AN INSIDE LOOK AT DERBY’S CURRICULUM • DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION • LAST CHAPEL & DERBY DAY YEAR IN REVIEW 2021–2022
THEN // NOW DERBY ACADEMY is a PreKindergarten through Grade 8 school that nurtures the development of the child by providing opportunities for the maximum intellectual, emotional, and physical growth of each student. That mission is as important now as it was three centuries ago.
4 STRATEGIC PLAN An in-depth look at Derby Academy’s 2022–2025 Strategic Plan. 8 CURRICULUM ROOTED IN MISSION An inside look into Derby’s curriculum and the importance of remaining true to the school motto Improve Both Mind and Heart 14 A MULTIPLICITY OF VOICES & PERSPECTIVES A look into our ongoing DEI work and how it connects to our strategic plan. 18 TURNING EMPATHY INTO ACTION Field trips, guest speakers, and projects across campus had Middle and Upper School students tackling social and environmental challenges facing our world today. 20 THANK YOU & WELCOME Lori Cashman thanks the Derby Community and introduces Ajay Sadhwani as the new Board of Trustees President. 22 CAMPUS NEWS The school year was busy with events around campus and school performances. 28 LAST CHAPEL & DERBY DAY The School celebrates the accomplishments of the Class of 2022. 36 DEVELOPMENT Derby appreciates the long-standing traditions of generosity and giving of its community. 38 CLASS NOTES Our alumni and extended community share milestones, achievements, and celebrations from the past year. CONTENTS // IN THIS ISSUE 8281814 YEAR IN REVIEW 2021–2022 1
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021–2022 DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS Tracey Boucher DESIGN & ANDMANAGER,COMMUNICATIONSMAGAZINEDESIGNLAYOUT Colleen D’Alessandro PRINTER Fowler Printing & Graphics CONTRIBUTORS Jana Brown Jami GuySqueakieChristinaGregoryKennyThompson“Woody”Tunnicliffe FOLLOW DERBY ON SOCIAL @derbyacademy/derbyacademy@derby.academy/derbyacademyorg Please send letters to the editor, class notes, obituaries, and changes of address to: DERBY ACADEMY 56 Burditt Avenue Hingham, MA 02043 781-749-0746 (ext. alums@derbyacademy.org105) Cover: Students on Campus LoriPRESIDENTCashman P’19,’19,’22,’22,’23 JeffSECRETARYAlexander P’24 JakeTREASURERHellerP’25,’26 JeffreyTRUSTEESCamuso P’26,’29 Curtis Cetrulo, MD. ’85, P’25 Caroline Counselman P’21,’24 John Drew P’20,’21,’25,’25 Caroline Curtis Hayes ’99 Andrea Carr Hedrick ’79 Demi Isenstadt P’18,’21,’26 Hunter Kass P’26,’27,’32 Kristen Maxwell P’17,’18,’20 Jennifer Lowe Newell ’90 Suzanne Norris P’22,’25,’28 Helen Ra P’23,’23 Colleen Ramsden (ex-officio; Head of School) Ajay Sadhwani P’13,’16,’16,’19,’23 Jay K. Sadlon P’92,’96 TRUSTEES EMERITI Jane Cheever Carr ’50, P’75,’77,’79,’82, GP’03,’05 Harry W. Healey, Jr. P’72,’73,’74,’75,’77,’79,’86 Patricia B. Leggat P’85 Elizabeth M. Loring P’97,’99,’01 Bruce H. Minevitz P’00,’04 2 DERBY ACADEMY
Colleen Ramsden, EdD Head of School
This publication is an opportunity for you to learn more about the professional development the talented faculty completed related to curriculum design and implementation. You will also learn about Derby’s commitment to ensuring every member of the community feels safe and appreciated. We will welcome a full-time director of community and belonging this school year who will oversee our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as well as our servicelearning program.
The Derby experience allows students to grow in a secure environment, where academic and social-emotional risk-taking are expected, encouraged, and supported. For 238 years, Derby has nurtured both mind and heart, and our students reap the benefits of this foundation. You will see this come to life in the pages of this magazine, including highlights from Winter Term, Grandfriends Day, Last Chapel, the Choral Concert, and Derby Day.
Dear Derby Community, I thank all of you for making me feel welcome and for your support throughout my first year. Kindness—this year’s school theme, and what we began with at First Chapel and ended with at Last Chapel—was evident all year. At the beginning of the fall, every employee received a copy of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, which focuses on themes of friendship, perseverance, and kindness. It was also a fitting graduation gift for every eighth grader as those themes exemplify the heart of the Derby Wecommunity.alsoshowed resilience and flexibility in the past year. We began in September with mask requirements and gatherings outside and ended mask-optional, with a return to Derby’s time-honored traditions to close the year. I have high hopes for the 2022–23 school year and look forward to welcoming you all back to campus in the Ifall.would be remiss if I did not take a moment to thank Lori Cashman, outgoing Board president, for her unfailing leadership the past three years—all during a global pandemic and a leadership change. I also want to welcome Ajay Sadhwani as incoming Board president. I look forward to partnering with him and the entire Board of Trustees as we work to secure the future of Derby Academy. Today, Derby is in a place of strength. We recently completed a yearlong self-study as part of our accreditation process and will host a team of educators in October for our formal accreditation visit. The Board of Trustees and the Leadership Team developed a three-year strategic plan that will be rolled out this fall and includes input from the entire community via surveys and interviews with our consultants. Derby’s enrollment is strong and our retention is at an all-time high. We have hired talented faculty, staff, and administrators who are eager to roll up their sleeves and be a part of the Derby magic.
Connected by experience and history, Derby is a special place, and I look forward to working with you all to enhance it in the year ahead.
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1 STRATEGIES
• Align current curriculum and systematize the assessment of the academic program Pre-K to Grade 8
• Establish, communicate, and execute a threeyear Strategic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan
Derby Academy seeks to continually reflect and build upon its commitment to creating an environment of academic and programmatic excellence for all students. Our goal is for students to grow and get to know themselves across a wide range of learning experiences that build upon each other, supported and encouraged by our talented faculty within small classes.
We are excited to unveil our 2022–2025 Strategic Plan. Drawing upon survey data provided by parents, faculty, staff, students in Grades 5–8, and additional analysis and input from outside consultant Independent School Management (ISM), the Board of Trustees and the Derby Academy Leadership Team participated in a strategic planning process last fall.
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STRATEGIC PLAN
• Enhance our programs through the design and implementation of innovative curriculum
• Develop a Portrait of a Graduate to inform programmatic and enrollment decisions and provide students with a vision for their future 2022–2025
EXCELLENCEPROGRAMMATIC
We have developed our strategic goals for the next three years that will maintain and enhance our nurturing environment. This process has served as a powerful means for us to set our priorities in light of a rapidly changing world. We have identified three goals—Programmatic Excellence, Faculty and Staff Excellence, and Long-Term Sustainability. These goals are central to beginning the next chapter in the story of Derby Academy—a chapter where we bravely lean into uncertainty and boldly envision how we best serve our community as we move forward.
2FACULTY & EXCELLENCESTAFF Derby Academy creates an environment of academic and programmatic excellence in the context of strong relationships between students and faculty. As such, one of our highest priorities is attracting and retaining committed, diverse, inspiring, and engaged faculty members. • Determine appropriate long-term goals for compensation and benefits to attract and retain exceptional faculty and staff • Recruit and retain a diverse faculty and staff through continuous recruitment efforts, innovative hiring practices, ongoing mentoring partnerships, and adding layers of growth opportunities for faculty • Increase professional development funds to maintain instructional excellence across grade levels and subject areas and enhance faculty understanding of the most innovative teaching practices • Systematize the faculty and staff growth and evaluation process by refining Derby’s Essential Expectations & Characteristics of Professional Excellence • Review faculty and staff structure to ensure optimal staffing to achieve our academic goals STRATEGIES YEAR IN REVIEW 2021–2022 5
To ensure future generations have access to a world-class educational experience at Derby Academy, we will support our long-term sustainability, ensure financial stability, and address strategic priorities. 3SUSTAINABILITYLONG-TERM • Review and update marketing practices to effectively articulate and promote the mission and value proposition • Enhance donor pool by focusing on the development of relationships with current families, alumni, corporate partners, and broader community members • Increase annual giving to support ongoing operational improvement • Create an enrollment management plan that includes strategies focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse student body • Evaluate and update classrooms and technology to be state-of-the-art and foster excellence in learning • Review results of campus audit to develop a long-term deferred maintenance plan • Complete campus master plan • Implement a long-term financial plan to support ongoing operations and support the school’s strategic initiatives STRATEGIES 6 DERBY ACADEMY
The strategic planning process began in the fall of 2021 with initial conversations and consultation from Independent School Management (ISM). ISM is a comprehensive management-support firm for privateindependent schools specializing in risk management, student recruitment and retention, advancement, development, admission, marketing, strategic and long-range planning, Board/Head relations, plant expansion, and leadership training. With the School’s input, ISM created a series of Parent, Faculty, and Student (Grades 5-8) surveys, which were sent out to our constituents in October 2021. From there, our Board of Trustees and members of the Leadership Team were guided through a detailed and thoughtful planning process. This included a learning phase, data analysis from the surveys, and finally an ideation phase. The final strategic plan was formulated and finalized by the Board of Trustees along with input from our Head of School and the Leadership Team.
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OUR PROCESS • Independent School Management Consulting • Parent Survey • Faculty Survey • Grade 5-8 Student Survey • Strategic sessions with Board of Trustees and Leadership Team OUR METHOD
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Our faculty are constantly learning from each other and exploring creative opportunities to connect our students to learning across all disciplines. Our commitment to attracting and retaining dedicated faculty who continually reflect and build upon our environment of academic and programmatic excellence is a priority supported by our strategic plan.
DERBY’S RICH CURRICULUM is deeply grounded in our motto, Improve Both Mind and Heart, and in the belief that the Pre-K–8 experience should be a joyful time for students to make discoveries about themselves and their connection to the world in the context of nurturing relationships with trusted adults. Our curriculum leads students through a variety of experiences that build upon one another, so students graduate with a well-developed sense of themselves and their responsibility to others, enthusiasm for lifelong learning, and the confidence to form productive relationships with their future teachers.
CURRICULUM ROOTED IN MISSION
Inspiring Students to Discover the Joy of Intellectual Curiosity We believe a love of learning is innate, and that it is our job to model and cultivate this joy on a daily basis. We also believe that one of the major motivations for learning is to connect it with ways to make knowledge useful in helping others.
by Mary Beth Murphy, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning
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We also believe that in order to make ethical and mindful contributions in an increasingly interdependent world, students must understand multiple perspectives. They are continually asked to share their thought processes with others to encourage the diversity of thought in our own classrooms.
Personal Responsibility Intertwined with the commitment to serving others is a deep sense of personal responsibility, which includes the development of executive function and study skills, interpersonal relationship skills, and the understanding of what it means to be a responsible member of a community.
Derby’s science curriculum is a good example, since it focuses on handson learning that encourages students to engage in the practices of working scientists. In our classrooms, guiding questions connect learning science to practical application. What does each body system contribute to the overall function of the body? How can people mitigate the negative impact on the land and water? How do different species in the same ecosystem interact with each other and with the physical environment?
Service to the Community Faculty are always on the lookout for opportunities to give back to our community through the curriculum. Examples across content areas include Upper School social studies students writing letters to their representatives urging them to take action on an issue of importance; Grade 2 students sharing their water sample results from indigenous sources with local watershed commissions as part of citizen science; and Middle and Upper School Sustainability Club members using math and science to design and execute a school-wide waste audit that has led to improved on-campus recycling and composting efforts.
