Welcome to the 1st edition of the digital Cortile
Welcome to the first digital edition of The Cortile, which we are bringing to you as some restrictions in Italy have begun to ease during the coronavirus pandemic. Our Communications and Marketing office has been working hard to assemble a magazine featuring articles from the beginning of the fall semester until earlier this month in order to showcase the School at its best.
As you might expect, St. Stephen's brought out characteristic care, integrity, and scholarship to the coronavirus crisis. We had been testing various digital platforms, and when the news from the Italian government came that schools were closing on March 4, we took one day off to complete our preparation and moved online 24 hours later. Teachers have been nothing short of heroic, sometimes offering classes twice so that students in distant time zones can still participate. We have held many of our traditions, like assemblies and talent shows, online, and have been hosting pub quiz nights with employees to help keep morale up. And as Italy is gradually reopening as I write this, we will finish the school year on June 12 with an abbreviated graduation ceremony in which students come to campus in designated timeslots with their parents to retrieve their diploma, advisor tribute, and any awards. It has been an exceedingly challenging period, but I am extraordinarily proud of the work of our students, teachers, staff, and trustees.
Eric Mayer, Head of School
Highlights
Articles
Molecular Genetics, a Flagship Program
The Molecular Genetics program at St. Stephen's was introduced in 2018 in partnership with Adamas Scienze as a five-year initiative. Adamas Scienze is part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy that specializes in bringing university-level science to high school students.
The researchers at Adamas Scienze, Tommaso, and Rossana, developed six consecutive modules that allow biology students to clone a gene, express it in bacteria (it turns fluorescent green), analyze it, and finally purify the protein product coded by the gene.
It is challenging and time-consuming to introduce six modules all at once, so the first three modules were presented to the freshmen class last year.
This year, two more modules were designed for Biology 2 students-- juniors--to practice some of these techniques. In these modules, students got to become detectives and had to solve a crime, which included genetic fingerprinting and DNA evidence. Students in these modules learned how scientists and investigators reconstruct a crime scene.
In the exercise, one person was selected as the "designated criminal." Then each student extracted his or her own DNA from saliva and also generated his or her own genetic fingerprints. Among these fingerprints, there was a match with the fictitious criminal who committed the crime. The data gathered from the exercise was anonymous and adhered to GDPR rules and regulations, and after the experiment, all DNA and genetic fingerprints were destroyed.
Our overall objective with the Molecular Genetics Flagship program is to help students learn by using deductive reasoning and complex manipulative skills, but we also want them to have some fun at the same time. And the good news is that while following a university-level science curriculum in high school has its challenges, our students have, so far, been very successful.
Trustee, alumnus, and renowned scientist Fred 'Rusty' Gage '68 and his wife, alumna Mary Lynn '68, have generously funded this unique program, which positions St Stephen's students with exceptional training and experience.
Opinion: A New Perspective on the Environment After CoVid-19
There are ducks in the Barcaccia, dolphins inquisitively approaching Italian harbors and weeds colonizing urban spaces where human feet no longer tread: nature reconquering lost spaces is one of the short-term effects of this pandemic.
By Jan Claus Di Blasio, Gardens and Sustainability Coordinator
Some Notes from Isolation
Who else has begun to think of their lives as divided into the BC (Before Covid) and DC (During Covid) eras? Oh, those simple things we took for granted: catching some fresh air during a short afternoon walk in the park. Having a coffee at the corner bar. A long, leisurely weekend lunch with a friend. A spontaneous decision to go and see a movie. For that matter, a spontaneous decision merely to go and pick up milk and laundry soap at the grocery store.
I’m 15 and Quarantined in Italy—You’d Be Surprised What I Miss
I was in Latin class when the Italian government announced the closure of schools two months ago.
Romance in the Time of Coronavirus
Right-wing populists are romantics. I know; that sounds strange. You probably imagine romantics staring out over misty moors, their hair blowing at an attractive angle, but make no mistake—Orban, Trump, Bolsonaro, Salvini, Le Pen? They’re romantics too.
How a Virus Interrupted the Daily Routine at a Day and Boarding School
On Thursday, March 5th 2020, an unusual silence settled into the hallways, classrooms, and dorm rooms of St. Stephen’s School.
