Echoes
The Magazine for Alumnae, Students, Families and Friends of The Baldwin School
SUMMER 2020
CONTENTS | SUMMER 2020 FEATURES COMMENCEMENT 2020 Although we could not gather for our beloved commencement traditions, with a little bit of creativity, we celebrated our seniors in a unique and meaningful way. From the newly imagined diploma awarding ceremony, complete with bell ringing, to a car parade that ended with singing the
14 DEPARTMENTS
1 UPFRONT
alma mater and senior song, the Baldwin community recognized the Class of 2020.
Editor: Lisa A. Algeo
Design: Veronica Utz
Photo Credits: Jay Gorodetzer Photography, Legacy Photography, Brooke Rightnour, Molly Schlachter, Sara Sultanik
4 HONOR ROLL
All photographs are identified left to right unless otherwise noted.
6 ALUMNAE NEWSMAKERS
We welcome letters regarding the contents of the magazine and/ or issues pertaining to the school. Letters must be signed. The editor retains the right to edit at her discretion.
8 ACADEMICS
10 ARTS
12 ATHLETICS
22 WHY I GIVE
23 CLASS NOTES
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Please send correspondence to: Lisa A. Algeo, Editor, Echoes The Baldwin School 701 Montgomery Ave. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 lisa.algeo@baldwinschool.org For general alumnae requests or information, please contact the Office of Advancement and Alumnae Engagement: Laura Armstrong, Chief Development Officer laura.armstrong@baldwinschool.org or (610) 525-2700 x286 Editor’s Note: While we could not gather for our traditional photo on the stairs, the Cover was digitally created to celebrate the Class of 2020.
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UPFRONT T
o say that it has been an eventful spring and summer at Baldwin, and across the world, is a true understatement. Beginning on March 13, our usually vibrant campus became still and quiet as we shifted to Baldwin Wired, our online learning program that was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As I sit here today writing this letter for Echoes (just in time for the summer deadline!), there is still so much uncertainty. Our strategy and plans will continue to evolve over the weeks ahead, as new guidelines are announced and new information is available from public health officials. That said, I am confident our commitment to delivering Baldwin’s renowned academic program to our students while balancing efforts to mitigate health and safety risks to our community will prevail. Time and again this spring, the Baldwin community showed its resilience. In the following pages, you will see that despite a pandemic, our community is thriving. We continue to nurture our girls’ academic passions, confidence, empathy and leadership potential. Baldwin’s faculty, staff, students, parents and alumnae are rising to the occasion, showing grit, flexibility, persistence and an unwavering support for one another, re-affirming that true Baldwin spirit we all know and love. Although we could not gather this spring for Class of Green reunions or our beloved commencement traditions, with a little bit of creativity and some help from Zoom, we were able to connect with one another. We celebrated our seniors in a unique and meaningful way. From the newly imagined diploma awarding ceremony, complete with bell ringing, to a car parade that ended with singing the alma mater and senior song, the Class of 2020 concluded their time at Baldwin together – unified despite the challenges – symbolizing how this class will forever support one another, their Baldwin sisters. I also want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in our listening sessions on how we can better support our Black and Brown community members. I recognize these conversations are difficult and uncomfortable, as we think deeply about racism in our School and community. I was saddened and angered to hear of the pain and hurt experienced by our students and alumnae, and I deeply appreciate the vulnerability that so many demonstrated in sharing personal stories and experiences of racism. Please know that I am fully committed to the work ahead and the ongoing conversations about how we can best support our Black and Brown community members as we nurture inclusivity across campus. For more on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, please visit baldwinschool.org/DEI. Despite these challenging times, I know that Baldwin will continue to thrive – together, with our students, alumnae and mission at the forefront of our minds. Countless people have been tirelessly working around the clock to develop our DEI Action Plan, as well as Baldwin’s 2020-21 Strategy for Limitless Learning. Our goal is to reopen campus this fall if permitted by authorities and to provide Baldwin’s tailored in-person academic experiences for all our students, every day. We are simultaneously planning for remote learning scenarios if required by health official mandates. For the most up-to-date information on Baldwin’s re-opening plans, please visit baldwinschool.org/limitlesslearning. As always, I thank you for your commitment and support for Baldwin. Our community rose to new heights in the face of uncertainty. I am so proud to be a Baldwin alumna, and I look forward to the day when we can gather together again on Baldwin’s beautiful campus.
Marisa Porges ’96, PhD Head of School facebook.com/marisaporges Instagram: @MarisaPorges Twitter: @MarisaPorges SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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UPFRONT
Marching-In Celebration DR. PORGES ’96 AUTHORS BOOK
On August 4, Penguin Random House released What Girls Need: How to Raise Bold, Courageous and Resilient Women by Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ’96. Combining research, personal stories and practical advice on timely questions, Dr. Porges delves into hot-button subjects like how to harness girls’ voices and boost girls’ self-esteem. The book shows how little things have a big impact when nurturing vital skills like competitiveness, collaboration, empathy and adaptability. A portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to Baldwin. For more information visit www.whatgirlsneed.com.
The Class of 2021, Class of Red, received their blazers and showed them off during their online Marching-In ceremony, which also included members of the Class of 2020. To begin the event, the juniors kept their cameras off and after a special countdown, they all turned their cameras on at the same time so everyone could see them in their red blazers. During the ceremony, they lit red votive candles, debuted their senior song and received advice and a pin from Ellie Capuano ‘21 and Anajah Brown ‘21 proudly show off their new red blazers. their senior sisters.
