Contact: Jenni Brockman In two weeks, twelve St. Margaret's School students and two faculty chaperones will depart Washington's Dulles airport and will arrive six hours later in London, England. Embarking on St. Margaret's first ever "Renaissance Woman's Tour," the students will be the second St. Margaret's School group to visit the United Kingdom this academic year. The Renaissance Tour, a moniker chosen to add "sell appeal" to the trip, will focus upon basic mathematical principals and numerical skills. The Renaissance Tour will span one week from February 23 through March 01. In November, the St. Margaret's Ensemble traveled to England to participate in
a special Thanksgiving Service in St. Paul's Cathedral, commemorating the 250th anniversary of St. Margaret's School in Bushey, England. Led by music director Beverly Gordon, the choir joined a multi-national "St. Margaret's Schools" chorus of 210 girls from 6 countries. The commemorative event, held on All Saint's Day, Tuesday, November 16, honored one of the UK's oldest schools. Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra attended the service representing the Royal Family. Organizer's of the 2000 Renaissance Woman's Tour are SMS mathematics teachers, Keith Krusz (Calculus) and Susan Stephenson (Algebra II). Mr. Krusz and Mrs. Stephenson will chaperone the group; both teachers are optimistic that the trip will be an enlightening, educational experience for the students. "We are pleased with the age range [14-18] of the participants and the interest each girl has shown in this wonderful opportunity to expand her knowledge of the world," say Mr. Krusz and Mrs. Stephenson. Students attending the 2000 Renaissance Woman's Tour are: Sara Byrum, Tess
Cooney, Valerie Gale, Heather Gilbert, Martha Anne Houston, Meredith Lawson,
Lisa Magness, Ann Melchionna, Alston Moore, Kelly Proctor, Amanda Hunter-Taylor and Crystal Webb. Mr. Bob Reich, a current St. Margaret's parent, will kick off the group's learning experience with a visit to St. Margaret's campus on Sunday afternoon, February 20. Mr. Reich, a United Airlines pilot, will present a lecture to the group about aerodynamic "drag and lift" and the mechanics of airplane flight. His talk will occur precisely three days prior to the group's trans-Atlantic flight to London on the 23rd. Mr. Reich's daughter, Emily, a St. Margaret's senior, is a boarding student in Anderton House and also plays offensive attack for the SMS lacrosse team. Casterbridge tour guide, Mr. Barry Beesley, will lead the tour. Mr. Beesley, a
retired teacher, has led a similar tour entitled,"Mathematical London and
England," each spring since 1993. "We are pleased to be aligned with a guide who has so much experience leading student groups. Mr. Beesley's particular knowledge of the focal point [mathematics] of our trip will be a wonderful asset," notes Mr. Krusz. Among the planned itinerary highlights are visits to Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the British Science Museum, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and the popular and fashionable areas of Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. Planned excursions outside of central London include Bath, where the group will tour the Roman Baths and Golden Rectangle; Stonehenge, where the group will study ancient math and ponder the prehistoric monument that has perplexed visitors for over 4,000 years; and, finally, the group will journey to Salisbury to view the Magna Carta. This document granted English citizens civil and political liberties in 1215. The group also plans to visit the towns of Greenwich and Bushey.
Greenwich, a borough located ten minutes east of London by boat, boasts spectacular 18th and 19th century architecture. Greenwich is also the home of England's Royal Naval College. The group will also visit St. Margaret's School in Bushey. A member of the Queen Margaret Schools Association, St. Margaret's-Bushey has close ties with St.
Margaret's School-Tappahannock including an active internship program.
Currently, Mrs. Stephenson's daughter, Carolyn, a 1999 graduate of St.
Margaret's, is working abroad as an intern for one-year prior to entering the
University of Virginia as a freshman this fall. Carolyn is assigned to work with
kindergarten-age children as a nanny. Each student will research one point of interest beforehand and give a short report as the subject "expert" in the field. Girls will also maintain a personal journal, recording their observations and reflecting upon what they see and learn. Upon their return, the students will prepare a power point presentation to share with the SMS student body. "What an exciting way to visit London and explore the city and its culture," said one participant. "I can't wait to go!" St. Margaret's School is an Episcopal boarding and day school for girls,
grades 8-12. Visit the school's web site, HTTP://WWW.SMS.ORG, to obtain
admission information and to view other press releases or call 443-3357 for
general information.
Telephone: 804-443-3357 (w); 804-443-3357 (h)
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Margaret's Gears Up for Minimester Trip to London
Minimester 2000 UK Trip Participants with faculty chaperones, Susan Stephenson and Keith Krusz.
