The SPIRAL: Rudolf Steiner School, 2015 Edition by Eric Perry

2015 ISSUE A PUBLICATION OF NEW YORK’S RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL

OUR MISSION The Rudolf Steiner School embraces Waldorf education, a pedagogy derived from the insights of Austrian-born scientist, philosopher, artist, and educator Rudolf Steiner. The program, from nursery through twelfth grade, addresses the physical, emotional, and intellectual capacities of the developing child through an age-appropriate curriculum that integrates the disciplines of movement, fine arts, and practical arts into the study of humanities, science, math, and technology. Through the development of these capacities, we strive to educate the whole human being in a healthy and balanced manner. The Rudolf Steiner School actively welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all ethnicities and gender preferences, and of all faiths and creeds. We respect and support individualsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; spiritual beliefs and practices. We strive to develop the mind, body and spirit of the child, encouraging, in the process, the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spiritual freedom and growth. As in every Waldorf School, our teaching works toward this aim by drawing on the insights into human development pioneered by Rudolf Steiner. The Waldorf curriculum is diverse in nature and rich in the teachings of many great religious traditions. Students develop an understanding and respect for the various cultures of the world through their experience in the classroom and in the celebration of seasonal festivals of the year. Drawing on many traditions, we celebrate our common humanity, not our separateness in belief or practice.

CONTENTS

2....................Letter from the Administrative Director 3....................Letter from the College Speaker 4....................Letter from the Board Chair 6....................Thoughts on Race Relations 9....................A World of Steiner Music 22.................Athletics: Cultivating Passion 26.................Eighth Grade Coders 28.................2014 Fall Fair 30.................2015 Spring Gala

32.................The Class of 2015 36.................2015 Commencement Address 38.................Letter from the Parent Council President

40.................Spring 2015 Rose Ceremony 42.................In Memoriam 47.................Letter from the Alumni Association Chair 48.................Alumni Events in 2015 49.................Class Notes

52.................Letter from the Development Chairs 53.................Letter from the Treasurer 54.................Budget Results 55.................Donors 62.................The Founder’s Circle 63.................4 Ways You Can Give 64.................2015-16 Community Calendar

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brian Kaplan CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kevin Grant, Esq. ’04, Lucia Oswald, Adam Van Auken DESIGN Eric Perry PHOTOGRAPHY Annabel Clark, Brian Kaplan PRINTING Libow Direct, Incorporated

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THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

Letter from the Administrative Director Dear Steiner Community,

he fall is always an exciting time at the Rudolf Steiner School. The students have found their footing; everyone is busy! Our community is alive and flourishing. Every morning, I relish the sounds of our Pre-K students coming to school, as they make their way into their communities – and then again, when they go to the park a few hours later. Meanwhile, at our 78th Street campus, the older students discuss serious topics and share their ambitions – it is refreshing to overhear conversations about some very serious topics. The 2015-16 school year started smoothly, and already Fall Fair is just around the corner. Many members of the community have been hard at work assisting in the monumental production that is the fair. I am looking forward to this, as it is an opportunity for me to get to know even more alumni, grandparents, parents, and children of all ages. School spirit is alive and well at Steiner with all of us working together to build the school we love. The shared journey of education has been gifted by the addition of many new members. Thank you for taking the time to welcome them. Your generosity of spirit and your welcoming gestures have gone a long way in providing our newest members with a deep sense of belonging to a community who cares for and values its members. This year’s Spiral focuses on nourishing our community, and in turn, teaching the children about its importance. We are delighted that Kevin Grant, an alum who practices law in New York City, shares his views on key diversity issues that are important to us all at Steiner. We take a look at the talented men and women who teach music at the school, and we will also examine what’s happening in our athletics and technology programs. Finally, the Messaging Committee spent six months last year discussing how we share the wonder of Waldorf education. The redesigned materials, which include the website and the Spiral, look beautiful and we are proud to share some of that work with you.

As we move through the year keep in touch with the school, and visit whenever possible. Sit in on a Main Lesson, and follow the progress of the children – journey with them through their work and play. If you have questions, and are unable to find answers from your class reps, reach out to your Class Teacher or Area Chair who will help you find an answer to your question. The year is off to a spectacular start, and I hope that we all have an exceptional winter and spring. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Fall Fair! Warm regards,

William D. Macatee, Ed.D. Administrative Director

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Letter from the College of Teachers Dear Community of the Rudolf Steiner School,

hroughout last year as College Speaker, I have very much appreciated working with our varied and vibrant community. It has been inspiring to participate with such intelligent, competent, and impassioned individuals, all of us united in our commitment to the Waldorf education of our children. One of the unique aspects of Waldorf education is the collaborative nature of the three-fold governing structure of the school - comprised of the College of Teachers, the Board of Trustees, and the Administrative Council. Although there is certainly familiarity with the term “College of Teachers,” there are often questions about what it is and its role in service to the school.

2015-2016 COLLEGE OF TEACHERS Cybelle Afable John Anderson Carol Bärtges Brooke Brosenne Denise Crane Renni Gallagher Rallou Hamshaw ’65 Julia Hays ’73 Mary Lynn Hetsko Timothy Hoffmann Wendy Kelly Leslie Li Dr. William Macatee Marina McGrew Dr. Linda Ogden, college speaker Renate Poliakine ’60 Deb Renna Anke Scheinfeld Lucy Schneider Jeff Spade

The College carries the spiritual impulse of the school. From this comes the inspiration and responsibility it holds for the integrity of the pedagogy. The foundation of the School rests upon the picture of the developing child as expressed through the anthroposophical perspective of Rudolf Steiner. Therefore, it is the practice of the College to engage in ongoing anthroposophical study, informing our decision-making. As a Waldorf School, we are charged with ensuring that our developmentally enriching curriculum and attendant programs successfully meet the 21st Century student. Additionally, we oversee and support the professional development of the faculty, who are called to engage with the curriculum so that it may be artistically delivered. An overarching theme of the College’s year was an exploration of how we can honor the pedagogical freedom of the teacher while maintaining consistent institutional standards. A task force of the College continued to manage the faculty’s work on the Scope and Sequence of the curriculum. Faculty evaluations were conducted

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and further professional development plans were put in place. Through Area Chairs, the College facilitated the hiring of new faculty. A number of ongoing programs were considered, resulting in recommendations made for further consideration next year.

The work of the College requires each member to be personally reflective and to participate collaboratively, with objectivity and equanimity in service to the School. In return, each member is enriched in a myriad of ways. It has been an honor for me to have served as the Speaker of the College this year. As I depart for my sabbatical year, after guiding the class of 2019 through their grades 1-8 journey, I am confident that Linda Ogden, our incoming speaker, will well serve the College of Teachers and the School. With best wishes for a wonderful school year,

Dena Malon College Speaker, 2014-2015

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Letter from the Board of Trustees Dear Steiner Community,

t has been 18 years since I first stepped foot into the Rudolf Steiner School. I have made many friends, have worked with a diverse and talented group of volunteers, faculty, staff and administration, participated in many community events, learned many skills, looked at the big picture, focused on the details, practiced patience and diplomacy, and learned the real meaning of commitment. I have raised two wonderful boys, Benjamin ’12 and Matthew ’15, now young men, with my husband Marc ’79. We are thankful for the education they received, for the life skills they have obtained, and for the relationships they have made while at Steiner, and we hope that their children, too, will have the same opportunity to attend Steiner.

“The challenge we face in balancing our current needs with our future responsibility is for us as a community to balance the push and pull of our own intentions.”

As I begin to look ahead and transition out of my volunteer/parent role at the school, I am intrigued as to what the future will bring for the school. We all, myself included, see our school, its faculty, administration and our community through the natural lens of intense self-interest in our children’s education and well being. We work hard, contribute and engage for today, but what are we leaving behind for those that come next? What will the school look like when my sons are making education choices for their children? What paths can we take that balance the needs of today with the obligation we have to the future of our school? What is the legacy we build while here? In my 17 years here at the school there have been six board chairs, two accreditations, one capital campaign, 2-3 strategic plans, four administrators, expanded faculty positions, area chairs, the addition of student support services, four college guidance

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2015-2016 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

counselors, a complete change of the IT department, the addition of a communications department, marketing and alumni relations. We celebrated our 75th anniversary, and moved a fall fair to the spring; we renovated our buildings and hired our first administrative director, Dr. Macatee. But most impactful to me have been the changes in governance that is now far more balanced, the realization of the importance of fundraising to insure our future stability and the board’s pivot away from tactical engagement to a more strategic and directional focus. Each of these has helped our day-to-day existence, but is vital to our future. My hope is that we will have the courage to stay the course on these important elements of our maturation as a school.

Stacey Kelly, chair Susanne Kastler-Knerr, vice chair Mitchel Friedman, treasurer Blanche Christerson, secretary Walter Alexander Alison Cariati ’83 Gail Cruise-Roberson Susan Goodale Rallou Hamshaw John Heller Sarah Hetherington Dr. William Macatee Claudia Mahler Marina McGrew Jean-Hugues Monier Joy Phelan-Pinto Josephine Salvador Robert Strent Sam Sutton Deborah Grace Winer Trustees Emeriti Valdemar Bertelsen III Robert Buxbaum Lucy Schneider

Being a Waldorf school in New York City will remain, in my opinion, the single biggest long-term challenge we will face. The work to balance our core values embedded in our education, the needs of our community, the rigors of a contemporary education (especially in the Upper School), the focus of the curriculum, the support of the teachers and their skills, and the management of the costs need to be preeminent in our thinking and our actions. We need to address these head on, together and within the spirit of community. We must leave self-interest, hubris and entitlement aside, act decisively and with deep purpose to take the next steps to insure our school’s longevity and relevance.

It has been my sincere honor and pleasure to have served the Rudolf Steiner School for the past 18 years. I Brian Kaplan, assistant to the secretary shall miss my daily trips across the park to the school for meetings, miss seeing my sons walk the halls with their friends, miss the daily engagement with so The challenge we face in balancing many wonderful, dedicated and talented our current needs with our future individuals. I will have to find new opportunities to engage responsibility is for us as a community to balance the myself with the school. And, I look forward to the day one push and pull of our own intentions. There always exists a of my sons tells me his child was accepted into Steiner. natural tension with a community as we all try to represent what we feel is important for the school. As we grow, some Respectfully, will say we have too much structure and some will say not enough. Some will challenge the effect of fundraising while others will press its importance. Some will see more compartmentalized decision-making as a lack of inclusion, while others a necessary process to move us forward. My Dawn Trachtenberg hope here is that we balance decisive leadership with Board Chair, 2014-2015 consensus building to allow thoughtful, effective action while maintaining our core Waldorf values. Steiner.edu

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Thoughts on Race Relations by KEVIN GRANT, ESQ. ’04

hen I was asked to speak at Steiner about police community relations, it was following several high-profile cases where interactions with the police and black citizenry led to a homicide. The most recent tragedy was the assassination of two of the New York Police Department’s finest, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, by a lone gunman, who claimed to be exacting revenge for the lack of indictments in the highly publicized deaths of Eric Garner and Mike Brown. I knew that my presentation would not be genuine if it lacked a discussion on race and how that colors interactions with law enforcement. As a black man, I had numerous examples of how frustrating and powerless it feels when you are stopped and questioned by law enforcement because of the assumptions they make about your age and race. I was somewhat weary of my pending presentation – knowing that the majority of my audience would consist of

individuals mostly oblivious and protected of their real or imagined “white privilege.” Throughout my time at Steiner, Temple University, and Arizona Summit Law, I felt a need to speak for the “race” given the lack of black (male) voices. At the start of my first year in law school, my incoming class was separated into three sections consisting of approximately sixty students each. In the Breyer section, Antuan and I were the black male students. Antuan was from Houston, and despite our many differences, we were both able to share similar experiences with various law enforcement that left our fellow law students astonished, defensive, or empathetic. I remember specifically one day during Criminal Law when Antuan received an impromptu applause following an impassioned synopsis of how his positive choices in the face of systemic racism

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“ We as the citizenry have to overcome whatever differences perceived and real surrounding the issues of race, ethnicity, and culture .” were paramount to his success in defying the odds by graduating high school, college, and pursuing an advanced degree. It took a tremendous amount of restraint on my part to not follow up Antuan’s analysis with a reminder of how little room for error is afforded those of us with melanin to spare. I did not add my two cents that day despite my professor’s piercing eyes, because I thought it more important to not be seen as attacking Antuan’s personal choice narrative. I felt that any attempt to counter Antuan’s claims would position the black community and its members as victims powerless to determine the outcome of their lives. That is the complicated part of speaking about race relations in the United States, in that it is not just one thing or another that causes the problems that we see in our society today. Instead there are a plethora of things working in conjunction with one another to make up the statistics and numbers we try to understand. Our country is a Eurocentric one, which was established through white supremacy and the subjugation of many perceived “others.” That “other” has changed many times throughout our history depending on which segment of society was deemed a threat to the internal security of the United States. Blacks have, and continue to be that “other,” that is most identifiable as different and not warranting inclusion. Throughout our history the police were used to intimidate and terrorize blacks making it clear that they were not there to serve and protect them. Our nation has undergone much change, but I think more than anything we are seeing that on a local level some things have not changed. The stories I chose to share with the Steiner Upper School students and teachers highlighted how much power we as citizens give the police. I hope it also conveyed how race plays a role in these sometimes adversarial interactions. Since the months following my visit to Steiner, there have been several high-profile incidents showing how aggressively the police deal with the black citizens and communities. It is doubtful that a 1,500 word request on the topic will lead to any novel or

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definite solutions to the problem. So my intention is to use this opportunity to share my thoughts on recent events through the lens of a practicing attorney, who is a first generation American of Jamaican descent, or in simpler terms a black man. Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Akai Gurley, body cameras, black incarceration rates, Rachel Dolezal, the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting, and the Confederate flag. These are some of the names and things that come to mind as I sit down to pen this article. Akai Gurley was the unarmed Brooklyn man shot and killed by a rookie NYPD cop in an unlit housing-project stairwell in November 2014. The saddest part about the Gurley tragedy is that Officer Liang spent the moments immediately following the discharge of his weapon texting his union rep and caring more about his job than trying to save the life of the man he just shot. Walter Scott was murdered by a North Charleston city patrolman, who shot at him eight times as he ran away from him following a traffic stop for a broken brake light. If it were not for cellphone footage shot by a passerby, Patrolman Michael Slager’s account that Scott fled with his stun gun would have deemed the shooting justified. Freddie Gray was taken into Baltimore police custody after a short foot chase, and subsequently taken on what is known as a “rough ride” causing injuries that ultimately led to his death. These three incidents show police officers falling short of their oaths to serve and protect, and in each one a black man pays the ultimate price. Cell phone footage has played a huge role in highlighting some of the abuses that citizens have suffered at the hands of law enforcement. This fact has strengthened the call for police officers being required to wear body cameras despite the various hurdles that such an endeavor would entail. The hesitancy, unwillingness, and inability of district attorneys to indict officers for various abuses of power, ranging from excessive force to murder, makes it clear that a special D.A. is necessary for the police to be held accountable for their actions done under the color of law. I think it is naïve to expect district

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Thoughts on Race Relations (continued) attorneys that work closely with law enforcement on a daily basis to be neutral and transparent when asked to investigate the actions of those same police officers. Rachel Dolezalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fabricated narrative regarding her heritage is much ado about nothing. I do not agree with her lies and deception, but this is the United States of America where you can do and be whatever your heart desires. But I also understand the need for those in positions of leadership, such as the president of the NAACP chapter in Spokane, WA to have an authentic voice that speaks from experience. I think Ms. Dolezal recognized as much and made a decision that will make her the butt of jokes for years to come. I see the shooting by a lone gunman at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church that claimed nine lives as the price our country continues to pay for its use of racist rhetoric and ideology to establish a social construct that justified the atrocities of slavery, manifest destiny, and more. The Confederate flag is a symbol of those ideals that became antiquated and ineffective in moving our country into the future and towards its initial goal of being a city on a hill. I believe the Confederate flag, flying on the grounds of the state capitol, is an issue that should have been handled decades

ago. Those that argue that the flag is merely an emblem of regional pride and history do so with no regard for the bigotry and alienation that is inherent in such a symbol; but I do believe the Confederate flag issue to be a state one that South Carolinians must tackle on their own. The U.S. has a problem. It is unacceptable that the land of the free and the home of the brave have more people imprisoned than the rest of the world combined. The majority of those imprisoned are black and brown men of limited resources. Our various law enforcement agencies have become highly militarized and seem to be waging war against those who have been entrusted to serve and protect. We as the citizenry have to overcome whatever differences perceived and real surrounding the issues of race, ethnicity, and culture. We need to be more cognizant and vigilant with regard to those we grant legislative, executive and judicial power. Ultimately, race is a fictitious concept that over centuries has become an integral part of who we are and how we will experience life. I do not have the answers but I think a focus on the future that uses these teachable moments to effect change is better than discussions that get bogged down in the minutiae of our complicated and sometimes embarrassing past. ď&#x20AC;ź PREVIOUS PAGE Kevin Grant discusses race with Upper School students. ON THIS PAGE Dr. Brian Plane and Kevin Grant address ninth graders during Oral History Project class PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN KAPLAN

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A WORLD of STEINER MUSIC Alumni and teachers give us a glimpse into their own worlds of music and performance, and what it means to be part of the Steiner community.4

