Issue 6 The Raleigh Charter High School Annual Newsletter November 2015

EDUCATING KNOWLEDGEABLE, THOUGHTFUL, CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS

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After I started teaching at Raleigh Charter, I had a conversation with my students about the jobs they would like to have after graduation. They, of course, turned the question back on me, and asked, “What would you do if you could have any job in the world?” I thought about it for just a moment and then answered them truthfully, “This one!” I couldn’t imagine a more fun job than teaching at Raleigh Charter. Now that I have transitioned into the role of our new principal, I can answer that question the same way. Being the second principal at RCHS really is the best job that I can imagine.In 2001, I joined what was already a thriving faculty in the school’s third year. Each day was a transition and brought with it a new problem or possibility, and teachers worked hard to respond in ways that focused on the school’s mission, creating a place for learning. Talking with Dr. Humble through the years about what was really important at Raleigh Charter, he always stressed the value of having a committed, caring, and talented faculty. In this leadership transition, the Board of Directors has made it a priority to preserve the school’s culture. This challenging task is uppermost in my mind: we need to preserve our culture while continuing to fulfill our mission, focusing on rigorous academics with citizenship at its core. I believe the best way for us to do this is to keep hiring outstanding teachers, to provide them with the resources that they need, and to take care of them day in and day out, year in and year out. There are constants that continue to carry us through. The role our faculty plays in our day-to-day operations cannot be overstated. They work tirelessly in the classroom and behind the scenes to develop and improve quality programs for our

students. The care and energy that they put into their preparations - in the summer, on weekends, every evening - are really the keys to preserving our culture and fulfilling our mission. I am grateful to work with such a talented and dedicated group. Much of my energy and effort during this transition will focus on providing them with the tools they need to continue their amazing work.

I have found that the most exciting part of my work day is the same thing our alumni talk about over and over when they reminisce about their time here. I get to be in classrooms and see great teachers teach: Amy Koch excitedly telling her class about an experiment, Charles Montague’s students sharing their US History lampoons with their peers, Steve Busonik enlightening his students on the history of the English language, and Mark Slattery describing, in Spanish, the joys of the New England Patriots. On Flex Days, I watch Bob Hussey gleefully breaking popsicle-stick bridges, Barbara Soloman helping students with Fraction Action lessons, and Dave Palmieri heading out to the museum with the ninth graders to begin their artifact project just as Tracy Greenwalt did fifteen years ago.

At the heart of a Raleigh Charter education are teachers and students joyfully growing and learning together everyday. My job is to ensure that we continue to grow together, that we continue to imagine a better world and a better school and strive together to get there. I can’t imagine a better job.

Transitioning Together

New School Year, New Roles

On our fall Community Work Day, RCHS students Wheeler Davis and Langdon Ogburn conducted an interview with Dr. Thomas E. Humble about his transition from being Principal to being a College Counselor and English teacher. Here’s what Dr. Humble had to say…

Why did you decide to make this transition?Dr. Humble: I felt that, at this time, at a certain age, there is a retirement benefit to doing this, as well as a time of understanding as we age, we tend to slow down a little bit. I wanted to focus on a couple of things a day as opposed to eighteen things a day and so I made the decision to make that change.

What do you enjoy the most about your new position?Dr. Humble: I am always thinking about myself as a teacher, and I enjoy mapping what goes on with students in a classroom in a long-term basis. Being a college

counselor is new and I am seeing that there are other little facets where I will get to know a student whom I have never taught or only seen from a distance in one area or another. I get to know that person.What impact do you hope to have as a teacher and a college counselor that you may not have had as principal?Dr. Humble: I want everybody - whether as principal, as teacher, as college counselor - to follow their bliss… to maximize their talents, be able to take their talents and develop them and be able to grow and to see the unlimited possibilities for their future.

lisa huddlestonrchs principal

EDUCATING KNOWLEDGEABLE, THOUGHTFUL, CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS

CHECKING IN WITHRCHS Faculty & Staff

Office Administrator and Data Manager Linda Hash welcomed her first grandchild, Phillip David Burnett, this fall! Phillip is the son of RCHS alumna Lisa Hash Burnett ’05.

