Louis Spindler St.

Andrew's Episcopal School

1804 Cresthaven Dr. 5901 Southwest Pkwy.
Austin, TX 78704 Austin, TX 78735
Grade Level: Ninth Grade (512) 299-9700
Advisor: Lori Hahn

School Year: 2024 - 2025

Mid-semester progress reports will include teacher comments

Academics
First Semester
Mid-Sem 1
Grade

Honors Biology Sandefer A+

Stewardship - Art Program McCoy

Honors Studio Art 1 McCoy A

Honors English 1 Skinner A+

Honors World History: Early Turner A+

Modern

Honors Spanish 1 Barragan A-

Advanced Algebra 2 Hendrickse A+

Mid-Sem 1 Comment

Honors Biology
Quinlin Sandefer
This year in biology we have been learning how to become scientists. We began the year with studying the scientific method, and learning about the
components of a good experiment. We continued by diving head first into biology, studying the properties of water, life, and major biomolecules. As we
continue in the semester we will study the components of cells, and finish with our hereditary unit. We’ve now started to combine these areas of study,
along with incorporating experimentation. We saw this with the seed project, where you had complete control over your scientific process in growing
pumpkin vines. More importantly however, you learned how to communicate what you discovered. Presenting your findings in a professional and
understandable way is the heart of scientific research. As the year moves forward, you will continue to build these skills by designing your very own
research project. This will culminate in a lab report, along with a presentation to the class about your process and results.

Louis, you are killing it in biology this year! It is ridiculously impressive the sheer amounts of work you put into this class. You are determined to
understand the content at its most fundamental level, and this shows in all the work you hand in as well. In your Characteristics of Life Project, not only did
you robustly analyze each of the seven components of life, but you also included one of the best drawings of a giraffe I’ve ever seen. This dedication to
going above and beyond is setting you up for a very successful year. Your scientific reasoning skills are also rapidly developing, earning nearly a perfect
score on your seed project. You were able to effectively communicate your results in a very professional and scientific way. Moving forward, try to speak
out more in our class discussions! Other students would really benefit from hearing your ideas. If you ever feel stuck, send me an email or stop by the
science office for some extra help. Thank you for everything you do in biology, and keep up the amazing work!

Honors Studio Art 1

Christopher McCoy
In a very few weeks we have created so much in the art studio of St. Andrew’s. I hope you feel a great sense of accomplishment knowing we have done
more together than you might have done on your own. You have been practicing your seeing skills as you use close observation to become more aware of
simple objects in a complex space. You have learned about Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse and Frida Kahlo. You have studied their art-making processes
and masterfully original solutions to seeing the world.

In a New York Times op-ed, David Brooks says, “The best arts induce humility. We approach great art in the posture of humility and reverence. What
does it have to teach me? What is this other human being truly seeking?” When you go on a required art museum visit this semester, you must go so far
as discovering what an artist is saying. You pick the artwork--- What is this artist’s message to you? Record this thought and a sketch of the work you are
seeing (for the best possible score).

Mr. Brooks says something more I might have said myself, “Your way of perceiving the world becomes your way of being in the world. If your eyes have
Report Card Legend
I = Incomplete (d) = Dropped Course (c) = Changed Section (w) = Withdrawn
Run Date: 10/25/2024 Page 1 of 3
Louis Spindler St. Andrew's Episcopal School
1804 Cresthaven Dr. 5901 Southwest Pkwy.
Austin, TX 78704 Austin, TX 78735
Grade Level: Ninth Grade (512) 299-9700
Advisor: Lori Hahn

been trained to see, even just a bit, by the way Leo Tolstoy saw, if your heart can feel as deeply as a K. D. Lang song, if you understand people with as
much complexity as Shakespeare did, then you will have enhanced the way you live your life.”

It’s very possible with creative inspiration and your own dedicated practice to become an artist. You might study the arts in college, and I will encourage
you to do so. If not, you most certainly will better understand yourself and the world around you through this time-honored practice. With art as a part of
it, your life will be so very exciting and fulfilling.

Louis Spindler, you are a dedicated artist, Louis. Two graphite works show your interest in seeing with care the world around you. There are works that
need more completion for higher scores, but generally you’re on the right creative path. You say, “I have learned many new media, ---And artists, and
how they’ve affected the art world. My favorite media, most surprisingly was wax color crayon; its vibrance and the amount of material that it laid down
per stroke made it enjoyable.” You also report so well that, “Henri Matisse’s technique of filling the blank canvas in The Red Studio with “a vast expanse of
color” is fascinating.
Your interest and dedicated work ethic are positive influences on your peers. Its sure to be a creative year of exploration for you Louis. It’s a pleasure to
work with you.
Sincerely Mr. McCoy

Honors English 1
Amy Skinner
This year in English 1, we are thinking about analysis and writing in terms of stories, both ancient and contemporary, and the journeys inherent in those
stories. So far, in our discussions of both the graphic novel I Was Their American Dream (2019) by Malaka Gharib and Gilgamesh (c. 1100 BCE), we have
discussed the basic narrative arcs of stories while also attempting to find personal connections to these works that sometimes (but not always) resemble
our own. Having begun practicing observation, analysis, and interpretation in several ways, our primary focus for our current unit will be on structuring
arguments in paragraph form and using evidence from the text to prove our interpretation. My hope is that, by the end of this semester, you will be able to
articulate arguments about why these stories matter in a convincing, credible way, and of course, that you’ll enjoy yourself in the process.

