SPRING 2022
The Magazine of Church Farm School
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Meeting Students Where They Are
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MAROON & GREY Spring 2022 The Magazine of Church Farm School EDITOR Stefanie Claypoole LAYOUT & DESIGN Harp and Company Graphic Design PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY Betsy Barron Photography MISSION The Church Farm School prepares a diverse group of boys with academic ability and good character to lead productive and fulfilling lives by making a college preparatory education financially accessible. Support our mission at gocfs.net.
ADMINISTRATION HEAD OF SCHOOL The Rev. Edmund K. Sherrill II ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL/ DIRECTOR OF ACADEMICS Margaret van Steenwyk DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT Brandon Herbert DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Suni Blackwell
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DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE GUIDANCE Tiffany Scott DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Jon Knorr DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS Karen Wertz DIRECTOR OF STUDENT LIFE Chet Blair
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Dear Friends and Members of the Church Farm School Community,
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reetings from Exton and a campus teaming with spring’s beautiful array of flowering plants, shrubs and trees, as well as warmer air infusing our souls and bodies as we emerge from winter and, yes, more and more from the clutches of the coronavirus. Our hard work to fashion a productive and positive school experience on campus over the past year, even with health-oriented restrictions in place, continues to bear fruit and our scholars are the beneficiaries of all that their caring mentors have provided in the classroom, in cottages and on the athletic field. The sun’s greater glow and the lengthening of daylight brings added energy and renewal to the industry of brothers working to the completion of a good school year and strengthens the bonds of lasting camaraderie.
The theme for the year has been “meeting students where they are,” an intentional focus on the needs of each individual scholar who has had a variety of experiences within the constantly adapting educational landscape and its movements in and out of online, hybrid and in-class instruction. Knowing exactly what each one may or may not have mastered or covered in a curriculum and variety of school settings as well as at CFS has been important to each scholar’s resetting of expectations as well as building out on foundational tools and means to reach for and achieve their expected goals. We are witness to greater social, emotional and intellectual supports that each scholar needs to move forward as we might desire. Some of this cannot be accelerated as elements of maturity and related growth can only take place in certain contexts, largely social and interpersonal. Thus, we continue to work on this process with care and patience. Please look for additional articles elsewhere in this publication that amplify this good work. You will also find more stories that bear witness to our pursuit of the Strategic Plan and its centering on student success. Everything we do points to this goal, and it is most effectively expressed in the Profile of a CFS Graduate. We also aim to serve a particularly diverse collection of scholars through promoting a distinctive identity all alumni will recognize. Guided by input from the Board of Directors and Alumni Council, our enrollment team has worked to produce a refreshed approach to recruiting the next generation of scholars. Please look for these “ebooks” on our website and be encouraged to promote them within your own spheres of influence to boys who will be interested in becoming part of the CFS brotherhood and its legacy.
I remain grateful for the vast support to our recent capital campaign that has enhanced our north campus. We hope you will soon come see and experience for yourself just how much this physical enhancement has meant to our program, particularly the arts and greater student interaction, connection and support. We are also excited to be adding an upgraded 400-meter, six-lane, all-weather track, complete with a new playing field in its interior. Fundraising for this continues and I urge your participation in making this a reality for use in the spring of 2023. The lifeblood of CFS is its capacity to fundraise each year so that we can reach the shared goals that maintain this extraordinary school, its financial model and the educational opportunity that helps unlock the potential in every scholar who comes through our doors. What you read in these pages of Maroon & Grey and what any scholar will experience on our campus is solely dependent on our ability to generate the support needed to make it a reality. Thank you for your continued friend and fundraising support, and steadfast confidence in what Church Farm School does every day. Thanks to you, we will be here for a long time to come. With abiding appreciation and best wishes,
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MEETING STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE T he adult community comes together annually during its June in-service meeting to brainstorm a theme that will guide the upcoming school year. In 2020-2021, “Focused On What Matters” was a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and an awareness that we might have to do “less” programmatically, but as long as our attention was on our students’ well-being, we’d be successful. It was a challenging year with students participating both on campus and off, and we recognized that some learning—not just academic but athletic and social and emotional, too—was likely being disrupted. This drove our 2021-2022 theme: “Meeting Students Where They Are” and our commitment to returning to full, in-person living and learning, which our health and safety protocols helped us to meet.
and in particular, to Church Farm School’s unique culture, values and traditions. Led by 9th and 10th grade-level chairs Bob Warfel and Rabi Young, activities encouraged critical thinking, design challenges and, of course, peer bonding. The SOAR program will be offered again in 2022-2023 and shortened to a one-week program.
GRIFFINS STUDENT ORIENTATION AND ACADEMIC READINESS (SOAR) A significant goal that came out of the Strategic Plan 2025 was offering summer enrichment programming for CFS scholars. Considering the worldwide learning loss caused by the pandemic, the Academic team launched Griffins SOAR—Student Orientation and Academic Readiness—a two-week program for incoming 9th grade students to acclimate them to living and learning at a boarding school,
A new meditation room provides a calming retreat for our scholars.
