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The Magazine of Cary Academy WINTER 2019 C(MS) change: open doors unlock possibilities Page 2 Core strength: equity, connection, and community Page 4 Starting-up before finishing school Page 22 AN ALUM’S JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY COMES FULL CIRCLE Page 14Twice this school year, in completely different contexts, I have heard this: In a discussion about feeling overwhelmed when first tackling a challenging high-level science course, one member of the Class of 2016 told me that it would be OK because Cary Academy taught her to be comfortable when she was uncomfortable. In an assembly with the Upper School, a member of the Class of 2003 was asked a question about career pathways, entrepreneurship, and taking risks. She told our students not to be scared when it gets scary. There are so many wonderful messages that could be unpacked from these comments. One obvious fact is that there will be challenges ahead — for everybody. The next natural question is: what to do about this uncomfortable fact of life? One of my favorite phrases, which I’ve heard articulated by many child development experts, is that we must prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child. Oh, and lest we forget, the road is anything but straight. In this issue of The Magazine of Cary Academy, we have several stories about preparing our students for their road(s) ahead. As part of our current strategic plan, the school is creating learning opportunities that are personalized, flexible, and relevant. Our new Center for Community Engagement was developed from the idea that our students will find purpose and meaning when connecting and collaborating outside the traditional academic bubble. Entrepreneurship, a sub-strand within the center, provides students with real-world challenges that are hard to replicate in a classroom setting. Stories from our alumni reinforce the importance of our mission and our current strategic vision. In this issue’s alumni spotlight, Holly May talks about the transformative impact Cary Academy had on her life’s path and why she and her husband have decided to fund opportunities for future CA students. In the end, I believe most parents want their kids to become successful, well-adjusted, and happy adults — even if the individual definitions of success may vary. Happily, in the alumni survey that we completed this fall, only 7% of alumni out of college reported being unsatisfied or very unsatisfied with their current profession. More impressively, only 4% reported being dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their quality of life. We remain committed to providing experiences for the current and next generation of CA students that sets them on a path to find their own happiness. Cary Academy alumni are a remarkable bunch. FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Mike Ehrhardt, Head of SchoolThe Magazine of Cary Academy WINTER 2019 In this issue Embracing zig zags and left turns Holly May’s CA experience set her on an unexpected path to an innovative role in Silicon Valley. Now, she and her fellow-CA alum husband, Travis May, are laying the groundwork to launch the next generation of CA students on their own journeys of discovery. 14 Entrepreneurialism at CA CA encourages students to take risks, experiment, and follow where their ideas lead them. For some students, that path leads to starting up businesses before they finish school. How will CA incorporate extracurricular endeavors into the classroom? 22 Equity matters As we reimagine the role of our founding principles of equity, inclusivity, and diversity, we reflect on their impact on the CA community and explore what the future holds. 4 Snap- shots 20 Campus News 2 Alumni News 31 The Big Question 32 This issue’s cover is courtesy of none other than our very own talented Head of Upper School Robin Follet. Robin, or Mr. Follet as he is known to CA students, has scribbled and doodled and drawn cartoons for most of his life. Through weekly emails to the Upper School, he shares his love of cartoony-ness in spot illustrations. In addition, he has illustrated a graphic novella, posted his own webcomic, and completed illustrations for a number of Duke TIP online classes. Upper School students present closing remarks at the TRIANGLE DIVERSITY ALLIANCE CONFERENCE. COMMUNICATIONS TEAM Mandy Dailey Kathleen Mason Dean Sauls Dan Smith PHOTOGRAPHY Kathleen Mason Dan Smith The CA community Cover art courtesy of Robin Follet HEAD OF SCHOOL Michael Ehrhardt DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS Heather Clarkson DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Mandy Dailey HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Robin Follet DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Jess Garcia DEAN OF FACULTY Martina Greene HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Marti Jenkins DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Karen McKenzie DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Ali Page CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Deborah Reichel is published three times a year by Cary Academy. CARY ACADEMY 1500 N. Harrison Avenue Cary, North Carolina 27513 (919) 677-3873 www.caryacademy.orgThe end of T2 brought a much-anticipated milestone: the completion of the Center for Math and Science. Opening the doors of the 22,000+ square foot building — which includes a new makerspace, greenhouse, state-of-the-art lab facilities, and ample flexible, collaborative learning spaces — concludes a significant phase of CA’s 2015 master facility plan. Campus News Opening doors, unlocking possibilities Up next? The next