New Canaan Country School Bulletin Spring 2019

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL

ATHLETICS & WELLNESS CENTER

On Track

Training Champion

Spring 2019

What is SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING?

INTELLECTS

New Canaan Country School Bulletin Spring 2019 Head of School: Aaron Cooper

CONTENTS

Editors: Brooke Arthur Kent Findlay ’80 Contributors: Brooke Arthur Ellen Baer Susan Barr Diane Briggs Ryan Buckley Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 Susan Chiavaroli Rebecca Comizio Tara Coniglio Aaron Cooper Kent Findlay ’80 Jen Gifford Nora Goddard Brayden Henry Scott Lilley Mark Macrides Will McDonough Moina Noor Jody Sheldon Carin Walden Design: Good Design, LLC Printer: J.S. McCarthy Printers jsmaccarthy.com Photography: Brooke Arthur Aron Back Rich Barnes Bob Cornell Kent Findlay ’80 Meaghan Mallin

Moina Noor Wade Sunko Chi Chi Ubiña Elaine Ubiña Torrance York

Address changes: communications@countryschool.net On the cover: Thomas Godina explores the woods Photo credit: Chi Chi Ubiña

2

Training Champion Intellects

9

Do Birds Prefer Music?

10

A Space to Imagine

12

Our Future Campus

13

Congratulations to Our College Athletes

16

This I Believe: A Ninth Grade Rite of Passage

20

What is Social-Emotional Learning? And Why Does It Matter?

35 35

Celebrating Our Faculty & Staff

41 Horizons 44

Alumni News

47

Class Notes

58

Faculty & Staff News Remembering Tim Delehaunty

26

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Work of the Entire School

60

28

Choosing to Have Impact

63

In Memoriam

30

Parents’ Association

65

A Look Back

62 Milestones

OUR MISSION STATEMENT The mission of New Canaan Country School is to guide students to reach their intellectual, creative, moral, and physical potential. We value the imagination and curiosity of children and respect childhood as an integral part of life. Our teachers set high academic standards and challenge students to question, to think, to collaborate and to act with integrity. The school works in partnership with families to teach personal, social, and environmental responsibility, and to create a community that honors diversity and our common humanity. New Canaan Country School inspires students to be lifelong learners with the courage and confidence to make a positive contribution to the world.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018–2019 President: Randall M. Salvatore Vice President: Stephanie Bowling Zeigler ’81 Treasurer: Christopher T. Baker Secretary: Sarah M. Irwin Members-at-Large: Yolanda Seals-Coffield Smita Singh

Tara J. Coniglio Michael J. DiBiasio ’90 Gary D. Engle F. Tucker Golden ’90 Mariko G. LeBaron Monique S. Mims Michael Riccardi John M. Ryan Michael S. Sotirhos Brennen Strine Sharon Gibbons Teles ’88 Caitlin A. Walsh Wilson S. Warren Megin E. Wolfman

Aaron C. Cooper, Head of School Dr. Christopher M. Bogart Lynne F. Byrne Drew Casertano

Faculty Representatives: Elizabeth M. Carroll Hannah M. Liu

PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 2018–2019 President: Tara Coniglio President-Elect: Susan Barr Treasurer: Marcy Smith Secretary: Liz Keogh VP Community, Diversity & Inclusion: Michelle Saldivar VP Community Service: Leigh Kennedy VP Volunteers: Marnie Gizzie

ALUMNI COUNCIL 2018–2019 President: Tucker Golden ’90 Vice President: Sanny Burnham Warner ’88 Emily Coughlin Basaran ’98 Dan Bergfeld ’58 Matt Bloom ’98 Dick Colligan ’01 Michael DiBiasio ’90 Taylor Gould ’06 Marshall Johnson ’04 Caitlin Maguire ’04 Suzy Gibbons Owen ’94 Elena Kavanagh Phillips ’91 Kelsey Hubbard Rollinson ’86 Richard See ’75

10 Emeritus: Carl Brodnax ’76 Hugh Halsell ’59 Paula Kennedy Harrigan ’81 Carl Rohde ’66 Kit O’Brien Rohn ’78 Stephanie Bowling Zeigler ’81 Ex Officio: Aaron Cooper, Head of School Terry Gumz, Director of Advancement Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Director of Alumni Affairs Steve Bloom ’03, Former Alumni Council President

from the

HEAD OF SCHOOL Dear Country School Community: Over spring break, my family and I had the great fortune of traveling to Rome together for a week of sightseeing — soaking in the history and, of course, eating!

Both of our daughters (in fifth and seventh grade) have been studying Rome this year through different lenses here at Country School, and it seemed the perfect place to spend some time. The city’s tourist attractions center around two historical periods: antiquity and the Renaissance. Both of these periods highlight eras when the ideals of the ancient Greeks were particularly revered and elevated. As someone who spent significant time in college studying these ideals of mind, body and spirit through art, politics, philosophies, scientific work and mythology, I was enthralled.

Throughout the week, as we toured the museums and landmarks, taking an accidental turn here and there past ruins and public statuary, and as I went on long runs along the ancient Appian Way, I reflected on the parallels between Renaissance and ancient Roman philosophy and our philosophy of education at Country School. The first line in

“

Country School’s mission represents a calling to these ideals: We “guide students to reach their intellectual, creative, moral, and physical potential.” Indeed, such a holistic

Indeed, such a holistic belief in the purpose of education of children has been at the core of Country School’s purpose since its founding. Education of children is education of the future.

”

belief in the purpose of education of children has been at the core of Country School’s purpose since its founding. Education of children is education of the future, and what better way to consider the future than to think of it in terms of intellect, creativity, morality and physical impact. The influence of the past is evident even in the Ionic columns on the facade of Grace House (Main Building).

One of our favorite off-the-beaten-path stops during our trip was to the National Roman Museum’s coin exhibit, tracing the history of Rome from the earliest coins through the euro of today. I loved experiencing it through the eyes of my daughter, Charlotte, our fifth grader. She reveled in pointing out the various coins, having learned exactly how much an ancient bath cost during her studies at Country School. It is these moments of connection that are at the root of Country School’s curriculum. As you flip through these pages and read about Country School’s mission in action, I am certain that you will feel our dedication to the mind, body and spirit of our students.

Enjoy,

Aaron Cooper, Head of School

Read more: www.countryschool.net/lettersfromaaron For “Letters from Aaron,” a weekly online column discover more countryschool.net

1

Training

Champion

Intellects

The following is an excerpt from remarks given by Head of School Aaron Cooper at the Annual Meeting & Dinner, September 13, 2018: This story has to do with distance running,

I trained intensively those weeks, deviating

because the training of a distance runner

from my original training plan to prepare to

relates to the journey that takes our students

run as fast as possible in that one race.

from Beginners through ninth grade. Last

At this stage, I need to speak about training

December, just as I was coming off an injury

for distance running in general. First off,

and training regularly again, I got a call from

distance runners peak in their late 20s and

the captain of the club I ran for, the Garden

early 30s, later than many other athletes and

State Track Club, asking If I would join the

after things like metabolism has slowed down

team for the United States Track & Field

and overall muscle mass has begun to decline.

Association’s Masters’ Cross-Country National

And that is due to the cumulative effect

Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. You

of smart training. Every training run points

see, a cross-country team needs five runners,

towards peaking at the right time. Interval

and we had four committed. So, he asked me

workouts build pulmonary capacity and muscle

to be the fifth man even though I was only just

fitness; recovery efforts — easier, medium

starting to train again. I had four weeks, and

distance runs — clear out lactic acid, helping to

Kindergartners

LEARN TO SKATE Learning to skate is a rite of passage for Country School students dating back to the school’s inception over 100 years ago. Students skated on Hardon Pond from 1916 until the rink was built in 1957.

Guided by professional instructors, students in the school’s lower grades learn how to glide, stop and skate backward.

“We are so fortunate to have this lovely resource. In addition to being a

great way to develop gross motor skills, skating gives us yet another way to help the children practice and ultimately master the art of resilience,” says Head of Early Childhood Beth O’Brien.

©GOODSTUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

3

prepare the body for its next workouts without sacrificing any of the capacity the previous workout built; and long, slow distance runs build the aerobic capacity needed to make the interval workouts most effective. In the

“It is through smart, purposeful training that one reaches one’s potential.”

right balance, these result in the body getting progressively stronger and faster.

But that takes years, and I only had four weeks. So, I cut corners. I did far more interval work, made my long, slow runs into long, fast runs, and took fewer recovery days. I did it specifically to run as fast as possible in that championship race. So, what happened in the race, you ask? Well, I flew from Newark to Charlotte Friday evening for a Saturday morning race — I would not miss a minute of school, mind you — and promptly missed my connection to Tallahassee due to a delay. So, and this is true, I rented a car at 10:45 p.m. and started driving south. It was almost an eighthour drive, and I had 11 until the race started. I napped for two hours from 3:20–5:20 in a rest

Second Graders Head to

THE WOODS FOR IMAGINARY PLAY Inspired by their reading of Roxaboxen, an award-winning children’s book written by Alice McLerran and illustrated by Barbara Cooney, second graders headed to the woods to build their own imaginary town.

Working in small groups, children whisked around the 35-acre outdoor classroom space stacking logs, piling stones, exchanging acorns and leaves as imaginary money, and created bakeries, pet shops, jail cells and more.

One group shrieked with delight when they caught a frog and quickly sold it to another group in exchange for imaginary groceries.

Back in the classrooms later that September afternoon, students reflected on their experiences, connecting what they had seen and done to the school’s mission skills: teamwork, ethics, resilience, curiosity, time management and creativity.

“People were being so kind and including each other,” said Charlotte Tocks.

The second grade Roxaboxen tradition is just one of many Country School teaching methods that combine a read-aloud with an experiential component.

4

Our Outdoor Classroom and Boardwalk was funded by a generous grant from The Jeniam Foundation.

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

“We know that the more intellectual capacity we build, the more potential there is. We know that how you think and how you learn is more important than what you know.”

area south of Macon, Georgia, and arrived at the course 90 minutes before the start of the race. Not exactly the ideal pre-race routine!

But, this story’s next chapter is a good one — I was indeed our fifth man out of the six that ended up starting the race for us, and our team won the national championship involving teams from Georgia, California, Washington, Massachusetts, and Colorado, among others.

I ran about the best race I could on that day.

It was great.

Now, this story could be a treatise on the virtues of teamwork and goal setting, traits that I certainly hold in high esteem. But it is

So, what does intellectual capacity look

not. Unfortunately, that last chapter is not

like? It looks like love of learning. It looks like

the end of the story. Two days after the race, I

retention. It looks like the ability to infer-

noticed pain in my heel. I ran through it, trying

ence. It looks like creating something new.

to get back to an optimal training program.

It looks like having the confidence to have

I even raced some more this past spring, but

convictions in your own thoughts while also

the pain remained. And I stand here before

having the humility to embrace ambiguity

you today, sadly, four months into a seemingly

where it exists. It looks like not only solving

endless rehab on the injury that first cropped

problems but also identifying problems.

up just after those four weeks of more intense

It looks like making connections between

training. No, this story is about the importance

disciplines or seemingly disparate pieces of

of an approach that has a long-term goal in

information. Frankly, it looks like many of

mind and that is built specifically to maxi-

the qualities that those admissions directors

mize that long-term view. It is through smart,

and heads of school mentioned in describing

purposeful training that one reaches one’s

Country School graduates.

potential. That is exactly Country School’s aim.

And what are the best ways to build

Yes, training as a distance runner is in many

intellectual capacity? Focus on promoting

ways reflective of our approach here. Instead

intrinsic motivation. Experiential learning.

of building aerobic capacity as in running, we

Play. Involvement. Inspiration. Where rather

aim to build intellectual capacity that exists in

than simply reading Lord of the Flies, we stage

and is used over the long term. We know that

a mock trial, rather than simply learning the

the more intellectual capacity we build, the

formula for power and work, we run up stairs

more potential there is. We know that how

and time ourselves and derive it from there.

you think and how you learn is more important

Where rather than just learning how to do

than what you know. And focusing on building

something, we learn why. Where rather than

capacity first results in a virtuous cycle of

doing worksheets, we build with blocks. Where

capacity, new skills and more capacity.

rather than reading about the lifecycle of a discover more countryschool.net

5

salmon, we actually raise salmon and then release them into their natural habitat. Where rather than studying science, history or math, our students become scientists, historians and mathematicians. These examples I have just given are ones that I have seen with my

Buddies Take the

HOUR OF STEAM CHALLENGE School-wide, students in Pre-K through Grade 9 took the Hour of STEAM Challenge Dec. 19, spreading across classrooms, common spaces and hallways to make a three-tiered, freestanding snowperson with tissue paper, straws, cotton balls, pipe cleaners and tape. Working in their buddy pairs (older and younger students), students designed and built their creations during a vibrant hour of collaboration and connection.

The term STEAM refers to using a wide variety of hands-on activities that include Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. These activities support academic learning and the development of a mindset that values playfulness, experimentation, growth, iteration, collaboration and community.

“The goal of this event was for all students to experience the balance between practical and abstract thinking skills, to use trial and error, creativity, communication and artistic skills to build something functional and fun,” said Director of Innovation and Academic Technology Aron Back, who organized the event with Lower School Science Teacher Chantal Detlefs and Lower School

own eyes here. And I have been on campus for fewer than 10 school days in total. Imagine how many examples exist over the course of a school year or an entire journey from beginners to ninth grade.

An oft-quoted Chinese proverb that you can probably recite says it best: “Tell me and I will forget, show me and I might remember, involve me, and I will understand.” That we all know this proverb and perhaps the fact that it is a proverb at all demonstrates how hard it is to attain and how impactful it is. And our faculty, one that is at once dedicated and passionate, inspirational and knowledgeable, attuned and forward thinking, focuses on creating the type of learning experiences for our students that build their intellectual capacity in this manner.

We are in the business of training champion intellects and, like running, it takes years to reach peak performance. And like running, smart training now impacts that performance years from now. And we do not cut corners here at Country School just to race 10 seconds faster in our first race. No, we are training for performance at much more important races to

Science Assistant Timber Pech.

The materials for the Hour of Steam Challenge were generously donated by the Amicus Foundation.

6

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

“Rather than just learning how to do something, we learn why.”

come many years from now. And that is what you get here at Country School — a conscious, intentional aim to build intellectual capacity.

Learning this way is not just memorable — it is fun. It is no wonder the vast majority of our students love coming to school every day. For me, it is impactful and enjoyable and more. I

How do we focus on the long term in the

told the faculty at our opening meeting late

face of such uncertainty and short-term possi-

last month that I am driven as an educator by

bility? That is where we come in. Part of it is

the knowledge that we are educating tomor-

faith and trust in over 100 years of excellence.

row’s leaders. That responsibility gives me a

Part of that is asking a teacher how what is

great sense of purpose and also a recognition

happening in class affects the long term and

of the weight and magnitude of that task. I

fits into the overall picture of the school. Part

also feel security that Country School has been

of it is meeting a ninth grader or a recent

thinking this way for many years. One of my

alum and talking with them and realizing how

predecessors, Nick Thacher, wisely and memo-

impressive they are. And part of it is learning

rably said that our aim is to be a school that

what our students accomplish and who they

develops “happy and healthy 30-year-olds.”

become after they graduate.

As I told the faculty in our opening meeting, I

This school believes so deeply in building

agree with that and I add to it directly from our

intellectual capacity and providing a rock-solid,

mission. I believe that our aim is to be a school

broad and well-rounded foundation so that

that develops happy and healthy 30-year-olds

children can develop their passions and begin

who will make a positive contribution to the

to point towards the positive contributions they

world. That is why we exist. And it all starts

will make to the world. Such a school is the one

with building intellectual capacity.

that truly lives its mission and is the school that

But back to the story of my race last winter

truly makes an immeasurable impact.

one more time. Yes, I told it as a metaphor for building intellectual capacity. But I also told it because it highlights one of the major challenges of parenting today. The allure of the immediate and measurable result is nearly irresistible. That championship race was a great highlight and a result about which I am proud.

And I am paying the consequences now. I am slower now because of how I trained for that race then. I hope that we can all agree that the long-term result is the true goal for our children, and yet I understand that it is very difficult to truly play the long game.

"We are in the business of training champion intellects and, like running, it takes years to reach peak performance."

Eighth Graders Hold

MOCK TRIALS Eighth graders took on the roles of characters from John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men, to argue the fate of George Milton, accused of murdering his best friend, Lennie Small, during a mock trial.

“In the process of reading, class discussions, and adopting roles and staging the trial, students learn to read for content as well as perspective,” says Upper School Teacher Will McDonough.

“They’re pushed to think analytically and to collaborate … and while these elements are also foundational in thesis-based essays, a trial challenges students to develop an ability to shift their arguments and improvise to connect with their audience, the jury.”

The eighth grade curriculum explores themes of conflict and challenge involving the individual, the group and society.

The course’s literature also includes Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies.

Students enjoyed the mock trial, but said they also found it challenging. “[As the defendant, George,] I was both rattled and excited by the speed of the prosecution’s questions,” said eighth grader Huett Nelson.

“It was fun to be in a court situation where you could object, question witnesses, and say that our testimony would be ‘textually evident’ by swearing on a copy of Of Mice and Men,” said Lilly Krongard.

“It was nerve-wracking how my expectations and planning changed during the trial,” said Benjamin Herdeg. “The biggest challenge was that the jury hadn’t read the book, so our persuasive arguments had to be near perfect.”

Upper School Teachers Tom Giggi and Bart Fredo conducted similar mock trial experiences for their eighth grade English classes, Mr. Giggi using Of Mice and Men and Mr. Fredo using Lord of the Flies.

And it is really only possible here. I have seen many of the best schools in this country, and while others can talk a similar game, few can deliver on that promise. The approach to education, focusing on the long term, I have described here is fairly unique, both in our country and in our world of independent schools. And for it to happen in a school that focuses intentionally and solely on the entire arc of childhood makes it all the more powerful. That is why Country School is one of the absolute premier Pre-K through Grade 9 schools in the country.

Watch the video: www.countryschool.net/annualmeeting

8

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Jane Walsh and Upper and Middle School Science Teacher Margaret Mackey

Do Birds Prefer Music?

STUDENT EXPERIMENT WINS NATIONAL CHALLENGE Seventh grader Jane Walsh’s science

We’re excited to share Jane’s investiga-

happens later in the year, however,

experiment was selected as the National

tion with other students and inspire the

required autonomy.

Challenge Winner of Cornell University

next batch of feeder investigations.”

