BB&N Bulletin Summer 2014

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Summer 2014

Inside this issue: i

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Four Faculty Giants Gia Bid Farewell Graduation 2014 201

Weekend 48 Strawberry Wee Highlights


Events Calendar 2014

S e p t e m b er Saturday, September 20 Golden Alumni/ae Lunch Upper School, Gerry’s Landing Campus

Monday, October 6 1974 Leadership Society Reception American Academy of Arts and Sciences Tuesday, October 14 Buckingham Tea Middle School, 80 Sparks Street Sunday, October 19 Head of the Charles Regatta BB&N Boathouse

Nove m b e r Wednesday, November 26 Young Alumni/ae Coffee Upper School, Gerry’s Landing Campus Friday, November 28 Young Alumni/ae Pub Night Location TBD For a complete listing of School events including athletic games, exhibitions, and performances on campus, please visit the events calendar at: www.bbns.org/calendar

NOTE TO PARENTS OF ALUMNI/AE: If this Bulletin was sent to your daughter or son and they have updated contact information, please send us their new address and email. Thank you!

Please send updates to: alumni_programs@bbns.org or Alumni/ae Programs Buckingham Browne & Nichols School 80 Gerry’s Landing Road Cambridge, MA 02138

Summer 2014

October

bulletin

BB&N Homecoming Gerry’s Landing Campus


Letter From the Head 2 Head of School Rebecca T. Upham’s graduation remarks to the Class of 2014

Community News 4 Spring Sports Wrap-Up, Closing Ceremonies, MFA Day, Circus, Distinguished Alumnus/ae Award, Spotlight on the Arts, and more

Features 16 Departing Faculty and Milestones 18

Four BB&N Longtime Faculty Bid Farewell Tributes to Libby Maclaren, Jack Denny-Brown, Sharen Bowden, and Debbie Slade

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Graduation 2014 The Class of 2014 moves on, prizes awarded, and more

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Senior Spring Project The magic of BB&N’s Senior Spring Project glimpsed through the experience of two seniors, Judah Burstein and Melanie Passaretti

Advancing Our Mission 44 BB&N Fund Success, Senior Class Gift, Senior Parents Gift, and Sixth Grade Gift

Alumni/ae News & Notes 48 Alumni/ae News and Notes 59 BB&N in New York City 64 Strawberry Night & Reunion Weekend

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Class of 2014 Legacies Milestones

Director of Communications Joe Clifford, Editor Associate Director of Communications Andrew Fletcher, Senior Editor Communications Assistant Bridget Malachowski, Editor Contributing Writers Alex Ablon Betsy Canaday Joe Clifford Jack Denny-Brown Andrew Fletcher Molly Jackel Sharon Krauss Bridget Malachowski Bev Malone Andrea Martinez Natalie Ralston Janet Rosen Ada Snider Annie Traub Contributing Editors Sherwood C. Haskins Jr. Janet Rosen Alumni/ae News & Notes Andrea Martinez Natalie Ralston Tracy Rosette Katie Small Design & Production Nanci Booth www.nancibooth.com 781-301-1733 Photography/Artwork/Design Andrew Fletcher Peter Gergaly ’72 Bridget Malachowski Eric Nordberg ’88 Caity Sprague Joshua Touster Paul Valente (www.thedrawingboardsigns.com) Vaughn Winchell

Board of Trustees, 2014-2015 Officers Bracebridge H. Young, Jr., Chair Shelly Nemirovsky, Vice Chair/Secretary Charles A. Brizius, Vice Chair David Randolph Peeler, Vice Chair/Treasurer Members J. Stuart Ablon ’88 Leslie Ahlstrand ’08 Beth Myers Azano ’95 Jeffrey Barber James T. Berylson Agnes Bundy Scanlan Joseph Chung Gregory Clark Thomas Dingman Diala Ezzeddine Katie Gayman Mary Beth Gordon Jason P. Hafler ’00 Bob Higgins James P. Honan Andre John ’83 Ken Lang Philip H. Loughlin Erica Gervais Pappendick Janet M. Storella ’74 Jocelyn Sand Clay Stites David J. Thompson ’85 Frederica C. Turner ’91 David Williams ’78 Head of School Rebecca T. Upham Front Cover:

Judah Burstein ’14 and Melanie Passaretti ’14 embody Senior Spring Project. (Chalk mural by Paul Valente— www.thedrawingboardsigns.com. Photography by Joshua Touster— www.joshuatousterphotography.com) Correction:

In the Spring 2014 issue of the Bulletin, trustee David Thompson was incorrectly listed as class year 1986; his correct year is 1985. The location of B&N’s 1969 hockey victory was incorrectly identified as the Bright Hockey Rink.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

www.bbns.org


2014 Commencement Speech from Head of School Rebecca T. Upham Today is an important day for the Class of 2014. This graduation and the diplomas these students will soon receive mark the end of one journey and the beginning of another. This is a moment when everyone here is suspended between the terra firma of BB&N and the world of new adventures. In the past few weeks, there have been many opportunities to talk about this class. We know that this class is a group that is not just spirited but also generous of spirit. We know that their efforts have made BB&N a great place to come to School. Your senior pranks epitomized your collective personality—whether it was an old Saab creeping ever closer to the Upper School entrance or hundreds of balloons swallowing up the front foyer—you always kept us on our toes and usually delighted! Just a few days ago, in this very space, we came together for the Senior Farewell Dinner. One of the messages that evening came from alumnus Miles Grimshaw, Class of 2009. Making an analogy to film-making, Miles spoke about the power that each of us has to change the narrative, the story line of our life. As both director and actor, you can change what you focus on. You can rewrite the script. You can add things, or equally important, take them away. Not only that, but as producer of your own “film,” you have the remarkable ability to decide who’s actually going to appear in your movie. Frame shifts can be big. I’d never have predicted I’d have an interest in the big mammals of the African savannah or the tiny lizards and flowers of the high desert: I was a big mountain person. Nor would I have predicted that I’d be standing where I am today as head of this school: I was a researcher and my field was molecular biology. The image of each of us…each of you…as a triple threat— actor, director, and producer—is a useful one. The paths you will carve, the journeys you will embark on, and the changes

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you’ll compel upon the world around you, are all destinies worthy of the hoopla that typically surrounds a Hollywood summer blockbuster. I also want you to remember that your narrative can jump in unexpected ways. The seniors will recall how Miles recast his own narrative by reaching out to people he didn’t know and inviting them into a conversation about something that was intriguing to him, in one case a TEDx conference. Opportunity isn’t just created. Sometimes it comes knocking. You just need to be open to it. Trajectories change because of chance meetings, left-field opportunities, and sometimes even setbacks. Because of a conversation over grilled chicken at a political fundraiser in Pennsylvania, a good friend became a judge. Volunteering at a running race and a farmer’s market, another pal saw a need to bring together different organizations for a coordinated focus on neighborhood development. The result, in Appleton, Wisconsin, is a collaborative agency and a regional music festival. And my last example: after failing to get re-elected to the state legislature, another good friend threw her hat in the ring for a different race. She’s now the Governor of New Hampshire. So, be open to unusual, even stealth, opportunities. Finally, for all the talk about future film clips you’ll produce, direct, and star in, remember there’s a narrative that’s already been written. For most of you, BB&N plays a major role in anchoring the plotline. Events have unfolded here that you will remember well: Biv, the all-star debate, a trip abroad, the Knighting ceremony, a great concert, a gratifying win on the field, Senior Spring Project. What was your favorite? More importantly, and more subtly, the events that will anchor your character, the ones that have shaped your habits, and hearts, and sense of self, are the thousands of interactions you’ve had with teachers and coaches and peers.


Time and again, you’ve been asked to find your own voice and claim it. That will serve you well. And for all we won’t recognize in the motion pictures yet to unfold, I bet we will recognize the essential qualities and characteristics of the stars. We know you have the tools, the skills, the qualities of heart and mind to take the future by storm. And I hope you will do it with one of the values taught and embodied by your teachers: that of unparalleled passion.

Here today, I join the faculty in sending our heartfelt congratulations, best wishes, and affection to this very special class. My charge to you, as you accept the responsibility and opportunity that comes with this diploma, is that you by live by the motto of this great school: honor, scholarship, kindness. We know you’re ready. Now, let’s roll the tape.

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Families Celebrate the Arts at MFA Day This spring, BB&N families and friends were invited to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to enjoy the 21st Annual MFA Day. This esteemed tradition celebrates art and music from BB&N’s three campuses with a vibrant student art exhibit as well as student musical performances. Families perused the artwork by Lower, Middle, and Upper School students, took part in hands-on art activities, and listened to performances by accomplished student musicians. As part of the school’s longstanding collaboration with the MFA, BB&N families received free admission to the other exhibits at the museum for the day, and were able to enjoy guided gallery tours led by Upper School students.

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This year’s celebration was particularly poignant as it marked the final MFA Day organized by Lower School art teacher Sharen Bowden, who bids farewell this summer after 22 years at BB&N.

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PICTURED [ 1 [ Fotis Zafiriou ’23 performs on the violin at MFA Day. [ 2 [ Sonja PeetzLarsen ’26 and Zoe Orlando ’26 pose at one of the many walls of student art. [ 3 [ Lower School art teacher Sharen Bowden and Head of School Rebecca T. Upham [ 4 [ Students gather on the Lower School field at the Harvest Festival. [ 5 [ Geoffrey Goose ’20 lines up a pitch in the annual kickball game.

Lower School Comes Together in Inaugural Harvest Festival This spring the Lower School campus hosted its first-ever Harvest Festival, a daylong celebration centered on the harvesting of the Lower School gardens. Organized by the science faculty, the day featured myriad activities for every class, including vegetable catapults, bracelet making, chalk murals, field games, bubble blowing, and numerous others. Beyond the activities themselves, a highlight of the event was the interplay between the younger and older grades. Sixth graders were able to step into mentor roles to help facilitate activities for the younger classes, and the lower grades loved participating with their older “classmates.” The day culminated with the annual faculty vs. sixth grade kickball game. The event saw longtime teacher Jack Denny-Brown wield his rubber chicken as the umpire for the last time in his bittersweet farewell to the game. In typical fashion, the students were able to cobble together a victory with some help from the raucous cheering of the younger grades.

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Community News 1

BB&N Celebrates 63rd Annual Circus For more than six decades the Circus has been offering family fun to students, parents, and alumni/ae of all ages and this year was no different. The Lower School campus hosted the daylong festival of rides, bouncy houses, obstacle courses, a dunk tank, various games, arts and crafts, food, music and entertainment. Hundreds of families from across BB&N’s three campuses joined the festivities and raised money for the School’s financial aid program.

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[ 1 [ Ethan Miner ’25 and Ethan Sidman ’24 partake in one of the many Circus games. [ 2 [ Katie Worthington ’23 plays on a bouncy structure. [ 3 [ Chloe Rankel ’26 gets festive with some face paint. [ 4 [ Madden Pilkerton ’19 braves the mechanical bull.

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Maypole Ceremony Ushers in Spring Few things denote the arrival of spring more than the Lower School’s annual Maypole celebration. On a sunny afternoon, parents, faculty, and students gathered in the courtyard to partake in this tradition dating back to the Buckingham School days. In addition to the much anticipated Maypole dance by the fifth graders, the third grade performed a Cambodian coconut dance and the fourth grade performed an Indian stick dance. All performances were accompanied by Lower School musicians.

