the masters school | spring 2015
Maureen Fonseca
15 Years of Extraordinary Leadership
The Masters Dance Company mesmerized audiences with its fall program titled Reflections – A look at life through dance.
C O N T A C T S The Masters School 49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522-2201 914-479-6400 www.mastersny.org Send letters to: Bob Horne bob.horne@mastersny.org Send address changes to: Judy Donald judy.donald@mastersny.org Send alumnae/i news to news editors listed in Class Notes or: Angelique Chielli angelique.chielli@mastersny.org
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ON THE COVER Head of School Maureen Fonseca took the helm on July 1, 2000, and has guided The Masters School for 15 years. Under her direction, the School has grown in size, stature, and facilities, and now ranks as one of the country’s premier independent schools.
COVER STORY
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CONTENTS D E PA RT M E N T S
MAUREEN FONSECA: Closing The Masters School Chapter of Her Life in Education >> After 15 years at the helm of The Masters School, Head of School Maureen Fonseca has decided to close this chapter of her life in education. As of June 30, she will end her tenure—including her inimitable appearances dressed as Miss Masters for Founder’s Day. The entire school community applauds her achievements and dedication.
02 FROM MAUREEN FONSECA 04 FROM BOARD CHAIR TRACY TANG LIMPE 16 ON CAMPUS
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GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AUTHORS’ CORNER ALUMNAE/I UPDATE SNAPSHOTS
F E AT U R E S
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STRATEGIC PLAN SETS MASTERS ON COURSE FOR NEXT FIVE YEARS >> Six key goals—and the steps needed to reach them—have been defined in “The Masters School Strategic Plan 2015-2020,” a document designed to guide the School as it enhances and refines its academic program and financial standing.
SCHOOL ADOPTS NEW MISSION AND BELIEFS STATEMENT >> The Masters School celebrates active participation, deep understanding, and meaningful connection. A community of diverse individuals, we gather to learn, to strive, to dare, to do – to be a power for good in the world. Read the new Mission and Beliefs Statement.
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IN MEMORIAM: Elizabeth Palmer ’31, Visionary Leader of the YWCA REUNION 2015: Greet the Award Winners >> Applause for our dedicated alumnae/i and faculty! See who will be recognized with awards at this year’s Reunion on May 15-16. MEET LAURA DAVIS DANFORTH, OUR NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL
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FROM MAUREEN FONSECA
Reflections on a Transformative Experience Dear Friends, The Masters School has become such an integral part of my life that it is hard for me to believe that this will be my last chance to write a letter for The Bulletin. We often speak of the transformational nature of a Masters education, and now I find myself reflecting on the ways our School has transformed my own life over the past fifteen years. Within months of my arrival, we began a school-wide planning process, resulting in an ambitious strategic plan that guided the School into the 21st century. Now, as I prepare to leave, we are completing the implementation steps of an exciting new strategic plan that will be the School’s roadmap for success through 2020. While the pages that follow speak to the many changes that occurred during my tenure here, the real story is about you, the Masters School community. It was only through your ongoing generosity that we have been able to support the growth of a faculty of distinction, create the many enhancements to the School’s academic program and campus facilities, and grow from 390 to 660 students. The Masters School had the good fortune of being founded by the visionary Eliza Bailey Masters. Our founder worked fervently to ensure that her students embodied the highest academic and behavioral standards, and spiritual ideals. Today, our students and alumnae/i continue to prove themselves “a power for good in the world.” Our talented and dedicated faculty show deep commitment to these ideals by delivering a creative, challenging and engaging program to develop the whole child. I am pleased at our School’s continual development and excited by where we are heading next. It has been an honor to serve as head of a school that has such a rich history and deeply cherished values upon which to build. And it has been a great joy and a privilege to see so many hundreds of students grow and become proud Masters alumnae/i. I will leave Masters knowing that our next Head of School, Laura Danforth, will be a caring and dynamic leader who will continue to champion the ideals set forth by Miss Masters in 1887. It has been a delight to get to know Laura and to have had the chance to work closely with her since her appointment in the fall. I am deeply grateful for all the alumnae/i, trustees, faculty and parents who have supported The Masters School throughout the past fifteen years. Thank you for encouraging, challenging, inspiring and guiding me. While I look forward to the next chapter of my life, I will genuinely miss you all. Sincerely,
MAUREEN FONSECA, Ph.D. Head of School
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FROM TRACY TANG LIMPE ’80
Celebrating Maureen Fonseca Dear Friends, In this issue of The Bulletin, we celebrate the accomplishments of Head of School Dr. Maureen Fonseca, and wish her the best as she moves on to new opportunities. It is difficult to sum up the phenomenal impact that Maureen has had on The Masters School over the past fifteen years. During Maureen’s tenure, Masters has seen a steady rise in applications and enrollment, the development of an engaged, superior faculty, the adoption of two strategic plans, unprecedented success in fundraising and a transformed campus. You can see a detailed list of Maureen’s accomplishments starting on page 5. However, this list tells only part of the story. I have had the good fortune to work closely with Maureen for the past six years, and to play a small part in envisioning the future of Masters. In that time, Maureen has taught me that having a vision can take a lot of courage. I recall that in 2009, in the middle of an economic recession, the Board of Trustees was persuaded, at Maureen’s urging, to proceed with the single largest construction project in the school’s history: the Masters Athletic and Arts Center. Despite the many hurdles we would face, Maureen believed in the transformative effect this building would have on our school. Maureen’s belief in an ever-brighter future for Masters, in our constant ability to “build strength upon strength,” is eclipsed only by her unique ability to inspire others to “gather around,” embrace a vision and put it into action. Over the past year, as the Board of Trustees has led Masters through a comprehensive strategic planning process, we have on several occasions created “word clouds,” graphical representations of answers from many people to a specific question. “What makes the Masters student experience so special?” “What qualities do we value most in Masters faculty?” It was as easy as posing the question to those involved in the process and compiling the responses into a word cloud. As I read others’ reflections on the distinctive qualities of Maureen’s leadership and add my own, I envision a word cloud, one that includes words like empathy and warmth,
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humility and inner strength, energy and optimism, and joy and love. But the word that appears largest in the word cloud in my mind is “presence.” It’s no secret that we live in a world where many people are over-scheduled and over-stressed. On our campus, Maureen as Head of School shoulders the greatest responsibility and her days are often packed. But no matter how much is looming in her life, when Maureen is with you, she is fully present. I’ve watched in awe as she has put everything aside to greet a student, reassure a teacher, or engage with a parent. Her ability to relegate her own concerns to the background in these moments reveals a selfless, empathic spirit and a warm, genuine person. Speaking from personal experience, we all feel valued and validated in Maureen’s presence. The reflections on the following pages make it clear how deeply Maureen has touched and inspired all who have worked with her. We are forever grateful for Maureen Fonseca’s leadership and presence. Warm regards,
TRACY TANG LIMPE ’80, P ’18 Chair, Board of Trustees
COVER STORY
Dr. Maureen Fonseca
Guiding Masters st into the 21 Century By Debbie Shure P’07
After 15 years at the helm of The Masters School, Head of School Maureen Fonseca has decided to close this chapter of her life in education. As of June 30, she will end her tenure at the School —including her inimitable appearances dressed as Miss Masters for Founder’s Day. Maureen plans to take some time to reflect before looking for a new opportunity to contribute to the world of education. “It’s so hard to think of leaving a place that has become part of my heart and soul—and all of my thoughts, aspirations and dreams,” she said. “The School has been a place where I’ve learned so much, and I have loved working with all the different people. As an educator, I’m always in awe seeing students grow through the years and become such caring, purposeful and accomplished people in the world.
