Annual Report www.blueschool.org
2012-2013
Current Leadership BOARD OF DIRECTORS Renee Rolleri, Co-Founder & Chair Matt Goldman, Co-Founder & Vice-Chair Michael Parks, Treasurer Eric Huang, Secretary David Beal Lisa Kaye David Rock, PhD Jennifer Stanton, Co-Founder Phil Stanton, Founding Board Chris Wink, Founding Board Jen Wink, Co-Founder
ADVISORY BOARD
PURPOSE
Reimagining education for a changing world.
VISION
Communities of creative, joyful, compassionate learners use courageous and innovative thinking to build a harmonious and sustainable world.
MISSION
To develop and share an inquiry-based approach to education that fosters creativity, promotes academic excellence, nurtures human relationships, and inspires a lifelong passion for learning. “ Keep to your dreams, whether the journey is easy or rough.” – James, 5th grade Featured Artwork Front Cover: Anais Irizarry Back Cover: Jasper Stein
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Sam Chaltain Larry Cohen, PhD Austin Hearst Ian Kerner Sujin Kim Lawrence Levien John Maeda Jennifer McCrea Sir Ken Robinson, PhD David Rockwell Dan Siegel, MD Jeffrey Walker
Table of Contents Letter From the Head of School
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Letter From the Board Chair
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Letter From the 7 Executive Director of Business Development 2013 Revenue and Expenses
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A Community Rebuilds
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Book Fair
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Advisory Board Speakers
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Allison Gaines Pell, Head of School
Annual Fund Giving
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Jeni Aridizzone-West Executive Director of Business Development
Benefit Event
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Annual Events and Committees
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Letters To Our Children
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Blue School Staff
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Blue School Values
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ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP
Blakely Braniff Director of Development Freda Gimpel Director of Finance & Operations Ashley Hughes Program & Operations Manager David Kelly Director of Studies for Lower Grades Patricia Lynch Director of Studies for Upper Grades Dawn Williams Director of Admissions
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“I like Blue School because you basically have your opinion and you’re not told what to think.” – Rhyus, 4th Grade
Dear Blue School Community, When I speak about our work as educators and parents, I am in the habit of saying that a school is nothing more or less than a community of people who come together to realize collective hopes for children and for the world. Last year, when I was honored to take the role of Head of Blue School, I posed this question: how does a community create change? This provocation seeded our classroom studies for the year and our teachers and students pursued this question with vigor. Each classroom responded with unique explorations and projects, but nothing was more powerful than our collective response to Superstorm Sandy in the days following the storm. Just hours after the storm passed New York City, our staff and families descended upon the school and began working together, side by side, to clear away the debris, take stock of the damage, and rebuild our first floor. Through the first six days following the storm, as we worked to reopen school, and in the next six months, as we made repairs and replaced all that we could that was lost, each member of our mighty community embodied the values that we hold dear at Blue School: community, collaboration, resilience, creativity, ingenuity. In other important ways, it was a powerful reminder that as educators and parents, we are doing this work with children in service of a better, healthier, more sustainable tomorrow. As we returned to life as usual, we came back better and stronger than ever. Bolstered by this shared response, our projects came to life and flourished on
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our classroom walls, through the hallways of our building, and out into our community. Kindergarten children became guerilla artists to revitalize our neighborhood streets and second graders practiced community activism by sharing their views on development and historic preservation in the South Street Seaport. Four year olds transformed their classroom into a forest to study ecosystems and beauty in the natural world. Other students built planes, created shadow plays and experimented with light and sound in explorations of birds, the Brooklyn Bridge and ancient literature. We are so proud of our (and your) inventors, doers, creators, and thinkers, even more so now that our first graduating class is receiving wonderful feedback from the schools they are visiting as they look towards next year. These other schools tell us that our graduates are “unique, open, engaged, curious, intellectual, and vibrant.” At Blue School, we are privileged to give children the chance to become even more fully themselves. In closing, and in preparing you to review the pages that follow, I am reminded of the quote that I shared with you last fall: “Walker, there is no road. We make the road by walking.” I am so proud to be making this road with you, building a cycle of thankfulness and giving, and launching lifetimes of creativity, connection, intellectual engagement, and imagination with you and your children. Thank you for making this incredible journey with us.
