Keeping In Touch fall 2014

THE ROEPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

Keeping In Touch

FINDING SATISFACTION VOLUME 8: 1 FALL 2014

KIT

TABLE OF CONTENTS David Feldman Head of School david.feldman@roeper.org Denita Banks-Sims Director of Development denita.banks-sims@roeper.org Keeping in Touch Editorial Committee Katie Buchmann Editor Bonnie Schemm Art Director Contributors Denita Banks-Sims David Feldman Lesley Hosey Adam Smock ’87

THE ROEPER SCHOOL 41190 Woodward Avenue Bloomfield Hills Michigan 48304 248/203.7300 www.roeper.org

The Roeper School is an independent coeducational day school for gifted and talented children preschool through grade 12 and an equal-opportunity institution

FEATURES THE EDUCATIONAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE .

David Feldman, Head of School

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

2

CONNECTIONS . . . . . . . . .

Leslie Hosey, PhD, Lower School Director

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

4

.

.

YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

ALUMNI MAKING NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6 Adam Smock ’87, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund AN ENGAGEMENT, THREE WEDDINGS & A BABY STATE CHAMPS! .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

9

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

10

WE’RE SAVING A SEAT FOR YOU! .

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

11

ANNUAL FUND UPDATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adam Smock ’87, Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

.

.

12

PARTING THOUGHTS . . . . . . . .

Denita Banks-Sims, Director of Development

.

.

13

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

COVER PHOTO: ROEPER BOYS D-4 SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONS. Front row, L to R: Noah Gilman, Carter Wade, The Trophy, Ben Goldberg, Adam Kochanowski, Adam Alpert. Middle row: Logan Garlo, Jake Flynn, Trace Sheerin, Andy Reed, Simon Roennecke, Ben Katzman, Nate Lee. Back row: Athletic Director Ernie Righetti, Assistant Coach Liam Judd ’00, Michael Matthews, Michael Deneroff, Max Whipple, Cal Lind, Chase Solys, Joe Allen, Orlando Bustos, Sean Anderson, Assistant Coach Laddie Andahazy ’01, Head Coach Ed Sack. Photo by Julie Frost.

For more soccer photos, turn to page 10.

1

KIT

David Feldman Head of School

In his book, Start with Why, author and researcher Simon Sinek asks: “Why are some people and organizations more innovative or influential than others? Why do some companies and organizations build immense trust and command great loyalty? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their successes over and over?”

Several years ago, our community asked the question, if the Roeper philosophy is a philosophy of life, what does the philosophy look like in practice in an educational setting? In other words, how do we live the philosophy as educators, and why do we construct the program that we do?

This question led to the birth of the Educational Statement of Purpose.

As Sinek put it, “Any organization can explain what it does; some can explain how they do it; but very few can clearly articulate why.” Why is not about raising money or meeting a budget — those are results. Why does The Roeper School exist? If we didn’t exist, would someone create us? Why do we teach the way we do? Why do families choose us instead of another school?

As our community began work on our strategic plan we set a goal to publish the Statement of Purpose; however, we discovered that in order to construct the document we needed to take the critical step of identifying the core tenets of the philosophy. These core tenets are the bridge between the broad life-focused philosophy and the more specific school-focused educational statement. Thanks to the leadership of the Board’s Education Committee and the insight of our whole community, we published the Core Tenets of the Philosophy in 2012. With this essential transitional document in place, we were now ready to delve into Sinek’s question of why, and to construct the Educational Statement of Purpose.

Sinek argues that those who start with why never manipulate, they inspire. And people follow, not because they have to, but because they want to.

Sinek suggests that the most successful people and institutions, those organizations that build trust and inspire people to support them start with why as their foundation. He concludes, “People don’t buy into what you do, they buy into why you do it.”

I found Sinek’s argument compelling; it reminded me of the conversations we had during the construction of our Educational Statement of Purpose.