This has also been a journey where I’ve had the privilege and joy of seeing faculty pass through so many phases of challenge and success. Living on campus has allowed me to engage with faculty, welcome them to Park Cottage, and get to know them as people. There is such a warm and generous community spirit here—my family and I felt welcome and enriched from day one.” > >
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COVER STORY
Chris Goulian (front) leading a standing ovation for Head of School Maureen Fonseca at Convocation 2014.
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In An American Schoolmistress, her biography of Eliza Masters, Marion Brown Shelton recounts one of the prayers Miss Masters would often recite as she neared the end of her life: “May our school never lack for the right kind of Christian woman to be at its head.” That prayer was certainly answered in the person of Maureen Fonseca. Having worked alongside her in the administration these past 15 years, I can safely say that any number of words come to mind in regard to Maureen – and nearly all are positive! But the word that embodies her best is not a word that’s often mentioned in connection with teaching and learning, though it should be, and that word is love. Whether she’s working with students, parents, faculty, or alumnae/i, Maureen radiates love, the kind of love that is born from a selfless heart, from a spiritual practice dedicated to the service and healing of others. Miss Masters would have been proud of her; she would have been inspired by her.”
The faculty, of course, have always ranked as one of Maureen’s highest priorities. “From my interaction with alums, I know the School has always placed a primacy on the quality of our faculty,” she said. “And as a parent of two Masters School graduates, I have personally seen the transformative impact that faculty can have on individual students. It’s good that the Board of Trustees, through strategic planning, has always included funding to help faculty grow and strengthen the curriculum. What impresses me about our faculty and has made them a ‘faculty of distinction’ is their growth mindset and desire to keep getting better. There is great willingness and the initiative to re-think their offerings to better challenge and inspire our students. This was certainly facilitated by the Board’s commitment to very generous professional development funding and the re-institution of our sabbatical program.” Working with a talented and dedicated Board of Trustees has been crucial in accomplishing all of the School’s major initiatives during Maureen’s tenure. “I have been one of the most fortunate heads of school in having 15 years of incredible partners on the Board of Trustees,” she stated. “Each trustee has given so much to the School and to me personally in terms of deep thinking and questioning, and aspirations for the School, not to mention endless generosity of spirit, time and resources. We have journeyed together, taking many leaps of faith, the first of which was bringing me to The Masters School as the 13th head. Thirteen is supposed to be unlucky, but this has been the time of my greatest singular good fortune.”
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—Chris Goulian, Upper School Academic Dean
Dr. Maureen Fonseca with honoree Marin Alsop ’73 (center) and Tracy Tang Limpe ’80, P’18, at the School’s 2012 gala. 06 | www.mastersny.org
Dr. Lee Dieck.
“My board chairs in particular have been extraordinary,” she continued. “From the first strategic plan working with Susan Follett Morris as Chair, to hitting the recession with Lynn Pilzer Sobel just as we were ready to launch another ambitious plan, to the last six years with Tracy Tang Limpe at the helm. Each of these remarkable women has kept propelling the School to the next level. I cannot imagine board chairs who have worked harder and with such courage, conquering doubts and overcoming all obstacles to bring this school to new heights. They have been sources of endless inspiration, support, understanding - and we’ve had such great fun together.” “One of my earliest memories of working with the Board was jumping into the strategic planning process my very first year and being so excited about the clarity of the plan that emerged,” she recalled. “I remember how scared I was getting ready for the October Board meeting in 2001, where I would present the final version of the plan and ask for the Board’s approval. I was feeling in awe of the mantle of leadership and momentarily daunted by the prospect of guiding the School that had so recently taken the bold step to co-education. I was sitting in the dining room at Park Cottage under the portrait of Miss Masters, practicing my presentation. I remember looking up to her to get the last moments of inspiration and courage.” > >
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To me, the remarkable thing about Maureen is her enormous heart. She cares deeply about the people who work for her, sharing in both their happiness and their grief. I can’t count the number of times she’s offered someone else her seat in a meeting— including students! That is an incredibly simple but powerful gesture, especially for someone in her position. I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and for Maureen; she’s the embodiment of a servant leader, and I hope to be able to follow her example in the work that I do.
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—Lee Dieck, Science Teacher and Co-Coordinator, Leadership Lab
Head of School Maureen Fonseca addressing the All-School Meeting in 2004.
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COVER STORY
Dr. Maureen Fonseca (left) with featured speaker Peter Gelb, Director of the Metropolitan Opera, P ’08, and Susan Follett Morris ’57 at the Creativity Forum in 2014.
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Maureen Fonseca, who had been known to me as the start-up head of St Phillips Academy, an inner-city independent school in Newark, was chosen by us to lead this school— hardly a new school and certainly not an inner-city school. But she looked to us like an educator of unparalleled excellence. Needless to say, she has more than lived up to our expectations! All involved with the school, − alumnae/i, parents, faculty, and administrators − join me in admiration and delight over all that has been accomplished under Maureen Fonseca’s years of administration. She has most certainly ’done it with her might.’ —Susan Follett Morris ’57, Life Trustee
As every student knows, Maureen took more than inspiration from the portrait of Miss Masters. From her first appearance as Miss Masters at Founder’s Day, Maureen has honed her impersonation skills. Each year, she honors the School’s founder by dressing in a vintage Miss Masters gown (that no one else could ever fit into), powdering her upswept hair, and performing her skit for both the Middle and Upper School that invokes some of the old school rules (always eat your banana with a knife and fork). “I have so many happy memories with the students,” she added. “I remember taking an annual picture with the fifth graders, who invariably were believers in the reality of Miss Masters.” “I also loved having time with boarding students in the dorms, preparing for Head’s Dinners and being amazed at the wonderful family atmosphere that the dorm parents had created,” she continued. “Another cherished memory is that of baking cookies with the faculty children each year before the holidays.” “I also remember learning about the School’s great Halloween tradition, where the seniors assign various roles to faculty and administration, and working with Academic Dean Chris Goulian to create skits for some dreaded assignments, such as when we had to appear as ‘Young Gunz.’” (Editor’s Note: Young Gunz is a hip hop duo composed of two rappers. They were given permission to film at the School by someone who thought MTV was the BBC. Needless to say, the video was inappropriate and deemed a mistake. As Maureen noted, “It was not the best use of these revered halls.”).
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The audience at the dedication of the Greene Family Field and Track in 2012.
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Dr. Maureen Fonseca: Guiding Masters into the 21st Century, cont.
Head of Middle School Doc Wilson (second from left) welcoming families to Grandparents Day.