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HEALTH & SAFETY Church Farm School’s vaccination requirement for all students, faculty and staff—coupled with its Covid protocols— gave the school confidence that it could resume in-person operations safely and efficiently this year. While there were certainly restrictions and sacrifices—less public events, less visitors, less off-campus activities—our community’s health and safety was paramount and something we were unwilling to compromise. The Student Life team, including Director of Student Life and DEI Chet Blair, Head Nurse Julien Huang and her staff and new Director of Residential Life Bob Warfel, worked tirelessly to create as much engaging on-campus content as possible for our scholars. We also debuted our new meditation room. Dr. Nicole Campbell, a longtime music teacher who recently received her 200-hour certification in wellness, social emotional learning and yoga, and Stef Rosinsky, the school counselor, partnered to create a wellness retreat space for students interested in prayer, reflection, relaxation and exercise. The school’s Chapel Council provided uplifting programming where adults and students alike could hear from internal and external guest speakers. Our ACT (Academic Coaching Team) pairs adult and peer mentors with students who need extra academic support. In January, Church Farm School was one of nine schools in Chester County that received state funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools, which helps schools and local education agencies promote an environment of greater productivity, safety and learning. The school received $22,910 for safety equipment and $19,950 for safety programs. This is the third straight year the school has benefitted from the funding. Prior funding has helped the school secure video cameras for use throughout the exterior of the campus, which is on a heavily trafficked section of Route 30. New funding will help Church Farm School add more cameras, plus purchase equipment for a new visitor management system. The programmatic portion of the grant will go toward enhanced intruder drill and crisis management training.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY Church Farm School has long touted diversity as one of its core strengths. The school is, at present, 95% students of color, and the administration, faculty, staff, students and Board have been diligently working to honor and celebrate the many unique heritages at Church Farm School. A new DEI Taskforce comprising members of the school’s Board of Directors and administration are working on the school’s diversity statement and plan. Director of Student Life and DEI Chet Blair, a longtime Board member of MCRC@ADVIS, says DEI goals include “providing programming that
Son of Immigrants ALAIN HUERTA ’23 The youngest of two, the baby of the family Once being the shadow of my brother, limiting who I can be. Competing with myself to be a better me The son of immigrants is all I see. What does that mean? It means we are hard workers because we want to give back Back to our parents for giving up their old life, So that their children who hadn’t been born yet Have the opportunity to become their best self. Do I live up to achieve the American Dream like my brother? Same elementary school and same middle school, Both going to private high schools, Ivy League college for him, is that the same for me? No I am my own self. Both sons of immigrants but two different people. We both want to give back but in our own manner. So we both hold up this imaginary banner Representing our parents and ourselves. Do I have to compete with others in this world to reach my dream, My American Dream? Do I have to raise my limits every year? Get a high GPA and cheer? Go through different types of pain, And different educations to gain, My American Dream? I want to make my parents proud, In this new life my parents found. Being American grown with Mexican roots. My life of endless possible routes Looking and trying to reach the American Dream. *AP English Language & Composition students composed poems about their experience of America.
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Why the Chimes Rang” returned for the 96th year. 4
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Our varsity basketball team were named BAL District Champs. expands our hearts and minds, brings people together and helps create a better tomorrow for our school communities.” A number of initiatives this year have endeavored to do just that. The school’s student-led Multicultural, or “M” Club, has been at the forefront of this work at CFS for years, but now DEI is beginning to be more concretely woven into the school’s curriculum. Classroom projects and “gallery walks” have allowed students to showcase—through poetry, spoken word, artwork and other creative mediums—how their identity impacts their worldview. Adults and scholars alike are encouraged to share their backgrounds at assemblies and Chapel services and there is significant focus around addressing DEI within professional development and guest speaker programming.
A RETURN TO TRADITIONS “Meeting Students Where They Are” also meant making sure school traditions and programs important to our students were brought back to the fore. This began with Parents’ Weekend 2021 in October, where we were able to invite parents, alumni and friends to campus for events that included student-led conferences, a campus dedication ceremony and a luncheon featuring guest speaker Robb Armstrong (see page 7). A tradition we were committed to transitioning back to an in-person event was the CFS Christmas Pageant. “Why the Chimes Rang” celebrated its 96th year with two
“Providing programming that expands our hearts and minds, brings people together and helps create a better tomorrow for our school communities.” performances in December, and while our actors were masked, our spirit was not. If you missed it, you can view it on our website. Our athletics competitions were back with only minor disruptions. Junior Jose Sotelo was named BAL Independence Division MVP, and our varsity basketball team were named District Champs and made it to the State playoff quarterfinals.
ADMISSIONS & COLLEGE GUIDANCE New Director of Enrollment, Brandon Herbert, and Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Martina McPhail, arrived in July and October, respectively, eager to bring their energy and expertise to Admissions. 5
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and universities, including Vanderbilt, Penn, Johnson and Wales, Dartmouth, Pitt, Ithaca, West Chester, Juniata, Temple, Drexel and more, many with almost full scholarships. Besides scheduled breaks around Parents’ Weekend, Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring, our scholars have mostly been confined to campus. Our entire community— academic and cottage faculty, administration, staff, nurses, coaches and, in particular, our caterer Sodexo— have pulled together, often working with student leadership, to create engaging activities that build Our scholars’ excitement is ignited in Dr. Sharma’s brotherhood, get Chemistry class. our students moving and most importantCovid-19 forced the school to under-enroll for the past two ly of all, have fun. years to assure enough resources for every student in virtual, hybrid and in-person environments, while allowing “Meeting Students us to leave a cottage empty for isolation purposes if needed. Where They Are” in The pandemic also hindered our ability to enroll internathe era of Covid-19 tional students whose access to travel remained uncertain. has been a collective The team has been busy spreading the word virtually, effort, and one that attending fairs, hosting many prospective families for will continue long virtual events and in-person tours to grow our boarding, after the school year day and international student program. has ended. We hope Ms. El-Haje hosted a fun gingerto lessen restrictions bread house activity for her French Our scholars have once again been working closely with in the spring as the students. Director of College Guidance and Strategic Initiatives weather improves and our confidence in our health Tiffany Scott on finding their best fit schools. As of March 1, and safety protocols allows us to do so. our seniors have been accepted to more than 40 colleges
Following a seven-week acting workshop under the direction of Phillip Brown, our scholars performed short Monologues for the community. 6
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JumpStart Cartoonist Creates Custom Comic for Church Farm School ROBB ARMSTRONG
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hen Church Farm School’s Assistant Head of School and Director of Academics Margaret van Steenwyk and Director of Student Life and DEI Chet Blair were pondering a speaker for Parents’ Weekend, they thought back to some of the most impactful speakers they had heard in their school experience. Robb Armstrong, creator of the nationally syndicated comic strip, JumpStart, came immediately to mind as both Margaret and Chet had heard Robb speak at Shipley, Robb’s alma mater. They knew his story of courage, risk-taking, resilience, determination and loyalty to family would resonate for students. Student Body President Frangel Soriano ’22 said talking with Mr. Armstrong changed his life; with this quote particularly resonating: “A lot of people will look to you for your capacity and talent because you have something great. But don’t get distracted. Go for what you love and are meant for.” Robb’s journey from bright-eyed young man to accomplished artist is not unlike the path many Church Farm School students follow. Born in West Philadelphia and raised by a single mother, a scholarship to Shipley in 7th grade enabled Robb to cultivate his passions, learn from mentors and build a strong peer
group. That “brotherhood” became the theme for a custom comic strip mural Robb created for the school’s Student Life area, a new space created as part of the school’s recent $15.5M campus modernization project. Robb signed the mural on Wednesday, October 20, surrounded by the school’s student leaders, Director of Student Life Chet Blair, Arts Chair Dina Schmidt and Robb’s wife, Crystal, who helped organize the engagement with the school.
