Wyvern Report Winter 2023-24 by Francis Parker School of Louisville

The Wyvern Report

PROFILES Mike Kelley, Athletic Director Ahna Watt ’24 Carol Wyatt ’79, ’83

2023-24

WINTER

Why We Give

We are pleased to greet you as chairs of the Annual Fund Campaign for 2023-24. Our children, Elliot (3rd grade) and Archie (5th grade), are thriving in their school home. From the moment we first visited Francis Parker, we knew that it was a very special place. As we left our first visit, I remarked that I wished my own childhood educational experience had been at Francis Parker; we just felt at home here.

We have enjoyed watching Elliot and Archie grow academically, emotionally, and socially at Francis Parker.

The Annual Fund provides the additional resources that are needed to help Francis Parker cover the costs of building a phenomenal school, which are not met by tuition alone. We give for so many reasons, hoping to help with the needs of:

• Building, maintaining, and constantly improving the structures and campuses, which are beautiful, filled with state-of-the-art technology, and comforting and safe for our children

• Attracting and maintaining teachers who are not only top-notch educators, but who are advisors, cheerleaders, and friends for all of the students (and their parents too!)

• Encouraging artistic expression through amazing plays and musicals, strong music and visual art programs, and by inviting guest artists and authors to visit

• Improving and expanding athletics

• Supporting scholarship and financial aid to help all students and their families achieve their dreams

We are excited to see what awaits our family as Elliot and Archie continue their journeys at Francis Parker School. One of the things we love about our School community is interacting with other families like yours. Together, we can really help Wyverns achieve great things!

Robert Cacchione and Jamie Kemp

Parents of Elliot ’31 and Archie ’33

Ways to Give

The Importance of Alumni

By Alexandra S. Thurstone G’80, ’84 Francis Parker Head of School

Often in these articles, I highlight the current goings-on at the School and our current students’ achievements. For this issue though, I want to focus on our alumni and why we need your help to achieve long-term strength and success for the School.

Our alumni are the living proof of the School’s mission. Your vast and varied contributions to your communities and professions testify to the benefits of a Francis Parker education. Just like our student body, our alumni community is a collection of totally unique individuals, yet there are common threads that run deep and tie us together. In order to better communicate what we believe is the end result of a Francis Parker education, our team of faculty and staff collaborated on the following statement, the Portrait of a Graduate, which we believe captures the essence of what unifies all Francis Parker graduates.

Francis Parker Graduates:

Know themselves and live their convictions; Stay curious, think critically, and never stop learning; Act with kindness and empathy; Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and Engage in the world with creativity and passion.

As we enter into a new era with our new name that helps to clarify who we are, I want all of our alums to know how much we value your continued involvement and engagement with the School. We know that the name change has been hard, and may continue to be hard for those who are not currently involved with the School. So, one way to help with that is to get involved, so you will witness the fact that the spirit and culture of the School that you know and love is very much alive and well, thriving and unchanged.

Focusing on our alumni is one of our priority goals in the School’s current strategic plan. Our alumni relations goal within the Strategic Plan goal charges us to cultivate an engaged and connected alumni community in order to create a robust network of alums for the benefit of both the alumni and student community.

Alumni support and involvement are vital to the long-term success of the School, and I hope that all of our alumni will find opportunities to stay connected in ways that are meaningful to each of you. For instance, giving back to mentor and build relationships with our current students enriches their lives and provides them with role models for their future. We have a “lunch & learn” series that a number of alumni have participated in with our current students, either in person or virtually. Your experience and history with the School helps illuminate the possibilities that lie ahead while providing current students with a warm and welcoming network to lean on and learn from as they head out into the world.

Alumni Features in this issue:

Carol Wyatt G ’79, ’83 Wyverns in New York Alumni Updates Baby Wyverns Alumni Weekend

Another way to be involved with the School is through giving. Alumni giving is a cornerstone of any Independent School’s success and we hope that giving by alums will be commensurate with your belief in the unique and powerful mission of our School. No other Independent or private school in this area (and few in the country) provides financial aid to 60% of its student body, nor dedicates 34% of its operating budget to fund that aid. None of our local peer schools have student bodies like ours that mirror the population of Metro Louisville, with our largest group of students of color being Black students. And no other school has the deep and broad commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging so that all of our students are affirmed for who they are and are free to be themselves. For all of these reasons, we need your financial support.

