Lamplighter Winter 2012

LAMPLIGHTER

the allen-stevenson school magazine

winter 2012

THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL

LEADERSHIP 2012-2013 BoarD oF trUstees

Ronald S. Rolfe ‘60, President Thomas H. Lister, Vice President and Treasurer Joshua Harris, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer Lisa Pagliaro Selz, Secretary David R. Trower h’95, Headmaster Dana B. Cowin Alexander G. Gellert ‘79 Mark I. Greene Peter B. Kellner ‘84 Michael S. Klein David H. Koch Daniel Lascano Paul A. Leff Pablo G. Legorreta Amanda D. Lister* Dang T. Phan Amy L. Robbins Alexander Roepers Suellyn Preston Scull Daniel H. Stern Alexandra Wallace Simon D. Wasserberger ‘85* Leonard A. Wilf Shiuan Wu * member ex officio

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

alUmni coUncil

Simon D. Wasserberger ’85, President James A. Magid ’91, Vice President Colin McCabe ’90, Vice President Christopher Persley ’88, Vice President

Ian Adler ’87 Theodore D. Agbi ’10 Charles W. Allen ’91 Basil L. Anderson ’08 Andrew R. Arias ’92 Zach T. Axelrod ’95 Neil E. Bader ’79 Jackson Baker ’13 Anthony P. Bonan ’93 Pierre A. Bonan ’89 Robert B. Buehler ’78 Robert D. Burge ’76* Alfred P. Burger ’87 Andrew A. Burger ’59 John T. Carr III ’76 Erik A. Cliette ’81 Brooke B. Connell ’86 Adam J. P. Donaldson ’05 Maurice F. 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 S. Goodman ’86 Michael H. Grady ’91 Christopher J. Hallows ’87 Christopher W. Hamilton ’96 Schuyler Havens ’88 Michael W. Hedges Jr. ’77 John C. Henry Jr. ’84 Cannon Lyell Hersey ’92 John B. Hersey ’09 David W. Herzberg ’89 David R. Hirschfeld ’99 Patrick D. R. Horan ’85 Tristan Howard ’96 C. Andrew Hughes ’98 Alex A. Ingram ’03 Andrew A. Janko ’95 Jasper H. Jarecki ’12 Clinton V. P. Johnson ’79 Timothy Johnson ’04 Stephen H. Judson ’76 William H. Judson ’78 A. Reed Katz ’03 Cameron A. Koffman ’12 Kenneth LaFreniere ’90 Dean I. Landis ’78* Teddy Landis ’13 Ethan A. Leff ’11 Hale Macdonald ’13 Paul J. Mancuso ’03 Timothy C. McCabe ’94 Kenneth J. McCauley ’93 Alex Melnitzky ’02 Liam R. Millhiser ’96 Ross R. Millhiser IV ’94 Max Morris ’13 Richard C. Perry ’70* Vincent Peterson ’74

Philip N. Pilmar ’01 Roger Raines ’80 Harlan Reinhardt ’83 Marc N. Rice ’84 Ronald S. Rolfe ’60* Eric Rosas ’06 Berton Rose ’97 John Rose ’90 Louis Rose ’86* Henry J. Rosenwach ’04 Eric E. Rothstein ’81* Dean E. Sanborn ’61 Alessandro M. Santoro ’07 Bradley Saveth ’04 Matthew Schnitzer ’13 Randolph R. A. Schrade ’76 Yoshiki Shimada ’75 Alexander B. Shipper ’02 Denton A. Smith ’94 Wesley Stanton ’92 Jake Taub ’12 Khalid A. Taylor ’10 Michael Tiedemann ’86 Andrew W. Vogelstein ’81 Noel E. Volpe ’85 Alexander von Furstenberg ’85 Mark Wasserberger ’82 Matthew Wayland ’13 Michael Weiss ’02 Dewey S. Wigod ’77 Hans L. Wydler ’81 Clifton G. York ’78 Andrew E. Zimmerman ’00 Thomas Zipser ’99 *president emeritus

Parents association

Amanda Lister, President Heather Khazaneh, Vice President Vivian Queen, Treasurer Paula Simmons, Corresponding Secretary Samantha Marvin, Communications Secretary Linda Barnett, Advisory Constance Cornish, Advisory Suzanne Freind, Advisory Susan Morgenstein, Advisory Cristina Roig Morris, Advisory Alix O’Mara, Advisory Lisa Pagliaro Selz, Advisory Shiuan Wu, 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 Winnie Barnes, Coordinator for Learning and Planning Casper Caldarola, Director of Communications; Co-director Community Life + Diversity Michelle Demko, Music Department Head Ronnie R. Jankoff, Director of Admissions Glenn Lieberman, Director of Technology Anne Russo Meyer, Director of Learning Resources Mary Richter, Director of Development C. Harris Stein, Business Manager

L

A

M

P

L

I

G

H

T

E

R

THE ALLEN-STEVENSON SCHOOL MAGAZINE WINTER 2012

Table of Contents Director of Communications CASPER CALDAROLA

Associate Director of Communications SARAH WOODS

Contributing Writers

WINNIE BARNES STACY DONOVAN PETER HAARMANN JEFFREY HERSCHENHOUS ANTHONY KAPP AMANDA LISTER CAROL MAHIDA BENJAMIN NEULANDER ROBELYN SCHRADE-JAMES KIM SKLOW DAVID R. TROWER H’95 STEPHEN WARNER

Editors

JEAN MCCAULEY SARI NADLER MARY RICHTER

In this issue Headmaster’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Cover Story: Leadership Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Welcome New Members of our Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Closing Exercises 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Ongoing Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

In every issue

Making a Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 A-S News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Around A-S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Alumni Event and News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Did You Know? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Photographers

TERI BLOOM NANCY MITCHELL AL PEREIRA LISA MELONI RAGUSA

Cover photograph of Community Life + Diversity’s Welcome Dinner and Game Night for all Allen-Stevenson families. Photo by Lisa Meloni Ragusa Back cover of fifth graders presenting their World Food Day project. Photo by Nancy Mitchell

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.

Our sincere apologies to the following donors, who were inaccurately recognized in the 2011-2012 Annual Report of Gifts. We take this opportunity to extend thanks to them for their support.

In honor of Ms. Susan Etess, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Green Class of 1962, Mr. Kenneth D. Schlechter '62 Eighth Grade, Ms. Marci Waterman

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

HEADMASTER’S Message

…Ultimately, we encourage boys to move through life strongly and rightly – with confidence, knowledge, enthusiasm, resilience, and respect for all. ~ from Allen-Stevenson’s Mission Statement

This issue of our Lamplighter features articles on the topic of leadership. The emphasis here is the educational process by which Allen-Stevenson develops confident young leaders through opportunities for speaking, presenting and performing. Instances are taken from academics, athletics and the arts— the three essential domains that offer every boy many different ways to be successful at school. It’s as much about practice for the future as about preparation for it. In preparing this message, I reviewed several writers whose work on the topic I most admire—among them Stephen R. Covey, Peter Drucker, Charles Handy and John Kotter. However, I could not help but notice that many of today’s most astute observers stress complexity as the most significant difficulty for future leaders. They suggest that “business as usual” will simply not work in solving the future’s complex, even intractable dilemmas. Complexity demands that leaders be creative. A study by IBM two years ago polled 1,541 CEOs, general managers and senior public sector leaders from 60 countries and across 33 industries. They pointed to creativity as the most important leadership quality for the future. As the blogger George Ambler, whose work I follow, writes, “Standouts practice and encourage experimentation and innovation throughout their organizations. Creative leaders…take more calculated risks, find new ideas and keep innovating in how they lead and communicate.” Ambler quotes the IBM survey: “Creativity is often defined as the ability to bring into existence something new or different…. In addition, this requires bold, breakthrough thinking…. Traditional approaches to managing organizations need fresh ideas, ideas that are intended to disrupt the status quo.”

Headmaster Trower is visited by Allen-Stevenson’s future leaders.

So how do we prepare Allen-Stevenson boys to meet these challenges? One answer is that we offer multiple opportunities to speak, present and perform over all ten years a boy may be a student here. These challenges reflect a variety of situations and audiences, and they afford many different opportunities to practice these skills. Our philosophy is embedded in the School’s Mission Statement, and our approach is to engage the boys vigorously in their learning. While reading the articles for this issue, it occurred to me that the qualities I most respect in other leaders are actually listed in the Allen-Stevenson Code. The Code is posted in most classrooms, associated with a word for each month, and embedded in the floor of the Main Hallway. As you may already know, it asserts, “at allen-stevenson we inspire boys to become—thoughtful, responsible, generous, respectful, studious, enthusiastic, Determined,

creative, good.” Therefore, I would insist that the School’s approach to developing confident young leaders is truly grounded in our values and then instilled every day we teach our students. Thanks to all who have prepared the fine articles in this Lamplighter. Please enjoy this special issue. Fortiter et Recte!

David R. Trower Headmaster

L

A M P L I G H T E R

5

growing allen-stevenson leaders lower school Plants seeDs

UnDerstanDing leaDershiP QUalities in thirD graDe Stephen Warner, Assistant Head of the Lower School

At the beginning of each year, we gather the third graders

together in the Town Center and anoint them the leaders of the Lower School. Many of them smile widely as they now

bask in this new position that many of them have aspired to hold since Kindergarten. For some, these smiles may be because they know that the third graders get to stand

before the audience, with the much coveted microphone, at each weekly Assembly and introduce the presenters.

For others, the joy comes from knowing that they get to ride the elevator to the Dining Room and deliver the healthy

snack to the rest of the Lower School classes. Or, perhaps

for some they are looking forward to the opportunity to use

the Town Center during Recess for a game of Four Square or

Kindergarteners begin their Leadership Journey in their First Play

Nok Hockey. For a number of boys, the power and perks

that come with being “in charge” are certainly foremost on their minds.

It is at this point in the conversation that we attempt to shift the conversation away from the perks of being a leader to defining what are the characteristics of effective and

admirable leaders in their lives. We ask the boys to think of

words that will describe the type of leader they want to be at Allen-Stevenson during their “senior” year of Lower School. This year, the first boy to share said that he wanted to be a leader who “led by example.” When asked to explain this

more he said, “when I see a first grader running in the halls continued on the next page

Third Graders take the Floor The Cast of Mr. America

I will stop him and, without yelling, explain to him why he

should not run because if I just yell at him he won’t under-

stand why.” Another boy said he wanted to be a leader who

helped others to do better. He mentioned being particularly

good at math and wanting to help others who might be struggling to understand it. Another boy said he wanted to be a

leader who “helped younger boys feel better.” He went on to describe how he saw a younger boy crying and when he asked the boy why he was crying the boy said he did not

know why. This empathetic third grade leader responded by saying, “I cry sometimes and do not always know why, so

don’t worry you will feel better.” We certainly are fortunate to have such thoughtful and compassionate leaders who take their roles seriously.

Lastly, we talked about one of the most widely anticipated events of the third grade year, The Mr. America Pageant, which showcases much of the work the boys have done during the year in Social Studies, Art, Dance and Music.

Beginning in Kindergarten, boys take part in class plays or

presentations in which they have an opportunity to memorize lines and songs to perform in front of a few hundred of their peers, teachers, and parents. Each year the class presentations demand a bit more and it all culminates in The Mr.

America Pageant which takes weeks of rehearsals in which

Robelyn Schrade-James with the Third Grade Ensemble

PerForming live

Robelyn Schrade-James, Lower School Music Teacher

boys officially learn how to “stage” the show, choreograph an

There is no delete or return key, and no cut and paste technology,

time), deliver increasingly complex lines which they write, and

us to be self-conscious, and to think ahead in order to express

elaborate dance, perform songs (some with solos for the first

create their own elaborate costumes. It certainly is amazing to watch these boys perform so comfortably and ably on stage.

As you can see, there are certainly many perks that come with being the leaders of the Lower School.

when one is speaking or performing. Public presentations force

ourselves with long-term organization and short-term precision.

The term “self-conscious” is often used negatively, with people

worried that public presentations whether oral, theatrical,

musical, among many other forms, will make children self-

conscious. Actually, to be truly conscious of oneself, and what we are saying and doing, is an excellent beginning.

