We hope you enjoy the pages ahead, which celebrate 90 years of dedication to excellence in early childhood education.
From treasured memories to the warmth and excitement that is palpable in our beloved school today, our community reflects on the joy of Beauvoir.
GLOBAL STUDIES GRANTS OPEN A GATEWAY TO THE
EXPLORING IDENTITY IN THE CLASSROOM
BEAUVOIR’S 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
ALUMNI
Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn
EDITOR
Lisa Gilcrest
CONTRIBUTORS
Louis Berman
Kaitlyn Hay
Jazmine Jackson
Jaclyn Jeffery
Aya Kellam
Helen Macsherry
Meredith McAbee
Monika Rhodes
PHOTOGRAPHY
Joshua Reed of Jason Dixon Photography
Marci Robles ’93
DESIGN
Kate O’Neil
A Letter from the Head of School
The child featured on the cover of this 90th anniversary edition of the Beauvoir Views could be one of a million students who have graced the hallways of Beauvoir throughout its long history. Although we are unable to see the face, we can deduce from the beads, pom poms, and hair décor that this student is carrying a great deal of pride for Beauvoir as we commemorate 90 years of joyful teaching and learning. I find it symbolic that the cover also features students in a forwardfacing position during Beauvoir’s Spirit Day celebration. As the Beauvoir community reflects on our past, commits to the present, and focuses on our future, we are well-positioned for another nine decades of history in the making.
As you read through the Views, I invite you to harken back to your own Beauvoir memories; no doubt, you will find many meaningful connections. Autumn’s Fall Festival, December’s Christmas Chapel, Global Studies’ Museum Night, springtime’s Kindergarten Flea Market, the Annual Scholarship Benefit, and June’s Closing Chapel with our charming but bittersweet Maypole Ceremony have been with us for decades as key rituals of the Beauvoir experience.
Research tells us that humans rely on rites and rituals; regular rhythms and patterns in life to both learn and feel safe and secure in the environment. This is especially essential for very young children beginning their life journeys, for it helps them strengthen beliefs and bonds, and better understand their connections within the world. As experienced educators, we know meaningful traditions “leave an emotional imprint” on children, helping them build positive, lasting memories and a strong sense of identity.
Celebrating traditions and building community for 90 years are cause for our collective cheers with thanks to every Beauvoir friend for being part of this journey, past and present. I give special thanks to the incredible faculty and staff for dedicating the majority of their waking hours to our students, families, and one another. Without their skilled expertise and genuine devotion, our shared history would not exist. Likewise, the generosity of our trustees, families, and community members has allowed us to continually move forward and grow. We are blessed to count you as our Beauvoir champions. I hope you enjoy reminiscing with this issue of the Beauvoir Views, and onward we go!
Warmly,
Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn, Head of School
New Governing Board Trustees for 2022–2023 and 2023–2024
As we welcome Kelvin Coleman as Board Chair beginning in the 2023–2024 school year, Beauvoir bids a fond farewell to former Board Chair Alice Leiter ’89 whose unwavering dedication and leadership have been instrumental in supporting the School’s mission. 2022-2023
Thayer Baine, a graduate of Smith College, taught middle school music and math for 25 years before retiring in 2011. Thayer is a former parent at Beauvoir, St. Albans, and the National Cathedral School (NCS), and a current grandparent at Beauvoir and NCS. She is a past president of the School’s Parents Association (PA) and a past chair of the Scholarship Benefit. Thayer is also a member of Beauvoir’s Grandparents Council.
Noah Mehrkam is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Arcland Property Company, a leading self-storage developer and investor. He is also the CEO of its management affiliate, Self Storage Plus, ranked the 12th largest self-storage management company in the United States by Inside Self Storage. Noah holds a B.A. from West Virginia University and an M.S. in real estate development from Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife, Hilary, are parents of Lyla ’23 and Anderson, ’25.
William Washington III is the global chief financial officer (CFO) for Baker McKenzie. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Mississippi State University, an MBA from the University of Maryland University College, and a master’s degree in law firm management from
George Washington University, in addition to being a certified manager of quality/organizational excellence and a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. William is married to Tracy Washington, currently an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. They have four wonderful children and reside in Bethesda, MD.
Erik van der Merwe, a CFA charter holder, has a bachelor of engineering degree in industrial (mechanical) engineering from Stellenbosch University. He holds a Ph.D. in manufacturing and management engineering as well as a master’s in applied mathematics from Cambridge University. Erik was the 2022–23 Parents Association (PA) president, having previously served as the PA Vice President and Treasurer. He co-chaired the 2020 Beauvoir Scholarship Benefit, the Beauvoir Welcome Committee, and the Library Aide Committee.
Erik and his wife, Caroline Richard, are parents of David ’21, Clara ’24, and three-year-old Kate.
2023-2024
John Ackerly is the co-founder and CEO of Virtru Corporation, a cybersecurity and software solutions company he founded in 2012 with his brother, Will Ackerly. John has a bachelor’s degree from Williams College, was a Rhodes Scholar, and received
an MBA from Harvard Business School where he was a Baker Scholar. He and his wife, Rory, are the parents of Maxon ’26. John is a 1993 graduate of St. Albans School.
Monica Davy is the chief culture, diversity and inclusion officer at Vizient, the nation’s largest health care performance improvement company. Monica graduated from George Mason University and received a law degree from Howard University. She and her husband, Fred, are parents to Naomi ’09, Nina ’12, and Caleb.
Natalie Pica Friend, M.D., Ph.D. is a director of Pre-IND Services and senior physician in the Division of Antivirals at the FDA. Natalie graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University, with a B.S. in biology and a minor in women’s studies. She attended the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She completed residency training at the Boston Combined Residency Program and served as chief resident at Boston Children’s Hospital. Natalie and her husband, Ryan Friend, have a son, Russell ’26, and a daughter, Genevieve (Gigi) ’28.
The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF) added two new roles in 2023—PECF President and Institutional Representative.
In June of 2023, the PECF Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Chris Calsyn as the first fulltime President of the PECF, effective July 1, 2023. With oversight from the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Chris manages the affairs of the Foundation with an eye toward ensuring its overall fiscal health and reputation. He also serves as a strategic partner to the Heads of School at Beauvoir, St. Albans School, and the National Cathedral School and the Dean of the Cathedral, as well as the chairs of each of the institutions’ governing boards, in balancing the rich individuality and culture of each of the institutions.
Previously, Chris served as the chef legal officer for the PECF beginning in November of 2021. Prior to coming to the Close, he was senior counsel for employment to the United States Senate. Chris earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, and his B.A. in political science from the University of
Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In his spare time, Chris enjoys woodworking, cooking, reading, and spending time with his wife, Maura.
Beauvoir’s first institutional representative to the PECF, Talhia Therese Tuck is an assistant director of admissions at the Georgetown University Law Center. Talhia earned her A.B. in government from Harvard University, and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. In this new role, Talhia provides Beauvoir with an independent voice on the PECF Board of Trustees, as these trustees may not currently serve on the board of any of the other Close institutions or be compensated by any Close institution when they serve on the PECF Board of Trustees. She works closely with Beauvoir and with the PECF president to remain informed about issues that are coming before the PECF Board of Trustees. Talhia and her husband, Brent Diller, have two sons, William ’24 and Winston ’31 Tuck-Diller.
Nicole Maaia, Beauvoir’s Faculty Representative to the board, is delighted to be returning for her twelfth year at Beauvoir. She graduated from Salem State College with a degree in educational studies focused on elementary education. In addition, she earned her M.Ed. in reading instruction at Endicott College. Nicole and her husband, Justin, who teaches religious studies at the National Cathedral School (NCS), have two daughters.
the Klingenstein Summer Institute through Columbia University. A Beauvoir alumna, Ashley and her husband, John, have two children, Sophie and Will. At the time of publication, Ashley has stepped off of the board after one year of service to accept a position at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.
Ashley McDowell Taylor ’91 worked as the dean of students at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA. Ashley holds a B.A. in human biology with a focus on the brain and behavior from Brown University, where she played on the women’s lacrosse team. She earned her master’s degree in biology at the Harvard University Extension School and studied at
2023–2024
Governing Board
The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ex officio
Mr. Chris Calsyn PECF President ex officio
Mrs. Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn Head of School ex officio
Officers
Mr. Kelvin Coleman Chair
Mrs. Dace Martinez Vice-Chair
Mr. Fred Underwood Secretary
Members
Mr. John Ackerly
Mrs. Thayer Baine
Mr. William A. Burck
Ms. Monica Davy
Ms. Nichole Francis Reynolds
Ms. Nicole Maaia
Mr. Manan Mahadevia
Kate Tyrrell, Beauvoir’s Parents Association (PA) president, is the chief of staff to the chairman and CEO of Greystone, a real estate finance and investment firm in New York. She earned her law degree from the Catholic University of America and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, where she competed as a Division I swimmer. In additon to serving as PA president, Kate was previously the PA vice president and treasurer at Beauvoir. She and her husband, Jim, have three children at Beauvoir: James ’24, Madeline ’25, and Charlotte ’27.
Mrs. Kris McBrady
Mr. Noah Mehrkam
Ms. Fernanda Montaño
Mr. Jeremiah Norton
Dr. Natalie Pica Friend
Mr. Ari Redbord
Ms. Catherine Hunt Ryan
Ms. Ashley McDowell Taylor ’91
Mrs. Kate Tyrrell
Mr. William Washington III
“For decades, Beauvoir has used our beautiful courtyard and outdoor spaces as centers for meaningful learning. It is a tradition we intend to nurture for years to come.”
—Kelvin Coleman, Governing Board Chair
Students enjoy outdoor learning circa 1986.
Cheers to the Class of 2023! As you move forward, may your curiosity lead to new discoveries; may your new friendships blossom; may your passion for learning shine; and may Beauvoir’s Life Rules guide your journey. We are proud of your dedication and hard work, and we hope you’ll visit Beauvoir often. You will always be Beauvoir Bears!
“The class of 2023 was dynamic, charismatic, and filled with joy. It was a gift being able to watch them grow during their time at Beauvoir.”
—Megan Chounoune, Head of Upper Years (Second and Third Grades)
Global Studies Grants Open a Gateway to Expl ration
By the time children graduate from Beauvoir, they can say that they’ve gone around the world, thanks to Beauvoir’s unique Global Studies curriculum. The program is a school-wide study that explores geographical regions worldwide and celebrates the families and cultures within the School.
During the spring, students engage in integrated explorations of countries or regions from one of the following geographical areas: Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and North America. By the time children are in third grade, they have studied all five regions and graduate with an understanding and appreciation of people and cultures from all around the world.
Beauvoir’s Global Studies culminates in the annual Museum Mornings celebration, during which every grade, from the Early Learning
Center (ELC) through third grade, designs and presents interactive museum exhibits about the country or region they’ve studied to share with fellow students, family members, and guests.
Every year, Beauvoir’s Global Studies program is enriched by full-time faculty and staff who travel to the region of study and bring back resources and information for our community. Faculty members who, in recent years, ventured across the globe and returned to engage their students in hands-on, inquiry-based learning, share some of their experiences on the following pages.
Kenya
Aya Kellam, Partner Teacher, Kindergarten
Where did you travel?
During the 2022–2023 school year, Beauvoir kindergartners studied the country of Kenya for Global Studies. I was lucky enough to be selected to receive a Global Studies Grant and traveled to Kenya in March 2023 during Beauvoir’s Spring Break. After an initial period of learning and discovery with my students, I brought my students’ questions and curiosities with me to experience the country firsthand.
Do you have any fun facts or highlights from your trip?
My journey started in the capital city of Nairobi, where I explored many museums and markets. I also visited the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Giraffe Centre, where I enjoyed live encounters with elephants and giraffes and learned about the extensive wildlife conservation efforts led by these two organizations.
