Duke School Under the Oak Magazine, Fall 2018

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TRAVELING HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE HOME By Nicole Thompson, Lower School Director At the beginning of July, I had the privilege of of excitement and many questions of our own! traveling to Hangzhou, China with Jenny Murray, As Jenny and I entered campus, there was a Middle School Director, to host a Duke School certain familiarity. Art projects and hands-on work project training at Yungu School. Yungu School adorned the hallway walls. The bulletin board at has just completed its first year in existence with the entrance featured the students’ “hopes and first and seventh graders and will continue to add dreams” for the year as well as several dozen a grade each year over the coming years. student representations of their school logo. As Yungu School was founded by Jack Ma, a Chinese businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and executive we toured classrooms, we saw spaces with carpeted areas for group work, shared tables for collaboration, and quiet chairman of the Alibaba Group. individual work spots. The Alibaba is an e-commerce firm— imagine Amazon on steroids. The goal of the school and Mr. Ma is to educate employees’ children and warmth of their work was felt in all areas of the school. In short, it felt like home—like Duke School. local students within a progressive While those things were lovely, framework. In 2020, the school will they only scratched the surface. open a brand new campus to host As we spent more time with the its program that will then extend teachers and administrators, we into high school. To say their plans learned that their progressive are bold is an understatement. nature was more than just art on During his travels to China in April, Dave Michelman, Head of School, talked with many different schools and their leadership teams including those at Yungu School. With one year of project work under its belt, the Yungu team was looking for guidance on even deeper work with project. Through multiple conversations and planning sessions we were able to set a plan for training with their staff. Jenny and I set off to Hangzhou with a four-day training schedule in hand, along with a great deal Yungu School in China. the walls. Their noted purpose: We are fully committed to nurturing our students to grow into happy global citizens and lifelong learners who are charitable and independent, with a strong sense of social responsibility. This reflects so many of the ideals that we have at Duke School. These shared beliefs made our visit to Yungu feel like a journey home. 16 UNDER THE OAK
Women in Paleontology Paleontologist Abagael West, Duke School class of 2003, knows how to dig up stories. In the field, she looks for lessons in the dimensions of a sheep’s skull or in the thighbone of an ancient turkey ancestor that lived alongside the dinosaurs in present day Antarctica. Recently, Abagael turned her attention to unexplored stories within her own profession. She Found Fossils, a children’s book that Abagael co-wrote with fellow paleontologist Maria Eugenia Leon Gold, delves into the lives of famous and lesserknown female scientists spanning the past, present, and future of paleontology. Growing up, Abagael said, “Neither of us had seen a paleontologist who wasn’t a white man … represented anywhere. That, I think, is why we wanted to do it.” The authors first had the idea for the book in 2011 while working on their doctorates. After unsuccessfully approaching publishers, they decided to produce the book themselves. They drafted historical biographies, interviewed contemporary paleontologists, and worked with illustrator Amy Gardiner to design the book. Along the way, the writers sought help from their target audience. Students in Heather Greene and Mary Beth Hes’s third grade class reviewed draft pages and helped the authors refine their writing style for younger readers. “It was really helpful because some things just don’t come to mind as questions unless you are the audience,” said Abagael, whose mother, Lauren West, teaches second grade at Duke School. Abagael has visited Duke School several times as a guest expert, talking with students about how scientists use math and conduct field research. Abagael and Eugenia continue to promote She Found Fossils and are considering writing additional books. “There are many, many regions of science, and there are many, many people who participate in those areas who are non-male,” Abagael said. Abagael attended the University of Cambridge and earned her Ph.D. from Columbia University. She is currently completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Funded by a Kickstarter campaign, She Found Fossils was released in English and Spanish in December 2017. A Mandarin translation is in the works. Abagael West Duke School Alumna
Page 1 and 2: Under the Oak FALL 2018 BECOMING UP
Page 3 and 4: INSIDE this issue MESSAGE FROM HEAD
Page 5 and 6: By Megan Whitted, Duke School Music
Page 7 and 8: A group of Duke School’s 2018-19
Page 9 and 10: CREATING... PROBLEM SOLVERS It was
Page 11 and 12: elationship building under the guid
Page 13 and 14: While still weeks away from her fir
Page 15: A MEANS TO COLLABORATION By Matthew
Page 19 and 20: and interviewed customers and emplo
Page 21 and 22: To Trend & Serve It is not unusual
Page 23 and 24: Gabe Speaks: Staying Connected By G
Page 25 and 26: prototypes to help solve the proble
Page 27 and 28: time I left Duke School. I even cho
Page 29 and 30: Alumni Connections: Destinations of
Page 31 and 32: Friends share their experiences abo
Page 33 and 34: 33
Page 35 and 36: Wendy and Paul Henderson Mary Beth
Page 37 and 38: Julie and Scott Hollenbeck Diane Ho
Page 39 and 40: Mary and Stephen Harward Mac Hays
Page 41 and 42: Dr. and Mrs. Edward Sugarman Mrs. S
Page 43 and 44: Special Thanks to Duke School’s 2

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