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A WORLD of STEINER MUSIC

JEFF SPADE LOWER SCHOOL CHAIR (FORMER DIRECTOR OF MUSIC PROGRAM)

rom the time I was five-years old, when I saw The Sound of Music, I knew that music was in my blood. I immediately ran home and reenacted the movie for my younger brother, encouraging him to do the choreography with me; he was threeyears old and not very interested. I grew up in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania, the eastern half of the center of the state. “It’s near nothing!” Well, it’s one-and-a-half hours from Harrisburg. Music was all around me, and even though I went to a public school, it had a really strong music program in band, orchestra, and chorus. I always enjoyed singing in school, but things got serious when I began playing the clarinet in 4th grade, playing in marching band, concert band, and orchestra. When it came time to go to high school, I wanted to continue in the orchestra, but they already had enough clarinetists, so I took up the string bass over the summer and was able to join the High School Orchestra in September, in addition to Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Clarinet Ensemble. My junior year, I decided to begin playing the tympani. I couldn’t get enough – I spent my summers in Maine at New England Music Camp, even returning as a counselor for many summers to be a lifeguard on the lake while continuing my musical studies. I attended Westchester University,

outside of Philadelphia, which has a well-recognized educational program. I majored in music therapy, and initially enjoyed the behavioral science behind music, but after one year, I realized that I was interested in teaching, so I began studying music education. I became a bass major, and continued playing the clarinet, and participating in the choirs. I would receive my Master’s degree at Westchester University.

singing, and grades 4-12 orchestra. I also began crossing over to the drama department. Between 1996-2002, I also served as our Drama Director. In my final year, I brought in Clio Venho to assist me, and co-produce the drama productions. I was at Steiner for six years when I learned of an opportunity stage directing operas on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. I felt compelled to explore this part of the world, and this opportunity. Following, I also worked with the Shaker Mountain Performing Arts Festival in upstate

During grad school, I learned about Waldorf education. I was introduced to the Kimberton Waldorf School, and during the interview process, I saw the light in the students’ eyes that drew me to the school. I loved the natural and holistic approach of Waldorf education and embraced the curriculum. I began as the music director for grades 7-12 in singing, a “one-quarter” position, but would ultimately take on the singing position for grades 1-12, later adding orchestra for grades 4-12. I guided the chamber choir after school, and we performed several beautiful concerts and musical productions, such as Gilbert & Sullivan operas, and Mozart’s Magic Flute. I would spend eight blissful years at Kimberton. During that time, I met Tim Hoffmann and Irene Mantel at the Rudolf Steiner Institute in Maine, and Lucy Schneider at a conference, which was hosted at Kimberton. One year later, she contacted me about joining the Steiner faculty. I absolutely wanted to move to New York, and I began with grades 7-12

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NY. I would later consult several operas, directing plays, musicals, and operas in Delaware, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Chicago. In addition to my work as a stage director, I was also called to be a guest teacher and mentor for several Waldorf Schools throughout the country. Once I got on the roster for an adolescent conference in Chicago, calls from several other Waldorf Schools flooded in asking if I would visit to either teach or assist Waldorf music programs. This lead to several years of travel throughout the eastern

United States and the Midwest. I was offered a position at the Chicago Waldorf School and the Arcturus Rudolf Steiner Teaching Program in Chicago. I would remain there for seven years. In 2012, I received a call from Judy Bachleitner, my mentor at Steiner, who was the Music Director. She told me she was retiring, and asked me to consider returning to the school as its Music Director. I jumped at the opportunity to return because I love working with our students, and the music department is of the

highest caliber. Our faculty and administration are the very best; so returning to Steiner in this capacity met me in a different way and at a different time in my life. It was one of the best decisions of my career and life. I have relished these past three years. However, when I learned that Marilyn Ruppart was retiring last year, I examined the idea of working with the administration as a next step in my career, while continuing with facets of our music department. There is more responsibility, and I have an expanded view of the possibilities to use my talents in a broader way for the Elementary School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and having Jeff Venho taking a leadership role in the music department is also ideal. The faculty is thrilled, and he has been here for many years, so he is greatly appreciated. I plan to continue with music at the school, using my skills as a musician to harmonize and direct the lower school students, faculty, and parents in a common goal of providing the very best Waldorf education for our students. In addition to my work in administration, I will once again revive the Parent/Faculty/ Staff Choir, which is a wonderful opportunity for adults to experience the joy of singing and the richness that our students receive through the community of singing. I love working with people, and conducting is my love and art; it feeds me and makes me happy everyday. ď&#x20AC;ź

Jeff Spade addressing parents during the Spring Concert

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A WORLD of STEINER MUSIC

JEFF VENHO DIRECTOR OF MUSIC PROGRAM

chose the trumpet, or I guess it could be said, the trumpet chose me. When I first heard the clarion call of the trumpet in a fourth grade assembly, I knew it was the instrument for me. I was fortunate to come from a musical family and my father worked at NBC as the associate director of The Tonight Show. In the eighth grade, I was encouraged by my father to play for bandleader, Doc Severinsen, who presented me with a new trumpet. Over time, I realized that the trumpet was to be my life’s work, and I practiced diligently and developed the skills necessary to attend the Juilliard School of Music, receiving my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Upon graduation from Juilliard, while establishing myself as a professional musician, I began my thirty-five year teaching career at Steiner, and have come to understand how best to train young

musicians. In the earliest stages, beginning in the fourth grade brass class, it is imperative for the student to establish proper playing habits in order to develop consistently. In private lessons, which begin in fifth grade, students continue to develop their technique and musicianship in preparation for ensemble work and solos in their class recital. Steiner’s music faculty works closely with students both in private lessons and as directors of the school’s many ensembles. Each of our teachers is conservatory-trained and maintains a career as a professional musician in New York City. We collaborate together in encouraging the highest level of musicianship possible from each student. We also guide our students through the rough periods that are an inevitable part of musicianship. We find that by

graduation, students are able to appreciate their perseverance and have the skills necessary to enjoy playing their instruments in college and beyond. As teachers, we are gratified when students return to relate new musical experiences while looking look back on their musical life at Steiner. In my particular case, our family includes two thriving alumni. My daughter, Aili ’05, is an actress and singer. When her schedule allows, she coaches students at the school in voice preparation. She also works in the musical theatre program at June Days Music, our two-week summer music camp. My son, Cliff, is studying eurythmy in Spring Valley, NY and is very involved in Waldorf education. Of course, my wife, Clio, is well known to both students and parents as the drama teacher and director of the school’s drama clubs for many years. For us, Steiner and family have been intertwined for more than three decades.  Mr. Venho hitting the high notes at Spring Gala.

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Mr. O’Gallagher plays the sax with an innovative style.

of Music. I studied with legendary saxophone gurus Joe Viola, Jerry Bergonzi and George Garzone. I received a Master’s Degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and began working at Steiner shortly thereafter. I enjoy teaching, playing clubs and making records. It is the best of all worlds. I am fortunate to have toured Europe and played in festivals, including Montreaux Jazz Festival. I play in New York clubs several nights a week – I believe the record was 12 nights in a row.

JOHN O’GALLAGHER MUSIC FACULTY

try to instill in my students a love and interest to draw and find interesting things about music. Reaching them on different levels and disciplines is key to making them think about music on a different level. Sometimes I have a difficult time believing that I have been teaching students at Steiner for almost 25 years. I began at the school in 1992, and through all these years, I have

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found that unlocking those things is one of the most important parts of teaching. It needs to come from within you. That is something I am always trying to instill in my students. I was born in Anaheim CA, and began playing alto saxophone in grade school after my family moved to Spokane, WA. Upon graduating high school, I moved to Boston, and attended the Berklee College

During the past 25 years, I have taken on many projects, as both a band leader and as a sideman, working with artists such as Maria Schnieder, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Hart, Tony Malaby, Jeff Williams, Tom Rainey, Chris Cheek, Ralph Alessi, Rudresh Manhathappa, Mike Formanek, Ben Monder, and Joe Henderson, who won a Grammy® Award in 1988. It is surprising when I think about it, but I have been on 55 recordings, issued nine CDs, and wrote a book a few years back. I greatly enjoy it when a former student approaches me at a club, and tells me I made a difference in his life. I recently had a student, who studied Musicology, come up to me, and another, who became well recognized for saxophone repair. This is personally invigorating, and makes me feel a sense of accomplishment. Visit johnogallagher.com to see where I have upcoming performances, and please say hello when you catch a show.  THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

ALEX YAGUPSKY HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY

“H

ang on, … You teach both high school math and music? … Wait—what?” Without fail, this is the reaction I get when I’m asked what it is I do for a living, as if one subject must preclude the other. Picking up the conversation, I’ll usually get some variant of: “Well, don’t they say that math and music go together?” Sure they do. And we can talk about the abstract nature of both and how they rely on proportion and balance and the like. But what of it? I’m fairly sure what “they” say has little bearing on why I do what I do. And if I want to tease my interlocutor, I’ll usually mention with good humor that many engineers with whom I went to undergraduate school had tin ears, and that many composers I knew in music school couldn’t add. It’s really unfortunate that, as a society, we are only comfortable with each person as expert in only one specific domain. It is as if we can only imagine a newborn’s parents where one solely takes care of feedings while the other only changes diapers. Surely this is ludicrous. Doubtless every parent does a bit of everything—and I would argue that children call upon parents to do things that far surpass any label. And yet why do we have such trouble seeing this in other aspects of life? Aren’t we each far greater than our labels? I’ve always found “Jack of all trades; master of none,” somewhat uninspired. I’d like to think we are all Jacks of many trades, masters of a few, and apprentices of others. But we are so conditioned to take in the one trade that we lose sight of the ancillary many and few. By way of example, I look to my own resume. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in mathematics, I first worked for a bank in the processing center. A few years later, I went back to school to get my Master’s in music composition. To pay the bills, I fell into the temp racket of the burgeoning desktop publishing field, working evening and midnight shifts. Most clients were financial and consulting firms, with occasional work for graphic design companies. At the same time, I taught piano and music theory at community music schools in Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey. I designed, and to this day still maintain, a custom database to enroll and schedule participants of an annual summer 14

Mr. Y subtly conducting high school students.

piano festival. If we want to go farther back, we end up at my having grown up mostly abroad, in Mexico, France and the Netherlands, where the household language was my parents’ Argentine Spanish. And, yes, in high school, I did translation work with a contractor to prepare Dutch subtitles for English-language movies. …And these are just some of the labels you can give me. I always spelled trouble for job placement counselors and recruiters. Predictably, I was told to consider computer coding, banking, print design, maybe even freelance UN translation. Only rarely was I able to steer the conversation to the totality of my background. Mostly, it was a lost cause as counselors stuck to the straight and narrow and in plain sight. Sometimes so much so that it crossed into the farcical. I remember once applying to a new temp agency and going out of my way to clearly state that I was looking for something new with new clients. I didn’t stand a chance. As soon as the rep saw my list of current clients, he kept circling back to one of them with whom his agency had a relationship. Despite my insisting on wanting something new, he kept asking if I’d be interested in working for them, since I was clearly experienced and I’d be a shoo-in. I don’t think a day goes by where I don’t thank my lucky stars that Steiner found me. I work somewhere where breadth is valued and encouraged, and where my colleagues exemplify this. Looking at our class teachers: where else does one find faculty who are so gifted not only in the subject matter, but also who learn and re-learn every year as they go along with the class, who can paint and draw at a level that is humbling, who can weave and tell a story with far more intent than just getting words across, and who give so much respect to the spoken word? In the upper grades, faculty ask to teach more than just one thing: history

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and architecture; English and human development; biology and mathematics; guitar and Faust. When I began teaching music here, I would have never guessed my duties would grow to take on mathematics, my undergraduate field. More recently, I’ve been able to bring my experiences in desktop publishing and love of typography to helping out with 15 East, the High School’s literary and arts magazine. And, with colleagues, I can laugh at the regional differences in Spanish, discuss the latest Astérix to come from France, argue for Dutch as a close relative of Chaucer’s English, or debate whether German’s separable prefixes have some counterpart in English (output is to put something out, after all). We often hear that if we are to put in a full workday somewhere, it should hopefully be something we like doing. I look at my day at school as a day being able to be who I am. As parents, the least we hope of any education is that it should foster and nourish our children’s natural abilities and innate talents. But at Steiner we also have them discover things that they likely would not have encountered elsewhere. I think this is one of the things our school does particularly well. Compared to other schools, we cast a far wider net of required subject matter for our students. This is not to say that other schools don’t offer these. But, to my knowledge, it is only we who require it of every student. And I think that in doing so, we teach our students what it is to be human.  Steiner.edu

JOE CARDELLO HIGH SCHOOL PERCUSSIONS

began teaching at Steiner in 1999. Teaching never seems to get old for me; there’s always something new, and our students respond to learning the many different types of music we can teach at the school. That is something that truly stands out for me about our music program. I have also had the good fortune of playing live and recording with many of the world’s best musicians. Our students enjoy hearing about my music experiences, which makes me happy because they should know there is a great deal they can do in life, whether it is in music, academics or other areas of interest. I have been fortunate to play with many internationally recognized musicians, including Diana Ross, Ziggy Marley, South African multi-instrumentalist Pops Mohammed, banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka, and percussionist Bashiri Johnson, who is a highly sought-after recording artist. Touring and recording has opened many doors, and has been an exciting part of my career. While touring with Diana Ross, I played the Prince’s Charity Trust Concert in London’s New Hyde Park for Prince Charles. That was very exciting. Our

Mr. Cardello keeping a steady downbeat during June Days Jazz.

tour took us throughout Europe and North America. I have also played on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and on numerous Broadway shows, including The Lion King, The Full Monty, In The Heights, and Motown. I began playing drums when I was eight-years old, after a short stint on guitar. My first band played together in our neighbor’s garage. We had such a good time, and my parents were very supportive. My father played accordion, and my mother should’ve been an opera singer. When I began showing interest in playing, they backed me from the beginning. I attended The Hartt School in Connecticut, and when I graduated, I was offered an opportunity to tour in Europe, visiting Italy, Germany and Austria. This was a defining time for me, and an ideal way to learn new types of music, which has been a guiding force for many years. I began travelling to New York City frequently, and got very interested in Brazilian music. I was the recipient of a Partners of America travel grant to Brazil, where we researched and performed traditional folkloric music of the Northeast, while I fulfilled teaching assignments at the University of Paraiba and the University of Bahia. Later, I would travel to Senegal in West Africa, where I studied Sabar and Djembe drumming of the Wolof people. Teaching our students percussions is such a joy, and I relish the fact that our students enjoy learning from me and the other magnificent professionals, who guide our music program at Steiner.  THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

A WORLD of STEINER MUSIC

MARTA REILLY CELLO TEACHER

grew up in Warsaw, Poland, and I began learning the cello when I was six-years old in a special music school. I spent the first 12 years of my education in such schools. I was accepted by The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, and I graduated in 2005 with a Master’s of Arts degree in Cello Performance and a Pedagogical Diploma. While I was still a student in Poland, I was invited to perform at festivals in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Holland, and the United States. I would later spend two years doing post-master studies in Cello Performance and Contemporary Music at Italian conservatories in Milan, Cremona, and Florence. I also played in 16

various orchestras in Italy, including L’Orchestra dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala, and The United Europe Chamber Orchestra. I came to New York on a Fulbright scholarship in the fall 2006 to study at Mannes School of Music at The New School. Starting in 2008, I pursued a doctorate in Cello Performance and Music Theory at CUNY The Graduate Center receiving my doctorate in 2014, with a focus on post-tonal analysis and the performance of Witold Lutosławski’s music. My music education took a long time, but I enjoyed every part. In fact, I feel that we are students all our lives, which makes learning beautiful and challenging. My principal musical influences are my former teachers, including Natalia

Gutman and Marcy Rosen. I enjoy listening to the recordings of the late cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, who was not only a great performer, but also an indefatigable human rights activist. I encourage my students to listen to cello recordings and, especially, to attend concerts. My goal is for them to have a point of reference, which further develops their musical sensitivity. I don’t suggest listening to any particular composers, but rather to as many as possible. Through classical music recordings and YouTube videos, we can compare various performative styles and techniques. When teaching my students, my philosophy is guided by the principle that everyone should have a chance to study music, to appreciate the beauty and proportions, as well as discipline,

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hard work and ways of selfexpression. Teaching artists have a moral and professional responsibility to pass their knowledge and experience to future generations in order to preserve our heritage and make us better human beings. I have had a very interesting 2015, and 2016 appears to be even more so. A flutist and a composer, Bonnie McAlvin, invited me to record her music for the soundtrack of a psychological thriller My First Kiss and the People Involved, and I recently presented a lecture-recital during The Ninth Biennial International Conference on Music Since 1900 at the University of Glasgow. I am a member of Ensemble 365, a chamber group, performing mostly contemporary music. We plan to play a few concerts this month and next, and in the beginning of 2016, I will be preparing for recitals in Japan with pianist Emiko Sato. I love working with my students at Steiner. Their passion for cello is wonderful. I frequently invite them to attend my concerts because they get a considerable amount out of seeing me play a recital. However, I also appreciate how busy students’ schedules can be, especially if both parents work. I will continue inviting them to concerts because attending classical music concerts is an essential part of learning as a student, and I definitely appreciate it when I see my students in the audience.  Steiner.edu

NICK FINZER TROMBONE TEACHER

was fortunate to be born into a musical world. My mom Sherry Finzer is an international flutist. Growing up in Rochester, NY, she inspired my music in many ways, and when I was young, I developed a fascination for the music of Duke Ellington. In High School, I was in a band that participated in the Essentially Ellington competition of Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was then that I decided to pursue a life in music. Famed trombonist Wycliffe Gordon heard me, and we began a life-long mentorship. He has since written several pieces for me. I try to inspire my students at Steiner in a similar way. When I began at the school four years ago, I decided to give my students in grades 6-12 copies of my CDs to show them how fortunate they are to have teachers who are professional musicians. I encourage them to see my shows and others at the Blue Note, the Village Vanguard, and

the NY Philharmonic; having access to these venues is a great opportunity. I attended the Eastman School of Music, and in 2011 won the Eastern Trombone Workshop’s National Jazz Trombone Competition – I was also a finalist in the 2010 International Trombone Association’s Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition. I received a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School of Music’s prestigious Jazz program where I was mentored by the trombone legend Steve Turre. Exposition, my debut recording as a bandleader and composer, was released in January of 2013. Two tracks appearing on the album garnered a pair of accolades, the prestigious American Society of Composers and Performers (ASCAP)’s Herb Alpert Award for young composers in 2013 and 2015. In 2014, I composed two new albums. The Chase debuted this past July on Origin Records, and Ten Year Suite is being developed with a future release date to be determined. I have been fortunate to perform at top Jazz clubs and concert halls with Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Bob Stewart’s Double Quartet, Terrell Stafford, Ray Drummond, Steve Turre, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, to name a handful. In a short period of time, I have been able to tour North America and Europe. Visit my website, nickfinzermusic.com, and try to see one of my shows this year…bring your children.  THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

A WORLD of STEINER MUSIC

KATYA IGNATOVA VIOLIN, VIOLA, AND PIANO TEACHER

was born in Moscow and began my violin studies at the age of five when I was accepted at the prestigious Gnesin Academy of Music for Gifted Children. I was chosen to teach my first student, a seven-year old child, when I was only 17. Upon graduating with a Master’s of Fine Arts degree, I began my professional career as the principal second violinist in the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, known internationally as “Musica, Viva!” I toured and recorded extensively throughout Europe, and when I was twenty-two, and well-established as a new leading Russian violinist, I joined the Moscow Philharmonic, with which I continued a demanding schedule of concert performances. In 1996, I emigrated to the United States, where I was chosen for advanced study with Richard and Fiona Simon of the New York Philharmonic, performing in their quartet for the Cosmopolitan Symphony Orchestra. I have since performed steadily in a number of other prominent organizations, including The New American Chamber Orchestra, The Jupiter Symphony Orchestra, and the Empyreal Strings Quartet, where I am the first violinist, and with the Empyreal Strings Ensemble and band, where I am the concertmaster and principal soloist.

