Derryfield Today, Fall 2008

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today

Derryfield

THE DERRYFIELD SCHOOL

Middle School Culture > Farewell to Paul Keiner > Travels with Miss Candy

NEWS FROM FA L L T E R M 2 0 0 8


Blast Off in Physics Erin Ferguson ’10 and James Donovan ’10 take measurements for their projectile lab in physics. They are setting up the target with the goal of landing a marble in the can.


contents Table of

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Steven Burke Chair Bedford, NH

DERRYFIELD TODAY

FALL 2008

John Allard ’83 Manchester, NH

Annie Branch Director of Communications

Bradley Benson ’78 Derry, NH

Diane Allen Staff Writer

Robert Chin Windham, NH

Griffin York & Krause Design

Craig Sellers Head of School Manchester, NH

Christine Cikacz Chester, NH

Puritan Press, Inc. Printing

Cathryn Vaughn ’91 Secretary Manchester, NH

James Davis New Boston, NH

CONTRIBUTORS

by Sara Dewey ’03

Dr. Louis Fink Bedford, NH

Kate Erskine Director, Breakthrough

Paul Keiner

Preston Hunter ’98 Bedford, NH

Mark Blaisdell, Donna Bowe, Dan Muskat ’82, Gill Roberts ’99, Paul Whitmore

Laurie Lamp Bedford, NH

Sara Dewey ’03

Paul LeBlanc Manchester, NH

COMMUNICATIONS BOARD

Donna K. Lencki Candia, NH

Diane Allen

Nigel Donovan Treasurer Bedford, NH

features FEATURES

Middle School Culture

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by Diane Allen

John Bouton David Lockwood Manchester, NH

Annie Branch

Thomas Manson New Boston, NH

Bianca Nicolosi ’09 Whitney Lockwood Berdy ’00

Travels with Miss Candy

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by Diane Allen

departments DEPARTMENTS

Message from the Head Around Campus Breakthrough Spotlight Cougar Athletics

Constantinos Mokas Manchester, NH

Laurie Lamp

Christopher Morgan Amherst, NH

ADVANCEMENT

Jeffrey Pollock Manchester, NH

Diane Allen Alumni Coordinator

Update on Alumni

Janice Romanowsky Hampstead, NH

Lori Evans ’00 Director of Annual Giving

Life After Derryfield

Richard Sigel ’81 Manchester, NH

Gail Gordon Advancement Office Coordinator

Faculty Profile

William Zorn Hooksett, NH

Alice Handwerk Director of Donor Relations Jennifer Melkonian Assistant Head of School for Advancement

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Derryfield Images

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FRONT COVER: Olivia LoChiatto ’14 focuses on the challenges of the high ropes course at the end of the adventure unit of physical education. INSIDE FRONT COVER: Juniors make measurements for a physics project.

Derryfield Today is published by the Advancement Office at The Derryfield School. If you note errors, please notify us at 603.669.4524, ext. 2261 or send an email to abranch@derryfield.org. Correspondence may be addressed to: Director of Communications, The Derryfield School, 2108 River Road, Manchester, NH 03104-1396. The Derryfield School welcomes students of any race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin. The School does not discriminate in its hiring, admission policies, or programs on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, or disabilities.

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BACKGROUND: Crew coach Bill Madden talks with rowers before New Hampshire Championships. TOP: Schoolgirls gather in a performance of the middle school musical, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

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head

Message from the

McIninch Moments You may also notice, hanging from the rafters in the mid‑ like a school that thinks of every place on campus as a dle school McIninch room, three oversized banners each legitimate learning space. We presume, rightly so, that emblazoned with one word – “Respect,” “Integrity” and classrooms are central to our mission. But the most excit‑ “Kindness.” It is entirely possible for our middle schoolers ing schools see opportunities for learning moments every‑ where – in the hallways, on the playing fields, in the audito‑ to say (to riff on a popular book from several years ago) that, by reflecting on these big ideas, everything I need to rium lobby, waiting for the bus, and packing up a locker. know in life I learned during lunch in the Perhaps this is why, the first time I walked “...everything I need to Middle School at Derryfield. into The Derryfield School’s McIninch room Please consider coming to Derryfield and during lunch time, I was captivated by all the know in life I learned sharing a meal with us in the McIninch learning going on, beginning with the simple during lunch in the room. You may find that the occasional tator message of a teacher sitting at each table eat‑ tot and slice of pizza has the Proustian capac‑ ing with the students. middle school at ity to transport you back to your own middle We know that middle school students are Derryfield.” school days. At the same time you will be unique people who, by and large, remain amongst students who reflect on important values, take receptive to sharing a meal with their teachers. Only later, them down from the ceiling, and model respect, integrity, after inquiry, did I learn from Mr. Blaisdell, our Head of and kindness all around our campus every day. Middle School, that we tend to assign middle schoolers to a rotating pattern of table–mates. In this way the Middle School builds a sense of community while addressing some of the understandable lunchroom anxiety about with whom Craig N. Sellers one will sit on any given day. The occasional well‑timed Head of School “free seating” lunch becomes a joy, not a source of stress.

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Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


JULY – NOVEMBER

events I M AG E S F R O M T H E FA L L For more photos, visit our online gallery in the ‘Exploring Derryfield’ section of www.derryfield.org.

calendar

FEBRUARY Winter Carnival

2-5

Jazz All-State Music Festival

6-7

Summer Opportunities Fair

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College Planning Night for Juniors

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Breakthrough Super Saturday

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Chicago Alumni Reception

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MARCH Sophomore Pasta Dinner

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Lyceum Gallery Reception

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Upper School Musical

6-8

Senior Blood Drive

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APRIL US Admitted Student Reception

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MS Admitted Student Reception

2

Classical All-State Music Festival

2-4

Parent/Faculty Association Auction

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Senior Dinner

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Lyceum Gallery Reception

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Breakthrough Super Saturday

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DON’T MISS IT!

upper school

musical

Clockwise from top right: Head of School Craig Sellers speaking at the Leadership Donor Party with Derryfield Founders. n Members of the student and faculty teams for the Madden Flag Football Tournament. n Alex Camerino ’12 prepares Thanksgiving baskets to deliver to Manchester families. n Derryfield coaches at the turf field dedication. n JV soccer player Emilyann Keller ’11 goes for the ball in a game. n Austin Hammer ’14 as Huckleberry Finn in the middle school musical.

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Looking for a quality theatre perfor‑ mance? Come see members of the Derryfield Players performing in the upper school musical, Aida, on March 6–8. Check for tickets online in the end of February at www.etix.com.

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campus

Around

STORIES Get Real Ham Radio Kass Award Thank You, Mr. Coogan Legacy Society Profile NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY Congratulations to the following Derryfield seniors who were inducted into the National Honor Society during a special assembly on October 14, 2008. Leah J. Burke Colette M. Chretien Ryan M. Clauson Christina A. de Bruyn Kops Katherine M. DiPastina Bonnie J. Frieden Alexa R. Hasselman Daniel Jin John R. Kalliel Rose Z. King Lydia A. MacKenzie Frederick W. Manson George A. Mokas Stephen J. Reichheld, Jr. Anne R. Rynearson Adam N. Spierer Margaret P. Steer Sandra M. Stonebraker

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Get Real “Warning: interaction with this group may cause you to get up, get going, and do something REAL. EDUCATE ‑ INNOVATE ‑ PARTICIPATE.” This is the introduction at the Get Real Foundation’s website. As an independent school, Derryfield is involved with many foundations. What makes this one so distinctive? The Get Real Foundation was conceived and launched by Derryfield junior Vanessa Rodanas and her alumnus brother, Rex Rodanas ’08. According to their website, the Get Real Foundation is “organized to encourage and balance thought, creativity, and action through hands‑on projects synergizing and recognizing our broader value to society and our world.” And they are off to a magnificent start! As a result of their fund‑ raising work, Vanessa and Rex were able to present Families in Transition, a local chari‑ ty aimed at helping local families in crisis, with a $1,000 Honorarium at FIT’s Annual Fashion Show on October 2. Continuing their work with Families in Transition, Get Real is currently working on a fund raising opportunity called “Sleep Tight.” The goal is to have new participants in the FIT program receive new beds. Get Real encourages people to buy Family Fun Packs of four tickets to any game of the Manchester’s Wolves 2009 Football Season at a discount rate to help the cause.

Recognizing the value of their Derryfield education and with a strong desire to give back, Vanessa’s most recent campaign is with Stonyfield and Kaboom “to make more play spaces for kids.” She collected specially marked Stonyfield Yogurt lids – the protective metallic lids found under the top plastic lid of a 16‑ or 8‑oz. container. The organization collecting the most lids by the deadline will win a $50,000 grant for a volunteer‑built play‑ ground and the chance to help choose another group to receive the same prize. For more information on this and other Get Real initiatives, please visit their website at http://getrealfoundation.synthasite.com. Susan Grodman, advisor to the Derryfield chapter of Key Club, was not surprised that Rex and Vanessa would take on such a challenge in the name of commu‑ nity service. “Both have been active mem‑ bers of Key Club, logging in hours through initiatives both within the structure of the School and on their own in the local com‑ munity.” According to Vanessa, this work inspired them. “Rex and I were inspired by our local charity work, coming up with the realization that youth has a powerful force when we all work together. Giving a few hours here and there, nothing too exten‑ sive, can make a huge impact on our com‑ munity. We hope to mobilize our young generation to be mindful of their actions

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


AROUND CAMPUS

and environment so we can create a better world for the future. The most difficult hurdle so far has been getting everything organized to let as many people as possible know about our organization. I hope that this article will help initiate interest and inspire people to join us by becoming mem‑ bers and getting active in their commu‑ nity.”

