The Doane Stuart School 2014 Spring/Summer Pennant

Spring/Summer 2014

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Greet ings f Doan rom e Wish Stuart. yo u w here! ere

THE

Ca rd

D OANE STUART

S CHOOL

The mission of Doane Stuart is education for students from every quarter.

In a college preparatory context, where the joy of discovery is valued, Doane Stuart emphasizes serious study, educates to social responsibility, and lays the foundation for a strong faith.

The Doane Stuart School Board of Trustees

THE PENNANT SPRING/SUMMER 2014

Noel Hogan, Ed.D., C.P.A. President

T a b l e o f Co nt e nt s A Message from Head of School & Associate Head

George F. Carpinello, Esq. Vice President

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Pamela J. Clarke Head of School

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Sharon Duker Treasurer Ellen Jakovic, Esq. '78 Secretary

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Art

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T h u n d e r c h i c k e n News

John B. Robinson, Jr. President Emeritus

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Andrew Rose, Esq. Counsel

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T ccomplishments and T ccolades

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Music and Drama Update

Thessaly Bullard '92 .

Terrence P. Flannery, MD, MS, CPE Mona Golub

A Family of Families Update

A Year in the Life of the Golub Int erfa it h C ha pel

10-11 Around the World with DS

Karen Hitchcock, Ph.D. Winifred A. McCarthy, KA '66

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Green Roof News

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G ala S uccess

Ginna M. Roeding, Ph.D. Patrick Turley, Esq. '79 The Doane Stuart School admits students of any race, religion, color, national and ethnic origin, and sexual preference to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, or sexual preference, nor in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other School Administered programs.

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161st COMMENCEMENT

P ENNANT

LAYOUT AND DESIGN BY

E LIZABETH G RAYSON

A MESSAGE From Head of School & Associate Head of School

Dear Doane Stuart Community; I cannot tell you how excited I am to be coming to Doane Stuart; a new school for me is like a new chapter of an unfinished book. It’s the next part of my own educational journey and a chance to learn new things and meet new people, and see how such a good school runs. When I visited, I saw good teaching, happy students, and hard-working administrators and teachers, together a recipe for success.

As I watch my Trevor seniors prepare to leave, I share with them the bitter sweetness of moving on; one loves the old, but is excited about the new. I am preparing to make a special bond with Doane Stuart’s new students; we can all be nervous together. (Of course, they will think I am too old to be nervous) …but the early days are important and need to be well scripted.

I’ve found a great place to live, I let my son (the car whisperer) find me a good car, and now the cardboard boxes—this part is a bit daunting. I started July 1, 2014 and hope to meet as many people as possible during the early part of the summer and after well-earned vacations. I very much anticipate a great first year and hope that I can be useful to those already there and working hard!

Warmly,

Dear Friends, I am writing in the midst of a run of perfect "California" weather here on the Hudson!

Whatever your summer plans, I hope that you will find time to refresh and relax. If your plans bring you to the Capital Region, please give us a call. We would love to show you the school, including the new Green Roof, which is in the midst of construction and will, in addition to its environmental and educational benefits, be a wonderful place for parties. Let's think ahead to July 4, 2015, when the Green Roof will be complete and blooming – what a wonderful place to gather and enjoy Albany's traditional Independence Day fireworks.

In the meantime, mark your calendars for Reunion in October, when we will have a variety of exciting activities, including a first peek at the Green Roof and the opportunity of welcoming new Head of School, Pam Clarke. Pam's formal welcome to Doane Stuart will be at her installation on Monday, September 15 at 7:00 in the evening; all are invited to join us for this special occasion.

One of the most exciting parts of our work over the past two years has been the outpouring of interest in the school from so many alumni, past parents and friends – at Reunion, the Gala and other special events; in personal visits; and through the mail and social media. Many thanks to Darlene Gallagher for all of her efforts to bring our alumni "home," and to our students, faculty and staff for living our mission with enthusiasm, creativity and good humor, making Doane Stuart a place that truly calls us home. Our new viewbook describes Doane Stuart as "a family of families," and we are fortunate to have each of you as a part of our extended school family, now and in the future.

Pam With gratitude and warm wishes,

Lisa

Dr. Noel Hogan, President, Board of Trustees, cordially invites you to the installation of

Pamela J. Clarke, Head of School with special guest Michael Thompson, Ph.D. - noted author and school consultant

Monday, September 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

The Golub Interfaith Chapel ● The Doane Stuart School ● 199 Washington Avenue ● Rensselaer, NY A reception will follow the ceremony in the Commons.

RSVP to Mrs. Darlene Gallagher (518) 465-5222, ext. 203, or dgallagher@doanestuart.org S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

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We k n o w t h a t s o m e m e m b e r s o f o u r c o m m u n i t y

Here is a peek at us liv ing

Joy of Discovery,

BUILDING COMMUNITY A family of families.

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Students wave their handmade signs in support of the Boys Varsity Soccer team during Corn Roast - a favorite Doane Stuart tradition similar to “Homecoming.” After the game, Upper School students and faculty eat together and participate in a variety of Blue/Green events, including “loup,” our traditional—and exciting - game of group hide-and-seek.

A new DS community building tradition in 2013, the Back to School Barbecue was a huge success! Students and their families had the opportunity of enjoying each other’s company, and eating delicious food. The Booster Club raised over $3,000 to be used for enhancement of athletic programs throughout the School.

The Doane Stuart class of 2014 came together for its annual overnight Senior Retreat. The students traveled to Camp Chingachook in the Adirondacks and participated in icebreakers, problem solving, high ropes course, archery and Blue/Green capture the flag. They enjoyed s’mores at night and woke up to talk about leadership and the role each one plays in maintaining a sense of community and respect, both at school and in their lives.

THE PENNANT

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The Freshmen also traveled to Camp Chingachgook, where the seniors led the freshmen in a variety of adventures, including team building exercises, canoeing, rock wall climbing and a Blue/Green trivia competition.

