Girls Preparatory School Mock Trial Teams Win First and Third in State
3/31/21—Girls Preparatory School’s (GPS) Mock Trial program has experienced a year of firsts, including the most participants—enough for five full teams, which is more than 30 students—in the club’s nine-year history. This year was also the first for an all-virtual competition. 2021 also marks the first State championship for the school, with GPS team one placing first and team two earned a third-place finish.
The Tennessee High School Mock Trial Competition is organized, hosted, and judged by members of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. According to Stephanie Vonnahme, its Mentoring and Public Education Coordinator, until this year no school had placed both first and third at the state level. Yet another first in an historic year.
Reflecting on her four-year experience with the club, Reese M. ’21, president of GPS Mock Trial, said, “The biggest skills I’ve gained is being quick-witted and thinking on my feet. Mock Trial has helped me so much in participating in my classes at GPS—stating my opinions and standing up for myself. I also learned to take a huge chunk of information and decide what matters most to an argument.”
Webb Schools Announce Head of School Transition Plan
3/24/21—The Webb Schools announced Head of Schools Taylor Stockdale’s plans to retire in June 2023, transitioning to a role as Head Emeritus until 2027.
Stockdale will have served Webb for 35 years, including 13 years as Head of Schools. He is the sixth Head of Schools in Webb’s 99-year history.
“During Taylor Stockdale’s tenure at Webb, the school has flourished, becoming a thought leader among independent schools in academic, co-curricular, and student life programs,” stated Webb’s Board of Trustees Chair Sanjay Dholakia. “Our Alf Museum has soared to global repute, our campus footprint has doubled in size, and our faculty, staff, and senior leadership team are second to none.”
Stockdale will guide The Webb Schools through its upcoming Centennial Years celebration.
Holy Child Announces New Head of School
3/22/21—Holy Child’s Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Colleen R. Pettus to serve as Head of School, effective immediately. Pettus has been serving as the interim Head of School since last May with energy, professionalism, and a passionate commitment to the school.
When Pettus accepted the interim role, she faced challenges of remote learning; balancing the health and well-being of faculty, staff, and students; and calls for a more inclusive community. She has demonstrated remarkable leadership skills while handling these unique circumstances. Pettus also thoughtfully managed the reopening of school last fall, which allowed Holy Child to welcome students back to a vibrant campus.
Pettus has been an impactful presence at Holy Child since joining the community. After serving as Head of the Middle School at Holy Child for five years, Pettus became the Associate Head of School and Dean of Faculty in 2017 until being named interim Head of School. She is deeply committed to Holy Child and its mission.
McGehee Student Launches Mentorship Program
3/18/21—Louise S. McGehee School student Jordyn W. ’21 founded a program for BIPOC girls called Jumpers to Skirts designed for upper school students to mentor younger girls in the lower and middle schools. The initiative launched virtually with meetings tailored to getting to know the participants.
The lower school students during their first meeting played icebreaker games and listened to their upper school buddies read Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, a story about celebrating and appreciating the beauty of Asian shaped eyes. Wilson shared, “After reading the story, we opened up the floor to the girls to say one physical feature they love about themselves. One of the participants stated that ‘she loved her beautiful brown skin,’ which filled the whole room with so much joy and happiness.”
Jordyn and her mentor partners are looking forward to many more meetings and gatherings with their younger mentees.
Lake Washington Girls Middle School Announces New Head of School
3/15/21—Lake Washington Girls Middle School has announced Dr. Lauri Conner as the next Head of School, effective July 1, 2021.
For the past 20 years, Dr. Conner has served at Seattle Academy (SAAS) as an educator and administrator. Currently she is the Assistant Head of School for SAAS, but has also served as Head of Upper School, Dean of Students, Director of Diversity, and as a member of the faculty. Since 2015, Dr. Conner has also taught at Antioch University in both the bachelor’s and master’s programs with emphasis on diversity, power, and privilege as well as foundations of American education.
Dr. Conner shared, “For the entirety of my career, I have dedicated my practice towards equitable education. It is important to me that students have a space to be themselves—their whole selves—and that those who teach help them navigate the particulars of their worlds through relationship, education, and understanding.”
Anna Deavere Smith to Headline Western High School’s 175th Anniversary Gala
3/11/21—Award-winning actor, playwright, director, and scholar, Anna Deavere Smith will headline the 175th Anniversary “Shine a Light” Gala for Western High School. Smith is a Class of 1967 graduate of the historic school, which is the oldest girls’ public high school in the U.S.
