station to learn more about the exciting destinations that the fourth graders chose to showcase.

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The fifth graders also visited the Sarasota County Courthouse.When the group arrived at the courthouse, Sarasota law enforcement officers Sergeant Baker and Deputy Duffy kicked off their visit with the students’ first look at a real courtroom. Getting a glimpse of a holding cell was a sobering image for the fifth graders who could not fathom such an experience.The Honorable Judge Walker invited our students into his courtroom and shared his enthusiasm and expertise with the inquisitive group. His passion for law was palpable, and his devotion to the legal system inspired students to consider this career path. Judge Walker reviewed the Bill of Rights—a topic that the fifth graders had just studied in class—along with fair trial and individual rights.

While in the courtroom, students also interacted with several courthouse professionals. Prosecutor Ms. Kate Wallace, public defender Ms.Trish Edwards, and court reporters Mr. Richard Scire and Mr. Michael Scire brought to life key characters in the students’ upcoming class book. “Much of the story takes place in the courtroom – a complex setting which my students are unfamiliar with.The students walked right

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into the main setting of the story on this trip!” said fifth grade reading teacher Mrs. Brittany Hiller. “There is no better way to build background knowledge before embarking on a new literary adventure than literally stepping foot into the setting of the story and interacting with the characters!”

STUDENTS PRESERVE SARASOTA REEFS The third grade visited Reef Innovations in Sarasota for an exciting, two-day, hands-on learning opportunity.The group learned how the man-made reef balls made of biodegradable material are used to mimic natural reefs and are an important part of reef restoration and protection efforts.They rolled up their sleeves and worked with Reef Innovation employees to help make reef balls - a small size for each student to bring home, and several large models for use in ongoing restoration projects.

On their return visit the following day, the group helped to un-mold and clean up the new reef balls to be ready for use. Reef Innovations plans to use the new balls in their ongoing restoration projects.

FIFTH GRADERS LEARN NEGOTIATION, DIPLOMACY, AND STRATEGY VIA WORLD PEACE GAME Each year, fifth grade students participate in the World Peace Game.

This hands-on political simulation gives young students the opportunity to explore the global landscape by considering the impact of economic, social, and environmental crises and the threat of war.

around the world by students from elementary to high school.The game consists of four countries and four organizations. Students work with their team to solve twenty-three crises ranging from military conflict and natural disasters, to migration issues – which change from year to year.

The goal is to achieve global prosperity and the game is not complete until all problems are solved and each country or organization is above its starting budget.The students quickly learn the importance of teamwork and compromise.

Chase Smith ‘26, completed the game in the fall of 2018. Chase acted as the president of the World Bank. “World Peace Game makes you realize that you can’t just solve something by saying it’s solved,” says Chase. “You realize negotiating is harder than you think.”

Fifth grade teacher Ms. Sarah Bryan facilitates the game for her students.

Each group has solved the challenge in a different way. For one group, the game came down to a coin toss.When the coin landed on heads, which was what was needed, the whole class erupted in excitement.The kids love the game because they are solving real world problems on their own terms.”

Bella Cogan ‘26 played the game as a Prime Minister for her country that her group named Lit-Rich Narwalville. She reflects, “I like the challenge of having a lot of stuff to do because the crises are hard and you don’t have much time. It gives you a lot of suspense.”

John Hunter, a gifted teacher, created the World Peace Game as a way to challenge his students. It was first played in the late 70s and is now played

Anthology of Poetry Competition Featured Poets It is an honor for these students to be chosen and published.The Anthology of Poetry is the forum that recognizes writing excellence in students from kindergarten through grade twelve.They select and publish the finest poems submitted by student writers. Authors are selected for their writing expertise. Congratulations to the following fourth and fifth graders whose poems have been chosen to be published in the Anthology of Poetry byYoung Americans: Grade 5 Mia Amdur Sofie Bonacuse Bella Cogan Alexander Dart Samantha DiPinto Chloe Dyndal Samantha Fox Ava Heise Sophia Horr Kamran Jobe Olivia Kints Mili Knego Zain Majeed

Emerson Miller Mays Montagna Phineas Monsul Dylan Neumann Sophia Paterson Kalan Robben Katerina Sommers Emma Szabo Jordan Tremblay Jackson Wilcox Hays Wilson SophiaYturralde KaiaYturralde

Grade 4 Marina Atwell Adam Bomberger Madeleine Conger Hayne Falck Jeffrey Horr Avelyn Jones Stepan Korycanek

Bobby Lifsey Samuel Pozefsky Jack Sallee Kylie Downes Rebecca Vrsecka Kiliean Wahl Margaret Yull

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Middle School Academics SIXTH GRADE SYMPOSIUM BRINGS ANCIENT EGYPT TO LIFE Sixth graders embarked on an exploration of Ancient Egyptian practices during a cross-curricular project.The collaboration between science, history, math, and visual art examined the process behind mummification, hieroglyphic translation, the geometry of pyramids, and “death” masks. Students translated a story about themselves using hieroglyphics (which they decided are like modern day emojis) and created masks to represent their unique personalities and interests.

They used geometric fractals – a shape that maintains its shape when repeated–to create 3-dimensional pyramids.The students’ pyramids were stacked together to construct one enormous cohesive pyramid which decorated the space at the Egyptian Symposium. Parents and faculty members circulated the Petrik Commons to see each student’s work on display in many forms–digital presentations included a translation of their hieroglyphic story, explanation of the design of their creative “death mask,” and historical explanation of the mummification process.

The Middle School students traveled to the Historic Siesta Key Campus where they sat in small groups with the kindergarteners in the Kozel Family Amphitheater. Each took their time reading the books, frequently stopping to ask, and answer, questions. “Water is melted ice,” “A dime is worth 10 cents,” and “There are 12 months in one year” were a few of the statements that the 8th graders included. Some students wrote books around themes, such as countries or animals, while others included a variety of topics including statements about planets “Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system,” currency, “A quarter is worth 25 cents,” ice cream, “Ice cream is a frozen dessert,” and absolutes, “Up is the opposite of down.”

EIGHTH GRADERS TEACH KINDERGARTENERS ABCs USING BINOMINALS To help his eighth grade Honors Geometry students have a thorough understanding of biconditional statements, Mr. Steven Brelsford asked the class to create alphabet books. He explained that these books were a good vehicle for learning how biconditional statements differ from conditional statements. “I asked the class to keep the language they used simple – to write as if the books were going to be read by kindergarteners.Then I thought, we have kindergarteners, we should have them read the books,” said Mr. Brelsford.When they were completed, the students traveled to Siesta Key to share their books and what they have learned with ODA’s kindergarten class.

Mr. Brelsford’s tactic of simplifying a challenging concept helped his students to better comprehend and apply it in their geometry class.This out-of-the-box style of teaching new skills is an excellent example of just one of the many ways Out-of-Door distinguishes itself and coordinates teaching and learning across our varying age groups.

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After each group heard all of the books, the kindergarteners commented on what they liked about each one. “I liked the ‘s’ page, and learning that vipers are the 24th most deadly snake,” said Ethan Gabrici ‘31, while Francesca Disilvio ‘31 said “my favorite was a ‘D’ page because it said that dolphins scare predators by jumping high out of the water.”

STUDENTS EXPERIENCE CUBAN CULTURE Students from eighth grade Spanish classes traveled to Ybor City to learn about the Cuban influence in the development of the city.

The group began with a visit to Jose Martí Park, learning about his significance in the Cubans’ fight for their freedom from Spain.The

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1) Sixth graders with their 3-dimensional pyramids. 2) Audrey Cochran ‘23 and Natalie Carrión ‘23 share their binomial book.

3) Eighth grade Spanish students at the cigar museum in Ybor City. 4) Students work with scientist Mr. Ronald Sassetti to dissect a pig heart. 5) Fifth and sixth graders collaborate during the Escape Room Challenge.

park—donated in 1956 by Paulina Pedroso, a prominent female leader of the Cuban revolution—is located at the site of Pedroso’s boarding house where Martí stayed during his recovery from an assassination attempt in 1892.

After a short walk, students had the opportunity to visit a cigar company and watch workers hand-rolling cigars. In the adjacent museum, students learned about the history of Cuban immigration toYbor City and the influence the new population had on the cigar industry. A visit to the houses where cigar workers lived showed students a bit about the life of the immigrants.

At their final stop, students and chaperones traveled to La Segunda, a 150 year-old bakery.The group had the opportunity to watch the preparation of traditional Cuban bread using an original recipe from Cuba. Before departing for ODA, many bought bread and pastries from the bakery to share at home with their families.

SEVENTH GRADERS EXPLORE STEM Out-of-Door seventh graders spent a full day immersed in hands-on STEM experiments.The students participated in a variety of experiments designed by both ODA faculty and visiting experts to simulate real-life science and medical scenarios.

Students in Mrs. Stephanie Sassetti’s classes performed biopsies on faux tumors, and used pill bugs to study animal behavior as related to outside stimuli including heat, light, and moisture. Dr. Barrett’s classes looked at X-rays to determine what types of foreign objects their canine patients swallowed, and assembled a system of circuits used to perform an experiment showing how delicate and precise lasers can be used in internal surgeries. Students in Mrs.Walters’ class, with the assistance of guest physiologist and speaker Mr. Ronald Sassetti, dissected pig hearts and learned about the similarities to human hearts and how pig valves can be used to replace damaged valves in humans.

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6 6) Ian Crews ‘24 was one of 100 top-scoring applicants in Florida invited to compete in the National Geographic State GeoBee. Ian studied with Mr. Ventling to prepare for the challenging competition held in March.

Prosthetist Michael Weiss and patient advocate Ty Wilson from Orthotic and Prosthetic Centers spoke with students about the work they do helping amputee patients regain their independence through the use of custom-designed prosthetic limbs.They worked with small groups to show several ways they make casts of a patient’s limb, including a traditional quick-setting plaster cast and using a high-tech imaging method. Students were able to work in teams to study and re-assemble a high-tech prosthetic leg brought to show the intricacies of modern limb replacements.

In the afternoon, Mr. Sassetti discussed the evolution of 3-D medical imaging and printing with the students, as well as the value of continued learning, questioning, and building their own knowledge base.

Mr. Sassetti spoke of his personal experience working in the medical imaging industry from it’s fledgling days, and talked about the future applications the technology is likely to influence.

After a full day of hands-on experiments, the students had a new appreciation of the way math and science work together, and an arsenal of new skills they will be able to use for future science projects and experiments.

A NOVEL WAY TO APPROACH EMPATHY “Snail mail” traveled between the Siesta Key Campus and the Uihlein Campus as Out-of-Door Lower School and Middle School students collaborated in the Pen Pal Letters Project.This annual assignment pairs 5th and 6th graders who write letters to each other sharing their ideas and thoughts about a common theme found in their grade level novels.

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This year, students’ novels focused on the topic of empathy.The 5th grade read “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio, and 6th graders were assigned “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus” by Dusti Bowling. Both books feature main characters who deal with physical deformations– August in “Wonder” has Treacher Collins Syndrome and Aven in “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus” does not have arms.

As both groups of students worked their way through the novels, they discussed their reactions to these stories through hand-written letters.

In addition to their reactions to the books, the pen pals also shared examples of how they’ve shown empathy towards others in their own lives.

The culminating activity of the project was a visit from the 6th graders to the Siesta Key Campus.The Middle Schoolers visited with their 5th grade partners and competed in an exciting Escape Room-type challenge.The success of the activity required the 5th and 6th graders to work together to crack a code using what they knew about the events in the two novels.

CLASS OF 2019 NATIONAL MERIT ACCOLADES

& RECORD-BREAKING SAT SCORES

Class of 2019’s Ben Johnson, John Floersheimer, Clayton Watson, Adelaide Mahler, Nicklaus Auen, and Kelland Timothy.

This spring,The Out-of-Door Academy College Counseling Office was pleased to announce that seniors John Floersheimer and Ben Johnson had been named as National Merit Scholarship Finalists, and Nicklaus Auen, Adelaide Mahler, Kelland Timothy, and Clayton Watson were recognized as Commended Scholars. Overall, the Class of 2019 achieved the highest average SAT score in school history, eclipsing the previous record by 25 points.

This is the largest number of National Merit accolades ODA students have earned in a single year. Head of School David Mahler commended the group on earning this top honor. “This truly elite, national recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of this group of talented students, the high quality of our Pre-K-12 curriculum, and the commitment of our faculty to inspire ODA students to reach their full academic potential.”

Each year, more than 1.6 million students in the U.S. sit for the PSAT 11.

Of that total, approximately 34,000 are named as Commended Scholars on the basis of a nationally applied selection index score.These honors are a testament to student mastery of the PSAT as well as focus and determination in academic pursuits. ODA’s two Finalists, who represent the top 1.25% of test takers, also had the opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million and earning a Merit Scholar® title.

Darryl Calkins, Co-Director of College Counseling, attributes this increase to a combination of several factors. “Partnering with Revolution Prep has been a significant driver in improving scores and reducing students’ fear about taking the test,” he said. Mr. Calkins further noted that the institution of mandatory participation in the PSAT 8/9 has been a contributing factor in student’s comfort with the test. In addition, every rising junior and senior at Out-of-Door is eligible for free, customized tutoring during the summer months.

These strategies have proven to yield outstanding results for dedicated students resulting in consecutive record-high test scores by recent graduating classes. Over the past three years, these changes have yielded positive outcomes and helped to reduce the anxiety associated with taking the SAT and other standardized tests. “The confidence students now have after this additional preparation has improved their outlook on standardized testing,” confirms Mr. Calkins.

The impressive high marks earned by the class of 2019 is a reflection of the collective talent and work ethic of this year’s senior class. In addition to the seniors’ impressive achievement, ODA’s underclassmen average test scores has also increased, landing well above both state and national averages. Out-of-Door is pleased with the overall increases in average test scores, and counselors have noticed a marked, positive change in students’ level of confidence during standardized testing periods.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019 for all of their academic achievements!

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Upper School Academics STUDENTS CREATE ONLINE SPANISH PUBLICATION Students in Mrs. Daniela Rozanes’ AP Spanish Literature and AP Spanish Language & Culture classes, and Mr. Marc Robert’s Spanish V class collaborated on an intensive project to produce ODA’s first Spanishlanguage digital magazine, “El Rincón del Trueno” (Thunder Corner).

The advanced language students produced all of the magazine’s content in Spanish, including articles about sports, technology, social commentary, travel, entertainment, and music. In addition to the articles, in-depth reviews of two local restaurants, a one-on-one interview with math teacher Mr. Azcona-Mesa, original poetry, and videos. Review the digital magazine at bit.ly/ODA-SPMAG. Joshua Fernandez ‘19 took the lead as the editor of the magazine.The senior, who originally suggested the idea to create a student-written Spanish-language magazine, designed the website which hosts the project and edited several of the submitted articles.

“My goal with this magazine was to help people understand more about Spanish culture,” Joshua explained. “I wanted to be sure we covered a variety of topics to be sure that we gave a well-rounded view.This project was a big challenge...I had never made a website before or had to coordinate the different things that so many people needed to do to make it come together. I talked to my dad a lot—he’s a manager, and he gave me a lot of good advice.”

While the students who created the content certainly learned through the process, this online publication doubles as a resource to help other Spanish students practice their Spanish reading comprehension.The advanced Spanish students plan to produce a second edition in the future.

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UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS GO ABOVE & BEYOND IN “THE PASSION PROJECT” Students in Mr. Andy Lemieux’s AP Literature and Composition course began the year with a thought-provoking project based on their summer reading of Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre.”

Through her writing, Brontë’s work gave a voice to those who were routinely oppressed and unable to express their emotions, intellect, or free thoughts. Students were asked to embrace this kind of conviction through “The Passion Project.”

Mr. Lemieux tasked his classes with an assessment that would require them to be both creative and empathetic, drawing inspiration from Jane’s strong moral character and refusal to back down from a challenge.