The entire Lower School (Early Childhood - Grade 4) traveled to Bowman Orchards for its annual apple-picking trip. When they returned, as a special treat, students helped to make delicious apple crisp to share.

The Thunderchicken makes an appearance, much to the delight of the youngest Doane Stuart students, during a Varsity Girls Soccer game.

The entire Middle School enjoyed two days of fun, adventure, community and team building at Skye Farm, a favorite tradition. Despite rain and chilly weather, the students swam, canoed and hiked, and new students participated in the tradition of choosing either a blue or green team alliance.

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can not always be here to join in the fun, so...

our mission,

and finding the

every single day!

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS LEARN TO "SCRATCH!" Doane Stuart's Technology and Math instructor, Mr. Lenet, is now introducing 5th and 6th Graders to computer programming using the programming language “Scratch.”

A “Mystery Reader” (Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Cassant) visits the Lower School during Harvest Festival 2013 , an exciting day of mask-making, pumpkinscooping, and fall fun.

Scratch was developed at MIT as a way to allow young students to learn some computer programming basics and enable them to develop stories, animations, and games fairly quickly.

NEW BIO LAB

Grandparents and Special Friends once again visited their Lower and Middle School students on a special day just for them this past October.

Students dissect fetal pigs in Dr. David Wells’ class in our new Biology Lab on the third floor. The students were examining the brain and spinal cord, as part of a study of the nervous system.

DS STUDENTS HELP THE HOMELESS IN NEW YORK CITY heard from John Williams, who works on homelessness prevention, among other areas. Williams led a conversation in which students discussed what it means to be homeless and how people end up homeless. He then spoke to the group about the homeless in NYC and the efforts in place to track and, ultimately, alleviate homelessness. On Saturday, students and faculty were split into three groups with different tasks: preparing and serving food, sorting clothing donations, helping homeless find clothes, moving boxes in a food pantry, and packaging and bagging food The program was run through YSOP (Youth for delivery to families.

Service Opportunities Program) and consisted of service work, an overnight stay, and a Doane Stuart is committed to service and edupresentation on ways to help the home- cating to social responsibility. For more inforless. Upon arriving in NYC, students pre- mation on YSOP, please visit www.ysop.org. pared food for a women's shelter and then Dalton Hanaway '17, George Seror '17, Abby Bemis '16, Nora Kane '15, Keaira Person '15, Ariel Robinson '15, Abigail Smith '15, Elena Wise '15, Craig Agnew '14, Anna Brewer '14, Elise Giordano '14, Andrew Haggerty '14, Shay Lahon '14, Clio Leeson '14, Samantha Moraitou-Politzi '14, Imani Randolph '14, Camille Reppert '14, Dan Sax '14, Schyler Schewe '14, and Alicia Stark '14 and four faculty members traveled to New York City with the goal of volunteering at food pantries and homeless shelters.

(Pictured left to right: Elena Wise '15, Andrew Haggarty '14, Clio Leeson '14, Ms. Shelly Forster, Ariel Robinson '15, Abigail Smith '15, Nora Kane '15, and Anna Brewer '14). Thank you to Mr. Corwin, Mrs. Bemis, Ms. Forster, and Ms. Obst for accompanying our group of students this year.

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THE DOANE STUART

Art Update

ART COLLECTION Every other Friday we showcase the artwork of our many talented students on the Doane Stuart website. In addition to the art, students explain their work.

W H ET HER DR AW I NG , P AINT I NG , P H OT OGR AP HI NG OR S CU LPT I NG , D OA NE S T UA RT A RT I ST S H A VE BEEN VER Y BU S Y CREA TI NG !

Student Artwork Selected for Regional Exhibit

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Imani - "Shattered Reflection" - clay, plaster, spray paint, and glass Jake - "Stuck in Time" mixed media Maggie - "Arrosa" - woodburning THE PENNANT

Eric Zhao ‘15

Wise ’15 Recognized

Elena Wise ’15, of Clifton Park, was recognized in the Region-at-Large program of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2014, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

She received an honorable mention in Digital Art for her piece titled "Red Dirt," and a silver key in Photography for her piece titled "U.S. Property." (right)

Reppert ’14 and Ricci ’16 Honored at Media Arts Festival

Jake Kaplan '15, of Niskayuna, Maggie Murdock '14, of Stephentown, and Imani Randolph '14, of Albany, were selected to have their work displayed in the 3 -D Regional Exhibition at Mohonasen High School. Over 202 pieces of 3-D work were submitted from seventeen schools, and seventy-five pieces were ultimately selected for the exhibit. The pieces selected are (above, left-to-right):

Here’s a preview!

Camille Reppert ’14, of Albany, and Renee Ricci ’16, of Schenectady, submitted pieces to the Media Arts Festival. 140 pieces of photography, digital illumination, graphic design, and video from 15 school districts were on display at the festival. Camille received First Place for “Pristine Reflection” (left) and Third Place for “Into the Light” (below) in the Photography (color) category.

Renee received an Honorable Mention in the Photography (Black and White) category for her photo entitled “The Fairy Queen” ( right).

“Interior” 26”x36” | Acrylic on Canvas

“My painting shows one of the rooms in the Forbidden City. I painted this room because of its traditional Chinese color scheme and architectural style. It was difficult to paint because of the shadows and the complex combination of color, but overall I think it turned out well.”

Cliodhna Leeson ’14

“Turmoil of War” Digital Photograph

“In my photo, I used a projector to place the photo of an explosion against a wall, and had my model stand in front of it. I then took a picture of the model with the image covering his body. I converted it to black and white, as it brought out the dark shadows in the image.