Ham Radio Devin Walker of Windham is a ham. This 15‑year‑old sophomore who attends The Derryfield School in Manchester, not only builds ham radios from the tiniest metal pieces one’s eyes can see, he also belongs to the elite organization of ham radio operators who listen in and listen out across the air waves of the Americas as well as worldwide. “Hamming is unlike using a cell phone. With a cell phone, you pick it up, call a number, and you know who is at the other end. With hamming, I never know with whom I am going to speak. I can reach as far as Chicago, or even Louisiana, depending on air cur‑ rents and repeater towers,” Walker said. Walker has been involved with ham‑ ming for two years and follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and his father. Working out of his “Man Cave,” as his mother calls it, Walker turns the dials, listens to the noises, and commu‑ nicates to anyone who will listen. “I spoke with a Fed‑Ex driver the other night,” Walker said. “Where else could you have a conversation with a real

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life Fed‑Ex driver and he would tell you about his job, what he does, and why he likes it? Everyone is so nice and polite.” Throughout history, ham operators have provided a valuable service to the safety and security of those who live within their reach. “I can operate my system on a simple 12‑volt battery and communicate throughout the region. Just think, no electricity, no power, and I can talk to people who can help us,” he said. Walker, like his peers, belongs to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (AERES) organization. While regional‑ ized, AERES “was critical in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina devastated normal communications for many days. The hams provided communications for emergency operations centers, shelters, hospitals, marshalling areas, and many other agencies such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, city and county governments. TE ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio, has formal agreements with FEMA, Citizen Corps, and

the National Weather Service as well.” Due to the ham’s ability to use 12‑ volt systems as backup power, amateur radio operators can communicate con‑ tinuously when cell towers are down, communication systems become over‑ loaded and when infrastructures fail. “I am new to Morse Code,” Walker said. “Even though I have studied and know Morse Code, I have to ask other hams to slow down so that I can understand the message. Sometimes they go really fast.” When asked, why not just get a computer program that would tie into your ham radio system and decode the information for you, Walker simply replied, “That would be cheating. This is fun and who knows who will be the next person with whom I will be speaking.” Reprinted from the September 19, 2008 issue of the Pelham‑Windham News. Written by Doug Robinson.

Devin Walker ’11 “hamming” it up in his “MAn Cave.”

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Kass Award The second Simeon Kass Award, a gift from the Boelig family in honor of Sim Kass, was presented to Valera Filatov ’09. Below is an excerpt from his winning essay, the whole of which can be found online. Culture, heritage, creed. Our cultural backgrounds are both how we perceive ourselves and the means by which oth‑ ers see us, coloring their view of us as an equal human being. Daily, whether subconsciously or knowingly, whether in thought, speech, or writing, we pass judgment on ourselves and others based on race, riches, creed, color of skin, or gender. “He’s Jewish, they’re Irish, she’s poor,” we may observe. Yet what truly hides under each person’s culture and heritage, for us, are the stereotypes that we associate with each; taking a person at face value based on such stereotypes paints the person instead into something they are not, closing our mind against their bet‑ ter characteristics. Today, as globaliza‑ tion pushes people of different cultures and world views together, it is ever more important that we remain open‑ minded and ensure that prejudice and

Kass Award recipient Valera Filatov ’09 with his mother Mila Filatova (right) and award sponsor C. Raymond Boelig (left).

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stereotypes don’t cause us to overlook others’ individual worth. It’s hard for me to define my culture, especially in respect to my influences. I could say that I’m a first‑generation emmigrant from Russia who has undergone naturalization and is now an American citizen, but that sounds more like an excerpt from a dry legal document than a description of the ori‑ gins of my self‑view. Ultimately, I see myself as Russian and not American, but that is caused by my upbringing in Russia and my maintaining of my cul‑ tural connection through a conscious effort by reading and speaking the lan‑ guage. However, I owe much of my open‑mindedness, tolerance, and respect for other cultures to having spent the larger portion of my life in America. In any case, it is the conglom‑ eration of both cultures that sums up to my character and point of view. My first encounter with another cul‑ ture was through the world of Hollywood. Being a young boy, I was no stranger to television. However, growing up in Russia, I noticed that the world pictured in the shows that my family watched was not the same as the one outside my window. The logical conclusion was that this reflect‑ ed the drastically different life in America. My first visit to America was not the result of a transcontinental flight, but of videotapes; I was intro‑ duced to America, the land of suburbs and skyscrapers and a pluralistic soci‑ ety, while remaining in a mostly homogenous culture that still held the remnants of the Cold‑War beliefs. I

wasn’t quite sure why some Russians didn’t like what someone like Macaulay Culkin’s character in Home Alone stood for – the world portrayed through the Western media seemed welcoming and better off than the one I inhabited. To me, that character rep‑ resented a different, although not nec‑ essarily better, life with differences I never expected to overcome. There I was, being attracted to such a strange society, yet due to expectations I didn’t quite understand at that age, repelled from it at once. – Valera Filatov ’09

Thank You, Mr. Coogan Forty‑two years ago (forty‑two years ago?!?) a rather exotic red‑haired man dressed in a herringbone tweed jacket with suede patches and smoking a pipe sauntered into my freshman English Composition class and forever changed the trajectory of my life. I have no doubt I was not a member of an exclusive club; Jack Coogan changed lives. As many of you know, Mr. Coogan suffered a pretty serious stroke three‑ and‑a‑half years ago. We all have our day‑to‑day “to‑do” lists and then we have our before‑I‑die “to‑do” lists. Visiting him was on both of my lists. I was more than anxious to visit him and revisit our past, but finding a mutually agreeable weekend was a challenge. He and his forever lovely wife, Mary, have three grown children and two grandchildren and their lives are as full as mine. My husband and I arrived on

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


AROUND CAMPUS

A photo of Jack Coogan from the 1970 Initium.

Saturday, September 20. My Pennsylvania friends and family were envious of my impending trip to New England in fall, as well they should have been. It was one of those glorious days when the waning days of summer bite into those first cool, autumnal breezes and the light is copper and casts such a warm glow over the earth. I pulled into the driveway and took a moment to breathe deeply and collect myself before ringing the doorbell. I had no idea how debilitating the stroke had been or how he would look. Mary opened the door and there was Jack, seated in a wheelchair just behind her. And thus began an afternoon of uncon‑ trollable beaming. To say that he has not changed one iota is to speak to a spirit fully intact, and a joy and delight in living that – under any circumstances – is rare. His self‑deprecating humor, his always witty responses, his breadth of knowl‑ edge, his insatiable curiosity, and the irrepressible twinkle in those Irish eyes

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is there in abundance. We spoke, feverishly aware that out time together would move swiftly. We found our‑ selves alternating between our past life at Derryfield, our present life with grown children and his grandchildren, and my favorite of all – the sequence of events in his life that led him to teach‑ ing, something he said, “was not only not on the table – it hadn’t even entered the room!” I kept hearing the word “privilege” in my head all afternoon. To say that I was mousey, shy, introverted, self‑con‑ scious, and afraid of my own shadow before JC entered my life (and believe me, even for a Jewish girl, the irony of those initials does not escape me!) would not even begin to paint the pic‑ ture. I lived a very small, narrow life. It would not overstate the case to say that one person awakened in me all of my senses and put them in overdrive. He set a standard of excellence that I may not always achieve but is one I always try to achieve. He chiseled in me a palate for discrimination in all things. And he gave me the theater. It was a very short walk, indeed, from auditioning for a part in one of the plays he directed to developing self‑ confidence and the first twinges of beginning to believe in myself – that I might have something to offer the world. Here is one example of the kind of teacher and man Mr. Coogan was and is: If I am not mistaken, Derryfield’s first major theatrical production was Curse You, Jack Dalton. How he ever got me to audition is a mystery but he cast

me in the part of Mrs. Dalton, the hero’s formidable mother. The part clearly called for someone to carry herself with that hyper‑erect Victorian carriage. Alas, my carriage was closer to cro‑magnon man. A gentleman himself, Mr. Coogan’s direction helped to transform me into the character. He would clear space, turn on a record player, and formally waltz me around the room so that I would begin to get the feeling of how to hold myself on stage. On the day I graduated in 1969, my fervent wish was to receive the English award that he would hand out to some lucky graduate during the ceremony. That great honor went to my dear buddy, Bill Partlan, who was most deserving. But I was devastated. After the festivities, Mr. Coogan handed me a small, wrapped package to open when I was alone. It was the book Acting by Stanislavski. And this was the inscription: Mother Dalton, Whatever good has happened between us can never be taken away. So save me a dance, I’ll be there. Jack Coogan I must have read that inscription a hundred times. It is so true that one person can change the world – one person at a time. But it is never more true than when that one person is a teacher. Thank you, Mr. Coogan, for giving me my life. – Barbara Novak Platt ’69

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Legacy Society Profile Even before my first visit to campus 15 years ago, I knew that Derryfield wasn’t an ordinary school. That realization came when I read this sentence from the School’s Statement of Philosophy: “Academic achievement without com‑ passion and concern for others is meaningless.” At the time I was happily ensconced in my life in northern California, hav‑ ing founded a school in San Francisco and later working at a family founda‑ tion on behalf of children and families. The search consultant, who had been hired by Derryfield to help the School find a successor to Mark Hurlbut, remembered my New Hampshire roots and called to invite my interest. When

1964 LEGACY SOCIETY

planned giving

website Please consider joining Nancy and become a member of the 1964 Legacy Society!

