The Lab School of Washington 2013-2014 Annual Report

t h e l a b s c h o o l

o f w a s h i n g t o n

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a n n u a l r e p o r t

building on our foundation

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“My son had transitioned to Lab after

many years in the public school system. I

picked him up one day and casually said,

‘How was your day?’ He said, ‘Great,

Mom! Every day is a great day now that

I go to The Lab School.’”

–lab school parent

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t h e l a b s c h o o l | A n n u a l R e p o r t | 2013— 20142

The Lab School of Washington is different from other schools — in extraordinary ways. Our students are bright, creative, and engaged. They also learn differently in ways that The Lab School understands, supports, and celebrates.

We recognize our students’ exceptional talents, capitalize on their strengths, and show them how their non-traditional approach to problem-solving and achievement is uniquely suited to 21st-century success. Our innovative, arts-based curriculum has continually placed Lab at the forefront of learning differences education.

Founded in 1967 by Sally L. Smith, The Lab School is recognized worldwide as the leader in our field, backed by groundbreaking research and professional resources that help our students reach their highest aspirations. For students with learning differences,

including dyslexia, ADHD, and related language-based learning difficulties, Lab transforms lives.

The donor lists included in this Annual Report were compiled by the Institutional Advancement Office of The Lab School of Washington. We have made every effort to prepare this report accurately. However, despite our best efforts, errors and omissions do occasionally occur.

If you made a contribution between August 1, 2013 and July 31, 2014 and your name was omitted, please accept our sincere apologies. To advise us of an error, please contact the Institutional Advancement Office at 202.944.2201 or email [email protected].

The Difference Is Extraordinary!

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Annual Report2013—2014

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As chair of the Board of The Lab School of Washington, I am delighted to present the 2013-2014 Annual Report. What a year of dreaming and planning it has been. We are certainly building on our foundation so that current students and future students — and of course our staff of incredible educators and administrators — have all they need to make success a given.

We could not do all that we do without the incredible commitment of our Board of Trustees as stewards of this inspired school. Our donors, parents, faculty, staff, and students rely upon the Board to be vigilant guardians of the school’s financial health.

There is so much I could write about here, but I have chosen to focus on a group — a big, tireless, wonderful, indispensable group. A group that we could not do without. Our volunteers. Volunteerism can sometimes seem like a thankless job, but I am here to say that without every single one of you, Lab would not be the school it is today, nor the school it will continue to grow to

be. All you have to do is look into the face of even one Lab School student and you will know that every volunteer hour, every volunteer minute is absolutely worthwhile and appreciated.

The Board’s work has been carried forth in a number of volunteer committees. There are the volunteers who have led the 2013-2014 Annual Fund to a whopping $556,443; the volunteers who led the Gala, raising a remarkable $868,131, and the volunteers who are intently focusing on the Capital Campaign, which by early November 2014 has raised $6.5 million.

I am humbled every day by the diligence, devotion, and generosity of our inspired and thoughtful Head of School Katherine Schantz, our faculty and staff, our parents and children, and all of our loyal donors, friends, and volunteers. I cannot thank you enough.

My best to you,

Mimi DawsonChair, Board of Trustees

From Our Board Chair

In March 2014, Baltimore Lab School became independent from The Lab School of Washington. After several years of analysis, The Lab School Board concluded that each school would be better positioned to execute its respective missions as separate institutions. The separation has increased Baltimore Lab School’s access to local Baltimore philanthropy, and has allowed The Lab School of Washington leadership to focus on the exciting new endeavors of both Washington campuses.

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2013-2014 FINANCIAL SUMMARY (DC)

income Tuition and Fees $17,487,925Contributions $1,463,986Other $643,628

Total DC Operating Income $19,595,539 expense

Instructional $13,143,289Administrative $3,480,321 Plant and Facilities $2,955,673 Total DC Operating Expense $19,579,282

Surplus $16,257

Front row: Feinberg, Schantz, Soto, Denckla; Back Row: Thompson, Tenhula, Wiley, Fulton, Dawson, Hutton, Bernstein, Klausner, Jonas; Not pictured: Camalier, Cullen, Drury, Fisher Gambal, Malchow, Tennis, Tongour

The Lab School of Washington Board of Trustees 2013-2014

Executive Committee

Mimi Dawson, Chair

Mac Bernstein, Vice Chair

Kate Fulton, Vice Chair

Mike Tongour, Secretary

Bill Tennis, Treasurer and Co-Chair, Facilities Stewardship Committee Bruce Drury, Chair, Audit Committee

Hal Malchow, Chair, Communications and Advancement Committee

Susan Hutton, Chair, Development Committee

Davis Camalier, Co-Chair, Facilities Stewardship Committee Cal Klausner, Chair, Finance Committee

John Jonas, Chair Governance Committee

Katherine Schantz, ex officio

Members

Neil Cullen

Martha Bridge Denckla, MD

Sheila Feinberg

Linda Fisher

Leah Gambal

Lori Soto

Kathy Tenhula

H. Brian Thompson

Richard Wiley

Honorary Trustees

John Clifford

Allyn Kilsheimer

Connie Richards

Smith Family Representative

Randall Smith

Parents Association Representatives (PALS)

Julie Butler

Sara Savitt

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Musings from Katherine Schantz

When I sit back and think about the past year, it comes to me in a series of images that resonate deeply with my belief in the importance of The Lab School experience for students, faculty, parents, and the educational community at large. Lab is engaged in a period of expansion — of our professional development and methods, our role in educational reform, and our facilities; we are building on our foundation.

We are incredibly fortunate to be working directly with three researchers in the field of learning differences: Dr. Martha Denckla, MD, neurologist at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Guinevere Eden, DPhil, at Georgetown University, and Dr. Lauren McGrath, PhD, at American University. We are not only studying their findings, but also groups of us are meeting with them to consider research at Lab that could bridge the gap between ideas and practice.

In our Elementary division, we are teaching “mindfulness,” an example of taking research directly to the classroom. In their sessions, I can see our students paying careful attention

to their surroundings, and through exercises focusing on attentive listening, emotional and body awareness, and mindful breathing. They are actively developing lifelong habits to help recognize feelings, act decisively, and gain confidence.

Shaun Miskell, head of Performing Arts, has been able to take what he has learned through his own professional development to heighten and expand his program in the classroom and theater. In spring 2013, I was lucky enough to sit next to Shaun in the Globe Theater in London as he tried to soak in the experience of being — for the first time — in the mecca for scholars of the Bard.

Shaun returned this past spring to attend performances at the Globe with members of his department; I can only imagine the power of that shared experience and the ways it will resonate with a newly acquired measure of passion, appreciation, and authenticity in their teaching of Shakespeare.

This spring, we were once again privileged to continue our collaboration with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Last time I was in New York, I was honored to listen to Chris Rauschenberg and his staff share their perspective on Lab’s important role in illuminating the power of the arts. One of the Foundation’s objectives is to organize national voices that are committed to persuading educators and policy makers about the potential of the arts to transform American education — to repair it, to enrich it, and to engage the disenfranchised students so all students can discover their talents to make the world a better place. As Art Teacher Mark Jarvis reiterates, our kids know that they are taking arts to expand their minds and possibilities and that is so much more than “Am I a good artist?”

It will come as no surprise that for 18 months now my mind’s eye has been filled with the images of the proposed new High School. It has been months of working with the architects and our faculty to design new spaces that will create an environment for Lab’s next act in leading the way in educational promise. The more I study the designs, the greater my anticipation of the energy these spaces will create for Lab. (See the enclosed insert on the campaign Transforming Lives, Transforming Education.) It is so exciting to be involved designing facilities that honor and nurture the great minds of our students.

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There is no greater reminder that our foundation is based on a history of bold, creative ideas than when saying good-bye to three loyal, iconic pillars of Lab — individuals who were among the pioneers that Sally Smith hired to help her expand her dream into a vibrant, ever growing reality. Peter Braun, Karen Hanish, and Neela Seldin provided a marvelous foundation in and of themselves — inculcating so many with their infectious enthusiasm, humor, and passion for Lab. Their ability to see and draw out the highest potential from our kids was powerful. We are missing them greatly, but fortunately, they were mentors to many so their spirit lives on.

There is always so much to tell about Lab, but I will save those musings for another time and stop here to thank our whole Lab School community of faculty and staff, students, parents, grandparents, alumni parents, and friends. We could not offer such an outstanding education without the support and generosity of each and every one of you.

With gratitude,

Katherine SchantzHead of School

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Have you ever noticed that when your schedule is jam-packed, and the demands placed upon you seem too much to juggle, you make the silliest mistakes? Perhaps you forget why you walked into a room or where you put your car keys. Maybe you lose your train of thought in mid-sentence. In some cases, you may even need to set a buzzer or a chime to remind yourself to “BREATHE.”

Elementary students have busy days, brimming with many challenges. For young children with learning differences, the continual need to transition, learn, and be productive can be particularly stressful. Now, with the help of staff Clinical Social Worker Rebecca Gracia, Lab School’s youngest students are acquiring mindfulness techniques to help manage everyday pressures. “The practice of mindfulness centers on paying careful attention to yourself and your surroundings,” she says. “This often comes naturally to very young children, and can become harder as we grow older.” She and her Elementary

division colleagues hope that by introducing children to mindfulness exercises at an early age, young learners will develop lifelong habits to help them remain calm, concentrated, and confident throughout their adult lives.

A member of the Lab School team for three years, Ms. Gracia felt that “something was missing” from the Elementary school day: the chance for a child to just sit and “be,” free of any obligation to be productive. She enrolled in California’s esteemed Mindful Schools program, receiving the training necessary to work with young students and their teachers. Beginning last fall, Ms. Gracia visited each of Lab’s Elementary classes twice weekly for 25-minute mindfulness sessions. Teachers, assistants, and interns joined students as Ms. Gracia guided them through topics such as attentive listening, emotional and body awareness, mindful breathing, awareness of thoughts, and mindful eating.

elementary students focus on mindfulness

Saved by the Bell

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“Each session begins with the ringing of the traditional singing bell. Students take turns ringing the bell, while the rest of the group listens carefully until the sound gradually, gently fades,” explains Ms. Gracia. This technique proved so effective in getting children to calm down, focus, and regroup that every Elementary class at Lab now has a bell of its own. “Each teacher has a different way of using the bell to evoke positive responses in their classroom. The bells have been particularly effective in helping students make smoother transitions, focus before a class presentation, or reflect on their emotions as they start their day,” she adds.

Mindfulness exercises underscore the importance of awareness and acceptance — traits that Lab strives to foster in every student. “We encourage children to notice their feelings and accept them, without judgment. The goal is not for students to be still and quiet without any thoughts — but to be aware of how they are feeling and what they are thinking. If students are feeling fidgety, they are encouraged to notice what sensations they feel in their body; if they are feeling a strong emotion, such as anger or sadness, they are encouraged to sit with that feeling. Sharing emotional observations in a safe, non-competitive setting boosts self-confidence while helping children be more compassionate and thoughtful of their peers,” explains Ms. Gracia.

The students responded positively to the introduction of mindfulness. They connected easily to lessons that encouraged awareness in age-appropriate ways, such as learning that our minds are often like “puppy dogs,” wandering away from what we are trying to focus on.

Parents can benefit from mindfulness exercises as well. Doug Fagen, PhD, the director of Psychological Services at Lab, along with Ms. Gracia, introduced Lab’s mindfulness program during an Elementary parent discussion. They helped parents understand that “mindful parenting” models positive behavior that young children may emulate; it also eases some of the challenges of raising a child with learning differences. “When a parent can say, ‘I am feeling frustrated, so I am going to take a break and do some mindful breathing,’ the child realizes that mindfulness is important for adults as well as kids,” says Ms. Gracia. That pause can make everyday life more enjoyable and less stressful for parents as well … singing bell, optional!

