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THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL
Spring 2015
Leadership 2014-2015
THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL
Board of Trustees
Mark I. Greene, President Ronald S. Rolfe ’60, President Emeritus Joshua Harris,Vice President & Treasurer Lisa Pagliaro Selz, Secretary David R. Trower h’95, Headmaster Dana B. Cowin Alexandra Wallace Creed Paquita Y. Davis-Friday Kenneth M. Garschina Alexander G. Gellert ’79
Alumni Council
Executive Committee James A. Magid ’91, President Colin McCabe ’90,Vice-President Christopher Persley ’88,VicePresident Thomas Zipser ’99,Vice-President Alumni Annual Fund Andrew R. Arias ’92, Chair Thomas Zipser ’99,Vice-Chair Kerim Eken ’00,Young Alumni Chair Ian Adler ’87 Theodore D. Agbi ’10 Charles W. Allen ’91 Paul E. Alshooler ’03 Basil L. Anderson ’08 Zach T. Axelrod ’95 Neil E. Bader ’79 Jackson Baker ’13 Anthony P. Bonan ’93 Pierre A. Bonan ’89 Robert B. Buehler ’78 Robert D. Burge ’76* Alfred P. Burger ’87 Andrew A. Burger ’59 John T. Carr III ’76 Erik A. Cliette ’81 Brooke B. Connell ’86
Parents Association
Fredda Goldberg* Stephanie Drescher Gorman George Hall Peter B. Kellner ’84 Michael S. Klein Daniel Lascano Paul A. Leff Pablo G. Legorreta James A. Magid ’91* Metin Negrin Lara Oboler Dang T. Phan
Alexander Roepers Suellyn Preston Scull * member ex officio
Karen T. Hughes John R. Hupper ’40 E. William Judson Robert J. Katz George A. Kellner David H. Koch Robert Liberman ’58 Thomas H. Lister Peter deF. Millard Richard C. Perry ’70 Joe L. Roby Andrew P. Steffan
Adam J. P. Donaldson ’05 Maurice F. Edelson ’78 Hugh Esterson ’15 Alexander C. Faherty ’98 Jason M. Farkas ’97 Michael Feinberg ’84 R.Vanneman Furniss ’91 Andrew Galant ’14 Alexander G. Gellert ’79 David Goldberg ’14 Harlan E. Goldberg ’90 Evan R. Goldfischer ’81 Christopher S. Goodman ’86 Michael H. Grady ’91 Christopher J. Hallows ’87 Christopher W. Hamilton ’96 Schuyler Havens ’88 Michael W. Hedges Jr. ’77 John C. Henry Jr. ’84 Cannon Lyell Hersey ’92 John B. Hersey ’09 David W. Herzberg ’89 David R. Hirschfeld ’99 Patrick D. R. Horan ’85 Tristan Howard ’96 C. Andrew Hughes ’98 Alex A. Ingram ’03 Andrew A. Janko ’95 Jasper H. Jarecki ’12
Clinton V. P. Johnson ’79 Timothy Johnson ’04 Stephen H. Judson ’76 William H. Judson ’78 Devon Kalsi ’15 A. Reed Katz ’03 Cameron A. Koffman ’12 Kenneth LaFreniere ’90 Dean I. Landis ’78* Teddy Landis ’13 Ethan A. Leff ’11 Davis Lister ’15 Hale Macdonald ’13 Paul J. Mancuso ’03 Brian A. Margolis ’75 Timothy C. McCabe ’94 Kenneth J. McCauley ’93 Elijah McNally ’14 Alex Melnitzky ’02 Liam R. Millhiser ’96 Ross R. Millhiser IV ’94 Max Morris ’13 Richard C. Perry ’70* Vincent Peterson ’74 Philip N. Pilmar ’01 Roger Raines ’80 Harlan Reinhardt ’83 Marc N. Rice ’84 Ronald S. Rolfe ’60*
Eric Rosas ’06 Berton Rose ’97 John Rose ’90 Louis Rose ’86* Henry J. Rosenwach ’04 Eric E. Rothstein ’81* Dean E. Sanborn ’61 Alessandro M. Santoro ’07 Matthew Schnitzer ’13 Yoshiki Shimada ’75 Alexander B. Shipper ’02 Denton A. Smith ’94 Wesley Stanton ’92 Sebastian Stern ’14 Jake Taub ’12 Khalid A. Taylor ’10 Michael Tiedemann ’86 Andrew W.Vogelstein ’81 Noel E.Volpe ’85 Alexander von Furstenberg ’85 Mark Wasserberger ’82 Simon D. Wasserberger ’85* Matthew Wayland ’13 Michael Weiss ’02 Dewey S. Wigod ’77 Hans L. Wydler ’81 Clifton G.York ’78 Andrew E. Zimmerman ’00
Fredda Goldberg, President Kate Kreiger,Vice-President Elizabeth Mathus and Kim Many, Co-Treasurers Alison Bird, Committee Chair Coordinator Kelly Hensley, Class Representative Coordinator Advisory Linda Barnett Suzanne Freind Heather Khazaneh Cristina Roig Morris Alix O’Mara Vivian Queen Paula Simmons
Trustees Emeriti Mildred J. Berendsen Marian R. Bicks Jane Phillips Donaldson Richard N. Foster D. Ross Hamilton John J. Hannan Susan B. Hirschhorn
Administrative Team
David R. Trower h’95, Headmaster Susan Etess, Lower School Head Kimberly Kyte, Middle School Head Neal Kamsler, Upper School Head Richard Alifano, Director, P.E. and Athletics Winnie Barnes, Director of Strategic & Learning Initiatives Hydee Bressler, Director of Finance & Operations Casper Caldarola, Director of Communications; Co-Director of Community Life + Diversity Michelle Demko, Music Department Head Ronnie R. Jankoff, Director of Admissions Glenn Lieberman, Director of Technology Anne Russo Meyer, Director of Learning Resources David Smith, Director of Development
* President Emeritus
lamplighter THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL
Director of Communications Casper Caldarola
Associate Director of Communications Sarah Woods Contributing Writers Rich Alifano Venesha Cashdollar Billy Dransfield Anis Ghanem Fredda Goldberg Anthony Kapp Sarah Kresberg Julia Kunin Sarah Luposello Carol Mahida Robert McCallum Anne Meyer Glenn Rodríguez Ginny Rowe Samara Spielberg Liz Storch David R. Trower H’95 Meghan Wall Photographers Nancy Mitchell Al Pereira Lisa Meloni Ragusa Sarah Woods Designer Mase Kerdel-DeMarco Cover photo of Pinhole Camera Photography by Nancy Mitchell Back cover photo of KH play by Nancy Mitchell The Allen-Stevenson School admits students of any race, color, religion, nationality, or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, financial aid program, or any other programs administered by the School.
Spring 2015
Headmaster’s Message
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Around A-S
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Cover Story: A-S Features
Kindergarten Pilot Spanish Program
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Change is a Happy Challenge
Third Graders Study and Create Ecosystems Music and Language
Photography with Self-Made Pinhole Cameras Mock Newbery Challenge
Changes in the Learning Resource Center Electronic Art and the Makey-Makey
New Film and Media Class for Upper School Study of Inherit the Wind MAOseum
A-S News
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PA: What’s New?
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Alumni Events and News
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Did You Know?
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The Lamplighter is published biannually by The Allen-Stevenson School and is sent to alumni, parents, and other friends of the School.
Printed on paper containing 20% post-consumer recycled content.
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H E A D M A S T E R ’ S
From the very first handshake in 1990 to the ones given this year, David Trower has successfully led Allen-Stevenson.
M E S S A G E
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments, oh dear Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes How do you measure, measure a year? In learning, in leading, in helping and listening, In teaching, directing, cohesion or strife, In one year or ten years or two point five decades How should I measure these years of my life?
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How about love? Measure in love —Adapted from the song “Seasons of Love” from the musical RENT
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For nearly 25 years now I have been honored to lead Allen-Stevenson as its seventh Headmaster. Though it is hard for me to comprehend, that span represents more than one third of my life. How could I have been so fortunate? When I first started in 1990, already having been a teacher for 20 years, I had no idea I would see the School—or the City or the world, for that matter—change so much. In this issue of the Lamplighter, there are many examples of how Allen-Stevenson has embraced change. We value our traditions and intentionally look to grow existing programs and include new curricula.
In this spirit, some have heard me claim that my best preparation to be Headmaster was my experience driving a medallion cab here in New York. It was the new adventure that captured me then, and also the way driving led me to value peoples’ stories—all unique, all there if you just could be receptive. More than you might think, the human interaction was magical!
For me the heart of adult success might just be a combination of two qualities: confidence and curiosity. These can be nurtured in every child, and Allen-Stevenson accomplishes that with boys in so many ways. I have come to believe that the finest aspect of life is often its sense of adventure: you can’t always plan everything out, but you can learn to discover it, shape it, navigate it. To do so takes that combination of confidence and curiosity.
Being the leader of any human entity is complicated, often difficult, work. But I have usually seen this job as a privilege, in that Allen-Stevenson is a venerable institution—already 132 years young—that looks forward, helping to carry boys, adults and even whole families safely into the future. As I look beyond the challenges of this time, I am grateful to be a part of this special community. Fortiter et Recte!
David Trower h’95 Headmaster
Spring 2015 3
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In & out of the classroom >
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Second Graders Try Instruments
Second graders tried four different acoustic instruments in music class during October and November to begin lessons at A-S. The boys met in small groups with instrumental instructors, trying out the flute, cello and viola, and a week later the violin. “This is truly a wonderful time of discovery for Second Grade. They’ve seen older boys and adults at the School playing at different events, and now they are being trusted with this grown-up responsibility. The instrumental teachers enjoy this experience equally, remembering how exciting it was to hold a real instrument in their hands for the first time,” said Director of Orchestras, Randy Schrade ’76. Allen-Stevenson places great importance on the start of this musical adventure, recognizing that it is a vital part of our culture and tradition that incorporates best educational practices. The importance of involvement in music and learning to play an instrument at an early age reinforces and stimulates brain growth, as well as emotional development, all while cultivating a lasting love of music into adulthood.
Instrumental instructors, Gjilberta Lucaj and Rie Schmidt, help second-graders discover new instruments.
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Measuring water in increments
Fifth Graders Learn Capacity Using a Practical Test Fifth graders spent math class on the roof learning about capacity by conducting a hands-on measuring experiment. The boys were divided into small groups of 3 or 4, each of which was given a cup measure, an empty Poland Spring bottle, a large empty juice container, a large white bucket and ultimately, a five gallon bucket. Working together the boys began by filling the cup measure with water then pouring it in to the Poland Spring bottle,
calculating the total number of cups needed to fill the bottle. Recording their findings as they went, the groups continued to measure by moving up in the size of container, and calculating the volume from cups and pints to quarts and gallons. Seeing the actual volume for each of these units of measurement first hand really left a clear picture in the boys’ minds of the relationship of one unit to another.