After all, the Statement truly is a document that sets out to explain why we do what we do — it is a statement of our beliefs as an educational institution.

Now, let me state the obvious: at The Roeper School our philosophy serves as the foundation for all that we do. It is the lens through which we view our work, the filter through which we create policy, and the guiding principles through which we construct our vision for the future.

Written by George and Annemarie Roeper, the philosophy has had a variety of revisions through our 73-year history. The most recent re-examination of the philosophy happened in 2000. Yet, at each review our community has always been clear that the Roeper Philosophy, as Annemarie wrote, is a philosophy of life. It is a document that guides the way we view and participate in the world, as citizens of the world.

2

Starting with a draft developed by faculty members Susannah Nichols and Amber Webb, the Board’s Education Committee asked our community to give feedback on a draft document trying to gather input from different constituencies as to whether the statement reflected the core tenets of the Roeper Philosophy. Gathering data from alumni, students, parents, and other community members, the Committee presented the responses to the faculty and asked our teachers to help us construct the next draft. We wanted faculty to take the input from the community and connect the feedback with their own insight on how we deliver our educational program through our understanding of the philosophy.

Faculty input was gathered and sent to the Education Committee for a re-drafting of the Statement. With the incredible leadership of Karen Johnson, Colleen Potocki, and Susannah Nichols, a revised draft was written and sent to the faculty for review. Meeting in small groups across divisions, content areas, and grade levels/stages, the faculty agreed that the Statement was a strong and clear representation of how we live the Roeper philosophy in the setting of our school.

MARK WRIGHT

THE EDUCATIONAL STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

… at The Roeper School our philosophy serves as the foundation for all that we do. It is the lens through which we view our work, the filter through which we create policy, and the guiding principles through which we construct our vision for the future.

… we believe this Statement holds a significant place among our key documents.

We are clear that the Statement is not a replacement for any of the historical statements of philosophy — but rather, it serves as an articulation of how the Roepers’ philosophy for life applies to the work that Roeper faculty and staff do each day.

Having taken the time to gather insight from across our constituencies, and having asked faculty to review and debate the content, we believe this Statement holds a significant place among our key documents. We are clear that the Statement is not a replacement for any of the historical statements — but rather, it serves as an articulation of how the Roepers’ philosophy for life applies to the work that Roeper faculty and staff do each day.

This Statement gives us a shared language for how we live the School’s philosophy within our

educational setting, how we embrace the core tenets within our teaching, and what we believe about teaching gifted children.

We are proud of the work completed, but we are equally inspired by the incredible discussions that took place in the process of constructing this document. Thank you for your insight and support in the constructing of this document; as we know with our students, it is in fact the act of doing that yields the real learning. F

The RoepeR School educaTional STaTemenT of puRpoSe Founders George and Annemarie Roeper believed that all human beings have two central tasks: to come to understand themselves and to discover how they will contribute to the world. As a pre-K through secondary school, Roeper plays a formative role in the pursuit of these lifelong goals and offers a whole child education for gifted individuals driven by the humanistic philosophy of our founders. Our purpose is to guide students on the journey to becoming discerning, humane, engaged adults.

In gifted individuals, powerful thinking combines with an emotional intensity to create a worldview that differs from the norm and is supported best by an exceptional learning environment. For these reasons, the distinctive approach of The Roeper School — one that is highly individualized and focused on the social and emotional needs of students — is particularly appropriate for gifted children. The breadth and depth of our academic program, our appreciation for the inherent dignity and emotional complexity of each student, and our authentic partnership with children in the learning process help gifted students realize their potential and their impact on the world.

A Roeper education is characterized by outstanding and profound student-teacher relationships that foster mutual respect. When children are genuinely offered a voice from young ages, they grow to become adults who will do the same for others. This belief pervades every practice of the school and arises from our philosophical conviction that equal human rights breeds a valuable sense of justice and interdependence. We emphasize the importance of students doing their own thinking and making their own choices both in and out of the classroom, so that they become active stakeholders in their education and in their communities. Our curriculum is purposefully structured around the needs and input of students and encourages collaborative learning through peer and multi-age groupings and interactions. The dynamics of our school are designed to empower students and simultaneously to explore the drawbacks of power-driven structures in societies and civilizations.