The Mindful Schools program has conducted significant research on the positive effects that mindfulness practices have on young children. For more information, visit www.MindfulSchools.org.

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“So many schools don’t introduce Shakespeare until late Middle School or early High School,” says Shaun Miskell, Lab School’s head of Performing Arts. “That’s simply too late.” The fact that Lab works deliberately to make Shakespeare accessible from a very early stage serves its students well. “I have had alumni return to campus and tell me they are taking Shakespeare in college. And guess what? Most of them tell me they know more about Shakespeare than anyone else in the class … including the professor!” This makes Mr. Miskell understandably proud. He and the school’s other theater instructors guide students in all divisions through the complexities — and joys — of studying Shakespeare.

“Before we dive into the script and start listening to the rhyme and rhythm of Shakespeare’s language, we always start with the basic story, told in modern-day vernacular,” explains Elementary Musical Specialist Elizabeth Ferrante. Intermediate Theater Teacher Amal Saade takes the same approach with older students. “When a student understands the essence of the plot — the characters and their motives, and the fundamental lessons of the tale — then moving from ‘page to stage’ becomes

much easier,” she says. This “story-first” approach is one reason that Lab School students are so comfortable with Shakespeare at such an early age. “We break down a complex tale such as Much Ado About Nothing through oral storytelling, stopping to act out complicated twists and turns to make the message more concrete,” explains Ms. Ferrante.

Once Elementary children have a clear grasp of the basic story, they break into groups and begin to approach the play from a variety of angles. One group works with an abridged version of the play’s original text, grappling with terms and sentence structures that are — at first glance — unfamiliar and challenging. A second group writes a contemporary interpretation of the play, translating dialogue into the words of today’s youngsters and updating the plot to a modern setting. The third group serves as the story’s narrators, providing the essential context audiences need to follow these stripped-down versions of Shakespeare’s works. Their hard work is rewarded when they hear the hearty applause from fellow participants and “groundlings” — parents, teachers, and friends — at the Folger Theatre’s Annual Children’s Festival. A proud Ms. Ferrante exclaims, “Think about third and fourth graders performing Shakespeare before a live audience. That’s incredibly impressive!”

Although Theater is, in theory, a stand-alone class at Lab, there are significant cross-curricular opportunities for teachers to work together. For example, in the Elementary division, the Knights and Ladies Academic Club might be studying Shakespeare’s Renaissance or the Gods Club may be able to draw parallels with Antony and Cleopatra. Teachers and students in the Music class often provide instrumental or choral interludes to enrich their classmates’ Shakespeare productions. Ms. Saade points out that students in Art class were essential in providing her students with a beautiful Arden-like backdrop for the Intermediate division’s staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The cross-curricular connections are even more profound for Junior High and High School students. “Context is everything,” emphasizes Mr. Miskell. Older students become what are known in the theater world as “dramaturges,” studying the

Who Sayeth, “The Bard is Hard”?

lab school makes shakespeare accessible for all ages

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ancient political, social, economic, and cultural conditions that set the stage for Shakespeare’s rich stories. “An actor needs to grasp the history that surrounds the play. It adds perspective and insight, and brings the breadth and depth that make their performance authentic. Our colleagues in the Social Studies department help tremendously,” adds Mr. Miskell. Students in the upper divisions classes might read Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets as literature — another example of how the most beloved playwright in the English language surfaces in classes beyond Theater.

While older students immerse themselves in the Bard for an entire semester, Shakespeare is also a very important part of the Elementary and Intermediate Theater programs. Ms. Ferrante and Ms. Saade use creative approaches to make Shakespeare’s work accessible to younger students. “One group created a silent film of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which let them learn storyboarding and videography,” says Ms. Saade. “Another created a modern-day interpretation of the play. They learned script writing, character development, and how to take 500-year-old stories and make them timely.”

Many Lab students get bitten by the Bard and want to study Shakespeare on a deeper level. Lab offers an extracurricular drama club, which highlights Shakespeare as well as other significant, often classical, works. Some students enroll in summer acting programs that focus on Shakespeare, such as the DC Theatre Lab, where Ms. Saade teaches in the summer. Another highly popular option is Lab School’s own drama-based summer immersion camp, led by Mr. Miskell with the help of 10 other instructors. Influenced by Trevor Nunn’s program designed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, staff chooses a topic for the summer production then the students dive into storyboarding, script writing, set design, scene construction, directing, lighting, sound engineering, publicity, and a live-audience performance. With their unique background in Shakespearean studies, Lab students will no doubt continue to revel in and pass on the magic of the Bard.

“The deep places in our lives —

places of resistance and embrace

— are not ultimately reached

by instruction. Those places of

resistance and embrace are

reached only by stories, images,

metaphors, and phrases that

line out the world differently,

apart from fear or hurt.”

This quote by Walter Brueggemann speaks to Lab School’s Head of Performing Arts Shaun Miskell. The Lab School Performing Arts staff uses these words as their touchstone when helping students master the glory of Shakespeare.

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Joshua Fritts, the new head of the Elementary division, arrived at The Lab School of Washington in the most circuitous of routes. After two years in Qatar at the Qatar Foundation heading up educational services and expanding special education programs in the region, Mr. Fritts and his family were heading home to Portland, Oregon.

Then he got a call from Head of School Katherine Schantz. “If you get here, I know you will want to stay,” she told him. In addition, one of his colleagues in Qatar who coincidentally had been a teacher at The Lab School — and was mentored by Founder Sally L. Smith, no less — echoed Ms. Schantz’s words by saying, “You have to answer them … and you can’t go anywhere else.”

Fast forward to the school year of 2014 and Mr. Fritts has already found his stride. “A previous mentor of mine told me years ago that most people have that one job in their life, the job that means the most to them and makes the biggest impression,” says Mr. Fritts. “After only a few months, I’m thinking that Lab will be that ‘it’ job for me.”

For Mr. Fritts, the clincher to forgo returning to the West Coast to build a new life in DC was seeing the kids. During his visit to Lab, he saw the Elementary students presenting on the theme, “Bigger than Us.” There was a play about children and homelessness. There was a short film about animal rights.

There was a presentation about the 99 percent (a slogan used in the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement about social and economic inequality) and another about Soles4Souls (a global not-for-profit institution dedicated to fighting the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty). “The kids showed me all of this,” he says. “To say that I was moved and awed would be an understatement.” Mr. Fritts was hooked. And already he feels as if he is part of the Lab family.

This year’s theme for the Elementary division is “Explorers and Explorations.” For someone who has lived, worked, or contributed something to the field of special education in 18 countries — from Hungary and Israel to Guatemala and Sri Lanka — Mr. Fritts should certainly be in his element.

Welcome:joshua fritts

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“What would Neela think?” Who knows how many teachers, parents, and even students have asked themselves that question.

Neela Seldin retired in 2014 after 34 years at The Lab School of Washington, most of which were served as head of the Elementary division. “Neela was a nurturer. She was a life learner, always interested in new things, in what people had to say. She was definitely a teacher at heart. She simply understood kids and what they needed. Neela was also a champion at helping parents better understand their kids and how they learn. And, lord knows, she had a wicked, delicious sense of humor,” says Diana Meltzer, associate head of school, who for years has been a colleague and friend of Ms. Seldin.

At her retirement party, parents, graduates, and parents of alumni who hadn’t been on campus in years came back to celebrate with her because she was the person who changed everything. She was the person who told parents, “He’ll get there … he has so many talents.” She was the person who made students understand that they were not broken. She made them feel safe, and she helped them flourish and grow into their best selves.

She was also the person who helped teachers become the teachers they had dreamed of being. She gave them advice and help when they asked, and the tools and the freedom they needed to lead their students to success.

In 2007, in the middle of the school year at the request of the Lab School’s Founder Sally L. Smith, Ms. Seldin moved the Elementary school to the Foxhall campus. It was no easy feat, but as always, she took a challenge and found the opportunities in it. The Foxhall campus is what it is today because Ms. Seldin was never afraid to take bold steps, to see what worked and what didn’t. She put her heart and soul into the school, her teachers, “her” kids, and their parents.

Those of us who knew Ms. Seldin will always keep a special place in our hearts for her. But we can smile when we think of her, knowing that she is traveling and discovering interesting corners and people and stories wherever she goes, that she is laughing and making others laugh, that she is nurturing those around her with her wonderful cooking and her sweet spirit. And no doubt, during her quiet moments, she is curled up with a British mystery novel trying to figure out who done it.

neela seldin

You were there when our son needed you.

You were there when WE needed you.

Thank you, thank you! –alumni parents

We will miss you!

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Karen Hanish used to bring sheep from her farm on the Eastern Shore to school. As an Art teacher here at Lab for 24 years, Ms. Hanish exemplified how The Lab School of Washington teaches students through experiential and project-based learning. “Where do you think that lovely wool sweater that you’re wearing came from?” she’d ask a student during class. “My mom … the store … it’s a hand-me-down from my sister,” would come the answer. Then she would take her class out to see the sheep, which, she’d explain, is where a wool sweater begins. She’d teach her students to shear the wool, and then they’d use it for various projects, learning opportunities, and collaborations with other teachers and subjects. Her work manifested her understanding of Founder Sally L. Smith’s philosophy that the arts are central to all learning.

Besides inspiring her students to find their talents through different projects and media, Ms. Hanish excelled in showcasing their work. A few years ago, her students had been studying birds and had made ceramic sculptures of various species. Instead of simply setting them out in the gallery, she created a backdrop from wood, cloth, and other found objects that showcased the birds in their best light. She had birds perched up high as if in a tree, or down on a low platform as if they were trying to camouflage themselves in the brush. Visitors to the gallery just stood there taking it all in … and in the case of the

birds, they were transformed, if only for a few moments, into the woods and grasslands where the alive counterparts of these birds live.

“The way Karen exhibited her students’ art work was inspired. She was passionate about it and it certainly made the kids proud of their work,” says Diana Meltzer, associate head of school.

Ms. Hanish’s passion and commitment to teaching art to her students came to light in many ways. She lived with her family on a farm on the Eastern Shore. Each week, she would drive to DC and stay with friends while she taught, then go home at the end of the week where her family, her sheep and dogs and chickens, and her lush vegetable garden awaited her. That commitment to The Lab School puts “commute” on a whole higher level.

Although Ms. Hanish is now enjoying time with her family on their farm since her retirement in June 2014, it is easy to remember her lovely spirit and some of the big projects she made with her students, many of which included found objects. There was the under-the-sea mural with papier-mâché sea creatures, coral reefs, and plants, and her 3-D city complete with papier-mâché people looking out of windows, curious and observant just like her.

karen hanish

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peter braun

When Peter Braun was in college studying Medieval English history, his father kept asking him what he planned to do with that major. It was not the most practical, he said.

Fast forward to June 2014 and Mr. Braun is retiring after 39 years at The Lab School of Washington. Only Founder Sally L. Smith worked more years here than he has. And, it seems, he did most everything during his tenure — from being a classroom teacher to coordinator of the Upper School to serving as director of Operations during his last 30 years.

“His job title was ‘Director of Operations,’ but if what he actually did was written on paper, it would be multiple pages,” says Associate Head of School Diana Meltzer. With a warm sense of humor and a kind smile, Mr. Braun knew every inch of the campus and nurtured the systems and structures of the old buildings on the Reservoir campus as if they were his children. “If someone wanted to know where a certain pipe was, Pete would know immediately,” says Ms. Meltzer. “’Oh, that pipe,’ he’d say. ‘Let me show you. It’s on the north back wall of the castle under the third window.’” He was an eternal optimist, anything could be solved, no question. And he played a key role in ensuring that Lab always served as a good neighbor in our community.

