THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK VOLUME 38 • ISSUE NO. 1 FEATURES PAGE 3 6 Watching the Numbers It takes time to really understand how the Stock Market works, but some Oakridge students are learning the ropes thanks to a unique seminar made possible by new customized block schedules. 3 PAGE 6 A Community That Cares Students and teachers rolled up their sleeves and put in many hours of volunteer service 25 in support of first responders, military veterans, and those hard hit by recent hurricanes.

PAGE 20 Focused on the Future Department chairs share their views on lifelong learning and goals for the teachers 20 and students they lead.

PAGE 25 Return of Calliope 30 An Oakridge tradition returns this spring. Find out why Calliope went on hiatus four years ago and what it took to bring the literary arts magazine back to life.

PAGE 30 Athletic News 38 An Oakridge coach makes the connection between nutrition and health, cross country running is put into perspective, and we delve Outlook 2018 Volume 38, Number 1 into the history of the SPC. The Oakridge School 5900 West Pioneer Parkway PAGE 38 Arlington, Texas 76013 817.451.4994 Speakeasy Soiree Design Printing Green Apple Lane JohnSons Press Doggies and dancing and dinner, oh my! The Oakridge School is an independent, coed, college-preparatory day school for students The 2018 Super Supper and Auction offered in preschool (age 3) through grade 12. The Oakridge School does not discriminate on the vintage glamour and so much more. basis of color, creed, sex, or national and ethnic origin in school-administered programs. MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Every time I walk across are rich with what every campus, I feel a tremendous family hopes for their child sense of gratitude for what and what every teaching we have at The Oakridge professional hopes for their School, the tangible and the community. The Visiting intangible. This is a special Committee took note of place, and I am thankful how well you serve your that our faculty, staff, and students’ needs. You reach administration have an out to them. You care for opportunity to experience them. You challenge them. the joy of leading here. I You grow them. You make am also thankful that our yourselves vulnerable to students learn here. their intellectual curiosity and social-emotional Last fall, another moment Owls have a fierce mascot watching over Frank Field in the form of a bronze needs. You partner with owl presented by alumni Alec ‘89 and Ashley ‘89 Broadus. of gratitude came in the their families. You exceed form of a gorgeous bronze hope you share with me. all kinds of expectations to owl. Thanks to alumni Alec ’89 and make them the best they can be.” Ashley ’89 Broadus, our Owls have This year, The Oakridge School a fierce mascot watching over Frank had its 10-year accreditation visit We pursue excellence through Field at the new Oakridge Athletic with the Independent Schools ongoing accreditation, and we are Complex. The facility’s evolution Association of the Southwest thankful for the insight and wisdom has been stunning, and the owl is (ISAS), an 88-school, 6-state that will help guide Oakridge over the icing on the cake. Our school organization. A team of 20 the next decade. We, too, want to community has been remarking educators from across the Southwest be the best that we can be, which about the strength and beauty of spent three days on campus, includes faculty professional this new addition. Thank you, Alec looking at the educational program development. and Ashley. through the lens of school mission and with a spirit of continued Inside these pages, you will glimpse I am also grateful for the educators school improvement. We will have scenes from the LLI Southwest with whom I work. When our a visiting committee report later Conference we hosted in late Communications Department in the spring, but our teaching February. Welcoming almost 250 talked about this Outlook and community had an opportunity to teachers from 47 schools and 10 proposed that it focus on the hear from the chair of the visit. In states, our faculty, students, and teachers who call Oakridge home, his closing comments, J.P. Culley, parent volunteers shined. Faculty it was an easy “Yes!” This issue Head of Holland Hall School in demonstrated lessons and shared will help you get to know our Tulsa, remarked about Oakridge their wisdom with other talented department chairs, enlighten you teachers: teachers from across the U.S. Our about the rich diversity – both students also benefited from guest culturally and professionally – of “Morality does not exist in one instructors, experiencing some of our faculty’s history, and highlight person or another. Morality exists the best teaching we have seen. This some of the wonderful things our in the spaces between individuals. is an exciting endeavor, and we were students, alumni, and faculty are And we all know what a deeply honored to be part of it. doing. This snapshot of our school moral activity teaching is. The community reinforces the pride I spaces between, here at Oakridge, Jonathan M. Kellam, Head of School

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Stock Market Seminar Goldman Sachs. After Oakridge, he It has since expanded to the top went on to earn business and finance business schools in the country at degrees from The University of Texas the university level and now includes The Upper School change to block at Austin. top college preparatory schools in scheduling for the 2017-2018 school the nation. year provided Oakridge students the “When I was a junior at Oakridge, opportunity to take seminar courses. my economics class participated in A group of seniors at Oakridge These courses last one semester, are a rudimentary virtual stock market participated with Alexa Pressley taken on a pass/fail basis, which challenge game,” Mr. Duran said. ’17 registering the largest gains means there is no computation “I had never thought about stock during the last contest. Through the of grade points. There is also no picking or finance before that. experience, eight students got to homework for the courses, which are Participating in the game enabled meet with top investors in the area meant to expand students’ areas of me to quickly develop a passion and received advice on careers in interest and passions. for the markets, and that passion finance and investments. One such course is Stock “My future profession Market 101, which is has nothing to do with taught by Associate Head the stock market, but the of Upper School Jim meeting with successful Andersen. Mr. Andersen and talented professionals, began working with Alex financiers and investors Duran ’00 and his wife taught me a lot about Stacey in 2016. Stacey is the importance of the founder and CEO of networking,” Alexa shared. Portfolios with Purpose (PwP), a company This year, 21 students in that combines finance, grades 9-12 from The markets, philanthropy Oakridge School will and networking through a compete in the Portfolios fun and engaging student Stock Market 101 students with Jim Andersen, Associate Head of Upper School, and Alex Duran ‘00. with Purpose stock market investing competition. competition. shaped where I attended college and “The High School Challenge what I focused on in my studies, Since all lives are affected by the intends to instill an interest in basic internships and eventually, my full- stock market, Mr. Andersen hopes economics and inspire young people time job. This early realization gave to provide a fun and competitive to become better prepared for college me a huge advantage over my peers. way to engage students in learning and ultimately what lies beyond,” I hope today’s Oakridge students about the market and its importance. Mrs. Duran said. will find a similar level of inspiration He also hopes that some of the and direction from the PwP’s stock participating students will have a Alex Duran is a co-founding picking contest.” similar experience to Mr. Duran’s partner of Permian Investment and follow his footsteps into the Partners. Prior to joining the firm, Portfolios with Purpose began with fascinating world of finance and he worked at Brahman Capital as top investors worldwide picking investments. an investment analyst and he served stocks and the charity that the as an investment banking analyst at winner chose received the proceeds. Jim Andersen and Bridget Lewis

• THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 3 CAMPUS NEWS

New Block Schedule

New customized block schedules are changing the way Upper School students handle their business. The new scheduling took effect at the beginning of the 2017- 2018 school year. Instead of attending the traditional 45-minute seven classes a day, students now have two four-period days with each class lasting 80 minutes. Students have periods 1-4 on A day, periods 5-8 on B day. During full, five-day weeks, students have a C day with all classes meeting for 43 minutes.

The move was designed to provide students with time for more in-depth study, peer collaboration, interdisciplinary and team-teaching opportunities, and one-on-one time between teachers and students. There is “Initiative Time” at the end of the day, which can be used to work on Block schedules provided time for more academic exploration. public speaking or writing skills, college advising, club meetings, or other programs. and meditation. Outlook offers a closer look at the stock market seminar just ahead in this issue. “I like block scheduling because we get longer class periods,” said sophomore Elizabeth Trimble. “If one of While Upper School students’ days more closely mirror my classes gets into a good discussion, we don’t have to a college schedule, Middle School students have been worry about wrapping things up because our time is cut introduced to the new block scheduling to help better short.” prepare them for the transition to Upper School.

Chemistry teacher Jenny Chung agreed and called “The hybrid approach to block scheduling has allowed the block schedule beneficial within her classroom. “I us to pilot a unique approach to the students in grades am able to incorporate hands-on activities like labs, 5-8,” said Britt Robinson, Head of Middle School. scavenger hunts, games, etc., within the same class “The student experience has been enhanced with the period and allow these activities to apply to the lesson.” opportunities we have been able to pull into the school day because of our alternative schedule. Some students Junior Tate Woody gives high marks to the block would not be able to participate in some of the activities scheduling because it incorporates new semester-long because of other after-school commitments. But, the seminars offered with the pass/fail grading option. schedule makes participation in passion-based activities possible.” “I like seminars because you get to learn information that you want to know about, while taking a break from the Bridget Lewis normal lessons,” Tate said. “I took one seminar where we got to watch films from the 1920s to present. There were no tests, but we learned a lot of useful information.”