phase of facilities planning, including • an update to the Upper School to add more student study and collaborative spaces, create a suite for our wellness and learning support services, and to make room for our new Center for Community Engagement; This marks the third consecutive State Championship title for the girls’ team. CAREER CURIOUS? In February, Upper School students had the opportunity to explore potential career paths during the biannual Career Connections program. Over 47 guest speakers — including 22 CA alums — were selected based on a preliminary survey of student interests. Representing fields as varied as arts management, applied science, technology, entrepreneurship, government and public policy, public health, and more, they shared their career experiences, personal insights, and fielded student questions. CA ETHICS BOWL TEAM SHINES In January, seven Upper School students participated in the annual UNC High School Ethics Bowl competition. In a 5-on-5 format, the CA team — a branch of the Philosophy Club — analyzed and discussed more than ? The Magazine of Cary Academy • design changes in the library to create open, quiet conference spaces for individual and small-group student work and the addition of a café and student store as part of our new entrepreneurship efforts; • and, finally, an expansion and upgrade of the current weight room in the Fitness Center. Two a dozen ethical dilemmas ranging from partisan gerrymandering to the use of love-inducing drugs. The team presented on a different topic each round, formulating philosophical arguments and answering questions from professors and other experts. In its first year of competition, the newly- formed team reached the semifinal match, placing fourth out of 26 teams from around North Carolina. HOLIDAY SHOPPE SUCCESS It’s one for the record books! Featuring over 90+ vendors, Holiday Shoppe 2018 was our most successful to date, netting over $80,000 to support CA’s community- building programs and student clubs and activities. Special thanks to everyone in the community — including the 400 volunteers — that helped to make this event a success. Mark your calendars for next year when the Holiday Shoppe returns from November 5–9, 2019. CA WELCOMES TRIANGLE DIVERSITY ALLIANCE This winter, CA hosted 200 students from five Triangle-area independent schools for the Triangle Diversity Alliance Conference. The Triangle Diversity Alliance is a coalition of students and faculty interested in advancing diversity and inclusion work. Together, participants — including 80 CA students, 40 of whom presented and/or led sessions — tackled issues such as structural racism, gender identity and sexuality, intersectional feminism, and more. For a video on the TDA Conference, visit bit.ly/TDAConf. SWIMMING TO VICTORY Finishing out their seasons strong, both the girls’ and boys’ Varsity swim teams punctuated their spectacular seasons with State Championships. In a truly astounding display of Charger swimming, 32 boys and girls made it to the Finals and scored. Toasting our community In late January, the PTAA hosted their annual “Taste and Toast” as the inaugural event in the Center for Math and Science, offering guests a highly sought-after sneak peek of the new building. Now in its second year, the Taste and Toast is an opportunity to come together, share a meal, and celebrate what makes CA special: our fantastic community. This year’s toast was raised in celebration of CA athletes who were honored in an unveiling of a special PTAA gift: new athletic banners that will hang in the Fitness Center. Equity Matters Equity, inclusivity, and diversity have been core commitments at CA since the school’s founding. These commitments are resonant not only the school’s diversity mission statement and statement of community values, but are reflected through the work of our strategic plan, our approach to programming, and, of course, by our diverse community itself. This July, the CA community will welcome its first Director of Equity and Community Engagement. Housed within the Center for Community Engagement, the role encompasses and expands the responsibilities of the former Director of Diversity and Inclusion. The shift in title from “diversity” to “equity and community engagement” is purposeful. It reflects the shifting landscape of equity and inclusivity work and a more nuanced recognition that diversity alone is not enough; a diverse community is not necessarily an equitable one. The change signals CA’s ongoing commitment to creating a truly equitable, inclusive, and diverse community where everyone has an opportunity to have a voice, be heard, and thrive. As we look to the future and the work ahead, some faculty and students had the opportunity to sit down and reflect on some of the key moments and ways that CA’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusivity has been manifested for them this year. ? The Magazine of Cary Academy ? The Magazine of Cary Academy Cary Academy counts diversity and inclusion as one of the key tenets in building its programs, but how does that shape the experience of students, in and out of the classroom? For many students, participation in affinity groups — organizations that bring students together around a shared identity, be it race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity — is one of the ways that equity and inclusivity work manifests on campus. For Kaela Curtis (‘20), Om Naphade (‘20), and Clay Thornton (‘21), participation in CA’s affinity groups has been transformative, shaping their sense of self and community, providing crucial support networks that help them navigate their world, and even shifting their ambitions and long-term