Crossroads spring 2013 by The Steward School

crossroads issue 24

spring 2013

a publication of The Steward School

THe STewARd SCHooL

ANNIVeRSARY

fuN fACTS

fALL 2005 fIRST ISSue of CROSSROADS

oVeR

120

8|25|80

MAINSTAGe PeRfoRMANCeS

JANeT RICe’S fIRST dAY

400

ToTAL NuMBeR of CoMPuTeRS oN CAMPuS

828 ALuMNI

9-11-72

fIRST dAY of SCHooL

500 AVAILABLe e- BooKS

oVeR

17,000 LIBRARY BooKS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

THE STEWARD SCHOOL’S 40-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

spring 2013

ine A

rts D

epa rtme n

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ne w

rinc hen P p e t S dence est art i -In-Resi t nstallation, a s ti r A r e m r sculpture by fo

e inat m u l l e, il

s. mpu a c e s th

crossroads Administration Kenneth h. seward, Headmaster lisa dwelle, Associate Head of School dan Frank, Director of Upper School chip seidel, Director of Middle School Melanie casper, Director of Lower School sarah Melvin, Director of Development debbie robson, Director of Admissions lori Jobe, Director of Marketing and Communications Publication Staff lori Jobe, sydney smith, Editors Kristina Kerns, sherilyn smail, Designers andrew Barnes, rachel Beanland, carolyn Brandt, chris Brown ’05, susan Brown, Jane covington, Melanie goodpasture, Kristina Kerns, shahwar Qureshi, sydney smith, Meg white ’05, Contributing Writers andrew Barnes, tammy Brawley, Bridget hazel Photography, cindy grissom, Kristina Kerns, eric latourelle, rugene Paulette, real life studios, sherilyn smail, Meg white ’05, lynn Zinder, Contributing Photographers Printing total Printing company the steward school admits students without regard to gender, race, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The editors have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported in this publication. We apologize for any inadvertent errors.

highlights

4 Evolution A look into the The Steward School’s 40-year history

Firsts 6 40 Facts of Steward “firsts” Fun Facts 8 40 Fun facts you may or may not have known

Traditions 12 40 Whether new or old, Steward’s traditions are time honored and mission driven

Things 40 18 Other A look back at 1972 Bryan 20 The Innovation Lab Grand Opening

The Steward School’s mission is to prepare each child for college and for life. Our core character values are honor, responsibility, and achievement, balanced by caring and respect for oneself and for others. Steward is committed to small classes and to small overall size, which allow for discovery and development of each student’s unique talents and passions, while providing more opportunities for individual participation. We believe an environment with a diversity of talents, abilities, cultures, and backgrounds provides the richest and most

departments 20 30 34 44 48 50 55 58

campusculture finearts classacts teamtalk facultyfocus spartanliving alumninews trusteenote steward weBsite www.stewardschool.org

fully rounded educational experience. social Media channels http://www.facebook.com/thestewardschool http://www.twitter.com/stewardschool

V e lutio MAY 5, 1971 HeLeN dIXoN,

dr. hunter Marrow, dick duncan, Bill wood, and tommy taylor discuss plans for establishing a new school. dixon independent school corporation, later to be named the steward school, was legally incorporated by the state corporation commission.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

SePTeMBeR 11, 1972

JANuARY 1973

fIRST dAY of SCHooL held at

SCHooL MoVed INTo THe New BuILdING at gayton and

derbyshire Baptist church with 90 students (K-10); ronald Messersmith was the ﬁrst headmaster. school purchased 12 acres of land at the current location of the steward school.

ryandale roads. on May 20, 1973, the ﬁrst building was formally opened with a ceremony.

JuLY 15, 1975 PAuL CRAMeR began his

tenure as the new headmaster.

JuNe 4, 1976 eNd-of-YeAR PRoGRAM held. the ﬁrst dixon award, named in honor of helen dixon, was presented, and the recipient was sharon harris. there was a groundbreaking ceremony for a new gymnasium.

By Sydney Smith and Andrew Barnes

Happy Birthday, Steward! as we pass the school’s 40th anniversary, it is the students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends who have received the gift: a community that we are proud to call home. as with all 40 year-olds, there has been an evolution, but steward wears its age well and is the antithesis of a mid-life crisis. in fact, steward is more like “the little school that could.” in the early 1970s, it began chugging along, and with the love of many devoted passengers, four decades later it has reached the mountaintop and can see a beautiful horizon ahead. in evolutionary terms, 40 years is a nanosecond, but during steward’s lifetime, it has discovered the right combination of growth and maintenance. Just as spring begins to bloom, we are blossoming yet again with the opening of the Bryan innovation lab, which will offer more unique opportunities to students for decades to come. so, we’ll save the formal celebration for our half-century mark—in honor of steward’s fortieth, let’s have some fun. the following pages are a look at our “top 40” milestones, traditions, accomplishments, and fun facts. You’re in for some surprises!

Scan QR code with your smartphone to view a slideshow of photographs.

JuNe 10, 1977

fALL 1980

1982

oCToBeR 1982

steward held its fIRST GRAduATIoN CeReMoNY for

fIRST MAJoR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

THe MIddLe SCHooL became a

second 12.5-acre PARCeL of LANd was purchased.

three students.

was launched with a goal of $500,000 over a ﬁve-year period.

distinct body in its own right. gay hurst, Math department faculty member, was appointed coordinator and worked endlessly to bridge the gap between lower and upper schools.

1982-1983 A GIfT of $100,000

was received—it was the largest single gift received to that date. the steward school Foundation was established.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

firsts

fIRST PHd: Nat wells ’87 fIRST MAGAZINe PuBLISHeR:

Joanne Konstantinakos ’90, Bene Italian Life & Style and Business Traveler Magazine

fIRST JeffeRSoN SCHoLAR (uVA): Ted Benson ’01 fIRST HeAdMASTeR: Ronald Messersmith. He was

instrumental in the founding of the School and served as head until 1975. He was the ﬁrst of the ﬁve Steward headmasters to date: Paul Cramer (1975-94), Steve Stackhouse (1994-97), Roger Coulombe (1997-2004), and Ken Seward (2004-present).

fIRST dReSS Code: 1972. “Good judgment in clothing

choice, neatness and cleanliness are accepted, expected and required.”

fIRST TuITIoN: with an application for admission, the

family purchased a $1,000 bond with a 7% return by the child’s graduation year; tuition was an additional $650-800 depending on the child’s grade.

fIRST ALuMNI TeACHeR (fuLL-TIMe): Monica Kallman Moehring ’95. Monica joined the faculty in 2004 as a Middle and upper School chorus teacher. The following year, she switched to Lower School theatre and Middle School chorus, and since 2006 has taught all Lower and Middle School theatre and directed mainstage productions.

fIRST GoVeRNoR’S SCHooL SuMMeR eNRICHMeNT PRoGRAM ATTeNdee: Shahwar Qureshi ’90

fIRST deSTINATIoN IMAGINATIoN TeAM To CoMPeTe AT GLoBALS: In 2009, the improv team con-

sisting of Mary Madison Andrews ’16, dan Kovach ’16, Quincy Rhodes ’16, Taylor Leahy ’16, Connor Parrish ’16, Grifﬁn Gayne ’17, and Caroline willhite ’18 went to the international tournament with their manager, fourth-grade teacher Chris Tickle.

fIRST MCdoNALd’S HIGH SCHooL ALLAMeRICAN NoMINee: Adjehi Baru ’11 (boys basketball) fIRST LIS (League of Independent Schools) wIN: 1982, ﬁeld hockey

fIRST STATe CHAMPIoNSHIP wINS: Girls ﬁeld hockey (2001), boys varsity basketball (2003, 2004)

fIRST ALuMNI AdMINISTRATIVe eMPLoYee:

Scott Moncure ’83. Scott joined the Admissions ofﬁce in 1993 and stayed until 2009.

fIRST ALuMNI CoACH: Mary Harvard Birdsong Nolde ’93 (ﬁeld hockey)

fIRST LeGACY GRAduATeS: Abbey Twining ’13

(daughter of Susan Cramer Twining ’84) and Perry Zakaib ’13 (son of ed Zakaib ’86)

fIRST NCAA ATHLeTeS: Sandy Szilassy ’86 (uVA) in ﬁeld hockey and Corey Turnage ’88 (uConn) in soccer. Both became captains of their respective college teams. fIRST SeASoN THAT Two VARSITY TeAMS woN THeIR CoNfeReNCe CHAMPIoNSHIP GAMeS: 1985. Boys soccer won the Commonwealth Con-

ference and ﬁeld hockey won the LIS. In 2006, four varsity teams achieved this feat during the spring season (golf, boys and girls cross country, and baseball).

fIRST doCToR: Jill Narron ’85 fIRST uNdefeATed TeAM: Spring 2012. Boys JV

basketball became the ﬁrst undefeated team in school history with a 24-0 record.

fIRST LAwYeR: Chris Law ’83 fIRST deNTIST: Ron Spillers ’88

APRIL 1983 fIRST VIRGINIA ASSoCIATIoN of INdePeNdeNT SCHooLS evaluation and accreditation.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

JuNe 4, 1985 THe CAPITAL CAMPAIGN exceeded its goal and raised $540,000.

oCToBeR 1985 STewARd BeCAMe A CHARTeR MeMBer of the richmond Black student Foundation, attempting to encourage more africanamerican families to enroll their children in independent schools.

MAY 4, 1986 CoMPLeTIoN ANd dedICATIoN of the second addition to the arts/science building (the current Middle school); a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone to be opened in the year 2086.

oCToBeR 1986 THe STewARd SCHooL ALuMNI ASSoCIATIoN was established.

fIRST AP CLASS: As a senior, Mary Browning Almany ’86 took an independent study course in AP english; the following year, six seniors took AP english out of a class of 17. fIRST ARTIST-IN-ReSIdeNCe: 2005. Local artist ed

Trask painted the mural in the upper School’s Senior Lounge and designed the Matisse mural in the hallway outside the art classrooms. Students in all three divisions helped paint the mural, often at the same time with painters on different levels of scaffolding.

fIRST AfTeR SCHooL PRoGRAM: 1985-1986. directed by Lower School teachers Herb Lord and Sherry Berry. for many years, a Before School Program also existed. fIRST MAJoR AuCTIoN: April 12, 1986. Cruisethemed prizes included a cruise to the southern Caribbean, a week in Hilton Head, a helicopter ride, and a whole lamb cut and wrapped as desired. The price of admission was $7.50, and it was held at the Bank of Virginia on west Broad Street.

fIRST THeATRe PRoduCTIoN: The Importance of

fIRST STudeNT To ReCeIVe A LeTTeR of CoMMeNdATIoN fRoM THe NATIoNAL MeRIT SCHoLARSHIP PRoGRAM: 1986.

fIRST SuNTRuST ART ANd PHoToGRAPHY eXHIBIT: 2003. This exhibit has continued every spring,

fIRST “LIfeR” STudeNTS To ATTeNd STewARd fRoM K-12: 1986. Mary Browning, Curt Nichols, Sandy

fIRST AMeRICAN fLAG: february 1975. It was present-

fIRST BuILdING dedICATIoN: 1992. At the School’s 20th anniversary celebration, dixon Hall was dedicated in honor of founder Helen dixon.

Being Earnest in 1977-78

and now consists of 400 pieces of Middle and upper School artwork including painting, photography, three-dimensional work, and more.

ed to the school by the daughters of the American Revolution and received by Peter Kingsley and Sharon Harris, members of the Student Council.

fIRST INTeRNATIoNAL TRIP: Spring 1975. Twelve

students went to London, Amsterdam, Cologne, frankfurt, and Paris.

fIRST GRAduATeS ANd THe CoLLeGeS THeY ATTeNded: 1977. Billy Moncure (Roanoke College), Caroline davenport Rhodes (florida Southern College), and Gray Tuggle (Catwaba College)

Nat wells, junior

Szilassy (see alumni proﬁles on pages 56 and 57)

fIRST JK CLASS: 2010. A junior kindergarten class was

established under the leadership of teachers Lyn Lunsford and Sarah Newcomb ’05. In 1992-93, there was a Pre-K class with three students, but the class lasted only one school year.

fIRST STewARd ALuMNI ASSoCIATIoN: 1986.

established by denise featherston dietz ’81 and her husband, Robert (who met in the fourth grade during Steward’s ﬁrst year), wyman Smith ’82, and Robinnette Turner ’83.

fIRST TeCHNoLoGY:

Sharon Harris. The yearbook’s name comes from first Corinthians in the Bible, which is where The Steward School’s name originated: “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

• first two computers: 1982 • first computer teacher: 1986. dr. Lynne Mann taught keyboarding, word-processing, and database development. • first Steward School web page: 1997 • first Graphic design Lab: 2002 • first laptop cart: 2004

fIRST HoMeCoMING dANCe: 1980. The dance was

fIRST STudeNT AwARdS:

fIRST YeARBooK: The Corinithian in 1975, edited by

sponsored by the Boosters’ Club, and Heidi Steeber ’81 was crowned queen.

fIRST ALuMNI ReuNIoN: 1985. Thirty members from the classes of 1979-84 gathered at a restaurant called The North Pole.

SPRING 1987 $1 MILLIoN CAPITAL CAMPAIGN was launched.

MAY 1, 1990 school successfully CoMPLeTed CAPITAL CAMPAIGN with a grand total of $1,169,000.

APRIL 24, 1992 LoweR SCHooL BuILdING wAS NAMed in honor of helen dixon during the school’s 20th anniversary celebration, and the library was dedicated to Margaret hassan cramer.

• dixon Award: 1976 – Sharon Harris • Middle School Steward Award: 1978 – Jennifer Keller • Lower School Award: 1980 – Janet Jenness • Alumni Award: 1987 – Isabel fitzgerald. This award is presented to a graduating senior for college expenses the following year. At Graduation in 2012, it was renamed the Carolyn R. Brandt Award in honor of her retirement.

MARCH 29, 1993

SPRING 1993

MATH/SCIeNCe BuILdING, later to be named taylor hall and designated as the upper school, ofﬁcially opened.

SCHooL ReCeIVed NoTICe of A $500,000 BeQueST from the estate of w. randolph cosby as a result of a suggestion to Mr. cosby from g. thomas taylor, former trustee and president of the steward Board of trustees.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

4 1

fun facts

In 1972, it was suggested that the School’s name be extended to “The Steward university School.” The name was accepted by the board but was not allowed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia because the School was not to be a “university” in the real sense of the word. Before discovering that the name couldn’t be used, the School had already developed a large, beautiful brochure with the heading THe STewARd uNIVeRSITY SCHooL.

fourth-district Representative Robert w. daniel donated a $30,000 organ to Steward in 1973 because he was “impressed by the effectiveness of the School’s work with creativity-inclined children.”

In the 1970s and 80s, music from 8-track tapes was broadcast in place of bells before and after classes. “Rocky Mountain High” by John denver and orchestral selections by conductor Annunzio Paolo Mantovani were popular selections. It caused some confusion because people assumed the gaps between songs signaled that the brief three minutes between classes was over sooner that it actually was.

Before the athletic field was a finished product, many sports practices concluded with “rock picking-up” to help smooth out the field. Some of the players even described this activity as fun, and they did it because they had a distinct feeling of ownership of their School.

JuNe 30, 1994 after 19 years as HeAdMASTeR, PAuL CRAMeR ReTIRed, preceded by an enormous celebration called Paul cramer day on May 13.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Lower School teacher Trudy Sorg kept her guinea pigs, gerbils, kittens, dutch rabbits, white mice, chickens, Chinese geese, turkeys, and more at school in the 1970s. Just outside the building, she built a pen for them, and during the night, all the animals were kept in her classroom. Lower School students would take the animals to the pen with buckets of food in the mornings and return them in the afternoons. ducks would often wander the hallways, and brave children occasionally wore her pet boa constrictor as a necklace. In 1978, Steward hosted a symposium entitled “The Major Issues in education Today” that featured respected administrators from both the collegiate and K-12 realms. These individuals spoke in front of 450 students and faculty representing eight different Richmond schools, both public and private. They spoke again in the evening to a group of parents. Channel 23 ﬁlmed both sessions and aired the majority of it. Two students, Charles Shedd ’79 and Mark Griggs ’81, wrote the words and music for the Alma Mater in 1979.

former teacher and current trustee don Steeber built a dunk tank for the School’s oktoberfest, in which Mr. Cramer, Coach Janet Rice, and Coach Neil Turnage were frequent guests. The tank was such a hit that it ended up being used by other local schools at their events.

don Steeber sewed the School’s ﬁrst set of ﬁeld hockey kilts; the kilts were also worn by the girls basketball team because they had no uniforms.

