Lamplighter Winter 2010

LAMPLIGHTER

THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL MAGAZINE

WINTER 2010

THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL

!"#$"%&'() *+,+-*+,, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

ALUMNI COUNCIL

Marie Bitetti* Susan de Menil Molly O’Neil Frank Alexander G. Gellert ’79 Michael Gould John J. Hannan Joshua Harris Peter B. Kellner ’84 Michael S. Klein David H. Koch Paul A. Leff Pablo G. Legorreta Duane A. Nicholson Dang T. Phan Amy L. Robbins Alexander Roepers Suellyn Preston Scull Lisa Pagliaro Selz Simon D. Wasserberger ’85* Leonard A. Wilf * member ex officio

Theodore D. Agbi ’10 Charles W. Allen ’91 Basil Lloyd Anderson ’08 Andrew Robert Arias ’92 Zach T. Axelrod ’95 Neil E. Bader ’79 Anthony Paul Bonan ’93 Pierre A. Bonan ’89 Robert B. Buehler ’78 Robert Dana Burge ’76* Alfred Paul Burger ’87 Andrew Alan Burger ’59 John T. Carr III ’76 Erik A. Cliette ’81 Brooke Bayard Connell ’86 Adam James Phillips Donaldson ’05 Maurice Fahrie Edelson ’78 Jason M. Farkas ’97 Michael Feinberg ’84 R. Vanneman Furniss ’91 Alexander G. Gellert ’79 Harlan E. Goldberg ’90 Evan R. Goldfischer ’81 Christopher Scott Goodman ’86 Michael H. Grady ’91 Christopher J. Hallows ’87 Schuyler Havens ’88 Michael W. Hedges Jr. ’77 John C. Henry Jr. ’84 John Baird Hersey ’09 David Riklis Hirschfeld ’99 Patrick D. R. Horan ’85 Tristan Howard ’96 C. Andrew Hughes ’98 Alex A. Ingram ’03 Clinton V.P. Johnson ’79 Stephen H. Judson ’76 William H. Judson ’78 A. Reed Katz ’03 Kenneth LaFreniere ’90 Dean I. Landis ’78* Paul J. Mancuso ’03 Colin McCabe ’90 Timothy C. McCabe ’94 Kenneth J. McCauley ’93 Liam R. Millhiser ’96 Ross R. Millhiser IV ’94 Richard C. Perry ’70* Christopher Persley ’88 Vincent Peterson ’74 Philip N. Pilmar ’01

Ronald S. Rolfe ’60, President Thomas H. Lister, Vice President & Treasurer Dean I. Landis ’78, Secretary Jeffrey G. Beers ’71, Assistant Treasurer David R. Trower h’95, Headmaster

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Mildred J. Berendsen Marian R. Bicks Jane Phillips Donaldson Richard N. Foster D. Ross Hamilton Susan B. Hirschhorn Karen T. Hughes John R. Hupper '40 E. William Judson Robert J. Katz George A. Kellner Robert Liberman ’58 Peter deF. Millard Richard C. Perry ’70 Joe L. Roby Andrew P. Steffan

Simon D. Wasserberger ’85, President David W. Herzberg ’89, Vice-President James A. Magid ’91, Vice-President Marc N. Rice ’84, Vice-President

Roger Raines ’80 Harlan Reinhardt ’83 Ronald S. Rolfe ’60* Eric Rosas ’06 Berton Rose ’97 John Rose ’90 Louis Rose ’86* Henry Jay Rosenwach ’04 Eric E. Rothstein ’81* Dean E. Sanborn ’61 Alessandro Meyer Santoro ’07 Randolph R. A. Schrade ’76 Yoshiki Shimada ’75 Alexander Boucher Shipper ’02 Denton Alexander Smith ’94 Khalid Antonio Taylor ’10 Michael Tiedemann ’86 Andrew W. Vogelstein ’81 Noel Eric Volpe ’85 Alexandre von Furstenberg ’85 Dewey S. Wigod ’77 Hans L. Wydler ’81 Clifton G. York ’78 Andrew Etess Zimmerman ’00 *president emeritus

PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Marie Bitetti, President Shiuan Wu, Vice President Anne Schnitzer, Treasurer Cristina Morris, Recording Secretary Amy Bader, Corresponding Secretary Linda Barnett, Advisory Constance Cornish, Advisory Kim Dickstein, Advisory Suzanne Freind, Advisory Susan Morgenstein, Advisory Alix O’Mara, Advisory Lisa Selz, Advisory Lucia Smith, Advisory Pat Verrilli, Advisory

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 Casper Caldarola, Director of Communications Michelle Demko, Music Department Head Ronnie R. Jankoff, Director of Admissions Glenn Lieberman, Director of Technology Anne Russo Meyer, Director of Learning Resources Mary Richter, Director of Development C. Harris Stein, Business Manager

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THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL MAGAZINE WINTER 2010

Table of Contents Director of Communications CASPER CALDAROLA

Communications Manager SARAH WOODS

Contributing Writers RICH ALIFANO MICHELLE DEMKO RYANN GALLOWAY KIMBERLY KYTE ABBY LEVIN MONIQUE LOWITT ROBELYN SCHRADE-JAMES JILL B. SILVERMAN DAVID R. TROWER H’95 MCCARTNEY WILKINS JOHN ZUFALL

Editors JEAN MCCAULEY SARI NADLER MARY RICHTER

In this issue Headmaster’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Welcome New Members of our Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Cover Story: The Many Ways to Be an Allen-Stevenson Boy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Closing Exercises 2010 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Ongoing Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

In every issue A-S News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Making a Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Around A-S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Alumni News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Did You Know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Photographers TERI BLOOM NANCY MITCHELL AL PEREIRA

Cover photo by Nancy Mitchell of the Sixth Grade play, Alice in Wonderland The Lamplighter is published biannually by The Allen-Stevenson School and is sent free-of-charge to alumni, parents, and other friends of the School.

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.

We apologize to the following donors whose gifts to Allen-Stevenson were not recognized accurately in the 2009-10 Annual Report. We express our renewed thanks to them for their support.

American Express Foundation, Matching Gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Heddings and Mr. and Mrs. Barry Stone Andrew and Heather Heller, parents of Larry Heller ’17, Annual Fund Ms. Diana Lascano, grandmother of Noah Lascano ’17, Annual Fund Dr. and Mrs. Michael Lehv, grandparents of Addeson Lehv ’18, Annual Fund Second Grade achieved 100% participation in the Annual Fund Simone and David Levinson, gift-in-kind donors Anne and Jeffrey Meyer and Apple Direct, gift-in-kind donors

Printed on paper containing 20% post-consumer recycled content.

HEADMASTER’S

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Why is it important to acknowledge the many ways to be a boy? In the conclusion to their groundbreaking work, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys (1999), Dr. Dan Kindlon and Dr. Michael Thompson write: The only way to make a difference with a boy is to give him powerful experiences that speak to his inner life, that speak to his soul and let him know that he is entitled to have the full range of human experience. That permission is given to boys by teachers, by parents, by ministers, by aunts and uncles. And they do it by affirming for a boy that his vulnerability is human and acceptable.

I have always appreciated the boldness of this statement, for it is a powerful endorsement of Allen-Stevenson’s special approach to educating boys, examples of which are presented in this issue of the Lamplighter. In short, our method is to give each boy those powerful experiences on a regular basis through hands-on opportunities in what we call the “3 A’s”: academics, athletics and the arts. Often it is the interplay of these domains that truly cements the student’s understanding of an important idea or message. More important, he can come to know, and learn to be, himself.

In this issue we celebrate some of the many ways to be a boy with articles by numerous teachers about various dimensions of the School’s educational program. As you will see, virtually every article suggests something important

about what Kindlon and Thompson call “the full range of human experience.”

The examples given in this issue range widely, but all encourage each boy to learn in his own best ways.

Every good teacher knows that children learn differently. Sometimes it’s not easy to incorporate into every lesson that variety of experiences and modalities that make the class successful for every learner. Nevertheless, effective teachers include in each class multiple ways to learn; for instance, oral, written, emotional, kinetic, visual, social, tactile, auditory, and so on. These become many ways for boys to be successful.

Referring to “the gratifying process by which excellence is attained,” our mission statement also includes something truly unusual. There we assert specifically, “We challenge our students to take suitable risks, learn from their mistakes, and support each other.” Such experiences promote goals for life that we also articulate in the mission statement: “Ultimately, we encourage boys to move through life strongly and rightly—with confidence, knowledge, enthusiasm, resilience, and respect for all.”

Such long-term goals stand in marked contrast to the frenetic anxiety some feel today about what their children must accomplish to have a successful future.

Race to Nowhere, a disturbing film released earlier this year, presents a picture of America’s overstressed, overscheduled school kids and their insanely

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys

The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness

The Blessing of a B Minus

hectic lives. While some suggest the documentary is overdramatized, the consequences it describes are dangerous and painful. While I might characterize some aspects differently, Race to Nowhere is certainly worth some thoughtful attention from parents and educators.

In her wise, heartening new book The Blessing of a B Minus (2010), author Wendy Mogel describes today’s excessive anxiety this way: Our culture tells us that we face quickly diminishing resources of every kind—good enough colleges, jobs, ozone…a scarcity of future itself—and that only the hyperaccomplished will survive…. One false move on the part of even a very young teen, and the child has mortgaged his future, will never get into college, never get a job, never recover. It’s harder than ever for parents to accept their teenagers because it feels as if there’s no more room for the trial and error of adolescence, for childishness or clumsiness or bad attitudes.

Just as she did in The Blessing of a Skinned Knee (2001), Mogel goes on to suggest multiple resources and antidotes for this misguided frenzy.

In a similar vein, Dr. Edward M. Hallowell’s sensible book, The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness: Five Steps to Help Kids Create and Sustain Lifelong Joy (2002), is worth considering in relation to Allen-Stevenson’s program. According to Hallowell, the five steps lead to self-esteem, and moral behavior, and the ability to deal with adversity, and the ability to create and sustain joy, while they lead to being internally motivated. Each step leads to the next.

Hallowell’s five steps are Connection, Play, Practice, Mastery, and Recognition. Each step merits a thoughtful, moving, evocative chapter in this wonderful volume. In terms far more eloquent than I can summarize here, Hallowell reaffirms the value of childhood and the importance of preserving it as the foundation of happy adult life. I would suggest that much of what we do at Allen-Stevenson is captured beautifully in Hallowell’s stories and childhood memories. Some Allen-Stevenson examples are featured in this Lamplighter.

educator, because so much is being learned today about learning and the brain. Moreover, schools like AllenStevenson are often joyful places, and the word used most often about our school is actually the word “happy.”

When you read some of the articles in this issue, you’ll get a sense of why.

At Allen-Stevenson we value active, hands-on learning that reflects a robust mix of academics, athletics, and the arts.

Robert Alston Stevenson, one of the School’s founders, believed that education for boys should be more than “a mere stuffing of knowledge in their heads.”

In particular, we value curiosity, because lifelong curiosity, empowered by good learning, really is the key to lifelong learning and happiness. That’s exactly what we’re trying to accomplish today at Allen-Stevenson.

Fortiter et Recte!

David R. Trower

Sometimes when people talk about what schools must do, they make education sound so grim, so competitive, so pressured, and so stressful.

However, I often suggest that now is the most interesting time to be an L

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WE WELCOME

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Josh Harris

Marie Bitetti After graduating from Brown University with a BA in English Literature, Marie spent two years with the United States Peace Corps in Morocco teaching English to high school students. She then obtained a joint master’s degree in Business and International Affairs from Columbia University.

Marie spent over a decade as an investment banker working at Citicorp and then at Bankers Trust. She retired from Bankers Trust as Managing Director and Head of Emerging Market Sales.

Since retiring from finance, Marie has worked in a variety of volunteer capacities. At Allen-Stevenson she has worked on the Capital Campaign; as a Class Representative; as Co-Chair of Community Service; as Chair of the Hospitality Committee; and in other volunteer positions. She has been on the PA Executive Board for three years as Corresponding Secretary, Vice-President and currently as President.

Marie is married to Sandip Sen, Global Head of Alternative Energy at Citigroup. They have four children: Sam, a ninth grader at Trinity School who spent Kindergarten through Eighth Grade at Allen-Stevenson; Nick, a seventh grader at Allen-Stevenson; Serena and Lillian attend the Town School and are in Fifth and First Grades respectively.

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Dang Phan Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Dang immigrated to the United States in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. His family settled in New England where he attended The Loomis-Chaffee School. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S.E.E. in Computer Science and Engineering and received an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

In the last 25 years, Dang has pursued a career in finance, first in investment banking and then private equity, at Goldman Sachs, Baring Brothers, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Soros Fund Management. He has helped to build three successful real estate investment businesses and currently serves as a managing partner of Grove International Partners, an independent global real estate private equity firm.

Dang is married to Doan-Trang (“Suzy”) Nguyen, an interior designer and president of her own firm, Aura New York. Their son, Revel, is currently in the Second Grade at Allen–Stevenson. Dang also serves on the Board of Trustees of The Loomis-Chaffee School and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His interests include spending time with his family, supporting education and community, political economy, policy and politics, baseball, skiing, playing chess, tennis, and golf.

Josh is a Senior Managing Director of Apollo Global Management, LLC, and Managing Partner of Apollo Management, L.P., which he co-founded in 1990.

He currently serves on various corporate boards.

Josh is actively involved in charitable and political organizations. He is a member of The Federal Reserve Bank of New York Investors Advisory Committee on Financial Markets. Josh serves as Chairman of the Department of Medicine Advisory Board for The Mount Sinai Medical Center and is on the Board of Trustees of the Mount Sinai Medical Center. He is also a member of The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Undergraduate Executive Board and is on the Board of Trustees of Harvard Business School.

