Fall 2016 - Notes to Friends

FALL 2016

NOTES TO FRIENDS FRIENDS SCHOOL MULLICA HILL

IN IN THIS THIS ISSUE ISSUE Exploring Exploring Quakerism Quakerism thru thru Film Film Drawn Drawn to to aa Good Good Cause Cause

Alumni Alumni Spotlight: Spotlight: Christopher Christopher DiMaria DiMaria

TEACHER Q 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.

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CONTENTS

Fall Issue 2016

ON THE COVER

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Foreword

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Big Exciting Changes in the BXS

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About the Cover

Aglialoro sisters at the Fall Festival 2016.

From Guess who the Archives this is? (see page 14)

FRIENDS SCHOOL MULLICA HILL 15 High Street Mullica Hill, NJ 08062

www.FriendsMH.org (856) 478-2908

Board of Trustees Receive Kramme Awards

Academic Support and Enrichment Why is FSMH Piloting Math in Focus Alumni Spotlight: Christopher DiMaria

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Fall Photos

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Exploring Quakerism Thru Film

How would you describe the FSMH experience Drawn to a Good Cause From the Archives Alumni Updates Teacher Spotlight FSMH by the Numbers Upcoming Events

Editor, Communications Manager

Jared Valdez

Graphic Design

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, What does it mean to be a creative and innovative school? And more importantly, how does a school inspire its students to be creative and innovative thinkers?

This summer, I read two books that explored just those questions: Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education by Ken Robinson and Creating Innovators

by Tony Wagner. The discussion is a good one for us as a school, as FSMH tries to continually be forward thinking about ourselves and our students’ futures. With the rapid pace of change in technology and the impact on our lives, we know that we may be preparing our students for jobs in their future that do not exist right now. We want to be the solid foundation for their skills to develop. Innovative education is also an interesting topic to use for self-reflection as a community, as creativity and innovation inherently suggests an amount of change, and change is not something that everyone easily embraces.

And yet, it is important that we in fact do just that – to continue to inspire ourselves as educators and our students. This year we challenged ourselves to embrace ideas that stimulate deeper thought and learning in our students, to explore new initiatives and perhaps identify a fresh way to present ideas. We are testing new changes in our schedule for Middle School students, as an example, to give them an intensive learning experience with classes such as art, music and technology over a trimester. With our new kiln in place, students now can experience hands-on artistic exploration through clay. We’re considering how to create meaningful culminating learning experiences that allow students to showcase their learning, perhaps replacing classroom or subject specific events. We’ve embraced even more technological tools that allow our students to critically think – a 3D printer for creative exploration, Raspberry Pi computers for programming experience, and Chromebooks, Kindles and iPads. Our teachers are meeting regularly as a STEAM team (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to identify collaborative projects and learning opportunities for our students. Imaginative thinking is in the air all around!

There is also an element of risk taking involved in creativity and innovation. Allowing ourselves to embrace that element of risk is something that feels hard for some. We are inspired to keep stretching ourselves and our learning goals for our students because we are committed to their futures. We know that the PK-8th grade years are among the most important in a student’s life in establishing themselves as lifelong learners. We look forward to joining with them in growing as creative and innovative thinkers this year.

In Friendship,

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BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBERS RECEIVE KRAMME AWARD

By John Bond Two members of the Board of Trustees of FSMH will receive the Kramme Award and will be moving to Board Emeritus status after 12 years each of active, engaged service. Alice Waddington and Bill Schmidt have been long standing Board members, Quakers, and exemplars in the community.

The Kramme Award is given to “to a member of the Friends School Mullica Hill community who has made an ongoing contribution to the school over a period of years.” It has been awarded 19 times in the last 47 years and is named after Dorothy Kramme, former FSMH teacher, parent and Board Member.

Alice and her husband were the owners of Waddington Dairy which started with doorstep milk delivery in the 1950s. The business grew and prospered until they sold it in 1997.

She has 4 children, 9 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 2 greatgrandchildren with one more on the way.

Two of her grandchildren are graduates of FSMH. Her daughter-in-law Marcie was a former Clerk of the Board of FSMH. Aside from her 12 years of service to FSMH, she has served on committees for Salem Meeting and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. She also has played piano for 30 years for the weekly sing along in health care at Friends Village in Woodstown.

She has devoted so much time to FSMH partly due to her being a product of Quaker education, but mostly due to her love of the school and its mission.