Each student focused on a passion - something that had intense personal meaning to them.They were then asked to find a group or person who this passion pertained to, or to do something related to their passion that would improve the world around them in some way.

Each of the students created a 5-minute video presentation that was screened by their classmates.They could employ interviews, videos, music, dance, visual art, etc., to make the portrayal of their passion their own.Topics were well-researched, diverse, and raw with emotion. Antibullying, how music makes the world a better place, helping disabled veterans, human trafficking, positive body image, compassion, and the impact of waste in the environment were the focus of just a few of the video projects.

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1) Homepage of El rincón del trueno website. 2) Seniors Kat Gaukhman and Mutaz Faqqouseh with artwork for their Passion Project.

3) Gold Key winner Ashley Sciame ‘20. 4) Kaylen Rivers ‘21 and Reece Whatmore ‘21 with their National TSA Competition storybook entry 5) ODA students at the Latin Forum.

“What stuck out most to me was understanding how much of an influence we can have,” said Kelland Timothy ‘19. “It’s amazing to realize that there are things we can do to make a positive change to help people—not just at ODA, but within and outside of the Sarasota community.”

RISING SENIOR AWARDED CREATIVE WRITING GOLD KEY Ashley Sciame ‘20 was honored by the Alliance forYoung Artists & Writers with a Gold Key award for her creative writing submission in the 2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Last year she earned a Silver Key in the same category. Ashley’s piece, entered in the Science Fiction & Fantasy category, “The Serpent’s Song,” follows the challenges faced by a young woman with magical abilities who leaves home to travel the world.

Early in the school year, Ashley approached English faculty member Ms.Victoria Davis with the idea to enter the contest, which was not part of a classroom assignment. Ms. Davis encouraged her to enter the competition, and was proud of the student’s desire to push herself with an outside project. “Ashley continues to pursue writing—something that matters to her—although she knows she doesn’t get classroom credit for it. She is a diligent, hard worker, and truly values the pursuit of learning.”

English faculty member Mr. Andy Lemieux expressed pride in Ashley’s growth as a writer. “I love that she is open to experiments and passionate

about giving and receiving feedback. Her writing is filled with strong female characters, descriptive passages, and amazing detail.”

Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts who look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Students who receive Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mentions have their work displayed in local exhibitions.

ODA SHINES AT STATE SPANISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION This year, ODA’s Modern Languages Department sent a team of 16 students to compete in the annual Florida State Spanish Conference in Orlando, Florida. ODA’s largest team ever finished the competition in second place, missing the top prize in their division by just a few points.

Many students received top honors, contributing to this strong finish including Nina Giraldo ‘21, Arya Bulusu ‘20, Kate Crump ‘20, and Adelaide Mahler ‘19 who each earned perfect scores!

Approximately 900 students representing more than 50 Florida public, private, and independent high schools participated in this year’s event.

ODA competed in a number of events including Impromptu Speaking, Declamation, and Dramatic presentation.

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6 5) ODA delegates at the Florida State Spanish Conference.

of our delegates participated in the Dramatic Presentation Competition.

The team achieved a perfect score in the theatrical production of: “La chama y la bestia” taking first place in the event.The play is a parody of the well known story, “Beauty and the Beast,” however, it was updated and replete with Hispanic heritage elements.The excellence and perseverance of our theater group’s writing, editing, and daily rehearsals clearly paid off.

Out-of-Door’s Spanish teachers, Ms. Margarita Dooley, Mr. Marc Roberts, and Ms. Daniela Rozanes están muy orgullosos del desempeño de sus estudiantes.

STEM STUDENTS CLAIM NATIONAL TITLE In ODA’s first Technology Student Association (TSA) State Competition, sophomores Kaylen Rivers ‘21 and Reece Whatmore ‘21 created an interactive, tactile, assistive technology storybook for students with physical and intellectual impairment.Their second place finish in the category advanced them to the National Competition in June.

Kaylen and Reece entered several categories in this year’s state competition, including Debating Technological Issues, Extemporaneous Speech, Essays in Technology, and Children’s Storybook. It was in the latter category where the two sophomores made their biggest impression.

Kaylen and Reece began working on their storybook more than six months before the conference. Criteria for the category included a book for children with physical and/or intellectual impairment on a scientific concept or idea.They decided on the ‘cell’ as their topic, and began researching the best way to present complicated information in a conceptually and physically accessible manner.

In adherence with the competition guidelines, the students created everything in their book themselves. From the storyline, illustrations, and layout, to laminating and binding the pages – every part of the book was completely original. Every spread of their book “A Trip to Cell City,” featured original illustrations and the text of the story. Each left-facing page had a removable felt cut-out representing the part of the cell being discussed to stimulate and encourage tactile response. All text was 36 The Banyan | Academics

translated into Braille for sight-impaired children and every right-facing page featured a button that, when pressed, plays an audio recording of Kaylen reading the page’s text.

To make the science conceptually accessible, the students wrote their story within the framework of the cell being a cityscape. Each part of the cell represents a different and essential part of a city that is needed to keep everything running smoothly. As readers “tour” the city, they learn about the purpose of each area, and how they all work together.

In preparation for the competition, Reece reached out to Oak Park School in Sarasota and arranged to read “A Trip to Cell City” to classes in the Developmental Assistive Technology wing. Students in the program have severe and profound intellectual disabilities and receive augmentative and assistive technology for communication in order to access their curriculum. After each reading, the ODA students asked for feedback from the children.They shared what they liked and disliked, and what changes they thought would be important to make the book more successful.The sophomores found their input extremely valuable and put it to good use in honing the details of the book.

Their second-place finish at the TSA State Conference advanced them to the TSA National Teams Competition in Washington, D.C. At Nationals they attended an exciting presentation by Stokes Educational Services (SES).The speaker, Robert Stokes, demonstrated a humanoid robot, gave a brief introduction in how to program it, and outlined the parameters of the SES Humanoid Robotic National Championship.The duo decided to enter, and after an intense competition, Kaylen and Reece were awarded the National Championship!

SOPHOMORE WINS SCHOLARSHIP FOR THIRD YEAR RUNNING ODA congratulates Tyler Lesh ‘21 for being named a 2019 Recognized Carson Scholar for the third year in a row. Recipients of this prestigious award have embraced high levels of academic excellence and are dedicated to serving their communities. Students must be nominated by an educator at their school, with only one student from each school eligible to apply.The Carson Scholarship is awarded solely on the basis of academic achievement and humanitarian qualities.

EXPLORING HISTORY THROUGH ARTISTIC EXPRESSION Students in Dr. Zitani’s Social and Cultural History of the American 20th Century course presented touching artistic reflections of spoken word, drawings, and songs based on their research of race, class, and gender during events throughout American history.Their impressive original works showcased the depth of their understanding of difficult times, offering a glimpse at the impact of these events on people and culture.

Dr. Zitani’s intention with this innovative project was to encourage students to use art as a way to engage more deeply with history.The topics were chosen by students and they collaborated with each other throughout the process on what they were independently researching, broadening each students understanding of each topic.

At the Coffeehouse presentation, each student offered a brief synopsis of the event they were covering, and then presented and explained their artistic reflection. Attendees asked follow-up questions to gain further insight on these historic events. Students presented with passion about the Flint Water Crisis,The Great Depression, Native American Boarding Schools, and more.Their reflections showcased a thorough understanding using various media, including a cartoon depiction of the repercussions of the healthcare crisis; a song composed about the process a woman would have gone through during the East St. Louis Race Riots; and poems about the March on Selma,The Atlanta Washer Woman’s Strike, and Gentrification in Little Haiti.The final pieces demonstrated that the students gained empathy for the individuals whose stories they portrayed.They found themselves seeking the authentic voices, and striving to make those voices speak through their art.

Afterwards, students reflected that the project gave them a deeper understanding of the topics.The unique project’s approach humanized the events, offering students a connection to the impact on many lives.

Students expressed that although the project was outside their comfort zones, it allowed them to connect in a new way and they appreciated that the assessment went well beyond a regurgitation of facts.

IMPRESSIVE SHOWING AT REGIONAL LATIN FORUM ODA students had a spectacular showing at the Florida Junior Classical League Regional Forum this year.The 40 students, along with faculty chaperones Ms. Nicole Fafalios, Ms. Anya Grady, Miss Alyssa Mandel, and Mr. Paul LeBras, traveled to Plant City for the day-long competition.

ODA students took home a total of 44 awards in multiple categories.

“During the competition, the focus on academics, arts, and athletics– always a part of Roman and Greek culture–lines up nicely with ODA’s mission, and the core values of the Junior Classical League mirror ODA’s core values,” said Ms. Fafalios. “I believe that events like this further help Latin teachers instill an appreciation for the ancient world and demonstrate in a very tangible way that studying the classics is even more interdisciplinary and relevant to their lives than students may realize.”

To prepare for the competition, students selected which of the academic and creative areas they were most interested in and were responsible for their own preparation. Students were encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones and stretch their limits.

“This year, I challenged myself in taking a test I had no background knowledge in: Greek Derivatives,” said Mutaz Faqqouseh ‘19.

“I thought it was going to be incredibly difficult, but I actually ended up earning second place. I realized that if I put my mind to accomplishing something, I can achieve it through hard work and determination.

Being a part of FJCL for the past four years has taught me to not be scared to explore my interests, I’ve developed a passion for Latin which I otherwise wouldn’t have known I possessed if I hadn’t been willing to step outside my comfort zone.”

ODA’s Upper School Latin scholars were frequent visitors to the awards podium, earning first-place medals in the Academic category for PMAQ Advanced, in the Creative category for 2D Non-Graphic, Costumes, Dramatic Interpretation, Models, Charts & Posters, and Miscellaneous, and in the Olympika category for Friscus. Joining these performances were seven second-place medals, and multiple awards in third through fifth place.

Middle Schoolers were also strong performers at the competition, with a first place in Creatives;Textiles. Students also earned three second-place awards in the Olympika and Creatives, and a dozen third-through fifth-place finishes.

In addition, ODA students brought home two trophies in the Creatives Sweepstakes; second place in the Senior category, and third place in the Junior category.

ODA STUDENTS EXCEL AT STATE LATIN FORUM Sixteen studious Out-of-Door Upper and Middle School Latin students traveled to Orlando for the three-day 2019 Florida Junior Classical League (FJCL) State Latin Forum competition. ODA had several “firsts,” including the first sibling team in Olympika, Kelsey Lugannani ‘20 and Cameron Lugannani ‘23; first-time competition attendees Josh Cohen 20, Kelsey Lugannani ‘20, and Susan Pacer ‘20; and the first time ODA has had voting delegates – Arya Bulusu ‘20, Nina Dinh ‘20, Mira Khazanchi ‘20, Catie Pacer ’23, Johnny Robinson ‘23, and Ian Strang ‘23.

Students who choose to participate in this State-level competition must do their studying and project preparation outside of their regular class time. Upper School students in the JCL Club were able to use club time in addition to time outside of school to prepare for their events, and students who were not in the club worked independently, stopping in periodically for help or a check-in with Ms. Fafalios or Mr. LeBras. All of these students attended the Regional competition in February, and since that time, have continued studying and refining the projects they began in the Fall of 2018.

The students participated in a combination of academic, creative, Certamen, and Olympika (athletic/spirit) events. In addition to these competitive events, students also attended many of the optional offerings, including the talent show, karaoke, a lecture on ancient philosophy, and a fun-filled Friday night dance.

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Senior Profiles

Adelaide Mahler ‘19 - Valedictorian Valedictorian Adelaide “Addie” Mahler has lived in Sarasota for the majority of her life. She is an ODA Lifer, a student who began her academic career at Out-of-Door in kindergarten and continued all the way through to graduation. Addie has always led by example and lived the school’s core values in everything she’s done. She is a diligent, empathetic, and inquisitive student who strives to improve the world around her.

Addie was an accomplished student-athlete, playing four varsity sports while on the Uihlein Campus; volleyball (grades 8-12), soccer (grades 9-10), basketball (grades 11-12), and lacrosse (grades 6-12). She was awarded the Athlete of theYear,Volleyball MVP,Volleyball Athlete of the Week, Most Improved - Basketball, Basketball RISER Award, Lacrosse MVP, and was nominated for HT Preps Lacrosse Player of theYear. She was also the captain of the lacrosse team in her junior and senior years, and captain of the basketball team in her senior year. She will play volleyball at Middlebury College, where she plans to major in Environmental Studies with a minor in Global Health. “Athletics were an incredibly influential aspect of my schooling experience,” says Addie. “They taught me to embrace the core values along with the other necessary life lessons like time management, accountability, collaboration, and the importance of exercise to mental health.”

Academically, Addie has excelled in all of her classes, achieving straight A’s throughout her Upper School career. She is a member of the Cum Laude Society and National Honor Society, and has earned three gold and one silver National Spanish Exam medals, the Modern Language Award, the NSE Junior Study Abroad Scholarship, and the Harvard Book Award.

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their students to get them ready for the rigors of their last four years at ODA. “Honors Biology–though it was the most challenging course, was easily the best class I could have taken to prepare me for the rest of my high school career. Mr. Newhams pushes his freshmen and promotes studying and note taking techniques that are invaluable.”

Being active in Out-of-Door’s programs was integral to Addie’s sense of community. She acted as Events Coordinator,VP, and President of Global Citizens InterAct Club; Student Director of the Student Admissions Team; and Assistant Student Director of the Student Writing Lab Team.

Addie was also an active member of the ACLU Club, STEM/Science Olympiad Club, Spanish Competition Club, and the GSA. Outside of ODA, she was involved with Global Leadership Adventures, and Girls Inc. This spring, Addie interned at the University of Florida IFAS Extension and Sarasota County’s Sustainability Office. She worked to become better versed in environmental concepts from composting to integrated pest management and fertilization. She also developed a stronger understanding of the role of government in sustainable development.

Although she has not finalized her career path, Addie hopes to utilize her Spanish language skills and passion for the environment to implement sustainable growth initiatives in South America, or possibly become an environmental justice lobbyist. She looks forward to studying at Middlebury College, and is excited about their sustainable initiatives and hopes to intern at their organic garden “The Knoll.”

Filip Svoboda ‘19 - Faculty Cup Recipient When asked what he hopes his legacy at ODA will be, Filip Svoboda answers thoughtfully. “I would like my competitive spirit to live on.

Many times you can take a step back and say, ‘that wasn’t really all that important or it’s just a game,’ but I think it’s important that if you do something that you love, you have to give it your all, regardless.” This statement gives a little insight into the mind of this gifted student-athlete and performer.

Filip is a firm believer that participating in sports can change peoples’ lives.The All-State football and soccer standout feels strongly that his connection with ODA coaches, teammates, and athletics staff gave him the chance to feel like he was part of something bigger. “Teams are a great way to bring people together and build leadership skills...I was fortunate enough to have been chosen as a soccer captain since 8th grade.

It was definitely challenging gaining respect from guys sometimes five years older than I was, but that was part of the fun. Seeing the seniors leave every year and then talking and strategizing with Coach Leicht about next season...I will definitely miss that.”

One of Filip’s most challenging academic classes was the first AP course he took–AP European History with Dr. Zitani. Although the class was tough, he says there wasn’t a single day day when he didn’t look forward to it. As he progressed through the course his confidence built, and that confidence motivated him to work harder. Filip was determined to prove to himself that he could succeed and now considers it to be the most rewarding and fun class he took.

In addition to AP Euro, Filip says that his other favorite class was chorus with Ms. Hoff. Filip performed in many ODA shows and concerts, including “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Songs for a New World,” as well as shows at the Venice Theatre. “Ms. Hoff opened me up to this whole new world of theater which has brought so much joy into my life...

Performing on stage has a lot of similarities with performance on the field and on some levels I would say performing on stage is actually harder.The vulnerability you feel can make you uncomfortable and there’s nothing to hide behind.”