Lab of Ornithology’s K–12 annual maga-

For the past several years, Country

“The goal of any inquiry-based project is to develop independence,

School students have designed and

close observation and time manage-

While in sixth grade, Jane undertook

conducted experiments on bird feeding

ment,” said Ms. Mackey. “At every step,

her experiment “Do Birds Prefer Music?” in

behavior over the course of the winter.

the students are real scientists, right

her front yard over a month-long period

The experiments are part of a unit

until the point of publishing their find-

and submitted it with assistance from

focused on the study of birds’ ecology

ings in a scientific journal.”

Upper and Middle School Science Teacher

and adaptation. Generally, students

Margaret Mackey. She designed an experi-

have tested whether birds prefer a

“It’s amazing that something I did by

ment to determine whether or not birds

certain color or type of seed (several

myself in my backyard is being read by

preferred a feeder with the music of

experiments have been published in

people all over the country.”

Ludwig van Beethoven (Symphony No. 9

BirdSleuth in years past). Jane, however,

in D minor) playing nearby, or a feeder

wanted to do something unique.

zine, BirdSleuth Investigator.

with no music at all. Her hypothesis was

“I took a risk investigating the

that birds would prefer silence and be

effect of music on feeding habits

scared away by music. To her surprise,

and it paid off,” said Jane, who

this was not the case. She discovered

can identify all the birds in her

that, by a small margin, birds preferred

neighborhood.

the feeder that had music playing as

“Jane has sparked an interest

opposed to a feeder where no music is

in others,” said Ms. Mackey.

playing. This was especially true of the

“Now students want to expand

Dark-eyed Junco species.

upon her idea and do experiments

“We were really impressed with the

with different kinds of sounds and

creativity of Jane’s discussion,” said

music. Good science always begs

Kelly Schaeffer, Director of Cornell

new questions.”

University Lab of Ornithology’s K–12

Jane is proud of her accomplishment.

Early in sixth grade, the class

program, which publishes experiments

worked on an experi-

from students around the country in

ment together about the

BirdSleuth. “Not only did she conduct a

formation of igneous

fair experiment to test her question, Jane

rocks to familiarize

provided thought-provoking discussion

themselves with the

about her results and what other factors

scientific method. The

could have influenced the data collected.

bird experiment, which discover more countryschool.net

9

A SPACE TO

Programming Robots

Simple Circuitry

10

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Parent Coffee Gathering

Speech Writing

Versatility

was one of the driving factors for the redesign of the John-Christophe

Schlesinger Library, which reopened in Fall 2018 incorporating the new Amicus Foundation Innovation Space. With almost all of the furniture on wheels

Short Film Elective

and most surfaces writable, and a large central space flooded with sunlight, the ways it can be used are limited only by one’s creativity. Pass by on any given day and you are bound to see a new activity. So far this school year, it has hosted the school’s book fair, a first grade campfire sing-along, dozens of parent coffees, coding clubs, apprentice teacher training workshops, board meetings, the Horizons Saturday Academy, Homework Central, and several hundred individual class visits for math, science, languages, digital drawing, script editing, identity projects and more.

Literary Scavenger Hunt Peer School Video Conference discover more countryschool.net

11

OUR FUTURE CAMPUS NEW ATHLETICS CENTER ON TRACK With the new Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall & Commons

seating. The new complex will also include improved student

complete, the next phase of the school’s long-range campus master

and faculty locker rooms, an expanded fitness center, two

plan calls for the construction of a new Athletics and Wellness

multipurpose spaces for health and wellness programs as well as

Center to appropriately serve students at all grade levels in a PreK–9

other program needs, sufficient storage for indoor and outdoor

school and to serve as an additional marquee community space.

athletic equipment, and new facilities offices. The upper level will

While Country School offers a robust and developmentally

be accessed from the Lower School circle, while the locker rooms

appropriate PE and athletics program, the physical space is

and lower level will open onto the athletic fields. Horizons will be

lacking. Due to this lack of space, many sports teams must travel

building a new and improved pool closer to the Lower School.

In addition, the plan calls for reseeding and regrading all of

off campus to practice, which cuts into valuable class time.

A new Athletics Center will alleviate off-campus travel and

the athletic fields, with the potential addition of a turf playing

allow for increased sports options, including squash courts

field. The baseball diamond will be relocated further south to

to accommodate growing interest. It will also provide much-

relieve the football field and allow more space, and the east

needed spectator seating so that parents, alumni and friends

drive will be reconfigured to add convenient and dedicated

can come and cheer on our student athletes.

parking for athletic events.

The upper-level main entrance will lead to 4 squash courts, a

The space will accommodate the entire school community

two-court gymnasium to serve basketball and volleyball (the two

and provide a bright and open space for community events such

competition basketball courts can also be configured to enable

as the Annual Meeting & Dinner, PA’s Deal Days, and academic

four practice courts) with retractable bleachers for spectator

events such as the fifth grade Medieval Faire.

NCCS TO ACQUIRE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY

“With this significant acquisition, we

Thanks to the generosity of two

who wishes to remain anonymous, for

New Canaan Country School families,

making this purchase possible,” said

will have additional opportunities to

the school will acquire approximately

Board President Randy Salvatore in a

enhance existing NCCS programs and

eight acres contiguous to the school’s

letter announcing the purchase to the

provide new programmatic opportunities

existing 75-acre campus.

school community.

in the future,” said Salvatore.

The purchase of 579 Frogtown

To show appreciation and thanks for

The property at 579 Frogtown Road

Road was made possible by a $1 million

the Moore family’s gift, one of the squash

was part of the original 150-acre

leadership gift from an NCCS family

courts in the new Athletics and Wellness

property purchased by New Canaan

who wishes to remain anonymous as

Center will be named for the late George

Country School from Grace Church in

well as a gift from the Moore family —

Moore Sr., who attended NCCS in the ’40s

1936, but was sold shortly thereafter

the current property owner and an

and was the father of Tanya Moore

to the Moore family.

NCCS legacy family.

Jessop ’86 and George Moore Jr. ’83.

“I offer my deepest thanks to the generous Country School donor family,

12

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Read more: www.countryschool.net/futurecampus For updates on the Long-Range Campus Master Plan

CONGRATULATIONS

TO OUR COLLEGE ATHLETES! Country School’s physical education and athletics program provides a foundation for a lifetime of enjoyment of physical activity as well as preparation for competitive sports, both in secondary school and college.

Congratulations to the following alumni on their recent college athletic achievements!

MEGHAN HALLORAN ’13

WILLIAMS COLLEGE ICE HOCKEY, LACROSSE Sophomore hockey season (2018–19): Named NESCAC Women’s Ice Hockey Player of the Year, only the third sophomore named in the history of the award, and received All-America Second Team recognition among DIII players nationally. Also, All-NESCAC First Team and Winter All-Academic Team selection as league leader in points (39), goals (20) and assists (19), and ranked 10th nationally (NCAA DIII) with 1.39 points per game.

Helped lead the Ephs to the top seed in the NESCAC play-offs and scored the gamewinning goal for their second ever NESCAC Championship. Also plays on the varsity lacrosse team. Secondary school: Deerfield Academy. Varsity ice hockey captain junior and senior years. Varsity lacrosse captain senior year. Varsity ice hockey Most Valuable Player (2016–17), varsity lacrosse Coaches’ Award (2017) and U.S. Lacrosse High School Academic All-American (2017). Awarded Deerfield Academy’s William B. Jaffe Award for the student who exhibited courage, leadership and sportsmanship on the athletic field.

BARCLAY GAMMILL ’12

CLAIRE MARSHALL ’13

Junior season (2018–19): Played

Sophomore

forward for the 2018–2019

Season (2019):

NESCAC Champions. Trinity captured

Plays defense for

TRINITY COLLEGE ICE HOCKEY

its third conference crown in the

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE LACROSSE

the Big Green.

last four seasons. Earned 18 points in 23 regular

Named Ivy League Defensive

season games; 11 points in 14 conference games.

Player of the Week after anchoring

Secondary school: The Berkshire School. Played

the Dartmouth defense in a 21–2

varsity hockey and lacrosse. Won MVP Award

victory over Columbia. Has started

(hockey). Also was a Senior Prefect Leader.

all 25 games of her Dartmouth career. Secondary school: Choate Rosemary Hall. Four-year member of the varsity lacrosse and field hockey teams and captain of both teams senior year. First-Team All-American for lacrosse as both a junior and senior. All-NEPSAC for field hockey as a junior and senior. Received the Hester C. Macquire Award for greatest contribution to athletics as a sophomore. Received the Eugenia Baker Jessup Award for greatest contribution to athletics as a junior. Received the Kennerly Memorial Award for Leadership as a graduating senior. discover more countryschool.net

13

JOHN FOX ’13

KYLE SALVATORE ’13

Sophomore season (2018):

Freshman season (2018): Ivy League

Appeared in all 18 of UVA's

Rookie of the Week. Appeared in 11

games, tallying 18 game

games, scoring seven goals with one

points, three goals,

assist for eight points. Netted first-

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LACROSSE

HARVARD UNIVERSITY LACROSSE

17 ground balls and caused 12

career hat trick with three goals and two ground balls in

turnovers. Secondary school:

a win over Dartmouth (March 24). Ivy League honor roll.

Brunswick School. Named to the

Secondary school: The Taft School. Four-year varsity

Under Armor Underclassmen New

letter winner for Taft, also played for the Eclipse Lacrosse

England Team, Four-year starter,

Club. Named No. 35 recruit nationally. Also named 2016

two-time team captain (lacrosse).

and 2017 US Lacrosse All-America, All-Western New

Named two-time first-team All-New

England (2016 and 2017), and Western New England

England, two-time team MVP

Midfielder of the Year (both seasons) and USA Today

(first in school history), 2017 and

second team All-America. 2016 Founders League cham-

2014 New England West 1 Champions, No. 4 ranked team in

pions. Also played for squash team at No. 1 position and

the country in 2017. Also, played football as a four-year starter,

captained both the lacrosse and squash teams. Honor Roll.

two-time team captain, Team MVP (2016). Named New England Player of the Year, two-time All Housatonic League, two-time first-team All-New England (football). Honor Roll every semester.

Received the 2017 Jenkins Award for best scholar athlete.

BRANDON SALVATORE ’12 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LACROSSE

Sophomore season (2018): Honorable Mention All-Ivy (2018). Highest scoring defenseman on the team with two goals and five assists. Scored against Penn and again vs. Yale during the Ivy

CHARLOTTE ZONIS ’12

League Championship game. Secondary school: A four-time letter winner for The Taft School, served as team captain twice,

HAMILTON COLLEGE SQUASH

and led the Rhinos to the 2016 Founders League Championship.

Senior season (2018–19): Selected

A three-time All-Western New England selection. Also won Taft’s

for the 2019 NESCAC Women’s Squash

Lance Odden Lacrosse Award, recognizing the player who has

All-Conference Team and was invited

given the most to the Taft lacrosse program, as well as the Hunter

to the 2019 College Squash Association

Stonington Award, given to the Taft senior who has contributed

Women’s Individual National Championships. Played at

most to athletics. Also, lettered four times in squash, was a two-

the first position all season, is one of 20 athletes on the

time captain and was a two-time Founders League all-star.

all-conference team and one of 10 voted to the second RICH BARNES

team. She leads all players on the Hamilton roster with 39 career wins. Team co-captain. Secondary school: Milton Academy. Most Improved Player (2015–16) and was the varsity squash captain senior year.

14

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

PAIGE LEWIS ’13

CORNELL UNIVERSITY ICE HOCKEY Junior season (2018–19): Plays forward for the Big Red. Captured the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) hockey regular season title, earning a spot in the Frozen Four. Season highlights included 11 assists and 7 goals, of which 2 were in the game versus Union College. Named to the ECAC All-Academic Team (2017 and 2018). Secondary school: New Canaan High School and North American Hockey Academy (three seasons) where she was a two-time Junior Women’s Hockey League All-Star. On the national stage, participated in USA Hockey’s National Camp (2012, 2013 and

EMMA STEVENS ’13

2014) and was invited to the U-18 Selection Camp in 2015.

BOWDOIN COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY

Also skated for the Mid-Fairfield Stars from 2011–16 and was a USA National Championship runner-up in 2014.

Junior season (2018): Named Division III All-Region and All-NESCAC. Earned NESCAC Fall All-Academic recognition.

Led the conference in goals (20) and points (44). Recorded five game-winning goals and three hat tricks. Scored multiple goals in six different games during the season. Secondary school: The Westminster School. 2016 team MVP. Class A New England Championship Runner-Up 2016. Also played lacrosse and ice hockey. Lacrosse captain, NEPSWLA Lacrosse All-Star, and a 2014 New England Ice Hockey Champion. Graduated magna cum laude.

ELIZABETH GROWNEY ’12

HENRY MARSHALL ’12

Sophomore season (2018–19): Plays

BOWDOIN COLLEGE FIELD HOCKEY, LACROSSE

forward for the Colgate Raiders. Played in

Junior field hockey season (2018):

15 games his freshman year scoring 2 goals.

Started all 15 games. Scored 8 goals with

COLGATE UNIVERSITY ICE HOCKEY

1 assist. Co-captain for upcoming 2019

Sophomore season played in 19 games.

Earned Dean’s Award or Dean’s Award with Distinction for

season. NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad.

academic excellence in all terms at Colgate. Secondary

Sophomore lacrosse season (2018): Played in 18 games.

school: Choate Rosemary Hall. Captain of the ice hockey and

Scored 13 goals and dished out 5 assists. Picked up 9

golf teams as a senior. Named to the All-Housatonic Second

ground balls. NESCAC Runner-Up. Secondary school:

Team in 2015–16 and earned the Courtenay Hemenway

Deerfield Academy. Western New England All-Star (field

Award for Excellence in Hockey (senior year). Played the

hockey) 2014. Four-year varsity starter on field hockey

2016–17 season with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the

and lacrosse teams. Received the 2015 Ramsay Cup

BCHL, where he earned Most Sportsmanlike Award.

(top midfielder in lacrosse) and the 2016 Benjamin C.

Also, Editor-in-Chief of The Press.

Haviland Award (lacrosse). Also played ice hockey.

BOB CORNELL

Graduated with honors.

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? Please contact Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net to provide alumni athletic and academic updates.

Look for Secondary School 2018–2019 athletic and academic achievements in the next issue. discover more countryschool.net

15

,I “After a great deal of thinking ing be finally decided that the idea of g pt in yourself is over rated; it ’s acce yourself that real ly matters.”

ER — EL LI E WAL K

THIS I BELIEVE: A Ninth Grade Rite of Passage

By Moina Noor, Digital Communications Manager

Every Thursday morning at 10 a.m., Upper School students gather for their weekly assembly in the Alumni Commons of the Stevens Building. After a variety of announcements from students and faculty — the upcoming dance, a reminder about a test, yearbook committee requests — the room begins to hush and students shift their bodies to get comfortable and settle in. They take a break from the hectic pace of their day and listen attentively to a student or two deliver their This I Believe speeches.

O

ver the course of the year, every ninth grader delivers

This I Believe would be a good vehicle for students to dig

a This I Believe speech. The project has become a rite

deeper into their values.”

of passage and a culminating moment for the students as they

Upon Ms. Irvine’s retirement in 2012, the project was stew-

begin to think of their lives beyond Country School. Much like

arded by former Assistant Director of Admissions Ryan Kimmet

the National Public Radio program that it emulates, the essay is

and by the late Head of Upper School Tim Delehaunty. Alumni

a personal exploration of a student’s closely held beliefs and the

and faculty members remember fondly how Mr. Delehaunty

principles that they are beginning to use to guide their lives. The

covered his office door with index cards containing snippets of

national program was first broadcast in 1951 by renowned radio

ninth graders’ This I Believe speeches, which he then mailed to

journalist Edward R. Murrow and brought back on air 50 years later

students a year after their graduation.

in 2001. In 2009, the project was initiated at Country School in the ninth grade by former Assistant Head of School Francie Irvine.

16

Students begin to write their first draft over the summer before ninth grade. They are given some guiding tips: “be

“Ninth graders are idealistic, thoughtful and interested in

specific, tell a personal story and come to a point about some-

the world and their place in it,” said Ms. Irvine. “We thought

thing you have learned about the world, yourself.” Upon their

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

return to school in September, they are expected to be ready for the final editing process to begin.

“I tell them to write the speech that only they can write,” said Upper School English and History Teacher Liz Carroll, who now co-leads the This I Believe project along with her colleague English and History Teacher Tom Giggi. “I also understand that asking a 14- or 15-year-old to be vulnerable is a tall order.”

“Nothing in life is guaranteed , and random ev ents can sometimes ha ve more impact on our lives th an the things we have been pla nning for yea rs.”

— M AS O N PR AT T

“We are asking students to say ‘This is who I am,’ and that is huge,” agreed Mr. Giggi. “It requires independent thinking, self-reflection and the confidence to share something personal with their peers.”

Ninth grader Mason Zea wrote his speech about the impact that his grandfather’s death had on him. He was reserved in early drafts of his speech, unsure of how personal and forthcoming to be in his writing. “It took a while for me to write about how he died. But I realized that

Cultivating S T U D E N T VO I C E

T H RO U G H T H E G R A D E S

it’s a big part of my story.”

Editing and revision are essential parts of the This I Believe process. “We are looking for that kernel in each student. Sometimes you don’t even see it until a couple of drafts in,” said Ms. Carroll.

Ninth grader Ellie Walker, who wrote about accepting her individuality, struggled with narrowing her focus and expressing what she wanted to say and how she wanted to say it. She spent the summer before ninth grade recording numerous audio notes on her iPhone, all relating to her view of the world. “I had so many ideas and rewrote my speech 14 times throughout the month of August. And then I edited it more when I came back to school.”

“Ellie took the project very seriously,” said Mr. Giggi, who worked closely with her as her English teacher.

“She really wanted it to represent herself.”

Ellie and Mason remember sitting in the audience as seventh and eighth graders listening to the older students deliver their speeches and asking themselves: “Would my speech be as good, as powerful?”

Now that their speeches are behind them, they feel relieved and satisfied. “Time stood still while I was giving the speech,” said Mason. “And then it was one big rush.”

Early Childhood Gathering

by Beginners Teacher Carin Walden

On Friday mornings, each classroom in the Thacher building winds its way to the center of the piazza to form a large community circle that we call Gathering. This time and place is intentionally set aside once each week for connection and sharing; a space for children to sing a song, demonstrate a fingerplay, or deliver news from the classroom or news from home. A space for the voice of the child to be heard, understood and appreciated.

