Clayton Education Foundation Newsletter Fall 2018

Fall 2018

ALUMNI RECONNECT AT ALUMNI BBQ Alumni and their families, along with current and past faculty, came to cheer on the Greyhounds while enjoying the food, drinks and company at the 28th Annual Alumni BBQ on Saturday, Oct. 6. Although stormy skies ended the game at halftime, alumni enjoyed catching up with classmates and former teachers at the event.

The day kicked off with the annual Homecoming parade, with student and alumni floats traveling from Clayton High School to Gay Field. Reunion classes of ‘68, ‘78, ‘88 and ‘98 all held gatherings over the festive weekend.

Longtime friends spend time together during the 28th Annual Alumni BBQ.

Kartin (von Ruecker) Mulligan (‘84) celebrates her 35th reunion at the Alumni BBQ.

Shonta (Carter) Walker (‘90) and Ben Holman (‘90) laugh over Clayton memories.

CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER FALL 2018

ALUMNI BBQ

Clayton Education Foundation board members (from left) Alex Berger III (‘67), Judy (Meyerson) Gorin (‘81) and Kyle Hogan (‘02) make an entrance into the Alumni BBQ following their ride in the Homecoming parade.

Rita and Scott (‘77) Waldman watch the homecoming game with former Clayton Superintendent Don Senti.

PLATINUM SPONSOR

Judy Meyerson Gorin (‘81) Stephanie and Geoffrey (‘96) Gross Julian Hess (‘65) Pat and Sam (‘53) Hopmeier Charitable Donor Advised Fund Jessica Lewis (‘93) Stefanie Litteken (‘87) Sam (‘76) and Susie (‘76) Luten Nancy Mendelsohn (‘78) Laurel Miller (‘87) Judy Glik (‘85) and Harvard Muhm Katrin Mulligan (‘83) in honor of the Class of ‘83 Andrew O’Neal (‘06) Jennifer O’Neal (‘06) Paster/Friedman Family Nancy Planells (‘78) Kristin Redington Dr. Michelle Schultz Kristin Stahl (‘88) Cary Stolar (‘68) Mark and Jane (Richards) (‘72) Tucker Joel Wendt (‘78)

A & G Auto Spa

FOOD SPONSORS Brown and Crouppen Law Firm Chartwell’s Laura McCarthy Real Estate Straub’s

BEVERAGE SPONSORS Gladys Manion Real Estate J. McGraugh’s Bar and Grill

BBQ SPONSORS Richard D. Aach, M.D. (‘51) David Altholz (‘98) Anonymous in honor of the Class of ‘98 Linda Auburn (‘68) Alex Berger III (‘67) Dolores Burke-King (‘78) John Carver (‘61) Robert Cohen (‘64) Greg Ellston (‘79) The Gillette Family

Save the Date for Homecoming 2019

Saturday, Sept. 21 Versus Normandy High School 2

ADZICK FIELD CENTENE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR MATCH Centene Charitable Foundation is matching donations to Adzick Field up to $600,000.

We are 75 percent of the way there!

Adzick Field will be used for Clayton High School baseball, field hockey and softball, as well as for Clayton recreation teams and other community sports.

Make your gift by Dec. 31, 2018, to double your donation.

Fulfilling this match will bring our total raised to $1,500,000! claytoneducationfoundation.org/adzickfield The following donors made a gift to Adzick Field between June 10 and Oct. 1.