Creating a thriving, supportive alumni network is important to us, and the more of you who get involved, the more successful we will be. To help facilitate this involvement, our Alumni Committee is working on a number of ways to provide opportunities to connect and stay engaged. So, please be on the lookout for information from them and our Alumni Relations Coordinator Hannah Pate Harris. Mark your calendars to join us for school events and alumni activities that give you the opportunity to network with alums of all ages and interests. We’d also love to hear from you on any thoughts you may have on how we can achieve our strategic goal of deepening our connection with alumni. My door, email, and phone are always open. I look forward to hearing from you.

It was a night of “glamping” at the 2023 Our Good Earth event, held this past October on the Goshen Campus. Patrons showed up in their outdoor “glampy” best to support the Scholarship Fund. Guests were treated to a farm-to-table meal, a ballroom dancing demonstration by High School Spanish teacher Angela Katz and her partner, a special performance by renowned musical artist (and Francis Parker parent) Ben Sollee, and s’mores to boot! Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s event, especially our Donors, Sponsors, Event Chairs, and Committee Members!

Platinum Sponsors

Brown-Forman

Republic Bank & Trust Company

Silver Sponsors

211 Clover Lane

Algood Food Company

MPI Printing

SCM True Air Technologies

Ultimate MD

Wyvern Sponsors

Altman Insurance Services

Intertech Mechanical

Jones, Nale & Mattingly PLC

Luckett & Farley

Manion Stigger LLP

OB/GYN Associates of Southern Indiana

Sterling Thompson Company

Vice Cox & Townsend PLLC

Event Chairs

Kasia Harshaw & Sara Shaughnessy G’96, ’00

Committee Members

Robert Bleifer

Kristin Booker

Beverly Cote

Rose Ellery

Kim Frazier-Pirog

Winnie Georgiev

Heather Hairgrove

Lara Johnson

Lee Middendorf

Stacy Plotts

Jean Terry

Gerri Willis

Dana Wyssbrod

Capital Campaign Update

Creating an Abundant Future

As you will see elsewhere in this issue of The Wyvern Report, Mike Kelley has recently joined Francis Parker to serve as our new Athletic Director. Mike brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position, along with a clear vision for the future of Wyvern Athletics. Achieving this vision will require the full support of our Wyvern community, because for our athletic programs to usher in a new era of Wyvern spirit, pride, and success, we must complete the construction of the Downtown Athletic and Wellness Center. Finishing this critically important project will provide the physical space we need to bring this vision to life and elevate all aspects of the mission, culture, and operations of our School.

In our last issue of The Wyvern Report, we highlighted the details of the project and shared some information about efforts to secure major philanthropic gift support, as well as potential developer partners for the project site. Since our last update, we have hired City Visions, an urban planning firm, to evaluate the feasibility of a mixed-use space for the site and help us identify potential partners with an interest in the Broadway corridor. Along with support from City Visions on how we leverage and best use the site, we have also enlisted the help of Independent School consultant Hank Battle to help boost our Campaign fundraising efforts. Hank also served as the consultant when the School merged in 2012. He will help us craft a new Campaign strategy and plan for securing vital funding necessary to begin construction.

We have some updates to our Capital Campaign plans to share, as well. We are exploring expanding the Campaign to include a STEM Center in the Downtown Athletic and Wellness Center. On the Goshen Campus, we are considering the addition of tennis and pickleball courts, an outdoor learning center, additional classrooms, and a TinkerLab. These newly added projects are in the early stages of development and will continue to evolve as we gather feedback from our school community. We invite you to stay tuned for more exciting news as it unfolds.

With the addition of these new potential projects, our Campaign goal has increased to $15,000,000. To date, we have now raised $2,000,000 toward this goal. We need to reach at least 80% of the goal to begin construction. Now more than ever, we need our alumni community to rally around this effort to make it happen! As we move forward with our plans and fundraising efforts, we will reach out for your support and involvement. As an added incentive, we have recently received a $500,000 matching gift opportunity to encourage your support.

