HIGHLAND

HIGHLAND 

FALL 2014 ISSUE: 

TRADITIONS: OLD & NEW 

ARE YOU 

BlueORGold? 

Experiential Learning a Highland Hallmark 

Celebrating Finley Broaddus‘ Life and Art 

by Cathy Campbell 

Experiencing Latin Immersion Firsthand 

by Celia Kelly 

www.highlandschool.org 


SCHOOL


SCHOOL 

Board of Trustees 

Mr. Tim Dunn* 

Chairman 

Mrs. Olympia Moshos* 

Vice Chair 

Mr. David Young* 

Treasurer 

Mrs. Heather Iasso* 

Secretary 

Mr. Ike Broaddus* 

Mr. Richard Chadwell* 

At Highland School, our mission is to provide 

a demanding academic and co-curricular program 

that develops the skills and character essential 

for students to meet the challenges of college 

and leadership in the twenty-first century. 

To carry out this mission, Highland School 

has assembled thoroughly modern facilities, 

a large, diverse, and highly qualified staff, 

a student body ready to meet the challenges, 

and an academic philosophy and strategy that 

makes maximum use of these resources. 

Mrs. Karen Flikeid 

Mrs. Hilary Gerhardt 

Mrs. Samantha Gravett 

Mrs. Anne Hall 

Mr. David Hazel (8th, ‘79) 

Mr. Mark Melvin* 

Mr. Randy Minter 

Mrs. Vaughan Myers 

Ms. Diana Norris 

Mr. Lewis Pollard 

Mrs. Wendy Rodgers 

Mrs. Darlene Smith 

Mrs. Lesley Soltys 

Dr. Beejal Taylor 

Mr. David Turner 

Mr. Mark Van de Water* 

Mrs. Jody Warfield* 

Mrs. Laura Tremblay 

Parents Association President 

Mr. Marshall D. Doeller (8th, ‘67), Trustee Emeritus 

Mr. William A. Hazel Sr., Trustee Emeritus 

Mr. Paul Rice, Trustee Emeritus 

*Indicates member of the Executive Committee

Table of Contents 

Fall 2014 

Head of School 

Henry D. Berg 

Writers and Contributors 

Amy Babcox (8th, ‘76) 

Briar Bogin 

Cathy Campbell 

Megan Catalfamo 

Ann Collins ‘15 

Celia Kelly 

Oliver Schwartz ‘15 

Barbara Wilkes 

Graphic Design 

David Henrickson 

Cathy Campbell remembers Finley Broaddus on page 28 

On the cover: Carolyn Treuting ‘18 gets carried away, quite literally, by teammate Grace Barratt ‘18 

at last year’s Barbara Wilkes Field Day. Field Day is the culmination of the year-long athletic and academic 

‘Blue and Gold’ competition for students in grades three through eight. To learn more, go to page 22. 

Photography 


Jon Kraut 

Copy Editor 

Lora Mackie 

Letter from the Head of School 4 

At Highland, our traditions, both old 

and new, connect us to our past and 

help to shape our future. 

Welcome to Our New Faculty 14 

Highland is proud to introduce our 

talented and dedicated new faculty 

and staff members for 2014/2015. 

Latin: It’s Not Dead Yet! 18 

Middle School Latin teacher Celia Kelly 

spent a week last summer speaking 

Latin at a retreat in West Virginia. 

Are You Blue or Gold? 22 

The year-long Blue and Gold 

competition can define and connect 

Lower and Middle School students. 

Celebrating the Life and Spirit 28 

of Finley Broaddus ‘14 

Cathy Campbell celebrates the life 

and spirit of Finley Broaddus ‘14. 

Experiential Learning Programs 34 

at Highland Take Many Forms 

In September, students in all divisions 

ventured out of the confines of the 

classroom to learn by doing. 

Exploring the Galapagos Islands 40 

Upper School students reflect on their 

recent visit to the Galapagos Islands. 

Departments 

News from Around Campus 5 

2014 Graduation Images 12 

Class of 2014 College List 11 

Senior/Kindergarten Buddies 32 

Alumni News and Notes 46 

Class Notes Coordinator 

Briar Bogin 

Director of Communications 


Director of Advancement 

Joy Willey 

Highland Magazine is produced 

by the Office of Communications 

for alumni, parents, and friends 

of Highland School. Letters and 

comments are welcome. Please 

send inquiries to: Director 

of Communications, Highland 

School, 597 Broadview Avenue, 

Warrenton, VA 20186, e-mail to 

dhenrickson@highlandschool.org, 

or telephone 540-878-2717 

facebook.com/HighlandSchool 

Highland School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or ethnic origin in the 

administration of its educational, employment, or admission policies, its scholarship, athletic, and other school-administered programs. 

Fall 2014 Highland Magazine 3

Letter from The Head of School 

Rich Traditions, Both Old and New, 

Connect Our Past, Guide Our Future 

Inside this issue of Highland Magazine, we explore our traditions and recognize 

the generosity of our many donors in the Annual Report section. 

Hank Berg, who 

has served as 

Highland’s Head 

of School since 

2004, has overseen 

an expansion in 

both facilities and 

curriculum. 

At Highland, traditions, both old and new, 

anchor us in rituals that remind us of our core 

values. They are the ceremonies designed 

to connect us to those who came before, 

experiences that all students have in common, 

and community customs that serve to bind 

Highland together across time. 

It is remarkable to me that Highland’s founders, 

Lavinia Hamilton and Dorothy Rust, understood 

key elements in a great education that are still 

relevant more than 80 years later. 

Today, our challenge is to blend the best of 

our longest-running traditions that give us our 

bearings with new traditions that allow us to 

explore, change, and grow. Highland’s timeless 

traditions such as our Honor Code, the yearlong 

Blue/Gold competition and Field Day blend 

seamlessly with Latin, Spirit Week, the Famous 

People Assembly – even our tradition of offering 

hay as the first item at our annual Spring Auction 

– give us our sense of continuity and place. 

Some of our newest traditions have come 

as a result of programs that are young compared 

to our 85 years of history. I’m thinking of things 

like the Robotics Pep Rally and all the shirts, 

songs, quilts, videos, and stories that grow out 

of our Field Studies programs. Our Poetry Slam, 

Coffee Houses, Senior/Kindergarten Buddies, 

Dig Pink, and character themes are traditions 

that have grown organically out of our most 

recently shared experiences. By combining 

these time-honored ideas with innovation and 

creativity, we create the richest environment 

in which to grow for our students individually 

and the Highland community as a whole. 

I know you’ll enjoy reading about Middle School 

faculty member Celia Kelly’s extraordinary 

experience attending a camp where only 

Latin was spoken; appreciate the unparalleled 

opportunity our students had to study ecology 

on the Galápagos Islands with Upper School 

Science teacher, Jon Kraut; and recognize the 

power of belonging to a team in the tradition 

of Blue/Gold. 

“Today, our challenge 

is to blend the best of our 

longest-running traditions 

that give us our bearings 

with new traditions that 

allow us to explore, 

change, and grow.” 

Also in this issue is a tribute to Finley Broaddus 

’14 and her ongoing impact on our community. 

Finally, help us welcome the talented new 

faculty and staff who join a dedicated group of 

adults who challenge and support our students. 

As Highland approaches a century of serving 

this community, let us be thankful for all those 

who have built – and continue to build – these 

traditions of excellence. 

Sincerely, 

Henry D. Berg 

Head of School 

4 Highland Magazine highlandschool.org

News from Around Campus 

Current Chairman of Highland School’s Board of Trustees Tim Dunn sits with newly appointed Trustees Emeriti Paul Rice and 

Marshall Doeller (8th, ‘67) at the 85th anniversary of Highland School in a special celebration held in October in The Rice Theater. 

Two New Trustees Emeriti Announced 

at 85th Anniversary Celebration Event 

In October, the Highland community came together to 

celebrate its 85th anniversary and welcome two new Trustees 

Emeriti, Marshall D. Doeller (8th, ‘67) and Paul G. Rice. 

The Sunday evening event, held the same weekend as the 

International Gold Cup, included great memories, music, 

and the return of some familiar faces to the Highland 

Center for the Arts. Those in attendance, which included 

past board members, former faculty and staff, and alumni, 

heard opening remarks from Chairman of the Board Tim 

Dunn and Head of School Hank Berg and enjoyed a short 

film looking back at the school’s history. 

Mr. Dunn and Mr. Berg introduced Mr. Doeller and 

Mr. Rice. Marshall Doeller, who graduated from Highland 

School as an 8th grader in 1967, served on the Board 

of Trustees from 1992 until 2004. As Chairman of the 

Board from 1997 to 2004, Mr. Doeller was instrumental 

in implementing an ambitious 10-year Master Plan that 

included the construction of Highland’s Upper School, 

which officially opened in 1996. This represented a time 

of unprecedented growth for Highland School. 

Mr. Rice served on the Board of Trustees from 2004 

to 2012. He was Chairman of the Board from 2006 

to 2012 and, along with his wife Gina, was instrumental 

in the design and construction of the Highland Center 

for the Arts and The Rice Theater. 

The Trustee Emeritus program at Highland School was 

formally revised in January of 2014. The first to receive the 

honor, which recognizes former Board of Trustees members 

for their service and generosity, was William A. Hazel. 

Mr. Dunn also took the opportunity to announce the 

contract extension of Highland’s Head of School Hank Berg 

until June 2018. Mr. Berg has guided the school through 

a massive expansion in both facilities and curriculum since 

taking the helm in 2004. 



In September, the Highland community honored 

former board member Jodi Johnson, shown here 

with Hank Berg, her husband, Dale, and Board Chair 

Tim Dunn, for her service and generosity. 