In order to make ethical and mindful contributions in an increasingly interdependent world, students must understand multiple perspectives. They are continually asked to share their thought processes with others to reveal and celebrate the diversity of thought in our own classrooms.
Derby’s Open Circle and Advisory curriculum addresses the issue of multiple perspectives across all grade levels. And, we recently completed a Pre-K–5 literature review to ensure we are using literature to support our curriculum. In Upper School social studies, students explore American identity in a “rights and roots” curriculum designed to investigate the themes of perspective through art and artists’ writings, and music. While our courses work to integrate service to the community, we have established a full-time role of director of community and belonging to lead the development of an even more robust service-learning curriculum.
Starting in Primary School, students begin to develop independence in materials management. In Lower School, students start to incorporate time-management skills. Homework begins in Middle School in Grade 4, where students learn to use a homework assignment binder and how to track assignments through Google Classroom. Students begin their Upper School experience in Grade 6 with a “Study Skills” course that introduces what is needed to manage a more complex school structure with multiple teachers and
Rooted in the belief that children benefit deeply from experiencing
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ClassroomPre-K–5withinmeetstudentsOurtheschoolpertainandmeetingsthroughtoourschoolresolvingtoThecooperativeinto3,studentsInCircleSchoolDerby’scurriculumcitizenshiprelationshipsResponsibilitycourses.forinterpersonalandcommunityareexplicitpartsofouracrossallgradelevels.Primary,Lower,andMiddlestudentsparticipateinOpentwiceaweek.thosesessions,Kindergartentalkaboutsharing.InGradethissamethreadgoesmoredeeplyproblem-solvingtechniquesduringandcompetitivegames.topicbroadensinGrades4and5includestudentexperienceswithconflicttoservethegreatercommunity.IntheUpperSchool,curriculumaroundresponsibilityselfandothersisimplementedourAdvisoryprogram—regularofsmallgroupsofstudentsteacherstodiscusstopicsthattoindividualrelationships,community,andthecontextofbroaderworld.facultyunderstandthattoinspiretolovelearning,wemustalsotheirneedsforemotionalsafetytheschoolcommunity.studentsfollowaResponsivemodeltoreinforceasenseof
These choices represent intentional extensions of the classrooms and our commitment to the critical importance of learning in the context of trusted relationships with adults. Breadth of Focus and Experiences
belonging, while Upper School advisors develop trusting relationships with their small groups of students, through which they can more deeply discuss bigger issues facing adolescents. Connecting students with caring adults in a supportive community goes well beyond the classroom. Derby’s class sizes are purposefully small and its systems and structures are designed to cultivate close relationships between students and faculty members, including family-style lunches, faculty from all divisions coaching athletics, and lead teachers and administrators supervising recess and morning and afternoon pick-up/drop-off.
themselves through a wide variety of lenses and learning opportunities, Derby ensures that these experiences are woven into the fabric of the curriculum. We have purposefully crafted experiences that represent building blocks of the student experience from Pre-K–8. Examples of the purposeful progression of experiences can be found in every subject we teach. The arts curriculum builds from foundational experiences in music and
Pictured right: Public speaking is an integral part of our curriculum and is implemented across all divisions starting as early as Pre-K. movement and visual arts in Primary and Lower School to an expanding rotation of visual and performing arts in Middle School to a broad variety of arts electives in Upper School. Each year’s curriculum builds the skills students need to comprehend the next level. The physical education curriculum also builds on itself from Pre-K–8, as well as public speaking which students begin to explore in Pre-K. It evolves from in-class presentations and full on-stage productions to a capstone public speaking project in Grade 8.
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By way of documentation, Derby has re-implemented the Educational Records Bureau (ERB) standardized assessments in Grades 3–8 to measure the effectiveness of its curriculum against other independent schools, guide the curriculum and instruction review process, and monitor progress over time.
The most exciting part of teaching an intentional and innovative curriculum is the cycle of struggle and success our faculty witness every day. These breakthroughs indicate progress on the path to mastery of learning the skills necessary to build competence in a subject area over time. At all grade levels, formative assessments are used to guide students’ progress as they work, giving teachers the opportunity to adjust instruction.
While these formative assessments help inform daily instruction with students, we also recognize the need to document and review patterns over time.
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Pictured above: Grade 3 students presenting their research and art project during the Health and Human Body Fair this past winter.
Mastery of Skills Measuring mastery takes ongoing commitment to the curriculum design, reflection, and review process. In the fall of 2021, newly appointed Head of School Dr. Colleen Ramsden posed a school-wide question for exploration “How do summative and formative assessments inform our instruction?”
In Upper School English Language Arts (ELA) classes, students receive feedback on their journal entries which are then revised and edited before being turned in for a grade. In Upper School math, students create portfolios to organize concepts for assessments. In social studies, students can create podcasts—among other learning artifacts—to show what they have learned. In science, in addition to projects, lab reports, and tests, students can create fact books, use art to construct realistic models of studied topics, or craft a creative writing piece to express what they have learned.
Moving Forward While our current curriculum is tied directly to our mission, we want to reflect and build on our commitment to creating an environment of academic and programmatic excellence for all students. Derby’s Strategic Plan initiatives directly support this commitment:
• We will align our current curriculum vertically to best assess our academic program. We have begun this work by partnering with Chalk.com to document our full curriculum. This will enable us to analyze and assess our learning standards, assessments, and essential questions across all grade levels.
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• We will recruit and retain a talented, committed, and diverse faculty and staff through innovative hiring practices, ongoing mentoring partnerships, and adding layers of growth opportunities for faculty. We are cultivating relationships with institutions of higher education, many of which serve students from historically marginalized communities, and attending local and national recruitment fairs, thereby broadening the reach of our job postings and deepening our pool of qualified candidates for each open position. We have formed administrative and faculty hiring committees trained in anti-bias hiring practices, rewritten job postings, shifted our hiring process to include innovative interviewing practices, and updated our technological tools to track the results of these hiring efforts. We are adding a Growth Coaching component to our professional development opportunities as part of our Faculty Growth Plan, through which interested faculty will be trained to support one another’s professional goals. Our talented and dedicated faculty are at the heart of the student experience. In the years to come, we will continue to provide the structures, systems, and support our faculty need to ensure our curriculum reflects contemporary practices and delivers an innovative, well-rounded experience for our students. Our talented and dedicated faculty are at the heart of the student experience.““
• We will increase professional development funds over the next four years to maintain instructional excellence across grade levels and subject areas. While teachers attended outside workshops and conferences, and a series of inhouse workshops, faculty learned about formative and summative assessment practices as well as the principles of Understanding by Design. We are building a robust professional development system that includes growth coaching, in-house workshops, outside experts, support for certification and higher education, summer travel grants, and a biannual Faculty Celebration of Learning.
A PERSPECTIVESOFMULTIPLICITYVOICESAND
When it was written in 2012, Derby’s Diversity Statement solidified the school’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work. A decade later, this spirit lives on in the daily experiences of Derby’s teachers, students, and families. By Annie Peterman, Director of Community and Belonging
WHILE THE WORK has evolved over the past 10 years, the core of why it is important has remained unchanged. Derby is committed to ensuring that everyone feels a deep sense of belonging on our campus. Our community is strengthened when we understand and have compassion for different perspectives. A diversity of background, opinion, and experience is essential to offering an exceptional education.
STRATEGIC PLAN Derby’s commitment to DEI work is reflected in the Strategic Plan, which highlights goals through 2025.
INCLUSIONDIVERSITY,EQUITY,& 14 DERBY ACADEMY
Recommendations arose in three major areas: communication, professional development, and hiring practices. We already have been able to get started on some of these areas and are still in the process of creating a plan for other areas.
Within each category—programmatic excellence, faculty and staff excellence, and long-term sustainability—are strategies to ensure each area of the school is viewed through a lens of equity and belonging.
To make this happen, the school put together an administrative hiring
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committee consisting of Head of School Colleen Ramsden, Head of Middle and Upper Schools Kate Howell, Head of Primary and Lower Schools Jessica Overton, CFO Anthony Black, Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Mary Beth Murphy, Middle and Upper School Dean of Students Lynn Cornell, Controller Nam Dinh, Executive Assistant to the Head of School Cynthia Galko, and me. Together, group members identified additional ways to share job postings, and interested faculty were trained on how to examine job postings and interview questions for Webias.are excited to have recruiting and hiring protocols in place to help us identify the most diverse and talented faculty Equallypossible.important to recruiting a diverse and talented faculty is retention. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, faculty of color have higher turnover rates (19%) in K–12 schools compared with white teachers (15%). Derby’s Leadership Team understands that it is imperative to support faculty of color and address the challenges they might face in a predominantly white institution. Just as it is for students, a sense of belonging is necessary for faculty and staff to thrive. Supporting DevelopmentProfessional The Diversity Directions report also made recommendations for targeted professional development in the area of DEI. Students learn best when they feel a sense of belonging. Therefore, it is a priority for Derby teachers to be up to date with developmentally appropriate best practices on creating safe and nurturing classroom environments. Derby teachers know the value of STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Upon thorough review of the Diversity Directions report, hiring was made a priority for the upcoming school year. This includes recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff through innovative hiring practices, ongoing mentoring partnerships, and layers of professional growth opportunities. This winter we focused on increasing our recruiting reach and identifying bias within our current hiring practices.
At Derby Academy, we recognize and value the characteristics that contribute to each individual’s full identity, to include race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion, culture, nationality, family structure, language, sexual identity, socioeconomic background, physical differences, and learning styles. Our mission is to cultivate a school community infused with a multiplicity of voices and perspectives. By moving beyond individual experiences, we learn to think critically, adapt, communicate, collaborate, imagine, understand, and grow. Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment where each person freely brings their whole selves to school each day, confident that every individual will be respected. We believe that being a truly inclusive community requires constant attention, at times involving moments of uncertainty and misunderstanding. We dedicate ourselves to use conversation as a catalyst for the growth and change we seek. systems, policies, and school culture.
Programmatic Excellence With a goal of communicating,establishing,andexecuting a threeyear DEI plan, we began the school year with a Diversity Climate Assessment of current practices. With help from Diversity Directions, which consults exclusively with independent schools, the Diversity Climate Assessment returns an evaluation that allows independent schools the opportunity to tell their DEI story. In January, the consultants provided the head of school with a comprehensive report detailing Derby’s successes in DEI work, along with recommendations for how to improve
Faculty and Staff Excellence
FIELD DAY
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ongoing DEI initiative, we took a look at Field Day, one of the School’s most beloved traditions. While many of our alumni have fond memories of the annual event, some changes were made to the team formats and names this year to make Field Day more inclusive to all students. Traditionally, teams have always been gender specific, with two boys teams and two girls teams competing for the win. Moving forward, the four groups have been combined into two gender inclusive teams, The Derbies and The Toppers. Many thoughtful conversations were had among the community to come to this decision, and students were given a chance to learn about why the changes were made and ask questions. Derby has been and always will be a place where every child is known, supported, and valued. We are a community where children are nurtured and thrive in all aspects of their school day. This decision was meant to create another opportunity to affirm all children and for current and future Derby students to feel supported and empowered.
offering students multiple perspectives within the curriculum. Offering additional professional development opportunities can enhance their expertise in providing these learning experiences for our students. During the 2021–22 school year, 18 faculty members attended professional development related to DEI, allowing them to grow their practice and curriculum while connecting with other independent school educators across New England. Some examples include the AISNE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference; Gender Inclusion in Schools; Diversify Your World Language Curriculum; NAIS People of Color Conference; and Navigate Conversations about Race and Racism with Young Children. Long-Term Sustainability
To bring this to life, we must recruit and retain a diverse student body. When we create classrooms of students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, children learn to be more effective problem-solvers, are better at empathizing, and will enter their next schools as confident communicators and classroom citizens. This year, we have actively promoted the Derby educational experience in several towns surrounding Hingham that are currently underrepresented in the Derby community. The school also launched a merit scholarship open to families qualifying for tuition assistance with a goal of increasing socioeconomic and geographic diversity while attracting academically talented students. Conversations are also in progress about additional ways to recruit racially and ethnically diverse candidates and how to ensure those students feel a sense of belonging at ExtensiveDerby. thought and planning is going into creating programs and processes to support new students of color and diverse backgrounds joining our community.