Allison Gaines Pell Head of School
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Dear Blue School Friends, It was a privilege to work alongside the Board and in partnership with Allison Gaines Pell, our Head of School and Jeni Ardizzone West, our Executive Director over the 2012-13 school year. The completion of our Strategic Plan and the stability of strong leadership within Blue School’s incredible lab school have provided the students, staff and parents with a new level of clarity and commitment. In the midst of this steadiness, the Board focused on our goals to support the Strategic Plan initiatives. I’m proud to report our teams have already achieved new heights on so many levels toward realizing our strategic goals: •A llison, the Blue School administration, faculty and Families Association are solidifying the lab school and making our approach more transparent and accessible to internal and external constituents everyday. •B lue School’s leadership and administration teams developed and improved upon our systems and practices that will help to better achieve our mission, vision and values. •J eni and Allison partnered with the Board to investigate and conduct due diligence for expanding Blue School into middle school and to determine how we will continue to grow and develop to fulfill our mission and vision. •M embers of our Advisory Board convened to discuss why they believe in and support Blue School’s mission and vision, which was featured in Morgan Stanley’s Chronicles of Philanthropy. •T he Board and leadership staff are engaged in cultivating strategic partnerships and expanding our fundraising-base to further realize our efforts. •T he vital partnership and support from our parent and external community has made Blue School thrive at the next level organizationally. •A bove all, the new level of organizational cohesion has provided Blue School’s extraordinary faculty and students with a robust atmosphere to focus deeply on studies, pursue big questions and use creative, social and emotional intelligence to fuel the vigorous academic learning that takes place at our lab school every day!
“ My kids are becoming better human beings because of the love and attention they get from all they interact with at school.” – Asma, Parent of Khizer & Zaynah
•T he Blue School community accomplished amazing feats last year in the face of Super Storm Sandy (opening one week after the storm!). Next year, 2013-14, will mark Blue School’s first graduating class of Fifth Graders! From this foundation, Blue School will make important decisions for its next phase of growth and development. We are motivated and committed to grow Blue School in a way that best supports its mission, vision, but most importantly, our community. We have profound gratitude for your partnership, and commitment to join us in the movement to reimagine education for a changing world.
Renee Rolleri Board Chair and Co-Founder
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Blue School Revenue 2013 Tuition $4,427,394 Contributions $359,813
Dear Blue School Supporters, When the founders approached me in 2006 to help them start a creativity center, I never would have guessed that we would develop a school dedicated to reimaging education for a changing world, serving families across New York City, and poised to have a much larger national and ultimately global impact. Parent support coupled with thought leaders in the education, science, and business sectors, have championed us and joined us to transform our dreams and ideas into an inspiring reality.
0.9% 0.5%
3.5%
3.5% 6.9%
Special Event Revenue $185,864 (net) Government Grant Revenue $184,288
84.7%
Gifts-in-Kind $23,525 Other $47,386
Our origins are particularly relevant as I reflect on 2012-2013, where for the first time since the school’s inception, our leadership was able to step back from the tasks associated with building a new school to plan for our next phase of development. In December 2011, we formed a taskforce that partnered with the board to create Blue School’s 3-year Strategic Plan. This plan includes the goals and initiatives necessary to ensure our lab school programs thrive and remain sustainable, as well as the development required to expand our work beyond the walls of 241 Water Street to have a broader impact on education. Building a strategic plan with a large group is not easy. It requires the very skills that we strive to foster in the children every day. It involves passion, collaboration, leadership, and grit. I want to thank the entire staff for their input, the parents who agreed to be interviewed, our strategic taskforce made up of volunteer staff members, and our Board of Trustees for volunteering their time and providing the necessary guidance and decision making to enable us to determine the critical next steps needed to move closer to fulfilling our mission and vision. 2012-2013 was a transformative year in our journey and represents a real stepping stone for us as we continue to grow and develop, reflect on how far we have come, and express gratitude to all of those who have helped get us to where we are today. Thank you for the extraordinary ways in which you have supported the school. With gratitude,
Jennifer Ardizzone-West Executive Director of Business Development
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Blue School Expenses 2013 Program Services $4,728,227 (76%) Management & General $1,141,529 Fundraising $362,410 (6%)
(18%)
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A Community Rebuilds Blue School was one of the many buildings in the South Street Seaport that suffered severe damage from Hurricane Sandy. Having taken in over four feet of water on our first floor, we lost our newly built 3s classrooms, gymnasium, “wonder room”, administrative offices and many of our mechanical and elevator systems. Thanks to an extremely loyal crew of parents, staff and contractors, our team responded immediately afterwards to remove the debris and begin the process of remediation. Within seven days, we were able to rebuild our lobby and seal off the remainder of the first floor, allowing entry into the building while safely containing the construction crews that worked tirelessly to rebuild. We enthusiastically welcomed our students back on November 5, and experienced a reinvigoration of our community’s commitment and resolve to keep Blue School strong. Looking back, the storm created powerful opportunities to connect with our neighbors and deepen our studies of this historic district. We emerged as a stronger, more resilient community and are proud to be part of our neighborhood’s evolution.
