November 16, 2023

Upper School Students Gather to Discuss Community

By Camille T. Wiggins, Esq., Director of Equity and Inclusion



Last week in an Upper School assembly, 18 of our student leaders presented a reflective response to Mr. Front's message to the community (11/1/23) regarding the preservation of humanity and dignity in our community. In echoing the reminder that "we maintain a community in which all forms of hate have no place," leaders from the Jewish Student Union, Muslim Student Union, Christian Student Union, Student Council, Black Student Union, Indian & Pakistani Student Union, Hispanic Student Union, Asian Student Union, Women's Empowerment Association and Gender and Sexualities Alliance spoke about our Park Tudor values of Respect, Resourcefulness, Responsibility, Intellectual Engagement, and Integrity to express their thoughts, experiences and hopes for our community.

The presentation not only demonstrated the unity of diverse voices, but also a shared commitment to a community where we should all feel like we belong. The presentation set the stage for discussions in Advisory that morning regarding how we maintain a place of belonging at PT. Plans are currently underway for similar presentations and discussions on belonging in our other divisions, as well as in our greater community; a similar program for the Middle School is planned following Thanksgiving break.

PT Model United Nations Students Host Inaugural Conference with Mayor Joe Hogsett as Keynote Speaker

On Saturday, Park Tudor’s Model United Nations (PTMUN) student-officer corps planned, hosted and conducted our inaugural Model United Nations full-day conference. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, as keynote speaker, addressed delegates from Park Tudor, Center Grove and Westfield concerning real-life power of inclusivity on a global scale. 

Junior Charlie Held notes, "Mayor Hogsett underlined the importance of addressing multifaceted issues when confronting complex problems. This talk inspired delegates to advance creative solutions in their respective committees throughout the day. General Assembly 1 addressed ways to reduce the vexatious issue of chemical weapons in conflict, passing a multifaceted resolution. General Assembly 2 passed two resolutions helping the international community to provide infrastructure to nations vulnerable regarding the provision of safe drinking water. They devised a piping system connecting urban water supplies to rural counterparts."

On a more light-hearted note, Crisis Committee #1 took up the world of Hogwarts and Harry Potter. They wrestled with ways to free house elves, respond to Dementor escapees, and staged a mock trial concerning the Imperious Curse. Harry Potter himself served as prosecutor, and Hermione Granger served as the defense. Crisis Committee # 2 passed directives impairing Team Rocket’s power, culminating in an epic Pokémon battle at the end of the day.

Awards were presented for outstanding delegates at the closing ceremony, and more than $400 was raised to support the work of the UNICEF Foundation. This in-house conference set a new standard and helped PTMUN extend its philanthropic objective. 

Held writes, "This PT Mock conference set a precedent of the power Park Tudor students have to lead in dynamic situations, and the PTMUN officer secretariat hopes this experience sets the standard for in-house conferences in years to come."

Congratulations to President Hannah Hampson, the Officer Corps, and the delegates who took part.

Fifth Graders Visit Fairgrounds to Learn About Biotechnology

Fifth graders visited the Indiana State Fairgrounds and participated in fun, hands-on experiments that demonstrated key aspects of biotechnology utilizing soybeans. Students created bioplastic from two renewable resources, tested the amount of energy output from different biofuels, and got to explore the Glassbarn. View more photos.

Upper School Debate Team Brings Home Awards from Munster and Avon Meets

The Upper School Debate Team won several awards over the last two weeks at the Munster High School Debate Tournament and the Avon High School Speech & Debate Tournament.

At Munster, the team took home the fifth-place sweepstakes trophy and several debaters placed in the top six of their events. In Varsity Public Forum (PF) debate, Riti Tandra and Aneesh Gupta won 6th place out of 22 PF debate teams and, in their first debate ever, novice PF debaters Ingrid Spartz and Anna Bedano won 3rd place. Both pairs went 3-1 arguing whether or not the federal government should forgive student loan debt. Sofia Brugh placed 4th in Student Congress and novice debaters Elise Ongwijitwat, Lucas Zhang, Saanvi Nagireddy, Sanam Shah and Kavya Devarapalli all won their first-ever high school rounds.

At Avon, veteran debater Rush Beesley qualified for the "Super Chamber" in Student Congress (a mock parliament event where competitors argue on a series of proposed bills) while novices Khushi Shah and Sofia Brugh qualified for the "Varsity" chamber. Finally, the World Schools team consisting of Hanna Warren, Alexa Wei, Aneesh Gupta, Henry Navarette, and Elizabeth Polk just missed placing with a 2-2 record. PT Debate is next in action at Kokomo High School on December 9.

The Debate Team at Munster

The Debate Team at Avon

Join the PT BSU for a FREE Butler Women's Basketball Game on November 20

The entire PT community is invited to join Park Tudor's Black Student Union for a FREE Butler women's basketball game over Thanksgiving break.

Monday, November 20

11:00 a.m.

Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler campus

Questions? Contact Kelin Mark (kmark@parktudor.org).

