Spring 2016 | The Lamplighter School | Dallas, Texas is there a Doctor IN THE HOUSE? Students in Jeff Peck’s Dr. Who Night Light Class Search for Clues • ALUMNI NOW: Meet Lamplighter’s First Rhodes Scholar PAGE 32 • EventCalendar Spring 2016 Fall 2016 August Managing Editor 18 New Family, Pre-K, and Kindergarten Parent Orientations Edward Ritenour, Director of Communications & Marketing 22-23 Parent Intake Conferences 24 First Day of School Art/Design Ana Bohanan, Communications | Design Coordinator September 5 Labor Day (Holiday) 9 Soles4Souls Kick-Off Contributors Sandy Diamond, Landy Fox, Jennifer Heiss, 13-16 Class Pictures and Sarah Satinsky 30 Carnival October Diversity Statement 10 Columbus Day (Holiday) Diversity will strengthen the education of Lamplighter 12 Yom Kippur (No School) children and enrich the lives of all members of the 21 Donuts with Dads/Popsicles with Pops (EC and LS) Lamplighter community. Lamplighter will, therefore, strive 27-28 Parent Conferences, No School for the lamps that we light to reflect the ever-changing 31 Halloween Hootenany, Parade, and Picnic 10:30 a.m. community in which we reside. We value individuality and encourage all children to reach their potential, while November respecting their similarities and differences. We are 3 Fourth Grade Luncheon united in purpose and committed to working together to 21-25 Thanksgiving Break accomplish the mission of The Lamplighter School. December Non-Discrimination Statement 1 Media Center Open House In compliance with federal and state laws, The Lamplighter 16 All School Program School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, 19 Winter Break Begins creed, gender, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid Note: All dates are subject to change. Please log on program, athletic and other school-administered programs, to www.thelamplighterschool.org to view the most or the employment of staff. updated school calendar. Contact Us Send story ideas to Edward Ritenour ([email protected]). Deadline for articles, photographs, and news for the next issue (Fall 2016) is August 1, 2016. Mission Statement Dedicated to igniting the On the cover: Students in drama teacher Jeff Peck’s Night Light after-school program, “Who Is Dr. Who?” are learning much potential of each child, more about the mysterious time traveler than they might have expected. It’s not just an adventure in time and space based on Lamplighter engages children the BBC-produced TV show. Students are helping to complete the Lamplighter episode guide. The group has even been invited in the joy of learning through to speak at the WhoFest convention in Dallas this month and will meet the most recent incarnation of The Doctor at a second intellectual discovery in convention in June. But that’s not all. This May, an article about the class will be published in the official Doctor Who fan club a creative, inclusive, and magazine, The Celestial Toyroom! Turn to page 8 to read more. collaborative environment. 8 Head Lines 4 On Board 5 Senior Tribute 6 Cover Story 8 Faculty Focus 10 Staff Stories18 Barnyard Buzz 20 Alumni Now 32 26 35 LAMPPOST 3 HeadLines THE LAMPLIGHTER CUltURE IS STRONG AND HEalthY AS EVIDENCED BY OUR ENDURING AND MEANINGFUL TRADITIONS. Dear Parents: culture is strong and healthy as evidenced As our Board Chair Catherine Rose by our enduring and meaningful traditions. completes her term and hands the reigns to This has been a remarkable school year We value the times for gathering together Vice Chair Sarah Weinberg, I want to take at Lamplighter; from the pipe project to because they teach our students the this occasion to thank Mrs. Rose for sharing extending the Ring Road, we have been importance of community. her many gifts with me, our Board, and the fully immersed in a campus transformation. Lamplighter community. Her knowledge, While the construction is happening The Hootenannies, square dancing, and the leadership, hard work, and commitment to outside, our students have achieved annual Carnival, along with the tradition of excellence were key to enabling the Board tremendous success in their classrooms. grandparent readers, are treasured moments. to make the decision to begin the process These traditions are deeply baked into the of building a new Barn and Innovation Lab. It takes a special culture and mindset within Lamplighter DNA and give the curriculum Our students today and in the future will a school to nurture each child. Over the and the classroom experiences meaning. continue to have every advantage as we live course of this school year, our students The interesting thing about the culture of a out our motto, “A student is not a vessel to have grappled with new and complex place is that often it is difficult to codify or be filled, but a lamp to be lighted.” concepts. They have invested time, thought, describe, but