Linda is also the mother of two other RCHS graduates: Leslie Hash ’07 and David Hash ’10.

Spanish teacher, Rebecca (Hahn) Flammia, and her husband welcomed a son, Matthew Dominick Flammia, on May 22, 2015.

Science Teacher Whit Hames has two Phoenix currently enrolled at RCHS: Nicholas ’19 and Anna ’16. Whit has taught science here at RCHS since 2000.

Dr. Amy Marschall, RCHS English and German teacher, is now also serving as the Director of Student Support. In this role, Amy will collaborate with faculty and staff members to examine, assess, and enhance our school’s support systems for students.

You may remember some of RCHS Science Teacher Amy Koch’s little ones during your time here. They’re growing up! Here: Frank (Amy’s husband), Noah, 11, Maddy, 8, and Amy.

Joyce Felder joined her husband, Kenny, here in 2012. Kenny has taught at RCHS since 1999 (the very beginning!), while Barbara Solomon, his mother, has taught at RCHS since 2000. All three teach in the Math Department, while Joyce also teaches Physics. Two of the Felder children (Mary Felder ’12 and Ben Felder ’15) are RCHS graduates.

Bonnie is moving to Seattle from Portland, Maine. “We’re heading west, at least for a few years, for my husband’s new job: he’ll be directing impact capital

investment for the Nature Conservancy there. (Which is awesome.) Once we’re landed, I’ll be finding my next career chapter accelerating cleantech policy, climbing many mountains, and knitting new hat patterns.”

“When I first moved to New York a little over a year ago, it was for a fellowship at a global LGBT business advisory firm called Out Leadership. After ten months of working there, the fellowship came to an end in

June, and I had to figure out my next move in the Big Apple. Happily, I can say that things worked out, and I’m now working under the Executive Director of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, an international foundation that provides $3.6 million of grants annually to grassroots queer

organizers across the world!”Jacob Tobia ’10

Kendra has recently published

a fiction chapbook with Awst

Press called The Girl Who Could Only Say ‘sex, drugs, and rock & roll.’ She currently

lives in Austin, Texas, pursuing a master’s degree in youth librarianship and teaching creative writing to teens at Skybridge Academy.

Kendra Fortmeyer ‘04

“I recently transitioned out of the middle school classroom, where I was teaching 6th grade language arts, into a position in the Office of Undergraduate Retention at the University of North Carolina. The new position still allows me time in a classroom setting - right now I’m teaching a seminar for junior transfer students - but it also gives me the opportunity to be involved in a number of research initiatives and experiences that are unique to a higher-ed environment.”

Sharon Levine ’05

“This spring I got married, and

I am graduating this winter

from the Navy’s nuclear power

training program and moving

to San Diego to serve on the

USS Carl Vinson.”

Cassie (Wise) Williams ’08

“I recently left the Raleigh nonprofit world to become Co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of brüks bars, a healthy snack bar startup based in Charlotte, NC. We make allergen-conscious snack bars with real food, the perfect combination of my interests in health, nutrition, exercise, entrepreneurialism, and

delicious food. Check us out at www.bruksbars.com, taste a bar from a local retailer or via our online platform, and enjoy some tasty, healthy snacking!”

Peter Smith ’02

“After graduating college, I spent a year in France teaching English to high schoolers and traveling as often as possible in my time off. After making my way back to the US this summer, I have since been doing part-time work for a startup, LearnerNation (a platform used by companies to train employees), while using the rest of my time to job hunt and debate whether or not to return to France for graduate school!” Ashcon Livingston ‘10

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ON THE MOVE:RCHS Alumni

Bonnie Frye Hemphill ’04

EDUCATING KNOWLEDGEABLE, THOUGHTFUL, CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS

Forever PhoenixAnonymous (1)Emily Blackwell ’04Chris Carnes ’15Shelby Cox ’14Katie Craig ’14Evan Dean ’15Ayarah Dharanikota ’15Joey DiSerafino ’15Cara Downey ’15Richard He ’13Madison Hurst ’15Andrew Huynh ’15Madeline Isacco ’15Alex Johnson ’15