Seminar courses range from the virtual world of travel and modern physics, to athletic workouts for developing overall skills and mindful moments of yoga

4 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK LEARNING MADE VISIBLE

More than 200 teachers from across Texas and from states as far away as Kentucky and Minnesota attended the 2018 Lausanne Learning Institute (LLI) Southwest conference held in February at The Oakridge School. This year’s theme was “Making Learning Visible” and educators along with other conference participants said the two-day conference empowered them to teach more creatively, better engage their students, and transform their schools. LLI Southwest included presentations from 35 schools, 44 fishbowl sessions and invaluable networking opportunities.

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Oakridge Serves

At The Oakridge School, a student’s day is filled with academics, the arts, and athletics, but serving others and the community is another important piece of the puzzle. Despite their busy schedules, students love the idea of giving back and jump at opportunities to help those in need.

Oakridge students participated in the Great Kindness Challenge and World Read Aloud Day in January. There was an annual school-wide canned food drive in November and students had an opportunity to collect winter clothing for Mission Arlington through December. Lower School students showed support for those who serve our The Early Childhood Center raises money for St. Jude community, including Arlington Police. Children’s Research Hospital in their annual Trike-A- When considering the many service efforts that center Thon. The faculty participate in a day of service every around the holidays, Head of Lower School Sarah spring at non-profits throughout the community, while Schecter considered May as a potential time to start Middle and Upper School do the same in the fall. Key another giving tradition at Oakridge. Club, a service organization in the Upper School, took off when it was founded last year, and continues to grow. “I thought, ’Why should giving be limited to Christmas and Thanksgiving?’” said Dr. Schecter. “If we really want children to learn the joy that comes from serving, it needs to happen throughout the year.”

That idea inspired a Day of Giving. On the last Monday of the 2016-2017 school year, Lower School students spent the day participating in a number of service projects. They made posters honoring local fire and police departments, created cards for senior citizens, wrote letters for military veterans, decorated placemats for homeless shelters and lunch sacks for Meals on Wheels, picked up trash around campus, painted inspirational messages on rocks to place around Arlington, and crafted toys for animals in shelters.

At the end of the day, it was surprising and impressive to see how much had been accomplished. Students agreed it When a sudden need arises, like the devastation of Hurricane was a rewarding way to spend the last full day of school. Harvey, Oakridge students and staff step up without hesitation. With a goal of raising $5,000, Head of School Jon Kellam asked the Oakridge community to donate approximately $5 per “The Lower School Day of Giving was an incredibly student and faculty member over four days in early September. memorable experience that has stayed with the children,” The final total was $8,632, which was delivered to the American said third grade teacher Lauren Carfa. “They experienced Red Cross for the organization’s relief efforts. a true sense of satisfaction and fulfillment through helping others.”

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Oakridge students were eager to display random acts of kindness during the Great Kindness Challenge, including spontaneously Eighth grade students and staff visited the Elmcroft Retirement singing “You Are My Sunshine” to Food 4 Life employee Ms. Center on World Read Aloud day. In addition to reading, Vern. January 2018 marked Oakridge’s first time participating students also played games and provided a listening ear to the in the annual nationwide effort, which is meant to create and residents. celebrate a culture of kindness around the world.

Avani Basrai, a fourth grade student, wrote letters to residents of a local nursing home. “I felt really good because I made somebody’s day even happier,” Basrai said.

Not only did the students have a productive day, but goodwill was spread throughout the Oakridge community, Arlington, and beyond. The plan is to make the Day of Giving an annual event where students continue to be inspired to look for ways to serve their community.

Sarah Schecter

Students helped to keep Oakridge beautiful picking up trash around campus.

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Adoption Brings Connection

There are people who work at a school that students rarely see. These are the people who pay bills, get supplies ready, handle the insurance, process paperwork and write marketing material. At times these diligent people might come to work and forget they are at a school. Children are such a joy, so it seems like a shame for this group to miss out on the fun of knowing students and interacting with them.

That is where the Lower School comes in. Head of Lower School Dr. Sarah Schecter decided that each class would adopt a staff member. On the first day of the 2016-2017 academic year, school Mrs. Benjamin’s second graders surprise Mrs. Lewis with handwritten letters. year certificates of adoption were delivered to “It is a real treat when they come by and see me,” Mrs. each of the selected twelve adoptees. The recipients were Messer said. “I like to learn things about them and about surprised and unsure of exactly what it meant. It didn’t Lower School. I also had fun going over and reading a take long before their adopted class came by and visited, story to the students.” sang to them, told them a joke, or delivered handmade cards. Over time, the students learned more about their Nadia DiStefano, Community Engagement Coordinator, adopted staff members and their jobs that support the and Bridget Lewis, Director of Marketing and school. Staff members fell in love with their classes who Communications, also look forward to spending time visit on a regular basis to share exciting things they are with their new families. Mrs. DiStefano was adopted by learning and the exuberance of childhood. The staff Mrs. Kristin Davis’s first grade class and said she enjoys adoptees drop by their classrooms and feel at home going engaging with the children during special moments, to performances and class parties. It is common to hear such as when she joined them at the Scholastic Book Fair students call out to the adoptees when they see them and helped them decorate gingerbread houses before occasionally around campus. Winter Break. Mrs. Lewis was adopted by Mrs. April Benjamin’s second grade class and enjoys how simple Athletic Department assistant Marilynn DeVore is moments such as eating lunch with the children can turn thrilled with her new family. “I love going to the library into meaningful conversations about nutrition or even or art with my class. Last year I bought my class mouse history. ears for their play. It’s awesome!” The adoption program has resulted in many new Louise Johnson, executive assistant to the Head of connections, making the Oakridge family even closer. School, said she has learned a lot from her third grade friends. “It helps me know more students and I enjoy Sarah Schecter the cards and letters they bring me,” Mrs. Johnson said. “I’ve also expanded my joke repertoire. I look forward to having the students come by for a visit.”

Karen Messer in admissions also enjoys being adopted.

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College Networking

Long before students at The Oakridge School receive their official notice of acceptance to college, their journey to getting that congratulatory letter includes many directed visits to the Office of College Advising. As part of a commitment to empowering The Office of College Advising hosted the spring event, College Night: Admissions’ Deans Panel. All of the guests emphasized finding the right fit when it comes to students choosing a college. students with information needed to obtain admission to college, the advising staff organizes event was moderated by Victoria particular university. “Universities college visits, hosts college fairs, Farrar-Myers, an Oakridge parent, are starting to place more emphasis and facilitates meetings with Arlington city councilmember, and on demonstrated interest when representatives who will read college professor. Panelists discussed making admission decisions,” students’ college admission the value of an independent school Lewis revealed. “Students can show application. In January, the staff education, the college search and demonstrated interest by visiting went a step further and welcomed admission process, tuition, and a university and participating in leaders who have a direct voice trends in higher education. A an admission information session in granting admission to their recurring point centered on students and campus tour, attending a respective colleges. finding the right fit when it comes to college fair, and scheduling college choosing a college. interviews.” Arranging college visits Oakridge’s inaugural “College Night: is made easier thanks to Oakridge’s College Admissions’ Deans Panel” Identifying the right fit is a message partnership with Naviance and included Elena Hicks of Southern that mirrors the advising staff’s RepVisits, which offer a new online Methodist University, Adam Sapp of philosophy. “We work with students system for universities to schedule Pomona College, Julie Shimabukuro individually to help them define visits. of Washington University in St. their perfect fit,” said Kellen Lewis, Louis, and Gil Villanueva of the director of the Office of College In the end, however, technology, University of Richmond. The Advising. “Freshman, sophomore, outstanding admissions essays, and junior students are exceptional interviews, and college encouraged to use college tours might not matter as much as visits as an opportunity to how a student concludes his or her explore the many different final year of high school. “Senioritis options available to them in is a real thing,” one panelist said, the hope that they will find adding that successful completion one that aligns perfectly of one’s senior year is important. with their values, interests and abilities.” Bridget Lewis and Kellen Lewis The Oakridge School hosts more than 100 university representatives each year and provides students with For seniors, visits are opportunities to visit campuses. This group of sophomore an opportunity to show students toured the University of Texas at Austin in February. demonstrated interest in a