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Sir Ken Robinson speaks to our community and holds his New York book signing at Blue School.
Book Fair In December of 2012, Blue School’s Book Fair Committee created its own bookstore in our just recovered ground floor gymnasium. For three days, parents and students spent time before, during and after school in an environment celebrating books and literacy. The titles were entirely curated by our parent committee. Books reflected our values and interests, and throughout the selections were small signs connecting the books to specific Blue School values and lenses. The event raised $4,000 for Blue School’s library! Thanks to Anne Hardingham, the authors, the crew of volunteers and our partner, McNally Jackson Books.
Advisory Board Partners Blue School is tremendously proud of our incredible Advisory Board Members who are an integral piece of our program. Their support manifests in speaking events for our parents and community partners, providing professional development workshops for our faculty, authoring publications that feature our school’s impact and advising on strategic growth. In the 2012 - 2013 school year, we were proud to have hosted Dr. Larry Cohen for his invigorating parenting workshops, as well as Sir Ken Robinson, at his one and only New York City book signing.
BOOK FAIR COMMITTEE Mo Paolini, Co-chair Kira Wizner, Co-chair
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Samantha Baker Brandi Beck Christine Jones
Caedlighe Paolucci Julie Papadopoulos Annah Pelin
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2012–2013 Annual Fund The 2012 - 2013 school year was remarkable in many ways, including the tremendous support for Blue School’s Annual Fund. Our ability to attract and retain a talented and dedicated staff while expanding and strengthening our dynamic program was made possible by our entire community partnering together on a shared goal. When faced with a challenge, our parents, faculty, administrators and friends pulled together to achieve great results while simultaneously building strong community bonds. We are proud of the rise in participation, which reached an incredible 76% from parents and 98% from our staff. These gifts are essential to providing a joyful, creative and vigorous program for our children. INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS Zoe Adlersberg Lora and JJ Appleton Jeni Ardizzone-West Bruce Arnold Malene Austin Joanna and Thomas Bailey Patricia Sanguedo and Eric Baker Thomas Birer and Markus Bannert Elizabeth Rogers and Julian Barrowcliffe Sian and David Beal Brandi Beck Marlon Bernard Mary Farrell and Stuart Bloomberg Anne Sophie Boesen Cynthia Bogdanovich Blakely Braniff William Breen Andrea Lerner and Sebastiaan Bremer Mariana Vera and Christopher Bren Jasanna and John Britton Angela Badamo and Andrew Burdess Amanda Leff and Michael Burstein Melissa Hammel and Michael Burton Ruth Root and Nicholas Butterworth Suzanne Brown and Chris Calabia Dawn Calabia Ian Candy Jamie and David Caro Linda Chang Sarah Teale and Gordon Chaplin
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Elsie Hsieh and Joong Choi Michele McElfresh-Chou and Herbert Chou Corey Pak and Matthias Clamer Candice and Jascha Clark Anne Cohen Jill and Serge Cohen Emma and Sean Culbert Ananda and Kai Cutter Molly Degesero Laura Bailyn and Nicholas Diamand Oskar Saville and Feargal Doyle Carin Van der Donk and Vincent D’Onforio Marina Brolin and Gary D’Urso Vallens Duval Dean Eisen Shanon and Nael Farsakh Karla and Fernandes-Vogel Gretchen Dean and Eric Fish Dawn Williams and Marty Fluger Kate Farrell and Jonathan Fraser Violaine Harris and David Fuhrer Allison Gaines Pell Amanda and Nicholas Gelber Claudia Duarte and Alan Geller Luciana and Henrique Gendre Freda Gimpel Seth Godin Renee Rolleri and Matt Goldman Paola Weintraub and Nick Gomez Wendy Cole and Damon Gorton Don Grace Michelle and Mark Graham
