Welcome to Cru's News Welcome to our St. Andrew's e-newsletter! Twice a month, you'll read exciting news about our scholars, artists, athletes, and servants--in and outside the classroom. If you consider yourself a member of the St. Andrew's community, then this newsletter is for you.
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Join Our Team
Cru's News is looking for guest contributors who want to share newsworthy items with the St. Andrew's community. If you have an idea for an article, contact us at
[email protected]. |
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Getting to Know Matt Lipstein
 If you've sat in a meeting with our new Director of Technology, Matt Lipstein, you've probably had a good chuckle while learning something new on your laptop. His humor is a reflection of an underlying attitude towards technology that he hopes to foster at St. Andrew's: "I want people to feel good using technology, to enjoy it and be creative with it. I want to keep it fun." Matt's years in the corporate and education worlds have helped him make technology accessible to people of all ages and tech-savviness. Matt's career in New York included various roles in tech support, web design, and information architecture divisions. Though he gained valuable expertise, Matt says, "I realized I wanted to work somewhere where the bottom line wasn't revenue, but learning. I was really interested in the classroom setting." Matt transitioned to the world of education at the Montessori School and Spence School. When he, his wife, and two kids grew out of their Brooklyn apartment, they made the move to Austin in 2012. When he reflects on what initially drew him to St. Andrew's, Matt says, "St. Andrew's is well established and has a prestigious reputation. But I really liked the vision and philosophy here, the fact that decisions are made based on what's right for the students." Matt adds, "There's a commitment to education here with an undercurrent of creativity and individuality that I love. I still remember seeing the Lower School kids unicycle during one of my first visits, and then hearing Rev. Rob Leacock speak at the Upper School, and I thought 'This is great, it's a large but strong community.'" Matt entered the tech field through music, first as a communications major and radio host at the University of Delaware. He continued to DJ at clubs and bars in New York, and even brought in his turntables to classrooms to discuss research methodologies for new music playlists. Now, his creative outlet is his show "Free Samples" on KOOP FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. Matt's personal vinyl collection is "approximately 2000 albums of mostly funk, soul, and hip-hop." The major project that Matt looks forward to launching is the new St. Andrew's website, which will "look and operate better, be much more intuitive, and be an effective marketing tool too." In addition to working on exciting projects like this, Matt adds, "I really enjoy working with my team, everyone has strong attributes they bring to the table." With every improvement to our teaching and communications tools, Matt will keep us in-the-know (and smiling) along the way. |
New St. Andrew's Website in the Works
Our website redesign is moving ahead at full speed! We've segmented the re-design into two phases. The Public Phase (the "Front End") is what you see before you log-in. This phase will include new page design, content, and navigation.The Private Phase (the "Back End" log-in pages) is what you see after you log-in. This phase will include your class pages, assignments, calendars, and other items. Here is the breakdown of what to expect and when:
Fall 2014: Begin Public Phase 
We are creating all of the content, design, and navigation features you will see on the new website before you log-in.
Winter 2015: Complete Public Phase and Launch
We will launch the new public website and begin working on the private phase (log-in pages). Note: There will be no changes to your typical website experience after you log-in. The pages you see after you log-in will be re-designed during the Private Phase.
Spring 2015: Begin Private Phase
We will create the content and navigation features you will see after you log-in to the website.
During this phase we will ask for your input and have volunteers test pages to be sure we are creating an easy-to-use, intuitive site.
Fall 2015: Complete Private Phase and Launch
We will have the new Private Phase pages (i.e., all website pages viewable after you log-in) complete and ready to be used by faculty, students, and parents for the 2015-2016 school year.
As with any project, there are bound to be adjustments. As they come up we'll make every effort to keep you informed. We're excited to debut the new and improved St. Andrew's website soon!
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St Andrew's Day Celebrates Community and Service
The sun shone brightly on our St. Andrew's Day celebration, as we came together to honor our  patron saint and give thanks for those that serve St. Andrew's. The Lower, Middle, and Upper School students, parents, faculty, staff, Trustees, and special guests gathered for a special chapel service and awards ceremony at the Upper School, followed by lunch on the Nazro Green, and community service activities in the afternoon. (Click here to see more photos from this special day!)
