Bulletin Board | Spring/Summer 2007

bulletin board Spring/Summer 2007

For Alumni, Families, and Friends of Elmwood Franklin School

www.elmwoodfranklin.org

As classmates look on, sixth grader Emily Glick (right) learns what it takes to create electricty by pedaling a bike, one of the many hands-on activities at the Niagara Power Project Power Vista.

board of trustees

2007-2008

Alice Jacobs, President Philipp L. Rimmler, Vice President James Gately, Treasurer Grace Walsh Munschauer ’70, Secretary George Bellows Matthew Enstice Annette Fitch Robert Glenning Arthur Glick ’71 Michael Hogan Alison Keane George Kermis Seymour Knox IV ’69 Madeline Ambrus Lillie ’64 Eric Lipke Elizabeth Duryea Maloney ’70 Gail Mitchell Trini Ross Michele Trolli

alumni council

2007-2008 Stephen Kellogg, Jr. ’77, President Amy Decillis Bard ’86 Gitti Barrell ’71 Tricia Barrett ’92 Kristin Schoellkopf Borowiak ’82 Rob Drake ’96 Kary Fronk ’91 Charles Hahn ’68 Susie Lenahan Kimberly ’64 Madeline Ambrus Lillie ’64 Kim Rich Lupkin ’80 Elizabeth Duryea Maloney ’70 Howard Saperston III ’85 Mary Franklin Saperston ’60 Eric Saldanha ’85 The Bulletin Board is published twice a year by the Development Office for alumni, families, and friends of Elmwood Franklin School.

[ TABLE OF CONTENTS ] FEATURES 4 from the head of school Tony Featherston reflects on his first year as Head of School and the involvement of our alumni.

6

from the board president A message from Board President Alice Jacobs

8

efs graduates The Class of 2007

12 graduation speaker Donna Fernandez of the Buffalo Zoo speaks to our youngest alums as they prepare to move on.

16 alumni profile Newell Nussbaumer ’82 is not afraid to change his life–or his city. Find out what’s next.

20 faculty profile As library media specialist, Joan Good is more than just the woman who checks out the books.

24 learning along It is electrifying to think that one of the nation’s greatest hydropower facilities is located right here in WNY. Come along and learn with the EFS sixth graders on their trip to the Niagara Power Project Power Vista.

35 alumni relations President of the Alumni Council Steve Kellogg and Director of Development Julie Raynsford speak about the lasting impact of our alumni.

Julie Raynsford, Director of Development Editor/Writer Sally Jarzab, Communications Coordinator Design and Layout Rebecca Murak, Development Associate Cover Art Self-portraits by the Class of 2007 Elmwood Franklin School is Western New York’s oldest pre-primary through eighth grade independent school, emphasizing high academic achievement, good study skills, and positive character development. Elmwood Franklin accepts qualified students without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.

DEPARTMENTS 14 getting involved 28 news of note 30 names in the news 31 just for fun 32 day to day 40 alumni update 46 class notes

[ FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ]

a message from THE

HEAD

OF

SCHOOL

“Whether gathering in New York or Denver, as I did with alums this past year, or back home in Buffalo, members of the EFS family love to reminisce, hear and tell stories about friends, get updates on their favorite teachers, or relive old Blue-Gray

competitions.

It’s

that

shared

experience that bonds our family together.”

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[ FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ]

JUST PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR I treated the eighth graders to lunch – my way of ensuring that they will give me a few minutes of their attention. It was actually the fourth such lunch of the year. We had covered all the typical topics in our earlier meetings: the benefits and responsibilities of leadership, the high school search process, eighth grade “senioritis”, etc. On this particular day in May, I wanted to talk to them about what it means to be an alumna/us. For the majority of the Class of 2007, Elmwood Franklin will be the school at which they spend more years than any other single school, and it will be the first from which they graduate. In those precious few minutes between when teenagers are happily sated by pizza and Pepsi and when you’ve lost their attention because they’re already thinking about the next meal, class, or Sabres’ game, we discussed why EFS is interested in their continued connection to the school and what they can expect from us in return.

Throughout the past year, my first as head of Elmwood Franklin, I’ve enjoyed meeting many of our graduates, recent and not so recent. What has struck me most is the depth of connection that people have with the school. It seems to go much deeper than the typical bond to one’s alma mater. There is a sense of history, of belonging, of family.

The American poet Ogden Nash observed, “A family unit is composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.” Certainly, by that measure, EFS qualifies. And like most

modern families, ours is far-flung and increasingly connected through technology.

Whether gathering in New York or Denver, as I did with alums this past year, or back home in Buffalo, members of the EFS family love to reminisce, hear and tell stories about friends, get updates on their favorite teachers, or relive old Blue-Gray competitions. It’s that shared experience that bonds our family together.

Of course, the EFS bond extends beyond the “genetic” attachment of family and of shared experiences. Our graduates are also connected by a common educational foundation. It is during those early school years at Elmwood Franklin that a love of learning is developed and fostered, whether for reading or science, writing or history, French or the arts, athletics or technology.

Although high schools, colleges, and graduate schools often get the credit, it is the elementary and middle school that first introduce the joys of academic discovery and cultivate the discipline required to be successful in school and in life.

So, what was the message to our newest alums? Our expectations are simple. Stay in touch. Tell us where you are and what you’re doing. This is easier than ever through the new alumni directory on our website, but we are equipped to handle the traditional letter, card, or phone call as well. Visit EFS when you’re in Buffalo. Teachers love it when their students drop them a note or stop in for an update and a quick hello. Stay involved as a member of our Alumni Council or by

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supporting our current students by participating in the Annual Fund. Although it may be a while, someday we hope they’ll consider returning to school to talk with our students as part of our Alumni Speaker Series. Attend our alumni events in Buffalo and in other cities. Like Buffalo Old Home Week, a celebration of all things Buffalo that was resurrected last year after a 99-year hiatus, we’ve reinstituted an alumni reunion which we plan to make an annual tradition.

Simply put, we’ve asked the same of the Class of 2007 that we ask of all our alums.

The Class of 2007 has big shoes to fill, but whatever path their journey takes, individually or collectively, in Buffalo or elsewhere, I have no doubt they will make us all proud. In return for staying in touch, Elmwood Franklin School promises to always be a touchstone for them and for every member of our school community, our family.

Even as the faces change and the campus is updated, all of our former students (and parents) have a home here. The legacy of Elmwood Franklin School is the legacy of our students – current, past, and future. We look forward to reaching out, connecting, and reconnecting with as many of you as possible.

Sincerely,

Tony Featherston

[ FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT ]

a message from THE BOARD PRESIDENT

“My first year as Board Chair has been a tremendous honor and pleasure. I thank all of you for the opportunity to serve in this role.”

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[ FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT ]

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, the 2006/2007 school year has been a tremendous success. Thanks to Tony, our students, faculty, staff, parents and entire community, we feel our year of transition to a new Head of School left little to be improved upon.

We are pleased that Tony and his family are enjoying Elmwood Franklin and the greater Buffalo community and are certain that Tony’s sports allegiances will begin to change.

The Board and Tony have begun the work of identifying and beginning to address key areas for improvement that will continue to place Elmwood Franklin among the top K through 8 schools in the country. In the 2008/2009 school year, we will be applying for our accreditation renewal with the New York State Association of Independent Schools. The initial step, a self-study of all aspects of the school’s operations, will begin this summer. Many members of our community will be involved in various aspects of this process. While serving as an evaluation for accreditation, the self-study will also serve as a critical tool for the Board’s ongoing strategic planning process as it will compare Elmwood Franklin’s programs and operations with national benchmarks.

space for the students. Assuming permits and other planning issues proceed satisfactorily, we hope to complete this project by the end of the first semester. Additionally, over the next year we will be working on refining plans for renovating the Lower School, creating a design that will meet the needs of a 21st century elementary educational program while retaining the cozy, nurturing atmosphere that permeates our current Lower School. Your input on these plans will be invited during the school year.

Finally our Board has been engaged in reviewing our governance policies and processes, ensuring that they are up-to-date with current laws and guidelines and that the Board’s operations provide a solid framework to guide Elmwood Franklin into the future.

I would like to thank two outgoing Trustees, Steve Biltekoff and Andrea Kuettel, for their Board service and dedication to Elmwood Franklin. We welcome Michele Trolli, parent of three EFS students, as a new Trustee in the fall. My first year as Board Chair has been a tremendous honor and pleasure. I thank all of you for the opportunity to serve in this role. I wish you an enjoyable summer.