SePTeMBeR 1994

SPRING 1997

SePTeMBeR 19, 1997

1999

SPARTANEOUS newsletter became The Blue and Gold Connection.

STewARd CLeARed LANd for a new playing ﬁeld.

surprise announcement was made at the school’s 25th anniversary reception that STewARd wAS THe ReCIPIeNT of A $15 MILLIoN ANoNYMouS GIfT, the largest ever to an independent school in virginia at the time.

THe RoBINS fouNdATIoN GAVe $750,000 to Steward to establish an ESL program, the Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL), the Parent Resource Center, and a gifted program.

As a senior, Bill Northen ’80 began singing “Happy Birthday” to students in morning assembly on their birthdays. After his graduation, students continued the tradition until the early 1990s.

on february 24, 1981, the Board of Trustees challenged the varsity boys basketball team to a game. There is an ongoing dispute as to who actually won—the students point to the ’81 yearbook that shows a score of boys 37, trustees 30. The trustees claim it a misprint. In any case, it was a ﬁrst—and last—to the best of anyone’s memory. In addition to this game, there have been other students against adults challenges including a student-faculty tennis tournament in the 1980s and a faculty vs. students basketball game in 1994.

12 13 14

In March 1981, the School took part in discussions about potentially merging with the Montessori School. The two schools ended up varying too much on their philosophies and approaches, and Steward backed out of the talks.

The School’s original logo was created by local freelance designer Ann fowle in 1985. It was designed to be classic yet simple and to give a clean, contemporary look. To draw attention to the seal, it was placed over the “w” in “Steward.”

In a girls’ home basketball game in 1989, team captain dawn Moss ’89 scored 49 points, and Steward won the game 47-45. She scored every point for Steward and one basket for St. Margaret’s when she inadvertently shot at the wrong basket. A report of the game appeared in USA Today.

from 1991-93, the varsity ﬁeld hockey team became Steward’s ﬁrst team to win a “three-peat” in any sport; they won the state championship three years in a row.

for many years during Alternate Program, a group of students went with teacher Ian Coddington to Keystone environmental Science School in dillon, Colorado, for a cross-country skiing and hiking expedition to 12,130 feet at the Continental divide. during the trip in 1993, the group experienced more than it had bargained for—snow and wind up to sixty miles per hour and a temperature of 10 degrees. At times, visibility was only ﬁve feet. They spent three days and two nights in the wilderness intending to live in igloos, but because the consistency of the snow was not conducive to building, they ended up living in tents. The trips to Keystone continued through 1995.

After five classes had graduated, there were 36 alumni (in 1981), which was enough to include an alumni section in the school newsletter. “Crazy olympics day” for Middle School, upper School, and faculty was a great community builder and was first organized by faculty member Gay Hurst in 1981. everyone competed in field day-style games, and the headmaster carried an olympic flag. one of the more memorable events was a relay race where each team member had to run with a soccer-size rubber ball held between the legs. Another was a whipped cream relay in which team members would have to plant their faces in bowls of whipped cream and bring back a piece of fruit—it was easy to retrieve bananas or apples, but much harder to get grapes or raisins! At the students’ suggestion in 1982, the student councils of the Middle and upper Schools charged 25 cents to any student who wanted to wear blue jeans on a given day. The tradition of “jeans fundraisers” has continued.

1999-2000 ATHLeTIC CeNTeR GRouNdBReAKING

2000 six students formed steward’s charter class of the NATIoNAL HoNoR SoCIeTY: alexa Baker, ted Benson, corbin Brierre, alex duty, sally gottwald, and derek richard.

In the 1980s, a tradition known as “word-of-theweek” was started with upper School students in morning assembly. on Tuesdays, Headmaster Paul Cramer would give the students a word that he thought would be new to most of them. By friday’s assembly, everyone was supposed to have looked up the word’s deﬁnition because the headmaster would call on a randomly selected student to deﬁne and use it in a sentence.

JANuARY 5, 2001 GRouNdBReAKING CeReMoNY foR PAuL CRAMeR CeNTeR foR THe ARTS. the building ofﬁcially opened in october 2002.

2001 THe STewARd SCHooL ReCeIVed AN ANoNYMouS $2 MILLIoN doNATIoN, the second largest in the school’s history at the time. this money helped build wilton hall.

AuGuST 2003 LoweR SCHooL ReNoVATIoN to expand the building

Crossroads

Spring 2013

In the spring of 1993, student Jason McLaurin ’94 created a Kwanza Celebration design to be displayed at the Black History Museum in Richmond, which then became the official logo for the museum. Headmaster Paul Cramer was flown to campus in the Channel 12 traffic helicopter on Paul Cramer day, May 13, 1994. It was to celebrate his 19-year tenure as headmaster before he retired. Headmaster Roger Coulombe continued this tradition by flying in on a helicopter for his retirement in 2004.

24 25

Thinking outside the box: In the early days, the curriculum included an activity period every other friday during which the options included bowling, ice skating, horseback riding, and working on the grounds. other unusual activities at Steward later included Kite day, during which all the students ﬂew kites (complete with many tangled strings!), and Roller Skate day when students skated up and down the sidewalks all day.

one morning, Mr. Cramer burst into an upper School assembly several minutes late, wearing a denim jacket and an earring and mumbling excuses. His intent was to drive home a point about appropriate dress and promptness.

The production Godspell used the Lower School playground as its set in 1986. during one evening performance, the stage experienced a blackout when the indoor maintenance crew plugged in a vacuum, unaware of what was going on outside.

when the Middle/upper School Library was built, moving books from the old library was done by a student brigade; all the students lined up and passed books down the line.

Natural disasters: There was a fire in the original athletic building in late december 1989 that caused enough damage for it to be closed for six months. The damage totaled approximately $500,000, and athletic games were held at other local independent schools, the YMCA, and the JCC during the repairs. The Class of 1990’s graduation was held at university of Richmond because the gym was not yet useable. The School has also survived some smaller natural disasters. In 2003, the roof on one wall of the Lower School gave way under a large rainfall and caused a flood. The building was closed for two days to clean up the soggy mess. Last but not least, in 2002 a “porta potty” located near the Lower School carpool lane caught on fire just as students were being dismissed for the day.

In the mid-70s, Steward offered bus service to Collegiate, where kids would then board different buses to go home. Science teacher Mary Greenlee once took her students into the drainage area at the front of campus, formerly referred to as “Lake Coulombe,” to explore for science class, and a student got stuck.

30 31

In 1984, a car was brought onto the stage of the original auditorium for the play Grease. It is not known exactly where Steward obtained the mascot name of “Spartans.” In 1973, the School already had six organized sports so it needed to select a nickname. At the time, according to Paul Cramer’s book A Story of Success—A History of The Steward School, Steward was characterized by its austerity, frugality, simplicity, and courage. Perhaps that is why the name “Spartans” was chosen.

2004

SuMMeR 2007

SePTeMBeR 2008

AuGuST 2009

KeN SewARd was appointed headmaster.

LATIN eduCATIoN ANd AdVANCeMeNT PRoGRAM (LeAP) BeGAN and continued the school’s commitment to community outreach and serving public schools.

on september 11, the CRAMeR CeNTeR THeATRe wAS NAMed for longtime benefactor, lora M. robins, who made a lead gift of $1,000,000 to steward’s capital campaign. the administration building was named “wilton hall” for the e. carlton wilton family, the dining commons was expanded, and the new spartan logo was unveiled.

THe uPPeR SCHooL AddITIoN was completed.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

SePTeMBeR 2009 STewARd wAS NAMed THe ReCIPIeNT of A $500,000 GRANT from the Mary anderson harrison Foundation.

what’s in a name? Steward has had an english teacher named Mrs. deﬁne, a science teacher named Mrs. Greenlee, a librarian named Mrs. Booker, and a development director named Ms. dollar. Before the upper School renovation, there was a stairway to nowhere. It actually led to a maintenance area that was off-limits to students, but it appeared to stop in a dead end.

Several Steward students and alumni have competed in olympic and Junior olympic Trials: Lainey Ashker ’02 (equestrienne), Tyler Harris ’07 (swimming), and Blair Carnes ’13 (swimming).

In September 1990, one school day was spent in a simulation of apartheid, organized by student Samantha Aron ’92 ’92, who had heard of similar programs at uVA. for the day, 80% of the students and faculty were labeled as minorities and were not allowed to walk in certain areas or to use certain water fountains and bathrooms. The remaining 20% were the so-called “elite.” It proved to be an eye-opening experiment.

The varsity girls tennis team enjoyed a dynasty of dominance that lasted two decades. They were the Virginia Commonwealth Conference tournament champs from 1992-2011 every year except two, and the VCC regular season champs during the same time frame except for three years. After the 2011 season, the School left the VCC to pursue an independent schedule.

“Rent-a-Junior day” was an auction held by willing members of the junior class and some faculty and staff. To raise money for the Junior-Senior dinner (later known as Prom), they would auction themselves off to other students for a day as personal assistants. Their tasks included wearing embarrassing costumes, serving lunch, carrying books, singing upon request, and other creative jobs. In recent years, the auction was discontinued in favor of other fundraising ideas.

for many years, the adventure course was an exciting component of the Physical education program. during Pe, students would venture through the woods (where the second athletic ﬁeld is now) and compete in various obstacle challenges. one of the students’ favorites was the “Peanut Butter Pit,” a make-shift climbing facility consisting of two sets of logs with a pit in between. Crossing the pit was an exercise in teamwork because the entire group had to get across by a rope held by Ian Coddington and Janet Rice. Near the pit, there was also a solid wall (10-12 feet tall) that had to be scaled by the entire group and a high ropes course.

In the early 2000s, the Lower School building was closed for renovations one spring, and all of the classes met in partitioned areas in the Multi-Purpose Gym. when the kindergartners had “rest time,” everyone else had to engage in silent reading, take a test, or engage in another quiet activity.

The Motown Mecca Mamas made appearances at several special events. Led by Athletic director Janet Rice, the group included a variety of female faculty and staff dressed in Motownera costume and gave command performances of songs like “Ain’t No Mountain High enough” and “It’s Raining Men.” They have gone down in Steward history as the only faculty group to raise $3,000 in ﬁve minutes at an auction. A Lower School faculty group including former director debbie Hanger gave them a run for their money, however, at a subsequent auction!

deCeMBeR 2009

APRIL 2010

MAY 2010

fALL 2010

SPRING 2012

THe CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ReCeIVed A $1,000,000 GIfT from an anonymous donor to be used to establish a permanently endowed fund for need-based ﬁnancial aid.

THe SCHooL ANNouNCed A GeNeRouS GIfT fRoM THe BRYAN CHARITABLe TRuST. THIS MAJoR GIfT wouLd BuILd and endow a new, freestanding facility dedicated to exploring innovation and problem solving in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and resource management. the new building was to be named the Bryan innovation lab.

The SuCCeSSfuL CoMPLeTIoN of THe “BuILdING A LeGACY. oNe STewARd AT A TIMe” CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, which raised over $8.7 million, with 100% participation from the Board of trustees and faculty and staff. the annual Fund also grew to more than $400,000.

IMPRoVeMeNTS To THe TeNNIS CouRTS ANd BASeBALL fIeLd weRe CoMPLeTed, and the new facilities were ﬁrst used the following spring.

BRYAN INNoVATIoN LAB GRouNdBReAKING was held on March 26. in addition, the gray Pavilion (new concession stand) was opened.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

traditions

HoLIdAY CHoRAL TouR: during the holiday season in 1987, music teacher Bonnie Anderson took her upper School students to sing at Regency Square Mall. The next year, she added senior assisted-living facilities to the singing locations, and eventually expanded to include the fourth and ﬁfth grades as well. Currently, the Choral Tour is an all-day adventure, and Mrs. Anderson delivers holiday goodie bags to the elderly guests who enjoy Steward’s holiday wishes.

dANCeS: for many years, the main event of the year was known as “JuniorSenior,” and it was speciﬁcally a dinner (not a dance) and was held numerous places around Richmond including the Hyatt and the Annabel Lee. eventually, this event morphed into Prom, which still exists today and is paid for by the junior class. Middle School usually holds two dances a year, one during the holidays and one toward the end of the school year—both are held in the dining Commons. Through the years, other dances have included Valentine’s day, Homecoming, Sock Hops, and a Senior Sayonara toga party. 3.

THANKSGIVING ASSeMBLY: The day prior to Thanksgiving break, the entire School gathers for an assembly to express gratitude. Representatives from all areas of school life are included in the program, and one of the annual highlights is a kindergarten student who dresses as “Timothy Turkey” and is serenaded by students. The ﬁrst Thanksgiving Assembly took place in 1985, and welly Sanders ’98 played Timothy.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

wILdeRNeSS AdVeNTuRe: Led by history teacher Chip Chapman, this week-long adventure is a favorite tradition for the eighth-grade class. They spend a week near Roanoke, Virginia, bonding together during activities that include caving, canoeing, rappelling, and mountain biking. The week used to take place during March as part of Alternate Program, but it was recently moved to october to ensure warmer weather. PuBLIC SPeAKING/SeNIoR SPeeCHeS: Teaching this course was Headmaster Paul Cramer’s “pet” project, according to Shahwar Qureshi ’90 who was one of the many students to study under Mr. Cramer. He would have the students work on all types of public speaking including extemporaneous, poems, songs, reading from a book, and memorizing passages. The course used to be aimed at juniors, but in the last decade or so, it became part of the senior year curriculum. Now taught by Craig Smith, Public Speaking is a required semester-long course culminating in a final speech at the end of the term. It focuses on constructive critiques of how to improve the content and delivery of speeches, followed by redelivery incorporating the suggested changes. RIVeRSToN “SISTeR” SCHooL: for almost a decade, Steward had a sister school in London named the Riverston School. for the week of Alternate Program followed by spring break, students could travel to europe under the guidance of Catesby Jones (then dean of Students of the entire school) and a female faculty chaperone such as Rugene Paulette or Carolyn Brandt. The first trip took place in March 1996 with eight students, and after a few days of home-stays with Riverston families, the group toured the sights of europe. Some of the highlights of these trips included a private tour of Parliament, a visit to the top of Big Ben, “ghosts” in an edinburgh castle, a scavenger hunt in Normandy, and tours of Vienna, Paris, Venice, and other cities. In alternating years, Riverston sent a group to Richmond to visit Steward and see some American sights. After five trips abroad, the final Riverston journey to London took place in 2004, and other international trips have since filled the travel gap for Steward students. Mr. Jones has remained friends with the principal of Riverston and plans to see him during a golf trip to europe this coming summer.

LoweR SCHooL JAMBoRee: This fun night for Lower School families is held each January during a varsity boys basketball home game. The week prior to the game, the LS classes “adopt” varsity players for whom they make signs and cheer on during the game. Teachers plan a halftime extravaganza, which has included a foul shot competition, a mock fashion show, and mini-games for each grade level. Many faces in the crowd are painted blue and gold, and it’s a very noisy night! 8.

MLK dAY of SeRVICe: Steward art teacher Lynn Zinder started this initiative in 2010 as a part of her work on the School’s diversity Committee. Instead of taking a holiday, students and faculty spend the day participating in service projects that benefit local schools in poverty-stricken areas. Some of the work is done on-site by upper School students, while the Lower and Middle Schoolers work at Steward on art-oriented contributions, which are given to the chosen charity. Students from one of the recipient schools have even come to Steward to help with the projects, and the day culminates in a basketball game! In the four years of the program’s existence, our students have helped five schools: Highland Springs, Chimborazo, woodville, and fairfield (all elementary schools), and Anna Julia Cooper episcopal School.

HoLIdAY PRoGRAM: A holiday program of some sort has existed since 1972, but for many years it was more traditional and pageant-like. Starting in 1985, the entire School was included in a more formal program complete with a play and singing by every grade. Currently, it is a Lower School program designed to entertain friends and family by spreading cheer from the Cramer Center stage. Bonnie Anderson directs the play with a cast of ﬁfth graders, and every Lower School child appears on stage in full costume. Mrs. Anderson always makes sure the play has a positive theme of peace—it’s a wonderful way to get in the holiday spirit!