VP Club $5,000.00+ Lewis Levey (‘60) Home Run Club $1,000 - $2,999 Almonds Restaurant Anonymous in memory of Dr. Adzick Laura (‘98) & Robert (‘95) Deutsch Alan Feutz (‘95) in honor of Class of ‘95 Baseball Bradley Gross (‘95) in honor of Class of ‘95 Baseball Jim and Diane Pratl in honor of JJ, Josie, Tommy and Izzy Pratl Julie & Monte Sandler

Golden Greyhound Club $500 - $999 Craft Restaurants Ltd. Lynly Beard (‘76) Dot Dot Dash Boutique

Lauri Koster Susan and William Piper Joe Rotskoff Alison (Reed) ‘90 and Michael Schneider ‘90 Scott & Amy Wilson Greyhound Club $100 - $499 Bart Bartel (‘74) in memory of Paul Ondr (‘67) Suzanne Billhymer Joanne and Scot Boulton Sean Doherty in honor of Jere Hochman Emily Follman (‘86) and Joe Levine Friends of Jason Wilson Susannah Fuchs Richard Hackmann (‘04) Sally and Bob Harrison Barb Hayes (‘71) in honor of Buzz Hayes (‘72) and in memory of Bill Hayes (‘76) Kendra Scott Stefanie Litteken (‘87) Lusso LLC Tom Marcus (‘71) Joe Mokwa

Derek Novel (‘69) Jennifer (‘06) and Andrew (‘06) O’Neal in honor of all future Greyhounds Kelly and Mitch Pollock Martin Rochester in memory of Lary Baker Judy Schechtman and Richard Laitman in honor of Class of ‘95 Baseball Lisa Schechtman (‘95) in honor of Class of ‘95 Baseball Dottie (‘97) & Ralph Silverman Stacy and Greg Siwak Family in memory of Joan Sucher Marta Toczylowski (‘08) Scott (‘77) and Rita Waldman Erik Wilson

Orange & Blue Club up to $99 Byrd Designer Consignment Boutique David Ajo (‘95) in honor of Class of ‘95 Baseball Bryan Lawrence Kristin Redington in memory of Joan Catherine Sucher Jean Schneider (‘59)

CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER FALL 2018

CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION AWARDS $57,000 TO TEACHERS FOR INNOVATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES DISTRICT WIDE

The Clayton Education Foundation has helped advance the School District of Clayton’s culture of educational excellence since 2009 by providing financial support to Clayton students and staff for unique learning experiences that go beyond what tax dollars cover.

Clayton Cares: A Project Based in Hope will provide wraparound services to families by working to remove hunger and the stressors associated with financial hardship or living in poverty as factors in student well-being and readiness for learning.

This year, the Clayton Education Foundation’s “Prize Patrol” visited each of the District’s schools on Oct. 26 with balloons and oversized checks to distribute nearly $60,000 in grants to teachers, bringing our total given since our inception to $176,841.

CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL Funding toward a 3 Axis CNC Mill for the Clayton High School Engineering Program will allow students to produce physical parts from digital 3D models created in the CAD software currently used in the engineering curriculum.

Individual donors, as well as generous gifts from Centene Charitable Foundation and the Taylor Crawford Foundation, made these grants possible.

Theater students will participate in SHAKE 101, a Shakespeare drama residence in which students will perform an adaptation of a Shakespeare play for their school community along with students from McCluer High School.

“The Centene Charitable Foundation is proud to support some of the most innovative programs in our community. Partnering with the Clayton Education Foundation was a natural choice,” said Marcela Manjarrez-Hawn, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for Centene. “I’m impressed with the scope of all 18 initiatives, encompassing artistic endeavors, STEM-based projects, and community betterment.”

Assistant Superintendent of Teacher and Learning Dr. Milena Garganigo looks forward to the implementation of the grants this fall.

“The forward-thinking programs put forth by our teachers demonstrate their commitment to our District’s vision of developing leaders who shape the world through independence, creativity and critical thinking,” she said. “I know that the Foundation’s 18 grant recipients will empower our students to explore our curriculum in new and creative ways.”

Members of the Clayton Education Foundation Prize Patrol (from left) Community Relations Specialist Elizabeth Macanufo, Clayton High School Assistant Principal Janelle Danskey, Superintendent Sean Doherty, Clayton High School Principal Dr. Dan Gutchewsky and Foundation Board President Alex Berger III (‘67) presents drama teacher Kelley Weber with a grant for the theater program SHAKE 101.

