CA Magazine Winter 2020 (Final)

The Magazine of Cary Academy WINTER 2020 GREEN CHARGER PRIDE: Games and gadgets: FOOTSTEPS SPIRIT WEEK & giving students the LEAD HOMECOMING tech tools to shine THE WAY FORWARD page 9 Page 4 Page 16 The heart of the team Page 12 Laying down the laws of physics Page 14

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Hello Cary Academy Friends! Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, This goes for: we are bringing you this issue of • S tudents, who are so positive and ?, The Magazine of Cary Academy electronically. While we want to do resilient—an inspiration to all of us our part by making sure print and on how to handle challenging times. mail resources can be dedicated to • P arents, who are supporting their health needs at the moment, we had students and their families through just too much good stuff happening an unprecedented moment. not to share. • Staff members, who are providing So… welcome to a special electronic support and expertise to keep the edition of a print magazine. organization humming, both from In this issue, we are delighted to share school and from home. some wonderful stories of impact. • F aculty, who are literally having We hope you’ll enjoy reading about to re-tool on the fly to provide Cindy Laughlin, who has been a steady robust and meaningful learning and uplifting presence in the Middle opportunities to our students. School since our founding. In addition, • A nd, of course, the various you can learn how Jared Carson ‘08 governmental, medical, safety, parlayed a passion for the environment logistics, dining, farming, technical, sparked at Cary Academy into a career and manufacturing folks who are in environmental technology. A Q&A on the front lines and keeping with Middle School mathematics things going so that we can weather teacher Leslie Williams shows how this crisis. current generations of CA students Thank you, all! are being introduced to the latest technologies. Please also check out Mike Ehrhardt, Head of School the inspiring story of how a new Upper School physics team went from start-up status just a few years ago to national champions at this year’s USA Young Physicists Tournament. As this issue will hit your electronic in-boxes during a spring of “virtual schooling,” I also wanted to add a special thanks to everybody who is working so hard to keep the learning happening at Cary Academy.

The Magazine In this issue of Cary Academy 4 Teaching With Tech 12 At the Heart of the WINTER 2020 Innovation is an education buzzword Middle School COMMUNICATIONS TEAM synonymous with technology. With daily Mandy Dailey life at Cary Academy already infused with Does your day start with a smile? For every Dean Sauls technology, how do teachers in the Middle single Middle School student since CA Dan Smith School leverage EdTech to find ways of opened its doors in 1997, Cindy Laughlin letting every student shine? has greeted them with a kind smile and the PHOTOGRAPHY spirit to overcome any challenge. Dan Smith 14 Death Rays and Grains of 16 Selling a Brighter Future The CA community Sand: the Sweet Science What road leads to tomorrow? One Cary HEAD OF SCHOOL of a Physics Fight Michael Ehrhardt Academy alum is leading businesses along Let CA’s reigning United Stated Association DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS for Young Physicists Tournament team show the path to a greener, more sustainable Heather Clarkson you the path to victory. future—one small step at a time. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Mandy Dailey Campus Snap- Alumni News shots News HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL Robin Follet 2 9 20 DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Jess Garcia DEAN OF FACULTY Martina Greene HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL Marti Jenkins DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Danielle Johnson-Webb DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Karen McKenzie DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Ali Page CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Deborah Reichel is published three times a year by Cary Academy. CARY ACADEMY 1500 N. Harrison Avenue Cary, North Carolina 27513 (919) 677-3873 www.caryacademy.org Every day brings something unique and exciting. Back cover

