The Grammar School Winter 2015
Fall 1966
message from the head elcome to the Winter edition of Roots & Wings, The Grammar School’s publication in celebration of our students, alumni, and school community. As always, there are so many notable activities taking place at TGS each day that it is hard to choose just a few and impossible to share them all in Roots & Wings!
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Contents Trail Improvements ......3 Five Students from The Grammar School Enter Opus 29 ..........4 STEAM and the New 3D Printer.................5 The Grammar School Invitational XC Running Meet...........6 French Café and Mont Tremblant Trip .........7 Spanish Outreach Activities ...................8 Fourth Grade Fairy Houses ......................9 Third and Fifth Grades Attend Tunbridge Fair ..........................10 Seventh Grade in the Woods .....................11 New Faces at TGS........12 Math Teacher Kathy Richardson Mentors Peers........................14 Alicia Brelsford Dana writes about her World Championships victories ..................14 TGS Alumni Make Film Trailer for Tim Weed’s Novel ..15 Fill the Bus! .................16 Alumni Notes..............17
The picture on the cover of this issue of Roots & Wings shows a particularly auspicious day in our school’s history. In the fall of 1966, The Grammar School made the move from a small building on the Richardson’s property to our current home on Hickory Ridge Road. When I showed this picture to Kathy Richardson, TGS alumna and current math teacher, she looked at one of the bookshelves, laughed, and said, “I think that we still have a lot of those things!” It is an especially important time to look back to our history as we look forward to the next phase of our campus development. After finishing the Strategic Plan last year, it was clear that TGS needed to take on a new campus Master Plan. We are currently moving forward in our Master Plan process with the help of Bread Loaf Corporation, a Vermont-based design and build company. Together with Bread Loaf we are working to build a plan that will map out the growth and renovation of our campus to ensure that our facilities best serve the current needs and future aspirations of our school as well as our local community. We expect to finish the Master Plan this winter, and I look forward to sharing the results with the community at large. In the meantime, we are moving forward with some campus improvements, including a significant revitalization of our ski trails to allow greater community access and create even better skiing under a broader range of conditions. As you read this magazine, I believe you will be thoroughly impressed by the depth and breadth of the TGS student experience. TGS students benefit every day from our inclusive, experiential, and integrated approach to education. Our exemplary teachers teach to the whole child as they foster in their students a strong and healthy sense of esteem and an authentic love for learning. I am so proud of our students and teachers for all they accomplish each day at TGS, and I am excited about the strong future of this remarkable school. '
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Bread Loaf Corporation’s TGS campus overview
TGS would not be the school that it is today without the sustained support to our Annual Fund from our many alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends, including the Board of Trustees and our teachers. This year we need your support again. As you read this issue of Roots & Wings, you will be reminded of what a special place we all share and of why we count on and value your investment in the present needs and future strength of The Grammar School.
The Grammar School 69 Hickory Ridge Road, Putney, VT 05346 802.387.5364 tgs@thegrammarschool.org www.thegrammarschool.org Faculty and Staff Dan Marchetti, Head of School P ’24 Charlie Boswell P ’13 Ken Brautigam P ’11,’13 Michael Brown P ’22, ’24 Carol Cutts P ’01 Ponnie Derby P ’97 Laurie Fichter P ’04,’06 Johanna Gardner P ’08, ’10 Apple Gifford P ’19, ’22 Alisa Hauser Mary Heller Osgood ’68 P ’95, ’97 Paul “Hop” Hopkins ’19, ’22 David Hull P ’19, ’22 Liz Jackson P ’19, ’21 Linda Kosiba P ’02, ’04 Alli Lubin Libby McCawley P ’07, ’09 Eve McDermott P ’06, ’08 Tara Meinhard ’88 Tammy Neathawk P ’14, ’16 Hannah Richards Kathy Richardson ’67, P ’02, ’03, ’05 Tracy Rodriguez P ’13, ’14 Jessica Sardinas P ’20, ’22 Jared Stolper P ’11, ’15 Michael Svensson P ’17 Emily Weinberg P ’17, ’19 Board of Trustees 2013–2014 Chris Adams P ’17—Walpole, NH Julie Burns, Vice Chair P ’19, ’24 —Walpole, NH Peter Eden, Chair P ’22, ’24 —Walpole, NH Kevin Freitas P ’14, ’17—Guilford, VT Erika Gustafson ’91—Medford, MA Michael Hornsby P ’18—Putney, VT Peter Howe P ’03, ’06 —Alstead, NH Marcia Leader P ’82, ’85—Putney, VT Maggie Smith P ’90, ’93—Putney, VT Justin Sterner P’24, ’25—Walpole, NH Beth Stickney P ’19—Bellows Falls, VT Eric Velto P ’21—Bellows Fall, VT Trustees Emeritus/Co-founders George* and Kitty Shumlin P ’69, ’70, ’74, GP ’05, ’06, ’09, ’12 Roy (Dick)* and Dottie Richardson P ’63, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’74, ’76, GP ’02, ’03, ’05 * deceased
Cover photo: TGS moving day, fall 1966
Sincerely, Dan J. Marchetti, P ’24 Head of School
Editors: Mary Heller Osgood and Michael Brown Photography: David Hull and other submissions Design/production: Susan Kochinskas, Flocksholm Design
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TGS Trail Improvements GS trails are a valuable community resource and have a long history as a piece of the training ground where countless students learned to cross-country ski. Many of those students developed a lifelong love of skiing, and some went on to the top of the sport at the high school, college, national, and even international levels. As a school, we are committed to nordic skiing and are just beginning the revitalization of our already robust trail network. This fall Zach Caldwell ’84 and I went for a recognizance run to imagine the possibilities of what could be done to improve the trails. With a vision for a few kilometers of low snow viable skiing and the idea for a solution to some critical drainage issues, we sought parent volunteer support to make this dream a reality. Parents, students, and neighbors spent a Saturday morning in the woods widening the existing trails. Seth Holton, parent of Sophie ’24 and Hannah ’22, then spent four days with his bulldozer grading, benching, and creating drainage on our trail system. While there still is work to be done, and endless possibilities for future growth and enhancement, with the help of Seth and many other volunteers, our trails system has vastly improved. If you are in the area, I hope you will come by and ski with us this winter!