GRANdPAReNTS & SPeCIAL fRIeNdS dAYS: Steward students are proud to show off their School to their grandparents and special friends. each october in Middle and upper School and each May in Lower School, we welcome these visitors to campus for a half-day of immersion in Steward life. In october, the grandparents enjoy a luncheon, musical presentation, and even classroom visits, and in May they are treated to a Bonnie Anderson-directed musical extravaganza in which all children are on stage. The ﬁrst Steward Grandparents day was in 1979.

TALeNT NIGHT: every year, the Talent Night acts include enough dancing, singing, comedy, musical instruments, gymnastics, martial arts demonstrations, original skits, and hilarious cross-dressing to ﬁll two shows. In Steward’s smaller days, the event was on one night for K-12, but in 2003, it was divided into two separate events—Bonnie Anderson directs Stunt-Talent Night for Lower School, and instrumental music teacher John McAlister directs Middle and upper School Talent Night. Both events are emceed by students—fourth graders in Lower School and theatre students in Middle and upper School. There have been some show-stopping acts! In the 1980s and 90s, the “Miss Steward” beauty contest featuring upper School boys was a regular part of Talent Night. It was complete with evening wear and interview components, and the winner was actually crowned at the end of the night. In Middle and upper School, “The James dooley experience” was the grand ﬁnale from 2006–2009. James dooley ’09 closed each show with an act that combined singing, a live band, dance, and songs such as the Blues Brothers’ “Rawhide” or James Brown’s “I feel Good.” In Lower School, one of the most memorable “surprise” acts in recent years was the faculty group who dressed as elderly women and danced to Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies” . . . seeing fourth-grade teacher Chris Tickle in a dress doing a cartwheel was a oncein-a-lifetime experience!

fAMILY SCIeNCe NIGHT: for many years, this fun night has been organized by upper School science teacher Leslie Kovach as a way to utilize academic concepts to connect Steward families. upper School students conduct simple, interactive experiments such as Singing Straws, disco Raisins, Slimy Solutions, and Awesome explosions for Lower Schoolers and their parents. one year even included a forensic experiment in which students were given a mystery to solve by conducting various experiments. The event was introduced in 2006, and for the ﬁrst time, the 2013 Science Night will be held in the Bryan Lab under the direction of Bryan Lab Program director Chris Lundberg. Crossroads

Spring 2013

MINIMeSTeR: In the upper School, the week prior to spring break is known as “Minimester” because it is a break from the usual classroom work. Ninth graders participate in community service and college campus visits; tenth and eleventh graders serve in one-week local internships or particpate in School-sponsored foreign travel; and twelfth graders complete and present their senior projects. Minimester existed as Alternate Program with the Middle School for many years until it was decided that the two should be considered separate experiences for the two divisions.

ALTeRNATe PRoGRAM: This unique program for Middle School students is an introduction to the world outside Steward during the week before spring break. Sixth graders take part in a theme week, covering topics from the James River and Richmond businesses to arts around Richmond and notable local “Ghosts, Ghouls, and Graveyards.” Seventh and eighth graders participate in community service projects with students going to local schools or rehabilitative residences like The Virginia Home. The ﬁrst Alternate Program took place in 1977, and it was held for two weeks for many years. during that era, some of the time was spent on campus in “alternate” classes such as make-up, candymaking, and model-building, and the experience often included adventuresome trips to places like New York City and Mexico.

HoNoR Code: The Honor Code has been in effect since 1992. All students sign the Honor Code to afﬁrm that they will live by its guiding principles. To ensure that the honor concept was important to all students prior to Middle School, the Lower School wrote its own Honor Code in 2000, and it is still used today. As a reinforcement of the Honor Code, a short-lived Prefect program was put in place in the late 1990s, in which several juniors and seniors were elected to act as school leaders. Their primary responsibilities were to foster leadership, perpetuate the Honor Code and Code of Responsibility, to act as peer support and counsel for others, and to uphold the standards of personal integrity and mature judgment.

00 14

Crossroads Crossroads

Fall/Winter Spring 2013 2011

HoNoR SYMPoSIuM: This unique program rotated between the Middle and upper Schools from 1995 to 2003. originally coordinated by english teachers Louise Robertson and Brenda Turner, and later donna Jackson, it was a year-long symposium for select students. Their themes included “Heroes,” “Great Trials in History,” and “death, Myth, and Reality.” It was a graded, self-guided course complete with interesting guest speakers, sophisticated reading assignments, and several days off-campus at places like the Henrico County jail and the university of Richmond’s School of Law for a mock trial. Because the symposium became increasingly difﬁcult to schedule and the upper School began offering more elective courses, it has become part of Steward history.

eXTRACuRRICuLAR CoMPeTITIoNS: whether it’s destination Imagination (dI), Minds in Motion, or Model uN, Steward students have always participated in local, regional, national, and international programs. Though it is not a competition, Minds in Motion, run by the Richmond Ballet for fourth graders, is a terriﬁc eye-opener to both unique historical or social topics and to working with children from other schools. Model uN and Model Judiciary were open to upper School students and allowed them to experience international relations and legal proceedings on a smaller scale as well as to participate in large conferences. In the late 1990s, there was an Academic Competition Team in the upper School that participated in PBS’s “Battle of the Brains” and the Governor’s School Regional Competition. Currently, Steward has teams involved in fIRST Robotics, dI, Lego Robotics, and more.

18.

BACCALAuReATe ANd SeNIoR PRoGRAM: This signature event adds the personality to the graduation festivities for seniors. It is a very personalized program ﬁlled with readings, music, an address by upper School director dan frank, and—the most special part—a senior video with individualized faculty reﬂections for every student, which are kept secret until the ceremony. Baccalaureate takes place on the Sunday afternoon preceding the next evening’s graduation ceremony.

19.

fALL eVeNT: oktoberfest was Steward’s original fall festival, complete with carnival games, a bake sale, a cake walk, and giant vats of Brunswick stew. It was the School’s major fundraiser in the early years. for a long time, the hallmark of the festival was a parade that wound its way through the carpool lane and included a grand marshal, decorated cars, and a walking act known as the “Lawn Chair Corps.” Currently, Spartafest is a highlight for everyone including a bazaar full of unique vendors, an outdoor festival of games, a hay bale maze, and even dogs eligible for adoption. Simultaneously, there are athletic games and a Homecoming Court presentation.

ALuMNI eVeNTS: In addition to reunions, Steward’s Alumni Association has worked to build a sense of extended loyalty to the School. Annual events include a plant sale at Spartafest, the Great Tailgate, an alumni vs. varsity soccer game every August, and special holiday parties. To raise funds for the Alumni Scholarship and Senior Breakfast, the association also holds concerts such as Samson Trinh & The upper east Side Big Band. fIeLd dAY: every spring, the Steward ﬁelds are ﬁlled with not only athletic rivals from visiting schools, but also with friendly competition among our own student body. field day is a grand tradition for every division of the school with events such as the three-legged race and cup-stacking.

CoNVoCATIoN: As the opening ceremony of each school year, Convocation speaks to the heart of the Steward mission. watching JK and kindergarten students walk hand-inhand with seniors as they enter the Multi-Purpose Gym is a moving experience and forges a unique bond between two otherwise unconnected people. Convocation was introduced at Steward in 1998 and has included guest speakers ranging from presidents of the university of Richmond (e. Bruce Heilman and edward Ayers) to Steward alumni such as 2012 speaker Susan Cramer Twining ’84.

SuMMeR PRoGRAMS: The ﬁrst Steward School Summer Camp was held in 1984, directed by Lower School teachers Herb Lord and Helen walker. Though a small endeavor, it exposed Steward to a broader range of people. In recent years, the Summer experience has been under the leadership of Robin williamson and Kourtney Boughey ’03. It now offers more than 50 academic, enrichment, and sports camps to approximately 200 kids each summer. Some of the new additions for 2013 include gardening and cooking camps in the Bryan Lab and a Lego camp called Bricks 4 Kidz, started by Robin Brown Kocen ’85. Another unique program, LeAP (Latino education and Advancement Program), has been offered at Steward for four weeks each summer to rising eighth-grade through rising high school senior Latino students in the Richmond area since 2007.

wHIRLed PeACe dAY: Inspired by Pinwheels for Peace, a similar program in florida begun in 2005, Steward art teachers Cindy Grissom, Rugene Paulette, and Lynn Zinder introduced this initiative the following year. whirled Peace day has become synonymous with collecting pennies and creating artistic pinwheels at the start of each school year. every September, the student body gathers on the campus’s front lawn for a ceremony to recognize the chosen charity for the year and to let their pinwheels spin in the wind. Younger students contribute collected pennies from home, and older students donate a small amount of money for a “jeans day.” In its seven years, the day’s charitable focus has included the Lost Boys of the Sudan, the James River Association, and most recently Chimborazo elementary School’s music program. TRAdITIoNS BY GRAde: JK: fourth-grade Buddies, farm Animals Visit, Kitchen Chemistry experiments; Kindergarten: Around the world booklets, Chinese New Year; 1st: Nature walk, Math Game day; 2nd: Sport/Hobby Report, friday fun; 3rd: expert Project, Invention Convention; 4th: Mini-economy, Colonial day; 5th: State Report, Shakespeare study; 6th: Grammar Mastery Test, Alternate Program week exploring Richmond; 7th: Petersburg Civil war ﬁeld trip, community service during Alternate Program; 8th: eighthgrade roast, wilderness Adventure; 9th: freshman orientation; 10th: Sophomore Seminar; 11th: American Studies paper; 12th: Public Speaking, economics, Senior Project

Crossroads Crossroads Fall/Winter Spring 2013 2011

15 00

LoweR SCHooL SPeCIAL dAYS: These fun days are part of what makes the Lower School extra special! on International day, the foreign language teachers introduce customs from other cultures to the students. The Halloween Carnival celebrates the festive holiday with games, facepainting, and non-spooky fun. on Pet day, fourth graders bring their pets to school (in cages) for the morning and introduce them to younger students. on Beach day, held on the ﬁnal full-day of school in May, there is a giant party on the playground complete with a Moonwalk, dJ, games, and a picnic lunch. other fun days in Lower School have included a dr. Seuss Parade, dress-As-Your-favorite-Book-Character day, and Career day.

THeATRICAL PRoduCTIoNS: Steward has a long history of supporting theatrical productions before and since the Cramer Center has been on campus. The Lower School grade-level plays have a rich history dating back to the 1970s and are a great introduction to theatre. Those held in the Blackbox since 2002 have provided an intimate performance experience for the actors and audiences. Middle and upper School students have their pick of three mainstage productions each year for acting, set design and construction, and technical/behind-the-scenes responsibilities. Recent shows have included Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Andrew Lloyd webber musical that included actors from all divisions and faculty, and Just Another High School Play, a hilarious take-off on the high school years with a ﬁnale that included all 32 actors dressed as Little orphan Annie. each winter, the “one-acts” give theatre students a unique opportunity to perform for their peers, and theatre students often have the chance to write and direct their own short plays. In total, 96 major Steward productions have been held on campus since 1977.

HeAdMASTeR’S HoLIdAY: Leading up to graduation, there are several events for the senior class, and one that has become a recent tradition is the annual trip known as “Headmaster’s Holiday,” which began in 2005. The day starts with the Senior Breakfast sponsored by the Alumni Association. Then, the adventure begins when the class takes part in a rafting trip on the James River, followed by lunch on Belle Isle.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

ATHLeTIC AwARdS CeReMoNY: This annual event honors studentathletes in the upper School at the end of each year. Awards, including Most Improved and Most Valuable Player, are given, and parents are encouraged to attend. Middle School athletes are honored during a separate daytime ceremony.

VISuAL ARTS BANQueT: All Middle and upper School visual arts students are included in this endof-year event to recognize their creative contributions. Teachers Cindy Grissom, Rugene Paulette, John Alley, and Amanda Anthony come up with a theme each year and the students are “required” to dress appropriately! The night is festive with dinner, a dJ and dancing, and both serious and silly awards (the “bent nail award” given for awkward classroom happenings), but the purpose is noble in celebrating outstanding talent. At the end of the evening, “The fine Arts Award” is given to the student who demonstrates talent in three of the four disciplines and is a very high honor.

INTeRNATIoNAL STudeNTS: Though Steward hosted international students sporadically during its ﬁrst few decades, an organized international program was not set up until the School received a grant from the Robins foundation in 1999. Since then, the School has hosted students from almost every continent on the globe. Currently, there are 14 international students in the upper School, plus several in the other divisions. In addition, Steward hosts short-term guests from China each year, and there are plans to send our students there during Minimester 2014.

CLuBS: Just a sampling of the clubs offered at Steward in the last 40 years— Canoe Club, outdoor Club, S.o.d.A. (Student organization for developing Attitudes), Chess Club, Photography Club, S.A.d.d. (Students Against destructive decisions), Interact (specializing in community service projects), football watching Club, Peace out Club, and Pinterest Club.

ART wALK: This one-day, school-wide art show is a culmination of the work done by every visual arts student at Steward. In its ﬁrst three years, the themes have varied from “Verde” (all work consisted of recycled materials) to “water” (an under-the-sea vision) and this year’s theme, “Harmony” (celebrating music). There are displays set up in various areas throughout campus, and John McAlister’s band plays outdoors while students and parents enjoy the scenery.

BeAdLe PRoGRAM: As part of the School’s community service requirement, each upper School student must spend at least one day during the year serving as a volunteer, aka “beadle,” in the front ofﬁce. Students may be asked to ﬁle papers, run errands, stuff envelopes, or other similar work. A “beadle” was a clerk in the service of the court during medieval times.

SeNIoR NIGHT: Before a varsity boys home basketball game each winter, this special event recognizes every senior who has played for a Steward team at any point during his or her high school years. Students are given plaques commemorating their athletic contributions, and parents are given key chains to recognize the family’s dedication to Steward athletics.

fAMILY fuN NIGHT: In the early days when few buildings existed on campus, each school year began with family fun Night, a potluck dinner served in the original auditorium (now the Middle School dining Commons). over the years, the event grew and moved to the Athletic Center gym, where it was called the Spaghetti dinner and became ofﬁcially sponsored by the Parents Association. once the event outgrew the gym, it was moved outdoors and is now called the Back-to-School Social. Spaghetti is no longer served, but it is a great dinner nonetheless and involves lots of running on the athletic ﬁelds by the kids who are happy to be back at School.

INVITATIoNAL TouRNAMeNTS: every season, Steward hosts athletic tournaments during which multiple sports teams compete on the same day. The fall tournament includes ﬁeld hockey, volleyball, and boys soccer; basketball is in the winter; and boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, and baseball are in the spring.

SPIRIT weeK: It doesn’t get any better than being able to wear pajamas to school or to dress as a superhero! every october, the week leading up to Spartafest is Spirit week, and there’s no telling what you will see. Students and faculty get in the mood on days like wacky Tacky day, Crazy Hat day, and especially Blue and Gold day.

ANNuAL GoLf CLASSIC: This event was ﬁrst held in 2003 and is the Spartan Club’s biggest annual fundraiser, netting $20,000 last year. It has been held at four different golf courses in the Richmond area. In 2012, this event was re-named the Ray Tate Spartan Golf Classic in memory of the man who was an inspiration to many Steward teams.

ouTSTANdING fACuLTY ANd STAff: our list would be incomplete without some of the people who have made the years at Steward special. we can’t list them all, but here are the employees who have celebrated more than half of Steward’s birthdays with us (i.e. they have worked at Steward for 20 years or more): Bonnie Anderson, Carolyn Brandt, Ian Coddington, Linda dunville, Beverley fox, estelle Grossman, Catesby Jones, Leslie Kovach, Margaret Maclin, Rugene Paulette, Janet Rice, Robin Ricketts, Louise Robertson, Melanie Rodriguez, and Jane whitely, with Shahwar Qureshi ’90 and Lynn Zinder almost to the two decade mark. In addition, we are fortunate to have six alumnae as full-time Steward faculty or staff members (Shahwar Qureshi ’90, Monica Kallman Moehring ’95, Corbin Adamson orgain ’96, Kourtney Boughey ’03, Sarah Newcomb ’05, and Meg white ’05), and three former faculty members who became trustees (debbie Hanger, don Steeber, and Neil Turnage).