Campus News Cary Academy teams have a standout second trimester CA’s Speech and Debate team took home its fifth-straight on 15 of 18 ballots. The team will next compete at the National Dogwood Speech and Debate League title. As a result of their High School Ethics Bowl this spring. performance, 20 team members will represent the Dogwood League at the National Catholic Forensic League Grand Middle School Robotics’ Blue Team earned first place Nationals in May. for mechanical design during the FIRST LEGO League’s Regional Qualifier, earning them a spot at the FLL State The Model United Nations team returned from the UNC Championship. The junior varsity robotics teams capped off Model United Nations Conference with several gavels and awards, the second trimester by hosting the first FIRST Tech Challenge including the Best Small Delegation Award—a first for CA. robotics tournament to be held at CA. Last, but certainly not least, varsity robotics earned their first-ever FIRST Robotics Now in its third year, the Ethics Bowl team won the 2020 Competition tournament as T2 drew to a close. North Carolina High School Ethics Bowl, earning the selection SWIMMING CHAMPS zero waste, gender inequity, digital privacy, pitching a naturally anti-inflammatory tobacco- and teen mental health. The first contingent based skin-care cream. On the heels of earning their eleventh- from the U.S. to attend YFS, the CA group straight TISAC Championship, CA’s varsity came away with a desire to combat global In addition, Boxide founders Jay Sagrolikar girls’ swim team won the NCISAA State climate change with local efforts, including ’21, Vibhav Nandagiri ’21, Kathryn Chao ’21, Championship for the fourth consecutive possibly hosting a similar conference at CA Paul Ibrahim ’21, and Ritvik Nalamothu ’21 year. The varsity boys capped off a successful in the coming years. They continue to meet were named alternate finalists in the Health year as state runners-up in a close-fought weekly to develop goals and specific plans. & Nutrition category for their invention and battle, a week after earning their sixth- business plan which would expand access straight TISAC Championship. An astounding CONRAD CHALLENGE to on-site surgical equipment sterilization in 47 Chargers qualified to compete in the remote parts of the world. State finals, with 31 earning points in the final One of CA’s four Startup Challenge Club meet. Go Chargers! teams has advanced to the final round of the Both teams will be applying for patents and international Conrad Challenge. As finalists, developing out prototypes as next steps. YOUTH FORUM SWITZERLAND Nexkap founders Mila Patel ’21, Natasha Sachar ’22, Sonia Shah ’22, and Ella Gupta RENOVATED ADMINISTRATION Six Upper School students represented ’23 would have had the opportunity to travel BUILDING, LIBRARY REOPEN Cary Academy at the 2020 Youth Forum to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Cape Switzerland, hosted by the International Canaveral, Florida in April to pitch their Following a sneak-preview during the School of Zug and Luzern. Students met with product and business plan to judges at the PTAA’s Taste and Toast celebration of CA’s peers from around the world to discuss ways Conrad Innovation Summit. commitment to service, the Administration they can take action and assume the lead building was officially reopened to students. on a variety of global issues, empowering As a result of SARS-CoV-2, the Summit has The dramatically renovated library now features the next generation of leaders and now gone virtual and has been delayed until bright, airy, glass-enclosed study spaces; changemakers. Topics discussed included May. An entrant in the Re-Purposed Farmlands common-area lounges; redesigned offices and moving schools and whole communities to and Tobacco Crops category, Nexkap is teaching spaces for Information Services, as well as a new café and campus store. ? Two The Magazine of Cary Academy

SERVICE FRONT AND CENTER FOR CA COMMUNITY DURING T2 Cheered-on by ‘Big Baby,’ more than 100 CA families donated hundreds of diapers, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, and adult incontinence items, making generosity go viral on GivingTuesday. Our community’s generosity continued to shine as the Middle and Upper School Giving Trees collected gifts for children in need via the Wake County Guardian ad Litem and Johnston County Department of Social Services. Dozens of students and parents supported at-risk youth served by Wrenn House & Safe Place with landscaping, cooking, and cleaning during our Family Service Day. The new DELTA Service Club carried the enthusiasm from their first trimester into T2 with an explosion of community work­—brightening the days of elderly members of our local community; hosting voter registration drives; collecting donations for all manners of causes; harvesting food for those in need; volunteering with Habitat for Humanity; addressing issues of women’s rights and wellbeing; and delivering candygrams, just to name a few projects.

TEACHING WITH TECH Though innovation and technology are often HOW DOES EDTECH HELP CA DELIVER used interchangeably when talking about ON ITS MISSION? education, at CA, educational technology— Technology allows me to tailor the way I teach to the different ways my students learn. EdTech, for short—is one of many tools that And it gives me some much-needed flexibility in their assessment, a different approach to see our faculty use to create personalized learning if and how they are mastering the material. opportunities that are flexible and relevant. I’m always amazed to see those kids— the ones who are a little bit quiet—come In the Middle School, Technology out of their shells when they are designing Facilitator Chair and math teacher Leslie in TinkerCad, learning in Minecraft, or Williams works hand-in-hand with exploring with augmented reality. EdTech Information Services to help lead the charge allows them to tap into their tech interests and to bring innovative tools to our Middle skills to really show off what they can do— School classrooms—teaching students and what they are learning—in ways that play to colleagues alike. Be it Minecraft, augmented their strengths. or virtual reality (AR/VR), or computer-aided design and 3D printing, this technology lends It allows them to show me that they’ve itself to deeper learning and retention, while attained mastery of a subject in a way that encouraging students to develop crucial skills would likely be overlooked if I were to just that they will use throughout their lives. say, ‘tell me the answer out of the book,’ ‘do a problem on the board,’ or ‘write out the essay.’ We recently had an opportunity to sit down In CA-speak, it empowers them to “own their with Ms. Williams to talk about the role and learning” in transformative ways. impact of EdTech at CA. Four ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

