Verde Valley School Falls Newsletter

Fall Newsletter

CELEBRATING THE EXCEPTION

Peek Inside the Newsletter

WE STAND WITH YOU VVS has always made it its goal to provide safety, voice, acceptance, and respect for all students and staff. Read more from Paul Amadio, Head of School, below!

ARIZONA'S 1ST BICYCLE POWERED CINEMA Learn more from our engineering class and film program on creating a bicycle powered cinema for VVS!

DREAM CONCERT A follow up on Dream Concert, to benefit the VVS Native American Scholarship Fund, featuring artists like Jackson Browne, Michael Franti, Sihasin and more!

A LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

by Paul Amadio

If you’ve been to our school lately you know the green bus that stands guard over the entrance to campus. We like to use it as a billboard. In July, it sported a banner, designed by the Advancement Team, that declared our support for Black Lives Matter and tied it to the five founding principles. You know them: Academic Excellence, World Citizenship, Service to Others, Environmental Stewardship, and The Value of Physical Labor. The banner also included photos of students and staff, the hashtag #blacklivesmatter and a simple message: We Stand with You! One morning, we found it had been cut down.

Though the act maddened us as a community, we chalked it up to random hooliganism. It wasn’t long before we hung up a replacement banner, proclaiming the same message “We Stand with You” and the hashtag #nojusticenopeace.

That banner stayed up all of two days until it, too, was cut down. An alumna later discovered the sign in a ditch. It had been slashed with a knife.

I share this story because I know that it can seem as if Verde Valley Valley is a wholesome bubble, immune from the social upheaval gripping this country. But while I can feel proud of the way VVS fosters inclusion and anti-racism in its culture and classrooms, examples of dehumanization are close and present. And stories like this serve as a reminder of how important it is to roll out new initiatives and strategic plans that address systemic racism and help foster dialogue.

In the past four months, many VVS constituents have shared their willingness and commitment to work together on developing a plan for Inclusion, Anti-Racism, and Social Justice at our school and to expand our work in this area. I am grateful to all who have offered to be involved.

As early as 1948, our founders created a goal to educate students about Native American culture by encouraging conversation in the classroom and pursuing service projects which allowed hands-on experiences and relationship building within local indigenous communities. These relationships continue today as we teach awareness about the culture and land the school was founded on. It is incumbent on Verde Valley School to arm our students with the awareness about our sacred land and to develop skills that will bring equity, justice, and opportunity to all people in our world.

The Warrens took care to define an educational mission that includes attention to race, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We continue that mission today.

At a time of great challenge and change in our country, we must shine a light on this subject and make our collective voices heard. VVS has always made it its goal to provide safety, voice, acceptance, and respect for all students and staff. We now have the opportunity to make good on that goal. That means learning to step back, listen, learn, and grow. We can do better. We will do better.

As you read on you will see examples of the work that has already begun.

This past week we had the first of what will be a series of discussions with students to ensure that there is an open door to school leadership for students to know they are supported and respected.

A group of alumni have been meeting and have volunteered their ideas and skills to help in programming in diversity, social justice, and racism. Their efforts led to a partnership with Black Millenials 4 Flint.

Lauren Kelley, Director of Experiential Education and Chair of the English Department completed the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Culturally Responsive Literature Instruction.

The Advancement Team’s Thoughtful Thursday Book Club for alumni and parents welcomed the following group leaders who led discussions on the following: T. Mckinley, VVS English Faculty, How to be an Anti-Racist, by Ibram X Kendhi Michelle Williams, Associate Director of Admissions, I’m Still Here - Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, by Austin Channing Brown Shelly Gammieri, Director of Development, Hood Feminism, by Mikki Kendall Zonnie Gorman, VVS Alumnus class of ‘81, Bad Indians, by Deborah A. Miranda Our November Book Club selection is White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo, facilitated by Peter Nelson ‘73 and current VVS Board member. THERE IS STILL TIME TO JOIN - details will follow.

VVS alumnus and staff member, Morgan Bailey ‘17 attended the ACLU Advocacy Institute on Social Justice.

Donita Coburn-Amadio, Director of Advancement, took How to be Anti-Racist Bridgewalker workshop and has been facilitating on going reeducation through the bookclub series with the Advancement team Several VVS staff attended Ibram X Kendi’s presentation and discussion about his book, How To Be an Anti-Racist.

John Kelley, Assistant Head/Dean of Students and I are attending the National Association of Independent School’s Diversity and Social-Emotional Learning Workshops.

The return of Jackson Browne’s Dream Concert to benefit the VVS Native American Scholarship Fund. Over 35,000 people watched the virtual event and the school raised approximately $30,000 for the fund.

It’s no wonder the world gives rise to a wide range of emotions. VVS has always been, and always will be, a community of allies. At VVS we follow our founder’s vision. We educate and never indoctrinate. On campus, we allow opinions and beliefs to be heard. We teach acceptance. I want to be clear, however, that there are some matters on which we will not be neutral. VVS is not neutral on standing up for Black Lives Matter and all marginalized people. We stand up for world citizens who face discrimination and hatred because of their gender, skin color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, physical ability and so many more differences that make up the spectrum of our diversity. We will not be neutral on that. Our guiding principles call on us to value global citizenship, inclusivity, responsible action, and service to humanity with a willing spirit. We are committed to providing a safe and equitable environment for all.

In best service to VVS, Paul Amadio

LOVE RECEIVED

by Donita Coburn-Amadio Director of Advancement

Donita's Gratitude Journal (something you can do too!)

A current practice I have added to my daily devotion, wellness practices and reverence to nature, is the recognition of receiving love and care from the people I come in contact with each day. I take the time to notice the kind words, the encouraging messages and sweet smiles that brighten my everyday experience.

