Headmaster's Notes
Dr. Vincent M. Stumpo, Headmaster

As this is most likely the last eBulletin of the 2007-08 school year, I thought I would share with you my State-of-the-School review.

When I arrived at Linden Hall in the summer of 2006, it became quickly evident that the school faced four serious challenges that had to be immediately addressed if Linden Hall was to be competitive in the arena of US girls' boarding schools.

First, the school had run a series of annual deficits during much of the preceding decade. Obviously, this threatened the long-term viability of the school and was an issue that could only be addressed by a substantial increase in tuition, a considerable reduction in spending, or both. At this time, I am very pleased to report to you that Linden Hall completed last year with a balanced budget, will do so again this year, and the Board of Trustees has approved a balanced budget for next year. As importantly, this extended record of fiscal responsibility was accomplished with modest (or no) increases in tuition, and in a manner which has provided needed and significant increases in faculty compensation. How was all this accomplished? Most of the success in this area can be attributed to better spending controls and "right-sizing" our faculty and staff which had grown far too large for a school of our size.

Next, an audit of the school's academic program was long overdue. After completing a thorough review in the summer of 2006, we found programs within our curriculum that were successful and others that needed a considerable overhaul. While curricular review and improvement will be an annual process in future years, we have already experienced some impressive success. For example, our graduating class of 2008 has recorded the highest average SAT scores in the history of the school, a feat which now places Linden Hall in the top ten of all US girls' boarding schools and at (or near) the very top of all schools in Lancaster County. The actual numerical increase in our SAT scores represents a dramatic and substantial improvement from recent years. In addition, we are approaching the conclusion of our first year operating with an entirely new Science curriculum throughout grades 6-12. While comprehensively changing a curriculum is always challenging, we believe that after only one year Science has gone from one of our weakest programs to one of our strongest.

A third challenge that came to light in the summer of 2006 was that our admission program had to change substantially. In previous years, the Admission Department had not been entirely successful at attracting a student body in which every student was academically qualified for a college-preparatory curriculum. To address this situation, a new Admission Director and Assistant Admission Director were hired in 2006. Two years later, we are convinced that the student body which will begin the 2008-09 school year will be significantly stronger than the one that began the 2006-07 academic year. In addition, we project that enrollment will be 15% larger. Such dramatic improvements in both the quality and the quantity of the students are clear indicators that the Admission Department and the faculty are operating at higher levels than in years past.

The final problem that required immediate attention in July 2006 was the substandard physical condition of the buildings and grounds on campus. To address this, we have recently completed an impressive series of projects: Honeycutt Lobby redecoration; Horne Dorm Lounge refurnishing; new carpeting in the Horne Dorm; Upper and Middle School Day Lounge redecoration; new windows added to Stengel Hall and the Castle; painting of the exterior of the Steinman Art Building, Stengel Hall, and the Castle; new carpet and paint on the first floor of Stengel Hall; adding electronic whiteboards - Smartboards - to all Math and Science rooms; and several other projects. Please keep in mind that campus improvements of this type are not paid for with tuition dollars or with contributions made to our Annual Fund. During the last 20 months, we have raised over $1 million in donations from Board members, alums, parents, and friends of the school in a targeted effort to improve our campus.

In addition, we have a full slate of campus restoration projects scheduled for this summer, including--and we are most excited about this project--the complete renovation of the Science wing in the lower level of the Steinman Building. Our architect, Jeff Chambers, has already designed the new Science facility, and our Board recently authorized the project to begin. Our anticipated opening date for the new Science facility is this coming fall (2008).

As you can see, it has been a dynamic and successful two years. The Board, Faculty, and Administration look forward to a bright future at Linden Hall, one in which we will remain "committed to excellence in the education of young women… as (the school) strives to prepare young women to assume the leadership roles of their generation."