The Clayton Education Foundation will fund the following programs: 4

Clayton High School and Family Center teachers at the high school campus receive a grant to create collaborative art projects between the District’s newest and most senior students. The projects will incorporate innovation, design-thinking and partnerships. Together, the students will explore photography and sculpture.

CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL AND FAMILY CENTER In a Collaborative Outdoor Classroom, students from CHS and the Family Center will establish relationships through artistic projects.

CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL AND WYDOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL The Business of Music will provide a series of workshops with nationally known musicians to allow students to explore career paths in the music industry.

WYDOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL The implementation of 3D Pens into the visual arts curriculum will allow students to create a two-dimensional project, conceptualize it in a three-dimensional design, and then construct the design with the 3Doodler + Pen. Choir Recording Equipment will allow students to hear an accurate representation of vocal and choral productions. The equipment will aid in rehearsal, analysis, evaluation and refinement of the vocal music repertoire performed by students.

The Clayton Band Program will host the Boston Brass quintet for a two-day residency during the 2019-2020 school year.

Wydown Middle School Vocal Teacher Nicholas Urvan and his students are excited to receive a Clayton Education Foundation grant.

Superintendent Sean Doherty surprises band teacher Jennifer Shenberger.

CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER FALL 2018

GRANTS CONT. MERAMEC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GLENRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Lego EV3 Robotics will expand the fifth-grade Lego Robotics Program so that every fifthgrader gains access to design and programming challenges.

More to Go with VR will allow a full class to delve into experiential learning through virtual reality expeditions, traveling through time and space in a 360-degree immersive experience.

Supporting the 6Cs through Writing will allow fourth-grade students to create multimedia e-books and focus their writing on the 6Cs communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, citizenship and character development.

Empowerment Through Purposeful Play will inspire wonder and questioning as kindergarten students experiment with large, hollow blocks.

A Magnetic Wall will enhance and enrich the science unit of Balance and Motion as students will experiment with materials such as tubes, slanted pieces, rings, wooden ramps and more.

With the addition of five sewing machines and supplies, students can create projects that will be donated to charities in the Meramec ServiceSewing Studio.

CAPTAIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The Community Ceramic Arts Program will allow the school community to create a tiled mural and to participate in a Family Clay Night.

Students can check out Library Maker Boxes to accompany nonfiction books and make projects described in the books.

Outdoor Learning Spaces will allow for education outside in a classroom behind Captain, including nature-based play on the kindergarten playground.

The Prize Patrol stops by Scott Osborne’s fifth grade class at Meramec Elementary School. The students cheered when they learned that all fifth graders will use Legos during math class.

KID ZONE Students enrolled in Kid Zone will be able to Explore More After School with STEM toys including Cubelets, BreakoutEDU and a Rubix Cube Education Class Pack.

Captain Science Teacher Christina Hwande is thrilled to receive a Clayton Education Foundation grant for outdoor learning spaces.

6

TEACHERS RECIPIENTS SAY . . .

“Our hope is that by creating books with digital tools, students not only develop their skills of creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication, but also develop skills of citizenship and character.”

— Jennifer Lehmann, Supporting Writing Through the 6Cs Grant Recipient

“Our District students have many different ways in which they learn and develop and it is our team’s job as afterschool professionals to foster that learning through exploration, interactive projects and the love of learning through the power of play.”

Clayton Education Foundation

$176,341 IN GRANTS GIVEN SINCE 2009

Technology • Literacy • Science Fine Arts • Health • Music • Math World Languages • Social Studies Culture Career Education • STEM Community Service • Robotics

— Tyler Kearns, Explore More After School Grant Recipient

“Engineering is all about using math, science and technology to solve problems. Engineers understand the theory and the math behind the design and the process in which their designs will be manufactured. A CNC mill would enable students to utilize industry standard subtractive manufacturing methods to bring their designs to reality.”