This fall Filip will attend Colgate University and play football for their Division 1 team. Being fascinated with languages, he hopes to learn as many as he can, adding to his native Czech and secondary English. One of his goals is to become fluent enough in Russian to pass as a native speaker. His current course of study includes international relations, economics, or political science.

Filip has an open mind when it comes to his long-term plans in life. He has thought about playing in the NFL, dedicating part of his life to public service, working in politics, or possibly for law enforcement. He also mentions the importance of being a role model and says he thinks about becoming a teacher or coach. Showing maturity beyond his years, he says, “At the end of the day, I hope to have a wife and kids some day...I think that’s all a person can ask for when it comes to happiness.”

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Senior Profiles MACKENZIE CONDRACK ‘19 This multi-talented ODA graduate is planning to major in Meteorology and minor in Mathematics at Florida State University, and to pursue a career with NOAA, NASA, or SpaceX.While at ODA, Mackenzie was heavily involved in the school’s community as a student writing assistant, yearbook photographer, co-leader of the Film Making Club, and varsity volleyball, soccer, and lacrosse player. In her senior year she received the Griffin Award for Visual Arts Excellence, and awards for Most Valuable Player in volleyball, Most Improved Player in lacrosse, and the RISER award for soccer. She is looking forward to moving on to college and credits ODA with giving her the skills to succeed. “ODA has definitely prepared me for success through course load and deadlines.They have taught me to learn to manage my time and balance my workload.”

DYLAN DENNEHY ‘19 Dylan is an artistically gifted grad who says art was his favorite subject at Out-of-Door. “I really enjoy being able to express my thoughts through imagery and creativity. Graphic Design with Mrs. Garasic was my favorite course.”

Also an accomplished athlete, Dylan was captain of the track & field team, and a member of the football and basketball teams. He was involved in a number of ODA’s extracurriculars as a member of the Creators Club, E-Commerce Club, and Wellness Club, and says that balancing academics, sports, and clubs taught him how to “work smark to make work easier.” This fall Dylan will attend Flagler College to study graphic design and plans to start his own graphic design business after college.

MARY FULTON ‘19 An avid student of humanities, Mary says that ODA’s small class sizes, especially in her Latin V class allowed for exceptional focus and discussions about such topics as the “Aeneid.” Outside of academics, her strongest passion has been the theater—she has participated in 12 ODA productions as an actor, stage manager, and student director.

Now headed to Rollins College to study Critical Media and Cultural Studies, Mary’s future may include “[using] cultural studies to be able to work in media that is being produced cross-culturally and internationally or research how to portray cultures in media.”

BEN JOHNSON ‘19 “There were a number of teachers at ODA [who] provided me with support, but I will never forget the countless hours I spent with Mrs. Garcia during my free time revising challenging topics in Honors Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus BC. Her teaching boosted my confidence in math and taught me the importance of hard work and determination.” This reflection of his time at ODA captures the essence of Ben’s personality. Ben qualified as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, placing in the top 1% of all students who took the SAT, and was a member of National Honor Society and Cum Laude Society, as well as many extracurriculars at ODA including the STEM/ Science Olympiad Competition and Makers Clubs. Ben is now looking forward to attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he plans to pursue a degree in Computer Science.

CAROLINE LAFOE ‘19 When asked who her role model is, Caroline answered “my mom, because she is the most loving, hardworking, and determined person I know.” Showing equal determination and work ethic during her time at ODA, this honor roll student will play lacrosse for Bentley College for the next four years. Caroline was head of ODA’s Investing Club, as well as a member of the Key Club and Entrepreneurship Club. She plans to pursue a career as a financial advisor and work for a large banking corporation with her major in Economics.

40 The Banyan | Senior Profiles

ETHAN MARINO ‘19 As captain of ODA’s football team in his senior year, Ethan reflected on what he gained from the role. “I learned how to lead correctly...I learned teamwork, I learned how to put something else above me and fight for a greater cause...Mostly I learned how to never give up and persevere through anything.” Academically, he found his Creative Writing class to be valuable as a means of learning new ways to express himself, and that art class with Mr. Biedermann opened up new creative avenues of thinking for him. Ethan, an ODA Lifer, will attend Bradley University and major in Music and Entertainment Industry. His goal is to be a successful artist and businessman in the music industry.

MADISYN OPSTAL ‘19 With multiple extracurriculars including Social Enterprise Club, Spanish Competition Club, Global Citizens Club, GOALS Haiti, and National Honor Society; standings on the Headmaster’s List and Honor Roll; and a three-time MVP title on the girls varsity soccer team, Madisyn has made the most of her time at ODA. Madisyn credits her scholastic success to learning time-management skills in order to develop the discipline needed to manage her full course load, varsity sports, and after-school activities. She will utilize these skills this fall when she plays Division 1 soccer at Wake Forest University where she plans to follow a Pre-Med or Health and Exercise Science major.

CHRISTIAN RAMOS ‘19 Christian will be setting off for NYU in the fall as a Music Business major. He is looking forward to the progressive, artistic culture of NYC, and hopes to inspire people to follow their dreams and encourage the world to be more accepting. Christian has a disciplined work ethic and is extremely self-motivated. “I set three bars, all pretty high.

I set a short-term bar. A small step, say, write another song. I set a mid-term goal, something like getting music samples cleared, finding an artist to collaborate with, or marketing myself. And I set a long-term goal, like finishing and releasing an album or conceptualizing music videos for the songs. I always look at how far I’ve come and never at how much I have left to do.” This mentality will serve Christian well as he follows his passion to the big apple.

GRACE SCHLOTTHAUER ‘19 A dancer since she was young, Grace was thrilled when she learned that her hard work and discipline helped her to earn the Presidential Scholarship for Dance at Wake Forest University. As a Lifer and an active member of the ODA community, Grace was a class representative, secretary of Student Council, head of Night With the Stars, and a member of the Key Club. She was also a member of TOPS soccer in addition to dancing at the School of Russian Ballet in Sarasota. Grace says she is “looking forward to living on my own and taking classes that will help me find my passion for a career.” She is leaning towards a finance degree with a minor in dance.

ZACH SZMANIA ‘19 “I always set the bar high and when I achieve my goals, I renew them so that I am always moving forward” says Zach. An elite swimmer who works as an instructor at the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota, Zach says that swimming with ODA’s team has left him with a great group of friends. In the fall, the honor roll student will head north to Boston College where he will study Finance and Economics and swim on their Division 1 team. Zach plans to work as an investment banker after completing his education.

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Commencement

Out-of-Door Lifers Out-of-Door families are committed to giving their children the best education possible. At ODA, students who attend from pre-K or K through 12th grade are known as Lifers. Lifers and their families are invested in the ODA community, and develop a special connection with the faculty, staff, and fellow students whom they move up with from year to year.We are proud to have 17 Lifers graduate from the Uihlein Campus in the Class of 2019.

Zach Aberle

42 The Banyan | Commencement

Ethan Ball

Hannah Bizick

Tala Bleau

Sofia Delgado

Conor Gallagher

Tucker Harris

Alexis Hudson

Adelaide Mahler

Ethan Marino

Declan McCann

Celia Miller

Kinsey Newhams

Banks Paxton

Andrea Schiro

Grace Schlotthauer

John Vickery

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Class of 2019 by the Numbers The Out-of-Door Academy celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2019 on Saturday, June 1, at the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch.The Commencement Ceremony included student and faculty speeches, musical performances, awards presentations, and the presentation of diplomas to our 81 graduates – the largest graduating class in school history. Legacy families and Lifer students were also recognized during the event. Special thanks to those who joined us for this amazing celebration of our seniors.

Highlights from the Class of 2019 include: • 100% accepted to four-year colleges/universities • 88% of the class received unsolicited merit/academic scholarships • 15% of the class scored in the 99th percentile on SAT/ACT • 10 NCAA commited student-athletes • $10.8 Million total awarded to the class in merit/academic scholarships • $150,000 average four-year scholarship per recipient

44 The Banyan | Commencement

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8 9 1) Christian Ramos ‘19, Elise Raimon ‘19, and Robert Peterson ‘19.

2) Xavier Koffman ‘19 and Hannah Bizick ‘19.

3) Mr. David Mahler presents Ms. L’Tanya Evans with a honorary ODA diploma.

4) Caroline Diesel ‘19.

5) Sofia Delgado ‘19.

6) Lilli Carlton ‘19 and Maeve Cappar ‘19.

7) Mackenzie Condrack ‘19.

8) Collin O’Callaghan ‘19 raises his arms in triumph as he walks across

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the stage.

9) Grads read personalized notes from Valedictorian Adelaide Mahler ‘19.

10) Mutaz Faqqouseh ‘19.

The Out-of-Door Academy 45

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1) Valedictorian Adelaide Mahler ‘19. 2) Senior class speaker Kat Gaukhman ‘19.

Commencement Speakers “ I plead with you to never limit yourselves to a single narrative and I hope you all become story collectors and storytellers of your own right. Revel in the beauty and strength of human company, but combat homogeny with all your might.”

Adelaide Mahler ‘19

“ It wasn’t long before we matured into young adults who saw the world for what it was instead of

what we wanted it to be. We were holding signs about womens’ rights and immigration, rather than throwing a football around like kids our age once did...There is a lot of work to be done on this planet; we all know that. The good news is that most people our age are aware of what needs to happen for us to thrive. And when we are all passionate about the same key elements, change is inevitable.

”

Kat Gaukhman ‘19

46 The Banyan | Commencement

Congratulations to the Class of 2019!

100% ACCEPTED

to four-year colleges/universities

$10.8 MILLION in total scholarship dollars awarded

88%

15%

OF CLASS

received unsolicited academic/merit scholarshipsÂ

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NCAA committed student-athletes

OF CLASS

scored in the 99th percentile on SAT/ACT

$150,000 average four-year scholarship per recipient

941-554-3400 | www.ODA.edu Siesta Key Campus: Pre-K-Grade 5 | Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch: Grades 6-12 | Sarasota, FL

The Out-of-Door Academy

Alexis Assha

Zachary Aberle

Berry College

Red Rocks Community College

Austin Brinling

Tala Bleau

The University of Tampa (Honors Program)

Nicklaus Auen

Ethan Ball

Florida Southern College

University of Central Florida

Patrick Buck

Maeve Cappar

University of Florida

University of Wisconsin (Honors Program)

Trevor Barron

University of South Florida

Lillian Carlton

Stetson University

Mercer University (Honors Program)

Villanova University

John Colosimo

Mackenzie Condrack Florida State University

Florida Gulf Coast University

Alexander Denler

Dylan Dennehy

Caroline Diesel

William Diesel

Catalina Castro

Flagler College

University of Central Florida

Auburn University

Thomas Cramer

Wake Forest University

Rollins College

Cayla Dammann

Kiley Cassis

West Virginia University

Sofia Delgado

Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University

Occidental College

Alfonso Espinel

Mutaz Faqqouseh

University of South Florida

“ The teachers are really inspiring to me and I just love them with all my heart. ”

Andra Hansen ‘19

48 The Banyan | Commencement

Hannah Bizick

College of Charleston

University of Michigan (Honors Program)

Class of 2019

Joshua Fernandez

John Floersheimer

Florida State University

University of St Andrews-UK (Honours)

Tai Gilbert

Maxwell Hajduk

University of South Carolina, Aiken

Alexis Hudson

Drexel University

Maksym Ivanenko

Leeson Foullon

Sarah Lawrence College

Max Hall

Arizona State University

Ben Johnson

Florida Institute of Technology (Honors College)

The University of Tampa

Univeristy of St Andrews-UK (Honours)

Mason Kolbe

Caroline Lafoe

James Larson

Arizona State University

Bentley University

Cornell University

Mary Fulton Rollins College

Mia Hamill

Southern Methodist University

Salwa Kayali

New College of Florida

Samantha Lozier

Florida State University

Conor Gallagher

Florida State University

Andra Hansen

Florida Southern College

Austen Kessler

Katherine Gaukhman Florida State University

Tucker Harris

Claremont McKenna College

Xavier Koffman

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota

The University of Edinburgh-UK (Honours)

Yezhao Ma

Adelaide Mahler

Southern Methodist University

Middlebury College

“ I’m so excited for the next chapter. I want to get out of here, but at the same time I’m going to miss it. ” Ethan Marino ‘19 The Out-of-Door Academy |

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The Out-of-Door Academy

Ethan Marino

Jack Malcolm

Bradley University

University of Virginia

Celia Miller

Florida State University

Madisyn Opstal

Wake Forest University

Maria Miller

Northwestern University

Geoffrey Paxton

Robert McCampbell

Florida Gulf Coast University

Alexa Myers

Florida Gulf Coast University

Robert Peterson

Southern Methodist University

Wheaton College-MA

Andrea Schiro

Grace Schlotthauer

Damir Sarsekeyev

The University of Tampa

University of Florida

Wake Forest University

Declan McCann

Florida State University

Kinsey Newhams

Wylder Meyer

American University

Jared Newman

Collin O’Callaghan

Loyola University Chicago (Honors Program)

Florida State University

Elise Raimon

Christian Ramos

Florida State University

Maksuts Schukenovs

University of Central Florida

Lauren Millar

Drexel University

New York University

Chloe Spingler

University of Michigan

Fairfield University

Rachel Redington

Florida State University

Mairead Studdiford

Washington and Lee University

“ Coming from a public school, the experience is so different. The teachers at ODA actually care, the students are a lot nicer and they’re compassionate. The quality of education is so much better. I’m so thankful to have gone to ODA. ” Mutaz Faqqouseh ‘19 50 The Banyan | Commencement

Class of 2019

Filip Svoboda

Zachary Szmania Boston College

Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University

Sarsen Whatmore

Christopher Wheeler

Christina Wyatt

Colgate University

Boston University

College of Charleston

Earle Timothy

James Viard

John Vickery

Tallahassee Community College

Elon University

Clayton Watson

Southern Methodist University

Elon University

Class of 2019 Awards Class of 2019 Valedictorian.........................................................................................................Adelaide Mahler ‘19 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists.....................................................John Floersheimer ‘19, Ben Johnson ‘19 National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students..................................Nicklaus Auen ‘19, Adelaide Mahler ‘19 Kelland Timothy ‘19, Clayton Watson ‘19 SAT Achievement: 99th Percentile .............................................John Floersheimer ‘19, Alexis Hudson ‘19, Ben Johnson ‘19 Adelaide Mahler ‘19, Jack Malcolm ‘19, Maria Miller ‘19 Christian Ramos ‘19, Kelland Timothy ‘19 ACT Achievement: 99th Percentile .....................................................................Mutaz Faqqouseh ‘19, James Larson ‘19 Chloe Spingler ‘19, Clayton Watson ‘19 Cum Laude Society Members: Tala Bleau ‘19, Catalina Castro ‘19, Cayla Dammann ‘19, John Floersheimer ‘19, Ben Johnson ‘19, Adelaide Mahler ‘19, Jack Malcolm ‘19, Andrea Schiro ‘19, Lillian Carlton ‘19, John Colosimo ‘19, Alexis Hudson ‘19, Mira Khazanchi ‘20, Maria Miller ‘19, Kinsey Newhams ‘19, Grace Schlotthauer ‘19, Chloe Spingler ‘19, Clayton Watson ‘19

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Graduation Ceremonies

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Middle School Graduation “ As we begin our high school careers, we’re going to have to make a lot of decisions: What classes we

want to take, what sports we want to play, what people we want to be. While we’re making these decisions, I hope everybody remembers that the safe choice isn’t always the best choice, and that it’s alright if we fail. Because we don’t succeed in spite of our failures, we succeed because of our failures.

