September 2008 |
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"To educate is to lead out of ignorance." Mary Kimball Morgan
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Speaker Series: Live and On the Air
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Calendar
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Principia College Hosts Leadership Conference
Fresh faces and enthusiastic students mark the start of any school year, but during this past Labor Day weekend, nearly 350 Christian Science teens from across the country filled College residence houses and classrooms to participate in the 2008 DiscoveryBound Leadership Conference. It was the first time Principia hosted this annual event, and for many participants, it was their first visit to Principia College. During the 3-day event, students and DiscoveryBound chapter workers took part in group discussions and workshops, attended talks, played games on the Chapel Green, and even traveled to the Upper School to enjoy some carnival-style fun. The conference theme, "Be the Light," was well received by participants. "It was incredible to be part of it," one high school junior says. "The metaphysical ideas shared by everyone were awesome, and so inspiring. By keeping our thinking Godward and shining our light, we can reach out to others and make a difference in our schools and communities." |
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A New School Year BeginsThough spoken in 1932 by Mary Kimball Morgan, these words ring true today: "At the beginning of each year, when I see our young people coming to us from far and near, I am impressed anew with the sacred responsibility that God has vouchsafed to us in permitting us to undertake the training of these girls and boys" (Education at The Principia, p. 67). With new curriculum initiatives, new leadership, and students eager to learn, there's plenty of excitement and enthusiasm brewing on both campuses. As the new school year begins, Principia's total enrollment on both campuses stands at 1,050 students. 516 students comprise the College student body, which includes 162 new students (freshman and transfers). Principia College is increasingly a global institution with nearly 20% of the student body representing countries outside of the US, including Angola, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, England, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Spain, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Uruguay, and Zambia. A total of 534 students are enrolled at The Principia School. Upper School consists of 269 students (149 boarders, 120 day). In Middle School, there are 81 students (18 boarders, 63 day). Lower School (grades 1-6) includes 132 students. Thirty-nine students attend Pre-School, and 13 infants and toddlers make up the Acorn program. Among the Upper School and Middle School boarders are 17 international students representing Australia, Brazil, Botswana, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Kenya, Nigeria, Trinidad-Tobago, and Uruguay. |
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Principia's Dutch Connection ExpandsA group of Principia Trustees and executives participated in the dedication near Amsterdam of a vast new manufacturing plant for Cordstrap, the Dutch company willed to Principia by Fred Van Eck after his participation in several PACE sessions. Since we received this company in 2000, it has grown in value from $12 million to roughly $130 million of our endowment. Cordstrap manufactures straps, lashings, and other equipment used in anchoring loads of all sorts on trucks, trains, ships, and so on. At the dedication event, Cordstrap executives repeatedly remarked how pleased they were that their efforts and profits are contributing to the good of an educational institution and helping Principia students. |
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Campuses Get Network UpgradesAlthough campus buildings still look quite familiar on the outside, it's what's on the inside that counts. And thanks to a full schedule of activity this summer, the CIS Department accomplished major upgrades to the network infrastructure on both campuses. At the College, Voney Art Studio and the School of Government now meet industry standards for telecom and data, as well as new networking hardware. In addition, these buildings now offer WiFi computer access. Plans are underway for the Science Center to have new network hardware and wireless access soon. On the School campus, the Upper School Academic Building, the entire Middle School, and all dorms received wiring upgrades and now have wireless computer access. |
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Speaker Series: Live and On the AirOn Saturday, September 27 at 8 p.m. (CDT), Vicente Fox comes to Principia as part of the College's George A. Andrews Distinguished Speaker Series. Fox is the visionary leader and former President of Mexico, and an important voice on the contemporary geopolitical landscape. Now, thanks to Principia Internet Radio (PIR), you can enjoy a front row seat for this fascinating event. Listen from your living room, kitchen, or even the local coffee shop--as long as you have a computer with an Internet connection. As always, speaker series talks are free, and if you're in the area, you might prefer to attend in person. To reserve your tickets, send an e-mail to tickets@principia.edu or call 618.374.5161. Learn more about the 2008-2009 speakers series. View a PDF of the full-page ad appearing in the Sept. 19 issue of The Christian Science Monitor. Caution: Listening to PIR could become habit-forming. Special events broadcasts, music, athletic events, call-in talk shows, and student programming air 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Learn more about PIR. |
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Solar Car Team Takes Second in
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After years of designing, building, fixing, and racing more and more complicated solar cars, the solar car team of Principia College earned second place in the North American Solar Challenge, marking the biggest victory ever in a cross-country race. Out of 15 cars that started the July race from Plano, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta, only the University of Michigan came in ahead of Principia (racing a car 11 times more expensive than Principia's Ra 7). In the second of three race stages--from Neosho, Missouri, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota--the Principia team took first. At the conclusion of the race, Principia also received two additional honors: the Safety Award and a Technical Excellence Award for their photovoltaic solar array. In a daily report from the road, a team member conveyed, "All of the teams that are out on the road with us stand to benefit from our clear thought and conviction that God is the only power at work."