Highland School Convocation 

Kicks Off the 2014-15 School Year 

Head of School Hank Berg and Chairman Tim Dunn kick off the 2014/2015 academic 

year by recognizing the many contributions of former board member Jodi Johnson 

Highland held its annual Convocation in September 

to mark the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year. 

The event, which brings together Pre-Kindergarten 

through Grade 12 students, faculty, staff, trustees, and 

parents, is meant to look for meaning in a new school year. 

“We bring almost everyone together so we can see the 

school as a whole, not just the portion of it we experience 

each day,” said Head of School Hank Berg. “We are 

reminded that we are part of a larger community, which is 

especially relevant with our character theme this year of 

‘Citizenship.’” Chairman of the Board Tim Dunn was also 

on hand to welcome the community to the new school year. 

For the first time in many years, the Distinguished Service 

Award was presented. The award was not meant to be 

given every year, but only to the most extraordinary people 

whose contributions to the school are exemplary. Receiving 

the award this year was Highland parent and former trustee 

Jodi Johnson. Her generosity has taken innumerable forms; 

her service and leadership taking on countless others. 

“I use the word citizenship very deliberately raising my 

children – defining what makes a good and respectful 

citizen in our home, our family, and our community,” 

said Mrs. Johnson. 

“If the ways I’ve participated here at Highland over the years 

have made me a good citizen of the Highland community,” 

Mrs. Johnson continued. “Then I am so pleased and honored 

to accept this recognition on behalf of my family – all of whom 

respect Highland and what it stands for. Any contributions 

I may have made have been with their full support.” 

Senior Philip von Feilitzsch addressed the crowd, 

welcoming everyone to the start of the school year. 



“Allow me to describe to you this school, as I see it,” said Philip. 

“To me, Highland is like a sandbox. It’s a place to play, to have 

fun, to build things, to learn, a place to make mistakes, and 

then be able to smooth them out with a rake and start over.” 

“There are also a lot of toys in the sandbox, things to 

help you build whatever you want; those opportunities 

such as clubs, internships, independent studies, and even 

community service that allow you to discover yourself; 

find out what you like and what you don’t like. Highland is 

a place that allows you and greatly encourages you to find 

your passion and pursue it.” 

Concluding the event was the recessional of seniors 

with their Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten buddies, 

a Highland tradition for nearly a decade. 

“We believe you are responsible for the quality of the 

community in which you live, work, and learn,” Head 

of School Hank Berg reminded the audience. “Great 

communities do not happen by accident, they happen 

because the citizens give more than they take. People 

put in time, energy, and personal resources to improve 

the quality of their community. This is one of the most 

important things you will learn at Highland.” 

Spotlight on Athletics 

Boys Varsity Tennis 

Wins First State Title 

Seniors Thomas, Fenton, and Bartz 

lead team to victory over North Cross 

Highland School’s Boys Varsity Tennis team won its first 

VISAA Division II state championship title and our school’s 

11th state title with a 5-4 victory over North Cross School 

from Roanoke. The state tournament was held at Collegiate 

School in Goochland. The team finished the season with a 

record of 11-1. 

The team was led by seniors Jack Thomas ‘14, Adam 

Fenton ‘14, and Tim Bartz ‘14. Bartz won a critical doubles 

match with partner Rich Gerhardt ‘16 to seal a hard-fought 

victory and title. 

“The match came down to the last doubles match 

and we ended up pulling out the win,” Boys Tennis Coach 

Paola Riccetti said. “It was a great season with a great bunch 

of guys who all truly deserve this win.” 

The boys rolled through the Delaney Athletic 

Conference for their fourth consecutive DAC title with wins 

over Fredericksburg Academy and Wakefield School, who they 

also beat in the first round of the VISAA state tournament. 

“I am so proud of the boys and all of their 

accomplishments this season,” Riccetti said. “We have three 

amazing top players and some really great overall athletes 

filling out the rest of the lineup.” 

In addition to Thomas, Fenton, and Bartz, the 

championship roster included Manolo Cortes ‘15, John Deal 

‘16, Jonathan Finley ‘14, Nick Finley ‘16 Rich Gerhardt ‘16, 

Mac Hartley ‘17 James Jarvis ‘14, Eli Kidd ‘17, Hampton 

Massie ‘18, and Travis Stolterfoht ‘15. Varsity coaches are 

Paola Riccetti and Robert Hampton. 

Jack Thomas ‘14, who is playing Division I tennis 

at Wofford College in South Carolina, helped lead 

the Highland Boys Varsity tennis team to their first 

VISAA Division II state title in May. 



Lego Expo Introduces Students to Engineering 

Robotics teams comprised of Lower and Middle School students practice their 

engineering, design, and presentation skills before attending regional competitions 

Held in the Lower School in October, Highland’s Lego Expo was an exciting event for teams and families alike. With the 

challenge theme of “World Class Learning Unleashed,” students showed projects to judges and practiced their teamwork 

and presentation skills before their first regional competition of the year in November. 

Thanks to all the faculty and staff who gave these teams an awesome introduction to engineering and design thinking. 

Claire Mello organized the evening with teachers Betty LaPrade, Charity Duncan, Lindsey Dengel (8th, ‘89), Laurie 

Mayer, Michele Daniel-Shenk, Miriam Solms and Claire Mello as team coaches. Joe Cate, Diana Hewitt, Jay Hebert, Pat 

Hewitt, Frank Mello, Gary Light, Karen Doucet, and Dale Gillam offered their time as the judges. Andy Keahon presented 

a session with his bomb detecting robot partner, and Tony Edwards, from Ledo’s Pizza, donated delicious pizzas to round 

out the night. Thanks and congratulations to all! 

Spotlight on Athletics 

Donations Drive Acquisition 

of New Baseball Scoreboard 

This Fall, Highland School held a sports memorabilia sale in the Arundel 

Gym. The auction-style sale of donated collectibles will help with the 

purchase of a new electronic scoreboard for the baseball field. “Thanks to 

a very generous donation from current Highland grandparent, Michael 

Higgins, we were able to sort and package up some fabulous collectibles 

from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Overall, the sale was a complete success,” said 

Athletic Director Gary Leake. 

In addition to Mr. Higgins, other contributors include Dodson Pest 

Control, Ben Gravett Enterprises and the Gimbel Family. Installation of 

the scoreboard will be completed prior to the start of the 2015 season! 


Spotlight on Academics 

Class of 2014 Valedictorian Colby Newson (left) and 

Salutatorian Mimi Robinson (right) celebrated their 

graduations from Highland School in June. 

Highland School Community 

Celebrates Graduating Class of 2014 

In her address at graduation, Valedictorian Colby Newson ‘14 reminded classmates 

that “The hero’s journey is not the voyage from weakness to strength. The true hero’s 

journey is the voyage from strength to weakness.” 

In June, the Highland Community celebrated its 49 

graduates with several days of events that culminated 

in the traditional formal graduation ceremony on Friday, 

June 13 in the Upper School Gym. 

The event started with an introduction by Head of School 

Hank Berg. In his remarks, Mr. Berg congratulated the 

members of the Class of 2014 for their resilience and 

character in the face of a challenging year that included 

the death of a classmate and the unexpected passing 

of two parents of members of the senior class. 

“The legacy of this class rests broadly on two things: first 

is the way they treated each other and the example they set 

for the adults and underclassmen when we faced difficult 

things,” Mr. Berg remarked. “The other is the way they 

continued to engage their opportunities to experience 

Highland right to the end.” 

“Perhaps the best examples of this are students who played 

a sport for the first time in the spring of their senior year, 

Mr. Berg continued in his opening remarks. “This is the 

opposite of a ‘Senior Slump.’” (continued on page 10) 


Spotlight on Academics 

Highland School Sends Off Class of 2014 (continued from page 9) 

Mr. Berg then introduced Mimi Robinson ‘14, Highland’s 

Salutatorian, who is attending the University of Virginia 

in Charlottesville this Fall. 

“Trying to define the Class of 2014 is impossible, but 

I believe we will be remembered for our fortitude and 

compassion,” Ms. Robinson reflected in her remarks. 

“This class has weathered more together than many people 

do in their entire lives. We have suffered unfathomable 

loss… loss of relatives, loss of parents, and most recently, 

the loss of Finley.” (more on the legacy of Finley Broaddus 

can be found on page 28) 

“In spite of and throughout the tumult of this year, we 

are making it through because, like Finley taught us, our 

time should be spent advocating for what we’re passionate 

about, while deeply caring for the lives we encounter.” 

Ms. Robinson then introduced Highland’s Valedictorian, 

Colby Newson ‘14, who is attending Duke University in 

Durham, North Carolina. 

After taking the obligatory “selfie” with her cell phone in 

front of the assembled students, families, faculty, and staff, 

Ms. Newson presented her own assessment of the Class 

of 2014 and her experiences at Highland School. “One 

of my favorite authors, John Green, reflected, the hero’s 

journey is not the voyage from weakness to strength,” said 

Ms. Newson. “The true hero’s journey is the voyage from 

strength to weakness, and I don’t think this could be truer 

for us, the Class of 2014.” 

“Our journey through high school has been christened by 

adversity and heartbreak,” Ms. Newson concluded. “Now, 

we are delivered onto a future that only we hold the reins for.” 

Highland’s Middle School 

Graduates Recognized 

Highland School would like to recognize those eighth 

grade students who earned Academic Honors for 

each semester of all four years they were in Highland’s 

Middle School. We are pleased to announce that Honor 

Certificates were awarded to the following students: 

Logan Ancona 

Dean Bailey 

Blake Bogin 

Joseph Dyer 

Lizzie Ellis 

Chiara Hampton 

Alexander Iasso 

Lucas Johnson 

Reed Morris 

Buckley Norman 

Logan Van de Water 

Additionally, we would like to recognize those eighth 

grade students who earned High Academic Honors for 

each semester of all four years they were in Highland’s 

Middle School: 

Cameron Smith 

Abbey Wills 

Thank You to Highland 

“Lifers” and Their Families! 