After Nairobi, I traveled to Lake Nakuru National Park to view wildlife, including rhinos, lions, leopards, hippos, and giraffes. In addition, I visited a Maasai community known as Maji Moto to learn about the Maasai’s traditional culture and lifestyle. I went on a safari at Maasai Mara National Reserve to observe the complex ecosystem of predators and prey that make their home on the savannah. It was incredibly exciting to see the wildebeest, zebras, impalas, elephants, and gazelles that roam the Mara, as well as the big cats— cheetahs, leopards, and lions—that live in the region.
The final leg of my journey took me to the Swahili coast, where I visited the medieval village of Lamu. This part of Kenya exhibits a mix of African, Arab, and Asian influences that have resulted in the unique Swahili culture.
I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to travel to Kenya and for the ability to share what I learned with my students. To return to the classroom with first-hand experiences further drives their curiosity and enhances the depth of their understanding.
Belize
Kaitlyn Hay, Visual Arts Teacher
Where did you travel?
I traveled to Belize, which is first grade’s Global Studies country of focus. My eight-day trip began in Belize City, the largest city in Belize, and took me inland to the district of Cayo and the town of San Ignacio. The last portion of the trip was spent on Caye Caulker, a barrier island that’s part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that runs from the coast of Mexico, along Belize, and to Honduras. It’s the second-largest coral reef system in the world, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Why did you choose this location?
In the eleven years that I’ve been a part of Global Studies at Beauvoir, I don’t think a grade has ever focused on Belize before! I knew it was a country full of natural wonders but was particularly curious about what life was like in Central America’s least populated yet geographically complex nation. Belize borders Guatemala to the west, Mexico to the north,
the Caribbean Sea to the east—and was a British colony until 1981. My art history studies in college focused in large part on pre-Columbian art and archaeology, and this was an amazing opportunity to visit several key Mayan sites in Belize, such as Xunantunich, Lamanai, and Cahal Pech.
How will your trip connect with what students are learning in their Global Studies units?
Photos, videos, and a few artifacts from my trip will inspire several projects for first graders in Art. My visit to the AJAW cacao tree farm and store in San Ignacio, where they take you through every step of the cacaomaking process, from pod to drink, was incredible (especially for someone as chocolate-obsessed as I am!). Students will learn about the ancient and contemporary relationship of the Mayan to cacao and create their own ceramic cups inspired by those made by the Mayan for drinking chocolate. Many of the amazing animals I saw on my trip will figure in projects as well — from papier-mâché spotted eagle rays, howler monkeys, and blue morpho butterflies, to block prints of rainbow parrotfish and nurse sharks. I look forward to sharing books, calendars, and puzzles written in Belizean Kriol, a language unique to Belize and its history of British and African inhabitants.
Do you have any fun facts or highlights from your trip?
The bird life in Belize is incredible. Every morning, I’d get up near dawn, as that was the most active time for many birds. In addition to several species of hummingbirds, I had the great fortune of seeing Belize’s national bird, a keel-billed toucan, on the last day! In addition to birds, Belize has incredible sea life along its barrier islands, called cayes. They’re the exposed tops of coral reefs. Floating mere feet away from schools of rainbow parrotfish, butterflyfish, nurse sharks, and spotted eagle rays was an experience I’ll never forget.
Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands
Louis Berman, Partner Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten
Where did you travel?
I was lucky enough to travel to Ecuador over the Winter Break to collect artifacts and experiences for our pre-k Global Studies unit. Before I left, I met with each pre-k class to collect a class stuffy to bring on the trip.
Do you have any fun facts or highlights from your trip?
I started the trip by going horseback riding on the Cotopaxi volcano (the sea turtles were very worried that I might fall in, but I didn’t!). I also got to see many of Quito’s historic buildings. Quito is the capital city of Ecuador. At the end of the trip, I was fortunate enough to travel to the Galápagos Islands, where I saw unique animals, like 100-year-old giant tortoises. It was a wonderful trip that’ll definitely help with our Ecuador museum!
How will your trip connect with what students are learning in their Global Studies units?
Ecuador recognizes the rights of nature and protects the environment of the Galápagos Islands so that its 9,000 species (many unique) can thrive. Students will learn about many of these animals — like the 100-yearold giant tortoises, the flamingos, and the sea lions.
Ecuador is the world’s biggest exporter of bananas. Students will learn about Ecuadorian bananas, draw them, and recreate them for our museum.
There are 22 volcanoes in Ecuador, 20 of which are still active. Students will learn about how volcanoes form and function and create replicas of volcanoes. The display students will create for our Global Studies Museum Morning will take families on their own adventure to Equador and the Galápagos Islands.
Regions of Study
2023–2024
Region of Study: South America
Focus: Costa Rica (ELC); Ecuador (Pre-Kindergarten); Peru (Kindergarten); Belize (First Grade); Chile (Second Grade); and Brazil (Third Grade).
2022–2023
Region of Study: Africa
Focus: Madagascar (ELC); Egypt (Pre-Kindergarten); Kenya (Kindergarten); Ethiopia (First Grade); Egypt/Nile (Second Grade); and Morocco (Third Grade).
2021–2022
Region of Study: North America
Focus: Washington, DC (ELC); Smoky Mountains (Pre-Kindergarten); Hawaii (Kindergarten); Canada (First Grade); Colorado (Second Grade); and Washington, DC (Third Grade).
2020–2021
Region of Study: Europe
Focus: Italy (ELC); Greece (Pre-Kindergarten); Finland (Kindergarten); Spain (First Grade); Netherlands (Second Grade); and France (Third Grade).
2019–2020
Region of Study: Asia
Focus: Vietnam (ELC); Japan (Pre-Kindergarten); Australia (Kindergarten); Turkey (First Grade); Rivers of India (Second Grade); and India (Third Grade).
2018–2019
Region of Study: South America
Focus: Argentina (Pre-Kindergarten); Chile (Kindergarten); Peru (First Grade); Brazil (Second Grade); and Ecuador (Third Grade).
2017–2018
Region of Study: Africa
Focus: Kenya (Pre-Kindergarten); Madagascar (Kindergarten); Morocco (First Grade); Nile River (Second Grade); and South Africa (Third Grade).
2016–2017
Region of Study: North America
Focus: Hawaii (Pre-Kindergarten); Pacific Northwest (Kindergarten); Mexico, with a focus on cathedrals (First Grade); Colorado River and its bordering states, with a focus on water studies (Second Grade); and Washington, DC, with a focus on bridges (Third Grade).
2015–2016
Region of Study: Europe
Focus: Spain (Pre-Kindergarten); The Alps (Kindergarten); Italy with a focus on Cathedrals (First Grade); the Netherlands with an emphasis on rivers (Second Grade); and Capital Cities of Eastern Europe (Third Grade).
2014–2015
Region of Study: Asia
Focus: India (Pre-Kindergarten); China (Kindergarten); Indonesia (First Grade); Japan (Second Grade); and Turkey (Third Grade).
2013–2014
Region of Study:
South America
Focus: Brazil (Pre-Kindergarten); Panama (Kindergarten); Chile (First Grade); Peru (Second Grade); Argentina (Third Grade); and Costa Rica (ABC).
2012–2013
Region of Study: Africa
Focus: Cameroon (Pre-Kindergarten); South Africa (Kindergarten); Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles (First Grade); Egypt (Second Grade); Ghana (Third Grade); and Kenya (ABC).
Telling Our Stories in the Classroom
Beauvoir students begin telling their own stories from the first time they walk through our doors.
Our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) curriculum was developed by Beauvoir faculty members after a school-wide, guided self-reflection, and survey of faculty and staff. Focused on the four pillars of Identity, Diversity, Justice, and Action, Beauvoir’s DEIB program responds to children’s own developmental milestones and helps students pursue social justice through the lens of Beauvoir’s Life Rules.
Creating Paper Dolls in Pre-Kindergarten
By Louis Berman, Pre-Kindergarten Partner Teacher
In pre-kindergarten, every child makes their own paper doll as part of our “All About Me” unit on identity. We read a story entitled The Colors of Us by Karen Katz and talk about students’ skin tones and physical features. Students then pick out a doll template that they feel matches their skin. Hair, eyes, and all of the other details follow. Students decorate their
dolls’ clothing in ways that reflect their own, with stickers and markers. After they are finished, the dolls are displayed in a prominent place inside the classroom or in the hallway. Students love passing by and admiring their own paper doll, and those of their peers, throughout the rest of the year.
Kindergartners Shatter Stereotypes
By Aya Kellam, Kindergarten Partner Teacher
Kindergartners are concrete thinkers who see patterns in the world and build their schema about gender based on what they see (e.g., boys like superheroes and girls like princesses). With that in mind, we engage with a DEIB unit called “Self & Stereotype” in kindergarten. We use the lens of gender to explore how we express aspects of our identities and to address certain stereotypes.
Throughout the unit, we use literature to connect with different ideas about gender. These texts include Pink Is for Everybody, Julián Is a Mermaid, Red: A Crayon’s Story, Jamie Is Jamie, and Be Who
You Are Through these books, we address gender stereotypes concerning color, hair, style of dress, and toys, with an emphasis on the fact that there are lots of different ways to be a girl, a boy, both, or neither. Using the Life Rules as a guide, this unit is designed to encourage students to be who they are and allow others to do the same.
We teach students that stereotypes are simple ideas about a group of people, often indicating that everyone in that group is the same. In one activity, kindergartners practice identifying stereotypical statements. Teachers share statements such as “All children like Pokémon”; “Only girls wear pink clothes”; “Some boys like Hot Wheels”; and “All girls like to dress up like princesses.” When they hear a stereotypical statement, students stand up and say, “That’s a stereotype!” Our goals in this unit are to help students build an inclusive view of gender, to help students feel positive and proud about the way they express their gender identity,
and to guide students in being kind and respectful in how they treat others, regardless of gender expression.
Exploring Faith Identities in First Grade
By Jaclyn Jeffery, First Grade Partner Teacher
In first grade, students have the opportunity to study the Washington National Cathedral throughout the year. With this wonderful connection, during the fall, first-grade classes focus on a child’s religious identity as part of their DEIB curriculum. Through books and explorations, first graders learn about six major religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Judaism. Each exploration explains where the religion began, where most people who follow the religion live, important beliefs of the religion, holidays or observances people may recognize, and articles of faith people might have or wear. First graders continually use the language of “windows” and “mirrors”
to identify differences and similarities between themselves, as well as in comparing the different religions. The identity unit culminates with students creating a project that describes their own religious identity to share with others.
First-grade students also participate in cultural conversations throughout the year led by faculty, staff, and families. Cultural conversations are a way for families and teachers to introduce themselves to the class along with traditions they have as a family. These may include holidays or other celebrations they observe as a family and may explain things that might be different in their daily life. Sometimes, first graders might be introduced to something new, such as using communication devices; other times, it might be something familiar to them, like Lunar New Year. First graders are able to explore their curiosities about a topic that might be new to them in a safe space by asking questions and making connections. They continually learn about their classroom community, school community, and the communities that surround us through their studies to help prepare them to become global citizens.
Second Grade: What’s in a Name?
By Meredith McAbee, Second Grade Partner Teacher
We begin our Name Project in second grade by explaining to students that one important way to get to know new classmates and teachers is to know their names. Having someone say your name makes you feel included; like people know who you are, and they respect and care about you. We tell students that many of us know each other’s names already, but we will go beyond simply memorizing a name and really get to know what someone’s name tells us about who they are.
We invite families to share in the fun as second graders interview their grownups about how they named their child. Students ask their grown-ups, “Does my name have a special story?”; “Was I named after someone?”; “Is my name connected to a specific culture?”; “Does my name have a specific meaning?” After completing their at-home interviews, students bring their interview notes back to school to present to the class.
One of the highlights of the project is creating a large web, with all of our names on it, and finding meaningful connections and commonalities. Students come up with labels for the web, using their interview notes, and incorporate literacy skills by analyzing the number of syllables and letters. This cross-curricular project also ties in with our graphing unit in math, as students focus on a name-related question, and we create a class graph of our data collections. Through this project, students practice being researchers using familiar content and learn more about one another as we build and strengthen our classroom communities.