This current period of time has been one of the most exaggerated. I have a hunch you may be feeling this too. As our climate rages with floods and fires, our health has become a topic of international debate and negotiation and our interpersonal interactions have become awkward, strained or absent altogether. Picking up a paper, phone or turning on the TV is an assault to our senses, it is almost impossible not to feel a dull sense of nervy buzzing, sadness, irritation and grief.

For sensitive souls, the ache is a constant trickle- watching the fracturing of our society as it snaps, crackles and pops before our very eyes. We can not look away because our very existence depends on us paying close attention.

1) I am abundantly thankful for the love and support of our VVS Alumni and friends. The connection to the alumni base has grown throughout my 5 1/2 years here and it has become an essential part of what inspires me to give more and do more each day. I am so grateful to receive their love.

2) I am deeply grateful for the beauty of this place and the vibration of the red earth. Each day I have the privilege of standing in my living room facing the large picture window or on the front porch looking out at Cathedral Rock as I begin my morning yoga practice.

It is a grounded feeling that lifts me to a place of appreciation as I begin my day.

3) I am purposefully thankful for the vision, mission and principles set forth by Ham and Babs. Each day I know what direction I am headed and why I am headed that way. It is a privilege to walk in the footsteps of these two great visionaries knowing that I am furthering their intentions for the future of the world we live in.

Each night before I go to sleep, I write three things I am grateful for and why. The why is very important to the full experience of gratitude. There are days when my list is full and abundant and days when I struggle to scribble out the words food, water and air with the why being obvious and uncreative. If I take the extra time to consider deeper gratitude even if the objects are still food, water and air, I find myself breathing a little deeper as I ponder the greater essence of my why. I recognize gratitude for food because it nourishes my body and provides pleasure for my taste buds, water because it hydrates my cells, cools me from the inside out and offers a deep sense of relief, air because if I breathe deeply enough it will bring calm to my being and openness to my mind.

There are many nights when I write more than three things I am grateful and for and I can get very detailed and deep about the whys. This practice brings me back to the recognition of receiving love.

One of my greatest feelings of gratitude comes from my connection to the people at VVS who have supported, loved and encouraged (Paul and) me along the way. There has been an uprising of love and support that has strengthened my commitment to do all I can to keep this place and the many people who have inhabited it central to what is at the core of my commitment to reverence and devotion. You are the people who have loved and supported us through this difficult time and you are the people who continue to hold the legacy of Ham and Babs in your hearts as you support, encourage and love us from afar. I want you to know that your love is received with gratitude and grace. And that it is your love that holds us together in this crazy time.

Thank you for the love, it has been received • Donita

A VVS FARM RECIPE VVS Farm Basil Vinaigrette A collaboration between Farmer and Chef Our most popular salad dressing (we make all our dressings from scratch) is the "Green One" made with beautiful VVS Farm Basil. This dressing works wonderfully with any salad, and works perfectly in our delicious kale salad that always “sells” out here at lunch.

Make this dressing, cut your stemmed organic dino kale into ribbons, and massage this dressing into your kale (this step helps soften the kale and make it much more fun to eat). Add some chopped strawberries or dried fruit, toasted nuts or seeds you like, and it's a meal, VVS Style.

SURVIVE & THRIVE

by Richard Greenberg ‘71 Chair of the VVS Board of Trustees

Dear VVS Community, As a thirteen-year-old kid from Beverly Hills, I found myself laying in a strange bed in a strange house on the Second Mesa of the Hopi Reservation. The house had no running water, a potbelly stove for heat, and a bathroom, actually an outhouse, fifty feet away at the edge of the Mesa. That experience, from my freshman year at Verde Valley School, I learned that great results often come from uncomfortable times.

And here we are in the middle of this pandemic – another situation calling for adaptation, understanding, and belief in the positive.

As you all know, VVS is under extreme pressure these days. Not only are we dealing with our standard responsibilities, to provide our students with the best educational experience they can get in the United States, but we’re also having to test for health, maintain physical distance, and institute methods to protect ourselves from the unseen menace that is COVID-19.

Our faculty, staff, and leadership have been adapting to this new reality since March. Many have been working, without a break, to assure that the school continues to offer the unique and top quality education that our families expect.

It hasn’t been easy or uneventful. On October 5th, our Day Students returned to campus with the understanding that they would continue with in-person learning as long as COVID cases in the Valley remained under 5%.

Unfortunately, cases spiked last week, so we had to adapt once again and return them to virtual learning in their homes.

Above all of this hovers financial concern. We have begun a blitz to raise one million five hundred thousand dollars (1.5 mil.). So far, we’ve raised almost half of that which, based on our historic fundraising, is absolutely record-breaking, and for that we are truly grateful. Recently two donors have come forward to create a $250,000 match - which means our gifts will be doubled whenever we give. These contributions will most likely get us through the beginning of 2021 but this pandemic is like nothing any of us ever imagined. Ultimately, we’re going to have to look outside our own community to find the type of long-term financial solutions we need.

I don’t like having to ask for money. This job was a lot more fun when our

Most dressings are created "on the fly" by Chef Michael, with no recipe but following the basic vinaigrette formula of 3 parts oil, 1 part vinegar. This one always gets requested so we have created it in recipe format, but one thing you should know when creating a dressing is that you can taste and adjust after you blend it to your personal preference, and you just might create your own masterpiece! Super secret ingredient info included in this recipe, shhhhh.....don't tell!

VVS Farm Basil Vinaigrette 1 cup chopped fresh basil, stems are ok to use 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley Zest of 1 lemon 2 cloves peeled garlic 1/2 cup champagne vinegar 2 tsp honey 1 1/2 cups olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Chef Michael's Secret Ingredient: 1 Tbsp organic red miso paste (soybean paste, salty but with much UMAMI!) You can find this at your local health food store in the alternative item dairy section.