”

Natalie Carrión ‘23 Eighth Grade Awards FACULTY CUP Emma Bonacuse ‘23

ART AWARD Aiden Smith ‘23

ACADEMIC AWARD Maria Shaw ‘23

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD Cameron Lugannani ‘23 Catie Pacer ‘23

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Svetlana Maury Kondratovich ‘23

52 The Banyan | Graduation Ceremonies

MUSIC AWARD Natalie Carrión ‘23

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1) Class speaker Natalie Carrión ‘23 addresses the audience. 2) Head of Middle School, Mrs. Julie Bianchi addresses the graduating eighth graders. 3) Emma Bonacuse ‘23. 4) Tyler Beck ‘23.

5) Natalie Carrión ‘23, Audrey Coachran ‘23, Ada Giraldo ‘23, Divya Muppavarapu ‘23, and Carina Fiorucci ‘23. 6) Felipe Baffico ‘23, Alex Vatter ‘23, Oliver Giraud ‘23, Hayden Kints ‘23, Luke Pfahler ‘23, Arya Muppavarapu ‘23, and Ryan Mantone ‘23. 7) Maria Shaw ‘23.

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Lower School Graduation “ It doesn’t really matter why you grow, it matters how you grow. If you grow to be kind, show empathy, learn from your mistakes, and most importantly, be who you are! That matters more than if you have won a first-place award in everything you’ve ever done. If you can grow with those qualities, your roots will be strong.

”

Caitlin Abrams ‘26

Fifth Grade Awards ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Caitlin Abrams ‘26 Chase Smith ‘26

SPIRIT OF ODA AWARD Kamran Jobe ‘26 Emerson Miller ‘26

CITIZENSHIP AWARD Carlo Pantone ‘26 Emma Szabo ‘26

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD Ryan Beck ‘26 Anezka Svobodova ‘26

54 The Banyan | Graduation Ceremonies

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6 7 1) Class speaker Caitlyn Abrams ‘26.

2) Happy grads at their reception.

3) Ryan Beck ‘26 receiving his award from Mr. Mahler.

4) Felix Barth ‘26 and Blair Phillips ‘26.

5) Jordan Tremblay ‘26 speaks at the podium.

6) Samantha DiPinto ‘26, Mili Knego ‘26, and Olivia Kints ‘26 at the reception.

7) Samantha Fox ‘26 enters the chapel.

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8) Cyrus Harandi ‘26, Winston Crisci ‘26, Johnathon Phillips ‘26, Hayden Hornback ‘26, Ryan Beck ‘26, and Caleb Cheney ‘26 preparing for the ceremony.

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Arts

1 1) Arthur Wang ‘21 performs at Carnegie Hall.

Artistic Talent Abounds at ODA Out-of-Door students are always willing to display their artistic skills; they are visual artists, musicians, singers, and performers who never fail to entertain and amaze their audiences with the depth and breadth of their limitless talent.

SIESTA KEY CAMPUS EXHIBITS AND PERFORMANCES Lower School students displayed their artwork during four Art Under the Banyan exhibitions in the Kozel Family Amphitheater. Paintings, sculptures, origami, weaving, ceramics, mixed media pieces, and more impressed the viewers. During each of the Art Under the Banyan events, Dr.Vasilaki and her students played lovely music on their string instruments from the steps of the Dining Hall while parents admired their students’ artwork. ODA’s youngest orchestra, band, and choral students showed their talents in an endearing Winter Concert complete with pre-K angels at the Siesta Key Chapel, a Holiday Concert featuring the annual “Nutcracker” performance, and impressive band, orchestra, and chorus performances on Arts Day.The third grade presented “5-A-Day Play,” an anticipated, and much beloved ODA tradition to enthusiastic crowds, and with the assistance of our Florida Studio partners, students presented the unforgettable “Core Values, Unleashed” in our open-air amphitheater.

LOWER SCHOOL ARTS DAY The Lower School Campus was a sea of music, artwork, and theater performances during the annual Lower School Arts Day.The day included a fabulous concert for parents in the Dining Hall; an energetic drumming session with Mr. Erik Dunton of Positive RePercussions; sessions with Mrs. Kim Farcot, a children’s book illustrator, portrait painter, and mother of Madi Farcot ‘26; and cartooning techniques with Mr. Jay Cornwell. Students made up-cycled water bottle fish, pipe cleaner glasses and headbands, and a large-scale group weaving. Fourth 56 The Banyan | Arts

graders read the book “The Dot” about how there is an artist in all of us and then designed their own dots for the annual display in the library and fifth graders worked on their traditional fifth grade stepping stones.

The final event of the day was the 4th and 5th grade concert.The band, chorus, and orchestra all played a variety of music, impressing the packed audience with the level of mastery they achieved.

UIHLEIN CAMPUS EXHIBITS AND PERFORMANCES MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCES A hard-working crew of students, faculty members, and visiting guest artists brought two Middle School productions to life with sets, costumes, and lightning that highlighted the comedic moments of each performance.The student-actors brought an abundance of personality to the beloved characters in their production of “The Jungle Book KIDS”, and the short vignettes in “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales,” took notable fairy tales and put a unique and often hilarious twist to each of their the stories.

UPPER SCHOOL PERFORMANCES The Upper School presentation of “Overcoming” delighted their audience who responded with thoughtful silence and uproarious laughter to the six vignettes presented in this impressive showcase. Guided by the direction of guest artist and Siesta Key alumna Ms. Amanda Schlachter and produced by Ms. L’Tanya Evans, the evening of short plays focused on various themes, including love, fear, and society.The Upper School Musical “Songs for a New World” showcased impressive talent from a small cast who embraced the unique opportunity and performed with passion.The cast of twelve powerhouse vocalists sounded like a full chorus of dozens as every song offered a rich tapestry of sound and emotion.

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2) Ceramics display at Arts Day. 3) Mira Khazanchi ‘20’s Silver Key Photography. 4) Chase Hamill ‘23. 5) Anaiza Lewis ’24 and Celia Rayman ‘25. 6) Chihuly Glass project at Art Under the Banyan. 7) The Upper School Orchestra during their Winter Concert.

8) Painting by Harrison Phillips ‘27. 9) Ryan Shaklik ‘25 and William Nightingale ‘24.

JAZZ UNDER THE STARS As the sun set behind ODA’s Uihlein Campus, soothing melodies filled the air for a picturesque Jazz Under the Stars.The annual tradition featured a variety of genres performed by our talented musicians in a unique and memorable showcase. From blues and jazz to rock and acapella, our students covered the musical landscape on a gorgeous night.

Several soloists enjoyed a moment in the spotlight, impressing the crowd assembled on lawn chairs and blankets in the quad.

MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL ARTS DAY Arts Day at the Uihlein Campus was an amazing day to celebrate ODA’s creative community. Inside the Arts Center, walls were covered with paintings, 2D designs, illustrations, photography, and drawings.The lobby held a display of students’ ceramics and jewelry, creatively arranged to show the variety of colors and textures of the handmade pieces. Outside of the Arts Center, ceramics students demonstrated their throwing skills

during a pottery wheel exhibition and guests were invited to participate in a live painting experience.

The Orchestras played several songs, including “Lovely” by Billie Eilish, “Ships of Ireland,” and “Moondance.” The Advanced Chamber Ensemble’s “Csardas” featuring Arthur Wang ‘21 was fabulous, and “Celtica” by the Combined Orchestra (Grades 6-12) had the audience on their feet.

The Bands presented a combination of traditional, jazz, and Caribbean selections which included “Zombie Tango” and “Harlem Nocturne.”

Each division took their turn at the steel drums, and the two bands came together for a final piece, “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” from the classic “Fantasia” that had the audience clearly impressed.The final group to perform on Arts Day was the Middle and Upper School Chorus.

Senior Filip Svoboda’s charismatic duet with Colin Castro ‘20 from “The Greatest Showman,” as well as the whole group’s rendition of “The Greatest Show” held the attention of their audience.With songs from The Out-of-Door Academy |

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10) Students working on individual projects in Art Workshop. 11) Dr. Vasilaki’s strings students perform during Art Under the Banyan. 12) Windsocks created by pre-K and kindergarten students.

Adele, Queen, and more, the range and depth of the singers and skilled soloists was apparent.

ODA JUNIORS EARN NATIONAL ART AWARDS Junior Mira Khazanchi’s photograph “Cultural Heritage” was awarded 1st Place in the 2018-2019 Congressional Art Competition. Mira received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition during a reception at the Ringling Museum, and her artwork will be flown to Washington, DC where it will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Mira also received two Silver Keys and one Gold Key for her photography submissions “Festivities” and “Diverging Colors.” Paige Crittenden ‘20 received a Gold Key for her mixed media drawing “Through Someone Else’s Eyes.”

Both students were selected as award recipients from a pool of 350,000 student submissions received by the Alliance forYoung Artists & Writers for the 2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts who look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

PERFORMING WITH THE PROS, ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA, AND CARNEGIE HALL Each year, ODA students are encouraged to take advantage of amazing opportunities with the SarasotaYouth Orchestra (SYO) programs located in the heart of our city. As members of the SYO, Christian Ramos ‘19 and Arthur Wang ‘21 performed in the “Thrill of a Lifetime” concert at the Neel Performing Arts Center in Bradenton.This concert gave SYO

members the opportunity to perform side-by-side with the Sarasota Orchestra professionals.The musicians performed original works by both Tchaikovsky and Dovorak and were conducted by Anthony Hose and Rob Lambert.

During the 2019 Forte International Music Competition finals in New York City, Arthur Wang, competed as one of two finalists in the 16 to 18 year old “Seniors” age group. Standing on the legendary stage in worldrenowned Carnegie Hall, Arthur played “Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor,” Jean-Baptiste Accolay.

The well-disciplined sophomore practiced the piece intensively for ten months on his own with his master teacher Sean O’Neal at the Sarasota Music Conservatory and with the Sarasota Orchestra. “I felt honored to be with the most talented musicians in the world...to play in the venue of Carnegie Hall was like a dream.This is the highest achievement for a teenage musician.” says Arthur.

Violinist Natalie Carrión ‘23, and violist Christian Ramos attended the 75th anniversary of the Florida Music Educators Association Conference “Artistry,Teaching and Performing.”The two talented students were selected to represent Out-of-Door in the Middle School and High School All-State Orchestra Programs. Both students worked with renowned conductors Andrea Meyers and Dr. Laura Joella in an intense two days of rehearsals prior to the performance.The event culminated Saturday evening with impressive concerts from both performing orchestras.

Highlights included Themes from Vivaldi’s “Gloria”, Antonio Vivaldi and Bacchanale from “Samson et Dalila,” Op. 47, Camille Saint-Saens.

“ I try to encourage our students to put themselves out there and take risks whenever possible. Their

achievement is a positive reflection on the quality of our visual arts program. These students gain experience from being a part of a national competition and in turn, find out what the arts community is like outside of ODA. This real-life experience also helps to build relationships with the Sarasota community.

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Ms. Leslie Garasic, Head of Visual Arts 58 The Banyan | Arts

ALL-SCHOOL PICNIC • ALUMNI GATHERING • VARSITY FOOTBALL GAME

F R I D A Y ,

O C T O B E R

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THUNDER STADIUM • UIHLEIN CAMPUS IN LAKEWOOD RANCH

All-School Family Picnic - 5:00-7:00 pm Enjoy activities for the entire family.

Alumni Gathering Visiting alumni will help welcome the Thunder to the field.

Varsity Football Game - 7:00 pm The Out-of-Door Academy vs. Shorecrest Preparatory School Adults $5, Students $3 • ODA Students & Alumni - FREE!

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Athletics

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2 1) Girls lacrosse rocked a record-breaking season. 2) Tristan McWilliam ‘22.

Sportsmanship and the Philosophy of Coaching at ODA

By Director of Athletics Kippie Crouch

How we treat one another during the heat of competition, and not whether we win or lose, is the most valuable lesson of interscholastic athletics competition.

When it comes to sportsmanship, ODA’s student-athletes are held to high standards. Sportsmanship is the demonstration of one’s beliefs in the values of respect, responsibility, fairness, civility, honesty, and self-control.These ideals are reflected in the School’s five core values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Responsibility (RISER).

The way we win or lose and how we interact with everyone on the field, court, course, track, and in the pool are important foundations for how we treat others in life – at work and at home.These tenants from the school’s mission are incorporated into our athletic program to reinforce the importance of character and sportsmanship.

1) Respect the game and all its human components – players, opponents, coaches, officials, and fans.Teams cannot play without opponents and officials. Each individual in these groups is human– mistakes will happen and there will be differences of opinion.There is not always a clear right and wrong… there are often different perspectives to a variety of scenarios.This comes with competition and it continues in many facets of life. It’s an important lesson to learn that the call doesn’t always go your way, even if you believe it should.

2) Demonstrate integrity in each action. Do what is right because it is the right thing to do. If someone is willing to bend the rules for an advantage in sport, why not bend the rules for an advantage in business or finances? Being honest about the small things goes a long way in developing honesty and integrity.

3) Serve your team to the best of your ability – on the fields of play and in the stands.Wearing the team uniform identifies student-athletes 60 The Banyan | Athletics

as representatives of the team and members of the ODA community.

Everything a team member does reflects on the entire ODA community.

As a member of the fan base, how one acts and what one says does the same. As a member of the ODA community, act in ways that best represent the community and its reputation. Cheer for great plays and limit the negativity – there is already too much of that in this world!

4) As a school community, we have dedicated time and resources to the growth and development of our student-athletes - individually and as a team. Coaches share their time, knowledge, enthusiasm, skills and strategies to inspire our teams. Bringing one’s A-game to each practice and competition will ensure that excellence is the outcome.

5) As members of the ODA community, we have a responsibility to treat one another fairly, honestly, and with civility. Name calling and booing at opponents and officials is not who we are–those actions do not demonstrate sportsmanship nor do they reflect the School’s core values.

Celebrating the Thunder and congratulating great plays by our teams and our opponents are really much more important than any final outcome of any competition.That is our responsibility, together, as one community.

At ODA, being a RISER is about practicing good sportsmanship and treating each other with respect every day. RISERs believe that treating one another well during intense competition is the true demonstration of integrity. At ODA, competing with class and dignity is always a win.

ODA senior, Austin Brinling reflects on Taylor Emmons Scholarship Four years ago, Austin Brinling ‘19 received the Taylor Emmons Scholarship, which grants one prospective high school student the chance to attend Out-of-Door tuition-free for four years.The scholarship is supported by the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund and is named after the 2009 graduate who played on ODA’s baseball team.The scholarship is awarded to applicants who demonstrate “gratitude, kindness, good humor, and appreciation for others.”

Emmons, 19, was hit by a car and killed on Dec. 5, 2010, while a freshman at the University of Miami.The scholarship was created in 2011, and its first recipient was Desmond Lindsay, another ODA baseball player who now plays professional baseball for the NewYork Mets.While Brinling and Lindsay were baseball players, the scholarship is open to all prospective students.

Brinling, now beginning his freshman year at the University of Florida, knows his scholarship is a big deal. He says that if he had not received it, he wouldn’t be the person he is today. “It has done a lot for me,” Brinling said. “It gave me the opportunity to succeed on and off the field. It made me a bigger person. I am more mature now.When I was younger, I was not that good of a student. I never really had to try before.When I got here, it was a big wake-up call.The teachers here helped me.”

Brinling said mathematics teacher Ms. Julianne Garcia and English teacher Ms. Stefanie Betz were two instructors who particularly helped inspire him. It turns out Brinling is inspiring, too.

“Working with students like Austin is the ultimate reward for teachers,” said Betz, who also coaches ODA’s volleyball team. “You’re able to see the growth and positive changes that happen when a kid is eager to succeed and improve. I’m so proud of how far he has come since he was a freshman.”

On the field, Brinling has blossomed into a complete player. He said the ODA coaching staff, some who double as his coaches on the Florida Burn travel team, have taught him to play smart baseball. He hits leadoff for the Thunder and roams center field. He does not try to hit a ton of home runs or pad his own stats. Coach Tim Orlosky said Brinling always puts the team first, getting on base and putting the team in position to win.