The meaning behind the photo is that people are heavily impacted by war, I wanted to show the wear on each person it affects. ”

To keep up to date on the impressive art being created at DS, visit

DoaneStuart.org

Thunderchicken News A Season to Remember T

he Girls Varsity Soccer team had a very good year finishing with a 6-7-1 record. Louise Metz scored 16 goals and Erin Murdock had 182 saves, with a 86% save percentage. Louise Metz ’17 made the First Team All-Star for the Central Hudson Valley League; Elise Giordano ’14 made the Second Team All-Star for the CHVL; Erin Murdock ’14 made the Second Team All-Star as goalie for the CHVL. Doane Stuart was, once again, selected for the Sportsmanship Award.

scoring a school record of 5 goals. The boys played their best game of the season, sparked by the inspired play of Deshawn Speights ’14 in goal, but were defeated 2-1 in overtime.

The Middle School Soccer team had one of its best starts to the season in years. A September scrimmage against Saint Pius resulted in a close victory against a very good opponent. This set the tone for an impressive undefeated stretch with wins over Brown, Holy Spirit and Menands. The game against our toughest challenger, St. The Boys Varsity Soccer team also had a very successful year with a Gregory's, turned out to be a real battle and they just squeezed a 5-6-1 record in the regular season. This included wins over Heatly, very close 2 to 1 win in an exciting game. Congratulations to Antonia DiPreta ’18, who had three hat tricks for the season.

New Lebanon, Loudonville Christian and Germantonwn. A highlight of the Germantown game (won 6-1) was Liam Lynch ’15

Olson '15 Ranked in Top 500 Lars Olson '15, of Chatham, was recently named to the USTA list of the top 500 male tennis players in the United States. Olson ranks #377 on a list including professionals and numerous household names (James Blake, for example, ranks #37). Congratulations, Lars, on this impressive recognition of your abilities and talent.

Hunter '19 Places 2nd at Empire State Games Gabrielle Hunter ’19, of Cohoes, recently earned second place in the Intermediate Ladies Test Track Free Skate in the 2014 Empire State Games. The Games, held in Lake Placid, bring together over 1,000 athletes from across the State to compete in a multiday competition featuring a variety of sports.

By finishing second, Hunter will advance to the State Games of America, which will be held in Lincoln, NE in the summer of 2015.

2nd Team All Stars Samantha Moraitou-Politzi ’14, of Loudonville, and Deshawn Speights ’14, of Albany, were named as 2nd team All-Stars in basketball for the CHVL (Central Hudson Valley League). Ira Ganz ’15, of Schenectady, and Theo Hammond ’14, of Philmont, made Honorable Mention for the boys.

Record Breakers Several Upper School students earned accolades at the April 26 Luciano Invitational in Hudson Falls. Daniel Sax ’14, of Delmar, set a new school record in the 400-meter hurdles, taking first place with a time of 59.99 seconds. Maurin O’Connor ’16, of Westerlo, earned a second place finish in pole vault, also achieving a new school record of 8 feet 6 inches. In javelin, Sarah Stapleton ’17, of East Greenbush, set a school record with her javelin throw of 63 feet 11 inches. The 1600meter relay team tied a school record at 4:43.31. The members of the relay team were Sarah Stapleton, Louise Metz ’17, of Troy, Anne Fraser ’17, of Mechanicville, and Raynika Wilcox (for Rensselaer High).

National Fencing Championship Ben Halpert ’17, of Delmar, recently participated in United States Fencing Association (USFA) qualifying competition at Vassar College. Based on the results, Halpert was one of three fencers selected in the Y 14 men's sabre category to represent the Hudson/Berkshire division of the USFA at the national championship this summer in Columbus, Ohio.

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A Y EAR IN THE L IFE OF THE G OLUB

I NTERFAITH C HAPEL

The Chapel, dedicated to the School’s values of Faith, Tolerance, and Respect, is the center of our School. Here is how our community enjoys this special space every day!

Assemblyman McDonald visits Doane Stuart

Assemblyman John McDonald spoke to Doane Stuart students about the significance of Veterans Day. He discussed the meaning of Veterans Day and the importance of recognizing our veterans for their sacrifices and their service.

Chinese New Year Celebration

Doane Stuart students and faculty gathered to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese New Year. The celebration commenced with a procession of students and faculty to traditional Chinese music. Monica Zhang '17 performed a song on the bamboo flute, while Eric Zhao '15 discussed the spring festival and how it is celebrated. Leon Tang '15 talked about famous people who were born in the Year of the Horse. Following this, our Early Childhood and Kindergarten students paraded their homemade dragon, accompanied by traditional dragon dance music and a drum borrowed from China, played by Dan Deng '15. After this, a group of ten Upper School and Middle School students paraded a full-size, authentic Chinese dragon around the chapel (above).

Many thanks to Sonjia Febrey for her hard work in organizing this celebration, and to Ms. Xiaoqing Zhang, parent of Robert Seth '17 of Ballston Lake, for providing decorations and the opportunity to use the dragon and the drum.

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THE PENNANT

Buddhism Chapel

The Doane Stuart Community gathered to share in the lessons and traditions of Buddhism. Doane Stuart welcomed Lama Zopa to speak about Universality and its importance in the teachings of Buddhism.

Universality represents the idea that one should “Think of others as yourself,” and with this as a base, the Buddhist should try to practice loving kindness, compassion, and generosity to all living beings. Students also learned about other Buddhist beliefs and chants used during meditation.

Thanksgiving Chapel Students and faculty perform at the annual Thanksgiving Chapel.

Almost all Doane Stuart gatherings in the Chapel include a musical performance.

Christmas Chapel

Members of the Doane Stuart School community gathered at the School’s annual Christmas Chapel. Those in attendance celebrated the holiday with traditional Christmas hymns and stories. In keeping with the School’s time-honored tradition of community service and the spirit of giving, each guest placed a new, unwrapped gift under the Christmas tree. The mountain of gifts was donated to local charities, including the Rensselaer Head Start program and CONCERNSU. The evening concluded with a moving rendition of Silent Night, a timehonored tradition, during which the Chapel was illuminated only by the candlelight of the more than 500 who gathered for the ceremony.