The Rev. Bert O. Baetz, III, a former St. Andrew's faculty member and chaplain, traveled from Richmond, TX to offer his sermon on how physical change in a community reflects the work of God, a "God in motion."
Head of School Sean Murphy took the opportunity to acknowledge a few individuals who have shown exceptional dedication in service to the St. Andrew's community.
St. Andrew's parent and Board of Trustees member Jeff Howard was awarded the Jeannine and John C. Miller Volunteer Service Award. Jeff's legal expertise has helped the school immeasurably these past two years as he has navigated the process of acquiring new property near the 31st Street campus and helping entitle our recently purchased 93-acre tract at the Upper School. Jeff has served on multiple planning task forces requiring hours of time and effort, has presented and advocated for the School in front of neighborhood planning teams, the City Council, and more.
St. Andrew's parent and Board of Trustees member Anne Smalling was awarded the Charles Alan Wright Excellence Award. As Treasurer, Anne has helped implement ways for our financial reporting and budgeting process to evolve, worked with our banks to renegotiate loan agreements, was a key advisor in real estate transactions and the financial aspect of our capital projects and has been the lead author on various procedures that safeguard the revenue of the school. In all of these exhaustive efforts, along with her role as President of an international holding company and mother of two Upper School daughters, Anne has set up the school for continued and enhanced excellence. St. Andrew's is a better place - and will continue to be - because of Anne's service to all of us.
St. Andrew's also honored four faculty and staff members for their fifteen years of service to the school: Upper School Maintenance Manager Alfred Bradford, Assistant to the Head of School Joan Church, Spanish 5 AP Language and Culture teacher Jim Currin, and Upper School Librarian Barb Jansen. All were presented with commemorative silver St. Andrew's crosses. Academic Dean Tim McGhee, in his 31st year at St. Andrew's, was honored for his three decades of service to the school with a historic woodblock print of St. Andrew's and a framed portrait which will be hung in the McGhee Commons in the Middle School.
Nick Classen, St. Andrew's bagpiper for more than 40 years, and Rev. Seth DeLeery, who has volunteered for St. Andrew's Chapel services since 1980, were also honored for their selfless devotion to the school.
 Following the service, all 1,200 guests were treated to an outdoor lunch by The Grove.The first- and twelfth-graders traveled to Dart Bowl afterwards for their traditional bowling outing and all other grades participated in various community service projects around town. Second, third, fourth, and sixth grade students made cards for the homeless, learned about composting and recycling, and the fifth grade students visited the Texas Military Museum to continue their focus on Veterans and their service to the country.The Middle School spent the afternoon learning about and discussing poverty and participated in a poverty simulator by advisory. Upper School students, in continued support of El Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission, sorted, loaded and delivered thousands of donated food supplies to El Buen's Food Pantry.
St. Andrew's Day has been celebrated for many decades at our school and each year it is a wonderful reminder of our spirit and strength as a school community. Many thanks to The Rev. Bert Baetz for his meaningful sermon, The Rev. Beth Magill, Altar Guild volunteers Scott and Elizabeth Hanna, St. Andrew's Day Chair ML Calcote, and the many assisting clergy and parent volunteers who devoted their time and talent on this special day.
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Thank you, St. Andrew's Fund Supporters!
Because of early supporters of the St. Andrew's Fund, we are making great progress in the campaign. Due to your generosity, we have a new school bus, more security guards, an increased teacher professional development budget and improved technology in classrooms and libraries. And we are able to cover any unexpected urgent needs this school year. YOU make a difference in our students' day to day learning, THANK YOU!
Grade Level
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Participation Rate
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Participation
Rate
| 1
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89%
| 7
| 59%
| 2
| 64%
| 8
| 71%
| 3
| 63%
| 9
| 68%
| 4
| 83%
| 10
| 71%
| 5
| 57%
| 11
| 66%
| 6
| 76%
| 12
| 52%
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Haven't had the chance to make your tax-deductible gift yet? Click here!