Place all of the above into your blender except the oil. Blend until smooth, then pour the oil in in a steady stream while blending to emulsify. Watch the magic happen! Taste, and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.

This is an almost 3 cup batch, it will last quite a while and you can put it on EVERYTHING. You can also use this dressing to marinate chicken before grilling! Yum! Enjoy!

budget was on-target and our financial trajectory was the best it had ever been, but a wise person once said to me “If you don’t ask… you don’t get” and I guess I’ve got to put the “ask” out there.

The ironic good news is that Verde Valley School is as strong as ever. Our students are flourishing, our campus is as safe as possible, our programs are forward-thinking, and we have adapted to this pandemic in a manner that reflects our resilience and determination.

I hope many of you were lucky enough to watch the Dream Concert with Jackson Browne and an All-Star lineup. The show was a beautiful reminder of how unique and remarkable Verde Valley is and raised over $30,000 for our Native American Scholarship Fund. You can watch it here if you missed it.

H E A R T

Y O U R A L L W I T H N O W G I V E

Best, Richard “Richie” Greenberg ‘71

C I T I Z E N S

Thank you very much.

the world needs VVS

G L O B A L

Meanwhile, please wear your masks, stay safe, and, if possible, please double your gift by joining me in meeting the match and making a meaningful contribution for VVS COVID Assistance.

E D U C A T I N G

It’s been a long time since I lived with the Honyama family on Shongopovi – a long time since I learned that good surprises are in store, even though we need to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I don’t think we’re anywhere near the worst because the values that have guided us for decades will continue to serve us in verde valley school the coming months. With so much shifting sand, this is a strange time for us all. We will continue to make informed decisions on behalf of our community and we know that our school will continue to thrive.

covid assistance fund

THE VALUE OF PHYSICAL LABOR

by Noah Suby, Director of Operations

The value of physical labor is often overlooked in traditional education. At VVS, it’s an integral part of student life. Here, it is commonplace to see students collecting recycling, cleaning the gym, washing vans, caring for classrooms, and cleaning the stables. I hear students enjoying themselves while doing these chores and their completion brings a sense of accomplishment all around. Students and faculty alike gain an appreciation for the energy it takes to run a boarding school in a rural setting and learn the ethic of community effort. The tactile reward and the self reliance one earns while performing physical labor creates some common-sense life lessons book study can’t provide. The gratitude one witnesses when physically helping another is a reward for both parties and is evident in the VVS work jobs that students routinely perform and during events like community day and family weekend. Instilling the idea of hard work and group dynamics in a physical chore is a founding principle for creating a global citizen who will strive to accomplish goals, not only for themselves, but also for the community and the planet.

BICYCLE-POWERED CINEMA @ VVS

by John Sheedy, Spanish & Film Faculty

At VVS we love bicycles and sustainability, and this year seemed like the perfect time to combine both to create bicycle-powered cinema right here on campus. Pedal-powered projection is something that my wife Sandra and I tried out at our film festival in Alamos, Mexico in 2017, and it immediately became a big hit. We call the program Cine al Pedal and for the past three years the audience has been taking turns riding bicycles in the Alamos plaza to generate power to run the projector and the sound system for nightly outdoor movie screenings.

Of course, it seemed like a no-brainer to introduce the idea of bicycle cinema to VVS, and Chemistry and Physics teacher Chris Bolton jumped on the idea when I shared it with him at the beginning of the year. Chris has taken the lead with the project creating a VVS STEAM club that is currently building a system similar to what we do with our pedal-powered cinema in Alamos.

The system includes three bicycles, three car batteries (donated by Village Car Care), generators, converters, and bicycle stands.

STEAM student Agustín Garcia Madrid brought in two bicycles that his family donated for the cause, and I donated a third bicycle that, ironically, I found in a recycling bin.

I am thrilled to be an advisor for the project, and Chris’s students have taken on figuring out how to put all of the parts together.

While Chris worked as the engineering master for the project, I gathered bike parts from Bici Mundo in Flagstaff, and also converted my garage into a temporary bike workshop. For the past two weeks, the students have been working in our new makeshift space, fixing flat tires, pulling unnecessary parts off of the bikes, and prepping them for the generators to be connected.

The students also learned valuable life skills as they worked on the bikes. Naomi Linera shared that, “it has been a great learning opportunity for me, and I have never really gotten my hands dirty and done engineering before.” Chris explained to the students how “as the rubbing of the turbine spins [on the tire] we generate power.” Chris also went on to explain that, “the students are finding ways to generate electricity using their own motion through the kinetic energy of pedaling a bike.” The electricity that they are creating is clean and can be transferred into energy which will power a computer, a projector, and a sound system.

The other day, the students were able to celebrate a small victory when they placed the three bikes on the stands and pedaled in the air for the first time. Next, they will hook up the generators. We hope to finish the project in November. This may be the first time that bicycle powered cinema has been done in Arizona, and our end goal is to share bicycle powered movies in the Quad.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

by Andrea Gonzales Verde Valley School Class of 2016

My name is Andrea Gonzales but I go by Aa. I’m from Cebu, Philippines, but grew up in Saudi Arabia. In 2016, I graduated from VVS and headed off to Austin, Texas. I majored in Biology at St. Edward’s University and graduated in May. Life was very different upon leaving the VVS close-knit community, even though I went to a fairly small liberal arts school.

Having been an international boarding student at VVS prepared me for those changes and I’m very grateful for that. Over the course of my four years at St. Edward’s, I carried the VVS embodiment of service and leadership with me. I made sure to make the most of my college experience by joining a variety of extracurriculars and clubs to find my niche.