Visit our interactive planned giving web‑ site at www.derryfield.planyourlegacy.org or contact Jennifer Melkonian, Assistant Head for Advancement, at 603.669.4524 or by email at jmelkonian@derryfield.org.

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the packet of material arrived, it was that powerful statement that drew me to Manchester for my first interview with the Search Committee in August 1993. I wish I could remember everyone sitting around that conference table at the McLane law firm that summer day – my mind’s eye now sees Betty Jipson, Dom D’Ambruoso, Bill Glahn, and Caryl Brensinger – but the character of our conversation and the warmth and intelligence of those assembled are something I will never forget. My anticipation that Derryfield was a spe‑ cial place was reinforced that day and only continued to deepen during my tenure as Head of School from July 1994 to June 2000. Now, in semi‑retirement as a consultant to independent schools nation‑wide, I have an even clearer sense of the qualities that have made Derryfield such a distinctive, even transformative, experience for so many young people and the adults who guide them. Above all, of course, are the faculty – women and men who have devoted their lives to teaching and learning every day with the students: in class‑ rooms, art studios, on stage and in rehearsal rooms, on the fields and courts, and on the Merrimack River. Memories of hearty intellectual debate still make me smile and make me grateful for their company over the years. I hold deep affection and regard for all those behind the scenes, or at the very visible reception desk, who with skill and good humor juggled

budgets and donations, boiler rooms and vehicles, landscaping and tele‑ phone calls. It was a well‑oiled machine almost all the time. I was blessed to serve under three fine Board Chairs – Bill Glahn, Caryl Brensinger, and Catharine Newick. Such volunteer leadership can never be taken for granted in any organization, and their ability to attract and inspire the trustees in their flock, respond to myriad needs from staff members and families, and always keep their focus on the future, on the long‑term vision, made possible in those years the expansion of the campus and the new middle school. Something about the culture of the school – a vigorous, relevant, wide‑ reaching program; acceptance of the individual; an atmosphere of mutual support; the expectation of high stan‑ dards – drew sincere, determined, wholesome students. I recall a prospec‑ tive parent asking me “What is the Derryfield type?” and I could honestly respond that there was no Derryfield type, but rather a collection of motivat‑ ed, talented individuals. These young men and women felt safe enough (not a universal high school experience) to take responsible risks, try new things, and set out on new adventures; they were courageous enough to make themselves heard, assume leadership positions, and devote precious time to helping others. Derryfield’s culture of caring for others led the community to welcome, house, and support the remarkable Summerbridge program, not an

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


AROUND CAMPUS

Former Head of School Nancy Stearns.

inevitable commitment for a young and frugal school, but the right thing to do. I believe still that the “concern for others” philosophy is at the heart of the School’s success. We were more than the sum of our parts and there was a place for everyone at the table.

respectful, generous, creative, confi‑ dent, well‑educated young men and women. I am proud to be part of the Derryfield community and I take deep pleasure in my decision to join the 1964 Legacy Society by remembering Derryfield in my estate planning. – Nancy Stearns

My greatest wish for families every‑ where has always been that they have a variety of healthy, available choices for their children’s education. That Derryfield exists and thrives is a huge gift to families throughout the region, and it hasn’t happened by magic. In order for the School to survive, to attract and retain outstanding teachers, and to continue to provide access to talented boys and girls from diverse backgrounds, each one of us must do our part to ensure the School’s future, to fulfill its mission, and to achieve its vision. No nobler purpose exists than to send out into the world ethical,

KEEPING UP-TO-DATE

derryfield newsonline Want to know more about what’s happening at Derryfield every day? Check out the online news portal by clicking on ‘News & Events’ on www.derryfield.org. Here are the introductions of a sampling of stories from the fall term.

Ninth Grade Welcomes Asian Visitors As Derryfield tackles the global education element of our Strategic Plan, we look for a variety of ways to bring the world to our campus. Helping us with this initiative on November 19th were several Asian students from SNHU...

Día de los Muertos In what has become a tradition for seventh grade Spanish students, the classes of Señora Roberts and Señora Erskine gathered together to remember their loved ones who have passed at their Día de los Muertos celebration...

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Vertical Dreams Trumps Mother Nature They geared up for it all fall term. They were ready for the challenge – ready to do something they never thought they would do. But sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Coach Jeff Hastings to the rescue with Plan B!

Parents Take on Organic Chemistry How many times has the simple question about what happened at school today resulted in a seven‑letter response: “Nothing.” One group of Derryfield parents were recently given the opportunity to find out for themselves...

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spotlight Breakthrough

FORMERLY SUMMERBRIDGE

SCHOOL YEAR SESSION DATES Breakthrough Super Saturdays November 22 December 20 January 31 February 21 April 18 May 16

School After School November 18, 25 December 2, 9, 16 January 6, 13, 20, 27 February 3, 10, 17 March 3, 10, 17, 31 April 7, 14, 21 May 5, 12, 19

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MANCHESTER

Students Give Thanks

to the long homework assignments. This At the beginning of Thanksgiving break, one time in the seventh grade, I remember staff and students from Breakthrough visit‑ putting off playing basketball on a really nice day, just to do homework. This pro‑ ed the Kiwanis Club of Manchester to give program updates, and to allow students to gram has helped me tremendously on the path to college. It has helped me to be pre‑ thank the Club in person. The Kiwanis pared to get into The Derryfield School, Club of Manchester has generously sup‑ which in itself is the pathway to college. ported Breakthrough since its inception in Also, as a sixth and seventh grader, it 1991 through both an endowed Bud Smith helped me develop good leadership skills, Scholarship and unrestricted gifts to the which has made me who I am today – a program’s Annual Fund. After comments confident, courageous leader and teacher. and updates from Kate Erskine, Director, Without Breakthrough, I would two Breakthrough students and "Without not be the student I am now. Bud Smith Scholars, Aseebulla One of my finest memories of Niazi (a tenth grader at The Breakthrough, being a student at Breakthrough Derryfield School) and Isadora I would not be was in the seventh grade. Jacquez (a seventh grader at During Celebration at the end of Hillside Middle School) shared the student the summer, I had the opportu‑ with Kiwanians their experiences I am now." nity to give a speech to all of the in the program. The following students, teachers, and families of are words from Aseebulla Niazi ’10: Breakthrough. It was my first speech in Good afternoon, my name is Aseebulla Niazi and I am currently in the tenth grade front of so many people, and to this day, the walk to the podium sends a chill down at The Derryfield School. I have been part my spine. It was thrilling. I have a feeling I of Breakthrough for five years, first as a am going to be involved with this program student and now as a teacher. Back in fifth grade, I applied to Breakthrough not really all through my high school career, college career, and perhaps all through my life. knowing much about the program, but I Breakthrough just doesn’t let you go! had been told from many people that it Thank you to all the members of the was a great program and a great opportu‑ Kiwanis Club for believing in the students nity to get to college. As time went on, I grew with the program and learned to love and teachers of Breakthrough Manchester. everything about it, from the crazy teachers

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


BREAKTHROUGH SPOTLIGHT

Breakthrough teacher Kadina Mazic ’10 with three of her students.

Mapping Breakthrough’s Future: The Strategic Plan The heart of Breakthrough’s mission is future‑oriented: helping sixth graders envision their long‑term path to college and giving teenagers and young adults real‑world teaching experience that inspires them to become professional educators. Like any school or organiza‑ tion, in order to best continue serving this unique mission, the program itself must think strategically about its future. The last formal Breakthrough Manchester strategic planning process was completed in 2000 and provided the framework for much of what the program has become in the past eight years. On a national level, the Breakthrough Collaborative and affili‑ ated sites have spent the past two years looking toward the future of Breakthrough as a movement that will change education in America. As one of the oldest programs in the nation, Breakthrough Manchester and its strategic plan plays a role in the direc‑ tion of that movement, and even more significantly, in the educational trajec‑ tories of the students it serves. By

thinking about how student services, teacher training, and fundraising efforts will work together in future years, we ensure that Breakthrough becomes even more efficient and effec‑ tive as a catalyst for inspiring the next generation of students and teachers. The completed strategic plan will be available on our website at the conclu‑ sion of the planning process.