Highland School would like to thank all the families of 

our “lifers” or students who have attended Highland since 

Kindergarten or Pre-Kindergarten as of Spring 2014: 

8th Grade Lifers 

Kendall Al-Bashir 

Grace Barratt 

Blake Bogin 

Brandon Conlin 

Jenna Devanney 

Joseph Dyer 

Lizzie Ellis 

Caroline Flikeid 

Shayne Herrera 

Lucas Johnson 

Mitchell Kannon 

Justin Mayer 

Reed Morris 

Haley Partlow 

Dillon Rose 

Georgia Scarborough 

Jacey Simpson 

Adam Smedley 

Logan Van de Water 

Abbey Wills 

12th Grade Lifers 

Evan Finley 

Nicholas Kulick 

Donnie Mayer 

Gus Moshos 

Olivia Orme 

Brett Schmieder 

Check out more recent Highland 

School stories and news at 

www.facebook.com/highlandschool 


Highland’s Class of 2014 College Listing 

Listed below are the members of the Class of 2014 and their college destinations: 

Name 

Mallory Ackerson 

Timothy Bartz 

William Brandt 

Jane Braswell 

Finley Broaddus 

Edward Campell 

Lauran Corbin 

Jessica Crew 

Dali Dong 

Sarah Dunn 

Adam Fenton 

Evan Finley 

Jonathon Finley 

Julia Gloudeman 

Joseph Graham 

Erin Herbst 

Trung Nhat Huynh 

James Jarvis 

Rahji Johnson 

Matthew Kelly 

Nicholas Kulick 

Camille LaBranche 

Angela Langdon 

Gregory Lawson 

Joshua Lutz 

Donald Mayer 

Morgan McGlothlin 

Michele Micciche 

Logan Miller 

Samantha Moseley 

Gus Moshos 

Colby Newson 

Andrew Norman 

Olivia Orme 

Henry Pendleton 

Marissa Ray 

Julia Robinson 

Miriam Robinson 

Jacob Rogers 

Christopher Ross 

Grant Salley 

Brett Schmieder 

Sidney Stone 

Yiwen Tao 

Jack Thomas 

Shelby Thornhill 

James Willey 

Bisma Zaman 

Jiayu Zhu 

Destination 

Furman University 

University of Virginia 

Lord Fairfax Community College – Middletown Campus 

Franklin and Marshall College 

College of William and Mary 

Washington University in St. Louis 

Radford University 

Virginia Commonwealth University 

University of California, Santa Cruz 

University of Edinburgh (Scotland) 

Elon University 

James Madison University 

Roanoke College 

College of William and Mary 

Baylor University 


Northern Virginia Community College - Alexandria Campus 


Virginia Wesleyan College 

Marymount University 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 

Georgia State University 

High Point University 

Washington and Lee University 

Radford University 

Flagler College 

Hampshire College 

High Point University 

Christopher Newport University 



Duke University 


Wofford College 

St. Lawrence University 

Virginia Tech 

University of California, Santa Barbara 


University of Colorado Colorado Springs 

Hampden-Sydney College 


Denison University 

Washington College 

University of Redlands 

Wofford College 

University of South Carolina 

Swarthmore College 

Virginia Commonwealth University 

Boston University 


In the Spotlight 

Congratulations 

to the Graduates of 

Highland’s Class of 2014! 

In June, the Highland community came together to 

celebrate the graduation of Highland School’s Class of 

2014. Taking their places in the Upper School gym and 

on the lawn at Winfree Commons, graduates shared stories, 

memories, and one final Highland experience before 

heading off on their next steps. 




Spotlight on Faculty 

Back Row: Michael Black, Eric Olson, Tom Harris, Patrick Morse, Sarah Tomsyck, Lyndsey Marcus, Pat Hewitt, Lise Hicklin, Jane Banse, 

Drew Miller, and Cathy Hartley. Front Row: Hank Berg, Erica Deane, Michelle Cruz, David Henrickson, and Matt Ormiston. 

Highland Adds New Faculty, Staff 

for 2014/2015 Academic Year 

The faculty and staff of Highland School are proud to announce the addition of 14 new members 

to the Highland family. These talented educators and professionals bring a broad range of personal 

and professional experiences and interests to students across Highland’s three divisions. 

Jane Banse, Librarian 

Jane Banse joins Highland School as the Librarian. 

Most recently she was the Librarian/Media Specialist 

and English teacher at Middleburg Academy where she 

not only taught, but developed a new library website and 

a new circulation system. Mrs. Banse brings a wealth 

of experience linking technology and library activities, 

including laptop and iPad programs, cloud-based 

curriculum, and more. She earned a B.A. in Art History 

from Duke University and a Master of Library and 

Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Michael Black, Upper School Math 

Michael Black joins the Highland School faculty to teach 

Upper School Math. Mr. Black previously taught Math and 

History at Newman School in Boston. While there, Mr. 

Black was also the International Baccalaureate program 

advisor, college scholarship advisor, and boy’s varsity 

lacrosse coach. He spends his free time coaching both 

indoor and outdoor lacrosse leagues and plans to use 

his math background to play an active role in Highland’s 

Robotics program. Mr. Black earned a B.S. in Mechanical 

Engineering Technology from the Wentworth Institute 



of Technology in Boston and an MBA in Strategy and 

Leadership from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA. 

Michelle Cruz, Middle School Math 

Michelle Cruz teaches Middle School Math. She comes 

to Highland from the Arden Anglican School in Sydney, 

Australia where she was a student teacher in Math for 

grades 7-10. Ms. Cruz earned a B.S. in Mathematics 

Education from Boston University. While in college she 

was also a member of Sigma Kappa, the Panhellenic 

Council, the Elementary Educators Club, and the 

Transitional Mentor Program. 

Erica Deane, Middle School Science 

Erica Deane joins the faculty to teach Middle School 

Science. Previously, she taught Math at Peter Muhlenberg 

Middle School in Shenandoah County, where she was also 

elected Middle School Teacher of the Year. During her 

tenure there, she was a key member of the Chromebook 

pilot program integration, organized mentor meetings and 

field trips, was a grant writer, and a trained member of the 

clinical staff. Ms. Deane holds a certification in Middle 

School Math and Chemistry (all grades). She earned a 

B.S. in Chemistry from Lynchburg College with a Minor 

in Mathematics. She was also a member of the Society of 

Westover Fellows, the Lynchburg College Honors program. 

Tom Harris, Middle School Social Studies 

Tom Harris joins the Middle School faculty to teach Grades 

5-6 Social Studies. He previously worked with our students 

as part of the Wellness program, and will continue teaching 

Grade 7 Wellness this year. He is the Executive Director for 

the Fauquier Community Alliance for Drug Rehabilitation 

and Education. Mr. Harris is Founder and President of 

the Muddy Tracks Foundation, an organization to help 

youth develop leadership skills through outdoor teaching 

programs. Mr. Harris earned a B.S. from the University of 

Maine where he majored in Secondary Education/Social 

Studies. He also brings a wealth of volunteer experience 

from across Fauquier County. 

Cathy Hartley, Pre-Kindergarten 3/4 

Cathy Hartley joins the Lower School faculty to teach 

PK 3/4. She comes to Highland from The Hill School where 

she was the lead teacher for Junior Kindergarten. While 

there, she developed and implemented a new program 

including classroom set-up and organization, curriculum 

development, and student evaluation. Mrs. Hartley also 

taught Kindergarten for nearly ten years while at The Hill 

School. She earned a B.A. from Randolph Macon College 

with a major in History and minor in Art History. Her son 

Mac is a member of Highland’s sophomore class. 

David Henrickson, Director of Communications 

David Henrickson joins the staff as the Director of 

Communications bringing more than 20 years experience 

in marketing and advertising as both a writer and graphic 

designer. From 1999 to 2011, he ran his own advertising 

agency, located in Warrenton, serving a variety of local, 

regional and national clients. Mr. Henrickson earned 

a B.A. from the University of Mary Washington and 

has two children, Libby (Grade 6) and Andrew (Grade 4) 

who attend Highland. 

Patrick Hewitt, Upper School Physics 

Patrick Hewitt comes to Highland to teach Upper School 

Physics. For the past 20 years, he has been with Aerojet 

Corporation in Gainesville, where he maintains a variety 

of responsibilities including cost center management, 

engine programs, and multi-million dollar budgets. 

Dr. Hewitt earned a B.S., M.S., and a Ph.D., all in Aerospace 

Engineering from Virginia Tech. He attended the Defense 

Systems Management College and was part of the Sterling 

Institute Program Management Training Program. 

Dr. Hewitt was very involved in our Robotics program 

last year and is the lead Robotics mentor this year. 

Melanie Lillard (9th, ‘88), Middle School 

Language Arts and Upper School English 

Melanie Lillard (9th, ’88) joins the Highland faculty to 

teach Grade 8 Language Arts and English III in the Upper 

School. Most recently she co-founded the VA Farm Project 

and the Blue Ridge Titans field hockey club. Mrs. Lillard 

spent time as a member of the St. James’ Master Planning 

Committee and was a board member of the Mental Health 

Association of Fauquier County. From 2000-2004, she 

taught Upper School English at Highland and coached field 

hockey. She earned a B.S. in English Secondary Education 

from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. 

Lyndsey Marcus, Middle School Language Arts 

Lyndsey Marcus joins the faculty to teach Middle School 

Language Arts. She recently completed her M.A. in English 

at UVA. She earned her B.A. in English Cum Laude 

from James Madison University and received the JMU 

Departmental Award for Excellence in the Study of British 

Literature. Ms. Marcus recently was a teacher’s assistant 

at UVA in the Department of Media Studies and the M.A. 

representative on the Graduate English Student Association. 

