Moving Onward and Upward:
UCDS Alumni
Summer 2019
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As we wrap up another year of UCDS fun and traditions, many of our alumni are Moving On (and up) in their own way. Whether graduation, family additions, or career advancements, a reoccurring theme among our alumni is the connection and memories they carry on from UCDS's Labyrinth and Tower walls. We hope you enjoy reading and that you have a wonderful summer, wherever life's adventures take you!
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A letter from UCDS Alumna Andrea Coit
In elementary school, I was certain that my high school graduation would never come to be. It was simply too far away. High school graduations were for kids who were basically adults, kids even older than my sister, and it would be forever until I was that old. Despite the determination of my younger self, I recently found myself graduating high school, walking across the stage and accepting my diploma. It was a special and bittersweet moment, marking the end of my time in high school and Seattle, and pushing me into college and the world beyond.
In the days before my high school graduation, I thought back to my Moving On ceremony at UCDS seven years ago. I remember that it was gloriously fun and circus themed. My class performed skits and reflections, danced across the stage, and I balanced a peacock feather on my nose.
UCDS's Moving On Ceremony exemplified how one should move from one stage of their life to the next. Not by living in the past, but by celebrating all your hard work and embracing the future and all of the fun, crazy adventures it holds.
Our summer newsletter is celebrating UCDS Alumni who are moving onwards and upwards and embracing the crazy, fun future ahead. We wish them all the best of luck!
- Andrea Coit
UCDS Moving On Class of 2012, Lakeside Class of 2019
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Special thanks to Andrea Coit, a UCDS Alumni Board Member, for writing our intro letter! If you or someone you know would like to be featured or nominated for a future UCDS Alumni newsletter, please let us know by emailing alumni@ucds.org. Thank you for staying connected to our community!
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Lily Monsey, UCDS Class of 2006
Lily is an alumna, former UCDS resident, and teacher at UCDS's partner school, Ascend International, in Mumbai, India. Art Specialist, Jessica Garrick, had a chance to visit AIS in the fall and sat down with Lily to reconnect about UCDS:
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J: What are some memories you have of UCDS?
L: I remember the relationships I was able to build with my teachers across all levels at UCDS. In general, feeling like when I walked into my classroom every day, that the teachers I had were really excited about me, and invested in who I was as an individual. That, more than anything, made me love going to school and set me up for success after UCDS.
J: Do you have anything to share with the 5th grade class?
L: Enjoy your service learning project! I did art with Jessica and it was awesome. I already knew I identified as an artist and that it was something I was passionate about. Throughout my life I continued to love teaching and spending time with kids and also loved art; now one of my favorite things to do in my classroom is to have mini art lessons with my kids and it's such a parallel with what I was doing back at UCDS!
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Will Herland, UCDS Class of 1999
"I have learned more than I can express during my time as a student and a faculty member at UCDS. This place and all of the fantastic people I've gotten to know here have always inspired and challenged me. While I am sad to leave this community behind, I am excited to pursue a Master's degree in counseling psychology at Columbia University next year. Thank you to everyone for all the learning and joy I've experienced during my six years as a member of the faculty!"
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"As a teacher at UCDS, one of my favorite aspects of the program was the emphasis on individualization. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of building a deep understanding of each student to best support their learning and development. My passion for that work inspired me to further develop my skills working one-on-one with children in graduate school"..."I was especially attracted to the Columbia program because of their emphasis on multicultural competency in clinical work. I will carry so many lessons from UCDS as a student next year!"
Year Joined as Resident: 2012-2013
Year Joined as Teacher: 2013-2014
Ascend International: 2014-2016
Back to UCDS: 2016-2019
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Abby Hecko, Ultimate Frisbee Player, UCDS Class of 2012
Starting her love of Ultimate right here at the UCDS campus, Abby will compete this July as the youngest member of the U24 Women’s National Team. Abby and her team will travel and play in the World games in Heidelberg, Germany! Abby also plays for the U20 Women’s National Team, which beat Columbia to win a gold medal last summer in the WFDF 2018 World Junior Ultimate Championships (WJUC) held in Waterloo, Canada.
