Green & White Magazine

GREEN&WHITE

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WHAT’S HOT INSIDE?

GREEN&WHITE MAGAZINE GREEN

WHITFIELD TRADITIONS 11

Check out some of our favorite school traditions!

CARDBOARD CUISINE

From the imagination of Whitfield’s

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

How sharp are your skills?

A Magazine for Future Whitfield Warriors

What did you read last summer?

FAVORITE CLASSES

How do yours compare?

14

BOOK CLUB CONNECTING WITH CULTURE

Tips for creating your own culture.

ROVING ROBOTS

See what Upper School students in Principles of Engineering & Design are up to!

ESPORTS!

GETTING INVOLVED

Take a quiz to see how you can get involved at Whitfield.

WHITFIELD SCHOOL offers a robust liberal-arts curriculum embedded in a foundational character education program. In a small school community built on kindness and trust, Whitfield inspires a diverse student body to live lives of curiosity, integrity, and purpose. The school endeavors to empower young people to be thoughtful, principled citizens of the world.

Head of School

Chris Cunningham, Ph.D.

Director of Admissions

Lisa Trout

Director of

Communications & Marketing

Erin Walsh

Graphic Designer

Brad Glotfelty | Brad Alan Co.

EDITOR’S NOTE

WELCOME!

Dear Future Warrior,

The thought of switching schools is probably both exciting and scary! You are not the first person to have both of those feelings at the same time, and I guarantee you won’t be the last. My advice to you is to embrace both the excitement and the fear. Learn everything you can about your future school: visit, ask questions, look for people who have the same interests, look for people who have different interests. I hope this magazine helps you get to know Whitfield better, and while you are reading it, it quiets some of the scary, and builds some of the excitement.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Walsh

3D Studio: Sculpture class

WHITFIELD TRADITIONS

LIP SYNCS

On the Friday of Homecoming weekend, representatives from each grade level perform a song and dance routine in front of the school community and a panel of judges.

TRASH CAN BAND

Made entirely of trash cans, this co-ed percussion group performs throughout the school year during all-school assemblies and for special events.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH

In celebration of the start of the school year, the community gathers on campus to enjoy BBQ, carnival games, and fall sport exhibitions.

SPIRIT WEEK

Traditionally taking place during the fall semester, Spirit Week consists of themed dress up days, daily assemblies, and grade level competitions.

WHITFIELD’S SCHOOL DOG

About 20 years ago, a neighbor’s dog decided that Whitfield was his new home. Whitfield’s current school dog is a seven year old Golden Retriever named Sunshine. You can find her sleeping in the hallway between the head of school and the principal’s offices.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE

SCHOOL TRADITION?

________________________________________

________________________________________

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CARDBOARD CUISINE!

A CREATIVE SCULPTURE PROJECT

Students in Whitfield’s 3D Studio: Sculpture class recently took on a challenging and creative project: creating food sculptures out of cardboard.

The project was inspired by a classic sculpture exercise: taking an ordinary object and scaling it up or down. Students were asked to brainstorm food, or food-related items, that they would like to create. After sketching out their ideas, they started building their sculptures out of cardboard.

The students used a variety of materials to decorate their sculptures, including paint, paper, glitter, and markers. They also had to consider the principles of sculpture, such as scale, space, and texture.

THE STUDENTS HAD TO REALLY PROBLEM-SOLVE WITH THIS PROJECT

The results were amazing! Students created a variety of realistic and creative food sculptures, including a slice of pepperoni pizza, a hunk of cheese, a raspberry pie, a Bomb Pop, a slice of cheese garlic bread, a blood orange, and a biscuit breakfast sandwich.

“The students had to really problem-solve with this project,” said faculty member Curtis Erlinger. “I didn’t give them solutions, but I did give them a lot of materials and encouraged them to play with their food. These works

TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN

are dedicated to Whitfield School’s SAGE Dining Services staff--thank you for all that you do!”

The sculptures were displayed throughout the school for all to enjoy. They were a hit with students, staff, and visitors alike.

If you’re looking for a creative and challenging project to try, why not give cardboard cuisine a try? You might be surprised at what you can create!

1 2 3 4 5

Start by brainstorming some ideas for what you want to make. Sketch out your ideas before you start building.

Use a variety of materials to decorate your sculptures.

Consider the principles of sculpture, such as scale, space, and texture.

Have fun and be creative!

BOOK CLUB

Whitfield students love to read!

Last summer, each grade was assigned a book to read as a class. Have you read any of these books? If so, can you answer the questions here?

Questions to consider while reading:

What adjectives would you use to describe Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch?(adjectives can also be traits)

Which character(s) do you see as a hero? Why?

How do the characters’ traditions, customs, and beliefs affect them?