by Dan Marchetti
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Early cutting
Seth Holton, P ’22, ’24, with his machine
Start of bulldozing
Finished trail
TGS Annual Fund: Everyone, every year
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Pete Guenther, P ’18, grooming the lower field after an early snow
A gift to The Grammar School Annual Fund is the easiest way to make an immediate and positive impact at TGS. All annual fund donations go directly to the day-to-day operations of the school. Unlike many larger schools with robust endowments, TGS balances the budget each year through tuition revenue and fundraising, which means that we are a school where small gifts make a huge difference. Our annual fund goal of $135,000 is over 8% of our $1.6 million total operating budget. We rely on the annual fund to supplement our tuition and other revenue sources.
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Five Students from The Grammar School Enter Opus 29 ive composers from the sixth grade working with their teacher, Alli Lubin, are currently entered in Music-COMP’s Opus 29 competition. The Grammar School has participated in MusicCOMP and the biannual Opus Competitions for the past thirteen years. Over that time, 31 TGS students have had their pieces selected to be played in a live concert by professional musicians. As its website explains, “The purpose of Music-COMP is to encourage and support students in composing and arranging music. A community of professional composers, teachers, pre-service educators, and students engage in mentoring and online discussion of student work.” TGS music director Alli Lubin is one of the project’s pioneers.
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This year’s entrants from The Grammar School are Wells Mundell-Wood and Amelia Opsahl, Maddie Aho and Viva Vadim, and Cassidy Martin. The instrumentation for Opus 29 is brass, piano, percussion, and voice. The selected pieces will be performed live by professional musicians in the Opus 29 Concert on January 12, 2015 at the Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont. Lubin says, “The students approach their compositions with skill, energy, and excitement. No matter who wins the competition, everyone shares in the rewarding experience. Lives have been changed by involvement in this program. It empowers students to think independently, dare to be creative, work with peers, and experience mentoring via the Internet, all addressing the needs and values of our 21st century learners.” Assistant Head of School Apple Gifford adds, “We love the MusicCOMP program because it integrates music composition and education technology in such a thoughtful and authentic way. We are thrilled that so many students chose to participate in this year's competition, and we can't wait to hear the results!”
left to right: Wells Mundell-Wood ’17, Amelia Opsahl ’17, Cassidy Martin ’17, Maddie Aho ’17, Viva Vadim ’17
Seventh Grade Poetry
The Beauty of… by Flan Sheahan The beauty of a pen, what of that?
Child’s Bedroom by Garrett Weil
Creativity’s messenger, left to sit,
He is quite the nerd, states the Rubiks cube, the Pokemon cards, and
Left to rust in its despairing pit.
the Minecraft merchandise.
A deliverer of thoughts, words, and tales.
He wears braces, says the bag of dental items.
Its shiny metal casing, now cracked into splitting trails.
He has gotten older, say the unused stuffed animals in a cabinet.
A connecter of ideas and paper, Soon, off it will taper.
He likes to repair and build projects, says the overflowing toolbox in the corner.
Once shining and pristine, now dull and impaired,
He is caring, say the pristine cage and fed lizard inside.
Something for which such a beautiful tool has not prepared.
However, he can be slightly disorganized, say the few items strewn about.
The beauty of a pen, what of that?
This boy loves to read, exclaim the many books on the shelves. The boy has left for school, say the pens missing their friends, the pencils.
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STEAM and the New 3D Printer GS has a new 3D printer! The brand new 3D printer and scanner, as well as new iPads and Chromebooks and increased offerings in the after school STEAM program, reflect the school’s increased focus on technology this year. Purchased with a generous grant from AKC Fund, the printer has numerous applications.
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Seventh graders Flan Sheahan and Garrett Weil are especially excited by the new acquisition. They remarked that they both have an immense fascination with the 3D printer. Flan said her dream occupation is to be a chemical engineer, and a 3D printer would help with innovation for that career. She said, “The printer is a creativity tool. When envisioning what you like, you are introduced to creating it for yourself, which is very rewarding.” Garrett wants to be an inventor, and the printer would enable him to make models of his designs. Both students commented that innovation and invention are vital to learning. Currently, the printer is the focus of a STEAM after school activity. Led by technology coordinator David Hull, the activity teaches the basics of programming a 3D printer. The goal is to incorporate its use into the classrooms, as well. Ultimately the printer, and all STEAM activities, will be used as extensions of the academic curriculum and as a connection to initiatives outside TGS. David says, “We’ve had an amazing class thus far. We started by replicating the Upper School on paper and making a 3D model of it. From there we used Sketchup and Tinkercad (two 3D programs on the computer) to design our own models. To be able to print them up and watch this machine add layer after layer of plastic was extremely cool, and the students love watching it. Models can then be picked up and rotated, and the kids learn from their mistakes and make adjustments. I’m looking forward to seeing it used as part of the classroom curriculum.”
