TMI Episcopal Panthercast: Recent Episodes
TMI Episcopal
This week Dr. LePort sits down with Panther football offensive line's Heath Bryant, Jaylen Gardner, Armon Gardner, Warren Oliver, and Colin "Barrons" Behrens to discuss highlights from past games and what they're expecting for the rest of the season. This episode was recorded and edited by Panther Senior Aidyn Neiman.
This week on the Panther Sportscast, Dr. LePort sits down with TMI football's defensive line! JC Arosemena, Bernie Elizando, Gunnar Goff, Connor Lafreeda, and Warren Oliver talk about what their expectations for the season are and how they view their positions as the "wall" of TMI football.
This week, Brian LePort sits down with the Panther offensive line! Join us as we talk to Patrick Miggins, Emilio Saucedo, Diego Saucedo, Hunter Cummings, JC Arosemena, and Alden Stratton as they discuss how the "big guys upfront" are planning to handle the season.
This week, Dr. LePort interviews Panther football's Alex Bellucci, Jaylen Gardner, Lance Kah, and Warren Oliver before they face off against Austin's Liberal Arts and Science Academy. Arly Tchou goes onto the sidelines to interview coaches, players, and staff before the big game!
Dr. Brian LePort talks with TMI Panthers coach Ray Purifoy on his hopes and expectations for the 2021-2022 Panther football season!
Part 3 of TMI's Parent Education Series, "Challenged. Cherished. Known.," featuring Lisa Condrey, School Counselor and Humanities Teacher; Stacy Smith, School Nurse and Healthcare Coordinator; Troy Griffith, Math Teacher; and Sarah Murphy, Director of College Counseling, hosted by TMI Dean of Community and Wellness Tracy Carter.
Part 2 of TMI's 3-part Parent Education Series, "Challenged. Cherished. Known.," featuring Paul Kim, Equity Task Force Interim Chair and Humanities Teacher; Sherry Brown, Dean of Students and English Teacher; Troy Eason, Dean of Students and Math Teacher; and Fr. Nate Bostian, Head Chaplain, hosted by TMI Dean of Community and Wellness Tracy Carter. Parents, check your email for a link to RSVP for Part 3 coming up on December 2, 2020.
In today's Community Update, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown shares an update on COVID and quarantines by breaking down the numbers. He also outlines the plan for staying the course and keeping Wednesday Community days through the third quarter.
At the end of this week's update, Fr. Scott shares some of the good news in the community including our athletic teams, the Corps of Cadets, academic successes, the opening of the Walker Innovation Center, and more. With just one more week of school before the Thanksgiving break, let’s continue to wear our masks and social distance so that we can stay safe and stay on campus.
Part 1 of TMI's 3-part Parent Education Series, "Challenged. Cherished. Known.," featuring Anne Schaefer-Salinas, Associate Head of School, and Justin Kutscherousky, Dean of Innovation, hosted by TMI Dean of Community and Wellness Tracy Carter. Parents, check your email for a link to RSVP for Part 2 coming up on November 18, 2020.
In today's Community Update, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown talks about the end of the semester, a change to semester exams, a reminder about selecting in-person or remote instruction for another three weeks (Nov. 2-20), and the importance of continuing to social distance and wear masks as we go into the holiday season.
In today's Community Update, TMI's School Nurse and Healthcare Coordinator, Stacy Smith, shares important reminders and information from the Health Center, including the importance of continuing what we're doing and what happens if someone on our campus tests positive. Following Nurse Stacy is TMI's Director of Safety & Security, Michael Call, who shares important changes to the drop-off and pick-up procedures that will begin on Monday. Our students' health and safety is a priority at TMI; we are grateful to have the students back on campus and are committed to doing everything we can to keep them on campus.
In today's Community Update video, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown talks in detail about what to expect next week when all students are back on campus together starting Monday, October 5. He also shares an update on our athletic programs and what our fall and winter teams can expect. As a reminder, it is time for our families that would like to continue with remote instruction to make another selection for the time period of Oct.9-30 using the Remote Instruction Request Form.
In today's Community Update, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown takes a look back at the first full week of hybrid instruction and emphasizes the importance of every member in our community following the protocols and procedures we have for being on campus. Abiding by the rules and being disciplined while we are both on and off campus will allow us to stay on campus. We also value your feedback during this transition to hybrid instruction. Please take a few minutes and complete the short, open-ended survey here to let us know how your (or your child's) first week of hybrid instruction went – all students, parents, faculty and staff members are invited to complete the survey (the deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30).
In today's Community Update, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown takes you on a tour of campus, highlighting the safety procedures and protocols for coming back to campus. He shares details for coming onto campus, drop-off and pick-up locations, how the classrooms will look (including for students in remote instruction), plans for lunch, and more. We look forward to seeing you all soon. Go Panthers!
Pick-up & Drop-off Procedures
4-Week Calendar (9/14 - 10/9)
In today's Community Update, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown gives a detailed overview of the path leading up to September 21. He also answers some of the common questions around finances, expectations for coming back to campus, and reminds parents about making the decision for remote vs in-person instruction for the first quarter. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
In today's Community Update, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown gives an overview of the plans for returning to campus on September 21. In addition, Athletic Director Brandon Palomo gives an update on fall athletics and outlines the plans and scenarios for football, cheerleading, cross country and volleyball. We look forward to the next few weeks as we prepare and count down to September 21. We will see you back on campus very soon. Go Panthers!
- Hybrid Instruction Schedules
- TMI Episcopal Return to Campus Document
- Remote Instruction Request Form
In today's Community Update, Head of School Fr. Scott Brown shares a few short reminders as we prepare to start off the 2020-2021 school year next week! Listen as he shares exciting news about the Community Engagement Council's new online TMI spirit store and mask store and reminders about our back-to-school boxes, New Family Orientation, and more. We look forward to seeing you in the virtual events coming up in the next few weeks and then back on campus very, very soon. Go Panthers!
In this first community update of the summer, Fr. Scott talks about the behind-the-scenes planning that's continuing to happen to ensure a safe return to school. "We’re mapping the course. We’re preparing the way. And we’re expecting to be surprised. But no matter what comes our way, we’ll be ready," and we look forward to coming back on campus together!
Hear Science Department Chair Rob Friedrich and Dean of Innovation Justin Kutscherousky talk about design thinking and innovation at TMI...it's not just STEM! Head of School Fr. Scott will also be leading us on a tour of the Walker Innovation Center construction site.
Inspired by John Krasinski’s "Some Good News" (SGN), we’ve decided to shine a light on SGN...TMI style! Enjoy our second episode of Some Good News - TMI Edition here or watch the full video on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/TMIEpiscopalSchool
Inspired by John Krasinski’s "Some Good News" (SGN), we’ve decided to shine a light on SGN...TMI style! Enjoy our first episode of Some Good News - TMI Edition here or watch the full video on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/TMIEpiscopalSchool
In today’s episode, TMI Head Chaplain Fr. Nate Bostian reflects on what it’s been like to take Daily Chapel online, shares a recommendation for dividing the day into five segments (work, play, reflection, connection, and sleep), and offers advice for getting through challenging times during social distancing. Fr. Nate encourages the community to remember that we were made by an infinite love and although we are separated right now, we are all connected.
References for Easter Sunday services in the episode and how to reach Fr. Nate: http://gracechurchsa.org/ http://saintgeorgechurch.org/
Fr. Nate Bostian, TMI Head Chaplain, n.bostian@tmi-sa.org TMI Live Daily Chapel: www.tmi-sa.org/live Past Daily Chapel recordings and Senior Chapel Talks: https://www.youtube.com/user/TMIEpiscopalSchool/
In today’s episode, TMI’s Personal and College Counselor, Lisa Condrey, shares her knowledge and expertise in reducing stress and anxiety during social distancing and remote instruction. Below are some recommended tools and resources that she shares during the interview:
Tips for managing stress and feeling overwhelmed:
- Remind ourselves of what is truly important: Big Rocks Covey PDF
- Be as compassionate to ourselves as we are to others, recognizing that our uncertainty & anxiety affects our usual ability to accomplish things & cut ourselves some slack
- Take a breath to recenter & get going again: what's ONE thing you can do right now?
- Remember what you love about each family member & show that love: a hug, a comment, a smile
Tips and ideas to separate work life and home life:
- Establish a schedule, especially if you have to share resources & spaces.
- Have work apart & work together times, especially with younger children
- Reduce/eliminate disruptions to your work apart time by establishing how kids can get in touch with you if they really need to instead of coming in & yelling your name: text you their request/question & you answer it on the same time scale as you would if you were at work.
Ways to help younger children understand what's happening:
- Older students can talk to parents to agree on how much & what to tell younger siblings
- Emphasize that "stay at home" is temporary, but we need to be patient in the meantime
How can our families bring Tranquil Tuesdays into their homes during social distancing:
- Practice the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique together: COPING SKILL SPOTLIGHT: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GROUNDING TECHNIQUE
- Do a guided meditation together. There are tons on YouTube. Here are a couple that are kid-focused:
- Guided Mindfulness for Beginners, Kids and Families: Love & Happiness Wishes
- 3 Minutes Body Scan Meditation - Mindfulness For Kids And Adults
- For older kids & adults: Mindful Meditation (Body Scan) - Integrative Health and Wellbeing
Science Teacher Mark Philippi and English Teacher Courtney Duke share their insights and perspectives about remote instruction this past week. They give tips for both students and parents in navigating this new environment and share their love and how much they miss our students and community.
In today's Panthercast Community Update, we take a look at some of the classroom projects happening in art, geography, and history as well as some of our student and team accomplishments.
A few key dates coming up:
- March 3, 2020 – Latin students to arrive at school at 8am
- March 3-5, 2020 – Earth Science Coast Trip
- March 6, 2020 – No school for students
- March 9-13, 2020 – Spring Break
- March 18, 2020 – Medical School Forum
- March 20, 2020 – $5 Intercultural Dress Down Day
- March 21, 2020 – Intercultural Festival
Sneak Peek: On March 4, Fr. Scott and Tracy Carter will be shadowing students to get a first-hand look at what it's like to be a TMI student. They'll be joining me on the podcast after their experiences to share some insights and what they'll do with the information next!
In today's episode, we invite you into Daily Chapel with us as an opportunity to experience this part our community first-hand. You'll be hearing Father Nate's sermon from last Monday on love. What is love? How do we live into love? Fr. Nate asks these questions and shares the importance of love in our lives.
Featured clips in this podcast:
10 Signs You Have a Toxic Friend https://youtu.be/XET6Kdn7qS0
Love Takes Action | :60 Commercial | New York Life Insurance https://youtu.be/-3LTR32dMgI
Don't forget to share your feedback with us; email us at: panthercast@tmi-sa.org
In today's episode, we're launching a new format for the Panthercast episodes. This bi-weekly community update will bring you into our classrooms by highlighting individual projects and updating you on achievements, upcoming events, and campus updates.
