CrossRoads Vol.3 Spring 2006

Volume 3

STEWARD • • mIssIon statement The mission of The Steward School is to provide a high-quality college preparatoty program that encourages students of varicd talents and abilities to develop their unique strength s in academics. ath letics,

and the arts, while instilling the values of responsible citizenship. The Steward School seeks and celebrates the individual talents of every student and is committed to offering its students an educational

experience in an intimate and nurturing, ye t challenging, environmenl ,

The Steward School will: • Champion small classes and limit tl,e ize of the overall tudent body so that it will have the ability to identify and develop the talents of each smden!.

• Provide opportunities for individual participation to an ex tent not possible in a larger school.

• Ensure that each student acquires the values of honesty, integrity, and responsible citizenship by adherence to the Honor Code.

• Provide structure and discipline adeq uate to give cac h student a moral and ethical compass.

• Require that each chi ld develops a sincere commitment to learn and grow.

• Attract an enthusiastic, dedicated, and talented facu lty who rejoice in helping each child reach his or her potential.

• Ensure that the facu lty and studcnts arc aware of and embrace the tenets of Steward's Miss ion Statement.

Ihe Steward School admits students without regard to sex. race, color, rel igion, and nattonal ongin to all the rights, privih:gcs. programs and activities generally accorded or made availabl e to students at the school.

cr+ssroads Issue No.3

Spring 2006

9

Steward After Hours

11

Athletics Update

13

Arts Update

15

Faculty Spotlight

16

Letter from the Board

17

Heard it in the Halls

1

Letter from the Headmaster

19

Alumni on Campus

2

Feature: Teaching the Steward Artist of Tomorrow

7

Alumni Profile: Stephanie Mann

r+ssroads bUshed by

e Steward School 600 Gayton Road ichmond, Virginia 23238 ) 740-3394 it us on the web at

.stewardschool.org _

20

Steward Congratulates

..... ~

THE SrE\XARD SCHOOL

Administration

Publication staff

Kenneth H. Seward Headmaster Carolyn Brandt Assi."",t Head of School Usa Dwelle Diredor 01 Finance Sarah Melvin Di _ 01 Developmont Scott Moncure Diredor 01 Admission Butch Keller Head 01 upper School Mike Maruca HeocIoIMidcIIe School Deborah Hanger Heoci 0I1.ower School

Tracy Lynch Wri#er ancJ Co-Edilor Sherilyn Smail Graphic Designer ancJ Co·Editor Ariel Skelley, John Alley, Paul Busse, andy Grissom, Alec Kean, Sherilyn Smail Contribuling pIdogmphon

The editors have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported in this publication.

We apologize for any inadvertent errors .

Is published th..... times • __ by The Steward School. All nghls .........t. No portion 01 this _ _ _ may be reproduced without the _ pemllsslon 01 The Steward School. Address changes should to Bar1la<a wemerm.n, 0eYeI0pment Offlce, The Stl!ward School, 11600 Gayton Rood, RIchmond. IIirlIlnla 23238. Suggestions and wmments ~Ing this pubIicabon may be e-mailed to the _ , Tracy , at /ynchro..-dKiooo/''''90 or mailed to Sherllyn SmaH, Pul>icabons Manager, The Steward School, 11600 Gayton Rood, Richmond, Virginia 23238,

t

Anyone who has spen t at least one spring at Steward knows that school years here do not wind down ; they increase in speed, variety, and intensityespecially regarding spccial cvcnts- until we just stop. This rising crescendo celebrates a ll that we are and have accomplished, how we have grown and embraced the mission of the School.

UNot only do we intend to be a great college preparatory school, but we also are committed to being a healthy place for children to grow up .. "

One of the areas in which we are developing is in partnerships, especially in the Art . The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra was here in March, performing in the Cramer Center witb ninety musicians on tbe stage, and wi II return in the fall. Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV have auditioned over sixty aspiring actors and actresses from area schools, including ours, for a summer high-school "all-star" production of Grease, to be followed by a Barksdale professional production of Beehive. A mmalist and a ccramicist have created original works with over a hundred students from every division .

Throughout the spring and summcr, our Board of Trustees will be tackling the difficult task of trying to imagine who we need to be in five years and how we wiD get there. Using the talents of a well-respected strategic planning consultant for independent schools, John Littleford, the Board spent the week of March 28 processi ng focus group infonnation gathered by Littleford from administration, parents, students, and faculty and staEf. By the end of April, the Board will identi fy five strategic objectives, which will guide their efforts to make our school one of the best of its type. Then, each strategic initiative will be assigned to a trustee, who will be responsible for creating an implementation or action plan charting how wc intend to accomplish that goal. At each Board meeting next year, we will report our progress on these initiatives.

I hope that you feel as confident as I do that we are headed in the right direction. at the right speed. Not only do we intend to be a great college preparatory school, but we also are committed to being a bealtby place for children to grow up. This spring we will be focusing on many aspects of students' health, and on how the school in partnership with families can create more manageable and fulfilling lives for om kids. Rccent concerns about the "hurried" child have now become expressed as concerns about the "pressured" child. The research shows that the most challenging aspects of college life om graduates will face are not in academics. Rather, it claims that the social, interpersonal challenges are the ones that om children appear unprepared to manage.

Next year we will work with the Parents' Association to create a parent educational plan, and we will devote even more time to guidance and health in the Upper School , beginning with an expanded Freshman Seminar, which will meet at least dlfec timcs a wcek. This is an exciting time to be at Steward, and together we can make this an even better place to grow, as individuals and as a commu nity.

Ken Seward Headmaster 1

I crouroods 'pring 2006 I

Every child rtist. The p

Teaching The Artist of Tomorrow doesn't take long for a Steward visitor to notice the presence of the Arts on campus. From the colorfully adorned hallways, to the impressive $10 million Paul R. Cramer Center for the Arts, to the sounds of song and music floating from its doors, the Arts are a visible-and audible-part of Steward culture. But to notice the presence of the Arts at Steward is only the tip of the artistic iceberg. It is the role of the Arts that make them a vibrant and essential part of Steward education.

Few people would argue that art is a long-time favorite subject of students, no matter what age. Children crave the opportunity to express themselves, whether through Singing, acting, painting, sculpting, or designing. The Fine Arts Department exists to nurture that love. Through the variety of courses offered, the talent and experience of dedicated teachers, the support of others in the community-including parents and administration-and, perhaps most importantly, the involvement of the students in their own creative learning, the Arts at Steward are alive. But, like any great artist, the Department also has vision. Exploring the artist of today and nurturing the artist of tomorrow is all a part of the plan.

