FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY: Creating Digital Citizens. . . . . . . Managing Screen Time. . . . . . Evaluating Websites PLUS: Congratulations to the Class of 2017....... Three Teachers’ First Year at EHS...... Alumni News and more eaglehillschool.org | @eaglehillgreenwich
Fall 2017
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FALL 2017 . 1
CONTENTS
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LETTERS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Learning from Our Students
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FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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NEWS FROM THE HILL Parents Association Year-End Review Introducing School Psychologist David Blank, Psy.D. Spring 2017 Activities Report Spring 2017 Athletics Report Welcoming Eagle Hill’s New Board Members Eagle Hill’s Speaker Series
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ALUMNI GAZETTE Alumni Reunion 2017 Alumni Profile: Kevin Oxer ‘11 Alumni Listings
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FEATURES
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2017!
11 2016-2017 School Placements 13 Award Winners 15 Graduation Speeches 30 Congratulations to our Lower School Grads 31 Our First Year at Eagle Hill
FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY 17 Teaching Students to Become Digital Citizens 21 How to Help Your Children Manage Screen Time 25 “But it’s on the Internet!” Evaluating Websites and Online Information 28 The Benefits of Taking a Digital Fast 29 Technology in the Dorm
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Learning from Our Students fit well into our program and that we believe can help one or more of our students.
AMONG THE TEACHERS AT EAGLE HILL, there is a strong commitment to continuous learning. Each year, new students enter our school with multiple learning challenges. We know that it’s up to us to find out how each one learns best and to use instructional strategies and techniques that will help them overcome a variety of learning challenges. Our professional faculty members learn in so many ways. There are weekly in-service sessions on Friday afternoons during which we study best educational practices, hear from faculty members who have areas of expertise and share what they have learned, and invite experts in the field to work with us. We also encourage faculty members to pursue their interests in education by supporting them in attending conferences and workshops in professional areas that are pertinent to our work with students. We are very selective when considering new ideas, programs, and approaches, as we are committed to only pursuing ones that are supported by solid research in the field. We are avid readers of journals and research studies, gleaning ideas and approaches that
We also learn from our work with our students. Children’s responses to new units of study in the classroom, their homework, and informal diagnostic testing, let us know how well we are doing in helping them to overcome a variety of learning challenges. Professional teams, comprised of a child’s teachers as well as support staff, come together at intervals to discuss each student’s progress. They also talk on a daily basis about the approaches and techniques that work well with individual students. But there are times when we learn more directly from a student, and much to my surprise and delight, that happened to me this year. One day, while working furiously at my desk, I looked up to see one of our Upper School students, Lexi Wachen, standing by my desk. Lexi entered Eagle Hill three years ago, as a quiet, shy girl, who was unsure of herself as a student. As I looked up, I saw a confident young woman before me. She lost no time in telling me about a book she had just finished reading, My Thirteenth Winter, an autobiography of Samantha Abeel, who had a significant learning disability in the area of mathematics that impacted not only her ability to learn math but also her sense of time and anything in her life that related to numbers. It was clear from what Lexi had shared with me that it wasn’t necessarily the specific disability the author wrote about, but the feelings, struggles, and anxiety that went along with learning that she related to on a personal level. She encouraged me to read the book. I promised her I would visit our library and ask Eagle Hill’s librarian, Ann Chase, to save it for me.
A short while later, Lexi reappeared in my office with a big smile on her face and carrying a copy of the book. She said she knew how busy I was and wanted to be sure I had the book in hand when I had time to read it. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that I didn’t wait to read the book, which is a powerful account of a young woman who struggled through school, lost her confidence, and then regained it as she discovered her ability to write. It was very realistic, letting the reader know that her struggle with math, and its impact on her life, continued to be a part of her learning life and life in general, but that she could become a success as a writer and in other avenues of her life. The point I wish to make here is the importance of being open to learning from your children. Lexi knew that this book would broaden my understanding of the struggles our young people experience as they navigate their lives with learning challenges, which are part of who they are. lt also shows us that as our young people struggle, they discover their strengths and talents, which gives us so much hope for their futures. Thank you, Lexi, for sharing a book that deepened my understanding of the emotional aspects of having a learning disability, while reminding me that our students can and will do great things despite their learning challenges. NOTE: Lexi Waken graduated from Eagle Hill this year and will attend The Masters School. She was the recipient of the Dan Chapin award at graduation. This award is presented to a student who demonstrates social growth and quiet commitment to the total Eagle Hill program. DR. MARJORIE E. CASTRO
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EAGLE HILL NEWS
2017-2018 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
FROM THE BOARD
BOARD CHAIR Jeremy Henderson BOARD MEMBERS Kim Augustine Sonja Bartlett Patrick Brogan ‘87 Joe Burton ‘90 Lisa Eatroff Dana Fields Amy Jo Frischling Allen Haight Patsy Howard Derrel Mason, Esq. Lisa Miller Patty Murphy Mark Plaumann, Vice Chair David Portny Kathleen Doody Redmond, Secretary Drew Saunders ‘88 Lydia Soifer, Ph.D. Roxanne Vanderbilt Barbara Walsh James Wendorf Joe Zimmel, Treasurer EX-OFFICIO Marjorie E. Castro
EAGLE HILL NEWS is published twice a year (fall and spring) by the Development & Communications Office of Eagle Hill School. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Lisa Ferraro l.ferraro@eaglehill.org COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Phil Pineau p.pineau@eaglehill.org DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Boardie Kurz b.kurz@eaglehill.org CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Chris Taggart Torrance York Dan Harkins Phil Pineau Jessica Genova
IT WAS A VERY BUSY SPRING AND SUMMER at Eagle Hill! In addition to completing the final phase of our campus renovation plan (updating the dorm rooms in Hardwick House and rebuilding our athletic field), we have also worked closely over the past few months with our consultants at the Gowan Group to examine several aspects of Eagle Hill’s mission and finances, with the goal of ensuring the sustainability of our educational program for years to come. Gowan’s team solicited extensive input from Eagle Hill’s different constituents, including parents, faculty, trustees, and outside professionals in the LD field. The report they prepared includes many heartening findings about the continued preeminence of our program and our reputation among schools serving children with learning differences. It also makes a number of recommendations for changes aimed at keeping our tuition from rising as fast as it has in recent years, improving our marketing and communications strategy, and identifying additional sources of income. The Board of Trustees and the administration will work together this fall to study these recommendations and decide how they might be incorporated into a new Strategic Plan for Eagle Hill (our previous strategic plan covered 201217). We will keep the entire community informed about our progress during the coming months. I would like to thank all of our dedicated Trustees for the time they volunteer to spend on projects like this one on behalf of the school. In particular, I salute the three trustees who retired from the Board at the end of the 2016-17 school year: Laurel Asness, Sara Pelgrift, and Ram Sundaram. Each of them has made invaluable and inspiring contributions to the success of EHS. JEREMY HENDERSON, CHAIR
SPRING FALL 2017 2016
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NEWS FROM THE HILL
PARENTS ASSOCIATION YEAR-END REVIEW By Roxanne Vanderbilt, President 2016-2017
LOOKING BACK ON THE 2016-17 SCHOOL year, the EHS Parents Association fostered equal parts education and fun through its many events. In September, we kicked off the school year with Family Fun Day. Veteran and new families alike gathered for music, amusement, food, and, well, fun! The theme for our first Staff Appreciation breakfast of the year, held on October 7, was Oktoberfest. The only thing missing from the delicious spread of homemade and store-bought dishes that morning was the beer.
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of the break-out group with other teenage siblings of kids with LD.”
Dr. Mark Bertin, a developmental pediatrician, gave a memorable presentation at the parent seminar in January. He spoke about the research-based virtues of mindfulness, including improved outcomes for long-term cognitive health, and how it helps children with LD regain a sense of calm when faced with anxietyprovoking moments.
In early May, EHS moms gathered at the home of Dana MacNaughton for an intimate gathering with fabulous appetizers and equally good conversation. That same week, we held our spring parties for all students, with the Upper School at Bowlmor Lanes in White Plains, the Lower School at Chelsea Piers, and our youngest students at KidsU in Port Chester. Book Fair immediately followed that very next week, and while we couldn’t believe it was already mid-May, there we were, with bags of great books in our arms during Parent Teacher Conferences, readying ourselves for summer reading. The end of the school year culminated with a luncheon for EHS parents on May 31, where guest alumni parents Kim Augustine, Marilyn Wilson, and Evan Pagano shared candid snapshots about their children’s lives after Eagle Hill.
The March screening of the F.A.T. City (Frustration, Anxiety, Tension) Workshop video produced by former Director of Education, Rick Lavoie, gave parents, grandparents, and siblings of children with LD a taste of what it’s like for students with learning differences to be in a classroom. One parent said to me, “My teenage daughter came with me today. She was sullen on the car ride over. When we left that evening, she admitted that the video really helped her understand what her brother goes through. She also got a lot out
Want to know more? Consider volunteering this year. Behind the scenes, the Parents Association is a dynamic and productive organization made up of volunteers who care deeply about the school. Whether it’s helping Librarian Ann Chase put together bulletin boards, organizing the shelves of the Gently Used Closet, or helping plan student parties or parent seminars, there’s never a dull moment. The Parents Association at Eagle Hill is a true labor of love, and the rewards of that labor are enjoyed by all. See you at school!
SPRING 2017 ACTIVITIES REPORT By Jeff Leonard, Director, Athletics & Activities
Introducing School Psychologist David Blank, Psy.D. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME David Blank, Psy.D., as Eagle Hill School’s new Director of Psychological Services. Dr. Blank has been counseling children and families for over 20 years, most recently at Jewish Child Care Association in Pleasantville, NY, where he coordinated psychological services for youth in foster care. Prior to that he served as Director of Family Services of Westchester, a non-profit that assists children and families in need. Dr. Blank holds a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University and a doctorate in psychology from Pace University, where he is currently an adjunct professor. While Dr. Blank’s impeccable credentials and experience certainly stand on their own, it bears mentioning that he began his professional career as an assistant basketball coach. After all, many of the lessons learned on the court—the importance of hard work, grit, resilience, and collaboration—are as fundamental to sports as they are to good mental health. Given his long career working with children and families, Dr. Blank said the position at Eagle Hill is a natural fit. “A school whose mission is to foster opportunities for success and to help children feel good about themselves is in line with my goals and my experience,” he explained. “It’s a strengths-based environment that focuses on meeting the needs of each student, and that’s what was most attractive to me.” In his role at Eagle Hill, Dr. Blank will partner with teachers and families to help students overcome social, emotional, and behavioral challenges and provide tools to enhance learning and bolster self-esteem. That may mean working with children one-on-one or in small groups. He also wants to be a resource for parents and families. “It’s important to be understanding of the journey that brought them to Eagle Hill and make sure that they get the support, knowledge, and strategies they need.” Dr. Blank is looking forward to meeting all of Eagle Hill’s families, so stop by his office—or the basketball court— to say hello!