As outlined in Derby’s Diversity Statement, “Our mission is to cultivate a school community infused with a multiplicity of voices and perspectives.”
Our mission is to cultivate a school community infused with a multiplicity of voices and“perspectives.“ASPARTOFOUR
acts of kindness or service were shared on decorated paper hearts describing the actions. The completed hearts were posted in Terry Library and the Lower School hallways to demonstrate the selflessness and compassion of Derby students. One month later, during Second Chapel in February, the entire school gathered together to reflect on the experience. Students shared what they had done and reflected on what it meant to them to be able to give back to their community.
Derby Serves designed flyers with suggestions for how students can get involved at home and in their
CALL TO SERVICE: KINDNESS COUNTS
communities. At school, teachers posted ideas for ways in which students could be of service to them. Some of the acts of kindness and service included bringing hot chocolate to a local fire station; buying groceries for someone in need; putting a sibling’s toys away; being responsible for community recess equipment; clearing dishes off the table; helping a teacher with class pets; or shoveling snow for a Completedneighbor.
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IN JANUARY, Derby kicked off its third Call to Service and first Kindness Counts initiative. These month-long projects were developed and executed in partnership between the DEI Office and Derby Serves, a branch of the Parents’ Association.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., students in the Primary and Lower Schools were asked to engage in acts of kindness, and students in the Middle and Upper Schools undertook acts of service, both on campus and in their wider First,communities.theLower School shared a video of why kindness matters, while Middle and Upper School students came together at a Morning Meeting to share a presentation about the life and legacy of Dr. King. Students met beforehand to brainstorm what they already knew about Dr. King and were eager to share with their peers about the moral courage required of Dr. King to speak out against war, inequality, and Meanwhile,racism.
TURNING EMPATHY INTO ACTION
The original inspiration for the December program sprang from the United Nations and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a shared international plan for peace and prosperity for the planet and its citizens. The UN goals are in line with Derby’s leading STEAM curriculum, which focuses on topics of energy and environmental sustainability, access and consumption of resources, urbanization, and science and technology. Together, they provide the foundation for a mission-based experience for students and faculty to develop their global awareness and to bring it back to campus. by Guy “Woody” Tunnicliffe Winter Term encourages students to think globally while acting locally.
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This was one of the mantras at Derby Academy during the fourth annual Winter Term, which encourages students to think globally while acting locally. Since the program’s introduction in 2018, students in the Middle and Upper Schools have anticipated the two-week program in December, which puts regular classes on hold for those in Grades 4–8 so they can participate in a studio intensive in a subject of their choice. The program allows students the freedom to creatively investigate, engage, and apply hands-on designs to resolve challenges on a local and global level.
AS RENOWNED primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall once said, “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.”
The distinct Derby program asks students to not only think empathetically, but to turn empathy into action. Activities during Winter Term range from building model gingerbread houses to educational field trips to the beach to studying sustainable ecology and farming. “When students graduate from Derby,” says Lynn Cornell, Middle and Upper School Dean, “we want them to be confident leaders that look beyond themselves at the bigger picture. The path to becoming a global citizen means developing an awareness and understanding of an issue so that your heart cares enough to dare to act in a way that makes a difference.”
When Winter Term was conceived and first launched in 2018, its original goals included helping Derby students build global competencies; fostering inquiry and independent learning in those students; dedicating time to working on creative projects; challenging faculty and students to look at new ways to approach problem-solving; offering authentic learning experiences based on real-world problems; promoting cross-curricular collaboration among the faculty; and providing a memorable learning experience for students. The first four years have accomplished all that and more through impactful programming and creative thinking.
Returning to Jane Goodall, one of the inspirations for Derby’s innovative program, students are consistently reminded during Winter Term that “what you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
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With that in mind, the Winter Term’s faculty-led studios dive deep into topics such as wind power, LEED building certification, social activism, coastal economies, urban design, and art in nature. This year, in addition to an academic introduction to subjects, students heard from guest speakers, classes took a variety of field trips to area museums to learn about local history and wind turbines, and participated in community engagement projects. At the end of the term, students shared their accumulated knowledge with peers in showcase presentations at Derby. Using model gingerbread-based homes complete with gumdrop electric vehicle charging stations and marshmallow insulation, students in “Taking the LEED” (Grades 7 and 8) demonstrated how coding is used to build smart, sustainable houses. Meanwhile, students in “Breeze through Malawi” (Grade 5) built pinwheels and other machines of their own design after visiting local wind turbines and examining how renewable energy can provide alternative, cleaner solutions for power. Students who visited Hingham Bathing Beach were there as part of “An Ocean of Plastic” (Grades 4 and 5), picking up litter as a service to the community, while contributing to a cleaner environment. Grade 7 and 8 students in “Call of the Wild” connected with nature through art, literature, and science. By design, Winter Term courses are interdisciplinary in nature to help students make connections across the curriculum. An added bonus is that faculty members get to make those connections with colleagues as well. “As a teacher, I think the exciting thing is the cross-curricular nature of all the studios,” says Cornell. “You’re working with someone in a different department on a completely different topic than your normal class subjects, and you get to explore it with your students.”
In fact, another mantra of Winter Term comes directly from former UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon: “Be a global citizen. Act with passion and compassion. Help us make this world safer and more sustainable today and for the generations that will follow us. That is our moral responsibility.”
Additional Winter Term offerings this year included: “You Are What You Eat,” “Under the Sea,” and “Wait, I Can Grow That?” for Grades 4 and 5; “Future Cities: Building a Waste-Free Future with Circular Economies” for Grade 6; and “Maritime Monopoly,” “Unstoppable Youth,” and “Project Runway” for Grades 7 and 8. Students also explored topics related to sustainability through concurrent math studios.
I’ve come to realize that the school year transitions are the times when I find myself a bit emotional, anxious, and nostalgic. After ten years here, and five children progressing through Derby, saying goodbye to this community feels like leaving a piece of my heart behind. I have made and will continue to enjoy friends of a lifetime; I have memories of laughs that buoyed my spirits and even made the moments of carrying boxes to the school store or hauling Fall Fair trash away genuinely entertaining; and I am also bonded to so many parents through the lifelong friendships that my children have developed with their former classmates. If you are reading this and are new to Derby, my advice to you is to volunteer, to serve, to get involved. The job(s) you take on is irrelevant; it is the friendships that you will develop that will be the gift. And the time that you yield will turn out to be a great investment and will leave you with no regrets.
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THANK YOU by Lori Cashman P’19,’19,’22,’22,’23
Over the past six months, President-Elect, Ajay Sadhwani and I have worked as a team to ensure a smooth transition of the Board President role. Speaking not just as a colleague on the Board for the past three years, but also as a friend and neighbor, Derby is so fortunate to have Ajay. He brings an analytical perspective to his role, which he combines with excellent listening skills, a thoughtful demeanor, and inclusive approach. We are grateful to Ajay, and his family, for serving in this role and for his steadfast dedication to Derby. I’ll conclude with a heartfelt thank you to my family and husband, Gillis; the faculty who have truly been an inspiration; the Leadership Team, and especially Dr. Ramsden, for her partnership, leadership, and vision; our amazing students who eventually become our enthusiastically loyal alumni; and to all our past and current parents. To my fellow trustees, it has been an honor to learn from each of you and to do our collective best to serve Derby together. One thing is evident, and that is Derby’s best days are ahead of us. With deep gratitude, Lori Cashman P’19,’19,’22,’22,’23
In our final meeting of the year, the Board discussed the importance of remaining agile, continuing to strive for excellence in everything we do, and affirming our community and culture as we emerge from the pandemic. We need to remain agile by anticipating potential challenges ahead and have contingency plans in place to better position us to adapt and pivot seamlessly. We were reminded that in the founding Charter of the School, Madam Sarah Derby required that within the first year, the Trustees open and operate the School to a demonstrated standard of excellence, or the charter would be revoked and the funds redirected to Harvard Medical School. We strive to continue to fulfill that mission every day. And we recognized the importance of meaningful engagement opportunities for our community that inspire the energy, support, and spirit of our constituents.
Much of the Board’s work the past three years has been about process, using data to inform decisions, and establishing a sustainable business model that not only meets the needs of the school today but services renewal and provides for the future—all of which allows us to deepen core areas of the curriculum, reimagine programming, and focus on strategic planning.
Dear Derby Community, It has been my honor and privilege to serve as President of the Board of Trustees of Derby Academy for the past three years. In recent months, I’ve been asked on several occasions to reflect on my tenure. My honest answer is that I feel like we are just getting started. While the pandemic presented challenges for every school, our faculty and staff were already enduring the stress and uncertainty of a leadership transition several months prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. Yet it was our Derby faculty that stepped up and worked to continue to provide a full program, holding online classes in those fraught first months as they worked tirelessly to enable us to safely return as a community to an in-person, on-campus, five-day program. There are far too many people to thank here for their efforts, however, Kate Howell and Mary Beth Murphy, who along with Interim Head Tom Reid, were essential to making this happen. The past few years have tested our resiliency, and our Derby community has never flinched in the face of these challenges.
Ajay received his B.Sc. degree in Bioengineering from Syracuse University and later earned a M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, before beginning a career in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, implementing clinical trial data management systems and their related processes. Having worked at GE Medical Systems and Serono Laboratories, Ajay was a co-founder and CEO of ARS Clinical, a clinical research organization until its acquisition by Premier Research in 2007, and Harbor Clinical, where he serves as Vice President of Operations and principal consultant on clinical research and data management for pharmaceutical Theclients.Sadhwanis’ introduction to the Derby community began with their son Noah ’13 who entered Derby in Grade 7, and they quickly realized that it was not only the right choice for their son, but for their family. “During our first parent conference with former Head of School Andrea Archer,” Ajay explained, “We realized that Dr. Archer not only knew and taught Noah, she understood him. She had made a connection with him on a personal and educational level and knew how to help him achieve success.” That was an experience that was not unique, they learned, as Ajay fondly recounted achievements in the classroom and the athletics fields, Eliza ’19’s Last Chapel address, and a general sense of belonging, which drew both him and Rachel to find ways to become more involved with the school. As the School emerges from these turbulent times, resilient and ready to look towards the future, Ajay will have an active role in shaping what that future looks like. That will include focusing on issues of school safety and campus security, implementing the new Strategic Plan, working with new and existing board members, whom he credits as among the “smartest, most knowledgeable, and most passionate group of people I have ever had the pleasure to work with,” and helping to prepare the school for challenges ahead.