Catherine Jones ’15Pooja Joshi ’15Zane Kerr ’15Jackson Kilgore ’15Anant Kumar ’15Miranda LaValley ’15Glenn Lippig-Singewald ’11Sejal Mahajan ’15Tara Martin ’15Griffin Miller ’15Grace Nipp ’15Adison Oakley ’15Olivia Ontjes ’15Benat Quartararo ’15Yasha Rao ’05Miranda Ray ’15Neill Robson ’15Lane Rosen ’15Bonnie Rowan ’15Paulina Ruiz ’15Rema Shah ’15Madison Shankin ’15Brittany Siegert ’15Dennis Smith ’15Sumati Sridhar ’15

Sallie Thompson ’11Simrann Wadhwa ’15

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅Current ParentsAnonymous (9)Richard AdamsRoopa AdariSamuel Allison and Amy EckardMary Ann AlmasianShirish AminThe Anderson FamilyLori AndersonThe Biel Family

Terri AronJoe AustinSamantha BabcockStacey BarnettSandeep BattaAndrea Behrns-MillerThe Bell FamilyLaw Office of John T. Benjamin, Jr., P.A.Adrienne Berney and Richard KaznickiHoward BerinsonConnie BiondoThe Blanchard FamilyRebecca BoettcherMatthew Booker and Aranzazu LascurainKathleen BoyceMary BreenThomas and Kelley BrnaMaureen BrossThe Brown CrewMark BrownHoward and Noelle BrowneHoward and Noelle Browne in honor of Jerie Hobbs and 2014-15 teachers

Raleigh Charter High School

THE PHOENIX FUNDEvery family. Every year.

Thank You to Our 2014-2015 Phoenix Fund Supporters!Gifts to last year’s Phoenix Fund totaled $319,700. Contributions were received from alumni, alumni parents, current parents, students, friends, grandparents, corporate matching gift programs, foundations, and even the Raleigh Charter High School Student Government Association (SGA). In addition, a wide array of in-kind gifts filled needs without adding costs to our limited budget.

Though contributors often ask what items were purchased with donated dollars, the most important use of the Phoenix Fund is allowing our school to remain small and our student-teacher ratio to remain low. Financial support also ensures we can attract and retain our excellent faculty. With fluctuations and limitations in state funding, donations allow us to continue to be the school our families are seeking and our alumni experienced. Our small school, and the many benefits that come from being small, are only possible with support from our community.

From our students and faculty, thank you to the contributors below and on the following pages for gifts received from July 1, 2014 – June 30-2015.

With your support, we met our 2014-2015 Phoenix Fund goal!

Supporters of the 2014-2015 Raleigh Charter High School Phoenix Fund

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Anne BurroughsAmy CaulfieldUgur CelimliLinda and Eric ChabinskyKathy ChandlerThe Cheung FamilyEve and Matt Coats

Lori and Dan CollinsLee CollinsKenneth CoxDavid CozzieKim and Sam CraigDinesh and Geetika DagarThe Daigle FamilyCatherine and Todd DavisCraig DeanPamela and Bryan DeLoatchDavid DewLorna Briganti DeWalleMarc DeWalleDoug DexterDave and Ann Marie DiSerafinoJeff and Brenda DozerJane DreyerAllison DuganScott DunhamRudra DuttaRobert and Joni EarpWarren EdwardsThe Egan FamilyJames and Tammy ElliottDeborah EmburyHilarie and William ErbCraig EricksonHugh and Deborah EsleeckSantiago and Mary Michaels Estrada

Virginia EvettMegan FarrisKevin FeenySusan FerraroKen and Amy Fisher

Allen and Susan FisherEamon and Noreen FitzmauricePaul FlickGreg FolandKatherine FortunatoScott and Lisa Fristoe

The Furr FamilyThe Gaines FamilyAndrew J. Gall and Constance Gail KeenGovind GawdiThe Gerber FamilyBarbara and Pryor GibsonYoung GilThe Glass Family