To learn more about how you can participate and how to get involved in Campaign efforts, please contact Bethany Heckel, our Director of Advancement, at 502-795-3890 or bheckel@francisparkerlouisville.org.

2022-23 Annual Report

The 2022-23 school year marked the beginning of our journey under the new Francis Parker name and brand. We are proud to present the 2022-23 Annual Report to the Wyvern community.

This publication highlights our achievements and celebrates our loyal supporters for the 2022-23 fiscal year. There is so much that goes in to making each school year a success, starting with our incredible faculty and staff who work tirelessly to deliver our mission in new and imaginative ways each year. Additionally, our Trustees play a significant role as volunteer leaders who work in partnership with the School to help shape and execute our strategic direction, while safeguarding our short- and long-term financial position. We engage in this work for one reason: our students! They are why we do what we do every day. But we know that none of this would be possible without the generosity and support of the individuals and organizations acknowledged in this year’s Annual Report. Scan the QR code at right to view the 2022-23 Annual Report

View the Report

Curriculum Feature

By Shelly Jones Associate Head of School, Teaching and Learning

Transformative Teaching Growth, Collaboration, and Professional Excellence at Francis Parker

Deep in the heart of the academic year at Francis Parker, we have the invaluable opportunity to reflect upon a transformative, collective journey undertaken over the past few years. The evolution of our School community, marked by the alignment of Core Values, a redefined Vision, and a change in the School’s name just a little over a year ago, is emblematic of our commitment to fostering an environment where both students and educators can truly flourish.

The defining feature of this journey has been our commitment to inclusive and collaborative processes that continue to shape our professional culture so that we can provide the best teaching and learning environments for our students. From the vibrant classrooms of the Preschool to the challenging academic terrain of the High School, a commitment to continuous improvement echoes across all levels.

Together, faculty representatives from all Divisions and school leaders worked to create these Characteristics of Professional Excellence:

Teach with infectious enthusiasm so that learning is a joyful pursuit.

Celebrate and affirm each student for who they are.

Cultivate student voice to empower students both within and outside the classroom. Create a collaborative environment in which students are valued as equal and active participants in their learning.

Apply pedagogical expertise to challenge every student, while meeting them at their own level.

Embody and inspire intellectual engagement, curiosity, lifelong learning, and a spirit of innovation.

Champion social change and service, guiding students to understand their responsibility to serve and to act.

Build authentic relationships of mutual respect and support with colleagues, students, and families.

Live the Core Values and Mission of the School.

Ongoing personal growth for educators is essential, especially in a Progressive school environment. Taking inspiration from the profound insights of bell hooks, a distinguished Progressive educator, professor, feminist scholar, and Kentuckian, at Francis Parker we find ourselves on a path that aligns with her vision of education as the practice of freedom. In her seminal work Teaching to Transgress, hooks astutely observes, “Any classroom that employs a holistic model of learning will also be a place where teachers grow and are empowered by the process. That empowerment cannot happen if we refuse to be vulnerable while encouraging students to take risks.” Encouraging our faculty to take risks is now baked into our professional growth process.

Over the past year, our faculty actively participated in the refinement of our evaluation and professional growth processes. This collaborative effort, marked by transparency and a democratic approach, reflects our unwavering commitment to ongoing learning and growth for all. A significant aspect of this commitment involves supporting teachers in their roles as Progressive educators, embracing experimentation and innovation in the classroom. This aligns seamlessly with our goal of providing an environment where both students and educators are in a continual state of evolution. Mistakes will happen, inevitably, and that is how we learn. Inspiring young risk-takers, problem-solvers, and innovators can’t happen without encouraging the same principles in our teachers. The intended outcomes of this professional growth process? Francis Parker teachers embrace the Characteristics of Professional Excellence and always work towards improving their practice,

demonstrating these characteristics as fully as possible. Here are several snapshot examples, from various divisions:

Teach with infectious enthusiasm so that learning is a joyful pursuit: Lower School art students recently experienced an incredible mathematical, pattern-based magic trick using playing cards. Different students took turns replicating the pattern, and the joyful problem-solving to try and solve the pattern puzzle kept the students engaged and delighted for multiple rounds!