Some of the areas which need to be addressed have been identified by the Board over the last few years. Thanks to the work of the Building and Grounds committee, we know that the Lower School facilities, dining facilities and athletic field need to be renovated and expanded in the near future to better accommodate our program. We are hoping to jumpstart this construction effort with the expansion of the cafeteria seating area this summer, creating a roomier, more inviting

Sincerely,

Alice Jacobs

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[ EFS GRADUATES ]

the class of 2007 F R O M

L E F T

T O

R I G H T

Seated: Elizabeth Bassett, Sandra LoFaro, Gabrielle Reed, Annalee Burkley, Sara Wlodarczyk, Alison Johnston, Sarah Miller, Sara Zywiczynski, Alexandra Mathews Row 1: Riley Featherston, Rachel Catipovic, Natalie Gerich Brabson, Alyssa Henry, Sarah Collins, Lindsay Mathias, Karson Humiston, Grace Liptak, Nicole Trubish, Patricia Haddad Row 2: Matthew Dearing, Geoffrey Fatin, Scott Zachau, Evan Brannen, Daniel Healy, Colin Campbell, William Downing Row 3: James Dryden, Kevin Acker, Michael DiMichele, Andrew Slawson, Nicholas Cappuccino, Garrett Burgwardt, Jack Knox, William Tiftickjian

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[ EFS GRADUATES ]

EFS CLASS OF 2007 HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS Kevin Acker Elizabeth Bassett Natalie Gerich Brabson Evan Brannen Garrett Burgwardt Annalee Burkley Colin Cambell Nicholas Cappuccino Rachel Catipovic Sarah Collins Matthew Dearing Michael DiMichele William Downing James Dryden Geoffrey Fatin Riley Featherston Patricia Haddad Daniel Healy Alyssa Henry Karson Humiston Alison Johnston Jack Knox Grace Liptak Sandra LoFaro Alexandra Mathews Lindsay Mathias Sarah Miller Gabrielle Reed Andrew Slawson William Tiftickjian Nicole Trubish Sara Wlodarczyk Scott Zachau Sara Zywiczynski

Williamsville South Buffalo Seminary Park School Nichols School Park School Buffalo Seminary Canisius High School Nichols School Nichols School Buffalo Seminary Canisius High School Canisius High School Canisius High School Canisius High School Canisius High School Buffalo Seminary Buffalo Seminary City Honors Nichols School Buffalo Seminary Taft School Nichols School Nardin Academy High School Nichols School Nichols School Buffalo Seminary Buffalo Seminary Nichols School Canisius High School Nichols School Williamsville East Nardin Academy High School Canisius High School Nardin Academy High School

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[ EFS GRADUATES ]

P

family O

R

T

R

COMPOSED COLLABORATIVELY BY

the Class of 2007 arranged by Margot Vincent

A

I

T

[ EFS GRADUATES ] Sitting on my steps, Wondering what happened to my childhood, I snap my fingers.

Years have become dusty photographs.

A flash of the past.

Puzzle pieces scatter on the ground, Gradually pulling together to make a whole picture, Forever imprinted on the back of my hand.

A candle flickers, and I creep down a hallway.

My footsteps echo as I enter the library of my memory Where thousands of books line the shelves, A flash of the past.

Footprints, once firm in the sand, are washed away By time and space in the dawn of a new day.

My body leads me down the hallowed halls That have sheltered me all my life.

Waves crash down, the tide comes in, The fire starts to smolder.

My hands grope a familiar shelf Where only one album now rests.

Its spine is cracked and ripped, the pages tattered.

The words on the cover glow with crystal clarity: Elmwood Franklin School A flash of the past.

I settle into a comfortable chair to read the story of my past How I wish I knew back then what I know now Walking across the stage on graduation day– It seemed like a marathon.

I was lightheaded– Thinking, wondering, looking back.

My mind exploding as I accepted my diploma; My permission slip to memories, A flash of the past.

The 8:15 bell of Prep I rings, and I am safe, On my journey down a long, windy road In a place that is a shelter from the crazy world’s buzzing.

This school is my lifeboat, Keeping me afloat on a raging river.

I cling to the raft of my memories: Barbies, hide-and-seek and the tire swing reign supreme.

Our footprints grow larger, along with our shadows As we continue to reach for the stars.

I turn the page in the worn album, A chill runs down my spine.

Friends stick their tongues through missing front teeth While the music of contagious laughter plays softly.

I walk on, through the trail in the forest of my life.

I pass roses and thorns of memories, Walking into Blue Bears, a tiny tike all tidy, Walking out convinced I would be able to fly.

I grasp these memories in my hand, holding them gently, Like a child with a worn blanket Woven by tears and laughter.

How small I was when it all began– 40 to 65 inches in a blink of an eye.

My brain grows in zips and zaps– Colors, reading, geometry, Shakespeare, Throwing snowballs, A rock stuck in my ear, Basketball games with two seconds left, Sweating, swooshing, scoring, winning– A flash of the past.

Another new face, Another new name, Onyasha’s lake reflecting stars and our moon in space Quebec’s rain pitter-pattering, Pathfinder’s water, an icy finger on my back Non-dress code Fridays, Extra cookies and chocolate milk, The melody of the hum-drum fading into the background, The final bell of the year.

The final bell of my EFS career.

I am a shard of ice made from droplets of knowledge.

EFS was my life as I knew it.

From 4 to 14, my home, my family.

Stepping out onto the field on the brink of summer There is a hole in my heart.

I knew the day would come eventually.

I never knew it would come so soon.

The separation from past and future– A million light years away.

The bridge over the icy waters of transition magically melted, More quickly than I had planned.

I remember standing there, Wondering who would be waiting for me on the other side.

Who would wrap me in a warm towel When I emerged from the icy water?

Even though we fought, We argued, We complained, We ignored, We quickly realized, Writing long letters in the yearbooks of our lives, Our memories are as fragile as a camera lens.

No, you can’t stop time But you can carefully save the photos Even after you have packed up all your other belongings.

We conquered our fears together.

We learned to be independent together.

We were a family with strength in our number– lucky 34.

I peer at the faded family portrait Held in the album of my heart.

A flash of the past.

Gently, I shut the book’s cover.

Good-bye, EFS, and thank you.

I will never forget.

I will never regret.

Adiós.

Au Revoir.

See you soon.

[ GRADUATION SPEAKER ]

DONNA FERNANDEZ Buffalo Zoo President addresses the Class of 2007

Go ahead M A K E

“…As a child, I wanted to become a mathematician. It started when I was four years old. My brother used to come home every day after school and teach me what he had learned in math class. By the time I entered first grade, I could add, subtract, multiply and divide. Of course, I couldn’t read. He hadn’t bothered to teach me that.

My fondness for numbers persisted through high school. So in college, I took lots of courses in mathematics, applied mathematics and computer science. But I also took a variety of courses in psychology and biology since I had always been fascinated by animal behavior. … While in college, I worked with lab rats, pigeons and monkeys in a lab setting and with dragonflies and other insects in the field. I decided I liked field work more than being stuck inside all day wearing a white lab coat, so I pursued a PhD in behavioral ecology rather than cognitive psychology.

After graduate school, I began looking for a job as a college professor. I really didn’t know what else to do with a PhD in behavioral ecology. One day, my mother called to say that she had seen an ad for a job fair for people interested in careers in ecology and the environment. Even though I had every intention of getting an academic job, I decided to go. One of the panelists was from a zoo in Boston looking for someone to run their research department.

The job was really fascinating. Most of the time, I focused on getting some of the more rare and endangered animals to breed. Working with the gorillas was incredible. They were so intelligent. But they could be crafty as well. They knew that the one thing they could do to really annoy me was to throw their poop. This one female used to repeatedly pelt me when I was in the off-exhibit holding area to collect behavioral data. Eventually I started bringing a squirt gun and

M Y

D A Y

every time she threw poop at me, I would squirt her in the face with water. She learned pretty quickly. As soon as she’d pick up a piece, I’d reach for the gun and say ‘Go ahead, make my day.’

One day, I saw an ad from an exhibit design firm in Boston. They were looking for a zoologist to research and design habitats for zoos and aquariums around the world. The pay was much higher than my current position and I thought the job would be exciting. Within the first two weeks, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. None of the people I worked with were animal people. They were designers, architects, and graphic artists. And I was stuck inside eight hours a day, researching and writing at my computer. I really missed working in the park-like setting of a zoo, but I decided to stick it out for a year to learn as much as I could about zoo architecture and the design process. One of the people I met while working at the design firm was head of the Bronx Zoo. He offered me a position as Curator of Animals at the Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn, another one of the zoos they manage. It was wonderful being back with animals.