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The Arts Departments They read as if lifted out of a college catalog. Digital Photography. Graphic Arts. Technical Theatre. Acting. Choral Music. Instrumental Music. Sculpture. Studio Art. These are just some of the courses offered by the two departments that make up Arts education at Steward: the Visual Arts Department, chaired by Rugene Paulette, and the Performing Arts Department, chaired by Craig Smith.

Students begin their Arts education as soon as they begin their Steward education. Lower School students take Art and Music twice a week and this year have not one, but two, theatre teachers. Each grade puts on a performance during the year, as well as two major productions: the Holiday Program in the winter and Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day in the spring.

Beyond Lower School, Steward students are able to hone their artistic skills and explore their creative passions through a variety of required and elective courses, such as the ones listed above-ilnd more. "I like that we have the resources to offer many varied mediums and disciplines," says Art teacher and Yearbook sponsor andy Grissom. "It is important to let the children experience different ways of expression, and then to encourage them to try different mediums to discover what they might have a talent and love for."

And the students are encouraged to pursue their interests whenever they can. "At any given time," Paulette (who teaches Middle and Upper School Art) explains, "students may be throwing a pot on the wheel or wor1dng on a painting, even after school, simply because they are enjoying what they are learning ." The enjoyment seems to be contagious.

Just about all teachers commented on the rising interest and involvement in the Arts. "In my four years here at Steward," says Smith, Theatre Director and teacher, "the number of students who want to be involved in theatre, who audition for shows and volunteer to be on running crews, has grown by four or five times."

The Arts faculty agree that it is the combination of small class sizes and the number of offerings that gives students the opportunity to explore the different Arts disciplines and do what they love or, for some, find a passion they may not have known existed in the first place. According to Lower School Music and Theatre teacher Karl Hatfield, "There are a lot of students who may not at first seem to have an interest in the Arts, but when they actually get to do something with it find that they are more interested than they thought." Choral Music teacher Bonnie Anderson agrees.

She keeps a poster on her wall, given to her by a student five years ago. It reads, "I thank you for helping me find the music that I didn't know I had inside of me."

Reaching Beyond the Arts Classroom Hundreds of years ago, Leonardo da Vinci offered the following Principle for the Development of a Complete Mind: "Study the science of art. Study the art of science.

Develop your senses--â&#x201A;Źspecially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else." Evidence of the trend of Arts education shows that da Vinci was, indeed, on to something.

Headmaster Ken Seward agrees that Arts education has multidimensional effects. "Many of us experience and value the Arts as enriching, even humanizing or civil izing, forces in our lives," he says, "We even find them intrinsically pleasing. But I am convinced by recent brain research that experiences in the Arts actually enable us to learn many other more traditionally academic areas of study better. In fact, early experiences in the Arts may actually make us not only well-rounded, but also smarter."

Much research exists on the exact topic Seward references: the Arts as they relate to preparedness of the whole child for success in the future. Within the research, three key beliefs seem to be emerging: that the Arts can improve students' academic achievement, workforce preparation, and inter- and intra personal relationships. A brief from The National Governors Association entitled "The Impact of Arts Education on Workforce Preparation," claims that "When young people . . . study the Arts, they show heightened academic standing, a strong capacity for self-assessment, and a secure sense of their own ability to plan and work for a positive future."

Dr. Elliot W. Eisner, of Stanford University, maintains that "schooling in the Arts has cognitive effects that help prepare students for the 21st-century workforce."

His research shows that the following key competencies of cognitive growth are developed through an education in the Arts:

perception of relationships; skills in finding multiple solutions to problems; attention to nuance; adaptability; decision-making skills; and visualization of goals and outcomes.

Findings such as these, while encouraging and exciting to Arts faculty, are not necessarily news.

Explains Photography and Graphic Arts teacher John Alley, "The habits learned here will last a lifetime, as they are universal lessons in learning, which relate to students asking questions about the world around them. As artists, they hopefully take ownership of their own learning, which is as natural an instinct as the desire to create."

There is also an element of "teamwork" at play, even among students. Theatre teacher, Production Manager, and Technical Director Andy Mudd puts it this way: "Students come back for a second and third year (of a class) not because they need the credit or it 's necessarily required of them, but because they get a sense of satisfaction from being part of a team, working together to realize a great product, and offering that product to the school community."

The teamwork extends across divisions, explains Paulette, thanks to programs such as the Artist-inResi dence series (see page 6), a program that gives students the unique opportunity to not only work along-Side "a practicing profeSSional, with individual attention given to them," but to do so with fellow students of all ages. "It is wonderful to see a senior working right beside-and helping-a kindergartner."

Performances throughout the year feature students from all three divisions, rehearsing and working together to create the final product. Students seek out ways to incorporate the Arts in projects across disciplines, as well .

Many senior projects, for instance, involve using the Arts to explore deeper aspects of literature and history. Students seem to tie in elements such as Graphic Design and Photography at any chance they get.

Teaching at Steward No doubt, then, this is an exciting time to be teaching the Arts at Steward. The enthusiasm of the students is exciting, according to the faculty. Lower School Art teacher Lynn Zinder is pleased that students "are given such great opportunities because of the amount of time they spend in the art room and the variety of materials and courses they are exposed to." Mudd concurs. "The enthusiasm of the students ... that's the payoff. I get my inspiration from how much the students get inspired ."

Another benefit? The facility.

Featuring rehearsal, classroom, gallery, and performance space, the Cramer Center has much to offer faculty, students, and the community. As Alley puts it, "The Cramer Center is an invitation for students to aspire without limitations." Paulette explains that "the Fine Arts faculty had a great deal of voice when it came to designing the Cramer Center. It really fits our needs."

But undeniably, as Arts faculty are quick to point out, the most enticing component to teaching here is the collaboration with and support of colleagues. "Without the support of the Administration over the years," explains Paulette, "the Arts would not have been able to grow the way it has grown. The Administration has never held us down, other Departments support and work with us, and the fact that we have a voice in what we do is priceless." Instrumental Music teacher John McAlister seconds, adding "The administrators are (continued on next pege)

I crossroods spring 2006 I

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featurearticle

The Future of the Steward Artist Last May, the Fine Arts Department submitted the Visual and Performing Arts Strategic Initiative, which outlined the major components of Arts education at The Steward School, provided the School with a focus for growth within the Arts program, and set specific goals for the 2005-2006 school year.

