THE STEWARD SCHOO

• • mission statement 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 one's self 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 fully rounded

educational experience.

The Steward School admits students Without regard to sex, rac@, color. religion, or national or ethnic origin to aU the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school

THE STEWARD SCHOOL

,

Tate Janet Rice, Paul Cramer, h Roger coulombe, Ray ,

R' fernand BaruC , L to '. d Derek Garnett Helen DIxon, an

L to R: Don Delaney, Kevin Strecker, Upper School Head Dan Frank, Dan Caldwell, Headmaster Ken Seward, and Don Steeber

1 Letter From the H eadmaster

2 Small School = Big Opportunities

3 Wilton Hall Dedication

5 Welcome New Faculty and Staff

9 Students Create Best Calendar To Da te

The New Website

13 Encore!

15 Summer Reads All Year Long

19 Alumnus Tyler Harris '07

21 Fine Arts

23 Athletics

25 For the Love of the Game

29 Capital Campaign Kick-Off and Great Tailgate

Published by THE STEWARD SCHOOL

11600 Gayton Road

Richmond, Virginia 23238

(804) 740-3394

Administration

Kenneth H. Seward Headmaster

Carolyn Brandt Assistant Headof School

lisa Dwelle OlfectorofFlnanceandOperations

Sarah Melvin DirectorofDevelopment

Scott Moncure Direcroro/Admisslons

Wyndi Carnes DirectOlo! Marketing and Communications

Dan Frank Head of Upper School

Mike Maruca Head of Middle School

Deborah Hanger Headof Lower School

Publication Staff

Tracy lynch Editor

Sherilyn Smail Designer

Paul Busse, Caston's Photography Studio, Cindy Grissom, Tracy lynch, Sherilyn Smail Contributing

Photographers

Printing

Total Printing Company

The editors have made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information reported in this publication We apologize (or any inadvertent errors.

Crosstr»th is published thr'ee times a yHr by The SteWilrd School. All richts reserwd. No portion of this moiRa" may be ~roducl!d without the written permission of The Steward Sc.hool. Address chances should be sent to Barblrl WerdtrmWl, Dewlopment Offtce. The Steward School, 11600 wyton ROId, Richmond. Virgini. 23238. Suggestlon5 and corrments regarding this publication mil)' ~ sent to the editor. Tracy lynch, at trac)'.t)'nc~ewardsthool.Of'I. or milled to The Stew.rd School, '1600 Gayton ReNd, Richmond, Virginia 23238.

Visit us on the web at

www.stewardschool.org

THE STEWARD SCHOOL

L EITER FROM THE HEADMASTER

At Steward, the story

of education is the

story of discovering

and developing forms

of caring for one's self

and others, for the

community and for

causes, regardless of

the numbers.

1 Crossroads Fal\lWinter 2008

I have a friend who is spending his days riding the numbers ro ller coaster of the stock marker. Each hour, he feels better or worse, his life feels more or less successful, he feds more or less secure, based upon the market' highs or lows. H e feels powerless to control anything he's watching. His attention moves back and forrh from his computer monitor to the newspaper on his desk: unemployment rising, companies fa iling and disappearing, families losing their homes, the Big Three needing a ba ilout, the Detroit Lions' record 0-12. He fixes German cars for a living; he remembers nothing about Nietzsche.

The core questions of a liberal arts education are: Who am I? What is this world in which I find myself? How shou ld I live my life! How can the education that we arc providing our students at Steward help them ride life's future ro ller coasters?

Neil Postman, in The End of Educarion, argues that what everyone needs to get them through times such as these is a good story, a compelling personal narrative that expresses one's reason for being, more than a reason for doing or having. In our case, this includes a reason for being in the classroom, for listening to a teacher, for doing homework, for playing fa ir.

This is not just any kind of story, but a big story- an epic that " .. . tells of origins and envisions a future; a story that constructs ideals, prescribes rules of conduct, provides a source of authority, and above all , gives a sense of continuity and purpose." This kind of story has " ... sufficient credibility, complexity, and symbolic power to enable one to organize one's life around it ... ;" a story about "what the world is like, how things got the way they are, and what lies ahead." At Steward, each student must discover and create one's own story.

The stOlY can be religious or scientific, but it must be personal and enduring, strong enough to sustain one's self, one's principles and rela tionship, regardless of what one does or possesses. We arc in the" business" of making people- good people regardless of the situation or circumstances; of creating social capital thm increases, that must increase, even as other forms of capital may disappear altogether.

At Steward, [he story of education is the story of discovering and developing forms of caring for one's self and others, for the community and for causes, regardless of the numbers. Nietzsche's insight was that one who has a "why" to live, or at Steward we would say to care, can endure almost any "how." While we do not know wha t the challenges of the future will pose, we do know that preparing each student with a compell ing personal story aboLit the reason for being who he or she has become will provide the bes t kind of security for an uncertain world.

Ken Seward

instruction, work with the curriculum to fit your students' interests and needs."

-Upper School teacher

"The teachers can pay more attention to you, and it helps you learn."

- Fourth-grade student

"You have more of a chance to talk to your teachers, to have that one-on­one time that helps in many ways."

- Ninth-grade student

Steward has approximately 600 students in its entire K-12 population. Many elementary schools have that many students, and many high schools boast as many as 1,500.

Much can be said about attending or working in a small school. The words "community" and "closeness" come to mind. But what about the number of opportunities available to students, faculty, and staff? If a school is considered "small," does it necessarily follow that the breadth of opportunities is small as well?

Not at Steward. In fact , we believe the inverse is true: the smaller the school, the more opportunities available. Opportun ities for what, you may ask? Take a look at the words on this page to get a better idea-to see responses to the question, "Does a small school equal big opportunities?" And then, look through the following pages to glimpse the opportunities that exist because of-that, in fact , get their life from-the smallness that makes us unique.

"I can really get to know kids' strengths and capitalize on those strengths, while also working with them on their individual opportunities for improvement."

-Lower School teacher

"It is a small school, but they do so much to make sure we have the opportunities of a larger school-sports, plays, clubs, etc."

-Eighth-grade student

students greater opportunity to get onstage and perform in front of a live audience. At other schools, older kids are often afrai d of speaking in public or in front of a live audiencc; it's no big deal for students after lcaving our Lower School."

- Lower Scho.ol teacher

''YOll get more attention, and it really helps YOll prep better for college. You can meet with your teachers, and get the help and guidance that you need."

Wilton Hall Dedication September 4, 2008

The School's Administration Building was rededicated as Wilton Hall on Thursday, September 4, immediately following Opening Convocation.

The naming honors Mr. and Mrs E. Carlton WiLton , who have been Loyal friends and supporters of the SchooL since its inception.

1. Guests gather under the tent in front of Wilton HaLL for the dedication ceremony

2. Headmaster Ken Seward with Betty and E. CarLton WiLton cutting the cake at the Wilton Hall reception

3. Trustee Ferd Baruch reads the dedication proclamation

4. Betty and E. Carlton Wilton's son, Hank Wilton, his wife Cindy, and daughter Jane Elizabeth '16, admire the new plaque on Wilton Hall

5. The Wiltons in front of Wilton HalL and the capital campaign sign

6. Ken Seward cuts the ribbon on Wilton Hall as campaign co-chair Dan Caldwell, Betty and E. Carlton Wilton, and campaign co-chair Don Delaney look on

This Year's Spaghetti Dinner Unveils the New Spartan Logo

On Wednesday, August 27, the Parent's Association hosted the annual Spaghetti Supper. Attendees ofthe event were the first to see the newly installed Multi-purpose Gymnasium floor and the new Spartan logo. This flooring is the exact same material used in last summer's Olympic games in Beijing, and was made possible by contributions from the Parents' Association, the Annual Fund, and the Spartan Club.

The Marketing Department, along with designer Adam Mead ofThe Creative System, worked with the Athletic Department and a small review committee made up of former and current coaches, teachers, students, and alumnus Thomas Galvin '91 (creator of the original Spartan that became the prior athletic logo), to create a new Spartan logo. The goal was a version that is more modern and fresh and that all constituencies, young and old, can embrace. To stay true to its origin, the new logo retains visual elements of the old Spartan.