College Sweatshirt Day

Doane Stuart celebrated its 10th annual College Sweatshirt Day. Pictured, students, faculty and staff gathered in the Chapel, all wearing college sweatshirts, to recognized the significance of attending college, and to celebrate the Seniors and their successful completion of the college application process!

Hanukkah Chapel

The Doane Stuart community reflected on the celebration of Hanukkah at the School’s annual Hanukkah Chapel. Senior Michael Barats ’14 shared thoughts about the holiday’s history and influence, and its special meaning to him and his family. The community enjoyed customary Jewish readings, instrumental selections by music teachers Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Hetko, and Hanukkah songs by the Lower School Chorus. Each year, students light the historic Doane Stuart Menorah, which was a gift from Saint Agnes alumna, Mary Oppenheim ’48. Lighting the candles this year were Dawson ('18) and Jaicee ('19) Stone.

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A CCOMPLISHMENTS

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A CCOLADES

DS STUDENTS SWEEP

SIERRA WALLACE '14

REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR

PUBLISHED AUTHOR “A carefully woven, dramatic, romantic, action-packed urban fantasy. Alice and Oliver are two incredibly different twins - Alice is self assured and loveless, while Oliver is hesitant and loves so much it hurts. On their seventeenth birthday, they discover that they are no ordinary humans - they are Evolos: a secret race of superhumans originally created by mankind as a Cold War weapon… As the twins are wrapped up in a plot that could change the fate of mankind forever, they both must discover just how power corrupts.”

DS students once again had a tremendous showing at the regional Joseph Henry Science Fair. Doane Stuart swept First, Second, and Third Place in the Grade 7-8 Division.

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Paige Halliday ’19, of Delmar, earned First Place for her project, “What is the relationship between the amount of baking powder used in cupcakes and the height the cake rises?”

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Keith Bagdon ’19, of Delmar, earned Second Place for his experiment, “Does the shape of an airplane wing affect how much lift it produces?”

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Jared Hunter ’19, of Cohoes, earned Third Place for his experiment, “Does air temperature affect how much flexibility wood has?”

Kate Kroll ’21, of Delmar, earned Third Place in the Grade 4-6 Division for her project “Does the pigmentation of a crayon affect the melting rate?”

Congratulations to our amazing scientists! The following students also competed at the Joseph Henry Fair: Claudia Aibel ’19, of Saratoga, “Is there a relationship between the cost of nail polish and chip resistance?”; Ehden Medina ’19, of Albany, “Does the brand of popcorn affect the pop rate?”; Ronan Costello ’21, of Albany, “How does adding drag to a paper airplane affect how far it goes?”; Joseph DiPreta ’21, of Clifton Park, “Does the color of a candle affect its burn rate?”; Kira Nakushian ’21, of Slingerlands, “Does microwaved water affect radish growth?”; and Nicholas Van Plew ’21, of Delmar, “How does the temperature affect the growth rate of Protozoa?”

Sierra Wallace '14, of West Sand Lake, spent the summer of 2013 writing and publishing her first novel, Exquisite Corpses. Her 352-page debut is a youngadult, urban fantasy, published by Le Fae Publishing House. Exquisite Corpses is the first in a 4-book series.

Exquisite Corpses can be purchased at Amazon.com

B R O WN ' 20 HAS FILM SELECTED FOR TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL Congratulations to Alexis Brown '20 whose animated short film, "Night of the Creature," was selected for the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival's Downtown Youth Behind the Camera. Working on Governors Island in a group of young artists with the Children's Museum of the Arts Summer Art Colony, Alexis was a co-scriptwriter and voice actor for the character Vanessa.

The Tribeca Film Festival program included seven selected short films by young filmmakers. Post-screening panel discussions with the student filmmakers were led by Andrew Renzi, director of "Franny" and documentary "Fishtail.” Congratulations on the success and recognition of all your hard work, Alexis!

F E R NA ND E Z ' 2 2 NAMED INVENTION CONVENTION WINNER Jake Fernandez ’22, of Nassau, recently took home the top prize in the Steinmetz Division (grades 3-5) at the 2014 NYS Invention Convention. To get to this point, Jake originally had to draw a diagram and submit a written description of his invention. Judges then selected only 100 semifinalists to build models of their inventions. Students were selected as finalists based on originality, creativity, and practicality. Jake’s invention, the “Stay Put Fut,” prevents fire fighters from slipping and falling on icy ladders during the winter months.

DC currents (the same technology used in light bulbs), placed inside the rungs of the ladder, heat the rungs and keep the ladder ice free. Jake also invented a special cover for the soles of the fire fighter’s boots that are equipped with salt and rock-sand for other icy areas they might encounter.

Invention Convention 2014 is an annual regional and statewide invention competition for students from grades K through 8. In collaboration with miSci (formerly the Schenectady Museum) and GE Volunteers, this contest is organized and run by volunteer scientists, engineers, patent attorneys and others. Other Doane Stuart finalists this year were Irene Frias ’22 and Victoria Middleton ’23. Now in its 17th year, Invention Convention has engaged more than 14,000 students from this region in creative problem solving .

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THE PENNANT

MUSIC & DRAMA UPDATE

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1. Fourth Graders present a play depicting the life of a family of pioneers. 2. Mr. Weaver and the Vocal Music Group perform a patriotic song at All-School Morning meeting, a favorite tradition. 3. Saratoga Opera visits Doane Stuart and performs for an enthralled Lower School audi4. ence. 4. & 5. Upper School students present the fall drama production and spring musical in the Golub Interfaith Chapel. 6. Students in Grade 2 surprise their parents and friends with an impressive drumming circle at a Lower School Friday Morning Meeting. 7. Lower and Middle School students who receive music lessons on campus hold a recital for family and friends showcasing their hard work and musical talent.