Any time anyone asked for anything, he’d say “I’m on it,” or “I’ll have that ready for you tomorrow.” Mr. Braun — whose son graduated from Lab and whose granddaughter is currently in Elementary — was a real support to Ms. Smith in the early days, and to all the staff, faculty, and students as the school grew. Mr. Braun helped facilitate the move in 1983 from the old campus to the current Reservoir campus. He oversaw the building of the gym, pool, and Arts Wing. And he helped make Neela Seldin and the Elementary division’s move — mid-year — to the Foxhall campus as seamless as possible.

His whole life, Mr. Braun loved water and boats. He and his family owned a kayaking and white water business in West Virginia. On many occasions, he arranged for school water adventures. His long-time dream was to live on a boat and to travel, and now, he and his wife are making that dream come true. They are spending a year traveling around the world on their boat.

“Pete and I took classes together in Sally’s master’s program at American University and, for years after, when something came up that at first we didn’t know how to solve, we’d joke with each other and say, ‘They never taught us that in graduate school!’” laughs Ms. Meltzer. “We will greatly miss Pete, but I, for one, am thrilled for him that not only did he make an amazing imprint on this school, but now he is bringing his dream to life.”

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DANIELLE GOLDBERG PARENTMy daughter, Lindsey, is in the fourth grade here at Lab, but my journey with The Lab School of Washington started some 20 years ago. It was my sophomore year of college and I found myself in a class called arts and special education — something I knew nothing about but thought would be a good fit for my major in elementary education and my minor in special education. In walked the professor. She was wearing two different hues of lipstick, her fingernails were polished with five different colors, she wore a kooky, colorful scarf and a big smile on her face. She talked about her son and how teacher after teacher told her that he was stupid and lazy and that he’d never be able to learn. But she was his mother and she knew he was smart and that he could learn. She couldn’t find the kind of school she was looking for to help him, so she opened her own. Sally Smith. Lab School’s founder. Right.

I was wowed … but what struck me even more those first weeks of class was that the children with learning differences that she was describing sounded just like me. It was one of those lose-your-breath moments. Suddenly, I realized why school had been so difficult for me. Why I had felt dumb compared to my peers, ashamed that I didn’t learn like everyone else. A huge light flicked on for me personally, but also for what I wanted to do career-wise. Being Sally’s student solidified my desire to be a teacher, and I vowed to myself back then as an undergrad that I would do whatever I could to ensure that no child in my classroom would ever feel the way I had.

Fast-forward to motherhood. Little did I know that the students I had been imagining when I made that vow to myself would include one of my own children. So, I certainly wasn’t going to let my daughter — or any of my children — grow up feeling like they were not smart or less in anyway. In fact, like the teachers and everyone at Lab, I tell my children that they are capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to. I believe that is what we all want for our children.

I think that all of our children’s experience in other school settings has shown us that not all teachers differentiate instruction, meet the needs of individual students, treat each and every student with love and respect, have never-ending patience, and often spend time outside school hours working to make sure our children receive everything they need to be successful, feel good about themselves, and allow them to learn in the speed and style that is best for each of them. That is why I am incredibly grateful that Lindsey is at Lab.

And that is why I give.

Why I Give

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MARK JARVIS ARTIST AND TEACHER Why do I teach here at The Lab School — and why I have stayed for more than 20 years? Let me show you. See this mural over here by the art building? It was made by students from all divisions. The little kids made tribal masks when they were learning about Africa. Then, the High School digital photography class laid them out on the floor and, standing on chairs above them, took photos of each mask. From there, we projected the images on the wall and various classes of art students traced and drew replicas of them on the mural. Then the High School students painted the masks and background on this huge 16x5 horizontal mural. It’s collage-like with colors and textures and faces. It was definitely a collaborative effort from all our art students, not to mention the history, culture, and geography they learned along the way. This is just one example of why I teach at The Lab School.

I never set out to be a teacher. I was — and still am — a portrait artist. But as life tends to tease us and send us on twists and turns, I ended up working as an art sub during a summer program at Lab. I was intrigued. So, when I was asked to stay, I did. What moves me about The Lab School is how we teach. We are not in silos with art over here, reading over there, science, math, and music over that way. We overlap all the disciplines

as often as possible. In fact, we create our curricula to overlap subjects so that the kids get myriad opportunities for project-based learning.

Our kids at Lab often come to learning on a crooked, non-traditional path. And, as teachers, it is our job — and joy — to find ways to teach them to their strengths. I had my own crooked path, so I identify with the kids. You see, when I was in high school, I had some challenges learning. It was difficult. And ironically, I hated art instruction. I wanted to spend my time drawing and painting, not go week to week from pottery to sculpture to making copper jewelry with no big picture or purpose behind it all. At the Lab School, I teach drawing. I also teach set design, stage craft, and architectural design. But the beauty of it is that we use art to teach art but also to teach other subjects. There’s a reason and a project-based plan behind it. How do you make math enticing to a student who is math-phobic? You get her involved in an architectural design project, which deals with building and art but also with the basic measurements of scale. What about someone who loses his breath at the thought of physics? You involve him in a collaborative project making a public art fountain and figuring out how to get the water not to shoot out, but to drip down the way rain does from the umbrella above the dragon and boy holding it. What if a student says he could care less about Pompeii or learning Latin? You involve him in a mosaic mural, and through that art project, he is immersed in the language and the history.

And it goes the other way, too, for students who are convinced that art is not their thing. If a child is afraid of drawing or painting because he thinks he’ll fail at it, we’ll come around that wonderful crooked, non-traditional way to get him experimenting until his fear of failure is brushed away with the dust of his charcoal pencil. We figure out ways to teach kids so that they are proud of their learning styles, and own their success.

As a Lab School teacher, I am given the freedom to be innovative. The school will consider any idea you have as long as it has a strong pedagogical reason to back it. That is exciting, and daunting. I love that challenge, year after year, collaboration after collaboration, student after student. Teachers here have higher degrees, and in the small classroom settings, we know how to teach to transform these kids’ differences into advantages. So, I say, embrace the crooked paths. Sometimes our best successes emerge without a map.

That is why I teach at Lab.

Why I Teach

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Have you ever heard of “bench to bedside?” In the medical world, the term describes the process by which the results of research conducted in the laboratory are directly used to develop new ways to treat patients. It’s the same at The Lab School. It has always been central to the school’s mission to implement promising research in the field of learning differences to forward the education of Lab students. In fact, Lab School’s Founder Sally L. Smith was also a founding director of the Master’s Program in Special Education: Learning Disabilities at American University in Washington, DC. Ms. Smith’s central role in both institutions forged a synergetic relationship that continues to this day. Both schools share faculty, and AU uses Lab as a primary training site for aspiring teachers in its master’s program. The sharing of ideas and expertise offers myriad opportunities that benefit students enrolled in both schools.

Now, Lab School is poised to take that confluence of ideas, energy, and innovation one step further, not only with American University, but also with educators and universities across the learning differences educational field. Lab’s 2010 strategic plan identified expansion of the school’s scientific research connections as a key institutional goal. To that end, Lab has recently embarked on a number of important projects that will not only give Lab access to the very best data and analysis in the field, but that will help position The Lab School at the very forefront of learning disabilities research and information dissemination.

Labs Are Where You Learn the Best Science

lab school embarks on research that enhances education

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19

“Of course, we want to continue to stay current on recent findings and to integrate the education field’s best practices into our curriculum,” says Head of School Katherine Schantz. “But we also want to be the leader — the first and the foremost — in conducting ground-breaking research, disseminating our findings, and inspiring intellectual dialogue among our staff and our industry colleagues.” Lab School’s leadership is firmly committed to becoming a trailblazer in learning differences research and implementation. Important steps toward reaching that goal are already underway.

Science Review Group

If you envision a laboratory as an incubator for observation, creativity, inspiration, and progress, The Lab School of Washington is aptly named. “We are in the unique position of having a student population that learns differently and whose progress we can observe, record, measure, and analyze over long periods of time,” explains Doug Fagen, PhD, Lab’s director of Psychological Services. “The experience and knowledge base of our educators and clinical specialists is extremely valuable, partly because it’s rare; very few schools specialize in learning differences education that spans primary through high school. We are able to conduct hands-on, long-term, longitudinal studies that also allow us to foster a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our students.”

When students enroll at Lab, they benefit from an extensive bank of assessments that reveal a wealth of information about that specific child, but also about how the brain of a student with learning differences works and evolves over time. Beginning in 2000, the results of these student evaluations — which are anonymous and repeated at periodic intervals throughout a child’s development — have been stored in a Lab School database. This information is an extraordinary resource for Lab School’s research as well as for other researchers in the growing study of brain science.

To this end, Lab recently formed its Scientific Review Group, a committee comprised of Lab School staff members who review, discuss, and synthesize relevant research in learning differences and allied fields. The Lab School Board of Trustees also welcomed to its ranks Martha Bridge Denckla, MD, one of the foremost experts in the fields of learning and developmental cognitive neurology. Her expertise has been vital in helping chart Lab’s burgeoning research studies.

The Lab School of Washington Scientific Review Group

Judith Belkin, MOT, Occupational Therapist

Noel Bicknell, MA, Academic Club Coordinator

Katherine Dube, PsyD, Psychologist

Jennifer Durham, PhD, Curriculum and Technology Coordinator, Elementary Program

Doug Fagen, PhD, Director of Psychological Services

Laurie Matz, MS, Speech-Language Pathologist

Lauren McGrath, PhD, Assistant Professor, American University

Katherine Schantz, EdM, C.A.S., Head of School

John Silsby, PhD, Psychologist

The Important Role of Sleep in Memory Consolidation

Another area of research on which Lab School is focusing is sleep, the all-important part of every person’s life cycle. Many of us wish we had a better memory or a keener ability to focus, particularly the night before a big exam or project. Conventional wisdom tells us to “get a good night’s sleep,” but this old adage seems outdated in our fast-paced world. Last year, Lab’s Scientific Review Group embarked on an in-depth exploration of the neurobiological evidence supporting “a good night’s sleep” as one of the critical supports to optimize learning and memory.

The group discovered that the signs and symptoms of sleep deficits vary depending on the age of the person. In children, it turns out, a sleep deficiency can also look much like an attention deficit disorder. Moreover, children diagnosed with attention deficit disorders and/or sensory processing disorders often also have difficulty with the quality or the amount of sleep they get.

Young children experiencing lack of sleep often exhibit hyperactivity. They also often have problems paying attention or concentrating and sometimes they can exhibit excessive emotional reactions, frequent mood changes (mood dysregulation), poor impulse control, and behavior problems.

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These symptoms can certainly impact school performance. Furthermore, sleep-deprived children may be more prone to accidental injuries.

Adolescents experiencing sleep deficits may experience excessive daytime sleepiness and poor concentration. They may appear depressed or anxious. Poor sleep quality is associated with higher rates of car crashes in adolescents and increased risk-taking behaviors. Academic performance is frequently impacted; research is currently examining the impact of sleep deprivation on executive functioning skills.

Dr. Fagen finds the research compelling. “Studies document sleep difficulties in an estimated 25-50 percent of children and adolescents with ADHD. In some of these cases, ADHD symptoms may be significantly exacerbated by chronic sleep deprivation. Those numbers are high enough to warrant thorough sleep assessments by primary care providers for all children diagnosed with ADHD,” he advises. Real-life examples and advice such as this benefits parents, teachers, and ultimately students, making the work of Lab School’s Scientific Review Group all the more important.

Does my child need more sleep?Chronic sleep loss is a widespread issue for children in America with busy after-school schedules and early wake-up times for school. While some students may actually need more or less than the recommended amounts of sleep, the National Sleep Foundation recommends 10-11 hours of sleep for young school-aged children, and 8.5-9.25 hours for teens. That means that a school-aged child who wakes up at 7am would need to be asleep by 9pm — and therefore in bed before that time — to get a sufficient night’s sleep. Factor in after-school activities, homework, and social networking and it is clear that many young people regularly receive far less sleep than the amount of sleep they need. It is also important to consider not just the number of hours of sleep, but whether this sleep is mostly undisturbed. It is best to consult with your child’s doctor if you suspect a disturbance in quality of sleep. Ms. Schantz makes an important caveat, “If your child is already getting the recommended hours of undisturbed sleep, then increasing sleep will probably not result in any functional academic changes.”

