“Laete cognoscam et laete docebo | Gladly will I learn and gladly teach."
Foote Prints is published twice a year for alumni, parents, guardians, grandparents, faculty, and friends.
Editor
Frances Moore
Class Notes Editors
Mary Beth Claflin
Amy Stephens Sudmyer ’89
Jody Abzug P ’14, ’14
Design
Frances Moore
Photography
Stephanie Anestis, Aléwa Cooper, Sheila Lavey, Anne Lu, Colin Maher, Frances Moore, Defining Studios
Contributors
Rashana Graham, Christina MacLean
Board of Trustees 2024–2025
Officers
President: Kavitha Bindra
Vice Presidents: Annette Charles, Jessie Royce Hill
Secretary: Emily Brenner
Treasurer: Geert Rouwenhorst
Trustees
Elon Boms
Mike Caplan
Ronald Coleman Jr. ’04
Aléwa Cooper (ex officio)
Courtney Cupples
William Gilyard
Mona Gohara
Alex Kleiner ’00
Elizabeth Lasater (ex officio)
Daniel Levy
Jennifer Lucarelli
Karin Ouchida
Ty Sullivan
Che Tiernan ’89
Brett Weiss
Alexis Willoughby-Robinson (ex officio)
The Foote School complies with all applicable civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristics in any of its educational programs or activities, including employment. Protected characteristics (or protected classes) include race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, alienage, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law. The School is specifically required by Title IX and other applicable federal and state laws not to discriminate in such a manner.
Building confidence, well-being
The theme for this year’s State of the School event was “Wellness at our Core.” We chose to focus on wellness because we are deeply concerned about our students and their challenges. The world they are growing up in vastly differs from the one we knew at their age, often accompanied by pressures that feel unrelenting. As educators and parents, we must guide our students with care, equipping them with the tools and resilience they need to thrive.
One of the ways we enrich our students' well-being is through travel; more than just tradition, travel is an essential and intentional part of the Foote experience. We believe in the experience of learning from the landscape, the natural history of a place, the people who have inhabited it, and the layers of culture within it. While our travel programs are tied to the curriculum, their reach extends far beyond, as students engage in handson environmental activism, make cultural connections, and engage in service work to help others in need. Our students gain confidence, challenge limitations, and define leadership on their own terms.
This spring I traveled to China with our ninth graders — the first time we've had a chance to return to the country since 2019. This revamped trip was a chance to connect with our long-time friends at Yali High School, and to explore other areas of the country, digging deeply into China's culture and history. The China Experience was a tapestry of reconnections, new friendships, and unforgettable moments — from bustling cityscapes to quiet cultural discoveries. Our students fully immersed themselves, returning home with stories, insights, and fresh perspectives.
At Foote, wellness is more than an ideal; it’s a cornerstone of our mission. As a school, we are committed to helping our students develop healthy habits and critical-thinking skills, while creating opportunities for them to make tangible and meaningful connections with their local and global community.
Our hope is that together with our educators, parents, and larger community, we can work toward a balanced approach that supports the well-being of everyone.
News & Events
Follow us on social media to stay on top of the latest happenings at Foote! @thefooteschool
December
Lunar New Year Celebration
Kindergarten Scavenger Hunt
On April 8, the Foote School Visual and Performing Arts departments co-hosted our second annual Arts Night. This year's theme, “Stitched Together,” captured the spirit of this community sewing bee, led by current Foote parent and artist Megan Craig. Leading up to the event, students, faculty, staff, alumni, former faculty and other community members dropped by the Twichell Room to cut felt shapes in preparation for Arts Night, when we gathered to stitch the felt shapes onto a banner that will be displayed in the school. The idea for this project came from a 2018 NEA public art project in which Megan participated, called “Memory Edit: I Will Never Forget” in 2018.