One is humbled by the realization that fifty, one hundred or ten

thousand people may be witnesses to any number of things

that may go wrong. Some call this fear!

One is exhilarated to an almost super human energy level, with neurotransmitters firing and circulation surging due to the

extreme focus demanded by public presentation, and rewarded by the thrill of audience response. Some call this nervousness! Whether one calls it fear or nervousness, or humility and

exhilaration, a human being grows and is strengthened beyond

measure with every performance opportunity, and every Allen-

Stevenson boy is offered a wealth of these opportunities. Third Grader MCs at Assembly

L

A M P L I G H T E R

7

growing allen-stevenson leaders miDDle school sProUts PossiBilities

national Book week aUthor interviews

Peter Haarmann, Middle School English Teacher National Book Week occurs each November and Allen-

Stevenson has dedicated itself to celebrating the wonder of words and books in so many ways. From visits from

award-winning authors to school-wide D.E.A.R. sessions,

from the thrilling daily passage challenges to the discovery

of the Mystery Reader, this is a week that is a highlight of the school year. The Sixth Grade has always been at the

forefront of this annual celebration and for the past three years has staged a series of Author Interviews during the course of the week. This project utilizes a myriad of

approaches and skills, and taps into a student's developing mastery in the areas of research, writing and public pre-

sentation. The ultimate goal is to enhance the confidence level in these three important areas. Interestingly enough

the word confidence derives from the word confide meaning to have or show faith and trust…as in a friend. The word confidence is defined as trust and reliance and a

sense of self-assurance leading to a state of trust and intimacy. Therein lies the most important goal of this special project. We endeavor to foster a climate where each boy

based on the most critical, interesting information unearthed from the

learned with confidence. In an environment of collegiality

chosen author's life that has direct bearing on their becoming a writer. A

sent his work publicly.

opt to film themselves during this phase to not only critique the accuracy of

dares to confide in his peers and then share what he has and support no boy need fear when it is his turn to pre-

research. Students are urged to keep their eyes open for the aspects of their

script is developed and rehearsal of the interview begins. Oftentimes pairs their information and to revise the interview accordingly, but to evaluate

The Author project begins with a discussion of the

their ability to speak effectively in front of an audience. When all is in place

needed to create interesting characters, place them in a

setting reminiscent of a television studio replete with comfortable chairs,

importance of books and the talent and perseverance

specific location and craft a story to share with a world-

wide audience. At this point students recall certain books, poems, fables and the like they have been drawn to and they create a list of the authors responsible for these

works of literature. From this list the boys are asked to do

Step Three begins. The interviews are now presented in a newly created imaginative backdrops, table lamps and refreshing fruits and drinks to

create an ambience of calm and serenity. The members of the class serve both as the audience and as the review board when the interview is com-

pleted. Using a pre-designed rubric there is a lively discussion of the positive aspects of the presentation and the areas where some improvement

some cursory research on a few of these people in hopes

may be needed. When the interviews are ended each student has been

chord with them. Once an author has been chosen the

nary way to spend a school week and another example of Allen-

of locating one whose life and accomplishments strikes a

boys are partnered and the more directed research phase begins. Step Two is the writing of the actual interview

6

Luis Gruson ’15 interviews Connor Bird ’15

WIN TER

2 0 1 2

offered a fair and helpful assessment of his work. All in all an extraordiStevenson’s unremitting commitment to ensuring boys develop the necessary confidence to excel in the future.

in the theatre

Stacy A. Donovan, Technical Director

I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit. John F. Kennedy

On the surface, the theatre arts at Allen-Stevenson are integral

Second, creating theatre requires collaboration and humility.

No work of theatre can be created by a single human being

alone. Allen-Stevenson boys learn the importance of collaboration

through the theatre program. Because students understand that they are in a safe place to express their ideas, they can

actively participate in the creative process knowing that their

thoughts will be heard and considered by the faculty and their peers. They also learn humility as some ideas are chosen and

others are not because everything is in the service of the play.

to creating young men who are comfortable speaking in public

Our technical theatre students take that a step further, learning

larger audience. The theatre does all of this; however, underly-

do not receive grand applause. The tech crew knows that if they

and presenting their ideas to an audience of their peers or to a ing that, and perhaps even more important, the theatre is an outlet for young men to find confidence in their own unique perspective, to discover their own individual human spirit.

The theatre does this in two distinct and important ways. First,

good theatre requires risk taking. No great work of art was ever

that there is dignity and majesty in a job well done even if you have done their job well, no one even knows they are there.

Actors and technicians learn to consider well the thoughts of

others as they draw their own conclusions, and they learn to put the work of art above the desire to be in the limelight.

This humility will be particularly important as our students grow

created by playing it safe. The theatre program at Allen-

into our future leaders. Given the complex world in which we

take a leap into one’s imagination. There are no wrong

an imaginative risk in developing solutions to the world’s prob-

rehearsal process and the technical theatre program, our stu-

group of people as they put the needs of the whole community

Stevenson provides a safe place to explore, to question, to answers in creating a theatrical work of art, and through the

live and the global issues we face, we need leaders who will take

lems, and we will need leaders who can work with a diverse

dents know that they are free to express their ideas as we all

above their desire to be right or to be in the spotlight. The the-

our theatre pieces.

these kinds of life lessons, and some pretty good theatre as well.

work collaboratively to find the best choice to make in creating

H.M.S. Pinafore

atre program at Allen-Stevenson provides this kind of education,

L

The Tech Crew A M P L I G H T E R

9

growing allen-stevenson leaders monDay morning meeting Benjamin Neulander,

Assistant Head of the Middle School Every Monday morning, the entire Middle

and Upper School student body meets for an assembly. There might be a special speaker, a performance by an outside entertainer, a

presentation on a topic important to the

development of A-S boys, or even a competition allowing boys to demonstrate their knowledge of different subjects such as

spelling or geography. These meetings offer

a wide range of opportunities for boys to

develop their leadership skills, an important

aspect to becoming an Allen-Stevenson boy. Monday Morning Meeting has its roots in

Chapel, which was a time when boys, faculty,

Middle School Geo Bowl

and staff came together to sing hymns and

to perform for a group. We have had boys struggle through a piece, encouraged by their peers

ings. Meetings in this format continued until

brought the audience to its feet with an outstanding performance, and everything in between.

the Lord’s Prayer and recite responsive readthe 80’s and were run by faculty and staff.

and Mrs. Schrade-James to stick with the music and see it through to the end, boys who have

These performances allow these boys to be leaders of the instrumental program by demonstrat-

Today, however, the religious overtones

ing the dedication, hard work, passion, and commitment necessary to be successful.

accomplishments of the members of the

Annual academic competitions, such as the Middle and Upper School Speech Contests, the

students to faculty and staff, to alumni, are

academic realm. Boys learn in different ways and find some subjects easier than others. These

have given way to an atmosphere where the Allen-Stevenson community, from current celebrated. With the focus on the people

who make Allen-Stevenson what it is today, Monday Morning Meeting provides boys

Academic Bowl, the Spelling Bee and the Geo Bowl, also offer boys a chance to be leaders in the competitions give boys with specific skill sets a chance to shine and show others different forms that academic success can take. While there is no particular preparation that ensures they get a

chance to participate and excel in these events, many boys take it upon themselves to go above

many ways to be leaders.

and beyond in particular fields so they can lead their teams. For example, in the Geo Bowl,

Most Monday Morning Meetings are opened

during their free time, pouring over maps to learn these capitals. Occasionally, this round ends

by a Ninth Grade Master of Ceremonies. The MC introduces the music that begins each

meeting. He then introduces the speaker or presenter for that meeting, and draws the

meeting to a close at the end. He serves as a role model for the other boys by showing them how to lead an assembly.

As many Monday Morning Meetings begin

with music, there are myriad opportunities

for boys to lead by example in terms of how

8

WIN TER

2 0 1 2

there is a section where two boys go head-to-head naming world capitals. Boys can be seen,

in a tie because boys have worked so hard at this. Additionally, many of these events put the older boys in as captains of their teams. They gather the boys ahead of time to give assign-

ments, set their rosters, and prepare the other members of their team as best as possible. These boys are the ones who provide the final answers to the judges on the day of the competition.

Almost every Monday of the school year, the spotlight shines brightly on at least one, if not

many more current A-S boys. They lead by action and they lead by example. Some boys thrive in that spotlight and some grow into it over time, but for any boy who finds himself up in front of over 200 of his peers and teachers, Monday Morning Meeting is a place where AllenStevenson boys get to demonstrate what leadership can look like.

UPPer school Blossoms with oPPortUnities DeBates ProviDe mUlti-FaceteD learning Jeffrey Herschenhous, Upper School Science Teacher

Differences of opinion exist everywhere, and passionate feelings

choice, but they decided to do it by a random selection from a hat.

winter of 2011 – 2012 our ninth graders indicated their interest

so they would have known which side of the issue to prepare for,

are associated with some very controversial topics. During the in examining some issues that relate to biology. Among them were evolution, abortion, stem cell research, and euthanasia.

The boys felt that it would be a good experience to discuss these topics and chose to do it via a series of formal debates.

They could have assigned pro and con positions before debate day

but chose, instead, to require each boy to prepare for both sides of

the issue. The assignment of the pro and con positions was decided on the day of the debate by the flip of a coin.

There was one debate each day for a week, and members of the

The boys made a list of many issues and narrowed them down to

Allen-Stevenson faculty and administration judged the boys. Each

cluded that it was necessary for them to do the following: deter-

lowed by a rebuttal and then a summary. Because of the quality of

those listed above. They thought about their mission and con-

mine the format, develop a rubric, establish rules, and define the method of preparation for the debates. The rubric included four

debate consisted of an opening statement about the resolution folthe presentations, the judges did not have an easy time deciding the winners, and the boys were left with a feeling of respect for

criteria on which they would be judged: organization, argumenta-

both sides of each topic. Judges were given the opportunity to

for them to make decisions in this process that would have made

exposed to new and sometimes unique views of their topics.

tion, rebuttal, and presentation. It would have been very simple their workload light. Needless to say, I was very proud of them

make comments at the end of each debate, and the boys were

Debating provided an opportunity for the boys to use the critical

for their mature approach to decision making. A reduced effort

thinking skills of analysis and evaluation while requiring them to

nately, the boys always decided on procedures that enhanced

the opposition. This project was a rewarding experience for every-

selves. They could have assigned topics based on personal

again this year.

would have made the debates less than stimulating, and fortu-

the quality of the debates, while creating more work for them-

“think on their feet” as they responded to arguments presented by

one involved and plans presently exist to schedule the debates

The Debate Team 2011-12

L

A M P L I G H T E R

11

growing allen-stevenson leaders civil rights wax mUseUm

Kim Sklow, Upper School History Teacher In the spring of 2012, the seventh grade boys embarked on a

journey to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement. Over

the course of several weeks, the boys researched the time peri-

od that enabled them to partake in a number of assignments. They wrote Found Poems about segregation in post-Civil War

America and papered the Upper School town center with their own creation of Jim Crow posters.

The unit culminated with the boys studying one historical charMr. Kersey listens to Bryan Nicholson ’14

acter from the movement in greater depth. They collected

research information that helped them develop a portrait of

their character. They determined where they were born, what

their childhood was like, their economic situation, how far their character had gone in school and their role in the Civil Rights

Movement. All of this allowed them to participate in a roundtable discussion that pitted adversaries from the time period

against one another and allowed them to become their chosen

figure in a Living Wax Museum presentation. During the Wax

Museum the boys began with a short speech, which focused on their role during this difficult time in American history, then responded to questions from their viewers. The boys were

encouraged to use props and costumes to help make their character more believable and to enhance their performance. Alexander Gellert ’14 as Orval Faubus

The debates along with this emulation exercise forced many

boys to step into the role of a person of different ethnicity, race and or gender. In the end, it gave the boys an opportunity to

learn about an important period of U.S. history and also provid-

ed them with an opportunity to build leadership skills and confidence. What was most impressive was their ability to convince

adults, many of whom were strangers, that they were credible,

even impressive versions of Dr. King, John Lewis, or Orval Faubus.