Today, we take a look at Mrs. Claudia Clark's 6th grade culture projects and Mrs. Kate Faulk's CPR, AED, and First Aid Training as part of her Anatomy and Physiology class. Upcoming reminders are included for course registration, team spirit orders (baseball and golf), new Summer At TMI camps, and Upper School student government changes for 2020-2021.
Finally, we give you a an update on the Walker Innovation Center; the foundation is scheduled to be completed in mid- to late-March and the steel beams will begin to go up immediately after. We ask for your continued cooperation and understanding during and around the construction site to prevent delays and keep everybody safe.
Today's episode features the audio from the Annual Holiday Concert of the TMI Bands and Choir on December 12, 2019. Have a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season!
In today's episode, TMI parents Alissa Moya and Roxanne Bond share the parent perspective on the TMI Fund. The talk about the importance of the fund, what it means to them, and why they chose to serve as this year's co-chairs.
In today's episode, Dean of Community and Wellness Tracy Carter talks in depth about some of the new initiatives this year designed to care for the heart of our school. She shares what's in store for the Parent Education Labs, the new iCare form for students, and Social Emotional Learning at TMI.
In today’s episode, Associate Head of School Anne Shaefer-Salinas talks about academics here at TMI. She shares her love of education, why she became a passionate advocate for students with different learning styles, and why it’s so important for our teachers to continually evolve and collaborate as they prepare our students for a constantly-changing world.
In today’s episode, Justin Kutscherousky talks in depth about innovation and design here at TMI. He shares some of the student projects that are happening in the classroom and how the design thinking mindset guides them throughout the process. We also touch on the new Walker Innovation Center coming to TMI and how it will serve as a hub for the community from science to the arts. Justin also shares what ideas he hopes his students will carry with them for life and what inspires him to teach.
Today's episode features the audio from our fall Head of School Social on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. TMI Head of School, The Rev. Scott J. Brown, dives deep into budgets, planning, and what lies ahead for our community.
Fr. Scott talks in depth about many of the campus updates taking place, from capital improvements and new vehicles to the groundbreaking of the Walker Innovation Center. He introduces some of the new positions of our faculty and staff this year and highlights how the focus on our students' wellness is supportive of the excellent educational program that TMI offers.
In addition to academics and wellness, Fr. Scott covers some new student-focused policies for the Corps of Cadets and athletics and also introduces the new German American Partnership Program that TMI is participating in this year.
For questions or suggestions, email us at panthercast@tmi-sa.org
The first Panthercast episode of the 2019-2020 school year is out today! We kick off with a Padrecast episode with Fr. Scott Brown, Head of School, who shares his theme and goals for the year ahead. Opening with 484 students, TMI is celebrating its highest enrollment in history. We invite our TMI parents to come learn more about what lies ahead for TMI by attending the upcoming Head of School Social on September 11.
2019-2020 Theme: See the Light in Each Other
Head of School Social: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 6:00 pm TMI Campus, Alkek Refectory RSVP To Attend
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Kyle Nevitt reflected on the many accomplishments of his grandfather–his hero–ranging from pole vaulting to becoming a Navy Seal, and shared the wisdom he passed down. “The real heroes,” his grandfather told him, “are those who spend time getting an education and use that education to make the world a better place.” Education is a platform for making a long and lasting impact. Help one or help many, but leave the world better than you found it. “Use your education,” Kyle encouraged his peers, “and be a hero.”
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Annie Notzon spoke about how iron sharpens iron…how members of a community–family–can strengthen one another. Through childhood memories, she painted the picture of her own family and how they work together as a team. But, outside of that, she was afraid to open up and be vulnerable. It wasn’t until a close friend needed her that she realized friends always see the best in you. Letting people help you is what makes you strong, she said. “Our community, constantly sharpening each other, is our strength…open up when you are hurting and be there for someone that is.”
In the final #SeniorChapelTalk of the year, Manaal Salman spoke about the power of the brain and the importance of learning–how we are constantly learning, everywhere and every day. She shared why we must never take an opportunity to learn for granted and why we need to share the knowledge we have; teaching others and leading by example. “The great power that you possess is the ability to learn,” she said. “Use it to it’s full potential…Live as if you were to die tomorrow, but learn as if you were to live forever.”
Listen to last week’s Head of School Spring Social on today’s podcast episode. Head of School, Fr. Scott Brown, talks about everything from Annual Giving to Innovation and Design.
Fr. Scott updates the community on the TMI Fund goal, Stars Over TMI, the pillars of our school (Academics, Athletics, Military, Spirituality), personnel, and capital improvements that will happen this summer. He also introduces both the Corps of Cadets and our TMI school video that were just created by The Film Guys.
As we work to incorporate innovation and design thinking into our entire curriculum, starting in the 6th grade, the faculty and staff will be reading LAUNCH: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student this summer. If you want to read it with us, grab a copy of the book by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani and give it a read this summer!
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Jia “Jenny” Qi spoke about her experience as an international boarding student, thrust into a new culture and feeling lonely, missing her family back home. Misunderstanding the lack of communication from her parents, she began to feel isolated. But when she returned home the next summer, she realized just how much her family missed her and loved her in return. “Now I realize no matter who you are and where you are, your family is your biggest support.” I am thankful for my family, she said, “because without their teachings, I would not have become the person who I am now.”
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Ben Hirsch shared a story about kayaking down the Guadalupe River with his friend, when they spotted a calf stuck on a ledge. Buzzards were already circling, waiting. Not able to ignore it, they set out to save the calf. In order to help it, they had to push it into the water and then hold up its head as it swam to shore. Much like the calf, sometimes in life, we don’t realize when we need help. Let others help you in times of trouble and always keep fighting.
In this episode, TMI’s Head Lacrosse Coach and Summer Programs Coordinator, Blake Skinner, is back to talk about the Summer At TMI activities. Blake introduces a few of our new academic offerings for Upper School students that will give them a chance to get ahead and free up their schedules during the year for more electives and flexibility in their schedules. He also talks about the courses for incoming Middle School students that are available to help them transition and prepare for their first year at TMI.
In addition to the academic camps, Summer At TMI has a variety of athletic, activity, and adventure camps. There are a couple of new overnight robotics camps that we’ll be offering this summer, as well as a wide variety of STEM and robotics day camps. Athletic camps for soccer, basketball, and football are available along with a new sports performance camp.
Many of the activity, athletic, adventure, and marksmanship camps fill up quickly, so be sure to register early. There is also a discount available (use FAMILY4) for families that sign up for four or more camps this summer. Complete details and course descriptions are available on the website at www.SummerAtTMI.com.
Summer At TMI www.SummerAtTMI.com Registration open now Camps run June-July Ages 5-18 Open to the public
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Kristina Samuel described a typical day as her 7-year-old self and her ability to see the beauty in everything. During adolescence, however, her competitive drive led to anxiety and doubt. But, a summer experience as a volunteer at Camp CAMP reshaped her view. It’s a place where anything is doable and dreamable. “I now find myself more often being inspired, not threatened, by others’ intelligence and passions…Success is having enough confidence, courage, and willpower to go after your passions without being tempted to measure yourself with things that don’t align with this.” Sometimes, life is about realizing who you were from the very beginning.
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, August Schmidt shared the recipe for Pad Thai–explaining how the ingredients, which seem so different, create something amazing when combined. It’s also how she views her life; appreciating the fact that every moment, good or bad, is part of what makes her who she is. There will always be ups and downs in life, she said, but it’s the balance between the good, bad, and mundane that keeps life interesting. Live your life to the fullest, “there is so much joy and light in the world to be found.”
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Andres Thrailkill told the story of how a close friend encouraged him to join the cross country team and gave him both support and motivation when he was struggling early on. He grew to love the cross country team; it strengthened his leadership skills, gave him a chance to disconnect and de-stress, and was a community that supported one another. My friend didn’t know that he would show me something I loved, but spent the time and effort anyway,” he said. “I challenge everyone to try and be the friend who cares deeply enough that you push someone to strive for greatness.”
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Mia Jamison spoke about her future self–that she is terrified of her. She shared her struggles in making decisions, always worried that the wrong one will veer her off course. “We all have self doubt,” she said, but the truth is, most of our daily choices don’t affect us in the long run. Have faith in yourself, she told the community, and trust that your future self can handle the situation when it is time. For now, “trust yourself to perform well…trust yourself to make it through the next day, week, and month. Give yourself some credit, it might all work out in the end.”
Today’s guest is TMI’s Personal & College Counselor and Psychology Teacher, Lisa Condrey. Lisa earned her Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology & Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Social Work from Florida State University.
Before coming to TMI in 2005, she was a counselor at St. Thomas' Episcopal School in Houston and, prior to that, she worked at the International School of Aberdeen in Scotland and the International School of Duesseldorf in Germany.
In this episode, Lisa talks about her role as TMI’s Personal & College counselor and the support she is available to offer to both students and parents. She talks about how she began teaching, her teaching philosophy, and the key lessons she hopes her students will carry with them for life.
As we approach the end of the school year, she encourages students to look ahead and schedule small chunks of time to review for finals and finish assignments, planning out a few weeks at a time. In addition to that, she encourages scheduling in things that are enjoyable! Parents can help their students in this process, by helping them to find the right cycle for them to do their work well and also play and have fun.
You’ll also learn a few new things about Lisa, like how she starts her day and why she includes humor in her morning.
www.gocomics.com www.wumo.com
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Annie Masterson shared her competitive drive with the TMI community. But, unlike others who could simply shake off not winning, she would spiral downward–viewing defeat as complete failure. Over time, she began to view this combination differently; her competitiveness was really a passion without fear. Though she still struggles to reign in her emotions at times, she’s learned that failures do not define her. “I will always have my friends, my family, and God to embrace me and my imperfections.”
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Will Oliver spoke about the love he has for his family–not just blood relatives, but the friends and communities who have come into his life and become his extended family. From his coaches here at TMI and his teammates to his teachers and classmates (old and new), family is made up of the people who are always there; through good times and bad, play after play. “I’ve been able to find my family, make sure you find yours.”
During his #SeniorChapelTalk, Colby Guillory spoke about his guiding forces from deep within. He shared a few humorous stories of what was clearly destined to be–from winning a bet playing rock, paper, scissors to being chosen for the Punt, Pass, and Kick contest at a football game…and losing. In a moment of clarity, he realized that everything up to this point had happened for a reason…even if the purpose was still yet unknown, “and I can only pray that for whatever moment I was put on this earth to participate in, I have the eyes to recognize it.”