Ajay Sadhwani P’13,’16,’16,’19,’23 YEAR IN REVIEW 2021–2022 21
PRESIDENTOFNEWWELCOMEBOARDTRUSTEES
AJAY SADHWANI has long been a fixture on the Derby Campus, having had five children attend the school over the past 12 years including four graduates, Noah ’13, Isaac ’16, Luke ’16, Eliza ’19, and rising 8th grader Caleb ’23.
His main goal, however, is to help the Board collaborate with and support Dr. Colleen Ramsden, Head of School, and to allow her to do the most she can do to make Derby the best that it can be: “I can gladly say that Colleen [Dr. Ramsden] had a banner first year, and we can only look forward to bigger and better.”
Ajay laughs as he says that proximity to the School was the real reason for his purchase of the Lubrano House on Cole Road, saving him and his wife, Rachel, a considerable amount of time ferrying children to and from their previous home in South Hingham.
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Grade 8 students then introduced and welcomed the new faculty, staff, and students to the Derby community. To close out the event, Dr. Ramsden announced the schoolwide theme for the year—kindness, a theme that was chosen by surveying the faculty and staff asking what they value most as a “Wecommunity.canchoose to use our words and actions to be kind and brighten someone’s day or we can choose to not be kind and make their day terrible. I want to know which are you going to choose?,” commented Dr. Ramsden. “I make a choice every day to be kind. When I wake up, I say to myself, ‘Today is going to be a great day because I am going to help someone today, I am going to be kind, and I am going to make someone smile today,’”
DERBY ACADEMY welcomed new and returning students back to campus for the first day of school and the annual First Chapel Lecture on Wednesday, September 8. The event was held outdoors on the 1784 Field featuring a gathering of students across all divisions, faculty, staff, Grade 8 parents, and the Trustees to kick off the new school year.
STUDENTS AT FIRST CHAPEL
Board of Trustees President Lori Cashman opened the event with a wonderful welcome to our new Head of School, Dr. Colleen Ramsden. Dr. Ramsden greeted the outdoor audience welcoming the community to the start of a new academic year, as well as acknowledging Derby “Lifers,” students who have attended Derby since Primary School, and also recognizing this year’s Foley Citizenship Prize winner. Head of the Middle and Upper Schools Kate Howell then spoke to the Class of 2022, a class she knows as being a supportive, innovative, and engaged group of students. She reminded and encouraged students to live by the important messages spoken by previous Derby Day speakers, “your words are powerful, use them for good” and “grow your circle.”
DERBY WELCOMES
Dr. Ramsden continued. “Before I go to sleep at night, I reflect on who I helped, who I was kind to, and who I made smile. I also ask myself, did I hurt anyone’s feelings today? If I think I did hurt someone, I decide what I will do the next day to say I am sorry. Derby is a very special place and I believe we all make a difference by being kind.”
GRADE 6 students put on a heartwarming and entertaining performance of the musical Honk! last fall. Students were back on the Larson Hall stage performing a robust musical production in front of a full live audience for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Congrats to all of our talented students and faculty for their hard work and HONK!HEARTWARMING
UPPER SCHOOL students put on a mesmerizing performance of Charlotte’s Web last winter that featured an innovative twist on the beloved children’s book by weaving in 90s music and style into the storyline.
WEBCHARLOTTE’SGOES90s YEAR IN REVIEW 2021–2022 23
“Choosing happiness is the smart choice, because deep down it is what your being strives for. It is what other people want too. We are choosing happiness together, we are choosing to care for each other, and the whole world opens up to infinite
Beforepossibilities.”inviting guests to partake in coffee and hot apple cider, Dr. Ramsden thanked the participants and asked the student instrumental group to close the event. To all our students, faculty, families, and friends—thank you! We are truly grateful for our Derby community!
GIVING THANKS
“Happiness is finding joy in everyday experiences,” Mr. Duddy said.
Facilities and Athletics Staff John Duddy then spoke, expanding upon this year’s theme, “kindness,” announced by Dr. Ramsden at the First Chapel Lecture in September. He reminded students to “treat everyone you meet with kindness, patience, and grace”; “focus on being positive, working hard, and making others around you better”; and that “the more you give, serve, and make your life about helping others, the better and more fulfilled your life will be.”
DERBY ACADEMY invited the school community to come together outdoors on the 1784 Field for a “Gathering of Thanks” in the lead up to Thanksgiving break, on Friday, November 19.
Students, faculty, parents, and friends of Derby took some time to reflect and share their appreciation for a community whose bonds have been strengthened by recent challenges. When Head of School Dr. Colleen Ramsden invited Grade 8 students to her home earlier in the term to discuss how they would like to put together a meaningful demonstration of thanks, the students quickly decided that this was a project worthy of including their fellow classmates and sharing with the community at large. On a bright, blustery morning, Grade 8 students asked several Middle School students what they were thankful for, and a common theme of gratitude—for family, for friends, for love and support, and for laughter—was apparent. Following a choral ensemble performance, Lower School students humorously debated the merits of keeping a turkey as a pet, offered cooking tips—“first you have to catch the turkey,” and shared their advice for staying grateful even if the turkey is burnt.
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ON A SURPRISINGLY warm December morning, the Derby community gathered outdoors on the pavilion to celebrate the holidays with joyful music and singing during the annual Holiday Show. Families were invited to gather outdoors to watch as their children brought holiday cheer to the community.
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UPPER SCHOOL students put on a dazzling performance of Into the Woods this past winter. Students brought their talents to the stage through their singing and acting, as well as their detailed craftsmanship in the set design.
INTO WOODSTHE
IN APRIL, family and friends of students visited campus during Grandfriends Day. Guests participated in lessons, explored classrooms, and experienced everything Derby has to offer. Musical performances helped celebrate the special role grandparents, family, and friends play in our students’ lives. DAY
GRANDFRIENDS
The Primary and Lower School worked on creating two no-sew blankets from each homeroom for the Ronald McDonald House, while learning about philanthropy, what it means, and how to practice it daily.
GIVING BACK THIS SPRING, Derby participated in an all-school Service Day and celebrated by giving back.
The Middle School assembled three different kits for the Ronald McDonald House (welcome kits, art kits, and movie night kits) and packed lunches for Father Bill’s that were delivered to three shelters in Brockton, MA at the end of the day. To accompany the kits, blankets, and lunches, students came together for a Pals activity to write thoughtful handwritten notes. Pals, is a cross-grade, peer mentorship program that meets throughout the school year pairing older and younger students together to form meaningful friendships and a sense of Thecommunity.UpperSchool packed meals for Rise Against Hunger, Grade 7 led the school through an Oxfam Hunger Banquet, and Grades 6 and 8 participated in a thorough campus clean-up.
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HEAD OF SCHOOL Dr. Colleen Ramsden addressed guests in Larson Hall as Last Chapel commemorated the close of the academic year. “On the first day of school, I began First Chapel by telling a story about Froggy, who fell into a deep hole. He thought his classmates were encouraging him and telling him to jump with all his might and get out. When he finally got out, his classmates said we told you to give up. Why didn’t you? Froggy said ‘I am deaf and I thought you were encouraging me so I didn’t give up.’ This simple story contains a powerful lesson. Our encouraging words can lift someone up and help and inspire them. Our mean words can hurt someone; they can make someone give up. I challenged everyone to think about the impact of their words. Like all of us, sometimes you may not have been your best self and did not use kind words. Hopefully, you LAST CHAPEL learned from that experience and tried to do better the next time. And while we make mistakes, I saw lots of examples modeling leadership throughout the “Youyear.”were amazing pals to the younger Youstudents.managed with masks for over two years and you welcomed the opportunity to engage without them. You participated on sports teams after more than a year of no competitions. You gave presentations and performed on Youstage.made students in other grades feel welcomed and included. You modeled vulnerability and courage. You inspired us to take risks, value effort over ability, ask for help, and believe in ourselves.”
This year’s Last Chapel was the first time in two years that all faculty, staff, and Middle and Upper School students gathered together for the annual event. Throughout the program, many students were recognized for their accomplishments, including our Class of 2022 Derby “Lifers”—students who started in Pre-Kindergarten, Grade 7 and 8 Book Award recipients, and multiple Class of 2022 award recipients. Two outstanding Derby Academy employees were recognized for their achievements with the E. Brooks Robbins Coaches Award and the Thomas J. Waters Prize. The E. Brooks Robins Coaches Award is given to a Derby coach each year to acknowledge their hard work, dedication, time, and effort working with students and athletes. This year’s recipient was longtime Boys Varsity Basketball coach, Montel Hill. Paul Daly, who presented the award, commented, “This award was established in 2001 to honor a member of the coaching staff for demonstrating excellence in coaching a team sport. By teaching the value of good sportsmanship; By exhibiting dedication to teaching team tactics and The Derby community gathered in Larson Hall for Last Chapel to celebrate the academic, athletic, and artistic achievement of the Grade 8 class.
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Julie Browne
LAST CHAPEL AWARDS
Abby Tribush ‘22 Susan Feins Award Caroline Miller ‘22 Head of School Pennant Owen Levy ‘24 Lilly Weymouth ‘24 Parents Association Minor Banner Thomas King ‘23 Caroline Wolford ‘23 Trustees Major Banner Eliza Brooks ‘22 Luca Donadio ‘22 basic skills; By inspiring those around them at all skill levels to strive for excellence and becoming the best that they can be. For his dedication, enthusiasm, inspiration, and service as a Derby coach since 2011, it is my pleasure to present the 22nd annual E. Brooks Robbins Award to Montel Hill.”
The Thomas J. Waters Prize is awarded annually to an individual teacher who exemplifies the qualities of caring and concern for the welfare of Derby students, qualities that are, in fact, characteristic of the Derby faculty as a whole. This year’s recipient was School Counselor, Julie Browne. In her comments, Dr. Colleen Ramsden said, “Known to all Pre-K through Grade 8 students, this faculty member is deeply committed to the social and emotional well-being of our students, from leading whole class lessons, problem solving with small groups, or helping to design our Advisory program. This year’s recipient fully recognizes that the wellbeing of our children depends on the well-being of the entire community, so in addition to her work directly with students, she offers support to our faculty and staff as well as to our families through education, such as a writing a blog, leading family coffees, and constantly seeking to connect people to each other and resources they may need.”
Edward R. Foley Citizenship Prize Felix Stuart ‘23 Elvira Butterworth Prize for History Lucas Griffin ‘22 Susan Feins ’85 Prize for Excellence in Science Eliza Brooks ‘22 Francis Ranieri Mathematics Award
Closing out the event was a wonderful video message from teachers to each and every member of the graduating class, a new tradition that began out of necessity due to the pandemic.
Abby Tribush ‘22 Wheelwright Family Prize in English Alling Lubitz ‘22 Michael J. Connelly Latin Prize Chandler Byrne ‘22 Martignetti Prizes in Modern Languages Neeyah Erold ‘22 Abby Tribush ‘22 Coyle-Driscoll Art Prize Camilla Kopanon ‘22 Zildjian Music Award Silvia Thompson ‘22 Grade 8 Parade Marshals Bain Coyne ‘22
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Montel Hill Thomas J. Waters Prize
E. Brooks Robbins Coaches Award
While the Class of 2022 looks to the future, a return to tradition as the Derby community celebrated its annual Derby Day commencement. AS FAMILIES and friends gathered in the McKelvey Gym for the allschool Choral Concert, there lingered an air of nervous anticipation. Students in traditional white and navy Derby Day dress performed their last, long-practiced numbers to a full house; faculty member Aileen Nailen presented a touching tribute to Sandra Loud, and Grade 8 students announced the creation of the Sandra Loud Kindness Garden to be planted this fall in front of the Primary and Lower School Pre-K Classroom; while everyone wondered about the lingering storm clouds outside.