Smith is a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and was presented the National Humanities Medal by President Obama. At the beginning of her career, Smith starred in a diverse range of roles on the stage, and she has appeared in several feature films, including Philadelphia, Dave, The American President, and Rent. She also has appeared in several television shows as well as authored books. She is the founder and director of the Institute of the Arts and Civic Dialogue at New York University.
A long-time supporter of her alma mater, clips of Smith’s work will be shown during Western’s Gala. In addition, Smith will engage with current Western students as a way of celebrating just how strong the school’s legacy is, which dates back to 1844. The anniversary celebration will uplift the spirit of equity and unity embodied by Western today and throughout its history.
Academy of Notre Dame de Namur Announces Next Head of School
3/9/21 —The Board of Trustees at the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur have unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Laura M. Hotchkiss as the next Head of School effective July 1, 2021.
Dr. Hotchkiss currently serves as the Associate Head of Academics and the Director of Upper School at Marlborough School in Los Angeles, California, a nationally recognized girls’ school. Serving for 20 years at Marlborough, Dr. Hotchkiss helped to guide the school through strategic planning; leadership transition; development of financial, operational, and academic plans; as well as fundraising efforts. A long-standing champion of girls’ education, she previously served on the Board of the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools.
“The first time I read the school’s core values, rooted in Catholicism and committed to the lives of young women and their development, I knew that our philosophies were closely aligned. During my visit to campus, I witnessed firsthand the students’ deep commitment to their classmates and to the world around them,” shared Dr. Hotchkiss.
Academy of Our Lady of Peace Student Advances to Poetry Competition State Finals
2/26/21—Kate L. ’21, a student at Academy of Our Lady of Peace, placed first in the countywide Poetry Out Loud competition and will represent San Diego at the upcoming state finals.
Kate advances to the virtual California Poetry Out Loud State Finals in March, with the winner moving on to represent California in nationals in Washington, D.C.
An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. California’s Poetry Out Loud is the largest event of its kind in the U.S., and has grown steadily since its inception.
Reflections From Student Leadership Conference 2021
Every year, NCGS has the pleasure of offering to students from member schools in their 11th or 12th grade year the opportunity to attend the Student Leadership Conference (SLC) organized by our strategic partner the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia.
Though this year’s SLC took place virtually, the lack of face-to-face interactions didn’t prevent the delegates from making cross-continental connections and finding key leadership takeaways, as evidenced by the thoughtful reflections of the six young women from Trinity Hall who attended the conference on behalf of the Coalition.
Student Delegate Reflections
I had such a wonderful experience at the Student Leadership Conference; the lessons that I learned from the various speakers and the connections I made with girls will stay with me for the rest of my life. One speaker that I found moving was Rachel Simmons; she spoke about the importance of taking risks while practicing self-compassion. Her down-to-earth way of delivering her message, combined with the strength of the message itself, made it one that I immediately incorporated into my daily life. I began with small risks, like speaking up more during the conference, but later moved onto more fulfilling chances in the real world, all while treating myself with the kindness I would use with a friend. Another experience that I brought with me into my day-to-day life was the compliment circle we did during our last meeting as a tribe. During this activity, one girl would go on mute with her camera on, while the other girls would turn their cameras off and go around complimenting the one girl. This activity was certainly a confidence booster that inspired me to treat myself with more self-compassion, but I also saw it as a testament to how close I had grown with the other girls, despite the physical distance that separated us. All of the compliments that I had received felt genuine and, likewise, there wasn’t a single girl to whom I felt I couldn’t give a meaningful compliment. This activity gave me the final boost of momentum to bring the lessons I had learned and the ideas I had created at this Student Leadership Conference back to my school. —Caroline
I am going to be completely honest—I was not expecting much from an online conference, but SLC took the virtual platform to a whole new level. Attending the Student Leadership Conference made me feel as though I was right there in Australia, surrounded by the girls on my screen. First of all, it was so interesting to connect with girls from all over the world, as I virtually met girls from Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and various parts of Asia. Having the opportunity to take a glimpse at what it’s like to be a student leader at girls’ schools across the globe was an invaluable experience; it was beautiful to see how comfortable everyone was in their own skin, and the instant connection between us girls made it seem as though we had all known each other for years. Believe it or not, I actually participated in the conference a synchronously, and I still felt included in the activities as well as a sense of camaraderie with the other girls online.