WHAT’S ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE EDTECH LEADERSHIP CLUB EDTECH APPROACHES? Thanks to a newly-formed club, students that are interested in technology will soon have an opportunity to step up as tech leaders within the Middle School. The In my classroom, I like to use gaming. EdTech Leadership Club (ETL) will provide additional leadership and technology It engages kids and gives them instant training to students interested in EdTech. positive reinforcement. Each time they demonstrate mastery of a topic, they earn Working at their own pace, club members will be tasked with mastering all the virtual currency that they can use to buy EdTech that CA has to offer and sharing that expertise back out to the community. prizes. All of this gets them very excited As they master skills, students will earn micro-credentials that can be proudly about learning. displayed on student-designed wrist bands, necklaces, etc.. These signal to the community what tools club members can support, what skills they carry in their Many of us use actual video games “virtual backpack.” catered to education in their classrooms— Minecraft and Prodigy are fantastic “As we so often to do at CA, examples. With Minecraft for education, with the ETL, we’re putting kids kids build entire worlds from books in the driver’s seat,” explains they are reading; it lets them visualize Williams. “The students will be geometry and even study chemistry. responsible for learning all these Prodigy allows students to review and different pieces of software and learn math in a collaborative gaming hardware­—truly playing to learn. environment much like Pokemon, which Once credentialed, they will take is familiar to students. those skills to the classroom, assisting with the deployment WHAT SORT OF SKILLS ARE YOU of technology and offering tech support services to their peers and PROMOTING VIA EDTECH IN THE teachers alike.” By empowering students, Williams thinks the entire Middle School EdTech CLASSROOM? program will be strengthened, even expanded. “While I have a basic understanding of each software tool in their toolkit—I may not be an expert in all the finer I think EdTech gives us more robust, intricacies of each of them. The kids, however, they live and breathe these new immersive ways to increase student mastery technologies. They become true experts—and they can also get their friends and nurture crucial soft skills. As a math excited and engaged. By supporting their passions and empowering them as teacher, I can use it to hone spatial skills in leaders, we increase the number of students that we can reach, the number of a way that working geometry problems on projects that we can support in the classroom.” paper or the board simply can’t. One of Williams’ priorities with the ETL is to ensure that its member composition reflects that of CA’s diverse student body. She hopes the club might spark interests in Take, for example, our implementation those students that might not typically consider themselves suited for STEM-related of TinkerCad. In sixth grade, students fields or those students, particularly girls, who often feel social pressure in Middle learn about spatial thinking and the School to do things other than spend time on STEM activities. ins and outs of using TinkerCAD; in At the end of the day, Williams’ goal with the ETL is to create savvy tech users— seventh grade, they use these skills to perhaps even tomorrow’s tech leaders—that are well-prepared to succeed in solve problems by creating virtual objects today’s technology-driven world. As she notes enthusiastically, “this sort of flexible that they then print. That’s a real-world learning gives those kids that might not otherwise have the opportunity in a more application of mathematical concepts— traditional setting, to step-up and thrive as leaders. It gives them meaningful and it leads to a deeper understanding. opportunities to hone their leadership, technology, and communication skills to the benefit of our entire community.” EdTech also allows us to incorporate design-thinking into the classroom in meaningful ways. Students design products to solve real-world challenges, print them, test them, refine them, and try again. They have to keep working toward a better solution, rather than simply completing a project and moving onto the ? Five The Magazine of Cary Academy

The eighth-grade next without really learning whether it to virtual content when viewed through science classes use worked or not. And that nurtures crucial an app—to augment, rather than replace, VR and AR to study skills like risk-taking, resilience, and the real world. I’m really excited. The human anatomy; perseverance. These lessons are echoed students will build a map of the world in both allow students not only in my classroom but throughout the story and then utilize triggers on the to move around the Middle School. map to pull up additional materials that inside the body, they develop. It might be pictures they study the different Beyond improving spatial and design- create to tell parts of the story, narrative parts of the heart, thinking skills, our students are also videos, or even locations and scenes that and even simulate developing an important digital literacy: they recreate in storytelling platforms like surgery. the ability to use a CAD program. And Minecraft and Animaker. that will serve them in the Upper School and beyond. It’s a win on multiple fronts. There’s also a new tool called a MERGEcube that I’m particularly excited HOW ARE YOU USING VIRTUAL about. It is a six-sided QR code that allows you to interact with a virtual object REALITY (VR) IN THE CLASSROOM? in 3D space. These virtual objects could be anything from a model of the human We’ve been using virtual reality in the heart to the Apollo Lunar Module. Middle School for some time now, across Because the cube has orientation—that the curriculum and disciplines, and we’re is, each side of the cube has a unique QR widening its use. code, so the app knows which way is up— students can move the modeled object in In the sixth grade, social studies the real world, just as if they were holding teachers Katie Levinthal and Matthew the real thing. They can interact with the Ripley-Moffitt use VR to help students virtual model through their phone. explore the Indian subcontinent in their world history classes. That’s one of All of this enables our students to the most common uses of VR—going become hands-on with something that somewhere that’s difficult to visit. Lucy either doesn’t exist or that we wouldn’t Dawson and Alicia Morris use it similarly, otherwise have access to in the real world. for the seventh grade’s world history of It allows them to brainstorm, to think empires. They visit places like Machu creatively, and creates opportunities for Picchu, France, Spain, and England. them to use storytelling to show us what they know. The eighth-grade science classes use VR and AR to study human anatomy; both allow students to move around inside the body, study the different parts of the heart, and even simulate surgery. All of this allows us to take textbook information and make it come to life in a way that’s exciting, fun, and memorable for the kids. WHAT IS SOMETHING ON THE HORIZON THAT EXCITES YOU? I’m currently working with language arts teachers Katie Taylor and Katie Levinthal to use augmented reality (AR) to teach the sixth grade’s new book, The Wizard of Earthsea. AR uses “triggers”—real-world objects, images, or QR codes that serve as links ? Six The Magazine of Cary Academy

