FALL 2015
NOTES TO FRIENDS FRIENDSMH.ORG
IN THIS ISSUE
Colleen Farrell
My Journey After Friends School
Gail Scuderi
FSMH Mural Artist
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT Fall Fall Photos Photos & & more... more...
mission statement To provide a fertile learning environment, rich with the nutrients that help us cultivate the intellectual growth, creativity, scholarship and social conscience of each student, within a community of values rooted in the Quaker tradition that advocates mutual respect and nurtures the spirit as well as the mind.
Artist, Gail Scuderi in front of the mosaic mural at FSMH
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CONTENTS
Fall Issue 2015
4 Foreword
ON THE COVER
5 Fall 2015 - Alumni Notes 6 My Journey After FSMH 7 The Mosaic Mural 8 Student Letters to Artist 10 New Learning Specialist 10 Lori Rowe Awarded Dorothy Kramme Award 11 Spotlight On Faculty 12 Notes From Parents 13 A Chronicle Of Higher Education 14 Fall Photos
About the Cover
First graders, Cooper and Chase picking apples at Hill Creek Farms in Mullica Hill, New Jersey.
16 Upcoming Events From Ou FSMH Studr Archives ents c. 197 0 (see page 13 for full p hoto)
FRIENDS SCHOOL MULLICA HILL 15 High Street Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Published By
Editor, Communications Manager
Educational Information & Resource Center South Jersey Technology Park 107 Gilbreth Parkway, Suite 200, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062-4446
Graphic Design
Jared Valdez Amy Wohl
Head of School
Beth Reaves Director of Admissions and Advancement
Judy Corona-Karpowicz
FOREWORD FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL BETH REAVES Dear FSMH Families and Friends, The 2015-2016 school year is off to a great start at Friends School Mullica Hill. We started our new school year as we do each year, with a whole-school meeting for worship. It is a wonderful opportunity for friends within our school to share the enthusiasm and excitement we all feel at the start of a new year. Students shared thoughts about learning, participating in new experiences and new classroom routines – reminding us all of the sense of a fresh start that a new school year brings! We entered this year with a community focus on continuing our school-wide emphasis on reading; more often, varying types of books and materials, diverse genres and overall enriched instruction. This year, we’ve formed Reading and Discussion groups for all students in grades 2-8. Each morning at 9am you’ll find every student participating in these groups, sharing thoughtful discussion about their reading with teachers. Several weeks ago, we also hosted a successful surprise for our students – their families joined us in the afternoon on campus to read and enjoy snacks picnic-style with students. In October, we participated in a challenge to set a world record for the most children read to in a 24 hour period. And that’s only the start of the school year! We know the importance of being a community of readers and want to continue to embrace strategies that will enhance our students’ overall experience. The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough by Katie Smith Milway is our One School One Book choice for this year. This simple story is focused on the challenge of food availability around the world and shares the idea that “something as simple as having enough food opens a window to greater things.” Throughout the year we’ll explore this theme with students, helping them to learn more about the role of farms and gardens in global communities. Our own newly created school garden is a wonderful addition, enabling students to have hands-on learning experiences with growing and cultivating food. At our first whole school Community of Friends gathering, the middle school students shared information about their recently planted fall crops, while 4th graders presented the life cycle of a seed. The garden is a unique opportunity for them to incorporate all that they have learned in a classroom into a real life experience. I so enjoy being part of a community that is focused on providing outstanding learning experiences for our students each year. These new events and activities only help to broaden and deepen our students’ education at Friends School Mullica Hill. Looking forward to a great year! In Friendship,
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FALL 2015 - ALUMNI NOTES
Pictured above David Beauchemin and Holly Cimprich’s 2003 class photos.
David & Holly on their wedding day We are always happy to hear about the wonderful life events of our alumni. Here are some that have come to our recent attention.
