Horace Mann - Summer 2016 - 27

News of the School photo by Barry L. Mason Valedictorian Shawn Kim '16 represents values of his Class Dr. Schiller returned to the podium to fulfill his traditional task of introducing the Class' valedictorian, but first paused to thank Dr. Kelly for all he has done for Horace Mann School, and to acknowledge and thank his HM teaching colleagues and staff for their hard work on behalf of the graduates and the entire school. Dr. Schiller then spoke of the devotion of several longtime HM Upper Division teachers who had also chosen the end of the 2015-2016 school year to retire. The Class of 2016 had selected Shawn Kim '16 as their valedictory speaker, Dr. Schiller told the audience, explaining that HM students, rather than faculty or administrators, vote for the speaker they feel will best represent them. "We trust our students to let us know who speaks for the Class," Dr. Schiller said, going on to share observations about Kim that he had gleaned from students, faculty and staff. Describing Kim as someone "who always makes ideas better, and puts them in practice" Dr. Schiller applied an alphabet of adjectives he had gathered to characterize Kim: "Affable, altruistic, ambitious ... caring ... friendly ... good-humored ... kind ... outgoing ... respectful ... smiling, trustworthy, and finally, upbeat ... A young person who made an impression on us all." Kim was "a member of such diverse organizations as football and the Service Learning Team," said Dr. Schiller of this co-captain of HM's championship-winning Lions Varsity football team who "likes to read photo by Barry L. Mason use your heart"-because of the way its members had reached out to members of HM's younger classes. "You made them visible, by recruiting and mentoring them in activities, athletics" and more, Dr. Kelly said. Despite all of the advanced-level classes, the independent research, the athletics, performances, publications and service activities in which the Class of 2016 had been engaged Dr. Kelly noted that its members "made time to leave HM better than you found it." Class members had succeeded in bringing solar panels to Rose Hall, and bringing the cancer research-fundraising initiative Relay for Life to campus as a partner with HM in the future. The Head of School urged the graduates to "continue to develop your moral compass; remember to keep making a difference and; please, keep learning." HM Class of 2016 valedictorian Shawn Kim '16 expressed appreciation on behalf of his classmates to the teachers, parents and all who had supported class members throughout their HM journey. philosophy." Above all, Dr. Schiller said, Kim was voted by his peers to represent them as a graduate who is "beloved of both adults and students in our school." Kim returned words of appreciation to his Upper Division Head, thanking Dr. Schiller for his kind introduction, and "for everything that you have done for Horace Mann. From your kindhearted spirit to your infectious intelligence, the Class of 2016 and the whole Horace Mann community are going to miss you dearly." Kim then extended his gratitude and that of his classmates to "all of the people that have helped us get to this point. Dr. Kelly, Dr. Schiller, Dean Feigin, Board of Trustees, faculty, administration, college counselors, librarians, FLIK Staff, Dorr Staff, Maintenance, and Security. And I am not just saying 'Thank you' because I have to, but I am saying 'thank you' because you all have made it your jobs and careers to help us learn and grow as people. You have dedicated your lives to making us better human beings, and for that reason, I thank you." Noting that he might not be the most qualified person to represent the Class Kim drew laughter as he mentioned by name classmates he identified as smarter, better singers, and more fashionable. Nevertheless, he suggested that his qualifications to represent his classmates might stem from the fact that, "like many in the Class" his path to Horace Mann School was an interesting one, as "an Asian American captain of the football team who reads about Derek Parfit's Objective Ethical Theories in his free time"-or-someone whose "personal identity is not totally in tune with what is 'expected' of me." For that reason Horace Mann School was the perfect place, For 87 fifth graders at Horace Mann School's Lower Division Friday, June 10, 2016 marked the end of one era and the beginning Kim said, for him "to discover who I truly of another, as the students commemorated their Nursery-through-grade-five years, and took their first steps toward middle school, most in HM's Middle Division. Fifth Grade Team Leader Sandra Rubenstein described to the students and their parents, am" because "HM is a place that encourages family members and teachers gathered for the ceremony how much the students had learned and grown, intellectually and academic exploration and supports students emotionally, over these years, and spoke about the adventures ahead. Featuring lively performances of songs in French and in their various extracurricular passions" and Spanish, and songs sung by each homeroom, the 2016 installment of this annual HM tradition included an especially moving moment. The end of the 2015-2016 school year also marked the retirement of Lower Division Head Wendy Steinthal who served where, he could, for example, "work with a facHorace Mann School for 37 years as a teacher and administrator. After all of the children received their Lower Division diplomas ulty member unpacking formal logical proofs." HM Head of School Dr. Tom Kelly called outgoing LD Head Steinthal to the front of the stage and awarded her a diploma, as an honorary graduate of the HM Lower Division Class of 2016-the future Class of 2023. HM is a school "where students dedicate a Horace Mann Magazine Summer 2016 27

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Horace Mann - Summer 2016