Third Graders Find Their Place in Community
By Jazmine Jackson, Third Grade Partner Teacher
In third grade, students begin the year learning about themselves and their communities. Students engage in readalouds, listening to stories about others and their communities. Central themes include family and community food traditions, meaningful artifacts, and community celebrations. As students hear stories, they participate in discussions, making connections and reflecting on their own experiences.
By the end of the unit, students have used brainstorming activities to come up with ideas for writing personal narratives about their own identity and community. This may include writing about cooking a special dish with family, observing a religious or cultural holiday, or celebrating fall with a neighborhood block party. Students learn the importance of telling their stories and hearing the stories of others to create a sense of belonging with one another.
Ryann Fapohunda Named Beauvoir’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion,
and Belonging
After a nationwide search, Ryann Fapohunda joined Beauvoir in July 2023 as the new Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and Director of Beauvoir’s Specialist Team.
Ryann comes to Beauvoir from Bullis School in Potomac, MD, where she was director of teaching and learning K–12. She brings more than 10 years of experience in independent schools, including National Cathedral School for girls and The Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Dayton, an M.Ed. from Antioch University, and an M.S.Ed. in school leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
“What excites me most about Beauvoir is how authentically and intentionally the School is living out its commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Ryann. “The faculty have beautifully and meaningfully integrated DEIB work into the curriculum in a developmentally appropriate manner for young learners, and it is incredible to see that work in practice.”
Ryann brings a wealth of experience in ensuring curriculum reflects the diversity of the school community; leading workshops on brain development, student learning, and support for students with learning differences; and creating a safe and nurturing environment for students, faculty, staff, and families to engage in deep and meaningful learning.
“A quote that has guided my professional practice is ‘You can’t teach what you don’t know, and you can’t lead where you won’t go,’” Ryann shared. “If we want our students to matriculate from our schools and venture into the world prepared for life and equipped with cultural competencies, those skills must be cultivated beginning at a young age.”
Our beloved school celebrated a major milestone; we hope you enjoy some captured memories on the following pages.
Beauvoir’s 90th Anniversary Celebrates the Importance of Learning & Leadership
For 90 years, Beauvoir’s mission has been to provide an extraordinary early childhood education that fosters a lifelong passion for learning by embracing the curiosity and creativity of childhood. What better way to mark Beauvoir’s 90th anniversary than with a birthday extravaganza with nearly 800 registered guests! Our celebration weekend took place from Thursday, October 19 to Saturday, October 21, 2023, and honored past and present leadership, faculty, staff, families, friends, and, of course, our students and alumni with events for all! From our Thursday evening reception at Washington National Cathedral and Friday’s Anniversary Chapel — featuring “Ninety Years Strong: A Hymn for Beauvoir’s 9oth Anniversary”, the new hymn composed for Beauvoir by Canon Michael McCarthy — to the opening of the Class of 2000 Time Capsule and Saturday afternoon’s Fall Fest, co-chaired by Marissa Chepenik, Romy Hussain and Amy Markopoulos, the Beauvoir community celebrated traditions and memories, both old and new. We invite you to enjoy a glimpse into the festivities, which are featured on the next several pages.
Among the special guests who returned for the birthday festivities were two former Beauvoir heads of school, Polly Moreland (1979 – 1992) and Paula Carreiro (1992 – 2013). Current Head of School Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn (2018 – present) found a quiet moment for an insightful chat with Mrs. Moreland and Mrs. Carreiro. An excerpt from their conversation follows. Please scan the QR code to view the full conversation.
Polly Moreland (PM): I can only say that Beauvoir — it is a family, and it stays with you always, and I don’t believe there was any time that I was happier working or being a part of something than I was at Beauvoir.
Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn (CGW): I feel like I’ve been on a cloud this week, knowing that this many decades of leadership here at Beauvoir are coming together. What I love about these two women is that we really enjoy each other’s company, and I am just delighted to know that we’re able to come together and celebrate nine decades of joyful work here at Beauvoir.
Paula Carreiro (PC): The lovely thing, I think, for each of us in our own experience, is that we’ve worked hard to make this wonderful place even more magical, not only for the students who live and learn here, but for the faculty and staff as well.
PM: I never worked with a better faculty than in this school; they were committed. In all the schools I have evaluated since then, I have never found one where the quality of faculty was the same as here.
PC: I have never seen a school that gave both the intellectual and the caring [as well as] the comfort and the family feelings that we really want to give [our students]. I can’t think of a time that any of us ever walked down this hallway where you didn’t see smiling teachers, smiling kids [with their] arms draped around each other, ready to get to their classrooms.
CGW: We still have those faces pressed against the front door in the morning before the [doors] open! Well, I want to thank you both. I just can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you back here at Beauvoir. It’s such a special occasion, but let’s not wait for special occasions to make this happen again!
Song “
No Ordinary Happy Birthday”
The gift of a hymn for Beauvoir’s birthday
n the summer of 2003, Canon Michael McCarthy was appointed the Washington National Cathedral director of music to oversee the Cathedral’s expanding music program and serve as principal choirmaster. Canon McCarthy was the founding director of the London Oratory School Schola, the Catholic school’s boys’ choir. Founded in 1996, the Schola quickly became one of London’s premier boys’ choirs, performing regularly on the London concert platform and in the studio for both the recording and film industries. He directed the Schola in recordings for films including Sleepy Hollow, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the Harry Potter series.
A graduate of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Canon McCarthy has worked with numerous professional choirs, including The Sixteen, the Gabrieli Consort, and the Monteverdi Choir. His experience directing young choristers includes duties as lay clerk at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford and Saint Alban’s Abbey in Hertfordshire. He also served as master of music at Saint Benedict’s Abbey, Ealing.
For Beauvoir’s 90th Birthday, Canon McCarthy wrote and composed a new hymn —”Ninety Years Strong”— to help celebrate the joyful occasion. Views magazine was honored to learn more about this beautiful gift to the School and our community.
Views (V): First, can you share the differences between a hymn and another piece of music such as a classical piece or a more contemporary worship song?
Canon Michael McCarthy (CMM): A classical piece of music tends to be through-composed and not restricted to a tune and multiple verse repeating the
tune. A hymn has its roots in traditional worship and engages congregational/ community in song. Like a contemporary worship song, a hymn is strophic in nature with a number of verses being sung to the same tune. I devised “Ninety Years Strong” as a hybrid of a classical and contemporary hymn.
V: How did the project of composing a new hymn for Beauvoir’s 90th birthday come about?
CMM: The Rev. Dr. Lisa Barrowclough, Beauvoir’s chaplain, called me in the spring of 2023 to ask if I would be interested in writing a hymn for the 90th anniversary. I was very honored and very happy to be able to help Beauvoir celebrate this important birthday.
V: How do you approach a new composing project?
CMM: As this hymn required a new text, I started there. I was trying to weave a narrative of thankfulness and appropriate sense of pride in being a member of the Beauvoir family.
V: What was most important to you to convey with the new hymn?
CMM: Unconditional/unbridled gratitude.
V: Our students sing your beautiful new hymn with such passion and joy. What was your experience the first time you heard them sing your composition?
CMM: It was an extraordinary privilege to provide something to celebrate Beauvoir, its students, alums, staff, and parents. There was a big lump in my throat hearing the hymn. The students were awesome! It was such a gift for me to have this opportunity.
“It was an extraordinary privilege to provide something to celebrate Beauvoir, its students, alums, staff, and parents. There was a big lump in my throat hearing the hymn. The students were awesome! It was such a gift for me to have this opportunity.”
—Canon Michael McCarthy Scan the QR Code to hear “Ninety Years Strong” performed by our students.
A Stitch in Time
Celebrating Beauvoir’s anniversary with a special gift from one of our beloved past faculty members.
On a late-September evening, with the crisp courtyard air mingling with the lingering energy of families fresh from classroom visits on Back-to-School night, a small gathering of Beauvoir administrators and staff discussed who they hoped to see return to campus for the School’s 90th birthday celebration weekend. The list was long and included
alumni from across the globe, past faculty, and families for whom Beauvoir has been a common thread for generations. There was a palpable sense of connection to a community that cares deeply for all those who have traveled the hallways of Beauvoir, as well as an eagerness to welcome newcomers whose perspectives add to the vibrant tapestry that frames the Beauvoir experience.
How fitting that gifting works of needlepoint, an art that dates to the ancient Egyptians circa 1500 BC, has long been a way for a beloved past faculty member to celebrate Beauvoir in a way that current and new community members continue to enjoy. Laurie Bloch taught pre-kindergarten and kindergarten at Beauvoir from 1989 through 2007. Well known for her generosity and creativity—she mailed birthday cards to each of her Beauvoir students from the time they moved on from her class until they turned 16—Mrs. Bloch continues to honor Beauvoir through the gift of her skilled needlework. Beauvoir’s 90th anniversary presented an opportunity for Mrs. Bloch and her husband, Fred Bloch, to collaborate on a festive and memorable project—a beautiful maypole needlepoint design centered within a pole fire screen. While Mr. Bloch handled the measurements for the fire screen,
Mrs. Bloch gathered the colorful yarn and stitched the intricate pattern.
For centuries, fire screens were placed between log fires and individuals seated nearby to shield them from the discomfort of excessive heat. Often ornately embroidered, pole fire screens were popular in the 18th century, as they were smaller and adjustable, which allowed a person to shield their face, from the heat while still enjoying the warmth provided by the fire.
Mrs. Bloch’s maypole design honors a tradition familiar to every third grader since the founding of Beauvoir. Teacher Julia Morse instituted the “Maypole Dance” as a spring tradition that first occurred with Beauvoir’s first class, the Class of 1934, and will continue this spring with the Class of 2024.
Mr. and Mrs. Bloch presented their gift to the School during the Beauvoir 90th Anniversary Chapel on Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Washington National Cathedral.
“Throughout her 15 years of classroom teaching at Beauvoir and beyond, Mrs. Bloch has unselfishly shared her passion for needlepointing with the Beauvoir community, including Beauvoir pillows, benches, rocking chairs, wall hangings, and other works of art,” shared Head of School Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn. “We will forever be grateful to Laurie and Fred Bloch for their lifelong commitment to Beauvoir and for warming our hearts with this special gift.”
Last year, Laurie Bloch was asked to be the official stitcher at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, DC. Every president has a kneeler at St. John’s Church; the one pictured here was created for President Barack Obama.
As the official stitcher, Mrs. Bloch is responsible for current and recent past presidential kneelers.
Beauvoir’s 90th Anniversary Celebration
A Growing Family Tree at Beauvoir
Beauvoir Alumni memories are rooted in learning and love.
As you walk through Beauvoir’s main entrance, it’s hard to miss the beautiful installations on the walls that soar above the lobby. To the left, there is a cuddly birthday bear holding on tightly to scores of hand-decorated balloons. To the right, the magnificent tree from Beauvoir’s long-standing logo stands tall, full of leaves bearing notes of well wishes and fond memories.
In celebration of Beauvoir’s 90 years, students, parents, faculty, and staff wrote, drew, and colored birthday messages to Beauvoir on paper balloons, while alumni participated by returning paper leaves the School sent to our extended community both near and far. The leaves will remain on display for the year and may be viewed in our online scrapbook, which is located on Beauvoir’s website at beauvoirschool.org/community/ 90th-birthday-celebration.
If you did not receive a leaf and would like to participate, you are invited to download a leaf at beauvoirschool.org/90th/birthday/celebration or scan the QR code below and return it to:
Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School
Re: Alumni Tree
3500 Woodley Road, NW Washington, DC 20016
Please be sure to include your name and return address.