When I was invited to teach at Steiner in 2000, I immediately fell in love with the place, the teachers and children, and the whole idea of Waldorf education. The school reminded me of the Gnessin School of Music, with a small space, family feel, and a unique, personal approach to every child. I like to work on creating an emotional connection to the music we are working on, presenting it as a story, written in a different language. I ask our students to decode what is written on the page and express it anew from their point of view with an understanding from their heart. I use acting as an example. The text is the same, but the difference is how each actor performs the scene. The example is the same as performing a piece of music. Since my teens at the Gnesin Academy, I developed a passion for teaching as well as performing, which I have pursued by devoting time to educating young violinists. I have taught at the Long Island Conservatory of Music and Art, at the Great Neck Music Center, and now at the Rudolf Steiner School, where I am currently the orchestra director and an instructor of piano, violin and viola. My students have gone on to win awards and distinctions, such as achieving outstanding scores on the NYSSMA Test, becoming members of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and the ISO New York, as well as winning the coveted NYS Summer School of the Arts Scholarship. 

Ms. Ignatova conducts students at Carnegie Hall.

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Mr. Bertelsen is more than just beats.

There’s also the new monthly PTP Takeover on Radar Radio LDN, an online station based out of London. The first one is up on the Radar Radio Soundcloud page (search for Purple Tape Pedigree).

VAL BERTELSEN CLASS OF 1999

grew up at a very different time, and in a very different generation, so I am certainly a product of a previous New York City. Like others from Steiner, I did not grow up in a slow, small town environment. When I was younger, I spent a good amount of time at home working on music and practicing my DJ skills. Before long, I was going downtown to check out shows and meet up with folks, usually older friends, who helped me out with knowledge and good advice. That’s how I came up with my stage name Geng. Genghis Khan was a pretty heavyweight historic figure, who went against the odds, and did his own thing. Soon, friends began calling me, Geng Grizzly, and that just stuck. I shortened it to “Geng” last year. Steiner.edu

I learned a lot at Steiner, going there from Kindergarten through senior year, graduating in 1999. I still keep in touch with a good handful of folks: Alex Garville (aka “the original Birdman”), Sean Fitzgerald, Kristie Edwards, and Ana Marin, as well as a few others. I began Purple Tape Pedigree, a recording and multimedia label, in 2009. The vision was to have a new music outlet. PTP is basically focusing on the more “from tomorrow” sounds of electronic music, from all over – NYC to London, Chile, and Durban, South Africa. This year, and into 2016, we will have a bunch of releases, and I will probably be in the U.K. and Europe in October and November for a mini tour. I’ll be playing with some great people in Dublin, London, and Berlin.

Purple Tape Pedigree also throws a series of parties at Palisades in Brooklyn called DWMS. We do four parties per year – just had DWMS8 and DWMS9 over the summer. We are building PTP as more than just music. For example, we also have a clothing line. We have our second collection coming out in 2016. I enjoy collaborating and building with like-minded people; that combination of energy is inspiring and motivating. I enjoy touring as a DJ. Traveling helps me keep focused, and also allows me to further solidify myself as a producer and performer. Much respect to Steiner for allowing me to talk about my craft in the magazine. If people want to learn more about what we are doing, they can check out our Facebook and Twitter pages, or our Soundcloud site. We also have a show on BBOX Radio called Fresh Out The Box on Thursday nights. So, let’s hear from the Steiner folks out there. I got so much of my craft my Steiner, and I like meeting other like-minded individuals and creatives.  THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

A WORLD of STEINER MUSIC

AILI VENHO CLASS OF 2005

attended Steiner from Nursery through 8th grade. My brother Cliff was three years behind me, and both of my parents are members of the faculty. I loved my years at Steiner. When it came to high school, I applied to the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. I was accepted for vocals, dance, and instrumental. I chose to focus on dance. During my sophomore year, I auditioned for Les Misérables, which is all singing – no dance. I was accepted for the ensemble. This made me question whether I wanted to be a singer. By my junior year, I had decided that I wanted to go into theater, not dance. I made the unusual decision of returning to Steiner for my senior year because I knew that I could do more theater at Steiner than LaGuardia as a dance major. That year, I got to do Three Sisters by Chekhov, Anything Goes, A Streetcar Named Desire, which was directed by my friend for her senior project, and The Apple Tree. When I applied to colleges, I was accepted to my top choice, Marymount, with a scholarship. But I did not want to go to college right away, so I took two years off. I worked in restaurants and moved out of my parents’ house. When I decided that it was time to attend college, I chose against going to a conservatory. 20

I felt that I had a great vocal teacher, and I was in the place where the auditions were being held; I could take dance classes, and go to acting studios, so I decided to go to City College where I did a lot of theater and shows. However, I was still fighting “the musical theater thing.” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it or not because of the unstable lifestyle. Ms. Venho belts out the blues during June Days Jazz.

I grappled with the fact that both of my parents are performers, and I wanted to be honest about why I wanted to be a performer. During my senior year, while performing one of my favorite musicals, The Full Monty, I decided that I only wanted to do musical theater. I graduated at the ripe old age of 25, but it took me a little time to get into the audition scene because it is intimidating, so I started auditioning a year later. My goal was to get a summer stock job in Maine (performing one show, while learning another). The schedule is crazy, and fabulous! We rehearse between 9-5, and perform at night. During my first summer, I performed at the Arundel Barn Playhouse in Maine near Kennebunkport. President George H.W. Bush came to see a show. We performed A Chorus Line, one of my dream shows, Legally Blonde, My Fair Lady, and a 1970s revue show called Eight Track, which was four singers singing all classic songs. When I returned to New York, I had this renewed sense of energy and desire to put myself out there, and audition a lot because I was centered, and confident that all I was doing was theater. I can feel that there are some amazing things on the horizon for me. Recently, I was hired for a one-week stand-in for the musical parody, 50 Shades, at the Electra

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Look for the smooth sounds of GGM.

Theater on 43rd Street. I learned the show in three days, and did it for a week, but then it ended. However, twomonths later, I received a serendipitous call that the part of Pam in 50 Shades was once again opening up. The show was extended, but it closed earlier than expected. But as luck would have it, the production was brought to the Seychelles, off the coast of southeast Africa, where we performed on a private compound. This is the life – it’s pretty wacky, and not for everybody, but it’s in my blood. When I can, I teach theater and music at Steiner with my parents. That is a total blast to return to my school, and work with many fun and talented boys and girls. My goal is to ultimately perform musical theater on Broadway. I love touring, and I may be interested in going on a cruise ship for six- to eight-months; I love the idea of traveling while I’m young, and I’m grateful to Steiner for having something to do with planting that bug in me.  Steiner.edu

GABRIEL GARZÓN-MONTANO CLASS OF 2007

attended the Rudolf Steiner School from the first through twelfth grades, with a three-month break at the start of the ninth grade, when I went to LaGuardia as a drum major. I am almost a lifer. Mr. Radysh was my Class Teacher from first through sixth grade. He is a master storyteller. I loved his main lessons, especially Greek Mythology. He transformed into the character in the stories he told and held the class in the palm of his hand. It was amazing! I also loved making music in the orchestra and choirs, and painting in Ms. Hamshaw’s class. I spent my early years playing the violin, guitar, and drums, before turning to the piano and bass guitar to better complete my compositions. By the time I graduated from Purchase College’s Conservatory of Music, the foundations for my debut EP, Bishouné: Alma del Huila, were already in place. This EP had six songs, which were performed and recorded at Henry Hirsch’s famed Waterfront Studios, a renovated old church. The songs are a humble and urgent bout of self-expression guided by the natural limitations of a solo performer. I performed every clap, breath, harmony, and note in real time.

Things fell into place, and then Lenny Kravitz called, and invited me to open his 2014 European stadium tour. I thought I would do a national tour of clubs for my first tour, so playing in front of thousands of people was absolutely astonishing. The remainder of 2015 will be spent recording my album and other projects, and then touring the United States and Europe. In 2016, I’m planning on releasing the record and then going back out on the road to play the U.S. and Europe again. I also plan to move into a beautiful new apartment, a sanctuary where I can upgrade my home studio, and meditate, practice, write and record. I need to send love to my parents, and my sister Luna, who also attended Steiner for 12 years, and the city’s unavoidable lifestyle. Keep checking back on my website, gabrielgarzonmontano.com, for details about the new record and the tour. I would love to meet some Steiner friends after the show. Please pick up my EP Bishouné: Alma del Huila, which is available on vinyl, CD, and on most digital platforms.  THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

ATHLETICS

CULTIVATING PASSION:

ALL HAIL THE STEINER DRAGONS

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by LUCIA OSWALD, Athletic Director

y the time formal athletic teams begin in the seventh grade, Steiner students have had years of building the fundamentals. Beginning in the lower grades, physical education classes stress participation, teamwork, skill building, positivity, responsibility and the achievement of both personal and common goals. It is a natural step in a student’s physical and social development, then, to feel free to enjoy the experience of supporting – and being supported by – a team when he or she reaches middle school. Each year, Steiner students in grades 7-12 exert effort, commitment, and pride in our school as our teams take part in the Independent Schools Athletic League (ISAL). And, while Steiner ranks as one of the smallest schools within the ISAL, our size is not Continued on next page

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ATHLETICS Continued from previous page

a reflection on the successes that we continue to achieve each year. The successes of many individuals lend evidence to the health of the program. For example, Ella Prince, Smith College freshman, planned to play volleyball in her first year. Last year, Travers Silverman and Bryan Rosendo qualified for the New York State Independent Schools Athletics Association track meet, marking the third year in a row that Steiner runners were included. Similarly, last year’s Varsity Soccer team qualified for the playoffs – for the ninth year in the row! Harry O’Conor and Sebastian Recht, both freshmen last year, performed notably and will continue to carry the team forward, replacing four strong graduates, most of whom had been playing since middle school. At the end of a season, however, it is not the wins and losses that remain with Steiner’s student athletes. By necessity, flexibility and resilience arise in team culture as students learn to problem solve, strive, step back, adjust, defer, speak up, console and manage time, among many other things. Working closely with teammates helps students accept that individual performance is just one part of team life and that helping others improve skills and performance is also crucial. A common sentiment heard at Steiner is “a team is only as strong as its weakest link.” Working as one team helps the students understand that individual performance and achievements do not define the progression and success of that team. It is also important to note that the program is enriched by the fact that every student in good academic standing is invited to participate and that our coaches are highly skilled at meeting every level of student-athlete, supporting each individual to feel encouraged and to grow. As a result, many are able to develop new sides of themselves. In some cases, students may lean into areas that do not represent strengths. All of these intangibles – all of this rich mix of possibilities – leads inevitably to a bank of memories and feelings that students will re-experience and draw from as they move forward in all areas of their lives. The spirit of sport and activity, of quick thinking and action, of determination and commitment is alive and thriving at the Rudolf Steiner School. All Hail the Steiner Dragons!  24

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP High School Boys Basketball, High School Girls Volleyball, Middle School Girls Volleyball, High School Boys Soccer, Middle School Girls Volleyball.

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TECHNOLOGY

EIGHTH GRADE CODERS Moving from Information Consumption to Digital Creation: Talking Tech with Adam Van Auken, Steinerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s IT Director, about 8th Grade Computer Science class. by BRIAN KAPLAN, Director of Communications

Brian Kaplan: Last year, you introduced a new computer science class for the 8th Grade. Why a computer science class? Adam Van Auken: Computer Science is a quickly developing field right now. There are many exciting and rewarding programming jobs that are going oversees today because of a lack of qualified candidates in the United States. Of course, Steiner is not a vocational school, and we do not plan our curriculum around important job skills, but this was a smart decision. Fortunately, there are many other reasons to teach computer science. Programming is filled with logic, problem solving, mathematics, critical thinking and many other skills that

can be utilized across the curriculum. There is evidence to suggest that learning computer science can improve learning in other subjects (see http://blog.code.org/ post/125429946375/cs-othersubjects). Most important is that students truly enjoy learning programming, and I like working with them in this subject. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taught programming and computer science for more than 15 years, and several students frequently tell me it is their favorite class. BK: Waldorf schools are often viewed as being anti-tech. How do you see your class fitting into the Waldorf philosophy? AVA: While I have not been at Rudolf Steiner School

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for decades, I have studied Waldorf education significantly, and know that it is not anti-technology, especially in the High School. When I attended AWSNA’s (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America) annual conference last year, the focus was on technology. Through analyzing Rudolf Steiner’s lectures pertaining to technology, the keynote speaker eschewed the idea that Steiner would be against all forms of modern technology. However, he would certainly not be in favor of the haphazard, mindless, and destructive use of technology so prevalent today. Unfortunately, wasted screen time isn’t just occurring at home. In an effort to be more 21st Century, many schools are continually hopping from one tech “bell and whistle” to another. We are trying to buck this trend directly at Steiner. Instead of focusing on screen time and information consumption, we want our students to be digital creators. The computer science curriculum class contributes to this goal. BK: There are many different programming languages. Which ones are you teaching? AVA: Students begin the course learning Blockly, a visual programming

language developed by Google. It is beneficial for learning programming because students do not need to know all the commands by memory. Instead, they can learn what code blocks do and build programs with them. Once the students get the hang of Blockly, they move on to JavaScript, which is the most widely used programming language. Much of the web is built on JavaScript, so this is very interesting and relevant to today’s students. Also, the barrier to entry is low, so students can be successful right off the bat. Although these programming languages were carefully selected, we focus on programming concepts that can be applied to all programming languages. BK: Do you use any special teaching methods? AVA: I use a blended learning approach called the Flipped Classroom. Using amazing resources like code.org and Khan Academy, students spend most of the class working on interactive projects. I want our students to be lifelong learners, so I try to minimize my involvement. I am the guide on the

side, not the sage on the stage. We even have an “ask three and then me” rule (students ask three students for help before the teacher), which promotes a collaborative learning environment. Students really see if they know something when they have to teach it to one another. One of the nicest parts about this blended learning environment is that it is self-paced. This prevents students from getting frustrated or bored. BK: What is one of your biggest hopes for where we can take this? AVA: One of our goals with this class is to emphasize throughout the class that they continue using code. org and Khan Academy. Again, the real priority is for our students to be life-long learners. Our students understand that they do not need to wait for the teacher or the class to begin learning. I help them by selecting the learning resources, but we want them to take the ball and run with it, and they respond to this directive because they feel a sense of accomplishment. We are just igniting that fire in them, and watching them succeed. 

FROM TOP LEFT High School students develop confidence in technology and coding following Eighth Grade Coding class; Mr. Yagupsky works with a Ninth Grade student; Coding designed by Eighth Grade class.

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW

the

FALL FAIR

The Fall Fair is a cherished annual tradition at the Rudolf Steiner School. Our sincerest thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to transform the school into an autumnal wonderland. 28

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FALL FAIR COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS Stacey Kelly Jamie Carter

WORKSHOP LEADERS

AREA HEADS

needle felted animals

logistics

Robyn Watts volunteer coordinator

Dawn Rhodes trip raffle

Sarah Gunderson décor

Deighn Eliason autumn experience

Laura Montano Sono Kuwayama silent auction

Dawn Trachtenberg Nancy Raimondo Camila Steiner food service

Abbey Warsh Joylynn Holder Chef Leslie Li Gabby Ortiz ’83 steiner gear and retail

Karen Imhoff us liaison

Alex Yagupsky ls liaison

Mary Lynn Hetsko program artwork

Carola Dixon ’15

knitting

Jennifer Strent Lixiao Wang Rebecca Dahele Jennifer Strent needle felting

Mary Lynn Hetsko dolls

Beatriz Smith flower fairies and crowns

Gloria Mills CLASSROOM LIAISONS 1st grade - pocket fairy Sarah Gunderson Robyn Watts 2nd grade – candle dipping Kevin Cannon 3rd grade – cake walk Ellen Jacobson 4th grade – jump rope Leah Azoulay Mary Llosa Claire Brown 5th grade – terrariums Felicia Panepinto 6th grade – crystal cave Sumei Situ Erica Farber 7th grade – brown bag raffle Susan Sanyour 8th grade – game room Dee Cartensen Mainieri Roccio Garcia Rodriguez sand art

Ilya Zeldin

Save the Date: FALL FAIR 2015 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Steiner.edu

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

DANCE the

NIGHT AWAY THE RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL SPRING GALA

hat a night we had at this year’s Spring Gala! Parents, alumni, faculty and staff, and alumni parents danced the night away on Friday, May 8th, all in support of our beloved school. Attendees were awe-struck by the evening’s entertainment; two pairs of award winning ballroom dancers.

