Dear. St. Andrew's Families,

This email is packed with information about the week, but I hope everyone takes seventeen minutes to listen to this week's Wednesday Night Chapel hosted by the International House.

As an American and, more specifically, a Delawarean, I've always considered how the St. Andrew's global community benefits me. On Wednesday night a group of students changed my perspective. It's a lot less (or not at all) about me and more about us — a community with the priceless opportunity to learn and grow together in ways only a place with kids and adults from 20 different countries and 5 continents can.

That opportunity came to its full fruition on Wednesday as Clara Lee '14, Miranda Salazar '15, Amanda Sin '16, and August Saguil '17 shared their experiences as international students at St. Andrew's. Their short talks were filled with beautifully introspective, honest, and often hilarious moments.

Today I listened to two students, an alum, and a teacher carry on a lively conversation for more than an hour in Spanish. Tonight, we will hear from a native of Trinidad who immigrated to the Bronx and now teaches at Dartmouth. The world seems to be spinning faster and faster and somehow, amidst the cornfields of Delaware, there are kids making sure they are ready for wherever life takes them.

All the best,
Will Robinson '97
Communications

Back to Work

Students have hit the ground running at the start of the second semester. The library was packed with kids on Friday afternoon although a few were distracted with the hope of making the Friday News. Janee, Bella and Grayson were actually working before deciding to stage the photo of themselves engrossed in Bill Amos's A Time to Remember (below right).

Photo of the Week

Mary Kelly passed along this photo from swim lessons this afternoon with the following message: "Oriana Pando '14 has been helping Monie Deb '15 perfect her flip turn for our final dual meet on Tuesday. Yesterday, swimmers did a timed 300 to compare their time to the swim they did at the beginning of the season. After starting the season unable to complete more than 25 yards, Monie completed her first ever 300 continuous swim."

Impalas, Volts, Priuses, and Teslas

Diana Burk continues to lead our efforts to create a sustainability plan. We've identified eight areas of the School that can and should be addressed and are asking for public feedback on each area through a series of surveys.

We would love your wisdom and opinions on transportation at St. Andrew's. Please consider taking this short survey and let us know what you think.

Also, the Rumphius Foundation has asked us to submit a proposal for a grant of up to $4,000 to support a sustainability initiative on campus. If you have an idea, please let Diana know at dburk@standrews-de.org.

In the Classroom

Kelvin Cuesta '14 and TJ von Oehsen '14 woke up this morning having no idea that Ambassador William Brownfield '70 was going to join their Advanced Topics Tutorial in Spanish. The ambassador burst into the room and proceeded to give the boys feedback on their current research topics and then shared stories from his career in the Foreign Service, including serving as U.S. ambassador to Colombia, Chile, and Venezuela. The hour-and-a-half conversation was entirely in Spanish, so you'll have to ask TJ and Kelvin for the details behind the day Bill orchestrated an Argo-like mission to rescue more than 20 hostages held by FARC militia without firing a single shot.

Bill spent most of the day on campus after traveling from Syria where he spent yesterday inspecting a refugee camp. He'll visit more classes tomorrow.

Help Support the Food Bank of Delaware

Chris Hanrahan '14 asked us to pass along the following message: "Saturday is a big day for sports on campus and it would be great if visiting parents were able to bring canned foods to donate to the Wilmington Food Drive. We want to be able to give the barrel to the collection this Sunday so this is the last chance for students to donate food. The drive is closely related to the work the seniors have been so passionate about with Code Purple in Wilmington."

If you are coming to campus this weekend, please consider grabbing a few non-perishable food items to contribute. The barrel is currently located inside the main entrance to Founders Hall, but you can also pass it along to a friendly student and they'll get it there.

SAISL

The St. Andrew's Indoor Soccer League (SAISL) has provided the perfect excuse for kids to come in from the cold and get together between dinner and study hall. Games take place several nights a week with capacity crowds. Tonight's match features "Melina's Boys" versus the "Acousti-Kickers" with Melina Jorrizzo '15 and her squad considered heavy favorites.

Ten Minutes at St. Andrew's

We captured these photos within ten minutes on Wednesday afternoon. A group of students took a minute on the way to afternoon activities to test the sledding hill, Anand Sundar '14 and Clara Lee '14 practiced Vivaldi's double cello concerto in the Warner Gallery, and trainer Al Wood helped Olivia Gumbs '16 through a functional movement assessment.

A St. Andrew's Moment

Students wait patiently in the Memorial Alcove while waiting to meet with teachers to go over their recent exams.

January 31 — William H. Crump Physics Lecture, Dr. Stephon Alexander
February 1 — DISC Swimming Championships (Home)
February 1 — Casino Night
February 7 — Orchestra Concert
February 8 — DISC Wrestling Championships (Home)
February 8 — Semi-Formal
February 9 — Choral Scholars Evensong, National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
February 12 — IV Form trip to National Holocaust Museum
February 14 & 15 — Winter Play
February 21 & 22 — Winter Musical
February 28 — Student Art Show, Warner Gallery

The 2014-2015 Calendar is now available by clicking here.

Full School Calendar — Athletics Calendar

Bonus Photo

A passerby decided to leave a smile for others after a recent snowfall.

Bonus Photo II

Ben Baumann '17 and Nik Maholtra '17 were caught studying and made the Friday News From Campus!