In what way does the government and the geography of Panem affect the characters?

9th Grade | The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Questions to consider while reading:

• Have you ever had a recurring dream? What was it about?

What do you think it meant?

• What is your “Personal Legend”?

• What does it mean to live a good life?

11th Grade | Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Questions to consider while reading:

• How do you define success? In what ways does society define success?

• To what extent should we pursue our personal happiness at any cost?

• How do we create our own identity through our actions, interests, values and beliefs?

• What is the purpose of education and what is our responsibility to our own education?

• What is American society and what does its literature say about its people?

My Summer Reading List

8th

6th

Questions to consider while reading:

Think about the connection between Peter and Pax. How has that connection developed over the years? Why must Peter release Pax?

• Vola tells Peter, “People should tell the truth about what war costs” (p. 130).

What costs of war does each of the characters in this book pay?

• What happened when Pax met the other wild foxes? Why did they accept him? How did meeting them change Pax?

• Why do you think the author chose to write the book from alternating points of view? How did that help you understand the story?

Questions to consider while reading: What factors shape Cole’s identity?

How does Cole’s experience change his character: how he sees himself as an individual as well as part of a community?

How would you describe Cole’s need for both love and power as it plays out in the book?

• What are your thoughts on Circle Justice?

10th Grade | Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Questions to consider while reading:

In what ways is the author caught in a cycle of poverty?

How is the author’s race tied to his sense of identity and community?

How does the author use humor to heal?

What roles do love and faith play in the story?

WHAT DID YOU READ LAST SUMMER?

7th Grade | TheHungerGames by Suzanne Collins

Grade | TouchingSpiritBearby Ben Michaelson

Grade: Pax by Sara Pennybaker

KNOW? DID YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!

Can you spot 7 differences between the photos below? Circle the differences.

Whitfield was founded in 1952.

Whitfield’s average enrollment is 425 students in grades 6-12.

Whitfied’s average class size is 14.

Whitfield students come from 147. different St. Louis area schools.

Whitfield students come from 61. different St. Louis area zip codes.

Whitfield enrolls an average of 85. new students every year.

Whitfield has won 38 state championships, and 93 district championships.

Whitfield students have won 184 individual state medals.

Whitfield offers 18 sports, 26 clubs, and 9 affinity groups.

38% of Whitfield’s students identify as people of color.

75% of Whitfield’s faculty have advanced degrees.

Whitfield Students

Whitfield Students

WINNIE MURPHY ‘26

My favorite class is theater. We do a lot of hands- on activities like improv games and short skits which are really fun. Also, you don’t have to be good at acting or have had any past experience to enjoy this class.

Their Favorite Classes

Their Favorite Classes

DERRICK PALMER ‘25

My favorite class is Spanish. Mrs. Gassner makes class fun!. She always has different activities that hold your attention.

MASON ODOM ‘28

REVEAL “ “

REVEAL “ “ “ “

My favorite class is English because I felt supported by the teacher and she made the class fun! I also liked the projects and the assignments. We were able to use resources to support our opinions on topics and to help better express our thoughts and to understand each other.

GRACE COOPERSTEIN ‘25

My favorite class is Civics because I like to talk about current events and engage in lively discussions.

Connecting with Culture WordScramble

In Elements of Social Studies, sixth grade students learn about the different branches of the social sciences. They use primary and secondary sources to research and discover why and how the past affects our world today. They also strengthen essential skills like literacy, writing, collaboration, presentation, critical thinking, and research.

As part of their unit on sociology, students engage in the Create a Culture project. Working in small groups, they research specific elements of existing cultures, such as language, art, religion, government, economic systems, social structure, and traditions. After completing their research, each group develops a new “fictional” culture and makes a presentation in class.

Faculty member Mary Schnitzler designed the project to help students gain a better understanding of what makes up culture and society. She also wanted to lay a foundation for their work ahead in this year’s World Cultures class.

“After we completed the Create a Culture project, we read Lois Lowry’s The Giver and used a sociological lens for our analysis,” said Ms. Schnitzler. “As students

studied the characters’ beliefs and values, they applied what they learned about the elements of culture.”

The Create a Culture project is a great way to learn about different cultures and how they work. It’s also a lot of fun! If you’re interested in learning more about culture, you can talk to your teacher or librarian. You can also find some great resources online.

Here are some tips for creating your own culture:

• Start by brainstorming some ideas for the different elements of your culture. What language will your people speak? What kind of art will they create? What will their religion be like?

• Once you have some ideas, do some research to learn more about different cultures. This will help you to flesh out your own culture and make it more realistic.

• Be creative! Don’t be afraid to come up with something that is unique and different.

• Have fun! Creating a culture is a great way to learn about the world and to express your own creativity.