One of the first orders of business was to establish two departments: Performing Arts and Visual Arts. Craig Smith began serving as the Performing Arts Department Chair in August, and Rugene Paulette continues to chair the Visual Arts Department. The two departments work closely together through collaboration, integration of technique, and so on. On March 22, Smith and Paulette met with the Education Committee to present strategic implementation progress reports. Thanks to the passion and hard work of everyone associated with the Arts Departments, the goals of the Strategic Initiative have become, and are continuing to become, realities. Some of the ways the goals are being met include :

Performing Arts • The Theatre program has entered into a partnership with Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV to develop a summer workshop for youth and adults. The Cramer Center auditorium will host the musical Beehive, with professional actors, and the musical Grease, with high-school actors from around the greater Richmond community.

supportive, caring, and some of the most appreciative people I have ever worked with. And the parents have always been terrific."

"It's great to have so many other teachers in the department," claims Hatfield . "We respect each others' programs and have a real desire to make every program a success," continues Paulette.

Zinder agrees: "We have been visited by many teachers from around Virginia, and they always compliment us on our family atmosphere. We really work as a group."

Teaching Arts education is not without its challenges. Keeping up with the growing interests of students means maintaining the number and variety of courses, as well as the number of faculty trained to teach these courses.

Many teachers are pulling "doubleduty," running components of the Cramer Center or other afterschool activities, while trying to hone their own artistic interests as well. But with the continued support of the community, the Fine Arts Departments plan to continue meeting those challenges.

Break a leg!

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I crossroads spring 2006 I

• The School has hosted CYT (Christian Youth Theatre) productions for the past two years, most recently the spring production of Pocahontas. Both sides look forward to future collaborations.

• The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra held a concert and reception in the Cramer Center in early March, and they have already proposed several dates for next year.

• Steward continues to host many visiting artists who perform for the student body, including traveling theatre and choral groups.

Visual Arts • Students in all three divisions developed the theme for the Lower School Discovery Lab, and the Upper School Art students are in the process of painting the colorful mural inside.

• An Artist-in-Residence Program was established to give students the unique experience of working with and learning from artists in a variety of mediums (see page 6).

• Upper School Art students are currently working with visiting artist Sonja Stoeckli to create a six-foot sculpture to be placed on permanent display in the Administration Building. Stoeckli is also working with Lower and Middle School students to create a permanent clay tile installation for the Cramer Center.

• Fourth-grade, eighth-grade, and Upper School students studied artist Chuck Close and made Close-inspired necklaces, which will be exhibited together this summer.

• Upper School Art students reproduced a Picasso painting for Lower School students to study during International Day. • Gallery exhibits, featuring artists in many different mediums, run throughout the year. The artists attend a reception, giving members of the Steward (and the Richmond) community the chance to meet the artist. These exhibits and receptions will continue in the coming year.

• By next year, the department hopes to have Extensis, a digital archiving system, up and running on all computers in the digital portfolio lab. The goal is to instruct all Upper School students on how to record their artwork in digital format-to create a "digital portfolio" that they can carry with them in the future. The Upper School students will then help Lower and Middle School students utilize the same capabilities.

Artist-in-Residence Program What better way to experience the Arts first-hand than by directly working with artists? This year, as a component of the Fine and Performing Arts Strategic Initiative, the Arts Departments at Steward have introduced the Artist-in-Residence program, an innovative way to involve students in the process of creating works of art. Through this program, students work directly with artists, who subsequently become mentors-available to teach, guide, ask questions, and answer questions as they go. Students across divisions and the visiting artist work together to create artwork for the school, leaving lasting "evidence" of the time spent working together. The Steward School is grateful to the following artists who have enriched-and will be enriching-our community and the learning experiences of our students.

Ed Trask

Sonja Stoeckli

(September 15 - November 15)

(January - April)

Ed Trask has been active in the Richmond art community for over ten years since graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1992.

He has painted over 30 murals in the city and has exhibited paintings at Eric Shindler Gallery, 1708, Artspace, and Corporate & Museum Frame, and he has installed temporary murals all over the world. Ed also opened EGG SPACE, a gallery for underground artists to show all mediums of work.

Sonja Stoeckli (in cover photo) is an awardwinning professional potter in the Richmond area and has exhibited her work in Virginia, Washington D.C., North carolina, and Louisiana .

Before moving to the United States 19 years ago, Sonja worked as a social worker in Switzerland, where she lived and worked with handicapped people ranging in age from 18 to 65. Sonja has held numerous jobs since her move here, many of which have involved the instruction of students in pottery. She has taught a wide range of ages, from preschool to adult, in venues such as the AfterSchool Enrichment Program in Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield County adult education classes, and Richmond Pottery (a locally owned private business).

Sonja has experience teaching a variety of mediums, which includes the use of watercolor.

In his time here, Ed worked with Art students in grades K-12 in creating a mural based on Henri Matisse's work. The students participated in each step of the process to create a large mural, from gridding out the design to painting the final touches. The mural can be found in the Cramer Center between the Lower School art room and the painting and drawing studio. Ed also created a colorful mural that can be found above the lockers in the Upper School building .

During her residency at Steward, Sonja has worked with the Art students in grades K-12. Upper School students have created a six-foot sculpture out of clay, which will be on permanent display in the

Administration building . Through the collaborative process of building the large sculpture, students have learned much about the technique of carving clay, including how to create large hollow spheres. The Upper School students were able to help instruct Lower and Middle School students as they have worked on their portions of the larger project. As a result, Lower and Middle School students have each created clay tiles using the carving technique. The 294 tiles make up a large, colorful, tiled piece of artwork outside of the Lower School art room in the Cramer Center.

Ann Cameron Seaton (May 8 - M ay 2 6 )

Ann Cameron Seaton graduated with honors in both Art Education and Studio Art (with a concentration in painting and drawing) from James Madison UniverSity. She received the Art Education Major Award of the Year from JMU in 2005. Her oil paintings, silk paintings, and surface-designed tapestries have been exhibited in the Zirkle House Gallery in Harrisonburg, and her mural painting can be found as a permanent part of the Harrisonburg Children's Museum . A seminar presenter on "Working with Art and the Elderly" at the Virginia Art Education Association, Ann is also a member of the National Art Education Association . During her residency, Ann will teach Middle and Upper Art students her own technique of surface-designed tapestries. Each student will design and create a tapestry using Ms. Seaton's original technique.