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New Service Learning Activities on St. Andrew's Day
 In the spirit of the day recognizing service to community, St. Andrew's students disperse to participate in a variety of community service activities after the St. Andrew's Day ceremony. The focus for most students is on addressing Austin's hunger problem. Community Service Coordinator Laura Milton notes, "According to the Feeding Texas organization's Hunger Atlas (http://hungeratlas.org/), 18% of Travis County residents are food insecure, and 26% of food resources are underused by those in need due to lack of education and/or access." This year, Director of Diversity Kendall Evans introduced a new service learning activity to 9th- and 10th- graders that addresses some of these issues. Kendall had students rely on their creative storytelling and technology skills to research hunger in America and create an educational video using their cell phones. The video had to explain the role of El Buen's food pantry and its Hands for Hope event, and enable viewers to donate to El Buen via the video. Students have uploaded their videos to YouTube, and are asking friends and family to like their video. A winning video will be selected by El Buen's Director of Communications, Ivan Davila, on Friday, Nov. 21. But the real achievement will be the valuable outreach the students have done on behalf of El Buen to raise awareness about its services. At the Middle School, an online poverty simulator was incorporated into the day's service learning. In advisory groups, students accessed http://playspent.org in which they were given a budget of $1,000 and then asked to make various spending decisions to make the money last 30 days. After multiple attempts to successfully 'survive,' the whole grade reconvened to compare their experiences ("Which decision was the hardest to make? Has your perception of what 'poverty' looks like shifted?") Students also watched the documentary "30 Days" in which a couple attempts to survive on minimum wage for one month. Thank you Alice Nezzer and Kendall Evans for sharing their service learning activities with us, and thank you Laura Milton for coordinating all of the service activities for St. Andrew's Day! |
Middle School Takes Giving to New Heights
By Hasie Sherman ('19)
St. Andrew's Middle School students were challenged with the goal of collecting 2,000 cans of  green beans and corn for El Buen's Hands for Hope project (a Thanksgiving dinner for those in need), with Nov. 18 as our deadline, and we far exceeded our goal. The canned food drive was a spirited competition between our Middle School Houses; however, that was not the cause for the outpouring of generosity from the teachers, students, and their families. We were told the importance and impact the Thanksgiving meals would have on less-fortunate families. To be put into the position of these families, we were asked, "What if you did not have food on Thanksgiving", and, "What is the one thing that most symbolizes Thanksgiving for you?" These questions made us realize the significance our Thanksgiving meal, and we were inspired to bring in food.
After three weeks of healthy and fun competition, the Nazro House won the competition with a prodigious total of 1,166 cans, but not far behind was the Wilson House with a total of 1,114 cans. In third place, the Bailey House had 504 cans, and in fourth, the Henry House had 327 cans. In all, the 7th and 8th grade students brought in a total of 3,156 canned green beans and corn, surpassing the goal of 2,000 cans. Not only did the Middle School beat our goal, but we outpaced and almost doubled last year's Middle School total of 1,700 cans. Although the Nazro House may have been the winners for competition, the families at El Buen Samaritano were the true winners this holiday season. I am very proud to be part of such a caring community at St. Andrew's!
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Community Outreach Extends Beyond St. Andrew's Day
  St. Andrew's hosted a financial literacy and healthy living conference on campus for the Con Mi Madre organization on Nov. 1. The day included two keynote speakers, 10 breakout sessions/presenters, and almost 200 attendees! Con Mi Madre provides holistic support services to underprivileged Latina mothers and their daughters to help them navigate the path of adolescence on the way to college. This conference was another step towards helping these women realize this worthwhile mission.
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Eighth-Graders Take 'Relationship Retreat'
 
This month the eighth-grade students participated in an on-campus Relationship Retreat as part of the Health and Wellness curriculum. Guest speakers came to campus to talk to students about what to look for in healthy relationships and how to navigate what society and the media tell us are important about ourselves. The students were also led through a series of activities and small group sessions with members of our Middle School faculty. The activities centered around themes of bullying, the effects of advertisements, stereotypes, and cultural expectations in regard to each gender, and included opportunities for students to hear from each other. Thank you Middle School Latin teacher Greg Mele for sharing.