EDTECH PROJECTS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL EdTech takes many forms at Cary Academy. So many, in fact, that it’s practically impossible to catalog them all. Below, you’ll find a few highlights of how Middle School faculty, with the support of Leslie Williams, have incorporated technology into the classroom. For more examples, visit https://blogs.caryacademy.org/msedtech/. MIDDLE SCHOOL MEETS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE MINECRAFT WITH DESIGN THINKING The single best-selling video game of all time is Augustus Lavalette (’25), winner of the inaugural also a powerfully versatile learning tool. Using Middle School Designer of Distinction award, used Minecraft’s sandbox mode, seventh-grade social TinkerCAD to design a tool that can be used to studies students have recreated lost cities of ancient disable the hydraulic arm of students’ chairs so that empires, as part of exploring different empires in they can be set at a certain height. This tool, which world history. Seventh-grade math students have Lavalette developed and 3D printed through an used a program similar to Minecraft in conjunction iterative process, is especially useful for smaller Middle with MergeCubes to visualize complex geometry School students that don’t yet have enough weight and calculate volume. As a book report alternative, to force the seats down. Prompted by a challenge seventh-grade language arts used Minecraft as an issued by Ms. Williams, Lavalette demonstrated option for students to build a world representative perseverance, design thinking, dedication, and of books they read. Spanish students have built independent work throughout the process. houses and crafted detailed walkthrough videos to demonstrate their mastery of domestic vocabulary. CUTTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS FOR WORKING ARTISTS Eighth-grade science students used zSpace virtual reality systems to explore the inside of the heart and MS visual arts students built online digital art portfolios simulated surgery, placing a stent to repair a blocked to showcase their work. Guided by arts teacher Alyssa blood vessel. Members of the Advances in Medical Armstrong, they designed websites to share their Technology Program performed simulated open-heart biographies, artist statements, and finished and in- surgery using computer models, which provide not process works, learning how to curate and organize only anatomical information but insight into medical visual materials in the process. treatments of heart disease. ? Seven The Magazine of Cary Academy

A THREE-COURSE LITERARY MEAL Working in groups, seventh-grade language arts students were asked to devise a ‘literary meal’ inspired by assigned literature. Using different tools, students crafted: one appetizer (building the setting in Minecraft), one main dish (exploring the theme of the book through collage, video, or animation), and one dessert (crafting a propaganda poster for the book’s protagonist/antagonist using Canva). In the process, students learned to effectively summarize and communicate complex narrative themes in a memorable fashion. FISH TALES FROM THE DIGITAL AQUARIUM Eighth-grade science students used PowerPoint to make beautiful and informative interactive displays for an aquarium after researching one of the six invertebrate marine phyla. Students focused on clearly and effectively communicating the unique characteristics of their chosen phylum and exploring their animals’ interactions with humans. BRINGING POETRY FROM TEXT VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS INTO TO SCREEN WORLD HISTORY Seventh-grade language arts students worked Seventh-grade world history students took a virtual with video production teacher Steven O’Neill to field trip to three different empires: 14th century adapt poetry from text to video. Using Final Cut Pro France, 16th century England, and 15th century editing software, camera equipment, and CA’s video Spain. They investigated rulers, government, production studio resources, students were challenged exploration, military, and culture during the Black to consider the meaning of the text and the power of Plague, the Tudor dynasty, and the Age of Discovery. visual storytelling. Under Mr. O’Neill’s direction, they Utilizing augmented reality, they observed and learned how composition, editing, and visual design interacted with “artifacts” of the Spanish Armada—like affect the viewer’s experience and reaction. ships, canons, and swords. Eight ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

Students, faculty, family, and alumni felt the Charger spirit as Spirit Week culminated in CA’s biggest HOMECOMING ever. Old friends reunited, swimmers swam on dry land, cheerleaders flew through the air, wrestlers… wrestled, and revelers danced through the night into Snapshotswinterbreak. Middle and Upper School dance students found the rhythm and moved the audience during a WINTER DANCE PERFORMANCE that had a little something for everyone, from The Nutcracker to throwback 90’s K-Pop.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY was a time to reflect on the lessons of our past and chart a path for a more hopeful future with an inspiring talk by Pierce Freelon, as well as performances by Jeghetto and our very own dance teacher Jasmine Powell. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat—but mostly laughter—filled the FC as US faculty and students competed in WACKY OLYMPICS. The entire CA community shared love for our school and for each other, through chocolate, kindness, and expressions of gratitude during February’s WEEK OF LOVE.

The cast and crew of UNFORGETTING put on an amazingly creative and innovative Middle School production using projection mapping to embrace the power of story and the complex beauty of humanity. The CA community shared their culture, stories, inner selves, and family cuisines during the annual UBUNTU CELEBRATION AND INTERNATIONAL CAFÉ.