And no matter how “pressured or stressful a day I may have had, mingling with the students always cheers me up,” she added. “Our students are different than most adolescents. They will look you in the eye, hold the door, and say thank you. They are not cynical. On the contrary, they are idealistic, generous, willing to give of themselves, and are unusually inclusive of others.” No walk down memory lane would be complete without remembering past and current parents. “I have watched the growth of the Parent Association (PA), which was in a fledgling stage in 2000, develop into an extraordinary organization that provides support for all our parents as well as the School.” Like the Board, she feels fortunate to have worked closely with outstanding PA presidents, including Anita Salzberg, Marilyn Dimling, Jerrie Miller, and now Janet Pietsch. > >
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The qualities that define great leaders are many and varied and are often quite complicated. The qualities that define Maureen’s leadership are, not surprisingly, quite simple. She is without a doubt one of the warmest, kindest, and most caring leaders I have ever known. She is always willing and able to see the good in every person and situation she deals with. Because she starts from that positive place, it is easy for her to find the way to put the needs and interests of others ahead of her own. Her selfless and humble approach to leadership put her in a class all by herself. Working closely with Maureen these last 15 years has inspired me and made me a better person. She will always have a very special place in my heart. —Everett “Doc” Wilson, Head of Middle School
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The 2014 Commencement ceremonies featured remarks by Dr. Fonseca.
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COVER STORY
David Dunbar addressing the Creativity Forum.
Along the way, parents have demonstrated outstanding dedication. “For our first gala, parents did everything from making the chocolates to arranging the centerpieces, all of which contributed to making the event a huge success. I also like to think about the Parent Association’s Faculty-Staff Appreciation Days that simply can’t be rivaled by any other school. There is always a cornucopia of delicious food and gifts.” This is all done in a “spirit of goodness and generosity” in May when the faculty and staff are working so hard to end the year on a high note. So, what’s next for our beloved Head of School? “After 27 years of being a head of school, I want to be able to step back and reflect for a month or two,” Maureen replied. “I’m interested in continuing to contribute to the world of education, but I have not yet determined what I will do. I’d like to live in the Westchester area, which for many years has been home to our family.”
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Maureen’s great gift is her imaginative, gracious intuition. This skill grants her great vision and perspective when other people are too caught up with the “urgent” to notice the “important.” And, for a school that is working toward trying to make “deep understanding” (more than only surface and strategic learning) the norm, there is no one you would rather have leading the institution on that journey. All experienced teachers know that, in part, they are really teaching their own selves as much as any subject matter. Maureen knows that you are doing that when you are running a school as well. We could not have had a better mentor in how to be fully our true selves—all of the Masters community—for the past 15 years.
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—David Dunbar, Director of Teaching and Learning
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Best of luck in all your endeavors, Dr. Fonseca! The entire school community is grateful for your leadership.
Dr. Maureen Fonseca: Guiding Masters into the 21st Century, cont.
Lynn Pilzer Sobel (left) and Susan Follett Morris (right) joined Dr. Fonseca for the groundbreaking ceremony for new faculty housing in 2008.
Head of School Maureen Fonseca with her husband, The Reverend Petero Sabune, at Convocation in 2008.
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It has been a an honor, privilege and joy to have worked with Maureen Fonseca over the past 15 years, particularly to have served with her in my role as Board Chair. A consummate professional, Maureen’s deep connection to others is what sets her apart. From faculty to students to parents to alums—her empathy for others and her high standards have brought this school to new heights. She will be sorely missed.
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—Lynn Pilzer Sobel ’71, P’99, ’05
Middle School students surrounded Miss Masters (a.k.a. Maureen Fonseca) during Founder’s Day celebrations. the bulletin | spring 2015 | 11
FEATURES
Strategic Plan Sets Masters on Course for Next Five Years SIX KEY GOALS HAVE BEEN DEFINED IN “THE MASTERS SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2020,” A DOCUMENT DESIGNED TO GUIDE THE SCHOOL AS IT ENHANCES AND REFINES ITS ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND FINANCIAL STANDING. At the same time, the Mission and Beliefs Statement has been re-written to better reflect the core values that are the foundation of the School (see page 15). The six goals, along with the key steps required to reach each goal appear on the following pages. For more detail, please visit: www.mastersny.org/strategicplan.
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STRATEGIC GOAL #1
Embrace Deep and Transformational Learning Our students are growing up in a world in which technological change is rapid, libraries of information are available instantly and wirelessly, individuals are increasingly mobile and social groups more and more diverse. The Masters School must respond to a changing world by teaching students the skills they need to thrive in this environment. Because change is happening so rapidly, it is impossible for us to teach our students everything they need to know by the time they graduate from The Masters School. Thus the most important skill our students need is the ability and independence to teach themselves, along with the flexibility to evolve and grow in a dynamic environment. The Masters School will: Create a school culture that embraces the idea that the best learning is deep and transformational. Ensure that faculty design a curriculum that engages students in authoring and assessing their own learning.
STRATEGIC GOAL #2
Build a Faculty of Distinction that Embodies Our Philosophy and Pedagogy Curriculum and pedagogy are inseparable from each other and from all aspects of school life. A 21st century curriculum must be supported by a progressive pedagogy that in turn both reflects and creates the school culture. Because faculty are central to our ability to deliver our academic program, we must attract, develop and retain those who are best suited to engage our pedagogy. And, beyond their academic responsibilities, our educators must be committed to the education of the whole child— supporting student academic, moral, ethical, social, and emotional development. The Masters School will: Align our pedagogy with our mission and core beliefs. Ensure that our faculty are experts in their disciplines and are aligned with the Masters philosophy and pedagogy at all stages of their careers. Articulate, internally and externally, our distinctive educational philosophy and how it is supported by our teaching methods and practices.
STRATEGIC GOAL #3
Lead in Innovative Teaching Our faculty are encouraged to intentionally explore and apply new and effective pedagogies to enrich teaching and learning.. The Masters School will: Continue to evolve as a center of interesting and innovative learning, a place where all teachers strive to make visible and transparent the “craft� of learning.
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FEATURES
STRATEGIC GOAL #4
Support Growth and Excellence in Our Faculty Maintaining a faculty of true distinction requires The Masters School to offer a highly competitive compensation structure, in which we include salary, housing, professional development and other benefits. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that we are in a strong competitive position vis-à-vis our peer schools in the area of faculty recruitment and retention. The Masters School will: Recognize the important role of competitive compensation in Masters’ ability to attract, develop and retain a faculty of true distinction and the necessity for a compensation system that is equitable and transparent.
STRATEGIC GOAL #5
Celebrate Our Rich and Inclusive Learning Community The Masters School is an intentionally diverse, multicultural, and global learning community. Our Middle School and Upper School day students come from across the tri-state area, and boarding students join us from across the country and around the world. Our intellectually curious and engaged students excel in and appreciate athletics and the arts and are committed to making the world a better place. Their interests and talents mutually enrich each other’s lives and extend classroom learning. The Masters School will: Continue to develop a vibrant and inclusive learning community by enrolling the most mission-appropriate students—day and boarding—and ensuring that Masters is accessible to students whose backgrounds, experiences, and thinking will expand the world for all of us—in and out of the classroom.
STRATEGIC GOAL #6
Guarantee the School’s Financial Future The Masters School is at an exciting juncture in its history, and we are well positioned to sustain our positive momentum. In the near term, enrollment growth is not anticipated so we must diversify revenue sources in order to decrease reliance on tuition revenue and protect against financial downturns. The Masters School will: Ensure that the current and future financial well-being of the School is a priority and that adequate resources are available to invest in students, faculty, programs, campus facilities, and technology.
Now that the Strategic Plan has been ratified by the Board, the Head of School and her administrative team, with guidance from the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, are developing implementation plans, action steps, and timelines for each of the strategies. The head of school-elect of Masters will be brought into the development of these implementation plans so that she is fully engaged in the Strategic Plan and so that its momentum will continue seamlessly through the School’s leadership transition. The majority of these plans should be completed by June 2015.