Winter Sports
Seventh Grade Physics: Making Connections
This spring, seventh graders designed and built interactive circuits, then invited the fifth graders to test them out. Fifth graders were especially interested in the subject, having recently studied electric circuits in science class. The seventh graders built controllers for video games, buzzers for trivia contests, unique musical instruments, and even a dance pad for their version of Dance Dance Revolution. Many used their knowledge of Scratch (basic programming language Foote students learn in Lower School technology) to design games and experiences that could be controlled using their circuits.
Building something beautiful together
By Esther Schonberger Class of 2025 President
Ninth grade at Foote means finding a community. A handful of kids were put together in September and by June will leave Foote with a year full of laughter, friendships, and memories. As individuals, we had our own reasons for deciding to stay for ninth grade; collectively, we created an unforgettable end to our time at Foote.
To me, ninth grade at Foote means growth. We were all able to mature and learn together in a safe space while being encouraged to branch out and explore the world. I had the chance to connect with some of my classmates that I wouldn't have ever had the chance to otherwise, and I'm sure we will stay connected through high school and beyond.
I was so lucky to have the opportunity to be a ninth grader at Foote. This unique and wonderful program is a privilege that I know my whole class is thankful for.
The following pages show some highlights from the year — the collaborative Keith Haring-style mural; the class production of two one-act plays; exploring Cape Cod together; lobster studies with Project Oceanology; and their 15-day China Experience, with stops in Changsa, Chengdu, and Beijing — connecting with old and new friends from Yali High School.
“
There is no better way to have empathy for people from a culture and to understand that culture or place than to go there and connect with the people.
— Eric ’25
“
These experiences shape our perspectives and teach us how to appreciate diversity. Seeing how others live broadens our understanding of the world’s challenges and achievements. It lets us connect with people beyond borders and realize that, despite our differences, we share many similarities.
— Justin ’25
We travel to witness the unexpected, to find the beauty in the collision of the past and the present.
— Teo ’25 “
Shining a Light on the Past
One moment during the annual Candle House Ceremony stands out in peoples’ minds — when the lights go down to reveal a soft glow shining from each clay structure. Inspirational, even magical, it’s part of a rite of passage for Foote fourth graders and their families. And like so many Foote traditions, the Candle House Ceremony has been tweaked and refined but kept its essence for over 35 years. There must be hundreds of the architectural sculptures stored in Foote family homes, brought out each winter holiday to sit on mantels and coffee tables.
Physically, a candle house is a ceramic structure that resembles
a building and contains a light that shines through its windows. But Art Department Chair Mike Golschneider said the project requires real, handson learning and problem-solving.
“Students need to think like architects and designers, balancing aesthetic considerations with structural stability,” he explained. “Each piece is composed of three clay slabs that are carefully balanced and attached. Student artists focus on three dimensional details, texture, and the interplay of positive and negative space to create visually pleasing clay buildings.”
According to Karla Matheny, 35year veteran of the Art Department, candle houses started with her col-
“
league Polly Fiddler, who loved celebrating winter. In the 1980s, Polly created a winter solstice event in New Haven called Take Joy. “It was kind of a Christmas revels, or boar's head festival, with dancing and singing,” Karla said. “Polly loved candlelight and the whole winter theme, and at school, we filled the main hallway with the kids’ artwork. White lights hung from the ceiling, and we’d turn down the big lights so everyone could admire the candle houses on the benches with real candles in them.”
Denise Quinn, long-time fourth grade teacher, remembered that it was Laura Altshul, former Foote kindergarten teacher and Admissions Director, who first invited the kids to
It’s been close to 20 years since I made my Candle House like many of my other Foote art class projects, it’s prominently displayed in our family home. I no longer recall what poem accompanied it, but I do remember having lots of fun making it!
— Lloyd Hall ’07
Young Alums Day
November 2024
ROB CASEY ’13
“Organized labor and union strength will be an important and interesting story, especially as tech and A.I. develop.”
Economics Expert Asks: What's Next?
