CAMPUS IS BUZZING WITH ACTIVITY |
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After a staggered start to the school year, McDonogh students are finally on campus in one way or another. The school year began on September 2 with prekindergarten through prefirst coming to campus five days a week. Since then, we have gradually welcomed back additional grades.
Today, McDonogh’s campus is buzzing with physically-distanced excitement with Lower School students on campus every day, Upper School students attending on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Middle School students in-person Wednesday through Friday. When students are not on campus, teaching and learning takes place in virtual school. The hybrid 5-3-2 model was designed to provide students with an exceptional educational experience while helping keep our community healthy. It will continue through winter break.
McDonogh has put a significant amount of time, effort, and funding into implementing a safe plan, and the sparkle in the students’ eyes makes it all worth it! View photos from the first days of Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School; visit the Media Hub for more stories about what they are doing.
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Welcome Event for Families of Black Students
More than 130 McDonogh parents, students, and staff members convened online for the second annual Welcome Event for Families of Black Students on August 26. Hosted by the McDonogh Black Alumni Committee, in partnership with the McDonogh Parents Association's Equity and Inclusion Committee and the student-led Sankofa Club, the event provided a warm welcome for Black families new to McDonogh and outlined the School’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Additionally, members of McDonogh’s Black community shared personal insights in a panel discussion. Read more.
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45th Annual McDonogh Classic
The coronavirus did not stop dedicated golfers from participating in the 45th annual McDonogh Classic on September 29. Smaller by design, more than 50 alumni, parents, alumni parents, faculty, grandparents, and friends spent the day at the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club in support of the McDonogh Alumni Association. While the annual outing looked different this year with safety measures in place, classic fun–including individual brunches, boxed lunches, and a 50/50 raffle–was had by all. Read more.
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UPCOMING VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES |
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Distinguished Service Awards - TOMORROW!
Tuesday, October 13 | 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Join us on Zoom as we recognize the following four members of the McDonogh Family who have devoted their time and effort most generously on behalf of McDonogh students, the School, and/or the Alumni or Parents Association.
- H. Stacey Boyer ’76, Trustee and Alumna
- W. Boulton Dixon, Former Headmaster and Honorary Alumnus
- LaVerne R. Holtz, Retired Employee and Alumni Parent
- Allan L. Spencer ’49, Alumnus
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Virtual Spirit Week
Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30
While the 105th football game against Gilman will not occur as planned, the spirit of coming together to support our Eagles remains strong. Stay tuned for information on virtual events and opportunities to engage with the School during the week of October 26!
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Young Alumni Awards
Wednesday, October 28 | 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Join us on Zoom as the McDonogh Young Alumni Award is presented to the following five graduates whose achievements and contributions over the last 15 years have positively impacted their profession, community, and/or McDonogh.
- Alison K. Barzyk ’14
- Darrius R. Heyward-Bey ’05
- Hannah Johnstone Mathis ’09
- Kyle B. Vaughan ’12
- Kenneth C. Wayman ’12
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A Conversation With…
Thursday, October 29 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
This interview-style webinar series hosted by the McDonogh Alumni Association kicks off this month with featured guest Brandon Etheridge ’03. Brandon earned his B.A. from Yale University, his J.D. from Harvard Law, and currently serves as the General Counsel for the Baltimore Ravens. Join the conversation to learn more about Brandon and his career, and stay tuned for more fascinating conversations with alumni in the coming months.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR REUNION WEEKEND |
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Please save the date for McDonogh's Reunion Weekend, April 23-25, 2021! All alumni are invited to reconnect and create more McDonogh memories during this fun-filled event.
The Office of Alumni Engagement is planning both in-person and virtual opportunities to engage with fellow alumni and McDonogh faculty, and special gatherings will be held for reunion year classes ending in 0 and 5 as well as 1 and 6. Information will be posted on the Reunion Weekend page of the McDonogh website as it becomes available.
We look forward to celebrating with you as much as safety precautions permit!
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Digital Summer Magazine
If you haven't had a chance, check out the summer issue of McDonogh Magazine. This digital edition showcases the work of our amazing faculty and staff in the transition to virtual school. The interview with Kevin Costa, Jack Hardcastle, and Robyn Little will "wow" you when you read their account of our quick pivot to virtual school. It's followed by wonderful examples of the teaching and learning that took place last spring. Don't miss our regular sections: Circling the Hill, Arts, Athletics, Our Proud Past, and Alumni News & Notes. All this and more is here. For the best experience, we recommend viewing from a desktop, laptop, or tablet.
Look for the Winter issue of McDonogh Magazine (in print) coming in February 2021.
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2019-2020 Philanthropy Report
Thank you to all of the alumni who made a gift to McDonogh during the 2019-2020 fiscal year! During a year filled with challenges, it was moving to see such amazing support for the School. Visit mcdonogh.org/philanthropyreport to view giving lists and year-end statistics, read donor spotlights, and learn about the incredible impact of your generosity. Thank you!