Derby Day, as an annual community celebration of Grade 8 graduation, has proved to be an enduring tradition even in the face of the pandemic. In 2020, nearly three months to the day of closing campus at the height of uncertainty and fear regarding the COVID-19 virus, the Derby community still found new ways to gather, connect, and celebrate: celebratory webpages, an all-school virtual concert, and a Grade 8 car procession. In 2021, as the world began to re-open, Grade 8 students joyfully disregarded the sweltering heat to celebrate on Talbot Field. A creative way to celebrate Derby grads during by Guy “Woody” Tunnicliffe
DERBY DAY
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Derby Academy’s two highest awards, the Madam Sarah Derby Pin and the Academy Pin are awarded to the two students who most nearly embody the values of the Derby community through demonstrated effort, interest, and positive contributions in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
Bishop Gayle served parishes in the dioceses of Newark, NJ, Washington, D.C., and Rochester, NY, prior to her consecration in 2003. She currently chairs the House of Bishops Pastoral Development Committee, is the convenor of the Episcopal Bishops of African Descent, vice president of Episcopal City Mission, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Episcopal Church Investment Group, the Old North Church Foundation, and the Task Force on the Theology of Money.
“Class of 2022, Graduation is an ending, and you are on the threshold of a new beginning. In anticipation of those things you may dread, and those things you are really looking forward to. You will have new academic lives this September, in a new place, encountering strangers and friends and wondering how and if you will be able to fit in. But this commencement is also a day for the students and faculty who quarantine—yard signs delivered to the homes of Grade 8 students by faculty and staff—proved so popular that it has become a new tradition. To mark her first year as Head of School, and in recognition of a return to a familiar normal, Dr. Colleen Ramsden had expressed her desire to return to the Derby Day traditions: Derby Day dress with white roses; the all-school Choral Concert; procession down Fearing Road; commencement at New North Church; and reception at Old Derby. The decision of whether or not to cancel the procession due to rain was made in the final moments of the concert. The bagpiper checked the weather forecast while buses idled nearby just in case. And just like that, the weather held. Following the Choral Concert, as the community gathered in front of Sarah Derby Hall, it was not entirely lost on those gathered that the anxiety and anticipation mirrored the students’ experiences, their achievements, and their leadership, in the face of uncertainty. To the sound of bagpipes and a beating drum, students, faculty, staff, and trustees processed down Burditt Avenue and Fearing Road, past congratulatory onlookers, led by Grade 8 parade marshals Bain Coyne and Abby Tribush, the academically top-ranked students in the graduating class. As they arrived at New North Church, classmates bid farewell to the class of 2022 as they passed through the doors as Derby Academy students for the last Aftertime. welcoming remarks from Dr. Ramsden, the Student Address was delivered by members of the graduating class, Caroline Calista, Reeve Day, Caroline Miller, and Silvia Thompson, followed by the awarding of the Madam Sarah Derby Pin and the Academy Pin.
This year, Caroline Calista received the Madam Sarah Derby Pin and Owen Norris received the Academy Pin.
Blissfully unaware of the rain that had begun to fall in sheets outside, Bishop Gayle greeted the crowd with a joyous, “Oh, Happy Day!”
Bishop Gayle made a point of coming to campus to spend the day with Grade 8 students prior to Derby Day so that she could get to know both Derby Academy and the students themselves, their hopes, their fears, and what they wanted to hear as they prepared to enter the next chapter of their life journeys. Touched by the experiences of that visit, and impressed by the school motto, Improve Both Mind and Heart, Bishop Gayle said, “when I asked [them] what [they] would want me to say up here so that I wouldn’t bore you to tears, [they] said: having standards, having hope, having faith. How astute, how excellent, how surprising. Standards, hope, and faith.”
The Right Reverend Gayle Harris, Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts offered the Derby Lecture. A native of Cleveland,
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“Hope is built on faith in yourself, and others, and is fed by connection with others.”
remain at Derby Academy, and for your family and friends, for today marks the change in relationships and how we spend our days together. It is also a day that gives us fresh insights and new dimensions to explore.”
“Class of 2022, in a world where you can be anything, live by standards of a higher ground.”
“Standards imply that we are aiming for higher achievement. Attainment of ethics and morals, of common values and principles. That word “standard” comes from an old English word that means to extend upwards, that is to have a higher whole on a higher level. At times it may seem that we compromise or abandon our standards in this country when they are not convenient or expedient. I think our greatest standard would be truth—distorted too often to manipulate us,” remarked Bishop Gayle, “Class of 2022, we need your concern and commitment to these things. The world needs your voice, now, not just in the future, so that together we may tackle—have courage to tackle—our problems and stand up for the welfare of all life on this planet, our island home. So, keep looking up. Keep your vision beyond your self-interest. Hold your standards to the highest order, and the best that is within you will inspire the best in the rest of us.”
“Hope comes to us from the standards which we aspire to, you and I, and in that inspiration values are honed where there is a power pushed beyond negative expectation,” she said. “Hope is not just being optimistic, it is a power that is envy, desire, excitement, gives us confidence, it points us to possibilities, it uses our creativity, and gives us purpose. Holding on to the best of us is what hope is when we are looking to the future. Indeed, hope conquers helplessness, and sometimes hope is simply just holding on and striving to get past a certain point in life.”
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Class of 2022, in a world that you can be anything, have faith in yourself and beyond yourself.
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—Right Reverend Gayle Harris “ “
Bishop Gayle concluded her message: “Class of 2022, in a world where you can be anything, live by standards of a higher ground. In a world where you can be anything, build bridges of hope. In a world where you can be anything, have faith in yourself and beyond yourself. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
With hearts and spirits uplifted by these words and full of promise, the graduates of the Class of 2022 walked out into the sunlight, joining their families, friends, teachers, and mentors, for a reception in the garden of Old Derby.
“Faith can be defined as trust or confidence in someone or something. It is the supposition that, based not on proof, that allows us to have hope in a world where all around us things are collapsing. Holding on to hope is faith: what we hope for and what we value. A part of the scripture says that, ‘faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ Faith has the connection and power to see beyond where you are at this moment, and beyond yourself.”
Sandra Loud is retiring after a remarkable 26 year career at Derby. Serving as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher for the majority of her career and most recently as the Primary and Lower School Story Specialist, Sandra has shaped the lives of so many students that have walked through the doors of her classroom. Sandra was honored by Grade 5 Teacher Aileen Nalen at the Derby Day Choral Concert to commemorate her long standing career at Derby. Knowing Sandra’s passion for storytelling, Aileen created a heartwarming story that featured “Princess Loud” and the magic that SANDRA LOUD she brought to her classroom. Aileen reflected, “Your students are known. Remembered. From the Lifers who get a special book from you at graduation, to those about whom you still ask, even though they only had you for one summer camp. From those future teachers who were in your class many years ago or chose to come back and share your wisdom during their student teaching, they are known by you. Always. And that goes for your colleagues as well. Those with whom you teach describe you as a ‘cosmic well and perspective keeper who cultivates rainbows and magic,’ the person who helped me begin my teaching career successfully, and as a person who holds others spellbound when telling stories, bringing the gifts of deep care to all those around you.”
FAREWELLFACULTY
We are so thankful for the many contributions and years of service from longstanding faculty member, Sandra Loud. Her dedication to students and families has been an integral part of the Derby community for 26 years.
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Sandra’s former students announced the creation of a Kindness Garden outside the Primary and Lower School that will be a dedicated in her honor for her years of service at Derby. Derby will deeply miss her heartwarming smile, her passion for storytelling, and her dedication to the School.
MATRICULATION—CLASS OF 2018 Bucknell University Claremont McKenna College Connecticut College Dartmouth College Denison University George Washington University Georgetown University Howard University Johns Hopkins University Mass Maritime Academy Middlebury College Northeastern University Santa Clara University St. Lawrence University Syracuse University Tulane University University of Massachusetts—Amherst University of UniversityUniversityMassachusetts—LowellofMiamiofSouthernCaliforniaUniversityofVermontUniversityofVirginiaVillanovaUniversityWilliam&MaryUniversity Beaver Country Day School Boston College High School Catholic Memorial Cohasset High School Concord Academy Dexter Southfield School Dublin School Groton School Hanover High School Holderness School Marshfield High School Middlesex School Milton Academy Noble & Greenough School Notre Dame Academy Portsmouth Abbey School St. Paul’s School St. Sebastian’s School Tabor ThayerAcademyAcademy The Loomis Chaffee School Wayland High School Whitman-Hanson Regional High School MATRICULATION—CLASS OF 2022 YEAR IN REVIEW 2021–2022 35
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TURKEY REUNIONDAYALUMNI from the classes of 2018–2021 returned to campus for their annual Turkey Day Reunion last November, reconnecting with friends and faculty members.
THIS MAY, members of the Derby Community enjoyed an evening at Black Rock Country Club in Hingham for the “Hurrah for Spring!” event. The fundraiser was a great success featuring community members coming together for an evening full of great food, cocktails, silent and live auctions, a raffle, and getting together after two long years. Thank you to all the sponsors, donors, attendees, and auction winners, whose contributions to the fundraising efforts were greatly appreciated. Participating community members included parents, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, and friends of Derby. Proceeds from this event went towards the restoration of our beloved 1784 Field and the modernization of classrooms on campus.
DEVELOPMENT
Pictured: We are so excited to welcome our students back this fall to enjoy our beautifully restored 1784 Field. Thank you to all the donors who contributed to this effort.
HURRAH FOR SPRING!
Debbie Dana Callahan ’59 and Jeffrey Breen ’84 were welcomed as the new Council co-chairs as was Ajay Sadhwani P’13,’16,’16,’19,’23 as the new President of Derby’s Board of Trustees. you to the many members of the Derby community including alumni, parents, faculty, staff, grandparents, parents of alumni and friends who supported the 2021–2022 Derby Fund! generous support raise $863,593 in support of our teachers and students! the collective support of our community each year that we are able to continue our mission to Improve Both Mind and Heart. for enriching the educational experience for every student in our community by supporting the Derby Fund. Derby Council members Tom Bright ’67 P’91,’95 and Jane Cheever Carr ’50, P’75,’77,’79,’82, GP’03,’05
DERBY FUND THANK YOU Pictured l–r:
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Thank
Your
It is through
Thank you
DERBY COUNCIL
helped
IN EARLY MARCH, members of the Derby Council held a virtual meeting on Zoom with Dr. Colleen Ramsden to learn about her exciting first year as the new Head of School. She shared that getting to know the community of faculty and staff, the Leadership Team, current parents, and students was a top focus of the year. She also informed the Council that Derby spent the year preparing its 10-year report for reaccreditation with the Association for Independent Schools of New England as well as rolling out a three-year Strategic Plan.
Pictured left, members of the Council gathered at the Head of School house on Academy Lane in June, for their first in-person gathering in several years. It was a beautiful evening to thank out-going Council Chairs, Wendy Carr Ellison ’75 and Ellen Mitchell ’85, for their tremendous leadership over the last three years.
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PAT PEACOCK AKSTIN ’65 writes: “My husband and I are proud grandparents of five!”
#1
ANDREA MURPHY POWNING ’59 writes: “I attended Derby Academy preschool through third grade. Both my children, Philip ’88 and Caroline Arbury ’90, were “lifers” (Pre-K–Grade 9) at Derby, and I taught at Derby for many years. I now spend the summer in the Boston area and the rest of the year near Charlotte, NC.”