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Record Number of Musicians Make Region BandOn Nov. 8, The Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) selected six St. Andrew's  musicians--among 800 regional candidates--to join its Region Concert Band and Region Symphonic Band. This is an all-time record for St. Andrew's: Two students were placed in these bands last year. Region Concert Band: Katherine Andrews ('20) - 6th chair clarinet , Kevin Latreille ('19) - 5th chair alto sax, Emma Rodman ('19) - 6th chair trumpet, Maggie Welland ('19) - 4th chair trumpet. Region Symphonic Band: Eli Harris-Trent ('19) - 1st chair trumpet (with an injured hand!). Nathan Lietzke ('19) - 2nd trombone. These six musicians will perform in concert with the other all-star selectees on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 5:30 pm in the Bastrop Performing Arts Center. Thank you MS Band Director Danny Schmidt for sharing. |
The Sweeter Side to Mockingbird
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Jack Williams and Haley Justiz bring Lane Cakes to share in class.
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Middle School English teacher Dorothy de la Garza calls it "The most enjoyable, edible, experiential, educational project yet devised!" She's referring to the traditional Southern holiday cakes, called Lane Cakes, that her and Elizabeth Marten's eighth-grade students have been baking while studying Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. In the story, Scout and Jem Finch's favorite neighbor, Miss Maudie, makes these sugar-and-raisin rich cakes to celebrate special events. Dig up your old copy of this classic novel to find out what the secret ingredient is! Thank you Dorothy de la Garza for sharing.
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Archaeologist Brings Ancient Civilizations to Life
Archeologist Robyn Dodge visited sixth-graders on Nov. 10 to give a presentation on her occupation and her most recent projects. Robyn has been on digs in California, Massachusetts, and Texas. During her Ph.D. studies on Mayan culture she also visited Peru to explore Incan culture. Robyn's presentation included a discussion on the scientific methods she uses throughout her work. As she says, "This isn't just random digging and hoping you find something." Sixth-grade students have spent the month reading about and discussing artifacts and archaeological digs. They are in the process of researching early civilizations to recreate archaeological sites.
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Lower Schoolers Help 'Keep SAS Beautiful'
Lower School students have formed the "Keep SAS Beautiful Cru" to help keep St. Andrew's campus in its finest form. Led by Latin teacher Lauren Dill, students have spent weeks walking the campus picking up trash, tidying the hallways, and taking out the school's recycling. In addition, the club is asking other St. Andrew's faculty to notify them if there are other areas of campus in need. Thanks to the Keep SAS Beautiful Cru for making our campus clean and safe for all!
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Lower School Honors Veteran's Day
St. Andrew's Lower School students, faculty, staff, and parents honored United States veterans on Nov. 7 at the annual Veteran's Day Assembly in Nazro Hall. Veterans from across all branches of service attended this special ceremony devoted to our men and women in uniform.
All Lower School students participated in the ceremony: the 1-4th graders recited special poems, the fifth and sixth grade choir sang, the Lower School band and percussion groups performed, and sixth-graders read their compelling stories and poems reflecting their experiences and perspectives about veterans. Rounding out the service were the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, who presented the flags. New this year, students were invited to sit with their veteran family members or guests and personally introduce them to the audience.
The guest speaker for the assembly was Major Celena Schaddelee, a decorated intelligence officer  in the United States Air Force, who served two deployments in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Major Schaddelee described her experiences as an intel officer for an F-117 squadron and other assignments, emphasizing the importance of service in all capacities. A commemorative slideshow, which showcased photographs of St. Andrew's veterans and veterans of family members, played before and after the service. The ceremony ended with all guests singing "Let There be Peace on Earth," the traditional recessional song at every St. Andrew's Veteran's Day Assembly.
Special thanks to our honored guests, veterans, Major Schaddelee, and Rebecca Kyriakedes, St. Andrew's Lower School Music Teacher, who coordinated this beautiful and memorable assembly.
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School portraits and an invitation to join the St. Andrew's Grandparents' Club have been mailed to all grandparents. If you have questions about pictures or would like to make a gift in honor of your parents, please contact Allison Brubaker in the Development Office. And don't forget to save the date for Grandparents' Day, Feb. 5-6, 2015!
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Run for the Roses at Concert for Financial Aid 2015
The 2015 Concert for Financial Aid Fundraiser is gearing up for its first committee meeting on January 15! Co-Chaired by parents Stacie Keliehor and Teresa Bessette, this year's Concert will be held on Sunday evening, May 3, on the Upper School Nazro Green. It is the same weekend as the Kentucky Derby race and the committee is working steadily on fun Kentucky Derby-themed details for the evening.