Read the press release.
See the full-page ad that appeared in The Christian Science Monitor on Friday, August 1.
Clark Beim-Esche Receives Creative Teaching Award
Mark Twain--along with a love for all his writings--is alive and well thanks to Upper School English teacher Clark Beim-Esche. "It was a desire to encourage my students to love reading, while getting to know Mark Twain in depth. . ." that resulted in an innovative project for English and US History AP juniors. "In my 35 years of teaching, I've never been happier developing any piece of curriculum than I have been with The Mark Twain Project," reports Beim-Esche. In recognition of his efforts, Beim-Esche was presented with a first-place award for his creative teaching. His lesson plan is also posted on The Mark Twain Museum's website so that other teachers may use his creative unit in their classrooms.
Read the full article from the Purpose.
Educators Attend Four-Day Conference
Forty teachers and administrators from all levels--Pre-School through Upper School--spent four days in Nashville this summer at a conference sponsored by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. The program focused on three areas of education: differentiated instruction, a curriculum model called Understanding by Design, and what works in schools. "Some of the things we talked about," says head of school Marilyn Wallace, "were assessment, how to provide appropriate feedback for students as they're working through a curriculum unit, how to grade them, and how to report grades to parents."
Tablet Computers Debut in
Middle School
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Starting this year, Middle School students have shed backpacks for laptop cases. Each student has been issued a tablet computer for use during the entire school year. The tablet computers are being integrated into the daily routine of instruction in the classrooms in order to enhance teaching and learning. Science teacher Sandy Cowen views this technology as an integral tool to his teaching. "I'm thrilled with what I'm seeing," he said, "It's exciting to see the students so enthusiastic about learning." Giving students the opportunity to do better research, organize their notes, and complete assignments on their own computers enables teachers to differentiate for individual learning styles, to provide students with more consistent feedback, and to assess student work in fresh ways.
Thanks to this technology, heavy textbooks have been replaced by e-books for many classes. These electronic books provide students with a digital version of their printed textbooks. While paper and pencils aren't going away, students can also take notes right onto their computer screens using a special stylus. This enhances their organizational skills and allows them to access their notes with a click of a mouse. Principia's decision to lease the computers means that families are only being charged an annual $100 tablet technology service fee, rather than the nearly $2,000 purchase price.
Spanish Spans All Levels
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¿Habla usted español? Starting this year, students in Pre-School through 6th grade can respond "sí," thanks to the introduction of Spanish as part of their classroom curriculum. Previously, Spanish was not formally offered until Middle School. New faculty member, Michelle McCurties, sees a lot of enthusiasm and willingness to participate among her students. Each student attends Spanish class three times per week. Students in Nursery through second grade spend 20 minutes per session and students in grades three through six spend 30 minutes per session. There are three primary goals, explains McCurties: "Expose students to the language, enrich their learning experiences, and enhance their understanding through vocabulary and expressions."
New Leadership at the College, and Some New Faces, Too
Dr. Scott Schneberger, Dean of Academics
Scott is an Illinois native and Principia College graduate. He comes to the College from the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University, where he was an associate professor and co-executive director of the Center for Applied Research on Emerging Technology. Scott has presented at numerous conferences, taught business information systems courses in three countries to both undergraduate and graduate students, and published numerous articles and teaching cases. He also served 20 years as a naval intelligence officer, retiring at the rank of Commander.