I joined lacrosse and enjoyed every moment of it. Like the IB Program, lacrosse has its own version of rigor. I also had the opportunity to participate in various volunteer projects, as well as a service break experience reminiscent of a field trip at VVS. During my senior year at VVS, I had been a Resident Assistant at Motel Dorm. This leadership role has paved the way for my college experience. I had the opportunity to be a historian officer for a pre-health organization chapter called American Medical Student Association. And I was a public relations officer for the Women’s Club Lacrosse.

St. Edward’s has a motto: “Take On Your World.” My undergraduate experience shaped the person I am today. The hard work and dedication paid off.

Now I’m working at Natera, a genetic testing company, as a Clinical Data Operator. I also help out with Customer Experience, specifically on a kidney gene panel test kit called Renasight. In school, I was busy all the time with classes and homework. Now, working from 9 to 5 allows me free time to pursue my hobbies, like playing my guitar or trying a new recipe. I can’t wait to see what’s waiting for me next.

Arizona IB Schools (AZIBS) Diploma Program Teacher of the Year Award for 2020 goes to...

Verde Valley School IB Anthropology teacher Leigh Carter!

This award not only recognizes Leigh's extensive knowledge of Anthropology, but also her ability to create an encouraging, rigorous, and supportive learning environment for her students.

Leigh is a strong representative of the five guiding principles at VVS, using her role as the Native American Relations Coordinator to integrate the VVS community and local Native communities together.

DREAM CONCERT 2020

by Leigh Carter Anthropology Faculty & Coordinator of Native American Programs

We are forever grateful for Leigh's commitment and contributions to our VVS community!

Help us give her a BIG congratulations!

0 ber 1 Octo 2020

The VVS Dream Concert reached at least 40,000 people around the world, probably more given the likelihood that viewers watched with friends or family. The free concert raised over $35,000 in donations via Fans.org for the VVS Native American Scholarship Fund, with more rolling into the VVS website as well. I’d like to think this event also raised the vibration of VVS in the world, and that it could have unexpected positive consequences for the school.

At the campus watch party, we were physically distanced but fully connected to the musicians and their message: The world needs Native American voices in education. VVS friends John and Kathy Featherstone contributed a rock concert flair by decorating the quad with high-tech color-changing lights. As the sun went down and the concert began, the energy was magical. There was a palpable sense of how music brings healing, awareness, and action where needed. And who can forget the finale, Take It Easy, a nostalgic audio-visual treat that captured the feel of a real music festival? By that time, we were all on our feet dancing and singing! It felt like a much needed group hug.

The best part of the show was hearing famous artists reaffirm that the value of the cause is bigger than the number of students with scholarships. Jackson Browne and Michael Franti both mentioned the impact of Native American students on the entire learning community. That really resonated, as I pictured the faces of students past and recalled what they taught us all over the years. I was also gratified by Shawn Colvin’s comments about the openness VVS students bring to creating art and music, and the special energy of the campus when she was here in the 1990’s. That spirit is alive and well.

On the production side, I was struck by the willingness of such talented people to volunteer for a VVS event. Bill Carter worked tirelessly to produce a show that hit the right note for the viewers and each of the artists. Though Bill doesn’t work for VVS, he wanted this production to express his admiration for VVS staff and students. As for the artists, many stated in one way or another that they were grateful for and humbled by the work that teachers do, especially now.

This event was a success on so many levels, and several of the artists are eager to get involved with VVS again soon. Of course, Bill and I, along with the VVS Advancement Team, are already envisioning the next Dream Concert. But first I’m excited to be working with the Admissions team to recruit new students. They are the real gift. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and donated to make their VVS dream a reality. Lastly, I want to shout out Jeneda Benally ‘92 for her dedication to VVS and for sharing her creative vision and talent throughout this project. Remember: you can still donate to the Native American Scholarship Fund through the VVS website.

FROM THE GROUND UP

by Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim Verde Valley School Board of Trustees

My son was spotted weeding the other day on the VVS farm. That’s right: as in pulling, not smoking. Mike Spielman said he saw Noah (’23) with three friends hanging out in the herb garden one Saturday casually clearing the spiral path of unwanted green.

Noah’s grades this term are lovely, I am pleased to say. But if I had to point to just one piece of evidence for why I know he’s thriving – and why it was worth sending him thousands of miles across the country to a boarding school in the desert, in the midst of a pandemic that has everyone hunkering down – it’s this image: A group of teenagers taking ownership of a tiny slice of paradise.

This has not been a year big on good news. In the face of all the suffering and injustice it can feel like the wrong time to advocate for something as privileged as a private-school education. And yes, some boarding schools do seem designed to protect old caste systems. But the beauty of the VVS formula, IB+Dirt, is that it teaches kids to, well, uproot things a little. To dig deeper. To rake and aerate the foundations of our world rather than cement them.

There’s no question that Noah’s experience is a privileged one: to wake up to the Arizona sun strafing red rock, to learn in small classes from devoted and inspiring teachers, to eat food grown on the school’s own farm. But then I listen to him talk about his work job this year, how he shovels the food scraps into a giant bin and carts it off to the composting site. How he’s become intimately acquainted with the decomposition behavior of various food types. It’s one of the smellier jobs at the school, but he likes it better than shoveling horse manure and besides, he gets to drive a golf cart.

The pandemic hit us just as Noah was home for spring break of his freshman year. Unexpectedly, we had our son home again as we huddled together, a family of five in a three-bedroom in Lower Manhattan. From inside that pressure cooker, we had a chance to observe the changes wrought by VVS. He had become more even-keeled, more able to tune into an inner guidance system.

Competent. He practiced handstands in the hallways, set himself fitness goals even if it meant doing burpees perilously close to the coffee table. When we moved to a house in the summer, he asked to paint the fence. He de-rusted his grandmother’s garden furniture. He built a swing.

