Winter 2009 - Lancaster Mennonite School

contents4 Middle schoollife science classutilizes stream6 PreK program expanded7 Open house events8 School update12 Alumni news13 Alumni phonathon15 Jerry Martin, alumnifeatureBridges is the quarterly magazine ofLancaster Mennonite School, sent toalumni, parents and friends. LMSexists to transform students so theycan change our world throughChristlike love, peacemaking andservice. The school welcomes studentswithout regard to sex, race,nationality or ethnic origin.Lancaster Mennonite Schoolhas four campuses:Kraybill, grades PreK–8598 Kraybill Church RoadMount Joy, PA 17552(717) 653-5236Lancaster, grades 6–122176 Lincoln Highway EastLancaster, PA 17602(717) 299-0436Locust Grove, Grades PreK–82257 Old Philadelphia PikeLancaster, PA 17602(717) 394-7107New Danville, grades PreK–6393 Long LaneLancaster, PA 17603(717) 872-2506Address alumni and school news tosprungerdl@lancastermennonite.org.Editor: Fern Clemmerclemmerfe@lancastermennonite.orgVolume 36, No. 3Cover photo: Students change classesDecember 2 after the opening of theschool’s Rutt Academic Center. The newcenter is in the background.MUCH MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTARGrand opening celebratesRutt Academic CenterIt’s like night and day. That’s how JeanForshey, family and consumer scienceteacher, describes the differencebetween teaching in the crowded roomsbeneath Graybill Residence Hall and hernew area in the Rutt Academic Center.“You feel like you are actually teaching,”she said. “You don’t have to fightthe environment, and the lighting—that’s a big difference.”Other improvements, she said,include ample storage resulting in betterorganization; equipment that works;new items such as dish washers,garbage disposals, a large pantry and acommercial refrigerator; and U-shapedwork areas that allow her to see all herstudents at the same time.All the teachers seem to love theSmart Board—even those who wereapprehensive at first.“I was dreading the Smart Boardbecause I’m not very technologicallysavvy,” mathematics teacher KarenDiffenbach said, “but now I love thatI can put all this information on thereand then easily remove it or add it backon for later classes. It really makesteaching easier.”Matthew Spurrier, also a mathteacher, says the boards fit well withstudents, a generation that loves technology.“Student volunteerism is very highright now,” he said, “because they wantto come up and use the Smart Board.”The technology also helps teachersshare lesson plans, and internationalstudents have the advantage of receivingnotes that mirror what was on theSmart Board.For students it was exciting to finallymove into a facility they had watchedbeing constructed for over a year.“I was hoping it would be finishedbefore I graduate,” said senior KaelaLandis. “I love the new lab rooms, thehuge windows, and the overall spaciousfeeling to the rooms.”Senior Darian Harnish also emphasized“the outside light and big openclassrooms.”“I definitely find it easier to payattention to the teachers in the newbuilding,” he said. “With the naturallight and the better air quality, I don'tthink I have even felt tired or yawnedonce while in the new building.“The better technology makes it easierto pay attention, too, instead ofbeing distracted by technical malfunctions.The dorm basement used to bereally loud and distracting; its nice notto have that anymore.”Formal dedicationWhile the students moved into RuttAcademic Center on December 2, thegrand opening and formal dedicationwas saved for Sunday, December 21,to coincide with the annual high schoolChristmas concert. Hundreds, includingmany concert goers, attended an openhouse in the center that included studentPowerPoint projects, green elementpresentations, Smart Boarddemonstrations, tours of the systemoffices, and refreshments provided bystudents and staff.During a 5:30 dedication, SuperintendentRichard Thomas thanked the manyfriends who made the building possible,including Janet and Calvin High whosegift led to ground breaking, and theseven children of Clarence and ElvaRutt whose significant giving resultedin naming the center the Rutt AcademicCenter.Dr. John Rutt, who represented theRutt family during the dedication service,expressed appreciation for all thefamilies who gave, as well as his parentswho sacrificed so he and his sixsiblings could attend and graduate fromLancaster Mennonite School.Other participants in the dedicationincluded New Century Jubilee chairGerald Horst and Director of AdvancementHeidi Stoltzfus who explained thejourney to completion, and High Constructionrepresentative Nevin Cooleywho described the construction as“more than a project”—rather, it wasproviding an academic center for students,he said. LMS board chair DianeUmble concluded the program with aprayer of blessing.The three-story facility houses themath, science, business education, andfamily and consumer science departmentsas well as administrative officesfor all four campuses. ■2 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009