Christopher Gunnin, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School head of school, celebrates at his installation ceremony with his family.[/caption]St. Stephen’s Episcopal School leader installed
On Oct. 7, St. Stephen’s Episcopal School held an installation ceremony for its new head of school, Christopher Gunnin. Following a performance by the school’s Thunder Drumline, an opening hymn and a prayer, members of St. Stephen’s board of trustees stood before Bishop Suffragan Dena Harrison with the new head of school.
Gunnin moved onto the St. Stephen’s campus in July to began as the 12th head of school, Director of Communications Anne Becka said. He replaced Robert Kirkpatrick, who retired at the end of June following nine years as head of school, she said.
Becka said Gunnin brings 20 years of experience working in Southwest Preparatory Conference schools. He was head of the Upper School at Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth for the past seven years and served as head of the Upper School at St. Mark’s School in Dallas before that, she said. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in education from Trinity University in San Antonio, she said.
“I knew I would fall in love with St. Stephen’s, but I never imagined that I would feel so warmly embraced by the community,” Gunnin said in a news release. “I could not feel more proud or more aware of the responsibility with which I have been entrusted.”
After performances by St. Stephen’s orchestra and choirs, the installation program closed with a blessing from Harrison and a recitation of the school prayer.
Students select top toys for the holidays
The Goddard School in Lakeway was one of 50 schools nationally to participate in the ninth annual preschooler-approved toy test.
From Sept. 19-23, preschool students played with and tested educational toys that inspire creativity, collaboration and skill development, school spokesperson Amanda Molina said.
Students and teachers voted for their favorite toys, and the top 10 selections were posted online as the best educational toys for the holidays, she said. This year’s top holiday toys include: Click Clack Ball; Sort and Discover Activity Cube; Mirari Pop! Pop! Piano; Musical Gator; Newborn Nursery Newborn Baby; Lauri Tall Stackers; Yeti in My Spaghetti; and “Hexenkuche,” a board game.
An online poll of the top 10 will determine which of the toys Goddard Systems Inc. will donate to Toys for Tots this year, she said.
Lake Travis ISD focuses on bullying prevention
Steven Moore, an author and a professor at Abilene Christian University, visited Lake Travis ISD on Nov. 1-2 to discuss bullying with students, parents and the community.
Moore spoke at a community forum Nov. 1 at Lake Travis High School and emphasized the need for continued bullying awareness and outreach, Health and Social Programs Coordinator Kathleen Hassenfratz said. The Lake Travis High School Honors Choir performed at the event, and students discussed their involvement with the district’s bullying-prevention initiatives, she said.
“The message was clear,” she said. “Some Lake Travis Middle School students spoke about how the bullying-prevention projects at school are changing the climate of the school. One student said [students] are all smiling more now.”
Moore also read his anti-bullying children’s book, Theodore Thumbs, to students at Lakeway and Bee Cave elementary schools Nov. 2, she said.
“The book let Dr. Moore get down to the kids’ level,” she said. “Watching those kids interact with him and ask questions was entertaining.”
The visit was part of the district’s Leader for Life and #LTConnected programs, which highlight what LTISD students are doing to become leaders in their everyday lives, both in and away from school, Hassenfratz said. The programs’ next event will be held in January and will focus on social media safety and cyberbullying, she said.
The STEM Advocacy Conference of Texas was held at the Capitol on Oct. 23-24.[/caption]Westlake students host STEM conference at capitol
Robotics students from Westlake High School hosted the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Advocacy Conference of Texas on
Oct. 23-24 at the Texas Capitol.
The SACOT program brings together like-minded students throughout the state to advocate for increased government funding and support for STEM-aligned educational activities, Eanes ISD Director of Communications Claudia McWhorter said.
The conference is the culmination of Westlake High School students’ desire to help their fellow robotics programs around the state, she said. They educated other students on how to seek support and advocate for STEM programs, she said.
“We all feel that STEM education is critical during high school and realize that not all students have the same opportunities that we do,” Westlake High School junior Philip Liu said. “We wanted to do something about that, so we created SACOT.”
Robotics teams from around Texas attended the conference, which included interactive seminars, presentations and keynote speakers.