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Exploring Passions Through Summer Programs than I have in my entire life,” Emma Summer is a great time for Upper School students at The said. “The Oakridge School to explore their interests and passions. experience Some students can be found on college campuses across made my the country, where enrichment programs provide them love and the opportunity to learn more about their favorite appreciation for subject, develop their skills, and explore higher education music blossom environments in search of the right fit. and caused my voice to grow For junior Tushar Kohli, the subject was economics and improve in and the campus was the University of Chicago. After so many ways. participating in the three-week Pathways Program, I enjoyed every Tushar heard from professors in the University’s globally- minute of it.” ranked Economics Department. They wanted to discuss a number of topics including cutting-edge economic At both West research. Point and the Naval Academy, “The most memorable part of this program was being senior Jeff able to experience the University of Chicago campus and Junior Tushar Kohli participated in an economics Wright the city of Chicago, while also learning about economics program at the University of Chicago. participated from real professors at the University,” said Tushar. in summer programs. The Summer Leaders Experience at the United States Military Academy and the United Music attracted junior Emma Gladden to the University States Naval Academy Summer Seminar both give high of Denver campus. As a participant in the Lamont school students an opportunity to experience life as a Summer Academy, she was able to participate in an cadet or a midshipman, including academic classes, intensive two-week program that included master physical fitness training, and intramural athletics. classes, private lessons, ensemble rehearsals, and college preparatory music theory. Emma attended as a vocal An interest in art and fashion design drew junior major, and said that it was an experience she will never Abraham Hsu all the way to Paris to take a Fashion forget. Design Process course as part of the Parsons Pre- College Studies Program. In addition to working in the “I think I might have sung more in those two weeks classroom, students were inspired by the city around them.

“My favorite part was the art walk we went on, where we looked at the street art and learned about the culture,” said Abraham. “We even created some graffiti of our ow n .”

Junior Olivia McLean felt as if she wanted to take leadership positions at school and in the community, but wasn’t sure how to get started. After attending the Olivia McLean among other HOBY participants at UNT. Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership seminar (HOBY) at the

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University of North Texas last summer, she gained clarity.

“HOBY helped me understand that leadership and leadership styles come in many different forms, and that every single person leads in a different way,” Olivia said.

Oakridge students have been participating in HOBY, a program geared toward helping high school students discover their personal leadership strengths, for many years. Olivia had the chance to hear from inspiring speakers like Imam Omar Suleiman, a professor of Islamic Studies at SMU and the Co-Chair of Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square, on his challenges in providing leadership to diverse groups. Senior Funmi Solano participated in the High School Honors Science Another speaker, improv actor Kyle Austin, likened Program at Michigan State University. leadership to being on the stage. participants argued a case in a mock trial at the San Francisco Superior Court.

“I had to write, memorize, and deliver the opening statement on the plaintiff side in front of the judge,” said Jace. “It was the most nerve-racking thing I have ever done!”

Whether over three days or three weeks, these programs help prepare each student for the transition to college in a way that can only fully be realized through time spent immersed in a college environment. For senior Funmi Solano, her participation in the Michigan State University High School Honors Science Program exposed her to that world in a new way.

Junior Jace Araujo (second from right) prepares to present her opening Funmi spent seven weeks learning about electrical statement for the plaintiff in a mock trial at the San Francisco Superior engineering and robotics to develop a robotic sensor Court. system for pipelines. Her fellow participants in the “Like improv, with leadership, you have to always be on program inspired her to work hard and also increased your feet ready to adapt to whatever challenges you face,” her excitement about heading off to college next year. said Olivia. She added that the overall experience left her feeling as if she could “change the world.” “I love my new friends from this program because I realized that there are people out there who I will Leadership and stepping out of your comfort zone also soon get to meet in college,” said Funmi. “Being able to played a role in junior Jace Araujo’s 10-day experience interact with such smart, talented, inspirational people at the Envision Intensive Law and Trial program in motivates me every day to do my best.” collaboration with the Stanford Law School. After hearing from Stanford Law professors, Jace and fellow

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 13 STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Congratulations to the 2018 National Geography Bee champion at The Oakridge School, sixth grade student Jackson Graham.

Two members of the Oakridge Class of 2018 have been named National Merit Finalists: Adrian Luong and Funmi Solano.

Congratulations to the 2018 Spelling Bee champion, fourth grader Grace Hunter, left, and alternate, eighth grader Olivia Benefield, right. They represented The Oakridge School at the Scripps Area 15 Spelling Bee in Fort Worth.

Six singers and two instrumentalists from The Oakridge School took part at the All-State Clinic and Concert hosted by the Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA). The Junior student Austin Foster was named Mr. Texan students were selected by audition from a large pool of musicians from around the state. During for the month of August by the Breakfast Optimist the event, Head of School Jon Kellam was named the TPSMEA’s 2017-2018 Distinguished Club of East Fort Worth. The honor qualified Administrator of the Year. Senior Cade Kellam was honored as a four-time TPSMEA all-state singer. Austin to compete for a scholarship.

14 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 15 14 • THE OAKRIDGEFACULTY SCHOOL OUTLOOK EXPERIENCES ABROAD SHAPE EDUCATORS’ APPROACH TO TEACHING

Every teacher at The Oakridge “The experience with culture She taught several different School who has lived abroad and language formed the classes at the Université credits his or her experience basis for the subjects that I Paris XIII, including an with significantly shaping teach,” said Mrs. Arce. “But, English conversation class for their approach to teaching having been a second-language students who were nearing the and working with young learner provided me insight completion of their degrees to people. That is certainly true into how to approach material become teachers themselves. for Upper School Spanish with my students. My ties to teacher Katherine Arce, who Costa Rica allow me to keep up “I moved to Paris two weeks as a University of Kansas with cultural trends, keep the after the September 11, 2001 junior, studied in San José and ’outside looking in’ perspective terrorist attacks on the U.S. Heredia, Costa Rica. fresh, and it provides me a My plane was ten percent full constant source of authentic of people. I had no job, no KU has the longest-running resources to use with my idea where the campus was, exchange program with the students.” what I would be teaching, how Universidad de Costa Rica. much I would be paid, and After Mrs. Arce finished Upper School French and I had no place to live,” Mrs. three semesters at UCR, she chemistry teacher Marissa Tate said. “As an educator - I remained in Costa Rica where Tate lived in Paris from 2001 take that feeling of pride in she met her husband, began to 2003, right after completing not only surviving my first her teaching career, and started her Master of Arts from The day, first week, and the entire a family. University of Texas at Austin. experience - and use that

Melissa Tate Paris, France

Katherine Arce Cathy Butler Heredia, Costa Rica Bangkok, Thailand

Mara Townsley Kitwe, Zambia

• THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 17 Reda Petraitis Su Henderson Assistant Athletic Director Early Childhood Center Aide Klaipeda, Lithuania New Delhi, India

Wei-Ming Liu Upper School Chinese Teacher Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Paulo da Silva College Advising Coordinator Piracicaba, Brazil

Arthur Ivo Anvita Kohli Head Varsity Girls Soccer Coach Early Childhood Center Aide Bragança Paulista, São Paulo Brazil raised in Nairobi, Kenya (born in New Delhi, India)

to push my students to reach a important, not possessions.” the educational experience of many potential that they probably have Oakridge students. yet to see they possess.” The family later moved to Kitwe, Zambia, where Coach Townsley The Brazilian native and Oakridge Mrs. Tate also feels that she is attended a private British school alumnus is also the school’s first a great advocate for Oakridge before enrolling in an American international student mentor. “I students to pursue languages, no boarding school in Kenya. understand what it feels like to matter their desired career path, “so be a student studying in another they can explore the world, meet “My experience at boarding school country. Having someone available other people, and ultimately learn shaped my career choice and to talk to on campus, who has more about who they really are.” my heart for kids,” said Coach traveled a similar path and been Townsley. “My high school coach, successful, can make all the Missionary work carried physical in particular, was a great impact on difference in the world,” Mr. da Silva education teacher and coach Mara my life and the very reason I am a said. “I am able to empathize with Townsley to Zambia, Central Africa coach today. She was tough, held me the students from abroad and offer in 1978. She was just four years accountable, made me responsible, unique support to their teacher. old and her family lived in total encouraged me, challenged me, and That type of bridge-building is immersion language study on a pushed me in every way on and off priceless. farm. the field. She cared about me as a person. That made me aware that Bridget Lewis, “Living overseas absolutely affected kids are loyal and committed when Director of Marketing and my world view. I’ve seen great you invest in their lives and get to Communications poverty and neglect, not only know them as individuals.” physically, but emotionally and spiritually,” said Coach Townsley. “I Though he doesn’t teach in the saw heartache and triumph in the classroom, Paulo da Silva ’05, same environment. The experience college advising coordinator and is a great reminder that people are soccer coach, plays a unique role in