BETH CODMAN HIGH ’49B writes: “I am doing well. Got through the COVID years without problem thanks to the wonderful care here at my CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community)—Westminster at Lake Ridge in Virginia. I am still mostly independent with some help from my family nearby. I lost my brother, John Codman, Jr. ’47B, to cancer in October of 2020. Many good memories of Derby. We got a good start there.”
FREDERICA DRINKWATER PERERA ’56 writes:”Derby gave us a good start. In the many years in between I have been a mother, grandmother, professor, and still work in the field of children’s environmental health, now focusing on climate change.”
1960sHILARYMORSE SIKES ’63 writes: “We two are doing fine and still enjoying our home in Hot Springs Village. We’re taking lots of “mini” vacations around Arkansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Spent a week salivating over the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage (I booked 24 homes in 6 days!), whereas “he who drives Miss Daisy” was quite content reading on the front porches of the homes and trolling for their family cats. A man from one of the large tour groups had been watching my husband talking to the owner of one of the mansions and patting the cat draped around his neck. The man walked up to them and asked my husband, “What did you say to your wife to get out of going to all these homes?” My husband Charles replied that he did “his thing” and I did mine. About that time the tourist’s wife hollered at him to get back in line because the tour was starting, and he just looked at Charles in defeat, rolled his eyes, and muttered, “Lucky stiff!” A lovely time was had by both of us! We thank God every day that although both of us are “fat and sassy,” we are still vertical and reasonably healthy. Here we are celebrating Halloween with fun-loving friends. I’m the “chunky monkey” (Halloween outfit) in front (Charles behind the camera). We hope all of you and your loved ones are happy and healthy and enjoying this new year. It is so true that the older we get, the more precious each day becomes.”
1940sJOHNHARPER ’48 writes: “I am still living in London, England with my wife of 64 years, the former Audrey McCormick. Together we have emphasized the support of our three children and five granddaughters in the traditions of scholarship and citizenship inspired by Derby Academy. Two of our three children graduated from Harvard College, where I was a member of the Class of 1955; two of our five granddaughters are at Vassar, where Audrey was in the Class of 1957. Another granddaughter graduated with two degrees from Oxford University. Audrey accompanied me in 1998 to a grand Reunion at Derby which reunited several members of the Classes of 1947 and 1948.”
1950sBARBIEDANA
CLASS NOTES ALUMNI
STANLEY AREND ’66 is pictured on the porch of Arend’s Beachfront Inn which he owns and runs in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. A Victorian-style cottage built in 1873 by well-known architect Samuel Freeman Pratt, the Arend family rented the house from friends in the 1950s, and in 1959 bought the house as their summer home.
Stanley B. Arend, Jr. and Valgerd (Val) Thornton Arend ’47, daughter A. Thorne Arend ’67, and son Stanley B. Arend III ’66 lived in Hanover, MA but always spent entire summers at their Oak Bluffs’ home. In 1982 the cottage was converted into a guesthouse which Val ran until 2013, when Stanley retired early (as a CFO for state, local, and regional governments) and took
GREPPIN ’56 writes: “Ernie and I have finally done it. We left our home of the past 45 years where we enjoyed the lovely place we owned and the 15 acres that came with it. We have moved literally around the corner to Fox Hill Village in Westwood with our darling labradoodle Mandy. Life is wonderful! Husband Ernie is already involved in some activities here. Ernie has a garden plot where he is growing roses, is a member of the New Yorker group, and is a member of some other committees. His famous red truck has finally been traded in for a more conventional car (that can fit in the garage here). We all remember that truck as part of his personality! I am enjoying to doing water aerobics three days-a-week, playing Mah Jongg and playing bridge on a regular basis a couple of times a week. Walking is a big part of life at Fox Hill and with our dog, we can’t avoid joining the walkers. Life is good—full of fun with many old friends who are here and wonderful new friends we are meeting. Anybody looking for a great retirement home should come look at Fox Hill!”
1980sSEANCOUGHLIN ’80 writes: “Hello, Derby! Just a quick check in. Had a minireunion for a few classmates in February and talk online to many of them often. Two sons out of college and working, a wife at PWC, and me an Adjunct Professor at Merrimack College. Mrs. Chapin, Mrs. Butterworth and all the rest. So grateful to Derby for everything. Hope to have a real reunion soon. I live in Acton, MA if anybody is ever in the neighborhood. Hope everybody is well!”
1on the task of becoming home’s innkeeper. Over time, they have modernized the home while keeping the historical details of the house by not changing any structural elements and using original hardware whenever possible. In an interview with mvtimes.com last October, Stanley says the fun part is: “I love the beach—the water, the boats, fishing—now I can spend the whole summer here again. We are right across the road from the beach—the stairs are right there—it’s so simple. You don’t need a car.”
1970sJACKCHAPIN ’80, SALLY ZILDJIAN TEAGUE ’74, and ANDY ZILDJIAN ’79 had a mini Derby reunion fishing on the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, Canada last fall. #3 Last October, DIANA MANCHESTER BARRETT ’79 was on Derby’s campus in her professional capacity as a consultant for Diversity Directions. Diversity Directions works with independent schools in order to meet the individual school where it is in its multicultural evolution, and, using an inquiry-based approach, to provide concrete, practical steps to help the school reach its next level of development. Diana was most recently the Director of Inclusiveness and Diversity Initiatives at Tenacre School in Wellesley. While at Tenacre, Diana worked closely with the Head of School and board members to create components of the school’s strategic plan that focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. She also conducted cultural competency trainings for faculty and parents, helped teachers create curriculum that reflected their students’ identities, and advised student affinity and alliance groups. Prior to her work at Tenacre, Diana worked at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as Coordinator of their Joint Commission 10 year Community Needs Assessment. She currently serves as a trustee of Walker Therapeutic and Educational Programs in Needham, MA, a nonprofit providing comprehensive programming in child welfare, children’s behavioral health, and special education to children and families throughout Massachusetts. Diana holds an M.S.W. from Columbia, an M.B.A. from Yale and a B.A. from Williams.
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Stan goes on to say: “I made life-long friends there who I see again when I return to the island each summer. This is my home, this is what I do with my home. Even though we had a year-round house in Hanover and I moved to the West Coast 20 years ago, this is home—why I come back.”
He went on to remark about how beach life has changed since he was a child summering at the cottage: “We grew up across the street in the 50s and 60s at what used to be called the “pay beach.” It had lifeguards, a pier, rafts, a lunchroom, running water, toilets— like a summer camp, it was full-service. Summer visitors and Islander parents were comfortable sending their kids there with the dime it cost to get in. Someone would pay the town a certain amount to run it as a concession. They’d hire a lifeguard, staff the lunchroom, and collect the money.”
LAUREN HAYNES CONCANNON ’82 writes: “My husband, Jack, and I have been living in Hingham for thirty years now. I still have fond memories of my Derby days and the friends I met there. We have five children, the oldest, Emily, is 29 and expecting twins! She married her high school sweetheart, and they have moved to Hingham. Our four children have all attended BC, and our youngest is 10 and is very happy growing up in the town we love. I hope all of my Derby classmates are doing well. All the best!”
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VIRGINIA CARGILL ’67 writes: “In the spring, Marion Brewer ’67 and I traveled together in Israel/Jordan—celebrating our “pivotal year.” And then in June, we went to Sardinia, Amalfi, and Malta! Traveling and reminiscing about all we learned from Mrs. O’Neil! Go Derby!”
LIA BOWLER KOLOSKI ’85 writes: “I continue to live in Eagle River, Alaska, where I am currently enjoying the beautiful summer weather. While I live far from Hingham, I still feel connected to Derby and think of it often.”
MEGAN SCHLESINGER ’91 welcomed Cullen Roland Emrys Schlesinger on February 22, 2022. #6 CARA AND BRANDON HORNER ’95 welcomed Theo Jacob Horner on January 8, 2022. He is lovingly held by big brothers Charlie and Eliot. #7 CHRIS PARLEE ’95 and Ose Parlee welcomed Levi Osime Parlee born on January 24, 2022. #8
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In July 2021, CICI VAN TINE ’82 joined the Davis Malm firm as a shareholder. With over 25 years of experience in matrimonial law, CiCi established the firm’s Divorce & Family Law practice. Her practice is dedicated exclusively to all aspects of family law matters, including divorce, separation, custody, parenting plans, child support, alimony, asset division, pre- and postnuptial agreements, parental relocation, paternity, modification, probate litigation, restraining orders and grandparents’ rights. CiCi earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and her B.A. in History from Rollins College. On October 17, 2021, LISA CUMMINGS ’83 was inducted into Noble and Greenough School’s Athletic Hall of Fame for playing Varsity Tennis, which she did for four years.
JODI SAMUELS ’87 writes: “I’m loving my role as Director of Strategic Support for Colleges & Scholars at the Foundation for California Community Colleges, which supports the 116 community colleges across California, serving a total of more than 1.8 million students annually. My role focuses on partnering with colleges to provide emergency aid and scholarships to students. Each year, we disburse approximately $9 million to improve the lives of students, their families, and their communities. I’m also continuing Spanish classes (my third language), volunteering for the Sacramento SPCA, and supporting local non-profits and arts organizations. My spouse and I recently established three endowed scholarships at the University of WisconsinMadison, where we met back in 2001, and will be celebrating our 20-year wedding anniversary next year! Here is a photo of us enjoying one of our favorite activities: winetasting in the Sonoma Valley area.” #4 KATY THAYER ’87 writes: “I currently live in Duxbury, MA. I have two sons, now 20 and 23 years old. In 2019 I stepped away from my PR career and opened Uva Wine Bar with my best friend. Uva is New England’s first and only self-serve wine bar located in downtown Plymouth, MA. Last year, fellow alumnus Frank Townsend ’87 visited the bar with his wife, and I’d love to see some more Derbyites at Uva!” #5 1990sJOHNBUCKLEY ’90 writes: “Attended Derby from Grades 2–7 before moving to Connecticut with my parents. Recently moved back to the area and am residing in Scituate with my wife Kate and our children Guy and Bay.”
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MONIQUE DYMENT WOHLGEMUTH ’96 and Mark Wohlgemuth welcomed Sigrid (Siggy) Rose Wohgemuth on June 29, 2021. She joins big sisters Hazel and Colette. #9
SPENCER BALBONI ’97 and Emily Balboni welcomed Lincoln Ross Balboni on September 23, 2021. #10 KEVIN GAUGHEN ’97 and Alisa Gaughen welcomed Mary Gaughen in October 2021. Mary joins big sister Catherine who is a member of Derby’s Class of 2031. #11
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KATE AUSTIN ’98 and Trish Austin welcomed Hazel James Austin in December 17, 2020. BRENDAN#12DOUGHERTY ’99 and Jing Wei were married on February 4, 2022 in Concord, MA. #13 ALEX JOHNSTON ’99 and Claire Johnston welcomed Grace Katherine Johnston on November 22, 2021. GARDNER LORING ’99 and Martha Loring welcomed Charles (Cap) Franklin Loring on July 16, 2021. #14
ROTH ’99 and Erin Clark were married on September 18, 2021 in Marshfield, MA.