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hile the majority of Eagle Hill students choose to participate in interscholastic sports, we offer a variety of physical and nonphysical activities each season. All students are required to partake in physical activity at least two days a week. During the spring 2017 season, we offered Physical Education, Sports Class, Hip Hop, Karate, Fitness, Yoga, Ultimate Frisbee, and Gymnastics. We are lucky that our faculty loves sharing its interests and expertise with our students during afternoon activity periods. Our non-physical activities this spring included Art, Board Games, Digital Photography, Legos, Gardening/Nature Study, Movie Review, and Dungeons and Dragons. This spring, Eagle Hill continued its long-term relationships with several local community agencies, providing students with an array of service opportunities. With the help of our faculty, students volunteered at Neighbor to Neighbor, Adopt-A-Dog, Sweet Readers, Trout Unlimited, and the Inspirica Incorporated soup kitchen. Eagle Hill is extremely appreciative of the many community-minded faculty members who offer their time to provide students with these valuable learning opportunities!
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NEWS FROM THE HILL
SPRING 2017 ATHLETICS REPORT
SPRING TEAM AWARDS
By Jeff Leonard, Director, Athletics & Activities
VARSITY BASEBALL
IN SPRING 2017, 141 students participated in interscholastic sports at Eagle Hill, competing against 31 other schools in the Fairchester Athletic Association. Once again, we fielded eight teams: Boys Lacrosse, Girls Softball, JJV Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Cross Country, Varsity Baseball, Junior Varsity Baseball, and Tennis. Remarkably, we managed to remain competitive despite our field-improvements project, which meant shortened practice times due to having to travel off campus to practice. The good news is that our field project should be complete this month, so we’ll be able to enjoy The Burton Family Field for most of the fall 2017 athletic season. The sacrifices we made during the spring season were well worth it. Soon we’ll have a playing surface that drains properly and offers more usable practice space!
Most Improved: Cal Hamerman Most Valuable: Nolan Dunn and Michael Mazzaro Dave Kates Coaches Award: Jack Craig
JUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL Most Improved: Zach Stock Most Valuable: Joseph Napolitano Dave Kates Coaches Award: Alex Raybin and Will Dobi
CROSS COUNTRY Most Improved: Ryan Zaretzky Most Valuable: Charlie Chisholm Dave Kates Coaches Award: Jack Sibery Dave Kates AD Award: Luke Withstandley
BOYS LACROSSE Most Improved: Jack Walsh and Isaac Akrongold Most Valuable: George Hildner Dave Kates Coaches Award: Kenzie Horecky and Dean Carotenuto
GIRLS SOFTBALL Most Improved: Karly Stein Most Valuable: Lexi Wachen, Alex Golioto Dave Kates Coaches Award: Sophia Schwartzman
TENNIS Most Improved: Nicolle Pechman Most Valuable: David Zhao Dave Kates Coaches Award: Ben Meyer
ULTIMATE FRISBEE Most Improved: Jack Carlin and Aidan Liddy Most Valuable: Billy Bennett and Alex Nunn Dave Kates Coaches Award: Austyn Therrien and Cameron Spinks
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NEWS FROM THE HILL
INTRODUCING NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR 2017-2018
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Roxanne Vanderbilt
Dana Fields
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOU.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOU.
• Born in Denver, Colorodo, raised in Northern California • B.A. in Art History from the American University of Paris • M.A. in Art History from Columbia University • Worked as an Assistant Museum Educator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where, among other things, I gave school tours and gallery talks • Our son, William, who attends Eagle Hill, turns 10 this fall. Our daughter, Carolyn, who was born in 2012, attends Greenwich Country Day School.
• Born and raised in New York City, daughter of a teacher • B.A. from Duke University • I have spent 38 years in the magazine business as Publisher or President of Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, Men’s Journal, FHM, and Nylon. • My son Matthew was the (then) youngest student ever admitted to Eagle Hill School, where he spent nine years, attending right after nursery school.
WHY DID YOU ACCEPT A POSITION AS AN EHS BOARD TRUSTEE? I accepted because I love Eagle Hill. Our son, William, has grown tremendously—emotionally, socially, and academically—since becoming an EHS student. By extension, we as a family have learned alongside him through Parent Seminars and the Speaker Series. I draw strength from the examples of fellow parents who meet the challenges of parenting children with learning differences, day in and day out. Their humor, outlook, and candor are refreshing. I would do anything in service to EHS, and I feel so very honored to have been asked to join the Board.
WHY DID YOU ACCEPT A POSITION AS AN EHS BOARD TRUSTEE? I am totally honored to join the EHS board. During the entire time that Matthew was at EHS, he had unparalleled teachers, who took the time, over and over, to understand the way he learns. When Matthew started at EHS, he hated math, found history boring, wasn’t “good” at gym, and was socially awkward. Over the next few years, Ms. Burke “made math fun,” Steve Stern instilled a love of history, Mr. Hanrahan made Matt the EHS fitness champ, and Maria DiPalma’s daily wisdom helped him manage everything from social group dynamics to an organized binder. School became something to be happy about, and to this day Matthew’s closest friends are his best friends from EHS.
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU’D LIKE TO FOCUS ON DURING YOUR TENURE ON THE BOARD?
IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU’D LIKE TO FOCUS ON DURING YOUR TENURE ON THE BOARD?
In serving on the Board I would like to build on our strengths, even as we work to address our shortcomings. I am a great fan of schools and organizations that adopt a growth mindset. Flexibility, partnership, and community are some of the things we do especially well at EHS, and they should continue to inspire us as we move forward as a school and as a Board. I see creativity and innovation as the hallmarks of an EHS education.
I’d like to help EHS any way that I can with positioning and marketing its exceptional program. With all the recent upgrades to the facility, the school is more appealing than ever to both residential and day students. It would also be interesting to publicize EHS’ impressive commitment to keeping the staff educated with cutting-edge lectures and visits from other LD specialists as well as the exceptional leadership in best practices exemplified by Dr. Castro.
EAGLE HILL NEWS
A PREVIEW OF EAGLE HILL SCHOOL’S 2017-2018 SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTED BY THE BLACK BROGAN FOUNDATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017
PAUL TOUGH Helping Children Succeed: What Works & Why
EAGLE HILL’S INAUGURAL SPEAKER SERIES By Phil Pineau
Why do some children succeed while others don’t? Tough, a New York Times best-selling author, introduces research that shows how character strengths are overlooked by traditional standardized tests and discusses strategies that can be used to help children who grow up in adversity succeed.
Dr. Marjorie Castro and Dr. Daniel Amen
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2018
SUSAN CAIN Quiet Kids: Raising an Introvert in a World That Can’t Stop Talking & How Our Education System Can Teach Introverted Students Cain is the best-selling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking and Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts. Cain’s work explores how much we, as a society, lose by undervaluing introverts and seeks to change how introverts are viewed by others as well as by themselves. Presented in partnership with Heard in Rye. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2018
DR. NED HALLOWELL Super-parenting for ADD: An Innovative Approach to Raising Your Distracted Child A world-renowned ADHD expert, Hallowell is the founder of The Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health. With decades of experience working with children with ADD, Hallowell understands how easily the gifts of this condition can be overlooked. In this presentation, he shares his unique strengths-based approach to parenting children with ADD. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.eaglehillschool.org/ speaker-series
With construction of Eagle Hill’s Community Room completed, the 2016-2017 school year was a perfect opportunity for Eagle Hill to showcase its strengths—not just as a premier school for children with LD, but also as a resource for fellow educators and parents. With this mission in mind, we were proud to introduce our Inaugural Speaker Series, presented by the Black Brogan Foundation. Current parents, alumni parents, teachers and administrators from independent and public schools, guests from the surrounding area, and Eagle Hill faculty and staff attended presentations by Rick Lavoie, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Scott Barry Kaufman. Our speakers were selected not only for their expertise and experience, but also for the impact their research and ideas have had on the field of LD and for the thought-provoking nature of their topics, particularly for the Eagle Hill community.
THE 2016-2017 SEASON: A REVIEW RICK LAVOIE Motivation Breakthrough: Secrets to Turning on the Tuned-Out Child As Eagle Hill’s first Director of Education, Rick Lavoie was a natural choice to lead off the Speaker Series. Lavoie spoke of the need to tailor motivational techniques to suit each individual, and how technology should not only be used as a learning tool but also as a wake-up call for changes in education. “Why are students still memorizing facts?” Lavoie asked. “We’re using a closed-book format to teach students about an open-book world.”
DR. DANIEL AMEN The Brain Warrior’s Way Renowned brain expert and founder of the Amen Clinics took time during his book tour for The Brain Warrior’s Way to be a part of Eagle Hill’s Speaker Series. Using scans of typical and atypical brains, Dr. Amen showed how our brains are affected by injury and poor health and habits, and how a change in lifestyle (diet, exercise, etc.) can improve brain function. The presentation focused on how these changes could have an impact on children with ADD/ ADHD, and even adults with Alzheimer’s.
SCOTT BARRY KAUFMAN From Evaluation to Inspiration: Why the Culture of the Classroom is Broken and How to Fix It Kaufman, a cognitive psychologist and Scientific Director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Imagination Institute, spoke about the pitfalls of using traditional intelligence tests to determine school placement and future success. Instead, Kaufman explained, testing should be used to determine where a student’s strengths and interests lie. “Theories of intelligence focus so much on comparing one kid to another in an obsessive way … if we put the whole child back in there, we see a lot of possibilities in kids that we wouldn’t see in other ways.” FALL 2017 . 10
FEATURES
Congratulations to the Upper School Class of 2017!