Three Generations Reflect
From current community members to students who graduated long ago, Beauvoir memories are steeped in the joy and wonder of childhood. Views magazine sat down with five individuals from three generations of students, alumnae, faculty, and staff to reflect on fond memories, what has changed, and what remains the same today. Our panel included: Lilly Kowalski ’22; Lauren (Bonnett) Pate ’99, former Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid; Liane Alves ’97, First Grade Partner Teacher; Ashley (Ball) Simpson ’58, former School Librarian (retired 2023); and longtime faculty member Anne Marie Desaulniers, current Director of Learning Resources.
Views: Do you have a favorite Beauvoir tradition that you experienced either as a student or as a teacher?
Lilly Kowalski (LK): I really liked Frozen Fridays [popsicles for treats]. Not all Fridays were Frozen Fridays, so during recess, my friends and I would look in the cafeteria to see if there were big boxes, which usually meant it was a Frozen Friday. And I thought that was fun. I also liked field trips to Hemlock [Overlook Regional Park]. We did all sorts of outdoor activities, and it was really fun.
Lauren Pate (LP): Mine would be the three All-School Chapels [Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Closing Chapel]. I especially remember my grandparents
coming for the Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ services.
Anne Marie Desaulniers (AMD): I think mine is the first graders doing the Christmas story as part of the Christmas Chapel. I was a learning specialist with first grade for 13 years and played a big role in helping practice and then dress the angels and shepherds on chapel morning. That’s always been so wonderful.
Ashley Simpon (AS): I think I would say the first graders doing the nativity scene for the Christmas Chapel was always very beautiful. I loved that.
Liane Alves (LA): I’d say the Book Fair was my favorite tradition. I loved to read,
and it was just the best thing in the world to walk into Taylor Hall and see it full of books. The only thing you had to do was choose books, and it was just like heaven to me.
Views: Liane, your answer is a perfect segue into our next question. What were some of your favorite books when you were a child?
LK: I’d say The Bad Guys series [by Aaron Blabey]. I read the whole series, I watched the movie, and that’s still one of my favorite series.
LA: I’ll say The Hundred Dresses [by Eleanor Estes], which I remember Ms. Desaulniers reading. The little girl draws all these pictures of dresses, and she doesn’t have any herself, if I’m remembering that correctly. It was the first book that I can remember at Beauvoir, and I remember it being very sweet and very sad at the same time.
AS: It was probably from my Beauvoir days, but I really liked The Chronicles of Narnia series [by C.S. Lewis]. The Magician’s Nephew was my favorite. I enjoyed that very much.
LP: For me, it was Shel Silverstein’s book of poems, Where the Sidewalk Ends. To this day, it’s still one of my favorites. I always had fun reading those.
LK: I remember when I was in second grade with Ms. Pate, our class read that book aloud.
Views: Lilly, what do you think your favorite thing about Mrs. Pate was when she was your teacher at Beauvoir?
LK: Well, Mrs. Pate is kind and patient, and she always had fun ideas for us to try out. It was really enjoyable to be in her class.
LP: Thank you, Lilly. That means a lot.
Views: What do you think Mrs. Pate might have been like when she was a second grader?
LK: I don’t know…a little like me maybe.
LP: I like hearing that. I think I was a little like you, Lilly.
Views: Lauren, what was it like being Lilly’s teacher. Do you remember any highlights about her as your student.
LP: Definitely. The year I got to teach Lilly was special, because we were coming back to a little more sense of normalcy from the pandemic, but a lot of health and safety measures were still in place, so we were a smaller group. We were able to really connect. This pod felt like we were a little family, and having Lilly in my class was such a pleasure. She is the kindest child, and she loves when everyone around her is happy. One of my favorite things about teaching
Head of School Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn presents Lilly Kowalski ‘22 with her third grade graduation certificate.
Kindergartener Ashley (Ball) Simpson ‘58 was an angel during the 1954 Christmas Chapel.
Lilly was seeing how driven she was, and I’m sure she still is. Lilly likes to set goals for herself, and it’s important to her that she accomplishes them. Also, I tell some jokes that to me are hilarious, but they aren’t always funny to everybody else. Lilly always humored me with a chuckle. The rest of the class would look at me like, ‘That’s not funny, Mrs. Pate.” But Lilly would be in the corner chuckling with me, and I always appreciated her for that.
Views: Our playground has certainly changed over the years. What were some of your favorite places to play? And teachers, what are the places on the playground that your students enjoy?
LK: My favorite place in the Beauvoir playground was the sandpit, because every day, I would play gaga ball with a ton of other students. All we needed was
a soccer ball, and we played until recess was over. And then we did the same thing after lunch.
AMD: When I taught second grade, my classes loved four square. We used to have a big jump rope outside and all the kids from the second-grade classes would line up to get a turn to jump. In kindergarten, before our playground was redone, the kids just loved to dig and then get water and create creeks and then build dams, like they do now when we open the cistern in Bear Creek. The students were so creative in dramatic play, whether it was creating a story or imagining life on a river. They’d create remarkable stories, and all they needed was something to dig with and water.
LP: My favorite area is Bear Creek for that same reason. I’ve seen children be creative and have fun collaborating on different projects. Every time we went out there, they
were continuing something that they started the last time, and they couldn’t wait for it to rain, so they could see how their little projects and experiments worked out. For me as a student, the playground is definitely different from when I was a child. We used to have these little trikes and there was an area for us to ride them. That was probably my favorite thing to do on the playground when I was a child.
LK: I remember we’d go to Bear Creek and make rock bridges and sometimes they would sink to the bottom. We discovered it was definitely easier to make a bridge where it was more shallow. The water would stay there for a few days, and when the rain hit, the water would flow all over the place, filling up the creek.
LA: I think I was one of those friends who Ms. Desaulniers is talking about—digging in the sand.
Outside on the “K Deck” (from l to r) Meredith Hitchcock, Liane Alves, Lucy Moore, and Jessica Paley, all Class of 1997.
There used to be a water pipe you could turn on, and we would get buckets and try and make it to the bottom of the sandbox. When we got to the netting at the bottom, we would make a river.
AS: When I was a student at Beauvoir, the playground was so different from what it is now, because, of course, the building was the old mansion and the grounds around it, so I honestly cannot remember a favorite spot from then.
Views: What are some ways that Beauvoir has changed since you were students here, or Anne Marie, since you taught Liane and Lauren as students here?
AMD: Well, one thing is that when we wrote reports — I probably still have copies of their kindergarten reports — we handwrote them. There were no computers. We went from handwriting to typing them. I thought, “I’ll never be able to compose reports on a keyboard,” but I learned! That was one big change — technology. We had a big iMac that was either bright green or pink or blue. We had one computer for the whole class to do basic programs.
LA: I used to play Gertrude’s Secrets on that all the time!
LP: Dismissal is so different. There used to be a corridor at the front of the School; it had all these glass windows. If you were carpooling, you sat on benches facing the windows and they called your name as your car pulled up, then you walked right out.
“
The students were so creative in dramatic play, whether it was creating a story or imagining life on a river. They’d create remarkable stories, and all they needed was something to dig with and water.”
—Anne Marie Desaulniers
AMD: At that time, there were 70 carpool numbers; 70 was the highest number. Now, there are something like 360 carpool numbers. People really did carpool. We also used to have nap time in kindergarten. What is now the Cubs room was our multipurpose room, and we also used the dining room. We would set up cots for kindergarten and pre-k to have an hour of rest time, and nobody rested.
Views: Is there anything that you learned while you were at Beauvoir that you still use in your everyday life?
LK: When I came to Beauvoir, I wasn’t really writing. By the time I graduated, I had a lot of writing stamina, which really helps me now. Another thing that we always did every day was five minutes of math facts. That really helped me with my multiplication, and now I know my math facts really well.
LP: The Beauvoir Life Rules [kindness, respect, responsibility, and honesty] definitely follow you forever. When I graduated from Beauvoir, I remember feeling like I was still obligated and wanted to live by those. My nephew went to Beauvoir, as well. When he went on to his new school, he would tell me, “There are some kids in my class who aren’t following the Life Rules. They’re not being kind; they’re not being respectful.” Coming back as a teacher, I remembered how deeply the Life Rules made an impact on me when I was younger and what they meant to me in how I carried myself day-to-day. To see the Life
Rules in action in our community has been really special. The Life Rules are the biggest lesson that I’ve learned and kept with me throughout my life.
AS: Beauvoir was the beginning of my love for reading and for books. There was a really good grounding in reading, and that has stayed with me forever. I love books. I love reading, both for information and just for sheer pleasure.
“The Beauvoir Life Rules [kindness, respect, responsibility, honesty] definitely follow you forever. When I graduated from Beauvoir, I remember feeling like I was still obligated and wanted to live by those.”
—Lauren Pate
LA: I agree with Ms. Simpson. I developed a love of learning and reading here. Someone was always reading to us, and it wasn’t a chore
to learn how to read. I remember being in the Library and being overwhelmed by how many books there were, yet no one rushed me to choose something. I was encouraged to take the time to find the right book for me. Learning was never a chore. It was always engaging. So, yes, I developed my general love of learning at Beauvoir and, specifically, my love for reading.
LK: People always say, “Yay, it’s Friday, it’s the weekend.” But for me, it was Sunday—I’d think, “Close your eyes, and when you open them, it will be Monday!”
Views: Who were some of the other teachers at Beauvoir who influenced you?
LK: Mrs. Youse! I was learning poetry in third grade, and she helped me a lot. She taught me tricks like repetition for my poetry. At the end of the year, we picked our top three poems to share and to publish in our poetry books.
AS: I would have to say Mrs. Morris, my third-grade teacher, was an extraordinary teacher. Also Mrs. Glass, who was the art teacher.
AMD: The Glass Corridor that Lauren was talking about for dismissal was named after Mrs. Glass.
LP: I have two. The first teacher who comes to mind is Ms. D [Desaulniers]. My fondest memories of school experiences are all in her classroom—really happy, joyful memories. I remember, just as Lilly said, being excited to be at school in kindergarten. That positive foundation was really important for me as the beginning of my learning journey. In third grade, it was Mrs. Brobeck. She was so patient with me, gentle and kind, which made me quickly realize that I wanted to be a child who wanted to contribute positively to my classroom community, both now and in the future.
Liane Alves ′97 is a current first-grade teacher at Beauvoir.
Anne Marie Desaulniers, as a second-grade teacher, with students (from l to r) Kate Adamson, Nicolas Choksi, and Alexander Mastroyannis, all Class of 1998.
LA: Lauren and I had a similar experience, because those are my two favorite teachers as well. Ms. D, and also Ms. Reese, were the first two adults outside my family to care for me. At five years old, I very quickly picked up how much the adults around me respected and cared about my well-being. My clearest memories of school are from Ms. D’s class. I didn’t even realize that I was learning math or that I was learning how to read. When I became a teacher, I thought, “Oh my gosh, they worked so hard.” All our learning experiences were built on each other, and that was very intentional. But as a kid, you think, “I’m having fun!” I learned how to count, I learned how to read, and I didn’t even realize that it was happening. It was a wonderful experience. With Mrs. Brobeck, I remember her being very kind, gentle, and supportive. All my teachers were.
LP: I remember in kindergarten being so amazed that Ms. D knew
how to be a really good teacher and play the guitar. During morning meetings, she would play the guitar and we would sing a song, and I just thought it was so cool that my teacher knew how to play the guitar. I remember coming back as an adult, and she came into the building in the morning, and I saw her walking with her guitar, and it was like I spotted a celebrity walking through the hall. That was special to me.
Views: What has been the best thing about having Anne Marie and Ashley as colleagues?
LA: I still feel like a kid! I’m back at Beauvoir and she’s here and I think, “I can’t call her Anne Marie.” It’s very strange. It’s the same with Ms. Simpson.
AMD: I heard her do it once and she kind of got stuck; “Marie” didn’t come out.
LA: I’m back with my family.
It feels like I’m back in a place where I was loved and cared for, and I don’t feel like that’s changed.