The culmination of a Roeper education has many possible outcomes: our goal is to prepare students with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the unknowns on our collective horizon. Students engage every day with inquirydriven learning focused around problems, projects and complex questions. Our dedication to diversity not only ensures multiple perspectives, but also enriches decision-making and the search for solutions. We hold process in equal regard with content and promote a nuanced understanding of subjects and a passion for learning. Playfulness, exploration, and personal discovery are essential elements at all levels of our school, and as a result, our students apply information in thoughtful and innovative ways. With this holistic perspective, Roeper succeeds in matriculating students of uncommon excellence to the schools and opportunities of their choice.

At the time The Roeper School was founded in 1941, George and Annemarie were pioneers in their methods and beliefs. Today, mainstream currents in education aspire to align with those that have steered our school for decades, which only confirms the visionary nature and enduring significance of a Roeper foundation. We specialize in the education of gifted individuals because it is for these students that a humanistic approach to learning is especially compatible and constructive. When their intellectual, emotional, ethical and physical needs are cared for, gifted children flourish and become compelling thinkers, compassionate agents, and fulfilled adults. The Roeper School offers a panoramic educational experience that reaches past the scope of college preparation and inspires individuals for life.

Approved by the Board of Trustees November 2013

3

KIT

Leslie A. Hosey, Ph.D.

Lower School Director

CONNECTIONS

MARK WRIGHT

On September 23, 2014, we welcomed parents to our Back to School Night. This evening is devoted to learning about the routines of the day, instructional and learning goals, and about the development of our Roeper community. The goal of this evening is to allow parents and guardians to join us as instructional partners in this educational setting. Throughout the course of the year, frequent reference will be made to the Educational Statement of Purpose, a document that more fully articulates the bold, courageous and idealistic outcomes of a Roeper Education. This document also articulates why these goals most fully meet the needs of gifted learners, who will one day be leaders in a range of areas.

At Roeper, your child will enjoy personal and authentic relationships with teachers and other students, an experience that will allow each child to know and value their true self. At our recent assembly with Olympic Gold Medalist Charlie White, he recalled these relationships to have shaped his character, which directly impacted his ability to successfully navigate his Olympic sport of ice dancing. Here you will find that your children enjoy a rigorous academic experience and will be well loved by a dedicated and passionate educational community.

In a society that has become increasingly fixated on measuring learning outcomes, our students enjoy deep and authentic relationships with teachers and students, shaped not by measurable instructional outcomes, rather by the lived experience of the members of our community. The small student to teacher ratio, as well as the wide range of curricular choice, allows a depth of experience that far exceeds mandated learning outcomes. Our students daily engage in academic skill-building. However, the vibrancy of learning is around our students’ ability to engage in a learning environment that has meaning and purpose for them and connects them to the larger community around us. This focus on connections, meaning and purpose allows students to develop the habits of mind to engage in critical thinking skills that allow for deep analysis, and the creativity and problem-solving that is needed to positively impact the world around us.

We have had a joyous and intense start to our school year, and I am delighted to join with this community in nurturing the learning needs of Lower School students and the entire Roeper community.

Best regards,

F

4

… the vibrancy of learning is around our students’ ability to engage in a learning environment that has meaning and purpose for them and connects them to the larger community …

KIT

YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN!

PHOTOS BY MARK WRIGHT MARK ADRIAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Monday, September 22nd was a very special day for the entire Roeper student body and staff. It’s not often Olympic Gold Medalists walk through our doors, but when one of them is a member of our community, it’s even more amazing!