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EAGLE HILL SCHOOL PLACEMENTS CLASS OF 2017
Seven Bridges Middle School – Chappaqua NEW YORK SCHOOLS Sleepy Hollow – Sleepy Hollow Farragut Middle School – Hastings-on-Hudson The Chapel School – Bronxville Fox Lane Middle School – Bedford The Gow School – South Wales Harrison High School – Harrison CONNECTICUT SCHOOLS The Harvey School – Katonah Hastings High School – Hastings-on-Hudson Achievement First Amistad High School – West Haven Westchester Day School – Mamaroneck Hillside Elementary School – Hastings-on-Hudson Forman School – Litchfield York Prep – New York City Hommocks Middle School – Larchmont Greenwich High School – Greenwich Horace Greeley High School – Chappaqua Jewish High School of Connecticut – Stamford ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS Iona Prep – New Rochelle King School – Stamford Eagle Hill School – Hardwick, MA Mamaroneck High School – Mamaroneck Marvelwood School – Kent Frisch School – Paramus, NJ Maplebrook School – Amenia New Canaan High School – New Canaan Greenwood – Putney, VT Masters School – Dobbs Ferry Rumsey Hall – Washington Depot Middlebridge School – Narragansett, RI Pelham High School – Pelham Saxe Middle School – New Canaan The Community School – Teaneck, NJ Port Chester High School – Port Chester St. Joseph High School – Trumbull Vanguard School – Lake Wales, FL Rye Middle School – Rye Winston Prep – Norwalk School of the Holy Child – Rye FALL 2017 . 12
2017 GRADUATION AWARDS
HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARD This award is given by the Head of School to the student who, in the opinion of the headmaster, possesses and demonstrates the qualities of outstanding academic performance and citizenship. The following traits are considered: citizenship, academic performance and effort, extracurricular participation, and peer interaction. Recipient: Luke Withstandley
TRUSTEES AWARD This award is presented by a member of the Eagle Hill Board of Trustees to an Upper School student who has made a significant contribution to the school community through the use of personal talents (e.g., artistic, musical, dramatic, community service, etc.). The talents recognized from year to year may vary; what is consistent is the unselfish contribution of time/talent to the EHS community. Recipient: Dylan Antoine 13
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HEAD OF SCHOOL SPORTS AWARD This award is given by the Head of School to a student who best represents the essence of sports at Eagle Hill—the joy of and dedication to being on a team and the embodiment of the spirit of participation. Recipient: Alexandra Golioto
SJ WALDMAN AWARD This award, given by the Director of Education, was established in the memory of a former Eagle Hill student and recognizes the traits of goal-direction, effort, perseverance, and generosity. Recipient: Madeleine Ings
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ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS These awards are presented by the Head and Assistant Head of School to students for outstanding academic improvement and performance. Recipients: (1) Armaan Bhaskar, (2) Maximilian Murphy, (3) Alexander Rapaport, (4) Meredith Saba, (5) Lexi Wachen, (6) Beckett Walters
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GREENWICH GOOD CITIZEN AWARD The Independence Day Association of Greenwich recognizes and rewards local students who demonstrate good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities by presenting them with a Good Citizens Award. The award winner was also recognized at a ceremony on July 4 at the Greenwich Town Hall. This award is given by a member of the Admissions & Placement team. Recipient: Abby Kay
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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARD During his/her years at Eagle Hill, this student has already developed the kind of appreciation and enthusiasm for the Eagle Hill experience that sets him/her apart from others. This student has enriched Eagle Hill while he/she was here and has made EHS an even better place, just as our alumni do when they return to campus to give back through various ways to the place that made a difference in their lives. This award is given by a member of the Alumni Association. Recipient: Tess Gordon
CITIZENSHIP AWARDS These awards are presented by the Head and Assistant Head of School to students for outstanding citizenship qualities. Recipients: (1) Jack Carlin (2) Jenna Carotenuto (3) George Hildner (4) Jordan Latta (5) Colin McLaren (6) Vincent Scardino
DAN CHAPIN AWARD This award is given by the Assistant Head of School to a student who demonstrates social growth and quiet commitment to the total Eagle Hill program. This student may not be specifically recognized for individual achievement but has made outstanding contributions to the program in general. Recipient: Lexi Wachen
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2017 GRADUATION SPEECHES Alexandra de la Sierra
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ood afternoon parents, teachers, relatives, and graduates. I am honored to be representing the class of 2017. I tried to write this speech about 10 times, but whenever I sat down to write it, I couldn’t figure out the words to describe our time together at EHS. But here are some words that came to mind: crazy, weird, mysterious, loud, and funny.
There is a famous quote that I love, and it reminds me of the environment at Eagle Hill. The quote is: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” To me, this means that the cover of a book is someone’s first impression, which isn’t always accurate. It is the story within the pages that can entertain and grab the attention of its readers. I came to Eagle Hill just two years ago. I attended Greenwich Catholic from the time I was three years old. When I told my classmates that I was switching schools, they started to talk to me in a different tone of voice. I felt like they were judging Eagle Hill without really knowing what it is all about and the amazing environment it provides. When I came to visit, I knew it was right. I have come to appreciate what the school has to offer such as the teachers who work here and the students who go to school here. I have made some truly wonderful friends, and I would have never met them without this opportunity. Albert Einstein once said, “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” None of us are or ever will be stupid. EHS has helped us become believers in our strengths. Wow, graduates, we have all come a long way. We did it! We have been thinking about this day the entire school year, and now it’s time to say goodbye. I know we are all anxious to get out of here, but now that the day has come, it’s sad. This is a really big step for all of us. In a way, we have become a “big family” because of the friendships we have built and the teachers who have helped us along the way. Also, I think I can speak on behalf of all the graduates that EHS has changed us for the better. Change is not easy, and it took us awhile to get here, but it was worth it. Thank you to everyone for all of the laughs and memories ... I’ll remember them forever. I want to give special thanks to Karly,
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Kenzie, and Faith; I knew I could always count on you to make me laugh when I was feeling down. Thank you again to my teachers, friends, and Mr. S for always being there for me and helping me succeed. Most importantly, thank you to my parents for this opportunity. I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am without your support. I love all of you, and I will miss you so much next year. I wish you all the best of luck starting this next chapter in your life.
Eric Meyer
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’m proud to be this year’s representative for the 2017 class. This year went by so fast and was a lot of fun. There were so many good times with friends, and even teachers here. Out of the three years that I have been here, this year has been the best.
Aside from all of the teachers pushing us to prepare for next year, this year has been great socially. I have found many new friendships and have done funny things with them that I will forever remember. Good times. Eagle Hill has been a great school for me. I feel my work performance has improved, I know countless strategies to help me in future schools—cough, cough, Ms. Wilkinson—and I feel more confident in myself. In my old school, I was terrible at anything that had to do with reading. I just hated it. That all changed once I got to Eagle Hill. Reading became something I liked to do, and I had an interest in it. I have also fallen in love with wrestling here and loved playing soccer—even though we rarely won games. The thing I will remember the most about this school is the fact that my teachers were there for me. I could go to them whenever and ask any question about homework, callbacks, and more. They were all really open and willing to help me when I needed it. I would like to thank all of my teachers and the administration for helping me along this path for the three years that I have been here. I know the transition will not be easy from this school to the next for any of us, so I would like to wish all of my classmates luck with that and in their future schools. It’s time for us to leave the eagle’s nest.
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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY
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KRISTINA CASEY REMY WILKINSON
Upper School Upper School Teacher/ Teacher and Head, Study Skills Department
The Age of Technology TEACHING STUDENTS TO BECOME DIGITAL CITIZENS
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he internet is a frequent topic of conversation among our Upper School students. Discussions about Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Musical.ly, as well as a host of other social media platforms, occur on a regular basis in our classrooms. As “digital natives,” our students are extremely fluent in many aspects of technology. However, when it comes to online safety, we have noticed there are some alarming gaps in their knowledge, which is also reflected in the data about teen online behavior. According to surveys by Pew and other major research organizations, 92% of teens post their real name on their online profiles; 58% of teens don’t think posting personal information online is unsafe; and 69% of teens regularly receive personal messages online from strangers, and most of them don’t tell a trusted adult about it. (continued)
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Recognizing the importance of educating our students about online safety, we decided to create a Digital Citizenship curriculum at Eagle Hill tailored to the learning needs of our students. We launched the program at the beginning of the 2016 school year in Study Skills and Tutorial classes, which ensured that every student in the Upper School would be exposed to the curriculum.
challenges are even greater online where communication can be ambiguous at best! Our students can also be too trusting of others, especially of people they meet online. The curriculum addresses these issues by providing students with exposure to realistic online situations and equipping them with stock responses to questions they may encounter on social media and in other digital spaces.
The curriculum consists of five units: Netiquette, Privacy/ Security, Internet Safety, Digital Footprint/Reputation, and Copyright/Plagiarism. Based on a pre-assessment given to students at the beginning of the school year, teachers choose lessons in each unit appropriate to their students’ academic level and social media exposure. During both the planning and instructional phases of the curriculum, we have kept the learning needs of our students at the forefront of our minds. We know that processing language can be difficult for many of our students, which can lead to misinterpretations in face-to-face conversations. The
Even experienced social media users may not be aware that they need to manage their digital footprint, or in other words, the information they share online. Our curriculum covers this important topic in detail: We use mock Facebook and Instagram profiles to facilitate discussions about appropriate and inappropriate posts, pictures, and comments and the implications of each. These, sometimes impulsive decisions, can greatly impact their future endeavors (e.g., college acceptances, job opportunities, etc.). We also discuss the difference between information that is appropriate to share online and information that should be kept private.
EAGLE HILL NEWS
Just as you know your children’s friends at school, you should know their friends online.
Our curriculum explores the differences between online-only friends and friends we know in person. Teachers instruct how to spot potentially unsafe situations when chatting online. Many of our students struggle to create meaningful social connections with their peers and find it easier to make friends online. We have found that many students believe that their online-only friends are always who they say they are. We strongly discourage our students from meeting online-only friends in person and stress the importance of speaking with a trusted adult anytime they feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable in a digital space. How can parents reinforce these concepts at home? The most important thing is to keep an open line of communication with your children. Just as you know your children’s friends at school, you should know their friends online. One way to do this is by talking to your children regularly about things that are occurring on social media. We also recommend monitoring your children’s various social media accounts,
knowing all of their passwords, and setting guidelines and limitations when it comes to screen time. Students who are not monitored are more likely to make poor choices, or find themselves in situations that make them uncomfortable. We continue to work with our outstanding Technology Department to ensure that we have a secure online environment at Eagle Hill School. We encourage parents and families to do the same at home. As our students become more immersed in the ever-changing world of technology, we believe that the information provided in our Digital Citizenship curriculum will help them make safe and appropriate choices.
SPRING FALL 2017 2016
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FEATURES
How to Help Your Children Manage Screen Time
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By
DAVID BLANK PSY.D
Director of Psychological Services
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n a world where technology has an everexpanding reach—and apps, games, and social media are designed to lure us in and keep us hooked—helping our children develop healthy screen habits may be as important as teaching them how to read or ride a bike. This is especially true for children with learning differences and attention issues, who often struggle with impulse control, distractibility, time management, and social interactions.
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In several studies, excessive screen time has been linked to sleep issues, obesity, behavioral problems, and poor academic performance. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children limit their use of screens to a maximum of two hours per day. Teaching children how to manage screen time is no easy feat. That said, there are several approaches that work well, especially when tailored to their needs and used consistently. Understanding your children’s unique skill set and being sensitive to their challenges are necessary to create a supportive environment that will allow for success. Here are some effective strategies to help your children develop healthier screen habits.
THE HOME ENVIRONMENT Our children are constantly looking to us as models for their own behavior. If we are attempting to get our kids involved in a competing activity such as reading, playing board games, or doing crafts, we need to create an environment that facilitates that behavior. This means we can’t expect our children to remain engaged in a non-screen activity if there’s a TV on in the background or if someone else at home is using a device. Setting aside times when no one in the home can use electronics is a great opportunity for family bonding. Moreover, everyone gets a much-needed break from technology, and an example is being set for our children. (Lower School teacher Emma Lipman explores this topic further in her article The Benefits of a Digital Fast on page 28.)
TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT TECHNOLOGY Have conversations with your children about the importance of unplugging from technology and tuning into the world around them. It’s easy to forget what we’re missing out on when we’re perpetually glued to a screen. Technology has many benefits, and those should be discussed as well, but exploring some of its downsides will help your children understand why you are establishing limits on their screen use.
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SETTING LIMITS How you place limits and boundaries on screen time is very important. Sometimes when children do not understand why something is important, they tend to focus on how these new demands will impact their preferred routine. With this in mind, if you are thinking of establishing a technology schedule or creating a digital contract, make sure to include your children in the process. In this way, you are helping them feel a part of creating your family culture. It also helps them anticipate the outcomes of their behavior, especially if they’ve been involved in determining the rewards for adhering to the schedule or the consequences if they don’t.