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In & out of the classroom >
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New Upper School Community Service Elective Explained at Monday Morning Meeting At the Monday Morning Meeting on November 3, the boys in this year’s new Upper School Community Service elective, run by teachers Kim Sklow and Samara Spielberg, shared their enthusiasm for this elective and for the community service organizations with whom they have partnered. To begin the process, the boys were given several categories of beneficiaries to choose from, ultimately selecting Education, Soldiers and Veterans, and Children with Cancer. The boys then worked out what their particular communities needed by researching and gathering statistics, then selecting a particular organization with which they’d like to work. Making connections with specific people within those organizations with which they’d like was key. Using all the information collected, each group set out the project goals, planned the entire
project and worked out all the logistics. Speaking to Gail Nystrom, who Allen-Stevenson has partnered with in La Carpio, Costa Rica, for its annual Language/Community Service trip, was extremely useful for the Education group. Ms. Nystrom’s organization, The Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, focuses on tutoring, provision of school supplies, building a family well-being center, providing hot lunches for children and paying for transportation to locations for higher education for students who would otherwise not be able to go to school beyond the Sixth Grade. The boys in this group are looking at various ways to collect supplies for those students who want to continue their studies beyond Sixth Grade as well as to help in other ways.
Upper School boys delivering toys to the Hassenfeld Center
letters from individuals and what he could share about the different veterans organizations that they were considering. The third group chose Kids with Cancer and was fortunate to be put in touch with the Hassenfeld Center, a treatment center for children with cancer and blood disorders. The boys toured the center and learned what a “day in the life� of a child undergoing cancer treatment would experience at this center. The boys also spoke to a Child Life Specialist who gave them additional insight. The boys are hoping to find ways to supply materials to the art room at the center
and to assist in running the Christmas party by participating as elves and joining in fun activities at this event. Ms. Sklow and Ms. Spielberg are very excited by how much these boys have achieved in getting these service initiatives under way.
Spring 2015
The Soldiers and Veterans group has decided to write letters to the individuals in the military who are currently serving our country. Each upper and middle school advisory will take the time to write letters and those letters will serve as entry to a bake sale which will raise money for AMVETS, an organization that supports American veterans. To learn how best they could help soldiers and veterans, this group contacted A-S alum Major Christopher Hallows ’87. They asked him how he felt when he received
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Pirates of Penzance >
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This year’s Gilbert & Sullivan production was the comic operetta, The Pirates of Penzance. Under the leadership of Musical Director, Michelle Demko, Director and Choreographer, Stacy A. Donovan, Production Manager, Jaison Spain ’97, and Costume Designer, Elizabeth Van Buren, the show, with all its many nuances, was a rollicking success! The performers had a riotous time singing and dancing to the merry tunes that make Gilbert & Sullivan
such a delight. The wellknown, witty "Major-General’s Song," with its quick-fire delivery of preposterous rhymes was a hit as always.
Deserving equal praise were a stellar group of principals, who included: Benjamin Edelson ’16 as Major-General Stanley, a one star-general in the British Army; Matteo de Donato ’16 as the Sargeant of Police, the leader of a bumbling squad of policemen; Jason Kreloff ’15 as the Pirate King, a largely unsuccessful commander; Harrison Ringel ’16 as the pirate king’s lieutenant, Samuel; James Mahedy ’15 as Frederic, a pirate trainee, apprenticed to the pirates by mistake; Jake Silpe ’18 as Ruth, a pirate maid-of-all-work and Frederic’s nursery maid; Santiago Vargas ’18 as Mabel, Major-General Stanley’s
youngest ward; and MajorGeneral Stanley’s daughters were: Grey Holmen ’18 as Edith, Aidan Gellert ’18 as Isabel, and William Camp ’18 as Kate. The dress rehearsal of The Pirates of Penzance production was shared with A-S alumni at the Reunion Weekend, which this year celebrated the wonderful tradition of Gilbert & Sullivan. The Tuesday evening performance was available on Livestream and viewers from as far away as Vietnam and Mexico were able to share this musical extravaganza with the rest of the Allen-Stevenson community. Congratulations to the cast, crew and orchestra for providing Allen-Stevenson with such engaging entertainment!
Ms. Michelle Demko, Musical Director
Spring Benefit >
Special thanks to PA President Fredda Goldberg and all of the PA Benefit volunteers, especially Event Chairs Monica Machado, Wendy Myers and Jennifer Zabinski, Scholarship Fund Chairs Joanne Johnson and Rosalind Wholey, and Auction Chair Tara Lipton. The event raised over $440,000 and the proceeds will benefit the Francis Bellows Allen Scholarship Fund that provides approximately $1.8 million in scholarship aid to over 60 students annually.
Spring 2015
The Benefit Chairs this year outdid themselves and created a party that delighted 450 members of the AllenStevenson community. The Cirque De La Nuit Spring Benefit was filled with theatrical flair, musical talent, special auction items and a lot of sparkle everywhere you looked.
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Fathers Dinner >
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Packer Collegiate Institute’s Dr. Bruce L. Dennis Speaks at Fathers Dinner
The Fathers Dinner, a tradition since 1951, was held this year on February 10. Over 130 Allen-Stevenson fathers, upper school boys, trustees, alumni, faculty and staff had the pleasure of gathering to share time together at school over a delicious meal, as well as to hear the guest speaker for the evening, Dr. Bruce L. Dennis, Head of School at The Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights, New York. Dr. Dennis said he was delighted to be asked to speak at Allen-Stevenson, as it would give him the chance to talk about three of the things he cares about most in the world: fathers, sons and school. He began by describing the importance of his relationship with his son, especially in light of the fact that his own father died when he was only three years old. He also talked about his love for education, which he said started early. By 10th grade, he knew that he wanted to be an English teacher, because he so admired his own 10th grade English teacher. Dr. Dennis described what an effective school is to him, quoting Sara Lawrence Lightfoot, the author of The Good High School in 1983.
David Trower with Bruce Dennis
Dr. Lightfoot studied six high schools in the United States, all with reputations as especially effective schools. The criteria Dr. Lightfoot identified in these schools then, Dr. Dennis said, is still relevant today, over 30 years later, and includes: great teachers; a strong curriculum ("evolving curriculum"); treat students with fearless and empathetic attention by adults; teachers who know individual students well, and are knowledgeable about their subject and about adolescent development; and has students who feel visible and accountable.
He closed by saying: "Above all, high school should not be seen as just a stopping off point on the way to college. We know that virtually every student we educate in NYC independent schools has college in his or her future. But it’s so important that you as students, and you as dads, allow your sons to relish the joys of being in high school, not simply as a means to an end or as an intermediate step on a journey to some predetermined future, but to enjoy the experience of actually being in high school…and enjoying all of the growth, maturation, and possibilities that it has to offer."
Michael Schlesinger, Oliver Schlesinger ’17, Andy Heller, Larry Heller ’17, Mark Greene, Jacob Greene ’17 and Gregory Galant ’17
Spring 2015
Andrew Willis, Derrick Diggs & Tim Hutfilz
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Team Sports >
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Fall Season
Our fall athletic season saw the Upper School teams compete hard game in and game out. While the boys did not secure many victories, they did succeed in developing a better sense of purpose and work ethic as the season progressed. In the Middle School, our fifth grade athletes were introduced to longer and later field hours, structured practices, and intra squad competition that will prepare them for Sixth Grade. Our interscholastic sixth grade teams were comprised of many talented athletes who gelled beautifully throughout the season. Both the Football and Soccer teams had players who supported each other, consistently worked hard during practice, and never quit during games. As a result, the Soccer team finished with a 3-1-1 record and the Football team beat Green Vale in their only game of the season. The coaching staff looks forward to working with the boys next fall and building upon the momentum that the sixth grade teams have started.
6th Grade Soccer
6th Grade Football
JV Soccer
Varsity Football
Winter Season Varsity Basketball was in a year of rebuilding. As a result, the team saw a great deal of improvement but only one victory in the win/loss column. With four or five team members returning for next year’s squad and the addition of a talented sixth grade class, the team looks poised for a competitive season.
Spring 2015
Varsity Soccer
This year JV Basketball had a very busy season playing a total of twelve games. They started the year with a big win versus Trevor Day and maintained a series of very competitive games throughout the season, including a close 32-31 loss to Dalton. They finished the season strong with 2 consecutive wins, 18-7 versus Trinity and 20-7 versus Dalton. There were thirty boys on the Sixth Grade Basketball team. As a result, we divided the boys into three groups: Gold, Blue, and White. The Gold team was invited to play in the annual St. Bernard’s tournament and finished with an impressive 2 wins/ 1 loss record. Wrestling had a very good season. The dedication from the boys to improve was outstanding. Using practices, videos and even a visit from an Olympic caliber wrestler (cont.)
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Team Sports (cont.) >
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allowed us to outright beat 3 out of 4 teams in our league. We couldn’t be more proud of the work ethic these boys displayed, and are incredibly excited for their future in wrestling. In the midst of a rebuilding year, Varsity Hockey finished the season with optimism and hope. There is a talented younger group of players who received valuable playing experience on this year’s team. That, combined with a Middle School Hockey team that tallied a season record of 3 wins and no losses, leaves all of the coaches excited for next year. The Middle School Hockey team had a successful season. They won all three of their games and the players improved their skills during the course of the year. Henry Adkins ’19 powered the offense with 11 goals in three games while Max Esterson ’18 made crucial saves in each contest to preserve victories for the Unicorns. All of the boys that played this year are looking forward to more success next season.
Varsity Wrestling
6th Grade Basketball White
JV Basketball
6th Grade Basketball Gold
JV Baseball
Varsity Basketball
Varsity Baseball
Varsity Hockey
Varsity Lacrosse
MS Hockey
Varsity Track
Spring 2015
6th Grade Basketball Blue
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A-S Features
Allen-Stevenson’s
enlightened traditional approach to education
creates an atmosphere that is a joyful and safe environment. This allows the boys to take risks,
learn from their mistakes, appreciate successes while being supportive of each other. We create a similar environment for our faculty. On the following pages you will see examples of newly introduced curricula, in addition to faculty modifying and updating existing projects in order to acknowledge traditions while valuing our community of diverse learners.
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K I N D E R G A RT E N P I L OT S PA N I S H P RO G R A M Q&A session with Glenn Rodríguez, Spanish Teacher
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Q: Why was Spanish introduced into the Kindergarten this year? A: Academically, Spanish was introduced into the Kindergarten once the potential was seen for having the boys study a language over a longer period of time. What a child can do with Spanish when they leave for high school will look much different going forward than it does if they start in the fifth grade. Our students are testing into higher levels, and some are successfully exploring a second foreign language after establishing a strong foundation in Spanish. Linguistically, it is widely accepted that people are more receptive to languages when they are young. There is a very fixed window for more native acquisition of language. The older we become, the more interference we experience from the first language when learning a second or third. Problems with "transferring" from the first language are not as common with children.
The kindergarten experiment is an extension of a solid program that currently begins in the Second Grade. Spanish teachers Elsa Wilkis and Diana Tully have done a fabulous job of keeping the instruction lively and relevant. And, I would not be representing the full picture if I didn’t mention the backbone of the department, Samara Spielberg. In short, she is a powerhouse. She has poured countless hours into cultivating a bilingual community in the School through her innovative teaching and ideas. She most certainly had a large impact in the implementation of this pilot program.