1700

Crossroads Crossroads Fall/Winter Spring 20132011

other things

first hand-held scientiﬁc

dIGITAL wATCHeS

was introduced

“AMeRICAN PIe”

CALCuLAToR

#1 on the charts

Start of wATeRGATe scandal with arrest at democratic Headquarters

introduced

debut of THE

GODFATHER

and DELIVERANCE movies and

Cost of a GALLoN of GAS: 55 cents

THE FRENCH CONNECTION won the Academy Award for Best Picture

Median household INCoMe: $9,697

Nixon’s 8-day

VISIT To CHINA

1972

CoST of A STAMP: 8 cents

HBo

launched in uS as the ﬁrst subscription cable service

dallas beat Miami in

SuPeR BowL

ATARI kicked off ﬁrst generation of video games with “Pong”

fAMouS fACeS

fedeRAL deBT:

1972 oLYMPICS

in Munich—terrorist attack and 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by an Arab gunman

$435.9 billion

Crossroads

J. edGAR HooVeR and HARRY S. TRuMAN died

Spring 2013

CoMPACT dISC was

developed by RCA

eminem, Mia Hamm, Shaquille o’Neal, Ben Afﬂeck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Soﬁa Vergara were all born in 1972.

APoLLo XVII, the last

manned moonlanding mission to date, returned to earth

Letter from the Headmaster

ur school’s 40th birthday provides the occasion for reflection and projection. Who were we? Who are we? Who will we become? For a person, 40 is often a time for black over-the-hill balloons, life at the mid-way point, and retirement and old-age jokes ahead. For a school community, there is no peak, descent, or end. Schools need to be forever, multi-generational places of permanence. Our obligation is to maintain and sustain those enduring, timeless, universal characteristics of who we were, are, and will always be, while discovering, developing, and celebrating what will only exist for a short time and making it even more special. It is the recognition of these unique moments that makes Steward’s 40th birthday—and future birthdays—worth celebrating.

Ken Seward Headmaster

Crossroads

Spring 2013

campusculture

Now Open for Innovation April 19, 2013

Crossroads

Spring 2013

A Real-World Problem Solver The Steward School hosted Intelliject co-founder evan edwards on February 25. Mr. Edwards spoke with students and to faculty, staff, and trustees as part of the E. E. Ford Visiting Scholars Program and in conjunction with events leading to the opening of the Bryan Innovation Lab. Edwards and Intelliject have recently been featured in the national news for developing the Auvi-Q, a smaller, user-friendly way of delivering epinephrine. Edwards’s example in developing a groundbreaking device to solve a particular

Evan graduated from UVA with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Systems Engineering, and Eric graduated from VCU with a B.S. in Biology and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Upon graduation, they began working with a team of world-class scientists and engineers to design a user-centric, credit card-shaped drug delivery system from which epinephrine could be administered to serious allergy sufferers. The card shape allows for more safety by removing any exposed sharpness. In addition, the

Mr. Edwards addressed students and faculty about the importance of creative problem-solving when facing real-world problems. need in his own life is exactly the type of innovation that the School encourages in its students. “Innovation like Edwards’ requires two things,” said Headmaster Ken Seward. “It requires creativity, certainly, but it also requires productivity. At The Steward School, our goal is to provide the resources—both in terms of faculty and physical space—that help students be productive and turn their creative ideas into real-world solutions to problems.” Chesterfield County natives, Edwards and his twin brother, Eric, sought to create a smaller device for delivering epinephrine to suit their active lifestyles.

device provides audio and visual cues that direct patients through the injection process. Edwards’ diligence paid off with the completion of the FDA-approved Intelliject Auvi-Q earlier this year. Intelliject’s one-of-a-kind creation is an enormous step forward for the safety and convenience of severe allergy sufferers and an innovative, revolutionary piece of portable medicinal technology and engineering. Mr. Edwards addressed students and faculty about the importance of creative problem-solving when facing real-world challenges. Students and faculty alike responded enthusiastically to Mr. Edwards’ speech, which included beat-boxing and a student skit demonstrating the need for the Auvi-Q. “I thought that Mr. Edwards did a superior job of engaging both student and adult audiences while presenting his unique message about human-driven

factors for engineering a new product. It was interesting to see how he combined two totally different areas—his ‘on stage’ performance skills with his engineering knowledge—to deliver a highly effective and interactive presentation,” said Bryan Lab Program Director Chris Lundberg. Students were equally impressed by Mr. Edwards’ ability to connect with them. Fifth-grader James Cox said, “I liked how he talked about Minecraft and how to use innovation like that in the real world.” Bringing role models such as Evan Edwards to campus is just one small part of the pioneering curriculum and programming of the Bryan Lab.

Evan Edwards’ company, Intelliject, has recently been featured in the national news for developing the Auvi-Q.

Scan QR code with your smartphone to view a six-minute clip of Evan Edwards’ talk. Crossroads

Spring 2013

campusculture

Crossroads

Spring 2013

A Grand Opening Despite gusty winds and a threatening forecast, the Steward community came together on Friday, April 19 to celebrate the opening of the Bryan Innovation Lab. The bad weather held off long enough for over four hundred people to experience the lab for the first time and to enjoy a variety of different activities taking place in and around the building. Individuals from every facet of the School put in endless amounts of hard work to make sure the opening of the new building was a special one, and their diligence made the event a success. Many Steward students contributed to the event by showcasing various projects and experiments they have worked on throughout the year. These live demonstrations highlighted the type of critical thinking, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurship people can expect to see year-round in the Bryan Lab. The displays throughout the building covered all areas of the Bryan Lab curriculum: Energy and Resources, the Natural and Built Environment, and Health and Wellness. These activities and demonstrations included robotics demos, amulet creations, water specimen collecting, Imagination Playground blocks, computer programming, paper making, a hovercraft demo, and of course, the inaugural usage of the lab’s brick pizza oven. Headmaster Ken Seward was given the very first pizza slice!

capabilities. “The whole idea was for folks to understand how the lab will be used and to put a ‘face’ on the building. We wanted them to see what it will look like when students are engaged, and we far exceeded that.”

“The whole idea was for folks to understand how the lab will be used and to put a ‘face’ on the building. We wanted them to see what it will look like when students are engaged, and we far exceeded that.”

From the innovative demonstrations to the healthy and delicious food courtesy of Meriwether Godsey and future InnovatorIn-Residence Tammy Brawley to the live music provided by the Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, activities had all guests smiling. The grand opening heightened the sense of excitement surrounding the building and new educational opportunities that come with it and showed the community a glimpse of the creative and productive environment that the Bryan Innovation Lab will provide for our students.

–CHRIS LUNDBERG

Upper School science teacher and Bryan Lab Program Director Chris Lundberg engineered the planning and execution of the successful event, but he allotted the success of the afternoon to the entire community. Lundberg said, “It was a total team effort, everyone pitched in. We had everyone participating from parents, teachers, staff, to students. It exceeded my expectations.” He went on to relay that his vision for the event was to have a live representation of all of the building’s Crossroads

Spring 2013

campusculture

Nature writer Richard Louv talks to parents and teachers at Bryan Innovation Lab By Rachel Beanland Louv has emerged as one of the leaders of the “No Child Left Inside” movement. Public schools are cutting recess and eliminating field trips, and Louv says parents need to do more to advocate for an education based in nature—one that teaches students mindfulness and a reliance on all their senses. He points to literature about nature’s positive effects on mental and physical health, relationships, and cognitive learning. Students with symptoms of ADHD, for instance, fare much better when nature is introduced into their daily routine.

Nature journalist and author Richard Louv joined Steward School parents, teachers, and administrators Thursday, April 18 for a breakfast discussion about the newly opened Bryan Innovation Lab and his quest to get America’s children outdoors. Afterward, he led an environmental studies class. The author of eight books, including the lauded Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deﬁcit Disorder, Louv advocates for teachers and parents to reintroduce nature into children’s lives. “In natural spaces, children are far more likely to invent their own games,” said Louv. “The more high tech we become, the more nature we need.” Louv toured the Bryan Innovation Lab and remarked on what The Steward School is getting right—creating a hybrid space that both embraces the newest technology and, at the same time, pushes children out of doors. “Steward is achieving a balance here. Nature comes in and the kids go out,” said Louv.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

The 6,200 square-foot Bryan Lab was made possible by a gift from the John Bryan III family and is designed to

“Steward is achieveing a balance here. Nature comes in and the kids go out.” –RICHARD LOUV

facilitate learning about health and wellness, energy and resources, and the natural environment. But Headmaster Ken Seward and teachers dreamed of a space where students could not only interact directly with their environment but also question everything in it. “What the world needs is intellectual capital,” said Seward. “When the world faces a real problem, the first thing you need to do is identify the problem. Then you’ve got to figure out how to solve it. You have to figure out whom you’ll need on your team, which technology and raw

materials you’ll need, whether you can afford those materials, and how you’ll communicate what you’ve learned to others. We want to recreate that entire process in the Bryan Innovation Lab.” Two things are required if students are to learn to be innovators—the freedom to be creative and the drive to be productive. To foster creativity, the Bryan Labprovides limitless resources with zero boundaries. Walls move, windows double as whiteboards, there’s no clear distinction between indoor and outdoor space, and the building’s systems are designed to be controlled by the tiniest of hands. To foster productivity, Steward teachers have developed a project-based curriculum that utilizes the building’s resources as well as those found in the natural environment and integrates with what students are already learning at each grade level. Bryan Lab lessons always begin with a real world question. What makes an electric car work? How do I build a water filtration system? What are the effects of using natural fertilizers? Everything they need to answer these questions is at their fingertips. Louv left parents with a parting thought: “We need children who have hybrid minds. They need to understand technology, yes, but they also need to understand where they are.” The Steward School’s goal with the Bryan Innovation Lab is to deliver both those outcomes beautifully.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

campusculture

A Groovy Time at the Disco Ball More than 270 guests had a groovy time at the Winter Gala, celebrating Stewardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 40th anniversary with a disco theme. The event was held on February 2 at the Country Club of Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s James River Clubhouse. Co-chairs Ann Slyh and Clay Reynolds and their hardworking committee produced a festive evening that will not soon be forgotten! The silent and live auction items sold well, and there were even a few bidding wars. As the evening progressed, guests dined on excellent fare, socialized with friends, and danced the night away to the sounds of Klaxton Brown. The proceeds of over $40,000 from the auction will fund Parents Association programming and community events.

Scan QR code with your smartphone to view more pictures.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Many sponsors contributed to the success of the evening including BB&T, Cabin Creek Interiors, The Christensen Family, Cirrus Vodka, Commonwealth Event Company, Dr. Baxter Perkinson & Associates, Emroch & Kilduff, McGeorge Toyota, Marchetti Properties, Mercedes-Benz of Midlothian, Moslow Wood Products, Reynolds Development, Total Printing, Virginia Business, and Yard Works. Thanks to these sponsors for their support! Under the leadership of Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Slyh, the groovy Gala committee consisted of daphne Burress, Sally Caldwell, Jenny Christensen, Melanie Goodpasture (PA President), Rhonda Leavitt, Liz Leitch, ellen Mcdonald, Kristen Moslow, Corbin orgain, wendy Popp, dami Snyder, Jennifer wilkerson, and Carrie Zehfuss.

Field of Excellence Pioneer® Athletics, the nation’s leading manufacturer of athletic field marking paint and equipment, has selected The Steward School as a recipient of the 2012 Fields of Excellence® Award. As a winner, The School will receive a certificate of recognition and a Fields of Excellence banner to display on the field. Pioneer may also use a picture of the winning field in upcoming publications and its annual calendar. Pioneer understands that excellence in athletic field maintenance goes unrecognized and, often, unappreciated. The Fields of Excellence Award Program honors outstanding athletic fields and the hardworking field crews who diligently maintain them. The Fields of Excellence Award Program was established in 1997 and has honored more than 605 athletic fields around the country since its creation. Colleges, universities, high schools, and parks and recreation departments from all over the United States submitted photographs, letters of recommendation, and application forms describing their institution’s detailed athletic field maintenance programs. A rigorous judging process yielded 73 winners from a pool of 270 applicants, with two athletic fields selected as Scholarship Winners. Congratulations to Athletic Fields and Turf Manager Mark Roberts for this recognition of his hard work!

Lessons Learned. Stories Told. On February 11, Steward opened its doors to the community for an evening with Richard and Kathy Verlander, the parents of Detroit Tiger, 2011 American League MVP, and Cy Young Award Winner Justin

Verlander and Old Dominion University scholar athlete Ben Verlander. Mr. and Mrs. Verlander discussed what it was like to cultivate the talents and passions of young athletes and the overall

challenges of parenting. Sponsorship for this event was the result of a partnership among Steward’s Spartan Club, Parents Association, and Alumni Association.

Bingo! on February 22, the Parents association brought back Family Bingo night! almost 400 attended this event for all ages, complete with pizza dinner, great rafﬂe prizes, lots of Bingo (of course), and even a standing-room-only rendition of “YMca!” Fourth-grade teacher Chris Tickle served as the caller, and he kept things moving along with good humor. special thanks to Ashley Quai and Carrie McAllister for co-chairing the committee and for such an entertaining evening.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

campusculture

Painting It Forward By Kristina Kerns “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is usually a day that students get to take off school to relax, catch up on homework, sleep, or watch those TV shows they missed during the week. At Steward, instead of taking this important day off, we make good use of it by doing community service in Richmond,” said junior Hailey-Marie Ragan. “Dr. King was an amazing person and activist. I feel he would want his special day to be spent helping others instead of watching ‘Duck Dynasty’ all day or Pitch Perfect for the hundredth time.” While many schools enjoyed a vacation day in celebration of MLK Day, The Steward School was hard at work—not in the classrooms, but in the community. The school-wide projects of a “day on and not a day off” have become a valued tradition in the last few years. For this year’s MLK Day of Service, Steward students focused their efforts on

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Chimborazo Elementary School in Church Hill. Chimborazo is a Title I, inner-city school with a population of primarily economically challenged families in the East End of Richmond. The school’s music program was also the recipient of our Whirled Peace Day collection in the fall. The day began with a morning assembly in the Lora M. Robins Theatre. The assembly speaker was Larry Palmer, an accomplished African-American scholar who was present on the Washington Mall for Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Mr. Palmer shared with the students his thoughts on Dr. King, his dream, and how we can help keep the dream alive. Mr. Palmer said his accomplishments in life were due in part to a special teacher who believed in him, and he encouraged students to fulfill the dream, to believe in themselves, and to “learn service by doing.”

Grades 11 and 12 departed early on the morning of January 21 to revamp Chimborazo’s campus. An art room makeover, classroom painting, grounds cleaning, lobby makeover, and cafeteria improvements were all completed by the eleventh- and twelfth-grade students and Upper School faculty, alumni, and administration. “Instead of spending my day at home, I am using it to better the lives of others within my community. It really means a lot because we are taking time out of our day to help,” said senior Peter Thomas. Back on campus, Grades 6-8 hosted the students from Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School (AJCES) for special programming. Students from AJCES benefited from the service day last year and were excited to help the community this year. With Steward Middle Schoolers, they were divided by grade level to participate in a variety of educational activities that were devoted

to the importance of Dr. King’s legacy. The Middle School ended the day with a friendly boys basketball game against AJCES. Throughout the day, art students in the Middle and Upper Schools and some of the students from AJCES were busy painting it forward. Many of them spent the day painting ceiling tiles that were placed in the hallway outside the library at Chimborazo. Some of the tiles were decorated with unique designs, while others had children’s literature characters like Arthur, the Cat in the Hat, and the Lorax painted on them. Other students worked on a musical banner that was to be hung in Chimborazo’s music classroom. A small group of Upper School students worked collaboratively to draw and paint Chimborazo’s logo on large boards. The logos were eventually placed in the lobby and main office at the school. The final group of art students worked on “college t-shirts” that later replaced the pennants on the walls in the main hallway at Chimborazo. Prior to MLK Day, Steward photography students took pictures of various sites around Richmond to add a special touch to the walls of the school’s office, resource room, and teachers’ lounge. The Lower School worked with ninth- and tenth-grade students to make soda can flower pots, which were used to decorate Chimborazo’s cafeteria. They also formed

pen pal relationships with the students from Chimborazo. Throughout the day, Lower School students participated in various educational activities to help them learn about community service, social justice, and Dr. King’s legacy. The students learned about him through a rap, created historical puzzles, performed educational theatre scripts, asked questions to their Upper School helpers, ventured on a scavenger hunt, and even watched President Obama’s inauguration. “I liked the scavenger hunt best because we got to stay outside longer,” said fifthgrader Matthew Cantor. When asked what the final solution to the scavenger hunt mystery “Never Stop Dreaming” meant to him, he said, “I think it means that even if you have a crazy dream, you need to keep trying for it. And, if you don’t make it, just don’t stop trying, like Thomas Jefferson.” Aside from the work with Chimborazo, a group of twelfth-grade students went to the Coal Pit Preschool to help with arts, crafts, and field day activities as part of Mary Leigh white’s senior project. The Coal Pit Learning Center is a not-for-profit school dedicated to building a nurturing and engaging learning environment for students from low-income families. They provide developmental preschool classes, as well as excellent after-school programs for kindergartners and primary students.

within the Richmond community.

