Oldfields FALL 2020
A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER
M A G A Z I N E
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2020-2021 Chair Nancy Palmer P’12 Vice-Chair Carol Hubbell Engebretson ’72 Secretary Elizabeth “Biddie” Labrot ’76 Treasurer Scott S. Menzies P’03 Marney Babbitt-Pierce ’04 Jennevee Frias Crespo ’01 Peter G. Curran Richard C. Darrell P’06 Heidi A. duPont ’95 R. Augustus Edwards III P’95, ’98 Jamila Hubbard ’11 Lulu Laubenstein Good ’72, Alumnae Association President Susan Andrews Leschen ’87 Elizabeth Turner Love ’90 P’20 Dominique Young Mejia ’04 David G. Perfield, Head of School Susan Sillcox Repko ’72 Gay Richardson Smith ’68 Rayven Vinson ’10 Ramsay M. Whitworth P’19
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE STAFF Alicia Bowers P’17, Editor Brian Vinyard, Creative Director Photography: Alicia Bowers P’17, Brian Vinyard, Erin Wallace Contributors: Alicia Bowers P’17, Joan Carter ’81 P’15, David G. Perfield, Anne Ragland Finney P’97, Brianna Ginyard ’22, Reiva Kibbee-Alleyne, Pamela Susi P’22, Bez Wallace, Erin Wallace, Shawn Wright ©2020 by Oldfields School. Oldfields Magazine is published twice a year by Oldfields School. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Oldfields is a private, nonprofit, educational corporation. Oldfields is an organization described in section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all contributions to Oldfields are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Correspondence for Oldfields School should be addressed to: Oldfields School, 1500 Glencoe Road, Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152-9321.
Note from the Editor: We hope you enjoy our unique magazine during this unique year! Due to COVID-19 interrupting our 2019-2020 school year, the Oldfields Summer Magazine was postponed. It was decided to combine the summer and fall editions into one spectacular issue to make sure we honored the Class of 2020 (see back cover) and kicked off the 2020-2021 school year in the manner that both deserved! We hope you enjoy both sections of this extra-special Oldfields Magazine.
photo by Nadya Firor ’22
I N T HIS ISSUE Introducing Brianna ’22
Fall 2020
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Message from Head of School
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BLACK 19
A School Year Like No Other
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Class Notes
Tammis Day Foundation $5 Million Gift
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Off to College!
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All Aboard
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Awards 2020-2021
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Oldfields Icons
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Summer 2020
Welcome New Trustees 10 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 14 Reopen/Stay Open
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A MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL DAVID G. PERFIELD Dear Oldfields Community,
Each day, I am encouraged as I see our students and faculty demonstrate they “can.” The health and safety protocols that we have all adjusted to have been challenging at times, but they are working. There will be additional challenges ahead, but together we can achieve our shared goal of maintaining an in-person experience for our students through the 2020-2021 school year. The Oldfields experience is delivered best when our students and faculty are together, and you’ll enjoy reading about our “new” experiences on campus in the pages that follow.
Unpredictability is a guarantee. The “predictably unpredictable” theme I first wrote about in January 2020 continues, but now it feels a bit more uncertain. Here at Oldfields, we are fortunate to maintain our in-person and on-campus status at this point in the first semester. The ebb and flow of the School calendar looks slightly different through the lens of a pandemic, and it’s a constant reminder that it’s impossible to predict the future. Despite the uncertainty that the pandemic has caused, you can hear our students and faculty routinely My favorite moments “The lunch bunch” (from front to back: Maizi Johnson ’22, Casey Dowling ’25, Madi Geidel ’22, Stephanie Ryland ’24, and Cameron identify the silver linings that throughout each day are when I Marshall ’24) has made the Commons Lawn their go-to spot for lunch, exist from being together—the sunshine, and conversation. recognize how we have benefited things that remind us all why from the challenges COVID-19 the Oldfields experience is special. has presented us. Our commitment to community feels stronger—and we are finding creative ways to enhance Over the past several months, especially during the intensity the feeling of home for our girls while they are here. As an of planning for the reopening of school, I routinely found educator, I love when I hear students laughing with one myself reminding colleagues that we needed to establish a another, and I feel joy when our entire community comes sustainable pace and model healthy and balanced living for together for celebrations. Whether in large or small groups, our students each day—and to engage more fully in last year’s the culture we all appreciate at Oldfields strengthens when we theme of mind, body, and school spirit. nurture relationships and prioritize togetherness. The girls, I do my best to lead by example, being more deliberate since even those new to us this year, like Maizi ’22, feel the power early summer to establish a positive mindset that carries me of this experience as she shares below: through the day, whether that be during an early morning You get a strong sense of the community being here on run, sifting through my pile of recommended articles on campus. It makes us feel connected and less alone because current events, having breakfast at home with Anna and Lexi, we are doing this together. You can actually engage in your or taking a walk through Rodney Academic Hall to connect classes—which is especially important in a science class. I with students and faculty. As I reminded colleagues during am taking biology with Ms. Montgomery and love being our opening meetings, there is much we cannot control, but able to have this class in person. Being here on campus as a we can control our attitude and our effort. And, as Henry new student has been so great. I have made new friends and Ford shared, “Whether you think you can, or you think you really gotten to know Oldfields. We can enjoy life together. can't—you're right.” 2
– Maizi Johnson ’22 OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
Similar to many other private, independent schools throughout the country, Oldfields is facing another pandemic and its consequences. Systemic racism and social injustice continues to plague our nation—and the world. While the health and safety of our community is a top priority, our School culture is equally important. Oldfields should always be a place that feels warm, welcoming, respectful, accepting, and inclusive of all who step foot on campus. This spring, the voices of our alumnae helped us understand—more so than ever before—how this has not always been the case for all students at Oldfields—and particularly not for many students of color. As a result of listening, learning, and making a purposeful commitment to improving the Oldfields experience for all of our students, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan was created. Since sharing our DEI Action Plan in early July, and in line with articles you’ll find in this magazine, we can report real progress on key elements of the outlined initiatives. In partnership with faculty, staff, and administrators, the Board of Trustees at Oldfields School has made this important work an immediate priority. As of October, we have welcomed four new trustees, each bringing critical expertise and new perspectives that will strengthen the Board, and help Oldfields address many of the issues that are mentioned in the stories shared by these Black alumnae (pp. 10-12) and echoed by a current Black student's perspective (pp. 16-17).
At Oldfields, we value all of the voices and viewpoints our community members share, especially our students. When a girl starts her Oldfields journey, we believe in her. When a girl finishes that journey, she believes in herself. Our job is to support and guide her through the necessary ups and downs that provide growth, confidence, and leadership. We also have a responsibility to ensure our students are heard. No matter the topic or differing opinions, humanity will always be at the center of what we do—and we will always strive to empower each and every one of our girls! As we all navigate the final months of 2020, I wish you a safe and healthy fall and winter season. Most of all, I hope 2021 brings brighter days for all of us. I will continue to ask for your help in serving as an ambassador for Oldfields. Sharing your Oldfields story with a neighbor, a colleague, or a friend might open a door for someone who needs a place to live, learn, and grow in a school that feels like home. With Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart,
David G. Perfield P’29, ’31 Head of School
Through the lens I have as Head of School, I recognize we have caused harm to the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) members of the Oldfields community, and we have significant work to do in order to combat systemic racism on campus. Moreover, I would like to publicly and sincerely apologize for the harm and hurt you or one of your classmates may have experienced under our School’s care. It’s too early to applaud the commitment our community has made to ensure the experience of all of our students is better—and most importantly, safer. As we all know, our actions will speak louder than our words, and time will tell a new story for Oldfields. We are stronger as a school because of our diversity, and we must match this commitment to diversity with an emphasis on inclusion that ensures that each of our students, faculty, and staff feel welcomed and encouraged to bring their full selves to our campus. On behalf of my colleagues, I ask that you stand with us, our alumnae, and our community members worldwide. Oldfields will stand strong as an antiracist and anti-discriminatory educational institution. SUMMER/FALL 2020
The Perfield family: Lisa, David, Lexi, and Anna 3
A School Year Like No Other Lessons in Resilience, Flexibility, Creativity, and Connection By Alicia Bowers P'17, Director of Marketing and Communications
Who could have predicted the challenges that 2020 would bring to Oldfields’ doorstep? No amount of planning could have prepared us for the obstacles that are now an integral part of our daily lives. However, a school does not survive for over 153 years without learning a thing or two. The same qualities that served us in difficult times past are still in our toolbox, and we continue to strengthen them with use: flexibility, resilience, creativity, and most importantly, profound connection. These virtues have us off to a great start in the 2020-2021 school year, as we deliver our Oldfields Experience to yet another group of young women on their way to becoming tomorrow’s leaders!
The life-size senior cutouts walked to the podium for awards and down Graduation Hill by faculty and staff were a stroke of genius. No, it was not the same as the real thing, but the Zoom Graduation still had the magic of Oldfields as families gathered around their screens all over the world to laugh, cry, and celebrate together. A collective sigh of relief was heard as we wrapped up the 20192020 school year, with all our seniors graduating and our students
Pivot to Remote Community In March of 2020, no one dreamed that when our girls left for Spring Break they would not be returning to us to complete the school year. Things moved quickly, but our faculty and staff pivoted to remote learning with admirable positivity and flexibility. Within weeks, teachers and advisors were finding creative ways to stay engaged over Zoom. Our faculty capitalized on their relationships and introduced an impressive array of virtual guest speakers including alumna and refugee officer for the Department of Homeland Security, Jacquette McGhee ’98. She captivated the students with her worldwide travels interviewing people seeking asylum. Other incredible virtual speakers included brought world-renowned equestrian clinicians and Olympians delivered right to our students’ laptops, including Olympic show-jumping gold medalist Melanie Smith Taylor. A virtual visit from a zoo keeper who rescues alligators was another highlight. If you had the chance to participate in or view the Senior Awards Ceremony or Graduation, you saw just how creative Oldfields can be! 4
Head of School David Perfield presents the 2020 May Court: Fern Peva ’20, Claire Webne ’20, Ashley Glezer ’20, and Claire Chao ’20
safely with parents and guardians. However, this was only the beginning, and we were about to be tested to see just how resilient we were as we immediately had to bounce back and start with plans A, B, C, D, and E for Fall 2020. OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
The Girls are Back! August 22, 2020, was a fantastic day, as our students returned to campus! With incredible amounts of work by all (including the COVID-19 task forces), and a bit of luck, Oldfields was able to open for in-person learning.
Having meals together is also an essential part of the experience at Oldfields. The dining hall operation had to undergo significant changes, scheduling cohort lunch groups so that smaller numbers are together at any given time. Plexiglass shields were installed on all the tables, and all-community meals are on Commons Lawn as often as possible. Of course, the girls find a way to be together and can often be seen taking a plate and sitting outside at a safe distance. The girls value their relationships even more now and spend a lot more time outdoors! Keeping traditions alive is also important to our connection. Morning Meeting isn’t quite the same via Zoom, but with each passing week, the students get more comfortable making announcements, sharing weekend highlights, and participating in “Gratitude Wednesday.” We hold Morning Meeting outside as often as possible, just like the old days!
Anise Forsythe ’24, Ashling O’Callaghan ’24, and Vivian Young ’22 walk to class on a yellow mask Monday.
Oldfields’ intentionally small size, combined with our rural 140acre campus, gave us the ideal environment to safely open. The learning curve was steep as we educated ourselves in the state, local, and CDC guidelines. We put in place health and safety protocols that included health screening software, guidelines for PPE use, protective plexiglass shielding, campus signage on physical distancing, hand sanitizing stations, traffic flow, reconfigured classroom seating, and developed contact tracing protocols. The result was a comprehensive reopening plan that accommodated boarding and day students and faculty. “ My daughter loves going to Oldfields and I am so grateful! I have seen her confidence growing already. She goes in early to have breakfast and stays late for dinner. This school has given her a safe haven, a place she feels comfortable. It's great that she can be around the other kids every day.” - Toni Marshall P'24
Building Connection So how do girls bond and create relationships in a situation that demands separateness? Once again, the creative ideas flowed. It began with Oldfields “built-in-family”—Advisory. Advisors greeted our new students and got their groups together even before the school year started. By the time the girls arrived, the bonds were already growing, and they began with Zoom meetings 2-3 times a week for 35 minutes as well as with one-on-one meetings between advisor and advisee. We were soon able to move into in-person groups and continue traditions like At-Home Night with a few adjustments. “ I love being back on campus. My grades are better when I am at School. I can focus and get the support I need. The faculty is like a second family to me. I also can run my club, Dubious, and sing in a group setting. That’s nearly impossible to do over Zoom!” - Merritt Connor ’23 SUMMER/FALL 2020
Beautiful fall weather brings the full community to the Rodney quad for Morning Meeting.
Our beloved Green and White Night continued, of course! Returning students adorned themselves in bright team colors and costumes and decorated the venue with streamers, balloons, and posters, while new students and faculty practiced the School song. Traditionally, Green and White Night has been held in the gymnasium, but this year, to provide more space, the event was moved to the Indoor Riding Arena. Rivaling chalk art and festive tiki torches led the way up the hill, and the atmosphere felt electric.
Tigers and Dragons show their spirit during this year’s Green and White Night.
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Athletic Director Gaby Davis, along with our Captains and Spirits, shared the good news with each new girl as to what team they were going to be on for their years at Oldfields and beyond! They were all smiles as the anticipated question of “Tiger or Dragon” had been finally answered. Yes, it was different, but the magic was the same as ever.
Academics Flexibility has been the theme so far this year for students and faculty. We have adjusted to desks spaced at least six feet apart, wearing masks during classroom discussions, and having students participate in activities both in-person and virtually through new classroom technology. We feel fortunate to be one of the few schools that reopened at the usual time offering on-campus classes that remain personalized, challenging, and engaging.
“ Classes are going great. In my 12th grade Honors English, I have two international students who Zoom in each day. The girls here on campus love seeing them and being in class together. The international girls, Annie and Laura, appear on my tablet, named “Roberta” (Berta for short), and “she” visits a different desk each class. Annie and Laura are 12 hours ahead of us, so it’s super late at night for them, yet these seven girls are really enjoying this opportunity to be together and work on assignments.” - Rebecca Bloom, Humanities Department Chair Our intentionally small class sizes and spacious classrooms allow us to have students on campus and still meet health and safety guidelines, but this year teachers are enjoying (even more than usual) utilizing our gorgeous outdoor spaces at every opportunity. It is common to see Ms. Wright’s Theatre class doing comedy improv in the Rodney Quad, Mrs. Reigner’s Ceramics II class searching for leaves around campus for their leaf bowl project, or Mr. Shelton’s Environmental Honors class examining biotic and abiotic factors in the ecosystem of the stream running along Glencoe Road in front of the School. The world is the classroom at Oldfields!
Athletics and Activities After-school athletics and activities are in full swing, stretch, and stride knowing that at this particular time it is exceptionally important to keep our girls moving. With the IAAM conference opting to cancel competitive sports for the fall season, Director of Athletics Gaby Davis and her coaches got creative. Mr. Shelton’s AP Environmental Science students study ecosystems along the edge of campus.
Offering the Oldfields experience on campus has been and will continue to be our focus, but the School also offers synchronous and asynchronous remote learning options for students as needed. We opened the year with 94% of our students on an in-person learning plan. Five students (three international and two domestic) started the year on an extended remote learning plan with the goal of transitioning back to campus later in the year, in addition to 28 students utilizing remote learning at some point for a short period of time.
Peyton Snider ’22, Stephanie Ryland ’24, and Lillie Burbulis ’22 are crushing the challenging 5K course around campus.
This fall we have a multitude of offerings from which the girls can choose. Whether it is disc golf or meditation, soccer skills or fitness conditioning, each Oldfields student has the opportunity to participate in one of 16 different sports or activities from one week to the next. We are listening to our students as they share what they are interested in, with activities such as jewelry making being rotated into the mix. Outdoor field trips on weekends, like kayaking, supplement our after-school activities.
Reagan Lynch ’23 conducts an experiment in Chemistry class. 6
Whenever possible, weekend activities include community service activities such as harvesting food for the homeless at a local OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
(BIPOC), especially the Black members of our community. Our students and our alumnae were crying out to be heard and for significant change to occur. The voices shared in several of the articles in this magazine move us closer to understanding.
Enrollment Management and Admissions Under the leadership of Director of Enrollment Management Reiva Kibbee-Alleyne, 28 new students joined us this year, and Admissions has no sign of slowing down any time soon! The office pivoted to personalized virtual tours last spring with one-on-one meetings between prospective families and our faculty/staff continuing throughout the summer.
Girls enjoy a beautiful Saturday morning kayaking on the Upper Chesapeake Bay.
farm and creating care packages of toiletries to be distributed to families in need through local organizations. Helping others definitely helps keep our girls centered and feeling grateful. Of all the on-campus activities, riding and life at the barn is closest to normal. While competitions and shows are not taking place, 22 girls report to the barn every school day and lessons are continuing as usual. The weather has been ideal this fall for riding, and we are thankful to have our beautiful courtyard-style barn not only for the riders but for all the students to hang out and be with our wonderful four-legged friends.
Our Admission team grew with Mason Rooney joining in June 2020, serving as an Admission Counselor. Kathleen Wenck officially assumed the role of Director of Financial Aid in July 2020. With these new roles filled, Oldfields experienced our highest yield rate (accepted students who chose to enroll at Oldfields) since 2016. In addition, 43% of our students were awarded tuition assistance. Everyone agrees; it is a great group of girls who are happy to be at Oldfields. Given the fact many larger private and public schools have opted for remote learning, families are still exploring options to give their daughters the most rewarding high school experience possible, and the Admission Team is ready to help them explore the benefits of Oldfields. Referrals from friends and family continue to be a valuable way in which students find our School. Please continue to share your Oldfields experience with any young women you know who are looking for an exceptional high school experience, which is now more important than ever!
Vivian Young ’22 and Brooke Campbell ’23 are all smiles with their four-legged friends.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan
Resilience, by definition, is the ability to adapt in the face of difficulty, move forward, and ultimately grow from the experience. Resilience is not primarily something a person or an organization is born with, but rather something that is learned when failures and successes are experienced. One predictor of resilience includes being committed to a meaningful mission. Another is having a good support system. Oldfields has both of these covered! We look forward to facing this year like no other the same way we have every other—with the students at the center of all we do.
