CrossRoads Vol.5 Fall 2006

THE STEWARD SCHOOL

mission statement The mission of The Steward School is to provide a high-quality college preparatory program that encourages students of varied talents and abilities to develop their unique strengths in academics, athletics, 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, yet challenging, environment.

The Steward School will: • Champion small classes and limit the size of the overall student body so that it will have the ability to identify and develop the talents of each student.

• Provide opportunities for individual participation to an extent 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.

THE SrEWA.RoScHooL A PLACE TO EXCEL Exceptional (caching. mdlvldualilCd Instruction. and a canng environment are Cited by our parents, orne and hme again, as the charOClenStlcS they value most about The Steward School. We know

you are lookmg for more than Just a good school. You're looktng for the right school for your chIld and we want to help With small class Sizes, we are committed 10 making every student's

Steward expcncncc a success.

For 25 yt:Drs, The Steward School has combmcd academIC excellence with the expect3 rions for a strong ch aracter. a well -defined Honor Code. and a responsIbility for service The Steward Sc hool. founded ID 1972, 15 an independent. college preparatory, co-educational. non-sectanan. day school serving grades K-12. Lfyou would like to visit the School or receive more information about our program. pi east: call or write to:

THESrE\\NIDSo-tooL

11600 Gayton Road, RIchmond, VA 23233

Phone:740-3394 F.x:740-1464

NI;:VI;:R UNDFREsnMATE WHAT PERSONAL ATfEN·nON CAN MFAN FOR YOUR CH ILD·S KINDERGARTEN E:XPERIENCE.

• Provide structure and discipline adequate to give each student a moral and ethical compass.

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

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

• Ensure that the faculty and students are aware of and embrace the tenets of Steward's Mission Statement.

The Steward School admits students without regard to sex, race, color, religion. or national or ethnic Origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to stuclents at the school.

THE STEWARD S CHOOL

THE STEWARD SCHOO L KTHffOUtiH '2 ON£uyDf..r:

WARD SCHOOL

Procession of Grade 12 and Kindergarten

Invocation

Music by Bonnie Anderson

Mike Maruca Head of Middle School

Welcome Deborah Hanger Head of Lower School Welcome to our annua l Convocation. We are thrilled to see students, parents , faculty, staff, the Board of Trustees, and even a former Headmaster, Paul Cramer, at our opening assembly. This is our time to rejoice at the opening of a new school year, which somewhat rem inds me of opening a book. On ly today, our book begins a whole new life for kindergartners and contains the final chapter for our seniors.

And while we all enjoy good books, no doubt each person here has different interests, approaches, and styles to learning in this educational arena. Yet we all enjoy a common thread that binds us together, and we are here to celebrate that thread today. All of us at The Steward School are here because we value learning, we value caring for ourselves and others , and we believe that HONOR and RESPONSIBILITY will ensure our journey through the book of life AND as we become good stewards. These same principles helped to write the story of Steward back in 1972.

So while our lives may-incredibly- span six decades in this very room , our school has successfully endu red three decades. Many of us continue to be amazed daily at the wonders of not only the growth of our academics, but of the facilities, technology, sports , and special traditions, as well. It is my fervent hope today, however, that we will never lose the wonderment of our community, the joys and privileges we share at Steward , the enormous sacrifices given daily by each faculty and staff member, along with the parents of every child. And , of course , let us always remember to put in the forefront the unique talents, interests, and passions of each and every student in this audience.

So our book opens for 2006-07 and the characters are you , the theme is perpetuating and growing our wonderfu l school, and each page can be a new and exciting gift to all of us. In June we hope to close our book by simply saying , "And they lived happily ever after."

Good and gracious God, Lord of all our times and all our seasons , Of all our hopes and all our days, Be with us at this time and in th is season, Here and now, today, tomorrow, always.

As the season of summer slips away, The days shorten , and the shadows grow, Another school year starts anew, cycles 'round again, And we are given , granted by you, yet another chanceTo do the math, and the English and science and history, To play on the fields, on the stage, And in our minds and hearts, To care for ourselves and for each other, To know you as we are already known .

Help us not let this season , this good , best chance for us, Slip by, but rather give us the grace to exercise the gifts alread' given .

We pray in a special way for the kindergartners, Who start out on a new adventure, Our youngest and perhaps best teachers .

And for the seniors in their last season with us, May they thrive and grow and , as they should , keep us on our te And for those who are new-anxious, curious, perhaps afraidMay they find in us a home away from home.

Mayall the students keep all the teachers young , And the teachers, in their tum , expand their students' minds and he May our parents be patient and proud, May our administrators send and receive, (But not too many, not too lengthy, emails) And may the Board in its wisdom care for us all.

And when this fresh season ends and summer begins again , May we all look back and be better for what we have done, At work, at play, and at rest, Always remembering our call to care for and to steward what t been given to us, Never forgetting that our stewardship will best be measured By what we have given away, how we have used our gifts to n our small corner of the world a better place, a bit more like heaVE That etemal time and place, your first and final Season that never E And to which you ca ll us with your grace here, now and alway Amen .

The Pledge of Allegiance (Led by a student representative of each division)

and The National Anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" (sung by Dabney Broaddus, Class of 2007)

Choral Selection Upper School Select Ensemble "The Prayer, " by Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster

Keynote Address "If Mister Rogers Went to Harvard" Ken Seward, Headmaster

)r most of the summer, I have been searching for a superhero. 'e all have superheros; some are real people. Some are super hletes, super models, or super race car drivers, while others list beyond the confines of reality: Batman, the Hulk, Spiderman, Ickie Chan , Indiana Jones . ost superheros have a shelf-life. Being a superhero is hard to do r too long. My own superheros all seem tired, old , or worn out ; ey don't fit into their clothes anymore. In fact, recently one of my Iperheros, Blackford Oakes, super spy, actually died, which is a lcidedly un-superhero-like thing to do! ; we all know, superheros are supposed to be invincible, immortal, rtuous and victorious, and handsome or beautiful doesn't hurt. I 3nt to announce to everyone today that my desperate search for new superhero is over. I have found one, although maybe an llikely one. Here is a clue as to his identity. Mrs. Anderson , my Iperhero's theme song , please. (Bonnie Anderson plays, "It's a 3autiful Day in the Neighborhood.") lter the immortal Mr. Fred McFeely Rogers . Yes, Mr. Rogers. I Ive decided that only Mr. Rogers can save us from the pressures ld stresses of a world driven crazy by the "achievement god. " r. Rogers is the ideal superhero for the Headmaster of a school /med Steward . As everyone who has watched Mr. Rogers ows , he cares about every person . He believes each one of us valuable. He models cooperation , persistence, patience, and aring . He teaches us how to acknowledge our feelings , even en we are so mad we want to bite someone, and how to control r impulses and manage our frustrations . A t only does he care for children , he respects them ; he respects ir humor, their inherent sense of what is right and fair, and their

honesty. With his best Care Bear stare , he shows parents without telling them that children grow best when they are raised in responsible and caring ways. He shows them that discipline and control are critical skills to live a healthy life, and that the best kinds of discipline and control by far are not imposed by others but come from within each person. A With increasing frequency, I am challenged by parents who say, "Yes , yes , yes. I get the care thing-after all , this is The Steward School. But can you get my child into Harvard?" I usually respond by saying something to the effect of, "Why would you want your child to go to a school where the weather is cold and dreary for most of the year; where it costs over $46,000 each year to attend (which is more than the average American family's total annual income); that rejects 20,000 of the 23 ,000 students who apply; and where they live with the Red Sox as their home team?" This doesn't sound like a good idea to me!

Christopher Catizone , Harvard Class of 2006 , began his college career as one of the chosen , the elite of the high school elite: SAT scores between 700 and 800, a G.P.A. in advanced placement classes higher than 4.0, demonstrated leadership skills , an outstanding character, a strong sense of social responsibility, and most likely very straight, very white teeth .

In his personal essay on the Harvard College website, Christopher describes making his way to his first class on his first day at Harvard. He passed through Dexter Gate into Harvard Yard . He noticed , as he entered, that the inscription on the gate says , "Enter to grow in wisdom." B He was filled with excitement, feeling challenged and inspired, feeling like he was a direct descendent of Socrates , who "called philosophy down from the heavens and compelled it to consider the moral questions of good and evil. " B He stared life's essential questions in the eye: Who am I? How is my family, my community, my country to act? How am I to live a good life? That day, after class and considerable pondering , he left the yard through that same gate. He noticed , yet again , the inscription above him , which read, "Depart to serve better thy country and thy kind ." B But from that moment on for him at Harvard, the inspiration vanished , the questions went unanswered, the ideals dissolved into a life that he described as too buried in a work ethic characterized by short-cuts and grade-mongering, too awash in cheap beer to engage in sophisticated discourse, and too overcome by fatigue to meet friends for dinner. 8 Lost your way, Christopher? Mr. Rogers to the rescue . But how can even Mr. Rogers save the oldest, the richest, and the most elite of the Ivies, save Socrates , and us from the world of our own devising? What would he say to Christopher?