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Mission Statement and Beliefs Statement The Masters School celebrates active participation, deep understanding, and meaningful connection. A community of diverse individuals, we gather to learn, to strive, to dare, to do – to be a power for good in the world. To Learn
To Dare
We believe that students learn best when they construct their own meanings. This belief is reflected in the architecture of the classroom itself: The Harkness table gathers students and teachers to build knowledge and learn from one another. Our students practice communication and thinking skills by developing and supporting their ideas, listening carefully to others, working collaboratively, and sharing feedback. In the process, they come to understand their own approaches to learning and value those of others. This group experience fosters a sense of collective responsibility, an appreciation of others, and a feeling of accomplishment in creating something unique and profound.
We believe that we must empower students to dare—to wonder, to question what is known, and to explore what is unknown. Our culture of kindness and inclusivity applauds students who take risks, learn from setbacks, and gain new perspectives.
To Strive We believe that our environment must inspire students to strive to be their best selves—in academic, athletic, artistic, and all other endeavors. In working to achieve their goals, students learn to persevere. A community-wide focus on growth enables them to navigate challenges and become resourceful, confident, and resilient.
To Do We believe that learning is doing. We ask our students to be more than consumers of content—we ask them to use what they learn to solve problems and design new visions for the world and their place in it. For our students, learning is experiential, and experience shapes learning.
To Be a Power for Good in the World When Eliza B. Masters founded The Masters School in 1877, she set out to educate each student “to be a power for good in the world.” Today, we continue to hold this mission as central to everything we do. As our students contend with real-world issues both in and out of the classroom, they gain empathy, confidence, and a sense of responsibility to fulfill Miss Masters’ most important mission. Adopted by the Board of Trustees, November 1, 2014
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ON CAMPUS
Boys Soccer Team Wins FAA Championship! For the first time, The Masters School won the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) championship in boys’ soccer. In the FAA semi-final, the boys beat Rye Country Day in overtime with a score of 4-3, propelling Masters into the FAA final for the first time in a game against Greens Farms Academy (GFA). On November 7, the boys beat GFA 1-0 in a very close match with the #1 seed. After multiple close chances by both teams, Masters’ Geoffrey Fox hit a shot from 18 yards out that hit the crossbar and fell just inside the line for a goal. With only eight minutes remaining in the game, Masters held off offensive attacks by GFA to win their first FAA title.
$4 Million Gift Names the Natatorium The Masters School has received an additional $2 million gift from the Hamill Family Foundation. This unrestricted endowment gift will provide ongoing funds for the maintenance and staffing of the natatorium, which houses the new sixlane competitive and recreational swimming pool and is connected to the Masters Athletic and Arts Center (MAAC). The Hamill Family Foundation’s initial gift of $2 million early in the campaign supported construction of the new facility. These two gifts from the Hamill Family Foundation were made in memory of Joan Smith Hamill ’34 and the natatorium will be named in her honor as the Joan Smith Hamill Natatorium.
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Tower Wins NSPA Pacemaker Award Congratulations to the staff of Tower, which was chosen as one of three winners in its category (eight pages or fewer broadsheet) in the NSPA (National Scholastic Press Association) 2014 Newspaper Pacemaker contest. Tower editors presented the Pacemaker plaque to Head of School Maureen Fonseca at Morning Meeting in November. Although Tower has won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Standard award for two years in a row, this is the first time it has been selected as an NSPA Pacemaker winner. The contest attracted approximately 300 entries from around the country. This honor is “for our paper last year, when our solo editor was Teerin Julsawad ’14, an international student from Thailand,” stated journalism teacher and Tower advisor Ellen Cowhey. “He is currently at New York University studying journalism.”
Eighth Graders Learn to Code Ten eighth grade students from Masters Middle School participated in the Hour of Code, hosted by Zetetics, on December 12. The Hour of Code is an international program in which students gather for a one-hour introduction to computer science. As part of National Computer Science Education week, the program is designed to demystify computer programming and show that anyone can learn programming. During the one-hour activity, students engaged in a step-by-step tutorial on how to create and modify an iPhone game using Swift.
Four Teachers Win Prestigious Awards Four faculty awards were announced at Convocation by Head of School Maureen Fonseca. These awards are funded by endowments established to provide annual recognition to teachers in designated areas across the curriculum.
EMILY ZOCCHI received the Illinois Award for Language, based on her work teaching classical languages. The Illinois Award was established by former Trustee William M. Collins of Chicago and nine other Chicago-area donors with connections to The Masters School. Mr. Collins’ wife, Louise Neff Collins, is a graduate of the Class of 1931 and their three daughters also attended Masters: Deborah Collins Pappas ’56, Judy Collins Hannestad ’59, and Kathleen Collins ’63. The Parvin Award for Mathematics went to MICHELE DENNIS, Chair of the Math Department. W. Rodman Parvin was a trustee and treasurer of the Board from 1942-1957. Mr. Parvin’s daughter, Mary Parvin Goodman, graduated in 1942 and his granddaughter, Barrie Goodman Pickering, in 1965. MARY CHAPPELL and PAUL FRIEDMAN received the Lightner History Award. In 1963, Eleanor Lightner Frazier, Class of 1912, and Margaret Lightner Billings ’39, initiated the idea of honoring their family’s legacy. Now 24 strong, the Lightner/Meads family’s legacy began with Helen Dean Lightner, Class of 1901, and was most recently represented by the first male in the line, Griffin T. Meads ’11, covering a 110-year span.
Cross Country Teams Enjoy Success at NEPSTA Championships In November, the boys’ and girls’ varsity Cross Country teams traveled to Vermont Academy to compete at the New England Prep School Division 3 Championships. In only their second year competing in the NEPSTA Championships, the Masters Cross Country program enjoyed success. Four athletes earned All-New England honors by placing in the top 20 in the varsity race. Gene Perry ’17 finished 4th, Jason McLeod ’15 finished 9th, and Chris Brakey ’16 finished 14th out of a total of 146 varsity runners. Aided by teammates Matt Donovan ’16, Jake Regele ’17, Henry Littlewood ’16, and Simon Belon-Alvarez ’17, the boys’ varsity team finished 3rd out of 22 prep schools throughout New England. For the girls, Emily Guzzardi ’17 finished 18th and along with her teammates, Julia Kane ’16, Elizabeth Mitchell ’18, Alex Limpe ’18, Aliyah Schneider ’16, Charlotte Subklewe ’17, and Michelle Shear ’16, finished 15th out of 26 varsity teams.
Zetetics Teams Rank High in National Academic Challenge Congratulations to all three Zetetics teams for their outstanding performance in the National Academic Challenge competition! Of the more than 300 schools that participated in this year’s National Academic Challenge, 50 schools (including all three Masters’ teams) were invited to take part in the finals that were held in November. Below are the team rankings: Masters Team Three: Kenneth Li, Olivia Zhang, Zengyi Wan, Alice Zhou, and Teddy Chan finished in 3rd place. Masters Team One: Tomiris Issayeva, Virginia Qian, Runlin Yao, May Zhu, and Luyi Peng finished in 10th place.
Shown above from left to right: Paul Friedman, Emily Zocchi, Dr. Maureen Fonseca, Michele Dennis, and Mary Chappell.