The Steward seniors spent the day swinging, playing with hula hoops, face painting, decorating cookies, playing musical chairs, reading stories, and laughing and smiling. As each student participated in civic engagement on this day of service, the community grew collectively in its commitment to the ethic of care. After a successful day, Upper School history teacher James Stancil said it best: “The feeling that you get inside helping others can’t be matched. There is no price or amount you can place on it. Those who do not believe in serving their communities do not know what they are missing. To give and help others is to receive something in return that is greater than you will ever know.”

Scan QR code with your smartphone to view our MLK Day blog.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

finearts

Basketball Pep Band performs at the University of Richmond on saturday, January 19, the steward school spartan Basketball Pep Band performed with the university of richmond spider Pep Band for the unc charlotte game at the robins center. the spartans joined the spiders for the ur Fight song called “spider Born” and gary glitter’s “the hey song,” and the spiders joined the spartans for Psy’s “gangnam style” and white stripes’s “seven nation army.” steward was also featured during halftime with a performance of the Beatles’s “day tripper.” a large steward cheering section was on hand to support the band and as an added bonus, spider basketball was victorious.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Peace and Harmony . . . Thank Heavens! This year’s Holiday Program was a heavenly learning experience for the Lower School. After researching different holiday celebrations from a variety of cultures and comparing the customs, music teacher Bonnie Anderson set this year’s production among the clouds at the Pearly Gates. The program began with a disagreement between siblings, Joshua and Noel. Joshua teases Noel about her “inability to hear the pitch” needed to sing in the choir as an “angel” in the local holiday program. Their argument ceases when Dad enters the picture, and the children are sent to bed. Joshua learns a valuable lesson through a dream that ensues during the night. His dream consists of angels who are learning various lessons themselves: the importance of peace, understanding differences, and the value of music. The theme of working together is paramount in life (and at school), and it was important for the angels to learn this lesson to send a message of peace to Earth.

Grade 8 Art Students Study Glass Before the holiday break, the eighth-grade art class studied glass and how to cut, fuse, and slump pieces of glass to make plates and bowls. After

designing, cutting, and firing their glass pieces two times, the results were spectacular! Their assignment was to pick a day of celebration that was special to them,

and the designs varied from Independence Day to Christmas to St. Patrick’s Day. Many of the students gave their artwork as holiday gifts.

Grade 2 Play: The Grim Adventures of Grimm In January, second graders explored the world of fairy tales and brought some of our favorite classics to life in the play The Grim Adventures of Grimm. Under the direction of theatre teacher Monica Moehring ’95, the secondgrade students showcased a variety of works by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. The students did a fantastic job performing some of our most precious, classic, and scary fairy tales including Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, The Wolves and the Kids, and Snow White. Despite snowy weather and flu season, the second-grade students came together and gave a performance worth remembering. Crossroads

Spring 2013

finearts

Spartones Spread the Love The Spartones, a choral group comprised of Upper School students and led by Sarah Cafazza, brought some early Valentine’s Day joy to campus on February 13 by

treating various faculty, staff, and students to “singing grams.” Those who were lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time in the Upper School and along the Colonnade were

able to hear fantastic renditions of “Happy Together,” “God Gave Me You,” and “My Girl.” Thanks, Spartones, for spreading the love throughout the school.

Kindergarten Play: Listen to Aesop! Kindergartners were excited to share a dozen of their favorite moral-filled fables in the play Listen to Aesop. Theatre teacher Monica Moehring ’95 directed the students in a performance that was both insightful and comical. The play was filled with morals like “slow and steady wins the race” and “never take advice from a sheep in trouble.” The kindergartners did an amazing job learning and understanding the lessons in order to properly share them with the audience.

Winter Play: The Rimers of Eldritch Under the direction of Craig Smith, the Theatre Department proudly presented Lanford Wilson’s The Rimers of Eldritch in the Lora M. Robins Theatre. The Rimers of Eldritch is a tense drama about gossip and rumors in a small, midwestern, coal-mining town. The story unfolds over the spring, summer, and fall of one year in the town, with scenes out of order and overlapping at times. A large cast of Middle and Upper School students began rehearsing before Thanksgiving and performed three shows during the first week of February. It was a very sophisticated production for the cast to tackle, and showed that the actors can handle a difficult genre with great results.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

District Chorus At the District Chorus auditions this year, Steward was represented by five singers—seniors Ana Leahy and Morgan Penberthy, juniors Clara Cooke and Anna fuhr, and freshman Ally dods. Four of them participated in the SATB Mixed Chorus and one in the SSAA Women’s Chorus. During the second weekend of February, three days of practice culminated in a concert at Atlee High School in Hanover County. Their impressive conductors included dr. deanna Joseph, the choral director at Georgia State University, and dr. Jeffery Benson from San Jose State University in California.

CoNGRATuLATIoNS to the district Chorus and district 1 workshop Participants: district Chorus Clara Cooke Anna fuhr Ally dods Ana Leahy Morgan Penberthy

district 1 workshop Bryce Brown Berkeley Galstan Andrea Lindgren Morgan Van davelaar

A Celebration of Jazz On February 21, the Varsity Jazz Band gave a performance that celebrated the history of jazz for the Friends of the Twin Hickory Library as part of the Dr. Bob Singer Senior Series. This group of senior citizens comes from various retirement facilities throughout Henrico for monthly programs on

literature, travel, and the arts. Steward’s involvement with the group began six years ago with a recommendation by Mindy ward, parent of Richard wheeler ’06, and has been a big success each year since. This year’s program included the blues, New Orleans funk, and sing-along songs such as “This Little

Light of Mine” and “Lil’ Liza Jane.” Members of the Varsity Jazz Band include omid Mahban, Greg Lindgren, Andrew Caldwell, Addison Nichols, Ben Cardwell, Jordan Nichols, Jacob Roca, and Jackson Pieters, and the band is directed by John McAlister.

District 1 Workshop Chorus The District 1 Workshop Chorus performed at Atlee High School on February 9 following two days of rehearsals with guest director Philip Keirstead. The Workshop Chorus consisted of 165 of the most talented seventh- and eighth-grade singers from the district. The Steward School had four representatives: eighth-graders Bryce Brown, Berkeley Galstan, Andrea Lindgren, and Morgan Van davelaar.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

classacts

Investigating the Snow during the first snowfall of the year, first-grade students bundled up and headed outside to investigate the snow. the students were able to study the snow by capturing snowflakes on black construction paper, and a magnifying glass was used to view them up close. one student said that they looked like “starflakes,” and another was surprised at how small snowflakes were.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Transcendentalism Workshop Thoreau went to the woods for many reasons, but most of all, he went to find a higher truth by honing his intuition and connecting to the OverSoul. To “find perpetual youth” at Steward, Lynn deﬁne’s eleventh-grade American Literature class chose a sunny day to visit the playground, opening their eyes to live deliberately and “just to be kids.” In the words of Emerson, the class “enjoyed a perfect exhilaration. I am glad to the brink of fear. In the woods, too, a man casts off his years as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life is always a child. In the woods is perpetual youth.” (Emerson from “Nature”) The students now wish they could visit the playground every week!

A Peek Inside the Capitol of Virginia The fourth grade visited the Capitol of Virginia on January 31. The day included a fantastic tour of the House of Delegates Chamber, where much of the movie Lincoln was filmed, a tour of the Executive Mansion, a stroll around Capitol Square, and the opportunity to view several monuments. They also visited two Steward students who were serving in the General Assembly Page Program (eighth graders Claire Xu and dharaa Rathi). One of the most exciting moments of the day was when the students met Governor Bob Mcdonnell and had their picture taken with him. Special thanks to Virginia Secretary of Education Laura fornash and Karla Boughey, Legislative Director for Senator walter Stosch, for helping organize this incredible day for our students.

Soil Analysis Mary Greenlee’s Environmental Science class has been busy investigating the properties of soil and compost as part of the Connect the Dots for Green Schools 2012 Challenge sponsored by The James River Green Building Council. This program challenges schools in Central Virginia to develop or expand on a green school project to increase environmental

stewardship, strengthen community outreach, encourage creativity, and complement curriculum development. The class conducted a soil analysis of samples from the Bryan Innovation Lab construction site and the surrounding forested area. The soil analysis helped determine what kind of soil was there and if improvements could be made to it. The

class also researched the importance of composting as a way to improve soil quality and reduce waste. Based on their research, the students constructed a temporary compost bin from recycled pallets. The composted material will be used for the Bryan Lab’s gardens in the spring, and the pallets will be turned into garden benches in the work area outside the lab.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

classacts

Grade 8 Travels to Washington, D.C.

NHS Inducts 17 New Members At the National Honor Society (NHS) induction ceremony on February 20 in the Lora M. Robins Theatre, the Jazz Band began with the song, “The Blues Walk,” and as part of his senior project, Perry Zakaib conducted the band during the performance. Headmaster Ken Seward gave the opening remarks, and faculty advisor Leslie Kovach called upon the NHS officers to represent the four qualities of the NHS: Stephanie Legg for leadership, Katherine

fore for scholarship, emily Robinson for character, and Ryan Burnett for service. Each of the officers helped present certificates to the new inductees while the faculty council members (John Alley, Rebeca Heidbreder, Courtney Pochet, Todd Serr, and Terri Shelton) recited the definition of leadership according to each student. Director of the Upper School dan frank gave the closing remarks and asked the 17 new members to always “move in

the right direction” in pursuit of these qualities. A celebration reception for all new inductees and their families was held on the preceding evening, during which the students were presented with NHS pins and signed the chapter register. There are now 40 members in Steward’s NHS, juniors and seniors who hold a 3.75 or higher grade point average and embody the qualities of leadership, scholarship, character, and service.

CoNGRATuLATIoNS to the new NHS members: forrest Andrews GJ Apostle Natalie Bendheim Ben Campbell Michael Cevallos Clara Cooke

00 36

Crossroads

Fall/Winter Spring 20132011

Sarah dickson Bryce d’Surney Anna fuhr will Grattan Claire Kirchmier Lindsey Lubin

Cassandra Martinez Craig McLane Susan Mire Jimmy Phelan Matt wolf

On February 1, the eighth grade made its annual trek to Washington for the day. After an early departure from Richmond, their first stop was the Holocaust Museum, which related to their study of World War II. After lunch at the National Gallery of Art, they were divided into groups to tour various Smithsonian museums for the afternoon. For dinner, they went to Georgetown and ate at Chadwick’s, which was followed by an evening of jazz at the Kennedy Center. Escorted by history teacher Chip Chapman and teaching fellow Monica Casper ’07, the students arrived home late that night with a richer understanding of our nation’s capital.

AP “Chemistree” Leslie Kovach’s AP chemistry students created a “chemistree” to celebrate the holidays and to wish everyone a joyous season. Students involved in the creation of the tree included Michael Cevallos, Bowen Chen, Lexi Chen, Matthew Gelber, will Grattan, Claire Kirchmier, walker Poling, and Jung So.

First Grade Celebrates 101st Day of School the ﬁrst grade celebrated the 101st day of school on February 8 with several activities. the students wore dalmatian ears with 101 dots, made new words from the letters in “one hundred one,” played math games with dice, turned the number 101 into a creative picture, and even drew pictures of what they thought they might look like in 101 years!

Grade 7 Experiences A Mock Surgery On January 28, frazer orgain ’95, a sales representative for Stryker Orthopedics, spoke to the seventh-grade science classes as they began their unit on the human body. Mr. Orgain brought different implants and hardware and assisted students in a mock surgery. Students were able to drill, screw, and hammer implants into “saw bones,” while also getting a brief anatomy lesson. The students were exposed to just one of the many exciting scientific professions available.

Sweet Sixteen For the culmination of the basketball unit, the Middle School physical education classes participated in a “Sweet Sixteen” tournament in December. Each grade level was divided into four co-ed teams and was guaranteed at least two games in the tournament. The final two teams advanced to the championship game—congratulations to the champions: The Tropics (Grade 8): Ross Arrington,

Bryce Brown, Cory Brumagin, Caroline duley, will Harrison, Thomas Kowal, Patrick Leahman, Matea Magnano, Mary McLaughlin, davis Mohar, Mary Kathryn Pruett, Sydney Renkenberger, Liza Thompson, and Laney williams; Money Shot (Grade 7): Shamma Alkaabi, Jack Caldwell, emmie Curry, Chris dellosso, MacKenzie Grady, Lily Henderson, Jessica Anne Jordan,

Alex Merhige, Madison o’Neil, Randolph Reazin, Aaron Stein, and Hunter Thompson; and Doce Dinos (Grade 6): Grace Burress, emma fox, Gabrielle franta, Aidan Gustin, Sam Hughes, Artan Jabbar, Lilli Marcia, Jenna Montgomery, Alex Poling, Ruby Simkin-Carr, and Price Stevens. A great time was had by all during this friendly competition!

Stunt Talent Night Forty-six Lower School acts took the stage for Stunt Talent Night on February 28. Bonnie Anderson’s specially selected fourth-grade emcees, Saara Qureshi, Hailey wharram, and Casie Steinfatt, introduced the acts with poise, humor, and excellent public speaking skills. Students representing Grades 1-5 displayed their talents in vocal performance, comedy, dance, instrumental performance, mime, and martial arts. The audience was thoroughly entertained by the wide range of acts. Crossroads

Spring 2013

classacts

Forza Italia!

Upper School Hosts Five Students from China The Upper School hosted five students and a teacher from southern China in February through the Sino-American Youth Ambassador (SAYA) program. The SAYA students participated in a variety of activities and demonstrations throughout the week, including presentations on Chinese culture, musical performances, a forum with Steward students on education in America and China, and a cooking project in which the visiting

students demonstrated how to create dumplings from scratch. In between these activities, the SAYA students spent time immersing themselves in the everyday life of The Steward School and interacting with students and teachers. Many thanks to all who made it a very successful experience–the host families (Popps, Ambroses, Suarez-Marmolejos, Penberthys, and Stricklands), the students’ school-day hosts (Sam Trepp,

Laura fuhr, Morgan Schroder, Ashley Leahman, will Renner, and Henry Harrell), and the very accommodating faculty who welcomed the students into classes and helped with after-school activities (Christen fratter, e.J. watkins, John McAlister, Kate Strickland, Catherine Hathaway, Charlotte wallis, Kim Linnell, Heather Jeter, Lee Healey, Gardner Mundy, and Todd Serr).

Cappuccino, gelato, basilicas, and fine art defined the Minimester adventure of 22 sophomores and juniors to the Italian cities of Rome, Assisi, and Florence. In Rome, students attended a gladiator training school, where they learned combat techniques and studied the various types of gladiators. The day before the Sistine Chapel was closed for the papal conclave, the group beheld Michelangelo’s stunning frescoes. The Forum, Coliseum, Capitoline Museum, Borghese Gallery, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, and a challenging climb to the top of St. Peter’s dome rounded out the students’ days in Rome. In Assisi, the group explored the cobblestone streets of the charming medieval town and visited the Basilica of St. Francis. The Duomo, art treasures of the Uffizi Gallery, Michelangelo’s monumental David at the Accademia, Ponte Vecchio, and the Piazza Della Signoria were highlights of the days in Florence. Trip leaders Heather Jeter, Rugene Paulette, and Chip Chapman, had a delightful time with the students. “I love traveling abroad with my students and I think it is one of the most important things I do as an educator. Seeing cultures and sites through students’ eyes completely transforms my traveling experience,” Mrs. Jeter said. Forza Italia!