Any time boys perform for others, particularly adults and

strangers, on the stage or in situations like the Civil Rights Wax

Museum, it gives them the confidence that they can do it again

in more challenging situations. Elijah McNally ’14 as Rosa Parks

10

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

the mockingBirD monologUes Carol Mahida, Upper School English Teacher

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” ~To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite novels. I love

complaining stopped and slowly everyone was coming on board. The questions about why are we doing this were replaced by, “Can I have props on stage with me while I perform?” As the performance day

began to get closer, I teamed up with Stacy Donovan to help me teach the novel so much because I want Atticus Finch as a father, the writing the boys how to perform a monologue, and combat any nervousness is beautiful, I gain something new each time I read it, and Atticus’ and anxiety about performing head on. message of empathy to his children is timeless. When I was in graduate school, I remember a professor telling us to be cautious about teach-

On performance day, the boys were dressed up as characters from the

ing the novels that we personally love as readers and writers. Doing

novel. One by one students stood in front of the class to perform their

novels that we’ve studied, that we’ve bought in hardcover (and in sev-

cheered enthusiastically after each performance. I was moved by the

so, she said, can be heartbreaking when our students “don’t like” the eral different editions), that we’ve named our animals after, and that we got tattooed.

When I decided to teach To Kill a Mockingbird two years ago to my first seventh grade class, I definitely heard my professor cautioning

me. What if the language is too difficult? Will I have to read most of the story aloud for them to understand what’s going on? Do the stu-

dents know anything about the post-Civil War American South? How is this story relatable to boys growing up in New York in the 21st century? Reflecting back on my first year teaching this novel, there were

definitely many more cons than there were pros, but I wanted to at least try.

monologue. (Many had their monologue memorized!) The class

monologues because they eloquently and beautifully captured

Mayella’s loneliness, Tom’s desire to be free, and Atticus’ sense of duty

and accountability. I remember saying to myself, “They get it!” My 12-

13 year old students understood the major themes that ran throughout

the novel. As a teacher trying this for the first time and not knowing

what to expect, my heart swelled for those who I knew struggled

throughout the process. Why? Because I saw students transform in

front of me. They shook off their nerves, “climbed into someone else’s

skin,” walked around a bit, and gave an amazing monologue in front of 20 of their classmates and teachers.

The Mockingbird Monologues emphasized the need to be empathetic

to others, to stand up for what they believe in, and to put themselves I knew starting this new unit that I wanted the boys to ultimately write out there. and perform an original monologue from the perspective of a character in the novel. Students would have to go back to the text to find a moment where they would want their monologue to be placed and

using their knowledge of the novel, time period, and character would then infer what their person would say. When I announced the

Mockingbird Monologue assignment in class, some students went

pale, hands flew up in the air, and some boys shook their heads “no”

and proclaimed that they weren’t going to do it. But we pushed on. I

knew I was asking a lot of my students. I was an incredibly shy student in middle school and even the idea of performing in front of my classmates would make me want to vomit. Heck! Speaking at Curriculum Night always is nerve-racking. But again, I wanted to at least try.

We started by listing all of the characters, students picked their top three, and then I picked their final character. I was surprised that

many of the students didn’t pick the obvious- Atticus Finch, Scout, or

Jem. And I was also surprised that after a day or so, the grumbling and

Henry Liu ’14 performs his Mayella Ewell Monologue

L

A M P L I G H T E R

13

growing allen-stevenson leaders why stay....? the Best kePt secret at allen-stevenson Winnie Barnes

Ninth Grade Teacher & Coordinator for Learning and Planning

Washington, D.C. Trip

A boy who chooses to stay for Ninth Grade knows a great deal

Indian Mountain Activity

aspects of the trip, the boys determine what each meal will be, make

about what he can expect from his last year at Allen-Stevenson.

up the equipment lists, and shop for supplies on the trip to the camp-

from nine to fourteen boys. He knows that he will take a trip to

great outdoors, with only a wood fire for cooking, is a challenging and

He knows that he will be in a smaller class, generally anywhere

the wilds of Connecticut and live outdoors for three days and two

nights just after school starts. He knows that he will join his class-

mates for another trip – to Washington, D.C. – just before graduation and his farewell to his first alma mater. What many boys

don’t know before experiencing Ninth Grade at Allen-Stevenson is that it will likely be the best year they will ever have here. Year

after year, young men say goodbye and reflect back on the time

spent as a ninth grader as offering the chance for immense growth and infinite occasions to develop themselves as leaders, scholars, and gentlemen. As one former ninth grader put it, “the smaller

class size gave every student a chance to take a leadership role in

one way or another and learn about the responsibilities as well as the positives to being in a leadership role…A-S gives you the

courage to stand up and do anything. Being a Monday Morning

Meeting speaker takes a lot of guts, but you are proud when you complete it.”

The year begins with the boys planning their camping trip to

Indian Mountain in Lakeville, CT. Fully responsible for almost all

12

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

site. For many, the opportunity to explore their culinary skills in the

exciting experience. Once there, the class spends two days develop-

ing as a team and challenging themselves on both low and high ropes

courses. Imagine the sense of accomplishment the boys feel as they support one another so that they all complete the very challenging

high ropes course – three stories off the ground!

Ninth grade classes are quite different from Seventh and Eighth

Grade at Allen-Stevenson. The size of the class changes the very

nature of the classroom experience. In English and history, the boys experience classes akin to a college seminar – a small group around

an oval table engaged in discussion and debate. For many a boy, it is

a perfect opportunity to find his voice and share his views. For most,

it is also a chance to take risks among friends and challenge oneself to hear and respect others’ differing views. In science class, the boys have the chance to participate in more advanced lab work, some-

times applying their prior knowledge to assist Mr. Herschenhous with

aspects of the seventh graders’ experiments. They also have the time

and opportunity to explore important and often controversial scientif-

ic issues. In the winter term last year, the class decided, after much

I honestly believe that Allen-Stevenson has prepared me for life in ways that no other school could have done. ~Ninth Grader

Monday Morning Meeting

discussion, that debates, although very time consuming to prepare,

were a perfect venue for exploring and better understanding topics

ranging from evolution to abortion to euthanasia. In geometry, the small class size and the boys’ maturity level allow for opportunities

to celebrate their strengths and address areas of continuing development in their math learning. Their teacher, Ms. Colebank, works as a

facilitator to map out and cover key concepts, but ultimately the students are nurtured by their peers and by the collaborative thinking that takes place. They conjecture and test out hypotheses in an

inductive approach to understanding the postulates, theorems, and

Ninth Grade Oval Table Discussion

aging the student government. As lunch table captains, the ninth grade plays a big role in setting the tone for civilized lunchtime conversation and oversees timely and thorough clean up. As captains of the School’s varsity sports teams, ninth graders lead and inspire younger students through example. From sports team captains to Gilbert & Sullivan leads to first chair in the orchestra, leadership possibilities abound for the Ninth Grade. Throughout the school, the Ninth Grade is often seen as setting

proofs inherent in the course and while they certainly grow as indi-

the example for how an Allen-Stevenson boy should behave.

erfully as a learning "team."

said, “Being in 9th grade…and having all those little kids look up

Boys who stay at Allen-Stevenson for Ninth Grade have leadership opportunities often not available until senior year of high school. Each ninth grader emcees a number of Monday Morning Meetings, the time when the middle and upper schools come together as a community. At these meetings, boys might speak about the significance of the word of the month, introduce speakers, or lead the school in song.

act the way we acted. It was cool.” The boys quickly realize

viduals in their skills and understanding, they can advance quite pow-

A ninth grader also serves as student council president and has the opportunity to guide a group of seventh and eighth graders in man-

A former ninth grader spoke to the power of that role when he

to us and, regardless if we wanted to lead or not, they would

and respect the importance of the role they serve as leaders of

the School.

Former ninth grade students return to visit the School often, and many report that the year changed them in remarkable

ways. For many of the boys who take advantage of Ninth Grade at Allen-Stevenson, it is an experience they will remember and

cherish forever.

L

A M P L I G H T E R

15

Making a Difference...

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

the Pa continues to grow

by Amanda Lister President, Parents Association

Richard Forman and Kenny Creed

During the first couple months of my tenure as Parents Association (PA) President, I was quickly reminded that my job was merely managing around the edges: scheduling, resources, communication. The good work of the PA has been and will be carried on by the Committee Chairs and volunteers. I feel incredibly fortunate that Allen-Stevenson once again has a very talented and dedicated group of co-chairs! We have 88 parents who have volunteered to lead PA activities. I know this group will deliver thoughtful, well-organized and fun events for our community. Four of this year’s leaders strike me as particularly notable: Tyana Kurtz, Melinda Milberg, Kenny Creed and Richard Forman. All four are plowing uncharted ground as they have created new PA committees. Melinda and Tyana created the lost & Found committee. They are providing an invaluable service to the families of the Allen-Stevenson community by ensuring

14

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

Melinda Milberg and Tyana Kurtz

that lost items marked with a nametag or label find their way back to their owners. Non-labeled uniform items will be given to the used uniform closet, and non-labeled, non-uniform items will be donated to charity. In both cases, only if the non-labeled items remain unclaimed for over a month. Melinda and Tyana are tremendously creative in their development of the program, timing for the retrieval of lost items, and work with the Administration to include boys in the internal community service of returning lost items.

Richard and Kenny are leading an incredibly important initiative at our boys’ school. They are developing the Fathers of allen-stevenson Boys (FasB). This group recognizes and celebrates the important bonds between fathers and sons, the more active role that more fathers are playing in the lives of their children, and the connections that men can enjoy over shared experience of parenting school age children. FASB hopes to organize activities for fathers and their sons, as well as for fathers on their own. If a boy’s father is unavailable to participate, a male relative or family friend is most welcome. While I feel incredibly indebted to all of our PA leaders and active volunteers for the gift of their time and talents to strengthen the Allen-Stevenson community, I am awed by the energy of Melinda, Tyana, Richard and Kenny in making the commitment to carve space in our crowded lives for new ideas. Thank you for your efforts to make a difference at Allen-Stevenson.

staying connected and involved as an alumnus by Simon Wasserberger ’85 President, Allen-Stevenson Alumni Council

Simon Wasserberger ’85

As the faculty and students at Allen-Stevenson embrace a new schedule and expanded curriculum, the Alumni Council has also set new goals to strengthen the bonds between alumni and the School. The Alumni Council has established three key goals for 2012-2013:

1. To increase professional and cultural networking opportunities among alumni. 2. To improve our connection with Young Alumni (Classes 1998-2013).

3. To showcase more alumni through School publications and communications.

In support of these three initiatives, we need your help completing a short survey. Your responses will help shape our work, and will ensure our alumni programs are tailored to the interests and needs of our community.

One of the great pleasures of staying connected to the alumni network is discovering its surprising diversity. Check out the article by Ryan Umane ’00 in this issue of the Lamplighter. Ryan is just one of many alums making it big in the food industry. We’ve got Michelin-starred chefs, organic farmers, wine dealers, and other well-placed foodies. Who knew?

It’s fun to be a part of the A-S community, but it all depends on information. Please help us with the survey, and don’t forget to mark your calendar for Reunion Weekend, March 8-9, 2013. And, please remember to complete the survey today.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/allen-stevensonalumni

L

A M P L I G H T E R

17

At Allen-Stevenson, we believe that words have the power to affirm, to illustrate, to encourage, and to inspire. Each day we strive to live the words in our mission statement.

Although there are many ways to be a boy, we educate each boy to become a scholar and gentleman. We inspire an appreciation of responsible citizenship and a lifelong love of learning. Words are also promises. Please help us keep to our word and fulfill our mission by supporting this year’s Annual Fund. To support the Annual Fund, please use the enclosed envelope or give online at www.allen-stevenson.org.

WELCOME New Trustees

Dan Lascano

Dan is a Senior Partner of Lomas Capital Management, which he also co-founded. Prior to that he was a Senior Managing Director of Caxton Associates LP and had previously worked at Morgan Stanley as a portfolio manager in the asset management division.

Dan grew up in California and attended the University of California at Berkeley. Dan takes an active interest in educational and humanitarian causes, and is honored to serve on the boards of The Legacy Center of New York and Nick Vujicic’s Life Without Limbs, as well as the Early Steps of New York, which he proudly serves on with Headmaster Trower. Dan and his wife Paula are the parents of three boys. The two oldest boys attend Allen-Stevenson, Noah ’17 and James ’20. Jacob attends Park Avenue Christian.