Matthew GoodallTim and Amy GrantThe Gresham FamilyYolanda GrijalvaKathy GwinnMansoor HaiderMark and Kathryn HardyDana HarveyRussell and Mandy HemingwayFelicia and Brent HeywardTim and Jenny HoltSteven HorvitzDaniel HowePhilip and Cathy HrenMelissa HuemmerGeoffrey HuguelyBill and Patti HulbertStephen HumphriesRoy HuntleyLaura HurleyDebra HurstThe Irvin FamilyTracy IsaccoNicole IshiiLisa IvesAnnette JasperRajeeve and Juna JohnAndrea JohnsonDhanesh and Shivangi JoshiVijay Juneja

Jared KemptonIrene KesselmanNoel KharasMike and Elaine KilgoreJak and Page KingJak and Page King in honor of Jerie Hobbs

Arnold and Jane KingHeidi and Michael KingJoseph and Angela KochubaPaul KoningBattle and Kathryn KoonceMalathi KumaresanEdna Wong KyuDr. Gary LackmannPaul LamThe Lamb FamilyWilliam LaneThe Le FamilyJeff and Rhonda LevyTara LeibertThe Lindyberg FamilySteve and Cindy LochbaumJiangbo Lu and Hong WangRobert LutzJohn and Julie MaloneRoger MarkThe Martinez FamilyMichael and Trina MartinScot MayAmanda McCabeAlan and Sharon McConnellMarcella McCordThe McSorley FamilyThe Meeks Family

Dr. Bradley MehlenbacherThe Mehrotra FamilySteven and Anne MichalakMark and Betsy MikolajewskiVenita MittalSammy MoghaziDavid MooreThe Morray FamilyJoseph Murray and Stacey Ainbinder-MurrayPatrick Murray

Susan MygattDr. Paresh C. Naran, DDSCarol NayDavid NelsonNipp RealtyBob and Tammy Noel

Pavan and Madhavi NomulaDeb and Rudy OgburnHeather Pahl

Gena PappalardoEric and Diana ParsonsKashish PatelDonna PeekKailash PeriKathleen PerkinsonSteve and Maryanne PerrinLinda PuertolasAnthony Quartararo and Elena CeberioAnthony Quartararo and Elena Cerberio in appreciation of the work of the Curriculum Assistance ProgramNicole RaimundoBalaji Ramadurai and Padma SthalasayanamRadha RapoluChandrika & Jayathirtha RaoGuruaja RaoPrakash RaoJenny RayWarren ReBarkerJohn ReevesAndrea ReevesAnna and Kurt RegensburgerSheila Revels

The Richard FamilyJulie RiddleJane RobertsKelly RobertsMonika Robertson

“the value of the education provided to rchs students is immeasurable. what monetary donation could i give that would match the gift my daughter receives? that, too, is immeasurable. so, i give as i am able in many ways, including money and my volunteer time.

“rchs creates a learning experience second to none. the teachers are fulfilling their avocation not their vocation. they make each interaction meaningful and lead the students to develop their own meaningful insights. rchs does not “teach to the test” - it teaches for life.

EDUCATING KNOWLEDGEABLE, THOUGHTFUL, CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS

Susan RobsonMaria Rodriguez-WelshThe Rosen Law Firm, P.A.Dr. and Ms. William H. Rowan, IIIRodolfo Ruiz

Brady RutherfordThe Saleh FamilyKellie and Raniel SaludoYogesh and Ragini SanghviGraham and Keith SatiskyThe Sawatzky FamilyMs. Alexandra SchaussJeffrey and Donna SchusterJoseph and Gina ScrudatoAnkur ShahJyoti ShahSanjay ShahThe Sharp FamilyGeetika and Vivek ShindeRobert Siegel and Rafaella Di Giorgio-SiegelThe Siegert FamilyThe Simone FamilyMichael and Nicole SlaytonVincent and Carrie SmithSandra and Khalil Smith on behalf of Kevyn Smith because he loves the school and we believe in the CharterBrian SockinPalghat SridharMark SteckbeckDirk and Anne SteckmannHope and Lee StewartLeanne Stradling