Processing Speed and Learning Differences Education

In the fall of 2013, educational researcher Lauren McGrath, PhD, assistant professor at American University’s School of Education, Teaching and Health, identified a crucial but under-researched issue that could have a profound impact on the positive outcomes for children with learning differences: speed of information processing. Beginning this year, Dr. McGrath will be collaborating with Lab to study the variables that influence the speed with which children process written and oral communication, mathematical problems, and abstract information such as symbols and patterns. She will be analyzing the results of her research with the goal of disseminating specific suggestions that parents, teachers, counselors, and students can use to improve a child’s academic functioning.

Dr. McGrath brings strong research training and experience in the fields of neurology, neuropsychology, and learning differences to Lab School. She is also passionate about bidirectional dialogue between researchers and parents. “The data and analysis are important, but what will truly make a difference in the lives of children is what we do with the results of our studies,” says Dr. McGrath who is also skilled in making research lingo accessible — even exciting — for a lay audience. As a member of Lab’s research group, in January 2014, she and Dr. Fagen facilitated a parent discussion at the Foxhall campus on the neuroscience underlying reading. The presentation was well attended and enthusiastically received. An encore presentation is slated for late February 2015 — bringing more research bench to bedside.

“The field of neuroscience has

exploded over the past decade. We at

Lab are excited to be collaborating

with neuroscientists like Dr. McGrath

to better understand learning at the

neuropsychological level. The more

we know about what happens in the

brain in students with learning

differences, the better we can tailor

interventions to foster learning,

both in school and beyond.”

–doug fagen, PhD

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21

54379_Txt.indd 21 11/6/14 8:28 AM


Mandy Chmieleski Advancement Services Coordinator

Mimi Hayes Events and Alumni Coordinator

Kimberly Sgroi Communications Associate

Joshua Swanson Social Media Coordinator and Administrative Assistant

An Exciting Year for LabMeet Our Institutional Advancement Staff

We topped our goal for the Annual Fund at $556,463.

We added a silent auction and a “raise the paddle” event for financial aid to our 29th annual Gala, making it one of the most spectacular and successful nights ever!

We began Transforming Lives. Transforming Education, the Capital Campaign for The Lab School of Washington, with a robust “quiet phase,” which garnered early support for the future of Lab from our Board of Trustees and

special friends. (For details, see the special insert on our Capital Campaign included in this report.)

All of our efforts are guided by and made in partnership with Head of School Katherine Schantz and our ever supportive Board of Trustees and its Development Committee, once again headed by Development Committee Chair Susan Hutton. We are also incredibly grateful for our amazing volunteers — parents, parents of alumni, former board members, and others who show their continued support and gratitude with their tireless effort on behalf of all of our students — past, present, and future.

I also have immense gratitude to departing staff members who have gone on to the next phases of their careers — Brooke Buchanan, Tiffany Parry, and Claire Menegus.

We have a great team in the Institutional Advancement Office, and we thought we should put their faces with their names — all are ready and available to support your efforts at Lab in so many ways!

With deep gratitude,

Marty Cathcart

Director of Institutional Advancement

Wendy Jennis Director of Community Relations and Liasion to the Board of Trustees

Victoria Tilney McDonough Director of Communications

Caitlyn Walters Director of the Annual Fund

GIFTS RECEIVED (DC) 2013-2014

Annual Fund $556,443

Gala $868,131

Other $39,392

Total $1,463,986

See insert for report of gifts to Capital Campaign.

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23

Combined Giving Combined Giving Societies

The Combined Giving Societies acknowledge and celebrate the generosity of donors who support any and all of our annual fund-raising efforts at the highest level. We are incredibly grateful for your above-and-beyond support of The Lab School of Washington.

Capital Campaign gifts are listed separately in the Transforming Lives. Transforming Education insert.

Einstein Society

Donors who contribute $25,000 or more in total giving during the fiscal year, including gifts to the Gala, the Annual Fund, or other designated gifts to The Lab School of Washington.

AT&T

Alan and Ashley Dabbiere

Bruce and Deborah Downey

Steedman Hinckley and Lisa Farnsworth

Marc and Elise Lefkowitz

Jacqueline B. Mars

Shippy Foundation

Da Vinci Society

Donors who contribute $10,000 or more in total giving during the fiscal year, including gifts to the Gala, the Annual Fund, or other designated gifts to The Lab School of Washington.

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld LLP

Breaux Lott Group

Davi and Lynda Camalier

CTIA

Mimi and Rhett Dawson

DLA Piper LLP

FeinbergRozen LLP

Linda Fisher

Frechette Family Foundation

Dan and Amy Graham

Mr. Erwin Gudelsky and Mr. Barry Gudelsky

Cal and Barbara Klausner

Bob Lagoyda and Becca Gould

The Edith and Herbert Lehman Foundation

The Meltzer Group

Pfizer Inc.

PhRMA

Paul Rabil Foundation

The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation

Mohaymen and Karen Sahebzadah

Peter Scher and Kim Tilley

Menlo Smith

Jim and Alice Taylor

Peter and Kathy Tenhula

Brian and Mary Ann Thompson

Mike and Lalie Tongour/TCH Group LLC

Andrew Tweddle

Verizon

Dick and Betty Wiley

Wiley Rein LLP

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Annual FundAnnual Fund Committee 2013-2014

Annual Fund Chairs

Doug and Diane Wiley

Vice-Chairs

Chris and Amy Swonger

John Parachini and Hadley Boyd

Brian and Teresa Byrne

John Paliga

Ambassadors

Stephen and Margie Baker

Mike Beach

Scott Butler

Mary Cabriele

Lori Jo Carbonneau

Trish Copenhaver

Ashley Dabbiere

Krista Di Iaconi

Laura FitzGerald

Janis Fleischer

Dennis and Malinda Garris

Danielle Goldberg

Amy Graham

Lisa Hohenemser

Kevin Hovland

Alison Howard

Lori Jones

Barbara Kaltenheuser

Kim Kaplan

Rina Battiata Kunk

Becky Marshall

Patricia Moran

Lisa Puchalla

Peter Redmond

Dana Rice

Sally Sagarese

Cynthia Simmons

Susan Stein

Mare Tillett

Ginger Williams

Alumni Chair

Kevin Bucher ‘91

Parents of Alumni Chairs

Alan and Nancy Bubes

Grandparent Chairs

Allan and Suzy Goodman

Faculty and Staff Chair

Debby Wise

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25

ANNUAL FUND LEADERSHIP GIFT SOCIETIES

The Visionary Circle

$25,000 and above



Jacqueline B. Mars

Shippy Foundation

The Founder’s Circle

$10,000 and above



Menlo Smith

Andrew Tweddle

The Head of School Circle

$7,500 to $9,900

Clark-Winchcole Foundation

The Partner’s Circle

$5,000 to $7,499

ARX Communications LLC

Mike and Katie Beach

Mr. and Mrs. Morton Bender


Jon Cuneo and Mara Liasson Cuneo

Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. FitzGerald

Matthew and Barbara Forman

Mr. and Mrs. Allan Goodman

Andreas Gutzeit and Kakali Banerjee

Mrs. Anne Hartz

Mike and Kathy Hill

The Sally F. and James Scott Hill Foundation

Aimee Imundo

Robert King and Patty Millett

Paul and Noelle Logan

Christopher Lyon and Art Coleman


David and Amy Polinger

Jon Riberas and Belen Orjales

James Ritter and Andrea Calem


SunTrust Bank



Antoine and Emily van Agtmael

Wiley Rein LLP

The Supporter’s Circle

$3,000 to $4,999

Carlos Angulo and Laila Sultan

Tony and Kathryn Everett


GE Foundation

Dan and Amy Graham


Jeff and Nicole Maddrey

Mark and Kathy McAfee

Craig and Ilene Miller

Ian and Cindi Simmons

Mike and Lalie Tongour

Bill and Mary Frances Walde

The Washington Post


Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Wiley

The Friend’s Circle

$1,500 to $2,999

Imran Akram and Seemi Andrabi

Steve Baker and Margie Grisius-Baker

Heather Barr

Peter Beck

Judy and Clarke Brinckerhoff

Kevin Bucher ‘91

Paul and Lori Jo Carbonneau

Rea Carey and Margaret Conway

Marty Cathcart

Craig and Kim Cohen

Thomas Connolly and Nancy Walsh

Jeff Crater

Ms. Carol Cutler

Tom and Krista Di Iaconi

Padraig Drennan and Sandra Keogh

David and Sheila Feinberg

Allan Freedman and Heather Morgan

Henry and Laurie Friedman

Frank Fromowitz

David Fuss and Tara Turturro-Fuss

David and Danielle Goldberg

Martin and Tricia Green

Ed and Helen Haislmaier

Christopher Hardimon and Lisa Balzereit

Michael and Vicki Herson

Mr. Richard Hertz and Ms. Doris Meyer

Kevin Hovland and Sharon Block

David and Alison Howard

David Hudson and Mary Cabriele

Brooks and Courtney Hundley

John and Sheila Jonas

Jonathon and Ansleigh Jones

Skip and Barbara Kaltenheuser

Kim Kaplan

Arthur Keys and Jasna Basaric-Keys

Jeff Kline and Maria Bothwell

Adam Krinsky and Ranit Schmelzer

Bob Kyle and Kate Fulton

Dawn Laguens and Jennifer Treat

Beau and Susanne Lendman

Carl Leubsdorf and Susan Page

Brian and Colette Marvin

Barbara Mattox

Laurelle Sheedy McCready

Alan McDonald and Candy Winkler

Charles and Jan McNamara

Marshall Mills and Michelle O’Neill

Doug Mishkin and Wendy Jennis

John and Donna Paliga

Jeff and Sherri Pellegrino

Pam and Michael Poth

Bob and Leigh Ann Pusey

Dan and Dana Rice

Clint and Rachel Robinson

Marc Rose

Jim and Debbie Roumell

Darby Rove

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Bahman Rowhani and Azin Bekhrad