Abby tells us the reason she loves playing is because of the amazing Ultimate community:
"Throughout my entire time playing, people have supported me. My closest friends are the ones I have played with and some of my coaches have been there for me the whole time. My coaches have all gone out of their way to bond with me and check in with me throughout the years."
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Lily Myers, Author and Poet, UCDS Class of 2004
UCDS had the honor of welcoming Lily back to the community as a speaker at the 2019 Night to Unite Auction in March.
She won Best Love Poem at the 2013 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational for her poem "Shrinking Women", which now has over 5 million views on YouTube. Lily is also the author of several published works, including her most recent young adult novel published in 2017, This Impossible Light.
Learn more about Lily and her literary work on her website.
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Lily's slam poem "Shrinking Women", performed at the 2013 College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational at Barnard College.
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Congratulations Moving On Class of 2019!
We wish you the best of luck as you begin your new adventures in Middle School next Fall. We can't wait to hear about all of the amazing things you will certainly go on to accomplish in your lives!
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Student artwork adorns the halls of UCDS throughout the year, but have you noticed those that are displayed all year long? Each spring, Art Specialist Jessica Garrick selects one work of art from the current 5th grade class to become a part of this permanent collection. The student artist is recognized and the chosen work unveiled during the Moving On Ceremony. It's an honor that allows our 5th graders to leave their TRACE (2018-2019 theme!) on our school and the UCDS community.
We are so excited to announce that this year's Art Inductee is Maxime Johnstone for her tessellation titled The Fluffy Dog! Congratulations!
Tessellations are shapes that fit together to fill a two-dimensional space by sliding (translating), rotating or flipping. This year the 5th grade students analyzed the work of M.C. Escher and other tessellation or pattern artists. Students developed their own tessellating shapes and used them to build an original artwork.
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Alumni at UCDS this Summer
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Summer at UCDS is a great time to welcome back our awesome Alumni! They work alongside teachers in our summer camps, helping campers make slime, create artwork, play D&D, and more! Other alumni support our facilities team with summer projects around the school.
Below are a few of the alumni who were here last week. We're excited to welcome more back in the coming weeks!
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Abby Hecko
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Alec Yusov and Brodie Monohan
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Leeza Olson
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Mimi Morrison
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Aminta Malcolm
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Ben Hecko
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Thank you to our 2018-2019 Alumni Advisory Board Members!
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Zahlen Titcomb, Class of 1993
Cameron Percy, Class of 1996
Julie (Keller) Lutton, Class of 1996
Paul Fields, Class of 1998
Marco Calderon, Class of 1998
Michael Isley, Class of 1999
Nate Benjamin, Class of 2000
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Rachel Leavitt-Barron, Class of 2001
Josh Kantor, Class of 2004
Andrea Coit, Class of 2012
Abby Sanderson, Class of 2013
Ava Wampold, Class of 2013
Calvin Lundin, Class of 2016
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UCDS College for School Culture, Master of Education Program!
Become a grad student at UCDS!
We are thrilled to announce that the UCDS College for School Culture, Master of Education program is launching! Applications for August 2020 enrollment open August 2019. We invite all of your questions and inquiries at csc@ucds.org. We also welcome you to share this news with friends and colleagues interested in deepening their practice and passion for teaching and learning!
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Alumni Summer BBQ
Wednesday, August 21st from 4-7pm at UCDS
Join the UCDS Alumni Advisory Board for our third annual Summer BBQ!
RSVP to tylero@ucds.org
*Mailed invitation coming soon*
**All UCDS Alumni and their families are welcome!**
Alumni Board Meetings @ UCDS
Join us for one of our Alumni Advisory Board Meetings!
You can sit in on a meeting to see what it's all about, or consider joining as an active member - there are no age restrictions!
Email alumni@ucds.org for more information and dates
2019-2020 Alumni Events
October 2019 - 6th Grade Parent Reception + 6th Grade Pizza Night
December 2019 - 12th Grade Alumni Event
December 2019 - College & Up Alumni Holiday Happy Hour
April 2020 - 8th Grade Alumni Event
*Stay tuned for invitations & exact dates*
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