Josh and his wife Marjorie are parents of 3 boys and 2 girls. Hannah is in Seventh Grade at Columbia Grammar, and Stuart and Thomas attend Allen-Stevenson and are in Fifth and Second Grades respectively. Pierce and Bridget are not of school age.

Michael Klein

Pablo Legorreta

Michael serves as an independent financial advisor to companies and government organizations, and as a Special Advisor to the United Nations World Food Program.

Pablo is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Royalty Pharma, a biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industry leader in acquiring revenue-producing intellectual property. The firm works with academic and research institutions, inventors, and life science companies to monetize existing royalties and fund product development.

Previously, Pablo was Vice-President of Lazard Frères, working in New York and Paris. He has also worked for several companies in Mexico.

He served as a private advisor to the Government of the United Kingdom in responding to the financial market crisis. He was amongst the leadership of the working group tasked with drafting and implementing the UK’s Bank Recapitalization Program, which provided a framework shared by other governments around the world.

Michael was previously the Chairman of Citi’s Institutional Clients Group and Vice Chairman of Citi, Inc. In that capacity, he was responsible for managing the Bank’s relationships with leading companies, investment funds, and governments.

Michael is a member of various boards including: the Board of The Dow Chemical Company Agrosciences, IHS Inc., the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the American Academy of Berlin, and the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

He is also a member of the Harvard Belfer Center and the Trilateral Commission.

He graduated in 1985 with a BS, Cum Laude, from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Alex Roepers Born in The Hague, The Netherlands, Alex completed his BBA at Nijenrode University, the Netherlands School of Business, before moving to the U.S. to work at Dover Corporation in New York. He graduated with an MBA from Harvard University. After four years as Director of Corporate Development at Thyssen-Bornemisza Group, Alex founded Atlantic Investment Management, a global equity hedge fund firm.

He is a graduate of Mexico City’s Universidad Iberoamericana, from which he earned his degree in Industrial Engineering. Pablo is a director or member of a variety of professional associations.

His deep interest in children’s health leads him to serve on the Research Council of Boston Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Circle of Care, which encompasses the leading benefactors to 20 of the leading hospitals for children in the U.S. and Canada.

In the past year, Alex has been an advisor to Allen-Stevenson for financial and investment matters. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at The Brearley School, where he has been actively involved with the endowment, the school’s finances and fund raising. Other outside interests include the Dutch Maritime Museum in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the Museum of the City of New York, the Special Projects Committee of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and as a Member of the Supervisory Board of Spyker Cars N.V.

Pablo and his wife, Almudena, a professional photographer whose work was the basis of AllenStevenson's calendar last year, are parents of Pablo, who is a member of Allen-Stevenson's Seventh Grade, and Marina who is in Fifth Grade at The Hewitt School.

Alex has three children: Jackie and Paige, respectively a Junior and seventh grader at Brearley, and Harry, a fourth grader at AllenStevenson.

Beth and Michael are parents of second grader Jack and daughter Kate, a fourth grader at The Dalton School.

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We welcome our

NEW SIBLINGS & LEGACIES

Ariel ’20 and Val ’12 Blavatnik

Nolan ’20 and Caleb ’17 Dando-Haenisch

Joshua ’16 and Matthew ’20 Friedman 6

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William ’18 and Colin ’20 Clark

Benjamin ’16 and Nathaniel ’20 Edelson

Larry ’17 and Richie ’20 Heller

Jay ’20 and Ryder ’17 Henry

Noah ’17 and James ’20 Lascano

Harrison ’17 and Braden ’20 Queen

Oliver ’20 and Harrison ’19 Schneider

Harry ’17 and Owen ’20 Landis

Alec ’15 and Chase ’20 Mitchell

Fritz ’20 and Sebastian ’19 Ross

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BROOKE COHEN joined Allen-Stevenson as a Kindergarten Associate in K-G. She has a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Spanish from Tufts University from which she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She received a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. She is a graduate of Riverdale Country School and previously attended The NightingaleBamford School. She has teaching experience at Dalton, Temple Israel Early Childhood Learning Center, The Rita Gold Center, and P.S. 165. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her friends and family, knitting, traveling, learning foreign languages, cinema, and cooking.

MIKE DEGENNARO joined the Allen-Stevenson Physical Education Department as a part-time coach this year. He coaches Sixth Grade Football, Fifth Grade Basketball, Sixth Grade Baseball, and Lower School Field. Coach DeGennaro was born and raised in the Bronx in New York City. He is currently enrolled at CUNY Queens College and is pursuing a degree in Physical Education. His past teaching experiences with children include coaching youth basketball and baseball at his local elementary school.

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STACY DONOVAN joined the faculty of AllenStevenson this autumn as the Technical Director of the theatre and a theatre arts teacher. She holds a BA in Theatre and an MA in English Education with a concentration in Dramatic Literature and Shakespeare, both from Columbia University. Stacy has taught at The Brearley School in New York and has served as the theatre department head at The Meadowbrook School in MA, Cheshire Academy in CT, and Sewickley Academy in PA. In the summer of 2009, her theatre program at Sewickley Academy was nominated to perform a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; Stacy and 20 of her students wrote an original piece and performed it at the festival. In addition to her teaching life, Stacy is the founder and artistic director of The Improbable Stage Company, which has a residency at IRT Theater in the West Village, and she teaches workshops for young adults at the Manhattan Theatre Club Studios.

SOPHIE DWYER is in her first year as a Third Grade Associate Teacher in 3BD at Allen-Stevenson. She has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from New York University and a master’s degree in Physical Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. Prior to joining AllenStevenson, Sophie taught Physical Education at The School at Columbia University. She also taught gifted and talented kindergartners in the New York City public school system for several years. Sophie enjoys traveling with her husband, Frank, as well as watching and playing sports.

Faculty Grants

BRIAN LINDSAY comes to Allen-Stevenson having worked at various food establishments, including: Disney World, U.S. Open Catering, and as a truck driver for Coca-Cola. Brian is currently pursuing a degree in Hospitality Management at City Tech.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Brian spends his free time performing Slam Poetry around New York City.

ANN MCDONALD joined Allen-Stevenson in the fall of 2010 as the school nurse. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Hunter-Bellevue after receiving an associate degree in nursing from Queensborough Community College. After working in Visiting Nurse and Community Health agencies, including the Long Island Jewish Medical Center's Certified Home Health Agency, she returned to Adelphi University for her master's degree.

She graduated as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Medical Surgical/ Community Health Nursing. Ann has worked in the Office of School Health in the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and in its Bureau of Immunization. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, bicycling, juggling and reading.

She continues to learn about wellness to enhance herself both personally and professionally.

CAROL PICKENS joined Allen-Stevenson in the summer of 2010 as a Seventh Grade English teacher. Carol is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University, and the University of South Carolina. Most recently, she has worked at the public New York City Lab School for Collaborative Studies, where she taught High School English. She has also taught English in Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grades at The Children’s Storefront; in a preschool in South Carolina; and ESL (English as a Second Language) in Seoul, South Korea. In her free time, Carol enjoys cooking and learning new dishes, Zumba, and reading in Sakura Park with her dog, Stella.

The Kellner Great Teacher Award was initiated by a gift from George and Bicky Kellner, parents of Peter ’84. The Kellner Great Teacher Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an AllenStevenson teacher. The 2010 recipient is Robelyn Schrade-James.

“The Allen-Stevenson community is a safe haven offering support and guidance to all connected to it. A beautiful bonus is the chance for teachers to spread their wings and focus on personal projects and passions, thanks to the Riklis grants and Kellner awards.

What benefits one of us benefits all of us, as our community shares and grows together.” ~Robelyn Schrade-James

The Riklis Grant, a professional opportunity from the Betty and Pinhas Riklis Faculty Fund, was established to provide faculty with a chance for pleasure, renewal or refreshment. Additional Faculty Professional Development Grants have been generously contributed by members of the Board of Trustees. The 2010 recipients are: Jaison Correa-Spain ’97 Antonio D'Itri Merrill Hughes Kristina King Julia Kunin Melanie Lester Haruka Mori Frank Peduto Susanna Rubin Randy Schrade Robelyn Schrade-James ’76 Ray Seeback Adam Shecter Stephen Warner Jennifer Zimmermann

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THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO BE AN ALLEN-STEVENSON BOY Our Mission

At the moment, I can count 137 different ways to be an Allen-Stevenson boy. One hundred and thirty seven

Allen-Stevenson’s distinctive “enlightened traditional” approach educates boys to become scholars and gentlemen.

may sound like an odd number (and it does happen to be odd), but that happens to be the number of unique minds I have taught since working at Allen-Stevenson.

Each of these boys has shown me a new and unique way to be an A-S boy. They may all wear blue and gold and the Allen-Stevenson crest, but they navigate the halls, approach their studies, and find their own voice in a fashion that is all their own!

In the belief that there are many

From the first handshake on the first day of school, I

ways to be a boy, the School

in the room, some saunter in (and I do mean saunter),

offers an ongoing commitment to each student and uses the best insights and tools available to understand him as a whole

meet distinct personalities. Some boys come bouncing while others may peer in hesitantly and crawl into class. However, they are each an Allen-Stevenson boy and belong here. Individuality is a quality that we treasure at A-S. We allow each boy to find his own way to tackle the challenge of school, because what fits for one boy may not work for another.

In math class, I am always wonderfully astounded by how many ways A-S boys approach their work. When given a math problem that requires the boys to think

person. We inspire in each boy

about place value, they are able to feel confident

an appreciation of responsible

boy quickly grabbed a piece of paper, another two boys

citizenship and a lifelong love

boys requested thinking time (“T-Time”) before moving

enough to solve it in their own “way.” I recall how one debated possible solutions in low voices, while other forward. Each of these students approached their studies in a way that best suited them. They moved strongly

of learning.

and rightly. They didn’t feel bogged down by the expectation of a “right” way to solve the problem, but felt confident in themselves and self aware enough to know

On the following pages, we highlight various areas of our curriculum that demonstrate how well Allen-Stevenson teaches the whole boy. Faculty members explain how there are many ways to be an Allen-Stevenson boy.

what works best for them.

While I’ve only met 137 different ways to be an AllenStevenson boy, I can just imagine the hundreds if not thousands of other ways. As best summed up by a past student of mine, “Ms. Levin, you know what?…It may take me longer to get the answer, but I always rock it!”

Allen-Stevenson boys do truly rock.

Abby Levin, Third Grade Teacher

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ALLEN-STEVENSON CONNECTS! At Allen-Stevenson, Monica Matthew, Director of Nutrition, encourages students, faculty and staff to put colors on their plates at lunchtime.

(In some places, people simply put food on their plates.) As we walk around the salad bar, our eyes are greeted with so many colors that we might think we're strolling in the Metropolitan Museum of Art; and there's the

Robelyn Schrade-James at work with the boys.

connection, for the Dining Room walls are garnished with art reflecting the same brilliant colors as the offerings of our talented chefs.

Kathleen Allen's Second Graders ask whether the sunflowers are by Van Gogh. (Ms. Allen highlights artists in her classroom, helping students appreciate and identify their different styles, as part of her social studies curriculum.)

These very students go on to become great artists in their own right, thanks to our mighty Art Department, and their showcased art brings our hallways and corridors to life. In this same Dining Room, in which the boys are encouraged to explore and enjoy the many colors of delicious foods, an early morning choral rehearsal finds boys being encouraged to explore and enjoy the many colors of their voices with our Music Director, Michelle Demko.

Our students are enriched by the network of connections which thread throughout the building and the curriculum. Just as there are many ways to be a boy, there are many ways to learn a lesson. Teachers have spent hours working on curriculum mapping and connecting grade level studies interdepartmentally, motivated by neurological research showing that comprehension and retention are greatly improved when information converges from different angles.

One of our Upper School science teachers, Jeffrey Herschenhous, visits a Lower School music class to explain the science of sound using a tuning fork struck then dipped into water, "The sound waves may be invisible but are strong enough to displace the water," he

In Lower School music classes, boys are learning to read rhythm trains, and they sing a song which concludes, "Rhythm is counting, counting is numbers, numbers are math; math is rhythm!" During another class, they are exploring the rhythm in words and the music in rhymes as they read and write their own poems in English classes. The love of reading and writing grows throughout their years here to become a life-long passion.

Presentation of Shakespearean plays, directed by David Kersey, are a three-dimensional glorification of the printed word. They are presented in our assembly hall, Landis Hall, named for William Landis, legendary master teacher of English disciplines and theatre. In fact, what a tribute to the love of learning fostered at Allen-Stevenson, that Richard Perry ’70 named our new Assembly Hall after his grand old professor, with his gift to support our renovated facilities instead of naming it after himself.

A recent Monday Morning Meeting in the Landis Assembly Hall featured the Athletics Department and Andre Duncan, Third Grade teacher, who spoke to the boys about the important connection between doing well in academics and having doors opened to them in other fields. Duncan's own scholastic standing and discipline paved the way for his spectacular basketball career which took him all over Europe, where he found himself conversing and teaching in German and Portuguese. He spoke of the importance of committing to a goal and being a team player.

Just prior to that Monday Meeting was the year's first orchestra rehearsal. From hockey sticks and footballs to cello bows and clarinets, the connections were clear. Orchestra Director, Randy Schrade ’76, has often referred to Orchestra as a team sport where the players take turns in supportive or starring roles, passing the melody from brass section to string section, strategically supporting a woodwind player so he can announce his entrance without “dropping the ball.” Good posture, commitment to the team and hard work are all part of how the orchestra came to perform on the stage of Carnegie Hall.