As a group, the children stand alongside each other as their voices come together to sing in harmony or chant rhythmically. Individually, the child stands in the center of our community circle, confidently holding onto the microphone as their voice resonates back to them. The child speaks spontaneously, occasionally pausing, needing a breath or a prompting ques-

s or in the th a p g in w o ll fo t o n “We are aking m t u b , e ls e e n o y n a f footsteps o so they are m e th g in p a h s d n a them else’s.” y d o b o n d n a n w o r u o — A N NA

tion from a supportive adult.

Sometimes the message is brief, often it generates points of connection from the surrounding circle, and it is always genuine and reflective of the child’s priorities.

This is the beginning of the child’s knowledge of their own voice, how their words convey a message and how that message can have meaningful connection to others. It is the

N S H E R IDA

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17

Sixth Grade Speeches

powerful recognition of how their voices can come together to make music and how their voices can stand alone and inspire others. There is room for both in this safe, accepting,

by Sixth Grade Homeroom Teacher Brayden Henry

welcoming circle. These moments are the foundation for the thread of public speaking opportunities that weave their way through the fabric of the Country School experience.

Sixth grade public speaking has developed into a cornerstone of

Lower School Assembly

our work in the Middle School.

As part of their speech project,

by Music Teacher Ellen Baer

Every Day 6, the Lower School holds a community assembly. The assemblies consist of a variety of presentations — everything from poems written by students to skits on timely topics to singing songs. On occasion, Upper School students visit to share a presentation or performance. Three fourth graders are the announcers for each assembly. As announcers, students create a script, including an opening and a closing, and determine how to best introduce each presentation. On the day of the assembly, the announcers practice with the microphone, and they inevitably discover that it’s very strange hearing your voice coming from a speaker across the room while you are still speaking! During the assembly, the announcers learn that the script might not go according to plan. A sound glitch, a forgotten line, stage fright. One must be resilient and continue. Leadership qualities are employed when the students realize it’s up to them to keep the pacing of the assembly going. In addition, as announcers, they are setting the tone for the assembly. How they introduce each presentation determines, in part, how the audience will perceive it. Through this invaluable experience the students practice stage presence, diction, creativity, leadership, resilience, time management, teamwork, and

students are asked to select a topic of their choice. The topics reflect their developing interests and their engagement with the world around them: women’s rights, animal rights, climate change, Internet privacy. Students conduct thorough research and outline and write a speech incorporating rhetorical flourishes. They memorize their final speeches and practice their public speaking skills — pacing, using their hands, modulating their voices — often videotaping themselves and asking for teacher and peer feedback. On the big day, they dress in formal attire and deliver a 3–4 minute speech in the auditorium to a gathering of the entire Middle School and their parents.

The sense of accomplishment and pride in the room after each student returns to their seat is palpable. The time, energy, enthusiasm and growth that comes out of this experience highlights the intangible growth students make through this process. The project embodies pillars of our mission in the development of time management, enhancement of resilience and the way it engages student curiosity. The entire process builds upon students’ previous years of work as writers and readers, as well as public speakers. It has become a landmark project of the Middle School years and one that many students remember throughout their time at NCCS.

ethics, all contributing to successful public speaking.

Seventh Grade Environmental Debates

by Upper School Science Teacher Scott Lilley

During the seventh grade Environmental Debates, which occur in February and March, students put into practice elements of what they’ve learned so far in life science and environmental science. Students are assigned a topic related to a current environmental issue involving resource use, energy production, pollution or ecology and must argue for or

18

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

against it. They research, prepare remarks and participate in a formal debate (with time limits, moderator and peer judges) against opponents who have been researching the other side of the issue. Topics have included the reintroduction of gray wolves back into the northeast, drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, viability of wind power as an alternative energy source, pros and cons of industrial logging, use of pesticides in agriculture, nuclear power, hydrofracking, the pros and cons of aquaculture, and use of coal.

The rebuttal section of the debate is one of the more challenging parts of the project. We ask students to think critically about their topic to understand why there are supporters of each side of their issue in the real world, and then to use that knowledge to anticipate the points of their opponents in the debate. The goal is to have them plan ahead and use the information they’ve gathered to disagree respectfully and with supporting detail.

In the end, this project is a practice for students in research, persuasive writing and public speaking, within the context of understanding several real-world issues in environmental science. It’s a way for them to pull together many of the things they’ve learned so far in science, and to build on all

Eighth Grade Storytelling

by Upper School English and History Teacher Will McDonough

of the public speaking opportunities they’ve had in previous

Each February, eighth grade students begin the Country

years in all of their classes. And we are impressed year after

School tradition of telling stories. The project — an

year with how well they rise to the challenge.

element of the English curriculum — begins with each student selecting a folktale from a non-western culture.

Students then bring the story to life, memorizing parts, animating others with hand and body movements, while also embracing the ability to improvise and take a sense of ownership for their chosen stories. Laconia Therrio, a professional storyteller who has been assisting NCCS students in this regard for the past 19 years, provides strategies and techniques used in effective storytelling during a series of workshops. The final challenge involves presenting the story to an actual audience: students from the Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle School divisions.

Throughout the process, students develop an appreciation for the value of wisdom passed down by elders through oral tradition. It reminds them of the generations who have come before them who have wisdom to share; it also awakens them to their own responsibility as that older generation. Now, it’s the younger students at NCCS who can reflect upon the morals and lessons of their stories. The accomplishment is one that invites students to take risks, but it also gives them the opportunity to improvise on the spot and to command the attention of the room. It is a rite of passage in the Upper School and a true testament to the power of our stories.

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19

“We are intentional about looking at every child and whether they are getting what they need from our general program and if not, then we try to build a plan. We are looking very carefully not for good or bad, right or wrong, but opportunities for growth.”

—Rebecca Comizio, School Psychologist

20

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

What is Social-Emotional Learning?

And Why Does It Matter?

By Brooke Arthur,

Director of Marketing & Communications

While a commitment to teaching character has been a hallmark of a Country School education (and that of many the past 20 years that schools have begun explicitly incorpo-

What Does It Look Like in the Classroom?

rating social-emotional skills into their curricula, and

Even with these new frameworks, the idea of social-emotional

research in the area has really exploded.

learning can still feel mushy. It is not as easy to spot with the

The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning

untrained eye as — for example — a typical math lesson. While

(CASEL), which was and still is a leading think tank on social-

some instructional time is devoted explicitly to SEL lessons,

emotional learning, was formed in 1994, and Dan Goleman’s

such as life skills classes, more often teachers are incorporating

groundbreaking book, Emotional Intelligence, was published

SEL skills into other lesson plans. For example, a trip to the

the following year. The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence,

woods to learn about the lifecycle of a frog also provides an

directed by Marc Brackett, opened shortly thereafter. Today,

opportunity for children to practice taking turns.

most schools across the country are beginning to incorporate

If you take a deeper look at that math lesson, you might see

more formalized social-emotional curriculum, such as the

more than just complex fractions. You would see two peers

RULER (Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and

working together to practice perspective-taking, relationship-

Regulating emotions) system, in which NCCS faculty were trained

building, compromise, flexible problem-solving, metacognition

during workshops with Mr. Brackett in 2015.

(thinking about thinking) and self-awareness (perhaps knowing

At its core, the concept of social-emotional learning (SEL)

when they might need to take a break). You will see them wres-

is simple: All humans are both thinking and feeling beings.

tling with the feeling of “I know this is supposed to be hard, but

Students can’t check their emotions at the door any more

it feels almost impossible,” better known as resilience.

than they can check their brains, and they need to build their

Their teacher, in this scenario, would be actively seeking

emotional acumen as intentionally as their intellect.

opportunities to differentiate the work based not just on which

“These are not ‘extracurricular’ or ‘soft’ skills,” says Country

particular math skills or concepts each student needed to

School Psychologist Rebecca Comizio. “Good, strong SEL can

acquire, but also to help each student figure out how he or she

become the foundation of good character, academic achieve-

learns best. For some students, that may mean asking for more

ment, relationship health and general well-being.”

challenging problems, and for others it may be taking the initia-

School is the perfect environment for children to learn these

tive to get up and take a drink of water or sit on a wobble stool

skills since it is social by its very design. A curriculum that

in order to improve performance.

emphasizes social-emotional learning does two things: 1) it

Teachers use positive psychology to reinforce actions they

gives students specific skills that make them more successful in

want to see more of by using specific praise. For example, a

relating to others, and 2) it teaches them how to manage their

teacher might stop by the small table where our hypothetical

emotions so that they are more available for academic learning.

math class duo is working and say, “I like the way you got all your

independent schools) for over a century, it is really only in

materials organized when I gave directions” or “I noticed that you listened to your partner and came to a mutual decision.”

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21

A Three-Tiered Approach

“When kids understand the ‘why’ it is always more empow-

Dig a layer deeper and wider, and you will see that there is an

ering,” says Mrs. Comizio. She teaches children as young as

infrastructure of support that cuts across all divisions and all disci-

age three about the different functions of their brains using

plines, across the entire school campus. With nearly 600 students

age-appropriate language and nicknames for the parts of the

and just two school counselors, Mrs. Comizio and School Counselor

brain such as Myg (short for amygdala), the Professor and

Nora Goddard are continuously thinking about how to best reach

Ms. Hipp, the librarian. “And I can tell the students a story that

every student. They use a three-tiered, evidence-based system of

helps them understand.” Throughout the course of the year,

support, and partner heavily with faculty and staff.

all students in Grades 1–4 are invited to attend an informal

The first level of the three tiers (think of the base of a pyramid)

lunch with Mrs. Comizio, in a group of 10 or so students, which

includes universal supports or practices that answer the ques-

she has dubbed “Mrs. C’s Chats.”

tion: “What does everyone need?” These include well-trained

“It’s so important for kids to make the connection of how a

teachers, classroom environments set up to optimize learning,

feeling feels in their body,” says Mrs. Comizio. “I teach them

division-wide frameworks for classroom management such as

that a feeling in your brain lasts for 90 seconds and it is normal!

Responsive Classroom and RULER, as well as dedicated time

That basic understanding is so helpful. It can take the shame,

for explicit instruction in SEL skills, such as morning meetings,

blame and guilt away from what they are naturally feeling.”

homeroom, advisory and life skills classes. Sports and recess also

“For the older kids, the scientific knowledge supports

provide ample training ground for building interpersonal skills.

destigmatization and also helps them understand what is

At the beginning of each school year, classroom culture is

actually happening in their bodies,” says Ms. Goddard. “They

set with intention through team-building activities such as the

can ask themselves, ‘Why am I shutting down?’ I teach them

seventh grade “Finding Stevens” orientation and the ninth grade

that our amygdalas are always scanning when we feel in danger,

Outdoor Action Trip, and through the creation of classroom

and we can ask ourselves, ‘How can I bring my prefrontal

agreements or classroom charters that answer “How do we want

cortex back and put strategies into practice?’ This helps kids to

to feel at school?” and “How do we want to be treated?”

respond. I want to teach them strategies that put them in the

Tier 1 also includes the daily schedule designed to allow for

driver’s seat. They can go get a drink of water or take a deep

times of socialization and promotion of healthy social dynamics.

breath and change the chemistry in their bodies.”

Lunch, clubs, sports, recess and assemblies all create opportuni-

Once a month, Ms. Goddard teaches a 45-minute lesson

ties for students to connect with new people in different ways.

in each fifth and sixth grade classroom on topics such as the

Perhaps the most powerful tool in Tier 1 is teaching kids

science of the brain, stress management and emotion regula-

about the science behind their own thinking and feeling.

tion, cognitive flexibility and appropriate social media use.

Framework for SEL

HOME AND COMMUNITIES SCHOOLS

CLASSROOMS

• Self-awareness: Know your strengths and limitations, SELFAWARENESS

SELFMANAGEMENT

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING

SOCIAL AWARENESS

with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism and a “growth mindset.”

• Self-management: Effectively manage stress, control impulses, and motivate yourself to set and achieve goals.

• Social awareness: Understand the perspectives of others and empathize with them, including those from diverse

RESPONSIBLE DECISIONMAKING

backgrounds and cultures.

• Relationship skills: Communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social

RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and

T IO N CURR ICULUM AND INSTRUC SCH OOL-W CI E S IDE PRACTICES AND POLI FAM IPS ILY AN D COMMUNIT Y PARTNERSH

• Responsible decision-making: Make constructive choices

SEL

22

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

offer help when needed. about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety and social norms. © CASEL 2017

Tier 2

this, Ms. Goddard and sixth grade teachers developed a plan

In the middle of the pyramid, Tier 2 answers “What do some

to give the girls specific tools to develop healthy body images,

students need?” As social-emotional challenges come up, as

navigate friend shifts, increase connections across the grade,

they naturally will as children grow, there are no hard-and-fast

practice problem-solving with a friend, read non-verbal cues

easy answers or a perfectly packaged kit of lesson plans. So,

and use social media appropriately.

Ms. Goddard and Mrs. Comizio partner with teachers to create unique lesson plans.

For example, when Second Grade Teacher Sue DeOreo noticed that her students were having trouble bringing their

“Explicit teaching of SEL skills in small groups provides students a safe space to explore complex topics, to ask difficult questions, and to learn about themselves,” said Ms. Goddard.

In another grade, Mrs. Comizio invited a group of boys

full attention and focus throughout the day, she and Mrs.

who were feeling pressure to conform to a stereotype of

Comizio developed a plan to teach the second graders the skill

being “sporty” to hear from an older boy who had experience

of self-monitoring, a form of mindfulness.

navigating that particular situation a few years prior. Not

Together they developed a simple “Best Self-Monitoring Chart,” which had a three-question checklist for the second graders: “Do I know the directions? Am I doing that thing?

Am I respecting the learning of others?”

Mrs. Comizio joined the class one morning to introduce the chart and empower the students by teaching them the skill of noticing.

“The more you notice where your mind is, the more easily you can bring it back,” she told the students.

only did it help the younger boys, it also boosted the older student’s confidence.

This fall, Ms. Goddard was tapped to help set a productive tone for this year’s ninth grade. She and the ninth grade teachers guided the students in a visioning exercise, asking them to picture themselves at Closing Exercises and how they would want to feel

Mrs. DeOreo set a timer and whenever it rang, they would stop what they were doing and mark their check-in sheets. The students loved that it was a game, and Mrs. DeOreo noticed a significant improvement in their ability to quickly shift their attention.

Sometimes a Tier 2 support is proactive, such as the work Ms. Goddard has been doing recently with sixth grade girls.

Research shows that girls are typically prone to a drop in self-confidence around age 12. In order to defend against

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23

about their contributions to the community by the end of the

“All behavior is communication,” says Mrs. Comizio. “We are

year. Through this reflection, the students were able to identify

intentional about looking at all the children and whether they

a feeling of gender division in the grade, and Ms. Goddard

are getting what they need from our general program and if

was able to develop programming to educate them on gender

not, then we try to build a plan. We look really carefully, not for

norms and to help them understand how stereotypes might

good or bad, right or wrong, but opportunities for growth.”

be impacting their collective ability to move their community

There are hundreds of ways that Mrs. Comizio and

forward together.

Ms. Goddard can approach an individual student’s needs.

Tier 3

24

One tool Mrs. Comizio shares with teachers and parents alike is the concept of the social story. Throughout the past

Finally, Tier 3 offers individualization. Often this targets a

two school years, she has trained several Early Childhood

behavioral plan for a particular student, and includes partner-

teachers on how to use this tool to help students with a

ship with parents, teachers and any outside supports.

number of specific social-emotional skills.

The Christen O’Donnell ’01 Memorial Fund, established in 2004 in memory of Christen who lost her life following her sixth grade year at Country School, honors her care and concern for others by supporting Middle School social development initiatives.

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

To create a social story, teachers, in collaboration with

Not All Stress Is Bad

parents make a book that depicts the child in his or her current

At a Parents’ Association “Parent Talk” this fall, Head of School

state of feeling “stuck” and tells a story about how that child

Aaron Cooper spoke about the “zone of proximal develop-

can gain the skills needed to get “unstuck”. For example, a

ment” — that sweet spot where children feel challenged to

social story might help show a child how to be a good friend or

stretch for something that might feel just at the far edge of

how to be flexible to the group’s needs. The goal is to have the

their comfort zones. Even in the younger grades, some level

child actually see himself or herself in the story and the steps

of struggle (academically, physically and social-emotionally)

he or she can take to move forward. Through revisitation of

is healthy. It’s important to let children feel some frustration

that story, the adults reinforce the messaging.

while learning a new task, like cutting with scissors or tying

The idea behind this technique, as with so many others that

their shoes. Struggling to sound out words or write a research

Mrs. Comizio and Ms. Goddard use and train others to use, is

paper, or even wrestling with the feeling of being bored, are all

that children are capable of learning with the proper amount of

important for children.

scaffolding, practice and encouragement.

“The stress kids feel when they don’t know what to do at recess, or what group they might join, is normal and healthy. If we take away all disagreement, we are not actually preparing our kids for real life,” says Mrs. Comizio.

Meet the Experts Rebecca Comizio School Psychologist Known as “the feelings teacher” to her Early Childhood and Lower School students, Mrs. Comizio is our School Psychologist working with our students in Beginners through Grade 5. She holds a B.S. in Secondary English Education and Philosophy from Central Connecticut State University, an M.A. in Philosophy and Education from Columbia University, and an M.A. in School Psychology from Iona College. She also works as an independent contractor for The Waverly Group, counseling children, adolescents and parents. She runs the School PsychEd Podcast with two other school psychologists, a podcast by school psychologists for school psychologists, and her @yourschoolpsychologist has almost 50,000 followers on Facebook.

Mrs. Comizio is Chair of the National Association of School Psychologists’ Communications Committee, a NASP Leader and coauthor of 70 Play Activities for Better Thinking, SelfRegulation, Learning & Behavior.

Nora Goddard School Counselor Ms. Goddard is our School Counselor, primarily serving Grades 5 through 9. Most recently, she was Director of Admission and Next Schools Guidance Counselor at The Advent School, an independent pre-Kindergarten–Grade 6 school in Boston, MA. Ms. Goddard holds a B.A. in Psychology from Hamilton College and an M.A. in School Counseling of Education from Boston College. discover more countryschool.net

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Diversity Liaisons, L to R: Digital Communications Manager Moina Noor, Fifth Grade Teacher Andrew Bevan, Fourth Grade Teacher Maria Settee ’92, Upper School Latin Teacher Hannah Liu, Horizons Family and Program Director Nehemie Moise, Kindergarten Teacher Jessica McKinney.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

The Work of the Entire School Over the course of this school year, Director, Diversity and

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Kojo Clarke, who will

Inclusion Kisha Palmer has been focused on giving the entire

start in July 2019 (see page 39).

faculty and staff the knowledge, tools and resources to

“In order to really dig into diversity and inclusion in the

create an inclusive school community where all children

school’s operations, culture and curriculum, we need a shared

and adults are valued.

vocabulary,” said Ms. Palmer. “Talking about identity, biases and

“Diversity and inclusion is the work of the entire school, not

privilege takes practice and requires trust and understanding.

just one person,” said Head of School Aaron Cooper. “Kisha’s

My goal is to create a safe space where people can talk about

role is to be a trainer and coach. By engaging everyone in this

uncomfortable topics. It may be messy, but we have to take

effort, we help to ensure its long-term sustainability.”

risks and have these conversations even if we are afraid.