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ANNE THOMAE ’99 and Thomas Hurwitch were married on September 4, 2021 in Charleston, SC. Anne and Tom are pictured with Anne’s parents, Ken and Lois Thomae. DOROTHY#15BILLINGS ZANI ’99 and Alex Zani welcomed Isabella Dorothy Anna Zani on June 24, 2021. #16 YEAR IN REVIEW 2021–2022 41
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Pictured l-r: Sara Di Pesa ’01, father of the bride Charlie Di Pesa, bride and groom with Hayden Walton, mother of the bride Sue Di Pesa, Maggie Di Pesa ’12, and Mary Di Pesa ’06.
Pictured l–r: The Mulcahy Family at Lily’s wedding. Father of the bride Dudley, bride Lily ’02, mother of the bride Cammy, groom John, brother Colin ’06, and sister Megan ’99
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KELSEY JORDAN PERKINS ‘02 and Seth Perkins welcomed Emory Jordan Perkins on April 21, 2022. #24 ELIZABETH SADLER ‘02 and Will Loring were married on September 18, 2021 in South Hamilton, MA.
2000s34NEDMINEVITZ ’00 and Molly Powers welcomed Rose Powers Minevitz on July 7, 2021 . #17 LISA NAHILL RABINOVICH ’00 and Paul Rabinovich welcomed Remi Alexandra Rabinovich on July 29, 2021. #18 CALLY SPEED ’00 and Samantha Grisafe are engaged.
LIBBY DENNISTON ‘02 and Seth Palmer welcomed Lillian Beatrice Palmer on January 11, 2022.
JESSICA DWYER ’01 and Tom Bowen welcomed Eve Bowen in March of 2021.
NATE MERRILL ’01 and Eleanor Lawson Merrill welcomed Eleanor (Nellie) Jane Merrill on June 5, 2022. #20 ALLIE WISBACH ‘01 and Ellie Sánchez were married on April 23, 2022 in Yucca Valley, CA. #21
AMANDA WADSWORTHROSENHOOVER‘02 and Greg Wadsworth welcomed Charles William Wadsworth on June 13, 2021. #25 FRANCI RYAN COURAGE ‘03, Marty Courage and big sister Sophie welcomed William (Will) Ryan Courage on July 7, 2021. ASHLEY#26 FISH ‘03 and Zach Boswell were married on October 16, 2021 in Hingham, MA with former faculty member Michael Connelly as their officiant. #27 CATHERINE DI PESA ‘04 and Calder Walton were married in April 2022 in Santa Barbara, CA. #28 GEOFF JOHNSON ‘04 and Audrey Sublett were married on October 16, 2021 in Austin, TX. #29 EMILY LAMB ‘04 and Franco Mattera welcomed Bruno Mattera in November 2021.
JAKE MINEVITZ ‘04 and Laura Minevitz welcomed Camilla Frances Minevitz on May 15, 2022. #30 KATE MORIN ‘04 and Jonah Brotman welcomed Sidney Elizabeth Ann Brotman on June 7, 2021.
TAYLOR TRUDEAU ‘04 and Kevin Koch were married on May 21, 2022 in Mashpee, MA. MIKE#31ARGIRO ‘05 and Abby Meuse were married on June 3, 2022 in Plymouth, MA. GINA GIUGGIO ‘05 and Tommy Rivera were married on October 2, 2021 in Stuart, FL. CASSIE LAWSON ‘05 and Rick Tombarelli were married on June 30, 2021 in North Haven, ME. #32 ANN MEYER ‘05 and Benjamin Stuart were married in June 2021 at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA. #33 MEGAN DALY MULKERN ‘05 and Lucas Mulkern welcomed Madison Frances Mulkern on May 31, 2021. #34
JESSICA BAXTER ‘02 and Daniel Hogan are engaged. A fall wedding is planned.
AMELIA PEPE ‘05 and Tom Conley welcomed Thomas Joseph Conley V on February 6, 2021. #35 THOMAS PEPE ‘05 and Meghan Greally were married on September 25, 2021 in Hingham, MA. #36
LILY MULCAHY ‘02 and John Sylvia were married on September 15, 2021 in Harwich, MA. #22–23 MEREDITH NELSON ‘02 and Jamie Fiedler were married on April 8, 2022 in Boston, MA.
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CHARLIE MACLEAN ’01 and Rosie Gottlieb welcomed Everett James MacleanGottlieb on June 28, 2021.
RYAN GOULD ’01 and Rebecca Gould welcomed Liam James Gould on January 25, 2022. RICKY HOLLSTEIN ’01 and Lindsey Hollstein welcomed Palmer William Hollstein and Mac Waters Hollstein on September 3, 2021. #19
ELLIE CLAYTON HOFFMAN ‘06 and Robbie Hoffman welcomed Robert (Beau) Thurston Hoffman on March 25, 2022. He joins his big sister, Callie (2). #41 KELSEY JOHNSON ‘06 and Mike Abrahams are engaged. A late summer wedding is planned. STEVIE JOHNSON ‘06 was a bridesmaid for her classmate Rachel White ’06 as they have been long-time friends since Pre-K at Derby. #42 NICK LARSEN ‘06 and Megan Berray were married on June 15, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. #43 MIKE MURPHY ‘06 and Olivia Massey were married on June 18, 2022 in Harwich, MA.
KENZIE RAYMOND ‘06 and Frank Marone were married on September 5, 2021 in Hingham, MA. #45
CHRIS SADLER ‘06 and Andrea Hogan were married on October 9, 2021 in Boston, MA. Derby alums Ben Riley ’04 and Colin Mulcahy ’06 were groomsmen and Jennifer Sadler Kesselman ’99 and Elizabeth Sadler Loring ’02 were bridesmaids. #46
KELLY O’CONNOR ‘06 and Connor Kennedy were married on October 9,2021 in Hull, MA. It was a beautiful ceremony surrounded by friends and family. #44 In April, WILLIAM OLIVER ‘06 became a store manager at CVS in Attleboro, MA. Currently, he is living in Plainville, MA and has been happy to reconnect with many of his Derby classmates in recent years!
SAMMY SEARS AGNEW ‘06 and Jeff Agnew welcomed Sean Michael Agnew on March 23, 2022. #37 BO BOYNTON ‘06 and Natalie Bowen were married on August 14, 2021 in Duxbury, MA. KATIE BRANDT ‘06 and Tom Brandt welcomed Eleanor Patricia Brandt on February 11, 2022, #38 HAYDEN FOWNES ’06 and Jenna Laske were married on August 14, 2021 in Duxbury, MA. EMMY GIARRUSSO ‘06 and Ishaan Chaudhary were married on August 28, 2021 in Windham, VT. #39 WILL GRAVES ‘06 and Jazmine Nobe were married on October 2, 2021 on Kiawah Island, South Carolina. #40 LIAM GREANEY ‘06 and Meaghan Winn are engaged. A fall wedding is planned.
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NEALE JOHNSON ’07 and Annie Sardelis were married on July 15, 2022.
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MOLLIE SCHEERER ‘06 and Connor Proctor were married on July 24, 2021 in Jaffrey, NH. #47 RACHEL WHITE ‘06 and Timothy Keith were married on July 14, 2021 in Napa, CA.
#48EMILY BURLINGHAM ‘07 and Grant Newsome are engaged. A summer 2023 wedding is planned. MARISSA DALY ‘07 and Matt Vogan are engaged. A fall wedding is planned.
TOPHER LARSEN ‘07 and Catherine Gailey were married on September 25, 2021 in El Paso, Texas. #49 SARAH MIDDLETON ‘07 and Jake Campbell were married on August 28, 2021 in Colchester, VT. #50 ELIZABETH SALTONSTALL ‘07 and David St. Lawrence are engaged. A summer wedding is planned. DANNY SEARS ‘07 and Tyler Donahue were married on June 26, 2021 in Cohasset, MA. GABE#51SEKSAY ‘07 and Jennifer Blair were married on July 30, 2021 in Garden City, NY. #52 DOYLE D. CALHOUN ‘08 graduated from Yale University with his PhD in French on May 23. Doyle received the Marguerite A. Peyre Prize for outstanding dissertation at graduation and now heads off to Trinity College in Connecticut as an assistant professor. #53 RILEY CALHOUN ‘08 and David Grosso are engaged. A spring 2023 wedding is planned. MADISON CHAMBERS ‘08 and Mike Reardon were married on June 11, 2022 on Nantucket, MA. #54 CAROLINE PHINNEY ‘08 and Margo Lund are engaged. BRYAN SHROPSHIRE ‘08 and Emily Alexander are engaged.
ELIZABETH SYPEK ‘08 and Kevin Hubbard were married on June 24, 2022 in Brewster, MA. CONOR GREANEY ‘09 and Victoria Pope are engaged.
GRACE NEDEAU ‘12 and Jacob Jensen were married on March 5, 2022 in Savannah, GA where they met at Savannah College of Art and Design. At the end of March, Grace graduated from The Gemological Institute of America and became a certified Graduate Gemologist, and she now works as a resident Gemologist and manages all design and operations with jewelry designer Melissa Kaye Jewelry on 47th street in New York City. #57
LILY REPOSA ‘14 recently graduated from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California with a bachelors of science degree in political science and psychology and with honors. She has returned to Boston and will start at Northeastern University School of Law in the fall. #58 Congratulations goes to LARS GUBITOSI ‘18 (St. Sebastian’s ’23) who earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal—the United States Congress’ highest award given to a young person. Throughout the pandemic, Lars donated his time to help combat the rising food insecurity experienced by Massachusetts families, spending hundreds of hours sorting and packing food at the Greater Boston Food Bank and other organizations.
Pictured l-r: Robby (17 and a senior in high school in Minneapolis); Catherine Gailey Larsen and Topher Gailey Larson ’07 (works in IT and lives in El Paso, TX); Peter and Molly; Nick Larsen ’06 (works in IT and lives in Minneapolis, MN) and Megan Larsen; and Mary Larsen ’10 (who lives in New York City and works as a senior corporate recruiter for Misfits Market).
FACULTY Former faculty member MIKE BOWLER and faculty member ANNIE PETERMAN welcomed Violet Tobin Bowler on June 5, 2022. #59 Still friends after all these years! Pictured last November are former faculty members AMY MATTHEWS SILVA (2001–2004), DOUG LALLY (1999–2004) and MEGAN CONEYS FAHEY (1999–2015). They each have a child in a local middle school ice hockey league that plays out of Foxboro, MA. Amy’s son, Ben, and Doug’s son, Andrew, play on the same team, Megan’s son, Mikey, is in a different division but their games often line up back to back. #60
ELLORA RICH ‘12 graduated from Swarthmore College with a major in Linguistics in 2020. In the late summer of 2021, she started a Masters Program in Medieval Norse and Viking Culture at University of Iceland in Reykjavik.
Former faculty member SIYI YE and Zhichuang welcomed Ethan on August 4, 2021.
2010sJULIABARRON ‘10 and Tom Lyons are engaged. A fall wedding is planned.
The LARSEN FAMILY moved from Hingham to Minneapolis in 2007, but before COVID-19, they came back to visit family and friends in the area. Molly and Peter were active parents at Derby where their three oldest children (out of four) were enrolled from 1995–2007. The Larsens write: “Hi Derby Friends: The picture is a little dated but we enjoyed all our years at Derby very much.” #55 JESSICA LOWE ‘10 and Travis Chase were married on June 25, 2022 in York, ME. Derby classmate Lauren Humphreys ’10 was her maid of honor. #56 ELANOR WEST ‘10 and Denis Routkevitch were married on June 26, 2022 in Baltimore, MD. Derby classmate Savannah Morrissey Martin ’10 was one of her Congratulationsbridesmaids. to OLIVIA GRAHAM ‘11 who graduated in May from The George Washington University Law School and is now working in Kentucky in the Louisville Metro Public Defender’s Office! BECCA COLLINS ‘12 and Sammy Daniels are engaged. A fall wedding is planned.