As it turns out, even Mr. Rogers , the superhero, needs help on this one-a sidekick, if you will. And that help comes in the guise of an academic super-mole , in deep cover, at Harvard: alias Harry Lewis , a double-agent sidekick Ph.D. and Dean of Harvard College , who wears (you guessed it) cardigans and snea kers at night in his study!

Dean Lewis acknowledges to his incoming Freshmen that Harvard and other highly selective col leges have spurred high schools , teachers , and parents to push, push, push their children to do more, more, more and do it better, better, better- making every attempt to be perfect, perfect, perfect.

The Harvard Dean's best advice to students once they arrive in Harvard Yard is to " . . . think about slowing down, limiting structured activities .. . recognize that unstructured time in your day and evenings spent with your friends , rather than your books , are all in a larger sense, essential for your education . ... The human relationships you form in unstructured time with your classmates and friends may have a stronger influence on your later life than the content of some of the courses you are taking ." c Dean Lewis continues , " ... you are more likely to sustain the intense effort needed to accomplish first-rate academic work if you allow yourself some leisure time, some recreation , some time for solitude , rather than packing your schedule with so many activities that you have no time to think about why you are doing what you are doing." c Finally, he warns, "Your mind and body will break down if you don't relax, exercise, eat well , and most of all sleep ... Sit outside and read a novel Oust for fun) . .. Hang out with friends, play Frisbee , keep up the dining hall conversation until everyone else has left." c And , perhaps most importantly, this sidekick advises, "Don't expect to be perfect . . . life is complicated, and in every fai lure there lies a constructive lesson about you . Find subjects that you are happy studying , and th ings that you are happy doing, even if you are not going to be the best at them." C Sounds like Mr. Rogers to me.

The Dean of Harvard and Mr. Rogers are both very worried about the world's Mr. and Ms. McFeelys, who run the Speedy Delivery Messenger Services-rushing all of the time, too busy with their work to stop for a visit-whose work seems to take up all of their lives. Although work is an important part of life, education should teach you how to live wisely, how to make good choices , how to be good, when no one else is looking. It should keep you up at night not in worry or in work, but in wonder-wondering who you are, who you want to become, and how you will get there .

Wondering what difference you will make in the lives of others.

You need to trust your teachers, your friends , your parents, and yourself to walk out of the gate at the end of this year having grown in the wisdom of how to care for yourself and care for each other, feeling ready and able to serve the betterment of others. To learn this, you do not need to have perfect SAT scores , a 4.0 G.PA , or to earn a 5 on an A.P. exam. You do not need to be any smarter than you already are. You do not need to be a different person than the person you already are. You can learn this right

here at Steward, right now, and that lesson will serve you well no matter where you go when you leave here, no matter what you become in life.

Thank you for your kind attention. I wish you all the best this year ... and have a beautifu l day in the neighborhood.

Choral Selection "Sicilienne, " by Gabriel Faure (Eighth-grader Molly Gagoo on flute, accompanied by Bonnie Anderson)

Closing Remarks Carolyn R. Brandt Assistant Head of School

As you leave this Convocation, what will you take with you?

Let me add a few closing thoughts. Whether you are a kindergartne or a senior or are in a class in between; whether you are a Boare member or a faculty member or a part of the administration team whether you are a parent or a guest-one thing is true for all of you . Convocation marks the beginn ing of a new school year and , therefore , a chance to rejoice at the opportunity to start anew- te in Mrs. Hanger's words , open a new book.

So leave here today promising yourself that you will heed Mr. Seward's words . You will pick your superhero carefully, you will take a risk , try something new, seek your passion , and slow dow Approach the year with an open mind and a wi llingness to listen, to learn , to share , and , most of all, to care .

Benediction and Dismissal Butch Keller Head of Upper School

Please stand for the Benediction.

Let us pray. Dear kind and gracious God , we are thankful for thi opportunity to come together as one school. May we gain wisdol from the words that we have heard today.

Please guide us in the direction that enables us to take advanta! of the opportunities that are before us and to make the most of th is school year. Help us to lead when possible and follow when necessary. Please be with us to treat one another as we wish to be treated , and as we leave today, let us be ever mindful to be thoughtful and kind to others.

Amen .

Footnotes to Mr. Sewa rd's Speech: A. PBS Kids Webslle: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. "Series Philosophy." http://pbskid s. org/rog ers/parentsteachers/seriesJphilosophy.html. Accessed: Au ~

2006.

B. Catizone, Christopher. "Enter to Grow in Wisdom," From Emily Riehl and Dann Yogen, eds., Student Essays: On the Purpose and Structure of a Harvard Education. Harvard Curricular Review Series: October 2005. pages 1路 2. Retrieved on-line' http://www.fas.harvard.edu/curriculum-review/ student_pdflcatizone.pdf. Accessed: Aug ust 2006.

C. Lewis. Harry R. Aug ust 2001. Letter sent to incoming Harvard freshmen.

Cambridge. MA. Retrieved on-line: www.college.harva rd.edu/deans_officel dean_'ewlslslow_down.hlml. Accessed: Augusl 2006.

Published by THE STEWARD SCHOOL 11600 Gayton Road Richmond, Virginia 23238 (804) 740-3394

13

Steward's New Look

Administration Kenneth H. Seward

Headmaster

Carolyn Brandt A ssistant Heed of School Lisa Dwelle

14

Alumni News & Events

Director of Finance

Sarah Melvin

D i _ of Development

Scott Moncure

Director of A dmiSSIOns

Butch Keller Head of Upper School Mike Maruca

Head of M iddle School

Deborah Hanger

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Spartan Spirit Day

2

.etter from the Headmaster

3

Jppc r School Educatio n: 'he Road Map To Success

5

Know What You Did .ast Summ er

Head of Lower School

Publication Staff Tracy Lynch

Copy Eddor

Sherilyn Smail

Design Eddor

John Alley, Paul Busse, Cindy Grissom, Glenn New, Sherilyn Smail

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Fine Ar ts

20

Athletics

22

ContnbuUng photographers

Printing Total Printing Company The editors have made every attempt 10 ensure the accuracy of infOlTllation reported in this publication.

We apologize for any Inadvertent errors .

Crossroad. tS published three I1m.s a year by The Steward School.

All nghts reserved No pomon of thiS magazine may be reproduced WIthout the wrttten permiSSIOn afThe Steward School . Address changes shoukl be sent to Barbara Werderman, OevekJpment Office The Steward School, 11600 Gayton Road , Richmond. Virginia 23238 Suggestions and comments regarding thts pubhcatlon may be I to the editor Tracy lynch, at rracy.tynch@Sf8wsrdschool.org, or to Shenlyn Small, P'ubhcall()ll5 Manager, The Steward School, 11600 Gayton Road , Richmond, VirginIa 23238.

Spartan Golf C lass ic

23

Student Spotl ights

THE STEWARD SCHOOL

Jew Faculty and Staff

o

Hents' Associatio n News

24

Letter ftO m the Chairm an of the Board

Visit us on the web at

www.stewardschool.org

L ElTER FROM THE HEADMASTER

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Steward at the Crossroads By most every measure, o ur Schoo l has acco mp lished much in a relatively short period of time. Our campus, as we now experie nce an d enjoy it, did not exist ten years ago. We have nearly doubl ed the stude nt po pulation, enha nced the curriculum , added parenr programming, adva nced O UT techno logy offerings and capabilities, and substantially increased the number of facu lty and staff. W e have successfully rai cd OUT Annual Fund and the Endowmenr, while managing to lowe r th e debt we incurred for all we have bu ilt.

.. . we believe that we can become the leading college preparatory school in the Richmond area for developing and discovering each student's

In the midst of any evo luti on, questions about the future surface. And so it has happe ned here. Throughout the past year, the Boa rd of Trustees, Administration, Faculty, and Staff have engaged each other in countl ess houTs of d isce rnment.

Because we are looking to the future, impo rtanr questio ns ar ise: What is at the core of our insti tu tiona l bei ng? Wh at must be prese rved at all costs, lest we lose who we are? Where shall we invest our instituti onal resources? Who do we need to beco me in the future? And lastly, and perhaps most importantly, how d o we get there?

V ision TwentyEleven, T he Steward School's Strategic Plan, answe rs these questions and more. This plan id enti fies five strategic initiatives, each of which has a rationale and a plan for actio n. Ea ch plan of acti o n has a timetable for implemen tation, persons responsible, and criteria for measuring and judging its impact. Vision TwentyEleven is inrended to be a dynamic documenr, o ne tha t has grown from a year's wo rth of conversatio ns abo ut who we are and who we will co ntinue to evolve to be in the next fivc years and beyond.