LP: That is exactly my answer. Coming back and working alongside Ms. D feels like coming home. And I also can’t call her by her name. She’s Ms. Desaulniers or Ms. D; it just feels right saying it that way. There is a sense of comfort working with her. She’s fun to collaborate with and super talented and knowledgeable. I always feel safe going to her with questions or having those moments where we might need to debrief about a conversation or something. It’s fun to have those grown-up moments with her.
LA: The same thing with Ms. Simpson, too, because I went to school with her daughter, and we’re still really good friends. I know my students, no matter what, are going to have an enriching experience when they go to the Library. I’m excited to witness the students that I’m teaching have these experiences that I had, and I know that they’re in good hands.
AMD: Ashley has always done such a wonderful job taking that huge library and helping the kids navigate. I have always loved that, Ashley.
LA: I still line up my books on the edge of the shelf, and I push them back, because you showed us how to put books back properly.
AS: That is great, Liane! Always learning from one another is truly what makes Beauvoir so special.
Lauren (Bonnett) Pate ’99 as a kindergartener.
Alumni Families Pass Down
A Love of Learning
Our
students
know that they will always have a home at Beauvoir. It is both a delight and an honor when alumni return with their children, eager to give them the same joyful childhood learning that our alumni so fondly recall.
Alison Kitay ’88 and Ryan Kitay ’24
When Alison Kitay ’88 was a Beauvoir student, she loved science, physical education, and spending time with her friends. Today, her son, Ryan ’24, enjoys writing, building with Playstix, and outdoor play. With 35 years between them, mother and son share one important passion that they both discovered on the Cathedral Close: a love of learning. Ryan and Alison sat down with Views for an interview about their special connection with the School.
Views: What do you remember about your elementary school experience?
Alison Kitay (AK): I don’t remember specific instances as much as I just remember the overwhelmingly positive experience of being a Beauvoir student and the warmth of the place. Clearly that is why we are so happy to be able to send Ryan here as well. My best friends today are still the friends I met at Beauvoir. Also, the fact that (Director of Admissions and Financial Aid) Margaret Hartigan remembers me is just an example of how invested everybody was in us as kids, in our education, and in fostering this love of learning. My daughter asked me just the other day if I liked school when I was a kid and, I mean, overwhelmingly, yes, I loved school. School was the best thing ever. Nonstop learning with your friends? What’s a better way to spend the day? That all started here at Beauvoir.
Views: You mentioned that you were happy to be able to send Ryan here when you were deciding which school was going to be the right fit for him. Did the fact that you had gone to Beauvoir factor into your decision?
AK: Well, I think the fact that I had such an overwhelmingly positive experience made my husband and me want to give the same thing to Ryan. There is something just very special about this place—the feel and the warmth of it, and the fact that they teach pre-k through third grade, so everything is so focused on those early years. It was kind of a no-brainer. We were just so excited by the possibilities. He loves every day. He’s happy and excited to go to school, the way that I was.
Views: When you left Beauvoir after third grade, did you feel like there was anything unique that you brought with you to your new school?
AK: Certainly, the Beauvoir Life Rules. That’s one of the things that we really have enjoyed so much for Ryan. We feel like Beauvoir is a good partner in trying to raise our child to have the same values as we do and treat others the way that we want them to treat others.
Views: Ryan, how do you think your mom follows the Beauvoir Life Rules?
Ryan Kitay (RK): She’s very responsible, and she shows kindness to me as my mom.
Views: What is a memory from the Cathedral that you still hold dear?
AK: I remember when the Haitian boys choir visited and we sang in the Cathedral, with their choir. It was just the most magical, spiritual experience. The acoustics were crazy, it was dark, and we had candles. That was a truly memorable Cathedral experience for me.
Views: Ryan, what do you think your mom might have been like as a second grader at Beauvoir?
RK: She wasn’t forgetful. She didn’t care what space she was in line. Did you care about what space you were in line?
AK: I don’t know. I don’t think so.
RK: She was good at math and great at music, but not that good at Spanish.
Views: If you could talk to a family who is considering Beauvoir for their child, what would you want them to know that they might not find out from a tour or Open House?
AK: The thing that separates Beauvoir from every other excellent school is the warmth of the place, and the fact that when you drop your child off, Cindi [Gibbs-Wilborn, Head of School] skips over and has this huge smile on her face and knows every child’s name. The personal culture of the School makes it such a unique and special learning environment. It feels like a warm hug.
“I loved school. School was the best thing ever. Nonstop learning with your friends? What’s a better way to spend the day? That all started here at Beauvoir.”
Your role in the first grade Nativity scene at Christmas Chapel?
Alison: I don’t remember, but an angel is a pretty safe guess.
Ryan: A wise man!
Favorite childhood book?
Alison: The Amelia Bedelia series by Reggy Parish
Ryan: Big Nate on a Roll by Lincoln Pierce
Richard Ruge ’50, Jessica Bemis MacIntyre ’96, Everette MacIntyre ’24, Martin MacIntyre ’96 and Hazel MacIntyre ’28
Martin and Jessica MacIntyre, both class of 1996, crossed paths for the first time as pre-kindergarten students at Beauvoir in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Martin, then an associate teacher at the School, proposed to Jessica in the classroom in which they met. They intended to marry in the Washington National Cathedral, but damage from the 2011 earthquake derailed their plans. However, in fall 2022, the couple finally had the opportunity to celebrate their love, renewing their vows in the Cathedral where they grew up—this time accompanied by their children, Everette ’24 and Hazel ’28. The MacIntyres, along with Martin’s uncle, Richard Ruge ’50, reminisced on how they knew Beauvoir was the right place for their children.
Views: How did you carry your Beauvoir experience with you to your next school?
Richard Ruge (RR): I love that Beauvoir often uses this quote from Plato: “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” I had a wonderful beginning at Beauvoir in picking up academic skills that helped me in later years, developing
a love of reading and learning, and learning how to play with other kids and show kindness and respect. I had friends who I kept when they went to St. Albans and who I still have today from Beauvoir.
Martin MacIntyre (MM): I really learned to love learning at Beauvoir, and that still serves me to this day. I’ve never quite
understood that some people celebrated snow days. I missed going to school! I believe that came from my days at Beauvoir.
Jessica Bemis MacIntyre (JBM): Kindness, respect, responsibility, and honesty, were the foundation at Beauvoir and that foundation carried through for me far more than being able to spell things correctly. Even now, guys, what do I say to you when you go to school?
Everette MacIntyre (EM): Work hard, be kind, have fun.
JBM: I feel like that is what Beauvoir is all about. How do you move through the world? You move through the world with kindness, and respect, and responsibility, and honesty.
Stossel, Debbie Suzich, and Anne Marie Desaulniers were also hugely impactful. It was such a place where teachers loved learning, loved improving and teaching, and wanted to help younger teachers grow. There is this great culture of teaching people how to teach and teaching people how to teach the Beauvoir way, which I think continues to serve me as a teacher today.
Views: What made you choose Beauvoir for your own children?
MM: The Cathedral Close was our home. Thinking of other schools was kind of hard when Everette was born, but we really believed in finding the best fit and seeing what was out there, but Beauvoir really is the best fit. It’s just such a warm, fun place every day. Beauvoir also has
“There is this great culture of teaching people how to teach, and teaching people how to teach the Beauvoir way, which continues to serve me as a teacher today.”
—Martin MacIntyre ’96
Most influential Beauvoir teacher?
Richard: Mrs. Taylor
Martin: Mrs. Bloch and Mrs. Gardner
Jessica: Mrs. Cato
Everette: Mr. McClay
Hazel: Ms. Hatton
Favorite Beauvoir Lunch?
Richard: That was 70 years ago!
Martin: Shepard’s pie
Jessica: Turkey and cheese subs
Everette: Pizza
Hazel: Tortillas on Taco Tuesday
MM: It’s a given at Beauvoir that the most important thing going into the world is that you are kind to everyone that you meet and are respectful and try to be responsible and you’re honest. It’s everything you do. It’s a non-negotiable that we take care of the social-emotional first and then we do everything else. That’s been very trendy lately in education, but that’s always been the truth at Beauvoir.
Views: Martin, you returned to Beauvoir as an associate teacher from 2009 through 2011. Were there any teachers who mentored you during those years?
MM: Elanor Cato and I became close, and she was a great mentor. Susanna
incredible traditions that are really wonderful and constantly improving. For example, family-style lunch, which is not something that many other schools do. To sit at a table with a teacher, it’s amazing for the kids. There’s that sense of community that just builds throughout the day, every day.
JBM: And of course, the Cathedral is something that no other schools have. You’re going to a place where so many important things happen and so many amazing ideas are exchanged. The fact that our children get to go up on that platform as well is amazing.
RR: The Close just feels like where I belong. This is home to me.
Grandparents & Special Friends Day and Thanksgiving Chapel
Christmas Chapel
Dear Members of the Beauvoir Community,
On behalf of Beauvoir’s Governing Board, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for your extraordinary support during the 2022–2023 school year. It was yet another banner year showcasing this community’s generosity, with nearly 600 donors contributing to Annual Giving. Gifts totaled $926,284, and the 2023 Scholarship Benefit brought in $692,591 toward financial aid. At the start of the year, we welcomed new trustees Thayer Baine, Noah Mehrkam, Parents Association (PA) president Erik van der Merwe, and William Washington III. Annual Giving co-chairs were Kelley Pagliai and Ari Redbord, while the Beauvoir Scholarship co-chairs were Angie Collier and Amelia Makin. They deserve our deepest appreciation for their leadership and commitment to the School.
In June of 2023, I completed my second term on the board and second year as its chair, truly a bittersweet farewell. My time on the board certainly had its challenges—navigation of the COVID pandemic first among them, but the dedication of my colleagues to preserving the best of Beauvoir by keeping the school open and safe, along with the fierce and brave leadership of Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn, was truly inspirational. My gratitude to the whole board and the School’s leadership team is profound.
We said thank you and farewell to three governing board members upon completion of their terms. Lindsay Ellenbogen brought to the board her strength as a communications professional, advising on policy positions and executing strategy. During her three-year tenure on Beauvoir’s Governing Board (2020–2023), Lindsay was a member of the Advancement Committee and chaired the Beauvoir Fund (2020–2021).
The two-year term (2021–2023) of Chanelle Peters, faculty representative to the Governing Board, was impressive. A veteran teacher in early childhood education, she has presented at various conferences, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference. In addition to sharing successes and concerns with the board on behalf of her colleagues, Chanelle expanded her professional interests and contributed to curriculum development in literacy as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.
Erik van der Merwe’s contributions as the one-year PA president (2022–2023) representative on the Governing Board and its Advancement Committee were the continuation of his long service to Beauvoir. Erik has served as PA treasurer and co-chair of the Scholarship Benefit 2020, the Welcome Committee, and Library Aide Committee.
As we look toward the future, the board is committed to implementing the pillars of Beauvoir’s Strategic Plan—maintaining our focus on providing the best early childhood education, retaining and supporting our unparalleled teachers, reimagining our learning spaces and growing our endowment.
In support of these goals, we welcomed new board members in 2023: John Ackerly, PECF President Chris Calsyn (ex officio), Monica Davy, Natalie Pica Friend, Nicole Maaia (faculty representative), Ashley McDowell Taylor ’91, and PA President Kate Tyrrell. Kelvin Coleman, who has served the board with dedication and vision since 2018, stepped into the role of Governing Board Chair in June of 2023. They are a talented, enthusiastic, and intellectually keen group, and we are fortunate.
Thank you, Cindi, for your vision, grace, and tireless hard work on behalf of the students and your staff. We extend our deepest appreciation to the entire community for your devotion to Beauvoir and our ongoing partnership.
My very best,
Alice Leiter ’89 Governing Board Chair (2021–2023)
Financial Summary 2022 – 2023
The Beauvoir Fund
2022–2023 Annual Giving Donors
Beauvoir Giving Circles recognize annual giving to the Beauvoir Fund in the fiscal year 2022–2023. Thank you for your contribution to the School’s top philanthropic priority.