Q: How have you approached teaching the youngest ones at the School differently from the other grades you teach? A: Lower School Head Susan Etess wisely recognized that as a parent of a three-year-old boy, I would relate well to young students. She was right! I only speak to my son Tobias in Spanish, and many of the terms and expressions that I use with him I bring into the classroom with the kindergartners. I have yet to use a single word of English in the kindergarten classroom. I cannot say that for any other grade I teach. So, the biggest difference is that I have created a more immersive environment with the little ones.
Glenn Rodríguez with boys in KG
Q: What activities have you used to teach the kindergartners? A: This is the first time I’m teaching a group without emphasizing reading or writing skills in the classroom. The input is entirely verbal at this stage. TPR, or "total physical response," is my best friend. I started the year by introducing an octopus name Paco. The word in Spanish, "Pulpo," flows well, so when I brought in "Paco Pulpo," the boys loved it. We use songs in every single class. We use chants in many of our activities.
Q: Where do you see this program going? A: A natural progression to the curriculum would be to include the first graders in the 2015-16 school year. Given the pool of talent in our department including Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher Jesus Parra, who has also made a tremendous contribution to the program, I can see the boys fluent in Spanish by the time they leave Allen-Stevenson. I would expect that they could read, write, and speak effectively in several tenses.
CHANGE IS A HAPPY CHALLENGE Ginny Rowe, Second Grade Head Teacher
Each class in the Lower School puts together an assembly, giving the boys a chance to develop public speaking skills as a class in a creative way before their schoolmates and families. For more than two decades, my second grade class performed in one of two plays, Johnny Appleseed or Spookley, the Square Pumpkin, usually alternating each year. Johnny Appleseed complemented our study of tall tales and apple-growing communities; Spookley celebrated differences and tolerance.
There is comfort in familiarity and many boys enjoy watching the play they performed in a year or two earlier. Also, for the teacher, you have the chance to develop new lines or a new song, or add interesting twists, which is always fun.
I decided this year, however, to come up with an entirely new play, The Land of Many Colors. The play is based on the book of the same name by Rita Pocock. I also chose to incorporate some popular songs into the production: “True Colors,” by Cyndi Lauper, “This Little Light of Mine,” by Harry Dixon Loes and “Respect,” by Otis Redding.
Boys in 2R performing their new play
Since changing the play I have been asked: ”Why did you change what has been working all these years to do something new and break with the tradition you created?” and “Are you pleased with the decision you made?” The answer to these questions is complex.
Firstly, our second grade curriculum changed and although Johnny Appleseed was a cherished production, it seemed the right time to introduce something different now that apple-growing communities are no longer a part of our social studies syllabus.
I’ll be the first to admit change is scary and I didn’t know what I aimed to do, except for one thing: I knew the theme I wanted to explore had to do with …RESPECT. With so much intolerance in the news from which even young children can’t be completely shielded, I felt I needed to give even more attention to teaching respect than ever before. We, as a school, are committed to its (cont.)
Spring 2015
Teaching Spanish through color bingo
Q: What have you experienced from this program so far this year? A: At this stage I’m finding that their willingness to use Spanish outside of the classroom is very good. Their enthusiasm is inspiring. My creative muscle has become much stronger this year since I am forced to innovate my approach to accommodate a verbally-driven curriculum. I look at teaching differently now. It has enabled me to zoom out, so to speak, and understand the scope and sequence of a language program from Kindergarten through the Eighth or Ninth Grade.
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A-S Features (cont.)
Ginny Rowe with her 2R class
importance. It is one of our nine Words of the Month. It is immortalized in the halls in the words’ beautiful handiwork, and it is integral in so much that is done from Kindergarten to Ninth Grade in the life of a class. This became the second reason.
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Finally, I had the support of colleagues and the administration to find the right script. That feedback helped tremendously, knowing I wasn’t alone in meeting the challenge. What a comfort that was!
The best part of all, in conclusion, was the boys’ love of the story, their input in ad-libbing and the exchange of ideas. To prepare for the play, we talked about different types of RESPECT, whether it is respect for each other, self, property, environment, other children or teachers. The boys enjoyed discussing the fact that respect is the root of friendship, community and well-being. They made making this change worthwhile and we had a lot of fun doing it together. This assembly, I hope, will be with us for a long while, for it is a timeless message for both the young and the old.
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T H I R D G R A D E R S S T U DY A N D C R E AT E E C O S Y S T E M S
The third grade boys spent a couple of months studying different types of ecosystems and learned what constitutes an abiotic or biotic factor within those systems.
“I wanted the boys to think about the different types of ecosystems they come into contact with on a regular basis, and how we as human beings impact them,” said Jennifer Vermont-Davis, Lower School Science Teacher.
The boys learned that ecosystems are all around us, from the puddle on the sidewalk to the parks throughout our city. Understanding that we as humans can encourage these ecosystems to thrive or that we might easily destroy them without thinking was an important part of this lesson. To best study this, the boys were given the opportunity to create their own ecosystems, either working alone or in teams. After conducting some research the boys selected an ecosystem that was of interest to them. Some of the choices included: desert, coral reef, ocean and mountain.
Once choices had been made, additional research took place. The boys had to know which living organisms and non-living components could be found within their ecosystems. Lists of the animals and plants, as well as the weather and the general surroundings, were cataloged. Narrowing down their extensive lists was essential for the actual project, ensuring that around five living and five non-living specimens were included.
Boys from 3DC creating sea life for their ecosystem
Third grader James Spiegel with his ecosystem
Then came the building phase, where the boys could be seen using everything from cardboard boxes and plastic bottles, to clay and live cacti. To complete the study, the boys had to describe in their science journals which particular objects, out of the ones they’d included in their models, were the producers, consumers and decomposers in their ecosystem – drawing on science knowledge from Second Grade. Sketching their final creation and writing a paragraph describing why they chose that particular ecosystem was the final step.
Always looking to adapt and expand her science projects, Ms. Vermont-Davis said, “Next year I’d like to figure out a way to have the boys interact with external groups that study and protect these large ecosystems on a day-to-day basis. We might write letters to or talk via Skype with some of these organizations or groups. This would help to make the boys’ research that much more real and relevant.”
MUSIC AND LANGUAGE
Ever wonder why you can’t remember what you ate for breakfast but you can still remember every lyric of popular songs from your childhood? Right in the middle of learning a Spanish prepositions song, the boys of 3BB turned in amazement to see their very own Ms. Broche singing along. How could it be that their homeroom teacher knew the song that they had just heard for the first time? “I remember this song from when I was in Spanish class,” she told the boys. It is remarkable what a powerful tool music is for memory and retention. For foreign language learning, music is that and so much more.
As an eager Spanish student, it was Gloria Estefan, Selena, and Christina Aguilera who captured my Spanish-loving pre-adolescent heart. I spent hours listening to their CDs, learning the lyrics, translating them as best as I could, and of course, rollerblading around my neighborhood to them. Through music, Spanish sang to me — it enveloped me in its cultural rhythms and transported me to a Spanish-speaking world. This is what we want for our boys — to strengthen their understanding of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax by building their linguistic and auditory capabilities in a fun, relaxed, and engaging way.
The use of music is beneficial to the boys’ oral communication, active listening skills, and phonemic and phonological awareness. If you roam the halls of the Lower School in AllenStevenson you will hear a wide range of Spanish songs, from a simple “Bueños Días/Good (cont.)
Samara Spielberg singing Spanish verbs with the boys in 3BB
Spring 2015
By Samara Spielberg, Spanish Teacher
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A-S Features (cont.)
Morning” song for pronunciation and vocabulary in Kindergarten to a more complex rap song about school in the third grade, focusing on syntax and the use of “hay + indefinite articles.” Moving up to the Middle School you will hear the boys proudly singing “Soy Guapo/I’m handsome” as they practice proper subject/verb and noun/adjective agreement, as well as Marc Anthony’s “Vivir mi Vida/Live My Life” to practice the near future tense using “ir + a + infinitive.” By Upper School the boys are using popular music to dissect songs for grammar and to distinguish between different verb tenses. And of course throughout the entire school boys are writing their own short Spanish songs and performing them in front of the class, with bonus points for choreographed dances!
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Through music, the boys are able to understand the unique perspectives of different cultures and communities as well. For example, to focus on the preterite tense, the upper school boys analyzed the popular song “La Historia de Juan/The History of Juan” by Juanes, which discusses the plight of street children in Colombia. It allowed the boys to dig deeper and make comparisons and connections between themselves and children in other parts of the world. Using the song as basis for a mini unit, boys then researched homelessness amongst children in the United States and wrote monologues as if they were one of those children. Writing and performing their monologues in the first person allowed the boys to connect to the material even more. Music was the catalyst to develop greater empathy and understanding of the world around us.
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So now it’s your turn! Watch a Spanish music video from a pop singer from another country. Really focus on the images, the sounds, the expressions, and the people. Then challenge yourself to listen to the words. Can you hear any cognates (words that sounds similar in Spanish and English)? And if all else fails, follow the words of Marc Anthony that our sixth graders have come to love “¡Voy a reír, voy a bailar, vivir mi vida!” I am going to laugh, I am going to dance, I am going to live my life. That is how Spanish learning comes to life!
P H OTO G R A P H Y W I T H S E L F - M A D E P I N H O L E C A M E R A S
This year’s fourth graders were extremely fortunate to be able to participate in a special photography workshop over a couple of weeks in December. Visiting artist Lisa Elmaleh (http://lisaelmaleh.com/), an accomplished photographer and expert in early photographic processes, taught the boys how to make pinhole cameras.
With the assistance of another professional photographer, Jin Lee (jinkaylee.com), Ms. Elmaleh explained to the boys what the project would entail and how the photographic process works. Each boy brought in a found object from home that would serve as his camera. Boys selected everything from cereal and shoeboxes to oatmeal containers and UNICEF coin carriers. To prepare the containers the boys painted the insides black
“I love black and white photography. It’s something that is very important to me because I can see how people took pictures in past years. I love trying to choose what to take pictures of and reversing the black and white to white and black.” Zachary Kurtz, 4B Ms. Elmaleh assisting with container painting
to absorb reflective light, and taped up all possible places where light could enter. A small pinhole was made on one side of the container and covered with a flap of tape, which would serve as the lens cover.
Developing the negative in the dark room using analog darkroom chemistry – developer, stop bath and fixer followed. The negatives were then turned into prints using a contact printing frame and the darkroom enlargers. What a great feeling it was to see the images slowly appear before their eyes!
“In the digital age, where analog processes are rapidly being fazed out, the students had a great time working with the magic of light writing, the essence of what photography really is, and their creativity and excitement grew with each aspect and assignment of the project,” said Ms. Elmaleh.
Books included in the challenge
This project was made possible thanks to the kind generosity of the Fischbein family. They created a visiting artist grant in memory of their son, Alexander ’95, who had a great love of art and literature.
M O C K N E W B E RY C H A L L E N G E By Sarah Kresberg, Library Director
The Allen-Stevenson library team is always looking for new ways to generate excitement about reading. At the start of this school year, I, along with Library Associate Pilar Okeson, decided to run a challenge with the fifth grade boys; read contenders for the next Newbery Medal and select a book we think should win. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the award, the Newbery Medal is the most prestigious award presented by the American Library Association. The Fifth Grade was a natural choice for the program. They are the youngest grade we felt were ready to read the majority of the books that would be under consideration, and they had experience with book awards, having voted for the New York State Charlotte Book Award the previous school year. Liz Storch, Upper School Librarian, and Carol Mahida, Seventh Grade English Teacher, decided that the Seventh Grade would also benefit from taking part because a number of the books under consideration had greater appeal for older students. Ms. Storch and Ms. Mahida brought that grade into the challenge, making a few modifications to suit the needs of the older boys. (cont.)