Viewing his entire life as a competition, Eric Lull shared in his #SeniorChapelTalk how this mindset, paired with a crippling fear of failure, created a war-like environment in his head. He tried to achieve balance by setting attainable goals, but still found he felt like a failure. But the summer before his junior year at Camp Capers, one message resonated with him–when we do things out of love, we find happiness, meaning, and success. He realized his previous struggles were because he had fallen out of love with the process of perfection. Discovering this, he created three rules to live his life by: love yourself, love others and the world around you, and live for love.
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Sucheng "Sam" Shi spoke about option bias. From choosing to accept a ride from an unsafe driver because it is the only transportation available to telling ourselves we can get by with less work when we succeed on a test we didn’t prepare for, our subconscious uses overly-optimistic thoughts to guide many of our decisions. But, no matter what actions we take, we are responsible for the consequences and “by being responsible for our own actions, we’re also keeping possible dangers and unforeseen accidents from people around us–especially for those who we love and care.”
Back for our 10th Padrecast episode is TMI Head of School, Fr. Scott Brown! In today’s show, Fr. Scott recaps our “Walk & Talk” events we introduced last month in February to give parents a chance to walk around campus and visit with Fr. Scott, bringing any question or conversation topic they wanted to hear about directly from him. We are excited to be offering two more opportunities for parents to participate in the “Walk & Talk” events in April on:
Wednesday, April 17, at 5:30 pm Thursday, April 18, at 8:00 am
Parents can visit the school’s website calendar to view the events and RSVP.
We also talk about a few upcoming events that will be happening in the next couple of weeks, starting tonight:
Wednesday, March 20, at 6:00 pm Ransomed Life Parent Presentation Susan Burkholder will be on campus to talk with parents (students will hear the same presentation/program on Monday, March 25) and share a youth program designed to equip students and parents to avoid the tricks, traps, and lures of trafficking.
Friday, March 22, at 3:30 pm NHS Huntington’s Disease Awareness Walk Students are invited to participate in a $5 dress-down day to wear blue on Friday in support of Huntington’s Disease awareness. Their dress-down donation also serves as their entry fee to the walk on Stars Lawn immediately after school. Parents, siblings, and grandparents are all invited to join the walk and participate as well for $5.
Saturday, March 30, at 6:00 pm Annual Intercultural Dinner The Annual Intercultural Dinner will be held in the Alkek Refectory. The event is free, thanks to the proceeds raised during the $5 Intercultural Dress-Down Day that will be held the day before on Friday, March 29! There will be food and entertainment from all around the globe; families are also invited to bring a dish to share and represent their country or culture. Please RSVP to c.hamilton@tmi-sa.org to help us get a head count.
Saturday, April 6, at 5:30 pm Stars Over TMI Celebrating the school’s 125th anniversary! Invitations have been mailed and the entire TMI community is invited to join us for an evening of dancing, live auction, entertainment, and celebrating our school. The Spazmatics will provide after-party entertainment. To purchase tickets or table sponsorships, visit www.tmi-sa.org/stars
Want to send us feedback or ask Fr. Scott a fun question for the next Padrecast episode, email us at padrecast@tmi-sa.org
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Trinity Walker shared her struggles during her six years here at TMI and how they shaped her view of failure and the value of people around her. She recalled one experience of running hill repeats with the cross country team. Realizing she was far behind her team members, the pride and accomplishment she’d felt moments ago, vanished…until her team captain congratulated her and gave her a few encouraging words. “Failure is an inevitable part of life,” she said. But, we have to learn how to deal with failure in a way that doesn’t make us give up and instead gives us a new level of energy to push us to our goals. Everyone is struggling and it’s the responsibility of each of us to be an encouragement and remind each other that, “you’ve got this.”
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Eun Bi “Kelly” Jung spoke about love–it’s complexity and what it is to live a life of love. From simple gestures of showing someone you care to loving yourself and being vulnerable, love spurs growth, hope, happiness, passion, and beauty. As she described love through her experiences here at school, she said simply, “love is TMI,” and reminded the community that it surrounds us here.
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Alec Neiman shared his grandmother’s struggles with bipolar disorder. He described in detail her breaking point, the moment that she fired shots at her husband then fled to their home. His grandmother, like many others who suffer with mental illness, felt embarrassed and tried to hide her illness from the world. But, mental illness needs to be addressed. “I want people to hear my pain and feel the suffering my family has gone through and know that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of,” he said. “Never hesitate to ask for help…treasure your loved ones…be the support that others seek; you may just save a life.”
In this episode, Bridget Lynch '19 and Sebastian Martinez-Sotomayor '20 talk all about the TMI chapter of the National Honor Society and share their experiences as members of the organization.
Bridget and Sebastian talk about membership, what NHS has taught them, community service, and the various projects the chapter has led this year. They also announce their upcoming Huntington's Disease Awareness Walk scheduled for later this month on March 22.
TMI NHS Huntington's Disease Awareness Walk March 22, 2019 $5 dress down day (wear blue) for students (includes entry to the walk) 9:40 Guest Speaker from Huntington's Disease Society of America during Daily Chapel 3:30 Awareness Walk on Stars Lawn (in front of Frost Athletic Center) Food trucks will be on site
More about NHS: The National Honor Society is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921.
Four main purposes have guided chapters of NHS from the beginning: to create enthusiasm for scholarship; to stimulate a desire to render service; to promote leadership; and to develop character in the students of secondary schools. These purposes also translate into the criteria used for membership selection in each local chapter.
Huntington's Disease Society of America https://hdsa.org/
National Honor Society https://www.nhs.us/about/
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Jake Flinn shared the story of his younger brother being born with a rare, life-threatening condition. After many months, surgeries, and medications, Jake's little brother Matt was able to come home from the hospital. There were many challenges and Matt's medical journey wasn't finished, but every time Jake looked at his little brother, he was smiling and happy. Fast forward 16 years later and Matt is 6' tall and in perfect health. "There is no one else in this world I'd rather call my brother," Jake said. "I hope all of you value and are thankful for your siblings and relatives...Matt, you're an amazing friend and brother...you were, and are, a huge blessing to the Flinn family."
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Shufan "Victoria" Yin shared the struggles of her grandfather who, at the age of 16 and the oldest child, took on the responsibility of supporting his family. He lived the history that she only read about in textbooks, Victoria said. In learning to understand his perspective and experiences in life, she began to also understand the differences in opinions between them. "Don't rush to a conclusion and confine others to a category," she told the community, "there are always stories behind their actions."
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Zi Wen "Owen" Guo shared how his pursuit of perfection over the years often prevented him from starting or finishing a project. It was only when he joined the robotics team, that he learned the importance of sometimes implementing an imperfect solution in order to reach the goal. Duck tape and zip ties may not make for a perfect and elegant robot, but they are suitable tools that can serve a purpose to keep a robot functioning during competition or meet a deadline. "Whenever your hard work doesn't translate into your dreamed results," Owen said, "take a step backward, let go of what you have imagined and adapt. That way, you might actually get closer to your goal."
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Jiyang "John" Chen introduced systems thinking to the community to guide us in looking at the entire world through this lens. From small actions to major events, all things are part of the system. He spoke of the human nature to search for meaning, explaining that meaning itself relies on information. So when you have inefficient systems, they lose information–lose meaning. Circling back to the community, he encouraged everyone to keep an open mind, be courageous in expressing oneself, and be open to information.
Today’s guest is Sergio Martinez, TMI Class of 2000 and owner of Freight Gallery & Studios. If you’ve been to Southtown for a Second Saturday Artwalk or enjoyed a meal at Kimura @ Freight, then you’ve noticed what an impact Freight Gallery & Studios is making in the local community.
Sergio’s love for art grew after college when moved to Prague to teach English. After coming back to San Antonio in 2012, he found himself wanting to get involved in the local art scene. Shortly after, he found the property that met his vision for a hub of art and community in Southtown and started creating Freight Gallery & Studios.
Sergio talks about his time at TMI; involvement with the Corps, athletics, and the arts; and shares some of his best memories. He also gives a sneak peek at a new young alumni initiative the Advancement Office is starting to help our alumni mentor students.
Freight Gallery & Studios 1913 S. Flores St. Art gallery and home to 8 artist-run studios, Kimura @ Freight, and Gold Coffee in the Southtown area. The latest exhibit opens on the second Saturday in March. https://freightsatx.com/ https://www.facebook.com/FreightSATX/ https://www.instagram.com/freightsatx/
Southtown The Arts District https://southtownsatx.com/
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Yiling "Elaine" Qiu spoke about her experience volunteering to teach English in a remote village to students who only spoke Tibetan and couldn't understand her Mandarin. She quickly had to adjust her well-prepared plans and began teaching by cultivating their interest in the language. What she learned in the end, is that it's important to understand where other people are coming from–their situations and experiences in life–and to put yourself in their shoes. Having this understanding gives us empathy; and though it may be hard, it matters.
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Ruiming "Clinton" Ma showed his mind palace to the TMI community–a star-filled night sky. In it, every person and memory in his life is represented by a shining star. These stars remind him that he is loved, that he should give love, and that everyone of us should look upon our own stars and recall the lucky, joyful, and precious moments of our lives.
In Padrecast #9, Head of School Fr. Scott talks about the Forum Friday in chapel with students, updates in the strategic planning process, and introduces the new "Walk & Talk with Fr. Scott" events.
Find out more about the wide variety of questions that students submitted for the Forum Friday chapel on Feb. 1–from deep and thoughtful questions to lighthearted and fun ones. At the end of Forum Friday, Fr. Scott extended the invitation to students to continue the conversation and visit with him every Wednesday at noon in the amphitheater to just talk or ask questions about what's happening on campus.
Watch the Forum Friday on TMI's YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/kBC5PcEeDZU
Bonus: watch Fr. Nate's follow up on Monday to some spiritual and ethical questions we ran out of time for: https://youtu.be/LvyyQ2lQaKs
In this episode, Fr. Scott also highlights and talks about the new "Walk & Talk" events for parents that were inspired by the Forum Friday with students. Parents are invited to join Fr. Scott and walk and talk with him around campus.
Evening Walk & Talk Tuesday, Feb. 19, 5:30pm-6:30pm RSVP Online
Morning Walk & Talk Wednesday, Feb. 20, 8:00am-9:00am RSVP Online
Finally, Fr. Scott wraps up this podcast episode with a preview of the Head of School Spring Social, updates on the strategic planning, and some fun thoughts on Valentine's.
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Inaara Bhayani shared the ups and downs of living with someone who has bipolar disorder. She spoke about how it affected her own confidence and self-worth, sharing how hard it was to both admit and accept that she needed the help of others to overcome the emotional toll it took. “We all have something we’re struggling with,” she said. Remember that “no problem is too small to talk about.”