18 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK SHIFTING GEARS TO TEACH

Most Oakridge teachers “We now have students all begin preparing for the over the country studying classroom when they are still film, graphic design and undergraduates in college. communication,” said Ms. Others enter the profession as a Triebwasser. “It’s an amazing second or even third career and feeling to get to help people find working with preschool discover gifts and passions that through grade 12 students more they didn’t know they had, and professionally challenging and to shepherd them along a path personally fulfilling than they children. She joined Oakridge as they never imagined they would ever imagined it could be. a full-time teacher in the Early t a ke .” Childhood Center after serving as a substitute teacher in the Arlington Independent School District and as a children’s leader with Bible Study Fellowship.

“The moment I stepped in front Before Orchestra Director Daniel of the class, I knew I was in the Jamieson entered education, right place,” said Upper School he worked in radio and in math teacher Joe Feldstein. music sales. “I pre-recorded For eight years he worked in voice tracks between songs and the aerospace industry as a Being Oakridge’s Integrated eventually moved into retail mechanical engineer and then Media Studio coordinator and where I sold all kinds of musical as a structural analyst on the an assistant basketball coach instruments,” said Mr. Jamieson. F-16 airplane, Cobra helicopter was never the grand plan for Though he also had dreams of and General Electric jet engines. Ms. Melissa Triebwasser. She being a record executive, he saw Tutoring physics in his spare previously worked as the women’s teaching as an opportunity to time led to teaching. “I’m happy basketball coach for William help youth in an area that was to teach any of the science, Jessup University. She also served familiar to him. technology, engineering, and as a medical education sales mathematics (STEM) classes — representative, which allowed her “Music was my refuge as a all of which I have done. to travel nationwide meeting with teenager. I knew no matter how deans and professors at medical bad my day was, if I could make Pre-kindergarten teacher Susan schools. The desire to return to it to band class, I’d survive. I try Strode spent part of her early Texas led Ms. Triebwasser to to reciprocate that now. I strive career working with advertising Oakridge. She started out as a for my class to be one in which as an in-house graphic designer coach then used her college film my kiddos can be themselves for several Fort Worth printing training to continue building and forget about the stresses of companies. She went on to work Oakridge’s Integrated Media the rest of the day.” from home after the births of her program.

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 19 MEET THE DEPARTMENT CHAIRS

Most people could easily name Oakridge’s my desire has changed such that if I were to Head of School, Jon Kellam, or its division return to academia it would be to research heads: Betty Garton, ECC; Sarah Schecter, education and pedagogy. Lower School; Britt Robinson, Middle School; and Butch Groves, Upper School. Behind the I model lifelong learning first and foremost scenes, however, are some of the school’s most by refusing to do things the same way each important academic leaders, the department year as a classroom teacher. I constantly look chairs. for ways to modify or redesign the curricular content of the course, and I love to share both Considered the resident experts in their the successes and failures when attempting to academic fields, department chairs oversee make the curricular content more engaging the curriculum scope and sequence from for each student. grade to grade. They support the creation of an academic environment where learning Time abroad: flourishes, challenging work is commonplace, I studied British literature at Oxford and professional enrichment occurs. In short, University during the summer 2002. I took department chairs ensure that The Oakridge classes on Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and School provides sound, college preparatory the literary origins of punk subculture. It academics. The Outlook invites you to get to was an amazing journey because I had the know these leaders a little better. chance to experience the literary places I was reading about. Most importantly, this was Jared Colley | English/Language Arts the trip where I met my wife. As a result, I BA, English and Philosophy, can confidently say that studying at Oxford The University of Texas at Austin was the best decision in my life, and it had nothing to do with the academics. MA, Literature/Critical Theory, New York University Departmental goals: What I love most about English: We want students to be empowered to think I love that English is truly a subject about for themselves and to have the courage to learning how to ask better, more probing voice those thoughts, whether it be in the questions. It’s not so much about knowing form of text or speech. Yes, students need the answer as it is about learning how to ask to find their voices, but just as importantly, the deeper questions. In English we live in they need the necessary tools, resources, and the realm of “excluded middles” – namely strategies to share their voices with others. As the realm where there isn’t always a binary a department, this means we have to revisit answer of “true” or “false.” Instead, we get to our curricular scope and sequence constantly live in the grey and ask questions like “what to make sure we have a program in place that does it mean to be human?” – questions that teaches every student how to read and think only inspire more inquiry. more critically and how to write and speak more clearly and effectively. The literature we On lifelong learning: read contributes to the process by inspiring For years, I thought I wanted to continue my both self-reflection and empathy while studies in philosophy as a PhD candidate. connecting students to their ancestral past, Now that I have spent more than a decade in but our most important goal is making every the field of independent school education, student an effective writer and communicator

20 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK as he or she prepares for success in the real world.

Andy Stewart | Fine Arts BME, Music Education, Oklahoma State University MM, Pedagogy and Performance, Oklahoma State University What I love most about choir: Choral music is an incredible avenue for exploring the human condition. I love having the deeper conversations with classes about how music illuminates our shared experiences and allows us to feel closer not only to each other in the group, but also with the rest of humanity.

On lifelong learning: Many of our faculty are active Department Chairs on back row (L to R): Colley, Lane, Stewart, Andersen. Seated: artists. I sing with the professional Bonner, Wiseman. ensemble Orpheus Chamber Singers where weekly I get to sit and Jennifer Bonner | History/Social Studies something I think will help people learn under another conductor. BA, Political Science and History, in the department, I share. I also

Marquette University believe an essential part of being a Time abroad: lifelong learner is being receptive to MA, American History and Early Modern I sang with the Westminster Festival the input from other members of the Choir for a month in Florence, Italy European History, University of New Mexico department. A good chair should in 2008. Other overseas choir tours never be complacent or assume what have included Ireland and England. What I love most about history: they do is something ‘best.’ That I adore history because it the attitude simply stunts growth. Departmental goals: grandest collection of human It may be time to reevaluate/reshape stories. The variety of narratives Departmental goals: curriculum in our younger grades is so varied and they are so full of My campus-wide goal for the as well as expand offerings in lessons that we need to listen to and department is a more direct Middle and Upper Schools. There learn from. These are the lessons alignment and increased seems to be a strong desire from that drive me to want to share this collaboration. I am eager to students to be able to immerse narrative with my students. invigorate the curriculum from the themselves in multiple artistic earliest grades until our students disciplines. We hope to continue On lifelong learning: graduate. I genuinely want students to move that conversation forward. I am a voracious reader. Any break to see history as something so There is room to align our verbiage we have, chances are I will read a much bigger, and important, than about the arts. While our model book (or five). I also am constantly memorization and dates without isn’t broken, it certainly feels like searching for new lessons and context. More than anything, I want there could be a more holistic view collaborate with other teachers students to embrace that history of the disciplines we offer. outside Oakridge. Any time I find also includes their story.

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 21 Charlotte Wiseman | Mathematics Lori Lane | Science Jim Andersen | World Languages BS, Mathematics, Texas A&M University BS, Biology, The University of Texas BA, Spanish, The University of Wisconsin MEd, Curriculum and Instruction, at Arlington at Milwaukee Texas Wesleyan University MEd, Educational Leadership and Policy MBA, The University of Texas at Arlington Studies, The University of Texas at Arlington What I love most about math: What I love most about languages: I love that math is used to explain On lifelong learning: My favorite aspect of world everyday life. It is relevant to I model lifelong learning by taking languages is the opportunity I have everyone at some level. It has rules classes, volunteering with Junior to meet and get to know a wider and steps and procedures to follow League of Arlington, and serving variety of people. Language is to arrive at logical conclusions. other nonprofit organizations. power.