Spring 2015
“I liked how you can just make a camera out of a cardboard box and electrical tape, and it works.” Justin Durso, 4F
Once the cameras were complete, the boys created negatives. A piece of photographic paper was taped to the inside back of each camera box. Because of poor weather conditions the photographing had to be done inside under bright tungsten-balanced continuous lights. The boys took portraits of themselves by sitting or lying perfectly still in front of their cameras, opening their lenses for a 2 to 3-minute exposure. Holding a position for that length of time to ensure no blurring of the image was a challenge in and of itself.
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A-S Features (cont.)
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Voting party attendees with Sarah Kresberg
The biggest challenge we faced as we created the program was figuring out which books to read because the actual Newbery Committee does not issue a short list. Any original work published in 2014 for an audience of 8 to 14 year olds by a U.S. citizen or resident is eligible. It can be fiction, non-fiction or poetry. These criteria left us with literally thousands of books from which to whittle down our own short list. Fortunately, in recent years there has been a rise in chatter about Newbery contenders on online forums, with several blogs, such as Heavy Medal, devoted solely to the topic. We picked roughly sixteen books, the seventh grade selection differing slightly from the fifth grade selection (it was larger and included more non-fiction as well as novels in verse), and purchased multiple print copies for circulation. We also acquired digital downloads of the books as well as audio versions, where available, to support different reading preferences.
Our first order of business was for the adults involved to read as many of the books as we could before starting the challenge. It was important to be able to talk knowledgeably about the books and to be able to figure out the hook that would interest the boys. We also needed to create a way to constantly remind the boys about the challenge and the books that were involved. Ms. Okeson produced laminated color photocopies of the book covers, which we mounted to a wall in the library for the Fifth Grade and to a bulletin board outside Ms. Mahida’s room for the Seventh Grade. To these book covers we affixed the names of boys as they read the books. It was a source of great satisfaction to the boys to see their names dotted around the wall as they completed titles. Fifth grade teachers, Ms. Anderson and Ms. Furnary, provided further support by placing the book covers on the wall in their classrooms, and Ms. Mahida placed a star chart listing books completed in her classroom. I also wanted the boys to be able to remember which books were in the challenge while at home so I created a Pinterest board with each book pinned and annotated. I embedded the Pinterest board on the landing page of the library website.
We launched the program in the Fifth Grade with the homeroom teachers by reading aloud the book Josephine by Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson about the life of Josephine Baker. This extraordinary book did not end up winning the Newbery but it won an honor in two other book award categories from the ALA so it turned out to be a great pick! Our purpose in sharing the book was to help all the boys feel a part of the challenge, since participation was optional. We continued by watching a video in which various Newbery winning authors are interviewed about their work and what winning the medal was like for them. Once reading was underway, we invited two recent members of Newbery Committees to share their personal experiences with picking the winner. The process is famously secretive but we were able to gain real insight into how they debated the merit of the contenders, as well as how the committee reached a consensus about the winner. In the Seventh Grade we launched the program by reminding the seventh grade boys about the criteria for the Newbery award and book talking some of the books in the contest.
2015 Newbery Honor: Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson
2015 Newbery Medal: The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander
The Newbery Challenge proved to be highly rewarding for all involved. As several of the seventh grade boys noted, they read and enjoyed a variety of books that they probably would not have discovered on their own. We were thrilled when we realized that collectively, the fifth grade participants read 204 of the latest and best books and the seventh grade boys read 85 of those books. We plan to repeat the Newbery experience next year with grades 5-7, with the experienced fifth graders helping us to develop the shortlist. The boys already shared lots of ideas about how to make the challenge even more meaningful. It’s time to start reading the latest new releases!
CHANGES IN THE LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER
By Venesha Cashdollar, Sarah Luposello, Meghan Wall, Learning Resource Specialists Anne Meyer, Learning Resource Director
The mission of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) for grades 4 to 9 has always been to provide any Allen-Stevenson boy with short-term, skill specific support on a point-of-need basis. In the 2014-2015 school year, the Director of the Learning Resource (cont.)
Spring 2015
2015 Newbery Honor: El Deafo, by Cece Bell (the first graphic novel to gain a Newbery)
Throughout the challenge, which ran for three months, we monitored the fifth grade boys’ progress by having them fill out an online form in which they had to evaluate the books for plot, characterization, setting and more. The seventh grade boys demonstrated their progress by creating “Verification Cards” for their books, which adorned the walls of the Town Center and Ms. Mahida’s room throughout the contest. These were selected from a menu that included writing six word essays, drawing book covers, writing poems, illustrating significant scenes, writing book reviews, and writing postcards to the authors of their books. Each time they evaluated a book they received a small treat. The Fifth Grade favorite? Frogs you fling against the wall! (The seventh grade boys particularly liked having microwave popcorn during break.) In addition, at certain stages, boys who had read a certain number of books were entered into a prize drawing for things such as a week sitting in the coveted leather armchair or getting a frozen yogurt at Butterfields to lord it over the other boys during snack! Our final incentive was the opportunity to attend a voting party for all boys who had read six or more books by the deadline. Attendees debated the merits of the contenders while eating pizza. The following week we shared our thoughts about the winning titles and all the voters were presented with special certificates. Out of thousands of books published each year, all three of the books that won the Newbery Medal or Honor were on the fifth grade shortlist although the actual winner was pitched at a teenage audience and was only on our seventh grade list. The seventh grade shortlist also included one of the Newbery Honor books.
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A-S Features (cont.)
Center, Anne Meyer, had a unique challenge -- to continue to improve the level of support the LRC is able to provide to the boys while working with an entirely new group of learning specialists.
To say that the new faculty in the LRC works well together is a vast understatement. Venesha Cashdollar, Sarah Luposello and Meghan Wall each bring different strengths to the table, yet they know they can rely on one another for support. Mrs. Cashdollar, a Middle School Learning Specialist, is a former fifth grade homeroom teacher. Her knowledge base of what middle school boys at Allen-Stevenson need is extensive and necessary. Ms. Luposello’s training in inclusive education helps her teach skills to students in a way that they can apply them in their classrooms. Ms. Wall, Upper School Learning Specialist, brings a unique perspective into the LRC. Before joining the Allen-Stevenson family, she was a resource room teacher in a public school, providing individualized support to students with a wide variety of strengths and needs. Though each specialist’s strengths are varied, they are able to work together interchangeably in order to best support the boys.
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The support that the LRC is able to provide comes in various different realms. Starting in Fourth Grade, boys begin taking a Study Skills class. The point of this course is to provide boys with the executive functioning tools they need to be successful at Allen-Stevenson and beyond. This includes time management skills, using planners effectively, note-taking and annotating, listening skills and overall organization. Ideally, by the time our students get to Eighth and Ninth Grade, they already have a solid foundation of the tools and executive functioning skills necessary to be successful in a wide variety of settings.
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However, the support the LRC provides goes beyond our designated Study Skills time. Every morning, Monday through Thursday, we have a group of students come in from 7:45AM until 8:30AM for any extra executive functioning or academic support they might need. This support is highly individualized, as each student has specific areas on which he is focusing. While this morning time truly benefits students’ classroom success, it has also become a moderately social time. Boys from various grades and different classes cross paths on a routine basis. They come to know one another, and look forward to seeing each other. Many faculty members who are walking the halls at 7:45AM on most weekday mornings can already hear the laughter and feel the positive energy of the boys in the LRC. Perhaps the most important aspect of the Learning Resource Center’s work is the collaborative piece. Not only do we collaborate with classroom teachers across multiple grade levels, but we also sit down with various learning specialists for the New York City area on the first Thursday of every month. Over time, these meetings have been endearingly called “Thursday Talks.” Typically, we discuss questions, ideas, articles and research studies that can inform our best practices as educators. We brainstorm ways to best teach our boys by combining what we discuss about the neuroscience of learning and implement it in our classrooms.
The goal of Thursday Talks is to ensure education at Allen-Stevenson is evolving to meet the ever-changing demands placed on our boys. As learning specialists, we serve as liaisons and are responsible for sharing new information on the process of learning with our classroom teachers. As a result, much of what we do is “behind the scenes” work, as we offer advice and ideas that could best serve our teachers and our students.
In many ways, the goal of the Learning Resource Center can be summed up into one word: support. The LRC is quietly tucked into a non-descript corner on the fourth floor of the school, yet the door swings open countless times a day. We are proud to say that the LRC is absolutely open to everyone, boys and adults alike.
Controller made with 3D Printer
M I D D L E - S C H O O L E L E C T I V E W I T H E L E C T RO N I C A RT AND THE MAKEY MAKEY By Rob McCallum, Computer Art Teacher
I have been exploring ways that Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) can be integrated into the art program. There are all kinds of new gizmos and electrical components on the market that can provide exciting opportunities for boys to experiment, invent and tinker. One such gizmo is the Makey Makey, an invention that works with sensors and tells a computer that bananas are a keyboard. In the process of inventing something using the Makey Makey the boys learn about electronics, circuitry, and how to create an interaction between a microprocessor and a computer.
What really surprised me though, is that many of the boys took the Makey Makey to another level and made controllers out of cardboard and aluminum foil. These were then wired to computer games they made in the coding program Scratch. More recently the boys have designed and made their own controllers using a 3D printer and soldering a circuit to create very effective touch pads.
Soldering and configuring controllers
Anis Ghanem helping with film editing
I discovered that one of the most exciting things that happened in this elective is the boys were inventing and creating interactive objects and learning through process. They were “Inventing to Learn.” Instead of teaching students how to do something the boys were learning through discovery and experimentation. We had no idea what the outcome would be of a particular investigation. It also stretched the limits of the Makey Makey.
Subsequent projects and extensions are third grade boys creating interactive felt murals, upper school boys designing games in Scratch in conjunction with the Makey Makey, and middle school boys soldering and creating circuit boards for robots.
NEW FILM AND MEDIA CLASS FOR UPPER SCHOOL
Julia Kunin, Art Department Head, designed a new film and media class for the seventh and eighth grade boys in which they create short one to three minute horror films. “Because of my passion for the history of filmmaking, I was excited about getting to teach and analyze film with my students. I chose horror as the genre because it is popular among young adults, but if a student prefers science fiction or the supernatural then that is okay too,” said Ms. Kunin.
The class begins with an analysis of the 1929 movie “Man with a Movie Camera,” by Dziga Vertov, where students learn about a variety of film techniques including jump-cuts, slowmotion, fast-motion, sequencing, and close-ups. Students then look at historic and contemporary horror film clips. The students discuss the elements that move a plot along, and draw the viewer into the film, including the creation of suspense, surprise, and fear. The boys work in small (cont.)
Spring 2015
I offered this activity as an elective in the Middle School and in the fall trimester the boys created futuristic musical instruments. They designed and constructed them out of cardboard and then included an electrical circuit for the various sounds they wanted to create. The sounds were created in GarageBand and then formatted to work in a software program called Soundplant. Soundplant then fed information to the Makey Makey and the boy’s musical instrument. The results were spectacular and the sounds the instruments made were quite unique.