In the last few years, you may have caught a young man on CNBC or Bloomberg’s Surveillance organizing his thoughts on the spot, summarizing, predicting, not shying away from difficult opinions, but not sensationalizing them, either. Rob Casey, analyst and partner at Signum Global Advisors, speaks articulately about energy, politics, tariffs, and transportation — surprisingly well-versed for someone so young.
His expertise, however, doesn’t surprise those who knew him as a student at Foote. Amanda Diffley verified that as a third grader, “Rob was already incredibly articulate, loved to chat with adults as well as classmates, and was a curious and eager student.” Rob’s fifth grade teacher Jim Adams predicted broadcasting in Rob’s future when Rob turned in a project on pastimes in ancient Egypt accompanied by a six-minute podcast complete with music and sound effects.
Anna, Rob’s mother, taught kindergarten at Foote, and his younger sister Caroline ’16 also attended. After his seventh-grade year, Rob’s family moved to Denver. He still sounds wistful about leaving the place he said raised him. “My teachers and friends at Foote were a close-knit and meaningful community. They presented learning as something I got to do both in and outside the classroom.”
He remembered vividly the Luckey Climber and the Sacred Woods, where they tapped maple trees to make syrup, composted, and learned about native and invasive species. “It was never just classroom learning,” he said, “but learning as engaging the world around us.”
Rob returned to the East Coast to attend Amherst College, majoring in political science and French. “My love of French started in kindergarten with Madame Gianella,” he pointed out. After an internship in 2019 at Signum, he joined the firm upon graduation in 2020.
At Signum, Rob researches and produces reports assessing geopolitical risks to investing. The clients — financial institutions and multinational corporations — are subject to legislation, regulation, and conflict globally. “At our best,” Rob said, “our work is predictive, addressing risks that might not yet be clear. We are, however, both proactive and reactive, constantly updating our assumptions.”
“[At Foote], it was never just classroom learning, but learning as engaging the world around us.”
His favorite projects have focused on transportation — understanding the overlap between federal policy at the executive level, operations, and organized labor. “Organized labor and union strength will be an important and interesting story,” he predicted. “Especially as tech and A.I. develop.”
Rob’s former fourth-grade teacher, Denise Quinn, is not surprised by Rob’s interest in transportation as she can still recall his project on the transcontinental railroad.
Rob appreciates Foote’s emphasis on being well-rounded. “The ability to follow my interests allowed me to be empathetic and flexible,” he said. “And I would like to think it helped make me a good citizen. It made me ask how I can contribute to the world around me and lift others up and also be smart about what’s coming around the corner.”
What’s around the corner for Rob? First comes law school and then a possible career shift. “I was raised by a community that necessitates service,” he said, and added, not surprisingly, “so my plan has always been to put my geopolitical research into public service.”
Class Notes
“
“Laete cognoscam et laete docebo | Gladly will I learn and gladly teach."
— FOOTE SCHOOL MOTTO
As you'll see in the following pages, our school motto is referenced by multiple alumni — seeming to underline their sense of happiness and achievement. It reminds us that beyond great test scores and admission to top schools (and yes, we are proud that our alumni have achieved that, too) what makes Foote special is that the learning never stops. A Foote education fuels curiosity, it drives success and happiness in a natural and organic way. We are thrilled to discover our alumni in all fields and involved in their communities in meaningful and impactful ways.
Thank you all for sharing your stories with us.
Please note that we report news about Foote alumni, as well as their passings, as we become aware of them. Please visit footeschool.org/memoriam to read full obituaries as we receive them.
1946
Peggy Cannon is 90! She shared that she enjoys her age and is entertained by her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Living simply and well in her "perfect home in the winter land of New Hampshire.”
It is with sadness that we report the passing of Karen Wylie Pryor. Karen learned to snorkel and dive as a child with her father, unusual for someone of her era. Much later she would become known as the guru of positive reinforcement and as a naturalist and a trainer of dolphins. We extend our condolences to her family.