BEDTIME AND BEYOND When transitioning to bedtime, it’s important to have an established time when electronics will be turned off. Issuing a warning 30 minutes before bedtime is also helpful. I recommend removing electronic devices from children’s bedrooms at night. In general, it might also be wise to keep electronic devices in common areas so that children can be supervised while using them. This can minimize risky online behavior. As with any family issue, it is best to tackle screen time in a collaborative manner. Challenges are opportunities for growth and change. This may be hard to remember during stressful times, but by creating a supportive and predictable environment, we can help our children understand our expectations for their behavior. Please feel free to reach out to the Psychology Department if you have any questions or concerns.
It’s easy to forget what we’re missing out on when we’re perpetually glued to a screen.
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A FISH TALE?
Help Save the Endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus from Extinction! Zapato (zapatopi.net/treeoctopus) is a popular website for teaching children about the importance of evaluating information they find online. At first glance, students are convinced that tree octopuses exist, and they are sometimes even inspired to organize fundraisers to protect them! Then I ask, “Think for a minute: Where do octopuses live? Have you ever seen one that wasn’t in the water?” They realize pretty quickly that they have been fooled—and will think more critically the next time. 25
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ANN CHASEKAREL By
Librarian
“But it’s on the Internet!” EVALUATING WEBSITES AND ONLINE INFORMATION
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N THE SPRING, almost every student at Eagle Hill does a research project. I was looking over the shoulder of one of our younger students who was working on hers and asked if she needed any help. “No,” she said confidently, “I have to find out what koala bears eat, and I found out they eat cherries and salmon.”
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I think they only eat eucalyptus. Would you show me where you found that information?” She pulled up the page and pointed to a popular gaming site. I reinforced our previous discussions about reliable sources, but she remained convinced that the information she had found was correct. “But it’s on the internet!” she said. “Isn’t everything online true?” Long gone are the days of having to trek to the library to check the card catalog or search encyclopedias for information. With a click of the mouse, students can find out about the history of Ireland, which animals are endangered—or almost anything else they want. At Eagle Hill, we subscribe to two online encyclopedias and many databases where students know that everything they find will be accurate. But the reality is they often need to do research online as well. While students are adept at finding information, what parents, teachers, and librarians are discovering, however, is that they have no idea how to evaluate it. Thus it becomes our responsibility to help guide them through the morass of pop-up ads, game enticements, countless pages of data, and an overwhelming temptation to plagiarize by cutting and pasting.
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5W’S
OF WEB SITE EVALUATION
WHO? Who wrote the pages and are they an expert? Is a biography of the author included? How can I find out more about the author?
WHAT? What does the author say is the purpose of the site?
What else might the author have
One thing we can do is give students a framework of questions to help them think about what they are reading: What is content, and what is advertising? Who wrote it? Why? On the left, you will see a chart that highlights some of the questions students need to ask to help evaluate the information they find online. All they have to remember are the 5 W’s: who, what, when, where, and why.
1. WHO?
WHEN?
It’s important to determine who wrote the information on the website. You should be able to find an author’s name, his/her credentials, as well as contact information. (People who make up information certainly don’t publish their email address!) In other words, is the person an expert, or some random person writing from Starbucks?
When was the site created?
2. WHAT?
in mind for the site?
What makes the site easy to use? What information is included and does this information differ from other sites?
When was the site last updated?
WHERE? Where does the information come from? Where can I look to find out more about the sponsor of the site?
WHY? Why is this information useful for my purpose? Why should I use this information? Why is this page better than another? kathy@kathyschroek.net ©2001-2016
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One thing you want to determine right away is the purpose of the website. Is it meant to inform, persuade, sell, or entertain? Is it serious or humorous? One student was adamant that the satirical news site The Onion was a perfect resource for his paper because at the top it states “America’s Finest News Source.” Fortunately, these misconceptions are opportunities for discussion. Other things to look for: Is the site organized and focused or full of flashing pop-up ads? Are there lots of spelling and grammatical errors? Is the typeface large enough and easy to read? Are links current and working? Young students often struggle with trying to determine whether or not the information on a site is objective. A site that has a bias isn’t necessarily bad,
especially if you are trying to look at both sides of a particular issue, but that information should be transparent.
3. WHEN? It’s important to know when a site was created—and, especially, when it was updated. You should be able to find a date somewhere on the home page. Students were surprised to learn that our online encyclopedias are updated every day— and sometimes more often, depending on the articles. Even if there isn’t much new information about, say, George Washington, the website the article is published in should still be checked and updated regularly.
4. WHERE? Where does the information come from? Information about the person and/or organization sponsoring the site should be clearly visible. (Sometimes it will say “About Us,” or something to that effect.) If the site is supported by an organization such as a university or museum, chances are the information is reliable.
5. WHY? How does this site compare to others you have seen on the subject? The information you’re reading might be interesting, but does this site have the best information for THIS project? Using this framework to evaluate information found on the web will help students—over time—develop a critical eye and question what they read. That’s the first step to becoming a savvy internet researcher.
The Benefits of Taking a Digital Fast by Emma Lipman, Lower School Teacher
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e are living in a digital world. We rely heavily on our smart phones, computers, and other electronic devices to help us get through our day. We no longer have to pull out a map when we get lost, or grab a dictionary when we need to look up a word. There are apps for that. Living in a digital world has made life so much easier. But, as we know, technological advances also have their downsides. As a teacher, I worry about the amount of time that kids spend in front of screens. While technology has dramatically improved some aspects of teaching and communication, it has created a major disconnect between fantasy and reality. On social media, for example, young people feel they are invincible and can say whatever they want. Just as important, the more that students are glued to screens, the less they are engaged in their surroundings or interacting with people in meaningful ways. Studies also suggest that excessive screen time puts children at risk for sleep problems, obesity, and attention issues. Just as we take breaks from work or school, it’s important to take a break from the screens that consume so much of our attention. For the last three years, about 50 Eagle Hill students have completed a week-long digital fast as part of Screen-Free Week. In lieu of screen time, participants in this annual event are encouraged to partake in non-tech activities such as going for a walk, playing a board game, baking cookies, or reading a book. Even though it is hard for our students to fulfill this pledge, they feel a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the week. What is more, students told me that they slept better and spent more time with family and friends. Studies show that there are, in fact, a host of benefits associated with taking a digital fast, whether for a full week or just a day or two. Perhaps most important, it gives your brain a much-needed rest. Fast-paced video games and other screen entertainment can overload the visual processing system in the brain, making it hard to focus on important tasks such as homework. A break from screens also allows you to fully connect with the world. Children today do not always know the importance of taking time to “stop and smell the roses.” This also helps in the classroom where students can apply observations from their day to what they are learning. Last but not least, a digital fast can also help improve social and interpersonal skills. Communication is key in society, but we are becoming more and more reliant on texts and emails to do it, where so much can get lost in translation. When we step away from our screens and communicate face-to-face, we become better at expressing ourselves verbally and learn the importance of social cues. Should we avoid digital media? Of course not! But it is important to find a balance between time spent on screens and time spent fully engaged in the world around us. This isn’t easy, but taking regular digital fasts can help us achieve a more positive relationship with technology. FALL 2017 . 28
Managing Technology in the Dorm by Residential Director Joy Delisle
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emember back in the day, when the main phone in the house was in the kitchen and your conversations were monitored by your mom as she cooked dinner? Boy have times changed. According to the research firm Influence Central, most kids today receive their first cell phone around age 10 and have a social media account before they are 12. As technology and the ways in which children communicate and interact have morphed over the years, so have the policies in the dormitory. When I started working in the dorm 18 years ago, computers were primarily used for word processing. Once they came equipped with DVD drives, however, it wasn’t hard to envision the challenges that might present in the dorm: endless movie watching at the expense of much-needed sleep. That was a turning point. After that, laptops got turned in before bed and were housed in a computer cart for charging overnight. Today all of Eagle Hill is on a wireless network, but we have strong internet filters in place to protect students from inappropriate content. The dorm policy still requires students to turn in their computers each night after their homework is completed. Phones or other devices that can connect to the internet must be turned in when students check into the dorm at the start of the school week. Believe it or not, it’s only once or twice a year that we find a phone that hasn’t been turned in—and that’s usually because a student has forgotten that it was in his/her backpack. If students need to make a phone call, they have permission to either use their cellphones or the phone in the dorm office; phones are returned to the dorm staff after the call. Initially, it can be hard for some students to adjust to the dormitory rules on technology. However, once they see everyone turning in their devices, their resistance disappears. There is something to be said for (positive) peer pressure.
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Congratulations to the Lower School Class of 2017!
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Our First Year at Eagle Hill
First year teachers Melyssa Mardit, Amy Frenklakh and Alex Johnson
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s one of the leading schools for students with learning differences, Eagle Hill has always attracted outstanding professionals for its coveted teaching positions. Many of our newest teachers come to us with significant prior teaching experience, and all of them share a strong commitment to EHS’ highly individualized program that allows students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Eagle Hill News sat down with three of our talented new teachers—Lower School teacher Melyssa Mardit and Upper School teachers Amy Frenklakh and Alex Johnson—at the completion of their first year to learn about their journey here, the rewards of working with students with learning differences, and what makes us unique.
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EAGLE HILL NEWS: What brought you to Eagle Hill? MELYSSA MARDIT: I worked in larger classrooms prior to Eagle Hill, at both public and private schools, and I wanted to be able to better educate and target those students who kind of fell under the radar. That’s why I came to Eagle Hill. AMY FRENKLAKH: It was the same for me. Most recently, I was a
second-grade special education teacher at a public school in Brooklyn that’s part of the Nest program, which helps integrate children with special needs into the general curriculum. Unfortunately, in the public school system there is a larger body of students to educate. Eagle Hill allows me to target and address students’ specific strengths and needs in a more personal setting.
MELYSSA: We’re also observed here more than at a typical school, and the feedback is always very helpful. EHN: How would you describe your students? AMY: They’re awesome. ALEX: They have some of the biggest personalities. MELYSSA: They are so kind and accepting. AMY: Overall, they understand that they all have their strengths, but
also that they all have their needs. ALEX: They’ve all experienced in some way, at some point in time
ALEX JOHNSON: I started my teaching career in special education at
before they came here, feeling like an outcast, feeling like a failure in some capacity, even having been bullied. But here they feel so safe.
an independent school in Manhattan called Stephen Gaynor, where I taught first grade for three years.
MELYSSA: And everyone has unlimited opportunities here.
Since it was my first taste of teaching out of graduate school, I wanted to make sure that special education was what I really wanted to do. So, I changed over to general education and taught for a couple of years at another private school, Horace Mann. There I found myself gravitating to the students in my class who needed more support. It finally clicked that I really missed special education and that I wanted to go back to it. That’s when I was lucky enough to find Eagle Hill. EHN: How does Eagle Hill compare with other schools
where you’ve worked? AMY: It doesn’t compare. I’ll never forget my first day here. I don’t remember which teacher it was, but I told her what subject I was teaching and she said, “Oh I taught that, let me share my materials with you.” My jaw just dropped. There is such a generous spirit of sharing here and no sense of competition among the teachers.