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The Derby Fund creates opportunities that empower our students to discover the joy of learning and build the confidence to face the future with boldness curiosity. It is through the collective support of our community of parents, alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents, parents of alumni and friends that help Derby continue to Improve Both Mind and Heart school the Derby Fund
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FROM ARCHIVESTHELASTOCTOBER, Grade 6 students took a walking field trip down to the Hingham Heritage Museum which was the original Derby Academy (now known as Old Derby) in Hingham Square. Middle and Upper School Art Teacher Mrs. Olson organized this step back into the past to enjoy and learn from the current art exhibit “Picturing Hingham: The Art of Louis and Beatrice (BB) Baxter Ruyl.” Beatrice known as BB, was an art teacher at Derby Academy from 1923–1943 and painted iconic images of historic Hingham. Her husband, Louis, was a newspaper and book illustrator. They had two daughters and their youngest daughter, Barbara Ruyl, graduated from Derby in 1930. Derby is fortunate to own one of her paintings which was done in 1945 of Old Derby and hangs in the Head of School’s office in Sarah Derby Hall. Pictured above: Painting of Old Derby from 1945 by Beatrice Ruyl ’30 that hangs above the fireplace in the Head of School’s Office in Sarah Derby Hall.
GIFFORD (GIFFY) DEAN 1945 GRAHAM J. ROSS 1946 WALLACE R. HARPER 1948 JOANNA BARNES 1949
Former Trustee, Parent of (1979–1986)DerbyhusbandGrandparent,Alumni,andofformerlibrarian
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SALLY PARSONS SAYRE 1951
Following graduation in 1960, Ky and Rudi moved to Minneapolis, where Ky began his residency in surgery at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and their first daughter Kristin was born. In 1962, Ky was drafted by the U.S. Army and relocated with his young family to Nuremberg, Germany in response to the Berlin Wall Crisis. Ky worked as an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist (Otolaryngology) while in Germany embarking on his career in this
ELISHA WINTHROP HALL
JOHN PAUL COSTELLO 1954 TOBIAS (TOBY) SALIN 1986 family by Dr. Kenneth and Anne Eskey and by Arvid and Gerda (Kylander) Sunnergren. Ky excelled in academics graduating from Carrick High School in 1952 and then attending the University of Pittsburgh where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1956. While he considered a career as a journalist, Ky decided to continue his studies at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School following in his father’s footsteps to become a medical doctor. While an undergraduate, Ky met his future wife RuDell (Rudi) at a YMCA summer fellowship. They dated for six years and were married in 1959 during his penultimate year in medical school.
ISABELLE (PATSY) COOK PRATT
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JEAN FRASER WORTH TAYLOR 1950B
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CLARENCE EDWARD KYLANDER, M.D., formerly of Duxbury and better known as Ky, peacefully passed away at age 87 at home surrounded by his family on the morning of March 12th, 2022. Loving husband of 63 years to RuDell (Varnum) Kylander and beloved father of Dr. Kristin Adams ’79 (husband Eric) of Bedford, NH, Stephen Kylander ’79 (wife Nathalie) of Hingham, MA, Douglas Kylander ’83 (wife Courtney) of Lyme, NH, and Dr. Deborah Kylander ’84 (husband Tom Cody) of Duxbury, MA. Ky had 12 grandchildren: Carl (wife Joanna), Doug, Evelyn, and Maggie Adams, Thomas ’11, Daniel ’12, Sophie ’14, and Luc Kylander ’19, Olivia and Matthew Kylander, Samantha and Rebekah Cody. Ky was born in Pittsburgh on December 17, 1934, to the late Dr. Clarence Kylander and Alice (Eskey) Kylander. Ky was raised in an extended In Loving Memory
WILLIAM BUNNELL
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FREDERICK (FREDDIE) SEARS
JANE PITKIN CURTIS 1936—DERBY’S OLDEST LIVING ALUM AT AGE 103
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Former Trustee, Parent of Alumni, and husband of former (1978–1991)DevelopmentDirectorDerbyof VCEVOLD (VCEVY) OTIS STREKALOVSKY, 84, of Hingham, MA and Weybridge, VT, died on June 19, 2022, after a brief illness. Born in Cambridge, MA, Vcevy was the son of Vcevold W. and Anna Otis Strekalovsky. A graduate of Milton Academy and Middlebury College, he held a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and Master of Civic Design from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Practicing architecture from 1965 until the present, he established his own firm, now Strekalovsky Architecture, AIA, in 1978. His projects have included educational, civic, religious, mixed use, and single and multifamily residential, which have won several design awards.
An accomplished painter, he was a former President of The South Shore Art Center, The Copley Society, and The South Shore Conservatory of Music and current President of The Board of Directors of The Friends of Fenway Studios. He was also a former Trustee of Derby Academy from 1978–1991 and Alumni Trustee of Milton Academy, and wholehearted volunteer in many community endeavors. A musician all his life, he played jazz and classical guitar, and always ready to learn more, continued to take lessons at the South Shore Conservatory. In recent years, painting trips with friends took him to Montana, California, Maine and Texas. An avid skier into his eighties, he loved tennis and for years played polo in Vermont, and finally, to his delight, in Argentina. Vcevy is survived by his wife Jane; his daughters Elisabeth ’80 and son-in-law Brian Hebeisen, Katherine ’82 and son-in-law Donald Smith, Anna ’90 and son-in-law James Langeway; his grandchildren Marina Hebeisen, Nicholas and Malcolm Smith, and James Langeway; his sister, Mary Kelsey; brother-in-law John Kelsey; and many nieces and nephews. field of medicine. Ky had many wonderful and varied experiences as a young Army Captain in Germany including driving the gauntlet through what was then East Germany to a divided Berlin and learning to ski in the Germany Alps. The expanding family, son Stephen was born while in Germany, returned to the U.S. in 1964 where Ky continued his training with a Harvard Medical Residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. The family initially took up residency in Needham, a home in which they added another son, Douglas, and daughter, Deborah. Needing a larger home and having fallen in love with the seaside during family vacations to Cape Cod, Ky moved the family to Duxbury in 1969 and started his private practice out of Plymouth followed by Hanover. Ky did not give up his Boston connections and became a Southeast Expressway road warrior, shuttling between the South Shore and Boston where he continued as a staff member at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and as an instructor in Otolaryngology at the Harvard Medical School. Later in his career, he simplified his professional commitments with a move to a staff position with the Fallon Clinic and instructor at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester but maintained his primary home in Duxbury. During his long professional career, Ky had a positive impact on thousands of people’s lives, including patients, medical residents, and colleagues’. Specific highlights included the restoration of hearing to many via delicate surgery and advanced technology, but he was perhaps best known as the friendly doctor who took out everyone’s tonsils on the South Shore. Living in New England, Ky became an avid sailor and skier. Learning both as an adult, Ky shepherded his own children into these activities at an early age and found joy in eventually leading his grandchildren across the water or down mountains. When not participating in an activity himself, Ky was a steadfast booster at the events of his children and grandchildren. Ky was always easily identifiable at such events with a beaming smile, sporting a tweed jacket, and wearing one of his signature caps to shield his head from the sun. Ever the intellectual, Ky loved to travel, read, and discuss events. His love of history and places led him to become an authority on and collector of antique maps. This activity allowed him to rekindle his early passion for writing, as he authored several articles in the discipline. In his final days his mind remained sharp as he discussed the expedition that found Shackleton’s ship Endurance, and debated the implications of geopolitical events that he felt were recognizable based on his study of history. Ky and Rudi downsized homes from Duxbury to the Pine Hills in Plymouth in 2009 keeping and forging new relationships in both communities. An active member of the Pilgrim Church in Duxbury, where he had served as a deacon among other positions, donned a top cap as a member of the Plymouth Old Colony Club, attended Plymouth Philharmonic concerts, and supported the restoration of Pilgrim Hall Museum, all became part of his regular repertoire. Other organizations and roles in which he was involved during his active life included being a Trustee at Derby Academy from 1976–1986, longtime member of the Duxbury Yacht Club and the Blue Water Sailing Club, Vice President of the Boston Map Society, and many other national and regional historical and map societies. However, first and foremost of his lifelong duties and roles was his loving engagement with his expanding family. Sunday evening calls to his children and grandchildren, if for no other reason than to discuss the weather, were a signature part of his weekly rituals. His lighthearted demeanor was infectious and cherished by all.
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Parent of Alumni JANET PIERSONCIVITA , 74, passed Septemberaway18, 2021, after a two-year battle with cancer that highlighted her incredible toughness, optimism, and humanity. As someone who spent a lifetime making other people happy, Jan left this world in a happy place with her three children, Elizabeth ’96, Morgan ’98, and Jack ’00 by her bedside in Connecticut. For more than twenty years she devoted nearly all of her efforts to raising three children, honing her skills as a costume maker, short-order cook, art director, animal trainer, cheerleader, chauffeur, and most of all a loving mother. Jan was a parent at Derby from 1985–1999 and whether it was school plays, class projects or fundraisers, Jan was always quick to volunteer her time and skills. She was also a long-life artist and many times Derby benefited from her talent as shown in the watercolor painting below featuring Sarah Derby Hall, which now hangs in the Head of School’s house on Academy Lane. She left a lasting impression of kindness and sincerity on all those who crossed her path.
Pictured below: Painting of Sarah Derby Hall by Janet Civita Pierson that hangs in the Head of School House on Academy Lane.
In March, the Derby community was deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of NICK WANDERLEY ’19
Former Derby history teacher and rugby coach Peter Condrick ’90 said, “Nick was one of our teammates at Derby Blues Rugby that went on the 2018 tour of Virginia. He loved the game and his club with all his heart. Nick was a devoted player and a cracking historian as I had the honor of teaching him in both Grade 6 and 7 history. May his memory be eternal!”
Lauren Brooks had the pleasure of coaching Nick in rugby and remembers him as a sweet and kind boy. A memorial service to celebrate Nick’s life will be held at Derby Academy this fall. More information will be shared as details are confirmed. Nick’s family is setting up a foundation in his name and honor to focus on underprivileged youth, fostering support for grief and trauma resolution. WANDERLEY ’19
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his parents, Kim Solomon and Mario Wanderley, and their family. Current and former faculty members that knew Nick as a student in their classroom, or as an athlete on their team, remember him fondly: “He was an outgoing, intelligent, and perceptive student. He was a kind and thoughtful person who innately understood much about the world around him. I saw a great deal of potential in Nick, and it is indescribably sad that this potential was taken from the world,” reflected Rich Andriole.
NICK
In Loving Memory 52 DERBY ACADEMY
Anne Benjamin remembers Nick as a very happy student who was a loyal friend and always smiling. “His friends were his world. He loved playing basketball and laughing with them off the court. To his teachers and other adults, he was very polite and greeted everyone with an enthusiastic hello whenever he passed them between classes. His positive energy and love of life were always obvious to all who knew him.”
MIND // HEART “IMPROVE BOTH MIND AND HEART” is woven into every fiber of the Derby experience—from exploring nature down at Broad Cove to performing on the Larson Hall stage.
56 burditt avenue hingham, ma 02043 address service requested Parents: If this issue is addressed to a child who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Alumni Office of the updated mailing address by contacting us at alums@derbyacademy.org