Don’t get me wrong: I still worried that he spent too much time on his iPhone. I wished he wouldn’t fiddle around with it at mealtimes. But when I reached out to snatch it from him, the home screen showed a photo of a young boy in an oversized cotton scarf peering through dark sunglasses. The picture was a memento of Noah’s field trip with VVS last October to Guatemala.

There, students had built two cinderblock houses for a struggling community. Working side by side with the villagers, Noah had befriended this boy. The scarf and sunglasses he’s wearing in that photo are Noah’s.

The coronavirus has only highlighted the qualities that make VVS so special and important. At a time of widespread isolation, this institution continues to instill a sense of interconnectedness. Connection across cultures, among students, and between mankind and nature. Other schools may share those ideals in principle. At VVS they are cultivated from the ground up.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

by Susan North Verde Valley School Class of 1957

It seems like yesterday: In 1953 I arrived at VVS as one of four freshmen girls. I felt transported to a magical place, an unbelievably beautiful landscape with endless space for exploration.

Then classes began and I was on fire. I had never had teachers like these. Ham had a flat-out genius for finding extraordinary faculty willing to give their lives to this little school in Arizona. Doors into the universe began to appear, not only academically but also emotionally, and this filled me with a love of learning that has stayed with me all my life. My teachers were not only willing to open their minds but their hearts as well and as we lived out the months, we learned to love and respect one another.

We learned in classes, during our meals together in the dining hall, on workshops, field trips, dorm time and free time. This always seemed to me the ultimate community living experience and we soaked it up. Meanwhile, a significant moral compass took root within us.

It was, however, a dark time for this country, not unlike what we are facing now. This was the era of Joseph McCarthy and the "blacklist," when even an irresponsible and unfounded accusation could, and did, ruin careers and lives. One day Ham brought my copy of the Communist Party newsletter to me and asked that I not have it sent to the school anymore. I came right back in his face about "my freedoms, my rights." In the gentlest way, Ham told me "it could hurt the school." That was my dose of reality and the end of the newspaper. I loved the school too much to do it harm.

Decades passed and I drifted in and out of connection with the school. My own erratic life, good headmasters, bad headmasters, the "Land Sale" commotion which split us up in different ways... Now we are here. It’s a dismal time for our country and a challenging time for VVS. When Covid completely isolated me physically, I turned to the computer and Zoom for contact. When I found Together Tuesdays, I connected with other alumni from a whole range of years, met current staff and teachers, and had wonderful communications with Paul and Donita. I felt I had come home.

Your Verde Valley School Alumni Engagement Team..

Paul Donita & Morgan

ANYONE CAN JOIN US FOR VIRTUAL TUESDAY #TOGETHERTUESDAY

Add on Thoughtful Thursdays, the book club for confronting the deepest problems of our time, and I feel once again surrounded by this caring, principled community that never stops learning.

A light in the darkness.

Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5 P.M. PDT

It is a dark, dark time for our country. The pandemic continues to cause suffering and loss and has turned almost everyone's life upside-down. One way or another, we are all struggling with what is unknown. The future is grim for those who have lost jobs and the food banks are overwhelmed. Nonprofits are in trouble, and the outlook for all forms of social justice seems worse than dismal. But compassion, if not loving, listening, if not agreeing, recognizing one another as brothers and sisters: that must not go out the window, too!

So we turn toward the light there is, the hope for our planet, our kids, our great-great grandchildren. It seems natural, and necessary to look back and think about what has mattered most, what has helped you become who you were meant to be, what and who led the way, what has endured in your heart. For me, VVS is at the top.

Susan North ‘57

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

by Alexandria Gilbert Verde Valley School Class of 2020

My name is Alexandria Gilbert, Class of 2020 and I’m a current student at Boston University within the College of Arts and Sciences and Kilachand Honors College. In school, I am majoring in Biological Anthropology with a minor in Biology.

I may be riding the subway instead of horses, but my VVS ring is still on and my shoes still have red dirt on them.

I moved across the country in the midst of the pandemic, with my VVS education neatly packed. That has probably been my most valuable asset.

I still remember vividly sitting in the science labs during study hall staring at the coyote mural and wondering why I am doing the International Baccalaureate program. Well, now I know why. Credits wise, I got a nice head start, which means I now get to take classes for fun and not for degree requirements. I am almost done with my minor.

I am still using the methods from Lauren Kelley’s HL English class for my honors writing studio. I’m majoring in Anthropology because of the Malawi program and Leigh Carter’s Anthropology class.

My high school experience at VVS was more than unique -- it was indescribable. Lying on the quad with my teacher’s kids climbing over me trying to go pick apples on the trees by Brady Hall. Galloping across wide open fields surrounded by red rocks with my horse. Oh, and who can forget the sight of my Head of School singing and dancing at community meetings? A lot has changed, but the lessons VVS has taught me, both academically and morally, have not. The ceramic pot Jeff gave me now looks out at the Charles River. But VVS is living strongly in my heart.

Education Reimagined

REFLECT • REBUILD • RELAX REMEMBER • RESTORE REJUVINATE • RECREATE REGENERATE • REUNITE RENEW • REFILL • REACH REJOICE•REVAMP • REIMAGINE REBUILD vvsaz.org REPEAT

HOW 0.024% OF AMERICA CHOSE THE LAST PRESIDENT

by Akshay Agrawl, VVS Class of 2006 & Board of Trustees

The United States has about 330 million people. Of those people, there are 240 million US Citizens who are eligible to vote. Based on voting history, 140 million of those people will vote – 40% of the population. However, the US President is not won by whoever gets the most number of people to vote for them. In that case, every vote would count.

Instead, we have a system where each state gets ‘electoral votes’ – the candidate with the most individual votes wins ALL electoral votes in 48 of 50 states. For example, in 2016, 61% of Californians voted Democratic, and 31% voted Republican. What happened to all those Republican votes? They did not count for anything since ALL the electoral votes (remember, these are the ones that really matter) went to the Democrats. Or, let’s take the example of Wisconsin in 2016 – 47.2% of the people voted Republican and 46.5% of the people voted Democratic – but ALL the electoral votes went to the Republicans.