Schulz, who gave his character Franklin the surname Armstrong in Robb’s honor. Robb’s award-winning comic strip JumpStart is published every day in the LA Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the New York Daily News, the Boston Globe and more than 350 other newspapers in
Robb addressed Church Farm School parents, faculty, staff and friends at a luncheon Cartoonist Robb Armstrong (middle) and his wife, Crystal, on October 16, show off a new mural with Arts Chair Dina Schmidt (left) relaying highand student leaders. lights and struggles from his own journey, including the U.S. and abroad. It can also be adjusting to being one of only a few seen daily on the Internet at Black students at a private Main Line gocomics.com. A book about Robb’s school, the death of his beloved life has been published by Reader’s mother and his passion for drawing Digest called Fearless: A Cartoonist’s Peanuts character Charlie Brown. Guide to Life. Following his address to Robb’s love of Peanuts led to his own the Church Farm School community, interest in art and eventually, a Robb signed copies of his newest lifelong friendship with Charles book, On a Roll. 7
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Church Farm School Dedicates Modernized Campus 8
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ollowing years of planning and a public debut delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Church Farm School held a dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 16 to celebrate the completion of its $15.5M campus modernization project. The project was supported by the Capital Campaign “For the Boys,” which raised $6.7M, more than $200,000 over goal. The dedication ceremony, part of Parents’ Weekend 2021, featured prayers by Head of School The Reverend Edmund K. Sherrill II, music by the CFS Choir and remarks by Board Chair and President Matthew Burns P’10 and Student Body President Frangel Soriano ’22. A ribbon-cutting ceremony included two families who lent significant financial support for the project; Peter Hamilton representing the Hamilton family and Caroline Buck Rogers representing the Buck family.
Page 8: The new entrance to Church Farm School highlighted by a dining terrace and Quad. Top Left: Board member Caroline “Cackie” Buck Rogers in the Buck Family Center for the Arts. Top right: N. Peter Hamilton in the bright new Hamilton Family Atrium, which features an elevator. Bottom right: If you missed the Choir’s rousing performance under the direction of Karl Cepeda, watch it on our YouTube channel. Bottom left: The third-floor lounge is a popular gathering spot for seniors.
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Known as a pillar of support to a myriad of community organizations— most notably the Academy of Music, the Philadelphia Zoo, The Shipley School and Bryn Mawr Hospital— Caroline “Cackie” Buck Rogers joined Church Farm School’s Board of Directors in 2016 following a long legacy established by her father and grandfather. Cackie administered the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Tutoring Program for 15 years, which pairs underserved elementary school students with local high school students for one-on-one afterschool tutoring and enrichment.
CFS MEDAL PRESENTED TO CANNIE CRYSLER SHAFER, STACEY SHREINER KLEY AND CAROLINE BUCK ROGERS Two years after announcing the recipients of our inaugural Church Farm School Medal, Church Farm School officially presented awards to (pictured left to right) Cannie Crysler Shafer, Stacey Shreiner Kley and Caroline Buck Rogers as part of its Campus Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, October 16. The granddaughter of Church Farm School’s founder and first head
of school, Stacey Shreiner Kley has lived and breathed the school’s mission her entire life. In addition to serving on the Board of Church Farm School, she was a board member at Montgomery School and The Shipley School. She has also worked in education as both a teacher and an administrator, most recently at Montgomery School. She played a pivotal role as co-chair of Church Farm School’s newly created Strategic Plan: Unlocking Potential.
The project, which broke ground in spring 2019 and was completed in summer 2020, has transformed the school in three key areas: functionality, accessibility and safety. The school’s entrance is reoriented to the north through an addition to the school’s main academic building, Greystock Hall. The addition, with the Hamilton Family Atrium as its centerpiece, houses the Head of School and Admission offices, a Dining Center expansion and terrace, the Gina Bissell Student Center, conference room and an elevator, making the building fully ADAcompliant. The tunnel beneath Route 30 connecting the south and north campuses now enters directly into a new Student Life area, one of many new gathering and collaboration spaces that were part of the project. Another significant enhancement is the conversion of a former transportation garage and woodshop into the Buck Family Center for the Arts. The bright, modern building features state-of-the-art spaces in support of the program, which includes choir, band, digital photography, piano, music
One of Church Farm School’s first female Board members, Cannie Crysler Shafer has been a lifelong teacher and independent school administrator, spending many of her professional years in the service of underserved students. In addition to her longstanding support of Church Farm School, she has spent her entire career as an educator, most recently at Girard College in Philadelphia. She currently works with the Middle States Association, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and serves on the Board at St. Peter’s School in Philadelphia.
tech, clay, painting and much more. Finally, a new road, Shreiner Way, creates an entrance and exit from the school from Valley Creek Boulevard. Designers for the project were Voith and Mactavish Architects and Chester Valley Engineers. Construction was provided by H.L. Wiker Inc. and CH&E Construction, both of Lancaster, PA. Watchdog Project Management oversaw the project.
