Shelton School hosted its fifteenth annual film festival May 5-7. The weekend festival began with a networking reception for Shelton high school student filmmakers and invited professionals, including Shelton alumni.  Activities continued with Saturday master classes and a Sunday student film showcase of class projects and 44 videos at the Angelika Film Center (Mockingbird Station) in Dallas.

Master classes were presented by Shelton alumni Adison Allen, Brody Carmichael, Hunter Duesing, Michael Grayson, and Travis Ratcliff.  Other presenters included Steve McWilliams, Jim Pullum, Corey Smith and Guy Smith.  Among the topics were: role of the producer, cinema sound design, editing and color correction, role of the location scout and relationship with the regional film commissions, as well as demonstrations of various pieces of equipment.

Says Shelton faculty member and film festival coordinator Cliff Samuelson, “Our festival filmmakers have handled a turnkey process.  They must pitch their projects through oral arguments, submit a written project concept and treatment, present script and storyboard outlines, select locations and secure equipment, enlist cast and crew, direct and shoot the films, and handle all post-production.  There is nothing simple about this … producing a film is quite ambitious.  Experience, skill development and attention to detail are what lead to mastery.  Our students are becoming film artists.  They may not pursue filmmaking as a career, but they will appreciate the craft that has been a part of this creative experience.  We are proud of those professional alumni who first studied film in a Shelton classroom.” 

Says Shelton’s Head of School Linda Kneese, “This festival is the culmination of hard work combined with the creativity of our talented students.  I love being in the audience and seeing our students’ names in the film credits. This is an experience many alumni consider a highlight of their time at Shelton.”

Laue Continues Leaders for Life Program:
Step Up – Move From Adversity to Success

Noted motivator Kevin Laue visited Shelton in late March for fourth in Shelton’s 2016-17 series of Leaders for Life programs.  Leaders for Life, launched in September 2016, is designed to equip and empower students with lifelong leadership skills.  It also complements Shelton’s social skills program, high school ethics curriculum and annual ethics symposium.

Laue immediately engaged Shelton middle school and high school students in respective assemblies, first with his commanding physical presence at 6 feet, 11 inches and missing the lower half of his left arm.  The engagement continued, as Laue captivated students, faculty and staff with his personal story of overcoming numerous obstacles, all to become the first NCAA basketball player missing a limb.

Laue’s hurdles were numerous:  divorced parents at age four, the early death of his father, ADHD and mild dyslexia, plus a physical condition that many would deem a serious “handicap.”  Yet Kevin says he was saved by sports and a coach and mentor who literally changed his perspectives on life, turning what was his greatest weakness into  greatest strength.  Basketball was where Kevin felt needed and normal.  He learned to use his arm nub and pushed through physical barriers by doing push-ups, swimming and running.    He transitioned through high school, a military academy, and on to Manhattan College, doing probably the most unlike thing ever:  playing professional basketball.

Laue shared several of his personal mantras of survival, character, and leadership:  “Step out of your routine,” “Learn what it is you stand for and where you stand,” “Happiness and success come from purpose,” and “Leaders don’t live for themselves.”  Using these tools, and helping others who faced similar hardships, Laue learned that his greatest feat and joy has been helping others change their lives, just as his was changed.  “This gives me more happiness than even basketball.”

Today Laue is a sought-after speaker and motivator – sometimes from a frantic mother trying to save her child, other times from high-profile organizations like Google.  Even presidents call on Laue to share his story.  Kevin’s story has been captured with the tv documentary, Long Shot:  the Story of Kevin Laue. 

Relating directly to Shelton’s student body with his great sense of humor, and discussing his dyslexia and ADHD, Laue shared how he even graduated from college in three years with honors.  “Wherever the rock is thrown and lands, that’s where you’ll be.  Excuses are the poison of life.  Step up and help someone else.”  Helping others move from adversity to success has become Laue’s mission.

Shelton’s Leaders for Life continues this spring with a return visit from Mary C. Kelly, Ph.D., CSP, Commander, US Navy (ret).  Alliance Data is the corporate sponsor for the program. 

Says Linda Kneese, Shelton’s Head of School, “Kevin spent the entire day surrounded by students in assemblies and in small groups.  They were truly inspired by his story and saw him put into action his words regarding leadership.  I think the students will remember his visit for a lifetime – no one could forget him.”

 

Shelton School middle and high school students presented Jeff LeGrow a check for $1,000 at a special assembly on March 23.  LeGrow is the father of Nicole “Nickel” LeGrow, who died tragically in 2010 at age 16 in an auto accident, the number one cause of teen deaths in the USA.  He is also the founder of the Nickel from Nicole non-profit foundation dedicated to saving the lives of other teens from perfectly preventable car accidents. 