Each of the five strategic initiatives manages to both emb race the co re values of our past and loo k to the needs of th e future stud ent and faculty popu lation. By affirming the founding miss ion, attracting and retain ing the best faculty, grow ing financial resources, creating a diverse com munity, and enhancing fWo-way communications, we believe that we can become "the leading college preparatory school in the Ri chm o nd area for developing and discovering each student's unique talents, interests, and passions."

The School seal reminds us th at if we take the tim e to exa mine our place in life, we will see that we are always at an intersection , always at a "Crossroads," po ised to choose which direction ro rake. For The Steward Schoo l co mmunity, Vision TwentyEleven i, that direction, and I am excited and ene rgized by the journey we are about to begi n tugether.

unique talents, interests, and passIons.

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Ken Seward Head master

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• Some things never change. The taste of warm apple pie with cold vanilla ice cream on top.

The anticipation of Christmas morning . Tax deadlines. Teenagers.

Wait. Is that true? Do teenagers, throughout the ages, remain the same? Perhaps the stereotypical behaviors, frustrations, wishes , giddiness, and excitement that go along with the adolescent years ring eerily familiar throughout generations. But are the needs, educational and otherwise , of teenagers static?

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As any expert in secondary education will tell you , the need to reevaluate how we teach our teenagers always exists. To most effectively reach the youth of today-to prepare them to be the adults of tomorrow-we need to look at what we teach and how we teach it. And if we look really closely, we'll see that just as subject matter evolves, forcing us to consistently revise content, so do the social and personal needs of those students in our classes .

After 26 years in Upper School education , Head of Upper School Butch Keller knows a little about teenagers. And after 6 years at The Steward School, Keller knows a great deal about what makes the education students receive here unique. Spurred by his commitment to the students, encouraged by and working with the Headmaster and Administration to make some changes , and continually supported by the faculty of the Upper School, Keller took a good look at the • way the Upper School has been doing things • throughout the years and saw opportunity: the chance to take something good-the Steward Upper School educational experience-and make it better.

To quote Keller, "How cool is that?"

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Putting Ideas Into Action Last spring, Keller, Headmaster Ken Seward , Assistant Head of School Carolyn Brandt, and Department Heads sat down to discuss the future of the Upper School.

The larger question, according to Headmaster Ken Seward , was "Other than being a college-prep school , how do we define who we are?" The question goes deeper when you consider purpose: "Four years ," Seward continues , "Do not need to be just preparation for something that happens next. They need to be va luable in and of themselves. The high school years are critical in shaping who we are. " It became clear that to teach the teenagers of today, to best address their interests, needs, and goals, the Upper School needed a mission of its own-a road map, if you will , to mark the travels of our students as they navigate both through Steward 's crossroads and on the roads ahead.

Everyone turned their thoughts to the 2006-2007 school year and to ways to create that road map. A critical factor, Seward explains, was the element of engagement: actively engaging our students in their own educational processes.

So the wheels were turning long before Keller attended an Advisory Leadership Conference in Florida this summer, but it was the event's workshops and discussion that really kicked everything into gear. The Conference, put on by the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education (CSEE ), helped bring home the point that a student's education goes beyond the classroom , beyond academics. While this was not necessarily news, because characterbuilding has long been a goal of Steward education, what was so interesting to Keller was the discovery of the various ways that other schools were able to incorporate "character" into their curriculum , their daily activities, their school culture .

As he listened and participated , Keller filtered what could and could not work in a school like Steward . Mainly, he saw

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opportunity to expand on and alter what he had heard to fit with Steward's current US cu lture and make it thrive . For instance, a group of schools from Canada discussed the success and popularity of the "legacy house" system : students grouped into houses to build spirit and encourage one another. As these house alumni age , their own children are encouraged to attend the same school, join the same house, continue the tradition .

Right away, Keller thought about the implications such a house system could have at Steward-the spirit and teamwork it cou ld foster- and as he carried the idea beyond the conference , new ideas seemed to grow exponentially. What other ways could we encourage spirit , involvement with each other, within the School? What else is essential to the education of an Upper School student?

Two types of visions came to Keller. First, a literal vision : a visual symbol of the key components of a Steward School education. Keller came up with the concept of the four-legged stool. A stool that would not stand , could not support the weight of those who depended on it, without the strength and solidity of its four legs: academics, character, the arts, and athletics. Without one of the four legs, the stool wou ld be incomplete, broken. These four components have now been assigned to the school cross: they meet in the middle of the school shield at the Crossroads , where our lives intersect each day.

Keller traveled home, thought some more, and then brought his ideas first to Headmaster Ken Seward and then to US faculty, all of whom enthusiastically supported the possibilities ahead . What emerged throughout the rema ining weeks of summer was the next vision, a broader, more ephemeral one with implications far beyond the symbolic: the Upper School road map.

T he Upper School Road Map The concept of educating the "whole has long been embraced by Steward faculty. As he carried his ideas regarding the Upper School educational experience forward , Keller became more and more enthusiastic about finding concrete , tangible ways of teaching the "whole" teenager of today through activities, classes, and systems that support all of the stool-all arms of the cross-including a renewed emphasis on Character-building and the active engagement of students.

The result? The Road Map: Ten key components of an Upper School education, all of which are described on the opposite page. Some may look familiar, "oldies but goodies路 in the Upper School curriculum that have been

twE!aK,e~

a bit. Other components are brand new and are being met with much enthusiasm by the student body. Seward is excited about the results thus far: "This road really gives the Upper School a solid

our students."

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The Ten Components of A Steward Upper School Education I. Enriched Curriculum : Honors-level foreign language courses; additional independent study options; new faculty, specialized in new and varied subjects; availability of seminar cou rses in multiple grades.

-hese options are not on ly designed to mhance student transcripts. They are neant to offer US students variety and Iccessibility to topics of interests, while lei ping with multiple styles of learning and eaching, all of which will lead to more mgagement in the subject and in the :Iassroom . ' . Human ities Seminars for Seniors: A wide va riety of topics and areas of interest are covered in these trimester courses, meaning a senior can choose to take three a year. Students can choose from subjects such as Poetry, Ghost Stories in World Literature, British Literature, Psychology, Current World History from 1960, and more. ;uch range gives students the chance to ocus on what interests them , true, but it Iiso engages those who teach our :hlldren-the faculty. Senior seminar :ourses introduce students to the type of !xploratory learning and discussion among leers they will encounter in college . \. Advisories and The " House" System: Grade- and gender-specific advisories, explains Keller, enable advisors to cover more specific information geared toward individual grades or to address genderspecific issues as necessary.

-he House System, a direct result of Celler's attendance at the Advisory ;onference, brings an element of teamyork and spirit to the School- and is being net with huge success. Here's how it yorks: four or five advisories make up a louse, with each grade represented . Each louse has a name and, now, a "crest" soon to be made into tee-shirts!}. Hou se nembers are able to earn "cultu ral pOints" Dr their house through a variety of Ictivities (see below). The House with the nost points is treated to an end-of-theear party. "It's fun ," explains, Keller, "But also gets the kids involved in a common oal."

II comparisons to Harry Potter aside eller explains that House Systems are eq uently used in England}, it is working . he Houses show their spirit and friendly

riva lry in any number of ways: making signs to support events, challenging each other to see who can lend more volunteers for an American Cancer Society event, and so on. It works , explains Lynn Define, English Department Chair and Advisor of the Gryphon House , because "Everyone has embraced it- the facu lty, the students, everyone."

4. Steward Cultural Points : These are the points earned by students that go toward their house cumulative total.

Students are able to earn points for the ir house by participating in each of the four arms of the cross: ath letics, the arts, academics (Headmaster's List, Honor Roll , and "E&A" points-see below), and character (community service , volunteering in the school , etc.)

Both active involvement in and attendance at arts and ath letics events earn pOints, encouraging engagement no matter where a student's strengths lie.

5. Leadership Council : The Leadership Council is made up of four students appointed by the faculty (one from each grade) and four elected by the students (one from each grade). This year, the Leadership Council, explains Ali Thompson , new Dean of Upper School Student Life and co-sponsor of the CounCil , has become more involved in the daily operations of the student body.

They oversee Stewardship (distribution of cultural points), develop the freshmen orientation, playa prominent role In new-student transition , and take attendance, for instance.

6. Effort and Attitude Grades : E&A Grades are assigned by each classroom teacher to provide a general assessment of the student's classroom demeanor accord ing to the following five criteria: effort, attitude, cooperation , pa rtiCipation, and motivation .

Students rece ive these grades 'along with their academic grades. The E&A system was developed specifically to give a new dimension to academ ic grades-to afford students and parents insight into the character-building component of education. As Seward puts it, "At a school with the name 'Steward' on the gates, it only makes sense that we take into serious consideration the development and encouragement of growth in character."