My favorite speaker of the conference was Rachel Simmons, who spoke to us as her friends of twenty-years, while still delivering an amazing message with hilarious anecdotes. Ms. Simmons taught us that the proper way to treat ourselves is as a friend: with care and compassion, as opposed to criticism and negativity. She highlighted the importance of embracing and recognizing our emotions, allowing ourselves to digest and sit with them before moving on to our next task. As student leaders, we have busy schedules, and it can be difficult to find time for ourselves, but by following Rachel’s advice and treating ourselves with kindness and respect, our mindset can evolve and our self-confidence can skyrocket.
While I head into the final months of my all-girls education, my leadership journey is far from over. I plan to implement the skills I have learned at SLC in my future endeavors and am so happy to have had this opportunity. Attending a girls’ school is truly a blessing—it was clear that the girls at SLC believed the same. —Charlotte
Attending the Student Leadership Conference was truly a delight! Due to the program’s usually taking place in Australia, far out of my usual means of reach, I was so excited to be able to attend its unique virtual setting this year. Though I did not engage in the Tribal Sessions, I still walked away from the conference feeling extremely inspired and motivated to continue to be a leader in my community. Speaker Rachel Simmons in particular truly shifted my way of thinking through advocating risk-taking, but at the same time, patience with one’s self. This philosophy is something I at first thought to be paradoxical, for how could one take risks and be patient at the same time? However, I soon found that Simmons was right. To take effective risks, one must first have the utmost faith and trust in their abilities, for lacking in that takes one nowhere. As a member of the Student Council, I plan to implement this ideology into my life by “taking risks”, or advocating new events and acting as a leader on my sub-council, while also being confident in my abilities. Freshman year, I was rather timid and soft-spoken, thus I doubted my abilities to become an outspoken leader in my community. However, as also addressed in the Conference, I have learned that building confidence and positive self-esteem can make all the difference. As a junior, I can now proudly say that I am ready to step up to the plate. In short, I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Student Leadership Conference, and I look forward to factoring in the lessons I learned into my leadership journey at Trinity Hall and beyond. —Faith
Attending SLC was an amazing and inspiring experience for me. It felt very uplifting to spend time talking with such passionate and driven girls. Everyone was so kind and I was so happy to hear everyone’s stories. All of the keynote speakers were very inspiring, but I think the person who had the most impact on me was Rachel Simmons. Her outlook on what it means to be kind to yourself and take risks is something that I will carry with me as I move through the rest of my high school career, college, and beyond. Rachel as well as the other speakers and girls in my tribe helped me to reflect on myself and my own leadership abilities, and how I can improve them to help the people around me. Hearing about the girls in my tribe who have accomplished such wonderful things really made me feel inspired to go for my own goals in a similar way. The girls at SLC are the type of people that I want to surround myself with, because I truly believe that one of the most inspiring things is women supporting other women. It would have been amazing to have been able to meet everyone in person, but I am grateful that SLC was online this year because without it, I most likely would not have been able to attend. I will carry the little lessons and pieces of advice that I gained at the conference with me and apply them to my own life as I go on to try to improve my leadership skills and inspire those around me the way the people at SLC inspired me. —Grace
Taking part in this virtual leadership conference may have been one of the best decisions of my year. At first, spending an extra 5 hours on zoom after a full day of school and homework did not sound very pleasing, but I am so grateful that I took advantage of this amazing opportunity. After just the first hour of the conference I knew I was going to have an incredible experience, and I ended up learning more in three days than I ever thought possible. Not only did I learn how to reach out and connect with others, but I also uncovered the aspects in my life that make me who I am today. From a leadership point of view, I learned how to get my ideas across, how to work collaboratively with a team, and the importance of listening to others.
From a more personal perspective, I learned not to deny my emotions, to practice gratitude daily, to take risks and fail, to step outside my comfort zone every so often, to have self compassion, and to use my character strengths to make maintainable goals. By listening to phenomenal keynote speakers and spending time with my family or tribe, I had the privilege of gaining all of these valuable lessons that I will carry out in my day to day life. As the sophomore class president I can use them in helping me become a better, more well rounded leader; and as a teenage girl I can use them to set me up for a successful future in years to come. —Holly
Participating in the Student Leadership Conference was an extremely valuable experience, and I am very pleased with my decision to attend. Although I am sure attending the conference in person would have created close bonds between the attendees and would have been a once-in-a-lifetime event, I likely would not have been able to travel to Australia since I live in the United States. Thus, the digital format presented a silver lining by allowing me to be involved in something that I might not have had the privilege to attend otherwise.