Ms. Palmer has been working as a consultant since fall

Ms. Palmer stresses the importance of equity in indepen-

2018 and is on campus one week a month. She’s been leading

dent schools. “Inclusion without equity is only half the journey.

faculty and staff professional development sessions to build a

I encourage schools to ask themselves whether are they are

solid foundation, which will be built upon by the new full-time

providing an environment where every child can participate fully and succeed to their potential. And if not, why?”

Ms. Palmer has also been working in smaller groups with grade level or divisional teams to employ the widely-used Teaching Tolerance program. A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Teaching Tolerance provides a set of resources to develop curriculum and inform educational practices that foster inclusivity in schools.

As part of the effort to make diversity, equity and inclusion part of the school’s overall fabric, a Diversity Liaisons group was created with one representative from each of the schools’

Director, Diversity and Inclusion Kisha Palmer led an all-faculty & staff team-building exercise during opening meetings.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Faculty participation in the People of Color Conference and student participation in the Student Diversity Leadership Conference was made possible in part by resources from the Bazemore Leadership Fund.

Six ninth graders and 10 faculty and staff members traveled to Nashville, TN, for the annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) Nov. 28–Dec. 1, 2018.

This year’s conference, “Listening for the Grace Note: Finding Harmony Amid Cacophony,” a nod to the country music capital and host city, was attended by 1,600 ninth through 12th graders from all over the country. Students heard from Lisa Ling, a well-known CNN producer, and Christian Picciolini, an anti-racism activist. Students worked with trained facilitators to learn cross-cultural communication skills; they spent time in affinity groups and brainstormed ways to improve their school communities.

L to R: Row 1: Cody Comyns, Ella Schoonmaker, Ellie Walker, Sydney Osinloye. Row 2: Upper School Latin Teacher Hannah Liu, Upper School Math Teacher Jordan Alper, School Counselor Nora Goddard, Advancement Support Manager Renee Bornstein, Kindergarten Teacher Jessica McKinney, Anthony Crossman, Mason Pratt. Row 3: Sixth Grade Teacher Brooke Kelly, Fifth Grade Teacher Andrew Bevan, Spanish Teacher Glenn Rodriguez, Athletic Co-Director Stefan Borowski, Second Grade Teacher Emily Anglund-Nellen.

divisions, the staff and Horizons. Much of the group’s role revolves around peer leadership, facilitation and support. The Diversity Liaisons have worked closely with Ms. Palmer to serve as resources for their colleagues. They have begun leading group discussions in their respective divisions and departments, shifting the professional development to more intimate settings in the divisions and addressing pointed concerns.

At the end of November, the school sent the largest cohort in recent history to the People of Color Conference, the independent school conference for leadership development in diversity

Country School completed a search for a new Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion this winter. Equity was added to the title with the knowledge that we are building the capacity in our community to understand the way systems, context and perspective impact experience.

(See page 39 for information about Kojo Clarke, the new Director.)

and inclusion. Ten members of the faculty and staff attended the conference, which ran alongside the Student Diversity Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN. They heard from wellknown speakers, participated in affinity groups, and networked with people of color and allies of all backgrounds. They later shared their experiences and insights at a full faculty and staff professional development session.

Hannah Liu, an Upper School Latin Teacher and Diversity Liaison, is witnessing a shift in her division. Ms. Liu says that teachers in her division have sought her out to ask questions about a lesson or discuss a student’s needs.

“Talking about these issues has become much easier.

Because of the group reflections, discussion and trainings, there is more of a growth mindset in the faculty around diversity and inclusion.”

“My goal is to create a safe space where people can talk about uncomfortable topics.”

—Kisha Palmer, Director, Diversity and Inclusion

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Impact Choosing to Have

by Will McDonough, Co-Director of Service Learning

It

would be easy to organize the ways we spend our time

“spiral curriculum” is rooted in cognitive theory advanced by

into two categories: things we have to do, and things

Jerome Bruner (1960) who used the term to describe a course

we choose to do. Yet there is a third category of things that

of study in which students will see the same topics throughout

are not required of us, but that we feel compelled to do simply

their school careers, with each encounter increasing in

because they are right.

complexity and reinforcing previous learning.

These actions, and the decisions that lead to them, stem from

These encounters of increasing complexity are the ways our

what I like to call the Miss Rumphius effect. Of course, many

students become aware of the world around them, and are

of us recall the story of Miss Rumphius, a treasured tale by

apparent as their questions grow from Who? and When? and

Barbara Cooney, and a hallmark of a Country School student’s

What? to Why? and What if? and Now what?

experience in the Lower School. The story follows a little girl

One rich example of such a curricular element is Country

who admires her Great Aunt, Alice Rumphius, a wise old woman

School’s relationship with Person-to-Person (P2P), a Darien-

who passes along the challenge her father gave to her: to

based organization born out of the pain surrounding the assas-

discover how she, herself, can make the world more beautiful.

sination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968 and committed to

And, ultimately, isn’t that our greatest wish for our children?

using resources to help those in need in the greater Stamford

That along with being happy and healthy and fulfilled, they

and Norwalk communities.

will grow into young adults who think beyond themselves and

At Country School, our students’ first exposure to the

feel compelled to do something to make the world a better

organization comes in first grade, during a visit to the Person-

and more beautiful place.

to-Person headquarters as they study community. The unit

Our mission ends with the maxim “New Canaan Country School

culminates with the entire grade writing and performing a skit

inspires students to be lifelong learners with the courage and

about various services to the community.

confidence to make a positive contribution in the world.” So, how

Next comes an on-campus visit from Phil the Truck,

do we — as partners in the growth of our children — do it?

Person-to-Person’s mobile truck that helps address the

Well, we do it in many ways, but one of them is through the

food-related needs in Stamford, a city where 12% of the

spiral curriculum of our service learning program. The term

population identifies as food insecure.

This year marked Phil the Truck’s first visit to the Country School campus, but it assuredly will not be its last. As each student walked through the truck, they saw a full selection of

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grocery items including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, grains and shelf-stable goods. As one second grader noted, “Phil the Truck is like a mini supermarket.”

Students also learned that the truck allows Person-to-Person to reach 40 families daily, providing enough food for three meals a day for seven days. Having a caseworker on board also gives people in the community local access to counseling services and emergency financial assistance. The impact of the truck’s accessibility did not go unnoticed as another second grader acknowledged the reality that “Person-to-Person is an amazing organization because no one is ever turned away.”

The school’s partnership with the organization continues in the Middle and Upper School divisions through events held during the Kyle A. Markes Day of Service in April, as well as with the annual Dove program in support of New Canaan Social Services.

For over 40 years, the program has been providing winter holiday meals for 800+ families in the New Canaan community who find

“And, ultimately, isn’t that our greatest wish for our children?

That along with being happy and healthy and fulfilled, they will grow into young adults who think beyond themselves and feel compelled to do something to make the world a better and more beautiful place.”

themselves unable to provide a holiday meal for themselves.

Each Middle School homeroom and Upper School advisory

organization throughout their Country School journey. In fact,

collects food, providing a special meal for two families.

each year there are surprising, student-driven ways that the

As Person-to-Person’s Executive Director Ceci Maher puts it,

organization appears as well. Whether it is during a sixth grade

“P2P’s connection with NCCS is long term, caring and committed.

speech about food insecurity or during the eighth grade World

We remain so grateful for the years spent working together with

Congress Human Rights Task Force presentation about solutions

NCCS to help those most in need of support. The natural kind-

to hunger, our students understand the impact because it has

ness of NCCS families shines through as we work alongside the

been embedded, both directly and indirectly, in their experience.

children; thank you for this important relationship.”

This is merely the beginning of each student’s journey. What

During a Lower School assembly, one student shared how

we hope is that they will begin to see the organization as an

classroom discussion included the importance of recognizing

exemplar of the impact one person can have on another. If we

“why people may need help from Person-to-Person. We talked

can model this initiative and impact for our students, they will

about how hard it could be to take care of yourself or your

feel compelled, just like Miss Rumphius was, to do something for

family for many different reasons. Maybe someone lost their

others, and through doing so, they will develop the courage and

job, or they are sick, or maybe they don’t have family and

confidence to do great things for the world around them.

friends nearby to help.” The importance here being an acknowledgment of our own susceptibility to changing circumstances and needs that are out of our control.

Through the school’s spiraling relationship with Personto-Person, students are kept attuned to the work of the

Read more: www.countryschool.net/community/service-learning For more on Service Learning at NCCS discover more countryschool.net

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2018–2019 PA Executive Council Tara Coniglio, President Susan Barr, President-elect Marcy Smith, Treasurer Liz Keogh, Secretary Leigh Kennedy, VP, Community Service Michelle Saldivar, VP, Community, Diversity and Inclusion Marnie Gizzie, VP, Volunteers

PA Committees & Events

The Parents’ Association had an exciting start to the 2018–2019 school year.

We hosted community-building events, held fundraisers, launched our Parent Talk series and participated in community service projects.

We are fortunate to have such a kind and engaged community and we are grateful for the support of the parents.

• Admission Ambassadors • Annual Fund Ambassadors

A special thank you to Allison Ryan for creating our new

• Annual Meeting & Dinner

Parents’ Association logo!

• Campus Beautification • Class Representative Program • Community Service • Cougar Run • Deal Days

This past summer, the Grace House renovations provided a beautiful

• Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day

new space for the Parents’ Association School Store. The store is now

• Family Fun Night

centrally located between the lobby and Carver Commons, and offers

• Festival of Books

spirit wear for all ages. The merchandise is sourced and the store is

• Frogtown Fair

managed by parent volunteers. All funds raised from spirit wear sales

• Greenery

are donated to NCCS to support school programs.

• Host Family Program • Kyle A. Markes Day of Service • Logo — NCCS Spirit Wear • Nominating & Appointments • PA Coffees • PA Committee & Volunteer Fair • Parent Gatherings • Parent Talk • PJs & Pizza • Resource Groups: Allergy, Global Citizens, Mothers at Work, Parents of Students of Color • Upper School Dinners: Celebration of Girls, Celebration of Boys

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School Store

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

1

Cougar Run

On Saturday, September 28, the Country School community gathered for the first annual Cougar Run. More than 120 runners 2

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completed the 5K on-campus run, and young children participated in an obstacle course and a Chase the Cougar Fun Run. Families gathered on this beautiful, sunny, fall morning to cheer on runners and to kick off the school year. Attendees showed their school spirit and purchased spirit wear. Our school mascot, the Cougar, was a favorite guest of the morning. Our very own NCCS cross-country team helped design the course and led the way for the runners with the assistance of Head of School Aaron Cooper.

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1. Our community takes off from the starting line of the Cougar Run. 2. Upper School students Mason Zea, Amitav Nott, Benjamin Herdeg, Rett Zeigler, Annika Mannix, Ashley Rodgers and Maren Frey, enjoy the pre-race activities together.

3. Barrett Hanson and Lucy Anne Kurtz help with the logo sale.

4. Luna Robb, Sean Robb, Oliver Johnson, James DiBiasio, Lucy Anne Kurtz, Ella Kurtz, Amitav Nott, Julia Cooper and Head of School Aaron Cooper gather to celebrate their win.

(Not pictured: Lindsay Frey) 5. Andy, Caroline, Galyn and Emma Bernard enjoy family time at the run.

6. Luna Robb, Lily and Olivia (Liv) Burnes, Salman Memon, Julia Coniglio and Jonathan Gavidia jump into the spirit with our beloved Cougar.

7. Cougar Run organizers Steve Petricone, Jennifer Kurtz, Kerry Hanson and Laura Cramer joined Head of School Aaron Cooper to cheer on runners.

8. Charlotte Parker, Eva Mackenzie and Olivia Parker celebrate their run. discover more countryschool.net

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Festival of Books

This year’s Festival of Books was a three-day celebration of literacy at Country School. It was held in the recently renovated Schlesinger Library/Amicus Foundation Innovation Space. One of the Parents’ Association’s largest fundraisers of the year, the Festival of Books also provided many

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opportunities to build community, as well as classroom libraries. Children in Lower School and Middle School visited the festival with their classes.

One of the favorite events during the festival again this year was “PJs & Pizza,” which brought together Lower School and Horizons students for a fun night of pizza, games, crafts and bingo hosted by John Hastings! Students then heard stories by mystery readers Emily Anglund-Nellen, Raphe Elkind, Melissa Fryer and Aman Samra ’11.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

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1. Berkley Young enjoying a book selection while browsing the FOB. 2. Raphe Elkind reading to a mesmerized audience of students.

3. Horizons student Kyle Foster enjoys a story in his cozy PJs. 4. Executive Director of Horizons Nancy von Euler fully in the spirit of the evening at PJs & Pizza.

5. Joaquin Vanden Heuvel finds an engaging read.

6. Tyler Rosolen, Caleb Seiden, Ryland Strine, Garrett Cannon and Ethan Schubert volunteering at PJs & Pizza.

7. Festival of Books Chairs Becky Palmer, Jen Kline and Lauren Ryder ready for the crowd to arrive.

8. Hilary Flanagan, Horizons Family and Program Director Nehemie Moise and Nicole Intile led an NCCS & Horizons favorite event, PJs & Pizza.

9. Suzie Jellinek and Jenn McDonnell scooped up great new titles at the Festival of Books.

10. Our mystery readers Raphe Elkind, Emily Anglund-Nellen, Melissa Fryer and Aman Samra ’11 all dressed up and ready to surprise their audience.

11. John Hastings led a spirited group of students in a festive round of Bingo.

12. Bingo! Ramses Perez shares his winning numbers.

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Around Campus

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1. Class Representatives gathered to plan events for the school year.

2. Anthony Coniglio, Jill Gordon, Dan Malkoun and Shannon Kieske kicked off the school year at the Parents’ Association opening day coffee.

3. Ellie Levinson, Leigh Kennedy, Daley Keogh and Madeline Maliakal planted bulbs in front of Grace House.

4. Marisa DiBiasio and Shannon Kieske connected at the PA Volunteer & Committee Fair.

5. Sue Mackey, Samara Bilden, Cindy Havens and Jaime Behr shopped at the opening day Logo Sale.

6. Taryn Jones Laeben ’95, Heidi Locke Simon, Prachi Narayan, Kara Cooper, Tucker Hackett, Jenny Harrington, Mari Lannamann, Michelle Saldivar, Jennifer Roberti, Cristina Soto, Gloria Schell, Laura Pollock and Nuria Guardado shared brunch together at the Mothers at Work (MAWs) fall potluck.

discover more countryschool.net

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#CountMeIn

for Country School!

Great things are happening at Country School and YOU are an important part of our success!

Country School is a community where everyone plays a part in our collective success. Your participation makes a difference and ensures that today’s students experience all the magic that Country School has to offer.

Everybody Counts at Country School

Here are a few of the ways that you can help: FINANCIAL SUPPORT

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Annual Giving

Parents

Alumni

Capital Projects

Parents’ Association

Alumni Council

Endowment Support

Admission Volunteer

Reunion Committee

Planned Giving

Annual Fund Volunteer

Class Agent Event Host

Contact: Diane Briggs at

Contact: Diane Briggs at

Contact: Holly Donaldson Casella ’04

(203) 801-5619 or

(203) 801-5619 or

at (203) 801-5687 or

dbriggs@countryschool.net

dbriggs@countryschool.net

hcasella@countryschool.net

We are grateful for all the ways families are involved in and give back to Country School.

If you have an idea that is not listed above, please let us know.

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www.countryschool.com/giving NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

CELEBRATING

Our Faculty & Staff

Middle School Spanish Teacher Abby Cali, Upper School Science Teacher Scott Lilley and Kindergarten Teacher Darby Webber were presented the 2018 Faculty Chair Awards.

Recognizing Excellence in Teaching Through Endowed Chairs Country School celebrated excellence in teaching by naming three faculty chairs at the school’s Annual Meeting & Dinner on Sept. 13. Awarded every two years, faculty chairs have been endowed by three former Country School families to recognize exceptional full-time faculty who demonstrate a commitment to engaging and inspiring students, creating curriculum to reach all learners, and seeking ongoing professional development.

They also provide financial support for growth in academic research, teaching or service.

Middle School Spanish Teacher Abby Cali was awarded

▲ Sixth Grade Teacher Fraser Randolph and First Grade Teacher Lilani Balasuriya celebrated service milestones.

the Holmes Family Faculty Chair, established in 2008 by Max Holmes, P’10, P’11 and P’13.

Kindergarten Teacher Darby Webber was awarded the Laverack Family Faculty Chair, established in 2008 by Cory and Bill Laverack, former President of the Board of Trustees P’03, P’07, P’08 and P’11.

Upper School Science Teacher Scott Lilley was awarded the Williams Family Faculty Chair, established in 2008 by Joanna and Robert Williams, P ’14.

The following faculty and staff were honored for their service to the school: 30 years — Lilani Balasuriya, First Grade Teacher 30 years — Fraser Randolph, Sixth Grade Teacher 20 years — Scott Lilley, Upper School Science Teacher and Advisor 10 years — Kathy Diomede, School Nurse 10 years — Sanj Maliakal, Upper School Science

Read more: www.countryschool.net/annualmeeting

Teacher and Advisor 10 years — Dara Webster, Math Department Co-Chair and Lower School Learning Resources Teacher

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Faculty Spotlight Upper School Latin Teacher Hannah Liu

By Kent Findlay ’80, Marketing & Communications Associate “Latin is a zombie language. It just keeps coming back to life,” jokes Hannah Liu, the infectiously energetic Upper School World Language Teacher.

“I love how studying Latin can be a gateway to understanding an entire ancient civilization. It’s fascinating how much it can teach us about people, places and things — both past and present. My primary goal is to guide my students along that journey, and of course, for it to be fun along the way.”

Ms. Liu’s seventh through ninth grade students are familiar with her highly experiential, often quirky, lesson plans. If you thought it was all verb conjugations and translations, you would need to think again. Ms. Liu is well known for her game show quizzes and toga-clad, Legionnaire warrior sword fights.

