2017-2018 WELCOME TO THE STEWARD FAMILY! You’re getting ready to embark on a great adventure in a community TABLE OF CONTENTS filled with new friends who want to help you discover all that Steward Introduction ................................................................................. 4 has to offer. We’re very excited to welcome you! We’ve put together Discovering Steward .................................................................. 6 this booklet to help you feel more like a seasoned Steward family. The Basics ..................................................................................... 8 You’ll find helpful information, important things to do, and checklists For Parents ................................................................................. 14 to make sure that you haven’t forgotten anything. So, take some time Lower School ............................................................................. 18 to discover Steward, and don’t forget that you can always access this Middle School ...........................................................................22 information online at www.stewardschool.org. Welcome home! Upper School ............................................................................. 27 2 Welcome Guide 2017-2018 Welcome Guide 2017-2018 3 INTRODUCTION OUR MISSION IMPORTANT DATES Prepare our students for college and for life in a community August 14 JV and Varsity Practices Begin defined by robust academics, inspiration, engagement, and care. August 21 MS Athletic Practices Begin First Day of School August 28 CONTACT INFORMATION (Half Day for Lower School) 11600 Gayton Road Richmond, Virginia 23238 September 1-4 Labor Day Break – No School Main Number: 804.740.3394 Fax: 804.740.1464 October 9 Fall Break – No School Website: www.stewardschool.org Parent/Teacher Conferences – November 3 No School for Students SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION November 22-24 Thanksgiving Break – No School December 18- Dan Frank Head of School Holiday Break – No School January 1 Associate Head of School for Lisa Dwelle Finance and Operations February 19 Presidents’ Day – No School Ingrid Moore Director of Lower School March 5-9 Spring Break – No School Susan Atkinson Director of Middle School March 30-April 2 Holiday Break – No School Parent/Teacher Conferences – No Carol Moore Director of Upper School April 13 School for Lower and Middle School Cary Jamieson Director of the Bryan Innovation Lab May 21 Upper School Recognition Assembly Chad Montgomery Director of Plant Operations May 28 Memorial Day – No School Shawn Morrison Director of Development May 31 Grade 5 Recognition Assembly Robin Oliff Director of Admissions June 1 Grade 8 Recognition Assembly Shahwar Qureshi ’90 Director of Technology June 3 Baccalaureate Bruce Secrest Director of Athletics June 4 Graduation Director of Marketing Rachel Williard and Communications Director of the Center for the Charlene Wilton Advancement of Learning (CAL) 4 Welcome Guide 2017-2018 Welcome Guide 2017-2018 5 THE STEWARD SCHOOL fuels the mind, stirs the imagination, and unleashes the possibilities At Steward, we engage students with hands-on learning paired with rigorous academic study. A Steward education is about more than memorizing facts—we recognize that in the 21st century, facts are as easy to come by as a Google search. Our students not only gain knowledge, but they also learn to apply that knowledge, to create and innovate with it. This environment helps shape today’s students into the type of leaders our world will need in the future. STEWARD’S PURPOSEFUL SIZE ATHLETICS AT STEWARD Our size – which is intentional – enables this atmosphere of Eight out of ten Middle and Upper School students engagement. Every voice is heard. Steward is large enough participate on one of our 49 competitive athletic teams. to provide the resources for students to explore their Because of Steward’s purposeful size, expert coaches interests and curiosities across academics, athletics, and the are able to get to know each player, on and off the field. DISCOVERING STEWARD arts concurrently. Importantly, Steward is also small enough They focus on developing the whole athlete, emphasizing to give them the personalized attention they need to pursue character, confidence, and leadership. Steward’s athletic PREPARING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE AND these. program teaches lessons that serve our students long after they retire their Spartans jerseys. IN LIFE IN A WORLD THAT’S RAPIDLY CHANGING BRYAN INNOVATION LAB THE ARTS AT STEWARD While we don’t know what the job Experiential learning comes to life in the Bryan Innovation Lab classrooms, demonstration kitchen, gardens, and The arts at Steward are a core part of our curriculum. Each market will look like when the class of GRADUATES wetlands. Students are inspired as they connect global JK-12 student has a chance to shine in performing and thought leadership with interactive problem-solving visual arts. Arts education develops important traits such & opportunities, in order to discover, engage, and excel in our as creativity, collaboration, and initiative. This