Thanks to the collective efforts of the Planning Committee, event sponsors, and attendees, the Spring Gala netted an astounding $122,000 dollars. We are so grateful for those who continue to give in a multitude of ways to provide a robust education for our students.  30

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE Steiner.edu

SPRING GALA PLANNING COMMITTEE co-chairs Luana Conte Jeannie O’Conor live auction and raffle

Katy Lindsay décor

Deighn Eliason Amy Schimel SPONSORSHIP CIRCLES Mark Reed & Daria Ilunga Harold & Stacey Kelly Jean-Hugues & Véronique Monier Marc ’79 & Dawn Trachtenberg 15 east circle Jerry & Erica Trachtenberg friends circle

Dennis Pinto & Joy Phelan-Pinto community circle

Daniel Goldstein & Terri Adler John & Silvia Heller Christopher Tsai & André Stockamp Jeffrey ’83 & Stacey Weber faculty sponsors

Emily Boone, Caroline Castro, Julia Hays ’73, Lucy Schneider general sponsors

Oguz & Ruby Akin, Blanche Christerson, Brian Cullman, Paulina Eisenbeis, Mitchel Friedman, Irene Goodale, Susan Goodale, Bill & Adele Grant, Rama & Sara Madhu, Claudia & Daniel Mahler, Marion Ober ’65, Sandeep Qusba & Dawn Rhodes, Corinne Moor Spingarn ’64, Michael & Camila Steiner, Renate Poliakine ’60, Juan & Susann Villanueva

DON’T MISS

SPRING

GALA

2016 FRIDAY, MAY 13, 6:00-11:30 PM LANDMARK ON THE PARK

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THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

THE SENIOR CLASS OF 2015

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE Steiner.edu

THE SENIOR CLASS OF 2015 Chloe Agar Madeline Austin Shakayla Belton Annabel Berusch Clara Dietz-Sarries Carola Dixon Angie Figueroa Kelsey Finch Rachelle Fleury Andreina Himy Isaiah Horton Noah Kahan Chiara Madhu Carolyn Newmark Oscar Panaretto Ella Prince Shavasp Quillen Sebastian Rodriguez Manuel Smith Antonella Sturniolo Montana Thomas Matthew Trachtenberg Annabelle Vaes

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THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

2015 Commencement Speaker Address by EVAN BUXBAUM ’02

ear teachers, parents, guests, anthroposophists, curative eurythmists, curative anthropormorphists, metamorphisists, and of course the distinguished members of the graduating class of 2015 – I’m honored to be here with you today. So far this year, commencement speakers across the country have included the likes of Stephen Colbert, Kanye West, Natalie Portman, and even Jon Bon Jovi, who you graduates probably know as – that old guy who keeps singing about New Jersey. But what’s my point? Well, today I’m going to give you all three pieces of advice, and the first one, is this - get good at writing speeches. Because then no matter what - you’ll always have something to fall back on. I remember when I was sitting where you are now, 13 years ago. There are very few times in your life when you get to put on a robe, sit down, and listen to someone tell you about the future. If it’s happening, you’re probably either graduating - or you’ve joined a religious cult. And if that’s the case, you should stop listening and start running – immediately. But today that will not be necessary. Today is your graduation day. The day you’ve all been waiting for since you learned how to wait way back in kindergarten when they told you you wouldn’t learn to read until 5th grade. Today is the day, that glorious day when you’re finally released, as adults, into the world. Or as some of you will likely remember it - the day your parents kicked you off the family plan.

“You are a class with big goals, and I know that you will chase them… you have great things in store.” CLASS OF 2015 COLLEGE MATRICULATION Barnard College

Honestly, when I was where you are today, I felt exactly the same way. And I still do. The good news is – the world needs us. It needs people who are passionate about changing things, and who have ideas about how to do it. The bad news, unfortunately, is that you’re 18. Unless of course you’re 17, in which case, I guess that’s even worse news for you, because people have this nagging tendency not to listen to teenagers who they say that they’ve found a better way to, say, run a federal democracy, or a Taco Bell.

Concordia University – Montreal Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts Ithaca College (2) Macquarie University Morgan State University Parsons The New School for Design (2) Pratt Institute Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Skidmore College (2)

My point is, in your life, and in your quest to change things, you will hit many walls. They might be a professor you disagree with, a boss who doesn’t see your true value, a college roommate who gets drunk and eats your goldfish (I’ll never forgive you Dan, wherever you are). But no matter what form those walls take - you will run into them. And when you do, my second piece of advice to you, is this: Changing the world is not a burden, it’s a privilege.

Smith College Sterling College SUNY Oswego Vassar College Wesleyan University (2)

I had the opportunity to meet with the senior class a few months ago, and the

one thing that struck me about each and every one of you, all joking aside, is your fire. You are a class with passion, you have big ideas, huge ideas. You want the world to be more efficient, to be fairer – or at a bare minimum - to make sense!

William Paterson University of New Jersey

What do I mean by that? Just imagine for a second if everything were perfect, like it is in Sweden. What would we do all day? We’d have nothing to fix! Just have tons of time to go dogsledding and import vegetables to our frighteningly limited Scandinavian economy.

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE Steiner.edu

Fortunately for us, that’s not the case. We live in an incredibly flawed world that needs our help. I know you all see it. Things should run better, they should make more sense - a lot of adults should make more sense. But think about it this way – it’s only because they don’t, that you have an opportunity to shape the world better. And that is what I mean. Changing things is not a burden put on us – it is our privilege as people in a position to do it. Will you face challenges? Absolutely. Tons of them. But you must try not to be discouraged. Because every single day you have an opportunity to wake up and fight to make something better, bit by bit, until one day, it’s something great. That can take a long time. It can take a lifetime! Which is why my third piece of advice is so very important. Don’t be miserable. Up until now, you’ve all followed a path that was, in many ways, laid out for you. Where you went to school, the classes you took, where you lived – there was always someone else involved in those decisions. I’m not going to say it was your parents, but it was probably your parents. But that ends today. From now on, you will make your own moves. And that comes with responsibility. Many of you will be leaving New York. You’ll go to college, you’ll start a career. You’ll have your choice of where to live, what to eat, who to date, probably more importantly who not to date. And when making all those decisions, try to remember – do not be miserable today, Steiner.edu

so that you can be happy tomorrow.

And that, I learned – is just crazy pants.

When I graduated from Steiner, I knew two things – that I was going to Swarthmore College in the fall, and that one day I was either going to be an actor in musicals on Broadway, or a director premiering groundbreaking films at Sundance. So you know, small, easily attainable stuff.

It’s seductive, but its crazy pants. A path you do not love walking will never get you to a place you love.

And for a while, it went very well. I loved Swarthmore, I loved the education I got there, what I learned about the world and about myself. I graduated, I traveled for 9 months around the world and landed back in New York, in Brooklyn. I was 22 years old, and I was ready to hit the big time. I of course had no idea how to do that. Or really even what it meant. But I knew if I did, if I succeeded – then I could be happy. So I got an apartment, I got a couch on craigslist, I got a roommate on craigslist, I got a bartending degree in midtown that I probably should have gotten on craigslist, and I started making movies which were awful of course, I mean, really bad - but I kept going, and I served people a whole lot of beer, and I auditioned for a lot of musicals, and as every day passed I knew more and more that I wanted to be a director, and that I wanted to make a feature film that made a splash, that made people laugh, that made an impact. I became almost completely absorbed by that goal, unable to think about anything else. No sacrifice was ever too large, because I knew that once I had made that film, once I had climbed that mountain, the clouds would part, and everything would be wonderful. Everything would be easy and then I would be happy.

And I think it’s important to tell you all this, because you are a class with big goals, and I know that you will chase them. To be a psychologist, to write a book, to be a neuroscientist, a teacher, to launch your own fashion line or be the next U.S. representative to Khiribati – you have great things in store. But equating those goals with happiness, that’s the mistake I urge you to avoid. I did end up finishing my film, and it’s actually coming out this August. (I’m contractually obligated by my distributor to mention it at least twice so, Sun Belt Express, Sun Belt Express). And I’m very proud of that work. But if I’ve learned anything in the years since graduating, it’s that there’s no one thing in the world, no single event, that will ever make you spontaneously fulfilled. Don’t get me wrong - where you’re going is important. But I guarantee you, that if you make sure to enjoy the work it takes to get there every day - then no matter what happens, through the ups and downs, the failures, and the triumphs you will always be alright. Seniors, our paths have crossed very briefly here today, but I have to say, I am very proud of each and every one of you, because you have all achieved something special. Not only will you soon have a high school degree, but you can also crochet a multicolor placemat. And that, is not something everyone out there can say. So congratulations again - to all of you. You’ve truly earned it.  THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

Dear RSS Parents,

PARENT COUNCIL

Letter from the Parent Council President Dear RSS Parents, 7KH VFKRRO \HDU LV R΍ WR DQRWKHU IDVW VWDUW 7KH H[FLWHPHQW DW WKH EHJLQIn of addition toalways the dancing thereand is delicious ning the year is so invigorating, the members of Parent Council are delighted to bring our Steiner community many programs food and the opportunity to socialize with throughout the year.

fellow parents. If I can encourage our entire

When I reflect on the 2014-15 year, the two words that come to mind are school spirit. When I think of the Parent Council and the accomplishments we made as a group, I’m extremely glad to have been able to help facilitate the establishment and continuation of many important events throughout the community.

We amended the role and structure of Parent Council by changing the parent-body to 2014-15. attend the atsuccessful because electoral process for This square decision dance has been there is now a Bar-B-Q Parent Council representative each grade. Dinosaur in January, I canforassure a We believe WKLV VWUXFWXUH SURYLGHV JUHDWHU HɝFLHQF\ RI FRPPXQLFDWLRQ DQG PRUH good time for all. opportunity for involvement and discussion across the parent community. Most importantly, it allows Parent Council to be an active and substantial presence for every class.

As we welcomed in spring, Parent Council

Parent Council supports several vital school events and parent initiatives was active with a traditional festival - our during the year, including the Fall Fair, the Spring Gala, the Pumpkin Sale and the Book Fair. WeMay will once handle the sponsorship and community-driven Dayagain Celebration organization of the welcome baskets for new Early Childhood families. in CentralwePark. Our parents volunteered Additionally, will continue overseeing a weekly gathering of parents who haveand beentaught knittingthe playchildren strings to be included making how to in the baskets.

with crown We started the school year by preparing baskets for new participate in dancing around the maypole. It was the Early Childhood families, helping to plan Fall Fair:H EHJDQ WKH \HDU E\ KRVWLQJ IRXU Ȋ&R΍HH RQ WKH 7HUUDFHȋ PRUQLQJV LQ 6HSWHPEHU :H UH FRQQHFWHG ZLWK ROG with friends and welcomed several new friends into our community. This is one of our major themes for the year – perfect occasion for families to enjoy the beautiful day and volunteers, and hosting several mornings for coffee on the please help us by speaking with your friends about being involved. There are many ways. participate in this annual event. terrace – a tradition that new and returning parents have Our fall Apple Picking Trip was a great success, as always – all of the bus seats were taken. Once again, we come to truly embrace. We also held our second annual High partnered with City Harvest by donating several crates of apples to people in need of food. School wine tasting event for new and returning parents. While this will be my final letter as the Parent Council President, Last year’s Winter Coat Drive was a tremendous success, and we will be partnering with New York Cares again joined Board of Trustees this December so wehaving can exceed the the number of donated coatsfollowing this year. my term on PC, In the first week of October, many Steiner families travelled I want to once again thank my friends and colleagues on Another raucous good time is our annual Square Dance at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in February. Parents from dance and enjoy delectable BBQ. my It is agratitude wonderful and chance for parents and faculty from to Westchester for our annual apple-picking day.every It isgrade suchsocialize,the Council, and to express pride for the all parts of the school to come together. fun for families, and the number of people attending grows work we did together to move our initiatives forward. The Highof School Wine Tasting is an ideal way to bring together parents from grades 9-12, as well as welcome larger each year. Particularly important is our custom parents, who currently have children in grades 6-8, with members of the administration, Board and faculty. donating bags of apples through our partnership with City Thank you once again to our Parent Council members In the spring, we will once again celebrate the season with our traditional dancing around the May Pole in Harvest. The Parent Council pumpkin sale seems to be the from the 2014-15 school year: Olga Berg, Elena Canon, Central Park (we are assured to have improved weather this year). official start of cooler air coming in and a changing of the Paulina Eisenbeis, Stacey Kelly, Dan Goldstein, Terri I would like to thank all of the people who have served on the Parent Council from last year. It is through season, which brings us to Halloween – always atheir welcomed Gumula, lively Ellendebate, Jacobson, Saraand Madhu, Michele Melland, enthusiasm, commitment, discussion volunteering that all of the above events and initiatives happen each year. I would especially to cite those who stepped at the end of last year – festivity in school communities. Jeannie O’Conor, Jim like Salser, and Robert Strent.down Your Chandra Graves, Michele Melland, Gloria Mills and Shoshannah Sutherland. commitment to RSS was evident in our school spirit and sense of collaboration this year, and the level of commitment that Parcollaboration within and theteamwork parent community. By donating clothes and coats to New York Cares inThere has been a great ent Council members have displayed only goes to show the extent to which we all value the warm and lively December, we show our compassion as a community, and wethat is the Rudolf Steiner School. community Warmly, are so appreciative for the continued success we show year Warmly, after year. Please plan to donate to our New York Cares coat drive again this year. Sam Sutton, P ’26, ’28 Parent Council President

28 consistently

Our annual square dance in January has grown each year. It is great fun, and usually even the most reluctant dancers find themselves joining in by the end.

Sam Sutton, P ’26, ’28 Past Parent Council President

PARENT COUNCIL 2015-16 Nursery Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade

Karen Imhof Katy Lindsay Ku-Ling Yurman Michele Melland Elena Canon

4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

Ellen Jacobson Paulina Eisenbeis Sara Madhu Debra Kessler Olga Berg

9th Grade 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade

TBD Jeannie O’Conor Chuck Smith TBD

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE Steiner.edu

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THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

SPRING ROSE CEREMONY

he Rose Ceremony heralds in the beginning of the school year, and trumpets it out in June. Waldorf schools around the world honor the 1st grade and 12th grade students on their first and last days of school. In the fall, 1st graders are presented with a single red rose by a 12th grader, which represents a milestone for both grades. The 1st graders gain a new sense of self, while the 12th graders are on the cusp of entering young adulthood. In June, the 1st graders bid farewell to the 12th graders by giving them the red rose.ď&#x20AC;ź

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE Steiner.edu

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THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

IN MEMORIAM MICHAEL AARONSON, Former Parent

My father, Michael Aaronson, was a New York boy through and through. He was born December 21, 1945 and grew up in Brooklyn with his family where he announced in elementary school that he was going to be a professional drummer. He played stickball on the neighborhood streets, spent hours at Coney Island beach, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, attended Midwood High School and played percussion with the All City High School Orchestra. Michael graduated from Julliard and his long desired professional career began. He played timpani for the Dance at the Met concert series. He freelanced as a prominent percussionist across the city playing timpani and percussion with the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, the New Jersey Symphony, Queens Symphony Orchestra, and Radio City Music Hall, to name a

few. He played with a pipe and drum band, joining them in numerous competitions. He also played with numerous marching and brass bands. Michael was also recognized as a master craftsman to his colleagues as an expert on timpani heads and mallets. He also designed and produced instruments for the New York Philharmonic. He taught master classes on timpani and drum repair and maintenance at Julliard. He built me a drum set from scratch, which I use every day to further my own career as a musician. My father’s extensive career allowed him to become a world traveler. He was an avid reader of history and current affairs throughout his life. He maintained friends from childhood and was loved for his warmth, gentle humor and friendship. He was, maybe even more than an accomplished musician, a devoted family man. He adored my mother, my sister and me. Michael was devoted to my

ELISABETH BING, Former Parent

Elisabeth died this past May at the age of 100. Elisabeth’s son, Peter Bing, alumnus class of 1972, shared the following: “She [Elisabeth] and my dad (who died in 1984) knew nothing about Rudolf Steiner or Anthroposophy. They simply saw an article about the school in the NY Times, which spoke of how children loved to learn there. They went, looked at the school, and saw that this was true. That was enough for them, and they promptly registered me for the Kindergarten. When I was in elementary school (perhaps 5th or 6th grade), my mom was surprised to find that the school had no class for the students in sex education or reproductive health. She offered to come speak to classes of the appropriate age. Mr. Barnes (the principal at the time) politely declined. 42

education at Rudolf Steiner, often teaching students and serving as Class Rep. for Lucy Schneider. My dad was a constant in my life. What did I know? I thought all kids forgot their recorder, or flute, or homework…and had to rely on their parent to save the day! It is with great sadness that Michael passed away on February 26, 2015 at Mount Sinai Hospital. He tried to beat the cancer that proved to be too aggressive. Nearly every day, there are more and more stories that keep his memory and life relevant to us. My mother says that watching me is like having dad around. What a wonderful compliment (I’m sure she means it as a compliment most of the time!). We miss you. I love you more each day.  Provided by Justin Aaronson ’02

She was unfailingly modest about her accomplishments and sometimes unaware of the pop-culture celebrities who came to her: I remember her asking me “Are John Lennon and Yoko Ono names I should know?” when they signed up for her classes. Same thing happened when Bob Dylan and his wife came for her course. (with her love of classical music, she did however recognize Itzhak Perlman). My mother was well-known through her teaching in our Upper West Side neighborhood, and even into her late 90s people would stop her in the street when we’d go out, exclaiming “Oh, Mrs. Bing! We came to you for classes 20 years ago.” She always managed to make it seem in these encounters that she remembered each individual , and took time to ask after the baby (now often already an adult). You could see what a difference she had made in people’s lives.” 