AMY: If there is an issue, students can talk to their teachers as well as
their advisor. Everyone is so willing to help and come up with a game plan to make tomorrow a better day.
“ You know your students are making progress. But when you look back at their work, it’s amazing to see how much progress they’ve really made.”
MELYSSA: Everyone is here to reach the same goal and wants to work
MELYSSA: It’s about helping students come up with strategies that
together to meet that goal.
help them rather than just us telling them what to do.
ALEX: Everyone is so approachable here. It’s a really supportive
EHN: It sounds like a good first year.
environment, and there’s a strong mentoring program. EHN: You mentioned the mentoring program. Can you
AMY: It was the best. It’s such a unique feeling and environment here.
elaborate on that?
I wake up excited to come to school every day, no matter what may or may not have happened the day before.
ALEX: Every new teacher is mentored by a veteran teacher. Your
ALEX: I completely agree. You do enjoy coming here each day no
mentor is someone who teaches one of the same subjects as you, and you co-teach with him or her for a period of time. Mentors are very helpful not just in the classroom; they also help you adjust to the community itself.
matter how challenging of a day you may have had the day before. Everyone here is just so incredibly supportive.
AMY: If I have a question, even if my mentor isn’t here, I can go
to another teacher. Also, you can call or go to an advisor any time you want. ALEX: Yes, if you want them to go into your class to observe a lesson
and give you feedback, they’re always happy to come in.
AMY: It’s just so rewarding. On a day to day basis, you know your
students are making progress. But when you look back at their work at the end of the year, it’s amazing to see how much progress they’ve really made. MELYSSA: That’s so true. As the year came to a close, I was so
proud of my students, and I could tell they were proud of themselves, too.
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Alumni GAZETTE
ALUMNI REUNION 2017 At this year’s Alumni Reunion, more than 200 alumni, parents, and graduating students, as well as EHS faculty and staff, gathered on the quad to reconnect, share stories, and bid farewell to Dave Sylvestro, who recently retired after a 43year career at the school. Once it started to rain, the celebration relocated to the gym where attendants continued to reminisce with old friends and teachers and enjoy good food and conversation. The mood stayed festive until the very end, with plenty of laughs, hugs, and even a few games of hoops. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
Mark your calendar for June 3, 2018. #EHSReunion
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ALUMNI PROFILE
Kevin Oxer ‘11
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agle Hill News caught up with alumnus Kevin Oxer, 20, a senior at Adelphi University, just as he was preparing to move halfway around the world to Queensland, Australia to study at Bond University for the fall semester.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO EAGLE HILL? When I arrived at Eagle Hill at the age of 12, I was reading at a third-grade level, my executive function and time management skills were terrible, and I lacked confidence and had low self-esteem. My biggest issue, though, was that I didn’t know how to learn. WHAT DID YOU LEARN AT EAGLE HILL THAT HELPED YOU MANAGE THOSE CHALLENGES? Eagle Hill taught me how to learn. It taught me 35
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how to study, take notes, how to outline and organize myself. I also learned how to selfadvocate, and how to position myself for success. I lived in the dorm all three years, which really helped me learn how to manage my time. The experience also built up my self-esteem and improved my social skills. Joy (Eagle Hill’s Residential Director) got me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things—countless things—whether it was new foods, activities, or
sports. She really pushed me to be independent and to advocate for myself, and she got me to come out of my shell. Speaking of sports, I played ice hockey my second and third year. Mr. Moore and Mr. Leonard really encouraged me to do that. Mr. Leonard took me under his wing and showed me how to play. Then he convinced me to play soccer, which I never would have done. Mr. Moore convinced me to play baseball. Before going to Eagle Hill, I never thought I’d play a sport. TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY AFTER EAGLE HILL. After graduating from Eagle Hill, I went to Winston Prep for a year and then moved on to
Alumni Forman for my last two years of high school. Eagle Hill really prepared me for high school and college. To this day, Ms. Smolak’s Language Arts class was the hardest academic challenge I’ve ever had to face. In fact, everything has been a piece of cake compared to Eagle Hill. I’m currently a senior at Adelphi, where I’m majoring in business management with a concentration in finance. In the fall, I’m going to Australia’s Gold Coast to study at Bond University. This will be the first time I’ll be completely alone in a foreign country. I wouldn’t be independent if it wasn’t for Eagle Hill. It is definitely the reason that I even considered going to Australia.
“ Eagle Hill is a place where you can figure out how to be the best you.” DOES ADELPHI OFFER ANY ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES? At Adelphi, there’s a learning resource program for students with language-based learning disabilities. I meet with an educator twice a week for 45 minutes, more if I need it. She helps me create a plan for big projects and papers. I also have a math educator who reinforces what I learn in the classroom. WHAT ABOUT BOND UNIVERSITY? I won’t have academic support at Bond, so it will be new for me to be without it. I can email my educator at Adelphi or talk to her on the phone if I need to. That said, I think I’ll be able to manage my schoolwork independently. ANY WORDS OF ADVICE FOR CURRENT EAGLE HILL STUDENTS? I would encourage them to take full advantage of what Eagle Hill has to offer. They should really practice their study skills and try new things—whether that’s a new sport, or a new activity—because it’s a safe environment. Eagle Hill is a place where you can figure out how to be the best you. Nothing’s like it, but you will leave with all the skills you need to be successful outside of Eagle Hill.
GAZETTE
ALUMNI NEWS 1990s
2000s
Chris McDonald (1990) Chris is a music composer.
Leyla (Beraha) Akshlomo (2001) Leyla is happy to report that she is a full-time mother and living in New York City.
Tapley-Ann (Mudge) Paxson (1994) Tapley-Ann is both an alumna and a former EHS teacher. She and her family are currently living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She has two daughters, ages 5 1/2 and 2 1/2.
Michael Peterson (2001) Michael is a video editor for an arena football team, the Lehigh Valley Steel Hawks. John Henderson (2004) “Self-employed, loves life!”
Dan Friedman (1995) Dan is working at the Brooklyn Family Court.
Rebecca Maccarino (2004) Rebecca is working at the Prospector Theater in Ridgefield.
Ashley Mudge (1997) Ashley is a former teacher at EHS and is now the owner of a gift boutique in Lancaster, Pennsylvania called Because I Like You, www.becauseilikeu.com.
Cristina Carr (2005) Cristina is currently holding down two jobs: She is an assistant at the Ferguson Library in Stamford as well as an associate at Girl AGain in White Plains, a non-profit resale boutique for gently used American Girl dolls and accessories.
Jessica Acker (1998) Jessica reports that she graduated from medical school in 2016. She is doing her residency in pediatrics at Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn.
Samuel Stewart (2006) Samuel is a 2015 graduate of High Point University. He is currently working in sports marketing and looking for future opportunities. (continued on next page)
Dear Ea
gle Hill
,
I give th anks re gularly it chang for h ed my li fe and m aving been fo rtunate y future enough . My tuto to atten rial tea d Eagle chers w teacher Hill; e r e awesom with th e best d e , a nd Mr. rawings Breakell ever to was the Now I w go on a earth sc ork as a chalkbo ience n engin if not fo ard or a eer, and r the aw binder. I love it esome The equ . None support ity and of this w , staff, a fairness familiar ould ha nd ener in teach with. Fo ve happ g y that w in g r this re ened a and wa n d as Eagle in ason, I disciplin nted to Hill Sch put in t e were give the ool. some re h n e ot som effort; I mm spect. A ething valued nyone w y best, as they I was e v ery tea had off ho wou cher th ered m ld do th e Thank y r e e , a for the t for me ou for s first tim , I would till bein incredib e , g g there ive my le impa , and I h best for. ct you a o p e re havin in time g on m you all —Alex any peo realize Austin what an ple’s liv (1984) es!
FALL 2017 . 36
Alumni GAZETTE
TEACHER REFLECTION
ALUMNI NEWS (cont.) Casey Corcoran (2009) Casey is a graduate of UTI and is working as a generator technician.
Ryan Hays (2013) Ryan, a graduate of The Harvey School, attends Siena College.
Patrick Thane (2009) Patrick is working toward his M.Ed. at the College of NJ. He graduated summa cum laude from TCNJ with a major in Spanish Language Development.
Max Panoff (2013) Max is attending Villanova University where he is on the men’s lacrosse team.
Kristen Wagner (2009) Kristen is an assistant preschool teacher and also works at KidsU in Norwalk.
Daniel Guarini (2014) Daniel “has made high honors every semester since freshman year at Notre Dame High School in Fairfield.” He plans to study physical therapy in college.
2010s
Syd Penn (2014) Syd is a senior and member of the class of 2018 at The Harvey School.
Jacob Rosenthal (2010) Jacob is studying at Ithaca College. Natalie Semel (2010) Natalie attends Mitchell College and is focusing on animal care and liberal studies. Jordan LaRaus (2011) Jordan shares that she is the starting freshman hockey goal keeper at Keene State. John Marks (2011) John reports that he is “halfway through college and doing great!” Alexa Augustine (2012) This spring Alexa shared, “I am a freshman at Curry College. I am enjoying my classes and keep busy with my schoolwork and friends.” She said she regularly attended Curry College basketball games and that Kieran Carroll (’12) is on the basketball team.
Dylan Schuman (2014) Dylan reports that she is a senior in high school after her third transfer. John Scott Whittier (2014) John Scott is attending Marvelwood School. Maddie Roberts (2015) Maddie is a sophomore and member of the class of 2020 at Holy Child. Taylor Colangelo (2016) Taylor reports that she is going to be a sophomore at Holy Child in the fall. William DeGraaf (2016) William is in his second year at Winston Prep. Colin Keating (2016) Colin reports that he is a student at John Jay Middle School and is on the baseball team.
Nicholas Blue (2012) Nicholas is a member of Muhlenberg University’s class of 2020.
Revan Lazarus (2016) Revan shares that he will be attending IMG Academy in the fall.
Vashon Wilson (2012) Vashon is playing basketball at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Connor Redmond (2016) Connor has switched schools and is now at Forman.
Julie Goff (2013) Julie is a senior at Pinnacle. She will be attending Maplebrook in the fall.
Travis Zuckerman (2016) Travis shares that he will be a student at Forman this fall.
Zachary Halperin (2013) Zachary is a member of the class of 2018 at Staples High School.
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agle Hill graduate Charles Teissonniere (2011) is a junior at University of Vermont where he is working toward his degree in elementary education. Charles was a committed and enthusiastic art student while at Eagle Hill and says he intends to integrate art into his classroom teaching. Eagle Hill News asked Ms. Graves, Eagle Hill’s longtime art teacher who recently retired, for a short reflection on Charles. Her response is below.