BALDWIN SUMMER SESSIONS
With many summer camps cancelled this year, Baldwin was able to pivot and build a robust Summer Session program based on its signature online learning model: a small group environment where expert educators facilitate an exciting, engaging and enriching learning experience. The online Summer Sessions offered a fun and engaging series of week-long enrichment opportunities where Baldwin’s Pre-K through Grade 12 students explored new topics such as Stories and STEAM, Step-by-Step Drawing and Painting, “So You Want to Design an Amusement Park?”, Gardening 101, Mapping and Democracy, Digital Photography and The Art of the Personal Essay. 2
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The Class of 2021 met online to celebrate their Marching-In Dinner.
Triple Crown Affair Goes Online The Baldwin community donned their fascinators, mixed up their favorite cocktails and joined together online in early April for the Triple Crown Parent Social.
Co-chairs Marlo Dilks (P ’29, ’30, ’31) and Leslie Heller (P ’28) and the entire auction committee sprang into action to bring the magic of the Derby and of Baldwin into the homes of our community. Parents generously donated to the “Raise the Paddle” challenge in support of the School’s online learning program, Baldwin Wired. The night would not have been complete without a heartfelt toast from Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ’96 and a guest appearance from her dog Disco (wearing a derby hat, of course!). Left: Marlo Dilks poses with her three daughters Avana ‘30, Chiara ‘31 and Capri ‘29 during the Triple Crown event. Above: Kim Heuer, president of the Baldwin School Parents’ Association, and daughter Grace ‘27 proudly show off their derby hats.
UPFRONT
Baldwin Welcomes New Leadership Team Members
ALEX WAKE ’05 TRIBUTE
Baldwin is pleased to announce that, effective July 1, Dr. Shauna Carter, Christie Reed (P ’23, ’28) and Lisa López-Carickhoff joined the Leadership Team. Dr. Carter is the Middle School Director, Mrs. Reed is the Upper School Director and Ms. LópezCarickhoff serves as Dean of Innovation and Systems. Dr. Carter brings the depth and breadth of expertise critical to leading the Middle School, with extensive experience in and a passion for supporting our Middle School students, faculty and families. She has served for nearly eight years as Principal of West Windsor-Plainsboro Community Middle School near Princeton, NJ, and before that served as the school’s Assistant Principal. Mrs. Reed has been a science teacher at Baldwin for 22 years and has served as Chair of the Science Department, Grade Dean, College Counselor, Faculty Trustee, student club advisor and more. With that wealth of experience, in and out of the classroom, she brings the expertise needed to lead the Upper School, along with a deep commitment to all-girls education and everything that makes Baldwin so special. Ms. López-Carickhoff has been at Baldwin since 2012 serving as the Director of Library and Information Services. In this newly created role, she will oversee academic curriculum innovations and support systems across all divisions alongside any programmatic developments that may be necessary in the coming years, including managing the technology department. Dr. Laura Blankenship began at Baldwin as
Clara Page ‘22 and Alistar Erickson-Ludwig ‘05 each went for a run after the online event, in honor of Alex Wake ‘05.
Even though we could not gather in person this spring for the annual Alex Wake ’05 Memorial 5K Run and One Mile Fun Walk, Baldwin invited the community to a special online celebration of Alex’s amazing spirit and inspiring legacy. Many alumnae, parents, students, faculty and staff joined us for a “Green Out” that celebrated the life of Alex and her class’s 15th reunion year! Alex was a joyful and vibrant member of the Baldwin community and an enthusiastic participant in school activities, including the Cross Country and Winter Track teams. Each year, the Run/Walk is held to raise awareness and to celebrate the life of Alex, who was a victim of domestic violence. Proceeds from the annual event fund an endowed scholarship established in her honor.
a computer science teacher and department chair and throughout her time Left to Right: Dr. Laura Blankenship, Cindy Lapinski and Dr. Anne Longley
at Baldwin, modeled inclusive leadership, vulnerability, collaboration and creativity, We congratulate her on her
new role as Founding Head of School at the San Francisco Girls’ School. Ms. Lapinski started at Baldwin in 2014, and the Middle School is a better place for having had her as its leader and guide. Dr. Longley came to Baldwin with a clear message: student well-being was to come first. She devoted every working hour to the well-being of Baldwin’s Upper School students and was instrumental in creating a more studentfocused Upper School. SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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HONOR ROLL
Grade 5 Moving Up Celebration
Nava Khojasteh ’27 received the Baiba Vasys Core Values Award during the Grade 5 moving-up celebration. Nava has consistently embodied the values set forth in this award – Baldwin’s core values of learning, honesty, respect, compassion and responsibility. Academically, she is a true dedicated learner; in the classroom and beyond, she consistently probes to further her insight, to make connections and to support others in doing so as well. Nava is respectful to all members of the community – peers and adults – and is compassionate and always looking out for others. This year, Nava’s teachers watched her use her grit and persistence to navigate a challenging time, managing disappointment while helping others assimilate, make friends and feel at home at Baldwin.
Grade 8 Moving Up Celebration
During the June 1 Grade 8 movingup celebration, Aubyn Mackey ’24 received the Ruth Fiesel ’38 Award in recognition of her contributions to the life of the Middle School. Aubyn consistently demonstrated a positive attitude and a strong sense of responsibility toward her learning. She is self-motivated, a keen problem-solver and embraced her leadership experiences with thoughtfulness and confidence in and outside the classroom. She made a concerted effort to include different perspectives and individuals. In line with the Middle School philosophy, Aubyn tapped into her many interests and participated in numerous co-curricular experiences. She approached challenges in a responsible, realistic and compassionate manner.