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Isabella Castano spoke about how she has grown up to depend upon her friends and family and the critical role they play in her life. While she is grateful that TMI has helped build her independence, she has learned to accept and appreciate the fact that she depends upon the people who are closest to her to be a part of what makes life fulfilling.
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Madeline Miller shared her great grandfather’s journey and the story of how he started Bill Miller Bar-B-Q restaurant. But the road to success wasn’t easy, she said, and told of the struggles the restaurant faced in it’s early days. To keep the restaurant in business, her family began “working together to support one another” and over the years it grew to become the famous chain we know today. Last summer she joined in the tradition and chose to make her first job at the restaurant. Its “success and growth is due to family,” she said, and no matter what the question is, “family is the answer.”
During the summer of his junior year, John “Jack” Torpey tore his ACL and was devastated to learn it meant no sports for at least six months. The course of his senior year was radically changed. His recovery was painful, difficult, and frustrating, but the injury taught him that we are not invincible, we are human. This new perspective gave him the mindset to push forward. He reminded the community that the people who support you the most are all around you, and they want you to succeed. We all face challenges, he said, “pain is inevitable, but suffering, that's a choice.”
In this episode, we feature TMI Fine Arts Instructor Hannah Cooper McCauley, who joined the TMI community 2016 and brings her talents of narrative photography to our school.
Her own photography has been exhibited in group and solo shows at various venues internationally, including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Vermont Center for Photography, Photo Beijing 2014, the 2014 Pingyao, China International Photography Festival, and has been published in Photo District News as well as Aint-Bad Magazine. She earned her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree at Jacksonville State University and her Masters of Fine Arts degree from Louisiana Tech University.
Hannah shares her diagnosis of a degenerative eye condition called Optic Nerve Head Drusen and how it has influenced and shaped much of her art. We also talk about her teaching philosophy, some of her students' favorite projects, and why analog photography continues to be important for students even as technology evolves.
Learn more about Hannah and view her art: http://www.hannahcoopermccauley.com/
View Hannah's chapel talk at TMI, "An Artist's Story" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3vpWq_wOcw
During his #SeniorChapelTalk, Shangzhi "David" Jiang described a chance meeting of a younger boy while he was home one summer and lifting weights at the gym. Curious at the boy’s excitement in learning that he attended school in the United States, David soon realized this boy didn’t have the opportunity to attend any high school because he had to work full time to help support his family; his dream of becoming a professional soccer player, long forgotten. The stark contrast to his own situation taught David the importance of holding onto his dreams and not letting life strip them away, “protect and cherish your dream…and hold it tight without losing it like the boy.”
Silence is awkward, but it can also be stronger than you think, said Wyatt Seal during his #SeniorChapelTalk. He shared how his bond with his mom was strengthened as a young child from all the time she helped him with his homework; while the bond with his dad was strengthened from hours of silence, sitting in a deer blind. “It’s really quite funny how well you get to know someone even when no words are spoken,” he said. He explained how the enjoyment of hunting for him, is not in killing a deer, but rather, “I hunt because I like to sit in a 4x4 box for hours of silence with my dad.”
“You have the ability to create and decide your own path,” said Briana Quintanilla in her #SeniorChapelTalk. She talked about the pressure to follow her peers on their paths; realizing the hard way that her path to success was in a different direction. When she learned to embrace her own passions and identify her strengths, she experienced a new kind of stress that motivated her to push through knowing the final result would be rewarding. “You are your own person…have your own judgement and follow it.”
In this episode, TMI juniors Victor Alejos and Mary Warder talk about their experiences at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference that was held at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend and sponsored by Rotary District 5840. The Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio sponsored our two TMI students to attend the event.
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Conference (RYLA) is a program of Rotary International and is a leadership development program for young adults. The conferences are held all over the world and range from one-day seminars to weekend-long conferences. Both local Rotary Clubs and Districts organize the events for students in their communities and give them the opportunity to learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors. Students are challenged to build upon their communication and problem-solving skills, learn strategies to become dynamic leaders, and help them turn motivation into action.
Rotary International https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/rotary-youth-leadership-awards
Rotary District 5840 https://rotary5840.org/sitepage/ryla
Dominion Rotary Club of San Antonio http://www.dominionrotary.org/
Throughout her life, Jordan Bell always tried to blend in. In her #SeniorChapelTalk, she spoke of how she struggled with being shy and was always concerned about what others would think. During her sophomore year, she was determined to break out of her shell and joined the softball team. This opened up her world and slowly, she let her true self shine through. Becoming more confident every day, she told the community to remember that, “You are beautiful and amazing, just the way YOU are.”
During his #SeniorChapelTalk, Caleb Braha described in humorous detail the awkwardness of life as a Middle School student. Looking back, he laughed at his forced attempts at trying to make friends as a child. But, it wasn’t until high school that he realized he had spent all his time trying to live for others and not himself. He stopped caring what others thought and embraced the activities he enjoyed and things that made him laugh. Through discovering himself, he also found others who shared his same interests…and along with that, he found true friendship. “Whatever you do,” he told the community, “do it for you…have friends and enjoy your life.”
Yiyang “Louis” Liu smiled as he shared a story about joining the baseball team–a sport he knew nothing about–and how excited he was when he ran past second base…exactly as he had done on first. But, he turned around to discover his team upset…learning after, he was supposed to run to it and not past it. Afterward, he felt great disappointment and failure. Louis shared a few more humorous stories and explained that while our emotions may help us to make quick decisions and life more colorful, if they are not kept in check, they can also lead to poor decisions and unnecessary pain. “Just as there is an optimal workload for machines,” he said, “there is a prime range for the intensity of emotions that make your life the most sensible and stable.” So the next time you’re in a situation facing extreme emotions, remember to “keep calm and carry on.”
During her #SeniorChapelTalk, Lorelei McDowell shared the deep and lasting impact that her faith has had on her life. Both TMI and her church have given her knowledge and a strong moral compass that has prepared her for the next phase in life. “Thank you to the school teachers and coaches [who] have helped me become stronger mentally, physically and spiritually.” She said, “Lastly, to the Corps, thank you for keeping the traditions at TMI alive.”
In this episode, we feature English Teacher Alice Bilbrey, who shares her passion for students and gives us a closer look at what’s happening in her classroom this year. She shares her path into teaching, what motivates and inspires her, and her “Be Kind, Work Hard” philosophy for her students.
Alice talks about what it was like to perform in the school play last semester, the various activities of her National Honor Society students, and some of the creative activities in her classroom.
If you want to keep up with Alice on Twitter, where she shares teaching ideas and what students are doing in the classroom, follow her at: @alice_bilbrey
Mrs. Alice Bilbrey Trinity University, M.A. Trinity University, B.A.
Oluwatomike “Tomike” Falebita described herself as a people pleaser during her #SeniorChapelTalk. She would do anything to help other people feel better and felt tremendous guilt if she let anyone down. When she came to TMI in the 9th grade as a boarding student, she felt alone and desperate to avoid the challenges of a new school and new environment. But, one comment from her parents during that freshman year, gave her a new perspective. They told her that she had to live her own life, for herself. This one statement allowed her to look at things differently and face her challenges head on; she was ready to seize the opportunities right in front of her. Pay attention to yourself and your own needs, she said to the community, “you are worth it.”
During his freshman year at TMI, Cody Trevino’s older brother signed to play football with Trinity University. That is when, he told the TMI community during his #SeniorChapelTalk, he set his goal to play one more year of football with his brother in college. For the past three years, he’s been preparing for this goal by working harder on his grades and training more on the field, knowing that his competition might be bigger, stronger, or faster. Then, during this past summer, he received a call from one of the Trinity University coaches who told him he’d been asked to make an early commitment decision and sign on as a Tiger. “Picture your dream,” he said, “work hard to accomplish it, and don’t let setbacks keep you down. My brother is still currently a running back at Trinity and I realize I may not get much playing time my first year, but I will finally have achieved my dream of playing on the same team as my best friend.”
In Padrecast #8 Head of School, Fr. Scott Brown, shares some highlights of the last couple months here at TMI and gives an update on the Strategic Planning process and what’s ahead.
Fr. Scott talks in depth about some of the new and exciting positions we’re bringing on for the 2019-2020 school year, including the new Associate Head of School, Dean of Community and Wellness, and Associate Director of College Placement. He also gives a teaser of some upcoming strategic plans that could have us breaking ground on a new building!
Military Ball Information:
February 2, 2019
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort
Guest Speaker: BG (Ret) Joe Ramirez, Jr. Commandant of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M
www.tmi-sa.org/milball
Deadline to order tickets is January 23
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Bridget Lynch spoke about being truly reckless–finding uninhibited creation. Her reckless moment happened while daydreaming under a tree in the southwest one summer. As humans, we tend to want to be comfortable, content and satisfied...we stray away from walking along the edge of life, experiencing new adventures and taking risks. We gravitate toward the center and stay there, tethered. But we become accustomed to the beauty when we're in the center, it becomes mundane and dull. "I thought that I wasn't enough," she said in describing herself before that moment of recklessness, her life dulled by remaining in the center. Part of being reckless is realizing that part of life is attaining satisfaction for yourself; knowing that you are enough. In that moment, she learned to let go of self doubt and self-imposed barriers and found genuine happiness. She found spontaneity and the ability to walk along the edge again, and encouraged the community to "explore the limits of this limitless universe."
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Entong “Jessica” Zhou shared some of her struggles as an awkward teenager. She laughed about being confused when she arrived in America from China for 8th grade and discovered everyone was asking her the same question, “Hey what’s up?” All she could think was, ‘the sky’ and what an odd question it was. The awkward moments made her miss and appreciate home, but she told herself things would get better and that it just needed time. Over the next year, however, an old childhood friend passed away and her grandmother was starting to lose her memory. What time taught her was that every moment in life is precious. When it’s hard to keep going, she said, “stop for a while and look back at those best memories…they will keep you moving forward.”
Fe Maria Cajiga Pena is a 2015 graduate of TMI and currently a senior at Boston University studying Biomedical Engineering. In this episode, she talks about how TMI prepared her for college, her plans after graduation, and how she is continuing to live as a Servant Leader.
During the summer of 2016, she served as an intern in the Mexican Embassy in Japan. In 2017 she was an undergraduate research assistant at UT Health here in San Antonio for four months, before studying engineering abroad at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain, and she is currently working as an undergraduate research assistant at the Boston Medical Center.
Since leaving TMI she has continued living as a servant leader and most recently volunteered as the logistics chair for the American Cancer Society’s Pulling for Hope fundraiser that brought in more than $90,000 for the Massachusetts chapter.