Roving

Robots

Upper School students in Principles of Engineering and Design made Mars rover prototypes using TETRIX programmable robotics kits.

The students used TETRIX programmable robotics kits to build their rovers. These kits are a great way to learn about engineering, coding, and space exploration. They come with everything you need to build a robot, including motors, sensors, and a controller.

The students worked in small groups to design and build their rovers. They had the creative freedom to add moveable components, scoops, or cameras to their designs. They also had to code their rovers to execute a series of tasks.

After the students built their rovers, they tested them on an obstacle course that represented the environment on Mars. The obstacle course included things like rocks, sand, and hills. The students had to make sure their rovers could navigate the obstacle course without getting stuck or breaking down.

The students also created a PR campaign to promote their designs to the public. They wrote press releases, made videos, and gave presentations.

Finally, each student wrote a formal research paper about their rover. The research paper included information about the environment on Mars, the materials used to build the rover, and the cost of the project.

This project was a great way for the students to learn about engineering, coding, space exploration, and public relations. It was also a lot of fun!

Want to learn more?

You can find more information about this project on the TETRIX website: https://www.tetrixrobotics.com/. You can also find more information about Mars rovers on the NASA website: https://mars.nasa.gov/.

APRIL IS ON THE MARCH

By Tomas Casado ‘27

April is on the march

It’s appeleting into a green arch

It grows into a flower, everlasting life of bees

Until they see the grundendull, until they see me A flower it once, a flower it will, But a flower for now it grows a bill

The show is rain,is what they have to say

That brings the life of many, here with us today

5-4-3-2-1

MINDFULNESS THROUGH THE SENSES

By Ginny Fendell, Director of Health and Wellness

Practicing mindfulness doesn’t have to be complicated! It simply involves “noticing” what is happening in the present moment. Sometimes our attention is jumping all over the place like a monkey, so practicing mindfulness is a way to tame that “monkey mind” and train it to focus on what we want it to pay attention to. We do that by using our five senses: seeing, feeling, hearing, smelling, and tasting. Try it out!

Start by looking around wherever you are and notice:

5 things you can see that you’ve never noticed before

4 things you can feel with your hands

3 things you can hear, near and far sounds

2 things you can smell right now

1 thing you that you can taste

You did it! What did you notice?

Share this practice with a friend or family member to see if you noticed similar or different things.

The rock rolls, will it ever stop Momentum says no, until it will drop. It tumbles forward, left, front, and right. But never behind you, for the rock is time. Time moves on, and the flowers die. But they know they’ll be back, So they never once cry

LOVE

By Molly Rufkahr ‘28

Love is confusing

But with families

Siblings

Grandparents

Parents

Love is not hard

You will always love them

You might fight

Or get mad

But your love for them

Is always in your heart

As their love for you

Is in theirs

Thomas’ and Molly’s poems originally appeared in the 20222023 edition of Perspectives Whitfield’s student art and literary publication.

WHITFIELD LAUNCHES ESPORTS PROGRAM I WHITFIELD LAUNCHES ESPORTS PROGRAM

In January 2022, Whitfield launched our new esports program! Esports, or electronic sports, elevates single player video gaming to another level with organized competitive gameplay between two teams. Participants are supervised by a coach, attend team strategy meetings, practices, and official matches. Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of roles including Varsity and JV game players, assistant coaches, play-byplay announcers, graphic designers, and video editors.

Much more than just video gaming, esports requires players to develop

They’re Just Like Us! Whitfield Teachers...

Lisa Barry Jenkins - Director of Technology

Biggest Fear: Spiders

Pet Peeve: Slow internet

Driving Song: “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey

Miller Boyd, Ph.D. - History Department

Favorite Animal: Great Dane

Favorite Flavor: Butter

Pet Peeve: Cruelty to others

Cipriano Casado - World Languages Department

Biggest Fear: Frogs

Favorite Flavor: Vinegar

Dream Job: Teaching

Ashley Eggebrecht -English Department

Favorite Animal: Snow leopard

Dream Place to Live: Vail, CO

and strengthen their teamwork, communication, critical and strategic thinking, creativity, sportsmanship, and leadership skills. Participants also practice and develop STEM skills by analyzing data, game statistics, and strategies. In addition, there are growing opportunities for esport scholarships at the collegiate level and an expanding variety of esportsrelated careers.

More than 70 students—30 Middle School and 40 Upper School—engaged in this popular new program. Their roles include game players, team managers, play-by-play announcers, graphic designers, and video editors. Whitfield teams practice every day and play against state-wide

competition through the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation (MOSEF) league.

