Eagle Hill News Fall 2023

FALL 2023

EAGLEHILLSCHOOL.ORG

News A New Chapter WITH HEAD OF SCHOOL GRETCHEN LARKIN

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2023-2024 BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Tom Halsch, P’23, Chair Amy Jo Frischling, P’15, Vice Chair Kat Mattis, P’19, Secretary Michael Sung, CP, Treasurer Patty Murphy, P’17, Vice-Treasurer TRUSTEES Sonja Bartlett, P’18 Jennifer Borak, CP Dana Fields, P’13 Kim Habul, CP Brandon Lacoff, A’87, P’22 Sloane Lederer, P’19 Rob MacNaughton, P’21 Marianna O’Dwyer, P’97, CP Sonia Sandhu, MD, P’22 Alka Thukral, CP Gretchen Larkin, Ex-Officio, Head of School

Eagle Hill News

Eagle Hill News is published two times a year (fall and spring) by the Development Office of Eagle Hill School.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Lisa Ferraro L.Ferraro@eaglehill.org DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Dana H. Evans D.Evans@eaglehill.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE Maria Conforti M.Conforti@eaglehill.org PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY Rhonda Spevak Chris Taggart

CONTENTS

A New Chapter 2 Meet Gretchen Larkin,

Our New Head of School

6 Climbing, Tilting, and Ziplining—

All on Our New Playground

8 An Eagle Hill Student

Hatched an Idea...

10 Congratulations Class of 2023!

14 Aspiring Teacher Launches

“Story Time With Sarah”

15 Four Questions for Max Casper ‘12 16 Alumni Updates 19 A Grateful Parent 20 Thank You to Our Donors

DESIGN Philofect/Sarah Fey NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Eagle Hill School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, marital status, national origin, ancestry, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning disability, physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, status as a veteran or status as a victim of domestic violence or any other classification protected by state or federal law in administration of the education policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

FALL 2023 . 1

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, she was a rising sixth grader at Greenwich Academy whose mother enrolled her in a summer study skills program at Eagle Hill School.

According to her teachers, she wasn’t reaching her potential, she needed to learn how to take a test, and she needed to focus on the teacher rather than socializing with friends during class. While many people cringe at the thought of a summer school experience, the young student loved it.

The girl was Gretchen Larkin, and on July 1, 2023 she became the Head of School at Eagle Hill.

In the decades since she first graced our campus, Larkin has blossomed into an accomplished school leader, shaped by varied experiences as a teacher, learning specialist, administrator, board member, parent, and head of school.

In a distinguished career that includes a nine-year headship at Charles River School in Dover, Mass., she received the CASE district one 2018 Chief Executive Leadership Award, a notable achievement since the award typically only goes to leaders in higher education.

Yet, when reflecting on her career path from Connecticut to Massachusetts and back, Larkin gently sidesteps conversation about her achievements (“My success is without a doubt due to my colleagues, mentors, and the people surrounding me,” she offers).

Her friendly banter becomes most animated when she turns to the topic of instilling confidence in children with learning differences. She says, “There’s such joy in working with children. And when I think about the children at Eagle Hill, they come to us having not experienced success at previous schools. So it’s an honor to have a role in re-igniting a love of learning, and sharing the excitement about that.”

“ My hope is that when children leave Eagle Hill, they believe in themselves to the core. And that they know they are capable, smart, successful young people who can change the world.”

GRETCHEN LARKIN

A NEW CHAPTER

Meet Gretchen Larkin, Our New Head of School 2 . EAGLE HILL NEWS

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GRETCHEN LARKIN’S BIOGRAPHY

An Educator’s Journey Gretchen Larkin became Eagle Hill’s Head of School on July 1, 2023.

In the nine years prior, she served as Head of School at Charles River School in Dover, Massachusetts. There, she oversaw comprehensive strategic and master planning processes and led a $10 million capital campaign —a record number for the school. The campaign included the first gift of $1 million in the school’s history.

Also during her Charles River School tenure, Gretchen increased enrollment and reduced student attrition. She created a new multi-age model for delivering early childhood education at the school, enhanced communication among faculty and staff, and improved health and wellness programs.

Additionally, she and her board led a best practice campaign for governance of the school.

Gretchen received the CASE district one 2018 Chief Executive Leadership Award, which is highly commendable as typically this award only goes to leaders in higher education.

“My hope,” Larkin adds, “is that when children leave Eagle Hill, they believe in themselves to the core. And that they know they are capable, smart, successful young people who can change the world.”

As Eagle Hill nears its 50th birthday (in 2025), Larkin sees a school, fueled by its extraordinarily dedicated faculty and deep institutional history, poised to harness its mission and soar into its next chapter.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that early on Larkin’s journey as an educator, she discovered that children who learned differently captivated her. “They were so bright and had so much to offer and had so much knowledge, but just needed a different way to access that knowledge,” Larkin says. “It was game changing for me. The experience put a fire in my belly.

I subsequently took on founding roles at a few schools where I could help to destigmatize and demystify what it means to have a child in the classroom with a learning difference.”