Mother to Daughter by Charlie Acker Life for me ain’t been no fairy tale.
It’s had witches and monsters and things under my bed, red glowing eyes and really bad breath. Sharp snarling teeth and ear piercing screams. All this time, I haven’t been scared to go into the dark, haven’t been scared to look under my bed. I’ve been going on, through the dark with the monsters. So, don’t let one little scare ruin your life. Keep going through to the light, to the safe spot, where you know everything will be ok. But life for me ain’t been no fairy tale.
From Technology teacher David Hull: The snowflake in the picture is nice, although it should be thicker. The little TGS keychain worked out pretty well, but the hole is too far away from the edge and is very difficult to get on a keychain. The 3D printer that TGS uses is from Makerbot. Like most printers, it has a spool of plastic that is forced through in a certain pattern to create a specific object. 3D prints are designed on various platforms, and TGS students have used TInkercad and Sketchup. In those programs, a student must design an object, scale it to the proper size, and then rotate it in the way that will allow it to print most easily. Once the program is written, in theory the printer is supposed to just spit out what has been made. The printer has been a lot of fun for us and we are learning quickly what works and what doesn’t.
Business manager Michael Svensson said that STEAM is quantifying the qualities that students learn at TGS. Integrating science, math, engineering, art, and technology into curriculum already happens every day at TGS, and is central to the school’s philosophy. The 3D printer will be used not just to make objects but for understanding how the machine maps images and produces actual models. In Hannah Richards’ art class, students will make clay sculptures, and learn to use the printer to make models of their work. Innovation is central to the purpose of the printer and provides a link between teachers’ curriculums, STEAM, and applications and events outside the school. Michael Svensson observes, “There is a new set of emerging skills around technology, which TGS provides as opportunities for students to learn. They will jump into the fray as soon as they are given a chance to explore these new capabilities. Although some initiatives will die on the vine, they are worth exploring because they will open up huge areas of consideration for the students, who will get to learn the process of iterative design. How cool is that?” Head of School Dan Marchetti says, “We are so grateful to the AKC Fund for helping to provide TGS students with this emerging technology. It is rewarding to watch the students and teachers learn together as we explore this new medium for creativity.”
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The Grammar School Invitational XC Running Meet 2014 he Grammar School held its annual TGS Invitational XC running meet on Wednesday, Oct. 22. More than 125 runners from 6 schools (Academy, BAMS, Ludlow, Putney Central, Riverside Middle School, and The Grammar School) participated in the hilly .5-mile, 1 mile, and 1.5-mile races on a windy, rainy afternoon. Nine children five years old and younger participated in the untimed Lollipop run, where instead of a ribbon each runner was awarded a lollipop at the finish line.
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Thirty-nine runners ran the half-mile race for six, seven, and eight-year-olds. The boys' race was won by third grader Nielsen Kasser of The Grammar School in 4:20. First in the girls’ half mile, and third overall, was seven-year-old second grader Carmen Whitney of Academy School. This was the first year of XC running for both winners.
Amelia Opsahl ’17
Nathaniel Jonathan of Ludlow was second in the half-mile boys’ race in 4:23, and his teammate Milo Tucker finished third in 4:42. Second and third place girls were Alexis Martin from Ludlow in 4:28 and Sadie Bell from Putney Central in 4:29. In the 1 mile race, with 54 runners ages 9-11, first place boy Beau Guenther of The Grammar School crossed the finish line in 7:06, closely followed by first place girl Amelia Opsahl of The Grammar School in 7:07. Nolan Holmes and Henry Thurber of Academy were second and third place boys in the mile run in 7:14 and 7:27. Ava Whitney from Academy was the second girl finisher in 7:22, and Liza Bell from Putney Central was the third girl in 7:58. Trevor Kipp of BAMS crossed the finish line first out of 16 runners in the 1.5-mile race, with a time of 10:00. His teammate Kyle Farnsworth was the second boy in 11:04, and Gunnar Caldwell of The Grammar School was the third boy in 11:24.
Nielsen Kasser ’20
The BAMS girls swept the 1.5-mile race with Liz Morse first in 12:00, Emilia Dick second in 12:08, and Bella Takacs third in 12:46. For the half-mile team awards, the girls’ trophy went to Ludlow Elementary and the boys’ trophy went to The Grammar School. The Academy girls and boys earned the mile team trophies, and the BAMS girls and boys took home the 1.5-mile trophies. Despite the weather, runners and coaches were pleased with the event. Putney Central coach Leah Toffolon thanked The Grammar School for hosting the season finale in the rain. She said, “We all appreciated that we could end our season with such a great competition.” Academy coach Bob Parks commented, “As always, a wonderful day for the kids. I'm so proud of every school for bearing up in the rain. That's real cross-country.”
left, Beau Guenther ’18
Many participants also mentioned how much they enjoyed the traditional cider donuts from Green Mountain Orchards after the races.
“AS ALWAYS, A WONDERFUL DAY FOR THE KIDS. I’M SO PROUD OF EVERY SCHOOL FOR BEARING UP IN THE RAIN. THAT’S REAL CROSS-COUNTRY.”
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French Café and Mont Tremblant Trip rench students at TGS headed to the Mont Tremblant area, in Quebec, with French teacher Johanna Gardner (Madame Jo) for an outdoor activity and service-learning trip in late October. The trip was an extension of their language and culture studies at school.