Masters Team Two: Tony Zhang, Sheila Wang, Iris Ye, Ji Hung, and Mia Ouyang finished in 29th place.
the bulletin | spring 2015 | 17
ON CAMPUS
Convocation Audience Responds with Standing Ovation for Head, Keynote Speaker The dais party at Convocation included (left to right): Trustee Shan Zhu P’16, Jane Rechtman, Board Chair Tracy Tang Limpe ’80, P’18; Dr. Amanda Kemp ’84, Dr. Maureen Fonseca, Brandon Schneider ’15, Serena Wessely ’15, Academic Dean Chris Goulian, and Trustee Keith Morgan P’17.
A heartfelt standing ovation for Head of School Maureen Fonseca, who will complete her final year at Masters in June, was one highlight of the annual Convocation ceremony last fall. Students, faculty and staff, trustees, families, and guests all stood to recognize and honor the many accomplishments achieved during Dr. Fonseca’s 15-year tenure. The program moved to an emotional address by Dr. Amanda Kemp ’84, Research Associate in Africana Studies at Franklin & Marshall College. Dr. Kemp read the poem “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver. She encouraged students and faculty to use the poem as a touchstone on “that walk, that journey” as they delve into the topic of diversity, Masters’ year long, school-wide theme.
Renowned Innovators Address Creativity Forum “Can Creativity Be Taught?” was the first of several dynamic and relevant educational topics addressed in the new Masters Matters series. Steve Apkon P’17, Founder of The Jacob Burns Film Center and author of The Age of the Image: Redefining Literacy in a World of Screens, and Peter Gelb P’08, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera, were on hand to offer their thoughts. The goal of Masters Matters is to bring together members of our community in the spirit of exploration and brainstorming to support the mission and beliefs of The Masters School. “We can’t help but create,” noted Mr. Apkon. “It’s our legacy as humans. We are meaning makers.” To foster creativity, we need to provide tools and opportunities and create a culture where things are not only done one way. “To teach creativity, we need to get out of the way,” he added. “We need to redefine the creative ways we process information.”
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Peter Gelb P’08, Director of the
Steve Apkon P’17, Founder of The Jacob
Metropolitan Opera.
Burns Film Center.
Great Accomplishments!
Upper School Dobbs 16 was selected to participate in the Semifinals of the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) competition, which took place on February 7, in Plymouth, MA. The group was chosen from hundreds of applicants. Kudos to musician Julius Rodriguez ’16, who performed at Lincoln Center on October 4! Daniel Bring ’17 received a Silver Key award in the 2014 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program for his work of short fiction titled The Product. In the last five years, students in grades 7-12 submitted nearly 900,000 original works to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Writopia Lab is a national community of young writers that sponsors a select number of plays to be produced at an Off-Broadway theater each year using Actor’s Equity actors and directors. Only 40 productions are selected and receive funding from David Letterman’s foundation, Worldwide Pants. This year a play by Daniel M. Bring ’17 titled Waiting for Life was selected for production. Tony Zhang ’17, Elliot Liu ’15 and Iris Ye ’17 earned perfect scores during round one of The New
York Math League competition on October 14. Hundreds of students from more than 200 schools in the State of New York gathered at their respective schools to compete in this round of competition. Han Lu ’15 and Hailey Payea ’15, co-presidents of the Debate Club, represented The Masters School at the Yale, Brown, Princeton Debate at Hackley School in November. They took the “pro” position in debating the question: “Should the voting age be reduced from 18 to 16?” Eight teams participated and were coached by students from the three universities. William Tkacs ’16 took the bronze medal at the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) 2014 NYC competition in November. NAGA is the largest submission grappling association in the world, with more than 200,000 participants worldwide. Will has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since middle school.
Middle School
Faculty
Timothy Borowiec ’20 (first row, far left) appeared in a film titled Greenhorn, which was filmed in Manhattan over the course of three days. It is a true Holocaust-related story about a young Polish boy who comes to Brooklyn in 1946 to live in a yeshiva and how he makes friends there. The film also addresses the themes of bullying and stuttering. It premiered in Los Angeles in September and made its New York City premiere on October 23 at The Museum of Tolerance.
Kudos to Middle School Athletic Coordinator Sue Greally on running the New York Marathon on November 2. She had a time of three hours, 43 minutes. Awesome! Congratulations to classical languages teacher Jonathan Karpinos and his wife, Leah, on the birth of their daughter, Mandalay Louise Gotcski Karpinos. She joins big brother James Henry! Congratulations to Gwendolyn Bradley, a member of the Music Department’s private lesson voice faculty, who was honored at the 80th Annual Metropolitan Opera Guild luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria on November 21. Ms. Bradley was among the honored guests (including Governor Cuomo, Tyne Daly, Kurt Masur, Deborah Voigt, and others) who joined the Met in a tribute to the legendary soprano Jessye Norman.
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AUTHORS’ CORNER
The Train to Warsaw
Matterness: What Fearless Leaders Know About the Power and Promise of Social Media
By Gwen Edelman ’67 Published by Grove Press ISBN: 978-0-8021-2244-5 2014 “Jascha and Lilka escape separately from the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. Reunited years later, they live in London where Jascha has become a celebrated writer, feted for his dark tales about his wartime adventures. One day, forty years after the war, Jascha receives a letter inviting him to give a reading in Warsaw. He tells Lilka that nothing remains of the city they knew; she is nostalgic for the city of her childhood. Traveling by train through a frozen December landscape, they return to the city of their past. When they unwittingly find themselves back in what was once the ghetto, they will discover that there are still secrets between them.” Alumna “Gwen Edelman’s first novel, War Story, was translated into eight languages, won the Prix du Premier Roman Erranger in France, and was a Koret Jewish Book Award finalist.” –From the book jacket
Published by Allison Fine Publishing ISBN-13: 978-0990577713 November 2014 “The threat of a connected world creates a deep-in-the-gut fear for many leaders. The Internet and especially social media shout: Danger! Personal lives, careers, businesses, and organizations are all at risk of damage so overwhelming it doesn’t even have a name. Fear of losing control over every little detail prevents attention to details that do matter. Meanwhile precious energy is lost protecting yourself and your organization from change that’s not fully understood or appreciated.” Matterness, written by Masters parent Allison Fine P’19, “explains that we don’t need better people; we need better leaders who focus on what matters. When people matter the most, the priorities change. We begin to see our organizations from the outside in, listen to suggestions and ideas, and work with other people and organizations.” –Excerpted from the author’s materials
Honor Our Shared Connection to
The Masters School! “I volunteered to be Annual Fund Chair and I continue to donate to the Annual Fund each year because I want to give others the opportunity to experience a Masters education. As alumnae/i, we continue our relationship with our alma mater through our collective support of the School.”
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To make a gift to this year’s Annual Fund, please visit www.mastersny.org/makeagift or return the enclosed envelope. Questions? Call 914-479-6433
Alumnae/i Annual Fund Chair, Bobbie Celentano Leek ’68 P’01, ’03
ALUMNAE/I UPDATE
In Memoriam Elizabeth Palmer ’31 1913-2014 Visionary Leader of World YWCA Elizabeth Palmer, a member of The Masters School Class of 1931 and a World YMCA leader and advocate for gender and racial equality, died on October 4, 2014, at the age of 101. A native New Yorker, Ms. Palmer spent four years as a boarding student at The Masters School, living in Windybrow. After graduation, she studied for a year in Florence, Italy, and then attended Columbia University, Barnard Teachers College and Union Theological Seminary, where she earned a degree in education.