The lesson here is that even if you make a mistake in one of your choices, try to learn as much as you can from it. … Someone said that ‘The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.’

Above all else, you must remain flexible.

So to all of you here today, I say congratulations on this important milestone in your life. May this be the beginning of a lifetime of learning.”

Dr. Donna M. Fernandes was the speaker for Elmwood Franklin’s 2007 commencement ceremony on June 13.

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.

d,

This clever collection tray used for the Pennies for Peanuts spare change drive was created by Neo Inc. on Allen Street and donated

by EFS grandmother Donna Irwin.

[ GETTING INVOLVED ]

passionate about P A C H Y D E R M S THIRD

GRADE STUDENTS RALLIED THE SUPPORT OF FELLOW STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO

benefit a most worthy cause—Buki, Jothi and Surapa. Pennies for Peanuts, a spare change drive, gave students the chance to support the Buffalo Zoo’s Elephant House Renovation project by donating their own spare change—and a few dollars too. Third grade students drew posters and placed collection jars throughout the school. The event, which ran from April 23 – May 8, ended with a dress down day, on which donations to wear jeans were given to the Pennies for Peanuts drive. In the end, the students raised $1,700 for their friends at the zoo.

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[ ALUMNI PROFILE ]

NEWELL NUSSBAUMER ’82 is not afraid to change his life—or his city.

Want to know what’s next?

what’s N

FOR

E

X

MANY YEARS,

T

NEWELL NUSSBAUMER

WAS A RETAIL STORE OWNER,

running the cool gift shop Thunder Bay on Elmwood Avenue.

That was before he turned into a community activist. That was before he was a magazine publisher. And that was before he turned into a hyperlocal media entrepreneur. The thing is, before all of this, he didn’t plan on any of it while living in San Francisco after graduating from college.

“I’ve changed my life so many times,” Newell declares. “For me, it was always, What’s next? What does Buffalo need? What can I do to change Buffalo so people will want to live, contribute, and raise their families here? That’s my message to the kids: don’t be afraid to change what you do. If there’s something that’s not there that should be, do it yourself. Find a way.”

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NEWELL VISITED ELMWOOD FRANKLIN IN APRIL AS PART OF THE NEW Upper School Career Speaker Series, which brings local alumni back to the school to talk about their lives and career paths. For Newell, that path has been a circuitous one, and its latest turn has taken him into the world of hyperlocal media—a term used to describe news coverage of community-level events usually overlooked by mainstream media outlets. In fact, HyperLocal Media LLC is the name of the company founded by Newell and George Johnson. The venture came about almost by accident— but the two friends saw the possibilities of this new type of media, and are quickly becoming the next big thing.

As a local business owner in the 1990’s, Newell had a front seat for the positive changes that were taking place in the city, especially in the Elmwood area. “Businesses were moving into empty storefronts. The neighborhood was being strengthened; people were building a community,” he says. “There was a renaissance starting to occur, but nobody was reporting on the real positive things happening in Buffalo. Nobody was telling the stories of the individual people trying to make a difference.”

So Newell decided it would be his next role to tell those stories himself. He closed the store and started an upbeat publication called “Explore the Elmwood/Allentown District” that was part newspaper, part promotional piece, and highlighted the rebirth he saw happening in the Elmwood Village. Later re-dubbed Buffalo Rising, the publication began to expand its content and gain a solid readership, and the idea came to take it to the Web.

“We just thought, we should put this online. But before we got the website together, we put up what was supposed to be a temporary blog. Once it started, it took off so quickly, we realized we couldn’t stop it,” said Newell. It was the start of Buffalo Rising Online, now the third largest website in Western New York and a wildly popular source of current city-focused news, commentary, discourse, trends and events—for Buffalonians and beyond.

“We cover the city, not because we don’t like the suburbs, but because we feel the city has been neglected for so long. The city is the region’s inner core, and that’s our whole focus,” Newell said. “People need to know about what’s happening in Buffalo, and not just people around here, but in other cities.”

And it’s working. Buffalo Rising has an audience from all over the world, portraying the vibrant, hip, smart side of Buffalo that a lot of people don’t know about.

“We’re really cutting edge for what we’re doing,” commented Newell. “We’re running a media company, and we’re doing it with not a lot of money and not a lot of man power.” The model is working so well that it’s now being peddled for other cities, with similar sites being tested for Brooklyn and Toronto.

Expansion could give Buffalo Rising a stable revenue stream, allowing it to continue to serve Buffalo to the best of its abilities.

For now, for Newell, it’s what’s next.

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what’s: N E W E L L

Remembered as “the kid who

put a traffic light in the pilgrim village” for a school project in his elementary days, Newell had his affinity for community improvement even in his early years at Elmwood Franklin (above). Check out some of the things he’s done since.

Thunder Bay

Hyperlocal Media LLC

Newell operated this cool gift shop, a

The company behind the Buffalo Rising

hallmark of the resurrection of the Elmwood

brand, Hyperlocal Media creates and runs

shopping district, for 12 years. The store

“media properties” that focus on broad or

featured loads of Buffalo-specific products

specific communities through local relevance

and a variety of fun and funky items for the

and connectivity. Newell is co-president and

home. Newell closed the popular shop in

co-founder.

2003 to focus more exclusively on Buffalo Rising.

Buffalo Rising magazine

Buffalo Old Home Week

What started out as a quarterly flier

A weeklong celebration of Buffalo’s history

promoting the Elmwood/Allentown business

and local treasures that was re-founded by

and culture is now a stylish monthly

Newell and a group of others nearly 100

magazine full of current events, trends, ideas

years since its inception. Tours, seminars,

and insights, with a circulation of 75,000.

exhibtions, and parties fill the schedule from

Newell serves as publisher. Pick one up at all

July 1 through 8.

kinds of places around the city.

Buffalo Rising online

Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts

This Buffalo-dedicated online hub has been

Co-founded by Newell in 1991 to give local

called “the model for blogs for the creative

artists, arts organizations and community

class,” but it’s much more than a blog. If it’s

groups a family-oriented venue in which to

Buffalo,

it’s

present their work, this festival has become

cool/creative/fun/current, you can learn

a neighborhood favorite. This year’s festival

about it and talk about it on Buffalo Rising.

takes place August 25 and 26.

and

it’s

positive,

and

Check it out at www.buffalorising.com

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[ FACULTY PROFILE ]

JOAN GOOD

sees her role as part teacher, part techie, part actor, part writer, part security guard and part detective.

Oh, and also as the woman who checks out the books.

a day in the life OF THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST THERE ARE ALWAYS BOOKS WAITING. THAT’S THE INEVITABLE REALITY of being a librarian. There are always books waiting to be checked out, to be read, to be returned, to be shelved, to be reviewed, to be bought, to be talked about, to be shared.

“There just aren’t enough hours in the day,” says Joan Good, the person at the helm of Elmwood Franklin’s standout library. But she doesn’t seem to let that bother her too much, because it means that the hours she does have are busy ones, filled with all the things she loves to do— reading stories, doing research, using technology, teaching lessons, helping children, and most of all, being around books.

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[ FACULTY PROFILE ]

“THE BEST PART OF MY JOB IS SEEING THE KIDS’ FACES WHEN

kids need to know how to process that information, how to

they’re just so happy they found a good book to read,”

evaluate it, and how to use it. So Joan is always there to

says Joan, because she knows that kind of happiness isn’t

help and guide, and to keep a watchful eye. “The

fleeting. “The ability to select a book is a skill, one that

challenging thing is that sometimes I get pulled in a few

kids will use throughout high school, college, and

different directions, but I try to accommodate everyone’s

adulthood. It’s something they need to learn to do. There

needs,” Joan says.

are those kids who are born book lovers, but I don’t believe there is any kid who truly doesn’t like reading. They

The enthusiasm that EFS students have for reading makes

just haven’t found the right books yet. It’s all about making

her job easier—and sometimes harder. Joan remembers the

good selections.”

excitement that took over when the A Series of Unfortunate Events stories came out. Students would re-shelve the

At Elmwood Franklin, this learning process starts right in

books in the non-fiction section so others wouldn’t borrow

Prep, where children have weekly library class. They start

them first. “This is the only school I’ve ever worked at

with a read-aloud story and group discussion, and then

where kids would actually hide books because they want to

have time to choose their own books, with assistance from

read them first,” Joan says. Maybe not the best behavior

Mrs. Good. There’s also “book talk,” in which kids share a

for book lovers, but it does point to an undeniable truth

mini-review of the titles they’ve enjoyed. In the primary

about Elmwood Franklin students: they love to read.

grades, students begin the transition to independent book selection, becoming more familiar with types of books,

“They are so excited about books,” says Joan. “They’ll

authors, and reading levels. They also begin to use the

come to me and request titles they want; they’ll tell me

library’s research resources, finding facts and information

about books they’ve read; they’ll ask me if we have a

that relate to classroom work. “Lower School students use

certain book they’ve heard about.” And with more than

the computers a lot for research, for things like their small

15,000 volumes in the EFS library, the students have

business projects, the poetry slam, and the author

plenty to delve into. The collection is truly impressive, and

studies,” says Joan.