one knows when it is missing. and energy which have developed new When students and parents return from thinking and skills. It has been a great year While Lamplighter undoubtedly has a summer break, the farm animals will have of learning and a lot of fun! strong and positive school culture, the returned to their home, a new barn will be school has also been so fortunate to ready for the Lamplighter Layers students, Recently, I attended the National Association have a Board of Trustees who not only and the Innovation Lab will be under of Independent Schools annual conference, understand the culture of The Lamplighter construction. and in one of the sessions, the moderator School but are equally expert strategists. repeated an often-quoted statement, Their unwavering commitment to the It has been an extraordinary year! “Culture wins out over strategy every time.” school is unmatched. The work of setting After spending time unpacking the meaning a strategic plan into motion as well as Sincerely, of that statement, I have to agree. launching a comprehensive campaign could not have come about without thoughtful Culture is the glue that defines and holds contemplation and strategy by each member the school together. The Lamplighter of the Board of Trustees. Joan Buchanan Hill, Ed. D. Head of School 4 LAMPPOST OnBoard Dear Members of the Lamplighter Trustee Leadership is in great hands. I AM THRILLED to Community: Sarah Weinberg, a current and alumni parent, will begin her term as Board Chair BE paRT OF THIS This spring marks the end of my term in May. Sarah is a community volunteer as Board Chair. While bittersweet, it has and education advocate. In addition to been an absolute pleasure to serve The her service at Lamplighter, Sarah serves AMAZING SCHOOL Lamplighter School as a Trustee since 2006 a variety of roles on the boards of Holy and as Board Chair for the last two years. Angels Residential Facility and KIPP: AND cannot DFW. She is also a member of the Perot As I leave this position, I’m excited by all Museum of Nature and Science Museum WAIT to SEE What of the milestones the school has achieved Council. Prior to becoming a community in the past few years—purchasing the volunteer, Sarah worked in the investment land from Hockaday, hiring a new Head management industry. She and her COMES NEXT! of School, completing a strategic plan, husband, Russell, are raising two daughters and embarking on a $12.5 million capital and a son. campaign. As many of you know, the campus improvements announced at the Lamplighter has left indelible impressions Halloween Hootenanny are well underway, on my life—and my family’s. I will forever and dirt is flying on campus! The Innovation be grateful for the great experiences my Lab, Barn, and expanded Ring Road are children had at Lamplighter and for the under construction and scheduled to be lifelong friendships I discovered through completed by the middle of the next the school. school year. Thank you, Lamplighter. I am thrilled to be The enthusiasm and energy at the school part of this amazing school and cannot wait is palpable, and due in large part to the to see what comes next! incredible faculty, staff, and leadership at the school who are deeply committed to Sincerely, the school’s mission. My deepest respect and appreciation go to Dr. Hill. Her strength as Lamplighter’s Head of School and her strategic partnership with the Catherine Rose Board of Trustees have advanced the Chair, Lamplighter Board of Trustees school in every way. I would also like to thank the Board of Trustees, the LPA, and all volunteer parents who have done and continue to do amazing work for the school and its students every single day. LAMPPOST 5 Class of 2016 Abeera Amer Erin Antes Quentin Balestri Abby Baughman Payton Blalock Jack Bovard Claire Bradshaw Hudson Brown Ryan Brown Ellie Browne Caroline Burkhardt James Corrigan Ella Darlak Alexandra Dassopoulos Isabella Dickason Kate Eastin Gigi Enrico Joey Enrico Trevor Godkin Quinn Graves Tristan Hakert Alexa Hoedebeck Alex Holmes Gracie Hood Ananya Jain Sivan Katzav Debbie Klein Maya Lunia Senior Tribute Laura Mangelsdorf Maria Belen Marroquin Mercer McDougal Julian Meyer Wesley Moss Madelyn Neuhoff Eva Newberger Asha Patel Eleanor Patel David Peña-Vega Cate Pfaff Sydney Phillips Michelle Phu Sterling Ratan Alex Rees Thomas Rowley Sofi Sethuraman Alexander Shadle Aditya Shivaswamy Julia Small Barrow Solomon Shaina Starr Reed Sussman Tyler Tang Tayce Thomas Bennett Trubey Stella Wrubel Luke Zicarelli LAMPPOST 7 CoverStory CoverStory Who IS Doctor Who? The Doctor is very much a lifelong The Doctor is a voracious reader: learner. Centuries ago, he ran away from everything from Knitting For Girls to The his home planet because he became sick Time Machine has been seen in his pockets and tired of just sitting and watching the or hands.