Fe Maria shares some of her favorite memories of TMI and the importance of living as a Servant Leader, always look for ways to give back and have a lasting impact while you strive for success.
Today’s featured audio is from last week’s TMI Bands Holiday Concert.
This special episode begins with the Beginner Band holiday concert, followed by the Woodwind Ensemble and then a surprise presentation by the TMI Choir. After that, the TMI Symphonic band will begin their holiday concert, including a special performance by Rod Leonard, TMI’s Band Conductor, and his Trombone Ensemble.
After today, We’ll be taking the next couple of weeks off from the podcast during the holiday break. We’ll be back with more Panthercast and Padrecast episodes on Thursday, January 10, 2019.
From everyone here at TMI, we wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a joyous holiday season!
Email us at padrecast@tmi-sa.org
Life is unpredictable. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Nathan Tran described the period of his life when his father was hospitalized and the responsibility of caring for his younger brother fell to him, while his mother divided her time between the hospital and work. But through the difficulties and challenges, he found support and encouragement from another family–the TMI community. His coaches helped fill the gaps in his life as mentors, teachers, and parent figures; encouraging him to work harder and face his challenges. Family is more than just blood relatives, “it can be the people who carry you through difficult times…I hope that through the kindness of others, you too, will be able to find the family you need most when you least expect it.”
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Juliana Martinez described the various ways in which she wastes her time…reading books, browsing through a library, absorbing mass amounts of information in a museum, and accumulating random facts of knowledge or useless pieces of information every chance she gets. But what exactly determines whether a piece of information is useful, when great discoveries in life often come from accidents and random observations? “Be curious about this weird and wonderful world we live in,” she said. Though she might describe many of her activities as “time wasted,” that doesn’t mean it’s time ill spent. Because “learning is never a waste of time.”
In this episode, TMI’s Head Lacrosse Coach, Blake Skinner, shares his impact on lacrosse instruction throughout the entire San Antonio area and how his journey brought him to the TMI community in 2009.
Blake is the past president of the South Texas Youth Lacrosse Association and the founder of the Mission Lacrosse Club, which was started in 2013. He shares his experiences with both and also gives an update on the upcoming season for TMI lacrosse, highlights various aspects of the program, and talks in depth about leadership development in lacrosse.
In January, TMI will be hosting two lacrosse events:
Free Beginner Lacrosse Clinic Saturday, January 12, 11am-12pm Open to students/players from all schools, K-8 No experience necessary (lacrosse sticks will be provided if needed) RSVP: www.tmi-sa.org/lax
TMI Alumni Lacrosse Game Saturday, January 12, starting at 1pm Social and fellowship immediately following the game (spouses and fellow classmates welcome to come watch the game and attend the social) For information: b.skinner@tmi-sa.org
For more information about the Mission Lacrosse Club or TMI Lacrosse, follow: @tmilax (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) @missionlacrosse (Instagram and Twitter)
Leaving the audience wondering whether it was Michael or “Jimmy” who gave his #SeniorChapelTalk, Michael “Jimmy” LeJune shared the story of his nickname. A childhood friend’s dare led him to trick his teacher into calling him Jimmy and from then on, that’s how his friends knew him. But in more formal settings, where he had to behave–usually around family or strangers–he remained Michael. Though “Jimmy” started as a joke, it illustrates the multiple sides to ourselves that we all have; our relationships with people, complex and different. “We all have multiple identities…[that] allow us to express the correct personality that correlates to the situation that we are in.” Though he doesn’t recommend naming your second identity, he encourages everyone to embrace it. By doing so, we “understand ourselves better as a whole.”
“Such wasted potential,” were the words that changed Santiago Martinez’ outlook on life. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, he described how hearing those words spoken about him made him look at every aspect of his life and realize that they were true...and that he needed to change. He urged the audience to not wait for second chance to take advantage of their own potential; share your potential–your gifts–with the world. Though there will always be more success to be had, be proud of what you have achieved at every step along the way. Be a better athlete, student, friend…“Be a better person, you can. We control how we see and use our potential…work hard and never ever stop chasing it.”
Hailed a “firebrand” and noted for her “Supreme panache” as a cellist, Christine Lamprea, TMI Class of 2007, has travelled around the world performing in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, the Beethovenhaus, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum. She has performed as a soloist with the Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, and San Antonio Symphony, among others.
After graduating from TMI, Christine earned her Bachelor’s at The Juilliard School and then her Masters from the New England Conservatory of Music. In March of this year, she was honored as a Sphinx Medal of Excellence Winner and is currently serving as a faculty member at Texas Christian University as a Lecturer in Cello.
In this Episode, Christine shares her journey to becoming a cellist, her exploration of music, and how her experiences at TMI helped shape and prepare her for the future ahead. She gives advice to aspiring musicians and encourages everyone to support our local San Antonio Symphony, which played a major role in her development as a musician. Don’t be afraid of classical music, she said, just go, feel, and enjoy it.
https://www.christinelamprea.com https://www.facebook.com/lampreacello https://www.instagram.com/lampreacello https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTvWlLWTHFTMJ34F-5yEVPA https://twitter.com/lampreacello?lang=en
https://sasymphony.org
“I’ve always seen people as people,” said Karina Samuel during her #SeniorChapelTalk. She shared the story of her family and the unconditional love they have for each other. With her mother from the Ukraine and her father from India, she described her family as a beautiful compilation of people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and opinions. It's something she's also experienced here at TMI where, "unconditional love is a cornerstone for an open minded and diverse community belonging to each other and respecting one another...So when you leave this place," she said, "take some love from this community and make it your own."
Finding himself with two broken arms after a bicycle crash one summer, Eddie Garcia shared how his determination to take on any challenge changed the way he looks at life. During his #SeniorChapelTalk, he shared that initially he allowed himself to feel sorry for himself. But after three days of wallowing in his own misery, he realized he was bored and that if things were going to be different, he needed to change his attitude. Rather than feeling that his summer was ruined, he started to look at everything as a challenge to overcome. He learned to adapt, improvise, and even lean on those who supported him. He soon found himself–with two broken arms–snorkeling, kayaking, and making the most of life. By the end of the summer, he learned “no matter how hard a problem is, and no matter how impossible it may seem, I can and I will overcome the problem.”
Commenting that he didn’t have just one single life-changing event to share with the community, Evan Will stressed the importance of learning from all your mistakes–small and large–during his #SeniorChapelTalk. He shared one example, in elaborate detail, how a bad idea led him to jump an iron fence and resulted in him impaling his leg. Knowing he had been doing something he shouldn’t have, he proceeded to lie about it as the ambulance came and took him to the hospital. After he healed and the truth finally came out, he realized how not telling the truth had forced his doctors to work with limited information. “Maturity comes from making little mistakes, learning from them, and living your life…so, take risks, and make mistakes while you’re young…just make sure you actually learn from your mistakes.”
In Padrecast #7, The Rev. Scott Brown talks about the 8th grade class service project at the Hill Country Daily Bread (HCDB). Students had the opportunity to participate in service for two hours at the beginning of this month, helping the HCDB to separate and pack food and sort clothes.
We also talk about the Fine Arts Department’s recent production of “Our Town” that ran Nov. 14-17 in the Margaret M. Alkek Theater. All five shows were sold out. The cast included both students and faculty and involved many late nights and dedication to prepare for the show, both behind the scenes and in front.
With the end of the fall athletic season, Fr. Scott gives a short run down of all the fall sports and their achievements. Our fall student athletes for cross country, football, volleyball and cheerleading have been working hard and brought home many accomplishments and outstanding finishes this past season.
Finally, we wrap up with a few thoughts and words of wisdom from Fr. Scott, who reflects on the Thanksgiving break and shares some of his favorite holiday traditions.
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Michael Blaess spoke about mistakes. Although we all try to avoid making them, if we didn’t have them, we would miss valuable learning experiences. He shared that the important thing is to not avoid making mistakes, but to realize that they will happen and knowing how to deal with them. “No matter what happens in life, always remember to be honest, to learn from your past, and to turn your knowledge into actions.”
Reflecting on his love for baseball as he began his #SeniorChapelTalk, Nicolas Planchet said, “My life is very much, in essence, reflected by the baseball.” He compared the baseball’s outer layer to his own skin–gleaming and shiny when new, but becoming scuffed and worn over time. Just beneath that lies a chaotic bundle of string, representing his journey in life–the path and choices he’s made along the way and the people who have helped him navigate it. Finally, the baseball’s core–that makes it strong and complete–represents faith, family, and friends. It is the most important part, the heart.
With the last name of Zgardowski, Audrey has heard nearly every possible interpretation of her name as people have failingly tried to pronounce it over the years. In her #SeniorChapelTalk, she talked about the countless suggestions to drop the “g” or change the spelling entirely and listed off the numerous nicknames her friends have created in trying to say it correctly. “But it’s part of my heritage and something to be proud of,” she said. “My name came over from Poland around 1900. It has been worn by a NYC fireman, a tugboat captain, a few generations of Navy men, a baseball player and now a TMI student…even though my name might be mispronounced, misspelled, or even downright made fun of, I am proud because of it’s history and story.”
In this episode, LTC (Ret) Santiago Bueno and Cadets Hasan Ehsan and Juliana Martinez sit down for a round-table discussion to talk about life in the Corps. Cadet Ehsan is the Battalion Commander and Cadet Martinez is the Battalion S-2 Officer. Both seniors this year, they share their experiences of being a part of the Corps for the past four years.
Cadets Ehsan and Martinez talk about the various special teams and opportunities within the Corps and share how they balance academics, the Corps, athletics, fine arts, and other extracurricular activities in their daily lives. They give valuable insight as to what it means to be a member of the Corps, the leadership and confidence it builds, and offer advice for other students who are new or considering joining.
Enjoy this conversation as they, and LTC Bueno, share their stories and give us a look inside the Texas Military Institute Corps of Cadets.
INFORMATION (www.usarmyjrotc.com): JROTC Mission: "To Motivate Young People to be Better Citizens"
"The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is a program offered to high schools that teaches students character education, student achievement, wellness, leadership, and diversity. It is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army and the high schools to produce successful students and citizens, while fostering in each school a more constructive and disciplined learning environment."
“It’s easy for us to see the world in one, individually personalized way,” said Caroline Vassar in her #SeniorChapelTalk yesterday. But, when we fail to see situations and the world from other points of view, we miss understanding the whole truth–the positives and negatives of all sides–and fail to understand each other. Sharing a simple example of misunderstanding cultural norms while traveling abroad, she realized the importance of viewing every situation, no matter how small or large, from multiple perspectives. “There is a whole world of people and perspectives out there, all of them coming from different starting points. Accept the complexity of this world and you will thrive. Have compassion, be informed and strive for the whole truth.”