Even though I did not opt for the live version of the conference due to time differences and thus did not have my own tribe and family, I was still aware of the friendship and sense of community cultivated throughout the conference. Despite not being able to watch the speakers live, I still felt as though I was connected to them, as their lectures were very personable. It was evident that they cared deeply about spreading their advice and past experiences to the future generation of young women.
Ever since deciding to attend an all-girls school, I have been less hesitant to share my ideas in the classroom. This mindset has prevailed outside of my school’s walls, and the Student Leadership Conference has only furthered my confidence. I think that creating all-girls spaces, with the empowerment and education of women as top priorities, positively influences our behavior and confidence in the real world. By spending my teenage years in such a welcoming, empowering space that an all-girls school is, and by attending conferences that enhance the characteristics of my school, I feel more confident in my ability to voice my own opinions and stand up for what I believe in when I am older.
Overall, the Student Leadership Conference proved to be very worthwhile and has aided in the improvement of my self-confidence as a young woman. —Kira
Annie Wright Schools’ Representative Earns Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Lifetime Service Award
2/8/2021—Alicia Mathurin, Director of Community Engagement at Annie Wright Schools, received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Lifetime Service Award from Tacoma’s City Events and Recognitions Committee.
The selection committee noted that Alicia received this prestigious award by “honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy in two ways: Creating a space for people of color—specifically women—to gather and talk about racial issues and social justice; and also by being a co-founder of the Tacoma Community Market where vendors of color are showcased and can be celebrated. Those two contributions, as well as her leadership role at Annie Wright, means that she is a pillar of our community as well as a catalyst for new ways of teaching students about diversity.”
“This honor reflects Alicia’s caring, determined, and community-centered spirit,” said Jake Guadnola, Head of Annie Wright Schools. “She lifts people and voices both here at AWS and across Tacoma. We are incredibly proud of Alicia!”
Alicia was presented with the award by the City of Tacoma during a virtual celebration that highlighted the present and the future of Dr. King’s impacts on the community.
Branksome Hall Asia Named ISC Research International School of the Year for 2021
2/1/21—Branksome Hall Asia has been awarded the highest honor presented by the ISC Research International School Awards receiving the distinction of International School of the Year Award for 2021. Of the 12,080 international schools in the world, 264 were nominated from 62 countries for the honor. An international boarding and day school, Branksome Hall Asia is located on the island of Jeju, South Korea.
The judging panel of the International School Awards stated, “Branksome Hall Asia has demonstrated well-planned initiatives that have excellent intentions and truly impressive development which, as a result, are making a real impact for students and others.”
“It is an absolute honor to receive such a prestigious International Award,” said Branksome Hall Asia Principal Dr. Cindy Locke. “This achievement is a recognition of the hard work that our faculty and staff provide to offer an outstanding education and the commitment of our students. This significant landmark is also testament to all the dedication and support our parents have shown by trusting Branksome Hall Asia with their child’s education. We are truly living our values with a focus on student vigor, innovation, and inspiring our youth of today to shape a better world.”
The school prides itself on their students’ growth as globally minded learners and leaders prepared for the challenges and opportunities they will meet in a rapidly changing interdependent world.
Click here to watch the virtual awards ceremony.
GLOW Academy Students Write Letter to Vice President Harris
1/28/21—The inauguration of the first female Vice President of the United States solidified for G.L.O.W. Academy’s students their belief that when motivated by their sisterhood, girls can do anything.
“It shows that it can happen and if I keep going for it then I can do it,” said G.L.O.W. 9th Grader Jodie L. Furthering reflecting on the election of Vice President Kamala Harris, fellow student Marie C. in 10th Grade said, “Just knowing that she can do that, I can go into a field confidently being, ‘oh yeah, I can become the CEO of that.’”
Students like Jodie and Marie had a hand in writing a letter to Harris, asking her permission to add her to the “Wall of Fame” in their school’s cafe. The wall currently features faces of inspiring, trailblazing women like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Maya Angelou. “These are women that we can look up to confidently knowing that they had a goal, they reached it and if we have a goal, we can reach it too,” Marie shared. “There’s no one who can stop us, there’s no one who can undermine us because they did it even through all their struggles.”
G.L.O.W. Principal Laura Hunter acknowledges she knows Harris’ permission is not needed but seized this historic moment to give the girls an opportunity to tell Harris the impact she has had on them.
Jodie spoke for all G.L.O.W. students when she shared, “I hope this is a normal occurrence of women being presidents and vice presidents and it will eventually just be normal.”