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UPPER SCHOOL CLASS DAY 2020 On June 2, Baldwin recognized Upper School students at Class Day in celebration of their high academic achievements and demonstration of Baldwin’s ideals in their everyday lives. The highest honor, The Baldwin Award – given to a senior who has distinguished herself in pursuit of excellence in academics, the arts, leadership, service and sensitivity to others – went to Sasha Wayman ’20.
OTHER AWARDS INCLUDE: The Baldwin Class of 2003 Award: Alex Loomis ’20
The Caroline Simon Award: Annie Lin ’20
The Baldwin Class of 2002 Award: Samantha Baron ’20
The Phi Beta Kappa Award: Melody Yu ’20
The Baldwin Class of 1998 Award: Blanche Jiang ’20
The Coughanowr Linguistics Award: Lindsey Brodsky ’20
The Rachel Shao Sun Award: Menal Siddiqui ’20
The Eva Macklis Award: Jattu Fahnbulleh ’20
For a list of all student award winners, please visit the news section of our website at www.baldwinschool.org.
BALDWIN
CONNECT.ORG
Alumnae networking, evolved. The new MOBILE APP provides direct access to Baldwin’s network of alumnae in the palm of your hand.
CONNECT
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Some of the Benefits You’ll Experience Include: ROBUST DIRECTORY - Find old friends and make new connections — personal or professional — via the searchable directory. KNOWLEDGE SHARING - Volunteer to be a mentor to other alumnae or search for alumnae who can help you with career advice and information. EVENTS & NEWS - Find out about upcoming Baldwin events and stay up-to-date on School news. MESSAGING - Receive and send messages to other alumnae through the platform.
ACTIVATE YOUR PROFILE TODAY AT
BaldwinConnect.org
SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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ALUMNAENEWSMAKERS
Alumnae Enrich Students’ Virtual Learning From left to right: Julie Boyer ’92, Karen Untereker Doak ’01, Anika Iyer ’17, Alicia Roebuck ’05, Sara Scott ’96, Sarena Snider ’03
The last few months of the 2019-20 school year presented Baldwin with the same challenges that so many throughout the country faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay-at-home orders made necessary the rapid
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adoption of remote learning for both students and faculty. However, as challenges often do, this one also presented an opportunity and a silver lining that benefitted the Baldwin girls of today as well as those who came before them. Baldwin Wired, the School’s remote learning program, provided a platform for students and teachers to continue on the path of academic exploration set forth during the in-person portion of the school year. While the experience wasn’t quite the same as being in class, going virtual allowed for some extraordinary learning experiences that may not have occurred otherwise, thanks to contributions from many Baldwin alumnae. While the pandemic stalled many aspects of life, it has, by the same token, opened up time slots for many that may not have otherwise been available. True to form, Baldwin alumnae used their time for the benefit of others and jumped in to share their experience and wisdom with Middle and Upper School girls. In late May, as part of the Interdisciplinary Institute (I2) program, the Middle and Upper Schools participated in “Baldwin at the Movies,” incorporating 6
While the pandemic stalled many aspects of life, it has, by the same token, opened up time slots for many that may not have otherwise been available.
various types of visual media, such as films, television shows and even commercials into I2 topics and discussions. To kick off this entertaining endeavor, two Baldwin alums were able to join students
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she learned at Baldwin that contributed to her current success, she answered that she credits Baldwin with helping her find her voice, and not only find it, but articulate it. She also noted that her Baldwin education helped her to think analytically. It taught her to look at the bigger picture, as well as to see things from others’ perspectives. Sarena Snider ’03, who is currently working as a freelance investigative reporter for the New York Times before beginning a fellowship with Columbia University Investigations in the fall, spent the first part of her career as a television and film producer. She shared some of her key tips for finding success in a competitive industry, telling students to be bold and tenacious, to not shy away from sending multiple emails to garner a response. At the same time, she encouraged students to not be afraid to show vulnerability, admit that they don’t know something, and ask
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virtually to discuss their careers, answer questions and share their knowledge. Sara Scott ’96 is the Senior Vice President of Production Development at Universal Pictures. When asked by students what
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ALUMNAENEWSMAKERS
...Baldwin alums were able to join students virtually to discuss their careers, answer questions and share their knowledge.
a career workshop utilizing their respective expertise on different phases of the career journey. The workshop asked the seniors four key questions: What do I know will make me happy? What will I be good at? Where do I belong? What should I focus on? A different student volunteer was personally coached through each question to bring the exercises to life.
surprised and happy to hear that a number of the students were interested in Economics – when I was a senior at Baldwin, I was the only one interested in pursuing Economics in college,” Iyer recalled. “Economics classes weren’t a regular course offering until my senior year - I’m so glad that the program has grown and the interest has continued. It was so gratifying to be able to answer the students’ questions about my area of study and encourage their interest.”