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I crossroads

Name:

Stephanie Mann

Occupation:

Opera Singer (a Lyric Coloratura Soprano, to be exact)

Graduated from Steward:

1993

Further Education:

1997, Brandeis University (Bachelor's Degree); 2001, The Boston Conservatory (Master's Degree)

Lives in:

Somerville, Massachusetts (outside of Boston)

Last seen in:

The Grand Duke, with the Sudbury Savoyards (Massachusetts), and as Papagena in The Magic Flute, with the Asheville Lyric Opera (North carolina)

It's hard for Stephanie to explain what she loves about her career because it's "not very tangible."

One aspect is certainly "sharing with the audience the character that I'm portraying and the music I'm making." But, mainly, the most substantial benefit is that she has the rare opportunity to have a career doing what she loves. " It's just something that makes me truly happy," she reflects, "Of course, it's incredibly frustrating when it doesn't work the way I want it to work, but when it does, the world couldn't be better. And I get to share that when I perform."

All careers come with challenges, and working in the Arts is no exception. One of the most notable difficulties comes with the territory: competition. "There are so many singers out there wanting to be hired, and so few jobs that are hiring," Stephanie laments.

Her role as a soprano makes the competition especially tough . "We can't make those casting like us; all we can do is do our best ... but the rejection is very tough.

It's hard to get to the point where you can understand that it's not necessarily you or the quality of your talent." Stephanie also pOints to the "vicious cycle" of auditioning : some companies won't even give an audition if you haven't yet worked for a professional company.

And if you can 't get an audition, then you can't get the experience you need.

All of these professional challenges must be juggled with the personal challenges of taking care of her voice, learning new repertoire, perfecting the repertoire she already has, maintaining and improving her technique, and so on . But luckily, it goes back to Stephanie's love of what she does that keeps her going . That, and the encouragement of those who have helped her- and continue to help her-along the way.

Even today, Stephanie is grateful for the support she received at Steward-the support that helped her discover her true love of, and talent for, singing. " Ryan Imirie, the theatre teacher at the time, cast me in Where's Chorley?," Stephanie remembers. She recalls finishing her solo and standing on stage, waiting as the applause swelled. "There was this amazing sense of euphoria when everything just fell into place. This was it!

That's really when I realized that this was what I wanted to do with my life." She credits Rugene Paulette, her advisor, with giving her the support she needed while in the midst of "the challenge of figuring out who I was while I was growing creatively in all three disciplines of Studio Art, Music, and Theatre." The two still keep in touch. In fact, just last year, Ms. Paulette and her son traveled to Boston to see Stephanie in The Sound of Music, a gesture that greatly touches Stephanie.

And does Stephanie have advice for those who hope to pursue their love of the Arts? Absolutely. She often remembers what an Oscarwinning actress once told her acting class: "If something else makes you just as happy, pursue that and continue your performing on the side. But if nothing makes you so happy as when you are on stage, then pursue that with all of your heart." It's that drive that comes from the heart, the drive to never give up, that will help you succeed, Stephanie explains. She encourages future performers to be patient and know that singing takes a great deal of time. She also recommends learning all there is to learn about your chosen craft, from all angles: languages, music theory, acting, vocal technique, and on and on.

"It's sad/' Stephanie explains, " but careers in the Arts aren't necessarily lucrative in terms of monetary earnings, which is why most of us often have day jobs.

There will be rejection and frustration. But in the end, I still believe it comes down to what the actress told us-if you can't see yourself doing anything else, don't give up."

To learn more about Stephanie Mann 's career, see her website at http://www. stephaniemannsoprano.com.

Alumni : Have you updated your information with Steward's Alumni Association? Here's your chance. Update now to receive the most recent correspondence information, and , coming soon, a newsletter devoted specifically to you-former Spartans! Visit www.stewardschool.org/alumni or e-mail alumni@stewardschool.org.

I crossroads spring 2006 I

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e've all seen it in the movies-the day's final school bell rings, and children run this way and that, scampering out of their classrooms, throwing their books on the ground and thei ~ hats in the air. You can picture it now, can't you? Hallways empty, save the scattered papers and the lone janitor pushing a dusty broom. You can practically hear the crickets chirp.

Not so at Steward. Take a walk through the campus, and you11 see that Steward is buzzing with activity long after the school day has offiCially ended. Pick just about any day of the week, any time of the year, and you11 find another side-the after hours side-of campus life that offers something for just about everyone.

The after school activities listed here are just some of the many that continue to inspire, educate, and challenge students long after the final bell has rung.

And not a cricket can be heard.

Bob Foley, former college basketball coach, runs his basketball camps and clinics at Steward. The clinics and camps are open to all area children on weekends, some weeknights, and during the summer. During the summer, we are the site for Bob Foley basketball camps, Kevin Eastman basketball camps, and Mark Newlen basketball camps.

Did you know that there are over 30 Athletics teams, all of which practice after school hours throughout the year? This includes 15 varsity, 2 junior varsity, and 14 Middle School teams.

In addition, Athletics hosts the following, among others: an indoor field hockey league (on weekends) that serves 200 public and private school hockey players; an indoor soccer league (on weekends) that serves SOD public and private school soccer players (boys and girls); and a 10-team division of the middle school girls' basketball league (on Saturdays).

The Upper School Dance Club meets after school as needed to perfect routines and hone dance skills in preparation for competitions and performances throughout the year. Club members have performed at the Spirit Week Pep Rally and five basketball games this year; they also performed two routines at the US Talent Night.

Minds in Motion is a dance program in which members of the Richmond Ballet meet with fourthgraders once per week.

Seventeen other schools participate, with a culminating dance event in the spring. This year, six Steward students also qualified for a higher level program called Team XL.

In its first year, the Steward lego league team met after school and competed against teams from other schools in building and programming a robot to complete designated tasks. Very cool!

Bonnie Anderson teaches studio piano lessons almost every day after school.

The beautiful SOD-seat Cramer Center theatre hosts a number of outside performing artists, including the Richmond Youth Symphony Orchestra and the children's theatre company, CYT.

Visiting artists, artists-inresidence, students, and faculty alike all feature their work in the galleries located within the Cramer Center.

There are many shows and open galleries throughout the year, which include receptions and opportunities to meet the artists.

On any given afternoon, you may find student artists working on large 8 ft. x 8 ft. murals in the halls. Peek in the classrooms, and you'll see students working on independent projects, throwing pots on the wheel, painting, and developing film .

The ever-popular Enrichment Program, offered three times each year, gives students the chance to stretch their minds and bodies after school ends. Some of the programs offered this Spring are: Cartooning for the Young Artist, Jewelry Making, Intro. to Cooking, Krafts with Mrs. K, Sports Camp, Pottery, Experience England, and Knitting!