Amanda Lister

A native of North Carolina, Amanda graduated from Duke University with an AB in Public Policy Studies in 1987. She received an MBA from the Stern School of Business at NYU in 1992, where she was sponsored by her employer for the Executive MBA in Finance. From 1988 to 2000, Amanda worked with ING Group in various area of finance, including corporate lending, distressed real estate investment and executive management in corporate restructuring and acquisitions. She last served as a Managing Director of the firm.

Amanda is an active volunteer both at her children’s schools and various nonprofit organizations. She is the President of the Parents Association at Allen-Stevenson. Amanda is a current member of the Board of Trustees of All Souls School, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Parents League of New York, a docent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a deacon at The Brick Presbyterian Church. Amanda and her husband Tom, Treasurer of the Allen-Stevenson board, have two children. Davis ’15, and Anna is in Class IV at the Nightingale-Bamford School.

Shiuan Wu

Born in Singapore, Shiuan came to the United States to pursue graduate studies. An engineer by training, Shiuan held various engineering and management positions at Texas Instruments and Smith Corona during her business career before retiring to raise a family and pursue various philanthropic interests. Shiuan is an avid sports woman and played collegiate-level sports and ran marathons including Boston and New York. She is also an active supporter and volunteer of local charities including Here's Life Inner City and Hope for New York. At Allen-Stevenson, she served as Library Volunteer, Class Rep, CoChair of the International Festival, Co-Chair of the Book Fair, Vice-President of the PA and most recently President of the PA.

She is a graduate of the National University of Singapore and Boston University.

Shiuan and her husband, Boon Sim, President at Temasek International Holdings, are parents of Daniel, Stephen ’11, Ben ’16 and Serena.

L

A M P L I G H T E R

19

WELCOME New Siblings & Legacies

Henry ’19 and Billy ’22 Adkins

Jason ’22 and Jeffrey ’21 Berinstein

Ben ’18 and Daniel ’22 Blauner

Cole ’21, Thomas ’22 and William ’17 Cline

18

Paul ’22 and Marc ’19 Boorady

Simon ’15 and Julian ’22 Cohen

Max ’18, Avery ’22 and Hugh ’15 Esterson WIN TER

2 0 1 2

Adam ’06 and Austin ’22 Crown

Niklas ’22 and Harrison ’20 Gradin

Spencer ’21 and Chase ’22 Myers

Gavin ’19 and Simon ’22 Schwartz

Rabee ’22, Sunjay ’17 and Aarik ’22 Singh

Alex ’22 and James ’19 Wlodarczak

Brian Margolis ’75 with Max ’22

Grey ’22 and Kai ’18 Stevens

David Herzberg ’89 with James ’22

Ian Peck ’83 with Jesse ’22 L

A M P L I G H T E R

21

WELCOME New Faculty & Staff

AMBER ADAMS is the Dance Teacher covering for Kristina King. Amber is a graduate of the University of the North Carolina School of the Arts and Marymount Manhattan College, where she studied ballet, contemporary dance, and theater direction. Alongside performing, Amber has been teaching dance to all ages and levels for 10 years. Her all-male choreographies have performed at Dixon Place Theater and Bridge for Dance in NYC. Most recently, Amber produced a ballet with Gorilla Tango Theater in Chicago, Il. Amber is passionate about continuing dance education and happy to have joined Allen-Stevenson.

MEGHAN GELLING is starting her second year as the School Nurse at Allen-Stevenson. This past spring she was also the assistant coach to the Middle School Track team. She is a graduate of Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Meghan previously worked at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, Long Island. In her spare time, Meghan enjoys reading on her Kindle, watching good movies, going to concerts, and spending quality time with her friends and family. JANET HOROWITZ joined the Business Office at Allen-Stevenson as a Business Associate in August. She previously worked at First Republic Bank as a Banker. Janet is fluent in English and Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, and likes kickboxing, travel and music.

MARY LESAGE is in her first year as Development Associate at the Allen-Stevenson School and is working with Mary Richter, Sari Nadler, Anthony Kapp, and David Kersey h’98. Mary recently graduated from Fordham University, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in English and Psychology. Her interests include running, triathlons, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and reading a good book.

PILAR OKESON joined Allen-Stevenson as a Library Associate in October. She is currently in graduate school working towards her Masters of Library and Information Science at Queens College, with a focus on children's and young adult services. She has been an educator at the New York Botanical Garden's Green School for the past five years and has run early literacy programs at Brooklyn Public Library. She also holds a BFA in Theater from Virginia Commonwealth University. When she's not working with children, she can be found playing guitar and singing original music at open mics. She also loves the beach, swimming, and reading. Pilar is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia. JESÚS PARRA is in his first year as a Spanish teacher and soccer coach at Allen-Stevenson. Señor Parra is a graduate of Universidad de Sevilla (Spain) and earned his degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Physical Education. He grew up in Spain and loves sports, especially fútbol, being outdoors and discovering new cultures and countries.

SOMPORN “PAUL” PUNNATIN joined Allen-Stevenson this summer and will be working with Monica Matthew in the kitchen. Paul worked at various food establishments in New York City prior to joining Allen-Stevenson. He was born in Bangkok, Thailand. In his free time, Paul enjoys playing guitar, listening to music and spending time with his 13-year-old son.

JACKIE WERTZER joined Allen-Stevenson this year. She will be working with the fifth grade math team and teaching a section of fifth grade math. Ms. Wertzer earned her BA in English from Fordham University and her master’s degree in reading from Hunter College. More recently, Ms. Wertzer spent two years in the Math Leadership program at Bank Street College before completing her second master's degree in Leadership for Educational Change there. In the past, Ms. Wertzer oversaw the development of curriculum and mentored faculty at the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School and at The Hewitt School. In her free time, Ms. Wertzer enjoys gardening at her house on Long Island, reading, and pursuing her latest in photography. She lives with her husband on the Upper West Side. 20

WIN TER

2 0 1 2

FacUlty grants

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 Allen-Stevenson teacher. The 2012 recipient is Fourth Grade Teacher Haruka Mori.

“I am honored to have received The Kellner Great Teacher Award. My grandparents dedicated their whole lives to education in rural Japan, and they always told me, ‘It may be easy to become a teacher, but it is extremely challenging to be a great one.’ I have observed lessons, exchanged ideas, and learned from the wonderfully talented teachers and creative students at Allen-Stevenson, and I am grateful that I have been given an opportunity to grow each and every day. AllenStevenson is always filled with warm smiles and laughter, and I feel fortunate to be a part of this caring community.”

TONY D’ITRI, PE and Athletics

Coach, and CHRIS ACERBO, Director

of Security, competed as the A-S

team in the JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Corporate Challenge. Chris finished

in 33:21 with a pace of 9:32 min/mile. Tony finished in 26.46. Way to go

team! Tony also ran in the Rome

Marathon in March 2012 in a time of 4:27:36.

Tony D’Itri and Chris Acerbo

JOHN PARISEAU H’98, retired

Allen-Stevenson Associate Headmaster, married Dario

Sacramone, a retired photographer’s

representative, at Allen-Stevenson, on August 5, 2012, the 40th anniversary

of their meeting. The Rev. Osvaldo J.

~Haruka Mori 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.

Perdomo, a minister of the American Marriage Ministry, officiated the

ceremony in front of an auditorium filled with A-S friends and family.

John Pariseau and Dario Sacramone

Technology Teacher, ADAM

SHECTER, married Joe Winter, a

The 2012 recipients are: Kathy Allen Karen Bancroft Blaise Bulfair Venesha Cashdollar Joanne Ciuccio Michelle Demko Stacy Donovan Andre Duncan Alex Exposito

Margaret Garfinkel Alice Heminway Jeffrey Herschenhous Sarah Kresberg Frank Peduto Adam Shecter Robelyn Schrade-James Jennifer Vermont-Davis John Zufall

fellow artist and professor, at City Hall on July 22, 2012, in New York City.

They have been together for six years,

and recently adopted their rescue dog, Ruby, who turned one on Halloween.

Joe Winter and Adam Shecter with Ruby

L

A M P L I G H T E R

23

around A-S KB YOGA DEMONSTRATION

Throughout the school year, KB studied the breathing techniques and positions used in Yoga. The boys learned what muscles each pose uses

and the benefits each pose brings to the body. The class demonstrated what it had learned in an assembly on Friday, April 27. The boys have

found Yoga to be a fun and relaxing way to spend their rest time, but they are also aware that studying the relaxation techniques of Yoga has

helped them to develop their focus and concentration in other areas.

FIFTH GRADE SCIENCE CLASSES CREATE ROOFTOP WOOLLY GARDENS The fifth grade science classes have been working on a World Food Day

project. World Food Day this year was on October 16 and was designed to raise awareness about the problem of hunger worldwide, and “food secu-

rity� (balanced eating of five major food groups). This STEAM-inspired

project has included planting Romaine lettuce in Earthboxes (an indoor,

self-watering gardening system) in the Lower and Middle School laboratories, as well as an herb garden using Woolly Garden pouches on the roof.

The pouches have their own automatic irrigation system thanks to the A-S maintenance staff, and lots of sunlight to help out the young herb plantlings.

The fifth grade boys picked their first batch of herbs on October 15, and

shared information about their project with Middle and Upper School boys at Monday Morning Meeting. The boys also had the opportunity to pre-

sent these freshly picked herbs to Ms. Matthew for use in preparing lunch for the school community. The oregano found its way into a scrumptious black bean and oregano soup that same day at the hand of Chef Alletto.

22

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

In the classroom EIGHTH GRADE EXPLORES CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Eighth grade boys are presently exploring the ways

characters are developed. At the start of school, each

of them wrote a version of a well-known fairytale from

the point of view of one of the characters, giving that

character personality and qualities through the use of voice. Subsequently, they read Witness, by Karen Hesse, a novel written

through the collected mono-

logues of 12 characters. Each student became an expert

on one of those characters

and, ultimately, created a

"self-portrait" by that character in order to demon-

strate, visually, his/her salient qualities. The project will cul-

minate in a group retelling of Chris Crutcher's short story, "A

Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune," through monologues the boys will write from the points of view of each auxiliary character in the story.

L

A M P L I G H T E R

25

around A-S

Michael Faherty ‘98, David Trower h’95 and Alex Faherty ‘98

Each year, the School honors its founders, Francis Bellows Allen and

December, he was appointed to the board of Covis

Robert Alston Stevenson, with an all-school celebration featuring a

Pharmaceuticals, Inc. After leaving Allen-Stevenson, Alex attended

and what he gained from his time on East 78th Street. This year,

Science from Yale University, where he received the Thomas W.

guest speaker, who tells of his relationship with Allen-Stevenson,

the School welcomed twin brothers Michael and Alex Faherty, Class of 1998, as speakers.

Michael and Alex are launching a clothing company called Faherty Brand in Summer 2013. The brand is ethically sourced, environ-

mentally sound, and will offer casual clothing that embodies the freedom and tranquility of the water.

Michael left his post as a Senior Designer at Ralph Lauren in March

2012 to focus his efforts on Faherty Brand. He also currently serves as a consultant to RK Industries Apparel Factory in Chennai, India. After leaving Allen-Stevenson, Michael attended Dalton, and

received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design from Washington University in St. Louis.

Alex continues his successful career in Private Equity at Cerberus Capital Management, where he has worked since 2008. In

24

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

Poly Prep, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political

Ford '42 Outreach Award for outstanding community service, and was a three-year starter on the Yale Football team as a tight-end

and full-back.

At the Founders Day assembly, Michael started out by encouraging

the boys to give their teachers the credit they deserve, saying,

“They are here to make sure you push yourself to levels you didn’t

think you could reach. That may mean some tough love, but one

day you’ll look back and realize what a special learning experience you had during your A-S days.”

He went on to talk about all the lessons that Mr. Alifano, Mr.

Kersey, Mr. Haarmann, Ms. Shapiro, Mr. Kamsler, and others had

imparted on him during his time at the School. “Each one of them has had an important effect on me, because the beauty of this

school is that everyone tells you what you can do, and never what you can’t do.”