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Students perform in Washington, DC

Maguire ’15 Wins Tchaikovsky Competition

Matthew Maguire ’15, of East Greenbush, won the Tchaikovsky Piano competition at the Master Level. The competition, which was part of the 2014 Russian Winter Festival held by the New Russia Cultural Center of the Capital District, was open to all pianists ages 6-18. Maguire performed Rachmaninoff’s Moments Musicaux in E minor, Op. 16, No. 4, and he was invited to perform the next day as part of the All Winners Concert held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Upper School students Dan Sax ’14, of Delmar, Nora Kane ’15, of Albany, Liam Lynch ’15, of Albany, Ariel Robinson ’15, of Glenmont, Elena Wise ’15, of Clifton Park, and Renee Ricci ’16, of Schenectady recently performed with the Capital District Youth Chorale (CDYC) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The group, which is chosen through audition only, began its trip with a send-off by Congressman Paul Tonko.

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Around the Wo r l d with DS

STUDENTS TRAVEL TO

ITALY

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pper School Teacher and Academic Dean Bill Russell and Middle School Co-Coordinator Patty Hodgkinson chaperoned the School’s summer trip to Italy.

Mr. Russell, Mrs. H and the students traveled to the cities of Verona, Florence, and Milan. Among the many places they visited were the Roman Arena in Verona, the David in Florence, and the Last Supper in Milan. The picture (left) is taken from Fiesole, which sits above Florence.

IRISH EXCHANGE:

A J O U R N E Y TO A N D F RO M

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BELFAST

n September, the Doane Stuart Community welcomed the arrival of Cliodhna Leeson and Craig Agnew from Belfast, Northern Ireland as part of the School’s national award winning Irish/American Exchange program. Both Craig and Cliodhna spent the school year with host families from the School (we are grateful to the Haggerty and Boyle-Smith families for hosting the students!). They participated in community service, athletics, academics and all aspects of school life and became an integral part of our community, gaining as much from our community as we did from them.

This year seven members of the senior class - Camille Reppert, Imani Randolph, Ava Champion, Gabe Dziuban, Carson Smith, Shay Lahon, and Will Dziuban - and Mr. Seamus Hodgkinson had the opportunity of visiting Belfast as part of the Irish Exchange Program.

2014 marks the sixth year of the program in which DS students stay with host families and attend classes at Lagan College.

While in Belfast, they had the chance to tour the Antrim Coast; visit Stranmillis University College, St. Mary’s University College, and the Crumlin Road Gaol; take a Coiste political tour of West Belfast; and try out wet bouldering.

The Irish Exchange Program at Doane Stuart represents the passionate dream of Seamus Hodgkinson, who left Belfast in the ’70s to escape “The Troubles.” Mr. H., as he is fondly known at Doane Stuart, along with Tony McGaharan ’04, one of the first visiting students from Belfast, has continued to advance the message of peace and reconciliation .

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T HE PENNANT

SPRING BREAK IN THE

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CITY OF LIGHT

pper School students and faculty spent their spring break amidst the museums, cafes, sites and culture of France! The ten day excursion was led by Middle and Upper School French teacher Madame Valenti, with assistance from teachers Lauren Obst and Erin Baillargeon.

While in France, the group visited Claude Monet’s House and Gardens, the Arc de Triomphe and Tomb of the Uknown Soldier, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Musée D’Orsay, the Champs Élysées, Versailles, Notre Dame, Mont St. Michel, Normandy, and much more.

STORIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

BEST SELLING AUTHORS VISIT DOANE STUART

VISIT NYS CAPITOL

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ational best-selling novelist Dean King author of The Feud: The Hatfields and McCoys: The True Story and Skeletons on the Zahara, among others, visited Doane Stuart. He spoke with students and parents about his inspirations, and shared stories of his adventures and experiences as an author and world traveler. A gifted storyteller in person as well as in print, King enlightened and entertained the entire School community. King also visited Middle and Upper School history and English classes to discuss his love of history and his research and writing processes.

King is the brother of Early Childhood teacher Ann Berkman. He has published 10 non-fiction books, and has had his work featured in The New York Times, Men’s Journal, Esquire, Travel + Leisure Magazine, and New York Magazine, to name a few.

Earlier in the year, Tony Macaulay, a Northern Irish writer and peacebuilder, performed a book reading in The Golub Interfaith Chapel. Macaulay’s first book, Paperboy, is a memoir about growing up in Belfast during the years of the “Troubles.”

Tony grew up at the top of the Shankill Road in Belfast at the start of thirty-five years of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. This experience has shaped his life. He has spent the past 25 years dedicated to building peace and reconciliation at home and abroad, working with hundreds of youth and community groups to break down barriers of mistrust, hatred and division.

Since the publication of his first book, Paperboy, Tony has been invited to do book readings at a range of festivals including the 1st Irish Festival NYC, Aspects Literature Festival, Edinburgh Book Fringe, Belfast Book Festival and “Scribes at the West” at Feile an Phobail.

nternational students and student teachers visited the heart of New York State politics. The Doane Stuart contingent was comprised of 13 students from China; two students from Lagan College in Belfast, Northern Ireland; two student-teachers from St. Mary’s University College and Stranmillis University College in Belfast, Northern Ireland; two Israeli and Palestinian student teachers from David Yellin College in Jerusalem; and three staff members. For our visiting students, this was their first opportunity to tour the Capitol and observe the New York State Assembly.

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Assemblyman John McDonald welcomed the group and shared with our students, many of whom are interested in pursuing politics in their home countries, his journey to the Capitol as a local business leader and former Mayor of the City of Cohoes. He answered questions about the American political system, the role of the Electoral College, and the process of passing a bill.