Do you know a future Oldfields girl?
In reality, as we face COVID-19 in 2020, we're also learning to confront a more long-standing pandemic: systemic racial injustice. One is new; the other has been present for centuries. Both are crippling our country and the world and threatening our future unless we take on the arduous and important work. In late May as protests and outrage exploded at the murder of George Floyd, Oldfields faced the challenge of keeping abreast of all that needed our attention in order to support our students, alumnae, faculty, and staff who are Black, indigenous, and people of color SUMMER/FALL 2020
Tell us about her! Visit www.OldfieldsSchool.org/Refer or call 443-662-1050. Our Admission team will do the rest.
Tammis Day Foundation $5 Million Gift! By Pamela J. Susi P’22, Director of Development, and Anne Ragland Finney P’97, Director of Stewardship
Oldfields’ alumnae are known for their Largeness of Heart, and no better example can be found than that of Tammis Day ’69. During her lifetime, Tammis was one of the School’s most ardent supporters. Recognizing that girls’ schools deserved substantial gifts as much as boys’ schools, her largesse made her Oldfields’ number one champion. She became the first multi-million dollar donor to Oldfields when she gave the funds to build Hook Day Hall, named for her brother, during the renovation of the existing academic building, Rodney Hall, in 1999-2000. She also named the new library for her mentor, former Headmaster George S. Neven, Jr. The complex, the Tammis Day Academic Center, is still the cornerstone of Oldfields’ academic program, where a new generation of Oldfields girls study and learn.
Tammis Day Foundation Executive Director Nila Rodriguez, Sydney Freiberg ’20, Rebekah Turner ’20, and Trustee Michelle Swindle
The Tammis Day Foundation was established following Tammis’ untimely death in 2016. The trustees of the Foundation are committed to honoring Tammis’ interests at organizations that were important to her during her lifetime. As a long-time friend of Tammis’ and knowing of her lifelong devotion to Oldfields and to the arts, the Tammis Day Foundation’s Executive Director Nila Rodriguez worked closely with trustees of the Foundation and with the School to create two new $2.5 million endowment gifts supporting the arts at Oldfields through a $5 million grant. In recognition of Tammis’ enduring passion for the arts, The Tammis Day ’69 Endowment for the Arts will assist Oldfields in providing students with a dynamic and diverse arts program designed to foster the creative potential in every student. Tammis also felt it was important to help make the arts accessible to everyone, and The Tammis Day ’69 Scholarship Fund will allow young women with a strong interest in the arts Tammis so loved to benefit 8
from the Oldfields experience she treasured throughout her life. This is a fitting tribute to Tammis, who was fully aware that a healthy financial picture for any school includes a robust endowment that assists in funding the yearly operating budget. She understood the importance of endowment gifts to Oldfields—gifts that are invested to support the School’s daily operations in perpetuity—and over the course of her lifetime made numerous gifts to Oldfields’ endowment. The arts were a constant theme throughout Tammis’ life, particularly theatre and poetry. Tammis was not only a playwright and actor, but also wrote poetry, earning her master’s degree in poetry at Tampa University as an adult. She understood the critical link between success in the arts and core curriculum subjects. A gift combining the arts and endowment was a natural result. Tammis created her legacy at Oldfields through gifts during her lifetime, as a member of the Largo Core Society, and through endowment gifts that will outlive us all. Tammis believed in supporting organizations and programs, like Oldfields, that made a positive impact on her life and that of others. Thanks to her generosity and commitment, Oldfields will continue to provide a life-changing experience for future generations of young women. Once again, thank you, Tammis!
Tammis came to Oldfields School from Pebble Beach, CA, in 1965, her freshman year, as a member of the Class of 1969. Tammis is still remembered by her classmates as highly skilled and talented, and as a student she established a very strong bond with Headmaster George Nevens and his family, which lasted throughout her life. Her affection for Oldfields never left her, and she changed the face of Oldfields School through her generous gifts.
Would you like to become a member of the Largo Core Society, make a contribution to one of Tammis’s endowments for the arts, or create an endowed fund at Oldfields? Please reach out to Director of Development Pamela J. Susi P’22 at 443-662-1017 or at SusiP@OldfieldsSchool.org.
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All Aboard Thank You, Gus! Welcome, Nancy! By Anne Ragland Finney P’97, Director of Stewardship The Board Chair, along with Head of School, is one of the two most important roles at Oldfields, and we’ve been very fortunate to have an excellent one for the past three years in R. Augustus (Gus) Edwards III P’95, ’98. Oldfields is very much a family tradition in the Edwards family, as both of Gus’s daughters graduated from Oldfields—Christine in 1995 and Augusta in 1998. Facing challenges with courage, serving as a trustee for seven years (three as Board Chair) with humility, and supporting the School with exemplary largeness of heart, the hallmarks of Gus’s term have been hiring David Perfield as Oldfields’ 11th Head of School, encouraging the emphasis on strategic visioning for the future, and dealing with the unexpected ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
R. Augustus (Gus) Edwards III P’95, ’98, and Head of School David Perfield
Gus’s term as Board Chair came to a close in June, but he will continue to serve on our Board as the immediate past chair. Oldfields will remain the beneficiary of his trustworthiness, levelheaded leadership, graciousness, and famous sense of humor and good fun. As Gus stepped down, we were very pleased to welcome Nancy Palmer P’12 as Oldfields’ new Board Chair. Having served on the Board since 2016, Nancy has ably filled many roles, from her participation on the Finance, Admission, and Head’s Committees of the Board, to her service as Vice-Chair and Treasurer. Nancy’s daughter, Liz, graduated in 2012. Nancy is also known for her leadership skills, and she has been a driving force on the Board. Thoughtful, measured, experienced, and compassionate, Nancy takes the reins with the overwhelming confidence of her colleagues as she commits to working closely with David Perfield to move our School ever forward.
Nancy Palmer P’12, Board Chair
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Meet current students. Hear from program directors. Learn how our small school creates BIG opportunities!
November 21 December 12 December 15 January 12 January 23
Register at www.OldfieldsSchool.org
Welcome to our four newest trustees! Oldfields is thrilled to welcome these four accomplished alumnae, Jennevee Frias Crespo ’01, Jamila Hubbard ’11, Dominique Young Mejia ’04, and Rayven Vinson ’10 to our Board of Trustees. From financial services and educational leadership to policy analysis and legal expertise, from New York to the Baltimore-Washington corridor, these four women bring a broad range of welcome skills and perspectives. In addition, they will enable our Board to truly reflect the multi-cultural composition of our student body. We are grateful for the additional voices from people of color in our School’s leadership. Jennevee and Rayven were among those who wrote an open letter in June, calling the School out for racist acts and outlining steps Oldfields needed to take to address systemic racism in our community. That letter was the impetus for the creation of the
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan. Our alumnae of color, along with their allies, cared enough about the Oldfields community to bring to light the racism and inequality that has, and still does, exist on our campus. Additionally, a newly created DEI Board Committee will address all aspects of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as it pertains to Oldfields and each of its constituents, including trustees. This committee’s charter includes increasing efforts to diversify the staff, faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees to ensure proper representation and advocacy for ALL students. We look forward to working closely with our newest board members and want to share their answers to two very important questions with our community in the short interviews that follow.
Trustees interviewed by Reiva Kibbee-Alleyne, Director of Enrollment Management
Why did you decide to accept the appointment to the Oldfields Board? I didn’t expect to end up on the Board as a result of my advocating anti-racism at Oldfields this summer. As I’ve often said, I trace so much of where I am today to my time at Oldfields. It changed the trajectory of my life, but I paid a price for that—I endured horrific acts of racism and microaggressions. And now, I always weigh the two sides of the scale when I think about Oldfields. I love Oldfields. However, the duality of Black and People of Color (POC) students’ experiences at Oldfields did not end with me 20 years ago. It’s still happening. I joined the Board to make sure that it ends.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role? First, I want Black and POC students to feel safe at Oldfields. The journey for Black and POC young women is beyond difficult and heavy. It only gets more difficult as you go through life. Oldfields should be the place where you feel the most safe, heard, and valued.
Jennevee Frias Crespo ’01 Franklin Square, NY Financial Services
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Second, these problems (racism and other forms of oppression) are not unique to Oldfields. I want to make sure Oldfields is acting and operating on the right side of history moving forward. These old institutions have been going about their business, and alumnae are saying “enough is enough.”
“ Oldfields should be the place where you feel the most safe, heard, and valued.” OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
Why did you decide to accept the appointment to the Oldfields Board? I wanted to be more involved. After attending the gatherings in DC, I wasn’t seeing any diversity or women of color at the events. I want to have more representation in Oldfields spaces. My experiences post-Oldfields made me want to join the Board, and I believe giving time is just as valuable as financial philanthropy for an institution. It is time for young people and women of color to be on the Board.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role? This is a loaded question—stay tuned! There are a lot of things I want to accomplish, and I hope all will come to fruition.
“ I want to have more representation in Oldfields spaces.”
Jamila Hubbard ’11 Washington, DC Law Fellow
Why did you decide to accept the appointment to the Oldfields Board? My sister is a current Oldfields student—a Black girl on campus— and I want to ensure that Oldfields is an amazing place for her, for students like her, for alumnae that didn’t have this representation at the board level (like myself), and for future students who look like me. Ultimately, I love Oldfields. I had a great experience as a student. I want to see the School evolve in ways that will make it even better for future generations.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role? I want the work that I do to ensure that Oldfields is a space that is safe, equitable, and inclusive of women just like me. I want to make sure that Oldfields is doing right by all of its students, and I am here in service to all of its students. However, I have to ensure that the representation is there specifically for Black girls and Black women like me. I will work to make sure that these students' voices are heard, respected, validated, and valued, and that any past harm done to these students is acknowledged, validated, and repaired. I want to make it so that students of color look back fondly on their Oldfields experiences without a duality…students should feel as though they've had a positive experience and are devoid of trauma. I want the campus to be a place where tough conversations are had and where everyone is respecting and accepting of everyone else.
“ I want the work that I do to ensure that Oldfields is a space that is safe, equitable, and inclusive of women just like me.” SUMMER/FALL 2020
Dominique Young Mejia ’04 Bronx, NY Educational Leadership
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Why did you decide to accept the appointment to the Oldfields Board? I was committed to working with the School to follow through on the expectations and demands of the open letter shared this summer outlining actions that the School needed to take. My appointment to the Board expedited my ability to enact action and change around making Oldfields equitable and inclusive for all students. I also just love Oldfields. I’m the alumna that has been back to campus almost every year since I graduated and continue to give my time to the School. For example, I spoke to the Class of 2018 at the 100 Nights ’til Graduation dinner.
What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
Rayven Vinson ’10 Glen Burnie, MD Policy Analyst
In addition to enabling action and change at Oldfields, I want to extend and establish a relationship between the Board and the students. The Board seemed removed and distant to me as a student, and if you are making decisions that impact the lives of the students, you should have a relationship and understanding of their experiences. I want to help Oldfields move into the future. As we focus on DEI, we need to bring disabled students, queer students, and economically disadvantaged students with us.
“ My appointment to the board expedited my ability to enact action and change.”
Have you seen our brand new
website?
More Videos, Fabulous Photos, Recent News, Upcoming Events It's the best way to stay connected to the School you love!
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Check it out at www.OldfieldsSchool.org OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
The girls are back! And YOU are a big part of the reason why! The girls are back on campus! At a time when so many schools are unable to safely open, we are fortunate that our intentionally small size and 140-acre campus allow for the implementation of protocols that keep the School community safe, healthy, and, most importantly, in classrooms! The girls are elated to be alongside their peers, and the faculty are excited to have students back in their classrooms. Resilience, flexibility, excellence, and creativity continue to be an important part of the Oldfields Experience. While this year there are new health and safety guidelines in place including physical distancing, facemasks, multiple lunch cohorts, plexiglass dividers, hand sanitizer stations, and daily wellness checks, what remains the same is our commitment to Each Girl’s Success through personalized learning and a caring, supportive environment in and out of the classroom. Our students come first and are at the center of everything we do. THE
Please support our students and faculty by making a gift to The Oldfields Fund. Every gift, no matter the amount, is deeply appreciated.
FUND
Questions? Contact Director of Development Pamela Susi at 443-662-1017 or SusiP@OldfieldsSchool.org.
www.OldfieldsSchool.org/Give
Alumnae Weekend 0s and 5s
April 23-25, 2021
1s and 6s
Double the Fun in 2021!
Questions? SUMMER/FALLDirector 2020 13 Contact of Alumnae Affairs Joan Carter at CarterJ@OldfieldsSchool.org or 443-662-1018.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Creating a community where everyone feels seen, heard, valued, and loved At Oldfields the health and safety of our community is a top priority, but our School culture is equally important. Oldfields should always be a place that feels warm, welcoming, respectful, accepting, and inclusive of all who step foot on campus. This spring, the voices of our alumnae helped us understand—more so than ever before—how this has not always been the case for all students at Oldfields, and particularly not for many students of color. We deeply appreciate the courage our alumnae demonstrated in speaking up and giving the School an opportunity to demonstrate humility in acknowledging past harm and possessing the largeness of heart and courage to help build a better Oldfields for the future. These stories from alumnae provided the impetus for the creation of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan that outlines the initiatives designed to ensure that Oldfields is a place where everyone feels seen, heard, valued, and loved.
Community Norms As the 2020-2021 school year began, Oldfields committed to initiating dialogue around DEI. We provided space for discussions to occur around current events, varying beliefs, and the lived experiences of our students and faculty. It quickly became clear that the Oldfields community would greatly benefit from sharing norms of engagement in order to navigate these sometimes difficult but vital conversations. Our norms are rooted in Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart and are designed to be implemented in all aspects of our community—classes, community forums, club meetings, faculty meetings, athletics, and residential life.
OLDFIELDS COMMUNITY NORMS OF ENGAGEMENT
O L D F I E L D S
Open minds and hearts Listen as if you might be wrong Distribute what you learn (with permission) Full attention to the speaker It is okay to stumble Everyone will remain respectful and curious Lead and learn with love Demonstrate compassion Speak for yourself
Student Programs Each month Oldfields will be hosting community-wide forums and workshops that emphasize each of the nine community norms. The first was held in September and centered around “open minds and hearts.” With the help of faculty leaders Bez Wallace and Shawn Wright, students led our breakout sessions. We are very proud of our students for leaning into these courageous conversations and look forward to continuing workshops that will focus on a different norm each month.
Brooke Campbell ’23 and Leigh Golumbic ’23 converse with open minds and hearts.
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Oldfields has partnered with The Social Institute, an online learning platform that empowers students to positively navigate their social media world, including how to evaluate, process, and discuss the barrage of information on current events to which they are exposed. The Social Institute provides our students and faculty with a tool kit for engaging and navigating dialogue surrounding emotionally charged topics.
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
In addition, students and faculty now have the option of participating in affinity groups once a week during lunch. Affinity groups provide important opportunities to connect with other people who share aspects of their identity, especially in situations in which they are in the minority or are marginalized. Affinity groups allow for an exploration of one’s own identity, celebration of shared identity, and debriefing of common challenges and experiences.
This committee serves to guide, ensure, and support Oldfields’ commitment to DEI in all aspects of school life.
Strategic Plan Oldfields’ leadership recognizes that a specific focus on DEI in the Strategic Plan is essential to enabling systemic change at Oldfields and must become a lens through which all aspects of Oldfields School’s operations and governance is filtered if we are to be an institution that is equitable and inclusive of all. The DEI Committee will be developing a three-year action plan to ensure our sustained commitment to these efforts. Additionally, the School will launch a global search to hire a full-time Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion who will focus on student support, educational programs, and training. This leadership position will also provide counsel to the work of the DEI Board Committee.
Shawn Wright, Staff Liaison to DEI Board Committee, and Bez Wallace, Co-director of the DEI Student Committee, facilitate a DEI workshop.
As stated in our DEI Action Plan, shared with the entire community and available on our website, we commit to listening to and valuing the lived experiences and truths of our students, alumnae, and community members.
Faculty and Staff
Recognizing that change has to start at the top of any organization, Oldfields invited four leading alumnae to join the Board of Trustees - providing new expertise and new perspectives. As a result, Jennevee Crespo ’01, Jamila Hubbard ’11, Dominique Mejia ’04, and Rayven Vinson ’10 were each invited to serve on the Oldfields School Board of Trustees in August 2020. Each of these new members provide a unique perspective in their position, both from their experiences as Oldfields students, their professional expertise, and the intersectionality of their identities as women of color. By volunteering to serve on our Board, they commit to leading our community in being anti-racist on campus and in the world at large. In addition, the Board of Trustees officially created a standing DEI Board Committee during the October 2020 board meetings. SUMMER/FALL 2020
HUMILITY
Board of Trustees
OLDFIELDS SCHOOL
COURAGE
All faculty and staff participated in the reading and discussion of Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald. The exchange of ideas opened the door to deeper conversations and prepared us for two intensive DEI workshops with The Wells Collective. The Wells Collective is a collaborative of diversity practitioners focused on social justice, power and privilege, and ways to build a more equitable community. The workshops were so impactful that we brought The Wells Collective back in early October to facilitate a workshop with our Board of Trustees.
To stand up for others.
I will listen actively.
We will care for ALL in our community.
To speak up for myself.
I will give my full attention.
We will respect ALL in our community.
To work for what is right and true.
I will open my heart and mind.
We will carry this care and respect into the larger world.
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Oldfields Reopen/Stay Open Plan for 2020-2021 WHY IS IT WORKING?
Because the Oldfields community is awesome—and a bit lucky! We want to thank our students, parents, faculty, and staff for their discipline, flexibility, and resilience! Your unwavering support has made these past months that much more successful. Our top priority is always the health and safety of our community. Safety comes in many forms, from physical health to emotional wellness. Oldfields is closely following guidance from the CDC, as well as local and national health departments, to continually update guidelines and recommendations for remaining open for in-person learning. We welcomed students to campus on August 22 and have had zero cases of COVID-19 in our Oldfields community at the time of this publication.