On lifelong learning: Research projects: On lifelong learning: I attend math conferences most I did some graduate-level projects Although I am no longer in the years and watch webinars on topics as an undergraduate. I was invited classroom daily, I do have the of interest so that I am always to take a graduate-level class called occasional opportunity to substitute learning. I invite the department Scanning Electron Microscopy teach a period or two for our members to do likewise. I forward (SEM). In the class I learned how to Spanish teachers. Last semester, I links to webinars and remind them operate the microscope through a loved teaching a seminar course on of upcoming conferences to attend. series of projects. The culminating the stock market. I share articles from the National project was creating a hypothesis Council of Teachers of Mathematics and testing. My hypothesis was Study abroad: journal that I find relevant to the determining the length of time I studied at the Universidad respective grade levels. I also share that Gun Shot Residue (GSR) Complutense de Madrid my junior ideas and articles found on Twitter. would stay detectable on a shooter’s year of college. I have also spent Lastly, I encourage faculty to visit hands using the Scanning Electron considerable time in Spain for class each other and colleagues at other Microscope with energy dispersive trips and personal trips. schools. x-ray analysis. My family hosted a foreign exchange Departmental goals: I wasn’t always a teacher: student from Madrid during my One of my campus-wide goals is to I interned with the Tarrant County high school years. This experience have our math curriculum better Medical Examiners Crime Lab for allowed me to travel to Spain most aligned vertically. I would like for two years. I reported to the Senior summers and was the start of a our teachers from different divisions Trace Analysts, but was also trained lifelong bond with my Spanish to have time to meet consistently. by the Forensic Anthropologist, “family.” The independence, language It is my hope that all students leave Questioned Document Analyst, and experience, and cultural knowledge Oakridge with an appreciation for Fingerprint Expert. gained during this time is invaluable how math is relevant to their lives, and still serves me well. how they may use it in their futures, Departmental goals: and that they believe they can be We are working on creating a Departmental goals: successful in math. STEM Showcase. The showcase The World Languages Department will provide the platform for PS- has the goal of developing a passion 12th grade students to share an for study of others’ languages and experiment and test results. cultures. It is a lifelong pursuit and one which pays off in a person’s career and personal life.

22 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK FACULTY & STAFF: BY THE NUMBERS

When Oakridge Opened in 1979: 13 FACULTY/STAFF At Start of 2017-2018 School Year: 132

Doctorates: 5 Total Years ​of Attended High School Master’s Degrees: 53 Experience: 1,954.5 Outside of Texas: 55

Served in the ​Children Attend Faculty Who Are Military: 4 Oakridge: 41 Only Children: 8

​Dog Owners: 44 Cat Owners: 9

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 23 # • THE OAKRIDGEARTS SCHOOL OUTLOOK RETURN OF CALLIOPE

Calliope, the Oakridge literary arts magazine, has been on a hiatus. Although it has been an Oakridge tradition for over a decade, the last edition rolled out in the spring of 2014, and that is why its return to publication as an Upper School Students stretching their minds and bodies to spell Calliope. seminar course is an exciting one. to capture abstract moments who are skilled in photography, in time and to compile that journaling, interviewing, This year’s Calliope staff spent information in a real, concrete editing, idea-generating, and a lot of time thinking about w ay.” original content contributing. how they want to frame the They ask them to share these rebirth of the magazine. Their This approach should provide skills with their classmates, goal is to ensure that Calliope the students with an authentic and to lean on each other to becomes a self-sustaining snapshot of what it means to achieve the common goal of portrait of what makes the be at Oakridge for the 2017- creating this unique literary individuals and collective 2018 school year. Mrs. Allen arts magazine that resonates groups at Oakridge unique and reiterated that they don’t want with the entire Oakridge eclectic. Guiding their efforts to do that “in a straightforward family. are Upper School English kind of way.” teacher Andrea Anders and “We all really like being a part visual arts teacher Frances “We want Calliope to evoke of Calliope because there’s not Allen. feelings, emotions, and the already a format that we have desire to keep on looking to follow,” said senior Channy at it, to keep on reading, to Cornell. “We get to invent keep on celebrating, to keep that format, and that’s a cool on remembering that things responsibility.” existed, that events happened,” said Mrs. Allen. “And we don’t Sophomore Elizabeth Trimble just mean the highlights. We echoed Channy’s sentiment. mean to capture it all. The “We actually have a say in good, the bad, the not-so- what we do in Calliope, and I Calliope staff discussing the magazine. good, and the not-so-bad.” enjoy that because it’s different from anything that I have ever “Because Frances and I really Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Anders participated in before.” want the magazine to be solely regularly collaborate with student-centered, she and each other cross-curricularly, The revamped Calliope will be I have tasked the students modeling for their students available in May 2018. with generating themes how to establish a common by which they can glean language and a rapport with Andrea Anders and information from students their classmates who may Frances Allen, from all divisions,” said Mrs. not share their medium of Upper School Faculty Anders. “The goal is for them expression. They have students

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 25 BEHIND THE CURTAIN

For the past seven years at The Oakridge School, the three-show theatre season has been one of the staples of the Department of Fine Arts. The season always opens with the fall play, which is followed by the winter musical. Senior-directed plays wrap up the season.

The fall play has the honor of kicking off the entire fine arts year as the first production in the John P. Flavin Fine Arts Center. Every year, actors and technicians get a chance to grow their resume by participating in a fully produced main-stage show.

Students audition, usually the second week of school, and rehearse after school three to four days a week, for two to three hour-long rehearsals. Auditions usually consist of cold readings from the script. The entire process is Actors performing in “A Wrinkle In Time.” considered extracurricular. Those involved do so simply because of their love for the art. Mary Poppins was selected as the winter musical and performed over three nights in Every play is chosen for different reasons. front of a combined audience of 1,200 friends This fall, the students produced A Wrinkle in and Oakridge family members in early Time, which is read by fifth and sixth grade February. students at Oakridge. “I discovered, especially with certain “By focusing on this play, we were able to characters, that I have to spend time using produce a show that was cross-divisional techniques I’ve learned in my acting class and and cross-curricular,” said Theatre Director try to translate it into my performance and Brad DeBorde. “I try to mix things up by my singing,” said junior Ben Everett, who bouncing among children’s theatre, classics played Mr. Banks. and comedies each year.” Senior Kenzie Holtman played the title role in Designing the show is also different each year. the musical and said she learned more than Sometimes a theatre production student will her lines. “I learned how important it is to not have a chance at designing, but most of the only focus on yourself, but to help, encourage, time DeBorde develops the designs. and collaborate with others so you can grow together and be the best you can be.” “The designs I use help my curriculum by showing students how to work with lumber, Brad DeBorde and Bridget Lewis stage painting techniques and lighting,” DeBorde said. “One of the amazing things about the fall play is that it is 100-percent student built and operated.”

26 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK ARTS NEWS

Actors in the final scene of Mary Poppins (top left).

3-D art students designed and built a “Nightmare Before Christmas” gingerbread house that teachers school-wide voted on as a winning design. The contest entries were displayed in the Upper School in December (top right).

Oakridge singers and instrumentalists in January took part in the Texas Private School Music Educators Association All-State Clinic and Concert at the Eismann Center Performance Hall in Richardson (middle row).

Student authors from the Indie Publishing seminar selling their books at the spring Mansfield Pickle Palooza. The seminar was taught by Theatre Director Brad DeBorde (bottom left).

