Letter from the Head of School
As I reflect on my nine years serving as Head of School, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the children, the families, the teachers, and the beautiful rhythm of life we share here at The Bay School and on the Blue Hill peninsula.
Each school day begins with one of my greatest joys: greeting every child during our morning check-in. Those daily moments of connection, smiles, conversations, and bursts of laughter have grounded me in what truly matters and reminded me of the heart and purpose of our school.
Over the years, I have collected a treasure trove of memories: the thrill of many a mountain climb; the sweetness of Apple Fest; the magic and light of Winter Faire and the Winter Spiral; the creativity and courage behind every 8th grade project; the joy of May Fest, school plays and performances; and the spirited camaraderie of our school sports teams. These experiences, unique to The Bay School, have fi lled our days with wonder, meaning, and community.
Together, we have weathered incredible challenges. The COVID pandemic tested us all, but with resilience, creativity, and care, we found our way through. Our teachers reimagined learning; our families supported one another; and our students adapted with courage and grace. It was not easy, but we emerged stronger and more united.
We also dreamed big. In the past several years, we’ve added two new buildings to our campus, expanding the ways in which we can nurture and inspire our students. These spaces are a testament to our shared vision for the future of The Bay School and a physical reflection of our commitment to growth, creativity, and community.
It has been an honor to walk alongside all of you on this journey—to witness children grow in confidence, compassion, and curiosity; to work with a dedicated team of educators who pour their hearts into their craft; and to be part of a community that truly believes in the transformative power of a Bay School education.
Thank you for the privilege of these nine wonderful years. As I anticipate my June 30 retirement, please know that I carry The Bay School—and all of you—in my heart always.
With love and deep appreciation,
Marcia L. Diamond Head of School
The Lawrence Family Foundation Challenge
THE LAWRENCE FAMILY FOUNDATION has issued a challenge! For every gift raised, up to a total of $25,000, they will match it dollar for dollar to grow our early-childhood education program. Belinda and Chuck Lawrence believe in this project because they remember the challenges their employees faced when they ran Tradewinds Market in Blue Hill.
It’s not just the Lawrences who have noticed the lack of adequate childcare and early childhood education capacity in our region. The Bay School has been providing excellent, child-centered, early childhood education for years, but we’ve also had a waiting list for just as long, as have nearly all licensed childcare facilities in Hancock County.
It’s getting worse. In fact, childcare in Maine (and especially Hancock County) is in crisis. Childcare centers in our area have closed at an alarming rate. In 2019, a daycare in Blue Hill run by the Downeast Y closed its operation, leaving 23 families “reeling,” according to an article in the Weekly Packet. In January 2023, DownEast Family Partners closed the last Pre-K child-education classroom in Ellsworth. November 2023 saw another Hancock County-based center serving 89 children close.
According to the Maine Children’s Alliance Kids Count report, Hancock County had the lowest number of child care sites in Maine. Hancock County also had a low rate of fouryear-olds attending preschool. Attention to the educational needs of children under age five is important to build a foundation for success.
In response to the need, the State of Maine issued a request for proposals to increase childcare capacity. The Bay School applied and was approved for a grant up to $250,000 to be matched 1:1. Funds will go to expand our successful early childhood programs.
The idea is to repurpose a classroom within our main classroom building, in which licensed early-childhood programs are already underway. To do this, we must build space for other classes to move into. Two yurts will thus be erected behind the Rousseau Building, leaving us space within the main classroom building to increase services for our youngest students.
The project will cost an estimated $423,881. have raised $376,904 in gifts, pledges, and in-kind support, including the match. We have just $46,977 left to raise. To close the gap, The Lawrence Family Foundation has set up this challenge. For every dollar you contribute, the Lawrence Family Foundation will contribute a dollar, and the State of Maine will contribute a dollar.
Should you want to help, The Bay School can accept gifts via check or credit card, multi-year pledges, gifts of appreciated stock, and donations from other giving vehicles, such as an IRA. Naming opportunities are available. We hope that our vision for the future of The Bay School and the opportunities for young children of the Blue Hill Peninsula inspire you to learn more. For more information, please contact Lynn Boulger, Board Member, at lynnboulger@bayschool.org or 207-669-2566.
Class Plays
THE CLASS PLAY is a beloved tradition. The Bay School has a storied history of its creative adaptations, replete with original music compositions, elaborate costumes, and gorgeous set designs.