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An Important Change to a Treasured Tradition
McDonogh recently announced an important change to Founder's Day. In keeping with the School’s commitment to provide an equitable and inclusive community for all, the annual Founder’s Day ceremony has been changed to reflect a new vision that acknowledges the complicated legacy of John McDonogh, including his history as an enslaver. The former tradition was not consistent with the School’s values nor did it honor the core tenets of our School’s Character Compass: Honesty, Respect, Kindness, Responsibility, and Service. Beginning this fall, and going forward, we will be instituting a new tradition that uplifts all members of the McDonogh community.
The ceremony, now named Dedication Day, will maintain our tradition of fostering gratitude by recognizing John McDonogh’s bequest and vision for our School, as well as the contributions of his enslaved people and the Indigenous people who once lived on our land. Visit the McDonogh website Media Hub on October 22 to view the recorded ceremony.
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TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS |
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If you haven’t had a chance to visit McDonogh’s beautiful campus recently, you can now view it online with this exciting virtual tour! This new tool allows you to navigate through the buildings, classrooms, and spaces using the arrow in the bottom right corner. Or, you can jump to the building of your choice by using the menu on the left side. During your “visit”, you can also click on the black “additional photos” icon to see images of teaching and learning in action.
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ALUMNI SURVEY COMING SOON |
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This month, the McDonogh Alumni Association will conduct an important survey to gauge your current feelings about the School so we can improve our engagement efforts and enhance your experience. The 2020 McDonogh Alumni Survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and will help guide our programming. Please watch your email for the survey link. |
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Young Alumni Awards
Do you know a young alum (Class of 2005 - Class of 2020) who is making a positive impact in their community or who has distinguished themselves as a leader among their peers? Nominate them for the Young Alumni Award! Please submit your nominations by Friday, December 4, 2020. Recipients will be honored at a ceremony during Reunion Weekend. Information about the award and a nomination form can be found here.
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Hall of Fame Awards
If you know a fellow graduate who has contributed to the life of McDonogh athletics by achieving outstanding athletic records and demonstrating the ideal values of a McDonogh athlete, nominate them for the Hall of Fame! The Hall of Fame also recognizes McDonogh coaches or members of the athletic department whose work in athletics has made a positive impact on the life of McDonogh's student-athletes. Please submit your nominations by Friday, April 2, 2021. Recipients will be honored at a ceremony during the weekend of the 2021 McDonogh-Gilman football game. Information about the award and a nomination form can be found here.
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If you have news to share with the alumni community—a marriage, baby, career change, get-together with a fellow alum—we would love to include your updates and photos in the Class Notes section of the Winter 2021 issue of McDonogh Magazine! Please submit your news online by Sunday, December 1. Photos will be published based on quality and available space. Please be sure to identify everyone pictured. Digital images are preferred and should be at least 2 megapixels (1600 x 1200 pixels).
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MIDDLE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES |
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Excitement is building on campus and it's not just because our students have returned. The new Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Middle School building is coming together before our eyes. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at what is going on inside!
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SIGN UP FOR MCDONOGH CONNECT |
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Join over 550 alumni on our alumni network, McDonogh Connect. Making contact with others is so important now, and this is a great way to find old friends. The more people who sign up, the more valuable the tool will be! The website and mobile app allow you to:
- Keep current with an interactive, personalized feed
- Search fellow alumni by name, industry, year, and other filters
- Post or view job opportunities and internships
- Offer mentoring services to current students
To get started click here.
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SAVE 20% ONLINE AT THE MCDONOGH SCHOOL STORE |
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It's fall at last and the School Store is celebrating with a "Finally Fall Sale" from October 19-23. Shop online at www.mcdonoghstore.com and use code FALL20 to receive 20% off your entire order at checkout (excluding approved uniform apparel). This is a great opportunity to stock up on spirit wear and more!
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MOTIVATE FELLOW MCDONOGH ALUMNI ON PELOTON |
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The Outreach Committee of the Alumni Association is calling all alumni on Peloton to connect with and motivate each other through the new Peloton tag #TeamMcDonoghAlumni. By using this tag, you can engage with other alumni with similar fitness goals and cheer each other on during workouts. #TeamMcDonoghAlumni tracks across bike, tread, tread+, and web workouts. For more information about adding tags to your Peloton account, please visit their website.
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YOUR AMAZON PURCHASES CAN BENEFIT MCDONOGH |
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Attention Amazon shoppers! Did you know that your online purchases can support McDonogh? AmazonSmile has the same products, prices, and service as the Amazon you know and love. The difference is that the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to your alma mater with no extra fees or cost! Simply go to smile.amazon.com and start shopping today!
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