Founders Day

Founders Day Activities

Michael advised the boys to immerse themselves in each activity they do, because they may just find what they are truly passionate about. He said, “Be open-minded and try everything. Don’t put limitations on what you should and shouldn’t do. If you do this you will be able to discover the things around you that make you happy.” Alex spoke of the unique bond he has with his twin brother, which has ultimately led to the creation of their new clothing company. “Mike the designer, Alex the businessman. It’s been a lifetime in the making,” he said. “I can honestly say that the four years at A-S were the most important years of my life, hands down. It was here, at this school, that I learned one of my life mantras—a saying that I repeat to myself every day when I get up: G.I.D.” He explained to the boys that G.I.D. stands for “Get it done,” saying “Be great at everything that you do. Give everything all that you have – the more effort, heart and soul you put into something the more you will get out of it.” He told the boys stories about pushing himself through the challenges of being an athlete through high school and college, and of

supporting his colleagues during times of need. He reminded the boys that being a good person along the way is just as important as getting it done. “You can have all the success in the world, but if you treat people poorly, you will stumble upon a lot of problems. You won’t always be the best student or the best athlete, but you can always, ALWAYS be kind.” He went on to say that he and his brother are where they are right now, at the beginning of creating an amazing new clothing company, because of A-S. After Alex and Michael Faherty ’98 concluded their remarks, Mr. Trower dismissed the boys to participate in the many activities

scheduled for the rest of the morning. The Kindergarten boys

worked with the eighth grade boys and drew pictures of their

favorite places in the school. Ninth grade boys visited the first grade classes and shared stories they had written about their

experiences at Allen-Stevenson. Second grade boys were buddies

with seventh grade boys and made ABC Big Books about AllenStevenson. Third and fourth grade boys shared team-building

activities in the gym. The annual Allen-Stevenson scavenger hunt was the activity for the Fifth Grade. And sixth grade boys wrote birthday cards for alumni. L

A M P L I G H T E R

27

Christopher Rowland ’77 Closing Exercises 2012 Thank you. Thank you very much. I am so happy to be back at the School. It is really an extraordinary honor to be here, to help usher another set of Allen-Stevenson gentlemen on to the next phase of their lives.

Mr. Christopher Rowland ’77 is Washington Bureau Chief and Assistant Managing Editor of the Boston Globe. His Globe bureau story about the increasing number of retired generals working as consultants and lobbying the Pentagon was a finalist in the Gerald Loeb Awards investigative category for 2010. The Bureau emphasizes coverage of election campaigns, and in 2011, much of the Bureau’s attention has been focused on covering the Republican presidential primary, including the bid by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rowland was the Globe’s Metro Political Editor in Boston, overseeing coverage that resulted in the resignation and criminal conviction on bribery charges of former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. He was also supervising editor for an investigation of inflated and unjustified state pensions collected by former Bay State lawmakers, a series that was a finalist for a Goldsmith Investigative Reporting Prize in 2010. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Rowland worked as a Globe business writer, covering the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare business and winning an award for an investigative series about Congress; his contribution to the series was an in-depth look at financial handouts for healthcare companies included in the 2003 Medicare drug insurance bill.

26

Following the sixth grade, Mr. Rowland – then known as Christo – left Allen-Stevenson and attended school in Santa Fe, NM, followed by The Putney School in Vermont, and later the University of Arizona, where he earned his journalism degree. He now lives in Washington with his wife, Nancy Cook, a correspondent at the National Journal. He has two daughters from an earlier marriage: Emma, 22, and Hayley, 20.

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

This is such a moment to savor. The 129th Closing Exercises. That’s a whole lot of tradition, spanning literally generations of students. It’s amazing and admirable to me how much the school has changed, at least physically, while staying true to its roots of shaping smart young men decade after decade after decade. Being here now, for this ceremony, really reinforces for me that sense of history. It reminds me a lot, in fact, of being a student here and studying the grainy, black-and-white photographs of old Allen-Stevenson classes that used to hang on some of the stairwell walls here. They dressed funny and wore knickers in a lot of those pictures, reinforcing the sense that it was a bygone time. I would study the faces of the boys and wonder what the school was like in those days, and what those students were like -- what they debated in class, what sort of jokes they told in study hall. I was curious about the paths they had taken, and what memories and friendships they took from Allen-Stevenson. Well, now I stand before you, straight out of some old picture like that, only for me it was the 1970s, and some of us wore garishly striped bellbottoms rather than knickers – so much cooler and more stylish -- or so we thought at the time. It’s easy to summon these vivid memories, because Allen-Stevenson was such an important and formative part of my life, and it left such a big imprint. The neighborhood has changed some. Yes -- Butterfield Market survives, if in more upscale form. The Windsor Florist is still on the corner. I can remember passing by the flowers, and how they smelled on spring afternoons, after coming back on the buses from Randall’s Island and walking by in our baseball spikes, clacking on the sidewalk. We were heading for the locker room, which in those days was off the old gym and next to the boiler room in the basement. That basement gymnasium doubled as our lunchroom, and we used to point with subversive pride to the pats of butter on the ceiling where we had flicked them with knives, forks, or anything else that worked as a catapult. Outside, across the street where Starbucks is now, history has been tragically obliterated. There used to be this great coffee shop and candy story there called Kay’s. Cab drivers on break congregated for egg creams at the counter, and candy bars were 10 cents, plus 2 cents tax. And while we’re waxing nostalgic, here’s another thing. My favorite Allen-Stevenson teacher Mr. Kersey is here today. I know Mr. Kersey has a first name, but it was not until I was an adult, I think, that I even knew what it was. Even now it’s impossible for me to call him David. I mean, when I was here first names were hardly ever used – even for fellow students – and we were required to call all of the teachers ``SIR.’’ Well, at least the men -and all the teachers were men in the upper school. In class, if we knew the answer to a question, we would raise our hands and shout out ``Sir, Sir, Sir!’’ hoping to be called upon. Mr. Kersey says now we sounded like baby birds clamoring for a meal. Ever the egalitarian – he would go around the room, slowly, looking for the answer from someone who was

not necessarily hungering to be heard. Our arms would get tired trying to get his attention. But that was the kind of teacher he was. He kept us fully, enthusiastically engaged in our studies, and we craved his approval.

So what about you, the young men of 2012? What opportunities will you seize? What challenges will you encounter? As you head off next year for a boarding school or a day school, and then, sometime in the future, to college, you will begin to sort out your individual path. Some of you may already know the general direction you will take, and perhaps life will unfold according to plan. For others, you may find yourselves embracing something wholly unexpected by the time you are an adult. The key now is to take full advantage of the education and experiences that are open to you, and relish every moment. I have said many times to anyone that will listen, including my own children, that You Make Your Luck. What does that mean? It really is an echo of what Allen Stevenson taught us as young men. It means that by working hard, by doing the right thing and making the right choices, by being responsible and respectful, fortune will tend to break for you in a positive way. That will help you build a strong foundation, to work on developing personal understanding and character, and to accumulate the confidence necessary to vigorously pursue the activities that fulfill you the most, as an individual.

I left Allen-Stevenson after sixth grade and moved away from New York, so I never sat where you sit today. Yet even without the full eight or nine-year experience, the school had a tremendous influence on my life, because it laid the bedrock upon which all else was built. Growing up in this school gave me confidence, and it taught me to be persistent and to put in a good effort. But more importantly, perhaps, it taught me to be thoughtful, and to have empathy, to value kindness and generosity, and to respect the opinions and viewpoints of others. Somehow making it look easy, and without being obvious about it, the teachers and staff of Allen-Stevenson do an excellent job of emphasizing these things. Sure, we are competitive here, but we are not competitive at all costs. And the mission of teaching responsible citizenship, the underpinnings of what it means to be a gentleman, is perhaps more important than ever in this world full of rapid economic and social change, of conflicts both global and local. The explosion of social media and instant communication alone, for instance – Facebook, Twitter, email – makes it vital that we conduct ourselves with integrity and character not just every day but literally every minute. Personally, I was never an especially great student, and I could only get an A if I worked really hard. But I was never scolded or blamed or belittled. My report cards would simply say -- keep trying, or, put in a little more effort, or, speak up and express yourself. Nor was I an exceptional athlete. I played soccer, when football was what the really good athletes played. We were so bad in soccer, in fact, that we won just one game when I was captain of the JV team. And that was against the Day School. Pathetic. But we were good sports about it. And the point is the school did an exceptional job of encouraging each student individually, and helping each student find their niche, whether it be in math, or writing, or history, or art, or sports. Personally, I was introduced to history, politics, and current events here – with mock debates about presidential politics, for instance, when, believe it or not, I argued in favor of Richard Nixon’s re-election in 1972. We had weekly news quizzes given by Mr. Harlan, and that got me reading The New York Times. Music was crucial to the whole Allen-Stevenson program then, just as it is now, and I got into orchestra a year early by taking up the viola and plugging a hole for Mr. Gauger in the string section. Under the guidance of a group of wonderful teachers like Mr. Kersey, I learned that if I showed up on time for everything, and participated with gusto, and never gave up, good things would happen. It was a pretty simple concept, really. Eventually, I won a public speaking contest at school. I even got a bronze pin for athletics at the end of one spring. I remember these events so clearly because they were like individual rungs of a ladder for me – and I built strength as I climbed. And what is really wonderful now is to look back on everyone in my class and see what we have all done as adults. Our lives have branched out in so many different directions, even though we all started in the same place, in the same brick building, wearing the same blue shirts and then the same blue blazers. I’ll take just one little slice of our class. Four of us lived on the West Side, and we rode the 79th Street crosstown bus to and from school. As you know, I became a daily newspaper journalist, and can honestly say I love what I do. It doesn’t even seem like work to me. I can go around asking questions and writing and digging into stuff and traveling and meeting interesting people. David Davis, one of my best friends when we were kids who was obsessed with sports cards and statistics, actually became a sports writer and is now a successful author in Los Angeles. Lars Lofas parlayed a summer job he had at Boston University as a cable installer into a career in the executive suite and now he’s a vice president for Comcast on the West Coast. Jeremy Ben-Ami is having a huge impact. He became active in politics and is now the head of a highly influential organization in Washington that advocates firmly and persistently for negotiated peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. Not too long ago he was the subject of a feature profile in the New York Times Sunday Magazine. So that’s just four kids who rode the crosstown bus together to school. Some of our other classmates are producing movies, documentaries, television programs, TV commercials, and video games. They are lawyers and financiers, artists and professors, restaurateurs and marketing executives.

As you embark on this new phase of your lives, I suspect you will look back fondly to your time at Allen-Stevenson. If you are like me, you will remember how much you gained from your experiences here, and reflect on how thankful you are to have attended such an extraordinary school, one that wrapped you in tradition even as it prepared you to become your own person, with your own life trajectory. And who knows? Maybe some day future A-S students will come across your class photographs, and they will be curious about where you went and what you achieved, what you and your classmates laughed about. One thing is certain. If each of you pursues with passion the activities, studies, and careers that you love deep down, then the entire Allen-Stevenson community -- your parents, the teachers, the staff, and the alumni -- will be very, very proud. Just as we are all so proud of you, right now.