This means that states that historically vote either Democrat or Republican are not really paid close attention to by Presidential candidates – history has shown that most people stick to one party. The Presidential candidates rely on people voting along party lines and know that they have certain electoral votes in the bag. What does this mean? A Democrat vote in Florida is worth a lot more to a candidate than a Democrat vote in California. In 2020, there are 7 states that are identified as swing states – these can vote Democrat or Republican – 35 million people are registered to vote in these states (about 10% of the US population). Out of these, estimates say that only 15% can be persuaded to change their vote (about 5 million voters) – less than 2% of the US population. So, about 5 million voters decided the fate of 330 million people.

Let me take it to the next level. In 2016, Trump won Michigan by 11,000 votes, won Pennsylvania by 45,000 votes, and won Wisconsin by 23,000 votes. If those 3 states voted Clinton, we would have had a different President. Add up those votes – 79,000 votes decided the last election. That’s 0.024% (not a typo) of the US population. Let that sink in. If electoral votes were divided up in each state to reflect the percentage of individuals who voted for a candidate, a very different set of states from today would get the attention of candidates.

So, you tell me, do we live in a true democracy where everyone’s voice is heard, or are the voices of a few far more important than others? For those of you living in those 43 states that are not swing states – welcome to inequality.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT ON CAMPUS?

A FESTIVAL LIVES ON

by Lauren Kelley, Director of Experiential Education & Chair of English Department

This pandemic has stripped life down to its bare essentials. In learning to innovate, adapt, and persevere, I’ve been forced to identify that which is essential in my life and my work and that which simply must be suspended until this chapter passes.

At first, I believed that an ambitious ideas festival uniting people from all over the country was not possible - or relevant - in the time of COVID. I was so very wrong.

Now, more than ever, ideas matter. Amidst this historic pivot point, we are all called to reflect on what matters most, what values ought to drive our lives and our society, and whose voices we must amplify. We cannot burrow into isolation or apathy.

Instead, we must rise up, forge connections, and collectively remap our future.

With this spirit energizing me, I re-imagined a virtual Verde Valley Ideas. In its second year, the festival is designed to spread the values and ethos of Verde Valley School to a wider audience. Each year, I identify a theme that can unite the program of talks and performances in a collective exploration of a pressing issue. Verde Valley Ideas 2020 was dedicated to Exploring the Exception: the Overlooked, Dismissed, and Denied Outliers of History and Thought. The uprising of contributions was inspiring.

We learned about a forgotten mixed-race musician who shared a home with Mozart but never the recognition. We came to understand how he deserves to be known and heard for his contributions to liberation and music in 19th century Europe. We learned that pop culture can teach us how to love ourselves, and by extension, each other. We were moved by songs of affirmation and the claiming of space. We learned about temporal accessibility from a radically authentic black, stuttering musician and composer. We were reminded about the deep worth of access to public land, and inspired by a group of Afghans who are fighting to bring peace to their home by reclaiming their mountains. We laughed. We cried. We wondered. We remembered who and what we have been overlooking.

Verde Valley Ideas 2020 is waiting for you to enjoy again - or, for the first time. Gather your family and brace yourself for a show you won’t forget. Visit this link to watch our virtual event. When we can gather again on our stunning campus for a inperson festival of big questions and bold ideas, we’ll welcome you with open arms.

I will end with this important thought: This event is not designed to merely entertain. Instead, it is built to erode apathy, forge partnership, spark concern, and inspire action. We are more than a school. We are a shining example of what principled, compassionate communities can achieve. Join us.

Verde Valley School Bingo Participated in Fire Run, Clue Finding, Mud Pit, or any other VVS tradition

Taken a ceramics or film photography class with Jeff Perkins

Attended a Together Tuesday with the Advancement Team

Ridden a horse across a meadow, through the Red Rock trails or into Oak Creek

Made a donation to Verde Valley School!

Performed on the stage in the Maggie Perkin's Theater, located in Brady Hall

Attended a Alumni Reunion Weekend since graduating or attending VVS

Made it to the top of Cathedral, Napoleon, Monkey Face or Cowpie

Slept under the stars or a full moon in a sleeping bag on field trips

Can you fill all the boxes? Let us know how you did!

BOOK CLUB REVIEW

by Shelly Gammieri Director of Development

On August 18, 2020, mainstream America (read: white America) commemorated the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the U.S. constitution, the amendment that gave women the right to vote. Not all women were able to exercise that right when the amendment was ratified in 1920. Women of color were not widely able to vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and experience voter suppression still today.

In this country, people of color obviously experience life differently than white Americans, and that is especially true for women. As a white woman, I thought nothing about my fight for equality in the workplace and making space for women in boardrooms and at corporate executive levels, as there should be. Feminism was about reproductive rights and paid maternity leave. It never occurred to me to think about feminism from any other perspective.

Not long after the 2016 presidential election and the eruption of the “me too” movement, I found myself serving on a committee for diversity and inclusion with the Dallas Junior League. As the 2017 inaugural day approached, and with it a Women's March on Washington the likes of which had never before been seen, I asked my female colleagues on the committee, both widely respected women of color, if they would be participating in the festivities.

With a subtle glancing between them, my clumsy ignorance was clear. “Shelly, that kind of feminism is for white women”. Wait, what? That’s right, for people of color, who in this country can not go for a jog or drive down the street without the possibility of being mistreated, of course there was a different experience around feminism and how could I not know that? My patient friends shared some of the details, but as an avid reader and lifelong-learner, I knew I needed more.