“What is your passion?” asked Grant Kahl during his #SeniorChapelTalk yesterday. For him, it is robotics. Since the age of seven, he spent his childhood soaking up information about engineering and programming, eventually becoming known as “the robotics kid.” He learned, competed, and grew more confident in his abilities. His experiences and engineering mindset shaped the way he looks at all aspects of life, analyzing everything with the same methodical thought process. “Engineering is my life…it makes me the person that you see before you.” No matter what your own goals are, Grant urged the community, find your passion. “Try new things…you never know if that one thing will lead to a lifetime of passion and happiness.”
“Learn from your mistakes,” said George Sealy Wray in his #SeniorChapelTalk. Although the phrase is one that most of us have heard many times throughout our lives, he wanted to stress how important those words truly are. Through humorous anecdotes, he shared how one mistake that he never learned from–extreme procrastination–cost him more than just a few bad grades. Realizing that his friends didn’t trust him to follow through and his relationships with his family and teachers had become complicated, he knew it was time to change. “I would like to thank all of my teachers, my parents and TMI,” he said, “for having faith that I could fix my mistakes and never giving up on me.” #WeBelongToEachOther!
In this episode, Jill Cross, TMI’s Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, talks in depth about curriculum mapping, professional development, and academic technology. Listen as she shares her journey from museum studies and teaching into curriculum development and shaping teacher leaders.
Jill talks about the importance of attending conferences for independent school teachers and shares how the experience, collaboration, and networking benefits teachers and their students in the classroom. With a focus on faculty professional development at TMI, Jill talks about the various opportunities that faculty have for both individual and group professional development. From recommended TED talks and online conferences to faculty-led sessions and guest speakers, there are opportunities that fit into everyone’s schedule and interests. Jill also gives us more detail on how the curriculum mapping process at TMI has been unfolding, what lies ahead, and how it benefits the overall education of a TMI student.
Jill is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher who’s been in education for over 15 years. She was named a 2016 ASCD Emerging Leader and is a recognized ASCD Influence Leader and Colonial Williamsburg Master Teacher. She earned bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from the University of South Florida and her master’s in Museum Studies from the Johns Hopkins University. She joined the faculty at TMI in June 2017.
As a child, William Elms thought a community was just a group of people. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, he explained that it wasn’t until his sophomore year here at TMI that he realized it is much more. This community, he said, was part of his family. But what is family? He read the dictionary’s basic description and went on to say that for him, family is “a group of people who have a strong bond or connection between them.” Explaining his four families–blood, football, lacrosse, and friend–he reflected on the love, memories, and lessons that each family has taught him and given him. Not all families are related through blood, “TMI is about community and community to me is family…cherish your families, have fun with your families, respect your families, but most of all, love your families.”
We are all puppets, Rui “Raymond” Fu said at the beginning of his #SeniorChapelTalk. He explained how technology has changed the way we receive information, while at the same time made it increasingly more difficult to think independently. The Internet is a host of voices, ready to tell people how to think and where to stand on any given topic, and the media often shapes stories and sometimes hides the truth. “Many people fear rejection, so we do not speak up,” he said. But, it’s the “people with independent thoughts and the the courage to speak up [who] are the ones that shape and mold our society today.” Do not take the easy way out by letting others do the thinking for you. “Take advice from others, with rationality, instead of taking the advice without independence,” he said. And you will know that, “you are making the right decision.”
Painting the picture of sitting in the back of a police car while her family’s vehicle was being towed out of a snowbank, Payton Down told the story of how three angels came to save them after they slid off the road one snowy night in Colorado. The road was mostly abandoned, due to the storm, and was supposed to be a shortcut to Aspen. As they wondered how they could get help, three vehicles soon arrived on the empty, closed road. The first was a pickup truck and the driver had everything necessary to tow them out. The next vehicle was a police officer who offered to call for additional help. The final car was a calm couple who asked if there was anything they could do. The simple acts of kindness by these strangers–who were referred to as angels by her mother–inspired her to be there for others. “One day I hope to be that angel for someone else. What about you?”
In this episode, David McGill, TMI Class of 1972, shares his journey of becoming a freelance camera and steadicam operator in the film industry. David has over 25 years experience and has worked on everything from documentaries and corporate videos, to Network TV series and feature films.
David shares how his first love of flying led him to seek out lessons as a teenager and eventually to joining the military. But, upon returning to school after his military service was done, he pursued his second passion–photography. Through an instructor at school, he had his first experience working in film when the Coen brothers began shooting Blood Simple in Austin and was hiring–he was hired as a production assistant.
Listen as David talks about the steadicam making its debut in the film industry and describes how the steadicam works. He gives insightful tips for those interested in film, shares a number of stories during his time in the business, and reflects on his time at TMI.
http://www.davidmcgillsoc.com/
David McGill explains how a steadicam works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUXG1pY_UyA
Recent and Past Projects: Preacher (TV Series) The Stand-In The Last Laugh Bayou Caviar Alex & Me Back Roads Scream: The TV Series
Complete list at: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0569231/
In her #SeniorChapelTalk, Kelly Housley shared the memories of her childhood, remembering what it was like to spend time with her family and go on outdoor adventures together. But as many teenagers do, when she got older, she longed to spend more time with her friends and less with her parents and sister. In July 2017, however, she faced the unexpected reality that there would be no more adventures as a family when her parents split. Struggling with her emotions, she began pushing everyone away. It’s taken time, but through the challenges, she's learned how to rethink every moment with her family, find true friends, and appreciate everything she has. “Everything changes,” she said, “and I’m slowly adapting as I go.”
“We seem to never be pleased with what we have in our lives,” said Lydia Saucedo in her #SeniorChapelTalk. From body image to our way of living, she shared how she fell into this trap when she lost 50 lbs. and still felt unsatisfied. Realizing that trying to reach a “perfect” goal set by others is like trying to run a marathon with no finish line, she knew she had to change her way of thinking. But it wasn’t until she went on a mission trip in Mexico—when she saw the people she was helping, being content with and grateful for what they had—that she recognized “there’s no such thing as perfect best…there’s only the life you make of it and the happiness you have every step of the way.” Set goals you believe in and don’t seek approval from anyone other than yourself, “only when we run the race for ourselves, can we find the finish line.”
In Padrecast #6, The Rev. Scott Brown, TMI Headmaster, talks about the whirlwind of activities we had this past week with Homecoming celebrations. TMI Panthers beat Brooks Academy 48-7, alumna Jessica Leibowitz ’00 sang the National Anthem, Fine Arts Teacher Allan Rupe ’80 organized all the student activities, Coach Amanda Quiroga led a great pep rally, and the Advancement Office led a number of wonderful events to welcome home all our TMI alumni.
We also dive in and talk about what’s happening in a few of our classrooms this semester. The science department had their first opportunity last week to use the new digital microscopes that can be tethered to student laptops to take pictures and videos of what they are viewing. The microscopes are what a student would typically find in college-level science classes and are equipped with high quality optics and precision controls.
In the Religious Studies department, we talk about a fun, creative project in Dr. LePort’s New Testament and Old Testament classes that uses Legos to help students visualize and understand story and structure of what they’re learning. Dr. LePort will also be leading a new class next semester, Religion in the United States, that we introduce to listeners. The class is an advanced-level, seminar-style class that will focus on how different religions have coexisted in the United States and will be centered around the question of what is meant by religious liberty.
Fr. Scott gives and overview of this Sunday’s Admissions Open House and talks about the new format that will give students and parents the chance to hear in-depth discussions and program highlights from a selection of offerings that they are interested in learning more about. Parents are invited to help spread the word and encourage friends and families to RSVP to attend:
- www.tmi-sa.org Sunday, October 28, 2018 2:00pm - 4:00pm
The TMI Family Association will be hosting a special guest speaker from the Ransomed Life organization at their next general meeting on Tuesday, November 6, that is open to all TMI parents to attend. Ransomed Life helps educate communities and raise awareness in the fight against trafficking.
- TMI Family Association Meeting (All families welcome) Tuesday, November 6, 2018 9:00am in the Alkek Refectory
Be sure to listen to the end as Fr. Scott shares his highlight of the last few weeks, leaves us with some words of wisdom, and tells us what he does to enjoy quality time with his family. Submit your own question for Fr. Scott or share your feedback with us by emailing padrecast@tmi-sa.org
Describing what it was like to grow up in various places around the world during her #SeniorChapelTalk, Hannah Allen spoke about the phases she went through in her attempts to fit in. Looking back and trying to understand her behavior, she reflected on the words of Science Department Chair Rob Friedrich who told her to never settle for a simple answer. She explained the human nature to conform, noting that we are often not even aware when we are conforming. “Don’t let your identity be controlled by people who you think the world would rather see, let your influences be who can better you as an individual,” she said. “Don’t copy people or things you don’t approve of…and…put yourself first, you’d be surprised what some simple self love can do for the complex human mind.”
“Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us.” Reece Traylor quoted Carl Sagan in his #SeniorChapelTalk as he emphasized how small we are and how short and fleeting life is in comparison to the universe. But, we must realize that “we are the universe…a component part of a much bigger, much more amazing whole.” Pay attention to the world around you, he urged the community, “live with grace, be happy and…enjoy the time you have with each other and never let a single moment go to waste.”
As a young child, Javier Ramos struggled with trying to figure out his self worth. In his #SeniorChapelTalk, he told the story of a boy who asked his father what the value of life is–the moral was that what matters in life is who you surround yourself with and how you choose to carry yourself. Before moving to San Antonio, he came to the tough realization in middle school that his friends were laughing at him, not with him. He knew he had to make a change. “Life can and will be challenging,” he said, “I’ve always failed at many things and I’ve always come back stronger.” Don’t be afraid to try and always keep moving forward.
In this episode, Valerie Tamez, Director of Development, explains giving at TMI and talks about the various components that fall under the umbrella of annual giving, including the TMI Fund, special events, honorary and in-memoriam gifts.
She goes into detail about the significance of each component and how participation plays a role in seeking grants, accreditation, and foundations that view participation as a metric of the community. TMI asks all members of the community, from faculty and staff to parents and alumni, to participate in the TMI Fund at any level that is meaningful to each person.
Valerie talks about the TMI Fund as the single most important philanthropic priority of TMI’s annual giving programs. It allows us to add the layers that make TMI excellent and create the full TMI experience through things like enriched programs, professional development, and campus improvements.
The TMI Fund goes toward:
- Greatest Need and helps fund the school’s most pressing, urgent needs.
- Great People and provides recruitment and retention of experienced teachers, professional development, and financial assistance to ensure a diverse student body.
- Great Programs and sustains and updates curriculum and technology.
- Great Place and supports the enhancement of facilities and classrooms and the maintenance and beautification of our campus.