But why take time out of “real learning” to stage a play? These productions are actually called “pedagogical dramas for a very good reason,” according to an article in Waldorf Publication. “They are aids to the class teacher in developing skill and capacity in students, strengthening the sense of interdependence in the whole class, and brightening the creativity of the class through drama.”
The Bay School drama teacher Moira McMahon says, “I
could go on and on about the benefits of doing theater with children of all ages—from its lessons in equity and inclusion and team-building to its empowerment of the individual through the embodiment of character, manifesting and living out a story from the inside and sharing it as a gift to the community. I think most importantly it is a vital lesson in empathy—in walking in another’s shoes.”
Thanks to all who have helped with the class plays this year! The amount of detail and work—sets, costumes, casting, readings, music, practice, blocking, staging—is immense and many people, especially parents, are behind the scenes making the magic happen. We appreciate you!
Ms. Razi’s 3rd/4th grade class staged the play For the Love of Asgard twice during the week of April 1st. Many thanks to teacher Ms Razi, theater director Moira McMahon, and music assistance from Sarah Stevens and Meg Chittenden. Th is play dovetailed nicely with the students’ study of Norse Mythology. Asgard is the dwelling place of the gods in Norse mythology, comparable to the Greek Mount Olympus.
Mr. Springer’s 7/8th grade thespians wowed us with their performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare is a huge undertaking for middle school students, and we are proud of their efforts! Thanks to Moira McMahon and Scott Springer for all their direction and guidance of the students, and to the students themselves for their preparation and beautiful delivery of such a delightful play.
ACCORDING TO MOIRA MCMAHON, the school’s long time drama teacher, Bay School productions have the history of the school threaded through them quite literally. This year’s plays all relied on past parent contributions to our costume collection—Lisa Looke, Ginger Manna, Marianne Vandiver, Annie Connard, and Sarah Stevens. This legacy is remembered and appreciated beyond measure.
The 5th/6th grade play was Alice in Wonderland , based on the classic by Lewis Carroll. Alice and her friends came to life March 12 and 13th with the Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit, and of course, Alice herself. We are grateful for the work of class teacher Ms. Woods, theater director Moira McMahon, and the musical accompaniment of Sarah Stevens and Edie Dunham. The costuming was especially inspired! Thank you for your work on this, Jenn Moscato and Martha Baldwin!
Candlelight
in Waldorf Education
By Michele Turner, early childhood teacher
THE FIRST THING TO DO is to light a candle. When we light a candle with the youngest children, we say, “Fire fairies, fire light, thank you for your golden light!”
I will light this candle to share, to open my heart and allow you to open yours with ease, because that is what the lighting of a candle does. Yet, the mysteries of its effect on us, as individuals and as a group, is subtle and unspoken.
I will speak them now.
The eternal flame was certainly here before us, representing itself as light to the darkness. We’ve changed how we make light nowadays; Have we changed time, too?
When we light the candle, we remember the feeling of our ancient self, the spirit of who we are. Can you name it?
In the old days, it was the candle or torch that lit our way. Its center focus kept the periphery dreamy—does it still? Where do those dreams take you?
The candlelight brings us into our “feeling” self. If you light a candle on your own, do you do it to pray, meditate, create an intimate mood to have dinner with family or friends, celebrate traditions, rituals, or religious events?
Lighting a candle opens us up to self-reflection, reverence, a quiet mood, and safety. It is a humble gesture with an extraordinary effect.
It is a door to introspection, contemplation, purpose, love…. Does it guide us to seek truth?
In Waldorf schools, we carry forth the act of lighting candles. A candle flame represents the door to ancient rememberings, the present mood, and hope for the future.
The young child experiences it daily to quiet the body and open the feeling realm. We light a candle before our meals and before we tell a story. In the early grades, the children continue this ritual with verses to celebrate time. Also, they learn to make fire and cook.
At the age of twelve, the middle school student now delves into the analytical world. Having been prepared through their work in the younger grades to recognize and embrace fire, they look deeply into the almost unseen reality of the flame in the physics block called Light, Sound, and Heat. To study the element of fire as light, the teacher leads students into a darkened room where there is an unlit candle placed in the center of a table, yet there is nothing else to distract the senses. When the room is completely without light and the students have settled into the darkness, the teacher lights the candle. The students spend five whole minutes in complete silence observing the candle; maybe it is extinguished and lit once or twice or three times. The students rest in the dark for a few more seconds. Once the whole experiment is complete, the students file out of the room to their desks and sit with their thoughts and journals to write down everything they experienced.