Last year, he hit for a .467 batting average. Orlosky also called Brinling the best center fielder he has seen at the high school level in his 10 years in the business. “I have never seen a kid run down baseballs the way he does,” Orlosky said.

Nevan Hernandez Named 2019-20 Taylor Emmons Scholarship Recipient The Out-of-Door Academy and the Emmons Family are honored to announce Nevan Hernandez as the ninth recipient of the Taylor Emmons Scholarship. Nevan epitomizes Out-of-Door’s five core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Responsibility.

The selection committee was impressed by his track record of hard work and success, as well as the positive endorsements of Nevan as a natural leader, a dedicated student, a trustworthy young man, and a selfless teammate. He demonstrates his strong character in everything he does. Head of School Mr. David Mahler affirmed his selection, “Nevan will be a great ambassador for Out-of-Door and the Taylor Emmons Scholarship. His character and work ethic are impressive.We look forward to watching him make the most of this opportunity as he continues to grow and develop over the next four years in the Upper School at ODA.” Congratulations to Nevan and the entire Hernandez Family on this accomplishment.

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2019 Thunder Athletic Awards TEAM HONORS Baseball – Regional Runner Up Cross Country, Girls – Regional Runner Up Golf, Girls – District Runner Up Lacrosse, Boys – District Runner Up Lacrosse, Girls – District Champions Soccer, Girls – District Runner Up Volleyball – Regional Runner Up

HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICANS Cheer – Sofia Delgado ‘19, Kat Gaukhman ‘19

STATE QUALIFIERS Cross Country, Boys – Tristan McWilliam ‘22 Cross Country, Girls – Chelsea Ball ’21, Abbey Burwood ‘24, Cayla Dammann ‘19, Abby Eakle ’20, Aubrey Robbins ‘24, Maria Shaw ‘23, Maeve Studdiford ‘21 Swimming, Boys – Victor Kassabov ‘20, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay Swimming, Boys – Marco Schanz ‘21, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay Swimming, Boys – Zachary Szmania ‘19, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Individual Medley, 200 Freestyle Relay, 100 Breaststroke Swimming, Boys – Sarsen Whatmore ‘19, 200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay Swimming, Girls – Reece Whatmore ‘21, 200 Individual Medley, 500 Freestyle Track & Field, Boys – Dylan Dennehy ‘19, Discus Track & Field, Boys – Robert McCampbell ‘19, Shot Put Track & Field, Boys – Tristan McWilliam ‘22, 3200M Run, 1600M Run

MALE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD Alex Denler ‘19

INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONS Swimming, Boys – Zachary Szmania ‘19, 200 Individual Medley Swimming, Boys – Sarsen Whatmore ‘19, 200 Freestyle INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT CHAMPIONS Cross Country, Girls – Maria Shaw ‘23 Swimming, Boys – Zachary Szmania ‘19, 100 Breaststroke Swimming, Boys – Sarsen Whatmore ‘19, 200 Freestyle Track & Field, Girls – Saraiah Walkes ‘21, 100m Dash 62 The Banyan | Athletics

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Colin Castro ‘20 FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Adelaide Mahler ‘19

FEMALE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD Mackenzie Condrack ‘19 MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS Aaliyaa Genat ‘22 – Girls Basketball Andrew Chiritescu ‘21 – Boys Tennis Austin Brinling ‘19 – Baseball Chenelle Lauver ‘20 – Girls Tennis Christy Wyatt ‘19 – Girls Golf Colin Castro ‘20 – Football Colin Castro ‘20 – Boys Soccer Jim Cai ‘20 – Boys Golf Jimmy Viard ‘19 – Boys Lacrosse Mackenzie Condrack ‘19 – Volleyball Madisyn Opstal ‘19 & Natalie Gorji ‘20 – Girls Soccer Maria Shaw ‘23 – Cross Country Reece Whatmore ‘21 – Girls Swimming Ryan Macniven ‘20 & Adelaide Mahler ‘19 – Girls Lacrosse Saraiah Walkes ‘21 – Track & Field Sarsen Whatmore ‘19 & Zach Szmania ‘19 – Boys Swimming Sofia Delgado ‘19 – Cheerleading Tyler O’Donoghue ‘21 – Boys Basketball

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1) Athletes of the Year: Colin Castro ‘20 and Adelaide Mahler ‘19. 2) Mason Kolbe ‘19, Coach Tim Orlosky, PJ Fincher ‘21, and Austin Brinling ‘19. 3) Coach Michael Salmon with Paige Crittendon ‘20 and Reece Whatmore ‘21. 4) Julie Viackova ‘19 and Laura Davenport ‘20. 5) Mackenzie Condrack ‘19, Coach Stefanie Betz, Shelby Fulton ‘21, and Gillette Bauer ‘20.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS Laura Gale ‘21 – Cheerleading Jacob Sanford ‘21 – Cross Country Sebastian Frias-Imbert ‘20 – Football Jake Naese ‘21 – Boys Golf Madeline Crosby ‘24 – Girls Golf Marco Schanz ‘21 – Boys Swimming Supawadee Surattanont ‘21 – Girls Swimming Shelby Fulton ‘21 – Volleyball Jacob Sanford ‘21 – Boys Basketball Ciniya Moore ‘24 – Girls Basketball Jonas Leicht ‘21 & Wyatt Carlton ‘21 – Boys Soccer Lilli Carlton ‘19 – Girls Soccer PJ Fincher ‘21 – Baseball Wylder Meyer ‘19 – Boys Lacrosse Mackenzie Condrack ‘19 – Girls Lacrosse Owen Studdiford ‘24 – Boys Tennis Julie Viackova ‘24 – Girls Tennis Dylan Dennehy ‘19 – Track & Field

RISERS Kat Gaukhman ‘19 – Cheerleading Cayla Dammann ‘19 – Cross Country Nolan Lewellen ‘21 – Football John Vickery ‘19 – Boys Golf Savanna Fisher ‘22 – Girls Golf Robert Peterson ‘19 – Boys Swimming Paige Crittenden ‘20 – Girls Swimming Gillette Bauer ‘20 – Volleyball Tyler Beasley ‘21 – Boys Basketball Adelaide Mahler ‘19 – Girls Basketball Connor Cintron ‘20 – Boys Soccer Mackenzie Condrack ‘19 – Girls Soccer Mason Kolbe ‘19 – Baseball Tucker Harris ‘19 – Boys Lacrosse Maria Shaw ‘23 – Girls Lacrosse Collin O’Callaghan ‘19 – Boys Tennis Laura Davenport ‘20 – Girls Tennis Tristan McWilliam ‘22 – Track & Field

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2 1) Tomas Giacinti ‘20. 2) Gillette Bauer ‘20.

Thunder Athletics by the Numbers Consistent with The Out-of-Door Academy’s mission, philosophy, and core values, the athletics program strives for excellence, which demands commitment and discipline from our student-athletes on a daily basis. More than 670 roster spots were filled across 42 teams, 17 varsity and 8 junior varsity, in 12 sports during the 2018-2019 season.Teamwork, sportsmanship and the display of Core Values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Responsibility) are integral ingredients in our teams’ recipe for success. Student-athletes bring the same dedication to athletics that they exhibit in classrooms and performance venues. In return, student-athletes are well prepared for growth and improvement, competition, team success, and life.

INDIVIDUAL STATE

INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL

INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT

TEAM STATE

TEAM REGIONAL

TEAM DISTRICT

ALL-STATE

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

CHAMPIONS

ATHLETES

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22

14

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8

35

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Congratulations to our 2019 Collegiate Athletes AUSTIN BRINLING

TAI GILBERT

TUCKER HARRIS

AUSTEN KESSLER

CAROLINE LAFOE

University of Florida

University of South Carolina at Aiken

Claremont McKenna College

State College of Florida

Bentley University

ADELAIDE MAHLER

MADISYN OPSTAL

FILIP SVOBODA

ZACH SZMANIA

SARSEN WHATMORE

Middlebury College

Wake Forest University

Colgate University

Boston College

Boston University

941-554-3400 | www.ODA.edu Siesta Key Campus: Pre-K-Grade 5 | Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch: Grades 6-12 | Sarasota, FL

Traditions

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The Foundation of our School Out-of-Door’s traditions are an integral part of the School’s history. Each of our traditions plays an important role within the framework of the ODA community. Some of the many traditions at Out-of Door are Convocation, Grandfriends Day,Thunder Fun Day, Homecoming, and Spirit Day. Other traditions are the fifth grade stepping stones,Thunder Cup,Turkey Bowl, 5-A-Day Play, Jump Rope for Heart, and Banyan Ball. All of ODA’s traditions reinforce our five Core Values: Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Responsibility. Our traditions give families, supporters, and alumni the opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and create new memories. Although new traditions emerge and others are retired, we always remember that they started with the vision of our two founders who established our OUTstanding school nearly one century ago.

“ Being a pre-K - 12 school on two campuses, sometimes we can feel like two schools. Convocation is an event that makes us feel like one school. The whole community comes together. It’s a joy.”

Ms. L’Tanya Evans, Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs

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10 1) Upper classmen at Spirit Day 2019.

2) Maeve McAloon ‘31 at the kindergarten Halloween party.

3) High-fives during the annual Turkey Bowl game.

4) Jared Newman ‘19, Sarsen Whatmore ‘19, Trevor Letschert ‘31, and Hannah Bizick ‘19 at Convocation.

5) Amara Olivia ‘28, Arria Oliva ‘30, and family at Grandfriends Day. 6) 5th Grade Stepping Stones.

7) 8th graders twirl during the 50s Dance.

8) Students enjoy the Homecoming festivities.

9) Savanna Pearce ‘26, Ava Heise ‘26, Helen Endlova ‘26,

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and Chloe Dyndal ‘26 carry a Thanksgiving basket for a Gocio family.

10) Thor rides the mechanical shark at Thunder Fun Day. 11) The Homecoming King and Queen with their court.

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Campus Visitors

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Guest Speakers and Artists Enrich Campus Life On any given day throughout the school year, you may walk onto the Historic Siesta Key Campus or Uihlein Campus and find a visitor engaged with students, discussing a variety of topics.Visitors come from a wide range of backgrounds; many are local or national artists, speakers, authors, entrepreneurs, or ODA alumni. ODA’s campus visitors help expose students to new professions and ideas, and are chosen with the school’s curriculum and Core Values in mind.

ODA ORIGAMI CRANES DELIVERED TO HIROSHIMA PEACE MEMORIAL During the Fall semester, artist KunikoYamamoto visited the Lower Campus to speak to ODA students about Hiroshima and teach them about the ancient art form of origami. Over several weeks, Out-ofDoor students hand made 1,000 paper cranes for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in Japan. Kuniko took these cranes with her when she traveled to Japan, documenting her trip and the hand delivery of the students’ symbolic paper cranes to the children’s peace memorial.

In the spring, Kuniko returned to the Historic Siesta Key Campus to share a video of her recent trip to Japan where she delivered the student-created peace cranes.

ASOLO PRESENTS “THE TEMPEST” USF’s Asolo Theater troupe performed “The Tempest” for the Upper School in The Black Box Theater.The talented third-year acting students presented Shakespeare’s comedy with several modern twists, including the parts of four leading characters being played by women. After the production, the actors held a Q&A with the audience, giving students the opportunity to delve deeper and talk about the classic tale.

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PRESIDENT OF RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN TALKS ABOUT FUTURE CAREERS Dr. Larry Thompson, President of the Ringling College of Art & Design, visited the Upper School to speak to students about the importance of creativity and “right-brained thinking” in careers of the future.

Dr.Thompson, who has both a mathematics and legal background, has served on a multitude of boards, is heavily involved in the Arts community, and is an ardent supporter of STEAM programs.

Dr.Thompson is also a member of the Out-of-Door Board of Trustees.

After giving a short history of the birth of the Ringling College of Art & Design and its importance to the stability and growth of the Sarasota community in the 1920s, Dr.Thompson talked about the essential need for creative thinking. He explained that the left brain—the side that deals with sequences, logic, and analytical thinking—has been the focus of many careers that may be obsolete in 15 or 20 years as these are jobs that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be programmed to do.To compensate for the loss of these jobs, the right side of the brain—used for holistic, creative, intuitive thinking—will need to become more active. “We cannot write an algorithm for creativity,” Dr.Thompson remarked. “As technology continues to evolve and become more embedded in everyday life, the one thing that AI will not be able to replicate is creativity.”

Dr.Thompson shared that recent polls among leaders of major corporations have shown that the skills needed for success include creativity and compassion.With technology changing so rapidly and having a high influence on the job market, students today are forecasted to have eight careers in their lifetime as they will have to continually

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1) Kuniko Yamamoto works with a student during an origami lesson. 2) The cast of Asolo Theater’s “The Tempest”.

3) Mr. David Mahler and Dr. Larry Thompson. 4) Red Tide specialists speak to students in the Dart STEM Lab. 5) Attorneys Ro Marchese ‘07 and Jake Grollman ‘07.

adapt to the evolution of their jobs.When asked what his opinion was about the use of AI in the job market, Dr.Thompson said “I believe in change, but AI is changing the future of human conditions. I don’t know what this means for the long term, but I believe that it is something that we will have to adapt to.” Dr.Thompson indicated that schools like ODA and Ringling College of Art and Design are preparing students appropriately by giving them a well-rounded foundation of arts, athletics, and academics.

RED TIDE ROUNDTABLE Dr. Nate Brennan from the Mote Marine Aquaculture Facility, Dr. Stephen Geiger of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Mr. Sandy Gilbert from Solutions To Avoid Red Tide (START) held a roundtable discussion in the Petrik Thunderdome over the recent environmental crisis affecting our area.The panelists and several students involved in the ODA Aquaculture Project discussed causes of the current Red Tide issue, and the different approaches researchers have used to abate it.The panelists then moved to the Dart STEM Lab for an in-depth discussion about ODA’s Aquaculture Project.

ALUMNI ATTORNEYS SHARE LEGAL INSIGHTS WITH CLASS OF 2019 Class of 2007 members Ro Marchese and Jake Grollman returned to Out-of-Door for a live version of “Ask Jake, Ask Ro,” the advice column they wrote in the school newspaper when they were students.

Ms. Marchese is an assistant public defender and Mr. Grollman is a private criminal defense attorney.

The alums met with all of the seniors in their Issues of Contemporary Society classes–all seniors–and engaged in multi-faceted discussions about adulthood.They talked extensively about what it means to turn 18 in the United States and what your rights, privileges, and responsibilities are when you become an adult.The two attorneys also addressed a variety of topics centered around the law including human rights, the role of law in politics, and the U.S. legal system.The conversations were engaging and thought-provoking, as members of the Class of 2019 asked, as well as answered, probing questions.

POET MILES HODGES VISITS ODA Spoken word poet Mr. Miles Hodges visited ODA’s Upper School to perform at assembly and hold workshops with humanities classes.

He began by stating “I am just a human being trying to find out what my place is in this world.”The message struck home with our adolescent audience.

As he spoke about his youth, struggles growing up, and the importance of talking about social issues, students were encouraged to snap or otherwise acknowledge phrases that resonated with them.While the assembled student body was respectfully quiet for the majority of assembly, many students responded favorably when he spoke about his mother being his rock and living life to its fullest. His delivery through varying cadence, inflection, and volume created visual imagery with which students could identify.When asked what they learned from the presentation, Jenna Choueiri ’20 responded “Poetry is not just about rhyming or sending a small message. It’s about the way you present it and the body language to share a greater message.”

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7 6) Pete Peterson addresses students. 7) Engineering students and Russian delegates in the Dart STEM Lab.

“[I learned that] poetry doesn’t have to be fancy to be powerful,” echoed Al Espinel ’19. Students were inspired by Mr. Hodges’ message and captivated by his ability to begin a poem conversationally in such a way that they didn’t realize he had started reciting. “He is undoubtedly the best speaker we’ve had,” said Susan Pacer ‘20.

