St. Paul Academy and Summit School

☀ Spartan Summer Series: Jill Chang, beloved faculty member and new Pathways Program Coordinator, on having — and achieving — a transformative vision.

"Being a teacher in the Christopher Center Pathways Program has been a dream come true. I am lucky to work in a place that sees the potential in all children and takes steps to ensure that all children can reach it. St. Paul Academy and Summit School is a place where saying "Wouldn't it be great if..." becomes "Let's make it happen!"

A few weeks ago, our Spartan Day Campers turned into Spartan Scientists for a week! 🧪

Middle School science teacher Nick Hiniker led the camp. He said, "During science camp, students explored the nature of matter and learned how it can change in physical and chemical ways. They built rockets using a bubbling chemical change, revealed the effects of ocean acidification using a color changing chemical change, and performed chromatography to solve a mystery note. They also explored physical changes of pressure and temperature and created their own clouds in a bottle. We wrapped up the week by zooming in and exploring various samples under microscopes."

It was a summer of sun (and science!) and now we're full steam ahead toward the school year. 💛

☀ Spartan Summer Series: Rachel Yost-Dubrow, an alumna and a member of our Upper School science faculty on SPA's incredible science offerings and the facilities that make them possible. 🌱

"As an alum ('12) and now a member of the faculty, I've really enjoyed watching SPA grow into our new amazing facilities while retaining the key elements that make our Spartan community special. Teaching biology, environmental science, and botany, I love how many opportunities our students have to try the scientific techniques that previously we could only read about or model.

From PCR and gel electrophoresis to micropipetting to BLAST, our students arrive at college with applicable laboratory skills that their peers have yet to learn. Recently, in my botany elective, we've been practicing these techniques as a way to identify GMOs in foods from a local grocery store. After we complete our investigation students will reflect on the experience in writing, responding to the question 'should you be able to own genetic code?' The resources to conduct this experiment, and the freedom to design the questions, are the secret ingredient in that special Spartan sauce!"

The countdown is officially on to the first day of school! While we're savoring the last days of summer, we're also excited to see all of our Spartans again.

Mark your calendars (and watch your email for more details): the upcoming Back-to-School Gatherings are on August 11, 12, and 13. 💙💛

☀️ Spartan Summer Series: Diane Mancini, Middle School Spanish and K-12 World Language Department Chair, on jokes and connection in Spanish class.

"Spanish 2B is a really fun class to teach because the students know enough Spanish to start understanding my jokes and making their own. One of my favorite moments from this year happened when students were about to take a geography quiz on the regions of Spain. I had covered up the wall map with a big piece of paper, but I asked a student who was sitting next to it to move his desk over. He noted (in Spanish) that the map was already covered up — did I think he would look under the paper? I replied (in Spanish) that maybe he had X-ray vision. Without missing a beat, another student said (in Spanish), "If he has X-ray vision, we have much bigger problems." These moments of shared laughter underscore what learning a language is all about: connecting as human beings."

Gracias, Sra. Mancini! 💙💛

☀️ Spartan Summer Series: Daryn Lowman, Upper School Ceramics and Sculpture Instructor and artist extraordinaire.

"Teaching ceramics and other hands-on art classes in a world shaped by AI, smartphones, and constant digital input reveals a noticeable shift in some students. Accustomed to instant answers and endless scrolling, they are often challenged by the slower, uncertain process of working with materials—yet many are drawn to it. In the visual arts classes, students engage in a different rhythm of learning, one that values process, error, and imperfection as essential parts of understanding.

My philosophy as an art instructor is to create meaningful opportunities for students to engage deeply with process. I aim to provide a multitude of entry points, allowing each student to approach creative challenges in a personal and individual way. Rather than seeking a single correct outcome, students are encouraged to navigate the visual problem through experimentation, trial and error, and sustained exploration. In doing so, they develop confidence in their decision-making and come to value time, play, and discovery as essential parts of learning."

☀️ Spartan Summer Series: Amy Lefebvre on teaching as science, art, and joy.

"When I think about what I love about working at the Lower School, the word I keep returning to is balance. I love that teaching is both a science and an art — that it demands deep knowledge of the craft, yet also calls for intuition, for knowing when to set the lesson plan aside and follow where your students lead. I love the balance of guiding new first graders toward independence while watching their second-grade classmates grow into confident classroom leaders. Of working hard to build new skills, yet still finding time to get outside and simply play. Of sharing laughter with my students while also belonging to a warm, joyful adult community that supports one another. And perhaps most personally, the balance of nurturing my students' growth while watching my own daughter flourish in the very same halls."

All of the emotions watching a Spartan launch into space this morning! Shock, joy, excitement, and, most of all, Spartan pride! Congrats, Dr. Menon! 💙💛

☀️ Spartan Summer Series: Paul Magee, Middle School World Language, Spanish

"I was hired in the summer of 2000 to teach Spanish in the newly constructed Middle School building. It was a part time position that turned into a career that is edging close to three decades! I have had opportunities to coach tennis, be the K-12 World Language Department chairperson, and to serve 14 years as the first Assistant Principal of the Middle School.

The students bring me joy on a daily basis. Middle school is a special time in a young person’s life. There is a lot to learn as they move into early teen years. There can be anxiety and doubt. It is a magical moment when a student finds their inner confidence and learns that they can do something well. It is a privilege to work with students in that moment.

Finally, I have the best colleagues I could ask for. They are kind, empathetic, intelligent, and collaborative. They love working with middle schoolers and they help me become a better teacher."

10-9-8...Dr. Anil Menon '95 is ready for lift-off!

It's not every day that a Spartan heads to space and, for Anil, this is the culmination of his life's work. He'll begin his first journey to the International Space Station on Tuesday, July 14, and he'll serve as flight engineer and Expedition 75 crew member.

Jim McVeety, a former SPA teacher and coach, remembers Anil as "a brilliant, curious student, graced with humility and a fine sense of humor" and "always supportive of his classmates and teammates." McVeety noted that Anil was also a finalist for the Westinghouse Science Talent Search in 1995. In turn, former faculty member George Leiter remembers Anil as "a little bit of everything as a student. He was talented and hardworking, but focused on every subject equally."

Learn more about Anil's career here: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/astronauts/nasa-astronaut-anil-menon/

Check out the broadcast of the launch here: https://www.rocketlaunch.live/launch/soyuz-ms-29

Congratulations to Anil on an out-of-this-world accomplishment! 🚀