She finds it “exciting and motivating” to be able to come into a community, look at it objectively, and imagine the possibilities. “Our foundational values are powerful,” Larkin says. “I can’t wait to use those to propel Eagle Hill School into the future. And it isn’t the head of school that makes the school tick. It’s the sum of all its parts. I am excited to get to know everyone in the coming year, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Larkin and her husband Bill, are the proud parents of two adult daughters — one of whom is dyslexic. She’s developed a special empathy for families in similar situations.

Larkin says, “Parents typically come to schools like Eagle Hill with a great amount of fear and uncertainty. They’re wondering, ‘Is my child going to be okay? Will they thrive beyond Eagle Hill? How are you going to mend their broken self-esteem?’ And to parents I’d say, ‘We’ve got you. It’s gonna be okay. I’ve been there. My door is open and our teachers’ doors are open. You’re not alone.”

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So, take a moment to introduce yourself to Gretchen Larkin.

She recharges in her garden, by an ocean, or on a hike. And she says she makes a mean salad. Oh, and from disco, rock and roll and Broadway to a live concert or a good dance party, she loves all things music. (You may even catch her singing in her car.)

The Eagle Hill community enthusiastically welcomes Gretchen as our new head of school — and looks forward to the journey we are beginning together.

Prior to her Charles River School, Gretchen spent six years at Milton Academy in Massachusetts where she was a K-8 Assistant Principal, Head of Lower School, and the founding K–8 Curriculum Coordinator.

Gretchen has served in a variety of other roles at some of the leading independent schools in Greater Boston, including the founding reading specialist for Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts; founding educational coordinator for Dedham Country Day School; and K-8 Learning Specialist at the Advent School in Boston.

Earlier in her career, Gretchen served as a second-grade coteacher at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut and was a lead teacher for grades 6, 7, 8 at Windward School in White Plains, New York.

Outside of schoolwork, Gretchen currently serves on the board of trustees at The Carroll School in Lincoln, MA and previously served three years on the board of trustees for Belmont Day School. Gretchen served six years on the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE), most recently as secretary and vice president. Additionally, she has served on the board of the Northeast Association of Learning Specialists from 2006 to 2009 and on the CCS Fundraising Advisory Board.

She earned an M.A.T. with honors from Manhattanville College and a bachelor’s degree in French from Lake Forest College. Gretchen is also a graduate of Greenwich Academy in Greenwich, Connecticut.

FALL 2023 . 5

JEFF LEONARD, EAGLE HILL’S DIRECTOR of operations, got the question from students daily — often, more than once. “When’s the playground gonna get done?”

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No wonder.

Over time, Eagle Hill students and teachers eagerly watched the expansive, modern new playground take shape on campus. Rock climbing walls. A balance beam and tilted spinning seats. Spider web saucer swings and a climbing net. Oversized chimes and gazebos. A zipline.

“Children with learning differences have difficulty processing information, which often creates problems when executing actions,” Holler says.

In October, with the design, building, and certification of the new playground completed, opening day arrived. The playground is now brimming daily with joyous students climbing, spinning, tilting, socializing, and creating musical sounds.

You’ll typically find Holler in classrooms observing and evaluating students’ posture, strength, endurance, and fine motor skills.

She primarily focuses on core strength and shoulder stability because those help develop dexterity and fine motor control.

“The kids are extremely excited,” Leonard says.

But Holler views the new playground as a fun, creative way for Eagle Hill students at every learning level to grow motor and sensory skills— and a host of other abilities — beyond the classroom.

He led the Eagle Hill community through the complex project, gathering input along the way. A committee of teachers and administrators started by visiting 8-10 area playgrounds. They took note of their favorite elements while considering those that would benefit young people with learning differences. The latter was essential, according to Eagle Hill occupational therapist Nicole Holler, because sometimes motor skills don’t come as easily and naturally to Eagle Hill students.

“It’s smartly laid out,” Holler says, “with more climbing opportunities for older students than the old playground.” The spider web net and rock walls give kids more challenges navigating their environment, and the zipline requires arm strength as they move themselves from pole to pole on ropes.

Holler loves the addition of musical instruments. “Those appeal to younger students who need a lot more sensory experiences and exposures,” she says.

“ The new playground is a fun, creative way for Eagle Hill students to grow motor and sensory skills—and a host of other abilities—beyond the classroom.”

She sees the calming effects of the soothing auditory input of the chimes, and the gazebos are particularly inviting to kids who prefer less noise. And, because some children crave spinning to regulate their senses, Holler says, the addition of tilting spinning seats increases their attention in the classroom.

The playground is named in honor of Tom Cone, former assistant head of school, who served more than four decades at Eagle Hill.

Over the course of his career, Cone often could be found engaging with students during recess, and he was a huge proponent of day trips, camping trips, and other active pursuits.

In these ways, Cone had an enormous impact on student life at Eagle Hill, and Leonard says the playground “is a special way for us to say ‘thank you’ to Tom.” Holler and Leonard celebrated the playground launch with the rest of the Eagle Hill community. Now they’re making frequent use of the playground to foster stronger, more confident students.

Educators’ knowledge is expanding about the need for kids to move more,” Holler notes, “and movement really does have a great impact on their minds and development.”