Also, The lower School has a Brownie troop that meets on campus one day per week, Destination Imagination teams working almost every afternoon, and Robotics in the fall.

The Lower School's

The Lower School is positively bubbling over with activity.

regular After School Program is offered every day until 6 p.m. It features both time for students to do their homework and fun activities to keep students on the go.

I crouroacJ. spring 2006 I

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eties It's been a busy few months for the Athletics Department, and, as always, the spring promises to be even busier. Check out the action that's passed and the excitement that is coming up . . . the winter. Three elite squads were selected from the group to participate in and represent our Spartan Hockey League in indoor tournaments. They are coached by Steward graduate Sandy Szilassy

Late Fall 'til Now . . . o

o

The Varsity Girls' Basketball team played in the Virginia Episcopal Invitational in early December; Steward sophomore Beth Dixon was named to the All-Tournament Team.

(86). o

The Spartan Club hosted the

full swing. This program consists of 41 teams of girls and boys of various ages. The league, under the direction of Steward Coach Matt Sadler, has approximately 500 participants!

Third Annual Steward Basketball Invitational in early January to overflowing crowds.

We hosted four girls' teams (Steward, st. Gertrude, Trinity, and Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot) and four boys' teams (Steward, Benedictine, Virginia Episcopal, and Trinity). St. Gertrude and Virginia Episcopal were the tournament champions. Beth Dixon was named to the AII Tournament Team and was the tournament's leading rebounder. o

Our lV Boys' Basketball team also had a very good season under the direction of Coach Bruce Secrest. Their record of 13-7 included a trip to the VCC JV Tournament.

o

The Varsity Cheerleading Squad, under the direction of Coach Elizabeth Fraizer, really made an impact this winter. The team sponsored energetic pep rallies and spearheaded a new student cheering section that rivals the Cameron Crazies! The team has focused on developing school spirit, and they are making great progress.

Steward's Indoor Soccer league program has been in

What's New This Spring? o

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The Varsity Boys' Basketball team won the VCC Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

Adam Lonon and Jake Waldbauer were named to the VCC AIIConference team; Jake Waldbauer and Spencer Robinson were named to the VCC All-Tournament Team; Adam Lonon was named MVP of the VCC Tournament; and Cameron Scales was named to the VCC All-Academic Team.

The Spartan Elite Indoor Hockey Team (U-19) won the VCU Indoor Tournament, which consisted of over 40 teams. They participated in the National Indoor Tournament in March at the Richmond Convention Center and won their pool (there were 8 pools of 10 teams). This team is made up of public- and privateschool players who participate inour Indoor League throughout

o

Middle School Baseball has been added to the Athletics offerings for th is spring. Hunter White is assisting with this new sport.

o

We have added some new coaches in the lacrosse Program, as follows: Varsity Boys'-Head Coach, Eric Moore; Assistant Coach, Chris McVey. Varsity Girls'-Head Coach, Marcie Soucek; Assistant Coach, Morgan Hutchinson; MS Girls'-Beth and Buford Scott.

o

You may notice that the boys on the MS and Varsity lacrosse teams are wearing new helmets.

These have been given to us by the Spartan Club. The Club purchased 55 helmets for a cost of $8,000.

o

Mike Jiancristoforo will assist Matt Sadler with the Girls' Soccer program this spring.

Keep on top of all the action by visiting Steward's Athletics website: www.stewardsports.org 11

I crossroads spring 2006 I

arts • Music students in grades 3-8 attended a special program on Mozart by the Richmond Symphony.

• The Winter Play, Arsenic and Old Lace, by Joseph Kesselring, featured Middle and Upper School students performing in this classic comedy.

• The play, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, highlighted the talents of our secondgraders.

The Arts department has spent the past few months brightening the sights and sounds of Steward hallways, spaces, and classrooms in many ways, as the busy calendars below show.

Here's a look at what the Arts department has been up to, as well as a sneak peek of what to expect this spring.

• Middle and Upper School chora l music students attended and performed in District Chorus.

• Eighth-Grade Chorus attended The Marriage of Figaro at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk.

March • Lower School Talent Night treated families and friends to the best that Lower School students have to offer.

Performing Arts

• Middle and Upper School Talent Night showcased the talents of the School /s older students.

Did you see?

• Guys and Dolls Junior by Abe Borrows and Jo Swerling (Book) and Frank Loesser (Music and Lyrics): Lower and Middle School students performed this adaptation of the classical musical, specially written for young performers.

November

• Holiday Program: This beloved program featured the talents of each Lower School student.

• Thanksgiving Assembly: This November tradition featured music students from Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools.

January

December

• Middle and Upper School Instrumenta l students performed in the Pep Band at the Steward Invitationa l, at three home basketball gamest and at the VCC tournament.

• Holiday Tour: Choral music students from Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools went into the community to brighten the holidays for listeners.

• Winter Concert: All Middle and Upper School Choral and Instrumental Music students performed.

13

I cro..roads spring 2006 I

• The fourth-grade play, The Raven, was a big success.

February • The Upper School Band played for the National Honor Society induction.

• Middle and Upper School Class One-Act Play Festival: Theatre 8 and Upper School Acting students performed.

April • The Kindergarten Play, Folk Tales from Around the Globe, gave our youngest students the chance to shine.

u p April o

(continued)

Spri ng Musical : Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashma n (Book and Lyrics) and Alan Menken (Music). This delightful show was performed by Middle and Upper School student s, April 27- 30 .

Coming up this spring

ate v

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Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day: A fun-filled day for all. Lower School Students will treat visitors to a special performance, May 12.

Spring Concert: Middle and Upper School Choral and Instrumental Music students will usher in the spring with their performance, May 15.

Band Trip: The band will be taking its very first trip; Instrumental Music students will be performing at Six Flags America in Maryland, May 6.

The First Grade play is sure to be a big success, May 25.

I

A r t s

s u a I

Paul R. Cramer Center for the Arts Gallery Exhibits

Coming up this spring o

"Early Visions of Budding Artists," lower School Artists.