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE Steiner.edu

SARAH BLOS BROOKS, Former Parent

Dr. Sarah Blos Brooks mother to Rudolf Steiner School alums Nicolas, class of 2010 and Lucas, class of 2016, has passed away. Her husband, writer David Brooks,

class of 1974, also attended Steiner for his 8th grade year. An educator herself, Sarah was deeply interested in Waldorf and all progressive education. The whole family was a constant support to the Rudolf

Steiner School and could be counted on to help whether with a class play or an all-school event. Whatever the task, Sarah joined in exuding positive, light-filled good humor and determination. 

Fraternal Society of America and The Catholic Diocese of Western U.S. He married Virginia Weyman after college and his son James Scott was born in 1965 in California. After a divorce, Joe met and married Jackie Montero who was his life partner for 30 years. They travelled the world together and enjoyed their many friends. After he retired, he continued to be active serving on the Business Board of Directors of The Portuguese Fraternal Society, and played golf until his poor health forced him to stop. Joe was loved by everyone, was soft spoken and would readily smile and see the humor in situations. He was committed to his community and was grateful for his full life. Joan graduated from Syracuse University where she was “Snow Queen,” with a degree in Speech and Audio Pathology. She married Richard Dyer and moved to Mountain View, California where her two boys, Richard Scott ’80 and Daniel Mark ’82 were born. After divorcing Richard, Joan moved back to New York City with her sons. Dorothy Harrer had announced her retirement and the school was in search for a teacher for the second grade. Joan felt it was perfect timing for her and her boys.

She applied and was accepted for this position. She did continual in-school training to prepare for each succeeding grade she taught. Son Richard (Rick) began in third grade and Daniel (Dan) in first. During her years as a class teacher, Joan made lifelong friends with several colleagues as well as some of her students. Once she graduated her eighth grade, she decided to return to her first love, teaching deaf children. She was fluent in Sign Language and taught at The School for the Deaf in NYC for twenty-four years. She started several innovative programs there for her high school students such as running a morning coffee shop for the public and establishing intern training in some of New York’s top hotels. During these years, she met and married a former high school friend, Paul Schmel. After she was widowed and retired from teaching, she moved to Scottsdale Arizona to be near her mother and younger brother, Frank. Poor health forced her to move to St. Louis for her last six years where her son Rick and his family could look after her. She often spoke of her Steiner friends and enjoyed hearing about the developments in the Waldorf school movement. Two years ago, she gave a sizable gift to thank the school. It was as a child at the Steiner school that Joan’s artistic gifts were encouraged. Throughout her life, she painted and sculpted many beautiful pieces. Her laughter, lively expressiveness and interest in others endeared her to all.  Provided by Virginia Flynn ’59

JOSEPH THOMAS & JOAN ANN FLYNN, 8th grade class of 1949

When our mother Virginia Flynn was widowed with four young children, she went in search for a school where she felt her they would be lovingly nurtured and receive an excellent education. She found The Rudolf Steiner School. At that time, the school had only the elementary grades. She placed her twins in William Harrer’s class and they immediately fell in love with their new school environment. Joe was a quiet reﬂective boy who was studious. Joan was a chatterer and a joyous soul. She developed rheumatic fever in seventh grade and was forced to remain home in bed for the year. She never complained except that she missed school and always completed all her assignments. From that time on in her life, she was not able to participate in sports or exert herself physically. After the twins graduated from eighth grade, Virginia placed her two youngest children in the school; Virginia (Ginnie) ’59 into Virginia Paulsen’s class and Francis (Frank) ’61 into William Harrer’s new ﬁrst grade. Joseph went on to graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in Business Math and over the next years studied and passed Actuarial exams. As a boy, under Mr. Harrer’s instruction, he showed an aptitude for math. His love for numbers’ guided his life from then on. He began his own actuarial company, bearing his name in Alameda, California. His company grew to include clients such as the State of Nevada, the Portuguese Steiner.edu

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

IN MEMORIAM

CARL HOFFMANN, Waldorf Pioneer

This past April the Waldorf community bade farewell to a pioneer. Carl Hoffmann (19222015) traversed the globe in service to the ideals of Waldorf education. After having escaped the Nazi regime in Austria, he first encountered the work of Rudolf Steiner in New Zealand in the

LOUIS “LOU” KRAMBERG, Former Parent

My Father’s association with The Rudolf Steiner School began in the mid- to late-1950s. He managed the gym at the 92nd St. Y, and saw every gym class from that time up until

BRISTON IRBY REYNOLDS ’10

Briston was born on April 16, 1992, in the Bronx, N.Y. He spent kindergarten through eighth grade at the prestigious Rudolf Steiner School. After moving to Effort, he graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in 2010, and attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the Acacia fraternity. Briston’s life was full of music, 44

early 40s, where he also met his wife Christl. After being a teacher in New Zealand, he and Christl taught in Germany, England, Washington, DC, and once more in New Zealand in 1981. Carl was the founding teacher of the Washington Waldorf School and the founder of the Taruna Teachers’ Seminar in New Zealand. Some

readers of this bulletin will have read his translations of Steiner and other anthroposophical authors. Carl was fearless in his dedication to the cause. He is remembered fondly by many students. His son Timothy was inspired by his father to take up Waldorf education in his 20s, and remains a dedicated and beloved Class Teacher at Steiner to this day. 

the 90s. He also ran the children’s after-school program and the Y’s Junior Olympics program, which many Steiner Alums participated in. If one of the physical education teachers was ill, he would step in and teach in his/her stead. This

garnered him “adjunct teacher” status. When the time came for me to enter First Grade, and two years later when my brother Michael entered, the school graciously awarded us scholarships.  Provided by Karen Kramberg, ’81

laughter and love. He was an artist and musician with a passion for food and cooking. He especially loved seafood and hot wings. Accomplished in Martial Arts, he advanced to a black belt in karate and was trained in acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film institute in Manhattan. In the People to People student Ambassador program, he traveled to Fiji, Australia

and New Zealand. As DJ Wulphe, he was an artist and producer who did it all, making beats, mixes and live performances, doing his own hip hop style, composing and songwriting original pieces. He played both the trumpet and the piano (credit: Pocono Record) Nadia Brent ’10 says, “I remember Briston fondly. I had only warm feelings for him.” 

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE Steiner.edu

ANDREAS RICHTER ’72

Andreas R. Richter, DVM, 60, died peacefully at his home on June 01, 2015 with loved ones around him. Andreas faced his eight years of cancer with his characteristic determination, courage, practicality and dignity. Andreas was born in Nürnberg, Germany on June 12, 1954, the 2nd of five children born to Max and Susanne Richter. In his childhood years, Andreas was immersed in the

ARTHUR SOYBEL

The son of Ukrainian émigrés who were active in business, education and philanthropy, Arthur Isaac Soybel was born in Brooklyn on June 16, 1925, and died at home on September 6, 2014. At the Rudolf Steiner School, Arthur played a number of significant roles in the late 1970s and 1980s. He became President of the Father’s Association, a group that advised the Board and College and served to support the strategic plans of the school, both financially and professionally. Arthur also served as President of the Board, overseeing various projects that reflected the school’s growth and development, from real estate investments to school expansion and renovations. The plaque outside the first floor back kindergarten bears testimony to his inspiration for an additional, early

world of music, nature, Waldorf education, and working with his hands. As a teen, Andreas discovered the joy of contra-dancing that would continue as a thread throughout his life. Andreas later attended Earlham College in Richmond, IN, where he met his future wife, Hannah Cope. It was also at Earlham that Andreas pursued his love of the natural world, through field research and habitat conservation on the

Indiana Bat. Andreas and Hannah were married in 1979. Large animal veterinary work took the Richters to Pennsylvania before settling in New York, first with a practice in Canajoharie, and then a final move with their three children to Genoa in 1996. Andreas is survived by his wife Hannah, his daughters Erika and Heidi and her fiancé Drew, and son Eddie with his wife Carly; his siblings Martin, Christiane, Astrid, Almut, Johannes, and Lucia, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

childhood space and the second floor terrace that was built above it. In the early 1990s, Arthur’s help in securing a bridge loan for the school made it possible for the institution to maintain financial viability during difficult times. With his wife, Renate, he created an endowment fund in honor of his mother-in-law, Trude Haake, a Berliner whose life had been devoted to German language and culture. The fund supports travel, events and activities of the foreign language program at the Rudolf Steiner School. Arthur’s beloved wife of 63 years, Renate Elise Haake Soybel, was a long-time elementary school German and Handwork teacher at the Rudolf Steiner School and currently still volunteers in the lower grades. His daughter, Carol Ann Bärtges ’73, has taught literature, speech and drama in the high school since 1978. This

year, Arthur’s granddaughter, Sarah Bärtges-Ohana ’05, joined the high school faculty as our new biology teacher. Arthur is also survived by grandson, Max Bärtges, ’03, a musician and restauranteur, his daughter-in-law, Virginia Earll Soybel, professor at Babson College; his granddaughter, Anna Soybel, and two great-granddaughters, Rebecca and Maayan. Arthur’s son, Thomas William Soybel, a former attorney, was a 1975 graduate of the Rudolf Steiner School, who passed away in 2010. 

If you would like to submit a remembrance for publication in The Spiral, contact Eileen Diskin, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at ediskin@steiner.edu or by calling 212-535-2130 ext. 222.

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THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

THERE IS A PLACE where artistic exploration awakens scientific inquiry.

THOUGHT

Where physical education informs critical thinking. And where our fully integrated Waldorf curriculum is the key to higher levels of achievement.

PROCESS THE RESULT? Creators, researchers, executives and entrepreneurs. Young men and women well prepared to utilize their intellectual, physical, artistic and civic-minded abilities to succeed at all they do, by any measure.

GET TO KNOW RUDOLF STEINER SCHOOL steiner.edu | 15 E 79th St | 212.535.2130 /SteinerSchoolNY

THE FIRST WALDORF SCHOOL IN NORTH AMERICA

Letter from the Alumni Association Chair Dear Alumni,

hank you for your continued support and dedication to the Alumni program in our community. This year, alums gathered at the All Alumni Reunion, the Fourth Annual Alumni Soccer Game and at West Coast reunions in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Monique Marshall ’86 and Kevin Grant ’04 spoke with Lower and Upper School students about diversity and social consciousness. Evan Buxbaum ’02 was the keynote speaker at graduation and Sarah Hetherington ’05 joins Deborah Winer ’79 and Alison Cariati ’83 representing Alumni on the Board of Trustees. Each contribution you made this year had deep significance for our school community. Your generosity made it possible for Alumni giving to reach its highest level in our school’s 86-year history. I am incredibly excited to welcome this new school year even though it means breakfasting with the roosters and squeezing onto rush hour subways and buses. This will be my fourth year as a parent. The rhythm of the school year gives me the opportunity to return each morning to our school on East 79th Street. Walking into Steiner is a privilege I do not take for granted: seeing inspired student work, smelling fragrant bread and soup from the Kindergartens, hearing the last notes of the Junior Chorus rehearsal and finally heading upstairs to vibrant and industrious classrooms. Most mornings, my time at school consists of a brief few minutes, but experiencing the sights and sounds of our school profoundly reminds me of the depth of intention imbued within every facet of the education we share. The interconnectedness of an age-appropriate curriculum, along with the dedication of our faculty, bears fruit each day and challenges me personally to examine my parenting in deeper ways. At a time when thoughts and actions are readily available for public consumption, it is heartening to see children freely given space to absorb the subtle, not

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easily-seen lessons, forming the basis of a solid internal foundation that will later bloom in each of their lives. As always, we welcome you to visit Steiner any time you are here in New York. The Fall Fair and All-Alumni Reunion on Saturday November 21st are also excellent opportunities to visit with old friends and teachers. And as I need not say, a Steiner Fall Fair is like none other! And don’t forget to look for Eileen’s updates on the Rudolf Steiner School Alumni Facebook page. Wishing you all a most wonderful fall.

Rani Vaz ’83, P ’25 Alumni Association Chair

THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

RETURNING & RECONNECTING The 2014-15 school year saw no shortage of opportunities for alums to reconnect with their school and former classmates.

WEST COAST REUNION April 18 and 19, 2015 Two cities, two great events: Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations Eileen Diskin traveled to California in April for reunions in San Francisco, hosted by Bill Tandler ’58, and Los Angeles, hosted by Renata Harbison ’70.

ALL ALUMNI REUNION November 22, 2014 This year’s All Alumni Reunion was both a chance to reconnect and celebrate some of the fine professional artists in our community. Held in a gallery turned office space (generously provided by alumnus Marc Trachtenberg ’79), alumni artists submitted work to event curator Jessica Winer ’80 for display throughout the space. From photographs, to paintings, multimedia displays, and lithographs, Jessica worked with artists to select pieces that represented their body of work. Alums spanning the generations marveled at artwork, caught up with former teachers and classmates, and enjoyed a delicious spread provided by Parma, a local Italian restaurant and catering service. 48

CLASS OF 1965 CELEBRATES 50-YEAR REUNION May 8, 2015 Members from the class of 1965 gathered in celebration of their 50-year reunion. For some, it was the first time seeing one another since graduation. Members from the class gathered first at the Lower School, pouring over old yearbooks and swapping fond memories. Later that evening, the class put on their dancing shoes and joined the rest of the community at the annual Spring Gala.

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CLASS NOTES Submit your updates for the next issue of The Spiral to the deveopment office by contacting Eileen Diskin, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at ediskin@steiner.edu or by calling 212-535-2130 ext. 222. 1940s Gerda (Schmid) Carmichael ’48 “At the April Magic City Art Connection show in B`ham, AL., I won a merit ribbon for my stained glass mosaics exhibit. Happy, happy!”

1950s Charlotte Courtney Dukich ’59 “I hope there are members of the class still around and wanting to connect. I have lived in San Diego for the last nine years and am one of the CoDirectors for the Waldorf Institute of Southern California, which has a branch in San Diego. I am teaching early childhood and handwork classes.” Sean Stull ’59 “I continue to paint in the White Mountains and exhibit in the Nancy Cassidy Gallery in Jackson, NH. I recently sold a large painting over the July 4th weekend. The endless beauty of a rich verdant mountain summer is intoxicating. My work is flourishing in these mountains. Please feel free to download any works from my website that you would like at seanstull.com.”

1960s Bob Lilienthal ’61 “An interesting development in my life is my involvement with others on Facebook. I have connected with some exclassmates, an ex-teacher, as well as RSS. I find it interesting, after half a century, to communicate with others Steiner.edu

about mutual interests, and to see what they are up to. Corrinne Spingarn ’64 “On our trip to Europe in June of 2014, we went to Venice, Italy so I could compete with my team, the Alameda Dragon Flyers, in the dragon boat race that was being held there. We got bronze in our division! We were also part of the Boat Parade down the Grand Canal and participated in the 40th annual Vogalonga. The route is very long and took us around St. Erasmus, Burano and Murano before we returned to Venice, 26 miles in all! We completed the route within the given amount of time and got a medal for that as well. Steve and I also visited Croatia. Dubrovnik—a fave, Korcula, Split, Plitvice National Park—another fave— and Rovijn and other parts of Italy.” Janet Asten ’67 “I enjoyed attending the West Coast Reunion in April in Palos Verdes Estates in the Los Angeles area and meeting Eileen (and others) for the first time. An extra bonus was riding down from West L.A. with my high school classmate and BFF, Pam Young-Wolff. My oldest granddaughter Juliette recently graduated from high school and won a full four-year scholarship at UC Santa Barbara - I’m very happy for her!” Michael ’68 and Lynn Nemser “We continue to enjoy retirement and just returned from South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. We were thrilled to see our daughter Stephanie Dreyer,

Senior Brand Manager for Bayer running the Aleve business, honored as a Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association “Rising Star.” After an energetic visit with our two grandchildren, we have now migrated to our New Hampshire properties for the summer.”

Michael and Lynn Nemser in South Africa.

1970s Patricia (Patty) Haft ’70 “Having lived in Honolulu for the past 30 years, I continue to manage the pilates studio, and coach ballerinas, one of whom will be featured in the world premier of Tony award winning Chris Gatelli’s new show In Your Arms opening in September at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. I am also thrilled to recently have come into contact with classmates Abbey, Zita, Corinne, Mareika, Nadia, Chris, and Renata, as well as esteemed teacher Keith Francis.” THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

CLASS NOTES class at Shanghai University. After checking carefully, I accepted, and had a really good experience there. All the students, and the staff in the department spoke English well, but outside of that I was lost in a world where I couldn’t speak or read anything. People there are very kind and helpful, a great experience.”

Nancy Tompkins with daughter Chaska Potter

Nancy Tompkins (Lewin) ’71 “My life continues to be an amazing adventure. Last year’s highlight was being present for 30 out of 100 performances of Jason Mraz and Raining Jane. My youngest, Chaska Potter has been performing for 15 years in Raining Jane. They collaborated with Jason to co-write the album, Yes!, and took their wonderful music around the world. I am one very proud Mom!” Renee Cossutta ’73 “I was invited to teach a three-week graphic design

Ana Vargas ’75 nursed her mom through her final illness this winter, and is now preparing to move to the Dominican Republic to be closer to her remaining family. Jennifer Bingham Johnson ’75 and her husband, Todd, and daughter, Isabelle, have enjoyed living in England in recent years. They may move to Switzerland later this year. Carmen Laube ’75 looks forward to a beach vacation at the end of the summer. Susan Franks ’75 is enjoying her new career as a membership advocate at her local branch of the Equinox Sports Club on NYC’s Upper West Side. Renee Cossutta at Shanghai University.