Dr. Joe Ritter, Assistant Dean of Academics
Joe joined the Principia College faculty in 1995 as an assistant professor of chemistry. He was promoted to associate professor in 2000 and professor in 2005. He has been served as Chair of the Chemistry Department, a faculty advisor to the Principia College Solar Car Project, and Director of the Engineering Science Program. Joe has also served on numerous College committees and as a faculty mentor for the past nine years. He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois and both a master's degree in computer science and a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware.
Dorsie Glen, Dean of Students
Dorsie began her career at Principia in 1989 as resident counselor in Clara McNabb. She has served as residence director for the past 11 years and has been resident counselor on multiple field abroad programs.
Lee Ellis, Athletic Director
Lee has been Principia's head women's soccer coach since 1996 and is a five-time St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Coach of the Year. His teams have won the prestigious National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for 12 consecutive years. Ellis-coached teams were also recognized for sportsmanship and ethical conduct by both the SLIAC Conference and NSCAA in 2006 and 2007. While at Principia College, Ellis has served as the NCAA compliance coordinator, and most recently as associate athletic director.
Brian McCauley, Dean of Enrollment Management
Brian has extensive experience in government, business, and entrepreneurial endeavors. He served as assistant to the governor in Washington State, founded two companies in the satellite television business, and served as the managing publisher of The Christian Science Monitor. Brian has a master's degree in education with an emphasis on character development.
Women's Soccer Wins Big on the
West Coast
There's nothing like traveling together to get the season off to a strong start. After two wins each in Illinois, the Principia men's and women's soccer teams headed west to Southern California, where they each played three matches. The men won one of their three; the women won all three. In fact, at the time this lands in your inbox, the women are undefeated, with a 7-0 record so far this season.
As sweet as victory is, however, the biggest win for the women may have come off the field. Carol Griggs, assistant women's soccer coach, stressed the importance of building team unity early in the season. "It was a fantastic trip," she said, "a wonderful opportunity to strengthen camaraderie, trust, and love among team members." Thanks to West Coast supporters, both the men's and women's teams stayed at team members' homes, and at the final West Coast games against Whittier College, fans and family turned out in force to cheer the Panthers to victory. To top it off, the Principia Club of San Gabriel Valley, working with the Alumni & Field Relations Office, coordinated a festive lunch that was served along the sidelines.
Where in the World Are Students
This Fall?
Elsah isn't the only place College classes are taking place this fall. Two study abroad trips are in session--in England and Japan.
Eighteen students, two faculty members (Heidi Snow and Chrissy Steele), and a resident counselor (Caleb King) are traveling in England, researching Shakespeare's life and works, rehearsing Much Ado about Nothing at the Globe Theatre, and viewing as many plays as possible. On the one hand, the abroad allows theatre majors to strengthen their acting skills through a deeper focus on the language and literary themes of the plays. On the other, it enables English majors, generally more comfortable reading than acting, to engage the plays as performances.
Far away from both Elsah and England, another group of 17 students leaves September 22 for Japan with Linda Bohaker, associate professor of business administration, and resident counselor Daniel Schneider. A cross-disciplinary study of Japanese society, this abroad examines modern Japan with an emphasis on culture, history, language, and contemporary society. In particular, students focus on the key events and forces that have shaped Japan's history and culture, and define its society today.
Upcoming trips to Greece and the French Riviera round out the 2008-2009 study abroad offerings.
Learn more about the Japan Abroad.
Learn more about the England Abroad.
Reunion 2008 Welcomes Home
650 Alums
Principia College alums came to Elsah by planes, trains, and automobiles to take part in this summer's reunion weekend. Current and former faculty, staff, and alumni offered presentations in their areas of specialty, including classes titled "Humorology 101," "Hollywood Does History," "Reconciliation Made Real," and "Look Who's Dancing." The many weekend highlights included a concert by the '60s tribute band New Invaders, class parties, a networking reception, time to play in the new athletic facilities, and Maybeck architecture tours by Robert Craig. Reunioners overwhelmingly gave the event a thumbs-up. "There was no end to the fun," commented one first-time attendee and 15-year reunioner. "Hanging out with friends I hadn't seen in years was truly the highlight. As different as we all are, everyone just clicked, even with those I didn't know that well as a student. None of that mattered." Another attendee added, "Yes, the shakes at the Pub were still as good as I remembered."