Originally, she had considered making a career in museum education, thinking that she would share her keen interest in archeological artifacts. During her studies and following graduation from Brown University, she pursued opportunities at the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, the Newark Museum and the American Academy in Rome, where she handled and helped make accessible various antiquities such

“It’s amazingly rewarding to see them discover where they fit in to a larger world that they are just beginning to understand. Plus it’s a lot of fun!”

as collections of rare ancient coins.

Museum life, however, is a quieter existence than Ms. Liu’s

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gregarious personality could take long term. She also yearned

communities can’t meet their needs academically,” explains

to expand her reach, make an impact on a greater number of

Ms. Liu. “So, they live in this sort of boarding school situation

children and put into practice some teaching techniques she

and I am there to help them succeed.”

had been designing. “I knew what type of educator I wanted

Ms. Liu also enjoys playing violin and piano. She swears

to be, I just had to find the right environment; one where I

allegiance to the Mets, attending games when she can,

could really interact with the curriculum and the students.”

with her father. Previously, she had been a dancer, studying

Ms. Liu found her way to Country School in 2016.

ballet and modern in high school, but has since made peace

Since her arrival, she has assimilated seamlessly into the

with those dreams. On weekends, she likes to browse book-

fabric of both the school and the greater community. On

stores and coffee shops (bonus points if they are combined),

campus, in addition to teaching five sections of Latin, Ms. Liu

and volunteers in the used bookstore at Stamford’s

is a seventh grade advisor, the Upper School diversity and

Ferguson Library. Passionate about travel, Ms. Liu has

inclusion liaison, one of two faculty representatives on the

recently spent time in Italy and Taiwan, visiting family and

Board of Trustees and a soprano in the faculty chorus.

rejuvenating her curiosity for ancient cultures and her

Off campus, she is the resident tutor for New Canaan’s A

enthusiasm for educating teenagers.

Better Chance program. One of three adults living full-time

“I love this age group; the students are so excited to

in what many refer to as the “ABC House” in downtown New

participate in their learning. It’s amazingly rewarding to see

Canaan, Ms. Liu acts as a mentor, advisor, tutor and friend to

them discover where they fit in to a larger world that they

the teenage residents who attend New Canaan High School

are just beginning to understand. Plus it’s a lot of fun,” says

by day. “These are very high achieving students whose home

Ms. Liu with a broad grin.

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Celebrating Our Faculty & Staff

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Former Faculty & Staff Return to Campus We were thrilled to welcome 28 former faculty and staff colleagues back to our campus Oct. 10. Honored returnees included: Eleanor Christensen, Lyn Bremer Chivvis ’60, Chris and Eric Garrison, Anneliese Gastrich, Twee Haffner, Betsy Hulme, Francie Irvine and Andrew McLaren, Sue Isaacs, Sarah Lauture, Holly Lemoine, Kate Lowe, Catherine Mishkin, Pamela

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Crawford Mosenthal, Jean O’Dell, Al Perry, Topsy Post ’66, Bridget Robustelli, Nick Thacher, Pam Simpson, Pat Stoddard, Lynn Sullivan, Matt Taylor, Reinhold Wappler, Marsha and Frank Whitman and John and Nancy Ziac.

Head of School Aaron Cooper updated the group on the state of the school and recent campus renovations, answered questions and then turned them over to Facilities Director Ed Kirk, who provided a behind-the-scenes tour of the Grace

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House and Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall & Commons.

After this, many chose to visit classrooms and see the refurbished spaces in the academic buildings. The group came back together to join colleagues for a traditional Wednesday “Fac-Staff Lunch,” finishing the day with a performance by the 2018–2019 Faculty Staff Choir.

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1. Chris Garrison, Betsy Hulme and Jean O’Dell 2. Bridget Robustelli and Al Perry 3. Matt Taylor and Horizons’ Ginny Pracilio 4. Topsy Post ’66, Pam Simpson and Catherine Mishkin 5. Francie Irvine and Chris Garrison 6. Holly Lemoine and Chris Garrison 7. Former Faculty and Staff mingled in the new Carver Commons 8. Reinhold Wappler and Karen Wappler 9. Val Schirmer welcomes back Sue Isaacs 10. Former Head of School Nick Thacher

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Welcome

TO OUR NEW COLLEAGUES

Reshan Richards Director of Studies Reshan Richards will join NCCS in the summer of 2019 as Director of Studies. Reshan is currently Chief Executive Officer of Explain Everything, Inc., which he co-founded in 2011. He is also an associate faculty member at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is founder and principal of the Constructivist Toolkit, LLC, in Ridgefield, CT, and he previously served as Director of Educational Technology at Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, NJ. Prior to that he was Assistant Director of Technology and taught fifth through eighth grade math and technology courses for The Town School in New York, NY. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator and delivers keynotes at a variety of industry conferences. Reshan holds an Ed.D. in Instruction Technology and Media from Teachers

Q: You’ve written a few books. What’s your latest?

College, Columbia University, an M.Ed. in Learning and Teaching

A: My next book is something I co-authored with my writing

from Harvard University Graduate School of Education and a B.A.

partner, Steve Valentine, titled Make Yourself Clear. It will be

in Music from Columbia University.

available on May 7. It is a book about teaching and business,

Getting to Know Reshan

the intersection of which I have been sitting at and thinking deeply about over the past few years. The goal is to shine a

Q: Where did you get the idea for Explain Everything?

light on good teaching practices and how those practices can

A: Explain Everything came from an interest in how emerging

be transformative outside of school settings, especially in sales,

technologies such as mobile and tablet devices might give

customer service, training and leadership. Simultaneously, it is

students more ways to demonstrate their understanding,

intended to help teachers and school leaders reflect upon their

stemming from my research around formative assessment. It

own good work.

started around the time the first iPad was introduced in 2010.

I was originally looking to build a research instrument, but

Q: Where can we follow you online?

through pure luck I connected with my eventual co-founders

A: I co-write a leadership column on EdSurge (www.edsurge.com/

and created a business.

writers/reshan-richards) and also share some less-refined musings on my own blog (www.constructivisttoolkit.com). I can

Q: What excites you about this role?

also be found on Twitter (@reshanrichards) and LinkedIn. The

A: I am so very excited about being Director of Studies because

new book has a website as well: www.makeyourselfclear.xyz.

of how teaching, learning, and curriculum are threads that tie

Over the years, I have benefited so much from others’ sharing

together all areas of school life. I look forward to supporting

their thinking and their work, and I try my best to both pay it

existing approaches and creating new generative channels

back and pay it forward!

in order to best serve the young people at NCCS. From the youngest learners to the most veteran faculty members to the enthusiastic and involved parents, the entire community has been incredibly warm and welcoming. Coming into this kind of environment is also very exciting!

Also joining us or taking on new responsibilities are the following: • Andrea Cantos, Horizons Family and Program Coordinator • Jen Gifford, Database Manager • Jimmy Torres, Maintenance Assistant

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Celebrating Our Faculty & Staff

Bob Mueller Chief Financial Officer Bob Mueller has joined Country School as Chief Financial Officer. Previously, Bob was Executive Director of the Philadelphia Area Independent School Business Officer Association Health Benefit Trust (“PAISBOA-HBT”) for two years. PAISBOA-HBT is an organization of area independent schools Bob helped start in 1991. During his last five years there, Bob transitioned its $96 million health plan to self-funded status and saved 130 member schools $15 million in the first year.

Prior to that, Bob was CFO at Delaware Valley Friends School in Pennsylvania for 25 years, where he oversaw all finance and operations. During his time at the school, he was also a board member — including vice president — and active participant in the National Business Officers’ Association (NBOA), a group involving CFOs from more than 1,400 independent schools nationally. He was also a faculty member at the National Association of Independent Schools’ (NAIS) Summer Institute for Finance Administration.

Karl Palmgren Head of Upper School Karl Palmgren will join NCCS in the summer of 2019 as Head of Upper School. Karl is currently the Head of Upper School (Grades 9–12) at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury, CT, a role he has held since 2017. Previously, he served as Associate Head of School at the Pre-K through Grade 12 University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, where he worked for

Kojo Clarke

three years. He also served as the Assistant Head of Upper

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

School and Dean of Students. Prior to that, he was an Upper School History Teacher at Greenwich Academy for 11 years,

Kojo is currently a French teacher at Choate

also serving as a class dean. Additionally, Karl was a social

Rosemary Hall, a boarding school in Wallingford,

studies teacher at the American School in Sao Paulo, Brazil,

CT. In addition to teaching French, Kojo advises

for three years. Karl holds an M.Ed. from Teachers College,

the Student Diversity Association, and for the past

Columbia University, an M.A.T. in Teaching Secondary Education

two years has led SEED seminars for his colleagues

Grades 7–12 from Sacred Heart University and a B.A. in Political

focusing on topics related to diversity, equity and

Science, Environmental Science and Criminal Justice from

inclusion. Kojo’s work on the Diversity Education

James Madison University.

Committee led to the creation of the school’s first Director of Equity and Inclusion position. Kojo has

During the interview process, parents had the opportunity to attend formal Q&A sessions with Mr. Palmgren and Mr. Clarke. On May 1, parents were invited for coffee with all of our new administrators.

Visit www.countryschool.net for more information.

also facilitated affinity group conversations at the National People of Color Conference (PoCC). Before joining Choate, Kojo taught high school in Illinois and Ghana. Kojo holds an MS.Ed. in French from Northwestern University and a B.A. in Psychology and French from Franklin & Marshall College.

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FAREWELL TO OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE

Pat Grace

BY SUSAN CHIAVAROLI, RECEPTIONIST

I promised to be short and sweet, but as I began to reflect upon what I was going to say about Pat Grace, I realized that it might be easy to be sweet, but short? I then realized that because so much of what I have to say covers things everyone already knows, and probably feels about her as well, I could in fact, be short.

Pat has touched so many people on this campus with her friendly smile, kind words and acknowledgment of our happy and not-so-happy life events. She has made an effort to get

BY JODY SHELDON, ASSISTANT TO THE HEAD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

to know us, support our causes, cheer on our spouses’ and

Twenty-two years ago, when I introduced Pat Grace to the

children’s endeavors, and even pampers our pets. She has

telephone office (yes in those days, it was an actual office

attended almost every Country School event, lecture and

with four walls and a door), I had no idea that she would not

social gathering and has reminded us of the approaching

only be undaunted by the overwhelming and hectic pace but

holidays with decorations and treats.

inspired to conquer it. She immediately set about to create a

Pat and I have been together since the turn of the century

home-away-from-home for herself and a “home base” here at

(the 21st century) and although we approach what we do

school for all of us.

quite differently — I lean toward simplicity while Pat strives

For all that time, Pat has been the first and last face

for perfection — we have created a strong work relationship

many of us have seen as we’ve opened and closed our days

that can be described, for the most part, as simply perfect.

here at Country School. And what better smiling face to

Always steady and self-assured, Pat is an impeccable

welcome one into the daily fray and usher one off to a

presence at NCCS. Her steady manner makes everyone who

relaxing evening.

enters Grace House confident that they are in good hands. As

Pat’s poised presence, warm and gentle nature and efficient

one colleague put it, “Pat brings her whole heart and self to

management have truly been the “face” of Country School for

school every day.” She takes pride in and loves what she does.

over two decades. In that time, parents, students, faculty and

It is difficult to say goodbye to a good colleague and

staff have all learned to count on her for information about

friend. I’ll miss our conversations about so much and so

the daily schedule, directions to the athletic fields, questions

little, a new film or good book, a (ahem) ribald … joke when

about the weather and condition of the roads, retrieval of lost

one is most needed.

car keys, the rescue of a child on the wrong bus and the many,

Pat used the expression “Wacky Wednesday” so often

many, many other minor and major disasters that get thrown

that you would think Dr. Seuss borrowed it from her rather

her way. All are managed with the utmost “grace.”

than the other way around. “Wacky Wednesday” describes

Grace … It’s no surprise that when we renamed the Main

the telephone office’s favorite day of the week, one when

Building “Grace House” to honor its historical connection

we never know what is going to happen during those four

to a Manhattan church, that many people in the commu-

condensed hours or “What will pop up, Who will pop in.”

nity thought we had named it after Pat. And why not? For

Pat, we all wish you and John many happily unexpected new

22 years, she has been the heart of Grace House and has

adventures, encounters and friendships on the West Coast

displayed the true meaning of the word grace. As we bid a

and many, many “Wacky Wednesdays,” cruising around Santa

bittersweet farewell to Pat, in our hearts and minds Grace

Barbara with the kids, Mabel and those to come.

House will forever hold a dual meaning.

We’ll miss you and wish you well!

Thank you, Pat, for taking such good care of all of us.

Mrs. Grace, the Grace House will miss you!

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Building Brighter Futures Since 1964 Hosted at New Canaan Country School

Samantha and Amber work together in woodshop.

Teacher’s Assistant Sofia works with Adrian and Derrick on literacy.

Teacher’s Assistant Deanna works one-on-one with Ava.

HORIZONS WINTER PROGRAM IS

Now K–Grade 10!

On five consecutive Saturdays this winter, more than 100 Horizons students in grades K–10 came back to NCCS to continue their academic and enrichment project-based learning and reconnect with friends and teachers from the Summer Program. This year, the program grew to include ninth and tenth graders, serving even more children than previous years.

Students in grades 5–10 got to choose from a variety of program options, which included coding, photography, woodshop, jewelry making and hip-hop dance.

Horizons high school seniors served as Teaching Assistants, which is a great training ground for future employment in the Summer Program. The Winter Program culminated with an opportunity for parents to join their children on campus to view end-of-program projects and enjoy a community lunch.

Students Leila, Aaliyah and Teaching Assistant Nahjeera practice a new hip-hop routine, taught by dance instructor Joshua.

Isaac and Jonathan experience hands-on learning in woodshop.

Read more: www.horizonskids.org For more about Horizons and ways to get involved discover more countryschool.net

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3

Horizons Benefit CELEBRATES THE SWIM PROGRAM

More than 350 alumni, faculty, staff, elected officials and friends of Horizons at New Canaan Country School showed their enthusiastic support for the program by attending the nonprofit’s biennial benefit Feb. 2 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. The evening’s theme, “Make a Splash!”

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highlighted the ripple effect the Horizons program has on its students and their families, while also acknowledging and honoring the numerous local homeowners who have graciously donated their pools for recreational swim lessons, a hallmark of the Summer Program.

Proceeds from the evening will support the Horizons mission to build brighter futures for under-resourced children from Norwalk and Stamford.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

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The Ripple Effect Excerpted from remarks made by Executive Director Nancy von Euler at the Horizons Benefit For more than five decades, Horizons has been building 12

brighter futures for under-resourced children, primarily from Norwalk and Stamford, by providing a broad array of academic and enrichment programs that now support more than 400 students a year from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Our students are beating the odds: Last year, 100% of our high school seniors graduated, and every single one of them was accepted to college. I

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feel so privileged and proud to be part of this transformative organization.

1. Waid Ramsubhag and Jackqueline McLean-Markes 2. Mandi Morgan and Brian Villalta ’18 3. Benefit Co-chairs Chelsea Staniar and Sanny Burnham Warner ’88 4. Sturgis and Carolyn Woodberry, Horizons Board Chair 5. Family and Program Director Nehemie Moise and Lynn Quinn 6. Cristina Soto, Monique Mims and Yolanda Coffield 7. Katie Zorub, Peter and Claire Londa 8. Benefit Committee: Ashley Burr, Mandi Morgan, Lisa McCarthy, Chelsea Staniar, Sanny Burnham

Warner ’88, Ashley Williams, Marisa DiBiasio, Elena Kavanagh Phillips ’91, Tiffany Van Elslander 9. Raphe Elkind, Alice and Bill Burnham, Executive Director Nancy von Euler 10. Nick Phillips and Elena Kavanagh Phillips ’91 11. Chelsea Staniar, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Jen Cohen Zonis ’82, Sanny Burnham Warner ’88 and Head of School Aaron Cooper 12. Lower School Teacher John and Margo Hastings, and Marcy and Hunter Smith 13. Jenn McDonnell, John and Allison Ryan, and Bish McDonnell

I am also thrilled to have the honor tonight of recognizing and celebrating the incredible contribution of our swimming pool donors. Thanks to the generosity of these donors, our children are able to swim daily during the summer and get access to a powerful outdoor classroom where they build grit, resilience, determination and confidence. Think about it — how better to learn to face down fear, fail and recover, set a goal and strive towards it, than to learn to swim. Again and again, we see that the skills and confidence our students develop in the pool translate into success in the classroom and in life.

The Dalai Lama said, “Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Pool donors, through your simple act of kindness and generosity, each of you has cast transformative ripples in the lives of our students that reach farther than we may ever know. discover more countryschool.net

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ALUMNInews

Head of School

Receptions

Head of School Aaron Cooper enjoyed meeting Country School alumni and parents of alumni at a reception on campus in October and at a young alumni gathering

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in New York City in November.

NEW CANAAN 1. Sarah O’Herron Casey ’80, Jill Stevens 2. Carl Rohde ’66, Alice Burnham, Lyn Bremer Chivvis ’60, Tucker Golden ’90 3. James Delli Carpini, Kate Lynch Delli Carpini ’01, Steve Bloom ’03 4. Stephanie Bowling Zeigler ’81, Gigi Brush Priebe ’74, Alice Burnham 5. Jane Budnick ’05 and her mother, Anita Cobb.

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NEW YORK CITY 6. John Weiss ’97, David Mandler ’01, Lee Cochran ’02, Dick Colligan ’01 7. Alex Gould ’07, Taylor Gould ’06 8. Melanie Silverman ’08, Mackenzie Swirbul ’08 9. Phoebe Knowles ’89, Suzy Gibbons Owen ’94, Melissa Miller Faucher ’91, Elena Kavanagh Phillips ’91 10. Head of School Aaron Cooper, Tucker Golden ’90, Eugene Bang ’92 11. Kristin Bergfeld ’59, Joel Post ’81, Derrick Queen ’81, Tom Speers ’73 12. Tom Speers ’73, James Knowles, Chief Financial Officer Bob Mueller, Joel Post ’81 13. Caitlin Maguire ’04, Ryann Tookes ’04

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

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Susan Haigh Carver ’51

Dining Hall & Commons Dedication Head of School Aaron Cooper officially kicked off the 2018–2019 school year Sept. 6 at an all-school assembly that included the dedication of the Susan Haigh Carver ’51 Dining Hall & Commons.