— Steve Beauchamp, CNC Mill Grant Recipient “The art of working in clay and firing the kiln to create a permanent finished piece is a process of self-expression. Creating three-dimensional forms from clay also helps students learn to problem solve, as well as realizing that there are many solutions for the same problem.”

— Tiffany Marquart, Community Ceramics Program Grant Recipient

“In play, learners are developing ideas, negotiating rules, crafting the environment and being active listeners. It is the work and art of childhood. ”

— Jennifer Riley, Empowerment Through Purposeful Play Grant Recipient

HELP US GROW

The success of the Clayton Education Foundation’s grant program depends both on its donors and the creative approaches adopted by District teachers. Grant submissions demonstrate the teachers’ commitment to innovative teaching, their caring approach to their students and their pursuit of excellence. If you would like to make a gift to help grow our grant program, visit its website at claytoneducationfoundation.org.

CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER FALL 2018

A HOMECOMING FOR FILMMAKER The message clearly resonates.

The film has a 93 percent Critics Score and a 99 percent Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Big Sonia has screened at over 70 film festivals worldwide and is Leah Warshawski (‘96) with her the winner of 20 grandmother and subject of her awards including film, Sonia.

Best Director.

Sonia’s story even made it to Congress, where lawmakers learned of her plight.

Voted most likely to save the world by her classmates, the prophecy is coming true for alumna Leah Warshawski (‘96). Through her career as a film producer and director, Leah is spreading a message of compassion and love in theaters across the country. This fall, she will be coming home to CHS to screen her most recent film, Big Sonia.

After creating her first documentary, Finding Hillywood, about the film community in Rwanda, Leah considered making a short film. Having a hunch about the perfect subject, she and her husband/co-director Todd Soliday visited her grandmother in Kansas City. Sonia Warshawski, then 85, independently ran her late husband’s tailor shop.

“I’ve always known that Sonia is a unique character,” said Leah. Todd agreed and as they started filming, Leah’s intuition proved correct, even more so than she realized. “As things progressed and transpired with our filming, it turned into things we couldn’t ignore,” she said.

“I’m proud and happy with the way the film turned out, but it’s not what we expected when we started.”

Even with having international success, Leah described screening her film at CHS as “totally surreal.” Both CHS students and members of the community viewed the film.

“Having survivors in my family was not something I talked about when I was in high school,” she said. “I wasn’t proud of the fact that I was Jewish, because anything that makes you different is not ok when you’re a teenage girl.”

Ultimately, the film Leah and Todd created interweaves Sonia’s horrific experiences in the Holocaust with the current obstacles of keeping her business open. In addition, Leah explores the effect of Sonia’s trauma on her children and grandchildren. “Inter-generational trauma is one of the most meaningful things people take away from the film,” said Leah. “It’s something everyone can relate to because everyone’s been affected by their parents.”

On being back in the halls of her high school, sharing her film, Leah said “It feels like everything is falling into place just the way it should.”

For those who missed the Clayton screening, Big Sonia is available on iTunes, coinciding with Sonia’s 93rd birthday. DVD sales will be available soon on the Big Sonia website.

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

The Clayton Education Foundation is always looking for stories about Clayton alumni.

If you would like your story to be considered, contact Elizabeth Macanufo at elizabethmacanufo@claytonschools.net or 314-854-6014.

8

FRED FIRESTONE - A PRETTY “PUNNY GUY”* Transitioning from working in corporate business to working in side splitting, Fred Firestone (‘70) is making retirement a laughing matter.

After receiving an undergraduate degree in special education followed by a law degree, Fred built his career by offering business seminars to global companies, helping to create value for their customers.

Throughout his years of consulting, he managed to find ways to blend his love of speaking and connecting with people, with his inclination for humor.

“I created a game show set for one of the companies,” Fred remembers. “I always looked to ensure that the message was fun, based on a foundation of integrity and value.”

The bell-buzzer mechanism from the game show, which lived in the Firestone family garage, occasionally made its way into the home.