Nicole was driven as a passenger by her friend, also 16, in a caravan of five cars to celebrate the 16^th birthday of another friend.  Nicole never made it, because they were involved in a senseless accident when her friend made a poor decision.  The cause?  Not drugs, alcohol, or texting while driving.  It was the reckless driving by her friend at over 100 miles per hour.

LeGrow, a Dallas resident, speaks to schools and organizations like the Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) about driving safety and how to prevent other deaths like his daughter’s.  Shelton middle school student council officers and representatives heard LeGrow at the TASC Middle Level Conference in San Marcos, TX this past November, and that’s when they decided to bring his message to Shelton to their fellow students.

Nicole’s friend Lance, another teen driver headed to the same event that fateful day, decided to tape a nickel on his car radio, in remembrance of his friend “Nickel.”  As a survivor, Lance wanted a constant reminder to drive safely.  He shared a letter with Nicole’s parents about the nickel, and the LeGrow family decided to copy the idea.  The nickel idea caught on, and the non-profit today offers cards to teens at speaking engagements, each affixed with a photo of Nicole and a nickel. 

Shelton teens gave full attention to Mr. LeGrow’s presentation as he discussed the major causes of teen auto accidents:  driver inexperience, distracted driving, reckless driving, impaired driving, no seat belt, and nighttime or drowsy driving.

Says middle school student council sponsor Lauren Sanders, “Our students wanted to donate to this cause, and we are spreading safe driving awareness through the use of the nickels.  It was great seeing our middle and high school student councils come together to secure the nickels on the postcards prior to the assembly.”

“Shelton’s program was especially timed prior to prom and other year-end school occasions, when teens need increased reminders about driving safety," says student council sponsor Ann Wright.  "This program carried a huge impact with our students and all others in attendance.”

For more information about Nickel from Nicole, visit www.nickelfromnicole.org.

Shelton School hosted its 17th Annual Ethics Symposium February 22nd.  Sophomores, juniors and seniors from seven schools attended the day-long event. Activities included guided discussions, small group exercises, and panel discussions with guest presenters.  Keynote speakers and panelists engaged students with lessons learned from real world professional experiences.  Each panelist came prepared with an ethical dilemma to share with students.

Jeff Heller (Advisor, MHT Partners and former president / COO / board vice chair, EDS) gave the charge for the day.  On the speaker panel lineup were:  ETHICS AND BUSINESS / LAW – Mickie Bragalone (civic volunteer / former Commissioner City of Dallas Ethics Advisory Commission), Steven K. DeWolf (DeWolf Law / founder Wind Tex Energy); ETHICS AND MEDIA – Anna de Haro (I Heart Media), Christy Earl Dastoor (freelance senior communications consultatnt), William McKenzie (George W. Bush Institute); ETHICS AND RELIGION – Wes Butler (Watermark Community Church), Khalil Meek (Muslim Legal Fund of America), Rabbi Stefan Weinberg (Congregation Anshai Torah); and ETHICS AND EDUCATION – Rob DeHaas (co-founder / CEO Dallas Teacher Residency), Amy Kelton (Assistant Head of Instruction), Rex Miller (author of Humaninzing the Education Machine / The K – 12 MindShift).  Zac Ladd, Dean of Students with Shelton’s Upper School, coordinated other activities led by Shelton ethics instructors.

Says Shelton executive director Suzanne Stell, “This remains one of my favorite events at Shelton.  This, alongside our Leaders for Life leadership program sponsored by Alliance Data, gives our high school students such great exposure to the discipline of ethics.  We have a great time learning together.”

Now in its 41^st year, Shelton has had an ethics curriculum and program since 1997.

Shelton School’s Parents’ Association (SPA) sponsored a party for parents in its Lower School and Upper Elementary divisions on January 27^th.  It was hosted at the home of Chuck Marlett, parent to Shelton fourth-grader James David Marlett-Masalis.

The mixer was held in promotion of Shelton’s upcoming Stampede benefit auction to be held April 8^th at The Bomb Factory.  The 2017 theme is Epic Journeys Begin at Shelton.  The event will include dinner, live auction and featured entertainment by Voyage, the world’s number one Journey tribute band.

Parents used the January 27th party as a gift-gathering occasion and brought or pledged gifts that will be used for the spring auction.  Marlett is parent coordinator for the online portion of Shelton’s auction.  Auction proceeds support numerous  Shelton enrichment programs.

Another party for middle and high school parents takes place February 2^nd.

Auction co-chairs are Stephanie Hardeman and Leti Lackey.