Fred and Genny Ryan

Chipp and Davina Sandground

Tige and Elizabeth Savage

Chuck and Sara Savitt

Mr. and Mrs. D. Stephen Seawright

David Seddelmeyer and Jan Hausrath

Robert and Michelle Senko

Denny and Melanie Sisson

Ben and Lori Soto

Bruce and Susan Stein


Bill Tennis and Sara Cartmell

John and Andrea Valentine

Ryan and Crystal Wade

Jon Walters and Tessa van der Willigen

Mr. Eric Wentworth

Trey and Christina Wills

Ted and Samira Woodings

Daniel Zelikow and Marcelo Sanguinetti

PARENTS78 percent participation

ELEMENTARY

Ms. Sonberg’s Class

Ambassador: Ashley Dabbiere


James and Laura Doyle

John and Anne Gebhards

Bill Lee and Mary Freed

Charles and Jan McNamara


Peter Skerlj and Roberta Alvarez

Jesus Soriano and Corinne Graff

Jason and Mare Tillett


Ms. Owen’s Class

Ambassadors: Danielle Goldberg, Kim Kaplan, and Mary Cabriele

Chris and Liz Baer

Abba and Loryn Blum

Irineu de Carvalho Filho and Maria de Carvalho

Alex Diaz-Asper and Rachel Lerman


Kim Kaplan

Ryan and Kimberly Lepine

Anthony and Michelle Pappas


Marc Rose


Michael and Rebekah Weisskopf

Ms. Shattuck’s Class

Ambassador: Amy Graham

Anonymous

Gary Cutler and Caitlin Adams

Dan and Amy Graham

John Haecker and Jennifer Hoffman

Michael Hichwa and Anita Brassart

Ryland and Annie Kendrick



Michael Silence and Mary Ann Carter

Eric and Maureen Sorensen

Michael and Jana Toner

Blair and Susan Vietmeyer

Ms. Lefkowitz’s Class

Ambassadors: Lori Carbonneau and Krista Di Iaconi

Michelle Bernard



Michael and Laurie Edberg

Robert and Melinda Edwards

Shelly Hall

Christopher Healey and Marya Myslinski

Chris Kirkpatrick

John and Amy Repke

Ben and Lori Soto


Trey and Christina Wills

Ms. Palmer’s Class

Ambassador: Pat Moran

Benjamin Brown and Rebecca Bond


Stephen D’Esposito and Becky Marshall


Scott Johnston and Bernadette Reilly

Michael Liebman and Sharon Cohen

Pat and Pat Moran


Tige and Elizabeth Savage

Tim Staples and Pamela Wyville-Staples


Ms. Forbes and Ms. Ray’s Class

Ambassador: Ginger Williams

Anonymous

David and Carolyn Ani

Eduardo and Michelle Bocock

Jen Fanning




Dana Lesemann

Martin Paredes and Kathryn Vincent


Paul and Mary Weiss

Brent and Ginger Williams

INTERMEDIATE

Ms. D’Andrea’s Class

Ambassador: Janis Fleischer

Anonymous

Teseo and Cecilia Bergoglio

Eric and Candace Campbell

Anna Connolly

Tim and Hilari Dunn

Alan and Janis Fleischer

George and Jennifer Imredy

Paul and Raba Letteri

Gretchen Mikeska

Robert Ourlian and Elizabeth Seymour

Michael and Perri Rosen

Mike and Carol Rothenberg

Ms. Beatty’s Class

Ambassador: Lori Jones

Gerard and Inga Baptiste

Flore de Preneuf

Padraig Drennan and Sandra Keogh

Dave Eskin

Monique Eskin

Lee Hockstader

Ricardo and Lizka Iglesias

Neil Schwartz and Maxine Kniseley

Robert and Michelle Senko

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27

Ms. Nicholson’s Class

Ambassadors: Mike Beach and Sally Sagarese

Mike and Katie Beach

Laurence and Michele Connor

Terrence Costello and Betty Brooks

Gus and Lisa Eger

Bill and Tina Evans

Brooks and Courtney Hundley

Daryl Kimball and Sally James



Mark and Sally Sagarese

Robert and Allison Soffer

Ms. Scifo’s Class

Ambassador: Lisa Hohenemser

Scott and Stephanie Deutchman

Christopher Hardimon and Lisa Balzereit

Alison Harwood

Lisa Hohenemser and Mindy Feldbaum

Jonathon and Ansleigh Jones

Rogelio Maxwell and Kelley Ellsworth


Dan and Dana Rice

John Schmidt and Elizabeth Vogel

David Shaffer and Kelly Briscoe

Heather Steinitz

Ms. Miller’s Class

Ambassadors: Susan Stein and Alison Howard

David and Alison Howard

Peter Jenkins and Julie Donovan

Peter and Debbie Keefe

Kristy Kennedy and Ginger Noce


Dawn Tayman

Chris Weston and Katy Roth

David and Sandy Wexler

Paul and Suellen Williams

Ms. Mithani’s Class

Ambassadors: Steve Baker and Margie Grisius-Baker

Steve Baker and Margie Grisius-Baker

Sara Eagle

Christopher and Claudia Harvie

David and Rachael Jennings



Josephine Martin and Melissa Meyers

Pat and Pat Moran


Jamie and Florence Williams

JUNIOR HIGH

7th Grade

Ambassadors: Malinda and Dennis-Garris and Trish Copenhaver


Curtis and Peggy Blake

David and Colleen Browne

David Budin and Margot Mahoney



Rodrigo Chaves

Craig and Kim Cohen

Peter Cole

Laurel Conger

Tom Conger

David and Trish Copenhaver

Terrence Costello and Betty Brooks

Renny and Sherry Delaney

Christian and Giorgia Eigen-Zucchi



David Fuss and Tara Turturro-Fuss



Sarah Ives

Mark Katkov and Ellen Hamilton

Robert King and Patty Millett



Glenn and Joanne LeMunyon

Christopher Lyon and Art Coleman

Paul Macrides and Anna Kyriakoudis

Marcus and Susan Migliore

Tim and Mary Jo Mullin

Jenny Quinn


Jim and Debbie Roumell

54379_Txt.indd 27 11/6/14 8:29 AM


Chuck and Sara Savitt

David Seddelmeyer and Jan Hausrath


Janice Steinschneider

Wahbe and Vanda Tamari


John and Andrea Valentine

Ted and Samira Woodings

8th Grade

Ambassadors: Laura FitzGerald and Cynthia Simmons

Dan Adcock and Pam Wasserman

Steve and Valerie Dorian


Robin Farley and Karyn Barlow

Francisco Ferreira and Bernice van Bronkhorst

John and Laura FitzGerald

Patti Francis

Jon Greenblatt and Linda Adams

Len Guedalia and Shelly Weinberger

Erik and Nelia Gustafson

Tom and Susan Hutton

Kristy Kennedy and Ginger Noce

Todd Kutyla and Jennifer Azzariti

Lee and Gricell Medley

Hunt and Tara Mitchell

Bob and Christi Nichols

Dawn Nickeson

John and Caroline Osborne



Ian and Cindi Simmons

Gregary Smith

Sunny Smith

Sam and Elizabeth Snee

Heather Steinitz

Andrew Tweddle

HIGH SCHOOL

9th Grade

Ambassador: Scott Butler

Heather Barr

Henk and Miranda Barten

Elizabeth Birch

Scott and Julie Butler

Jennifer Click


Jeff Crater

Virginie Despointes

Stephen D’Esposito and Becky Marshall

Ellen Durkee and Denise Cunningham


Robert and Kathy Frazier

Cam and Catherine Funkhouser

Salomon and Jasmin Gruenberg-Reisner


Ed and Helen Haislmaier

Katherine Hazard

Kyle and Victoria Isakower

Bronwen Jones

Rick and Karen Karas

Dawn Laguens and Jennifer Treat

Tim Ogborn and Karen Brody

Martha Oliver

Donna Pavetti and Mary Fran Miklitsch


Peter Redmond and Melissa Estok

Anthony and Michelle Robinson

Hilary Rosen

Kim Sperduto and Marsha Pearcy


Joan Weber

Daniel and Natalie Wicks

Rick and Debbie Yorgey

10th Grade

Ambassador: Barbara Kaltenheuser

Carol Alter

Karmela Barron

David Boundy and Patricia McCarthy

Andrew and Vicki Burns

Bernard Demczuk

Sara Eagle


Adrienne Gude

John and Bonnie Harte

Joel and Karin Hemphill

Charlie and Diane Hinson

Aimee Imundo

David Jolliffe

Skip and Barbara Kaltenheuser

Bob Lagoyda and Becca Gould

Timothy Mahoney

Brian and Colette Marvin

Mark and Kathy McAfee


Curtis and Traci Porter

Douglas and Valerie Price

Peter Redmond and Melissa Estok

David Sahr and Lori Milstein

Eric and Rene Simpson

Daryl and Jackie Sink

54379_Txt.indd 28 11/6/14 8:29 AM

29

Wahbe and Vanda Tamari

Jim and Mary Taneyhill

Jari Tuomala and Heidi Mattila

David Turner and Laura Filipescu-Turner

Marc Van Allen and Michelle Bacchus

Jim Werner and Chris Bird

11th Grade

Ambassadors: Rina Kunk and Chris Puchalla

Christopher and Ulrike Bergin

Mac and Barb Bernstein

Alice Bodley and Terrie Bjorklund

Rhonda Brunell

Thomas Endres and Joyce Bader

Casey and Barbara Hopkins

Steve and Rina Kunk

Paul and Noelle Logan

Stefan Lund and Sari Diller

Jerry and Cynthia Moore

Valerie Powers

Carlos Powers

Gregg and Lisa Robinson

Robert Shapiro

James Sires and Tricia Long

12th Grade

Ambassador: Kevin Hovland

Dick and Chris Berg

Philippe Hermel and Annie Bartoli


Peter and Sharon Hubley

Judy Jeffries

Nick Keller


Martin Livezey and Emily Paulsen

Ed and Amy McCleskey

Eric and Lisa Moholt

Jeff and Tamara Munk

Kevin and Regina Phillips

Cynthia Post

Manuel Rivera and Claudia Vacirca

Sam Smith and Celeste Regan

Morton and Beverly Toole

Laurent and Carole Van Huffel


PARENTS OF ALUMNI

Anonymous

Edward and Noelie Angevine

Geoffrey Aronow and Melinda Halpert

William and Karen Atkinson

John and Ursula Banzhaf

Gary and Francine Bauchan

Edward and Kathleen Beal

Ed and Ellen Bodurian

Lon and Deborah Bouknight

Peter and Jane Braun

Judy and Clarke Brinckerhoff


Marty Cathcart

Geoff Cleasby and Molly O’Neal

Harlan Cohen and Patricia Salas

Julie Connor

Asimina Coroneos

Neil and Trish Cullen

Michael and Laura Cutler


Drusilla Demmy


Karen and Douglas Duncan

Charles and Betty Ewing

Nicholas and Rosalie Fedoruk

Linda Fisher

David Florin and Robin Thomashauer

Frank Fromowitz

Kevin and Kathleen Gilday

Joel Greer and Annie Storr

Peter and Susan Greif

Sean and Nina Hagan

Gary and Nancy Hartz

Mike and Kathy Hill

William and Marie Hoffman

Mary Kay Howard

William and Christina Howells

Anita Isicson

John and Sheila Jonas

Michael Joy and Deborah Fischer

Melissa Kahn

Bill and Bobbie Kilberg


Judith Krivit

Lou and Kathie Kroot

Henry Lavine and Ronda McCrea

Carl Leubsdorf and Susan Page

Hershel Lipow and Susan Siegal

Hal Malchow

David and Jackie Marlin

Tony Marra and Mary Sheehan

John Martin and Michele Pacifico

Kent Mason and Susan Adams

Barbara Mattox

Claire McCarthy

Alan McDonald and Candy Winkler

Rick Messick and Rita McWilliams

Douglas Mishkin and Wendy Jennis

Shaun and Rebecca Miskell

Dalpo and Amy Moroney

Louis and Sherry Nevins

Alan and Elizabeth Pisarski

Gordon and Kathrin Plants

David and Amy Polinger

Pam and Michael Poth

Mary Quirk and Albertino Goncalves

Darby Rove

Fred and Genny Ryan

John and Virginia Ryan

N. Ross and Elizabeth Safford

Perry Saidman


Moire and Raymond Scherl

John and Cecilia Scorah

David and Sandra Sellers

Joseph Shlaferman and Judy Zins

Kenneth Simon and Janet Hahn

Timothy and Elizabeth Smith

Marx and Joan Sterne

Peter and Jodi Susser




Ted and Jennifer Ullyot

Antoine and Emily van Agtmael

Mark and Wendy Wigtil

Tom Williamson and Shelly Brazier

Lawrence and Susie Wolk

Rebecca Womeldorf

ALUMNI

Adam Boldt ‘91

Kevin Bucher ‘91

Charlie Lefkowitz Crowley ‘03

Dave Eskin

Leah Gambal ‘87

Tyler Hartz ‘13

Andrew Jost ‘06

Chris Joy ‘10

Kevin Koerner ‘08

Gwenn Lavine ‘10

Travis Martin ‘13

Adam McDonald ‘13

Sarah Mishkin ‘10

Darrel Parker

Courtney Plants ‘93

Johnny Ryan ‘13

Jon Stocks ‘86

Charles White ‘03

Austin Wood ‘13

Class of 2013

100 percent participation