Celebrate and affirm each student for who they are: Each Kindergarten student has a turn as the “Special Friend” for the week. In one lesson, the special friend sat in the front of the class, serving as a leader, while each of their classmates prepared to draw a picture of one thing about their friend that makes them special. All of their classmates’ drawings and sentences were then compiled into a book for the special friend to take home at the end of the week.

Cultivate student voice in order to empower students both within and outside the classroom: This Fall, students at the High School engaged in the Kentucky Youth Assembly, which simulates state government. Our students drafted a bill about issues that matter to them: guns and mental health, and proposed that guns should be removed from those experiencing a mental health crisis. Their bill made it out of committee to be debated on the House floor in Frankfort. They had an incredible experience practicing how democracy works and seeing the power of their individual and collective voice. And, in fact, a similar bill has recently been proposed in the actual Kentucky state legislature.

Create a collaborative environment in which students are valued as equal and active participants in their learning: Preschoolers recently discovered how to play “train” together. Independently, without a teacher guiding them, they began working collaboratively to arrange chairs in a room to simulate a train and created tickets, and then one student acted as the conductor, speaking into a large seashell. The more they collaborated and the more knowledge they shared with each other, the more they kept refining their game. The learning is social and collaborative, and not only in the preschool. The College Preparatory Math (CPM) curriculum in Middle and High School math classrooms is also collaborative. CPM is based on three pillars: 1) Problem-Based Learning: Students learn ideas more usefully for other arenas when they learn by attacking problems — ideally from the real world. 2) Mixed, Spaced Practice: Students learn ideas more permanently when they are required to engage and re-engage with the ideas for months or even years. 3) Collaborative Learning: Students learn ideas more deeply when they discuss ideas with classmates. Again, the learning is social in its context. Our Middle and High School math teachers engage in ongoing professional development and collaboration to implement this rich, challenging program.

Apply pedagogical expertise to challenge every student, while meeting them at their own level: In High School English classes, students engage in “writing days,” working on drafts of essays and examining structure, form, content, and sound-meaning relationships between words. Teachers meet students at their individual levels, suggesting revisions, asking questions, and pushing each student to think more precisely, and critically, and to write with nuance,

complexity, and clarity. Personal essays the students write junior year form the basis for what will become their college application essays senior year.

Embody and inspire intellectual engagement, curiosity, lifelong learning, and a spirit of innovation: Just this year, many of our teachers attended or presented at conferences, including the annual meeting of the Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS) and a number of national conferences: the National Council of Teachers of English, the National Association of Gifted Children, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, the CPM Site Based Leadership Institute, the National Association of Independent School’s People of Color Conference, the NAIS Grading for Equity/Equity Design Lab, and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Wyvern teachers are lifelong learners, curious to grow, develop, and share their expertise.

Champion social change and service, guiding students to understand their responsibility to serve and to act: 6th Grade Advisors led their advisees to craft questions for their service learning organization partner, the Louisville Youth Group, asking thoughtful, detailed questions about the connections between supportive, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and positive impacts on mental health. The 6th graders will continue to partner with the same organization during their time in Middle School, building relationships and seeing the positive impact of their contributions to the community.

Build authentic relationships of mutual respect and support with colleagues, students, and families: 3rd grade teachers supported their students in hosting the School’s third annual Lantern Walk, a community event to help celebrate the Core Values of Kindness and Belonging in which Lower School students created lanterns and led their families on a trek to the School’s very own heart-shaped rock in our nature preserve. Faculty on the Goshen Campus appreciated three after-school “Restoration Tuesdays” yoga classes provided by a colleague, which stemmed from her work with Breathe for Change, an organization that offers training and professional development on yoga, social-emotional learning, and mindfulness for educators, schools, and families. On the Downtown Campus, students are frequently seeking out the company of adults in classrooms and offices during their lunch and free time, sometimes to just hang out, sometimes to talk, and sometimes to enjoy a game of Scrabble or Boggle. Examples abound of the ways in which this Characteristic is lived out in all divisions.