T EACHING T OGETHER oane Stuart was thrilled, once again, to welcome student teachers from across the globe. Ms. Shannon Dunlop (Stranmillis University College) and Ms. Aine Lynch (St. Mary’s University College) visited from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Ms. Ya’el Lavon and Ms. Nadya Aben were our visiting Israeli and Arab student teachers from David Yellin College in Jerusalem. All four student teachers were active participants in the daily life of the school. They added a great deal to our community, while also experiencing our interfaith activities, which emphasize respect and inclusion. They worked with Lower and Middle School students, and led discussions about bringing diametrically opposed peoples together to help foster peace and understanding. (pictured L-R: Shannon Dunlop, Aine Lynch, Ya’el Lavon, and Nadya Aben)

D

Doane Stuart was also thrilled to welcome Ruth Bar Sinai (pictured right, with Interim Head Lisa Brown) to our School. Ruth is the Israeli coordinator of our Arab and Israeli Exchange Program, which brought Ya'el and Nadya to Doane Stuart this spring. Additionally, as the Liaison to Foreign Educational Institutions of the David Yellin College, Ruth organizes meetings between mixed groups of Arab and Jewish students with foreign education students from various countries.

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Green Roof

News D

oane Stuart moved one step closer to completing our new Green Roof by signing a contract with Sano-Rubin Construction Company. Construction on the 22,000 square foot Green Roof began in June and will run through the summer, with planting planned for the fall. “We are thrilled to work with Sano-Rubin,” said Interim Head of School Lisa Brown. “This moment was a long time coming, and we are excited about this distinctive addition to our historic campus. Students, faculty, staff, and the broader community will all have the chance to enjoy and learn from this unique space.”

The Green Roof was funded by a $1.4 million grant from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation. Brown thanked Stephanie Long, who wrote the original grant, and our architect, Larry Wilson, of Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker Architects, “who took us through a series of designs that will leave us with an amazing Green Roof that is beautiful and functional.”

The Green Roof is expected to be a “living lab,” which will provide a unique educational opportunity for our students, faculty, visiting scientists, and the surrounding community. It will reduce stormwater runoff by 70% and reduce our year-round energy consumption. Thanks to the Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA), and the Earth Day grant that they awarded the school, the Green Roof will now have 7 state-ofthe-art temperature/humidity gauges.

These devices will allow students in our Green Roof class, Environmental Studies, Advanced Biology, and Lower and Middle School Sciences classes to record and analyze downloadable data for user-determined intervals. This will help our students better measure the environmental impact of the Green Roof.

We will continue to provide updates with pictures of the construction throughout the summer and fall.

Be sure to follow along on our Facebook page and on Twitter.

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T HE PENNANT

A Record Breaking Spring Gala and Auction May 10, 2014 was definitely a night that we will never forget.

The 37th Annual Spring Gala and Auction was a record-breaking event, raising more than

$145,000!

This is wonderful news for Doane Stuart, as 100% of the proceeds from the Gala benefit Doane Stuart’s Financial Aid Programs. Doane Stuart would like to thank our Gala Chairs Richard and Cynthia Harris, grandparents of Hasson Harris ’13 and our amazing auctioneer, LeGrande Serras.

Doane Stuart has welcomed students of every faith and socio-economic background since the nineteenth century. In this demanding environment for schools, we have maintained the percentage of students (over 50%) who receive significant financial aid. Expanding our commitment to serve students from every economic quarter of our region and remain true to our mission as a coeducational, interfaith, college preparatory school, has been essential to our success. Contributions to our Gala allow us to continue this tradition. Thank you for your support for our Financial Aid Programs and our other fundraising endeavors, and for joining with us to celebrate the School’s many accomplishments.

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Alumni/ae News

and Notes

Two years ago we created the Alumni Newsletter. This newsletter was, in its original format, sent only to the alumni for whom we had email addresses. When we started the newsletter – the number of email addresses we had was less than 150. Today, we have more than 360, and that number continues to grow. In September of 2013, we expanded the newsletter to be mailed to those alumni for whom we do not have an email address. We have received great feedback regarding the newsletter.

you missed it, we are sorry you were not able to join us. It was a wonderful time. We are looking forward to hosting the 2014 Reunion on October 10 and 11, 2014.

In addition, we encourage you to provide us with updates about what is happening in your life. As you know from reading the newsletter, we receive updates regarding the birth of a child or grandchild, a marriage announcement, a new job, recent travel, etc. If you are not receiving an alumni newsletter, bi-monthly, via email or mail, please contact Darlene Gallagher at dgallagher@doanestuart.org or at (518) 465-5222, ext. 203.

Each year, our alumni continue to be among our most consistent donors to the School. The School, the administration, the board and the students are grateful for your support. We hope it continues to grow and that you continue to share in the excitement of all that our students and faculty are accomplishing.

This year we had the privilege of hosting more than 100 alumni at our 2013 Reunion celebration. This was a huge success. To have more than 100 register and attend was amazing. If

CLASS

’43 Liz Willard Hannock, SA Liz writes: “I went to our 70th Class Reunion with my sister, Louise Besch, SA ’47. We had a great time. There were many Doane Stuart activities that we could visit. We chose the Green Roof, Art, and Northern Ireland student visits. All were so interesting! The Green Roof project is a mini effort to duplicate what they do in Germany. Stephanie Long explained that they will choose one of their flat roofs, add soil and plant seeds. In Germany, everyone is encouraged to plant on all available roof tops to help the environment.

Next we went to visit the Art Studio and saw some beautiful self portraits the students had done. Art is encouraged in all classes including the Lower and Middle schools.

Lunch was great fun and so delicious. But, first we had our photo taken with the statue of St. Agnes. Head of School, Lisa Brown, paid tribute to many folks at lunch. I was especially moved by her tribute to Libby Evans. The girls of ’47 got awards for their 65th Reunion – and I got one for my 70th. You [my classmates] were 14

T HE PENNANT

In addition to Reunion, we have held two Alumni Receptions, one in New York City and one in Washington, DC. Our next Alumni Reception will be held in Boston. If you are interested in attending or helping to plan a reception in your area, please email Darlene Gallagher at dgallagher@doanestuart.org.

