On May 25 and 26, seven Bears competed at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. The results are as follows:

• AA Boys 1600: Tristan Forsythe, Class of 2018, brought home the individual state title for the second consecutive year and Gordon Pollock, Class of 2018, earned a spot on the podium with a fifth place finish.
• AA Boys 4X800 Relay: WT's 4X800 Relay team – Jack Robinson, Class of 2019, Scott Routledge, Class of 2020, Gus Robinson, Class of 2021, and Sean Heintzleman, Class of 2020 – finished 24th.
• AA Boys 3200: Scott Routledge earned twelfth place and Patrick Malone, Class of 2021, came in twenty-second place.

Congratulations to all!

Gordon Pollock (second from left) and Tristan Forsythe (center) on the podium for the AA Boys 1600 meter run.

Each year, the diversity and depth of Upper School students' talents are recognized on Class Day.

On May 23, 2018, the following students were recognized:

Winchester Thurston Growth Award
Ayanna E. Townsend

Winchester Thurston City as Our Campus Award
The Go Green Team; Yijia Chen, Harrison D. Grodin, Lynne E. Irvin, Emma P. Francis

Winchester Thurston Equity and Inclusion Award
Brenda T. Hayes, GSSU Leader; Jonathan Hansen-Kemp, London Lining

Winchester Thurston Independent Thinking Award
Zihe Tian

Wadhwa Community Service Award
Lynne E. Irvin

Mimi Burke '73* Book Award
Sifan Tao

Zelda Wilmurt Drama Prize
Emily A. Bassett

Visual Arts Award
Isel L. Pollock

Student Ambassador Leaders Recognition
Julia A. Bulova, Christopher J. Uribe, Nadine H. Oury

Female Athlete of the Year Award
Gia L. Thorpe

Male Athlete of the Year Award
Jivak H. Nischal

Cassy Richards '01 Athlete of the Year Award
Tristan G. Forsythe, Ayanna E. Townsend

Patricia Schuerger Mathematics Award
Lynne E. Irvin

Virginia Ann Sheppard '41 History Prize
Isibéal E. McGough, Ayanna E. Townsend

The Pursuit of Science
Lynne E. Irvin

Award for Ingenuity in Technology, Research, and Design
Jonathan Hansen-Kemp, London Lining, Ashley S. Rayzer, Ayanna E. Townsend

Computer Science Award
Harrison D. Grodin

Nathan Hurrell '14* Performing Arts Service Award
Max F. Lasky

Technical Theater Award
Sophia M. Lebiere

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award
Donovan W. H. Moore, Cameron J. Johnson

National School Orchestra Award
Reilly C. Jackman, Charles E. Burton

Joe Negri Guitar Ensemble Award
Mason H. Miller, Griffin T. Gordon

National School Choral Award
Christina Vlachos, M. Romon Washington

Jeanne-Anna Widgery '37* English Award
Madeline P. Glackin

Lida B. Johnston Excellence in Latin Award
Ashanti S. Grisham

Excellence in French Award
Katharine S. Chaillet

Excellence in Chinese Award
Timothy J. Ganger

Excellence in Spanish Award
Anisa Callis, Mikayla S. Leimer

Genevieve Yagodkin Foreign Language Award
Griffin T. Gordon

In addition to student recognition, this year Director of Upper School Kristen Klein received a certificate for her 14 years of service at WT.

*deceased

On June 4, Dionne Brelsford, Director of Programs and WT Parent and Alumnae/i Parent, was named the inaugural recipient of the Maura Farrell Award for Ingenuity. Head of School Gary J. Niels presented the award to Brelsford, surrounded by faculty, staff, administration, Board President Jennifer Gonzalez McComb '89, and parent volunteers, at the Parents Association Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon.

The Maura Farrell Award for Ingenuity was established on May 29, 2018 by Gary Niels and the Board of Trustees in recognition of and appreciation for Associate Head for Strategic and External Affairs Maura Farrell's sixteen years of exemplary service. Farrell, who began working at WT in 2002 as the Director of Communications, is known for her diligence, commitment, thoroughness, and grit. Driven by her desire to create, innovate, learn, and inspire, Farrell led the school through two multi-million dollar capital campaigns and the evolution of the school's reputation and brand.

"There could be no more fitting inaugural recipient of the Maura Farrell Award for Ingenuity than Dionne Brelsford, who personifies creativity, resourcefulness, and possibility," declared Niels.

(L-R): Dionne Brelsford, Gary J. Niels, and Maura Farrell.