Carla Passos and Robert Greenawalt Jennifer Halliday Natalie Lindsey and Bruce Hamann Joleen Hanlund Anne Hardingham Austin Hearst Ciara Hedderman Sophie Gudmundson and Jan Henrik Elizabeth Yow and Steven Hicks Kari Thorstensen and Joel Hinman Tara Holmes Kate Horton Tanja Norwood and Eric Huang Ashley and Nathan Hughes Michelle Cheuvront and Pablo Ibero Michael and Erin Isakov Nele Husmann and Thomas Jahn Rich Jenkins Ngina Johnson Alexandra Starr and Erez Kalir Lisa Kaye Thomas and Sara Kearney David Kelly Valerie Killen Catharine Chang and Hooni Kim Erika and Benson Kutrieb Jenny Golden and Steven LaMorte Anne Hugard and Patrice Lataillade Donna Lennard Karen Levenberg Meredith and Josh Levine Sivan Lewin Keren Lilu Hera Huang and Johan Lindgren Anna Padgett and Michael Littleton Suzanne and Rene Lopez Michele Barker and Suleman Lunat Patricia Lynch Ashley Lyon Coleen and Paul Maguire Frances Mak and Climerio de Souza Gomez Neto Leona Naess and John Marino Sara Weinstein and Emil Martone Jennifer and Peter Masterson Jennifer Nugent and Paul Matteson Laura Stein and David Mattson Jennifer McConnell Jennifer McCrea Andrea Kerzner and David McNamara
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2012–2013 Annual Fund Cont’d Shino and Albert Moffitt Lauren Monaco Jillian and Pete Muller Paul Murillo Shira Newmark Alexandra Levinsohn and Stian Nilsen Emily Hartzell and Leslie Nuchow Jen Insardi and James Oliviero Anna Saviski and Riyad Omar Anne and William Palmer Mo and Steven Paolini Christophor and Caedlighe Paolucci Samir and Cristina Patel Annah Pelin Anne Kenan and David Perrin Drew Petersen Dot Portella Diana and Dan Projansky Jennifer and Boris Rapoport Gaia Schermerhorn and Blake Rayne Nyla and Alan Reed Randi Reinhold Harriet Richards Christine Jones and Dallas Roberts Steven Rosandich Sarah Parker and Charlie Rosse Sarah Michelson and Colin Rusch Sovina Doan and Erez Sabag Asma Malik and Kevin Salmon Kimberly Pittman and Robert Saxner Blake Rayne and Gaia Schermerhorn Robert Scherer Stacy Fischer and David Schoenberger Solin Cho and Aart Pieter Schouten Christina Old and Christian Schraga Chloe Scott-Giry Anjali Kumar and Atul Sharma Nancy Simko Alison Yi and Unggul Soemardjo Susanne and Vernon Steward Anthony and I-Hsing Sun Sabrina Little and Bill Swartz Maki Kawasaki and Jason Tang Martine Capalbo and Josh Taylor Yen Ha and Richard Tesler Gladys Fung and Adrian Thong Lee Ann Brown and Anthony Torn
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Robin Tost Kathryn Traynor Janaina Tschape Alison Uklanska and Piotr Uklanski Tanya Van Sant Michelle Vanassa Victoria and Benjamin Vergnion Sarah and John Vincent Jacqueline Vittini Bridget Murphy and Kay Vorderwuelbecke Karen Zippler and Anthony Ward Harvey Ware Jr. Elizabeth Thompson and Tim White Jen and Chris Wink Kira and Jake Wizner Melissa Michalak and Jeremy Wolff Lisa Wolman Ilaria and Adam Woodward Ana Younghusband Rebecca Kim and Dwight Yoo Kathleen Johnson and James Yu Ellen Zerkin
CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS Austin Hearst Foundation Dancing Tides Foundation Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching GIft Program Google Matching Gift Program John Silberman & Associates Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Matching Program Morgan Stanley Matching GIft Program NY International Children’s Film Festival Reel Link Films Razorfish Matching GIft Program Serco Supply Corp. The Spray Foundation SPECIAL THANKS FOR IN-KIND SERVICES Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP. We appreciate everyone who supported the Annual Fund. If we have inadvertently left out a name, please accept our sincerest apologies, and contact our office at blakely@blueschool.org.