The boys at Allen-Stevenson grow up with the mind-expanding and memory-enhancing benefits of making connections - and a sense of humor is often an extra bonus; as I separated two little ones whose difference of opinion had quickly become physical, reminding them, "two wrongs don't make a right," then First Grader, Zach Gronfein, came right back with "but two Wrights made an airplane."

Robelyn Schrade-James, Lower School Music Teacher

explains to the surprised and wet faces.

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PUMPKINS AND THEIR MANY USES Kindergartners in KB spend several weeks enjoying a multi-faceted Food Unit. The study begins with a trip to a farm not only to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, but also to choose pumpkins that will be used during the next step of this unit. The boys bring their pumpkins back to school and begin to look at them carefully, applying mathematical techniques to do so. They measure the belly of their pumpkins. They count the lines on them, and they measure the height with unifix cubes.

LEARNING BY EXPERIENCE

John Zufall in the Eighth Grade physics class.

Next comes a surprise that Ms. Bulfair has arranged for the boys. She has wrapped up a huge pumpkin. One day she presents a large box to the class, which is passed

whether they would get varying accelera-

around the circle of boys. Each boy makes a

As part of our Eighth Grade curriculum,

tions from different heights or for different

guess as to what is inside, based on the

physics plays an integral role. Under-

objects. In the end, the class’ observations

weight of the box they are holding. Once the

standing how to calculate the acceleration of

led to the conclusion that the acceleration

secret of the box is revealed, the boys go

a moving body is a hugely important piece

due to gravity neither changes with height

about measuring this large pumpkin in the

in the puzzle known as Newtonian motion.

nor with the object used.

same way they did the smaller ones. They

Recently, the boys performed two experi-

then clean out the large pumpkin, make

ments that helped them to develop this

I believe that meter sticks and stopwatches

guesses at the number of seeds inside and

understanding.

are all the technology a boy needs to uncov-

then roast the seeds for eating. Carving the

er some of our world’s mysteries. Boys of

pumpkin follows. The boys are divided into

The first experiment had the boys rolling a

this age will still learn by experience rather

groups to come up with suggestions for the

marble down ramps of increasing steepness.

than experiencing what they have learned. In

carving of the eyes, nose and mouth. They

As the marble rolled, it sped up. Using the

this case, I am thrilled when a boy comes

first look through a book about faces of

measurements they took and the magic of

into class with no idea of the acceleration

Jack O’Lanterns for inspiration. Once ideas

algebra learned in math class, the boys were

due to gravity and walks out with the answer

are presented, votes are taken amongst the

able to calculate the various accelerations of

he developed himself. If his answer is not

whole class and the features of choice are

the marble. Using our Smartboard, the class

what the rest of the world has agreed to, so

carved into the pumpkin.

was able to view everyone’s result, thus

be it. That outcome simply spurs another

allowing for comparisons of differing out-

examination as to how far off his time mea-

The last phase of the unit is the cooking.

comes. Then a question arose; “Is there an

surement must have been.

Each boy submits his favorite pumpkin

angle at which the acceleration stops

recipe. The class votes on the recipes and

increasing?” The boys figured out that at

The title of this course is physical science,

the top three are actually made by the class.

90°, maximum acceleration was attained.

which to me means having the boys learn

This year, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies

how to predict where a projectile will land,

and pumpkin cake, with cream cheese frost-

Shortly thereafter, the boys were charged

and being able to calculate the speed of a

ing, were the winners. While the class is

with figuring out the rate of acceleration for

ball they have kicked or thrown. More impor-

cooking, the opportunity is taken to talk

a falling body near the Earth’s surface. Like

tantly, however, is having the boys learn

about measuring, which even touches upon

all experiments during this unit, the boys

how to solve a problem. Knowing that any

the concept of fractions, such as 1/4 cup

needed to devise their own procedure and

problem can be solved opens up an endless

and a 1/2 cup. (Nothing like learning math

take their own measurements. Objects were

number of possibilities for the future.

while getting your hands messy.) The pièce

dropped from different heights and times were recorded. The boys considered

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de résistance….the class gets to eat these John Zufall, Upper School Science Teacher

delicious creations.

ROBIN HOOD GETS TAKEN TO LOWER SCHOOL COURT As part of the Third Grade curriculum, teachers Abby Levin and Kristin Filling have created a means for encouraging the boys to look at books that they saw as too young for them in a different light. “We work on looking for the hidden meaning,” said Ms. Levin.

Breaking the law is a punishable crime, as we all know. Robin is wrong for stealing from the king. He needs to go to jail for breaking the law.”

Another stated: “Robin is guilty. When he steals from the rich, he hurts them and leaves them with nothing. Think how you would feel if Robin robbed your family and left you with nothing. He is not doing the ‘right thing’ when he makes the rich poor. That is not fair. If he wants people to have more, then he should give them his own money and stop stealing it from everyone else!”

The project begins by choosing a book for the grade to read. Last year it was “The Giving Tree.”

This year it was “Robin Hood.” Once they have read the book, the boys develop arguments as to why the key character in the book is guilty of a crime or not.

The next step is to have the boys present this moral dilemma to the Lower School community, turning the Assembly Hall into a courtroom where the Third Grade appeals to the Lower School, the jurors, to help solve the debate: “Was Robin Hood guilty of a crime or not?” This process not only provides an excellent opportunity for the Lower School to come together as a community, it also creates a discussion about one of AllenStevenson’s code words:

Lower School holds court.

Good.

Learning about the workings of a courtroom, members of the Third Grade, the lawyers for both the prosecution and the defense, present their sides of the case before the judge, Andre Duncan, Third Grade teacher. During the court session, the lawyers debate the individual’s innocence or guilt. The entire script for the trial is written by the Third Grade boys.

Arguing for the prosecution, one boy lawyer said: “Robin Hood broke the law. He is guilty.”

The defense then came forth with their points: “I think Robin is innocent. He gave all the money back to the poor. It is true that he stole that money, but it was theirs rightfully all along.

The prince’s tax system is unfair. The prince started it all. If the taxes were not so unfair, none of this would have happened. I think Robin should be set free.”

Also in favor of Robin Hood: “The poor need the money more. They need money to eat and drink. Without these basics, they cannot live as long as the rich people can live.

Robin is doing the decent thing and giving these people what they need to live. He should not go to jail.”

Once the evidence is presented, the jurors then decide on his guilt or innocence, and in this case, many sided with the man in green tights! However, the debate continues, with ongoing discussions in the classroom.

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FROM WRITING INSTRUMENTS TO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS As the Middle School Learning Specialist, I have worked with all the boys in Fourth and Fifth Grades for the past nine years, now going on ten. While the title of Learning Specialist might suggest I only work with boys who struggle, the fact is, everyone has strengths and weaknesses. I am part of the team that teaches writing in Fourth and Fifth Grade, and whether it is during a skills/writing class or a reading class, these experiences for the boys

Jill Silverman teaching a Middle School class.

vary. It either comes easily, or it doesn’t. For boys who have struggled with the reading process, writing will be the last piece of the puzzle. That is a developmentally appropriate fact.

So, I understand these boys will have a harder time with the writing process than those who mastered

reading in the earlier grades. However, whether it is on the computer or with a pencil, when it comes time to use that writing instrument, the range of ability may vary, but the final results are remarkably similar.

Part of the issue with the writing process is that too much open-ended direction can provoke some anxiety. The boys want freedom, but they also want that structure. If the directions are, “write about anything you want,” the teacher may hear: “Can I write about my turtle?” or “Can I write about camp?” Where to begin? If the directions are “Write about your favorite food,” or “Write about your favorite holiday,” for most, the pencils are up and flowing. For some, the ideas are in their minds but need a way to become organized in order for them to come out on the page. For others, they just need help getting started and then they are on their way. Sometimes, there are just a few whose computers will never seem to be charged, or who can never find a pencil…their writing instruments curiously unavailable.

Interestingly enough, I find the aspect of the School I have always talked about the most, to friends or even prospective parents, is that even those boys who may struggle in an academic area can be successful in a myriad of other ways.

There have been boys I have taught during my years here, who may struggle in reading and writing, but who can stand up in front of an Assembly Hall full of people and play a concerto on the violin by heart, or sit in front of the audience and play the cello as if they have been playing their whole lives. They can be a part of the ensemble with the Allen-Stevenson Orchestra and be in perfect sync with the rest of their peers. They can use their voices, their beautiful vocal instruments, which may stutter or falter when they read, or still use invented spelling when they write, and sing a solo in a chorus concert or Gilbert & Sullivan. My heart wants to jump out of my body for these boys!

I watch their mouths move when they sing with the rest of the boys, and they know every word and you can see them stand a little taller, the smiles on their faces…and I’ve been moved to joyful tears because I know this is their moment to feel the success they might not always feel 100 percent of the time in the classroom. You don’t have to be the “A” student in academics to shine and feel good about yourself at Allen-Stevenson. You can amaze everyone in the Assembly Hall, on the playing field, or in the woodshop. Yes, there are many ways to be a boy at Allen-Stevenson. However, I promise, I won’t make you write about any of them!

Jill B. Silverman, Middle School Learning Specialist

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MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMUNITY SERVICE: A NATURAL FIT From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. ~ Luke 12.48

Fourth Grade boys volunteered in Central Park mulching gardens this fall. They will return in the spring. Taking care of gardens in Central Park, where they spend so much time, is giving back in a very appropriate way. The Fourth Grade boys also read Halloween stories to the Kindergarten boys at A-S. In the past the boys have made Valentine’s Day centerpieces for the Friday Lunch Program.

Why do Middle School teachers and boys invest time

“Good deed of the day.” “Can I get some milk for my sandwich?” “Where are you going with all those sandwiches?” These are some of the comments that our Middle School boys hear each Friday as they walk one hundred and twenty-five sandwiches to the Friday Lunch Program at All Souls Church. All Middle School boys are welcome each Friday at 7:45 am to make sunbutter and jelly sandwiches.

On any given Friday six boys are assigned to the task; however, there are usually twelve to eighteen boys who cheerfully roll up their sleeves, tuck their ties away

and energy in such an extensive community service program? We believe that giving back to one’s community is an essential way of teaching and reinforcing the values we strive to live by at Allen-Stevenson.

Community service develops the concepts of thinking of others and taking care of others at a time when preadolescent boys are looking for ways to be more help-

and get to work!

ful, more “grown up.” Our boys embody what it

In the spring of 2010, after the devastating Haitian earthquake, the Middle School

serving others. They are thoughtful, respectful, deter-

means to be an Allen-Stevenson boy when they are

boys wanted to help. A group of boys organized themselves, with teacher help, and developed a concert and bake sale for the community. The organizing team had leaders, advertisers, homeroom coordinators, musicians, bakers and cashiers.

There was also a team that researched organizations where the money collected could be sent, and they presented their recommendations to the Middle School boys. The charities were selected based on this team’s work.

Sixth Grade boys participate in many different service projects. They set tables and serve meals each Friday to the guests at the Friday Lunch Program at All Souls Church. They wear aprons and gloves, make sure the guests have the food

mined, enthusiastic, caring, responsible, good and gentlemen. It is a natural fit.

The key to any strong community service program is finding projects where boys can actually “work” and know they are making a difference in another person’s life.

Kimberly Kyte, Middle School Head On behalf of the Middle School Teachers

they want, and above all make sure the men and women are treated like guests in a restaurant. Sixth Grade boys also collect close to 2,000 books each December for a local public school, organize them by genre, take them to P.S.83 and then read their favorite book to the First Grade children.

Each Friday before Presidents Day weekend the First Grade children come to A-S to join the Sixth Grade boys for snack and play games before giving them an instrumental concert. In addition to reaching outside our community, Sixth Grade boys also send birthday cards to A-S alums!

Fifth Grade boys participate in Meals on Heels several times a year, delivering lunches to people who are unable to leave their homes. They also decorate the Lower School hallways the week before Halloween.

In addition Fifth Grade boys set the tables for lunch in our Dining Room each morning and work with Lower School boys before

5C gets ready for Meals on Heels.

the start of School.

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OUR IN-HOUSE FIFTH GRADE ADVERTISING AGENCY

One of the ads created by the boys.

Allen-Stevenson’s mission states that, “In the belief that there are

create print advertisements for a Mesopotamian innovation, such

many ways to be a boy, the School offers an ongoing commitment

as the spoked wheel, which they then presented, via videoconfer-

to each student and uses the best insights and tools available to

ence, to a team of professionals at Arnold Worldwide DC, an

understand him as a whole person.” One way to accomplish this

advertising agency in Washington, D.C. The project was a great

charge is to design activities that help the boys look within them-

success on our end, and was well received by Arnold, so we

selves to discover their unique motivations, qualities, and charac-

thought we could achieve our goals for the Fifth Grade though a

teristics. This was one goal set forth in the Fifth Grade’s study of

similar process. Before going further, we had to enlist the profes-

Medieval Europe. When the homeroom teachers, Venesha

sionals. Arnold was so thrilled at the opportunity to participate

Cashdollar and David Sutton, the Library Director, Sarah Kresberg,

again, that even their new CEO, Andrew Bennett, was eager to be

and I collaborated on a medieval research project, our objectives

part of the videoconference (unfortunately, his schedule did not

were for the boys to:

permit his involvement, so he insisted we do it again). With Arnold

• Hone Internet-based research skills (evaluation of sources and

on-board, we were able to solidify our plan. In brief, the boys

efficient searching)

would work in groups that mimicked real-life ad teams. Each

• Generate “meaty” or substantial research questions

would take on an individual role: Art Director, Copywriter, Account

• Take effective notes

Manager, or Brand Planner. Their task would be to research a

• Apply general knowledge of medieval history to a specific area

medieval product or service, such as the catapult or beer brewer,

and go deeper

meet with a “client” (faculty or staff members) to learn his or her

• Meet the demands of a real world situation - shared responsibilities

goals for the advertisement, and work together to create a print

to create one end product, meet a set deadline (without extension)

advertisement that included a unique image, an enticing headline,

• Identify personal strengths and weaknesses, and select a role

informative body copy, and a catchy, relevant tag line.

that best suits these characteristics • Communicate effectively as a team member, with adults, and

On March 16th, the Tuesday before Spring Vacation, we presented

when presenting to a group of peers and adults

the project to the boys so that they could hit the ground running

• Learn the basics of desktop publishing software (Pages™, part of

when we returned to school on April 5th. After giving them an

Apple’s iWork™ suite)

overview, we turned the floor (or the Smartboard that was broad-

• Learn the basics of creative painting software (CorelPainter 11™)

casting the videoconference) over to the team at Arnold DC, which included: the Chief Creative Officer, a Brand Planner, an Account

Our discussion reminded us of a project Sarah Kresberg and I had

Manager, an Art Director and Creative Director, and a Copywriter.

done in 2006 with the Fourth Grade. The boys worked in teams to

The team spoke to the boys about their jobs and how they best

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I thought so.