Beautiful View Society
$20,000 and above
The BPB and HBB Foundation
Mr. William Burck and Mrs. Aimee Burck
Mr. Ryan Hedrick and Mrs. Flora Hedrick
Mr. Noah Mehrkam and Mrs. Hilary Mehrkam
Mr. Jeremiah Norton and Mrs. Katherine Norton ’87
The Peled Family
Founder’s Circle
$15,000 to $19,999
Mr. William Farquhar ’68 and Ms. Michelle Farquhar
Professor Maria Glover and Mr. Derek Ho
Mr. Ahmet Tekmen and Ms. Niloufar Hoorazar
Head’s Circle
$10,000 to $14,999
Mrs. Charlotte Aukamp ’92 and Mr. Brooks Aukamp
Mr. Mukang Cho and Mrs. Alexis Cho
Dr. Susana Cordeiro Guerra and Mr. Elbridge Colby
Ryan Davies and Jacqueline Wong
The Ganzi Family Foundation
Mr. Jonathan Hauck and Mrs. Danielle Hauck
Mr. Scott Jaeckel and Mrs. Olga Jaeckel
Mr. Dan Kovler and Mrs. Meghann Kovler
The Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation
Mrs. Alice Leiter ’89 and Mr. Michael Leiter
Mr. Roman Martinez and Mrs. Dace Martinez
Natalie Pica Friend and Ryan Friend
William Scherman and Holly Joyner
The Thornedge Foundation
Seventy-Five Circle
$7,500 to $9,999
Mr. Jason Adams and Mrs. Signey Adams
Ms. Betsy C. McIsaac †
Dr. Erin O’Neill and Mr. Timothy Bodner
Dr. Kelley Redbord and Mr. Ari Redbord
Mr. Robert Scholz ’51 and Mrs. Josefa Scholz
Mr. David Simon and Mrs. Keira Driansky Simon
Jennifer and Andrew Tulumello
Mr. Jeffrey Wall and Ms. Porter Wilkinson
Benefactor Circle
$5,000 to $7,499
Mr. Saadeh Al-Jurf and Ms. Bridget O’Connor
Chris Angell and Jess Hertz
Mr. David Austen, Jr. ’48
Mr. Turner Battle and Mrs. Kathryn Battle
Mr. Chris Brown and Mrs. Elizabeth Brown
Soo-Jin Cho and Marc Jones
Mr. Jonathan Colby and Mrs. Susan Colby
The Lindsay and Henry Ellenbogen Charitable Trust
Mr. David Greengrass and Ms. Jessica Reimelt
Mr. James Harris and Mrs. Alison Harris
Mr. Julian Haynes and Ms. Chantale Fiebig
Mr. Forest Kettler and Mr. William Springer
Manan Mahadevia and Vandana Puri
Mr. Stephen McBrady and Mrs. Kristine McBrady
Mr. Jason McElroy and Mrs. Catherine McElroy
Fernanda Montaño and Josh Klatzkin
Mr. Paul J. Nagle and Mrs. Margaret S. Nagle ’86
Mr. Michael Needham and Ms. Rachel Holt
Bridget K. O’Connor and Saadeh Al-Jurf
Mr. Scott Rissmiller and Mrs. Meghan Rissmiller ’90
Catherine Hunt Ryan and Jason Ryan
Mr. Richard Snowdon III and Mrs. Catharine Snowdon
Mr. Christopher Steed and Mrs. Kimberly Steed
Mr. David Dodge Thompson
1933 Circle
$2,500 to $4,999
Anonymous (1)
Dr. Nour Abdul-Razzak and Mr. Ahmed Abdel-Saheb
Mr. James Assey and Ms. Gwendolyn Lohse
Mr. Kevin Baine and Mrs. Thayer Baine
Mr. Kevin Barone and Ms. Alyona Dubrovina
Katie and Phil Blando
Mr. Clarke Brinckerhoff and Mrs. Judy Brinckerhoff
Mr. Steven Brobeck and Mrs. Susan W. Brobeck ’52
Collette and Anthony Bruce ’76 Brylawski Memorial Trust
Maura Burke and Family
The Butani D’Souza Family
Mr. Peter Carolan and Ms. Veronica Campbell
The Chicago Community Foundation
David Cho and Celine Liu
Glen and Jean Choi
Mr. George Chopivsky III ’84 and Ms. Clara Brillembourg
Mary Pat and Jon Dean
Mr. David Dempsey and Ms. Sarah Albertson
James and Astrid Egerton-Vernon
Dr. Lauren Ellis and Mr. Thomas Ellis
Mr. Thomas Espy and Mrs. Holly Espy
Mr. Jason Ewart and Mrs. Jessica Block-Ewart
Dr. Blair Farr ’87 and Mr. Fred Underwood
Dr. Jennifer Feldman-Brillembourg and Mr. Arturo Brillembourg
Andy Florance
Google Matching Gifts Program
Mr. Mark Green and Mr. Michael Rankin
Mr. Adam Harber and Mrs. Tessa Harber
Mr. Michael Hein and Mrs. Catherine Hein
Mr. Christoph Hundack and Ms. Jennifer Chilton
Suzanna Kang and Trey Hanbury
Mr. William Kappaz and Mrs. Laura Kappaz
Mr. Antony Kim and Mrs. Erin Kim
Missye and Brian Knapp
Mr. Nicolas Makris and Mrs. Elizabeth Makris
Mr. Roman Martinez IV and Mrs. Helena Martinez
Mr. Brian Mathis and Mrs. Andrea Mathis
Mr. Neil McMahon and Mrs. Debra McMahon ’64
Jenna and Eli Miller
Dr. Kristin Cam Missmar and Mr. Raad Missmar
Shaun and Laura Modi
Mr. Michael Molino and Mrs. Heather Molino
Maura and Matthew Norden
Mr. David O’Neil and Ms. Laura Billings
Mr. Brandon Parry and Ms. Gretchen Berlin
Mr. Scott Perl ’91 and
Mrs. Katharine Perl
Mr. Nathaniel Poteet and Mrs. Alexa Poteet ’96
Dr. Caroline Richard and Mr. Erik van der Merwe
Mr. Junius Scarborough III and Ms. Betsy Miller
Anand and Deepika Shah
Mr. Jake Shields and Mrs. Kamil Shields
Dr. John Smith and Ms. Patricia Gagnon
Mr. Stephen H. Smith ’66 and Mrs. Jill Smith
Mr. Brendan Sullivan III ’84 and Mrs. Tricia Sullivan
Mr. Christopher Tavlarides and Ms. Dana Lee
Mr. Paul Touw and Mrs. Kirsten Touw
Kate and Jim Tyrrell
Mr. William Washington III and Mrs. Tracy Washington
Mr. Calvin Wingfield, Jr. and Mrs. Tai Wingfield
Brian and Lindsay Winterhalter
Mr. Qianshan Zhang and Ms. Rongjuan Wang
Taylor Circle
$1,000 to $2,499
Anonymous (2)
Mr. Terry Adamson and Ms. Ede Holiday
Mr. Michael Alexander and Ms. Lisa Ranelli Alexander
Christina Beharry and Oscar Calvo-Gonzalez
Ishan Bhabha and Maria Elisa Arango
The Boizelle-Dorris Family
Mrs. Suzanne Brock
Mr. Winthrop Brown and Mrs. Sarah Brown
Mr. Charles L. Capito III and Mrs. Laura Capito ’90
Robert and Christin Carey
Dr. Christine Chu and Mr. Bernard Kim
Mr. Kelvin Coleman and Mrs. Colette Coleman
Mr. William Collier and Mrs. Angie Collier
Fitz and Nicole Collings
Mr. Shawn Delaney and Ms. Daphna Peled
Mr. Angel Doncheva and Ms. Ulyana Hrudzko
Mr. Ryan Drant and Mrs. Charis Menschel Drant
Dr. Ceyhun Durdu and Dr. Emine Durdu
Dr. Mark Eid and Dr. Mary Eid
Mr. Russell Faucett and Mrs. Carol Faucett
Mr. John Fitzgerald and Mrs. Christine Fitzgerald
Mr. Jason Fleischer and Ms. Sara Kraner
Mrs. Nancy Folger
Ms. Anne H. Galvin ’94
Mr. Michael Galvin and Mrs. Elizabeth Galvin
Mr. Wylie S. Galvin ’96
Mr. Tim Garon and Mrs. Erika Garon
Dr. Stefan Geirhofer and
Dr. Karin Hoelzer
Adm. Ed Giambastiani and Mrs. Cindy Giambastiani
Mr. Jonathan Graham and Ms. Elizabeth Ulmer
Mr. Michael Hacker and Ms. Melanie Hudson
Dr. Summer Herlihy and Dr. Christopher Raczynski
Roy and Valerie Hibbert
Ms. Deneen Howell
John and Janet Hudson
Mr. William Jeffery and Mrs. Jaclyn Jeffery
Geoff Johnson
Mr. William Joyner, Jr. and Mrs. Mary Brenda Joyner
Mr. Peter C. Koch ’76 and Ms. Karolina Arias
Brian Kowalski and Catherine Nguyen
The Lemon Foundation
Mr. James Lemon, Jr. ’45
Mr. Henry Liu and Ms. Katherine Yang
Zhiyong Lu and Yingqian Jiang
The Henry Luce Foundation Matching Gifts Program
Mr. Nishant Mago and Ms. Suhitha Reddy
The Makin Family
Amy Markopoulos and Michael Glick
The Nepeni Foundation
Mr. Reade B. Nimick, Jr. ’62
Mr. Francis Ogoegbunam and Mrs. Ogochukwu Ogoegbunam
Dr. Sasha Peiris and Dr. Shanaka Peiris
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew R. Perl ’88
Chad D. Perry ’81
Mr. Vladimir Petrovic and Mrs. Adela Petrovic
Lauren and Rory Pillsbury
Mr. Scott Plumridge and Mrs. Mary Margaret Plumridge
The Richmond Dias Family
Mr. Todd Schulte and Mrs. Lindsey Schulte
Mr. and Mrs. Clinton R. Shaw, Jr. ’78
The Honorable John H. Shenefield ’47 and Mrs. Judy S. Shenefield
Mr. Michael Shepherd and Mrs. Debbie Shepherd
Mr. Robert Shorb III ’02
Mr. James Shreve and
Mrs. Jennifer Shreve
Mr. William Sickles and Mrs. Caitlin Sickles
Mr. Andrew Slebos and
Ms. Elinor Stevenson
The Tierce Family
Mr. Craig H. Ulman ’60 and Mrs. Kathy Ulman
Mr. Michael von Althann and Mrs. Sara von Althann
Ms. Ellen C. Werble ’94
Mr. Larry Wilborn and Mrs. Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn
Mr. Benjamin Wunderlich and Mrs. Blair Wunderlich
Andrew Zahn and Brigid Kelly
Friend Circle up to $999
Anonymous (29)
Mr. Sanjay Acharya and Mrs. Deepa Acharya
Ms. Elizabeth Adamson ’01
Ms. Kathlyn Adamson ’98
Mrs. Arlene Agiliga
Mr. Charles Ahn and Ms. Young Ji Kim
James Akers
Mr. William Akridge and Mrs. Ashley Akridge