1948
Alice Gow Fekete wrote: “I am blessed with four daughters plus a stepson, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. They are all the joys of my life. Although widowed and living alone, I still drive and keep busy with volunteer work at our local senior center as well as at my church. My hobbies continue to be growing anything from house plants to flower gardens to vegetable gardens. I also enjoy reading and both crossword and jigsaw puzzles.”
1950
Mary Pigott Johnsen sent this note regarding the class of 1950 as they approach the 75th anniversary of their graduation: “Walking seems to be the primary activity and challenge for this class that
graduated 75 years ago. Still talking and walking are Nancy Curtis, Margot DeNoyen, Matthew Griswold, Vicki (Meeks) Blair-Smith, Mary Pigott Johnsen and Marcia Tucker Boogaard, a hardy bunch of 88 years olds. We are down from 23 with several ‘lost’ along the way.
Nancy has a trainer helping keep her active while very aware of the nuances of (sad) present-day politics. Vicki is taking walks and kayaking but no longer chasing sled dogs — but village-walking works for her. Matthew is still driving, and Margot gets to walk with her husband. Luckiest perhaps is me [Mary], since I am still coaching two tennis teams — the local community college and a senior men’s — playing golf, driving, and my dog guides me through the ER and patient rooms of the local hospital in her duties as a therapy dog. Penny, a dachshund, also takes good care of me psychologically in my role as a death educator. Since my husband and two of our four sons are deceased, I find I am definitely cherishing my gardening and having good friends who give me hugs.
We, of the Foote class of ’50, admit to loving each other and wishing each other all the best possible. It has been a good ride and we have contributed quite well along the way with Foote having provided a solid foundation for our prospects and achievements. Well done! With love!”
1952
We are saddened to report the loss of Nancy Alderman Harald Hille wrote
that she “was the member of our class of 1952 who best embodied Foote ideals.”
1954
Edward Johnson sent a note that he is a retired part-time journalist, very active in church activities, the fire department, and other community activities.
1955
We received this update from Bud Conrad, who still keeps in touch with his Foote friends: “Foote was important to me. ... It was nice to visit with Bob Dickie at the beginning of the new year. I'm doing regular local hiking and still climbing on my roof to blow leaves off, and I even had my family over for my twins’ 48th-year birthday celebration! All four parents and five of my seven grandchildren jumped into the cold, cold swimming pool and quickly migrated to the hot tub. We watched some of the Super Bowl by a fire.”
1956
We extend our condolences to Ruth Selig on the passing of her sister Nancy Alderman ’56
1957
Kevin Geenty wrote that he will spend Easter in Boca Grande, FL, and hopefully take a trip to Europe in late spring.
the most recent revival of this play. Joining Joanie was Sarah Blake, Jessie Drury, Susie Campbell, Reedie Field, Duby McDowell, Jonea Gurwitt, Cessy Bickel, Katie Wolfgang and Roger Smith. The group rounded out their gathering at the Algonquin Hotel, where they traded clever quips and passed around a 50-year-old photo album brought by student director, Reedie Field ’75, much to everyone’s delight.
1978
We extend our condolences to Bill Alderman on the passing of his mother Nancy Alderman
Condolences are extended to Charlotte Perrine on the passing of her mother Laura Perrine.
1979
We are sad to report the loss of Sandra Draper. Sandy embarked on a dedicated career in social services, contributing her talents to Yale-New Haven Hospital, Continuum Care, Leeway and the Hamden Housing Authority. Sandy was known for her deep love of cats and her remarkable ability to rescue and rehome orphaned felines, often finding them loving homes among friends and family. Her kindness and dedication extended beyond her professional life to everyone she knew. We extend our condolences to her brother Don Draper ’82
1980
We recently heard from Pete Neuman that he traveled to Barcelona with his wife Joanne in January 2024. They also went to Avignon and traveled with Claudine (Martin) Brus and her partner Eric. Some from the Class of 1980 might recall meeting Claudine while traveling to France for two weeks, and again when she came to New Haven for two weeks as part of the exchange program. Pete’s trip included touring nearby small towns such as Ochre, where they had an outdoor picnic, and also visited Arles and Marseilles.