Don and Mary Lawrence StroudMadeleine StrumDan SullivanThe Sundaram FamilyJessica Chen’s Family

Jie TaoHumberto TavaresMaitreya and Madhvi ThakkarPreethi ThomasThe Tiller FamilyVinod and Reena TiwariLydia TolarMarcus and Elizabeth TrathenKaren and Jim TrogdonJames and Eliza TrudeauHarrison TsengWacaser and AssociatesAmrit Wadhwa and Ritu KaurJolyne and John WagnerTim and Melanie WardLance Farlow and Lynne WarrenJane WeinbergerJacqueline WeintraubMichelle WellsThe Whetzel FamilyJohn and Dianna White

The White FamilyJudy and Battle WhitleyMr. James WilderRobert and Marlette WillettMr. and Ms. Steve WilliamsMs. Rose WilliamsMichelle WillisMark WolffQing and Hong XuJean XuMichael and Linda Zazzeri

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅Contributing FriendsPeter BrockGrace BrownMr. Roger CallananRobert CrouseSuzanne and Louis Dawes in honor of Peter FortunatoJane GonzalezMike JordanDr. Stephen MargolisPatricia Moylan in honor of Sharon McConnell

Anna Maria Papp

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅Current and Former Faculty and StaffGlenda AtkinsonJun and Minmin ChenAnthony ClayThomas and Sally HumbleSteve and Carolyn JacksonFrank KochPetra MartignoniMr. and Mrs. George WallBetty Warren

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅GrandparentsAnonymous (1)Richard and Barbara FarnerCharlotte Grant in honor of Blair and Darden KingLorena McHenryDr. and Mrs. Joseph MoylanJames and Mary PellettieriJoyce Rothchild in honor of Jared and Jasper MarkHoward and Lyn Satisky Family Fund of Triangle Community FoundationPeter SlocumWillis and Leona WhichardFrederick and Elizabeth White

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅Forever Phoenix ParentsAnonymous (3)Susan Arrendell and Abie HarrisWinston AtkinsWinnie and Michael Beach

Siva BodavulaDr. Bruce BransonDavid and Ruth ChallenerKen and Lynne ChambersDavid Chapin and Meg RevelleDr. Patricia W. CollinsDebra and Clayton DeCamillis

Dr. Laurie Dunn and Crawford CrenshawJohn FuscoeKathleen GreenJacqui Hawkins-MortonJoe and Pam HuckThe Karsten FamilyThe Ingram FamilyTony IvosicBohumil Kasal and Dana KasalovaJodi Stewart KhaterKevin LordAmy and David Marschall

Neil and Joanne McGowanThe Munger FamilyHilarie NickersonBob and Kathy PhillipsMike PoeDouglas and Ellen ReevesAlex RosenJim and Sue ShearinMiles SmithMark StephensThe Thompson FamilyMr. Malcolm D. TownsRonald WagonerMr. James WardPaul and Kaori Zevgolis

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅In Memory ofMr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Brooks for the Frank Highley Scholarship FundNancy and Roger Callanan in memory of Angela Callanan JosephDr. Patricia W. Collins in memory of her motherLisa McDonald in memory of Alan, Harriet, and Seth MeyersRCHS Basketball Team in memory of Ahroon BezawadaThe Raleigh Charter High School Faculty Fund in memory of Helen Deifer

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅(continued on page 7)

“we all want great teachers who inspire our children with the love of learning - not for getting into a great school, not for glory, but purely for the enjoyment of knowledge. that is what rchs teachers accomplish! i hear from both sides how inspirational the teachers are there. that is the reason i chose to support financially the school: to make sure this extraordinary value stays intact.

“i would like for rchs to continue to be available to my kids and others in the future. i believe the school encourages thoughtfulness, leadership and community involvement, which i value.