50th Reunion Classes Set Fund-Raising Records
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Graduates of the Upper School class of 1958 celebrated their 50th reunion with 78 percent of their class present. They had good reason to cheer when they presented a check to Principia for $1,014,271 to establish an endowed student aid fund. Their gratitude for the enduring friendships developed on the Page and Belt campus was abundantly evident in this first-ever $1 million-plus gift from a single Upper School class.
The Upper School classes of 1954 & 1955, the Junior College classes of 1956 & 1957, and the College classes of 1958 & 1959 celebrated their 50th reunion this past summer. Their love for and support of Principia abounded as they reconnected with friends and remembered their days on the bluffs of the Mississippi. Inspired by the generosity of the US'58 class, this group raised $1,015,000 for an endowed student aid fund.
An Overview of President Palmer's Fall Convocation Address
"Why Students Are Not Our Customers: Principia's Educational Partnership and Community of Practice"
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College President Jonathan Palmer began Fall Convocation with a reminder of the season's freshness and promise. "This is a great time of year," he said. "All the pencils are sharp and everyone has an A!"
Dr. Palmer focused on two key attributes of that promise--partnership and practice. To underscore the role of students at Principia College, he distinguished between customers and partners. Customers, he explained, come into a business establishment only once in a while; they're rarely involved in the production of the product or service they seek; they're "always right," and they don't engage in extended conversation with suppliers.
As partners, on the other hand, students are consistent participants, not occasional visitors; they're fully engaged in the learning (or production) process; they are definitely not "always right" (no one person here is, he noted); and finally, students as partners are engaged in deep, rich, ongoing conversations.
Specifically, Principia students are, in Dr. Palmer's words, "partners in a community of practice at a global institution that values individualized, hand-wrought, experience-based education." And although they are not senior partners, their perspective is essential in the creation of the best possible community of practice.
What exactly is a community of practice? Dr. Palmer explained, "Communities of practice are used around the world to bring together people who have similar interests, capabilities, and job responsibilities. . . . The community of practice creates increased responsiveness and innovation, brings new members up to speed faster, and avoids reinventing the wheel."
At the College, Dr. Palmer emphasized, "Quiet Time is an important part of our continuing development of a community of practice. It is our daily time set aside to focus our practice on the community as a whole, . . . to heal apparent problems and concerns and to support the ongoing harmony and activity of the community."
To underscore the importance of consistent practice, Dr. Palmer referred to the virtuoso pianist Ignacy Paderewski, who was also a composer, diplomat, politician, and the third Prime Minister of Poland. As Paderewski said, "If I don't practice for one day, I know it; if I don't practice for two days, the critics know it; if I don't practice for three days, the audience knows it."
Dr. Palmer then put practice in a more personal context by reminding listeners of the difference between saying, as a Christian Scientist, "I can't" vs. "I don't." He explained, "Choices abound at Principia related to drinking, pharmaceuticals, pre-marital or extra-marital sex. There is a significant difference in saying 'I can't because I am a Christian Scientist,' and saying 'I don't need to because I am a Christian Scientist, because I have other ways through Christian Science to handle pressure, have a good time, build relationships, express myself.'"
In conclusion, Dr. Palmer encouraged the community to partner together to achieve a community of practice whose graduates meet Principia's founder's expectation, identified in her 1934 Commencement address: "The world needs purposeful men and women--men and women who are fitted to be leaders in every avenue of righteous activity" (Mary Kimball Morgan, Education at The Principia, p. 173).
With that, Dr. Palmer set the stage for a new tradition of welcoming new students at Principia College. He dismissed everyone except the new students, whom he then led through the Colonnade, which was lined with the rest of the audience--returning students, staff, and faculty--applauding and welcoming the new class.
To hear or download a podcast of Convocation, including Dr. Palmer's full address, please go to www.principia.edu/radio.
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