Elizabeth Palmer ’31.
After her early experiences at YWCA summer camps, Ms. Palmer began her career with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in 1935 at the Central Branch in New York City, working with industrial workers and a large program for unemployed girls. In 1942, she was “loaned” to the YWCA of Great Britain, traveling across the Atlantic in a troopship to become the General Secretary of the Manchester “Y.” She joined the staff of the World YWCA in 1945, working with the YWCAs in France and Belgium. She continued to move ahead within the organization and was appointed World YWCA Secretary for South East Asia in 1947, returning to the World Office in Geneva in 1952 as Secretary for Interpretation and Finance. In 1955, she was appointed World YWCA General Secretary (CEO), a position she held until her retirement in 1978. “Throughout these years, Ms. Palmer was actively advocating for the United Nations to pass the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,” stated an article by the YWCA after her death. “That convention was finally adopted by the General Assembly in 1979 and the Secretary-General presented the text of the Convention to the mid-decade World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women in Copenhagen, Denmark,
in 1980. Elizabeth Palmer chaired the NGO Forum at the Second UN World Women’s Conference in Copenhagen with 8,000 women from all over the world in attendance.” At the YWCA and throughout the world, Ms. Palmer was recognized for her strong leadership, advocacy of women’s rights, emphasis on human rights, and for connecting global issues with local work. She was instrumental in the expansion of YWCAs in Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. She also challenged members to think in world terms, imploring them to make connections between such events as famine in Ethiopia and how they used their own food resources. After her participation in 1951 at the UN Commission on Women, Ms. Palmer wrote to YWCA attendees at a training session in India, “When such things as the Civil Rights of Women and Citizenship Education were discussed, I thought frequently of many of you and the work you are doing in your own countries. The experience of attending that meeting only served to make clearer to me, it is really the work at the local and national level that gives meaning to our consultative relationship with the United Nations. The World’s YWCA can speak with authority only when it can speak out of the experience and thinking of our associations around
the world.” Six years ago, in discussing The Masters School, she was pleased with the important role of international students within the community and noted that we are all part of “one world.” Ms. Palmer thought the School was in great shape and was happy that it was “almost as good as when she was here.” Tributes to Elizabeth Palmer from all over the world flooded into the YWCA following her death in October. As Dara Richardson-Herron, CEO of the YWCA USA, wrote, “Her inspiring words and her passion for preparing young women to take the highest positions of power in our movement and country will be honored through the continued work of our volunteers and staff worldwide. She helped to build a more just and peaceful world for girls and women everywhere.”
Elizabeth Palmer (second row, third from left) with fellow classmates.
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ALUMNAE/I UPDATE
Reunion 2015: Greet the Award Winners THE RICHMOND BOWL
ANNA HOWE FACULTY AWARD
Susan “Spark” Cecilia Nauck, a Cremin ’65 is this member of the Math year’s recipient of the Department from Richmond Bowl, 1977 to 1998, is this which was created to year’s recipient of the honor the late Nell Anna Howe Faculty Angle Richmond ’34 Award. The award and Tom Richmond. It recognizes an is presented each year outstanding current to an alumna/us whose or former faculty exceptional support of member who has and service to The Masters School reflects the shaped and changed the lives of students in a same outstanding quality of creative leadership positive way. It is presented to a teacher who demonstrated by the Richmond family. has not only excelled in the classroom, but who, through guidance, encouragement and Spark served on the Board of Trustees from support, has also made a meaningful 1992 to 2013, and over the years was a difference to the students. member of the Finance Committee, Audit Committee, Committee on Trustees, Executive Cecilia initially taught math for one semester Committee, Compensation Committee, and in 1969, and then returned to Dobbs in Head of School Search Committee. 1977 after she, her husband and two children relocated from St. Paul, MN, to “I learned at Dobbs that I could accomplish New York. Endlessly patient and things on my own, away from home, apart encouraging, Cecilia exhibited exemplary from my family. In a certain way, I became devotion to her students and advisees, myself,” says Spark. She went on to earn regularly giving countless extra hours of degrees at Vassar College and Northwestern her own time to help students after school. Law School. Cecilia witnessed many changes at Masters during her tenure, from the arrival of the first Spark joined Winston & Strawn, a large computer on campus to the creation of the Chicago-based international law firm, after Middle School and the introduction of graduating from law school. She became an coeducation in the mid-1990s. Cecilia’s equity partner in the firm, and for 25 years specialized in complex securities and financial contributions through the years—to her students, to her colleagues, and to the transactions for public and privately held evolution of mathematics pedagogy at The companies. While engaged in this interesting School—were invaluable and left an indelible work, she says, she often thought of the mark on all who had the opportunity to rigorous, analytical Masters teachers who had work with her. She and her husband now encouraged her. live in Durham, NH. Spark has been involved with arts and cultural organizations in Chicago and is a former trustee of the Shedd Aquarium. She and her significant other, Paul Dykstra, also a lawyer in Chicago, are enthusiastic travelers and bicyclists. 22 | www.mastersny.org
ELIZA BAILEY MASTERS FELLOWSHIP AWARD Barbara Congdon Van Dusen ’45 is this year’s recipient of the Eliza Bailey Masters Fellowship Award, which honors an alumna/us who exemplifies Miss Masters’ philosophy through outstanding service to his or her community. The award recognizes a Masters School alumna/us for making a difference in his or her community and participating in community service projects — seeking a common good beyond personal comfort and influenced by her/his years at The Masters School. Barbara grew up in Duluth, MN, and now lives in Birmingham, MI. She earned a B.A. at Smith College and went on to teach English at Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, MI, from 1949 to 1950. She, her husband, Richard, and their three daughters moved from Michigan to Bethesda, MD, in 1969, when Richard was appointed Undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He served in that position until 1972. Over the years, Barbara became an active and committed volunteer for a variety of organizations, including arts, cultural, environmental, and wildlife conservation groups. Her volunteer roles ranged from English tutor to third graders in her community to board member. She has served on the board of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan since 1987, and was a board member and executive committee member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1973 to 2013. Moreover, she was named a “life member” of the Michigan chapter of the Nature Conservancy after serving as a board member from 1984 to 1997.
Reunion 2015 May 15-16 SAVE THE DATE Reunion 2016 May 20-21, 2016
Look for highlights in the fall 2015 issue of The Bulletin.
For more information about gift planning at Masters, or to receive our semi-annual newsletter, please contact: Erin Fredrick Assistant Director for Advancement 914-479-6575 erin.fredrick@mastersny.org
Leave a Legacy. Support the Next Generation. The Masters School awards over $5 million per year in financial aid, in order to provide a transformative education to our vibrant and inclusive learning community of intellectually curious and engaged students. Planned gifts to Masters take many forms, but each one changes lives. Some fund scholarships to help students afford a Masters education. Others provide faculty with essential funds for program and professional development. Planned gifts allow alumnae/i and others to remember and celebrate Dobbs in a meaningful way that may not be possible otherwise. Consider making Masters a priority in your gift planning. The Estherwood Society is an honorary group of alumnae/i, parents, and friends of Masters who have made future plans for the School through trust, estate, or other future gifts of any amount. Estherwood Society members leave a legacy that extends beyond our generation and provides security to The Masters School for the long term.