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In 2013, the Carvers first approached the school about making a gift that would be the largest to date in the school’s history, and one that would significantly impact the lives of Country School students and celebrate the sense of community that was so meaningful to Sue’s experience as a child attending the school. Throughout her life, she cherished the memories of her days at NCCS. Sue grew up in Darien, and after attending NCCS went on to Ethel Walker School and Smith College before she and her husband settled in the San Francisco Bay area. As an alumna, she returned in 2001 to celebrate her 50th reunion.

John Carver, husband of the late alumna in whose honor the building was dedicated, and their three children, Thomas, Amy and Jonathan, joined in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

3 1. Randy Salvatore, Stephanie Bowling Zeigler ’81, Thomas Carver, John Carver, Amy Carver Gilbert, Jonathan Carver and Aaron Cooper 2. Aaron Cooper, Hayden Connor ’51, Gail Miller Stoddart ’51, John Carver, Linda Rook Stikeleather ’51 and Allan Stikeleather 3. Gail Miller Stoddart ’51, Hayden Connor ’51

Classmates of Sue’s from the Class of 1951 Hayden Connor, Gail Miller Stoddart and Linda Rook Stikeleather, along with her husband Allan; Judith Steinberg, a former NCCS parent and close family friend, and close friend Bill Jones, along with other friends, attended the ceremony and a private tree dedication in Mrs. Carver’s name.

Life Beyond Country School One of our favorite events, a panel of recent graduates and parents of recent graduates returned to campus Jan. 10 to answer questions and share with current parents their perspective of the transition through and beyond Country School.

A big thank you to event moderator and President of the Alumni Council Tucker Golden ’90 and panelists Finley Bean ’17 (Brien McMahon High School); Mark Magnusen, parent of recent graduate Audrey Magnusen ’18 (St. Luke’s), and Layla Magnusen ’19; Sanny Burnham Warner ’88, parent of recent graduate Will Warner ’19 (Westminster) and Henry

Watch the video: www.countryschool.net/lifebeyond

Warner ’21; and Phoebe Casey ’15 (Colgate University).

discover more countryschool.net

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Thanksgiving Reunion The Alumni Office continued its tradition of hosting a Thanksgiving reunion for our youngest alumni. This year, we welcomed back to campus Classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018.

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1. The Class of 2016 2. The Class of 2017 3. Members of the Class of 2018 Nina Stoops, Georgia Rivero, Emma Herdeg, Audrey Magnusen, Lauren Walsh, Catherine Dewey 4. Meghan Sisk ’18 and Amalia Calderini ’18 5. Members of the Class of 2017 Bobby Gibbons, Kevin Barnard, Austin Andersen, Desmond Pratt 6. Members of the Class of 2017 Teddy Zinn, Dylan Koo, Bo Zeigler, Shane Baldwin 7. Members of the Class of 2017 Taylor Mitchell, Emily Riccardi, Merrill Bright, Haley Strom 8. The Class of 2018

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Save the Date!

November 25, 2019

Thanksgiving Reunion for the Classes of 2017, 2018, 2019 6 8

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

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Class Notes 1941

Kimmy Winship Shapleigh writes, “Very thankfully alive and well at 91+! I am now living in a villa at a retirement center in St. Louis. My husband, John Shapleigh, was a beloved St. Louis doctor who died in 2011.

My daughters Melissa Thayer Hummer and Holly Thayer Eggert, both live in St. Louis, which is joyful for me. My daughter Alicia Thayer died in 1975, and my daughter Catsy Thayer, who taught at Rippowam Cisqua for many years, died in 2014. I am busy playing Mahjong and attending the symphony and repertory theater and seeing friends. I have many happy memories of Community School and Country School — would love to hear from classmates! 1143 Jo Carr Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017.”

1943

Katharine Wadsworth Wilson writes, “Still working as LMFT; over 700 client appointments this year. Toured Cleveland and Amish country in Ohio with sister Cornelia.

Brief trip to Italian Riviera and Monte Carlo.

Published a book of verses, Happy Talk.

Keeping up fitness and church activities.”

ARE YOU GETTING OUR EMAILS? If not, please send your preferred email address to Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net.

NCCS Alumni Faculty and Staff members for the 2018–19 school year.

Back Row: Josh Ziac ’86, Barbara van der Kieft Latimer ’85, Jeannie Staunton Bean ’83, Marshall Johnson ’04, Maria Sette ’92 Front Row: Catherine Mendoza ’98, Kent Findlay ’80, Madeleine Ker ’10, Daley O’Herron ’05, Hadley Merrill ’10, Abigail Manny Newport ’89, Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 Missing: Aman Samra ’11, Jazmine Rodriguez ’11

1945

Sally Hughes Carr, of Madison, CT, passed away on Nov. 27, 2018. Please see In Memoriam.

Edward Keane, of New York City, died on July 24, 2018. Please see In Memoriam.

1947

Frances Fisher Wilson, of Ormond Beach, FL, passed away on March 26, 2018. Please see In Memoriam.

1949

Linda Walleen Will, of Alexandria, VA, passed away on Jan. 31, 2018. Please see In Memoriam.

1950

Nancy Jones Tennstedt, of Hilton Head Island, SC, passed away on Aug. 30, 2018.

Please see In Memoriam.

1951

Diane Monson, of Stamford, CT, passed away on Sept. 18, 2018. Please see In Memoriam.

1952

Alexander Neave, of New York City and Litchfield, CT, passed away on Sept. 24, 2018. Please see In Memoriam.

1 Jennifer Robbins Manocherian ’53 and Joan Dominick O’Brien ’53 at the Place de la Concorde in October.

1953

1 Jennifer Robbins Manocherian writes, “Joan Dominick O’Brien, my daughter Kim and I went to Berlin and Paris in October — here’s Joan and me at Place de la Concorde dressed for a dinner for the opening of an exhibition outside the Musee du Jeu de Paume. Friends for over 70 years — not bad!”

Bob Shields writes, “I’ve made it to age 80 — with no pain and no known medical problems. I try to exercise every day. I have two wonderful daughters — Jenny and her family live in Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, and Ginger lives in St. John, USVI. Jenny now has two children, Sadie, age 3, and Fred, 3 months old. So I am finally a grandfather!”

Joan Abernethy Wright writes, “Sorry I couldn’t make the 65th reunion; maybe the 70th. Still making art of one sort or another and involved in small town politics! Never a dull moment.”

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PLANNED GIVING Did you know there are creative ways to support Country School?

Giving techniques called planned gifts allow you to create win-win solutions for you and Country (left) Leslie Powell Siggs ’54 and her husband on a trip to South Africa last October. (right) Leslie Powell Siggs ’54 celebrates a hole-in-one!

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1954

Leslie Powell Siggs writes, “Wonderful 12-day trip to South Africa (Cape Town and safari in Kruger National Park) in October! If any of you are Facebook users, you can see a few of the hundreds of pictures we took.

Also, had my third hole-in-one in January in Tucson, where we live in the winter! That’s our house in the background.

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Peter Uhry writes, “Going to New Canaan Country School established a sense of curiosity, awareness and wonder about the world in me. These were key takeaways from the years I felt fortunate to attend NCCS. My wife and I remain avid travelers and often wonder if places improve with age.

Spend any time in Europe and the answer is yes and no. There is so much history and, while not everything has survived or been properly cared for, what you see and experience usually provides a window to the past and raises questions about the future.

In Vienna and Prague, the old architecture and long-established museums showcase history quite well. We visited both cities as well as Dresden and Berlin this last fall using ultra-modern trains to move between one area and the next. The WWII destruction in both Berlin and Dresden convey quite a different feeling than Prague and Vienna since so much is newer architecturally.

Berlin and Dresden show history through a different lens. And this leads me to another thought. After all these years, having ridden the school bus from Pound Ridge with my

School. To join The Welles Society or to ask a question about estate planning, please contact Associate Director of Advancement Diane Briggs at dbriggs@countryschool. net or (203) 801-5619.

sister Katy Uhry Darr ’50 and brother Tom Uhry ’51, I find it amazing that I can still trace nearly the entire bus route in my head to this day. It was 45 minutes each way and highlighted by passing the Philip Johnson Glass House on Ponus Ridge where we all hoped to catch someone running around without any clothes. My wife and I visited the Glass House in 2017 and it is certainly more interesting to look at than it was in the 1950s. That is my take anyway. I am not sure why … as there aren’t any naked people running around the property now.

Hope everyone is healthy and well.”

1956

3 The Class of 1956 gathered for a minireunion in October 2018 at the Roger Sherman Inn in New Canaan.

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The Class of 1956 at the Roger Sherman Inn in New Canaan this October.

1958

4 The Class of 1958 gathered on campus in October 2018 for a tree dedication in recognition of their Annual Fund support for their 60th Reunion in May 2018.

Hardy Jones, of St. Augustine, FL, passed away on Dec. 12, 2018. Please see page 63 and In Memoriam.

Head of School Aaron Cooper and members of the Class of 1958 on campus in October 2018 for a tree dedication in appreciation for their Annual Fund support for their 60th Reunion.

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Bill Shields is now spending summers in New Canaan and fall, winter and spring in Fort Myers, FL.

Send Us Your

Nominations!

1959

The Class of 1959 will gather for its 60th Reunion at NCCS this May. For more information, please visit countryschool.net/reunion.

1961

Dave Gens writes, “My son Ryan (36) got married July of 2018. Happily, my wife of 41 years, who was rendered quadriplegic after a fall in 2017, was able to attend. That was a blessing. In December of 2018, I was honored with an endowed scholarship:

The David R Gens, M.D. Shock Trauma Scholarship Endowment for the University of Maryland School of Medicine. My brother John Paul Gens ’60 came down from New Hampshire for the ceremony. I am also the 2019 winner of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. These awards were given for teaching medical students over 40 years and being active clinically at the Trauma Center for the same amount of time. Thank you NCCS for exposing me to fantastic teachers as role models.”

We welcome your suggestions for future Alumni Award candidates.

Please send nominations to Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at

hcasella@countryschool.net. Please include name, class year and a short explanation of the candidate’s accomplishments. To find out about previous New Canaan Country School Alumni Award recipients, visit www.countryschool.net/alumni.

Andrew “Sandy” Ingraham, passed away April 5, 2017, in Beaufort, SC. Please see In Memoriam.

Alumni Spotlight Dolphin Documentary by Hardy Jones ’58 to Release This Year In the crystalline blue waters north of Grand Bahama Island, filmmaker Hardy Jones discovered an elusive treasure — a school of wild

Geographic. In 2000, Hardy and actor Ted Danson founded Blue Voice, an ocean conservation organization dedicated to protecting dolphins and whales from slaughter and exposing

dolphins that welcomed humans into their undersea world.

the harmful level of toxins in the marine environment.

That 1978 encounter changed Hardy’s life, and his films and

For Blue Voice executive director Hardy, the chemical pollu-

advocacy helped inspire a global campaign to save dolphins

tion crisis became personal when he was diagnosed in 2003

and whales from brutal slaughter and ocean contamination.

with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. His test results

Hardy had been fascinated by dolphins as a child and

showed highly elevated levels of toxins also found in ever-

started scuba diving at age 15. He was a television journalist

greater concentrations in dolphin populations. He underwent

researching the consciousness movement in the late 1970s

treatment while living in St. Augustine, FL with his wife Deborah.

when he set out to learn more about dolphin intelligence.

Hardy received the Country School Alumni Award in 2008,

“I thought ‘I’ll just go out and make a movie.’ I was more than

saying at that time, “I consider my time at New Canaan

naïve. Even Jacques Cousteau told me it couldn’t be done.”

Country School one of the most wonderful gifts imaginable.

Hardy’s immediate, momentous connection with the pod

It enabled me to go forward in my life with a sense of compe-

of equally curious spotted dolphins was captured in his first

tence and confidence.”

award-winning documentary, “Dolphin.” “I was enthralled.”

After NCCS, Hardy graduated from Choate (’61) and Tulane

He would return to film these dolphins over the next three

(’66). He served in the Peace Corps for two years, then

decades, including his 2005 PBS film “The Dolphin Defender.”

worked for United Press International and CBS News before

Shortly after his initial bond with the sleek, smart marine

becoming a filmmaker.

mammals, Hardy learned that Japanese fishermen were killing

In his book The Voice of the Dolphins, Hardy recounted his

dolphins by the thousands. “My personal contact with dolphins

decision to film “The Dolphin Defender” about his life’s work.

created a sense of obligation in me to do something about that.”

He was in remission at the time, so “I decided to the throw it

Hardy exposed that atrocity and others, and has won

all in. I thought, ‘Fortune favors the bold.’ ”

numerous filmmaking and conservation awards for his 20-plus

Sadly, Hardy passed away on December 12. His documentary

documentaries and his series for PBS, Discovery and National

film will be released in 2019. Please see In Memoriam for more.

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Cover shots of two books published by architect and author Katie Hutchison ’80.

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Shipley Blizard Wilcox, grandson of Andy Wilcox ’66.

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1966

5 Andy Wilcox welcomed his first grandson, Shipley Blizard Wilcox, on Dec. 24, 2018.

1969

The Class of 1969 will gather for its 50th Reunion at NCCS this May. For more information, please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs: Bill Putnam, bputnam327@gmail.com; Dianne Crary, dcrary125@gmail.com Dianne Crary writes, “Looking forward to our 50th reunion and hoping that everyone will try to make it back! I am splitting my time between New York City and Fishers Island, which is the perfect balance between city and country life. If anyone comes to NYC, please give me a call.”

Alison Taggart-Barone retired from being a Photo Editor for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and is now concentrating on her personal artwork and volunteering for the National Parks.

series that features documentary and liveaction music performance programs. Some of the filming took place in Clarksdale, MS, at actor Morgan Freeman’s blues club, and in Nashville, TN, in a whiskey distillery. Freeman also provides his classic voice on some of their content. Pass the Pick signed six artists and is currently releasing the music worldwide through The Orchard, Sony Music’s independent distribution arm. The Pass the Pick roster includes two-time Grammy nominee Cedric Burnside, Grammy nominee Shannon McNally, Willie Nelson’s son Lukas Nelson, and Dexter Allen, among others.

1976

Brin Luther writes, “Hello Class of 1976. It’s hard to fathom that our 50th Anniversary is in 2026. As I creep closer to age 60, I find myself the joyful owner of a 10-year-old show hunter mare, Nolen Lane, aka Zoey, and a 5-year-old Off the Track Thoroughbred foxhunter gelding, Champion’s Dinner or Champ. What a life with two horses in two locations. I hope some of my NCCS riding classmates have a horse too. Look me up if you want to ride one of mine near Middleburg, VA, or just come visit!”

CALLING ALUMNI AUTHORS We are restocking our bookshelves.

If you have published a book, please send a copy to Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04.

FOLLOW @NCCSALUMNI for the latest alumni news and updates in real time! Share wedding photos, chance encounters, minireunions and, of course, your favorite throwbacks for #TBT. To submit photos, direct message through Instagram or email to Director of Alumni Affairs Holly

1974

Johnny Reid and Paula Kennedy Harrigan ’81 (parent of Annie ’22) have teamed up to form Pass the Pick Productions, LLC (www.passthepick.com) and have been filming a premium HD music

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

1980

Katie Hutchison writes, “In the spirit of shameless self-promotion: My latest book The New Cottage from The Taunton Press was released in December 2018. It follows on the heels of my first book, The New Small 6

Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@ countryschool.net. Please identify everyone in the photo, with class years wherever possible — and feel free to include a caption!

Class Notes

1995 7 Brian Nagle ’82, John McCormick ’82 and Tom Spring ’82 enjoying some jazz in Cambridge, MA.

8 Greg Spotts ’82 (on left) visits a tree trimming crew working in Los Angeles.

House from The Taunton Press, which was published in the fall of 2015. Find them both on Amazon or at a local independent bookstore near you. All the best to the class of ’80! Cheers!”

1982

7 Brian Nagle, John McCormick and Tom Spring met up to enjoy jazz in Cambridge, MA.

8 Greg Spotts is Assistant Director and Chief Sustainability Officer of the LA Bureau of Street Services. Greg oversees 500 staff and is currently hiring 55 new tree care specialists to improve the Urban Forest.

1984

Tom Piper’s film “Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf” won the Polly Krakora Award for Artistry in Film at the Environmental Film Festival in Washington, DC, in March 2018.

Alexandra Demou Esparza writes, “living in Mexico with husband, Emmanuel Esparza (Alex Hammond’s cousin). Our Lola is 6, Alejandro 2. I have a relocation business, a real estate business, I import Greek olive oil, and consult on boarding schools abroad. Busy!”

1996 1989

The Class of 1989 will gather for its 30th Reunion at NCCS this May. For more information, please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs: Catherine Broadhead, catherine.broadhead@gmail.com; Heather Weed Goldberg, hgoldberg2003@ yahoo.com; Phoebe Knowles, phoebe. knowles@gmail.com; Abigail Manny Newport, anewport@countryschool.net

1992

Adrian Ulrich married Marina Rutherfurd on Nov. 10, 2018, at the Lyford Cay Club in the Bahamas.

1994

The Class of 1994 will gather for its 25th Reunion at NCCS this May. For more information, please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs: Suzy Gibbons Owen, sgibbons@dkpartners.com; Davina Brislin Lilley, Davina.lilley@gmail.com

Lauren Oakes and her husband, Matt Craven, welcomed Calder Henry Mather Craven on Aug. 25, 2018. Calder was born five weeks early, but mom and baby are doing well! Lauren also just published her first book: In Search of the Canary Tree, which chronicles how plants and people cope with their rapidly changing world — and the resiliency of forgotten forests, flourishing again in the wake of destruction, and a diverse community of people who persevered to create new relationships with the emerging environment. See also Faculty News page 58.

1998

Allie Beck writes, “I’m still living in Salt Lake City and am still with the same engineering firm I joined nearly six years ago (though we recently merged with another firm, Jacobs). I am an environmental engineer, focusing on air quality and environmental compliance primarily for the USAF but also some private clients around the world. Last year, I got my P.E. license so am thrilled to have that behind me (and enjoy all the powder days I missed while studying last year). Andrea Griffin and I have been in touch and missed each other in

Matching Gifts:

GROW YOUR GIFT, NURTURE A CHILD Did you know that Corporate Gifts are a great way to increase your personal gift to Country School? Please check with your employer’s human resources department to see if it participates in a matching gift program, or check our online matching gift database: countryschool.net/support/ways-to-give. Obtain a form from your company, send it to us with your gift, and we’ll take care of the rest. For more information, contact Diane Briggs in the Advancement Office at (203) 801-5619 or dbriggs@countryschool.net.