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A-S Features (cont.)
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teams to create concepts for their films, which can be narrative or non-narrative. They then create storyboards to map out the key scenes. The boys choose the role of actor, scriptwriter, cameraman, and/or editor. Using video cameras, they gather footage, ensuring they collect more than they need. The library, hallways and elevator make for prime film locations! Next, they download what they have collected on to the computer and edit using iMovie. Working with Ms. Kunin and Mr. Ghanem, Administrative Assistant and current film and media studies student, the teams incorporate additional sound and edit their final piece. One of the challenges of editing requires not being afraid to cut film footage to perfect the work, leaving some of the story to the imagination. Ms. Kunin said, “My intent is for this class to develop and change as I go along. Incorporating how to use lighting during filming might be interesting, as would bringing in guest speakers.”
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Mr. Ghanem said, “By the end of the class, the boys will hopefully have learned how to think creatively about all the different mediums incorporated into the making of a film. I hope they have begun to think more about character development and a character’s reaction to different situations, while at the same time improving their camera movement skills, as there are different ways to shoot a scene. Really, it all boils down to imagination, and having students consider all the different ways to tell a story.”
I N Q U I RY- B A S E D A P P R O A C H E N H A N C E S S T U DY OF INHERIT THE WIND By Carol Mahida, Seventh Grade Teacher
Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is a play inspired by the Scopes Monkey Trial. The play is centered on a teacher who is on trial for reading a chapter from Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species to his students. The trial has attracted national attention and it quickly becomes apparent to everyone that more is on trial than teaching off the curriculum. Inherit the Wind is about social change, old ideas versus new ideas, the intersection between religion and science, democracy, and mostly the choices and consequences that come with following one’s personal conviction. This text was chosen because it provided me the opportunity to create an interdisciplinary unit that would include not just literature, but also science and history. In the fall, the boys visited the
Studying evolution at the American Museum of Natural History
Ms. Kunin said, “I wanted to teach this class because I felt that it is important for young people today to be able to analyze the many images that bombard them in film and video as well as social media. Having a better understanding of the power that the composition of a single frame has as well as the overall impact of a video and its messages was something they needed to learn.”
Spring 2015
Inherit the Wind Instagram/ Photography gallery
American Museum of Natural History, as part of their study of evolution, which allowed them to formulate their questions about evolution based on what they saw rather than simply being lectured to, preparing them well for a formal discussion and debates at a later date.
This trip also primed the boys for the discussions we are having in English now as we study Inherit the Wind. In collaborating with Jeffrey Herschenhous, Upper School Science Teacher, David Kersey, Seventh Grade History Teacher, Liz Storch, Upper School Librarian, and Kate Reid, Library Intern, I’ve found their knowledge and expertise has helped the boys understand the historical context of the play and enabled them to explore themes that resonate in the present day as well as the past (e.g., teaching evolution v. creationism, writing to effect social change, speaking out – McCarthyism vs. The Patriot Act).
This unit is a good example of an inquiry-based approach to curriculum design that helps students begin to make connections between disciplines and ultimately to situations outside the classroom.
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A-S Features (cont.)
Liz Storch speaking with Ji Li Jiang via Skype
MAOseum
By Liz Storch, Upper School Librarian
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Sometimes less is more. In the past, many history projects in the Upper School followed a set pattern. For example, at the end of Ms. Sklow’s eighth grade Chinese History unit in the fall, the boys would read and discuss Red Scarf Girl, a memoir about growing up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Then they would do research to answer teacher constructed research questions, create electronic notecards and a bibliography, and write a thesis paper. Hardly the most interesting way to learn history.
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Although research papers have a place in our increasingly collaborative, technological world, we in the history and library departments noticed that because of their packed schedules, the boys did not always have enough time during a project to complete all of the steps in the research process. In particular, Ms. Sklow and I noticed that their Red Scarf Girl papers did not reflect their best reasoning skills and, for the most part, did not contain strong thesis statements. Therefore, with input from Ms. Sklow’s professional teacher CFG (Critical Friends Group), we redesigned the project with the goals of helping the boys develop the thesis writing skills they will need for high school, engaging them more in the process of learning, and lightening their workload during the stressful time of applying to high schools.
As the Upper School Librarian, nothing pleases me more than seeing a boy dig into a topic simply because he wants to learn more about it. To spark their curiosity about what it was like for a student who was about their age to grow up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, I arranged for the eighth grade boys to have a Skype session with Ji Li Jiang, the author of Red Scarf Girl. During that session the boys had a rare opportunity to speak with someone who had lived through a historical period that they had studied and to ask her about her experiences. The boys’ questions were thoughtful and insightful. They ranged from how it felt to go from being a top student to being singled out for having come from a “black family” (because her grandfather came from the landlord class) to Ms. Jiang’s views on Mao Tse-Tung and Deng Xiaoping as well as her reasons for writing her memoir. Rather than engage in the traditional dry, text-driven study of history, the boys had a lively, in the moment learning experience that was driven by their own curiosity.
During our small group discussions about Red Scarf Girl, Ms. Sklow, Ms. Wall, our Learning Resource Specialist, and I noticed that the boys were most interested in Chairman Mao and wanted to find out more about him. Accordingly, because we wanted the boys to pursue their own questions about Chairman Mao, Ms. Sklow and I decided to have the project center around the broad topic of Mao Tse-Tung’s leadership of China. Part One of the project reinforced
Luca Matts ’16 exhibiting his MAOseum project
research skills the boys learned in seventh grade. It required the boys to collect note cards and quotations to assist them in crafting their own thesis statement, which answered the research question: “How should Mao be remembered by historians?” For Part Two, the boys created their own found poetry. Found poetry consists exclusively of outside texts: the words of the poem remain as they were found. The literary equivalent of a collage, found poetry is often made from newspaper articles, street signs, novels, graffiti, speeches, or even quotations. For this particular found poetry, the boys had to find five quotations to support their thesis. In these quotations, they argued whether or not Chairman Mao was successful. The final part of the project was a MAOseum, in which each boy presented his found poem, made a displayable exhibit that represented his thesis, and prepared a power paragraph/exhibit label to support his live explanation of why he created his particular exhibit. The presentations were thoughtful and reflected the boys’ hard work. They supported their arguments in various media and formats, including posters, paintings, collages, video presentations, and dioramas. They relied on their creative strengths to create uniformly interesting exhibits and ably explained why their exhibits supported their theses.
Ms. Sklow and I could not have been more pleased with our revamping of this project. The boys were engaged in their work throughout and were proud to present their final projects in the MAOseum. They began to develop good thesis writing skills and the ability to support their arguments with strong quotations — skills we have seen them repeat with success in the recent eighth grade history debates about the effectiveness of Nelson Mandela’s presidency of South Africa. As a teacher, I was once again reminded that if we provide the boys with interesting topics and new ways to learn, their natural curiosity and creative abilities will shine through, and they will continue to do their best work. We can’t wait to work on and further refine the project next year.
Spring 2015
Lowell Creel ’16 explains his museum piece to visitors
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News Gabrielle DeMatteis, First Grade Teacher, and her
husband, John, welcomed
Lindsey Furnary, Fifth Grade
12:30PM, on March 12. “He
Tim, were blessed with the
Teacher, and her husband,
Jackson Frederick Keller at
arrival of Charlotte Grace on
weighed in at a healthy 8lbs
February 22. She weighed 8lbs
12oz and was a lengthy 22
1oz. “She is a precious light in
inches of pure perfection,”
our lives…a beautiful bundle
said Gabby and John. “We are so in love!”
Tony D’Itri, Athletics &
Physical Education, married
his best friend Elpida Halaris of 14 years this Spring Break Lamplighter
in beautiful Costa Rica. The
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two met in college and
became friends instantly.
It wasn’t until four years ago that Tony realized she was
more than just his best friend, she was his soul mate. They live together in Queens, NY,
and are excited to start their “Big Fat Greek and Italian” lives together.
of love,” said Lindsey.
Bonnie Tucker, Lower School Librarian, and her husband
Jeff, celebrated the wedding of their daughter Joanna to
Randall Hirsch on September 20, 2014, at 632 on Hudson in New York City.
2014 RIKLIS GRANT EXPERIENCE By Liz Storch
On a professional level, I found the seminar week particularly rewarding. Part of my job as a teaching librarian is to help students to “learn how to learn.” What I learned and the teaching methods I observed in the science seminars have helped me engage our students with respect to scientific topics in different areas of our curriculum. The seminars also gave me ideas for research and other projects in our science classes. In addition, because other seminars were devoted to more traditional library topics, I developed rewarding professional connections with independent school librarians from the United States and Australia. Finally, on a more personal level, I am very grateful for the grant. I found my experience intellectually stimulating as well as extraordinarily refreshing and renewing. I think of my experiences in Oxford often.
Spring 2015
I used my Riklis Grant to attend the Oxford Teacher Seminars at Oxford University from July 20-27, 2014. I participated in the Boundaries of Scientific Knowledge seminars in which a small group of teachers from various countries “explore[d] how cutting edge areas of scientific research can be innovatively integrated into classroom teaching at the secondary level – not only in the sciences but in the arts and humanities (http://www.oxbridgeprograms.com/teacher-seminars/).” The daily presentations and discussions explored current research in the following areas: the musical brain, conservation genetics, science and religion, materials science, physics, and environmental zoology. The seminars and the daily plenary sessions on “educational themes” were given by academics and others associated with Oxford University.
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News W H AT ’ S N E W ? A L O T !
By Fredda Goldberg, PA President
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When I started out the school year as PA President, I asked myself, “What can I do to make a change?” While change is a big fear for some people, I feel that continuing to improve is important. With change comes growth, conversations, insights, and with that comes a stronger community.
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I started the year with something new. It was a team-building workshop that was meant for us to get to know each other on a deeper level. With approximately 50 PA volunteers in attendance, new friendships were formed with people you might never have met. Midway through the workshop I looked around the room and I saw tears and laughter at almost every table, I realized then that “new” is good.
The PA took a risk at moving the location of our annual skating party to Bryant Park after it was always held at Wollman Rink. I must admit I was a bit nervous because again, people fear change. Smiles, comments and a huge turnout made my nerves disappear and very quickly I knew we made the right decision.
Another addition to the PA’s list of committees this year was MASB (Mothers of Allen-Stevenson Boys). After all we had to give FASB a little competition! MASB’s first event was hosting our inaugural Movie Night. Screening “Star Wars” brought along
about 60 little Jedis in costumes with their parents. It was a night filled with pizza, candy, popcorn…and a new AllenStevenson tradition was born.
Giving back is important and the PA organized a day for families to go to a church and serve food to the homeless and needy on Thanksgiving. It always feels good to do for others. Another new giving back event was a bicycle building Saturday for families. The bicycles were donated to The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
CL+D (Community Life + Diversity) has had many successful Parent Chats about creating safe spaces for LGBTQ community members, how we can deepen our understanding of events like Ferguson and Staten Island and building parent networks. At the last Families of Color dinner we were led by a group of boys from BOCAS (Boys of Color at Allen-Stevenson) in an exercise to see how different races are stereotyped. That was a great conversation starter and an important conversation followed. I want to end by saying none of these events, activities and changes would be possible without the help of all of the PA’s Committee Chairs, Executive Committee and the parent body of Allen-Stevenson. With everyone’s help, hard work and participation, I am proud to be part of this wonderful community everyday. That’s what’s new for now…… more to come!