A key point of the workshop was encouraging the girls to consider what communities they are part of and could explore further for future career networking. “What I wanted to make clear to them was that Baldwin, with its alumnae network, is such a valuable community that the girls can always count on and tap into as a resource,” said Boyer. “If you have the courage to speak up and ask for help, Baldwin alums are always happy to help and share their knowledge and experience.”
for help, noting that more often than not people are willing to lend a hand. One of the most anticipated events of the year, Career Day, also had to go online, but rather than create a constraint, it opened up new possibilities. “Career Day always backs up to Reunion Weekend, so the guests are typically limited to those who are traveling to Baldwin for Reunion and can take that Friday off from work to participate,” said Karen Untereker Doak ’01, Chair of the Baldwin National Board of Advisors and a Career Day participant. “Going virtual meant no limitations on who could participate – especially since it was only a matter of taking an hour or two out of your day rather than traveling to Bryn Mawr. This allowed us to really rethink how Career Day will look in the future so we can invite the best people for what each class of students is interested in.” One alumna who was excited to see current students’ interests mirror her own was Anika Iyer ’17, a rising senior at Columbia University, where she studies Financial Economics. “I was
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These connections between former and current students don’t just apply to today’s Baldwin classes. Virtual Career Day allowed two alumnae who previously knew each other as teacher and student to collaborate as professionals in complementary practice areas to provide a rich learning opportunity for today’s Upper School students. Julie Boyer ’92, a career coach for women in mid-career looking to make a positive change, and Alicia Roebuck ’05, the Nielsen Connect Lead recruiter and founder of Philadelphia-based Confident Career Women Inc., teamed up to provide
For Roebuck, who works more with women at the outset of their careers, the goal was to help the students articulate and acknowledge their strengths and experiences, knowing that they face a workplace that won’t
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automatically credit them as possessing certain skills or attributes. “It is so important to me to spend time and energy helping women, and particularly women of color, become confident in their skills,” said Roebuck. “As a Baldwin girl, we learn that we deserve a seat at the table, but I want these young women to be able to assertively articulate just why they deserve that seat.” While it wasn’t always easy and certainly not the way anyone would have chosen for the end of the school year to go, the edges could perhaps be softened by the potential positive gains made in student/alumnae relations. The same technology that made remote learning possible also closed the gaps of space and time to bring the Baldwin Bears of yesterday and today together, creating enriching experiences for both parties. As Roebuck put it, “There are so many wonderful traditions at Baldwin, and this tradition of giving back is one of the most important. This Baldwin network is so powerful, I’ve gained so much from it. When you engage in the give and take of this community, the rewards are endless.”
...When you engage in the give and take of this community, the rewards are endless. SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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ACADEMICS GRADE 6 ENGINEERING CLASS TACKLES GLOBAL DAY OF DESIGN
Baldwin’s Grade 6 engineering class tackled Global Day of Design, a 24-hour event inspiring students to create, make and build. In groups or individually, students used code.org to create their own Flappy Bird Game, which is a side-scroller mobile game where the player controls a bird, attempting to fly between columns of green pipes without hitting them. Other students redesigned the traditional wallet to fit users’ needs, by interviewing each other and asking specific questions. They worked through the design process to sketch a design and develop a new prototype. Another group was asked to redesign the traditional classroom. They worked through the design process and developed a prototype using whatever materials they had available. 8
Alumna Meets With Biology Classes Abby Grosskopf ’13 met with the Biology and Honors Biology classes to discuss her research at Stanford University. Unfortunately, her work was put on hold due to COVID-19, so she reached out to Science Teacher Christie Reed (P ’23, ’28) to see if she could share her work with Baldwin’s students. Abby spoke about her research on biomaterials — creating scaffolding for cells while engineering tissue. She discussed the use of stem cells, along with the engineering of this special material. Additionally, Abby introduced the students to bioprinting — the idea of 3-D printing materials useful in living organisms.
Lower School DREAM Lab® Students Explore Virtual Reality In the Lower School DREAM Lab, students were exploring 3-D modeling and virtual reality. In Grade 2, spring trimester is usually a time when students are deeply immersed in a 3-D printing unit. This year, they took a slight detour! They continued to work in TinkerCAD designing 3-D models, but rather than print the models, they explored the creation of virtual environments. Grade 4 and 5 students also took a deep dive into virtual reality using an application, CoSpaces, that allows them to build and code 3-D environments. Students applied the skills and concepts they learned to design their own “Virtual Sanctuaries,” an environment that could serve any purpose — a game, a story, a meditative space to visit.
GRADE 1 STUDIES SPACE, INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Grade 1 spent time this spring studying space, realizing the many similarities between the stay-at-home order and the astronauts living on the International Space Station (ISS), such as taking extra precautions to go outside, making sure to get exercise and even missing friends and family. They studied everything there is to know about the ISS and even took a field trip there with the help of Google Earth! They learned about the moon, rockets and other planets as well. During this unit of study, the first graders were tasked to build a model of the ISS using what they had available to them at home.
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Scarlett Heney ‘31 shows off her International Space Station.
ACADEMICS Letter Writing Beyond Baldwin
Sofia Kiefel, a student at St. Joseph of Cluny Secondary School in Ireland, holds a photo of her pen pal, Baldwin student Shifa Sayeed ‘25.
Baldwin’s 7th and 8th grade students entered the exciting world of pen pals, partnering with the St. Joseph of Cluny Secondary School in Ireland. St. Joseph’s head librarian Dr. Jean Henefer ’78 immediately thought of Baldwin when she first launched the project, which has been a wonderful opportunity for the students to enhance their understanding about a different culture, as well as to flex their writing muscles. At a time where so many communicate via text, where words are abbreviated and full sentences are a thing of the past, having to sit down and write a full letter was a rewarding experience.