Come to Dr. Oliveraʼs for surgery, a checkup, or just a haircut. We are the best of the best barber /urgeons; though we are not the royal barber/ surgeons. We help you with your health and your hair, all at very low prices. We are cheaper than the royal and we are even better.

Come to Dr. Oliveraʼs, where our service is better than the royaltyʼs!

their ideas and “Account Services” (Account Manager and Brand Planner) needed information so that they were prepared to meet with their “client.” We asked A-S faculty and staff members to volunteer time to act as medieval clients looking to advertise.

Did you know that Mr. Trower was the leader of mercenary knights in his spare time or that Nurse Shapiro was really a Barber Surgeon? While Account Services met with the clients, the Creatives met with Ms. Barnes, Upper School Librarian and a former advertising executive, to discuss the ‘tricks of the trade’ when creating captivating advertisements.

The teams then set to work meshing their ideas and information.

It was an absolute pleasure to observe this process. Ideas were

Do you want to die?

I thought not.

pitched to the group and critiqued until all agreed, and if there were instances of majority rule, those whose thoughts were

Come to Oliveraʼs to live long.

tabled accepted this and moved on.

A finished ad.

suit their personalities, how they work together and with clients, and answered the many, many questions the boys had. It was such an engaging conversation that we went well over the 45 minutes scheduled, and only ended when dismissal forced us to sign off.

Following their conversation with Arnold, the boys thought about what role would be best for their strengths and weaknesses, and make a case, in writing, for their desired job title. When putting together the groups, we were worried that we would have too many boys asking for the same job, and were pleasantly surprised that their requests were varied and, with very few exceptions, all the boys were given their first choice. The boys truly embraced this opportunity to pursue areas of interest and strength.

The teams and the product or service to be advertised were revealed when we returned on April 5th. Each group received a project binder where they kept the entire team’s work organized, and each day we placed a set of goals for each team member in the front. This daily schedule was key to finishing our products by the deadline of Thursday, April 29th. This finite timeline was crucial, not only due to Arnold’s schedule, but also because I was due to have a baby boy on Monday, May 3rd.

The groups’ first task was to gain background knowledge of their product or service. They accomplished this by writing relevant research questions, conducting research in books and on-line from authoritative sources, and taking effective notes. The

The Creatives took the team’s decisions to the computers and used CorelPainter and Pages to realize their ideas. When the advertisements were completed, the boys met with the theatre instructor, to plan, write, and rehearse the presentation of their work to Arnold. Each boy was responsible for discussing his part in the creation of the final product, and how their advertisement best represented the client’s needs.

Every single team met the April 29th deadline (and, luckily, my son, Jack, waited until the next day to arrive). The advertisements were emailed to Arnold where they were printed out and posted on the conference room wall (and remained on display for quite some time), so that the professionals could see and hear the presentations, and offer feedback to each team. The resounding response from Arnold was one of great success.

Not only were they impressed with the body of work, but also at the boys’ poise and confidence during their presentations.

The process that the boys went through taught us a great deal about their individual strengths and weaknesses, and, most importantly, they discovered a great deal about themselves, their peers, and how best to work together. The medieval advertising project gave them the structure in which to practice and learn the skills we needed them to attain, and also the freedom to take this knowledge in whatever direction they saw fit.

McCartney Wilkins, Technology Resource Teacher

“Creatives” (Art Director and Copywriter) needed this information to begin thinking about the images and language to best present

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BOYS IN HARMONY AT ALLEN-STEVENSON The most expensive and prioritized areas of education in ancient Greece were Music and Mathematics. We here at A-S believe: “Music is an integral part of every boy's education at AllenStevenson. All boys have the opportunity to sing, to play a musical instrument and to perform in musical ensembles. Musical activities range from classroom music, which includes singing, playing Orff instruments and recorders, to private study of orchestral instruments, all of which lay the basics for Chorus, Orchestra and Upper School Electives. Through class work, field trips, and performances, Allen-Stevenson boys acquire practical training in music and develop a well-rounded appreciation and understanding of music.� Music is still a priority in the modern world, but sometimes its benefits can be overlooked.

Upper School Chorus performing at the Spring Concert.

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having the same teacher for several years, a trust and support grows that allows for much greater musical development. Boys now tackle bigger pieces, music that is deeply expressive and technically demanding, allowing them to develop a high level of playing skills as they explore their own experiences and emotions and how to express them musically.

As the boys reach Upper School at Allen-Stevenson, they continue to take new risks in these many musical venues. Many participate in US Chorus while they are experiencing their voice change. In many ways, the boys have to relearn how they sing, by retraining their ears to hear the new sound of their voices.

The love of singing that has been instilled in them from their Lower School years keeps them singing through this very difficult transition. They are to be lauded for their dedication to music and singing during this time.

The reasons why music is offered at Allen-Stevenson are numerous. Music develops responsibility, self-discipline, self-confidence, self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, social skills, and the ability to work with others.

It cultivates creativity, develops a lifelong appreciation of music, and improves coordination. Besides all of this, it is fun. Never underestimate the real value of fun in education!

Pablo Legorreta performs at Middle School Closing Exercises.

Not so at Allen-Stevenson! Here is a school that believes that music is one way for a boy to be a boy. It is all about self-discovery and awareness. Beginning in the Kindergarten with Robelyn Schrade-James, where the environment is so safe, the boys feel they can experiment with many aspects of music. During this time, the boys fall in love with the possibilities that music offers them.

They learn to use their voices, play instruments, clap out a tune and simply explore music.

In Middle School music, the boys are now challenged in different ways. They approach all they do from different angles. They are improving their music reading as well as their music writing. They listen and create. They learn the process of self-discovery, of taking risks, of figuring out how they learn and how they best express their musical selves.

It is at this stage that the boys are provided with many performance opportunities. Beyond the classroom, many boys are now studying privately, performing in recitals, and participating in Orchestra, Chorus and/or Gilbert & Sullivan.

With performance, there is a discipline. The boys are ready for this stage of

Miles Syms and Matthew Wayland perform at the Spring Concert.

their music development and tackle it with enthusiasm.

When an Allen-Stevenson boy studies an instrument, he is able to form close ties with his instrumental teacher and others in the Music Department. By

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ATHLETICS PROVIDES A MULTITUDE OF OPPORTUNITIES At Allen-Stevenson we pride ourselves in offering an educational

All will be challenged by coaches to be their best, work hard, commit

experience that provides balance and opportunity. The opportunity

to the team, and never give up. The camaraderie and connection that

to participate in athletics is special in many ways.

occurs with teammates is a special gift that we want every boy to experience.

Our program embraces the differences in each child and thus strives to expose them to a variety of athletic activities. It is

We have designed the program so that in Fifth Grade every boy is

designed to encourage and motivate every boy to reach his poten-

introduced to the team concept in athletics. While the program is

tial while having fun. It is our firm belief that athletics, regardless

intra-scholastic, the boys are exposed to competitive games

of individual ability, can have a profound effect on a child’s life. To

amongst themselves and to the diversity in ability that exists

that end, we provide each boy with an avenue to play on a team at

amongst classmates. This serves as the perfect launching pad for

Allen-Stevenson.

assimilation into our layered system of competitive athletics at A-S.

There are many critical components that make our program suc-

The layers within the system are strategically placed to offer every

cessful. The most critical is the hiring of professionals who

boy a comfortable yet challenging experience. All Sixth Grade boys

embrace our philosophy and mission. The coaches who touch the

participate in the start of our interscholastic athletic program. We

lives of our young men are fully committed to the diversity in

are careful in our approach; there is no separation based on ability

learning and the developmental differences that exist athletically.

or experience. We recognize that there is much time for the delineation of boys based on size, strength, and ability. Our experience is

Each boy who participates in athletics at A-S takes from it a slight-

geared toward exposing children to the joys of being part of a team

ly different set of skills and experiences. There are those who have

and the basic fundamentals of sport specific skills. We are also

been competing since they were five and others who will experi-

developing and teaching several social skills at this level. These

ence team sports for the first time. Regardless, every boy will

team experiences provide countless opportunities to teach respect,

practice and play at a level that is appropriate in his development.

responsibility, listening, communication, collaboration, hard work, perseverance, and teamwork.

As our boys enter the Upper School, they have a better sense of “who they are and what their game is.� They have spent two years learning what they enjoy about athletics and where they see themselves within our program. We have found that there are boys who wish to compete throughout Upper School and others who enjoy being active and would rather participate in an intramural program. We have a layered program that provides both interscholastic and intramural opportunities for our boys. Interestingly, many of our boys will rotate between interscholastic and intramural activities. We believe the flexibility makes for a richer athletics experience and thus the development of a well-rounded boy.

Rich Alifano, Director, Athletics/Physical Education

Coach Phil Amplo on the field.

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CHRIS ACERBO, Director of Security, and his wife, Maria, are the proud parents of Angelica Maria Acerbo, born on September 4, 2010, at 1:27 pm.

This summer ABBY LEVIN, Third Grade teacher, married Steve Brody in the Hamptons. It was a surprise wedding! All the guests thought they were attending Abby’s birthday, but it was really their wedding. A great surprise indeed.

Angelica Maria Acerbo

FRANK PEDUTO, Athletics, and his wife, Sabrina, met in college and have been together for the past seven years. She said “yes” to marrying Frank in December 2008, under the tree in Rockefeller Center. They finally said the big "I do" on September 3, 2010. They are currently living in Westchester, NY, and could not be any happier.

Spanish Teacher, GLENN RODRIGUEZ, married Ligia Lamprea on September 18, 2010, at Rye Beach in Rye, NY. RAY SEEBACK, Athletics, ran in the Merrell Shoes Down & Dirty Mud Run on October 3, 2010, and finished second in his age group...out of four people! TONY D'ITRI, also from our PE Department, ran in the same event.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Brody

Flute teacher, BARBARA THOMASHOWER, married Michael Lakota on August 22, 2010.

Michael, known to the music faculty for his culinary talents, especially his legendary pulled pork, enjoyed by the music faculty at our end-of-the-year barbeque last spring, is an expert on rock music and enthusiastically attends Barbara’s classical music performances.

Technology Resource Specialist, MCCARTNEY WILKINS, and her husband, Jay, welcomed their son, Jack, on April 30, 2010.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Peduto

Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Rodriguez

Ray Seeback

Tony D’Itri

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lakota

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Jack Wilkins and proud papa, Jay

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Making A Difference is a column that highlights some of the many ways in which people give to The Allen-Stevenson School.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PA PRESIDENT, MARIE BITETTI How did you first get involved in the Parents Association at AllenStevenson? ____________________________________ MB: I don’t remember exactly, but I think I signed one of those volunteer sheets and someone called and asked if I would co-chair the Community Service Committee. That ended up being quite a bit of work but was also a lot of fun. The positive thing about volunteering for the PA, however, is that you do not need to commit much time to be involved.

Although at this point, I am not working full time (outside the house, that is!), I am very conscious that many, many parents do. There are definitely ways to be involved that don’t require a big time commitment.

Can you give us some concrete suggestions? ____________________________________ MB: In the course of almost every year, there are chances to sign up for volunteer time slots whether it is the Book Fair, International Festival, Spring Benefit, Ice Skating Party and other events. This can be for as little as a couple of hours, and you still get to meet other parents and feel involved. Also, co-chairing a committee does not necessarily involve a huge commitment. While some Committees are time consuming, some are less so. Even making it to a Parent Connection meeting and an occasional class coffee can keep a parent connected with the class.

What are the different positions you have held in the PA? ____________________________________

Committee Chairs so that the volunteers can then be contacted.

You can also just volunteer to help whenever there is an event that solicits online sign-ups. Parents are always welcome to stop by the PA Office in the Main Hall and discuss what they might do.

Why would you recommend that parents get involved in the PA? ____________________________________ MB: It is an easy way to meet other parents and to get to know Allen-Stevenson a little better. Truly, without all these wonderful, dedicated parents we couldn’t run any PA events. The School relies on parent involvement and really appreciates it.