College Counseling News
Susan Kirkland, Director of College Counseling

Seniors are attending events for accepted students and making final college decisions. Enrollment deposits are due by May 1, the national student response date, as are notifications to colleges declining admission offers. Members of the Class of 2008 have been accepted to excellent schools, and scholarship monies totaling $1,088,000 have been received. It has been a wonderful year, and I wish all the girls continued success in the future!

Juniors have completed a Common Application, the information form which can be used to complete any college application, and they are asking teachers for recommendations. Research is continuing, and college lists are being defined. Students should visit colleges over the summer months and return to school with final lists. Juniors will also have access to the SAT on-line course throughout the summer, so they should be well prepared for the tests they will take in their senior year.

Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 have registered for the appropriate SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, TOEFL, and AP tests. April and May are always very busy testing months, and the girls are busy studying!

Sophomores have been given the self-evaluation papers from the college handbook, and they have been encouraged to clarify their thinking during the summer vacation. Parents will also receive these papers for the purpose of facilitating good conversation. The self-evaluation process is the first and most important step in the entire college process.

My door is always open, and you are invited to contact me or come in at any time.

Academic Update
Shaaron Lavery, Assistant Head

International Night on April 9 was a huge success. Students from Korea, Mexico, the U.S., and China performed dances, dramas, songs, tae kwon do, Native American flute music, and Irish step dancing. Our international students also appeared in a fashion show modeling dresses from their countries. It was a very exciting night that was enjoyed by everyone.

A group of girls accompanied Jen Merris-Dolk to Ireland during Spring Break where they were able to ride and enjoy the Irish countryside. Fun and good riding were had by all.

I traveled with eighteen girls during Spring Break to Berlin, Munich, Prague, and Lucerne. One of the highlights of the trip was riding a cable car and cogwheel train to the top of an Alpine peak. We toured castles, cathedrals, museums, took walking tours of cities, and enjoyed a dinner while being entertained by an oom pa pa band, singers, and dancers.

The girls will begin choosing courses for next year. Their teachers make recommendations for courses for each girl followed by the student meeting with her advisor to make final the final selections.

Middle School Messages
Sally Watkins, Middle School Dean

The Middle School day students have moved into their newly decorated lounge and are loving the bright colors and functional furniture. The lighting is much improved, and students sit around the table, pulling up extra chairs when needed, to spend time on homework. In the back room girls lounge, listen to ipods, or just chat with each other. There are hooks to hang coats as well as new lockers. In fact, I find that many dorm students, as well, make their home in the new facilities. I am also pleased that the girls are being careful to keep the room neat and tidy before they leave for the day. These “new digs” are a much needed and pleasant addition to our middle school atmosphere.

We have already begun preparations for end-of-the-year activities. Girls have been reminded that they must begin searching for the perfect white dress or white skirt and top for the eighth grade graduation ceremony. Also, teachers are reminding students that final exams in the middle school will cover material from the third trimester. We all realize that the year is drawing to a close, but we still have much to accomplish. With every middle school student that re-enrolls for next year, we are delighted and look forward to watching these young ladies grow with us.

In pre-algebra students are learning about data analysis and probability. They learned about different types of data (categorical and numerical) and various data displays (line graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, stem-and-leaf plots, histograms, box-and-whisker plots, and time plots). They discussed how to collect data using different methods of sampling and how to interpret data. We will begin to study permutations and combinations soon. Then we will turn our attention to Venn diagrams, probabilities of disjoint and overlapping events, and the difference between independent and dependent events. We will also use a simulation to find an experimental probability. (Linda Gillingham, teacher)

In seventh grade English the girls have just finished reading the novel Dicey’s Song, which is part of Cynthia Voigt’s series about the Tillerman family. The next novel on the syllabus is the popular classic The Giver by Lois Lowry. Although some girls have already read the book, I remind them that there are always new insights with each new reading. We are just about finished with a grammar unit on punctuation, and I have been adding proof of the importance of punctuation from the cleverly written book Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. In eighth grade these lively girls have just completed a persuasive essay as well as a grammar unit on the basic sentence, including complements. Next week they will begin the novel A Farewell to Manzanar which is the true story of a Japanese girl whose family was interred in camps after World War II. (Jan Snyder-Hess, teacher)