NICOLE HOLLER OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

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An Eagle Hill Student Hatched an Idea…

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EARLY A DECADE AGO, an Eagle Hill student made a request of his teachers: His brother’s school was doing a “cool” science project— raising trout from eggs right in the classroom. Could Eagle Hill School do the same thing?

Intrigued, Upper School science teacher Jeanette Glover began researching organizations that could provide the equipment and trout eggs. But, when she learned the steep costs (a compressor to cool the tank ran several thousand dollars), she was about to give up the idea.

Then she got a call. The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited, based in Wilton, Connecticut, wanted to help. The group, part of a national conservation organization dedicated to restoring local rivers and streams, offered Glover a grant for her project, along with a tank and all the set-up equipment.

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A wonderful partnership was born! Every January for the past nine years, Mianus Chapter members deliver 200 trout eggs to Glover’s Eagle Hill classroom. From there, students take over.

Before the eggs even arrive, they prepare the tank, which involves chilling the water to a steady 43 degrees and testing the water’s pH levels to make sure it’s suitable for eggs. With the trout eggs safely in the tank, students watch and wait for several weeks, checking the tank for pollutants, testing the water chemicals, and scooping out debris. By the fourth week, the trout start to hatch.

Along the way, Glover teaches about water chemistry and the life cycles of different organisms. Language skills get a boost, too.

“When kids have these science experiences,” Glover observes, “they start to seek the

language to be able to describe and explain it.

And that becomes very meaningful.”

In May or June, the excitement builds. It’s time to release the trout into the river. By this time, Glover says, the mini trout are up to two inches long, and when the students use magnifiers to view them, they can count every single fin.

“Science is a bit of an equalizer for students who may struggle with literacy skills. A lot of what we do is hands-on, so kids get a chance to shine even if they’re not the strongest writers or readers yet.”

JEANETTE GLOVER UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER

Joined by members of the Mianus Chapter, the students pack the trout in a cooler and head off campus to the Boy Scout’s Camp Seton in Greenwich, where they release the trout.

“It’s always a lot of fun,” Glover says, “and one of our students still has a connection to Camp Seton. His parents tell me that whenever he goes there, he talks about releasing the trout, and he wonders if he’s going to see them there!”

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Congratulations Class of 2023!

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LANDON AARONSON LUKE ABBATIELLO PETER ADLER BELLA ALBANESE CHLOE ALONZO LUKE BAKER DA’VIAN BALDEO JAMES BELL SAWYER BERRY ROBERT BOGUSLASKI THEO BRINE GRAYSON BROMMERS LUCAS CALISE

MICHAEL CHIMES MAX D’ONOFRIO JACOB DEKLERK DEVON DRACKETT MARK FALCO-PRICE PAUL FALCO-PRICE KOTA FAUCHER ALEXANDER (AJ) FEINSTEIN LUKE FINNERTY MAXWELL FORTE HUNTER FRANK NOAH GOODFRIEND BRIDGET GOTTLIEB

DONALD (BAR) GRANT MATTHEW HALSCH ALONZO KEYHANI JONAH KINSELLA MAXI LAUERWALD LOGAN LENTINI MARC LEVI MADI LITVACK WILLIAM LOGAN NORAH LOMBARDO MOLLY MERRITTS ROHAN MUSANO ALEX PIGNATARO

EDDIE PONAGAI SAMANTHA SALSHUTZ ANASTASIA SIMMS HAYDEN SMITH WILL SOMMER JACK STERN JADEN STURNER JAKE TREPANIER JOSHUA TREPANIER CHARLIE TUCKER JACK TURNER OLIVER VIGALE ARI ZARITSKY TESSA ZICARI FALL 2023 . 11

2023 Graduation

Student Awards

HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARD This award is given to a student who possesses and demonstrates the qualities of outstanding academic performance and leadership.

This student has made a positive impact as a citizen in the Eagle Hill community through academic effort, extracurricular participation, and peer interaction.

Recipient: Kota Faucher

TRUSTEES AWARD

SJ WALDMAN AWARD

This award is presented to a student who has made a significant contribution to the school community through their personal talents. Though the talents of the student vary from year to year, the award recipient’s contribution of time and talent to the Eagle Hill community is consistent.

This award was established in memory of a former Eagle Hill student and recognizes a student who has the traits of effort, perseverance, and generosity.

Recipient: Jaden Sturner

DAN CHAPIN AWARD This award is presented to a student who demonstrates social growth and a commitment to the Eagle Hill program. The award recipient has made outstanding contributions to the Eagle Hill community.

Recipient: Hayden Smith

Recipient: Donald “Bar” Grant

SPORTS AWARD

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARD This award is for a student who has already developed an appreciation and enthusiasm for the Eagle Hill experience that will remain with them in high school, college, and beyond.

This student has enriched Eagle Hill while here and will serve as an example of the Eagle Hill values of respect, acceptance, responsibility, and resourcefulness.

Recipient: Matthew Halsch

This award is presented to an Upper School 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: Tessa Zicari

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS These are presented to students for outstanding academic improvement, perseverance and performance.

CITIZENSHIP AWARDS These are presented to students for outstanding citizenship qualities.

This can include participation in community service activities, showing respect towards peers and faculty, and contributing to the wellbeing of the Eagle Hill community.