is beneficial WE DO KNOW rapidly changing world. Visiting innovators from around the both in the academic setting and also for students’ futures, the adults of tomorrow need to be globe frequently lead workshops for students, faculty, and as they will need design and innovation skills in their the Richmond community. careers. of today’s grade-school children will end up at jobs that haven’t been invented yet U.S.S. DepartmDepartmentent of LaborLa Traditional educational methods alone won’t give students all they need for non-traditional careers. When choosing a school, you must consider this: STEWARD AT A GLANCE it’s not just about NOW it’s also about the NEXT Across the country, statistics show that student engagement plummets from 80% in elementary school to just 40% by the beginning of high school. Gallupup Student Poll STUDENTS RETENTION DIVERSITY TARGET STUDENT/ CLASS SIZE FACULTY RATIO robust academics 4 THE STEWARD SCHOOL inspiration IS DEFYING THE TREND Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship engagement engagement is at the million is given in Merit awards are available for provides four years of full Upper School Steward’s by preparing students for college and financial aid each year. new Upper School students. for life in a community defined by core, which nurtures tuition to two rising ninth graders each year. 6 mission care leadership potential THE BASICS DRESS CODE Laptops must meet the following requirements: HEALTH INFORMATION HEALTH FORMS AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS Students are expected to abide by the dress code at all Wireless Connectivity: must support 802.11 ac, g, or n The clinic is staffed by Afi Farjadi, RN, and is located in times while on campus. Good taste and common sense (or more) the Lower School building. For all new students, the Commonwealth of Virginia should dictate parental and student choice of school Diagonal Screen Size: at least 11 inches School Entrance Health Form needs to be updated and Parents can help ensure the well-being of all our clothes. As a general rule, if a student thinks something Display: 1024x768 or more signed by your child’s pediatrician. Your child’s physical students by: may not be appropriate, he or she should not wear it. RAM: 2048 MB (4 GB) or more exam must have been completed after May 1, 2017, in order It is impossible to anticipate every situation or fashion CPU: 1 GHz or more Notifying the school nurse of any health concerns or for this form to be valid. Please return this form by August 1, trend. Therefore, The Steward School reserves the Storage: 16 GB or more chronic health conditions that may affect your child’s 2017. Forms can be found online on the 2017-18 School Year right to determine if a student is dressed and groomed Battery: 6 hours school day. Information page. appropriately. The policy for The Steward School’s dress Internet Browser: Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Safari code will be based on what is understood to be acceptable Operating System: Windows 7 or higher; Mac 10.7 or Following state guidelines by keeping all immunizations If your child plans to participate in a sport during the school in most current social and business situations. Specific higher current. year, an Athletic Physical Form must be completed and information for each division is located in this booklet under Preferred Features: camera and microphone returned to the school by the first day of practice. Encouraging good hygiene/hand washing practices at the appropriate division’s section. Protective Case: sturdy enough to handle a fall No student will be allowed to participate in team practices home and school. Video Output: VGA or HDMI output until this form is on file. Your child’s physical for this form must be dated on or after May 1, 2017, as it certifies that he Charger Keeping an ill child home and letting the school know if or she is physically able to participate in athletics beginning TECHNOLOGY Warranty: We strongly recommend that parents the illness is contagious. purchase an extended warranty for the device at the in August. This form is also located on the 2017-18 School Students in JK-8 are assigned iPads to use throughout the time of purchase. The Steward School Help Desk will be Please review the School Clinic Information and Policies on Year Information page of the website. During the first week school year. The iPads have a variety of apps, including available for first-level support. If the problem can be the website and in the Student and Parent Handbook for of practice you will be provided with a Consent to Play iMovie, Explain Everything, and Book Creator. Additionally, easily fixed, the Help Desk will do so. If not, students important information about illness, dispensing medication, Form and a Concussion Form to complete and return. each student will have a Google Apps for Education account will be provided with a loaner device for no longer than required immunizations, and our food allergy policy. to store his or her files. Each student in grades 9-12 is If your child has life-threatening allergies that require two days while the family repairs or replaces the device.