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot, by Mikki Kendall debuted in February 2020 and is part memoir, part historical reckoning. A challenging read, Kendall shares ideas from poverty and food insecurity to motherhood and body image, and in each biting essay, she calls out the failings of mainstream feminism to even consider how these issues are feminist and deserve at least a place in the platform. Readers are left with a sense that if the inequalities faced by women of color are left off the table, there can’t be real gender equality. Real feminism starts with the basics -food, shelter, safety for all of us, before we can fight for seats in the boardroom.

While it wasn’t an easy read, Hood Feminism, gave me a lot to think about as we head into this next election. In 2020 women of color will make up the biggest voting block of all constituents and could have the most significant impact in an election where they might see something of themselves reflected in a vice presidential nominee. This book has stayed with me and I believe that feminism as a movement should be much more inclusive in the future. For now, when voting day comes on November 3, I’ll be thinking about us girls. All of us.

FAMILY WEEKEND

by Todd Richardson Art Faculty

Twelve years in public education didn’t properly prepare me for my first Family Weekend. I had taken it for granted that artwork, performances, productions, concerts, and exhibitions were more or less constant and that families knew what their children were up to. Parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family would regularly visit campus for these events, and for matches, scrimmages, tournaments, meetings, conferences, and dozens of other academic and extra-curricular reasons.

Call me shocked last fall when parents and families from around the world descended on our small Sedona campus and doubled or tripled our daily population. Call me even

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more shocked when they started filing into my classroom to engage with their children—not just to see their classrooms and meet their teachers, but to sit in for a lesson and take part in the day’s activity.

Family Weekend at VVS is not just a meet-n-greet between teachers and parents but a three-day celebration of students, their families, and the greater role education plays in their lives. And among all the excitement and all the focus on students and their achievements sat the Arts Showcase, a wild two-hour event that brought together all the most creative endeavors VVS has to offer. Stage productions, musical performances, presentations about IB, Global Goals, and Experiential Education, an exhibition of visual arts, and more. We really made it all come together under the fantastic new lighting set up in Historic Brady Hall.

In 2020 Family Weekend changed a lot. Still, Progress Reports went out and conferences between teachers and families still fostered essential communication between the adults responsible for their students. And the Arts Showcase still brought all of the creative flair and spirit of VVS to families—this time around the world and from the comfort of their homes. The format changed, as it has across all manner of life, but the spirit of achievement, creativity, and talent remained.

Two new faculty members contributed to the Arts Showcase this year as we welcomed T McKinley in his first year taking over the VVS Theatre classes and after-school activities. We also brought John Sheedy’s Film students into the mix as members of the Arts program at VVS, where they belong. Together with Jeff’s Ceramics students, my Intro, Advanced, and IB students, and Dave’s fantastic music students, we showcased the most diverse and well-rounded collaboration of artistic minds in years.

The result, an evening of creativity and music and art and students and families and community, was brought home by Advancement’s own Veronika Richardson who stitched it all together with music and flair.

The 2020 VVS Family Weekend Arts Showcase was a little different this year but no less essential to keeping the traditions of student achievement and creativity at VVS alive and well. It is available to watch today and into the future on the Verde Valley School YouTube Channel. Consider subscribing to stay up to date on all of our fantastic video content. I hope you enjoyed our showcase and I look forward to whatever challenges await us next year.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT a Q & A with Julie Pompos Director of Health Services

Q.What attracted you to VVS? A. Quite frankly it was a random late night internet search for school nursing/health care positions for private schools in Arizona.

I was in Las Vegas visiting my elderly parents and thought how nice it would be to live closer to them. Years ago I lived in Prescott and worked as a Nurse Manager at the Veteran's Hospital. I love this part of the country and am familiar with the area and always felt as though I would one day return. Anyway, when I came across the posting for the Director of the Health Center, I was impressed by the location, academic excellence, out of classroom experiences and the overall Guiding Principles. I immediately knew that was a perfect fit for me thus allowing me to contribute my knowledge, skills and abilities toward the health and wellbeing of the student body.

Q. What is the favorite part of your job?

A. One on one interaction with the students. I enjoy getting to know them as the evolving people that they are. Learning of their life experiences, likes and dislikes and what they plan for their futures. Due to the nature of the current environment as it relates to health and safety...I get to see each student every day, though as brief as those encounters are, I at least get to greet them in the morning.

Q. Favorite spot on campus?

A. No doubt about it, the Chapel. The surrounding landscape and views are gorgeous!

Q. Three words to describe VVS. A. Inclusive, Collaborative and Caring. Also...Location, Location, Location!

Q. What was your first job?

A. My very first job was not in healthcare. I worked for a small town newspaper selling advertising space and then doing the creative work for the ad design and layout.

Q. As for your personal life?

A. I have two grown children; a son that studies ancient history and travels extensively and a daughter that works in the banking industry in New York City. I have two adopted dogs; Milo and Cleo that love life and are amazing hiking companions, considering their small size. My favorite sport is golf. If I could, I would play everyday!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT a Q & A with Matt Weis Individuals and Societies Faculty

Q. Tell me a little about yourself and your background…home life, education, family, hobbies/talents?

A. I was born and raised in Upstate New York, and while I think that will always be my first home, I’m never opposed to finding new ones. I love to travel. Though I’m only 29, I have had the opportunity to improve my Russian in Eastern Europe, spend a month studying Spanish in Santiago, Chile, read for a master’s in history at the University of Oxford, and of course make a new home teaching history at Verde Valley School.

Q. What attracted you to VVS? A. I knew I wanted to teach creative and academically rigorous history courses in a warm, friendly, supportive environment.

That’s really what teaching and learning - VVS is all about. By my second interview with the school, I was certain that I wanted to teach at VVS. From then on it was a question of convincing the school to hire me. I say it all the time, but I’m so glad to be here.

