Future chefs in the making! Ashley Cook’s 6th Grade class carefully prepares three meals from their organic garden. Everyone agreed that their vegetables, fruits and herbs taste better than at the grocery store!

Congratulations to Lower School faculty member and science teacher extraordinaire, Beth McCarty, who received the Daisy Barron Leland Award for Teaching Excellence during Monday’s faculty meeting. Named in honor of Mrs. Daisy Barron Leland, who taught mathematics at Ashley Hall for 22 years, the award is given in recognition for teaching excellence in mathematics, science, or use of technology in the classroom. PQV, Mrs. McCarty!

Did you know that the earlier girls are encouraged to explore STEM programming (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) the more likely they will be interested in pursuing this area of study later in their academic careers? In early February, Lower School students hosted STEM Night, inviting parents and our campus community. Using the engineering design process, 3rd and 4th graders were challenged to build a hovercraft that hovers and travels across a table.
STEM + girls = Success

Mrs. McCarty’s second grade science class traveled to the Columbia Museum of Art this week to visit the Georgia O’Keefe exhibit currently on display. The trip merged the worlds of science (O’Keefe is known for her flowers and plant life) and art for an upcoming project. The girls look like natural art enthusiasts!

Joining volunteers taking action around the world, nearly 30 Intermediate Program students spent a recent Saturday morning combing the Charleston coastline for trash. An annual effort by the Ocean Conservancy, the International Coastal Cleanup focuses on keeping the world’s coastlines and oceans clean and sustainable for ocean life. The girls, along with parents and friends, worked diligently throughout the morning picking up and documenting the refuse that was found.

Since its inception more than one hundred years ago, Ashley Hall has remained steadfast to its founding mission “to produce educated women who are independent, ethically responsible, and prepared to meet the challenges of society with confidence.” This charge is fully realized through the school’s alumnae, in particular seven graduates who entered the Medical University of School Carolina on August 16. “We are thrilled for these young women and would expect nothing less from Ashley Hall alumnae,” says Head of School, Jill Muti. “Contributing to the increase in the number of female physicians in the field of medicine makes us very proud. We wish them all the best and know they will do well.”

Ashley Hall alumnae entering the Medical University of South Carolina include: Emma Kofmehl, Class of 2009, attended the University of Pennsylvania; Nancy Hagood, Class of 2010, attended Georgetown University; Jamie Harrell, Class of 2010, attended the College of Charleston; Celeste Jilich and Christina Kearse, both members of the Class of 2010, and both attended of Clemson University; Mira Patel, Class of 2010, attended the College of Charleston; and Patricia Kirkland, Class of 2011, attended Washington and Lee University.

The seven Ashley Hall alumnae make up 4% of this year’s MUSC class of 180. Science and math have received increasing emphasis within the Ashley Hall curriculum with a dedicated and dynamic STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) program beginning in the Lower School. National research (Goodman Research Group) also shows that graduates of girls’ schools are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology.