Stories from the Ridge, The McCallie Podcast

 The Michaels-Dickson Scholars Program, which has transformed McCallie School’s boarding programs into one of the top such programs in the nation, celebrated its 25th anniversary in late February, 2024. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 is joined by other top administrators – including two who were involved at the very beginning of the program -- and by a Trustee who was one of the two the first Michaels-Dickson Scholars. They reflect on the success and growth of the program over the past quarter century, and share their thoughts about the future.   A full story on the Michaels-Dickson Scholars program can be found on McCallie’s web site: www.mccallie.org/news.

For the first time in 31 years, McCallie’s Wrestling team has won both the traditional State of Tennessee title, plus the State duals. And on top of that, the team under Head Coach Jake Yost beat cross-town rival and defending State champion Baylor for the first time in 19 years. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns sits down with Coach Yost and two of the senior wrestlers, Carson Gentle and James Cross to discuss the exciting wins and the hard work and mental discipline behind them. And they look forward to the upcoming National Preps to be held in Pennsylvania. The full story of the team’s championship season can be found at: www.mccallie.org/news .

The college admissions process is in the midst of perhaps the most profound and impactful series of changes in several decades, and navigating these changes is becoming more challenging for students, parents, and counselors, according to Abbie Roberts, who in August assumed the role of Director of College Counseling at McCallie. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Ms. Roberts is joined by Head of School Lee Burns ’87, in discussing the changing and complicated college admissions landscape and how it affects McCallie students.

A dozen members of McCallie’s Men’s Chorus will perform on what many consider to be the world’s most important stage – Carnegie Hall in New York on February 18, 2024. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 talks with Dr. James Harr '92, Director of Choral Programs, about the upcoming concert, which will feature choral groups from several schools and universities in the U.S. and abroad (including from McCallie’s sister school, GPS). The two also discuss McCallie’s choral music program as well as the whole fine arts program at McCallie.Tickets to the Feb. 18 concert can be purchased at  https://www.carnegiehall.org/calendar/2024/02/18/dciny-and-bluegrass-0200pm

McCallie’s Tornado Term – T-Term for short – has become a special part of the school’s culture and an important way McCallie boys expand their learning experience beyond the traditional classroom. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 is joined by Upper School Principal Hank Hopping and Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie in a discussion of T-Term, its role and purpose in the school’s curriculum, and its growing popularity among students. Stories from faculty and students about two of the T-Term offerings also are included (note: the recordings of the students and teachers are from the 2023 T-Term). More details about T-Term can be found in the News section of McCallie’s website at www.mccallie.org/news.

Head of School Christmas Talk, Candlelight Chorus, and Kemmer Anderson Christmas Poem In this special edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 shares the Christmas talk he gave on Dec. 6, 2023, to the student body, and we hear the McCallie/GPS chorus sing O Holy Night from the 2023 Candlelight concert. Finally, Martha Anderson, wife of longtime English teacher and poet Kemmer Anderson, who died earlier this year, reads one of Kemmer’s popular Christmas poems. We hope you enjoy this special Christmas podcast, and may your Christmas be merry and holy. The text of Mr. Burns’ talk can be found here and the 2023 Christmas video can be viewed here.

Winter Sports Preview The winter athletic season is already underway and head coaches of the teams -- Basketball, Bowling, Climbing, Squash, Swimming and Diving, and Wrestling -- are looking at one of the best seasons in McCallie's storied history of great seasons. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, the coaches are joined by Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics and Special Assistant to the Head of School, and Mark Wiedmer of Communications Staff, and talk about their teams and their approaches to coaching.

Ralph Potter and Lee Burns Discuss State Championship Game   For the first time in history, McCallie will face cross-town rival Baylor School for the State of Tennessee Division II-AAA football championship on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. As the excitement builds along the Ridge, Head Coach Ralph Potter ’81, sat down with Head of School Lee Burns ’87 on Monday, Nov. 27, in the Podcast Studio to talk about the game and Coach Potter’s coaching style, philosophy, and his perspective on competing for his fifth state title. For more details about Thursday’s game can be found on McCallie’s web site, www.mccallie.org.

McCallie’s Theater/Musical program is off to a great start for the 2023-24 school year, with its fallplays in both the Upper School and Middle School attracting record numbers of participants and stand-room-only crowds. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, talks with Chelsea Padro, Director of Theater and Musicals, and Jared Eddy, Middle School Theater Instructor. Both are new to McCallie this year and they talk about their teaching/directing styles, their impressions of the talent in the student body, the enhanced McCallie/GPS partnership, and their plans for the remainder of the school year.

International Travel As Part of the McCallie Experience International travel, especially mission and cultural trips during the summer, has long been an important part of McCallie’s curriculum. In this edition of Stories From the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, and Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie discuss the purpose of the travel program and hear from students and faculty who participated in several trips last summer.

New Varsity Sports – Ultimate and Mountain Biking McCallie’s varsity sports offerings have expanded by two. For the 2023-24 school year, Mountain Biking and Ultimate (formerly referred to as Ultimate Frisbee) have joined the list of 17 varsity sports. In this podcast, Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics, Special Assistant to the Head of School, talks to Jake Altemus, coach of the Ultimate team, and Jesse Teague ’00, coach of the Mountain Biking team. 

The Coach and the Bear For more than 40 years, Gordon Connell, McCallie’s longtime head wrestling coach and Middle School science teacher, has regaled students with the story of how he, as a young man, once wrestled a bear. Now, with all the legendary embellishments and humor – and with some good-natured ribbing from Head of School Lee Burns ’87, Coach Connell shares the story on this podcast.

Two Alumni Share their Stories -- Two prominent McCallie alumni -- Sam Balloff '41 -- who just turned 100 -- and Don Welch '58, share wonderful stories about their lives and their days on the Ridge. For more expanded versions of these interviews, visit McCallie's podcast page: www.mccallie.org/podcast

The 2023 fall sports season at McCallie is already underway and will get in full swing in early September with several of the varsity teams setting their sights on championship trophies. In this episode of Stories From theRidge, Mark Wiedmer '76 of the Communications Department is joined by Kenny Sholl in his new position of Executive Director of Athletics and Special Assistant to the Head of School, as they talk with Football Coach Ralph Potter, Cross Country Coach Mike Wood, Golf Coach Rob Riddle, and Crew Coach Sean McCourt as they share their expectations and some of their coaching philosophies.

Head of School Lee Burns ’87 welcomes 977 students to the 119th school year at McCallie School.