A Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for girls, Grades 1-12, with a co-educational Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten.

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stone Ridge News

Taylor Kim '20 wins a Team Gold in Archery

The 2019 Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Nationals was held in Raleigh, NC from July 11-14, 2019. This is the biggest and hottest youth archery event of the year where they awarded national champions following four intense days of competing. Archers on top of their game sparkled in the blazing sun and big wins were celebrated by loud, supportive crowds of friends and family.

Taylor Kim '20 has been at this event for 5 years and this was her final high school JOAD National Tournament. Taylor was able to make it to 1/16 Round in Individual Eliminations, and came back stronger the next day winning the gold with her team during Team Round Eliminations. Congratulations, Taylor. #GatorStrong
Taylor Kim

Piper Suk '20 to Perform at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall

As the winner of the 2019 National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute (SMI) Concerto Competition, Piper Suk '20 will be playing the Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129, with the SMI Orchestra at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.  

The concert will take place Sunday, July 28, 2019, at 6:00 pm. No tickets are required to attend the concert, which also will be live-streamed on the Kennedy Center website and archived at www.kennedy-center.org/video/upcoming  

Piper began studying cello with Mark Evans of the NSO in 4th grade, and has been a National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellow since 9th grade. She has performed at venues such as the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, Strathmore Hall, and Carnegie Hall.  he has performed in masterclasses with Alban Gerhadt, David Teie, Johannes Moser, and Yo-Yo Ma, and has attended summer music festivals such as the Brevard Music Institute and Festival and Tanglewood Institute Cello Workshop.

The Kennedy Center/National Symphony Summer Music Institute is a 4-week tuition-free program for approximately 60 students (ages 15-20) from all over the United States and a number of other countries. The program consists of orchestral and chamber music coached by NSO musicians, conducting and master classes, private lessons with NSO musicians, two side-by-side rehearsals with the NSO; and enrichment sessions concentrating on music literature, health and wellness, entrepreneurship, and Citizen Artistry.

Congratulations, Piper!

Piper

Dr. Jeannie Downey-Vanover Presented For God and Youth Award

For her work as Director of Music Ministry for Youth at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Washington Office of Youth Ministry presented the For God and Youth Award to Dr. Jeannie Downey-Vanover, Assistant Head of Upper School. The award recognizes adults in youth ministry who have faithfully lived out their call of service, exemplified Christian examples and dedicated service to the Church and is a positive role model to youth.

Of Dr. Vanover's service Sherry Moitoza, Director of Social Concerns at St. Rose of Lima says, "For many years Dr. Vanover has been a true example of paying attention to young people by inviting, instructing, and mentoring them to lead the parish in liturgical music. Children, teens, and parents learn by her example what it means to serve the Church. Jeanne models discipleship by selflessly sharing her love of the faith, her vocation to teach, and the gift of her time. Her gift of mentoring empowers them to sing more than notes on a page by starting first with prayer. They in turn inspire us to lift our hearts and our voices to God. Young people learn to take risks and lead, knowing that they are well prepared and supported by the entire community. The youth of Saint Rose of Lima move all of us, through song, to deepen our communion as the Body of Christ. We give thanks to God for Jeannie's gift of leadership that inspires all parishioners and visitors to recognize the Lord in our midst."

In addition to her role as Assistant Head of the Upper School, Dr. Vanover is the Chair of the World Language Department and teaches AP Spanish Literature.

Congratulations, Dr. Vanover.

A Gator On the Water

Madeline Fontana '21 has become Stone Ridge’s first ever competitive rower. Since her start of crew this spring, Madeline has represented Stone Ridge in several regattas as a member of the Montgomery Boat Club. Stone Ridge offers the opportunity for girls interested in rowing to practice and compete with the Montgomery Boat Club, with boats comprised of girls from several area schools. The regattas that Madeline competed in include the Baltimore City Championships, where her 4+ women’s boat finished first, resulting in Madeline’s first medal in her first season of crew for Stone Ridge. 

Madeline’s hard work also enabled her to qualify and be selected by the Coaches to compete with a limited squad, given the level of competition at the regional level at the Mid-Atlantics (a qualifier for Youth Nationals) in Princeton, New Jersey with her 4+ boat finishing an impressive fourth place racing at the highest level in our region the first day.

Crews are selected on the basis of rowers’ physical ability, technical ability and attitude, which includes effort and attendance.

Congratulations, Madeline! #Gatorstrong

Madeline

Sofia Rojas '19 Participates in Sustainability Panel Discussion

Kudos to Sofia Rojas '19 for her excellent and informative contribution to a panel discussion on sustainability, the environment and ways through which we can all contribute to making the world a better place. The discussion was preceded by a concert by Sandbox Percussion, a New York City based percussion quartet, and the New Orchestra of Washington featuring Viet Cuong's percussion concerto, "Re(new)al", which featured music celebrating nature and renewable energy.

Neil Weston, Cross Divisional Chorus Teacher at Stone Ridge, had this to say of Sofia's participation in the panel of local leaders, "Sofia inspired the audience at the  Re(new)al discussion. Her passion and eloquence on sustainability issues was apparent, and she represented Stone Ridge in a remarkable way. On a panel of heavy hitters, including Rabbi Warren Stone, a climate change leader for three decades, and Alan Yu, from the Center for American Progress, Sofia gave a unique perspective, which referenced her experience at Stone Ridge, and how Stone Ridge has helped her develop a passion for activism."

Special thanks to science teachers Joanna Caudle and Heidi Johnson for mentoring Sofia.