Bill Schmidt

Meeting. During his time on the FSMH Board he has served as Assistant Clerk of the Board and as the Clerk of Committee on Trusteeship.

Bill and his wife live in Philadelphia.

They have five children, two of which graduated from FSMH. They have one granddaughter and another grandchild on the way. His daughter credits her time at FSMH and speaking with the school nurse as the inspiration for her entering the nursing field.

He works at RBC Wealth Management as a Senior Vice President. He has been in financial advising since 1978.

Appropriately so, he is on the Friends Fiduciary Committee for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and serves as the Vice Chair of the Board and the Clerk of the Investments Committee.

Bill observes that, the FSMH Board is “one of the most collegial and cooperative” he has ever been associated with.

Both Bill and Alice recognize the great gift the school has received of being led by Beth Reaves as the Head of School and Bill Carrigan as Clerk of the Board. Great times await the school in the future.

Alice Waddington Alice Waddington has a deep Quaker family history with roots back to the 1600s. She is a birthright Quaker and an active member of Salem Meeting having been a member of Woodstown Meeting since childhood. She graduated from George School and attended the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill Schmidt has served side-by-side with Alice for 12 years. He is a Quaker whose family also dates back to the 1600s. He is a member of Central Philadelphia Monthly

The Kramme Awards will be presented to them in the Fall. They will continue their strong support of the school in their role as Board Emeritus members. All of the FSMH faculty and students, the other Board members, and the whole community wish to thank them for their tireless support and service.

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BIG EXCITING CHANGES IN THE BXS The Big Exciting Space certainly lives up to its name but since we have been utilizing it more and more over the years it has needed some updates. Fortunately, the Building Greatness program provided funds to make this happen. This summer, the project to update the space began and it added the following enhancements:

.Art kiln and workspace. Perhaps the most

exciting addition, the new kiln will fundamentally transform how we create ceramics art on campus.

.Walls around the network server room. This dampens the electronics noise and also has the beautifying effect of eliminating the old chain link fencing.

Located on the bottom floor of the Hanshi building, the Big Exciting Space (BXS) is an active hub of many different important school activities. The network server room is there, as is the maintenance room and the Middle School lunch room. The Drama Club finds it a cozy place to meet and Summer Camp uses it as well. The space can be transformed into colonial America one day and a book fair the next. Kids of all ages just like to hang out down there because it is cool and comfortable with lots of room to stretch out. For Middle School students it holds a special significance as it occupies the beginning, middle and end of their days.

.New closets. Storage options were at a minimum, so this added some much needed storage capacity. .Performance platform. Previously stage

performances in the BXS were done on flat ground or on a temporary platform. The new performance platform provides permanent new space for plays, speeches, demonstrations and anything else that can be imagined.

With all these enhancements, including a new textured epoxy floor, fresh paint and new furniture, the Big Exciting Space is looking especially sharp. It is ready to continue to carry on its important role as an active hub of school activity in big and, of course, exciting ways!

Academic Support and Enrichment

By Teacher Erica

As a school, we are always considering ways to better support, challenge and reach our students. The new Academic Support and Enrichment “ASE” class for grades 5 to 8 is one example of these efforts.

Our school operates on a 6-day learning cycle, and we refer to each day in the cycle as “A Day”, “B Day,” etc. On A Days, we are offering a class we are referring to as “ASE”. This class period is one in which all teachers and students are available for support or enrichment. Using their iPads, students fill out a Google form indicating which teacher they want to see and why. For example, an 8th grader might want to go and see Teacher Dave (math) if he or she recently took a quiz on imaginary numbers and wants to review the quiz. Another student might want more time to work on an art project and will sign up to see Teacher Diane (art). Students who are new to FSMH and are feeling immersed in Spanish might sign up to spend the ASE period with Teacher Sophie (Spanish).

For those students who are looking for enrichment, they can sign up to spend their ASE period doing extra math work, learning new skills in Tech or doing additional vocabulary work such as Greek and Latin roots.

Although the school year is just off and running, the feedback on ASE has been positive -- from both the teachers and the students. We hope that this added class will meet the needs of our oldest learners.

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Why is FSMH Piloting Math in Focus?