The poster for Marc Weingarten’s documentary on Netflix.

1980s Marc Weingarten’s ’82 documentary The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir is currently streaming on Netflix. His book Thirsty will be published in the Fall. MAJ David Friedner ’83 returned from Afghanistan last summer to surprise his entire family at his brother’s wedding. (wtnh. com/2014/07/18/watch-soldiersurprises-family-with-reunion-innew-london/). After that, the rest of the year flew by as he returned to the Pentagon where he is working in the Army Operations Center for the Domestic Support Division. His family threw him an awesome birthday party recently and his children, Patrick and Katherine, continue to make their way through school much too quickly. David Ascher ’85 “I still live in NYC with family and still practice law in the field of personal injury-accident cases. If you see someone measuring a crack on the sidewalk, it’s probably me. Say ‘Hi.’”

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Michelle Gross ’87 and Japanese American artist Yukié Matsushita have just published ABC Paris, an A to Z illustrated book of famous Paris monuments seen as if the viewer were looking out at each through the window of a Parisian’s home. This unique book includes both a short history of each monument as well as French vocabulary on each page. The book also introduces an original color memory method to learn the gender of over 100 French nouns. Learn more by visiting the following website: illustratorinparis. com/2015/05/abc-paris-book.html

September of that same year, with a group of parents, Wild Spruce, a Waldorf program created to integrate Homeschool children was born. The next two years, I taught the First and Second Grade curriculum to six children in a wonderful setting here in the Northwest. At the end of Second Grade we put on a play on the Legend of Aldaric and Odilia and was so proud of my beaming students. Last summer, my daughter Selina Morgan came to the light. We are now filled with joy, laughter, and the daily madness that comprises being parents. I look forward to returning to teaching when the time will feel right.”

Jeremy Martin ’11 recently graduated from Syracuse University in May 2015, receiving a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and Marketing Management. In addition, he will participate in the Associated Press’ Summer 2015 Business Associate Program; and starting in Fall 2015, Jeremy will be attending Carnegie Mellon University to earn his Master’s Degree in Entertainment Industry Management.

1990s Ron Passaro ’95 is constantly writing music while simultaneously trying to take advantage of summer. He has been semi-successful on that front so far but has no complaints. He has also been thrilled to reconnect with so many great friends from Steiner over the last few months!

The cover of ABC Paris by Michelle Gross

Michael Glotzer ’88 and his fiancé, Emalyn, had twin boys Sept 18th. Haven’t slept since! “I opened a MidCentury Furniture Warehouse in Los Angeles. I have been hanging out with Daniel Lehman ’88 who moved to Los Angeles.” Jessie Hays (Nickerman) ’89 “In June of 2010 I received my Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate from Sound Circle Center for the Arts and Anthroposophy in Seattle. In Steiner.edu

Megan Margulies (Countey) ’99 gave birth to Lila Harriet Margulies on April 16, 2015. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband Larry.

Hand-crafted furniture by Jess Osserman.

2000s Jess Osserman ’02 is taking her background in design into the world of hand-crafted furniture. Having just finished two years learning in the fine art of furniture-making in Northern California and Sweden, she’s setting up shop back on the east coast where she hopes to continue making oneof-a-kind pieces that are timeless, elegant and exceptionally well-made. THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

Letter from the Development Chairs The complexities of today’s world require flexible thinkers and creative problem solvers, and the gift of Waldorf education provided by the Rudolf Steiner School delivers on that need! Loving and valuing this remarkable education can make giving a joy instead of an obligation. If Waldorf education is a gift we give our children, then investing in and supporting that education through the Annual Fund is a gift we can give back to the school and to future generations of Rudolf Steiner School students.

Dear Parents and Friends,

hank you so much for the generous (and vital) financial support you provided over the past year through the Rudolf Steiner School Annual Fund. Your support played a big role in helping our school continue to thrive! Like virtually every private school in the country, the Rudolf Steiner School depends on fundraising. Funds raised through annual giving, special gifts, the Fall Fair and the Spring Gala serve many purposes; they support our unique educational activities (including weeks spent by the Lower School at the Hawthorne Valley Farm and by the Upper School at Camphill Village), fund necessary capital improvements to our beautiful buildings and enable us to offer competitive compensation to teachers and staff. While tuition dollars cover the basics of the education, community fundraising provides a critical boost.

For these reasons and more, we enthusiastically encourage everyone to join us in making the Rudolf Steiner School, and their children’s education, their top philanthropic priority. Thank you again for your generous support throughout the year, and a special thank you to members of the Development Office and our Annual Fund Representatives for their wonderful fundraising work. It’s an honor and pleasure to serve our community.

One hundred percent participation in the Annual Fund is our ongoing goal, and we continue to work toward that end. As leaders of the Development Committee, we strive to find ways to make fundraising a priority within the community without being intrusive. From our perspective, contributing to the Rudolf Steiner School affords each of us a special opportunity to participate in and support the school’s unique vision and mission as the first Waldorf school in North America – the very vision and mission that attracted us to the school in the first place.

DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Joy Phelan-Pinto, co-chair Robert Strent, co-chair Robert Lunder Francesca Marc-Antonio Dawn Rhodes Dolores Rice Richard Strassberg Dawn Trachtenberg

Cordially,

Joy Phelan-Pinto P ’16 Co-Chair, Development Committee

Robert Strent, P ’26 ’28 Co-Chair, Development Committee

2014-15 ANNUAL FUND CLASS AGENTS Back Nursery: Tushar Shah Middle Nursery: Nicole Kassell Upstairs Kindergarten: Robert Strent Downstairs Kindergarten: Karen Imhof 1st Grade: Gina Iovino & Michael Steiner 2nd Grade: Dan Goldstein & Terri Adler 3rd Grade: Christina Glover-Peacock & Raphael Peacock 4th Grade: Jim Salser 5th Grade: Claudia Mahler

6th Grade: Whitney Quillen 7th Grade: Scott Klein 8th Grade: Mary & Luis Fernando Llosa 9th Grade: Iris Alfonso 10th Grade: Lena Armel 11th Grade: Joy Phelan-Pinto 12th Grade: Christine Austin & Michael Filler

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Letter from the Treasurer Dear RSS Community,

or the second year in a row, we ended the fiscal year with a planned operating deficit. While not ideal, the Board agreed to run operating deficits for two reasons: 1) the strategic investments we have made for our future take time to yield gains; 2) we have been fortunate to run surpluses in the past few years, so we can afford to run these deficits for the short term. That said, going forward, we do not plan to continue running operating deficits. The Rudolf Steiner School is on solid financial ground. We have cash reserves, no debt, and a large amount of unencumbered assets. However, our annual operating budget is tighter than we would like. To address this, as a means to reducing our operating deficits, we have begun working very hard to cut expenses overall with a focus on keeping existing programs in place, while identifying ways to deliver them more efficiently. Further, we have successfully identified new streams of operating revenue and will continue to look for additional revenue streams. The effects of these efforts are seen in the budget for this school year, as we get much closer to the balanced budgets of the past. In addition to our efforts to create a balanced budget, we continue to focus on reaching full enrollment, the key to our fiscal sustainability. This will be achieved through greater retention of existing students and by attracting new students who, ideally, will remain with us through the completion of high school. We enjoyed a very robust year in fund raising, for which I would like to express my appreciation to all who supported our beloved school. It is my hope that we will be able to continue this trend of growing our fundraising revenues as this is another way to both help our annual operating budget (through current giving), and to help secure our future (through endowed and capital giving). On a personal note, at the end of this year several long term Board members ended their terms of service. These parents and a faculty member have all served the Board in a very committed manner, several as officers in a variety of capacities. I would like to thank them for their many, Steiner.edu

many years of dedicated service. Their active support of and dedication to Steiner will be missed on the Board. In closing, I remain optimistic about the possibilities for the future. I remain awed by the experiences our children have here and the education they receive. I am extremely confident about the many opportunities we are embracing and I look forward to working with our community to make the Rudolf Steiner School even more successful than it already is by realizing our fullest potential. Respectfully,

Mitchel Friedman, P â&#x20AC;&#x2122;19 Treasurer

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BUDGET RESULTS 2014-2015 (Unaudited)

AMOUNT

% OF TOTAL

INCOME (see chart at right) Gross Tuition & Fees Tuition Assistance Net Tuition & Fees Addl. Program & Misc. Income Net Fundraising

$12,401,754 ($3,791,185) $8,610,569 $558,583 $772,894

86.6%  5.6%  7.8% 

TOTAL INCOME

$9,942,046

100%

EXPENDITURES (see chart at right) Faculty Salaries Administrative Salaries Faculty & Staff Benefits Program Expense Facility Expense Administrative Expense

$4,256,812 $2,383,213 $1,735,589 $1,058,283 $331,703 $615,239

41.0%  23.0%  16.7%  10.2%  3.2%  5.9% 

$10,380,839

100%

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

INCOME

Net Operating Excess (Deficit) ($438,793) Capital Expenses $281,630 Reserve $0 NET CASH

EXPENDITURES

($720,423)

SUMMARY OF FUNDRAISING* ANNUAL GIVING UNRESTRICTED Annual Appeal Unrestricted Fall Fair Unrestricted Spring Benefit

$549,084 $101,228 $122,582

ANNUAL GIVING RESTRICTED Laura Nadel Art and Music Fund $9,075 Rudin Scholarship Fund $50,000 Other $17,145

*Reflects funds received and booked July 1, 2014- June 30, 2015.

TOTAL UNRESTRICTED GIVING TO CURRENT OPERATIONS

$772,894

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Donors

Every donor to our school is important, and every gift is significant. Donors listed in the following categories made unrestricted and/or restricted gifts to the school during the 2014-2015 school year in direct cash and securities support, special events, sponsorship and underwriting. We extend our warmest gratitude to everyone who participated. * Indicates giving for five or more consecutive years ** Indicates giving for ten or more consecutive years

ANNUAL GIVING RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED 1928 Circle ($25,000+) Anonymous (3) Mark Reed and Daria Ilunga **

Leaders Circle ($10,000 - $24,999) Gerda S. Carmichael ’43 **** Jean-Hugues and Veronique Monier Ronald Perelman and Dr. Anna Chapman Marc ’79 and Dawn Trachtenberg ***

Partners Circle ($5,000 - $9,999) Gianpaolo De Felice and Gabrielle Karan * Arthur and Kathryn Garfunkel Susan Goodale **** Rama and Sara Madhu * Christina McInerney ’61 * Dennis Pinto and Joy Phelan-Pinto ** Mitchel Silverman and Stefani Greenfield Mario Sorrenti and Mary Frey ** Rani Vaz ’83 and Mchael Moebius * Jeffrey ’83 and Stacey Weber ***

Friends Circle ($2,500 - $4,999) Jane Byrne Pierre and Connie Crosby Alfredo de Palchi and Rita Di Pace * Daniel Goldstein and Terri Adler * David R. Hillcoat and Ellen Jacobson * Jennifer and Frederick Leichter ’76 Fund Drs. Eric and Linda Ogden-Wolgemuth ** Dr. Walter Pereyra Whitney and Tamar Quillen ** Sandeep Qusba and Dawn Rhodes * Gideon Schwartz and Alissa Manocherian Schwartz Friederike Felber Seligman ’63 Dr. Daniel Szekely ’68 Mr. Dominic Vaz and Marilyn Wright Vaz

Waldorf Circle ($1,000 - $2,499) Mark and Stacey Adkins ** Belinda Agar * Ceki and Seniha Aluf-Medina * Dr. Revaz Beridze and Dr. Zoya Zak Peter Bing ’72 * Deborah Carmichael ’79 * Esra Cevik Blanche and Jim Christerson * Brian and Melinda Cullman Elizabeth De Cuevas Steiner.edu

*** Indicates giving for fifteen or more consecutive years **** Indicates giving for twenty or more consecutive years

Danielle Do and Samantha Sutton Paulina Eisenbeis William Eisenbeis Mitchel Friedman ** Olena Horban Galanti * Jason and Kristy Glass Evan Gsell and Jodi Peikoff Kanter Kallman Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Vyacheslav Kaushan Anthony Knerr and Susanne Kastler-Knerr ** Doreen Lilienfeld and Tommy Friedner ’85 * James and Katy Lindsay D. Edward and Julie Martin Andrew McCarthy and Dolores Rice * Glenn McDonald Bradford and Fleurine Mehldau Luigi Perin and Christine Mitsch-Perin Susan Pollack ’65 Eric ’71 and Fiona Rudin Vincent Schimel Steven Sebring Inna Shaykevich ’03 * Marco Spinar and Claire Brown Allison Stone Stabile ’74 Claudia Stone ’74 and Goran Sare Mr. Erminio Stefano and Mrs. Luana Conte Robert and Jennifer Strent * Noel Trachtenberg ’60 Christopher Tsai and Andre Stockamp Vadym and Kateryna Ustymenko Juan and Susann Villanueva ** Araks Yeramyan

Community Circle (Up to $999) Anonymous (12) Mark Abel and Kathleen Williams Brian Ackley and Lisa Farjam Ben Ahrens ’02 Jacqueline Ahrens Dr. and Mrs. Oguz Akin Mr. and Mrs. Walter Alexander Iris Alfonso Rudy and Vivian Almonte Roland Antonides and Karen Imhof James Archey * Lena Armel ** Dr. and Mrs. Richard Ascher * Janet Asten ’67 ** Joseph Atanga and Vida Anaba Mary Aumell * Michael Filler and Christine Austin * Mauricia Baca ’88

Luisa Baez Semone Bailey Emily Baldwin ’98 William and Susan Baldwin **** Russell Ball and Dori Evans Wallace Bao and Kathy Qian Carol Bärtges ’73 Paula Bass Esther Bauer Lawrence Bauer ’73 * Brooke ’80 and Carl Bedrick * John and Gaily Beinecke **** William B. Beinecke ’07 Andres and Carolina Belen * Juan and Monika Beltran Dana Benjamin ’60 Dale A. Bennett Svein and Olga Berg * Ross Bingham and Eleonore Kopera Arnelle Blas Andre Bondi ’73 Admiral Kevin and Eugenia Bone * Karen Braga * Xander Bremer ’05 Brooke Brosenne * Travis E. Brown and Anandah J. Carter Catherine Burns ’79 Richard Camacho Kevin and Elena Cannon * Feng Cao and Lynn Chen Alison Cariati ’83 * Nadja and Damian Carneol Stefanie Casillas ’03 Allison Castro Julio Catano Victor Catano * Ellen Cimino Patricia Coates ’74 * Calen Cole ’08 Anthony Cookson and Kim Akeret ’71 Renee Cossutta ’73 Christopher and Lori Countey Katrina Cox ’04 * Denise Crane * German and Maria Creamer * Gail Cruise-Roberson Mr. and Mrs. Ilhan Cubukcuoglu Prof. Patricia Dailey Luiz De Salvo and Patricia Schwarz * Dolores and Milton Dean ** Jan and Anne Debassac Eileen Diskin THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dixon Djordje and Sarah Djordjevic * Laura Donkel Antoine Douaihy * Lorraine Dowd-Snella Robert Drach and Terri Gumula Donald Dunn and Lily Kesselman Sky Dylan-Robbins ’07 Rose Edinger ’64 Jonathan Edwards ’96 Kristie Edwards ’99 Dr. Martin H. Ehrlich and Ms. Ioana Baraschi-Ehrlich Deighn and Ying Eliason Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Elling Esther Faingold Tamar Feeser Mrs. and Mr. Christina Feinburg Laurie Feit ’80 Wilson Ferreira and Chiara Filippi Joe and Deane Fitzgerald Virginia Flynn ’59 * Charles Foster and Joylynn Holder Daniel and Ruth Franks Jan Freundschu ’64 Arkady and Maria Fridman Mark Recht and Myra Friedman * Renni Greenberg Gallagher * Ruy Garcia and Gala Narezo Judy Gex Andrew Gibbons and Manveet Saluja Alexandra Gifford ’68 and Stephen Hansen Dr. Elizabeth Ginsburg ’76 ** Dr. Iona Ginsburg Carol Gleklen ’57 Elizabeth Goldfeder Irene E. Goodale Thomas F. Goodale ’06 Bryon and Martia Gordon Phyllis Gottesman Stathis Gourgouris and Neni Panourgia * Bill and Adele Grant John Greene * Mathieu Gregoire ’71 Suzanne C. Gregoire ’74 * Mohammed and Betty Grimeh Samuel and Isabel Gross **** Chris and Sarah Gunderson Lisa Gustin Patricia Haft ’70 ** Herbert Hagens ’41 Jenny Hall ’72 Rallou Hamshaw ’65 * Christopher J. Hancock Renata Harbison ’70 * Joshua Haron and Leah Azoulay Mary Harris Kristin Hawkins Julia Hays ’73 * John and Silvia Heller * Martin and Margaret Heller * Frances Hershkowitz ’60 * Jon Hess ’74 Rosemarie Hester

