Imagine the Possibilities - Update - Winter 2015

GROUNDBREAKING MORNING MEETING CELEBRATES THE START OF CONSTRUCTION A special “groundbreaking” Morning Meeting was held for the students and faculty on Monday, September 29, 2014.

CONTENTS

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FAR BROOK CELEBRATES LEADERSHIP DONORS, OCTOBER 20, 2014

As students entered Moore Hall, a slide show was looping, documenting the progress of construction to date and highlighting the arrival and assembly of the temporary classroom building that was delivered to campus in sections, or “pods,” this past summer. Amy Ziebarth, Head of School, welcomed students and faculty, and explained that a “groundbreaking” is an official ceremony that celebrates the first day of construction for a new building or project. She went on to say that although the site preparation work for the construction of Far Brook’s new Music and Arts Building and Science and Environmental Center began over the summer, “today is our official groundbreaking and we have lots to share and to celebrate.”

Second Grade teacher, Joan Rabinowitz, reported on how the construction is being integrated into lessons and daily life in the Lower School classrooms: Nursery students are tracking the construction using toy trucks and front end loaders in the sandbox and painting murals in art n Kindergartners spent a “hands on” afternoon with a miller who was on campus to begin the process of creating benches from trees that had to be removed n As part of classroom jobs in Second Grade, students report daily on construction, as their classroom overlooks a large portion of the construction site n

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LEADERSHIP DONOR BIOS

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LATEST RENDERINGS FROM CENTERBOOK ARCHITECTS

CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Amy then introduced Sue Wyeth, senior director at Centerbrook Architects, who spoke about the process of creating a vision for the new buildings and grounds. Sue explained the importance of understanding what defines Far Brook’s campus: how access to the outdoors is essential, as is a setting that fosters the feeling of community at the School.

The goal, Sue said, was to “create a warm and cheerful place for teachers and students to work in.” She highlighted some of the ways the old buildings and trees were recycled and how the new construction will help protect the environment with energy efficiency, article continued on next page

CAMPAIGN FOR FAR BROOK UPDATE | WINTER 2015

the use of environmentally friendly building materials, and a system to filter rainwater runoff to keep the Wetlands healthy. Sue then took some questions from the audience, which gave our Lower School students an opportunity to closely question the playground after construction. Next, Marcia Worth-Baker, Fifth Grade teacher, reported on a few of the happenings in Middle School and Junior High, including: Fifth Grade launched the study of Ancient Greece with a look at the impact of Greek architecture and its influence on building today n Sixth Grade students studying Roman monuments are learning about perspective and becoming experts in architectural terms n Junior High mathematicians will use geometry to design, on paper, a wheelchair ramp that meets ADA requirements n

Marcia concluded with, “Erasmia, the Lower School music teacher, will share with the whole school community ‘work songs’ – early American call and response songs that kept projects moving in a steady beat. Songs like ‘Long John’ or ‘Take This Hammer’ are part of our shared American heritage and, now, part of our Far Brook experience.”

Amy then invited the Eighth Grade to the stage for a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Wearing hardhats, each Eighth Grader took a turn putting a shovelful of earth into a wheelbarrow. While they were busy shoveling, Amy read the Eighth Grade’s “time capsule” thoughts – one thing about Far Brook that they will miss the most – noting that “we will think of the Class of 2015 and their reflections next year as we enter the completed buildings.”

CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS Diane Bakst and Tommaso Zanobini Leah and Jeff Kronthal Krissy and Joe Mannello

2014-2015 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tommaso Zanobini, Chair Tony Stovall, Vice Chair Robert Kelly, Treasurer Michelle Swittenberg, Secretary Amy Ziebarth, Head of School Chris Burns Carmine Fanelle Mary Sue Fisher Kate Hewitt Anne-Marie Kim Tom Kligerman Leah Kronthal Marybeth Leithead Krissy Mannello Elyse Post ’78 Marc Schwartz Chris Susko Bradford Wiley, II ’54 Editors: Suzanne Glatt and Carol Sargent

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And, of course, Morning Meeting ended in song, led by Allen Artz.

Once students returned to their classrooms, breakfast treats served in toy dump trucks were delivered to each class by the Eighth Grade students. An inspired morning and wonderful way to begin the year.

Above Eighth Grade Class After the Groundbreaking Morning Meeting Amy Ziebarth Speaking to Eighth Grade Students Previous page Top left – Sue Wyeth, Centerbrook Architects, Speaking with Fifth Grade Students Bottom – A Group of Eighth Grade Students Delivering Treats to Younger Students

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FAR BROOK CELEBRATES LEADERSHIP DONORS AND ANNOUNCES TOP GIFTS James E. Hughes ’56 is keynote speaker The crisp autumn evening of October 20, 2014, set the stage for an intimate seated dinner in Moore Hall honoring leadership donors to the “Imagine The Possibilities” Campaign. Tommaso Zanobini, Chair of Far Brook’s Board of Trustees, welcomed guests, gave an update on the construction, and announced that fundraising had crossed the $7.5M mark toward the goal of $8M.

