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Headmaster's Notes
Dr. Vincent M. Stumpo, Headmaster
By way of the generosity of those who contributed to our Historic Restoration Campaign, Linden Hall has been able to complete or is currently in the process of completing the following very exciting campus improvement projects this summer:
- Honeycutt Lounge has been completely redecorated and refurnished. New carpeting has been installed, light fixtures changed, new wall treatments applied, new furnishings have been purchased, and flat-screen HD televisions installed. We are very excited about the new look and feel of Honeycutt.
- Continuing toward the dorms, the Bridge has been newly carpeted and freshly painted. New furniture has been added there as well.
- The two student lounges in the Horne Dorm have been redone with new furniture, plasma HD televisions, newly painted accent walls and new flooring.
- On the upper floor of the Annex Building, two new student study areas have been created: one furnished with desks, and the other with the furniture that was previously in Honeycutt. New paint and air-conditioning also are being added.
- Two new science classrooms have been created in the new wing of the Steinman Building. On the lower floor, a large room will be equipped with new lab benches, stools, and a SmartBoard for chemistry classes. On the upper floor, a new room will be similarly outfitted for classes in Conceptual Physics (Grade 8), Physical Science (9), and Honors Physics (12).
- On the first floor of Stengel Hall, new carpeting has been installed, and the walls have been newly painted. The Main Office has been refurnished and redecorated.
- The exterior of the Steinman Building has been entirely repainted. Exterior windows on the south side of Stengel Hall have been repainted, and the exterior windows on the north side of the Castle have been repainted or replaced.
- Thanks to the generosity of one of our Board members, the central garden area has been re-landscaped with additional new landscaping planned for the fall.
- A practice field on the south end of the campus has been regraded and reseeded.
In independent schools, tuition and fees generally cover only about 85% of the operating costs of the school and none of the cost of capital projects like those mentioned above. The Annual Fund and the Auction raise the funds necessary to cover the balance of the year's operating cost. However, the school relies on special gifts to the Historic Restoration Campaign to fund campus improvement projects like the ones mentioned above. So, I hope you will give generously to both the Annual Fund and the Historic Restoration Campaign (you may contact June Stine at the school) so that we may offer the finest living and learning experiences to the very special young women of Linden Hall.
Advancement Announcements
June Stine, Director of Advancement
The new 2007-2008 school year is almost here. Our first exciting event to bring the community to campus and raise funds for our Historic Renovation Project will be our September 22nd Fall Horse Show. This is the last show of the Linden Hall Summer Horse Show Series that began in May. The Fall Horse Show has been held for many years and always turns out to be a fun day for the entire family with food and other family activities besides the riding events.
Linden Hall has a wonderful sponsorship opportunity for you. We are inviting our families and friends to become involved with the September show and sponsor a class, a division final, or a series division final. As you know, our school and riding program bring many visitors to the Borough of Lititz and to our campus. Since we are a nonprofit (501 (c) 3) institution, any money donated as a sponsor is tax deductible.
We have three categories of sponsorship available:
- A Class Sponsorship for $50.00. A Class is one riding event. We will have 40 Class events.
- A Division Sponsorship for $100.00. There are 14 Divisions. Several classes make up a division, and the rider who wins the most points in the classes that make up a division, wins that division.
- Series Division Sponsorship for $200.00. There are 14 Series Divisions. A rider who has competed in the 4-series shows throughout the year with the most overall points in a division wins that series.
As a sponsor, your name will be listed in the program under the event you are sponsoring and will also be announced during the event you have sponsored. You will also receive a special invitation to a Champagne Breakfast the morning of the September 22nd Fall Horse Show underwritten by long-time Lititz residents, business owners, and dear friends of the school, Tom and Jill Oehme. We are very pleased to have Trustees Paula and Tom Haughey, parents of Kaitlin '06, again as the overall Linden Hall Fall Horse Show sponsors.