It’s wonderful that Charles is still so passionate about art and that he wants to find a way to integrate it into his teaching. When Charles was at Eagle Hill, he was always at home in the art room. In fact, he signed up for extended art every single week. Charles’ unique style of art was paper cutting. Every time art activities would begin, Charles had a vision of what he wanted to work on that day. His creations ranged from making a detailed mobile home, which included a fold-out dinette table and chairs, to a theater stage complete with backdrops, an orchestra pit, and audience seating. It was an honor to be his teacher, and I’m happy that we have stayed in touch. — Ms. Graves
ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017
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THANK YOU
ANNUAL FUND DONORS HEAD OF SCHOOL CIRCLE $20,000+
Mr. & Mrs. Dwight Anderson Cliff & Laurel Asness* Mr. & Mrs. James Bartlett Mr. Patrick J. Brogan & Ms. Patricia Black The Black Brogan Foundation Bob and Paula Burton Mr. Joe Burton and Ms. Calico Burton Robert G. Burton Charitable Foundation Michael & Minnie Dubilier Goldman Sachs Gives Mr. & Mrs. Peter Mattis Mr. Ali Melli Pershing Mr. & Mrs. Hugh B. Vanderbilt Jr. R.T. Vanderbilt Trust Joseph R. Zimmel # Zimmel Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Zimmer The Zimmer Family Foundation Mr. Roy Zuckerberg
TRUSTEE CIRCLE $10,000-20,000
THANK YOU for your important role in supporting Eagle Hill School, for affirming our long-held values, and for helping us build a foundation for Eagle Hill’s future as an educational leader in the field of LD. We thank you for your gift to the Eagle Hill Fund. Your generosity as parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, and friends speaks volumes for our shared commitment to Eagle Hill School. Your gift to the Eagle Hill Fund supports learning experiences that go far beyond the classroom. Experiences that enable our students to grow socially and emotionally while building their academic skills in and out of the classroom. Your gift supports our ability to share our educational knowledge both locally and regionally as a thought leader in the field of LD. With your support, we continue to foster a strong network of alumni and alumni parents. This year, with your support, we launched the Eagle Hill School Speaker Series presented by the Black Brogan Foundation featuring experts on learning and the classroom. Six Eagle Hill faculty members presented at the LDA International Conference in Baltimore on various strategies for the classroom from managing anxiety, to techniques for teaching children the language and thought processes of self-regulation, to ways to model metacognitive language in the classroom. We hosted visits from more than 200 alumni who returned to share their stories with our current students and connect with the very mentors that gave them the tools to succeed. With your support, the Eagle Hill Fund provides opportunities that enrich and challenge our students, equipping them with the tools they need to learn the way they learn, preparing them for the next chapter in their educational journey, and supporting them as they go. Thank you for your confidence in Eagle Hill and for your generosity.
Together we are turning imagine into action! 39
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EAGLE HILL NEWS
Bob & Lisa Eatroff # Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund The Glickberg Family, in honor of student scholarships Mr. & Mrs. Allen Haight * Jeremy Henderson & Catherine Samuels # High Rise Basketball Academy * Jewish Communal Fund Richard & Robin Jones * Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kay Mr. & Mrs. Thomas B. Ketchum Sidney Kutler Family Foundation Mark Plaumann & Marilyn Wilson # Mr. & Mrs. David Portny Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving Mr. & Mrs. Joost Thesseling
FOUNDERS CIRCLE $5,000-9,999 Mr. & Mrs. Nick Alvarez Alvarez Educational Foundation, Inc Neil & Kim Augustine # The Boston Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Caplan Caplan Family Foundation Trust Anonymous Marjorie & Ray Castro * Anonymous Ken deRegt Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Esposito Dana Fields & Dan Gearon Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Grinberg Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Herne Ms. Caroline Hirschfeld Alexandros & Maria Kedros * Katie Kidder & Tom Kent # Mr. & Mrs. Cliff Lanier Mr. Eric Lauerwald & Ms. Christina Simon The Meno Lissauer Foundation, Inc. Mr. George Nunn & Ms. Catherine Salisbury Mr. & Mrs. H. Lewis Rapaport Ms. Sandra Saiger Anonymous * Mr. & Mrs. Nikhil Thukral Christopher & Tracy Turner Nina W. Werblow Charitable Trust
BENEFACTORS $2,500-4,999
Peter & Gila Acker Mr. & Mrs. David Alexander The William A. Barbe Family Dr. Peter and Sarah Diamond # Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Feinberg Mr. Matthew Finnerty & Mrs. Victoria LaMura-Finnerty
Amy Jo & Bill Frischling, in honor of Dr. Marjorie Castro GE Foundation IBM Employee Services Center Industry Prom Fund for the Wall Ceiling & Carpet Industry Ms. Eva Landegger* The Landegger Charitable Foundation, Inc. Valerie & Ron Lauderdale Derrel Mason Patty & Jeffrey Murphy Norman Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Robert Peck Andrea Tessler and Michael Scarsella * Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Siege Mr. Tucker Sylvestro, in honor of Dave Sylvestro Mr. & Mrs. Beau Taylor Sheryl and Dan Tishman * Dan & Sheryl Tishman Family Foundation, Inc. Vanguard Charitable Mr. & Mrs. Mark Wachen, in honor of Rebecca & Lexi Wachen Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Walsh, III * Sandy and Terry Ann Weil * Mr. & Mrs. Lee Zaretzky
SPONSORS $500-2,499
Appleby Charitable Lead Trust Mr. & Mrs. Peter Appleby Mr. James Ayer & Ms. Paola Brisson Mr. Vikram Bhaskar & Ms. Mridu Gulati Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Blatt Dr. Edward S. Breakell * Nancy & Larry Brookman Joseph O. Brusco & MaryLou Brusco Mr. Thaddeus Buzolich & Ms. Sara Strang Mr. & Mrs. Tom Cahill Benjamin & Victoria Carlin * Rob & Laurie Casper # Mary Lou Cassone Mr. & Mrs. Tomas Chadwick Chris & Maura Craig * Sharon & Bill Crain # Joe & Diana Dowling Benjamin Duell # James L Easton Grandchildren’s Trust Miss Lynn Easton Mr. Penn Eichorn Elias & Roubi Eliopoulos * Lisa & Joe Ferraro * Mr. & Mrs. Fernando L. Ferre Dan & Phyllis Finn # The Finn Family Foundation Stephanie & Lawrence Flinn Charitable Trust * Mr. & Mrs. H. Andrew & Stacy K. Fox # Mr. Brian Fridie & Ms. Tania Santos-Fridie Mr. & Mrs. Erik Friedman Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Gallagher Dr. Jan Quaegebeur & Dr. Annetine Gelijns Lena & Joseph Gershenov Lisa & Jeff Gerson Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Giordano Mr. Paul Gordon & Ms. Sheri Rabiner-Gordon Alison Cox & Rick Grellier Veronica Grinstein & Martin Anidjar Anonymous # Mr. & Mrs. Arlen F. Henock # Patsy Howard * Anonymous # Mr. & Mrs. Robert Husted, Jr. * Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Mr. Anton Katz Mr. & Mrs. Marc Katzman Mr. & Mrs. Ted Kelleher
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Lavoie Cindy & Rick Leaman Mr. & Mrs. David Libertoff, in recognition of Brett’s teachers & staff Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Liddy Mr. & Mrs. Michael Liebowitz Michael & Martha Liebowitz Gift Fund Mrs. Camille Luppino Mr. Joseph Luppino Mr. & Mrs. Robert MacNaughton Mr. & Mrs. Joel Meyer, in honor of Ben Meyer Mr. & Mrs. Michael Meyer, in honor of Ben Meyer Lisa & Terran Miller # Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Milstein The Mudge Family Mr. & Mrs. Matt Mulhern # Laura & Steve Paulus Jim & Sara Pelgrift Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Pollner * Mr. & Mrs. John Rapaport Mr. & Mrs. John Raybin Ron & Kathy Redmond Lorraine & Robert W. Reeder III # Mr. Charles Reid & Ms. Ellen Christian-Reid Mike & Veronica Richter Ellis & Rose Rinaldi, in honor of Joseph Rinaldi * Lee C. Rust ‘01 * The Rust Foundation Mr. Stan Rybalov & Ms. Jennifer Gressin-Rybalov Dr. Harvinder Singh Sandhu & Dr. Sonia Sandhu Drew & Kat Saunders * David & Lisa Schlakman, in honor of Steven Schlakman ‘06 * H. Schrier Co., Inc Keith Schuman Mr. & Mrs. Wallace L. Schwartz Mr. Ted Seides Peter J. Sellon 1997 Charitable Lead Trust * Dr. Lydia Soifer, Ph.D. Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Stein The Studnitzer Family * Turner Construction Brook & Michael Urban, in honor of The Development Team Mr. & Mrs. Brodie Van Wagenen Andrew Vindigni # Mr. & Mrs. Paul Waldron Torrance York & Greg Walters Anonymous Tim & Carol Welch Mr. James H. Wendorf & Ms. Barbara Fiorino Berta, Carroll, & Evan Wetzel # Vanessa Wilson # Roy J. Zuckerberg Family Foundation Lloyd Zuckerberg & Charlotte Triefus * Mr. & Mrs. Keith Zuckerman Mr. & Mrs. Brian Zuro Ms. Janet Zykorie
FRIEND
Conrad Aamodt * Ms. Deanna Abbondola Ms. Lauren Albert Ms. Herlinda Alejandro Margie & Scott Alley # Mr. & Mrs. Mark Altschul Amazon Smile Dr. Edward Ament & Ms. Mary Rogers Mr. Daniel Baker * Bankers Trust Foundation Mary K. Barber * JoAnn, Allen, & Cameron ‘07 Barnett * Ms. Suzanne Barron Mr. Joseph Baynes * Ms. Patricia Behr,
in honor of Kevin Oxer Mr. David Beinstein & Ms. Veera Hiranandani Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bellinson Maggie Bergmann Shari Bloomer # Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Bonfiglio Jen Booth * Mr. & Mrs. Frank Bosco * Robert & Wendy Breakell # Mr. & Mrs. Peter K. Brooks # Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bruguiere Amy & Henry Bubel, in honor of Alissa Bubel ‘97 * Janice Spector & George Buchalter Gina Burke * Michele Burns # Mr. & Mrs. Craig Busby, in honor of Jake Busby Ms. Ellen Busman Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Byrne # Ms. Andrea Calise & Ms. Linda McLeod Mr. & Mrs. Scott Campbell Ms. Ashleigh Carlucci Mr. Joseph Catarina & Ms. Valerie Pronevich, in honor of all EHS students Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Celiberti Mr. & Mrs. Julio Cenzi Ms. Tara Clancy Mr. & Mrs. Kevin M. Cofsky Mr. & Mrs. Andy Cohen Ms. Danielle Cohen Mr. & Mrs. John Del Col James & Hilleary Coleman # Ms. Megan Colvin Tom & Toby Cone *
THE EAGLE HILL FUND ACHIEVED
100%
PARTICIPATION FROM FACULTY AND STAFF.