The eighth-grade Honors Conceptual Physics and Conceptual Physics classes are finishing working with waves, sound, light, color, mirrors, and lenses and are moving into a unit on electricity and magnetism, with which we will finish out the year. The girls all had great experiences in the lab seeing first-hand how light combines to make colors, and how light rays are reflected, refracted, and form images. (Jim Rothwell and Jen Cairns, teachers)

Easel, Film, and Clay
Nora Workman, Art Department Chairperson

We have the results of the Scholastics Arts Competition, and once again Linden Hall students were very successful. There were twenty- four students represented in the exhibition with forty-two pieces of art and photography. The following five students combined received 8 Silver Keys for their work: Katherline Groft, Teresa Kroemer, Yoo Kyung Koo, Joo-Hyun Park, and Alejandra Velasquez. We had two Gold Key winners this year, Diana Egnatz and Emma Callahan.

The art/photography that were awarded Gold Keys were then judged in the National Scholastic Arts Competition. We are so proud to announce that Middle Schooler Emma Callahan was awarded a Silver Key on the national level. She and her parents will be invited to a special awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall in June of this year. Congratulations to all the students.

The work from Scholastics was returned to us just prior to Parents’ Weekend and was featured in the Spring Exhibition in the Lyet Gallery. This show also included work from every student involved in the Visual Arts program this year. I heard many favorable comments over the weekend. The exhibition will remain until the end of the school year, so if you are in the area, please take a moment to visit the gallery.

The faculty of the Visual and Performing Arts Department hosted an Arts Recognition Dessert on Monday, April 28, for the students involved in our programs. We enjoyed sharing their accomplishments with their families.

The Village Art Association of Lititz sponsored an art competition/show at the Lititz Public Library this past weekend, and five Linden Hall students participated. The exhibit was for students up to the age of eighteen. There were first, second and third place ribbons for each age group and three special ribbons. I am pleased to share that Middle Schooler Andrea Ruiz was awarded the ribbon for “Most Original.”

Looking ahead, there will be several students participating in the May 9th, Second Friday celebration in Lititz. Linden Hall art students have been asked to participate in creating chalk sidewalk drawings for the event. They are excited and beginning to think about ideas. It is my hope to have photos of the drawings to show in the next e-Bulletin.

Gracenotes
Biba Benjamin, Music Director

Congratulations to all the girls who performed in the Spring Parents' Weekend concert held on Saturday, April 12. The featured performing groups were the Upper School Myrtle V. Eckert Bell Choir, as well as the Middle and Upper School Choruses. They gave a wonderful performance and were professional in demeanor and stage presence. All the girls looked beautiful and full of life in their pastel-colored spring attire!

In addition, there were solo performances from two students who are both juniors. First, Bee-Ah Kang, a violin student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, performed the first movement of a Vivaldi Violin Concerto. Then, Shannon Lee performed “Kiss the Rain,” written by the famous Korean composer, Yiruma. Both girls have shown enormous improvement over the course of the year with long and diligent practice. It was evident in their outstanding performances!

Last, but not least, “Brava!” to Eunice Kim, an eighth grader, and Jane Kim, an eleventh grader, who accompanied the choruses. For both, this was their first experience playing for a chorus in a performance situation. I have spent the past few months training them in the fine art of accompanying which takes not only a mastery of the keyboard but a good ear in discerning the right balance of dynamics between the piano and the performer(s) as well as learning how to listen to the performer(s) while following the conductor. It's a lot of information, or should I say, “auralation” to process at one time. With their fortitude and hard work they did a superb job! I'm proud of them as I am proud of all the performers.