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NCCS

London in December while I was there on a business trip and she was just moving there and settling into a new job. Soon! If anyone is ever out in the Park City or Salt Lake area (or skiing Alta), let me know as it would be fun to do some runs or grab a drink!”

GETTING MARRIED? Let the Alumni Office know so we can send you a NCCS banner for

Matt Heineman directed a new film, “A Private War,” which hit theaters nationwide to much acclaim in November 2018.

For more, please see page 53.

photography! Reach out to Holly Donaldson Casella at hcasella@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5687.

9 Caleb and Zoe Prosnit, children of Arielle Traub ’00.

1999

The Class of 1999 will gather for its 20th Reunion at NCCS this May. For more information please visit countryschool.net/reunion.

Mary Birnbaum will direct La Bohème to open the 2019 season of Santa Fe Opera in July. For more on Mary, please see page 54.

2000 10

NCCS alumni (and faculty!) at the wedding of Annie Rauscher ’02.

9 Arielle Traub writes, “my husband Ethan and I welcomed our daughter, Zoe May Traub Prosnit, on Sept. 19, 2018. We are thrilled, and so is big brother Caleb!”

2002

10 Annie Rauscher married Larry Kennedy on Sept. 8, 2018, on Nantucket. NCCS alumni in attendance included members of the Class of 2002, Thomas Reed ’01, Brooke Cavanaugh Reed ’01, Annie Greenwood, BZ Reed and Fifth Grade Teacher and friend of the bride, Andrew Bevan.

2003

11 Emmy Burleigh married Doug Grunseich on Sept. 29, 2018, in Woods Hole, MA. Many NCCS alums were in attendance, including siblings Sarah Burleigh ’02, Connor Burleigh, Cornelia Burleigh ’06, and Tucker Burleigh ’08 and cousins Phoebe Casey ’15 and Elizabeth Casey ’15 and her aunt, Sarah O’Herron Casey ’80, P’13,’15,’15.

11 (top) Emmy Burleigh ’03 and the Casey family on her wedding day! (bottom) Emily Burleigh ’03 with the full Burleigh family.

52

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Mike Karp and his wife recently moved to Stamford, and Mike stays busy running a boys’ sleepaway camp in Maine called Camp Manitou.

Class Notes

Alumni Spotlight

Matthew Heineman ’98 Directs New Film “A Private War” Matthew Heineman ’98 has directed a new film, “A Private War,” which hit theaters nationwide to much acclaim in November 2018. A biopic of Marie Colvin, the legendary, eye-patch-wearing Sunday Times correspondent, the film received positive reviews since it first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

“The director and screenwriter remind the audience not just of the humanism

The director and his parents attend a screening of A Private

that drives so many reporters, but also

War at the Greenwich Film Festival in January. Cristine

the extreme danger they put themselves

Russell, Matthew Heineman ’98 and Ben Heineman.

in to bring us the truth,” The Washington Post stated in its review.

“He has made a deeply distressing,

homage to Marie and to journalists

Outstanding Directorial Achievement of

authentically moving psychological

like her fighting for the truth — but an

a First Time Feature Film Director from

study of unswerving obsession,” said

homage to journalism and the importance

the Directors Guild of America.

The New York Times.

of journalism,” said Heineman by phone.

Heineman, the recipient of the

In the spring of 2015, Heineman, who

The role of Marie Colvin is played in

school’s 2012 Alumni Award, recalls his

is well-known for the hard-hitting docu-

the film by Academy Award® nominee

time as a student at NCCS as having

mentaries “Cartel Land” and “City of

Rosamund Pike. Additional cast members

influenced his expanding worldview.

Ghosts,” was inspired to make this film

include Jamie Dornan and Academy

“I look back very fondly on my time

by the people who often dedicate their

Award® nominee Stanley Tucci. Heineman,

at Country School — one of the many

very lives to the craft of journalism.

who is himself an Academy Award®

things NCCS did for me is make me

“I had previously made ‘Cartel Land’

nominated director for “Cartel Land,”

curious about the world, which has

— and I was sent a number of different

has been called by The Sundance Film

resonated in all the work that I’ve done.

scripts; none spoke to me, but I got an

Festival “one of the most talented

NCCS made me inquisitive, curious

early draft of this one and it spoke to me

and exciting documentary filmmakers

and want to explore. Now I have the

in a profound way — it was a film I had to

working today.”

privilege of diving into new worlds and

make,” he explained. “I’ve been in conflict

At the 76th Golden Globe Awards,

exploring them every few years. I feel

zones before, in torture chambers — I’ve

the film earned nominations for Best

a huge responsibility to explore these

been shot at, so her story is not foreign

Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama

issues and tell these stories.”

to me — and neither is coming back to

(Pike) and Best Original Song (“Requiem

New York City and having those experi-

for A Private War”), while the director

For more information about the film,

ences linger with you. I deeply empathize

(Heineman) received a nomination for

please visit www.aprivatewarfilm.com.

with Marie Colvin. What I’ve tried to do is similar to what she tried to do — take complex geopolitical conflicts and humanize them. I felt a kinship to her and felt like it was a story I had to tell.”

“In this era of fake news and sound bites, for me the film is not just an

“One of the many things NCCS did for me is make me curious about the world, which has resonated in all the work that I’ve done. ” discover more countryschool.net

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Alumni Spotlight

On Stage and On Netflix: Mary Birnbaum ’99 and Flora Birnbaum ’04

by Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 There is no shortage of artistic talent in the Birnbaum family. As someone who spent quite some time at their house growing up, I can attest that music and performance have always been at the center of life for the Birnbaums, both in formal and informal settings. As girls, Mary ’99 and Flora ’04 sang in the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus, and our playdates often consisted of elaborate performances,

12 Lindsay Luke ’03 and her husband, Scott, on their wedding day.

usually with full costume and set design!

As you might expect, Mary and Flora also performed at Country School — in musicals, select chorus and a wide range of other venues throughout their collective 15 years here. Mary remembers: “Rhythms class with Francine Piggott in Lower School, concerts with Marsha Whitman in Middle and Upper School and winter musicals with Mr. Garrison in Upper School, as well as the time that Mr. Berwick and Mrs. Purcell let our ninth grade class make DNA: The Musical rather than taking a final exam.” She adds, “For us, it was the dedication of the teachers at NCCS who fostered a creative learning experience that furthered our love of the arts.” And Flora adds, “The Christmas pageant in the Lower School, the sense of community, and the way each Country Schooler was

Olly Merrill ’03 and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their first child, Whitton Louis Merrill, on Dec. 23, 2018.

encouraged to march to the beat of their own drum helped us find who we were as people and how best to express ourselves!”

Their artistic prowess continues today as both women find success in the performing arts world. Mary is the Associate Director of Opera Studies at The Juilliard School, where she teaches acting to opera singers. She is a freelance stage director of theater and opera regionally and internationally. Mary was nominated for “Best Newcomer of 2015” at the International Opera Awards in London and, this year alone, is set to direct three major shows: Dido and Aeneas at Juilliard this winter, Empty the House at the Curtis Opera Theater in Philadelphia this spring, and La Bohème at the Santa Fe Opera this summer. Mary brings an avant-garde style to her directing and is committed to helping young artists develop through her work at Juilliard and the Orchard Project Greenhouse, an arts accelerator that Mary helped found.

Flora has been involved in some of the buzziest projects of 2019 so far. After starting out at a talent agency and transitioning to writing and directing her own independent work, she recently landed an exciting opportunity on the writing team for the new Netflix series Russian Doll, which premiered on Feb. 1; Amy

12 Lindsay Luke married Scott Gates on Oct. 6, 2018, in Richmond, VA. NCCS alumni in attendance included Lindsay’s siblings, Betsy Luke ’07, Johnny Luke ’08; bridesmaids Haley Priebe and Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Chelsea Priebe ’06, Hunter Priebe ’08, and Gigi Brush Priebe ’74, P’03, ’06, ’08.

2004

The Class of 2004 will gather for its 15th Reunion at NCCS this May. For more information, please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs: Holly Donaldson Casella hcasella@countryschool.net; Caitlin Maguire cqmaguire@gmail.com; Marshall Johnson mjohnson@countryschool.net

Poehler and Leslye Headland are the executive producers, and it stars Natasha Lyonne. Flora is also writing for the third season of the Showtime series SMILF, and is working on a feature film, which she will direct.

You may wonder, will Mary and Flora find an opportunity to collaborate in the coming years? Turns out there’s already a musical in the works — about sisters, of course! Keep your eyes on these two, and check out their impressive work while you’re at it.

54

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Flora Birnbaum married Sam Sackeroff on Aug. 4, 2018. Please read more, at left.

13 Nikki Bongaerts married Peter Magrath on Sept. 20, 2018 in Alta, UT. Many NCCS alumni were in attendance, including her mom Alex Bongaerts-Duval ’72, P ’02, ’04, Matron of Honor, Holly Donaldson Casella,

Class Notes

NO NEWS FROM YOUR CLASS? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please submit your news and updates to Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net or on our website. You can also submit notes via mail using the enclosed return envelope. Share your own news, or tip us off to milestones, news and achievements of classmates, your children or others in our community!

Maid of Honor, Kim Thompson, bridesmaid Eliza Kontulis Getz, as well as Heather Wegner Wald, Kelsey Craig and Chip Stinchfield ’69.

13 NCCS alumni at the wedding of Nikki Bongaerts ’04 in Alta, UT.

14 Holly Donaldson Casella and her husband, Adam, welcomed Clarke Thatcher Casella on December 21, 2018.

15 Drew Fink married Daniela Uribe on Nov. 10, 2018, in Bogota, Colombia.

NCCS alumni in attendance included Carly Fink ’07, Channing Tookes and Edin Fako.

In December 2018, Upper School English and History Teacher Marshall Johnson ’04 completed a two-year master’s program at The Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University. Also, congratulations to Marshall on his engagement to Meghan Cratty! A summer 2020 wedding is expected. See also Faculty News page 58.

14 Clarke Thatcher Casella, son of Holly Donaldson Casella ’04.

15

Drew Fink ’04 and his wife, Daniela.

CALLING ALUMNI ARTISTS To be included in the upcoming Alumni Art show, please contact Director of Alumni Affairs

Xandy Peters continues to create as a knitting designer and teach her technique throughout the country. Her stacked stitch technique has just been launched by Bluprint (formerly Craftsy), an online learning platform, with a class “Stacked Stitches: Knitting in Wild Color.”

She continues to have her work published, most recently with Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 27 Winter 2018, based in London.

Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net.

SPEAK ON CAMPUS! Alumni, do you have expertise to share with students? Contact Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 with your idea!

Alexa Reid married Colin Smith on Aug. 18, 2018.

16

Alexa Reid ’04 with her husband, Colin, on their wedding day.

16

hcasella@countryschool.net

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17 Sienna Jane Wald, daughter of Heather Wegner Wald ’04.

18

NCCS alumni at the wedding of Julia Maguire ’05.

17 Heather Wegner Wald and her husband, Steven, welcomed Sienna Jane Wald on Feb. 27, 2019.

2005 19 Tracy, Charlie ’05, Elizabeth, and Joe Merrill at Charlie’s wedding in Sept. 2018.

20 Lauren Karp ’06 and her husband, Andrew, on their wedding day.

18 Julia Maguire married Lucas Henderson on Oct. 20, 2018, in CT. NCCS alumni in attendance include Julia’s siblings, Caitlin Maguire ’04, Charlotte Maguire ’10, James Maguire ’12 and David Maguire ’09 — as well as Flora Birnbaum ’04, Ryan Tookes ’04, Caroline Nisenson, Nick Rohn ’12, Channing Tookes ’04, Alice Huck ’04, Allison Roberto ’09, Taylor Bolton, Averill Roberto, Amy Cohen and Argo Caminis ’93.

19 Charlie Merrill married Elizabeth Morris on Sept. 28, 2018, at the Ausable Club in NY. Charlie’s siblings Olly Merrill ’03, Carrie Merrill ’08, and Emma Merrill ’10 were in attendance.

2006 The Buchanans and Jasmine Nelson ’08 at her wedding last April (above). Jasmine Nelson ’08 and bridesmaids, including Danielle Nelson and Rishonda Thomas ’02 (below).

22

21 Paige Gonye ’07 and her husband, Ryan, on their wedding day.

20 Lauren Karp married Andrew Bonnesen on Sept. 2, 2018, in Newport, RI.

2007

21 Paige Gonye married Ryan Thacher on Feb. 9, 2019, in Vero Beach, FL.

2008

22 Jasmine Nelson married Emmanuel Jackson on April 22, 2018, in Houston, TX. In attendance were NCCS and Horizons alumni including bridesmaids Danielle Nelson

56

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Class Notes

Join NCCS Network — a career networking platform just for the Country School community. Post jobs, mentor young professionals, connect with industry leaders, find internships and keep track of your classmates’ professional achievements.

QUESTIONS? 23 Jon Karp ’09 and a colleague after the Victoria Falls Half Marathon in Zimbabwe.

Join today!

www.nccsnetwork.com

(Horizons) and Rishonda Thomas ’02, Charlotte Buchanan, Jeffrey Joseph, Taylor Joyner and Alijah Joyner (Horizons).

2009

The Class of 2009 will gather for its 10th Reunion at NCCS this May. For more information, please visit countryschool.net/reunion or reach out to Reunion Chairs: Camilla Arntzen, carntzen912@gmail.com; Peter Maturo, maturop@gmail.com Jon Karp writes, “I recently got back from Lusaka, Zambia, in November. I was there for six months working as the head of analytics for a vertically integrated commercial tilapia farm named Yalelo. I am now back in New York working as a consultant in the medical devices space.” While in Africa, Jon also ran the Victoria Falls Half Marathon in Zimbabwe.

23

Christopher King writes, “I’m in my first year of a PhD program in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University, and still drawing on excitement from eighth grade chemistry and ninth grade biology at Country School!”

2016

Portia Cummings is one of four students taking part in the new Advanced Math & Science Research (AMSR) Program at the King School this year. The AMSR course focuses on math and science research techniques, providing methods to help students further understand how research

Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 Director of Alumni Affairs hcasella@countryschool.net

is conducted. In conjunction with the class, students attend an internship at an R01-level research laboratory to get handson experience in the field of modern scientific research. Portia is currently working in the Blasberg Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. The laboratory is led by neurologist Dr. Ron Blasberg and mainly focuses on different types of imaging to detect cancer and to have a better understanding of how tumors metabolize. Portia’s project last summer involved investigating LDH inhibition and how it affects the growth of cancer cells; this year, she is working to identify a reporter gene with specific features that will allow for easier imaging of cancer cells.

YOUNG ALUMNI NEWS AND ACHIEVEMENTS will publish in our Fall 2019 Bulletin. Please send submissions to Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net.

2018

24 Athletes from the Class of 2018 and 2019, Bennett Griskey ’19, Peter Miller ’19, Thomas Ricciardelli ’19, Jeffrey Ricciardelli, Charlie von Stade and Lucy Jones met up on game day at Westminster in Fall 2018.

24 Members of the Class of 2018 and 2019 gathered for a photo opp on game day at Westminster.

Save the Date! May 17–18 Alumni Weekend: Alumni Award, Frogtown Fair, Alumni Art Show, Milestone Reunions

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Faculty & Staff News In December 2018, Upper School English and History Teacher Marshall Johnson ’04 completed a two-year master’s program at The Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership, Teachers College, Columbia University. See also Class Notes page 55.

On May 16, First Grade Apprentice Teacher Melissa Fryer completed a dual Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education at Manhattanville College.

Language Arts Department Co-chair and Upper School Learning Resources Teacher Lauren Romeo received a Graduate Certificate

▲ Also, congratulations to Upper School English and History Teacher Marshall Johnson ’04 and Meghan Cratty on their engagement! A summer 2020 wedding is expected.

in Special Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.

▲ Paul and Claire Harding, Horizons Academic Director, welcomed a son, Calvin, who was born Oct. 31, 2018. Calvin joins big brother, Matteo.

Adam and Holly Donaldson Casella ’04, Director of Alumni Affairs, welcomed a son, Clarke, who was born Dec. 21, 2018.

See also Class Notes page 55.

▲ Congratulations to Diana Ruggiero and Early Childhood Assistant Teacher, PE Teacher and Upper School Coach Byron Reding on their engagement. An August 2019 wedding is planned.

▲ Congratulations to former administrator Lynn Sullivan on her engagement to Claude Harmon.

In 2018, Lynn co-conducted district-wide Diversity & Inclusion training for faculty, staff and administrators in the city of Bridgeport, CT.

HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? ▲ Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer Patricia Oakes is the proud grandmother of Calder, son of Lauren Oakes ’96 and Matt Craven.

See also Class Notes page 51.

58

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Please contact communications@countryschool.net to provide faculty & staff news and updates.

▸ Congratulations to

Grade 6 Teacher Brayden Henry and former Apprentice Annie Upton on their engagement! An August 2020 wedding is planned.

▲ Director of Innovation and Academic Technology Aron Back won the 2018 TriState Bouldering Series 3 in the master category, competing in five climbing competitions and winning the final round (three first place and two second place finishes), and was the overall winner of his category.

▲ In January, Advancement Support Manager Renee Bornstein (front row, second from left) and her family spent a weekend in New Orleans, celebrating her milestone birthday and the engagement of her daughter, Joanna, to Nathan Allen.

▲ Mary Kate and Sean Robb, Lower School World Language Teacher, welcomed a daughter, Skye, who was born Jan. 18.

Siblings Luna, Samson and Clara are thrilled.

▲ Congratulations to Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Daley O’Herron ’05 and Kyle Avery on their engagement! The couple met at St. Lawrence University in September 2008. They are planning a summer 2020 wedding.

Faculty professional development opportunities, including graduate coursework, are made possible by financial resources from the Special Professional Development Fund and the Ninth Grade Endowment Fund.

▲ In December, Facilities Director Ed Kirk (second from right) was a panelist at the Professional Women in Construction (PWC) Conference. PWC provides a professional networking and educational venue for women in all aspects of design, construction, legal, insurance and financing in the construction field. Ed has participated as a panelist 10 of the last 15 years. Other schools represented on this year’s panel included Choate Rosemary Hall, Loomis Chaffee, Hackley School, Avon Old Farms and Phillips Academy at Exeter. discover more countryschool.net

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REMEMBERING Tim Delehaunty THE FOLLOWING ARE REMARKS BY RYAN BUCKLEY, HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL AT TOWER SCHOOL, GIVEN NOV. 19, 2018, AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE HONORING TIM DELEHAUNTY, FORMER HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL AT NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL FROM 2008 TO 2017. PLEASE ALSO SEE IN MEMORIAM PAGE 64.