You are now a few months into your one-year term as PA President. Has anything surprised you about the job? ____________________________________ Yes. It is a little more work than I had thought it would be, and a lot more fun. Also, I always knew we had a terrific parent body, but I have really seen it this fall. We have so many nice, smart, efficient, dedicated volunteers. Finally, since I interact more with various members of the Allen-Stevenson administration and staff than ever before, I have experienced their tremendous dedication to “doing the right thing” for our boys. I always knew this, but perhaps didn’t fully understand the complexity of the task of running a great school. Finally, the PA’s mandate is to build a community between and among parents and the School. We are always open to thoughts on how we could improve in this endeavor – we welcome your thoughts and ideas.

MB: In addition to co-chairing the Community Service Committee, I have been a Class Rep, co-chaired the Hospitality Committee, acted as Corresponding Secretary, served as Vice-President last year, and been a volunteer for numerous events over the years. One year, I was only able to volunteer for a couple of events which required very limited time, but still provided the benefit of seeing other parents and, occasionally, seeing my boys at school. Generally, the boys really like to see their parents at school. To my surprise, even my seventh grader is still very enthused to see me around!

What advice would you give new parents on how to get involved? ____________________________________ MB: This new Kindergarten class doesn’t seem to need any advice!!

They have signed up for so many things through the Volunteer Form (accessible through the website). The Volunteer Form is a reasonable start. We organize all those forms and hand them out to the

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The 2010-11 PA Executive Committee Cristina Roig Morris, Shiuan Wu, Marie Bitetti, Anne Schnitzer and Amy Bader.

alumni stories of community service

On Thursday, October 7, 2010, this year’s Founders Day speaker, Andy Mercy ’85 (CEO and Founder of AngelPoints), was joined by Erik Cliette ’81 (Director of the Injury Prevention Program at Harlem Hospital and President of the Board of Jack and Jill America Foundation) and Peter Kostmayer ’62 (President and CEO of Citizens for New York City and a former 7-term con-

Erik Cliette ’81, Andy Mercy ’85, Peter Kostmayer ’62, and Van Furniss ’91

gressman) for a panel discussion entitled “Giving Back” moderated by Van Furniss ’91.

The panel was a wonderful opportunity for parents, alumni,

York non-profit organization, and we raised over $9,000 for

students, faculty and staff to hear from three Allen-Stevenson

Fonkoze (Haiti’s Alternative Bank for the Organized Poor) to pro-

alumni who have made conscious efforts to include service and

vide their clients money to rebuild their infrastructure in Haiti.

community involvement in their personal and professional lives.

We have also funded over $7,000 in loans through Kiva, a large

Erik Cliette shared this memory, “I returned for the Alumni

and well-respected microfinance institution and made loans to

Dinner a few years ago and I remember John Pariseau h’98

entrepreneurs in twelve countries.”

remarked, while looking out over the sea of alumni who had gathered, 'When you were here, we were training you to be lead-

Two other Allen-Stevenson alumni, Sammy Fischer ’08 and

ers and now seeing all of you this evening, I can see that we

Alexander Corwin ’08, are in the club with Nick, and all three

have indeed done our job.'”

hold executive positions.

The three men are undeniably leaders and all felt that their

Nick had the opportunity to visit Haiti this summer to witness

desire to continue community service and engagement in high

Fonkoze’s impact on Haiti and shared the following excerpt from

school and into adult life began at, and was nurtured by, Allen-

his journal:

Stevenson. It was exciting for the panelists – and the audience – when some current Allen-Stevenson students and young alumni gave us a window into their lives of service.

Jorge Colmenares ’12, an eighth grader, gave a thoughtful report on the service projects that students are currently working on including regular trips to the All Souls Soup Kitchen to deliver and serve sunbutter and jelly sandwiches which are made by the A-S boys weekly.

Nick O’Mara ’09, who now attends Riverdale, spoke of the strong connection he felt to the alumni on the panel and discussed his

“There is still happiness in Haiti, be it on the surface or deep within. The people here are some of the most optimistic and humblest global citizens I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. The beauty in Haiti isn’t hard to see, but having been there for a mere three days it was explicitly clear what a gorgeous country it really is. The culture and landscape have rich histories and you can feel that history around you where ever you find yourself, be it in a mud home in the central plateau or one of the bustling streets of Port-au-Prince.

I don’t think I will ever view my time in Haiti as depressing, but inspiring instead.”

involvement in Zawadi by Youth, a micro-lending student club that grants small loans in developing countries. Nick described

All of these alumni are wonderful examples of “fortiter et recte”

some of the milestones that the club has reached, “We have

at work. Their commitment to bettering communities locally and

recently been granted a 501c3 status so we are officially a New

globally unquestionably makes a difference.

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around A-S Founders Day 2010 with ANDY MERCY ’85

my belly growled from hunger. I can remember sprinting up the stairs to the roof for 20 minutes of freedom between classes; laboring over my ninth grade history report on Sir Francis Drake, who helped Britain conquer the Spanish Armada; Mr. Kersey starting his American History class by making sure we knew where Hingham [Massachusetts] was. Finally – and I was just reminded of this fact today – I can remember beating Buckley in football in the final seconds. That was 1984 and the last time we beat them until four years ago. Wow. I am proud to say that I was the quarterback on that day.

This place is so familiar to me and yet so much more impressive and beautiful than it was when I was here. I hate to say it but I probably wouldn’t even get in here now – you should feel really lucky to be here. This is literally the best boys’ school on the planet.

As I walked to school this morning, along the same route I took 25 years ago down Park Avenue to 78th Street, I got a big kick out of seeing some of you in the same blue shirts that I wore, carrying your violins and trumpets and heavy backpacks. I find it hard to believe that I am your parents’ age. It feels like yesterday that I was just like you are now, trying to sit quietly during a Founders Day talk, trying not to poke my buddy and giggle about something.

Just so you know, I live all the way across the country now, near San Francisco. Some of you may know where that is and many of you have probably seen pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I have three children – in 5th, 3rd and 1st grades – and even though they don’t go to school here, I tell them about A-S all the time. I learned a lot here.

here. I can remember getting up at 6am, walking our dog in the cold, early dawn and then hustling in to be on time for orchestra practice with Mr. Gauger. I can remember driving up to Riverdale for hockey practice; we kids skated as Mr. Kersey slid around the ice in his leather shoes. I can remember Mrs. Krasa’s [head of kitchen] smile and thick eastern European accent as she made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on some days when

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newspaper – which seemed like a really big deal. It had snowed a ton – cars were buried and the city was completely shut down.

But not A-S. We made the papers [in 1978] because we were expected to come to school that day. While 10 million other people stayed home snuggled in blankets, we A-S boys trudged from every direction to come to school. Three-foot walls of snow lined every block. That was a very cool thing.

It was so cool because it made me realize that A-S was a different kind of place and those of us lucky enough to go here had a different experience than most other kids. Standing where I stand now, I look at all of you and think about how lucky you are to be a part of a tradition that since its founding has been about turning boys into strong and upright men. Take a look around because you will almost surely still know people in this room

My memories of this place are so vivid that it feels like I was just

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I’ll never forget the first time I saw our school’s name in the

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when you get to be my age and you’re going to be impressed by who they become. You know the old song: “make new friends, but keep the old, some are silver and the others are gold.” I still have golden friends from A-S. As I tried my hardest to put my finger on what A-S taught me and why I love this place so much, I kept picturing our motto: fortiter et recte. Any Latin students want to take a try at a translation for us?

It literally means “Strongly” and “Rightly.” To me, it also means

Why do you do what you do? Why do you get up early in the

“Brave” and “True.”

morning and trudge through snow? Why do you study and play hard? Why do you do your best every day at A-S. The answer is

Let me tell you how you might think about these words:

because it makes you Strong and Right. Because it makes you Brave and True. Fortiter et Recte.

Picture three circles that represent your life. One circle is very big so that the next circles fit inside it, one smaller than the next,

At the core of everything you learn at A-S – the history and lan-

like a dart board with a bulls-eye at the center. Can you picture

guage lessons; the music and the sports; the drama and the art;

it? Three concentric circles.

the manners and the rules – is strength and right. Why you do it is because it helps you become stronger and more true. It helps

The outer circle, the big one, represents WHAT YOU DO with

you become braver and more right.

your life. You go to classes, you play sports, you do your homework, you flirt with Nightingale girls, you will go on to high

Now here’s the challenge: as you go through A-S and then

school and to college and get a job; you will most likely get mar-

onward through the many adventures of your life, put the Why

ried and have kids; you will hopefully see the world. You will do

first, then the How, then the What. Think about life from the

many amazing things, too many to list here. Your lives will be

inside of the circle out. Start at the bulls-eye. Not the other way

fun and interesting and filled with adventure. You are incredibly

around. Many people make the mistake of starting with the

lucky because A-S is giving you everything you need to enjoy

What. What do I want to do today, next week, with my life, with

this journey and to understand what you encounter along the

my education, with my career?

way. These things are What you do.

If you start with the Why, everything you do will make more The next circle, slightly smaller and inside that circle represents

sense. During your time at A-S, the Why is to be strong and

HOW YOU DO IT. How you do your class work, how you play

right. As long as you keep that in mind, you will choose to do

your sports, do your homework, flirt with Nightingale girls, how

things that support this. As you grow and change, the what will

you go through high-school and college; do your job, how you

certainly change and you’ll develop your own unique how. But

are a husband and a father one day. The How is very important

the Why: that should remain fairly constant. It may change

and I will offer you three letters to help with the How: PBR. It

slightly, but I promise you that you can’t do much better than

stands for Preparation, Balance and Relaxation. I actually

STRONGLY AND RIGHTLY. Fortiter et recte.

learned this recently from the winningest tennis coach in the country at the University of Santa Cruz; but I also learned

Today’s a special day, I hear. Noon recess. That’s a wondrous

aspects of this from my own father and from A-S. Whether you

thing. So head out into the day and remember what I’ve told you

will be successful in how you play a sport or in how you go

here today. And remember how lucky you are to be Allen-

about your life will be defined largely by this simple concept:

Stevenson boys forever.

PBR. Prepare early and thoroughly; be balanced and ready; then relax and enjoy the ride. This one will take a while to sink in, but think about it.

Andrew S. Mercy ’85 attended Phillips Andover Academy, Macalester College, and the University of Colorado after Allen-Stevenson. Andy is the Founder and CEO of

And then there’s the most important circle at the core. It’s the

a company called AngelPoints. AngelPoints works with major companies, such as

bulls-eye. This circle stands for WHY YOU DO IT. These are all

Toyota, AT&T and Kraft, to help their employees do community service. Andy lives

the interesting things that define what you do. There’s PBR for

in nothern California with his wife and three children.

how you do it. And then there’s why you do it, the most important part of the whole thing.

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Closing Exercises 2010 Neal Kamsler Upper School Head

Here we are again at one of my favorite occasions of the year, and yet it is always a bittersweet one. There is no denying the sweetness of the approaching summer and the fact that as teachers we look forward as much or more than the boys do to its onset. It is a time for renewal, relaxation and rejuvenation. There is a sweetness in watching these graduates leave the school as young men ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead of them. There is also the bitterness of having to say good-bye to students, to colleagues and for the boys to their school and home for up to the last 10 years.

I am finally getting over my concerns about being repetitive from year to year as I have come to believe in the power and importance of occasions such as graduation, and that the messages delivered on these days bear repeating time and again. No matter how many times they are repeated they do not lose their power, their beauty or their importance. I always use this occasion as a time to remind the boys to say thank you and as a time for me to do so as well. As always my thank yous begin with the faculty for their passion, their knowledge, their infinite patience for and love of their students. I ask them to please rise and give you all the opportunity to thank them as well.

Boys, this is also a time to thank your parents, siblings, grandparents, and all who are an integral part of your life. The love that they give you should never be taken for granted or underestimated. Make sure that you tell them and show them how you feel on a regular basis, especially after you have been angry or upset. Know that they only want the best for you, even when you wholeheartedly disagree with what they are saying or doing. Pay careful attention to the advice they give you and the example they set for you. The best piece of advice I

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have ever received was when I was about your age. It came from my father and has shaped my entire life. My father was a remarkable man, a first generation American, who graduated from high school at 16 and went straight to work. He went from being a stock boy to owning his own business in the garment center of New York City. Whenever we went on a family trip, he packed the trunk of our car and I saw the pride he took in the skills he had learned packing shelves as a young man. His business almost killed him and after having a heart attack, he decided at age 55 to sell his business, go to college and become an educator. He got his undergraduate degree, and a master’s degree in counseling, and finished his working life as a high school guidance counselor. He spent his life devoted to causes of social justice, whether it was as a civil rights activist, community organizer or protester against the war in Vietnam. When I applied to college I had to write an essay about the three men I admired most and I wrote about Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and my dad. And I tell you King and Gandhi were in good company. All of this is a very long introduction to the advice my father gave me. We were walking together to the car after I had spent the day working as a stock boy in his factory in Brooklyn. He looked at me and said, “Neal you will spend the vast majority of your life at work - find something you love to do and stick with it.” My father passed away this winter and I thank him every day for that advice which has led me to where I am today. I can wish nothing more for each and every one of these graduates than to find something they love to do and stick with it.

Last night was the Ninth Grade dinner held here at school. I don’t think I have ever been prouder to be a part of the Allen-Stevenson community or felt more like I had followed my father’s advice. I heard boys, parents and teachers freely talking about the love they felt for each other, the support they had received, and the lessons they had learned. They had come to the Ninth Grade as 14 individuals and leave today as a unit, who will be friends for life.