Joan is always adding to it, updating it with recent awardwinning titles, popular series, and other gems. She’s

By fifth grade, the students are ready for the demands of

especially interested in expanding the collection’s multi-

Upper School, proficient in using websites, databases, the

cultural offerings.

digital card catalog, and other information sources. And while Upper School students don’t have formal library

With more books comes more work, of course, but Joan

classes, their use of, and their instruction in, library media

doesn’t mind. She gets a hand from parent volunteers, who

continues. They’re in the library every day, checking out

assist with check-out, check-in and reshelving, and she

books for their own enjoyment or for specific class

always welcomes more help (no experience necessary—

assignments, or doing research for big projects.

training provided!). It’s an inspiring place to be—among

“Information literacy is an important part of what I do,”

of a better way to spend the day.

books and children, questions and answers. Joan can’t think says Joan. Accessing information is only the first step—

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[ FACULTY PROFILE ]

“GOOD”

TO

Place of birth: Canada Education: B.A. in English, St. Jerome's College; B.A., in sociology, Boston College; M.S., in education, Canisius College; M.L.A., in library media, SUNY Buffalo First job: “My first job was in a deli behind the cold cuts counter. I was fifteen. I bought a graphing calculator and a pair of Jordache jeans with my first check!” Other jobs include selling Bingo cards on roller skates and her work as a social worker/counselor in a psychiatric outpatient clinic.

Years at EFS: 9 If she couldn’t be a librarian, she’d probably be: a children's mystery writer or full-time poetry slammer. “My dream job is to own my own combination book shop and tea room. Hopefully this will happen when I retire,” says Joan. She also fantasizes of being a private detective, a rare book curator, or an archivist at the National Archives in Washington D.C. (She obviously has a booklover’s imagination!)

KNOW

!

TV Turn-off Week: Students give up TV for a week and live to tell about it!

Favorite children’s book: anything by Jan Brett, Roald Dahl, or Judy Blume A book she’s always meant to read but never has: the Bible, from cover to cover Cultural heroes: Activist Rosa Parks, athlete Wilma Rudolph, and Thomas Jefferson. “He founded the Jefferson Reading Room at the Library of Congress—one of my favorite places.”

Hobbies: Joan is an avid collector, collecting antique children’s books from the 1930’s and 40’s, as well as blue willow porcelain. And her collection of antique perfume bottles numbers over a hundred.

Three things you may not know about Joan: Growing up, Joan attended boarding school in Cork, Ireland, and she also lived for many years in Canada. She was a professional ice skater, performing with the Ice Follies for two years. And she saves just about everything, including decades-old files, directories, calendars, and miscellaneous scraps of paper.

Favorite authors: J.D. Salinger, P.D. James, J.K. Rowling

Joan Good is at the forefront of several literacy-related programs and events—such as the popular Poetry Slam—and has new ideas for the future, including a debate competition. This past April, Joan tried out another new school-wide initiative: National TV-Turnoff Week. TV-Turnoff Week is a nation-wide effort in which children and adults pledge to turn off TV sets and other “screen media” for seven days to experience life without television. Studies suggest that too much screen time undermines kids’ education, and it certainly can affect their reading habits.

With the week coinciding with Sabres playoffs, enthusiasm lagged a bit— voluntary participation came to about 33 percent of the student body—but overall the endeavor was revealing for everyone, worthwhile for most, and even enjoyable for some. And the stories Joan heard from students about their experiences were more entertaining than TV anyway. One student, experiencing a bit of withdrawal after a day or two of being TV-free, proclaimed to Joan that she was not going to be able to finish out the week. She did, however, explaining unhappily, “my mother made me.” Another student guiltily confessed she had watched television the previous night, but only because, she said, “the babysitter said I had to!” And another student, weeks after TV-Turnoff Week had passed, asked if it was still going on. Let’s hope he wasn’t missing out on his favorite program all that time.

Tentative dates for next year’s TV-Turnoff Week are April 21-27, 2008.

Last book read: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

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[ LEARNING BEYOND ]

Come learn along and

with the EFS sixth graders on their trip to the Niagara Power Project Power Vista

IT’S

ELECTRIFYING TO THINK THAT ONE OF THE NATION’S

greatest hydropower facilities is located right here in Western New York. The Niagara Power Project is the biggest electricity producer in New York State,

generating 2.4 million kilowatts—enough power to light 24 million 100 watt bulbs all at once. EFS sixth graders got a charge out of their visit to the Power Vista, where they learned how the energy of the mighty Niagara is harnessed and why electricity is such a powerful part of our lives.

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Sixth graders pass by a 17-and-ahalf foot, 92-ton stainless steel hydraulic turbine, identical to those that spin underwater at the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant to produce hydroelectricity.

Beyond being sculptural, the turbine is a functional back-up in case one of the 13 working turbines breaks or malfunctions.

[ LEARNING BEYOND ]

WHAT IT IS:

HOW IT BEGAN:

The Niagara Power Project is New York’s largest electric

Some 12,000 years ago, the ice that blanketed North

generating facility and one of the largest in the United

America began to thaw, melting into water that formed the Great Lakes and carving out the Niagara Gorge and the 350-

States. Located almost five miles downstream from Niagara

foot drop now known as Niagara Falls. The first hydroelectric

Falls, the Niagara project transforms the energy of the

generating station on the Niagara River was built in 1881. An

Niagara River into usable electricity. Built in 1961, the

86-foot cascade of water generated electricity that

project underwent a $300-million upgrade last year,

successfully ran the machinery of local mills and lit up some

replacing all 13 turbines at the Robert Moses Niagara Power

of the village streets. By 1896, the first long-distance

Plant and making other improvements to the generating

transmission of electricity began flowing from Niagara Falls to

equipment in the power dam.

Buffalo, more than 25 miles away. Additional hydropower generating stations were soon built along the Niagara River.

But disaster struck in 1956 when the region's largest

HOW IT WORKS: The Niagara Power Project consists of two main facilities: the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, with 13 turbines, and the Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant, with 12 pump-turbines. In

hydropower station was partially destroyed in a landslide.

Four years later, on the exact day predicted by Robert Moses, the "master builder" and then chairman of the Power Authority, the Niagara Power Project produced power.

between the two plants is a forebay capable of holding

WHAT’S TO SEE AND DO:

about 740 million gallons of water; behind the Lewiston plant, a 1,900-acre reservoir holds additional supplies.

The kids had plenty to experience at the Power Vista. The

Water is diverted from the Niagara River—up to 375,000

observation deck, perched nearly 400 feet above the Niagara River Gorge, provided a bird’s-eye view of the

gallons a second—and conveyed through two large

churning waters that carved the Niagara Falls. The Visitor

underwater conduits under the city of Niagara Falls to

Center features more than 50 hands-on interactive exhibits,

Lewiston. From there, water flowing through the Robert

touching on topics such as energy efficiency, solar power,

Moses plant spins turbines that power generators,

fuel cells, and more. A Van de Graff generator made

converting this mechanical energy into electrical energy.

students’ hair stand on end, quite literally, and kids pedaled

(Luckily, as the students learned, the vast majority of fish

away on a bike that demonstrated how the mechanical

that wind up taking this wild ride survive it, and the rest—

energy of the spinning wheel could be transformed into

only about 10 percent—become sushi for the seagulls that

enough electrical energy to run a washing machine or a

swoop around the facility.) At night, when electricity demand

refrigerator—a lot more work than just plugging it into a wall socket! A comprehensive electric lab explained the

is low, the Lewiston units operate as pumps, transporting

basics of electricity with an working model of a hydropower

water from the forebay up to the plant's reservoir. During the daytime, when electricity use peaks, the Lewiston pumps are

turbine, and a replica of a Victorian house with period architecture provided contemporary information on energy

reversed and become generators, allowing the water to be

efficiency and electrical safety—a shocking, but important,

used for electricity production twice.

lesson for everyone.