27 24 • THE OAKRIDGEATHLETICS SCHOOL OUTLOOK ATHLETICS BRIEFS

Seminar Highlight: Nutrition their life when they leave for college and beyond. Students This fall, Oakridge offered its first seminar course in need to know how nutrition. It is so very important that young people learn to make healthy how to eat in healthy ways for their growing bodies choices when away during their teen and young adult years. This seminar from home, and provides information students can use every day, with the principles whether they are athletes, actors, or just looking to get they learned in the healthier. nutrition seminar, they will have the The seminar started skills to successfully off by examining the meal plan now and in different amounts the future, to ensure of macronutrients that they are eating optimally for what they are doing. that students need to take in on a daily Matt Knauf basis for general nutrition. The class then moved on to New Coach include discussions about different KYLE WHITE dietary needs for TRACK & FIELD athletes. The course HEAD COACH also covered the vast Kyle White has been variety of different diets on the market now. The most coast-to-coast in important aspect of nutrition for students is that they his coaching career, need to eat. While there are many choices for dietary with his latest stops intakes, students learned on the first day that D.I.E.T. as assistant track stands for “Did I Eat Today?” Each time the class met, and field coach the first question they heard was, “What did you have at the University for breakfast?” As of Arkansas and growing young Stanford University. adults, students need Kyle White Kyle also earned a to remember to eat in Master’s Degree in Education while coaching at East order to nourish their Tennessee State University. In addition to Track & Field bodies, especially if in the spring, Coach White served as an assistant cross they participate in a country coach in the fall. He is married to Dr. Alison sport. White, who coordinates the Physical Education Teacher- Ed program at the University of Texas at Arlington, and Later in the semester, has two sons: Hayden, 10, and Weston, 4. another topic covered included meal planning, as this will be a very large part of

• THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 29 HISTORY OF THE SPC

The Oakridge School athletic teams have much to be proud of after competitive 2017-2018 fall and winter seasons. While the Owls focus on finishing strong this spring, Outlook takes a look at the 16-school member athletic conference that we call home — the SPC.

Oakridge joined the Southwest Preparatory Conference, or SPC, in 1990, and has been a proud and Oakridge basketball players warming up at the 2018 SPC Winter active member for 27 years. Championships. Head of School Jon Kellam serves as president of the a second meeting, leaders basketball during the first SPC Board of Directors. from the five schools agreed year. In reflecting on our nearly to create the “Association of three decades in the Texas Preparatory Schools.” The first year of operation Conference, Commissioner The Association met created much discussion Bob Windham said, semi-annually, rotating the regarding many topics that “SPC has appreciated location among the schools. led to guidelines that would the Oakridge School’s The host school provided govern the conference for long-standing positive the chairman of the meeting the next 60 years. Some of relationship, and we greatly and lunch, and the next those topics included the value the leadership that Jon host school provided the following: Kellam has provided.” secretary. • Should admission to The Southwest Preparatory The first Association football Association games be Conference was established team was St. Stephen’s in charged? in 1952 at a meeting the fall of 1952. The first consisting of five schools. Association basketball • How to best share Three schools from Houston tournament was held at the tournament expenses? – St. John’s, Kinkaid, and end of February 1953, and it • How should traveling Lutheran – met with St. included three guest teams teams handle lodging? Stephen’s of Austin and to fill out the eight-team St. Mark’s of Dallas to bracket. The Association • How to secure officials? discuss forming a loosely allowed the players to knit organization, without select the “All-Association” One interesting piece binding rules, to collaborate team in football, and of history is that two with, and compete against the coaches selected the headmasters officiated a like-minded schools. After “All-Association” team for

30 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK varsity football game between Southwest Preparatory Valley, Fort Worth Country Day, Casady and St. Stephen’s one Conference in 1958. Later and Wichita (KS) Collegiate night when officials did not show that year, the first baseball had joined the conference. The up for the game. tournament, track meet, tennis conference guidelines grew as and golf matches occurred. code of conduct language was In April of 1953, Casady and Greenhill joined the conference applied to schools, athletes, Hockaday were invited to become in 1958, but did not participate parents, and spectators. members of the Association. in football. The next several At the end of that school year, years saw the addition of soccer, In addition to Oakridge, there are Casady and Hockaday became field hockey, and cross-country 15 other member schools in the the sixth and seventh members as SPC sports and the coming SPC. There is one in Oklahoma, of the Association. The following and going of schools as the eight in the Dallas-Fort Worth year, two firsts occurred: the first conference grew to over ten area, two in Austin, and five in girls’ basketball tournament was schools. One key development the greater Houston area. These held, and girls’ volleyball began was the determination that 16 schools are among the finest as a spring sport. Texas Military membership required a school to college preparatory, independent Institute of San Antonio was be a member in good standing schools in the southwest, and all admitted as the eighth school with the Independent Schools embrace a common philosophy at the end of 1955. The next of the Southwest (ISAS), an of educating the whole child year began with the Association independent school accreditation through exposure to academics, adopting a constitution of agency. arts, and athletic programs. One governance and ended with the distinguishing characteristic of admission of Allen Military The 1970s saw the SPC survive the SPC is the season-ending Academy of Bryan, TX as the the national energy crisis tournaments. The College Board ninth member school. by creatively restructuring sets the Advanced Placement tournaments and travel. By testing schedule in late spring, The Association of Texas this time, the two military and the SPC concludes all of its Preparatory Schools officially academies and Lutheran had competition by those dates. changed its name to the left the conference while Trinity Throughout its 65 years, the conference has continued to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the independent schools involved. Mr. Kellam recently stated, “Oakridge is proud of its continued affiliation with the Southwest Preparatory Conference. Knowing our student-athletes compete against others from like-minded schools in Texas and Oklahoma in a safe and positive environment inspires confidence that our teams are in a great position for success.”

Shawn Meadows, Director of Athletics Oakridge soccer team at the 2018 SPC Winter Championships.

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 31 CROSS COUNTRY

Cross country running, or distance running, is an activity that can make a huge impact on one’s life. There are many medical and recreational benefits to hitting the open trail. Seeing how long and how far one can push oneself allows a person to become stronger, both mentally and physically. Cross country runners celebrate their teammate.

From a personal standpoint, Another added benefit is development, energy and I have witnessed many of that running burns fat very endurance levels have the aforementioned factors quickly, and it has actually increased dramatically. I for myself, as have my cross helped me with substantial will talk more about that country team members. I weight loss. As a result of and reveal how running notice that when I run with running last summer, I has impacted my students’ our team, my awareness and experienced a decrease in academic performance in mood totally change for the my weight, dropping from The Oakridge School’s new better afterwards. I notice 241 pounds to 210 pounds blog, Notes from the Nest. that same phenomenon with by the start of the 2017-2018 our runners as well. One of school year. Chris Henderson, our athletes may come to MS Science Teacher and practice after having a bad The physiques of many of Cross Country Coach day. But after a run, he or our runners have changed she is in much better spirits. as well over time — muscle

The Notes from the Nest blog launches this spring and will include articles from Owl educators, administrators, and subject matter experts providing insight on what we have learned over the years. We are teachers with decades of experiences, parents, artists, doctors, tech gurus, and more. We have seen thousands of students from diverse backgrounds and skills, who have overcome struggles and achieved success. Our goal is to spread our experiences through Notes from the Nest, in hopes of stirring conversation, sharing our thoughts with the community, and to bring comfort and advice to parents as they raise their own school-aged children.

32 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK ATHLETICS BRIEFS

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 33 ALUMNI NEWS

Class of 2005 Class of 2008 born on Kristin’s birthday, January 11, 2018, at 3:29 a.m. He weighed Ashley Brentlinger Read ’05 and Courtney Wood Allen ’08 and 6 lbs. 19.5 oz. Congratulations to her husband David Read are happy her husband, Josh, gave birth to Krissy and the Scott Family. to announce the birth of their their son, Jaxson Michael Allen, second daughter, Finley Rae Read. on September 17, 2017. The baby Will Turner ’08 starts the doctor Finley was born August 20, 2017 boy weighed 7 lb. 5 oz. and was 19 of physical therapy program at at Baylor All Saints in Fort Worth. inches long. Courtney is a global the University of St. Augustine Finley weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and brand specialist for Fossil Group in for Health Sciences this May. He was 19 1/4 inches long. Finley was Richardson. and his wife, Dana Diamarzouk lovingly welcomed into the world Turner ’08, welcomed a baby girl, by big sister, Avery Kate, who is in Charlotte, last fall. preschool at Oakridge.

Blake Messer ’08 recently took a position at Weir Oil and Gas in Fort Worth as the process engineering manager for the company’s U.S. Class of 2010 Class of 2006 service centers. Blake’s group provides support for all operations, Alyssa Belcher ’10 serves as a including training, new tool college guidance coordinator Jennifer Groves Murrah ’06 development, product sustainability, at BASIS Independent School was recently recognized as a continuous improvement projects, District in San Jose, CA. In 2016, STAR performer in her role as and facility improvements. Alyssa earned a Master’s degree a senior project manager for in international education policy CenturyLink in Columbus, OH. The Kristin Scott ’08 recently welcomed analysis from Stanford University. telecommunications corporation a baby boy. Hudson James Scott was She earned Bachelor’s degrees in annually recognizes 20 STARs sociology and psychology from the of more than 40,000 employees. University of North Carolina at Married since 2014, Jennifer and Asheville. her husband Kyle Murrah, recently purchased their first home and Sara Gordon ’10 married Anthony she is training to run her first full McQuillen last October at the marathon in Chicago in October. Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame. The couple met in law school

34 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK ALUMNI NEWS at Notre Dame and now live in executive at Medix, a healthcare Neuroscience and Behavioral Washington, D.C. where they are recruiting firm. She graduated Biology. Now she is working on a both practicing law. in 2015 with a BS in Nutrition PhD in the University of Michigan’s Sciences. Neuroscience Graduate Program.