JK and Grade 4 Students Anticipate the Opening of the Bryan Innovation Lab On February 5, the junior kindergarten students visited the Bryan Innovation Lab construction site. Some of the most noteworthy changes since their last visit included the edible gardens, a sidewalk, more windows, and a finished roof. Predictions were made about what else may go on before the building opened. The JK students are bursting with enthusiasm as they anticipate the possibilities that will be available to them in the lab. As a follow-up to their visit, JK students invited their fourth-grade buddies to join them for an architectural project to construct an almost-edible building. The partners worked together using toothpicks and marshmallows to make their creations. Implementing 21st-century skills such as creative thinking, innovation, and collaboration, there were some incredible outcomes! One structure was a version of the Bryan Lab, and others resembled the Eiffel Tower, a portal, a ship, and houses. The “light bulbs” were definitely shining bright, leaving their teachers amazed.

00 38

Crossroads

Fall/Winter Spring 20132011

An Unexpected Treasure What an unexpected treasure! The Lower and Upper School Valentine’s Day Book Drive amounted to 56 bags and 13 boxes of books! On February 19, many students, faculty, and staff gathered to sort and pack the large assortment of books. Lower School Dean of Students Susan Holt and Upper School Dean of Student Support Carri Naumann-Monti made deliveries to Highland Springs Elementary and Elko Middle School on March 1, and the schools were overflowing with gratefulness.

Studying Rocks Under the Microscope In January, first-grade students devoted an entire unit of study to rocks. As part of the study, Corbin orgain’s seventh-grade science class invited the first grade to the Middle School Dining Commons for a fun project. The older students were at different stations to help the younger students view a variety of items through microscopes including sugar, salt, potting soil, rocks, silt, clay, and others. The Middle School students were able to strengthen their leadership skills and proficiency with microscopes, while the Lower School students learned new information about many scientific elements.

Service Learning in Costa Rica Along with teachers drew forlano and Mary Greenlee, 15 eighth and ninth graders pioneered Steward’s first service learning program abroad. These students traveled to Costa Rica to work with the Bribri, an indigenous group of people that live in the Limón province. The Bribri people live in an agricultural community and are working to conserve their language and traditions. Steward students stayed with Bribri families and helped on two different

construction projects: rebuilding a community center that had been destroyed in a flood and building a guest house for visitors. The work included learning how to thatch a roof using palm leaves and vines, a technique that is still employed in the village. The group also visited an active volcano and went zip-lining through a jungle canopy. When asked about the program, many students said living with the Bribri families and learning about a new culture was their

favorite part of their experience. “There is no doubt that this was a transformative experience for many of the students. I wanted to give our Spanish students at Steward a profound experience early on in their foreign language careers. To do this, I wanted them to live in a community, preferably with host families. I felt this was the best way for them to really learn about another culture and to use their language skills,” said Mr. Forlano.

My Brother Sam Under the direction of Louise Robertson, Tom funkhouser, and wallace Inge, the seventh-grade English and history classes combined to wrap up their exploration of the historical novel My Brother Sam is Dead. The students split into groups and worked together to find an excerpt that portrayed an assigned theme from the book. Afterward, the groups acted out scenes using props, and their classmates tried to guess the corresponding theme from the book. Crossroads

Spring 2013

classacts

Once again, Steward’s sixth graders enjoyed exploring Richmond during Alternate Program. Four courses were offered by teams of two or three teachers to groups of students who traveled around Richmond to see firsthand the history, the culture, and the businesses and industries that make Richmond unique. Two courses, Arts in Action and Business, Industry, and Technology, created blogs to record their experiences. The River group documented its week using Keynote on iPads, uploading to Drop Box, and pulling everything together in PowerPoint presentations. Students in Ghosts, Ghouls, and Graveyards took hundreds of pictures and created posters, collaborated on skits, and designed PowerPoint presentations. Some of the highlights: • The Business, Industry, and Technology group toured the CBS 6 studio, visited Capri Jewelers, and learned how to make wallpaper. • The James River group toured historical sites along the river, collected river samples at a local plantation, and completed a scavenger hunt at Maymont. • The Ghosts, Ghouls, and Graveyards group visited Huguenot Springs Cemetery among others, toured Shirley Plantation, and wrote ghost stories. • The Arts in Action group visited the Maymont Petting Zoo, the VMFA, and local theatres.

Scan QR code with your smartphone to view more pictures!

Crossroads

Spring 2013

“I think being in the River group was a great experience, and I know I learned a lot about the history of the river. It was a great week, and I am glad I had the chance to do what I did.” - MORGAN KING

Spelling Bee On January 24, students from the Lower and Middle Schools competed in the Steward Spelling Bee. The winner of this year’s bee was fourth-grader Baylor McKeand, and the runner-up was sixth-grader Jessie Shedden. Congratulations to all students who won the spelling bees held in each grade in preparation for the School’s contest.

CoNGRATuLATIoNS to the grade level winners:

grade 3: Alaina Jefferson, Zoë Macgill; runners-up will elles and davis franta grade 4: Baylor McKeand, Anna Pastore, Mary Pastore; runners-up Kennedy Crook, John wesley Hall, and Joshua Stein grade 5: Matthew Lane, Hunter Milligan, Luke Tyson; runners-up Christian Andrews, Lydia osborne, and Callen Smith grade 6: Jessie Shedden grade 7: Jack Caldwell; runner-up Ryan odibo grade 8: Morgan Van davelaar; runner-up Kellie fonville

Supporting the Community While the sixth grade explored Richmond, the seventh and eighth grades focused on community service during Alternate Program. Students were divided into small groups and assigned a school or organization at which to work. They read to elementary school children, served as teachers’ aides, helped adults at The Virginia Home with physical therapy, and played with young children

at the Richmond YMCA. Learning how to help others in the community was a valuable by-product of their work. When asked about their various experiences, here is what students had to say: Molly Herring: “Volunteering at St. Andrew’s School and other schools like it really help you appreciate what we have at Steward.”

Nikki Leopold: “The chance to work with these kids is an experience that makes me appreciate what I have. It is a truly enlightening experience.” Jessica Anne Jordan: Through working at St. Andrew’s, I have realized how much I have to enjoy that so many people don’t. I always have taken for granted the things I am fortunate to have.”

Crossroads

Spring 2013

classacts

Presenting Passions Senior projects were presented during the week of March 4. These projects are a year-long effort on topics of personal choice that incorporate research skills the students have learned. Whether they conducted a real-world experiment, explored an interest, pursued a passion, or demonstrated the ethic of care, the seniors impressed their audiences by showing the heart and soul that went into each presentation. It is the School’s hope that each student graduates with a clearer sense of his or her individuality and finds a passion in life.

“Senior project is such a learning experience. I really feel like all the work and effort that goes into the project is actually preparing me for what lies ahead in college!” - MORGAN PENBERTHY

Senior Project Topics Adele Agbaw the spiritual and moral education of children drew Aldredge sicilian cooking

Jack dennis tennis Sam douma Fashion design

Henry Bassett scottish family/food

Maclaine ellis dance choreography and teaching

Luke Boschen rock rappelling

Sam fink trebuchet construction

Archer Brill Pottery

Katherine fore cake decorating

Ryan Burnett sign language

Parker Leep weightlifting and personal training

Addison Nichols Planning and design of a motocross track

Michael Sims Painting and art exploration

Stephaine Legg archery

Clemie Norman Pilot’s license

Charlotte Levering service teaching latin at anna Julia cooper episcopal school

Cameron o’Connor cajun cooking and history

Jungheui So Freestyle soccer (soccer tricks)

Greg Lindgren Moroccan cooking

Morgan Penberthy the effects of meditation

elizabeth Gooding learning to make Maki

Courtland Lyle geologic investigation of cumberland county

david Pierce stand-up comedy

Mason Butler aquascaping

Kiera Hintz Portrait photography

omid Mahban Martial arts

Andrew Caldwell cooking (seafood/ Mediterranean)

Sarah Austen Holzgrefe Photography

Ann Marchetti Jewelry making

david Carl rock climbing

Lauren Hughes Yoga

Macky Marcia Breaking gender stereotypes

Blair Carnes gluten-free baking

eliza Jones Musical theatre history

Ross Meade Physical therapy

Carlos Cevallos Martial arts

Myia Jones Ballroom dancing

Connor Melton Mach 1 restoration

Claire Culbertson Family genealogy

Ana Leahy opera

Mariah Montague acapella tap dancing

Sarah Curlee Music writing

Chris Leavitt Pottery

Michelle Napper handmade jewelry

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Saskia Price documentary Ibad Rehman Boxing Christian Rennie directing a lower school play emily Robinson writing a collection of humorous memoiressays

Yvonne Taylor learning how to cut, place, fuse, and create glass artwork Mark Tharp scuba diving Peter Thomas Fencing Abbey Twining tennis Michael waddell Music production and mixing Mary Leigh white children’s daycare education camp Royce woolfolk Making wood bats

Jacob Roca room renovation

Perry Zakaib orchestra conducting

Adam Shor catering

Ben Zoghby italian cooking

5. 2.

Minimester During the week of March 4-8, 79 sophomores and juniors hung up their backpacks and ventured into the working world as they explored potential career directions during the Upper School Minimester Week. Through Minimester, students learned about opportunities outside of school in situations that cannot be thoroughly taught within the structure of a classroom. At the informational meeting in December, students were encouraged to intern in a field of high interest and to begin their search early, as many placements took weeks of planning. While most students stayed in the Richmond area for their internships, a few ventured out to work in Culpeper, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Connecticut; Wilmington and Pinehurst, North Carolina; and Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Some of the highlights, as well as exceptional feedback from the intern supervisors, include: Michael Cevallos: “Minimester is a great aspect of Steward because not many other schools have this. My friends think that this program is cool, and my parents tell their friends about the value of it. Getting a sneak peek at a career is so worthwhile because it can prevent us from choosing the wrong career.”

4. 1. Tyler Miracle and Forrest Andrews interned at Tuckahoe Orthopedics. 2. Claire Kirchmier witnessed a C-section while interning at St. Mary’s Labor and Delivery Unit. 3. Sean Highfill helped with recruiting while interning at Richmond Baseball Academy. 4. Eren Graesser learned about non-proﬁt organizations at Effective Ministries. 5. Mason Mire shadowed Henrico law enforcement ofﬁcials.

Kevin Cameron: “Working with the Henrico County Police Department was a fantastic experience because I got to learn a lot about the field I want to pursue further down the road in my life. I’m even more excited about law enforcement as a career than I was prior to Minimester.” From Virginia Opera-Richmond Center Stage: “Lavinia Johnson was a perfect intern—so capable and responsible. She was delightful company at the office this week and helped significantly with the research projects she was assigned. All of the staff at the Opera appreciated her presence here.”

Scan QR code with your smartphone to view more pictures.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

teamtalk

Varsity Boys Basketball record: 10-14 For the ﬁrst time in school history, the steward boys basketball program’s head coach is an alumnus. after coaching the past two seasons with the Jv team, including a perfect 24-0 last season, Mike edwards ’03 moved up the ranks to serve as the team’s head coach. the team played its toughest schedule in years en route to a 10-14 ﬁnish, almost knocking off collegiate and woodberry Forest. steward avenged an earlier season close loss to covenant and turned it into a blowout victory on senior night in front of a packed house 63-38. this season’s team will be known for a balanced offense, as different players were the featured scorers depending on the game plan. senior dave Pierce served as the glue guy, leading the team in rebounds, often hauling in over 10 a game.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Varsity Girls Basketball

JV Boys Basketball

record: 7-13

The JV boys basketball team was led by first-year Head Coach david dutton. Under his tutelage, the team finished the season 10-11, playing one of the toughest schedules in School history, including back-to-back victories over Nansemond Suffolk and St. Anne’s-Belfield. “They were huge victories for us. To travel to Nansemond Suffolk that Monday, win, and have only a few hours of rest and turn around and beat St. Anne’s by 15 showed how tough this team is,” said the coach. The players progressed most in the area of communication and working together as a team. “As the season wore on, the kids began to trust one another and do all the little things that help you win close basketball games,” said Dutton. Sophomore captain John Keefe earned all-tournament honors at the Trinity Invitational, while sophomore Bowen Chen was the go-to guy on offense. Freshman Nico Martinez was the ultimate glue guy, irreplaceable due to his inside presence and unrelenting hustle. Freshman Josiah Armstrong helped keep the

The girls basketball team topped last season’s win total and is looking forward after showing flashes of brilliance this year. Junior co-captain Morgan Schroder was the leading scorer, and the trio of captains (including seniors Ana Leahy and Sarah Austen Holzgrefe) helped keep a steady ship for second-year Head Coach Adam Lonon ’06. “I am really proud of how our girls competed. They improved incrementally throughout the season, but really came on strong towards the end.” Morgan was the spark on offense while Sarah Austen and eighth-grader Kellie fonville each earned all-tournament honors at the Spartan Invitational, where the Spartans placed second. Freshman Haley Cummings improved throughout the season, scoring over 10 points in multiple games, including a 16-point effort against Christchurch. The strong finish has Coach Lonon excited for next year already: “We played really well toward the end of the season, and I think it will serve as a great springboard to next season.”

record: 10-11

team in games by shutting down the opponent’s best offensive threat, and freshman Johnny Beigel was the coach on the court. According to Dutton, Beigel “was responsible for our offensive sets, defensive alignments, and ensuring everyone was in the right place at the right time.” Dutton also added that every member of the team was “important to our success.”

JV Girls Basketball Record: 9-4 Coach Adam Lonon’s JV girls basketball squad posted its best record in years, as they finished the season 9-4 Official Seal Logo overall. “I am very proud of how our team played this season. They came into practice looking to improve,” he said. The team posted wins over several quality LIS programs including Collegiate, Covenant, Trinity, and St. Margaret’s. The wins give Coach Lonon reason for optimism: “I think the foundation is set for the future of the program. We have some players that can really play, and I think that will benefit us down the road.” Eighth-grader MaryAnn Neale led the team in scoring with over 12 points per game.

Varsity Cheerleading The varsity cheerleading squad was the heart and soul of spirit for the winter sports teams. They traveled to all but

one road game and riled up the crowds, making room for an enthusiastic atmosphere on the road. When the boys basketball team went to Collegiate, the cheerleaders were there for support in what felt like a home game for the Spartans. They placed first in their class at the Gymfest Championships and paired with the Middle School cheerleaders at the pep rally prior to Senior Night.

Middle School Cheerleading The Middle School cheerleading squad was made up of a majority of sixth graders who enthusiastically supported both the Middle School Blue and Gold boys basketball teams. The highlight of their season was working with the varsity squad and performing with them at a pep rally. The girls also were excited by the opportunity to cheer in front of their classmates at the only home game of the season against the Anna Julia Cooper Episcopal School during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day programming. CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

Crossroads

Spring 2013

teamtalk

“This squad was amazing in its quickness of learning of cheers and also making up original cheers, even though most were new to cheerleading. Their spirit was fantastic!” said Coach Bonny Hajek.

Varsity futsal Record: 8-2-2 Consistency was the key for Coach Chris Green’s second varsity futsal squad. The team consistently found itself on the winning side of the game. In only its second season, the team ripped off eight wins, including a 4-2 victory over Collegiate in the quarterfinals of the Valentine’s Classic. According to Green, “We really improved in the area of total team play and tactics. We were able to adjust and play a few styles of futsal that allowed us to be very competitive.” Green also credited senior captain Addison Nichols with excellent leadership and said he and the team “really matured in some areas.”

is great for the program,” said Hopp. Bassett also placed second in the 100 m backstroke, also qualifying as an All-American time. Junior GJ Apostle placed 13th out of 40 in the 500 m freestyle, while the team placed 15th out of 38 teams in the state meet. The Spartans also swam well at the VISAA Division II Invitational where they placed fourth out of 15 teams. Steward’s quartet of Bassett, Apostle, senior Luke Boschen, and sophomore ethan Cohen finished first in the 200 medley relay, posting a time of 1:51:57. Apostle, Bassett, and Cohen were joined by eighth-grader Noah Poling to finish third in the 200 freestyle. Overall, Bassett took individual titles in the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Apostle won the 200 and 500 freestyle, and Cohen finished second in both freestyles. Bassett was named most outstanding male swimmer of the meet for his efforts.