Roeper Alumnus 1 and Gold Medalist Charlie White ‘05 and his ice dancing partner Meryl Davis (1) came to school to speak to the kids and show them their gold medals. Charlie and Meryl made history in February when they became the first American ice dance team to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

“It’s such a family. It’s amazing,” said Charlie.

“Just getting a chance to talk to all of these kids was really special.”

2

The two spoke to the students in the assembly about pursuing their goals and accomplishing their dreams. Charlie told stories about his time at Roeper and the friendships and memories that are a big part of who he is and his success. Everyone in the assembly got to see some of these fun moments in a video chronicling his time here at Roeper (4).

Being good role models is important to Charlie and Meryl. “I think being good role models and encouraging people to follow their dreams and be true to themselves is really what we’re most passionate about at this point,” said Meryl.

After taking questions from a panel of Roeper students and even agreeing to take a spin on the dance floor with Senior Anika Hunter (2), the school presented Charlie and Meryl with alumni jackets (3) and made Meryl an honorary “Roeperian.”

After the assembly, Charlie enjoyed a walk down memory lane when he took a tour of the Lower School campus along with his close friend David Golden ’06 (pictured in 4) and his mother, Jacqui (5).

F

3

4

5

Everyone who had been part of Charlie’s life at Roeper was encouraged to join him and Meryl for a photo.

5

KIT

Adam Smock ’87 Director Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

ALUMNI MAKING NEWS channel News Central 34 as a General Assignment Reporter, Entertainment Reporter and News Anchor. Congratulations, Mariah! (Second from left in photo below.)

YOUR INPUT AND INFORMATION REALLY HELPS!!

MUSIC CHANGING LIVES JEREMY XIDO (SILVERSTEIN) ’89 produced and directed the epic documentary Death Metal Angola, which has won awards around the globe and continues to amaze and impress film industry leaders with its story of music impacting lives. As Jason Hammond ’89 put it, “The Roeper School is where kids go to develop the tools to live their dreams. Sometimes those dreams involve telling stories that are so amazing they win you awards.

Including, maybe, an Oscar! Jeremy’s film has officially qualified for the Academy Awards. Here’s hoping it makes it to the short list of 15 nominees.”

Here’s a brief synopsis of the film: Sonia Ferreira and Wilker Flores live and breathe hardcore rock and roll. They run the Okutiuka orphanage in the war-ravaged city of Huambo, Angola, and dream of mounting the first-ever national rock concert. Raucous and righteous, Death Metal Angola follows their story, giving audiences a look at a rock show off the grid that is fulfilling, haunting, and real.

MAKING THE NEWS MARIAH HARRISON ’09, is now part of the news reporting team at 6News WLNS in the Lansing/ Jackson area!

After graduating from Roeper, Mariah went to Central Michigan University where she studied Broadcast and Cinematic Arts, French and Spanish.

Mariah also worked at CMU’s on-campus news

6

TO THE STARS ALISSA BANDALENE ’10, was one of just 12 interns selected from nearly 1,300 applicants for an internship in NASA’s Space Life Sciences Training Program. Based at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, she spent the 10-week internship meeting worldrenowned scientists, working on research projects and visiting modern technology meccas, such as Google headquarters and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Presenting at the fall 2014 Honors College freshman colloquium at Oakland University, “Making Discoveries,” Alissa brought her perspective on the pursuit of knowledge, human achievement and the future of space exploration to campus. “My entire life I dreamed of working at NASA. If anyone here has a dream, I encourage you to get involved now.”

The alumni survey still needs your participation.

Please take just a short time to answer some pretty important questions.

We’ve had some feedback, but I know there are so many more of you out there who could help by participating!

