On Friday, May 25, the entire school took part in the annual Spring Music Program . This year's program celebrated Broadway hits. The show began with our very talented orchestra, who as reported last week, was recently recognized in the Festival of Music at Kings Dominion, where they were named the Grand Champion. A wonderful surprise for the audience was when the orchestra was joined by the group, "Mariachi Los Amigos." We were honored to have Dr. Daniel Sheehy, his son, Mr. Daniel Sheehy, and Mr. Benito San Miguel accompany the orchestra. If you'd like to see them live, our orchestra director, Ms. Crespo, will be joining the "Mariachi Los Amigos" for a performance at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center on July 28. Please click here to learn a little more about Dr. Sheehy.

Each of the grades performed two Broadway hits, including selections from classic shows, such as Annie and Sound of Music and more modern productions, such as Hamilton . The Junior Chorus and Gryphon Chorale finished up the morning with their enthusiastic numbers. Kudos to Mr. Roebuck and Ms. Crespo for preparing the children for this wonderful performance! Please click on the video above for a montage of the show. Visit our facebook page for more additional footage.

Once again, the Dimes-for-Drama Program was a big success this year! In fact, this year's yield far exceeded the goal of $6,000.00, raising the most money since the 2008-2009 school year! The grand total raised by Dimes-for-Drama was a whopping $7,692.56! WOW!

The average participation across the three collections during the year was 98%. Grades with 100% participation for all three collections were thanked by the WPC Pizza Monkey, who brought trail-mix pizza to the students. Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 earned this treat.

First grade was recognized for highest per capita with $65.40 per student for the year. Third grade came in second place with $56.81 per capita. Each grade was treated by the WPC with popsicles at their Pizza Monkey parties.

Fifth grade was recognized for highest total contribution of $1,383.99 for the year. They were thanked by the WPC with a special event during recess. The students went on a scavenger hunt for eggs that had puzzle pieces in them. The students then had to put the puzzle together. Even though it was raining and the event had to be held inside, they had a ball!

A huge thank-you to all of the students who showed their love of and appreciation for the Westminster drama department by donating their loose change. Also, the entire school is very grateful to Mrs. Lees, who served as the Dimes-for-Drama Coordinator this year. She did a fantastic job organizing the assemblies, counting all those coins, and most importantly, creating a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. Thank you, Mrs. Lees!

This week, we introduce a familiar face to many of our current Westminster families, Dr. Rohit Setty. Since Dr. Setty has a daughter in the 8th grade at Westminster and since he has been a regular in the WPC plays over the last several years, many current parents may recognize him. However, what you may not know is that Dr. Setty is a Westminster graduate of the Class of 1990.

After Westminster, Rohit attended Paul VI and then earned his bachelor's degree in Education from James Madison University. He then earned a Masters in South Asian Studies from University of Michigan, and just a few years ago, a PhD in Teacher Education, also from University of Michigan.

There is no greater endorsement of a Westminster education than when a graduate decides to enroll his child in the school. Such was the case with Dr. Setty a few years ago, when he brought his daughter, Shalini, to join the Class of 2018. Shalini will be graduating next Thursday and it has been an absolute pleasure watching her flourish at Westminster School. Since returning to Westminster, Rohit has become an active Westminster volunteer, especially as a member of the WPC Players. He has appeared in the WPC shows over the last several years, proving that he has not lost his stage presence. Most recently, he played the role of "Smee" in Hook. Shalini was also in the show; and it was great fun watching them interact on stage.

Dr. Setty had this to say about his Westminster education:

"Westminster has been a fundamental piece of my professional and personal trajectory. I knew that I wanted to become a teacher since sixth grade, and to this day, I remain heavily involved in the field of education and training teachers. The classical education and diversity in Westminster was key in forming my interest in other cultures and languages.

One of my best memories in college and positive experiences was the time I spent in Italy, which was a direct result of my exposure to Westminster classical education and knowledge of the Greek, Roman, and Renaissance eras. The emphasis on manners and politeness and the spirit of giving back, is what has influenced so much of who I am today, and having a child in the school has made it possible to combine our experiences."

His message to current students:

"Westminster provides you with many opportunities and a fundamental set of guidelines in your life and teaches you western world values. It is your job to understand, define and even challenge yourself to create a set of values to help you connect with others."

His message to future parents:

"When people are looking for a school that best fits their child, they must realize no single environment is fitting for all. You must read about and look for a school that is the right fit for your child. If the school philosophy does not match your personal approach and life, the kids will be bouncing between different rules and become confused. Coherence and continuity will help strengthen the children. Westminster’s diversity and different cultures serve as a compass of social growth for your children."

It has been a pleasure reconnecting with the Setty family. We look forward to launching Shalini out into the big world as another beautiful Westminster graduate and appreciate all that Dr. Setty does to help promote Westminster.

Thank you to Mrs. Moghaddam for conducting this interview with Dr. Setty.

In this opinion piece from the New York Times, concern is raised over the idea that college majors in the liberal arts are no longer valued.