Sometimes, Fred would wield it during dinner, loudly letting his children, Jo (‘05) and Ben (‘00), know what they were doing right (bell) and where there were opportunities for improvement (buzzer).

Fortunately for Fred, Jo inherited his love of laughter, and the two turned their family fun into the Punderdome, a monthly pun competition with a devoted fan base. Having started in May 2011, the father-daughter duo just held their 89th show in New York City.

Human Clap-O-Meter. “The audience is inextricably linked to the outcome of the competition,” he describes. “There’s no PhD in linguistics or comparative etymology who waxes eloquent on the best punner - the audience decides.”

While the show resides in New York, the Firestones brought Punderdome to St. Louis last year. Many of their high school friends attended, allowing Fred to think about his time at CHS. “Looking back at my Clayton experience, I was fortunate to have a number of good teachers who would not just talk at you, but supported interaction and wanted to know your opinions,” he says. “I think that is a crucial foundation that influenced my speaking career and my Punderdome career.”

With this third act of his career, Fred, along with Jo, created a pun-omenon. Punderdome garnered press from The New York Times, The New Yorker and GQ Magazine. There is even a board game version available on Amazon for potential punners to practice at home.

The best part? Experiencing the fun and exciting journey with his daughter. “Being involved in this project and having created this with Jo is really sweet as a dad,” says Fred.

During the live shows, Fred and Jo give the competitive punners a topic, such as animals or presidents, then 90 seconds to plan the puns.

“It’s very difficult to come up with the puns within the topic,” says Fred, who admits neither he nor Jo are great punners.

Harking back to Fred’s experience watching the Queen for a Day television program and its Applause Meter, the Firestones let the audience decide the ultimate winner via the imaginative

*Fred Firestone created and runs Punderdome with his daughter Jo; he does not actually pun.

CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER FALL 2018

THANK YOU TO OUR EDUCATION FOUNDATION DONORS The following is a list of gifts received between June 9, 2018, and Oct. 1, 2018. If you made a donation during those dates and your name is not listed, please contact Elizabeth Macanufo at 314-854-6014.

Donors to the Alumni BBQ can be found on page 2. Donors to Adzick Field can be found on page 3.

GENERAL FUND $1,000-$10,000 Kyle Hogan (‘02) Michael (‘69) and Carole Marks Family Fund $250-$999 The Class of 1953 in honor of our 65th Reunion Kristin Goran (‘98) in honor of the Class of 1998 Susan Lynch (‘66) Michael Zaccarello (‘65) in memory of Jo Ann Zaccarello Lampe $100-$249 Gordon J. Anderson (‘58) Allan Barker (‘65) Katherine Cowles (‘53) in honor of Kaye and Bruce Cowles and in memory of Richard Berg (‘50) Susan Meltz in honor of Norm Handshear (‘66) Bill Penney (‘46) in memory of Kay Penney Bower (‘48) Geraldine Schiller (‘42) $50-$99 David Altholz (‘98) Barbara Katz Bilkert (‘71) Buddy Cooper (‘48) in memory of Barbara Cooper-Katz-Kaplan (‘55) Richard Hackmann (‘04)

$1-$49 Anonymous James Heuser (‘04) Sam (‘53) and Pat Hopmeier Charitable Donor Advised Fund in honor of the Class of ‘53’s 65th Reunion TEACHER GRANTS $10,000+ Centene Charitable Foundation $250-$999 John Hudson (‘98) in honor of the Class of ‘98

RICK BEARD ENDOWMENT $1,000-$10,000 Sonia Beard in memory of Rick Beard (‘78) $100-$249 Anne Cosgrove Stuckel (‘78) in honor of the Class of ‘78 $1-$49 Anonymous James Heuser (‘04) Nancy Planells (‘78)

$100-$249 Barbara Strifling Belmont (‘59) in memory of Blandford Jennings

IN MEMORY BOBBY MILLER (‘68) The following gifts will help the CHS Theater Department.