"At a school with the name 'Steward' on the gates, it only makes sense that we take into serious consideration the development and encouragement of growth in character."

7. Freshmen Student Focus Plans: These plans , to be implemented in a student's ninth-grade year, are designed to give students a formalized look at their strengths and wea knesses as they move through the US academic program.

Among her many roles, new CAL Upper School Coordinator Meg Heyssel will assist with the development of these plans.

8. Ninth- and Tenth-Grade Seminars: Students in ninth grade rotate through character education, computer literacy, public speaking , and writing; in tenth grade, the seminar cou rses are fundamentals in scientific research, health, publishing (yearbook or literary magazine), and writing . Such courses focus on the fundamentals of an US education while introducing the school's youngest students to higher level learning styles, teaching techniques, and subject matter intensity.

9. Minlmester: New in name only (th is is the former Alternate Program), the Minlmester is a five-day, intensive "break from the routine" that takes place in the spring. Students can explore internships in areas of ca reer interest, travel , or focus on specia l community service projects, all of which provide nontraditional learning opportunities outside the classroom .

10. Revised Lunch and Activity Period: "The faculty were very clear last spring ," explains Seward. ''They needed more time to spend with individual students and with each other." What resulted is an extended lunch period on Mondays and Fridays, followed by a 25-minu te Activity Period . Students can meet with clubs without losing time in their classes, faculty can schedule meetings with each other and with students, and , says Keller, "Twice a week, everyone can just have a chance to breathe."

•

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• • • : •

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• • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• -.. 5 Fa _

I Know What You

Did Last Summer . ..

Steward summers are busy summers-a time to travel, volunteer, and grow beyond the school year.

Take a look at what's cool for Steward faculty, students, and families when the weather is hot.

This summer, junior Anna Greenlee had an unusual job. She worked on a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew near Sandbridge, VA. The YCC, dedicated to improving and maintaining our state parks, emphasizes leadership development and team cooperation. They built and renovated nine campsites and cleared new hiking trails. Anna learned how to handle a drill gun , saw, and hammer. The crew also learned about the unique coastal ecosystem and made friends from all over the state.

(If anyone else is interested, applications for the prog ram are due in March .)

Spanish teacher Melanie Rodriguez spent her summer getting ready for her new grandson . Reece Hayden Rodriguez was born on October 4, 2006. "People have told us that it is a wonderful feel ing becoming grandpare nts ," Mrs. Rodriguez explains , "However, until you experience it for yourself, you can't truly appreciate the happiness that you feel : The Rhodes family (fourth-grader Emma , second-grader Isabelle, and first-grader Eli ) went to France and Italy. Fifth-grader Sarah Dickson also traveled to Italy.

Junior Hali Yun spent two months in South Korea this summer taking Art classes every day for six hours ea ch day.

Her main focus for the class was Realism with graphite pencil.

Caroline Baron , a junior, spent part of her summer in Sardinia, Italy. She also toured New York and was able to visit Rockefeller Center and the Statue of liberty. Caroline is new to Steward as an internationa l student from Germany.

6 b1l2C'Ot-

The Xu fam ily (fifth-grader Lauren and second-grader Cla ire ) and the Glancy family (fifth-grader Cabell , fourth-grader Braeden, and second-grader Logan ) traveled to China together. They had a great time visiting Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong , and the Yellow Mountains, among other destinations.

Junior Lexi Wiles took part in a summer program through the group Bridge Builders. Bridge Builders ministers to those in need through dance and community service projects throughout the Richmond area.

Assistant Ath letic Director and teacher Wallace Inge attended two Comfort Zone Camps this summer. Comfort Zone Camp, located in Hanover. is a nationally recognized grief camp for ch ildren who have lost loved ones. The Middle School has adopted CZC as its "charity of the year."

Betsy Saunders, a teacher in the Lower School, went scuba diving in little Cayman . She spent 17 hours underwater the week before school started!

Sophomore Emily Hazzard spent ten days in Brazil doing construction work at a school being built for orphans. She visited the orphanage almost every day after work.

Several faculty members spent their summers on the run, tra ining for various races and marathons. Gardner Mundy, US teacher, Barbara Werderman , Deve lopment Associate of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs, and alumna Marshall Felvey ('01 ) ran the Richmond Marathon

on November 11. Alumna Whitney Hajek ('98) recently ran the Chicago Marathon and qualified for the Boston Marathon this spring. Wallace Inge ran the Marine Corp Marathon in D.C. this fall . Mr. Mundy and Mr. Inge are running , in part. to raise money for a memorial for VMI alumni, including some friends. who have lost thei lives in the wa r on terrorism.

Congratulations to Sarah Jones , our K-1' Technology Coordinator and teacher, who had a baby girl on August 21. Her name i ~ Sadie, and Sarah has added pictures of her lovely daughter to her teacher website.

Chloe Carnes, a fifth grader, traveled to Greece and Turkey for two weeks. Durin~ her visit in Istanbul, Turkey, Chloe befriended a young Turkish student namel Gizem Gundogdu, an eighth-grade studen who takes three languages in addition to her native language. Chloe and Gizem have become pen pals and continue to write one another about topics such as school life, fashion , and lifestyle in the U.S. and Turkey.

Seniors Michael Reazin and Ann Lunsford kept their minds moving this summer. Both students took courses on college campuses .

Jonathan Wauford , a senior. traveled to Italy to do some studies of his own in art history.

Lower School P.E. teacher Bonny Hajek spent two weeks touring China, traveling to five cities .

Lower School teacher Chris Tickle welcomed a German exchange student fo the year. Betty Bliimer is a sixteen year old from Neumu nster. She attends Trinity Episcopal High School.

Carnes Willhite . a tenth grader. went to Slidell , Louisiana, for eight days to put up sheet rock for Katrina victi ms with his church group.

Boys and girls at th is summer's Camp Steward raised almost $100 for Anthem Lemonaid for the Children 's Miracle Network. Great job, campers!

Three members of the Foreign Language department were chosen to serve on the I Board of their respective state-wide professional organization: Gail Heaton , with the Virginia chapter of the American

Association of Teachers of French; Carri Nauma nn-Mon ti , with the Virginia Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages ; and Carrie Vander velde, with the Classical Association of Virginia.

Junior Margar et Gupton (left) traveled to Switzerland, France, and Germany in June. While in the town of Waldshut, Germany, located on the Rhine River, she had the opportunity to spend a day at the Robert Schuman Reaischule (school) with her friend , Theresa Stein . After returning to Richmond, Margaret worked backstage for the production of Grease , which was perfom1ed in the Cramer Center in July.

Fore! A group of Middle and Upper School Steward students played on the Honda Junior Golf Tour this summer at area Richmond Golf courses : Bobby Ball (grade 10), Drew Noble (grade 8), Ajoya Speigh t (grade 8), Clark Asplun dh (grade 7), John Dozier (grade 7), and West Camp-C rowder (grade 7). Clark and West qualified for the season -ending Championship Tournament at Salisbury Country Club on August 28.

Over the summer, Rob in Will iamson , our After School, Summer Camp, and Enrichment Program Director, completed researc h on her family's history (13 generations' worth! ) back to the 1600s, and in the process verified that her family members are direct descendants of three men who came over on the Mayflower.

Junior Adam Smith traveled all the way to China this summer. He spent two weeks there attending a leadership conference .

Each summer, US Dean of Students and :eacher Ian Coddin gton leads the Heart )f Va . Council Boy Scouts to Philmont, the 30y Scout Nationa l Ranch, in Cimarron, \)ew Mexico. This year, sophomore Peter -foward (Troop 418 ) joined 60 other ;couts at Philmont, in the Sangre de ~risto Mountains, where they backpacked In average of more than 100 miles in 11 Jays. Everyone cl imbed Baldy Mounta in, vh ich is 12,441 feet high! ;enior Camero n Taylor attended this ,ummer 's Collegiate Summer Economics 1stitute here in Richmond , and fellow enior Spence r Robins on participa ted in 'CU 's Communications Workshop. 'reshman Ben Leahy had a blast at a \)ail and Sail Camp." Ben performed ommunity service (such as painting a ouse and building a wheelchair ramp) I the morning and sailed on the :appahannock in the afternoon . now someone who's making a difference? 'ant to recognize someone 's hard-earned :complishments? E-mail Tracy Lynch at lcy.lynch@stewardschool.org to have him or lr mentioned in the next Crossroads.

Mark, Melanie (a teacher in grade 3), Monica (a senior) and Michele (a sophomore) Casper went to Gem1any this summer to cheer on the U.S.A. team for the World Cup in June. They also visited Austria and England .