April 3- May 18. Reception (from 3-6 p.m.), April 20

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"Bridging Cultures Through Art," Partners of the Americas; Art from Brazil, Santa catarina, and Virginia. May 23- June 30

2005-2006 Did you see? o

"Metaphor for Life," by Sonja Stoeckli . Nov 21-Dec 22 (Sculptures)

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"Domestic Partners," by Adele Castillo. Jan 3-Feb 16 (Paintings)

May o

â&#x20AC;˘

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"Artist's Crossroads," by Dia ne Murdock Smith, Emma Lou Martin, Dorothy Duke, Susan Singer, Ben Greenberg, Linda Shaffer, and Elizabeth Drozeski. Feb 17-March 10 (Paintings)

Cosby Hall Gallery Did you see? o

Paintings and Drawi ngs by Upper School Artists. Nov 11Jan 6

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Digital photography by Upper School Photographers. Jan 6March 7

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Graphic Art, Mixed Media, and Photography by Cynt hia Johns, '01. March 7-March 31

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Senior Project Photography Show" M' Lissa levitt (,Jet Lag") and Whitney Frost ("Isreal mazing") .

March 31-April 18

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Student Honors Photography Show. April 18-May 1

Off-Campus Shows o

lS, MS, and US artists displayed their work at Children'S Hospital during the months of March and April. As Janice Burroughs (VP of Rehabilitation) stated, "Thanks to you and your students, our chil dren, families, and staff are excited ly discussing the beaut iful addition to our hospital environment."

Coming up this spring o

Paintings, Screen Prints, and Surface Design Tapestries,

by Ann Cameron Seaton.

May 1-May 31

Off-Campus Shows â&#x20AC;˘ The Steward School SunTrust Art Exhibit, May 5--May 26.

Make sure you pay a visit to the SunTrust Art Gallery, downtown, this May. Each year, Middle and Upper School Art Students exhibit their artwork and make quite a showing-approximately 400 pieces will be exhibited. The exhibit will consist of both flat work and sculptures. Reception date and time TBA. I crossf'OGds ' pring 2006 I

14

faculty sp tlight Lynn Z I n d e r â&#x20AC;˘

Name:

Lynn Zinder

Education:

BFA in K-12 Education from VCU

Family:

Married with two daughters. The older daughter will be a fourth-year at U.Va. next year when the younger daughter, currently a high-school senior, will join her there.

Hometown:

Westchester County, New York

Hobbies:

Knitting and painting

Fun Fact:

Her husband, Marty, owns a popcorn factory.

But Lynn hates popcorn!

Mention the name Ms. Zinder to any Lower School student, and you're bound to see an ear-to-ear smile. Middle and Upper School students who have had the privilege of studying art with Ms. Zinder feel the same way. Indeed, Lynn Zinder seems to create smiles wherever she goes. And she has fun doing it.

"I love coming to work every day," the Lower School Art teacher says with a smile of her own . "Most people just aren't that lucky." Zinder confides that some mornings she wakes up and thinks to herself, "Wow! What a job!," even after working at Steward for twelve years. It's hard for her to pin down one precise thing she loves about her job, although working with the students might rank the highest.

"The students here are just wonderful," she says. "They always want to try new and different things." Zinder especially loves seeing the children "loosen up" in her classroom; in art class, she explains, children can let themselves go a bit as they explore their creative sides.

Working at Steward affords her, as a teacher, opportunities that were not necessarily possible in public schools, where she taught previously. "The Arts program here really does give every child a chance to shine, and being able to see the Lower School students twice a week enables me both to work on much longer projects and to get to know the students really well." Zinder feels honored to work with other Steward faculty, explaining that "we really do work as a group."

Zinder points out, however, that her career at Steward was almost over before it even began. "Rue didn't want to hire me because I was too neat," she laughs, and Rugene Paulette, Visual Arts Department Chair, laughs as well. But Paulette is quick to clarify: "One of the best things I've done as Chair is bringing Lynn into the department," she says. And Lower School students have been better for it ever since.

cro..road. spring 2006 I

Zillder work; wilb LoJvcr Scheol sl.deJJl D/i'?!,belh Fix.

leffer from the board Dear Steward Conununity, This has been a busy year for the Board of Trustees so far, and the pace is only likely to accelerate a we move into the final months of the school year.

In December, the Trustees, together with the heads of each division (Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School) and key administrative personnel, participated in a one-day Board retreat designed to examine the things at The Steward School that need to be preserved and that make Steward such a special place for its students and their families; we looked, too, at those things tbat need to changc as we continually seek to improve the quality of the educational experience and keep pace with an ever-changing world. Led by Denise Kasper, vice-chair of the Board, the retreat reaffinned the Trustees' commitment to the mission of The Steward School: to provide a high-quality college preparatory program that encourages students of varied talents and abilities, champions small classes, and provides opportunities for individual participation to an extent not possible in a larger school.

The retreat also served as an opportunity to consider on a preliminary basis some of the issues that will be addressed in the upcoming strategic planning process.

In January, the Board devoted its attention to the annual budget for the 2006-07 school year. Thc budgeting process occurs at this time of year primarily to enable the School to e tablish tuition ratcs and to budget for faculty and administrative salaries

for the next school year, since re-enrollment contracts and faculty contracts are offered in February. In preparation for the budgeting process, thc Personnel Committee compared the median salaries of Steward's teachers in various categories to those of Steward's peer schools. I am pleased to report that major strides have been made to bring the faculty salaries in Line with those of the peer schools, although we till have further to go in some areas. The budget also allocates more fi.mds than ever before to professional development programs for our teachers. Attracting top-quality teachcrs and retaining Ollr existing talented teachers, as well as aligning compensation with mcrit, arc inlportant priorities for the Board, and we will continue to look at ways that we can properly compensate our teachers for their dedicated effons. I am also pleased that the 2006-07 budget approved by the Board of Trustees contemplates a tuition increase of only 5.5% above the 2005-06 tuition, a significantly smaller increase than in recent years.

The next major initiative of the Board of Trustees is the strategic plan, which is the first long-range plan undertaken for The Steward School ill almost nine ycars. DlU'ing the week of March 27th, the consulting firm of Littleford & Associates, led by John Littleford, met with the Board's Strategic Planning Committee (chaired by Paul Costello) and with focus groups consisting of Trustees, teachers, department chairs, administrators, parents, and several Upper School students in an effOit to identity the key issues facing The Steward School over the next five years. These groups gave members of the Steward conununity an opportunity to present candid views and constructive suggestions on where The Steward School needs to be over the next five years.

The challenges that tlle School will face over the next several years are considerable: â&#x20AC;˘ We will soon reach the maximum enrollment that our physical facilities can handle, while the metropolitan Richmond area served by The Steward School continues to grow each year, resulting in increasing pressure to admit even more tudents . â&#x20AC;˘ At the same time, our mission is very clear: Steward is intentionally a small school with small classes and a limited student body in order to educate students of vatied talents and abi lities and to provide opportunities for individual paJticipation to an extent not possible in a larger school.