High School Academic Achievements
Anne M Hughes - Class of 2013, achieved Honors for the Second semester of 2014-2015 having attained at least 3.5 out of 4.0 for that semester at Merion Mercy Academy in Merion Station, PA. Nick Martorell - Class of 2014, has transitioned well to Salesianium High School in Wilmington, DE. He achieved a GPA of 4.08 in three Quarters and 3.99 in another, achieving Dean’s List. He is enrolled in all Honors classes for the 2015-2016 school year. He has also excelled in football and wrestling at the school.
Graduations
Ali Walls - Class of 2003, graduated in May 2015 from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy.
Engagements
Carly DiLella - Class of 2003, recently became engaged to Jonathan Freidzon. The date has been set for October 8, 2016. Carly lives in Miami, FL and recently graduated from University of Miami School of Law and just passed the Florida and New Jersey Bar Exams.
Weddings
David Beauchemin and Holly Cimprich (both Class of 2003) married on September 12, 2015. At their wedding, they noted that they first met at FSMH in the 6th grade where they shared their very first dance together. Their wedding party included Best Man Zachary Beauchemin ’08, Bridesmaids - Amy Cimprich ’06, Alyssa Gagne ’03 and Vittoria Costantino ’03. Those in attendance included Kevin Bond ’06, Allison Redman ’03, along with former FSMH faculty Teacher Chris Ritter and Teacher Chris Mahon.
Alex & Jacqueline on their wedding day
Alex Cera ‘01 and Jacqueline Mainart were married on March 7, 2015 at the Church of the Incarnation in Mantua, NJ. A reception followed at the Carriage House in Galloway, NJ. In attendance from FSMH were Teacher Paula Cera, mother of the groom, Ryan Cera ’99, groomsman and brother of the groom, Jason Minderline ‘99, groomsman and friend of the groom. Alex is currently completing his Masters in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Sciences. Jacqui holds a Master’s in Education and teaches special needs students for Salem County Special Services School District. A honeymoon to Italy is planned for December 2015. The happy couple currently resides in Mantua, NJ with their two dogs, Belle and Penny.
Alumni Achievements
Cori McMahon, PsyD, who attended FSMH Kindergarten through 8th grade, was recently featured in South Jersey Biz Magazine on their Who’s Who in Health Care list. Cori is the Director of Behavioral Medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper. She is currently conducting a research study utilizing the Apple Watch with breast cancer patients to determine how this technology can be leveraged to improve patient care. To share your own good news, go to the FSMH website: www.FriendsMH.org/alumni
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by Colleen Farrell
MY JOURNEY AFTER FRIENDS SCHOOL
I began my Quaker education at age four at Friends School Mullica Hill, attended high school at Wilmington Friends and concluded my formal education at Haverford College. As a lifelong student of Quakerism, service to my community, my country, and our world has been ingrained in me since Pre-Kindergarten with Teacher Nancy. After so many years of growing up surrounded by Quaker values, my path surprisingly led me to the military. And although many have found it strange that I was drawn to the Marine Corps, the discipline, traditions, and esprit de corps of the Marines suited me. In 2010, an opportunity arose to join the Marine Corps’ new Female Engagement Team, a unit whose mission fit my values. After being raised in a community that espoused equality, human rights, and social justice, I jumped at the opportunity. The necessity of the Female Engagement Team came from the strict gender customs of Afghan culture. Male infantry were prohibited from speaking with Afghan women, rendering village assessments incomplete. With women and children comprising seventy percent of a village’s population, over half of the village’s voices could not be heard. The mission of the Female Engagement Team was to address this problem by building trust between the Afghans and the military working to stabilize each community. My deployment to Afghanistan was extremely successful and was a life-changing experience. Through the relationships we built, my team was able to analyze the needs of each village, such as access to infrastructure that most of us take for granted: clean water, healthcare, education, legitimate income, and safety from terrorism. Taking into consideration the concerns voiced by the Afghan women, we created monthly medical training clinics and reconstructed several schools that had been destroyed. Our medical outreach programs were unprecedented in that for the first time in three decades of war, thousands of both men and women in remote villages were able to learn basic medical and hygiene practices. However, after returning home, I began to see that the limitations placed on Afghan women paralleled the limitations placed on my own team of female Marines. My team had served in combat at a time when women were legally banned from doing so under the Combat Exclusion Policy. Because my experiences directly conflicted with the policy, I joined an ACLU lawsuit in 2012 that sought to repeal the ban on women in combat. While the decision to pursue the lawsuit was difficult, the support I received from the Friends community, as well as the values I gained throughout my education confirmed that it was the right choice. My education at Friends taught me to think critically and gave me the ability to question the status quo. At Friends, I was told that I have a voice and that my voice matters. And that I should use that voice for a purpose, to serve my community and promote equality. While Secretary Panetta rescinded the policy in 2013, hundreds of thousands of positions remain closed to women. Additionally, the Marine Corps has recently asked for an exception to the repeal in order to keep the infantry closed to women when integration occurs in January 2016. While there has been much to celebrate in the three years since we filed the lawsuit—such as the recent graduation of two female Rangers—our work is far from over in the fight for equality.