1. Jake Rowe, Kate Conway, Amy Lane, and

Ellie Jones

2. Capital Campaign Co-Chair, Dan Caldwell, wife Sally, and daughter Lily enjoy the

evening

3.l!amille Gilbert and stepfather Paulo Franco

4. Anna and Mary Pastore with Mary Madison Andrews

5. Sydney Whiting and Elliot French with the Spartan

6. Kindergartner Anya Bhargava strikes a pose

WIth her parents

Welcome New Faculty and Staff

Ann Blair Higgins (1) Ann Blair Higgins graduated from University of Richmond with a B.A. in Art History. She began her career as a project manager at a local graphic design firm and joined the Steward team in 2008 as the Capital Campaign Development Associate. Her interests include dabbling in interior design and hiking in the great outdoors. Fun Fact about Ann Blair: She is certified to lead backpacking trips in the back country of Alaska.

Karen Huennekens (2) Karen Huennekens joins us as Coordinator for Parents' Association Special Events. Karen has been involved in non-profit fundraising for some time and has co-chaired two of Steward's previous Auctions. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. degree in Marketing. She now calls Richmond home after living in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Georgia. She and her husband, Michael, have been parents at Steward for 10 years and have two Spartans, Preston (9th grade) and Kenda ll (8th grade) . She is an AFAA certified aerobics instructor with the Tuckahoe and John Rolfe YMCAs and enjoys spending time with friends and family. Fun fact about Karen: She is an avid Kentucky Wildcat fan , so refrain from all talk associated with ACC basketball teams! GO KATs!

Ken Kellner (3) Ken Kellner is Steward's Middle School technology teacher. When he is not running the computer lab, he is supporting the academic teachers' classroom projects with his 21st-century instructional concepts, introducing students to ways in which they can be "not only consumers but producers of technology." Outside of Steward, he teaches at his temple's Sunday school and coaches his five -year-old daughter, Roxanne's, soccer team (the Fire Ants) . Fun fact about Ken: His hobbies include yoga and playing world music.

Kim Linnell (4) Kim Linnell joins the Steward community this year to provide instructional support for Steward's international students. She earned her Bachelor's degree in SOCiology from Gettysburg College; she received her Master's degree in TESOL from the University of Pennsylvania. Kim taught English to foreign students at the University of Pennsylvania for eight years and clocked about six years teaching abroad as well, in places like China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and at a japanese boarding school in England. While teaching in China, Kim met her British husband, julian. She returns to the classroom after a decade

5 Crossroads FalllWinter 2008

of home-schooling their four daughters, ages 6 to 16. Fun fact about Kim: She dabbles in freelance writing and has been published in Cobblestone and Faces as well as in parenting magazines and academic journals.

Chris Green (5) Chris Green joins Steward as the IT Systems Analyst. Chris received his B.A. in Economics and Business from Virginia Military Institute. Prior to joining Steward, Chris was a sous chef at Lulu's restaurant in Richmond as well as a real estate agent for REI MAX Commonwealth and The Millie Green Team. He also taught English and Small Business Strategy in Prague, Czech Republic. As well as being a full-time member of Steward's staff, Chris is the Head jV Boys' Soccer Coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Chris plays in a men's competitive league and for the semi-professional indoor team, The Richmond Rowdies. Fun Fact about Chris: He is an avid motorcycle rider.

Lynn Ramsson (6) Lynn Ramsson joins the Steward facu lty after a year-long adventure teaching 7th grade in northern California. She is teaching English and Health in the Upper School while worki ng as SEED Coordinator. Lynn graduated from the University of Virginia with a counseling degree after earning degrees in English and Spanish from james Madison University. Fun fact about Lynn: Her dog, who is named Thursday, can climb trees (but only if Lynn leads the way).

Dave Hillgrove (7) Dave Hillgrove comes to Steward as our Upper School Academic Technology teacher and Integration Specialist from a technology integration post within Henrico County Schools. Dave enjoys teach ing tremendously, especially technology and social stud ies. He has spent over 30 years in soccer and will continue as varsity coach at Steward. Dave's careers have also included writ ing and publishing and training within a dot.com company. Happily married to Dorothy, Dave also has three daughters, two of whom are roommates in the same college their parents attended (jMU). Fun fact about Dave: He loves playing golf and playing gu itar (whether it's wooden or in "RockBand"!).

Chris McKee (8) Chris McKee comes to The Steward School as the Help Desk Coordinator. He graduated from the University of Richmond in 1996 with a B.S. in Computer Science. He settled in the

Richmond area after graduation and has been working in tech support environments and platforms since 1999. He is an avid sports fan and loves to follow his beloved Spiders as well as playing both softball and golf on a regular basis. Fun fact about Chris: He once worked on actress julia Ormond's computer.

Mayra Foster (9) Mayra Foster and her family moved to Richmond from Denver, Colorado last year. Prior to Colorado, Mayra lived in Arizona for almost 15 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Quantitative Business Analysis from Penn State University and a Master's in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University. Before joining The Steward School, she spent many years in the business world, where among other things she led va rious projects and quality improvement efforts. A nat ive Spanish speaker, Mayra teaches both Upper and Middle School Spanish. Mayra is married to Dan and has one son, Nicholas Peterman, a 10th grader at Steward. Fun fact about Mayra: She enjoys cooking and traveling, and is especially fond of the Puerto Rican rainforest and Arizona sunsets. While living in Arizona, however, Mayra had some close encounters with snakes and scorpions, and was even stung by a scorpion once.

Piper Moritz (10)

Piper Moritz joins Steward this year as a proverbial jack-of-all-trades. Originally from New Orleans, Piper went to Furman University, where she received a B.A. in History and French in 2004. Piper worked at Nansemond­Suffolk Academy in Suffolk, VA until 2006, when she and her husband moved to Richmond. She is happily returning to teaching after two years spent working at VCU. At Steward, Piper will be teaching French, History, and SAT Prep in the Upper School in addition to French in the Lower School. Fun Fact about Piper: In her free time, Piper loves playing and watching sports of all kinds. She competed in her first marathon last fall.

Michael Baynes (11) Michael Baynes joins Steward as the Assistant to the Athletic Director. He comes to us after years of volunteer work with The Collegiate School and St. Ch ristopher's School. Mike has a long and varied sports background with emphasis on baseball and basketball and has been an employee and volunteer with Henrico County Recreation since 1971 . Although he spent many years in the corporate world (with Signet Bank, Heilig-Meyers, and AMF Bowling Worldwide), Mike's heart is in athletics. Fun fact about Mike: He is known on several major sports web sites as the legendary "Old Coach

1'1." Mike writes advice, responses, and commentaries as well as guidance to young players. Ask Mike what is important about young players and he'll say, "You must always take t ime to answer any child's question. While it might just take a moment of your life to respond, it may be the most important moment in their life. You cannot miss this opportunity; it will not come again."

Andrea Dowdy (12) Andrea Dowdy is the new Middle School Physical Education Teacher and Varsity/j.V. volleyball coach. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, Andrea moved to Richmond after graduating from the University of Virginia in 2002 with a degree in philosophy. For the last six years, Andrea was the Associate Head Volleyball Coach at Virginia Commonwealth University in cha rge of recru it ing student athletes from countries as far away as Germany and Brazil. Fun fact about Andrea: She is a newlywed! This past spring she married her husband, Brian, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

'Elliott Gravitt (13) Elliott Gravitt comes to us from st. Christopher's School. He teaches both Lower and Middle School Physical Education. Elliott holds a B.s. in Electronic Med ia and an M.S. in

Sports Leadership, both from Virginia Commonwealth University, He previously taught in the Richmond area atj.R, Tucker High School in their English Department. Elliott also coached basketball at the University of Richmond, Lebanon Valley College, and Lehigh University. He's looking forward to coaching basketball and tenn is at Steward. His wife, Emily, and his daughter, Landon, are excited to cheer on the Spartans to victory. Fun Fact about Elliott: Believe it or not, he has no cousins. Both his mother and father were only children,

Elizabeth Coleman (14) Elizabeth joined the Steward communi ty this fall and is teaching Upper School English. She has a B.A. in English from Davidson College and a Master's in English Education from Virginia Tech. Previously, she taught English and ESOL abroad and in Fairfax County. After spending the last year at home with her one­year-old son, William, she is excited to be back in the classroom part-time, Fun fact about Elizabeth: She lived in rural Japan for a year and taught English to elementary and middle school students, While there, she learned to paraglide from a nearby volcano.