By Teacher Patti

Every year, FSMH faculty selects a course of study to review and may suggest changes to its course’s curriculum. Last year the FSMH Math Committee, tasked with such an evaluation, investigated a variety of math programs, which included the most recent editions of Everyday Math and Math in Focus. A group of teachers, Jason Hummel, Dave Troiano, and I, even observed Westtown Friends School instructors teach Math in Focus lessons.

FSMH teachers also studied the most recent math scores from the ERB testing, as well as the scores from three previous years.

With delight, the teachers discovered that the mean scale scores for FSMH elementary students were consistently higher than the independent school’s mean scale scores. (The independent school norms are the most competitive on the ERB assessment report.)

The math committee could easily draw the conclusion that the current elementary program, Everyday Math, was sufficient and its curriculum was preparing the students well. No change needed. In essence, “why fix it if it ain’t broke?”

There is no denying that the secret for success of any math program is the teacher. At Friends School, teachers have tweaked the Everyday Math program to meet the needs of their students - adding drills for facts and problem solving exercises, along with other modifications. Yet, two concerns remained. First, the spiral presentation of skills is challenging for a small portion of the school’s population. Some students require a more intense practice of skills. Another drawback of Everyday Math is that many parents have found it difficult to understand and, therefore, struggled to support their children. Would a different math program, under the direction of our strong math teachers, address these concerns?

After good reviews and recommendations, Math in Focus: Singapore Math by Marshall Cavendish was chosen to be the math program piloted in grades 4 and 6. This is the United States edition of the curriculum used in Singapore, which has consistently been the top-performing country in international assessments. In comparison to Everyday Math, the lessons concentrate on a single concept rather than providing continual practice on previously-learned concepts. There are fewer topics in its scope and sequence so students have time to delve more deeply. Word problems, practical application problems, and critical thinking activities challenge students to draw on a wide range of mathematical knowledge. Similar to Everyday Math, the new program adheres to the pedagogy of starting with concrete materials, then connecting these materials to pictorial representations, and finally solving abstractly or symbolically.

At the conclusion of the pilot year, the Math Committee will review the strengths and weaknesses of the Math in Focus program and determine if the program should be implemented school wide.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: CHRISTOPHER DiMARIA

One of the benefits of being the parent of a

FSMH graduate is that your child will continually reflect on how their education influenced and inspired them. Christopher DiMaria (‘09) has an incredible life with a bright future and like other graduates he connects the dots between his experiences at FSMH, his many successes, and his dreams. In this alumni spotlight, Chris talks about his time at FSMH, life at Syracuse University, interning with NBC Sports at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics and his hope of becoming the next great Phillies announcer. With considerable wit, sincerity and charm, Chris’ interview exemplifies the incredible and lasting impact of an FSMH education.

Since you graduated FSMH, what have you been up to?

I graduated from FSMH back in 2009 with a mop of hair and a single idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I knew if I wasn’t going to be able to play baseball, I was going to broadcast it. Now, almost eight years later, I’m on track to pursuing that dream. I was a lifer at FSMH; I entered in PreK and stayed all the way through eighth grade. After graduation, I went on to high school at Wilmington Friends School.

I enjoyed four fantastic years at that school, complementing what I learned at FSMH and building on the abilities and skills that I developed in my 10 years there. I soon realized that broadcasting really was the career for me. That desire to become a great broadcaster steered my college application process, and next thing I knew I was applying to go off for the best four years of my life at Syracuse University.

What’s your major in college and why did you choose it?

I am a Broadcast and Digital Journalism major in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. I chose Broadcast and Digital Journalism as my major because I knew that I would learn a ton about radio and television news, and I also knew that was the major that aspiring sports broadcasters have chosen over the years. The curriculum in my major is extremely rigorous, but that’s why SU is one of the best journalism schools in the world. The education and preparation I received from FSMH and WFS gave me a huge advantage heading into SU, and I am still riding that wave even eight years later.

How is college life? What have been some of your notable accomplishments at college?

College life at Syracuse is incredible. Cold, but incredible. The sports atmosphere is just what I wanted going into college. The basketball

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team is so much fun to watch and cheer for, and being on campus for last year’s Final Four run was beyond remarkable. As a sports talk show host at the WAER radio station at SU, for the past few years I’ve had the opportunity to cover the school’s football, basketball and lacrosse teams. I now do the radio postgame shows for those three teams. My biggest accomplishments in college have been my success in talk radio, the internships I have gone through and my grand prize in the White-Denison Presentational Speaking Competition.

What internship opportunities have you had?