Spring Fling: Art Noir
The 2013 Spring Fling: Art Noir was held at the McKittrick Hotel on April 17, where guests participated in the acclaimed interactive theatrical production of “Sleep No More.” After the show, our live auction was hosted by CK Swett, which resulted in raising over $68,000! Additional entertainment was provided by DJ Kai, DJ $mall Change, jazz musicians Stella Sinclair & the Manderley House Band. The event also featured a video of our students’ journey of studying Shakespeare, tying in the theme of the Macbeth-inspired performace. Net proceeds from the event, including live, silent and online auctions was $185,864! BENEFIT COMMITTEE Erin Isakov, Event Co-Chair Sian Edwards-Beal, Event Co-Chair Susanne Steward, Auction Chair Nathan Hughes, Technical Director Ashley Hughes, Production Stage Manager Kathleen Johnson, Production Stage Manager Don Grace, VP External Relations Blakely Braniff, Director of Development
Alice Hunt, Assistant Director of Development Marina Brolin-D’Urso, Graphic Design Tricia Williams /Food Matters NYC, Catering Bridget Murphy, Silent Auction/Kids Art Party Piglet Evans, Online Ticket System Sian Edwards-Beal & Sarah Teale, Film Producers JJ Appleton, Film Score Kathleen Johnson, Film Co-Producer
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ART NOIR SUPPORTERS Zoe Adlersberg Apple Seeds Kathryn Appleby and Peter Johnson Lora and JJ Appleton Jeni Ardizzone-West Bruce Arnold Ark Seafood Inc. Acqua Restaurant Bacaro Patricia Sanguedo and Eric Baker Elizabeth Rogers and Julian Barrowcliffe Sian Edwards and David Beal Markus Bannert and Thomas Birer Blue Man Group Chef David Bouley Bowne & Co. Stationers Andrea Lerner and Sebastian Bremer Mariana Vera and Christopher Bren Jasanna and John Britton Amanda Leff and Michael Burstein Melissa Hammel and Michael Burton Ruth Root and Nicholas Butterworth c’est beau photo Suzanne Brown and Chris Calabia Anne Sophie Boesen Piglet Evans and Matthew Cavalletto Hunter Chancellor Sarah Teale and Gordon Chaplin chashama Marci Cheary Kenneth Chen Photography Lydia Cheuk Childrens’ Museum of the Arts CitiBabes Elsie Hsieh and Joong Choi Michele McElfresh and Herbert Chou Church Street School of
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Music and Art City Treehouse Corey Pak and Matthias Clamer Candice and Jascha Clark Jill and Serge Cohen Common Good Competitive Advantage Consider It Done! Joan Cooney Corby Associates Mari Pilar and Pele Cortizo-Burgess Jennifer Costello Cowgirl Seahorse Excellence in Dermatology Cozy Cuts Ashleigh Arrell and Andrew Creighton Cross Fire Security Co. Inc. Emma and Sean Culbert Ananda and Kai Cutter Marina Brolin and Gary D’Urso Stephanie Bruni and Diego Da Silva Diageo Laura Bailyn and Nicholas Diamand Durst Organization Oskar Saville and Feargal Doyle Clairvoyant Beauty Downtown Dance Factory Lloyd Edelman Mary Farrell Shanon and Nael Farsakh The Fashion Class Fat Radish Fat Sick & Nearly Dead Karla and Matthew Fernandes-Vogel Jessamyn Hatcher and Michael Fields Gretchen Dean and Eric Fish Mya and Lev Fishman Flatbush Farm FlyWheel Sports Dawn Williams and Marty Fluger For Eyes
Darryl Fowler Violaine Harris and David Fuhrer Izabela and Kevin Frank Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC Kate Farrell and Jonathan Fraser Fred Astaire Dance Studio Fresh Salt Front Studio Fulton Market Allison Gaines-Pell Amanda and Nicholas Gelber Claudia Duarte and Alan Geller GK Framing Renee Rolleri and Matt Goldman Paola Weintraub Gomez and Nick Gomez Megan Kinney and Martin Gooding Wendy Cole and Damon Gorton Don Grace Michele and Mark Graham Graystone Consulting The Greenwich Hotel Dr. Bradley Grossman Sophie Gudmundson and Jan Henrik Joanne Heyman Elizabeth Yow and Steven Hicks Kari Thorstensen and Joel Hinman The Howard Hughes Corporation Tanja Norwood and Eric Huang Ashley and Nathan Hughes Hunter Service Group, Inc. I Beam Construction, LLC Michelle Cheuvront and Pablo Ibero Ice Theatre of New York il Buco Imagine Swimming Erin and Michael Isakov Janus Films J & R Telecom Alexandra Starr and Erez Kalir Anita Durst and Rick Kariolic Karma Kids Lisa Kaye Sara and Thomas Kearney H. Sujin Kim Ann Kingston Kathi Castro and Michael Kudler Kula Yoga Erika and Benson Kutrieb