Brelsford, who has been an administrator since 2006, tirelessly served Winchester Thurston School first as Director of Annual Giving and then as Director of Programs, creating and carrying forward a vision of being a "home away from home" for students, parents, alumnae/i, and the community. She is known for her warm energy, bright smile, and caring ways that draw in everyone she meets, and for being a "master of connection." She connects ideas, connects people, and connects WT to the community.

"Dionne's rare combination of strategic vision, agile execution, kindness, enthusiasm for all things WT, and tenacious appetite for more are the embodiment of the Maura Farrell Award for Ingenuity," concluded Niels.

Each year, Winchester Thurston School teachers are recognized for teaching excellence. Congratulations to Mimi Cooper, North Hills Campus first grade teacher, the 2018 recipient of the Judy Apt Nathenson Memorial Chair for Excellence in Elementary Education and Adam Brownold, Middle School history teacher and coach, the 2018 recipient of the Jane L. Scarborough Award for Teaching Excellence.

Judy Apt Nathenson Memorial Chair for Excellence in Elementary Education: Mimi Cooper

Director of North Hills Campus Heather Capezzuti and the 2016 recipient of the Nathenson Award, WT Visual Arts Department Chair and North Hills Campus art teacher Sally Allan, presented the award to Cooper at the 2018 North Hills Campus Moving Up Ceremony.

Cooper, who has been teaching at WT for 18 years, is known for her humble presence, collaborative style, and for weaving her own creativity and imagination into her lessons. "Mimi is ... one of those unique individuals who inspires all who have the privilege to know her," shared Allan.

Cooper understands the value of a strong and vibrant school community – as a North Hills Campus faculty member, Zimi class instructor for parents and faculty, and WT parent. She is viewed as a guiding and reassuring presence for first grade parents and students, and sought after for her expertise in helping students learn to read.

"In the true spirit of Judy Apt Nathenson, Mimi enriches our community with her supportive, can-do spirit; always lending a hand to someone in need. She embodies WT's credo, 'Think Also of the Comfort and the Rights of Others,' leading her students, colleagues, family, and friends by example in all that she does," concluded Allan.

Judy Apt Nathenson Memorial Chair for Excellence in Elementary Education was established in memory of Judy Apt Nathenson, a 1969 graduate of Winchester Thurston School and Kindergarten teacher who sadly passed away in 2000. Judy vigorously championed the importance of early childhood education at Winchester Thurston School and throughout the Pittsburgh community.

(L-R): Capezzuti, Niels, and Brownold at the presentation of the Jane L. Scarborough Award for Teaching Excellence.

Jane L. Scarborough Award for Teaching Excellence: Adam Brownold

Head of School Gary J. Niels and the 2017 recipient of the Scarborough Award, Capezzuti, presented the award to Brownold at the 2018 Commencement ceremony. Brownold was chosen by a committee comprised of faculty members, students, and two members of the Board of Trustees who received nomination letters from his colleagues, current and former students, and advisees.

Brownold, a WT teacher since 2002, is a highly respected Middle School history teacher, advisor, coach, mentor, and WT parent. He is known for diving head first into City as Our Campus experiences and supporting cross-divisional lessons with Upper School faculty. "In his student's words, 'He is kind funny, respectful, entertaining, and he makes learning really fun,'" shared Capezzuti.

Brownold is also celebrated for his contributions to the WT community beyond the classroom. In addition to supervising the Middle School Student Council and assisting the Admission team with visiting students, he also organizes and chaperones trips to Israel through City as Our Campus partner Classrooms Without Borders and teaches the importance of service through volunteer work. As a coach, he instills values in his players and ensures that they are "excellent stewards" for WT.

"'Adam Brownold lives the WT Mission to engage and challenge each student, [to] inspire them to achieve, and to build the character of service.' In the words of a former student, 'He has become someone I look up to and go to when I need help with anything in life,' " concluded Capezzuti

Congratulations to Dr. Joshua Andy, Upper School history teacher, who is the 2017-2018 recipient of the Mary Houston Griffin Award for Teaching Excellence. Andy received this award for his proposal to create a technologically advanced classroom that will promote global engagement at Winchester Thurston School. This globally oriented learning space will facilitate collaborative discussions among students and teachers, and will give students valuable access to critical global issues and events. Andy previously earned this award in 2014, through which he organized a cultural immersion experience in Amman, Jordan.

Andy's proposal focuses on the significance of global perspective in the classroom, and emphasizes how working in a global context enriches students' learning experiences. "By supporting global citizenship through technology and pedagogical innovations, WT will enable our students to interact with the wider world from within our own classrooms," noted Andy.