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THE MOSAIC MURAL BY ARTIST GAIL SCUDERI
The mosaic mural at FSMH began in the summer of 2006 when my daughter Madeleine was a 7th grader at Friends. Madeleine had previously been at the local public school for her K-6 education. The difference in her school life when attending Friends was immediately apparent. She loved and was thriving at her new school! She also was a recipient of a generous scholarship which enabled her to attend. I was very grateful for the opportunity for Madeleine to attend and wanted to create a lasting gift that would be for all to enjoy. At that time, I had just begun my career as a teaching artist who worked with various schools to create public murals. I was excited about this work and decided that I would like my gift to be a mosaic mural. I proposed my idea to the Board at that time, and it was decided that the school would like a mosaic of the Friends School logo. This mural was my first exterior public mural. Throughout the summer of 2006 and 2007, I created the lettering for the mosaic. The panels were installed just before school opened for the 2007-08 year. I remember being so excited, I wanted to observe from a distance the reactions of the students as they came back to school and saw for the first time the new art on the front of the building. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance. Madeleine had graduated, and I had to work that day. I drove by the mural occasionally, just to see how it looked. The mural looked beautiful, but too much of the cinderblock wall was still showing. It remained like that for three years. In 2011, my son Peter had the opportunity to attend FSMH for middle school. With his enrollment I again was present on campus on a daily basis. I was still working on public art projects and had by this time created several large scale mosaics in schools. I decided I wanted to add onto the mural and that I wanted the students to work with me to create “legacy” art for the school. The theme for the new mosaic panels would be the Quaker “SPICES.” Teacher Diane became involved with the project, and we set up a schedule for me to come in and work with the eighth grade students to make the Simplicity panel. I thought about a symbol that would best represent the idea of simplicity, and came up with the apple, nature’s perfect food that requires no preparation to feed and nourish the body. Simplicity nourishes both body and soul.
The following year, when Peter was getting ready to graduate, we created the peace panel. Students researched how to spell peace in difference languages and incorporated symbols for peace into the mosaic. That year I also created the Integrity panel. The trunk and limbs of a sturdy tree symbolize strength of character and integrity. The Community panel contains portraits created by the wider Quaker community. Students from FSMH and members from Woodstown Monthly Meeting, where I am a member, worked on creating a diverse array of portraits. The students were in fourth grade and the members of Woodstown were both young and old. It was a great experience to be able to incorporate generations of community members in this panel. The parents of the class of 2012 decided to raise money as a class gift to install the Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, and Community panels. They were complete and on display at the graduation that year. The following school year Teacher Diane worked with the eighth grade class to create tiles for the Equality panel. Diane and I decided that we would ask the students to represent Equality in an abstract fashion using geometric shapes. It was a small class that year and at the end of 2013 I still did not have enough tiles to complete the panel. The Equality tiles and tiles made by FSMH staff for the Stewardship panel who also worked with T Diane sat in my studio for a long time. Last year I spent a day with the graduating class of 2015 and together we completed all the tiles that were needed to complete both Equality and Stewardship. It has been a really long project but a wonderful opportunity for me to have a continuing connection with the students and staff at FSMH. Gail’s work in schools as well as her personal work can be seen at: http://gailscuderi.blogspot.com/
STUDENT LETTERS TO GAIL
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SCUDERI, MOSAIC ARTIST
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NEW LEARNING SPECIALIST
This year Friends School Mullica Hill added a new Learning Specialist position with the intention of further enriching the literacy environment on campus. This new position will be responsible for helping to develop and refine reading skills in K-8 students as well as providing additional support to teachers in the classroom. Teacher Lisa Crichton, who is presently completing her Ed.M. in Learning, Cognition, and Development at Rutgers University, was moved from teaching at the Lower School into this new role. She’s excited by this new opportunity:
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I will be spending time in the classroom as well as in our new bright and cheery Resource Room which is located in the Hanshi building. The sky is the limit in the resource room with each student as they have different needs and completely different approaches for learning. My number one goal with our students is to have them feel secure and confident about reading. Finding ways to help them be successful is so very important. There are so many different fun and easy ways to help students learn about how to read. I will be working with students and teachers to create strategies that promote reading success.