In Creative Writing class, students dissected how to determine if a piece of art is good by identifying universally accepted criteria. As Mr. Hodges met with students involved in the literary magazine, they discussed the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career related to the arts. He also visited the Art and Social Purpose class, where students are exploring artistic voice and how to develop artistic voice to effectively “speak” through a visual medium.The students engaged in a philosophical conversation about personal identity and how important it is to explore the idea of who you are beyond what your name is.

Students were inspired by their interactions with this visiting artist throughout the day.Their appreciation for the art form and the words he shared was evidenced by several students staying to thank him after each class. ODA’s dedication to the importance of various art forms is part of the mission of our school and guests like Miles Hodges exemplify how accessible something as complex and abstract as poetry can be.

LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR OFFERS STUDENTS REAL-WORLD ADVICE Sarasota entrepreneur Pete Petersen spoke with Upper School students about following their passion and how they can take steps to control the path of their future professional lives.

Mr. Petersen spoke candidly about the trajectory of his career, talking about the obstacles he encountered along the way and how he worked to overcome them, leading up to his success as the CEO of an influential advertising company.

“The first step is knowing yourself personally. Not what your parents tell you. Not what other people tell you about yourself. Find out what you don’t like and stay far away from it. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what you want to do,” Mr. Petersen advised.

During his talk in the Petrik Thunderdome, Mr. Petersen shared how he struggled to find what he wanted to do with his life after starting his first job at age 14.The New Jersey native worked manual labor and blue collar jobs before deciding to attend college. After quickly realizing that the four-year institution wasn’t the right fit for him, Mr. Petersen had 70 The Banyan | Campus Visitors

several starts and stops before graduating from a Technical school and beginning work in the technology field. He started his first company at the age of 21, and after selling it several years later, started several more, increasing his levels of success with each one.

“Your biggest challenge is going to be failing,” Mr. Petersen said to a class of Engineering and Physics students in the Dart STEM Lab. “You are lucky to be surrounded by great resources: smart students, supportive parents and teachers.You may not have had the experience of failing yet, but failure is part of the journey.You have to realize that you don’t need to fail or succeed to move forward.”

Now the CEO of the online automotive marketing powerhouse, Dealers United, and a teacher at the college where he earned a four-year degree, Mr. Petersen explained how he uses his successes and failures to help him improve as he moves forward with his career. “Surround yourself with positive people who will support you. Build up your skills and find mentors you can go to,” he advises. “Quitting,” he says, “is never an option.”

RUSSIAN DELEGATION VISITS ODA Five Russian delegates visited Sarasota through a United States government program aimed at helping expand opportunities for Women in Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). ODA was an integral and engaging stop on their tour.

The educators traveled to Sarasota with a cultural liaison and a translator for a week-long visit with local educators, scientists, and city officials.

Their Women in Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program brought them in contact with some of the leading educational and scientific organizations in the region.The delegates were hosted by local families from the service organization Friendship Force Sarasota, who not only housed the delegates, but also helped to transport them to their tours and visits each day and often participated in the activities and attended lectures.While planning the program for the delegates, club member Mrs. Rennie Carter—whose son J.D. Carter matriculated from ODA in 2008—suggested Out-of-Door as a good fit for the program.

The group visited a variety of educational facilities to learn new ways to promote STEM programs and expand learning opportunities.

The delegates attended presentations and spoke on panels at several organizations, including the American Association of University Women, The Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida, Girls, Inc., and Ringling College of Art and Design.

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8) The actors and supporters of “Letters From Anne & Martin.” 9) Spoken word poet Miles Hodges talks with upperclassmen in the Petrik Thunderdome.

During their visit to ODA’s Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch, the group toured the campus and observed several classes in action, including Biology, Chemistry, AP Computer Science, and Introduction to Engineering.They also engaged in a lively panel discussion with the Advanced Engineering class in the Dart STEM Lab, taking the opportunity to pose many questions to the junior and senior students about their educational experiences in STEM-related subjects.

CLASS OF 2018 ALUMNI SHARE ADVICE WITH COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS Learn how to do you laundry. Develop good relationships with your professors.

Appreciate what you have here at Out-of-Door! These are just some of the nuggets of advice members of the Class of 2018 had for the senior class when they returned to campus in December to meet with seniors in their Issues in Contemporary Society classes.

Fresh off of exams, sixteen college freshmen, coming from small, medium, and large colleges and universities across the U.S., participated in a panel discussion.They came prepared to share as much as they could with their former classmates who are beginning to think about their future beyond Out-of-Door.The advice from the panel ran the spectrum from practical tips to awareness of the big picture.While they discussed meal plans, roommates, and shared bathrooms, they also delved deeply into finding a balance between having fun and working hard. As Josh Samuel said, “Remember why you are there.You are there to get a good education.”

Many of the alums credit Out-of-Door with their comfort in communicating with their professors.These young people took advantage of office hours and developed relationships with professors right from the beginning.They also assured the seniors that they were well prepared for the rigors of college. “If you worked hard at Out-of-Door, you will be fine in college,” shared Haley Carney.

Delaney Dowdell added, “You are going to get as much out of college as you put into to it, so do what you do here and get involved.”

POWERFUL PERFORMANCE OFFERS MESSAGE OF UNITY A traveling show, part of Embracing Our Differences’ 2019 program, was brought to ODA by Honorary Co-Chairs Terri Vitale and Sydney Sforzo ‘21 with support from the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect,The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, the Sarasota County Bar Association - Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Boxer Diversity Initiative, and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.Through this partnership, more than 4,500 students in Sarasota County were able to see this inspiring piece.

“Letters From Anne & Martin” is a dramatic reading of excerpts from Anne Frank’s diary, and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The two actors playing the roles of Anne and Martin alternated monologues, weaving the themes of prejudice, bigotry, racism, genocide, and violence, with their hopes for freedom and justice in a kinder, peaceful, more tolerant world.The poetic dialogue conveyed a sobering, powerful message to the attentive students.Their moving letters, though written years—and worlds—apart, spoke of the same ideals; embracing diversity, invoking change through non-violence, speaking up for what’s right, and accepting the differences of others.

After the performance, Alexandra Gellner of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect and the actors joined facilitator the Hon. Charles E. Williams for a Q&A session with the audience. Students were eager to speak with the panel, asking a wide variety of questions, from “How did portraying these well-known, historical icons personally affect you?” to “How do you think we can affect change in today’s racial injustices?” The panelists spoke candidly, taking time to thoughtfully consider and answer all of the questions posed.

“The Diary of Anne Frank” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” are considered some of the most important, persuasive, and eloquently written documents about civil rights and anti-semitism ever written.

It is impressive, yet regrettable, that their words are still relevant, and necessary, today.We would like to thank all of the organizations that came together in partnership to bring this important performance to Out-of-Door for our students, faculty, and staff to experience.

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Service Learning

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Giving Back to Our Community Whether it’s 76 donated Thanksgiving meals or 794 inches of hair, Out-of-Door students are spreading hope and making an impact.

The Core Value of service is entwined with The Out-of-Door Academy’s academic curriculum. Instilling how to be involved, empathetic people who use their education to better their communities at large is as important as algebra and history lessons. Students are inspired to take action in meaningful and compassionate ways through established, student-driven initiatives.The school partners with more than 40 organizations, including Girls, Inc., the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals of Southwest Florida, and Manasota B.U.D.S. School faculty is always in awe of how the students not only embrace service projects, but continue to nurture them and make them even more successful than expected. Here are a few highlights from the school’s efforts this year.

STUDENTS BRIGHTEN THE DAY FOR BAY VILLAGE RESIDENTS Second grade students visited Bay Village of Sarasota to read and sing to residents.The visit was the culminating celebration for their Writers Workshop unit: Fractured Fairy Tales. Students kept the integrity of a classic fairy tale but added their own creative twist by changing up to three details.While students were excited to celebrate their hard work, the most meaningful part of this field trip was the connection to our core value of Service and what it means to bring joy to others. “It was wonderful! I saw residents responding that I haven’t seen much out of in quite a while. It really is a great thing when we can get the different generations together,” said Diana Caughron, a Bay Village representative.

It was evident from both second graders and residents that their time together was mutually beneficial.

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EIGHTH GRADERS MENTOR STUDENTS AT DAUGHTREY ELEMENTARY ODA eighth graders gained insight and more during their a year-long program with kindergarten buddies at Blanche H. Daughtrey Elementary School in Bradenton.The program, now in its second year, teaches our students empathy, communication, and understanding as they mentor children at the Title 1 school.

The Middle Schoolers first connected with their new friends at Daughtrey in October, writing personal letters of introduction which the kindergarteners received with a great deal of excitement.They then traveled to the elementary school to meet with their buddies. Each ODA student brought books with them, many of which were chosen because they were favorites that the eighth graders remembered from their younger days. Faculty members at Daughtrey had indicated that they didn’t yet have a library for the kindergarten students, so ODA Middle School faculty members took action to provide this crucial accessibility to books. In addition to the books each ODA student brought for their buddies, the faculty also purchased additional books to help build up the kindergarten’s library.

Once they arrived and were introduced to each other, the students moved into small groups and settled down to read.The kindergarteners visibly responded to having their new friends share special stories with them, and were especially excited when they learned that these books would also be gifts. Felipe Baffico ‘23 noticed that two of the children did not yet understand English, and offered to translate their book into Spanish to ensure that they would be able to participate. After they finished reading, many of the students took time to talk and get to know

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1) Freshmen paint the footbridge during their day of service at Benderson Park. 2) Reading to seniors at Bay Village of Sarasota.

3) Sophia Dyer ‘23 reads to her Daughtery Elementary buddies. 4) Thanksgiving baskets to be delivered to Gocio Elementary families.

their buddies better by asking questions.The kindergarteners enjoyed sharing what they like to do and some of their favorite things. Despite the difference in age, the students were able to find common ground and interacted comfortably.Through a simple act of sharing books and getting to know these young children, our students improved essential communication and leadership skills.

During the second quarter of this year, ODA students traveled back to Daughtrey to visit with their buddies again.This spring, the kindergarteners and their teachers came to the Uihlein Campus in Lakewood Ranch to read and participate in activities with their eighth grade friends as a culmination of the partnership.

ODA FRESHMEN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECT In September, the Class of 2022 and their advisors traveled to Nathan Benderson Park for a morning of team-building and community service.

The freshmen were divided into groups, and then proceeded to different sections of the park with their advisors for collaborative activities culminating in a group service project.

The team-building exercise was conducted on the park’s main lake as teams of 18 students rowed “dragon boats”—long, narrow boats that seat up to 20 people, with carved dragon heads at the front and tails at the rear—in unison while traversing a course.The dragon boats sailed to the beat of the on-board drums, the rhythm of the drums giving the students aural cues on when to row.The teams quickly learned that they needed to have good communication and be able to follow instructions effectively to be successful. Once the teams had mastered their rowing technique, the boats lined up for some friendly competition.The races were closely contested, showing that each team was working well together and communicating effectively.The advisors who took part in the rowing reported that the students demonstrated respect for their teammates and showed great responsibility for their assigned roles on the boat.

While half of the freshman class rowed, the other half spent time engaged in community service projects on the northern side of the park. Students were broken into small groups and assigned to a variety of tasks including picking up trash, sweeping, and painting one of the park’s footbridges.

Each group worked diligently, fully committed to completing their assigned jobs as well as possible. “As an observer, I was proud to witness

the dedication and commitment of our 9th grade team.The impact of their service will be enjoyed by thousands of park users over the next year,” remarked Mr. Marc Roberts, Ninth Grade Dean.

The project’s intent was to offer each individual the opportunity to work together toward a shared goal, build stronger relationships with classmates, and strengthen core values. By the end of the morning, all of the students had participated in both activities, but instead of being exhausted from their physical efforts, they were energized and enthusiastic about the experience.The outcome of the trip was exactly what the advisors had hoped for—each student had displayed Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, and Responsibility.

ODA COMMUNITY SHOWS SPIRIT OF GIVING The Out-of-Door Academy and Gocio Elementary School have enjoyed a strong partnership for more than 10 years, participating in regular service projects together. Delivering Thanksgiving meals to families in need at Gocio has become an important tradition for every Out-of-Door student.Through this project, our students learn the rewarding nature of our core value of Service as they offer compassion and empathy to others.

This year, through donations made by Out-of-Door students, faculty, and staff on both campuses, ODA donated 76 full Thanksgiving meals to Gocio families who otherwise would not be able to enjoy a holiday dinner. Each family’s basket contained all the makings of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey, pumpkin pie, and multiple sides.

In addition to the food items and paper goods, the school also included a recipe book detailing how to prepare all of the dishes in both English and Spanish. Mrs. Joanna Johnson came up with the idea to include a cookbook to coincide with all the supplies we include in the baskets and Mrs.Yadira Kirschner’s seventh grade Spanish students took the initiative to translate the recipes.

Ms. Marya Annicelli, Assistant Principal at Gocio Elementary School, spoke with Middle and Upper School students about the impact these meal donations have for those receiving them. She shared a letter from a parent about how meaningful the Thanksgiving basket is and encouraged our students to embrace the importance of giving. After hearing Thanksgiving stories from Upper School and Middle School student representatives, the entire student body sang “Stand by Me,” led by seniors Ethan Ball and Sofia Delgado.

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5) Mutaz Faqqouseh ‘19 reads to students at the Lily School. 6) Luke Lozano ‘21 with his Youth Excellence Award. 7) Chelsea Lea ‘20 and Sydney Sforzo ‘20 present their check to the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund.

Lower School students at Siesta Key learned how much these contributions mean to the families from Ms. Katherine Driggers, Gocio’s school liaison. Ms. Driggers spoke to the students about the importance of these donations and how the families might not have the means to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner together without their generosity.The fifth grade students then helped to load up the meals and traveled to Gocio Elementary School to deliver them.

The Out-of-Door community understands the importance of combining efforts to supply the ingredients to create a bountiful meal for other families to enjoy. Our yearly service to Gocio Elementary and other organizations reminds ODA students about their role in the world and the importance of helping others.

UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT THE LILY SCHOOL Mr. Andy Lemieux’s AP Literature and Composition class traveled to The Lily School for Child Development on October 31.This is the fifth year that seniors have dressed as Peanuts characters and read the classic story, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” to the students on Halloween morning.They truly enjoyed reading to the young students and hope that these annual visits will foster a greater interest and excitement for reading and literature for the students.

“Our annual visit to The Lily School is one of the events I look forward to most each year, as it combines a love of learning with three of our core values: Excellence, Responsibility, and Service,” said Mr. Lemieux. In addition to reading to students, the Out-of-Door seniors played games and joined the little ones in circle time.They also participated with The Lily School students in their school-wide Halloween parade.

“After walking into the Lily School, we were immediately welcomed by the staff and all of the children. Although we were positively overwhelmed by their adorable costumes, the kids’ energy and desire to play was what brightened our Halloween. Every interaction with each kid was a jovial and loving interaction, emanating from both our AP Lit class and the children with whom we were reading, playing, and trick-ortreating. I hope I helped make the kids’ Halloween as memorable as they did for me,” said Lilli Carlton ’19.

“Seeing our students embrace these young children makes this annual event a rewarding one. I look forward to planning this trip for years to come,” Mr. Lemieux concluded.

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ODA STUDENT EARNS YOUTH EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR BEACH CLEAN UP INITIATIVE ODA’s Luke Lozano ‘20 noticed a challenge the county was facing after spending time at Siesta Key beaches. After seeing the cigarette litter, he spoke with the head of Siesta Key Maintenance to see how he could help.

While Keep Sarasota Beautiful has a plan to reduce cigarette litter, the ownership and upkeep of the project wasn’t proving successful, so Luke took matters into his own hands.