Valerie also spoke about how fundraising events–and the sponsorship and participation opportunities that come with those–fit into the annual giving program. She also gave an update about the Stars Over TMI gala planned for this spring on Saturday, April 6, 2019, as the signature event of our 125th anniversary year and major fundraising event.
Be sure to listen to the end as she shares what inspires her to stay focused and dedicated to the TMI community.
LINKS:
TMI Fund kick off video: https://youtu.be/I3hel0qxh5A
TMI Fund information: https://www.tmi-sa.org/page/support-tmi/tmi-fund
Donate online: www.tmi-sa.org/giving
Valerie Tamez joined the TMI community in March 2018. She holds a bachelors from the University of Texas at San Antonio and brings 17 years of fundraising and relationship-building experience to TMI.
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Daniel Espey shared the internal struggle he faced as a child when answering the simple question ‘Where are you from?’ Born in South Korea and brought to the U.S. when he was adopted at just 8 months old, he found himself answering both South Korea and America to the question. But he faced his biggest struggle at just 11 years old when another child told him to go back to where he belonged. Never expecting such a comment and not knowing how to respond, he whispered, “I can’t.” He realized in that moment that life would not be a breeze as he thought it would. But what he shared with the community is that everyone faces difficulty in their lives in their own way. Prove your doubters wrong, he stressed, “you are a unique individual and you have a place in this world…your story, your background is something nobody else can possess, so use your experiences as a way to better yourself and prove yourself.”
“I never stop talking,” Jessica Cox said in her #SeniorChapelTalk. But when she started to get bullied at her old school for being part of something she loved–swimming–she reached out for help and ended up hearing versions of ‘boys will be boys’ and was left feeling like it was her fault for speaking up; she retreated and fell quiet. Feeling defeated and let down by those who were supposed to help, she came to TMI a reserved and closed-off sophomore. As time passed, however, she found her voice again. Back to talking people’s ears off, she told the community to never be afraid to speak up. “Share your voice without being afraid nobody is listening,” she said, “and if no one listens to you, speak louder.”
In this episode, we dive deep into understanding the Institutional Educational Philosophy that TMI Headmaster The Rev. Scott Brown shared with our faculty and staff at the beginning of this year as a guiding document of who we are and where we’re going as a community. This is our philosophy that we were founded on 125 years ago; we were founded to educate servant leaders, to be crazy about students and curious about their lives, and to prepare students for life after school. The Institutional Educational Philosophy covers:
- Our mission of educating servant leaders and history as a mission of Christian outreach in education
- Importance of diversity in our community in accordance with the central characteristics of Episcopal schools
- How TMI commits itself to each student when the student has committed to TMI
- TMI’s existence as a center of love and grace where we cherish and challenge our students
- Our responsibility to help every student reach his/her own potential
- How TMI serves in the care and formation of young people; it’s more than just a school
You can find TMI’s Institutional Educational Philosophy at: www.tmi-sa.org/page/about/overview
We also go into detail about the curriculum mapping process that’s been happening this year under the guidance of Jill Cross, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction. We describe and talk about what the transfer goals are and those play a role in ensuring a guaranteed and viable curriculum.
We talk about Homecoming and the upcoming events for next week. Be sure to check out our dress days and complete schedule of activities at: www.tmi-sa.org/homecoming
Fr. Scott closes with some words of wisdom (“Excellence” as the word of the day) and shares his love of sports and why. Remember, you can submit a get-to-know-you question for the headmaster at: padrecast@tmi-sa.org
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Andrew Hieger described life as a child with his best friend Ellie–a stuffed elephant he got when he was just one year old. She went everywhere with him and though she became worn, for seven years he didn’t let go. But when she disappeared one day, he focused on his friends and family, slowly becoming less dependent on his missing stuffed animal. Looking back, he realized Ellie’s disappearance taught him that just because you haven’t done something before doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Speaking to his senior classmates, he reminded them they would all be leaving for college soon, but that doesn’t mean going away will be impossible. In the end, “If you love something, let it go and if it loves you, it will come back...or you just might find it stored away in a box in grandma’s house.”
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Michael Robinson spoke about anxiety–specifically, chapel talk anxiety. He joked about procrastination and denial being great methods for coping, until he reached the halfway point of junior year. Facing what he couldn’t put off any longer, he chose a topic and soon realized he would be “giving advice about how to write advice so that you can later give that advice without panicking because you’ve never given advice before.” In the end, he encouraged the community to accept anxiety they may face in the future, but to only do it at a specific time so that you spend less time worrying overall. For the students who haven’t given their talk yet, he reminded them that there’s no better place to give it than at TMI, because, “jokes aside, this is an amazing community.”
In this episode, Alicia Lutman ’99, OTD, shares her journey from TMI into occupational therapy. She talks about her passion for research and developing programs for first responders and school resource officers in interacting with children and adults with autism or mental health conditions.
She shares some tips for both caregivers and first responders for emergency situations such as:
- Reminding people that individuals with autism are on a spectrum; some are able to communicate with you and some are not.
- We need to be careful about our word choices and understand that the more upset they become, the harder it is to keep the situation under control.
- Anxiousness and depression, especially in boys and men, can often manifest as anger and aggression.
- Caregivers can be proactive in providing an information sheet to 911 dispatchers.
Dr. Lutman talks about involving Shenandoah University students with the research and continuing to develop and expand on the program for first responders. She also shares her involvement during her time at TMI, her best memories, and offers some advice for our graduating seniors.
Alicia Lutman, OTD, MS, OTR/L, ATC Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, Shenandoah University
B.S., Exercise Science, Concordia College M.S., Occupational Therapy, Shenandoah University OTD, Occupational Therapy, University of St.Augustine https://www.su.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/alicia-lutman/
https://www.policeone.com/videos/originals/training/191745519-How-SROs-can-help-develop-socially-acceptable-behavior-in-kids/
Lutman, A.(2017) Autism Awareness for First Responders. EMS World. 46(11)38-41. http://emsworld.epubxp.com/i/890710-nov-2017/38?
Lutman, A. (2016) School Resource Officers. Journal of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. 6(2) 24- 27.
Lutman, A. (2016 March) Supplemental Training for School Resource officers. Journal of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. 6(1)65 - 66
Lutman, A. (2015 Dec) Designing an autism awareness program for Law Enforcement. Journal of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association 23-27.
Lutman, A. (2014, April 14). Autism awareness training program for first responders. OT Practice. 12-13.
As the youngest child, Julia Humphrey was know for her temper tantrums, she told the community in her #SeniorChapelTalk yesterday. It wasn’t until she attended camp in the summer of 2015 that she realized how much her attitude could change everything around her and she was finally able to see how much good she had in her life. “Don’t take for granted what is right in front of us,” she said. Focus on your own happiness, take a step back, and see the good in your own life.
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Jack Whittemore talked about sibling love…and rivalry. He recounted the times he spent arguing with his younger twin sisters, only occasionally getting along when they found common ground to complain about. But, after moving from Chicago to San Antonio to attend TMI as a boarding student, he realized he missed his sisters and his family. Trying to keep it inside, he eventually opened up to friends who held him up and kept him strong. His message to the community: be kind to your siblings, respect each other, and enjoy the time you have with them.
Painting the details of his own death in his #SeniorChapelTalk, Chase Blackwell described the events of this past December and what could have been a fatal accident with an 18-wheeler on the highway while driving home. But the close call also served as a wake-up call. Realizing at that moment that the only memories he had before the near miss on the highway were of depression and boredom, “I was filled with regret,” he said. He hadn’t truly lived. Forcing himself to take risks and put himself out there in a way he had never done before, changed his life. He made friends, served on student council, and participated–for the first time in almost five years, he discovered that his only memories were happy ones. “TMI isn’t just a school, it never was,” he said. “We’re a family, TMI…We belong to each other and all of you guys belong forever in my heart.”
TMI Headmaster, The Rev. Scott Brown, gave his 2nd annual State of the School address at the Headmaster’s Social on September 26, 2018 at the Dominion Country Club. Listen to this episode as Fr. Scott pulls back the curtain to give you a behind the scenes look at life at TMI–from financials to academics. He shares TMI’s Institutional Educational Philosophy (https://www.tmi-sa.org/page/about), talks about the major strategic goals and planning process, and gives a sneak peek at the TMI Fund video for this year’s campaign: Honor the Past, Treasure the Present, Sustain the Future (https://youtu.be/I3hel0qxh5A).
“Focus on the good, especially the great people,” Luke Terry said in his #SeniorChapelTalk on Tuesday. Reflecting on his life, while searching for a topic for his talk, he realized he was focusing on the negative and that a general lack of awareness made him overlook all the great things that had happened in his life. Like others, he had his own stories of hardships that he could share–but when he stopped focusing on those, he could see the sacrifices others had made for him and the opportunities he had available. “We will face hardships in our lives…but there is too much good happening every day in this community to let these hardships cloud our vision. Find the silver linings,” he said to the students, “and take advantage of everything TMI has to offer.”
“Wherever you are, it’s OK to be there,” said Jolie Heerema in her #SeniorChapelTalk on Thursday. She opened up to the community and shared her struggles with depression and an eating disorder, allowing the TMI community to become a part of her journey toward healing. Through her challenges, she learned that it’s OK to ask for help and–more importantly–it’s OK to receive it. Encouraging others who are facing their own challenges and reflecting on how far she’s come with her own, she said, “no matter where you are, you might look back one day and be glad that you kept going–I know I am.”
“I know I have won, no matter what the score,” said Trent Wisian in his #SeniorChapelTalk on Tuesday. He described aiming and shooting at his rifle target during a competition where the wind gusts were so strong, targets were ripped from their stands and blown away. It was the worst he had ever shot. But he didn’t let that keep him down. Accepting the fact that there were circumstances he couldn’t control, he was proud of making it to that point and satisfied in knowing he did everything possible to prepare and set himself up for success. “Mistakes teach us to do better,” he explained, and “a lot more things will go right in life than wrong…celebrate your successes.”
In this episode, Sherry Lim, Science Department Teacher and Outdoor Education Program Coordinator, shared her story of going to school to become a researcher and how working with UTeach in college helped her discover her love for teaching. Following her dreams and passions, she taught abroad in Korea and attended culinary school at the same time. She returned to the states and began working for JW Marriott, completed her master’s degree, and then heard about an opening at TMI in 2016 that offered her everything she was looking for.
Sherry talks about the TMI garden and its part in the Middle School Life Sciences curriculum, raising chickens, composting and running the TMI food-waste program in the AP Environmental Science classes, and how Upper School students get hands-on learning through sampling soil and water testing. The senior students also work to solve problems in the garden, such as flooding.