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[ NEWS OF NOTE ]

N E W S

of

Writers at Work Fourth graders welcomed two parent-writers to the classroom in May: former headmaster Keith Frome (top left) provided insight into writing personal essays and composing song lyrics and filmmaker Peter McGennis ’85 (top right) spoke to the class about writing movie scripts .

Professional Development Day EFS faculty joined those of the other Western New York independent schools in March for a day long lecture by Mel Levine, M.D. (bottom left), hosted by The Park School of Buffalo. Dr. Levine, well known for his books The Myth of Laziness and All Kinds of Minds among others, lectured on his focused study of the eight neuro-developmental constructs that affect learning and

N O T E

output in school and how teachers can use these findings to improve student achievement. Dr. Levine’s suggestions were further discussed in follow-up faculty meetings.

Sing a Song The Colgate 13 (bottom right), a men's a-cappella group, sang for students in February. A 60-year tradition of Colgate University, the group gives its own distinctive flair to a variety of standards and popular favorites. The performance was made possible by the Prince Family Performing Arts Fund. Here fourth grader Ryan Bronstein, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. Warren Prince, Jr., poses with the group.

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[ NEWS OF NOTE ]

The Spirit of Service Sister Patricia Brady (top left, at right), director of Canisius College’s Service Learning Office, spoke to EFS parents in March on the important and beneficial role that community service can play in the life of the child and the family. Also pictured are Nina Cascio and Laura Mangan, chairs of the Parent Council Speaker Series.

Sarah Miller, Nick Osinski, Erica Dalton, Kaitlyn Henry, John Loree and Minnie Ringland took first place in the large school non-public division of the St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute Math Contest. Individual trophies were presented to Sarah Miller (highest scorer for EFS), Sarah Abell, Erica Dalton, Kaitlyn Henry, John Loree and Minnie Ringland for exemplary individual scores in the contest.

Hockey with the Head A group of EFS students (top right)took to the ice in March with Mr. Featherston at HSBC Arena, where they looked (and felt) like real Sabres.

Go Figure Sixth grade math team members (bottom right) Thomas Westbrook (highest scorer for EFS), Sarah Duncan, Alec Long, Kayla Brannen and Noel Andersen took fourth place in the region at the New York Math League competition, facing teams from Erie, Niagara, Monroe, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

The Winning Numbers The seventh grade math team (bottom left) consisting of

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[ NAMES IN THE NEWS ]

N A M E S Student News Blue-Gray: co-captains for the second semester were Grace Clauss and Matt Stefura, Blue; Melissa Jacobs and James Blackwell, Gray. The winning teams for 2006-2007 were girls’ Gray and boys’ Blue.

Eighth graders James Dryden and Patricia Haddad took first place spots in Western New York, and fourth place nationally, in the Level I National French Contest.

Alexandra Mathews took second place locally and fifth place nationally, and Will Downing came in third place locally and sixth place nationally. Scoring in the top ten locally were Rachel Catipovic (seventh place nationally), Alison Johnston (eighth place nationally), and Alyssa Henry. In the separate sixth grade competition, Sarah Duncan ranked ninth nationally.

Eighth graders Matt Dearing and Kevin Acker received gold medals in the 2007 National Spanish Exam, competing against mainly high school students. Silver medals were awarded to Drew Slawson and Dan Healy, and bronze medals to Evan Brannen and Sarah Collins. Garrett Burgwardt, Annalee Burkley and Gabrielle Reed received honorable mentions.

Eighth grader Drew Slawson served as Head for a Day in April, assisting Mr. Featherston with his busy day by handling such pressing matters as deciding the dress code and choosing the lunch menu.

National Junior Honor Society inductions in January included 26 new members: eighth graders Riley Featherston and Sarah Miller, and seventh graders Sarah Abell, James

in

N E W S

the

Blackwell, Amanda Chinn, Grace Clauss, Sukie Cleary, Erica Dalton, Hannah Elsinghorst, Paul Fix, Kaitlyn Henry, Louis Jacobs, Melissa Jacobs, Eliza Kaye, Hijab Khan, Julia Liguori, John Loree, Aaron Markel, Sarah Miller, Nickolaus Osinski, Minerva Ringland, Madeleine Schlehr, Christine Stephan, Catherine Williams, Susan Winkelstein, and William Zacher.

Pushing Up the Sky Awards were presented in February to fifth graders MacKenzie Hamill and Joshua Osinski, sixth graders Michelle Moreland and Thomas Westbrook, seventh graders James Blackwell, Erica Dalton, Taylor Gillespie, and Aaron Markel, and eighth graders Geoffrey Fatin, Lindsay Mathias, and Drew Slawson. In May, awards were given to fifth graders Helen Boisaubin, Amber Chinn, and Jack Vance, sixth graders Alexis Bruzgul, Alex Bucknall, Kyle Cramer, and Maxcy Gayles, the entire seventh grade class, and eighth graders Kevin Acker, Will Downing, James Dryden, Riley Featherston, Alison Johnston, and Nicole Trubish.

Participants in All-County Music Festival were Sam Hausmann (elementary band); Noah Horan (elementary orchestra); Alexandra Mathews and Natalie Gerich (junior band); Susan Winkelstein (junior orchestra); Brendan Watkins, Sarah Duncan and Kayla Brannen (elementary chorus); Brianna Simmons, Kylie Jones, Amanda Chinn, Nicole Trubish, Drew Slawson, and John Loree (junior chorus).

The All-County elementary festival was held at Kleinhan’s Music Hall and the junior high festival at Amherst Middle School.

Three EFS students placed in the 2007 SPCA poster contest: Intisara BrittanKarshud, Michelle Moreland, and Matilda Powell. Lucy Featherston won third place in the essay portion of the contest.

Faculty and Staff News Math teacher Claire Barry welcomed daughter Mara Katherine on June 4, 2007.

Nurse Patricia Cody was recognized with an honorable mention for the Mariel C. Furlong Award for Making a Difference, sponsored by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Nurse Cody was nominated by the Alsheimer family.

The photography of history teacher Judy Gerich was on display in the Anderson Lobby of the Johnston Theatre throughout the spring of 2007.

Science teacher Steve Rao welcomed son Griffen John on April 19, 2007.

Sandra M. Roland has joined the Foreign Language team and will be teaching Spanish starting this fall.

Parent News The 2007/2008 Annual Fund Committee will be chaired by Jennifer Prince Bronstein ’74, Shashi Davae, and Liz Duryea Maloney ’70.

Chairs for Auction 2008 are Jane Cramer, Mindy Shine, and Mary Jane Zurowski.

The event will have a Broadway theme.

Joining the Elmwood Franklin School Board of Trustees this coming fall is Michele Trolli.

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[ JUST FOR FUN ]

book M

A

T

C

H

WHILE EFS LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST JOAN GOOD IS QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT A GOOD BOOK

is one that a reader enjoys, not necessarily one that won a medal, award-winning titles are a valuable part of any collection.

The Newbery Medal was named for 18th century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. See if you can match the seven Newbery Award books below with the year of their publication.

Title/Author

Year of Publication

Your Answer

1. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

a. 2001

1. __________

2. Holes by Louis Sachar

b. 1999

2. __________

3. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

c. 1987

3. __________

4. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

d. 1978

4. __________

5. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

e. 1968

5. __________

6. The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

f. 1963

6. __________

7. Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

g. 1952

7. __________

4. e

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3. f 7. b

ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL

Answers: 1. d 2. g 5. a 6. c

31

[ DAY TO DAY ]

D

A

Y

T

O

D

A

Donuts for Dad

Elephant artists

Field Day

Since Father’s Day takes place while

After viewing some elephant-made

Upper School students burn off

school is out of session, Prep kids

artwork, Prep I Stars tried their

some extra energy before exams

honor their favorite big guys five

“trunks” at the same style, holding

start in June.

months prior, in January.

paint brushes in the crooks of their

Y

arms the way elephants are taught to hold them in their trunks.

