Janella Brand - Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

Science Olympiad
Olympians
Take The
Competition
Off The
Field
LIVING OUR MISSION
Mission Accomplished
Living Our Mission Campaign Exceeds Its Goal
With The Help Of Generous Friends And Donors
Diane Bucher, Alexis Stewart,
Keller Donnell, Molly Suttles,
Grace Chambless, Blair Touzet,
Katie Cross
Amanda Turner, Payton Anderson and Carson McGorry celebrate with their team’s trophy
Akul Munjal and Doug Kruse
with the Olympiad robot
In 2008, not all Olympic games will be
held in Beijing.
Earlier this year, another group of Olympic
contenders vied for medals right here in
Georgia at the Middle School Science
Olympiad competition.
The Holy Innocents’ team, led by Science
Department Chair Ms. Janet Silvera and 8th
grade Physical Science teacher Mr. James
Jackson, first competed in the regional
competition where the two HIES teams
finished 2nd and 4th, and then to state,
where they secured 4th place.
With success like this, it’s no wonder
that the team has earned itself a reputation.
“People talk about us – and know when
we’re coming to their competition,” said Mr.
Jackson. “It’s a great feeling to know that
your opponent considers you when he’s
preparing.”
Holy Innocents’ preps for the competition
for the better part of the year. Coaches
make themselves available during off
periods, and this year, the students spent
the Martin Luther King holiday and a few
Saturdays hard at work.
To ensure the students have the best
possible training, coaches call on additional
science experts for help. In-house go-to’s
Mr. Dave Heidel, Upper School Chemistry
teacher and Mr. Mike Poley, Upper School
Science teacher, advise students in their
respective areas. Parents have also been
known to pull some weight, and next year’s
roster will feature past Olympians who’ll
share their experiences with the up-andcomers.
“It says a lot that we have Upper School
students who are willing to come back and
coach their old events,” said Ms. Silvera.
“Their commitment was great when they
were on the team, and it’s very impressive
that they continue to be involved.”
The program benefits a student’s overall
academic development, and almost all
Olympiad participants will win an award
at some point in their academic careers.
“Science Olympiad relies on self-motivation,
challenges work ethic and sharpens
analytical thinking,” Ms. Silvera states.
“And those skill sets aren’t just pertinent to
science competitions; they’ll help students
succeed, no matter what they end up
doing.”
Kaki Bennett and Ian Gresov
E.J. Thurmond, Ane Wanliss
Congratulations, everyone. February marked
the completion of HIES’ Living our Mission
Capital Campaign. This three and a half
year effort surpassed its goal of $17 million,
securing over $17.6 million from a total of
1,064 gifts and pledges, making LOM the
largest capital campaign in school history.
“It’s amazing what we’ve done,” said
Head of School Mr. Kirk Duncan. “To watch
the campaign from its inception to its end
has been remarkable. And to see how the
school has physically changed because of
our combined efforts just shows that we’re
moving in the right direction.”
The campaign’s outcome is quite visible
around campus – it includes the 41,000
square foot Fred Rowan Family Middle
School building, a 28,000 square foot
gymnasium, eleven acres of athletic fields
and the Mt. Vernon Highway pedestrian
tunnel, the largest of its kind in the state of
Georgia. Oh – and HIES added two million
Dorothy Sullivan, Chris Durst, Sarah Rowan, Bernice Rowan, Fred Rowan, Kirk Duncan
dollars to its endowment.
Holy Innocents’ received its largest
donation ever from the Rowan family,
who led the giving with two million
dollars. The Been family, the Robert W.
Woodruff Foundation and two anonymous
contributors followed suit with gifts of a
million dollars or more.
While the large contributions head the
list, the entire Holy Innocents’ community
was needed for the campaign to succeed.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize how
powerful individual giving is,” said Michele
Duncan, Director of Development. “It’s the
totality of all gifts that brings you to your
goal, and it really says a lot about our school
that we had such a tremendous effort.”
Kirk Duncan, Head of School, agrees.
“Campaigns like these are so important
because they start a ripple effect. Donors
give contributions which directly benefit
the students. Then they, with more tools
and resources at their disposal, get a better
education and are in better positions to
help those around them. The giving spirit
is infectous, and it sparks people to action,
which is really what our Episcopal mission is
all about.”
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