Oldfields' Ideal Environment
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140 ACRES
24/7
LEADERS IN HEALTHCARE
Our beautiful 140-acre campus is ideally located in Maryland’s scenic horse country, which means lots of safe space for activities on campus or in surrounding parks, trails, and waterways.
As a boarding school with the majority of faculty and staff living on campus, we have many trusted adults and caregivers— including two full-time nurses and a school counselor.
SPACIOUS ACADEMIC BUILDINGS
FLEXIBLE ACADEMIC OPTIONS
World-renowned healthcare providers and advisors are in our own back yard, including Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland. In addition, the Maryland State Health Department is leading the way in COVID-19 testing and tracing.
Our large classrooms combined with our small class sizes (average of 7 this year) allow for physical distancing during classes and as our students move about their day.
While in-person learning is the goal, we know circumstances may dictate remote learning for some or all community members at certain points in time. We are ready to deliver the Oldfields Experience near or far.
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
HEALTH AND SAFETY It is our responsibility to take the utmost precautions for our individual protection, as well as for the collective safety of our community. We have established procedures to mitigate the risk of an outbreak on campus while also continuing to deliver the Oldfields experience for all of our students.
COMMUNITY/ RESIDENTIAL LIFE very student, faculty, and staff E member understands that for us to remain together, everyone must follow the rules and resist the urge to let our guard down. Our close-knit community makes us a family, and this campus is our home.
Faculty, staff, and students participate in ongoing training on preventative practices and protocols. Hand sanitizing stations have been placed throughout campus and desks are sanitized after each class.
We operated as a “closed campus” from August 22 through September 30. Our close-knit community got even closer! In October we began off-campus, school-sponsored trips and scheduled in-person family visits on campus.
All community members were required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus at the start of the school year. Re-entry protocols are in place which include a combination of testing and quarantining.
Dining services have been reimagined. We continue to have meals together, but in smaller groups and at staggered times while following health and safety protocols. We dine outside as often as possible!
All community members must complete a daily wellness screening. Day students are screened as their vehicles arrive on campus each day. Masks must be worn at all times while in buildings, common areas, hallways, classrooms, and outside in groups. The students have been great about following these rules! Our dorms are treated as “family units,” so students may enjoy mask-free time in their rooms.
Students have access to robust weekend and afterschool activities, including off-campus trips that meet our health and safety guidelines (e.g., hiking, canoeing, etc.). All essential visitors and vendors must contact the School in advance to schedule an appointment and complete a visitor screening form before arriving.
ACADEMICS Our 5:1 student to teacher ratio and spacious campus allowed us to welcome students back for in-person instruction. Classes at Oldfields are personalized, challenging, engaging, and taught by dedicated faculty. While on-campus learning with in-person instruction is our goal this year, our flexible hybrid learning models allow seamless transitions from in-person learning to remote and back as needed for the school as a whole or for individual students on a week-to-week basis. Small class sizes and spacious classrooms allow for physical distancing. Faculty take full advantage of our beautiful fall weather in Maryland and our wonderful spaces for outdoor classes. New traffic flow signage, plexiglass partitions, increased cleaning, and air purifying systems keep everyone as safe as possible in the Rodney Academic Center. The academic calendar has been adjusted to incorporate mid-week breaks to help students adjust to our “new normal.” In addition, remote learning will be utilized over the holiday breaks to allow students to remain at home between Thanksgiving and the end of Winter Break in January.
Why Oldfields? Because small means flexible. Because spacious means safe. Because a girl's high school years are pivotal. Learn more at www.OldfieldsSchool.org or call 443-662-1050
Accepting mid-year and Fall 2021 applications! 17
INTRODUCING BRIANNA ’22 A STUDENT EMPOWERED TO USE HER VOICE By Reiva Kibbee-Alleyne, Director of Enrollment Management, Brianna’s Advisor One of the first things I noticed upon arriving at Oldfields School in 2018 was the deeprooted care that students have for each other. The culture at Oldfields School is one in which collaboration, empowerment, and respect are valued and expected. The young women who attend Oldfields care just as much about the success of the people around them as they do for their own personal success. This culture results in graduates who understand they are only as strong as the people around them, particularly other women. This approach positions Oldfields graduates to impact and enact intentional, considerate, long-lasting change in their communities near and far. The values of personal honesty, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility are integral in Oldfields’ commitment to educating young women. For Oldfields, social responsibility includes our Oldfields community, our local community, and the greater national and global society. Brianna Ginyard ’22 came to Oldfields
B L A C K A L L IA N C E CLUB
aligned with our aforementioned values and demonstrated character, confidence, and knowledge. Brianna’s aunt, Judge Alicea Elloras-Ally ’91, introduced her to Oldfields, and Brianna has been an asset to the School since the day she set foot on our campus. Her trajectory as a student and young woman has continued as she has consistently led by example in kindness and respect for others. She is not only one of the student leaders of the Black Alliance Club, but is also the Green Team Spirit, a dorm prefect, and Junior Class President. Her desire for Oldfields students to receive an education comprised of diversity of thought, experience, and perspective exemplifies the love for and commitment to her peers and Oldfields as an institution. Empowering our students to use their voice, as Brianna does in her own words in the following article, is an essential component of preparing young women for college and beyond.
DID YOU KNOW? 30% OF OLDFIELDS STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS PEOPLE OF COLOR.
Black Alliance Club (formerly titled the Black Awareness Club) recognizes the power of young women coming together to support marginalized Oldfields students, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and People of Color, as many systems of oppression affect people across multiple identities. BAC creates a space where all Black and brown students can speak freely and know that they are surrounded by people who are there to support and empower them by listening, showing up, and taking action.
Top row (Left to right): Lillie Burbulis ’22, Stephanie Ryland ’24, Mikayla Alvarez ’24, Olivia Kehoe ’22, Landyn Gary ’24, Jasmine van Heyningen ’23, Mia Vasco ’23, Haoran “Lucy” Zhang ’22, Casey Dowling ’25, Kikiloluwa “Kiki” Bejide ’23, Madison Bellamy Hicks ’25, Nadya Firor ’22, Louise Stein ’22, Chiya Gibson ’23 Middle row (Left to right): Jadisha Proano ’22, Lynne Usanase ’22, Parker Dowling ’25, Michaela Athey ’22, Kimberly Cardona ’21
Front row (Left to right): the student leaders of the Black Alliance Club Daylahni Jones ’21, Brianna Ginyard ’22, Diana Santos ’21 Not pictured: Faculty advisor Bez Wallace, Students: Ella Herring ’22, Madilyn “Madi” Geidel ’22, Brooke Campbell ’23, N’Deye M’Baye ’24, Maizah “Maizi” Johnson ’22, Phoenix Eley ’24, Natalie Azarsa ’24, Margaret “Reagan” Lynch ’23, Myashia Holloman ’24, and Natalie Susi ’22
AND
KNOWLEDGE
CULTURE
MENT S
ACHIE VE
LIFE
BEAUTIFUL
BLACK OF
BEAUTIFUL LIFE ACHIEVMENTS OF CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE BY BRIANNA GINYARD ’22, STUDENT LEADER OF BLACK ALLIANCE CLUB
Prior to enrolling at Oldfields School in the fall of 2018, I attended a magnet school in New York. My seventh-grade teacher, Ms. Junius, and eighth-grade teacher, Ms. Folger, at Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School were both influential in my development as a learner and a Black woman. I appreciated their honesty as educators. Not only did I understand what I was learning, each of these women made sure I knew why I was learning. It was important for the students to understand why people think certain ways. Ms. Junius and Ms. Folger told the truth and did not hide the bad and ugly parts of our nation’s history. They made sure their students were learning the full story, not just the story of the “winners.” In my time at Oldfields, I’ve come to realize how much I miss being in a really diverse classroom—diversity of thought, identity, and lived experiences. Coming from Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School to Oldfields, where it’s not uncommon for me to be the only Black student in a classroom, is shocking. You don’t know who supports you. It’s like walking into a room blind—you don’t know what obstacles you’re going to run into or where the walls are. I hold my thoughts back at times because I know students in my classroom are not going to go into deeper conversation about certain topics. From my experience, Oldfields shies away from deeper conversations. I find myself learning some of the same things I learned in my previous school. The difference is that here the narrative is white rather than multicultural.
What should Oldfields do? Oldfields should have a comprehensive audit of teaching (who is teaching and how are they teaching) and learning conducted by an outside party. Material and content in the classroom hits differently when it is being taught by someone who looks like you. It’s ironic having white teachers teaching about slavery, when I believe they don’t fully understand the implications of slavery as a system and the systemic racism that exists in our country today. The school should also expand the material to teach not just the lesson, but the life knowledge and skills that we need to carry with us as women. There are so many stereotypes of marginalized people—a whole race can’t be generalized based on stereotypes. When biases are informed by stereotypes, assumptions are made about a person the moment two people meet, without an opportunity to get to know each other. There are so many nuances to the Black experience in the United States, and that’s just one aspect of an individual’s identity. While spaces like the Black Alliance Club and affinity groups provide safe spaces for members of our community, it’s not enough. The voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) need to be represented and promoted in the classroom. I was motivated to step into leadership this year because I had the realization that if I don’t speak up, who will? If the rest of the Black students, or the faculty, don’t speak up about what’s happening in our community (Oldfields), who will? It’s not our (Black students’) job to educate people, yet I find myself educating people every day because if I don’t, they’re not going to learn.
Some of the people and things I learned about in middle school include:
Kunta Kinte Alice Stokes Paul Henrietta Lacks 54th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry Frederick Douglass Black Panther Party The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
If you’re unfamiliar with any of these, I encourage you to look them up. SUMMER/FALL 2020
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CL A S S N O TE S 40s
1951
Elizabeth “Betty” Williams Gookin ’40 - Nice to get news. We are happily still living in our country place with a bit more help. Such a lovely spring in spite of the horrible germ. We are staying well, thank goodness. I was 98 in April, no canes. I miss all my dear classmates who have gone. Is anyone from ’40 still around?
Would you like to volunteer to be the 1951 Class Agent?
Anne Haight Dutka ’48 - Hi to all. I don’t know who is left from our class since I have been home for three months. I have been sewing masks for our local hospital auxiliary that I have been working with for over 30 years, trying to organize, etc. I was supposed to be on a European river cruise in May, but no go. Thank goodness for three kids nearby who have taken care of my needs at this pandemic time.
1952
1945
Jane Isdale Schaefer - I had a good visit with Head of School David G. Perfield P’29, P’31 down in Florida last year. Played golf and had Christine Smith McHarg ’84 P’09 and Toni Carter Vreeland ’66 for lunch with him at my golf club. We all feel fortunate that David is carrying the banner for Oldfields. The last few years weren’t the best, having lost my son to esophageal cancer, but the happy news is that I now have four married grandchildren, three great-grands, two boys and a girl, and expecting another boy in August. I think since I last wrote I have moved to a smaller house after losing my Rudie in 2011. Still on the water, but have sold all boats but the dinghy I made which I still enjoy rowing. I still play golf, do Pilates, gardening, knitting, quilting, and race committee. I love to read and visit with my children and am awaiting a new King Charles spaniel after losing Pumpkin last fall. My sister Martha “Billy” Isdale Beach ’50 visited me last year, coming up from Georgia, which was a great treat as I don’t get to see her very often. I am not enjoying the COVID lock downs and masks, but do what has to be done to keep safe. I can’t believe I am one of those older people at high risk but know I couldn’t play wing on the hockey team any more! Would love to hear from anyone from my class ’52 or those that remember me, and I hope to get back to Oldfields next year. Go Greens!
lass Agent: Suzanne “Susi” Greene Van Ells C 702-871-4329 svanells@gmail.com
1947 lass Agent: Joan “Hebe” Stuart-Wortley Bishop C grandy@GWI.net
1949 lass Agent: Ellen Virden White C 860-434-9763 rksudler@aol.com
1950 lass Agent: Martha “Billy” Isdale Beach C 706-742-8940 mibeach180@gmail.com Billy Isdale Beach ’50 - I still
miss the Oldfields I knew! Can you imagine NO electronics? ONE telephone in the hall and needing permission from faculty to use it? Then my passion was for horses. None of my children EVEN liked horses, but my grandson Andrew (Jaeger) got all the horse passion genes. He is now working at High Point Farm in Watkinsville, Georgia, caring for horses for Martha “Billy” Isdale Beach ’50’s grandson Andrew Jaeger with his dressage horse dressage lessons and Volcan training! Alison, his mother is a professor of Medieval History at Saint Andrews University in Scotland, but currently in lockdown in New York City. I am in good health and enjoy rug hooking, chair seat weaving, and bird watching.
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Patricia “Pat” Wright Hume - Still keeping busy with garden club and archeology. Enjoy spending the winter in Florida with my daughter and son-in-law.
Class Agent: Miriam “Mimi” Griffith Jones Happycanyon2002@yahoo.com Class Agent: Jane Isdale Schaefer Janeschaefer3@mac.com
Jane Isdale Schaefer ’52 P’84, mother of Greta Schaefer ’84 (far right), at Jane’s 80th birthday party in Florida
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
1954
1956
Class Agent: Marie-Louise “Wawa” Graham Ingersoll 610-688-5851 wawa1000@verizon.net
Class Agent: Cecile “Airey” Dinkins Ellis aireyellis@bellsouth.net
Alice Fisher Blood - Living with son and family in Portland, Oregon.
Class Agent: Crista Grauer 212-966-7932 cgrauer@att.net
Florence “Fifi” Whitney Clark - Swamped with so many grandchildren. I have 14, and all boys! Marie-Louise “Wawa” Graham Ingersoll - So glad to be still keeping up with classmates all over the states! And they are all fun, funny, and still standing!
1957 Class Agent: Jane Hallenborg Peters 707-227-7634 Jhpeters136@gmail.com Nina Carter Rosselli Del Turco - I have been very delinquent about writing notes these last few years, but my husband Duccio and I are still living at the retirement home in West Hartford, Connecticut, where we have been for over five years. So far we are well, with the usual aging problems! Our children (my four and Duccio's three) are all over the map, so we don't see them very often. Of course the last few months have affected all of us thanks to the pandemic of COVID-19. We have been grateful for Zoom and Facetime to communicate with our family and friends. We hope you are all well. I look forward to reading your news and hope this isn't too late to get into the Magazine. Stay well.
Wawa Graham Ingersoll ’54 and Sue Dole Armstrong ’56 Ruth “Bumble” Sizer Marshall - Ruth lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has COPD but still so positive and joyous and a joy.
Ruth “Bumble” Sizer Marshall ’54 Bertha “Bert” Broyles McDaniel - Bertha lives in Naples, Florida, still giggles, and is upbeat. Marion Horwitz Parmenter - Marion lives in Mill Valley, California, loves her house and pool and is happily painting. Christine “Chris” Smith Rocca - Chris lives in San Diego and Tucson.
1955 Class Agent: Elizabeth “Wendy” Woodhull Bersing 757-716-3178 wbersing@yahoo.com
SUMMER/FALL 2020
Gwendolyn “Wendy” de Clairville Kemper - Now that I have reached my 80 plus years, I can look back at all the things I have done and reflect. Ten years with a store in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, on to a flower shop out of my home for ten years, and then on to 21 years as a bridal consultant running my own company and traveling the USA and many places out of the country. Retirement came when we moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and Bishop Gadsden, a CCRC with our own independent apartment. I gave great thought to what next. No more tennis, paddle, golf, what next? I have found a new sport: golf croquet, a delight with over 75 players here, tournaments, and visiting other clubs. That wasn't enough so I have become a mentor in the men’s state prison here in South Carolina. Going for two hours every week with four other men, a fourteenweek program of classes helping the men to rejoin life and learn how to conduct themselves in the outside world. When they graduate they have a chance to join our housing and live in a home. We get them a job within three days, and in nine months they are ready to go out on their own. This is called Fresh Start, now in four prisons here in our state and ready to move forward to 21 other prisons next year. I am very excited about this project. It has opened a new chapter in my life. Jane Hallenborg Peters - Each of us in the Class of 1957 are now in our eighth decade! I was not looking forward to this milestone. However, my wonderful daughter surprised me for my 80th birthday with a ten-day trip to Copenhagen, including an overnight ferry to Oslo and visit to the Nobel Peace Museum, a showcase for the Nobel Peace Prize and the ideals it represents. When my daughter went off to college, I left New York City to live in California. A knock on my door in St. Helena, California, and there was Margaret “Marty” Merrow Wilson ’57 and her husband Pete, visiting the wine country. After 20 years in California and retiring I returned to the East Coast, settling in Florida. Gwendolyn “Wendy” de Clairville Kemper ’57 and her husband Claude took me and my cat in until I found a place to live. Then Marty and Pete moved into the same area. I spent the summers in Salisbury, Connecticut, where Anne Gamble Peterson ’57 attends Trade Secrets to find rare and unusual plants. Wendy and I talk often. Marty’s emails of jokes, cartoons, and articles keep us entertained. Presently I am living in Williamsburg, Virginia, where I am a train ride from my daughter in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. 21
CL A S S N O TE S
Missy Spruance Talbot ’62 and Kandi duPont Sanger ’62, May 2020 Jane Hallenborg Peters ’57 in Copenhagen Denmark on her 80th birthday Anne Gamble Peterson - COVID-19 has kept my husband and me home, but this is not all bad. I now have more time for gardening, which has been my passion for years. I also exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Some years are great and others so-so. Living outside of New York City, we have two dogs, a lab and a Westie, six chickens, and four golden pheasants. I guess I am a "Farmer Brown.” Pete and I have three children and six wonderful grandchildren. Time to boast, our daughter passed the bar exam and has a job with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. Proof that you are never too old to start a new life. The grand kids live twenty minutes away so we are very lucky. All of you, stay safe. Margaret “Marty” Merrow Wilson - Pete and I moved in March, just down the street from our first Florida house. We now have room for our three children and their families. This time we are on a pond with lots of activity, too much sometimes when the ’gator goes for a stroll!