Masked marauders

Cheese and Prep-peroni

Path finding

Fourth grade students show off the

Parents Carla and Sammy Pantano

Eighth grade students make their

paper mache masks they created in

of the legendary La Nova Pizzeria

way across the snow as they trek

art class.

give Prep students a lesson in the

through Algonquin Park in Ontario,

fine art of pizza making.

Canada during a trip to Camp Pathfinder in February.

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[ DAY TO DAY ]

What’s a wiki?

Kids on the Block

Sabres fever

Students learned about wikis,

The Kids on the Block puppet show

First, second and third grade

computer applications that enable

performed in May for the second

students won a visit from a real

multiple users to load and update

and third grades. An internationally

Sabre—#38 Nathan Paetsch—

digital content. A collaborative wiki

acclaimed disability awareness

and Sabretooth in February as part

project between second graders

program that uses a Japanese style

of Perry’s Ice Cream’s Shoot-Score-

and seventh graders allowed the

of puppetry called bunraku,

Read More contest. Paetsch read

two classes to create, share, and

performances encourage children to

the book Z is for Zamboni to the

edit book reviews online.

see people with disabilities as other

kids, answered their questions, and

children with strengths and

signed autographs.

weaknesses, just like themselves.

Not for the squeamish

A piece of pi

Lacrosse crossing

Eighth graders learn about squishy

March 14 was Pi Day at Elmwood

The girls’ lacrosse team headed to

squids inside and out during

Franklin, with pi-related puzzles, pi-

Pennsylvania for a match against

classroom dissections, part of a

based contests, and even pi-shaped

Sewickley Academy in May.

unit on oceanography.

cookies for pi-minded students.

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[ ALUMNI RELATIONS ]

lasting

impact

ALUMNI RELATIONS AT

Julie Raynsford Director of Development

Steve Kellogg ’77 President of Alumni Council

ELMWOOD FRANKLIN

ALUMNI RELATIONS IS A TERM MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED with colleges and universities, or even high schools, but generally not elementary schools.

But at Elmwood Franklin, our graduates are too special to just let go and never hear from again.

And our former students agree—the friendships and foundations that they build in their days at EFS often have lasting meaning throughout their lives.

Whether we think of them as “alumni” or think of them as “sandbox friends,” the important thing is that we do think of them, and that they continue to think of EFS as a part of their lives.

After a busy and productive year for the Elmwood Franklin Alumni Council, the Bulletin Board sat with Steve Kellogg ’77, president of the EFS Alumni Council, and Julie Raynsford, Director of Development, to talk about the state of alumni affairs at Elmwood Franklin.

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[ ALUMNI RELATIONS ]

Tell me about the Alumni Council. What are its goals? Who serves on it?

receptions to other metropolitan areas in the near future.

Julie: The Alumni Council really works to maintain a relationship of mutual benefit between the school and its alumni. Its objectives are to maintain communication with alumni, keep them informed and involved in the school, solicit their social and financial support, and to share their news and accomplishments with the EFS community. There are 15 council members—all local alumni currently, due to the location of the meetings here at school.

Our nominations committee is responsible for thinking of and reaching out to alumni to join the council. In the future, we would like to grow the council to have a representative for every four-year graduation class increment, something like a class agent structure.

Speaking of alumni living outside of WNY, the new online directory should make it a lot easier for those people to stay connected.

What's new for the AC? Julie: Well, for starters, we have two new council members this year: Tricia Barrett ’92, and Eric Saldanha ’85. The organizational structure, with council members serving on sub-committees, is also new this year, and from that, we have had two alumni speakers for our Upper School students, and we hosted a two-day allalumni open house in June, which was a new event for this council. The council, along with Board president Alice Jacobs and trustee Alison Keane, has also helped organize a regional event that took place May 16 in Manhattan.

Steve: Yes, we’ve really made reaching out to our alumni living outside the Western New York area a priority of recent. As Julie mentioned, Tony Featherston hosted what was a well received reception at the Colony Club in New York City. We’re looking forward to expanding these regional alumni

Steve: Yes, and that’s really important because we have a significant amount of our alumni community living outside the area. And I will tell you from many conversations I’ve had as president of the Alumni Council that passion for the school does not in any way decrease with distance.

Of course, the Bulletin Board has been a constant for alums for many years now. I think most alums are like me—one of the first things you do is flip toward the back and find the class notes section to see who from my class has been up to what. So I am really excited about the new online directory, because it’s going to allow alumni to find each other, communicate, and generally stay in touch to whatever degree they prefer.

Julie: And that reminds me—does anyone want to serve as a class agent? The Alumni Council is looking for graduates in all class years to gather class notes and information from classmates surrounding their graduation years. A class agent is a representative that we expect to be quite familiar with all things Elmwood Franklin, so that they can share what’s going on with other graduates. Of course, the class agent would get help from the Development Office.

Do you find that some people identify more with the more “prominent” alumni affiliations they have with their high schools, colleges, and universities?

Steve: Prominence is, of course, perspective.

Elmwood Franklin is where we learned who

we are, how to learn, how to play with others, how to follow rules, when to push them, about the world outside, teamwork, independence, and so much more. For me, this was the foundation that allowed me to engage high school and college with confidence in who I am and vision for where I was headed. In my perspective, Elmwood Franklin is the definition of prominence. No other institution has made such a profound impact upon my life.

Julie: And we don’t mind sharing our alumni with other institutions! We just don't want our alumni to fade away—going off to high school, college, and onward with their lives, without staying in contact with Elmwood Franklin and sharing some of their big changes with us. Those “higher” schools know the importance of a strong alumni base and put a lot of effort and money into maintaining that. We may be a pre-K to grade 8 school, but we have the same need for active and engaged alumni to support our school.

So does EFS still matter to its alumni?

Steve: Absolutely it does! And that just makes sense. This is the place where we grew up. This is the place we made real and pure friendships. I know I’m in the majority when I say that when I look at the people who I call my best friends today, most of them I’ve known since my early days at Elmwood Franklin.

Julie: Just like Steve is saying, more often than not we hear that Elmwood Franklin provided some of the most positive years of our alumni's lives. Ideally, we hope that our alumni will consider the impact of their EFS education and how their experiences in the classroom, on the playing field, in the band, and all the rest of it laid the foundation for high school, college and beyond. The

36 ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL

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[ ALUMNI RELATIONS ]

majority of our students spend nine or ten years here, so I like to think—and truly believe—that our faculty and staff have a lasting impact on every one of our students.

Steve: Yes, and by their doing that, it means the school is keeping wonderful history and traditions alive, as well as using that perspective to pave the future for the next generations.

Are there are other ways for alumni to get involved?

Julie: Well, we can’t forget the Annual Fund!

Why should alumni give to the Annual Fund?

What do alumni stand to gain by staying connected with EFS?

So just by staying connected, they’re contributing something?

Steve: Both socially and professionally, it goes without saying that networking is fundamental to success. It’s not necessarily the reason for getting involved with such a gratifying activity, but it certainly is a benefit.

Julie: Absolutely. The real truth is that our entire faculty and staff cares about every student who comes and goes through our doors. We have a vested interest in their success, not in terms of getting into the perfect college or landing the perfect job, but rather in their growth as human beings and their happiness in life. So it really is important to maintain communication with our alumni so that they are aware of things happening here and so that we are aware of things happening in their lives.

Julie: Yes, we want to do our best to bring our alumni together and to allow them to connect with former classmates.

Steve: And in addition to the memories, the nostalgia, participating in events or get-togethers, it’s nice to be able to have some touch with such a valuable institution that so critically touches our next generation. Because of our perspective having learned to learn here at EFS ourselves, we as alums are best to offer perspective, opinions or support with respect to the direction of the school.

Administration looks to us with a very open mind for our thoughts or guidance. It’s quite rewarding.

What can the “average alum” contribute?

Julie: They can keep us updated on their whereabouts so that we don’t lose touch— it’s really easy with the new online directory.

Or they can simply come back and visit. We want alumni to visit whether they’re in the Class of 2006 or the Class of 1936. I really think alumni contribute the most by not forgetting the years they spent here and how those years shaped who and where they are today.

Of course, we can always use the “class cheerleader,” so to speak, to help maintain communication among his or her classmates and the school. Let's look at this current school year: Tony Featherston joined us last July. Do all of our alumni know we have a new Head of School? I'm not sure. Everyone is busy, and if you live in California and have three kids under the age of five, then maybe you missed our Bulletin Board profile of Tony, or maybe you didn't fully read the most recent alumni newsletter that introduced our new website and online alumni directory. Yet maybe you are still close to classmate Joe, who called you up recently to chat about the old days, and he was the one who made you realize some of the changes and activities going on. So we can always use help spreading the word about upcoming events and projects. And they can also help with admissions by spreading the word about what a great school Elmwood Franklin is to their friends and acquaintances with children.