History, Physics Partner in Interdisciplinary Lesson
Like many classes, it began with a curious student question: How do atomic bombs actually work? History Teacher Dr. Gretchen Boger’s (P ’23, ’27) Honors U.S. History II class was studying the end of World War II, when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan to end the fighting in the Pacific. Dr. Boger responded that she had a very basic understanding of nuclear fission, but that they should ask Physics Teacher Dr. Jeff Goldader for a better explanation. After some preparation, Dr. Goldader and Dr. Boger joined the students for a thoroughly interdisciplinary class about the discovery of nuclear fission and fusion, how they were harnessed to make weapons and what the implications were for the postwar world. In addition to Dr. Goldader’s talk, he and Dr. Boger shared primary sources, including a copy of the introductory lecture given to scientists who had been recruited to Los Alamos, NM, to work on development of the bomb. The project was so secret, scientists arriving at the site had no idea what they were signing on for until they heard the lecture. APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
UPPER SCHOOL ENGINEERING MAKES KOMBUCHA LEATHER
In an Upper School Engineering class, Computer Science and Engineering Teacher Dr. Debora Lui demonstrated how to grow “kombucha leather.” She turned her kitchen into a virtual lab and went through the growing and drying process with the students. In the end, they made a sewn pouch from the materials.
GRADE 2 CELEBRATES PRESIDENTS’ DAY WITH PRIMARY RESOURCES
For Presidents’ Day, Grade 2 students researched a past president and had the opportunity to view a primary resource thanks to Karen Pearlman Raab and Nathan Raab (P ’30). The Raab family owns a private collection of presidential artifacts and shared some of those sources with the students. SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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ARTS LOWER SCHOOL ART CLASSES IN FULL SWING Baldwin’s Grade 5 students created secret languages where they designed their own symbols and hieroglyphics. They’ve also Elise Skawinski ‘29 created a stamp for Illinois. created artifacts out of air-dry clay that was shipped to them, and they presented their artifacts in their Zoom classes. The lesson was inspired by their Egyptian art/culture studies. Grade 3 students researched a state, redesigned a postage stamp and created USA landmark drawings and paintings inspired by their American-themed play. Grades 1 and 2 did an art and nature scavenger hunt, getting outside to look at colors, shapes and textures in a different and fun way.
All-School Virtual Art Exhibit The unexpected change of venue for learning brought out the resourcefulness and creativity of all our Baldwin artists in Lower, Middle and Upper School. The work created during our period of “Baldwin Wired” was amazing and can be seen at baldwinschool.smugmug.com.
Middle and Upper School Orchestras Perform Virtually
PRE-K STUDIES, CREATES GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES
In the spring, Pre-K students began an interdisciplinary study of geographic features. After learning about different types of landforms and bodies of Alisha Bose ‘33 shows off her island. water, students were challenged to design and sketch their own ideal island using at least five features and then to create it using any materials they have at home. Students then presented their islands to their classmates.
Orchestra Director Oxana Harlamova (P ’14, ’20) worked on a virtual project with Baldwin’s Middle and Upper School orchestras. She recorded her piano soundtrack of “Ode to Joy” and sent it to the students, who each then recorded their own parts. Listen to their performance on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/BaldwinSchool.
UPPER SCHOOL SCULPTURE CLASS GETS SPECIAL DELIVERY
Members of the Upper School Sculpture Class got a special delivery at the beginning of Baldwin Wired from Chair of the Visual Arts Department and Art Teacher Kenny Delio. Mr. Delio had clay delivered to each of his students and recorded a time lapse video for them so they could continue their studies during Baldwin Wired. Ava Zarzycki ‘23 shows off her clay delivery.
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ARTS Grade 5 Performs Annual Play
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS RECREATE ART
Baldwin’s Grade 5 class worked tirelessly together to come up with a creative play during Baldwin Wired. This annual event is a muchloved tradition, and Grade 5 teachers Anne-Mette Hansell (P ’03) and Linda Powers worked with Orchestra Director Oxana Harlamova (P ’14, ’20) and Computer Science and Engineering Department Chair and Lower School DREAM Lab® Coordinator Stephanie Greer to re-imagine this event. The students performed songs from favorite movies including Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, The Sound of Music and more while in costumes.
“Senior Retrospective” Art Exhibition The Arts League proudly presented the
opening of the “Senior Retrospective” Art
Artists and innovators throughout history have created some of their best work during times of hardship. While limitations from social distancing can feel scary and disruptive to daily lives, these limitations can be used to spark creativity. Middle School students were asked to recreate a famous work of art using non-traditional art materials that were readily available from home. Recreations included “Men with Sunglasses V.7” by Dmitriy Grechko and “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” by Johannes Vermeer.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTS THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
Exhibition in the Residence Art Gallery in February. The exhibition featured seniors who have created a body of work in the art studios over their four years in the Upper School.
In early March, Baldwin Middle School presented the musical The Wind in the Willows. Based on the classic book by Kenneth Grahame, the show follows Mr. Toad and his friends Mr. Rat, Mr. Mole and Mr. Badger as they traverse the riverbank and venture into the mysterious Wildwood. Along the way they encounter a wide array of characters, from ducks to weasels. Will Mr. Toad finally learn to be responsible and earn the loyalty of his friends? The show featured a cast of 34 student-actors and a Middle School tech crew. SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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ATHLETICS ANAJAH BROWN ’21 EARNS ALL-STATE BASKETBALL HONORS, JOINS 1,000 POINT CLUB
Anajah Brown ’21 was recognized with Class 4A second-team AllState basketball honors. Brown is the first basketball player in Baldwin school history to receive All-State recognition. Anajah scored her 1,000th career point against Penn Charter in February. She is the fourth player in Baldwin basketball history to join the 1,000 point club. Sloan Warren ’11, Emma Hamm ’07 and Gina Powers ’96 are the three other alumnae in the club.
STUDENTS NAMED 2019-20 U.S. SQUASH ALL-AMERICANS
Varsity squash teammates Meghna Sreedhar ‘20 and Grace Lavin ‘21 were named 2019-20 U.S. Squash AllAmericans. This is an outstanding honor for these two talented student-athletes who represent Baldwin on and off the court so well.