School Year Teachers To support students during the school year, Breakthrough recruits high school students to serve as teachers, tutors, and mentors. As Breakthrough teach‑ ers, these students learn valuable lead‑ ership skills and form strong bonds with Breakthrough middle schoolers. The following is a list of students serv‑ ing formally on our Super Saturday or School After School teaching faculties. Other students from Derryfield and nearby high schools also work one‑on‑ one with students who need extra help during the year. Nick Alberts, Derryfield Emily Anderson, Derryfield Catalina Benech, Derryfield Justess Bowles, West HS

Lauren Bradley, Derryfield* Leah Burke, Derryfield* Steve Burke, Derryfield Melissa Cail, Central HS* Veronica Caron, Memorial HS Maria Cervantes, Memorial HS Aidan Corrigan, Central HS Mickey Cunliffe, Derryfield* Fedeline Desire, Memorial HS* Jamie Ducharme, Derryfield Justin Eldridge, Derryfield* Jon Ericksen, West HS Erin Ferguson, Derryfield* Taylor Goudreau, Derryfield Katherine Grisanzio, Derryfield* Hunter Holbrook, Derryfield Daisy Jacquez, Central HS* Daniel Jin, Derryfield* Kemal Kadic, Derryfield* Ellie Kaufman, Derryfield Emmy Keller, Derryfield Rose King, Derryfield* Travis Kula, Derryfield Patience Lekien, Memorial HS* Cameron Lencki, Derryfield Hunter Manson, Derryfield Adrian McLeod, Derryfield Philip Melanson, Derryfield* Drew Mokas, Derryfield* Rachel Moss, Derryfield Aseeb Niazi, Derryfield Maddie Northcutt, Derryfield Jordan Poirier, West HS Maeghan Provencher, Derryfield* Kristen Ryan, Derryfield Anne Rynearson, Derryfield* Tayla Satkwich, Derryfield Elise Shattuck, Derryfield* Binh Tran, Memorial HS Anuj Vadalia, Derryfield Maddy Walsh, Trinity HS*

*indicates a student who has taught at Breakthrough for more than one year www.breakthroughmanchester.org

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athletics

Cougar

TURF FIELD DEDICATION After initially being postponsed by

Fall wrap-up

weather, and with Mother Nature once again threatening delay, the ribbon was

Boys’ Varsity Crew

Girls’ Varsity Soccer

officially cut for the School’s new turf

New Hampshire Championships: 4th & 13th Head of the Fish: 13th Spencer McCormick ’09, Class of 1970 Award

Season Record: 13-3 New Hampshire State Champions (Class S) Andrea Green ’10, All-State (2nd Team) MacKenzie Logan ’11, All-State (2nd Team) Kim Pollock ’11, All-Conference Aislinn Smith ’11, All-Conference, All-State (2nd Team) Camille Smith ’09, Co-Captain, All-State (1st team), AllConference, Class S Player of the Year, Class of 1970 Award

field on Thursday, October 16, 2008. Derryfield pride was evident as all school athletes, dressed in their uni-

Girls’ Varsity Crew

forms, watched Preston Hunter ’98 cut

New Hampshire Championships: 3rd Head of the Charles: 16th Head of the Fish: 8th Meg Steer ’09, Co-Captain, Class of 1970 Award

the ribbon and, facing the new flagpole, joined the Derryfield Concert Choir in singing the National Anthem and the School song, Sing out for Derryfield. This field will allow those games that would have previously been forced to reschedule to be played on their original dates without having to extend the athletic season to accommodate rain or

Varsity Field Hockey Season Record: 12-1-1 NH Championship Semi-Finalists (Class S) Ann DiPastina ’11, All-State (1st team), All-Conference Katherine DiPastina ’09, Co-Captain, Senior Twin State Team, All-State (1st team), Senior All-Star, All-Conference, Class S Player of the Year, Class of 1970 Award Sadie Fowler ’09, Co-Captain, All-Conference Jesse Stephens ’10, All-Conference

Boys’ Varsity Cross Country 3rd at Granite State Championships (Class S) Will Keller ’10, Co-Captain, All-Conference, Qualified for Meet of Champions, Class of 1970 Award

Girls’ Varsity Cross Country Qualified for Meet of Champions Leah Burke ’09, Co-Captain, All-Conference, Qualified for Meet of Champions, Class of 1970 Award

flood postponements.

Varsity Golf

CONGRATULATIONS

state champions Congratulations to the girls’ varsity soccer team for winning their eleventh state title, the first since 2005. The third‑ranked team beat Wilton‑ Lyndeborough to take the Class S title.

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Season Record: 17-3 3rd at State Team Championships (Class M/S) Marty McCormick ’11, All-Conference, 6th at State Individual Championships Chris DuPuis ’09, Class of 1970 Award

Boys’ Varsity Soccer Season Record: 12-0-3 NH Championship Finalists (Class S) Steve Burke ’10, All-State (HM) Mickey Cunliffe ’09, Co-Captain, All-State (HM), Class of 1970 Award Kemal Kadic ’09, Co-Captain, Lion’s Cup Team, All-State (1st Team), All-Conference Brandon Rivard ’10, All-State (2nd Team), All-Conference Anuj Vadalia ’11, All-State (2nd Team)

OPPOSITE (clockwise from top left): Will Keller ’10 at the Derryfield Invitational. n Kaitlin Fink ’11 takes a shot on goal. n Sam Hough ’10 evades a Lancers defender. n Mickey Cunliffe ’09 shows off some fancy footwork. n Girls’ first boat gives it their alat the Head of the Charles. n Bonnie Frieden ’09 and Lydia MacKenzie ’09 lead the pack. n The boys’ first boat makes a final push for the finish line at the Head of the Charles. ABOVE: Matt McCormick ’09 takes a putt in a golf match.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


C O U G A R AT H L E T I C S

www.derryfield.org

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Derryfield

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images

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


D E R R Y F I E L D I M AG E S

OPPOSITE (clockwise from top right): Carolyn Kegel ’13 and Austin Hammer ’14 dance in the middle school musical, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. n Students head back from the new turf field after a game of flag football. n Mr. Moerlein works with middle school students in his art studio. n Students from Mrs. Josephson’s Rebel Literature class experience blindness during class. n Sarah Dolloff ’12 and her grandmother in class on Grandparents’ Day. THIS PAGE (clockwise from above): Spencer McCormick ’09 walks his father through an experiment in Organic Chemistry. n Dustin Leclerc ’14 wears the birthday hat in Spanish class. n Sarah Coler ’13 tackles the elevator shaft at Vertical Dreams.

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culture

Middle School

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A BUSY SEMESTER...

Taking Risks in a Community of Support

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by Diane Allen

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here is no question that the Middle School at Derryfield is a unique place – compared to other middle schools, and even compared to Derryfield’s Upper School just a few feet away at the other end of the connector. Lead by Mark Blaisdell, the faculty takes seriously the task of providing its students with the skills necessary to handle the rigors of the Upper School – but not too seriously. There is a delicate balance between work and fun. We asked several members of the middle school community to find a word that they felt best described the Middle School. They all focused on the environment created for the students that allows them to take the risks necessary to grow and learn: nucleus, amazing, love, comfort, and risk. The Derryfield Middle School seems to have found the key to building a community for our youngest (and bravest) learners.

T

Nucleus

Dan Muskat ’82

Questions about the quality of educa‑ tion and life at Derryfield arise often. People ask me about the school because my daughter, Alex, just started sixth grade this year. Not many of those inquiring who are new to New Hampshire know that I am an alum‑ nus. Why are people surprised by my enthusiastic answer? People seem to be impressed with this “up‑and‑coming” independent school. I hear that Derryfield is making its name in the upper echelon of col‑ lege circles. I am not surprised. Derryfield is not a new school. It is not new to the upper tier colleges. I say that Derryfield today is the same Derryfield it was when I started there over 30 years ago. There is a nucleus that drives this institution that has not changed one iota. The world is dynamic. Derryfield has always been a leader. The core val‑

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ues that drove the School thus far are the values that maintain excellence. When my daughter tells us how the teachers care, how the school is differ‑ ent, and how excited she is to get to the bus every day, I am not surprised. The underlying theme of the anecdotes I hear from my daughter echoes what I told my parents at the end of the school day. The faces change. New buildings are built. Trophy cases get larger. But the institution remains our family’s favorite place to learn. Derryfield provides a comforting educational environment. Having just survived our first advisory conference, my assumptions were confirmed. There is a deliberate sensitivity to the anxiety of a student new to middle school. While academic expectations are made known, the faculty is equally accessible to students and parents. The communication is not only welcome, it is encouraged. Clearly the aim is for

the student to succeed in a friendly, positive, and encouraging environ‑ ment. No, I am not surprised that Derryfield has not changed; I am thrilled. I fully expect that Alex will graduate with the same positive out‑ look, college preparedness, and strong personal growth that I felt when I graduated. We will be proud to have her sister follow in her footsteps. I hope that Alex and Sam will not be surprised when they are asked if their children are happy at Derryfield.