Recipients: Norah Lombardo Molly Merritts Max Forte Da’Vian Baldeo Luke Baker

Recipients: James Bell Anastasia Simms Luke Abbatiello Will Sommer Bridget Gottlieb Luke Finnerty

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FALL 2023 . 13

Alumni Stories Aspiring Teacher Launches “Story Time With Sarah”

Reflections on Life After Eagle Hill Four Questions for Max Casper ’12

Sarah Fisher ‘20

“ The fact that Sarah had reading struggles and is now using that experience to make an impact and help other kids… it’s amazing. And it’s fueled her passion to be a teacher. I’m so proud of her.”

JENNIFER FISHER, SARAH’S MOTHER

As a child, Sarah Fisher ’20 struggled to learn to read.

But dyslexia didn’t stop her from starting a summer reading program, “Story Time with Sarah,” to inspire a love of reading in young children who spoke English as a second language. Nearly all were from immigrant families eager to practice English skills while working to build better lives in her community.

Fisher, you see, has set her sights on becoming a teacher. She is talkative, brims with creativity, and sprinkles her conversation with instructional tidbits like preventing the “summer slide,” and using reading skills like scooping and sounding out and blending.

She says, “Those were the amazing skills I learned at Eagle Hill to read and comprehend.”

The last two summers, you’d find Fisher on Saturday mornings surrounded by nearly a dozen preschool children, reading them picture books and leading art activities based on the book.

It all started when Fisher reached out to the Community Resource Center in her hometown of Mamaroneck, New York, and pitched “Story Time with Sarah.” The Center embraced the idea, and soon it was posting flyers created by Sarah to invite

14 . EAGLE HILL NEWS

youngsters to Story Time. It wasn’t long before Fisher was reading books like The Magic Treehouse to rapt groups of youngsters.

She continued the program for two summers, with many grateful families to show for it. But the ambitious Fisher is just getting started.

Now in the 9th grade at The Harvey School in Katonah, Fisher is forming a student club that aims to bring her program — renamed “Story Time With” — to elementary schools in the area.

And after that? Fisher’s got big plans: “My goal is to create a website next summer with all the things I did to build ‘Story Time with Sarah’ and the club in other schools and communities.

Hopefully, I can eventually make it statewide, where the program could happen in multiple schools in different districts working with immigrant, Spanishspeaking families. And my website could give ideas on how to do it.”

Ultimately, Fisher says, “I’m just trying to make reading a fun, interactive, cool thing instead of something that can be challenging for kids, especially while they’re home during the summer.

Reading is something that anybody can learn and do.”

“ A lot of kids end up thinking they’re stupid because they can’t learn the same way everybody else does. And that’s a problem the world needs to fix.”

MAX CASPER ‘12

Q: WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE

Q: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT

Co-producing two short documentaries with other students at the Marvelwood School. It was part of the Civic Life Project, and you can still see them on YouTube. One was about the pay wage gap between genders and the other was about community relations with the police. Both are still hot topics, but I feel that there’s been no progress on either issue. We got to interview different people and learn about their experiences. One person was an actual victim of police brutality. Then at Lynn University, I was majoring in psychology. I did a similar project with photos, and we spoke with Holocaust survivors.

I was in the dorms for about two years, and you learn to be part of a community, to advocate for yourself, to communicate with others better, and to be more self-sufficient. I learned the value of routine, and I try to stick to one even now. When I got to college, it was easier for me because I knew how to do laundry and I had good time management. I would tell kids to definitely try out Eagle Hill’s dorm experience, even if you just do a sleepover for a night. The teachers genuinely care about the students and would do just about anything to help you in any way you need.

LEARNING EXPERIENCES SINCE GRADUATING FROM EAGLE HILL?

Q: YOU SEEM TO LOVE STORYTELLING AND

YOU HAVE A SINCERE INTEREST IN PEOPLE. HAVE YOU TAKEN THOSE TALENTS IN OTHER DIRECTIONS? I work in human resources at Cognizant Technologies. You could say I do storytelling now using a system called Workday. Before that I worked for a company, Mercer, in their diversity, equity and inclusion consulting area. They focused on talent and organizational development. I fell in love with the field because I was working with all sorts of people and getting to see what they do and how they work. The experience helped me understand how to make employee engagement more interesting and find ways to engage their talents in more meaningful ways.

YOUR YEARS AT EAGLE HILL, WHAT EXPERIENCES HELPED SHAPE YOU MOST?

Q: YOU GIVE BACK BY CONTRIBUTING TO

EAGLE HILL’S ANNUAL FUND. WHY IS THAT MEANINGFUL FOR YOU? I firmly believe in Eagle Hill’s mission to help people with learning differences succeed. A lot of the time, learning problems go unnoticed. Things like ADHD get misdiagnosed all the time, and a lot of kids end up thinking they’re stupid because they can’t learn the same way everybody else does. And that’s a problem the world needs to fix. So, I can’t solve all the problems, but I can certainly help solve that.

And I know Eagle Hill works towards that all the time. It’s a place where kids can feel comfortable and learn and grow themselves. I hope a kid is able to greatly benefit from my support.