AT THE HEART OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HOW DO YOU START YOUR DAY? SINCE CA OPENED ITS DOORS IN 1997, THE SCHOOL DAY STARTS FOR MOST MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND FACULTY WITH A WAVE AND A WARM SMILE FROM CINDY LAUGHLIN, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL’S SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. Though she’s been described as the heart ate in the classrooms because the Dining Hall of the Middle School, Laughlin sees herself wasn’t completed until a few weeks later, in in a different role: “I’m sort of like the the fall of 1997.” grandmother,” she laughs. In many ways, Laughlin has watched A longtime resident of Cary who had spent CA grow up, much the same way that she’s years volunteering in education throughout watched class after class of Middle School Wake County, Laughlin felt drawn to the students mature before her eyes. “I have promise that Cary Academy represented. the best seat in the house. I get to watch “Watching the Goodnights’ and Salls’—CA’s everybody come in on their first day in co-founders—innovative involvement in sixth grade, when everything is new and the education, I was ready for the next step.” students have a sense of wonder. From my desk, I watch all year long as they grow up. For Laughlin, being at CA is as exciting today as it was in 1997. “I thrive on the energy that comes from the children, from the collaboration. People come here because they want to be here. Every member of the community gives something of themselves.” As CA’s very first day of school began, the first incarnation of the now-cherished handshake ceremony took place in front of the Middle School—a fitting location, as the Middle School was the very heart of Cary Academy. “Much of CA’s program was located in the building; it housed Middle School classes, arts, and the library for the whole school. We even had lunches delivered and Twelve ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

Cindy Laughlin (right) with Head of she is talking with a sixth-grader, a faculty member, a parent, a Middle School Marti Jenkins, in 1998. board member, or the Staples delivery person, everyone walks away feeling valued,” offers Jenkins. “She is always professional, If you’ve done it right, when they come back—whether it’s as completely reliable, steadfastly honest, and is a master at students in the Upper School or after we’ve sent them out into multitasking amid constant interruptions in the busy office. And the world—they look at you, talk to you, and say ‘hi,’ first.” she loves being around and working on behalf of young people.” Laughlin is awed by the growing community of alumni and Even before each Middle Schooler first walks past the front the physical expansion of campus since opening day, including office, Laughlin has already been hands-on, working hard to the construction of the Administration building, Berger craft their schedule. Laughlin—who has a degree in accounting- Hall, and the Center for Math and Science. However, it is the -says that, while there are software options that could produce changes to the Middle School experience—including the shift student schedules at the touch of a button, such solutions don’t away from textbooks toward more individualized learning, the really address the challenge of ensuring that each Middle School Charger Trails program, the change from a static schedule to student has the opportunities they need to succeed. one that shifts classes across days, and the increased geographic and socioeconomic diversity—that impress her most. “Our “Nobody is a square peg, here. That’s the vibe of the Middle founders were not afraid of change. Their vision lets us face new School—kids are not afraid to be themselves. Everybody has a challenges to better help our students.” place where they fit. And we work hard as a team to help them find it. If you come to the Middle School, you’ll develop a strong One thing that has not changed is Laughlin’s role working foundation that can help you be successful wherever you go.” alongside Head of Middle School Marti Jenkins. Laughlin likes to joke that she and Jenkins have been working together for so Laughlin’s biggest thrills, smiles, and happy tears come from long that are practically “a couple.” seeing what former Middle School students have accomplished, how they have built on those foundations that she helped lay. Indeed, it’s a deep relationship that Jenkins says benefits the entire Middle School. “We have been working together so long “Knowing that they can and want to come back that we have an innate understanding of what we need from and share what they’ve learned—what they’ve each other to do the best job of moving the Middle School accomplished—and that I’ve been part of helping forward on a daily basis.” She credits Laughlin as a critical them find that success brings a tear to my eye.” member of the Middle School team for her role in helping to build a cohesive community and helping students to find their If there is one thing Laughlin hopes students have learned “right-fit” path through CA. from her, it’s the importance of kindness. As front line support for students, faculty, and parents, Laughlin understands that how “Cindy is an outstanding listener. She has an amazing way of she reacts to the challenges faced by those who come to her for connecting to various constituents in our community. Whether help can profoundly impact their day—maybe even their lives. Whether it’s bringing a student her forgotten contacts or guiding a parent to their child’s classroom, small acts of kindness can have a big impact. “That one moment of kindness—even something small, just asking ‘how are you’ or asking about their day—could be something they never forget.” As for what Laughlin, herself, has learned from students: “as silly as this may sound, they have taught me how to be a grandparent. I feel like I’m a grandmother to a lot of these children. They don’t give me assignments or homework; they give me respect. Being around kids all the time, I’ve developed the patience and appreciation that you need in order to be a wonderful grandmother. I just became a grandmother, and I can’t wait for my grandson to be a little older, so I can show him how silly I’ve learned to be.” ? Thirteen The Magazine of Cary Academy