The entire TMI community is always invited to come experience and volunteer in the garden on Fridays after school from 4pm-6pm or during the Dig-In Days throughout the year. In addition to supporting the garden and Outdoor Education Program through volunteer days, the entire community is invited to participate in the Box Tops for Education program. Contests throughout the year for collecting Box Tops help fund projects for the outdoor space.
Following another of her passions and searching for ways to support the Outdoor Education Program, Sherry started the TMI Baking Club. Her 7th grade students created the club about a year and a half ago with the purpose of raising funds for the Outdoor Education Program; at the time, the chicken coop was in need of a new roof and this served as the perfect opportunity to raise money. Winners of the Box Tops collections contests always receive a sweet treat bag from the Baking Club. The goal this year is to raise $1,000.
Finally, Sherry shares a few funny stories about the animals and tells us what inspires her to teach.
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION: https://www.boxtops4education.com/
BONUS APP: https://www.boxtops4education.com/bonusapp
“What is it that sets me apart?” Brandon Rubsamen asked in his Senior Chapel Talk. He was determined to pick a topic that hadn’t already been covered and so he shared his story of being part deaf–or how he used to be. At a young age, doctors discovered he was missing his stapes bone, which is located in the middle ear and is the smallest bone in the body. Without it, he could only hear muffled sounds. Sporting a new hearing aid when he reached kindergarten, he viewed it as something unique that made him who he was. As he grew older, he realized the silver lining that he could turn it off when he was annoyed. In 2011, he had surgery to replace the missing bone with a titanium implant, thus becoming a bonafide cyborg. Discovering new sounds and what he had been missing, he told the community that we often don’t realize how good things can be until we get there–listen for the small things in life, the hidden joys, and always look for the silver lining.
In Padrecast #3, Fr. Scott talks about the 18th Annual Alumni Modified Sporting Clay Shoot, highlighting the success of raising over $8,000 for the TMI Alumni Association Scholarship and thanking our event sponsors:
- Briones Engineering
- Don Elliott ‘63
- Wayo Canales ‘91 and Susanna Madrigal
- Ruben Calderon
- Dorado Development
- Drash Contracting, LTC
- Ernest Brown ‘80
We also talked about the Kairos Prison Ministry cookie-baking event that was led by Science Teacher Sherry Lim this past weekend. The Kairos ministry is a redemptive program that addresses the spiritual needs of incarcerated men, women, youth, and their families. Their program is a redemptive one that incorporates curriculum designed to build and encourage pro-social character and behavior. Learn more at www.kairostexas.org
We then focused on some academic happenings in the Middle School, starting with the new writing curriculum–The Lucy Calkins Units of Study. This is a workshop curriculum focused in argument, information, and narrative writing and has been the leading writing curriculum for the last 30 years.
Darci Tucker will also be visiting the 7th and 8th grade classes on September 28; parents are also invited to attend the programs (details below) she’ll be presenting that day. Darci Tucker is a storyteller who is nationally known for her portrayals of women from American history and performs in schools and at festivals around the nation.
- September 28, 2018 (presentations will be in All Saints Chapel): 8:00am–Darci Tucker will be present her original, one-woman play "Revolutionary Women" about the Revolutionary War for all 8th-grade students and parents. 12:15pm–Darci will present "Jane Long, Mother of Texas" for all 7th-grade students and parents.
All parents are invited to the first general meeting of the Family Association:
- September 18, 2018 8:30am at the Pryor House (Fr. Scott’s house on campus)
Parents are also invited to the second annual Headmaster’s Social:
- September 26, 2018 6pm-8pm at The Dominion Clubhouse RSVP at www.tmi-sa.org/social
As we wrap this episode up, Fr. Scott shares his highlight moment of the last couple weeks, some words of wisdom, and also shares with us how he was called to ministry. We’ll start introducing a fun get-to-know-you question from our listeners to Fr. Scott as a way to get to know our TMI Headmaster even better! If you want to ask a question, email us at padrecast@tmi-sa.org
As a reminder, you can watch our chapel programs on our TMI Youtube Channel at www.tmi-sa.org/youtube
This podcast features our first two Senior Chapel Talks of the 2018-2019 school year by Hasan Ehsan and Warren Gignac, TMI Class of 2019.
In the first #SeniorChapelTalk of the school year, Cadet Battalion Commander Hasan Ehsan asked the community to look beyond the numbers and words that characterize people and discover the narratives that show our complexities and similarities. A simple phrase–such as refugee or special needs–is not enough to define the human experience. When we recognize that others have been where we are, have faced the same emotions, and struggled with their own challenges, we become more connected and compassionate toward each other. “Every single human being–like you–is a conglomeration of diverse experiences, emotions, and decisions who deserves your respect, support, and understanding.”
In his #SeniorChapelTalk, Warren Gignac spoke about moments of transcendence. He shared his ultimate moment of transcendence when he and his partner won the prestigious LDZ Attorney Trials after a week at the youth legislative session of the National Hispanic Institute. He used this moment to describe the feeling of being on top of the word, overjoyed and unable to stop smiling. These are the moments, he said, that lift us above the hustle and bustle of everyday life and they can be as simple as listening to music or playing a sport. It is anything that makes you forget your stress and lets you live in the moment. He encouraged everyone to find their own ways of creating transcendent moments to increase quality of life, improve mental health and feel more fulfilled. When life was difficult, Warren was always told to, “stop, take a deep breath, and collect myself so that I could keep going.” Speaking directly to the TMI community, he said, “For us, moments of transcendence offer that same deep breath from the toughest assignment of all–life.”
EJ Neese, Class of 2010 and Director of Lacrosse at SportStar Athletics, joined me for this Panthercast episode to talk about his journey after graduating from TMI and how he was able to turn his passion for lacrosse into a career.
EJ shared how his love for lacrosse developed from an early age. While he was at TMI he was named to the All District Team three times, to the All State Team twice, and was named the 2009 Player of the Year. He went on to play college lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts and then at Texas Tech University. After graduating, he started coaching and developed the NeesePole, which eventually led to his position at SportStar Athletics to design and create training tools for lacrosse and other sports. We discussed the NeesePole; his chinstrap, which is now used by every NFL team; and a couple of new items currently in development at SportStar Athletics.
Throughout our conversation, EJ reflected on his time at TMI and shared how his education and experiences guided him to where he is today. He shared advice for young students who might be interested in a similar career field, what inspires him, and some final thoughts for our graduating seniors.
Follow on social: Instagram @coach.neese and @sportstargear Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sportstargear/ Twitter https://twitter.com/SportStarGear
In this episode, The Rev. Scott Brown, TMI Headmaster, shares his thoughts and reflections on Convocation Day and the senior retreat to Mo Ranch; we talk about the guest author visit by Sandra Uwiringiyimana and discuss her presentation and impact that she made on our students; and we highlight some upcoming events.
Classroom Night, September 5, 6:00pm-8:10pm Parents are invited to arrive between 5:30pm-6:00pm to pick up their child’s schedule. There will be a short program in the chapel starting at 6:00pm and at 6:10pm, parents will have the opportunity to rotate through their child’s classes and meet their teachers.
Annual Alumni Clay Shoot, September 7, Registration starts at 12pm (Note: I said September 11 in the podcast, but I meant to say September 7; the event is Friday!) This event is open to the entire TMI community–alumni, parents, students, families, friends of TMI. Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association endowed scholarship and registration info can be found at www.tmialumni.org/skeet
For parents and students who are looking for ways to get involved in the community or earn service hours, the Booster Club is looking for volunteers. Contact Booster Club President Jeff Kahl if you are interested in volunteering at the PitStop after school (parents) or would like to earn service hours for working concessions and the gate at the volleyball games (students). Also, a new Panther Crew from the Booster Club is forming and is a dads-only group for parents who want to help set up and tear down the new inflatable panther tunnel and enjoy on-field access during the game.
Finally, if you’re having trouble accessing your MyKidsSpending.com account for making purchases at TMI’s Café 18, please reach out to me, the TMI Technology Department, or email support@mykidsspending.com
TMI Science Department Chair, Rob Friedrich, and I sat down for this Panthercast episode to dive deep into his passion for science, teaching, and the upcoming research expedition to Dominica. Starting his 19th year teaching at TMI, Rob shared his journey through school and how he stumbled into becoming a teacher. Sharing a number of anecdotes and opening up about his own struggles with math during school, he gives insight and encouragement to students who may be facing similar challenges.
We talk about the formalized effort to integrate classes across the different subjects and how TMI strives to develop the whole person, teaching students to be leaders in their communities and good people. The integration of classes helps students to achieve mastery in their subjects by learning how to speak across domains, knowing how to communicate effectively, and having the ability to draw upon a variety of skills and experiences. This year the chemistry classes will be working with the art department on a variety of projects using painting and photography while music will be integrated into the physics classes.
Rob also talks in depth about the summer research expedition open to students next year. Students will be traveling to Dominica to work with researchers in the field for two weeks to assist with collecting data. They’ll be spending a week in the rainforest and a week in the coral reef learning various research techniques.
Dominica Information: https://www.tmi-sa.org/page/campus-life/student-trips#Dominica Operation Wallacea: https://www.opwall.com/about-opwall/
Finally, be sure to listen until the very end to find out what inspires him to teach, his most memorable moment at TMI, and something most people don’t know about him!
In our very first Panthercast podcast, we talk with TMI Headmaster, The Rev. Scott Brown, for the first “Padrecast” episode.
We’ll be releasing the Panthercast/Padrecast episdodes every Thursday, alternating weeks between the Padrecast with Fr. Scott and regular Panthercast episodes that will feature either a TMI faculty member or alumni. You’ll have a chance to get to know our faculty on a deeper level and hear how TMI influenced and supported our alumni in their journey to success.
This summer saw a lot of renovation and changes as our facilities team helped to transform some of the familiar spaces on campus into new, collaborative community spaces. Fr. Scott talks about the renovations in the gym, updates in the Ayres Hall lobby, the transformation in the Jones Library (where the podcast studio is also located), the opening of Café 18, and updates in the Alkek Refectory and Harthan Family Dining Room (formerly known as the PDR).
As faculty and staff prepare for the arrival of students next week, Fr. Scott joined the faculty at their off-campus inservice retreat at Camp Capers, an outreach of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. He shared the part of their ministry that TMI is also called upon to do: nurturing an environment and community that is crazy about kids, curious about their lives, and fostering a culture of love.
As most people in our community know, last school year’s theme was “We belong to each other,” Fr. Scott also introduced this year’s theme of “Respect the dignity of every human being.”
We introduce some of our new/returning faculty and highlight some of the upcoming events at TMI, starting with the New Family Orientation this Saturday.
Be sure to listen until the end to hear Fr. Scott’s inspiration and words of wisdom from the week.
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