(Continued on page 7)

Crossroads FalllWinter 2008 6

Nancy Negus (15)

Nancy Negus joins the Steward faculty as the Upper School CAL Coordinator. She has a B.A. in history from the University of Virginia and a M.A. in Special Education from George Washington University. Nancy grew up in Chesterfield, but moved away aher college and has since lived in New York, North Carolina, California, Michigan, and Massachusetts. Nancy and her husband Steve moved back to Richmond so that Steve could join the faculty at VCU. Their son, John, is a senior at Northeastern University in Boston and their daughter, Ellen, is a sophomore at NYU. Fun fact about Nancy: Between college and graduate school, Nancy worked in Washington D.C. for the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Jenny Suarez (16) Jenny Suarez joins us this year as a Spanish teacher for Lower and Middle School students. She was born in Colombia, which she refers to as "a gorgeous tropical country," and she is a Spanish native speaker. Jenny holds a B.A. in Languages and a Master's in Education. She has been a successful teacher for 1S years and loves it. Recently, Jenny moved to Richmond from NC-in fact, it was the week before school started. She, her husband, and her 8-year-old son are all excited about becoming members of The Steward School community. Fun fact about Jenny: She loves children's movies and children's books, and also enjoys going to movies and reading.

Chris Lundberg (17) Chris Lundberg joins The Steward School as its new Upper School science teacher after serving for seven years as Coordinator for Special Student and Teacher Programs at the MathScience Innovation Center (formerly the Mathematics & Science Center) in Richmond. His experiences in education include tenures as senior teacher at Patrick Henry and Lee-Davis High Schools in Hanover County Schools and Science Department Head at Goochland High School, as well as serving as Director of the Annual Fund at his alma mater, Randolph­Macon College. Chris holds a B.S. in Biology from Randolph-Macon and a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of Virginia. His hobbies include music, carpentry, most all sports, and doing "impressions" of various famous (and not so well known) personalities. His wife, Anne, is a Latin and Reading teacher at Tuckahoe Middle School. Fun fact about Chris: He and his wife have five ch ildren: Katie, Bridget, Nora, Sarah, and finally, Stanley - who has the distinction of being born at home and delivered by his father (with some assistance from his mother)!

Peyton Ellis (18)

Peyton is taking on the position of SpartanShop co-manager. She graduated from Longwood College with a degree in English.

7 Crossroads FaU/Winter Z008

Peyton is married with two daughters. Madison is a senior and Maclaine is an eighth­grader, both at Steward. Peyton has been a volunteer at Steward for the last six years. She is a room parent for the senior class this yea r. Her husband, Mike, is president of The Spartan Club. Between Peyton and the rest of her family, they are allover the campus and love being involved! Fun fact about Peyton: She loves playing tennis, making jewelry, and going to Lake Gaston whenever she gets a chance.

Augustus Jones (19) Augustus Jones joins us as a Middle School math teacher. A Virginia native, he received his bachelor's degree from Virginia Union University in math education and his master's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in administration and supervision. Augustus taught Pre-Algebra and Algebra I for 35 years at Tuckahoe Middle School, where he was also chair of the math department. He was selected by the Benjamin Banneker Association, Inc., in October 2007 in recognition of exemplary service to mathematics education; in May 2008, he was nominated as a finalist for the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence. Augustus has two grown sons, Christopher and Antoine. Fun fact about Augustus: He is a notary public for the Commonwealth of VA. He enjoys analyzing and interpreting the tax laws for his clients and performing in the annual Christmas production at West End Assembly of God.

Jennifer Cofer (20)

Jennifer returns to Steward Middle School after being gone for 6 years raising her two boys, Carson (6 yrs) and Conner (4 yrs). During that time, she's kept her feet in the water by continuing to coach Middle School Cheerleading. Jennifer taught for 4 years in Goochland County before coming to Steward. She attended Virginia Tech for two years, and then transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University, where she went on to earn a B.S. in Psychology, a minor in Mathematics, and a Master's ofTeaching. Jennifer loves to play tennis whenever possible. Fun fact about Jennifer: She enjoys working out and staying in shape after losing 72 pounds 3Yz years ago!

Rebeca Heidbreder (21)

Dr. Rebeca Heidbreder is a new member of the Foreign Language Department this year and will be teaching Middle and Upper School Spanish. She is a native of Bolivia, but has lived in Europe for the 12 years prior to moving to the Richmond area last year with her husband, Christian, and her daughter, Mireille. Dr. Heidbreder has a great love for art, music, nature, and animals (she owns a whippet, a greyhound, and a horse). In her leisure time she enjoys playing the piano, gardening, readi ng, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and pets. Fun fact about Rebeca: Dr. Heidbreder has a Ph .D. in Cognitive Neuroscience and has 20 year's teaching experience, including 10 years teaching a variety of foreign languages. She knows English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, and some Russian and Chinese.

Convocation 2008 At the beginning of each new school year, students across all three divisions come together with faculty, staff, Board ofTrustees, and special guests to hear words of inspiration and encouragement presented by the Headmaster and administrators. This year's Convocation was held on Thursday, September 4, and we were honored to have President Edward L. Ayers of the University of Richmond address our students as the keynote speaker.

President Ayers's speech, entitled "Advice from the Other Side," encouraged students to push themselves, to try new things, and to think outside of the proverbial box. He expressed the benefits of being part of a small community, the opportunities that come with being able to pursue your own path, and the enrichment that comes by being able to spend meaningful time with people who are different than yourself. "It takes bravery to remain small," he remarked of his school's mission-and Steward's.

He also encouraged students to live in the moment rather than try to map out the exact path of their lives. There is plenty of time to contemplate what lies ahead, he told students, assuring them that their journey in life might take unexpected turns. He urged students to remain open to the possibilities their own futures can offer them. "Don 't go into COllege being 'pre' something-pre-med or pre -law, for instance," he explained, "Be in this moment. Be 18. Be 19. Set yourself apart ."

To begin the ceremony, per Steward tradition, seniors took the hands of Kindergartners and processed down the colonnade from the Lower School to the multi-purpose gymnasium for the Convocation ceremonies. Performances from choruses and the Upper School Jau ensemble highlighted the program.

h B,'5ger and Blair oliff h Samant a '

jun iors Taylor Boot ,

Students Create the Best Calendar to Date Last year, the Board of Trustees, in conjunction with the School's Vision TwentyEleven Mission Committee, worked tirelessly to rearticulate Steward's Mission statement. Not an easy task, to be sure- how can you capture in words what our entire community strives to do each day, year after year?

After more than a year, the committee presented the School with our reart iculated Mission statement. But then a new challenge emerged: informing our community of the new Mission. More importantly, how should we show the meaning behind the words? The essence, the culture, and the life of the School that the Mission encapsulates?

Wyndi Carnes, Steward's Director of Marketing and Communicat ions, took on the challenge and came up with a solution that was, well, right under our noses. "When writing the communication plan for the rearticulated Mission, it became clear that the best way to present our Mission to our students and familie s was to tap into the resources who live it every day," she explains. "We went to our very own students."

Carnes has years of marketing experience under her belt, including time spent with the Children's Museum of Richmond, t he Martin Agency, and other agencies in and out of Virginia. In other words, she is used to "selling" ideas to communities. In this case, Carnes knew, "Steward student s are t he ones in the

9 Crossroads fall/Wlnter 2008

best position to market, model, art direct, and package our product, because they are the product. So we let them be the creators and the creation."

Carnes went to photography teacher John Alley and asked for his help. He found three sophomore photography students who were up to the challenge: Samantha Bisger, Taylor Booth, and Blair Oliff. These students were given the Mission and Educationa l Philosophy and asked to capture our "Mission in action" through photographic images to be used in our annual school calendar, with the potential to be seen by hundreds of fami lies each day.

The girls, now juniors, worked with Mr. Alley to brainstorm, test ideas, take sample photos, and discuss the "angles" to use when creating

Thank you to the following Richmond-based marketing professionals who served on

the advisory committee:

• Caley Cantrell, Professor, VCU Brandcenter

• Meredith Ott, Owner, AliceBlue Photography Studio

• Danny Robinson, Creative Director, BrandFirst Entertainment

• Wally O'Brien, Jr., Steward Board Member, Former President and Chief Operating Officer of j. Walter Thompson Company

the calendar. In May 2008, they presented several of their ideas to loca l marketing professionals and Steward administrators-a task that, although daunting on the surface, proved invaluable in their creative experience. Explains Taylor Booth, "Presenting the ideas to the group of marketing professionals inspired us-the excitement about the idea they chose was contagiOUS." Blair Oliff agrees. "The professional feedback was positive, which really gave us the confidence we needed to move ahead with our ideas-it became our own project, and it just grew from there."