Six1hilrader Erin Roukou s , a member of the American youth Harp Ensemble, travels all over the world to perfornn , and this summer was no exception. Erin and the AYHE played in three performances: two in Milan and one in Rome. The youngest member ever invited to play in the AYHE (when only in third grade), Erin has also recently traveled to Edinburgh and Paris. This February, Erin will travel to Portland , Oregon, for a public broadcasting performance, and nex1 June she will return to New York to play at Carnegie Hall and for the United Nations .

New Faculty

and Staff Megan Barlow (1) is teaching Lower Sch ool Music (g rades 1 and 2) and Middle School Choral Music. Megan has a Bachelor of Music in Education from Virginia Com monwealth University. Most recently she was a teacher in the Hanover County Schools at Cold Harbor Elementary School. Fun fact about Megan: She has a secret love of video gamesespecially Zelda Windwaker and Lego Star Wars .

Nancy Bellafante (2) is the new Middle School Information Technology teacher.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Commun ication from the University of Delaware and has done graduate work in Secondary English Education there as well.

Most recently, she was an instructional assistant at Short Pump Middle School in the Henrico County School System. Fun fact about Nancy: She is a board-game fanatic-and a very competitive one at that- whose favorites are Scrabble and Pictionary.

Jason Berry (3), our new English 11 teacher, moved to Richmond from the Boston area. His studies include a Bachelor of Arts in English from Furman University, a Master of Arts in English from Clemson University, and doctoral work at Northeastern University. His previous position was teaching at EF International Language School in Boston. Fun fact about Jason : An ardent supporter of Clemson and Michigan , Jason , as a child growing up with grandparents from Michigan, had to sing the Michigan fight song before he could open his Christmas presents. Years later, while at Clemson ,

Jason taught Keith Adams, now with the Miami Dolph ins, and Vinny Ciurciu, now with the Carolina Panthers.

Pat Caron (4), our new Accountant working with Accounts Payable , recently moved to Richmond from Atlanta, Georgia. She attended the University of Maine and has 35 years of accounting experience, including as co-owner of the largest construction distributorship north of Connecticut for 25 years . Pat's most recent job in Atlanta was office manager and accountant, working for an entrepreneur who owned six businesses in metro Atlanta. She has been married for 31 years and has two sons who are attorneys. Fun fact about Pat: She has a tambourine in her office and uses it as stress relief occasionally (thanks to fellow newcomer Nancy Bellafonte).

Juan Chavez (5 ) is teaching Middle School math and Upper School Spanish.

He has degrees in education from EI Salvador and from Holland in Educational TV Directing . He most recently taught at Benedictine and Luther Memorial Schools in Richmond.

Lynn Define (6) rejoins Steward after a brief hiatus working at the Learning Center in Charlottesville. She is cha ir of the English Department and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy from Boston College and a Master of Arts in English from the College of William and Mary. Fun fact about Lynn: She ran the bulls in Pomploma, Spain .

Nancy Dorman (7), our new receptionist in the Administration Building , previously was a real estate paralegal at Kerns, Kastenbaum & Reinhardt , PLC for approximately three years . Most recently, Nancy worked at The Martin Agency in Richmond. She is currently working on her degree in Accounting from VCU when not

doting on her adorable two-year-old daughter. Fun fact about Nancy: She has been skydiving! A word to others, though-Nancy warns that it was "terribly boring to fall for 5-6 minutes," and fou nd only the first 30 seconds of fre e-falling "thrilling ." "I would never recommend such a thing ," she says.

Jennifer Gnapp (8), a graduate of Hollins College (now University), joined the Development Department as a part-time Development Assistant this fall after running Steward's old lunch program for four years. Jennifer is the mother of two boys at Steward in 4th and 7th grades, both of whom have been here since Kindergarten. Fun fact about Jennifer: She is self-proclaimed "addicted to tennis:" on her two days off each week, she plays about 4 hours of tennis each day.

Jennifer Haar (9), our new kindergarten teacher, has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Radford University. She was most recently a teacher at Fox Elementary School in Richmond . Fun facts about Jenny: She loves peanut butter, Barry Manilow, and her twin sister.

Margaret (Meg) Heyssel (10) joins us as our new Upper School Coordinator of the Center for the Advancement of Learn ing .

She will be teaching Freshmen and Sophomore Seminars in Writing. In addition to her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and English from Hobart and William Smith Colleges , Meg has pursued graduate studies at Princeton University and the University of Virginia . She was most recently a faculty member in the Chesterfield County Schools. Fun fact about Meg: She found her first (ten) gray hairs when she was 14. She started dyin\ her very gray hair at twenty, and now, at

42, Meg is finally letting it grow out. It will take about a year for this to happe n-if she "can bear it."

Eric Hopp (1 1), our new part-time Upper School science teacher, joins us from Yesh iva of Virginia , where he was a science instructor. His studies include a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Forensic Science , both from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Ka ren Lechne r (12) has relocated to Richmond from Cal ifornia . She teaches Middle School Mathematics. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Theatre from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education (grades 1-8) from Vanderbilt University. Karen's most recent position was at Marin Country Day School in California . Fun fact about Karen : She was stationed in the country of Namibia (Africa) whi le in the Peace Corps. Karen helped to certify teachers , who often said they had a hard time understanding her English because of her "southern accent." Karen even taught some of the male teachers how to play basketball.

Marty McMu llin (13) , joins us as the Lower School counselor. Her Bachelor of A.rts in Art History and her Master of

Education in Counselor Education are both 'rom the University of Virginia . Fun fact lbout Marty: She loves to play tennis! :arri Nauma nn-Mon ti (14) is our new )irector of the International Students 'rogram . In addition to her Bachelor of Arts n German from Virginia Commonwealth Jniversity and her Master of Arts in -ESOL and German from West Virginia Jniversity, she is completing doctoral ,tudies at Virginia Commonwealth Jniversity. Carri 's most recent teaching ,osition was at VCU , where she taught

Linguistics , Italian, a graduate course in Education, and coordinated internships.

Fun fact about Carri: She loves to fly (literally). Carri learned how to fly small aircraft, and she's been skydiving several times .

Rebecc a Sh ingleto n (15), new part-time Upper School English teacher, was most recently a teacher at Deerfield-Windsor School in Georgia . Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carol ina at Chapel Hill, additional undergraduate studies at Boston University and Oxford (England), and a Master of Arts in Teaching English from Duke University. Fun fact about Becca: In her own words , she says she's "a closet redneck :" she loves NASCAR (especially Dale, Jr.), and her sister married her husband's brother.

John Sirko (16) , who is teaching Spanish in the Upper and Lower Schools, comes to us from the University of Virginia , where he was a teaching assistant. His Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish is from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his Master of Arts in Spanish is from the University of Virginia .

Ali Thomp son (17) is our new Upper School Dean of Student Life. She acts as a liaison between students and Administration and focuses on student transition in the Upper School. Ali most recently was Assistant Director of Day Adm issions at St. Catherine's School, where she previously taught for seven years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Syracuse University and is completing graduate studies in Educational Leadership!

Administration at George Washington Univers ity. Fun fact about Ali : She went to school with actor Taye Diggs.

~r

HE

ARENTS

5S

CI

II

.

The SEED Program Has Sprouted

By Ca rter Rryan , Pa rents' Assnci ation Pres ide nt SEED is a unique program developed this

SEED will offer Lower, Middle, and Upper

year at The Steward School to educate parents , students, and faculty on life-

School student programs. Its Parent

building characteristics and values that define who we are as a school and community. SEED is an acronym for Stewardship, Encouragement, Enrichment , and Discovery.

Through the SEED curriculum and planned programs, all facets of The Steward School will develop a strong root system of Steward 's defining values of respect, responsibility, honor, and compassion .

SEED partners with students, parents , and faculty, bringing our school community together to learn how to provide adequate

Programs will include Parent Education Workshops, Friday Forums, Speaker Programs , a Parent Resource Center, and future Parent Communications (through electronic newsletters, for instance).

SEED will reach out to faculty by offering workshops and speakers through its Faculty Programs.

This year's Parent Education Workshops and Speaker Programs have been met with enormous success. Please read below to find out more about a few of this year's events.

For more information about the SEED program, or to receive a brochure about the program and past and future events, please contact Sharon Forbes, Parent Education Chair, at sforbes5@comcast.net.

amounts of nurturing, structure, and latitude essential in helping students choose healthy lifestyles and make healthy decisions.

Dr. Wendy Mogel The Steward School Parents ' Association welcomed Dr. Wendy Mogel to our campus as the keynote speaker for its SEED Parent Education Program on October 5, 2006. Dr. Mogel, a clinical psychologist, parenting expert, and author of the best-selling parenting book, The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, gave an inspiring, humorous and effective presentation entitled "Raising A SelfReliant, Optimistic Child in a Nervous World" to over 350 parents from the Steward and surrounding communities in The Cramer Center. She told stories of everyday parenting problems using Jewish teachings as a means to exam ine them .