Louis, wow! You are off to a fantastic start in English 1 and are a real 9th grade standout in terms of sophistication and thoughtfulness in your written work.
Your reading quiz grades have been perfect, showing excellent understanding and great preparation for class. My comment on your analytical paragraph
read, in part: “This paragraph is quite advanced, Louis! You articulate a powerful and clear understanding of the page, and then prove your points by going
to details. Bravo!” Similarly, your personal essay was beautifully written, clear, and vivid. You should submit it to the Scholastic Arts and Writing
Competition! In class, you are focused, mature, inquisitive, and kind. I’m so glad you landed at St. Andrew’s and in my section of English 1.

Honors World History: Early Modern

Michele Turner
Unit of Study: Belief Systems
Using our textbook, lecture/Cornell note taking, and a group project, students learned the basic tenets and practices of Buddhism, Hinduism, Daoism,
Confucianism, Legalism, and the Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Students also learned about the nuances involved in analyzing
perspective and bias in historical primary sources. We have just begun our unit on the Global Tapestry where we analyze the impact of belief systems on
state building during the period 1200-1450.
Dear Louis,
I’m happy to share this progress report with you. You are a unique and creative thinker, and I always enjoy seeing your perspective on different topics.
Your homework is thorough and shows a strong work ethic, which is really impressive. You’re a fantastic addition to our class and to our school—keep up
the great work!
Best, Mrs. Turner

Honors Spanish 1
David Barragan
We have dedicated significant time to learning and practicing essential grammar concepts, such as noun-article agreement and verb conjugations,
alongside individual presentations. Students have had ample opportunities to use new vocabulary in context and have practiced their skills through our first
Performance Task (Integrated Performance Assessments). This approach allows students to engage in three modes of communication: they read, view,
and listen to authentic materials for information; discuss and write about their experiences with classmates; and formally present what they have learned.
Integrated Performance Assessments serve as an effective tool for evaluating students’ progress throughout our daily lessons.

Louis,

I am thrilled to have you in this class. You seem like a student who wants to work consistently and fight hard to succeed. I like that you ask questions in
class and that you inform yourself well about the things you have to do. Practice and preparation are essential at this level of Spanish and I think you
understand well the challenges you have to overcome. Let me help you with your academic goals, I think I could help you further expand the linguistic
skills you already have. I suggest more participation so that other students can also learn from you. Thank you for your work in this class. I see a bright
future in your language skills. Good job, Louis!

Report Card Legend

I = Incomplete (d) = Dropped Course (c) = Changed Section (w) = Withdrawn
Run Date: 10/25/2024 Page 2 of 3
Louis Spindler St. Andrew's Episcopal School
1804 Cresthaven Dr. 5901 Southwest Pkwy.
Austin, TX 78704 Austin, TX 78735
Grade Level: Ninth Grade (512) 299-9700
Advisor: Lori Hahn

Advanced Algebra 2
Nhaila Hendrickse
Advanced Algebra 2 is an accelerated math course that builds upon the concepts of regular Algebra 2, covering more complex topics in greater depth. This
course typically includes advanced function analysis, a deeper exploration of graphing, and more rigorous applications of algebraic concepts, preparing
students for Advanced Pre-Calculus and higher-level math courses, such as AP Calculus BC.

Throughout the course, students will delve into various function types, including quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, rational, and inverse functions. They
will analyze the behavior, transformations, and relationships of these functions. The focus of Advanced Algebra 2 is not only on calculations but also on
fostering a deeper understanding of the underlying mathematical concepts and theoretical aspects, enabling students to develop strong analytical and
problem-solving skills.

This course moves at a quicker pace than the honors Algebra 2 course, and to be successful, students need to have strong organizational skills, disciplined
work habits, and an appreciation for tackling challenging material. Extra help is always available to support students every period in the math office and
often before school. I am available during 2nd, 8th, and 5th Blocks.
_____

Dear Louis
I wanted to take a moment to recognize what an outstanding student you are in Advanced Algebra 2. You consistently earn strong scores on assessments
and approach all your homework with diligence and care. The insightful questions you ask in class truly reflect your deep understanding and curiosity about
the material. Your positive attitude and strong work ethic make you a pleasure to teach, and I look forward to seeing your continued success throughout
the year.

Report Card Legend

I = Incomplete (d) = Dropped Course (c) = Changed Section (w) = Withdrawn
Run Date: 10/25/2024 Page 3 of 3