According to Carnes, "The end result is something that we could not have done better with professional art di rectors and photographers" The calendar takes the core components of our reart iculated Mission and "catches" them in action across the campus. It was the students' idea to incorporate a word somewhere on the page, in a subtle and fun way. The process, although challenging, was not daunting; in fact, according to Samantha Bisger, it made sense. "It is great that we have such a high technology digital photography class. We have access to the facilities, so we can and should be doing professional-level work."

Having such a large responsibility only served to greater challenge the students. "It was a huge learning experience," explains Oliff. "We were responsi ble for more than just a school project, and that was so good for us." The result, as it turns out , is good for the whole community. Future student-led publications will continue to incorporate t he insight and ideas of those on the campus and in the classrooms-and give them real-world professional experience even before they leave Steward. Talk about find ing t he Mission in action.

Below: Mission tenets "achievement" and "globalism" captured beaut'fully by the students

Staying Connected: The Connections Institute

Each summer, five Steward students get the chance to make the kind of "connections" they'll never forget.

That's because they at tend the "Connections Institute," a unique peer leadership program run by the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, based here in Richmond . The program is part of their Emerging Leaders Institute, and since the early 1990s, it has helped high school st udents across the Commonwealth to make decisions, initiate teamwork, and create solutions based on a respect of and appreciation for the diversity that exists around us.

Jonathan c. Zur, Chief Operating Officer for the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, explains more. "Connections is a year-long process of challenge, growth, and impact for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors." It begins with a five­day residential program during the summer that allows student delegates "to break barriers, deal with biased behavior, and develop an action plan to reduce prejudice in their schools."

Through workshops, small group discussions, and large group activities, delegates "gain insight into their own lives and values," explains Zur. "They are able to forge a connection between what they understand cognitively and how they feel about their experiences with prejudice." Specific topics include ability, status, body image, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, personal identity, community relationships, and family relationships. "The program is extremely interactive and experiential," Zur continues. "It relies on the contributions and experiences of student participants."

Zur believes that sending a team of students to the Connections Institute demonstrates the commitment of schools "to fostering an environment of inclusion." Ali Thompson, Dean of Upper School Student Life and Steward faculty liaison to the Connections program, agrees. "The Connections Institute allows time and space for students to share their personal journeys, listen to the voices of others, and look at the world through multiple lenses. It is my hope that the experience motivates them to become allies with diversity and that they help to make our school a more inclusive place."

At the Institute, students use what they learn from each other to create "Action Plans," to take back with them to their schools. They work to develop creative problem-solving

L to R: Noel Martinez . , F/I)n Smyth, Kendal SadIe, . .

, Omn Moms and) / . ; iJ Ie Remmers

techniques and ways to address the challenges they and their peers face in school. The Action Plan 's purpose should be to "actively involve other students from their schools to initiate positive change throughout the year," explains Zur. This summer, the Steward delegates spent time thinking about the perfect program for Steward; in its first semester of existence, its popularity and outreach already suggest imminent success.

The "Peer Facilitation Plan" that the delegates helped to implement works like this: each quarter, a small group of same-gendered , same-grade students meets to discuss a given teen-relevant topic, such as peer pressure or rela t ionships. Peer facilitators, who are also the same gender and in the same grade, lead the discussions, "looking after" the rest of the group. The conversations are open, but must stay "safe," for all parties involved-and the fa cilitators are there to ensure that safety.

For junior Finn Smyth, the Connections experience was life changing. "You walk in not

STUDENT DELEGATES, 2008:

Kendal Sadler

Finn Smyth

Omri Morris

Noel Martinez

Julie Remmers

STUDENT DELEGATES, 2007:

JEB Stuart

Peter Howard

Grace Henderson

Alison Lanshe

Carlton Burke

knowing what to expect, but the second you get there, they make it comfortable and fun. You get to know everyone- and that 's what they want. We are not 'allowed' to sit next to the same person twice, for instance." The program, Finn explains, "goes from skits that touch on lighter issues to delving into deep issues that have a huge impact." He was moved, he explained, by what he learned of other's past challenges. "Some nights leave you emotional, as you get to know these people you've become friends with and learn about what they've been through." In that week, he explains, because of the openness, the discussions, the peer-led activities, and more, "When you leave, it just hits you-you get to know these people better than you know anybody."

Kelly Stuart, mother of last year's delegate JEB, has high praise for the program. "JEB's experience helped him to better recognize the common threads connecting individuals in a diverse population." She continues, "The program helps kids celebrate each other's differences rather than fear them."

And that kind of impact is lasting. Finn's biggest lesson? "Respect," he says. "I have learned how to gain respect for everyone. I have learned what can happen by saying or doing things to hurt others," and through his words and actions, "I hope to have the courage to help other people learn the same."

Crossroads FatlN/inter 200B 10

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Associations: The connections that allow Sparta net users to view personalized content based on their Role and Group memberships, as well as their Relationships in the system. For example, a parent will receive Role-based content for Parents because he or she is associated with the Parent Role; the same parent may also receive girls' varsity soccer content on the portal because his or her daughter is a member of the irIs' varsit soccer Grou which

Team Coaches, and Team Roster.

4. Alumni Groups: Provides a forum for alumni to communicate with classmates. Each class page can display Class Information, Classmates, News, Announcements, Class Notes, Agent Letters, Photos, Class Giving, Facts and Figures, Events, Downloads, and Links.

Portal: A gateway that easily connects you to teachers and the School - the starting point to access all our content.

The Lora M. Robins Theatre Dedication Makes History

On September 11,2008, The Steward School honored long-time Steward friend and benefactor, Lora M. Robins, with an evening full of music, dance, and song. On that night, the theatre in the Paul R. Cramer Center for the Arts was formally dedicated in her name in appreciation of her history of generosity to the School. Mrs. Robins recently made a lead gift of one million dollars in support of The Steward School's capital campaign, Building A Legacy. One Steward AtA Time.

The evening's event, entitled Encore!, honored the legacy of Mrs. Robins and also marked the season-opening performance for The Richmond Ballet, The Richmond Symphony, and

The Virginia Opera. These three organizations performed under one roof, on one night for only the second time in history.

The Richmond Ballet, now in its 25th professional season, featured Ojangology, one of the most popular and frequently requested works in the Richmond

Ballet's repertoire . Ojangology heated up the stage with jazzy fun in a work created for the Richmond Ballet by contemporary choreographer, Val Caniparoli. The Richmond Symphony, conducted by Erin Freeman, and the Virginia Opera, conducted by Peter Mark, performed an array of works ranging from "Fanfare for the Common Man" to "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot.

"A historic event such as this one," said Headmaster Ken Seward, "Allows us to achieve the primary goal of this beautiful building-that is, to reach out

to all people who love the arts. Our students benefit; the community around us benefits: and, at the same time, we celebrate a woman who has taken our mission to her heart and thank her in a Significant, meaningful way." He continued, "We are honored that these three organizations came together with us to celebrate." The Lora M. Robins Theatre will continue to house community performing arts organizations, as well as serve as a classroom, performance, and gathering space for Steward families, faculty, and students.

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Summer Reads All Year Long Picture this: a lazy summer morning, seagulls beckoning out your window. Your skin smells faintly of coconuts, left over from yesterday's sunscreen application. Rocking lightly in a chair on the screened-in porch, you have steaming coffee in one hand, and a steamy novel in the other. It's the summer. And you're at the beach.

There's nothing quite like the perfect "summer read," as just about any Steward faculty member will tell you. Nothing quite like having the time away fro m grading, planning, and more planning to escape into an alternate world.

But who says reading is just for summer? What about curling up in front of the fire with a good book in your lap? Here, in their words, Steward faculty and staff give you recommendations for your next trip to the bookstore. Stock up. Journeys into those alternate worlds await.

Kim linnell, Upper School CAL

Three Cups of Tea (Greg Mortenson). About a man's mission to build schools in the most neglected areas of Pakistan. The book demonstrates the importance of education in not only lifting people out of poverty but also stabilizing this volatile region of the world. An inspirational read and heartwarming to those of us who love building meaningful relationships across cultures,

and ...