The classroom will feature Logitech group videoconferencing technology that cultivates globally integrated learning by stimulating communication with experts around the world. The Promethean ActivPanel, which shares multiple screens simultaneously, will facilitate the videoconferencing technology and allow students to view footage from live web cams in historical sites around the world. The ActivPanel enables lessons to be recorded and viewed again later. This technology will bring international affairs to the forefront of class discussions and eliminate boundaries that limit education in the classroom.

Andy is already planning to incorporate these technologies into his curriculum and lesson plans for the upcoming school year, and he is hopeful that this classroom will be an asset to the wider WT community.

Winchester Thurston School announces a new name for its location on Middle Road in Hampton Township. Previously "North Hills Campus at WT," the campus will now be called "Winchester Thurston School, North Campus."

The change was developed after conducting in-depth qualitative and quantitative research with both current and prospective families. The research shows that the new name more appropriately describes the broad geographic reach of the Pre-K – grade 5 campus, making it more reflective of the school's population.

And, by spelling out Winchester Thurston School, the name more immediately reflects the dual experience with the school's City Campus in Shadyside. Lower School students at the City Campus regularly experience a deep application in outdoor learning on the North Campus's seven rolling acres, and students at the North Campus join their City Campus friends in unique educational opportunities with leaders from the academic, cultural, scientific, and business communities in Pittsburgh through City as Our Campus.

New logo treatments for the campus which reflect that the two campuses are parts of the same whole were unveiled this week.

Congratulations to junior Scott Routledge who took first place in the Boys A/AA race at the Marty Uher Invitational on Saturday. The Upper School Boys Cross Country team finished second overall, with two other Bears, Sean Heintzleman, Class of 2020, and Gus Robinson, Class of 2021, also finishing in the top 10.

Katharine Chaillet, Class of 2019, led the Girls Cross Country team with a seventh place finish in the Girls A/AA race.

This past summer, Jacob Dubner '17 and Jack Waters '17 had the opportunity to implement their WT Research Science project in Uganda with the help of Omni Med, a non-profit that trains Village Health Teams to bring preventative health measures to local villagers, and MakerGear 3D printing.

The ORTube is a 3D-printed tool designed to help people accurately, easily, and inexpensively prepare and administer oral rehydration solution—consisting of salt, sugar, and clean water—in combination with a one-liter soda bottle.

In the summer of 2017, Omni Med ordered a small number of ORTubes – which Dubner and Waters produced through MakerGear 3D printing – and field tested the product in Uganda. Dubner and Waters used the results from the field testing to adjust their design, and subsequently traveled back to Uganda with Omni Med with their newest version of the ORTube this past summer. While there, they trained the Village Health Teams using ORTubes and collected data.

Dubner and Waters are currently working on a scientific paper and seeking funding to manufacture ORTubes on a larger scale.

Learn more about their research science project.

Jacob Dubner is currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania, and Jack Waters attends Brown University.

Ninth grade student Jackson Zemek is one of the Top 300 MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering Rising Stars) from more than 2,500 entries in the Broadcom MASTERS national middle school science competition. The 2,500 entries represent the top 10% of projects at local science fairs. Jackson earned this achievement with his 2017-2018 Middle School science project, "Harvester Robot."

As a semifinalist, Jackson will receive a one-year subscription to Science News magazine, and one-year subscription to Wolfram Mathematica software.

Founded and produced by the Society for Science & the Public, Broadcom MASTERS is the premier STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) competition for middle school students.

Congratulations, Jackson!

Winchester Thurston School is proud to announce students who have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) for their performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) their junior year.

The following students were honored as semi-finalists:

Isaac Berman
Evanna Jin
Nadine Oury
Kevin Salipante

More than 1.6 million juniors in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2017 PSAT/MNSQT. The 16,000 Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.

These academically talented students have an opportunity to continue in the competition for one of three types of National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million: the National Merit $2,500 Scholarship (2,500 scholarships awarded as a single payment); corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship (approximately 1,000 awards of varying amounts); college-sponsored Merit Scholarships (approximately 4,000 awards of varying amounts) for finalists who will attend the sponsor institution). Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

The following students were commended for excellent academic promise:

Gabriel Batista
Katharine Chaillet
Yuelong Li
Sena Noaman

Approximately 34,000 commended students through the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. These students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2019 competition by taking the 2017 PSAT/MNSQT.

Congratulations to all!

Over the course of several days this week, Winchester Thurston School formally welcomed Dr. Scott D. Fech as its 19^th Head of School.

Earlier this week, students in each division and at each campus welcomed Dr. Fech with performances, presentations, and a multitude of questions. And, each division presented Dr. Fech and his family with a welcome basket that included some of students' favorite things about WT and about Pittsburgh.