2020 Athletics Association Awards The White Blazer is awarded to a girl who has played on at least two varsity sports in her senior year and who represents the best qualities of sportsmanship: the ability to win and lose gracefully, act with integrity, take criticism willingly and try to profit from it, be a loyal teammate in winning and losing and, after the game, show interest in teams other than the one on which she is playing. This award is voted on by girls who have played on a team in the Upper School. This year’s recipient is Alex Loomis ’20. Alex was also the recipient of the Inter-Ac Athletic Directors’ Award.
OTHER ATHLETICS AWARDS Most Valuable Manager Award: Menal Siddiqui ’20 The Ruth Davidon Elite Athlete Award: Meghna Sreedhar ’20 The Margot Cunningham Award: Alex Loomis ’20 and Leah White ’20 The Lois Harlos Award: Katherine Yang ’20 The Tina Roak Award: Leah White ’20 The Alice Comly Award: Jada Williams ’20 and Taylor Levinson ’21 The Pat West Award: Anajah Brown ’21
Varsity Squash Wins 2020 Inter-Ac Championship Baldwin Varsity Squash defeated Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in January 9-0 to improve their overall and league record to 4-0, clinching the 2020 Inter-Ac League Championship. The program has won eight of the past 11 league titles.
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ATHLETICS Six Baldwin Student-Athletes Commit to Colleges
Six student-athletes from the Class of 2020 will continue their athletic careers at NCAA Division l and lll colleges and universities:
Vivienne Evans Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Track & Field
Ella Goldman Dickinson College - Squash
Hanna Maier Franklin & Marshall College Softball
Campbell Marr University of Pennsylvania Gymnastics
Meghna Sreedhar Yale University - Squash
Frances Wilson Hobart & William Smith Colleges - Swimming
Cooper ’21, Mostek ’22 Win Silver Medals at Championships Baldwin had two student-athletes win silver medals at the Easterns Swimming and Diving Championships in February. Easterns is the largest and premier prep swimming and diving meet in the country. Megan Cooper ’21 finished in second place overall out of 23 competitors in diving with a score of 381 points. She broke her previous school record for 11 dives. In addition, Cooper repeated as Inter-Ac League diving champion with a six dive total of 257 points. Anya Mostek ’22 finished in second place at the Easterns Championships in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 55.35 seconds. She also placed fourth in the 200 Individual Medley (IM) with a time of 2:03.83 minutes. She set a new school record in the 200 IM and broke her previous school record in the 100 Backstroke.
SPRING COACHES KEEP STUDENTS ENGAGED
Baldwin’s Middle and Upper School spring coaches for crew, golf, lacrosse, softball and track stayed engaged with the studentathletes during the spring and provided sport-specific, at-home training programs, Zoom meetings and virtual skills challenges. Strength and Conditioning Head Coach Christian Jeantet directed fitness classes, Athletic Trainer Kerrie Snead provided drop-in sessions, Director of Squash Madeline Perry led squash workouts and Assistant Athletic Director Adrian Cox offered soccer training. The coaches engaged with the community to keep everyone positive and healthy – both physically and mentally. In addition, the physical education teachers taught fun classes to the Lower School and ended the year with a creative at-home Field Day. The spring co-captains and Athletic Association members all displayed strong leadership by meeting weekly and supporting each other and their teammates.
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PRESENTING THE CLASS OF 2020
CLASS OF 2020 MATRICULATION LIST
Isabella Maria Aldrete
Rebecca Elizabeth Resnick
Olivia Jeanine Alleyne
Alexa May Richards
Samantha Lee Baron
Avalon Trudell Rosenberger
Noor Zahra Bowman
Anna Grace Rosenthal
Carly Julia Brechner
Emily Taylor Seltzer
Drexel University
Lindsey Samantha Brodsky
Hsin-Tzu Shen
Duke University
Juliana Jean Charles
Menal Aqeel Siddiqui
Emerson College
Katrina Ella Conklin
Lillian Werner Siderowf
Franklin & Marshall College (2)
Armina Leanne Emami
Saachi Singh
Grinnell College
Vivienne Louise Evans
Victoria Lynne Smith
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Jattu Etta Fahnbulleh
Meghna Sreedhar
Ellissa Jeannette Goldman
Rucha M. Tank
Veda Goverdhanam
Sigrid Delia Turcios-Wiswe
Sophia Najia Hairston
Talia Ardith Viroslav
Maria Harlamova
Haohao Wang
Yuan Jiang
Sasha Mona Wayman
Kathleen Elizabeth Kintzell
Leah Sprague White
Yuanyuan Lin
Jada Eliah Williams
Jennifer Liu
Frances Elizabeth Wilson
Alexandra Marie Loomis
Qinxin Wu
Abigail Erin Lynch
Emily Xiong
Meghan Christina Mahoney
Katherine Jiayun Yang
University of Pennsylvania (3)
Hanna Marie Maier
Amanda Waverly Yep
University of Pittsburgh (2)
Barnard College (3) Brandeis University Bryn Mawr College Cornell University Dartmouth University Dickinson College
Earlham College
George Washington University (2)
Johns Hopkins University New York University (4) Northeastern University Northwestern University PA College of Art & Design Pennsylvania State University Princeton University Skidmore College Temple University The Ohio State University Tulane University United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Chicago University of Florida University of Miami University of Michigan (2)
Villanova University
Campbell Catherine Marr
Melody Yu
Washington University in St. Louis
Risa McFee
SuIn Yun
Widener University Williams College (3)
Elisa Xuan McKinley Amanda Jordyn Miller
Sydney Erin Zilch
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Yale University (2) SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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CLASS OF While we couldn’t gather for our normal photos on the steps, we were able to digitally create these traditional moments below.