Every gift makes a difference to every boy who walks our halls every day of the year.
Every year the Allen-Stevenson community supports our Scholars and Gentlemen through gifts to the Annual Fund. Please support the 2014 -15 Annual Fund today and your gift will be put to work for every boy. The Annual Fund closes on June 30.
www.allen-stevenson.org/give_online
Every Gift Counts.
Alumni Reunion Weekend C E L E B R AT E D G I L B E R T & S U L L I V A N
Maurice Edelson ’78 and Michael Barlerin ’55
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The 2015 Alumni Reunion kicked off on Friday, March 6, with a party hosted by Louis Rose ’86 at 583 Park Avenue, and celebrated the 70+ year history of Gilbert & Sullivan at AllenStevenson. Roger Raines ’80 served as emcee, weaving stories of the cultural influence of Gilbert & Sullivan on pop culture and introducing several members of the 2015 cast of The Pirates of Penzance, who captivated alumni from Classes 1952– 2014 who sang along to "Better Far to Live and Die," "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General," and "When a Felon’s Not Engaged in His Employment." Benjamin Edelson ’16, Jason Kreloff ’15, James Mahedy ’15, Matteo de Donato ’16 and Santiago Vargas ’18 proved the resiliance of the G&S tradition at A-S with their fantastic performances.
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Noah Koeppel ’10, Kimberly Kyte, and Adam Koeppel ’12
Jim Fitzsimmons ’54 and Cody Fitzsimmons ’81
Bob Freedman ’51, John Carr, III ’76 and Andrew Burger ’59
Matt Smerling ’07 and Abbie Newman Cristina Mueller, Caleb Smilgin ’78 and Jason Selch ’75
Maryam and Luis Jimenez ’85
Townsend Krum ’90, Brian Halweil ’90, Sarah Halweil, Colin McCabe ’90, Casey Novotny, Edward Novotny ’90, John Rose ’90, and Larry Welch ’90
Alumni Reunion Weekend ( C O N T. )
Ryan Umane ’00, Kerim Eken ’00, Alsomel Rosario ’00. Timothy Kirby ’00, Alex Cecil ’00, Matthew Scharfstein ’00, and Jon Klebanoff ’00
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Henry Liu P’14 and Helen Chen P’14
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Louis Rose ’86, Ronald Rolfe ’60 and Dare Rolfe ’18
Monica Lengyel, Nicolas Karlson ’85, Robert Tucker ’85 and Simon Wasserberger ’85
On Saturday, alumni brought their families to the School to view the rehearsal of Pirates before opening night. Student-led tours were a big hit, and a lively game of basketball pitted alumni against faculty in the Gym.
Spring 2015
Will Overlock ’95 with his wife, Colleen, and daughter Abigail
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Donovan Spamer ’91 with his wife, Kristan, and son Logan ’25
Nolan ’20, Nikolas ’82, Karin and Caleb ’17 Dando-Haenisch at the Reunion Open House
Our Alumni Community in Action EVENTS 2014-2015
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More than 60 alumni from classes 2007–2015 returned to AllenStevenson for Young Alumni Day on Tuesday, November 25. The boys enjoyed catching up with many of their teachers, coaches and friends before the long Thanksgiving weekend, and were reminded by Mr. Kersey that they are always welcome here on East 78th Street. After enjoying the lovely spread put out by Ms. Matthew and her team, a lively game of basketball ensued in the Gym.
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Carter Berg ’88 Shares His Photography Inspirations
It was a true family affair when photographer Carter Berg ’88 came back to Allen-Stevenson to speak to the middle school and upper school boys at Monday Morning Meeting in November. In addition to his brother Sam ’91, he brought his parents, wife and mother-in-law. They all were treated to Carter’s story about becoming a photographer as well as seeing some of his stunning photos. Walking the boys through a few memories of his time at AllenStevenson, Carter explained how similar to and yet different the school is to the Allen-Stevenson he attended. Learning to read music at a young age, running around the reservoir two times a year, and singing, always singing, he remembered from his time at the School. He also thanks Allen-Stevenson for teaching him how to be a well-rounded person, and was happy to see his former teachers David Kersey ’98, Anne Meyer and Kim Kyte.
As for becoming a photographer, Carter said it wasn’t until his senior year at Hobart College when he was offered a position as a production assistant on a Ralph Lauren photo shoot that he felt inspired to become a photographer. From 1996 to 2004 he worked as a photographer’s assistant. He has traveled the world with his photography, but still feels that it is New York City that has inspired him the most. So this fall he published his first book entitled “New York Snapshots.”
Alumni Hit the Ice at Chelsea Piers
22 men hit the ice for the Alumni Hockey Game at Chelsea Piers on Tuesday, November 25. Perhaps the best attended hockey game in recent memory, the evening was a blast for all involved. A group of alumni who attended Young Alumni Day made their way to Chelsea Piers by bus just in time for warm-ups, while others gathered ahead of time to prep for the game. Coach Phil Amplo balanced the teams nicely, making for an exciting, high energy match. Several families and friends were on hand to cheer on the players from the warmth of the Club Lounge, where all enjoyed pizza and refreshments while remembering their experiences as hockey players or hockey moms, while at A-S.
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Young Alumni Day
Young Alumni Shuffled at The Royal Palms
Did you know that the game of shuffleboard has a history that goes back over 500 years? While the exact origins of the game are a mystery, it is known that the game was played by King Henry VIII. In 1532, King Henry prohibited commoners from playing the game, but today the game is taking on new life in one hip bar in Brooklyn. On Friday, December 12, a small group of Allen-Stevenson alumni gathered at The Royal Palms Shuffleboard club on Union Street for some pre-holiday cheer. Mr. Kersey played a couple of rounds, and enjoyed catching up on the busy lives of his former students. The massive venue provided a chill, laid back vibe, and while none of the A-S players will be joining the National Shuffleboard Hall of Fame (established in 1995), all in attendance enjoyed their time on the court.
As well as performing at schools such as Allen-Stevenson, and of course Yale, the Ex!t Players can be found either performing or teaching improv workshops at teen centers near Yale and at schools across the U.S. from Los Angeles and Austin to New York and Washington D.C.
The Hubbard Inn, a lively River North establishment and dining destination recommended by Oliver Kramer ’86, was the perfect venue for a gathering of nine Chicago-area alumni. Mr. Kersey and alumni director Anthony Kapp flew in on Friday afternoon, January 30, and were delighted to catch up with these A-S old boys. Five of them were college boys from Northwestern; the others, older, established in Chicago, working, married, and raising children—“Chicagoans” they told Mr. Kersey. During the evening’s conversation, the question of what inspired the men to attend the event came up. “One member of the class of 1989 told me that though he had many friends from his secondary school and college days, his strongest attachment is to Allen-Stevenson,” said Mr. Kersey, speculating that “it must have something to do with home, growing up in New York City, and the fact that Allen-Stevenson was so much a part of that, truly their alma mater.” Regional events hosted by AllenStevenson alumni have been picking up momentum in recent years. Visits to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington and Philadelphia have recalled fond memories and rekindled
friendships built in the halls of our beloved School. To learn more, or if you are interested in hosting an alumni gathering in your city, contact Anthony Kapp at akapp@allen-stevenson.org.
Alumni Affinity Group Talks Digital Media
On February 3, 2015, Geoffrey Sanders ’92 hosted this year’s first breakfast for A-S alumni working in marketing, advertising and digital media. There was representation from across the marketing space — publishers, agencies, and advertisers in industries ranging from Education to Financial Services. Over a light breakfast, the alums had a lively discussion on topics such as how to measure return on ad spending and the importance of view-ability in digital media. The group hopes to meet quarterly, so if you are interested in joining, please reach out to alumni@allen-stevenson.org and
join the LinkedIn group, titled “A-S Alumni in Advertising, Marketing, Media, Digital & AdTech.”
Entertainment Affinity Group Holds First Gathering
On April 10, 2015 the first gathering of the Alumni in Entertainment affinity group was hosted by Chris Moscato ’98 at the Yale Club. Thirteen alums quite varied in their work in the entertainment world had a very productive first meeting and it was clear that they want to meet again. This means that entertainment has been added to the roster of affinity groups that includes real estate, advertising and digital media, and finance. There also seems to be interest in a similar group focusing on the law. For more information, contact alumni@allenstevenson.org and join the LinkedIn group, titled “A-S Alumni in Entertainment & Media.”
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Spring 2015
Monday Morning Meeting on January 5 welcomed the entertaining and witty Yale Ex!t Players, an improv group, which included Isaac Hudis ’09. Established in the spring of 1984, the Yale Ex!t Players are Yale’s oldest comedy group. The players work with their audiences to create skits on the spot. For AllenStevenson, they had themes for their skits, such as “Show and Tell,” “New Choice,” “Dating Game,” “Face Off” and others. Adding to the fun, the group asked for boy volunteers from the audience to join them on stage to help with the improvisation.
Chicagoland Alumni Reconnect with Mr. Kersey
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Yale Ex!t Players Ring in 2015 at A-S
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John D. Negroponte ’53
alumni NEWS
1953
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John D. Negroponte is the subject of a recent book by George Liebmann entitled The Last American Diplomat. It is an incisive account of John’s life and career, based on personal and shared experiences. Of John, George says, "In a career spanning 50 years of unprecedented American global power, he was the last of a dying breed of patrician diplomats - devoted to public service, a self-effacing and ultimate insider, whose prime duty was to advise, guide and warn." The book was featured on C-SPAN’s Book Week, and is available on Amazon.com.
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1957
Phil Proctor writes to tell us that he returned in December from a three month vacation all over Italy. He is still acting on stage and screen, and adding voices to Pixar films, games and radio. He’s also looking forward to 75 years on the Planet this year. Don’t forget to check out www.planetproctor.com.
1959
Andy Burger, Class Representative
1960
Ron Rolfe, Class Representative
1961
Dean Sanborn, Class Representative
Roberto Mangabeira Unger was featured in a Financial Times article by John Paul Rathbone. "A radical philosopher who won Harvard tenure in 1976 when he was aged just 29, Unger has developed a reputation as a public intellectual unafraid to pick a fight." Unger, also an occasional politician, talks about being radical and personal transformations.
1970
Richard Perry, Class Representative
1974
Vinny Peterson, Class Representative
Phil Proctor ’57
Roberto Mangabeira Unger ’61
1975
Yoshi Shimada, Class Representative
1976
Robert Burge, Class Representative John Carr, Class Representative
Stephen Judson, Class Representative
Robert Burge Twentieth Century Photographs, Ltd was pleased to exhibit at the AIPAD Photography Show in New York, April 15-19, 2015. The exhibition featured works by Elaine Mays, Reenie Barrow, Tina Barney, Larry Fink, Ray Metzker, Judy Winningham, Andrew Wyeth, DW Mellor, Andre Kertesz and more.
