State of the School Address; New PA Officers for 2014-2015

In her State of the School address to parents, Head of School Kathleen O’Neill Jamieson reported on progress toward key goals of NCS’s strategic plan.

 

The Schedule. Mrs. Jamieson announced that NCS and St. Albans have agreed on a new coordinate daily schedule, to begin in September 2014. “We are delighted to have arrived at a schedule that reflects our teachers’ best advice and the body of research that our 26-member scheduling committee reviewed as part of the process,” said Mrs. Jamieson, stating that the new 7th- 12th grade schedule provides the flexibility to innovate and addresses concerns regarding the pace of the day. Some highlights of the schedule, which will be published when all details are final:

 Class length will increase from 50 to 65 minutes in the Upper School; 60 minutes in Middle School.

The Lower School will now build upon the new template to refine the current LS schedule. Mrs. Jamieson thanked Associate Head and Head of the Upper School Sarah Pelmas for her leadership in creating the new schedule.

 

Admission. NCS is fully enrolled for 2014-2015, “with a healthy waiting list of interested students,” said Mrs. Jamieson. “Families continue to be drawn to NCS for its academic rigor, the reputation of our teachers, and the caliber of the student body,” she said, noting that efforts to expand the school’s reach have been successful. The number of students from DC has increased, 20% of new and turning students will receive financial aid, and 43% of new students are students of color. She also noted that attrition at NCS is in the 2-5% range, compared to a national independent school average of 10%.

College. Mrs. Jamieson reported that despite the single digit acceptance rates at many of the most competitive schools, NCS students earn acceptance to highly selective colleges at a higher rate than students from around the world. “College representatives credit the quality of our curriculum, the strength of the girls’ preparation, and the power of our reputation,” she said. She also noted that the number of NCS girls studying STEM disciplines at college has grown in the last decade.

 

Program Enhancements. Describing how both the strategic plan and recent accreditation process have spurred new initiatives, Mrs. Jamieson spoke about the expansion of NCS’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) offerings and the Center for Ethical Leadership.

 

STEM Coordinator Nancy Ehrlich is developing interdisciplinary engineering units by grade level in coordination with other teachers. A new robotics program has begun and increasing participation in science competitions is planned for next year. Ms. Ehrlich recruited alumnae engineers for a STEM mentoring program with students. There are also plans underway to create an engineering lab, a place where the girls can “get dirty and build their hovercrafts.”

 

The Center for Ethical Leadership & Service is a “collaboration of our leadership initiatives, service learning, and religious mission,” said Mrs. Jamieson. “It’s our training ground for young leaders.” She described multiple ways students are acquiring leadership skills, from meeting with government officials and journalists to their role in planning NCS’s Diversity Forum, partnering with Excel Academy in Anacostia, and fulfilling service projects in the Lower School

 

The Campaign.  After presenting plans for the new Procter Hall to Middle School girls as part of an Intersession architecture unit, Mrs. Jamieson said, “I can’t get this building done fast enough for them.” Noting the success of the three prior building renovations funded as part of the Educating Women for the World campaign (which also includes the Annual Fund and endowments for financial aid and faculty/staff compensation), she said that NCS would like to start Phase 1 of Procter Hall by spring 2015, which will require expedited pledges and an additional $1.1 million in new gifts. The full renovation of Procter Hall will cost $18.6 million; $8.9 million has been raised to date.

 

Governing Board Finance Chair Elise Rabekoff then presented a report on the 2014-2015 NCS budget. explaining how the school’s budget performance continues to meet the Governing Board’s goals of:

 

The meeting concluded with the approval of next year’s Parents Association officers. They are:

 

President: Tricia Karppi (Alexandra, grade 10; and Lawson, grade 7, STA)

Vice President for Upper School/Senior VP: Shu Buckley (Paige, grade 9, and Stephen, grade 7 at WIS)

Vice President for Middle School: Gay Truscott ’80 (Nina Miller, grade 7, and Emily Miller, grade 5)

 

Vice President for Lower School: Robin Moore (Lily, grade 5)

Co-Vice President for Community Service: Susan Parkinson (Cate, grade 5, and Lulu, pre-K at Beauvoir)

Co-Vice President for Community Service: Colette Coleman (Blake, grade 5)

 

Co-Vice President for Finance: Barbara L. Rollinson ’77 (Elizabeth Crowdus, grade 10; and William Crowdus, GDS, grade 11)

 

Co-Vice President for Finance: Art Hecker (Sophie, grade 9)

Vice President for Parent Education: Lisa Campbell (Christianne, grade 12; Colin, grade 9 at Bullis; and Chloe, grade 7)

 

Co-Vice President for Program Support: Cecilie Horvath (Sophie, grade 6; Emma, grade 4, and Violet, kindergarten at Beauvoir).

 

Co-Vice President for Program Support: Windsor Freemyer (Lily, grade 8; Lucy, grade 6; and Laingley, grade 2 at Key Elementary)