Live the Core Values and Mission of the School: We celebrate the teaching faculty of Francis Parker School of Louisville, as they all embody the Core Values and live the Mission, each and every day. Here's to a vibrant and ever-growing community dedicated to positive impact. The School continues to flourish, while reflecting a blend of kindness and high expectations, and fostering a nurturing environment of continuous improvement for both students and educators.

Faculty Profile

Mike Kelley

Meet Mike Kelley, Francis Parker’s new Athletic Director. Hired this past summer, Mike brings an impressive and extensive resume to the position. Already a hit with students on both the Downtown and Goshen Campuses, “Coach Kelley” has a history of energizing athletic programs.

Originally from Newark, New York, Mike has developed athletic cultures and successful basketball programs at all levels, from teaching fledgling athletes in middle school to coaching competitive college teams. His involvement in athletics began early in life. As a basketball player in high school, his talent earned him a place in the Newark High School Basketball Hall of Fame. In college, he was a team captain and four-year varsity letter-winner at St. Lawrence University.

After studying Athletic Administration at the University of Richmond, Mike became the Assistant Athletic Director at Sullivan County Community College. He then took the reins as Sullivan’s men’s basketball coach, where in his first season, he led his team to the 1995-96 NJCAA Division III National Championship. As a result, Coach Kelley was named the Mid-Hudson Conference Coach of the Year and the National Junior College Coach of the Year.

Mike has built competitive and winning programs at Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston, South Carolina, where his boys’ varsity team won the first regional title at the Class AA level in school history, and at Dublin School in Dublin, New Hampshire, where his girls’ varsity team won the school’s first New England Championship in school history. At Francis Parker, Mike is now coaching the girls’ varsity basketball team in addition to his duties as Athletic Director for the entire school.

“Hiring Mike as our new AD is the realization of our dream of taking Francis Parker Athletics to new heights,” said Alexandra Thurstone. “In my 21-year tenure as Head of School, I have focused on improving all aspects of the School’s programs. Now it is time for us to focus on Athletics, especially as we work towards building the Downtown Athletic and Wellness Center.”

Mike Kelley Athletic Director

Coach Kelley Q & A

What was it about Francis Parker that led you to accept the position?

It was a combination of factors: the strength of the leadership team; the uniqueness of the school; the candor that was shown in all of my conversations when I interviewed; and, frankly, the opportunity to build something special. First figuratively from an athletic culture standpoint and then literally in the new gymnasium.

What is your philosophy of leadership?

I have always been in situations in my athletic career where being a combination of a transformational leader and a servant leader has been most natural for me and has thankfully served the communities I was a part of well. As a transformational leader, it’s my role to lead the creation of a shared athletic vision, build bonds throughout the community, and instill energy and passion. As a servant leader, it’s critical to treat all of the student-athletes I serve fairly, but not necessarily the same. Identifying what is going to best serve each student-athlete is the question that I try to constantly ask myself.

Who are some of your inspirations that guide your thinking?

The legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt is someone who I have read a lot about and had the chance to meet at a coaches’ clinic a million years ago. Her dictum was, “Treat wherever you are like the big time.”

Why is an Athletics program important to the overall success of the School?

The simple fact is that a consistently competitive and successful athletic program is the rising tide that can lift all the School’s boats. Applications increase, community spirit is raised, fundraising improves, alumni involvement grows, and athletic events become a bedrock. Every study done on a competitive athletic program’s role in a school’s culture indicates a positive impact.

What immediate opportunities do you see for growth at Francis Parker?

There are several opportunities we’ve already capitalized on. To recognize our student-athletes, we created the “Athlete of the Week Award” that brings weekly attention to High School Wyvern athletes in our Morning Meetings and on social media. I believe that the kids appreciate that. Our website is being redesigned to include a more robust presence for Wyvern Athletics. I also am very pleased with our recently created partnership with Aptiva Health. First, they will be providing athletic trainers for every Middle School and varsity home event. Second, they will have performance trainers at the High School in our Wyvern Indoor Turf & Training Center at select times, four days per week. This is a game-changer for our student-athletes, and all students, athletes or not, are encouraged to take advantage of the trainers.