FALL 2023 . 15

Alumni Updates ARIANNA (FORMERLY GINA) BONFIGLIO ‘02 attended Pine Ridge High School and earned an associate degree in animal care from Becker College in 2008.

She and her fiancé, Matthew, live in the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut with five cats and 10 birds. She was a veterinary technician for 10 years, then opened a business, You First Care Services.

She shut it down in 2020 to start her current business, Phoenix Travel of Fairfield County LLC. She hopes to follow in her late father’s footsteps to grow a successful business, as he had done. Arianna recently celebrated five years of sobriety and works every day toward a healthier life. She keeps in touch with former EHS classmates such as Amy Shaw, who will be the maid of honor at her wedding. Her favorite Eagle Hill memories are of field hockey and basketball.

STEVEN SCHLAKMAN ‘02 recently became engaged to Theresa Mahony. Since leaving Eagle Hill, Steven graduated from Edgemont (NY) High School. For the past 17 years, he’s worked as the assistant office manager at Maxwell Kates, a real estate management firm in New York City. Although Steve is a fanatical Mets fan and Theresa is an avid Yankees fan, they look forward to a life together.

Their wedding is planned for fall, 2024.

ELISABETH REID ‘12

AVA SCOTT ‘10

BOBBY WRIGHT ‘14

attended Harvey School and Fox Lane High School, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Mitchell College. There, she was in the Select Chorus, played two main cast parts in the college’s theater program, and was the vice president of the Gaming Club. She has continued to enjoy the arts since leaving Eagle Hill and recently revived her love for animating. Her hope is to join the Bedford Players Theater while searching for a stable career.

Her favorite memory of Eagle Hill is playing on the field hockey team.

She wrote, “It was tough, and I didn’t totally understand the game at first, but I grew to love it almost instantly.”

attended Maplebrook after EHS and is currently working. Her fondest memories are of the boarding program and making friends.

graduated from the University of Arizona in May and will be working at Fox Sports.

MERRITT SEYMOUR ‘19 is attending the University of Vermont this fall.

HANNAH BREEDE ‘19 graduated from Winston Prep in Norwalk, Connecticut and now attends Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida. She majors in anthrozoology and enjoys horseback riding and playing the guitar and keyboard.

She has three dogs, four cats, and a horse. Two siblings also attended Eagle Hill: Charlotte graduated from Riverview and Conrad is in high school. Hannah’s favorite memories at Eagle Hill are the years she participated in the Halloween parade and hanging out with friends.

KRISTEN WAGNER ‘09 attended Norwalk Community College and has been teaching day care for six years. Her favorite memories of Eagle Hill are of friends, amazing teachers, and a sense of community.

NELLIE REID ‘18

SAM SCHWARTZMAN ‘16 OLIVER SWIFT ‘19 graduated from Darien High School and is a volunteer fireman with Norton Heights Fire Department. He’s attending trade school this fall.

has been working and designing art.

His favorite memory is of friends.

Submit your alumni update at eaglehill.org/alumni OR SCAN

left Eagle Hill to go to Western Middle School. She’s now in 10th grade at Greenwich High School, where she started playing volleyball and softball. Her favorite Eagle Hill memory is playing tag during freetime/recess.

HARRY DRENNEN ‘14 graduated from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

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FALL 2023 . 17

A NOTE FOR YOU FROM A GRATEFUL PARENT DEAR EHS COMMUNITY, Thanks to your support of the Eagle Hill Fund, my little girl’s days of going to a school where teachers wouldn’t answer all her questions and would dismiss my concerns are over. Jules had been pushed aside again and again. But after becoming a full-time student at Eagle Hill, she said something that gave me hope: “Mommy, these teachers ‘get’ me!”

I realized that Eagle Hill teachers teach the way my daughter learns. I finally found teachers who strived to guide Jules “into the right frame of mind” to learn and, just as importantly, made her want to learn. Jules’s confidence is growing. She has friends and playdates. The difference in Jules’s educational experience was, quite simply, remarkable.

Eagle Hill has made a significant difference in my life as well. Instead of helping with homework, I am encouraged to share with teachers where Jules is having challenges with academics so that they can help her. Jules now comes home and, without prompting, does her independent reading.

You make this kind of story possible. Your dedicated support of the Eagle Hill School Fund provides resources for children like Jules to be a part of this exceptional, compassionate school.

Thank you for supporting this wonderful school and the teachers who pour so much love into the students.

Patti C

CURRENT PARENT

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You can contribute to the Eagle Hill Annual Fund at eaglehillschool.org/support or scan

.