Emerald City will be our featured main entertainment, a 13-piece, three-horn section band that has been performing for more than 30 years across the country. Emerald City Band has performed at Super Bowl XLV, played for President and Mrs. Bush at the White House twice, Ford Motor Company, Southwest Airlines, Microsoft, Apple and American Airlines to name a few. They've also shared the stage with such artists as Garth Brooks, Justin Timberlake, Martina McBride, Michael McDonald, Huey Lewis and the News, Mariah Carey, Dan Aykroyd, and more.
We expect a fantastic, fun, and memorable party all in support of St. Andrew's Financial Aid Program and the 155 students who need tuition assistance to attend our wonderful school. If you'd like to volunteer, we would love your creative energy and enthusiasm!
The first full committee meeting is on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 at 11:45 am in the DuPont Room in Nazro Hall on our 31st Street campus. Lunch will be served and we anticipate the meeting lasting about an hour.
If you'd you like to sign up for a particular committee in advance we need volunteers for: Decorations, Logistics, Registration, Live and Silent Auction, and Underwriting/Table Sales/Corporate Sponsorships. Please email Teresa Bessette if you'd like to sign up for a particular committee and please join us on Jan. 15 if you're interested in participating!
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Uni-Saders Premiere SXSW Entry
Second-grade teacher Jimmy Agnew and The Uni-Saders club would like to spread a playful message of gratitude to the greater Austin community during this holiday season: "We are extremely blessed and appreciative to be able to announce the premiere of our SXSW submitted documentary, 'The Uni-Saders.' Premiere screening begins Sunday, Dec. 14 at 5:00 pm at the Dell Fine Arts Center. Watch the teaser here:
http://vimeo.com/107880861We would also like to welcome everyone to the Chuy's Children Giving to Children Parade down Congress Avenue on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 29. Please contact Jimmy Agnew directly if your rider would like to participate. You may pick up your new Uni-Sader parade jersey Friday afternoon at the Lower School or order it through our Spirit Shop. Thanks for the one-wheel love and enjoy life's ride!"
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Certamen Advance to Semifinals
Six St. Andrew's students, Bryce Deskins ('15), Katherine Salinas ('17), Walton Schmidt ('17), Janson Shrock ('17), Gavin Massengale ('17), and Will Nickerson ('18), traveled to Yale University for a Certamen tournament. Their Latin skills were put to the test by other teams from across the country, and ultimately they emerged with an invitation to the Advanced Semifinals. Thank you Upper School Latin teacher Jennie Luongo for sharing this exciting news.
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Jazz Band Plays Grant Concert with UT Professor
 
The Upper School Jazz Band recently had the chance to perform with Dr. John Mills, a music professor at the University of Texas-Austin. Dr. Mills worked with the students in a master-class format, and then performed with the ensemble at the Upper School Chapel on Nov. 17. The director of the Jazz Band, Dr. David Guidi, was awarded a grant from the Jazz Education Network and the Herb Alpert Foundation to bring in an accomplished musician to help mentor students and perform a concert. The Jazz Band student performers were:
Stuart Jones ('17) - Bass
Konstantin Nikolaidis ('16) - Piano
Ryan Loose ('18) - Drums
Natalie Ozor ('17) - Alto Saxophone
Selind Qiu ('18) - Alto Saxophone
Thank you Dr. David Guidi for sharing with us!
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Scott Politz ('15) Commits to Yale Baseball
In a special ceremony on Nov. 12, St. Andrew's senior Scott Politz committed to play baseball as a right-handed pitcher for Yale University. Scott is one of seven Yale baseball recruits and is among 56 Ivy League baseball recruits in the country this year. One of Yale's recruiting coaches notes that Scott is "one of the most highly touted Ivy League recruits in the 2015 class...[He] has the makings of a pro arm."
St. Andrew's Athletic Director Jeff McCrary says, "I am proud of Scott, and I'm happy to see all of his efforts pay off. It's always a great day for St. Andrew's and the athletic program when a student of ours gets this opportunity. The fact that it is at a place like Yale where Scott will continue to be a true student-athlete makes it all the better."