1959 Class Agent: Elfrida “Frida” Barrow Sinkler 843-559-9144 fridamoore@aol.com
Terrell Garrard - My main activity is walking. The mountain laurel is the fullest bloom I’ve ever seen—exciting to see. Lots of Indian pipes blooming as well. Beverly “Bev” Harrison - What a challenging time we are all living in now! It has given me cause to reflect on my life and the friendships I have made during my lifetime and pray for the safety and good health of all. My years at Oldfields have been four of the best years of my life, and I wish all of my classmates and dear Oldfields friends all the best. I am living in Warrenton, Virginia, where my family is also living. My son, Carter, is the mayor of the town and my other son, Wells, is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves, as well as serving in the Sheriff's Department as a Major on the force in Fauquier County. My grandson, William (Wells and Sarah's son), is a junior at Virginia Tech studying aeronautical engineering, and my other grandson, Hugh (Carter and Kathleen's son), is starting high school at Highland School here in Warrenton. It is really wonderful being so close to them. I am playing lots of tennis and doing house- and petsitting as well as personal assistance work. So I am keeping pretty busy! I do miss Vero Beach and all my pals in Florida, but love being close to my family. Love my Oldfields family!
Elfrida “Frida” Barrow Sinkler - Hello to our class! I hope all of you are staying safe, healthy, and happy. Thank you, Oldfields, for honoring our classmate Lucy Kemper Pieh ’59 with such a wonderful article in the Winter Magazine. Lucy lived the Oldfields motto with her lifelong service and commitment to helping others. Thank you, Lucy. With love to everyone, Frida.
1962 Class Agent: Katharine “Kandi” duPont Sanger 239-472-2040 KduPSanger@aol.com Class Agent: Patricia “Patty” Reese Vanderwarker 843-987-1277 prvanderwarker@gmail.com
Missy Spruance Talbot ’62’s family 22
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
“I have become a mentor in the men’s state prison here in South Carolina. I am very excited about this project. It has opened a new chapter in my life.” GWENDOLYN “WENDY” DE CLAIRVILLE KEMPER ’57
Patricia “Patty” Reese Vanderwarker - Hello, classmates. Skip and I have been happily hunkered down on Spring Island in Okatie, South Carolina, for the pandemic virus. The weather has been good so have been able to golf, bike, and walk, fortunately. We celebrated my 75th birthday in Boca Grande, Florida, in January with our family. All the grandchildren came with the exception of Baby Belle who was born in October 2019: Reese 11, Annie 9, Eben 7, Bea 6, and Georgia 4. We are hoping to go to the Vineyard for the summer, and I will see Sheila Cochran Urmston ’62 if life looks safe to travel north. Be safe, be well.
Sally Shaver Bauernfeind ’64’s family reunion at Lake Norman
Patty Reese Vanderwarker ’62 and family celebrate her 75th birthday in Boca Grande, Florida.
1964 Class Agent: Jacqueline “Jackie” Thomas Carey 443-735-4275 j.carey@mchsi.com Class Agent: Lucinda “Cinda” Train Longstreth 202-328-3965
Jackie Thomas Carey ’64 with husband and granddaughter
SUMMER/FALL 2020
Tillie Laird Brown - Husband Hunter and I have been living on our Washington, Connecticut, farm since 2008. In 2010 we adopted a beautiful flat-coated retriever named Kenzie. She became a licensed therapy dog. The photo below was on our ID badge. Alas, she died at only 6 1/2 years from cancer. Luckily, we got another "flattie," Kenzie2, early in 2017. She is smart and makes us laugh from when we wake Tillie Laird Brown ’64 and Kenzie her up ’til she is put to bed. I designed a 1,200 square foot garden surrounded by a deer fence. Half is for flowers, half for vegetables and strawberries. I spend a lot of time there from April through October. Kenzie2 loves dog-safe veggies and stays trim eating them. I share extras with friends. We would have gone to India in January and to our small house in London after Easter for several weeks, but Tillie Laird Brown ’64’s puppy Kenzie2 the virus cancelled those trips. Also our trip to Australia this October for three weeks has been cancelled. If we had made these trips, we would have been stuck in those countries, having to play by their rules which are much like ours. Every spring, we stay in our small house in London for several weeks, then home to garden and dog. Since 2007, we have gone to India in the beginning of every year. We were lucky to go all over the world for three to four weeks at a time. The 29 countries are too many to list. If we go to Australia, then we will have visited all seven continents! The two Kenzies stay with their trainer when we travel. 23
CL A S S N O TE S Elizabeth “Lizzie” Harrison Goulart - I have been retired for several years now, but I feel busier than ever!! I have been heavily involved with the Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Holocaust Commission, coordinating writing and art contests, organizing conferences and workshops, and presenting to various groups the stories of local Holocaust survivors, liberators, and Righteous Gentiles. It’s wonderfully fulfilling and inspiring! Meetings have been put on hold because of the virus, but I have also discovered a love for painting which has been a blessing in these difficult times. My children and their families are doing well. My three oldest are here in Virginia, but my youngest is in France—too far away for my liking, especially now, but what a joy to visit; I’ll be first in line when it’s safe to go! This virus has certainly thrown a monkey wrench into life, hasn’t it? I hope y’all have been well, taking precautions and using common sense. Virginia Beach hasn’t been hit too hard yet; everyone is itching to get down to the ocean, and it will be interesting to see the effect of the tourists as the summer advances. Remember to use your power—Vote!—and please encourage those around you to do the same! This is a critical time in our democratic republic, and we must regain our footing both at home and abroad. Do not let the past three years discourage you – there is light at the end of the tunnel! Stay well and safe, and if you get down to this part of the world, give me a holler!
Kingsley FitzHugh Jack ’64’s grandchildren
Beverley “Bev” Wilson Parry - We have been "locked down" here in Nevis (Leeward Islands) since COVID-19 hit the world. Nevis closed its borders in mid-March, no flights coming in or out. My sister Jan came for a three-month holiday and ended up staying six months! I've decided to stay on here until there's a vaccine. Dorothy “Dorf” Post - Never having been married or had kids, it is quite a feat to have a grandson, Logan. His mom, Lotoya, rented a room in my house some years back, and I was her surrogate American mom. I met Dorothy Post ’64 and grandson Logan and became friends with her mom, Dawn, when Lotoya got her master’s and again later when she returned for cancer treatments. For several years Dawn responded well to the treatments. As she was dying, I, along with Lotoya’s future mother-in-law, promised that we would take care of Lotoya and spoil the future grandkids for her. I was the mother of the bride at Lotoya and Frankie’s wedding and was invited to be at the hospital when Logan was born. He’s now nearly 2 years old!
Kingsley Fitzhugh Jack ’64 and Lisa Longaker Brandin ’64 24
Kingsley FitzHugh Jack ’64’s granddaughter
1965 Class Agent: Mary “Polly” Hyde Crawford 540-955-4541 mhc2@comcast.net Cynthia Renchard - My Westie, Jackson, and I are volunteering at the Denver Airport with the Canine Airport Therapy Dog Squad (CATS) program. There are 120 of us, the largest in the country. We became Certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs program. The CATS program is six years old; idea started at LAX after September 11. We assist with many special events like assisting Craig Hospital special needs patients with brain and spinal injuries and their families on how to travel/ navigate going through security and to their gate in wheelchairs. We also work the terminals and provide therapy for nervous travelers. Jackson is the only Westie in the program. We have walked in the Christmas parade for the City of Denver representing the Denver Airport, float and all, and have walked in the fundraiser in May (Furry Scurry) for the Dumb Friends League, which is a large Animal Rescue Organization for horses, cats, and dogs in the Denver area. Denver, Colorado, is very animal friendly. We hope the program will be up and running at some point. Of course since COVID-19 we have been furloughed.
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
Senna (3), and Mack (1) came to Ocean Reef for a visit from Austin right before the shutdown, along with Corbin and his girlfriend, Katie, from Portland, Maine. So we had a wonderful week with them all. Walker has been in NYC and actually got COVID, but fortunately he wasn't sick enough to be hospitalized. Thank God! So all the Vreelands are doing just fine! Love to you all!
Toni Carter Vreeland ’66 and family Cynthia Renchard ’65 and Westie, Jackson Jane Farley Simonds - I occasionally see Mary “Polly” Hyde Crawford ’65 P’95 in Maine. It has been nice reuniting with her. Sadly I have not been keeping up with friends except those on Facebook. Billy and I celebrated 51 years in March. Our sons Will and Alec have given us four grandsons and a granddaughter, lucky me. My life is knitting, playing bridge, and playing croquet. Also doing doctor rounds and of course hiding from COVID-19. What a year! Where is our class 1965? Chime in, girls. Sadly, we have lost quite a few.
1966 Class Agent: Carolyn Gibbons Abernethy 203-588-9061 cgabernethy710@optonline.net Class Agent: Antoinette “Toni” Carter Vreeland 631-537-7875 Toni.Vreeland@gmail.com Carolyn Gibbons Abernethy - COVID-19 has tested everyone these past months with travel plans canceled, working remotely, and home projects getting done. The Abernethys are all healthy and safe and hoping that all my classmates and their families are healthy and safe, as well. I have been thinking back, to our own June 6, 1966, Graduation when we got to walk proudly down the hill, then loaded our parents’ car, and headed off for the summer of 1966 and into a Hildebrand novel, the summer before college started in the fall. Now the high schoolers and college graduates sit or stand apart, stadiums are empty, and there are no jobs on the horizon. We have seen an amazing amount of change in our last 50 years, and those changes are now accelerating at an even greater rate. “Hold onto your horses” is taking on new meaning. Stay safe, everyone. Antoinette “Toni” Carter Vreeland - Hi, all. This has certainly been an unusual and scary few months, hasn't it? I hope you have all gotten through it safely. Gerrit and I spent the entire winter in Ocean Reef, and fortunately, I was able to continue playing golf (in our own golf cart, no rakes in bunkers, and no touching flag sticks), playing Canasta with good friends who had been quarantined the entire season like me, and fishing. Gerrit and I are back in Bridgehampton. Luckily for us, Elizabeth, Taylor,
SUMMER/FALL 2020
Toni Carter Vreeland ’66 and husband, Gerrit
1968 Class Agent: Anne Crimmins 303-884-4996 acrimmin@comcast.net Class Agent: Gay Richardson Smith 508-693-7419 gaybesmith@gmail.com
Gay Richardson Smith ’68 and Cynthia Ladd ’68 25
CL A S S N O TE S Anne Crimmins - Luckily went on a cruise with American Cruise Line end of February before the COVID-19 prevented us from going anywhere. Talk to Lisle Loosli Bradley ’68 often, but I’m not able to see her as of yet. Hope everyone is staying safe, and maybe next year we can all meet for our 53rd reunion.
Susalee Norris Sasser ’69’s grandchildren
Anne Crimmins ’68’s family
1969 Would you like to volunteer be the 1969 Class Agent? Melinda Wilson Fuller - Like everyone I know, spring has flown by in one way and dragged on for what feels like years in another! All three of my jobs came to an end mid-March; no working from home in my childcare and pet businesses. My two sons live on opposite coasts, one working from home while homeschooling my grandsons together, with me reading with them on FaceTime each afternoon. And, buying a new house, no less! My other son out in southern California has continued to go to work, five to six days a week, at his meat processing company, Hamilton Meats. Very stressful, yet relieved to have his job...as he works to keep our grocery stores stocked! The silver lining in all this...thanks to FaceTime and technology, a much closer connection with my family, on a daily basis, as well as all together each Sunday…not our habit prior to COVID-19. Hard as it is to not visit in person with either family, we have been far more connected than previously. Thanks to my trusty Lab, Jack, we have been able to hike two to five miles almost every day all over the nature trails and parks in our area! Life is always better for me with my dog by my side. Susalee Norris Sasser - We have been having a nice time in quarantine with our grandchildren. We are staying at our house at Edisto. Our daughter and family from Brooklyn, New York, are staying at our house in Mount Pleasant. At Edisto we are able to get out, fortunately. I am still riding, boating, fishing, and exercising. We are praying for everyone’s safety and health during this challenging time.
Susalee Norris Sasser ’69
1970 Class Agent: Gail Southard Canzano 860-232-3620 gcanzanophd@comcast.net
1971 Class Agent: Kathleen “Kathy” Smith Guill 713-304-0910 ksg510@icloud.com Class Agent: Seashols Starks 404-352-0500 sstarks2@bellsouth.net Natalie duPont Lyon - I’m good! Living on the South Shore of Boston, near two of my girls and seven of my nine grandchildren! I’m living in an assisted living spot which is okay. I have reconnected with Kate Fleming Pistor ’72 and Marcia “Mac” Belehas Downes ’73! Just picked up right where we left off!
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OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
1972 Class Agent: Carol Hubbell Engebretson 612-387-9596 carolengebretson@gmail.com Class Agent: Lulu Laubenstein Good 215-836-9391 lulu.laubenstein@gmail.com Class Agent: Denise “Dede” Alexandre LeComte 203-829-4153 dealeco@gmail.com Class Agent: Susan “Silly” Sillcox Repko 203-940-6393 repkofamAZ@gmail.com Christine “Christy” Hough Asher - Hi, hope everyone is staying healthy. Bob and I are basically still in stay-at-home mode. We never really felt comfortable going out since so many people weren’t wearing masks and only ventured out a few times since the reopening of Florida. Now with the huge surge in cases, we are very careful. Luckily we have our cockapoo, Roxy, who keeps us exercised with our daily walks. Our big news happened last year when we were blessed with two new grandchildren in December. A boy, Cameron, was born to our California family and a girl, Mary Jane, to our Philadelphia family. We were very lucky to be able to visit both families in January. Now we do FaceTime and phone calls but we really miss seeing our children and having the one-on-one with all our grandkids especially as they are growing so quickly. Still, we are lucky that we are all healthy. Would love to say that we would welcome visitors but I think Floridians are personae non gratis, right now. Hopefully that will not be the case for too long. Best to all. Carol Hubbell Engebretson - What a change in the world since the last magazine! I have learned to demo concrete and grout stonework, walk a lot more, sew masks, and how to Zoom with the best. Looking forward to reunion next spring with the Class of ’72 as it will be our 50th. I hope all
Lulu Laubenstein Good - I would like to say I have lost 50 pounds and that my house has been totally dejunked, but alas, that is not the case! However, during this down time, I have been able to reconnect with a number of pals from our Class of ’72! Even though some of us haven't spoken in ages, our time on the phone feels like we saw each other yesterday! Wags is now almost 2 years old, but still has plenty of puppy in him to keep us on our toes! Our son, Anderson, was lucky to have the squash season end just before the lock-down began. Like most schools and colleges, plans for the next squash season are still up in the air. Bill and I are reminded on a daily basis of just how fortunate we are right now. I can only hope the same is true for you! Susan “Silly” Silcox Repko - Life in Arizona has its hurdles. We finally sold our house in New Canaan, Connecticut, last September after five years on the market. Although we miss the change in seasons and all the shades of green, we enjoy the desert and mountains. We have kids in New York, Maine, Arizona, and California, with two grandkids. All is good, and we keep busy with golf, tennis, and hiking. This was our first summer in 100+ degree weather so spent it doing Silly Sillcox Repko ’72 in Arizona puzzles and organizing photos. As we make our way through this pandemic, we send our thoughts and prayers to everyone.
are doing well and making the best of the new world.
Frank and Hilary Gardner Swain ’72 in a homemade mask made by Carol Hubbell Engebretson ’72
Susan “Silly” Silcox Repko ’72 wearing a homemade mask made by Carol Hubbell Engebretson ’72. SUMMER/FALL 2020
Kate Fleming Pistor ’72 and Steve in Arizona
Hilary Gardner Swain ’72, Lulu Laubenstein Good ’72, and Gay Richardson Smith ’68 27
CL A S S N O TE S Hilary Gardner Swain was honored by her fellow classmate and Board member Lulu Laubenstein Good ’72 at her retirement from the Oldfields Board of Trustees. “I would like to take a minute to send my love and thanks to my friend, classmate, and recent Board Chair, Hilary Gardner Swain ’72. Hilary has done three stints as an Oldfields trustee and has put her heart and soul into the job. At best, it was anticlimactic to have Hilary's last board meeting be on a Zoom call, but as one friend said to Hilary, ’You have done an incredible job, and I am so thankful for your leadership. You have led from your heart and your love for Oldfields.’ Couldn't have said it better myself! Hilary, you have done us all proud Thank you, Hilary, for gifts of time, talent, and treasure. We are so grateful.”
1973 Lynda Wellman Dobson - My daughter, Chotsie, and her family moved from South Carolina to Indiana in April due to job changes. They are no longer two hours away from us. It’s been a difficult time of withdrawal but so much easier because they are doing so well. These grands, Avery and Jack, are my heart, and their Grammy misses them so. So thankful for FaceTime! I have decided to retire this year after 27 years with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. It’s been a good run but it’s time. At the end of the year Peter and I will be moving to Portland, Maine, where he is from. He has children, grands, and a Dobson clan living there. We are excited. Class of 2020...to coin a phrase, yes “this really sucks”... that you didn't get the traditional senior year or Graduation at Oldfields, and for that I am sincerely sorry. You are starting out the new chapter of your life by already having to learn the life skill of being a part of something that impacts you and your choices while you have absolutely no control. Just remember, this too shall pass. In the meantime, I suggest you choose to spend your time helping those less fortunate than you or those in need because of the negative impact this is having on their lives. Make a difference in someone’s life while waiting to see where you will arrive. Bless each and every one of you.
Lynda Wellman Dobson ’73’s grandchildren
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Karen Frost Smith - I have retired in June from twenty-one years of being an elementary school librarian. I am looking forward to playing with my two granddaughters as well as lots of bridge and tennis. Hopefully, traveling will be possible, too. Look me up if you are ever in eastern Mass.!
1974 Class Agent: Carol Atterbury 610-353-3666 zebracrazy@mac.com Diana Kaiser Bulger - I have been busy painting with watercolors during the pandemic. Also enjoying the artwork of Audrey Snyder Felske ’73 and Verlinde Hill Doubleday ’72 on Facebook. Those art classes I took at Oldfields from Mrs. Nevens are paying off! I am still working at the Fairmont Hotel in DC.