Ms. Nancy O’Connor
Mr. Greggory Albright
Mrs. Sara Alipanah
Mr. Marcus Allen and Mrs. Amber Allen
Ms. Liane Alves ’97
Mr. David Amiot and Mrs. Carolyn Amiot ’51
Ms. Kate Angerholzer ’21
Ms. Helen Gill Arnold ’74
Mrs. Dawne Baggett
Veronica and Daniel Bahar
Dr. Jennifer Baine and Mr. Andrew L. Baine ’87
Sharon Schieffer Baird ’80
Mr. Alexander Bancroft ’47
Mr. Julius A. Barriteau ’06
The Rev. Dr. Lisa Barrowclough
Dr. Ladan Basiri and Dr. Hani Thariani
Mr. Mohit Bawa and Mrs. Melanie Bawa
Mr. Nathaniel Bays and Mrs. Erin Bays
Mr. William Becker
Ms. Gevry Becker Fontaine ’81
Ms. Kirsten Becker-Valero ’78
Miss Lida Maria Chopivsky Benson ’01
Dr. Randall Benson and Mrs. Lydia Benson
Miss Sophia J. C. Benson ’05
Alice Berman ’99
Mr. Glenn Bickley ’95 and Mrs. Kathryn Bickley
Mr. Hector Bladuell and Ms. Lisette Osorio
Mr. Farnham Denton Blair ’51 and Mrs. Lynne K. Blair
Mr. Fred Bloch and Mrs. Laurie Bloch
Ms. Michelle Blowe
Dr. Mahdieh Bodaghi and Dr. Milad Maleki
Avis Bohlen ’49
The Bourgeois Family
Mr. John Bozek
Mr. Alain Brousseau and Ms. Martine Polycarpe
Mr. Gabriel Brown
Holly and Isaac Brown
Mrs. Katharine Brown ’67
Mrs. Barbara Browne
Baker Bruce ’15
Mary Charlotte Bruce
Summers Bruce
Ms. Barbara Bruner
Mr. Robert Brunton and Ms. Julie Peng
Juanita Bryant
Claire Buchanan ’15
John and Denise Buchanan
Julie Buchanan ’78 and William Buchanan
Mr. William Buchanan ’98
Dr. Maria Burka and Mr. Robert Burka
Ms. Elizabeth Burke
Mr. David Burling ’60 and Mrs. Hannah Burling
Mr. Taylor Bush and Mrs. Claudia Bush
Mr. Alan Buzacott and
Ms. Barbara Bradley
Miss Julia Buzacott ’12
Mr. Thomas Buzacott ’12
Mr. Steven Cady and Mrs. Sharon Cady
Kit (Wiebe) Cahill ’95
Dr. Leslie Camilleri and Mrs. Annette Camilleri
Vanessa Camilleri and Steve Miller
Mr. Donald Campbell and Mrs. Melissa Campbell
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cantacuzene ’70
Mr. Jeremy Canter
Dr. Anna Carello
Mr. James Carr
Mr. Robert Carr and Mrs. Nancy Carr
Ms. Jennifer Cayemite
Mr. Shobhik Chaudhuri and Ms. Jo Strang
Mr. Brian Chernoff and Mrs. Stephanie Chernoff
Dr. Jamie Citron and Mr. Eric Citron
Mr. Brooks Clark ’65 and Mrs. Karen Clark
Christopher and Chanele Clark
Dr. Elizabeth Cleary
Mr. Stephen Collier and Ms. Patricia Weiss
August Collin ’11
Wren Collin ’11
Anne-Marie Cordingly and Bill Hinman
Ms. Ursula Costin
Mrs. Alexandra W. Creed ’75
Ms. Caroline H. Cromelin ’93
Stephanie Cutter
Ms. Melissa Dacosta
Ms. Diana Daniels
Ms. Katharine Davis
Mr. Terrence Day and Ms. Carolyn Hammonds
Mr. Eli Debevoise II and Mrs. Heidi Debevoise
Mrs. Elizabeth Vlcek Deeming ’86
Nora Connors and Ankit Desai
Ms. Anne Marie Desaulniers
Mrs. Elizabeth Dexheimer
Mr. Thomas Diggs and Mrs. Renée Diggs
Mr. Brenton Diller and Ms. Talhia Tuck
David L. Dodson ’64
Ms. Rosaleen Doerfler-King
Mr. Christopher R. Dougall ’65
Ms. Sheila Douglas
Miss Sierra Douglas ’05
Mr. Cyril Doussau de Bazignan and Ms. Julie Chon
Mrs. Nancy Wolcott Doyle ’88
James Dreben ’04
Ron N. Dreben and Alison Richards
Dupont Circle Solutions Matching Gift Program
Mr. Edward Eastwick and Mrs. Elizabeth Eastwick
Mr. Arthur Edgeworth, Jr. and Mrs. Elizabeth Edgeworth
Ms. Nicole K. Efron ’95
Mr. Michael Engman and Mrs. Tejal Engman
Ms. Jessica Espinosa
Dr. Scott Faucett and Mrs. Christine Faucett
Mr. Thomas Faust, Jr. and Mrs. Winifred Faust ’72
Ms. Helen Farquhar
Mr. Miles A. Fawcett ’79
Mr. Clifford Feldman and Mrs. Susan Feldman
Ms. Kathleen Feldman ’95
Mr. Peter Feldman ’91
Mr. Robert Fergerson and Mrs. Joan Fergerson
Mr. Ralph Ferrara and Mrs. Barbara Ferrara
Mr. W. Bradley Ferris ’63 and Mrs. Diane Ferris
Mr. Abner M. Finley ’80
Mr. Michael Finn and Mrs. Nancy Finn ’95
Mr. Nicholas Fry Folger ’74
Mrs. Sally DeSipio Frazza ’60 and Mr. Mark Frazza
Mr. Thomas A. Fuller ’61 and Mrs. Beth Ann Fuller
Mr. Gregory Gaede and Ms. Liangshun Qian
Frank Gaines and Wilhelmina Orleans-Gaines
Mr. Frank J. Gaines III ’06
Sararose Gaines ’05
Mr. Jonathan F. Galloway ’49
Dr. Robert Gamble and Dr. Stephanie Gamble
Dr. Matt Gavin and Ms. Holidae Hayes
Dr. Annie George and Mr. Thumpasery George
Mr. Stuart Gerson and Ms. Pamela Somers
Ms. Lisa Gilcrest
Mrs. Jessica Gillespie
Mr. Matt Gittleman and Ms. Madeleine Fromell
Mr. Benjamin Goldhagen and Ms. Winifred Mabley ’73
Goldman, Sachs and Co.
Matching Grants Program
Mr. Larry Goldstein and Mrs. Linda Goldstein
Mrs. Emily Elliott Goodman ’57
Mr. Matthew Gray and Ms. Cathleen O’Malley
Mr. W. Cabell Grayson, Jr. ’63 and Mrs. Susan Grayson
Dr. Diana Greenwold and Mr. Logan Puck
Mr. Mark Greenwold and Mrs. Elizabeth Greenwold
Ms. Mary Greer ’65
Mr. William Greer, Jr.
Mr. Gregory Griffin and Mrs. Alexandra Griffin ’80
Mrs. Marlana Gruby
Ms. Tamira Guevara
The Guilder Family
Mr. Juan Julio Gutierrez and Ms. Kelly McDonald
Mr. John Guttmann
The Guven Family
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Gwaltney
Mr. J. Tilton Hack, Jr. ’58
Ms. Colleen Hackett
Mr. Damian Hackett
Ms. Jennifer Halsey
Allison Ross Hanna ’78
Alaina Harper ’90
Ambia Harper ’88
The Hartigan/Savold Family
Ms. Kaitlyn Hay
Mr. and Mrs. Walter D. Haynes ’48
Ms. Caroline Healey ’92
Mr. Christopher Heim and Mrs. Maryann Heim
Mr. Andre T. Heinz ’79
Mr. Braden P. Herman ’81
Mr. Steven Herman
Mr. Fernando A. Hermoza and Ms. Araceli F. Ma
Mr. Theodore M. Hester and Ms. Amy K. Dunbar
The Rev. Dr. Olivia Hilton
Mrs. Christine Hobbs
Mr. Mike Hollman and Ms. Dana Tignor
Thomas Edward Hopson ’03
Mr. Jeffrey Horwitt and
Ms. Lauren Briggerman
Fatemeh Hosseini
Mr. Xingwei Hu and Ms. Jin Li
Mr. Richard Hubbard and Mrs. Ginger Hubbard
The Hon. Robert and Mrs. Cara Hur
Mr. Sam Hussain and Mrs. Reem Hussain
Dr. Federica Iorio and Mr. Guilherme Piereck
Mr. Eric Jaffe and Mrs. Rebecca Giltner Jaffe
Mr. Mark Jaffe Peterson and Mrs. Ronnie Jaffe Peterson
The Jakovic/Lipson Family
Mr. Victor Jaramillo and Mrs. Zarema Jaramillo
Ms. Twanda Johnson
Ms. Yewande Johnson
Mr. Boisfeuillet Jones, Jr. and Mrs. Barbara Jones
Temple Jorden ’59
Mr. Sam Kamyans and Mrs. Amanda Kamyans
Dr. Archana Kasi and Dr. Sundeep Kasi
Ms. Emily Katz
Dr. Terrence Keaney and Mrs. Mary Keaney
Ms. Aya Kellam
Mrs. Jan Kerr
Mr. Shane Kim and Ms. Suzy Kim
Ms. Jennifer Lee King ’81
Mr. Michael King and Mrs. Linda King
Ms. Elizabeth King-Balan
The Kirkman/Juhn Family
Ms. Ludmila Krytynskaia
Ms. Hannah LaBella
Mr. W. Scott Lacher and Mrs. Anna Lacher ’56
Mr. Michael Lackey, Jr. and Mrs. Cynthia Lackey
Mr. Patrick Lago and Mrs. Melanie Lago
Ms. Anne Handwerger Large ’77 and Mr. Curtis E. Large
Hanna Lee and Ramin Mehdizadeh
Lori and Garrett Lee
Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Lee ’81
Mr. Scott Lefkowitz ’08
Dr. James Leiphart and Mrs. Kristine Leiphart
Mr. Thaddeus Leiphart ’15
Harv Lester and Don McMinn
Miss Lillian Lester-McMinn ’19
Mr. Oliver M. Lewis ’87
Anna Li
The Ling Family
Mr. Songtao Liu and Ms. Jing Han
Paul Lobo and Kinga Krisko
Ms. Jeannie Lorenz
Mr. Gregory Lowell and Mrs. Kristina Lowell
Lisa and Jeff Lowenstein
Mr. Gregory Luce and Mrs. Patricia Austin Luce
Diana Luka-Hopson and Mark Hopson
Ms. Nicole Maaia
Dr. Jessica MacIntyre ’96 and Mr. Martin MacIntyre ’96
Mr. Miles MacIntyre and Ms. Karen Lewis
Mr. Andrew Mackay and Mrs. Anne Mackay
Helen D. Macsherry
Mr. Curtis Mahoney and Mrs. Rebecca Mahoney ’87
Miss Eleanor Mahoney ’19
Mr. Patrick Mahoney ’22
Mr. J. Michel Marcoux and Mrs. Mary Marcoux
Isabel Marin ’99 and Thomas Stipanov
Mr. Carlton P. Marshall ’05
Mr. David Martin and Mrs. Erica Martin
Mr. Isaiah Martin IV ’88
The Matthiesen Family
Ms. Aimee Mavragis
Ms. Janet McCabe ’67
Mr. Neil McClay and Ms. Kelly Yau
Mr. Allen McDonald II and Mrs. Melinda McDonald
Ms. Grey McIntosh
Mr. Allan Medina and
Ms. Veronica McKillop
Ms. Amalia Mendoza
Meriwether Godsey Inc.