Tag Mendillo wrote that he attended a Miami Dolphins game with Ted Danforth along with Tag’s son Jack and Ted’s sons Scott and Teddy. Tag reports it was a blast.
Our condolences to Bill Perrine on the passing of his mother Laura Perrine
1982
Perry Grossman sent a note on the passing of his father, Jon Grossman. We extend our condolences to Perry and his sister Linda Grossman ’85
We heard from Kate DeVane who sent this note: “I am the founder and Executive Director of The Island Center on
Martha’s Vineyard and we have just completed phase one of our capital campaign and opened our day programming." Learn more at islandautism.org.
1984
We extend our condolences to Katherine Perrine Austen on the passing of her mother, Laura Perrine.
1986
We extend our condolences to Kate Bosch on the passing of her mother Carol Ross.
Greg Sawyer passed away this past January. We extend condolences to his family.
1989
We extend our condolences to Jonathan Ross on the passing of his mother Carol Ross
In celebration of 50 years of life and friendship, Andrea Campbell Murrell ’88 and Toya Hill Clark ’89 traveled cross-country from Arizona to the East Coast “as we had 28 years prior. In 1992, we traveled from California to Connecticut in a Ford Escort with no cell phone, no GPS, and no real destination except to make it home at some point. This past April, with modern technology and a wish to go through Tulsa, OK. and experience the historic Greenwood section, better known as Black Wall
Amy Estabrook ’72 with grandson Reed Christopher Gagnier, son of Chelsea Ross ’06.
Fifty years after performing in Once Upon a Mattress at Foote, cast members Joanie Bigwood Osborn, Sarah Blake, Jessie Drury, Susie Campbell, Reedie Field, Duby McDowell, Jonea Gurwitt, Cessy Bickel, Katie Wolfgang and Roger Smith attended this year's Broadway production together.
Andrea Campbell Murrell ’88 and Toya Hill Clark ’89 traveled cross-country from Arizona to the East Coast “as we had 28 years prior.”
FOOTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; March 16, 1939–Jan. 1, 2025
Foote alumna and former member of the Foote Board of Directors Nancy Osterweiss Alderman, 85, a resident of the New Haven area for her entire life, died peacefully surrounded by family members at Yale-New Haven Hospital on January 1, 2025 after months of pulmonary illness.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 66 years, Myles Alderman, her loving children Myles Alderman Jr. ’75 (Linda) of West Hartford and William Alderman ’77 (Lori Goldenberg) of Danbury, her cherished grandchildren Myles III, Kelsea, Mackenzie, and Brooks, her numerous nieces and nephews, and her sister Ruth O. Selig ’56. She was predeceased by her sisters Sally O. Kopman ’50, and Rollyn O. Krichbaum ’56.
Nancy was an initiator in the movement to protect human health from environmental harms. She worked closely with physicians, scientists, and the general public to help identify carcinogens and other toxins (such as asbestos, radon, formaldehyde, PFAS, flame retardants, diesel exhaust fumes, synthetic turf, fracking, wood smoke, and BPA). Nancy spearheaded efforts with governors, attorneys general and legislators to implement laws, rules, and regulations to mitigate these risks.
Nancy Alderman founded or led numerous environmental and community organizations and initiatives including but not limited to: Environment & Human Health, Inc, Picnic in the Park for The New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Eli Whitney Folk Festival, and the Farmington Canal Railto-Trail Organization.
Those interested in learning more about Nancy’s work can find her papers, speeches, letters, testimonies and other publications at the Whitney Library in the New Haven Museum. You can read her full obituary at footeschool.org/memoriam.