TIle strategic plan will help guide the Board of Trustees and the administration in meeting these and other challenge. As always, we welcome input from the entire Steward community as we develop this new strategic plan.

Sincerely,

Charles L. Menges Chairman I crossroads spring 2006 I

16

Robin Ricketts has had three of her watercolor paintings selected by the Virginia Chapter of the Partners of the Americas to be in an exhibition called "Bridging Cultures Through the Arts." They will be on display during 2006 at several different venues in Virginia (induding the Cramer Gallery!) and during 2007 at several different venues in Brazil. Ms. Ricketts completed a one-week Plein Air painting class last semester.

This past fall Ms. Hajek's Lower School PE students were involved in running a marathon over the course of two months.

The students learned about running, fitness, and the cardiorespiratory system while they colored in mileage markers of glasses of milk to mark their progress on huge posters in the gym. The program was inspired by the Richmond City Marathon.

Fifty-two students completed a marathon (26 mi.) and forty-three completed a half-marathon. They celebrated with milkshakes!

Second-grader David Vi has not only been lacing up his skates to play ice hockey with his team, but he also scored six goals this season!

Bonny Hajek was selected to be one of the USTA Officials for the 17

I .....-.u 'Pring 2006 I

Roddick!Agassi/Graff/Kornakova Genworth Celebrity Tennis Match that took place in Richmond on December 2.

Good job, Second-Grade Destination Imagination teams!

The children who were involved were very excited about the work they did in preparation for their successful March 18 competition.

a baby girl. First-grade teacher Betsy Saunders had her first grandson in December. And our counselor, Michelle Johnston, had a baby boy in December.

Assistant Head Jennifer Cullinan will complete her Post Master's Certification in Educational Leadership this May. Make sure to congratulate her on her hard worl<l Kari Hatfield presented a staged reading of some of her work at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in Orlando, March 2-5.

Ron Coles and Mansa Riverson attended the National People of Color Conference this fall .

Enrichment Coordinator Suzanne Casey is excited about the work that the whole fifth grade has been doing with Hands On Equations-an approach to teaching elementary-aged children algebraic thinking with manipulatives. Ms. casey also has a "tricky sheet" with higher level algebra. Daniela Brenner (from Ms. Blum's class) took it upon herself to write her own tricky sheet for the other students to solve.

Second-grader Katie Hardin is currently doing several commerdals for local businesses and appears in several print advertisements as well.

Looks like a baby boom! Fonmer Kindergarten teacher Christine Vermillion Gregory recently had

Eighth-graders Hillary Lane and Elizabeth Tyson participated in the District Chorus Workshop February 10-11. The girls had to learn the music for the workshop beforehand, which involved a lot of preparation and hard work.

The music was refined over the course of the weekend with a professional director and then perfonmed in concert. There were 65 students from all over the District who participated. The Middle School is very proud.

Sally Plotkin was elected to Who's Who Among America's Teachers . .. and it was her second time!

Band Director John McAlister recently performed as a percussionist with the Commonwealth Winds. This concert band, made up of band directors and other Richmond-area music educators, performs 3-4 concerts throughout the school year under the direction of Dr. Terry Austin, Director of Bands at VCU.

Paul Busse is now a VERY proud first time Grandpa. Mr. Busse's new sweetheart, Dakota Elizabeth Busse, was born on Valentine's Day!

what should be included on the mural, and then Annie Jung designed it to include the younger chi ldren's suggestions.

Dana Powell, a sophomore, has been selected to be a sports ambassador for tennis with the international organization People to People. This summer, she will travel to Holland for ten days and compete with peers from around the world . Dana is one of only 14 girls between the ages of 15 and 18 who will represent the United States!

The Junior Class raised $1 ,000 for the Massey Cancer Research Center during their Rock-A-Thon, held in December.

Eleventh-grader Chris Skove earned the rank of Eagle Scout in February. Make sure you congratulate him on such an accomplishment!

Mr. Alley is working with Ms. Rodriguez's Spanish II and IV students on their Spanish Commercial Video Projectsincluding instruction on editing, voice-over, and subtitles. Mr. Alley also showed students how to change their video tapes into a

CD. Senior Beverley Borum spearheaded the Relay for Life. Steward was invited to participate with the MCV/VCU group at their Student Commons on Sunday, March 26th, from 12:00 to 6:00. Over 75 students and faculty members registered . The students organized fundraising activities and were excited about this community service event.

Upper School students Hali Yun, Alex Matlock, Emily Hazzard, Kelsey Pieters, Lexi Wiles, Dianna Keith, Dabney Broaddus, Sophie Burtoff, and Katie-Beth Kurilecz (Ms. Paulette's advisory group) are working together to paint a large, colorful mural for the Lower School Discovery Lab after school and on the weekends. They each interviewed LS students to see

Lower School students and their families had a great time making goo, testing magnets, and performing all sorts of great experiments at the Lower School Family Science Night, which was held February 22. Thanks go to Mrs. Kovach's Upper School science students, who made the evening a success by helping younger students through every step of all the scientific processes.

Mary Good spends 5-10 hours a week volunteering at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond. Mary works in General Services and helps throughout the entire hospital discharging and transporting patients, delivering flowers, taking snacks to new moms, delivering newspapers, and so on .

The student run jazz combo, Chickweed, continues to perform regularly at Grove Avenue Coffee & Tea once a month. The band includes Upper Schoolers Adam Smith, Michael Brady, Patrick McKeown, and Caleb Brown .

Mrs. Brandt's advisory showed they were all heart on Valentine's Day. Leigh Bedinger, Monica Casper, Sarah Nelson, and Elizabeth Newins raised over $125 for st. Jude's hospital by selling candygrams in the Upper School.

Mrs. Heaton's French students attended the VCU French Film festival at the end of March and beginning of April. Steward's attendance has earned our foreign language program notice at the language departments at area universities.

The following Upper School Students auditioned and were selected to the District Chorus: Tim Wiles, Bev Borum, Dabney Broaddus, Elizabeth Franklin, and Rachel Kewer.

On March 31st, it was announced that seniors Brin Hill and Afton Bartlett won Third Prize from the C-Span network for their hard work on a ten-minute documentary submitted to their annual student video contest. The project was completed as a component of Mrs. Brandt's Public Speaking class, and was supported by Mrs. Jones and Mr. Alley. Brin and Afton covered the government response to Hurricane Katrina.