Sports News

Girls Basketball: The girls basketball team opened their season on Saturday evening at home vs. the Blue Devils from Tipton High School, winning 55-13. On Tuesday, the team traveled to Tindley to take on the Tigers and picked up another win, 54-28. The Panthers are 2-0 and will host Phalen Academy tomorrow night at Park Tudor. The JV game is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30. The team will then be on the road on Saturday at Marion High School to take on the Giants; JV is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and the varsity will follow at 2:30.

Swimming and Diving: The girls swimming and diving team was in action on Tuesday, participating in the Circle City Swim Invite at Arsenal Tech. The team finished first over Scecina, Shortridge, Arsenal Tech, Purdue Poly, and Crispus Attucks. Meet highlights are listed below. The team will be in action again next Tuesday, November 21; both the boys and girls teams will be swimming at Beech Grove High School starting at 5:30 p.m.

Circle City Swim Invite Highlights:

Kate Weigand - 1st in 50 freestyle & 100 breaststroke

Kate DePowell - 1st in 100 freestyle & 100 backstroke

Grace DePowell - 1st in 500 freestyle

Abi Paton - 1st in 200 IM & 100 fly

1st in 200 Girls Medley Relay (G. DePowell, K. Weigand, K. DePowell, A. Paton)

1st in 200 Girls Free Relay (E. Hunter, K. Weigand, S. Johnson, R. Napier)

1st in 400 Girls Free Relay (G. DePowell, K. Weigand, S. Johnson, E. Hunter)

Faculty in the News

* This weekend, Upper School World Language Teacher Bill Langley will present at the ACTFL National Convention and Expo for world language teachers. Each year more than 7,000 world language teachers from across the country join together to learn about best practices. At the Expo, Bill will have his book, “No toques las obras de arte," illustrated by senior Hanna Warren, for sale through Command Performance Language Institute. He will also be working as Chair, for the fourth year, of the Comprehension-Based Communicative Language Teaching Special Interest Group which specializes in the methodologies that our World Language department employs to lead students to language acquisition. Finally, he will be presenting his session, “Pop-Ups! Focus on Form in the CCLT Classroom” which focuses on teaching grammar in a way that does not impede communication.

Wellness Tips: Be Mindful This Holiday Season

By Michelle VanderPlaats, Health and Wellness Teacher

As the holiday season approaches, consider the charm of experiences. No experience is ever the same. Plus, they’re the gifts that result in connection, laughter, and growth. Whether it's tickets to a local play, a promise of a home-cooked meal, or a voucher for a dance lesson, these gifts offer something that no store can stock – time spent together.(Source: becomingminimalist)

“What if I want to live simply? To drink coffee and watch the sunrise with nowhere to go. To climb a mountain for the view not for the selfie. To cook healthy wholesome foods to nourish my body, not to lose weight. To spend more time with my family, not working to afford things we don’t need. It’s time to slow down. To stop. To listen. It’s time to turn off the noise and distractions, the constant need for more, the comparisons and consumerism. It’s time to live simply and be wild and free.” - Helen Munday

Oat Nut Butter Balls (a great after-school snack for kids)

1 cup of quick cooking oats

⅓ cup of natural Almond or Peanut Butter

⅓ cup of honey

1 cup coconut flakes (optional)

½ cup of chia seeds

1 tsp of vanilla

A pinch or two of sea salt

½ cup of dark chocolate chips

Mix together in a bowl and refrigerate for half an hour or more. Roll into balls and enjoy!

Join Us on Monday, November 27 for the Park Tudor Speaker Series presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis: Grant Leiendecker and Paul Snape

The Park Tudor Speaker Series presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis: 

Grant Leiendecker and Paul Snape

"The Landscape of College Athletics"

Monday, November 27, 2023

Time:

6:45 p.m. - Refreshments

7:00–8:15 p.m. - Presentation and Q&A

Location:

Upper School Wood Room

Grant Leiendecker

Grant Leiendecker '11, a member of the Bulldogs' 2010 and 2011 men's basketball teams that reached the national championship game, is Butler University’s Associate Vice President—Athletics. 

Leiendecker serves as a senior leader in the athletics department with responsibility for leading the comprehensive advancement program for athletics. Additionally, he plays a pivotal role in elevating the focus on delivering exceptional fan experiences while leveraging his experience at other top programs to foster an environment that supports optimal performance for our student-athletes and teams. He was inducted into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

Leiendecker graduated from Butler in 2011 with a degree in finance. After graduation, he served as a postgraduate intern at the NCAA in Indianapolis before moving to Chapel Hill to attend graduate school. Leiendecker earned a master's degree in sport administration from UNC in 2014.

Paul Snape

Head Men’s Soccer Coach, Paul Snape is in his 13th season at the helm of the Butler men's soccer program. Hired in January of 2011, he is the sixth head coach in program history. He has guided Butler's transition from the Horizon League to the Atlantic 10 and now in the BIG EAST Conference. With six teams reaching double-figure wins and more than 100 total victories, Snape has become the winningest coach in Butler program history.

A 2000 graduate of Oakland University, Snape was a four-year letterwinner and two-year (1999 & 2000) team captain for the Grizzlies. He was a three-time All-Mid-Continent Conference First Team selection and a three-time All-Region performer (1998-2000). Following his senior season, he was selected to play in the 2001 Senior Bowl. Off the field, he earned conference Academic Awards in 1999 and 2000.