Drew Miller, Upper School History 

Drew Miller teaches Upper School History and coaches 

Varsity Boys Basketball. He comes to Highland from 

Lanier High School in Austin, TX, where he taught World 

Geography. Prior to that, Mr. Miller was the Exercise & 


In August, new faculty and staff joined Highland’s 

Division Directors for a hike and orientation at 

Sky Meadow State Park in Delaplane. 

Sport Science Instructor/Intramural Director at Hiram 

College in Ohio. He has coached both men’s and women’s 

basketball and tennis at the collegiate level. He earned a 

B.A. in Psychology from Kenyon College and an M.S. in 

Education: Sport Science/Coaching from the University 

of Akron. He was a four-year starter on the men’s 

basketball and baseball teams at Kenyon. Mr. Miller’s son 

Dylan is in Kindergarten and daughter Taylor is in PK3/4. 

Patrick Morse, Upper School English 

Patrick Morse teaches Upper School English. He comes 

to Highland from Robert American College in Istanbul, 

Turkey, where he taught English Language Arts. While 

there, he implemented an ESL writing curriculum for 

students with a wide range of abilities from beginner 

to fluent speaker and also helped increase the use of 

technology-aided learning. Prior to that, Mr. Morse 

taught English at the TEVITOL School in Kocaeli, Turkey, 

a school serving gifted and talented students. He earned 

a B.A. in English and Secondary Education Cum Laude 

from Salem State University. He also coached the Robert 

American College girls soccer and boys rugby teams. 

Eric Olson, Upper School Chemistry 

Eric Olson joins the Upper School faculty to teach 

Chemistry. He comes to Highland from the Linden 

Hall School for Girls in Lititz, PA, where he taught AP 

Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Chemistry, AP Physics B, 

and Honors Physics. Prior to that Dr. Olson was an adjunct 

science professor at both Union College and Sage College 

in New York. He earned a B.S. in Chemistry from St. John’s 

University, an M.A. in Teaching from the University of 

Southern California, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from the 

University of Minnesota. His daughter Claire joins Highland’s 

freshman class and his daughter Ana Leah is in PK4/5. 

Sarah Tomsyck, Upper School English 

Sarah Tomsyck comes to Highland to teach Upper School 

English. Most recently she taught 9-12th grade English at 

the Loudoun School for the Gifted in Ashburn. Prior to 

that, she was an Associate Instructor and Adjunct Lecturer 

at Indiana University, teaching courses in Elementary 

Composition, Introduction to Fiction and Professional 

Writing. Ms. Tomsyck earned a B.A. Magna Cum Laude 

from Knox College and an M.A. from the University of 

Massachusetts-Amherst. She also completed an additional 

90 hours of coursework in English at Indiana University. 

For the past two years she has been an AP subject reader 

for the College Board’s AP English Language 

and Composition test. 

Learn more about our faculty and staff 

online at highlandschool.org/faculty 


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Support Highland School’s Annual Fund Today 

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SCHOOL


THE JOY OF 

SPEAKING 

Article Written by Celia Kelly, Middle School Latin Teacher 

When I was a senior in high school, a friend of mine asked 

our Latin teacher if we could try speaking the language in 

class. He was struggling in Latin, and hoped that speaking 

would help him better grasp the grammar, as it had in 

Spanish. My teacher, though a wonderful and passionate 

educator, could not wrap his head around this request. 

Why would anyone want to spend time learning to speak 

Latin, when there are no ancient Romans around? 

A New Approach to Presenting Latin 

For the past four years, my approach to teaching Latin 

has in many ways mirrored the way I was taught. Though 

I’ve kept students engaged with games and fun lessons 

on Roman culture, the core of my instruction has been 

teaching students to memorize grammar and vocabulary 

and translate passages of Latin into English. Increasingly, 

however, Latin teachers are moving away from grammartranslation 

toward more active, communicative approaches 

to teaching Latin. 

This summer, Highland granted me a faculty fellowship 

to participate in Rusticatio Virginiana, a spoken-Latin 

immersion program run by SALVI (Septentrionale 

Americanum Latinitatis Vivae Institutum), or the North 

American Institute for Living Latin. Held at the Claymont 

Mansion in Charles Town, West Virginia. The program 

is tailored for teachers like me, who know Latin on paper 

but have never tried to speak it in conversation, as well as 

veteran Latin speakers. For seven days we spoke nothing 

but Latin, as we attended classes on topics from food and 

clothing to the history of the mansion, played language 

games, discussed Latin readings, practiced and performed 

short plays, and prepared meals for the group. 

Even our free time was in Latin — we took nature walks, told 

stories on the porch, played Bananagrams and Texas Hold 

‘Em, had a bonfire for July 4th, and more. Each night, I kept a 

journal in Latin, recording what we had done that day, what I 

had learned, and what teaching methods I had observed. 

Spoken-Latin Offers Meaningful Contexts 

Why speak Latin when there are no ancient Romans 

around? As we say at Rusticatio, non discimus ut loquamur; 

loquimur ut discamus (we’re not learning to speak; 

we’re speaking to learn). Speaking gives you much 

more practice with the language than you get by just 

translating a Latin passage into English. Furthermore, 

speaking makes grammar and vocabulary stick better 

in your brain because you’re practicing them in 

meaningful contexts. 


Rusticatio was my first foray into spoken Latin, and 

I was amazed at how much I learned in just seven days. 

I could make flashcards to learn the Latin words for cake, 

flour, sugar, and blueberries, but I wouldn’t remember 

them half as well as I do now that I have had to make a 

blueberry cake from a recipe written in Latin. 

Incorporating Spoken Latin in the 

Classroom Offers Students New Motivation 

Rusticatio has renewed my drive to improve how I teach 

Latin, and has inspired me to start incorporating spoken 

Latin into my classroom. If you come into my classroom 

this fall, you will see students responding to classroom 

instructions in Latin and asking “Quaeso, licetne mihi 

ad armarium ire?” (“Please, may I go to my locker?”). 

“Why speak Latin when there 

are no ancient Romans around? 

As we say at Rusticatio, non 

discimus ut loquamur; loquimur 

ut discamus – we’re not learning 

to speak; we’re speaking to learn.” 

‘Quomodo Dicitur Volleyball Latine’ 

or How Do You Say Volleyball in Latin? 

My seventh graders, who are all called by their chosen 

Roman names, greet me in Latin in the hallways, and 

love to ask questions like, “Quomodo dicitur volleyball 

Latine?” (“How do you say volleyball in Latin?”). (It’s follis 

volaticus, by the way.) My eighth graders are starting to 

discuss stories in Latin, and even learning some grammar 

concepts through spoken Latin. 

It will be a challenge and a journey to move to 

a communicative approach to teaching Latin, but 

I am convinced that I am moving in the right direction. 

Already, I am seeing students more engaged than ever. 

Recently, I taught plural direct objects by instructing my 

eighth graders to eat first one Teddy Grahams, then two 

Teddy Grahams, to throw first one ball, then two balls. 

My students’ reaction says it all: “We should learn like 

this all the time.” n 

Highland’s Faculty Fellowship 

Program Supports a Range 

of Initiatives for Faculty, Staff 

Using iPads and Mobile Devices 

to Help Students with Disabilities 

The iPad has quickly become a platform for 

learning that is agile enough to meet the learning 

needs for any subject, any age and all abilities. 

Schools and teachers need to be prepared to 

effectively implement this valuable resource to 

meet the needs of our learning community. 

This summer, Michele Daniel-Shenk and 

Andrea McEvoy in Highland’s Lower School 

received faculty fellowship grants to take 

the required 36 classes to receive TCEA’s 

Mobile Devices for Children with Disabilities 

Certification. This series of classes will enable 

them to better direct other faculty members 

to resources for use with the iPads. 

Dr. John Harmon Completes Two 

Fellowships with Middle School Focus 

For his faculty fellowships this summer, John 

Harmon worked on two curricular projects for the 

Middle School. Dr. Harmon’s first faculty fellowship 

focused on developing an eighth grade signature 

project. He researched culminating projects at 

other independent schools and read several 

interesting books on the subject. 

“My hope is to create a project that involves 

reflection, technology and several academic 

disciplines. As the eighth grade Language 

Arts teacher this year, my students and I will be 

working on building this project together.” 

The second part of Dr. Harmon’s fellowship 

focused on identifying and implementing key 

habits of learning for our middle school students. 

“As adults, we know that developing a variety 

of social, academic, and developmental skills is 

important for our students’ long term success, Dr. 

Harmon said. “In February, we began as a faculty 

to identify the key skills or habits for each grade 

level in our middle school.” 

In June, the faculty met and provided specific 

examples of these habits from their classes.

Highland’s Faculty Fellowship Program 

Supports a Range of Initiatives for Faculty, Staff 

“Matt Ormiston and I met during the summer to 

refine these lists and put them into a more tangible 

format for our teachers and students. We will meet 

with the teachers this Fall to begin implementing 

these habits in our academic classes as well.” 

Middle School Teachers Engage 

Students Using “Flipped Classroom” 

Teachers today are asking, “How can I create 

a class that encourages meaningful learning?” 

The ‘flipped classroom’ concept, in which teachers 

make lectures available by video to be viewed at home, 

creates the opportunity for class time to be focused 

around more active learning – things like project-based 

learning, inquiry activities, group discussion, 

peer-teaching scenarios, and video teaching. 

In addition to participating in a four-part webinar 

series discussing the flipped classroom concept 

and ways to incorporate it into one’s practice, 

Middle School Instructional Technology Coordinator 

Bryanne Peterson, Social Science Department 

Chair Scott Pragoff, and Math teacher Lindsay 

Ward took an online course offered by Capella 

University to earn a Flipped Class Certificate. 

In addition to this training, the group will collaborate 

to create video lessons for math and social studies 

that will launch our flipped classroom experience in 

the fall and prepare them to mentor other colleagues 

around the Highland campus in the upcoming years. 

“In order to make meaningful connections between our 

content material and our students, we seek to engage 

students in learner-based instruction, said Scott Pragoff. 

“We want to promote a genuine curiosity within each 

of our students and give him/her the kind of classroom 

environment where they feel free to explore topics and 

ask questions rather than solely being fed information.” 

Flipping the classroom has two intended results; 

first, it gives the student ownership of his/her learning, 

and second, it allows teachers to concentrate on 

higher-order thinking skills during class. Middle School 

students are just learning to take notes and filter out 

information in a lecture-style classroom, so having a 

library of video lessons where the student can pause, 

rewind, and re-watch lectures, allows these students 

to maximize their understanding of the lecture. 

Students in Middle School are learning how to hold 

themselves accountable for taking care of their 

responsibilities, and giving them the power on the 

video lessons does just this. Piloting the program in 

math, social studies, and technology departments 

will demonstrate the relevance and accessibility for 

all grade levels and content areas to fellow faculty. 

Identifying New Math Curriculum 

for Highland’s Lower School 

This summer, Miriam Solms’ faculty fellowship 

hours were spent researching current best practice 

approaches in teaching mathematics in the 

elementary grades in order to gather information 

to aid in the selection of a new math curriculum 

for the Lower School. 

Mrs. Solms researched the contents of the Common 

Core Standards, Virginia’s Standards of Learning, and 

the Standards of Learning outlined by the National 

Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Four different 

math curriculums were reviewed and analyzed to 

see how closely they align with these standards. 

This information will be used to aid in the selection 

of the new math curriculum that will be chosen 

and purchased for the 2015-2016 school year. 

Upper School Faculty, Staff Test ePortfolios 

Each year, Upper School students create porfolios that 

reflect the work they have completed over the course 

of their time at Highland School. Last summer, a group 

of Upper School faculty and staff came together to 

study the possibility of moving these portfolios online. 

The team assembled for this faculty fellowship, which 

was led by Megan Catalfamo and Robert Hampton, 

looked at potential tools, design and content ideas, 

and tested the program with a select group of Upper 

School students. Based on the results of this study, 

the group, which also includes faculty members Cathy 

Campbell, Elaine Patry, Ronnie Ross, and staff member 

David Henrickson, will be rolling out a pilot ePortfolio 

program for a small group of ninth grade students for 

the 2014/2015 academic year. 


HIGHLAND AUCTION 

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015 

Annual Highland Auction 

Saturday, April 11, 2015 

Upper School Gym 

Go online to highlandauction.org 

to order your tickets and VIP tables

A 

Last year’s Gold team captains anxiously await the final tally that would 

determine which team won the 2014 Barbara Wilkes Field Day in May. 


Feature Article 

RE YOU 

BLUE 

GOLD? 

Blue/Gold. Blue and Gold. Blue or Gold. No 

matter how you look at it, they are just two colors, 

but for Highland’s Lower and Middle School students 

in Grades 3 through 8, it’s so much more than that. 

For Highland students, Blue and Gold is a year-long 

competition that pits classmates, friends, and even 

Highland’s faculty and staff against one another in a 

series of fun athletic and academic challenges that makes 

the two colors much more than they seem. 

At Highland, It’s More than a Question 

Every year for as long as anybody can remember, young 

leaders have emerged, school and team spirit is fostered, 

and friendly competitions bubble up throughout the 

Lower and Middle schools as daily sports games and 

academic accolades help students earn points for their 

respective teams. The competition wraps up each Spring 

with the Barbara Wilkes Field Day held around the 

Highland campus. (You can read Ms. Wilkes’ reflections 

on the history of Blue and Gold on page 27.) 

In the end, these two traditional Highland colors – 

Blue and Gold – take on a new meaning. Ultimately, 

they come to represent two teams locked in a heated 

year-long battle for the coveted championship title. That 

title is often remembered long after their Middle School 

years come to an end. 

“When I came to Highland 30 years ago, the Blue/Gold 

tradition was well in place,” said Lower School Director 

Lise Hicklin. “The enthusiasm for the competition has 

continued and gives students in grades three through 

eight a fun focus for their particular Blue or Gold team. 

It’s a great way to promote athletics and team spirit.” 


Students are Placed on a Team in 3rd Grade 

Highland students are placed on a color team in third 

grade, or whenever they begin at Highland School 

between third and eighth grades. The pep rally, held 

each Fall during Spirit Week in which colors are 

given, is an annual rite of passage. 

Color assignments are made by the Middle School 

coaching staff with the goal of creating as even a match 

up as possible between the two teams. Then, the 

assignments are revealed to new students through an 

elaborate, loud, and often, spirited ceremony. 

For this Fall’s Pep Rally, held in the Upper School gym 

in October, students received a small gold or blue 

teddy bear revealed to them by team captains on an 

elaborately decorated platter. Students grabbed their 

bears and were greeted by a long line of newfound 

teammates on either side of the gym. Smiles, hugs, 

laughter, and high-fives were abundant. 

Faculty Get in on the Action 

Faculty members in Grades three through eight are 

also assigned colors. For alumni, who are returning as 

Lower or Middle School teachers, some have the same 

color now as they did when they were students. 

“I always thought Blue/Gold was fun. It builds school 

spirit and breeds a little competitiveness,” said Melanie 

Lillard (9th, ‘88 and currently an English teacher at 

Highland). “I was a Gold from third grade through 

sometime in Middle School. Then, I was switched to a 

blue! This was unheard of and memorable. I was very 

proud to win the high point blue trophy at Field Day 

my ninth grade year. I think I still have it!” 

Blue/Gold is More Than Just Athletics 

The Blue/Gold competitions last all year and involve 

academic, athletic, and community service. The official 

scoring is posted weekly by Blue and Gold team captains 

outside the Middle School Athletic Office. The tally is 

carefully watched by parents, students, and faculty alike. 

“The Blue/Gold competition helps to foster a sense of 

community at Highland,” said Middle School Athletic 

Director and Highland alum Reynolds Oare ’03. 

“It provides friendly rivalries and competition 

among the students and faculty.” 

“As a student, Blue/Gold games and Field Day meant 

everything to me. Becoming a Captain in 8th grade 

was possibly the greatest honor I received as a Middle 

School student. I like how we have added in points for 

things like the Pep Rally, Student Awards, and ‘integrity 

moments’ to help round out the competition. 

Members of this year’s Blue team greet their new teammate 

at the Blue/Gold Pep Rally held this Fall during Spirit Week. 



New team members learned 

their colors by being shown 

a blue or gold stuffed bear. 

Blue Captain Ben Babcox ‘19 and Gold Captain Luke 

Rodgers ‘19 show that, although the competition can be 

fierce, they can still come together before the Pep Rally. 


Blue Gold 

By Barbara Wilkes, former Highland School Athletic Director and Physical Education teacher 

When I started teaching at Highland School in 1974, 

the Blue/Gold Competition was run by Barbara Woolman. 

At that time, it was strictly an athletic competition. Fourth 

and fifth grade boys and girls played in soccer games in the 

fall, and sixth through eighth grade boys and girls 

competed in soccer and field hockey. 

In 1974, Blue/Gold was Athletics Only 

That Spring, the boys played a baseball game and the girls 

played soccer. The final Blue/Gold competition was field day. 

Field day events were the dash, shot put, softball throw, high 

jump, obstacle course, long jump, distance, and the relays. 

Ribbons were given out for first through fourth place. Also, 

a trophy was awarded to the Blue and Gold girl and boy 

earning the most points during the field day competitions. 

event. The trophies for most points earned were handed out 

at the end of field day and the winning team was announced. 

Also, the high jump was dropped as an event. 

In the late 1990’s the pep rally was added and Andy 

Morgan started the Spirit of the Hawk award. The Blue/ 

Gold Competition stayed this way until 2003 when I started 

teaching computers. I believe it is pretty much the same 

now. Field Day was renamed Barbara Wilkes Field Day 

when I retired in 2007. n 

At the end of the year, there was an awards banquet held 

at St. James Episcopal Church where ribbons for field day 

and the trophies for most points and academic awards were 

given. At the end of the banquet, the winning team for the 

year was announced. The Captain for each team was picked 

strictly by who had the highest grade point average and 

there was only one captain per team. 

Co-captains Added in the Late 1970’s 

In the late 1970’s, the faculty decided it would be best if there 

was a co-captain. The Captain was the student on each team 

that had the highest grade point average and the co-captain 

was the person of the opposite sex that had the highest grade 

point average. The other competitions stayed the same. In 

the 1980’s, the faculty added sportsmanship alongside high 

academics to be part of how the captain was chosen. 

As student numbers increased, the soccer throw was added 

to the list of Field Day events. In the late 1980’s, lacrosse was 

added as a Spring sport and that replaced baseball and girls 

soccer. As the school grew, the banquet wasn’t a possibility 

and we separated the Field Day Awards from the Academic 

Awards Night. 

We added two more places for each Field Day so first through 

sixth place were awarded and handed out at the end of each 

Former Highland Athletic Director Barbara Wilkes shares some 

quality time with the Hawk at last year’s field day 


In this photo, Finley Broaddus ‘14, center, is surrounded 

by her brother Coleman, standing at left, mother Julie, 

father Ike, and sister Callie ‘08, kneeling at right with 

their dog Riley, at home in Broad Run.

Elizabeth 

Finley 

Broaddus 

A tribute to Finley Broaddus 

by Cathy Campbell 

Upper School English Teacher 

and Dean of Students 

“Finley: the name called out by classmates in crowded school halls, and 

posted proudly by the paintings on the wall. Elizabeth is my first name, 

but most people know me as Finley.” 