Amazing

Donna Bowe

I am thankful every day when I walk through the front door of the middle school, as I am greeted by an amazing Head of Middle School, Mark Blaisdell. With his Dunkin’ Donuts cup in hand, he greets every student and faculty member. I watch the students arrive and greet their friends as they’re

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M I D D L E S C H O O L C U LT U R E

approaching the door, and a smile adorns their faces as they pass Mr. Blaisdell. What strikes me even more is the fact that he knows something about each individual. Some arrive with gui‑ tars in hand and say, “‘Mr. B.’ check out this new pick.” You see, “Mr. B.” plays in a band and also coaches the Guitar Club – how cool is that? Then there are those conversations which include the Red Sox. Yes, fans, Red Sox nation lives right here in the Middle School. Or a student will stop at the door, math book in hand, and ask a question regarding the previous night’s homework. Did I mention Mr. B. also teaches math? Amazing! Students? Likewise, amazing! When you think about a private middle school, you may assume a strict or a rigid curriculum. Yes, our students are challenged academically, athletically, and theatrically. We all learn about time management and how to take risks, but we also have fun learning. From my desk, I have the daily plea‑ sure of watching a group of students coming down the stairs on their way to band holding their instruments and already singing. I hear the excitement in their voices as they walk to science class talking about Alka‑Seltzer rock‑ ets. Take the time to ask a student about science class, or, better yet, visit Mrs. Robichaud’s or Mr. Hettler’s class‑ room. Ask math teacher Mr. Brandt what all those pieces of colored 3 x 3 stickies hanging on his wall or the huge jar of dice are used for. What I enjoy most is being part of this wonderful community! Teachers,

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students, friends, co‑workers – yes, we are truly an amazing community in every sense of the word.

Love

Paul Whitmore

After 34 years of teaching in public school systems and enjoying the rewards of retirement, why did I decide to come back to teaching and why Derryfield? It can be summed up in one word: LOVE. I realized after all these years, and especially during my two years away from the classroom, how much I missed seeing students when they learn a new English concept or when they set goals and achieve them. I honestly felt that I still had something to offer them and could perhaps inspire them to become better readers or writers or simply better people. There still was that spark for teach‑ ing, which I call Love. For me, this has existed for about 48 years when I was inspired by a fourth grade teacher who took an interest in me. She joked with me, helped me get through math, pushed me to become a better writer and reader, and essentially inspired me to be the best that I could be. I still remember her smiling and laughing each day because for her, teaching was a joy. From fourth grade on, I wanted to be just like her. I realized Derryfield was a good fit the first day I came to visit. I saw a true difference in the way students were taught in the few hours I visited. I asked several students what they enjoyed most about Derryfield. The most popular response was, “I love all

the people. I have so many friends. Also, the teachers are great! They real‑ ly care about you.” Of course, this exists in public school systems, but here at Derryfield, the students are unique in that they are the core of why we are here. Public school systems try to model this and some succeed. But many times it is the student who some‑ times gets lost in the public school shuffle. Not true at Derryfield! This Derryfield community offers so many opportunities: sports, drama, band, chorus, clubs, spring trips, and strong academics, to mention a few. Staff and students get to know each other in a variety of different settings. Focusing on the strengths and not dwelling on weaknesses is important in helping to build the character of each of our students. In all settings, there is a great deal of caring and love. Who wouldn’t want to be part of some‑ thing this awesome? At The Derryfield School I hear laughter and joy as I did in fourth grade. I hope it never ends!

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


M I D D L E S C H O O L C U LT U R E

Comfort

Risk

Gill Roberts ’99

Mark Blaisdell

Derryfield has truly become my home away from home. Not because I spend every day of the work‑week in its classrooms and hallways, but because I feel so comfortable being here. When I first arrived as a student, I was a ner‑ vous wreck, wondering how my new classmates would treat me, if I could handle the course load, and how on Earth I would fare on an actual softball team, having never played on a team before. The moment I arrived on day one, all of my fears dissipated and I felt a huge sense of relief. A number of my classmates greeted me at the door and genuinely wanted to know more about who I was and where I had come from. Really?!? From that point on, I knew that this was the place for me. I felt this same sense of comfort when I returned as a faculty member. Again, I was nervous. Would I perform well? Would I inspire these kids? Would I remember ANY of the Latin I had learned in college?!? Once again, all of these elements fell right into place. I was so content with this school and all of its amazing attributes that I had no problem settling right back in. Many things had changed but, to my delight, one had remained very much the same – that comfortable, home‑like atmosphere that Derryfield had pro‑ vided to me so many years prior. We do a fantastic job of welcoming others into our community and mak‑ ing them feel at ease. It is an invaluable ability and one that makes me extreme‑ ly proud to call this my second home.

Real learning is a risky business… I think we easily misunderstand adolescence when we characterize it as a time when our teens and tweens are willing to consider and take risk after risk without thinking of the conse‑ quences. Further, I think we too often think of risk‑taking in adolescence pejoratively. In fact, we know at Derryfield that creating an environ‑ ment that fosters adolescents to take risks at a time when they are increas‑ ingly self‑conscious is the key to their growth. Teens and tweens can readily name the risks that they take – or avoid – in schools. Can you remember the risk of looking dumb or too smart as a middle schooler? The risk of putting yourself out there as a leader? Of looking out‑of‑place on the athletic field or of getting up on stage to per‑ form? Do you remember the risks involved in forming friendships out‑ side of certain circles? I remember them well. Previously having taught for over ten years at the high school level before coming to Derryfield, I have also seen the results of students who have never taken the kinds of risks that foster their development as young adults. This is why I believe it is critical for schools to find ways to help stu‑ dents move in and out of their comfort zones. You can do this by offering a curriculum that challenges students to take intellectual risks and/or seek addi‑ tional support when it is needed. You can do this by making athletics avail‑ able for everyone and then coaching in

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ABOVE: Students enjoy the three-legged race during a middle schol field day. OPPOSITE: Students Mr. Moerlein enlists help setting up a sculpture.

a way that honors everyone’s contribu‑ tion. You can do this by mandating that each student spend time with his or her peers putting on a theatrical per‑ formance. Or by teaching students to support each other in a ropes course curriculum over two years. Better still, like we do at Derryfield, you can offer so many areas for students to take risks that it just becomes part of their natures – in a positive way! To adapt a phrase, “Nothing ventured, nothing learned.”

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alumni

Update on Faculty member Jeff Hasting’s sons, Jayden and Tristan.

In Memoriam Former Derryfield trustee William Stone passed away on August 4, 2008. Mr. Stone was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and

The news contained in this section covers the period of May 26, 2008 – November 5, 2008. For more recent news, or to post a note, please log on to the Derryfield Portal at www.derryfield.org.

operated Stone and Michaud Insurance for over 30 years. He was on the Derryfield Board of Trustees for eleven years and chaired the Board from 1977–1980. Mr. Stone is survuved by his wife, Claire Stone, as well as his children, Susan Stone Doherty ’82 and Sean Stone ’83, and their families.

Former Derryfield faculty member Robert Lemer passed away on November 21, 2008 after a long illness. Mr. Lemer graduated from Syracuse University in 1951, received an MBA from Harvard University in 1960, then a master’s in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1963. He taught in several area schools and worked in the guidance department at Pittsfield High

1968 Dorrie Freedman writes, “After teaching severe special needs students for 10 years, I now work for the Department of Mental Retardation in Massachusetts as a Transition Coordinator. I assist 18–22‑year‑olds and their families in moving from their special needs educational programs to our adult service system. My primary creative pre‑ occupation has been singing for 35 years with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the all‑volunteer official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops. We have recorded with both the BSO and Pops and traveled to Japan and Europe with them. I sing every summer at the Tangle‑ wood Music Center in Lenox, MA and every winter at Symphony Hall in Boston.”

School upon his retirement.

1970 The Alaska State Council on the Arts has chosen Homer writer Nancy Lord as the new Alaska State Writer Laureate. She

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began a two‑year term on October 1, 2008. She succeeds current State Writer Laureate John Straley from Sitka. As State Writer Laureate, she will represent the Council and the State of Alaska in communities, schools, and libraries conducting work‑ shops and readings. Nancy was unani‑ mously chosen for this position by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.

1988 Melanie Kerr Gabree is the mother of two boys and lives in Bedford with her hus‑ band, Mike. Her two‑year‑old sons, Alex and Will, keep her active. Melanie serves on the Council for Children & Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions in Concord. The statewide advocacy organization addresses issues impacting the lives of chil‑ dren with chronic illness and their families. Melanie and her sister, Jennifer, are cur‑ rently working on a children’s book featur‑ ing photographic illustrations. n Laura Coulter married Gavin McCarthy, a profes‑ sional musician and music teacher, on June 29, 2008 at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA. They continue to make their home in Allston, MA where they welcomed their first child, Conlon Henry, on November 13. Laura is working to re‑establish her custom couture and bridal apparel design business

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

(www.lauracoulter.com). She’s been designing costumes for a Boston‑based multi‑media/dance company called KINODANCE (www.kinodance.org), most recently for the premier of two new original pieces (Fuse and Behemoth) performed in April at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Finally, Laura is pursuing a master’s degree in education (part‑ time), and is an adjunct professor in the School of Design at Mount Ida College in Newton, MA. n Erin O’Shaughnessy was married to John Walsh in a ceremony in Sunapee, NH on August 23, 2008. Erin is a business continuity/disaster recovery specialist with Fidelity Investments in Merrimack. John is a senior investment specialist with Fidelity in Merrimack.