Goldfinch and stargazer lilies paintings by Diana Kaiser Bulger ’74
1975 Class Agent: Megan North 802-888-0822 hopewelltoo@gmail.com Willette Brown-Nevens - When Director of Riding Amy Phillips called to ask me to teach a dressage clinic at Oldfields last fall, I was excited to be able to say yes. I love to visit the barn and the Riding Hill. I can’t help but scan the area for signs of the old cross country jumps that used to dot the hillside. The Indoor Arena is lovely, and it is a reminder of how strong and vibrant the Riding Program at Oldfields is. It was a beautiful day, and the students were enthusiastic and worked hard. The horses, of course, were perhaps wishing they had been assigned trail riding or pasture maintenance. Before I knew it, the last student was heading down the hill and back to the barn. As I watched her go I thought, do they know how their brief stay at Oldfields (even though I know it seems forever at the time) will imprint on their DNA and be a precious piece of their lives? I recently was awarded my “S” status as a dressage judge for the USEF. It is a long journey and requires a lot of commitment. But I always know that it was June Curry, the Oldfields head riding instructor at the time, on the Riding Hill, who introduced me to dressage and eventing. And that began what was to become my life’s work. Thank you, June, and thank you, Oldfields!
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
“Class of 2020 I suggest you choose to spend your time helping those less fortunate than you or those in need” LYNDA WELLMAN DOBSON ’73
working. I've been thinking of what fun we had in 2017 at the 150th celebration, and especially now, am so glad I went. There are a few people I've completely lost touch with and would love to hear from— Sandra “Sandi” Clark Petruzelli ’78 and Linda Walker Jett ’77, where are you? I just ran across some snapshots of us from the ill-fated Williamsburg trip of 1976. I'm not on social media much but would be happy to email with anyone who's interested in hearing from me: vexil7740@gmail.com
1978 Willette Brown-Nevens ’75 taught a dressage clinic at Oldfields.
1976 Class Agent: Hilary Cooper 860-435-9010 hilcoop@gmail.com Class Agent: Mollie Johnson Williams 757-421-2128 loggcabin@cox.net Elizabeth “Biddie” Labrot - What a time to have an RV! Glamping is coming in handy during this time of safe distancing. We are enjoying finding places to camp and hike with our dog as well as see some off the wall sites such as Carhedge in Nebraska. I hope everyone and their families are safe and healthy!
Biddie Labrot ’76 goes glamping.
1977 Class Agent: Robin Brown 615-833-8150 vexil7740@gmail.com Class Agent: Barbara Trotter Collins 830-895-2910 btc1959@icloud.com Robin Brown - I've been working from home since mid-March, and it's going well. Have worked at Ingram Content Group 21 years now, and I still find my work interesting and feel fortunate to be able to continue SUMMER/FALL 2020
Alice Wailes Steiner - Alice and her husband David joined the effort to create masks for healthcare professionals who are on the front lines of this COVID-19 crisis. They along with Oldfields helped Steve Saint-Amour and his remarkable team. Thank you for your selfless service and generosity! Sadly, Alice died on September 22, 2020.
1980 Class Agent: Andrea Anderson Gagnon 207-459-0748 tilt1985@yahoo.com
1981 Class Agent: Heather Wistar LaBudde 978-468-7242 hwlabudde@gmail.com Class Agent: Mary Ellen Power Rogers 757-218-2653 mepower2@gmail.com Heather Wistar LaBudde - Hello, Class of 1981! Can you believe we’ll be celebrating FORTY next year? I can’t! Hope you ALL will try to make it back to campus. Hopefully we will be free of Coronavirus by then. Remember someone once said: “Let’s face it; forty isn’t fatal!” Started back to work at the hospital after a few weeks’ furlough, and I am dressed to the Heather Wistar LaBudde nines in protective equipment (PPE) when I go ’81 in her PPE in because of COVID. It’s strange to see every employee in masks as the norm now. I just want to pretend its October and say, “Happy Halloween!” as my pass-by greeting. Maybe this Halloween no one will want to wear masks, or maybe he/she will don a mask over his/her costume character’s face. Who knows! On another note, I started blogging! Very fun! I highly recommend it as a stress outlet if you enjoy writing. I am kicking myself that I didn’t do a better job proofreading it though. What would Hawley Rogers say? Dear me! Perish the thought! I am choosing to write about Down Syndrome and Autism, very familiar territory by now! Hoping to share pictures of some craft greeting cards. Not there yet! Early days. Finally, I am so pleased with my older son, Christopher (cannot believe he will be 21 this year!). He and his university compatriot won recent recognition for their founding chapter of BEST BUDDIES, a socially engaging organization for young folks with special needs. So near and dear to my heart! Hope everyone is keeping well; hoping to hear your news, too! Check out my blog: truthbecomeby.com
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CL A S S N O TE S Kami Landy - Love in the time of COVID: On Friday, May 1, 2020, at 2:00 P.M. Kami Landy of Alachua, Florida, was married to Nelson Leonard Boon of Toronto, Ontario. The simple, intimate ceremony, written by Nelson and Kami, took place under the gazebo, over running water, at Magnolia Plantation B & B in Gainesville, Florida. Attending in person were two witnesses and the officiant, all good friends of the couple. Attending by Zoom were Kami's family, both children, a cousin, and her former husband and his parents. The honeymoon was a cozy weekend in the carriage house apartment of the B & B, complete with gas fireplace in the Jacuzzi bathroom. While we are both well into middle age, happiness is ageless, and beginnings are a renewal of youth. We hope to see you in person next year!
1983 Class Agent: Barbara Lynn Dulin 404-816-6150 barbaralynndulin@gmail.com
1984 Class Agent: Asifa Hassam 301-910-3088 abhpasha@gmail.com Asifa Hassam - I really miss all of you so much. I work at the Charlie E. Smith Life Communities of Greater Washington, and I love it. I have missed out on seeing so many of you. Please stay safe. Love you. Holly Holleran - Using recipes passed down from her grandmother, “Tico,” Holly launched Tico’s Whoopies, www.ticoswhoopies.com, sold exclusively online and shipped nationwide via FedEx. Holly visited Oldfields on February 14, 2019, and brought all the students, faculty, and staff 200 of her delicious whoopies. Everyone loved them!
1985 Class Agent: Alexandra “Alex” Stegemann Christianson 952-928-8841 tofte@earthlink.net Class Agent: Pam Crowder-Thompson 410-428-3859 pamcrowder2015@gmail.com Kami Landy ’81 and wedding party
1982 Class Agent: Adrienne Russo Mach 443-414-7900 adriennerusso1@gmail.com Whitney Riggs O’Connor - My son, Henry, is going to Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, were he studies mechanical engineering, and if COVID allows will play lacrosse. Very proud of him, and hope to see him play. Laura Rogers Towne - All is well here. I am working hard to manage my medical practice in the midst of the pandemic. Very stressful, but we are getting through it. Jason and I are very thankful to have had the girls home. We have had a lot of unexpected time together, and it has been wonderful. I am also grateful to live in an Whitney Riggs O’Connor ’82’s area where I can go outside to run and can son Henry, graduates. get to the beach. Sarah Towne ’17 is home studying for the GRE and taking a class online. We are hopeful that she will get to go back to Rhodes for fall classes. She loves going to class and misses all of her friends. She is hoping to become a child-life specialist and is missing her volunteer work at St. Jude Hospital.
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Pam Crowder-Thompson - I can’t believe it has been 35 years since we walked down Graduation Hill! I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy! My husband Kris and I have been married 30 years now, and our adult children are doing great. I look forward to when we can all gather again at our beloved Oldfields School! Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
1986 Class Agent: Bhawna “Teenu” Agarwal-Hebbar 520-991-9157 teenu@mac.com Class Agent: Anne McIntyre Colclough 202-333-2362 colcloughanne@hotmail.com Class Agent: Virginia “Gigi” Abel Long 805-474-0274 family4long@charter.net Anna “Annie” Barker - Hello, ladies! All is well here in Goshen, Kentucky. I live between two training tracks, both on which I used to exercise horses. Now I sip coffee and watch, thanking God. I am so glad I don’t have to ride for a living any more. Occasionally I walk out and leg up a fallen rider; none speak English. But I’m learning Spanish, ie.: ¿estás bien? (sí) bien, vuelve a tu caballo (que estoy sosteniendo). And leg them back up. My three children are grown 21, 23, and 28, and I am spending my days staying fit landscaping my acreage. Of course, I’m growing vegetables and flowers, and I’m always remodeling something in the house. COVID-19 has kept me home from work (court reporter), so I work eight hours a day, instead, on the property. Hard work is good work. I learned that at Oldfields. I don’t exactly miss listening and recording testimony, but I do miss my attorneys. I’m 52 and feel semi-retired! I’ve stayed in touch OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
“Oldfields taught me how to use my voice and my agency, and these lessons have gone with me through college until this very moment.” CHARELLE JAMES ’88
with Anne Kresko Worth ’86 and Elizabeth “Bizzy” Goldman Beckley ’85. I wish I kept in touch with more of you ladies! See you at the 2021 reunion or sooner. I may take on a second home in Annapolis as my sweetie may be transferring there from Nassau to keep the fleet of catamarans they have docked in Annapolis until COVID restrictions lift, releasing the charters to sail again. Life is good. Wear your masks in public, and sanitize your hands frequently. Love to all the staff there at Oldfields, and get more paddocks! You could fence in a few acres before the soccer fields. Just a suggestion. Grazing horses make for happier, healthy horses. Once a Captain of the Junior Varsity Event team, always a Captain. Speaking of which, where are you, Lairsey duPont Hummel ’87? Varsity Captain and good rider!
1987 Class Agent: Valerie Theberge 202-468-8830 valerie@theberge.com Class Agent: Jill Romanowicz Unruh 610-520-9014 jillunruh@comcast.net Class Agent: Carolyn Ewing Woods 703-239-8889 woodsymc@verizon.net Samantha “Sam” Safdie Miller - Hey, all! There’s quite a few of us Oldfields girls here in Florida, and I would love to see you! I’ve been in Tampa, Florida, for 20 years now and keep in touch with a few. Helena Guest ’88, Polly Williamson McArthur ’88, and I keep missing each other in Palm Beach, Florida. I am still working with horses and have a teenager who is a junior in the International Baccalaureate program. Get in touch with me if you are ever in Florida. Jill Romanowicz Unruh - Hi, Oldfields! We have been home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, since March when everything shut down. Alex is a junior at Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut, and Tyler is a senior at Northfield Mount Hermon. In addition to on-line school in the spring, we all were on the golf course daily, and have improved our game this summer. My parents still live in Katonah, New York, and my sister Heather Romanowicz Howell ’89 lives in Annapolis with her husband and two children. Stay well.
Jill Romanowicz Unruh ’87 with sons Alex and Tyler SUMMER/FALL 2020
1988 Class Agent: Barbara “Babs” Baisley 301-351-3818 x00bab@hotmail.com Class Agent: Charelle James 410-905-5385 charelledjames@hotmail.com Class Agent: Kelly Sanders-Karpulk 717-747-2809 Hollyhillbeagles@yahoo.com Charelle James - I am in my fourth year as Executive Director of Urban Teachers in Baltimore, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the recruitment, training, and placement of career teachers for Baltimore City Public Schools. This is an especially important time to bring new teachers to Baltimore, as education is a tool for social justice and the liberation of Black and Brown students. I, along with a few leaders in my organization, led the charge to close our offices for the first time in commemoration of Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration of the abolition of slavery in America on June 19, 1865. Oldfields taught me how to use my voice and my agency, and these lessons have gone with me through college until this very moment. White Team Captain
1990 Liz Turner Love - While this year has certainly been unspeakably difficult and trying around the country and the world, Vivian Love ’20 finished off her Oldfields career in a beautiful, thoughtful, and emotional virtual Graduation ceremony. Faculty and staff walked down Graduation Hill holding up large headshots of the seniors, and the Zoom ceremony brought tears of joy from students, parents, and Oldfields faculty alike. In solidarity and sisterhood with the seniors that graduated 30 years after us, the Class of 1990 had t-shirts made for the Class of 2020. As for Vivian, she is a freshman at High Point University majoring in entrepreneurship. She is very excited for this next chapter in her life. My love and congratulations to the Class of 2020 – you did it!
The Class of 1990 honors The Class of 2020. 31
CL A S S N O TE S Lisa Zawacki - Hello! We were so sorry to not have been able to come to campus for our 30th! We are accustomed to bringing the Oldfields spirit. We will make it up for our 35th.
1992
1991
Class Agent: Alyssa Boyle Starzyk 617-719-6498 absmvy@gmail.com
Class Agent: Allison Goodman Fleitas 610-213-5300 agfleitas@comcast.net
Class Agent: Mary Simmons Evans 205-447-5562 mevans@raypoynor.com
Amy Askew - Alumna Amy Askew has been recognized for her legal excellence and client service by the 2020 legal ranking guide, Chambers USA. A principal at the litigation firm Kramon & Graham in Baltimore, Amy is consistently recognized in leading legal ranking guides for her work in commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, and railroad law.
Lelei Jennings Coyle - Hello, Oldfields sisters! Greetings from Boise. All is well in the west, although my nest is getting smaller as the boys are quickly growing up. Jackson is in his second year at Bowdoin, Walker is a senior, and Brooks is in 7th grade. Can't believe that the Class of ’91 is due for our 30th reunion this spring. Not sure how time has passed so quickly. I remember thinking how sweet those older ladies were when they returned to campus for their reunions; now that is us! Let's hope for an awesome showing of "sweet older Oldfields alums" coming back home to Glencoe to celebrate our amazing alma mater! Miss you all tons. Amy Askew ’92
1993 Class Agent: Cynthia “Cindy” van der Nat Criscuolo 571-248-2221 cynthiavandernat@hotmail.com Class Agent: Alice Fendley 540-270-7942 alicepfendley@gmail.com Class Agent: Jennifer “Jen” Biondi Navarro 815-343-6926 jennav74@msn.com Lelei Jennings Coyle ’91 with her husband, Chris and three sons, Brooks, Jackson, and Walker.
Class Agent: Ngina Simpson Shulman 410-538-4940 nginas@yahoo.com
Allison Goodman Fleitas - It was definitely a surreal spring for our family. Our oldest daughter, Waring, graduated from Agnes Irwin and is starting at Wake Forest University this fall. Our middle daughter, Hunter, is in her sophomore year in high school, and our youngest, Ryder, is in 8th grade! It’s been a lot of family fun these past several months with everyone being home; secretly I’ve loved it! I hope all are well and sane in this crazy time, and I will definitely try to get to OS soon! Love to all!
Barkley Smith Booker - Maribeth Littlefield P’07 writes, “I wanted to share with you a wonderful online experience I had with my advisees—past, present, and future, and their moms (three are graduates of Oldfields: Barkley Smith Booker ’93 P’21, ’22, Fern Peva ’20, and Meredith Goldstein Marx ’97 P’25, ’25). Also there were underclassmen Abbie Fletcher ’23, Casey Dowling ’25, and Tayah Ratcliff ’21. It was a true Oldfields experience. The Oldfields students shared their advice and knowledge with our incoming student Casey Dowling ’25 via Zoom, and they all reminisced about their time at Oldfields. They were so sweet and helpful talking to Casey about her upcoming experience at Oldfields, and there was much laughter and good conversation. The magic continues.”
1994 Class Agent: Kelly Garrels Goulart 813-435-8764 kellyggoulart@gmail.com
Allison Goodman Fleitas ’91’s daughter’s graduation
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Adrienne Miller Capollupo - We celebrated ten years of marriage in May, and our daughters Sophia and Stella recently turned nine and seven in August. We were moving from Richmond, Virginia, to Raleigh, North Carolina, with my husband's company, but due to COVID we're in limbo (secretly hoping we get to stay). I launched a B2B Lead Generation company this spring while unexpectedly homeschooling. OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
Jody Cowan Evans - Son, Ryan, graduated from The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland on June 6, 2020. He is attending and playing lacrosse for Johns Hopkins University. Caroline Bowers Evans ’94 along with her family attended the celebration in Timonium, Maryland, where both families reside.
a freshman. My stepsons are in 9th and 7th grades at different schools. We have a dog, a cat, and two fish - it's a busy household! It is my third year as the owner of a local, monthly magazine and my 8th year in total with the publication. You can check out Attraction Magazine online or on Facebook! I hope all in the Oldfields family are safe, healthy, and happy!!
Caroline Bowers Evans ’94, William O’Dell (Caroline’s son), Ryan Evans (Jody’s son), Jody Cowan Evans ’94 Allison Downes Rogers - Hello, Oldfields! It has been a long time since I submitted a Class Note! I am still living in Easton, Maryland, but I have quite a few more "roommates" these days. In June 2018, I got re-married to Paul Rogers and have never been happier! Between the two of us we have four children and call ourselves "The Six Pack." My daughter is a senior in high school, and my son is joining her at the same school as
Allison Downes Rogers ’94 and family
1995 Class Agent: Georgia Crawford Nettles 540-955-4541 georgianettles@yahoo.com
Dinosaur vs. Dragon…Mystery Solved! Per Mary McPherson's history of the School, A Feeling of Family: "It was in the early 60s that the team mascots were first adopted. The Green Team's dinosaur, a mascot of the Sinclair Oil Company, came as a gift to Susie Hadden Lawrence ’65 from her brother and was immediately taken over by Booboo FitzHugh Jack ’64, the team captain. Not to be outdone, the White Team adopted the Esso [now Exxon] tiger as their mascot. They have been presiding at team meetings and Green and White games ever since." The question has now been raised – when and why did the mascot of the Green Team change from a dinosaur to a dragon? With the help of many Green Team Captains and faculty members, the mystery has been solved! Wonderful reminiscences
abounded, but long-time faculty member and Art Teacher Dori Reigner, mother of Kerin Backhaus ’03, wins the prize for pointing us in the right direction. In 1982, Director of Activities Ron Romanowicz, father of Jill Romanowicz Unruh ’87 and Heather Romanowicz Howell ’89, was searching for mascot costumes. Finding a tiger was easy, but a dinosaur? Not so much. At last, it was determined that a green dragon mascot costume was the closest he was going to be able to come. And the Green Dragon was born! Special thanks to Green Team Captains Hilary Gardner Swain ’72, Carlisle VanMeter Mayer ’78, KG Dinning ’80, Adrienne Russo Mach ’82, Mary DeFrance Withers ’83, and Amanda Deford Welsh ’90 for all their enthusiasm and stories!
