Vol. 11, No. 10 Tappahannock, Virginia, May 2009

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

“They’re certainly a happy bunch,” commented our lunchtime guest. He was a first-time visitor to St. Margaret’s, a representative of a scholarship fund that has supported our students, and he was seated just inside the dining room door at the beginning of advisor-advisee lunch. Within 15 minutes the room was full, teachers and students sharing tables and conversation, still with a ripple of laughter in the air.

Graduation is upon us, and I hear the laughter everywhere— from my parents’ condo balcony as it comes up from girls playing in the water at Anderton House beach, from the hallway outside my door as classes change, from the river lawn where the blue/grey teams are racing through one final campus-wide competition, from the students in the swings on the Cottage porch.

Twice this month in morning announcements, as we’ve moved through the processes of electing and selecting next year’s leaders, I’ve reminded the girls that resilience is one of the skills they’ll need in life— the courage to take the risk of trying and the grace to accept the results. One of the greatest strengths of an all-girls’ school lies in the deep culture of encouragement for taking well-considered risks in the interest of growth, and often for the purpose of fulfilling our mission to make the world a better place.

We’ve now had seven speeches from candidates for the Honor Council and those who nominated them for the three open places and three each for the most senior positions of School President, Vice-President and Honor Council Head. We’ve had 23 formal applications for 12 spots as Peer Leader, and held interviews for 15 aspiring prefects from whom there are places for 10. We have new leaders now, and we have those who know the experience of standing up for their beliefs without being chosen.

Still we hear the laughter which holds both the resilience and the grace. Hold on! You’ll need them all!

Now, as the school year comes to an end, what we know for sure is that, suddenly, on that first Monday in June, the halls and lawns will be eerily silent. And, we’ll hold on, too, to the memory of the laughter and what it means in the spirit of our girls as they move out to make and take their places in the world before returning to share their discoveries.

Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School


 

Spring Family Weekend:
Photos capture the moment.......

Commencement 2009:
Join us as we send our seniors on their way rejoicing......

Leader Profiles:
Leaders share their goals for next year......

Annual Fund:
Don't forget to make your gift before June 30.....

Annual Fund:
Don't forget to make your gift before June 30.....

Alumnae Events:
Join your friends for Reunion 2009 .......

THE CURRENT

Spring Athletic Awards

Congratulations to the following spring athletes who were recently recognized during an awards breakfast.

Division II Soccer All L.I.S Team
Frankie Berscak and Sarah McClellan

Softball All L.I.S. Team
Heather Chastain and Imani Yasin

Varsity Crew
Most Improved Rower: Amy Hebbel
Most Valuable Rower: Grace Rickenbaker
Coach’s Award: Quinn Kolbe

JV Crew
Most Improved Rower: Lizzy Cordes
Coach’s Award: Hailey Hundley

Golf
Most Improved Golfer: Sarah Keating
Most Valuable Golfer: Caroline Rollins
Coach’s Award: Lucia Pulchine
Senior Award: Caroline Rollins

Varsity Soccer
Most Improved Player: Renee Greenslade
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Frankie Berscak
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Sarah McClellan
Coach’s Award: Becca McKinley
Golden Boot Award: Nan Nazda
Senior Award: Sarah McClellan

JV Softball
Most Valuable Player: Renata Bustamante
Coach’s Award: Makiko Hashida and Keara Faust

Varsity Softball
Most Improved Player: Tiffany Sutton
Most Valuable Player: Heather Chastain
Coach’s Award: Lindsay Longest
Highest Batting Average: Heather Chastain

	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.