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To kick off fundraising for the trip, language students served a crêpe lunch for the school in the “French Café” (TGS auditorium) in early October. Under the guidance of Madame Jo, fifth and sixth graders prepared the auditorium and made signs for the menu, while seventh graders, dressed as French waiters complete with striped shirts, berets, and mustaches, served the food. The "French Café “was a huge success. Diners had their choice of savory crêpes, including ham, turkey, and/or Swiss cheese, accompanied by fourmis sur bûche (ants on a log), not eaten by any French person that Madame Jo has known! Dessert crêpes were served, with a delicious ganache made by Burdick’s pastry and chocolate chef, parent Ann-Michele Andrews. At Mont Tremblant students stayed in a real Mongolian yurt and spent time rock climbing, biking, kayaking, and canoeing, as well as performing a work service project and visiting a local organic farm. They also learned some French each day with Léo, their guide. On Halloween, the students went Trick or Treating in Arundel and ate poutine at a local greasy spoon. When asked about the trip, a seventh grader commented, “I loved the variety of things we did and the kayaking was great.” A student who currently studies Spanish added, “This was the best school trip I have even been on! The people were all really fun and the activities were all new and exciting! Plus I loved learning some French.”
Flan Sheahan ’16
Madame Jo commented that the activities were perfect for sixth and seventh graders. After such a successful inaugural trip, she plans to take another group to the region next fall.
Véronique Fortin, Léopold Laliberté, Valentin Klug ’16, Matt Brooks ’16, Garrett Weil ’16, Flan Sheehan
Flan Sheehan, Matt Brooks, Garrett Weil, Valentin Klug
Matt Brooks
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Spanish Outreach Activities panish teacher Liz Jackson is eager to make foreign language and culture part of all students’ experience at TGS. In addition to her position as 5th–8th grade Spanish teacher at TGS, Jackson has traveled extensively in Spain and South America and also has led a number of student trips to Spanish speaking countries. From language, to art, to constructing a mud oven, to learning songs, dances, and poetry, Jackson is always looking for new ways to engage her students and connect them with their peers in other countries.
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Liz recently traveled to the village of Andahuaylillas, Peru, situated in the rural highlands of the Andes Mountains. She stayed at the Q’ewar Project, which provides open, bright, and comfortable workshops where local women can create beautiful handcrafted dolls, doll clothing, and other articles to sell. Q’ewar has created an atmosphere that fosters self-esteem, personal growth, and a way to gain economic independence through learning life skills in a community setting. The Q’ewar School, Wawa Munakuy (“giving love to the children” in the Quechua language) cares for the youngest preschoolers of the working women, who sew handmade dolls while their children attend school next door. Before visiting the project, Liz was inspired to connect TGS and Peruvian children through art. Liz and art teacher Hannah Richards have collaborated to create a meaningful project for the students. TGS preschool and seventh grade students made paintings to send to students of similar ages in Andahuaylillas, Peru. Seventh graders used watercolors to depict images of interests or hobbies important to them, while preschoolers made salt-resist watercolor paintings of the changing leaf colors unique to our New England autumns, as a way of sharing their own experiences. Richards says, “For non-writers and writers alike, this is a lovely
left to right: class of ’14 members Ethan Foster, Mia Rubinstein, Gabriel Feal-Staub, William Parkman
way to correspond with new friends in the universal language of art.” On the first TGS service-learning trip to Ecuador, eighth grade stuAndrés Rodrigues ’14 and Colton White ’14 dents were impressed by the mud oven they used. Teachers Liz Jackson and Charlie Boswell decided to incorporate building a mud oven for the community into their curriculums, and expanded that to include all TGS classes. Students learned ancient skills that still have relevance today, and with the help of TGS parent Owen Dodge, this year’s eighth graders finished the oven in September. Students hosted a movie night with a homemade dinner and brick oven baked pizza for The Grammar School community. Jackson hopes this is the first of many community dinners based on the brick oven. She says, “I personally loved organizing and leading this big project. It was educational and successful. We used the oven at movie night, and it was amazing! A special thanks to all the TGS students who made this possible. On movie night, several first graders stood next to each other, and one said,‘I helped make that!’ The others responded, ‘Yes, me too! That was so much fun and hard work. Now look — we get to eat my favorite food — Pizza!’ ” Liz notes that special thanks for help and support also are due to parents Owen Dodge, Will Dana, and Bob Everingham, and to Smoky, Noah Elbers, and Nahaul Expediciones.
left to right: class of ’15 members Anja Stolper, teacher Liz Jackson, Gracie Childs, Maria Luther-Houghton, Abby Brennan, Miranda Fuller
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Fourth Grade Fairy Houses his September Emily Weinberg’s fourth grade class participated in the Grafton Nature Museum’s annual fundraiser, the Fairy House Tour. The event was primarily a community service for the students, but Weinberg commented that the fourth graders also are at an age where they want to believe in fairies. Building the houses made them contemplate an imaginary world, and they appreciated the opportunity to enter that world.
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Fourth graders with their fairy house
Fourth grader poses in the Nature Museum sign
The students came up with a theme and design for a fairy castle surrounded by a village, which they named Fairy Forest. They collected natural materials from the woods on campus, and spent time practicing how to create the structure. Unlike the other fairy houses in the museum tour that were finished when delivered, TGS students created their unique installation on site, a two and one half hour undertaking. They arranged rocks, moss, berries, and shiny objects to create a pleasing environment for the fairies. Students constructed soft beds, tables, chairs, and a kitchen area to entice fairies to the castle. Weinberg noted that the students were excited and involved in the project. Some of the comments she overheard included, “Come help plant the forest! Let’s build a road! I wish I were just that small so I could live in there... Do you believe in fairies? I do… I am proud of the way we worked together and accomplished this in such a short time.” She said, “It was wonderful to see kids helping each other, discovering things in the forest, being imaginative and innovative, making aesthetically pleasing arrangements, and feeling proud of a group achievement.”