Ms. Alice Metzroth ’22
Mr. Erik Metzroth and Ms. Amanda Leader
Mr. Matthew Metzroth ’18
Christopher and Megumi Meyerson
Mr. Brian Miller
Luis W. Miller ’93
Mr. George Montgomery and Ms. Colleen Coveney
Mr. Leo Moreland ’20
Ms. Nadirah Moreland
Mr. Peter F. Moriarty ’62 and Mrs. Christy S. Moriarty
Mrs. Phyllis Moriarty ’56
Dr. Ala Seyed Mortazavi and Dr. Firoozeh Shahidi
Mr. Armin Mortazavi ’06
Mr. Armond Mortazavi ’10
Dr. David Newsome and Ms. Camelia Baker
Mrs. Elizabeth Ruge Noe ’53
Mr. Nicholas Noon and Mrs. Constance Noon
Edwin Numsuwan and Alison Kitay ’88
Mr. Henry Nuzum and Ms. Farzaneh Paslar
Mr. Laurance Ochs and Mrs. Marilyn Ochs
Mr. Andrew Olmem and Ms. Eleni Roumel
Mrs. Elizabeth Pal
Kate and Andres Panza
Christopher Parrino, MD ’04
Rich and Mary Jo Parrino
Ms. Ashley Pascale ’97
Mr. Richard Pascale and Ms. Ann Carol Brown
Mr. Brett Paukstis ’18
Mr. Gregory Paukstis and
Ms. Caroline White ’84
Ms. Rosalita Paukstis ’20
Mr. Haven Pell and Mrs. Simmy Pell
Phillip Perez and Andrea Clark ’86
Ms. Alexa Perlmutter ’08
Ms. Sandra Perlmutter
Ms. Mary Jane Perraut
Miss Alessandra Perrus ’20
Mr. Chi Perrus and Mrs. Sheena Liburd-Perrus
Mr. Benjamin Persina and Mrs. Zoe Persina
Ms. Chanelle Peters
Dr. Lennie Peters
Dr. Tania Peters and Mr. Matthew Peters
Emily and Jim Petrila
Dr. Lori Picco and Mr. James Walker
Mathews and Eugenia Pierson
Mr. Walter Pincus and Mrs. Ann Pincus
Mrs. Alexandra Wilson Pistore ’86 and Mr. Justin Pistore
Patrice M Pitts ’66
Mr. Erik Plith and Mrs. Stephanie Plith
Mr. Noah Pollak and Ms. Peggy Bourjaily
The Pouch Family
Mrs. Constance Povich ’45
Victoria Powers and Alan Worden
Mr. Daniel Poynor and Ms. Nancy Park
Dr. Jaunelle Pratt-Williams and Mr. Wallrick Williams
Mr. Stephen Preston and
Mrs. Mary Preston
Mr. Brian Rabbitt and Mrs. Lesley Rabbitt
Mrs. Anne Rahill
Katherine Randolph
Mr. John Reaves and Mrs. Wendy Reaves
Robin Redfield and Connor Redfield ’14
Ms. Sandy Revelo
Clark A. Reynolds ’21
Mr. Fred Reynolds and Mrs. Nichole Francis Reynolds
Mr. R. Reynolds and Mrs. Diana Reynolds
Stella Grace Reynolds ’23
Mr. Patrick Rhodes and Mrs. Monika Rhodes
Ms. Erin Riley
Mr. Stephen Roady and Mrs. Celia Roady
The Roberti Family
Mr. Pedro Robles and Mrs. Martha Robles
Brian Roehrkasse and Megan Gerking
Ms. Wilhelmina Ross
Mr. Henry Rowe ’21
Mr. Jeffrey Rowe and Mrs. Tiffany Rowe
Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Ruge ’50
Timothy and Heide Ryan
Mr. Lewis C. Sage ’58
Ms. Anne Samuel ’85
Ms. Rosemarie Sanford
Mr. Chris Sargent ’49
Mr. Thomas Saunders and Ms. Elizabeth Saunders
Alison Savitz ’76
Tijuana Sawak
Dr. David Scharff and Mrs. Jill Scharff
Markley ’96 and Travis Schlegel
Mr. Henry Schoellkopf ’65
Mr. Christopher Schroeder and Ms. Alexandra Coburn
Mr. Bob Schulte and Mrs. Susie Schulte
Mr. Andrei J. Schwartz ’10
Miss Kristine I. Schwartz ’13
Mr. Mark Schwartz ’93
Miss Nicole J. Schwartz ’15
Professor Krista Schwarz and Professor Jonathan Wright
Mr. Benjamin Seesel and Mrs. Holly Seesel
Mr. John Seesel and Ms. Joanne Grossman
Mr. Byron Selby and Mrs. Andria Selby
Mr. Colin Matthew Sellar ’81
Mr. Barry Seymour and Mrs. Ladan Seymour
Dr. Amirali Sharifi and Ms. Yoss Missaghian
Ms. Milla Sharifi ’21
Mr. Jeremy Sharp and Mrs. Zoe Sharp ’87
Mr. Matthew Sheehan and Mrs. Crystal Sheehan
Antonio and Stephanie Sierra
Dr. Courteney Simchak and Mr. Stephen Simchak ’95
Mr. and Mrs. John Siscoe ’56
Mr. Jake Skeeters and Ms. Sandra Moser
Jaclyn and Wes Slagle
Mr. David Smith and Mrs. Tracey Daily-Smith
Mr. Doug Smith and
Ms. Julie G. Lynn ’75
Mr. Julious Smith and Mrs. Sherrill Smith
Ms. Lisa Smith and Ms. Shaundrae Williams
The Smith Tinsley Family
Mr. Wesley Smith and Ms. Abigail Coyne
Mr. Carson Smith-Williams ’20
Mr. Edmund Sobieray and Ms. Sandra Ortiz
Mr. Yuri Somov and Ms. Natasha Lebedeva
Mr. Peter Spartin and Mrs. Debbie Spartin
Mr. Nathaniel Speights
Marianne Steiner and Robert Paley
Mr. Charles Sterling and Ms. Annabel Aurol
Bob Stevenson ’44
Mr. Wyatt Stewart III and Mrs. Renee Stewart
Mr. Mark Sundberg and Ms. Ethel Sennhauser
Mr. Nicolas Sundberg ’16
Mr. Dillon Sutko ’12
Mr. P. Sutko and Ms. Francine Rosenberger
Ms. Debra Suzich
Mr. Diliwar Syed and Ms. Salma Agha
Mr. Brian Sykes and Ms. Tamara Brightwell
Mr. Ron Talcott and Mrs. Nell Talcott
Vicki Tang and Wei Xiao
Mr. Glen Tanner and Ms. Rachel Tanner
Mr. Duran Tazewell ’19
Ms. Sherie Durand Tazewell
Mr. John Thompson ’10
Mr. John Thompson III and Mrs. Monica Thompson
Mr. Matthew Thompson ’12
Miss Morgan Thompson ’07
Dan Thorner
Mr. Elliott Shaw Thurston ’69
The Rev. Claudia Tielking and Mr. Nathan Tielking
Dr. Kelly Toppin and Mrs. Maureen Toppin
Mr. Peter Trooboff and Mrs. Rhoda Trooboff
Ms. Catherine Twist ’89
Mr. James Tyrrell ’24
Caroline Van Allen ’04
Mr. John Van Sant, Jr. and Mrs. Elizabeth Van Sant
Dr. Francisco Vazquez-Grande and Ms. Melissa Cohen
Mr. Adam T. Vitarello ’91
Ms. Laura Voelker
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Vorenberg
Mr. Michael Vu and Ms. Meridel Bulle-Vu
Ms. Mairim Wales
Morey and Alex Ward
Mr. and Mrs. Steven A. Wechsler
The Weiss Family
Ms. Shara Wells ’91
Mr. Cole P. Werble ’60 and Ms. Katherine B. Menz
Ms. Katherine Werble ’89
Mr. Edward Whitaker
Mr. Charles Wiebe and Ms. Anne Millar
Ms. Sarah Wiebe ’97
Mr. Hack Wiegmann and Mrs. Katie Wiegmann
Mr. Bryan Williams and Mrs. Colleen Williams
Greta and Bailey Williams ’87
Mr. Kendall Wilson and Mrs. Vickie Wilson
Dr. Caroline Wohlgemuth and Mr. James Wohlgemuth
Mr. Kendal Wolf and Ms. Colleen Oakes
Mr. Daniel Yergin and Ms. Angela Stent Yergin
Mr. David Younger and
Mrs. Stephanie Younger
Mr. Younghoon Yun and Ms. Hana Yoo
Mr. John Zentay and
Mrs. Diana Zentay
Mr. Robert Zink and Mrs. Alison Zink
Gifts Made in Honor
Mrs. Arlene Agiliga, in honor of Dr. Alexandra Agiliga ’00 and Ms. Arlana Agiliga ’03
Dr. Ladan Basiri and Dr. Hani Thariani, in honor of Cameron Thariani ’04
Mr. James Carr, in honor of Gabriella McClure
Anne-Marie Cordingly and Bill Hinman, in honor of Megan Chounoune
Mr. Brenton Diller and Ms. Talhia Tuck, in honor of Kathleen Henderson Jefferson
Ron N. Dreben and Alison Richards, in honor of James Dreben ’04
Mr. Jason Fleischer and Ms. Sara Kraner, in honor of Melanie Lago and Rachel Tanner
Gifts Made in Memory
Mrs. Arlene Agiliga, in memory of Alexander Agiliga
Mr. Fred Bloch and Mrs. Laurie Bloch, in memory of Elanor Cato and Sylvia Thompson
Ryan Davies and Jacqueline Wong, in memory of Alex Maasry ’90
David L. Dodson ’64, in memory of Julia Morse
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Gwaltney, in honor of Paula Carreiro
Geoff Johnson, in honor of Beauvoir Faculty and Staff
Mr. Michael King and Mrs. Linda King, in honor of Jacob King ’95
Mr. Dan Kovler and Mrs. Meghann Kovler, in honor of Emma Hatton and Vony Rakotomaniraka
Mr. Michael Lackey, Jr. and Mrs. Cynthia Lackey, in honor of Ashleigh Lackey ’10
Lori and Garrett Lee, in honor of Montana Lee ’10
The Ling Family, in honor of Sulin and Avril Ling
Dr. Jessica MacIntyre ’96 and Mr. Martin MacIntyre ’96, in honor of Sherilyn Cummings and Emma Hatton
Rich and Mary Jo Parrino, in honor of Parrino alumni
Alison Savitz ’76, in honor of Beauvoir’s 90th Birthday
Anand and Deepika Shah, in honor of Cindi Gibbs-Wilborn
Jaclyn and Wes Slagle, in honor of Mary Ann Bliss, Janice Graves, Kaitlyn Hay, Aya Kellum, Saijal Patel, Ashley Simpson, Rachel Turner, Laura Voelker, and Ed Whitaker
Marianne Steiner and Robert Paley, in honor of The Beauvoir Box Turtles Camp Team
Ms. Helen Farquhar, in memory of Consuelo Hertz
Mrs. Marlana Gruby, in memory of Consuelo Hertz
Dr. Jessica MacIntyre ’96 and Mr. Martin MacIntyre ’96, in memory of Elanor Cato
Dr. Ala Seyed Mortazavi and Dr. Firoozeh Shahidi, in memory of Arya Mortazavi ’01
The Pouch Family, in memory of Elanor Cato
Robin and Connor Redfield ’14, in memory of Elanor Cato
Mr. Elliott Shaw Thurston ’69, in memory of Laura Thurston
Caroline Van Allen ’04, in memory of Elanor Cato
Mr. Nathaniel Speights, in memory of Elanor Cato
Thank You, Volunteers!
We extend heartfelt gratitude to our Parents Association and our dedicated parent volunteers for generously contributing their time and talents to support our school community. Your unwavering commitment not only enhances each student’s learning experience, but also strengthens and deepens the bonds within our nurturing and thriving community. We are grateful for you!
“The
Beauvoir Life Rules help us have fun at school, and they help us be safe.”
— Current Beauvoir student
3500 Woodley Road, NW Washington, DC 20016 202.537.6485 beauvoirschool.org
Stay connected to Beauvoir wherever you go. Send your news to: Office of Institutional Advancement, Beauvoir, 3500 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC 20016 or email Geoff Johnson at geoff.johnson@bvrschool.org
In our next issue: Celebrating the Class of 2024, Cultivating Critical
Our Mission
At Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School, we provide an extraordinary early childhood education in a diverse community that values every individual. Beauvoir’s program encourages creative, courageous learners and builds an enduring foundation for a lifelong spirit of inquiry and joy in learning.
