MODUS VIVENDI A Way of Life COMMENCEMENT 2018 FACULTY PROFILE: PETE MCDONOUGH DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2018 MODUS VIVENDI Summer 2018 Modus Vivendi is translated as a way of life or a manner of living. The Bear Creek School seeks to develop individuals for whom the classical ideals of excellence in all things, love of learning, spiritual commitment, and self-discipline have become a way of life. CREATORS CONTRIBUTORS Editor-in-Chief, Debbie Marchione Elissa Bell, Lucy Caile ’19, Patrick Carruth, Managing Editor, Alicia Williams Tiffany Cowman ’19, Siena Cysewski ’19, Kevin Copy Editor, Sini Fernandez Davison, Donna Dunn, Sini Fernandez, Katie Copyreader, Alicia Williams Gomulkiewicz ’13, Matt Kaiser ’14, Andrea Proofer, Linda Sheppard Lairson, Debbie Marchione, Chad Pohlman, Art Director, Marla Zylstra Zara Robinson ’19, Juliette Shields ’19, and Alicia Williams EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Articles, photographs, and ideas are Modus Vivendi is published twice a year by welcome and may be sent to modusvivendi@ The Bear Creek School. If you are interested tbcs.org. We reserve the right to edit in writing forModus Vivendi, or have submissions for length, clarity, and style. comments or questions regarding the publication, please contact us at [email protected]. The mission of The Bear Creek School is to provide a high-quality, Christian liberal arts education in a nurturing environment that will enable each student to become the individual God intends. 2 MODUS VIVENDI – Summer 2018 PRESIDENT AND HEADMASTER LET US COME TO YOU Patrick Carruth ALERTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES To get text or email reminders for upcoming events, athletics team Andrea Lairson, Chair events, and special programs, sign up for alerts at tbcs.org. Click on Fileno Alleva, Vice Chair the “bell” icon next to any upcoming event on the school’s website Curtis Kraft, Treasurer calendar to sign up for an alert for that event. Colleen Broaddus, Secretary Ted Robinson THE BEAR FACTS Susan Diamond Each Friday during the school year, The Bear Facts, Bear Creek’s Patrick Carruth weekly newsletter, is emailed to current parents, faculty, Shawn Firminger and staff. The Bear Facts contains news and announcements William Bieber from each of the school’s divisions and from the athletics Craig Chapman department. Back issues are archived and searchable on the Kevin Keith school website at tbcs.org/community/bearfacts. Stanley Humphries Jodi Hallum MYBC Students, parents, faculty and staff, and trustees can Only online can you find the latest find the latest announcements, upcoming events, and a news, photos, and information about complete list of role-specific resources. See MyBC at upcoming events. We’re here, 24/7. the top of any page at tbcs.org, and log in. tbcs.org SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS Stay up-to-date on the latest news, events, and facebook.com/ social media posts by visiting our Community page TheBearCreekSchool at tbcs.org. The Bear Creek School Facebook page contains current photos and posts ON THE COVER about what is happening at Bear Victor Gill and Katie Leszynski, both class of 2018, Creek. Bear Creek Preschool also has a Facebook page, and The Bear Creek in Bear Creek’s production of Disney’s Beauty and School Alumni and Parents of Alumni the Beast. See pages 22-25 for interviews and have groups. Like us and join the photos from this year’s musical. conversation! PHOTO BY SINI FERNANDEZ Visit our Instagram @thebearcreekschool to see Middle School and Upper School photos. MODUS VIVENDI – Summer 2018 3 WHAT’S INSIDE CLASS OF 2018 IN THE COMMENCEMENT CLASSROOM BEAR CREEK IS REACCREDITED Read Andrea Lairson’s summary Pages 6-7 Commencement Address Faculty Profile: Pete CALLING PARENTS OF 8 from the Headmaster 17 McDonough ALUMNI See upcoming activities for Congratulations to the Meet Dot and Dash Parents of Alumni 11 Class of 2018 20 Page 52 Beauty and the Beast Reflections from the 22 12 Class of 2018 25 A Moment with Belle Faculty Address: Donna 14 Dunn Una Sumus Unum 26 Together, We Are One IN MEMORIAM Remembering William “Bill” MacKenney, III and Joseph Roger Wayne Whitlock Page 53 BEYOND THE CURRICULUM PHILANTHROPY ALUMNI Opportunity and Loving, Serving, and Wandering Simply 28 Challenge: Middle 41 Growing Together 45 School Athletics Alumni News and Class Building Community 48 Notes House System 42 Through the Grizzly Gear 30 Roundtable Shop Thoughts from the 52 Alumni Leadership Student Perspectives on Celebrating a Special Committee 34 the Upper School House 43 Relationship System Alumni Save the Date! Thank You for Sharing! 