Dr. Mogel addressed how to teach children to honor their parents and to respect

others, escape the danger of overvaluing children 's need for self-expression , accept that children are both ordinary and unique, and treasure the power and holiness of the present moment. The next day, Dr. Mogel addressed the faculty during their development program.

Brandon Tells His Story On October 3, 2006, Brandon Silveria and his father, Tony, delivered a compelling message about the dangers of underage drinking and driving while under the influence to Steward's 8th-12th grade students in the Cramer Center. The Silverias, State Attorney General Robert McDonnell, several local legislators, and members of the Virginia ABC Board came to The Steward School on behalf of The

r SONG

10

E A

In Good Company: Serving Up a New Concept in Fundraising

000

EAR

We're

3y Wyndi Carnes , Special Events Coo rdinator 30mething special happens over good 'ood and conversation. Meals are a time

Goochland , In Good Company promises to deliver good ti mes, good food, and the

'or friends to relax, savor the food, and

best of southern hospitality. We expect In

lnjoy each other's company. These are

Good Company to become a regu lar

.imes to form interesting acqua intances lnd lasting friendships. Great hosts never .hink of it as "enterta ining," but consider it

series of events, open to guests from

In

opportun ity to have lots of "good

:ompany." With th is premise in mind , the ~arents'

Association has introduced a new

,eries of hospitality events called "In Good ::ompany."

within and outside of the Steward community.

In Good Company is part of the School's continued commitment to a strong sense of commun ity. In a world of cel l phones, email . and instantmessaging . this series of events offers unique opportun ities for

rhe Steward School has assembled a

parents and friends of The Steward School

'menu" of entertaining events that kicks off n February and ends in April. This series

to unplug and reconnect. In Good

)f parties will be hosted by families of The

Company will be introduced to Steward School families through a brochure that

3teward School, and 100% of the money

will be mailed in January. For more

'aised will go directly to the school.

information, contact the School at (804) 740-3394 .

Nhether a specially prepared dinner by a ocal chef in a home nestled near the river, afternoon of skeet shooting , or a casual )arn party in a pastora l location in

In

::entury Council , a not-for-profit organization jedicated to stopping underage drinking 3nd drunk driving. Bra ndon told the ,tudents his moving story about his lear-fatal car accident when he was 17 yea rs old and how it could have been 3voided if he had not had a couple of Jeers at a high school party before driving lome. He talked candidly about the three {ears of pai nfu l rehabilitation he had to 3ndure, the heartache the accident :aused his family, and the many physical :hallenges he now faces , including his nabi lity to enjoy a good book or a movie Jecause he no longer has short term llemory capabilities. His courage to live 3ach day in spite of his permanent and iisible speech and walking disabilities was ~SPiring . Before the students gave

Irn

",00 0 ,'" 0", ' " ",01100 ,

h'

with these parting words: "Take one last look at me and ask yourself, was it worth a couple of beers?"

Dr. Robert Evans: Mark Your Calendars Now Dr. Robert Evans, clinical and organizational psychologist, educator, and au thor of Family Matters: How Schools Can Cope with the Crisis in Childrearing will be at The Steward School on February 27, 2007 at noon in the Cramer Center. Plan to spend an hour leaming how and why parents are abdicating their responsibilities to their chi ldren 's schools and hear what Dr. Evans offers as rea listic school-based solutions to this problem.

"ft Ih,m Fall 2006

11

THE STEWARD SCHOOL

Throughout 2006, The Steward School

draws attention to the center cross-or the

has worked with an outside agency on

Crossroads- which represents, according

developing a new Marketing Campaign for

to Headmaster Ken Seward, "how our

the School. Why the campaign? "The

lives continually intersect." The four arms

general look of Steward has always been

of the cross represent the four key

consistent and strong, especially the

elements of a Steward education:

image of the equilateral cross-we have

academics, arts, athletics, and character.

brand equity with the cross," explains Marketing and Special Events Coord inator Wyndi Carnes, "But it was time to take Steward 's look into the 21 st Century. This new Marketing Campaign does that, while still maintaining the essence of our past. It captures who we are , while moving us ahead to who we strive to be." he new logo has been revised to reflect he vision of the school. Its simplicity

The School's ads, stationery, business cards , clothing , and uniforms will all eventually reflect our new look. No matter how the look changes , though , the principles of Steward will remain the same- especially now, as we look ahead to the next five years with Vision TwentyEleven- and those principles are perhaps reflected best in Steward's new "tag line:" K Through 12. One by One.

Alumni News & Events LEITER FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE ALUMNI ASSOCIAT

Greetings, Alumni of The Steward School: First, we want to thank all of tnose who h ave given their time an d shown great dedication in uppo rti ng Steward. W e arc stepping into a new era, with Steward A lu mni now becoming Steward Parents and wi th the upco ming 30th anniversary o f the first graduating class in 2007. It is exciting to watch our Alumni population grow and expa nd.

Steward Alumni are active and invo lved in th eir comm un ities. W e know yo u work h ard bu ilding careers, raising famili es , and staying bu sy with co mm itments in an d Ollt of th e ho me, all of which ca n make it difficult, at tim es, to stay as involved in the Steward co mmunity as you wou ld like. But we invite you to joi n us as we grow and strengthen our A lumn i relations efforts at Steward. M any improve ments will be made this yea r with A lumni o utreach, co mmunicatio ns, and activi ties, so be on the lookout.

As our Alumni base grows so does our need for Alumni volunteers, and many opporruniti es lay ahead. W e hope that you will ask yourself, "What can I do to give back to my alma mater?" an d "What talents ca n I sh are with my alm a m ater?" Let us both assure you th at there is a place fo r each A lum in the Steward Alumn i comm unity. As we move forward , please let us know how we ca n help. And please drop Barbara a li n e to keep u s in formed about yourself an d yo ur life beyo nd Steward .

H appy H o lid ays, Ed Zakai b '86

Barbar a W crderm an

Alum ni Board President

Alumni Affairs Associate ba rba ra. we rderman@srcw;.\rdschool.nrg

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••

:• Meet Barbara Werderman: :• Steward's New Alumni Associate •

•

• Barbara may look familiar-she's been working in the Development Office, with the Annual Giving Campaign, for over a year. Now, Barbara's taken on Alumni Affairs , and we couldn't be happier to have her.

Born in Saudi Arabia , Barbara grew up overseas in Hong Kong , Singapore, and Geneva, Switzerland , where she graduated from high school. She came to the United : States for college , as a University of : Richmond Spider. about seven years ago ,

and she's stayed in Richmond ever since.

An avid runner, Barbara just completed the Richmond Marathon- her first!

Q . Tell me a little about your roles here at

Steward .

A. I currently assist with the Annual Giving Campa ign as well as Alumni

Programming. Specifically I plan Alumni events, including The Great Tailgate , Happy Hours, Spring Fling, and many others. I also help Alumni with planning their class reunions , publish the Alumni E-newsletter, and assist the Alumni Board with their roles and responsibilities.

Q . What's your favorite part about working

with Alumni?

A. I love hearing about all the different ways Steward has impacted their lives, plus all of the exciting stories and accomplishments since graduating from Steward.

Q . What would you like to see added to

the current Alumn i Program at Steward?

A. We are currently working on an Alumn i Directory. I would love to see Alumni more involved with updating their information so that this directory can be a valuable tool for not only keeping in touch with one another but also for career networking opportunities.

Q. The Steward Alumni base is growing as the school gets older. What does this mean for your job?

A. It makes it a little more challenging to keep up with everyone. But, at the same time, it makes it more exciting!

.............................................................................................

14

"11'006

F,1I1('(1O

15

The Start of a New Tradition: The Great Tailgate

By Barbara Wcrclerma n, Alu mni Affairs Associate The First Annual Alumni "Great Tailgate" was a resounding success. Despite the torrential rain , members of the Steward community came together to kick off Spartan Spirit Weekend . Waddell Terrace was filled with tailgaters showing off their style as well as their arrangement of food and drink, from a football theme to a fox hunt theme . The rain didn't stop partygoers from having a rockin' time-the Jangling Reinharts entertained into the night-nor did it stop our Headmaster, Ken Seward, from joining the band on stage for a rendition of "Country Roads"!

The Alumni Great Tailgate was created to encourage Alumni , former students, and Alumni parents to return to campus to join current parents in celebrating Spartan Spirit (Steward's homecoming) weekend .

The first "Ringing of the Bells" was created to kick off the weekend : each Steward Alum was given a Steward cow bell as a gift from the Alumni Association . From this time forward , senior class members will also be presented with personalized bells for them to carry with them to future Great Tailgates.

A special thanks to Rio Grande Cafe for donating the food and catering the event and to the Jangling Reinharts for playing music that kept everyone dancing and tapping their feet. We look forward to next year and building on this wonderful event.

Plan on joining us and becoming part of the tradition .

FINE ARTS ® FINE ARTS PERFORMING A RTS This Fall . ..