(READ ON – NEXT RED COLUMN)

USING FILM TO SAVE AN UNDERWATER FOREST

The survey is online, so PLEASE type the following website into your browser and fill out the entire survey — don’t forget to include your updated contact information at the end. Your input is very important and appreciated! https://www. surveymonkey. com/s/ roeperalum

JACOB HURWITZ-GOODMAN ‘05 is the director of an intriguing documentary titled The Work at Lake Volta. The project is described as “a cross section of international development, globalism, environmentalism, and the personal stories of the people involved.” The team plans to dive underwater to film the ancient sunken trees and to feature the people on the banks of Lake Volta in a cinematically rich visual story. “What can I say about Roeper? It’s a foundation of who I am. Many of my closest collaborators and friends, including DAN EPSTEIN ’04, producer of The Work At Lake Volta, are people I met at Roeper. It will always be part of the bedrock of who I am. The community and the relationships from that school have endured for the 10 or so years since I graduated, across vast swaths of space.”

RE-OPENING OF MORGAN & YORK If you’re in Southeast Michigan, come to Ann Arbor and visit the beautiful remodeled shop co-owned by MATT MORGAN ‘88. If you’re not in SE MI, make a special trip!

After five months of renovations, the front half of the gourmet food and wine shop Morgan & York has reopened, revealing a space that more resembles a neighborhood cafe than a liquor store. Customers entering the store are now greeted by a barista behind a deli counter where they can buy espresso drinks, locally baked pastries and French bread sandwiches.

OUR ROEPER PRIDE IS SHOWING!

for a prestigious Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) for work that combines nuclear engineering with big data analytics. The objective of the DARPA YFA program is to identify and engage rising research stars in junior faculty positions at U.S. academic institutions and expose them to Department of Defense needs as well as DARPA’s program development process.

Carolyn Lett (left above), Alumni parent and Roeper Community Outreach Coordinator, greets CHARLAE WASHINGTON ‘04 (center), and her mom, Rochelle Wooten, following remarks Charlae delivered at the 2014 Bretzlaff Scholar Breakfast.

NEW RELEASES PATTY SEYBURN’S ‘80 fourth book of poems, Perfecta, will be published in fall 2014 by What Books Press, an imprint of the Glass Table Collective in Los Angeles. Patty works as an associate professor at California State University, Long Beach, and lives in Newport Beach with her husband, Eric Little, and kids, Sydney (13) and Will (11).

NPRE Illinois Assistant Professor CLAIR J. BRANCH SULLIVAN ’93 (left) has been selected

7

DIANE HAITHMAN ’75 published her first novel earlier this year. Dark Lady of Hollywood was released by Harvard Square Editions to wonderful reviews!

The book is available through Barnes and Noble as well as Harvard Square Editions. Diane sent along this description: Ken Harrison, 36, Vice President of Comedy Development at a Big Three network, was right in the middle of TV’s most desirable demographic: men 18 – 49.

Then misfortune enters stage left, and Ken’s comfortable world is suddenly fraught with shadows and uncertainty. Ousted from the network’s comedy department, Ken finds solace in his unread, undergrad’s copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare — and discovers Shakespeare’s mysterious Dark Lady of the Sonnets, a 16th century enigma whose identity has baffled scholars for centuries.

SUSAN SHAPIRO ’77 along with Kenan Trebincevic published The Bosnia List: A Memoir of War, Exile and Return. The book, published by Penguin Books, tells the story of a young survivor of the Bosnian War who returns to his homeland to confront the people who betrayed his family. Co-author Kenan Trebincevic was that young survivor and tells this compelling story of his own experience. The book is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many other booksellers.

8

AMANDA MORGAN ’12, is a singer on the rise!! In 2014, she co-wrote and recorded Lesson Learned with internationally renowned producer Chuck Alkazian (Pop Evil, Trust Company, Soundgarden) at Pearl Sound Studios in Canton, Michigan. This year, she earned four nominations in the 2014 Indie Music Channel Awards and won for Best Female Pop Artist with her track Falling.

To learn more about what she’s up to and hear some of her amazing songs, go to www. amandamorganmusic.com.

STOPPING BY… We always love to have alums stop by the school and say hello! It’s so much fun to show off the wonderful growth of the school and the current students learning about the world in the same place they did many years ago!