Finley Broaddus ’14, William and Mary application essay 

On a Friday evening last November, Finley Broaddus 

sat on a couch in Highland’s College Counseling Office 

working on her William and Mary essay. She had been 

working on it off and on for weeks, but now at 6:00pm 

the Early Decision midnight deadline loomed large. 

The building had mostly cleared out, except for a dozen or 

so students who were headed downtown to see “Romeo 

and Juliet” with members of the English faculty. While the 

theatergoers ate pizza in the student lounge, I sat down with 

Finley to discuss the latest draft of her supplemental essay. 

Finley’s heart was set on William and Mary, so this was 

high-stakes writing. A gifted writer, she was nevertheless 

struggling, like every senior before and since, with the 

daunting task of trying to squeeze the enormity of a life 

into a few hundred words. Beyond your impressive academic 

credentials and extracurricular accomplishments, the prompt 

instructed, what else makes you unique and colorful? Provide 

us with some suggestion of the type of person you are. 

She wanted to get it right, to explain who she was, what 

motivated her, and why she wanted to study environmental 

science in college. When I stood up thirty minutes later to 

board the bus to DC, Finley remained on the couch, fingers 

moving over the keyboard, fully focused on the task at hand. 

“Within about ten minutes of meeting me, people 

register two things: 1) I have green eyes and 2) My 

greatest ambition is to do everything I can to protect the 

environment. As a child, I often wondered if my eyes were 

green because of the countless hours I spent gazing into 

the bottle-green water of the pond in my backyard.” 

“Seventeen years (and a few biology classes) later, 

I’m aware that staring at something can’t magically 

change the color of your eyes. Nevertheless, my green 

eyes are my favorite feature; they remind me of who I am 

and what I want to accomplish. …Green means go; it is 

a call to action, and I am ready to respond.” (William and 

Mary essay excerpt) 


Finley launched her ‘Green Leap Forward’ 

Fund in March to support efforts that have 

a positive impact on the environment. 

That December, Finley was accepted early decision into 

William and Mary’s class of 2018; in February, she became 

an in-patient at Hopkins battling a rare and incurable form 

of liver cancer. 

The youngest child of Ike and Julie Broaddus and sibling 

of Coleman and Callie ’08, Finley had attended Highland 

since the fifth grade. With the lithe body of a dancer and 

arms that moved when she spoke, she always struck one as 

an intuitively expressive person. 

To share a space with Finley was to understand the grace 

and beauty of her physical presence. Perhaps she loved 

butterflies so much because she was part one herself. 

Intensely smart and often funny, she had a way of pursing 

her lips and looking upward when considering a question, 

tapping the side of her cheek with her finger as though to 

emphasize that she was doing some very serious thinking. 

While she had several deep friendships, she also moved 

easily between groups; indeed, it was her inclusiveness 

and kindness that gave rise to one of her nicknames: 

Friendly. Her interests spanned the Upper School building, 

from the Science Hallway where she took AP Biology 

and spearheaded the recycling efforts of Green Team, 

to the Fine Arts Center where she performed at Coffee 

Houses and drama productions, and spent hours in the art 

studio. Outside, she played varsity tennis and interned at 

Piedmont Environmental Council. She adored animals. 

Y Y Y Y 

In the early months of 2014, Highland students and faculty 

pieced together a large quilt with messages of love and 

support to send to Hopkins. We knew that Finley didn’t 

want “stuff,” – she had been very clear when asked that 

what she really wanted was our help with the Earth. 


In response to my inquiry she texted: “If you 

guys could do something that is good for the 

environment, then that would lift my spirits 

sooo much. Reduce, reuse, recycle or plant 

something. ANYTHING that would help fight 

climate change!” 

From her hospital bed, she worked with family 

and friends to focus her vision, establishing 

the “Green Leap Forward” Fund to “support 

local and global efforts that have an impact 

on the environment.” By Earth Day, the fund 

had raised over $100,000 and under Finley’s 

direction awarded its first two grants of $5,000 

each to The Green Belt Movement in Nairobi, 

Kenya and the Cacapon Institute in High View, 

West Virginia. As spring arrived, friends and 

classmates donated to her fund, wore green 

bracelets, planted trees and posted pictures of 

them on the Finley’s Fight Facebook page. 

On June 11, hundreds poured into the Airlie 

Center Pavilion and Gardens to celebrate Finley’s 

life and be received by the Broaddus family. Two 

days earlier, class officer Erin Herbst paid tribute 

to her friend and classmate at an emotional 

Senior-Parent Dinner:“Finley…had the innate 

gift of bringing conscious intent and passion 

to her actions and interactions with her 

classmates and the world around her.,” Herbst 

stated. “I believe that if we each continue 

to do the same, her spirit that graced and 

accompanied us will endure into the future 

and our happiness will flourish.” 

On June 13th, valedictorian Colby Newson 

addressed her classmates at Commencement 

and concluded: “I challenge you to find a way 

to incorporate Finley’s courage, optimism, 

passion and empathy in the way you live… My 

advice comes from knowing Finley: never forget 

to insert meaning into your life, dare to be 

someone bigger than you can, and strive to be 

someone worth believing in.” 

Y Y Y Y 

As a child, Finley’s green eyes reflected the deep 

water in her pond outside her house; as a young 

woman, she focused those eyes on the green 

world around her that she wished to nurture 

and sustain. Moving forward, we see our best 

selves reflected in her vision of hope and love 

for family, friends, and planet. We recognize 

the enormity of the gift she has given us. n 

Highland Hosts “Through My 

Green Eyes” Exhibit to Honor Life, 

Vision of Finley Broaddus 

The Gallery at Highland School recently hosted 

an exhibit of artwork to celebrate the art and 

vision of Elizabeth Finley Broaddus ‘14 who 

succumbed to a rare form of liver cancer in June. 

A Highland student since fifth grade, Finley is 

remembered for her exuberance, passion, and 

kindness, in addition to her myriad accomplishments. 

Among other things, she played varsity tennis, acted 

in drama productions, and pursued a rigorous course 

of study, including AP Art. As a junior, she won the 5th 

Congressional District Art Contest with her colored 

pencil drawing “Church Steeple,” (shown above) 

based on a church near Vint Hill in Fauquier County. 

To learn more about Finley Broaddus, her art, and 

her Finley’s Green Leap Forward Fund, please visit 

www.facebook.com/FinleysGreenLeapForward. 





Originally Launched in 2004, Seniors 

and Kindergarten Buddies Have Become 

a Beloved Highland School Tradition 

“Getting these kids together… and keeping them connected all year long is incredibly 

beneficial to both groups,” says Head of School Hank Berg. 

As traditions go, this one is relatively new. But it’s very 

powerful. It’s the PK/Kindergarten and Senior Buddy 

pairings which started ten years ago. 

“It’s our way of connecting the whole school,” said Head 

of School Hank Berg. “Getting these kids together at the 

beginning of each school year, and keeping them connected 

all year long, is incredibly beneficial to both age groups.” 

Students are paired for the first time prior to Convocation 

each year. They eat lunch together, attend all school gatherings, 

do holiday craft activities, and the seniors attend the class plays 

of their younger buddies. 

“We hope to continue to add meeting times,” said Lower 

School Director Lise Hicklin, “to give our youngest and 

oldest students the chance to get together more during 

the school year.” 

This year the athletic department will get in the mix and 

offer a “buddy game” to provide a chance for the little ones 

to attend a varsity home game and be recognized by their 

senior buddy. “It’s a great way to get our youngest Hawks 

involved in athletics, and provides a personal cheering 

section for our athletes,” said Athletic Director Gary Leake. 

Kitson Marr ‘06 Reflects on Her Kindergarten Buddy 

“Highland is a special place for many reasons, but one of 

the most important aspects is its sense of community,” said 

Kitson Marr ‘06, a Highland “Lifer” and Senior Buddy to 

Blake Bogin ‘18. “The Senior/Kindergarten buddy tradition 

was special as it brought together opposite ends of the 

Highland community – those nearing the end of their 

time at Highland, and those who were just beginning 

their own journey.” 

winning our lacrosse game, of course! Blake and I spent 

time reading, doing arts and crafts, and getting to know 

each other. One of my favorite memories was making 

a reindeer ornament with popsicle sticks, glitter, a red 

pompom and lots of glue – the same ornament I made 

when I was in Kindergarten.” 

“After all these years, I still hang my reindeer ornament 

on the Christmas tree. I hope Blake’s ornament has become 

a holiday tradition for her as well!“ 

Blake Bogin ‘18 Remembers Her Time with Kitson 

“The Senior/Kindergarten buddy program is one I will 

always remember. Meeting Kitson and getting to spend 

time with her at school was so important to me, reflected 

Blake Bogin ‘18, who is now a Highland freshman. “She was 

a role model and someone I could look up to. She was a 

Highland lifer, and now, I plan to be as well.“ 

“I look forward to having my own Kindergarten buddy 

and providing her the same leadership and friendship that 

I enjoyed with Kitson so many years ago,” Blake continued. 

“It is such a great opportunity to gather both ends of 

the Highland community and share stories about those 

experiences. I hope it stays a tradition here for many more 

years to come.” 

“And I too, after all these years, have my reindeer ornament. 

When I see it during the holidays I remember all the fun we 

had putting it together in the old Chilton building!” 

“As a lifer at Highland, the Senior/Kindergarten buddy 

tradition was extra special to me,” Kitson continued. 

“Visiting my old classroom to meet with my Kindergarten 

buddy, Blake, was a highlight of the week – that and 


In September, the senior class kicks off the field studies with a College 

Planning Night with parents. Then, the students head off to Front Royal 

to spend two days canoeing the south fork of the Shenandoah River and 

hiking in the Shenandoah National Park. 