Today, the entire WT community came together for the formal Installation Ceremony. Opening with a bagpipe fanfare in celebration of the Scottish heritage of Miss Mitchell, WT's founder, the ceremony included remarks from alumnae, trustees, student leaders, and Dr. David Magill, Director Emeritus, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.

The WT Upper School Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Chorus performed "We Are Living History," an original piece written by Performing Arts teacher John Maione, updated for this occasion to honor WT's past, present, and future.

Join us in cheering on the Bears this week as playoffs begin for Boys Soccer, Field Hockey and the Boys and Girls Cross Country teams!

Tonight, Boys Soccer will take on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Deer Lakes at 6:00 p.m. in the first round of WPIAL Boys Soccer playoffs. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Adult tickets are $7, and student tickets are $5.

On Wednesday, October 24, Field Hockey will take on Shady Side Academy at Shady Side Academy at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of WPIAL Field Hockey playoffs. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Adult tickets are $8, and student tickets are $5.

On Thursday, October 25, Boys and Girls Cross Country will compete in the WPIAL Championships at California University at 12:45 p.m. Take a look at this article about the team from the Post-Gazette!

For the full Athletics schedule, visit winchesterthurston.org/athletics.

"A Celebration of City as Our Campus" is now installed in the main hallway of Molloy Posner Hall. Originally announced by the Board of Trustees in May, the installation showcases the history, projects, and impact of real-world learning at WT, and thanks former Head of school Gary J. Niels for his 16 years of service.

The best part about the installation? A team of Upper School students created software in their Algorithm Design Class for the 70" display screen, the heart of the installation. Members of the Class of 2019, Daniela Schafer, Jiaping Li, and Yuelong Li, and Sophia Lebiere '18, met with school administrators to design and develop the easy-to-use display that reveals photos and stories about City as Our Campus.

Display boxes holding artifacts of student work developed through City as Our Campus experiences, including a 3D-printed prosthetic leg, student publications, and first grade urban architecture projects, flank the screen.

The project debuted at the 2018 STEM Symposium as "BundleBee" – named for the "bundles of images" comprising the display's data structure.

Daniela Schafer, Class of 2019, presents "BundleBee" at the 2018 STEM Symposium.

Following are excerpts from a message sent to the WT Community today from Head of School Dr. Scott D. Fech.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" - Fred Rogers

Once again our hearts are heavy with a senseless tragedy that has claimed so many innocent lives. Rest assured that our efforts, first and foremost, are focused on the safety of our children – both physically and emotionally.

As the details of this tragedy continue to unfold, our Leadership Team has put together a plan for support and guidance for our entire community. Monday morning, before the start of school, our Division Directors will meet with their faculties and ensure that all teachers are prepared to provide age-appropriate support for our students.

The school day will begin with each Division holding morning meetings in their usual format with our. This will provide students the opportunity to discuss their feelings, concerns, or fears in a comfortable, familiar environment.

Students will also have access to counseling services. Teachers will be keeping a vigilant eye on students and will encourage any student to seek this extra assistance as needed.

Your children may be asking you questions as well. If you are looking for ways to address these concerns, don't hesitate to reach out to any of us here at WT. The bottom line is that children need to feel safe. The following resources can help guide your discussion:

• School Crisis Center: Talking to children about terrorist attacks and school and community shootings in the news
• PBS Parents: How to help kids feel safe after tragedy
• Anti-Defamation League: Table talk: Gun violence and mass shootings
• National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to children about violence

Another outlet that may provide comfort to you and your family is the Interfaith Vigil sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, taking place this evening at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Oakland at 5:00 p.m.

In an email I sent to employees earlier today, I noted, "The true strength of a community is measured in moments like this. Our deep relationships and genuine care for one another will carry us through this tragedy. We are the helpers that Fred Rogers mentions. And I am so grateful to be surrounded by so many wonderful ones who make this community so special."

Be good to yourself. Be good to one another.

Best,

Scott

Scott D. Fech
Head of School

A team of City Campus fifth graders – Julia Monaco, Vincent Loh, Neeta Yechoor, and Benjamin Nicholson – earned a third-place finish at the Fifth and Sixth Grade II-VI Foundation CalcuSolve, a competition that tests students' problem-solving skills related to mathematics, hosted by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit. Eleven WT students participated in the competition, and they were among 400 students who competed from schools throughout Allegheny County.