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JOSEPH E. RHILE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP Last year, a group of alumni, including Steve Marcus ’73, wanted to find a way to honor former faculty member Joe Rhile for his long and outstanding service to the school. They worked with the school’s Development team to create and fund an endowed scholarship that would exist in perpetuity and
support a rising senior each year. “As Dale Elks—Class of ‘74, Don Burt—Class of ’77, Brad Barrett—Class of ’74, Jim Gravely—Class of ‘71 and I thought about our collective respect and admiration for Joe and the impact he had on our lives, we were inspired to lay the groundwork to help create an individually
named endowed scholarship in Joe’s honor,” Steve says. A few short months after launching the fundraising campaign in spring 2021, more than $125,000 had been raised by CFS alumni, former faculty, current faculty and friends of Church Farm School, many of whom were firsttime donors. Steve was on hand to present the scholarship on October 16 as part of our Campus Dedication ceremony. In his remarks, he noted Joe’s lasting impact: “During my time here, there were several individuals who had a positive impact on my life, but one person stands out and that person is Joe Rhile. Joe saw something in me; he gave me the structure I needed to succeed in the classroom, on the wrestling mat and in life. I’ll admit, I was not one of Joe’s best athletes but with his guidance and patience, he gave me the confidence to go on to wrestle in college and I am still involved in the sport of wrestling to this day as a college referee.”
THE GINA BISSELL STUDENT CENTER Georgina “Gina” Bissell (1921 – 2020) enjoyed a long history of involvement with Church Farm School, as a member of its Board of Managers and as a philanthropic supporter. Growing up in Wilmington, DE, and then studying at a variety of schools in the United States and London, she was introduced to the school by her aunt, Mrs. Irving Warner, and was immediately taken with the mission and the “gentlemen of Church Farm School and their commitment to responsibly maximizing their opportunity.” An avid horticulturalist and longtime supporter of the arts,
she was especially pleased by the school’s investment in a 5-acre solar array in 2013. For the past two decades, as a sponsor of the Griffin Scholars Program, she was visited by students who enjoyed sharing their passions with her over pizza and ice cream. In recognition of Gina’s support for Church Farm School, and her significant donation to its Capital Campaign For the Boys, we gratefully name this community space in her honor.
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Unlocking Potential: THE CHURCH FARM SCHOOL 2020-2025 STRATEGIC PLAN
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n 2019, Church Farm School undertook a highly participative strategic planning process to chart our course for the next five years. Through this Strategic Plan, we reaffirmed our mission, core values and defining attributes; articulated the critical skills we cultivate to transform CFS students into CFS graduates; established our long-term vision; declared our goals; and committed to an ambitious set of initiatives we will take to achieve them.
MISSION: OUR PURPOSE The Church Farm School prepares a diverse group of boys in grades 9-12 with academic ability and good character to lead productive and fulfilling lives by making a college preparatory education financially accessible.
CORE COMPETENCIES WE CULTIVATE (6C'S) • character • critical thinking • creativity • collaboration • communication • citizenship
CORE VALUES: WHAT WE STAND FOR • Respect • Integrity • Responsibility • Brotherhood
PROFILE OF CFS GRADUATES: WHAT OUR STUDENTS BECOME • Curious and Passionate Learners • Compelling Communicators • Ethical Agents of the Common Good • Healthy in Habits of Mind, Body and Spirit • Persistent in the Pursuit of Excellence • Committed to Global Responsibility VISION: OUR AMBITION By 2025, Church Farm School will be widely known and highly sought after for our exceptional ability to unlock a boy’s potential for success in college and leadership in the community.
DEFINING ATTRIBUTES: WHO WE ARE • Church: an inclusive Episcopal identity that is welcoming of all faith traditions and embraces diversity • Farm: legacy of hard work and environmental responsibility emanating from our roots as a working farm • School: college preparatory boarding school for boys, committed to financial accessibility and individual attention
POWERED BY PHILANTHROPY We will expand our culture of philanthropy to maximize the impact of giving (time, talent, treasure) on the school’s distinctive mission, program and educational setting.
ENHANCED CAMPUS We will enhance the continuing productiveness, safety and well-being of a residential community in an engaging educational environment that is responsive to programmatic needs, environmentally responsible and fiscally sustainable.
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STUDENT SUCCESS We will foster and develop graduates who are curious and passionate learners; compelling communicators; ethical agents of the common good; healthy in habits of mind, body and spirit; persistent in the pursuit of excellence; and committed to global responsibility.
DISTINCTIVE IDENTITY We will provide significant access to an engaging college preparatory education to highly motivated boys of good character within our small, caring, uniquely diverse Episcopal community that is committed to justice, equity and respect for the dignity of every human being.
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE We will be a performance-based organization adhering to standards of excellence that promote deep and effective relationships in a school culture of institutional engagement and operational efficiency, transparency and consistency.
