Dr. Amy Alsip, Head of Upper School

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Upper School Families, 

Spring Break is upon us! As you head into travels, time at home, or other fun activities I want to wish you all the best for your break and look forward to seeing all the students back on March 24th. 

In case you haven’t heard about the Upper School Experiential Trips for 26-27. Please click the links below to learn more about our trips. It is going to be an amazing week for all of our students, so be sure to register your child today!

Washington DC Trip- 9th/10 grade

Florida Keys Trip- 11th/12th grade

On Wednesday April 1st we will have our AP Mock Exams along with some Community Service opportunities both on and off campus. That afternoon we will serve pizza for all Upper School students and host our annual Powderpuff Football game starting at 2:00 pm. 

On Thursday, April 2 we will host the 13th Annual DFW Interscholastic Colloquium: AI IRL (artificial intelligence in real life). The colloquium has traditionally been a paper conference where students from independent schools around the Metroplex present their ideas on a common literary text. This year, however, students were given a list of dystopian, science fiction, and nonfiction texts on which they could base papers or artwork. This is an academic day for US students. Attendance will be counted (which goes towards exam exemptions) and there will be a summative level assignment that will be due. 

On the day of the colloquium, our Upper School students will be engaging in an enriching academic experience on our campus. Students from other independent schools across the metroplex will join us Thursday for a day celebrating student choice and voice. The day will be facilitated by our US students, providing leadership opportunities outside of the classroom that cannot be replaced.

We encourage you to discuss this opportunity with your kids so they understand the value of hearing ideas exchanged between their peers during the conference. By asking questions and engaging with differing perspectives, our students will have a preview into the rich intellectual exchange they’ll encounter at the collegiate level. Please encourage them to maximize this opportunity as a truly college preparatory experience.

Panelist Info

Dr. Bryan Carter is a community leader, connector, thought leader, pastor, and communicator. He has served as the pastor of Concord Church in Dallas since 2003. He currently serves on the boards of Frost Bank Dallas Advisory Board, Mayor’s Star Council, Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) International, and Family Life Ministries. He also serves as board chair for Harmony Community Development Corporation. He also leads the African American Pastors Coalition and co-leads Dallas Clergy, a fellowship of Dallas churches.

Margaret Winchell is the Director of Choral Activities at SMU Meadows School of the Arts, where she conducts the Chamber Singers and Concordia. She also teaches graduate courses in choral conducting and literature. Winchell is in the post-residential phase of the D.M.A. in Choral Conducting at the Yale School of Music, where she sang with several acclaimed choirs including Yale Camerata and Schola Cantorum. During her time at Yale, she mentored young conductors in the Yale Undergraduate Chamber Choir and served as the first student conductor of the Schola Cantorum, preparing the choir for performances under David Hill and Masaaki Suzuki. She received the Robert Shaw Prize for excellence in choral conducting and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music’s Faculty Prize.

Dr. Curby Alexander is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice in the TCU College of Education. He teaches courses on the foundations of education, instructional methods, digital communication and collaboration, and experiential education. His current scholarship is focused on K-12 technology integration, cybersecurity education and workforce development, and geospatial education. 

Maddie Bradshaw has helped oversee the development and implementation of project-based AI programs and projects at Inspirit AI. She interacts with students and families as both an instructor and a program advisor. Before joining the team, Maddie was a computer science and STEM teacher at a K12 independent school in Los Angeles. She is passionate about STEM education, project-based learning, and teaching. Previously, she received a Master's in Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor's in Science, Technology, and Society from Stanford University. 

Have a great weekend!

All my best,

Dr. Amy Alsip
Head of Upper School