If you have any questions about student literacy or the new Learning Specialist position, please reach out to Lisa: lcrichton@friendsmh.org
LORI ROWE AWARDED DOROTHY KRAMME AWARD
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The Board of Trustees gave Parents’ Association clerk Lori Rowe the Dorothy Kramme Award. This esteemed award is given to a special member of the Friends School Mullica Hill community who has made an ongoing contribution to the school over an extended period of time. Lori was chosen for her faithful and admirable service to the Parents’ Association for eight years and her full support, in both words and deeds, to the school’s mission, its administration and its faculty. Lori, whose daughter Emily graduates this year and son Kyle graduated in 2014, was “honored and proud” to receive the award and said, “My time at Friends School has been the most fulfilling years for me and my family -- I will miss it very much .”
Teacher Dave Troiano
Teacher Dave started at FSMH in April of 2015 after Spring Break. He grew up in Deptford, NJ and attended Rowan University, graduating with a B.S. in Mathematics. He moved to Wilmington, DE in 1999 and worked in a group home for developmentally disabled adults and is still involved in these adults’ lives today. He went on to earn his Master’s Degree in School Leadership from Wilmington University. He currently teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra and Geometry at Friends School. We asked Teacher Dave a series of questions to get to know him better and he gave us some interesting answers: As a new faculty member, what are some of your initial impressions of FSMH? FSMH is an ideal teaching environment. There is a talented group of educators and equally impressive group of learners. It’s all about how we act and what we do when no one is watching. Members of the FSMH do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do and not for any special commendation. What drew you to work here? One of the things I like most about FSMH is a culture that promotes acceptance of all individuals as they are. Each person is unique and has their own special skill set to contribute to our community. Why did you decide to choose teaching as a career? I chose teaching as a career not necessarily because I love math. Instead I love to teach kids and lead them on
SPOTLIGHT ON FACULTY their path of discovery. I don’t consider myself a “giver of knowledge,” I prefer to help students learn to be lifelong learners, be it in the classroom, on a sports field or in the community. What are some of your favorite math activities for students? Some of my favorite math activities for students are our Symmetry Selfies, The aMATHing Race, 24-Game, Math Jeopardy, Head of the Class and any of our countless integer games. What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of the classroom? Outside of the classroom, I enjoy time with my wife Diane, as well as with Rob and Kevin. Rob and Kevin are two of the guys from the group home I worked at when moving to Delaware. We enjoy time with our 2 dogs (Ella and Coletrane), camping, bowling, movies, and traveling. I also enjoy drawing. What is your perfect night out? A perfect night out for me would include a stop at Longhorne Steakhouse for a filet mignon cooked medium rare. Then nine innings at the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team, followed by a trip to Rita’s Water Ice for a gelati! All of the above, of course, with my wife, Diane. Who are your greatest influences in life? There have been three particular men who have influenced my life in a positive way. They are my father, a fellow teacher and a memorable coach. All have shown me ways to better myself as a responsible, compassionate man. What inspires you as a teacher? Frederick Douglas said, “without struggle there is no progress.” What inspires me most is helping others to persevere to accomplish goals they once thought unattainable. My students think they are learning from me, but I feel I’m constantly learning from them, becoming a better teacher and better person.