My three major internships have been with Fox 29 Philadelphia, NBC Sports for the Rio 2016 Olympics and the South Jersey Giants baseball club. I was one of two interns in Fox Philadelphia’s sports department the summer after my sophomore year. During that summer, I helped the producers and anchors create the highlights for the nightly newscasts by logging games and helping select which plays should be used for the highlights. I also accompanied photographers and reporters on assignments to places like the Eagles’ training camps, in which I helped collect interviews and shots for use in that night’s newscast. With the South Jersey Giants, I called baseball games over two summers, establishing the team’s first online radio broadcast and the league’s first video broadcast via the periscope app. I got experience calling games on my own and with a few different color commentators, and I learned how much work behind the scenes goes into a successful broadcast. I did all my own research before games, as well as my own setup and breakdown on game day. It was not an extremely glamorous procedure, but it was an invaluable experience with an incredible team.

What was your internship like at NBC Sports for the Rio 2016 Olympics?

My internship with NBC Sports for the Rio 2016 Olympics was incredible. During my time there, I worked in the Highlights Factory, which was the starting point for every digital highlight put out by NBC during the Olympics. Any highlight you watched online during the Olympics started in the room in which I worked, and was developed by one of my fellow interns. My fellow interns and I watched and logged every single event of the Olympics, and after the event concluded we would cut up a rough highlight sequence that would be polished into a final product and published to NBC’s website.

What are your plans for after college?

I know I want to stay on the east coast. Besides that, there is no real

plan. If you learn one thing about being a play-by-play broadcaster in school, it’s that there is no one clear path to reaching that goal. There is no common denominator when comparing famous broadcasters’ paths to where they are; the only thing they have in common is their passion and drive to be the best in their field. Right now, my desire is to head down south to work with a Fox Sports network (ideally I would like to work in Charlotte) and call games in as many sports as possible.

What is one of your fondest memories of your time at FSMH? Over the 10 years I was at FSMH, I think all of my fondest memories can be summed up in one moment. From about first grade my class and I had heard rumors about the eighth grade trip and getting to jump into the natural mud pit. For a boy like myself, not one thing excited me more than the thought of getting to jump into a shoulder-deep pit of mud. When my class finally got to go on our eighth grade trip, we were excited for that dream to finally be realized. Teacher Jason led us out on an excursion, with the only forewarning being to wear a set of clothes we could throw out and to bring a change of clothes.

Even though he didn’t explicitly say it, we knew what was coming next.

He led us out into a sea of tall grass, and the next thing we knew we were standing in front of a pit the size of a small pool, and Teacher Jason was checking the depth. The second we got clearance, we jumped in as if the pit was filled with water, not mud. One of my best childhood friends literally started swimming across the pit as the rest of us were walking, overjoyed to finally have this moment that we had dreamt about for nearly eight years. That was the moment that I always knew would cap off my great times at FSMH. Even now, eight years after just as it was eight years before, my incredible journey is epitomized in that one moment of pure joy and excitement. [Editor’s note: Chris is describing the 8th Grade Wallops Island trip which still occurs every year.]

Who was one of your favorite teachers?

There were so many teachers at FSMH who taught me, supported me and believed in me that it’s extremely difficult to pick even a few out of the bunch. However, one of my favorites was Teacher Jason for his wisdom and instruction. I got to know Teacher Jason well during fifth grade through graduation, and his personality is one unlike any other. He was an incredible instructor, especially to us boys in middle school, and he was the kind of figure that you knew was going to be an incredible father. Teacher Jason had his first child while I was still at FSMH, and I knew his son was going to be extremely lucky to have a dad like him. He always knew the right time to be strict and the right time to be loose and have fun, and was a very fair instructor. His teachings to us guys helped build the foundation of my understanding of what it meant to be a man, and his instruction inside and outside the classroom still remains invaluable to me today.

What’s your biggest takeaway from your time at FSMH? My dad always told me this, and it remains the most important thing I take away from FSMH: my education there taught me to learn how to learn. [continued on page 18]

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FALL FESTIVAL 2016 PHOTOS

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EXPLORING QUAKERISM THROUGH FILM

On June 20th, 2016, the Grants Committee of the Friends Council on Education (FCE) awarded almost $2,000 for Friends School Mullica Hill’s project Exploring Quakerism through Student-Created Films. These funds enabled the purchase of an assortment of filmmaking equipment including a green screen, camera, microphone and lighting. This equipment will serve our students for many years to come and will assist in bringing their imaginations to life in their very own movie creations. In everything from Spanish class to Summer Camp, making movies is already a big part of the existing curriculum. The new technology extends our current capabilities and offers more options for creativity and storytelling.