plans. “Affinity groups are an opportunity to connect and socialize with other students who look like you and get it,” explains Curtis, who serves as secretary for the African American Affinity Group. “When I transitioned to CA, there was a major culture shock. Having peers who understood my experience and identity was extremely helpful.” “At school, I had never been able to really talk about this part of who I am, until last year when I was able to join the Gender and Sexuality Alliance,” notes Clay Thornton, vice-president of the GSA. “I’m thankful that we have such an “It’s interesting to learn new things about other people’s experiences and passions... it creates, not only a deeper appreciation of your own cultural group, but an understanding where others come from... it helps you understand how you can connect.” –OM NAPHADE STUDENT PERSPECTIVES Fiveopen and diverse LGBTQ community on campus. Some schools don’t have a GSA, or aren’t allowed to have a GSA, whereas we have 30 or more students who show up at every meeting.” The size and diverse makeup of CA’s student body allows our affinity groups to be as varied and inclusive as the communities and identities that they encompass. Thornton expressed relief to find such diversity within the LGBTQ community at CA, noting that “a shared identity doesn’t mean we’ve all had the same experience or interests.” Naphade, the event coordinator for the Indian Subcontinent Affinity Group (ISAG), echoes that sentiment. He underscores that affinity groups are anything but monolithic; the cultural diversity within ISAG has led to a better understanding of himself: “It’s interesting to learn new things about other people’s experiences and passions... it creates, not only a deeper appreciation of your own cultural group, but an understanding where others come from... it helps you understand how you can connect.” In CA’s affinity groups, allies — students who do not share the same core identity as the affinity group, but respect, celebrate, and support their identity and equality of rights — are welcome. Allies often bring different perspectives, insights, and backgrounds and can play a critical role in deepening dialog, building further connection for member students. Curtis notes that inclusion of allies can spark discourse — around topics like conflict and microaggressions—that might not otherwise occur. “Sometimes, people will say something about you to an ally [who looks like them] that they wouldn’t say to your face. That’s led to some tough conversations and realizations that wouldn’t otherwise have happened,” she offers. Recounting his experience at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), Naphade recalls being surprised to learn that some students of color at other schools had encountered obstacles in building affinity groups at their own schools: “I met students at other schools where they might be the only member of their identity group at their school. That made me realize how thankful I am for CA’s diverse community and for our allies. I ended-up mentoring students from other schools about my experience at CA.” Curtis, Naphade, and Thornton all lamented that sometimes equity and diversity work is perceived as “something you do, like a club.” “People don’t always understand that it’s bigger than that, that it is about being better people, making all of our lives better. That’s why we’re thankful for COEXIST; it does a lot of that work,” offers Thornton. COEXIST, an intersectional student organization that advocates for diversity, inclusivity, and equity for the entire Upper School student body, is comprised of the leadership of all of Cary Academy’s affinity groups. Curtis explains that COEXIST serves as “bridge across different identities.” ? The Magazine of Cary Academy “UNDERSTANDING HOW LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS AFFECT OUR DAILY LIVES — IT’S HARD TO TURN IT OFF. ONCE YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.” — KAELA CURTIS Six ? The Magazine of Cary Academy It is a link that Thornton credits with strengthening campus-wide equity efforts, ensuring that students who don’t identify with an affinity group still have a voice in the conversation about diversity at CA. “If we are all only active in our own affinity groups, not knowing what else is happening on campus, or other groups’ perspectives, we might not be able to have a uniform push for issues of diversity and equity,” he explains. COEXIST has supported the student body in times of crisis, working with affinity groups to foster campus-wide conversations about contemporary needs and concerns. Most recently, COEXIST is partnering with the Muslim and Jewish Students Associations to give students the opportunity to process the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. “It was really wonderful to see so many students from across campus at the talk,” beamed Curtis. “It felt great to be able to talk about white supremacy and have people understand how I felt.” For Curtis and Thornton, the experience of being part of an affinity group has altered their course. “In Middle School, I was very much interested in STEM subjects, but being involved in all of this diversity work has me thinking much more about [working in] government and politics. I’ve been enjoying my history and English classes more,” says Thornton. Curtis agrees, “I definitely want to be involved in issues of political science and public policy as a result of these experiences. Understanding how laws and institutions affect our daily lives — it’s hard to turn it off. Once you know, you feel compelled to do something about it.” KAELA CURTIS (‘20) CLAY THORNTON (‘21) OM NAPHADE (‘20) SevenNext >