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Eight Seniors Named as National Merit Scholarship Finalists Each year approximately 1.6 million students sit for the Practice SAT (PSAT) administered in October of their third year of high school. Based on their academic records throughout high school as well as their performance on the PSAT, the top 1 percent of those students will advance to “finalist standing.” This year BB&N was honored and privileged to announce that eight seniors were named National Merit Scholarship Finalists in recognition of their academic promise and distinguished performance in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2013: Rachel Deal ’14

Jeremy Grill ’14

Zachary Lovett ’14

Henry Ritter ’14

Shayna Goldberger ’14

Michaela Kane ’14

Aaron Orbey ’14

Skylar Smith ’14

Aaron Orbey ’14 Garners Prestigious Presidential Scholar Distinction BB&N is proud to share that Aaron Orbey ’14 has been recognized as a Presidential Scholar, a prestigious honor bestowed upon only three other students in the history of the School. Established in 1964 by executive order of the President, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors scholars based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. This June, Orbey traveled to the White House to be honored in an awards ceremony as one of only three Presidential Scholars from Massachusetts and one of 141 nationwide this year. Orbey, who named Upper School English teacher Althea Cranston as his most influential teacher, joins three other BB&N alumni/ae to have earned this honor: Vaishali Bakshi ’86, Jennifer Gelfand Church ’89, and Michelle Siao ’05. Orbey thanked the BB&N community for providing him the opportunity to receive such an honor: What strikes me most about the faculty with whom and from whom I’ve learned in four years at the Upper School is a remarkable ability to transfer passion and teach perseverance. I came to 80 Gerry’s Landing Road aware of the possibilities here but still intimidated by their breadth. I liked English, liked math, and liked theater. But as an eighth-grader bracing for Bivouac and a new campus, I was preoccupied. I worried first and foremost about building latrines and getting lost. I didn’t imagine what I could do here, what the teachers and people here could eventually help me do: work on a novel of my own, foray into linear algebra, lead in a student Shakespeare production alongside diversely talented actors. Reflecting now on BB&N before I pursue a gap year—almost as daunting, in its unfamiliarity, as was Bivouac years back—I’m happy that I’ve learned to try new things. But I’m also happy that I’ve learned to stick with what I like but might not yet know I love, a process often scarier than trying new things. Without this perseverance, I might have stopped liking English, liking math, liking theater. Without this perseverance, I might have stopped seeking new perspectives, new expressions of what I was learning at school. I owe this perspective to more BB&N teachers than I could name—not least of all Ms. Cranston, Ms. Kornet, and Ms. Krauss, whose tutelage has reminded me I never want to stop writing. So, being named a Presidential Scholar is a huge, exciting honor. But sharing that honor with the mentors who have spurred me toward it is my huge, exciting pleasure. - Aaron Orbey ’14

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Aaron Orbey ’14 with English teacher Althea Cranston


Community News Peter Beinart ’89 Receives Distinguished Alumnus Award This year’s Strawberry Night celebration featured special guest speaker Peter Beinart ’89, who was present to accept the School’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. A prolific journalist, editor, author, and commentator, Beinart has influenced policy makers and popular audiences alike with his sophisticated analyses, original ideas, and powerful prose. Beinart graduated from Yale University and earned a Rhodes scholarship for graduate study at University College, Oxford. Soon after, Beinart became The New Republic’s managing editor in 1995. He rose to senior editor in 1997 and from 1999 to 2006 served as the magazine’s editor.

As one poignant example, Beinart recalled his relationship with Director of Multicultural Services Lewis Bryant as an early, unknowing turning point in the writing of his third book, The Crisis of Zionism. In writing the book, which former President Bill Clinton called “a deeply important book for anyone who cares about Israel,” Beinart found himself exploring the Jewish-Palestinian divide in the West Bank of Israel, often putting him in contact with Palestinians who disagreed with his point of view. It was a position that brought Beinart back to the many hours spent with Mr. Bryant at BB&N discussing race relations and acceptance of differences. “It was Lewis Bryant who first gave me the confidence to believe that I could cross the boundaries that separated me from people I feared,” Beinart said, in reference to a moment when he struck up a friendship with a young Palestinian activist. “I’m not sure I had ever talked to Mr. Bryant about Israel. And yet the fact that I was sitting there on that day [with a Palestinian] owed a great deal to him.”

Currently an Associate Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the City University of New York, Beinart is also a contributor to The Atlantic and National Journal, a senior columnist at Haaretz, a CNN political commentator, and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. He has Beinart’s achievements are written for The New York certainly his own, but he credits Times, The Wall Street Journal, large part the scholarship and in Financial Times, The Boston from his time at BB&N relationships Peter Beinart ’89 (center) with his Distinguished Alumnus Award as Die Slate, Globe, Newsweek, upon which they foundation the as presented by Head of School Rebecca T. Upham (right) and Todd Zeit, and Frankfurter Allgebuilt. are Harrison ’77, Chair of the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award Committee meine Zeitung. In addition to publishing three highly “What BB&N did for me—through teachers like Mrs. Kaufman, regarded books, Beinart has also has appeared on “This Week with Mr. Leith, and Mr. Bryant—is plant seeds. I may not always have George Stephanopoulos,” “Charlie Rose,” “Meet the Press,” “The realized they were being planted. Some have taken decades to Colbert Report,” and many other television programs. germinate. And when they have, they haven’t always taken the form that I—or they—might have expected. But decades later, I am still Beinart sentimental, and humorous both was that In a speech benefiting from, and trying to live up to, the intellectual and moral spoke to the quality of teaching at BB&N, noting that “the thing I example that I learned here. And for that I am profoundly grateful.” remember most vividly about BB&N are the teachers.” Targeting such examples as Bryant legends as Linda Kaufman, Rob Leith, and Lewis of the many mentors who shaped his career and personal development, For a full manuscript of Beinart’s remarks, please visit www.bbns.org/beinart. Beinart discussed singular moments with each teacher.

After 24 years as head varsity wrestling coach, Upper School math teacher Tom Randall turned in his headgear at the end of this year. The highly respected teacher-coach was honored at BB&N’s spring sports assembly with a plaque from the ISL.

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Marina Keegan ’08 Book Published to Great Acclaim; Tour Includes BB&N Visit Class of 2008 alumna Marina Keegan’s life tragically was cut short in a 2012 automobile accident. In the two years since that terrible day in May, the writer’s words have made a remarkable impact on more than a million readers in a manner that has transcended borders and generations. With the publication this April of her book of essays and stories, The Opposite of Loneliness by Scribner Press, Keegan’s unique voice and passionate, exuberant regard for the world around her have been masterfully collected for posterity. The book immediately captured the attention of the reading public, at one point reaching number two on the Amazon best seller list. Keegan’s story has been covered in a Nicholas Kristof piece in The New York Times, as well as on The Boston Globe’s front page. Her book was named an Editor’s Choice in The Chicago Tribune and has received critical acclaim from scores of reviewers, including O Magazine, People, Salon, and The New Republic, to name a few. In celebration of Keegan’s legacy, her good friend and classmate Luke Vargas ’08, Yale Professor Anne Fadiman, and Keegan’s parents, Tracy and Kevin, joined together this spring to conduct a book tour and public readings. In early May, they came to BB&N for a poignant reading in front of a standing-room-only crowd of students and teachers. The reading resonated powerfully for BB&N students, who felt an understandable kinship with both Marina’s story and her work. Other well-attended readings in the area were held at the Wellesley Bookstore, the Brookline Booksmith, and the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge. Keegan’s parents, Tracy and Kevin, were grateful for the opportunity to share their daughter’s voice in such a meaningful way. “We want to thank everyone for the deeply meaningful outpouring of love and support you have given our family during these difficult last two years. Your contribution to the Marina Keegan Memorial Fund and the resulting Summer Fellowship has lifted our spirits as we believe that many of Marina’s own goals and aspirations will be achieved through the students who are awarded this opportunity each spring. (See news item below.) The fellowship not only inspires the individual winners and bolsters their outreach programs, but it also nurtures the entire BB&N community.” TOP: English teacher Beth McNamara and Yale Professor Anne Fadiman with Keegan’s book, The Opposite of Loneliness. BOTTOM: Luke Vargas ’08 reads a humorous passage from one of Keegan’s stories.

Murphy and Zhang Honored With Marina Keegan ’08 Summer Fellowships This spring, two BB&N students, Molly Murphy ’15 and Michelle Zhang ’15, were named the second annual recipients of the Marina Keegan ’08 Summer Fellowship. The fellowships honor Class of 2008 alumna Marina Keegan. In keeping with Keegan’s indomitable spirit and drive to make a difference in the world, the grants will allow Murphy and Zhang to pursue opportunities that benefit different communities and to experience life to its fullest in challenging and philanthropic endeavors. This summer Murphy is working with the Boston Children’s Foundation, assisting in its dance classes and dance therapy work. These dance classes foster a sense of “community, social empathy, self-confidence, and self-regulation,” as well as early intervention programs for disadvantaged youth. She is co-teaching classes in Cambridge, Malden, and South Boston, as well as traveling to New Jersey to work with communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy and with children struggling with violence in their schools. Zhang is working with the Dandelion Middle School in the DaXing District of Beijing, China, this summer. This nonprofit institution educates migrant children from the 7th-9th grade and works on nurturing the character of these students. Zhang plans to help strengthen this goal by creating art with the students to refurbish the school, teaching English language to the students, and living alongside them. 8

Molly Murphy ’15, Tracy Keegan, and Michelle Zhang ’15


Community News Upper School Students Shine in Whodunit Spring Play Was it the Southern belle with a secret? The fame-seeking playwright? A scoop-hungry reporter? Or, perhaps the mysterious handyman with a concealed gun? And what about the disgruntled employees at the struggling publishing firm whose president has just been found dead at his desk? Questions such as these and laugh-out-loud humor rained from the stage at the Upper School spring play, a witty “whodunit” called It’s Murder in the Wings! by Pat Cook. Under the direction and production (respectively) of math teacher Janna Kerpelman and theater teacher Mark Lindberg, Upper School students deftly carried out a performance that had audiences busy scratching their heads in mystery when they weren’t too busy giggling at the clever dialogue and nuanced jokes in the script. Murder has never been so much fun!

Middle School Delights in Zombie Prom It’s the classic story of teenage love: boy meets girl, they fall in love, they go steady, boy invites girl to the prom, boy crashes his motorcycle into a nuclear power plant suffering a fiery death only to return to school as a zombie. All of it leads to the age-old question—do you take back your boyfriend as a prom date if he has perished and turned into a zombie? The answer to this and so much more was acted out this spring on the Middle School stage when students danced and sang their way through the musical Zombie Prom. Performed with great energy and impressive choreography and direction, the play literally danced around with archetypal characters; the cool bad boy, the good girl, the cruel principal with a secret, and the callous reporter with a nose for the truth. Throw in a zombie twist, a dose of humor, and some fantastic musical numbers, and the results were more fun than…well, a zombie prom!

Animals Take Center Stage in Sixth Grade Musical This spring the sixth grade students brought to life the world of Doctor Dolittle Jr. and his ability to speak to animals. The numerous animal characters and diverse sets gave the students a wonderful opportunity to create a variety of props and scenery and to wear very eccentric costumes. The musical tells the classic tale of a silly but beloved doctor who realizes he is a better animal doctor than “people doctor,” and asks his pet parrots to teach him how to talk to animals. Under the direction of drama and dance teacher Jenny Lifson and coupled with the musical direction of music teachers Debbie Slade and Ada Park Snider, as well as the incredible support and assistance of many parents and faculty, the students produced a lively performance the audience is not soon to forget. 9


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PICTURED [ 1 [ Baseball: Mike Samko ’14 takes off for second. [ 2 [ Softball: Krissy May ’14 watches while Courtney Erickson ’14 elevates to avoid a slide. [ 3 [ Boys Lacrosse: Connor Hegarty ’14 rips a shot on goal. [ 4 [ Girls Lacrosse: Rebecca Moore ’14 gathers the ball amidst a sea of defenders. [ 5 [ Boys Tennis: Oliver Kendall ’15 unleashes on a forehand. [ 6 [ Girls Tennis: Ania Aliev ’14 connects on a ground stroke [ 7 [ Boys Crew: From left: Jeremy Lewin ’15, Elliot Eton ’14, Alex Evenchik ’17, Ethan O’Reilly ’16, Paul Sand ’16 [ 8 [ Girls Crew: From left: Blaire Hunter ’14, Taylor Richard ’14, Katherine Luniewicz ’14, Liz Martin ’14, and Rachel Deal’14 [ 9 [ Sailing: Michael LaCava ’16 and Robert “Tak” Hogan ’16 lean out during a race.