1989 Kimberly Frederick writes, “I burned my dissertation last year in a spectacu‑ lar ‘bonfire of the sanities.’ Friends and relatives joined in burning objects of their oppression, too; then we ate s’mores! Yum! And Vince and I adopt‑

Shelley Stout Fajans ’88 with her husband Ken at their wedding on October 25.

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Class of 1968 at their reunion dinner in September.

ed a baby girl, Zora Naomi Annabel Frederick Webb, on June 22 after about three days notice. She was born on June 20. Pretty crazy world!” n A little birdie tells us that Alexander Sturke graduated magna cum laude from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, with an MBA on May 17, 2008. He is currently employed as an assistant brand manager at Hasbro, Inc. in Pawtucket, RI. He and his wife, Laurie Ciardi, live in Hyde Park, MA with their daughter, Ruby Lucia. n Janice Mosher Danis writes, “The family has grown! My husband, James, and I were blessed with a son, Griffin James Danis, on July 8, 2007. After a premature labor scare at 25 weeks and being told he definitely would come early, he ended up coming one day late! I cannot believe he is one‑ and‑a‑half. His big sis Briana is three. We are busy but happy here with the children and our two labradors. My brother, Bill Mosher ’96, is engaged; an early summer wedding is planned in a tropical locale.”

1990 Maura Duval Griffin reports, “Just wanted to let you know that J.R. and I welcomed our first child, Adrienne Elizabeth Griffin, into the world on September 19, 2007. She is more fun than we could have ever imagined. And naturally, she’s a huge Red Sox fan. Anyone interested in looking at pictures of someone else’s kid, check out www.yoadriennegriffin.com. Cheers!”

1992 Hilary Hornor Boynton writes, “Nick and I just had our fifth child (a boy), Tanner Hamilton Boynton, in March. Now we have five under 4.5 (four boys and a girl) so life is a bit crazy these days. However we wouldn’t change a thing. We are having a blast.” n Rumor has it that Rachel Sturke received a Ph.D. from the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health at the Johns

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CONGRATULATIONS

alumni

parents To Laura Coulter McCarthy ’88 and her husband, Gavin, a son, Conlon Henry, on November 13, 2008. To Janice Mosher Danis ’89 and her husband, James, a son, Griffin James, on July 8, 2007. To Kimberly Frederick ’89 and her husband, Vince Webb, an adopted girl, Zora Naomi Annabel, born June 20, 2008, and delivered to the happy couple two days later. To Maura Duval Griffin ’90 and her husband, J.R., a daughter, Adrienne Elizabeth, on September 19, 2007. To Katherine Ryan Anish ’92 and her husband, Josh, a son, Nathaniel Robbins, on April 17, 2008. To Hilary Hornor Boynton ’92 and her husband, Nick, a son, Tanner Hamilton, on March 18, 2008. To Rachel Sturke ’92 and her husband, Joshua, a daughter,

Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD on May 22, 2008. She is currently employed by the National Institute of Health, Fogerty International Center as a Public Health and Science Policy Analyst. She and her husband, Joshua Stebbins, Esq., live in Washington, DC and had their first child, Zoe Skibbie on December 15. n Katherine Ryan Anish writes, “My husband Josh and I have a new baby boy, our first child. Nathaniel Robbins Ryan Anish was born in Manhattan on April 17, 9 lbs. 4 oz., 22.5 inches long (a big baby!).”

Zoe Skibbie, on December 15, 2008. To Aubrey Rosenthal ’93 and her husband, Tracy Clapp, a son, Huckleberry James, on July 22, 2008. To Joyia Rich Fazelat ’96 and her husband, Ahad, a son, Sameh Rich Fazelat, on June 6, 2008 To Brenna McCandliss Thomas ’96 and her husband, Shane, a son, Zander Trevett, on April 17, 2008. To Derek Gelinas ’98 and his wife, Vanessa, a son, Asher, on June 4, 2008. To Jason Steffen ’98 and his wife, Nancy, a son, Jackson Peter, on November 11, 2007. To faculty member Jeff Hastings and his wife, Wendy, a son, Tristan David, on October 27, 2008.

1993 Chris Ormsbee reports, “After gradu‑ ating from Bentley I worked four years on Wall Street, changing careers after 9/11 to real estate finance to take advantage of low interest rates and help single moms, retirees, veterans, even newlyweds purchase their first homes intelligently. Things have changed with the housing collapse and

I find myself reevaluating my priori‑ ties. I’ll be going back to school for my MBA this fall and am still looking for that special woman. www.curacaosun‑ shine.com” n Aubrey Rosenthal writes, “I am finally acknowledging the outside world after the birth of our son Huckleberry James Clapp, who arrived on July 22, 2008 at 6:05 a.m. He was 7 lbs., 13 oz. and 20 inches long. After one month the little man had grown a whopping three inches and three pounds (can he eat or what?).”

1995 Fulfilling his dream of filmmaking, Todd Norwood recently finished work on the film Tricks of a Woman to be pro‑ duced by Mutressa Movies. It stars Vincent Pastore (The Sopranos), Natasha Lyonne (American Pie), Carlos Leon (Oz), Scott Elrod (Men in Trees), and Dennis Lemoine (Illegal Aliens). Todd rewrote the script and directed the story about a fashion photographer who makes a bet with a colleague that

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Paul Keiner at his farewell reception with wife Debby, daughters Lesley Keiner Herzberg ’95 and Dana Keiner ’98, and son James Keiner ’01.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

Jed Cahill ’97, Matt Purtell ’97, Kate Reis Cahill ’97, Jess Shute ’97, Jess’s friend Ryan, Amanda Fiedler ’97, Emily Newick Gaughan ’97, Helen Gemmill ’96, Kate Newick ’00, Kelly Steele ’97 and Brian Guercio ’97 at Emily’s wedding on September 13.

he can transform an ordinary fish market girl into a high fashion model. Todd is also getting ready to release his own web show, Meet the Mayfarers, which he will write, produce, and act in. It will feature a four‑minute weekly episode targeting the YouTube audi‑ ence. Meet the Mayfarers, which can be viewed at www.mayfarers.com, will premiere this winter.

1996 Joyia Rich Fazelat happily announces the birth of her first child, a boy, Sameh Rich Fazelat. Sameh was born on June 6, 2008 and everyone is healthy! n Brenna McCandliss Thomas writes, “I am still in Denver and loving it. Shane and I welcomed Zander Trevett Thomas into the world on April 17, 2008 at 1:38 a.m. He was 7 lbs., 15 oz. and 20.5 inches long. I decided to stay home with him and I am loving being a stay‑at‑home mom. It is lots of work, but the best job ever.” n Abby Silverman reports, “I got married in

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June 2007 in Boston to Matt Fischer, whom I met while earning an MBA at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. We recently moved back to the Boston area from Minneapolis for my marketing position – where I recently transferred from the Cardiac Rhythm Management division to the Urology/Gynecology division of Boston Scientific.” Derryfield alums may reach her at: abbybeth@umich.edu. n Emily Newick was married to Steve Gaughan, son of William and Joan Gaughan of Wellesley, MA, at Emily’s parents’ home in York Harbor, ME on September 13, 2008. Steve and Emily are both Middlebury College gradu‑ ates. Steve is a GIS planning analyst for the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

1998 Jason Steffen writes, “I graduated from Harvard Law School last year and am working at the Public Defender’s Office in Mohave County,

AZ. I miss New England, but my job is great. Even more exciting, I’m now a father. Jackson Peter Steffen was born last November. He’s keeping my wife, Nancy, and me quite busy (because he’s exceptionally cute).” n Nathan Swift reports, “I’ve been living in the UK for the last five years, studied Opera at the Royal College of Music on a scholarship for international students (Dartmouth’s coveted James B. Reynolds Scholarship for Foreign Study), and have sung in over 20 oper‑ atic productions since my arrival. In addition to that, I spent four years at the BBC in New Media to support myself in London during my post‑ graduate work and now work as a management consultant in technology strategy for the Department of Health and the NHS Choices project.” n Preston Hunter was married to Nicole Neyowetti of Edison, NJ at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Bedford, NH on July 5, 2008. Christopher Ogden and Alden Kasiewicz served as co‑best men while Preston’s sister, Laura Hunter ’00, was one of Nicole’s bridesmaids. Nicole is finishing her last year of law school at Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, NH. Besides working as a project engineer for Eckman Construction, Preston sits on the Board of Trustees for The Derryfield School. n Derek Gelinas writes, “My wife Vanessa and I wel‑ comed our second child, Asher Gelinas, into the world on June 4. He weighed 8 lbs., 6 oz., and was 21 inches tall. His big sister Kaylee thinks he’s

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U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

Love is in the Air Derryfield alumni have been attending a plethora of weddings recently. Below are alumni photos from just three suchevents. Congratulations to all!

Lori Evans ’00, Ginna Lockwood ’03, Sandy Lockwood ’15, Whitney Lockwood Berdy ’00, Veronica Beaudry ’00, and Dena Marrinucci ’00 at Whitney’s wedding on August 18.

great and kisses him at least five times an hour. He’s a joy to the whole family and is always ready to smile at us. Everyone’s doing very well and so far life with two car seats has been terrif‑ ic.” n Andrew Hickok reports, “I mar‑ ried Andrea Klayman in May 2008 in Waitsfield, VT and recently moved to Brookline, MA. I’m glad to be riding out the economic meltdown from the safety of business school at Boston College. I spent the past several years working in management consulting for the energy industry, which is where I expect to continue my career. My wife is a first‑year resident in internal medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Being in graduate school makes me more fully appreciate the excellent education in math and writing that I received at Derryfield.”