$50-$99 Anonymous James Heuser (‘04)

$1-$49 Norm Handshear (‘66) Mildred Reichert

$1-$49 Jennifer O’Neal

$50-$99 Jeanne Ferman Jo Ann Novoson (‘68)

SHARMON WILKINSON SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES GRANT $1-$49 James Heuser (‘04)

$100-$249 Alex Berger III (‘67) Marianne Hickson (‘68) Eleanor Withers Special Projects $10,000+ Centene Charitable Foundation The Staenbergs of Clayton

GIVING TO THE CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Gifts to. . .

• General Fund go where they’re needed to make difference in the lives of Clayton students • Teacher Grants support innovative, educator led programs • Sharmon Wilkinson Summer Opportunities Grant allows us to send Clayton students to overnight camp who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the opportunity • Rick Beard Endowment support STEM initiatives throughout the District 10

CLASS NOTES Vincent C. Flewellen (‘89) has been appointed Chief Diversity Officer for Webster University.

Ben Loeb (‘73) published a book, “Next Level Coaching: How to Use Sport Psychology to Educate, Motivate, and Improve Student-Athlete Performance” - a guide for coaches, athletes and parents to help athletes improve mentally and emotionally in the competitive arena.

Ben is the tennis coach at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri. He also teaches a course at the high school on Sport and Performance Psychology.

Sara Sitzer (‘01) brought her Gesher Music Festival back to St. Louis this summer for its eighth season. The festival highlights musicians performing chamber music with a “Jewish twist.” Sara is an accomplished cellist and the festival’s founding artistic director.

Jim Turley (‘73) has been named the national chairman of the Boy Scouts of America.

Carolyn (Carly) Beard (‘14) is currently in Cologne, Germany, on a Fulbright Grant to conduct research at the Edith Stein Archive. She graduated from Princeton University in June.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Keep your fellow graduates informed on milestones in your life such as marriages, births, promotions and awards. To submit your news, visit www.claytoneducationfoundation.org or email your class notes and photo to Elizabeth Macanufo at elizabethmacanufo@claytonschools.net.

IN MEMORIAM Our thoughts are with the following CHS alumni families who have lost their loved ones.

• Ruth Lorber Rosen (‘48) passed away on Aug. 8, 2018.

• Maurice Stone (‘49) passed away on Feb. 10, 2018.

• John Price (‘50) passed away on May 23, 2018.

• Lawrence Steinberg (‘52) passed away on Dec. 30, 2017.

• Tom Singer (‘54) passed away on April 5, 2018.

• Terry Schwartz (‘61), passed away on April 30, 2018.

• Steve Platte (‘67) passed away on June 25, 2017.

• Bob Levine (‘69) passed away on Oct. 6, 2018.

• Elan Schwartz (‘93) passed away on Feb. 7, 2018.

The Clayton Education Foundation has a Tribute and Memorial Program in which we welcome donations in honor of or in memory of individuals and families. Donations support the Clayton Education Foundation in its mission to advance the School District of Clayton’s culture of educational excellence. If you would like to make a memoriam or honorary donation, please contact Elizabeth Macanufo at elizabethmacanufo@claytonschools.net or 314-854-6014.

CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER FALL 2018

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE ST. LOUIS, MO PERMIT NO. 175

PAID Return Service Requested

#2 Mark Twain Circle Clayton, MO 63105

Fall 2018

ABOUT THE CLAYTON EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Homecoming for Filmmaker.........8 A Punny Guy..................................9 Thank You To Our Donors .......... 10 Class Notes..................................11

The Clayton Education Foundation has helped advance the School District of Clayton’s culture of educational excellence since 2009 by providing financial support to Clayton students and staff for unique learning experiences that go beyond what tax dollars cover. In addition to its work with fundraising, the Foundation is also the umbrella organization for the Clayton High School Alumni Association and provides support for alumni events and activities.

IN THIS ISSUE

Alumni BBQ .............................. 1 Thank you to BBQ Donors..........2 Adzick Field Update ....................... 3 Teacher Grants.............................. 4