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SNAPSHOTS Epley Signs Intent to Play for Dartmouth >> Sam Epley, a senior at The Masters School, has signed a letter of intent to play squash for Dartmouth. He will compete on the university’s Division 1 team. Sam has received numerous accolades for his prowess on the squash courts. He was recently named to the United States National Squash Team. He represented the U.S. at the British Junior Open held in Sheffield, England in January. He was one of only four men representing Team USA. Earlier this year, Sam participated in the prestigious U.S. Junior Squash Championships, held in Princeton, NJ, where he received the William T. Ketcham, Jr. Award.
“On Location” Class Meets “Madame Secretary” >> “On Location,” The School’s new collaborative filmmaking course, was all set for an off-campus trip to film at historic Untermyer Park. The co-teachers had even secured an official filming permit from the city of Yonkers, NY. Then the teachers were contacted by the production office of CBS. The CBS production team was hoping to shoot for the network’s TV drama series “Madame Secretary” and asked if the class would be willing to change its date in exchange for an opportunity to visit and observe the professional shoot. A deal was made and students were given a tour of the on location shoot, an open forum to ask questions of the professionals, and access to craft services for lunch.
Dance Company Displays Talent Through Reflections >> The Masters Dance Company charmed audiences with its performances of Reflections - A look at life through dance on November 14-15 in the Claudia Boettcher Theatre. The program included works by student choreographers, as well as guest choreographers Melanie Rothenberg Pandit and Mishi Castroverde, along with The Masters School Director of Dance Mary Rotella.
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UPPER SCHOOL
Masters Sisters Visit for Founder’s Day >> The annual Delta-Phi tug of war capped off a fun-filled Founder’s Day on Friday, September 19. In recognition of the School’s founders, Miss Eliza Bailey Masters and her sister, Miss Sallie Masters, students, faculty, administrators and staff turned out in their red Phi or blue Delta shirts—accessorized with beads, paint and foam #1 fingers.
One highlight of the day was the appearance of Miss Masters (Head of School Maureen Fonseca) and her sister (faculty member Ellen Cowhey) dressed in period gowns and riding horses down to the Greene Family Field for the festivities. They were greeted by cheers from the students, who stopped to take “selfies” with these celebrities and then issued a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Fonseca for all that she has done for the School.
Laramie Project Taps into Theme of Diversity >> Upper School students, faculty and staff at The Masters School presented a moving performance of The Laramie Project in the Claudia Boettcher Theatre. The production was directed by the School’s new Drama and Dance Department Chair, Christopher Briante. The drama aligns with this year’s school-wide theme of diversity.
Family Weekend >>
Family Weekend proved to be the perfect time for students and families to gather on campus for activities ranging from sporting events and face painting to Convocation and advisor meetings. Highlights included a meeting with college counseling guru Jacques Steinberg; a moving keynote address by Dr. Amanda Kemp ’84 at Convocation; face painting, cotton candy, Dobbs Blond Brownies and giveaways at the Parent Association hospitality tent; exciting sports competitions; a special tailgate luncheon; and much more.
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SNAPSHOTS Students Re-enact Immigrant Experience >> Seventh grade students dressed up in costumes and portrayed immigrants during the Middle School’s annual Ellis Island Re-enactment in November. Teachers, in turn, dressed as immigration officials and inspectors, questioning students and leading them through various “stations” as they made their way through the harrowing process of being admitted to the United States.
Students Meet Exploration Week Challenges >>
Seventh graders participated in an “Exploration Week” of activities last fall as an introduction to their interdisciplinary units on diversity and multiculturalism. Students formed teams to take on challenges given to them by their teachers. With a goal of developing group communication and collaboration skills, the “exploration” teams gained points by solving research “quests,” racing across fields, crossing an “acid swamp,” and creating team banners and cheers. The culminating activities tested their skills by requiring the completion of a scavenger hunt and a survival afternoon of building a basket, fire, and shelter from scratch.
Each student carried his/her worldly possessions in a small box or suitcase. They were required to meet as “families” with various officials for an (imaginary) health check, discussion of work potential, planned living arrangements, etc.— just as immigrants had to do when passing through Ellis Island. Students were eventually “admitted” to the U.S. during a special ceremony.
Preludes Regale Audience with Rousing Show Tunes >> Under the direction Katie Meadows and Janie Wallace, The Preludes Middle School Musical Troupe sang and danced their way through a series of rousing show tunes during two performances in November. The program opened with “King of New York” from Newsies. The Fifth Grade Ensemble performed “Under the Bamboo Tree” from Meet Me in St. Louis, followed by the Sixth Grade Ensemble with “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” from The Aristocats. The Ensemble sang “Happiness” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The Seventh Grade Ensemble treated the audience to a great performance of “We Go Together” from Grease, while the Eighth Grade Ensemble performed “Heart and Music” from A New Brain. The show closed with “Freak Flag” from Shrek.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grandparents Go Back to School! >>
Grandparents and Special Friends Day attracted a standing room-only crowd for a wonderful morning of breakfast, music, classroom visits and a talent show on November 21. The event opened with welcome remarks, followed by a performance by the Middle School musical theatre troupe, The Preludes.
Fifth Grade Delves into Ancient Culture >> Fifth grade
Grandparents, special friends and grandchildren then reported to classes for a funfilled morning of learning, as well as meeting friends and faculty. Everyone participated in classroom activities and discussions, including math, humanities, art, and science lessons. Students especially enjoyed helping their grandparents solve the math problems!
students traveled to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in October to visit the Egyptian halls. Their research at the museum marked the beginning of a yearlong interdisciplinary project. In May, they will present original puppet operas that take place in ancient Egypt. Their creative adventure is a collaborative effort involving all their subjects and teachers.