1977
Michael Hedges, Class Representative Dewey Wigod, Class Representative
1978
Bob Buehler, Class Representative
Maurice Edelson, Class Representative William Judson, Class Representative Dean Landis, Class Representative Clifton York, Class Representative
1979
Neil Bader, Class Representative
Alex Gellert, Class Representative
Clint Johnson, Class Representative
1980
Roger Raines, Class Representative
Pete Conlon ’87
Carter Berg ’88
Christopher Persley ’88
1981
Erik Cliette, Class Representative
1985
Eric Rothstein, Class Representative
Simon Wasserberger, Class Representative
Evan Goldfischer, Class Representative Andrew Vogelstein, Class Representative Hans Wydler, Class Representative
Dan Abrams and his friend and fellow media mogul Dave Zinczenko have a new restaurant in Tribeca, White Street. The once 19th-century carriage house has been transformed into a sprawling restaurant space that attracts a variety of celebrity clientele, and is "less clubby and more glamorous" than the duo’s other culinary venture, the Lion, according to Dan.
1982
Mark Wasserberger, Class Representative
1983
Harlan Reinhardt, Class Representative
1984
Michael Feinberg, Class Representative John Henry, Class Representative Marc Rice, Class Representative
Endeavor, a nonprofit organization founded by Peter Kellner and Linda Rottenberg, was awarded the 2015 Henry R. Kravis Prize in Nonprofit Leadership on April 23. Endeavor has helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs build more than 600 companies in 22 countries, collectively creating more than 400,000 jobs and generating close to $7 billion in revenue. The organization’s mission is to lead the global movement to catalyze long-term economic growth by selecting, mentoring, and accelerating the best high-impact entrepreneurs around the world. Endeavor helps them overcome barriers to growth by providing the key ingredients to success: mentorship; networks; strategic advice; talent; skills; access to smart capital; and inspiration from the world’s top financial institutions and consulting firms. About the honor, Peter said, “I believe anything I ever learned that contributed to my drive to produce this organization is grounded in my experience as an Allen-Stevenson boy.”
Patrick Horan, Class Representative
Alexander von Furstenberg, Class Representative
1986
Brooke Connell, Class Representative
Chris Goodman, Class Representative Louis Rose, Class Representative
Michael Tiedemann, Class Representative
1987
Ian Adler, Class Representative
Alf Burger, Class Representative
Spring 2015
Dan Abrams ’81
Chris Hallows, Class Representative
Pete Conlon teamed up with Keegan-Michael Key and Jordon Peele to create a technically challenging visual gag for their Super Bowl Special on Comedy Central, a one-hour tribute to pro football and the eccentric personalities who make it happen.
1988
Schuyler Havens, Class Representative
Christopher Persley, Class Representative
Carter Berg has released a new book of his photography, entitled New York Snapshots. The cocktail-table book recreates the rush of encountering gorgeous buildings in the city for the first time, according to Architectural Digest, saying "even the most jaded, seen-it-all New Yorkers will be charmed" by Carter’s collection of photographs. Carter visited AllenStevenson on Monday, November 17, to share his new book with the Middle and Upper Schools during Monday Morning Meeting. The boys enjoyed the opportunity to see Carter’s photography and ask him questions.
Christopher Persley has been blogging about his experience as an at-home dad. He re-launched his website, www. thebrowngothamite.com last summer with a new logo designed by a former student and added sections, like Advice For My Daughter and Pepper’s Library. Christopher says, “What’s cool is that during this personal reinvention, I have somehow become one of the voices of the At-Home Dad movement. My personal story has resonated with people and surprisingly brought some attention to my writing.” Christopher is currently
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Harlan Goldberg ’90
alumni NEWS
working on sponsorships and developing partnerships with companies like Dove for Men, and he recently appeared on MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry as part of a panel discussing childcare in the US. In addition, Christopher was selected as one of five Spotlight Bloggers at the Dad 2.0 Summit, and appeared on the podcast Father Nation with Jesse Foster.
1989
Pierre Bonan, Class Representative
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David Herzberg, Class Representative
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1990
Larry Welch ’90
use their creativity to express themselves in working towards change in today’s society. Wes Stanton is the proud new father of Sebastian Alexander Stanton, born January 7, 2015, at 9:42am and, weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 12oz. Wes writes to say, "Baby and Mom are doing great! The NY Rangers have already called to set up a recruiting visit."
1993
Anthony Bonan, Class Representative Ken McCauley, Class Representative
Ken LaFreniere, Class Representative
1994
John Rose, Class Representative
Denton Smith, Class Representative
Harlan Goldberg, Class Representative Colin McCabe, Class Representative
Harlan Goldberg and his wife, Vohla welcomed the birth of their daughter, Averie Grace Goldberg on February 4, 2015. Averie weighed in at 6lbs 8oz, and is doing well. Harlan is currently a Senior Sales Director at ONE Sotheby’s International Realty in Miami Beach, where he is working on a new residential project, OCEANA Bal Harbour. Colin McCabe ran his first marathon this spring in Austin, TX. Congratulations, Colin! Larry Welch and his wife Nana welcomed a baby girl, Archer Skye Lamousé-Welch to their family on November 30, 2014, at 3:38pm. Archer and Nana are both doing well!
Tim McCabe, Class Representative
Ross Millhiser, Class Representative
Nicholas Schutt has a new screenplay that is being directed by Xavier Manrique. Chronically Metropolitan, an independent comedy, will star Mary-Louise Parker, Ashley Benson, Chris Noth and Shiloh Fernandez. Principal photography on the project began in February.
1995
Zach Axelrod, Class Representative
Andrew Janko, Class Representative
Charles Allen, Class Representative
1996
Mike Grady, Class Representative
Liam Millhiser, Class Representative
1991
Van Furniss, Class Representative
Jamie Magid, Class Representative
1992
Andrew Arias, Class Representative
Cannon Hersey, Class Representative Wes Stanton, Class Representative
Cannon Hersey recently participated in the PIKADON Project, an “Art Workshop for Peace” that took 18 Japanese and American youths on an experience to learn first-hand about the shared nuclear history between Japan and the US, and to
Wes Stanton ’92
Chris Hamilton, Class Representative
Tristan Howard, Class Representative
1997
Jason Farkas, Class Representative Berton Rose, Class Representative
Adam Sobel owns a vegan organic food truck called The Cinnamon Snail. He has received numerous accolades including a Vendy Award, NJ.com’s Silver Spatula Award for Best Foodtruck in NJ, a Yelp award, and more. Mobile Cuisine Magazine named it America’s Favorite Vegetarian Food Truck in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Learn more at www.cinnamonsnail.com.
Alex & Michael Faherty ’98
1998
Andrew Hughes, Class Representative
Justin Belmont writes to say, "Our humble startup that began on a laptop at Columbia Business School, landed us in the pages of GQ Magazine, on national television and one giant Times Square billboard, garnered some big news." His company, Perkla, has been acquired by ID.me, which was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s "100 Brilliant Companies." Justin, who co-founded and served as CEO of Perkla, will serve as Director of Project Management at ID.me.
Alex Faherty and Michael Faherty started their brand, Faherty Brand just over two years ago. Their plans for 2015 include expanding beyond apparel and swimwear into accessories such as blankets, and opening a second store in the U.S. They also will be launching in Europe early next year via men’s fashion website, Mr. Porter.
1999
David Hirschfeld, Class Representative Tom Zipser, Class Representative
Matthew Elkin was married to Abby Brett Leber on Saturday, December 6, 2014, at the Rainbow Room in Manhattan. The couple met at the University of Pennsylvania, from which they graduated magna cum laude. Abby is a director at Anomaly, a communications firm in Manhattan, where she advises clients on brand strategy, and Matthew works as a director in the risk solutions group at Deutsche Bank, where he helps companies manage interest-rate risk. Congratulations to the happy couple!
Tom Zipser, after eight years at G.C. Andersen Partners, has accepted a position at Esposito Securities, LLC to support and initiate their investment banking effort in the New York/ Connecticut market. Esposito Securities is a middle market investment bank based in Dallas with a mandate to pursue mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions. Tom looks forward to seeking opportunities across the country.
2000
Kerim Eken, Class Representative
Andrew Zimmerman, Class Representative
The Class of 2000 invited friends and family to celebrate the memory of Zach Levy ’00 on his 30th birthday at the Standard Beer Garden on Saturday, April 19, 2015. In lieu of tickets, they asked for donations to the Zach Levy Memorial Fund at AllenStevenson, which supports the A-Z Files literary magazine.
Matthew Elkin ’99
2001
Philip Pilmar, Class Representative
2002
Alexander Melnitzky, Class Representative Alex Shipper, Class Representative
Michael Weiss, Class Representative
Clayton Parker started a new position in the IT Bureau at the NYPD in December 2014. He will be focusing on enhancing the 911 system for the city, and says, "I am very excited to continue my path in improving technology in city government!"
2003
Paul Alshooler, Class Representative Alex Ingram, Class Representative Reed Katz, Class Representative
PJ Mancuso, Class Representative
2004
Tim Johnson, Class Representative
Henry Rosenwach, Class Representative
2005
Adam Donaldson, Class Representative
2006
Eric Rosas, Class Representative
2007
Alessandro Santoro, Class Representative
Spring 2015
Adam Sobel ’97
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Theophilus Agbi ’08
alumni NEWS
2008
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Basil Anderson, Class Representative
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Glenn Rodriguez, founder of Grapplin’ Gorillas and current Allen-Stevenson faculty member, wrote about Theophilus Agbi in a recent article for the club’s newsletter. Theo wrestled for The Allen-Stevenson School and later competed in high school at Exeter. After a series of setbacks, Theo started to consider the advantages of a taller wrestler who has very long limbs. Fast forward to the National College Wrestling Association National Championships in Allen, Texas, on Saturday, March 14, 2015. Representing Amherst College, Theo had some tough matches, and ended a very respectful 3rd place, making him the first Allen-Stevenson alum to reach All-American status. Coach Rodrigquez says, “To say that I’m proud of Theophilus is an understatement. To persevere beyond middle and high school is an achievement in itself. When wrestling did not come very easy for him, he kept going. For me, Theo personifies the concept of Grit.” Jarrad Schiltkamp is in his Junior year at Ithaca College where he is majoring in Communications. He recently returned from studying abroad at Griffith University in Australia and is working on an Emerging Media degree.
2009
John Hersey, Class Representative
2010
Theodore Agbi, Class Representative
2013
Jackson Baker, Class Representative Teddy Landis, Class Representative
Hale Macdonald, Class Representative Max Morris, Class Representative
Matthew Schnitzer, Class Representative Matthew Wayland, Class Representative
2014
Andrew Galant, Class Representative
David Goldberg, Class Representative Elijah McNally, Class Representative
Sebastian Stern, Class Representative
2015
Hugh Esterson, Class Representative Devon Kalsi, Class Representative Davis Lister, Class Representative
Alex Korman was recently awarded the May Sarton Creative Writing Award at Riverdale High School. The award is given to the best fiction piece, be it a short story or poem, submitted to the committee. Alex competed with members of the freshman and sophomore classes and along with the distinction, received a monetary prize. Congratulations, Alex, and keep writing!
Khalid Taylor, Class Representative
2011
Ethan Leff, Class Representative
2012
Jasper Jarecki, Class Representative
Cameron Koffman, Class Representative Jake Taub, Class Representative
Michael Lipton wrote to Coach Glenn Rodriguez with an update on his Junior wrestling season, which he ended 25-1. He won his class, and went into the New England regional as the 1 seed, before advancing to Nationals.
