Tandem In Tandem


Page 2
Alumni Newsletter Fall 1996
[Newsbriefs] [Alumni Notes] [1996 Reunion] [Q & A] [In Memory of] [Online Form] [Up on the Hill] [Alumni Council] [Online Form] [Contact] [Home]

Tandem Q&A

The question on everyone's mind last year was: "What's up with this Quaker thing?" Many of us felt we were left wondering what was happening to our school. Often uninformed, many of us learned about Tandem's new affiliation through the newspapers or local word of mouth. This column is an attempt to both continue the discussion which began at reunion (see previous article) and to provide a forum for alumni to air concerns and to ask questions about Tandem today. Alumni are encouraged to submit questions or issues for discussion in the Spring issue of In Tandem.

Q: What does it mean for Tandem to be a Friends school?

A: Reflections on Silent Meeting from Sara Campbell, 11th grade:

"Only when one is connected to one's own core is one connected to others, I am beginning to discover. And for me, the core, the inner spring, can best be refound through solitude."
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

I feel that silent meeting is a time of freedom...a time when we can all sit back and take a break from the deadlines and demands of everyday life. I think that the year of transition ['95-'96 academic year] has helped everyone to gain an understanding of why we meet in silence every week...I feel that the most powerful silent meeting was at the end of the year. At the end of the meeting, everyone stood up and a big circle was formed. We all held hands and stood in silence. I feel that the seeds for a beautiful flower had been planted in the beginning of the year. When standing together, I felt as though I was looking at the spectacular flower which had just bloomed before my eyes. -Sara Campbell, 11th grade

From "A Tandem Friends Education," admissions brochure, page 9:

Tandem's Quaker philosophy originates from the desire to give the community a forum to express its spirituality. Being part of an international community of Friends school strengthens our ability to educate the whole student.

As a Friends school, we offer students a way to explore matters not only of the mind, but also of the heart. Silent Meeting, or what is traditionally known as Meeting for Worship, brings students and teachers together to reflect on individual and collective concerns. Through silence, we all hear each other and our own inner voices more clearly.
Libby, Tom and Sue

As a community, we believe in change through acts of kindness and compassion and seek to express our spiritual beliefs through action. Community service activities are a required part of the curriculum. Students care for the school buildings and grounds. Participation in organizations like Amnesty International and the Environmental Club reflects the students' concern for the world around them.

By seeing the best in others, we strive for a community in which all can honestly express themselves and still respectfully hear others.



Q: What is the Alumni Council?

A: The council is your voice in Tandem Friends School. It is the only organized body of Tandem alums. The council meets in Charlottesville annually, during reunion weekend, to make lots of exciting and important decisions (e.g. handling of alumni contributions to the school, planning local alum events for the year, thinking about how to bring alumni back into the Tandem community). The council keeps in contact on alumni issues and concerns throughout the year. Many of Tandem's classes are not represented on the council. The classes of '73, '75-'79, '81-'83, '86, '87, '90, '95, and '96 (!!!) do not have representatives on the council. If you are interested in representing your class, contact Adrienne to let her know. You may still join the council even if your class is already represented. Please see this newsletter for a list of the Alumni Council members. Welcome to Jason Ivey '89 and Brian Shaw '74, our newest members.


Q: What is Tandem building?

A: Last April, Tandem broke ground on a Community Hall. This beautiful brick building will have a room with space for 250 people, which will be used for all school meetings, morning meetings, drama and musical performances. Tandem has grown from the 40 -100 students that most of us knew to 156. It is still a small school, but you know how cramped that Blue Room can get! Today, students and faculty overflow down the hall at each meeting. The ground floor of the new Community Hall has four classsrooms. We wanted to include a picture of the building, but it's going up so quickly that we didn't have a current one. Please come by campus if you're in the area and check it out for yourself. It is scheduled to be completed in December.

[Newsbriefs] [Alumni Notes] [1996 Reunion] [Q & A] [In Memory of] [Online Form] [Up on the Hill] [Alumni Council] [Online Form] [Contact] [Home]

In Memory of...

Aslan Mozelle, three week-old daughter of Stefan Lessard '92 (bassist for Dave Matthews Band) and Josie Baucom, who died early Wednesday, September 11. Stefan and Josie have established a memorial fund, in their daughter's name, to benefit Tandem Friends School. Donations may be sent to:

Aslan Mozelle Memorial Fund c/o Tandem Friends School 279 Tandem Lane Charlottesville, VA 22902

Our hearts are with them.

[Newsbriefs] [Alumni Notes] [1996 Reunion] [Q & A] [In Memory of] [Online Form] [Up on the Hill] [Alumni Council] [Online Form] [Contact] [Home]

To inquire about alumni-ware, please visit:
www.tandemfs.org



[Newsbriefs] [Alumni Notes] [1996 Reunion] [Q & A] [In Memory of] [Online Form] [Up on the Hill] [Alumni Council] [Online Form] [Contact] [Home]

Up on the hill...