Aiden Fletcher ’19, Emma Newkirk’19, Hannah Sardinas ’19
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Third and Fifth Grades Attend Tunbridge Fair or the fifth consecutive year, third grade teacher Linda Kosiba and fifth grade teacher Charlie Boswell took their classes to visit the Tunbridge Fair on Agricultural Education Day in September. In addition to viewing the typical country fair livestock including chickens, pigs, and cows, students learned about life in early Vermont through the Living History exhibits.
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Activities related to the third grade social studies curriculum included learning how to split wooden roof tiles or shingles, using an ice cream machine “that looked like an engine attached to a tractor,” observing a steam powered corn chopper, and manufacturing baler twine with bicycle power. Students also noted that wooden water pipes were made using a pod augur to hollow out a log. A focus of the fifth grade fall curriculum is bridge construction, and students quickly connected activities in their classroom with displays at the fair. They mentioned that “making things” was the focus of the exhibit, and were impressed with the simple tools used for a variety of purposes. From cutting trees with a crosscut saw, to chopping and hewing logs with an axe, to making shingles with a draw knife, the tools students observed at the fair seemed similar to those they used in the classroom to construct their bridges.
Third and fifth graders watch a demonstration
The students were fascinated with the ingenuity of earlier Vermonters and how relevant their occupations were to the students own experiences at school. Linda said, “It is a perfect way to connect so much of what we study for the first half of the year: history, farming, simple machines, and it is a wonderful way to enjoy a Vermont tradition with our fifth grade classmates as we embark on a new school year.” Charlie added, “What I like best about visiting the Tunbridge Fair and the living history exhibits is the indelible impression that students come away with after observing traditional building techniques and hand tools that have been used for generations in Vermont. These are skills that are implemented in the hands-on fifth grade science curriculum.”
Zinnia Hull ’20 and Gavin MacNeille ’18 observe a pod auger demonstration
THE STUDENTS WERE FASCINATED WITH THE INGENUITY OF EARLIER VERMONTERS, AND HOW RELEVANT THEIR OCCUPATIONS WERE TO THE STUDENTS OWN EXPERIENCES AT SCHOOL.
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Seventh Grade in the Woods he seventh grade science curriculum was based in the TGS woods this fall. Continuing a tradition started in 2001, students created tree plots that served as a basis for understanding and identifying local species. Working in five groups, they marked tree locations on coordinate graphs of their plots, and studied how elevation affects forest zones.
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As a culminating activity for the unit, seventh graders hiked to the summit of 4802 foot high Mount Moosilauke in the southeastern White Mountains of New Hampshire to observe five different forest zones firsthand. Teacher Paul Hopkins noted that Mt. Moosilauke is an excellent mountain for studying forest zones, as the zones are clearly delineated. He commented that students quickly perceived the changes in species and were excited about the change in forest zones. He says, “I noticed how excited the kids were to get into the krummholz [low, twisted trees at the treeline]. They liked to point out the direction of the tree growth and the effect that wind has had on the trees.” After hiking the mountain, the group spent the night at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, a historic structure owned and operated by Dartmouth College that was built from enormous spruce timbers that were logged shortly before the hurricane of 1938. The impact of that storm is still visible in the current day forest, in which many of the trees date from after the hurricane. Hopkins says that when students see the lodge, “their first reaction is usually ‘Whoa!’ or ‘Awesome!’ ”
Seventh graders on the Moosilauke summit – Class of ’16 clockwise from top left: Matt Brooks, Quinn Houston, Ethan Cameron, Ella Warner, Charlie Acker, Flan Sheahan, Myles Kaplan, Garrett Weil, Valentin Klug, Liam Fletcher
As one student remarked, “The trip was an inspiration.” Seventh graders said they could never look at the woods and mountains in the same way again, and they appreciated their newfound understanding of their environment.
Ella Warner on the summit
Dinner at the lodge: Flan Sheahan and Ethan Cameron
Taking a break near treeline — clockwise from top left: Ethan Cameron, teacher Paul Hopkins, Matt Brooks, Garrett Weil, Liam Fletcher, Valentin Klug, Charlie Acker, Ella Warner
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New Faces at TGS TGS welcomes four new staff members to the school this year. Apple Gifford, P ’20, ’22, fills the new position of assistant head of school and academic dean; Michael Brown, P ’22, ’24, is the new director of admissions and marketing; Michael Svensson, P ’18 is the new business manager; and Kurt Lynch is the new facilities manager.
over the last 15 years, and I quickly realized that TGS is a truly special place. As anyone who visits our campus can attest, there is a palpable feeling of inclusion, welcome, and happiness that infuses everything we do. The smiles I see on our kids' faces every day are a gift for which we are truly grateful!
Michael Svensson, Business Manager ichael Svensson is the new business manager at TGS. He took over the office from Deb Gray, who managed TGS’s finances for over 25 years. Though his official job did not begin until July, Michael took advantage of the time Deb was still in the office. He came in several days a week in May and early June and started working full time at the end of June. He said, “What has happened is that Deb is a very smart, capable, high-energy lady who has figured out how to run this place like a clock over many years.” He says that he still is relying on Deb’s advice and expertise and noted that he has her email address and both landline and cell phone numbers.