If you are not receiving an alumni newsletter, bi-monthly, via email or mail, please contact Darlene Gallagher at dgallagher@doanestuart.org or at 518) 465-5222, ext. 203.

NOTES there in my thoughts – We opened our presents at the end of the ceremony – we each received a framed copy of “Hail Saint Agnes!” We miss you all!”

’49 Carolyn “Cally” Pruyn Hudson, SA Cally writes: “I was a child of WWII – we worked hard for our country. Learning to knit and sending our scarves abroad.

We had only one pair of shoes because they were rationed.

We made our own fun because we couldn’t go anywhere. My father flooded the back yard so we could figure skate or play ice hockey.

We had no access to a public library and our schools had very little – that came much later after the war. So, we played outside a lot.

We had one bus that took us to Albany to the movies on Saturday.

We didn’t feel deprived, but we enjoyed the time – unprogrammed.

To future graduates, take some time to smell the flowers.”

’52

’58

Henrietta Holton Thomas, KA

Alice Roy Kolb, KA

Henrietta commented: “I would like to have had Connie Dooley Roderick with me [at reunion] because Marguerite Tate Taylor was there and remembered so many of our class and school mates. I continue art and visit my children. Lancaster countryside still has it charm.”

Carolyn Beardsley, SA

Alice writes: “I have lived in Loudonville since 2000, a year and a half after my husband died. I moved from Connecticut to upstate NY to be near my remaining family members. During these years I have had the blessing to be involved with the RSCJ community at Kenwood before its closing, establishing relationships with the nuns, many of whom I did not know before.

Carolyn has been living a quiet life on the North Fork of Long Island for the past 18 years. She is an avid knitter and enjoys her four children who are scattered along the eastern seaboard (SC, Washington, DC, NY, CT) and six grandchildren who are living throughout the country (CA, SC, MD, NY). Carolyn, unfortunately, lost her husband on January 26, 2013.

My daughter, Kate Brennan, is the mother of a son, Tucker, and is expecting baby boy #2 . Lucky for me, they have moved from southern California to Stamford, Connecticut.

’55

’74

Nancy Shepard Erickson, SA

Judy Duncan-Allen, SA & Janet Anderson Provost, SA

Nancy writes: “In November, on a River Boat through Eastern Europe, I joined a couple for breakfast....they live in VA. As we chatted starting in that area, as I live outside DC, we gradually narrowed our background to Albany then I said Loudonville, she said she was actually from there originally also.......yes, she went to SAS in grammar school Bryde-King Gilles (I do not know class). Her sister still lives near Candace King, in a house I knew well as the Veeder house. I enjoyed chatting with Bryde and Tom and hope they will give a call when they come to Bethesda.

A half hour later I join my travel friends on the tour bus and start telling them of the coincidence.........I did not have to mention NY or Albany as they know where I grew up.

When I exclaimed “folks, you’ve got to understand this was a small private school with 200 students from 1st through 12th years”, a woman sitting in a seat across the aisle said, "Where did you go to school?”

I told her, not mentioning area, etc., and she responded “so did I.” Nell McElroy Leach, class of ’55. When I started to answer RE: my maiden name, Nell said Shepard as I said Nancy....guess I am still as cute as ever! She and Dick were on their way home from selling their vacation home in Ireland....guess Nell didn’t do that well in Geography as Croatia is hardly on the way to Massachusetts. We agreed next time Lynn Gardner puts a Reunion together we are coming. Dick graciously listened to our “catch up on the past” tales….we may have driven him to drink. “

I am in touch with Vicki Donohue, Martha Armstrong, Judy Fitzgerald, and Hortensia Tarafa. Hope to hear from old friends.”

Judy met her classmate Janet Anderson Provost and they attended their college gettogether, which they have done for the last 40 years. Janet lives in Schnectady and Judy lives in New Gardens, Queens, NY. Judy has been working at the Fashion Institute of Technology for 32 years in the IT department.

’86

In October 2013, the Class of 1986 reunited at Paolo Lombardi’s.

’90

CLASS N OTES Anne Barba, Ph.D., Albany Medical Center clinical neuropsychologist, has been awarded board certification by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), signifying exceptional proficiency in her field.

She is one of just 16 board-certified neuropsychologists in New York State practicing outside of the New York City metropolitan area.

Dr. Barba cares for patients with neurological disorders and conducts specialized tests needed to manage Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and other conditions that affect the brain. She conducts cognitive evaluations used to determine a patient’s ability to live independently and manage medications appropriately.

Named a Woman of Excellence by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2011, Dr. Barba is an associate professor of neurology at Albany Medical College. She received her Ph.D. in psychology and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, and her post-doctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at Albany Medical Center.

Congratulations, Anne!

’94 Jorge M. Boone Jorge and Magdalena K. Dalsjo welcomed their daughter Amelia Kerstin to the world on October 9, 2013

’97 Michael Hartt

L to R, Back Row: Katie Brandow, Debra (Young) Lucarelli, Sam Lucarelli , Barbara (Blacklock) Laird, Ramon Guerrero, Tom Witmer (spouse of Elizabeth Witmer) L ro R, Middle Row: Elizabeth (Sunanda) Witmer, Gabe Lucarelli , Christina Brown L to R, Front Row: Charlotte Lucarelli (Debra’s daughter), Ruthie Witmer

For almost 1 1/2 years, Michael has been Director, Corporate and Crisis Practice (International Affairs) at Burson-Marsteller in London. His LinkedIn profile is http:// uk.linkedin.com/in/mhartt.

’04 Gregory MacDonald Hartt Ph.D. Greg is now Dr. Gregory MacDonald Hartt S P R I N G /S U M M E R 2 0 1 4

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CLASS N OTES Ph.D. Chemistry. As a Hamilton College undergrad, he studied, researched and published under mentor Dr. George Shields. He started at UC Irvine in September 2009 and completed his graduate experience in less than 4 years. He did his research in the Rowland-Blake Lab, where Nobel Prize winner Dr. Sherwood Rowland, now deceased, was a role model who demonstrated that you can do excellent science and truly care for the people with whom you work. He was encouraged by his advisor, Dr. Donald Blake, to take on a project that responded to what is important to many in the world today, especially after the BP tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico.