Peter Berg ‘14

Russell Goodacre’14

Cedric Hermel ‘14

Eli Hovland ‘14

Caroline Hubley ‘14

Justyn Jeffries ‘14

Julia Jensen ‘14

Emily Keller ‘14

Alex Keys ‘14

Eli Livezey ‘14

Shanna Luster ‘14

Shanna Luster ‘14

Ryder McCleskey ‘14

Zac Moholt ‘14

Caldwell Munk ‘14

Sean Phillips ‘14

Camilo Rivera ‘14

Brandon Shiel ‘14

Marilena Siegel ‘14

Orli Siegel ‘14

Anya Smith ‘14

Nick Van Huffel ‘14

David Walters ‘14

54379_Txt.indd 29 11/6/14 8:29 AM


GRANDPARENTS

Ms. Pauline Alexander

Mrs. Felicia Angulo

Ms. Joanne Beach

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Braun

Mr. Paul Butler

Mr. John Calkins

Ms. Patricia Calkins

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Cohen

Ms. Carol Cutler

Ms. Anne Davis

Ms. Nicole Despointes

Mr. and Mrs. Barry Deutchman

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewing


Mr. and Mrs. Edward Fleischer

Mrs. Anne Fulton

Mr. and Mrs. Allan Goodman

Mr. Charles H. Gustafson

Ms. Mary Haecker

Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Hall

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Healey

Mr. Richard Hertz and Ms. Doris Meyer

Ms. Diane Hockstader

Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Hoffman

Ms. Audrey Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lasko

Ms. Grace Lerman

Ms. Linda Mercuro

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Milstein

Ms. Rita Myint

Mr. Gene Pfeifer

Dr. and Mrs. Jerrold Post

Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Rosen

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Sahr

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Sarajian

Mr. and Mrs. W. Marshall Schmidt

Mr. Menlo Smith

Ms. Janice Sorensen

Ms. Elizabeth Teferra

Mr. and Mrs. H. Brian Thompson

Morton and Beverly Toole

Mr. Eric Wentworth

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Weston

Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Wiley

Professor and Mrs. Michael Yahuda

FACULTY AND STAFF

Seventy-five percent of the faculty and staff contributed to a combined cam-paign that included the Annual Fund and the Capital Campaign.

Anonymous (2)

Rebecca Alberts

Jaylene Arnold

Cathy Arrington

Audrey Awa

Tony Barnett

Odalis Batallan

Alison Baytop

Peter Beck

Judith Belkin

Noel Bicknell

Wendy Bond

Leslie Bray

Marla Brazier

Kathy Briançon

Judy Brinckerhoff

Kim Brown

Brooke Buchanan

Anne Cafritz

Frank Cappello

Angelo Carmina

Julia Carpenter

Mary Carr

Susan Mebane Carter

Marty Cathcart

Priya Chenthil

Mandy Chmieleski

Rachel Clement

Charlie Lefkowitz Crowley

Doré Culbert

Diana D’Andrea

Stefanie D’Andrea

Sarah DeBolt

Patricia Devine

Allison Duggan

Karen Duncan

Jenn Durham

Meg Edson

Rachel Epstein

Victoria Erat

Doug Fagen

Elizabeth Ferrante

Marc Ferrara

Trudy Fleisher

Lori Forbes

Matt Frattali

Sharon Frost

Emily Glodzik

Rebecca Gracia

Audra Gray

Karen Hanish

Daniel Hartmann

Kelly Hassan

Courtney Heldman

Chris Hernadi

Jeff Herrity

Abby Himmelrich

Lisa Holley

Vicki Howard

Jenny Howe

Grayson Isenberg

Cheryl Jackson

Mark Jarvis

54379_Txt.indd 30 11/17/14 1:31 PM

31

Wendy Jennis

Margie Jurist

Barbara Karayn

Martha Kiger

Kevin Koerner

Leila Kramer

Eleni Kranias

Bob Lane

Azure Lea

Kristine Letschin

Bunny Lilly

Sarah Lowenberg

Jessica Lux

Jodie Macht

Francisco Maravilla

Laurelle Sheedy McCready

Abe McDowell

Katie McGinn

Lisa McMahon

Diana Meltzer

Claire Menegus

Ali Meyer

Kay Lauren Miller

Shaun Miskell

Chris Molishas

Mark Moverman

Pat Murray

Torey Nelson

Catie Nicholson

Evelyn Novins

MacRae O’Brien

Peg O’Donnell

Brittani Ogransky

Craig Omerod

Amanda Palmer

Darrel Parker

Tiffany Parry

Tracy Paskoff

Carlos Powers

John Racette

Rana Rassai-Valian

Amy Reichert

Deb Roeseler

Gonzalo Romero

Nadia Romero

Tanya Rorie-Bryan

Nancy Rowland

Amal Saade

Francesca Saavedra

Katherine Schantz

Moire Scherl

Neela Seldin

Avery Shattuck

Yvette Shepard

Jennifer Sherman

Judy Shincarick

Heather Sills

Robin Snellgrove

Kira Sonberg

Hipolito Soriano

Eden Springer

Andrew Stevens

54379_Txt.indd 31 11/6/14 8:29 AM


Jon Stocks

Peter Susser

Barbara Turner

Carolyn Uscinski

Megan Van Dyke

Rachel Verrill

Ted Wakar

Kristin Wallace

Margaret Wasaff

Ilene Weinbrenner

Jim Werner

Ben West

Robin Wexler

Debby Wise

Steve Wolfe

Lawrence Wolk

Melissa Wood

Amy Young

FRIENDS

Lab deeply appreciates the support of our many friends, including former staff, board members, grandparents of alumni, relatives of current students, and former Gala awardees.

Anonymous (2)

Ms. Mary Ann Kopec Allen

Mr. David Apatoff and Ms. Nell Minow

Mr. Joseph Blessing

Ms. Carolyn Calkins

Mr. and Mrs. Bayard S. Clark

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cobert

Dr. Martha Bridge Denckla

Ms. Elizabeth Edminster

Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Edson

Ms. Elizabeth Ellis

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Fleckenstein

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Greer

Mr. Eric Hager

Mrs. Anne Hartz

Mr. John Hilton

Mr. Charles Hoyt

Mr. and Mrs. Ford A. Kalil

Ms. Andrea Kisiner

Mrs. William Leedy

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Logue

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Lowe

Mrs. Millicent Mailliard

Mrs. Jacqueline B. Mars

Mr. Fred Martin Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. John McDermott

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Merson

Ms. Bonnie Nicholson

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Obus

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Orlando

Ms. Ann Pellegrino

Mr. Carter Perry

Ms. Margot Reid Platt

Ms. Eleanor Lombard Roberts

Mr. and Mrs. Emil Ruderfer

Mr. and Mrs. D. Stephen Seawright

Estate of Mary Averett Seeyle

Mr. Scott Sherman and Ms. Julie Rothman

Mr. Steven Sokolow and Ms. Abby Jennis

Mr. Charles M. Stevenson

Mr. Robert Sugar and Ms. Helen Rea

Mr. Stephen Tiber

Ms. Mary Lloyd Wadden

Mr. William White

Mr. Victor Winkler

CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND MATCHING GIFTS

AIG

ARX Communications LLC

The Babcock and Wilcox Company

The Dorothy G. Bender Foundation, Inc.

Clark-Winchcole Foundation

Edwaldan Foundation

Flamboyan Foundation

Gannett Foundation, Inc.

GE Foundation

The Goldberg Group

Hewlett Packard

The Sally F. and James Scott Hill Foundation

IBM Corporation

JP Morgan Chase Foundation

Lab School Women’s Group

Mars Incorporated

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation

Poses Family Foundation

Premium Title and Escrow LLC

ScoutIt, Inc.

Shippy Foundation

SunTrust Foundation

TCH Group LLC

Tides Foundation

United Jewish Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation

United Way of Greater Atlanta

United Way of the National Capital Area

Verizon

The Washington Post

Wiley Rein LLP

54379_Txt.indd 32 11/17/14 1:31 PM

33

54379_Txt.indd 33 11/6/14 8:29 AM


Developed in China and brought by traders to Europe and America in the early 1800s, tangrams have long been a captivating puzzle — intriguing and beguiling in their ability to transform seven simple shapes into countless forms. Children with learning differences can appear to be puzzles, at first. Yet, like the tangram shapes that can form one inspiring and inspired shape after another, our students at Lab prove that their potential is limitless when their talents are shaped and realized — sometimes in unexpected ways.

At our 2013 Gala — the Gala’s 29th year — The Lab School of Washington honored the power of creativity and the wonder of finding innovative solutions — and applauded the achievements

of the honorees, the Honorable Dannell Malloy, governor of Connecticut, Tiffany Coletti Titolo, managing director of Translation LLC, and Lab’s own Elementary teacher and alumna Charlie Lefkowitz.

These three remarkable people have mastered their learning differences and gone on to achieve great heights in their careers. In their own ways, these role models have inspired our students to dream big, reach high, and exceed all expectations.

29th Annual Gala 2013tangrams:aninspirationalpuzzle

Gala Committee 2013

Honorary Co-ChairsChuck and Lilibet Hagel

Co-Chairs

Joey and Tim McKone

Lalie and Mike Tongour

Corporate Committee ChairKate Fulton

Corporate CommitteeMac Bernstein

Rachelle Bernstein

Steve Cohen

Mimi Dawson

Becca Gould

Vicki Herson

Michelle O’Neill

Leigh Ann Pusey

Hilary Rosen

Terry Thames

Michael Toner

Auction ChairRachel Robinson

Program AdvertisingColleen Browne

Pam Gully

Public RelationsRanit Schmeltzer

54379_Txt.indd 34 11/6/14 8:29 AM

35

29th Annual Gala 2013tangrams: an inspirational puzzle

29th Annual Gala 2013 Extraordinary Underwriter

$50,000 Contributor

AT&T

Underwriter

$25,000 Contributors

Becca Gould and Bob Lagoyda/Dell

Elise and Marc Lefkowitz

Guardian


Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, LLP

DLA Piper

FeinbergRozen LLP

Frechette/Tenhula Family

Wiley Rein LLP

Benefactor


The Honorable John Breaux and The Honorable Trent Lott

Lynda and Davis Camalier

CTIA

Linda Fisher

Harry and Leah Gudelsky Foundation

Klausner Bendler and Associates

The Meltzer Group

Pfizer, Inc.

PhRMA

Syzygy

TCH Group/Lalie and Mike Tongour

Mary Ann and H. Brian Thompson

Verizon

Sustainer

$7500 Contributors

Alston and Bird LLP

America’s Essential Hospitals

American Airlines

Nancy and Alan Bubes

Teresa and Brian Byrne/ Lori Jo and Henri Paul Carbonneau/ Lori and Ben Soto

Cassidy and Associates

Kathryn and Tony Everett/ Chuck and Sara Savitt

GSIS

Sheila and John Jonas

Eve and William Lilley

Hal Malchow

Marsha Pearcy and Kim Sperduto/Chipp and Davina Sandground

Patron

$5,000 Contributors

Anonymous

Airlines for America

Alcoa, Inc.

American Defense International, Inc

Wayne Berman

CCS

Clyburn Consulting

Kim and Craig Cohen

Comcast NBCUniversal

Crossroads Strategies LLC

Ashley and Jason Cummins

Dewey Square Group

Ernst and Young/Carrington/Mundaca

FedEx

Kate Fulton and Bob Kyle/BlackRock

Gelman Management Company/ Mr. and Mrs. William Miller

General Electric Company

The Gibson Group

George Wasserman Family Foundation

Levick Strategic Communication

The Mattox Family

Matoon and Associates

Joey and Tim McKone

Nancy Miller and Walter Romanek

The Nickles Group

Peck, Madigan, Jones and Stewart, Inc.