L

So, I wish you, graduates – the very best of luck in your next endeavors, and Hearty Congratulations on your achievement today! A M P L I G H T E R

29

Talla Babou ’12 Closing Exercises Speaker Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for coming out today, to the 2012 graduation ceremony. I’d just like to start by saying, I can’t believe it’s over, and I’m sure many of the people behind me would agree. I haven’t been here since Kindergarten like some of the graduates today, but the last three years have been some of the best years of my life. All of the graduates today have had their good times at AllenStevenson, but they’ve all gone through a lot as well, from NoodleTools, to Mr. Cohen’s ever-expanding dictionary, to Ms. Barnes’ “quizzes,” and don’t even get me started on Indian Mountain. The graduates today had to go through a lot to get to where we are today, and I’m sure some of them still can’t believe they’re here. One thing that I’m sure everyone here will remember after they’ve left is the roof. Kickball gets pretty intense, especially when you’re playing with two balls. That’s the only time when you can spin move one ball, only to be immediately hit in the face with another, and I’m speaking from experience. There have been some unbelievable plays, like Tobi, who slid onto the base and thought he was safe, but the wall had another idea. It can be pretty dangerous too if you’re not careful, just ask Thomas “Guillotine” Goldhagen. That is a truly unique part of this school which I’m sure we’ll all remember, no matter where we go. There have been a lot of memorable moments this year, from Kony 2012, to Terrell’s frequently changing hairstyles, personally I preferred the cornrows. There was the talent show, which ended up being fine, though I wish I could say the same for the Slackademic Bowl, -coughcoughstudentcouncilcoughcough. We definitely can’t forget about the new “Jake Taub” dialect, which introduced new meanings for the words, pez, chirp and rat. There were some pretty funny occasions, as well as new and fun ones, such as the Shakespeare competition, and the speech contest. From Seventh Grade, all the way through the Ninth Grade, the Upper School was full of rich new experiences, that we couldn’t have had anywhere else, which we appreciate and will carry with us wherever we go. Not only are we given academic experiences, but also musical and artistic ones. Those of you who went to the Arts Festival saw the work that the students created, and if you saw the orchestra and choral performances or came to some of the recitals, you heard the wonderful music that the students produced, because Allen-Stevenson is such an amazing environment in which you can pursue your passion whether it be art or music or sports. This is what I really admire about this school. This really creates a well rounded boy, and one that will be ready and well-prepared for whatever schools or jobs await him in the future. 28

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

Another part of this school that I want to talk about is the Unicorn. We all know the Unicorn, and it has had a lasting effect on me and others. When I first came to the school, I thought they were joking when they said they were the Unicorns, because it wasn’t in the application booklet. Here are a few words to describe a unicorn -- majestic, elegant, awesome, girly? Wait a minute…so I know the unicorn has usually been associated with girls, and flowers and whatnot, but think about knights, they’re pretty manly right? They ride on horses, which are also manly. Now imagine a horse, but with a huge horn on its head, and magical powers, that’s the kind of horse Chuck Norris would ride. So even though I was pretty iffy about the unicorn at first I’m now proud to say I’m a Unicorn. Usually people don’t believe me when I say that I’m an A-S Unicorn, which is why I always carry my school ID on me as proof. Our sports teams wear the unicorn proudly, and recently you might have seen a wild unicorn at some of the basketball games. It is a strong animal and a great mascot. Even though all of us will be moving to new schools next year, there will always be a part of Allen-Stevenson that we carry with us. That is the case with any place you’ve been to. There will be one moment or one thing that you will always remember, whether that will be your favorite teacher, your favorite assignment, your first detention, your first home run, or your first B+. Mine will definitely be the unicorn, and even though all of our graduates will be going on to different schools with different mascots, whether it be the lions, the tigers, the rhinos, the doors, we will always be unicorns. I’d like to thank all the teachers on behalf of the graduating class, for giving us a great final year at Allen-Stevenson. Thank you, and congratulations to all.

Tunney Creative Writing Award Nicholas E. Silber ’13

Upper School Honors 2011-12

Mary B. Helm Award French: Elliott A. Abadi ’13 Talla F. Babou ’12 Jackson P. Baker ’13

Honor Student Jorge E. Colmenares ’12

Desmond Cole Fortiter et Recte Award Matthew A. Wayland ’13 Griffin C. Bader ’13

Mathematics Prize David F. Burgstahler, Jr. ’13 Jorge E. Colmenares ’12 Justin M. Lambroza ’13

Charles E. Horman Award Julian D. Phillips ’12

Robby Zuckert Honor Matthew P. Schnitzer ’13

Science Award Jorge E. Colmenares ’12

Athletic Award Nicholas E. Silber ’13

Greatest Improvement Award 9th Grade: Julian D. Phillips, Oluwatobi M. Popoola 8th Grade: Arthur S. Belfer, Roman Pena, Harrison C. Wilf 7th Grade: William J. Buehler, Scott A. Kauffman, Elijah J. McNally, Gabriel A. Perez, Justin D. Robbins, Anthony J. Scarangello

Alumni Medal Jorge E. Colmenares ’12

Daughters of the American Revolution Alexander G. Gellert ’14

Society of Colonial Wars Henry L. Stanton ’14

Yahya Abdul-Basser ’13 - recipient of the History Award with Kim Sklow

Honor Roll

Class of 2012: Talla F. Babou, Jorge E. Colmenares, Michael D. Lipton, Julian D. Phillips, Oluwatobi M. Popoola, Niles L. Stanton

Mayflower Compact Award Elliot C. Parlin ’14

Bradford A. Warner Shop Award Quintano S. Downes, Jr. ’12

Class of 2013: Elliott A. Abadi, Yahya Abdul-Basser, Griffin C. Bader, Jackson P. Baker, David F. Burgstahler, Jr., Ethan Z. Fellows, Justin M. Lambroza, Theodore N. Landis, Scott A. Leff, Brayan M. Lozano, Matthew P. Schnitzer, Benjamin C. Scullard, Nathan E. I. Shankman, Nicholas E. Silber, James S. Stevenson, Matthew A. Wayland, C. Thomas Wheeler

Francis Keally Art Award C. Henry Burch ’13 J. Nicholas Burch ’13

Francis Keally Gilbert & Sullivan Award Jorge E. Colmenares ’12 Matthew P. Schnitzer ’13

Nicholas Meister Armington ’77 Theater Prize Arthur S. Belfer ’13 William E. Peltier ’13

Class of 2014: William J. Buehler, Vincent P. Cone, Trewin F. H. Copplestone, Alexander G. Gellert, David R. Goldberg, Lawrence Huang, Benno K. Kass, Scott A. Kauffman, Matthew R. Kaufman, Alex R. La Poche, Luke A. Landis, Henry Y. Liu, Kathan Mally, Elijah J. McNally, Alexander P. Mercurio, Elliot C. Parlin, Erik S. Rosenblum, Nicholas S. Rudman, Anthony J. Scarangello, Nicholas P. Silberman, Henry B. Silver, Henry L. Stanton, Sebastian R. Stern, Christopher P. Toub, David W. Vogelstein, Max H. Watson, Morgan S. Wolfe

Matthew Wayland ’13 - recipient of the Stanley D. Gauger Music Prize with Randy Schrade ’76

Chorus Prize Jorge E. Colmenares ’12 Scott A. Leff ’13 Pablo A. Legorreta ’13 Benjamin C. Scullard ’13

William L. Landis Drama Prize Talla F. Babou ’12

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRIZES – 2011-12 Bradford A. Warner Award Isaac C. Parlin ’16

Stanley D. Gauger Music Prize Matthew A. Wayland ’13

Anthony G. Couloucoundis II Memorial Award Cameron C. Dupre ’15

Public Speaking Prize Jorge E. Colmenares ’12

William A. Hanway Memorial Prize Talla F. Babou ’12

Quintano S. Downes, Jr. ’12 - recipient of the Bradford A. Warner Shop Award with Tara Parsons

L

Adam and Elan Benjamin Memorial Award Tigran M. Mirzayantz ’16

A M P L I G H T E R

29

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 would best serve his needs as he moves through high school, inspiring him to grow and develop into the best possible student and person.

we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the classes of 2009, 2012 and 2013 as they take this next step in their academic career. The graduates of the class of 2012 and 2013 are attending the following high schools, among others. If you are a member of these classes and have not updated the Alumni Office about where you attend high school, please send us an email at alumni@allen-stevenson.org.

Archbishop Stepinac Birch Wathen Brooklyn Latin Choate Church Farms Columbia Prep Dalton

Dwight Exeter Friends Seminary Grace Church Horace Mann Kent

Lawrenceville Loomis Chaffee Poly Prep Riverdale St. Mark’s Trevor Day Trinity

The graduates of the class of 2009 are attending the following colleges, among others. If you have not updated the Alumni Office about where you attend college, please send us an email at alumni@allen-stevenson.org.

Amherst College Berklee College of Music Carleton College Colgate University College of Charleston Davidson College Duke University Emerson College Gettysburg College Hamilton College Haverford College Hobart College Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University Middlebury College

New York University Ohio Wesleyan University Princeton University Roanoke College St. Andrew’s University University of Chicago University of Delaware University of Miami University of Pennsylvania University of Southern California University of Wisconsin Vanderbilt University Wesleyan University Williams College Yale University

celeBrating the liFe oF stanley gaUger

Stanley Gauger

“If you look at what Stanley Gauger accomplished at Allen-Stevenson during his almost forty year tenure, you have to recognize that he was one of the few genuine pioneers that this school has seen: he created the orchestra, taught every boy the song flute and the recorder. He also created the tradition of the annual Gilbert & Sullivan production – all of which continue to flourish and grow under the watch of Michelle Demko and Randy Schrade,” said Roger Raines ’80 at the Celebration of the Life of Stanley Gauger held at Allen-Stevenson on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

Nearly 100 members of the A-S community gathered in the School’s Assembly Hall, where David Kersey h’98 opened the evening’s program by talking about Stanley Gauger’s legacy and introducing two student performances. Isaac Parlin ’16 performed Rondo: Allegro, the Third Movement of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, and Tom Wheeler ’13 performed Brahms’ Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2, arranged for piano and clarinet. The boys were accompanied by Randy Schrade '76. Headmaster David Trower h’95 spoke of Stanley Gauger’s development of the strong music program that flourishes at the School today and recounted meeting Mr. Gauger after his appointment as Headmaster in 1990. The remembrances that followed, by Lewis Bernard ’56, Richard Thomas ’66, and Raines, recalled the passion and dedication that

32

WIN TER

2 0 1 2

Family members of Stanley Gauger: Jim Frevert, Clare Frevert, Alice Srp, William Frevert, and Marcie Frevert

Stanley Gauger had not only for music and the music program at A-S, but for each and every student that crossed his path. Jim Frevert, Stanley Gauger’s nephew who attended with his siblings, gave a loving tribute to Mr. Gauger as well.

Lewis Bernard ’56 recalled Mr. Gauger’s patience, and his knack for teaching the importance of showing up for others and for oneself; a sentiment that lives today in the Allen-Stevenson Code to inspire boys to be responsible and respectful. Richard Thomas ’66 and close friend Gary Brown ’66 reminisced about the significance of mastering the tonette, playing the oboe in the orchestra, performing in H.M.S. Pinafore, and deciphering Mr. Gauger’s “scowl” or “look of pride” during performances.

Raines referenced a famous story about Benny Goodman, that if you played in his band and made a mistake, you were on the receiving end of the dirtiest of looks from the head of the bandstand. It was known as “The Goodman Ray” and was not unlike the look received by many a young A-S boy while Mr. Gauger conducted the orchestra; a look Raines lovingly dubbed “The Gauger Ray.” The program ended with a performance by Ryan Claffey ’15, Henry Liu ’14, and Matthew Schnitzer ’13 of Never Mind the Why and

Wherefore from Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, and Robelyn Schrade-James accompanied the Allen-Stevenson School Song, led by Michelle Demko. The sentiment of the evening’s celebration, summarized by Roger Raines:

“Thank you, Mr. Gauger. Thank you for teaching us how much music is just as much a part of the Allen-Stevenson fabric as any subject in a classroom, or sport on a playing field; thanks for making us don dresses to play maidens and, as our voices changed, to play Gentlemen of Japan and Gondoliers; thank you for the structured rehearsals and practice, practice, practice; thank you for having us be the children’s orchestra that played Benjamin Britten’s majestic Noye’s Fludde up at The Church of The Heavenly Rest… and yes, thank you even for ‘The Gauger Ray.’” Stanley Gauger’s legacy lives on through the Stanley Gauger Music Fund, which was established at his retirement in 1987 to make the study of instrumental music affordable for all A-S students, and through the lives of every boy who participates in Allen-Stevenson’s music program.

alumni

lost alUmni in reUnion years

we are looking for the following alumni who are celebrating reunions this year, to ensure they receive the invitation to alumni reunion weekend. Please contact anthony kapp, Director of alumni relations, with information at akapp@allen-stevenson.org or 212-933-5240.

1953

Bertram s. nayfack, Jr.

