Phoenix

News of the School
FROM THE HEAD’S DESK by Doug Jennings, Head of School
Doug Jennings
There are many ways by
which Park Tudor School
is continually assessing its
program and making improvements
that ensure that our students
will be successful 21 st
century citizens. My personal
method is to ask friends and
acquaintances who are leaders
in business and not-for-profit
organizations, “What are you
looking for in the next person
you hire?” Putting aside
specific skill sets (which can
often be learned on the job),
the criteria always boil down
to three: communication
skills, the ability to work on
a team, and personal integrity.
When these criteria are
applied to a Park Tudor education,
we feel we are doing
well and we are eager to do
even better. I am proud of
the daily examples I see of
strong character in our students;
and I am pleased that
our graduates report that they
are extremely well prepared
in writing, speaking and technology
skills. Our emphasis
on full participation in academic
and cocurricular activities
ensures that all students
appreciate the challenges and
rewards of teamwork.
In this issue you will read
about our success in one of the
most obvious of team efforts:
athletics. Recently, however,
as I looked around school for
the best practices in teambuilding,
I found a sterling
example on a different side
of campus…in our theater.
Within our theater offerings is
a program that is outstanding
while being literally “behind
the scenes.” The students and
teachers who work together
to present a production that is
technically sound are a model
of group achievement.
Our technical theater efforts
are led by Rob Hueni, a master
builder and member of the Park
Tudor faculty for 18 years.
Rob teaches courses in drama
and technical theater and from
these classes emerge volunteers
for every job needed to
mount a production. From the
moment a play is selected,
the students begin a threemonth
project of designing
and implementing sets, lighting,
sound, props and stage
management. Every piece of
the puzzle is approached as a
Technical Theater Director Rob Hueni talks with junior Elise Whitaker in the
theater workshop about the set design for the production of “Footloose.” Rob
holds 2-year-old daughter Caroline, a frequent visitor to Park Tudor.
learning experience, with Rob
advising but handing the leadership
and decision making to
the more experienced of the
student technicians. “How do
we light the murder scene?
How can we simulate a moving
train? How can we build
sets with multiple functions?
How can we stay within budget?”
The tech crew for a typical
show can be 40 students.
Students train other students
in specialty areas, and rules
of safety are carefully adhered
to. There may be five teams
of carpenters working on five
sets, all of which come together
as the production nears. In
the end, the best aspects of
technical theater are seamlessly
integrated into the show,
and therefore accepted in the
whole of the experience. By
design, the student manager
whispering commands into
a headset is not heard, and
the technician at the lighting
board is not seen. As student
carpenter Elise Whitaker said,
“It’s great when it all comes
together.” Skilled, diligent
students working side-by-side
with a master teacher in a collaborative
project produces a
great feeling of group pride
and accomplishment. Not to
mention a darn good show.
4 PARK TUDOR PHOENIX SPRING 2007