Winners of the Keats-Shelley House Poetry Contest
In May, two St. Stephen’s students, Leila El-Zabri and Isabella Todini, won both of the prizes in the Upper School category of the Keats-Shelley Poetry Contest. This year’s judge was Jackie Kay, award-winning poet, author, and the current Scots Makar (the Scottish Poet Laureate). Ms. Kay was extremely impressed with the technical facility and emotional depth of our students’ work.
Creative Writing
Ms. Egan is proud to present work that has been done in her Creative Writing Classes in the Fall and Spring Semesters. Enjoy!
Children of the Red Dragon
The Golden Children
Fall School Trips 2019
Welcome to our interactive Fall trips 2019 photo galleries. Click the albums for a visual journey through our adventures!
Viaggio intorno alle nostre camere
Why We Take School Trips
When students enter St. Stephen’s as 9th graders, they will attend eight trips in the course of their career. Trips are an integral part of our identity, and one of the most frequently cited distinctions when Head of School Eric Mayer speaks with parents and students.
Molecular Genetics, a Flagship Program
The Molecular Genetics program at St. Stephen's was introduced in 2018 in partnership with Adamas Scienze as a five-year initiative. Adamas Scienze is part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy that specializes in bringing university-level science to high school students.
An Archaeology for the Five Senses: A Lyceum Evening
On Monday evening, a group of students, teachers, alumni, and friends of St. Stephen’s gathered in the library to explore the sights, sounds, and, most importantly, the smells of Ancient Roman cities with Ann Kolosky-Ostrow, a Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Brandeis and recent Visiting Scholar at the American Academy of Rome.
The Benefits of an IB Education
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is well respected and globally recognized as a very intensive, yet highly rewarding academic programme which is offered in high schools, like St. Stephen's. If you wish to pursue higher education in Europe, such as in the UK, Germany, or Finland, then the IB will be incredibly beneficial towards taking your first steps into university.
Discovering Our City with the City of Rome Class
One of St. Stephen’s’ signature courses, Roman Topography, got an upgrade this year. The new course is called City of Rome. In the past, students were required to take either Roman Topography or Latin 1. Beginning in Fall 2019, all ninth graders take City of Rome and choose between three classical languages: Latin, Classical Greek, or Arabic.
Hi, I'm Sofia Peng, and I am a Student Ambassador!
I think that being a Student Ambassador made me grow so much. As a student, I concentrated mainly on my academics, yet I was never a talkative and outgoing person at school because I thought I wasn't a fluent English speaker. As it is not my first language, I have never really managed to speak comfortably around people other than my friends without feeling nervous about being judged. I always had a hard time dealing with my self-esteem and I doubted myself.
The iLab is the Place to Be at St. Stephen’s!
I think it would be safe to say that the Innovation Lab, the ILab for short, is my favorite place in the entire school. It allows for anyone with an interest in tech, design, or anything similar to enjoy themselves while also learning at the same time and pushing themselves beyond what they thought they were going to be able to do, ever.
Life in the Fast Lane
When you think of Formula 1, you probably don’t think of engineering, aerodynamics, economics, marketing, and design yet these are just a few of the components that go into building the sleek race cars that characterize the sport.
Tackling Inequality
AS Roma defender and Manchester United legend Chris Smalling was invited to talk to students of St. Stephen's School about equality in sports, his vegan diet, and, of course, football, on 2 December 2019.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, 2020
Again this year, St. Stephen’s Creative Writing teacher Moira Egan is delighted to present the work of her students, who achieved wonderful success in the Scholastic Art & Writing Competition for 2020. This year, students in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 garnered 10 Honorable Mentions, 6 Silver Keys, and 2 Gold Keys.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2020
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2020
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards 2020
Winter Arts Show
Enjoy a visual showcase of our Winter Arts Show highlights.
The Next Frontier in Health Care: A Review in Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine (RM) is an emerging and very exiting multidisciplinary field aimed at restoring, maintaining or enhancing tissue and, consequently, organ functions.
Alumni & Friends in Oman
Our fearless leader Dr Helen Pope lead in October our 5th edition of Alumni & Friends Trip. A group of 10 alumni followed Dr Pope in Oman, The Land of Frankincense.
DC, NY & Boston Alumni Events
Images from St. Stephen's Alumni events across the North East last Fall.
Class Notes
Welcome to our first-ever digital 'Class Notes.' Enjoy the posts and images collated by Class Ambassadors from their respective years!