1958

James mccormack hedges eric J.g. hess richard lewis hirsch michael mccormick Jeff v. Pallister John e. Postley, Jr. michael sierstorff michael ward leo g. wollemborg

1963

safwat Badawi Jerome Delaney hamed Fahmy michael garroway John lyon morrisey, Jr. John seasongood stern christopher hugh stevenson David Porter whitney

1968

m. aladdin abdel-ghani James watson aubrey michael westcott Brown Dominick Buonanno thomas David cook taylor h. Daniels anthony northon leonard Joseph Peter meersman, Jr. michael B. moore michael Brewster morgan henry morse Peter adlai nasht anthony clyde robe

1973

gerald grant allen, Jr. Frederick talmadge Bell samuel P. Bush, ii charles vickers carter Darly g. edwards christopher m. Flory halsey B. Frank nicolaas w. groeneveld meijer gregory hood michael ian lamay nicholas Fitzgerald lomasney christopher r. mascott wilfredo william soto michael roger stone stephen James Unwin

1978

monte tate Brown richard c. halder

James edgar hendrix, Jr. glenn lee Pride, Jr. carlos Prado salgado, Jr. James F. sheehan Barney sloan erik van leight David zaloom

1983

Joseph F. clark Peter Davis langdon mcevoy Doty Benjamin Paul grossman randolph grossman timothy w. murray clifford rachlin stephen lee richards alexander simpson Joshua eliot summit Jesse tenney Patrick wolfert Januszek worowski

1988

Brandon shelton chason gabriel sebastian cobb alexis Duntor andrew James keane henrik clates ljung khashayar sohrabi long John Paul myers harry michael rothman theoharis a. salonitis Philip Jay savadian

1993

angus mcDougall caithness victor harris giorgio merati-Foscarini Denton Praeger charles scott orlando semprit terrell wilson

1998

Dimitri ashil Benjamin F. greene thomas edward marquis Quigley alessandro ravagnan cagney lorin reed James alexander stair

2003

J. lucas loeffler enrique Pellejero eugene seki

2008

keith steven thaw-Babus

Get involved... ys to mnus, there are many wa As an Allen-Stevenson alu across live in New York City or be involved. Whether you r time t A-S by volunteering you the globe, you can suppor network. d strengthen our alumni and support to enhance an ile honen-Stevenson’ s future wh Your involvement fuels All y. oring its esteemed histor of n.org/volunteer for a list Visit www.allen-stevenso opportunities.

ALUMNI EVENTS CALENDAR Young Alumni Day & Alumni Hockey Game Tuesday, November 20, 2012 4:00PM, Events at the School 7:00PM, Hockey Game at Chelsea Piers A-S Reunion Weekend Friday, March 8 – Saturday, March 9, 2013 Celebrating classes ending in 3 and 8. www.allen-stevenson.org/reunion Alumni Dodgeball Game Thursday, May 23, 2013 6:00PM, Gym Back to 78th Street: A Party for the Class of 2010 Monday, June 10, 2013 6:00PM, Assembly Hall For more information and to register for any of the above events, visit www.allen-stevenson.org/community/alumni. L

A M P L I G H T E R

35

alumni EVENTS

DUCK, DODGE, DIP, DIVE‌DODGEBALL 2012!

On Thursday, May 24, 2012, A-S Alumni gathered in the 6th Floor Gym for a rowdy game of Dodgeball. Jaison Spain '97 laid the ground rules, and acted as DJ, while 12 alums from the Classes of 1982 through 2007 battled it out on the court.

BACK TO 78TH STREET: A PARTY FOR THE CLASS OF 2009

The Class of 2009 returned to the School on Monday, June 11, 2012, for an evening of fun with friends, family and former teachers. John Hersey '09 and Harry Whitney '09 gave an impromptu performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and the class enjoyed reconnecting before heading off for the summer.

NEW ALUMNI BREAKFAST

On Wednesday morning, June 13, the Allen-Stevenson Alumni Council welcomed the newest members of the Allen-Stevenson Alumni Association. The Classes of 2012 and 2013 were honored at the New Alumni Breakfast, an annual tradition where the graduates enjoy a special breakfast and receive their official A-S Alumni Pin from members of the Alumni Council. John Carr III '76, Erik Cliette '81, Van Furniss '91, Alex Melnitzky '02, Christopher Persley ’88, Ron Rolfe '60, and Randy Schrade '76 welcomed the boys into the Alumni Association by shaking their hands and pinning them with their Alumni Pin in preparation for the Upper School Closing Exercises which took place later that morning.

34

WIN TER

2 0 1 2

alumni news

1950s

have my work up in 'der vaterland,' the land of my father's and mother's birth."

michael Douglas ’59 was recently awarded the Monte Cristo Award at an event held at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, where he is a trustee. The award is given to a prominent theater artist in recognition of a distinguished career.

1960s

Jeffrey richards ’62 (jeffrey@jrabroadway.com) is producing a new play on Broadway, titled The Anarchist, starring two-time Tony Award® winner Patti LuPone and three-time Academy Award® nominee Debra Winger. The play is directed by David Mamet, and opens on December 4 for a 14-week limited engagement.

maurice hakim '63 (MCH-123@comcast.net) recently sent his recollections of a great teacher, Stanley Gauger, whose life was celebrated at an event at the School in May. To read Maurice's recollections, visit the Alumni website. Maurice sends his greetings to his classmates. The Class of 1963 will celebrate their 50th Reunion in March. george Freeman ’64 (freemang@nytimes.com) writes, “I'm leaving The New York Times after 31 years as its First Amendment lawyer. Hope classmates come back for our 50th!” william walker ’64 (wlwalker3rd@gmail.com) sends his greetings to his classmates in the Class of 1964.

roberto De vido ’78 (robertodevido@gmail.com) recently posted the latest comic in his series for Second Harvest Japan, about delivering food to those in need in Ishinomaki. Second Harvest Japan distributes food to soup kitchens, orphanages, the elderly, emergency shelters, single mothers, the homeless, migrant workers, and many others.

richard thomas ’66 (richard51@aol.com) starred alongside Boyd Gaines in An Enemy of the People, which ran on Broadway this fall. Thomas and Gaines played the clashing brothers in this scintillating, and often surprisingly humorous, new version of Ibsen's play by one of Britain's most exciting writers, Rebecca Lenkiewicz.

Jesse cohen ’79 (jcohen@collegiateschool.org) joined the Collegiate School on September 24 as the new Alumni Director. A member of the Collegiate Class of 1982, Jesse previously served as the Director of Development and Communications at the Metropolitan Opera Guild. We extend our congratulations to Jesse, and welcome him back to the independent school community.

1970s

warren etheredge ’79 (warren@thewarrenreport.com) hosts a television show on Monday nights at Midnight on KBTC. He welcomes famous, funny and provocative celebrities to The High Bar every week to raise a toast to and raise the bar for their passions. Warren has hosted such guests as comedian Larry Miller, sci-fi master William Gibson, pulp fiction queen Ann Bannon, private detective Sam Brower, education advocate Ninive Calegari and Anthony Anderson of Law & Order.

christopher kwong '73 (k102988@aol.com) and his wife, Linda, enjoyed a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando over the Labor Day holiday, and sent us this photograph from their trip. Chris says, "Love those shirts! Lots of memories!"

Fred ziegler ’79 (fsziegler@gmail.com) moved in February from Silicon Valley to the Marina District in San Francisco and is loving every minute of it.

1980s Three examples from Mario M. Muller's Cashmere series. 40 x 60 inches each, India Ink on Paper. More info: mariomuller.com.

mario muller '77 (mmm@mariomuller.com) currently had a one-man exhibition of his paintings in a prestigious gallery in Germany. The exhibition of 33 India Ink paintings was on display at KrausMühle in Weiden, Germany through early November 2012. Mario says, "After 27 years of being a practicing Fine Artist, it's a particular pleasure to

L

Dan abrams ’81 (da@abramsresearch.com) and Florinka Pesenti welcomed their first child, a boy named Everett Floyd Abrams, in June A M P L I G H T E R

35

alumni news

members of the class of 1984 gathered in June to celebrate the life of robby zuckert ’84 with robby’s mother and brother, David kersey h’98, caroline Berry and David trower and a few other friends of robby. many of robby’s friends and former teachers chose to honor robby’s life with a gift to the robby zuckert honor, an award established this year to memorialize robby at allen-stevenson and honor the qualities that made robby a good friend to so many. the inaugural recipient, matthew schnitzer ’13, was named at closing exercises.

2012. Dan also announced this year the newest member of the Abrams Media family: The Braiser, a website devoted to covering “the dynamic, buzzed about, and often controversial personalities behind the country’s biggest restaurants, cookbooks and food TV shows.” The site officially launched on May 14. eric rothstein ’81 (eric@rothsteinlawny.com) has been named to the Super Lawyers list as one of the top attorneys in New York for 2012. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. No more than 5 percent of lawyers in the state are selected by Super Lawyers.

chris weitz ’84 (chris.weitz@aol.com) is trying his hand at young-adult fiction writing. The director of “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” will write a trilogy of post-apocalyptic novels for Little Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of the Hachette Book Group. The first book in the series, “The Young World,” is expected to be released in Spring 2014. alex von Furstenberg ’85 (avf@rangerinv.com) and his fiancée Ali Kay welcomed a baby boy, Leon, to their family on Monday, July 30. Leon is named after Alex’s grandfather.

1990s

It was a busy spring and summer for Brian halweil ’90 (brian@edibleeastend.com) and his family. In May, Brian attended the 8th World Instant Noodle Association Summit, in Tianjin, China, where he was invited to tell the primarily Chinese and Japanese audience what the local food movement meant for the noodle business. It was a short trip, but he did get to eat "copious amounts of noodles, dumplings, fish, and other excellent Chinese food." In June, he celebrated his son, Cyrus, turning three, and Brian and wife Sarah celebrated their 10 year anniversary. And just before July 4th weekend, you might have seen Brian's article in the New York Times, "The Kindest Cut of Meat is Ground." Brian lives in Sag Harbor with his wife Sarah and children, Clio (age 4) and Cyrus, and when he's not writing articles for Edible East End (which he edits) and Edible Brooklyn and Edible Manhattan (which he publishes), he and his family take care of their home garden and flock of Black Cayuga ducks. As of early July, the Halweils were getting berries, radishes, greens, broccoli, potatoes, fava beans, and four eggs a day.

Doug Foster ’89 (dfoster@longitudecapital.com) visited AllenStevenson on September 12. He is currently living in San Francisco, where he works at Longitude Capital. He sends greetings to his A-S classmates, and looks forward to connecting with other alumni in the Bay area.

36

WIN TER

2 0 1 2

michael grady ’91 (grady9@gmail.com) and his wife, Virginia, are thrilled to announce the arrival of Chloe Olympia Virginia Grady who was born on March 7, weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and measuring 19.6 inches.

alumni news

Jamie magid '91 (jamie@connectinfinity.comz) and his wife, Danielle, welcomed their first child, James Alexander Magid, to the family on March 10, 2012.

robert Pelgrift, iii ’96 (rp2236@gmail.com) is currently studying medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and is engaged to Amelia Lakoff, an opera singer who teaches private voice and piano lessons.

Daniel edward rosen ’94 (dedwardrosen@gmail.com) is currently writing for The New York Observer.

Bradley william Bayer ’96 (bwbayer@gmail.com) is currently an MBA candidate at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

alexander milligan ’96 (alexdmselects@optonline.net) has been working with his father since 2006 as a Wine Importer at their family company David Milligan Selections. He is now Vice-President. He writes “We focus on terroir driven wines from France. Our most popular at the moment is Domaine Houchart Rosé which is a bestseller in many states across the country. We will be introducing two new vineyards in the fall. I travel regularly for my job and also for fun. I am going to France in September to learn about winemaking with one of my vineyards.”

kevin Quat ’96 (kevin@absoluteisland.com) his wife Gini, and son Zack (born 2010) live in Hilton Head, SC. They both work in real estate and own a property management company which specializes in multifamily housing and development. Lately, they are juggling their 2 year old, family, friends, work and fun. Kevin remembers A-S fondly and hopes future generations enjoy their time there. He says “feel free to look us up when in our area!”

will schutt ’96 (wcschutt@gmail.com) has been awarded the Yale Young Poets Prize 2012. His volume Westerly will be published by Yale as part of the Yale Series of Younger Poets in April 2013. Awarded since 1919, the prize celebrates the most prominent new American poets by bringing the work of these artists to the attention of the larger public. Earlier winners of the prize include such talents as Adrienne Rich, John Ashbery, and Robert Hass. It is the longest-running poetry prize in the United States. After leaving A-S, Will earned his BA from Oberlin College and his MFA from Hollins University. His poems and translations appear in Agni, FIELD, Harvard Review, The Southern Review and elsewhere. He lives with his wife in Wainscott, NY.

rob Farren ’97 (rfarren1@gmail.com) recently released a new album entitled “All Rivers and Oceans” by his two-piece band Isle of Rhodes. The band’s first studio length album was recorded with Grammy winning producer Jason Corsaro (Steve Winwood, Duran Duran, Motorhead, Madonna) and co-producer David Lloyd of Social Hero.

clarence Fruster ’97 (jah13c13@gmail.com) and Jaison spain ’97 (jspain@allen-stevenson.org) are part of a New York based soul band called “The Blackness” with friend Yuri Beats. Check out their debut album, “HeartShaped Lens.”