Death rays & grains of sand: The sweet science of a physics fight UPPER SCHOOL Even so, when he founded Cary Greenwolfe is still smiling. “When the PHYSICS TEACHER Academy’s U.S. Association for Young second-place team was announced, we DR. MATT GREENWOLFE Physicists Tournament (USAYPT) team all erupted. I had a physical, whole-body HAS A LOT OF FAITH IN five years ago, the idea of winning a reaction, and a huge grin on my face. HIS PHYSICS STUDENTS. USAYPT Championship seemed a far- After trying for so many years to keep flung dream. But after years of hard work, improving, we had done it.” perseverance, and teamwork, he and his team of talented students can count it as The U.S. Invitational Young Physicists a dream finally realized. Tournament is a prestigious international physics research competition and In early February, 12 members of science debate tournament. Over the CA’s USAYPT team*—Will Aarons ’20, course of the year, competing schools Anna Cheng ’20, Colin Frazer ’22, Paul research solutions to four complex Ibrahim ’21, Myla James ’21, Owen Kadis physics problems, coming together to ’23, Andrew Lake ’22, Matthew Modi debate their solutions in front of a jury of ’20, Obinna Modilim ’22, Jay Sagrolikar professional physicists. ’21, Brian Wei ’22, and Colin Zhu ’20--traveled to the annual tournament For 2020, the USAYPT problems in Exeter, New Hampshire. Led by involved measuring the length of one Greenwolfe and fellow faculty members Astronomical Unit (the distance between Charlotte Kelly, Dr. Robert Coven, and the Earth and the sun), investigating Dick Mentock, with assistance from Archimedes’ Death Ray, designing stable Rachel Atay, and Betsy MacDonald, they arrangements of spherical magnets, and were crowned USAPYT champions. exploring the physics of the apparent weight of an hourglass. Fourteen ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

“For the students who fully commit Ultimately, those efforts resulted in a *In addition to the 12 members of the themselves, the amount of physics deeper conceptual understanding of the traveling team, fellow team members learning that takes place through this problems and left them well-prepared Russell Burns ’21, Ryan Chen ’21, Felipe program can dwarf what is learned in for tournament debate. “We could Chiavegatto ’20, Harrison Coman ’23, class,” offers Greenwolfe. “Plus, they reason and answer unexpected questions Dane Fekete ’20, Allen He ’21, Sedef Iz get the experience of undertaking a without going back to a reference or ’22, Grace Jaeger-Sandruck ’22, Marvin legitimate research project--with all its equation,” explains Greenwolfe. Koonce ’21, Max Li ’23, Sophia Liu ’22, ups and downs and frustrations--for a Scott Matton ’20, Rin Mauney ’22, Ashleigh whole year. We have to learn from each Greenwolfe is proud, too, that Smith ’22, Eric Wang ’20, Oliver Wang ’22, setback, each surprising result. We have the core values of CA—respect, Leah Wiebe ’23, Eric Xing ’20, and Han to persist—and that’s just what we did.” integrity, and compassion— Zhang ’21 also made contributions to the featured prominently as secrets problem-solving efforts. Tournament competition consists of to his team’s success. rounds called “physics fights.” A student from the reporting team presents a “We were professional in our summary of their research into one of the questioning of other teams; we were tournament problems. Next, a student always respectful, persistent in trying from the opposing team is charged with to have a deep conversation about the helping the audience understand the physics. We never intentionally tried strengths and weaknesses of the report by to expose flaws or embarrass the other means of a series of discussion questions. team,” he offers. After this conversation is complete, jury members question the presenting students And now that they’ve reached the directly. USAYPT teams are judged as pinnacle, what comes next? The team much on their ability to ask and answer is already gearing up for next year’s questions in the physics fight, as the quality tournament, which CA will host at North of their research and initial presentations. Carolina State University. And they’re already pondering next year’s problems After facing reigning champions and are ready to get to work. Phillips Exeter Academy, perennial powerhouse Phillips Andover Academy, and a team from the Republic of Georgia, CA stood in third place after the first day of the tournament, securing a spot in the finals. When the dust settled at the end of the second day, CA stood atop the standings of the six finalist teams—besting Phillips Exeter and the Nueva School for the championship--on the strength of their original research, presentations, and questions. In addition to top-notch mathematical physics, Greenwolfe credits his team’s hard work, teamwork, and deep engagement with the problems as contributing to their success. Rather than relying on simulations developed by professionals or online data sets, the team worked hard all year to gather their own data. They tested it against their theories and their own simulations, discussing and debating it amongst themselves every step of the way. ? Fifteen The Magazine of Cary Academy