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POWERED BY PHILANTHROPY • • • • •
Completed $6.5M Capital Campaign Fashioned Annual Giving Events for Post-Pandemic Realities Conducted Strategic Plan for Growth for Next 3-5 Years Expanded Community Outreach and Partnerships Created Plan for Maximizing Use of Customer Relationship Management System
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ENHANCED CAMPUS • •
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• •
To achieve our goals for each of our five pillars, we’ve embarked on a number of initiatives that build on current trajectories and establish new programs.
Completed $15.5M Campus Modernization Project Phase One Performed Safety and Security Enhancements with Complete Fiber Optic Upgrade Approved Six-Lane, All-Weather Track and Rebuilt Varsity Soccer and Lacrosse Fields Planned New STEM Learning Space Developing Business Partnerships to Further Improvements on South Campus
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE • • • •
Implemented New Folio System for Faculty Development and Performance Management Partnered with External Consultants to Assess and Enhance Organizational Culture Created Two New Roles Focused on DEI Defined Core Responsibilities and Attributes of CFS Faculty and CFS Leaders
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STUDENT SUCCESS • •
• • • •
Created Middle States Association Reaccreditation Committee Institutionalized Griffins SOAR (Student Orientation & Academic Readiness) Program for New Freshmen Mapped Academic Coursework to Profile of a CFS Graduate Launched Summer STEAM Camp at CFS for Rising 6-8th Graders Added Dedicated Faculty to Alumni Success Program Established a Curriculum Committee of Students and Faculty to Examine the Curriculum through a Student Success Lens
CFS SEEKS MIDDLE STATES ASSOCIATION REACCREDITATION “CFS is a unique and precious community, providing a safe and supportive academic environment for young people from diverse and challenging backgrounds to gain confidence both as students and as human beings, and helping them move on to the next stage of their lives in college … it is a culture where every student feels respected, valued and supported.”
DISTINCTIVE IDENTITY • •
• •
Engaged Enrollment Consultant to Assess Messaging and Marketing Hired Enrollment and Marketing Firm to Enhance Messaging, Advertising, SEO and Lead Generation Partnered with International Firms to Find Best-Fit Students Created DEI Taskforce to Generate DEI Statement and Oversee Institutional Commitment
These are some of the words that Mr. David Mullen, Middle States Association visiting team chair, used to sum up an intense four-day evaluation visit at Church Farm School in November 2015 before recommending Church Farm School for reaccreditation through 2023. The school has been continually reaccredited since the 1970s, and an internal committee is currently working on accreditation through 2030. MSA accreditation validates the integrity of a Church Farm School diploma to colleges and universities, as well as prospective students and families, but more importantly, it shows a commitment to ongoing improvement in all aspects of our program. In the fall, the MSA Committee surveyed faculty, staff, students and parents to curate the school’s top strengths and challenges. Common themes have helped the Committee to develop four performance objectives for the school, which focus on experiential learning; mapping all school programs to our Profile of a CFS Graduate; organizational excellence; and, acknowledging the difficulties the pandemic has put on underclassmen, enhanced academic support for 9th and 10th grade students. Over the next six months and in advance of a fall 2022 visit by a MSA Visiting Team, the Committee will work with other members of the community to build the performance objectives into action plans that will guide the school through 2030.
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GRIFFIN SCHOLARS
STEVE LONEY
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espite Church Farm School being relatively distant from his Delaware County home and unknown among his peers, Steve Loney still marvels how numerous family acquaintances recommended it as an option when he was a struggling middle-schooler. Steve grew up in a broken home in what he describes as “abject poverty in a failing school district.” When his father passed away when he was in sixth grade, things went from bad to worse and Steve’s mother knew her son needed guidance. “We heard from a number of different people about Church Farm School; I was really against the idea of boarding school.” Steve and his mom made a compromise: he’d spend seventh grade at the local public
“Look back, come b middle school and if things still weren’t on track, they’d look at Church Farm School. Surprisingly, Steve had excellent grades without really trying. “What does that say about the school?” his mom wondered. He enrolled at Church Farm School as an eighth grader (the middle school was dissolved in 2016) and Steve says the change in his trajectory was almost immediate. “I think the knowledge that my education was now being paid for, even though it was a very small amount; that my mom was going through the effort of driving me back and forth; and having so many supportive adults around
Steve, and his wife, Erica, attend a CFS Gala. me, it all clicked pretty quickly that I hadn’t been approaching my life correctly.” Steve’s favorite CFS memories are the unstructured ones—riding in a van to sports, advisory outings, etc.—when the brotherhood really came to the fore, both between the students and the adults. His favorite tradition, was, and remains, Commencement. After his own graduation in 1997, Steve returned for Commencement for multiple years to celebrate his
younger “brothers,” and now, as a member of the school’s Board of Directors since 2009, he especially enjoys participating in the ceremonies. Steve has always felt grateful to the school and has made it a priority throughout his life. When he was a young lawyer right out of college, this meant attending alumni events, rallying his peers to “look back, come back, give back” and donating what he could. When he joined the Board, he didn’t have the philanthropic
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capacity yet, but his perspective as a former scholar was indispensable. “When we talk about cottage or track upgrades—I slept in those dorms. I ran on that cinder track,” he says. Shortly after joining the Board in
Scholar Program supporters also have opportunities throughout the year to interact with Church Farm School students through planned events. “It’s really a terrific initiative to maximize outcomes, connect with students and introduce new people to the school.”
Steve, his wife Erica and scholar Brian Santos ’18 at a Griffin Scholars Luncheon.