Ms. Tracy Cone * Ms. Maria Conforti Mr. & Mrs. Kevin W. Connolly # Kelly & Bob Corwen Mr. Craig Culver, in honor of Drew Saunders Janice Curtin * Ms. Jillian Davis Brian & Colleen Dayton * Monique deBoer Brandon & Joy Delisle * Ms. Diana DeLuca Diane’s Books Maria T. DiPalma # Bridget Donnelly * Mr. & Mrs. Paul Dorfman Mrs. Kimberly La Du Mr. Scott La Du Mr. James Dunn, III ‘77 Ms. Alexandra Dunning * Mr. Ian Dunning Eagle Hill Foundation, Inc. Carol & Jay Ehlen # Mr. & Mrs. Mark Eichorn Mr. & Mrs. James Elliot Mr. & Mrs. William Fahey Mary Fay * Stephanie & Don Fehr Mr. & Mrs. Gregg Fisher James & Carmel Fitzpatrick, in honor of Lily Fitzpatrick * Mr. & Mrs. Niclas Fjalltoft
Deane Flood in honor of Eric Flood * Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fontana Ms. Pam Fortin, in honor of Wendy Salisbury # Theresa Fox * Mr. & Mrs. Christian French Anonymous Barry Friedberg # The Barry Friedberg & Charlotte Moss Family Foundation Ms. Gail Gaiser Cary & Cruger Gallaudet # Ms. Carolyn Gamanos * Pam Gardner, honoring Fallon Gardner E. Gartner # Mr. & Mrs. David L. Gedney Steven & Terri Gelbstein, in honor of Corey Gelbstein (EHS ‘06) Mrs. Fanny Gelpieryn Ms. Jessica Genova Robert S. Germain & Janet T. Gerber Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Howard Ginsburg Anonymous Jeanette Glover * Anonymous Ms. Theresa Gottlieb Ms. Amy Graham Denise Grasso * Deb Graves * Mr. & Mrs. W. Grant Gregory jr Steve Grieder & Vicki Kroviak Mr. & Mrs. Mark S. Guarini Ashley Gulyas * Abby & Packy Hanrahan # Dan & Jenn Harkins * Ms. Sarah Heffernan Jen Heibeck * Mr. & Mrs. Neil Hindle David Hoffman, Jr. Linda Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Horecky, in honor of Kenzie Horecky Ms. Micole Horowitz Mr. & Mrs. Nilo Huyhua William & Sarah Ings * Mr. Robert A. Ittner, Sr. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Janniello Liza Jarombek * Ms. Brynn John Ms. Alexandra Johnson Ms. Nicole Josiger * Mr. Monte Kalman, in celebration of Ryan Zaretzky’s Bar Mitzvah Mr. Peter Kaminsky Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell Kaplan Ann Chase-Karel # Anonymous Ms. Eve Kessler Mr. Bryan V. Kiefer Heather & James Kirby Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Klik Douglas A. Krajewski * Anonymous, in honor of Doug Krajewski Joel & Diana S. Krosnick * Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Kubie * Ms. Nicole Kumar Boardie & Tom Kurz Sarah Kwiatkowski * Mr. & Mrs. Tom Lasley * Mr. Julien Laveyssieres Jeff Leonard * Ms. Rose Levine Mr. & Mrs. Peter Levine Mr. Morgan Lewis ‘94 Dr. Mark Lieb & Dr. Christine Grimaldi Anonymous, in honor of Mr. Jose Linares Emma Lipman Mr. & Mrs. Christopher M. Lodge * Long Ridge HSE Cleaning Services, LLC
INCOME
Tuition 89.7%
Annual Fund & Benefit Event 5.6% Endowment income 3.9% Other income 1.0%
EXPENSES
Salaries & Benefits 67.9%
Financial Aid 12.9% Academic Programming & Operations 12.0% Capital Improvement & Facilities 3.3% Debt Service 3.9%
15-16 Unaudited Actuals as of July 12, 2017
FALL 2017 . 40
Anonymous, in honor of Mr. Luis Lopez Antonietta Lovett * Ms. Edna Magras Patrick Maguire * Joanne & Anthony Maida * Mr. Jason Maltese Ms. Melyssa Mardit Mr. & Mrs. Tristan Margot * Ms. Randi Mason * Ms. Jean Hamerman & Ms. Nina Massen Catherine & Vincent Mazzaro * Mr. & Mrs. Vince McClean Mr. & Mrs. James McGrath Barbara McHale * Jenny & Kevin McMorrow * Ms. Catherine McSweeny EHS Teacher * Erica & Andrew Merrill Mr. & Mrs. Mikael Meyer Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Edward Moore * JP Morgan Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Morgan Morgan Stanley Ms. Joanna Napolitano, in honor of Joseph Napolitano Mr. Joseph Napolitano Audrey & Bruce Nathanson # Mr. & Mrs. Dominic Neyra Maureen Nisch * Mr. & Mrs. James S. Notis Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell Nussbaum Mr. & Mrs. Christopher O’Connell
Mr. Anthony Morris O’Connor, III Mr. & Mrs. Richard Oren Kevin Oxer & Family * Mr. & Mrs. Harry F. Pagel, III Ms. Adriana Palladino Renata Papone & Chris Lally * Mr. & Mrs. Reginald Patterson Mrs. Lorna McKeithan-Pausig & Mr. Ralph Pausig # Sharon Pearlman # Daniel Pelgrift ‘08 Mr. Philip Pineau Roy Piskadlo & Ellen Tolstad * Mr. & Mrs. Julian Plant Betsy & Ken Plevan Ms. Lauren Polinsky Ms. Maria C. Prieto Charles & Carole Purse Katherine Quinn # Ms. Susan Rappaport Mr. & Mrs. Stewart Rauner Maria Reed * Joan Hochman & Christopher Reid Mr. & Mrs. William Reid * Ms. Kristina Remy Sarah Restrepo * The Revson Charitable Trust Mr. Kenneth Ricci & Mrs. Anne Ricci Kathleen & Joseph Rinaldi # Mr. Andrew Robin Ms. Jeanette Rodriguez Mr. & Mrs. Brendan Rogers Ed & Janette Root Mrs. Julie Rosenberg Ms. Rebecca Ross
Barbara Roth James Roth, MD Anonymous, in honor of Mr. Walter Ruano Mr. & Ms. Kirk Ruddy Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Ruffinott Ms. Beth Ryan Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Saba Mrs. Amy Sacks-Krafft Wendy Salisbury # Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Sandler, in honor of Margie Levin Mr. & Mrs. Glen Sansone Mr. & Mrs. Richard Scardino Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Schmidt * Mr. Marc-Thomas Schmidt & Dr. Birgit Schmidt-Wesche Mr. Phillip Schneider, in honor of Lydia Soifer Mr. & Mrs. Sam Schwartzman Ms. Kelly Scopelliti Ms. Natalie Semel ‘10 Chris & Amber Senyek Mr. & Mrs. Howard Seymour Ms. Alexandra Shabman Mr. & Mrs. William Shanok Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Shapiro David Shupe & Victoria Tillotson * Mr. Richard Sibery & Dr. Marilyn Sibery Mr. & Mrs. Rafael de la Sierra Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Slansky Mr. & Ms. Pieter Smit Everett & Liz Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Smolak * Sandy & Steve Soule Mr. & Mrs. Mike Stanitski Ms. Cecilia Stanley Mr. & Mrs. Ira Stein Mr. Steven Stern * Mr. & Mrs. Mark K. Stewart, in honor of Samuel Stewart Mr. & Mrs. Eric J. Stock Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Sturz Christine Sweeney * Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Swift Dave & Lea Sylvestro # Ms. Carolyn Tarpey Tart-Wald Foundation Dr. Edwin Tavarez & Dr. Diana Santiago Ms. Ellen Taylor Mr. Charles Teissonniere ’11 Chris & Irene Theriot Ms. Andrea Tolliver Mr. Dean Tomasula & Ms. Sandra Gelpieryn Don & Cathleen Tone # Ms. Christine Ullrich * Liz Urban ‘93 Kenneth & Harriet Wald Anonymous Dr. & Mrs. John Wang Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Yosef Weberman Barry & Judy Weiss # Mr. & Mr. Richard Wissoker Paul & Erin Withstandley Dave & Elise Young
* Five years of consecutive giving to the Eagle Hill Fund; # 10 years of consecutive giving to the Eagle Hill Fund
CURRENT PARENT SUPPORT OF THE EAGLE HILL FUND
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Ms. Herlinda Alejandro Mr. & Mrs. David Alexander Mr. & Mrs. Mark Altschul Mr. & Mrs. Nick Alvarez Mr. & Mrs. Dwight Anderson Cliff & Laurel Asness Mr. James Ayer & Ms. Paola Brisson Mr. & Mrs. James Bartlett Mr. David Beinstein & Ms. Veera Hiranandani Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bellinson Mr. Vikram Bhaskar & Ms. Mridu Gulati Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Blatt Mr. & Mrs. Craig Busby Mr. Thaddeus Buzolich & Ms. Sara Strang Mr. & Mrs. Tom Cahill Ms. Andrea Calise & Ms. Linda McLeod Mr. & Mrs. Scott Campbell Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Caplan Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Celiberti Mr. & Mrs. Julio Cenzi Mr. & Mrs. Tomas Chadwick Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Cofsky Mr. & Mrs. Andy Cohen Chris & Maura Craig Mr. & Mrs. Rafael de la Sierra Monique deBoer Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Paul Dorfman Miss Lynn Easton Elias & Roubi Eliopoulos Mr. & Mrs. James Elliot Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Esposito Mr. & Mrs. William Fahey EAGLE HILL NEWS
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Feinberg Lisa & Joe Ferraro Mr. & Mrs. Fernando L. Ferre Mr. Matthew Finnerty & Mrs. Victoria LaMura-Finnerty Mr. & Mrs. Gregg Fisher Mr. & Mrs. Niclas Fjalltoft Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fontana Mr. & Mrs. Christian French Mr. Brian Fridie & Ms. Tania Santos-Fridie Mr. & Mrs. Erik Friedman Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Gallagher Pam Gardner Mr. & Mrs. David L. Gedney Robert S. Germain & Janet T. Gerber Lisa & Jeff Gerson Mr. Paul Gordon & Ms. Sheri Rabiner-Gordon Ms. Theresa Gottlieb Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Grinberg Veronica & Martin Grinstein Ms. Jean Hamerman & Ms. Nina Massen Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Herne Mr. & Mrs. Neil Hindle Mr. & Mrs. Stephen J. Horecky Mr. & Mrs. Nilo Huyhua William & Sarah Ings Mr. & Mrs. Richard Janniello Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell Kaplan Mr. & Mrs. Marc Katzman Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kay Alexandros & Maria Kedros Mr. & Mrs. Ted Kelleher Katie Kidder & Tom Kent Heather & James Kirby Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Klik Mr. & Mrs. Cliff Lanier Mr. Eric Lauerwald & Ms. Christina Simon Mr. & Mrs. Peter Levine Mr. & Mrs. David Libertoff Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Liddy