Parents' Association Spaghetti Dinner (September 6): (1) The student jazz combo, Chickweed, played for this annual event. The band includes Adam Smith , Patrick McKeown , Michael Brady, Caleb Brown , and Paul Schlanstein .

Honor Code Signing (September 21) : Student instrumentalists played while Middle and Upper School students signed their honor code pledge. Instrumentalists included Eliza Jones, Kendall Huennekens, Preston Huennekens, Marie Mullens, Sarah Shimer, Mary Taylor Tepper, Jenny Jung , Molly Gagon , Adam Smith , and Christian Renn ie.

Fifth·Grade Play (September 29) : Fifth graders enterta ined the audience with thei r production of Virginia: The Wonder Years .

Homecoming School-Wide Pep Rally (October 27): The Basketball Pep Band performed as a part of this ann ual event.

Spartan Spirit Day (October 28): (4) Upper School students who performed in rock bands at last yea r's MS/US Talent Night performed at Rocktoberfest 2006.

Fourth-Grade Play: On November 9 the fourth graders presented their production of The New Greatest Stories Ever Told.

Middle School Performing Arts Assembly (November 10 during 8th period): Middle School music and theatre students performed for each other in the Black Box Theatre for an end-of-the-week assembly. Part of the "Fine Arts Fridays" program .

District Chorus Auditions (November 11): Studen ts auditioned for spots in District Chorus. The District is made up of public and private schools throughout Richmond, Hanover County, and Hen rico County. November's District Chorus Auditions resu lted in three Steward representatives: first soprano Dabney Broaddus; second soprano, Sarah Nelson; and first bass, Tim Wiles .

The Steward Fall Musica l: " All American " (November 16-19): (5) This production, Originally a Mel Brooks play, fea tu red a talented group of students from Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools.

Thanksgiving Assembly (November 21) : (2 & 3) This annual school-wide event fea tured music and speeches from all th ree divisions about the importance and sig nificance of the Thanksgiving Holiday Holiday Choi r Tour (December 1): The Fourth and Fifth Grade Choir, the Middle School Choir, and the Upper School Choir participated in this annua l event that took students to various retirement homes and other stages to bring holiday cheer through service and song.

Coming Up ..•

Lower School Holiday Program (Tuesday, December 20 at 10 a.m . and 7 p.m .): Each Lower School grade level is featured in this annual event, which has become a school -wide favorite . The finale features the whole Lower School on stage to sing and dance their closing number.

Friday Night Varsity Basketball Games (throughout the season): The Steward Spa rtan Spirit Basketbal l Pep Band will continue to perform for all Friday night home basketball games, the Steward Invitational , and the VCC Tournament.

Third-Grade Play: January 19, 2007 Second-Grade Play: February 23 , 2007 One-Act Plays: March 29 , 2007 MSIUS Talent Night: March 30, 2007 Kindergarten Play: April 13, 2007 Spring Play: April 19 - 21, 2007

FINE ARTS ÂŽ FINE ARTS VISUAL ARTS Whirled Peace Day (September 21) : (1 & 5) Lower, Middle, and Upper School students participated in Whirled Peace Day for the second year in a row. All art

Coming Up ...

Susan M. Stuller (January 3 - January 31): Acrylic and Water Color

students made pinwheels depicting their

Awer Gabriel Bul (February 7 - March 7) :

version of World Peace . The Lower and

Acrylic and Oil

Middle School students formed a large peace sign on the front lawn of the school and "planted" all the pinwheels , including the Upper School's creations , in the shape

Guy Crittenden (March 12 - April 5) : Photography and Oil

of a large peace sign.

Upper School Gallery Exhibits

Cramer Center Art Gallery Exhibits

This Fall . . .

This Fall • ..

color photographs , featuring nine of the

Rick Bragga : (4) A collection of 40 moving

Natural Movement (August 28 October 6) : Surface-Designed Tapestries

Oklahoma City Memorial.

Coming Up ...

by Upper School art students were on display. A reception was held Sept 20 in

Upper School Artists (January) : A multi-

celebration of the exhibit. Ann Cameron

media exhibit featuring Upper School

Seaton , Artist-In-Residence for the 06-07

student work.

school year, attended the reception , along

Ed Trask (February): Artist-In-Residence

with many out-of-town visitors.

Ed Trask will have his work on display

Crystal Pittman (October 8 -

while working at The Steward School.

November 5) : (2) Acrylic and Mixed Media pieces were on display with a reception held on Oct 11 .

Artists-In-Residence Jude Schlotzhauer (October - December) :

Robyn Ryan (Currently on exhibit,

Glass Artist Jude Schlotzhauer will be

November 7 - December 21): (3) An

working with the Middle and Upper School

exhib it consisting of watercolor,

art students as they create a 5 x 10-foot

watermedia , and sculpture . Robyn hosted

glass mural for the Middle School Dining

two "Meet the Artist" receptions on

Commons . The mural is a collaborative

November 15 and December 2.

project. which the students designed and will create together under Jude's direction .

Ed Trask (January - March): Ed Trask is returning as Artist-in-Residence this year.

He will work with the Lower School students as they create a large mural in the Lower School Dining Commons.

Some Upper and Middle School art students will help to create the mural.

Mr. Trask will also pa int an original "jazz" mu ral by the music rooms in The Cramer Center.

GO This fall . • • Cross Country Both the Girls' and the Boys' Cross Country teams won the Virginia Commonwealth Conference (VCC) Championships. This is the first championship win for either team. For the girls' team , junior Elizabeth Delaney won the 3.1 mile race with a time of 20:42 and earned a trophy cup as conference champion. She may only be in sixth grade, but Kendall Huennekens finished in second place with a time of 21 :51 . Page Conway beat her personal record by nearly two minutes to fin ish fourth . For the boys' team , Cameron Taylor finished third place in the tournament with a time of 17:47, and Tim Wiles set a personal record of 18:04 to finish fourth . Both earned a medal and were recognized as All-VCC .

Varsity Soccer The Varsity Boys' Soccer team also won their VCC Championship with a 2-1 overtime victory over regular season champions, Richmond Christian. Several players were honored with post-season awards: VCC All-Conference : Adam Dawes, Carlton Burke, and Nick Shaw

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Fall 2006

SPARTAN ........c Thursday, December 7: JV and Varsity Boys' Basketball had their season home opener against TIdewater Academy.

VCC Honorable Mention : Eric Tucker, and Riley Sistrunk VCC All-Academ ic: Riley Sistrunk And Steward 's own Juan Chavez was honored as VCC Coach of the Year.

Varsity Field Hockey The Spartan Varsity Field Hockey team won the league of Independent Schools (LIS) Division II Tournament. The Spartans were the # 3 seed and upset # 2 Covenant and # 1 Fredericksburg Academy on their way to the title. Three players were chosen to the All-LIS Team for their play throughout the entire season : Jamie Adams, Mary Martha Delaney, and Dana Powell. The Field Hockey team went to the VISAA (Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association) State Tournament on November 7, and beat # 7 Chatham Hall . On November 10th, the team competed in a Virginia Independent School State semi-final game, where their season finally came to an end- they lost in double-overtime to Fredericksburg Academy, 1-0.

Basketball Season Is Here Tuesday, November 28: Varsity Girls' Basketball had their season home opener against Fredericksburg Academy and wonl

,

MARK YOUR CALENDARS . ..

JV & Varsity Boys' Basketball Sunday, December 17: Slam Fest VI vs. Miller School, 4:15PM at Benedictine High School (Varsity only) Friday and Saturday, January 5 and 6: Annual Steward Invitational (Ca~ Henry, Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, and Fork Union)

Varsity Girls' Basketball Friday and Saturday, January 5 and 6: Annual Steward Invitational (Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, SI. Gertrude, Cape Henry, Collegiate)

Tuesday, February 6: Senior Night: All senior athletes are recognized prior to the Varsity Boys' basketball game (7:30PM) For game times and dates, up-ta-date standings and cancellations, and more, visit www.stewardsports.org .

Lee Healey celebrates with Ray Tate (in white) and the members of his winning foursome.

The Fourth Annual Spartan Golf Classic

by Karla Williams Boughey

T he Spartan C lu b hosted the Fourth Annual Spartan Classic on Monday, October 2, 2006 at The Hollows Golf Club. It was another successful year-great go lf, perfect weather, and good friends getting together for a worthy cause.

The Spartan Club raises funds and awareness for the Athletic Department at The Steward School. All proceeds from this event provide funding for the "extras" needed for our student athletes. coaches , and athletic teams. Th is year's event raised $30,000, putting us over the $100,000 mark in four years. The Spartan Club takes great pride in contributing this additional financial support needed to keep our Steward School Athletics program at the level it is today and to take it where we want it to be tomorrow. However, we are able to do this only through the generosity of our sponsors , golfers, and volunteers.