1999 Pat Santosso ’01, Jessie Brasley Wood ’01, Krista Keeler ’01, and Gill Roberts ’99 join Andy West ’01 and his bride Ashley Smith at their wedding on September 26.

Peter Russell ’02, Julia West ’02, Francesco Finocchiaro ’02, Molly Zink Finocchiaro ’02, Andrew Tsai ’04, and Patrick Finocchiaro ’15 at Francesco and Molly’s wedding on August 3.

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Shannon Cain and Ryan Arnold were married on September 9, 2007, at the Harrington Farm in Princeton, MA. Bridesmaids included Kathleen Flahive and Gill Roberts. The couple honeymooned in Hawaii (Oahu and the Big Island) and currently live in Somerville, MA. Shannon is a grant writer for Discovering Justice, a small nonprofit in the Moakley US Courthouse in Boston, and working on her MA in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College. Ryan is a math editor for a development house in the South End of Boston. n Sara Schwartz was married to Jeffrey Mohan in

Lincoln, MA on June 14, 2008. Derryfield alumni in attendance were Hannah Arnold, Lauren Abrahimzadeh, Stacey Starner, Kate Davis, and Andrea Schwartz ’01. n Kathleen Flahive was married to Matthew Baron on September 20, 2008 in Dennis, Cape Cod, on the beach at Crowe’s Pasture (a conservation area). Her bridesmaids included Sharon Pozner ’98 and Shannon Cain Arnold. Kathleen is co‑owner of The Danish Pastry House, a bakery and cafe in Medford and Watertown, MA. Matthew is a senior software engineer for 3DVIA.com in Concord, MA.

2000 Rebecca Rideout is a recipient of the 2008 Morrison Film Fellowships, awarded by the Maine Community Foundation. Named for the late film‑ maker Jane Morrison, the fund was established in 1988 to support budding filmmakers. Rebecca graduated from Bennington College with a B.A. in doc‑ umentary video. Since then she has worked in film and television produc‑ tion. She will use her $1,040 fellowship to take a course on producing and directing documentaries at the Maine Media Workshops. n Melody Chag writes, “About one week after Derryfield Today came out announcing that I was in Champaign, IL, I accepted an offer with the ABC affiliate in Seattle, WA! I am now a reporter for continued on page 26...

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


LIFE AFTER DERRYFIELD

For two years former middle school teacher Candy Chaplin has taken her skills – and educational supplies – to the small villiage of Cheskum in Nepal. Last year Sara Dewey ’03 joined her. look down two lines of children in worn, white school shirts standing in a dusty schoolyard. Each child holds a garland made of deep red rhododendron flowers and waxy green leaves. Candy Chaplin, or “Miss Candy” as she is known here, leads the charge down the gauntlet. She bows to every child as he or she places the gar‑ land over her head, presses her hands together and murmurs “dhanyavaad.” My friend Rachel and I follow a bit more apprehensively, leaning down to the small children as they cover us in garland after garland until we’re buried up to our eyes, offering them a chorus of “namaste, namaste, dhanyavaad, dhanyavaad.” This is an important day for the stu‑ dents because Miss Candy is a special woman in this village. We are in Cheskum, Nepal, a small mountain vil‑ lage in the Solukhumbu region just south of Everest. Motorized vehicles cannot travel the narrow, foot‑worn paths to Cheskum; the village is only accessible by five days walking from the capital, Kathmandu. The land is barren in late winter except for a few fields of winter wheat, but magnificent, snowy Himalayan peaks dominate the horizon. At this particular school, Miss Candy and her foundation, the Nepal Children’s Health and Education

Travels with Miss Candy by Sara Dewey ’03

I

Foundation, have built a school and provided teachers with training, salaries, and basic classroom science equipment. Many of the students tell me in beginner’s English that science is their favorite subject in school. We finally make our way through the alley of children to the place of honor at the front of the crowd. I’m only considered a VIP because I’m with Miss Candy, who some here call the “Sir Edmund Hillary of the Solukhumbu region of Nepal.” (Sir Edmund Hillary set up schools for Sherpa children in the Everest region.) In Cheskum, there are few options for young adults: many of the teenage boys of this village have already worked as porters on trekking expedi‑ tions; the teenage girls have few alter‑ natives to early motherhood and a life of subsistence farming in the rocky soil. Students who wish to continue their studies at the secondary level must leave the village and move to the daunting unknown of Kathmandu.

In the schoolyard, children crowd around an impromptu stage in front of our seats. The school is a low U‑shaped set of buildings arranged around the barren courtyard. The floors are dirt and the corrugated metal roofs are full of holes. Children perform traditional songs and dances, recite Nepali poetry, and tell us through a translator of their commitment to improving their village and the role of education in their lives. I am staggered by these earnest chil‑ dren and by their ability to articulate the importance of education in their lives despite the poverty and remote‑ ness of their home. By engaging the shared visions of the villagers, Miss Candy is starting with the schools to support the villagers’ efforts to shape a sustainable future for this village. So much work remains to be done here: villagers dream of more teachers, a women’s micro‑lending program, and even a hydroelectric project to provide the village with electricity for the first time. But it all begins with education.

To learn more about the work of the Nepal Children's Health and Education Foundation, check out www.nchef.org. www.derryfield.org

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CELEBRATING

alumni

weddings

...continued from page 24

Laura Coulter ’88 to Gavin McCarthy on June 29, 2008 in Sudbury, MA. Erin O’Shaughnessy ’88 to John Walsh on August 23, 2008 in Sunapee, NH. Duncan Rotch ’88 to Jenny Hudson on August 18, 2007 in Portland, OR. Shelley Stout ’88 to Ken Fajans on October 25, 2008 in Amherst, NH. Emily Newick ’97 to Steve Gaughan on September 13, 2008 in York Harbor, ME. Abby Silverman ’97 to Matt Fischer on June 30, 2007 in Boston, MA. Andrew Hickok ’98 to Andrea Klayman on May 18, 2008 in Waitsfield, VT. Preston Hunter ’98 to Nicole Neyowetti on July 5, 2008 in Bedford, NH. Shannon Cain ’99 to Ryan Arnold on September 9, 2007 in Princeton, MA.

KOMO news. It’s a huge jump and a great opportunity for me to work in a major market. The move has actually allowed me to reconnect with a few other Derry‑field grads! So far, I’m enjoying all the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I absolutely love living in downtown Seattle, although I haven’t survived a winter here yet – we’ll see how I feel after nine months of rain!” n Whitney Lockwood married Bryan Berdy on August 16 in Newport, RI. They live in Newport, and Whitney recently started her own company, Churchill Celebrations, which special‑ izes in wedding planning, design, and coordination.

Kathleen Flahive ’99 to Matthew Baron on September 20, 2008 in Dennis, MA. Sara Schwartz ’99 to Jeffrey Mohan on June 14, 2008 in Lincoln, MA. Insley Barr ’00 to Richard Jones on August 8, 2008 in Bloomingburg, NY. Whitney Lockwood ’00 to Bryan Berdy on August 16, 2008 in Newport, RI. Alex Moerlein ’01 to Dorothy Bandura on October 10, 2008 in West Chester, PA. Lauren Murphy ’01 to John Ireland on August 5, 2006 in Waitsfield, VT. Andrew West ’01 to Ashley Smith on September 26, 2008 in Waterford, CT. Molly Zink ’02 to Francesco Finicchiaro ’02 on August 3, 2008 in Lawrence, MA. Lee Rynearson ’03 to Anastasia Lorenz on June 30, 2008 in Goffstown, NH. Faculty member Tina Govatos to Alex White on September 6, 2008 in Sugar Hill, NH. Breakthrough Director Kate Erskine to Jolene McWhirter on August 18, 2008 in Rye, NH.

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2001 Lauren Murphy Ireland reports, “John Ireland and I were married on August 5, 2006 at the Round Barn in Waitsfield, VT. It has been over two years, although I still feel like a newly‑ wed. My brother Gerard Murphy ’98, Zach Bioteau, Matt D’Alessio, Pat Santoso, Krista Keeler, Bekah Angoff ’00, Emily Scott, and Alissa White were all in attendance. Even Max Anderson ’14 was there. We just moved to Goffstown a few months ago from Burlington, VT.” n Chrissy Murphy recently held her audience captive at a Derryfield all‑school assembly while she presented a slideshow of her 10‑month circumven‑ tion of the Continent of Africa. With

photos of her on the back of a crocodile, kissing a baby monkey, and being attacked by an 800‑pound goril‑ la, Chrissy melded the excitement of travel with the importance of preserv‑ ing our endangered species, while touching on some recent African histo‑ ry. Since graduating from Derryfield, Chrissy has studied in Scotland, England, and France and has worked in Japan before her trip around Africa. Next on her plate: graduate studies in Hindi and religious studies in England. n Andy West and Ashley Smith were married on Friday, September 26, in the Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford, CT. Derryfield alumni in attendance were Krista Keeler, Jessie Brasley, Fred Coolbroth, Pat Santoso, Gill Roberts ’99, Mallory West ’08, and Julia West ’02.