As a "lifer" at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Scott began playing baseball at a young age, first for Northwest Little League. He then played on St. Andrew's first Middle School baseball team, and went on to flourish at the Upper School level of competition. As a right-handed pitcher and infielder, Scott earned the team's MVP award and went SPC All-Conference his sophomore year. As team captain his junior year, Scott had a 1.67 ERA and went 7-2-1 (wins-losses-saves) with 65 strike-outs in 59 innings, again earning team MVP and SPC All-Conference. Now in his senior year as team captain, Scott has earned seven varsity letters (four baseball, three football) and maintained five years of competition for the summer select Austin Wings Black baseball club.
Scott's mother Suzy says, "We are thrilled for him. We know that this is a dream for him, and we know how hard he has worked for this opportunity. It is a real testament to the school. He has excelled at academics and athletics, and has many, many coaches and teachers and staff to thank."
Congratulations to Scott on this great achievement!
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Sweeney Todd Sets New Bar for Artists
St. Andrew's Upper School students pushed their creative and physical limits to deliver three stunning, sold-out performances of the musical Sweeney Todd at the Dell Fine Arts Center on Oct. 30, Nov. 1 and 2, 2014.
The story of a wronged barber seeking revenge in 19th
-century London came to life in the vocal stylings of the ensemble cast and the intricate set design, costumes, and special effects. Stephen Sondheim's challenging music and lyrics were successfully mastered by the cast of 23 to carry the audience through moments of darkness, humor, and beauty. The cast skulked through the theater, into aisles and balconies, while the technical crew executed set changes rapidly, maintaining a fluid narrative that kept audiences in suspense. The challenge of a Sondheim musical would be enough for most students, but the student crew had the additional challenge of designing and building the entire set from scratch. Click here to see more photos!
Reflecting on the journey, Director Rick Garcia says, "Sweeney Todd is the ideal model for the standards we strive for at St. Andrew's...When actors reported to the first rehearsal with several songs and lines already learned, I knew our young performers were as committed as the staff. "
The long nights of rehearsal paid off. Production Manager and St. Andrew's parent Peggy Keelan says, "This is perhaps the most professional and dramatic show in the history of the Dell Theatre." A St. Andrew's grandparent commented, "Believe it or not, our students and the overall production were comparable if not better than college students. I was blown away. My congratulations to all who produced this remarkable entertainment."
This show has been entered into the Greater Austin High School Musical Theater Awards contest to compete against other public and private high schools in the Austin area. The winners will be announced in April 2015. Congratulations to the cast and crew for a sensational production we won't soon forget!
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The SAS Alumni Holiday Party is being held at the home of Emily Klug Slaughter ('95) and Richard Slaughter ('91) on Saturday, Dec. 20. Please plan to join us for a festive evening including dinner, cocktails and special music by the St. Andrew's Select Choir! We hope to see you there! Alumni Holiday Party details will be posted here.
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Isabelle Kerr ('13) got a chance to compete with her UT-Austin Soccer team on their home field in their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2011. Their first-round game against Rice on Nov. 14 ended in a 3-0 victory. Texas will face No. 12 Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship on Friday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m. CT in College Station, Texas. Check out Isabelle's stats for this year here.
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Photo courtesy of Baeble Music: Catie Laffoon
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Max Frost ('09) is building a name for himself in music circles across the country. Blogger Aimee Curran of Baeble Music writes, "There's something special about Max Frost. The Austin native, who was named one of Rolling Stone and NPR's "10 Artists You Need to Know," just wrapped up a tour with Fitz and The Tantrums, and to celebrate, is premiering his new video for "Paranoia" on Baeble. The echoing rock song, with bouncy beats, tambourine, and stripped down drums, is set to a black and white thermal camera effect that is raucous, wild, and fresh. Frost is currently in the studio working on his forthcoming full length album, co-writing and producing all tracks (including "Paranoia") with music industry heavyweights, producers Benny Blanco (Maroon 5/Wiz Khalifa), Francois Tetaz (Gotye), Ant Whiting (John Newman) and Kid Harpoon (Jesse Ware, Florence and The Machine, Skrillex)." Read the article here.