Varsity Boys Swimming

Varsity Girls Swimming and diving

The Steward swim team continues to improve under the leadership of Coaches eric Hopp and Courtney Pochet. In only its third year of existence, the team had its first state champion in swimming when senior Henry Bassett captured the 50 m freestyle with a time of 21.02, which was good enough to qualify for an All-American time. “I am so proud of how far we have come in just three seasons. To have a state champion swimmer so soon

The girls swim team continued to improve in its third year of existence. Senior Blair Carnes won her third consecutive LIS title in 100 breast and 200 IM. Coach eric Hopp said, “What Blair has done is a great accomplishment considering how tough the LIS is. To win titles for three straight years is nothing short of amazing.” Carnes will continue her success next year at the University of Southern California. Eighth-grader Kendall Schroder exploded

Crossroads

Spring 2013

onto the scene, qualifying for states in only her second meet. “Kendall was such a pleasant surprise this season. She improved so much—I look forward to seeing what she can do in the next four seasons,” Hopp said. Sophomore emily Vaughan qualified for states in three separate events as well. “We had small numbers, but the quality of our swimmers was on par with some of the better teams in the state.”

JV Boys Swimming Although the JV boys swim team consisted of just two swimmers, Coach eric Hopp was excited about their performances and the future of the program. “Swimming is a numbers game. I had two very talented swimmers, and if we’d had more numbers, our team would have been stronger.” Seventh-grader Matthew whelan excelled on the middle school level and would have qualified for states if he had been old enough. He won many events in which he swam, including a first place finish in the 100 m freestyle at the Saints Invitational. Sixthgrader Colin Goodpasture also performed well for the Spartans this season.

According to Hopp, “He pushed himself to get better each day.”

JV Girls Swimming Coach eric Hopp has plenty to be excited about regarding the future of swimming, despite a small number of swimmers. Only having two team members wasn’t favorable for results, but seventh-graders Bailey Scott and Becca Aldredge both held their own this season, performing well at many events. Aldredge, according to Hopp, “practices the hardest of those in the program, and she improved so much as a result of her hard work. It was great to see someone so young try and improve.” Scott placed sixth in the 100 m freestyle at the season kickoff event and finished 11th in the 50 m at the Saints Invitational. “Bailey was a good swimmer for us this season; she has the potential to be excellent at the breast stroke,” Coach Hopp said.

MS Blue Boys Basketball Record: 4-5 Coach wallace Inge’s Middle School Blue boys basketball

team rebounded after an 0-2 season start to win four of their final seven games. “Our team always fought hard and never relented on effort. It was a hardworking group of individuals that gelled together down the stretch,” said the veteran coach. The Spartans opened their season with a loss to Seven Hills 52-36, but in the rematch, Steward won 66-56. When asked about the game, Coach Inge said, “I think the victory showed how much our players were dedicated to improving throughout the season.”

MS Blue Girls Basketball Record: 3-8-1 Christen fratter completed her first season as the head coach of the Middle School Blue girls basketball team. Every player on the team scored this season, and the team was known for its ball distribution, play execution, and steals. Seventh-grader Caroline Laibstain was the leading scorer for the Spartans. After getting off to a slow start, the girls won three of their final five games. According to Fratter, “Our team really came together as the season wore on. Our players were learning much faster and applying it to game-time situations.”

oliver’s team was tough. “Even though we were down in many games, our team never quit and always stayed composed,” he said. Sixthgrader Michael fortune was the team’s leading scorer with double figures in seven of nine games, including a season-high 22 points against Collegiate. The most memorable game was against St. Christopher’s, which took a ten-point lead over the Spartans entering halftime. The Spartans fought back hard, outscoring the Saints 19-7 in the fourth quarter and shooting the game-winning basket in the final seconds.

MS Gold Girls Basketball Record: 0-9 The Middle Schools Gold girls basketball team was led by Coach Stephen King. The young team competed hard against teams composed mostly of eighth and ninth graders. “I felt that our team performed well given the circumstances. These young ladies grew so much as the season went along,” said the firstyear coach. Sixth-grade captains Lizzie Parris and Lilli Marcia helped shape the

team on defense, which led the way for sixth-grader Abby dwelle to excel at rebounding. “Abby really helped us in an area where we were a little weak.” The team was composed of mostly first-year players who improved every game and gave the more experienced teams a fit by season’s end.

MS white Boys Basketball Record: 5-3 Coach Carter Shamburger’s Middle School White team finished the season with a 5-3 overall record. “I had a good group of kids. We had fun, and we left everything on the court,” beamed the second-year coach. “I think we improved in many areas this season, especially in ball handling and defense. We really worked on trapping the ball.” The Spartans had a big win over St. Benedict 31-16, as well as close victories over Collegiate and St. Joseph’s.

All the players displayed tenacious defensive skills as the season drew to a close. Sixth-grader Julian Amyx was the team’s defensive anchor, averaging over eight rebounds a game, while sixth-grader william Hobbs served as the team’s thief, stealing the ball as many as nine times in a game. The biggest highlight came in the last game of the season when sixth-grader Tyler Steinfatt nailed a halfcourt three-pointer. “It was really cool to see an ESPN highlight play happen right in front of our eyes,” said Coach Shamburger ’05. “I think overall these kids had a great season. We didn’t win as many games as we would have liked, but everyone played their hearts out.”

MS Gold Boys Basketball Record: 7-2 The Middle School Gold boys basketball team finished the season with an impressive 7-2 overall record. Coach Charles

Scan QR code with your smartphone to view more pictures.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

facultyfocus

Gardner Mundy Honored with Paul R. Cramer Award upper school dean of students and history teacher Gardner Mundy received the prestigious 2013 Paul r. cramer “Best Faculty award” on February 25 at the annual dinner for faculty, staff, and the Board of trustees. the cramer award is given annually to the faculty member who best embraces the characteristics of “balance, perspective, and humor” celebrated by former headmaster Paul r. cramer. CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Cramer Award goes to Gardner Mundy continued The award was established in 2008 to honor the late Mr. Cramer and his many contributions to The Steward School. It recognizes and celebrates the core qualities that lie at the heart of the School’s mission and are reflected in the spirit and practice of the recipient’s work and relationships. Past recipients Rugene Paulette, Janet Rice, Chris Tickle, Carolyn Brandt, and Louise Robertson joined Headmaster Ken Seward to present the award. “Our sixth Paul R. Cramer Award winner’s many strengths are anchored in his flexibility, clarity, and relationships— relationships that are authentic, reflect kindness and respect, yet assert high expectations. He is one who takes care of himself, others, the community, and causes that have the potential to make the world a better place,” said Mr. Seward.

Louise Robertson Recognized as one of Henrico County’s Top Teachers

As a teacher, coach, administrator, advisor, mentor, and friend, he is also the model for the School’s mission and honor code. Mr. Mundy has previously received the ABCD Award (awarded by Steward students to the Upper School teacher who goes Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) and a Peer Recognition Award. “Gardner typifies the core spirit of balance, perspective, and humor, and I believe the reason he is so successful is because of his character and his relationships with other people,” said Director of Upper School dan frank.

Seventh-grade English teacher and Middle School Dean of Academics Louise Robertson has been named one of the Henrico Citizen’s Top 20 Teachers of the Year. For this honor, teachers throughout the county were nominated by students, parents, or colleagues, and

Mr. Mundy joined The Steward School in the fall of 2004. He is the Upper School Dean of Students and teaches World Studies II and U.S. History. Previously, he taught English and history at Wyoming Seminary and Fork Union Military Academy and coached soccer, basketball, and tennis. He also served as the Assistant to the Superintendent at Virginia Military Academy. Mr. Mundy graduated from VMI with a B.A. in History and received a Master of History degree from the University of Richmond. Family members attending the celebration of Mr. Mundy’s achievement included his wife, Stinson, sister Taylor Raquet, mother Molly Pope, step-father Bob Pope, and in-laws Bob and Candy Lindenzweig. Flattered by the recognition, Mr. Mundy said, “I am so honored to be awarded the Paul R. Cramer Award. I care so much about Steward and have had an amazing experience here. Being in the company of past winners is a high compliment.”

the Henrico Citizen’s staff selected the top 20 from more than 200 nominations. It is no surprise to any in the Steward community that Dr. Rob would receive this well-deserved recognition, based on her dedication to her students and the School.

Faculty Awarded for Design Briefs Lower School teachers Jane Covington, Nancy Loyd, and Jane whitely spent a week last summer at a class sponsored by James Madison University on using children’s engineering in the classroom. The class’s emphasis was on incorporating STEM principles into curriculum, and how to include social studies, reading, and art, as well. They learned how to write lessons, called design briefs, that describe what students will design and build and the tools and materials they will use. A rubric evaluates how successfully the student followed the design brief.

One of the most important components of a design brief is the reflection, in which students analyze what they have learned from the activity, and what they would do differently. If a design doesn’t work, it is not considered a failure because the student will have learned something of value from the experience. At the workshop, Mrs. Covington, Mrs. Loyd, and Ms. Whitely all wrote design briefs that are now included on an educational CD that was given to attendees of the Children’s Convention in Richmond on March 1. Crossroads

Spring 2013

spartanliving

Celebrating Developmental Milestones By Susan Brown, director of educational Services For most parents, it begins with the baby book we receive as a shower gift. We chart their milestones—when they sit, crawl, take their first step, and utter their first word. We note and celebrate each developmental event in the lives of our children. Soon they are riding a tricycle and then a two-wheeler (something my own son never learned to do!), and each step of the way we acknowledge and commemorate. It has been my observation that we live in a time when we believe that earlier is better when it comes to mastering developmental milestones. But in my opinion, earlier is often too early, and there is danger in pushing our children to do that which they are not ready to do. The challenge for parents and teachers is to know each child as the individual he or she is. Celebrate their strengths and support them in the areas they find challenging.

There is a saying that comes from the Talmud (the Jewish book of wisdom): “If your child is born a baker, do not raise him to be a doctor.” I tried to remember and respect these words as I raised my own son. I express this thought to parents as follows—our job is never to push our children forward developmentally nor to allow them to stay in a dependent stage beyond the time they are able to move forward. It is our job to support them, so continue to mark your children’s milestones in a baby book, with a mark on the wall, or with a hug, but be prepared to let them blossom at their own pace. About the author: Susan Brown is the Director of Educational Services for Commonwealth Parenting. For nearly 30 years, Commonwealth Parenting has served as the Richmond area’s leading resource for parenting information, empowering parents to be the best they can be through education and support. In addition to a master’s degree in Developmental Psychology, Susan holds an A.A. in Early Childhood Education and a B.A. in Psychology. She has worked extensively in the fields of child development and parent education, both as a teacher and private school director. She has 30 years of experience as a parent educator.

Featured Activity: Birthday Time Capsule Celebrating Your Child’s Milestones

The next time your child has a birthday, consider making a time capsule. 1. in the birthday party invitation, include a note that says, “add something to the time capsule! we’re making a time capsule for (your child’s name) to be opened on his/her 18th birthday. Please write a note to be included.” suggestions: predictions for the future, well wishes, photographs, a newspaper from the day, birthday cards, a cd of photos from the day, statistics of today (gas prices, top musicians, popular tv shows, etc.). 2. in addition to items from family and friends, be sure to include decorations from the party, the invitation, the guest list, etc. 3. after all the items are compiled, ﬁnd an appropriate size container. if you’re planning on burying the time capsule, make sure all of the items are zipped inside a heavy duty plastic freezer bag and then placed in a weather-proof container. if you’re hiding it in the attic, the container isn’t as important as long as it snaps shut and has a good seal to last for the long haul. 4. now it’s time to hide the time capsule and wait until your child is 18. it should be fun to look back when he or she will probably ask, “who was Justin Beiber?” and “what was an iPhone?”

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Steward Snaps Contest Start snapping away for a chance to have your photo in the summer issue of Crossroads! submit photos to spartansnaps@ stewardschool.org by Friday, June 7 for the opportunity to have a picture in the next issue of Crossroads! Whether you’re sitting on the sidelines, in the front row of graduation, or chaperoning a field trip, we want to see photos of how you view Steward. So, grab your camera and get creative because your photo may win! Tips for Capturing a Great Photo: 1. Snap a lot of pictures. 2. Capture your subject’s personality. 3. Select the right camera setting. 4. Change your perspective. 5. Get creative.

Steward’s Supper Favorite Recipes by Meriwether Godsey Provided by Chef Anton Gaston

Books To Check Out! LoweR SCHooL PICKS

Nancy Negus, lower school academic dean JK: The Little Engine that Could by watty Piper K: Make Way for Ducklings by robert Mccloskey grade 1: Frog and Toad are Friends by arnold lobel grade 2: Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan grade 3: Paddle to the Sea by holling c. holling grade 4: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by e.l. Konigsburg grade 5: Number the Stars by lois lowry

MIddLe SCHooL PICKS

Louise Robertson, Middle school academic dean 1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney 2. The Hunger Games by suzanne collins 3. Twilight by stephenie Meyer 4. Divergent by veronica roth 5. Maze Runner by James dashner

uPPeR SCHooL PICKS

Carrie Vandervelde, upper school academic dean 1. She Got Up Off the Couch by haven Kimmel 2. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John irving 3. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick douglass 4. Midnight’s Children by salman rushdie 5. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Salmon Cakes with Cucumber Radish Sauce Makes 8 cakes ingredients for salmon cakes: 1 lb. salmon ﬁllet, cooked and ﬂaked 2 six-inch pita rounds, torn in small pieces ¼ cup light mayonnaise 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 tsp. old Bay seasoning salt and pepper to taste 2 tbsp. chopped chives, divided 1½ tsp. grated lemon zest, divided 2 tbsp. olive oil

ingredients for sauce: ¾ cup plain yogurt 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice ¼ cup cucumber, peeled, seeded, and ﬁnely diced ¼ cup radish, ﬁnely diced

1. Mix salmon, pita, mayonnaise, egg, seasonings, 1 tbsp. chives, and 1 tsp. zest. 2. Form into 8 three-inch diameter cakes. 3. Heat oil in heavy nonstick skillet, medium-high heat. 4. Cook salmon cakes until golden, 3 minutes per side. 5. In a small bowl, mix yogurt, lemon juice, cucumber, radish, and remaining 1 tbsp. chives and ½ tsp. zest, adding salt and pepper to taste. 6. Serve cakes warm with sauce on a bed of greens or with steamed asparagus. Crossroads

Spring 2013

parentsassociation

“Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.”

ervice to others is at the heart of balanced by caring and respect for The Steward School, and there oneself and for others,” as stated in is no better time to be part of the Steward mission, teaches our the community as a Parents children the value of participating Association volunteer! This year, in the larger community and of more than 250 parents have served giving back to their School. With -MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. over 400 hours to help the Parents your continued support, our actions Association accomplish its mission of helping to teach our children that the sacrifice is worth the provide a richer experience for our children as effort and that service is a way of life. From parent they learn and prepare for success in the future. education seminars to event planning to Faculty Greatness is here at The Steward School. Appreciation Week, Parents Association volunteers provide the creativity and manpower to make each In a time when it seems society is focused on getting event unique and purposeful. Quite simply, we more, spending more, and achieving more, it helps couldn’t do any of it without you! to think about the importance of volunteerism. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Whether your student is in junior kindergarten or approximately 26 percent of all people in the U.S. working on a senior project, you have found a reason volunteered in 2012. Steward School volunteers are to volunteer at Steward and make a difference. no exception. What a beautiful way to show our children that their education and school are important! There is Giving time and energy is not easy because we are greatness among us because of your generous spirit busy, and it requires sacrifice, but belief in our School’s of volunteerism. Thank you for the many hours, core values drives us to give generously. “Responsibility ideas, and contributions that you give each year.

Melanie McElhinney Goodpasture Parents Association President

VOLUNTEERING AT STEWARD MORE THAN

400 HOURS

MORE THAN

250

STEWARD PARENT VOLUNTEERS

IN 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR

WERE SPENT HELPING THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION THIS YEAR

Make a difference Steward community Use your skills in a productive way Meet new people Explore new areas of interest

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to fill out the Volunteer Interest Finder Form .

Crossroads

Spring 2013

uilding a egacy

Through Planned Giving

Dennis, Logan ’12, and Cindy Pryor

“We have made a provision in our will because our son, Logan, attended Steward School from K-12, and The Steward School made an impact on his life. The wonderful faculty taught Logan to use his skills to excel in academics and also prepared him with an excellent foundation for his future. Dennis and I have made the ultimate gift to support future students by including a bequest to The Steward School in our estate plans.” - CINDY PRYOR

When you write your will, you acknowledge the people and institutions that mean the most to you. Including The Steward School among those beneficiaries builds our long-term financial strength and is the easiest major gift you can make. Why?

It’s Simple A simple paragraph (see suggested text) in your will or codicil (an official amendment) sets up your gift to The Steward School.

It’s Revocable A bequest doesn’t take effect until your death. That means that if your plans or circumstances change, you have the opportunity to revise your will.