One of the hardest things I need to do today is to say my good-byes to two members of our community who will be leaving us. Both of whom I expect to be fully embarrassed by the attention and by what I will say about them. The first is Daryl Shapiro. If you want to talk about a fountain of love and caring, it is Daryl. She is the nurse, doctor, therapist, and second mother to us all. She keeps us focused on always acting in a way that keeps the best interests of the boys first and foremost, and for a nice, quiet, and gentle woman she is a bear when she believes we are not maintaining our commitments to the boys and this

Cohen and Anne Meyer on a weekly basis to discuss concerns about students or issues in the School and Michael often looks at us and asks, “What would the nurse do?” or “Would the nurse approve?” It is the highest standard to be held to and one I will try to live up to after Daryl retires. There is however one bright side to her retirement, Upper School boys will definitely be in class more often, as they probably won’t invent as many reasons to visit the nurse. Daryl, we love you and we will miss you, so visit us often.

We also need to say good-bye to Mr. Mac. We started at the School together 15 years ago and it is very hard for me to imagine an Upper School without you. I know that there will be a huge void to fill that I will feel whenever I walk past your room, need a theater review, or have an alum come back to the School looking to thank you for their success in English class in high school.

We will miss your humor, your work in G&S, the passion you bring to your teaching and all that you have given the boys of this school. Craig, you have been a great colleague, a true friend and we all wish you the best of luck in your new life in Florida.

I have gone on long enough and I will close by saying to all of you graduating today, good luck, find your passions and pursue them to the fullest. Give your loved ones a hug and kiss, and visit us often.

school. We meet together with Michael Schwartzman, the school psychologist, Steve

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Closing Exercises 2010 Lieutenant Commander Ian R. Nesbitt, USN

Lieutenant Commander Ian R. Nesbitt, USN, A-S Class of 1990, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997. Beginning in 1998, he served in Operation Desert Fox and, later, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this period, LCDR Nesbitt won the Hawaii Navy League’s annual leadership award and the Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic’s Junior Officer Award for Excellence in Tactics. From 2005-2006, he served as the Flag Secretary for Commander, Carrier Strike Group NINE on board the Abraham Lincoln in the Western Pacific.

LCDR Nesbitt received his M.A. in National Security Affairs from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California.

Between 2008 and 2009, he was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operation’s staff as the Missile Defense Policy Officer for the assistant deputy, Chief of Naval Operations for Policy and Strategy and was a member of the 2009-2010 Nuclear Posture review team.

LCDR Nesbitt has received the Bronze Star, four Navy Commendation Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals. His teams have been recognized with the Navy Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (twice) and the Battle Efficiency E. He and his wife, the former Katherine Michelle Weitzman, live with their son, Caelan, in Newport, Rhode Island, where he serves as the Air Defense Cell Lead at the Surface Officers School, teaching air defense tactics to Navy and Coast Guard officers as they return to sea.

I can’t fully express how thankful I am for the honor of being chosen as today’s closing exercises speaker. The last eighteen months have been an amazing whirlwind for me. I deployed to Iraq, and served in a provisional unit whose duties were to defend Soldiers and Marines against radio controlled bombs. I was on the ground for nine months and for that I was awarded the Bronze Star. After that, my high school, Hotchkiss, honored me as an alum of the month. And now, I am your closing exercises speaker. I cannot tell you which is the more profound: a Bronze Star, an alumnus of the month from a school I also hold in high esteem, or to be speaking to you today.

I came to Allen-Stevenson in the fall of 1984. I was a 9-year-old boy out of public school. I grew up on Roosevelt Island and I had been through public school for the first through third grades and I’m lucky for that. Next thing you know – Holy Toledo – it’s getting hard. I’m in a tie, and I’ve got a backpack that’s my entire body weight, like a marine in Afghanistan, and I’m moving under fire. I remember three first impressions –neckties, new friends and a long commute. It was about a 40 minute bus ride the first year each way; since I was only nine, my parents were not going to put me on the subway. So I’m on the bus, making these long commutes and I had all of these new friends. Now, Allen-Stevenson, on one level, was very tight and insular. I showed up on day one and it was: “who’s this new kid and what makes him think he can be one of our friends?” They already had three years of being together. They had been rough and tumble and all of that, so the new kid was pushed off to the side.

It took them a few months, maybe a year, but they warmed up to me and eventually I became quite good friends with everybody by the time I left.

But also there was the necktie; tying it is not so easy, is it? That first day, my mother or my father probably just tied my tie, put my jacket on and sent me to school.

Everything’s fine right? Everything’s going great. I get to school, I’m in class.

Then, it’s time for athletics. Jacket comes off. Shirt comes off. Tie comes off. On comes my blueberry suit and we play kickball or whatever.

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Then, we come back and pants come on, shirt comes on, jacket comes on, then what? …

Necktie! … Uh, oh… I had not been taught the ways of the necktie. So I start fumbling it.

Now, I’m in tears – hysterical, because all the other boys are all done. They’re sitting at their seats. I’m mortified. So Mrs. Glick, my 4th grade teacher, came over and deftly and expertly tied my tie, dusted off my jacket and sat me down. No mention of it. Like it wasn’t even a big deal. For me, she was a lifesaver.

So I love coming back to Allen-Stevenson. These five years were among the most important in my life for developing a foundation of character, hard work and passion.

Everything I’ve learned and everything I believe, it was all forged right here in AllenStevenson, academically, athletically and artistically. If I could distill the advice I am going to give you today down to one word: service.

Stan Lee, the great maker of modern mythology wrote: “with great power comes great responsibility.” That is the mantra of the Spider Man story. Peter Parker (Spider Man) is an under-gunned super hero. You boys know these stories. These are the myths of the boys growing up, as well as Allen-Stevenson’s more traditional curriculum of The Odyssey, The

The young men filing in.

Iliad and the like.

At Allen-Stevenson, you’ve been trained, tested and found worthy: academically, artistically and athletically. But what you do with this power is up to you. You can squander it. But I really hope you won’t. I hope you’ll consider serving something bigger than yourself, starting today, if you haven’t already thought of it.

When I was at Allen-Stevenson, we didn’t have that wake up call. We didn’t actively talk about service. We did talk about character. I was lucky, however, to have four men influence me: my father, my godfather, my next door neighbor and my scout master, each of whom in the fullness of their lives had spent a significant amount of time and effort serving and had spoken about it as a seminal experience in their lives.

Now what and how you serve is not as important as that you serve. The main thing is that you get into the game and stay in the game. If you get knocked down, throw a cleat, end up in the mud, get a bruise (and you will), that’s ok. That’s guaranteed to occur. If you sit on the sidelines, your uniform may be pristine, your cleats may be fine – but at the end of it, you’ll be saying: “gosh, I sure wish I was in the game.”

Over the next four years you’re going to have great opportunities to recognize what you

Michael Duffy ’10 with Headmaster Trower

want to bring into the world. Whether it’s AMERICORPS, teaching and helping in our own nation, or the Peace Corps -- doing that elsewhere in the world, or you become a teacher (like Mr. Kersey or Mr. Pariseau). Whether it’s world peace, a cleaner environment, financial prudence, human dignity, justice, or available housing, there are many areas in the world where you can contribute.

So regardless of what you choose, I hope you’ll just work on doing something. Find the cause that works for you, the one that you’re passionate about.

It doesn’t need to be big. Maybe go to a local community center and sing a song, or maybe just help clean up the park in your area, or read to an elderly neighbor. You’re developing a habit, a habit of commitment, a habit of service. The time is going to come when we’re going to need you. Another great mythologist Joseph Campbell wrote: “a hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself” and you guys can do that -- be heroes.

The world needs you. We need champions to help raise the lamplighter of wisdom and rekindle the torches of enlightenment. I hope each of you will seriously consider the path of service in any capacity and grow into the men that great A-S boys like you can be.

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Tyrel White ’10 with Headmaster Trower

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Upper School Honors 2009-10

Honor Student Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10

Tunney Creative Writing Award Ian G. Phelan ’11

Desmond Cole Fortiter et Recte Award Samuel A. Bernheim ’11

Mary B. Helm Award French: Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10 Daniel H. Lamport ’11 Spanish: Jacob L. Brody ’11 Michael J. Duffy ’11 Khalid A. Taylor ’10

Charles E. Horman Award Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10 Athletic Award Hasani G. K. Figueroa ’10 Alumni Medal Khalid A. Taylor ’10

David Kersey h’98 with Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10

Daughters of the American Revolution Mohammed T. Islam ’12

Science Award Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10

Society of Colonial Wars George L. Frank ’12

Greatest Improvement Award 9th Grade: Adam L. Centeno and Charles C. Knudsen 8th Grade: Stephen M.Z. Sim 7th Grade: Andrew X. Collins

Mayflower Compact Award Cameron A. Koffman ’12 Bradford A. Warner Shop Award Jacob L. Brody ’11

Honor Roll Class of 2010: Theodore O. Agbi, Johann M. Fitzpatrick, Jenner L. Foster, Jonathan C. Linen, Khalid A. Taylor

Francis Keally Art Award Christopher P. Henderson ’11 Computer Art Award Stephen M.Z. Sim ’11 Francis Keally Gilbert & Sullivan Award Daniel H. Lamport ’11

George L. Frank ’12 receiving his Society of Colonial Wars Medal

Nicholas Meister Armington Theater Prize William J. Hennessey ’11 William Tarzian-Britt ’11

William L. Landis Drama Prize Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10

PRIZES – 2009-10 (Middle School)

Stanley D. Gauger Music Prize Daniel S. Wayland ’11

Bradford A. Warner Award Nicholas P. Silberman ’14

Public Speaking Prize Samuel A. Sen ’11

Anthony G. Couloucoundis II Memorial Award Matthew A. Wayland ’13

William A. Hanway Memorial Prize Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10

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Class of 2011: Brian S. Auquilla, Samuel A. Bernheim, Jacob L. Brody, Eric L. Gansman, Julian C. Hay, Robert J. Hopenhajm, William H. Lopez-Balboa, Kyle K. Rosenberg, Matthew L. Schwolsky, Daniel S. Wayland, Spencer C. Weiss Class of 2012: Talla F. Babou, Will F. Berman, Samuel G. Cantor, Jorge E. Colmenares, Joseph Demmler, Joe A. Dickstein, George L. Frank, Matthew J. Gallea, Raymond R. He, Nicholas R. Hershey, Mohammed T. Islam, Jasper H. Jarecki, Eliott S. Kim, Cameron A. Koffman, Elliot S. Scarangello, Jad A. Seligman

Chorus Prize Khalid A. Taylor ’10

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Mathematics Prize Brian S. Auquilla ’11 Johann M. Fitzpatrick ’10 Daniel S. Wayland ’11

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Robert McCallum with Stephen M.Z. Sim ’11

Adam and Elan Benjamin Memorial Award Kathan Mally ’14

Jenner Foster ’10 Closing Exercises Speaker Good Morning. First of all let me introduce myself to everyone here today at this joyous celebration. My name is Jenner Foster. I’m a member of the graduating class of 2010, and have been chosen by my classmates to give the graduation speech.

Ten years ago, some of my classmates and I sat here in this gymnasium just learning the basics of dodgeball and freeze tag. We started the day by playing with blocks, and watched as somebody stumbled through the blocks and they tumbled down. Half of the class looked forward to nap time, while I couldn’t fall asleep and instead talked to my friends. Most of us in these two grades have been here since Kindergarten, some came along in later years. For some of us, Allen-Stevenson requires the commitment of taking the bus or train for over an hour; for someone as lucky as me, the commute only takes a minute. We may have different histories, and we may have taken different paths, but at this point in our lives we are all the same. Today we stand here before you as the graduating classes of 2010 and 2011.

I think both classes can all agree that Allen-Stevenson has given us a great start in life.

From the amazing Arts and Athletics programs to the Academic program, everything the school offers is amazing. I think the best thing about A-S is that it let me take risks and the kind of risks my parents didn’t mind seeing me take. Where else can a student participate in football, baseball, basketball, Shakespeare, Gilbert & Sullivan, Chorus, Orchestra, and Acapella in the same year? Nowhere but Allen-Stevenson.

As I move through my life, I will always remember several things about A-S. The biggest impact Allen Stevenson has had on me is my friendships. In my grade, we are all best friends. We are different in some ways, but we all shine in our own way. We like different music: Rock, Punk, Pop, Gucci Man, Rap, Gospel, and even Techno, but we respect each other’s tastes. We differ in our abilities at sports, especially rooftop kickball, an AllenStevenson tradition. Some of us kick a homerun once a game, while others may foul out.

Some of us score touchdowns and make goals and points, while some of us don’t play sports at all. Some of us can doodle in class and then ace a test without studying, while some of us study a lot and still get that B. Yet for all our differences, there was one elective that brought us together - chorus. In the beginning of the year, I thought our class of 14 students was only going to have three or four people sign up for chorus, but we managed to convince other students to join, and that number shot up to 10. I never would have guessed that the 10 of us would have so much fun singing together and I think that created a bond between us. Allen-Stevenson provided an environment where boys who may not at first seem to have a lot in common

can find commonalities and become great friends.

The second aspect of A-S life I will never forget is the wonderful faculty, who at every turn of the day make the day special.

From the morning where we shake hands with Mr. Trower, to the fun homerooms of Mr. Mac and Mr. Zufall, I looked forward to each day. The sophisticated Mr. Warner would always make an announcement at 12:20. In Ms. Rana’s class at the end of the day we were allowed to eat popcorn at 2:30. Nurse Shapiro always had a special way of healing our wounds, big and small.

One and all, each faculty member had something special that made the day more enjoyable. Even the sound of Mr. Cohen ordering me into the bathroom to tuck my shirt in cheered me up a little.

Come next September, we will not walk to school and see Mr. Hughes or Mr. Crespo standing outside smiling at us as we arrive.