ALL SCHOOL
Campus News Travels to China >> Board Chair Tracy Tang Limpe ’80, P’18 shared The Masters School story on an international scale during a dinner reception in Beijing, China. A group of 20 parents of Chinese students currently enrolled at The Masters School gathered at the China World Summit Wing for a presentation and dinner hosted by Trustee Shan Zhu P’16 (second row, fourth from left) and his wife, Li Jiang. Shelley Fu P’16 served as the translator and Master of Ceremonies for the event. The audience was treated to two Masters School videos, as well as information about campus news and developments. Board Chair Tracy Tang Limpe ’80, P’18 (sixth from left) discussed The School with current parents at a dinner reception in Beijing, China. the bulletin | spring 2015 | 27
Deaths 1931
Mary Constantine Lamkin of Birmingham, AL on August 3, 2014
1948
Ann Willrich Funk of Santa Barbara, CA on February 2, 2015
1931
Elizabeth Palmer of Claremont, CA on October 4, 2014
1950
Peggy O’Hearn Denby of Boca Grande, FL on December 23, 2014
1934
Joan Dowsett Osborne of Honolulu, HI on July 20, 2014
1951
Sallee Baker Jenkins of Palm City, FL on September 7, 2014
1934
Eleanor Clark Purnell of Church Hill, MD on November 13, 2014
1951
Lillian Prince Margolis of Boston, MA on November 2, 2014
1936
Violet Heath Wellington of Westwood, MA on February 8, 2014
1951
Pauline Haebler Van Dyke of Milwaukee, WI on August 17, 2014
1937
Elizabeth Smith Sanford of Vero Beach, FL on January 24, 2015
1952
Margaret Hall Coffey of Vero Beach, FL on November 2, 2014
1937
Caroline Gatch Upthegrove of Saint Louis, MO on September 2, 2014
1954
Elizabeth Mayer of Bennington, VT on December 8, 2009
1939
Elizabeth Berryman Puckhafer of Colchester, VT in November 2014
1954
Lael F. Scott of New York, NY on April 24, 2014
1939
Annette Reynolds Ramsing of Palm Beach, FL on July 21, 2014
1956
Janet Grout Williams of Franconia, NH
1942
Suzanne Warner Kenly of Winnetka, IL on August 13, 2014
1944
Elizabeth Brown Powers of Astoria, OR on August 30, 2014
1944
Anne McBride Simons of Seattle, WA on January 15, 2015
1945
Lucia Ewing of Henniker, NH on April 9, 2014
1945
Virginia Wagner Weyerhaeuser of Lakewood, WA on September 11, 2014
1947
Constance Reeb Breu of Rochester, VT on February 26, 2015
1947
Anne Vaughn Groner Spilsbury of Huntington, NY on July 2, 2012
1948
Anne Hawkins Gatti of Tampa, FL on December 27, 2014
1948
Mary Dillon Edmondson of Westood, MA on July 29, 2009
Former Faculty and Staff Ann Emerson of Groton, MA on August 26, 2014 Michael Sciarra of Millbrook, NY on December 14, 2014 Susan Steen of Greenwich, CT on November 10, 2014 Winston Case Wright on October 29, 2014
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T H E
B U L L E T I N
s p r i n g
2 0 1 5
Maureen Fonseca, Ph.D. Head of School maureen.fonseca@mastersny.org COMMUNICATIONS Bob Horne Director of Marketing & Communications and The Bulletin Editor bob.horne@mastersny.org Aisha Mohammed Digital Media Coordinator aisha.mohammed@mastersny.org Janice Leary Assistant Director of Communications janice.leary@mastersny.org ADVANCEMENT Timothy Kane Associate Head of School for Institutional Advancement tim.kane@mastersny.org Angelique Chielli Associate Director of Alumnae/i and Parent Relations angelique.chielli@mastersny.org Judy Donald Development Associate judy.donald@mastersny.org Erin Fredrick Associate Director of Institutional Advancement Major Gifts Officer erin.fredrick@mastersny.org Rosaria Golden Campaign & Special Projects Manager rosaria.golden@mastersny.org Lisa Nussbaum Campus Store Manager lisa.nussbaum@mastersny.org Maryann Perrotta Database Administrator maryann.perrotta@mastersny.org Mary Ryan ’00 Director of Annual Giving mary.ryan@mastersny.org Amie Servino ’95 Director of Alumnae/i and Parent Relations amie.servino@mastersny.org Photography: Bob Cornigans, Bob Horne, Anne Marie Leone, Michael Polito, Bruce Robbins, Debbie Shure P’07. Design: White Communications, Inc. Printing: Puritan Capital
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leadership 2014-2015 Head of School
Dobbs Alumnae/i Association
Maureen Fonseca, Ph.D.
Board of Directors
Board of Trustees Tracy Tang Limpe ’80, P’18, Chair Ralph Rosenberg P’13, ’15, ’16, ’19 Vice Chair Beth Nolan ’69, Secretary Stephan Feder P’15, ’19, Treasurer Edith C. Chapin ’83 Jonathan Clay P’19 Karen Feinberg Dorsey ’84, Alumnae/i Association President Maureen Fonseca P’05, ’08 Michael Greene P’10, ’13 Elise Funke Griffin ’47 Alexandra Herzan P’13 Sheree Holliday P’16, ’20 Clay Lifflander P’14, ’16 Sydney Shafroth Macy ’70 Edgar M. Masters H’98, Life Trustee Keryn Norton Mathas P’19, ’22 Mindy Meads P’11 J. Keith Morgan P’17 Susan Follett Morris ’57, Life Trustee Christine Grim Neikirk ’84 Suzanne Paxton ’88 Janet Pietsch P’09, ’20 Parent Association President Penney Riegelman Lynn Pilzer Sobel ’71, P’99, ’05 Diana Davis Spencer ’56, P’84 Shan Zhu P’16 Honorary Trustees Marin Alsop ’73 Cynthia Ferris Casner ’52, P’76, ’86 Lilian Hall Fisher ’37, H’65, P’60, ’65, ’72 GGP’15 Jeannette Sanford Fowlkes ’58, P’87 Ruth Mitchell Freeman ’51 Helen Fisher Grim ’53, P’84 Nancy Maginnes Kissinger ’51 Claudia Boettcher Merthan ’51
Karen Feinberg Dorsey ’84, President David Heidelberger ’01, Vice President Sujata Adamson-Mohan ’01, Recording Secretary Sharon Nechis Castillo ’84 Linda Vipond Heath ’69 Priscilla Franklin Hindley ’66 Lusyd Doolittle Kourides ’70 Evan Leek ’01 John McGovern ’07 Ricardo Oelkers ’03 Mary M. Ryan ’00 Jennifer Zimmermann ’89 Amie Servino ’95, Director of Alumnae/i and Parent Relations Angelique Chielli, Associate Director of Alumnae/i and Parent Relations Parent Association Officers Janet Pietsch P’09, ’20 Kristy Fitzgerald P’16, ’18 Janice Woodward P’11, ’15 Janet Sikirica P’19 Anita Tartt-Stewart P’19 Sonia Levethan P’15 Amie Servino ’95, Director of Alumnae/i and Parent Relations Angelique Chielli, Associate Director of Alumnae/i and Parent Relations
Laura Davis Danforth Named Head of School AFTER A YEAR-LONG GLOBAL SEARCH PROCESS, LAURA DAVIS DANFORTH WAS APPOINTED, BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AS OUR NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL. Laura will bring extensive experience as an educator, administrator and leader to The Masters School when she joins our community on July 1, 2015. She has been a teacher, a counselor, a dean, a coach, and a dorm parent over the course of her 30-year career in independent schools. Laura is currently Principal of the Upper School at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in Riverdale, NY, a position she has held since 2012. She received her B.A. from ColbySawyer College in New Hampshire, where she was a three-season athlete for four years and also served as student body president. Her first role in education was in Admissions at Tabor Academy. After earning a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University, she became Director of Counseling at St. Paul’s School. She moved on to more senior roles in counseling and a series of other higher-level positions, including Dean of Students at the Ethel Walker School; Dean of Faculty at Suffield Academy; and Associate
Head of School at Miss Porter’s School, a position she held for nine years. Laura’s values align remarkably well with those of Masters and her experience at both boarding and day schools has given her a strong appreciation of the importance of community. Moreover, she holds strong beliefs about the power of an education to transform students’ lives. “It’s not just about learning facts and figures, obviously, but about learning to learn,” she says. “Learning to listen. Learning to put one’s thoughts, questions, and principles into words and action.” Laura, her spouse, Paula, and their family are excited about joining the Masters community. For more insights about Laura, her thoughts on education and her priorities as our new Head of School, look to future issues of The Bulletin.
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49 Clinton Avenue | Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522-2201
Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Nashua, NH Permit No. 375
Creative Alums Share Talent with the School Campus buildings are beginning to blossom with artwork and photos created by talented alumnae/i, students, faculty and staff. Shown above is an image by Louise Millholland Cecil ’57, co-author with Kathy Scalzo of Out on a Limb, a book that features magnificent photos of trees and nature. Other images gracing the halls include one from Africa by Alison Jones ’67, Founder of No Water No Life, and a photo of Marin Alsop ’73, conducting the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.