Suzanne Casey, Lower School Enrichment

Three Cups of Tea (Greg Mortenson) . I love this book so much that I have read it three t imes this year. It is nonfiction, but so action-packed that it reads like fiction. This book takes you to another part of the world and lets you glimpse a totally different kind of life, and helps to begin to explain the hatred of the West and the sameness of people the world over,

Maryann Kaminski, Speech Therapist

My 5troke of Insight (Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.) It is a true story about a neuroscientist who had a massive stroke at the age of 37. Throughout the book, she wrote eloquently and provided some faSCinating insights to her experience with loss and recovery of her language skills. This is a great book for anyone interested in the brain and lea rni ng.

Mary Greenlee , Upper School Science Teacher

The Doomsday Book (Connie Willis) and The Demon In the Freezer (Richard Preston) , These two books were rather horrifying to read back­to-back because they both describe in gruesome detail the effects of history-changing disease­smallpox and plague. Each book was fascinating for different reasons. The Doomsday Book provides incredible detail about the daily life and social interactions in the 1300s, while The Demon In the Freezer provides a mysterious glimpse into the current world of research and bio-terrorism. I recommend each, though perhaps it would be better not to read them at the same time.

Gardner Mundy, Upper School Asst. Dean of Students and History Teacher

The Mapmaker's Wife (Robert Whitaker). This book is about French scientists who went into the Amazon to measure the circumference of the earth. Dewey Brown's wife gave it to me because we went on the Steward trip to the Galapagos a few years ago! It's about the scientists' decade-long expedition to South America, and it's really interesting.

Terri Shelton, Upper School English Teacher

The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion). It is the story of Didion's husband's sudden death, and unexpected, almost fatal illness of her daughter. Sounds morbid, right? It's not. If anyone has experienced the death or illness of a close family member, Didion has a way of making the reader feel not-so-alone or so "crazy," This story is a memoir of surviva l and moving on in spite of tremendous obstacles and pain. Even if the reader hasn't experienced th is sort of tragedy, the book is a page-turner, and Didion's writing makes us think about why we are here and why we should appreciate the people we love, every day of our lives,

Delight Booker, Middle and Upper School Librarian

Big Russ and Me: Father and 50n: Lessons of Life (Tim Russert) . After Russert's sudden death this summer, I had to re-read his best-seller. In this memoir, Russert presents an affectionate look at the life of his father, Big Russ, and shares the lessons he learned from the World War II veteran. This is a book for all of us ; our parents and our children. It is uplifting in its message of personal responsibility and family relationships.

Dan Frank, Upper School Head

The Commoner (John Burnham Schwartz). In about 1990, I read a book review of Bicycle Days by John Schwartz, and I realized that I recognized him because he had been a camp friend long ago. I devoured that book. This summer, I read The Commoner, by Schwartz. It's a generational story about a commoner marrying into the modern Japanese monarchy, It is a quiet, beautiful novel that pulls you into a world as richly detailed as Memoirs of a Geisha,

Lynn Ramsson, SEED Coordinator and Upper School Faculty Member

The Bone People (Keri Hulme). This is a Booker Prize-winning novel set in New Zealand. I recommend this book to readers who are eager to learn about other cultures. The author is half-European and half-Maori , just like her protagonist, and she definitely asks her readers to re-think what it means to be a family. Hulme writes about difficult themes, while focusing on the relationship between the three main characters,

Karen Huennekens, Special Events Coordinator

The Middle Place (Kelly Coorigan). In this memoir, the author is diagnosed with cancer, but the book is more about the influence of her Irish roots and her fat her, as well as being in the "Middle Place"- between being someone's child and also being an adult/motherl spouse when facing a personal crisis. A very humorous and enlightening book about the strength of a woman and a family pulling together in crisis.

Betsy Saunders, Lower School Teacher

Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett). At first , I was skeptical because it was so-o-o-o thick, plus it was about the Middle Ages and people who built cathedrals. It turned out to be a real page-turner, and I enjoyed it so much that I rushed to the library to check out his next book, World Without End. I highly recommend both books.

Rebeca Heidbreder, Middle and Upper School Spanish

The Shadow of the Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafon) . I read the book (in the original Spanish) on the recommendation of a friend, who wanted to know who deserved the credit for the fine writing: t he original author or the translator. It turns out that Zafon is the one with the superb command of language such that a reader hangs on every word, savoring and re-savoring the images that he so masterfully creates. The story is set in Barcelona at the time of Franco and has something for everyone: mystery, romance, horror, literary genius, comedy.

Carrie Vandervelde, Middle and Upper School Latin

For something completely different, I read and thoroughly enjoyed P.G . Wodehouse's Very Good,jeeves! It's silly escap ist fiction with a dash of social satire, recommended for anyone who attended or would have liked to attend Mr. Smith's coaching session on British accents.

Chris Tickle, Lower School Teacher

The Last Lecture (Randy Pausch). Not only was it incredibly moving to read the account of this father of three young children facing terminal liver cancer, but it was also won derfully inspirational, humorous, and something I plan to force both my teenaged sons to read. Pausch shares incredible stories from his life gea red both for teaching his college students how to reach their dreams and also as a record for his own children. It can easily be read in one sitting.

Donna Jackson, Middle School English

The Prince of Tides (Pat Conroy) . I was vacationing on Fripp Island in South Carolina, where Conroy lives now, and t he novel was set in the area . I had seen the author on a previous trip to t he island, and the home we stayed in had many of his books, so I was inspired to read one. Reading this book while visiti ng the low country was a treat. Conroy writes lyrically about the area, and his characters are compelling. I loved it.

Bonny Hajek, Lower School P.E.

Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer (Steven Millhauser) . A wo nderful novel about a young boy in the late 19th century, when New York City was in the development stage, who grows from a shopkeepe r's son to fulfill his dreams as a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. The stages of his life, dreams, and character unfold as New York grows as well. A completely enjoyable read!

Mike Maruca, Middle School Head

The Devil in the White City (Erik Larson) . It ta kes place near the end of the 19th century in Chicago as it prepares for the World's Fair and the opportunity to put itself on the map as a world-class city. There are two principal characters and two essentially distinct story lines. It's a reminder that t he truth (the book is primarily nonfiction) is stranger and more extraordinary tha n fiction . I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in how stuff gets built and done- think on a pyramid-like scale here-and good, old-fashioned murder mysteries that test your theories of just how evil evil can get.

Crossroads Fatl/Winter 2008 16

Alumni Association Sells Pansies, Mums, Azaleas and More! This was the second year that the Alumni Association joined the Sparta Fest activities by setting up a plant and pumpkin sale. All proceeds from this sale went to the Alumni Association Scholarship, which is awarded to a deserving Steward senior. A special thank you to all who volunteered to man the booth!

Alumni Hit the Soccer Field On Thursday, August 21, a group of Alumni gathered on the Steward School Soccer Field to play against our current soccer team. Former Coach, Neil Turnage came out to play in the game and led the Alumni team to victory. Coach Hillgrove loved the challenge, saying "it was great to have our team play against older, more experienced soccer players. We will definitely do it again!" After the game, alumni and students enjoyed pizza sponsored by the Steward School Alumni Association.

1. Sarah Newcomb '05, Ashley Cooper '05, and Meg White '05

2. Mason Camp-Crowder and Afton Bartlett '05

3. Kyle Dennis '03, Jennifer Gray '02, and Will Perkins '01

4. 80Steele '87, Graham Hickerson '89, Will Perkins '01, Stephanie Kay Williams '8B, and Ashley Cooper '05

5. Faisal Qureshi '92 and Rusty Perkins '99

6. Afton Bartlett '06 displays his soccer talents with a head ball.

7. The Alumni Soccer Team: Coach Turnage, Cassel Adamson '92, Will Perkins '01, Walter Wash '00, Afton Bartlett '06, Mason Camp-Crowder, Coach Mahban, Kyle Dennis '03, Corey Turnage 'BBandj.C. Chenault '97

Alumni Newsmaker: The Making of "Why I Like Steward" Video "Why I Like Steward" premiered at the Volunteer Leadership Forum on August 22. The video gathers the perspectives of life at Steward from current students of all ages. Here is the story behind the making of the film, by Bradley de Wet '06.