Awards for Ceramics Students

Congratulations to sophomores Callie Mowry and Cam Saxon! These two student artists, from Tom Doyle's Ceramics 1 class, were chosen for this year's National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (K-12 Exhibition). Their work was selected from over a thousand entries and were shown in Minneapolis at the end of March 2019. In addition, they both won several awards:

Cam Saxon 21'
For her work "Take Note"
Awards: Artistic Achievement Award
Jack Troy Award
Bailey Pottery Equipment Award

Take Note

Callie Mowry 21'
For her work "The Great Wave"
Awards: Honorable Mention Award
Bethany College Inspiration Award

The Great Wave

Chieko Wong '20 graduates from WJLS

On March 16, Stone Ridge student Chieko Wong '20 graduated from the Washington Japanese Language School (WJLS) after 11 years. WJLS hosts its Saturday classes at Stone Ridge. There are approximately 700 students enrolled, and they attend six class periods on 42 Saturdays throughout the year. Students study Japanese, mathematics, music, physical education, natural science, and social science in Japanese at each grade level. 

Chieko reflected on her experience, "Going to school for six days a week has been my routine for the past 11 years. Every Saturday, I conversed in Japanese in a classroom I had studied English in the day before. Though Japanese School was tiring, I was very fortunate to have this opportunity to be involved in two very different communities, but also be able to connect them through Stone Ridge."

Stone Ridge values its relationship with WJLS and is happy to share the campus with this organization that is designed to educate K-12 students with Japanese academic skills and culture. Congratulations, Chieko!

Chieko

Annie Kelly '19 Earns Girl Scout Gold Award

Congratulations to Annie Kelly '19 on earning the prestigious Girl Scouts Gold Award. For her Gold Award project, Annie decided to serve the community of Darnestown, Maryland and those who are always looking beyond themselves to help others. 

Annie is a parishioner at Out Lady of the Visitation Parish. When she is on school breaks she tries to attend daily Mass at the small Thomas More Chapel, Parish Barn. Over the years during her visits to this chapel, she noticed the chapel was getting tired and needed an update. When Father Ray Fecteau mentioned renovating the chapel as a project, Annie knew it was the right thing to do.

The scope of the project included repairing drywall and patching up holes and cracks where necessary, completely repainting the room with new bright colors, and reupholstering the chairs. Annie and her team also replaced the ceiling tiles, polished the furniture, and cleaned the radiator heating. Annie invested far more time than the required 80 hours necessary. Of the project Annie said, "It has been my pleasure to serve the community by helping the church through my project. For those who attend daily Mass, their devotion was my motivation!" She hopes that everyone enjoys this renovated quiet place, tucked in a barn, amongst the cornfields of Darnestown to comfortably meditate in God's presence.

Annie would like to thank Debbie Waechter who was her Gold Award Project Advisor, Steve Waechter, Father Ray, Aileen, her parents and all her friends who were there to help.

Annie

Junior Chorus Performs with Trinity Chamber Orchestra

The Stone Ridge Junior Chorus represented Stone Ridge with a truly beautiful performance along side the Trinity Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, April 7.

They sang the premier performance of "Sancta Trinitas," composed for them by composer, Dr. Joseph Santo. Dr. Santo said the girls "sang like angels." After the concert, Dr. Santp also said "The girls did a marvelous job with the singing of the chant and verses--and all memorized!" 

Dr. Elaine Walter, Dean Emeritus of the  Catholic University School of Music wrote to Director Nancy Fazio, "I loved EVERY MINUTE of your concert. I'm so glad I came!"

Numerous Orchestra and audience members commended the Junior Chorus on the excellent tone, diction and feeling with which the girls sang, especially when singing the orchestrated version of "Over The Rainbow" in an arrangement that progressed into three higher keys where the chorus stunningly sang and sustained the high G, at the end of the song.   

Well done to our singers.

Winter Sport Gators Collect Post-Season Accolades

Congratulations are in order for numerous Gators who have been recently recognized for their achievements in winter sports.

Competing on the hardwood, Chetanna Nweke '20 and Kristin Lucas '21 were recognized as All-ISL team members by the head coaches of the ISL basketball teams. Nweke ranked second in the league in points per game, averaging 19.6, while Lucas was both an anchor on the defensive end and significant contributor on offense—with a team-leading 20 blocks on the season while averaging 11.4 points per game.

In the water, several Gators were acknowledged at the conclusion of the championship meets at the end of a historic season. Phoebe Bacon '20 and Genevieve Thibodeau '20 were each named to the All-ISL and All-Met teams for individual events, while Erika Chen '20 and Mackenzie Higgins '20 received honorable mention acknowledgement to the All-Met team for individual events. The 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams—comprised of Bacon, Chen, Higgins, and Tia Thomas '21—received All-ISL accolades, as well as All-Met recognition as the top 400 Freestyle Relay in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Lastly, Thibodeau and Bacon were named the Washington Metropolitan Private School League Diver and Swimmer of the Year, respectfully; and Bacon was also recognized as the Performer of the Meet at both the National Catholic High School Championships and the Metro Championships.

On the ice, both Katherine Khramtsov '22 and Charlotte Flannery '19 were named to All-Met teams, with Khramtsov garnering 1st Team accolades and Flannery receiving an honorable mention. Notably, the All-Met recognition for ice hockey is co-ed, recognizing the top players from all-boys and coed schools as well. Khramtsov and Flannery led all girls players in the DMV, averaging 5.0 and 2.0 goals per game, respectfully, and both significantly contributing to the Gators undefeated season run to the Mid-Atlantic Girls Hockey League (MAGHL) Championship crown. In the coming weeks, the All-MAGHL awards will also be announced.

These dedicated student-athletes will be be recognized in front of their peers later in the month, as well as at the end of year SR Celebration of Athletics banquet on May 21.

We are proud to call them Gators!

Ice Hockey

Swimming