I strongly encourage you to spend a couple minutes and come say hello! If possible, give me a little heads-up, and I’ll make sure to be available to give you a tour of the old stomping grounds. I promise you’ll enjoy it just like these folks did … F

ABOVE:Sue Kellogg ’87, Adam Smock ’87 and Sue’s daughter Kinzie LEFT: John Marshall Jones ’79 with Admissions & Marketing Director Lori Zinser.

AN ENGAGEMENT, THREE WEDDINGS & A BABY Braden Ruddy ’98 & Robin Blosvern ARE ENGAGED. THE WEDDING IS BEING PLANNED FOR MAY 23, 2015 IN QUEENS, NY.

Debora Schamel ’06 & Gerhard Walker ’05 Ben Frank ’98 & Lara Clayton

were married

9 JULY 2014

exchanged wedding vows

25 JANUARY 2014 in miami, florida

ben’s groomsmen included ben’s brother JORDAN FRANK ’92*, JOE ABRAHAM ’98, JOSH McCANN ’98 & HUSEFA KAPADIA ’98 the festivities were attended by a bevy of roeper family and friends.

NICOLE KNIBBE CHINIGO ‘96 GARY CHINIGO & their son SAWYER welcomed

DYLAN MATTHEW CHINIGO April 26, 2013 8lbs 20.5”

Byron Pink ’96 & Catherine Archer were wed

12 JULY 2014 AT MISTY FARM IN ANN ARBOR BYRON’S MOTHER, SHARON PINK IS A FORMER ROEPER STAFF MEMBER. NIC SCHEMM ’96 WAS A GROOMSMAN. in attendance were stage i teacher (aunt) karen hines-kennedy & her son (cousin) nathan jhaveri ’02 & former staff & board member pat hurd

9

KIT

STATE CHAMPIONS!

2 1

On Saturday, November 1 in Kentwood, MI, our Roughrider Boys Soccer team won the State Championship, defeating Grand Rapids Covenant Christian 4 – 2.

This is Roeper’s first state championship in athletics.

Congratulations, Guys!

4

3

PHOTOS BY JULIE FROST

7

5

6

1 Michael Deneroff fights for the ball. 2 Senior co-Captain Max Whipple and a Covenant defender “fly” down the field. 3 Simon Roennecke and his tripleteam. 4 Adam Alpert steals the ball. 5 The team cheers the big win. 6. Jake Flynn on a break-away. 7 Andy Reed hugs Coach Sack. 8 Keeper Cal Lind can’t believe it! 9. The trophy.

10

8 9

KIT

WE’RE SAVING A SEAT FOR YOU! Here are 11 essential Fine Arts performance events not to be missed!

We hope you’ll join us for as many as you are able!

DECEMBER

EMPTY BOWLS hosted by Stage IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday, December 4 6:00 – 8:00pm, Community Center

M/US CHORAL CONCERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thursday, December 11

7:00pm, Acheson Theater

M/US INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, December 17

7:00pm, Bham Campus Gym

FEBRUARY

THE GREAT GATSBY, presented by Roeper Theatre Company . . . . . . . . . . . February 5 – 8 Thursday at 7:00pm, Friday & Saturday at 8:00pm; Sunday at 2:00pm, Acheson Theater

STAGE IV BAND CONCERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunday, February 8 3:00pm, Community Center

MARCH OLIVER! Roeper Theatre Company’s Middle School Musical . . . . . . . . . . . March 27 – 29 Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 2:00 & 7:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm, Acheson Theater

APRIL

SHOWCASE CONCERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, April 22 7:00pm, Acheson Theater

MAY

SPRING DANCE CONCERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1 & 3 Friday at 1:00pm, Sunday at 2:00pm, Acheson Theater

STAGE IV MUSICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 7 – 8 7:00pm, Community Center