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Community News Spring Sports Wrap-Up Boys Lacrosse (Record: 3-15)

Softball (Record: 9-6)

s With 14 returning varsity players, this team seemed poised to be a strong competitor in the ISL before being derailed by injuries.

s This stalwart team was “in” every game they played, with just a few flat innings being the difference in every loss.

s Key victories included an 11-6 win over St. Mark’s, a 10-7 defeat of Groton, and a 12-11 triple-overtime thriller against Milton Academy under the lights. Cup Winner: Jim Cochran ’14 All League: RJ Caruso ’14 Honorable Mention: Connor Campbell ’14, Connor Hegarty ’14

s This squad posted an exceptional 8-1 record against other ISL teams, the best effort this decade. Cup Winners: Sara Allan ’14, Courtney Erickson ’14 All League: Courtney Erickson ’14, Sara Lopez-Wheeler ’16, Meaghan O’Brien ’17 Honorable Mention: Shannon Griffin ’17

Sailing (Record: 2-6) Girls Lacrosse (Record: 5-11) s This determined but young team continued to improve throughout the course of the season despite facing tough league competition and injuries. s Rebecca Moore ’14 and Kristina Cartwright ’16 were selected by opposing coaches to represent BB&N at the NEPSWLA AllStar game. Cup Winner: Rebecca Moore ’14, Skylar Smith ’14 Honorable Mention: Kristina Cartwright ’16, Rebecca Moore ’14, Maia Noyes ’17

Boys Tennis (Record: 17-6) s Season highlights included a twelve-match win streak, and winning matches against St. Paul’s 4-1 and Belmont Hill 4-3 to advance to the finals of the New England Class B Tournament.

s Led by captains Jack Marshall ’14 and Cindy Yang ’14, this team pulled together late in the season for a very respectable 3rd place finish in the Mass Bay League team race tournament. s Other highlights included qualifying for and competing in the O’Day Trophy (New England Fleet Race Championship) at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. Cup Winners: Jack Marshall ’14, Cindy Yang ’14

Golf (Record: 12-3-1) s This team pledged to go from worst to first in the ISL this year and incredibly realized that dream when Chloe DiPetrillo ’15 sank a four-foot putt on the last hole of their final match to give BB&N a share of the ISL title for the first time in School history.

s Under the leadership of seniors Zach Lovett and Adam Carlson, the team placed second in the New England Class B Tournament to a tough team from the Hopkins School.

s Other highlights included Chris Bornhorst ’16 posting a near perfect 15-1 record and Sophie DiPetrillo ’15 being one of two players to shoot even par in the Kingman Tournament and being unanimously selected as a Globe All Scholastic.

Cup Winner: Zach Lovett ’14 Honorable Mention: Zach Lovett ’14

Cup Winner: Juan Yanes ’14 All League: Chris Bornhorst ’16, Sophie DiPetrillo ’15

Girls Tennis (Record: 10-6)

Baseball (Record: 19-3)

s After a season of building, refining, and competing to the highest degree, this young team has gained the experience and poise to compete well in the 2015 season.

s BB&N baseball maintained its tradition of excellence by completing an 18th consecutive winning season under the leadership of co-captains Cam O’Neill ’14 and Mike Samko ’14, and seniors Nick Sadler, Josh Wong, Tim Grogan, Will Davis, and Alejandro Lopez-Wheeler.

s Highlights included an impressive 8-7 comeback victory over a stellar St. Paul’s team. Cup Winner: Ania Aliev ’14 Honorable Mention: Ania Aliev ’14

Boys Crew s Despite a tough season, this team carried themselves with pride and determination despite losing 75% of the previous year’s varsity rowers.

s This squad entered the season ranked number three in New England, and lived up the ranking with a stellar 19-3 record. Highlights included quality victories over Milton, St. Sebastian’s, and Rivers. Cup Winner: Michael Samko ’14 All League: Cole O’Connor ’15, Cameron O’Neill ’14, Nick Sadler ’14, Michael Samko ’14 Honorable Mention: Isaiah Berg ’15, Dan Metzdorf ’15

s Personified by a dogged scrappiness, no one outworked these rowers on the water. Cup Winner: Jeremy Grill ’14 11


Lower School Closing Ceremony Marks Exciting Transition for Sixth Graders Faculty and parents gathered in the Lower School Gymnasium this spring to celebrate the sixth grade’s transition from the Buckingham Street campus to the Middle School. Head of School Rebecca T. Upham opened the proceedings by wishing the students a fantastic summer and noting her “great aspirations” for the Class of 2020. Upham also left the students with some homework, assigning them the tasks of “reflecting, making time to laugh and sing, and of course, to eat ice cream.” Lower School Director Shera Selzer then delivered a sincere farewell, recalling the pride and the privilege she felt throughout the students’ time at the Lower School. “I was honored to watch your character develop, and your spirits grow,” Selzer noted. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” The ceremony featured performances by the Lower School orchestras, songs by the fifth and sixth grades, and a slideshow dedicated to the Crimson Academy in Rwanda, whose students the sixth graders selflessly sponsored throughout the year.

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After the certificates had been handed out to the sixth graders, fifth graders made the symbolic transition into the sixth graders’ vacated seats, with high hopes of living up to the legacy of their departing peers.

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[ 1 [ Nick Ullian ’20 receives his certificate and a hug from math teacher Michael Cassin. [ 2 [ Fiona Higgins ’20, Amanda Dotel ’20, Amy Khoshbin ’20, and Kelsey Ji ’20 [ 3 [ Lower School music teacher Debbie Slade conducts students at the closing. [ 4 [ Lower School Director Shera Selzer congratulates Layla Mathieu ’20. [ 5 [ Ben Raymond ’20, Philip Liu ’20, and Etienne Aust ’20 [ 6 [ Zoe Kemper ’20 and Grace Vincent ’20

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Community News Class of 2018 Bids Farewell to Middle School Driven by rain into the Upper School Nicholas Athletic Center instead of their usual courtyard beside the Middle School, BB&N eighth graders, families, and faculty gathered this spring to celebrate the Class of 2018. “We had some weather,” laughed Middle School Director Mary Dolbear. “But if any class can handle it, it’s this bunch.” Dolbear continued to laud the eighth graders, calling them “a remarkable class” notable for being “a fun, kind, and tight-knit group.” Head of School Rebecca T. Upham marked the occasion with a Helen Keller quote pointing out the opportunities intrinsic to any transition: “though one door of happiness closes, another opens.” Student speakers Margaret Foot ’18 and John Floros ’18 also delivered touching summations of the year to their peers, but the ceremony hit a poignant peak when longtime art teacher Libby Maclaren addressed the audience on the eve of her retirement after 36 years at the Middle School. Maclaren encouraged students to look for the positive and to realize that change in the world comes from individuals and single acts, noting that no gesture is too small. “Congratulations on two amazing years,” Maclaren closed her remarks. “This School has allowed me to follow mine, I hope that each of you will find a path and follow your dreams.”

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PICTURED [ 1 [ Claudia Inglessis ’18, Jeremy Tang ’18, Miriam Feldman ’18, John Floros ’18, Robert Tearney ’18 [ 2 [ Retiring Middle School art teacher Libby Maclaren shares an emotional moment with Middle School Director Mary Dolbear after Maclaren’s touching speech at the ceremony. [ 3 [ Middle School Spanish teacher Jorge Senabre presents a certificate to Irfan Chaudhuri ’18. [ 4 [ Lauren Bernier ’18, Brooke Shachoy ’18, and Olivia Friend ’18 [ 5 [ Middle School students opened the ceremony with a rocking performance. [ 6 [ John Lyons Brown ’18, James Hauswirth ’18, Aidan Park ’18, Chris Attisani ’18, Cooper Wolff ’18, Max Kemper ’18, and Ben Blackburn ’18

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Alumni/ae Spotlight on the Arts Film s Video s Theater s Photography s Books s Ceramics s Music s Design s Sculpture s Drawing s Painting s Architecture

Daniel Patterson ‘86, Chef, Author, Restaurateur [ 1-3 [ Daniel Patterson ’86 is a chef, restaurateur, and author. He moved to California in 1989 and in 1994, when he was 25 years old, he opened his first restaurant in Sonoma, Babette’s. In 2000, he opened Elisabeth Daniel in San Francisco, and it was nominated “Best New Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation in 2001. Daniel’s restaurant group, DPG, now oversees five locations: Coi (2006) and Alta, CA (2013) in San Francisco, and Ume, Plum Bar (2010) and Haven (2011) in Oakland. His flagship, two-Michelin-star restaurant, Coi, mixes modern culinary techniques with local ingredients to create dishes that speak of place, memory, and emotion. This approach has earned him a worldwide reputation as a pioneer of a new kind of California cuisine. He is also the co-founder of The Cooking Project, a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to teaching kids and young adults fundamental cooking skills. Patterson has received numerous awards and accolades, including “Best New Chef” by Food & Wine Magazine in 1997 and “Chef of the Year” by San Francisco Magazine in 2007. In the spring of 2014, Coi was recognized among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants (#49) and Daniel was awarded “Best Chef: West” by the James Beard Foundation. In addition, Daniel speaks at culinary conferences across the globe and is a member of the culinary collectives Cook It Raw and Gelinaz!. His food writing has been published in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Financial Times, San Francisco Magazine, and Lucky Peach. His book, Coi: Stories and Recipes (Phaidon) was published in October 2013. Jonathan Epstein ’73, Actor, Educator [ 4-5 [ Jonathan Epstein ’73 writes, “This is an extraordinarily busy time in what has already been an eventful year. Last September I joined the faculty at the Asolo Conservatory of Florida State University—the FSU M.F.A. program based in Sarasota, where I’m teaching Shakespeare performance to the second-year M.F.A. candidates—very rewarding work. “Meanwhile, this summer I’m back home at Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshires, performing in two plays and directing one of them —the first time I’ve directed and acted in the same production. It’s a fantastic challenge, since it also involves adapting two plays into one evening of theatre. We’re presenting both parts of Henry IV as one event. Part One, which features young Prince Hal’s adventures with Falstaff, and the glamorous life and death of Harry (the Hotspur) Percy, is performed with some frequency, but Part Two, which is much more episodic and bucolic, lacking any battles of note and ending with the death of Henry IV and the succession of Henry V, is hardly ever seen. The process of adaptation requires that we distill the material so that it’s never less than vivid, even when it’s unfamiliar. “I’ve written elsewhere about our relationship here in America with the Shakespeare History Plays (for one example, see pages 68-69 of this season’s playbill: http://www.shakespeare.org/performances/welcome-letter/2014-season-playbill) but in a larger sense, this is my first attempt to deal as director with drama from a new philosophical standpoint. We often think of ‘Drama’ as meaning ‘conflict’ and without some sort of struggle for ascendancy we don’t always see something as dramatic. For nearly a 100 years actors have been trained to think in terms of ‘Objectives’ and ‘Obstacles’ and all too often one actor’s obstacle turns out to be the fellow actor standing across the stage. But it seems to me, as I look at the world, that what humankind universally yearns for is not dominance, at least not in the first instance, but to love, and to be loved. The tragedy of the world, and the true story if we tell history truly, is how rarely this yearning is followed with success. “So, as we approach the Henry plays, we’re approaching them as the story of what we’re calling ‘Love, and what gets in the way.’ Accordingly, the actors and in turn their characters are striving toward one another rather than seeing one another as obstacles. 14


Please send submissions to alumni_programs@bbns.org or mail to BB&N Alumni/ae Programs Office

They are striving for accommodation and synthesis even in scenes which are argumentative in form. The results so far are extremely thought-provoking. No matter how well we strive in this manner, we find that our circumstances, our individual histories, our particular limitations, do indeed get in the way, and the conflict which ensues is all the more poignant for having been so sincerely struggled against. In this way we as artists serve to reflect and illuminate the world as we ought. How many of us, for instance, want nothing more from our parents than their approval and nothing more from our children than that they surpass us in achievement and joy? And how rarely are we able to express those yearnings in a way which can be heard? So, in the Henry plays, which more than anything else are the stories of parents and children reaching for one another with passion and notwithstanding so often missing or misunderstanding, we have a real chance to shine a light on how humankind really is.”

[ 1 [

[ 2 [

[ 3 [ [ 5 [

[ 4 [

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Departures Alex Ablon – Director of the BB&N Fund

Nicole Korodi – Grade Two Homeroom

Zoe Balaconis – Upper School English

Heather LaRocca – Middle School Science

Stephanie Donohue – Upper School Library

Anne Mackay – Lower School Reading Specialist

Cara Falconi – Middle School Academic Support Specialist

Sharon Mathieu – Grade Six Homeroom

Rebecca Geary – Lower School Associate Director of Admission

Esther Miranda – Lower School Program Director

and former co-interim Lower School Director

Binal Patel - Beginners

Heidi Hogden – Upper School Art

Sam Prouty – Upper School English

Amanda Jones – Upper School History

Lesley Robbins - Beginners

Melissa King – Upper School Science

Dottie Williams -Middle School Library Assistant

Milestones 40 years of service Bill Rogers Middle School History Chair

35 years of service Carter Donovan Lower School Mathematics Margaret Hardy ’61 Middle School World Languages Chair Rob Leith Upper School English/Art History

30 years of service Libby Kenney Lower School Physical Education Anne Mackay Lower School Reading Specialist

Sharon Mathieu Grade Six Homeroom

Kathy Newell Assistant Director of Athletics

25 years of service Althea Cranston Upper School English Joe Horning Upper School Choral Music I’man Solomon Lower School Art

20 years of service Sandy Dow Upper School Head Librarian Rick Foresteire ’86 Director of Athletics Louise Makrauer Upper School History/Grade 12 Dean Peggy Payne Upper School Mathematics Amanda Jones Upper School History

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Rebecca Geary Lower School Associate Director of Admission and former co-interim Lower School Director

Laura Tangusso Upper School Art


Rob Leith, Upper School English and Art History

Margaret Hardy ’61, Middle School World Languages Chair

Bill Rogers, Middle School History Chair

Carter Donovan, Lower School Mathematics

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D E PA R T I N G FAC U LT Y by Betsy Canaday, Middle School English teacher and department chair

From 1978 up to her final day this past June, Libby Maclaren’s classroom was a place of creativity and self-discovery for thousands of students. To cross the threshold into her classroom was to enter a world slightly apart from the bustling pace of the middle school day. In addition to the students’ in-progress ceramic pieces on the shelves all around the room, Libby covered the walls of the old, slant-ceilinged upper story of the carriage house with pictures of art from several cultures and time periods. There was a distinct focus on pottery from the American Southwest, the culture that most inspires Libby, and she brought her passion for the Southwest to her students. Her Goddess Project for the eighth grade and Storyteller Project for the seventh grade are almost as legendary in the Middle School as Libby herself.