Carl and Elsa Hetherington Sarah Hetherington ’05 Mary Lynn Hetsko * Isabel Hill * Randall and Elizabeth Hixenbaugh Lester and Dorothy Hoffman * Ian Hoffmann ’03 Timothy Hoffmann and Irene Mantel *** Abraham Hsuan and Melinda Hung ** Kaining Huang Andrew Hubner and Sarah Hayes Gina Iovino Elanor James Mr. and Mrs. Brian Jones Rachel Jones and Benim Foster Joanna Jordan Patricia Kadvan Brian Kaplan and Lambeth Hochwald Keith Kefgen Wendy and Scot Kelly Scott I. Klein and Elizabeth A. Barasch Carol Knowles ’56 Robert Koszta and Ildiko Koszta-Kope Louis Kramberg and Sheryl Jukofsky Gail Ritscher ’72 and Pieter Kuypers ’72 * Hannah Labovitch Christiane Landowne ’63 Shirley L. Latessa **** Chung-Yu Lee and Yuen Wa Chow * David and Miyoung Lee Adam LeGrant ’78 *** Hope Leichter * Jennie and Caleb Leung * Myron Levitsky Leslie and Ching Li * Robert Lilienthal ’61 Suzanne Limozinere-Kefgen Johan Lindeberg Luis Fernando and Mary Llosa ** Natalie Lo and Nir Ronen * Marc Louvet Stephen Lubben and Jennifer Hoyden * Erika Ludwig ’86 Antonio Luis and Teresa Benedict Dr. William D. and Mark A. Macatee Robin Machnik Kathleen Mahaffey Daniel and Claudia Mahler Michael T. Mainieri and Dee Cartensen Mainieri * Elie Mala ’10 Dena Malon * Hannelore Mani Kristina Mani ’87 Tristan Mantel-Hoffmann ’06 Brennon Marcano and Isabelle Delalex Paul and Renee Marchand ** Samantha Margles * Diana E. Marin ’00 and Alex Neuhoff Carmen Martinez Charles W. McFarlane ’12 Scott McFarlane and Nancy Raimondo Marina McGrew * Stephen McKenzie ’75

Wayne and Lisa McKenzie Saket and Simrat Mehta Martina Meijer ’02 * Luigi Mercone and Claire Szeto Mr. and Mrs. Mercurio Lorenzo Mitchell ’78 Deborah Mohabeer Joyce Monges **** Katherine Monges ’73 Marta Morales ** Gregory Muenzen and Leslie Dock Gary Mui * David ’87 and Nicole Nadel *** Dr. Leonard Nadel and Mrs. Rhoda Nadel Dr. and Mrs. Warren Nadel **** Mr. and Mrs. Konstantine Nalpantidis Richard Neel ’57 Michael ’68 and Lynn Nemser Peter Nitze ’76 * David Nuss Sarah ’05 and Gill Ohana Gabrielle L. Ortiz ’83 and Antonio Ortiz Marin * Lucia Oswald * Karla Otis Joseph and Felicia Panepinto * Greg and Ginger Pardlo * Ron Passaro ’95 Genia Patestides ’88 Raphael Peacock and Christina Glover-Peacock April Pereyra Vigil and Willie Vigil, Jr. * Geri Perkal Christian and Stephanie Perry * Geoffrey and Ahna Petersen * Cristian Piazza and Gabriela Cordo Helene Pinsky ’65 **** Michael Pisacane Brian and LeeAnna Plane * Nicholas Platt and Robyn Watts * Renate ’60 and Boris Poliakine * Jane Porter ’72 Zak and Robyn Powers Rande Price Roger Questel and Ellen Salvadori * Chris and Lydie Raschka ** Wilken Ratz and Alexa Meyer Gail Reed, Ph.D. ’61 John Reed and Yeardley Leonard Daniel Rendon and Angela A. Manzueta Heather Ricciardi Alexandra Riccio ’88 Raoul J. Roach Dr. Russell D. Robbins ’80 * Susan Robinson ’69 Kevin Scott Rodriguez Joshua Rogers and Jennifer Black Diana ’60 and John Ronell Katharina Roos Morgan Ross ’09 Michael and Chanit Roston James Roth ’83 Ami Rothschild * David and Carolyn Rothschild * Stephen and Elizabeth Rubin

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Marilyn Ruppart Brenda Ryan James Salser and Lisa K. Greissinger ** Josephine Salvador Andres David and Ayarilis Sanchez * Colony Santangelo ’65 * Angel Santiago and Nancy Acosta Jose and Edyta Santiago Thomas Schaefer Oliver Shaper and Lily Zand Drs. Andrew and Anke Scheinfeld ** Marion Schlapfer * Edward Schlieben ’71 *** Katherine Schlieben ’99 Todd Schlieben ’70 David Schneider ’84 Lucy Schneider Eleonore Schonberg Mr. and Mrs. Campbell Scott Julia and Alexander Sergeyeva-Benenson * Tushar and Anjali Shah Scott Shepard and Phyllis Gottesman Hisatoshi and Tsuya Shiraishi * Shirin Shokouhi Deborah Shriver ’67 Anne Sidamon-Eristoff ’49 *** Sandy Siegel Merle Louise Simon * Amba Singh Sunil Singh and Parwaz Rehman Charles Smith and Sono Kuwayama * Diana ’63 and Robert Smith * Dr. Samuel Smith ’54 *** Robert Snider and Francesca Marc-Antonio ** Scott Sturniolo and Stefanie Soichet ’74 ** Beverly J. Sonner ’50 * Jeffrey Spade Alexandra Spadea Albert and Alice Spekman **** Corinne Spingarn ’64 *** Jim Steiner * Michael and Camila Steiner * Susan Stein ’75 Alice B. Stock ’79 Howard Straus ’60 Jeffrey and Melissa Sussman * Joel and Shoshannah Sutherland * Michael Sutton ** William Tandler ’58 Trivikraman Thampy and Meredith Burns Laura Thompson Erik and Cornelia Thomsen * Benjamin J. Trachtenberg ’12 Wyatt Troll ’87 Adam Van Auken and Marinne Kinney Ana Vargas ’75 Ingrid Vega Jeffrey and Clio Venho **** Matthew G. Verdery Jose and Christina Vicente * Suzanne Furth Victor ’73 * Lukardis von Studnitz ’85 Dr. Roswitha von Studnitz ’88 Steiner.edu

Nigel and Elizabeth Walsh Peter and Patricia Wan Lindsay Wasserman ’77 Anne Waxman ’74 Lawrence and Judith Weber Jesse Webster and Dr. Nicole Falanga Kenneth Weinrib ’76 Grant Werner ’75 ** Thomas Wetzl ’50 *** David W. White * Dr. Richard White and Ms. Theresa Meyer Carol Williams ’65 Joan Williams * Robert and Shannon Williams ** Deborah Winer ’79 Dr. Steven Wolf ’73 * Dian Woodner ’64 Mrs. Waltraude S. Woods ’48 * Mr. and Mrs. Masahiro Yaguchi Alexander Yagupsky and Claudia Knafo Claudia Yatsevitch ’41 * Michael and Kenya Young Steve Yung and Nicole Kassell * Dr. Peter Yurchenco ’66 and Ingrid Yurchenco Jean Zay Robin Zeamer ’65 * Ilya Zeldin and Yevgeniya Roenblit Ryan and Lisa Zentner

PARENT DONORS BY CLASS The faculty, staff and Board of Trustees of the Rudolf Steiner School are in grateful receipt of direct cash and securities contributions from the following Steiner families. Middle Nursery, 100% Parent Participation Kamil Barlin Damian Busch and Nadja Carneol Esra Cevik Bill and Adele Grant Brian Jones and Miriam Biolek-Jones David and Miyoung Lee Campbell and Kathleen Scott Sunil Singh and Parwaz Rehman Dr. Steve Yung and Nicole Kassell

Back Nursery, 86% Parent Participation Brian and Lisa Ackley Ross Bingham and Yasha Kopera Danielle Do and Sam Sutton Vyacheslav and Olga Kaushan Alexandre and Katy Lindsay Fabio and Sabrina Mercurio Gideon and Alissa Schwartz Tushar and Anjali Shah Erminio Stefano and Luana Conte Dr. Trivikraman Thampy and Meredith Burns Peter Wan and Patricia Marques Mr. Jesse Webster and Dr. Nicole Flanga

Downstairs Kindergarten, 68% Parent Participation Mark Abel and Kathleen Williams Roland Antonides and Karen Imhof Travis Brown and Anandah Carter Feng Cao and Lynn Chen Patricia Dailey Donald and Lily Dunn Gregory Muenzen and Leslie Dock Brian Plane and LeeAnna Keith Joshua Rogers and Jennifer Black Nir Ronen and Natalie Lo Steven and Shoshana Sebring Gideon and Alissa Schwartz Richard White and Theresa Meyer Ilya Zeldin and Yevgeniya Rozenblit

Upstairs Kindergarten, 95% Parent Participation Revaz Beridze and Zoya Zak Djordje Djordjevic and Sarah Djordjevic Poole Christopher Duggan and Nel Shelby Deighn and Ying Zhou Eliason Wilson Ferreira Jr. and Chiara Filippi Charles Foster and Joylynn Holder Mohammed and Betty Grimeh John and Silvia Heller Saket and Simrat Mehta Jean-Hugues and Veronique Monier Paola Pedrignani Luigi Perin and Christine Mitsch-Perin Christian Piazza and Gabriela Cordo Wilken Ratz and Alexa Meyer Christopher Tsai and Andre Stockamp Robert and Jennifer Strent Shirin Shokouhi Joel and Shoshannah Sutherland Mads Svendsen and Rebecca Dahele Araks Yeramyan

1st Grade – 79% Parent Participation Oguz and Ruby Akin Ceki Aluf-Medina and Seniha Inan Roland Antonides and Karen Imhof Feng Cao and Lynn Chen Luiz De Salvo and Patricia Schwarz Danielle Do and Samantha Sutton Arkady and Maria Fridman Daniel Goldstein and Terri Adler Mohammed and Betty Grimeh Chris and Sarah Gunderson Andrew Hubner and Sarah Hayes Gina Iovnio Luigi Mercone and Claire Szeto Greg and Ginger Pardlo Robyn and Zachary Powers Wilken Ratz and Alexa Meyer Michael and Camila Steiner Robert and Jennifer Strent Dr. Trivikraman Thampy and Meredith Burns Vadym and Kateryna Ustymenko Araks Yeramyan

2nd Grade – 100% Parent Participation Sasha Archer THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

Xo Bao and Cuixia Qian Juan and Monika Beltran Revaz Beridze and Zoya Zak Kevin and Elena Cannon Djordje Djordjevic and Sarah Poole Ruy Garcia and Gala Narezo Andrew Gibbons and Manveet Saluja Daniel Goldstein and Terri Adler Harold and Stacey Kelly Robert and Ildiko Koszta Chung-Yu Lee and Yuen Wa Chow Andrew McCarthy and Dolores Rice Michael Moebius and Rani Vaz ’83 Jean-Hugues and Veronique Monier John Reed and Yeardley Leonard Shawn Richmond and Semone Bailey Nir Ronen and Natalie Lo Amba Singh Marco Spinar and Claire Brown Joel and Shoshannah Sutherland Mads Svendsen and Rebecca Dahele

3rd Grade – 90% Parent Participation Rudy Almonte and Vivian Contreras Juan and Monika Beltran Svein and Olga Berg Gianpaolo De Felice and Gabrielle Karan Kurt and Jennifer Elling Wilson Ferreira and Chiara Filippi Arthur and Kathryn Garfunkel Evan Gsell and Jodi Peikoff John and Silvia Heller David Hillcoat and Ellen Jacobson Andrew Hubner and Sarah Hayes Anthony Knerr and Susanne Kastler-Knerr Antonio Luis and Teresa Benedict Raphael and Christina Peacock Nicholas Platt and Robyn Watts Erik and Cornelia Thomsen Masahiro and Suyapa Yaguchi

4th Grade – 83% Parent Participation James Archey Joshua Haron and Leah Azoulay Luiz De Salvo and Patricia Schwartz Antoine Douaihy Paulina Eisenbeis William Eisenbeis Fernando Luis and Mary Llosa Diana Mahiques Brennon Marcano and Isabelle Delalex Antonio Marin and Gabrielle Ortiz ’83 Greg and Ginger Pardlo Sandeep Qusba and Dawn Rhodes John Reed and Yeardley Leonard Mark Reed and Daria Ilunga Heather Ricciardi Ami Rothschild James Salser and Lisa Greissinger Jose and Edyta Santiago Marco Spinar and Claire Brown Jose and Christina Vicente

Svein and Olga Berg Andrew Gibbons and Manveet Saluja John and Silvia Heller Esther Faingold Joanna Jordan Brian Kaplan and Lambeth Hochwald Chung-Yu Lee and Yuen Wa Chow Rama and Sara Madhu Daniel and Claudia Mahler Joseph and Felicia Panepinto Andres Sanchez and Ayarilis Pena

Ilhan and Kyra Cubukcuoglu Lorraine Dowd-Snela Suzanne C. Gregoire ’74 Scott Shepard and Phyllis Gottesman Ximena Jimenez Carmen Martinez Konstantine and Carmen Nalpantidis Dennis Pinto and Joy Phelan-Pinto Nicholas Platt and Robyn Watts Whitney and Tamar Quillen Mark Recht and Myra Friedman Andres Sanchez and Ayarlis Pena Drs. Andrew and Anke Scheinfeld Kenya and Michael Young Lisa and Ryan Zentner

6th Grade – 75% Parent Participation

10th Grade – 88% Parent Participation

Jane Byrne Gianpaolo De Felice and Gabrielle Karan Robert Drach and Terru Gumula Wilson Ferreira and Chiara Filippi Randall and Elizabeth Hixenbaugh Benim Foster and Rachel Jones Harold and Stacey Kelly Whitney and Tamar Quillen Kevin Rodriguez and Sumei Situ Amy Schimel Vincent Schimel Michael and Camila Steiner Juan and Susann Villanueva

Mark and Stacey Adkins Joseph and Vida Atanga Brian and Melinda Cullman Harold and Stacey Kelly Hannah Labovitch Lena Armel Wayne and Lisa McKenzie Eric and Linda Ogden-Wolgemuth Geoffrey and Ahna Peterson Daniel Rendon and Angela Manzueta-Rendo Angel Santiago and Nancy Acosta Oliver Schaper and Lily Zand Chuck Smith and Sono Kuwayama Robert Snider and Francesca Marc-Antonio Michael Sutton

Juan and Susann Villanueva Steve Yung and Nicole Kassell

5th Grade – 61% Parent Participation

7th Grade – 64% Parent Participation Rudy Almonte and Vivian Contreras Svein and Olga Berg Jason and Kristy Glass Scott Klein and Elizabeth Barasch Luis Fernando Llosa and Mary Llosa Andrew McCarthy and Dolores Rice Nicholas Platt and Robin Watts Rande Price Sandeep Qusba and Dawn Rhodes

8th Grade – 86% Parent Participation Jan and Anne Debassac Mitchel Friedman Meggan Friedman Anthony Knerr and Susanne Kastler-Knerr Johan Lindeberg Marcella Lindeberg Luis Fernando Llosa and Mary Llosa Michael and Dee Mainieri Karla Otis Raoul Roach Matthew Verdery and Rocio Rodriguez James Salser and Lisa Greissinger Hisatoshi and Tsuya Shiraishi Mario Sorrenti and Mary Frey Ingrid Vega

9th Grade – 67% Parent Participation Iris Alfonso Luisa Baez Paula Bass

11th Grade – 56% Parent Participation Christopher and Lori Countey Tamar Grimm-Feeser Luis Fernando Llosa and Mary Llosa Deborah Mohabeer Dennis Pinto and Joy Phelan-Pinto Stephen and Elizabeth Rubin Drs. Andrew and Anke Scheinfeld Alex Neuhoff and Diana Marin ’00

12th Grade – 38% Parent Participation Anonymous (1) Belinda Agar Michael Filler and Christine Austin Brooke Brosenne Elizabeth Goldfeder Rama and Sara Madhu Whitney and Tamar Quillen Scott Sturniolo and Stefanie Soichet ’74 Mark ’79 and Dawn Trachtenberg

ALUMNI DONORS BY DECADE Anonymous (2) Herbert Hagens ’41 Claudia Yatsevitch ’41 Gerda S. Carmichael ’43 Mrs. Waltraude S. Woods ’48 Anne Sidamon-Eristoff ’49 Beverly J. Sonner ’50 Thomas Wetzl ’50

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Dr. Samuel Smith ’54 Carol Knowles ’56 Carol Gleklen ’57 Richard Neel ’57 William Tandler ’58 Virginia Flynn ’59 Dana Benjamin ’60 Frances Hershkowitz ’60 Renate Poliakine ’60 Diana Ronell ’60 Howard Straus ’60 Noel Trachtenberg ’60 Robert Lilienthal ’61 Christina McInerney ’61 Gail Reed. Ph.D. ’61 Friederike Felber Seligman ’63 Christiane Landowne ’63 Diana Smith ’63 Corinne Spingarn ’64 Rose Edinger ’64 Jan Freundschu ’64 Dian Woodner ’64 Helene Pinsky ’65 Rallou Hamshaw ’65 Susan Pollack ’65 Colony Santangelo ’65 Carol Williams ’65 Robin Zeamer ’65 Dr. Peter Yurchenco ’66 Deborah Shriver ’67 Janet Asten ’67 Alexandra Gifford ’68 Michael Nemser ’68 Dr. Daniel Szekely ’68 Susan Robinson ’69 Patricia Haft ’70 Renata Harbison ’70 Todd Schlieben ’70 Kim Akeret ’71 Anthony Cookson ’71 Mathieu Gregoire ’71 Eric Rudin ’71 Edward Schlieben ’71 Peter Bing ’72 Jenny Hall ’72 Pieter Kuypers ’72 Jane Porter ’72 Gail Ritscher ’72 Lawrence Bauer ’73 Carol Bärtges ’73 Andre Bondi ’73 Renee Cossutta ’73 Julia Hays ’73 Katherine Monges ’73 Suzanne Victor (Furth) ’73 Dr. Steven Wolf ’73 Patricia Coates ’74 Suzanne C. Gregoire ’74 Jon Hess ’74 Stefanie Soichet ’74 Allison Stone Stabile ’74 Anne Waxman ’74 Stephen McKenzie ’75 Steiner.edu