M/US CHORAL CONCERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, May 13 7:00pm, Acheson Theater

ALL-SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, May 20 7:00pm, Community Center

11

KIT

Adam Smock ’87 Director Alumni Relations and Annual Fund

ANNUAL FUND UPDATE Students at Roeper continuously work hard to learn, grow and develop their individual aspirations and goals. Parents send them here to give them the best chance to successfully do that. The fulfillment of each student’s aspirations and goals requires the engagement, support and participation of everyone around him or her. The future of our school requires these same things: engagement, support and the participation of our entire community. The Annual Fund is one of the most important ways to ensure that future. Though most members of our community know that the Annual Fund exists, it seems important to explain why it’s there and where those funds go. As David Feldman, Head of School said …

Our Board intentionally sets tuition levels below the real costs of operating our school so that more families can afford to send their children to The Roeper School. In return, we as a community must engage in a social contract, an agreement that we will make The Roeper School a priority in our annual giving, an understanding that each of us, to the degree that is appropriate for our economic condition, will financially support our school. The Annual Fund is not a supplement to help provide the extras that make a school year a little better. The Annual Fund is an essential piece of our budget, and without it, we cannot sustain our program.

Each person who supports the Annual Fund directly impacts the success of our students and reaches them each and every day. Just some of the things your participation helps provide:

BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARY COLLECTIONS & CLASSROOMS

COSTUMES & EQUIPMENT FOR THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS

MENTS MUSIC, INSTRU & EQUIPMENT

GAMES SCIENC E LA EQUIPM B ENT

HARDWARE & SOFTWARE

ART SUPPLIES

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL TRIPS

P.E., SPORTS & PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

TOYS

GUEST RS SPEAKE

12

F

The fulfillment of each student’s aspirations and goals requires the engagement, support and participation of everyone around him or her.

KIT

Denita Banks-Sims

Director of Development

PARTING THOUGHTS One early morning, as the lively parade of Stage I families filed past my Hill House office to start their school day, I overheard one small girl remark to her mother, “Mommy, thanks for bringing me to this place.”

This whisper of declarative appreciation brought my morning routine to a halt, as I then stopped to privately add my own …”Thanks for bringing me to this place.”

As we prepare to observe the school’s 75th anniversary in the 2016/17 academic year, how thoughtful of one of our youngest community members to succinctly shape our focus! She reminds us that the shared gratitude we all feel towards George and Annemarie — in both its simplicity and its implicit grandeur — we will now confidently and enthusiastically create a fitting and exuberant celebration.

… the adventure of discovery awaits all of us.

Previous anniversary celebrations have included an affirmation that the adventure of discovery awaits all of us. The Roeper School is deliberately designed for growth, self-actualization and commitment to the philosophy. No one has ever suggested that the journey is tranquil — nothing worth attaining is. But we are all challenged, and the discovery becomes a lifelong quest for all Roeper students and community members.

We look forward to soon sharing more about the plans to honor and commemorate this extraordinary and historic moment for our community. In the interim, I encourage you to join me — and Stage I — in a moment of thanks …

Please stay in touch!

Yours,

F

On a recent trip to northern California, Denita enjoyed a visit with Peter and Karen Roeper, two of George and Annemarie’s three children.

13

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

THE ROEPER SCHOOL

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 16 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304

41190 WOODWARD AVENUE BLOOMFIELD HILLS • MI 48304-5020

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Save the D ate!!

THE AUCTION FOR ROEPER

Join us for an Evening of Fun! Live Auction, Silent Auction and Exceptional Dining!

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015 DETROIT ATHLETIC CLUB TO DONATE ITEMS FOR AUCTION, BECOME AN AUCTION SPONSOR OR VOLUNTEER, PLEASE CONTACT EVENT CHAIR BETH VENS, SCHMIDLY6@HOTMAIL.COM OR KATIE BUCHMANN, DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, KATIE.BUCHMANN@ROEPER.ORG