Julie: So that our current students are provided the same great education that our alumni received when they were here and other donors were contributing for them.

And a strong participation rate to the Annual Fund among alumni speaks well for when we seek foundation aupport.

Do a lot of alumni make gifts?

Julie: We do have a relatively high percentage of alumni participation, but there is always room to improve. Truthfully, we focus more on participation than on actual dollars. We want our younger classes to give back with a gift that says “I may not be able to build a new Lower School, but I can give five dollars,” and then collectively, our young alumni make a big impact. We find that one of the most effective things is when alumni themselves do the asking. We regularly hold phone-a-thons here at the school, but, really, alumni of any class year and any geographical location can call five to ten classmates and ask them to contribute to the Annual Fund. Sure, people may not like asking for money, but what you're really asking your classmate to consider is giving their support to a school that will always have a commitment to financial aid and that will always want to add programming to the already enriched curriculum. It was true when they were here as students, and it is true today.

Steve: These are the things about Elmwood Franklin that never change.

37 ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL

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[ ALUMNI RELATIONS ]

connected WAY S

TO

S TAY

Some new and improved activities that allow EFS alumni to come back to where it all started.

Left: Alumni can now keep in touch with each other online with the EFS Alumni Directory. Center: Alumni came back to where it all started on June 8 and 9 for the first annual All-Alumni Open House. Here, young alums Dale Hodge ’97 and Rob Drake ’96 greet Head of School Tony Featherston after touring the school. Right: Alumni gathered at the Colony Club in New York City May 16 to reconnect with EFS and fellow alums.

O N L I N E A L U M N I D I R E C TO RY Key to keeping alumni connected is the functionality of an online directory, on which they can look up old friends, find other alumni in their area, and stay in touch with the school.

Launched this year, the password-protected directory features alumni from all class years.

which took place on June 8 and 9, is a way of inviting alumni back into the school to catch up with former classmates, say hello to some former teachers, meet the new head of school, tour the renovated campus, and relive old memories of their sandbox days.

A L U M N I R E G I O N A L G AT H E R I N G S Haven’t checked it out yet? Log on to update your current address, phone and e-mail information. Visit www.elmwoodfranklin.org and select “alumni directory” from the Alumni dropdown menu. Use your last name as your user name and your four-digit class year as password.

ALUMNI OPEN HOUSE While not a formal reunion, the new EFS Alumni Open House,

A large portion of EFS alumni live outside Western New York.

To keep them connected, with us and with each other, the Alumni Council has started to sponsor alumni gatherings in metropolitan areas around the country. This year’s first, held in May, took place at the Colony Club in Manhattan and drew alumni with class years that spanned from 1949 to 1997. A Boston reception is being planned for December 2007. Watch for announcements online at www.elmwoodfranklin.org.

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[ ALUMNI RELATIONS ]

The Alumni Career Speaker Series kicked off this year with Doug Swift ’70 (above left) and Newell Nussbaumer ’82 (above right). The Speaker Series is a project of the Alumni Council, which brings EFS alumni back into the school to talk to curent students about their lives and career paths.

ALUMNI CAREER SPEAKER SERIES A new project for the Alumni Council is the Alumni Career Speaker Series, which brings EFS alumni back into the school to talk to current Upper School students about their lives and career paths.

This program kicked off this year with speaker Doug Swift ’70, an architect, real estate developer, and historic preservationist. Doug visited EFS the morning of April 17 and told students about life in the real estate business in Buffalo. Trained as an architect, Doug spoke about his involvement in investment and development. He runs CityView Properties (along with former EFS parent Howard Zemsky and two other partners), renowned for its rehabilitation of the Larkin at Exchange building, a historic terminal warehouse that was originally part of John D. Larkin's Larkin Company and Larkin Factories. Built in 1912, this ten-story, 600,000 square foot building is now a landmark address for a wide variety of Class A office tenants. Doug strongly believes in preserving the rich architecture of Buffalo, and his commitment is well

demonstrated in his volunteer involvement the Roycroft Campus Corp., the Graycliff Conservancy, the Darwin Martin House Restoration Corp., and the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

Doug’s message to the kids was how much he—and many members of his family—enjoyed their time at Elmwood Franklin, which truly offers something, if not many things, to everyone. (In fact, he is a bit jealous of all Upper School boys who now get to stay through eighth grade.) In addition to being a former board member and current corporation member at Elmwood Franklin, Doug is a former EFS parent.

Sons Brendan and Daniel graduated in 2001 and 2003 respectively.

The second speaker in the series was Newell Nussbaumer ’82, who’s profiled on page 16. If you’re an EFS alum who would like to be a speaker in the series for next year, contact Julie Raynsford at (716) 877-5035 or email jraynsford@elmwoodfranklin.org.

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[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]

Members of the EFS Class of 2003 gathered for a brunch at the home of Tony Featherston and Helen Roy in June.

With high school behind them and new adventures before them, these young adults took the opportunity to visit with their EFS friends and share their memories and plans for the future.

graduate brunch EFS CLASS OF

Emily Bollier Grace Brown Brian Brunsing Paul Brunsing William Chason Ethan Collins Michael DeRose Marisa DiSarno Jennifer Dref Katharine Dryden Aachen Elsinghorst Eliza Friedman Meryl Gellman Margaret Healy

2003

Rochester Institute of Technology Boston University University of Colorado Mercyhurst College University of Vermont Wake Forest University Fordham University Drexel University Buffalo State College Yale University SUNY Geneseo Trinity College Crane School of Music • SUNY Potsdam Barnard College

HEADS TO COLLEGE

Caroline Hettrick Julia Ivins Amelia Kermis Ryan McQueeney Christopher Moy Matthew Parker Frederick Pierce Andrew Piscitello Brett Roell Joan Sullivan Daniel Swift David Tiftickjian Benjamin Walsh Harry Zemsky

Lake Forest College Boston University Cornell University University of Puget Sound Colgate University Ohio State University Connecticut College Art Institute of Toronto University of New Hampshire University of Toronto University of Colorado at Boulder University of Western Ontario Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) University of Vermont

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[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]

F

A

M

I

L

Y

THERE IS A SIZABLE GROUP OF ALUMNI AND STUDENTS WHO

T

I

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:

are making a family tradition out of an Elmwood

• Elizabeth Bassett and Kingman Bassett, Jr. ’73;

Franklin education. This group makes up a valuable

• Neil Fatin ’71 and Geoffrey Fatin;

resource for Elmwood Franklin’s future. Not only are

• Susie Surdam Johnston ’55, Edwin M. Johnston,

their families shaped by the school, but the school is

Jr. ’47, Alison Johnston, Tim Johnston ’74, and

inevitably shaped by their families. What’s more, some

Jennifer Johnston ’71;

families, like the Mathias and Johnston families, have

• Sandra Mathias ’56, Wendy Sheets Mathias ’77,

been a part of Elmwood Franklin School for more than

Lindsay Mathias, and Jane Forman Sheets ’43;

60 years.

• Seymour H. Knox IV ’69 and Jack Knox.

Five graduates in the EFS Class of 2007 have a parent and/or grandparent who is an alumnus/a of Elmwood Franklin School.

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E

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[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]

Who

there was

If you missed the All-

Alumni Open House

in June, here is a

glimpse of who was there and what went on. At right, Celesta Kowlaski Serio ’37 poses in the EFS Library Media Center.

She brought along with her books and momentos from her early days at the Franklin School (pictured left)

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A L L

-

A L U M N I

O P E N

Clockwise: Head of Upper School Rosemarie Beres (left) and Head of Lower School Susie Green (right) greet Corporation Member and Former Trustee Fritz Spitzmiller.

Head of School Tony Featherston and Sybil McGennis stop to catch up with Sue Rockwell ’42 (right).

Young alums (from left to right) Devin Friedlander ’06, Dillon Joseph ’06, Kilby Bronstein ’06 and Trey Toy ’06 enjoy catching up after their first year away from EFS. Emily Schabacker ’62 (left) chats with Tony Featherston while Steve Kellogg ’77 (right) mingles with fellow alums.

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H O U S E

[ ALUMNI UPDATE ]

J

U

N

E

8

A

N

D

J

Clockwise: Liz Duryea Maloney ’70 (center) and son J.P. Maloney ’99 chat with Mary Franklin Saperston ’60 (left).

