A Monthly News Update From the St. Margaret's Campus

Vol. 11, No. 11 Tappahannock, Virginia, June 2009

CAPTAIN'S CORNER

Dear St. Margaret's friends and families,

Margaret Robinson Broad - Head of School Thinking back on these last two weekends of ceremonial, milestone events, two activities stand out for me: watching the weather and listening to the people. More than 30 years ago, I remember saying, “I won’t get married if it’s raining!” Well, it rained and we married and, if anything, the pictures look even more romantic in the English country drizzle. But the baccalaureate procession behind the banner, commencement on the river lawn, and the annual alumnae river cruise gathered too many people and are too place dependent to be remembered fondly in the rain. And don’t even ask about what it would do to the hair and dresses!

The alumnae weekend cruise-day forecast was unambiguous – rain all day with a chance of evening thunderstorms. If we wanted to enjoy an evening with our alumnae, returning from as far away as England, California (by train!) and Wyoming, we needed a new plan! When we settled on St. Margaret’s Hall to hold a boat load of food and newly reunited women, some back for the first time since graduation 20 or 50 years ago, we had no idea the conversations the redesign of so many familiar spaces would provoke. Filling the art and music studios with colorful tablecloths, flowers and tea lights, we welcomed women into places they remembered as the library and the study hall, rooms in which conversation was discouraged and there was definitely not much to look at besides books and an occasional glimpse of the river out the window.

Sitting at long tables for dinner, the Class of ’59, laughing beside the Classes of ’79 and ’93, shared stories of their days in these rooms; the friendships they had made and forgotten and found again, the words of their former teachers which have stayed with them all their lives, the passions that have inspired them to reach out to others, the values that continue to mean so much – husbands, children, careers, causes, homes built as nearby as Warsaw and as far away as the Middle East, always the people at the center of the stories, and just like the teenage girls who fill these spaces most of the year, always the laughter and affection.

Would I be prepared to say the weather didn’t matter? No, not really. The Class of 2009 processed under clear skies, and commencement day brought that rare crisp June breeze off the river. Their pictures capture the radiance of the day and in their spirits, wistful at their leaving, proud of who they’d become. And the reunion classes woke to just such a perfect day after their evening marooned in St. Margaret’s Hall rather than afloat aboard the Captain Thomas. Everyone agreed, they had been blessed with what they needed most. The words hold the memories in place. The pictures say the rest.

Sincerely,
Margaret R. Broad,
Head of School


 

COMPASS POINTS

Commencement 2009:
One door closes and another opens for graduating seniors......

Faculty Members Honored:
Tobey Taliaferro, George McDowell and Diana Maggini receive awards......

Students Recognized:
The Academic Awards Banquet spotlights achievements......

Alumnae Events:
Reunion 2009 .......

Admissions:
Enjoy your summer, and please remember to........


THE CURRENT

Faculty members are continuing their education this summer with professional development opportunities.

History Teacher Larry Foulk was one of 30 participants selected to participate in the 20th Century Women’s Rights Movements seminar sponsored by The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History at Harvard University.

Spanish Teacher Sarah Fritz is pursing a master’s degree in Spanish Literature. She will be attending the University of St. Louis’ Madrid Campus in Madrid, Spain, for a six-week semester.

Chaplain Candine Johnson will be a visiting professor at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria where she will teach a class on pastoral care for the schools in the Seminary’s Education Leadership doctoral program.

Spanish Teacher Ellen Ruebush is taking an adolescent psychology class at George Mason University.

Librarian Katie Klein will attend the American Library Association’s annual conference in Chicago July 9-15.

Head of School Margaret Broad, Director of Development Sarah Wilson and Director of Communications/Admission Associate Alex Campbell will attend the National Coalition of Girls’ School annual conference in Bethesda, Md.

English Teacher Tobey Taliaferro will take a teaching methodology class for English as a second language at the University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies. Taliaferro will teach the advanced ESL class again this fall.

Director of Studies ViAnn Farmer is taking a group of teachers to Flint Hill School to hear Dr. Mel Levine, co-founder of All Kinds of Minds, a non-profit institute that studies learning differences.

THE FORECAST

Important Dates
    August:   September:
       
  • 19........Administrators return
  • 31........Peer leaders and prefects return
  • 1........All faculty/staff on campus; athletes & AP calculus students return
  • 2........International students arrive
  • 3........Day family dinner
  • 5........All boarding students arrive
  • 6........Student orientation
  • 7........Classes begin
  • 11-13........Closed weekend

    •       Link: School Calendar for the Year

       


    PARENTS

    Please remember to:
    Return placement tests for new students to the Admission Office.

    Return registration and physical exam forms (for all students) to the Admission Office by July 1. Instructions and forms are online at www.sms.org/forms

    Mark your calendar for the day family dinner and registration Thursday, Sept. 3.
    Order your uniforms. Students must wear their dressy school uniform to chapel on opening day. Visit www.sms.org/forms for more information. Allow time for backorders and shipping.

    Begin your summer reading. Reports are due on the first day of classes; grades go on the student’s offical transcript. Visit www.sms.org and click on academics and then summer reading for the reading list and response sheet.

    Order your textbooks. Returning students will receive a postcard confirming their schedule and new students will receive a phone call. Textbooks are needed for the opening day of school so order early.

    Make sure you know when to arrive. The school calendar is available at www.sms.org/calmain.php