Candle, candle burning bright, thank you for your golden light……
Love, Michele Turner
Farewell Marcia and Thank You!
LAST FALL, Marcia Diamond announced that she was retiring after a long and distinguished career in education. She will step down on June 30. She is currently the longest-serving head of school on the Blue Hill Peninsula. She is also the longest-serving head of school The Bay School has ever had.
“Marcia has dedicated the past nine years to doing all she could to lead The Bay School and our community,” said Tara Nemeth, Marcia’s successor. “She has remained steadfast through faculty changes, new board members, policy changes, and many, many incoming families. I am grateful for her dedication and commitment.”
During her tenure, she oversaw the difficult years of providing the best educational experience possible for students during the COVID pandemic. While many schools shut down and transitioned to distance learning, The Bay School remained open. “Marcia did such a wonderful job for the whole school community dealing with COVID,” said board member Sal Tomkins. To comply with the mandate that students be six feet apart, Emlen Hall’s first and second floors were used as classrooms. Makeshift teaching spaces were created, including an outdoor classroom in a borrowed hoop house. Myriad reporting requirements were put in place by the state, federal government, and the CDC. Testing a segment of the population each week was required in order for all close contacts of a positive case to not have to quarantine. Marcia kept up with it all.
“Marcia has been an exceptionally caring and creative head
of school,” Sally Mills said, “I especially admire her ability to always try to see the bigger picture by absorbing educational and political trends statewide and nationally.”
Former core faculty member Kristy Cunnane agrees. “Marcia has shown equanimity and diplomacy when faced with very trying circumstances. She has shown compassion for families, students, and teachers time and time again. It has been a pleasure and an honor to work alongside her.”
Marcia received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine at Farmington and Master’s of Educational Leadership and Administration from The University of Maine. She started her career as the Assistant Press Secretary for U.S. Senator George Mitchell.
After four years, she turned to education and has spent the past thirty-seven years serving as a middle school teacher, principal, adjunct professor at UMaine, and educational consultant. The Bay School was her first foray into Waldorf education.
“When the hiring committee interviewed Marcia,” Kristy recalled, “her passion and thoughtfulness regarding education were so evident. New to Waldorf education, Marcia spent time learning and listening, collaborating with and supporting teachers and families. She became a strong advocate for our school and for our work as teachers.”
The Head of School has a huge list of responsibilities, overseeing the business of the school, as well as creating
policies and renewing accreditation and certifications, handling the recruitment and admissions process, strategic planning, and hiring. “As a teacher, I so appreciate Marcia‘s openness to different perspectives, her steadiness and optimism as a school leader, and her genuine interest and caring for all of us in the school community,” said Ghigs Razi, current teacher of 3rd and 4th grades.
The Bay School has grown under Marcia’s leadership. Board President Holly Arends Murphy shared that, “Marcia is the first professionally credentialed administrator we have had. She brought expertise in legal issues that allowed us to access funding for educational support services such as Title I and special education. In the past, we have had to turn away students with special learning needs. Now, while we still can’t meet every student’s needs, we are providing supportive services that make a Bay School education available and appropriate for a broader pool of students.”
The Bay School has grown in other ways under her tenure, too. The yurt erected in the early 2000s was replaced with two new classroom buildings, connected by a large outdoor gathering and teaching space. Contributions to the annual fund increased by 80%, and other charitable support grew significantly. The school census has increased as well, including a big jump in early childhood.
“Marcia was instrumental in supporting the vision for expanding the Parent/Child Program and in giving it a dedicated home on campus,” said Margot Entwisle. “She has
strengthened and broadened the school’s foundation and has brought her expertise as a school administrator to enhance the breadth of offerings serving The Bay School community.”
‘No matter the challenges that have arisen over the years, the warmth of Marcia’s presence has greeted the children each morning, and her laugh has unfailingly filled the halls and heart of our school every single day,” said Margot.
We wish her well in her retirement–one filled with grandchildren, reading for pleasure, and travel–and hope to see her on campus often.