There was, though, a particular feeling in this space that was not attached to any specific project or culture, and it is hard to name. It had to do with a sense of belonging, of possibility, and most of all, connection. These are abstract ideas, but a true and palpable experience for anyone who has been to CH3. Geordie Mitchell, BB&N’s Director of Enrollment, noticed it right away when he first came to BB&N. “I have given admission tours in several different schools for twenty-three years, and Libby’s space was my favorite of any I have had the privilege to visit on a regular basis. She successfully channeled the creative energy of middle school students (no easy task) by sharing her unique personality that exudes calmness and peace.” There really was something spiritual in the space that Libby created, and it extended beyond the art classes. “Ms. Maclaren is amazing,” Miriam Feldman told the Middle School community in her eloquent farewell to her beloved teacher. “And up in CH3 she created a sanctuary unlike any other place on the Middle School campus. I think the little ways she brought positivity to so many of us here made Ms. Maclaren most special. All over campus she brought happiness and peace to our community on a daily basis.” Libby started each class with the singing bowl to get her students centered. It worked. By asking students to look into themselves quietly and reflectively, she was able to draw out the best in them and in their artwork. She was always there, moving about the room, expertly helping students with their technique. But her influence was always deeper than simply honing students’ skills with clay. Jane Moulding, the Middle School director from 1991 to 2002, recognized that the real gift Libby gave her students was herself. “Libby’s energy in the interest of middle school students was phenomenal. She is above all a true artist, someone who lives in the seams of creativity and imagination—and she demonstrated that every day with her colleagues and her students. I love Libby most in the classroom, her shirt covered in paint and clay, her hands moving around a pot, or explaining something on a piece of paper. Coaching students, asking them questions, creating the ideal studio setting, one that inspired, ensured safety for all learners, and challenged students to dig deep and do their best.” Libby’s generosity extended way, way beyond the classroom. In 1998, she pioneered our Middle School Community Service Program, a model that became the prototype of our Community Service Program today. In the very early days, however, before it was a campus-wide initiative, Libby inspired students to volunteer to cook meals for the women at the St. Paul’s Shelter in Dorchester. Although it was a small, passionate group of volunteers to actually do the cooking and travelling, 18


L i b by Mac l a ren Middle School Ceramics: 1978-2014

Libby galvanized the entire Middle School toward the effort. Each month, every single homeroom would be involved in gathering ingredients for the meal. Kate Haigney, longtime colleague and friend, remembers, “When the food was gathered every four weeks, Libby and her crew of critical kids would prepare the meals in the MS kitchen by peeling potatoes, chopping salad, partially baking chicken, etc. During those afternoons of preparation, the kitchen would hum with activity and music and laughter. It was a very happy time. Afterwards Libby and the students would lug all of the food into the van and drive off to Dorchester. On the drive to St. Paul’s, Libby would instill in these students deeper understanding, interest, and concern for these women by telling them about their lives and their difficulties and how some of them came to be there. When we’d eventually arrive, Libby and the students would unload everything, finish cooking the meal, and then start serving the women. The part that really got to me (and I never saw this again after I left BB&N) was how the students not only cooked and served the women their dinners, they sat down and dined with them, taking turns with different individuals, talking to the women, listening, telling them stories in response.” Libby created life-altering events—for both her students and those whom they served—in seeming stride. This action, this generosity, is simply who Libby is. Libby has had a profound impact on the Middle School that will last long into the future, partly because she created substantial, vibrant programs that will continue. Mostly though, her impact will last through the people she has changed through her inspiration. Mary Dolbear, director of the Middle School, recognizes Libby’s powerful contribution. “Libby is and will always be a legend on Sparks Street. For the past 36 years, she has been an extraordinary educator and community member. She continually led by example. She appreciated and understood the importance of simultaneously nurturing both community and student development. With her inner light, she was dedicated to creating and protecting a mutually safe, self-affirming space for budding middle school identities.” One of these former students is Baron Langston Sr. ’99. He became close to Libby during his time in her class and as her advisee. His son now attends our Lower School. “Ms. Maclaren is a lifelong friend whom I admire and hold close to my heart. Her absence from the school will be felt greatly, but her impact on the school is etched in stone. I have so many favorite memories with Ms. Maclaren, and I continue to add to them, but one of my new favorites was seeing my teacher and my guidance counselor teaching my son how to make bread from scratch and the proper techniques to knead the dough, how she had his full attention, and he was loving every minute of learning something new. It brought me back to the days when those same hands were showing me how to knead clay, a priceless memory.” Y 19


D E PA R T I N G FAC U LT Y by Beverly Malone, Teacher Training Institute Director and former Lower School Director

For the past twenty-seven years, the “Secret of 5DB” has been lovingly passed down from class to class. Nary a student has divulged its contents even to siblings or parents. As one student remarked, “You just have to wait until the last day of school and if you have been lucky enough to have Mr. DB as your teacher, you will be the recipient of ‘The Secret.’” Caitlin Drechsler, fifth and sixth grade science teacher, said that the students of Mr. DB, or Jack Denny-Brown, “kept the secret because Jack made them feel like he had shared something so special, it was almost magical. You see, those of us who teach fifth graders know that these kids are at the age where the world at large is attempting to stomp out the last glowing embers of their childhood wonder. But, not Jack. He recognizes that glow and fuels the fire. He lets kids know it’s okay to be silly and it’s important to feel wonder and awe. They wonder if maybe Jack really is keeping a pig in that box on the shelf. They wonder if maybe Jack can hear the spirit of that taxidermy marmot speaking to him. Jack has that indefinable, unteachable magic about him that draws every kid in and has them hanging on his every word.”

Jack began teaching fifth grade at BB&N in 1987. For that duration he always resided in the corner room at the entrance of the Lower School Brick Building. He transformed the 20-by-25 foot rectangular space into a haven of high academic standards (the brain) and a caring place to grow socially and emotionally (the heart). Jack was an innovator for his time. The educational terms of today—project-based learning, differentiation, or the writing process were implemented into his teaching long before the terms were invented. His Language Arts and Social Studies curricula were meticulously woven together into a fabric of childhood projects. Alexander Sasha Frank ’16, remarked, “I can honestly say that the most fun I’ve had in my twelve years at BB&N has been in Mr. DB’s homeroom. His many projects such as the Explorer Presentation, Book Reports, State Fair, and Research Project shaped me and my friends into creative and resourceful students and it is through those projects I discovered my interest in writing. In his English class, he invited every student to contribute to the discussion and he taught us all to analyze as we read.” Jack’s true love of reading, of storytelling, and analysis of classical literature were bequeathed to his students. He also individualized his teaching and grading from editing every piece of writing a student submitted based on their ability and potential to giving each student an end-of-year certificate for their own exceptional endeavor during the year. Jack explained to the Class of 2014 at the Lifer Party a portion of his educational philosophy: “As a teacher I have to believe that people can change…and they do. It’s called learning. We don’t all come into this world with the same abilities, but school should be a place where you discover what you can do, and you learn to deal with those things which are a challenge.” What Jack could do so well was to make learning interesting and fun. As he said, “If you make learning fun then the children will have fun doing it and then they will reveal something of themselves in the process.” One of those fun activities was the writing and producing of the Thanksgiving assembly, a two-year production called The Crossing and Squanto and eventually a third tale of Lewis and Clark. He was able to ensure that every child would shine during the production, whether it was the grand orator giving a speech, an English bell dancer, or a fine juggler.


Jac k De n ny -Brow n BB&N Fifth Grade Teacher: 1987-2014

Former fifth grade teacher and current librian Lynda Dugas commented, “To Jack, no project was too big. Putting on a revel-type Thanksgiving assembly with 44 fifth graders for the whole school…no problem. Jack made running the annual used book sale look easy, despite collecting and pricing thousands of books. The State Fair evolved into an event for the whole school, complete with a buffet of student- and parent-prepared goodies for prizes. Jack required an interactive game for each project, allowing a bob-for-apples activity for the state of Washington, and tolerating the noise of a pig squeal contest for Tennessee.” Jack incorporated many of his talents and sense of wonder throughout the year. “During the Project REASON (Resource and Environmental Awareness through the Study of Nature) years at the property in New Hampshire,” says Dugas. “Jack played his guitar, juggled at skit night, spent hours on the field playing Frisbee, and told stories around the fire, spinning a tale about Teddy, a one-armed baseball player. Back at school he taught his kids to play skittles, kikit (a childhood game), and refereed many football games on the field.” In addition, who could forget his performance each year as the umpire during the student/teacher kickball game, his array of flannel shirts, his duck call whistle, or Maypole top hat? Many of his students also remembered his rainy day showings of The Twilight Zone. Jack thought it best to show these “edgy” episodes because “it teaches something about the human condition. It teaches you to wonder because no one can know everything.” It will be impossible to replace Mr. DB. As Nicholas Bernier ’16 expressed, “Mr. DB has always been one of my favorite BB&N teachers. With a witty mind and an engaging heart, he taught his students efficiency, balance, and depth in their work.” William Wordsworth wrote, “Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower: We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.” I am pleased to announce that “The Secret of 5DB” will remain behind and be passed on to the next generation of fifth grade students entering the corner room of the Brick Building. This and so much more of Jack will remain in my memory and in the School’s history. Y

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D E PA R T I N G FAC U LT Y by Jack Denny-Brown, retiring BB&N fifth grade teacher

I found Sharen Bowden in her studio in the Markham Building on the Lower School campus as she was packing her belongings in cardboard boxes. Sharen’s studio tells you a lot about her. It is jammed with artifacts, odds and ends from different parts of her life: sea shells, driftwood, art books, dried fungi, bits of birchbark, vases, dried flowers. These items tend to reappear in her students’ art projects. Cards and pictures of her grandchildren and students from the past are tacked to the bulletin boards. Sharen was saving them all—nothing went in the trash! I helped her disassemble one bulletin board next to her desk and we saved the pushpins in a coffee can as the voice of singer Iris Dement wafted softly from the back room.

Sharen arrived at the Lower School in 1992 to teach art and shop, and then, in 1997, she was offered the role of coordinator of the Museum of Fine Arts collaboration. For the past seventeen years, Sharen has taught art to grades one, four, five and six, and simultaneously she has coordinated the MFA program. The collaboration with the MFA was the idea of former head of school Mary Newmann. She wanted to create collaborations with various area institutions. She was also keen on bringing together the three campuses of the school. The MFA collaboration did just that. “Mary Newmann wanted a collaboration of school and community, and the Lower School parents wanted an arts night. So Dan Klatz (former Lower School Director) and I solved the problem by requiring every Lower Schooler to provide an artifact for the exhibition,” Sharen explained. Few people fully appreciate the work that Sharen has done to make this program happen every year for the past seventeen years. She supervised trips to the MFA with every class in the Lower School. On those trips, students initiated their project work for that year. The culmination of this work occurred in May each year when Sharen invited all members of the BB&N community to view and participate in an exhibition of works by every member of the Lower School, and many members of the Middle and Upper schools. Students performed music, Upper School students led tours of the museum, and Middle School art teacher Libby Maclaren brought student sculptors to ply their art. For seventeen years, the event has been an all-school celebration of the arts embraced by all members of the BB&N community.