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NOTES FROM PARENTS Dear Teacher Patti Carson Puriefoy III, also known as “Tre,” graduated from Friends School Mullica Hill in 2008 and went on to graduate from Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in 2012. Tre currently attends Stony Brook University and was recently named as a finalist for the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. His grandfather (Carson Sr.) served on the FSMH Board and his father (Carson Jr.) was also actively involved with the school. Teacher Patti received the letter below from Tre’s father, Carson Jr., updating her on Tre’s successes in college. This warm and wonderful letter conveys the lasting impact of a Friends School education. Dear Teacher Patti, I hope you and yours are doing well! Thank you for your note about our son, we are so proud of Carson. Hopefully, Peter told you that he will be graduating early from Stony Brook in December (Political Science major & Business minor) and will start grad school in January. Time truly does fly and it seems like yesterday that he was back with you at Friends. He still keeps in touch with his buddies, especially Alex, Flavia and Joe. He makes sure he sees them just about every time he is back in town. My wife Vanessa and I often talk about how happy we are with the decision to send him to Friends, and his lasting relationships remind us of that. I hope you know how much we appreciate all that you and the school did for him and for our family. Carson has continued to excel in college basketball and will be on one of the ESPN networks on December 8th against Notre Dame, and I’m sure a few other games will be televised. I also must tell you that he and his team went to Europe this summer for ten days -- a trip of a lifetime! Although they played five games there, it was about so much more than that. He was able to visit Germany (Munich) and Italy (Rome, Venice, Florence, etc.), experiencing things that most people only dream about. His hard work has opened many doors for him, and this trip was just one example of that. Please give our best to everyone at school, and especially your family. Thank you again for your note, and I hope that you will stay in touch. Take care, Carson
Puriefoy Jr.
One Family’s Friends School Journey We began our journey at FSMH seven years ago when our daughter Grace entered Kindergarten. We did not know much about the school or Quaker education at the time. We were looking for a safe, nurturing environment for our daughter to begin her education. A suggestion from a friend brought us to an open house at the school. After spending time talking to the administrators, teachers, and other parents, we were convinced this was the right place for our family! A year later, our daughter, Caroline, entered Pre-K as a four year old, and four years later, Charlotte joined her sisters in the three year old Pre-K program. We have three daughters enrolled at FSMH and couldn’t be happier. Each one of our girls has a different personality and learning style, and their academic and social needs have always been met. We felt such a great sense of community right from the beginning. One of our favorite events, and a wonderful example of bringing our community together, is the Butterfly Parade. Each year in science class, the students study the metamorphosis of butterflies. They get to observe each stage from the larva, to the caterpillar stage, onto the
chrysalis stage, until the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. During the parade, Kindergarten, First grade and Second grade dress up in each stage of a butterfly’s life. This year, our youngest daughter Charlotte finally had her turn to be a butterfly in the parade. The stormy weather cleared for us and at the end of the parade, the butterflies were set free. What amazing memories for us to share as a family! Another reason why we love FSMH is the teachers. They make learning fun! Colonial Day is a prime example of this, where our daughter Caroline loved dressing up in colonial attire and learning about colonial times. After weeks of learning in the classroom, the students got to live what they learned on a field trip to Philadelphia. What a great learning experience for the third grade class! The second graders get to hold an “Ice Cream Election” every year. What an inventive way to teach them about the voting process! The students make campaign posters and the entire school gets to vote. This year, our oldest daughter Grace entered middle school. She will get to experience the World’s Fair, Model UN, and the Science Fair. She was excited for this year to begin! The teachers at FSMH do not just teach from the textbooks: they bring learning to life! Based on our personal experiences, we can definitely say that the teachers are truly what differentiate FSMH from other schools. Many schools can teach your children how to read and write, but few teach your children how to be good human beings. FSMH does both. We know when we drop our kids off at school that they are learning in a fun, happy, and healthy environment. FSMH is the best decision we have ever made as a family.