52 Bear Creek Students 44 36 Abroad Calling all Parents of 44 A Gift for the Ages 52 Alumni Washington to the 38 Dominican Republic: Experiencing the Scope of God’s Love MODUS VIVENDI – Summer 2018 5 BEAR CREEK IS REACCREDITED BY ANDREA LAIRSON CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES Every eight years, the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS) reaccredits its member schools, including The Bear Creek School. The NWAIS designed this accreditation process evaluation helps Bear Creek identify and celebrate to help each member “clarify and enact its own its strengths as a school and identify and address its vision, mission and values,” thus “ensuring each weaknesses so it might better educate and serve its school remains true to its values while delivering students. a high quality educational experience.” At the time As Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Bear Creek of its initial accreditation and each subsequent School, I delight in this opportunity for Bear Creek to reaccreditation, Bear Creek has undertaken an benefit from the insights of the NWAIS team on our extensive one to two year self-study process led by strengths and weaknesses so the school might better Karen Blankenbeckler, Vice President for Academic execute on its mission to help each student “become Affairs, which included trustees, administration, the individual God intends.” The NWAIS Accreditation faculty, parents, and students who examined Visiting Team offered six Major Commendations of and evaluated Bear Creek in specific areas of Bear Creek strengths. This Commendation regarding importance to private independent schools, including: students most warms my heart: Mission and Culture; Program; Commitment to Care, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Institutional ■ Students who beautifully reflect the school’s aim Leadership; Finance; Administration; Institutional of faith and academic rigor. The Visiting Team Advancement; Enrollment Management; Human encountered students at every turn who were Resources; Physical Plant; and Health and Safety. After this time of reflection which led to a Self Study articulate, respectful, caring, and engaged—true Report, Bear Creek hosted an NWAIS Accreditation ambassadors of the school values, in word and Team, most recently chaired by Elizabeth Swift, Head in deed. of School at Holy Names Academy. This incredibly Regarding mission and school culture, the Visiting helpful team of independent school experts engaged Team commended Bear Creek for: with members of the Bear Creek community over a three-day period, asking questions about and ■ A clear mission and culture that is understood evaluating Bear Creek in the twelve areas of the Self and embraced by all. The Visiting Team Study Report. This opportunity for reflection and experienced abundant evidence of a high quality 6 MODUS VIVENDI – Summer 2018 academic program, a nurturing environment, and The Recommendations encouraged Bear Creek to: a commitment to community filled with “wisdom, ■ Further develop its definition of diversity, in the compassion, and courage.” context of its school mission and culture, to give ■ A caring, supportive, collaborative, and safe greater clarity to its vision for diversity in the environment that is focused on a faith community school community. Once the school has refined its and the well-being of all. The culture of the school definition of diversity, it can develop a “program is anchored in strong and supportive faculty- and/or plan addressing the areas of diversity, student relationships. The school emphasizes equity, and inclusion that include clear goals, the well-being of all students as well as their strategies and criteria for evaluation of success.” academic preparation. ■ Conduct a thorough review of the school’s The three other Visiting Team Commendations compensation packages, salaries and benefits for focused on the institutional health and stability of faculty, staff, and administrators with a goal of Bear Creek and included: supporting recruitment and retention of mission- ■ Dedicated and experienced leadership of the appropriate faculty and staff. Once the school Board of Trustees, the President/Headmaster, and identifies its strategy on compensation, it should of those in key administrative roles. There is a incorporate this strategy into its long-range strong partnership between the Board of Trustees financial plan. and the President/Headmaster, and between the ■ Develop succession strategies and/or plans President/Headmaster and key administrators. for Board leadership and key administrative ■ Thoughtful strategic planning that has positioned personnel to maintain strong leadership for the school well for the years ahead. Careful the school and its unique school culture and planning is evident in all aspects of the school commitment to faith. from the Board and Headmaster to the faculty In gratitude, we celebrate the accolades of the and staff. As a result, the school has experienced Visiting Team, especially its “shout out” to Bear Creek significant institutional growth in programs, students, the health of the student culture, and the operations, and facilities. strength of our mission. We do know, however, that Bear Creek never wants to take these strengths ■ A collaborative faculty and staff that works well for granted and will continue to focus and build together within and across divisional levels. upon them. Bear Creek will also look closely at the The relationships are professional, respectful, Recommendations of the Visiting Team to strengthen inclusive, and caring.