A heart-felt thanks goes out to Debbie Fitzgerald, Debra Beck, Beth Shamburger, Barbara Werderman-and all staff who have helped with the conversion process along the way-for all of their great work with supporting Blackbaud database systems.

Along the same IT line, another thanks goes to Shahwar Qureshi, for the t ime and effort she has spent on her work with Extensis and SS Digital Portfolio, and to Sarah Jones, for the Faculty Laptop Initiative project.

Know someone who deserves a shout-out? Want to recognize someone~ hard work? Jot an e-mail to Tracy Lynch, with the subject line "Heard it in The Halls" to Iynchf@stewardschool.org.

I crossroads spring 2006 I

18

aiumnioncampU5

seconds

with .. • cott Moncure

~{u c h

has changed since Scott 'Io llcure gTadualed from Stew,u'd. Fo r one, the sizewhen Scott-graduated in 1983, he walked Ilith on ly 9 o ther people! (And Scott is pro ud to oint Oll t that he h'Taduated in the top ten.) Arter grad uation, Scott attended E.lon Unive rsity and grad llated with a degree in Po litical Science in 1988. H e rerurned to Steward as a stall' member in 1994 a, a deveiOjlll lellt ;L~s i s t a llt ;LIIt! admissioll cOlillselor. ),To t lo ng arter, the School completed its VAlS reaccredidatio n process and realized the need ro r a flill-tillle Admission Director. The natural cho ice was Scott. ),Tow in his twc llUl year he re, Smll i, looki llg forward to seeing his fi rst kinderg;uten class grad uate next year. H e and hi Ili re, Gin. enjoy u<ll'cLing and spending time o n the RappallaJlnock Ri,·er. In his spaJ'e time, yo u Gl11 find Scott in his gaJ'den o r on his boat discovering nell" places.

What'!> it like to work i n the same school you attended?

"M Yl<lVonte C •

It's great, really. At first, it was kind of tough to call Ms. Brandt "Carolyn," and Mr. Cramer " Paul" . .. although for some reason I never had a problem calling Coach Rice "Janet!"

part (of the job) is sharing with potential

fami lies the

Yes, my role in Adm issions has definitely changed. When I first started here, enrollment was around 230; now, it's almost 600. It's been a fun challenge, though . Something else that has really changed can be seen on the tours I give prospective parents : our campus. Twelve years ago it was nothing compared to today- now it's a showplace! The architecture itself is amazing. But what really matters, and what has remained the same, is the quality of our faculty and staff.

My favorite part is sharing with potential families the wonderful Steward experience. Showing happy, smiling faces all over the campus is just priceless.

Steward

What do you think Steward will look like in five years?

. e xpenence ."

I crossroads

You 've been here for twelve years. Has your role changed over that time?

What is your favorite part of your job?

wonderful

19

Seriously, I still feel like I am in school. I think it's great that I still have Spring Break and all the school hol idays. I love visiting the classrooms. The support of everyone here, too, is just fantastic. I just finished my Master's program at George Washington University, and I couldn't have done it without the support of my colleagues. The small class size at GW reminded me so much of the t ime I spent here at Steward . .. although this t ime, I got all A's!

spring 2006

If I have to guess what Steward will look like five years from now, I can imagine mort space-perhaps an Upper School addition with more science and lab room and maybe an addition to the Middle School also. But I know that the commitment to small class sizes will remain as always. And you know, I imagine more and more alumni will be enrolling their children as well. It'll be fun to see how it maps out.

I

stewardcongratulatles ~anet

Rice Honored by VIAAA

This winter featured major milestones for two of Steward's most prominent Athletics figures.

Coach Janet Rice's energy, enthusiasm, and sense of humor have made her a much admired and respected part of the Steward community. This year, the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association recognized her as well, as they named Coach Rice their Independent School Athletic Administrator of the Year.

Congratulations go to .Janet Rice and Butch Keller

According to carolyn Brandt, Assistant Head of the School, "Janet and I came to Steward in the same year many years ago. I have had the good fortune to work with her for over 25 years and to watch her take a fledgling program in a steel bam and build it into the amazing number of offerings in the beautiful Athletic Center we have today."

Their contributions make the entire Steward community proud.

At the January 31 Board of Trustees meeting, Coach Janet Rice was honored with a resolution, part of which reads as follows:

BE IT RESOLVED, that Janet Rice is hereby congralu/ated for being selected as Independent School Athletic Administrator of the Year by the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, an honor which she richly deserves; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Boord of Trustees expresses its deepest grotitude to Janet Rice for her tireless dedication to the sludents and families of The Steward School community, for her commitment to excellence in the School's athletic programs, for her loyalty and for her many other contributions over her long career at The Steward School.

Congratulations Coach Ricel

Butch Keller Hits the Big 5-0-0!

By Janet Rice

Butch Keller entered an elite group on January 20, 2006. That night, he guided the varsity boys' basketball team to a Virginia Commonwealth Conference win over Southampton Academy, which marked his SOOth career coaching victory!

Butch has coached for 25 years at four different schools (York Academy, Christchurch School, Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, and Steward), and he has averaged 20-win seasons each year. In addition to numerous conference championships and Coach of the Year honors, his teams have won three State Championships. His first was at Christchurch School in 1991, and he added two more at Steward (in 2003 and 2004).

I got to know Butch during his years at Christchurch School and have watched him build many successful teams throughout his coaching career. He has been fortunate to coach many talented players who have gone on to college basketball careers, but his skill is in molding the good basketball players with the seemingly ordinary athlete to produce a well-oiled machine. Year in and year out, his teams take the floor and play basketball with intensity, sound knowledge of the game, and teamwork. On the sidelines, Butch's calm demeanor camouflages the innate competitive nature that has enabled him to produce winning seasons on a regular basis throughout his coaching career.

The Steward School is fortunate to have a coach of Butch Keller's caliber on its staff. To achieve 500 victories in any pursuit is quite an accomplishment, and we are happy that he is on our sideline.

Congratulations Coach Keller!

I cros.......u spring 2006 I

20

To reach our goal, we need your support.

Your gift will help all Steward students "each their potential.

www.stewardschool.orgldevelopmentlgive

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The Annual Fund Campaign ends June 30, 2006

THE SrE\X.ARD SCHOOL 11 600 Gayton Road Richm ond , Virginia 23238

www.stewardschool.org

Nonprofit Organilallon

U.S. POSTAGE PArD Richmm, d, VA Pl'rmi l N o. ~N3