Alumni Spotlight SELLING A BRIGHTER FUTURE A sustainable energy advocate, Jared Carson (’08) is in the future-selling business—one major corporation, one bank of electric vehicle charging stations at a time. Currently, Carson works for sustainable energy giant Enel, in their Enel X e-Mobility division. There, as an account executive, he helps corporations think broadly about their ecological footprint with an aim of helping them to future-proof their operations. Carson’s commitment to environmental sustainability is a passion that he traces back to his time at Cary Academy. More specifically, he credits Upper School science teacher Heidi Maloy’s Advanced Environmental Studies class as inspiring his future career path. “I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but that class connected the dots for me between the actions we take as individuals and the ecological world around us. It made me ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

understand that small impacts matter—they utility in Europe. Enel-X is their North add up. It made tangible the many impacts American-based venture arm, focusing on the built environment has on the world,” retail sustainability solutions for consumers. muses Carson. “It was definitely a launching “Enel-X is focused on distributed-energy point to my career.” solutions on the retail side of the electric meter,” explains Carson. His CA launch would ultimately set him on a trajectory that would result, first, in a degree And just what are distributed-energy from North Carolina State University in solutions? Carson says they are disruptive Environmental Technology and Management, innovations—including solar arrays, battery and later, a graduate certificate from the storage, and electric vehicle charging University of Boulder in Renewable Energy. stations—that have shifted how electricity is both generated and delivered. Together, they After graduation, Carson jumped into his point to a more sustainable energy future. job search, only to discover a remarkably volatile industry. “Clean energy was still in “Energy was once mostly produced at large its early days; the industry was emerging and power plants, using unsustainable sources disruptive,” he explains. “Even with IPOs, such as coal and nuclear,” explains Carson. companies’ corporate strategies weren’t baked. “Electricity had to travel great distances I had to change jobs multiple times. And after across the grid before arriving at the point every leap I made, shortly thereafter, the team of consumption.” And that translated to I had been on was dissolved.” unsustainable, polluting, inefficient, and expensive energy. In 2019, after weathering a few years of uncertainty, his perseverance and resilience—hallmark qualities Increasingly, however, more sustainable, green, distributed solutions are allowing for of a CA graduate—were rewarded. He landed a the decentralization of energy generation, position with Enel—a solid company that offers a spreading it across the grid. “Like, solar good mix of innovative and emerging clean energy panels on a roof,” Carson offers as an example, “they generate electricity close to technologies alongside a strong balance sheet. where it is consumed.” Leveraging primarily wind and solar power, And that proximity is important. It’s Enel is one of the largest sources of renewable both greener and more efficient. Thanks to energy in the world and a major electric a reduction of electricity loss that would otherwise occur during long distance ? Seventeen The Magazine of Cary Academy

travel across the grid, as well as decreased He does so through a mix of storytelling, infrastructure and upkeep costs, distributed education, and salesmanship, crafting pitches solutions help to lower energy costs. The that paint a compelling vision of the future, result? Smaller sustainable solutions that are that offer connection to municipal programs increasingly scalable to new markets and to offset costs, and which relate green affordable to new audiences. solutions to topics that are relevant to the “I see distributed electrification target companies. That picture is getting a bit and solutions like electric vehicle easier to paint thanks to some exciting new charging stations, solar arrays, and entrants to the electric automotive market. battery storage, as integral to a low- carbon future, to an energy-resilient “In the near future, there are innovative future. I’m excited by the tremendous electric cars coming into the market from opportunity for growth across the major automotive makers—from Ford, Chevy, segment,” offers Carson. Audi. It isn’t just Tesla anymore. And it isn’t just confined to California and the Northeast,” Within Enel X’s e-Mobility division, Carson’s explains Carson. “Electric vehicles are on the personal focus is on sustainable transportation. cusp of turning mainstream.” He’s responsible for lead generation and account management among Fortune 1,000 It’s an exciting time, with every pitch, companies for Enel’s electric vehicle charging every sale representing one of those small stations. It’s an exciting, future-oriented impacts that, together, add up to something position that is not without its challenges. transformative: a reframed conversation around energy use and the opportunity to “As much as vehicle charging stations are carve out a better, more sustainable future. innovative—they aren’t always the most intuitive And that’s Carson’s true motivation. solution. People don’t get out of bed thinking about them, about why they might be important “I don’t see a future scenario where we for the future,” he continues. “Where some of aren’t talking about electric vehicles. And that my clients are located, they may not even have means we have to retrain people in thinking electric vehicles on the road yet. Regardless, my about how they get electricity and power” role is to convince them that they need to plan offers Carson. “We can’t continue to sustain for them, that they should take action now.” conventional models of providing energy for the billions of people on the planet. We must become more innovative, more sustainable. Candidly? It’s just the right thing to do.” Eighteen ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