Pamela Bradley Swales ’83 (left) and Elizabeth Schultz ’83 (right) stop to check out their graduation photo while touring the school.

Patricia Hughes ’88 (right) and husband Colin S. Brady (left) catch up with Eric Saldanha ’95.

Barbara Strebel Conners ’38 (left) and Mary Doolittle Taylor ’36 (right) gather to remember their years at Elmwood Franklin.

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U

N

E

9

[ CLASS NOTES ]

class

N O T E S

1958

1982

Diana Appleton McKnight writes, "I thought that after almost 50 years it was time to reconnect! I've been living in Boulder, Colorado for 40 years and have two sons, Ian (35) and Chris (34). I've been working for Boulder Valley Public Schools since 1980 but will retire in June. Give me a call and come visit!"

Newell Nussbaumer was the recipient of two Artvoice Best of Buffalo awards for "Loudest Cheerleader" and "Best Local Web Site" (buffalorising.com). Awards were announced April 30 at the AV Best of Buffalo Bash. Newell was also nominated for "Best Blogger."

1961

1989

Trudy Adam Mollenberg was honored this April as a 2007 Athena Award nominee. She has volunteer affiliations with the United Way, the King Urban Life Center, King Center Charter School, and the Western New York Foundation.

She is also a member of the EFS Corporation.

1965 Sonie Urban Hunn is happily living in Troy, New York. She writes in, "My oldest son David works for HSBC in Albany, and my youngest son Henry works for Ayco in Saratoga Springs."

1971 Allison Prince, Brenda Lentz Russell, Erica Cohn and Jane Hopkins Carey celebrated their 50th birthdays with a sleepover party in NYC in May!

1972 Laura J. Yerkovich writes, "From time to time I remember with appreciation my 7th grade teacher, Mrs. Adams, who, in my first year at EFS, brought me up to speed in so many things, but especially grammar and punctuation. She served me well!!!"

Adrian Benjamin Burke writes, "My short film, 'A Soldier's Choice' has been nominated for a ‘Tinny’ the official award of the Swansea Bay International Film Festival in Swansea, Wales, U.K. (MayJune 2007). I will attend the premiere showing and introduce the film at the Dylan Thomas Centre. In addition, the film will make its African premiere at the Everglades International Film Festival in Dargle, South Africa this coming September 2007."

1992 Molly Gasbarrini has recently written a chapter on Couple Therapy that has been accepted for publication in the American Psychiatric Association's Textbook on Psychotheraputic Interventions. After living in Chicago for five years and working as a researcher at Northwestern University, Molly will be moving to Texas to begin a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at Texas A&M University in the fall.

John Mitchell, writer and co-producer of a short film entitled “Super Powers”, recently received top honors in the category of Best Short Film Narrative at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

Jay Suresh attended the EFS alumni reception in Manhattan in May. He lives in New York City with his wife, Pooja Makhijani, who recently published a children's book entitled Mama's Saris. A copy was donated to the EFS library.

1993 Laura Santilli writes, "I will marry fellow music teacher Paul Biddle on July 27, 2007 at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery."

1994 Duncan Sisson and three other bicyclists have formed the nonprofit organization Biking for a Better World, Inc. to benefit communities along the Pan-American Highway. Their first goal is to raise $18,000 to finance the construction of a school in Nicaragua. To do so they will bike from Alaska to Argentina, a 16,000 mile trip, over the course of nine months beginning June 15. To learn more visit www.bikingforabetterworld.org.

1996 Emily Santilli is living north of Pittsburgh and works at Burt Hill Architectural Firm in Butler, PA. She also travels the Northeast swing dancing.

1998 Dionne Fabiatos currently works fulltime for GEICO Insurance Company.

This fall, she will be attending New York Law School on scholarship.

1999 Matthew Edson continues to work toward his degree in aviation science, recently completing his certification as a commercial pilot.

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[ CLASS NOTES ] "... I attended EFS from pre-kindergarten all the way through eighth grade and graduated in 1992. My schooling at EFS has shaped my entire life experience, both scholastically and personally. As an 11-year-old performing as ‘Annie’ on the EFS stage, I dreamed of performing onstage on Broadway and around the world, and that dream was realized throughout my twenties! I am starting a new chapter of life now as I pursue my Ph.D. in clinical pyschology at Texas A&M University. I was recently published academically for the first time. I credit EFS with so many of my successes, and some of the teachers I had there remain the most important mentors I have encountered to date."

Molly Gasbarrini '92

Alexis Lockwood is working in New York City as an account executive for Avenue A Razorfish, a digital marketing services and technology firm.

2000 Samantha Friedman wed Andrew Olsen on May 26. Eliza '03, Julia '04, and Madeline '06, and Molly DeRose '00 were among the bridesmaids. Samantha is completing a degree in communication with a concentration in advertising and marketing at Canisius College. After honeymooning in Florida, the couple will be at home in Snyder.

2001 Adam Goldfarb attends Colby College where he is a classical civilization major and philosphy minor. He is also a member of the varsity squash team.

2002 M. Nicholas Edson completed his first year at the University at Buffalo. He played both hockey and lacrosse for U.B. and earned a Collegiate ScholarAthlete Award.

2003 Ethan Collins and Amelia Kermis were named to the 2007 All-Western New York Scholar-Athlete spring sports team.

To be nominated, students must have carried a 90-plus average for the previous six semesters and been a starter or significant player in their sport. Ethan was a lacrosse player at Canisius High School. Amelia played golf

for Nichols.

Kathryn Dryden and Amelia Kermis were both awarded the 2007 Emedco Academic Excellence Award recognizing local high school seniors for outstanding all-around achievement. Katie will be attending Yale in the fall and congratulates her brother James on graduating EFS this year.

Joan Sullivan spent the past year living and working in Equador where she assisted at a local hospital. She will be attending the University of Toronto this fall studying international medicine.

2004 Sylvia Blackwell was honored for her athletic achievements in April with a Ray of Light award given by the YWCA. The awards are presented to outstanding young women in Western New York who demonstrate sustained excellence and make significant contributions in their schools and communities.

service.

2005 Ted Clauss completed his sophomore year at St. Joe's Collegiate Institute where he lettered in two varsity sports, ice hockey and lacrosse, both as a goalie. He was selected to play goalie for the AAA Midget hockey team for the Town of Amherst. The team is a contender for the USA Hockey Nationals, to be held locally at the Amherst Pepsi Center in 2008.

Erin C. Edson is a sophomore at Amherst High School. She is playing varsity lacrosse for her second season, is an active member of student council and band, has played field hockey, and has been Team Manager of the boys' varsity hockey team.

2006 Kilby Bronstein writes, “Sem is truly a great place! Playing sports is still my favorite thing. My summer plans are to be a Junior Counselor at Cradle Beach with Devin (Friedlander) and to travel to Costa Rica in August.”

Fritz Clauss was recently spotlighted on Buffalo Rising for his stop-motion film.

This film won 3rd prize in a field of 17 entries comprised mainly of college students at Canisius College's Digital Media Festival. He also won the Rising Star Award, given to the entrant who shows the most promise for the future.

Ari Goldfarb finished his freshman year at Nichols High School where he played on the football, wrestling and lacrosse teams.

He also enjoyed participating in the Costa Rica Exchange Program this year.

Javier Buscaglia Pesquera, Michael Hong, and David Szymkowiak, all Amherst Central High School juniors for the past year, were inducted into the National Honor Society in May in recognition of their scholastic achievements, leadership, character and

Peter Loree has completed his freshman year at Nichols, where he played JV boys lacrosse. He also played hockey with the Buffalo Shamrocks. This summer, Peter will join former EFS art teacher Jon Carlson on a hiking expedition through Arizona, Utah and canyon country, a trip he also

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EFS REMEMBERS THE CLASS OF 2003

Do you know the place? As eighth graders in 2003, these students are enjoying one of the many outdoor options offered at EFS. Email us at development@elmwoodfranklin.org with the name of the location and we’ll send you an EFS memento!

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 1818 Buffalo, NY

104 New Amsterdam Avenue Buffalo, New York 14216-3399 phone 716.877.5035 fax 716.877.9680 www.elmwoodfranklin.org

TO PARENTS OF ALUMNI: If this magazine is addressed to your son or daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify the Development Office by phone 716-877-5035 or by email development@elmwoodfranklin.org with the correct mailing address.

Thank you.