  • Alumni, Tandem Friends wants your talent! There are currently several wonderful options for Tandem Alums who would like to become involved in the school community. Wednesdays are extra special days at Tandem. After the whole school meets for Silent Meeting, students and faculty break off into a number of groups, some leaving campus, some remaining, to do community service on the hill and around the town, as well as to engage in other faculty lead activities. Alumni are encouraged to speak to Adrienne if they have ideas, activities, or community service projects for the upcoming second and third trimesters at Tandem. Alumni are welcome to participate as group leaders or teachers for afternoon activities.

  • Sharon Deal, English teacher and college counselor, is interested in creating links between Tandem alums and current students. Not every Tandem graduate goes to college immediately. Some students defer enrollment at the college of their choice, while others prefer to continue on with experiences in business, arts, or other career fields. Sharon is interested in matching these students with alumni in the Charlottesville area as well as nationwide to provide internship, apprenticeship, or employment options. Alumni are encouraged to speak further with Adrienne if they are interested in helping this program get off the ground by offering a placement to a Tandem senior.

  • The Tandem Friends Board of Directors will soon have an alumni face at the table. At the Alumni Council meeting in June, council members agreed that the appointment of an alum to the Tandem Board was of great importance to the alumni body as a whole. You will be happy to know that the Board has enthusiastically nominated an alum for the position and, just as this newsletter is going to press, she has accepted. Blair Williamson '83 is the newest member of the Board. An alumni member has a unique perspective to offer and Blair Williamson's appointment is a crucial step towards bringing the alumni voice to Tandem Friends today.

  • During 1996 graduation, Dan Kaufman '92 presented Tandem with a sizeable check from Tandem alumni. Alumni giving is at an all time high. And we're not just talking dollars. There are more alums giving now than ever before. The presentation of the check and a successful telethon in the spring are just the first steps towards establishing the kind of alumni scholarship that the Council discussed in June. The Alumni Council agreed that alumni giving, unless otherwise indicated by the donor, is to be earmarked for an alumni endowment fund. This fund, once sizeable, would be used for an annual alumni scholarship award presented to a student at the end of each year. Tandem's Special Assistant for Development, Laura Jackson, is forming an Alumni Fundraising Committee to continue fundraising for this endowment. Please contact her if you are interested in joining the committee.

  • October 12 marks the public announcement of Tandem's Capital Campaign. The school will be celebrating with the Capital Campaign Kickoff, a gala event to be held at Tandem Friends on the evening of October 12. Tandem is looking to raise $2.5 million for new buildings, annual giving and endowment funds, including the alumni scholarship fund. If this newsletter makes it to you before the gala has passed you by, please join us for this special event.

    Mike, Pete and Pat
    Mike Kelley, Pete Spaar and Pat Kavanaugh, Class of '74, after Mike Kelley's concert for Tandem students, April 1996.

    [Newsbriefs] [Alumni Notes] [1996 Reunion] [Q & A] [In Memory of] [Online Form] [Up on the Hill] [Alumni Council] [Online Form] [Contact] [Home]

    Tandem Friends School Alumni Council

    What is the Alumni Council?
    Class of... 
    '74  Brian Shaw			6076 N. Sequoia Dr., Fresno, CA 93711-1257
'80  Todd Shelton		1859-B Wayside Place, Char'ville VA 22903
'84  Heather Burns		2010 Meadowbrook Rd., Char'ville, VA 22903
'85  Katherine Donnelley	33 Winslow St., 1st fl., Somerville, MA 02144
'88  Daniel Kaufman		220 South St., #3, Char'ville, VA 22902
'88  Meredith Cole		1545 18th St. N.W., #217, Washington D.C. 20036
'88  Craig O'Brien		1605 Concord Dr., Char'ville, VA 22901
'89  Jason Ivey			Rt. 1 Box 173, Free Union, VA 22940
'91  Brooke Plotnick		1561 Dairy Rd., Char'ville, VA 22903
'92  Rebekah Saxon		818 Fox Hollow Rd., Afton, VA 22920
'93  Elizabeth Bain		P.O. Box 769 Emory, VA 24327-0769
'93  Anna Galloway		RISD - 641, 2 College St., Providence, RI 02903
'94  Rania Sutton-Elbers	Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA 19019

    We would like each class to be represented, particularly the classes of the 70s and early 80s. Contact Alumni Affairs if you are interested.

    [Newsbriefs] [Alumni Notes] [1996 Reunion] [Q & A] [In Memory of] [Online Form] [Up on the Hill] [Alumni Council] [Online Form] [Contact] [Home]

    Return to Page 1 of the Newsletter

    Tree Alumni Affairs
    Tandem Friends School
    279 Tandem Lane
    Charlottesville, VA 22902
    (434) 296-1303    		 Tree

    To the Tandem Friends Home Page

    To the Alumni Home Page

    You may contact me with comments & suggestions about the web version.
    My web page is LaPage.com - Kitchin '81
    		 To contact Tandem Alumni Affairs, visit http://www.tandemfs.org.