CL A S S N O TE S Class Agent: Brynne Hartley Peck 401-293-0442 ackdesigns@icloud.com Rachel Smith Mullen - Hi all! I'm currently living in Monclair, New Jersey, with my family. I recently went back to work after an extended stay at home with the kids. I am working at Daiichi Sankyo in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs. It's been a great transition back. We still spend a lot of time up in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where my husband and I both grew up. Wishing you all good health and joy!
1996 Class Agent: Meredith Barto Filippini 610-373-5183 mlfilippini@comcast.net Class Agent: Adrienne Seligman 404-808-1152 adrienneseligman@gmail.com
1998 Class Agent: Anna “Anni” Canseco Drinkwine anni@drinkwine.us Anni Canseco Drinkwine - It’s been really busy in the Drinkwine household the last year and a half! We are raising our two little girls and trying to keep up with friends and family from all over the globe! Dealey Campbell ’98 and I try to meet up regularly since our girls are about the same age! Nothing beats lifelong friendships and a chance to watch your kids do the same. Although COVID is a struggle, it is nice to have Zoom meetings with fellow Oldfields alumnae. Loved chatting with Kwan Hansongkitpon Ross ’98, Alyssa Kierkegaard ’98, and Laurelie Wallace ’98, just to name a few. I also got a chance to meet up with Hilary Bieke Vogt ’97 pre-COVID in Florida. Love and hugs to all! I hope we can all meet in person again real soon!
Class Agent: Elizabeth “Blair” Sowers-Seal 843-442-8920 sowerseb@gmail.com
1997 Class Agent: Shelley Short Matthews 713-877-0741 shelleysmatthews@gmail.com Class Agent: Nena Adams Meurlin 804-353-1141 nenaadams@hotmail.com Class Agent: Holly Perzynski 206-719-0913 hollyperzynski@hotmail.com Class Agent: Jill Kusner Rowlett 410-337-5582 jillkusner@gmail.com Class Agent: Wendy Stewart 443-253-1938 navy2001@mac.com
Anni Canseco Drinkwine ’98’s daughters Emmy and Cecilia
Meredith Goldstein Marx - The biggest news that I have to share is that my twin daughters, Casey Dowling ’25 and Parker Dowling ’25, have joined the Oldfields' 8th grade class this fall as day students. We are all excited for them to have an incredible high school experience at such an inclusive, intimate, warm school. It’s fun to think of them walking the halls of Rodney where their mom once walked, and maybe they will have some of my teachers, too. Go White Team!
Anni Canseco Drinkwine ’98 and Hilary Vogt ’97 in Florida
Meredith Goldstein Marx ’97 with daughters Parker Dowling ’25 and Casey Dowling ’25 34
Jacquette McGhee - We were thrilled to welcome back Jacquette McGhee, to Oldfields as a guest Zoom speaker during one of our Multicultural Studies classes this spring. As she has in the past, she shared her journey after Oldfields, attending Pepperdine University and then serving as a Peace Corp representative in Haiti. She connected the lessons she learned OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
at Oldfields to her current job as a refugee officer. The students appreciated her insight and passion for her work as well as what it means to be a strong, empowered, and compassionate woman, traits she feels she gained from an Oldfields education. She has continued to keep in close contact with her former advisor, Maribeth Littlefield, for the past 25 years!
1999 Class Agent: Ashley Vizzi Akridge 410-440-1552 trekfrog@aol.com Keslie Tomlinson - With a heavy heart, I said goodbye to Oldfields this spring after seven amazing years as Athletic Director. It was hard to leave Jane House when it has been my home for ten years, including when I was a student! On the other hand, I’m incredibly excited to have made a complete career change into the world of medical device sales. Ridley and I moved to Towson, and I began a new position with Supreme Orthopedic Systems in July!
have so much business just through baking out of my own home. I’m praying that my business continues to do well, and hopefully my next update will be me telling you all that I opened my own shop!! Until then I’d love for everyone to check out my website: Tastewithstyles.com. I’m am so blessed for all the love and continued support! Oldfields, I miss you, I love you, and I’m hoping to come see you soon!
2001 Class Agent: Tiffany Blake-Anttonen 404-951-7677 Blakeanttonen@gmail.com Class Agent: Rosa “Gunter” Davis 334-288-9941 rgd95_us@yahoo.com Class Agent: Paige Rabalais 713-961-5599 paige.rabalais@gmail.com
2002 Class Agent: Rachael Keller 410-254-5571 rakeller312@yahoo.com Class Agent: Ellen “E.J.” Ruchman 410-757-7473 eruchman@gmail.com
2003 Class Agent: Catherine “Cat” Ford 610-560-6056 cath.ford.341@gmail.com Class Agent: Brant MacDuff 310-910-3664 alastair.brant@gmail.com
Keslie Tomlinson ’99 finishes her final year as Athletic Director at Oldfields Meredith Schweitzer Williams - Hi, Oldfields family! It’s been a very busy year for our family. During the year I’ve been lucky to see several Oldfields friends. Talbot Britt ’98 and Alicia Capollupo ’96 attended my baby shower. We welcomed our first baby, James Alexander, in June. We are so incredibly lucky to be his parents. I made the big decision to leave my career and stay at home with James in September. In October we moved to our new home in Pennsylvania. I was able to see Amanda Delcher Sutton ’97 also in October with Alicia. It’s been a fun and exciting experience working on this old historic home. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in April at the Oldfields reunion!
2000 Class Agent: Erin Stevens Henrie 910-398-8362 simplyunutrition@gmail.com Gretta Styles - Hello, Oldfields, oh how I miss you! Go White Team! I wanted to tell all my fellow sisters that I am happy and healthy with my seven-year-old son Jackson. We are still residing in Pennsylvania recently as due to COVID-19 the restaurant I manage was closed. That gave me three months to focus on starting my baking and pastry business called Taste with Styles. Right now through social media, I am blessed to already
SUMMER/FALL 2020
Catherine “Cat” Ford - We’ve been in Cleveland, Ohio, for almost two years and still love exploring the area and finding new things to do. Henry (4) and Amelia (2) are enjoying riding their bikes, chalking the sidewalk in front of their house, and aggravating their parents as often as possible. Cat (36) and Catherine Ford ’03 and family Steve (36) like coffee, bagels, and any time their kids get really engrossed in some activity like a cartoon and are quiet and still for about ten minutes straight. Heaven. Brant McDuff - I've been keeping pretty busy in my little Brooklyn apartment! In addition to finally re-caulking my tub, I've learned to scrimshaw and am getting licensed as an amateur ("ham") radio technician. But my big news is that I've been tapped to write a book about conservation and the economy in America. Looking forward to the day I can stop at Oldfields on the publishing tour! Miss you guys!
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Brant MacDuff ’03 Monty Rentschler - Hi, gang, been a while since I’ve stopped by to see Oldfields and say hi. That’s because we moved from New York City to Colorado and had a baby. She is now six months old. Her name is Josephine and hopefully one day she’ll have the joy of attending Oldfields, too!! My best to everyone.
Chelsea Stroker Caulder ’04 and family
2005 Class Agent: Katelyn “Katie” Hall 202-580-7747 katelyn.anna.hall@gmail.com Class Agent: Anna Maria Jensen 410-353-0840 a.maria.jensen@gmail.com Class Agent: Shavonne Ward 718-585-6553 sreneeward@gmail.com Katelyn “Katie” Hall - Katie works for KPMG, a global consulting firm, and leverages her Masters in Human Capital Management to lead teams at the Department of Defense. Jessie Isaacs - Jessie is an orthodontist in the Bel Air, Timonium, and Perry Hall locations of Isaacs, Nawy, Stern & Isaacs Orthodontics. Jessie married Brandon Wassel this August in Baltimore, Maryland. Aneesha Marwah - is a 2019 Fellow of the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators. In 2019 she was appointed by the mayor of Minneapolis to serve on the Minneapolis City Planning Commission. On a recent work trip to Baltimore she had a chance to visit with her favorite teachers.
Monty Rentschler ’03 and family
2004 Class Agent: Marney Babbitt-Pierce 928-699-4121 marney.babbitt@gmail.com Class Agent: Courtney Brown Kibblewhite 406-698-6932 courtneykibbs@gmail.com Class Agent: Katherine “Kady” McBrearty Paradise 571-379-6526 kadyparadise@gmail.com Chelsea Stroker Caulder - I hope all is well in Glencoe! I am currently living in Waxhaw, North Carolina, with my husband and three kids, stepson Ryland (12), Jack (2), and Molly (4 months). We feel lucky to all be healthy in 2020. Sending love to the Class of 2004.
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Aneesha Marwah ’05 with Maribeth Littlefield P’07 and Sven Jensen P’05
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Tolulope Okusanya Rotimi - Hello, everyone! I got married in August of 2019 and moved from New York to Maryland. It was a two-day celebration, and a few Oldfields alumnae were in attendance. Three were bridesmaids: Christina Melvin-Dewees ’06, Krislyn Payne ’06 and Charise Richards ’07. The attendees included Xanthe Key ’05, Dominique Young Mejia ’04, Saabirah Fox Muhammad ’06, and Maasha Kah ’07. Tolulope Okusanya Rotimi ’05, Christina Melvin-Dewees ’06, Krislyn Payne ’06, Charise Richards ’07, Xanthe Key ’05, Dominique Young Mejia ’04, Saabirah Fox Muhammad ’06, and Maasha Kah ’07
I worked for 12 years after we sold out to a national company back in December 2019, and a perfect opportunity came up to work with Burg. The only thing I regret is not doing this any sooner! The day we announced we sold, I put my resignation, immediately drove to the funeral home, and was offered a full time position on the spot. Life is good. My son, Sam, is now seven going on 21 and keeps me on my toes. My boyfriend, Nathan, Sam, and I went out to Los Angeles to visit Laura Hodgkinson Whitlock ’05 for a long weekend and had such a great time with her and her husband. Katie Stojinski Cooney ’05, and I keep in touch regularly, as well as Katie Hall ’05, Allison Lurey ’06, Austine Model ’05, and many other Oldfields girls. I was bummed we missed the 15th reunion this year but look forward to next year. 15 years?! Where did the time go? I miss everyone and hope everyone is happy and healthy.
2006 Class Agent: Phoebe Larner 540-987-9650 phoebe.larner@gmail.com Class Agent: Madeline “Maddy” Darrell Pahr 443-562-9904 madelinedarrell@gmail.com Class Agent: Krislyn Payne 301-552-4849 krislyn.payne@gmail.com Jessica Briggs-Clark - I married my husband, Kade Clark, in September of 2019, and we recently moved to Baltimore from New Jersey. I serve as the US Program Director for Zara’s Center, an after-school program for vulnerable youth in Zimbabwe (www.zarascenter.org). Lindsay Hall - Lindsay, an Environmental and Natural Resources lawyer, recently married Brian Dorwin with Caroline Nichols Lawler ’04, Maddy Darrell Pahr ’06, Jessie Isaacs ’05, Katelyn “Katie” Hall, ’05, Katherine “Kate” Tracey Kaltenborn ’07, and Austine Model ’05 in attendance!
Tolulope Okusanya Rotimi ’05 and her husband Sara Sarver Schmidt - My husband, John, and I welcomed our son, Toryn James, on February 5, 2020. Here he is pictured with our three-year-old twins, Lochlan Ross and Colton Dean.
Lindsay Hall ’06, Caroline Nichols Lawler ’04, Madeline Darrell Pahr ’06, Jessie Isaacs ’05, Katie Hall ’05, Kate Tracey Kaltenborn ’04, and Austine Model ’05
Sara Sarver Schmidt ’05’s twins and newborn Katharine Wagner - I recently finished mortuary school at Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and have been serving my apprenticeship with Burg Funeral Home. My apprenticeship runs through September 2021, and after that I will be licensed in Pennsylvania as a funeral director. Finally! It has been a long journey. I left my family business where SUMMER/FALL 2020
Maddy Darrell Pahr - My husband Ryan Pahr and I were married last September in Baltimore. We are currently living in Washington, DC, and I work as an art director. I keep in contact regularly with Katie Hall ’05 and Lindsay Hall ’06, as well as Katherine “Kate” Tracey Kaltenborn ’07.
2007 Class Agent: Catherine “Kate” Maddox 443-799-6032 catherinemaddox522@gmail.com
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CL A S S N O TE S Catherine “Kate” Maddox - Living in Chicago (going on five years now) and enjoying this summer weather for as long as possible! Currently taking some time off to explore a new career path after managing a contemporary art gallery for the past four years. Looking forward to the next chapter and whatever it may bring! Would love to connect with any Oldfields alumnae who find themselves in the Windy City. Sending love and well wishes to the entire Oldfields community - those near and far! Casey Pinkard Savin - Casey performs Magna Wave therapy on the horses at Oldfields and visits often.
Donata Bechstein ’09 teaches a virtual riding class at Oldfields.
Casey Pinkard Savin ’07 at Oldfields.
2008 Class Agent: Caitlin “Caitie” Cunningham 410-303-7874 caitiecunningham@gmail.com Class Agent: Derica Mayfield Jackson 410-949-4725 Derica08@gmail.com Class Agent: Jennie “Jen” Taylor 410-415-6406 JennieWestWind@gmail.com
2009 Class Agent: Emily Acle Cardwell 410-627-7407 Emilyacle1@gmail.com Class Agent: Charlotte Shapiro Enoch 410-812-6553 cspshapiro@gmail.com Class Agent: Angelica Jackson 703-586-8011 angelicaljackson@gmail.com Donata Bechstein - A veterinarian from Germany and FEI Eventing competitor, Donata connected virtually with our Oldfields riding group about her story of choosing and training two horses of very different temperaments. Her current FEI horse was purchased as a foal. Donata shared her journey, insights in to training, and understanding of how an amateur can develop a horse to be an FEI level athlete.
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Emily Acle Cardwell - Hey, everyone! Wow, the last few years have been equal parts amazing and chaotic! On May 5, 2018, I got married to my wonderful husband, Chris Cardwell. We had our reception at the Howard County Conservancy, and many of my Oldfields sisters were there beside me celebrating our marriage. It was the most incredible day! Our 10-year reunion was in April of 2019—our class had such an amazing weekend reminiscing and re-bonding after many years apart ('09 so fine!). I will remember reading my prediction letter next to my girls forever. In September 2019, I quit my corporate job doing visual merchandising in the luxury cosmetics industry. I was extremely burned out and needed to do some soul-searching and take time to recharge. That December, I decided to pursue entrepreneurship full-time and start my own jewelry business called 11 & THOMS. The company focuses on trendy, bold, and affordable jewelry. If you're interested in learning more, we have an e-commerce site and Instagram page! In February 2020, after 11 years of living in Manhattan, my husband and I decided to move to Hoboken, New Jersey. We count our blessings every day that we got out of New York City right before Coronavirus heightened. We are laying low, enjoying life with our cat, Teddy. I hope everyone is safe and sound during these uncertain times. Sending all my love to Oldfields and a BIG virtual hug to the class of 2020. Hoping to see everyone back on campus for a 2021 reunion! GO WHITE TEAM!!!!!!!! GO TIGERS!!!!!!! XO Charlotte Shapiro Enoch - Hi, Oldfields Sisters! I have been working in Baltimore City Public Schools for two years as a special education teacher. It has been a wonderful experience, and I love my students dearly. I am working on completing my LAST semester of graduate school this fall at Goucher College. Come December I will have a master’s degree in special education! I married Patrick Enoch last May at Gramercy Mansion in Stevenson, Maryland. I was so honored to have several Oldfields sisters attend and help us celebrate! We live happily with our cat, Raven, in Baltimore County. We enjoy backyard gardening, hiking, cooking, boating on the bay, and wine tasting! Looking forward to the day we can all be together again! GO GREENS! Natasha Kachikw-Oweh - Go GREENS Go! I am so excited to have moved back to Maryland within the last year. After living and working between New Jersey and Manhattan as a public health nutritionist I decided to grow my career further. I have recently expanded within Federal Nutrition Programs by joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
Services as a Child and Adult Care Food Program Lead. Some of my recent projects include on-boarding new after-school child care programs and monitoring food access for children and adults during the novel coronavirus pandemic in Maryland. I am excited to see what Maryland has planned for me this year. I wish everyone great health. Until next time, my Oldfields family.
brother. Our first son, Lucas Jr., turned 2 in July. It’s crazy how time flies! As if I’m not busy enough staying home and taking care of two boys, I have decided to tackle some home projects in our house in Fallston, Maryland. During quarantine I took the time to look through my Oldfields year books, and it brought back so many amazing memories!
Mary Anne Tsangaris Sweigart - A lot has happened since I graduated Oldfields. I moved to Philadelphia with my parents and attended surgical tech school. While I was in school I met my now husband, Jared, online and moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We dated for five years until we got married this past October 19. Some Oldfields alumnae were at our wedding, Angela Phelps Schwering ’08, Chelsea Princinsky ’06, Katherine “Kat” Anderson ’09, and her mom Deborah Anderson P’09. Once I graduated from tech school I got a job at Gift of Life donor program as a tissue recovery specialist and have now moved on to working at Wellspan Ephrata Community Hospital as a surgical technologist. I have been at this hospital for four months now and am loving it. I know I will be here for a long time. I hope to come visit soon! Go White Team!
Caroline Parks Trout ’11 and baby, Hays
2012 Class Agent: Young Louise Goodyear 504-330-7584 ygoodyear123@gmail.com Class Agent: Alexandra “Ali” Towne 904-540-8823 towne.ali@comcast.net Ali Towne - Ali graduated from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine with her MD and began work as a pediatric resident physician at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, this summer.
Mary Anne Tsangaris Sweigart ’09’s wedding photo
2010 Class Agent: Madison “Maddie” Cole Reese 410-398-8270 mem.reese1010@gmail.com Maddie Cole Reese - We purchased our first home this winter in my hometown of Elkton, Maryland, and are very happy to be settled in. I continue to work as a RN in maternity and have a little over a year left of graduate school. I really missed seeing the Class of 2010 this year, but am looking forward to our much anticipated reunion next year!
