Holland Hall THE HOLLAND HALL SCHOOL MAGAZINE Fall/Winter 2015 Fall/Winter 2015 5 From the Head of School 6 CAMPUS VIEW: A Look at School Activities 22 FEATURE STORY: Living the Dutch Life 28 Advancement News 36 SPOTLIGHT: Focus on School Stories 48 Alumni Matters 66 Landmarks FRONT COVER: Middle School students welcome Mark Twain Elementary students for the annual carnival and day of fun on the Holland Hall campus. 2 HOLLAND HALL MAGAZINE Fall/Winter 2015 3 Welcome from the Head of School. Dear Holland Hall Community, It was five o’clock as we waited at a restaurant just off Broadway in downtown New York City. I was accompanied by Coach Charlie Brown, Director of Stewardship, and Christy Utter ’92, Director of Alumni Relations, while we waited to meet Jeremy Hays ’99. He was between shows, having just completed the Saturday matinée. Donning leather jacket, jeans, and a backwards ball cap, Jeremy arrived, and we found our table. Over burgers and fries, with haste respectful of the second show Jeremy had later that night, we listened to his story of how he moved to Holland Hall from Henryetta, Oklahoma, during his high school years. He explained how Back Row: J.P. Culley, Stephen Brady, JW Craft, Bill Lawson ’81, Keith Goddard ’87, Rev. Irving Cutter, Hal Salisbury, Roger Collins, Jim Adelson; Front Row: Tony Jezek, Amy Koontz, Jamie Zink, Deana Johnson, Tammie Maloney, Susan Stuart much he grew with his writing, thinking, and self-advocacy skills, all to great benefit at the time and years later. And, of course, Peterson ’97, David Ragland he regaled us with stories of his interactions with our beloved Coach Brown. Jeremy played wide receiver on the football team. Just as important, if not more, he loved to sing. 2015-16 BOARD OF TRUSTEES As we got further into our burgers and our discussion about relationships with Holland Hall, you could tell Christy had a Roger B. Collins Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Susan Stuart Peterson ’97 burning question to ask Jeremy. She leaned in, “Jeremy, how did you get to do all of this? You’re a Broadway star, living the Chair Sara Fox David B. Ragland dream!” Jeremy looked directly at us with an intense stare that only a deeply trained actor could conjure so quickly and said, J.W. Craft Parents’ Association President K. Michael Saliba, MD “I give all the credit to the educators at Holland Hall. All of it.” Vice Chair Bill G. Freudenrich Harold W. Salisbury It is an understatement to say he stunned us. Jeremy was playing one of the leads in The Phantom of the Opera, Raoul, a Stephen J. Brady Keith C. Goddard ’87 Treasurer Jamie Zink Past Board Chair 2011–2013 demanding role that requires intense training, coupled with immense physical and emotional dedication. Yet, he told us that Amy Fogleman Koontz Stephanie Jackson he found his passion, and the push to pursue it, from the teachers at Holland Hall. He shared that, even after graduation, Secretary EMERITUS BOARD Mr. Dyer, Director of the Walter Arts Center and Chair of the arts department, encouraged him to audition for one of the Anthony S. Jezek James F. Adelson OF TRUSTEES best conservatories in the region. He did. And the rest he credits to Holland Hall. Deana N. Johnson J. Darin Alred ’84 Philip B. Allen ’73 As a school with positive, high expectations for our students, discovering if our mission is fully realized does not take place Alumni Association President Rt. Rev. Dr. Edward J. Konieczny Katherine G. Coyle at commencement. Rather, the realization of notions like lifelong learning and a deep sense of social responsibility happen in Kenneth D. Busby ’85 William C. Lawson ’81 Thomas J. Hughes the stories that are told many years after graduation. Do we help students find their passions? Do we instill in them essential Past Alumni Association Scott Mabrey President 1998-2002 Edward C. Lawson leadership capacities so desperately needed in our world? If we do, those stories, like Jeremy’s, speak to that truth. Tammie L. Maloney Rhonda Chastang Past Board Chair 2006-2009 Barbara D. Sturdivant Evidence abounds in so many stories we hear from our alumni and their families. Whether you are a current student, parent, The Rev. Irving T. Cutter teacher, or member of our vast alumni network, I, too, hope you feel the story unfolding in you. In Community, ADMINISTRATION J.P. Culley Brent Casey Steve Heldebrand Head of School Director of College Counseling Athletic Director J.P. Culley Richard Hart Steve Dyer Leslie Kelly Assistant Head of School for Director of the Walter Arts Center Chief Financial Officer Head of School Academic Affairs & Fine Arts Olivia Martin Bert Bibens Henry Finch ’76 Director of Admission & Head of Primary School Director of Technology Financial Aid Connect and keep up with current Holland Hall events on social media. Joel Bicknell Frances Fondren The Rev. Art Scrutchins Head of Middle School Head of Upper School Upper School Chaplain @holland-hall @hollandhall @holland_hall_prep_school Heather Brasel Beth Goddard ’86 Director of Communications and Interim Director of HOLLAND HALL MAGAZINE 4Marketing Institutional Advancement Fall/Winter 2015 5 CampusView BACK TO SCHOOL BACK TO SCHOOL CampusView 2 9 10 1 11 13 3 4 5 12 14 15 6 7 8 16 17 18 1 3 Families and teachers brave the 4 Juniors settle in to their new corner. 6 7 8 15 Primary and Middle School 9 17 Primary and Upper School 12 Captain Dutch says “welcome back” 16 Field Hockey and Football teams elements on a rainy first day of school. students line up and prepare to students take the traditional walk to PS students at the Hall Brawl. welcome PS students to their first 5 Mrs. Cox greets students on the meet their Upper School partners from the football field to the WAC. pep rally of the year. 2 US Commons with Harry Potter- first day. 13 Football season begins with games during Convocation. themed decorations on the first day. 10 US Student Council presents the new against Casady and Cascia Hall. 18 Head of School Mr. Culley kicks “toy boxes” at back to school night. off the year with a demonstration 14 Football players put on a show at of mindfulness at Convocation. 11 US students enjoy games and down the first pep rally of the year. time in the Commons. 6 HOLLAND HALL MAGAZINE Fall/Winter 2015 7 CampusView TRADITIONS TRADITIONS CampusView Time-honored moments that bring our ARTworks Featuring Christopher Westfall ARTworks is an annual project of the Holland Hall Parents’ Association providing educational opportunities for students and financial support for the school. A portion of the proceeds raised by the event is used to fund student art workshops. This year’s community together. artist-in-residence, Christopher Westfall, brought a unique, varied, and personable approach to this week-long, hands-on event. Primary School Night at the Football Game Each fall, our youngest fans take over the football field to show their school spirit in what can only be described as an exercise in planning and dedication by our teachers, parent volunteers, and students. Pre-K through 3rd Grade students perform in front of hundreds of parents and fans before the Upper 7 8 9 School football game at this event that also features food trucks, games, and Jump Rope for Heart tailgating activities. This is the 16th year for the PE department 1 to host Jump Rope For Heart/Hoops for Heart, a community service project Blessing of the Animals for grades Jr. K- 6th. Last year a total of $30,326 was raised to benefit the The blessing of pets and animals is American Heart Association, and Holland celebrated on October 4, the Feast of Hall earned 5th place in the United States St. Francis of Assisi, to reinforce the 2 for schools with a dual event. common kinship of all animals – human and otherwise. 6 10 11 Field Day Grandparents’ and A Holland Hall tradition since 1941, Special Friends’ Days Field Day is a student-run carnival that Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Days 3 funds all Upper School student clubs. are a time for each child to share 13 14 This year featured booths such as the school with his/her grandparent(s) or egg toss, human skateboard bowling, a special family friend. Throughout Jedi “lightsaber” sparring, pony rides, a this two-day event, grandparents cake walk, bounce house, face and body and friends are encouraged to visit painting, the octopi toss, fortune telling their student in the classroom and by J.P. Culley, Richard Hart, and Justin attend several musical performances Butler ’04, karaoke, and much more! featuring students of all ages. 4 5 12 15 1 Head of Primary School Mr. Bibens 3 Students perform song and dance 5 Hand made by US students, the 7 8 9 Christopher Westfall works with 10 MS choir performs at Grandparents’ 13 Brian Underwood accepts the rounds up PS students. routines lead by Lori Swisher. octopi are a Field Day must-have. Primary, Middle, and Upper School and Special Friends’ Day assembly. 2014-15 Jump Rope for Heart award students in the Student Art Workshops for 5th place in the U.S. 2 The pep band lines up in front of US 4 Human Skateboard Bowling at 6 Upper School Chaplain Rev. 11 PS students learn about heart health (SAW) program held in each branch cheerleaders guiding each grade level. Field Day, sponsored by the Juniors. Scrutchins blesses a pet hamster. with the American Heart Association. 14 15 PS students jump to raise money during ARTworks.