Feature Article 

A TRADITION OF 

EXPERIENTIAL 

EDUCATION 

AT HIGHLAND 

Combining traditional classroom learning with real world ‘experiential learning’ 

has long been the cornerstone of a Highland School education. Today, we look 

for ways to combine the concepts both on and off campus and across all divisions. 

Holding a blue crab straight from the water, while studying 

bay ecology on Freshman Field Studies. Palpating a cow 

during your Junior Internship in veterinary medicine. 

Debating the pros and cons of the foundation of Shenandoah 

National Park after back country camping and ascending 

Little Devil Stairs on Sophomore Field Studies. Taking your 

first all-class overnight trip to Jamestown to study a piece 

of Virginia’s history. 

Experiential Learning Happens 

On Campus as Well as Off Campus 

Through experiential education programs, including 

service learning, field studies, trips, Junior Internships, 

Senior Projects, and hands-on learning, Highland strives 

to enhance learning, promote character and leadership 

development, and build connections both within and 

beyond the confines of our school community. 

Reconstructing a Wright Brothers 

airplane design during your Senior 

Project. Conquering your fear 

of heights on the pamper pole at 

Camp Friendship. Getting UN-lost 

on the Metro while investigating 

historical and cultural aspect of DC’s 

urban community. Pulling all-nighters with your Robotics 

team members to perfect the lever mechanism on your 

competition robot. 

The reality is that students at Highland may experience 

many of these things during just the first few weeks of 

school each year. Highland School embraces the belief 

that traditional classroom learning must function in 

partnership with innovative methodologies designed 

to nurture the entire student. 

“I hear and I forget. I see 

and I remember. I do and 

I understand.” 

-Confucius 

In the second week of school, Middle 

School students head for the famed 

‘Camp Friendship’ near Richmond. 

“Camp Friendship gives us the unique 

opportunity to have our students truly 

experience the lessons that we talk about 

in the classrooms,” said Middle School 

Director Matt Ormiston. “They realize that the loudest 

voice often isn’t the one showing the most leadership. They 

come to understand how much both the faculty and their 

classmates support them and want them to succeed.” 

“They see up close and personal how important it is to 

work together, to step outside their comfort zones, and 

to struggle with something that they find challenging,” 

Ormiston continued. “My favorite moments of Camp 

Friendship are almost always hearing a child say ‘I did it’ 


At Camp Friendship, several teams worked together to move a rubber ball from 

one end of a volleyball court to the other side only a plastic ring and rope. 

“Camp Friendship gives us the unique opportunity to have our students truly 

experience the lessons that we talk about in the classroom… They come to 

understand how much both the faculty and their classmates support them 

and want them to succeed.” 

-Matt Ormiston, Middle School Director 

after having heard them say repeatedly ‘I can’t’ as they 

stand before some new obstacle or challenge.” 

In the Upper School, Learning 

Combines with Building Strong Bonds 

Freshmen depart on the second day of school so they can 

begin to form a class identity instead of seeing each other 

as a collection of students from different middle schools. In 

remote cabins on the Chesapeake Bay, removed from the 

distractions of schedules and cell phones, they get to know 

their classmates and core freshman teachers. 

“Although the focus of the trip is environmental science, 

a primary goal is to introduce these first year students 

to the expectations of Upper School,” said Upper School 

Director Cassin Bertke. “Freshmen return from this trip 

feeling more comfortable with their classmates and thus 

better able to focus on their studies. More than one has 

commented: ‘I no longer remember who is new versus who 

went to school with me last year. We’re one class now.’” 

Sophomores and juniors have smaller experiences in 

the fall, in anticipation of larger field studies programs 

in the spring. Sophomores attend a Wellness Retreat in 

which they learn about healthy decision-making and the 

importance of building trust with classmates and teachers. 

Excursions Both Near and Far 

Juniors enjoy an urban excursion in Washington, D.C., 

exploring sights they will revisit in their study of American 

History during the course of the year. 

“Whereas freshmen are preparing to begin their high school 

journey, seniors are making plans for their next stage of life,” 

said Bertke. “We kick off Senior Field Studies with Senior 

College Planning Night in which Renee Norden, Highland’s 

College Counselor, describes the college search and 

application process to seniors and their parents. 


At Camp Friendship, Middle School students participate in ‘Color Wars’ which give the students 

a chance to tackle team challenges and, for the eighth graders, to try leadership roles. 

As part of the Color Wars at Camp Friendship, these 8th grade 

Blue team captains review the day’s challenges. 


In October, the senior class went to Shenandoah National Park for 

two days of hiking and canoeing. In this photo, half the senior class 

prepare for their hike along a segment of the Appalachian Trail.

Lower School students got a wonderful opportunity for hands-on 

learning at The Lego Expo as part of our Robotics program. 

Over the next two days, seniors enjoy a hike in Shenandoah 

Park and canoeing in the Shenandoah River. Seniors have 

opportunities to discuss their anxieties and to cement 

friendships that will help them navigate the joys and pitfalls 

of the year ahead. They return recognizing their role as 

leaders of Highland and thinking about the impact they want 

to make on Highland before they leave us at graduation.” 

“Field studies remind us that we learn best when we are 

willing to take risks and try new things, when we are in 

relationships with each other, and when we approach 

every opportunity with curiosity and an open mind,” 

Bertke continued. “There is plenty that can be learned 

in the classroom, but there is also much to be learned 

outside the walls of school.” 

In the Lower School, Students Take Field 

Trips and Find On-Campus Opportunities 

Lower School students can also expect to board a 

bus to travel to locations near and far to further their 

understanding of the community and world around them. 

Lower School Director Lise Hicklin offers, “Experiential 

education in practice are hands-on, authentic, and active 

learning experiences. Whether it’s Kindergarten’s trip to 

Rappahannock Park to study the changes of the seasons; 

First Grade agricultural experiences at Cox Farms; learning 

about tree growth and organic farming techniques at Oak 

Shade in Second Grade; visiting the birthplace of Robert 

E. Lee in Third Grade; or participating in a major rite of 

passage at Highland-the Fourth Grade overnight trip to 

Jamestown – students can expect to explore new places 

and add first-hand knowledge to classroom lessons.” 

Just a few steps from Lower School classrooms is the Village 

Garden and Outdoor Classroom. In this unique space, 

curricular and developmental goals direct the development 

of hands-on activities including studying the life cycle 

of plants, definitions of habitat, and soil health. 

STEAM Night, Maker Space Offer Unique 

Experiences to Our Youngest Students 

Additionally, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, 

Art, and Math) activities are incorporated into grade-level 

and co-curricular programs. Family STEAM nights, which 

are new this year, are designed to give parents a better 

understanding of this educational framework, to promote 

functional literacy in our students, to give families a fun 

way to interact with each other while learning something 

new, and to help build our Highland community. 

“The Maker Space provides opportunities for 

all students to hone their design, conceptualizing, 

building, and trouble-shooting skills,” added Hicklin. 

“Programs and places like the Garden and Maker Space 

classroom, provide ideal environments for students to 

share what they know, explore new concepts, and create 

what they imagine.” 

The emphasis on experiential learning at Highland helps 

provide opportunities to reach different kinds of learners, 

to challenge students and faculty to leave their comfort 

zones, and to create unforgettable learning moments. 

Stepping beyond the walls of Highland gives teachers and 

students unique opportunities to add real-world relevance 

to classroom learning, to see each other with new 

perspective, and to connect the school experience to life 

beyond Highland. This important and unique feature of 

the Highland program strives to facilitate self-awareness 

and personal growth, the creation of healthy, productive 

relationships, and meaningful experiences that challenge 

and broaden perspectives of school, local, national, and 

global communities. n 


Experiencin 

the Gal 

Last summer, a group of students and faculty visited the Gala´pagos 

Islands off the coast of Ecuador as part of Highland’s Experiential 

Education program. They hiked, snorkeled, played with wildlife, 

and immersed themselves in island culture.

g 

apagos 

Spotlight on Experiential Learning 

Two Highland Students Offer Their 

Reflections on a Once-in-a-Lifetime 

Opportunity to Visit the Gala´pagos 

Part One By Ann Collins ‘15 

Although our travel to the Galápagos Islands, 

which are located in the Pacific Ocean off the west 

of Ecuador, was one of the longest trips I’ve endured, 

knowing that we had finally arrived filled me with joy. 

Immediately, there was a very natural feeling. I do not 

mean in the generic way we use it today, but in the 

sense that we are much closer to the bare state of 

things, to true human nature. 

Totally Surrounded by Nature 

For breakfast, for example, we ate eggs that had been 

collected the day before and milk that was as fresh as 

that morning. Walking along the western side of the 

Andes mountains, I couldn’t help but catch my breath 

to see the clouds creeping slowly over the mountains, 

and the rivers racing them to the bottom. 

From our first immersion into the natural beauty 

of South America, we traveled by plane, bus, boat, 

and taxi to reach our hotel on Isla Isabela. To many, 

the amount of time spent traveling may seem like a 

burden, but it is irrelevant when you have the views to 

go alongside it. 

Feeling Right at Home in the Natural World 

Weaving in and out of the Galápagos Islands was 

truly an indescribable experience. Looking out at 

the horizon, I could easily see the remnants of the 

volcanoes that had created the amazing islands we 

would soon visit. Meanwhile, I could also look only a 

few feet away to see schools of fish glimmering just 

below the surface and dolphins showing off their 

jumps and spins not far beyond them. 


Experiencing 

the Galapagos 

Galapagos 

The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands. The islands 

are part of Ecuador and are both a national park and a biological marine 

reserve. Accordingly, all wildlife and the environment they live in are 

protected, which creates a unique opportunity to get close to nature. 