All proceeds from the sponsorships will be used to make improvements to the campus and historic buildings. This summer many wonderful improvements were done to our buildings and campus, but we need to do more in the future. The riding facilities are used for all of the following: horse shows open to the public, our summer day camp for girls 6-12 years old, the Lancaster YMCA riding camps, our overnight riding camps, local individuals taking riding lessons, and our award-winning equestrian team including girls from Warwick High School. During the year our buildings host many community events; weddings and receptions; a Girl Scout troop; Science Explorers camp; and local volleyball, soccer, and lacrosse teams. Our capital fundraising focus this year is to update the campus facilities and "preserve the history of Linden Hall."
Linden Hall would like to make this an enjoyable way to help the school. We hope you will consider sponsoring a category. Please contact the Advancement Office (717-626-8512 or stine@lindenhall.org) for more information or to add your name to the sponsor list. We need to hear from you by September 7th to have your information included in the program.
Thank you for your consideration, and please join us on September 22nd for a day of fun!
Parents' Association Alerts
Cindy Boscov, PA President 2004-2007
The 2006-07 school year was a busy one for Parents' Association volunteers. Last August, volunteers parked cars on our campus during the Lititz Craft Show. In October, the auction committee began monthly meetings, and a weekly on-campus volunteer commitment started in November. At the end of the first trimester, parent volunteers worked to distribute Linden Hall water bottles as a "study hard for exams" gift for each student. Hot chocolate and chocolate-dipped fruit treat coupons for Café Chocolate were distributed at the end of the second trimester. Prior to the December holiday season, parent volunteers delivered special monetary gifts to the faculty and administration. The Parents' Association sponsored a faculty/administration "thank you reception" on April 12th. We arranged with "Share the Bread" band to provide a special evening of entertainment for the community, as well as Linden Hall students. It included an after-performance meet-the-band reception with refreshments. Throughout the year, parent volunteers continued to coordinate the sale of used uniforms and to market our cook book. The Friday prior to third trimester finals we distributed a special Linden Hall personalized back pack to all students and faculty.
On Parents' Weekend in May, we held our 3rd annual Parents' Association and Alumnae Association co-sponsored reception and auction. Our goal was to expand the event, and we succeeded nicely. The gym was transformed into an elegant auction house as the evening began with a large group of parents, faculty, trustees, alumnae, and friends socializing and bidding on 180 silent-auction treasures. We dined on a delicious array of hors d'oeuvres, served with a wide selection of wine and assorted beverages. From 6:30 to 7: 30 pm, we auctioned 15 fabulous live-auction items and capped off the evening with a 50/50 raffle won by Mimi Cooper. The total amount raised in raffle ticket sales was $4000 with Mimi as a $2000 winner. But, best of all, we raised $22,000 from the event. After expenses were deducted, the balance was shared by the Alumnae Association and the Parents' Association.
A big thank you to those of you who supported this event, either by contributing an auction item, purchasing an ad or a raffle ticket, sending in monetary donations, volunteering your time, and/or attending the auction. I am very proud of what we accomplished for our school, our faculty, and our students. But, I am most pleased to announce that the Parents' Association donated $25,000 to the Linden Hall Building Restoration Fund.
We would also like to express our great appreciation for everyone who volunteered to help the Parents' Association with the Rotary Craft Fair this summer.
We are very fortunate to have a single-sex school with such a long history, steeped in tradition, enriching our daughters' lives. My daughter, Rachel, is a senior this year, but my hope is, after she graduates, she will have the opportunity to visit the campus for many years to come. Some day, she may choose to continue the tradition by sending her daughter to Linden Hall! We have begun the work of laying a foundation for the future.
Our new Parents' Association president, Dale Keeney, has a very ambitious agenda for the 2007-08 year. Please connect with her if you'd like to participate in any or all of the exciting events planned for this year.
Thank you for a terrific three years.