Why is building the Downtown Athletic and Wellness Center so important to the future of Francis Parker?

Building the Downtown Athletic & Wellness Center affirms Francis Parker’s place as the strongest, most well-rounded private Independent school in Louisville. Further, within our community, it reestablishes the “education corridor” as a critical growth area for the redevelopment of downtown Louisville. The next few years are going to be exciting for the Wyvern community, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.

Share with friends, family, and prospective students!

GO WYVERNS!

Watch the new video! Follow Wyvern Athletics Facebook

Parker

Francis

YouTube Channel

Ahna Watt ’24

It’s 8,666 miles to Louisville from Thailand, where senior Ahna Watt was born. His family had fled from Myanmar, in the midst of a military coup, to safety in Thailand. When Ahna was three, his family moved to the United States in search of a better future, including a better education.

“Being an immigrant family with no knowledge of how to speak English, things weren’t always easy, but fortunately we were able to make connections with people who were willing to help us and guide us through our first few years living in the United States,” said Ahna.

He attended West End School for middle school in Louisville, which Ahna credits as preparing him for further educational opportunities, like attending Francis Parker. “West End School gave me the opportunity to go to some of the best schools in Louisville, and ultimately, I decided to go to Francis Parker. I thought it was the best fit for me, which it was.

“I’ve always thought highly of the school,” Ahna, the third of three brothers to attend Francis Parker, added. “I always knew the School was academically rigorous, so I knew I had to be locked in and focused and make sure my grades were up to par. I’m glad I made the decision to attend this school because I’ve enjoyed all four years here.”

In his four years as a Wyvern, Ahna participated in three years of soccer (10th - 12th grades) and two years on the basketball team (11th and 12th grades), and he will be competing on the track team for the second straight year. He’s won numerous Francis Parker

Athletics awards, including the MVP Award for his play on the soccer field this past fall and the Wyvern Award in track last year as a junior.

“It’s been a privilege to be able to watch Ahna compete this fall and early winter. His athletic accomplishments speak for themselves, but even at their finest, they pale in comparison to his skills as a leader,” said Mike Kelley, Francis Parker Athletic Director. “His consistent ability to put ‘we’ before ‘me’ embodies everything you would want out of a Captain and a teammate. As we look to ignite our overall athletic program, Ahna exemplifies the traits we’d love to see in all of our Wyvern student-athletes.”

Ahna also draws attention away from the fields and courts; he is an excellent student and a leader in the classroom for the same reasons he excels in athletics. “I feel like the most important (award) to me was the ‘Kindest Classmate’ award in Chinese class because it doesn’t take much effort to be kind to someone and those small things can go a long way and make people’s day.”

“Ahna is an ideal student,” said David Word, High School Biology teacher and Wyvern Retreat Program Coordinator. “He engages with the material both in and out of class, is willing to try new things, and is a solid leader in class and on the field. He encompasses so much of what a Francis Parker student is about.”

Ahna hopes to attend Berea College, Centre College, or Hanover College next year. Regardless of what school he ends up attending, we know he will continue to make us proud!

Student

Profile

“Ahna made this year’s success possible. Without his constant communication with other players, leadership and example during practice, and consistent effort and execution on the field, the team would not have come together in the way that it did. With these qualities in tow, I expect that he will quickly become a leader in all venues at the college level and beyond.”

Ralph Marshall

Francis Parker

Varsity Soccer Coach

HS Dean of Faculty

History Teacher

Carol Wyatt G ’79,’83

What do The Simpsons and Rick and Morty have in common with Francis Parker School of Louisville? Carol Wyatt!

Carol, a graduate of both the Goshen and Downtown Campuses, has worked in animation as an art director, designer, and painter, on multiple Emmy award-winning TV series, features, commercials, and music videos. Her career, including her current position as the color supervisor on the uber-popular Adult Swim series Rick and Morty, was a journey spanning many years.

Upon graduation from Francis Parker, she attended Otis/Parsons School of Design, where she graduated with a BFA in Communication Design and Illustration. From there she started as an editorial illustrator and graphic designer in Los Angeles, working for the LA Times, LA Weekly, The Advocate, Good Housekeeping, and other national publications and ad agencies.