Q. Within our VVS guiding principles, (1. Academic Excellence, 2. Global Citizenship, 3. Service to Others, 4. Environmental Stewardship, 5. The Value of Physical Labor) Which principles do you embrace easily and which principles do you look forward to expanding in your life?

A. Honestly, the principle of valuing physical labor spoke to me. I was a three year varsity wrestler when I was in high school, and I have since coached wrestling for almost a decade. Too many American teenagers are shortchanged by the grit and mental toughness that they need to succeed. The research is crystal clear on this. Today’s generation of adolescents reach adult milestones later than ever before, and suffer disproportionately from anxiety and depression. Being part of a community that provides the life skills and discipline to overcome those challenges is more critical than ever before. Thankfully, the values that our teachers and staff impart to our students here at Verde Valley empower our boys and girls to grow up well. I earnestly believe our students are better prepared for the adult world than their counterparts in the rest of the country. Our guiding principles are a big part of that.

Q. Here at VVS, we proudly share that “We are the exception!”. What do you feel makes you the exception?

A. I have a real soft spot in my heart for the students taking on high level academics in their second, third or fourth language. I empathize with the special challenge of tackling advanced topics in a foreign language, because I’ve done it myself (in Russian).

Whenever I can, I like to share my tips and tricks for sharpening language skills with our international students - or our domestic students reaching advanced levels of their own foreign language of choice!

Q. What is your favorite part of your job at VVS? A. Sometimes I am astonished that part of my paycheck comes from participating in organized fun. On weekends, I have hosted a video game tournament, played and supervised soccer, croquet and volleyball with our students, and I currently have plans to host a traditional British cream tea on my next duty weekend.

Q. What do you feel is the most challenging aspect of your position?

A. Probably the most challenging aspect of my position is juggling the wide array of responsibilities that come with being a boarding school teacher. I teach three courses, including two college level IB history courses. I also supervise a dorm every Wednesday, run activities on weekends, and coach a sport every semester. Of course, the variety and investment is a large part of why I chose VVS in the first place. The challenge, like any challenge worth taking on, is rewarding.

Q. Do you have a mentor in your professional life?

A. I tend to collect mentors. I am still in touch with my mentor-teacher from my student teaching days, my undergraduate history advisor, my favorite teacher from middle school [as it turned out, I taught her daughter my first year of teaching], and the head of the teacher education program I graduated from. Here at VVS, our freshmen and sophomore math teacher David Smeeth and IB Biology teacher Andy Gill have been especially helpful. And so many of our staff here at VVS - from our wonderful head chefs Holly and Mike, to my colleagues like Leigh Carter and Lianne Lydum, to our outstanding administration - have been willing to lend a listening ear, a helping hand, or a much needed piece of furniture. I’m sure I’ve left people out. I apologize. My suspicion is that a list of everyone who has provided advice or help this year would stretch the entire faculty roster.

Q. Here at VVS our Head of School often states that “we are better together”. How has our community welcomed you and made you feel that we truly are better together?

A. I think the above answer might just cover it. VVS is truly a special place. I hope I can give as much back to VVS and its students as I’ve gained from being a part of it.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT a Q & A with Shelly Gammieri Director of Development

Tell me a little about yourself and your background… home life, education, family, hobbies/talents?

I grew up as a military kid on the east coast and am a 4th generation percussionist, with my father and his father both accomplished drummers, I took it upon myself to take up those reigns. Err, sticks. I studied music first at East Carolina University and then at the University of North Texas. Fun fact - I spent four summers touring as part of the Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps.

What attracted you to VVS? Paul and I had worked together in the educational development space before he arrived here at VVS. Initially, I was invited to consult and help with planning for the 70th Anniversary, and have since been honored to be part of alumni reunions up until this year. I fell in love with the school the first time I saw it, but it took a pandemic to make me realize that I needed to be here in a more meaningful way. My son, Shane, is attending now in 10th grade, having relocated from an urban area that was pushing zoom school or opening in unsafe conditions. VVS has done so much to prepare and maintain the safest possible learning environment, and we are tremendously grateful to be a part of it.

Within our VVS guiding principles, (1. Academic Excellence, 2. Global Citizenship, 3. Service to Others, 4. Environmental Stewardship, 5. The Value of Physical Labor) Which principles do you embrace easily and which principles do you look forward to expanding in your life?

While all of the guiding principles speak to me, I am currently most interested in Environmental Stewardship. VVS is so dedicated in its approach to caring for the land and promoting sustainability, and I'm excited to learn the best and most innovative ways to be a champion for this cause.

Here at VVS, we proudly share that “We are the exception!”. What do you feel makes you the exception?

There is no place like VVS. It's a world unto its own. From the beauty of the red rocks that surround our campus to the principles that guide us and create space for global citizens and leaders, there is nothing that compares to Verde Valley School.

What is your favorite part of your job at VVS? As a professional fundraiser, I like to point out that my first priority is always honoring the intent of our supporters, and ensuring that their gifts are stewarded to the highest standards, but what I love about my job is building relationships with and getting to know the people who love VVS. So many people have incredible stories about their time here and what VVS means to them, and I feel so fortunate that part of my job is getting to hear those stories.

What is on your wishlist for the next 10 years at VVS? I would love to see VVS through this moment of international hardship to the thriving abundance it was headed toward before the pandemic.

IN MEMORIAM

William "Angus" Shorey Verde Valley School Class of 1969 February 6, 1951 - December 5, 2019

PLEASE SEND ANY "IN MEMORIAM'S" TO ADVANCEMENT@VVSAZ.ORG TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE FOLLOWING NEWSLETTER. THANK YOU.

Update us on your life after VVS by emailing advancement@vvsaz.org.

If you would like to submit a story or article about your VVS experience, reach out to the Advancement Team at advancement@vvsaz.org.