(We will miss the smell of Randall’s Island and that statue we passed every time we entered the Island.) Even though we will no longer be Allen-Stevenson students, in our hearts, there will be a part of us that will always remain here. We will rekindle that part of us each time we come back and feel at home again for Alumni day. For shortly, once this ceremony ends, we won’t be known as students anymore, we will be known as alumni. Pretty amazing. However, whether we are alumni or students, we will be Unicorns forever.

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Alumni Event Re-cap GOLF CLASSIC The Allen-Stevenson Annual Golf Classic was held on May 17, 2010 at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. Over 60 alumni, parents, grandparents and friends hit the links for a day of golf and enjoyed playing the West Course, home of the Barclays Classic. Tennis players joined the Classic for a second year and played in spirited Round Robin and King of the Court competitions.

Scott Kurtz, Clifton York ’78, Hunter Lipton and Clint Johnson ’79

MAY MIXER On Thursday, May 27, 2010, alumni from Allen-Stevenson, Brearley, Browning, Chapin, Collegiate, Hewitt, Marymount, Nightingale-Bamford, Sacred Heart, Saint David’s, and St. Bernard’s from the classes of 1990-2003 gathered at M1-5 for the Annual May Mixer. The evening proved to be a wonderful time of catching up with old classmates and friends.

Liam Millhiser ’96 and Tim McCabe ’94

DODGEBALL The third annual Alumni Dodgeball game was held on June 2, 2010.

This year’s game was refereed by Jaison Correa-Spain ’97 and attended by over 25 enthusiastic alumni. After the game, a few alumni gathered on the roof for an old school game of kickball (French vs. Spanish).

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OFF-TO-COLLEGE PARTY FOR CLASS OF 2007 The Off-to-College Party for the Class of 2007 was held June 7, 2010. The members of the Class of 2007 and their families returned to Allen-Stevenson for a wonderful evening filled with reminiscing about their time at the School. A-S faculty and staff gathered in order to wish them well.

Class of 2007 and Mr. David Kersey h’98

NEW ALUMNI BREAKFAST At the new Alumni Breakfast on June 9, 2010, graduates enjoyed breakfast with alumni from past years. The graduates then moved into the Assembly Hall for the pinning ceremony where Simon Wasserberger ’85, President of the Alumni Association, welcomed our youngest alumni, and they received alumni pins from members of the Alumni Association.

Charles Knudsen ’10, Hakeem Dixon ’10, Jonathan Linen ’10 and Tyrel White ’10

WOMEN ON THE VERGE… On Wednesday, October 27, 2010, parents, alumni, and David Kersey h’98 attended a preview performance of the Broadway musical “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.” After the show, alumnus David Yazbek ’75, who composed the music and wrote the lyrics, and many of the cast of the show stayed for an informal Q & A session.

David Yazbek ’75

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Ongoing Schools Allen-Stevenson students are always well served in the secondary school placement process. The goal of the process is to find the right “match” for every boy. Each boy should be looking for the school that will best serve his needs as he moves through high school, inspiring him to grow and develop into the best possible student and person. For some boys that is a boarding school, for others a day school with a campus, and for others a more urban setting. Some of the factors that boys consider when looking at schools are size, location, academic program, extracurricular offerings, and approach to teaching. Our boys are known for their wide range of interests and their willingness to contribute to a wide variety of school activities. As such they are highly sought after by ongoing schools. Below is a list of schools that last year’s graduates are attending.

The graduates of the class of 2007 are attending the following colleges, among others. If you have not updated the Alumni Office concerning your whereabouts, please send us an email at alumni@allen-stevenson.org.

American University Amherst College Boston University Brown University Cambridge University Columbia College Endicott College Franklin and Marshall George Washington University Hamilton College Indiana University Ithaca College Johns Hopkins University Muhlenberg College Occidental College Sacred Heart University Sarah Lawrence College Tufts University University of Colorado at Boulder University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond Vanderbilt College

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The graduates of the classes of 2010 and 2011 are attending the following high schools. If you are a member of these classes and you have not updated the Alumni Office about where you attend high school, please send us an email at alumni@allen-stevenson.org.

Blair Academy Bronx Science High School Choate Rosemary Hall Church Farm School Claremont Preparatory School Columbia Preparatory School Episcopal High School, Virginia Hill School Horace Mann School Indian Mountain School Lawrenceville School Middlesex School Packer Collegiate Institute Peddie School Phillips Andover Phillips Exeter Riverdale Country School St. George’s School St. Paul’s School Stuyvesant High School Trinity School Williams School

Help Us Find These Alumni Celebrating a Reunion We are looking for the following alumni who are celebrating reunions this year. Please help us find them.

Contact Monique Lowitt, Director of Alumni Relations, with information, mlowitt@allen-stevenson.org or 212-933-5240.

1941

1956

1971

1991

Robert DuBois

William Baldwin

Paul Bigler

Oliver Bradley

Clinton Elliott

John Donovan

William Dechert

Daniel Fishman

Robert Neely

John Gaines

Walter Dove

Tarique Goodwine

Peter Richards

John Hirsch

John Hill

Barnaby Hitzig

David Rowland

Richard Kollmar

Paul Hutcheson

Gualtiero Merati-Foscarini

Charles McDaniel

Winthrop Morgan

George Muelle

Louis Ray

James Preuss

L. David Ortiz

Stephen Shepherd

Adam Theodores

Matthew Polley

John Hamlin

1961

1976

Frank Plummer

Ronald Abitol

Christopher Dunham

1996

Nathaniel Spear

Geoffrey Buckley

William Gill

Eric Friedman

Daniel Flanagan

William Gross

Andrew Giacalone

John Foster

Sean Hagerty

Ferdinand Hengst

Warnick Bonsal

Rhett Irwin

Peter Hood

Alastair Kusack

William Burgess

David Ketner

Robert Hutchings

Damiso Richard

Burt Bush

Edward Kettaneh

Peter Hyde

Christopher Smith

John Coxhead

Robert Mayer

Charles Nadler

Richard Dalsemar

Peter Sachs

Jonathan Seiden

2001

William Davis

Robert Schappwer

Richard Selden

Thomas Cauchois

Jean de Chambrun

David Williams

1946 Bertram Fisher Michael Gerney

1951

Michael Duncan

1981

Hans Schleich

Guohao Ko Trent McRae

Paul Dunn

1966

Jason Anderson

Olu Rufen-Blanchette

William Echols

Steven Aleshire

John Banning

Peter Seltzer

Gordon Forbes

Lope Bello

Taylor Burr

Henry Grant

Kenneth Blye

Robert Halder

2006

Winston Guest

Christopher Bonner

James Hansen

Joel Gonzalez

Anthony Kettaneh

Michael Courtney

Omar Khan

Ross Mintz

William Kingsbury

George Hill

Sher Ali Khan

Derek Marlowe

Michael Kearns

Frank Ruscica

Peter Redfield

Eli Knight

Jose Revenga

Eric Lamont

1986

Samuel Riker

Jonathan Lee

Thomas Meacham

Timothy Scott

Michael Merrill

Romaine Ocotrad

William Sharp

Woodbury Perkins

Joshua Rooke-Ley

Robert Stewart

Thomas Shelburne

Gregory Stoner

David Vazquez

Vandiver Wolf

John Vietor Sebastian Von Ribbentrop Carnet Williams

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Please send Alumni News for the Lamplighter to alumni@allen-stevenson.org or call the Development Office at 212-606-0890.

1920s

WILLIAM EVERDELL ’29, a longtime resident of Old Brookville, NY, died September 3. A graduate of AllenStevenson, St. Paul’s School, Williams College (1937) and Yale Law School (1940), he joined the law firm of Debevoise and Plimpton in New York City as lawyer number 6 in 1940. He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve soon after Pearl Harbor, and earned seven battle stars, largely in the Pacific, before being mustered out a lieutenant commander in 1945 and rejoining Debevoise and Plimpton. He retired from the practice of law in 1988. His wife, Eleanore Darling, pre-deceased him and he leaves three children.

1940s

RUSSEL PATTERSON ’43 (patt10019@verizon.net) writes: “Alive and mostly well. Julie and I live in NYC and Vermont and visit with children in Los Altos, CA, Portland, OR, and Ithaca, NY. Travel regularly to Canada, Iceland, and France. Curious classmates who would be interested in a get-together might email me.”

assorted loonies. The original Hawaii Five-O ran from 1968 to 1980, making it one of television’s longest-running crime shows. It was seen in more than 80 countries. Mr. MacArthur left in 1979, saying that he wanted to pursue other acting challenges. When he was seven months old he was adopted by the celebrated actress Helen Hayes and her husband, Charles MacArthur, the playwright best known as the co-author, with Ben Hecht, of The Front Page. Mr. MacArthur is survived by his wife of more than 25 years, Helen Beth Duntz, four children and seven grandchildren.”

Never Sleeps. He reprises the infamous character of Gordon Gekko in this sequel to the original 1987 film, Wall Street.

Douglas also starred in A Solitary Man last summer, and received the Golden Icon Award for his life’s work.

GERRIT LIVINGSTON LANSING '57, of

1960s 1961: 50TH REUNION: Chair, DEAN SANBORN (n4229k@aol.com). In between traveling to air shows and races and enjoying his passion for aviation, Sanborn is tracking down classmates and getting the ball rolling for March 12 festivities for this major reunion. He asks classmates to contact him to reconnect.

JAMES MACARTHUR ’52, who played

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MICHAEL DOUGLAS ’59 stars in the new Oliver Stone movie, Wall Street: Money

PHIL PROCTOR ’55 (pplanet3@earthlink.net) writes: “I am presently on tour with the Firesign Theatre and the L.A. Guitar Quartet. I added 12 voices to the upcoming online Starwars supergame and a pilot for a new cable cartoon. And my grandson, Bowen, turned 2 in November!”

1950s

Danno, the boyish-looking but hard-driving sidekick on the long-running television detective show Hawaii Five-O died October 28 in Florida. He was 72. The obituary in the New York Times read: “For 11 of the 12 years that Hawaii FiveO first ran on CBS, Mr. MacArthur, as Detective Danny Williams, chased thieves, hit men, swindlers, spies and

brothers, David and Evan. If you wish to send condolences, contact sydielansing@mac.com

Greenwich, CT, and Northeast Harbor, ME, died peacefully on July 27th at the age of 68. After Allen-Stevenson, he attended the Lawrenceville School, Columbia University and New York University, where he received his Doctorate in Art History. A lifelong patron of the arts and extensive art collector, he was an author and expert in American Surrealism. He was Chairman of the Board of Independent Curators International (ICI) in New York City for 30 years. He thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid tennis and golf player. He leaves his wife of 40 years, Suydam (Sydie); sons, Gerrit Jr. and Sims; daughter-in-law Patricia; three grandchildren; and

JUSTIN KLEIN ’62 (kleinj@ballardspahr.com) continues to practice law at Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia.

Classmates WILLIAM WEST ’62 (wiliamkwest@gmail.com) and PETER LEWINE ’62 ran together in the Central Park Midnight Run on New Year’s Eve 2009. West came up from Philadelphia and Lewine lives in New York.

1966: 55TH REUNION: Reunion chair needed.

1970s

WYNN NEWHOUSE ’70 died March 5, 2010. In 2005, he established the Wynn Newhouse Awards, a program to give grants to talented fine artists having disabilities. The website, http://wnewhouseawards.com states: “As a young man, Wynn Newhouse lost functional use of one hand in an industrial accident. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in midlife. As he became increasingly constrained by MS, he learned about the negative perceptions that many persons have about people with disabilities. He set out to correct these false public impressions, and began several programs to nurture outstanding talents.” Wynn built guitars and loved '60s-'70s rock music. He also was an avid art collector.

1971: 40TH REUNION: Reunion chair needed.

EDWIN “NED” SOLOT ’78 dropped by

from Ohio; he is an NBA scout for the Portland Trailblazers.

NBC's DAN ABRAMS ’81, founder of Mediaite.com, and Dave Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men's Health, opened a restaurant, The Lion, on West 9th Street.

The new eatery features artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, high ceilings and a huge skylight in the backroom.

Allen-Stevenson on a recent trip to New York from his home in Los Angeles.

Ned and his wife live in Los Angeles with their two children. He got together with classmate Luis Ubinas ’78, President of the Ford Foundation.

1980s

Zach Braff of Scrubs fame starred in New York in a new off-Broadway play,

NICHOLAS KOTSONIS ’81 (nkotsonis@aol.com), owner of The Slope (a fitness center) in Park Slope, Brooklyn, came to the rescue of a local dance troupe by financing the group’s trip to Scotland for the Aberdeen Festival. The Daily News reported that: “The amateur teen troupe Dancewave won a slot last October [2009] to perform at the prestigious Aberdeen Festival -- the only American group invited to perform. To raise money for

JEFFREY BEERS ’71 (jgb812@aol.com) designed Todd English’s new brasserie, Ça Va, on West 44th Street; he also had a hand in the new Plaza Food Hall in the former Plaza Hotel for Todd English.

1976: THE 35TH REUNION CLASS is rumbling to life for a stellar turn out.

JOHN CARR, STEVE JUDSON, KEENE MILLER (flying up from Atlanta), BILL HANWAY (trying to plan a trip from his home in London), CHARLES ASHDOWN (coming in from Ohio), BAMBER MARSHALL, and STUART ROBINSON (Director of Athletics at SUNY New Paltz) are all hoping to come. ROBERT BURGE has created a class Facebook page and encourages classmates to join. RANDY SCHRADE continues to pursue his passion for music as a teacher and leader of the A-S orchestras. He will definitely be at the reunion. JOHN CARR just returned from nine days in Zimbabwe with his church, Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, finalizing a partnership with the Harare Synod. He described the trip as “life changing.”