Even though I am a

senior in college, I

have made a habit of

visiting Steward when

I am home. There are

still so many great

people there that I

know. I know many

of the students that were freshmen my senior

year, and it's always great to catch up with my

teachers, who are more like friends, about how

my college career is going. People are always

excited to see me and want to know what is

going on in my life. It keeps me comi ng back'

After school let out for the summer, I went in

to visit our Alumni Coordinator, Barbara

Werderman. I knew of the recent effort to try

and get the alumni more involved, and figured

I wou ld poke my head in and ask if there was

anything I might be able to help out with. She

knew just what to do. Knowing me to be a film

student from serving on the college panel

earlier in the year, she told me about the idea

for t he video the Development Office had

already begun working on. The footage had

already been shot by John Alley and several of

his photography students and it needed to be

edited. It was perfect. I could do something

that I loved doing already, editing, and serve

my school.

It was only after I started working on the

project though that I realized why I was

actually volunteering. I feel strongly that The

Steward School is largely responsi ble for the

confident collegiate leader I am today.

Without all the opportunities and resou rces I

took advantage of-playing and leading in

three sports, acting, technical stage work, the

photography lab, and most importantly the

people who cared for and developed me-I

would not be the person I am today.

The actual work on the project came a little

slow at first. We had many meetings about the

concept for the video and its purpose. We

threw around ideas about getting more

footage to accompany the students that we

already had explaining why they enjoyed going

to Steward, but eventually we decided, what

more do we need? What more do you need

than what is written all over the student's

faces to understand The Steward School. The

best part of working on the project was how

excited everyone was when they watched the

fina l project. When the work you do is

appreciated, it doesn 't fee l li ke work at all.

I don't know if I can think of anything more

rewarding than working on a project for my

alma mater. I have found the most meaningful

and memorable experiences in my college life

to be those in which I am servi ng others with

my time and talents and making a difference

that I can see with people who feel the same

way. I have truly come to understand the

Virginia Tech moto "Ut Prosim," meaning

"That I may serve," and I hope other recent

graduates can discover what service means to

them through giving back to Steward.

Nowa sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill, Tyler Harris '07 has continued to excel in the sport of swimming, breaking collegiate records, going to the Olympics trials, and taking the Atlantic

Coast Conference (ACe) by storm. Even as his accolades amass, Tyler has taken time out to talk with me about his life as a collegiate athlete. What was the first year like for him, and what's in store for the high school (now college) swimming standout? Here, in his words, he describes the intensity that is his life.

TRL: First, a general question . How's

college going?

TH: College is going well. We've had several

dual meets so far this year, and they've all

gone pretty well. At the current moment, I'm

ranked first in the NCAA in the 400-yard 1M,

so that's pretty cool. School and swimming are

both extremely challenging at the moment, but

at the same time, it's also a blast.

TRL: Did you attend Olympic tria ls this

summer? Where were they? How did it go?

TH: I did attend the Olympic trials in Omaha,

Nebraska, this summer. To say the least, it

was an absolutely incredible experience. The

venue was outstanding, and all the people in

Omaha were unbelievably kind hosts. It was

fun swimming in an arena that was known for

its ice hockey team and hosting the NCAA

men's basketball regional games. A temporary

pool was built inside the arena that seated

15,000+. They also built a warm-up pool in

the convention center, which connected to the

arena .

I placed 12th in my best event, the 400-meter

1M. It was kind of a bummer because typically

1st through 16th places make it back to finals

for most events, but the 400lM and the 1500

freestyle were the only events in which only

1st through 8th came back. If I had placed 8th,

I would have gotten on TV, but I was still very

pleased with how I performed. I also swam

the 200 meter 1M and the 200 meter butterfly

at the trials. I set best times in those events as

well .

TRL: For you, how has the second year of

college differed from the first?

TH: Being a second-year student is far

different from being a freshman. It is easier in

that I now have a sense of how the year will

play out. I remember that in my first year of

college, I got so sick that I ended up in the ER.

That is no place a student-athlete wants to be.

It is hard enough to handle the rigors of school

and being an athlete. When you add being sick

into the equation, that's one more obstacle

that is in your way. It's also easier being a

sophomore simply in the sense that you're no

longer a freshman. I'm not saying that being a

freshman is bad, but you don't exactly get the

first pick at new clothes or equipment.

Sometimes you might have to deal with a

sweatshirt that is a size too big or too small.

With regard to "swimming knowledge," I

definitely have so much more this year. I

learned how much harder I had to work in

the weight room at the end of the NCAA

championships last March. This summer, I

"stepped it up" more in the weight room, and

the results began to payoff. I'm lifting even

better so far this school year. Athletes in

college learn a lot about themselves during

their first year as a student-athlete. They

have several more limitations that normal

students do not face.

TRL: Can you give a brief list of your

major accomplishments and awards thus

far at UNC?

TH: Well, it's really a great honor to be the

2008 ACC champion in the 400-yard 1M and

the 2008 Most Valuable Swimmer at UNC.

Among my honors are the fact that I captured

3 UNC records-in the 400-yard individual

medley, 400-meter individual medley, and 200-meter ind ividual medley. As I mentioned, I

placed 12th in the US Olympic Trials in the 400-meter 1M, and at the 2008 US Open, I set

USS Virginia State records in 400-meter 1M

and 200 1M (same meet in which I set school

records in those events) . Currently, I'm ranked

66th in the world in the 400-meter 1M. Additionally, I'm on the 2007-2008 all-ACC

academic team and a 2008 NCAA all­

American in 400-yard 1M. And I finished fourth

at the USA Swimming SK Open Water

National Championships in Fort Myers, Fla.

TRL: What do you miss about Steward?

TH: As funny as this may sound, I miss the

small classes. Sometimes I feel lost in classes

of 300-400 people. It's definitely a big

adjustment going to a large univerSity such

as UNC. But I like it. I know that Steward

helped me prepare for life here.

TRL: What is one piece of advice you have

for high school athletes who wish to

continue in college?

TH: Make sure that you stay on top of your

work. Falling behind in school is no place to

be, especially during a rigorous training

schedule. For example, this year I practice

three mornings (Monday, Wednesday, and

Friday) from 5:30AM-7:15AM. I also lift those

days from 10:00AM-11:00AM in between

classes. I then have afternoon practice every

weekday from 3:00PM-5:00PM. On Tuesday

and Thursday, I have to come in early at

2:15PM to do core body exercises that we call

"dryland." We also do this before Saturday

practice, which is from 7:1SAM-10:00AM.

The point is that there isn't much free time

during the week, so getting a head start on

homework during the weekend is an excellent

idea. You also have to love what you are doing

because you'll be doing it a lot.

Tyler and his mother Beverly at graduation in 2007

TRL: What does the future hold for you?

TH: I'm not too sure what the future holds for

me. At the moment, I'm trying to get into our

undergraduate business school, so I'm keeping

my fingers crossed. Hopefully I'll graduate

from here with a BS in business administration .

I'm still unsure if I'll try out for the Olympic

team again in 2012. I definitely want to, but it

would be a year after I graduate from UNC.

There's a lot more money out there that

competitive swimwear companies are

beginning to invest in and sponsor athletes,

so that will hopefully be an option for me

someday. For right now, I'm taking life one day

at a time and just thinking about the next one.

Autumn Around the Arts Community o Maddie Arthur ('11) and Jake Rowe ('11)

currently have their art work on exhibit in the Cosby Hall Gallery. Their exhibit, "Life," consists of a variety of painting and drawing media, including latex pa int on wood, acrylic on canvas, pen and ink, colored pencil, and graphite pencil. Their techniques are quite varied and unique . Each piece is a personal interpretation of their views of life.

Maddie and Jake are both planning to major in art in college and are presently taking Art III. Their works will remain on display during the winter months.

o After a successful performance at the Spartan Spirit Day Pep Rally, t he Basketball Pep Band has begun preparing for this season 's Friday night home basketball games. Some of the new pep band tunes for the year include Jimi Hendrix's "Fire," The Scorpions' "Rock You Like A Hurricane," and the return of Cream's "Sunsh ine of Your Love" and The Sugarhill Gang's "Apache."

o On Monday, December 8, the music department presented their annual Middle and Upper School Wint er Instrument al Music Concert. The concert featured the Middle School Band performing works for concert band by Robert W. Smith and James Curnow. This was followed by the debut of our newest performing group, the Middle School String Ensemble and their presentation of holiday music. The Upper School Band presented their portion of the concert by showcasing each of the three individual upper school instrumental music classes performing small group combo tunes specially selected to showcase the talents of the players in these ensembles.