Dr. Mark Lieb & Dr. Christine Grimaldi Mr. & Mrs. Michael Liebowitz Mrs. Camille Luppino Mr. Joseph Luppino Mr. & Mrs. Robert MacNaughton Ms. Edna Magras Mr. & Mrs. Peter Mattis Catherine & Vincent Mazzaro Mr. & Mrs. Vince McClean Mr. & Mrs. Michael Meyer Mr. & Mrs. Mikael Meyer Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Mitchell Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Morgan Patty & Jeffrey Murphy Ms. Joanna Napolitano Mr. Joseph Napolitano Mr. & Mrs. Dominic Neyra Mr. & Mrs. James S. Notis Mr. George Nunn & Ms. Catherine Salisbury Mr. & Mrs. Mitchell Nussbaum Mr. & Mrs. Christopher O’Connell Mr. & Mrs. Richard Oren Mr. & Mrs. Robert Peck Mr. & Mrs. Julian Plant Mr. & Mrs. David Portny Ms. Maria C. Prieto Dr. Jan Quaegebeur & Dr. Annetine Gelijns Mr. & Mrs. John Rapaport Mr. & Mrs. Stewart Rauner Mr. & Mrs. John Raybin Mr. Charles Reid and Ms. Ellen Christian-Reid Mr. Kenneth Ricci & Mrs. Anne Ricci Mike & Veronica Richter Mr. & Mrs. Brendan Rogers Ed & Janette Root Mr. & Ms. Kirk Ruddy Mr. &Mrs. Ronald Ruffinott Mr. Stan Rybalov & Ms. Jennifer Gressin-Rybalov Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Saba
Dr. Harvinder Singh Sandhu & Dr. Sonia Sandhu Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Sandler Mr. & Mrs. Glen Sansone Mr. & Mrs. Richard Scardino Keith Schuman Mr. & Mrs. Sam Schwartzman Mr. Ted Seides Chris & Amber Senyek Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Shapiro David Shupe & Victoria Tillotson Mr. Richard Sibery and Dr. Marilyn Sibery Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Siege Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Slansky Mr. & Ms. Pieter Smit Mr. & Mrs. Mike Stanitski Ms. Cecilia Stanley Mr. & Mrs. Ira Stein Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Stein Mr. & Mrs. Eric J. Stock Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Swift Ms. Carolyn Tarpey Dr. Edwin Tavarez & Dr. Diana Santiago Mr. & Mrs. Beau Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Joost Thesseling Mr. & Mrs. Nikhil Thukral Ms. Andrea Tolliver Christopher & Tracy Turner Mr. & Mrs. Brodie Van Wagenen Mr. & Mrs. Hugh B. Vanderbilt Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Mark Wachen Mr. & Mrs. Paul Waldron Torrance York & Greg Walters Dr. & Mrs. John Wang Mr. & Mrs. Yosef Weberman Paul & Erin Withstandley Mr. & Mrs. Lee Zaretzky Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Zimmer Mr. & Mrs. Brian Zuro
2017 BENEFIT DONORS Conrad Aamodt Kimberlee & Robert Ageloff David & Karen Alexander Margie & Scott Alley Julie & Dwight Anderson Martin Anidjar & Veronica Grinstein Jennifer Archer Arielle Tepper Madover Productions Laurel & Cliff Asness Kim & Neil Augustine Vivian Babakanian Frazier Lisa Bambino Sonja & Jim Bartlett Becco NYC Jody Bellows Wendy Bennett Pam Bieber Judith Birsh Ronald & Elisa Blatt Christopher Bogart Andrea & Frank Bosco Jill & Reginald Brack Anonymous Pradraig Brennan Kevin & Catharine Broderick Theodore & Helene Brois Jon & Melody Bryant Gina Burke Michele Burns Joe & Calico Burton Burton Snowboards Gregory Cangiano Carey Limousine Anonymous Benjamin & Victoria Carlin Marjorie & Ray Castro Thomas & Lindsay Celiberti Robert & Kim Cestari Tomas & Ana Chadwick Cognitive Neurologic SVC Herbert Cohen The Conrad New York Chris & Maura Craig Joyce Crupi Gordon & Laura Devens Diageo Shelley & Gerard Donato Eagle Hill School Faculty & Staff Bob & Lisa Eatroff Elias & Roubi Eliopoulos Chris Elkind James & Leora Elliot Lisa & Mark Ellis Emerald Tree & Shrub Care Jeff & Patricia Feinberg Lisa & Joe Ferraro Dana Fields & Dan Gearson Niclas & Michelle Fjalltoft Forman School Christian & Sharon French Friend of Eagle Hill School Amy Jo & Bill Frischling Darlene Garcia
The Gateway School Jessica Genova Anonymous Gregory & Adams, P.C. Ashley Gulyas Gail Gurland Allen & Franziska Haight Heagney, Lennon & Slane, LLP Jeremy Henderson & Catherine Samuels Nicholas & Claire Herne Lauren Huss Inspirica Stephen & Eileen Iorio Marianne & Rich Janniello Joe Allen Restaurant Alli Jones Ruth Kaminer Brian & Patti-Ann Kanterman Marc & Shari Kanterman Mitchell & Jill Kaplan Dona Rani Kathirithamby Marc & Jill Katzman Robert & Shan Kay Alexandros & Maria Kedros Ted & Laura Kelleher Arthur & Eve Kessler Cliff & Dorothy Lanier Nicole Larkins Thomas & Meg Lasley Barbara Laufer Julien Laveyssieres Law Office of Neal Rosenberg Law Offices of Lauren A. Baum PC Paul Laveris, Glenville Wine & Spirits Stephen & Christina Liddy Littman Krooks LLP lulu HOME Joseph & Cami Luppino Robert & Dana MacNaughton Magen David Yeshivah Maplebrook School David & Tammy Marchini Marvelwood School Peter & Kathryn Mattis Catherine & Vincent Mazzaro Vince & Carol Ann McClean Barbara McHale Edward & Dawn McLaren Philip & Cathie Messing Lisa & Terran Miller Miller Motorcars Eric & Natalie Modell Montepicaza USA Patty & Jeff Murphy Mark Negley Carol & John Nicholson Northern Valley Speech Language & Learning Center Inc Seth & Dani Pariser Daniel & Denice Piazza Philip Pineau Linda & Julian Plant Mark Plaumann & Marilyn Wilson David & Alyssa Portny
GIFTS TO THE EAGLE HILL FUND IN HONOR OF THE CLASS OF 2017
• Mridu Gulati and Vikram Bhaskar, in honor of Armaan Bhaskar • Chris and Maura Craig, in honor of Jack Craig • The Ferraro Family, in honor of all Ryan’s teachers and dorm staff • William and Sarah Ings, in honor of Madeleine Ings • Caroline and Mitchell Nussbaum, in honor of Rebecca Nussbaum • Joanne and Richard Scardino, in honor of Vincent Scardino • Julie and Jeffrey Stein, in honor of Karly M. Stein • Mark and Hallie Wachen, in honor of the class of 2017 • Yu-Chen Zhang and Ju Zhao
Anne Prost-Robert Rick & Susan Rakow Lacey Ramsey Sue Rappaport Gail & Stewart Rauner Riverview School Brendan & Brigid Rogers Maris Rosenberg Lynn Rubin Kirk Ruddy George Nunn & Catherine Salisbury Wendy Salisbury Harvinder & Sonia Sandhu Drew & Kat Saunders Richard & Joanne Scardino Marietta Schachtschneider Skovran & Sarah Schreder Amber & Christopher Senyek Shades of Green, Inc David & Mary Lou Shipper Carol & Christopher Siege David Shupe & Victoria Tillotson Lynn Silverman Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities Andrew & Shannon Smith Barbara Smith Susan Sokolov Lydia Soifer The Southfield Center for Psychological Services LLC Spencer Walsh Law PLLC Craig Stanley Cecilia Stanley Jeffrey & Julie Stein Michael Stewart Eric & Danielle Stock Ram Sundaram & Preethi Krishna Christine Sweeney Dave & Lea Sylvestro William & Theresa Tesler Nikhil & Alka Thukral Tracy & Christopher Turner Hugh & Roxanne Vanderbilt Paul & Savina Waldron Barbara & Joe Walsh Waterside School Mark & Jo Ann Weinig M. Margaret Whelley Susan & Peter Williams Jed Wilson Amy Winikoff Winston Preparatory School The Windward School Paul & Erin Withstandley Judith Wolf-Nevid Terrence & Laurie Yanni Torrance York & Greg Walters Joseph R. Zimmel Carrie & Keith Zuckerman Peter & Leslie Zuckerwise
GIFTS TO THE DAVE SYLVESTRO FUND IN SUPPORT OF ALUMNI ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND THE ANNUAL ALUMNI REUNION Wendy & Rob Breakell Janice Curtin Mark Eichorn Dana Fields & Dan Gearon Anonymous Denise Gasso Eve Kessler Kimbery La Du Scott La Du Morgan Lewis ‘94
Andrew & Erica Merrill The Mudge Family Audrey & Bruce Nathanson Amy Sacks-Krafft David & Lisa Schlakman Natalie Semel ‘10 Tucker Sylvestro Charles Teissonniere ‘11 Anonymous
MATCHING GIFTS TO THE EAGLE HILL FUND GE Foundation Morgan Stanley IBM Employee Services Center
GIFTS TO THE EAGLE HILL FUND IN HONOR OF MAX ZIMMER’S BAR MITZVAH
• The Altschul Family • The Ferraro Family • The Fontana Family • The Graham Family • The Katz Family • The Kelleher Family • The MacNaughton Family • The McLean Family
• The Napolitano Family • The Ricci Family • The Robin Family • The Stanley Family • The Swift Family • The Walters Family • The Wissoker Family • The Zaretzky Family FALL 2017 . 42
45 Glenville Road Greenwich, CT 06831
Change Service Requested
UPCOMING EVENTS 2017-2018 SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTED BY THE BLACK BROGAN FOUNDATION PAUL TOUGH NOVEMBER 9 * 7 P.M. SUSAN CAIN FEBRUARY 7 * 7 P.M. NED HALLOWELL APRIL 11 * 7 P.M.
OCTOBER 19 * 7 P.M. ANNUAL RECEPTION
MARCH 11 * 4 P.M. MISH MASH TALENT SHOW
DECEMBER 7 & 8 PARENT CONFERENCING
APRIL 27 * 5 P.M. PARENTS ASSOCIATION SPRING PARTIES
DECEMBER 15 SKATING DAY JANUARY 21 * 4 P.M. PARENTS ASSOCIATION SUNDAY SUPPER & BINGO JANUARY 27 * 6:30 P.M. FAMILY NIGHT AT THE BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS
THE 2017-2018 ANNUAL BENEFIT SATURDAY, MARCH 3 * 7 P.M. The Surf Club on the Sound 280 Davenport Road New Rochelle, NY
JANUARY 30 * 6:30 P.M. PARENTS ASSOCIATION F.A.T. CITY PRESENTATION
MAY 10 & 11 BOOK FAIR & PARENT CONFERENCING MAY 30 * 11:30 A.M. PARENTS ASSOCIATION END OF YEAR LUNCHEON JUNE 3 * 2 P.M. ALUMNI REUNION
FEBRUARY 24 * 2:30 P.M. ALUMNI BASKETBALL GAMES MARCH 10 * 7:45 P.M. ALUMNI HOCKEY GAME
COCKTAILS * SEATED DINNER * DANCING SILENT AUCTION * LIVE AUCTION
Are you an EHS alum? Follow us @Eagle Hill Greenwich Alumni to stay in touch with fellow alums and faculty.
Interested in attending or volunteering your time? Contact Phil Pineau: p.pineau@eaglehill.org
For the full school calendar, visit www.eaglehillschool.org
MAY 2 * 7 P.M. PARENTS ASSOCIATION MOMS NIGHT OUT
To stay current, please be sure to send your preferred email address to b.kurz@eaglehill.org
Are you an EHS alumni parent? Join the Eagle Hill Parents Alumni Network on Facebook. It’s a closed group and a great resource.