On the Boards
Dennis Foreman, Drama Director

It has been an exciting year on stage at Linden Hall.  Classic theater may have been the theme of this year's drama program with Our Town, Charlotte's Web, and Blithe Spirit.  On Tuesday, April 8, our Drama Queens Competition Team traveled to Lancaster's Fulton Theater to participate in a high school drama festival.  Performing The Laramie Project, our young women were recognized for outstanding ensemble performance, and Abby Milnor-Sweetser was recognized as outstanding supporting actress for the third time in a row!  Congratulations to all.

On Monday, April 28, we hosted students and parents for our annual Arts' Dessert Social.  Recognition was given to students in the performing arts, visual arts, photography, and music.  The competition team ended the evening with a performance of Laramie Project.

Between the Lines
Linda Mummert, Athletic Director

Thanks to Chuck Williams for donating his time and energy to build the stands inside our indoor equestrian arena. They were finished in time for the IEA Regional Zone II championship held at Linden Hall on March 30th.

The Varsity Equestrian Team placed second in the IEA Zone II Regional Championships qualifying them for the IEA National Championships held in Springfield, MA in April 18—20, 2008. Senior Rachel Boscov and Junior Brittany Kosiak led the way earning 1st place honors in their divisions.

At the Championships our riding team captured seventh place out of more than 60 top teams from across the nation.

The Middle School Equestrian Team earned Championship honors in the IEA Zone II Regional Middle School Championships. Elizabeth Kauffman, Emma Callahan, and Olivia Gibney will all compete in the National Championships in April in Springfield, MA.

Thanks to Terry Sweetser for donating box seats at Nationals.

The awards pot-luck dinner will take place in ABS on May 12 at 6:00 P.M.

Both Varsity & Middle School soccer teams are under way with an extensive home game schedule. Over 40 students are participating.

The April 1 chapel was held in memory of our tennis coach Terry Robb. Terry was an outstanding coach and human being--second to none. He will be missed by all.

Student Council Corner
Judy Conlin, Student Council Advisor

The Student Government was very pleased with International Night. For the first time, we had students participate from four different countries as well as from the United States. The evening began with desserts in Lyet Gallery. As people entered the Snavely Theater, they were entertained by a slide presentation showing pictures from the many different countries that are home to students at Linden Hall. As always, the program began with a short fashion show followed by performances.

The young ladies from Korea gave us a wonderful view of their country, its traditions and its history. Min Hee Lee once again performed her elegant and graceful fan dance, Jenny and Eunice Kim demonstrated Tae Kwon Do, and the Middle School students sang a beautiful folk song. A very poignant part of the evening was a slide presentation, prepared by June Park, that contrasted Korea's past with its present.

We were excited to have the young ladies from China and Taiwan participate. Even though many of them were new to Linden Hall, they did a wonderful job introducing their culture to the audience, from a skit about the zodiac to a beautiful song and dance, performed by Kaye Yan and Grace Su. It was exciting to learn more about their traditions and culture. A recurring theme this year was togetherness, with the girls from Korea singing “Hae-na-de-eo” (We Together) by the artist, Now & New, and the girls from China and Taiwan singing together “Friend” by the artist, Zhou Hua Jian. As the girls turned their backs, the audience was able to read the words “One World, One Dream” displayed.

Natasha King, Ogechukwu Erechukwu, Fawziyya Muhammed, and Christine Ogunleye, accompanied by African drumming, performed both modern and traditional dancing from Africa. As always, the Mexican students were energetic and exciting. Representing the United States was Rebecca Mill with an Irish dance, and a wonderful addition this year was Diamond Marquez, a Native American, who played her Native American flute.

A big thanks to all of the girls for their time and effort: a thanks to Mr. Hunnefield for the wonderful slide show, to Mr. Rothwell for his help with the technology, to Rachel Boscov and her committee for the creative and attractive displays in Lyet Gallery, and to Chef Bob and the kitchen staff for the delicious desserts. This was truly a night of tradition, a night of culture, and a night of history.