Polaris Consulting LLC

PriceWaterHouseCoopers LLP

Prime Policy Group

QGA Public Affairs

Rich Feuer Anderson

Hilary Rosen

Alice and Jim Taylor

Kim Tilley and Peter Scher

Time Warner Cable

United States Telecom Association

Venable LLP

Sponsors

$1,000-$2,500 contributors

ACE Group

American Council of Life Insurers

American International Automobile Dealers Association

American Insurance Association

Stephen Baker and Margie Grisius-Baker

Mr. William R. Berkley

Mr. Michael Berman and

54379_Txt.indd 35 11/17/14 1:31 PM


Ms. Deborah Cowan

Mr. Lyndon Boozer

Clarke and Judy Brinckerhoff

Senator and Mrs. William Brock

Mr. and Mrs. Stephane Carnot

Mary Anne Carter

Elaine and Jeffrey Christ

The Cohen Group

Cinthia Coletti

The Crane Group


DCI Group LLC

Dozoretz Family Foundation

Dreisen Capital

Bruce and Claire Drury

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dunkel

Stephen and Debbie Ellick

Melvyn and Suellen Estrin

The Financial Services Roundtable

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fitzgerald


Glover Park Group

Goulston and Storrs


Hogan Lovells US LLP


Peter Jacoby

Nick Keller

Learning Ally

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc.

Paul Macrides and Anna Kyriakoudas

Mayer Brown LLP

Richard McAlonan and Rachelle Bernstein

Mike McCurry

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory McGillivary

Denny Miller Associates

The Honorable and Mrs. M.B. Oglesby


Michael Silence and Mary Ann Carter

The Honorable and Mrs. Alan J. Simpson

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP

Nino R. Vaghi Foundation Inc

Mr. Ward H. White

Mr. Bernard Wunder and Ms. Caroline White

Daniel and Angela Yergin


Contributors

$250 +

Dan Adcock and Pam Wasserman

Anderson, Davis and Associates, CPA


Mrs. Felicia Angulo

Melina Bellows

James and Rosemary Belson

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Benton

Mr. Anthony Bernhardt and Ms. Lynn Feintech

Curtis and Peggy Blake

Abba and Loryn Blum

Eduardo and Michelle Bocock

Benjamin Brown and Rebecca Bond

Marty Cathcart

Chain Bridge Bank

Ms. Louise Chambers

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cobert

Steve Cohen and Nissen Ritter


Irineu de Carvalho Filho and Maria de Carvalho

Ms. Anne Davis

Scott and Stephanie Deutchman

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Dezenhall

Ms. Julia Diaz-Asper

Ms. Nancy K. Dove

Mr. Michael Flannigan and Ms. Allison Nyholm

Robert and Melissa Friedland

Mr. and Mrs. John Froemming

Cam and Catherine Funkhouser

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gillespie

Albertino Goncalves and Mary Quirk

Russell Goodacre ‘14

Jon Greenblatt and Linda Adams

Mr. Vincent Griski and Mr. Cameron Knight

Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Groh

Salomon and Jasmin Gruenberg-Reisner

Shelly M. Hall M.D. LLC

Alison Harwood

Katherine Hazard


Lee Hockstader

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Houstoun

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Howe

Tom and Susan Hutton

Chris and Lori Jones

Adam and Andrea Joseph

Rick and Karen Karas

Peter and Debbie Keefe


Chris Kirkpatrick

Mark and Kelly Klapow


Barney Krucoff

Kulter Family Philanthropic Fund


Mr. and Mrs. Mark Lerner


Ed and Amy McCleskey


Chris and Heather Morrison


Tiffany Parry


Kevin and Regina Phillips

Rafael Pinto and Marta Rivera

Mr. and Mrs. John Polis

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Powell

Premier Aquatics

Douglas and Valerie Price

Mr. Gerald Prout

Mr. Todd Purdum and Ms. Margaret Myers

John and Amy Repke


Jeffrey and Connie Richards


Manuel Rivera and Claudia Vacirca


Mark and Sally Sagarese


54379_Txt.indd 36 11/17/14 1:31 PM

37

Setty and Associates International PLLC

The Honorable Laurence H. Silberman and Mrs. Silberman

Eric and Rene Simpson

Mr. and Mrs. Albert Small, Jr

Gregary Smith

Mr. Rodney Smith

Lawrence and Stephanie Stack


SunTrust Bank


Tassey and Associates

Ms. Nadia Tongour

John and Jeanine Turner



Mr. and Mrs. Rob Wallace

Michael and Rebekah Weisskopf

Mr. Frank Weyforth

Brent and Ginger Williams

Paul and Suellen Williams

Donors to Auction to Benefit Financial Aid

ABC

All In One Entertainment

Christopher Baer

Elizabeth Birch

BQgranola LLC

Belle Haven Country Club

Melina Bellows

Kim Brown

Café Milano

CakeFest Sugar Art

The Capital Grille

The Carlyle Hotel

Central Michael Richard

Churchill Downs Inc.

Classic Floor Designs

Clyde’s Restaurant Group

Tom Connolly and Nancy Walsh

The Walt Disney Company

Brent Erickson

Tina and Bill Evans

Sheila and David Feinberg

Fiola da Fabio Trabocchi

Folger Theatre & Shakespeare Library

Ford’s Theatre

Georgetown Suites


Jeff Herrity


HF Bar Ranch

Brad and Shannon Holsclaw


Richard Hunt

Adam and Andrea Joseph

The John F. Kennedy Center

Knightsbridge Management Corporation



Jessica Lux

Paul Macrides and Anna Kyriakoudis

Hal Malchow

Marcel’s by Robert Wiedmaier

Sarah Mathias

Tim and Joey McKone

Lisa McMahon

Meet the Press

Monumental Sports & Entertainment

National Geographic

NBC Universal

John and Caroline Osborne

Becky Quinn

Rasika

Redwood Restaurant and Bar

River Creek Club

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club


Hilary Rosen


Marcello Sanguinetti and Daniel Zelikow

Neela Seldin

The Honorable Alan Simpson and Ann Simpson

Ben and Lori Soto


Tosca

US Airways

The View

Bill & Mary Frances Walde

Sissy Yates Designs

Donors to “Raise the Paddle” for Financial Aid

Jennifer Belliveau

Mac and Barb Bernstein

Ms. Mary Elizabeth C. Blee


David and Trish Copenhaver



Victoria and David Erat


Linda Fisher






Ms. Cinthia Haan

Mr. John Heishman

Jon and Nancy Hensley

Michael Hichwa and Anita Brassart

Mr. Jon Kaiser



Mr. and Mrs. Chris Landau



Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Marshall

Josephine Martin and Melissa Meyers

Mattoon & Associates, LLC

Laurelle Sheedy McCready and Ron McCready

Tim and Joey McKone

Diana and Dick Meltzer

Mr. and Mrs. Chris Meyers

Mr. William Miller

Douglas Mishkin & Wendy Jennis

Mr. Edmond Moglica

Jeff and Tamara Munk

Ms. Kathleen G. Nadeau

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Poulin

Andre and Kim Pruitt

Dan and Dana Rice

Mr. Vincent Roberti


Al and Shireen Sabouriane


Dave and Jo Sawczuk

Ms. Katherine Schantz and Mr. Alex Frederick

David Shaffer and Kelly Briscoe


Peter Skerlj and Roberta Alvarez

Mr. and Mrs. Greg Soltis

Ben and Lori Soto

Mr. Steve Spilman



Michael and Jana Toner


Ms. Melanie Twomey


Mr. Marty Wells and Ms. Carol Sargeant

Gus West and Kimberly Kauffman

Wiley Rein LLP

Jamie and Florence Williams

54379_Txt.indd 37 11/17/14 1:31 PM


There are So Many Ways to Give

RESTRICTED GIFTS

After School ProgramAnthony Francis Lucas-Spindletop Foundation

Maya Angelou Public Charter School PartnershipShippy Foundation

Elementary Program GardenTom and Krista Di Iaconi


John Haecker and Jennifer Hoffman

Christopher and Christina Herman

Kathy Hertz



Elementary Program Turtle AquariumMrs. Barbara King

Financial AidLab School Operations Team

Paul Rabil Foundation

Dr Franklin L Stroud MD Foundation for Learning Disabilities

Head of School Discretionary FundThe Edith and Herbert Lehman Foundation

High SchoolGallagher and Co. Real Estate

Junior High SchoolThe Edith and Herbert Lehman Foundation

Power of Arts WorkshopThe Robert Rauschenberg Foundation

Summer SchoolMead Family Foundation

Theatre ProgramDouglas Mangel and Liz Lyons

GIFTS: IN KIND

We are grateful to our many support-ers who provide “in-kind” (non-cash) services or materials to Lab.

Christopher and Courtney Burnham



Mr. and Mrs. Paul Carbonneau, Jr.

Clark Construction

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation


DLA Piper

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Frechette

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Howe

HYP

Mr. Robert Jenets

K C E Structural Engineers, PC

Steve and Rina Kunk

Main Event Caterers

Diana and Dick Meltzer

Todd Minners

Dr. Maya V. Oliver

Ms. Rottanak Ouy

Mr. Fred Pelzman

Perfect Settings

SHW Group Architects

Syzygy Events International

GIFTS: IN MEMORY OF

The names of the persons being remembered are listed in bold. The donor(s) names follow below.

Kaitlin Gallagher ‘13Gene Gallagher/Gallagher and Co. Real Estate

Dorothy HallawayTed and Samira Woodings

Bill MattoxTony Marra and Mary Sheehan

Jessica MillerEmily Glodzik

Jeffrey OchsmanMr. and Mrs. Eric Dezenhall

Sally SmithNicholas and Rosalie Fedoruk

Mr. and Mrs. Bayard S. Clark

Sally Smith Memorial FundMr. Jim Rowe and Ms. Lisa Adams

Sally Smith Memorial Fund in Memory of Alumnus Sterling KingMrs. JoAnne Avery and Mrs. Doris Troutman

Ms. Norgie Bigger

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Bobo

Ms. Florence Boone

Ms. Elaine Bush

Mr. and Mrs. David Fisher

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest L. Garner

Ms. Lori King

Mr. Sterling and Mrs. Robbie King

Ms. Bonnie Nicholson

Mr. Carter Perry

Ms. Margot Reid Platt

Dr. and Mrs. Carl F. Tyner

Ms. Mary Lloyd Wadden

Kimberly Jean WileyDoug and Diane Wiley

Wiley Rein LLP

GIFTS: IN HONOR OF

The names of the persons being honored are listed in bold. The donor(s) names follow below.