The present project, Exploring Quakerism through Student-Created Films, focuses on the seventh grade. Their Quaker Studies course has been turned into an amateur filmmaking course with the culminating short film project submitted to the Bridge Film Festival.

This international film festival, a project of Brooklyn Friends School,

Drawn to a Good Cause Al Hirschfeld, the famous 20th century caricaturist, once said that “artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons.” Crayons are often a child’s first exposure to creating art and they provide limitless imaginative possibilities. For children of all ages, crayons are magical and empowering. So, when Teacher Diane and Teacher Patti heard about The Great Crayon Cleanout, a project to get more crayons in the hands of hospitalized children, they decided to marshal the resources of the school to offer their support. They felt this project conveyed to students that art and service learning could be connected in a meaningful way.

The Great Crayon Cleanout takes old crayons and repurposes them by melting them into new ones and distributing them to 11 different children’s hospitals. The initiative is environmentally friendly and provides much needed support for thin-budgeted children’s art programs in hospitals. With the help of their students, Teacher Diane and Teacher Patti searched all over campus for any used (and no longer very useful) crayons they could find. They eventually amassed a whopping 53 pounds of colorful crayons! They donated so many crayons, in fact, that FSMH was one of the top 10 schools out of the 75 elementary schools in 18 counties that participated.

is on its 18th year and seeks films from both Friends Schools and Quaker meetings throughout the world. All films submitted must be related to Quaker-related themes.

Teacher Glenn and Teacher Jared are facilitating the Quaker studies course and have divided the students into two “production companies.” They’ve already named themselves (Fantastic Frog Films and Deep Sea Productions) and have begun with preproduction: research, scriptwriting and storyboarding. One of the mantra’s of the Bridge Film Festival is “no message, no movie,” so teams have selected one of the Quaker SPICES to inspire their projects. Seventh graders should be completing their films at the end of the Fall 2016 semester and there has been no shortage of energy and excitement about the prospect of being part of an international film festival. Completed films should be available for the school community to see in early 2017.

As a result of their incredible efforts, Friends School was awarded an XYZprinting da Vinci Jr. 3D printer by Bedtime Math Foundation, sponsor of The Great Crayon Cleanout. “We’re proud of everyone who participated, especially Friends School for their tremendous effort,” wrote Laura Overdeck, founder of Bedtime Math. “Not only did we rescue thousands of crayons from becoming nonbiodegradable sludge, but we encouraged kids to think about math in a meaningful way.”

The new 3D printer is housed in the library and has already been getting a lot of use. With the help of Teacher Jason Quattrone and online 3D modeling software, the students have been producing some unique and wonderful creations. “The 3D printer opens up exciting new possibilities for the entire school,” said Quattrone.

“I’m looking forward to incorporating it into the curriculum.” Like with crayons, the 3D printer empowers students to stretch their imaginations. It also supports Friends School’s growing STEAM offerings.

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

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ALUMNI UPDATES COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENTS Benjamin Herman, Class of 2009, is now a Senior at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. His summer was spent in the research lab studying micro droplets by observing their properties through ultrasound and determining how to deliver them through membranes for better ultrasound clarity/delivery of medicines. Ben will graduate Spring 2017 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering.

Schwartz/Bergman Wedding HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS Emily Herman, Class of 2012, was inducted into the Cum Laude Society at Moorestown Friends School this past Spring.

She was one of 16 students inducted into the society which is a national honor society for public and independent secondary school students. She was chosen based upon her cumulative academic excellence in all subject areas. Emily also received the Coaches Award for Varsity field hockey and was selected by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association as a member of the Academic Squad. Emily is now a freshman at Villanova University studying Business with a concentration in Marketing and minor in Creative Writing. Mitchell McEntee, Class of 2015, a sophomore and lacrosse player at St. Augustine Prep School, has committed to the United States Military Academy for college. Congratulations Mitch! Arley Johnson, Class of 2016, was elected 9th Grade Class President at Friends Select.

Congrats, Arley!