Justin & Valerie Aglialoro
A CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION by Erica Salmon The faculty of both Lower School and Middle School brings varied expertise to the classroom setting here at Friends School Mullica Hill. Our teachers are as diverse as the learners we are committed to teaching! This year, two of our faculty members are working toward their Master’s degrees. T. Kathy Saia -- our 2nd grade teacher -- is pursuing her Master’s in Reading Education: Reading Specialist. In addition, our reading support specialist, T. Lisa Crichton, is working toward her Master’s in Education Learning Cognition and Development. Both teachers are juggling their own teaching with their own learning. Undoubtedly, our FSMH students will be the beneficiaries of T. Kathy and T. Lisa’s efforts! Of course, some of our faculty members have completed and hold their Master’s degrees, and they use their edification in the classroom every day. • T. Diane Driessen, our art teacher and media center coordinator, holds a Master’s of Fine Arts. • Our Middle School math teacher, T. Dave Troiano, holds his Master’s of Education in School Leadership. • T. Kate Hayden, our Lower School music teacher, holds a Master’s of Music degree. • Our Director of Technology and Instructional Technologist, T. Jason Quattrone, holds a Master’s in Education Instructional Technology. We are fortunate to have so many teachers and staff who value education, not only for their students, but for themselves!
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
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FALL PHOTOS
Pre-K at Creamy Acres
Jamie jumping for the sky at the FSMH Fall Festival
Savannah at Hill Creek Farms
Tyler at Hill Creek Farms
Peyton at Hill Creek Farms
Ellenore helping to rake leaves she’s a good helper!
Carina at Mantua Township Dig Day
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Michael at Hill Creek Farms
Jack at Longwood Gardens
Jack at Longwood Gardens
Pre-K Halloween Parade
Nicholas presenting at Day of the Dead
Brooke at Hill Creek Farms
Evangeline biking at State Park in Wilmington
Tylar, Holly, Piper, Carina, Julia, and Aine trick-or-treating
Upcoming Calendar of Events
FSMH Board of Trustees
11/23 - 11/27..........Thanksgiving Break/School Closed
Justin Aglialoro
12/3........................................ Admissions Open House
Mike Ayers
12/10........... MS Drama Production, A Christmas Carol 12/11.............................. In-Service Day/School Closed
Ken Austin Nancy Beauchemin John Bond
12/16.........................................Winter Concert, PK-3rd
William Carrigan
12/17................................Winter Concert, Grades 4 - 8
James Cibroski
12/21 - 1/1.........................Winter Break/School Closed
Hanshi Deshbandhu
1/18............................. MLK Jr. Birthday Day of Service School Closed with voluntary service projects on campus for students and families
John Falciani Brian W. Jones
1/28........................................ Admissions Open House
Dorothy Kramme
2/12............................... In-Service Day/ School Closed
Dorothy Lopez
2/15...............................President’s Day/School Closed
Joe Moczydlowski
2/19........................................ Admissions Open House 2/29 - 3/4......................................................... Book Fair 3/3.......................................... Admissions Open House 3/3...............................................................Science Fair
Engage with Us! One of the fun and easy ways to get more involved at FSMH is to increase your engagement with us on social media. On Facebook you can like our page, share our content, post to our timeline and mention us if you post something related to the school. Don’t forget to share our page with your friends and families. If you’re on Twitter, follow us @FriendsSchoolMH. If you like what we post, retweet and favorite our tweets. We also love feedback. If you want to see us post something up or have a great idea you’d like to share – tell us about it! Together we can make our online community a reflection of the highly engaged and active community we have on campus.
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Chris Kimberly
Beth Reaves, ex officio Garry Rowe William Schmidt Kathi Stetser Alice Waddington