Monica Clifford Mendiola ’11 Deron Molen ’12 proposed to married John Mendiola on July 29, his girlfriend, Adrianna Pitrelli, 2017 in a wedding at San Antonio’s on live television in Decatur, IL. University of the Incarnate Word. He anchors the weekday 4 p.m. Monica is now an eighth grade U.S. newscast for WAND (NBC) and History teacher at Tafolla Middle serves as the station’s lead nightside School in San Antonio. reporter.

Tyler Pfursich ’11 is teaching physical education and coaching junior high football at Livingston Junior High School. He is also the Class of 2011 head coach for the varsity boys’ soccer program. Peyton Kemp ’11 recently joined the Financial and Strategic Investors Paige Polk ’11 is co-directing an Group (FSIG) in the investment interactive documentary website banking division at Goldman Sachs for Google’s internal team. Based in as an administrative assistant. She Brooklyn, New York, she’s grateful previously served as an executive to blend media with social justice assistant for global digital and cloud in the work that she does. She will technology at Citi. Kemp earned a graduate from the Media Studies MSc in international fashion retail Master’s Program at the Pratt Emma Leffler ’12 will graduate from the University of Manchester, Institute in 2019. from Southwestern Oklahoma UK, and a BA in international State University with a doctorate relations and affairs from George of pharmacy this May. She has Washington University. been selected to complete a clinical pharmacy residency after Ashlei Fong-Kutchins ’11 was graduation. promoted in April to account

Class of 2012

Taylor Craig ’12 graduated from Emory University with a BS in

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 35 ALUMNI NEWS

Andrew Read ’12 and Samantha earned Bachelor’s degrees last year with local nonprofits and ministries, Jamieson ’13 became engaged in both international studies and sharing the Gospel and serving the December 16, 2017 in the scenic mathematics from the University “least of these” in the countries she Reunion Tower elevator in Dallas. of Denver. Last summer, she and will visit. They were immediately greeted and her best friend from college raised congratulated by their families, who more than $5,000 in a bike ride Class of 2015 were jubilantly celebrating in the from Oregon to Connecticut in Reunion Tower lobby. The couple support of Discovery to Cure, an Lauren Davidson ’15 received will marry next summer. organization that supports ovarian her white coat from University of cancer research. Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine on August 17, 2017. The white coat signifies that she has completed most of her undergraduate work for her BA and that she will complete medical school work for her MD. She is excited to follow in her brother’s footsteps, Dr. Sean Davidson ’11.

Class of 2013

Stephanie Neaves ’13 graduated Class of 2014 from Texas Christian University last May. She majored in psychology Landry Petersen ’14 will graduate and minored in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas in and child development. Stephanie May with a degree in international is currently seeking her Master’s studies and religious studies. In Gretchen Leffler ’15 is finishing her degree in clinical rehabilitation August, Landry will depart on a third year as a computer animation counseling at UT Southwestern. year-long mission trip around the major at Ringling College of Art world with the organization, World Race. While overseas, she’ll partner

Christina Pauley ’13, in February joined GLG (Gerson Lehrman Group) as a junior research associate in Austin. Christina

36 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK ALUMNI NEWS and Design. She has designed highlights included singing with all several art works and created short five living former U.S. Presidents JOIN OAKRIDGE CONNECT animations. who assisted with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Oakridge Alumni are now Class of 2016 participating in an exciting new platform called Oakridge Connect. This closed group Maddie Lowe ’16 was a key player of over 1,500 alums allows in this year’s “Soonerthon,” the members to communicate, biggest philanthropy event at the network, share pictures, and post University of Oklahoma. In dance- event information. The dynamic a-thons, students stand for 12 database helps maintain contact consecutive hours for all children despite graduation, moves, and who can’t. OU raised over a million job changes. Alumni also have dollars. “Seeing the kids’ reaction the ability to search for each other to us raising this amount of money by class year, city of residence, for the Oklahoma City Children’s university affiliation, Greek Hospital was so amazing,” said affiliation, industry, and company. Sign up at oakridgeconnect.org. Maddie.

Shanna Lucas ’16 is a sophomore at Southwestern University in Georgetown, where she was hired In Memoriam Owl Tribute: as a First-Year RA team member for the 2017-2018 school year. A Janice Schauwecker journalism major, Shanna serves as Hundreds of Oakridge students, parents, a writer and photographer for SU’s faculty and staff gathered at St. Joseph Catholic newspaper, The Megaphone. Church in Arlington October 26, 2017, to say goodbye to a beloved teacher, colleague, and Spencer Lucas ’16 wrapped up friend. the semester at Southwestern Janice Schauwecker, 65, passed away Assemblies of God University in unexpectedly October 20, 2017, while Waxahachie and enlisted in the U.S. chaperoning and accompanying our fifth grade Navy. students on a field trip. A loving mother, wife, mentor, friend, MBA Class of 2017 and CPA — Mrs. Schauwecker also worked as a fifth grade math teacher, substitute teacher, and Oakridge swimming coach. Her daughters, Jessica ’08 and Natalie ’11, both entered Oakridge in Middle School and graduated at the top of their respective Walker Emmert ’17 and Brayden classes. Toulouse ’17 have become members of the Texas A&M In her obituary, family members wrote that Mrs. Schauwecker “loved Disney and University Singing Cadet men’s Sudoku, football and bacon cheeseburgers. But most of all, she loved her family and choir. Known as the “Voice of every swimmer, every student she coached and taught.” Aggieland,” the group represents Mrs. Schauwecker had a profound influence on many lives and will be remembered the university through musical for her work ethic, zest for life, love of children, and steadfast support of The presentations and special events Oakridge School. around the world. This year’s WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 37 SUPER SUPPER & AUCTION

Development Information Specialist Teri Foster holds Labrador puppy from Soggy Bottom Retrievers of Lufkin. Dressed to impress (l to r) are Fran Lyons, Kristy Kundysek, Songul Agir, and Serena Kundysek.

Head of School Jon Kellam with Ryan Brentlinger Worthington ’99, chair of the 2018 Super Supper and Auction.

Live event painter Doug Peak creates a speakeasy-themed work of art. Former School President Andy Broadus and wife Linda enjoy a dance.

38 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK SUPER SUPPER & AUCTION

Super Supper and Auction chair Ryan Worthington ’99 and her husband Matt ’98. Oakridge parents Tammy and Kirk Franklin enjoying a dance.

Chairman of the Board of Regents Don Duke speaks to Winner of the Heads & Tails line dance Paul Cary. Oakridge supporters at the Speakeasy Soirée.

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 39 OAKRIDGE PARENTS’ CLUB

The Oakridge Parents’ Club (OPC) volunteers have been hard at work setting records and having fun. This school year has far exceeded my expectations and my heart is so full. We have surpassed our membership goals with a record number of 345 parents and we are still growing. By the end of the 2017-2018 school year, our volunteers will have created more than 35 events. I have said this several times: every person and every piece counts.