“The Far Brook community was diverse and disparate, and it fostered a way of being that I’ve never found elsewhere – a culture of gentleness, growing out of the arts, beauty, and harmony.”

-Jay Hughes ’56

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As guests dined and enjoyed each other’s company, Amy Ziebarth, Head of School, took the podium to thank all the donors to this Campaign. “Tonight we are here to celebrate all of you… who have ‘imagined the possibilities’ and helped to make the dreams of Far Brook a reality. Thank you for what you have done for this Campaign and thank you for ALL you do for Far Brook on a daily basis. Your generosity of resources and of spirit are an inspiration to me and to the entire community.”

Amy then shared some exciting news, “Tonight we honor Joe Baker ’62, Leah and Jeff Kronthal, Brad Wiley ’54, and Mary Sue and Peter Fisher. These remarkable donors – two alumni and two alumni families and their transformational gifts early in the Campaign – set the stage for success and allowed us the opportunity to begin construction this fall only two years after we began the quiet phase of this Campaign. I have done a lot of fundraising in my life and this is extraordinary.”

Amy asked each of these donors to join her at the podium: Mary Sue and Peter Fisher “…your love of Far Brook is palpable in everything you have done and continue to do for the School. Mary Sue, as my first Board Chair, thank you for your unwavering support. Together, and with the Master Plan Steering Committee, the Board and the faculty, we worked hard to get us to this moment. As the first commitment to the Campaign, your gift wowed us with your generosity and enthusiasm. Thank you. Tonight we are proud to announce that in honor of your gift, and in honor of your children, the Woodshop will be named, the Charlotte ’07 and Duncan ’04 Fisher Woodshop.”

Brad Wiley ’54, “…your love of Far Brook comes through in everything you do – generously supporting Scholarships and Financial Aid in honor of the founding families of Far Brook of which your parents were one, touring new families around campus and in your beloved Wetlands Habitat, or “the Swamp,” as you lovingly refer to it, and the wonderful way you bring the School’s history alive with stories and memories on your many visits here each year. Once again, we thank you for your unwavering generosity and your leadership gift to this Campaign. We are thrilled to announce that because of your gift, the new Courtyard, which will be the gateway between the new Science and Arts buildings and the rest of campus, will be named in honor of these visionaries, The Founding Parents of Far Brook.

Leah and Jeff Kronthal “…Far Brook is in your blood. You and your family live and breathe Far Brook in all that you do. Whether it is Jeff’s invaluable leadership on the Board for 18 years and as Board Chair for seven, or Leah now as a Trustee and a member of the Recruiting Committee for more than 20 years, Far Brook is woven throughout your lives. Over many years, you have opened your home and your hearts to Far Brook and its people. Your ongoing commitment and love have been instrumental in bringing Far Brook to its current level of success as the thriving educational institution it is. Your consistency, care and incredible generosity are deeply appreciated by me and by the entire community. In honor of your remarkable commitment to this Campaign, the new Science Center will be named, The Kronthal Family Science and Environmental Center.”

Joseph B. Baker ’62, “… the stars were aligned that day in 1988 when you were out driving and decided to see if Far Brook was still around. As a student here for only “2 7/8” years as you have calculated, you had not been on campus for almost 30 years. Having you back as part of the Far Brook community for the past 26 years, and as a Trustee during that time, has been a gift to all of us. Your transformational philanthropy to Far Brook has changed the School profoundly. You have helped to create a culture of giving within the School that you care for so deeply. Your commitment to the Endowment has strengthened the School immeasurably and with your help, the Endowment has grown from just $12,000 in 1980 to almost $5.5M today. In recognition of your remarkable commitment to this Campaign and the buildings, and for all you have done for Far Brook over the years, we are thrilled to announce that a first-time ever department fund will be named in your honor, The Joseph B. Baker ’62 Endowment for Excellence in Mathematics and Science.

After each announcement, the room erupted in excitement and applause recognizing this wonderful and historic moment for the School. Shortly thereafter, Tommaso introduced alumnus James E. Hughes ’56 who spoke eloquently about his Far Brook memories and experience, the importance of learning through the arts, and about the true meaning of giving. Guests were captivated by his remarks and enjoyed this perfect way to end an extraordinary evening.