60

I’ve known Tim, Theresa, Ian and Shea for the past 13 years,

I responded. Sensing my nerves, he then proceeded to shake

first while working as a teacher at Lawrence Academy, then at

my hand and said: “Don’t worry, your only job this year is to

New Canaan Country School for eight years as a teacher and

survive.” And then he smiled with that unmistakable broad

administrator — and finally the last two years at Tower as Head

smile of his. The weight of the world rolled off my shoulders.

of Upper School. Tim and I have worked, essentially, at three

At that moment, I realized he was one of the good ones

different and great schools together during this time. It has

(good at heart), someone who deeply cared about the welfare,

been an amazing journey and a blessing. During this time, I got

well-being, and success of others. He would be someone who

to know Tim as a colleague, teacher, coach, Dean of Studies,

would always be there when needed. He magically seemed to

Head of Upper School, Head of School … mentor, good friend

know what that might be at any given time: a sense of balance,

and wonderful family man.

encouragement, or an appropriate challenge. He cared more

Although my favorite running joke with Tim was turning to

about the well-being and growth of his colleagues than he

him and saying, “Tim, you really need to stop following me

cared about his own success. I felt it on that first day in 2005

around,” everyone knows that I was the one following him all

and every day since. You follow the good ones, and so I did. In

these years. I want to share a couple of stories and memories

New Canaan, I got to know Tim as a leader and mentor.

that get at why. I also want to finish with a few thoughts about

I can remember one day rushing into his office in the

Tim as Head of School at Tower.

Stevens Building searching for answers. I was a young admin-

When I was at Lawrence Academy beginning my first year of

istrator and was trying to find my way and find my voice. I

teaching, Tim was Dean of Studies. It was the first day of school.

knew he had the answers, so I popped into his office. Time was

I can remember approaching my door in the Ansin building as

always limited, so I just asked him for the guidance and for the

15 ninth grade students were waiting inside. Needless to say,

answers — to point me in the right direction … now. But he

I was a bit nervous. As I reached for the handle, I heard a voice

wasn’t having it. Once again, that smile came out. He grabbed

say, “Are you ready?” It was Tim and he was there waiting for

a book from his bookshelf (Tao of Leadership) and tossed it at

me. I responded with as much confidence as I could but prob-

me and said, “Why don’t you read this for a while, you might

ably showed some mild signs of trepidation. “Yeah, I think so,”

find your own answers in there.”

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

You follow the good ones who care deeply about others

of School. He had an unyielding love for teaching kids, for being

and who are always there — and also the leaders who sacrifice

present with kids, and for creating solutions and initiatives that

themselves intentionally and spend the time to guide, elevate,

would profoundly affect their experiences for the better. The

and teach others in reflective and real ways. He demanded

students sensed his devotion to them and they loved him for it.

reflection back from colleagues, for he knew it would lead to

They loved him because (in their words) he cared about them,

their growth. Tim took great pleasure in this work, and I can’t

was present with them, understood them and always believed

tell you how many students, teachers and administrators he

in them. So, I leave you with this reflective question: Is there any

guided to become their best selves in whatever they were

better way to be than that?

doing. So I kept following him.

To Theresa, Ian and Shea: We love you dearly. Our hearts are

It didn’t surprise me one bit how successful Tim was here

with you. You will always be family. We are going to work tire-

at Tower leading the school. He accomplished so much in a

lessly at Tower to continue Tim’s legacy of thoughtful, kind and

short period of time. The list of advances and achievements is

inclusive leadership. His spirit is alive in these halls and in all of

considerable and the school is on a great track moving forward

us. That is a guarantee.

thanks to him. Yet, it is how he accomplished these things that

In closing, I would like to offer words Tim spoke when saying

always amazed me. He listened. He was mindful. He brought

goodbye to New Canaan Country School for the last time

people together to build consensus, believed in them, and drew

before coming to Marblehead. During the farewell dinner in

on their talents to create solutions. We will pick up his flag of

New Canaan in June of 2017, Tim was called up for a speech (an

leadership and carry it as he did — full of spirit, thoughtfulness,

encore of sorts). In typical Tim fashion, he reluctantly made his

humility, wisdom and kindness. That will carry on.

way up to the microphone after minutes of cheers, applause

We come to think of Head of School as a CEO position, which

and goading, and he offered these thoughts on endings and

it is these days. The organizational demands and business

saying goodbye. He said to the crowd that night that he was

demands are greater than ever in schools. However, the term

fond of a saying his grandfather used whenever something was

headmaster, which predates the Head of School title, actually

ending and it was time to say goodbye — whenever there was

means head teacher. Tim was the CEO and head teacher here at

an unknown ahead and a new beginning.

Tower. The students and kids always came first — highlighted

Tim refused to say goodbye that night. Instead, he offered a

by the Orange Chair, which sat in his office next to his desk. It

simple declaration to the crowd:

symbolizes the individual student. It is a reminder to always ask the question: “What is best for the student?” That is a question he lived by and never forgot throughout his years, even as Head

“C ARRY ON.”

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Milestones Join us in celebrating and honoring members of the Country School community, past and present.

Our Congratulations MARRIAGES Adrian Ulrich ’92 to Marina Rutherfurd November 10, 2018

Nikki Bongaerts ’04 to Peter Magrath September 20, 2018

Lauren Karp ’06 to Andrew Bonnesen September 2, 2018

Annie Rauscher ’02 to Larry Kennedy September 8, 2018

Drew Fink ’04 to Daniela Uribe November 10, 2018

Paige Gonye ’07 to Ryan Thacher February 9, 2019

Emily Burleigh ’03 to Doug Grunseich September 29, 2018

Alexa Reid ’04 to Colin Smith August 18, 2018

Jasmine Nelson ’08 to Emmanuel Jackson April 22, 2018

Lindsay Luke ’03 to Scott Gates October 6, 2018

Julia Maguire ’05 to Lucas Henderson October 20, 2018

Flora Birnbaum ’04 to Sam Sackeroff August 4, 2018

Charlie Merrill ’05 to Elizabeth Morris September 28, 2018

SUBMIT A NOTICE on the website or contact Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 directly at hcasella@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5687 with your news item.

BIRTHS Calder Henry Mather Craven to Lauren Oakes ’96 and Matt Craven August 25, 2018 Zoe May Traub Prosnit to Arielle Traub ’00 and Ethan Prosnit September 19, 2018 Whitton Louis Merrill to Olly Merrill ’03 and Melissa Merrill December 23, 2018

Clarke Thatcher Casella to Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 and Adam Casella December 21, 2018 Sienna Jane Wald to Heather Wegner Wald ’04 and Steven Wald February 27, 2019

All milestones received after we go to print will be included in the next edition of the Bulletin, scheduled for fall 2019 and also posted on the website.

Read more: www.countryschool.net/milestones

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NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

IN MEMORIAM We offer the deepest condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our extended school community. To read more, please visit www.countryschool.net/milestones for full-length obituaries. You may also submit a notice on the website or contact Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 directly at hcasella@countryschool.net or (203) 801-5687.

Sally Hughes Carr ’45

Hardy Jones ’58

Sarah (Sally) Hughes Carr, 88, of The Hearth in Madison, CT, passed away peacefully, Nov. 27, 2018, at The Guilford House.

Following Country School, in 1948 she graduated cum laude from Abbot Academy (now Phillips Academy Andover) in Andover, MA. She went on from there to Smith College in Northampton, MA, class of 1952.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Dick) S. Carr, Jr., her daughter Elizabeth Deming Carr and her grandson Wilem Johannes Yorke. She is much-loved “Mummy” to Richard S. Carr, III of Reno, NV; David B. Carr of Santa Barbara, CA; Margaret Carr Deák of Reseda, CA and Michael M. Carr of Madison, CT; and forever beloved “Granny” to her ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Hardy Jones passed away on Dec. 12, 2018, reportedly after a long battle from multiple illnesses. In 2003, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer often linked to exposure to toxic chemicals such as dioxins. His recent work was researching the relationship between persistent organic pollutants to cancer and other health problems in humans and marine mammals.

Following Country School, Hardy attended Choate Rosemary Hall (1961) and Tulane University (1966). In 2008, he received the NCCS Alumni Award and in 2016, was profiled in the publication 100 Faces of New Canaan Country School. To read the profile, please see page 49. He is survived by his sister, Betsy Jones Zwick ’63.

Andrew C. Ingraham Jr. ’61 Andrew Clark Ingraham Jr. died of cancer after a long illness on April 5, 2017, in Beaufort, SC. He was 71.

Mr. Ingraham was born in New Canaan and following Country School, attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and St. Lawrence University. Following graduation in 1968, he served in the Army stateside for two years. With a 1973 law degree from George Washington University Law School in hand, he worked for two years for the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn, then moved to East Hampton, NY, and started his own practice. He practiced law until 2003, retired to West Bath, ME, and then finally, Beaufort, SC, in 2015.

He is survived by daughter Erin Rogus of Nashville, TN; a son, Andrew Ingraham III of Brooklyn, NY, and his wife, Danielle Wagenhauser, of East Hampton, NY. His only sibling, a sister, Kitty Ingraham Arsenault ’60, died in 2011.

Diane Monson ’51

Edward “Ted” Keane ’45 Edward Webb Keane ’45 died on July 24, 2018, in his long-time home on Gramercy Park in New York City at the age of 87.

Following Country school, Ted graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy (1948) and Harvard College (1952), served with the U.S. Army in Korea, and attended Harvard Law School (1957), where he was president of the Harvard Law Review editorial board.

After clerking for Justice William Brennan at the Supreme Court (1957–1958), he went on to a career at Sullivan and Cromwell. He is predeceased by Mary, his wife of 60 years, and is survived by his children, Webb Keane, Jennie Dalton, and Metthea Baker, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Diane Monson passed away on Sept. 18, 2018, in Stamford, CT. Following Country School, she attended Rosemary Hall and Radcliffe. She served on the NCCS Alumni Council from 2003 to 2017.

Alexander Neave ’52 Alexander Neave, of New York City and Litchfield, CT, died on Sept. 24, 2018, after a brief illness.

He was the son of Alexander C. and Frances P. Neave, born August 28, 1937. He grew up in New Canaan, CT, and following Country School, graduated from Deerfield Academy (1955), Stanford University (1959) and University of Pennsylvania Law School (1962). His first marriage to the former Linda Shaw ended in divorce. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lynne Williams Neave, and three sons from his first marriage, Peter C. (Abigail), E. Parker (Patti) and Jonathan A. (Liz), and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother Charlie ’47 in 2005. He spent 52 years practicing Trusts and Estates Law at Putney Twombly Hall and Hirson LLP, first as an associate, then as partner and finally as counsel.

Nancy Jones Tennstedt ’50 Nancy J. Tennstedt, age 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Aug. 30, 2018, with her daughters at her side. Nancy’s life was challenged by a rare, untreatable neurodegenerative disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

Following Country School, she graduated from The Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, RI, in 1953 and received her bachelor’s degree from the Childhood Education Foundation in NYC. She married Welles Murphey in 1955 and raised

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their three daughters in New Canaan.

Nancy married Eastern Airlines Captain Charles R. Tennstedt in 1982. They moved to Spruce Creek Fly-In Community in Port Orange, FL, where she engaged in numerous volunteer activities.

Nancy is survived by her sister Patsy McCree, her daughters Cindy Ackerman, Lin Crispinelli and Debbie Murphey McFarland ’81, her grandchildren Michael Crispinelli, Nicholas Crispinelli, Linsey McFarland, Matthew McFarland, Madison McFarland and her ex-husband and lifelong friend Welles Murphey, Jr. She was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Charlie Tennstedt, her sister Louise Beard and her granddaughter Stephanie Crispinelli.

Linda Walleen Weill ’49 Linda Walleen Will, Navy wife and mother of four, died Jan. 31, 2018, in Alexandria, VA. Following Country School, Linda graduated from Skidmore College (’56), majoring in French and Music, and married Capt.

John M. Will, Jr. Vivacious and ever the entertainer and Navy wife, she performed in amateur musicals and cabaret shows. She also supported and comforted the families of deployed submariners in the Wills’ many duty stations, including Hawaii and Rota, Spain. Linda is survived by her children, Eric of Mont Vernon, NH, Mark of Alexandria, VA, Lisa Kaess of Wilton, CT, and John Alex of Hampton, VA; their spouses; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Frances Fisher Wilson ’47 Frances Fisher Wilson, 85, of Ormond Beach, died on March 26, 2018 at Halifax Health Hospice Ormond Beach Care Center.

A Florida resident since 1958, Frances grew up in New Canaan. Following Country School, she attended Oldfields School in Maryland, went to live in Paris for a season with her sister Alice, and traveled extensively in Mexico and Central America. Frances then earned a Bachelor of Fine Art at Rhode Island School of Design. In 1956 she married William Brookfield, Jr., and they moved to Ormond Beach, where they raised five children.

She is survived by her sister Alice Fisher Blood ’51, all of her children: Kate, Bill, Richard, Beth and Jonathan; her grandchildren: Stephen, Mark, Christopher, Nell, Cameron, Sarah, Clemency, Rose, David and Luke. She is predeceased by brothers Walter ’39 and Bill ’45.

Former Faculty/Staff Timothy Delehaunty Timothy Delehaunty P’14, ’17, former Head of Upper School, passed away suddenly at home in Marblehead, MA, on November 14, his 50th birthday.

Tim grew up in central Massachusetts, first attending Worcester Academy and then College of the Holy Cross. Following a year in the Navy ROTC program — during which he experienced claustrophobia while on a ship in the Pacific Ocean — he put his efforts into distance running and captaining the cross-country team. He earned a B.A.

in history in 1990 via Holy Cross’ History Honors Program. He later received an M.A. in English from Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English.

Tim’s career in education began as a teacher at The Rectory School in Pomfret, CT, living among middle school-aged students from around the world. He then went on to Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, PA (1992–1999) where he taught sixth and eighth graders. From 2001–2005, Tim served as Director of Studies at Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA, where he also chaired the English department, taught 10th graders and coached cross-country and basketball.

Finding his way to Country School in 2008, Tim assumed the position of Head of Upper School. During his nine-year tenure, Tim led with a quiet grace and emotional intelligence. A noted orator and writer, Tim published several pieces including one about grit and resilience, which appeared in The Parents League Review and the letters section of The New York Times.

In 2017, Tim departed for Marblehead, MA, to take the helm at Tower School, a position for which he was both prepared and enthusiastic.

Tim was a devoted athlete throughout his life — he played basketball, ran track, and completed 10 marathons, and there was rarely a day when he did not run or ride his bike. He and his son, Ian, avidly followed baseball, European soccer, and professional and college basketball.

Tim is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years Theresa Delehaunty; his children Shea ’14 and Ian ’17; his sister Elisabeth Delehaunty and her husband Peter Clary; his parents James and Katherine Delehaunty; his grandmother Mary Delehaunty; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. See tribute on page 60.

We offer condolences to the family and friends of the following members of our extended school community:

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Wilder Baker Stepfather of Margaret McGlade Epprecht ’73, Tom McGlade ’75, Katherine McGlade ’76 and step-grandfather of Hugh McGlade ’10 and George McGlade ’15

William Boyd Kegg III Son of Kip Farrell ’46 and William Boyd Kegg Jr. ’42 (deceased)

Mark H. Mattison Father of Delphine Mattison Morton ’84, Graham ’87, Alissa Mattison Purda ’89

Donald L. King Father of Ben ’80

Richard “Rip” Munger Father of Kendra ’87 and Geoffrey ’89

Michael C. Huebsch Father of Elizabeth ’09

William “Bill” Kirk Father of Christopher ’84

William “Bill” Nightingale Father of Paul ’76, Sara ’77, Bill ’79, Margot ’80 and grandparent of Hannah ’18, Cole ’20

William “Bill” Hutchison Father of Katie ’80

Diane Mackey Mother of Trip Hunter ’79

NEW CANAAN COUNTRY SCHOOL BULLETIN • Spring 2019

Bobbi Silver Wife of former faculty member Jules Spotts

A LOOK BACK

Fields of Opportunity

by Mark Macrides,Archivist ecently, I was invited to teach a fifth grade social studies

would provide students with developmentally appropriate

lesson on the history of New England stone walls, and

competitive sports opportunities was a key reason for the

while we were traversing the athletic fields to get to the woods, I was reminded of the value of this land and the integral role

move to Ponus Ridge.

In the new home, with considerable outdoor and indoor

it played in the development of New Canaan Country School.

space, NCCS quickly built a choice-based athletic program

There is clear evidence that the school was committed to an

and forged relationships with surrounding schools to become

athletic program dating back to the early years in town on

competitive. Interesting nontraditional options such as archery,

Park Street. The Community School girls’ basketball trophy

skiing and golf existed alongside the traditional soccer, football,

from 1921 is testament to a competitive sports program in the

hockey and basketball. The boys’ football team photo of 1936

school’s first decade. In spite of the obvious space restrictions

is an excellent example of the quick initiation of team sports

a downtown location imposed, the educators were well aware

as older boys gravitated to the school. As the program grew,

of the value of promoting a program that developed the whole

the school became a leader among its peers, offering students

child and offered opportunities for student choice.

ample experiences to learn the value of coaching and team-

As the young school built a rich and diverse curriculum,

based sports. Groomed to host football, soccer and field hockey

there was also awareness of the potential of a larger campus

games, the former vegetable fields slowly disappeared, and by

and the challenges the school was up against without that

1974, basketball games took place in two gymnasiums.

resource. It was harder to attract and keep older boys without

Today, the investment in those fields and the space to

a robust athletic program, and the richness of choice around

build a future continues to reward. As Country School moves

curriculum opportunities available in departments such as

ahead with plans for a new athletics and wellness center, this

the arts were not attainable in athletics. The importance the

mission-driven philosophy to provide students with choice in

Board and faculty placed on creating an athletic program

order to help them develop their passions and experience new

that was on par with the school’s other programs and that

opportunities will continue to be a hallmark of our school.

635 Frogtown Road New Canaan, CT 06840 Address Service Requested

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2019 COUNTRY SCHOOL EVENTS Country School hosts a variety of social and educational events for our community throughout the year here on campus and across the country. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to reconnect with the Country School family!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

FRIDAY, MAY 17

SATURDAY, MAY 18

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

Grandparents’ &

Alumni Award Presentation

Frogtown Fair, Alumni Art Show

Closing Exercises

Special Friends’ Day

& Milestone Reunions

Above dates and times are subject to change — please stay tuned and check our website for updates

WWW.COUNTRYSCHOOL.NET