Under the leadership of our Athletic Director, Janet Rice , we continue to grow and reach levels that aston ish others.

Janet sets an example for us all-to be professional , competitive, and working at full steam . Congratulations to Janet for being named Independent Schools Athletic Director of the Year last year by the

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Virginia Administrators' Association ; it is well deserved .

We are also fortunate to have a terrific administration and staff. Lee Healey, Upper School Division Assistant, and Wal lace Inge, Assistant Athletic Director, are part of this distinguished group. Their commitment to the school and the Spartan Club goes far beyond the school day. Both Lee and Wallace donate countless hours of their personal time to help anywhere they are needed.

On behalf of the Spartan Club Board we would like to thank Janet, Lee, Wallace , our coaches , and the parents for their commitment to our student athletes. We would also like to thank our Headmaster, Ken Seward, who continues to support the Athletic Department and the Spartan Classic and is a devoted fan at many Steward School sporting events. And a special thank you to the players for giving their time to help our School.

Most importantly, please join the Spartan Club in saying "thank you " to our many generous sponsors by patronizing their places of business. Let them know you are a part of the Steward Team and thank them for suppo rting The Steward School.

Student Spotlights

Broaddus after the start of school , senior Dabney Broaddus received a letter in her home mailbox ... from Senator George Allen .

Allen's letter congratulated Dabney on the latest in her string of musical accolades: being named , along with only 98 other musicians in the entire country, as one of The National Association for Music Education's 2006 All-USA High School Musicians.

The selection process began with a teacher nomination (from Mrs. Bonnie Anderson), followed by a formal application process. The first evaluation,

Tyler Harris Tyler Harris is used to the alarm going off before the sun comes up. His day begins long before the first period bell at Steward.

Daily, year-round swim training has been part of the senior's life for more than half of his eighteen years . Through innate hard work, determination, and dedication , Tyler has been able to turn a hobby of the past into a passion of the future. This summer, as he has many times before , Tyler attended swim competitions around the country. But this summer proved to be different: Tyler made two Olympic Trial cuts. He has qualified to attend the 2008 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska , for not one , but two, strokes: the 200 Butterfly and the 400 1M (individual medly). hen, in early August, Tyler traveled to rvine , California, to compete in the World hampionship Trials (combined with 'Nationals" this year, he explains), where he best in the country came to compete . here, Tyler irnproved his Olympic trial irnes-a personal triumph that will help

according to the Association 's print publication , "was based on academic achievement, community involvement, and musical training and experience. " Based on those criteria , Dabney made it to the semifinalist round. Moving forward requ ired the production of a CD. Dabney was asked to sing two contrasting songs (she chose an Italian aria and a tune from Broadway's The Scarlett Pimpernel). Once Dabney had applied , she says , the wait was exhaustive.

"It took a really, really long tirne to hear back," she laughs, reflecting on the wait that lasted until she called her mom from Mrs. Anderson's office one day. "You've got a package, " her mom told her, and Dabney was elated.

Of the honorees, Dabney was one of less than 11 of soprano singers ; one of only

three from the state of Virginia ; and the only Virginia student not in the Northern Virginia area , Dabney and the other honorees were featured in the music magazine Teaching Music , given a medal , and awarded a scholarship from the Hershey Corporation to go toward future music studies.

What's next for Dabney? She will complete her Steward senior project this year; as she explains, "I am going to be writing music and creating my own CD along with Mrs, Anderson . We'll go into a studio to record and ," she smiles eagerly, "I hope to publish one of the songs ... or more."

Dabney has already been accepted early decision to Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, and will audition this January to be a voice major in their Vocal Music Program . From there, Dabney is certain that her life will always involve music. More accolades most certainly lie ahead.

propel him forward as he continues to train .

This fall has been just as eventful , as Tyler has been looking ahead to college and traveling to many schools on recruiting trips .

What is Tyler looking for in the "perfect" school for hirn? "I really want to find a good athletic and academic mix," he explains , "One that I feel comfortable in but will still push me to not just excel, but improve." Now the search is over. Tyler has signed on with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; he couldn 't be more thrilled with the choice, Tyler is hoping that his training will take him beyond Omaha in the summer of 2008 and on to Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He has his sights set four years beyond that, as well-to London 2012.

"Male swimmers peak at 23, and I'll be 23

in 2012 ," he says with a hopeful grin.

Between now and then? ''I'm just going to keep practicing hard , to remain extremely focused . My mental preparation is just as important as the physical training ," Tyler explains. For now, this future Tarheel is enjoying his senior year and getting ready for the next phase of his life.

"Ii

2006

23

Dear Steward Co m mu nity, In the spring and su mmer of 2006, the Board of T rustees devoted its attentio n to a new strategic plan for The Steward School. Afte r an intensive week of meetings last spring with a strategic planning consultant, who in tu rn met w ith focus groups consistin g of pa rents, fac ulty, ad ministrators, and students, the Boa rd developed an outl ine of initiatives for a five-yea r strategic plan. Over the su mmer, special comm ittees consisti ng of Trustees and staff members were ass igned to the va ri ous initiatives in order to refine the initi atives and begin to determ ine how best to imple ment them.

T he result is "Vision TwentyEleven ." As Ke n Sewa rd mentioned in his introd uctory letter, the School will embrace the fo ll owi ng key initiatives throughou t the next five yea rs: • Develop and articulate the co re co ncept of the mission of the School : To be a small, incl usive , K-12 coll ege p reparatory school. This will entai l build ing a consens us and a deta iled u nderstand ing of the mission, with suffic ient clarity to d istinguish Steward from oth er schoo ls, a nd setting guid elines fo r the size of the Schoo l, the divis ions, and individ ual cl asses.

• C reate an environ ment that attracts and retains outstanding educato rs who are co mm itted to the mission of the Sc hool.

This will require recrui ti ng teachers who a rc best su ited to Stewan.l and who will embrace its miss io n, as well as provid ing co mpensatio n that is competitive in dle marketplace.

• Grow significa nt non-ruition fin ancial assets and resources. To rema in true to its miss ion while keeping tuition affordable, The Steward School must secure adequ ate financial suppo rt th rough increased endowme n t, add itiona l profit centers, and in creased annual givi ng.

• Create a truly d iverse stlld enr body, fa culty, a nd staff that wi ll bu ild inte ll ectua l, social, and cu ltural unde rstand ing. T he ad miss io ns po licies of the Schoo l will be exa mi ned to en ure that it provides clear guidelines for identi fyi ng childre n who will be best served by Steward, recognizing that the School will continue to ed ucace students with d iffering learning styles and backgrounds while at the same tim e o fferi ng a cha llengi ng educatio nal experience to the brightest stude n t~, all of who m ca n be nefit by the individualized attention Stewa rd offers.

• Enh ance the effectiveness of two-way co mmuni cations benvee n th e School and all intern al and external consti tll encies.

Th is will requi re developing a marketing stra tegy for the Rich mo nd comm un ity th at accurate ly portrays Stewa rd as a school that ca n benefit all types of stlldents, as we ll as educa ting pa rents, studen ts, and other intern al constitll encies so that they full y embrace the miss io n of th e School.

T he Boa rd of Trustees will co nti n ue to refi ne these in itiatives and stlldy ways to im plement th em ove r the next five years.

W e welco me any and all input from paren ts ami other members of T he Steward School co mm u nity.

I would also like to take th is o ppo rtun ity to express my appreciation fo r the ded icated service of those persons who rotated off the Board of Trustees at the end of the 2005-2006 schoo l year. Marion Chenau lt, George Kasper, Sally Newcomb, D ennis P ryor and Ariel Skelley devoted cou n tless hours and resources in guid ing the School thro ugh o ne of the most challenging periods in its history. \X/e are most fortunate to have had such ded ica ted ind ivid uab working o n behalf of the Steward School com mu nity, and we know that we can continue to count on them in the futllre as we seek to achieve o ur vision fo r the Schoo l in 2011.

W e also welco me o ur new Trustees, Gene McKeown, Susie Scott, Joy Taylor, and Brian Tharpe, all o f who m bega n work o n the Board this yea r. We look fo rwa rd to thei r serv ice to The Stewa rd Schoo l.

Sincerely, Charles L. Menges C hai rm an, Boa rel of Trustees

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Planned Giving be a good steward of your assets ••

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•• • • • •• • •• • ••• •• Bequests • Gift Annuities • Charitable Remainder Trusts • • Charitable Lead Trusts • Gifts of Real Estate and Other Options •• • • • • • • • ••• • •••••• ••

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more information on leaving a legacy to The Steward School, please contact the Development Office at (804) 565~2306 or visit our website at www.stewardschool.org/development.

2006-2007 ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN

"FOR STEWARD STUDENTS"

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T H E STEWARD SC H OO L 11600 Gayton Road · Richmond, VA 23238 (804) 740-3394 • www.stewardschool.org

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