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Apple Gifford, Assistant Head of School Apple Gifford, parent of a first and third grader and new assistant head of school, spoke to parents at Back to School Night in September about her new position and shared a story about her first few weeks as a TGS employee this summer. She noted that after three years involvement as a TGS parent and spouse of technology director David Hull, she was excited to experience TGS from an employee’s perspective, as well. started in mid-July, which is a quiet time on campus. Due to vacation schedules, there were sometimes only a few of us at school each day. One of the first things I did was schedule oneon-one meetings with teachers.
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I didn’t know the culture and I didn’t know what I could expect. Each teacher came and met with me, and it was during these conversations with teachers that I began to understand TGS from the inside. As a parent I had formed impressions about what I thought was going on in classrooms, but most of the conversations I’d had with teachers up until this point had been about my children. When given a few minutes with a teacher, who among us doesn’t use it as an opportunity to talk about our kids? In my conversations with teachers, I learned so much about the curriculum, the culture, and the traditions at TGS. I found myself sitting back in my chair and marveling at each teacher’s depth of experience. All of them impressed me with their thinking about curriculum, their deep knowledge of the age groups they teach, and above all, their passion for and commitment to TGS. It didn’t take me long to learn that this is a faculty that works hard and is dedicated to keeping every aspect of this school running smoothly, which, I am learning, is no small task. Further explorations into the school — its curriculum, its history, its systems — have only confirmed my initial impressions. There is a lot going on at this school, and there is a lot to celebrate, and I am looking forward to having the opportunity to be part of all of it at TGS.
Michael has held a wide variety of positions, including in corporate strategy at IBM and AT&T, business controller at Credit Suisse, and vice-president of technology services at Salomon, Inc., and also as a math and science teacher and inventor. He said that at TGS he is aware of the operational criticality of timeliness, in contrast to his former professions where much of his work did not have specific deadlines. He says, “I’ve had the privilege of being at some pretty fancy educational places. The school experience I enjoyed the most was up to grade nine in small school, similar to TGS, in Canada. The relationship between teachers and students at TGS feels the same as the one I had in my youth.” He mentioned that after having a couple of months under his belt in the business office, that feeling is still there when he comes to work in the morning. He said, “I’m really happy that my son Nick (fifth grade) gets to be part of this school, and I wish my older kids had that chance.” Michael is relating the types of financial analysis that he did is his former positions to the day-to-day operational tasks in the business office. He said one of his strengths is knowing how to pull numbers apart and put them back together in different ways to really figure out how expenses scale to support different sorts of revenue. In addition to his management skills, Michael took time to referee TGS soccer games this fall, which he said was really enjoyable even though he had not played seriously since high school. He also is looking forward to skiing this winter, which he has not had a chance to do in recent years.
Michael Brown, Director of Admissions and Marketing am happy to join The Grammar School community with my wife, Susan, and our two children, Noah (1st grade) and Wren (Preschool). I have worked in a variety of educational institutions
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In the meantime, he will continue to learn as much as he can about the processes at TGS and try to bring his broad experience and perspective to his new job.
roots&Wings winter2015
Kurt Lynch, Facilities Manager “Stalking the campus with his tool belt, Kurt looks for problems.” urt Lynch took over from long time plant manager Chris Harlow in August 2014. From the moment he started at TGS, he approached every task with a positive attitude and a smile on his face. When confronted by mechanical problems with the lawn tractor, structural issues with an outbuilding, or the more mundane tasks of mowing and lining soccer fields, Kurt seemed unfazed; he just figured out how to solve the problems and moved forward without procrastinating. He said that he never knew what the day would bring, but he would just work on what needed to be done.
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Medieval Faire
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When asked about his first few months in his new position, he applied that do it now attitude. He said, “Should we talk about it right now? Let’s sit on the tailgate of my truck.” So, on a 45-degree morning in November, Kurt relaxed on his tailgate and discussed why he enjoyed working at TGS. He values being at such a positive place, where he says that everyone seems happy, including the kids. When he was at school, he commented that he would rather have been out in the woods than in the classroom, and TGS is one of the few campuses he has seen where the students really like being here (and they have many chances to go out in the woods). Woodworking has been a central focus throughout his life, and he has made an effort to put himself into situations where he could improve his skills. Kurt gets many chances to use those skills in his daily chores at TGS, but at some point he also would like to share them with the students. One of his goals is to build a maintenance/wood shop for tools and machines, and to teach students how to work with wood. He also enjoys landscaping, and another of his goals is to improve the looks of the campus. He hopes to work with students to build stonewalls, which would teach them a useful skill and also improve the school grounds.
Sir Lancelot’s ride
Kurt mentioned that working with people in The Grammar School community has been one of the most rewarding experiences in his job so far. He found the Medieval Faire very satisfying because of the dedicated parent volunteers preparing for the event, and he observed how much fun the children had during the Faire itself. He also remarked how much he liked working with his trash crew during workjobs every day. He has been impressed by the students’ energy and eagerness for every task, from emptying trash barrels to constructing shelves for the school’s kiln. As winter approaches, Kurt is looking forward to a new set of challenges and opportunities. He is eager to learn to ski and groom the trails when the snow falls. He said it will be his first time on a snowmobile, and he is ready! Since he moved from a more urban environment, Kurt appreciates the rural life in Vermont and being able to work outdoors. He enjoys his work at TGS, and looks forward to going home to his wife and young son at the end of every day.