Photos from left to right: (left to right) Mary Sue Fisher, Judy Armstrong, Joe Baker ’62, and Peter Fisher Tommaso Zanobini (left to right) Dee Hellring, Paula Levin, Jeff Kronthal, Charlie Oransky, and Gordon Keil

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LEADERSHIP DONOR DINNER Monday, October 20, 2014

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1–Jay Hughes ‘56 and Lisa Dworkin 2–Dinner guests received a copy of Jay Hughes ‘56 book, The Cycle of the Gift 3–(left to right) Matt Stadtmauer, Scott Gallin, Drew Headley, and Mike Grant 4–Leah Kronthal 5–(left to right) Lynn and Sengal Selassie, Jen Gonyea, Robyn Bennett and Marc Schwartz 6–(left to right) Lisa Butler, Amy Yin and James Ooi, and Bob Kelly

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7–Joe Baker ‘62 and Amy Ziebarth

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8–(left to right) Carol Sargent, and Krissy and Joe Mannello 9–Craig Stine 10–Guests Entering Dinner in Moore Hall 11–Anne-Marie Kim and Lamont and Michelle Swittenberg 12–Drew and Ali Headley 13–Diane Bakst, Tommaso Zanobini, and Jay Hughes ‘56 14–Brad Wiley ‘54 and Amy Ziebarth

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LEADERSHIP DONOR BIOGRAPHIES

Joe Baker ’62, sees Far Brook as “a microcosm of a liberal arts education.”

Joseph B. Baker ’62 (Joe) of Morristown, who only attended Far Brook for “2 7/8 years,” has an extraordinary bond with the School. Joe went on to the Morristown School (known today as Morristown-Beard School) and Drew University where he majored in political science but found his true interest in computer science. Joe comes from a family of scientists – his late father, William O. Baker, was the head of Bell Laboratories and in 1988 was awarded the National Medal of Science. Joe spent his own career in computer systems becoming a technical analyst at the Beneficial Corporation where he worked until 1998 when he retired as assistant vice president. Joe has been a consistent presence at Far Brook ever since returning to campus to visit in 1988, and since then has attended every major celebration. He was a member of Far Brook’s Board of Trustees for 11 years, from 2000-2011, serving on the Planning and Development Committees. He has been a passionate volunteer for the Alumni Annual Fund since 1988 and chaired this effort for many years. Joe also served on the 50th Anniversary Steering Committee and was a member of the 2008 Strategic Planning sub-committees for Planning and Development. He continues to be an active Annual Fund solicitor and is especially impressed with the School’s growth over time. Joe is also devoted to the other schools he attended – Morristown-Beard School and Drew University – and his generosity of spirit extends to other organizations as well, including the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, the Raptor Trust, and the Market Street Mission. Joe has a strong interest in history and political science, the beginnings of which he traces to Far Brook. He sees the School as, “a microcosm of a liberal arts education.”

Leah and Jeffrey Kronthal of Short Hills are parents of three Far Brook alumni – Melissa ’00, Lauren ’04, and Daniel ’07.

Leah attended Rutgers College, and received a BA in business and economics with a concentration in accounting. Leah spent eight years in the finance department of Salomon Brothers before retiring in 1986. Leah is a member of the Board of Trustees, a role she assumed in 2012, and she continues to serve on the Recruiting Committee which she has done for more than 20 years. She has held leadership positions with the Parents Committee Council (PCC), Fall Family Day, Grand Friends Morning, and with the highly successful fundraising concerts, Tanglebrook. Major events she chaired or co-chaired include Far Brook’s 50th Anniversary, the kick-off for Far Brook’s second Capital Campaign, The Campaign for Far Brook – Preserving Tradition, Securing the Future, and Mary Wiener’s 2006 Retirement Gala. Leah serves as Vice President of the Board of the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company and also dedicates her time volunteering in Newark at St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen and the All Stars Project of New Jersey. Jeff, a Far Brook Trustee for 18 years, from 1994-2012, served as Chair of Far Brook’s Board from 2002-2009. At various times over the years, Jeff also served as Vice-Chair and Treasurer of the Board, and chaired several Board committees including Finance, Investment, and Nominating. Jeff is a co-managing partner and co-CIO at KLS Diversified Asset Management. Jeff has over 30 years of experience in fixed income and investment banking, 17 of which were at Merrill Lynch. When he left the company in the summer of 2006, he was a senior vice president, a member of the firm’s Operating Committee, and head of Global Credit, Real Estate, and Structured Products in the Global Markets and Investment Banking Division. Jeff holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the Board of the All Stars Project of New Jersey and is a Board member of NXT Capital. Leah and Jeff are Co-Chairs of “Imagine The Possibilities”, the Campaign for Far Brook.

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Bradford Wiley II ’54 (Brad) is a 40-year vineyard owner in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, where he and his wife, Linda, reside. Brad is an alumnus from Far Brook’s Class of 1954. He came to the Buxton School, Far Brook’s predecessor, as a five-year-old in 1946. At Far Brook, Brad recalls “…no challenge was discouraged.”