Trust, by PAUL WEITZ ’80 (Brenda@depthoffield.biz) last August and September at the Second Stage Theatre. Primarily a director and writer of films (American Pie, About A Boy, and Antz), and sometimes in collaboration with his brother, Christopher Weitz ’84, Paul likes to keep his hand in playwriting as well. “I learned a tremendous amount from doing plays directed

by Mr. Kersey (Mister Roberts) and Mr. Landis (Of Mice and Men) at AllenStevenson. Part of what I like about doing plays is keeping a link to that time,” he said. When Braff missed the show for a short period, AllenStevenson alum and actor Charles Socarides ’92 stepped into his role.

1981: 30TH REUNION: EVAN GOLDFISCHER and ERIC ROTHSTEIN are starting to organize.

They would love help. LARRY GREER (larrygreer@trailblazers.com) said he would like to come back for the reunion

the trip, the scrappy teens pooled their baby-sitting cash, held benefit performances and asked friends and family for help. They were on their way to paying for the journey when a phony travel agent ripped them off. Kotsonis, a third-generation Park Slope businessman, pledged to donate $10,000 to the troupe if it could first raise $10,000 on its own.” They raised the money and traveled to Scotland.

JONATHAN BUSH ’84 (jbush@athenahealth.com) shared some of his views on health care economics in The New York Times in September.

Bush is the founder and chief of Athenahealth, a web service that helps doctors and other

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A L U M N I providers manage records, billing, and patient communications. The company is based outside of Boston.

CHARLES SCHENCK ’85 and his wife, Kimberly, had a son, Jackson Kendall Schenck, born July 18, 2009. He weighed 7 pounds and 9 ounces.

1986: 25TH REUNION: BROOKE CONNELL, CHRIS GOODMAN, LOUIS ROSE, and TONY WOODS are exploring locations for a great Friday night party, as well as Saturday festivities at the School.

CHRISTOPHER GOODMAN ’86

(Chris.Goodman@morganstanleypwm.co m) and his wife Julia, had a son, Henry, born May 14, 2010. He weighed 6 lbs 15 oz and was 19.75 inches long. Chris is currently an Executive Director in the Private Wealth Management group at Morgan Stanley.

JULIEN DOUGHERTY ’88 died suddenly on September 7, 2010. His obituary reads: “Beloved and loving husband of Devra Karlebach Dougherty, who survives him. He is also survived by his mother, Marie France Dougherty Manners, his father, Rush Dougherty, his extended family and close circle of friends. Julien was a successful entrepreneur and yachtsman, winning the 2008 Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Trophy for the Newport, RI, to Bermuda race. He will be remembered as a caring and generous man who always tried to do the right thing.”

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1990s 1991: 20TH REUNION: CHARLES ALLEN, VAN FURNISS, and JAMIE MAGID are gearing up. Allen is now living part-time in Arlington, VA. VAN FURNISS ’91 (rvfurniss@gmail.com) and wife, Sammantha Farkas Furniss, had a son, Henry, on October 21st. “All are home, healthy and hungry." Van just graduated last May with an MBA from NYU. CHARLES SOCARIDES ’92 (csocarides@yahoo.com) (2006 Tony-winning Awake and Sing!) performed in Letters to the End of the World by the At Hand Theatre Company last May. Written and directed by Anton Dudley, the play tells the story of “how a revealing article about the African AIDS crisis, buried deep in the pages of a fashion magazine, leads a young gay man in New York City to form an unexpected correspondence with a woman in Zambia. The friendship takes him halfway around the world to discover that Africa is much closer to his heart than he thinks.”

Suanne and ANTHONY BONAN ’93 (anthony_bonan@hotmail.com) had a son, Sean, on December 15, 2009. They are living in Brooklyn, and Anthony is working as General Counsel at Cremac Asset Management.

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL ’93 (alexander.campbell@lw.com) graduated from Columbia University with a Masters of Science in Information and Digital Resource Management last May. He is engaged to Laura Gutierrez.

TAYLOR GRANT ’93 (wtaylorgrant@gmail.com) writes: “I am getting out of the Navy in January '11 and will have almost 11 years of service at that time. I have been a pilot since grad-

uating from University of Virginia in 2000, but am ‘flying a desk’ right now (i.e. not flying) for my last year in the Navy. I'm also on track to earn my MBA from Wharton in May '11, and plan to work in Finance (in New York) after the Navy.”

1996: 15TH REUNION: CHRIS HAMILTON, TRISTAN HOWARD (tristis10@hotmail.com) and LIAM MILLHISER (liammillhiser@gmail.com) are mobilizing for reunion plans and welcome help.

CHRIS HAMILTON ’96 (chris.hamilton@gmail.com) just moved back to New York and would like to reconnect with classmates.

SEAN DURKIN ’97 is directing his first feature film Martha Mary May Marlene. It was filmed on a farm in Sullivan County, New York. Durkin won an award for a short film at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

JAISON CORREA-SPAIN ’97 (jspain@allen-stevenson.org) and CLARENCE FRUSTER '97 (jah13c13@gmail.com) just released an album of 5 singles on iTunes from their band Jah C & The Antidote's The Life EP. They played recently at Backstage Bar in NYC's Soho.

MATTHEW FERRARO ’97 (matthewferraro@gmail.com) writes: "I now live and work in Washington, DC, and send all my best to everyone back at Allen-Stevenson."

FRED ISQUITH ’97 (ftisquith@lshllp.com) graduated from Syracuse with a JD/MPA, moved back to New York, passed the bar and is now practicing law at Lovell Stewart Halebrian LLP specializing in anti-trust and securities fraud.

NICHOLAS HOGE ’98 has joined his mother, Olivia Hoge, as a real estate broker at Sotheby's International Realty in New York City.

Together the two are working with

clients from around the world who are looking to buy, sell, or rent property all over Manhattan. Nick can be reached at Nick.Hoge@sothebyshomes.com. He sends warm regards to his AllenStevenson friends and faculty.

REED KATZ ’03

ALEXANDER BRASH '99

(a.reed.katz@gmail.com) received his BA from Bucknell last May. He graduated with a double Major and a Minor in Classics. He is living in New York.

JUSTIN PETTRESS ’04 (brash@post.harvard.edu) married Armen Gemdjian in New York City on October 2nd. They traveled on their three week honeymoon to Egypt, Dubai and the Maldives, including a tour of the ancient sites in Aswan, Luxor, and Abu Simbel.

Alexander is working at American Express in New York City and his wife is at Deutsche Bank.

JESSE NAGLE ’99 (jessenag@gmail.com) just moved from Vermont to Nevada. He is skiing and welcomes any classmates passing through to join him on the slopes.

2000s

ETIENNE VAZQUEZ ’00 (etienne.j.vazquez@gmail.com) and his long time partner, Sarah Ortiz-Elejalde, were married in a small intimate setting on the night of December 31, 2009.

Following the recent marriage, Etienne and Sarah have relocated to St. John’s Wood in London. Etienne is currently working at a start up investment firm, while his wife Sarah continues to work as a caregiver while pursuing the field of early childhood education.

2001: 10TH REUNION: WILL MILNE (wemilne@gmail.com) is coming back from Pennsylvania for the reunion and working with PATRICK BLAUNER, MICHAEL MELNITZKY and BEN ROSS to start alerting classmates to reunion plans.

with French horn, flute and piano.

Rucinski, a flutist and piccolo player in the ISO (InterSchool Orchestras) Symphony, also performed in the world premiere of composer Glen Roven’s Goodnight Moon, a Lullaby for Piano and Orchestra, his musical reimagining of Margaret Wise Brown's 1947 book and Mr. Roven’s The Runaway Bunny: A Concerto for Reader, Violin and Orchestra, based on Ms. Brown’s 1942 book. The ISO Symphony recorded the two Roven pieces for a CD in honor of Margaret Wise Brown’s centennial.

HENRY GONZALEZ ’08, who is a senior at The Stony Brook School, portrayed Autolycus in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.

THEOPHILUS AGBI ’08 (tagbi@exeter.edu) is spending a fall term abroad in Grenoble, France, and writes, "I am getting to visit lots of monuments and places. Grenoble is surrounded by mountains."

AUGUSTUS JONES ’09

(dreemzdenim@yahoo.com) strolled by Allen-Stevenson and shared his plans to open a fashion gallery on Lafayette and Bond Streets in the spring. After leaving A-S, Justin attended parochial school and then moved to Japan. He studied fashion there and has been designing denims and styling for magazines and fashion shows recently. He is interested to reconnect with classmates and alumni in the fashion world.

CHRISTOPHER SCHRADE-JAMES ’05 (virus1o1@aol.com) performed a cello work by Schumann, accompanied by his mother, Robelyn Schrade-James, on the piano, at Carnegie-Weill Hall, in November.

2006: 5TH REUNION: ERIC ROSAS ’06 (erosas@colgate.edu) is starting some planning from his Colgate dorm. Email him if you would like to help, please.

JAMES RUCINSKI ’07 (jamie@attglobal.net) was invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Winter Harbor Music Festival last summer. The festival is mostly professional adult musicians, but includes some students. He played Rudolf Tillmetz’ Nocturne Op. 3`1, Trio

attends Eton in England where he is playing rugby. The family moved to Oxford in 2002.

IN MEMORIAM We are saddened to report that these alumni passed away recently.

William Everdell ’29 Henry Miller ’31 Howland Jones, Jr. ’34 Dr. Thomas H. Reynolds ’35 Alexander Robert Fowler ’36 John B. Forbes ’51 James MacArthur ’52 John E. Laskin ’54 Gerrit Lansing ’57 Wynn Newhouse ’70 Julien Dougherty ’88

THE LAMPLIGHTER WILL NOW HIGHLIGHT FACULTY AND STAFF INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF ALLEN-STEVENSON.

)#.(/+- &*")%,(01%$(& LOWER SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER Robelyn Schrade-James gave a piano recital at Carnegie-Weill Hall on November 21.

Robelyn has always felt that practicing is a form of prayer and that sharing music with friends is like celebrating Thanksgiving together.

Robelyn Schrade-James

&2&%--% "%)3##, )2.4-

Susanna Rubin’s Finding Beauty blog

ART TEACHER Susanna Rubin has been writing a weekly column called "Finding Beauty" for the online publication SocialWorkout.com. Her column explores the idea of beauty through the practices of Art & Yoga. Please visit http://blog.socialworkout.com/users/susanna-harwood-rubin

!"#$%& '()*"#!

INSTRUMENTAL INSTRUCTOR Thomas Verchot performed with the Ostravska Banda, a new music ensemble from the Czech Republic, at the Archa Theater in Prague this past June. In August, he played 2 performances of Dvorak's Rusalka with Opera Slavica at the Czech Cultural Center in New York. In October he played with the Orchestra of St. Ignatius Loyola in a performance of Handel's oratorio, Jephtha, and toured with the Ostravska Banda, performing at the Minoriten Culture Center in Graz Austria and the Vredenberg Music Center in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Tom Verchot

&!%*+ ,#-#'%-

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Stacy Donovan is the Artistic Director and founder of a theatre company called The Improbable Stage Company (www.improbablestage.org). The Improbable Stage Company is a multigenerational, ensemble-based theatre company that is dedicated to creating new work through a non-hierarchical, collaborative process.

The Company is steadfast in its desire to include, mentor, and support theatre artists based solely upon their desire and artistic vision. The Company has a permanent residency at the IRT Theater in the West Village, where its next show will be performed in May 2011. Stacy is also running a movement workshop for artists and non-artists at the Manhattan Theatre Club Studios.

Stacy Donovan

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A contribution to ALLEN-STEVENSON is an investment

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ŶĚŽǁŵĞŶƚ ;ϲͬϯϬͬϮϬϭϬͿ

Ψϭϲ͘ϳ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ

&ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů ŝĚ dŽƚĂů ƵĚŐĞƚ ǀĞƌĂŐĞ 'ƌĂŶƚ

Ψϭ͘ϴ ŵŝůůŝŽŶ ΨϯϬ͕ϬϮϴ

ŶŶƵĂů &ƵŶĚ ϮϬϬϵͲϮϬϭϬ dŽƚĂů ZĂŝƐĞĚ ϮϬϭϬͲϮϬϭϭ 'ŽĂů WĂƌĞŶƚ WĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ϬϵͲϭϬ WĂƌĞŶƚ WĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ 'ŽĂů ϭϬͲϭϭ ůƵŵŶŝ WĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ ϬϵͲϭϬ ůƵŵŶŝ WĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ 'ŽĂů ϭϬͲϭϭ

ΨϮ͕ϭϭϱ͕ϭϮϴ ΨϮ͘Ϯ DŝůůŝŽŶ ϵϴй ϭϬϬй ϭϴй ϮϬй

dŽ ŵĂŬĞ Ă ŐŝŌ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ŐŽ ƚŽ ǁǁǁ͘ĂůůĞŶͲƐƚĞǀĞŶƐŽŶ͘ŽƌŐ Žƌ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĐůŽƐĞĚ ĞŶǀĞůŽƉĞ͘

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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

SAVE THE DATE MARCH 11-12, 2011 All alumni are invited to the 2011 alumni reunion weekend.

Classes celebrating milestone reunions are: 1931 1936 1941 1946 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 Mark your calendar now for a weekend full of events, including: • Class parties • Gilbert & Sullivan rehearsal • Open House & student-led tours • Cocktail reception & buffet dinner Special events this year: • Desmond Cole Honorary Reservoir Run • Alumni Kickball, Basketball & Dodgeball Games • Celebration of Athletics For details or to help, contact Monique Lowitt, alumni director, mlowitt@allen-stevenson.org or 212-933-5240