Laura Perrine
ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS;
Feb. 22, 1952–March 15, 2025
Laura Lyman Perrine passed away on January 3, 2025, in Corte Madera, California. Laura was the wife of the late Frank Perrine, Head of School, 1967-1992. Laura worked at Foote, establishing the Alumni & Development programs.
Laura was born in February 1937 and married Frank in August 1961. She supported Frank with strength and grace throughout his tenure as Head of School. Many former faculty remember the faculty parties Frank and Laura would throw in their New Haven home; guests would bring something to share and Laura would make a main course. The evening would end with Frank playing the piano and everyone singing.
Laura loved the Perrine home in Peru, Vermont, which she and Frank shared with many Foote students and faculty on school field trips and excursions. After leaving New Haven, the Perrines lived in Massachusetts and finally joined their three children in Northern California in 2019. Please join us in expressing sympathy to Laura’s family: Charlotte Perrine '78, Bill Perrine '80, Katherine Perrine Austen '84 and her grandchildren, siblings, and her many dear friends in the Foote community. You can read her full obituary at footeschool.org/memoriam.
In Memoriam
ALUMNI
Nancy Alderman ’52 Jan. 1, 2025
Sandra Draper ’79 Aug. 8, 2024
George Huckleberry Fox ’90 Nov. 3, 2024
Joan Corbin Lawson ’45 Sept. 27, 2024
Paul Lyga ’03 Jan. 27, 2025
Greg Sawyer '86 January 2025
Susie Warner ’62 July 27, 2021
Anthony “Tony” Willard ’60
March 29, 2025
FORMER FACULTY/STAFF
Nancy Worms Oct. 23, 2024
Carol Ross Feb. 16, 2025
Laura Perrine Jan. 8, 2025
Chava Burgueño (After School Program) March 15, 2025
Please visit footeschool.org/memoriam to read full obituaries as we receive them.
Carol Ross
FORMER FACULTY; April 2, 1942–Feb. 16, 2025
Carol was a cherished teacher and colleague at Foote from 1979 to 1996, leaving a lasting impact on our community through her 17 years of dedicated service.
As a Latin teacher and Chair of the Latin Department, Carol was known for her passionate teaching, unwavering commitment to her students, and infectious love of the Classics. She made Latin come alive for her students, engaging them with stories of ancient Rome, including “the daily life of Caecilius, a patrician head of house in Ancient Rome.” Beyond the classroom, she served as a Ninth Grade Advisor and Yearbook Advisor and led the Ninth Grade Community Service Program with enthusiasm and care, shaping the experiences of many students at Foote.
Carol had a remarkable ability to think creatively and nurture unconventional learners. Loli Wu '82, speaking at Alumni Weekend last May, recalled Carol’s “extraordinary devotion to her students” and her willingness “to validate and encourage [their] not-so-conventional interests.” He shared how she “volunteered to help start an after-school wargaming club, nurturing [students’] budding interest in the intricate board games simulating the Napoleonic wars and The Wars of the Roses.” Even then, her students recognized this as a remarkable gesture that demonstrated her appreciation for unique learners and devotion to teaching.
After leaving Foote, Carol continued to pursue her love of ancient history, studying coins at Yale University’s Department of Classics. She also taught Greek and Latin at Choate Rosemary Hall and Wilbur Cross High School. Beyond the classroom, she was deeply engaged in the Yale community, serving on the Women’s Health Research at Yale (WHRY) Council. Together with her late husband, Steve, she demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Neighborhood Music School and community arts education.
Carol is survived by her sisters, Patricia Vegnani and Janet Russell; son, Jonathan Ross ’89; daughter, Kate Bosch ’86; her husband Doug; and granddaughters, Lucy and Polly Bosch.
You can read her full obituary at footeschool.org/memoriam.
Nancy Worms
FORMER FACULTY; July 11, 1948–Oct. 23, 2024
Nancy Griffiths Worms (76) of Hamden, widow of Donald “Dewey” Worms, passed away on Wednesday October 23, 2024, at her home after a long battle with cancer.