’06 Amy Atkins

pieces, glazing and loading kilns. Amy looks forward to putting these new skills in practice with her work here at home.

’07 Pierce Berolzheimer Pierce co-produced a film, “Sun Belt Express.” The film won the US in Progress Festival in Poland.

This was the film’s first real screening and they won 1st place out of 40 submissions and 6 finalists. The prize includesd money for post-processing and a soundtrack by composer Maciej Zieliński!

Pierce is grateful to many who helped make this amazing movie a reality, most of all to Evan Buxbaum for seeing it all through.

April. Reynolds, a sophomore piano performance major at Juilliard, has performed internationally and most recently at Carnegie Hall, the Aspen Music Festival, Seiji Ozawa Hall in Tanglewood, The Manhattan School of Music, and Ithaca College, among other venues. Reynolds has received numerous awards and distinctions, including top prizes at the American Fine Arts Festival and the Music Teachers National Association. Please visit chrisreynoldspiano.com for audio clips of Reynolds’ performances.

Dan Hodgkinson

’08 Nicole LaGrone Nicole accepted a job in Tunisia. She will be in charge of an American library and cultural center there. She will be doing an interactive project with Tunisian students.

Amy traveled to Orkney, Scotland for an apprenticeship with production potter Andrew Appleby of Fursbreck Pottery. Amy spent weeks with Andrew and his assistant working along side them and learning technique and movement.

Amy studied and practiced the technique that Andrew uses as a production potter. A production potter is a potter who has developed a very precise, methodical technique and movement to be able to accomplish as much as possible in as little time as possible. For example, Andrew can throw cups on the wheel and make approximately 90 cups in an hour with his technique. After learning from Andrew, Amy has found that by changing the way she throws, she can make bigger pieces much faster and with greater ease.

In addition to this technique, Amy has learned about embellishing and decorating 16

T HE PENNANT

’10 Andrew Kauffman Andrew spent a Union College Term Abroad in York, England! This was an opportunity to immerse himself in the cultures of others and travel throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. Andrew spent over a week exploring Italy and spent time living with United Kingdom students.

’12 Chris Reynolds Chris Reynolds performed a solo piano recital at Union College’s Memorial Chapel in

Dan, along with his dad, Middle School Co-Coordinator Seamus Hodgkinson recently participated in the End to End Endurance Challenge. The Challenge took them through parts of New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts during the one day, 29 mile hike/run along the Taconic Crest Trail.

’13 Rory Siy Rory was named Boston College Fencing’s “Rookie of the Year.”

As a freshman foil fencer, Rory earned a place at the NCAA Northeast Regionals, and earned the Eagles a fourth place finish at the US Collegiate Squad Championships.

161 COMMENCEMENT ST

C

ongratulations to the members of the Class of 2014, who graduated as part of Doane Stuart’s 161st Commencement ceremony on June 7, 2014. The 34 members who received their diplomas were: Craig Agnew, of Belfast, Northern Ireland; Michael Barats of Slingerlands; Anna Brewer, of Cohoes; Erin Brozek of Albany; William Bruder, of Saratoga Springs; Ava Champion, of Albany; Daniel Coyne, of Albany; Claire Crosier, of East Berne; Gabriel Dziuban, of Menands; William Dziuban, of Menands; Elise Giordano, of Delmar, Andrew Haggerty, of East Greenbush; Lucy Hammond, of Philmont; Theo Hammond, of Philmont;

HOW CAN I GIVE?

Olivia Howie, Catskill; Robert Lagan, of Slingerlands; Shaquilla Lahon, of Albany; Cliodhna Leeson, of Belfast, Northern Ireland; Rong Li, of Cohoes; Mark Mininberg, of Albany; Lucas Molho, of Delmar; Samantha Moraitou-Politzi, of Loudonville; Erin Murdock, of Stephentown; Margaret Murdock, of Stephentown; Hannah Peltz Smalley, of Albany; Imani Randolph, of Albany; Camille Reppert, of Albany; Daniel Sax, of Delmar; Schyler Schewe, of Albany; Robert Carson Smith, of Albany; Deshawn Speights, of Albany; Alicia Stark, of Castleton; Sierra Wallace, of West Sand Lake; and Victoria Woods, of Albany.

The Class of 2014 earned over $4.4 million in college merit aid.

As you plan your gift to Doane Stuart, there are several methods by which you may make your contribution: Cash gifts are the simplest, easiest gifts you can make. Doane Stuart accepts cash, personal checks, and Visa/Mastercard.

Online giving is now available! Visit doanestuart.org to make your secure gift online.

Gifts of stock can be transferred to Doane Stuart by contacting the Development Office.

Gifts of personal property are welcome at Doane Stuart, especially in anticipation of our annual Spring Gala and Auction. We invite you to consider donating works of art,

valuable collectibles and antiques, or jewelry to our Spring Gala and Auction.

Planned gifts and bequests are wonderful ways to remember Doane Stuart in your estate plans. For more information about including Doane Stuart in your will, or about other planned gifts, please contact: The Development Office (518) 465-5222, ext. 248 development@doanestuart.org

Thank you!

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NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 350 ALBANY, NY

199 Washington Avenue, Rensselaer, NY 12144

(518) 465-5222 | DoaneStuart.org Parents of Alumni/ae: If this issue is addressed to your child who no longer lives at home, kindly notify the Development Office at (518) 465-5222, ext. 248, or development@doanestuart.org

A well rounded education starts early and lasts a lifetime.

For more than 150 years, the Doane Stuart School has been inspiring and educating students, from the ground up. By graduation, they are prepared to take their place at some of the nation’s most selective colleges, as global citizens who pursue lives of meaning and purpose.