The concert continued with a performance by the "Eclectic Ensemble" that combined the

talents of both t he Upper School Band and the Eighth Grade Band. It concluded with a preview of some of the latest additions to the repertoi re of the Basketball Pep Band.

o The Middle and Upper School choirs gave their holiday concert on Wednesday evening, December 3. The concert featured the 7th and 8th grade chorus, the Middle School choir clubs (Pink Ladies and Men in Black) , and the Upper School Select Choir. Mrs. Anderson's independent study class also performed. Coming up: The 8th grade chorus is planning a t rip from April 30 to May 3 to New York, where they will participate in a choral clinic with the music faculty of New York University.

o Once again, the music department sponsored their annual Rocktoberfest event at Sparta Fest. This yea r's performers included the Varsity Jazz Band, the Chrissy Edwards Band, the Seventh Grade Chorus, and the Eighth Grade Chorus.

• Congratulations to Gracie Cote, Nina Stinson and Lauren Saurs (all altos) for earning spots in the 2009 District One Chorus. The Virginia Choral Directors' Association's District One is composed of schools from the City of Richmond and the counties of Henrico, Hanover, Charles City, King & Queen, King William, and New Kent. There were over 1000 students from our District, all competing for very limited spaces and only 2S alto voices were chosen. The event will take place in February.

0(1) The nationally celebrated Whi rled Peace Day took place at Steward on Monday, September 22. The entire Lower School and many students from the Middle and Upper Schools participated. This year 's theme was World Heroes. Children made pinwheels out of pictures of world heroes, and Upper School students even researched the heroes on their pinwheels. Additionally, the students and faculty honored local heroes with guests

from the military, fire department, police force, and medical field . Led by the music department, the students participated in two songs about heroes. The Middle & Upper School Choirs performed, and our very own Craig Smith even sang at the end of the program.

Per tradition, the students "planted" their pinwheels in the shape of a peace sign. The purpose of the Whirled Peace Day celebration (part of "Pinwheels for Peace," a national arts education program) is to encourage those in schools to pause and celebrate, through art, the goa l of world ("Whirled") peace. By honoring the heroes devoted to creating peace, students were able to see how individuals can make a difference.

o (2) Keit h Murphy, Rachel Wilcox, and Sarah Shimer played piano and Christ ian Rennie and Elise Taylor played violin for the Honor Code Signing.

0(3) On Saturday, November 15, The Steward School, along with the help of celebrity guests and host emcees, Bill Bevins and Lisa Schaffner, auctioned 50 beautiful works of art from the collection of Dr. W. Baxter Perkinson, Jr. An amazing artist, local dentist, and award- recognized philanthropist, Dr. Perkinson generously donated the pieces to The Steward School. Proceeds from the evenings event will go toward building an endowme nt for the Artist-in-Residence program.

Read more about Dr. Perkinson, hiS relationship with Steward, and hiS commitment to our Artist-in -Residence program in the spring issue of Crossroads

o Student performers around town! Christian Rennie is playing violin with the Richmond Youth Concert Orchestra and Peter Howard is playing saxophone with the Central Virginia Wind Symphony.

• (4) From October 23 to October 25, the Steward Theatre Department held their fall production, Charley's Aunt. A classic British farce set in the Victorian era, this fast-paced comedy shows what happens when a cOllege student agrees to dress as a woman to help his friends woo their girlfriends. The boy-in­a-dress is pursued by two older gentlemen who think the boy-in-a-dress is a rich widow. The highlight of the show was the hilarious performances by the cast, which included Finn Smyth, Ben Zoghby, Nick Peterman, Preston Huennekens, Kendall Huennekens, Kendall Bendheim, Thomas Davis, James Dooley, Diana Keith, and Emily Robinson.

THE CRAMER CENTER ART GALLERY The Cramer Center Art Gallery is in full swing this year, with a wonderful array of artists visiting each month . Our goal with the Gallery is to expose students and parents to a variety of artists. Art students visit the Gallery to examine various mediums and techniques. This opens up new possibilities for them to explore as artists. English students come to the Gallery to write about the stories and emotions of the art work. Other classes come to examine and admire the work.

With each exhibit there is an Open Gallery day, held from 3-B p.m., where parents, students, and members of the community have the opportunity to view the art work and meet and talk with a gifted artist. The artists get great pleasure from the reactions of the students and the questions they ask about the art.

Our first exhibit, "Original Watercolors," was in August and featured Richmond­area artist Dr. Baxter Perkinson, Jr. His fifty wonderful pai ntings were then donated to The Steward School and auctioned off to benefit the Artist-in­Residence program. Our second exhibitor was a young art student, Tarchuiana Thomas. Her exhibit, "Journey Through My Soul II ," was bold and interesting. The students loved her Bob Marley painting. In November and December, the Gallery exhibited the work of Virginia's Poet Laureate, Dr. Carolyn Kreiter­Foronda. The Middle School students were privileged to learn from Dr. Kreiter­Foronda last year as she read her poems and showed them some of her artwork. Many students got to talk with her at the Open Ga llery. Middle School art classes went to the Gallery, studied the paintings, heard a poem written by Dr. Kreiter-Foronda , and illustrated it.

After the first of the year we will continue to show wonderful art work to expose the students to various styles and medi ums. In February we will explore the photography of David Leahy, a professional photographer and Steward father. His exhibit will be entitled "As It Was." A Southside artist, Carol Anna Meese, will exhibit her art in March; "New Land" features landscapes pa inted with oil on canvas. In April we will see the work of Wendy Cohen, a Maryland artist. Her show is entitled "Living Nature" and features mixed media. Our last exhibit of the school year will be various works from Lower School art students. This is always a colorful and exciting show. Parents and family members eagerly await this end-of-yea r exhibit.

Watch your mail for a postcard announcing the exhibit of the month . Please be sure to come by and visit the Gallery.

ATHLETICS

,.., THIS FALL /. ~- -~ --------- --- -~-- --~---_ /.

The varsity girls' cross country team won the

VCC Championship for the t hird consecutive

year! Fo ur team members were chosen to the

VCC All-Conference Team. They are Gray

Little, Mackenzie Nunnally, Brooke Faison,

and Kaki Patterson. .. Jake Wilkes was named to t he boys' cross country VCC All-Conference Team. .. The four field hockey teams had great

seasons. The JV tea m posted a 7-2-1 record.

The varsi ty team finished in 2nd place in t he

LI S and were seeded in 6th place in the Virginia

Independent Schools Athletic Association

(V ISAA) Stat e Tournament . Fou r players were

named to the ALL-LI S Team: Jamie Adams,

23 Crossroads FaltlWinter 2008

Beth Farmer, Ryland Scott, and Mary Taylor

Tepper. Ryland Scott was also named to the

Division II State All- Tourname nt Team for her

performance in the fi rst round vs. Walsi ngha m

Academy. In addition, Jamie Adams and Ryland Scott were just named to t he VISAA

Second Team All State Fie ld HockeyTea m. .. New boys' soccer coaches were hi red this yea r.

Dave Hillgrove assumed t he leadershi p of t he

varsity team, while Chris Green took over t he

rei ns of the JV program and Kyle Dennis '01

coached the Middle School team. This fa ll,

t hree athletes from t he va rsity team were

na med to the vec All Conference Team: Tae­

Sung An, Gilliam Hughes, and Zach Marino.

• • The girls' volleyball t eams had a good season.

The 6th seed varsi ty team fe ll to # 3 seed Collegiate in the fi rst round of the LIS

Tournament.

The 2009 Steward Basketball Invitational

Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10.

The participants for the girls' bracket are

Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, St. Gertrude

High School, Steward, and Trinity. The first

round will be played on Friday, January 9

at 2:00 p.m. between st. Gertrude (home

team) a nd Trinity (away team) . The

second girls' game will be played at 3:45

p.m. between Steward (home) and BSH

(away) . On Saturday, January 10, the girls'

consolation game will begin at 2:00 p.m.

and the girls' championship at 5:45 p.m.

The participants for the boys' bracket are

Blessed Sacrament-Huguenot, Cape Henry

Collegiate. Steward, and Trinity. The first

round will be played on Friday, January 9

at S:45 p.m. between Steward (home team)

and BSH (away team) . The second boys'

game will be played at 7:30 p.m. and

feature Cape Henry Collegiate (home) and

Trinity (away). On Saturday, January 10,

the boys' consolation will be held at

3:4S p.m. and the boys' championshi p at

7:30 p.m.

Back-to-Basketball Night

This annual event has become a tradition for

students, fami lies, and alumni alike . Mark

your calendars now l Friday, January 9 .

auford and Ryan BurgeSS 'th Lto R' Drew Coker, J. T. W '

Bruce Secrest WI .