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After I had removed the final pushpin from the bulletin board, Sharen and I sat down to talk. What exactly does she want the children to learn? Sharen’s response to this question weaves from the philosophical to the concrete and back. The words “connections,” “seeing,” “observing,” “proportion,” and “problem solving” emerge time and again. “I want the kids to see art as a lifelong journey,” she says. “If you’re trying to develop the kids’ aesthetic, you want them to not just gravitate to what they like, but you want them to try a bunch of stuff…and then decide over time what’s worthwhile and be willing to go back to it.” The subject of the “Soul Cake cats” came up. For many years, Sharen led the fourth graders in creating background art for Soul Cake, the fifth grade assembly that occurs each year to celebrate All Saints Day. The background consists of black silhouettes of cats, forty cats, created by the fourth graders. The cats vary enormously from one to the next— cats in all crazy positions and from all angles. I have always admired the cats and wondered how she managed to teach the children to create such expressive, original cats. “How did you do it?” I asked. “I showed them a bunch of images that artists had done, including some cartoons. We listed traits of cats, and we talked about it. We actually spent time thinking about it, and how can you make something that’s flat be expressive. Basically (this is what I do) every day…that’s why observation is so important.”


S h a re n B owde n BB&N Art Teacher: 1992-2014

This “thinking about it” piece keeps recurring with Sharen. Sharen has always begun each class with a demonstration, or what might be called a mini-lesson. It was in these sessions that she communicated the techniques and practices which she felt would be useful for the class’ current project. I talked with Jessie Scheer, a member of this year’s fifth grade about her experiences in Sharen’s class. I asked her what she had done for the MFA project: “We made folk art… kind of sculptures. I painted a glass plate. It was kind of like you could choose what it was you wanted to paint on it. We looked at books and I decided to do owls. Sharen has lots of books around the studio.” I asked her about the mini-lesson at the start of the class; “What do you think is the purpose of that?” “I think she’s trying to motivate us to think of it in a different way than we normally have,” was Jessie’s reply. “I’ve learned that a lot of times when you look at an artist’s painting and you see a tree and the bark you see as brown…if you look closely, you can see purples and blues and different colors that you wouldn’t really have seen right away. So when you’re painting you have to think about different colors that you can add to make it more…realistic.” As Jessie is talking I am thinking of those mini-lessons and the work Sharen has done to encourage the students to observe—clearly, Jessie has learned something valuable here. “By the way, do you still have your plate?” I ask. “Do you know where it is right now?”

Every year, before the MFA exhibition, Sharen displays the finished projects in the hallways of the Brick Building. The students are proud of their work and in the first days of the display many of my students pull me over to show me their work. I have always been struck by the high percentage of fine works which come out of Sharen’s class. In her studio, it’s not just the art superstars who create admirable work. And when it comes time to take their work home, nobody forgets. It is thoughtful, prideful work. At the end of my interview with Sharen we talked about the experience of working with students over a period of years, as she has done, from kindergarten through twelfth grade. “It is a rare privilege to know someone over that span,” she tells me. “Those skills are introduced and reinforced every year and then you see the kids applying it as teenagers…I mean at the MFA day I can see their work in the high school…and many of them worked with me in kindergarten. Not many teachers get to do that.” Over the 22 years she has been here, Sharen has had a major influence on the students at BB&N. She deserves a statue on the Lower School campus, outside the Markham Building, wearing her characteristic denim smock, flecked with paints of all different colors, supervising recess. Countless students who have gone through the Lower School will bring a more mindful, observant approach to everything they do throughout their lives, and though they may not be aware of it, they will owe this to Sharen Bowden who introduced them to their “lifelong journey” in observation and problem solving in art. Y

“I brought it home. It’s on the kitchen counter.” 23


D E PA R T I N G FAC U LT Y by Ada Park Snider, Lower School Music Teacher

Debbie Slade, “BB&N Legend.” Debbie laughed when she heard that phrase used to describe her, but in the life of the Lower School she has been there longer than almost anyone else—37 years. Sixth graders are 12 years old by the time they leave the Lower School—37 years is three times their lifetime! Some of Debbie’s former students are now sending their children to the Lower School, and have introduced the new generation to this legendary teacher. Debbie first came to BB&N as a paid assistant in the Pre-Kindergarten with Alison Curtis, before the name Beginners, before the Lesley internship program was established. To gain experience she left for a year at the Commonwealth American School in Switzerland with Alison and her husband, former Lower School Director, John Curtis. That was 1977. When she returned she became a Lesley intern and ended up teaching in the Morse Building. In that year she taught music to Rachel Hanselman ’89, mother of current student Charlotte Hanselman ’27. Debbie helped organize the first music and movement assembly for first grade, including Faculty Emerita Lenore Lipworth, grandmother of current Kindergarten teacher Ben Goldhaber.

In 1987 Debbie moved on to co-teach the older students with Howard Worona and began 15 years of teaching math to third and then fifth grades. Debbie spent a lot of time with 5th graders, going with them to Project Reason at Camp Marienfeld as a cook, working closely with Jack Denny-Brown to provide music for the fifth grade Thanksgiving plays, and preparing fifth grade students for Soul Cake and Maypole assemblies, traditions continued from the Buckingham School. Former Lower School teacher Mary Beth Fletcher writes, “What parent can ever forget seeing their child step back into time and into the time-honored BBN tradition of the Maypole—a treasured memory that resurfaces every May… evidence of Debbie’s musical magic. Who knew those squirrelly fifth graders could follow directions so well?” Throughout her tenure Debbie provided performance opportunities for students whenever possible—in winter and spring concerts, at BB&N’s MFA day, during open houses for parents, during lunch time recitals, and recently with third grade classes singing the national anthem for Harvard University’s Evening with Champions. “When I recall memories of days at BB&N, there is often music in the background,” says Fletcher. “Especially selections from Debbie’s seasonal concerts or sixth grade graduation ceremonies.”

Kathy Dorkin, former Lower School colleague and longtime Middle School math teacher, recalls Debbie’s profound influence on students in regards to classical music. “Debbie made it possible and even highly likely for many youngsters from 3rd grade on to have the experience of playing in orchestra. She has always been flexible about adapting her ensemble performance to accommodate the instruments the children were studying at any level…exposing the kids to music worth learning as well as to the experience of interacting in a cooperative setting. I have seen students progress from being her concert master to careers in music in college and beyond.” The latter is confirmed by former student Katherine Mackey ’03. “I had her for music class, orchestra, and chorus when I was a Lower School student. At the time, I thought that she was quite strict, but looking back on my experience, I so appreciate everything she taught me. She is the reason I was ready to participate in more advanced orchestras and chamber music groups when I started Middle School. I continued playing the oboe seriously in high school and college and considered becoming a professional musician. I owe much of my love of music to her.” Recent graduate Bunnard Phan ’14 remembers Debbie as being passionate about her work and always willing to do


D e b b i e Sl ade Lower School Music Department: 1977-2014

things for the students. “For instance,” says Phan. “She let me and the other members of my band use the music room for our rehearsals after hours.” Other students recall Debbie as a teacher who masterfully challenged her students to reach and do better. “I remember the time I was mad at her for picking someone else to play the solo. I graduated from Harvard, and have a wonderful life with an ability to accept what happens in life. I had amazing teachers to keep me in line and also anchor me with values. But, I’m still mad at Ms. Slade for that flute solo,” jokes Camille Sze ’95. “I wish her an amazing next chapter…she deserves it.” How did Debbie earn these comments from students? Her colleagues have insights. Former music teacher Cindy Mapes writes that “Debbie has been a deeply dedicated teacher who has inspired the inner musician of so many students over the years! Debbie was always interested in improving her skills as a music teacher and as musician, attending professional development workshops, singing with Chorus Pro Musica and Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and playing recorder in an ensemble.”

I could talk about the high standards you hold as a teacher. I could mention the excellent skills of musicianship you possess. I could even talk about your determination to offer the best to your students with regard to skills and diverse repertoire, and an opportunity for each one to excel. But what mostly comes to mind is your unwavering sincerity and thoughtfulness.” Debbie’s time at BB&N was marked by all of the above sentiments and so much more. Perhaps Adrian Slywotzky ’98, professional musician, conductor, and former student of Debbie’s, sums up the “Debbie experience” best: “I’ve been an orchestral musician my whole life, and it all began in Ms. Slade’s orchestra—I have such vivid and happy memories of playing in her ensemble. She was always so encouraging and supportive (and patient)—she found great ways to challenge all of us and get the best music out of us. I loved playing in her early-morning recorder ensemble, and I remember making the most beautiful harmonies in that group. In my mid-30s now, I can still pick up a recorder and play at the drop of a hat.” We should all be so lucky to have had a teacher like Debbie. Y

Former colleague Kathryn DeMarderosian described Debbie’s professional commitment in a letter: “Debbie, 25


D E PA R T I N G FAC U LT Y

Mireille C ian i Lower School Music Department: 1997-2014 When asked what they remember about Upper School French teacher Mireille Ciani, colleagues and students alike reply with similar themes: her dry, acerbic wit, her dedicated thoughtfulness, her drive and perseverance in working with students, and (of course) her perpetually comic and stubborn struggle to master new technology.

Miklos Pogany Upper School Art and Drawing: 1995-2014 Miklos Pogany’s studio was much more than an art classroom, it was a space where students could come together to create and discover themselves through art. “As a true artist, Miklos understood that art is a way of seeing the world and being in the world as much as it is a technical, formal creation,” says Arts Department Chair John Norton.

C har lie Ruopp Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs: 2007-2014 When a person like Charlie Ruopp retires, the first instinct of colleagues is to call him a “consummate school man.” It’s certainly a fair moniker for Ruopp, whose seven years as assistant head of school for academic affairs at BB&N capped a long and distinguished career spent in public education as a science teacher, soccer coach, and both middle and high school principal. 26


“When Mireille began at BB&N she taught only one class, the one that is given to all new teachers of French, French 3,” recalls French and World Languages Department Chair teacher Cécile Roucher-Greenberg. “It’s not beginners but not advanced; it is the intermediate, undefined ‘level 3.’ But she liked it. It was in this supposedly ungratifying level 3 that Mireille actually made the best connections with students.” From that one stalwart “level 3” French class, Ciani grew into a full-time position and 17 years at the School, in time becoming hugely involved in the Community Service program and helping to create the “Circle of Honor” program. But it was her connections with students that made Ciani such a boon to the School. Class of 2006 graduate Andrea DeMelo encapsulated the type of person Ciani was in an email to the School at the news of her retirement: “Mme. Ciani is a special lady to me. Somehow she roped me into the French program and it was under her tutelage that she propelled me in 2.5 years from French 1 to French 4 AP Language. Her kindness and her awesome dry humor always made me smile. I remember the summer she tutored me to get me from French 1 to French 3. I went to her house in Belmont and she treated me like I was her own family member. I always had a sandwich or treat, and a good iced cold juice to accompany. Mme. Ciani has also kept in touch beyond BB&N. I am a military officer with a combat tour to Afghanistan. She would send me notes of encouragement and that meant the world to me. Merci beaucoup, Mme. Ciani!”

Pogany was instrumental in many endeavors at BB&N: starting the Afternoon Art program in the art trailers before Renaissance Hall was built, teaching sections of drawing/painting, teaching the retooled design/architecture course, and contributing to the invention of a multi-media ninth grade course called Art Across Boundaries. “He wanted to create an environment for art to happen at school,” continues Norton. “Miklos connected to students as people and his teaching had a real positive energy to it…he was exceptional when inspired about something that took art out into the community.” Beyond classrooms, Pogany’s involvement in the community had a powerful impact. He helped unify campuses with the all-school Owl Project, which saw students of all ages creating imaginative iterations of owls. His work on the giant community wall outside the Upper School theater was always engaging, particularly a post-9/11 leaf installation that movingly and imaginatively spoke to the community’s sense of loss. And as a renowned artist in his own right, Pogany contributed numerous paintings over the years to the annual Heart & Hand auction, with his work always fetching high prices for the cause. “Mr. Pogany is a wild, unique soul. Of all the great teachers I had at BB&N, none of them meant more to me than him,” says April Behnke ’02. “Any free moment I could get, I was in those tiny studios with Mr. P. His openness, curiosity, ample sense of humor, blunt honesty, generosity, warmth, fearless nature, loyalty, and support had a huge effect on me. Thinking of him now, even after all these years, brings back a flood of wonderful and hilarious memories. I couldn´t forget him if I tried, and I certainly would never want to.”

Although Charlie might not be all that well known in the broader BB&N community because he wasn’t teaching in classrooms or coaching on fields, his impact on the teaching and learning mission of this school has been incalculable. Charlie liked to call it “how we go about doing the real work of schools.” His tireless support of this “real work” tended to center around a quote in which he put great stock: “Nothing is as important for student learning as the individual teacher and what that person knows, believes, and can do.” Sometimes—for instance, when Charlie was at his most “visible”—that tireless support took the shape of partnering with Head of School Rebecca T. Upham to spearhead major, far-reaching initiatives such as the E.E. Ford Academic Achievement study, the NEASC 10-year reaccreditation, schoolwide curricular reviews, and substantial bolstering of professional development opportunities for faculty. But it was Charlie’s quieter work that left an even greater mark on his colleagues and on the art of teaching and learning at BB&N. For his counterparts at the School, Charlie was a touchstone, an exquisite listener and compassionate counselor. The defining image of Charlie’s time here would be him engaged in conversation with a faculty member, sitting with fingers tented and eyes squinting almost shut as he carefully absorbed the teacher’s ideas or struggles or dreams. Every single one of his days at BB&N were overflowing with just those sorts of conversations. The School—and the experience of every student and teacher from Beginners to Grade 12—are vastly richer for it.