2011 Class Agent: Elizabeth “Liz” Santangelo 410-692-5552 santangele@aim.com Class Agent: Caroline Parks Trout 410-588-6605 Cpparks18@gmail.com Caroline Parks Trout - This April, during the center of the pandemic, my husband and I welcomed my second son, Haywood George Trout. He is our little peanut, weighing 7lbs., 6oz. My husband and I are loving seeing our family grow and seeing our first son Lucas just love on his baby SUMMER/FALL 2020
Ali Towne ’12 receives her MD.
2013 Class Agent: Louise Chapman 540-687-1020 lchapman@gwu.edu Class Agent: Danielle “Dani” Miller 610-293-0298 daniannie27@yahoo.com Class Agent: Jordan Spivak 410-833-4642 softballchik1062@aol.com
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CL A S S N O TE S 2014 Class Agent: Charlotte Mayer 859-744-9341 cbmayer20@gmail.com Class Agent: Emma Preston 410-456-3020 emmapreston@comcast.net
2015 Class Agent: Caroline “Carly” Austen-Weinstein 404-457-0643 wcarly123@yahoo.com Class Agent: Remy Branscum 703-759-3206 remy.branscum@gmail.com Class Agent: Cameron “Cam” Brooks-Miller 734-475-0889 brooksmillerc@gmail.com Class Agent: Vana Jovic 646-329-6317 vjovic55@gmail.com
Ali Hickman ’16 graduates from Carleton College.
2017 Class Agent: Elyse Bruzdzinski 410-977-0219 elysebruz@gmail.com Class Agent: Kayla Lewis kllewis@widener.edu Class Agent: Megan May Rivera 201-946-7161 mer2220@barnard.edu
Emily Brownawell ’14, Claire Jermakian ’15, and Louise Chapman ’13 spoke at 100 Nights ’til Graduation, February 2020.
2016 Class Agent: Katharine “Kate” Driscoll 814-808-6370 katehdriscoll@gmail.com Class Agent: Samantha “Sam” Frazier 301-776-0376 samcamfray@yahoo.com Class Agent: Margaret “Ali” Hickman 908-205-9367 hickmanm2@carleton.edu Class Agent: Elizabeth “Lissie” Obrecht 410-935-4487 Obrechtlis@gmail.com Class Agent: Kathleen “Katie” Walsh 410-259-0305 bixietwist@yahoo.com
Ali Towne ’12 and Sarah Towne ’17
2018 Class Agent: Ineza Louise 443-591-1548 Class Agent: Kayla Sherwin 863-619-5304 sherwinkayla@gmail.com Class Agent: Yushan “Wendy” Wu Wuyushan1999@gmail.com
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OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
2019 Class Agent: Kennedy Green 832-633-6884 green.kennedy19@gmail.com Class Agent: Daphne Liu 415-226-8006 daphne.liu@me.com
bigger, and the love I felt from my family and the Oldfields community was more powerful than I had ever felt before. What mattered was what I had in that moment, like my brother for example, who wouldn't have been able to attend otherwise. There is only so much I am able to control from what life throws my way. What matters is how I handle it. Do I let it knock me down, or do I make the best of what I have? That’s a choice only I can make. I learned a valuable lesson that day, and I have Oldfields to thank.
2020
To my OS Sisters—
Class Agent: Ashley Glezer 717-764-2573 peaceash30@gmail.com
We've gained a lot from Oldfields, a high school education, the boarding school experience, lifelong friends, and a forever home. We also gained strength and power. Oldfields grants the gift of empowerment to their girls so WE can take the world by storm. In a time of such loss WE, as strong and empowered Oldfields girls, might feel powerless. But WE are in this together. As our academic classes come to a close, I want to share with you how I have come to appreciate our community more than ever and to utilize the power Oldfields has granted me in this ever-changing world. Making lemonade out of lemons, so to speak.
Class Agent: Daejarie Jones 917-238-9293 Daejarie.j@gmail.com Class Agent: Fern Peva 202-615-4578 pfpeva@gmail.com Class Agent: Rebekah Turner 757-345-6878 rebekahcturner@icloud.com Class Agent: Claire Webne 419-779-3379 clairewbn@gmail.com Ashley Glezer - Recently, I have been spending my time with my family, cherishing the outdoors, and playing with our new puppy, Chloe. Overall, especially in these times, I have been focusing on all of the blessings I have in life and am grateful for even the little things. I have found myself journaling a lot and keeping in touch with friends and family. Our family has really been trying to live in the moment and get outside and be together when we can. It has been nice to take a breath from reality and make memories together outdoors. These circumstances are so unreal, but I am appreciative of the ways we can make a difference, remain positive, hold on to our faith, and still have fun!
When we departed from campus, I felt out of control. I hopped on a plane to California feeling relieved to be home and see my family, but the detachment from Oldfields was daunting; the thought of my time at Oldfields ending so abruptly, without closure, was gut wrenching. When I landed, I thought to myself, "Well, uh, what do I do now?" It took a few weeks, but slowly, I made sense of this whole thing. I noticed I was spending a lot of time thinking about all the things that were "wrong" or "not right" about the world today (I get it, there's a lot). I wasn't focusing on gratitude and compassion. The very second I shifted my mindset from resentment to appreciation, this weighted blanket of negativity lifted from my shoulders. I challenge you all to focus on whatever it is that puts yourself in a state of presence and gratitude and to walk out and smell the roses, step away from what was or the fear of what is to come. Appreciate these last few days of classes with one another, and find joy from what is. To my fellow classmates, the Class of 2020, we are not like any ordinary high school class. We're an independent, intellectual, and invincible group of sisters who have stuck by each other through thick and thin. We have an unbreakable bond and love each other unconditionally. Growing up alongside each and every one of you has been a blessing. My parents often say that sending me to Oldfields was the greatest gift they could give me. I couldn't agree more. Thank you for an unforgettable four years of laughs, love, and lifelong friendships. With love, Viv
Ashley Glezer ’20 and her dog Chloe Vivian Love - This experience was, well, different. I made myself a promise on Graduation morning to not feel resentful towards the circumstances of a virtual graduation. Of course, it was devastating to end my Oldfields journey through the lens of my computer, but I was especially heartbroken for my mom, Elizabeth “Liz” Turner Love ’90, who was supposed to watch her Oldfields legacy walk down the hill exactly 30 years after she had. Not to sound too clichéd, but when I made that promise, everything around me appeared better. The laughs were louder, the smiles were SUMMER/FALL 2020
Vivian Love ’20 graduates virtually. 41
CL A S S N O TE S Past Faculty and Staff
TURNING POINTS MARRIAGES
Katie Ritter - Former development staff member Katie Aiken Ritter invites readers to delve into drama, deception, and questions of democracy in 1000 A.D. Iceland, in her highly-rated Norse Adventure series. Katie’s books are available from Amazon as well as local bookstores, or read for free—by asking your library to order copies! Mary Anne Tsangaris ’09 to Jared Sweigart on October 19, 2019
Kami Landy ’81 to Nelson Leonard Boon on May 1, 2020
Lauren Engle ’11 to Jordan Bowers on July 31, 2020 Past Faculty Katie Ritter published her Viking series of novels. Taylor Smith - We had a house guest in February, Laura Bolton Gance ’73. We got together with Hawley and Wendy Rogers and Sven Jenson at Flagler Beach. Judy and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, home alone because of the lockdown. We have moved from Florida to set up our secondary residence in Philadelphia near our son, Chris, and our two granddaughters, June and Georgia. Our primary residence is in Maine where we are close to our son, Brian, his wife, Allie, our grandson, Sol, and our granddaughter, Sadie, plus our granddog, our two grandcows, our grandcat, our two grandbunnies, our two grandguinea pigs, and our twelve grandchicks.
Tolulope Okusanya ’05 to Yemi Rotimi on August 17, 2019
Jessie Isaacs ’05 to Brandon Wassel on August 15, 2020
Madeline Darrell ’06 to Ryan Pahr on September 1, 2018
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TURNING POINTS
Caroline Parks Trout ’11, a son Haywood George Trout on April 17, 2020
Barrett Pitcher ’15 to Jon Laurence on October 3, 2020
Chelsea Stroker Caulder ’04, a daughter Molly Rose Caulder on January 24, 2020
IN MEMORIAM
BIRTHS
Joan Becker Crane ’36 February 7, 2020 Madeline (Lin) Hartell Herndon ’49 November 29, 2019
Sara Sarver Schmidt ’05, a son Toryn James on February 5, 2020
Emily Bryan Jeffreys ’61 P’82 April 28, 2020 Susan Grier Knoll ’62 January 24, 2018 Anne Tenney ’67 July 31, 2019 Alice Wailes Steiner ’78 September 22, 2020 Victoria Aubinoe ’81 September 22, 2020 Chaia King ’85 August 20, 2020
Monty Rentschler ’03, a daughter Josephine Rentschler on November, 23 2019 Elizabeth Wolfe LeQuang ’10, a son Nicholas Paul on July 30, 2020
SUMMER/FALL 2020
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Icons Miss Herky? Miss McPherson? How about Mrs. Smithwick and Mrs. Latrobe! By Anne Ragland Finney P ’97, Director of Stewardship
Oldfields’ generations past had icons like Miss Herky and Miss McPherson, but today we celebrate our own Oldfields icons—Ansley Smithwick and Barbara Latrobe P’97, ’99! It’s the end of an era, as Ansley and Barbara
Ansley Smithwick stepped onto the Oldfields campus in 1980 to teach French I and II, Western Civilization, and Home Economics (under Dotty Hordubay’s tutelage) and has spent virtually her entire adult life contributing to “the magic of Oldfields,” a phrase she coined. Since then she has arguably held more positions and shouldered a wider variety of responsibilities than anyone else in Oldfields’ history. Ansley’s roles have included, but are not limited to; teacher, Alumnae and Publications Director, World Language Department Chair, Acting Assistant Head, Director of Learning Support, Academic Dean, Associate Head of School (twice!), and Interim Head of School. She did it all with enthusiasm, professionalism, and dedication for Oldfields and its girls. We also have Ansley to thank for Global Awareness Day, a beloved Oldfields tradition that has occurred bi-annually since she started it nearly 25 years ago. 44
both retired on June 30, 2020. They have devoted forty and thirty years, respectively, to Oldfields School, to everyone who passed through her gates, and especially to all the young women who have come here to be educated and have called Oldfields their home.
Ansley says she has stayed at Oldfields all these years because “first and foremost, I believe that Oldfields does what it says it does. We have always been a missiondriven school, and our mission has not changed during my time here. Secondly, my family and I lived on campus in the Pond House for 17 years, and my three children had the opportunity to grow up in a magical place with other wonderful families. Thirdly, Oldfields afforded me the opportunity to grow professionally in many different ways. “Oldfields is a fun place to work. Your colleagues always trust and support you, the students challenge you to do your best, and the atmosphere is positive, optimistic, and looking to the future. This does not mean that everyone who comes to Oldfields gets it. You either understand and appreciate the Oldfields way of life and culture, or you do not. Those who do not, don't stay…and this goes for students as well as faculty and staff. World leaders would benefit from a trip to Oldfields to see how bringing the best out of your community is accomplished!” OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
Ansley
Ansley’s wish for Oldfields’ future? “To continue this legacy, with the help of her faculty, staff, administration, and friends, and most particularly, the strong and committed young women who were raised at Oldfields.”
I would be willing to bet that Ansley will become one of Oldfields’ iconic legends. Although I don't know all of the incredible women who have made an impact at Oldfields School over the course of 153 years, it would be difficult to argue that there has been anyone else who has given every ounce of themselves to Oldfields in a similar manner. Undoubtedly the most passionate educator that I have ever worked alongside, Ansley is deeply committed to our students, their families, alumnae, and Oldfields constituents across the globe.
How fortunate we all are that you came to Oldfields, Ansley. Few if any whom I have known professionally possessed the range of talents that you possess, and few have contributed as much in such diverse roles over the years. I keep files of past recommendations I have written, and I found in one the following adjectives used to describe you. They included poised, articulate, confident, tolerant, compassionate, energetic, firm, empathetic, diplomatic, intelligent, and principled. Oldfields and your colleagues whom you have led and served in your lengthy tenure owe you so much.
- David Perfield, Head of School
- Hawley Rogers P’82 GP’12, ’17, Headmaster Emeritus
For years, on the first floor of Rodney there was this distinctive voice that always floated through the hallway. It was a friendly and familiar voice that signaled “OK, the day is starting. Let's do this!” And it was accompanied by a burst of energy rushing out of a classroom or office to go tackle the issue of the hour with enthusiasm, honesty, and compassion. This indeed was Ansley Smithwick. You knew that ALWAYS she would be there to give you honest counsel and have the students’ best interest at the center of her work.
Although Ansley has worn many different Oldfields hats since I have known her, the recurring theme that defines her is her willingness to help this School thrive. Clearly she loves Oldfields and has dedicated much of her life to its diverse community. Although she is forthright, Ansley is also fun-loving, a bit wild, kind, and generous! Her commitment to Oldfields has never wavered, and I am delighted to know that she will now have time for herself and her family.
- Maribeth Littlefield P’07, History Teacher
- Betsy Isaacs P’05, ’08, Math Teacher and Math and Science Department Chair 45
Ansley has many very special abilities. She is upbeat and has an infectious enthusiasm. She also loves Oldfields, as witnessed by her tenure. She is committed to the School’s philosophy of working to create an environment in which each girl can achieve success. Ansley also knows and is respected by forty years of Oldfields alumnae and parents. I wish her a wonderful and well-deserved retirement! - Taylor Smith, Head of School Emeritus
Ansley you are a magical being. Oldfields is a magical land. It feels like a moment ago that I was sitting in that tiny little room on the first floor of Rodney taking French from you. I promise I can remember everything about that class—your teasing me in French, the pencil behind your ear, your enthusiastic hand gestures trying to help me figure out what you were saying... - Genie Walker Scheurer ’88
If you ever hear a ’did you know,’ it would most likely be Mrs. Smithwick explaining another story or fun fact she wanted to share. Mrs. Smithwick finds joy in sharing her wisdom and advice. Mrs. Smithwick's dedication to others, sincerity to herself, and silliness is something that I admire and will definitely miss. - Ashley Glezer ’20
Go to bed! - Asifa Hassam ’84
Ansley as a new teacher.
Still shining in the classroom
I remember vividly when I began at Oldfields hearing people talk about the Dean of Academics—it seemed like every question I asked, they told me I should go to Ansley for the answer. I could tell from how they spoke that she was respected, loved, admired, and, yes, a little bit feared—a force to be reckoned with! And when I met her, I understood she was all of those things and more. Ansley is an inspirational role model in too many ways to list. - Alicia Bowers P’17, Director of Marketing and Communications
What an impact your kindness and attention had on me! You went out of your way to make sure I was stimulated as a French student, going so far as to recruit a friend of yours to teach me AP French Literature all by myself, and it meant so much. - Jacks (Ashley) McNamara ’97
French class with Mrs. Smithwick was always full of new discoveries. Her classes were engaging, her enthusiasm was contagious, and her passion for teaching was palpable. - Kae Nomura ’03
Initially I was a bit intimidated by you, because you always challenged me. You were forcing me out of my comfort zone, which is how I learned to stand up for myself and to adapt to obstacles in my path throughout life. I will never forget how honest, forthright, and kind you are as a teacher and friend. - Heather Woods Keller ’82
Ansley with former Head of School Hawley Rogers P’82 GP’12, ’17
Barbara
Barbara shared, “This is one of the most nurturing campuses that exists. People really care about who you are and what you want to do with your life, how you want to be involved in the community, and what you can bring to make this better, not only for colleagues, but for also the students. Any need that a student might have, even a challenging one, we will meet and be able to find a solution.”
Barbara Latrobe P’97, ’99 came to Oldfields almost by serendipity, when her daughter joined a Brownie troop led by Oldfields’ Director of Riding Grace Mullen P’95, ’95. Barbara started out as the School’s receptionist, and in 1993 she stepped seamlessly into the role of Headmaster Hawley Rogers’ assistant. Barbara will tell you it was a real education working for Hawley, but it was a close partnership that lasted 17 years. Barbara explains, “What drew me into the community really was the camaraderie of the faculty and the staff and the people I was working with. What led me to stay are the students, the girls. Being around the girls was just absolutely wonderful.” Those years working in concert with Hawley surely contributed to her ability to adapt to the seven Heads of School with whom she has worked so closely, mentoring them in culture of kindness and the feeling of family at Oldfields. Imagine working with seven different bosses, all with different personalities and approaches to the job! And it wasn’t just Heads of School who turned to Barbara. Her office was known to students, faculty, and staff alike as a haven, a place you could go to find a kindly word and an understanding ear. No one can keep a confidence like Barbara, a trait appreciated by everyone from her advisees to the administration to the Board of Trustees. Her efficiency and competence were only heightened by her patience, kindness, and compassion.