Student's Soapbox
Rachel Boscov, Class of 2008

Senior Rachel Boscov wrote this piece about an amazing opportunity with her dance group; since Rachel is a devoted dancer and will pursue her dance career in college, this piece chronicles her experience.

The Pulse

Two days, ten routines, thirteen choreographers, 2,500 dancers… and I never knew so many steps could be forced into a two-second count of eight. After thirteen years of dance training, I never expected to suddenly be thrust into a totally different realm of a sport I thought I understood.

Walking into the Imperial Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey with my Encore Dance Studio friends, I could see girls decked out in booty shorts, sports bras, a third of a cut-up t-shirt, and sneakers. In contrast, I wore pink tights, black leotard, and a hair ribbon. This is not what I expected at all. In reality, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I signed up for The Pulse. I imagined a small class of maybe one hundred dancers, all of us dressed the same, and doing moves I could execute pretty easily. In truth, I only learned the first routine really well; then my head started to expand with choreography, until it hurt to think about it anymore. By the end of a seven-hour day, I could barely retain any choreography. However, I’ve never learned so much in two days as I did during this amazing experience.

One reason that made The Pulse so extraordinary was the teachers I had the honor of working with: Luam, Chris Judd, Dave Scott, Mia Michales, Brian Friedman, Laurie Ann Gibson, Shane Sparks, Rhapsody, and Chio. Many of them choreographed or danced with major stars such as Britney Spears, Aaron Carter, Michael Jackson, N*Sync, Cher, Celine Dion, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, and Alicia Keys (and most exciting, Laurie Ann had just finished working with Jesse McCartney!).

Classes ranged from an hour and a half to forty-five minutes but many without a break in between. For seven hours I kicked, slapped, and stepped on random people, trying to dance as full-out as I could possibly manage with a thousand of us crammed into a single room. In addition to moving and learning these routines at the speed of light, 99.9 percent of them were hip-hop. I only started hip-hop this year, which is not very much compared to my twelve years of classically moving to the art of ballet. Needless to say, it definitely took a lot of effort for me to move in such a new way, but I tried my best. All around me I was surrounded by dancers who could pick up the routines after seeing the steps once and who could move like the dancers in an MTV music video.

Luam’s class was first, which was my favorite. I could tell she loved dance and wanted to share her passion with all of us. Her routine also happened to be the one I understood the best; I like to attribute this to the fact that she was an excellent teacher, but it also may have been that my mind hadn’t endured numerous hours of dancing yet. Through the fatigue, I tried to persevere, treating this experience more as a way for me to improve comprehending the routines more quickly to help me for auditions later in my dance career.

More importantly than learning the dance moves, these amazing choreographers, teachers, and dancers once again renewed my love of dance. I learned how to express my feelings and movements in different ways, which only added to my understanding of a sport and business I now know, I only know a tiny bit about. Seeing their passion and skill only encouraged and inspired me to improve and reach my goal.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

Headmaster's Notes
State of the School

College Counseling News
Seniors choosing, Juniors applying, and everyone preparing for AP and other standardized tests

Academic Update
International Night, spring break travel, and course selections

Middle School Messages
Day lounge renovations done, preparations underway for the end of the year, and classroom updates

Easel, Film, and Clay
Scholastic Arts Competition results, Arts Recognition Dessert, Lititz art festivals

Gracenotes
Spring Parents' Weekend Concert

On the Boards
Theater review, Fulton Competition, and Arts Recognition Dessert

Between the Lines
Equestrian Zone II Championships, Equestrian Nationals, Soccer schedules, and Awards Dinner

Student Council Corner
International Night

Student's Soapbox
Rachel Boscov
Class of 2008

PLEASE NOTE:

Password protection is now in place on the alumnae and parent sections of the Linden Hall website. We do this for the protection of your personal information. When you go to www.lindenhall.org and click on one of the password protected sections at the bottom of the page, you will be taken to a login page. On that page is a link that you can use to register on our website. It is easy and takes only seconds!

UPCOMING EVENTS: