3 201 53 - 19 LampFall 2013 a publicationP of The Lamplighterost School | Dallas, Texas Jubilee story page 8. Report of Annual Giving 2012 - 2013 • INTRODUCING NEW 6-PAGE FACULTY FOCUS SECTION STARTING ON PAGE 10. 3 - 201 953 BulletinBoard Lamp 1 Post Fall 2013 Calendar of Events January 2014 Managing Editor Edward Ritenour, Director of Communications & Marketing 6 Classes Resume 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Holiday) 21 No Early Childhood Classes (Pre-K and K) Art/Design 27 Dolores Evans Speaker Series Ana Bohanan, Communications | Design Coordinator February Contributors Sandy Diamond, Karen Allen, Sue Shibley, 8 LPA Auction and Jacquelyn Wilcox 12-13 Parent Conferences (No School) 14-17 Presidents’ Day (Holiday) Mission Statement Dedicated to igniting the potential of each child, March Lamplighter engages children in the joy of learning through intellectual discovery in a creative, inclusive, 10-14 Spring Break Begins and collaborative environment. 21 Grandest Friends Day 28 Muffins With Moms Diversity Statement April Diversity will strengthen the education of Lamplighter children and enrich the lives of all members of the 10 International Night Lamplighter community. Lamplighter will, therefore, strive 18 School Holiday for the lamps that we light to reflect the ever-changing community in which we reside. We value individuality May and encourage all children to reach their potential, while respecting their similarities and differences. We are 10 Young Alumni Car Wash united in purpose and committed to working together to 16 Senior Opera accomplish the mission of The Lamplighter School. 19 Spirit Day – Senior Graduation Hootenanny 20 Senior Carpool Parade and Party 21 Last Day of School Non-Discrimination Statement 22-23 Parent Conferences (No School) In compliance with federal and state laws, The Lamplighter School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital Note: All dates are subject to change. Please log on to status, sexual orientation, or disability in administration www.thelamplighterschool.org to view the most updated of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid school calendar. program, athletic and other school-administered programs, or the employment of staff. Contact Us Send story ideas to Edward Ritenour ([email protected]). Deadline for articles, photographs, and news for the next issue (Spring 2014) is February 1, 2014. On the cover: The cover photo features Lamplighter’s second grade teachers and four of their students at the 60th Anniversary Lamplighter Jubilee in October. From L to R: Teachers Lakeshia Peters and Annie Jonas, student Caroline Burkhardt, teacher Anne Yarbrough, and students Alex Holmes, Luke Zicarelli, and Celene Ebert, and teacher Ana Casanova. 10 Cover Story School community gathers at the Lamplighter Jubilee to celebrate 60 illuminating years. Sections Head Lines 4 19 On Board 5 Cover Story 8 Faculty Focus 10 Campus News 18 Alumni Spotlight 19 Annual Report 25 25 LAMPPOST 3 HeadLines that helped to shape their childhood in As we create a vision for the future, we important ways. Whether they are recent are considering ways to strengthen the graduates or now have families of their own, endowment to protect the school in Lamplighter alums’ stories of playing in the perpetuity. We are also investigating ways tunnel, kite-flying day, and the chickens to improve our school building so that resonate and draw us closer together. programs continue to stay in step with the very best 21st-century instruction. The Lamplighter experience Lastly, we are considering an additional is timeless and always relevant. building so our students have specially The focus on engaging the designed spaces such as a “maker lab,” a place for tinkering, exploring, experimenting, youngest children in hands- and constructing. There has not been new Dear Lamplighter Community, on learning through play is as construction in nearly 20 years. The last meaningful today as when the addition was Cook Gym in 1995. New school year…new opportunities…new visions! As we plan for the future, it has school began 60 years ago. These are exciting times for Lamplighter, been both fun and instructive to hear stories and I am honored to work with the Board about the history of Lamplighter. Having Through the strategic planning process, of Trustees and lead the School during this the chance to listen and learn from alums we are designing improvements as school period in its history. who are still very connected with the school leadership has always done. As the thinking has provided great perspective. The year begins, what is first and foremost is 2013 has been a year of celebrating 60 years maintaining the traditions of all that makes Sincerely, since the founding of The Lamplighter and keeps Lamplighter the special place School. Through the efforts of Aimee that it is for children. Whitaker, Melissa Niven, and the Carnival committee, our Jubilee was a most festive Our school is rich in tradition while Joan Buchanan Hill, Ed. D. occasion. We had a rollicking good time. staying on top of all that is current in Head of School the field of education for the youngest The reunions and gatherings for alums to learners. The roots of innovative reconnect have been such happy occasions. programming in technology, science, The message is consistent: Lamplighter math, and the arts for which Lamplighter remains the school that they remember is well known remain central. best because of the faculty and programs 4 LAMPPOST OnBoard “The great gift of a highly intentional education like Lamplighter’s is that it really recognizes what your kids are capable of doing.” Dear Lamplighter Community, I grew up in New England, and fall there that it really recognizes what your kids are the education of our children is a never- was a very literal event. The greens and capable of doing, and trusts them enough to ending process, as our very dedicated faculty blues of summer gave way to the spectacular put them in a position to go out and do it. remains committed to staying on the leading reds and browns of autumn and later the edge of the educational system. grays and whites of winter. In Texas, fall is You will notice some changes around our more of a metaphor as the skies are often campus, some classrooms have moved Those of us with Lamplighter graduates still blue and the grass is often green. As with the around, and grade levels have been shifted have very vivid memories of the 3-year-old seasons, change is always happening in many to accommodate changing demands from whom Ms. McCullough coaxed out of the subtle ways around our school community. last year to this year. O’Neil Ford and Frank car with the sheer force of her personality. Welch thoughtfully designed our campus to But we also know that same 3-year-old left As we start another great school year at provide us with the flexibility to move some Lamplighter as a highly capable 10-year-old Lamplighter, change is all around us. Last things around as needs arose. Of course you fully ready for their next school. Change year’s graduating class has moved on to will also notice our new modular science is all around us, and around Lamplighter new challenges. A new group of fresh- classroom that has just opened for business. most of it is for the better. Trust the great faced and smaller-every-year 3-year-olds This dedicated science space will provide professionals you have entrusted your has started their first year of pre-K. If your our wonderful science faculty with more precious children with, and enjoy the rich child is an existing Lamplighter student, room for equipment and experimentation. school community that each and every one they have moved up to an exciting new set It will also help us think intelligently about of us help to make so outstanding. It’s going of opportunities and challenges as they rise how we might use a new space on our to be a great ride. up through the seven-year program. As a campus. A new facility was the single most parent, it is a real revelation to see your shy important recommendation to come out of Sincerely, first-grader blossom into a confident second our recent strategic plan. grader, or to see your math-challenged second-grader become a third-grade math Dr. Hill and her team also worked very hard whiz. Our kids are ready to grow and on the academic side of the strategic plan, Alex Nila K. Sharma change in so many ways that we as parents and the fruits of their work will be seen in Board Chair can scarcely realize. The great gift of a highly many subtle and not-so-subtle facets of your intentional education like Lamplighter’s is child’s education. Constant evaluation of LAMPPOST 5 OnBoard New Trustees On Board A. Shonn Brown David Chard Jenney Gillikin Shonn Brown is a respected bar and David J. Chard, Ph.D., is the Leon Jenney is a graduate of Colorado community leader. In addition to Simmons Endowed Dean and College with a degree in art. her civil trial experience, Ms. Brown founding dean of the Annette Caldwell A winding career path has has experience in the criminal courts Simmons School of Education and connected her disparate interests through her service as a Lawyer on Human Development and Professor including youth development, Loan to the Dallas County District in the Department of Teaching and legal marketing, public health and Attorney’s Office. She has been Learning at Southern Methodist fine art. Jenney is the mother of named a Super Lawyer by Texas University. Since his arrival at SMU, three, Kate (9), Alexander (6), and Monthly magazine, and recognized Dr.