Brad is a graduate of The Pingry School, holds a BS degree from Columbia University, and an MS degree from Johns Hopkins University. He is the former chairman and a director of John Wiley & Sons Publishers, headquartered in Hoboken, and is the sixth generation to participate in the firm. Brad joined the Far Brook Board of Trustees in 2010 and currently serves as a Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee and is a member of the Development Committee. Brad is a life-long admirer and unwavering supporter of Far Brook’s educational approach and quality. Over the last 25 years, he has made visits to Far Brook and its people a priority, attending Stabat Mater, the dedication of the Old Library, speaking to the students at Morning Meeting about the history of the School, and attending and speaking to classes. Brad has great respect and appreciation for the pioneering commitment that his own and other founding parents made to Far Brook in its earliest days. Both of Brad’s siblings attended Far Brook: Peter Wiley ’57 and Deborah Wiley ’61. His father, W. Bradford Wiley, served as Far Brook’s President of the Board from 1952-54. For Brad, Far Brook was “the primal educational experience of my life.”

For Brad Wiley ’54, Far Brook was “the primal educational experience of my life.”

Mary Sue and Peter Fisher of Maplewood have been part of the Far Brook community since 1994. They are the parents of Duncan ’04 and Charlotte ’07.

Mary Sue is a graduate of Vassar College and the Boston University School of Law. She was most recently special council at FINRA (formerly NASD) in Washington, DC, and New York. Currently Mary Sue is working toward certification as an instructor in classical Pilates. She has served on the Board of Trustees since 2004 and as the Board Chair from 2010-2013. She is now Chair of The Simple Gifts Society for Planned Giving and Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee. Previously, she served as Secretary of the Board, as Chair of the Audit Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Trustees. At various times as a Far Brook parent, Mary Sue chaired the Parents Committee Council (PCC), Car Pool Volunteers, and the Recruiting Committee. She also co-created Far Brook’s beloved Sports Day. Peter is a senior fellow at the Center for Global Business and Government at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth where he is also a Senior lecturer. In addition, he serves as a senior director of the BlackRock Investment Institute.

Peter is a member of the Board of Directors of AIG, Inc., a member of the Board of Directors of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and a member of the Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

He has previously served as head of BlackRock’s Fixed Income Portfolio Management Group and as chairman of BlackRock Asia. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2004, Peter served as Under Secretary of the US Treasury for Domestic Finance from 2001 to 2003.

He also worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1985 to 2001, concluding his service as executive vice president and manager of the Federal Reserve System Open Market Account. Peter earned a BA degree in history from Harvard College in 1980 and a JD degree from Harvard Law School in 1985. Peter attended Shady Hill School in Cambridge, MA, which informed the decision to send their children to Far Brook!

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CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION UPDATE The construction project for Far Brook’s two new buildings – the Music and Arts Building and the Science and Environmental Center – began this past June with the arrival of the temporary classroom pods. It was exciting to watch the large crane strategically place each pod, like a puzzle piece, carefully onto the footings. In just a few hours, Far Brook had the beginnings of a new building in the lower field. Finishing work continued during July and August, including painting and siding, the installation of ramps, and even some landscaping. The building was ready for the start of the 2014-15 school year, and provides classroom space for art, Lower School music, and a flexible-use room used for music theory and French.

The wonderful team from E. Allen Reeves, Far Brook’s construction company, then began work to reconfigure the lower parking lot and add additional spaces. Far Brook will be losing the parking spots behind Moore Hall due to the new Science building and the addition of more green space for the children.

September brought the installation of the construction road and the breaking of ground for the two new academic buildings, which will be LEED certified. Recently, renovation work on the cottage or “pump house” by the street, began.

As one can see, much is happening and will continue to happen in the weeks and months ahead. The buildings are slated to open in the fall of 2015.

Photos from top to bottom: The Temporary Classroom Building The Art Room in the Temporary Classroom Building Students Observing the Construction from the Kindergarten Setting the Foundation for the New Buildings

Photos on this page by Emi Ithen and E. Allen Reeves

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LATEST RENDERINGS From Centerbrook Architects From top to bottom: View from the Courtyard Looking East View from the Art Studio looking South Looking Toward the Arts Building From the Greenhouse

CONTACT For more information on how to help or ways to make a gift to the Campaign, please contact Suzanne Glatt, Director of Development, sglatt@farbrook.org.

Contact Carol Sargent, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, csargent@farbrook.org, to discuss Planned Giving.

Both Suzanne and Carol can be reached by phone at 973-379-3442.

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UPDATE Exciting Announcements Inside!