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| St. Martin's Episcopal School Newsletter November 2008 |
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Annual Giving Update This year's campaign runs from July 1,2008 to June 30,2009 Goal: $425,000 As of 11/10/08: $198,535 Still Need: $226,465 |
| | | A Message from the Headmaster "I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so that they will be positioned to make it a better place."
--Howard E. Gardner, Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Superior academic programs are the principal goal for parents when evaluating any school, and that is the case for St. Martin's as well. Over the past year, we have engaged in an intense strategic planning process that will shape the future of the school. It is no surprise that parents, alumni and supporters alike told us that excellence in academic programs is an attribute and strength of our school that they highly value. The core operating principles and strategic initiatives about which you will hear in the coming months will include things you've heard me talk about before-community, balance, faith among them-but creating and sustaining a learning community that is intellectually rigorous tops the list.
At St. Martin's, we seek bright and motivated students who intend to be successful in school and in life. We acknowledge that our students enjoy multiple intelligences* and learn differently from one other. Our teaching approach is student-centered, dialogue-driven and critical thinking-oriented. We are a top-shelf college preparatory school as well as a school that promotes life-long learning.
Superlative academic programs require superlative faculty. Recent research shows that the sum total of a school can never out-perform the sum total of its faculty. Thus, we will attract and develop first-rate faculty to join our already impressive roster of educators. How will we do this? In part, by using the Coatney Leadership Center as an incubator for our faculty to study best practices, how children learn, and how we can create an educational environment that is conducive to bringing out the best in our children.
An example of how our faculty will use the Coatney Leadership Center is the Harkness Table** that will sit in the Research and Development Center. Harkness Tables originated at Philips Exeter Academy in 1931 when oil magnate Edward Harkness challenged the faculty to create an innovative way of teaching. Harkness envisioned a classroom where students could learn while seated around a table engaging in a conference method, where each student would be encouraged to speak up and participate. The Harkness Table evolved as an oval design, where children learn by interactive dialogue with each other and the teacher, rather than simply taking notes. The process is collaborative and inquisitive-much like the Socratic dialogue method employed at schools of law.
In my vision, our faculty will use the Research and Development Center to learn in a collaborative and dialogue-driven way. The Harkness Table, along with cutting-edge technology, will allow our teachers to challenge each other and themselves as they research and plan together. They will be able to see and hear the best minds in education while working together to advance our academic programs.
St. Martin's is a great school already. In the future, it will be at the top of independent schools nationally. I invite you to join us for our journey.
Dr. Jeffrey Pratt Beedy
Headmaster
*Howard Gardner's work at Harvard University has profoundly influenced thinking and practice in education, including mine. Gardner states that humans, rather than having a single intelligence that is inherited, actually possess multiple intelligences which are independent of each other and which include linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal and intrapersonal. For more on Gardner's work see the following resources.
1. Gardner, Howard (1999) Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century, New York: Basic Books.
2. Smith, Mark K. (2002, 2008) "Howard Gardner and Multiple Intelligences," The Encyclopedia of Informal Education, www.infed.or/thinkers/gardner.htm.
**For a history and more information about Harkness Tables, please go to www.HarknessTables.com.
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St. Martin's Day Celebration St. Martin's celebrated its annual St. Martin's Day on Friday November 7 with an all-school Chapel, games, lunch and closing ceremonies as well as a service project. Hand in Hand, We Make a Difference was the theme of St. Martin's Day 2008. Since the beginning of the
school year, students have been collecting funds and donations for The Good Shepherd School in downtown New Orleans (www.thegoodshepherdschool.org).
The two schools have now formed a partnership that will carry on throughout the year, and for years to come. Just like St. Martin's Patron Saint, Martin de Tours, who is celebrated each November on St. Martin's Day, St. Martin's Episcopal School will continue to share and aid those who are less fortunate or who are in need.
Isabel Celata (left) a St. Martin's Episcopal School 6th grader, hosted vistor Taijah Growe (right) a 3rd grade student from The Good Shepherd School, on St. Martin's Day. Taija and some of her classmates visited St. Martin's to thank the school for its generous donations of healthy snacks, art supplies, a portable basketball goal, extra nets and basket balls along with over $2000.00 dollars for The Good Shepherd School shoe fund and inside games and PE activities. The Good Shepherd School choir also performed two songs for the entire St. Martin's community.
Update on the Coatney Leadership Center
Construction on the Coatney Leadership Center, which will house the office of the Headmaster, our Faculty Research and Development Center, a technologically advanced meeting and training space and headquarters of the Coatney Leadership Program, is moving right along. Construction should be completed in early 2009.
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October was a busy month at St. Martin's - especially for the Alumni! We celebrated Homecoming 2008 on the weekend of October 11th. On Friday, October 10th, St. Martin's inducted the newest members into the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame. John Girault '55, Jo Ann De Martini '82 and the 1969 State Championship Track Team were honored at an awards ceremony and luncheon here on St. Martin's campus. That afternoon, the Saints were honored at an all school pep rally and later, the entire StM community attended a barbeque before the Homecoming football game. Former StM Saints Captain Bobby Yeargain '58 did the honor of joining the 2008 StM captains on the field for the coin toss to start the game! And like every year, the visiting Alumni had their own stands positioned on the track for a great view of the 20 -14 victory over Ridgewood. On October 22nd, StM Alumni who have students in the school enjoyed lunch with their children at the annual Alumni Brown Bag Lunch. This event is held every year on the Van Slate lawn. These "Angels" (second, or in some cases third generation students) are escorted to the Van Slate yard, where they are greeted by their alum parent(s). This year, the children's nametags had the yearbook photos of their parents at their age! A fun time was had by all! Belle Johnson was back on campus at a reception held in her honor in the parlor of the Van Slate house in mid October. Mrs. Johnson was celebrated, along with the 2008 Belle Johnson Scholars. Each year, Mrs. Johnson's family works with St. Martin's choosing qualified candidates from the Middle and Upper School. Mrs. Johnson enjoys this time to visit with the students and their families. This is a lovely event for a lovely woman who has meant so much to St. Martin's. St. Martin's greatly appreciates the generosity of the Belle Johnson Scholars Foundation Board which has touched the lives of over 30 students in the last 9 years. At the end of October, St. Martin's took to the road for Dallas for an StM Alumni On the Road Reunion! Glen Solomon '84 and his wife Margaret hosted the event in their home. Alumni living in Dallas got a chance to visit with faculty members Rex Mooney, Bill Rosenbaum and our Headmaster Jeffrey Beedy. To view photos from these events - visit the MEDIA LIBRARY on the St. Martin's website - www.stmsaints.com
SAVE THE DATE!
The St. Martin's Alumni Association and Pontchartrain Vineyards (owned by StM alum John Seago '61) are hosting a wine tasting on Friday, November 21st at 6:30 p.m. at the vineyard in Bush, Louisiana. An Evening of Fine Wines, hors d'oeuvres and Old Friends -please join us if you can! Call Julie Talbot, Alumni Director (504)736-9912 for more information.
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Sensational Saints
St. Martin's is very proud of our 2008 National Merit Semifinalists - Joel Derby, John Posin and Michelle Taylor. Our
Commended Scholars are Jane Ball, Caroline Burglass, Michael Moore and Andrew Wise. 12% of the senior class was recognized by National Merit Corporation. Go Saints!
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St. Martin's Episcopal School | 5309 Airline Dr. | Metairie | LA | 70003 |
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My Favorite Thing About St. Martin's
"My favorite thing about St. Martin's is the playground. It is so much fun!"
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Cameron Barrett, Kindergarten student
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