Vol. 11, No. 9 Tappahannock, Virginia, April 2009

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

Are we ready? The season of traditions and transitions is upon us! In just seven weeks, we will be welcoming our alumnae for a weekend of joyous reunions, pictures and story telling. As they enjoy the school on the river where they grew up, they will also share what the St. Margaret’s mission has meant to them and how it has influenced their careers, choices and commitments. In these next six weeks, our school traditions will move this year’s seniors toward embracing their new relationship with the school symbolically, emotionally and practically while also providing our younger students with opportunities to begin to think of themselves differently, too.

What I love about our school is this gradual progression toward commencement, the official day when seniors become alumnae, after many days and many traditions that frame the meaning of this once-in-a-lifetime transition.

Look at this month’s front-page article on Independent Study Projects and imagine the impact this program has on both the participants and those who hear their presentations. Here is life after St. Margaret’s experienced before they leave, a life in which they have already drawn upon their planning and organizational skills, as well as their public speaking expertise to try out a career choice and share their discoveries with others. Last week senior leaders prepared themselves and the school for the end of their terms of office and the elections and selections of new leaders in a town meeting describing the rewards, opportunities and challenges they experienced in their positions this year. They encouraged younger students to embrace the possibilities open to them. Symbolically, the Lantern Ceremony and the formal chapel service installing new leaders will mark this transition, but not before our new candidates will have written applications, presented speeches and participated in panel interviews in order to gain office.

Over Spring Family Weekend, both the Lantern Ceremony and May Ball allow parents and families to celebrate with our seniors. Where else can parents officially join their daughters at the prom?

Then, in the final week before Commencement, the junior-senior banquet, Baccalaureate at St. John’s Church, and the Academic Awards banquet move our seniors through this transition while touching on every dimension of our mission.

By the time our graduates process from the riverfront platform down the lawn singing On Our Way Rejoicing, their reasons for rejoicing are far clearer. Along with their roses, they carry in their hearts and in their memories the words of the school prayer, the school song, the honor code and our motto, “As we grow in age, may we grow in grace.” They also carry the skills, experiences and confidence they will need for making their own life choices. We look forward to hearing all that their years at St. Margaret’s have meant to them when they return, whether in one year, five or 50!

Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School


 

Seniors Explore Career Options:
ISPs help girls envision future.......

Decisions, Decisions:
Years of work reflected in college acceptances.......

International Festival 2009:
International students share their cultures......

Parents:
Schedule of Activities for Spring Family Weekend.......

Parents:
Spring Family Weekend Rubber Ducky Derby.......

Alumnae Events:
Join your friends for these events .......

THE CURRENT

Spring Sports Roster:

Varsity Golf:
Annie Chen, Kendra Ganser, Joan Ge, Sarah Keating, Yolanda Nan, Youjin Oh, Ge Min Park, Lucia Pulchine, Caroline Rollins, Mengfan Sun, Jennifer Tang
Coach: Butch Gross

Varsity Soccer:
Elise Bailey, Sara Bell, Frankie Berscak, Madie Bolles, Renee Greenslade, Betsy Joslyn, Misa Kamichi, Sarah McClellan, Becca McKinley, Crissy Molinares, Nan Nazda, Ify Okoh, Tutu Olaniyan, Annie Rich, Pepper Silliman, Julia Squire, Tory Sterling, Olivia Wray, CC Carreras (manager), Emily Ramsey (manager)
Coaches: Javier Molinares, Shannon Abbott (assistant)

JV Softball:
Christian Blyden-burgh, Renata Bustamante, Nikki Dansby, Erica Dayton, Ariana Dombrowski, Keara Faust, Makiko Hashida, Mia King, Cherry Wang, Joy Williams, Emily Wilson, Flora Zhou, Brittany McPherson (manager)
Coaches: Leigh Angel, Richard Lewis (assistant coach), George McDowell (assistant)

Varsity Softball:
Heather Chastain, Hannah Davis, Mary Carol Davis, Mary Gatta, Scarlett Gregory, Lexi Hayden, Susan Ho, Lindsay Longest, Liz Rogers, Chandler Scott, Dawn Shields, Tiffany Sutton, Imani Yasin, Ellie Shields (manager)
Coaches: Sue Haney, Terry Haney (assistant)

Varsity Rowing:
Maggie Allen, Suji An, Claire Chretien, Amelia Chen, Natalie Clark, Elizabeth Claydon, Lizzy Cordes, Cabell Edmunds, Laura Flaherty, Lilla Fletcher, Sarah Gibson, Amy Hebbel, Erica Huong, Hailey Hundley, Nichole Kennedy, Seh Young Kim, Quinn Kolbe, Michelle Martin, Grace Rickenbaker, Marley Rudolf, Meghan Sisk, Hallie Smith, Laurie Wilbur
Coaches: Maren LaLiberty, Cupper Dickinson (assistant), Elizabeth Tilbury (assistant)

	PARENTS Join Us for Spring Family Weekend May 1-3 Help us celebrate our most loved traditions! There’s still time to purchase duckies for the Rubber Ducky Derby. Don’t forget to wear your Kentucky Derby hat to the crew regatta on Saturday morning. Visit www.sms.org/sfw for details and registration forms.

ALUMNAE Rubber Ducky Derby. The Rubber Ducky Derby is returning for a second year! Hosted by the Parent Council, this fundraiser will take place on May 2 during Spring Family Weekend. Hundreds of numbered rubber duckies will be released on the river to follow a course to the finish line. 1st Prize: 50-inch Flat Screen T.V. sponsored by B.H. Baird Insurance Agency 2nd Prize: One Person Kayak 3rd Prize: Panasonic Hard Drive Video Camera Visit www.sms.org/sfw to adopt a ducky.

	ALUMNAE Please Join Your SMS Friends for Upcoming Events Reunion Weekend 2009 June 5-7 St. Margaret’s School Come back to campus for a weekend of fun and friendships.