GREEN INITIATIVES ON CAMPUS As Jared Carson learned at CA, when it comes to sustainability, it’s often the little things we do as individuals that add up to the biggest community impacts. At CA, our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint and increase our sustainable practices come from every corner of campus. The newly formed Middle School bottlenecks and promote better waste enjoy their beverage of choice with a Green Club is looking at ways to reduce practices. From the beginning of the minimal environmental impact. campus waste. They aim to reduce school year to February, CA has diverted printing by at least 25 percent through 20,287 pounds of food waste to the For the first time, Taste and Toast an information campaign that advocates compost pile, avoiding 2,368 pounds of ultilized 100 percent reusable drinkware utilizing smaller fonts, double-sided methane production (nearly as much as and dishes. And Ubuntu’s International printing, and electronic distribution 400 cars produce in a week). Café used compostable materials, of materials. diverting more than 2,700 plates, 1,700 Sustainable dishes and utensils are utensils, and 325 gallons of waste from The Sustainability Committee of already in use in the Dining Hall, but the landfill. For future events, the PTAA their use is becoming more widespread has stocked 40 reusable table covers that the Upper School’s Delta Service Club throughout campus. The new café will reduce the use of single-use plastic has worked with Upper School science features paper straws and compostable tablecloths for events of all sizes. department chair Heidi Maloy to cups. And all CA employees have been revitalize the garden behind the Center provided reusable tumblers in order to When we return to campus, a joint for Math and Science; volunteered with effort between the PTAA’s new Green NC State to help realize their goal of a Committee and CA’s Business Office zero waste football gameday; screened will encourage parents to turn off their the documentary An Inconvenient Sequel: car engines while waiting to pick-up or Truth to Power for interested students; drop-off students during carline. and spun plastic yarn from plastic bags to create sleeping pads for distribution Finally, our Business Office has worked to local non-profits that support people with Wake County’s Habitat (Re)Store and experiencing homelessness. the Public Schools of Robeson County to provide furniture from classrooms and the The CA SEEDS Club has been Dining Hall for reuse, rather than disposal. working to increase the amount that we compost and reduce trash and recyclable use. The club has created new signage and re-thought the arrangement of waste bins in the Dining Hall to reduce ? Nineteen The Magazine of Cary Academy

Alumni News 2005 Credit: John Hopkins University Athletics In April, Julianne Gonski got 2011, 2012 2016 University Athletics. The Scholar- engaged to be married to Athlete of the Year is awarded in Philippe Dixon. Connor Roebuck (’12) and Ian In November 2019, Carly each sport to a member of the Fincham (’11) were married on Lupton-Smith was named junior or senior class with the Whitney Hill has been slated October 17, 2019. Connor has Centennial Conference highest cumulative GPA on the to serve as the Executive Vice changed her last name Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete All-Centennial Team. President of the Junior League to Fincham. of the Year by Johns Hopkins of Charlotte (JLC). Whitney will begin her term in June of 2020 and spend one year serving as the EVP-Elect before her EVP year from 2021-2022. As the EVP, Whitney will preside over the JLC’s Management Team, ensure the alignment of the JLC’s work with its mission and strategic plan, serve as the link to the JLC’s Board of Directors, and oversee the day-to-day operations and management of the JLC. 2010 After graduating with honors from Emory University with a degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology in 2014, Tiffany Petrisko went on to obtain her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from West Virginia University, graduating December 2019. While at WVU, Tiffany received the Outstanding Merit Fellowship, as well as numerous travel grants. She published two first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals and has two additional manuscripts in preparation. She is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California, Irvine, in the laboratory of Dr. Andrea Tenner, where she focuses on the role of the innate immune system in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Twenty ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

Alumni News ALUMNI CONNECTIONS CALLING ALL ALUMNI: PITCH YOUR IDEA FOR In December, several faculty and staff visited Seattle for a CASE Conference and had dinner 2020 CA TEDX with Lauren Moore ‘12, Adrienne Bell-Koch ‘13, and Andrew Huff ‘09 at Vons 1000 Spirits. Next September, Cary Academy will host its third student-run TEDx event featuring our students, faculty and staff, and alumni. The theme of the 2020 CA TEDx is innovation. If you are an alum with a great idea to present, we’d love to include you. You can fill out a speaker interest form at bit.ly/catedx2020. ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND COMING FALL 2020 COVID-19 put a little bit of a hitch in our Charger giddy-up and we had to postpone our Alumni Reunion Weekend. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to campus in the fall. Stay tuned for details. In December, while Head of School Mike Ehrhardt and Head of Upper School Robin Follet Twenty-one were in Washington, DC for a Speech and Debate tournament, they visited with alumni at Duke’s Grocery. Thanks to all who came to our happy hour! Cannon Duke ‘13, Lia Follet ‘14, Grant Goettel ‘14, Andrew Hamrick ‘14, Myra Jo ‘13, Calvin Krishen ‘01, Kelsey Lee ‘10, Matt Lee ‘12, Tom Marty ‘07, Gabrielle McArdle ‘14, Haleigh Morgus ‘12, Daniella Ochoa ‘13, Hursch Patel ‘15, Michelle (LeFort) Powers ‘07, Jay Ramger ‘15, Courtney Singer ‘01, Meagan Singer ‘02, Sarah Woronoff ‘10 ? The Magazine of Cary Academy

1500 N. Harrison Ave. | Cary, NC 27513 caryacademy.org Winter Wonderland No, that’s not a misty-eyed, nostalgia-fueled vision. Right about the time it looked absolutely certain that winter would pass without any wintry weather, a surprise snowfall blanketed campus. The world is full of surprises; you never know what wonders tomorrow will bring. In accordance with our mission and the law, Cary Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national and ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.