Academic Updates
Sally Watkins, Academic Dean
An exciting school year is about to begin with integral changes to the academic program that have brought about teachers' thoughtful analyses of their classes and important changes to our AP courses. Although the faculty has produced syllabi for their courses in the past, this year everyone has followed a process for both improvement and standardization of the year's course work. And, although we have provided AP classes in the past, this year our courses needed approval from the Advanced Placement Board.
To standardize format, teachers followed a specific procedure for what to include in their syllabi with three specific areas: course procedures and expectations, a timeline of topics to be covered, and a detailed outline of each topic. This process resulted in syllabi that are clear and comprehensive, showing specifically what is being taught throughout the year in each course a student takes. After teachers wrote their syllabi, conferred with each other, their department heads, and sometimes the Academic Dean, they then submitted their work to their department head for suggestions, corrections, or clarifications. Each department head then forwarded the syllabi to the Academic Dean who examined them for standardization of form and clarity of timeline and outline. After syllabi have been approved, they will appear on our Linden Hall Website.
Along with syllabi, teachers of Advanced Placement courses faced a change in what they needed to do to actually teach these courses: earn approval from the Advanced Placement Board. To begin the approval process, in the spring teachers worked with Administrative Assistant, Lindsay Bowman, who conducted an in-service program to guide teachers through the requirements set up by the AP Board. First of all, teachers had to submit an approval form by fax, initialed by Dr. Stumpo, to the Board. After that step, teachers then worked on their syllabi to follow the format set for each AP course; these syllabi averaged seven to eight pages in length. Then came the electronic submission of their syllabi to the Board and the waiting for final approval. At various times throughout the summer, teachers received notification that their courses either needed minor revisions or were approved. At this point we are delighted that our AP courses have received approval!
As you can see, much academic work happens over the summer in order to prepare even more for a school year that challenges our students, offers many opportunities for growth, and allows for satisfaction in what has been accomplished.
Academic Spotlight: Science
Dr. Vincent M. Stumpo, Headmaster
The faculty and administration are both excited and proud to introduce a new Science Curriculum at Linden Hall beginning with this 2007-08 academic year. This new curriculum is predicated on the natural flow of scientific thought. Specifically, with physics as the study of the fundamental laws which govern the physical universe, chemistry then becomes the application of these laws to atomic and molecular systems, and biology involves the investigation of macromolecules essential for life. Physics explains chemistry which underpins biology. To support the learning process in this new curriculum, the school has invested in new science technologies and will utilize two new science rooms. All very exciting!
By grade level, the new Science Curriculum will be structured as indicated below:
Grade 6: Earth Science*: An introduction into the basic principles of geology, oceanography, and meteorology.
Grade 7: Life Science*: An introduction into the basic principles of biology and physiology with an emphasis on the characterization and classification of living organisms.
Grade 8: Conceptual Physics^: Conceptual Physics in an introductory course in physics which emphasizes conceptual understanding of the basic principles governing the physical universe. There is essentially no mathematics involved. The central belief upon which the course is founded is that if students can develop a conceptual understanding of physical principles at a younger age, then they will be better equipped to master physics when the language of mathematics is applied in later courses.
Grade 9: Physical Science^: The name of this course was chosen for logistical and transcriptional reasons; however, the curriculum is different from traditional Physical Science courses. Linden Hall's Physical Science curriculum offers a skills-based course designed to best prepare students for the additional science classes they will take in future years. An emphasis is placed on scientific arithmetic, dimensional analysis, graphing techniques, investigations of Newton's Laws of Motion and basic principles of Mechanics, algebraic tools commonly used in science, computerized laboratory techniques, fundamental analytical chemistry techniques, and a detailed analysis of atomic structure and chemical periodicity which will prepare students for the study of chemistry.
Grade 10: Chemistry^: This course is a traditional college-preparatory class in Chemistry emphasizing Atomic Structure, Chemical Periodicity, Bonding, Gases Laws, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Equilibrium, Acid-Base Chemistry, Electrochemistry, and an introduction to Organic/Biochemical molecules.