FAST FACTS The Class of 2020 had
53 students who received 229 acceptances at 123 unique institutions The girls celebrating their LEGACY to Baldwin: Row 1 (Front): Samantha Baron (Aunt Blaire Baron ’90), Lindsey Brodsky (Cousin Haley Pearlstein ’08), Armina Emami (Cousin Laila Ahmadinejad ’97, Cousin Tina Ahmadinejad ’02 and Cousin Tara Ahmadinejad ’03), Vivienne Evans (Sister Sophia Evans ’17), Sophia Hairston (Sisters Arianna Hairston ’17 and Maya Hairston ’18), Maria Harlamova (Sister Daria Harlamova ’14), Row 2: Campbell Marr (Sisters Madeleine Marr ’17 and McCaleigh Marr ’19), Rebecca Resnick (Aunt Heather King ’92), Menal Siddiqui (Sister Zoya Siddiqui ’19), Meghna Sreedhar (Sister Pallavi Sreedhar ’17), Talia Viroslav (Cousin Emily Steiner ’89 and Aunt Raven Kauffman Wittasek ’91), and Leah White (Sister Rachel White ’18).
of class admitted to an Ivy League school Cornell (2), Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton (2), University of Pennsylvania (7), Yale (2)
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% National
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Merit Finalists
%
offered admission at most selective schools (admit rate < 15%)
Average SAT score more than
350 POINTS HIGHER than the national average
THE THIRTEEN YEAR CLUB recognizes students who have been at Baldwin from Kindergarten through Grade 12. This year there are nine new members: Row 1 (Front): Samantha Baron, Kit Conklin, Maria Harlamova, Jennifer Liu, Risa McFee, Row 2: Amanda Miller, Saachi Singh, Talia Viroslav and Sasha Wayman.
11
%
RECRUITED NCAA ATHLETES
of class attended Baldwin since Kindergarten
91%
accepted into their top choice schools
OF STUDENTS
THE FOURTEEN YEAR CLUB recognizes students who have been at Baldwin from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. This year there are nine new members: Row 1 (Front): Abby Lynch, Meghan Mahoney, Campbell Marr, Alexa May Richards, Anna Rosenthal Row 2: Emily Seltzer, Menal Siddiqui, Leah White and Frances Wilson. 16
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IN MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS RECEIVED
THE MAKING OF A VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT
The Residence Pit was transformed into our filming studio. Above: Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ‘96 is delivering her remarks. Far Left: Bottles of sparkling cider were provided to each graduate for their virtual toast.
Left: Film crews set up while Maria Harlamova ’20 and her mother, Orchestra and Conservatory Director Oxana Harlamova (P ’14, ’20), rehearse “America the Beautiful.” Below: Physical Education Teacher Elsie Pitocchelli welcomes Frances Wilson ’20 and parents Elizabeth Lexa and David Wilson to campus.
Patricia Weiser (P ’22, ’24), incoming Chair of the Board of Trustees, took a break during filming to read the School’s newspaper, The Hourglass.
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Left: Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ’96 during her address to the Class of 2020. Right: Sister Bushra Qureshi, President of the Islamic Society of Chester County, began the Commencement ceremony with the invocation.
Maria Harlamova ’20, accompanied by her mother Orchestra and Conservatory Director Oxana Harlamova (P ’14, ’20), sang “America the Beautiful.”
Chair of the Baldwin Board of Trustees Christopher Marr (P ’17, ’19, ’20) spoke to the graduates about his memories as a Baldwin parent over the years.
“In March, our classrooms turned into Google Meets, our Friday nights turned into group Facetimes, and for a moment, it seemed that our senior year had turned to nothing. But time and again, nothing can break the Class of 2020 apart, not even a pandemic. Though we lost our final moments of senior year, we found something much greater: we found, sooner than we had planned, that our bond knows no distance. … We had to learn what it means to bring our sisterhood beyond its gates, and how to support one another in the world. So we filled our virtual days with celebrating each other’s college acceptances from home, playing “Baldwin Bingo” and actively remaining in each other’s lives. Class of 2020, I have no doubt that we’re going to change the world. Not only with our minds, but with our hearts. We’re going to show the world what true family looks like, what genuine love looks like, and as we know, it could use a little more. In the words of Elaine Welteroth, the youngest editor-in-chief in Conde-Nast history, as well as the first black editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, “The World is waiting on you. Let’s go.” — Excerpt from the commencement speech of Sasha Wayman ’20
See the full commencement video at youtube.com/thebaldwinschool. 18
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Sammy Baron ’20 celebrates her graduation with parents Rob and Kim Baron.
Yuan “Blanche” Jiang shows off her diploma. Saachi Singh ’20 poses on the steps after ringing the bell.
Above: Olivia Alleyne ’20 celebrates during the filming of commencement. Left: Isabella Aldrete ’20 rings the bell after receiving her diploma.
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The Class of 2020 gathered on campus for a car parade, turning their rings as they entered campus. Left: Lindsey Brodsky ’20 celebrates while driving through campus.
Far right: Campbell Marr ’20 is excited to be back on campus to celebrate with her classmates. Below left: Katherine Yang ’20 decorated her car for the parade. Below right: Sophia Hairston ’20 pops out of the sunroof to celebrate.