John AragonaManuel Rivera and Claudia Vacirca

Alisa BernsteinJon Greenblatt and Linda Adams

Karen Hanish, Avery Shattuck, Amy Reichert, Martha Kiger, Tony Barnett, Rebecca Murrett, Eden Springer, Mollie Walnum, Jen Owen, Azure LeeMichael and Jana Toner

54379_Txt.indd 38 11/17/14 1:31 PM

39

Rea Carey, Margaret Conway, Quinn Carey-ConwayFlamboyan Foundation

Carolyn CoveneyJennifer Click

Alexander CleasbyGeoff Cleasby and Molly O’Neal

Colonial Williamsburg’s Outreach TeamMr. William White

Derrick CohenCraig and Kim Cohen

Charlie Lefkowitz CrowleyMr. and Mrs. Albert Small, Jr

Mimi DawsonThe Honorable Laurence H. Silberman and Mrs. Silberman

Miguel Diaz-LermanMs. Grace Lerman

Connor DunnTim and Hilari Dunn

Meg EdsonMr. and Mrs. Charles L. Edson

Faculty and StaffFrank Cappello


Hershel Lipow and Susan Siegal

Morgan Ritacco, Doug Fagen, Christin Goelz, Grayson Isenberg, Jennifer Howe, Lisa McMahon, Chris LanierMarilena Siegel ‘14

Trudy FleisherShanna Luster ‘14

Sadie FriedmanHenry and Laurie Friedman

Aidan HaeckerJohn Haecker and Jennifer Hoffman

Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Hoffman

High School StaffPeter and Sharon Hubley

Lisa McMahon

Matt HoffmanWilliam and Marie Hoffman

Mrs. Howe and Mrs. WiseRyder McCleskey ‘14

Caroline Hubley ‘14Ms. Carolyn Calkins

Ms. Patricia Calkins

Wendy JennisMr. Steven Sokolow and Ms. Abby Jennis

Logan JohnsMichelle Bernard

Steve JohnsonRussell Goodacre ‘14

Sam KinterMr. Richard Hertz and Ms. Doris Meyer

Bailey LynchJenny Quinn

Luca MaggsAimee Imundo

AIG Matching Grants Program

Michael MarlinDavid and Jackie Marlin

Shaun Miskell and Katie McGinnJon Greenblatt and Linda Adams

Tim McKoneMr. Lyndon Boozer

Sarah Mishkin ‘10Mr. and Mrs. Michael Obus

Ms. Mithani and Laurie MatzDavid and Rachael Jennings

Carter Mills’ Third Year Teachers at The Lab School Marshall Mills and Michelle O’Neill

Caldwell MunkJeff and Tamara Munk

Catie NicholsonPeter and Jodi Susser

Michelle O’NeillKutler Family Philanthropic Fund

Ms. Owen’s 2013-2014 ClassAlex Diaz-Asper and Rachel Lerman

Amanda PalmerAllan Freedman and Heather Morgan

Charlie PellegrinoMs. Ann Pellegrino

Griffin Lesemann PhillipsDana Lesemann

Leigh Ann PuseyMr. Joseph Blessing

Morgan RitaccoShanna Luster ‘14

Orli Siegel ‘14

Moire Scherl Claire McCarthy

Rebecca Womeldorf

54379_Txt.indd 39 11/17/14 1:31 PM


Neela SeldinElizabeth Birch

David Florin and Robin Thomashauer



Charlie and Diane Hinson



Lou and Kathie Kroot


John Martin and Michele Pacifico

Travis Martin ‘13



Eric and Lisa Moholt




Hilary Rosen

Jesus Soriano and Corinne Graff


Marilena Siegel ‘14Ms. Elizabeth Teferra

Brandon ShielMorton and Beverly Toole

Speech and Language DepartmentRachel Verrill

Bill Tennis’ 60th BirthdayMr. Scott Sherman and Ms. Julie Rothman

Alec TongourMr. and Mrs. Greg Pryorand

Mike and Lalie TongourMs. Antoinette Rodocanachi

Jari ToumalaPoses Family Foundation


Crystal VogelMs. Andrea Kisiner

Rochelle Weinberger’s motherIrving and Shari Weinberger Foundation

Len Guedalia and Shelly Weinberger

Daniel WolkLawrence and Susie Wolk

54379_Txt.indd 40 11/6/14 8:29 AM

41

54379_Txt.indd 41 11/6/14 8:29 AM


The Parents Association of The Lab School of Washington (PALS)

The Parents Association of The Lab School (PALS) had an active and fulfilling 2013-2014. Thanks to your help and energy, we were able to make some significant contributions to our students, teachers, and staff. Our primary engagement was in the following areas:

Staff Appreciation and Support

We hosted two breakfasts and one lunch for staff this year. Lab parents enjoy showing their appreciation by providing delicious food and helping serve Lab’s hardworking employees. It is true that the best way to the hearts of staff at Lab is through their stomachs! We also provided staff with specialty cupcakes on behalf of parents during the holiday season. PALS is grateful to Lab for supporting our students, engaging our parents, and deepening connections within the school community.

Community Building

In August, PALS greeted parents at its annual Welcome Back Coffee. Volunteers arrived early at both the Reservoir gym and the Foxhall library to set-up coffee and treats and to offer a warm welcome to new and returning parents.

In September, we provided a network of parents to support our teachers. PALS sought room-parent volunteers within the first few weeks of school and, by the end of the month, we garnered 100 percent participation. Our improved outreach to parents led to an increased number of class potlucks and social outings.

In October, we held the first of five PALS parent meetings. Throughout the year, we offered morning and evening meetings so that all parents could participate. These meetings included a discussion forum led by a Lab expert who spoke on a topic of interest. For example, Judy Shincarick, director of Lab School’s Occupational Therapy department, provided an excellent overview of OT services. Director of the Speech and Language department Melissa Wood cogently described her department’s work. Also, Head of School Katherine Schantz provided state of the school updates. These were wonderful opportunities for parents to meet, talk informally, and share community building ideas with the Ms. Schantz.

It was a busy year! PALS helped create and continues to co-sponsor the popular Elementary division parent discussion. Once a month, Lab staff and parents discuss timely issues such as student transitions, math skills building, and mindful parenting. In January, PALS sponsored its first half-day outing for all divisions. The half-day Kettler Iceplex event was a smash hit. Parents chatted rink-side while scores of kids skated and socialized. This event led to smaller, parent-sponsored class- or grade-based events later in the year.

PALS builds community throughout the year. PALS’ big event, though, is the Spring Fair. With its games, food, rides, music, and dancing, the Spring Fair is always, and was once again, a huge success. New games, new vendors, sunny skies, and strong attendance made this year’s Spring Fair simply delightful.

Everett, Savitt, Soto, Butler, Vacirca

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Communication

A priority for PALS this year was to improve communication among parents and between parents and the school. To that end, we maintained and augmented our outreach. We published our 12-month, colorful calendar, linking our students’ artwork with school and PALS events. To regularly communicate with parents, we sent monthly email blasts to announce PALS meetings, outings, and volunteer events. We also sent parent reps to monthly Parent Council of Washington meetings where our volunteers engaged with parent associations from area independent schools. And as we mentioned above, our parent meetings and our robust room-parent network improved communication with and connection within our community. This allowed us to reach out to parents living in the immediate neighborhood and engage them in local issues. We made great strides this year!

Our success over the past year is owed to the tireless efforts of our officers, events chairs, volunteers, Lab staff, and all Lab parents in our wonderful community. Thank you for all that you do and for your continued involvement with PALS.

PALS OFFICERS 2013-2014

Officers

Sara Savitt and Julie Butler, Co-Presidents

Thomas Bryant, Vice President, Community Building

Kathryn Everett, Vice President, Communication

Claudia Vacirca, Vice President, Finance

Hadley Boyd, Parents Council Rep

Committee Chairs

Community Building

Julie Butler, Spring Fair

Kathryn Everett and Sara Savitt, Welcome Back Coffee – Reservoir

Diane Wiley, Welcome Back Coffee – Foxhall

Jackie Sink, Grandparents’ and Relatives’ Day

Lori Milstein, Half-Day Outings – Reservoir

Appreciation and Support

Kathryn Everett, Room Parent Coordinator

Linda Adams, Staff Appreciation Breakfasts – Reservoir

Michelle Bernard, Staff Appreciation Breakfasts – Foxhall

Linda Adams, Staff Appreciation Lunch

Communication

Mary Fran Miklitsch and Matthew Dawson, Calendar

Kathryn Everett, Parent Meetings and Forums

Lalie Tongour, Elementary Discussion Series

Finance

Claudia Vacirca, Treasurer

Nominating Committee

Diane Wiley, Elementary

Jenny Quinn, Intermediate

Marsha Pearcy, Junior High

Lori Milstein, High School

ROOM PARENTS 2013-2014

Foxhall Campus

Marcelo Sanguinetti

Karen Sahebzadah

Rachel Lerman

Jana Toner

Anita Brassart

Tamara Steffe

Sharon Cohen

Chris Kirkpatrick

Michelle Bernard

Pam Gully

Vicki Herson

Reservoir Campus

Sally Sagarese

Allsion Soffer

Kathy Hertz

Lisa Balzereit

Lisa Hohenemser

Suellen Williams

Michelle Senko

Claudia Harvie

Alice Taylor

Teresa Byrne

Davina Sandground

Kim Baxter

Salwa Baroody-Trudel

Mary Fran Miklitsch

Lori Milstein

Tessa van der Willigen

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Graduation june 6, 2014

Left to right, top row: Zachary Moholt, Eli Hovland, Camilo Rivera, Brandon Shiel, Caldwell Munk, Ryder McCleskey; middle row: Nicholas van

Huffel, Cedric Hermel, David Walters, Russell Goodacre, Alexander Keys, Peter Berg, Eli Livezey, Justyn Jeffries; bottom row: Caroline Hubley, Anya

Smith, Marilena Siegel, Julia Jensen, Emily Keller, Orli Siegel, Shanna Luster, Sean Phillips.

“Because the faculty and support staff are so involved with each individual student, we can really see their evolution over the years. Students go from survival mode to feeling like they can do anything.”–lab school teacher

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Graduation june 6, 2014

2013-2014 Academic Achievement Awards

Senior Awards, June 2014

AP Calculus – Eli Hovland and Camilo Rivera

Physics – Eli Hovland

Earth Science – Caldwell Munk

Probability and Statistics – David Walters

Government – Alex Keys

Modern World History – Orli Siegel

English 12 – Eli Hovland

Model UN – Eli Hovland

John Otto Award – Caldwell Munk

Admissions Ambassadors

Marilena Siegel

Ryder McCleskey

Eli Hovland

Tide Turners Club

Shanna Luster

Sean Phillips

Caroline Hubley

Emily Keller

Kaitlin Marie Gallagher Award

Shanna Luster

Eli Livezey

Justyn Jeffries

Caldwell Munk

Community Service

Sean Phillips

Eli Hovland

Eli Livezey

Russell Goodacre

Camilo Rivera

Senior Thesis – Orli Siegel

College Acceptances for the Class of 2014

Allegheny College

American University

Bethany College

Boston University

Bowie State University

Bryn Mawr College

Champlain College

Clark University

College of Southern Maryland

Columbia University

The Culinary Institute of America

Curry College

Davidson College

Dean College

University of Delaware

University of Denver

Elon University

Gallaudet University

George Mason University

Gettysburg College

Green Mountain College

Grinnell College

Guilford College

Hampshire College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hood College

Johnson & Wales University

Keene State College

Lake Forest College

Landmark College

Lehigh University

Lewis & Clark College

Lincoln University

Lynchburg College

Macalester College

Marist College

Marshall University

University of Mary Washington

McDaniel College

University of Michigan

Misericordia University

Mount Saint Mary’s University

New York University

Northwestern University

Oberlin College

The Ohio State University, Agricultural Technical Institute

University of Pittsburgh

Reed College

Rhodes College

Roanoke College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Saint Michael’s College

Shepherd University

Springfield College

St. John’s College

Tulane University

Unity College

Ursinus College

University of Vermont

Washington and Jefferson College

Wesley College

West Virginia Wesleyan College

Westminster College

College of William and Mary

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We Want to Hear from You!

AlumniNot to worry! We have not forgotten you, alums … how could we?

We will feature our Alumni Notes in the Winter/Spring issue of LINK.

In the meantime, send us your family and career news at [email protected]. Photos are welcome, but must be high resolution. All submissions are subject to editing.

Get connected! Follow The Lab School of Washington on

Facebook and Twitter.

fb.com/labschoolofwashington twitter.com/labschooldc

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Writer and Editor: Victoria Tilney McDonough

Writer: Sarah Valente

Design: Oliver Munday

Principal Photography: Joe Rubino

Director of Institutional Advancement: Marty Cathcart

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The Lab School of Washington 2013-2014 Annual Report

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