Born July 11, 1948, in New Haven, to the late Kenneth and Genivieve Griffiths, and predeceased by her sister Barbara Kavanaugh, Nancy attended The Gateway School (1966) followed by Hood College (1970). Nancy began her teaching career shortly after graduation at Fairland Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland and continued it later at The Foote School in New Haven, from 1991–2012. As a first- and second-grade teacher, Nancy was known for her warm and nurturing style, focused on the whole child.
But it was Nancy’s work as a daughter, a sister, a mother and a grandmother that was her true lifelong commitment — tending to her family relationships with the same warmth, nurturing and unconditional positive regard. Nancy never missed a chance to help, to talk, to bake, to celebrate, to spend time together.
Nancy will be deeply missed by her two daughters, Katie Donroe ’95 and her husband Adam Donroe of Cheshire, and Wendy Worms and her husband Brett Wilson of Petaluma; and her four grandchildren Paisley and Oliver Donroe ’92 and Nathaniel and Benjamin Wilson. Her kindness, warmth and endless generosity will live on in them. You can read her full obituary at footeschool.org/memoriam.
Our celebrated Summer Theater Program gives students the opportunity to be part of a major hit musical, and learn valuable skills like acting, singing, costuming, set construction and technical theater. footeschool.org/theater
DATES: July 1–Aug. 4, 2024
There is no program on July 4 or 5
DAYS & TIMES: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
AGES: Rising 7th–12th graders
PERFORMANCES: Aug. 2, 7:00 p.m. Aug. 3, 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Aug. 4, 2:00 p.m.
Theater summer
Project-based Learning at its Best
By Rashana Graham Executive Director
As Martin Luther King once said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” The best way to do this is through interactive, project-based activities — and at Horizons at Foote, we have been engaging our students in fun hands-on learning throughout the school year.
Over four snowy Saturdays, Horizons students gathered at Foote for STRONG Academy. They worked on projects that engaged them in math, design, and critical thinking. Some students planned out tea parties, budgeting for party supplies, and working as a team on theme and decor — including Wicked! Some students created clay community gardens, drafting the area of each plot and sculpting vegetables to nourish their community. Our older students designed their own food trucks, figuring out expenses, menu,
and marketing.
Math projects were paired with adventures in storytelling. Adelka Polak, founder of Sova Dance & Puppet Theater, led our younger students in a puppetry workshop. They designed pool noodle marionettes, string spiders, and shadow puppets, then used them to tell their inventive stories in small groups.
Anthony DePoto and Tess Peters of innerAct Theater worked with older students on the fundamentals of storytelling through improv. They wrote and acted original stories, then presented their scenes as an ensemble. Through their performances, everyone built self-confidence, public-speaking skills, and teamwork.
In February, Horizons at Foote hosted STEAM Day at the Foote School for the first time — and put on our own Science Fair! It was a full day spent exploring science and the scientific method. Experiments focused on capillary action, heat transfer, buoyancy, viscosity, friction,
and more, each documented thoroughly on classic science fair project boards. After their experiments, students presented their findings to friends and family. Science rules!
Thank you to everyone whose heart and hard work help us share opportunities for New Haven youth to grow academically and artistically — to think intensively and critically — and to discover the future they want to build for themselves. We’re counting down the days until our 11th Horizons summer at Foote!
Horizons at Foote’s mission is to advance educational equity and joy of learning for New Haven public school students. Our vision, which we share with every Horizons program in the national network, is a future in which every child thrives. Follow @horizonsatfoote on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with exciting news and events!
KINDERGARTEN MILESTONES:
What does100 look like?
The Foote School
50 Loomis Place
New Haven, CT 06511
www.footeschool.org (203)777-3464
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Notice: Postal regulations require the school to pay 75 cents for every copy not deliverable as addressed. Please help us contain costs by notifying us of any change of address, giving both the old and new addresses.
