Art teacher Christopher Hoppin wins Inspirational Faculty Award
Saturday, June 12th, 2010
As a faculty team leader, teacher and coach, Christopher Hoppin serves as a remarkable role model for our teenage Tarriers at a time when they are learning much about themselves and looking to answer the quintessential question, “How do I fit in?” This exploration is a challenging process for most middle school students and Christopher patiently guides them with great humor and care. He knows these students well and, through his optimism, creativity, kindness and high expectations, he elicits the best in them, unveiling characteristics they were often too shy or fearful to show. He helps make middle school a wonderful time in students’ lives by seamlessly encouraging both their creativity and their self-discovery. Read the rest of this entry »
Chris Steele was a 1982 graduate of Charles Wright. As a student, he threw himself at what Charles Wright offered. He played soccer, took an active part in Donn Laughlin’s drama productions, both backstage and onstage, and was a talented art student. His particular love was the outdoors, and those who went on trips with Chris recall his passionate enthusiasm for hiking and climbing. Chris died of cancer in 2002 after a long struggle. His family and friends have established an award in his memory, an award to honor a Charles Wright staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to the school and its students and faculty. 
At the end of every school year, CWA administrators recognize faculty and staff members as they celebrate the completion of their fifth, tenth and fifteenth years at Charles Wright. At today’s employee recognition event, 25 faculty members will be recognized as they reach major milestones in their careers. A total of 14 faculty and staff members are finishing their fifth year on campus. Six others are finishing ten years. Richard Kalustian, a Middle School science and math teacher, has reached 15 years. Helen Bingham Rowles, now teaching fifth grade, is celebrating 20 years. Phyllis Kriese has been at the receptionist’s desk in the Upper School for 30 years. Lower School music teacher Judy Herrington has been teaching here for 35 years. Steve Daniels, the eighth grade earth science teacher, is completing a remarkable 40th year at CWA.
This evening CWA Headmaster Rob Camner emailed faculty, staff and board members to share the sad news that Bob Minnerly, his predecessor, passed away today. Minnerly served as CWA’s Headmaster from 1986 to 1996.
CWA claimed the state boys tennis team championship this weekend, the school’s third title in four years. CWA also won the state title in the 4×100 meter girls relay for a second consecutive year and won the boys doubles tennis championship. 
Charles Wright students learn about colleges all sorts of ways. Some schools are introduced to them by friends or relatives, others are recommended by their college counselors or teachers, and a few pop up in school directories. Ali Lamb may take home the prize for the most unusual story about how she discovered her perfect college. 
Darcy Walker grew up with the image of one college campus in her mind. When she was in elementary school, her older brother graduated from the University of Oregon. She visited him often when he was in school and so the Eugene campus just naturally came to epitomize for her what college was all about. “When it came time to apply to colleges, I was just dead set on U of O,” she says. “Since my brother is a lot older than me, it didn’t bother me that I was following in his footsteps.” 
CWA’s baseball and boys soccer teams have won a total of 16 all-league honors this spring. Tony Chursky was named the 2010 boys soccer all-Nisqually league coach of the year and Tyler Francis was named baseball’s co-coach of the year. Seniors Dillon Truscott and Cory Barrett also won top honors. For the second consecutive year, Truscott was named the league’s most valuable soccer player. Barrett was named defensive player of the year. 
Congressman Norm Dicks has selected CWA senior Jennifer Lee as Washington’s Sixth Congressional District winner of the 2010 Congressional Art Competition. Lee’s win was announced at an event in Tacoma last week and she will be honored at the unveiling event in Washington D.C. in June. Her work will hang in the Capitol complex for the next year among works by students all across the country. 
CWA’s girls tennis team wrapped up a 12-1 season by winning the league championship for a third straight year. Charles Wright dominated the tournament, winning the top three places in both the singles and doubles events. The only matches any CWA players lost were to their own teammates. Six Tarriers now advance to the quad-district tournament this coming week in Seattle.