I cannot overstate the honor it has been to work alongside Barbara since I became Head of School. Barbara played an essential role with my transition to Oldfields and consistently provided a level of warmth, comfort, and welcome to Lisa, Anna, and Lexi before we arrived in early July 2018. Deeply committed to the growth and well-being of our students, Barbara is a role model who is consistently loyal, kind, and selfless. I admire Barbara for many reasons and appreciate her caring friendship, trust, and partnership. Barbara is the epitome of class and is loved and respected by everyone, and I mean everyone, in the Oldfields universe. Barbara will be deeply missed...and always welcome! - David Perfield, Head of School
Barbara, you have been such a wonderful friend and advisor over the course of my 20 years here at Oldfields. I will never forget my time spent on the bench in your office. You are a patient listener and a wise counselor. You have been the anchor for Oldfields over the course of your time here. Don't be a stranger, and visit often. You will be missed. - Mary McQuinn-Vinyard, Spanish Teacher
SUMMER/FALL 2020
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Barbara new on the job
Barbara signing the yearbooks of Lissie Obrecht ’16 and Stephanie Peart ’16
Mrs. Latrobe is the epitome of poise and grace. She never fails to smile at you like you're the only person in the room. She is truly Queen Clarisse from the Princess Diaries, am I right!? So much love for this lady who seems to just not age! I want her skincare routine. - Claire Jermakian ’15 As I write this, I realize that the adjectives I think of in respect to you reflect the values of the School which we hold up to our students each year. As you know, the two School teams were originally Gentleness and Courtesy, not Green and White. Some scholars translate Fortezza as strength. What a potent combination you have embodied in your strength as well as your thoughtfulness, gentleness, and compassion. I thank God for the fact that you and I shared the years we did together in the East Wing. Thank you, Barbara, also for your kindness and thoughtfulness in my terms as trustee and Head of School Emeritus. You made the visits so easy and made me feel so at home upon my return. Our talks when you would retrieve me from the airport were always a high point, if not the high point, of my visits. - Hawley Rogers P’82 GP’12, ’17, Headmaster Emeritus
Barbara was so special, because she stayed so calm during any crisis. She could take the fire out of any student, faculty, or staff problem. I never heard her complain about anything or anyone. That's a real feat at a boarding school! - Grace Mullen P’95, ’95, former Director of Riding
Libby Pace P’99, Barbara Latrobe P’99, Tiffany Harrison, and MK Koehler
Thank you for checking on me every morning when I walked past your office and always sharing memories with me before my leadership meetings with the Head of School. Your smile was absolutely contagious, and your encouragement always helped me during time of need, more than you know. Thank you, and you will truly be missed. - Sam Frazier ’16
Barbara was always full of warmth whether running into her in the halls, as a fan on the sidelines cheering for our sports teams, or as a mentor and constant source of positivity at Oldfields. Barbara, you have helped so many girls mature into wonderful young women, and I am so thankful that I was lucky enough to get to spend time with you during my years in Glencoe. Thank you! - Claire Higgins Hathaway ’99
Barbara, you were always the smile to greet me when I came to campus! Your love of Oldfields shone in your face and always made me feel welcome. Thank you for all the years you kept the heads of school organized and aware of what was going on with students, faculty, and alumnae! You will be missed and difficult to replace. May all good things come your way. - Jane McColl Lockwood ’86
Who would not want to be greeted at the front door of Oldfields by Barbara Latrobe? Caring, thoughtful, welcoming, and every other superlative for the perfect person for the job of receptionist. No wonder she was snapped up as the Administrative Assistant to the Headmaster position. And now, has it really been 30 years since she walked in the front door at Old House? Seems like yesterday to me. I loved working with her and have loved all the socializing since my retirement. Barbara truly represents everything Oldfields. - Dotty Hordubay, Former Faculty
Babs has been the rock upon which Oldfields has stood over her thirty-year tenure. She served as confidant and counsel for seven heads of school and two acting heads. She handled this without missing a beat, helping to break in each head, by teaching him or her about the School's precious philosophy and history. Babs has been the glue that held the School together. And she has accomplished all this with good humor, charm, and grace, adapting to each head’s distinctive style. She is truly the embodiment of the School’s motto, Courage, Humility and Largeness of Heart. - Taylor Smith, Head of School Emeritus
And now? When asked what she was looking forward to in retirement, Barbara laughed and said, “Time! Time to do some things that I haven’t had time to do. My family, of course. My most important thing is to have time for my family. I have six grandchildren with whom I can’t wait to be able to spend more time, and my daughters and my husband. I love to garden; I will be doing a lot of that. I also have a lot of interest in doing volunteer service work, something I did prior to coming to work at Oldfields, and it’s something I’d like to get involved in again at another point in time. “And absolutely making trips back to Oldfields to see my friends who are still there, any students who haven’t quite graduated yet who will still be there in the next couple of years, so I will always maintain my connections with Oldfields School. It’s been a part of my life for thirty years, and I won’t walk away from it.”
Mrs. Latrobe always offered a friendly face, loving hug, and words of encouragement. During my five years at Oldfields, Mrs. Latrobe was a constant rock for me. We will miss you greatly and wish you the best in your retirement! - Michelle Rosenbaum ’10
As we bid farewell to Ansley and Barbara, we know they will return to campus time and time again. We know they will always be part of the spirit and heart of the Oldfields in you and me.
We’re happy to hear it! Both Ansley and Barbara have given something else to Oldfields that is valuable beyond description—continuity. The years have gone by; the players have changed. But as long as they have been here, they’ve meant something wonderful to every person who has had an association with this School. Their presence has for so long provided the comfort of a familiar face, has given generations of Oldfields girls the feeling that “their” Oldfields still exists, and has inspired confidence in the present and the future of Oldfields. Perhaps this will be their greatest legacy. Two more perfect examples of Largeness of Heart cannot be found. Ansley’s and Barbara’s contributions to Oldfields are legendary, and they will always be remembered with gratitude and love. SUMMER/FALL 2020
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OLDF IEL D S ANNU A L AWA RDS C E R E MONY 20 1 9-20 2 0 The first awards ceremony was held by the Athletic Association in 1923. In time, when academic awards were added to this celebration, it became known as the Annual Awards Ceremony. Below are the awards and recipients whom we proudly celebrated on June 5, 2020.
Academic Awards ENGLISH
Senior Award: Claire Chao ’20 Underclass Award: Anna Altman ’22 Poetry and Prose Awards: Muhan “Angela” Yang ’20 and Ariella Beals ’20
Green and White This award goes to the team winning the most points for intramural games, academics, discipline, attendance, spirit, community service, and the everpopular hunt for the Thing-A-Ma-Bob! WINNER OF THE GREEN AND WHITE CUP 2019-2020
The White Team
Muhan “Angela” Yang ’20 who started her Oldfields career in English Workshop classes, continued to work hard over the years and finished her senior year by winning the Poetry Award. Ariella Beals ’20 expresses herself beautifully in the written and spoken word. FINE ARTS
Margaret Nevens Art Award: Tong “Sophie” Liu ’20 Underclass Art Award: Hope Clarke ’23 The Marjorie Martinet Art Award: Zijie “Jessica” Fan ’20 WORLD LANGUAGES
2019-2020 White Team Captain Patricia “Fern” Peva ’20 virtually accepts the Green and White Cup from David G. Perfield P’29, ’31 and Keslie Tomlinson ’99!
Spanish Award: Ariella Beals ’20 French Award: Claire Webne ’20 Mandarin Award: Catherine “Katy” Franklin ’22
TEAM CAPTAINS 2019-2020
Green Team Captain: Rebekah Turner ’20 White Team Captain: Patricia “Fern” Peva ’20 TEAM SPIRITS 2019-2020
Green Team Spirit: Katherine “Kit” Fisher ’22 White Team Spirit: Kimberly “Kim” Cardona ’21
For her contagious enthusiasm, confidence, and love of learning, Catherine “Katy” Franklin ’22 (center) earned this year's Mandarin Award. MATHEMATICS
Pre-Calculus Award: Madeline “Maddy” Krupp ’21 Calculus Honors Award: Siyue “Laura” Ren ’21 Proudly representing their teams this year were Spirit Kimberly “Kim” Cardona ’21 and Captain Patricia “Fern” Peva ’20 for the White Team and Captain Rebekah Turner ’20 and Spirit Katherine “Kit” Fisher ’22 for the Green Team. 50
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Academic Awards PERFORMING ARTS
Theatre Award: Kasey Michlowitz ’20 Music Award: Kendall West ’20 Dance Award: Ahoefa Nanevi ’20
ACADEMIC HONORS
Class of 2020 students with a grade point average of 93% or above for their senior year: Claire Chao ’20 Rebekah Turner ’20
Grace Vernarelli ’20 Yujue “Chloe” Wang ’20
Seniors with a grade point average of 95% or above for their senior year: Sophie Brault ’20, Ahoefa Nanevi ’20, Claire Webne ’20, Ruochun "Rosanne" Yang ’20, and Linghao “Lucy” Zhang ’20
While there isn’t much glory or fame for working backstage, Erin Wallace wanted to make sure Kasey Michlowitz ’20’s hard work and talent in costume design was recognized with the department award this year. (left) Kendall West ’20 has had a lot of wonderful singing opportunities over the course of her four years at Oldfields, including singing with the America’s Got Talent group, Sons of Serendip. She received the Music Award for the 2019-2020 school year for her love and passion for music. (center) Through her performance, determination and dedication, Ahoefa Nanevi ’20 raised the bar for what it means to be an Oldfields dancer, and for this reason dance teacher Carrie Hammond was pleased to give her the Dance Award this year. (right) SCIENCE
Senior Award: Linghao "Lucy" Zhang ’20 Underclass Award: Haoran "Lucy" Zhang ’22
Linghao “Lucy” Zhang ’20, (front right) shown here with her teacher Jude Zhu (back right) and friends, worked hard throughout her Oldfields academic career, taking many challenging courses and earning the Award for Academic Excellence. Seniors with a grade point average 93% or above for their entire career at Oldfields: Rebekah Turner ’20
Grace Vernarelli ’20
HISTORY
Seniors with a grade point average 95% or above for their entire career at Oldfields: Sophie Brault ’20, Ahoefa Nanevi ’20, Ruochun "Rosanne" Yang ’20, and Linghao "Lucy" Zhang ’20
Senior Award: Sophie Brault ’20 Underclass Award: Madeline "Maddy" Krupp ’21
SENIOR PRIZE FOR SECOND HONORS
The student with the second highest GPA for her senior year in a challenging program: Ruochun "Rosanne" Yang ’20 TAYLOR SMITH PRIZE FOR FIRST HONORS
Student with the highest senior GPA in a challenging program of study: Linghao "Lucy" Zhang ’20 AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The senior who graduates with the highest cumulative GPA in a challenging program: Linghao "Lucy" Zhang ’20 Sophie Brault ’20 was only here at Oldfields for two years, but she made quite an impact on the History Department and earned herself the Senior History Award.
SUMMER/FALL 2020
THE STATE OF MARYLAND MERIT SCHOLASTIC AWARD
The student(s) who is a Maryland resident and demonstrates her excellence in scholastic achievement by earning a cumulative grade point average in the top 5% of her graduating class: Ahoefa Nanevi ’20 and Linghao "Lucy" Zhang ’20
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AWAR DS Faculty Awards
Athletic Awards
NANCY I. O’CONNOR ’75 EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING PRIZE
CHRISTINE HEARTFIELD MEMORIAL PRIZE
Given on the basis of a ballot solicited from alumnae classes two and five years after their graduation from Oldfields: Rebecca Bloom
The student who demonstrates outstanding interest and participation in athletics: Rebekah Turner ’20
McCOLL TEACHING AWARD
Made possible by a generous endowment gift from Mr. and Mrs. Hugh McColl, parents of Jane McColl Lockwood ’86, to recognize outstanding teaching: Betsy Isaacs
Three-season athlete and senior Rebekah Turner, was a dedicated member of the field hockey, basketball and lacrosse teams. NIMICK ATHLETIC AWARD
The student with all around athletic proficiency, good sportsmanship, and team spirit: Grace Vernarelli ’20
It is no surprise that Betsy Isaacs, pictured here with her advisory, won the 2019-2020 McColl Teaching Award. Her classroom, always filled with snacks, was an inviting place for extra help in math. THE ANSLEY D. SMITHWICK FACULTY PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN ACADEMIC AND STUDENT LIFE
This prize is to be presented annually to the faculty member who best exemplifies the Oldfields motto, Courage, Humility and Largeness of Heart by fully and willingly engaging in as many aspects of the academic and student life of the School as possible: Ann Thal
A powerhouse on the field, Grace Vernarelli’s consistency and athleticism strengthened each team she was on.
Associate Director of Riding, Ann Thal, known for her calming presence, is pictured here sharing a meal with her advisees Gabrielle “Gabby” Brown ’21 (left) and Leigh Golumbic ’23 (right)
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Crown Bearer Patricia "Fern" Peva ’20, Maid of Honor Ashley Glezer ’20, May Queen Claire Chao ’20, and Flora Claire Webne ’20
May Court Chosen by the entire Oldfields community, the May Court is composed of the four seniors who most closely represent what it means to be an "Oldfields Girl." Crown Bearer: Patricia "Fern" Peva ’20 Flora: Claire Webne ’20 Maid of Honor: Ashley Glezer ’20 May Queen: Claire Chao ’20 WITHERBEE SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
This award was established in honor of Jill Macrae Witherbee ’49, an
COACH OF THE YEAR
Bez Wallace COMMUNITY SERVICE SENIOR AWARD
Kendall West ’20
Riding Awards HORSEMANSHIP-SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
The student who best demonstrates an understanding of horses, celebrates her own successes with humility, and takes joy in the achievements of her peers: Anastasya "Ana" Pingree ’20
outstanding athlete at the School, and is awarded by a vote of all the team coaches to the “student exhibiting outstanding sportsmanship in both interscholastic and intramural play”: Olivia Davis ’20
This years Witherbee Sportsmanship Award went to powerhouse Olivia Davis ’20. SUMMER/FALL 2020
Kind, curious, and a lover of each horse she rode, Anastasya “Ana” Pingree ’20 won this year's Horsemanship Award.
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AWAR DS THE HORSEMASTER AWARD
The student who is dedicated to improving her riding skills and acquiring additional horse knowledge while possessing a genuine love for the horse: Sydney Freiberg ’20
All School Awards THE GOLD KEY AWARD
The Student Ambassador whose outstanding support and cooperation working with the Admission Office has done the most to convey the Oldfields spirit to visiting families: Sydney Freiberg ’20 TRUSTEE PRIZES
Eighth Grade: Stephanie Ryland ’24 Freshman: Mia Vasco ’23 Sophomore: Jadisha Proano ’22 Junior: Constance “Stancey” Smith ’21 Senior: Yaqing Pi ’20
The 2019-2020 Horsemaster Award went to Sydney Freiburg ’20, a strong leader within the riding program who mentored the underclass riders with genuine respect and care. MOST IMPROVED RIDER AWARD
The student who has made the most significant progress in her development as a rider and horsewoman: Lillian “Lillie” Burbulis ’22
Lillian “Lillie” Burbulis ’22 practices in the upper riding arena.
School Recognitions CLASS AGENTS FOR THE CLASS OF 2020
Selected by their class to keep them connected to each other and to the School: Ashley Glezer ’20, Daejarie Jones ’20, Fern Peva ’20, Rebekah Turner ’20, and Claire Webne ’20
Stephanie Ryland ’24 (top left), Mia Vasco ’23 (top right), Jadisha Proano ’22 (middle left), Constance “Stancey” Smith ’21 (middle right), and Yaqing Pi ’20 (bottom) 54
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
KATHERINE CULBERTSON ’65 AWARD
EDITH LIDDELL TWISS ’28 MEMORIAL PRIZE
The first year student making the greatest contribution to the School: Madeline "Maddy" Krupp ’21
The student who has exhibited the highest standards of good citizenship: Ashley Glezer ’20
Head of School David Perfield with Madeline "Maddy" Krupp ’21—a shining star from her very first day on campus MARIAN CULBERTSON ’63 AWARD
The underclass student making the most positive effort for its own sake: Jooyeon "Juniper" Moon ’22
Ashley Glezer ’20 LEROY M. POLVOGT AWARD
The girl who, by example and by deed, has been the most constructive influence on underclass girls: Claire Chao ’20 MARION H. " CHIP " ALLEN MEMORIAL AWARD
Jooyeon "Juniper" Moon ’22
The student who best exemplifies past Board Chair Marion H. "Chip" Allen’s personal qualities of thoughtfulness and warmth through demonstrated concern for the overall well-being of the Oldfields community and the individuals who comprise it: Ariella Beals ’20
MARY K. MCPHERSON AWARD
The underclass girl with the highest academic average in a challenging program: Siyue "Laura" Ren ’20 JOSEPH T. BRENNAN II AWARD
The girl, who by her own efforts, has made the most significant progress during the current year: Anastaysa "Ana" Pingree ’20
Ariella Beals ’20
Anastaysa "Ana" Pingree ’20 SUMMER/FALL 2020
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AWAR DS THE HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARD
ELIZABETH LEEDS MEMORIAL AWARD
Given each year by the head of school to recognize an outstanding senior: The Senior Class
The senior girl who, in the opinion of the faculty, best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of the School, which are expressed in the Oldfields motto Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart: Claire Webne ’20
The Head of School Prize was presented to the entire Class of 2020, who in the eyes of the Head of School, has risen above all expectations to model Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart for our entire community-all while being resilient, strong, connected, committed, and full of characteristics that exemplify an Oldfields graduate! Head of School David Perfield shared, "This has been a historic year for the Class of 2020. I am aware of their extraordinary Oldfields journey. The plaque that lists the names of all of the Head of School Award recipients rests in the hallway just beyond The Jungle. Because the Class of 2020 deserves special recognition for their overall experience, especially after a spring term like no one else before them has experienced, I have the honor of ensuring their place in the School’s history."
Class of 2020 LORNA M. KELLY AWARD
The underclass girl who, in the opinion of the teaching faculty, possesses the greatest love of learning for its own sake: Siyue "Laura" Ren ’21
Mr. Jude’s Advisory: Yujue “Chloe” Wang ’20, Siyue “Laura” Ren ’21, Leyan “Helen” Wang ’21, and Zijie “Jessica” Fan ’20
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Claire Webne ’20 HELEN E. TRAVERS AWARD
The senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, has made the greatest overall contribution to the School: Claire Chao ’20
Head of School Mr. Perfield, Claire Chao ’20, and advisor Dr. Jeremy Jernigan PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ACHIEVEMENTS
All-School President 2020-2021: Madeline "Maddy" Krupp ’21
Madeline "Maddy" Krupp ’21
OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2020! Our seniors received 189 acceptances and chose to attend the following schools:
Kendall West ’20
Claire Chao ’20
Patricia “Fern” Peva ’20
Anastasya “Ana” Pingree ’20
American University Bucknell University College of William and Mary (2) Emory and Henry College Furman University Goucher College High Point University (2) Johnson C. Smith University Lincoln University Loyola Marymount University Messiah College Miami University of Ohio The Ohio State University Roanoke College Ringling College of Art and Design Rutgers University Savannah College of Art and Design Sweet Briar College University of California, Davis University of California, San Diego University of Colorado, Boulder University of Connecticut University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Michigan University of Oregon University of Richmond University of Southern Maine
Wow! We can’t wait to see what these young women accomplish next! Claire Webne ’20
Olivia Davis ’20
More than $856,500 per year in merit scholarships were offered to our graduates!
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Kasey Michlowitz ’20
Ashley Glezer ’20
Oldfields SUMMER 2020
M A G A Z I N E
NEAR OR FAR, WE ARE OLDFIELDS