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The Magazine of Cary Academy WINTER 2018 CHARGER TREKS THROUGH MOUNTAINS LESS TRAVELED page 16 Lions dance onto the CA stage page 4 Changing the way we learn science page 10 Don’t judge these books by their titles page 24 GO ON TOUR WITH CARRIE HARTSFIELD ’12Each winter, I get to report on the “State of the School” at the annual PTAA meeting. While we take time to reflect on the highlights – like athletics’ three state championship wins, our girls’ sports program earning the Prestige Cup (ranking it the best in the Triangle Conference), the debate team’s sixth place finish at an international tournament, the PTAA’s new family service days, and more – what we really focus on is measuring the health of Cary Academy across a few very important areas: Interest in what we offer We continue to attract a remarkable pool of applicants, with waiting lists across all grade levels. Once a student joins CA, they tend to stay; our attrition rate last year was two percent, the best among our North Carolina peer independent schools. The inclusivity of our community Students of color comprise 39% of our enrollment, tops in our NC peer market. This year, we opened our successful SEED program (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) to other schools that routinely seek out our advice on how to create welcoming and inclusive environments. The value for a tuition dollar Cary Academy is debt free, and a generous endowment supports 80% of our financial aid budget. That, combined with strong annual fundraising, allows us to keep our tuition below peers’ and allocate more of those dollars to support top-rate faculty and innovative programs. Excellent performance indicators This past year, 30% of the Class of 2017 was recognized by the National Merit Corporation. And even while our faculty create innovative, challenging, “not standardized” curricula, 70% of our students who chose to take Advanced Placement tests earned a four or five (on a five-point scale) on their exams. We’re particularly proud that our seniors were admitted to 137 different schools around the world. On top of that, about 10% committed to playing collegiate athletics. One graduate was named a Park Scholar at NC State and another a Robertson Scholar at Duke. And two earned appointments to the U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In summary, the “State of the School” is healthy. As we move purposefully into our first-ever Campaign for Cary Academy, we are buoyed by a strong track record of success and driven by a desire to provide the best possible opportunities for current and future generations of students. Our school is as healthy as a horse (a Charger, to be exact). Mike Ehrhardt, Head of School FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOLIn this issue 4 From class to ensemble to pride. Lions and warthogs and meerkats, oh my! 85 students transformed the CA stage into the Serengeti for a production of The Lion King Jr. 10 A new formula for science learning. We’re rethinking one-size-fits-all science education and building an innovative curriculum – and a brand-new STEM space to go with it. 16 Alumni spotlight: Carrie Hartsfield ’12 Off the beaten path. Carrie never thought she’d be running her own company in Puerto Natales, Chile. Now she’s leading CA students and faculty on a tour through Patagonia. Snap- shots 8 Campus News 2 Alumni News 22 The Big Question 24 The Magazine of Cary Academy WINTER 2018 COMMUNICATIONS TEAM Michael Ehrhardt Kathleen Mason Dean Sauls COMMUNICATIONS INTERNS Kennedy Byrd ’18 Lily Lee ’18 Maya Agnihotri ’19 Alex Bandong ’19 DEVELOPED AND DESIGNED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MINDPOWER INC. PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Martin Steve Muir The CA community Cover photo courtesy of Carrie Hartsfield ’12 HEAD OF SCHOOL Michael Ehrhardt UPPER SCHOOL HEAD Heather Clarkson DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Jason Franklin DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Jess Garcia DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS Denise Goodman DEAN OF FACULTY Martina Greene MIDDLE SCHOOL HEAD Marti Jenkins DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Karen McKenzie 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.org Our new Center for Math and Science has helped us reimagine the ways our students explore science – and the ways our faculty collaborate with each other. pg. 14For the first time in CA history, both JV robotics teams advanced to the state tournament. They also won the Connect Award for community outreach and the Control Award for programming excellence. CA’s physics team took third place in the United States Invitational Young Physicists Tournament (USIYPT). After a year of ? The Magazine of Cary Academy Two DRACULA THRILLS ON STAGE Upper School theater students put on a Halloween-worthy performance of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in CA’s Black Box Theater from October 26-28, 2017. The cast and crew of 10th through 12th grade students gave audiences a fright with their unique take on the classic tale. Campus News Science and engineering teams shine in state and national competitions PITCH PERFECT Nate Alexander ’20 won the $1,000 grand prize to take his Bubbyl medical phone case to the next level at the NextGen Pitch Competition on October 24, 2017. Hosted by Hyperspace Ventures (co- founded by Taylor Meyer ’08), the contest featured 11 Upper School teams pitching their ideas to a panel of local entrepreneurs. Second place went to Niki Vilas Boas ’20 and Becca Segal ’20 for their Wotter swimwear line. Mila Patel ’21 took third for her pre-imaging microchip idea. RAISING A GLASS TO CA In late January, the PTAA hosted its first “Taste of and Toast to Cary Academy” event, which replaced its long-held Auction and Gala. Instead of raising money, CA parents and employees enjoyed a spread of international dishes while celebrating our community. The evening was just one of the year’s several new PTAA initiatives meant to build spirit and strengthen community. researching complex problems like “Electromagnetically Coupled Mechanical Oscillators,” the students battled it out in “physics fights” against teams from around the world. And the Varsity Science Olympiad team placed fifth in the regional competition, medaling in 12 events, while the JV team medaled in eight. Left: The physics team presenting at USIYPT. Center: The JV robotics teams’ trophies. Right: The Science Olympiad teams show off their medals. ATHLETES WIND DOWN THE WINTER SEASON After a record number of swimmers qualified for the State meet, the girls’ Varsity swim team repeated as State Champions while the boys finished the season as State Runners-Up. The Varsity wrestling team earned their highest ever 4th place finish at their State meet. Both Varsity basketball programs completed the season with grit and teamwork, including some very exciting victories in front of large home crowds. See the final winter sport tallies at wp.me/p5S2zV-bGp.CA STUDENTS SHOWCASED THEIR TALENTS during the winter concert season. Dancers performed Indian Bangra. MS and US chorus ensembles mirrored one another, singing the same songs in reverse order, featuring different composers. Orchestra showcased group and solo performances, and the bands played holiday favorites with guest appearances from alumni and the head of school on percussion.FROM CLASS TO ENSEMBLE TO PRIDE. BRINGING STUDENTS TOGETHER FOR THE MAKING OF The Lion King Jr. ? The Magazine of Cary Academy Six It’s one place. With hundreds of species. And millions of animals. And it’s one of the few spots in the world you could find this particular hodgepodge of critters and creatures coexisting. Another? The Lion King Jr. On the Cary Academy stage, that is. That’s where 85 sixth through ninth graders – sporting Africa-inspired masks and intricate, earth-colored costumes – performed a 60-minute, one-act version of the Disney Broadway musical. As lions and meerkats and wildebeests and more, they came together, turning the stage into their own Serengeti. It’s that kind of synergy that theater teacher and The Lion King Jr. director Glen Matthews pushed his students to embrace and engage with to make this production come alive. “I wanted them to understand the beauty of the ensemble, which we define as a diverse group of people working together toward a common goal,” Mr. Matthews says. “It’s not just about what each of us brings to the table; we have to find comfort in being vulnerable and opening up to those around us, which immediately makes us stronger.” Finding strength in collaboration was essential for the cast and crew to develop the musical, especially because such an elaborate production presents obstacles. Students had to stretch their minds. Shift their perspectives. And not be afraid to explore new roles and try new things – like letting loose to embody the free forms of African dances. Or integrating African languages in song and dialogue in a way that felt and sounded authentic. As Mr. Matthews puts it, because students (and audiences) have practically grown up with such an iconic piece, they had to find ways to make it their own. They had to rethink and reimagine and redefine. Like the student whose ideas of what Simba looked like were challenged when he was creating the character’s mask. Or the one who had to breathe life into her role as Zazu – not as the typical puppet, but as a mask propped up on a scepter. A few tries later, she found her groove. Solving and overcoming those obstacles is what made the students’ “…WE HAVE TO FIND COMFORT IN BEING VULNERABLE AND OPENING UP TO THOSE AROUND US, WHICH IMMEDIATELY MAKES US STRONGER.” – Glen Matthews Across 12,000 square miles in East Africa, elephants are lumbering, warthogs trotting, giraffes strutting, and zebras galloping and whooping and barking. (Yes, barking.) This is the Serengeti.Seven version of The Lion King Jr. unique. Which is what Director of Fine & Performing Arts Michael Hayes wanted audiences to see. “We didn’t want to copy the movie or play. We put our own spin on it. We hope people came in expecting one thing and left going, ‘That was different,’” Mr. Hayes expresses. “It’d be easy to do what others have done. But we tried to find what made sense for our kids in this space at this time.” Getting to that point – debuting a distinct performance that would leave audiences oohing and ahhing – is a journey, Mr. Hayes notes. It started with a The Lion King Jr. curriculum that brought all of the seventh and eighth grade art classes together during the first trimester, exploring rhythm on djembes (traditional African drums) and diving into what it means to direct, design, manage, and choreograph a show. And the journey ended with a final bow. And in between, it took a whole pride of people – from Middle School and Upper School students and teachers to guest scenic designer Miyuki Su and former parent and costumer Jae Brainard to art teacher Margo Smith – and their commitment, enthusiasm, and downright hard work to make The Lion King Jr. roar to life. In one place. On one stage. Together. Just like the Serengeti.Next >