Vol. 11, No. 7 Tappahannock, Virginia, February 2009

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

In education, the conversation balances between process and outcomes. How do you measure the outcomes of what happens during the high school years when your mission is an education for life? All of our reading and discussion about a 21st century education reminds us that we are teaching and modeling how to think and problem solve. In the world we live in, there is not always one right answer and that realization can be either terrifying or inspiring depending on what you’ve experienced.

This week, the senior peer leaders interviewed mentors and compiled a list of the top ten lessons these women would like to pass along to others. In addition to the lessons you’d expected, which mention integrity and honesty, they were unanimous in their inclusion of ‘take risks’ at the top of the list: the risk to try out for a new sport, say yes to being editor of the yearbook, select a roommate from another race or culture, ask a doctor to let you shadow her for an independent study, audition for a play, enter a contest, apply for a job. Right now, our seniors are seeing that the outcomes of the risks they have taken to broaden their experiences and perspectives during their St. Margaret’s years will pay real dividends. Along with their college acceptances, they are also receiving merit scholarships in recognition of personal, academic, artistic and athletic achievements. Colleges want students who know how to engage in their own learning and are prepared to try out new ways of looking at both problems and opportunities.

Analyze the problem, try a solution, evaluate the outcome, make changes, begin again. Whether it is what we will do on orientation weekend or how we will spend our time guided by the weekly school schedule, this is a problem solving process we use and share with our students. There is no one right answer! Last week, students, faculty and parents all provided feedback on the trial schedule we have used for the last seven weeks (see last month’s River Views, page 2). Now the results are in and we will take the next month to figure out what we’ve learned. On one question, the responses were nearly unanimous: students, faculty and parents noted positive changes to their daily routines because of the later morning start. Now, we will put our problem solving process to work again. We’re not convinced we have met all the challenges or considered all the suggestions, but we’re excited to be looking at them. The process works, and it is part of this education for life for our students to see that “the way it has always been” will not be “the way it will always be.”

How do you measure the outcomes of what happens during the high school years when your mission is an education for life? All of our reading and discussion about a 21st century education reminds us that we are teaching and modeling how to think and problem solve. In the world we live in, there is not always one right answer and that realization can be either terrifying or inspiring depending on what you’ve experienced.

This week, the senior peer leaders interviewed mentors and compiled a list of the top ten lessons these women would like to pass along to others. In addition to the lessons you’d expected, which mention integrity and honesty, they were unanimous in their inclusion of ‘take risks’ at the top of the list: the risk to try out for a new sport, say yes to being editor of the yearbook, select a roommate from another race or culture, ask a doctor to let you shadow her for an independent study, audition for a play, enter a contest, apply for a job. Right now, our seniors are seeing that the outcomes of the risks they have taken to broaden their experiences and perspectives during their St. Margaret’s years will pay real dividends. Along with their college acceptances, they are also receiving merit scholarships in recognition of personal, academic, artistic and athletic achievements. Colleges want students who know how to engage in their own learning and are prepared to try out new ways of looking at both problems and opportunities.

Analyze the problem, try a solution, evaluate the outcome, make changes, begin again. Whether it is what we will do on orientation weekend or how we will spend our time guided by the weekly school schedule, this is a problem solving process we use and share with our students. There is no one right answer! Last week, students, faculty and parents all provided feedback on the trial schedule we have used for the last seven weeks (see last month’s River Views, page 2). Now the results are in and we will take the next month to figure out what we’ve learned. On one question, the responses were nearly unanimous: students, faculty and parents noted positive changes to their daily routines because of the later morning start. Now, we will put our problem solving process to work again. We’re not convinced we have met all the challenges or considered all the suggestions, but we’re excited to be looking at them. The process works, and it is part of this education for life for our students to see that “the way it has always been” will not be “the way it will always be.”

Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School


 

Multi-Year Students Benefit:
Seniors are glad they stayed.......

Fine Arts Appreciation:
Students learn teamwork and dedication.......

Inauguration Day:
Two students witness history......

Winter Athletes Honored:
Awards breakfast held Feb. 17.......

Admission:
Winter Reminders, Visits, Financial Aid, Applications.......

Alumnae News:
Class Notes for the Thistle .......

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

THE CURRENT

Each year during Minimester, seniors conduct independent study projects to explore topics or careers that interest them. Here are this year’s ISPs:

Honami Arai, teacher’s aide in Japan; Elise Bailey, medicine with an orthopedic surgeon; Lindsay Beasley, Bob McDonnell’s Campaign for Governor; Christian Blydenburg, social work at the Medical College of Virginia; Corbin Brooks, interning with the Acorn Community; Nicole Brugel, music teacher’s aide at Colvin Run Elementary; Annie Chen, teacher’s aide in Taiwan; Jasmine Chen, interior design; Meghan Cooke, marketing at Walt Disney World; Lizzy Cordes, volunteer at a Dominican Republic Orphanage; Joan Ge, business communication; Scarlett Gregory, New Kent County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office; Hannah Hunt, graphic design; Sarah Keating, research assistant; Min Jin Kim, advertising design; Seh Young Kim, child psychology;

Quinn Kolbe, marketing; Qian Kong, Southwest Securities; Olivia Lamar, pharmacy assistant; Jackie Loomis, Dover Equine Veterinary Office; Michelle Martin, volunteer at a therapeutic facility; Ryan Martin, medicine at an Ob/Gyn practice; Sarah McClellan, athletic training; Caryn Packett, graphic design; Lucia Pulchine, medicine at Blueridge Orthopedics; Caroline Rollins, medicine with a cardiac surgeon; Antinnea Skipwith, public relations; Jill Slinger, working with horses at Sweet Water Farm; Flo Snyder, Europe Equine Services; Ginny Tsai, Kindergarten teacher’s aide; Melanie Waitzer, Donald E. Craig & Associates; Holly Wever-Christian, classics education at Veritas School; Joy Williams, theatre production

THE FORECAST

Important Dates

	March:	April:
	6-22........Spring Break 14...........SATs 23...........Classes Begin 27-29......Closed Weekend	9-13........Easter Break 14...........Classes Begin 17-19......Closed Weekend 24..........Interim Assessments

      Link: School Calendar for the Year

	ADMISSIONS Winter Reminders from the Admission Office: Contracts for returning students will be issued in early March. Your contract must be returned before your daughter can choose a roommate or participate in selection/election of 2009-2010 leadership positions. Contracts and reservation fees are due by April 10.

ALUMNAE Keep us in the Loop New job, baby, marriage, graduation? Class notes for the 2009 Thistle Magazine are due May 31. There are several ways to submit your notes: Visit the alumnae section of www.sms.org Email Mavora Donoghue at mdonoghu@sms.org. Mail the information to us: St. Margaret’s School Attn: Mavora Donoghue P.O. Box 158 Tappahannock, VA 22560

	ALUMNAE Please Join Your SMS Friends for Upcoming Events Golden Thistle Society Luncheon Wednesday, March 18 at noon Westminster-Canterbury in Richmond This event will honor alumnae who graduated 50 or more years ago. Reunion Weekend 2009 June 5-7 St. Margaret’s School Come back to campus for a weekend of fun and friendships.