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BB&N GRADUATION 2014 On June 6th, friends and family of BB&N’s 137 seniors gathered in the Nicholas Athletic Center to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2014. The ceremony, the 40th since the schools merged, was highlighted by reflective speeches by students, inspiring words from parent speaker Andrew Epstein, and encouraging remarks by Head of School Rebecca T. Upham.

Taylor Nadherny receives his diploma from Head of School Rebecca T. Upham.

Student speaker Michaela Kane ’14 spoke of the various lessons she learned throughout her 14 years at BB&N. Above all else, she learned that it is okay to ask for help. “Understand your limits and then find someone to help you break through them,” Kane said. Andrew Epstein, father of graduating senior Matthew Epstein, described his personal road to success, which included many twists and turns. He stressed the “three A’s”—affability, availability, and ability— and stressed that having these qualities will differentiate the seniors from all the other intelligent graduates out in the world.

Aileen Pena-Herrera, Katie Loughlin, August Lin, and Tyler Sutherland

“If you ever find yourself unhappy with your life, make a change—whether that is changing your major or your career—and have faith in yourself that you can pull it off,” Epstein said. During her address, Upham emphasized the idea of each student being the actor, producer, and director of the story of his or her own life. Every student has the ability to dictate what happens and how they react to situations in his or her narrative. Upham also reminded the graduates that their narrative can jump in unexpected ways. “Opportunity isn’t just created, sometimes it comes knocking and one has to be open to it,” said Upham. “Be open to the unusual opportunities that may come to call.” Amanda Ugorji, Jeremy Grill, and Emily Belson 28


Sani Regassa, Sarah Clavijo, and Jamar Noble

Yumi Chan and Brian Siao Tick Chong amazed the audience with their performance of Handel’s Passacaglia.

Natalia Claro, Gabriela Gayley, Rosa Meyer, Tim Grogan, Jennifer Isaacson, Rachel Bliss, and Connor Campbell

Victor Clarke and Andrew Schneider

Katie Donnelly Moran, Sandy Li, Christine Yao, and Larysa Hrabowych

Cindy Yang, Justin Flaumenhaft, and Rachel Talamo 29


Lifer Party Brings Seniors Full Circle Brushing away memories like cobwebs and squeezing into chairs much too small for comfort, 22 seniors spent an afternoon at the Lower School, reminiscing about their journey at the School. The annual “Lifer” celebration reunites those students who came to BB&N as a Beginner, Kindergartner, or First Grader with past teachers and the Lower School campus where it all began. Ania Aliev

Alejandro Lopez-Wheeler

Bertie Ancona

Zach Lovett

Laura Ancona

Jack Marshall

Steve Bissainthe

Aaron Orbey

Emily Carter

Melanie Passaretti

Natalia Claro

Bunnard Phan

Liam Egan

Henry Ritter

Max Frank

Brian Siao Tick Chong

Gaby Gayley

Tara Talland

Michaela Kane

Emma Toner

August Lin

Angel Zhou

Presenting the Class of 2014 Ania Sergueievna Aliev Sara Elizabeth Allan* Alberto Benjamin Ancona* Laura Rebecca Ancona Zachary Mann Baron Emily Jean Belson Noah John Bierbrier Stephen Alexander Bissainthe Rachel Sophia Bliss Matthew Thomas-Louis Bonazzoli Judah Silver Burstein Connor O’Neil Campbell Adam Lawrence Carlson Emily Renée Carter Ronald Richard Caruso Tarun Korah Chally Patrick Lee Champagnie, Jr. Yumi Chun Chan Erin Chen Victor Wayne Clarke Natalia Maria Claro Sarah Margarita Clavijo Connor Edward Coady Karissa Donna Coady James Rand Cochran Thomas Daniel Tesiero Cohn Allison Anne Cook Catherine Frances Cuddy William Lee Davis Rachel Erin Deal Brien Robert Diffley Kathleen Frances Donnelly Moran* Luella Sara Duker Liam Connolly Egan * cum laude

30

Matthew Joshua Epstein Courtney Elizabeth Erickson Elliot Omar Eton* Justin Dean Flaumenhaft Maximilian Yuri Markus Frank Nicholas Joseph Friscia* Danielle Christine Gaudet* Gabriela Moliner Gayley Shayna Scott Goldberger* Jeremy Ellis Grill* Nathan Ross Grimshaw Steven Israel Grinsztein Timothy Robert Grogan Theodore Reinhart Hattemer-Maier Hannah Korrick Hecht* Connor Anthony Hegarty Larysa Irene Hrabowych Blaire Palaima Hunter* Jennifer Bradbury Isaacson Michaela Jai-Mei Kane* Thomas Gerald Karol Christopher William Donahue Keegan Danielle Jihye Kim Alyssa Caroline Kohler Christian Michael Lehner Alexandra Sylvia Levy Shoshana Levy Sandy Li * August Lin James Gregory Liptrot Alejandro Esteban López-Wheeler Katherine Elizabeth Loughlin Zachary O’Neill Lovett Katherine Helen Luniewicz

Zachary Brian Maciejewski Cicely Mayne Madden David Thomas Mandile David Michael Markey* John Dent Marshall Elizabeth Ella Martin * Kristina Marie May Michael Joseph McCaffrey Katherine Leigh Mentzer* Rosa Antonia Meyer Samuel Alexander Miller-Smith* Rebecca Louise Moore Bobby Joseph Mullins Taylor Markham Nadherny Zita Dorothea Nagel Michelle Elizabeth Nelson Jamar Anthony Noble Cameron Daniel O’Neill Sophie Gray Olmsted Aaron Orbey* Dante John Papas Melanie Thipaporn Passaretti Steven Michael Patalano Aileen Johanka Peña-Herrera Victoria Rachel Penta Charles Thorne Peters Anya Allegra Pforzheimer Bunnard Soung Phan * Maxine Elizabeth Phoenix Raiann Syed Rahman* Sani Sori Regassa Adam Thompson Reynolds Taylor Kristine Richard Henry Cecil Ritter*

Javion Anton Rookard Nicholas Michael Sadler Christian Michael Sady Michael Joseph Samko Andrew Kleihege Schneider Edward Thomas Shadek, III Brian Siao Tick Chong Lucy Marie Simpson Skylar Wakelee Smith* Shayna Rose Solomont Rachel Johanna Strodel* Tyler Muldoon Sutherland Rachel Caroline Talamo* Tara Phoebe Kalyana Talland Nicholas Robert Tarantino Emma Rose Toner Nicholas Lee Trieu* Amanda Adaku Ugorji Jayde Isioma Umemba Julia Rose Amsterdam Vance Dominic Rudolph. Ventresca André Constantin Vogel* Lydia Jane Wang Brendan Kading Webb Julie Park Graeme White Frank Williams, III Joshua Adam Wong Juan Andrés Yanes Cindy Lu Yang Christine GuangYu Yao* Bracebridge Hemyng Young, III Mariana Jane Young Lydia Collins Zaleski Angelina Ji Zhou * Eve Marcella Zuckoff


GRADUATION 2014 Accept/Attend Report 2014 pt

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PRESENT ING THE CLASS OF 2014

32


GRADUATION 2014

33


PRIZES AWARDED IN 2014 Arts

History

THE ARTS DEPARTMENT PRIZE The Arts Department has chosen to recognize four seniors who have challenged themselves in the studio or in the performing arts and who have shared their passion for their chosen art form with the school community. Yumi Chun Chan John Dent Marshall Michaela Jai-Mei Kane Brian Siao Tick Chong

THE HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCE TEACHERS’ PRIZE is awarded annually to the senior who has demonstrated exemplary achievement, commitment, and potential in the study of history and social science. Sara Elizabeth Allan

THE DESIREE ROGERS KING FUND was created by Sherwood King in memory of his wife, a member of the Buckingham Class of 1936, who had a lifelong interest in the arts. The income from the fund is to be awarded annually to a promising student of the arts at BB&N. This award may be applied to scholarship assistance, or to after-school or summer study in the arts. Maria Chábel Byamana ’16 Damon Marcus Levin ’16 THE JOHN B. PETROPOULOS ART EXHIBITION commemorates a great teacher and friend. The following students were chosen to exhibit in this year’s Petropoulos show: Laura Rebecca Ancona Rachel Johanna Strodel Rachel Sophia Bliss Amanda Adaku Ugorji Thomas Gerald Karol Juan Andrés Yanes Katherine Helen Luniewicz Christine GuangYu Yao John Dent Marshall

Athletics

Mathematics THE HARRY DAVIS GAYLORD PRIZE is given in memory of the former mathematics teacher to a deserving senior for outstanding work in the field of mathematics. Nicholas Lee Trieu

Science THE JEAN GORDON CAIRNIE CASTLES SCIENCE PRIZE was established in 1982 through a bequest from Mrs. Gordon C. Cairnie in honor of her daughter, Jean Gordon Cairnie Castles ’54, and is given to a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional scientific ability in biological science. Elliot Omar Eton THE JOHN H. WALTERS SCIENCE PRIZE is named in memory of John H. (Doc) Walters, who taught science from 1949 through 1989, and is given in recognition of sustained enthusiasm and effort in physical science. Katherine Leigh Mentzer

THE PATRICIA H. BIGGAR PRIZE is awarded to students who have achieved a standard of excellence in performance, spirit, and leadership by example throughout their athletic careers. Allison Anne Cook Michael Joseph Samko Cameron Daniel O’Neill Skylar Wakelee Smith

World Languages

THE CLASS OF 1933 ATHLETIC AWARD was established by the Class of 1933 and is awarded to the best all-around boy and girl athletes in the graduating class, faithful in practice, skillful in play and, winning or losing, true to the highest ideals of good sportsmanship. Patrick Lee Champagnie, Jr. Connor Anthony Hegarty Courtney Elizabeth Erickson

THE CHINESE PRIZE is given to the student who excels in the study of Chinese. Rachel Caroline Talamo

THE NICHOLS PRIZE is given in memory of former Headmaster Edgar Hamilton Nichols to the girl and boy athletes in the upper classes who, throughout the year, attain the highest distinction jointly in scholarship and athletics. Matthew Thomas-Louis Bonazzoli Rebecca Louise Moore Ronald Richard Caruso Lydia Collins Zaleski

English THE GEORGE HENRY BROWNE ENGLISH PRIZE commemorates one of our School’s founders. A friend of Robert Frost, whom he several times invited to speak at the School, Mr. Browne was a highly esteemed English teacher, the writer of several books, and the headmaster of Browne & Nichols from 1883 until 1928. Aaron Orbey THE PAUL M. JACOBS PRIZE was established by Mrs. Emilie K. Jacobs to honor the memory of her late husband, a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Buckingham. The award is given to that member of Grade 10 who has shown outstanding skill in debating. Michael Reuvin Goldfine ’16 *All students listed are Class of 2014 unless otherwise noted

34

THE ARABIC PRIZE is presented to a student who has proven to be mutahamis/mutahamisa (intensely enthusiastic) for Arabic language and cultures. James Gregory Liptrot

THE HELENE HERZOG FRENCH PRIZE is funded by faculty and friends of the former French teacher, and is presented for excellence in French and for consistent commitment to the study of French and French civilization. Henry Cecil Ritter THE JAMES ARTHUR REEVES LATIN PRIZE is presented for excellence in translation and comprehension. Hannah Korrick Hecht THE GEORGE DEPTULA RUSSIAN PRIZE is presented in honor of the founder of BB&N’s Russian program in 1956 and is given to a student who has distinguished him/herself by excellent academic performance in the Russian language and who has demonstrated a continuous passion for Russia and its people. André Constantin Vogel THE SPANISH PRIZE is given to the student in the upper grades who excels in the Spanish language and who demonstrates interest and enthusiasm for Hispanic literature and culture. Rachel Johanna Strodel


GRADUATION 2014 **** THE MARINA KEEGAN ’08 SUMMER FELLOWSHIP was established in the spring of 2012 by family, alumni/ae, faculty and friends, to honor the memory of Marina Keegan, BB&N class of ’08. In multiple arenas, Marina stood out as a kind, intelligent, invested young woman known for her quick wit and irrepressible energy. This fellowship is awarded annually to one or more BB&N students pursuing projects focusing on either artistic pursuits or activist causes that reflect Marina’s spirit, talents, and ideals. Molly Katherine Murphy ’15 Michelle Leyuan Zhang ’15 THE CRAIG B. STONESTREET ’49 PRIZE was established in 1991 by family, friends, alumni/ae, and parents to honor the memory of BB&N’s respected alumnus, teacher, administrator, and coach. The prize is awarded to a student of the junior class in recognition of high scholarship, excellence in athletics, constructive influence within the School, and is to be used for travel or other personal enrichment of an educational nature. Cole Thomas O’Connor ’15

Citizenship THE PETER K. GUNNESS PRIZE, established by the Board of Trustees, honors the founding Head of the School. Peter K. Gunness came to Browne & Nichols as Headmaster in 1969. He worked with Elizabeth Stowe, Headmistress of the Buckingham School, to create BB&N in 1974. With this prize the Trustees honor him by honoring a student with high ethical standards, whose voice has made a significant difference in bringing important issues to the attention of our community.