Thank You to our Donors

FALL 2023 . 19

Alumni Spotlight

David Gustafson ‘07 Gifts received between July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023

Thank You! AERIES CIRCLE $100,000+ A Special Thank You to Our Long-Time Donors

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30+ consecutive years of giving

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20+ consecutive years of giving

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10+ consecutive years of giving

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5+ consecutive years of giving

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Kenny & Kim Habul

FOUNDERS CIRCLE $50,000- $99,999 Dan & Stephanie Fougere Anonymous a

TRUSTEE CIRCLE $20,000–$49,999 Ashlea & Stuart Brown Jackie & Jamie Dimitri High Rise Basketball Academy 🍏 Peter & Kat Mattis a Brian & Marianna O’Dwyer a Michael & Susannah Sung a Nikhil & Alka Thukral a

HEAD OF SCHOOL CIRCLE $10,000–$19,999 Darren & Rebecca Anikstein a Anonymous 🍏 Jody Bellows k Phyllis & Marc Borak a Eleanor & Bobby Cayre Marie D’Elia Geoffrey & Deborah Erickson

Larry Fink Tamara Fink Ken & Sue Fuirst 🍏 Brett & Celine Grabel & Family Allen Grubman Lizzie Grubman Jeremy Henderson & Catherine Samuels p HOPE Gymnastics Paul Enright & Megan Kearney Mr.& Mrs. Thomas B. Ketchem p Anonymous a Oskar & Olivia Lewnowski Robert & Dana MacNaughton a Paul Madel & Jennifer Morrison Renata Papone & Chris Lally 🍏 Anonymous Jennifer Borak & Michael Sharkansky a Christopher Stern Michael & Monica Tai Greg Zambito ‘00

BENEFACTORS $5,000–$9,999 William & Sarah Aaronson a Joanna Abrahams ‘97 Ken deRegt & Alison Overseth p Jared & Heather Dermont Richard & Thasunda Duckett Robert & Lisa Eatroff 🍏 Amy Jo & Bill Frischling 🍏 Nita Glickberg p Allen & Franziska Haight 🍏

Eric Lauerwald & Christina Simon a Patty & Jeffrey Murphy 🍏 David & Alyssa Portny a Nancy & Frederic Poses p Ann Rogers Michael Russo ‘85 a Sonia & Harvinder Sandhu a Sidney Kutler Family Foundation a Scott & Rachelle Spielvogel a Jeffrey & Julie Stein a The Howard Bayne Fund k Helene Walisever Alex ‘78 & Bonnie Wattles k Stan & Jill Wattles k Jacob & Allison Wolfson

PATRONS $2,500-$4,999 Anonymous a Nancy Barbe p James Brooks & Laura Graves Daniel Chapin ‘78 a Amy Thornton & Kevin Charlton a John & Virginia Cocke Neil & Jillian Goldfarb Google Caroline Hirschfeld k Margaret Howard Matthew & Elizabeth Janiga a Anonymous a Sloane Lederer & Lucius Palmer a Steven & Ginny Markovich a Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony & Catherine Berzolla

Kivanc & Esra Pakel Mark Plaumann & Marilyn Wilson 🍏 Michael Scarsella & Andrea Tessler 🍏 Jackson & Kay Tai Lindsay & James Tucker Luke & Lindsay Warford Roy J. Zuckerberg

SPONSORS $500–$2,499 Peter & Gila Acker p Charlie & Katie Adams a Anthony & Debra Aronica 🍏 Kim & Neil Augustine 🍏 Garrett & Melissa Baker Steven & Erica Baker Loni & Phillip Bardack David & Teresa Barry a Courtney & Gilbert Bieger Ted & Beth Bonanno Anonymous 🍏 John Brine & Jessie Howard Brine a Peter & Incy Brooks k Joseph & MaryLou Brusco 🍏 Mary Lou Cassone 🍏 Marjorie & Ray Castro 🍏 Courtenay Coleman ‘78 Cliff & Stephanie Cone Chris & Maura Craig 🍏 John & Sonya Cronin Antonino Daloiso & Belinda Pickford Jesse ‘98 & Emily Edelman Penn Eichorn ‘12 a

After Eagle Hill School, David attended York Preparatory School, and graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 2015. While in college, he was involved in the music industry. In 2017, he made his way to San Antonio, Texas and started a career in commercial construction.

He’s currently running operations for a construction company there.

David has many fond memories of EHS. He cherishes the relationships he built with his teachers during and after his time in the school.

He wrote, “The support and guidance from teachers such as Mrs. Harkins, Mrs. Bray (Miss Fox), Mrs. Smolak and others laid a foundation for me to continue to learn and grow over the years. Even after graduating EHS, the support remained.

I will always remember the time Mrs. Harkins and Miss Fox came to cheer me on when I ran the New York City Marathon my senior year in high school.

Moments like those, coupled with the random check-ins, attest to how special EHS and its community are.”

FALL 2023 . 21

Tribute Gifts IN HONOR OF Emily Aronica ‘08 Landon Arora Ari Baker ‘21 Kristin M. Barry ‘93 Desi Beatus Brandon Blau Dr. David Blank Shari Bloomer Theo Brine ‘23 Ms. Gina Burke Aimee Byrne Alex Chadwick ‘20 Tom Cone Joy & Brandon Delisle Rocco Di Giorgio Dana Evans Lisa Ferraro Lily Fitzpatrick ‘12 Deane Flood Lindsay Goldstein Neil Goldfarb Elijah Goodfriend Packy Hanrahan Jenn Harkins Jim Heus Liza Jarombek Adam Kase Adam LaSala ‘02 Darren Marrow Hanna Merrill ‘06 Ed Moore Kevin Oxer ‘11 Yvonne & Leonard Pastolove Max Poses ‘04 Kathy Quinn Sue Rappaport Steven Schlakman ‘02 Merritt Louise Seymour ‘19 Andrew Stein ‘19 Jaden Sturner ‘23 George C. Tai Grant Wood ‘18 Carleen Wood IN MEMORY OF Alec H. Jenner ‘96

22 . EAGLE HILL NEWS

Alumni Spotlight

Kristen Romney ‘07

“I started at Eagle Hill School in 1999 at just under six years of age. I enrolled because of my speech challenges, including the inability to say the “k” sound, which was crucial to pronouncing my own name. After enrolling at EHS, several other challenges were detected, including a processing speed at the fourth percentile.