For the Love of the Game The success of several of Steward's baseball players open up

exciting conversations about what it means to play sports at a collegiate level. Here, baseball head coach Bruce Secrest

discusses coaching, recruiting, and playing-and how although practice may not make perfect, it certainly is a start.

Steward's baseball

program is still a

baby, by school

standards. Only 4 years old, the team, led by

head coach and baseball expert Bruce Secrest,

held a 21-2 record last year and is looking

ahead to the construction of an

on-campus baseball field . What's more, last

month Secrest watched three more of his

"boys" sign on to play Division I ball in co llege.

That makes four players in the past twelve

months. Not a bad batting average.

.......

On November 17, Drew Coker signed his letter

of intent with Old Dominion University, in the

CAA Conference. Ryan Burgess signed on with

Radford University, which is in the Big South

Conference. And J.T. Wauford signed on with

Clemson University, in the ACe. Last year's

stand-out player, Cameron Scales '08, is

playing with Elon University in the Southern

Co nference. Steward's reach is indeed growing.

A proud coach, Secrest knows that the boys

are something special. "These boys, they are

tremendous kids," he explains, and doesn't

stop before he continues, "But then again, I've

got a team made of tremendous kids." Ever

humble, when asked about the success of his .,.. ;-~ program, he shuns any kind of personal

; accolade. "I'm just lucky to work with such

if good kids. It's not about what I've given

r

Secrest loves the fact that the four boys will be

in four different conferences. "You know,

t here's a big chance that t hey will cross paths

when they're playing out there," he explains

with a smile, "and I think that's neat. J.T. may

be pitching for Clemson, who plays Elon every

year. Cameron could be batting for them, and

they may actually be facing off!" He smiles

with boyish excitement at this possibility.

Photos: Signing their fetters of intent to pfay college ball, these Steward students were joined by their parents. Athletic Director Janet Rice, Headmaster Ken Seward. and their Baseball coach Bruce Secrest

What it Takes Secrest is clear when he points out that it is quite simply the perfect

combination of experience, drive, and talent that leads to the ability to play at the collegiate level. "Athletes who want to play in college

grab every opportunity they possibly can to make connections, try new things, work hard, and work harder." He continues,

"These are players who play year round. They don't take the summer off; they don't take t he fall off and wait for the spring season. They seek year-round chances to improve." The same is true for any sport, he explains-swimming,

soccer, basketball, and others. "There's a level of commitment there that shows their drive to improve their skills and

succeed."

And that's where a small school like Steward can come in especially handy. Although Secrest admits that for athletes to succeed and

make it to the next level, "It has everything to do with how you master your game and your work ethic," he also says that it is what we offer these athletes that can make a difference. Some schools may have 50 to 75 students trying out for 15 spots on a team. At a small school, however, "We can give kids the chance to play. They have more opportunities to play, and they can play sooner- because we need them to." Potential can be tapped. Skills can be honed . Uncertainty can be resolved. All as soon as the 9th grade, for instance. Then, Secrest explains, "They can really work to develop their skill and get better and better."

Another advantage of a small school for preparing future big-time athletes? Access. "We have an advantage," Secrest explains of coaching at Steward, "Because we have the visibility and time to work with our players in the off-season. We are on campus. We can find year-round opportunities for our players. Coaches at other schools can't always do that."

Recru iti ng 101

Practice Is at WHAT Time? Even the most committed high-school athlete may be

surprised by what it means to be a college athlete. "It's certainly not your

typical college life," Secrest explains. "When you're in high school, you have a perception of

what it means to work hard, to do what it takes to get you to that next step." But it all

changes in college, where the competition becomes stiffer from day one. "The competition

is intense-you're competing for your spot on the team, and you're competing, in a sense,

against your own teammates to do so," says Secrest. "A lot more is at stake."

The intensity follows athletes year in and year out. "It becomes your life," Secrest

acknowledges, "but that's okay, because you love it. That's why you 're there." It is this drive that keeps students working and training all

year long.

The best athletes, however, remember not just why they're there, but how they got there.

According to Secrest, "It's like the turtle on the

fencepost. It didn't get up there alone. It got

up there because someone helped him get there. And that's what the coaches, parents, and friends do for these athletes. It's just the

athletes ' job to remember it."

The recruiting process is different for each athlete, college, and sport. Each college or university has a compliance officer, who monitors the communication between the school and the high-school athlete. The student's coach is

typically the liaison between the school and the student; however, the parents and students play an equally important role in the process . There are visits to the high school to watch the athlete perform, as well as many discussions and phone calls made by coaches to the colleges and vice versa. Secrest explains that there are all kinds of complex rules about who can call and talk to whom and when, all of which become easier for students to understand and follow with the help of someone like the coach on their side. "The communication between your coach and your parents is so important during this process," he urges.

The college visit is extremely valuable to an athlete, for this is the only way a student can truly picture him- or herself on the campus. Athletes meet the team and the coaches, see the locker room and facilities, tour the campus, and more. Secrest emphasizes the value of this visit. "These players will be your family," he, a former college athlete

himself, says. "You will travel, practice, eat, live, and breathe with these players. That is what you will know. That will be your life."

FALL FESTIVAL

A WEEK O F EpIC

PROPORTIONS

Spartan Spirit Week is not only about showing

your true Blue and Gold Spirit, it 's also about

just plain having fun. Spartan spirit rang loud

and clear as students (and faculty) dressed up

and dressed down for twin day, pajama day,

funny hat day, and blue & gold day. For the

students, the fun -filled week of events

culminated at the pep rally-where the young

and young-hearted eagerly displayed their

excitement for their school.

T-... .:' _ ......

On the night of October 17, more than three

hUndred parents, alumni, grandparents, and

friends gathered for the Capital Campaign

1.I~.Kick:C)fflmc1 3rd Annual Great Tailgate. The

Went marked the official launch of the

School's capital campaign, Building A Legacy.

included remarks from Ken Seward, an

Introduction of campaign Co-Chairs Dan

Caldwell and Don Delaney, and a presentation r .. ,- ~,~. the Steward Faculty and Staff campaign gift

by' Athletic Director, Janet Rice. Rice was

pleased to announce 100 percent participation by faculty and staff.

1. Keith Martin, Managing Director, Richmond Ballet and TnlStee Don St •• ber

2. Sth-gralfe teacher Ron Coles and wife Nancy

3. Capital Campillgn Co-Chair Don Delaney and WiteTerry

4. Gan Reeves,judi Marchetti, and Keyser Glancy show off their moves

~"_ ~)/ton and Mike ElUs with Steve Henderson

Carter 'OS, Rebecca Carelli-Sennett, lauren :··JI'I8IJZia 'OS, Jessica Powell '05, and Ryan

'OS

Od.!tt 11 2008

, It, ::;: .. -l4-a-:d ::;~!:,.,~ eh<tt-1( e((;If.i.:tH~flt

L Iff I. It lit',. , ? tit" IIty tAiM/HH' (UI~ O~fOO

S 120.000.00

, , '.

~.~" , . •

THE STEWARD SCHOOL

Capital Campaign

BUILDING A LEGACY. ONE STEWARD AT A TIME.

Capital Campaign Core Committee:

Fernand Baruch

Martin L. Brill

Carter Bryan

DanieL A. CaLdwell

DonaLd F. Delaney, Jr.

William Kelley

Ann CaroL Marchant

Eugene P. McKeown

Charlie Menges

Kevin P. Strecker

Susan B. and Buford Scott

Kenneth H. Seward

Building A Legacy Leadership Team:

DanieL A. CaLdweLL, Co-Chair

DonaLd F. Delaney, Jr., Co-Chair

Joy and Ed Fuhr

KyLe and Scott Frayser

Rich GLancy

Karen and Mike Huennekens

Kim and Peter Marcia

Buford Wood

David Wright

There are a variety of ways to support the capital campaign. The most important factor is to make the School a philanthropic priority. With your support we can work together to Build A Legacy. One Steward At A Time. For more information on ways you can give, please contact the Development Office at (804) 565·2306.

Progress Thermometer

ABOVE GOAL

8 Million t------I

7 Million t------I

6 Million t----....,

5 Million

o crossroads FaU/Winler ZooB 32

THE STEWARD SCHOOL

11600 Gayton Road· Richmond, VA 23238 (804) 740-3394 • www.stewardschool.org

Nonprofit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Richmond , VA Permit No. 895