Arley Johnson, Freshman Class President

ALUMNI UPDATES P.J. Schwartz, Class of 1993, married Erik Bergman on August 6, 2016 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Her sisters Cori Gottlieb, Cara Burke and niece, Reagan Burke, who all attended FSMH, served as bridesmaids. Congratulations to the Schwartz and Bergman families! Alex Cera, Class of 2001, and his wife, Jacqui welcomed their first child, Jackson on September 14, 2016. Proud Grandmother, Teacher Paula Cera, is the longtime FSMH School Office Manager. Congratulations to the Cera Family on their new addition! Anna Holeman, Class of 2014, traveled to New York City as a speaker for the United Nation’s event International Day of the Girl 2016. She went as a representative of the Girls Advisory Council of the Alice Paul Institute. Along with other accomplished young women, she advocated for gender equality. Great work, Anna!

Anna Holeman speaking at International Day of the Girl

Baby Jackson Cera

Remembering Deborah Seabrook

Former Board Member, Quaker, and alumni parent and grandparent, Deborah Seabrook, passed away on Saturday, July 30, 2016 after a long battle with an illness. Deborah had a rich and deep connection with Friends School Mullica Hill.

Over many years, she put her heart and soul into supporting the school and its mission. Her warmth, love and indomitable spirit was an inspiration to both young and old. Deborah was a singer and artist.

Her light was bright and purposeful. She had a way of encouraging other parents following her example of selfless giving. The lawn in front of the Hanshi building is graced with a tree donated by Deborah, including a placard that quotes Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Deborah Seabrook leaves behind three daughters and four grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

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TEACHER

Q

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: JASON QUATTRONE Teacher Jason Quattrone, better known as Teacher Q. or just Q., wears many hats. Behind the scenes, he keeps our school computer systems running smoothly. He is technical support for everything from when a teacher has a malware infection on their laptop, to a major network crash. He also leads teachers in professional development on the nexus of technology and education. For students of all ages, he is their technology teacher and the helpful face of the computer lab. He has a special gift for making technology fun and accessible for students of all ages. We caught up with Teacher Q. and asked him some questions and got some surprising and interesting answers.

Most people know you as the technology teacher, but you do a lot more than that on campus. What are all the things you do for FSMH? At FSMH, I pretty much have three roles that I perform throughout the year: Instructional Technologist, Technology Teacher, and Network Administrator. As an Instructional Technologist, it is my job to train and support teachers with the integration of technology in the classroom. As a Technology Teacher, I teach technology to students from grades K-8. Lastly, as Network Administrator, I maintain our computers, servers, and network infrastructure.

What brought you to FSMH? From 2003-2008, I worked for the School District of Philadelphia. It was there that I learned about Educational/ Instructional Technology. Although I was just a computer tech, I assisted the regional Educational Technologist with training teachers to use technology in their classrooms. I enjoyed it so much that in 2010 I decided to go back to school to get a master’s degree in Instructional Technology at St. Joe’s

University. After I graduated, I learned about a job opening at a small private school looking for a part time technology integrator.

I interviewed three times at FSMH and finally got an offer from Beth Reaves.

Do you remember what first sparked your interest in technology? What made you want to pursue it as a career?

When I was a child my brother bought a Gateway 2000 computer, which was like the Mercedes of computers back in the day. I liked playing games, but it wasn’t always easy to get things running. You couldn’t just install a game and then run it. Many times you had to tweak the system to games and programs. I enjoyed that about computers, because it forced you to learn how everything works. From then on I’ve been interested in technology.

Is there anything that excites you right now in the area of technology and education?

I’m excited that kids can learn about coding. Technology in education for the longest time only focused on the front-end uses for a computer; coding actually teaches kids about the back-end of a computer (processor, memory, etc.). It’s like understanding what makes a car actually drive rather than simply turning a key and stepping on a pedal.

Who are some of your inspirations in the fields of technology and science?

I have many inspirations, but the one who I admire the most is Steve Jobs. He’s living proof that a vision cannot be taught. He took the computer to a human level and gave it a practical use for everyday people. Almost every product was meticulously crafted with the idea of simplicity and usability. Since he’s

passed I’ve noticed that Apple has become a bit stagnant in their innovation. It’s not Apple’s fault per se, it’s more about the absence of Steve and his vision.

Any advice for families about children and technology in the home?