When he was a student learning about the civil rights movement in history class at CFS, something clicked for Steve and he knew becoming a civil rights lawyer was his life’s dream. His dream
Steve receives the Newt Disney Service Award from Jim Tate ’52 and Alemayehu Addis ’97. has come to fruition; in December 2021, after a career as a commercial litigator, Steve became the Senior Supervising Litigation Attorney for the ACLU of PA. Diversity, equity and inclusion is now Steve’s career, but it is also a focus of the school. “We know our school can be a great example for the world of how people from different backgrounds can live and grow together.”
e back, give back.” 2009, the only other two alumni on the board retired; since then, three alumni have been added—Andy Carrigan ’87, Romane Paul ’06, and Steve’s longtime friend and classmate, Alemayehu Addis ’97. “We are always looking for more, so I encourage other alumni to consider joining us.” “Church Farm School is my family’s top philanthropic priority,” says Steve, who lives in Cheltenham with his wife and two teenage children. He cites the Griffin Scholars Program, which encourages donations of $6,000+ annually, as a great incentive to “give at a higher level.” Griffin
Local alumni gathered at Philadelphia’s Union League. 17
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Join Church Farm School on Friday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. for our spring fundraiser, Night at the Track!
• Custom cocktails and wood-fired pizza by 13th Street Cocktails
This horse-racing themed evening under the stars on the school’s historic campus honors the rich equestrian heritage within Chester County while fundraising for Church Farm School’s new all-weather track for its scholar-athletes. Night at the Track is being held in conjunction with Alumni Weekend 2022.
• Derby-themed costume contest
LEARN MORE & REGISTER AT
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• Derby N’ Dance Party by Mr. B Entertainment • Lawn games • Derby-themed food by Sodexo • Music by the CFS Singers a cappella group • Remarks by CFS students and faculty
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ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
SATURDAY, MAY 14 10:30 A.M.
MIDDLE STATES PRESENTATION Hear from Dean of Faculty Eric Fulmer about the work the school’s Middle States Reaccreditation Committee is undertaking to create goals for the school through 2030
12:00 P.M.
ALUMNI LUNCHEON Gather with alumni on campus for lunch! While there, look for your name on our new Capital Campaign Alumni Donor Board in the Dining Center Annex
1:00 P.M.
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING Join us in for our annual Alumni Association Meeting with an update from the Head of School and election of new officers
2:30 P.M.
SCHOOL STORE & CAMPUS TOURS Take a guided tour of the enhanced campus, visiting many of our new spaces and ending at the new school store to buy yourself some school swag
5:00 P.M.
MEMORIAL CHAPEL SERVICE Gather to honor alumni who have passed and to celebrate our reunion classes
6:00 P.M.
ALUMNI DINNER Once again we’ll be under the tent, this time honoring inductees into the 2022 Hall of Athletic Honor and the recipient of the 2022 Newt Disney Service Award (see pages 20-21)
FRIDAY, MAY 13 12:00 P.M.
ALUMNI LUNCHEON Gather with alumni on campus for lunch! While there, look for your name on our new Capital Campaign Alumni Donor Board in the Dining Center Annex
1:00 P.M.
CLASS VISITATIONS Want to see what a Church Farm School education is like in 2022? Sit in on a few select classes from 1 – 3:15
3:30 P.M.
SCHOOL STORE & CAMPUS TOURS Take a guided tour of the enhanced campus, visiting many of our new spaces and ending at the new school store to buy yourself some school swag
6:30 P.M.
la
NIGHT AT THE TRACK Grab your festive bowties, hats and fascinators for this evening of fun and fundraising on the Farm! Guests will enjoy Kentucky Derby-themed food and beverages, music and dancing, socializing with friends, games and more! Cost is $100 per guest (21+ only!)
SUNDAY, MAY 15 12:00 P.M.
BRUNCH Enjoy Sunday brunch in our enhanced Dining Center space
1:00 P.M.
ARTS FEST Enjoy student artwork, performances by the choir and band and refreshments in the Buck Family Center for the Arts from 1-3 19
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David Zimmerman ’88 to Receive the Newt Disney Service Award 2022
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avid Zimmerman’s term as President of the CFS Alumni Association is nearing its end, and we are pleased to announce that he will be honored as the recipient of the 2022 Newt Disney Service Award during our Alumni Reunion Dinner on May 14.
David Zimmerman ’88 with then class president NJ Mahama ’19.
IN MEMORIAM KEVIN BA ’05 WILLIAM GOLEMON ’50 MICHAEL RUSSO ’67 FRANK WHEELER SMITH ’50 EDWARD-BRANDON YAO ’04 ROBERT ZIMMERMAN ’87
The Newt Disney Service award recognizes service both to Church Farm School and the larger community, and David is a shining example of such service. In fact, it was under his leadership that the award was first established. His passion for the school is evident, and his willingness to pay it forward to today’s Griffins is extraordinary. Whether rallying alumni to support the school’s most critical fundraising needs, including our most recent Capital Campaign; encouraging attendance at events both large and small at CFS; or finding ways to connect alumni with today’s students; David is always putting the school first. This is in large part due to the gratitude he feels to the school for transforming his life; he graduated in 1988. “Thirty-five years ago I was a freshman sort of flailing at St. Joe’s Prep in Overbrook when my mom encouraged me to look at Church Farm School. I went for a visit, and by breakfast, I knew it was the place for me. The school provided me with the right
“I CONTINUE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH THE SCHOOL’S ONGOING TRANSFORMATION AND DRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE.” conditions to thrive and discover who I was as an individual. Along the way, I discovered amazing mentors and made some lifelong brothers.” “I continue to be impressed with the school’s ongoing transformation and drive for excellence. Our boys are filled with so much potential and they are eager to make the world a better place.” We are grateful to David for working so diligently over the past 12 years on behalf of the Alumni Association and the school.
In memory of William Golemon ’50 In March 2021, Capt. William L. Goleman ’50 passed away. On Thursday, December 2, 2021, on what would have been his 89th birthday, he was buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Director of Alumni Relations and Community Engagement Lori McDermott attended the ceremony on behalf of the school, which featured a processional playing Onward Christian Soldiers and remarks by Bill’s longtime Navy friend, Rev. Bob Brown. After CFS, Bill attended U.S. Naval Flight Training; was a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1957-1985; and was a pilot for United Airlines from 1966-1992.