Snape holds a National “A” Coaching License from the United State Soccer Federation, and he’s a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, the United States Soccer Federation and the United Kingdom Professional Footballers’ Association. He formerly lived in Liverpool, England, and trained at the Liverpool Academy as a youth.

How Does the Annual Fund Impact PT? 

"The beauty of the Annual Fund is it gives everybody a chance to be involved and take part in it. It's really not so much about the amount of the gift as it is about the participation and saying, 'yeah, we believe in this place, we want to be a part of it and support it going forward.'"

- Stephanie Grabow

Park Tudor Parent

Park Tudor Annual Fund Parent Gift Challenge

Monday, October 30–Friday, November 17



Thank You, Parents!

$60,000 Has Been Unlocked!

THANK YOU to all our current parents who gave during the Annual Fund Parent Gift Challenge! We have reached our goal of 160 gifts in 16 days!

But remember! The clock is still ticking to reach 75% parent participation by grade! The first class in each division to reach this goal by 11:59 p.m. Friday night—Nov. 17—will win an Insomnia cookie and apple cider slushie party. Grade 2 is just barely in the lead for Lower School! Grade 6 and 7 are neck and neck for a Middle School victory, and Grade 9 is still leading the Upper School!

Number of Gifts Remaining to Reach 75% by Grade 

Grade JK: 19 Gifts

Grade SK: 22 Gifts

Grade 1: 13 Gifts

Grade 2: 11 Gifts

Grade 3: 16 Gifts

Grade 4: 13 Gifts

Grade 5: 21 Gifts

Grade 6: 22 Gifts

Grade 7: 22 Gifts

Grade 8: 29 Gifts

Grade 9: 13 Gifts

Grade 10: 49 Gifts

Grade 11: 32 Gifts

Grade 12: 51 Gifts

All new and additional Annual Fund gifts and pledges count toward the challenge goal and will go further by helping Park Tudor earn $30,000. Make your gift online today or contact Morgan Johnson at mpjohnson@parktudor.org or (317) 415-2878. Thank you in advance for your support.

Grandparents & Special Friends Day is Tomorrow

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

Hilbert Center, Lower and Middle School

Friday, November 17, 2023

Junior Kindergarten

• 7:45 a.m. Check-in at the Lower School Lobby
• 8:00–9:00 a.m. Classroom Visits

Senior Kindergarten–Grade 5

• 7:45 a.m. Check-in at the Lower School Lobby
• 8:00–10:40 a.m. Classroom Visits

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

• 10:45 a.m. Check-in at the Middle School Library
• 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Classroom Visits (lunch provided)

PT Annual Fund Parent Gift Challenge

Monday, October 30–Friday, November 17

Help your grade get to 75% parent participation and win an Insomnia cookie and apple cider slushie party!

Make A Gift to the Annual Fund

Middle School Library Book Fair

Wednesday, November 15–Friday, November 17

8:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Middle School Library

(cash or check only)

MS/US Band Concert (Grades 7-12)

Thursday, November 16

Ayres Auditorium

7:00 p.m.

Hilbert Center/Lower School/Middle School Grandparents Day

Friday, November 17

7:45-9:00 a.m.: JK1/JK2

7:45-10:40 a.m.: SK-Grade 5

10:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: MS (Grades 6-8); includes lunch

Thanksgiving Break - No School

Monday, November 20-Friday, November 24

BSU at the Butler Women's Basketball Game

Monday, November 20

11:00 a.m.

Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler Campus

All PT families are invited to join the BSU at this FREE game

The Park Tudor Speaker Series presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis: Grant Leiendecker and Paul Snape

Monday, November 27

6:45 p.m. - Refreshments

7:00–8:15 p.m. - Presentation and Q&A

Upper School Wood Room

RSVP

7th-12th Grade Winter Choral Concert

Thursday, December 7

7:00 p.m.

Frederic M. Ayres, Jr. Auditorium

5th Grade Winter Concert

Wednesday, December 13

9:45-11:00 a.m.

Frederic M. Ayres, Jr. Auditorium

3rd-4th Grade Winter Concert

Wednesday, December 13

1:00-2:00 p.m.

Frederic M. Ayres, Jr. Auditorium

Semester Exams, Grades 9-12

Friday, December 15-Wednesday, December 20

Semester Exams, Grades 7-8

Monday, December 18-Wednesday, December 20

Last Day for JK Before Winter Break

Tuesday, December 19

SK-2nd Grade Winter Concert

Wednesday, December 20

9:00-10:00 a.m.

Frederic M. Ayres, Jr. Auditorium

6th Grade Winter Concert

Wednesday, December 20

11:00 a.m.

Frederic M. Ayres, Jr. Auditorium

Exam Make-Up Day, Grades 9-12

Thursday, December 21

Winter Break 

Friday, December 22, 2023-Tuesday, January 9, 2024

PT Times is on Hiatus Next Week

The PT Times will not be published on Thursday, November 23. Happy Thanksgiving!