Her start in animation began by painting cells in C.O.P.S. and The Real Ghostbusters, which led to designing, painting, and animating commercials, music videos, and the first four seasons of The Simpsons TV series.

While working on The Simpsons at animation studio Klasky Csupo, she animated, designed and painted on new projects like Rugrats and Duckman, and assistant art directed Lily Tomlin’s Edith Ann series. She worked on Rocko’s Modern Life, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, The Ricky Gervais Show, Over the Garden Wall, and Amphibia, just to name a few.

She credits her break working on The Simpsons as propelling her career: “It’s hard for anyone today to imagine, but there were no primetime animation shows in the 1980s,” she said. “It had been years since shows like The Flintstones and The Jetsons were on regular TV, let alone nighttime television, so I didn’t know that it was possible to have a primetime animated show, and the impact that The Simpsons would have on the entertainment industry.”

Thinking back on her time at Francis Parker, she credits the teachers who encouraged her creativity on both campuses as influencing her career’s success.

“At the time I was (at Francis Parker), the School was known as kind of a hippie school,” she said. “It was very loose; you could put your feet on the table. It was totally different from other schools. It was a tremendously creative environment that I could thrive in.

“The teachers there let you think outside of the box, especially Ann Stewart Anderson (Francis Parker’s founding artist in residence). It was more than just what she taught, it was how she lived her life and what she was teaching me about feminism and being your own type of artist. It was what I learned about her philosophy about life that made such a big impact on me. I think about her still. When you can identify with someone, and they can push you along like that in your formative years, it’s so helpful.”

The outside-the-box thinking environment that Francis Parker advocates, Carol said, was what gave her creative courage as she navigated her career. “Because of the School’s approach to learning, I was less scared to try new things, able to take more risks as a creative person,” she said. “I had a High School teacher when I was there who helped me to be more courageous creatively, to approach things differently than the traditional educational approach.

“Mr. Mikulak, one of my English literature teachers, was great, I mean, everyone loved him so much. He was one of the best teachers I think I’ve ever had in my life. He was such a character. I remember when we were studying Julius Caesar and he made us act it out in class. I’ve never been an actor, I mean I like stories and I like drama, I like being behind the scenes, but I’m not a performer, but it was really great because he made the environment so fun and upbeat and I felt included.”

I felt accepted, that it was okay to be a little bit different. I still felt like I belonged. That’s an incredible gift I received from being a Francis Parker student.

Carol’s education at Francis Parker is one she cherishes and inspires her to this day. Her time as a Wyvern was not limited to the classrooms. “When I was in school at Goshen, I participated in all the sports. Back then all the sports were co-ed so I was on the soccer and basketball teams. I was sometimes one of the only girls on the team or there were just a few of us. I was kind of reserved and a little bit of a geek, you know, I drew on my hand and things like that, but then I would go out and play sports and I felt accepted, that it was okay to be a little bit different. I still felt like I belonged. That’s an incredible gift I received from being a Francis Parker student.”

Alumni Profile

Wyerns in New York

On Sunday, December 10, Devin Emke G’84, ’88 and Maribeth Batcha graciously opened their lovely Brooklyn home to host the annual Wyverns in New York alumni gathering. Guests enjoyed delicious, innovative Mexican cuisine from Alta Calidad, owned by renowned chef and fellow alumnus Akhtar Nawab G’86, ’90. It was a wonderful night of reminiscing with old friends and new, celebrating our shared Wyvern ties, and learning about the exciting vision and plans for the School’s future.

NY

Alums in attendance spanned the mid-80s to the mid-2000s and included Olivia Beres ’14, Anna Finkelstein G’11, ’15, Teddy Finkelstein G’09, ’13, Nat Grauman G’81, ’85, Dakota Isaacs ’11, Katty Jones G’80, ’84, Darini Nicholas ’89, Adam Sachs ’88, Bill Schreiber G’84, ’88, David Tasman ’98, and Gray Thurstone G’10, ’14. Staff present included Alexandra Thurstone G ’80, ’84, Head of School, and Bethany Heckel, Director of Advancement.