After surveying the existing receptacles and ensuring that their rusted/ non-functional locks were replaced, Luke developed a route, timetable, and data collection tools. Since 2017, Luke has made weekly visits to measure, track, and empty the roughly 50 receptacles that line both Siesta Beach and Turtle Beach. Over this time period, the cigarette waste on these beaches has been reduced by 70 percent.

Taking the project a step further, Luke discovered Terracycle, a company that upcycles cigarette waste into utilitarian items such as palettes and park benches. Instead of simply discarding the cigarette waste, Luke now sends the collected materials to be repurposed into something functional. His efforts were honored by Keep Sarasota County Beautiful as he received theYouth Excellence Award at their volunteer recognition event.The young environmentalist says, “I am really proud of this award, but even more proud of the difference I have been able to make in our community.”

THE GIVING CLOSET IMPACTS SARASOTA AND ODA During a special assembly, Chelsea Lea ‘20 and Sydney Sforzo ‘20 presented a check to the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund from the proceeds they have raised through their non-profit organization, The Giving Closet.

The rising seniors began their charitable endeavor while in Middle School, collecting gently-used name brand clothing and shoes which they sell at steeply discounted prices. 100% of the money they have raised has been given to the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund.

To date,The Giving Closet has contributed more than $9,000 to the Taylor Emmons Scholarship Fund. In addition, the non-profit has also donated gently-used clothing to families in need at Gocio Elementary and other Sarasota and Manatee County schools.

8 8) Two students at CGLA unpacking books their school received from ODA.

ODA’S LIBRARY PAYS IT FORWARD Reevaluating the collection in ODA’s Savidge-Bowers Library created an opportunity for some appreciative institutions.To make the print collection more relevant to our current needs and to make room for new titles, Director of Library Services Miss Alyssa Mandel spent most of the fall and winter evaluating the books and deciding what to keep and what to purge.

More than a thousand books across all subject areas were taken off the shelves, leaving a strong collection that supports our current curriculum, pleasure reading, and personal research, and leaves room for new fiction and nonfiction resources.

But where did those thousand books go? Finding new homes for old books is a constant problem; anyone who has KonMari’d his or her house knows that local thrift shops are bursting at the seams and Friends of the Library has taken all they can hold. Miss Mandel reached out to other school libraries and found three that were eager for our discarded books.

There are needy schools across the State of Florida, and Central Charter School in Lauderdale Lakes expressed a wish for books for its students.

Ms. Lisa Edwards, Central Charter’s middle school reading teacher, was thrilled to receive books at all reading levels for students as well as titles related to professional development for teachers. Bethune Cookman

University, a historically black college in Daytona Beach, received several dozen cartons of books of history and literary criticism. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) received books about American history, fiction for middle-grade and high school readers, and poetry.

“Watching my student volunteers unpack the books to ready them for cataloging has been like watching kids on Christmas morning,” said Katie Archambault, Director of the CGLA. “They have thrilled over the scientific encyclopedias, the African-American history, poetry, and the popular fiction. If a book’s value is derived from the way in which it is used, please know that this collection is invaluable to us. It will enrich existing curriculum and hopefully inspire new assignments, giving our students a true college research experience in which the best of the print and digital world are accessible to them.”

Some books simply had nowhere to go, such as outdated science books or books too damaged by wear or water to be useful for readers.These were donated to the art department to be turned into sculptures or altered-book art, in which the pages are colored, cut, shaped, folded, or otherwise creatively changed to make something completely new.

Interested in making some altered-book art of your own but don’t know where to start? “Actually. . .” said Miss Mandel, “I have a book for that!

Come in and check it out. I might even have a spare discarded book so you can get started right away.”

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A Message From the Associate Head of School for Development

Dear ODA Community, What an incredible year for philanthropy at ODA! Let me first thank our donors, whose extraordinary generosity helped us offer better programs and experiences to our students.We are so grateful that so many people choose to make ODA a philanthropic priority.There is a wonderful tradition of generosity at ODA that has helped provide wonderful facilities and excellent programs, and this year helps build upon that.We can never thank you enough.

From a wonderfully successful Banyan Ball, to a record setting Annual Fund campaign and remarkably generous capital gifts, philanthropy continues to help us provide the very best for our students. At ODA, we continually strive to do what we do better, and philanthropy helps us accomplish that.

It is impossible to name all the ways philanthropy has made a difference at ODA. Some of the most notable enhancements from the 2018-19 school year include the opening of the Fox Field House, improved security on both campuses, new STEM equipment in the Lower and Middle Schools, additional classroom technology, improved athletic and arts facilities and equipment, faculty professional development, solar lights for tennis, and financial aid support.

Over the summer, additional projects funded by donors have begun with the construction of a new Middle School building that will transform the Middle School physically and programmatically.

This year we will publish an Annual Report recapping your philanthropic impact and thank donors more personally.The report will recognize donors to the Annual Fund campaign, Banyan Ball, and capital initiatives; highlight how gifts have impacted students; summarize the accomplishments of each fundraising effort; share stories of why donors have chosen ODA as a fabulous philanthropic priority; and celebrate our success.

All the best,

John C. Carr Associate Head of School for Development

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THE ODA

ANNUAL FUND

SUPPORTS

Collegiate Success

T-OF-DOOR U O

oda.edu/AnnualFund CE

LE

1924-2019

EA BRA T I NG 9 5 Y

RS

CAMPUS ENHANCEMENTS

Rendering of the new Middle School campus.

Over the course of Out-of-Door’s 95-year history, the School has expanded from one campus to two, and from a few dozen students to nearly 750.With this growth has come the need for improvement and expansion on both campuses.The School strives to keep up with the ever-growing needs of the students, providing them with state-of-the-art facilities and technology that will support their studies and help them thrive.

This year the school has made many improvements to both campuses, adding new physical structures, equipment, improved infrastructure, and more. ODA has also implemented important changes to support sustainability efforts. One of these changes is contracting with a janitorial service who uses greener practices throughout their services including the use of Green Seal Standards cleaning products, plant-based and recyclable trash can liners and paper products, and microfiber instead of mops and rags.

UIHLEIN CAMPUS REIMAGINING MIDDLE SCHOOL ODA’s commitment to a STEM-based educational program started with the investment in the Dart STEM Center at Uihlein campus in 2015.

Since then, we have seen the addition of the state-of-the-art Marine Science room and Dart STEM Lab at Siesta Key.

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This summer, the school began construction of a two-story, nearly 14,000 square foot building to support the needs of its growing Middle School program.This new building will be located adjacent to the existing Middle School facilities and will create a safe, inviting enclave of learning and exploring exclusively designed for students in grades six through eight.The building will be modeled after the Dick Vitale Family Student Center and Dart STEM Center, which is utilized exclusively by Upper School students.

The ground level will center around an open Academic Commons where not only students and faculty can interact informally, but classes can collaborate, promoting innovative interdisciplinary learning experiences. Ringing the Commons will be eighth grade math and science classrooms and an open area defined as a “Maker Space.”This area will be a flexible and accessible space that allows students the luxury of utilizing technology and tools to advance their STEM education through collaboration.The second floor will house studios for language, multimedia, visual arts classes, and a 3-D virtual reality lab for all Middle Schoolers, as well as eighth grade English and history classrooms.

Large windows throughout the building will bring vibrancy and energy as classrooms overlook a brand new greenspace quad for all Middle Schoolers to enjoy. Remarkably, the power for the entire new building will be generated through solar energy.The new facility is scheduled to open in September of 2020.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SOLAR POWER ODA’s commitment to self-sufficiency continues at the Uihlein campus with the planned installation of rooftop solar panels on all three existing Middle School buildings as well as on the new Middle School Expansion.

With the installation of a large solar battery, the Middle School energy consumption could be satisfied by these solar panels up to 90% per annum, producing a significant reduction in our energy consumption and budget.

To improve the flow of traffic, a bypass road will be constructed along the north side of the main parking lot connecting the main entry driveway with the gated driveway on the side of the Arts Building.

Students and faculty will be allowed access to the existing parkingonly driveways. Once construction is complete on the Middle School expansion, all other vehicles will use the bypass road to drop off or pick up students or to visit the Gelbman Fitness Center, Fox Field House, Taylor Emmons Memorial Field, and the Masiloff Tennis Facility.

UIHLEIN CAMPUS CIRCULATION ODA is committed to the safety and security of all students, faculty, and staff. In addition to the continued installation of perimeter fencing and access controls, we are improving our driveways and walkways.Traffic patterns will be simplified with one-way access and improved designation of the separation of driveways and parking areas.

SHADE STRUCTURE ADDED TO THE THUNDER ATHLETIC COMPLEX ODA’s concern for the health and wellness of its student-athletes prompted the need for a 2,000 square foot shade structure at the southwestern edge of the Thunder Athletic Complex.Thanks to this generous gift from the Thunder Athletic Club students will receive a respite from the intense Florida sun and during practice interruptions due to inclement weather conditions.

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HISTORIC SIESTA KEY CAMPUS SIESTA KEY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING The second phase of renovation of the Historic Siesta Key landmark included improving and leveling the foundation’s structure and residing the entire building. ODA reunited with one of Florida’s most experienced construction families who specialize in the stabilization and relocation of historic buildings.They evaluated the structure and developed a plan to carefully level the administration building.

In conjunction with the leveling, the wood plank siding that has been in place for many decades was removed and was replaced with new wood plank siding sourced from Florida-grown southern yellow pine.This new siding will preserve the historic appearance of the entire building while

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also improving its insulation and waterproofing values.To complete the second phase of the project, the exterior was visually enhanced by the installation of new landscaping utilizing plants native to our region.

SIESTA KEY SOLAR BATTERIES The success of the solar panels mounted on all available Siesta Key rooftops has encouraged the school to increase our investment to include energy storage batteries. In this next step toward obtaining complete freedom from the energy grid, ODA is planning for the engineering and installation of batteries that will store the excess energy generated by our rooftop solar panels.These batteries will store electricity and act as a secondary source of power if our demand exceeds current capacity.

Sincerely Thanks our Corporate Partners BAKER

ORTHODONTICS

L

LINDA APPLE REALTORÂŽ, CLHMS

941.586.0553

Businesses of all sizes support the school’s mission through our Corporate Partnership program. Corporate Partners make impactful gifts that directly benefit our students and faculty. As a Partner, you will invest in a dynamic forward-thinking academic institution, create community connections, strengthen ties within the ODA community, and receive a range of benefits that gain visibility with our supporters. Be the first to become a 2019-2020 Corporate Partner by visiting www.oda.edu/corporatepartners or email tmedina@oda.edu.

UNVEILING THE

FOX

FIELD HOUSE

The entire Uihlein Campus student body, along with faculty, parents, and trustees, assembled on the first day of classes in 2019 to cut the ribbon on the new Fox Field House. Everyone in attendance was wowed by the expansive 12,300 square foot addition to our Thunder Athletic Complex.

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1) Students and parents toss ODA branded basketballs in the air to celebrate the grand opening. 2) Head of School Mr. David Mahler speaks during the opening ceremony. 3) The Fox Family officially opens the new Fox Field House.

The event kicked off with remarks from Head of School David Mahler who emphasized the importance of the new facility. “The Fox Field House will be an amazing addition to the Uihlein Campus,” said Mr. Mahler. “It will dramatically improve the practice facilities for all of our indoor sports and its multi-purpose design will also provide indoor options for practice for our field sports during inclement weather.

It will enable us to run practice schedules much earlier so that our student-athletes can return home for dinner with their families and complete their school work at a reasonable hour.”

The Fox Family - Mr. Larry Fox, member of ODA’s Board of Trustees, Mrs. Jennifer Fox, Zach Fox ‘23, and Sami Fox ‘26 - cut the ribbon to officially open the facility.The family led the eager crowd of students and faculty into the building for their first look at the new practice space. Larry Fox explained the importance and need for a new facility to accommodate the growth of Out-of-Door’s athletic program. Previously, practices had to be staggered for various teams, which resulted in late nights on campus for many student-athletes.With ODA’s student-

centered philosophy in mind, a new facility needed to be created to get students home earlier in the evening.The Fox Family’s lead gift of $1 million made the building a reality. Construction began in June 2018 and with gifts from other generous donors, the $2.5 million facility opened in January 2019.

As students took in the new space, Zach Fox stepped to the line to shoot the inaugural free throw.The crowd went wild as the ball christened the net before the Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball teams had a free throw showdown.To end the celebration, everyone in attendance commemorated the opening of Fox Field House with a celebratory ball toss to the chorus of “Go Thunder.”

The new building is now home to ODA’s volleyball and basketball teams and features multi-purpose flooring to accommodate football, cheerleading, soccer, lacrosse, and tennis practices during inclement weather conditions or extreme heat.

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ODA Community Supports Students with Auxiliary Organizations The Parent Association, Arts Alliance, and Thunder Athletic Club are essential auxiliary organizations at The Out-of-Door Academy. Run predominantly by volunteers, each of these groups’ primary goal is to support and enhance the programs offered at ODA. ODA PARENT ASSOCIATION The Out-of-Door Parent Association’s (PA) mission is to “Support, Promote, and Strengthen our school community.” The PA supports the School by holding annual events, including Thunder Fun Day at the Historic Siesta Key Campus, and Holiday and Spring Parent Association Luncheons.These efforts help raise funds that are used to directly benefit the school community, including purchasing new technology for the classroom, playground enhancements, and supporting sustainability projects.

ARTS ALLIANCE In 2004, a small, yet passionate group of parents organized the Arts Guild.Their goal was to formalize, broaden, and strengthen the parent volunteer base for the arts and to raise funds through memberships and donations. Now called the Arts Alliance, this group continues this mission. Gifts to the Arts Alliance are used to enhance student exposure to the arts while contributing to the excellence of the school’s arts programs. Past projects include studio renovations, instrument purchases, and funding for visiting artists and field trips.

THUNDER ATHLETIC CLUB The Thunder Athletic Club (TAC) was established to encourage athletic excellence, promote awareness of our athletic programs, build community, and provide funding to enhance the athletic experience at Out-of-Door. Benefactors who purchase a TAC Annual Membership, sponsor and/or play in the Thunder Golf Tournament, and those who purchase items from the Thor Store and concessions stands at our athletic competitions all support these initiatives for our student-athletes.

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8 1) The incoming 2019-2020 Parent Association Board members at the Spring Luncheon.

2) Players warm up for the annual golf tournament.

3) Caroline Ellington, Alison O’Donoghue, and Jaime Becker at the PA Holiday Luncheon.

4) Leigh Dalton ‘99 and her mother, Anita Hamner at the Parent Association Holiday Luncheon.

5) Umbreen Khalidi-Majeed and Donna Koffman at the Parent Association Spring Luncheon.

6) Petrik Cup Winners Kevin Hipsher, Brian Wynne, and John Love.

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7) Katie Rauch, Tina Miller, and Nicole Bruning at the Parent Association Spring Luncheon.

8) Lower School parents enjoyed an outdoor gathering at the annual Parent Association Welcome Back Coffee held in the Thunder Hut, our newly constructed outdoor dining pavilion.

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Guests Enjoy an Unforgettable Evening at Banyan Ball 2019 The Out-of-Door community came out in its finest to the Ritz Carlton on Saturday, March 9, 2019 for its annual Banyan Ball—an elegant evening of festivity and fundraising.The unforgettable evening themed “World Traveler” began with an exclusive VIP event.

Guests enjoyed live music, decadent hors d’oeuvres, and fabulous cocktails, all with views of the European countryside through the windows of the Orient Express.The main event was held in a ballroom lavishly decorated with Eiffel Towers,Turkish lamps, and regional floral arrangements. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails, sat for a talented caricaturist, posed for photos with travel-themed props, and relished an incredible 4-course dinner with dishes featuring Italian, French,Turkish, and Swiss cuisines.

During the paddle raise, patrons responded by surpassing the $100,000 challenge contributing over $200,000 to exceed the match.This amazing philanthropic support will enrich and expand the educational opportunities we offer to our students.