Today I perform stand-up comedy at well-known venues across New York City. I credit Eagle Hill with providing me with skills and confidence to pursue this challenging but exciting dream.

Jonathan & Maria Faucher Lisa & Joe Ferraro 🍏 Dana Fields & Dan Gearon p Mairead & David Finn 🍏 Dan & Phyllis Finn k Victoria La Mura-Finnerty & Matthew Finnerty a Roy & Gail Geronemus 🍏 Evan ‘97 & Ashley Geronemus Jeffrey & Emily Gildersleeve Glenn & Gina Giordano 🍏 Glenville Mavericks Cheerleading Marcy Berman-Goldstein & Barry Goldstein Beth & David Grasso a Greenwich Youth Cheerleading League Alison Cox & Rick Grellier 🍏 Gymcats Abby & Packy Hanrahan p Barbara & Robert Heelan Mary Buonsante-Henock & Arlen Henock p Paulina & Juan Ramiro Hernandez Jim & Melissa Heus Ed Higham & Jean Tostanoski 🍏 Bob & Liz Husted 🍏 Lila Kalinich Martina Kraske-Kleistner Andrew & Carrie Kreisberg Tom & Carrie LaSala 🍏 Lord, Abbett & Co., LLC Cami Luppino a Sham & Annie Malhotra Carolyn & Jim McArdle

The Edward & Patricia McLaughlin Foundation Mandy & Cristopher Miller Lisa & Terran Miller 🍏 Richard & Lisa Moody Regina Noch a Oscar Assie BBall Group Charles & Pouli Otton 🍏 Louis & Barbara Perlmutter Pfizer Richard Piliero ‘83 Glenn & Ayelet Pollner 🍏 Bob & Lorraine Reeder 🍏 Frank & Julie Rendon Joseph Rinaldi ‘09 Gayle & Howard Rothman p Lee Rust ‘01 🍏 David & Lisa Schlakman 🍏 Leon & Lisa Seidman a Meghann Smith a Anonymous a The Japanese Educational Institute Tony & Melissa Turner Roxanne Vanderbilt 🍏 Hallie & Mark Wachen a Dana E. Hork & Brad S. Weckstein Vanessa Wilson 🍏 Nils Wilson David Wood Konrad Wos & Meggan Walsh a Jonathan Tolins & Cary Zateslo Keith & Carrie Zuckerman 🍏 The Zykorie Family p

FRIENDS UP TO $499 Conrad Aamodt 🍏 Margie Alley p Amazon Smile a AST Financial a Alexa Augustine ‘12 Tim & Eloise Barron 🍏 Maureen Bartolomeo David & Jessica Beatus Patricia Behr a Janet Bein Jeff & Kaori Bell Charles & Mandy Benjamin Lawrence & Olivia Blau Shari Bloomer 🍏 Jennifer Booth 🍏 Laura Bottari John Brew ‘22 a Robert & Judy Bruguiere a Henry & Amy Bubel p Carol Buckheit Gina & Andy Burke p Aimee & Andrew Byrne 🍏 Alexandra Byrne Andrea Calise & Linda McLeod a Ben & Vicky Carlin a Maryann Carriere Raquel & David Casiano Laurie & Rob Casper 🍏 Ruth Catanese CBRE Tomas & Ana Chadwick a

Deanna Cohn a Patricia Cole Jamie & Hilleary Coleman p Megan Colvin 🍏 Tracy Cone 🍏 Maria & Ted Conforti a Alexandra & Kevin Connolly p Kelly & Robert Corwen 🍏 Anonymous Elizabeth Davis Brittne Davis a John & Kathleen Del Col 🍏 Eric & Clara DeLamarter James & Maureen DePonte 🍏 Nicole DiPierro Greg & Ellen Dumark a Jim Dunn ‘77 a Danielle Dunning Jay & Carol Ehlen k John & Linda Ehrlich a Adam Ehrlich ‘07 Andrew Essex & Meg Castaldo Dana Evans Mary & Eamonn Fay p Sharon Ferko Deane & Deidre Flood 🍏 Marina D’Agostino & Antonio Follo Christian & Sharon French a Amy & Michael Frenklakh a Barry Friedberg & Charlotte Moss a Gail Gaiser a Allie Ganz a Kaitlin Garris 🍏 Elliott Gartner k

The support and direction I received during my eight years at EHS were invaluable. I learned to read and create my own stories and follow my passions. I discovered I could acquire other strategies for learning and expression, such as scriptwriting, photography and videography.

I have so many fond fun memories at EHS, too, such as the egg drops, beach days, skating days, talent shows, and field trips — including a memorable trip to D.C. with Mr. Flood’s U.S. History class when I was 13.