Jenny Golden and Steven LaMorte Ira Lee Simone Leigh Lemon Sky Meredith and Josh Levine Sivan Lewin Little Airplanes Studio Anna Padgett and Michael Littleton Livewell Personal Training Suzanne and Rene Lopez Henriette Scherer and Marc LoPresti Michele Barker and Suleman Lunat Mabo Kids Made Fresh Daily Coleen and Paul Maguire Manhattan Theatre Club Leona Naess and John Marino Mark Joseph Steakhouse Sarah Weinstein and Emil Martone Jennifer and Peter Masterson Laura Stein and David Mattson Erin McCarthy Andrea Kurzman and David McNamara Brian Scott Mednick MGM Mirage Entertainment Miles Fischer, Fire & Building Code Services, INC. Aaron and Ross Millhiser Elizabeth Mitchell Moby Shino and Albert Moffitt Lauren Monaco Janaina Tschape and Vik Muniz Music For Aardvarks Music For Manhattan Donna Lennard Nanno Space NETworks Presentations LLC New Victory Theatre Alexandra Levinsohn and Stian Nilsen Moira North
Leslie Hartzell and Emily Nuchow Julianne Tolleson and Matthew Nycz Leigh Anne O’Connor Tia and William Obering Jen Insardi and James Oliviero Anne and William Palmer Mo and Steven Paolini Julie and Nick Papadopoulos Caedlighe and Christopher Paolucci Pasanella & Sons Carla Passos Cristina and Samir Patel Mara Pauker Peridance Anne Kenan and David Perrin Jill Platner Play On! Studios Polly Soloman and Aerial Silk Classes Jennifer and Boris Rapoport Claudia Bernheim and Leo Raphaely Nyla and Alan Reed Tricia Williams and Peder Regan David Reimer Rickshaw Dumplings Rinaldi Pilates Christine Jones and Dallas Roberts Sir Ken and Lady Robinson RoboFun Lisa and David Rock Brandi Beck and Andy Rosen Sarah Parker and Charlie Rosse Katherine and Kenneth Ruck Sarah Michelson and Colin Rusch Sovina Doan and Erez Sabag Sacred Yoga The Salty Paw Kimberly Pittman and Robert Saxner Pamela Scherr Stacey Fischer and David Schoenberger Solin Cho and Pieter Schouten Beth Levison and Henry Sidel SmartSitting
Alison Yi and Unggul Soemardjo Soul Arts Academy Speak Out New York Jennifer and Phil Stanton Susanne and Vernon Steward STREB I-Hsing and Anthony Sun Super Why Sabrina Little and Bill Swartz Taste Buds Martine Capalbo and Joshua Taylor Yen Ha and Peter Tesler Three Tarts Tone Academy Toni L. Tallerico & AT Mechanical LLC Lee Ann Brown and Anthony Torn Andrew Marcus and Ethan Trask Marta Guitart and Joseph Tuana Rebecca Wood and Josh Tyrangiel Alison and Piotr Uklanska Universal Orlando UX Bureau Michelle Vanassa Ilham Zoughi and Sriram Venkataraman Victoria and Benjamin Vergnion Sarah and John Vincent Bridget and Kay Vorderwuelbecke Karen Zippler and Anthony Ward The Weinstein Company Willie Mae Rock Camp for Ladies Jen and Chris Wink Kira and Jake Wizner Melissa Michalak and Jeremy Wolff Lisa Wolman Ilaria and Adam Woodward Kathleen Johnson and James Yu Ellen Zerkin
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BLUE SCHOOL FACULTY
Letters to Our Children Our end-of-year parent celebration was focused on giving thanks for the incredible generosity and support given by our community throughout the year. Parents and staff gathered for a cocktail party on the terrace and were invited to write a letter to their child, illuminating why it is so important to them to have been able to give their child and their family the experience of a Blue School education. Letters were hung on a paper tree mural in the Commons, and were on display for all to enjoy for days afterwards.