Chairs Shari and Doug Phillips, along with The Out-of-Door Academy Board of Trustees, thank those who support the Banyan Ball by attending the black-tie event and participating in this year’s online auction. 100% of the proceeds from the Banyan Ball support our students, faculty, and programs that make Out-of-Door an OUTstanding place to learn

• S AV E THE DATE • Banyan Ball 2020 will celebrate the 95th Anniversary of The Out-of-Door Academy on March 14, 2020.

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7 1) Doug and Shari Phillips, Elizabeth and David Mahler.

2) Gracie and Dennis McGillicuddy, Eleni Larcombe-Marinucci.

3) Melissa Morsli, Umbreen Khalidi-Majeed.

4) 3-D printed centerpieces created by ODA students.

5) Ali Murphy, Heather Riley, and Shelby Issacson.

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6) Tina Miller, Jaime Becker, Jacqueline Crisci, and Claire Moxli.

7) The World Traveler Program.

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Alumni

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2 1) Sam Rega ‘04 & Megan Cornell ‘SK Alum. 2) Jonathan Cornell & Allison Nace ‘SK Alums.

Lasting Love Begins at ODA Many Out-of-Door students and faculty members have come to know the School’s community as a second family. As our alumni base continues to grow, that description is more accurate than many of us ever imagined. It turns out that many former students who met at ODA are now married or preparing to get married.This alumni profile showcases a remarkable story of four former students who met on our Historic Siesta Key Campus.

When Sam Rega ‘04 first met Megan Cornell ‘SK Alum, he hardly noticed her. He had just moved to Florida from New Jersey, was entering the 6th grade, and was much more interested in making friends, playing video games, and playing baseball. He does have some recollection of a few slow dances with her at the Middle School dances in the cafeteria on Siesta Key, but other than that, he was not yet interested in girls.

Megan, on the other hand, had a crush on Sam from the start - she even has a video from 7th grade when she is trying to get his attention to no avail. After she and her family moved to Belgium during the summer between 7th and 8th grade, they only saw each other periodically when the Cornells were back in Sarasota.They reconnected for a short time in college, but it was not until 2015 when Sam moved to New York that he discovered that Megan was also living in the City. He reached out to her and “went on one date, and then a lot more dates, became engaged, and got married in May 2018!”

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Both Sam and Megan continue to live in NewYork City where he is a filmmaker and senior producer at CNBC and she is a recipe developer, food stylist, and test chef for Food Network Channel and Buzzfeed Media.They welcomed their first child, Olivia Piper Rega, into the world on April 29, 2019.They’re all doing amazing and enjoying time as a family of three!

At the same time that Sam and Megan were first meeting, Megan’s brother Jonathan Cornell ‘SK Alum met Allison Nace ‘SK Alum when he was in kindergarten and she was in pre-kindergarten.The Nace family lived next door to Jonathan’s best friend, Colin Showalter ‘SK Alum, and they used to play together after school on a regular basis. Although Jonathan and his family moved to Belgium after he finished 4th grade, he continued to stay connected with the Showalters and the Naces when he was back in Florida for vacations.

When Jonathan found out that Allison was going to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NewYork City, he took a job in New Jersey so that he could be closer to her, and as they say, the rest is history! Allison and Jonathan welcomed their second child, Kendall Marie, on March 11, 2019.They now live in Sarasota and recently toured the Siesta Key campus for their son, Carter.

Jonathan is the Founder and CEO of The Draft Network, a media platform for the NFL Draft. He is also the owner and manager of The Cornell Collection, a luxury rental company on Siesta Key.

In 1924, The Out-of-Door Academy’s founders, Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, sought to establish a uniquely progressive school committed to high academic standards and nourishing the minds, bodies and spirits of children. Ninety five years later, Out-of-Door remains inspired by their vision.

By joining the Gavin & Harrison Legacy Society, you are honoring our school’s founders and helping sustain their vision for The Out-of-Door Academy today and in the future. The society is composed of donors who include The Out-of-Door Academy in their wills or other estate plans. Their gifts provide essential financial support for all aspects of the academy.

Common types of gifts that qualify for membership include: • Bequests • Charitable Gift Annuities • Gifts of retirement plan assets after your lifetime • Charitable Remainder Trusts

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY For more information, contact: Mr. John Carr (941) 554-3429 | jcarr@oda.edu

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Alumni Class Notes The following list is sorted by graduating year. SK/LWR denotes the campus attended by non-graduate alumni.

Brittany Callans Hines (SK) Brittany graduated in 2017 with a Masters Degree in Nursing from Keiser University. She completed her Post-Masters Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner in January of 2019. Brittany is currently a nursing supervisor over a 12-practice multi-specialty clinic in North Carolina, supervising more than 50 nurses, nursing assistants, and respiratory therapists.

Carrie Smith Collins ‘99 Carrie is now the 3rd generation owner of Aladdin Equipment Company.

Megan Cornell Rega (SK) Megan and her husband Sam ‘04 welcomed their first child, Olivia Piper Rega, into the world on April 29, 2019.They’re all doing amazing and enjoying time as a family of three!

John Crouse ‘00 The Texas Crouses have grown to four with the arrival of Eloise in August. She and her brother, Jack, are keeping their parents busy but bringing a lot of joy and teaching them patience. After working as an RN at a trauma hospital for the past few years, John has started school again to move toward his MSN. “Jack just learned to swim so we are looking forward to a water, shade, and margarita filled summer...not to mention all of the cute outfits we can put on Lulu!”

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Evan Danzig ‘01 Evan is going into his 10th year working as a real estate broker in NYC. In January, he and his wife celebrated the first birthday of their daughter, Dakota Pearl.

Lauren Tharp Edwards ‘01 In this past year the Edwards family expanded with two new additions, twin baby boys, Dylan and Tyler. Their 5-year-old daughter Sydney loves being a big sister! Lauren currently runs her own practice, Sarasota Center for Acupuncture and Natural Medicine and is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Derek Heburn ‘01 Derek and his wife Tara welcomed their daughter Rylee Marie on February 9, 2019.

Cass Anderson ‘02 Cass and his wife Lindsay Goldberg Anderson ‘05 welcomed their son Cass “Payson” Anderson on March 26, 2019.

Lynn de Williams ‘ 02 Lynn de Williams and Michael Smuts welcomed their second child, Lena Elizabeth, on April 25, 2019.

Ashley Palermo Snyder (SK) Ashley and her husband Scott welcomed their daughter Charlotte Rose on February 27, 2019.

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1) Alumni enjoy a night together at our 2018 Holiday Party. 2) Megan Cornell Rega ‘SK Alum & Sam Rega ‘04. 3) John Crouse ‘00. 4) Evan Danzig ‘01.

Kelly Pittl ‘02 Kelly and her husband recently had their third child, Brigid Catherine.

Nicole Pitts Soria ‘02 Nicole and her husband Jesse welcomed their third child, Raegan Jean, on May 27, 2019.

Carl Watkins (SK) Carl and his wife Julie welcomed their baby boy, Patrick Allan, in February 2019.

Leslie Merril Collins ‘03 Lesley Merrill Collins and her husband, Clayton, welcomed their second child, Catherine “Cate” Elaine. Cate was born on NewYear’s Eve 2018 and weighed 7lbs 12 oz., measuring 20.5” inches long. She has already brought so much joy to the family, including her big sister Claire (2)!

Edward Crouse ‘03 Edward and his wife Marie welcomed their daughter Eulalah Elizabeth March 29, 2019.

Sean Kane ‘03 Sean and his wife Katie welcomed Coleman West on March 31, 2019.

John Shoemaker ‘03 John and his wife were excited to welcome their second child, Brendan, this year.

Brittany Warman ‘03 Brittany, received her Ph.D. in English and Folklore from Ohio State University in 2018. Her dissertation focused on nineteenth-century British literature, folklore, and the Gothic aesthetic. She is currently working on the book version of this project and a book of poetry. She recently co-started an online education and consulting business.

Stuart Haddow ‘04 Stuart and his wife Melissa welcomed their daughter Maya Elizabeth on October 27, 2019.

Trey Pendery ‘04 Trey and his wife Maureen welcomed their son,Woods in December of 2018.

Sam Rega ‘04 Sam and his wife Megan welcomed their first child, Olivia Piper Rega, into the world on April 29, 2019.They’re all doing amazing and enjoying time as a family of three!

Aaron Romm ‘04 Aaron Romm and SunYoung Gemma Shin became engaged in May 2019.

Lindsay Goldberg Anderson ‘05 Lindsay and her husband Cass Anderson ‘02 welcomed their son Cass “Payson” Anderson on March 26, 2019.

Kim Regan Leypoldt ‘05 Kim’s son Richard David was born on January 13, 2019.

Cameron Malloch ‘05 Cameron wed Sabrina Marie Jacobs on November 21, 2018.

Michael Calmaras ‘06 Michael and his wife Kelly welcomed their baby Emerson Capri in June 2018.

Hannah Bowers Parker ‘06 Hannah continues to work at Florida Atlantic University conducting and publishing research and training future counselors. Hannah also practices as a Marriage and Family Therapist at Suncoast Family Guidance Center.

Hannah and her husband love attending the alumni play dates with their kiddos, Ava and Jack!

Jennifer Savidge Bartlett ‘06 Jennifer and her husband K.C. welcomed their son Greenleaf Kenneth on October 12, 2018.

Hallie Johns (LWR) Hallie and Amer Madesko welcomed their daughter Lela Rose on April 22, 2019.

Gordon Warr (SK) Gordon and his wife Jessica welcomed their son George Nathaniel on November 4, 2018.

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William Crouse ‘07 William’s film “Lowland Kids” was screened at the Sarasota Film Festival in April 2019.

Chelsea Gonzalez ‘07 Chelsea wrote and directed a short film, “All the Wrong Things,” now currently in post production.

Tim Schmidtz ‘07 Tim and his wife Stephanie welcomed their son Benjamin Peter on May 8, 2019.

Rachel Weiner ‘08 Rachel and her husband relocated to West Hartford, CT in May, where she began leading the pediatric urgent care for the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Connecticut. Prior to this change, she had been working in private medical practice as a certified pediatric nurse practitioner.

Kelsey Hayes ‘09 Kelsey Hayes is engaged to Ben Grandas.

J.D. Rashkin ‘09 J.D. Rashkin and Alana Kohn were engaged in December 2018.

Allison Nace (SK) and Jonathon Cornell (SK) Allison and her husband Jonathan (SK) welcomed their daughter Kendall Marie on March 11, 2019.

Ivan Ross ‘09 Ivan Ross and Caitlyn Turner ‘08 are engaged to be married.

Caitlyn Turner ‘08 Caitlyn Turner and Ivan Ross ‘09 are engaged to be married.

Maria Sulimirski ‘09 Maria married Pierre Abousleiman in May 2019.

Kim Goldberg Poslock ‘08 Kim and her husband, Christian, celebrated the first birthday of their son Reid Francis Poslock on May 18!

Sean Fleeman ‘10 Sean Fleeman and Kayla Schlosser were married on February 24, 2019.

Laura Olin ‘10 Laura is currently a Middle School teacher in Orlando, Florida.

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5) Kelly Pitti ‘02. 6) Lauren Tharp Edwards ‘01. 7) Caitlyn Turner ‘08 & Ivan Ross ‘09. 8) Chelsea Gonzalez ‘07. 9) Lesley Collins ‘03.

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10) Kim Poslock ‘08. 11) Samantha Albano ‘13. 12) Evalee Mason ‘18.

Brenden Bercaw ‘11 Brenden recently moved from Jacksonville, FL to Nashville,TN in September 2018. He joined the global asset management firm, AllianceBernstein, which is in the process of relocating its headquarters from NewYork City to Nashville. As an Associate Officer, Brenden is involved in managing all aspects of the company’s billing cycles and financial activity.

Tim Dobosz ‘11 Tim and his wife Christina welcomed their daughter Emory Elizabeth in May 2019.

Alison Weiner ‘11 Alison has been studying for her psychology doctorate degree and defended her doctoral dissertation this summer. She married her husband in August and plans to work in pediatric palliative care.

Tucker Kittle ‘12 Tucker Kittle and Jillian Curtis were engaged in March 2019.

Brian Ragone ‘12 Brian works in Uber’s startup incubator launching new Uber products; he joined early in the project’s development and focuses on operations and logistics. He currently lives in Chicago and reports “ I didn’t know any place on earth got as cold as Chicago does.”

Joseph Rubin ‘12 Joseph lives in Sarasota and works as a manufacturing engineer at a facility in Tampa. His true passion is the private tutoring company named Prepscore that he started this past year. He is currently in the process of hiring more instructors to keep up with the demand, and is planning to open a learning center in the coming years.

Gabriela (Gabby) Maraia ‘13 Gabby had a baby,Theodore George Bradshaw, on July 4, 2019.

Brenna Ramsay ‘13 Brenna is a Regional Operations Program Manager for Uber Eats covering Europe, Middle East, and Africa. She is based out of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Samantha Albano ‘13 Samantha opened Purify An Urban Sweat Lodge located downtown in the Historic Burns Court in Sarasota.The business was recently named in the Editor’s Picks for Best of Sarasota 2019.

John Delgado ‘15 John is proud to report that he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Emory University.

Madison Shaw ‘15 Madison graduated from Texas Christian University with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Communications. She has started a job as an Associate Account Manager for Collabera, an IT recruitment and staffing service agency in Dallas,TX. Evalee Mason ‘18 Evalee will be enter her sophomore year at Florida State University. She joined Phi Mu where she is the assistant social chair, became an internal team member in her first Dance Marathon, and joined Freedom at FSU to combat human trafficking in the United States. She is majoring in International Affairs and is planning on taking a double major in either sociology or criminology.

Allison Drzewucki ‘18 After spending her first semester abroad in London, Allison returned to Florida State University’s Tallahassee campus where she declared as a psychology major with a minor in chemistry. Currently, she is on a pre-med track.When she isn’t in class, Allison also trains to become a yoga teacher at a local nonprofit yoga studio.

Liberty Strafuss ‘18 Liberty transferred to Boise State University to study Kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science and minor in psychology.

IN MEMORIAM Mario Aiello ‘08 February 26, 1990 - January 8, 2019 Chris Dechow ‘06 May 27, 1988 - June 10, 2019 Danielle (Dandy) Girardin Favara (SK) June 25, 1982 - July 12, 2019

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2019-2020 SCHOOL CALENDAR OF OPENINGS & CLOSINGS Monday, July 29

Varsity Athletics Begin

Friday, August 16

Conference Day, Grades Pre-K – 5 New Middle School Student Orientation Grades 6-8 (Morning) New Upper School Student Orientation Grades 9-12 (Afternoon)

Monday, August 19

Tuesday, August 20

Open House, Grades Pre-K – 5 Conference Day, Grades 6 – 12

Monday, September 2

Labor Day; No School

Monday, October 7

Fall Break; No School

Thursday, October 24

Conference Day; No School

Monday, November 25

Thanksgiving Break Begins

Monday, December 2

Classes Resume

Monday, December 23

Holiday Break Begins

Tuesday, January 7

Classes Resume

Monday, January 20

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; No School

Monday, February 24

Mid-Winter Break Begins

Monday, March 2

Classes Resume

Thursday, March 26

Conference Day; No School

Monday, April 6

Spring Break Begins

Tuesday, April 14

Classes Resume

Monday, May 25

Memorial Day; No School

Thursday, May 28

Last Day of Classes; Grades Pre-K – 12

Friday, May 29

Lower School Graduation Middle School Graduation

Saturday, May 30

Commencement

First Day of Classes, Grades Pre-K – 12

F D O OO T R U O

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1924-2019

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444 Reid Street | Sarasota, FL 34242

Out-of-Door Graduates of the Class of 2019 matriculated across the United States and United Kingdom.