St. Andrew’s senior receives statewide honors for athletics, academics, service


Cole Baker, a St. Andrew’s Episcopal High School student and football team member, is the school’s first recipient of the 2015 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week trophy. He was awarded the statewide honor Oct. 21.




St. Andrew’s senior receives statewide honors for athletics, academics, service Cole Baker[/caption]

The 10-year-old program recognizes players for their performances on the field as well as leadership, academics and community service. 


The senior running back/middle linebacker was a factor in the Crusaders’ 49-0 win over San Antonio’s St. Mary’s Hall on Oct. 16. Baker scored three touchdowns, and garnered five tackles and a sack in the game.


The National Merit Award semi finalist also co-founded Cattlemen Care—a nonprofit organization that provides meals to needy children.


Baker said his love of football motivates him on the field.


“I love my team,” he said. “Off the field, I just love people. I’m blessed, but it is helping others who aren’t as fortunate as me that motivates me off the field.”


St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Upper School, is located at 5901 Southwest Parkway, Austin.







St. Stephen’s Episcopal School names new head of school for 2016-17 academic term


The St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, 6500 St. Stephen’s Drive, Austin, named Chris Gunnin as its 12th head of school Oct. 5. His tenure will begin July 1 for the 2016-17 school year.


The school’s current Head of School Bob Kirkpatrick will retire at the end of June after serving St. Stephen’s for nine years.


Gunnin previously served as head of the Upper School at Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth.


“I was initially drawn to this opportunity because of the school’s strong mission, Episcopal identity, impressive boarding program and global student body,” Gunnin said.




St. Stephen’s Episcopal School names new head of school for 2016-17 academic term The new courtyard was dedicated Oct. 16.[/caption]

Sue and Bob Kirkpatrick Courtyard


St. Stephen’s staff and students dedicated a new courtyard to Kirkpatrick on Oct. 16.


The Sue and Bob Kirkpatrick Courtyard is located at the lower entrance to Moody Walk and adjacent to the school’s new Spartan Fitness and Wellness Center dedicated Sept. 7.


“The trustees felt this space was the most appropriate place on our lovely, recently revitalized campus to recognize and honor Bob’s incredible commitment to St. Stephen’s,” said Ellen Osborne Ray, executive chair of the board of trustees in a news release.


The Moody Walk project received a $600,000 grant from the Moody Foundation in September to complete the final phase of its construction. The project provides terraced pedestrian pathways and gathering spaces from the top of the campus down to St. Stephen’s Creek, Director of Advancement Christine Aubrey said.







Vandegrift considers adding IB program


Leander ISD announced Oct. 6 that Vandegrift High School, 9500 McNeil Drive, Austin, will pursue adding an International Baccalaureate program.


The Four Points-area school is seeking to become certified as an IB World School that would provide students with the option of graduating with an IB diploma.


The two-year program begins in a student’s junior year and covers a curriculum equivalent to first-year college courses. Current eighth-grade students would be the first class eligible.







Lakeway Elementary School earns grant


Lakeway Elementary School librarian Brekka Larrew received a $3,500 grant in September from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to fund an audiobook club for struggling readers, said Marco Alvarado, Lake Travis ISD communications director.


According to Dollar General, the grant program helps students who are having difficulty reading, and funds are used to help literacy programs.


Larrew purchased 100 downloadable audiobooks and 10 Kindle Fire tablets with the funds, Alvarado said. She has invited 40 students to join the weekly audiobook club.







Eanes ISD land sale paves way for fields


Eanes ISD announced Nov. 3 that, after four years of negotiations, it finalized an agreement Oct. 27 to sell 90 acres of its River Hills Road property to Tires Made Easy Inc., according to a news release. The $4 million sale, along with other agreements, will enable the construction of up to 12 new youth athletic fields on the site.


“We are happy to move forward with such an exciting project that benefits our students and community, provides revenue that is not recaptured and allows us to improve fields throughout the district,” EISD Superintendent Tom Leonard said in the release.