Don’t deny your children access to technology in the home. Set limits on how it’s being used, but don’t deny it. Technology is now rapidly shaping our world. Our kids are learning faster now than ever before because information is more accessible now than ever before because of technology. I’m a firm believer that the future of employment is not working a 9-5 job behind a desk; it’s having the ability to create and innovate through the use of technology.

What are your hobbies/interests?

Aside from technology, I’m a musician which occupies most of my free time at home. I was in bands throughout my 20s and now record music for myself and also for my friend who is a video game developer. I also love being outdoors. My wife and I regularly go hiking with our daughter Siena and our dog Barlow. Recently I’ve started pricing out kayaks!

What would be your perfect weekend?

My perfect weekend always involves camping. Having grown up in a hectic city (Philadelphia) I’ve learned to appreciate the quiet atmosphere of being out in the woods with only nature for company.

Is there anything about you that we’d be surprised to learn?

As a tech person, sometimes you get the feeling that people think you spend your time at home staring at a screen. Ha! It’s actually quite the opposite for me when I’m at home. While I do enjoy fun tech projects, I spend most of my time working on music and being outdoors with my family.

Are you a gamer? Favorite games/gaming systems?

I used to be a “gamer” years ago, but not so much lately.

Many games these days are heavily based on action and even violence. I enjoyed games that were thought provoking and mentally challenging, which are difficult to find these days. Being a child of the 80’s, I’d have to say that NES is still my favorite gaming system. The games were fun while also being extremely difficult. My friends and I still have conversations about how Shadowgate is impossible to beat.

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[con’t from Page 9] FSMH’s tough curriculum and intimate setting with the teachers helped us all learn how to take proper notes, how to study properly and how to understand concepts better than any school could. The instruction I received at FSMH not only supported me to develop myself into someone who was going to go into the world and succeed, but it also gave me the lifelong tools to do so. I entered high school well in front of the pack because of the preparation I had received at FSMH, and the tools and teaching I received still apply in college when it comes to studying, prioritizing and focusing.

Good teachers who want to see you succeed are the greatest asset a student can have. I had so many teachers who saw my potential and believed that not only could I go on to do great things, but they also knew that I would. It’s that kind of support that pushes students to go beyond what they ever thought possible, and it’s what has propelled me to be at my dream school studying what I never thought possible and preparing me for a career in doing what I love. I felt the support from many special teachers while I was at FSMH, and looking back today I appreciate their belief in me even more. I’ve heard it said that teaching is a thankless job, and it very well might be, but my sincere thanks go out to every teacher in my journey at FSMH who saw my potential and genuinely wanted to see me succeed in school and in life. They are a major reason that I am where I am today.

Any advice for current FSMH students?

Utilize your teachers, believe in yourselves as they believe in you and never be afraid to take risks. I just turned 22 and I feel like I have long since left my childhood behind me, and if there’s one thing students at FSMH should know it’s that in the long run you’ll never regret taking a risk that you believe in. Growing up can be a very challenging time, especially through middle school; I know that as well as anybody. But it can also be such a fantastically fun time.

It’s a time to start figuring out what you love, and at FSMH you have the teachers and the tools to start pursuing your dreams right away.

At my graduation my peers said that in 10 years they expected to see me as the next great Phillies announcer. While that might take a little longer than two more years to pan out, it was because of FSMH that that dream can become a reality for me. But at the same time, don’t pressure yourself to figure out your life goals right away. You’re not even in high school yet; nobody has their life figured out at that point. Heck, I’m 22 and nobody I know has their life figured out yet. So enjoy being young, soak it all in and don’t try to grow up too fast. I’ll end with a quote from one of my all-time favorite movies: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Enjoy growing up.

Thanks to FSMH, I know I did.

18 10

FSMH BY THE NUMBERS

Upcoming Calendar of Events 11/18..........................................Thanksgiving Gathering 11/21 - 11/25...................................................Fall Break 12/21 - 1/2................................................. Winter Break 1/16.................Martin Luther King Jr. Morning of Service School Closed for Students 2/17..................................................... Faculty In-Service School Closed for Students 2/20........................................ Presidents’ Day Breakfast School Closed for Students

FSMH Board of Trustees Justin Aglialoro Mike Ayars Ken Austin Nancy Beauchemin John Bond William Carrigan James Cibroski Hanshi Deshbandhu John Falciani Brian W. Jones Chris Kimberly Dorothy Lopez Joe Moczydlowski Beth Reaves, ex officio Garry Rowe Kathi Stetser

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