Our writer, Ann Collins ‘15, poses with her brother Ivel Lee Collins ‘13 along 

a volcanic beach on Isabela Island looking out over the Pacific Ocean.

When we arrived at the hotel, I felt immediately at 

home, but once again in a natural sense. The open 

floor plan allowed for the warm air to flow freely and 

the sound of the ocean to echo softly down the halls. 

The owners were more than hospitable, making a buffet 

of fresh fruits and rolls every morning for breakfast. 

Everything about our housing was very intimate and 

welcoming, from the animal shaped towels on our beds 

to the fresh water set out every morning. 

Snorkeling Adds New Depth to Experience 

Now, of course, we did not fly halfway across the world, 

and experience every form of transportation, to spend 

time in the hotel. My most memorable experience 

was snorkeling in the inlet, just a mile or so from the 

town. Almost as soon as we entered the water, we were 

surrounded by fish of varying colors and sizes. The fish 

were curious to see the new creatures that had entered 

so suddenly into their habitat. Sea turtles were soon 

spotted gliding carelessly along the coral, seemingly 

indifferent to our approach. 

It was not the stunning plants or crystal clear waters 

that made this outing so memorable, however. Looking 

back toward the rest of the group, I immediately 

stopped swimming. To my surprise, a family of sea 

lions had taken Oliver and Ivel Lee in as their own. They 

swam in spirals, encircling the two, begging like small 

children for them to join in. 

This went on for several minutes as I watched in awe, 

culminating in one particularly friendly baby seal 

“bopping” (for lack of a better verb) Oliver on the 

face of his snorkeling mask. If a friendly nudge from 

a sea lion doesn’t fully express the closeness between 

humans and the other inhabitants of the islands, 

I don’t know what will. 

Truly at One with Nature 

That was likely the most surprising part of this 

trip. No animal, big or small, feared us. Both 

humans and creatures coexisted, feeding off of 

the same resources, in perfect harmony. It was very 

eye-opening to realize how different our relationship 

can be to the world around us, and I was somewhat 

ashamed of how it is back home. I know when I walk 

outside my door I will not find a family of lizards 

warming themselves on the rocks in my garden, but 

instead in a glass case at a zoo. 

Above all, I now want to protect this beautiful place and 

all those who inhabit it. For many, it is easy to not be 


Experiencing 

the Galapagos 

interested in saving an environment so far away 

from where they call home. However, without such 

places like the Galápagos, we would be unable 

to experience some of the many organisms and 

breathtaking sceneries that we do today. As a result 

of my trip last summer, I want to protect the islands 

in the hopes that people after me can have the same 

unforgettable experience that I did, which I encourage 

you all to do if you ever get the opportunity. 

Part Two By Oliver Schwartz ‘15 

I have been lucky enough to have gone on a few 

exciting overseas trips with the Highland community 

and to have gone on many overseas vacations with 

my family. However, I have never been on an 

adventure that was as incredible as this one to the 

Galápagos. On any vacation, there is usually one 

moment that stands out…whether it is a breathtaking 

view, a visit to a certain building or museum, or simply 

an amazing dinner. On this trip, every moment was 

a moment to remember forever. 

“On any vacation, there 

is usually one moment that stands 

out… whether it is a breathtaking 

view, a visit to a certain building 

or museum, or simply an amazing 

dinner. On this trip, however, 

every moment was a moment 

to remember forever.“ 

Off to the Galápagos Archipelago 

After our short stay in Ecuador, we flew to the 

Galápagos Archipelago, then hopped on a boat 

and eventually found ourselves on a dock leading 

onto Isabela Island. While we loaded the trucks with 

our suitcases, we had our first encounter with the 

Galápagos wildlife. Laying there in the middle of the 

road was a beautiful, orange, massive iguana. Not far 

from him was a sea lion sunning himself next 

to some local fishermen. 

As the trip continued, wildlife was abundant at every 

turn. Whether we were climbing up volcanoes, walking 

on volcanic islands, or snorkeling, there were always 

marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, and sea lions 

to accompany us. Every night, a handful of us would 

venture out onto the beach in the dark and climb over 

the rocks with flashlights to look at the abundance of life 

that could be found in the tidal pools. To our delight, we 

found a plethora of crabs, octopi, and even an eel. 

Where Else Can You Play with Sea Lions? 

Our days were spent hiking, boating, and most exciting 

of all, snorkeling. I have never had an experience quite 

like swimming with sea lions before, and I can only 

hope that one day I have the opportunity to do it again. 

As we slowly swam out into the bay with our flippers 

and snorkels, we started to notice fleeting shadows 

dancing around us in the water. 

At first, I thought they were simply large fish, until 

a small furry face popped up out of nowhere just a 

few inches away from my mask. What happened next 

can only be described as cartoon-like…the sea lion 

“kissed” my mask. 

I was taken completely by surprise and my startled 

reaction scared the figurative pants off of that poor sea 

lion. After I realized what had happened, I immediately 

swam over to Ivel Lee Collins ‘13 who was almost as 

excited as I was about what had just happened. 

For the next hour, Ivel Lee and I swam with the sea 

lions in what I must say was one of the most amazing 

experiences of my life. Wild and free, they glided 

effortlessly through the water, only to look back 

to make sure we were following them. 

Life in a Wildlife Sanctuary 

I never thought that a wild animal would act in such a 

playful way toward a human, but in that moment the true 

beauty of the Galápagos as a whole is easily seen. The 

entire archipelago is a sanctuary for all types of wildlife 

and because there is so much regulation and respect for 

the environment, animals aren’t afraid of people. 

The iguanas don’t run, the sea lions just want to play, 

and even the birds were too busy eating their fruits to 

be bothered by the proximity of humans. For anyone 

who is even remotely fascinated by wildlife (can you tell 

that I am?), there is no better place to view and interact 

with it than in the Galápagos and we were lucky enough 

that this trip gave us the opportunity to do just that. 

If you want a once in a lifetime chance to see a whole 

different world, this trip is for you and all I can say is 

I can’t wait to do it again next summer. n 


Our writers Oliver Schwartz’15 and Ann Collins ‘15, at left, join 

Ivel Lee Collins ‘13, Parker Collins ‘15, Alie Brill ‘16, Robert Angelotti ‘16, 

Lewis Pollard, and Highland faculty member Jon Kraut for a photo. 

Are you ready to experience island life for yorself? 

We will be returning to the Galápagos Islands in the summer 

of 2015. To learn more, please contact Leslie Ziegler 

via email to lziegler@highlandschool.org

News & Notes from Highland Alumni 

Alumni News & Notes 

Laura Gargagliano Bartee, 8th ‘95 Laura graduated 

from Highland as an 8th grader in 1995. She later went on to 

attend Fauquier High School and then Virginia Tech. Laura 

graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Architecture 

in 2004. She married Luke Bartee of Virginia Beach in 2009 

and they had their first daughter Maddie Rose in 2012. 

Laura became a licensed Architect in 2012 and 

started her own firm, LLB Design (you can learn more 

at gargaglianobartee.com), that specializes in custom 

residential and small commercial projects in Northern 

Virginia. Luke and Laura recently bought a horse farm 

in Fauquier County and are restoring the 1920 farmhouse 

and stable. 

Victoria Hall ‘13 Victoria was recently accepted into 

a summer science program at Yale University in New 

Haven, Connecticut. In this program, Victoria received 

a stipend to do research and work on a project in the 

neuroscience department as part of the Yale Early Social 

Cognition Lab (YESCog). YESCog is a part of the Infant 

& Toddler Developmental Disabilities Clinic and the 

Yale Autism Program. 

Grayson Louise Ayres Ross 

Tyler Ross ‘98 “Here is a picture of Grayson Louise Ayres 

Ross, our little girl, who was born on September 8, 2014. 

Both Grayson and my wife, Sarah, are doing great and we’re 

enjoying our time with our new baby.” 

“I recently moved my company, Ross Real Estate, to an office 

in Old Town Warrenton. We are located on Culpeper Street 

and offer a full range of real estate services to residential and 

commercial buyers and sellers.” 

Nick White ‘07 Nick graduated from Highland School in 

2007 and graduated from the University of North Carolina 

in Chapel Hill in 2012. He majored in Philosophy and 

minored in Business and now resides in Liberty, North 

Carolina where he is working with his father to start a 

cattle farming operation. 

Stay Up-to-Date with Classmates 

Want to stay up-to-date with classmates and 

friends? Send along your story and photos to 

bbogin@highlandschool.org and we’ll do 

our best to include it in an upcoming issue. 

Connect with alumni and friends at 

facebook.com/HighlandSchool 

Save the Date for the Alumni Reunion: 

Saturday, May 30, 2015. Check out the 

Highland School website for more details! 


Picture Puzzle 

EASY MODERATE DIFFICULT 

In October, students gathered in the Lise Hicklin Black Box Theater in the Center for the Arts for 

their monthly Coffee House performance. Can you find the 12 differences between these two images? 

The original image is on the top. The modified image is on the bottom. For the answers, visit 

www.highlandschool.org/picturepuzzle. 



SCHOOL 

HIGHLAND SCHOOL 

597 Broadview Avenue 

Warrenton, VA 20186 

Non-Profit 

Organization 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Warrenton, VA 

Permit No. 96 

Go Gold! 

At Highland School, Blue and Gold is a tradition that has carried on as long as anyone can remember. Part athletic 

and academic competition, part leadership opportunity, and all fun for students and faculty alike, Blue and Gold connects 

students from the Lower and Middle Schools like no other Highland tradition. In this picture, Gold team members showed 

their spirit in the Upper School Gym at the Spirit Week Pep Rally in October. Read more about Blue and Gold on page 22.

HIGHLAND

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