Grade 11: Biology^: Going beyond the traditional discussion of the characterization and classification of living organisms offered in the Life Science course in grade 7, this Biology course will draw upon the chemical principles mastered in grade 10 to allow for a more detailed examination of biological systems at the molecular/genetic level.
Grade 12: Physics^: This course is a traditional college-preparatory, mathematically-based class in Physics emphasizing Kinematics, Dynamics, Momentum, Energy, Rotational Motion, Waves and Vibrations, Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics.
Grade 11-12: AP Science classes and non-AP Electives#: Depending on an individual student's interests, skill levels, and motivations, a wide variety of AP and non-AP science electives are possible in grades 11 and 12.
*Note: Earth and Life Science classes can be offered in either grades 6 or 7.
^Note: Classes in Conceptual Physics, Physical Science, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics will be offered at both Standard and Honors levels.
#Note: For 2007-08, upper-class Science electives will be offered in AP Environmental Science, Honors Physics, and Anatomy and Physiology.
On the Boards
Dennis Foreman, Drama Director
Thornton Wilder's Our Town has been called "the" great American play. Performances of Our Town will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, during October's Parents' Weekend, October 26-28. I am pleased to announce that Linden Hall's own Mr. Ken Trani has accepted the role of the Stage Manager, who narrates this tale of life in Grover's Corners, New Hampshire in the early 1900's.
We are pleased to announce that student auditions for this artistic masterpiece will be held on Tuesday, September 4th at 6:30 pm. Twenty roles are being cast. Upper school students will be asked to read from the script. Copies of Our Town will be available for perusal in the school library. All upper school students are encouraged to audition!
Between the Lines
Linda Mummert, Athletic Director
Week-long residential basketball camp was held in August on campus. Players were housed by the Pilkington family (Kris will be a sophomore) and were treated to two clinical sessions a day along with team-building activities. Head coach Bob Kauffman served as camp director with guest coaches working different sessions for the ten players who participated.
Pre-season tennis began on August 13th for local students and full team practices begin on August 20. Scrimmages with Donegal and Warwick will be held on August 22 & 23 before school begins. Coach Terry Robb and staff are working with players.
A volleyball team clinic will be held Sunday, August 19 from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. There will be two-a-day workouts beginning Monday, August 20. New head coach Ryan Strait is looking forward to building our team this year.
New for the fall will be a club for cross country. Team will practice beginning August 29. Coach Steve Scicchitano will develop this program.
The equestrian team will participate in the IEA competitions this year along with a number of open shows. Team try-outs will be held in September. Riding Director Jen Merris-Dolk will lead the program.
For all of your athletic information, please bookmark the Linden Hall Sports Calendar and sign up for instant notification of schedule changes and breaking news!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Headmaster's Notes
Campus upgrades completed this summer as part of the Historic Restoration Campaign
Advancement Announcements
Fall Horse Show on September 22nd and sponsorship opportunities
Parents' Association Alerts
2006-07 Year in Review
Academic Updates
Advanced Placement curriculum approval process and curriculum updates
Academic Spotlight
The Science Curriculum receives a major reorganization to bring it in line with current recommendations from the National Science Teachers Association.
On the Boards
Auditions for fall production of Our Town
Between the Lines
Basketball Camp, pre-season fall sports, cross-country club, equestrian team, and the sports calendar
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Sunday, August 26
Opening Day
Monday, August 27
Coffee with Dr. Stumpo
Orientation Day
Mini-classes as Day 1
Tuesday, August 28
First regular day of classes
Day 2 schedule
Thursday, August 30
Senior Day
Senior Picnic
Monday, September 3
Labor Day
no classes
Thursday, September 6
EXPLORE Testing
7th & 8th Grade
Friday, September 7
PLAN Testing
9th & 10th Grade
Friday, September 14 to
Sunday, September 16
Blue & White Weekend
Monday, September 24
Fall Book Talk
Friday, September 28
Fall Midterm Grading Cut-off
Linden Hall Calendar
Weekend Activities
Sports Calendar
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