Adam Desfosses ’03 and his girlfriend Megan Hedlund join Lee Rynearson ’03 and his bride Ana Lorenz at their wedding on June 30.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

2002 Molly Zink and Francesco Finicchiaro tied the knot on Sunday, August 3, 2008. The wedding took place at Holy Rosary Church in Lawrence, MA with the reception at their favorite Italian restaurant, Bella Italia, in Tyngsboro, MA. The happy couple honeymooned in Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Mount Rushmore. Derryfield alumni in attendance were: Andrew Tsai ’04 (an usher), Peter Russell, Julia West, and future Derryfield alumnus Patrick Finocchiaro ’15.

2003 Lee Rynearson and Anastasia Lorenz of Niskayuna, NY were married June 30, 2008 at Uncanoonuc Mountain Perennials in Goffstown. The reception was held at the Cherry Room at C.R. Sparks Restaurant and Bar in Bedford. The couple enjoyed a quiet honeymoon in Maine at a family campsite. Anastasia and Lee both recently gradu‑ ated from the Rochester Institute of Technology. They moved to Japan this fall where they both teach engineering to Japanese students.

2004 Cara Bishop writes, “I graduated cum laude from William Smith College with a triple major in Dance, Arts Education and Spanish & Hispanic Studies. I am

www.derryfield.org

attending graduate school at Temple University in the fall for my master’s in Dance Education. I think of my time at Derryfield often and truly believe that my education there helped me to thrive so well in college.” n Cale MacMichael‑Magruder writes, “Now that I’ve graduated from Carnegie Mellon, I’ll be working at Bechtel Corporation’s Power Division design‑ ing the “Next Gen” Nuclear Power Plants that will begin construction on U.S. soil in the next decade. It’s a good opportunity for someone just starting out as a mechanical engineer, but I’m not sure if I’ll be there for more than two years because the opportunities in DoD contracting are exploding right now, and it’s much more fast paced work, and thus a place I think I’d rather be.” n Michael Moran reports, “Next year I will be working in Manhattan for a middle‑market invest‑ ment banking company called Jefferies. Right now I’m dealing with the terrible process of finding an apartment in the city. On a side note, I may be rooming with Derryfield alumnus Tom Flahive ’03, who is also working in the city. I hope all is well at Derryfield and hope‑ fully I’ll get a chance to stop by and say hello before I head off to New York.” n Geoffrey Kirsch was named a Rufus Choate Scholar at Dartmouth College. The award is given to under‑ graduates with an academic ranking in the top five percent of their class. Kirsch was a Presidential Scholar Research Assistant during his sopho‑ more and junior years.

Alex Moerlein ’01 marries Dorothy Bandura on October 10.

2005 After spending time in Iraq, Emma LeBlanc has returned home. While in Iraq she served as a photographer for an article entitled “Awakenings” for JO Magazine out of Amman, which focused on the Sahwa Council, com‑ prised primarily of former insurgents who have now decided that Iran is the enemy – not the United States. GQ is planning to do a similar story on the “Awakening” for their February issue, also using her photos. Emma is cur‑ rently working on a book project as well as some other writing.

2006 Rachel Romanowsky has been named Conference Rookie of the Year for lacrosse in NESCAC, the conference in which Trinity College plays. n Sarah Umberger is continuing her stage work as Columbia, the tap dancer, in a pro‑ duction of Rocky Horror Show at Wittenberg University. She also danced in the school’s fall dance concert in November.

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U P DAT E O N A L U M N I

Stephanie Fiebrink ’03 married Tim Broderick, Jr. on May 31.

2007 Douglas Lindner writes, “I’m running for New Hampshire State Represent‑ ative in District 8 of Hillsborough County, which consists of Manchester’s Ward 1 (where Derryfield is). In case people are wondering whether or not the signs they see on their way to school are for the same person they’re thinking of, yes, they are. Please feel free to visit my website www.douglindner.com.” n Olivia Cowenhoven reports, “Kat Myers ’06 and I lived at Middlebury College for seven weeks this past summer, immersed in a Spanish‑language pro‑ gram. I took three classes: Grammar, Journalistic Writing, and Childhood through Culture – all in Spanish. I also sang in a choir and played for the ten‑ nis club in the Spanish School. Everyone signed a pledge not to speak a word of English, and sometimes it was difficult, but at the end of seven weeks, we were all pretty much flu‑ ent.” n Continuing a Derryfield tradi‑ tion, Maeghan Buckley participated in Model UN for Union College, helping

28

her team to victory. She writes, “I was on the First Committee: Disarmament and International Security. I was the only freshman permitted into the class because of my previous experience at Derryfield. My entire team won an award (Honorable Mention) for repre‑ senting Zambia. This was the first time in a long while that Union had sent a team to NMUN, so winning an award was a big deal. I am planning on being part of the team this year as well.”

2008 Congratulations to Kelly Schwarz, a freshman at Johns Hopkins University, who was the only “walk‑on” selected to the field hockey team this year. n Audrey Morgan started classes at the Culinary Institute of America on July 29 and her experience there has been everything she hoped for... and more! She started “Fish” class, which starts at 5:00 a.m., and she works for six hours in a refrigerated room. She said her

chef’s whites go immediately into the washing machine each day. n Akash Vadalia has kept up his hard work on the tennis court. He has made the Brandeis NCAA Division III men’s ten‑ nis team in his freshman year. n Alan Keith tells us that he’s enjoying his freshman year at Colgate. Besides try‑ ing to decide between majoring in eco‑ nomics, environmental science, or mathematics, Alan is staying busy with the extra‑curriculars. He has joined a fencing team and has two jobs – one as a lifeguard and another as a video journalist.

Faculty Congratulations to Coach Jeff Hastings and his wife Wendy who had their second child, another boy, on October 27th. Tristan David Hastings joins his big brother Jayden in the Hastings family.

Tim Jundanian ’06, Parker Mitchell ’07, Hannah Will ’08, and Emily Monty ’06 gather to cheer Derryfield boats at Head of the Charles in October.

Derryfield Today – Fall 2008


T H E D E R R Y F I E L D S C H O O L B I D S FA R E W E L L

profile

Faculty

Paul Keiner Teaches his Last Class s we spend some time in this issue of Derryfield Today think‑ ing about the middle school – its beginnings and its metamorphosis into the comfortable learning environment it has become – we cannot envision its past success without the guidance of Paul Keiner. Upon his departure from Derryfield last spring, we lost a leg‑ endary figure who left his mark on the School in many ways. We have all known Paul Keiner as a teacher, coach, mentor, musician, folk singer, carpenter, and movie aficiona‑ do. He is also a husband, father, and, now, a student. After 24 years of teach‑ ing and refining skills in literature and organization in Derryfield’s middle school, Paul decided to follow another calling and is back in college to begin a second career as an occupational therapist. It was something he began thinking about a few years ago when his daughter had a severe reaction to a bee sting resulting in a need for occu‑ pational and physical therapy. The ordeal inspired him in a new direction, a way to use his teaching skills to achieve a different end. Paul began his tenure at The Derryfield School in 1984, teaching sev‑ enth and eighth grade students on the

A

www.derryfield.org

top floor of what is now the upper school. With a full beard and head of hair, but still sporting his celebrated bow tie, he soon became known for his methods in teaching organizational skills. Known as “Keinerization,” the method involved skillful note‑taking and notebook keeping. And although some students thought this process cre‑ ated more work than they would have liked, it generated far more work for Paul. Mr. Keiner was often seen carry‑ ing 15 notebooks at a time down stairs and out to his car to be evaluated and graded when he got home. In the end, his students appreciated the work, and being “Keinerized” became a valuable tool in their future education and lives. This was clearly evidenced by the many testimonials written on Paul’s behalf for his farewell party in September. We heard from several of his former students who are now teaching his organizational methods, not only to their students, but to their own children. With teaching and Derryfield in his blood, Paul has resisted the temptation to cut his ties with this institution by returning to the School twice so far. We were able to entice him to teach a final class to alumni and other community

Paul Keiner teaching a master class at his farewell celebration in September.

members prior to his farewell party on September 28. The class was met with a packed house – standing room only in the Lyceum. Then, on November 25, a standing ovation in the auditorium greeted Mr. Keiner as he took the podi‑ um to deliver the Thanksgiving assem‑ bly address. Paul Keiner is a man of many labels, but he is, above all, a teacher. We wish him well in his new career and thank him for his 24 years of service to Derryfield, its students, and the entire community. But we won’t say good‑ bye. See you later, Paul. – Diane Allen

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Turf Field Dedication Trustee Preston Hunter ’00 cuts the ribbon celebrating the opening of Derryfield’s new turf field as Athletic Director Lenny McCaigue, Trustee Chair Steven Burke, and Assistant Head of School for Advancement Jennifer Melkonian look on.

Parents of alumni: If your son or daughter no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Advancement Office at 603.669.4524 of the correct mailing address. Thank you.

2108 River Road Manchester, NH 03104-1396 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANCHESTER, NH PERMIT NO. 290


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