Upper School Director Geoff Theobald presents the Annette Johnson Prize to Laura Ancona.

Thoughtful, mature, intellectually curious, and loyal to family and friends, the winner of this award is a breath of fresh air. Her passion for discovering new ideas, pushing herself to try something outside her comfort zone, and her intrinsic love of learning infuse our school with a spirit that is enriching and rewarding. With a thoughtful and graceful voice, this young woman speaks up when she sees unfairness, looking out for the community with a finely tuned sense of justice. Shoshana Levy This year’s prizewinner is noted for a mind both joyful and tenacious. A Keegan Fellow, the dynamic editor of P.O.V., and a passionate advocate for electoral reform, he has led our community to a markedly greater awareness of the world beyond our walls and to intellectual engagement with the political issues of the day. David Michael Markey THE BARRETT HOYT AWARD was established in 1972 in memory of a student and is awarded to a senior who acts responsibly and represents his/her classmates and School with honor.

Science Teacher and Grade Nine Dean David Strodel ’78 awards the April Teruel Prize to Connor Campbell.

Deeply committed to all she undertakes, this award winner maintains a remarkable depth and breadth of involvement in all facets of school life. A mature, caring, and compassionate young woman, her energy and enthusiasm stem from her heartfelt commitment to help make her community a better place. She leads by example, as an athlete, a student, and a musician. Her presence and participation inspire those around her. Sarah Margarita Clavijo THE ANNETTE JOHNSON PRIZE honors the memory of a student whose life exemplified courage and commitment to scholarship. The prize recognizes optimism, perseverance, and dedication to the community and its ideals. This prizewinner is a leader inside and outside of the classroom. Whether she is educating the school through Going Global, working late hours to meet a Vanguard deadline, or expressing her creativity in the art studio, her positive attitude, intelligence, and work ethic are always on display. She is a thoughtful, compassionate, and committed scholar whose many contributions to the BB&N community will long be remembered. Laura Rebecca Ancona

World Languages Department Chair Cécile Roucher-Greenberg presents the Chinese Prize to Rachel Talamo. 35


PRIZES AWARDED IN 2014

Determined to contribute significantly to the worlds she inhabits, this student makes class a better experience for everyone and gives passionately to her causes, which include the Vanguard and the Samaritans Hotline. Dynamic, involved, and caring, she is a stalwart friend, a persuasive voice, and an exemplary student. Rachel Caroline Talamo THE LUBETS PRIZE was established by Richard I. Lubets, Browne & Nichols Class of ’51, in memory of his parents, to honor a student who has made an outstanding contribution during her or his senior year. With great energy and contagious enthusiasm, this prizewinner has dedicated himself to building community spirit and enlivening the life of the school. Humor and a positive attitude have characterized his many contributions to the classroom, the orchestra, and myriad other aspects of school life. As co-president of the student government, always considering what would be best for others, he has taken his responsibilities, but not himself, seriously. Taylor Markham Nadherny Our award winner shows her deep care for the BB&N community by identifying and fixing school-wide problems at their source. She has learned to stand strong in the face of criticism and to trust her authenticity when communicating her ideas. Her intense efforts along with her talent for mobilizing fellow students have created community roots that will continue to grow for many years to come. Mariana Jane Young THE DAVID R. POKROSS PRIZE was established by the Pokross children and grandchildren to honor their father and grandfather, a former trustee at Buckingham Browne & Nichols. It is awarded to the student whose commitment to people in need best embodies the ideals expressed in the Community Service Program of the Upper School.

During his time at the Upper School this award winner has distinguished himself as someone willing to listen to and support others, as well as share his thoughts and experiences. His readiness to give of himself has made him a valued and respected member of the community and someone young and old alike can look to for guidance, wisdom, and inspiration. Stephen Alexander Bissainthe THE HEAD’S PRIZE is awarded to those students in the graduating class who, in addition to fine scholarship, have contributed generously to friends, the school community, and whose lives exemplify the School’s motto: Honor, Scholarship, Kindness. During his time at BB&N, this award recipient has been a quiet, unassuming force for good in the community. He has pursued excellence in all areas of his BB&N life, be it in the classroom, on the field, or on Student Council. He cares deeply and assumes responsibility for his peers and for his school. On the Disciplinary Committee he is described as compassionate and a person of unquestioned integrity. Positive, witty, perceptive, empathetic, and working to become an informed citizen to better those around him, this young man has left a lasting mark on our community. Adam Thompson Reynolds Bringing discipline, insight, joy and grace to all her activities, this year’s prizewinner has made significant contributions to all areas of life at BB&N. She has shared her many talents in classrooms and on the athletic fields; she has benefited the school and international communities in service projects, such as her exemplary work in Nicaraguan villages as one of the first recipients of a Marina Keegan Fellowship. With her own strong inner compass, she has supported her peers, empathetically, maturely and generously. Rachel Johanna Strodel

This student has been committed to community service since her first day on campus. Whether in school organizing Thanksgiving baskets or in Cambridge volunteering hundreds of hours at a neighborhood house, she has led quietly and by example. Thoughtful, engaged, and determined, she has, as well, contributed her considerable talents to the classroom, to her friends, and to the School. Sara Elizabeth Allan THE APRIL TERUEL PRIZE, given in memory of a former student, is awarded this year to a senior who is kind and understanding to his peers and has been an active participant in the life of the School. This prizewinner resists stereotypes, eludes characterization, and never ceases to defy expectations. He brings a quick-wit and a sense of joy and laughter to the classroom. Dedicated to his family, his school, and his friends, he is a young man on a mission to develop his academic skills, serve his community, and live up to his own high standards. Connor O’Neil Campbell THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PRIZE was established by George Deptula, a former member of the faculty, to recognize strength of character, sensitivity to the needs of others, and willingness to use her or his education, talent, and time to assist those in need. English teacher Wes Williams was humbled to receive the Teacher Excellence Award. 36


GRADUATION 2014

Academic Coordinator Ross Clark congratulates Sarah Clavijo on receiving the Barrett Hoyt Award.

Science Department Chair Leah Cataldo presents a science award to Elliot Eton.

Director of Multicultural Services Lewis Bryant presents the University of Wisconsin Prize to Stephen Bissainthe.

Athletic Director Rick Foresteire ’86 with the Class of 1933 Athletic Award recipients Courtney Erickson, Patrick Champagnie, Jr., and Connor Hegarty.

History Teacher and Grade 12 Dean Louise Makrauer with Lubets Prize winners Taylor Nadherny and Mariana Young.

Arts Department Chair John Norton with the Arts Department Prize winners Brian Siao Tick Chong, John Marshall, Yumi Chan, and Michaela Kane.

Head of School Rebecca T. Upham and Head’s Prize winners Adam Reynolds and Rachel Strodel. 37


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Every year following March break, BB&N seniors transition to Senior Spring Project, a trimester-long opportunity to take the classes they never had a chance to take, embark on an independent study, or maybe even perform meaningful work in the community. While some students stayed on campus to explore opportunities such as taking up an instrument, learning sign language, or studying safety and self-defense, others ventured out into the community for their projects. On the pages that follow we feature two students whose projects differed greatly in scope, but shared a poignant common thread: a hopefulness to connect with people, passions, and even the past. Judah Burstein ’14 traveled to Poland to partake in the March of the iving, a life-afwrming annual event which literally traces the footsteps of those persecuted by the Holocaust. Burstein had wanted to explore this part of his heritage for years before Senior Spring Project allowed him the opportunity. Melanie Passaretti ’14 stayed more local with her project, one notable for the abundance of activities she explored. Among her many undertakings was studying the language of her ancestors, and passing along her expertise in ballet to a younger generation of wide-eyed dancers. Read on for a glimpse of the magic of Senior Spring Project through the lenses of these ambitious students. 39


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Melanie Passaretti Pr

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For a student like Melanie Passaretti ’14, there really aren’t enough hours in the day. A dancer, linguist, musician, and “learner” in the truest sense of the word, this BB&N lifer discovered quickly as a freshman that she wouldn’t have time to engage in every interest she held. “I couldn’t play in as many musical ensembles as I wanted, and I couldn’t pursue dance as extensively as I wanted to,” says Melanie. When Senior Spring Project rolled around, Melanie found the exact remedy she was looking for—seven weeks to follow every muse she could. Even then her faculty mentor, French teacher Cécile Roucher-Greenberg, had to advise Melanie to tap the brakes. “Melanie’s original Spring Project proposal had so many activities,” recalls Roucher-Greenberg. “I was worried she wouldn’t have time to sleep.” Melanie laughs at the memory, brushing it aside like she would the good-natured worrying of a parent.

Melanie was realistic about how much she could learn in seven weeks, but in many ways the point was as much to absorb the culture as it was to speak the languages. “It’s just really interesting how language lends itself so easily to learning about other cultures,” she notes. “A lot of what these teachers were giving us was a history through language. I have family in Bangkok, and my parents have friends who live in Japan, so I hope next time I visit, I’ll have a better understanding of everything.” And then there’s the music and the dance. Melanie has been dancing since she started at BB&N fourteen years ago, studying and performing for the Boston Ballet. In mulling her future, she realized that she would not pursue ballet professionally; teaching seemed like a fantastic way to stay attached to dancing. Sharing her passion with younger students has been gratifying. “Teaching ballet has been one of my favorite things from Project. It was a great experience,” says Melanie. “I taught fourth graders, many of whom still have that idea that they really want to do this forever because it’s their favorite thing. I wanted to nurture that passion, whether they went on to dance professionally or not. Either way, I like to believe that if you want something, especially in dance, you just work on it harder.”

“I remember talking to my advisors,” says Melanie. “They said, ‘Don’t you want to slow down, maybe do something outside of school?’ But, no, I really like being in class, and I just enjoy learning things.” So after some revisions, Melanie wound up with only the following: assistant teaching at the Boston Ballet School, performing in the Orchestra, Jazz Band, and three chamber groups, taking AP Statistics, Italian, Japanese, and Ancient Greek, as well as some printmaking…just for kicks.

Passaretti performs at the Upper School spring concert.

It’s the kind of schedule that only BB&N’s Spring Project could accommodate, and the type of schedule that only a passionate learner could attempt.

Spring Project also allowed Melanie to fully indulge another interest, music.

The former pianist had quit studying the instrument in high school due to time constraints, but she never put down her yute. This spring she performed as wrst-chair yutist in the 1pper School Orchestra, played in the Jazz Band, accompanied three chamber ensembles, and joined the wind ensemble at the Community Music Center of Boston.

Studying foreign languages was a no-brainer. After doubling in French and Latin during the fall and winter, Melanie relished the chance to explore Italian, Japanese, and Ancient Greek during the spring. In many ways, she viewed it as a chance to connect to her family and her past. Her mother is Chinese, but grew up in Thailand and now teaches Japanese; her father is Italian-American. The two met in Japan while both were living there.

And as for the other activities in her Spring Project that were nixed from her schedule? “Well, I actually ended up doing all the stuff,” says Melanie with a mischievous smile. “It just wasn’t on my ofwcial schedule.”

“I’ve always been exposed to lots of languages through my family,” Melanie says. “I thought studying these new ones would be a great way to relate.”

