SPS 2013: Team 5 Takes the Title in the Amazing Race, SPS Edition

As predicted, Team 5 emerged victorious in the Amazing Race, SPS Edition.

The victors!  From left: Spencer, Kate, Will R., Peter, Sarah, and Jimmy

SPS 2013: The Judges Are Still Calculating the Winner of the Amazing Race

The judges are still working late into the night calculating the winner of the Amazing Race, SPS edition, but at press time it was too close to call (the margin of victory, once deductions and bonus points are accounted for, will be very small).  The early favorites, however, are the members of team 5 (looking very focused as they pose with the St. Albans Bulldog, below).

SPS 2013: Scenes from the Amazing Race, SPS Edition

This is a hotly contested competition, too soon yet to tell who will win!

SPS 2013: The Amazing Race (Cathedral Close Version) Has Now Begun!

The six teams are off on a race (an Amazing one, of course) around the Cathedral Close [campus]!  See the teams below:

Team 1 (From left, back row: Stefano, Maddy, Sammy, Gaby, Will, Sararose; front row: Charles)

Team 2!  (From left, back row: Kyung, Philip, Samantha, Grady, Sonia; front row: Grant and William)

Team 3 (note imaginative hand signals) (From left: Max, Jack, Stephanie, Sarah,  Ben, Nick O.)

Team 4: Ready for Business (From left, back row: Jonathan, Jamila, Cici, Kevin, Nick; in front: Jim)

Gimme Five, Team 5! (From left: Sarah, Will, Peter, Spencer, Jimmy, and Kate)

Last but not least: Team 6! (From left: Ryan, Isabel, Nik, Matt C., Matt E., Tyler)

St. Albans School of Public Service 2013: SPS is on the Case!

Today was the St. Albans School of Public Service Class of 2013’s introduction to case studies.  The "case method" of teaching is familiar to graduate students in fields such as law, business, and public policy.  A "teaching case" is written in narrative-style, and describes a specific situation or conflict (perhaps a complicated policy decision for a government official) with the goal of, as Harvard's Kennedy School of Government states, "put[ting] students in the shoes of real-life decision-makers in order to prepare them for their own lives of decision-making."  Instructors act as facilitators of discussions with an eye toward helping the students identify the problem, analyze the causes, and formulate solutions. 

Our first case of the session is a Harvard Kennedy School of Government case, "Ethical Problems in Public Careers: Lying."  The case presents the reader with a series of vignettes, or "mini-cases," some fictional and others drawn from real-life situations, that all focus in on one particular issue: whether it is ever ethical or "right" for a government official to be dishonest in the quest of a greater good. Some of the scenarios?  A reporter lies to his confidential source to persuade the source that the reporter is already aware of secret information and just needs confirmation; a mayoral candidate does not tell the press, when asked, that he plans to make cut-backs on popular city programs if elected; a Speaker of the House misleads his colleagues to break a deadlock and get a crucial appropriations bill through Congress.  The vignettes are designed to present students with dilemmas that require nuanced thought and discussion, and highlight some of the common excuses or rationalizations for a lack of candor in public life: "that's how the game is played"; "I'm just doing my job"; and "it's for a good cause."  See the photos below for some action photos of this first case study!

Jamila and Ben

Grant and Ryan

Matt and Sarah

From left: Kevin, Nick, Spencer, and Jim

Philip arguing a point

Good Night from SPS!

A good first day -- full day of activities to come on Monday!

SPS 2012: Rooftop Ice Cream Social to End Opening Day

There's nothing like having your dessert in a venue with a spectacular view -- Opening Day at SPS ended with an ice cream social on the Frist Terrace at St. Albans School.  Great view of two icons: the Cathedral and the Capitol Building.

Mr. and Mrs. Larocque scooping it up!

Don't worry, there's a railing behind them!  (And yeah, it was a beautiful night.)

Not a bad view at an ice cream social!  (Hey mom, what's that white domed building?)

Ice cream social action shot!

Some of the Cathedral Close crowd at the  ice cream social.

First Dinner at the St. Albans School of Public Service

After a rainy start to the day, things cleared up beautifully to allow an outdoor dinner in the Gregory Courtyard (if you look carefully, you can see the giant chess set in the background of the top picture).

The SPS 2013 Scavenger Hunt is Coming Down to the Wire . . .

The teams are neck and neck -- it may take the judges several days to determine the winner!

SPS 2013: The Scavenger Hunt is Under Way!

The six teams (pictured below) are fighting it out for SPS Scavenger Hunt Supremacy (and learning their way around St. Albans School at the same time -- totally coincidentally, of course).

Team 1

Team 2 (couldn't decide if they would smile or be serious, we think )

Don't mess with Team 3.  Really.  Don't.

Team 4 at the starting line.

Team 5 ready for liftoff

Team 6, last but not least!

Student Number 1 Has Arrived! SPS 2013 is Officially in Session!

The title of SPS 2013 Student Number 1 goes to Stephanie P., from California. This honor comes with significant perks, including luggage assistance from SPS Residential Faculty member Mr. Stephany.

Student Number 1 (aka Stephanie P., from California) is in the house!  

St. Albans School of Public Service 2013 Staff: Ready and Waiting! Who Will Take the Coveted Title of Student Number One?

The SPS 2013 staff are in the Lane Johnston Room, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first member of the St. Albans School of Public Service class of 2013. The program doesn't really start until someone takes the title of "SPS 2013 Student Number 1!"

From left: Rachel (intern); Gabe (RA); Caroline (intern); Mr. Stephany (RA and teaching faculty); Mr. Crossan (head of the dorm).

Welcome to the School of Public Service Class of 2013 -- See You Soon!

We're waiting for you to walk through the front door -- see you tomorrow, SPS Class of 2013!

Watch this Space! Two Days Left Until SPS 2013 Begins!

Only two days left until the members of the St. Albans School of Public Service class of 2013 join us in Washington, D.C.! Check back here to keep in touch with the (considerable) daily comings and goings of SPS 2013.

SPS 2012: Goodbye and Good Luck!

We will miss the St. Albans School of Public Service Class of 2012, after four great weeks of speakers, trips, case studies, and thoughtful conversations. We know from your words to your classmates at last night's Final Banquet that the experience was meaningful -- mostly because of each other. Good luck and stay in touch (it's not too early to plan for next year's Alumni Garden Party)!

SPS 2012: Final Evening At SPS

It was a great final evening at the St. Albans School of Public Service. After the final banquet, the SPS Class of 2012 continued the tradition of rising to speak to their classmates about their shared four-week experience. Later, we returned to where we started -- Gregory Court, scene of the opening cookout on June 24 -- for some s'mores.

Araba and Jahan at the SPS Banquet

Max Speaking to His Classmates

Liam and Bo are ready for some ribs!

Jordan is looking elegant!

Sergio shares his thoughts after the banquet

Kameron talks to his classmates after the banquet

Willy D (seated) and Frank at the final banquet

Caroline (aka Fergie) 

The s'mores are a hit!  (Ryan and JP)

Safety first! The RAs (Mr. and Mrs. Larocque) toast the marshmallows for the s'mores

Daniel, Araba, and Thomas P.  enjoying s'mores