Above left: Emily Seltzer ’20 enjoying the car parade. Above right: Head of School Dr. Marisa Porges ’96 (and baby Isaac) addresses the graduates and leads them in singing the alma mater. 20
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Above: Jattu Fahnbulleh ’20 and classmates prepare to sing their senior song for a final time. Right: Sigrid Turcios-Wiswe ’20 rings the gong. Below left: Alexa May Richards ’20 celebrates. Below right: Even Winnie was on hand to send the seniors off.
To see all photos and videos, go to baldwinschool.org/commencement SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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Why I Give
Robin Blum Smith ’57
Gaining a competitive edge has always been an essential ingredient of success for Robin Blum Smith ’57. Now semi-retired, it is what she wants most for her alma mater. Smith’s recent sevenfigure leadership gift, aimed at growing Baldwin’s endowment and inspiring fellow alumnae to join her, is about the future. This new philanthropic partnership deepens her nostalgia for the school that helped launch a successful career. When Smith enrolled as a Baldwin day student — entering fifth grade in the fall of 1949 — she arrived in pursuit of the best possible education. She got just that, discovering a love of writing and language in Miss Stearns’ exacting English classes and gaining the devotion of a lifelong Francophile thanks to Madame Melchior. What Smith took away was a great deal more. “I loved Baldwin. It gave me so many opportunities,” she says, recalling formative stints in student government, drama, chorus and the yearbook, a precursor to her future career. “Most of all, you learned that nothing was impossible. Even though society wasn’t open to women in many fields, you didn’t feel that way at Baldwin. You felt like the world was your oyster and you could do anything as long as you applied yourself.” 22
donor to The Baldwin Fund and fundraising campaigns, attended “wonderful reunions” whenever possible and kept up with friends in the sisterhood. In 1986, she was feted with the coveted Baldwin School Alumnae Award, an accolade originally established to honor the Head of School from Smith’s era, Rosamond Cross.
“
Women of my generation control more philanthropy than men for the first time. Together we have a tremendous opportunity — as important as any I’ve had in life — to take action.
Smith went on to Wellesley College. Near the end of her undergraduate studies, she took an unexpected next step — the first of many. Smith enrolled in the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration. Taught by Harvard faculty on the Radcliffe campus, it positioned Smith to become one of the first women accepted into Harvard’s MBA program. Despite an almost unique degree and a unisex name that landed her more interviews, job offers were far from plentiful or attractive once prospective employers discovered Smith was a woman. Only after heading to Los Angeles with her husband, also a business school
BALDWINSCHOOL.ORG
graduate, did she land a position with top-tier advertising agency BBDO. In 1967, together with their three-year-old daughter, the couple moved to New York, and Smith also found a new home for her talents: publishing. Doubleday & Company hired her in its corporate marketing research department, and she would spend the next 14 years working her way up the ladder, one hard-won rung at a time. Smith took over as President and General Manager of the Book Clubs Division in 1974, and five years later was elected Corporate Vice President. The best was yet to come. In April 1981, Smith was named President of Dell
”
Publishing. Months later, glass shattered again as she was recruited to head Publishers Clearing House, combining her strengths in publishing and marketing. With Smith at the helm, the company took crucial steps to diversify from strictly magazines and to move boldly into the nascent online realm.
Nearly four decades later, Smith has the distinction of being one of the longest tenured woman business leaders at a single firm with revenues now nearing one billion dollars. Starting in the 1980s, Smith also enjoyed rekindling a relationship with the school she loves most. Smith always remained a loyal
Smith prefers to think about current leadership and what it means for Baldwin’s future. “Marisa Porges is an excellent leader. Her youth, enthusiasm and deep connection to the School from personal experience make her a role model for the girls.” She credits Dr. Porges with focusing her philanthropic thinking on Baldwin’s endowment and the need to keep pace with peer institutions. “When you look at our endowment compared to other private schools, it doesn’t measure up to Baldwin’s level of excellence. Women of my generation control more philanthropy than men for the first time. Together we have a tremendous opportunity — as important as any I’ve had in life — to take action. Girls’ schools and women’s colleges can benefit from greater participation and leadership by women in philanthropy. For me, Baldwin always comes first.”
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS.
THANK YOU!
THE BALDWIN FUND Supporting Baldwin’s Core Values
At Baldwin, nothing is more important than the education, health and well-being of our students. Even during this challenging time, we continue teaching the minds and enriching the character through cutting edge curriculum and online resources. Baldwin is so much more than a school – it is a community where values are as important as academics. Learning, respect, responsibility, compassion and honesty: these are the pillars of our school and they are what make a Baldwin education so valuable. This year, we raised over $1.6 million in support through The Baldwin Fund. Thank you to our entire community – Board of Trustees, alumnae, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff and friends – who generously support the life-changing experiences that a Baldwin education offers. Your gift helped our students gain the knowledge, skills and resilience necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing world and become the fearless, empowered leaders they are meant to be!
HONESTY, COMPASSION, RESPONSIBILITY, LEARNING and RESPECT SUMMER 2020 ECHOES
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A PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 12 SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Do you know a family that would be a good fit for the Baldwin community? Please encourage them to visit our website at BaldwinSchool.org/VisitUs to see a virtual tour or to schedule an appointment with our Admissions team.
Why Baldwin? For more than 130 years The Baldwin School has combined the region’s premier college preparatory curriculum with distinguished arts, athletics and community service programs. Guided by outstanding faculty who are experts in girls’ education, Baldwin offers an experiential learning environment within a supportive and encouraging community.
CONTACT ADMISSIONS: Admissions@baldwinschool.org (610) 525-2888 x290 www.baldwinschool.org