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WAYS TO GIVE GIVE ONLINE WITH A CREDIT CARD AT GOCFS.NET/GIVE SEND A CHECK PAYABLE TO CHURCH FARM SCHOOL USING THE ENCLOSED GIVING ENVELOPE CONTACT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AT 610-363-5333 FOR INFORMATION TO GIVE THROUGH YOUR IRA, TRANSFER STOCK OR TO GIVE THROUGH THE EITC/OSTC PROGRAM INCLUDE CHURCH FARM SCHOOL IN YOUR ESTATE PLANS VOLUNTEER! FOR INFORMATION ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
David and Roger (center front) gather with fellow alums during Alumni Weekend 2018.
Roger and David return to the mat for a wrestling reunion hosted by coach Art Smith.
Roger with his CFS “brothers” and former coach, Art Smith, at Alumni Weekend 2018.
Hall of Athletic Honor 2022: DAVID CASHMERE AND ROGER WEISSINGER, CLASS OF 1983
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e are excited to be inducting two new alumni into the Church Farm School Hall of Athletic Honor this May during our Alumni Reunion Dinner: David Cashmere and Roger Weissinger, both members of the Class of 1983 who exemplified the school’s values of sportsmanship, teamwork and athletic excellence. David Cashmere ’83 was an extremely well-rounded athlete for Church Farm School. He participated at the varsity level in both soccer and wrestling from 1979 through 1982; serving as captain for both sports his junior and senior year. David was the wrestling MVP in 1979, 1980 and 1982, and was part of two KSAC regular
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season championship wrestling teams in 1982 and 1983. He was also recognized for all league soccer honors in 1980, 1981 and 1982. He received the Robert Taylor Trophy, given to a wrestler voted most valuable on and off the mat, in 1980. David participated in Student Council for three years and served on several other committees. He was the recipient of the school’s Michael Wallington Class of 1960 Award for Sportsmanship and the Earl Wilkins Award for Service, as well as the Union League’s Good Citizenship Award. Roger Weissinger ’83 was an allaround athlete who competed successfully in wrestling, soccer, track and cross country. He went on to earn five varsity letters in wrestling from 1979 through 1983. He was the Most
Valuable Wrestler in 1982 and 1983, was part of two KSAC regular season championship wrestling teams both of those years and was elected to the KSAC All-League Wrestling Team for the 82/83 season. Roger served as a team co-captain for wrestling and soccer in 1982 and 1983. Roger also excelled on the soccer field and at track, earning varsity letters for both sports in 1982 and 1983. Roger was recognized for the most improved track athlete in 1982 and was part of the KSAC Track Championship teams in 1982 and 1983. He also earned varsity cross country status in 1978 as a freshman, and the school’s Mr. and Mrs. Lardner Howell Memorial Award for Greatest Improvement. 21
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1. CFS GOLF CLASSIC
We kicked off events this year with the 20th Annual CFS Golf Classic in September. We were grateful to have an alumni team comprised of Cecil ’64 (left) and Peggy Hengeveld (right), Don Burt ’77 (second from left) and Dave Carroll ’62. 2.
ALUMNI SOCCER
Our alumni vs. student soccer game in September was a hard-fought match, with the current Griffins just barely overtaking our alumni team.
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3.ALUMS AT LEHIGH
Spotted at a Lehigh University track meet - Griffins Louis Marca ’21 and Timi DanSalami ’21. 4.
ANTARCTICA EXPEDITION
John Haswell ’64 (right) reports he took an Expedition trip to Antarctica in January-February 2020, where he was able to meet a couple hundred thousand penguins, orcas, sea lions, humpback whales, birds and lots of icebergs.
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5. LIAM SHARKEY ’20 VISITS DURING PARENTS’ WEEKEND Liam Sharkey ’20,
currently studying at West Chester Universi-ty, stopped by to watch a varsity soccer game being held in con-junction with Parents’ Weekend 2021, pictured here with junior and star wrestler Sebastian Chiesa. 6.JOE MCCLURE ’84 shares that one of his photographs was accepted into the Inspired show at the Cape Cod Arts Center. This image is inspired by two photos in Joel Meyerowitz’s Cape Light book; Edward Hopper also interpreted these cottages in his painting of Corn Hill.
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7. VETERANS’ ZOOM REUNION
On Veterans’ Day, we hosted a Zoom reunion for alumni who have served or are actively serving in the U.S. military. 8.STU BRACKNEY ’62 WELCOMES GRANDDAUGHTER On November 19,
Stu Brackney ’62 was elated to welcome his granddaughter, Harlow Edith Hooker to the family. Stu says, “Because I am adopted, I never met any blood relatives until our daughter Sara was born 37 years ago and then Michael followed. So, this little baby is just the third blood relative of mine that I have ever met!”
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9.SEBASTIAN CORRALES ’18 SHARES STORY
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Also in November, Sebastian Corrales ’18, a student leader during his time at CFS who is currently studying at the U.S. Naval Academy, returned to the school to share his experiences with our students and catch up with his former wrestling coaches Tom Johnstone ’09 and Art Smith.
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10. ALUMS SUPPORT CFS BASKETBALL
Many of our alumni gathered at Coatesville High School in January to cheer on our varsity basketball team, who lost a hard-fought game and appreciated the support! 11.FORMER CFS ENGLISH TEACHER RAY GREENBLATT reports that he is
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teaching “Joy of Poetry” at Temple University-OLLI this summer for the ninth year. His new book—Thirteeners, Volume II —recently came out and he hosted 30 guests for a poetry reading at Wallingford Art Center. 12.