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Businesses, Organizations and FoundationsJimmy Allen PhotographyAmazon SmileApple Matching Gifts ProgramBecton DickinsonBlueCross BlueShieldCisco Community Connections ProgramDuke Energy FoundationGenworth Foundation Matching Gifts ProgramHartsfield & Nash Agency, Inc.Hewlett PackardHospira FoundationIBM International Foundation- Matching Grants ProgramIntel Matching Gifts to EducationLenovoThe Merck Foundation

Montgomery Law FirmNichols Law, PANovartisOracle CorporationPentair FoundationPfizer FoundationPNC FoundationThe John William Pope FoundationQuintiles CaresRCHS Student Government AssociationRed HatSAS Institute, Inc.Starbucks Coffee Company - Partner Match-Time ProgramTIAA-CREFUniversity of MichiganVerizon FoundationWells Fargo Educational Matching Gifts Program

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅In-KindHoward and Noelle BrowneTony IvosicMr. James Law, SCS EngineersDr. Lori Abel Myerhoffer, Yates, McLamb & Weyher, L.L.P.Ms. Kathleen MurphyMr. Lee StewartMr. Rob Weintraub

SAS Institute, Inc.

΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅ ΅Raleigh Charter High School Foundation ContributorsCapital Campaign donors havebeen previously recognized.

Current ParentsSubramanian, Chitra, and Abichiran BaskaranHoward and Valerie BerinsonParag and Sonali BirlaThe Bradley FamilyThe Hager FamilyThe Ledford FamilyThe McSorley FamilyRashmi MehtaEric and Diana Parsons

The Simone FamilyDirk and Anne SteckmannBen and Anna SuttleMichael Sweeney

Forever Phoenix ParentsJanie Cole The Jariwala FamilyThe Karsten FamilyDan O’BrienMichael Sweeney

Businesses, Organizations and FounationsGlaxoSmithKline GIVE ProgramThe Home Depot FoundationQualcomm

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Help Us Meet Our $325,000 Goalfor the 2015-2016 School Year!

To show your support for our school, please consider making a gift to the 2015-2016 Phoenix Fund using the Blue Card and envelope enclosed here. You may also visit our website to donate online and learn about the many ways you can contribute to Raleigh Charter High School.

www.raleighcharterhs.org/giving

“i could not have dreamed of a better school for our daughter. the education, engagement, respect and encouragement to develop all of her interests and talents is deeply ingrained in the fabric of the school. at rchs, she is surrounded by students and teachers who love the process of learning and discovery and that has helped her blossom in a way i didn’t think possible. she feels at home when she is at school. what more could a parent want for their child’s education?i support the phoenix fund not just because of what rchs has meant to my student but because i believe all students should have an opportunity to have this experience. by providing raleigh charter the financial ability to be successful, they are able to provide educational success for their students and set an example for other schools about how best to educate our children.

UPCOMING DATES

QUICK LINKS

1307 Glenwood AvenueRaleigh, NC 27605-3249

December 4, 2015Artifact Museum, 4-6 pm (All are welcome!)January 4, 2016Annual Alumni Winter Coffee, 1:30-3 pmJanuary 29 - February 29, 2016Application Period for 2016-2017 School YearJanuary 29, 2016Open House for Prospective Families, 5:30-7:30 pmFebruary 4, 2016Open House for Prospective Families, 5:30-7:30 pmFebruary 26 - March 5, 2016RCHS Drama Presents “Much Ado About Nothing”

March 11 and 18, 2016Flex DaysMarch 26, 2016Admissions Lottery, 10 amApril 15, 2016Interdisciplinary (ID) Flex DayMay 13, 2016Community Work DayJune 4, 2016Graduation, Meymandi Concert Hall, 4-6 pm

Visit Us Onlinewww.raleighcharterhs.orgContribute to Raleigh Charterwww.raleighcharterhs.org/givingSubscribe to the RCHS Alumni Newsletterwww.raleighcharterhs.org/alumni

Follow Us on Twitterwww.twitter.com/raleighcharterLike Us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/raleighcharterJoin the RCHS Alumni Facebook Groupfacebook.com/groups/raleighcharteralumni/

Don’t forget: Siblings of RCHS alumni may be eligible for sibling preference in the RCHS Admissions Lottery!Visit www.raleighcharterhs.org for more information.

Earn money for RCHS! Visit our website to learn how to connect your frequent shopper’s cards.Click on the “Parents” tab and select “Fundraising.”