Whitfield Esports Games and Coaches

General Manager: Lisa Barry Jenkins

Coaches: Andrew Asikainen, Brandon Haynes, and Heather Lavezzi

Super Smash Bros Ultimate (Middle School/rated E for everyone)

Rocket League (Middle School/ rated E for everyone)

Overwatch (Upper School/rated T for Teens age 13+)

Valorant (Upper School/rated T for Teens age 13+)

Dream Job: Teaching

Amber Odom - Admissions Office

Favorite Book: Charlotte’s Web

Dream Place to Live: Hawaii

Pet Peeve: People facetiming in public with no headphones

Chris Sellers - Science Department

Favorite Animal: Tiger shark

Dream Job: Teaching

Favorite Spirit Day: Green & White Day

INVOLVED

HOW TO GET AT WHITFIELD

Take the quiz below to learn more about how to get involved in Whitfield’s many after school clubs, affinity groups, and athletics.

Question 1: What do you enjoy doing for fun?

A. Playing sports

B. Singing, dancing, or acting

C. Hanging out with friends and family

D. Volunteering or helping others

E. All of the above

Question 2: What are your strengths?

A. I’m athletic and competitive.

B. I’m creative and expressive.

C. I’m good at making friends and getting along with people.

D. I’m good at organizing and leading others.

E. All of the above.

Question 3: What are your interests?

A. Playing sports, hiking, biking, etc.

B. Singing, dancing, acting, theater, etc.

C. Volunteering, social justice, allyship, etc.

D. Student government, debate, leadership, etc.

E. All of the above.

Question 4: What are your goals for the future?

A. To be a varsity athlete.

B. To be a prominently featured singer, dancer, or actor.

C. To make a difference in your community through volunteering and/or social justice work.

D. To be a leader in student government or a club.

E. All of the above.

Question 5: What are you passionate about?

A. Winning and competing.

B. Expressing myself creatively.

C. Helping others and making a difference.

D. Organizing and leading others.

E. All of the above.

Question 6: What are you good at working with?

A. My body (hand/eye coordination) and physical skills.

B. My voice, coordination, and facial expressions.

C. Other people and relationships.

D. Ideas, concepts, and problems.

E. All of the above.

Question 7: What do you like to do in your free time?

A. Play sports, go to the gym, or be active.

B. Sing, dance, act, or watch movies and TV.

C. Hang out with friends and family, volunteer, or do community service.

D. Organize events, plan meetings, or lead projects.

E. All of the above.

Question 8: What do you think is the most important thing in life?

A. Winning and being the best.

B. Expressing myself creatively and authentically.

C. Helping others and making a difference in the world.

D. Leading and organizing others.

E. All of the above.

Results:

Mostly A’s: Athletics/Esports

Mostly B’s: Performing and Dramatic Arts

Mostly C’s: Student Interest Clubs

Mostly D’s: Student Council and Service

E’s: Try them all!

There are so many ways to get involved at Whitfield! This quiz is just a starting point to help narrow down your areas of interest. Check out all of the clubs, affinity groups, and sports Whitfield has to offer.

Middle School Athletics

Baseball- boys

Basketball- boys, girls

Cross Country- boys, girls

Field Hockey- girls

Lacrosse- girls

Soccer- boys, girls

Volleyball- boys, girls

Wrestling- boys

Upper School Athletics

Baseball- boys

Basketball- boys, girls

Cross Country- coed

Field Hockey- girls

Football (cooperative with Principia School)- boys

Golf- boys, girls

Lacrosse- girls

Soccer-boys, girls

Tennis- boys, girls

Track & Field- boys, girls

Volleyball- boys, girls

Wrestling-boys

Student Clubs

Admissions Club

Book Clubs

Business and Entrepreneurship Club

Climbing Club

College Counseling Crew

Community Service Club

Debate Club

Diversity Council

Esports

Fashion Club

Film Club

Fishing Club

Garden Club

Green Scene (spirit club)

Library Advisory Council

Math Club

Mindfulness and Meditation Club

Model UN

Ping Pong Club

Perspectives (literary magazine)

Student Council

Technology Student Association (TSA)

Affinity Groups

Asian Student Union (ASU)

Black Student Union (BSU)

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)

Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

Hispanic Student Association (HSA)

International Student Union (ISU)

Jewish Student Union (JSU)

Muslim Student Union (MSU)

Women’s Alliance

WHITFIELD ADMISSIONS

WHITFIELD SCHOOL is an independent middle and high school which means there is an application process in order to attend. You apply to Whitfield one year before you would like to start school. For example, if you want to start attending Whitfield in 7th grade, you would start the application process when you are in 6th grade. The best way to start the application process is to visit the school! Ask your parents to help you explore the admissions section of Whitfield’s website to learn more about what is required as well as opportunities to visit: www.whitfieldschool.org/admission.