Susan Stein ’75 Ana Vargas ’75 Grant Werner ’75 Dr. Elizabeth Ginsburg ’76 Peter Nitze ’76 Frederick Leichter ’76 Kenneth Weinrib ’76 Thomas Glocer ’77 Claudia Stone ’77 Lindsay Wasserman ’77 Adam LeGrant ’78 Lorenzo Mitchell ’78 Mark Sonnino ’78 Alice B. Stock ’79 Catherine Burns ’79 Deborah Carmichael ’79 Marc Trachtenberg ’79 Deborah Winer ’79 Dr. Russell D. Robbins ’80 Brooke Bedrick ’80 Laurie Feit ’80 Alison Cariati ’83 Gabrielle L. Ortiz ’83 Jeffrey Weber ’83 James Roth ’83 Rani Vaz ’83 David Schneider ’84 Lukardis von Studnitz ’85 Tommy Friedner ’85 Erika Ludwig ’86 Kristina Mani ’87 David Nadel ’87 Wyatt Troll ’87 Genia Patestides ’88 Alexandra Riccio ’88 Mauricia Baca ’88 Dr. Roswitha von Studnitz ’88 Ron Passaro ’95 Jonathan Edwards ’96 Emily Baldwin ’98 Kristie Edwards ’99 Katherine Schlieben ’99 Diana E. Marin ’00 Martina Meijer ’02 Ben Ahrens ’02 Stefanie Casillas ’03 Ian Hoffmann ’03 Inna Shaykevich ’03 Katrina Cox ’04 Xander Bremer ’05 Sarah Hetherington ’05 Sarah Ohana ’05 Thomas F. Goodale ’06 Tristan Mantel-Hoffmann ’06 Sky Dylan-Robbins ’07 William B. Beinecke ’07 Calen Cole ’08 Morgan Ross ’09 Elie Mala ’10 Charles McFarlane ’12 Benjamin J. Trachtenberg ’12

ALUMNI PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS & FRIENDS Anonymous (3) Jacqueline Ahrens Dr. and Mrs. Richard Ascher Ms. Mary Aumell William and Susan Baldwin Russell Ball and Dori Evans Carol Bärtges ’73 Ms. Esther Bauer John and Gaily Beinecke Dale A. Bennett Arnelle Blas Admiral Kevin and Eugenia Bone Karen Braga Allison Castro Blanche L. and James B. Christerson Christopher and Lori Countey German and Maria Creamer Pierre and Connie Crosby Gail Cruise-Roberson Elizabeth De Cuevas Alfredo de Palchi and Rita Di Pace Dolores and Milton Dean Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dixon Dr. Martin H. Ehrlich and Ms. Ioana Baraschi-Ehrlich Wilson Ferreira and Chiara Filippi Daniel and Ruth Franks Renni Greenberg Gallagher Arthur and Kathryn Garfunkel Judy Gex Dr. Iona Ginsburg Mrs. Irene E. Goodale Susan Goodale Bryon and Martia Gordon Stathis Gourgouris and Neni Panourgia John Greene Samuel and Isabel Gross Lisa and Terry Gustin Mary Harris Kristin Hawkins Julia Hays ’73 Martin and Margaret Heller Carl and Elsa Hetherington Isabel Hill Lester and Dorothy Hoffman Timothy Hoffmann and Irene Mantel Patricia Kadvan Keith Kefgen Wendy and Scot Kelly Louis Kramberg and Sheryl Jukofsky Shirley L. Latessa Hope Leichter Myron Levitsky Marc Louvet Stephen Lubben and Jennifer Hoyden Robin Machnik Kathleen Mahaffey Daniel and Claudia Mahler Hannelore Mani Paul and Renee Marchand Alex Neuhoff and Diana Marin ’00 THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

D. Edward and Julie Martin Glenn McDonald Scott McFarlane and Nancy Raimondo Bradford and Fleurine Mehldau Joyce Monges Marta Morales Dr. Leonard Nadel and Mrs. Rhoda Nadel Dr. and Mrs. Warren Nadel Richard Neel ’57 David Nuss Dr. Walter Pereyra Michael Pisacane Roger Questel and Ellen Salvadori Chris and Lydie Raschka Michael and Chanit Roston David and Carolyn Rothschild Brenda Ryan Josephine Salvador Marion Schlapfer Edward Schlieben ’71 Lucy Schneider Eleonore Schonberg Sandy Siegel Merle Louise Simon Albert and Alice Spekman Jim Steiner Laura Thompson Mr. Dominic Vaz and Marilyn Wright Vaz Jeffrey and Clio Venho Nigel and Elizabeth Walsh Lawrence and Judith Weber Brittany and Michele Weeden David W. White Joan Williams Shannon and Robert Williams Robin Zeamer ’65

CURRENT AND FORMER FACULTY & STAFF In addition to furthering the School’s mission in all that they do, a great many current and former members of the faculty and staff of Rudolf Steiner School stepped forward to support the Annual Fund. We appreciate greatly all they do for our School and community. Anonymous (1) Walter Alexander Rudy Almonte Semone Bailey Carol Bärtges ’73 Andres Belen Dale Bennett Brooke Bosenne Richard Camacho Nadja Carneol Stefanie Casillas ’03 Julio Catano Victor Catano Ellen Cimino Denise Crane Maria Creamer

Dolores Dean Eileen Diskin Laura Donkel Tamar Feeser Christina Feinburg Joe Fitzgerald Myra Friedman Olena Horban Galanti Renni Gallagher Rallou Hamshaw ’65 Christopher J. Hancock Kristin Hawkins Julia Hays ’73 Rosemarie Hester Mary Lynn Hetsko Timothy Hoffmann Kaining Huang Elanor James Brian Kaplan Wendy Kelly Sono Kuwayama Yeardley Leonard Jennie Leung Leslie Li Dr. William D. Macatee Dena Malon Kristina Mani ’87 Irene Mantel Samantha Margles Marina McGrew Marta Morales Gary Mui Linda Ogden-Wolgemuth Sarah Ohana ’05 Lucia Oswald Felicia Panepinto April Pereyra Geri Perkal Christian Perry Brian Plane Renate Poliakine ’60 Alexandra Riccio ’88 Katharina Roos Marylin Ruppart Andres David Sanchez Thomas Schaefer Anke Scheinfeld Edward Schlieben ’71 Katherine Schlieben ’99 Lucy Schneider Julia Sergeyeva-Benenson Amba Singh Jeffrey Spade Alexandra Spadea Melissa Sussman Adam Van Auken Clio Venho Jeffrey Venho Shannon Williams Dedra Wright Alexander Yagupsky Jean Zay

FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND MATCHING GIFT COMPANIES Adobe Brillo Sonnino Family Foundation Deutsche Bank Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Glocer Family Charitable Fund Goldman, Sachs & Co. Jennifer and Frederick Leichter Fund Jewish Communal Fund JP Morgan Chase and Company, Inc. Kanter Kallman Foundation Michael and Lynn Nemser Family Charitable Foundation Pepsi. Co. Prospect Hill Foundation Rockefeller Philanthopy Advisors Schwab Charitable Fund Silverman Family Philanthropic Fund SMBC Global Foundation, Inc. Sonia Raiziss Giop Charitable Foundation T.F. Trust Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

2015 RESTRICTED GIFTS Science Lab Anonymous (1) Elizabeth Goldfeder Rama and Sara Madhu

Athletics Department Louis Kramberg and Sheryl Jukofsky

Briston Irby-Reynolds Music Scholarship Fund Russell Ball and Dori Evans Dale A. Bennett Allison Castro Keith Kefgen Suzanne Limozinere-Kefgen Laura Thompson

E.E. Ford High School Faculty Development Fund Established in May of 2000 by a matching grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, this fund supports High School faculty professional development Endowment Fund for Faculty Compensation Established through the Capital & Endowment Gifts Initiative, this fund is restricted to faculty compensation to ensure the quality and caliber of Rudolf Steiner School faculty. Pierre and Connie Crosby

Estate of Gertrude Johanna Peter In accordance with Mrs. Peter’s last wishes, this fund was established to support scholarships for students who demonstrate both financial need and strong scholastic aptitude. Faculty Professional Development Fund This fund is permanently restricted to support faculty professional development.

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Kacey Cisyk Rakowicz Fund Named in memory of parent Kacey Cisyk Rakowicz, mother of Eddie Rakowicz ’09 and an outstanding vocalist who cared deeply about music education, this fund is dedicated toward the enrichment of the music program. Olena Horban Galanti Kathleen Mahaffey Morgan Ross ’09

Laura Nadel Art and Music Fund The Laura Nadel Art & Music Fund was established in memory of Laura Nadel, class of 1983, and is designed to meet the most pressing priorities within the music and arts program, and to foster the unique approach to arts education for which the Rudolf Steiner School is known. Dr. and Mrs. Oguz Akin Mr. and Mrs. Walter Alexander Brian and Melinda Cullman Eileen Diskin Joe and Deane Fitzgerald Christopher J. Hancock Erika Ludwig ’86 Hannelore Mani Paul and Renee Marchand David ’87 and Nicole Nadel Dr. Leonard Nadel and Mrs. Rhoda Nadel Dr. and Mrs. Warren Nadel Gabrielle L. Ortiz ’83 and Antonio Ortiz Marin Pepsi Co. James Roth Michael and Camila Steiner Dominic Vaz and Marilyn Wright Vaz Rani Vaz ’83 and Michael Moebius Jeffrey ’83 and Stacey Weber Lawrence and Judith Weber

May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation Fund Since the 1980s, the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation has been a generous supporter of the Rudolf Steiner School tuition assistance program. Anonymous (1) Drs. Eric and Linda Ogden-Wolgemuth

New York Rotary Foundation Fund for Tuition Assistance This fund was established in 1998 by a gift from the New York Rotary Foundation to fund scholarships for deserving students with financial need. Anonymous (1) Emily Baldwin ’98 William and Susan Baldwin Xander Bremer ’05 Stathis Gourgouris and Neni Panourgia John Green Lisa Gustin Steiner.edu

Jenny Hall ’72 Isabel Hill Martin and Margaret Heller Lester and Dorothy Hoffman Kanter Kallman Foundation Tao Li and Yuan Wang Christina McInerney ’61 Susan Pollack ’65 Noel Trachtenberg ’60 Lindsay Wasserman

COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND

Soybel Family Fund in Honor of Trude Haake This fund supports the Rudolf Steiner School Language Program.

In Honor of Stefan and Isabella Kefgen; Keith Kefgen and Suzanne Limozinere-Kefgen

Patricia Coates ’74 Olena Horban Galanti Sandy Siegel Dr. Roswitha von Studnitz ’88 __ We have made every effort to be as accurate as possible in compiling our lists of donors. If your name has been listed incorrectly or was omitted, please call the Development Office at 212-535-2130 ext.206 and accept our most sincere apologies.

In Honor of the class of 1965; Carol Williams ’65 In Honor of Amos Franceschelli; Christiane Landowne ’63 In Honor of Alexander Douaihy ’23; David and Carolyn Rothschild In Honor of Sam and Beatrice Steiner; Jim Steiner In Honor of Diversity at the School; Waltraude S. Woods ’48

In Honor of Ms. Cybelle Afable and Rebecca Silver; Sasha Archer In Honor of Lucy Schneider; Shannon and Robert Williams: “With our deepest gratitude.” In Honor of Madeline Latessa Ortiz; Shirley L. Latessa In Honor of Keith Francis; Susan Stein ’75: “He has been an inspiration and a great friend to me in my life.” In Honor of Fabrice Fortin and Julia Sergeyeva; Suzanne C. Gregoire ’74 In Honor of Dr. Eric Ogden-Wolgemuth; Tao Li and Yuan Wang In Honor of Luke Wan (Back Nursery); Peter and Patricia Wanw

IN MEMORIAM GIFTS TO THE ANNUAL FUND In Memory of Rudolf Copple; Susan Robinson ’69 In Memory of Teddy Wilson Jr. ’64 and Colin Easton ’64; Corinne Spingarn ’64 In Memory of Joan Flynn Dyer ’49; Arnelle Blas, Eleonore Schonberg, Robin Machnik In Memory of Paul F. Trunsch; Beverly J. Sonner ’50 In Memory of Laura Nadel; Dr. Leonard Nadel and Mrs. Rhoda Nadel, Hannelore Mani, Paul and Renee Marchand In Memory of Benjamin Mala; Elie Mala ’10 In Memory of Ms. Christy Barnes; Friederike Felber Seligman ’63, Jan Freundschu ’64 In Memory of Mr. John Root; Kanter Kallman Foundation In Memory of Kacey Cisyk Rakowicz; Kathleen Mahaffey In Memory of Laura Nadel’s 50th Birthday; Lawrence and Judith Weber In Memory of Stephanie Papoulis; Jeffrey Friedman, Christina Angelides, and Rebecca Sloan; Lisa Gustin In Memory of Louis Kramberg; Louis Kramberg and Sheryl Jukofsky In Memory of Chris Rouch ’02; Martina Meijer ’02 In Memory of Thomas Soybel ’75; Patricia Coates ’74 In Memory of Thomas Soybel ’75, Luciano Galanti, and Chrystyna Francesca Rymarenko; Olena Horban Galanti In Memory of Vladimir Koziakin ’61, Masha Tumarkin ’61, Terry Pierce ’60, Caren Jacobson ’60, Swain Pratt, John Root, Amos Franceschelli, and Henry Barns; Robert Lilienthal ’61 In Memory of Joseph T. Flynn ’49 and Joan A. Flynn ’49; Virginia Flynn ’59 THE SPIRAL THE 2015 ISSUE

The Founder’s Circle Honoring The Past, Building A Future

Named in honor of the men and women who established the first Waldorf School in North America, The Founders Circle welcomes all those who wish to follow in the footsteps of these great visionaries by making a planned gift to the School.

Sir John Baring Dale Bennett Gerda Schmid Carmichael ’43 Robert Dandrew Daniel and Ruth Franks Ruth Geiger* Frances Hershkowitz ’60 Adam LeGrant ’78 Joyce Monges Gertrude Johanna Peter* David Nadel ’87 Raymond Schlieben* Lucy Schneider Irene Stein ’61 Elizabeth Kovacs Washburn ’54 David and Gretchen Weir Joseph and Gaile Zolot* *Deceased We would be pleased to provide donors, their attorneys, and financial advisors with additional information. Gifts and bequests to the school are deductible under the federal income, estate and gift tax laws. Inquiries, which will be held in the strictest confidence, may be made in writing to the Development Office. If you have named the Rudolf Steiner School in your estate planning and your name does not appear under The Founders Circle, please contact the Development Office at 212-535-2130.

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4 WAYS TO GIVE Annual Giving is the yearly appeal made by all independent schools to their constituencies to bridge the gap between tuition income and the cost of running the school. These gifts are tax deductible. Your contribution is important to the Rudolf Steiner School.

GIFTS OF CASH: Checks are the most popular way to make a gift. Checks should be made payable to the Rudolf Steiner School. GIFTS OF SECURITIES: The school maintains a brokerage account to accept gifts of stock. If your broker or bank holds your stock, it can be transferred directly to the Rudolf Steiner School. Instructions for transferring stocks to the School may be obtained from the Development or Business Office. MATCHING GIFTS: Many companies match the philanthropic contributions of their employees. Donors should obtain Matching Gift Request forms from their companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Human Resource Department. If you are unsure if your company participates, ask your Human Resource Department or the Rudolf Steiner School Development Office. BEQUESTS: Naming the School as a beneficiary in your will is a generous way to remember the Rudolf Steiner School while reducing your estate tax. Donors can choose to leave a percentage of their estate or a fixed amount.

CONTACT DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS Eileen Diskin, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, 212-535-2130 ext. 222

Steiner.edu

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Community Education Calendar Mondays 7:00pm-8:15pm Steiner Chorale with Jeff Spade (all faculty, parents, and alumni welcomed) Wednesdays 7:00pm-8:15pm Parent Study with Class Teacher Tim Hoffmann (10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16)

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 Wednesday, September 30

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Jeff Spade, Lower School Chair

Wednesday, October 7

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Deb Renna, Early Childhood Chair

Wednesday, October 14

8:20am

Teaching Reading in a Waldorf school with Jenny Price & Brooke Brosenne

Wednesday, October 28

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Julia Hays, High School Chair

6pm – 8pm

Teaching Math in MS & HS

Wednesday, December 2

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Bill Macatee

Wednesday, December 9

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Deb Renna, Early Childhood Chair

Wednesday, January 6

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Jeff Spade, Lower School Chair

Wednesday, January 13

6pm – 8pm

Poetry Café (faculty, parents, alumni, and students participating)

Wednesday, January 27

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Julia Hays, High School Chair

Wednesday, February 10

6:30pm

Evening event with Bill Macatee, Administrative Director

Thursday, February 18

6pm – 8pm

Teaching Humanities in the High School with John Anderson

Wednesday, February 24

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Deb Renna, Early Childhood Chair

Wednesday, March 2

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Jeff Spade, Lower School Chair

Wednesday, March 9

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Julia Hays, High School Chair

Wednesday, April 6

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Bill Macatee, Administrative Director

Wednesday, April 6

6pm – 8pm

Monique Marshall ’86

Wednesday, April 13

8:20am

Coffee and Conversation with Deb Renna, Early Childhood Chair

Thursday, April 28

6pm – 8pm

Alumni Panel on careers

NOVEMBER 2015 Monday, November 2

DECEMBER 2015

JANUARY 2016

FEBRUARY 2016

MARCH 2016

APRIL 2016

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Lower School 15 East 79th Street New York, NY 10075 212.535.2130 Upper School 15 East 78th Street New York, NY 10075 212.879.1101 Steiner.edu

ON THE COVER Early Childhood girls enjoying a fall day in Central Park. ON THIS PAGE Artwork from the Upper School.