ALUMNI LIVING ABROAD
Justin Kaley ‘96
Nearly Two Decades in Asia
Justin Kaley ‘96 has lived and worked in Asia for nearly all of his career. He has been with National Geographic Learning, a part of Cengage, for fifteen years and now serves as Head of Marketing for the Asia region with the group, mainly supporting the English-language teaching solutions business. He lives in Bangkok, Thailand, where he moved in 2023 with his wife and 8-year-old son after living in Greater China (Beijing and Taipei) for 14 years.
“It’s hard to believe how long I’ve technically been an ‘expat,’” he relates. “Much to the chagrin of my family, there’s too much world out there to explore to just stay put… but I will always think of Maine as ‘home’.”
Indeed, his career has taken him all over Asia and beyond. He has delivered presentations, conducted training sessions, and run events for thousands of English teachers in Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, and today manages a team that empowers impactful learning experiences for thousands of schools and millions of students across Asia every year.
Prior to joining National Geographic Learning, Justin worked as a Consultant for the British Council, a Senior Teacher and Curriculum Developer for Global Edge Academy, an Instructor for Vantana Education, an ESL Instructor at Teachers College, and an English Teacher at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.
Justin obtained his Master’s in Applied Linguistics from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 2009. Before that, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Spanish at Tufts University. Justin also studied abroad in his junior year at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, primarily focusing on Spanish.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to find a career that has allowed me to travel, learn, be creative, and meet many inspiring people along the way. I like to think that this journey began from those early days of discovery in classrooms at The Bay School.”
Adrea Piazza ‘06
On the banks of the River Thames
Adrea Piazza is a mudlark. The 2006 Bay School alumna likes to search for old bits of treasure in the silty banks of the Thames. She has found a copper farthing from the 1600s, countless shards of pottery, an 18th-century clay wig curler, glass bottle stops in colorful hues, and lots of pipe stems and bowls from times when smoking a pipe was very common. Think Sherlock Holmes.
“Mudlarking is one of the reasons I moved to London,” she says. “Now that I’m here, spending time by the river and sifting through the muddy archive of the foreshore helps me understand the city and its history in a more intimate way.”
Adrea has always loved to travel. For her 8th grade project at The Bay School, she set out to learn Italian. This was not studying the Berlitz Course on cassette tapes in her bedroom. She and her father moved to Italy for about a month to take an immersion class in Grado, off the coast of Trieste. She helped organize an exchange with students in Italy, and her 8th-grade class, taught by Catherine Razi, decided to visit for their class trip. The class spent the spring raising money to help support it, hosting an Italian dinner in Emlen Hall and other fundraising activities. The whole class went.
After high school, Adrea enrolled at Georgetown University, majoring in English. She spent her junior year abroad studying English Literature and History at Oxford, another city through which the Thames flows, planting early seeds for her love of the UK. She graduated from Georgetown in 2014 and secured a dream job for anyone who loves letters: publicist for The New Yorker. She was there for over three years and even got a piece published on newyorker.com about Blue Hill Books.
“I loved working at The New Yorker, but I knew Public Relations wasn’t right for me. After some deliberation, I decided to leave that job and pursue another career path entirely.” So, she went back to school in 2019 at Harvard Graduate School of Design. She served as a co-editor of Pairs, a student-led printed design journal at the GSD. She completed an internship at Jo Taillieu Architecten in Ghent,
Belgium, another international experience, albeit short. Her thesis, sited on the River Thames, was predominantly about translation, archive, and time. She graduated in 2023 and moved shortly thereafter to London to take a position as Architectural Designer at THISS Studio.
“After graduate school, I only applied for jobs in London. I’m very lucky to have ended up at a small, friendly practice doing exciting work in the UK and abroad. Before moving here, I had an idea of what living in London might be like. But a city really expands when you live there, it takes on a different shape and starts to make sense in new ways.”
Alumni! New job? New city? Married? Children? New degree? We want to hear from you! Send your updates to advancement@bayschool.org. We will publish your news in the Fall Annual Report!
ALUMNI LIVING ABROAD
Abe Ziner ‘09
Germany by the Numbers
Abe Ziner ‘09 grew up on Deer Isle, but he is a very long way from the small island he once called home. An economist and researcher, Abe now specializes in Middle Eastern Economic Systems and Behavioral Economics. He lives in Frankfurt, Germany. “It all started by finding an old edition of The Economist’ s ‘Our World in Numbers’ in Mr. Springer’s desk some time in the 6th grade or so,” he says.