Today, several of my closest friends are ones I made during my time at Eagle Hill. I live in Astoria, Queens, write social media and articles for HGTV, and have performed at Stand Up NY, Comic Strip Live, Broadway Comedy Club, Westside Comedy Club and more. In 2020, I entered an original TV pilot I wrote for the Flappers University TV Writing Contest, run by Flappers Comedy Club and Restaurant in Burbank, CA, and it won first place!

TV writing is a fervent passion of mine that I started pursuing at the age of 11 while at EHS. I am forever grateful for the incredible teachers and faculty who were dedicated to each student’s success, the inclusive environment that helped everyone feel like they fit in regardless of differences, and memories I’ll always cherish.”

FALL 2023 . 23

Corey Gelbstein ‘06 a Nancy & David Giffey Howard & Janet Ginsburg a Alon & Lori Gitig a Jeanette Glover 🍏 Terry Gottlieb 🍏 Danielle Grandazzo Susan Franklin & Mike Grossman 🍏 Mark & Krista Guarini 🍏 Jenna Hamilton Dan & Jennifer Harkins 🍏 Anonymous Jeffrey & Adrienne Henkes Kayvan & Amanda Heravi a Jackson Heravi ‘20 Sofia Hernandez David Hoffman 🍏 Scott & Sally Hoffman a Binky & Michelle Hoffmann Nicole Holler George Holzer a Christopher Hood Robert Ittner p Seth & Cindy Jacobs a Mary Breda Morrissey & Jean-Pierre Jacquet Liza & Jim Jarombek 🍏 Katy Jenkins Jesse & Tyler Jenner 🍏 Hannah Jupiter Peter Kase Christopher & Margaret Katucki 🍏 Christopher Kelly Shaun & Wendy Kelly 🍏 Bill & Barbara Kenealy a Amy Knox Jillian Kozel a Douglas Krajewski 🍏 Ken & Olivia Kubie 🍏 Martin & Cheryl Lacoff Tom & Meg Lasley 🍏 Julien Laveyssieres a Anonymous Jeffery & Laura Leonard 🍏 Angus Lodge ‘16 Mabel’s Labels Jamie MacNutt Anonymous a MAI Capital Management Melyssa Mardit a Syndy & Tristan Margot a Frett Marsha Jenna Mason a Will Mathieson ‘03 Vincent & Cathy Mazzaro a Jeffrey & JoAnn McCarthy a Katie McDermott Barbara McHale 🍏 Lorna McKeithan-Pausig & Ralph Pausig p Edward & Dawn McLaren Sharon Mechaley p Andrew & Erica Merrill 🍏 Hanna Merrill ‘06 Philip & Anne Miller 🍏 Thomas & Christina Mitchell a 24 . EAGLE HILL NEWS

Allison Modica a Holly Moniz a Richard & Penny Moody Natasha & Rob Moore a Ed Moore a Carolyn Mullins & Chad Combs a Jarrod Musano Audrey & Bruce Nathanson p Richard & Lynne Nayman a George Nunn & Catherine Salisbury a Tony O’Connor ‘13 Kevin Oxer ‘11 a Raul Pani Renee Pastolove a Sara & Jim Pelgrift 🍏 Dan Pelgrift ‘08 a Ellen Tolstad & Roy Piskadlo 🍏 Ken & Betsy Plevan k Lauren Polinsky Shanske Barbara Posner 🍏 Gary Pretsfelder & Nina Bruder a Carol Puglia 🍏 Kathy Quinn 🍏 Susan Rappaport a Jason & Shannon Reynolds Kenneth Ricci Julie & Remi Rosenberg 🍏 Roberto & Olivia Soto Ruiz Thomas & Kimberly Salshutz Ed & Lisa Schmidt 🍏 Marc-Thomas & Birgit Schmidt-Wesche 🍏 Lori Alper & Sam Schwartzman a Kelly Scopelliti a Christopher & Amber Senyek 🍏 Jesse Shalett David & Mary Lou Shipper p Jennifer Shirazi David Shupe & Victoria Tillotson 🍏

Evon & Celia Simms Ezra & Cindy Simon 🍏 Pat Skurja a Stephen Smith & Victoria S. Lloyd-Rees Smith 🍏 Alyce & Mike Smolak 🍏 Lydia Soifer a Mihal Spitzer Ira & Fern Stein Steve Stern ‘84 p Sarah Stewart Jared & Michelle Sturner a Shannon Summers a Francois & Sharon Teissonniere a Charles Teissonniere ‘11 Anonymous Chris & Irene Theriot p Cathleen & Don Tone 🍏 Christine Tripodi Brook & Michael Urban k Christine Vaccarino 🍏 Tiffany & Steven Vizzo Rachel & Greg Waldstreicher Jonathan ‘78 & Cindy Wallace Ali Walsh Greg Walters & Torrance York a John & Amanda Wang a Christine Wardell 🍏 Sam Waruch Roz Weinman Barry & Judy Weiss Amy Whitlaw Beverly & Gary Willson a Paul & Erin Withstandley a Carleen Wood Nicole Zazzero Arnold & Jean Zimmerman p Charlotte Triefus & Lloyd Zuckerberg 🍏 FALL 2023 . 25

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26 . EAGLE HILL NEWS