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ALUMNI IN ATHLETIC ACTION
Some of our soccer players were able to see alumnus Joel Richmond ’18, currently playing soccer at Holy Family University, when his team faced West Chester University this fall. Joel spent time with our Griffins and introduced them to his team and coaches. Our track team caught up with a few alumni, including Timi DanSalami ’21, while at a meet at Lehigh University, where a number of current graduates are studying. 23
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ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
THOMAS KNEZEVICH ’18 FORGING HIS OWN PATH
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homas Knezevich was set on a mechanical engineering degree at Juniata College when, halfway through his freshman year, he decided to follow his true passion and become a historical restoration and replication major. Anyone who knew Thomas during his five years at Church Farm School isn’t surprised that he gravitated toward the arts. He says an elaborate wood chest he made senior year is still used to stow most of his art supplies. “I was always into the arts,” he recalls, “In fact I’m throwing something on the wheel while we’re speaking.” His focus at Juniata—which he selected because of its campus culture and small size—is creating multimedia (metalworking, woodworking and ceramics) based on historical findings on archaeological digs.
He’s participated in three digs so far—Stroudsburg Manor, Fort Ligonier and Fort Halifax—where he unearthed Philadelphia slipware pottery. When not creating pieces at school or in his home studio (he has a portable gas forge and three pottery wheels plus his own kiln), he serves as a Blacksmith Apprentice at Blacksmith of Trenton. His ultimate goal when he graduates this May is to become a master blacksmith in Europe; he’d like to study abroad in the rich blacksmith communities in either Ireland or Germany. “My focus right now is on creating art using the traditional methods. I appreciate rustic pieces over mass-produced, industrialized art.” “I like the freedom of expression and wide range of creativity that comes out of art. It’s also very therapeutic. It calms my mind and takes me away from the world while I focus on one thing.”
ZHAOSENHOPPING GUO ’17 INTO OPPORTUNITIES
Z
haosen Guo ’17, originally from Beijing, China, learned about Church Farm School from family friend Tianheng “John” Zhang ’15. He was an exchange student studying in Wisconsin at the time, and “John told me how great the student relationships are, and what a strong community it was.” Zhaosen’s mother came for a tour (from John, in fact), and really liked the students’ appearance and that it was a single gender school. Zhaosen stepped onto campus in September 2015 as a sophomore. “I was nervous, but I’m also outgoing. I hop in quickly.” That hopping in attitude served him
well at Church Farm School, where he quickly immersed himself in student life as a Tour Guide, Student Ambassador, member of the choir, athlete and strong scholar. He selected Hamilton College after CFS because he hadn’t yet identified a specific academic area of interest (although he showed an affinity for biology and history at CFS). “Hamilton allows you to design your own major; I knew it would be a good place to grow.” In true Zhaosen fashion, he kept very busy at Hamilton: he conducted a research project on the first Chinese students at Hamilton in 1850, was a Senior
Admissions Fellow, a Tour Guide, Data Science Intern and an International Recruitment Intern. His sampling of different curricula (he took courses from 16 different departments) led him to data science as a major; he is currently pursing a two-year master’s degree at the University of Pennsylvania. According to Wikipedia, “data science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract knowledge and insights from noisy, structured and unstructured data, and apply knowledge and actionable
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ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT
NATE CHARGING ANTWI ’18 AHEAD IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
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nyone who was at Church Farm School during Nate Antwi’s tenure likely remembers his go-getter attitude. Whether hustling for internships after a choir engagement at a local aerospace software company or summoning visitors to sample our Church Farm School Scrapple-licious Chili at the West Chester Chili Cook Off (his enthusiasm likely correlated to our winning in three categories that year), Nate has always gone after what he wants. Known for his prowess in the Choir and on the track team at CFS, Nate says former Coach Tony Wrice’s words, “You will look back at your time on the Farm as the best of your life,” still resonate.
become unmanageable, Nate transferred to the Community College of Philadelphia. A relief, he says, as most schools went virtual due to Covid-19 shortly thereafter. Currently, he still lives in Philadelphia but attends Rutgers-Camden; he will graduate next winter. When not in school, he serves as an intern for the Working Families Party. Prior to this internship, he was a policy data analyst for the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey.
After Church Farm School, Nate went to Ursinus College, where he majored in computer science and secured an internship in the school’s IT Department. With expenses starting to
Another side hustle he is extremely proud of is serving as the Community Service Chair for Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, a social action group
insights across a broad range of domains. “It’s a really popular buzzword right now,” Zhaosen says, “and it can be applied to so much. From tracking Amazon shipments to DNA routes to chat bot conversations.” When not in class, spending time in the city with his girlfriend or visiting CFS, Zhaosen works as a Research Assistant at the Wharton School of Business ESG Lab; as a Senior Statistician at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at Penn; and as a Data Science Engineer at The Commons XR, designing environments for virtual classrooms. “Adding abilities to mask your voice, choose from a wide range of avatars—it helps remove implicit and explicit biases in classrooms.”
Zhaosen says he selected Penn in large part due to his CFS experiences. “We were always in Philadelphia, so I really got to the know the city.” It also helps when he is homesick; due to the pandemic, Zhaosen has been unable to travel to see his family in China since
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that volunteers with organizations across Philadelphia such as Chosen300 and DonCares to provide community service to the city of Philadelphia twice each week. Nate is looking to secure an internship in the cyber security field for summer or fall 2022. If you have any leads for Nate, reach out to him on LinkedIn.
2019. “It’s OK,” he says. “CFS is the second best thing to family.” Zhaosen is currently pursuing summer internships, and as for what’s next after Penn, we’re sure he’ll be hopping right into all sorts of great things.
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