Wyverns competed in a hotly contested trivia game for chances to win new and coveted vintage swag. Alexandra gave an inspiring update on school initiatives, including the historic growth in enrollment we are experiencing and exciting forward momentum with plans for the new Downtown Athletic and Wellness Center. It was a fun-filled night with good food, good cheer, and good vibes.

Thanks to all who came out to celebrate being a Wyvern in the Big Apple. For those who couldn’t make it, you were sorely missed, and we hope to see you next year. If you live in the New York area, but did not receive an invitation, please reach out to Bethany Heckel at bheckel@francisparkerlouisville.org with your current contact information so you can be added to the list for next year.

Maribeth Batcha and Darini Nicholas ’89 Alexandra Thurstone G’80,’84 and Anna Finkelstein G’11,’15 Nat Grauman G’81,’85 and Katty Jones G’80,’84 Gray Thurstone G’10, ’14 and David Tasman ’98

Alumni Updates

Jackson Sleadd G’19, ’23

Jackson was recently elected 2027 Class President at the University of Virginia. He is attending UVA on the prestigious Jefferson Scholarship and is studying American Politics and Spanish.

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend

Chris Malpartida ’16

Chris is officially an attorney! He graduated from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law and is now licensed to practice in Illinois. He currently resides in Chicago.

Eva Borders G’14, ’18

Eva graduated from Furman University magna cum laude with a BA in Accounting in 2022. Upon graduating from college, she earned an internship at Humana where she worked full time, while also immediately entering the Professional MBA Program at U of L’s School of Business. She graduated in the fall of 2023 with her MBA as the Valedictorian of her class. Since graduation, Eva has continued working at Humana as a Strategy Advancement Professional in the Pharmacy division.

Wyvern Babies

Hillary Stotts Denham ’05

Congratulations to Hillary Stotts Denham ‘05 and husband Robert Gu on the birth of their baby girl, Etta Sun-Young Gu! She was born October 6, weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz. Etta’s three older siblings were also excited to welcome her.

Stephanie Smith ’02

Stephanie and her husband Zach welcomed their second son, Callum Finley Smith, on May 27, 2023. Stephanie is a historian and is currently working with TED-Ed to write and produce educational animated videos. She currently has seven videos out , which have received nearly five million views.

Wyvern Alumni on Facebook

The annual Homecoming and Alumni Reunion Weekend held September 22-23, 2023 was a wonderful success. Over 30 alums of the classes ’83, ’93, ’03 and ’13 came together to celebrate their 40th, 30th, 20th and 10th reunion years. The festivities opened on Friday with tours of the Goshen Campus in the afternoon followed by attending the Fall Sports Picnic, which is an exciting evening of Wyvern athletics for our field hockey, soccer, and volleyball teams on our Goshen Campus home fields. In addition to athletic contests, the event featured bounce houses and obstacle courses for the little ones, and guests enjoyed delicious burgers and hotdogs complete with all the fixings from our own Wyvern Grill.

On Saturday, thanks to alum parent Ramsi Kamar and his daughter Graciella ’16, reunion guests enjoyed a seated dinner catered by Ramsi’s Cafe on the World. The sounds of laughter and the joyful rekindling of friendships filled the Space for Thought and the halls of our Downtown Campus. Alums toured the building to visit familiar stomping grounds and see the newest renovations and additions to the campus. The event served as a reminder that, even as time passes and individuals embark on diverse paths, their Wyvern connections last forever.

Mark your calendars for Homecoming and Reunion Weekend to be held on September 13-14, 2024.

’84, ’94, ’04, and ’14 Reunion Planning

Calling all members of the classes of ’84, ’94, ’04, and ’14. It’s time to start planning your reunion! Please contact Hannah Harris at hharris@francisparkerlouisville.org or call 502-736-1042 if you are interested in serving on the planning committee. We can’t wait to help you plan a reunion you’ll never forget.

Transportation Day 2023

Preschool Transportation Day is one of the most anticipated days of the year. Students enjoy a day of discovery, learning, and adventure as they climb on trucks and boats, interact with horses, and watch a helicopter take off! A big thank you to our incredible committee, supportive parents, and our amazing community partners who came together to make this special day possible.