Cynthia Bogdanovich, 3rd Grade Jason Borges, 3rd Grade Linda Chang, 2nd Grade B Anne Cohen, Music Specialist Molly DeGesero, Kindergarten B Val DuVal, Physical Arts Jennifer Halliday, 1st Grade B Dina Hamaoui, 2s A/B/C/D Joleen Hanlund,1st Grade B Anne Hardingham, 1st Grade A Ciara Hedderman, 3s A/C Tara Holmes, 2s A/B/C/D Rich Jenkins, Kindergarten B Ngina Johnson, 1st Grade A Valerie Killen, 3s B Erica Lee, 3s A/C Karen Levenberg, 4s B full day Keren Lilu, 2nd Grade A Ashley Lyon, 4s A Lauren Monaco, Studio Teacher Shira Newmark, Floater Anna Padgett, 4s B full day Monica Palma, Spanish Teacher Mara Pauker, Kindergarten A Drew Petersen, Drama Specialist Dot Portella, 2nd Grade A Randi Reinhold, 2nd Grade B Nancy Simko, Kindergarten A Katie Traynor, 3s B Ana Younghusband, 4th Grade Ellen Zerkin, 4s A
ADMINISTRATORS Jeni Ardizzone-West, Executive Director/Business Development
Bruce Arnold, Consulting School Psychologist
Marlon Bernard, Controller Blakely Braniff, Director of Development
Bill Breen, Facilities Manager Amelia Clune, Literacy and Learning Specialist
Allison Gaines Pell, Head of School Freda Gimpel, Director of Finance & Operations
Don Grace, VP of External Relations Kate Horton, Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Ashley Hughes, Program & Operations Manager
David Kelly, Director of Studies for Lower Grades
Patricia Lynch, Director of Studies for Upper Grades
Paul Murillo, Security Ian Candy, IT Specialist Harriet Richards, Child Development Specialist
Lindsey Russo, Curriculum Specialist
Chloe Scott-Giry, Assistant Director of Admissions
Nicole Smoot, “ The work, creative thinking and collaboration I have seen at Blue School is awe-inspiring. I feel incredibly lucky as a parent to have found this magical place for my children.” – Erin, Parent of Sophia, Katarina & Eli
Administative Assistant/Receptionist
Michelle Vanassa, Office Manager Harvey Ware, Building & Security Supervisor
Dawn Williams, Director of Admissions
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Our Values Each of our values relates in some way to the idea of connection, whether it be connection to a community, to one’s own self-awareness, to one’s artistic voice, to one’s body, to the world, to one’s own interests and learning style, or to one’s sense of joy and wonder.
SELF-AWARENESS & WELL-BEING We help children become aware of how their bodies and thought processes connect to a sense of health, efficacy, and resilience.
PLAYFULNESS, EXUBERANCE & FUN We believe children construct some of their most important learning through play.
CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION We believe that creative expression is a basic human need.
GLOBAL & ENVIRONMENTAL EXPLORATION We help children become aware of and respect the world in which they live.
MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES & DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING STYLES We carefully observe and assess each child’s individual interests and needs and then use this information to guide our teaching.
FAMILY & COMMUNITY CONNECTION We believe that children flourish when deep human connections permeate all aspects of their lives.
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