OPC volunteers kicked off the year with the Back to School Fair & Picnic where we held our first ever Uniform Resale fashion show. Our Lower School children had their school Families at the Back to School Fair. supplies waiting for them courtesy of our at Chick-fil-A to raise funds for OPC. It was volunteers. The first day of school we held our a blast! All of our events to date this year are Cheers & Tears: Welcome Back Event in our highlighted in our colorful fall newsletter. Library. Even the rain that day could not stop our enthusiasm. We have provided several I think my feeling for this year can be class parties, dessert parties, test snacks and summed up by a meme I sent out last year: healthy snack days. We continued throughout “Volunteered. Got Way Happier!” This is so the year with our big Owlfest Fall Festival, true of the spirit of OPC and its dedicated Holiday Treasures Gift Shop, additional volunteers. I would like to most especially Uniform Resale days, and three catered thank our Executive Board including: Jeanne luncheons for faculty and staff. Our Oakridge Curtis, Ronda Lane, Melissa Steer-Koon, Pages website underwent a complete Tessa Guevara, Leslie LeMond, Victoria makeover and serves as a resource for those Farrar-Myers, Toni Parvin, Michelle Reese, who want to connect with our Oakridge Jennifer Miller and Kendra Walton. I am so friends and family who are business owners honored to work alongside each of you and or entrepreneurs. Our Parent Ambassador consider this year such a blessing. Also a huge program is going strong with new families thank you to Jon Kellam, Lauren Matocha, matched with current families in order Bridget Lewis and Alisa Hunter for helping to provide a resource for any new family us with every event and idea we have had this questions or needs. After Prom planning year. We are looking forward to the months to is underway. This is a fun and safe OPC- come. sponsored event for Upper School students who attend the prom. Michal Tincup OPC President 2017-2018 FUNdraising has been hard at work this year with our “Magazine and Gift Sale” event, which provides funding for the many other events we sponsor, in addition to allocating remaining funds to Oakridge. We held our first “Spirit Night” during Homecoming Week

40 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK OAKRIDGE PARENTS’ CLUB

OPC organized a fashion show with students serving as models.

The OPC Book Fair was held Jan. 24- 31 in the Library. “There’s A Treasure In Every Book” was the theme.

OPC members provided snacks and treats for students and teachers in all divisions.

Holiday Treasures provided students with an opportunity to shop for gifts OPC President Michal Tincup, center, with parents in the record-breaking 345-member club. on campus.

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 41 The Oakridge School would like to recognize The Owl Club for its efforts to Owl Club Allocations 2016-2017 support our many athletic programs. We are grateful for your many contributions and appreciate your commitment. $3,300 Endowment

Basketball programs

$382.59 6- Hands Up Defenders

Track programs

$917.94 6 Starting Blocks

$6,441.83 4 Jump Pit Covers

Softball programs

$5,500 Replace broken scoreboard

All US athletes 2 Vertimax training systems with accessories to $7,125.38 workout 10 athletes at one time All US/MS athletes and faculty/staff One Dynatron Solaris Plus, 709Plus – 5 $3,795 Channel Combo Stim/Light Ultrasound US Field Hockey

$3,800 One pair FH goals + nets to update/replace

MS and US Tennis

$1,800 2 Lobster ball machines

2 additional 3 row bleachers to compliment $2,400 what we have

$1,000 ECC PE Program

LS PE Program (in the form of an Amazon Gift $1,000 Card - this was the helicopter ball drop prize that was donated back to Owl Club)

42 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK We are honored to chair The Your children benefit directly ever for you to participate. You can: Oakridge School’s 2017-18 Annual from your gifts. Oakridge is able • write a check Fund. We chose Oakridge because it to recruit, train and retain talented • use a credit card online is the very best fit for our family of faculty and staff, as well as, explore • schedule a recurring monthly three boys, Christopher and Niccolo, new ways to educate our students, payment online both seniors, and Marco, a sixth creatively and forwardly, in the • send in cash grader. It has been amazing to witness classroom, on the field, and on the • transfer stock options how their education plays out in the stage. The students are provided • make a pledge online real world, beyond our Oakridge cutting-edge technology and new fences. We have been a part of the equipment in a top-notch, safe Please remember that matching Oakridge family since 2010 and it’s environment and facility. gift programs are available at many been a fantastic journey since day one. of your places of employment. What does Annual Fund pay Check with your human resources What is the Annual Fund? The for? Oakridge invests its greatest department to see how you can Annual Fund is Oakridge’s top dollars in the people who make double your gift! philanthropic priority and it up our talented, dedicated and supports the daily operating budget. caring faculty and staff who touch Our goal this year is twofold: to It is essential to our school and we your children’s lives every day. The raise $425,000 and to achieve 100% could not operate without it. All Annual Fund pays for all the visible schoolwide participation! independent schools are faced with and invisible, tangible and intangible the same need: to bridge the gap things that make our school unique. We are still in the race and invite between tuition dollars and the you to join in Oakridge’s 2017-18 actual cost of a private education. Why should you participate? Annual Fund campaign. Thank The Oakridge Board of Regents When you participate, you are you in advance for considering deliberates thoughtfully on setting automatically part of something your gift thoughtfully. Should you tuition, considers what is affordable big and it feels good. Our school’s have any questions, feel free to while staying competitive and offers success depends on EVERYONE’S contact Teri Foster at 817.781.2125, the best value. The Annual Fund participation and EVERY GIFT Larraine at 817.691.6229 or Ralph at generates the funds that make up the MATTERS, no matter the size. 214.435.1934. difference. Tuition, Annual Fund, Diversity is a big part of what makes and the Super Supper & Auction, Oakridge stand out above the rest, See you at the finish line! make up the revenue stream for and the diversity of means is no our school. However, unlike other exception. Your gift, large or small, Best Regards, fundraisers, 100% of your tax- makes a difference. deductible gift to the Annual Fund Ralph and Larraine LaRovere goes directly back to the school. How and when do I make a gift? Who benefits from Annual Fund? NOW or LATER! It is easier than

WWW.THEOAKRIDGESCHOOL.ORG • 43 Save The Date Oakridge Golf Classic

Monday, May 7, 2018 Walnut Creek Country Club

The Oakridge Golf Classic supports The Owl Club, whose mission is promoting school spirit, character development, and the physical well-being of our students through financial and other forms of support for physical education and athletic programs in every division. All proceeds benefit the Oakridge Physical Education and Athletic programs. For more information about sponsoring the 2018 Golf Tournament, please contact Amy or Bryan Key 817.980.3904

Amy and Bryan Key Dennis Brown 2018 Oakridge Golf Classic CoChairs President, The Owl Club

44 • THE OAKRIDGE SCHOOL OUTLOOK OUR MISSION To inspire students to seek their full potential in academics, the arts, and athletics in a challenging and nurturing environment that cultivates social responsibility, mutual respect, and personal integrity. Board of Regents 2017-2018 OUR VISION Mr. Don Duke Chairman of the Board To attain national recognition as a college preparatory school that provides Mrs. Kelly Broadus educational excellence grounded in responsible character development and ethical Mrs. Kim Callanan leadership. Mr. Steve Crudup Dr. Richard Enos Mr. Jim Haddock Mrs. Cathy Handy PHILOSOPHY Mr. Scott Howell Mr. Richard Lowe We believe the role of The Oakridge School is to provide a challenging educational Ms. Nancy O’Shea, Lifetime Member program that emphasizes the total development of each child, encompassing Mr. John Petersen intellectual and social skills as well as cultural, emotional, and physical Mr. Charles Pierson development, thus preparing students for higher education and life. Mrs. Dana Queenan Mr. Chuck Reynolds We believe an environment that employs a variety of teaching techniques and Mr. Andy Schoening learning activities best enables each student to succeed as an individual and as a Mr. Don Starnes, Lifetime Member member of a group. Mr. Steve Wall Mr. Matt Worthington ’98 We believe an orderly environment, stressing personal and academic self-discipline, Associate Regents provides an atmosphere most conducive to success. Mr. Mike Heiskel Mr. Ron Widup We believe in academic excellence and in the pursuit of knowledge as a lifelong experience. The Oakridge Parents’ Club Liaison: Mrs. Michal Tincup We believe in high moral and ethical standards, honor, and mutual respect. We believe The Oakridge School functions most effectively with the involvement of 2017-2018 students, parents, faculty, staff, and members of the community. Administrative Staff We believe the graduates of The Oakridge School should be men and women of good character who have developed a healthy respect for self, an awareness of Mr. Jon Kellam, Head of School Mrs. Sarah Kramer, the privileges and obligations of citizenship, and a keen sense of empathy for and Asst. Head of School responsibility to fellow human beings. Mr. Jim Andersen Ms. Kathy Gamill Ms. Betty Garton Mr. Butch Groves Mrs. Lori Lane Mr. David Languell Mrs. Lauren Matocha Mr. Shawn Meadows Mrs. Reda Petraitis Mr. Britt Robinson Dr. Sarah Schecter Mrs. Michelle Vaughn Mrs. Amy Wilson ’92 Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Fort Worth, TX Permit No. 1990

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To Parents of Alumni: If this magazine is addressed to a son or daughter who no longer uses your home as a permanent address, please email his or her address and contact information to [email protected].