L

A M P L I G H T E R

37

alumni news

alex Faherty ’98 (alex.faherty@gmail.com) married Kerry Docherty on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at a beach house in Ridgeway, Ontario, where Kerry has spent almost every summer for the past 28 years.

nick hoge ’98 (nickhoge@gmail.com) and friend Joe Watson make up a band called “The Foreign Tides,” that plays garageinfused rock, with nods to soul, funk, pop, blues and punk. Nick and Joe came together by chance last year as Nick, the son of a traveling newspaper journalist, had come home to NY after living abroad in Europe and South America. Jason kraus ’98 (jasonkraus@mac.com) was recently reviewed in the Los Angeles Times for his work at Redling Fine Art. His second solo show at this venue, the premise of the his exhibition titled “Dinner Repeated” is an exercise in compulsive reiteration.

John Pariseau h’98 (jpariseau1@nyc.rr.com) and Dario Sacramone Jr. were married Sunday, August 5, 2012, at Allen-Stevenson. The Rev. Osvaldo J. Perdomo, a minister of the American Marriage Ministry, officiated the ceremony in front of an auditorium filled with A-S friends and family. Our heartfelt congratulations to John and Dario!

38

WIN TE R

2 0 1 2

nicholas g. hoagland ’99 (nicholashoagland@gmail.com) says “I graduated from Hobart College five years ago, having majored in economics. Immediately after graduation, I joined the Peace Corps and was sent as a small business advisor to Guinea, West Africa, to work with microfinance organizations. After the Peace Corps, I returned to New York City and began working at a private equity firm for two years, before deciding to return to school to pursue an MBA degree. I am in between my first and second years of business school, currently working in a summer internship here in New York.”

Philip nussenzweig ’04 (nussenz@gmail.com) stopped by the Alumni Office in September after running into Mr. Kersey on the street. He extends his warm wishes to his friends in the Class of 2004. Phil recently started at the Weill Cornell Medical College/Rockefeller University/Memorial Sloan-Kettering TriInsititutional MD/PhD Program. Our best wishes to him and his classmates Eric Newman ’02, Jonathan Salik ’02, and Raza Hoda ’04 who are also in medical school.

2000s

chris carlson ’01 (christopher.lars.carlson@gmail.com) and spencer carlson ’05 (william.spencer.carlson@gmail.com) spent part of their summer in Bridgehampton with their parents Larry and Jody Carlson. Larry reports that Spencer has one more year at Kenyon College where he is excelling and enjoying his college career. Chris is currently living in Los Angeles, where he works for Topspin Media, a software company that helps musicians and filmmakers grow their audience and sell their work directly to fans. Chris and Spencer are pictured here with Spencer’s girlfriend, Sarah, on the 4th of July. Chris recently placed First in the 2012 Whole Life Challenge through Crossfit Los Angeles. The eight-week competition focused on personal health and fitness transformation through group motivation and support. Of 335 participants, Chris had the best overall results, with a perfect accountability score and the loss of a total of 9 inches off his circumferential measurements. He also won the “Spirit of the Challenge” award for his participation with others in the community.

Daniel cannon ’06 (dcannon@middlebury.edu) is attending Middlebury College, where he was named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2011 semester. An economics major with a minor in history, he is a junior tight end and special teams member on the Middlebury football team, where he helped the college finish the season with a 4-4 record.

Francisco chomnalez ’09 (fchomnalez15@gmail.com) is the 2012 recipient of the Constance Keene Precollege Piano Award at Manhattan School of Music. The award was established in 2011 in memory of Constance Keene, a beloved member of the piano faculty who taught at Manhattan School of Music from 1969-2005. Francisco performed a recital at Manhattan School of Music on May 8, a preview of which was aired on WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase on April 25.

2010s

alex Bartner '10 (alexbartner@yahoo.com) recently performed in a short off-Broadway play entitled Drama Geeks vs. Zombie Cheerleaders, written by Kathryn Walat. The play was one of three short productions performed by 35 NYC teens as part of Keen Teens World Premiere productions of Wayward Loafers Of Gooseberry High, Letters To Kurt, and Drama Geeks vs Zombie Cheerleaders at the Lion Theatre in Theatre Row.

in memoriam

ashbel green, Jr. ’41 died on Tuesday, September 18, in Westerly, RI, at the age of 84. Ash was a widely respected editor in the publishing industry, having sheparded more than 500 books into print as vice president and senior editor at Knopf. He edited fiction, biography, autobiography, history, current affairs, and public policy, and had a reputation for balancing discretion in altering an author’s language with a distate for the most minute mistakes. We fondly remember Ash’s contributions to Allen-Stevenson, as an alumnus and a parent. Most recently, he gave the address at the School’s Closing Exercises in 2001. Ash is survived by his wife, Ms. Betsy Osha; his son, Tony Green ’79; his daughter, Alison Green; his stepdaughters, Shaw Osha Flores and Steuart Osha; four grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.

aPron on the line

by Ryan Umane ’00, contestant, MasterChef on FOX

alex mahedy ’11 (hockey_player@me.com), along with Headmaster David Trower and several other members of the Allen-Stevenson community, attended an all-day diversity conference at The Dalton School on May 19. The conference, attended by 18 NYC independent schools, kicked off with keynote speaker Wes Moore, author of The Other Wes Moore, and was followed by workshops that focused on each school’s challenges and best practices in the area of diversity initiatives. “The conference was wonderful.” Alex reflected, “It became so much more than just about diversity. It really helped me learn a lot about myself. I found Mr. Moore's talk simply mesmerizing. In fact, I plan on attending Riverdale’s graduation, just to hear him speak again.”

sam sen ’11 (sensamsin123@aol.com) and Daniel wayland ’11 (dway229@aol.com) participated in the “Let’s Make It Better” campaign video at NYC’s Trinity School. The 9 minute film features students and faculty at Trinity speaking out in support of their gay friends and peers. matthew schnitzer ’13 (mpschnitzer@gmail.com) has been cast in the Grace Church School’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He’ll be playing Oberon and Theseus.

Cameras, bright lights, sharp knives and three of the most distinguished palates on the planet…talk about pressure. Not many people have the opportunity to showcase and develop their passion in front of millions of people, but I have been one of the lucky ones. My experience as a contestant on FOX’s reality cooking competition, MasterChef, was a rollercoaster of emotions that I will never forget. I walked away with two mystery box challenge wins under my belt, lasting friendships, and an enormous amount of culinary knowledge. Yes, it was heart wrenching to be eliminated – twice – by celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay, but I met some incredibly talented people, learned new skills, and further explored my love for cooking.

Before being on national TV, the last time I was in the spotlight was dressed as a girl for Gilbert and Sullivan’s Mikado. I was determined to make all of my fans back home - not to mention the great Monica Matthew - proud by delivering the most complex, creative dishes possible within the time constraints. Prior to going on the show, I prepared by experimenting with different flavors and cuisines. I devoured cookbooks, consumed culinary programming, and inhaled food blogs in a quest for the most valuable asset - information. There were 50,000 applicants vying for the opportunity to win MasterChef, so I knew I had to bring my A-Game. With a mere 60 minutes, I had to tune out the cameras, judges, and other contestants and trust my instincts. Enthusiasm, determination, and creativity; traits forged during my tenure at A-S proved instrumental in helping me succeed. I treated my competitors as if they were the Buckley football team, but equipped with aprons and cast iron skillets instead of jerseys and shoulder pads. The MasterChef experience has changed my life. It's flattering to be stopped on the street by strangers and asked to take pictures, but finding my passion has been the most rewarding part of the journey. With every dish, I tried to convey my desire to become America’s next MasterChef. Many of the dishes are posted on my website FlavorElevator.com and I encourage everyone to try out some recipes and let me know what you think! My drive to elevate classic comfort cuisine stems from wanting to make people happy through food. Currently, I am satisfying my craving by being a personal chef and hosting dinner parties on the Upper East Side. The A-S Community is always welcome and I promise, filet of unicorn will NEVER be on my menu.

L

A M P L I G H T E R

41

DiD yoU know? the lamPlighter highlights FacUlty anD staFF interests oUtsiDe oF allen-stevenson.

stacy Donovan

Stacy Donovan’s theatre company, The Improbable Stage Company was awarded a $20,000 grant this year for its movement theatre work. Its show last June was an adaptation of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, called Shrewd, and AllenStevenson alum Ethan Leff ’11, worked sound and played drums for the show. This year, the company is creating a new movement piece based on the working poor in America with the plan to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. www.improbablestage.org

The Improbable Stage Company

JUlia kUnin

Julia Kunin, Art Department head, has been awarded a Fulbright, and will be a Fulbright Scholar in Hungary from February to June 2013. She will be teaching a seminar at the University of Pécs, as well as doing her own artwork.

Julia Kunin

rie schmiDt & michelle Demko

Rie Schmidt, Flute Instructor, and Michelle Demko, Music Department Head, attended the East Tennessee Suzuki Flute Institute for a wonderful, inspiring week with Toshio Takahashi, founder and author of the Suzuki Flute Method. The Suzuki Method of Talent Education is based on Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's view that every child is born with ability, and that man is the son of his environment. According to Dr. Suzuki, a world-renowned violinist and teacher, the greatest joy an adult can know comes from developing a child's potential so he/she can express all that is harmonious and best in human beings.

Michelle Demko & Rie Schmidt with Toshio Takahashi

thomas verchot

Trumpet teacher, Thomas Verchot, is the principal trumpeter of the Orchestra of the S.E.M. Ensemble and Ostravska Banda. With these groups, he participated in the Beyond Cage Festival, celebrating the centennial of the birth of composer John Cage. Festival concerts were held at Carnegie, Alice Tully, and the Bohemian National Halls. He also performed with the Orchestra of St. John the Divine, playing Bach's B-minor mass and the Orchestra of St. Ignatius Loyola playing Bach's Magnificat.

Tom Verchot with Jonathan Bernstein ’17

40

WIN TER

2 0 1 2

SAVE THE DATE: ALUMNI REUNION WEEKEND Each spring, Allen-Stevenson alumni come together to celebrate and reflect on their time at A-S. With individual class parties on Friday evening, and activities for the whole family to enjoy during the day on Saturday, Reunion Weekend is a chance to reconnect, reminisce, and form new memories that will last a lifetime. The Alumni Council is pleased to announce that this year’s reunion will celebrate the profession of teaching, and the evolution of education at Allen-Stevenson.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013 – REUNION CLASS PARTIES

Private parties for the Classes of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013 – EVENTS FOR ALL ALUMNI

OPEN HOUSE, 11:00AM - 2:00PM • Student-led tours • Rehearsals of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado • Alumni/Faculty basketball game • Refreshments ALL-ALUMNI REUNION DINNER/CELEBRATION, 6:00PM – 8:30PM

www.allen-stevenson.org/reunion

Visit the website to find out the name of your Reunion Class Representative. If you are interested in serving on the Reunion Planning Committee, or helping with your Class Party, contact Anthony Kapp at akapp@allen-stevenson.org.

the allen-stevenson school 132 east 78th street

new york, ny 10075-0381

non-ProFit organization U.s. Postage PaiD new york, ny Permit no. 8048