Melanie will matriculate at Wellesley this fall—here’s to hoping the College has enough courses to sate her ambitions. X 41


2014

B u r h s a t e d in u J Senior

Project

by Sharon Krauss

42 2


On a warm April day in Poland, Judah Burstein ’14 scanned the crowd of 10,000 high school students around him. Their light chatter, colorful jackets, baseball caps, and bright, yuttering yags peppered the scene as they walked a road fringed with yowering trees, with fresh spring growth. The irony of this abundant vitality was not lost on Judah, who, like his companions, was there to reclaim and memorialize that notorious mile—known by imprisoned Jews as “the road to death”—between Auschwitz and its satellite extermination camp at Birkenau, where at least one million people perished during the Holocaust. For Judah and these teens, though, it was indeed the March of the Living.

“It was overwhelming,” he says. What’s more, Majdanek is disturbingly well preserved. “It seemed that you could yip a switch and it would be running in a day.” As difwcult to comprehend was the juxtaposition of quotidian, breathing life with haunting evidence of the past’s atrocities. “It looked and smelled like a summer camp—it was so green,” says Judah. “People were playing basketball and biking and jogging. A girl was doing her laundry on the next street over. Houses and a church were nearby. You could almost not realize that it’s a concentration camp.”

Once visitors like Judah fully realize that it is, though, they must grapple with the undeniable reality of those horrors. He found great solace and inspiration in Trudy, the Auschwitz survivor who traveled in Poland and Israel with Judah’s 1.S. delegation of 150 members of BBYO, a Jewish youth organization. “Trudy suffered so much but is always smiling and happy, so full of life. I admire her ability to put the past behind her and keep going,” Judah says. “She taught me to be strong and proud of myself.” Part of the March of the Living’s purpose, as he explains, is “to create more witnesses, so we can tell the stories of the actual Holocaust survivors and educate even more people.” He has already spoken at the Senior Class Farewell Dinner and his temple, and he hopes to return to BB&N from Washington 1niversity Burstein stands at the gate of the in St. Louis next year to Birkenau concentration camp. make a presentation.

“I didn’t really feel sad on the March,” says Judah, “which I guess might be the point.” He noted it was a proud, empowering moment to see Jewish people return triumphantly to that terrible place. “It didn’t kill us, we’re still here. We can learn from this.” Since the March of the Living’s inception in 1988, more than 150,000 students from around the world have participated in the annual two-week educational program highlighted by the parade and a similar event in Jerusalem on Israel’s Memorial Day. While the experiences elicited some tears and pain, they also pulsed with youthful unity. “Everyone was hugging and taking pictures and trading their country’s pins,” says Judah. Nightly debriewng sessions encouraged students to express whatever they were feeling.

“I expected the trip to be powerful and emotional and life changing,” Judah says unyinchingly. “And it was.” Most affecting of all for Judah during this extraordinary part of his Senior Spring Project was a visit to the concentration camp at Majdanek, an experience that felt more raw to him than the “too-manicured” Auschwitz. While Auschwitz’s museum-like exhibits of two thousand pounds of hair and mounds of shoes were certainly powerful, Judah was moved even more deeply at Majdanek by being able to walk among and touch emblems of lives lost. He found particularly poignant a huge pile of ashes marking a pit wlled with the remains of È8,000 people.

Thinking about the message he wants to impart, Judah remembers the incongruous sight of butteryies at Majdanek. “It’s such a dark place, but there, in it, was something living and delicate and hopeful.” As Trudy profoundly illustrates, Judah understands that it is possible to survive, to defy defeat, to transform the horriwc into awareness and inspiration. Along with increasing his pride in his heritage, Judah’s experience this spring has sensitized him to others’ and his own “stupid little prejudiced comments,” he says. “I now think more before I do or say anything. I want to promote tolerance and inspire others to do the same. I want to do something with my life to make the world better.” X

43


Advancing Our Mission

Sixth Grade Parents Raise Record Gift to Support Middle School Renovation Project Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of 100 percent of the Class of 2020 parents, a record $65,775 was raised through this year’s Sixth Grade Gift. The funds will be directed to the Middle School Renovation Project. Under the leadership of Co-Chairs Jennifer Epstein P’18, ’20 and Erica Pappendick P’20, ’22, ’24, a dedicated committee of sixth grade parents reached out to other families in the class to seek their support for this special fundraising initiative. Students in the Class of 2020 are expected to be the first cohort of 8th graders who will grace the halls of the renovated Middle School campus, so the generosity of their parents in supporting this project is especially meaningful.

Sixth Grade Gift Committee members present their record class gift at the Sixth Grade Lunch in June. Front row, from left: Joan Rosenberg, Pratima Abichandani, Erica Pappendick, Jennifer Epstein. Middle row: Kim Stockwell, Beebe Wiegand, Corinne Noyes. Back row: Lisa Burton, Lisa Campoli, Barbara Goose, Micki Rowaan. Not pictured: Rose Cornet-Mathieu. 44


BB&N FUND HIGHLIGHTS

BB&N Celebrates and Honors its BB&N Fund Volunteers

s The BB&N Fund raised

This year, more than 2,000 alumni/ae, parents, past parents, trustees, faculty, staff, and members of the senior class worked diligently to raise awareness about supporting BB&N annually. Bravo!

$2,855,778 setting a new BB&N record for annual support. s More than 2,000 alumni/ae, current and past parents, faculty, staff, grandparents, and friends supported the 2013-2014 BB&N Fund. s 85% parent participation s 18% alumni/ae participation s Class of 1974 shattered the 40th reunion record with

Exciting highlights for spring 2014 included reunion records set by the Classes of 1974, 1989, and 2004. The Class of 1974 raised a remarkable $36,275—shattering the standing dollar record for a 40th reunion—while the Class of 1989 celebrated their 25th Reunion with 77 classmates and guests in attendance. Finally, the Class of 2004 set a new participation record standard for the 10th reunion with 57% participation! The engagement of all reunion classes in 2014 is truly a testament to how much BB&N has meant to our alumni/ae. Another highlight this spring was the second annual 1974 Leadership Society Reception for alumni/ae, hosted by Head of School Rebecca T. Upham and Chair of the Board Brace Young P’14, ’14, ’17. The event kicked off Reunion Weekend with 40 leadership donors gathered at Rebecca’s home to learn about all that is happening at BB&N today and to reconnect with each other. Attendees ranged from the Classes of 1940 to 2009 and came from as far away as California.

$36,275 raised. s Class of 2004 set a new 10th Reunion participation record with 57% participation! s Class of 1989 set an attendance record with

77 classmates and guests back on campus to celebrate their 25th Reunion. s More than 30% of the money raised by The BB&N Fund this year is a direct result of the hard work of BB&N’s outstanding volunteers! Look for more BB&N Fund highlights in the Annual Report of Giving this fall.

Nikhil Pereira-Kamath ‘06, Katie Donelan ‘04, and Andrew Tucker Avorn ‘04 at the 1974 Leadership Society reception for alumni/ae at the home of Head of School Rebecca T. Upham

45


Advancing Our Mission

Senior Class Achieves 100% Participation in Class Gift In keeping with BB&N tradition, the Class of 2014 achieved 100 percent student participation in the Senior Class Gift. Through the enthusiastic determination and hard work of the 2014 Senior Class Ambassadors, the Class reached this milestone in time for the Senior Farewell Dinner. Throughout the year, however, the Ambassadors did more than raise money: they learned what it means to be BB&N alumni/ae. They started by sending care packages to the Class of 2013 to let the recent graduates know that BB&N was thinking about them and cheering them on during their first set of college exams. The year culminated in raising the Senior Class Gift, a meaningful first step into the BB&N alumni/ae community. During the Senior Farewell Dinner on May 28, the Senior Class Ambassador Committee co-chairs, Max Frank and Katie Loughlin, had the great pleasure of announcing that the Class of 2014 raised $2,120. Since the Seniors met both their fundraising and participation goal, the Senior Parents generously matched their contribution. The parent match brought the total raised by the Senior Class to $4,240. This generous gift was given to support Financial Aid, a program which they noted “has immeasurably helped so many of us here tonight.” Max and Katie concluded their speech at the Senior Farewell Dinner by saying, “We strongly hope that we will all continue to give back in future years, so that the next generation of Knights can have memories they will treasure as well.” Congratulations, Seniors, on a job well done!

2014 SENIOR CLASS AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE Max Frank, Co-Chair Katie Loughlin, Co-Chair Will Davis Justin Flaumenhaft Hannah Hecht Chris Keegan Shoshana Levy Michelle Nelson Bunnard Phan Nick Sadler Rachel Talamo Jayde Umemba Julie White ABOVE: Senior Class Ambassador Committee co-chairs Max Frank '14 and Katie Loughlin '14 present the Senior Class Gift check to Head of School Rebecca T. Upham. BELOW: 2014 Senior Class Ambassador Committee.

46


6 T hings About BB&N:

Our Faculty Recommend Some Summer Reading

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[ ONE ] Janna Kerpelman, Upper School math teacher: Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn This is a funny, inventive, suspenseful, creepy, manipulative, and dark psychological thriller. It’s rare to read a novel where you find yourself laughing with delight and shivering with fear and disgust almost at the same time. I highly recommend it!

[ TWO] Zoe Tarshis, Middle School English teacher: The Invention of Wings, by Sue Monk Kidd This book tells the story of Sarah Grimke, a member of a well-to-do family in Charleston in the 1800s, and her slave, a talented seamstress and quilt maker, Handful. The narrative alternates voices and explores each woman’s desire for freedom. I have to give Middle School Librarian Beth Brooks credit for recommending this title to me. [ THREE ] Daisy Pellant, Lower School counselor: How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, by Paul Tough We read this book as part of our Lower School Community Book Club and it made quite an impact. The author pulls together salient research, weaving it into compelling examples that illustrate the importance of struggle, managing failure, accountability, and an intentional focus on social-emotional development as an integral part of traditional academic learning and lifelong success.

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... . . . . ..

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[ FOUR ] Andrew Warren, Upper School film and video: The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, by Alain de Botton In a series of cleverly laid-out essays, de Botton explores myriad approaches to work, from organized obsession with international container ships, to the manufacture of biscuits. Though his approach can often be caustic, de Bottom provides valuable insights and perspective on the daily practices which make up our lives.

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[ FIVE ] Berhane Zerom, Grade six/math teacher: Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boi This is a documentary of life in a Mumbai slum. The book is compassionate and gives insight into how too many people in our world have to survive. I really enjoyed how the author was able to describe a character or a setting to a point where you feel you know the person or the place. An excellent book.

[ SIX ] Wes William, Upper School English teacher: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde One part literary spoof, one part hard-boiled detective story, one part science fiction, and a dash of romance, this is a hilarious book, especially if you’ve read a little from the canon. Our detective works in Special Ops. 27—Literary Detectives who deal in dastardly deeds dealing with literature. It makes your years as a literature major worthwhile.

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Richard M. Chalfen ’60: From Anthropologist to Philanthropist A loyal Browne & Nichols alumnus for many years, Richard (Dick) Chalfen ’60 recently reflected that “B&N crept up on me in ways I can never repay. Becoming a member of The Almy Society is a step in that direction.”

some sense of academic prowess. This earned me scholarships to graduate school (he received an M.A. and Ph.D. in Communications from UPenn) and a full professorship some years later.”

Professor of Anthropology at Temple University for many years, For more information about The including ground-breaking work in Almy Society and opportunities the field of visual anthropology, Dick is currently a Senior Staff to include BB&N in your estate Researcher at Boston Children’s plans, contact Janet Rosen at Hospital’s Center on Media and Child 617-800-2729 or jrosen@bbns.org, Health. In recognition of his many professional accomplishments, or visit bbns.plannedgiving.org. he received BB&N’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005 and the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Society of Visual Anthropology. “My point is that I knew I should have been more attentive to classes and coursework—the school was A longtime BB&N annual fund volunteer, donor, and class always working on this in both explicit and implicit secretary, Dick recently notified the School that he had ways. It took until junior year at the University of included BB&N in his estate plans through a bequest Pennsylvania (where he received a B.A. in Anthropology) intention in his will, ensuring that his lifetime of for it all to click. I had a chance to exert and renew my support will continue to benefit his alma mater for B&N training, to play varsity soccer, and demonstrate years to come. One of Browne & Nichols’ first two Lifers, Dick commented that “I would be the first to acknowledge that I was not an academic star while at B&N in the late ’50s. I aspired to be a star athlete, though that didn’t always work out either (he was co-captain of the soccer team, however), but I was happy with the activities and all the friendships I made.

Dick Chalfen ’60 and wife Karen on a recent trip to Paris


Buckingham Browne & Nichols School 80 Gerry’s Landing Road Cambridge, MA 02138-5512 www.bbns.org

Thank you for a great year! The BB&N Fund would like to thank the more than 2,000 donors who gave to BB&N in 2013-2014:

What a busy, wonderful year it has been. Thank you for sharing it with us. Have a fantastic summer!

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