Aiden Fletcher ’16 with the Dragon
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Math Teacher Kathy Richardson Mentors Peers athy Richardson ’67, a longtime teacher at TGS, mentors and supports math teachers around Windham County. Working for Vermont Mathematic Initiative (VMI), she holds homework hours and mentors in the local schools. From 2005–2008 she earned her master’s in math education from the University of Vermont through VMI. From the VMI website: “The mission of the VMI is to support highly effective mathematics instruction across the entire state of Vermont so that all children can learn the rigorous mathematics needed for success in higher education and the workplace.”
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Begun in 1999, the idea for this program came from the head of the University of Vermont Math Department, Ken Gross, and then Secretary of Education, Marc Hull, out of concern for Vermont students doing poorly in math. The program is four pronged, including content, pedagogy, leadership, and research. Students in the program are all practicing teachers or administrators. All participants, preschool to high school teachers, have instruction in content from basic arithmetic through calculus. They study and practice current theories on pedagogy, take part in leadership activities at their schools or districts, and engage in a final action research project. Because the program is based in Burlington with most of the VMI instructors coming from colleges and universities in the northern half of the state, teachers in Windham County had no easy access to help with their studies. That is where Kathy’s strengths as a math educator came in; during her last year in graduate school, Kathy was asked to help other teachers in the program with their homework assignments and upon graduation began to mentor as well. Kathy usually meets with the teachers at TGS on Saturday mornings or after school. Attendance varies from one to seven people throughout the year, depending on the difficulty of assignments and educators’ needs. In addition to working with her peers on assignments, Kathy has mentored a number of math teachers in the area. As a mentor, she visits her mentees in their classrooms four to seven times a year for up to three years to observe and help them implement what they have learned at Vermont Mathematics Initiative.
the grammar school
Alicia Brelsford Dana ’84 writes about her World Championships victories
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had a great racing season in 2014, with a bronze and 2 gold medals at 2 World Cup races, a national championship title, and a gold and silver at the World Championships. Three years of training and racing are finally paying off! For those of you who don’t know, I race a handcycle and am on the US National Paracycling Team. “Paracycling” is a term used to describe cycling for those with physical disabilities, and paracyclists ride bikes with or without adaptations to accommodate their disability. Categories cover such disability groups as amputees, blind, and diseases or injuries of the spinal cord. The US Olympic Committee is the national governing body that oversees the US Paracycling Team. The UCI Paracycling Road World Championships were held in Greenville, SC this year, with over 450 athletes competing and some 45 countries represented — a major event! USA won the overall medal count, and it was awesome to see so many of my teammates up on the podium. With winter approaching, I am getting geared up for lots of hours on the stationary trainer and in the gym, though I hope to get some good skiing in, too!
Getting ready to go
Kathy noted that mentoring other teachers benefits both her own teaching and TGS as an institution. She has the chance to observe and learn from her peers and students in Windham County, and she helps teachers at TGS stay connected with what is happening in math education in the State of Vermont, as well. She feels that her work at VMI has linked TGS to the broader world of math educators throughout Vermont and the entire country.
Alicia racing
roots&Wings winter2015
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TGS Alumni Make Film Trailer for Tim Weed’s Novel ver several days in July, an ad hoc film crew consisting of director Ben Shumlin ’12, parent Tim Weed, Toby Weed ’13, and Roo Weed ’10 traipsed over the summer countryside in and around Putney, Saxton’s River, and Bellows Falls, Vermont, visiting waterfalls, mountain tops, forest trails, and ancient Native American petroglyphs. The crew was armed with the latest video technology, including an array of waterproof GoPro cameras and a camera-mounted quadcopter drone. The purpose of this hightech adventure was to film a trailer for Tim’s new YA novel, Will Poole’s Island.*
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Tim published the novel in August, and he was interested in a trailer to use as a promotional tool. But professionally made videos are extremely expensive to produce, and the book’s publisher, Stephen Roxburgh of Namelos Editions, made the determination that it simply wasn’t worth the investment. However, at around that time it had come to Tim’s attention that Ben Shumlin was developing into a talented filmmaker. Ben has his own media company and several excellent credits to his name, including a video about BMX biking featuring fellow TGS alumnus Jamie Cooper-Ellis and a film about a motorcycle maintenance shop in Brattleboro. So Tim and Ben struck a deal, and the Will Poole’s Island book trailer project was born. As the director and producer of the film, Ben wanted to capture scenes that would express the essential feel of the book, which is a story of adventure, wonder, and mystery set in 17th century New England. The resulting short film is a masterpiece of dramatic tension communicated through words, sound effects, and a montage of striking imagery culled from the crew’s summer adventures. You can watch the video (and read about the novel) at http://timweed.net/will-pooles-island/. If you’d like to see footage of filming with the quad-copter drone, go to: https://www.facebook.com/timweedauthor.
left to right: Roo Weed ’10, Toby Weed ’13, Ben Shumlin ’12
Roo and Ben
*Laurie Fichter’s eighth grade students will be reading Will Poole’s Island as part of their American history/Nantucket curriculum. The book is available from major online retailers including Amazon, or it may be ordered through any independent bookstore.
Roo and Toby
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Fill the Bus! t the end of September, TGS students joined many others from the Putney community to fill the seats in Next Stage Theater with food for the Putney Foodshelf. The Grammar School included its own Fill the Bus challenge to take donations to Next Stage.