First stop on his way to a life abroad was Wheaton College, where Abe designed his own program in Strategic Geography. “The major was my attempt to understand both the parts of society and theory that underpin and interconnect today’s Middle East.”
He did a junior year abroad program at the American University in Cairo, where he focused on Anthropology of the Middle East region and Modern Arab Political and Social thought. “While I initially drew up the plan for my independent major in my sophomore year at Wheaton, it was during this time in Egypt that I realized the necessity of studying in this interdisciplinary way.”
After graduating from Wheaton, and some time spent working in Washington D.C., Abe moved to Ireland to work as an analyst for a technology company, but left that to go back to school for his Master’s. In 2024, he completed his graduate studies in Economics of the Middle East at The Philipps University of Marburg, Germany. “The graduate program in Marburg gave me a nuanced understanding of the economic and policy dynamics of the Middle East,” Abe stated. “I took courses in empirical economics, policy planning, diversification strategies, and the political implications of oil wealth, with great attention to the interplay between resource dependence, economic sustainability, and institutional decision-making.”
“All this provided me with fantastic lenses through which to interpret and enumerate the world, yet the dear Bay School deserves credit for instilling in me a most valuable and significant lesson of perception. I have for years kept with me a (smaller) main-lesson book, complete with pencil and watercolors, into which I draw places, people, and concepts. It has occurred over and over that, with these little watercolors, I have been able to build understanding and kindle humor across (sometimes significant) chasms of languages and cultures. Thanks, MAIN LESSON!”
Since graduating, Abe has continued his research in Germany, working with the University of Marburg. Last fall, he happily got married in Denmark to his wife, Amaya, and continues to make every effort to spend as much time on the Blue Hill Peninsula as possible.
Melina Markos ‘98 Dreaming in Italian
The island of Sardinia sits off the boot of Italy, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily. In the pristine waters, you will often see suntanned surfers and windsurfers, and one of those happy people could be Melina Markos ‘98. “Sardinia is a breathtakingly beautiful island with over 1000 miles of coastline,” she says. “For someone who loves the outdoors, it’s a little slice of paradise.”
Melina graduated from Colby College in May of 2006 and, by November, had her certification to teach English as a Foreign Language from Via Lingua in Florence. She has been working as a translator and teacher since. “I translate from Italian into English–tourism websites, legal documents, as well as more creative projects such as subtitles for a short film. I love working directly with the author on creative projects, making sure I have captured the soul of the work. I do projects in Italian public schools to promote English language fluency, and in the afternoon, I have my own online teaching business.”
She thinks in Italian now. “I’d had a fascination with Italy and the Italian language ever since I was a little kid, and started studying Italian during my first year at Colby,” she says. “There was always an inexplicable pull. I still think I got lucky when I had the chance to live and work in
Sardinia. It has the same natural beauty as Maine, though in a different way. And, like Mainers, the people are genuine.”
In December 2022, Melina and her partner, Simon, welcomed a baby boy to their family, Asher James. Asher was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, where Simon is originally from, and they spent the first few months of his life there. Asher is learning three languages and has three passports.
“Asher is almost 2 1/2. The past few months, his languages have been exploding. He’s able to understand and communicate in English, Italian, and Hebrew. It’s really fascinating how he’s able to switch between languages depending on his audience. For example, when I ask him what we’re having for dinner, to me he’ll say ‘fish’ to Simon ‘dag’ (Hebrew), and to an Italian speaker, ‘pesce’.”
She sees herself living in Italy and has no current plans to move back to the U.S. “I love the life we have built here. I will always have a very strong connection to Maine, though. I sometimes think about how my years at The Bay School gave me so much, and how part of me would like to see my son have that same opportunity one day.”
She has advice for people who want to live abroad. “Be patient, be humble, observe the local culture, learn the language, and prepare yourself for a lot of bureaucracy.”
Come celebrate The Bay School’s 45th Anniversary!
Tuesday, July 22 at 4:30
We will gather on campus for an evening of food, fun, and music with The Soul Benders!
The event is open to the public. Come join us and spread the word!
Tours of Campus
Mix and mingle with alumni, past and present staff and faculty, and families
Dedication of new buildings
Oyster Bar by Deer Isle Oyster Company
Free Ice Cream Sundae Social
Bars by The Bay
The Black Sheep Food Truck Music and Dancing with The Soul Benders Tickets are by donation: https://bayschool45.eventbrite.com Staying for The Soul Benders?