It’s Private The provisions of your will are not made public until your death. But, if you let us know that you have remembered us in your will, we will welcome you into The Heritage Society, our giving society that recognizes our friends during their lifetimes for making an estate-plan gift. All such notifications are confidential, and you can advise us if you prefer for your gift to remain anonymous. Continued on page 54

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Choose the Bequest That Best fits Your Needs

You May Be Asking...

Speciﬁc Bequest

But, I’ve Already Written My Will…

This transfers a particular sum of money or item of property to us: (“I bequeath all of my shares of IBM Corporation to The Steward School, a Virginia non-profit corporation located in Richmond, Virginia.”) Note: if you no longer own this property when you die, your specific bequest cannot be made.

There’s no need to write an entirely new will to add a bequest. Have your attorney prepare a codicil, which makes the changes you want while reaffirming the remaining provisions of your existing will.

Residual Bequest

Some ask us if they can set up a gift plan in their will that first pays income to a loved one, then the remaining balance to us. The answer is yes, most definitely! You can create a gift annuity or charitable trust in your will naming your spouse, children, or other loved one as the life income beneficiary(ies). Thus one bequest can take care of loved ones and provide a gift to us, too!

This transfers all or a portion of the amount remaining in your estate after debts and taxes have been paid. (“I bequeath twenty five [25%] percent of the residue of my estate to The Steward School, a Virginia non-profit corporation located in Richmond, Virginia.”)

Can My Bequest Provide for Both the School and My Family?

Many donors find that a residual bequest gives them more flexibility in their long-term planning than a specific bequest because they are not tied to maintaining particular assets, securities, or sums of money in their portfolios.

My Advisors Suggested a Trust, Not a Will

Contingent Bequest

Are Bequests Deductible?

A very flexible arrangement, this directs a gift to us only if certain life events do not occur. (For example: “If my daughter does not survive me, I bequeath the residue of my estate to The Steward School, a Virginia non-profit corporation located in Richmond, Virginia.”)

Tell us How to use Your Bequest An unrestricted bequest is a gift for the School’s general purposes. It will provide Steward with resources to meet the challenges and opportunities that the future will bring, and it is an especially wise format for bequests written by younger donors. Designated bequests are also an option. You can direct that your bequest be expended for the purpose you have selected, or placed in a permanent endowment with the annual income applied to the project of your choosing.

A revocable trust has many unique features, but your advisors will confirm that it works the same as a will in making a gift to us. Charitable bequests are not subject to federal estate tax or state inheritance taxes. A bequest can thus lower the amount of your estate subject to the federal estate tax. However, there is no income tax deduction for a charitable bequest.

Can You Write a Will For Me? Sorry – no! Our role is to demonstrate to you and your attorney how easy and beneficial an estate-plan gift can be. We cannot provide legal advice; however, we are happy to speak with you about your gift planning options, and to work with you to plan your gift to benefit the students at The Steward School. This publication is intended to provide general gift planning information. Our organization is not qualified to provide specific legal, tax or investment advice, and this publication should not be looked to or relied upon as a source for such advice. Consult with your own legal and financial advisors before making any gift.

The Heritage Society donors who make documented planned gifts to the steward school are recognized as members of the heritage society. For more information on making a planned gift or joining the heritage society, please contact Sarah Melvin in the development ofﬁce at 804-565-2306.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

alumninews

ClassNotes

’90s

Josh Silverman ’91 has started a new law practice, Silverman Law Firm LC. His practice is focused on representing people injured due to nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, and automobile injuries. www.facebook.com/ SilvermanLawFirmLC

’00s

Austin Hamilton ’04 is the Vineyard Manager at First Colony Winery, ten miles south of Charlottesville. He is responsible for vineyard production and management, and the business is preparing to undergo vineyard expansion and building expansion and renovation. Brittney Bertozzi ’05 had a baby girl named Ava Eliza, born on October 17, 2012. Katie Perkins ’05, Music Director of West Smithfield Elementary School in Smithfield,

North Carolina, conducted a musical with her students in February. The show focused on biomes around the world and drew the biggest crowd for a production in school history. The school’s principal gave Katie credit for including more students, which got more parents involved in and excited about the show. Brooke Secrest Pillow ’05 and her husband, Jason, welcomed their son, Samuel Braxton Pillow, on January 28, 2013. Jessica Powell ’05 is a Behavior and Training Specialist at the Richmond SPCA and the head of School for Dogs.

Blair Sutton ’05 ran the Washington, D.C. Rock N’ Roll Half Marathon on March 16, 2013 in 1:47:35. Congratulations, Blair!

Grace Astrove ’06 graduated with a master’s degree in Art History from VCU in December and recently moved to New York City. She is a curatorial intern at The Jewish Museum and has a great time exploring all the city has to offer!

Sarah Nelson Burger ’07 and her husband, Hanrick, welcomed a baby girl named Makenzie Jane on February 9, 2013. Sarah and her family live outside of Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. dana Powell ’08 is the new assistant tennis pro at McGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, North Carolina.

Alumni Legacies

Brianna Bloom Spotts ’01 is the Group Exercise Director at Willow Lawn Golds Gym. Pam Lawrence ’03 graduated in May 2012 from Elon University School of Law summa cum laude and passed the North Carolina Bar exam last summer. She focused on litigation and business in school and is now a law clerk for the Honorable James L. Gale of the North Carolina Business Court.

Alumni current parents and their children gathered for a picture at the Back-to-School Social in September 2012. Pictured left to right: Susan Cramer Twining ’84 and daughter, Abbey; Frazer Orgain ’95 and Corbin Adamson Orgain ’96 with daughter, Ann Darnley, and son, Gates; Delaney Turnage Mescall ’92 with daughter, Bentley, and son, Dixon; Kate Porter Murray ’92 with sons, Connor and Dylan; Faisal Qureshi ’92 with daughter, Saara, and son, Zak; Josh Silverman ’91 with daughter, Hannah; and Shahwar Qureshi ’90 with son, Kamran, and daughter, Sabina.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

alumninews

Alumni Profiles Class of 1986: Mary Browning Almany, Curt Nichols, and Sandy Szilassy 56

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Steward’s First Lifers By Sydney Smith

lifer [li•fer]

n. slang

A student who attends The Steward School for his or her entire school career (JK or kindergarten through twelfth grade).

Three members of the Class of 1986 were pioneers—they attended Steward from kindergarten through twelfth grade and were the first students to set this standard. Mary Browning Almany, Curt Nichols, and Sandy Szilassy give credit to Steward for being a place where they had opportunities that wouldn’t have existed at larger schools and, therefore, allowed them to enjoy unique, valuable experiences.

Mary Browning Almany has remained in Richmond and appreciates watching Steward’s growth. “There’s no such thing as being invisible at Steward,” she states, having had only eleven students in her graduating class. She says the School gave her a great foundation and helped her build confidence at a time when she needed to find her “thing.” She was interested in English literature, and Upper School teacher Thelma Phillips helped create an independent study course during Mary’s senior year. Based on her AP test score, she placed out of a freshman English class at William & Mary; she later transferred to VCU, where she graduated with a BA in English.

After college, Mary worked as a legal assistant until her daughter was born in March 2000. She has been married for 20 years and has two children, ages thirteen and nine. In recent years she has become a runner and has participated in the Richmond half-marathon for the last four years. During the summers, her family spends time giving sailing lessons at Fishing Bay Yacht Club in Deltaville. In the future, Mary would like to be a teacher; she is already certified and substitutes in Henrico County schools.

Curt Nichols lives in Manassas and is an attorney specializing in criminal law at his own firm. After obtaining both his undergraduate and law degrees from George Mason University, Curt eventually settled in Northern Virginia to set up his practice. He and his wife have two children, ages seven and three. He says that above all, he appreciated the diversity of opportunities available at Steward—he played three varsity sports, acted in the theatre program, and was student government president. He adds that Headmaster Paul Cramer was very supportive and instru-

mental in his time at the School. Curt’s family still lives in Richmond, including his sister Ann Claiborne Nichols Crosby ’88, and he has remained close friends with his high school buddies.

Sandy Szilassy (center in photo) lives in Virginia Beach, but remains as devoted to Steward as if she lived next door. She says that Steward is family to her—the School had a huge impact on her life, and she has tried to apply the sense of loyalty and commitment she gained as a student to her work now. Athletic Director Janet Rice was Sandy’s high school field hockey coach and has remained one of her dearest friends. Because of the positive influence she gained from Ms. Rice as a coach, Sandy tries to instill the same inspiration in her students today. Sandy teaches Special Education at Salem High School and owns a travel field hockey club. For several years in the early 2000s, she commuted to Richmond each week to coach the “Spartan Elite,” a club team that practiced indoors at Steward. Two of the more recent players on her Virginia Beach team have competed in the Olympics, and one of them gave her Olympic jersey to Sandy as a gift of thanks. It seems that Sandy has become for her students what Janet Rice was to her: a true mentor and friend.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

trusteenote

ear Steward Families and Friends, As you step on campus, you cannot help but marvel at the Bryan Innovation Lab. I hope you share my excitement in seeing this spectacular facility at completion. Visitors to our campus are immediately drawn to this facility and inquire about its mission and the educational opportunities it will offer for our students. We believe that the Bryan Lab will facilitate learning skills, critical thinking, and development opportunities that will position Steward as a leader in the community. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions and efforts of so many people who have worked together to make this project a reality. We hope that you will take advantage of the upcoming events to tour this wonderful new addition to our campus. Recent years have brought significant changes and additions to our campus, but our mission remains unchanged. We accomplish our mission by focusing on the individual through small classes and assisting students in building close relationships with each other, faculty, and staff. The essence of our culture is rooted in the ethic of care: care for oneself, care for others, for the school community, and for a

cause greater than oneself. We measure the effectiveness of our programs by looking at the whole child. The Bryan Lab will help us to fulfill our mission in ways we never could before. Your Board of Trustees is strongly committed to the core values of the School and celebrates the grand opening of the Bryan Lab and the opportunity it provides to enhance the Steward experience for our students and their families. The Board of Trustees is comprised of dedicated men and women who share a love for Steward and an appreciation for the impact this school has made on so many lives in the 40 years since our founding. It is made up of parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, and friends of Steward. On the next page is a list of the many men and women who have served as trustees these past 40 years because they believed in the mission and values of the School and because of their desire to sustain and support Steward. We sincerely thank all of these past and current trustees for their support and guidance.

Best Regards,

Don DeLaney Chairman of the Board of Trustees donaldfdelaneyjr@gmail.com

Crossroads

Fall/Winter 2012

Thank you to those who have served on The Steward School Board of Trustees during the last 40 years. Your service to the School has been invaluable in making Steward the place it is today. * Pearl R. Adamson Thomas Agee James C. Ambler, Jr. R. Michael Amyx Barbara V. Anchell Owen Anchell Molly Anderson Linda Arnold Walter C. Ayers, Sr. Barbara W. Bailey Fernand Baruch, Jr. S. Wayne Bazzle J. Edward Betts Charles B. Bice LouEllen P. Blackwelder Kimberley G. Bolger J. Ruffin Branham, Jr. George M. Bright Martin L. Brill William Brock Robert Brooks Mavis H. Brown John Bryan Alfred S. Bryant Malcolm Buckey, Jr. Elizabeth D. Bullock Timothy S. Burress Eleanor Button Martin C. Buxton, Jr. Belinda Byrne Edmund Byrne Tinina Q. Cade Daniel A. Caldwell Carrie L. Camp Charles F. Carmichael Ann Carpenter Dianne Carter Joseph C. Carter, Jr. I. Lee Chapman Marion S. Chenault E. L. Clements Nancy Clements W. Norwood Clemons Elliott T. Cooper Jane Cornell Thomas J. Cosse Paul F. Costello

Phyllis Cothran Paul R. Cramer, Sr. Thomas Crowder W. Thomas Cunningham, Jr. Donald F. DeLaney, Jr. Steven DeLaney Robert S. Dietz Helen F. Dixon Richard G. Duncan Michael P. Drzal Susan A. Drzal James V. Duty Lawrence S. Eiben Matthew J. Ernst Randall Evans Keith M. Fairly ’81 Martha Fink Stanford A. Fischer Wilson H. Flohr Pace M. Fonville Laura W. Fornash A.W. Scott Frayser Larry W. French James Frye Kenneth J. Fulton George W. Garner, Jr. Jackson E. Gaylord James M. Glave Read F. Goode Max H. Goodloe, Jr. Jeffrey Goodstein William H. Goodwin, Jr. James T. Gottwald Nancy B. Gottwald Max Graeber Harry S. Greene, Jr. Susan Greene Anne M. Grier Judith M. Gupton Richard Gupton Deborah B. Hanger Hugh S. Harris Steven C. Henderson Merlin Henkel Philip H. Hickerson A.E. Honey, Jr. Ruble A. Hord, III

Helen P. Horwitz Cynthia E. Hudson Berry Hughes Maria B. Jones Nancy H. Kane William C. Kane George M. Kasper Denise G. Kasper Caroline R. Kay Robert Kay Joseph H. Keller Paul J. Kelley William Kelley Martha E. Kolbe Barry M. Kornblau Charles Krumbein Cynthia N. Krumbein Michael J. Krupin J. Christopher Lansing Robert L.T. Larus Susan Latourelle Richard C. Lawrence Claudia J. Lawton Edward R. Lawton Gary LeClair Jane Leitch Betty Sue LePage Francis V. (Mike) Lowden III G. Wilmer Mackey Ann Carol Marchant Anthony Markel D. Hunter Marrow Cecil E. Martin, Jr. Robert L. Massey Richard A. Mateer W. Alan McCollough Eugene McKeown Charles L. Menges Ronald L. Messersmith Janet S. Meyers Stanley Meyers Sandra C. Minton David C. Moore R. Peter Mooz John J. Muldowney Luther Newcomb Sally Newcomb

John A. Nolde, Jr. Mary B. (Muff) Nolde Marshall L. Norton Walter J. O’Brien Albert Orgain Jacquelyn N. (Jan) Orgain Anne C. Pace J. Kim Penberthy Russell W. Perkins, Sr. Virginia S. Perrin Herbert C. Peterson O. James Peterson III James A Pettit, Jr. Dennis A. Pryor Faisal S. Qureshi ’92 Huda S. Rahal Clyde H. Ratcliffe III Robert Q. Rhodes P. Michael Roane Linwood R. Robertson W. Thomas Robinson A. Prescott Rowe Linda R. Royall Wellford L. Sanders, Jr. C.C. Satterfield III Bradford B. Sauer Thomas S. Scales, Jr. Harriett H. Schnell Susie Scott James A. Searle, Jr. Ariel Skelley James A. Slabaugh Robert F. Smart Wyman Smith Sharon Southall Darlene Spangler Ronald K. Spears Raymond Spence Stephen M. Stackhouse Marykay S. Stainback Donald E. Steeber William T. Steele III John L. Stinson, Jr. Kevin P. Strecker, Jr. James F. Stutts Paul N. Sutro DeeDee Sutton

Ray M. Tate George W. B. Taylor G. Thomas Taylor Richard Taylor Charles Terry Brian Tharp Matthew G. Thompson Virginia H. Totten Anita Grymes Towell Coleman E. Trainor Aubrey Tuggle J. Neil Turnage Richard W. Turner Robinnette Turner Taylor F. Turner, Jr. Susan Cramer Twining ’84 E. Massie Valentine Melvin L. Vulgamore William R. Waddell Bruce Ward Deborah W. Ward David A. Whitaker, Jr. Craig Whitten JoAnn S. Whitten Raoul Wilkins Sandra S. Wilkins Harrison B. Wilson III Lowndes Wilson Phyllis Wilson Henry L. Wilton Karri Wilton Katherine H. Wilton Sharon Wilton Louise Wiltshire William C. Wood Anne C. Woodfin Edward A. Zakaib ’86 *We do not have complete trustee records for the last 40 years and have pieced together the following list from numerous sources. Please email Lori Jobe at lori.jobe@stewardschool.org with any updates or corrections to the list. It is important to us to have an accurate record of those who have served. We sincerely apologize for any inadvertent errors or omissions.

Crossroads

Spring 2013

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Richmond, VA permit No. 895 Our passion is helping students discover theirs. 11600 Gayton Road Richmond, Virginia 23238 www.stewardschool.org

Please give to the 2012-2013 Annual Fund.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for Steward Students! www.stewardschool.org/give