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Linda Ryan (Middle School Class of '90) recently expressed her gratitude for her St. Andrew's education via a Facebook post. She wrote, "I am incredibly blessed to have attended this school myself. I often think back to those days, some were inspirational and wonderful (like field days and our eighth-grade trip to Big Bend) and some were difficult and sad (watching the Challenger explode in fourth grade). But those years and memories stack up as one of the best educations I can imagine having at a young age. The teachers at St. Andrew's encouraged excellence and expected it, they shared their life experience and passion for learning enthusiastically with the students every day, and never, ever settled for mediocrity."
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David Guidi Conducts Region Concert
Upper School Jazz Band Director Dr. David Guidi will serve as the director for the Texas Music Educators Association's Region 26 Honors Jazz Band. The concert features talented public school students that were selected through an intensive audition process, and will be held at East View High School in Georgetown on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 pm. The concert is free and open to the public.Program: Nostalgia in Times Square, Charles Mingus, arr. Sy Johnson Punch Too A Leap, David Guidi Summer Samba, Mark Taylor Stolen Moments, Oliver Nelson, arr. Paul Jennings Jazz Mind, David Guidi Watermelon Man, Herbie Hancock, arr. John Mills
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Lower School Art teacher Holly Melear will have her artwork on display at Upper Crust Bakery Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2015.
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Announcements & Reminders
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Parent Association Meeting Dec. 3
The next Parent Association (PA) meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 12:15 in the Upper School Library. A delicious lunch catered by Pluckers will be served. Please join us to hear about all of the events coming up in all Divisions in December and January. We will hear from Matt Lipstein, Director of Technology. We will also hear from the Head of the Upper School, Todd Stephenson. This is a great opportunity to find out what's going on at all campuses and what is in store for our students. And as a Bonus, at the end of the meeting, we will head down to the new Cru-Op (US Spirit Shop) and do some holiday shopping and enjoy some delicious, hot coffee. So please join us for our last meeting of 2014!
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Wondering What Your Parent Association Dues Cover?
The Parent Association (PA) has several sources of income - PA dues, Easy Money fundraisers, and Spirit Shop and concessions sales. PA dues underwrite a variety of school wide activities, including class and individual pictures, parent enrichment speakers and hospitality (i.e., food at back to school nights and conference days, faculty appreciation snacks and luncheons). We also support events specific to each division, such as classroom and grade level meals and parties, Project Graduation, Fall Fest and parent gatherings. In addition to funding all these activities, parent volunteers plan and staff them. We are always looking for help. Please contact us if you would like to get involved. The more the merrier!
Lydia Soldano (LS)
Edie Rogat (MS)
Tami Scott (US)
Parent Association Co-Presidents 2014-15
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AmazonSmile on Black Friday
Black Friday shopping is around the corner! Save time and earn money (0.5% of qualifying purchases) for St. Andrew's when you shop on Amazon via http://smile.amazon.com. All AmazonSmile benefits are the same as your Amazon account, including your login. That means if you have an Amazon Prime Membership, you'll receive free shipping. It's simple, saves you time and earns St. Andrew's money. That's a great combination!
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Spirit Shop Holiday Sales!    Upper School
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, immediately following the PA meeting, we will have a "Stuff Your Stocking" event starting at 1:30 in the The CRU-OP (Upper School Spirit Shop). Please come by to see what the new store offers and shop our latest merchandise. Don't miss our beautiful new steel keychains with the graduation year, our folding chairs, cool seafoam green spirit jerseys, and more! Or just stop by for a cup of coffee!
Lower & Middle School
Items on sale Thursday, Dec. 11, 2:00-4:00 pm. Come shop our latest merchandise! Another great "Stuff Your Stocking" event! We'll have new seafoam green spirit jerseys, our new Nike Dri-Fit jackets, hats, and polos, and much more!
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LS Stone Soup Performances Nov. 21 during Chapel
Thanksgiving Break Nov. 24-28
8th Grade NYC Field Trip Nov. 25-29
Parent Association Meeting Dec. 3, 12:15 at Upper School Library
Winter Formal Dec. 6
LS/MS/US Winter Choir Concert Dec. 8
Varsity Basketball v. St. Stephens Dec. 9
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