Legacy Admissions
We are delighted to note an increase of interest in AllenStevenson among alumni who have sons of school age. Because of this, the School has developed a policy to handle Legacy Status: alumni may request an early admissions decision although Legacy Status does not mean an automatic or guaranteed acceptance. Alumni who are interested in applying their sons for Kindergarten 2016 should call the Admissions Office before June at 212-606-0884.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Alumni Dodgeball Game 6:00PM – 8:00PM, Gym/Roof
Monday, June 8, 2015
Back to 78th Street: A Party for the Class of 2012 6:00PM – 8:00PM, Landis Assembly Hall
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Alumni Dinner with Polo Dobkin ’87 7:30PM, Meadowsweet $125 per person
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Class of 2015 Graduation Dinner 6:00PM – 9:00PM, Landis Assembly Hall
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
New Alumni Breakfast 9:45AM – 11:00AM, Dining Room
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Upper School Closing Exercises David Yazbek ’75, Keynote Speaker 11:00AM, Gym
For more information about these events or to RSVP, please contact Anthony Kapp Alumni Director 212-933-5240 or akapp@allen-stevenson.org.
In Memoriam Charles Bracelen Flood ’44 passed away on August 15, 2014, at his home in Richmond, Kentucky, after a brief illness. Born in New York City, he attended Allen-Stevenson from 1935 to 1942, and went on to receive early recognition with his best-selling novel, Love is A Bridge, published in 1953, a year after he was graduated from Harvard. A remarkably mature story of the power of love in three lives, it remained on the New York Times bestseller list for 26 weeks and has been reissued in paperback three times. Acclaimed in dozens of reviews, it won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship award.
He went on to write numerouns novels, including More Lives Than One, the tragic ordeal of an American soldier captured by the Chinese in the Korean War. He taught World Literature at Sophia University in Tokyo, and spent time as a Fulbright scholar in Taiwan before fulfilling numerous special assignments from the Associated Press, such as the Olympics in Australia, Italy, Japan and Mexico.
Ross Hutcheson Dabney ’48, died peacefully on November 1, 2014 in Easton, MD. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Charlotte Gmelin Dabney, his daughters Susan Dabney of Easton, MD, Barbara Hohenlohe, of Laurach, Germany, Joan Clickner, of Charlottesville, VA, Dr. Frances Faro, of Denver, CO and twelve grandchildren. Ross was summa cum laude at Princeton University (’55), and earned a Ph.D in English Literature from Harvard University. He taught as a college professor at Smith College, University of Virginia, Mount Holyoke College, and Sweet Briar College, retiring in 1998. He published a critical work on the novels of Charles Dickens. He sailed log canoes for thirty years, and enjoyed the outdoors with his dogs, but also played the classical guitar, spoke several languages, and read prodigiously. Monte Tate Brown ’78 passed away on January 6, 2015. He was
a wonderful father and friend, a person who expressed profound kindness and compassion to all he met. He will be greatly missed by his family: His wife, Merryl, his sons Dryden and Winslow, his father Philip Tate Brown, his brother Dwyer and his wife Nancy Reynolds and their children Anson and Graham, his sister Daryl Brown Uber, her husband Bruce. Monte has been a resident of Santa Barbara, CA, since 1992 and worked as a private equity investor. Over the years, he served on several boards including the Santa Barbara County Bowl, The First Church of Christ Scientist Santa Barbara, and the William E. Weiss Foundation where Monte served as President until his death. It was his great joy to assist his community and make a quiet difference. Monte will be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his quiet, gentle, spiritual nature, his devotion to his boys and his love of music, especially the Grateful Dead.
Spring 2015
Calendar Alumni Events
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In Memoriam (cont.)
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Elizabeth H. Bounds (Betty), age 96, of Decatur, Georgia, passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2014. Mrs. Bounds was born Friday, July 6, 1917, in Clanwilliam, Manitoba, Canada, the middle of 5 children. She was a proud resident of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York, along with Cragsmoor, New York and Decatur, Georgia. She taught 3rd grade boys at the Allen-Stevenson School in Manhattan from 1950–1955, and 1960–1982. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Harrison L. Bounds. Survivors include her daughter, Elizabeth M. Bounds and son-in-law, Michael T. Bradley, Jr. Her ashes were interred in a small memorial service at the Columbarium of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, on Thursday December 18, 2014.
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Timothy Steele Nichols, Jr. h’78 passed away on February 25th at his home in Jamaica, Vermont. Born May 11, 1942 in New York City, Tim attended The Buckley School, Phillips Exeter Academy, Yale University and Fordham. Tim was devoted to Allen-Stevenson where he served on the faculty from 1966 to 1978. He taught history in the Upper School, worked in Admissions, and advised the newspaper and yearbook. His Seventh Grade “Modern History” class is still fresh in the memory of boys of that era and under his tutelage The Allen Stevenson News and The Unicorn became unrivaled among other elementary schools. In the afternoons Tim could be found on Randall’s Island or at the hockey rink as he coached football, hockey, and lacrosse, a sport he introduced to the school. Seldom has a teacher been more involved in the life of the School or more dedicated to the boys he taught. Mr. Nichols will be sorely missed by many in the Allen-Stevenson community.
The remembrances of some of his students may be read online, in the April issue of the Blue & Gold: www.allen-stevenson.org/alumnipublications.
The School is saddened by the passing of Rolande Young Schrade, who taught lower school music at Allen-Stevenson from 1968 to 1989. Boys of that era will remember her as their first music teacher, an encouraging, sweet-natured, and very gifted teacher who prepared the boys for the rigors of Stanley Gauger’s orchestral program. More than anything they will remember singing the songs that she composed, songs like A Little Less Please, A little more Thank You and It’s Autumn Time (See the Leaves) and of course The Allen-Stevenson School Song that upper and middle school boys still sing every week at Monday Morning Meeting. Mrs. Schrade was also the mother of five children, including our own Robelyn Schrade-James and Randolph Schrade ’76, and the wife of Robert Schrade who taught music at Chapin for 41 years. Collectively they were the Sevenars making beautiful music in the foothills of the Berkshires every summer. The remembrances of some of her students may be read online, in the February issue of the Blue & Gold: www.allenstevenson.org/alumni-publications.
Former A-S faculty member Thomas J. Waters, Jr. passed away on September 11, 2014. A son of Ansonia, Conn., an industrial suburb of New Haven, Mr. Waters began studies at Yale in 1941 on a scholarship for graduates of Ansonia High School. After freshman year, he enlisted in the Army and served as a military policeman in Europe, then returned to Yale on the GI Bill. He began teaching at private schools after graduating in 1948, including 10 years at Allen-Stevenson, teaching English from 1950-1956 and serving as Assistant Headmaster from 1957-1960.
After leaving A-S, Mr. Waters went on to teach at the Chicago Latin School from 1960-1962. In Chicago he met art teacher Ronny Sturges. They married in 1962 and moved to St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, where he was headmaster of Antilles School for one year, followed by headmasterships at the Lawrence School on Long Island from 1962 to 1968 and Derby Academy in Hingham, Mass., from 1968 to 1987. He then retired to Princeton, MA, on the slopes of Mount Wachusett where he and his family had spent summers since 1973, and then to Charlottesville, VA, in 2004.
As a teacher and headmaster he was known for his patient wisdom and leadership and his ability to give to others while respecting the recipient’s freedom to use the gift as he or she chose. His concern for teachers, students, parents, friends, and family will be his legacy.
During his retirement, he enjoyed life fully and unselfishly, particularly walking, reading, baseball, and puns. He adopted the Boston Red Sox as his team when the baseball Giants left New York in 1958. He also served as president of the trustees and as chair of the building committee of Goodnow Memorial Library in Princeton. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ronny Waters, by Tom Waters, Hilary Callahan, and Daniel Watahan of the Bronx, NY, and by Nick Waters, Jane Cornelius, and Leo Waters of Charlottesville. A memorial service was held September 26 at the First Congregational Church of Princeton, MA.
Robelyn Schrade-James touched and enriched the lives of all of
her students, as well as countless parents and colleagues. She had the unique ability to make each person she met feel special and loved. As a result of Robelyn’s extraordinary presence and teaching ability she became known as The Magical Music Lady a name she so well deserved. It was not just her music that enthralled her students, but also the many magical stories she told, appealing to the imagination and wonder of young boys. Every boy knew that each music class with Ms. Schrade-James would be different from the last, and every boy looked forward to each of those special adventures.
Robelyn was loved and admired by everyone she knew. She will remain in our thoughts and hearts forever.
Spring 2015
Robelyn was the oldest of five in an extremely musical family. Both her parents were music teachers. Robelyn came to AllenStevenson in 1989, succeeding her mother as the Lower School music teacher. In addition to being an extraordinary person, teacher and colleague, Robelyn was an amazing mother, wife, daughter and sister. She loved her family immensely.
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On Friday, January 16, Declan Flynn ’24 and Graham Klabin ’24, both of KG, were given a tour of the NYPD’s 19th Precinct Stationhouse. Declan Flynn won the Teacher’s Treasures Raffle Prize at the Allen-Stevenson Country Fair on April 23 last year. Both boys were picked up by an NYPD Police Van and escorted by our Director of Security, Chris Acerbo, who had lunch with the boys at the conclusion of the field trip.
An electroacoustic sound piece titled “burya-storms,” by Maria Mykolenko, A-S Violin Instructor, is going to be presented at the NYC Electroacoustic Music Festival, which takes place from June 21 to 28, at the Abrons Arts Center. This piece was also presented at an electronic music concert on April 13 at the Watkinson School in Hartford, CT. In addition, Maria’s group improvisation piece “forest rustles” was performed at the Hartt School on April 15.
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Maria is also the founder and co-director of the Melodiya Dibrova Lake Music Camp, which will be in its third year this summer, from July 27 to August 2. She is also a string and computer music teacher at this camp.
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Julia Kunin, Art Department Head, had a solo show entitled Les Guérillères running from March 10 to April 25, at Sandra Gering Inc. Gallery, 14 East 63rd Street, NY, NY. www.sandrageringinc.comwww.sandrageringinc.com Adam Shecter, Technology Resource Teacher, was nominated by AICA-USA (International Association of Art Critics) for best time-based format show of the year. To view the nominees go to: http://www.artnews.com/2015/02/27/here-are-the-nominees-for-the-2014-aica-awards/. Adam’s video will be shown at Harvard’s Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts in August and September 2015.
Save the Date!
ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND Friday, March 11 through Saturday, March 12, 2016
Classes of 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011 will be celebrating milestone reunions in 2016. Contact your Class Representative or the Alumni Office for details. Weekend festivities will include: Private parties for milestone reunion classes All-Alumni Party Open House Rehearsal of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience Alumni & Faculty Basketball Game and more!
www.allen-stevenson.org/reunion
If you are interested in serving on the Reunion Planning Committee, or helping with your Class Party, contact Anthony Kapp at akapp@allen-stevenson.org.
THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL 132 East 78th Street, New York, NY 10075-0381
Non-Profit Organization U.S.Postage Paid New York, NY Permit No. 8048