Congratulations to the following Class of 2026 participants:

Julie Aneja
Sol Bunimovich
Evan Burns
Eloise Johnson
Rohan Khera
John Koeppl
Vincent Loh
Julia Monaco
Benjamin Nicholson
Abby Weinstein
Neeta Yechoor

Zoé Soteres, Class of 2020, has been named as one of twelve Junior Women of Achievement for her fundraising efforts for music education. She will be honored as part of the first annual Junior Achievement Awards Luncheon, hosted by Cribs for Kids.

Inspired by the first Junior Woman of Achievement, Emma LeFebvre, a local 11-year-old artist and philanthropist who hosted an art show to help families in need, the Junior Women of Achievement Awards will recognize and honor young women for their outstanding achievements in academics, service, and leadership at the awards ceremony on Sunday, November 18, from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the Omni William Penn Hotel.

As part of her fundraising efforts, Zoé will host a concert at WT showcasing the talents of WT Faculty and students in grades 9 – 12 in a variety of performances on December 13 at 6:30 p.m. Admission will be $5, and the concert will benefit Hope Academy through Chamber Music Pittsburgh.

Congratulations, Zoé!

Come One, Come All, to the Greatest Benefit on Earth!

Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
PointView Hall at the Carnegie Science Center

The WT Parents Association Benefit is held every other year with the intent to build and strengthen the WT community while raising vital resources for the 33% of our student body who receives need-based financial aid.

This year, our goal is to gross $105,000 for the 2018-2019 Scholarship Fund with an auction and a fun-filled evening at the PointView Hall at the Carnegie Science Center. Join the fun today! Don't forget, tickets are discounted now through February 15, so no clowning around, buy your tickets today.

Have a great idea or item for the Auction?

Interested in a Corporate Sponsorship? Learn more about the perks of sponsorship! Contact Monica Manes Gay or by phone at 412-578-3746

Get tickets and donate

Head of School Dr. Scott D. Fech celebrated the first installation of rotating student artwork in his office. Student artists, their parents, and Visual Arts teachers were invited to admire and discuss the artwork with Dr. Fech at a reception on January 23. The four works, representing each division and both campuses, will remain on view throughout this trimester:

PNC Park
Samuel Hammons, fourth grade
City Campus

Picasso Mixed-Up Face
Kate Rizk, Kindergarten
North Campus

Stippled Eyes
Eighth Grade Art Students:
Iain Engle-Roe
Greer Engle-Roe
Thomas Harrison
Jocelyn Hayes

Two Middle School Students and eight Upper School students received 21 awards, including five silver keys and one gold key, across seven different categories in the 2019 Pittsburgh Regional Scholastic Writing Awards.

Congratulations to the following awardees:

Class of 2024
Ella Thomas, Honorable Mention in Short Story for "Catching Peace"

Class of 2023
Daniel Kochupura, Honorable Mention in Science Fiction/Fantasy for "Only an Animal"

Class of 2021
Elizabeth 'Elie' Stenson, Honorable Mention in Short Story for "Hues"

Class of 2020
Margaret Balich, Silver Keys in Poetry for "Love Poems for the Past & Present" and for "Pay Attention," an Honorable Mention in Poetry for "Odds and Ends," and Honorable Mentions in Personal Essay for "AQUARIUS" and for "A Meditation on Divorce"

Esmeralda 'Esme' Bessor-Foreman, Silver Key in Humor for "King Engages in Intellectual Fisticuffs with Birmingham Foe"

Aria Eppinger, Honorable Mention in Personal Essay for "Hair's Why I'm Satisfied"

Zoe Soteres, Honorable Mention in Dramatic Script for "Welcome Home," two Honorable Mentions in Personal Essay for "Orange Popsicle" and for "Living Life a Block from the Tree of Life," and an Honorable Mention in Poetry for "sometime wen"

Nicole Shigiltchoff, Honorable Mention in Short Story for "Milo and the Graveyard"

Class of 2019
Evanna 'Evie' Jin, Gold Key in Short Story for "After The Show," Silver Keys in Short Story for "The Things We Reach For" and for "If We Have To Fall," and an Honorable Mention in Short Story for "Drowning Together"

Meredith Warden, Honorable Mentions in Critical Essay for "The Detriments of Duty: A Psychological Study of Remains of the Day" and for "Politics Made Personal: A Response to a Divided Congress"

Winners will be honored at the Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium on the University of Pittsburgh Campus.

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized the vision, ingenuity, and talent of our nation's youth, and provided opportunities for creative teens to be celebrated.

The Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, is a non-profit, teacher-centered, professional development program serving area schools and students since 1982, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education, a long-standing affiliate of the National Writing Project, and host for the Pittsburgh Region of the Scholastic Writing Awards.