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As Head of School Dan noted, “We gathered a tremendous amount of food, and each class participated in bringing bags of food onto our bus.” When the seats were filled with food, seventh and eighth graders squeezed on the bus with all the items, and brought the food to the theater. The students were impressed with the volume of food donated by so many people. Seventh graders commented that they all worked together and it felt good to bring a lot of food. They said it was a pleasure to help people in such a way, and everyone thanked them for it. Teacher Paul Hopkins remarked that he appreciated the visual evidence of how a little from each can make a lot for those who need it most. According to Putney Foodshelf volunteer Pat Dodge, the final tally for all donations was 366 bags of food for a total of 3,755 pounds of food and $1,060 in cash donations. The Grammar School’s share was 85 bags for a total of 831.6 pounds of food! Dan added, “We look forward to future endeavors to Fill The Bus and to our normal tradition of supporting the important work of the Putney Foodshelf.”
Alex Opsahl ’15
above: TGS students and the seats of Next Stage filled with food
right: First graders carry bags to the bus
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Alumni Notes Former Head of School Francis Whitcomb Honored as Vermont Citizen of the Year “My Dad, Francis Whitcomb, speaking with a former student of his — the current Governor of Vermont.”
Marian Whitcomb ’70 writes that Francis “Whit” Whitcomb, TGS Head of School from 1966–1974, was honored as a “Vermont Citizen of the Year” by unanimous vote of the Vermont Senate and House of Representatives. Marian says, “Very cool! And well deserved.” From the Vermont House concurrent resolution honoring Francis Whitcomb of Albany as an extraordinary citizen, educator, and as Vermont’s active community member of the year: (H.C.R.344) …Whereas, as a creative teacher and respected school principal, he has inspired generations of students, including Governor Peter Shumlin, who was a student at the Putney School [The Grammar School] when Francis Whitcomb was headmaster…
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the grammar school
Chris Gabriel ’03 works at Macy’s.com Digital Agency as an Interactive Designer, focusing on national branding campaigns such as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and The Magic of Giving, and he is involved in a variety of multicultural initiatives with his team. In addition to his work at Macy’s, Chris has an independent side project called Needful slated for launch this winter. Needful aims to curate the best products from known and trusted retailers. Anyone interested in hearing when Needful is launched can join the mailing list at http://needful.co.
Shams Helminski ’92
Shams Helminski ’92 is a hospitalist at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. After graduating from the University of Vermont Medical School in 2010, Shams completed his internship in internal medicine at the University of Hawaii in 2011 and residency in internal medicine at UVM/Fletcher Allen in 2013. Kyra Sparrow-Pepin Chapin ’02 has returned to Southern Vermont to raise her family. She and her husband made the decision to send their three-year-old son to TGS, and feel they have made the right choice. She says, “All of the things that I loved about The Grammar School as a student, I am appreciating as a Grammar School parent, plus much more.”
Leander ’25 and Maea Chapin
Anton Wozniak ’10 is studying aeronautics at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, pursuing his lifelong interest in airplanes and flying. Anton has a photography blog at http://www.a-wozniak.com/.
Hannah Green ’10 and Mitike Lyons ’10 were featured in Northfield Mount Hermon School’s Purposeful Education/ Citizenship brochure for their service and outreach efforts. Inspired by her father’s illness to make a difference in the world, Hannah started the Cancer Team at NMH. She also raised money to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to support the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, and was captain of the NMH Nordic ski team during her senior year. She is a taking a semester off before going to Middlebury College. Currently she is in Colorado, working on the chainsaw crew of a conservation corps, doing invasive species removal and fire mitigation. Then she and Roo Weed ’10 will travel to Argentina before they both head to Middlebury in February (where they will join TGS ’10 classmate Addie Mahdavi). Jamie Lumley ’11: Jamie received a coveted academic merit Green and Gold Scholarship from the University of Vermont. A senior at Vermont Academy, Jamie was one of a select group of Vermont high school seniors awarded the scholarship. Excerpted from the UVM website: “The Green and Gold Scholars Program recognizes the academically strongest student at each accredited high school in Vermont with 4-year, full tuition scholarships.”
Anton piloting his plane
Anton with Dan Marchetti
Jamie Lumley ’11
roots&Wings winter2015
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TGS ’12 alumni Devin Hogan, Rudi Gohl, Evan Ray, and Leyeyo Kipamba traveled to Tanzania this summer to build a house for Leyeyo’s mother to replace her traditional Maasai house made of sticks, tarps, straw, and mud. Marjorie Ray said that the boys helped fundraise to pay for the materials and ran an online video campaign, as well as selling jewelry and fabric from Tanzania at Vermont Academy. They made wonderful friends and were asked to eat with Maasai warriors, a privilege that tourists would never be able to experience. Rudi says, “We worked with Leyoyo’s old friends, Baboo and Malita, who quickly became our friends. After work (roughly five hours a day), we would play with young children from the village.” Leyeyo’s American guardian Sarah Messenger adds, “The boys went for six weeks and worked almost every day. They had to walk about 40 minutes each day to get to the work site and remember — no power tools, lots of heat, no store to buy snacks, and dust everywhere. The water to mix with the cement was brought in tanks and that was a part of the expense. The finished house has two beds and a small table and a couple of chairs — it will be the first time Leyeyo’s mother and brother have ever slept off the ground. The usual sleeping set up is dried and stretched goatskins on a dirt floor. His brother is now in school and also proudly wearing a TGS sweatshirt.”
left to right: A friend, Leyeyo Kipamba ’12, Evan Ray ’12, Rudi Gohl ’12, Devin Hogan ’12, a friend
Building Leyeyo’s mother’s new house
Leyeyo’s little broth in his TGS sweatshirt
The Grammar School
69 Hickory Ridge Road South, Putney Vermont 05346 802.387.5364 www.thegrammarschool.org
Abby Brennan ’15